Roger son of Roger de Manynghame has made fine of ½ mark for the merchet of Cecily his wife, the lord's bondwoman; pledge, Thomas de Manynghame.

Thomas Gabriell has made fine of ½ mark in like manner for the merchet[113] of Maud his wife, the lord's bondwoman; pledge, Thomas de Tiresale.

Thomas de Tiresale has made fine of 6d. with the lord for licence to have John son of Roger Childyong, the lord's bondman, in his service until Michaelmas next, so that he then render the aforesaid John to the lord's bailiffs, etc.

Agnes daughter of Adam atte Yate, the lord's bondwoman, has made fine for her chevage[114], for licence to dwell wheresoever she will, to wit, 6d. to be paid yearly at Michaelmas and Easter in equal portions; pledge, Robert atte Yate.

It is presented by Roger Judson, Thomas son of Roger, Thomas Gabriel, Adam del Oldfeld, Robert de Oldfeld, and John atte Yate, that Cecily de la More,[115] the lord's bondwoman, has been violated by John Judson; therefore let her be distrained to make fine therefor with the lord.

Further, it is presented that Isabel daughter of William Childyong, the lord's bondwoman, has married one William Cisson, a free man, without licence. And Alice daughter of John Gepson, the lord's bondwoman, has married one William del Hale, a free man, at Beston, without licence; therefore let them be distrained to make fine with the lord for their merchet, etc.

Let inquest be made touching the sons and daughters of William del Munkes, who dwell at Darthington and are the lord Duke's bondmen and bondwomen of Bradford, etc.

Further, it is presented that Alice daughter of William Childyong, the lord's bondwoman, dwells at York; therefore let her be taken, etc.

Sum of this Court:—35s. 3d. {Merchets, 13s. 4d.
Thereof further for chevage, 6d. {Perquisites, 21s. 11d.

Court holden at Bradford on Wednesday, 12 December, 32 Edward III [1358].

Again Anabel del Knoll has a day, as above,[116] to rebuild a house on a plot of land which she holds of the lord at will, and under the same penalty as in the Court preceding.

It is ordered, as many times before, to take William son of Richard Gilleson, Roger son of William del Mersh, dwelling with John de Bradlay, Thomas son of John atte Yate, William son of William Childyong (in Pontefract), Alice daughter of John atte Yate (in Selby), Alice daughter of William Childyong (in Methelay), and William son of William Childyong, the lord's bondmen and bondwomen of his lordship here, etc., who have withdrawn without licence, and to bring them back hither until [they make fine for their chevage].

Roger son of Roger makes plaint of Alice de Bollyng [in a plea] of trespass, pledge to prosecute, William Walker, to wit, that she has not made an enclosure which she is bound to make between his holdings and her own holdings in Mikelington, so that for lack of enclosure there divers cattle entered and fed off his corn, to wit, his rye and oats and grass, to his damages of 10s. And the aforesaid Alice defends and says that the aforesaid Roger, and not she, is bound to make an enclosure there, and hereon she puts herself upon the country. But the jurors hereupon elected, tried and sworn, say on their oath that the aforesaid Roger is bound to make the aforesaid enclosure between the aforesaid holdings. And therefore it is awarded that the aforesaid Roger be in mercy for his false claim, and that the said Alice go without a day.

It is presented by the parker that William Walker (6d.) with 11 beasts, Roger de Manyngham (4d.) with 3 beasts, John de Gilles (2d.), Thomas Staywal (2d.) with one beast, Roger Megson (2d.) with one beast, Denis Walker (2d.), Richard Wright (4d.) with 2 beasts and William Coke (2d.) with a horse, have fed off the grass of the lord's wood in Bradfordbank; therefore they are in mercy.

Again it is presented that William Notbroun (6d.) and Adam Notbroun (6d.) with their cattle have broken down the hedge around the lord's wood, and with the said cattle have fed off the grass of the lord's wood; therefore they are in mercy.

Again it is presented that Richard Milner of Idel (6d.), Richard Baillif (2d.) and William Smyth of Caleshill (2d.) have carried millstones over the lord's soil here without licence; therefore they are in mercy.

