408 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



lates, and other great men of the kingdom. . . . As the influence 

 of the peasantry had declined, whilst the burghers did not yet enjoy 

 any share of political power, the constitution, although disjointed and 

 fluctuating, was rapidly approaching the form it ultimately assumed ; 

 that of a feudal and sacerdotal oligarchy.&quot; 



Another influence conducing to loss of power by the armed 

 freemen, and gain of power by the armed chiefs who form 

 the consultative body, follows that widening of the occupied 

 area which goes along with the compounding and re-com 

 pounding of societies. As Eichter remarks of the Mero 

 vingian period, &quot; under Chlodovech and his immediate 

 successors, the people assembled in arms had a real participa 

 tion in the resolutions of the king. But, with the increasing 

 size of the kingdom, the meeting of the entire people became 

 impossible : &quot; only those who lived near the appointed places 

 could attend. Two facts, one already given under another 

 head, may be named as illustrating this effect. &quot;The 

 greatest national council in Madagascar is an assembly of the 

 people of the capital, and the heads of the provinces, districts, 

 towns, villages,&quot; &c. ; and, speaking of the English Witenage- 

 mot, Mr. Freeman says &quot; sometimes we find direct mention 

 of the presence of large and popular classes of &quot;men, as the 

 citizens of London or Winchester : &quot; the implication in both 

 cases being that all freemen had a right to attend, but that 

 only those on the spot could avail themselves of the right. 

 This cause for restriction, which is commented upon by Mr. 

 Freeman, operates in several ways. When a kingdom has 

 become large, the actual cost of a journey to the place fixed 

 for the meeting, is too great to be borne by a man who owns 

 but a few acres. Further, there is the indirect cost entailed 

 by loss of time, which, to one who personally labours or 

 superintends labour, is serious. Again, there is the danger, 

 which in turbulent times is considerable, save to those who go 

 with bodies of armed retainers. And, obviously, these deter 

 rent causes must tell where, for the above reasons, the incen 

 tives to attend have become small. 



Yet one more cause co-operates. An assembly of all the 



