( xxxii ) 



The boves form the most numerous section of the cattle stock, and take 

 an important part in the working of the manor. The majority were em- 

 ployed in agricultural operations, and others were fattened for the larder,* 

 etc. Quantities of hay were bought in some manors for the oxen,^ in 

 addition to the ordinary provender of corn, and in some instances expense 

 was incurred for the special provision of water.^ AU the cattle (161) 

 " bought " in the Roll are boves, some of them expressly to relieve the 

 plough-teams.* As compared with last year, the number remaining is 

 64 less. The number sold is perhaps unusually large, some of the oxen 

 sold being old and infirm (" veteres et debUes").^ The number of calves 

 produced is a little more than half the number of cows remaining last year. 

 About forty per cent, were barren, and besides this, some died ante foetimi.^ 

 The amount and value of cheese and butter produced and sold will be 

 found stated elsewhere.^ 



A little more than ten per cent, of the entire cattle died. With the 

 exception of nine (eight of which are calf skins) the hides are all accounted 

 for. Calf-skins (once termed pelles) were of little value ; * they were some- 

 times sold at a penny each. The average price of the ox-hide was about 

 ISd. Hides of slain (occisi) are apparently of a higher value than those of 

 the murrain {mortui) oxen. 



Sheep. — The division of the sheep flock is parallel to that of the cattle- 

 herd. The active class including (1) the parent or producing stock — the 

 hurtardus and the ovis matrix ; and (2) the non-producing stock — the 

 multones and hoggetti. 



Soggetti are yearling lambs, before their transfer (after shearing) from 

 the Instaurvm to the respective flocks. When distinguished as to sex, 

 the males are called masculi, the females gerciae. 



The multones and hurtardi are sometimes classed together (p. 82). 

 Eighteen multones and 22 hurtardi from Lincolnshire, were introduced into 

 the flocks of Clere, Downton, and Farnham. The term cuillardus is used in 

 one instance as an alternative for multo? 



Only the oves matrices were expected to bear lambs. From the evidence 

 of the account it is clear that a ewe produced only one lamb, a single 

 exception occurring at Adderbury. Some of the gerciae occasionally bear 

 lambs. These are always accounted for separately, and we find no effort on 

 the part of the bailiffs to check their number as in the case of the oves 

 matrices, where all changes taking place " ante partum " and " post par- 

 tum " are carefully noted. Hogget-lambs tended to weaken the stock, and 

 the twelve produced at Alresford all died. A custos agnorum '* during 

 the lambing season is sometimes referred to in the Roll. Hay was bought " 

 and corn used^^ in some of the manors for the ewes and lambs. 



About three and a half per cent, of the producing flock were barren, 

 and nearly fifty lambs were lost by abortion. A tenth of the lambs produced 



1 " In bobus pascendis " frequently appears in the Exitus Grangiae. Oat sheaves were often 

 used for this purpose; e.g. p. 42, 1. 60; p. 81, 1. 23 ; p. 82, 1. 53. 



2 e.g. p. 72, 1. 35 ; p. 74, 1. 37 ; sometimes straw (foragium), p. 42, 1. 15 ; p. 49, I. 18. 

 ' cf. supra, p. xiii. * p. 68, 1. 3. 



6 p. 16, 1. 54 ; p. 41, 1. 15 ; p. 61, 1. 7. « p. 34, 1. 15. ' 



•> p. 49, 1. 20; p. 50, 1. 57; p. 82, 1. 30. • p. 71, I. 2. 



» p..9, 11. 3, 58. 10 p. 6, 1. 45 ; p. 29, 1. 5 ; p. 54, 1. 39. 



" p. 53, 1. 44. " p. 75, 1. 23. 



