"Either book land or folkland could be leased out by its
holders [in early England]; and, under the name of 'lænland,'
held by free cultivators."
_W. Stubbs,
Constitutional History of England,
chapter 5, section 36 (volume 1)._
ALSO IN:
_J. M. Kemble,
The Saxons in England,
book 1, chapter 11._
LÆTI.
LÆT.
LAZZI.
"Families of the conquered tribes of Germany, who were
forcibly settled within the 'limes' of the Roman provinces, in
order that they might repeople desolated districts, or replace
the otherwise dwindling provincial population—in order that
they might bear the public burdens and minister to the public
needs, i. e., till the public land, pay the public tribute,
and also provide for the defence of the empire. They formed a
semi-servile class, partly agricultural and partly military;
they furnished corn for the granaries and soldiers for the
cohorts of the empire, and were generally known in later times
by the name of Læti or Liti."
_F. Seebohm,
English Village Community,
chapter 8._
"There seems to be no reason for questioning that the eorl,
ceorl and læt of the earliest English laws, those of
Ethelbert, answer exactly to the edhiling, the friling and the
lazzus of the old Saxons. Whether the Kentish læts were of
German origin has been questioned. Lappenberg thinks they were
'unfree of kindred race.' K. Maurer thinks them a relic of
ancient British population who came between the free wealh and
the slave. … The name (lazzus= slow or lazy) signifies
condition, not nationality. … The wer-gild of the Kentish
læt was 40, 60, or 80 shillings, according to rank, that of
the ceorl being 200."
_W. Stubbs,
Constitutional History of England,
chapter 4, section 31, foot-note (volume 1)._
LA FAVORITA, Battle of (1797).
See FRANCE: A. D. 1796-1797 (OCTOBER-APRIL).