CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN ON JERUSALEM.

27

those other gallant refugees in Syria testify it wasnot courage or fidelity the Saxons wanted at Has-tings. The disastrous consequence of that fieldwas that almost all England was reduced toslavery—every one but Normans. Feudalism onthe most extensive and exclusive scale, withoutany one of the influences that tempered it in othercountries, embraced Anglo-Saxons, Danes, andevery reminiscence of the Heptarchy, levelling themall to the Britons, and branding them indiscrimi-nately as slaves and English ; for that every Nor-man was a gentleman, and every Englishman aslave.

Besides the Britons and their wives and families,and some of the free-born Saxons themselves, who,from debts or crimes had lost their liberty, or evenfrom want had voluntarily sold themselves, it wascalculated before the Conquest, that slaves formedtwo-thirds of the population of England. But nowthe Conquest prostrated to the same vile station thosewho had before been masters. Frightful retribution!The proud, war-like, and comparatively polishedNorman despised and abused the conquered. Williamwas ferocious on principle. His victims submittedto the yoke in sullen despair ; one unhappySaxon of royal descent went on a pilgrimage toJerusalem ; and coming home, died of a broken