THE RULES OF SAINT ROBERT. 



Here begin the rules that the good bishop of Lincoln, 

 S. Robert Groseteste, made for the Countess of Lincoln to 

 guard and govern her lands and hostel : whoever will keep 

 these rules well will be able to live on his means, and keep 

 himself and those belonging to him. 



The first rule teaches how a lord or lady shall know 

 IN EACH manor all their lands by their parcels, 



ALL THEIR RENTS, CUSTOMS, USAGES, SERVICES, FRANCHISES, 

 FEES, AND TENEMENTS. 



Touching your foreign lands ; to begin with, buy the 

 king's writ, to inquire by the oath of twelve free men in 

 each manor all the lands by their parcels, all the rents, 

 customs, usages, services, franchises, fees, and tenements, 

 and let this be carefully and lawfully inquired into by the 

 most loyal and wisest of the freeholders and villeins, and 

 distinctly enrolled, so that your chief seneschal may have 

 one whole roll, and you another, and let each bailiff have 

 what belongs to his baillie. And if plaintiffs come to you 

 for wrong that anyone has done them, or petitioning, first 

 look yourself at the rolls of that manor to which the plain- 

 tiff belongs, and according to them give answer and main- 

 tain justice. 



The second rule teaches how you may know by common 

 inquest what there is on each manor, moveable or 

 not moveable. 



Next, cause to be made without delay right inquest, 

 and enrol distinctly in another roll every one of your 



