there was no separate order of NOBILITY under the ANGLO-SAXON rule.
The king had his councillors, but there appears to have been no
order between him and the FOLC-GEMOT. The Earls and the Thanes met
with the people, but did not form a separate body. The Thanes were
country gentleman, not senators. The outcome of the heptarchy was
the Earls or Ealdermen; this was the only order of nobility among
the Saxons; they corresponded to the position of lieutenants of
counties, and were appointed for life. In 1045 there were nine such
officers; in 1065 there were but six. Harold's earldom, at the
former date, comprised Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex; and
Godwin's took in the whole south coast from Sandwich to the Land's
End, and included Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Wilts, Devonshire, and
Cornwall. Upon the death of Godwin, Harold resigned his earldom,
and took that of Godwin, the bounds being slightly varied. Harold
retained his earldom after he became king, but on his death it was
seized upon by the Conqueror, and divided among his followers.

The Crown relied upon the LIBERI HOMINES or FREEMEN. The country
was not studded with castles filled with armed men. The HOUSE of
the Thane was an unfortified structure, and while the laws relating
to land were, in my view, essentially FEUDAL, the government was
different from that to which we apply the term FEUDALISM, which
appears to imply baronial castles, armed men, and an oppressed
people.

I venture to suggest to some modern writers that further inquiry
will show them that FOLC-LAND was not confined to commonages, or
unallotted portions, but that at the beginning it comprised all the
land of the kingdom, and that the occupant did not enjoy it as
owner-in-severalty; he had a good title against his fellow