Prof. Szechi is correct about slavery as a major "industry" in Bristol. The
_Vita Wulfstani_ records that slavers were still operating from Bristol in the
eleventh century. The Saxons reduced individuals for failure to perform fyrd
service or render a geld. As late as 1102 Anselm was legislating against this
_nefarium negotium_. (BTW, I am not a medievalist but a Tudor-Stuart
specialist).
Doug Bisson
Belmont University
bissond@belmont.edu