Since Edward traveled a lot, he established a
storehouse-treasury at Winchester to supplement his traveling
wardrobe. At this time, Spanish stallions were imported to improve
English horses. London came to have the largest and best-trained
army in England.
The court invited many of the greatest magnates and prelates
[highest ecclesiastical officials, such as bishops] of the land to
the great ecclesiastical festivals, when the king held more solemn
courts and feasted with his vassals for several days. These
included all the great earls, the majority of bishops, some
abbots, and a number of thegns and clerics. Edward had a witan of
wise men to advise him, but sometimes the King would speak in the
hall after dinner and listen to what comments were made from the
mead-benches. As the court moved about the country, many men came
to pay their respects and attend to local business. Edward started
the practice of King's touching people to cure them of scrofula, a
disease which affected the glands, especially in the head and
neck. It was done in the context of a religious ceremony.
The main governmental activities were: war, collection of revenue,
religious education, and administration of justice. For war, the
shires had to provide a certain number of men and the ports quotas
of ships with crews. The king was the patron of the English
church. He gave the church peace and protection.
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