OF THE WELSH. 255 



and two-pence for the thumb, the inPtruments of 

 infult. 



A WelOiman, whole born, having no dsbafei 

 blood, was accounted a free native gentleman. 



If a villein, with confent of a baron, took any one 

 of the baron's fons to bring up, that child was made 

 by the laws a participator in the property and in- 

 heritance of the villein, in the fame manner as his 

 own children. 



The Welfh laws prefcribed three fciences which 

 DO villein could teich his children without the con- 

 fent of his lord ; but if the lord fuffered any of thera 

 to ftudy one or more of the fciences for a certain 

 time, fuch children were by that means rendered free, 

 and could be no longer ranked among the villeins, 

 Thek Sciences "were fcholarjijip, bardifm, 2ind fmiih' 

 craft. Of the latter, however, it lliouid be remarked, 

 that the iermfmithcraft had, doubtlefs, a much more, 

 comprehenfive fenfe than we at prefent give to it. 

 The profeifor of fmithcraft muft have been ac- 

 quainted with different branches of knowledge which 

 are now pra6lifed feparately, fuch as the arts of 

 raifmg the iron, and. other kinds of ore, and con- 

 verting them into metal. 



The Welfh had among their laws two very fin- 

 gular ones- If any perfon killed the cat that was 

 about the king's palace, fhe was to be hung up by 

 the tail in fuch a manner that her head ihould 

 touch the floor, and fo much wheat was to be paid 

 {»s a forfeit, as, being heaped around \i^x, would 

 7 cover 



