Very few who entered the sacred building then could have spelled out a single word of either the Old or New Testament, even if they had then been translated from Latin into English; but all, from the poorest peasant or the meanest slave up to the greatest noble, could read the meaning of the Scripture histories painted in brilliant colors on wall and window.

The church, furthermore, was a peculiarly sacred place.  It was powerful to shield those who were in danger.  If a criminal, or a person fleeing from vengeance, took refuge in it, he could not be seized until forty days had expired, during which time he had the privilege of leaving the kingdom and going into exile.

This “right of sanctuary” was often a needful protection in an age of violence.  In time, however, the system became an intolerable abuse, since it enabled robbers and desperadoes of all kinds to defy the law.  The right was modified at different times, but was not wholly abolished until 1624, in the reign of James I.

III.  Military Affairs

96.  The Army.

The army consisted of a national militia, or “fyrd,” and a feudal militia.  From the earliest times all freemen were obliged to fight in the defense of the country.  Under the feudal system, every large landholder had to furnish the King a stipulated number of men, fully equipped with armor and weapons.  As this method was found more effective than the first, it gradually superseded it.

The Saxons always fought on foot.  They wore helmets and rude, flexible armor, formed of iron rings, or of stout leather covered with small plates of iron and other substances.  They carried oval-shaped shields.  Their chief weapons were the spear, javelin, battle-ax, and sword.  The wars of this period were those of the different tribes seeking to get the advantage over each other, or of the English with the Danes.

97.  The Navy.

Until Alfred’s reign the English had no navy.  From that period they maintained a fleet of small warships to protect the coast from invasion.  Most of these vessels appear to have been furnished by certain ports on the south coast.

IV.  Literature, Learning, and Art

98.  Runes.

The language of the Saxons was of Low-German origin.  Many of the words resemble the German of the present day.  When written, the characters were called runes, mysteries or secrets.  The chief use of these runes was to mark a sword hilt, or some article of value, or to form a charm against evil and witchcraft.

It is supposed that one of the earliest runic inscriptions is the following, which dates from about 400 A.D.  It is cut on a drinking horn,[1] and (reproduced in English characters) stands thus: 

        EK HLEWAGASTIR — HOLTINGAR — HORNA — TAWIDO

        I, Hlewagastir, son of Holta, made the horn

[1] The golden horn of Gallehas, found on the Danish-German frontier.