74 English and Continental Backgrounds
from Roman or barbaric roots, and that there is no other
way to explain the course of events during our period but
to trace the working'of both these elements of social life."
There is no doubt that hostile frontier relations with
the Roman Empire and their later invasions of that
Empire occasioned among the Germanic peoples a relaxa-
tion and gradual weakening of the various kin ties which
had been the most pronounced feature of their early
society. Rapid movements and rapidly changing condi-
tions blurred the kin lines. Alongside the kin groups or
overlapping them appear groups or gilds of warriors
organised on a basis of equality—sometimes offensive,
sometimes defensive; and presently groups of young war-
riors gathering under the leadership of some specially
notable chief who seems likely to lead them to glory and
to plunder. This last group, already prominent in the
time of Tacitus, is known generally by the Latin name
comitatus. It introduced among the free warriors new
notions of obedience and devotion to a chosen leader.
There was honour in the relation, and mutual obligation,
and strong bonds of fidelity even unto death. The chiefs
highest obligation was to his followers as theirs to him and
there was emulation among chiefs to get the largest and
best followings. On Roman soil, especially in Gaul, this
German institution came in contact with a Roman insti-
tution that bore some analogy to it, that of patronage.
In the dangerous times of the later Empire when the gov-
ernment could no longer protect its frontiers or keep order,
the weaker freemen in the provinces were gathering under
the patronage (patrocinium) of some great man in the
locality who, whatever the stipulated services of the men,
was thus building up at least a potential fighting force,
and who perhaps had a defensible place to which to flee
in time of great peril. In the centuries which followed,
these two practices tended to unite, as Prankish conquer-
ors and Gallo-Roman population united, for it was not a
time of peace, and warlike groups had plenty of reason
for existence. The Roman practice had more definite-