“Imprimis ut omnes iurent in nomine Domini, pro quo sanctum illud sanctum est, fidelitatem Eádmundo regi, sicut homo debet esse fidelis domino suo, sine omni controversia et seditione, in manifesto, in occulto, in amando quod amabit, nolendo quod nolet.” Eádm. iii. § 1. Thorpe, i. 252. “And it is our will, that every man above twelve years of age, make oath that he will neither be a thief, nor cognizant of theft.” Cnut, ii. § 21. Thorpe, i. 388. “Omnis enim duodecim annos habens et ultra, in alicuius frithborgo esse debet et in decenna; sacramentumque regi et hæredibus suis facere fidelitatis, et quod nec latro erit, nec latrocinio consentiet.” Fleta, lib. i. cap. 27. § 4. This was the basis upon which the associations of freemen among the Anglosaxons entered into their alliances, offensive and defensive, with their kings. Charlemagne caused an oath to be taken to himself as emperor, by all his subjects above twelve years old. Dönniges, p. 3. The Hyldáð or oath of fealty is given in the Anc. Laws, i. 178. The dependent engages to love all the lord loves, and shun all that he shuns: these are the technical terms throughout Europe. The king himself took a corresponding oath to his people. We still have the words of that which was administered by Dúnstán to Æðelred at Kingston. “Ðis gewrit is gewriten, stæf be “This writing is copied, letter for stæfe, be ðám gewrite ðe Dúnstán letter, from the writing which arcebisceop sealde úrum hláforde æt archbishop Dúnstán delivered to our Cingestúne á on dæg ðá hine man lord at Kingston on the very day hálgode tó cinge, and forbeád him when he was consecrated king, and ælc wedd tó syllanne bútan ðysan he forbad him to give any other wedde, ðe he úp on Cristes weofod pledge but this pledge, which he léde, swá se bisceop him dihte. ‘On laid upon Christ’s altar, as the ðǽre hálgan Þrynnesse naman, Ic bishop instructed him. ‘In the name þreo þing beháte cristenum folce of the Holy Trinity, three things and me underþeóddum: án ærest, ðæt do I promise to this Christian ic Godes cyrice and eall cristen people, my subjects: first, that I folc mínra gewealda sóðe sibbe will hold God’s church and all the healde: óðer is, ðæt ic reáflác and Chistian people of my realm in ealle unrihte þing eallum hádum true peace: second, that I will forbeóde: þridde, þæt ic beháte and forbid all rapine and injustice to bebeóde on eallum dómum riht and men of all conditions: third, that mildheortnisse, ðæt ús eallum I promise and enjoin justice and ærfaest and mildheort God þurh ðæt mercy in all judgements, whereby his écean mittse forgife, se lifað the just and merciful God may give and rixað.’”—Reliq. Ant. ii. 194. us all his eternal favour, who liveth and reigneth!’”