(English earls were created by the girding with a sword.

"Taking treasure, and weapons and horses, and feasting in a hall with the king" is synonymous with thane-hood or gesith-ship in "Beowulf's Lay").

A king's thanes must avenge him if he falls, and owe him allegiance.

(This was paid in the old English monarchies by kneeling and laying the head down at the lord's knee.) The trick by which the Mock-king, or King of the Beggars (parallel to our Boy-bishop, and perhaps to that enigmatic churls' King of the "O.

E.
Chronicle", s.a.1017, Eadwiceorla-kyning) gets allegiance paid to him, and so secures himself in his attack on the real king, is cleverly devised.