( XXX ) 



derived from them. The plough was obviously a very simple contrivance, 

 and the cost was very small indeed, for the woodwork (mairemium) was 

 provided by the lord, and the carpenter and smith were in most cases 

 hired at a fixed annual wage. Thus, in separate entries we find the cost 

 of making six new ploughs " before the carpenter came " Is. ; of making 

 one plough Id. ; of making three ploughs and plough- wheels Qd. ; and 

 of making three new ploughs 6d. The price for a pair of plough-wheels 

 seems to have been about S^d., but this doubtless included the ironwork 

 as well. 



The carts were much more elaborate, and were of two distinct kinds, 

 viz., the ordinary wooden cart, costing from Is. 6d. to 3s. 8d., and the 

 iron-bound cart, having also its wheels bound with iron, costing from 

 6s. 6d. to lis. Id. One such cart, and three additional pairs of wheels, 

 were bought at Bristol for 38s. 8d. A pair of ordinary cart-wheels cost 

 Is. In some cases the term biga or karrus is used instead of the more 

 general careta, but there does not appear to be any essential difference 

 between them. However, it is possible that the biga was of lighter 

 construction than the careta, for three "for marling" were bought 

 for 7s., a new one bound with iron cost only 5s. Id., and two pairs of 

 wheels were bought for 3s. Td. The karrus, on the contrary, may have 

 been heavier, for at Taunton seven pairs of wheels were bought at an 

 average price of 3s. 3|c?. The plaustrtim used for marling at Bitterne 

 was possibly a waggon with four wheels. 



Other implements are only mentioned occasionally. Harrows were 

 bought for 2c?. each ; baskets (corbellce) for carrying com, etc., 2^d. 

 another " bascat," Id. ; a seedlip. Id. ; a winnowing-fan (vannus), 14sd. 

 other fans {ventorii) for cleaning corn, 6d. and 7d. ; a reaping-hook. Is. l^d. 

 a bushel measure, 2c?. ; three sieves, 2c?. ; a bucket or trough for watering 

 the oxen, 4id. ; a ** bokett " and cord for drawing water from the 

 well, 4c?. ; a tun for cider, Is. ; locks, about 2^c?. ; picks, o|^c?. ; a gardening 

 spade and hoe, 4|ci. Sacks cost from 4id. to 9c?., and canvas for making 

 them 2d. per eU. 

 Stock. The Instaurum, generally the last section of the manorial account, 



deals with the various branches of the live stock and their profits, 

 together with their store of meat, wine and cider, honey and fruit. These 

 are arranged in a definite order beginning with the three principal classes 

 of the live stock, namely, (1) horses, (2) cattle, (3) sheep, followed by 

 notices of (4) wool, and (5) cheese. The position of the remaining 

 items is subject to many variations, but the pigs always precede the 

 poultry, and the larder with the inventory of the ceUai" (if any) come 

 near the end. 



Each section is treated on a common plan, setting forth the 

 remainder (if any) of stock or goods from last year, the changes 

 taking place during the year, and finally, the result, showing the 

 quietus, superplus, or defectus, as the case may be. The account also 

 refers back, sometimes expressly, as in the case of hides, wools, wool- 

 fells, and cheese, sometimes incidentally, as in the case of stock bought 

 or sold, to the earlier portion of the manorial account, particularly to 

 the Exitus Manerii and Expensa. It is thus possible to verify the totals 

 in many instances. 



