236 hints on chivalry. -^ug. 21. 



They followed tht chieftain who led them forth in 

 quest of new settlements, not by constraint, but from 

 choice ; not as soldiers whom he could order to march, 

 but as voluntiers who offered to accompany him. 

 They considered their conquests as common property, 

 in which all had a title to fhare, as all had conttibuted 

 to acquire them. Every free man, upon receiving a 

 portion of the lands which were divided, bound 

 himself to appear in arms against the enemies of 

 the community. This military service was the 

 condition on which they received their lands ; and 

 this tenure, among a warlike people, was deemed 

 both easy and honourable. The king or general, 

 who led them to conquest, continuing still to be 

 the head of the colony, had, of course, the largest 

 portion allotted to him. Having thus acquired the 

 means of rewarding past services, as well as of 

 gaining new adherents, he parcelled out his lands 

 with this view, binding those on whom they were 

 bestowed, to follow his standard with a number of 

 men in proportion to the extent of territory which 

 they received ; and to bear arms in hi§ defence. 

 His chief officers imitated the example of their 

 sovereign } and, in distributing portions of their 

 lands among their dependents, annexed the same 

 conditions to the grant. This new division of 

 property, together with the maxims and manners 

 to which it gave rise, gradually introduced a 

 species of government formerly unknown. Thi.n 

 singular institution is now distinguifhed by the 

 jiame of iti& feudal i^stem. ^ 



