SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



the common pasture. This case illustrates the way in which the townsmen 

 in all except the largest towns, and even there to some extent, were at one 

 with the country men. 



The most unusual feature of the country population in 1086 is the 'fan- 

 shaped ' distribution of socmen from Lilley to Hoddesdon.*^ Of this element, 

 under this particular name at least, it may be said at once no trace can be 

 found in later times. The people were freemen or villeins, in one or other of 

 the economic subdivisions of that class. For example, at Caddington, in 

 1222, there were twenty-six free tenants, thirty tenants who held freely of the 

 demesne, thirteen tenants holding of the demesne in villeinage, eight cottarii 

 with five tenements, and eight tenements held of the new assart, besides one 

 free tenement cut up into eight holdings.*' All the freeholders paid rent 

 and ploughed twice in each season, besides hoeing and reaping thrice a year,*' 

 which was quite a typical early form of free service. 



But commutation among the freemen came quickly. At Aldenham, 

 not long after this time, the freeholders paid rent only.'" At Newsells, 

 at the other side of the county, the free tenements were entirely arrented in 

 1 249," and this, of course, became usual. It is exceptional when the free 

 tenants find men to reap the lord's corn, as two out of twenty-eight did at 

 Shenley in 1276." Many of these twenty-eight did not even owe suit of 

 court,'' and lords began to bind their tenants to this service by deed.'* 



The classification of the unfree at Caddington gives first the thirteen 

 holding in villeinage of the demesne, half virgaters or less.'° The service of 

 the half virgater is thus described : 



He has to work twice a week for the whole year, except Christmas, Easter and Whitsun ; and in each 

 sowing season to plough i \ acres, or if he has no plough to do two works. If he ploughs he is quit of one 

 work at that time in each week. He must also plough one day as love earth in each leason. Each virgate 

 which does not plough ought to prepare six quarters of malt or to pay dd., and it shall be quit of six works, and 

 stall have fuel for the malt of the lord ; those who do not plough shall do the service of carrying five capons 

 or ten hens to London at Christmas.'^ 



This was a true villein tenure, hardly touched by commutation. 



The next class, the eight cottarii, illustrate the criss-cross economic 

 divisions of the villeinage, for they seem to have been richer than the others ; 

 some of them held a whole virgate." The distinction probably rested on the 

 heavier week work ; at a time when week work was the mark of villeinage 

 a man who did three works a week was naturally deeper in servitude than 

 the man who did two. 



[The cottarlus] has to work thrice a week from Michaelmas to I August, except Christmas, Easter and 

 Whitsun, and from i August to Michaelmas every day but Saturday. 



They owe eight carryings of loads a year to London or elsewhere. They also pay garsavese [pannage], 

 viz. \\d. for a virgate which does carrying on foot, and if they do not . . . they give pannage by custom for 

 every pig above one year, and they pay ']\d. land gavel and woodsilver, and i qr. oats for fodder corn, and 

 seed corn for I rood.'* 



This tenure has the usual heavy harvest work, and, like the first class, 

 has the Hertfordshire carrying service. These services may be compared with 

 those of Aldenham : 



These are the customs due from each virgate. Each plough . . . ploughs thrice a year without food 

 [from the lord]. If the lord wants more ploughs, he must find them food. Each man with a plough owes 



^ V.C.H. Herts, i, 266. ^8 ^^^, 5^, ^f^f^ p^ul's (Camd. Soc), i et seq. 



89 Ibid. 90 Add. Chart. 3739. " chan. Inq. p.m. Hen. Ill, file 8, no. 12. 



9> Rentals and Surv. R. 296. ^^ ibij. 94 Anct. D. (P.R.O.), A 6050. 



85 Dom. Bk. of St. Paul's (Camd. Soc), i et seg. «« Ibid. "^ Ibid. ^^ ibi^j, 



181 



