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]
[128] November 20.
[129] June 24.
[130] i.e. The lord providing dinner.
[131] The lord here is the Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds.
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.
[132] Printed in Selden Society Publications, II., 95.
[133] November 23.
[134] November 1.