^42 NAVESTOCK IN OLDEN DAYS ; 



The payments in kind or in money were various, as, e.t:^., havedsot, 

 chevagn///i, or head money already referred to. Next came Wardpenny, 

 which was a payment due to the Crown, but payable at the County 

 Court. Navestockwas required to pay i6d., which was collected by 

 requiring eight tenants to pay 2d. each. ; but whether as a commu- 

 tation for any, and what kind of guard, there is no distinct evidence to 

 prove.-^ It was, however, payable at Hocktide, and was thus in some 

 degree connected with the ceremony of the Wardstaffe. We learn, 

 at any rate, that both at Navestock and Sutton in Middlesex it was 

 payable where the Wardstaffe watch was kept. In connection with 

 wardpenny, the following note is worthy of your consideration : 

 John Aldred, a customary tenant on one of the manors of St. Paul's, 

 was bound, with others of the same rank, to keep watch at the Court 

 from Christmas to Twelfth Day, and have a good fire in the hall, one 

 white loaf, one cooked dish, and a gallon of ale ; and, if any damage 

 was done, he that watched was to make it good unless he had raised 

 the hue and cry for the village to go in pursuit. "Probably," adds 

 Archdeacon Hale, "when service was commuted by the lord, the 

 money paid in lieu was termed wardpenny." This would account for 

 the fact of only eight tenants paying that tax in Navestock, viz., that 

 the remainder performed their service in person. Landgable, or 

 landgafol, was a tax levied on seven of the nativi at Navestock, at the 

 rate of 5d. per virgate. It was a tribute or tax upon the house ; though 

 why it should have been levied on these seven only does not appear. 

 Amongst other payments in kind we found poultry and eggs, and 

 under the head of service, carriage of produce to the granary of 

 St. Paul's and the carriage of wood to the Court House of the 

 Manor are expressly mentioned. It is to be noted that the smith, 

 William Faber, in lieu of rent for his holding of 5 acres, was required 

 to make horse-shoes for the Court, being allowed one oak per annum 

 for his assistance. 



The lands thus let out were divided into numerous parcels, and 

 were apparently at first assigned for the occupation respectively of 

 the various classes into which the society of the day was divided ; 

 each such parcel carrying with // its respective dues. The land 

 assigned to the freeman carried with it its dues, obligations, rights, 

 and privileges, and so with the rest. A serf willing to pay the lawful 

 dues of land assigned for the use of freemen could hire such land, 

 and without removing from his position in society as a serf, could 



27 S. p. Domesday, p. I.xxvii,, 2 civ., 3 Ixxiii. 



