Twelfhyndman

The oath of a twelfhind man was equal to the oaths of ſix ceorles; and if revenge was taken for the murder of a twelfhynd man it might be wrecked on ſix ceorles.

The nobility are frequently, and in later records generally, styled Thanes; which honour seems to be a territorial designation. They are also indicated by the fines imposed on them for crimes, and by the composition payable for their lives. And thus we find them divided into Twelfhyndmen and Sixhyndmen; according as 1200 or 600 shillings was the amount of their were or composition.

It is remarkable that, though the syxhyndman is named at first, nothing more is said of him; and the twelfhyndman is defined to be a thane.

In this computation a twelfhyndman was valued at six ceorls or twyhyndmen, because the weregild of a twelfhyndman was equal to the weregilds of six ceorls.

But what was the social rank of these burgesses? Were they thegns—twelfhyndmen?

From about the opening of the tenth century, if not from the close of the ninth, frank-tenure and gentle-tenure became identified with the tenure of the Thegn (or Dienstman) throughout English Mercia and the South-country, all who held by it acquiring the position of Twelfhyndmen, though they were not necessarily Gesithcund, or of gentle birth and descent.

The twelfhyndmen, the highest grade of eorls, became converted into the king’s thegns, who owned him as their immediate hlaford.

The English burgess was probably eorl or ceorl, twelfhyndman or twyhyndman, according to his birth and descent;