Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/37

 ind Sentiments. 1 7 was called heal, or hall, becaule that was the mofl important part of the building— we Hill call gentlemen's feats halls j it was called ham, as being the reiidence or home of its poffelTorj and it was called tun, in regard of its inclofure. The Anglo-Saxons chofe for their country-houfes a pofition which commanded a profpe6t around, becaufe fuch fites afforded proteftion at the fame time that they enabled the polTeffor to overlook his own landed pofleflions. The Ramfey Chronicle, defcribing the beautiful fituation of the maniion at " Schitlingdonia" (Shitlington), in Bedfordlliire, tells us that the furrounding country lay fpread out like a panorama from the door of the hall — uli ah oftio aulce tola fere villa et late patens ager arahilis oculis fid-jacet intucntis.