ELY AND HER DESPOILERS (1072-75) 349 THE LORDS OF ARDRES 351 EARLY IRISH TRADE WITH CHESTER AND ROUEN 353 WALTER TIREL AND HIS WIFE 355 WALDRIC, WARRIOR AND CHANCELLOR 364 A CHARTER OF HENRY I (1123) 366 THE ORIGIN OF THE NEVILLES 370 THE ALLEGED INVASION OF ENGLAND IN 1147 373 THE ALLEGED DEBATE ON DANEGELD (1163) 377 A GLIMPSE OF THE YOUNG KING'S COURT (1170) 381 THE FIRST KNOWN FINE (1175) 385 THE MONTMORENCY IMPOSTURE 392 THE OXFORD DEBATE ON FOREIGN SERVICE (1197) 398 RICHARD THE FIRST'S CHANGE OF SEAL (1198) 406 COMMUNAL HOUSE DEMOLITION 416 THE CINQUE PORTS CHARTERS 424 ADDENDA 430 INDEX 434 PART I TERRITORIAL STUDIES DOMESDAY BOOK 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 today. 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: