PEONAGE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Peonage

... to be absolutely free, because they had but little chance to protect themselves; so it was the common custom to attach one's self to a feudal lord in order to have his protection; even a sort of peonage or slavery under him was better than no protection at all. A few of the people were engaged in trade and manufacture of some kind or other, and they were the only ones through whom the feudal lord could supply himself with the commodities needed for his retainers ...

— Commercial Geography - A Book for High Schools, Commercial Courses, and Business Colleges • Jacques W. Redway