2i8 THE DOMESDAY INQUEST 



1086 seven only remained, Hugh of Montfort had taken 

 twenty away ; Count Robert, six ; Roger of Otburvill had 

 six ; Frodo, two ; and Roger of Poitou, two. 1 



Small freeholders were forced to render their services to 

 their powerful neighbours. In the days of King Edward, 

 Ailmar, a King's thegn, had held 2\ hides and 30 acres at 

 Terling, and five freeholders had held 3 hides less 15 acres ; 2 

 King William granted Ailmar's land to Ralph Piperell ; but 

 the latter had also invaded the land of the five freeholders, 

 of which he retained 30 acres in demesne, and sublet 2 hides 

 and 80 acres to Roger. 3 Ulwin, T. R. E., held a manor of 

 2j hides and 45 acres at Henies, where twelve freeholders 

 also held 20^ acres ; Ralph Piperell succeeded to Ulwin's 

 manor, and sublet it to Turold ; 4 but he also invaded the 

 holding of the freeholders, and let that also to Turold. 5 

 And Turold followed the example of his lord, for he, too, 

 invaded four freemen of 18 acres at the same place. 6 



Lastly, dues were exacted from men who had merely 

 commended themselves to the English predecessor of the 

 new lord. Richard, son of Earl Gilbert, succeeded to many 

 of the estates of Wisgar in Essex ; 7 but in the list of his 

 invasions appear the names of a number of freemen with 

 very small holdings, of whom Wisgar had merely the com- 

 mendation. 8 Similarly, Hermer of Ferrars invaded two free- 

 men at Barton (Norfolk), of whom his predecessor had merely 

 the commendation. 9 



But these inquiries were mainly financial in purpose. 

 Had the value of the estate been increased or diminished 

 by any invasion ? 



It would seem that occasionally, as a result of these 

 inquiries into title, an estate reverted to its former and 

 rightful owner. Hugh fitz Baldric was in 1086 in possession 



1 D. B., II. 281. 3 Id., II. 12. * Id., II. 97 b. 



4 Id., II. 74. 5 Id., II. 99 b. 6 Id. t II. 101. 



7 Id., II. 38 b. 8 Id,, II. 102. 9 Id., II. 273 b 



