In the state of things which we are now considering, the noble belongs to the class of freemen; out of it he springs, in all its rights and privileges he shares, to all its duties he is liable, but in a different degree. He possesses however certain advantages which the freeman does not. Like the latter he is a holder of real estate; he owns land in the district, but his lot is probably larger, and is moreover free from various burthens which press upon his less fortunate neighbour. He must also take part in the Ðing, _placitum_, or general meeting, but he and his class have the leading and directing of the public business, and ultimately the execution of the general will[218]. The people at large may elect, but he alone can be elected, to the offices of priest, judge or king. Upon his life and dignity a higher price is laid than upon those of the mere freeman. He is the unity in the mass, the representative of the general sovereignty, both at home and abroad. The tendency of his power is continually to increase, while that of the mere freeman is continually to diminish, falling in the scale in exact proportion as that of the noble class rises. ----- Footnote 218: “De minoribus rebus principes consultant; de majoribus omnes. Ita tamen ut ea quoque quorum penes plebem arbitrium est, apud principes pertractentur.” Tac. Germ. xi. Something similar to this probably prevailed in the Dorian constitution, and in the old Ionian before the establishment of the great democracy. The mass of the people might accept or reject, but hardly, I think, debate the propositions of the nobles. After all the πρόβουλοι seem necessary in all states. See Arist. Polit. iv. § 15. ----- The distinctive name of the noble is >Ëorl[219]. Æðele, _nobilis_, and Ríce, _potens_, denote his qualities, and he bears other titles according to the accidents of his social position: thus ealdor, ealdorman, _princeps_; wita, weota, _consiliarius_; optimas; _senior_; _procer_; _melior_, etc. In addition to his own personal privileges, the noble possesses in the fullest extent every right of the freeman, the highest order of whose body he forms. ----- Footnote 219: In the Rígsmál, Jarl is the progenitor of all the noble races, as Karl is of the free. ----- CHAPTER VI. THE KING.