THE ATTRACTION OF THE TOWNS 291

of being but one generation from servile stock; and we may well
believe that it took something like this to shake off one's servile
origins.1

Our enquiry, up to this point, therefore, shows us that although
medieval England saw a large part of its population of servile
condition, this state of affairs was not willingly assented to by
the serfs themselves, and unceasing attempts were made by them
to alleviate their condition. They took whatever opportunity
arose of buying themselves free from various services and obliga-
tions; individuals and sometimes whole villages bought them-
selves complete freedom, and in various other ways the yoke of
servitude was shaken off. These were not the only means of
obtaining freedom, however, and we must now pass on to con-
sider how far the towns, so seemingly secure and desirable within
their walls, and dowered with privileges, acted as magnets to
untold numbers of men.

The long struggle which the serfs had to wage before they
became free men was materially influenced by the freedom
possessed by dwellers in boroughs, and we shall find it difficult
to overestimate the part played by the towns in aiding the steady
emancipation of the peasants. From the earliest times we find
the burghers setting an example. Living as they did, with their
houses oftentimes clustered round some episcopal palace, or
lying in the shadow of the fortress of their feudal lord, they had
ample opportunity of realising the ever-present burdens these
great ones imposed on them; for we find them subject to services,
to tallages, or to heriots, as were their brothers of the fields. But,
unlike their brothers, they realised at an earlier stage that these
conditions were not inevitable, and that means could be found
of overcoming seigneurial exploitation. As towns became more
and more attractive, by reason of their natural and other
advantages, so they drew within their walls some of the richest,

1 Luchaire {Social France at the time of Philip Augustus), 271, says: "In the
chansons de geste villeins who had succeeded in emerging from their status,
entering the military class and reaching knighthood are sometimes mentioned;
but in such a case, the poet never fails to put strong protests in the mouths of
his noble characters. It is true that in real life this transformation did occur,
especially in southern France, where the gulf between the classes was
narrower; but, on the whole, the occurrence was rare." See also p. 346, where
an account is given from Gcarin le Lorrain of the knighting of a serf, but it is
made ridiculous.

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