( xxiv ) 



Of the tenants who worked and received no quietancice there is little record. 

 We hear of a provision of seed on the lord's part for the villeins in some 

 of the sub-manors of Taunton. But besides the regular "works" the pay- 

 ments on account of precarice and bedripce seem to show that these were 

 general and well attended. On most of the manors there were precarice 

 in Mdnter, in Lent, and in autumn, and there was also a precaria for the 

 mowing of the great meadow. 



Commutation. — One of the most remarkable features of the E-oU, so far 

 as it relates to labour, is the comparatively slight mention made of money 

 paid in lieu of service. Eor thirty-one of these manors the amount received 

 by the bishop by way of commutation for service is only £10 Vis. '6d. 

 The very gradual extension of this practice of paying money instead of 

 rendering service is one of the most interesting features of the accounts 

 during the next hundred and forty years. The practice gradually makes 

 its appearance in nearly all the manors and slowly increases, but even in 

 1348 it does not reach a very considerable amount. 



Wages. — But besides the work done by the tenants for their lord, 

 some work is paid by money wages. At Privet and Wield most of the 

 labour is performed in this way, whilst in many of the manors threshing 

 and winnowing is paid for in money. In most cases, however, the wages 

 bill does not exceed £2 10*. The wages paid varied considerably ; at 

 Waltham men are paid \\d. a day and women fc?., and this seems about 

 the usual rate for a day's work.^ Especially low wages were paid at 

 Farnham, and much higher ones at Wycombe.^ 



There is little information as to the wages of artisans. Two sawyers 

 at Taunton earned at the rate of about 1«. 5d. a week each. Carpenters in 

 Southwark earned 3d. a day, but wages would naturally be higher near 

 London. 



This account indicates the existence of manufactures by its mention 

 of fulling mills. They existed in three manors,^ and a new one was built 

 at Brightwell and had already begim to be profitable.* 



With regard to the poor also the accounts afford certain information. 

 The bishop frequently gives alms, though there are not instances on every 

 manor, but only occasional gifts to individuals.^ Thus from Waltham he 

 gives six bacons to the sick,* from Cheriton he sends a quarter of wheat 

 to a certain woman at Winchester.^ From Witney, Farnham, and Sutton 

 alms and provisions are given to the lepers,* and at Farnham money to a 

 hermitage,* and wheat to the monks of Winchester.^" 



Besides this, at Rimpton, a feast seems to have been given at the lord's 

 expense; the whole Hundred was entertained at Christmas and flesh and 

 grain were provided for their entertainment." 



1 Sowing at Rimpton costs 2d. a day, threshing \d. At Bitterne two men and one boy 

 ohtain 2s. for six days. 



* At Farnham the rate for both winnowing and threshing wheat was \\d. a quarter; at 

 Wycombe 2\d. for threshing only. The average rates were as follows : — Threshing wheat and 

 mancorn 2d. per quarter ; threshing barley about \d. per quarter. Ploughing at Woodhay and 

 Overton costs 2d. an acre. ^ See infra, p. 20. 



< p. 13, 1. 55. The mill at Brightwell cost £9 4s. 4td. 



5 In the Pipe Roll of 1172 during vacancy we read of " Elemosynaa constitutae per maneria." 



6 p. 5, 1. 9. ' p. 81, 1. 8. « p. 19, 1. 62 ; p. 38, 1. 63 ; p. 43, 1. 51. 

 » Of IchuUa, p. 38, 1. 63. 



'" p. 39, 1. 34. Bacon also is given in alms at Farnham, p. 40, L 49. 

 « p. 73, 1. 20 ; p. 72, 1. 56, etc. 



