GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. 6j 



he had a direct interest in the efficient discharge of these offices, 

 for the jurymen presented petty offences to the steward, and the 

 aletaster was the guarantee that the beer was sound, of full 

 strength, and unadulterated. In accordance with the view of 

 frankpledge, he was perpetually open to supervision in re- 

 ference to the conduct of his guests and dependants, he was 

 liable to fine for breaches of police regulations, and was con- 

 stantly bound to be answerable for the due discharge of 

 amercements levied on any unruly or slanderous members 

 of his household. Trivial offences against the peace, as, for 

 instance, libellous comments and petty assaults, were the 

 common cases in the manor court, and were perhaps over- 

 frequent subjects for adjudication. It may be doubted, whether 

 up to very late times any local regulations have been, the 

 differences of information on sanitary and similar questions 

 considered and accounted for, more energetic and effective 

 than they were in the ancient manor court. It is certain that 

 the precautions taken to prevent fraudulent adulteration and 

 dishonest weights, and to secure general order, were exceedingly 

 practical under this obsolete machinery. 



The small freeholder was in his way better off than the lord. 

 He was liable to no wardship and its concomitant waste, he 

 was unrestrained in the disposition of his property, in his 

 parental authority, in the selection of occupation for his sons, 

 and the gift of his daughter's hand. When he was reminded, 

 at the close of the thirteenth century, that his tenure con- 

 strained him to march from Oxfordshire to make war, if need 

 be, against the Welsh, he was comforted by the recollection of 

 the parliament at Acton Burnell, and the righteous judgment 

 on David, the brother of Lewellyn, and the complete pacifica- 

 tion of that part of the country, and a little perhaps by his 

 distance from the risk of marauders from the border. 



He ran probably some danger, but in small degree, from the 

 king's purveyors. The claim to purchase corn and cattle com- 

 pulsorily, and the right of the impressment of beasts for 

 carriage was part of the ancient prerogative, and was, it seems, 



F 2 