Again it is presented by John de Denholm, John Judson, Adam Dikson, Robert del More, Thomas de Chellowe, Hugh Barn, Robert atte Yate, John atte Yate, Richard Curtays, John Rous, Roger Johanson and John de Gilles, that William Tomse, the lord's bondman, dwelling in Moreton by York, Roger de Stanbiri, the lord's bondman, dwelling in Wirkley, and John Bonde, dwelling in Sighelesden, and John son of Roger son of William del Mersh, dwelling with John de Bradlay, the lord's bondmen here, have withdrawn without licence; and hereupon order was made to take them all, so that they be [here] until, etc. And the aforesaid

William Tomse and Roger de Stanbiri were taken and were brought before the steward at Pontefract on Saturday next after the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord. And the aforesaid William Tomse there made fine of 26s. 8d. before the said steward, to wit, in order to have his goods at the steward's will,[117] to be paid at the feasts of St. Peter's Chains and St. Michael next by equal portions. And also the aforesaid William made fine for chevage, to wit, a fine of 2s. to be paid yearly at the feasts of Whitsunday and St. Martin in Winter by equal portions; and William Cooke of Brotherton became his pledge as well for his yearly chevage as for his other fine for his said goods. And Roger de Stanbiri likewise on the same day was brought before the aforesaid steward at Pontefract and made fine of 20s. to have his goods at the steward's will, to be paid at the terms of Easter and Michaelmas next; and also the aforesaid Roger made fine of 12d. for his chevage, to be paid yearly at the terms aforesaid; and Thomas Dantrif became his pledge as well for his yearly chevage as for his fine aforesaid. And it was granted to the same William and Roger that they may stay outside the lordship here in the places where they were staying before, and that too at the lord's will, for their chevages aforesaid, to be paid yearly, as is aforesaid.

And order is made to take all the other bondmen named above, because they come not, and to bring them back hither to their nests until, etc.[118]

Sum of this Court:—51s. 9d., the whole perquisite. Further from chevage as above:—3s. a year to be paid at the terms as above.

3. Deed Illustrating the Distribution of Strips [Ancient Deeds, B 4397], 1397.

4. Regulation of the Common Fields of Wimeswould [Hist. MSS. Com., Middleton MSS., p. 106], c. 1425.

For neat [i.e. cattle] pasture we ordain Orrow and Breches, Woldsyke and Wylougbybroke, for to be broken[119] on Crowchemesseday [14 September]; and whoso break this, every man shall pay for each beast that may be taken in any other several pasture a penny to the church; therefor to go a sevennightday [i.e., to endure for a week].

Also, for the neat pasture, after that be eaten, all the wheatfield, to wit, Hardacre field namely, save Strete headlands, where they may not go for destroying of corn; this for to endure another sevennightday under the pain beforesaid.

Also, on Holy Thursday eve we ordain the commons of the Peasfield for horses to be broken, and no other beasts to come therein. For if there be any man that have any horse that is feeble and may not do his work for fault of meat, and this may reasonably be known, let him relieve of his own, so that he save his neighbour from harm, for if any man may ... which beasts 'lose' in corn or in grass, he shall for each beast pay a penny to the church, and make amends to his neighbour.

Also, on Whitsun eve every man [shall] break his several pasture as he likes, and no man tie his horse on other ... his own for to be several till Lammas, each man to eat his own, under the pain beforesaid.

Furthermore, if any man ... plough-oxen for to be relieved on his several grass, let him tie them in his best manner or hold them in, as other men do their horses ... on no other man's grass going to or fro abroad, as they will pay for each beast a penny to the church and make [amends] ... to him that has the harm.

Also, if any man tie his horse or reach on any headlands or by brookside into any man's corn, he shall make amends to him that has the harm, and for each foot that is within the corn pay a penny to the church.

Also if any man shall be taken at night time destroying other corn or grass, he shall be punished as the law will, and pay 4d. to the church.

Also, all manner of men that have any pease in the field when codding time comes, let them cod in their own lands and in no other man's lands. And other men or women that have no peas of their own growing, let them gather them twice in the week on Wednesday and on Friday, reasonably going in the land-furrows and gathering with their hands and with no sickles, once before noon and no more, for if any man or woman other that has any peas of his own and goes into any other, for each time [he shall] pay a penny to the church and lose his cods, and they that have none and go oftener than it is before said, with sickle or without, shall lose the vessel they gather them in and the cods, and a penny to the church.

