( xxiii ) 



The Stipendiaries. — The class below the above receive stipendia in 

 lieu of remission of rent.^ At Waltham they consist of seven oxherds, 

 three carters, a gardener, a cowherd, and a dairymaid, and they are there 

 styled famuli. The men receive an annual salary of 3s., the dairymaid 

 2*., and like salaries are paid elsewhere. Besides their salary they received 

 allowances in grain (corredia), generally from six to six and a half 

 quarters, and from this it would seem that barley formed the staple bread 

 of the poor on these manors, varied by curall and mancorn. Taunton 

 is, however, an exception, wheat being used on nearly all the sub-manors 

 there. Occasionally, but not often, these servants also receive consue- 

 tudines. This was especially the case with the dairymaid, who usually 

 received a cheese as part of her reward.^ 



"Liveries." — The third class of manorial servants comprises those who 

 received liberationes. These were not so much manorial workers as special 

 agents of the lord. Amongst these would be a great officer like the 

 constable of Taunton,* and lesser people like the warreners of Waltham 

 and the Serjeants who had charge of groups of manors.* The ordi- 

 nary payment for these seems to be a salary of £3 Os. Idd. a year, or 

 twopence a day/ 



Besides these local officers there were others who visited the manors 

 at special times for particular services. Such are the knights and others 

 who survey the forests,* the verderers who visit Clere and Witney,'' the 

 huntsman in charge of dogs,* fishermen,* and officials who prepare for the 

 coming of the bishop and look after his kitchen." 



The Seneschal, — At the head of the manorial officers was the seneschal 

 or steward." 



Operarii. — From the ranks of the tenants also came the labourers who 

 performed the agricultural work in most of the manors; but as there is 

 no separate account of the "opera" at this date, we have only occasional 

 information as to their number and services. Among them were the 

 operarii who receive quittances on the various manors. At Farnham one 

 operarius worked every day in autumn and every other day for the rest 

 of the year, nine worked every other day throughout the year, and three 

 worked in September. 



Virgatarii. — At Witney forty virgatarii receive quietancice because of 

 autumn work, and ten for winter work. Ten find five ploughmen for the 

 whole year except Saturday, and two find a ploughman for quarter of the 

 year. At Brightwell twenty-two virgatarii found fifteen men who worked 

 every day except Saturday from the feast of SS. Peter and Paid until 

 Michaelmas. At Brightwell and at Adderbury there were also cottagers 

 (cotagii). But we only hear of these people because they receive quietancice. 



1 Probably most of these were farm servants. 



* Clere, Ashmansworth, Itchingswell. 

 3p. 68, 1. 17; p. 72, 1.43. 



* p. 2, 1. 50. Also William Widecoc, who was probably a falconer ; a cook and porters at 

 Taunton (p. 68), a gardener at Southwark (p. 60), &c. 



* Waltham, Witney, Overton, Fareham, Wargrave, &c. 



« p. 39, 1. 14 ; p. 75, 1. 7. T p. 6, 1. 54 ; p. 17, 1. 63. 



* p. 35, 1. 52. 9 p. 31. 1. 25. 10 Witney, p. 17, U. 47 and 48. 

 " p. 6, 1. 55; p. 24, 1. 42; p. 50, 1. 59; p. 61, 1. 48; p. 53, 1. 60; p. 76, 1. 46; p. 34, 1. 43. 



There are officials mentioned who may have acted as stewards or sub-stewards, chief among whom 

 is Robert Bassett. 



d 



