However, the nobility who were on the borders of the realm had to
maintain their private armies for frequent border clashes. The
other nobility now tended towards tournaments with mock foot
battles between two sides. Although subject to knightly rules,
serious injury and death often resulted. For this reason, the
church opposed them, but unsuccessfully.
New taxes replaced the Danegeld tax. Freeholders of land paid
taxes according to their plowable land ("hidage", by the hide, and
later "carucage", by the smaller Norman carucate). The smaller
measure curtailed estates and increased taxation. It was assessed
from 2-5s. per carcuate [100 acres] and collected for the king by
knights with little or no remuneration, and later by inquest of
neighbors. The towns and demesne lands of the crown paid a tax
based on their produce that was collected by the itinerant
justices. Merchants were taxed on their personal property, which
was determined by an inquest of neighbors. Clergy were also taxed.
This new system of taxation increased the royal income about
threefold. There was a standard for reliefs paid of 100s. [5
pounds] for a knight's fee and 2,000s. [100 pounds] for a barony.
At the end of Henry's reign, his treasure was over 900,000 pounds.
Every hide of land paid the sheriff 2s. annually for his services
in the administration and defense of the county. This was probably
the old Danegeld.
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