Also, no man with common herd nor with shed herd [shall] come on the wold after grass be mown till it be made and led away, but on his own, and then let them go all together in God's name; and if they do, each man pay for his quantity of his beasts a certain to the church, that is for to say, a penny for each beast.

Also, if there be any man that throws in any sheaves on any land for to tie on his horses, he shall make a large amends to them that have the harm, and for each foot pay a penny to the church, but on his own. Furthermore, if any man tie his horse in any stubble and it be mown in reasonable time [he] shall pay the aforesaid pain.

Also, if any man may be taken at nighttime in the field with cart or with bearing of any other carriage in unreasonable time between bell and bell [he shall] pay 40d. to the church, save as thus, if any man in peas harvest, he and his servants, in furthering of his work and saving of his corn, bind at morning or till it be moonshine, all other works at nighttime except, save this.

Also, all manner labourers that dwell in the town and have commons among us shall work harvest work and other works for their hire reasonable as custom is, and not to go to other towns but if they have no work or else no man speak to them, so that they may be excused, for if they do, they shall be chastised as the law will.

Also, no man or woman that works harvest work bear home no sheaves of no man's, but if [i.e. unless] they be given them well and truly, for if it may be wist, for each sheaf that they bear home without leave [they] shall pay a penny to the church.

Also, no man or woman glean no manner of corn that is able to work for his meat and twopence a day at the least to help to save his neighbour's corn; nor no other gleaners, that may not work, glean in no manner of wise among no sheaves, for if they do, they shall lose the corn and a penny to the church for each burden.

Also, neither common herd nor shed herd come in the wheat cornfield till the corn be led away, nor in the peas cornfield in the same wise till the peas be led away, and the common herd and shed herd may go together as they should do, on pain of each beast a penny to the church.

Also, that no man take away his beasts from the common herd from Michaelmas tide to Yule to go in the wheatfield to 'lose' the wheat, for if any man may take any beast therein, they shall pay for each beast a penny to the church as often as they may be taken destroying the corn, and the herd [shall pay] his hire.

Also, if our hayward pen a flock of neat of the country, he shall take six pence, for a flock of sheep four pence, and for each horse a penny.

And that our wold be laid in several at Candlemas, for if any herd let his beasts come thereon after, [he shall] pay for each time four pence to the church.

Also, whosoever has any meadows within the corns, my lord or any man else, let make them to 'dele' them out and take a profit of them on God's behalf, and whoso trespass, let make amends.[120]

5. Lease of a Manor To the Tenants [Cart. Rams. II, 244], 1279.

Know ye that we have demised at farm to our men of Hemingford our manor of Hemingford from Michaelmas in the eighth year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Henry, at the beginning of the ninth, until the end of seven years next following, for 40l. sterling to be paid to us therefrom yearly at the four terms, to wit, at Michaelmas 10l., on St. Andrew's Day[121] 10l., at the Annunciation[122] 10l. and at Midsummer 10l.

Our aforesaid men shall hold the aforesaid manor with all its appurtenances, except the gift of the church when it fall vacant, and our fishery, and the mill, which we have kept in our hand.

Also they shall have all profits of the town except our tallages, sheriff's aid, hundred aid, "wardpenys," and scutage of the lord the King, and except the issues of causes which cannot be determined without us or our bailiffs, of the issue whereof they shall have a moiety, and except view of frankpledge[123] and the Maunde acre and the acres of the reeve of Ramsey.

And be it known that if any customary tenant die without heir of his body, we will demise his land and his messuage to whomsoever we will and keep in our hand the gersum[124] arising thence.

Also no customary tenant shall make fine for relieving or marrying his daughters without our presence, but their gersums shall be made before us in the presence of the reeves or any of the farmers, who shall have and collect the said money towards their farm.

Nor may the said farmers demise house or land to any stranger or one of another's homage, without our special licence.

For we will that such gersums beyond the fixed farm be entirely paid to us.

Moreover the said farmers have received the following stock:—

The corn grange full of corn on either side the door by the door posts and by the beams beyond the door, and so sloping to the roof of the granary.

