The form and nature of the institution, long known in the English law under the name of Frankpledge[462] may be compendiously described in the words of the laws called Edward the Confessor’s[463]. According to that document,— “Another peace, the greatest of all, there is, whereby all are maintained in firmer state, to wit in the establishment of a guarantee, which the English call Friðborgas, with the exception of the men of York, who call it Tenmannetale, that is, the number of ten men. And it consists in this, that in all the vills throughout the kingdom, all men are bound to be in a guarantee by tens, so that if one of the ten men offend, the other nine may hold him to right. But if he should flee, and they allege that they could not have him to right, then should be given them by the king’s justice a space of at least thirty days and one: and if they could find him they might bring him to justice. But for himself, let him out of his own restore the damage he had done, or if the offence be so grave let justice be done upon his body. But if within the aforesaid term he could not be found, since in every friðborh there was one headman whom they called friðborg-heved, then this headman should take two of the best men of his friðborh, and the headman of each of the three friðborgs most nearly neighbouring to his own, and likewise two of the best in each, if he can have them; and so with the eleven others he shall, if he can, clear both himself and his friðborh both of the offence and flight of the aforesaid malefactor. Which if he cannot do, he shall restore the damage done out of the property of the doer, so long as this shall last, and out of his own and that of his friðborh: and they shall make amends to the justice according as it shall be by law adjudged them. And moreover the oath which they could not complete with the _venue_, the nine themselves shall make, viz. that they had no part in the offence. And if at any time they can recover him, they shall bring him to the justice, if they can, or tell the justice where he is[464].” ----- Footnote 462: An early confusion gave rise to the reading of Freoborh, _liberum plegium_, free pledge, frank-pledge, for Friðborh, the pledge or guarantee of peace, _pacis plegium_. The distinction is essential to the comprehension of this institution. Footnote 463: This is given here only as the most detailed account: the principle was as old as the Anglosaxon monarchy itself, or older. The law of Eádgár thus expresses it: “Let every man so order, that he have a surety, and let the surety (c) bring and hold him to every right; and if any one then offend and escape, let the surety bear what he ought to bear. But if it be a thief, and the surety can get hold of him within twelve months, let him surrender the thief to justice, and let what he before paid be restored to him.” Eádg. ii. § 6. Thorpe, i. 268.