THEIR CONDITION IN 1086 149 



Another instance of the increased services exacted from 

 former freeholders is to be found in the hundred of Flaming- 

 dike (Cambs.), where there were twenty-six sokemen holding 

 under the King, who, T. R. E., found twelve sentinels if the 

 King came into the county, or 12s. 8d. in lieu thereof. But 

 Picot the sheriff was not content with the old services, and 

 exacted an additional payment of 8. 1 In the shires of 

 Lincoln and York the sokemen were not so harshly treated 

 as in the rest of the country. They seem to have retained 

 their privileged position, and their services were not materially 

 increased after the Conquest ; sometimes they held at merely 

 nominal rents. A bovate of sokeland at Breaston (Derby) 

 rendered two spurs to Geoffrey Alselin. 2 



This depression might, however, be brought about, not by 

 intentional harsh dealing on the part of their new lords, but by 

 fiscal causes. At the time of Domesday Book the price of an 

 ox was 2s. or 2s. 6d., and if the tenant of a hide was obliged 

 in 1084 to sell three of his team to pay the geld of 6s. a hide, 

 he would find that it would be better for him to surrender 

 part of his land to his lord and take the remainder on a 

 new agreement, if by so doing he could keep his oxen ; 

 and in the same way it would be better for him to increase 

 his annual payments for a sum in cash which would enable 

 him to pay his geld. 



In the changes brought about by the Conquest as much 

 stress was laid on the personal relationship created by com- 

 mendation as on the relationship created by soke or services. 

 We have already noticed the claim of the Bishop of Coutances, 

 who had succeeded Borred in Beds, and Northants, to the 

 homage of certain sokemen who had been the men of Borred. 

 Geoffrey of Mandeville, who succeeded Ansgar the Staller, 

 often succeeded to the lands of the men who had been com- 

 mended to Ansgar. At Bordesdon (Herts) William held of 

 Robert of Gernon half a virgate which had belonged to 



1 D. B., I. 190 a I. ' Id., I. 276 b 2. 



