Ealdwulf bishop of Worcester leased forty acres of land and a fishery for three lives to Leofenað, on condition that they delivered yearly fifteen salmon, and those good ones too, during the bishop’s residence in Worcester, on Ashwednesday[[584]].
Eádríc gafeled (gafelian), i. e. paid yearly rent or gafol for two hides with half a pound, or thirty shillings, and a gare, a word I do not understand[[585]].
In 835, the Abbess Cyneware gave land to Hunberht, a duke, on condition that he paid a gablum, gafol or rent of three hundred shillings in lead yearly to Christchurch Canterbury[[586]].
The ceorlas or dependent freemen who were settled upon the land of Hurstbourn in the days of Ælfred, had the following rents to pay; many of these are labour rents, many arise out of the land itself, viz. are part of the produce.
From each hide, at the autumnal equinox, forty pence. Further they were to pay, six church-mittan of ale, and three sesters or horseloads of white wheat. Out of their own time they were to plough three acres, and sow them with their own seed, to house the produce, to pay three pounds of gafol-barley, to mow half an acre of gafolmead and stack the hay, to split four foðer orloads of gafolwood and stack it, to make sixteen rods of gafol-hedging[[587]]. At Easter they were further to pay two ewes and lambs, two young sheep being held equivalent to one old one: these they were to wash and shear out of their own time. Lastly, every week they were to do any work which might be required of them, except during the three weeks, at Christmas, Easter and the Gangdays[[588]].
The following customs and payments are recorded in various manors: some of the words I cannot translate. “In Dyddanham there are thirty hides; nine of these are inland (demesne), twenty-one are let[[589]]. In Stræt are twelve hides, twenty-seven yards of gafolland; and on the Severn there are thirty cytweras[[590]]. In Middleton are five hides, fourteen yards of gafolland, fourteen cytweras on the Severn, and two hæcweras on the Way. At Kingston there are five hides, thirteen yards of gafolland, and one hide above the ditch which is now also gafolland, and that without the ham[[591]], is still in part inland, in part let out on rent to the ship-wealas[[592]]: to Kingston belong twenty-one cytweras on the Severn, and twelve on the Way. In Bishopstún are three hides, and fifteen cytweras on the Way: in Lancawet are three hides, two hæcweras on the Way, and two cytweras.
“Throughout that land each yardland pays twelve pence, and four alms-pence: at every weir within the thirty hides, every second fish belongs to the landlord, besides every uncommon fish worth having, sturgeon or porpoise, herring or sea-fish; and no one may sell any fish for money when the lord is on the land, until he have had notice of the same. In Dyddenham the services are very heavy. The geneát must work, on the land or off the land, as he is commanded, and ride and carry, lead load and drive drove, and do many things beside. The gebúr must do his rights; he must plough half an acre for week-work, and himself pay the seed in good condition into the lord’s barn for church-shot, at all events from his own barn: towards werbold[[593]], forty large trees[[594]] or one load of rods; or eight geocu build[[595]], three ebban close: of field enclosure fifteen rods, or let him ditch fifteen; and let him ditch one rod of burg-enclosure; reap an acre and a half, mow half an acre; work at other works ever according to their nature. Let him pay sixpence after Easter, half a sester of honey at Lammas, six sesters of malt at Martinmas, one clew of good net yarn. In the same land it is customary that he who hath seven swine shall give three, and so forth always the tenth, and nevertheless pay for common of masting, if mast there be[[596]].”
Unquestionably these are heavy dues, and much aggravated by the circumstances of the estate or yardland being but small, the tenant born free, and some of the services uncertain. I shall conclude this chapter with a few lines translated from that most valuable document called “Rectitudines singularum personarum[[597]];” as far as the cases of the Geneát, Cotsetla and Gebúr are concerned[[598]]. First of the Geneát or comrade.
“The Geneát-right is various, according to the custom of the land. In some places he must pay landgafol, and a grass-swine yearly; ride and carry, lead load; work and feed his lord[[599]]; reap and mow; hew deer-hedge and hold sæte[[600]]; build and enclose the burh [or mansion]; make new roads to the farm; pay church-shot and alms-fee; hold headward and horseward; go on errand, far or near, whithersoever he is directed.” This is comparatively free, and it is only to be regretted that we do not know what amount of land in general could be obtained at such a rent. We next come to the Cotsetlan, whom Ælfred in a passage already cited states to be on lǽnland, and who are obviously poor freemen, suffered to settle on the lord’s estate.
“The Cotsettler’s right is according to the custom. In some places he must work for the lord, every Monday throughout the year; or three days every week in harvest; he need pay no landgafol. He ought to have five acres; more if it be the custom. And if it be less, it is all too little, for his service is often called upon. He must pay his hearth-penny on holy Thursday[[601]] as it behoves every freeman to do; and he must acquit[[602]] his lord’s inland, on summons, at seaward and at the king’s deer-hedge[[603]]; and at such things as are in his competence: and let him pay his church-shot at Martinmas.