274 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

Appendix of men, the noble, the free, and the slaves TT .

I. This distinction they brought over with theminto Britain.

The nobles were called thanes; and were oftwo kinds, the king’s thanes and lesser thanes.The latter seem to have been dependent on theformer; and to have received lands, for whichthey paid rent, services, or attendance in peaceand war ' 4 . We know of no title, which raisedany one to the rank of thane, except noble birthand the possession of land. The former was alwaysmuch regarded by all the German nations evenin their most barbarous state ; and as the Saxonnobility , having little credit, could scarcely bur-then their estates with much debt, and as thecommons had little trade or industry by whichthey could accumulate riches, these two ranks ofmen, even though they were not separated bypositive laws , might remain long distinct , andthe noble families continue many ages in opulenceand splendour. There were no middle rank of men,that could gradually mix with their superiors ,and insensibly procure to themselves honourand distinction. If by any extraordinary accident,a mean person acquired riches, a circumstance sosingular made him be known and remarked ; hebecame the object of envy , as well as of indigna-tion , to all the nobles; he would have greatdifficulty to defend what he had acquired; and

I! Nitliard. Hist. lib. 4.

14 Spellm. Feuds and Tenures, p. 4©,