[329] See also Mr. S. R. Bird's valuable essay on the Crown Lands in vol. xiii. of the Antiquary. He refers (p. 160) to the "extensive alienations of these lands during the turbulent reign of Stephen, in order to enable that monarch to endow the new earldoms."
[330] "Quod auferat de summâ firma vicecomitatus quantum pertinuerit ad Meldonam et Niweport que ei donavi."
[331] Select Charters.
[332] Const. Hist., i. 326, 327.
[333] Domesday Studies, vol. i. (Longmans), 1887.
[334] It is in this case alone, in the Empress's charter, that we can compare the value with that in Domesday. The charter grants it "pro xl solidis." In Domesday we read "Tunc et post valuit xl solidos. Modo lv" (ii. 93).
[335] See an illustration of this principle, some years later, in the Chronicle of Ramsey (p. 287): "Sciatis me concessisse Abbati de Rameseia ut ad firmam habeat hundredum de Hyrstintan reddendo inde quoque anno quatuor marcas argenti, quicunque sit vicecomes ita ne vicecomes plus ab eo requirat."
[336] "Die quâ dedi Manerium illud [de Meldonâ] Comiti Theobaldo."—Westminster Abbey Charters (Madox's Baronia, p. 232, note).
[337] Const. Hist., i. 260. See my articles on the "Introduction of Knight Service into England" in English Historical Review, July and October, 1891, January, 1892. See also Addenda (p. 439).
[338] The lands were granted "pro tanto quantum inde reddi solebat," and the knights' service (of Graaland de Tany) "pro tanto servicii quantum de feodo illo debent," which amount is given in Stephen's charter as 7½ knights' service (as also in the Liber Niger).