第18章

orevenCnut。(106*)ButdoesthismeanthattheactualprivilegesofthetenurewereextantinSaxontimes？Surelynot。Suchthingsasfreedomfromcommontaxation，exemptionfromtoll，separatejurisdiction，certainlyexistedinbehalfoftheking’sdemesnesbeforetheConquest，butthereisnointimationwhateverthattheking’stenantsenjoyedanypeculiarrightorprotectionastotheirholdingsandservices。The’littlewritofright’andthe’Monstraverunt’areasNorman，inawidesenseoftheword，asthefreedomfromservingonassizesorsendingrepresentativestoparliament。ButalthoughthereisnodoubtthatthistenuregrewupanddevelopedseveralofitspeculiaritiesaftertheConquest，ithadtofallbackonSaxontimesforitssubstance，(107*)whichmaybedescribedinfewwords-legalprotectionofthepeasantry。

TheinfluenceofNormanlawyerswasexercisedinshapingoutcertainactionablerights，theeffectofconquestwastonarrowtoaparticularclassaprotectionoriginallyconferredbroadly，andtheactionofSaxontraditionwastosupplyageneralstockoffreedomandindependentright，fromwhichtheprivilegedconditionofNormantimescoulddrawitsnourishment，ifImayputitinthatway。ItwouldbeidlenowtodiscussinwhatproportiontheSaxoninfluenceonthesideoffreedomhastobeexplainedbytheinfluxofmenwhohadbeenoriginallyownersoftheirlands，andwhatmaybeassignedtothecontractualcharacterofSaxontenant-right。ThissubjectmustbelefttillwecometoexaminetheevidencesuppliedbySaxonsourcesofinformation。MypresentpointisthattheancientdemesnetenureoftheConquestisaremnantoftheconditionofthingsbeforetheConquest。(108*)

ItmaywellbeaskedwhythedestructiveeffectsofNormanvictorywerearrestedonancientdemesnesoil？Wasnotthekingaslikelytoexercisehisdiscretioninrespectofthepeasantryasanyfeudallord，andisitlikelythathewouldhavelethimselfbefetteredbyconsiderationsandobligationswhichdidnotbindhissubjects？Inviewofsuchquestionsoneistemptedtotreattheprotectionofthetenantsontheancientdemesnemerelyasapeculiarboongrantedtothepeoplewhomthekinghadtogiveaway。Ineednotsaythatsuchaninterpretationwouldbeentirelywrong。IhopeIhavebeenabletomakeoutconvincinglythatlegalprotectiongivenagainstprivatelordsonmanorswhichhadbeenalienatedwasonlyanoutgrowthfromthatcertaintyofconditionwhichwasallowedontheking’sownlands。Iwilljustaddnowthatoneverystrikingfactoughttobenoticedinthisconnexion；certaintyoftenureandserviceislimitedtooneparticularclassinthemanor，althoughthatclassisthemostnumerousone。Ifthisprivilegecameintobeingmerelybythefixationofstatusatthetimewhenamanorpassedfromthecrown，thestateofthevillainpurewouldhavegotfixedinthesamewayasthatofthevillainsocman。Butitdidnot，andsoonecannotshirkthedifficultquestion，Whatgaverisetothepeculiarprotectionagainstthelordwhenthelordhappenedtobeking？

Ithinkthatthreeconsiderationsopenthewayoutofthedifficulty。Tobeginwith，thekingwasdecidedlyconsideredastheonegreatsafeguardofSaxontraditionandtheonedefenderagainstNormanencroachments。hehadconstantlytohearthecryabout’thelawsofEdwardtheConfessor，’andalthoughtheclaimmaybeconsideredasaveryvagueoneingeneralmatters，itbecamesubstantiatedinthiscaseoftenureandservicesbytheDomesdayrecord。Thenagain，theproportionoffreeownerswhohadlapsedintoterritorialdependencemusthavebeenmuchgreaterontheking’slandthananywhereelse；itwasquiteusualtodescribeanallodialownerfromthefeudalpointofviewasholdingunderthekinginaparticularway，andvillainsocagewasonlyoneofseveralkindsofsocageafterall。Last，butnotleast，theprotectionagainstexactionswasinrealitydirectednotagainstthekingpersonallybutagainsthisofficers，andthekingpersonallywasquitelikelytobenefitbyitalmostasmuchashismen。Itamountedafterallonlytoarecognitionofdefinitecustomsingeneral，toaspecialjudicialorganisationofthemanorwhichmadeitlessdependentuponthesteward，andtothefacilitiesaffordedforcomplaintandrevisionofjudgments。Astothislastitmustbenotedthattheking’smenwerenaturallyenoughinabetterpositionthantherestoftheEnglishpeasantry；thecurseofvillainagewasthatmanorialcourtswereindependentofsuperiororganisationasfarasthelowertenantswereconcerned。Butcourtsinroyalmanorsweretheking’scourtsafterall，andassuchtheycouldhardlybeseveredfromthehighertribunalsheldintheking’sname。

