A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 211 



people, had done it three times, and after 

 that his owner had neglected to kill him, 

 he was to be tied to the foot of his mafter, 

 and not at a greater length than two fpans, 

 and in that manner to be killed. Three 

 cows were alfo to be paid, as a fatisfac- 

 tion for the wrong, to the King.* 



The females employed fo much of 

 their time in fpinning, that the fpindle 

 became, not long afterwards, the fymbol 

 of the fex, and an eftate devolving to the 

 female line, was formally faid, by law, to de- 

 fcend to the diftaff.-f- And thus engaged, 

 the Britifh virgin was declared mar- 

 riageable at the age of fourteen. The 

 lover addrefled himfelf to the father of 

 the maid ; and, if he agreed to the mar- 

 riage, he introduced his daughter to the 

 fuitor : a few days concluded the fuit ; 



* Leges Wallicz. 



t Hence the origin of the term fpinjler for an unmarried 

 woman. 

 % Leges WallScse, Lib. II. c. I. 



P 2 for 



