This expedient of buying off the invader was first adopted in 991 on the advice of certain great men of the kingdom.
The money needed for these, for his wars, and for buying off the barbarians who threatened the frontiers, had to be obtained by increasing the burdens of the people.
Even the manorial system admitted the buying off for money of particular dues in kind and of specific performance of work.
Such rents were called mal or mail in contrast with the gafol, ancient rents which had been imposed independently, apart from any buying off of customary services.
By the beginning of 1616, Gustavus had become convinced of the impossibility of partitioning reunited Muscovy, while Muscovy recognized the necessity of buying off the invincible Swedes by some cession of territory.
