From Michaelmas to hoeing time to perform two days’ work a week, namely on Monday and Wednesday; and (as they say) do no other works except to thrash, to break clods, and to spread hay when necessary; At Christmas each was to carry to Battle 12 hens, and at Easter 250 eggs, and they were to be free from work for twelve days at Christmas and “a die Paraceves”, from Holy Friday to the octaves of Easter; They were to hoe whenever there was anything to be hoed, to attend to the sheepshearing, and at haytime and harvest each to find one man for the whole time. FOOTNOTES: [1] Tun, i.e., enclosure or township. [2] Bot, i.e., amends. [3] Wite, i.e., fine. [4] Wed = Pledge against repetition of trespass. [5] Pannage = Payment for right to graze swine in woodland. [6] Yardland = 30 acres. [7] Wer = Amount at which a man’s value to the community is reckoned. [8] Port = Town not necessarily a sea-port. [9] Burh = Fortified place, burg, bury. [10] Oferhyrnes = Fine. [11] Probably Greatley near Andover. [12] Frith = Peace. [13] Books = Written statements of property. [14] Mass priest is any priest able to celebrate mass; used by Saxons for parish priest. CHAPTER II GILDS INTRODUCTORY NOTES Winchester An example of full rights of self-government, the city electing its own Mayor and other officers. Citizens are entitled to attend the moot, but are already becoming a close oligarchy, “every worker” not being admitted to the freedom of the city. Note that shops are uncommon, goods are usually sold at booths erected in market or street. The “Great Gild” is the Merchant gild comprising all traders; the various crafts have their own gilds but are subject to the Mayor as representative of the Gild Merchant out of which in this case the corporation appears to have arisen, the townhall being called the Gildhall, and rules being enforced to maintain a high standard in commodities sold. The town dues and regulations tend to check the natural growth of industry and to restrict it in favour of freemen of the city. Bristol Note here that the crafts are clearly subjected to the Mayor of a Merchant Gild, who has also acquired the right to hold view of frank-pledge, etc. The Gild of Fullers shows the importance in mediæval gilds attached to keeping up a sound standard of work and value. Thus in addition to protecting their own members as a Trades Union does, they also protected the consumer and general public. Adam of Gloucester Here is a case of an outsider claiming the rights of a freeman and resisting the town authority by pleading the king’s. Thus his case is heard in the king’s court of Common Bench and not in either the Mayor’s Court or the Shiremoot.