Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- PART I TERRITORIAL STUDIES
- DOMESDAY BOOK
- THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE GELD-ROLL
- THE KNIGHTS OF PETERBOROUGH
- THE WORCESTERSHIRE SURVEY (Hen. I.)
- THE LINDSEY SURVEY (1115–1118)
- THE LEICESTERSHIRE SURVEY (1124–1129)
- THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SURVEY (Hen. I.–Hen. II.)
- THE INTRODUCTION OF KNIGHT SERVICE INTO ENGLAND
- PART II HISTORICAL STUDIES
- ADDENDA
- INDEX
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- PART I TERRITORIAL STUDIES
- DOMESDAY BOOK
- THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE GELD-ROLL
- THE KNIGHTS OF PETERBOROUGH
- THE WORCESTERSHIRE SURVEY (Hen. I.)
- THE LINDSEY SURVEY (1115–1118)
- THE LEICESTERSHIRE SURVEY (1124–1129)
- THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SURVEY (Hen. I.–Hen. II.)
- THE INTRODUCTION OF KNIGHT SERVICE INTO ENGLAND
- PART II HISTORICAL STUDIES
- ADDENDA
- INDEX
Summary
THE true key to the Domesday Survey, and to the system of land assessment it records, is found in the Inquisitio Comitatus Cantabrigiensis. Although the document so styled is one of cardinal importance, it has, from accident, been known to few, and has consequently never succeeded in obtaining the attention and scientific treatment it deserved. The merit of its identification belongs to Mr. Philip Carteret Webb, who published in 1756 a paper originally read before the Society of Antiquaries, entitled, A Short Account of Danegeld, with some further particulars relating to William the Conqueror's Survey. It is difficult to speak too highly of this production, remembering the date at which it was composed. Many years were yet to elapse before the printing of Domesday was even begun, and historical evidences were largely inaccessible as compared with the condition of things to-day. Yet the ability shown by Mr. Webb in this careful and conscientious piece of work is well seen in his interesting discovery, which he announced in these words:–
In searching for the Liber Eliensis, I have had the good fortune to discover in the Cotton Library a MS. copy of the Inquisition of of the jury, containing their survey for most of the hundreds in Cambridgeshire. This MS. is written on vellum in double columns and on both sides of the page.
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- Information
- Feudal EnglandHistorical Studies on the XIth and XIIth Centuries, pp. 3 - 146Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1895