Zbc nDi^Mc UQCS—Zbc IRorman ConQUcet 



CHAPTER XII. 



DOMESDAY BOOK. 



It is evident that the intricate machinery of feudalism could 

 work neither smoothly nor accurately unless some general 

 record was taken of the conquered lands. Not only were 

 fullest particulars necessary of those portions granted to the 

 Conqueror's tenants in chief, but also of those 1,422 manors, 

 68 royal forests, 13 chases, and 781 parks, which he reserved 

 as his own possessions.^ An accurate list was requiredi 

 both of that host of 60,215 armed men each of whose forty 

 days' service provided the fee of a knight ; and of the popu- 

 lation from which the profits of wardship, marriage, reliefs, 

 forfeitures, and escheats could be computed. The land, 

 too, would have to be carefully measured for the purposes 

 of collecting the £80,000 due from the six shilling tax on 

 each hide, first levied to repay the costs of the survey, and 

 which remained as a permanent impost, instead of the old 

 Saxon charge of Danegelt. Even the houses had to be counted 

 in order to acquire particulars for the triennial tax of one 

 shilling on each hearth. The dates and localities of public 

 markets and fairs had to be ascertained for the sake of their 

 dues and tolls ; nor must we except those irregular sources of 

 income, such as the plunder of churches and monasteries, 

 whose fat endowments this far-searching record placed under 



' William's revenue is reported to have been £1,060 3s. l^d. every day 

 over and above free gifts, fines, and amerciaments. He had also G0,000 

 horsemen at his command, without any expense to his pui-se. Kelliam's 

 Domesday Book. 



