74 SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS, AND THE 



and sixpence. Four hold half a virgate, the quantity con- 

 tained in one of these lots being described as containing a 

 messuage and thirteen and a half acres of land. Some hold 

 less quantities, from seven acres, namely, down to half an 

 acre of meadow. It does not indeed follow that the tenants 

 in each case had the plot only which is assigned to their 

 names, for on many occasions the same person is described 

 as holding several parcels. It would seem that when two or 

 more tenants have an interest in the same estate, they held 

 in common, and often in different quantities. The king is 

 stated to be the tenant of three acres in one virgate, which 

 he had regranted to one Robert Burgess, though previously he 

 is said to owe suit and service and fealty to the manor. A 

 woman holds a tenement in c Newgate,' another a shop in 

 Letherhead. The estate which is said to contain thirteen 

 and a half acres is held on the service of paying a wreath 

 of red roses on Midsummer-day. 



The manor contained one tenant in villenage, holding a 

 messuage and a virgate of land and paying five shillings a year. 

 Besides this money-rent, and the liability to pay heriots, the 

 following labour-rents were exacted : i. To carry dung with 

 cart and two horses and a man for two days, to receive on 

 the first day a farthing's worth of bread, and on the second 

 a c repast,' worth three halfpence, ii. To gather stubble four 

 and a half days at no pay. iii. To plough one acre in winter 

 and another in Lent, with a repast worth threepence each 

 time. iv. To harrow winter seed with one horse for half 

 a day, but receive no pay, and oats with one horse when 

 they are sown, the lord supplying two other horses, v. To 

 find one person to assist the thatcher, when the service is 

 needed, at no pay. vi. To find one person to hoe the lord's 

 corn, at a farthing every other day. vii. To find one person 

 to turn and cock the hay, the lord being bound to scatter it. 

 viii. To find one person to carry the hay in one particular 

 field, ix. To find one person to dig in the garden half a day, 

 and to thresh half a day, gratuitously, x. To find one man 



