2 2 The Demesne. 1270 — 1307. [cii. 



When the buildings and walls needed repair hired labourers and 

 customary tenants joined in the work of restoration. Such part of 

 the work as required greater skill — the carpentry \ thatching^ and 

 interior plastering^ — was done by hired labour. The rougher part 

 was done by the customary tenants, who tore down old walls-, dug 

 the clay^ and fetched water to ' temper' it-, pulled off the old thatch^ 

 and cut and brought stubble for the new 2. The labour of daubing 

 the clay walls of the buildings was shared by both classes of 

 workmen ^ 



The most important resident within the manor court was the 

 bailiffs He was appointed by the lord to have general oversight 

 of all that went on in the manor and to protect the lord's interests. 

 It was his duty to see that the lower officers were faithful and active, 

 that the demesne was properly tilled, the grain properly garnered, 

 the stock cared for, and the produce sold in the best market". If he 

 needed advice he consulted with the steward''. He received guests 

 — knights, grooms, and officers of the lord — but unless they were 

 introduced by the lord's writ the bailiff ran the risk of not being 

 refunded for the expense of their entertainments The bailiff was 

 not directly maintained from the estate, but received yearly wages. 

 In the thirteenth century he usually received ^2s. annually and a robe 

 worth 20s.^ Later, his wages amounted to 1045-. a year^". He also 

 had his dwelling, which was repaired at the cost of the lord^^ and, 

 for his horse, stabling, and the allowance of a peck of oats a day^-. 



Besides this resident agent, the lord had many travelling agents, 

 who made their eyres from one to another of his scattered manors. 

 Not many weeks passed at Forncett without a visit from one of these 

 officers. The most frequent visitor was the steward. It was usually 

 the business of holding court that brought him to the manor^S His 

 special province was to protect the legal rights of the lord^^ and he 

 had also to acquaint himself with the economic administration of the 

 estate^'. Sometimes his expenses were allowed him from the manor^^; 

 at other times, as the records incidentally tell us, he was paid a fixed 



1 Appendix VIII., xxxiii.-xxxv. ^ Appendix VIII., xl. 



•* Appendix VIII., xxxix.-xl. ** Appendix VIII., xxxiii.-xxxv., xxxix.-xl. 



^ Serviens or ballivus. The words are used interchangeably. 



^ Lamond's edition of Walter of Henley, etc., 87-97. 



'' Walter of Henley, 84, 90. ^ Walter of Henley, 92, 102. 



^ Min. Acc'ts, 935/5, Walter of Henley, 92. 



^^ Min. Acc'ts, 935/15. " Appendix VIII., xl. 



12 Min. Acc'ts, 935/10, 935/^5- 



13 Min. Acc'ts, 935/13. i* Walter of Henley, 84. 

 15 Walter of Henley, 86. 1^ Appendix VIII., xxxv. 



