> Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 20:42:54 GMT
> From: donald_at_grove.demon.co.uk (Donald R. Oddy)
> Subject: The Hero Farm
- -..
> weaponthanes as the chief's bully boys. I look at them as combat
> specialists who are attached to a wealthy thane's household. The chief
> will usually have more than anyone else in the clan but less than half
> the total. This dispersal round the tula makes more sense from the
> point of view of training the fyrd - a lot more training will be
> done if it doesn't involve a long walk to the chief's stead.
- -..
What's this nonsense about training the fyrd?
The fyrd doesn't training. It assembles when necessary.
Nobody tries to train it: not weaponthanes, not the chief.
Whatever next? fyrd tactics?
The fyrd is farmers with spears and shields.