Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/85

1922 of service, and that for these balances Miles had made himself responsible. That his five years of service are to be reckoned back from Michaelmas 1128 appears from the facts that Miles has accounted for the 'old farm' of the past year, 1128–9, and that the vetus firma tercii anni refers, according to the usage of the roll, to the year 1127–8. Thus at Michaelmas 1128 Miles superseded Robert, whose last year of service was 1127–8, and who had held the office for the four preceding years. Robert's term of office, then, extended from Michaelmas 1123 to Michaelmas 1128.

The reference to Nicholas lies buried in the accounts of Northamptonshire, and is as follows:

"Et Idem Ricardus reddit compotum de .xxxv. m. argenti pro terra Matris Nicholai Vicecomitis de Statford.…"

The sheriffs of Staffordshire, as has just been seen, stretch back to 1123, consequently Nicholas's term of service must precede that date. It may here be noted that in two writs of Henry I, falling between the years 1107 and 1123, a Nicholas de Stafford is addressed as sheriff of Staffordshire.

Warwickshire

In the List Geoffrey is credited with being sheriff only for the current year, 1129–30. He, however, accounts not only for the 'new farm' but also for the 'old farm'. In consequence, it is possible to extend his tenure of service back through the year 1128-9.

Wiltshire

In the List William is put down as a predecessor of Warin, sheriff for 1128–30, but no attempt is made to define his term of office more exactly. Yet, by observing the amount of William's indebtedness and by comparing it with the estimated amount of the annual farm for Wiltshire, it is possible to affirm that he certainly held the office for two years, and that, in all probability, he held it for three years. In the accounts of Dorset and Wiltshire, Warin is entered as accounting for both the 'old farm' and the 'new farm' of the two counties. Under the head of Wiltshire alone, the first entry is as follows:

"Willelmus qui fuit Vicecomes reddit compotum de .M. et .xxiij. l. et .ij. d. blancorum de veteri firma Wiltescirae. In thesauro .xlvij. l. et .iij. s. blancorum."