viii Note to Revised Edition
lower classes, work which they were doing largely tinder
command of authority higher up, and which it is believed
accounts to a considerable extent for the governmental
competence which English peoples have shown in modern
times. The detail of this work for the thirteenth century
is the result of the author's research, and he may per-
haps claim as his also the place and importance which
are assigned to this aspect of English constitutional his-
tory.
4. Explanatory details, often in footnotes, have been
added in many places. Not a few of these have been sug-
gested by student questions, and have been collected
through many years. Maitland's Constitutional History
of England, which was published just too late to be used
in the first writing, has been especially helpful here; also
Professor Adams's more recent books and articles. These
two scholars have remained to the author rich sources of
fact and idea, though the latter's feudal contract thesis
has not been so closely followed as in the first edition.
Professor Adams's death a few weeks ago must here be
mentioned as a very great personal loss and as removing
America's chief student of English governmental his-
tory. It has been possible to include in the bibliography
the title of his new book, which is now in press.
5. The "Suggestions for Collateral Reading" have
been omitted. It is believed that the frequent footnote
references and a bibliography containing many explana-
tory comments make this feature unnecessary. The bib-
liography has been compiled on the same principle as
before, with the interest of the instructor as well as the
student in view, with a bias away from traditional author-
ities, and with renewed obligation to Gross's Sources and
Literature of English History. It is hoped that it has been
brought reasonably well to date.
The author is grateful, for valuable suggestions, to
Professor J. P. Willard of the University of Colorado;
and to colleagues in the University of Minnesota: Pro-
fessor N. S. B. Gras, Professor A. C. Krey, Dr. Faith