Imaybeallowedtosumuptheconclusionsofthischapterunderthefollowingheads：——

1。Thelawofancientdemesneisprimarilydevelopedinregardtothemanorsintheking’sownhand。

2。Thespecialprotectiongrantedtovillainsocmeninancientdemesneisaconsequenceofacertaintyofconditionasmuchrecognisedinmanorswhichthekingstillholdsasinthosewhichhehasalienated。

3。ThiscertaintyofconditionisderivedfromtheConquestastheconnectinglinkbetweentheNormanandtheSaxonperiods。

NOTES：

1。Bracton，209；cf7and200。Britton，ii。13。

2。Bracton，209：’Villenagiumprivilegiatum。teneturdeRegeaConquestuAngliae。’Cf。Blackstone，LawTracts，ii。128。

3。Madox，HistoryoftheExchequer，i。704：’Tallagiumdominiorumetescaetarumetcustodiarum。’

4。Bract。Note-book，1237(thepriorofSt。Swithindeniesamanortobeancientdemesne)：’。perccannosanteconquestumAnglie[terre]datefueruntpriorietconventuietabaliisquamregibus。’

5。Y。B。Trin。49Edw。III，pl。8(Fitzherbert，Abr。Monstraver。

4)：“。toutslesdemesnesquifuerentenlamaineSeintE。sontaunciensdemesne，mesqueilsfuerentaliensaestraungemainsquantleliverdeDomesdaysefist，comeilavientdelmanordeTotenhamquifutenautremaineatempsdeDomesdayfait，comeenleditliversfaitmencion，queilfuitadonquesalCountedeCestre。’

6。Verycuriouspleadingsoccurredin1323。Y。B。15Edw。II，p。

455：“Ber(wick)Ilsdientenl’Exchequerqueserra(corr。terra)

R。serraecritsurlemarginencasoucestanciendemeneenDomesday，mesceofustescriptsurledymefoilleapressuruntitleterraR。，mesine(corr。mesuneormesqe？)R。fuitescriptsurlemargindechescunfoilleapres，etoutceolaestancienedemeneaceoquilnient(corr。dient)，mesascunesgensentendentquelesterresquifurentlesdemenesleRoySt。Edwardsontaunciendemene，eautresdientforslesterresqueleConquerourconquist，quefurentenlaseissinSt。Edwardlejourquilmourustsontancienedemene。’Althoughadifferenceofopinionismentioneditisnotmaterial，forthisreason，thattheentryasTerraRegis，atleastT。R。E。，isabsolutelyrequiredtoproveamanorancientdemesne。IgivetheentryonthePleaRollinApp。

V。

7。IthinkonlydistresscanbeimpliedbytheremarkofBerefordJ。Y。B。30/31Edw。I，p。19：’Quantvousvendrezaloustel，fetesdevostrearchevileynceoqevousvodrez。’Thewordsarestrangeandpossiblycorrupt。

8。Blackstone，LawTracts，ii。153：’Theycannotalienatetenementsotherwisethanbysurrenderintothelord’shand。’

