[268] Camden Society, Inquisition of the Manors of Glastonbury Abbey, Brentmarsh, 1189. A tenant holds "1 acre de terra arabili in dominico, utilius esset quod esset in manu domini.”
[269] e.g., on the Devonshire, Somerset, and Cornwall manors surveyed by Humberstone temp. Phil, and Mary (Topographer and Genealogist, vol. i.).
[270] MS. Transcript by A.N. Palmer of the Survey of the Manor of Holt, 1620 (Wrexham Free Library, Ancient Local Records, vol. ii.).
[271] Scrope, History of the Manor and Barony of Castle Combe, p. 258 (1440–-1550).
[272] Victoria County History, Suffolk. I quote the writer’s remarks in full. “The bailiff’s accounts for the manor begin in that very year [1381], and the one striking feature in them is the system of leases which appears to have gradually displaced other kinds of tenure since the time of the pestilence. A few are for forty years, but most are for ten or six years.... The land so leased is not mainly demesne land. It belongs largely to villein tenements that have fallen into the lord’s hands, and the process of consolidation described had already taken place at Mildenhall. The land held by John Kelsynd on a ten years' lease includes, for example, '3 acres of Frere's, Hayward’s and Willway’s tenement in Bradinhawfield, 1 acre of Holmes' tenement in Suttonfield, 5 acres of Zabulo's tenement in one piece at Lambwash,' and the rent of the whole 22 acres is 31s. 1d., or nearly 1s. 5d. an acre, an extremely high rent for land not stated to be meadow or pasture.”
[273] Scrope, History of the Manor and Barony of Castle Combe, p. 203.
[274] Massingberd, Ingoldmells Court Rolls, Introduction, p. xxx.
[275] Ibid.
[276] Stubbs, Constl. Hist., vol. ii. p. 479, n. 5.
[277] The word “usury” denoted in the Middle Ages and in the sixteenth century not merely exorbitant interest on a loan, but any oppressive bargain, including the raising of prices, the beating down of wages, and the rack-renting of land (see e.g. A Discourse on Usurie, by Thomas Wilson, 1584). The phrase “a great taker of advantages" comes from a complaint by the people of Hereford against an unpopular divine who lent money at interest and rack-rented land (S. P. D. Eliz., cclxxxvi. Nos. 19 and 20), and the phrase “weapon bodeth peace" from an account of an agrarian dispute in Lancashire—it is the sort of grim joke that stubborn and humorous people would appreciate—in L. and P. Henry VIII., vol. xiii., Pt. II., p. 535. “On Sunday night Wheateley sent his daughter to bid him to come to Parson’s Close to mow Mr. Tempest’s meadow there. Had heard that whoever should mow the meadow should be beaten off the ground, and sent to ask if he should bring a weapon. Wheateley sent word again 'howe weapon boded peace, therefore bring his weapon with him.' Brought his bow and shafts.”