[303] There is some doubt at this point as to the correct translation. That given seems best warranted. [304] _Dominus_ was a common name for a lord. [305] A member of the king's official household. [306] A subordinate officer under the count [see p. 176, note 3]. [307] See p. 61. note 2. [308] Louis VII., king of France, 1137-1180. [309] The county of Champagne lay to the east of Paris. It was established by Charlemagne and, while at first insignificant, grew until by the twelfth and thirteenth centuries it was one of the most important in France. [310] Beauvais was about sixty miles northwest of Paris. [311] That is, the bishop of Beauvais was bound to furnish his lord, the count of Champagne, the service of one knight for his army, besides ordinary feudal obligations. [312] The county of Troyes centered about the city of that name on the upper Seine. It was eventually absorbed by Champagne. [313] As a fief. [314] A manor, in the general sense, was a feudal estate. [315] A castellanerie was a feudal holding centering about a castle. [316] That is, Count Thiebault promises Jocelyn not to deprive him of the services of men who rightfully belong on the manor which is being granted. [317] Here is an illustration of the complexity of the feudal system. Count Thiebault is Jocelyn's _fourth_ lord, and loyalty and service are owed to all of the four at the same time. Accordingly, Thiebault must be content with only such allegiance of his new vassal as will not involve a breach of the contracts which Jocelyn has already entered into with his other lords. For example, Thiebault could not expect Jocelyn to aid him in war against the duke of Burgundy, for Jocelyn is pledged to fidelity to that duke. In general, when a man had only one lord he owed him full and unconditional allegiance (_liege homage_), but when he became vassal to other lords he could promise them allegiance only so far as would not conflict with contracts already entered into. It was by no means unusual for a man to have several lords, and it often happened that A was B's vassal for a certain piece of land while at the same time B was A's vassal for another piece. Not infrequently the king himself was thus a vassal of one or more of his own vassals. [318] The Bible. Sometimes only the Gospels were used. [319] Charles, count of Flanders, had just died and had been succeeded by his son William. All persons who had received fiefs from the deceased count were now brought together to renew their homage and fealty to the new count. [320] Such a case as this would be most apt to arise when a lord died and a vassal failed to renew his homage to the successor; or when a vassal died and his heir failed to do homage as was required. [321] This law would apply also to a case where a man who is already a vassal of a lord should acquire from another vassal of the same lord some additional land and so become indebted to the lord for a new measure of fealty.