How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #1
There was little my mother or I could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were we free. The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins—serfs—bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village. (3.8)
Yeah, so the feudal system worked out a way to take slavery up a notch by saying people weren't technically slaves. Could they leave? No. Could they marry whom they wanted to? No. Could they refuse to work? No. Could they pay taxes? Yes. Could they pay rent? You betcha.
Quote #2
Then they spoke bitterly of the things the steward had done: how he had increased their labors, imposed countless fines, taken many taxes, increased punishments, and, all in all, limited their ancient freedoms by being a tyrant in the name of Lord Furnival. (7.14)
Despite the fact that serfs are, for all practical purposes, slaves, there's still the idea that the lord has responsibilities toward them. Clearly Lord Furnival is not taking care of his, though.
Quote #3
"Dearest boy," the priest said wearily, "I beg you to find your way to some town or city with its own liberties. If you can stay there for a year and a day, you'll gain your freedom." (8.50)
Add another wrinkle to the complexity of the Medieval system. While manors like Stromford belonged to a lord, some towns and cities belonged to themselves. If a serf could live there for a year and a day without being captured, that person would then be free.