Ontario High School History of England . nglish Parlia-ments were, above all,councils of war, in whicharmed men decided thequestions. The Witenagemot.—The kings power tended to increase,that of the people to decline. As the political divisionsgrew in size, the villagers found themselves too poverty-stricken to send their chief men on the long j oumey to thefolkriioot and gradually the central government passedinto the hands of the king and his friends. In time, allceased to attend the national meeting, but such leaders inthe counties as the bishop, the alderman, or headman, of theshire, the ab
Ontario High School History of England . nglish Parlia-ments were, above all,councils of war, in whicharmed men decided thequestions. The Witenagemot.—The kings power tended to increase,that of the people to decline. As the political divisionsgrew in size, the villagers found themselves too poverty-stricken to send their chief men on the long j oumey to thefolkriioot and gradually the central government passedinto the hands of the king and his friends. In time, allceased to attend the national meeting, but such leaders inthe counties as the bishop, the alderman, or headman, of theshire, the abbots of the chief monasteries, and other greatmen. These formed the Witenagemot—the meeting of wisemen. It was the Witan, or wise men, who elected the kingand who could depose him if he proved unworthy. Theyhad the right to be consulted when he wished to levy taxes,to raise an army, or to take any other important a strong king they might do little; it was when theking proved weak that their power was real. More and more. Ploughing, Eleventh Century BRITAIN BEFORE THE CONQUEST 37 the royal court became the centre of social and politicallife. Surrounding the king were his thanes (a word meaningservants)—a^ chosen war-band, devoted to his personalservice, and ready, if need be, to give their lives for the king died in battle, it was disgraceful for the thaneto survive. These friends and counsellors became thenobles about the throne. The lord of the manor.—It happened, in course of time,that the free communities of villagers died out. In someway, we scarcely know how, the village came under thecontrol of a lord. It is likely that, when the Danes beganto ravage England, the villagers, helpless to resist suchsavage attacks, asked the nearest earl to protect them. Hedid so, but on condition that they should serve him. Thus,the village and its surrounding land became a manor undera lord of the manor, who, for the aid which he gave, hadthe right to demand a f
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