These, then, were the services of the geburs of Tidenham in respect of their yard-lands in A.D. 950, while the manor was still in royal hands just before it was handed over to the Abbot of Bath. «Comparison of services in the thirteenth century.» Now let us compare these services with the services on the same manor 350 years afterwards, in the time of Edward I. An _Inquisitio post mortem_ of the 35th year of Edward I. enables us to make this comparison.[187] The following is an abstract of the services of a tenant who held a messuage and xviii. acres of land in villenage (probably a half-virgate). [p157] His _week-work_ was-- 5 days in every other week for xxxv. weeks in the year from Michaelmas to Midsummer, except the festival works of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost; 87½ works. 2½ days every week for 6 weeks from Midsummer to Gules of August; 15 works. 3 days every week for 8 weeks from Gules of August to Michaelmas; 24 works. And of this week-work between Michaelmas and Christmas, 1 day's work every other week was to lie ploughing and harrowing a half-acre. Each ploughing was accounted for a day's work. Then as to his _precariæ_,-- He made 1 _precaria_ called 'cherched,' and he ploughed and harrowed a half-acre for corn, and sowed it with 1 bushel of corn from his own seed; and in the time of harvest he had to reap and bind and stack the produce, receiving one sheaf for himself on account of the half-acre, 'as much as can be bound with a binding of the same corn, cut near the land.' And he had to plough 1 acre for oats, and this was accounted for 2 days' manual work. And he made another _precaria_, ploughing a half-acre with his own plough for winter sowing with as many oxen as he possessed, so that there should be a team of 8 oxen. But if he had no oxen he did not plough. And he made [several other _precariæ_ of various kinds]. Lastly came his _gafol_, &c. He gave i. hen, which was called 'wodehen,' at Christmas. And 5 eggs at Easter. And 1D. for every yearling pig, and ½d. for those only of half-year, by way of pannage. He paid . . . for every horse or mare sold. And viii. gallons of beer at every brewing. And he could not marry his daughter without licence. Now, comparing the services on the manor of Tidenham at these dates 300 years apart, at which period was the service most complete serfdom? at the later date, when the week-work of the villeins was limited to two and a half or three days a week, and in addition he made _precariæ_ or extra works; or at the earlier date, _when his week-work was unlimited_ [p158] as to the days, and therefore there was no room for the extra work? «Saxon services more complete.»