182
THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
[book i.
of subservience to the king’s wishes : a bond of
affection and interdependence surpassing that of
blood, and replacing the mutual free guarantee of
life and security, was formed between them ; and
they shared alike in the joys and sorrows, the
successes and reverses of peace and war : but with
it all, and whatever, their rank, they were in fact
menials, housed within the walls, fed at the table,
clothed at the expense of their chief ; dependent
upon his bounty, his gratitude or forbearance, for
their subsistence and position in life ; bound to
sacrifice that life itself in his service, and, strictly
considered, incapable of contracting marriage or
sharing in the inestimable sanctities of a home.
They were his cupbearers, stewards, chamberlains
and grooms ; even as kings and electors were to
stand. Cod. Dipl. No. 68δ. In the time of ÆSelred, Wulfwaru, a lady,
commences her will in these words : "Ic Wulfwaru bidde mine Ieofan
hlâford Æ'Selred kyning, him to ælmyssan, 8æt ic mote beən mines
cwides wyrSe ; ” ». e. that I may be worthy of my right of devising
by will ; that I may enjoy my right of making a will. Cod. Dipl.
No. 094. Ælfgyfu the queen in 1012 commences her will in similar
terms: “Dis is Ælfgyfe gegurning to hire Cynehlaforde. Dæt is 8æt
heo hine bitt for Godes Iufun and for Cynescipe fet heo mote beou
hyre cwides wyrδe.υ Cod. Dipl. No. 721. ÆtSelstân, king √E^δelred's
son, made also a will, from which I take the following passage : “ Now
I thank my father, with all humility, in the name of Almighty God,
for the answer which he sent me on the Friday after Midsummer day,
by Ælfgâr Æffa’s son ; that was, that he told me, upon my father's
word, that I might, by God’s leave and his, grant my realty and chattels,
as I thought best, whether for spiritual or temporal ends. And the wit-
nesses to this answer are Eadmund,” etc. Cod. Dipl. No. 722. Lastly,
Ælfhelm concludes his will with these words : “ Now I entreat thee,
my dear lord, that my will may stand, and that thou permit not that
any man should set it aside. God is my witness that I was ever obe-
dient to thy father, to the utmost of my power, and full faithful to
him both in mind and main, and have ever been faithful to thee, in full
faith and full love, as God is my witness.” Cod. Dipl. No. 9C7.
св. vπ.]
THE NOBLE BY SERVICE.
183
the emperor, whom they had raised out of their
own body. The real nature of their service appears
even through the haze of splendour and dignity
which gradually surround the intimate servants
of royalty; and as the chief might select his co-
mités and instruments from what class he chose,
it was the fate of these voluntary thanes, not un-
frequently to be numbered in the same category
with the unfree by birth, and thus, in their own
persons, to witness the destruction of that essential
principle of all Teutonic law, the distinction be-
tween the freeman and the serf1.
Great indeed ought to be the advantages which
could compensate for sacrifices like these, and great
in their eyes, beyond a doubt, they were. In re-
turn for freedom, the gesfδ obtained a certain main-
tenance, the chance of princely favour, a military
and active life of adventure, with all its advantages
of pillage, festivals and triumphs, poets and min-
strels, courtly halls and adventitious splendour ;
the usufruct at least, and afterwards the possession,
of lands and horses, arms and jewels. As the royal
power steadily advanced by his assistance, and the
old, national nobility of birth, as well as the old,
landed freeman sunk into a lower rank, the gesil5
found himself rising in power and consideration pro-
portioned to that of his chief : the offices which had
“ Libertini non ɪnultum supra servos sunt, raro aliquod momentum
in domo, nunquam in civitate ; exceptis duntaxat iis gentibus, quae
regnantur: ibi enim et super ingenues et super nobiles ascendunt:
apud caeteros impares Iibertini Iibertatis argumentum sunt.” Tac
ɑerɪu. χχv.