THE CHURCH 195 



the former is the better explanation ; but possibly some 

 ecclesiologist will solve the difficulty. 



The patronage of the churches is never referred to under 

 that name, but mention is made of the benefice of St. Peter 

 in Oxford. There are, however, certain passages in the 

 Norfolk and Suffolk Domesdays which cannot be understood 

 unless they refer to the right of presentation. On one and 

 the same page are the three following entries : 



" In Ringesfeld the King has a part of the church with 20 acres 

 (of glebe) ; others there participate. 



" In Weston is a church which is held by the King's freemen. 



" In Worlingham there were two churches of 40 acres, which are 

 worth 6s. ; others there participate. Of one of these churches Robert 

 de Vaux holds the moiety, with 30 acres and one bordar." 1 



At Norwich twelve burgesses held the church of the 

 Holy Trinity, T. R. E. a phrase that can only mean that 

 they had the joint right of appointing a priest to that church ; 

 but after the Conquest, King William took away their right 

 of presentation, and gave it to the Bishop of Thetford. 2 

 Joint patronage is sometimes shown by the statement that 

 the landowner, whose estates are under consideration, had 

 only a fractional interest in the church. At Scotessa, sixteen 

 freemen commended to Gurth had, T. R. E., the fourth part 

 of the church. 3 Such right of patronage might be sold. 

 The sale is recorded of two churches at Hertford by Ulwi 

 of Hatfield to Peter of Valonges. 4 



There are indications in Domesday Book that in some 

 cases the fines for offences against the moral law went to the 

 dignitaries of the Church. In Kent and at Lewes the King 

 had the fine from the man who committed adultery, and the 

 archbishop that from the woman ; except that, if this offence 

 was committed on the lands of the Abbeys of the Holy 



1 D. B., II. 283. 2 id., n. n6b. 



Id., II. 211. * Id., I. 132 a I. 



