Great Britain -- Economic conditions; Great Britain -- Social conditions
_Elton._--St. Clement's Day.[133] Michael the Reeve complains of Richer
son of Jocelin and Richard the Reeve and his wife that when he was in
the churchyard of Elton on the Sunday next before the feast of All
Saints[134] in this year, there came the aforesaid Richer, Richard and
his wife and insulted him with vile words before the whole parish,
charging him with having collected his own hay by the labour services
due to the lord the Abbot [of Ramsey], and with having reaped his own
corn in autumn by the boon-works done by the Abbot's customary tenants,
and with having ploughed his land in Everesholmfeld with ploughs
"booned" from the town, and with having released to the customary
tenants their works and carryings on condition that they demised and
leased their lands to him at a low price, and with having taken gifts
from the rich tenants that they should not become tenants at a money
rent, and with having put the poor tenants at a money rent.[135] And the
aforesaid Richard and Richer are present and deny, etc. and ask for an
enquiry by twelve jurors. Who come and say that the said Michael is
guilty of none of the charges. Therefore the said Richard and Richer
shall satisfy him, and for the trespass shall be in mercy; Richard's
fine, 2s., pledge William son of James; Richer's fine, 12d., pledge,
Jocelin. And the damages are taxed at 10s. to be received from Richard
the Reeve, which sum Michael has released except 2s.
[Footnote 132: Printed in Selden Society Publications, II., 95.]
[Footnote 133: November 23.]
[Footnote 134: November 1.]
[Footnote 135: The commutation of services for rent was not always
popular.]
10. AN EVICTION FROM COPYHOLD LAND [_Chancery Proceedings, Early_, 16,
376], _temp._ Henry IV-Henry VI.
To the most reverend father in God, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Chancellor of England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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