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Updated: June 22, 2025
They were bound to pay suit and service at the court of their baron: and as their tenure was military, and consequently honourable, they were admitted into his society, and partook of his friendship. Thus, a kingdom was considered only as a great barony, and a barony as a small kingdom. PAR Cujac. Commun. in Lib. Feud. lib. I. tit. p. 18. Spellm.
The EXECUTIVE power of the Anglo-Norman government was lodged in the king. He could at his pleasure command the attendance of his barons and their vassals, in which consisted the military force of the kingdom; and could employ them, during forty days, either in resisting a foreign enemy, or reducing his rebellious subjects. Orig. Jurid. p. 15. Spellm. Gloss. Sacra, vol. i. p. 334, &c. Dugd. Orig.
But as this attendance was usually esteemed a burden, and one too great for a man of slender fortune to bear constantly, it is probable that, though he had a title, if he pleased, to be admitted, he was not obliged, by any penalty, like the barons, to pay a regular attendance. Spellm. Gloss. in verb.
In the Saxon times, land was divided equally among all the male children of the deceased, according to the custom of Gavelkind. Spellm. Their best quality was their military courage, which yet was not supported by discipline or conduct.
The Saxon Annals, p. 49, inform us, that it was in early times the prerogative of the king to name the dukes, earls, aldermen, and sheriffs of the counties. Asser, a contemporary writer, informs us, that Alfred deposed all the ignorant aldermen, and appointed men of more capacity in their place. Spellm.
Spellm. Gloss. in verb. It is remarkable, that this family of d'Arcy seems to be the only male descendants of any of the Conqueror's barons now remaining among the Peers. Gloss. in verb. Bar. vol. i. p. 79. Ibid. It is not doubted but the archbishops, bishops, and most considerable abbots, were constituent members of this council.
These great barons, who held immediately of the crown, shared out a great part of their lands to other foreigners, who were denominated knights or vassals, and who paid their lord the same duty and submission in peace and war, which he himself owed to his sovereign. Vital. p. 523. Spellm. M. Paris, p. 4. Bracton, lib. 1. cap. II. num. 1.
William allowed the pope's legate to assemble, in his absence, a synod at Winchester, in order to establish the celibacy of the clergy; but the church of England could not yet be carried the whole length expected. Flor. Wigorn. p. 638. Spellm.
When William's profaneness therefore returned to him with his health, he was soon engaged in controversies with this austere prelate. M. Paris, p. 13. Diceto, p. 494. Spellm. M. Paris, p. 13. Sim. Flor. Wigorn. p. 649. Sim. Dunelm. p. 224.
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