m85

Peasants going to war, from an i ith-century psalter. These were freemen, members of the Greater Fyrd, but as can be seen their place in battle was definitely the second or rear ranks.

freemen, which was summoned in emergencies to defend the shires. These untrained men served mainly in the defence of their own homes, and were not obliged to serve morę than half a day’s march from their home without pay. Neither king nor earl could keep this body of men in the field for long periods and it had a strictly limited use, consisting mainly of farmers who had merely picked up their spear and perhaps a shield, although it must also have contributed a fair number of valuable archers and slingers to the Saxon army. In the Welsh and Scottish Marches special conditions prevailed, and the levies might have to serve for fifteen days and to accompany expeditions beyond the borders of their own shires, into Wales or Scotland, whcre their knowledge of the border areas was invaluable.

In peacetime under Alfred, the thegns (meaning possibly the entire Select Fyrd) had to serve one month in three in rotation so that there was always a good force on cali; and during one emergency Alfred divided the Greater Fyrd of one shire into two halves, keeping one halfin the field under arms while the other half tended the land.

Towards the end of the gth century Alfred also began the building of a series of fortified towns, or burghs, to house garrisons and act as rallying points

A Saxon of the lower peasant class in typical woollen clothing and with his lower legs wrapped in linen bandages reminiscent of puttees. He wears a ‘Phrygian’ cap and carries a scramasax. (Gerry Embleton)