THE MANOR AND THE VILLAGE 47 



times before that of a son, the lord's consent had to 

 be obtained and a fine called 'merchet' paid. In 

 various manors there were other claims, as, for example, 

 a sum might have to be paid on the lord giving per- 

 mission for a son to be educated for the Church, or 

 a fine rendered on the sale of an ox, a calf, or a nag, 

 or on a peasant entering into the land of his predecessor, 

 whilst on the death of a peasant, in some places, 

 the best beast on the land was claimed under the 

 title of a c heriot.' Again, in some manors the lords 

 seem to have secured the right of wardship, which gave 

 them the control of land during the minority of a peasant 

 owner. All these claims, taken together, amounted in 

 many villages to a considerable burden. But in others, 

 especially those under the king or under the Church, 

 the burdens would be light and life would be freer 

 in its character. 



Ultimately, as generations passed, the various 

 arrangements between the lord and the peasants, both 

 freemen and bondsmen, were modified ; the so-called 

 4 customs ' or rules of the manor changing from time to 

 time as conditions changed. Payments in kind were in 

 many manors altered to money payments, and the 

 claims on the man's labour became less of a personal 

 character it was sufficient for the peasant to provide a 

 labourer, and not necessary for him to work himself. 

 Concurrently, labour services tended in many manors 

 to be converted into money rents. As these ties were 

 weakened, the bondsmen became freer. But at times, 

 when there was a shortage of labour, the bailiffs were 

 inclined to go back to the old customs and demand 

 forced labour : and so in most manors a long struggle 

 went on, lasting with intervals of peace from one 

 generation to another, until at last, as will be seen 



