The beginnings of English society : an account, based on contemporary evidence, of the life and thought of the Anglo-Saxons from their first invasion of romanized Britain to the battle of Hastings

It is the aim of this book to draw together from all types of sources evidence relating to the life and thought of the Anglo-Saxons, from the time when they first took possession of the Romanized province of Britain until their unsuccessful stand for freedom at the Battle of Hastings, It deals with their religion in heathen times, with the ethics on which their society was based, with their institutions, and with their standards of living. It shows how all these things were modified by the acceptance of the Christian faith, and how, under the influence of the wider contacts then established, there resulted in this outpost of the civilized world a remarkable culture. There are also chapters on church organization and on the achievements in literature, Latin or vernacular, and in art. The whole account is obtained by fitting together the actual evidence, and where, as often happens, this is fragmentary, no attempt is made to fill the gaps with a fancy picture which cannot be substantiated. PREFACE 7 I. THE HEATHEN ENGLISH II II. THE BONDS OF SOCIETY 2Q Loyalty to one’s Lord Duty to one’s Kin III. THE KING AND HIS COURT 48 IV. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 64 Finance Royal Officials V. THE CLASSES OF SOCIETY 83 The Nobleman The Churl The Slave VI. TRADE AND TOWN LIFE II5 Trade Towns VII. THE LAW I34 VIII. THE CHURCH I55 IX. EDUCATION AND LATIN SCHOLARSHIP 189 X. VERNACULAR LITERATURE 2O4 XI. ANGLO-SAXON ART 223 XII. CONCLUSION 24I SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 244 INDEX 249