WilliamalsogavethetownofNorthampton，withthehundredofFackley，asafieftoSimonSt。Liz，inconsiderationofhisprovidingshoesforhishorses。*
[footnote……
MEYRICK，i。11。
Butthoughthepracticeofhorse-shoeingissaidtohavebeenintroducedtothiscountryatthetimeoftheConquest，itisprobablyofanearlierdate；as，accordingtoDugdale，anoldSaxontenantincapiteofWelbeckinNottinghamshire，namedGamelbere，heldtwocarucatesoflandbytheserviceofshoeingtheking’spalfreyonallfourfeetwiththeking’snails，asoftasthekingshouldlieattheneighbouringmanorofMansfield。
AlthoughwehearofthesmithmostlyinconnexionwiththefabricationofinstrumentsofwarintheMiddleAges，hisimportancewasnolessrecognizedintheordinaryaffairsofruralandindustriallife。Hewas，asitwere，therivetthatheldsocietytogether。Nothingcouldbedonewithouthim。Wherevertoolsorimplementswerewantedforbuilding，fortrade，orforhusbandry，hisskillwascalledintorequisition。Inremoteplaceshewasoftenthesolemechanicofhisdistrict；and，besidesbeingatool-maker，afarrier，andagriculturalimplementmaker，hedoctoredcattle，drewteeth，practisedphlebotomy，andsometimesofficiatedasparishclerkandgeneralnewsmonger；forthesmithywastheveryeyeandtongueofthevillage。HenceShakespeare’spictureofthesmithinKingJohn：”Isawasmithstandwithhishammer，thus，Thewhilsthisirondidontheanvilcool，Withopenmouthswallowingatailor’snews。”