English Economic History: Select Documents. Various

English Economic History: Select Documents - Various


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in the Victoria County History series.

      For a general survey of the Saxon period the student should refer to Cunningham, Growth of English Industry and Commerce, Mediæval Times, pp. 28–133.

      1. Rights and Duties of all Persons [Rectitudines Singularum Personarum. Cambridge, Corpus Christi, 383], c. 1000.

      This land-law holds good on some lands, but, as I have said before, in some places it is heavier, in others lighter, for all land-customs are not alike. On some lands the gebur must pay honey-gafol, on some meat-gafol, on some ale-gafol. Let him who keeps the shire take heed that he knows what are the ancient uses of the land and what the custom of the people.

      Of the Swineherd.—It belongs to the gafol-paying swineherd that he give of his slaughter according to the custom of the estate. On many estates the custom is that he give every year 15 swine for sticking, 10 old and 5 young, and have himself what he breeds beyond that. To many estates a heavier swine-service belongs. Let the swineherd take heed also that after sticking he prepare and singe well his slaughtered swine; then is he right worthy of the entrails, and, as I said before of the bee-keeper, he must be oft ready for any work, and have a horse for his lord's need. The unfree swineherd and the unfree bee-keeper, after death, shall be worthy of one same law.

      Of Men's Board.—To a bondservant (esne) belong for board 12 pounds of good corn and 2 sheep-carcases and a good meat-cow, and wood, according to the custom of the estate.

      Of Women's Board.—To unfree women belong 8 pounds of corn for food, one sheep or 3d. for winter fare, one sester of beans for Lent fare, in summer whey or 1d.

      Of the Sower.—It belongs to the sower that he have a basketful of every kind of seed when he have well sown each sowing throughout the year.

      Of


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