In the northern Netherlands, the degraded condition of the mass continued longest.

Even in Friesland, liberty, the dearest blessing of the ancient Frisians, had been forfeited in a variety of ways.

Slavery was both voluntary and compulsory.

Paupers sold themselves that they might escape starvation.
The timid sold themselves that they might escape violence.

These voluntary sales, which were frequent, wore usually made to cloisters and ecclesiastical establishments, for the condition of Church-slaves was preferable to that of other serfs.