The spinning wheel
came into existence to replace the hand-held spindle. Now one hand
could be used to form the thread while the other hand turned a
large upright wheel that caused the thread to wind around the
spindle, which did not have to be held by hand. This resulted in
an uninterrupted spinning motion which was not interrupted by
alternately forming the thread and winding it on the spindle.
Lords surrounded themselves with people of the next lower rank,
usually from nearby families, and had large households. For
instance, the king had a circle of noblemen and ladies about him.
A peer or great prelate had a household of about 100-200 people,
among which were his inner circle, companions, administrators,
secretaries, bodyguards and armed escort, chaplain, singing
priests and choirboys, and servants. All officers of the household
were gentlemen. The secretary was usually a clerk, who was
literate because he had taken minor clerical orders. Since the
feudal obligation of the tenants was disappearing, a lord
sometimes hired retainers to supplement his escort of fighting
men. They proudly wore his livery of cloth or hat, which was in
the nature of a uniform or badge of service. A nobleman and his
lady had a circle of knights and gentlemen and their ladies. A
knight had a circle of gentlemen and their ladies.
The great barons lived in houses built within the walls of their
castles.
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