[135] This allusion has perhaps been somewhat overlooked by legal historians.
[136] Curiosities and Antiquities of the Exchequer.
[137] “Videtur autem eis obviare qui dicunt album firmæ a temporibus Anglicorum cœpisse, quod in libro judiciario in quo totius regni descriptio diligens continetur, et tam de tempore regis Edwardi quam de tempore regis Willelmi sub quo factus est, singulorum fundorum valentia exprimitur, nulla prorsus de albo firmæ fit mentio” (‘Dialogus,’ I. vi.).
[138] Rot. magni Scacc. Norm., I. xv.
[139] The Foundations of England, i. 524; ii. 324.
[140] “Ubi cum per aliquos annos persedisset, comperit hoc solutionis genere non plene fisco satisfieri: licet enim in numero et pondere videretur satisfactum, non tamen in materia ... Ut igitur regiæ simul et publicæ provideretur utilitati, habito super hoc ipso regis consilio, constitutum est ut fieret ordine prædicto firmæ combustio vel examinatio” (‘Dialogus,’ I. vii.).
[141] “Libræ arsæ et pensatæ,” “Libræ ad arsuram et pensum,” “Libræ ad pensum et arsuram,” “Libræ ad pondus et arsuram,” “Libræ ad ignem et ad pensum,” etc.
[142] Even Sir James Ramsay, though rightly sceptical as to the attribution of certain innovations, by the writer of the ‘Dialogus,’ to Bishop Roger, holds that “the revenues of the Anglo-Saxon kings were to a considerable extent paid in kind; and so they were down to the time of Henry I., who abolished the practice, establishing money payments in all cases” (i. 525).
[143] Cf. p. 205.
[144] “Hiis vero solutis secundum constitutum modum cujusque rei, regii officiales computabant vicecomiti redigentes in summam denariorum: pro mensura scilicet tritici ad panem c hominum, solidum unum,” etc., etc.