14 MEDIEVAL AGRICULTURE. 



two more and two napkins at six'shillings ; three quisins, i. e. cushions, 

 at ninepence each. Besides these articles of linen and clothing, 

 Senekworth possessed three gold rings, one of which was broken, 

 the whole being valued at eighteen-pence ; a purse at fourpence ; 

 a pouch at threepence ; a knife at a penny ; a forcer, that is, a chest, 

 at three shillings, and another at sixpence ; a leathern forcer at three- 

 pence; two glasses (murrae), one with a silver stand, worth seven 

 shillings, a second, eightpence; four silver spoons, valued at three 

 shillings and twopence ; two silver seals (fir macula), two shillings, 

 one of these being mounted by a gilded penny as a symbol; three 

 books of romance, valued at threepence ; two pair of linen panni 

 at a shilling; a basin and ewer at a shilling; besides some less 

 characteristic effects. Senekworth, however, must have been an 

 official of more than usual opulence and social position. 



The dairy was annexed to the manor-house, and the cheese 

 and butter, though an important source of income, was the 

 cheapest part of agricultural produce, as measured by modern 

 experience. The furniture of the dairy was composed, as in 

 our own day, of pail, milk-pan, churn, cheese-press, cheese- 

 shape, butter-mould, and straining-cloths. Rennet (coagula), 

 though generally produced on the farm, was occasionally pur- 

 chased. On some estates a register is kept of the days and 

 months in which cheese-making was carried on, and the 

 amount made at the different parts of the year. The cheeses 

 were, it appears, small, to judge from the price of the several 

 formae in which they were shaped (vol. ii. p. 6 1 8). The largest 

 could not have weighed more than from six to eight pounds. 

 Butter, besides being pressed into gallon tubs or jars, was 

 made, as in modern times, into pats; at least we read of 

 formas for butter, which seem to be the same with the pat- 

 terns used at present (vol. ii. 568. i. 569. iv.), and we may be 

 able to trace the same fact in the disci of vol. ii. p. 599. 

 This part of the medieval farm was under the management 

 of a deye, or dairy-woman. 



The grange contained the grain kept in stock. Towards 

 the close of the year this is generally very low. It was laid 



