68 The Tenants and their Land. 1272 — 1306. [cH. 



holdings would tend to become divided, and the services formerly 

 rendered by a single tenement would later be performed by two or 

 more. The account rolls indeed bear traces of a time when the 

 number of tenements rendering week-work was smaller than that 

 indicated in the table. According to the table, 25 or 26 tenements 

 owed week-work from September 29 to August i. But it is notice- 

 able that in computing the number of the several kinds of services 

 and payments due from the manor the number 21 J was, in many 

 cases, taken as the basis of calculation. Thus 1505 winter works 

 were due from the manor, that is, 70 works from each of 2i|- tene- 

 ments\ The 245 summer works charged upon the manor are not so 

 evidently calculated upon this basis ; 10 summer works seem to have 

 been the full quota due from a single tenements It would have 

 taken 21J+ 3 tenements to perform the whole number laid upon the 

 manor. Forty- three summer works were allowed for the mowing of 

 the demesne meadows, perhaps two works from each of 21^ tene- 

 ments. Forty-three cartings of manure were also due ; 21, later 2\\ 

 quarters of malt were due, and the table on pp. 60, 61 shows that 

 I quarter was regularly paid by a single tenement ; 43J quarters of 

 oats were due, but, in this case, i\ quarters was the full amount 

 usually imposed upon one tenement. Forty-three autumn cartings 

 were due, but here again it must be admitted that the evidence of 

 the rolls of 1376-8 does not point to the distribution of this form of 

 service among only 2\\ tenements, but among a considerably larger 

 number. Averagia, autumn works, and payment of hens were 

 certainly rendered by sokemenl It is not therefore surprising that 

 they are not calculated upon the basis of 21 J customary tenements. 



The table on p. 67 indicates that the number of tenements 

 charged with winter and summer week-work was considerably less 

 than the number of tenements charged with such dues as averagia 

 and autumn cartings. 



The area burdened with week-work may be roughly estimated 

 at 125 acres, while the area charged with lighter labour dues, but 

 free from week-work during at least three-fourths of the year, may be 



^ Cf. table, pp. 60, 61 which shows that 70 was the number of winter works regularly 

 due from a tenement. 



2 See table, pp. 60, 6\, 



3 Cf. above, p. 64, Appendix VIII. xl., xli. and other Ministers' Accounts. The 

 Account Rolls of 1376-8, Appendix IX. Ixi., and a few of the earlier Rolls fail to make the 

 usual and doubtless correct distinction between works rendered by customers and works 

 rendered by sokemen. This failure probably signifies nothing more than carelessness on the 

 part of the accountants' clerks. 



