Gods penny

An earnest penny. God's-truce, n. [Ger. Gottesfriede; Lat. Freuga Deo.] ( Hist.) An institution of the Middle Ages; a means introduced by the Church to check in some measure the hostile spirit of the times, by establishing certain days or periods during which all private feuds were to cense. It seems to have taken its rise about the latter part of the 10th or beginning of the 11th century. At first the Church forbade all feuds on those days of the week which were specially consecrated by the death and re sur rection of Christ; namely, from Thursday evening to Monday morning, and threatened with excommunication any who transgre ed that order. Afterwards the period was extended so as to include the whole of Thursday, the whole of the period from the beginning of Advent to the Epiphany, and certain other times and saints' days. The precincts of churches, convents, and graveyards were also interdicted from any hostile encounters. Though frequently disregarded, there can be little doubt that these enactments were of much use in these troublous times. By degrees the power of the State came to be exerted to promote peace, and these laws of the Church gradually fell into disuse. God ward, adv . Toward God. God'win, EARL OF KENT, a powerful Anglo-Saxon chief. During the reign of Edward the Confe or he was head of the English party in opposition to the Norman party, and for long the real ruler of the greater part of England. In 1019 he accompanied Canute in an expedition against Sweden, where he behaved with such valor as to receive a relative of that monarch in marriage, together with large grants of land. On the death of Canute, the Earl sided with Hard i can ute against Harold, but afterwards he espoused the cause of the latter. He was charged with murdering Alfred, one of the sons of Ethelred II., from which he vindicated himself by oath. On the death of Hard i can ute he joined Edward the Confe or, who married his daughter, but afterwards rebelling against Edward, and being unsucce ful, he fled to Flanders. Having gathered fresh forces, he sailed up the Thames, and appeared before London, throwing the country into such confusion that the king was obliged to negotiate peace with G , whom he restored to his estates. He D. suddenly, while dining with the king at Winchester, in 1054. God'winsville, in Georgia, a post-village of Dodge co., on the Southern R. R.