118 THE NORMANS IN DORSET. 



and abbots (with one exception) during his reign, and the Nor- 

 manised Church was given a very important part in the politics 

 of the period. The ecclesiastical leaders brought to England 

 by the Norman kings were men of remarkable and varied 

 ability ; and although some signal instances of " diamond 

 cut diamond " will be remembered, on the whole, the imported 

 bishops and abbots proved valuable allies in the enforcing 

 of the new order of things. Many monastic properties, 

 parochial tithes, and a number of escheated manors were 

 given for the endowment of foreign establishments in Nor- 

 mandy a course largely followed for some centuries 

 afterwards.* 



We may now glance at the list of fiefs held by tenants- 

 in-chief from the Crown, under the new obligations of military 

 service. At the time of the Survey these numbered about 

 43 Normans and 36 King's Thanes Englishmen who had 

 become " the King's Men." There were also 10 fiefs held in 

 sergeantry, i.e., for service other than military ; thus Wim- 

 borne St. Giles was allotted to Harvey the Keeper of the 

 Bedchamber ; Fifehead Nevill and other estates to Waleran 

 the huntsman, and a number of estates to Aiulfus the Royal 

 Chamberlain. But I think our interest will mainly centre 

 upon 



The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune 



which wrought such dire changes in the ranks of the gentry 

 of our country side. 



Of the old thanes' estates in this county, about a dozen 

 were given back to the original holders of their sons. Mil- 

 borne Stileham and an adjoining property were retained by 

 the Swain family. Dodo (one of King Edward's thanes) was 

 deprived of several extensive manors, but on becoming 



* An interesting cane is given in S. and D. Notes and Queries, 1909, p. 350 

 et seq. The great tithes of Sturminster Marshall given to the Hospital at 

 Pont Audemer. 



