to seize upon the lands of Harold and his adherents, and to grant
them as rewards to his followers. Such confiscation and gifts were
entirely in accord with existing usages, and the great alteration
which took place in the principal fiefs was more a change of
persons than of law. A large body of the aboriginal people had
been, and continued to be, serfs or villeins; while the mass of the
FREEMEN (LIBERI HOMINES) remained in possession of their holdings.

It may not be out of place here to say a few words about this
important class, which is in reality the backbone of the British
constitution; it was the mainstay of the ANGLO-SAXON monarchy; it
lost its influence during the civil wars of the Plantagenets, but
reasserted its power under Cromwell. Dr. Robertson thus draws the
line between them and the vassals:

"In the same manner Liber homo is commonly opposed to Vassus or
Vassalus, the former denoting an allodial proprietor, the latter
one who held of a superior. These FREEMEN were under an obligation
to serve the state, and this duty was considered so sacred that
FREEMEN were prohibited from entering into holy orders, unless they
obtained the consent of the sovereign."

De Lolme, chap. i., sec. 5, says:

"The Liber homo, or FREEMAN, has existed in this country from the
earliest periods, as well as of authentic as of traditionary
history, entitled to that station in society as one of his
constitutional rights, as being descended from free parents in
contradistinction to 'villains,' which should be borne in
remembrance, because the term 'FREEMAN' has been, in modern times,