62 RATE OF PRODUCTION, ETC. 



for an illustration of the facts, to the rentals of Cuxham and 

 Ibstone. Vol. ii. pp. 653 sqq. 



From half to one third of the arable and better pasture 

 land of each manor was in the hands of the lord, and farmed 

 by his bailiff. The remaining arable was parcelled out 

 among the free and villain tenants of the manor. I shall, 

 in a subsequent chapter, comment on the rents, services, and 

 incidents due from the occupiers. It is sufficient to say, that 

 all the feudal dependants of the lord were in possession of 

 land, partly from the necessity of the case, partly because it 

 was the cheapest commodity of the middle ages. The rents 

 of the freeholders were fixed. Though his payments were 

 far from nominal, the tenant was independent, as long as 

 his rent was duly paid. Time out of mind, the services of 

 the villains had been commutable for money payments, and 

 even if forced labour had been of any value, the long tradi- 

 tion of pecuniary commutation would have made the re- 

 sumption of labour-rents exceedingly difficult. As a rule, too, 

 whenever peasant proprietorship is prevalent in any com- 

 munity, hired labour, other than at harvest time, when it 

 must have been always highly paid, is scarce and dear. It 

 was not marvellous, therefore, that the greater owners cen- 

 sured the demands of the labourers as excessive and malicious ; 

 and we need not be surprised, as we shall see hereafter, that, 

 despite repeated legislation, and incessant complaint, espe- 

 cially on the part of the knights of the shire, who seem occa- 

 sionally to have petitioned the crown independently of the 

 burgesses, the labourer ultimately secured the advance which 

 he demanded for his service, and that the lord was constrained 

 to alter the bailiff system to that of a lease for years granted 

 to some freeholder of the manor. 



