A great convenience to a man, who had neither power, wit, nor will to keep the property in his own hands.

So the Dirks of Holland get a deed from Charles the Simple, and, although the grace of God does not prevent the royal grantor himself from dying a miserable, discrowned captive, the conveyance to Dirk is none the less hallowed by almighty fiat.

So the Roberts and Guys, the Johns and Baldwins, become sovereigns in Hainault, Brabant, Flanders and other little districts, affecting supernatural sanction for the authority which their good swords have won and are ever ready to maintain.

Thus organized, the force of iron asserts and exerts itself.

Duke, count, seignor and vassal, knight and squire, master and man swarm and struggle amain.