22 Social Environment 



into something of a conventional routine. The 

 system rested ultimately on the divine right of 

 the battle axe, but was materially bulwarked 

 by the political activities of religion, with its 

 powerful appeal to the rewards and punish- 

 ments of a future world. 



The feudal game had somewhat lost its zest 

 and was not absorbing the whole of the grow- 

 ing energies of the people, so beneath the ques- 

 tionable shelter of a monarch and a nobility, 

 business began to germinate and put forth 

 shoots. Meanwhile the barons were eliminat- 

 ing themselves by their fierce rivalries, and 

 business further expanded until it began to 

 press against the property interests of the 

 church, which had come into possession of a 

 large share of the best farming lands. Busi- 

 ness now showed evidence of a conscience 

 which was peculiarly sensitive to all moral 

 lapses occurring among the churchmen admin- 

 istering the ecclesiastical estates, the upshot of 

 which was that the estates changed hands. 

 Decorating themselves with the titles of the 

 fallen or deposed nobles, the merchants came 

 into possession of the monastic property, and 

 assumed that position of importance to which 

 Providence seemed to be calling them. Their 



