386 Offenders against the Statute of Labourers 



cry for more wages in which the lower ranks of the clergy joined, 

 their poor salaries being lessened owing to the now diminished 

 sum of offerings from a sparser population. On the other hand 

 the stipend in question may have been customarily awarded him 

 for secular labour that he performed to eke out his livelihood, in ad- 

 dition to his priestly functions. The penalty incurred by offenders 

 against the statute was imprisonment, there to remain until 

 they should find surety to serve, and take and do their work, 

 and to sell things vendable " according to the statute." Whosoever 

 was guilty of going against his oath was to be imprisoned 40 days 

 and if convicted again, for a quarter of a year, every time of con- 

 viction being awarded " double pain " ; the sums taken in excess for 

 their labour or in the sale of goods were forfeited to the King, and 

 with their fines and ransoms went towards the payment of the subsidy 

 last granted. Inquiry was to be made for transgressors continually 

 by the stewards, bailiffs, and constables of the various towns, who 

 were to inform the justices on their arrival for the county sessions 

 of any misdemeanants found within their jurisdictions. The Assize 

 roll in question consists of the returns of those officers and of 

 inquests for various hundreds in Wilts made before the deputy 

 judges in the 26th year of Edward III. 



Assize Eoll No. 1018 m. 1. 



[Presentments] " before the deputy Justices of the lord king in the 

 Hundred of Highworth and Cricklade by diverse inquests. 



"The Jury who speak on their oath present that John le Hershurde of 

 Buryblontesdon has withdrawn from his service without licence or reasonable 

 cause. Therefore [the bailiff] is ordered to take him. 



"That William Spendlove of Eton procured the said John to withdraw 

 from his service in promising more salary against the statute. Therefore, &c. 



"That Agnes Wallop who was sworn to serve Walter Berton before the 

 deputies [of the justices] has refused to serve the said Walter without 

 reasonable cause. Therefore, &c. 



" That William Horsehurde ox-herd 1 of Brodeblontesdon took excessively 

 xviij.d. therefore [the bailiff] is ordered to take him. That Margery Frensche 

 [out of] vi.d. took excessively iii.d. That John Teynton brewer, took ex- 

 cessively iii.d. That Katherine Frensche 2 brewster took excessively ij. 



1 " Custos bov." 



2 "Quod Margeria Frensche vj.d. cepit excessive iii.d." is the strange wording 

 of the original. 



