The text goes on to read (by Jenkins translation):
"It is right for the two townlands to be for the king's waste and shielding-land for him. And as much as all we said above in the other commote, and that makes a total of five score townlands, and that is properly the cantred. It is right for ten times ten to be in a hundred and counting does not go beyond ten."
By now it should be very confusing with all the terms and measurements. A score is defined as a group of 20 things. Five score would be (5 x 20) 100 townlands. The "ten times ten" would also equal 100. So "five score townlands" (100) is properly the "cantred".
In the last post it was recorded that there were "twelve maenolydd and two townlands in every commote". [Remember that there were "four townlands in every maenol". ] Thus, "twelve maenolydd" would also equal 48 townlands. Therefore, a single commote would be 48 townlands for family use, and two townlands set aside for the king's use. Two "commonte" were to be in every "cantred". This makes the "five score townlands" that is properly the cantre. Whew...can you dig it? They certainly did!
Showing posts with label land. Show all posts
Showing posts with label land. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Land and Earth
From the ancient tribal past, the laws that came to be called "The Law of Hywel Dda", was a foundation to the culture and society of Wales. Certain basic concepts were contained within these laws that allowed social structure, and the survival of the folks who accepted them as their authority. [See last post which gives the first principle of their existence.]
One basic concept was called "land and earth". This concept had its origins from the belief that "In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth." [ Pentateuch - Genesis 1:1] It was "God's Will" that was the ultimate authority within these spheres of existence. Since God was in heaven, it was his will that man was placed upon earth. Thus "man" was responsible for this land.
In the laws, "land and earth" was a key sphere of existence. No land was to exist that did not have a "proprietor". This had meaning from Roman days which comes from the Latin privatus, meaning 'proper to a particular person'. A "proprietor" had right to the land by "kindred and descent". It is written:
"Whosoever wants to claim land by kindred and descent, let him show his pedigree as far as the stock from which he derives; and if he is there as fourth man he is a proprietor, for it is as fourth man that a person becomes a proprietor." [ from: Hywel Dda The Law, by Jenkins, p. 104.]
Claim to land ownership was thus proved by giving a pedigree from the family tree. Four generations of occupation by the family needed to be shown. A deed to ownership was your family tree. Wow...everyone needed to be a genealogist for this land and earth.
[The term "proprietor" is defined on p. 375 in the text by Jenkins.]
One basic concept was called "land and earth". This concept had its origins from the belief that "In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth." [ Pentateuch - Genesis 1:1] It was "God's Will" that was the ultimate authority within these spheres of existence. Since God was in heaven, it was his will that man was placed upon earth. Thus "man" was responsible for this land.
In the laws, "land and earth" was a key sphere of existence. No land was to exist that did not have a "proprietor". This had meaning from Roman days which comes from the Latin privatus, meaning 'proper to a particular person'. A "proprietor" had right to the land by "kindred and descent". It is written:
"Whosoever wants to claim land by kindred and descent, let him show his pedigree as far as the stock from which he derives; and if he is there as fourth man he is a proprietor, for it is as fourth man that a person becomes a proprietor." [ from: Hywel Dda The Law, by Jenkins, p. 104.]
Claim to land ownership was thus proved by giving a pedigree from the family tree. Four generations of occupation by the family needed to be shown. A deed to ownership was your family tree. Wow...everyone needed to be a genealogist for this land and earth.
[The term "proprietor" is defined on p. 375 in the text by Jenkins.]
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