Page:Select historical documents of the Middle Ages.djvu/95

Rh promote the glory of their prerogative, especially those who are truly wise. But he most of mundane princes, the very great and illustrious king of the English, Henry the Second, strives always to increase the dignities of those serving under him; knowing for certain that benefits bestowed on his followers purchase, with titles of immortal fame, the glory of his name. Now then, let us turn our flowing pen to other things.

D. It is in order, if I mistake not, as I seem to have gathered from the foregoing, that thou should'st proceed concerning the king's seal and the doomsday book, of which the first, if I remember aright, is kept in the treasury and not allowed to leave it.

M. Nay, both of them, and also very many other things.

XIV. That " Thesaurus" sometimes means the money itself; sometimes the place where it is kept.

Know, moreover, that " thesaurus " sometimes means the money in cash itself, as well as gold or silver vessels of different kinds, and changes of vestments. According to this acceptation it is said, "where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also." For "thesaurus" is called the place in which it reposes, therefore "thesaurus" = "auri thesis," namely, the place of gold. So that if one asks about some one where he is, it may not incongruously be replied: " he is in the ' thesaurus,' "that is, in the place where the "thesaurus" is kept. Cash money, indeed, or the other things mentioned, having once been put in a safe place, are not taken away except when, by mandate of the king, they are sent to him to be distributed for his necessary uses. But there are many things in the repository vaults of the treasury which are carried around, and they are shut up and guarded by the treasurer and the chamberlains, as has been more fully shown above: such are the seal of the king concerning which thou dost ask, the doomsday book, the so-called exactory roll, which some name the writ of farms. Likewise the great yearly (pipe) rolls, the rolls of accounts, a numerous multitude of privileges, counter-tallies of receipts, and rolls of receipts, and writs of the king concerning outlays of the treasury.