THE TENANT-FARMER, 1583-1702. 807 



given time if the tenant makes default, the time being generally 

 short. Then follow the covenants. In none which I have 

 examined are there any restraining the tenant from selling 

 straw or hay off the land, or defining the order of the crops, 

 though in earlier leases it was common to prescribe courses and 

 fallows. The only remnant which I have seen of this ancient 

 custom is an occasional clause requiring the tenant to leave a 

 spring fallow on the expiry of his lease, an event which 

 rarely occurred. The tenant was to do all the repairs, an 

 enormous relief to the landlord, as I have pointed out in an 

 earlier volume (iv. p. 62) in commenting on the great burden 

 of this liability. He was also to bear all local charges, 

 ordinary or extraordinary; to keep in order all hedges, ditches, 

 and fences ; and very often to house and entertain the Provost 

 and fellows for four days and four nights while on progress, 

 with their horses and servants, and sometimes twice a year. 

 If a manor was held within the tenancy, he was to collect all 

 rents, fines and other dues of the lord, and account for his 

 receipts at the audit held during progress. Sometimes he 

 covenanted to find pasture in the winter or summer months 

 for a limited quantity of sheep, and additional produce (gener- 

 ally poultry) rents were put on him. Occasionally he supplied 

 the corporation with corn and sheep under covenant at fixed 

 and low rates. Sometimes he bound himself to supply the 

 landlord with corn and fatted boars at market or fixed prices, 

 the value being deducted from the ancient rent, and an allow- 

 ance being made for carriage. There is no mention of game, 

 but sometimes the tenant is assured the right of free warren. 

 Generally too the lease imposes on the tenant the duty of sur- 

 veying the estate and making what the lease calls a terry. 

 The document generally concludes with a provision that the 

 tenant should not alienate without consent, and that if the 

 consent be given, the alienee should enter into a fresh lease 

 within a short time, with of course a fresh fine. 



When I found or got access to these records of fines on re- 

 newal, I thought that I should find the key to the rent of 



