the two authorities side by side, that the text may be compared:

LII. William I., as given by Eadments. "De fide et obsequio erga
Regnum.

"Statuimus etiam ut omnes LIBERI HOMINES foedere et sacramento
affirment quod intra et extra univereum regnum Anglise (quod olim
vocabatur regnum Britanniae) Wilhielmo suo domino fideles ease
volunt, terras et honores ilius fidelitate ubique servare cum eo et
contra inimicos et alienigenas defendere."

Charter from Textus Roffensis, given by Mr. Stubbs.

"Statuimus etiam ut omnis liber homo feodere et sacramento
affirmet, quod intra et extra Angliam. Willelmo regi fideles ease
volunt, terras et honorem illius omni fidelitate cum eo servare et
ante eum contra inimicos defendere."

I think the documents I have quoted show that Sir Martin Wright,
Sir William Blackstone, and Messrs. Hallam and FREEMAN, labored
under a mistake in supposing that William had introduced or imposed
a new feudal law, or that the vassals of a lord swore allegiance to
the king. The introduction to the laws of William I. shows that it
was not a new enactment, or a Norman custom introduced into
England, and the law itself proves that it relates to FREEMEN, and
not to vassals.

The misapprehension of these authors may have arisen in this way:
William I. had two distinct sets of subjects. The NORMANS, who had
taken the oath of allegiance on obtaining investiture, and whose