[509] Mr. Freeman, who has recently and most fully examined every record relating to the Norman invasion, states that he finds the largest number of ships recorded to have amounted to 3000, the smallest to 693. Most of the ships were gifts from the great barons or prelates. Thus, W. Fitz-Osborn gave 60; the Count de Mortain, 120; the Bishop of Bayeux, 100; while the finest of all, that in which William himself came over, was presented to him by his Duchess Matilda, and was called the “Mora.” (E. A. Freeman, “Norman Conquest,” vol. iii. c. 15, pp 376-1381. 1869.) Sir H. Nicolas has examined at considerable length the evidence of the Bayeux Tapestry, pp. 63-66. [510] Judging from the records of the chronicles of the period, it seems that William the Conqueror had not at any time a fleet capable of competing with those of the Northmen, who appear to have made descents on the coasts much as they had done in earlier years. Cf. Saxon Chronicle for the years 1069, 1070, 1083; and Selden, “Mare Clausum,” c. xxv. [511] See the histories of Ramsey and Ely, and others. [512] No data exist from which we can calculate with any certainty the value of a pound of silver in the Conqueror’s reign. [513] Pliny states that lead was found so abundantly on the surface in Britain, that a law was passed to limit the supply. H. N. xxxiv. 49; cf. also Wright’s “Uriconium,” pp. 6, 7, 8. [514] Matthew Paris, Hist. p. 570. Camden, Britan. p. 134. [515] Wilkins, “Leges Anglo-Saxon,” p. 52. [516] William of Malmesbury, i. c. 3. Wharton, “Angl. Sacr.” ii. p. 258. According also to Bede, it appears that the sight of English slaves in the market-place at Rome first led Gregory to think of evangelizing the country.—Hist. Eccles. ii. c. 1. [517] William of Poictiers, p. 216. [518] Ibid. Muratori, Antiq. v. coll. 404, 405. [519] William of Poictiers, chaplain to William the Conqueror, speaks of his rich gifts to Rome, p. 206. [520] William of Malmesb. p. 43. [521] Ibid. p. 42. [522] Saxon Chron. The list of relics preserved (till quite recently) in the Escurial in Spain, would satisfy the wildest curiosity of any owner of a “rag and bone shop.” Cf. also W. of Malmesb. De Pontif. 5. Bede, Hist. Abbat. Weremouth. [523] Thom. Chron. ap. Twysden, ed. 1793. [524] For these and other references to Domesday, see Macpherson, i. pp. 293-7, and i. pp. 303-7.