Айвенго

Chapter 1

           Thenobles,whosepowerhadbecomeexorbitantduringthereignofStephen,andwhomtheprudenceofHenrytheSecondhadscarcereducedtosomedegreeofsubjectiontothecrown,hadnowresumedtheirancientlicenseinitsutmostextent;despisingthefeebleinterferenceoftheEnglishCouncilofState,fortifyingtheircastles,increasingthenumberoftheirdependants,reducingallaroundthemtoastateofvassalage,andstrivingbyeverymeansintheirpower,toplacethemselveseachattheheadofsuchforcesasmightenablehimtomakeafigureinthenationalconvulsionswhichappearedtobeimpending.

           Thesituationoftheinferiorgentry,orFranklins,astheywerecalled,who,bythelawandspiritoftheEnglishconstitution,wereentitledtoholdthemselvesindependentoffeudaltyranny,becamenowunusuallyprecarious.If,aswasmostgenerallythecase,theyplacedthemselvesundertheprotectionofanyofthepettykingsintheirvicinity,acceptedoffeudalofficesinhishousehold,orboundthemselvesbymutualtreatiesofallianceandprotection,tosupporthiminhisenterprises,theymightindeedpurchasetemporaryrepose;butitmustbewiththesacrificeofthatindependencewhichwassodeartoeveryEnglishbosom,andatthecertainhazardofbeinginvolvedasapartyinwhateverrashexpeditiontheambitionoftheirprotectormightleadhimtoundertake.

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