Note 45 — Chapter X · FINANCE

In connection with the “sheriff’s aid” there is an interesting entry in the Chronicle of Abingdon (ii. 230), which relates that a former abbot had granted the sheriff 100s. yearly to protect the interests of the abbey’s tenants. The later sheriffs had continued to draw the money while doing nothing for it, and Abbot Ingulf refused to continue the payment, lest it should become established as a custom. The matter was brought before King Henry, who gave his decision in the abbot’s favour. The survey of the manors belonging to the canons of St. Paul’s in 1181 shows that the payments due to the sheriff from the different manors varied from 6d. to 4s. on the hide.