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414 HISTORY OF CERTAIN 
navians, and their followers; an ‘imperium in 
imperio ”—an acknowledged head with limited 
power—guiding only occasionally the members 
of the body political, which exercised a power 
nearly as great as its own, with much more lati- 
tude in their sway and at their discretion. And 
more particularly this was the case with the first 
settlers from this stock of the human race in our 
own island. ‘Taking with us the history of their 
words in studying the history of their nations 
and customs as left recorded for us, much advan- 
tage may be derived therefrom. Respecting the 
“‘ yvillani” of the Domboc, difference of opinion 
_has been entertained ; some considering them to 
be free, others slaves. Now applying the infor- 
mation which we receive, from the words in use 
among them, to the knowledge of the history left 
us of their times; we may fairly conclude the 
“‘villani” were bond slaves—persons attached to 
the soil: villanus being the latinized term of the 
Norman French “villain,” one of low and servile 
condition attached to the soil, but having a cot- 
tage and land assigned him by his lord, to whom 
he rendered work and bodily service, but had no 
right to dispose of himself and services otherwise. 
‘“‘ Bordarii” were also similarly situated: they 
were the property of their lords, and differed 
