Spencer Heath Archive

Item 3193

Penciling by Heath in a notebook in originals (white) envelope 281. Last item in the notebook is dated Sept 16, 1936

 

 

Before the Conquest and on the Continent the king was a special one of the great barons who took on the service of general or national defense. He depended on the other barons for support —was in fact their hired leader. The only lands held of the king were the lands over which he was lord in his capacity as one of the barons or (in England Earls). After the Conquest William (who in Normandy held lands like any other lord or duke) made himself lord paramount by conquest. In this way his barons came to hold under him or, rather, his successors succeeded in establishing the idea that all lands were held ultimately of the king. William himself, sought election as the successor of Edmund and Harold, and the Saxon Witan did elect him king.

     Primogeniture was a Norman development under the military tenures. By the time of Henry III all estates were presumed to be entailed unless there was more evidence to the contrary (See Bracton, also Encyclopedia Britannica under Real Estate)

 

“… and the manner of its tenure and employment lies at the heart of political and economic science.” Encyclopedia Britannica on “Land.”

 

“Their slaves were not kept in the house, but each had a separate dwelling and an allowance of food, and they were treated with humanity, as servants or tenants.” Tacitus on the Germans, quoted in Cyc Brit art “Land”

 

The interest of the land owner is “strictly and indissolubly connected with the general interest of the society.” Cyc Brit 9^th ed. XIX 361. Quoting Adam Smith and Quesnay

Gournay rejected the Physiocratic doctrine of the sterility of commerce and manufactures (Ref above)