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effective than the first, it gradually superseded it.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.