This Calendar of Feudal Records relating to Cambridgeshire has been compiled for students as a source of reference to the baronial, honorial and manorial history of the county. Somewhat similar calendars are in course of preparation for one or two other counties, notably for Lincolnshire. If ever a full series of such calendars should be compiled for the bulk of the English counties students of local history would be enabled to trace and identify all the scattered members of any barony or honor, wherever situated. Materials would then be available for a much more precise descent of the ancient nobility and knightly families than is at present possible. Our knowledge also of the royal serjeanties would be much more complete.

The sources employed in the compilation of this calendar may be briefly described:

For the eleventh century: ‘The Domesday Survey’ (Record Commission); ‘Inquisitio Eliensis’ and ‘Inquisitio Comitatus Cantabrigiae’ (ed. Hamilton).

For the twelfth century: ‘Magnus Rotulus Pipae’ of the 31st year of King Henry I (Record Com.); ‘Rotulus Magnus Pipae’ of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of King Henry II (Record Com.); ‘Liber Rubeus Scaccarii’ (ed. Hubert Hall for the Rolls Series); ‘The Pipe Rolls,’ ‘Rotuli Curiae Regis,’ ‘Feet of Fines’ and ‘Rotulus de Dominabus’ (ed. J. H. Round), published for the Pipe Roll Society; ‘Rotuli Curiae Regis’ (Record Com.).