Again: Roger filius Geroldi holds lachenictahalla (sic. the knighten hall), "et nullam consuetudinem inde facit præter watam."
The house of Stanulfus is found to have been "quieta tempore Regis Edwardi præter watam et geldis."
Fol. 5. Under the lands of barons and others we find a house of the abbot's fee, occupied by Osbertus filius Alberede, "quæ faciebat watam."
The house of Alvinus is stated to be "quieta præter waitam."
So (fol. 8) land is found to be "libera præter waitam;" and again (fol. 9), "Tenet eas (domos) comes de Mellent, et sunt similiter quietæ præter waitam."
I apprehend that the word being coupled in two or three instances with "geldis," has led to the conjecture that wata or waita was a tax ejusdem generis: yet I cannot entertain any doubt that it really refers to the service of watching (guet), and not to any pecuniary rent or impost, though services of this kind were in other instances, and at a later period, often converted into fixed fines.
The early occurrence of this personal service as annexed to the tenure of land, is familiar in this and other countries, and many examples are given by Ducange, verb. Wacta. It is found in custumals, charters, and capitularies of the eighth and ninth centuries, and was a charge imposed on free as well as servile tenants[1]. Sometimes we find it enforced for the protection of some castle or fortress, against surprise or hostile attack, in which case the tenure is similar to that of castle-guard. In other cases, it is a measure of police established for the security of property, and the preservation of peace. To which of these classes the wait-service at Winchester in the twelfth century is to be referred is not very clear. The twelve "vigilantes homines de melioribus civitatis" mentioned in the Exchequer Domesday, under the city of Shrewsbury, may be considered as an example of a local police, called into service only for temporary purposes during a royal visit.
The castle of Norwich affords an instance of the service of castle-watch distinct from castle-guard, from which favoured
- ↑ See Prolegomena to the Polyptique of Irminon, p. 776—8, for numerous citations.—"Facit wactam et omne servicium quod ei injungitur." Polypt. Irminonis, p. 212—"Faciunt wagtas aut redimunt denariis ii." Polypt. S. Amandi, printed p. 925 of the above Prolegomena:—"Domus super allodium infra parochiam castelli excubiæ quod appellant gueteur respondere prorsus nihil neque persolvere teneretur." Charter of exemption (A.D. 1159) by the Count of Namur in favour of the church of St. Aubain. This duty is referred to in a charter of another Count to the same church, A.D. 1423. "Item que par toute nostre ville de-Namur ledit chapitre dedans leur paroche, et dehors les mannans sur leurs allost et mazures ne payent a nous d'uu deult appellé waytage que doivent tons autres bourgois et mannans."—Galliot, Hist. de Namur, vols. v. and vi.
