— Also termed decenna; tithing. Cf. FRANKPLEDGE.
“The civil division of the territory of England is into counties, of those counties into hundreds, of those hundreds into tithings or towns. Which division, as it now stands, seems to owe its original to king Alfred; who, to prevent the rapines and disorders which formerly prevailed in the realm, instituted tithings; so called from the Saxon, because ten freeholders, with their families, composed one. These all dwelt together, and were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other; and, if any offence was committed in their district, they were bound to have the offender forthcoming. And therefore anciently no man was suffered to abide in England above forty days, unless he were enrolled in some tithing or decennary.” 1 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 110 (1765).
