Spencer Heath Archive

Item 935

Further notes on feudalism from the Pittsfield MA Library, two days later than Item 934.

July 27, 1950

Original -> 912

 

 

Myers, Medieval & Modern History   1902

Page 165   “In some countries, as in England and Scandi­navia, there grew up a form of feudal society which was almost entirely uninfluenced by Roman institutions; while in France a very different and much more perfect feudal system was developed, whose forms were determined largely by Gallo-Roman influence.

Federalism analogous to feudalism. Page 168 Note

Feudalism rendered impossible the formation of strong national governments.  Page 178

Kept alive the spirit of liberty.  Page 180

Feudalism — Encyclopedia Britannica 13th Edition page 300 Vol X

Among its fundamental principles:  “… and the principle of contract between lord and tenant (free-man), as determining all rights, controlling their modification, and forming the foundation of all law.

Their respective obligations were “determined by local custom,” but were “just as definite as if committed to writing.”

Page 301.  “To understand the feudal state it is essen­tial to make clear to one’s mind that all sorts of services, which men ordinarily owe to the public or to one another, were translated into a form of rent paid for the use of land, and defined and enforced by a private contract.”

See also page 475, Vol IX, English History. “Full operation before the Conquest.” Estates were not coterminous.

See also Seebohm’s The English Village Community, and P. Vinogradoff, Villeinage in England.

Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol 14, 1943, page 820. Manor – Economic unit, also political