Henry, therefore, introduced the practice of making a commutation of their military service for money; and he levied scutages from his baronies and knights' fees, instead of requiring the personal attendance of his vassals.

Soon after he forced them to grant him a scutage of two marks and a half on each knight's fee for an expedition into Normandy; but he did not attempt to execute the service for which he pretended to exact it.

He imposed, therefore, a scutage of one hundred and eighty thousand pounds on the knight’s fees, a commutation to which, though it was unusual, and the first perhaps to be met with in history [l], the military tenants willingly submitted; and with this money he levied an army which was more under his command, and whose service was more durable and constant.

John, by menacing the barons, broke the concert; and both engaged many of them to follow him into Normandy, and obliged the rest who stayed behind to pay him a scutage of two marks on each knight's fee, as the price of their exemption from the service.