2^2 THE MANNERS AND CUGTOMS 



The diiTerent ranks in fociety were, the king, 

 dukes, carls, lords, barons, efquircs, yeomen, vaiTals, 

 and fiayes *. . 



. The officers of the principal nobility were*, a 

 fteward of the hpufehold, chamberlain, chaplain, 

 almoner, ufner Ox^ the hall, gentleman of the horfe, 

 butler, cook, baker, door-keeper of thi chambers, 

 porter, groom of the horfe, and apparitor, with 

 their affiftantc. — One part of the ufner of the hall's 

 dutywas, every day after dinner, to deliver, in an 

 ■audible voice, an account of the expences of the 

 table for that day, and to admonifii all the perfons 

 prefcnt to economy. 



The king had the right of commanding every 

 perfon within his dominions to join his army at all 

 times when he thought it neceffary, and once a year 

 he had the.povv^er of finding them even beyond the 

 limits of his country.— During the abfence of the 

 king, the authority of the court was vefled in the 

 chaplain, the deward, and the judge. 



After thefe particulars relative to the Wclfh court, 

 and the high ranks of fociety, I fliall recite fome 

 particulars from the old'' lavv's, and then proceed 

 with the fubfequent hiflory of the manners of this 

 people. 



Little attention or refpeft feems to have been 

 paid by this race of warriors to the fair fex. By 

 one of thiir laws it is decreed, *' that whofoever 



* Erciiiii, Twyfonr, Jarll, Arglwydd, Barvvn, Uclicl'.vr, Gwr- 

 caiig, Alltudj and Catth. 



fiiould 



