PREFACE. 



O OME explanation of the circumstances which led to the writing 

 of this book may serve to make clear the point of view from 

 which the subject is considered. 



During the year 1895-6, in connection with a course in Economic 

 History in Radcliffe College, I transcribed a number of Court Rolls 

 of the manor of Moulton, Norfolk, belonging to the Library of 

 Harvard University. In the summer of ,1896 a search in England 

 for other material relating to Moulton failed to bring to light further 

 important documents concerning that manor ; but a comparatively 

 rich series of manorial documents was found to be in the possession 

 of the steward of the adjoining manor of Forncett The owner of 

 Forncett Manor, Mr A. C. Cole, most kindly allowed an examination 

 of these, and to facilitate the work consented to deposit them in the 

 Public Record Office. Through the courtesy of the officials of the 

 Public Record Office, permission was obtained to consult the rolls 

 there. Mr Cole has since presented these rolls to the Cambridge 

 University Library, where they now are. 



Some of the results of this study of the Forncett records were 

 printed in a paper on the " Decay of Villeinage in East Anglia " 

 {Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, N. S. XIV., 1900), part 

 of which is reprinted with some additions and alterations on pages 

 88-97 of this book. 



A fellowship held from the Association of Collegiate Alumnae 

 during the year 1902-3 made possible a further examination of the 

 Forncett MSS. and the completion of this volume. 



