(II)
[In Illustration of Manorial Customs, cf. pp. 124–131 and 297–301.]
Manor of Aldeburgh, R.O., Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, Vol. 163, Henry VIII.
The said Manor has one lete by the year ... and hath also the Court from 3 weeks to 3 weeks called the 3 weeks Court.
Item.—Every tenant payeth for a cottage ground not buylded if it conteyn 80 ft. every way
Item.—Every tenant payeth for a cottage ground not
buylded if it conteyn 80 ft. every way 1d.
Item.—Every tenant payeth for half a cottage which
is 40 ft. every way ½d.
Item.—For every curtilage containing 40 ft. or under ½d
Item.—For every fyne of every cotage buylded 2/-
Item.—For every fyne of every cotage ground unbuilded 1/-
Item.—Every tenant that taketh any cotage ground to
build upon if he build not within three years he
forfeiteth the ground by him taken.
Item.—Every tenant having a cotage or parcel of a cotage
wherein any tenant dwelleth and keepeth a fire,
they owe to pay for the same a Russhe hen or
else 2d. which is for the rushes that they
gather upon the lord’s common there.
Item.—If 2 tenants dwell in one house having 2 severall
rooms in the same they to pay yearlie 2 rush
hennes or 4d. for them.
Item.—Every freeholder having by copy any arable land
or pasture ground in the field payeth yearly
for the same at terms accustomed the rent of
old time due at [Michaelmas & Easter] by even
porcions; and for all fines cessed upon the
tenaunts for land in the fields is at the will of
the lord, as well at the alienations made as at
the death of any tenant.
Item.—The tenants and copyholders shall do no waste
upon the lord’s common ne otherwise upon pain
of forfeiture of their tenements.
Item.—All the freeholders shall [pay] double their rent
at every death or alienation made, as relief.
Item.—Certain freeholders and copyholders pay heriot
after the death of any tenant.
Item.—Neither the freeholders nor copyholders shall not
surcharge the lord’s comon but to keep after
the rate of his tenure. If he otherwise do he
shall be amerced.
Item.—No man shall encroche on lord’s lands on pain of
forfeiture of his tenure.
Item.—Every boat going to the sea on fishing and having
4 men therein payeth yearly to the lord 8d.,
and 6 men 12d., and so after the rate, for
each man 2d., which is by a late composition.
Item.—There is a service paid by certain tenants there
called Oryell, which is for the liberty of the
common that tenants have in the said lordship.
Item.—The lords of Aldeburgh have the moietie of all
wreck of the sea being cast on land or found
near the shore within the limits of the same
lordship, and the finder thereof hath the other
half.
(III)
[In Illustration of the Peasants' Grievances]
Holkham MSS., Fulmordeston MSS., Bdle. 6
To the Right Honble. Sir Edward Cooke, Knight, Attorney-Generall unto the King’s Matie.
Humblie sheweth unto your good lord yor poore and dayley orators Thomas Ffawcett, Thomas Humphry, and Nicolas Farnes [?] yor worshippes tenants of the Manor of Ffulmordeston cum Croxton in the Duchie of Lancaster and the moste parte of the tenants of the same Manor that whereas yor said orators in the Hillary Term laste commenced suite in the Duchie Courte against Thomas Odbert and Roger Salisbury, Gent., who have enclosed their grounds contrary to the custom of the Manor, whereby your wor. loseth your shack due out of those grounds, common lane or way for passengers is stopped up, and your worshippes poore orators lose their accustomed shack in those grounds, and the said Roger Salisbury taketh also the whole benefit of theire comons from them, keepinge there his sheepe in grasinge and debarringe them of their libertie there which for comon right belongeth unto them:—