They have received also the oat barn full of oats by the east door post.

The breadth of the grange was 28 feet within, the length 39 feet, and the east end of the grange is round; the height in the middle is 19 feet; and at the side from the door to the curve of the round end the length of the wall is 30 feet, the height 5½ feet.

They have received also a heap of barley 36 feet in length, 11 feet in breadth, 11 feet in height, and 18 feet in breadth in the middle.

Moreover they shall be quit of a serjeant[125] in autumn every year except in the last year, in which they shall have a serjeant, by whose view, according to the custom of the abbey, the stock shall be made up.

They shall also be quit of our yearly lodging due, except that as often as we shall come there they shall find for us salt, straw and hay without an account.

And at the end of the seven years they shall render to us the aforesaid manor with the stock with which they received it.

Also they shall give back the land well ploughed twice.

And be it known that the fruits which were then in the barn ought to be counted for the first year, because they were of our stock.

In witness of which demise of the land and the manor we have caused our seal to be set to this present writing.[126]

6. Grant of a Manor by a Lord To the Customary Tenants at Fee Farm [Patent Roll, 6 Edward III, p. 2, m. 27], ante 1272.

To all to whom the present writing shall come, Richard, earl of Cornwall, greeting. Know all of you that we have demised and granted and by our present writing confirmed for us and our heirs to all our customary tenants of our manor of Corsham all our manor of Corsham, with the rents, demesnes, meadows, feedings and pastures to the said manor pertaining, saving to us a third part of the meadow of Myntemede, which third part the said customary tenants shall mow, carry and cock at their own costs, saving also to us the site of our fishpond, our parks, our warren, pleas, perquisites and all escheats which can escheat to us or our successors; to have and to hold to the said customary tenants and their successors of us and of our heirs for ever, for 110 marks to us and our heirs or assigns yearly to be paid to our bailiff in the said manor at two terms of the year, to wit, on the octave of Easter 55 marks and on the octave of Michaelmas 55 marks, for all services and demands to us or to our heirs or assigns belonging, saving to us all the things aforenamed. And we will that our said customary tenants for ever be quit of tallage and view of frankpledge and all other customs and services to us or to our heirs pertaining. Our aforesaid customary tenants, however, have granted for them and their successors that, if they keep not this covenant according to the form of the present writing, all their tenements which they hold of us shall revert to us and our heirs without any contradiction, if it be through them that the form of this writing be not kept. We will also and we grant that if any of our said customary tenants of our said manor of Corsham be rebellious, contravening the form of this writing, our bailiff for the time being shall have power to distrain him by lands and chattels to observe more fully all the things abovesaid according to the tenour of this writing. And in witness thereof we have caused our seal to be set to this writing. These witnesses:—Sir Richard de Turry, Sir Sampson de la Bokxe, Sir Henry Crok, Sir Philip de Eya, Walter Galun, then bailiff, Martin de Hortham, Sir Gilbert, then prior of Corsham, Richard de Cumberwell, Ralph, then vicar of Corsham, and others.[127]

And we, ratifying and approving the demise, grant and confirmation aforesaid, grant and confirm them for us and our heirs, as far as in us lies, to the aforesaid customary tenants and their successors, as the writing aforesaid reasonably testifies, and as they now hold the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances, and they and their ancestors and predecessors have held that manor hitherto, and have reasonably used and enjoyed the liberties aforesaid, saving to us a third part of the said meadow of Myntemede and the site of the fishpond, the parks, warren, pleas, perquisites and all escheats abovesaid, as is aforesaid. In witness whereof, etc. Witness the King at Woodstock, 1 July. By a fine of 5 marks. Wilts.

