COUNTRY LIFE. 123 



the possessors, but to set forth in detail the number 

 of measures of land, or hydes, as they were then called, 

 the number of domestic animals, ploughs, &c. The in- 

 quiry lasted six years, and proves a pretty fair advance- 

 ment in agriculture. The record includes all the country 

 actually subdued to the Norman rule ; that is to say, the 

 whole of England as far as north of York. The Nor- 

 thumberland mountains (and Durham) alone were ex- 

 cepted. 



During the middle ages the whole history of England 

 is taken up with contentions between the barons and 

 the Crown, respecting the possession of their lands. At 

 one time (in 1101) they obtained from Henry I. an edict 

 thus worded, " I concede in fee simple to all knights who 

 defend themselves with helmet and sword the free pos- 

 session of the lands cultivated by their seignorial ploughs, 

 in order that they may provide themselves with arms and 

 horses for our service and the defence of the kingdom." 

 A century afterwards (in 1215), they took advantage of 

 John's weakness, and forced him to sign the Magna 

 Charta, confirming their right of property, and enabling 

 them to defend it in the sovereign assemblies. Forced 

 to seek support from the entire population, in order to 

 overcome the opposition of the sovereign, they took care 

 at the same time to stipulate for certain rights for the 

 commons, and thus it is that the origin of English politi- 

 cal liberty is mixed up with the rights of feudal property. 



From the days of King John until now it is always 

 among the rural population that the true national cha- 

 racter the fighting people is to be found ; the towns 

 show nothing of it. The sovereigns themselves, yield- 

 ing to the national feeling, seek less than elsewhere 

 to diminish the power of the feudal lords. Notwith- 

 standing the absolute power enjoyed by Henry VIIL 



