that the proprietary right lay in the nation, as represented by the
king. If we adopt the poetic idea of the Brehon code, that "land is
perpetual man," then HOMAGE for land was not a degrading
institution. But it is repugnant to our ideas to think that any man
can, on any ground, or for any consideration, part with his
manhood, and become by homage the "man" of another.

The Norman chieftains claimed to be peers of the monarch, and to
sit in the councils of the nation, as barons-by-tenure and not by
patent. This was a decided innovation upon the usages of the Anglo-
Saxons, and ultimately converted the Parliament, the FOLC-GEMOT,
into two branches. Those who accompanied the king stood in the same
position as the companions of Romulus, they were the PATRICIANS;
those subsequently called to the councils of the sovereign by
patent corresponded with the Roman NOBILES. No such patents were
issued by any of the Norman monarchs. But the insolence of the
Norman nobles led to the attempt made by the successors of the
Conqueror to revive the Saxon earldoms as a counterpoise. The
weakness of Stephen enabled the greater fudges to fortify their
castles, and they set up claims against the Crown, which aggravated
the discord that arose in subsequent reigns.

The "Saxon Chronicles," p. 238, thus describes the oppressions of
the nobles, and the state of England in the reign of Stephen:

"They grievously oppressed the poor people with building castles,
and when they were built, filled them with wicked men, or rather
devils, who seized both men and women who they imagined had any
money, threw them into prison, and put them to more cruel tortures
than the martyrs ever endured; they suffocated some in mud, and