The conquest of Wales, by Norman baron and English king, tended to raise the serf to the level of the freeman. The chief causes of the rise of the serf were the following:英文原著 · 《A Short History of Wales》
This was a great boon to all who were bound to pay fixed sums--the freeman who paid to the king the dues he used to pay to his prince, the serf who paid to his lord a sum of money instead of service. All ancient servitude, political and economic, was commuted for money; as the money became easier to get, the serf became the more free.英文原著 · 《A Short History of Wales》
But the Norman and English Conquests revived and quickened trade. Towns rose, regular markets were established, and the barons who took tolls protected the merchants who paid them. Every baron had a castle, every castle needed a walled town, and a town cannot live except by trade. In the town the baron did not ask a Welshman whether he had been free or serf; the townsmen were strangers, and they welcomed the serf who came to work.英文原著 · 《A Short History of Wales》
"How many of our serfs have died since the last census revision?"
"How many of them have died? Why, a great many." The bailiff hiccoughed, and slapped his mouth lightly after doing so. "Yes, I imagined that to be the case," corroborated Manilov. "In fact, a VERY great many serfs have died." He turned to Chichikov and repeated the words. "How many, for instance?" asked Chichikov. "Yes; how many?" re-echoed Manilov. "HOW many?" re-echoed the bailiff. "Well, no one knows the exact number, for no one has kept any account."
"Quite so," remarked Manilov.英文原著 · 《Dead Souls》
" 'It makes not,' said the banker, 'bay dem, for dey may apply demselfs to oders pesides, und do you harm. I dake dees bretty voman to vitness dot I haf baid you dees morning, long pefore dat writ vas serfed.' "英文原著 · 《A Man of Business》
Have I, though? All I've proved is that Lord Grantham would like us serfs to stay美剧 · 《Downton Abbey》