Page:History of Norfolk 5.djvu/239

 was two miles long, and one broad, and paid 6d. ob. to the geld; and Tanaton was then 11 furlongs long and six furlongs and 10 perches broad, and paid 11d. ob. to the ''geld. Kekelington being included in the measure of Tanaton''.

The whole without the freemen, was worth 4l. per annum at the first survey, and 5l. 10d. at the last, and the King and the Earl had the soc, or chief jurisdiction. The freemen at the first survey, ( 9 ) were worth 10l. per annum to the manor, and at the last, 22l. 2s. 9d.; a part of it was held of Coleman by Olf a Dane, in the Confessor's time, and Tanaton was then in two parts; Oslac held one, as also at the Conquest; and Hardeking the other, and reclaimed it as given him by the King; but yet Walter held it of Roger Bigot.

There was a part of it which belonged to Taseburgh manor;  one freeman named Scula  that belonged to the King; and three parts, one of which laid in three several ends or divisions of the town, belonging to Alan Earl of Richmond's manor of Costeseye, viz. in Kekelington three freemen, &c. in Tuanaton two socmen, &c. and in Mideltun, one freeman and half the services of another; and this was the state of the town at the Conqueror's survey, when

Roger Bigot was lord of it, by that Prince's gift, being one of those great men that attended him when he first came into England, and for his signal services, was well rewarded. This was that Roger who founded Thetford priory, to which he gave this advowson. He left it to

William Bygod, his son and heir, steward of the household to King Hen. I who was drowned with the King's children as they came from Normandy; and was succeeded by

Hugh Bigod his brother, steward also of the household to the same King; but at his death, which happened to be in Normandy, this Hugh became the principal instrument, for advancing Stephen Earl of Boloign to the crown of England; for being steward as aforesaid, (an office in those times of the highest reputation,) he hasted to England, and in the  presence