As to the period at which villenage in England became extinct, we find in Litt.
Even when most numerous they were hardly tenants in villenage.
In all there is the division of the manor into demesne land and land in villenage.
Both were in villenage, and week-work was the chief mark of the serfdom of both.
The tenants in villenage were divided into two distinct classes.
William replied that he held them in villenage, and that he (the plaintiff) had sold one of Ralph's sisters for four shillings.
All this practice was based upon the common law proceedings when a claim was made of villenage.
The attack on villenage was too reasonable to be fruitless, and resistance to the popular demands could be but temporary.
The services of villenage were gradually rendered less onerous and uncertain.
The condition of villenage, at least in later times, was perfectly relative; it formed no distinct order in the political economy.
