the condition of a servant, or rather slave.

Under the declension of the Roman empire, a new kind of servitude was introduced, different from that of the ancient Romans: it consisted in leaving the lands of subjugated nations to the first owners, upon condition of certain rents, and servile offices, to be paid in acknowledgement. Hence the names of servi centi, a-scriptiti, and additi gleber; some whereof were taxable at the reasonable discretion of the lord; others at a certain rate agreed on; and others were mainmortalbe, who, having no legitimate children, could not make a will to above the value of fivepence, the lord being heir of all the rest; and others were prohibited marrying, or going to live out of the lordship. Most of these services existed lately in France; but they were long ago abolished in England. Such, however, was the original of our tenures, &c. See Slave.

in Scots Law. See Law, Part III. Sect. ix.