work of centuries, but the
great principles underlying it have never changed. At every stage of
their progress the English people and their descendants throughout the
globe have claimed the right of self-government; and, if we except the
period of the Norman Conquest, whenever that right has been
persistently withheld or denied, the people have risen in arms and
regained it.

2. Conquest of Britain; Origin and Power of the King.

After the Romans abandoned Britain the English invaded the island
449(?), and in the course of a hundred and fifty years conquered it
and established a number of rival settlements. The native Britons
were, in great part, killed off or driven to take refuge in Wales and
Cornwall.

The conquerors brought to their new home the methods of government and
modes of life to which they had been accustomed in Germany. A cluster
of towns--that is, a small number of enclosed habitations (S103)--
formed a hundred (a district having either a hundred families or able
to furnish a hundred warriors); a cluster of hundreds formed a shire
or county. Each of these divisions had its public meeting, composed
of all its freemen or their representatives, for the management of its
own affairs. But a state of war--for the English tribes fought each
other as well as fought the Britons--made a strong central government
necessary. For this reason the leader of each tribe was made king.
At first he was chosen, at large, by the entire tribe; later, unless
there was some good reason for a different choice, the King's eldest
son was selected as his successor. Thus the right to rule was
practically fixed in the line of a certain family descent.

The ruler of each of these petty kingdoms acted as commander-in-chief
in war, and as supreme judge in law.

3. The Witenagemot, or General Council.

In all other respects the King's authority was limited--except when he
was strong enough to get his own way--by the Witenagemot, or General
Council. This body consisted of the chief men of each kingdom acting
in behalf of its people.[1] IT exercised the following powers: (1) It
elected the King, and if the people confirmed the choice, he was
crowned. (2) If the King proved unsatisfactory, the Council might
depose him and choose a successor. (3) The King, with the consent of
the Council, made the laws,--that is, he declared the customs of the
tribe. (4) The King, with the Council, appointed the chief officers
of the kingdo