His elevation in 1108 to the see of London and his appearance among the king's great officials are further proofs of his standing at court. Richard de Belmeis, who despite his earlier employment in the service of Robert of Belesme remained loyal to the king in 1102, was made administrator of the Shropshire palatinate after its forfeiture and placed in a position which is described both as that of steward and of sheriff. It is possible that the remaining two of the eight attributed to him a little later are to be counted also at this time, but there is no certainty as to their identity. Hugh of Buckland, an important curial, justice, and sheriff of Berkshire and Bedfordshire before the close of the late reign, was much esteemed by the king, and before Tinchebrai held in addition to these counties at least four others, including the shrievalty of London and Middlesex. His marked material prosperity and his tenure in both these positions until his death show that he enjoyed the king's especial favour. Osbert, formerly known as the priest, retained the shrievalty of Lincolnshire, and before 1107 was also entrusted with that of Yorkshire. At least two sheriffs who owed all to the royal favour were a heritage from the reign of William Rufus, and both continued to rise. Įven before 1106 the king had counteracted the influence of baronial officials of doubtful or more than doubtful loyalty by the employment of new men. Twenty years longer and to become the king's constable. Finally, another hereditary shrievalty had towards the end of the late reign fallen to Walter of Gloucester, who was destined to hold it about Ivo de Grantmesnil probably held his father's position in Leicestershire until in 1102 he suffered forfeiture for his rebellion. In the place of Robert of Stafford was his son Nicholas, and in that of Hugh de Port in Hampshire his son Henry. Haimo the dapifer and Robert, sons of Haimo the dapifer of the Conqueror, for fifteen years or more served as sheriffs of Kent. Devon, formerly in the hands of William, son of Baldwin of Exeter, about 1107 was passing to his brother Richard fitz Baldwin. William of Cahagnes was in office in the earliest years of the reign, Roger Bigod apparently until his death in 1107, Edward of Salisbury possibly until about the same date, Urse d'Abetot some years longer, and Aiulf the king's chamberlain until fairly late in the reign. The best illustration, therefore, of the change from the earlier to the later type of administrative staff is afforded by the personnel of the shrievalty in the reign of Henry Beauclerc.īefore Tinchebrai, as indeed in the Conqueror's time, one finds the names of obscure sheriffs but well after 1100 the heads of a dozen shires were still either sheriffs of the Domesday period or their sons.
Within twenty years a remarkable circle of these persons held the great offices of state and at the same time served as sheriffs, a combination of functions which had not been infrequent in the days of baronial control. The new men, who aided the king at the crisis of the reign, and who sometimes acquired the confiscated lands of the rebels, henceforth became more and more prominent. In numerous instances, however, their sons did not attain the same position. They remained a powerful influence in government. The barons who loyally supported Henry I in the early and troublous years of his reign seem to have enjoyed his undying favour. By 1106, the date of the battle of Tinchebrai, the second generation of the feudal nobility in which the Conqueror placed dependence had in no small measure proved wanting. At any rate it is clear that this king appointed some special agents to carry into effect his novel measures and policies. The first apparent impulse in an opposite direction may be due to the feudal disorders of the reign of William Rufus. But the dominant element in early Norman administration in England was baronial. These were not the only officials, for there was an important group of curial bishops, and a force of trained clerks was utilized in the work of the chancery, if not also in that of the treasury. THE lay officials employed by William the Conqueror, whether in central government or in ruling the shires, were regularly of baronial status.
The Sheriffs and the Administrative System of Henry I
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