[561] An error of one hide in the particulars. The two records do not fully agree.
[562] A small emendation justified by Inq. Eliensis (Hamilton, p. 110).
[563] Ælfgar died before King Edward; Freeman, Norman Conquest, ed. 3, iii. 469, places his death in or about 1062.
[564] The history of the earldoms during Edward’s reign is exceedingly obscure. See Freeman’s elaborate note: Ibid., 555. In particular Cambridgeshire seems to have lain now in one and now in another earldom. Thus it comes about that Cambridgeshire sokemen are commended some to Ælfgar, some to Waltheof, some to Harold, some to Gyrth. Ælfgar, for example, had at one time been earl in East Anglia. Men who had commended themselves to an earl would, unless they ‘withdrew themselves,’ still be his men though he had ceased to be earl of their county.
[565] See above, [p. 105]. Observe how frequently our record speaks of ‘sochemanni homines Algari’ and the like. These sokemen are Ælfgar’s men; but are not properly his sokemen.
[566] Inq. Com. Cant. 110. This is from the Inquisitio Eliensis. Compare p. 83.
[567] Inq. Com. Cant. 77–8.
[568] Rot. Hund. ii. 558.
[569] One instance may suffice. In Sawston (Rot. Hund. ii. 575–80) are three manors, A, B, C; A has a sub-manor. One Thomas Dovenel holds in villeinage of the lord of A; in villeinage of the lord of B; in freehold of the lord of B; in freehold of a tenant of the lord of B; in freehold of a tenant of a tenant of the lord of B.
[570] Rot. Hund. ii. 580.