THE CONQUEROR'S STANDPOINT 5 



were ipso facto outlawed, and had, therefore, forfeited their 

 lands to him. Hence he was at liberty to grant these lands 

 to his followers. Hence, too, these followers were regarded 

 as succeeding to the rights and liabilities of their predecessors, 

 and when there was any doubt as to their rights and liabilities 

 in 1086, reference was made to the rights and liabilities of 

 their predecessors in the reign of King Edward. Hence we 

 understand the term by which the English predecessors of 

 Norman landowners are designated the term antecessor^ 

 ancestor as if the transfer from English to Norman had been 

 nothing more than a devolution of property from father to 

 son. In two passages the Norman is actually called the heir 

 of the Englishman. 1 



Some of the English were allowed to redeem their lands 

 and purge their treason by a money payment ; at Saxlingham 

 Edric mortgaged certain land for half a mark of gold and 7 

 in order that he might redeem himself ; 2 and for these pay- 

 ments they obtained the King's writ authorizing them to 

 remain in possession. Azor, the steward, held one hide in 

 the hundred of Wantage T. R. E., but King William restored 

 it to him and gave him his writ. 3 



The conquered English certainly regarded these forfeitures 

 as unjust, but it was William's theory that he had done 

 nothing contrary to the law, and it was the boast of his pane- 

 gyrist that "to no Frenchman had he given anything that 

 was taken unjustly from an Englishman." 4 



Dr. Adams says that it is an error to believe that the 

 Conqueror considered all the land in England to be forfeited 

 to him, and thinks that these payments " to redeem their lands " 

 were nothing more than the customary feudal relief which 

 was paid by a tenant to his new lord ; 5 but we must take 



1 D. B., i. 46 b 2; 175 a 2. 



2 Id., II. 217. 3 Id., I. 62 a 2. 



4 Orderic Vitalis, qu.> Taswell Langmead, Constitutional History^ 51. 



5 Political History of England^ 1 1, 12. 