7. Lease of Manorial Holdings [Fine Roll, 10 Edward III, m. 7], 1332.

The King to all to whom, etc., greeting. We have inspected a writing which John late earl of Cornwall, our brother, now deceased, made in these words:

John, son of the illustrious King of England, earl of Cornwall, to all and singular who shall see or hear the present writing indented, greeting in the Lord. Know ye that, having regard to the no small decrease and decay of rents and farms pertaining to our manor of Kirton in Lindsey in times past, for that tenants of escheated tenements in the same manor, having no estate of the same tenements save from year to year or at least at the will of the lords, our predecessors there, have made no outlay or the least which they could on the maintenance of the buildings on the same tenements; and wishing to raise again the aforesaid rents and farms as much as we can for our advantage; we have granted for us and our heirs and by our present writing have demised to John of Westminster and Emma his wife and Thomas, son of the same John and Emma, those two parts of all those tenements with the appurtenances in the town of Kirton aforesaid which the same John before the making of this writing held of us during our pleasure, as of an escheat formerly in our hand of the tenements which were sometime of Thomas of Bromholm; to have and to hold to the same John and Emma his wife and Thomas, son of the same John and Emma, and each of them that lives the longer, for their whole life, of us and our heirs, rendering therefrom yearly to us and our heirs 100s. sterling at the feasts of Easter and Michaelmas by equal portions; and we, the aforesaid earl, and our heirs will warrant the aforesaid two parts of the tenements aforesaid with their appurtenances to the aforesaid John and Emma his wife and Thomas, son of the same John and Emma, for their whole life, as is aforesaid, against all people for the aforesaid rent. In witness whereof we have thought fit to set our seal to this writing. These witnesses:—Sirs John de Haustede, Thomas de Westone and William de Cusancia, knights, Sir William de Cusancia, rector of the church of Wakefield, our treasurer, and William de Munden, our clerk and secretary, and others. Given at York on Tuesday next after the feast of All Saints in the 6th year of the reign of King Edward the Third after the Conquest, our dearest brother.

And we, ratifying and approving the demise aforesaid, grant and confirm it for us and our heirs, as much as in us lies, as the writing aforesaid reasonably testifies, willing and granting for us and our heirs that the same John, Emma and Thomas have and hold the tenements aforesaid with the appurtenances for the whole life of each of them by the aforesaid service of rendering to us and our heirs yearly the said 100s. according to the tenour of the writing of the same earl abovesaid. In witness whereof etc. Witness the King at Leicester, 1 October.

By the King himself.

8. An Agreement Between Lord and Tenants [Duchy of Lancaster, Misc. Bks., 5, f. 103], 1386.

Warkington.—At the view of frankpledge holden there on 20 October, 10 Richard II., it was granted to all the lord's tenants in the presence of John Mulso, Nicholas Lovet, Edmund Bifeld, Stephen Walker of Keteryng and others there present, that if it pleased the lord they might hold certain bond lands and tenements at a certain rent and service, as follows, during a term of six years next after the date abovewritten, the term beginning at Michaelmas last past; to wit, that each tenant of a messuage and a virgate of bond land shall render to the lord 18s. yearly at four terms, to wit, at the feasts of St. Edmund the King and Martyr,[128] Palm Sunday, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist,[129] and Michaelmas, by equal portions, and shall do two ploughings a year at what times of the year he shall be forewarned by the bailiff of the manor for the time being, and shall work in "le Keormede" as he used before, save that the lord shall find him food and drink for the ancient customs, that is, for half a sheep and for each scythe 1/2d., and so he shall reap in Autumn for two days, to wit, one day with two men and another day with one man, at the lord's dinner[130]; he shall give 4d. for a colt if he sell it, he shall pay heriot if he die within the term, and he shall make fine for marrying his daughters and for his sons attending school, and for "leyre-wite" as he used before.[131]

9. Complaints Against a Reeve [Court Rolls, 179, 4, m. 1d.], 1278.[132]

Elton.—St. Clement's Day.[133] Michael the Reeve complains of Richer son of Jocelin and Richard the Reeve and his wife that when he was in the churchyard of Elton on the Sunday next before the feast of All Saints[134] in this year, there came the aforesaid Richer, Richard and his wife and insulted him with vile words before the whole parish, charging him with having collected his own hay by the labour services due to the lord the Abbot [of Ramsey], and with having reaped his own corn in autumn by the boon-works done by the Abbot's customary tenants, and with having ploughed his land in Everesholmfeld with ploughs "booned" from the town, and with having released to the customary tenants their works and carryings on condition that they demised and leased their lands to him at a low price, and with having taken gifts from the rich tenants that they should not become tenants at a money rent, and with having put the poor tenants at a money rent.[135] And the aforesaid Richard and Richer are present and deny, etc. and ask for an enquiry by twelve jurors. Who come and say that the said Michael is guilty of none of the charges. Therefore the said Richard and Richer shall satisfy him, and for the trespass shall be in mercy; Richard's fine, 2s., pledge William son of James; Richer's fine, 12d., pledge, Jocelin. And the damages are taxed at 10s. to be received from Richard the Reeve, which sum Michael has released except 2s.

