The English Village Community / Examined in its Relations to the Manorial and Tribal Systems and to the Common or Open Field System of Husbandry; An Essay in Economic History (Reprinted from the Fourth Edition)

by Frederic Seebohm

VILLEIN SERVICES.

Gloucestershire
Services of a Virgate.[64]
A. B. holds 1 virgate of48 acres (in the manorof Hartpury), with messuage,and 6 acres ofmeadow land.	s.	d.
From Michaelmas till August 1 he has to plough one daya week, each day's work being valued at		312
And to do manual labour3 days a week, each day'swork being valued at		12
On the 4th day to carryhorse-loads (summagiare),if necessary,to Preston and othermanors, and Gloucester,each day's work beingvalued at		1
Once a year to carry toWick, valued at		3
To plough one acre called 'Eadacre,' [65] and to thresh the seed for the said acre, theploughing and threshing being valued at		4
To do the ploughing called'beneherthe' with onemeal from the lord,valued ultra cibum at		1
To mow the lord's meadowfor 5 days, and more ifnecessary, each day'swork being valued ultraopus manuale at		1
To lift the lord's hay for5 days		212
To hoe the lord's corn forone day (besides thecustomary labour), withone man, valued at		12
To do 1 'bederipa' beforeautumn with 1 man,valued at		112
To work in the lord's harvest5 days a week with2 men, from August 1 toMichaelmas, valued perweek at	1	3
To do 1 'bederipa,' called'bondenebedripa,' with 4men, valued at		6
To do 1 harrowing a year,called 'londegginge,'valued at		1
To give at Michaelmas anaid of	3	3
To [pay] 'pannage,' viz. fora pig of a year old		1
For a younger pig that canbe separated		12
If he brew for sale, to give14 gallons of ale as toll.
To sell neither horse norox without licence.
Seller and buyer to give 4d. astoll for a horse sold withinthe manor.
To redeem son and daughter atthe will of the lord.
If he die, the lord to have hisbest beast of burden as heriot,and of his widow likewise, ifshe outlive her husband.
Services of a Lundinarius.[66]
A. B. holds one 'lundinarium' (in the manor ofHighnam), to wit, a messuage with curtilage, 4 acres of land, anda half-acre of meadow, and has to work one day a week (probablyMonday, Lunæ-dies, Lundi, whence the title of the holding),from Michaelmas to August 1, and each day's work is valuedat . . . .	s.	d.
To mow the lord's meadowfor 4 days if necessary,and a day's mowingis valued at		2
To aid in cocking andlifting the hay for 6 daysat least, and the day'swork is valued at		12
To hoe the lord's corn for 1day, valued at		12
To do 2 'bederipæ' beforeAugust 1, valued at		2
From August 1 to Michaelmasto do manuallabour 2 days a week,and each day's work isvalued at		112
To gather rushes onAugust 1, valued at		12
And in all other 'conditions'he shall do as thecustomers.
The total value of the serviceof a 'lundinarius' is	6	8
To give 4d. as aid at Michaelmas.
(15 other 'lundinarii' hold on alike tenure.)

Worcestershire

Services of a Half-virgate.[67]

• Of the villenage of Neweham, with appurtenances (or members), and of the villeins' works and customs.
• In this manor are 35 half-virgates with appurtenances, exclusive of the half-virgate belonging to the 'præpositus.'
• Each half-virgate ad censum pays on St. Andrew's Day 12d. (November 30); on Annunciation Day, 12d. (March 25); on St. John's Day, 12d. (June 24).
• From June 24 till August 1, each villein to work 2 days a week, and, if the serjeant (serviens) shall so will, to continue the same work till after August 1.
• From August 1 to Michaelmas—
  • To work 4 days a week.
  • To do 2 'benripæ' (reapings at request), with 1 man.
  • To plough about Michaelmas a half-acre, to sow it with his own corn, and to harrow it.
• Also to plough for winter corn, spring corn, and fallowing, for 1 day, exclusive of the work, and it is called 'benherthe.'
• To give on February 2 one quarter of oats, and 212d. as 'fisfe' (fish-fee).
• To hoe as [one day's] work after June 24.
• All to mow as [one day's] work, and each to receive on mowing day as much grass as he can lift with his scythe, and if his scythe break he shall lose his grass and be amerced.
• All to receive 6d. for drink.
• In this manor 8 gallons of beer are given as toll, besides the toll of the mills.
• Each half-virgate, if ad operationem, from Michaelmas till August 1, to work 2 days a week.
  • To plough and sow with its own corn half an acre, and to harrow the same.
  • To plough and harrow one day in winter, and the prior to provide the seed; and, if necessary, each virgate to harrow as [a day's work] till ploughing time.
  • To plough one day in spring.
  • And to plough for fallowing for 1 day (warrectare) as above.

Services of a Cottarius.[68]

• In the manor of Neweham are 10 cottiers (omitting William the miller and Adam de Neweham), each holding 1 messuage with appurtenances, and 6 acres.
• [If ad operationem] each to work 2 days a week (excepting Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas weeks).
  • To drive, take messages, and bear loads.
  • To give 'thac,' 'thol,' aid, and such like.
  • But they give neither oats nor 'fisfe.'
• If 'ad firmam,' to render at each quarter-day (terminum) 6d.