144 &utns of (ltp$toiu palace, 



the country, and give the traveller a feeling of security 

 as he passes beside their gardens, or through the path- 

 ways which lead across the fields, are inhabited by a class 

 of men who had no political existence in the days of 

 John. These are the lesser barons. They originated 

 with the partition of the great estates which had been 

 given by the Norman conqueror to his immediate fol- 

 lowers, and which anciently conferred power on indivi- 

 dual families. Many of these had escheated to the crown 

 when the heads of them, having taken part in civil broils, 

 either fell in battle or fled into foreign lands. The king 

 then generally parcelled such estates among his courtiers 

 according to their merits ; others were divided, either to 

 make provisions for younger children, or partitioned 

 among coheirs, and hence originated a number of small 

 estates, which required economy in the management, and 

 caused the proprietor to remain much at home, where he 

 occupied himself in cultivating his paternal or appro- 

 priated acres, and in attending to his cattle. 



It is the wise policy of Edward, who resides much at 

 Clipstone Palace during the pleasant months of summer, 

 to encourage and protect the lower orders of society. He 

 is not ignorant concerning the transactions of other days ; 

 though a long interval has elapsed since the crown was 

 overawed by the turbulent barons in the days of John ; 

 since that stern and vindictive monarch sat sullenly 

 brooding over his sad condition, and devising schemes for 

 aggrandisement or revenge in the same apartment which 



