12 MEDIEVAL AGRICULTURE. 



never found a trace of it on Kentish estates, many of which 

 have been examined for the purposes before me in compiling 

 the evidence in the second volume. 



The parish or manor in the period before us was divided 

 into four portions : first, the lord held, together with his feudal 

 rights over the whole, except the glebe of the parson or im- 

 propriator, a demesne which he cultivated by his bailiff: se- 

 condly, there were the small estates possessed by the free- 

 holders, who paid quit-rents : thirdly, there were the tenements 

 and lands of villains, bordarii, or cotarii : and lastly, the waste, 

 or common, over which all tenants had right of pasture, and 

 sometimes of turf. The estates of the villains were frequently 

 as extensive as those of the freeholders, and were always, as 

 far as I have found, held at fixed and commutable services, 

 the commutation being determinate, but accepted only at the 

 pleasure of the lord, who could exact the service, if he pre- 

 ferred to do so, just as the tenant might, if he saw fit, proffer 

 his service instead of the money payment. 



The buildings belonging to the lord consisted of manor- 

 house and grange. The manor-house contained at least three 

 principal rooms the hall, the dormitory, and the solar ; 

 and during the absence of the lord was occasionally inhabited 

 by the bailiff: the lord making periodical visits to his several 

 manors, for the purpose of inspecting his estate, and taking 

 account of the proceeds. The hall was the chamber used for 

 the manor court ; for receiving homage ; for inflicting or levy- 

 ing fines; and, in case the lord had the high jurisdiction, 

 that is, the right of fossa and furca, pit and gallows the 

 former for female, the latter for male culprits was the scene 

 of judicial sentence. Here too the youth were registered in 

 the decenna, and the view of frankpledge was held. 



The solar was the state chamber, the parlour of the farm- 

 house fifty years ago; built generally, as its name implies, 

 towards the south. The solar in the manor-house of Holy- 

 well in Oxford is thus constructed. Excellent specimens of 

 the Norman manor-house are still to be seen in the house 



