ORIGIN OF THE PEOPLE. 441 



never again return to the degraded and servile state which marked 

 them in former days. The serf returned after an absence of years, 

 but no longer as an inferior being ; he now walked with the firm 

 and erect step of one who at length knew himself to be a man who 

 was conscious that he had acquired rights which were not his before. 

 He had ascended in the scale of society., and might now look around 

 without fear of meeting contempt and scorn. 



Even the peasants who remained at home, received advantages 

 from the crusading spirit. The deputy, to whom the seigneur had 

 delegated his jurisdiction, whilst absent, was unable to exercise the 

 sway which his master had held. The serfs regarded him not with 

 those feelings of reverence and respect which the presence of their 

 superior, however unworthy, had always called forth ; they hesitated 

 not to resist his mandates. This practice of resistance enduring for 

 years, at length became a settled habit ; the lord at his return could 

 no longer pursue his former system; where he expected to find 

 unhesitating compliance with his orders, he experienced determined 

 opposition, or what was almost as injurious to his power, a partial 

 and wavering obedience. 



But the beneficial effects perceptible in the condition of the lower 

 orders, from those sources, were of limited extent, when compared 

 with those resulting from other causes, springing from an origin 

 equally curious and singular. The noble stimulated by the united 

 impulses of religion and a love of glory, to place himself under the 

 sacred banner, was obliged to have recourse to various methods for 

 raising the requisite funds. The peasant by dint of hard labour and 

 the accumulation of years, had acquired a portion of property, which 

 though small, was yet sufficient to raise in his breast a wish to improve 

 his condition. He was acquainted with the necessities of his supe- 

 rior, and was willing to give up a portion of his property to purchase 

 an exemption from certain exactions and services, and to obtain im- 

 munities and privileges hitherto unknown to him. A commutation 

 of the claim of personal service for a sum of money paid at stipulated 

 periods, and serving as an acknowledgement of feudal superiority, 

 a permission to associate themselves in towns, accompanied with the 

 privilege of being governed by a magistrate chosen by themselves, a 

 right to keep a market, and to hold fairs, were amongst the principal 

 immunities purchased by the peasants from the necessities of their 

 superiors. From these causes, insignificant as they may appear, 

 arose a class destined in after years to produce one of the most 

 important changes ever effected upon the aspect and features of the 

 world, and become the pride of the nation which owned it, the surest 

 bulwark against the attacks of foreign foes, the true foundation of 

 public wealth, the depository of private virtue, the most resolute 

 assertor of civil rights, the most intrepid defender of freedom in a 

 word, the PEOPLE. 



Commerce, originating also in such a source, created as it advanced, 

 that freedom which was to give it strength and stability. The king- 

 doms, founded by the crusaders in Palestine, opened anew and untried 

 path to the commercial adventurer. A secure and commodious 

 station was afforded for the importation of goods from Europe, and 

 M. M. No. 94. 3 L 



