Growth of the Manor 21 



This was a slow procedure, and when the Danes began to use 

 cavalry they were far into the country before an army could be 

 raised to meet them. The freemen began to see that it was 

 better for them to put themselves under the protection of a lord 

 who could maintain in readiness a large force, and pay him a con- 

 tribution towards its upkeep. The king also found this a much 

 more useful arrangement, especially when horsemen had to be 

 raised to meet the swift-moving invaders. In this way a system 

 grew up under which the king held one lord responsible for raising 

 the forces which were due from several townships, while the lord 

 was entitled to payment by the landholders in the townships for 

 the maintenance of these forces. This provided a more efficient 

 army, better trained and always ready to act. 



The worst of the trouble for the Anglo-Saxons from outside 

 had yet to come. Unfortunately for them this system had been 

 brought to greater perfection in France, and although France is 

 a pleasant and fruitful country there was one of the races which 

 occupied it whose leaders thought Britain still more desirable. 

 The Normans, whose ancestors had come from Scandinavia 

 several generations before, were, as events proved, one of the 

 greatest military races in the world. William, Duke of Normandy, 

 coveted the land of Britain. Looking at the Anglo-Saxons and 

 their leaders, and measuring his strength against theirs, he invaded 

 the country, and in a few years conquered it, extending his 

 supremacy more widely and thoroughly over it than any of their 

 own kings had done. Things were not settled at once. The 

 Anglo-Saxons fought hard for their possessions. Rebellions took 

 place, and in quelling them William waged war in a cruel and 

 terrible manner. He laid waste nearly the whole of Yorkshire, 

 and carried a campaign into the centre of Scotland. He hastened 

 the organization of the townships for military purposes. Most 

 of the Anglo-Saxon lords had perished or fled in the war. Their 

 lands were seized, as well as most of the lands of those who 



