| Lords who unjustly dispossess their vassals can expect punishment from a higher authority. |
| But in 1086 William forced all his vassals to swear service directly to him for their fiefs. |
| The longer this went on, the more diluted the family tie became and the more dependent the ruler became on the combined strength of the vassals. |
| And the King had all the army dispersed all over the country among his vassals, and they provisioned the army each in proportion to his land. |
| Exultingly he called forth his vassals, and the work of opening the umbrella began in the presence of an awestricken multitude. |
| And his majesty received them kindly and benignantly, and ordered that they should be treated like his other subjects and vassals. |
