Villeins

Villeinage

Villeins typically had to pay special taxes and fines that freemen were exempt from, for example, the "filstingpound" (an assurance against corporal punishment) and a "leyrwite" (fine for bearing a child outside of wedlock). The merchet fine was very often used against a villein's petition for freedom, since paying it proved a villein status. However, except to their own lords, they were free men in the eyes of the law. Villeins were generally able to have their own property, unlike slaves.