fallen to Walter of Gloucester, who was destined to hold it about twenty years longer and to become the king's constable.[1]
Even before 1106 the king had counteracted the influence of baronial officials of doubtful or more than doubtful loyalty by the employment of new men. 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. Osbert, formerly known as the priest, retained the shrievalty of Lincolnshire, and before 1107 was also entrusted with that of Yorkshire.[2] His marked material prosperity[3] and his tenure in both these positions until his death show that he enjoyed the king's especial favour. Hugh of Buckland, an important curial, justice, and sheriff of Berkshire and Bedfordshire before the close of the late reign,[4] 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.[5] 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. Richard de Belmeis, who despite his earlier employment in the service of Robert of Belesme[6] 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[7] and of sheriff. His elevation in 1108 to the see of London and his appearance among the king's great officials[8] are further proofs of his standing at court.
The period between 1106 and 1110 was marked by the rise of several more sheriffs of the same class and by the displacement
- ↑ 1 Mentioned as sheriff in this period (Farrer, nos. 277, 290 A; Chron. Monast. de Abingdon, ii. 105) and as constable in 1115 (Farrer, no. 361).
- ↑ Selby Coucher Book, i. 27–8.
- ↑ For his grant to Selby Abbey see Selby Coucher Book, i. 6–7; Farrer, Early Yorkshire Charters, i. 355. He was sometimes a witness to the king's writs.
- ↑ Chron. Monast. de Abingdon, ii. 43; Davis, no. 395.
- ↑ Hertfordshire in 1106 or 1107 (Liber Eliensis, p. 298); Essex at Christmas, 1100 (Farrer, Itinerary, no. 32; cf. Monasticon, i. 164, no. 15, and vi. 105); Buckinghamshire before 1107 (Chron. Monast. de Abingdon, ii. 106–7; cf. 98, 99), certainly by 1104; London and Middlesex before the summer of 1107 (ibid. ii. 56), possibly as early as 1103 (Round, no. 1377), clearly before William of Mortain suffered forfeiture after Tinchebrai (St. Albans Chartulary, Cotton MS., Otho D. iii, fo. 73).
- ↑ Annales Monastici, Rolls Series, ii. 43.
- ↑ Brut y Tywysogion, anno 1106; Ordericus Vitalis, ed. Prevost, iv. 275. According to Eyton, Antiquities of Shropshire, ii. 193, he was the successor of Rayner, the Domesday sheriff. It is probable, then, that Foucher, the sheriff of 1102, was his subordinate, and indeed both sheriffs are named in Monasticon, vi, part ii, 1043. Farrer, Itinerary, no. 437, possibly shows Bishop Richard in control as late as 1121. Owen and Blakeway, Hist. of Shrewsbury, i. 73, n. 2, make Payn fitz John his successor. Fulco is named as sheriff in the period 1120–2 (Farrer, Lancashire Pipe Rolls, p. 272).
- ↑ As one of the judges who sat at the treasury at Winchester (Chron. Monast. de Abingdon, ii. 116). He had been reeve of Chichester in 1107 (Farrer, Itinerary no. 106).
