'Three aloarii (customary tenants) held it of King Edward, and could go where they pleased. One of them had a hall, and the villeins held the portions of the other two. The land is 5 carucates, and is in one manor. In demesne one carucate and a half, and 14 villeins and 21 bordars, with 3 carucates and a half; there are 8 acres of meadow, and a wood for hogs. In Lewes 4 hagæ.[9] In the time of King Edward it was worth 10 pounds, and, afterwards, 8 pounds; now 12 pounds. 'In the same place William de Wateville holds Bristelmestune of William. Ulward held it of King Edward. Then, and now, it defends itself for 5 hides and a half. The land is 4 carucates. In demesne is 1 carucate, and 13 villeins, and 2 bordars with one plough.[10] There is a church. 'In the time of King Edward it was worth 10 pounds, and, afterwards, 8 pounds; now, 12 pounds.' We thus see how small was the population of the three manors in the time of William the Conqueror, and it is useful to note that there is no mention whatever of fisheries or fishermen except the Gabel of herrings. Concerning this matter Lee[11] propounds a very interesting theory. He says: 'From the surnames of some of the most ancient families in the town of _Brighthelmston_, the phrase and pronunciation of the old natives, and some peculiar customs there, it has, with great probability, been conjectured, that the town had, at some distant period, received a colony of _Flemings_. This might have happened soon after the Conquest, for we read of a great inundation of the sea, about that time, in _Flanders_; and such of the inhabitants of the deluged country as wanted new habitations could not have anywhere applied with a greater likelihood of success than in _England_. _Matilda_, Queen of _William_ the _Conqueror_, was their countrywoman, being daughter to _Baldwin_, Earl of _Flanders_. At her request, _William de Warren_, her son-in-law, would have readily given a band of those distrest emigrants a settlement on one of his numerous manors; and, as they had been inhabitants of the maritime part of _Flanders_, and lived chiefly by fishing, _Brighthelmston_ was the most desirable situation for them within the territory of that nobleman.