184 History of the English Landed Interest. 



to exceed reasonable proportions. It will be also evident tbat 

 times of tumult, such as the Norman Conquest, and years of 

 disease, such as those of the Black Death visitation, quickly 

 brought down prices in the real property market and caused 

 depression and discontent. 



As soon, however, as the countr}' was opened out by better 

 roads, and the increase of a trade population enhanced the 

 value of farm produce offered at the public fairs, the hire of 

 labour for money replaced that sj'stem of predial service, 

 which had not onlj'- caused great expense to the lord, but great 

 inconvenience to the villein. Thus we shall not be surprised 

 to find, as we dip deeper into the subject, that the former was 

 compelled to keep a large stafT of estate officials, whilst the 

 latter was immensely hampered in his husbandry, especially 

 if a heavy or unkind soil required the employment of every 

 seasonable hour for its proper cultivation. Though the whole 

 community of the villeinage was responsible for the short- 

 comings of the individual, this we may be quite sure did not 

 altogether prevent delinquencies, however sharply boon ser- 

 vices were scrutinised. 



Before we examine the duties of the various estate officials 

 it will be best to glance at the distribution of the land. 



Let us then ascend in imagination an eminence whence all 

 the estate can be discerned, and gaze around on the busy 

 scenes of Lammas day. 



The rough waste yonder, partly wooded partly wild grass, is 

 dotted about with sheep and cattle in separate companies, each 

 attended bj'' its respective shepherd or neatherd. The pro- 

 portions of these flocks and herds vary from the few young 

 steers of a humble villein to the fine head of stock belonging 

 to a vavasour or military tenant. Occasionally, amidst the 

 scrub, a glimpse is caught of some errant porker, after whom 

 darts the swineherd's dog, eager to restore him to the rest of 

 his fellows, who are feeding on the pannage of those beech 

 trees. Down in the marshy ground is a rude pigsty, where, in 

 severe weather, the swine are sheltered, and even now some few 

 weakly members or farrowing sows may be lying about inside. 

 The various neat and swine herdsmen are hardy fellows, sleep- 



