234 THE DOMESDAY INQUEST 



tells that the demesne of the manor of St. Ives was of 

 such area that it was cultivated by three teams of its own 

 and the customary services and boon-works of its tenants, 

 which were considered as of the value of three teams. 



Possibly this emphasis on the value of the demesne is the 

 reason why it was only the stock on the demesne that was 

 recorded in the statistics for the three eastern counties and 

 in the Cambridgeshire Inquest. Whatever might have been 

 the number of the cattle and sheep belonging to the villans, 

 the dues were fixed, and, so long as they were paid, the lord 

 had no reason to inquire whether their holdings were under- 

 stocked or not. 



Let us return to our Oxfordshire examples. The sum of 

 60, which is given as the value of Stanton Harcourt, is 

 made up of 40^. from the three mills, 30^. from the two 

 fisheries, 2$s. from the wood, the gafol paid by fifty-five 

 villans and twenty-eight bordars who owned seventeen teams, 

 and the produce of the demesne, which was cultivated by 

 five teams of its own and the ploughing services of the villan 

 tenants. 1 



Combe was valued at 10. Towards this the mill contri- 

 buted 3.5-., and the balance was made up by the gafol from 

 six villans and six bordars, and the produce of the demesne, 

 which was cultivated by two teams of its own and the 

 ploughing services of the three teams of the villans. Possibly, 

 too, the wood yielded some income, though its value is not 

 stated. 2 



But now we are faced with the question, Why is the rent 

 frequently stated to be less than the value ? 



Two explanations are possible. The bailiff was usually 

 one of the villagers, and if he exacted more than the proper 

 dues, or even if he exacted all that was due, he would be 

 made to suffer for it by his fellows ; but a lessee, if his rank 

 was above that of the villagers, was above such reprisals, he 

 1 D. B., i. 155 b 2. 2 id., I. 155 b i. 



