"Here begin the laws of Edward, the glorious king of England.

"After the fourth year of the succession to the kingdom of William
of this land, that is England, he ordered all the English noble and
wise men and acquainted with the law, through the whole country, to
be summoned before his council of barons, in order to be acquainted
with their customs, Having therefore selected from all the counties
twelve, they were sworn solemnly to proceed as diligently as they
might to write their laws and customs, nothing omitting, nothing
adding, and nothing changing."

Then follow the laws, thirty-nine in number, thus showing the
continuity of system, and proving that William imposed upon his
Norman followers the laws of the ANGLO-SAXONs. They do not include
the LII. William I., to which I shall refer hereafter. I may,
however, observe that the demonstration at Salisbury was not of a
legislative character; and that it was held in conformity with
ANGLO-SAXON usages. If, according to Stubbs, the ordinance was a
charter, it would proceed from the king alone. The idea involved in
the statements of Sir Martin Wright, Mr. Hallam, and Mr. FREEMAN,
that the VASSAL OF A LORD was then called on to swear allegiance to
the KING, and that it altered the feudal bond in England, is not
supported by the oath of vassalage. In swearing fealty, the vassal
knelt, placed his hands between those of his lord's, and swore:

"I become your man from this day forward, of life and limb, and of
earthly worship, and unto you shall be true and faithful, and bear
you faith for the tenements at that I claim to hold of you, saving
the faith that I owe unto our Sovereign Lord the King."