The advowson descended with the manor, and was often subdivided among the heirs.[43] In later times we not infrequently find a rectory held in medieties, but in Domesday Book we find a benefice divided into any number of fractions up to one-twelfth.[44]
The sources from which we obtain the fullest details of the religious life of the Saxon priests and people are the laws of their kings and the canons of their synods; and perhaps the most convenient way of presenting the information which these contain will be partly to give a series of quotations from them in chronological order, with such explanations as may seem necessary; partly to group them according to their subject; using one method or the other as may seem best to serve our purpose.
Of the earlier part of the period three codes of law have come down to us--that of Ethelbert of Kent, between 597 and 604; of Ine King of the West Saxons, probably 690; and of Wihtred of Kent, 696. We must bear in mind that the bishops and chief clergy of the kingdom were present at the Witan of the Saxon kings, as well as the chiefs and wise men; and that the kings and chief laymen were often present at the ecclesiastical synods; so that both laws and canons express the mind of the whole people.
The laws of Ethelbert are the earliest written code of the English race. They begin with the enactment, "If the property of God (_i.e._ of the Church) be stolen, twelve-fold compensation shall be made; for a bishop's property, eleven-fold; a priest's, nine-fold; a deacon's, six-fold; a clerk's, three-fold; church frith, two-fold; minster frith, two-fold." A law of Earconbert of Kent (640) commanded the destruction of the temples and idols in that kingdom.
The laws of Ine, King of the West Saxons (688-725), are said in the preamble to be made "by the consent and advice of Ceadwalla, his father, and of Heddi, his bishop, and of Earconwald, his bishop, and with all his ealdormen, and the distinguished Witan of his people, and also with a large assembly of God's servants (the clergy)." The first of his laws is (1) that God's servants rightly hold their lawful rule. Then it goes on to enact (2) that children be baptized within thirty days, under a penalty of 30_s._, and if one die unbaptized the father shall make bôt[45] for it with all that he has. Then come enactments (3, 4, 5), against doing any work on the Sunday, on the payments to be made to the clergy, and on the privilege of sanctuary, which will be more conveniently grouped with similar enactments later on; (6) if a man fight in a king's house he shall forfeit all his property; if in a minster, he shall make bôt of 120_s._; (7) if a man before a bishop belie his testimony he shall forfeit 120_s._; (61) church scot shall be paid according to where a man's roof and hearth are at midwinter; (76) inflicts a special fine for slaying a godson or godfather--if it be a bishop's son,[46] it is to be half the amount.