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Some attribute it to his avarice, to increase his revenue; others to his justice, that when danegeld was to be raised, that tax might be laid with more equality.

"Cum Rex Willielmus illud (Danegelt) aliquando majoris, aliquando minoris emolumenti esse in comperto habuisset, optimum esse duxit, ut inquisitio per totum regnum haberetur, qua dignosceret quantum singula oppida villæ et ham lette numerare tenerentur." Append. Hon. Rich. p. 3.

There are historians also who ascribe it to motives of equity, as that by this means every man should be satisfied with his own, and not incroach on his neighbour; others, that he did it, that he might come at the strength of the nation: "Quot milites essent in uno quoque comitatu, ut sciret quo numero virorum posset, si tanta necessitas emergeret, confidere." Mat. West. 229.

But Sir Martin Wright is of opinion, that this survey was taken upon, or soon after, our ancestors consent to tenures; in order to discover the quantity of every man's fee, and to fix his homage.

A tax of 6s. was raised upon every ploughland to defray the expences the king had been at in compiling it, which was three times more than danegeld appears to have been assessed at before.