Milborne Port (with Ilchester) 79 10 7 [Bedminster[203] 21 0 2-1/2]
Of these two last, Milborne Port is entered as having paid three-quarters of a _firma noctis_ under the Confessor, while Bedminster--though in the midst of this group of _firma_ Manors--is alone in having no render T.R.E. assigned to it. One is tempted to look on the two as originally combined in one _firma_ (like Somerton and Chedder), save that the whole width of the county divides them, while in the other cases the constituents are grouped geographically.
The Wiltshire Manors, each of which rendered a _firma unius noctis_, were:
Calne 29 Bedwin 79 Amesbury 40 Warminster 40 Chippenham 100 £110 'Theodulveshide' 40 £100
From the figures given for Somerset and Wilts, it may fairly be concluded that, in this district, the value of the 'firma' was about £105. In Somerset, however, there was clearly a special sum, £106 0s 10d, on which calculations were based.
An examination of Mr Eyton's statements on the _firma unius noctis_ in Somerset and Dorset would prove a peculiarly conclusive test of his whole system.
In the case of Somerset one need not dwell on his giving its amount for the Williton group as £105 16s 6-1/2d, when the sum named is £105 17s 4-1/2d, although absolute accuracy is, in these matters, essential. We will pass at once to the bottom of the page (ii. 2), and collate his rendering of Domesday with the original:
'T.R.E. reddebat dimidiam 'Reddebat T.R.E. dimidiam firmam noctis et quadrantem' noctis firmam et unum quadrantem' (Domesday). (Eyton).
Domesday gives the payment (in a characteristic phrase), as _three-quarters_ [a half and a quarter] of a _firma noctis_. Mr Eyton first interpolates a 'unum', and then overlooks the 'quadrantem', with the result that he represents the due T.R.E. as a _firma dimidiæ noctis_ (i. 77). So far, this is only a matter of error _per se_. But Domesday records the commutation of the due T.R.W. at £79 10s 7d. This proves to be _three-quarters_ of the commutation, in two other cases, for a whole _firma noctis_ (£106 0s 10d). Mr Eyton, however, imagining the due to have been only _half a firma_ set himself to account for its commutation at so high a figure (i. 77-8). This he found no difficulty in doing. He explained that 'this was not a mere commutation', but 'was doubtless a change which took into consideration the extra means and enhanced value of Meleborne'.