A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



They were recruited from the ranks of the poorer peasantry,*" the * poor 

 cottars who obtain their living by the work of their hands.' " 



It will be of some interest to consider the manner in which the mediaeval 

 farms were stocked. From the early 12th-century survey it appears that at 

 Barton, where the demesne was i i hides, there were two plough-teams, each 

 of 8 oxen, i horse for harrowing, 200 sheep, 1 1 cows, i bull, i sow, and 8 

 young pigs." At Cranfield there were 2 plough-teams, 5 cows, 7 heifers, 

 and 24 yearling pigs ; *' at Pegsdon 2 plough-teams, each composed of 

 2 oxen and 4 horses, and 200 sheep ; and at Shillington 3 teams, each of 

 8 oxen, 10 cows, i bull, and 20 bullocks, 50 pigs, and i horse for harrowing." 

 In the 13th century a survey of the manor of Grove estimates the stock 

 which could be maintained at 8 cart horses, 20 plough horses, 60 oxen, 

 80 cows, 200 smaller stock, 4,000 sheep, and 200 pigs." With these figures 

 may be compared the following table, which shows the diversity of the stock 

 maintained : — 



Barton,*' 1319 Cranfield," 1307 Grovebury,'* 1341 



It seems to have been usual to farm out the cows, or a number of them, 

 at about 6s. a piece ; 24 were farmed at that price at Shillington in 13 14," 

 and the same number at Cranfield two years later.^* At the latter place 

 1 8 ewes were also farmed, for i Sd. ; it must be borne in mind that the milk of 

 ewes was much used during the Middle Ages. At Grovebury in 1341 51J. 

 was received from the milk of 17 cows, and 5J. 5^. from the milk of 65 ewes, 

 ' and not more because 1 2 were not milked on account of the maintenance of 

 the lambs.' ^* Here also 2 bushels of corn were given to the woman who 



" Ramiey Chartul. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 274. 

 " Rentals and Surveys, portf. J. , 



^ Ramsey Chartul. (Rolls Ser.), i, 473. 

 " /»f. Non. (Rec. Com.), 14. 



"Ibid. 301. "Ibid. 307. 



^ Mins. Accts. bdle. 740, no. I. " Ibid. no. 10. ™ Ibid. bdle. 741, no. 4. 



" Mares are not mentioned in these lists, but at Pegsdon in 1348 there is a charge for curing two mares 

 of the 'spaveyne'; Mins. Accts. bdle. 741, no. 13. 

 '" Includes • capones,' 'gallinae,' and 'puUi.' 



" The chickens and ducks produced 800 eggs this year, of which 28 were put under hens. 

 " Mins. Accts. bdle. 741, no. 19. " Ibid. bdle. 740, no. 12. " Ibid. bdle. 741, no. 4. 



82 



