English Economic History: Select Documents. Various

50, and Ralph de Bella Fago 14, and Hermer 8, and Robert the crossbowman 5, and Fulcher, the abbot's man, 1, and Isac 1, and Ralph Visus Lupi 1, and in the Earl's bakehouse Robert Blund has 3, and Wimer has 1 ruined messuage.

      All this land of the burgesses was on the demesne of Earl Ralph and he granted it to the King in common to make the borough between himself and the King, as the sheriff testifies. And all those lands as well of the knights as of the burgesses render to the King his custom. There is also in the new borough a church which Earl Ralph made, and he gave it to his chaplains. Now a priest of the sheriff, by name Wala, holds it of the King's gift, and it is worth 60s. And so long as Robert Blund held the county, he had therefrom each year 1 ounce of gold.

[37] i.e., Rights of jurisdiction.

[38] i.e., Feudal lordship.

      5. The Borough of Wallingford [Domesday Book, I, 56], 1086.

In the borough of Wallingford King Edward had 8 virgates of land, and in these there were 276 haws[39] rendering 11l. of rent (gablo), and those who dwelt there did service for the King with horses or by water as far as Blewbury, Reading, Sutton, Bensington, and to those doing this service the reeve gave hire or corrody not from the king's revenue (censu) but from his own.

      Now there are in the borough all customs as there were before. But of the haws there are thirteen less; for the castle eight have been destroyed, and the moneyer has one quit so long as he makes money. Saulf of Oxford has one, the son of Alsi of Farringdon one, which the King gave him, as he says. Humphrey Visdelew has one, for which he claims the King to warranty. Nigel holds one of Henry by inheritance from Soarding, but the burgesses testify that the latter never had it. From these thirteen the King has no custom; and further William de Warenne has one haw from which the King has no custom. Moreover there are 22 messuages of Frenchmen rendering 6s. 5d.

King Edward had 15 acres in which housecarles dwelt. Miles Crispin holds them, they know not how. One of these belongs to[40] (jacet in) Wittenham, a manor of Walter Giffard.

      Bishop Walchelin has 27 haws rendering 25s. and they are valued in Brightwell, his manor.

      The abbot of Abingdon has 2 acres on which are 7 messuages rendering 4s., and they pertain to Oxford.

      Miles has 20 messuages rendering 12s. 10d., and they belong to (jacent in) Newnham, and also one acre on which there are 6 haws rendering 18d. In Hazeley he has 6 messuages rendering 44d. In Stoke one messuage rendering 12d. In Chalgrove one messuage rendering 4d. In Sutton one acre on which there are 6 messuages rendering 12d., and in Bray one acre and 11 messuages rendering 3s. there. All this land pertains to Oxfordshire; nevertheless it is in Wallingford. …

      Alwold and Godric have the rent (gablum) of their houses and bloodwite if blood is shed there, if the man should be received within them before he be claimed by the King's reeve, except on Saturday owing to the market, because then the King has the forfeiture; and they have the fine for adultery and theft in their houses; but other forfeitures are the King's.

      In the time of King Edward the borough was worth 30l. and afterwards 40l.; now 60l. And yet it renders of farm 80l. by tale. What pertains to Adbrei is worth 7s. and the land of Miles Moli 24s. What the abbot of Abingdon has is worth 8s. What Roger de Laci has, 7s. What Rainald has, 4s.

      The underwritten thegns of Oxfordshire had land in Wallingford.

      Archbishop Lanfranc, 4 houses pertaining to Newington rendering 6s. Bishop Remigius, one house pertaining to Dorchester rendering 12d. The abbot of St. Alban one house rendering 4s. Abbot R. one house in Ewelme rendering 3s.

      Earl Hugh, one house in Pyrton rendering 3s.

      Walter Giffard, 3 houses in Caversham rendering 2s.

      Roger de Olgi, 2 houses in Watlington rendering 2s. and one house in Perie rendering 2s.

      Ilbert de Lacy and Roger son of Seifrid and Orgar, 3 houses rendering 4s.

      Hugh de Bolebec 3 houses in Crem rendering 3s.

      Hugh Grando de Scoca, one house rendering 12d.

      Drogo, in Shirburne and in Weston, 3 houses rendering 4s.

      Robert Armenteres, in Ewelme, one house rendering 12d.

      Wazo, one house in Ewelme rendering 3s.

[39] i.e., Houses.

[40] Or, "is valued in."

      6. Customs of Berkshire [Domesday Book, I, 56], 1086.

      When geld was given in the time of King Edward in common throughout the whole of Berkshire, a hide gave 3½d. before Christmas and as much at Whitsuntide. If the King sent an army anywhere, from 5 hides went one knight only, and for his food or wages 4s. were given to him from each hide for two months. This money, however, was not sent to the King, but was given to the knights. If anyone summoned for military service went not, he forfeited to the King the whole of his land. And if anyone stayed behind and promised to send another in his place, and yet he who was to be sent stayed behind, his lord was quit for 50s. A thegn or knight of the King's own (dominicus) left to the King at death for relief all his arms and one horse with a saddle and one without a saddle. And if he had hounds or hawks, they were presented to the King, that he might receive them if he would. If anyone killed a man having the King's peace, he forfeited to the King both his body and all his substance. He who broke into a city by night made amends in 100s. to the King, not to the sheriff. He who was warned to beat the woods for hunting and went not, made amends to the King in 50s.

      7. Land of the Church of Worcester [Domesday Book, I, 172b], 1086.

      The church of St. Mary of Worcester has a hundred which is called Oswaldslaw, in which lie 300 hides, wherefrom the bishop of that church, by a constitution of ancient times, has all the profits of the sokes and all the customs belonging thereto for his own board and for the king's service and his own, so that no sheriff can have any plaint there, neither in any plea nor in any cause whatsoever. This the whole county testifies. These aforesaid 300 hides were of the demesne itself of the church, and if anything thereof had been in any wise demised or granted to any man soever, to serve the bishop therewith, he who held the land granted to him could not retain for himself any custom at all therefrom, save through the bishop, nor could he retain the land save until the completed term which they had determined between themselves, nor could he go anywhither with that land.

      8. The Manor of Rockland, Co. Norfolk [Domesday Book, II, 164, 164 b], 1086.

In Rockland Simon holds 3 carucates of land which one freeman, Brode, held in the time of King Edward. Then as now 2 villeins and 12 bordiers.[41] Then 4 serfs, now 1, and 8 acres of meadow; then as now 2 ploughs on the demesne and 1 plough among the men. Wood for 6 swine. Then 4 rounceys,[42] now none. Then 8 beasts, now 5. Then 30 swine, now 15. Then 100 sheep, and now likewise. And in the same [town] the same Simon holds 6 freemen and a half, whom the same Brode had in commendation only; 70 acres of land and 4 acres of meadow; then as now 1 plough and a half. Of these 6 freemen and a half the soke was in the King's [manor of] Buckenham in the time of King Edward, and afterwards, until William de Warenne had it. Then and always they were worth 3l. 10s.