A first book in American history with European beginnings . nglo-Saxons, and the gradual intermingling of the twotypes made the great English nation of to-day. Underthe Normans England was more alive, more up with thetimes than she had ever been before. The system of land grants and obedience to an over*,lord used by William was the great method of govern-ment in England and on the continent for many was known as the Feudal System. 44 BRITAIN, OR ENGLAND Under the Feudal System the king was supposed toown all the land in his kingdom, vast tracts of which hegranted to his great and loy
A first book in American history with European beginnings . nglo-Saxons, and the gradual intermingling of the twotypes made the great English nation of to-day. Underthe Normans England was more alive, more up with thetimes than she had ever been before. The system of land grants and obedience to an over*,lord used by William was the great method of govern-ment in England and on the continent for many was known as the Feudal System. 44 BRITAIN, OR ENGLAND Under the Feudal System the king was supposed toown all the land in his kingdom, vast tracts of which hegranted to his great and loyal nobles. In place of payingrent for their land these nobles knelt before the king and,putting their two hands between his, solemnly swore tobe faithful to his service and to defend his cause evenunto death. Just so long as they kept this oath, the landwas theirs, and they were known as vassals of the a vassal lived on his land in a great castle which,though it contained all the comforts then known, wouldseem grim and gloomy and forlorn Feudal Castle. The castle was surrounded by high, thick walls andoutside the walls was a deep ditch or moat which couldbe filled with water, and so prevent an attacking enemyfrom getting to the walls. A drawbridge across the moatwas the only entrance to the castle. When the bridge5 45 A FIRST BOOK IN AMERICAN HISTORY was drawn up the castle was entirely cut off from theoutside world. So you see that each castle was really afortress. That he might have loyal supporters to help him pro-tect his castle, the vassal of the king divided his landamong lesser nobles and knights, who became his vassalsjust as he was the kings. These estates were called manors. They, too, weredivided into still smaller parts and these parts were allotted to men calledserfs. A serf was al-lowed the use of hisstrip of land and waspromised return, he must givea good share of all heraised to the lord of themanor and must work agreat part of h
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