22 The Demesne. 12701307. [ni. 



When the buildings and walls needed repair hired labourers and 

 customary tenants joined in the work of restoration. Such part of 

 the work as required greater skill the carpentry 1 , thatching 1 , and 

 interior plastering 1 was done by hired labour. The rougher part 

 was done by the customary tenants, who tore down old walls', dug 

 the clay 3 , and fetched water to ' temper' it 2 , pulled off the old thatch - 

 and cut and brought stubble for the new 2 . The labour of daubing 

 the clay walls of the buildings was shared by both classes of 

 workmen 4 . 



The most important resident within the manor court was the 

 bailiff*. He was appointed by the lord to have general oversight 

 of all that went on in the manor and to protect the lord's interests. 

 It was his duty to see that the lower officers were faithful and active, 

 that the demesne was properly tilled, the grain properly garnered, 



^tock cared for, and the produce sold in the best market". If he 



.ccl advice he consulted with the steward 7 . He received guests 

 knights, grooms, and officers of the lord but unless they were 

 introduced by the lord's writ the bailiff ran the risk of not being 

 refunded for the expense of their entertainment 8 . The bailiff was 

 not directly maintained from the estate, but received yearly wages. 

 In the thirteenth century he usually received $2s. annually and a robe 

 worth 2OJ. 9 Later, his wages amounted to 104^. a year 10 . He also 

 had his dwelling, which was repaired at the cost of the lord 11 , and, 

 fr his horse, stabling, and the allowance of a peck of oats a day 1 -. 



ides this resident agent, the lord had many travelling agents, 

 who made their eyres from one to another of his scattered manors, 

 many weeks passed at Forncctt without a visit from one of these 

 officers. The most frequent visitor was the steward. It was usually 

 the business of holding court that brought him to the manor 13 . His 

 special province was to protect the legal rights of the lord 14 , and he 

 had also to acquaint himself with the economic administration of the 

 estate". Sometimes his expenses were allowed him from the manor 18 ; 

 at other times, as the records incidentally tell us, he was paid a fixed 



1 Appendix VIII.. xxxiii. xvxv. Appendix VIII., xl. 



<lix VI11 - xxxix.-xl. * A|>(>cmlix \ III.. xxx,ii jcxXV., xxxix. xl. 



ns or li.illivus. The ;>!erchani;enl>ly. 

 Lomond's edition of V U nicy, etc., 87-97. 



7 Walhr ,,f Mrnli-y. S 4 , <,o. \\ .,::,: ,,| Henley, ,:, 102. 

 rt Min. Ace : 



Acc'ts, 9 i: 11 Appendix VIII., xl. 

 : Min. Acc'U, 935/10, 935/15. 



5 Min. AccV. 9|| u Wa! , n , lf Henley. 8+ 



14 Waller of Henley, 86. ' Appendix VIII.,' xxxv. 



