An attentive consideration of the state of the kingdom at that critical time may, perhaps, in some measure, lay open to us the cause of this extraordinary revolution.

The nobility of England, in which its strength consisted, was much decayed.

Wars and confiscations, but above all the custom of gavelkind, had reduced that body very low.

At the same time some few families had been, raised to a degree of power unknown in the ancient Saxon times, and dangerous in all.

Large possessions, and a larger authority, were annexed to the offices of the Saxon magistrates, whom they called Aldermen.