of these massive buildings. In consequence at first there was a castle only where a
seigneur lived who possessed a small town or several villages, so that in some countries the name chatellany was given later to a territory formed by the group of villages connected with a château. The number of castles grew with the increase of wealth, but down to the end of the middle ages there never were as many castles as there were
knights. The nobles of less means contented themselves with a house made strong by thick walls, by a massive door which was sometimes defended by a machicoulis, and by high windows. This was the manor-house (from manere, to inhabit), which sufficed to resist a surprise. The nobles living in the towns-and they were numerous, especially in Italy, in Spain,
and in the south of France-had strong houses built there
which were very like the manor-houses of the country. These donjons, manors and strong houses all had thick high walls; winding stairs lighted by loopholes; and damp, somber rooms, where the light entered only through narrow openings. They were fortresses, not pleasant homes. Life
in them was sad, especially during the long winter evenings. In fair weather people gladly remained in the orchard, outside
of the enclosure.
A scholar who loved the middle ages 1
tried to count up the pleasures which a seigneur might enjoy. He found fifteen: hunting, fishing, fencing, jousting, playing chess, eating and drinking, listening to the songs of the jongleurs, watching bear-fights, receiving guests, talking with the ladies, holding his court, walking in the meadows, warm- ing himself, having himself cupped and bled, and watching the snow fall. These pleasures were scarcely enough to keep the nobles at home. When possible they visited the court of a
prince, or they went on expeditions into distant countries. The nobles were as ready to move as the peasants were . sedentary. Nevertheless, through their castle or their manor- house, they remained attached to the land, as is seen by their
very names: from the twelfth century almost all surnames