To support him in both of these, it was necessary that he should have a competent estate.

Therefore in this service of the king, this attendance on himself, and this estate to support both, the dignity of a thane consisted.

I understand here a thane of the first order.
[Sidenote: Hallmote, or Court-Baron.] Every thane, in the distribution of his lands, had two objects in view: the support of his family, and the maintenance of his dignity.

He therefore retained in his own hands a parcel of land near his house, which in the Saxon times was called inland, and afterwards his demesne, which served to keep up his hospitality: and this land was cultivated either by slaves, or by the poorer sort of people, who held lands of him by the performance of this service.

The other portion of his estate he either gave for life or lives to his followers, men of a liberal condition, who served the greater thane, as he himself served the king.
They were called Under Thanes, or, according to the language of that time, Theoden.[56] They served their lord in all public business; they followed him in war; and they sought justice in his court in all their private differences.