[140] 1174-1188.
[141] For a similar lease to tenants see No. 5.
16. The Little Writ of Right [Court Rolls, 172, 27], 1390.
Richard by the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the bailiffs of Anne, Queen of England, our beloved Consort, of Havering atte Bower, greeting. We command you that without delay and according to the custom of the manor of Havering atte Bower you do (teneatis) full right to John de Lancastre of Hatfield Broadoak touching 40s. of rent with the appurtenances in Havering atte Bower, of which John Organ, citizen and mercer of London, and Margery his wife deforce him; that we may hear no further complaint thereof for default of right. Witness myself at Westminster the 30th day of January in the thirteenth year of our reign.
17. Villeinage Established [Bracton's Note-Book, III, 119, No. 1103], 1225.
A jury comes by consent of the parties [to recognise] whether William son of Henry and his ancestors held two parts of a bovate of land with the appurtenances in Pilton in villeinage of the ancestors of Bartholomew son of Eustace, doing these underwritten customs, to wit, 3s. 4d. a year of farm, and at Christmas 4 hens, and at the summons of Bartholomew, between Christmas and the Purification, one feast, and whether in Lent he ought to plough for one day at his own food, and to harrow for one day at his own food, and on Easter day to give 20 eggs, and in summer to plough for one day at the dinner of Bartholomew,[142] to reap for one day at the food of Bartholomew, to wit, twice a day, and for one day to carry his hay at the food of the same Bartholomew, and in autumn to do boon-work for Bartholomew, with his whole household except his wife, and for Bartholomew's loveboon to find a man at his own food, and in winter to plough for one day at Bartholomew's dinner, and whether, if he wish to marry his daughter or his sister, he shall make fine with Bartholomew as best he may; or whether William or his ancestors have held the land freely, rendering 3s. 4d. a year and doing foreign service for all service, etc.
The jurors say that the same William and his ancestors used and ought to do all the aforesaid customs which Bartholomew demands, to wit, from 1 bovate of land with the appurtenances, except that on Christmas day when he renders hens he ought to eat with Bartholomew on the same day, and furthermore that they never saw him sell a daughter or sister or give merchet or marry, but have seen that Bartholomew sold to Ralph Cayllard John, brother of William by the same father and mother, for 40s., and the same Ralph did with him his will.
And so it is awarded that William is convicted of villeinage, and if he will do the aforesaid customs, let him hold the bovate of land by the same customs, but if not, let Bartholomew do his will with the land and with William as with his villein, and let him be delivered to him.
[142] i.e. Bartholomew providing dinner.
18. Freedom and Freehold Established [Bracton's Note-Book, III, 224, No. 1210], 1236-7.