10. An Eviction from Copyhold Land [Chancery Proceedings, Early, 16, 376], temp. Henry IV-Henry VI.

Beseecheth lowly your poor bedefolks, Elizabeth Baroun, Harry Baroun and Richard Baroun, which be the King's tenants, that whereas the said Elizabeth was possessed and seised of a messuage and 4 acres of land in the town of Great Hormead in the shire of Hertford, and the said messuage and land held to her and to her heirs at the will of my lord of Oxford as of his manor of Hormead in the same shire by copy of court roll after the custom of the said manor, there hath one Harry Edmond, farmer of the said manor, without cause reasonable and contrary to the custom of the said manor, entered in the said messuage and land and put out the said Elizabeth, and certain goods and chattels of the said Elizabeth, Harry and Richard, to the value of 40 marks in the said house being, seized, and it withholdeth, and over that the said Harry Edmond with his adherents daily lie in wait to beat and slay the said Harry and Richard, your beseechers, so that they dare not well abide in their houses neither go about their husbandry, to their uttermost destruction and undoing for ever, without succour of your gracious lordship: Please your good grace to consider the premises and that your said beseechers have no remedy at the Common Law, to grant a writ directed to the said Harry Edmond, commanding him to appear before you at a certain day upon a certain pain by you to be limited, to be examined of the premises, and thereupon to do that good faith and conscience require, and that for the love of God and in way of charity.

This is the answer of Harry Edmond to the bill of Elizabeth Baron, Harry Baron and Richard Baron, in the Chancery.

First, whereas it is surmised by the said Elizabeth that she was possessed and seised of a messuage and four acres of land in the town of Great Hormead in the shire of Hertford, and the said messuage and land held to her and to her heirs at the will of my lord of Oxford as of his manor of Hormead in the same shire by copy of court roll after the custom of the said manor, and that the said Harry Edmond, farmer of the same manor, without cause reasonable and contrary to the custom of the said manor, entered into the said messuage and land and put out the said Elizabeth: The said Harry saith that the said messuage and land be holden of my said lord of Oxford bondly at the will of my said lord as of his said manor by the services of three shillings and halfpenny of yearly rent and by a certain service called the common fine, as it falleth more or less after the entries and ... of the tenants of the said manor by the custom of the said manor, by cause whereof the said Harry with one Thomas Denys, under-steward of the court of the said manor, by the commandment of my said lord of Oxford entered into the said messuage and land, after which entry my said lord let the said messuage and land to the said Harry for term of years, by virtue of which lease he [entered] the said messuage and land, as lawful is for him, which matter the said Harry is ready to prove as this Court will [award], and prayeth as for that to be dismissed out of this Court.

[And as for t]he seizing and withholding of certain goods and chattels of the said Elizabeth, Harry Baron and Richard, to the value of [40 marks, as is sur]mised by the said bill, the said Harry Edmond saith that the seizing and withholding of the said goods and chattels is a matter determinable at the Common Law, and not in this Court of the Chancery. Wherefore as for that he prayeth to be dismissed out of this Court.

And as for the declaration of the said Harry as for the said goods and chattels, the said Harry saith that he never seized nor withheld the said goods and chattels neither no parcel thereof, as it is surmised by the said bill, which matter the said Harry Edmond is ready to prove as the Court will award, if the Court rule him thereto.

And as for the lying in await surmised by the said bill the said Harry Edmond saith that the said lying in await is matter determinable by the Common Law and not in this Court of the Chancery, wherefore as for that matter he prayeth to be dismissed out of this Court of the Chancery. But, for the declaration of the said Harry Edmond in that matter, the said Harry Edmond saith that he never lay in await neither to beat nor to slay the said Harry Baron nor the said Richard, as they surmise by their said bill, which matter the said Harry Edmond is ready to prove as this Court will award, if the said Court will rule him thereto.[136]