Not even in the most corrupt days of the empire was it attempted to absorb the patronage of every department and province for the benefit of a few, under the pretext of imparting greater vigour to the administration of public affairs by centralization.  It was not deemed wise or necessary to constitute central boards for the direction of matters with which not a single member might, possibly, be acquainted.  They did not aim at an ideal perfection, but were satisfied with doing what was practicable, and with a large average of general prosperity.  To each civitas—­corresponding to our phrase of “city and county”—­was assigned the regulation of its own domestic policy, by means of annual magistrates, a chosen senate, and the general assembly of the free inhabitants.  Through this wise policy of non-interference, the City of London rapidly acquired wealth and importance, and before the evacuation of the island by the Romans, had attained a position of considerable grandeur.  The civic institutions of the Saxons were, indeed, admirably suited for the adaptation of the municipal customs bequeathed to them by their predecessors, and which became developed to their full proportions through the greater amount of individual liberty that prevailed among the Germanic races.

Of the purely Teutonic institutions, one of the most characteristic was that of Gilds.  Originally, a gild was nothing more than an association of ten families, for purposes of mutual protection and security.  By the custom of “frankpledge,” every freeman at the age of fourteen was called upon to give securities for his good behaviour.  Gilds were therefore formed, binding themselves to produce the offender if any breach of the peace was committed by one of their members, or to give redress to the injured party.  To carry out these objects a small fund was raised, to which every one contributed; and thence was derived the name of the association:  “gildan,” in Saxon, signifying to pay.  With a view to becoming better acquainted with one another, and to draw more closely the bands of friendship, convivial meetings were held at fixed periods, when a vast quantity of beer was quaffed in honour of the living, and to the memory of the dead.  In after-times this truly Saxon institution assumed greater proportions, and embraced both ecclesiastical and secular gilds.  Of the former it is unnecessary to make further mention, but the latter formed the germ of the present livery companies.  The earlier secular or mercantile gilds were associations of members of a particular trade or craft, for the purpose of maintaining and advancing the privileges of their peculiar calling.  The term was also applied to a district or “soke,” possessed of independent franchises, as in the case of the Portsoken Ward, which was anciently known as the Cnighten Gild.  A “soke,” or soca, it may be incidentally observed, was the territory in which was exercised the soca, or the privilege of hearing causes and disputes, levying fines, and