A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 



rent per acre from the bondars appears to be about 5</., while the demesne 

 arable land is valued at 4$^., and demesne meadow at about zs. ^d. per acre. 83 



The cultivation of these lands was probably on the ordinary three-field 

 system, to judge by the notices of land of which one third lay fallow. The 

 prevalent customs, even to the present day, of Laxton and Eakring seem 

 to show that the regulation of cultivation and the assignment of meadow 

 and pasture was generally determined by the whole body of those whose 

 holdings conferred a right to vote (i.e. toft holders), or by an elected field 

 foreman and jury. 84 The number of beasts each tenant might have on the 

 common pasture was also a matter for the decision of the community, to 

 judge by the regulations of the free tenants of Mansfield. 36 



Other customs, which varied from township to township, were those con- 

 cerning marriage, inheritance, dower, and sale of land. Differences in these 

 regulations may, of course, be frequently traced to the preponderance of free 

 or servile elements in a manor. Thus ' the king's free tenants of Mansfield ' 

 proudly declared that any one of them, man or woman, might marry whom- 

 soever he or she chose, thus distinctly repudiating the servile ' merchet ' 86 ; 

 whereas the nativi of Southwell 37 paid $s. ^d. for the marriage of a daughter. 

 Again at Mansfield, if a woman married a stranger her sons were to share her 

 lands at her death ; while at Gringley the three reeves and twelve men swore 

 that no tenement was to be shared among brothers. 88 



Further rules of inheritance at Mansfield were that all tenements of this 

 manor were ' partable among the heirs females if heirs males want, except all 

 those that hold of the king by charter,' and the new-born children as soon as 

 they were christened, whether male or female, were of lawful age to have their 

 inheritance. 39 Otherwise there are no special regulations as to inheritance 

 from the father ; but at Gringley, where the bondars preponderated, there is 

 perhaps a trace of Borough English in the rule that the younger son of the 

 first wife should inherit. 40 The rules as to dowry are elaborate in the case of 

 Mansfield. A tenant is to dower his wife with half his tenements, and these 

 cannot later be alienated without her free consent given in open court. 41 At 

 Gringley, it is merely stated that the heir is to dower his mother : 42 while at 

 Southwell, the widow may enter on her husband's tenement on paying 5^. \d. 

 to the chapter. 43 



In regard to transfer of lands the rules of both Mansfield and Gringley 

 forbid the alienation of land to strangers ; and in both cases sub-letting is con- 

 sidered objectionable. But the Mansfield tenants were permitted to grant 

 forty-year leases : and land they acquired by purchase they could dispose of: 

 a subject not touched on in the Gringley rules." At Southwell the tenants 

 could not alienate their lands without leave of court, on pain of forfeiture : and 

 no freeman could enter on bond land without special leave. 45 



35 See names with an asterisk in App. I. 



84 G. Slater, The Engl. Peasantry and the Inchsure of Common fields, 11-13 ; Trans, of Thornton Sof. vi, 71. 

 ** Harrod, Hist, of Mansfield, 57. (In this history are given the customs of the manor of Mansfield stated 

 to be presented in the reign of Edw. I, and taken apparently from a forest book written early in the 1 6th century, 



PP- 3, S3)- 



'Harrod, Hist, of Mansfield, 53. " Rastall, Hist, of Southwell, 88. 



"Rentals and Surv. R. 534, 25 Edw. I. " Harrod, Hist, of Mansfield, 54. 



10 Rentals and Surv. R. 536, 25 Edw. I. " Harrod, op. cit. 56. 



41 Rentals and Surv. R. 536, 25 Edw. I. "Rastall, Hist, of Southwell, 87-9. 



44 Harrod, Hist, of Mansfield, 54-7. tt Rastall, Hist, of Southwell, 87-9. 



270 



