A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



after the time of Henry VI. In the reign of Richard II ** the services 

 rendered on the manor coincided absolutely with those enumerated in 

 the custumal of the twelfth century, and in 1433-4 (12-13 Henry VI) " 

 the same number of holdings is rendering exactly the same works as 

 their predecessors rendered three hundred years before, and receiving 

 the same dues in return. The mowers still get their heft load of hay 

 each, and the 1 3^. for their ' mederam.' It is quite clear from the 

 terms of the account in 1434 that the works were actually performed, 

 and that the statement is not a mere survival of a formula with no real 

 meaning. The expenses of the autumn ' precariae ' are accounted for ; 

 it is noted that the custumary works sufficed for the mowing, and an 

 allowance is made for the works of three holdings which are in the 

 lord's hands. Only two tenants pay for their works, Roger Tenterden 

 3/. 4</. and Robert Hiton i 2d. The latter made this arrangement in 

 1421," in which year he covenanted with the lord to give a capon in 

 lieu of services, and in the future to pay for them i zd. a year. This 

 survival of services is the more remarkable that, although the formal num- 

 ber of holdings is unaltered, the actual distribution of them has been much 

 modified by sub-letting, of which there was a great deal on this manor, 

 subdividing, and consolidating the holdings. During the reign of 

 Henry VI two or three tenants took up a good many holdings ; Roger 

 Hubard, the ' prepositus ' of this very account, for one. A good many leases 

 had also been granted and continued to be granted by this time. In this 

 matter of commutation, Ruislip, which belonged to Harmondsworth, is a 

 great contrast to it. In 1434-6, when the tenants on the latter manor 

 were rendering all their services, the Ruislip tenants were quit of all 

 theirs, some being sold and some definitely commuted under a new 

 rental. 45 A curious arrangement made with a tenant in 1417 illustrates 

 the reluctance with which the lord conceded commutations at Harmonds- 

 worth. In that year a certain John Samon took over a toft and half 

 virgate which had escheated to the lord at the death of the last tenant. 

 The holding was granted to Samon for five years at a rent of js. instead 

 of all services and customs, always provided that the lord did not, during 

 that term, concede it to a tenant holding according to the custom of the 

 manor for rent and services, in which case Samon's lease was to deter- 

 mine." Another rather curious case occurred in I428. 47 Three tenants of 

 Stanwell were sentenced to a fine of 2s. for trespassing and cutting thorns 

 on the Harmondsworth demesne. Subsequently, at the special prayer of 

 several of his own tenants, the lord remitted the fine on condition that 

 each of the men should do one day's work at the following autumn 

 bedrippe. And yet at this time some of the services were actually 

 not profitable. In the reeve's account for 1433 4* 8 it is stated that the 



" P.R.O. Rentals and Surv. Ric. II, ptfo. 1 1, No. 20. 



P.R.O. Mins. Accts. 12-13 Hen. VI, bdle. 1126, No. 7. 



44 P.R.O. Ct. R. Hen. V, bdle. 191, No. 20. 



" P.R.O. Mins. Accts. 13-15 Hen. VI, bdle. 917, Nos. 26 and 27. 



46 P.R.O. Ct. R. Hen. V, bdle. 191, No. 20. 4 ' Ibid. 6 Hen. VI, bdle. 191, No. 21. 



48 P.R.O. Mins. Accts. 12-13 Hen. VI, bdle. 1126, No. 7. 



74 



