Studies on Anglo-Saxon Institutions

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL. 1. The King's Thegns. Our information regarding the composition of the national council is derived mainly from charters, though this evidence is supplemented and confirmed by notices in historical works and by the prefaces to some of the laws. Throughout the historical period the council contained two elements, ecclesiastical and lay, both of which are usually represented in the signatures to charters. On the ecclesiastical element little need be said. It consisted of bishops (including archbishops) and frequently also of abbots. In early charters we also find not infrequently the signatures of abbesses1 and priests; but in the course of the ninth century these become rare. The composition of the lay element in early times is a matter of much greater doubt, owing partly to the uncertainty as to the meaning-of the terms used and partly to the fact that many persons attest the 1 It is to be remembered that the abbesses of early times were frequently, if not usually, the widows or daughters of kings. charters without any title. In the tenth century, however, and indeed from the time of Aethelwulf onwards, it is clear that all the lay members of the council, except members of the royal family1 and foreign (usually Welsh) under-kings, belonged to one or other of two classes, viz. earls and thegns'. The titles of the former class, as well as their numbers from time to time and the character of their office, have already been discussed. We will therefore in the following pages confine our attention to the second class of persons, those who in Latin bear the title minister (regis) or (less frequently) miles and in English the title (cyninges) egn. The position of the thegn has been discussed to some ext...