English Economic History: Select Documents. Various

Plowman; Chaucer, Canterbury Tales.

      1. Extent of the Manor of Havering [Rentals and Surveys, Roll 189], 1306–7.

The Manor of Havering extended by the order of the King before … and Richard le Rus in the thirty-fifth year of the reign by Richard of the Elms (de Ulmis)[91]. …

      Who say on their oath that the King has there in demesne 223½ acres of arable land, whereof the acre is worth 6d. a year.

      Sum, 111s. 9d.

      Further, 38 acres of arable land, which Adam de Rumford holds, which are of the demesne and were arrented by William Brito and his fellows, as is found below.

      Further, 5 acres of arable land, which Walter le Blake holds, and they are of the demesne and were arrented by the same as below, etc.

      Further, 15 acres of meadow, whereof each is worth 16d. a year.

      Sum, 20s.

      Further, 4 acres of meadow, which Baldwin le Blund holds, which are of the demesne and were arrented by the same as below, etc.

      Further, 23 acres of several pasture, whereof each is worth 14¼d. a year.

      Sum, 27s. 3¾d.

      Further, they say that the King can have in the common pasture, to wit, in the woods, heaths and marshes, his oxen and cows, sheep, horses and swine and other his beasts at his will, and so that all the tenants of the same manor may have their beasts and all their cattle in the aforesaid common when they will. And if the King have no beasts in the common, he shall take nothing therefor.

      Further, they say that the King has a plot of land in his park enclosed with hedge and dyke, which is called the King's garden; but it is not tilled; therefore there is no profit.

Further, they say that the King has there his park enclosed round with a paling, and as well the men of the same manor as others of the neighbourhood outside the manor ought to renew and repair that paling as often as need be,[92] according as is found below; and in that park no cattle nor any beasts ought to enter except by licence of the King's bailiff. And if any cattle or any beasts enter the same park without licence of the bailiff, they are forfeit and must be ransomed at the will of the bailiff, if they are foreign, and if they are of the manor, then they are to be ransomed for 1d. for each foot, if it please the bailiff to take so much.

Further, they say that the King has in the same manor three foreign woods pertaining to the aforesaid manor, which the King's bailiffs of the same manor have always had in keeping, together with the aforesaid manor, and they have had attachments and all other esplees[93] of the same woods, to complete the farm of the same manor, to wit, Westwode, Haraldeswode and Crocleph. And in those three woods all the tenants of the same manor ought to have common of herbage for all their beasts and all their cattle throughout the whole year, except between the feast of Michaelmas and the feast of Martinmas,[94] and then also there may enter into the same woods the horses of the aforesaid tenants, as also throughout the whole year, and the swine of the same tenants for pannage,[95] and no other beasts. And if sheep or oxen be found in the aforesaid woods, or geese, except when driven to the water or the market or elsewhere, so that they make no stay in the same, whosesoever they be, they ought to be imparked and kept until they shall have satisfied the King's bailiff for that trespass. And if within the aforesaid time any foreign beast, which does not belong to any tenant of the manor, be found in the aforesaid woods, the King's bailiff can ransom it, to wit, for 40d. for each ox or cow, or 1d. for each foot of each beast, or otherwise, as he shall please, within 40d. And if any foreign cart shall pass through the aforesaid woods within the aforesaid time, it shall give to the King's bailiff 1d. of custom. And if any foreigner shall drive his beasts through the aforesaid woods within the aforesaid time, he shall give to the King's bailiff 1d. of custom. And these customs are called "leph" within the aforesaid time.

      Further, they say that the King's bailiff ought to have all the wood thrown down by the wind and all windfall wood in the aforesaid three woods within the aforesaid time, to complete the farm of the manor.

      And the pannage of the whole manor and the aforesaid customs called "leph" and the wood and windfall wood within the aforesaid time are extended in the profit of the manor at 100s.

      Further, they say that no men of the foreign neighbourhood ought to have common in the aforesaid woods at any time of the year, nor ought their beasts or cattle to enter the aforesaid woods except by licence of the bailiff. And if they enter, they ought to be imparked and kept until they shall satisfy the bailiff for that trespass.

      Further, they say that every customary cart which carries wood or charcoal or any other thing of custom for sale and passes through any of the aforesaid woods shall give to the bailiff 4d. of custom.

      Names of the tenants holding virgate lands, and rents of the same virgates and customs which pertain to them.

      3½ virgates.

      John de Walda holds 3½ virgates with their homages appurtenant and renders 76s. a year at the two terms, without customs. Sum, 76s.

      Virgate.

      Maurice Algar holds ½ virgate with its homages appurtenant and renders 9s. a year at the two terms.

      William the Smith holds two parts of half a virgate with its homages appurtenant and renders 6s. a year at the two terms.

      Richard Maneland holds a third part of half a virgate with its homages and renders 3s. a year at the two terms. Sum, 18s.

      Virgate

      Richard de Dovere holds one virgate with its homage appurtenant and renders 30s. a year at the two terms; which virgate was of Hamo Peverel. Sum, 30s.

      Virgate.

      Nicholas de la Hulle holds a fourth part of a virgate with homages and renders 5s. a year.

      Walter de la Hulle holds a fourth part of a virgate with homages and renders 4s. 2d. a year at the two terms.

      Richard son of Thomas de Bruera holds a fourth part of a virgate with homages and renders 30d. a year at the two terms.

William Annore holds a fourth part of a virgate with homages and renders 6s. a year at the two terms.[96] Sum, 17s. 8d.

      Virgate.

      William Emeline holds a third part of a fourth part of a virgate and renders 20d. a year at the two terms.

      William Snelling holds a third part of a fourth part of a virgate and renders 20d. a year at the two terms.

      John Dasel holds a third part of a fourth part of a virgate and renders 20d. a year at the two terms.

      William Trilling holds two parts of half a virgate and renders 10s. a year at the two terms.

      William Don holds a third part of half a virgate with homage at the Faucur and renders 5s. a year at the two terms.

      Simon Pecoc holds a third part of a fourth part of a virgate and renders 2s. 6d. a year at the two terms.

      Isabel Pecoc holds a third part of a fourth part of a virgate and renders 2s. 6d. a year at the two terms.

      Richard the Fuller holds a third part of a fourth part of a virgate and renders 2s. 6d. a year at the two terms. Sum, 27s. 6d.

      Half