vi Preface. 



other evidences, it is nevertheless full of interest, 

 and should be possessed by all who have an 

 interest in England's greatest record. 



There is no reason to challenge the figures 

 obtained from the History of England during the 

 Middle and Early Ages, and it is believed that the 

 Analysis of the several additions of the three 

 above-named writers, yield generally correct infor- 

 mation ; there are also in this volume independent 

 computations from Domesday and other sources, 

 which claim -practical rather than minute accuracy. 



With regard to the Statistics of Feudal Tenures, 

 it may be observed that the Baronial Charters of 

 1 1 66 are incomplete, that the deficiencies can to 

 some extent be supplied from the Pipe Roll of 

 1167-8, and that further additions (given sepa- 

 rately), are available from other sources : these 

 returns are corroborated by those of the Pipe Roll 

 of 1253-4, and the Enrolled Accounts of the Ex- 

 chequer for the Inquisitions of 1346-7 (as com- 

 puted by a mediaeval and contemporary scribe), so 

 that the correctness of the general result is a mat- 

 ter scarcely to be afFected by criticism, save of 

 the records themselves. This, of course, is to be 

 understood rather of the plain facts elicited, than 

 of any deductions from them containing elements 



