116.
*** Madox, p.122.Hist.of the Exch.p.

404.
**** In order to pay the sum of one hundred thousand marks, as King Richard's ransom, twenty shillings were imposed on each knight's fee.

Had the fees remained on the original footing, as settled by the Conqueror, this scutage would have amounted to ninety thousand marks, which was nearly the sum required; but we find that other grievous taxes were imposed to complete it; a certain proof that many frauds and abuses had prevailed in the roll of knights fees.
The exorbitant estates conferred by the Norman on his barons and chieftains, remained not long entire and unimpaired.

The landed property was gradually shared out into more hands; and those immense baronies were divided, either by provisions to younger children, by partitions among co-heirs, by sale, or by escheating to the king, who gratified a great number of his courtiers by dealing them out among them in smaller portions.

Such moderate estates, as they required economy, and confined the proprietors to live at home, were better calculated for duration; and the order of knights and small barons grew daily more numerous, and began to form a very respectable rank or order in the state.