Note 248 — Chapter VIII · THE CENTRAL YEARS OF THE ENGLISH REIGN

Brian’s tenure of the earldom of Richmond is proved by a charter to the priory of St. Martin de Lamballe, in which lands are granted by “Brientius, comes Anglica terra.” (De la Borderie, iii., 25.) As Brian’s father, Count Éon of Penthievre, did not die before 1079 the title “comes” cannot refer to any French county possessed by Brian. As in the eleventh century every “earldom” consisted of a shire or group of shires, it would seem to follow that Richmondshire at this date was regarded as a territorial unit distinct from Yorkshire.