or DOOMSDAY-BOOK, a very ancient record made in the time of William the Conqueror, which now remains in the exchequer, and consists of two volumes, a greater and a less; the greater contains a survey of all the lands in most of the counties in England, and the less comprehends some counties that were then surveyed. The book of Domeday was begun by five justices, assigned for that purpose in each county, in the year 1081, and finished in 1086. It was of that authority, that the conqueror himself submitted, in some cases wherein he was concerned, to be determined by it. Camden calls this book the tax-book of king William; and it was farther called Magna rolla.

There is likewise a third book of Domeday, made by command of the conqueror; and also a fourth, being an abridgment of the other books.