240 Wisconsin Academy of Scieyices, Arts, and Letters. 



Thrall. Inasmuch as my concern is simply with the historical 

 value of the term eorl, as applied to the Anglo-Saxon classes, 

 its mythical or praehistoric value makes no difference to my 

 argument. 1 will only mention, to show how little consistency 

 there is iu this mythical genealogy, that among the sons, not 

 of Jarl, but of Karl are, besides Smidr (Smith) and Bondi 

 (peasent) ; Thegn, which is the title of the later nobility ia 

 England, and which even as early as Beowulf (v. 3293, eald- 

 or Thegna, prince of Thegns) indicated a vassal of rank ; and 

 Hauldr, the designation, according to Dahlmann,' of " a genuine 

 primitive nobility," and which we find also among the Danish 

 invaders of England," and afterwards as the highest nobility 

 in the Danish parts of England.^ 



We are warranted, therefore, in the conclusion that, although 

 there are a few expressions a little hard to explain, there is 

 nothing really inconsistent with the view supported by the 

 great weight of evidence — that ^ar/ originally designated some 

 purely personal rank or position — one to which even a peasant, 

 cemi, could rise. It must have been the title either of a class 

 of officers or magistrates, or of the personal followers of the 

 king. 



1 ii., p. 304. 



2 Sax. Chr., A. D. 905, 911,91.5. 



5 Of Wergild's, North County Laws, 4. 