Bracton，209。

9。InamostcuriousdescriptionofthecustomsofvillainsokemenofStoneleigh，Warwick，intheRegisterofStoneleighAbbey，Ifindthefollowingentries：’ItemsokemannipredictifiliassuasnonpossuntmaritaresinelicenciadominiproutpatetannoviijRegisE。filiiRegisE。perrotulumcurieinquocontineturquodMatildisdeCanleinplenacuriafecitfinemcumdominoproijsol。quiamaritauitfiliamSuamThomedeHorwellesinelicenciadomini……ItemannoRegisH。lvjcontineturinrotulocuriequodWillelmusMichelfuitinmisericordiaquiamaritauitfiliamsuamsinelicenciadominietsimiliterdecenariifueruntinmisericordiaquiahocconcelauerunt。’AstotheStoneleighRegister，seeApp。VI。AnotherinstanceofmerchetinanancientdemesnemanorisaffordedbytheLedecumbe(Letcombe)

RegisCourtRollsof1272。ChapterHouse，CountyBags，Berks。No。

3，m。12：’JohannesleJeuneseredemitadmaritandumetfecitfinemxijsol……JohannesAtwelredemitfiliamsuamannopredicto’(RecordOffice)。

10。HenryII’schartertoStoneleighAbbey：’Quietadeschirisethundredis，etmurdroetdanegeldo，etplacitisetquerelis，etgeldisetauxiliis，etomniconsuetudineetexactione’(Dugdale，Monasticon，v。447)。

11。CloseRoll，12HenryIII，m。II，d：’MonstraueruntdominoRegihominesdeEsindeneetdeBeyford，quodoccasionemisericordiaec。librarum，inquamtotusComitatusHertfordieinciditcoramiusticiariisultimoitinerantibus。hidagiumquoddamasseditvicecomessupereosadauxiliumfaciendumceterisdecomitatuadmisericordiamillamacquietandametindeeosdistringit。QuiaveropredictihominesnecaliidedominicisdominiRegissectamfaciuntadcomitatumetearacionenontenenturadmisericordiamceterorumdecomitatuilloacquietandamauxiliumfacereautindeparticipesesse，mandatumestvicecomitiHertfordiequodhominespredictosinhidagioetdemandapacemhaberepermittat’(RecordOffice)。PlacitadeQuoWarranto，777，778：’NonquietidecommuniamerciamentonisitantuminStonle。’

12。Viner，Abr。v。Anc。Dem。C2，1；cfE，20。Madox，Hist。ofExch。，i。418，notel：’Quietideauxiliovicecomitisetbaillivorumsuorum。’

13。Cor。Rege，Mich。5E。II，m。77：’(JuratoresdicuntquodhominesdeWycle)initinererespondentperquatuoretprepositumsicutceterevilledecorporecomitatus。’Thisagainsttheirclaimtoholdinancientdemesne。

14。Viner，Abr。Anc。Dem。B。I，4，6。

15。Madox，Exch。，i。412，698。

16。Stubbs，ii。566，567(Libr。ed。)；Madox，Exch。，i。751。

17。Cor。R。M。5E。II，m。77：’Quandocommunitascomitatustalliatur。predictihominestaxantursicutceterivillaniejusdemcomitatus’(againsttheancientdemesneclaim)。

18。Fitzherbert，Abr。Monstauerunt，6(H。32E。III)：’。quantleroitailelesburghsatauntcomeilspaiaatailepurtantilnouSdistreint。’Th。：’Entendqelesfeoffesleroyauronttaile？’quasidiceretnon，’carcestunregaltequiproprementattientalroyetanulauter。’Clam。：’Toutaurailtaililserraleueenduemanersilaurontbrevehorsdelchaunceriealviconte，sc。quodhaberefaciasracionabletaile。’ThemenofKing’sRipton，Hunts。，whowereconstantlywranglingabouttheirrightswiththeAbbotofRamsey，thelordofthemanor，maintainedthattheyhadneverbeentallagednisitantummodoadopusRegis，andtheirclaimwascorroboratedbyaninspectionoftheExchequerRolls(Madox，Exch。，i。757，n)。BeforegrantingawritoftallagetotheAbbotofStoneleighin1253，HenryIIIhadaninquisitionmadeastotheprecedents。Itwasfoundthat，NunquampredictummaneriumdeStonletalliatumfuitpostquamJohannesRexpredictummaneriumdeditpredictiAbbatietConventui，(StoneleighReg。，f25)。

19。TheLaw-bookssaysodistinctly。Britton，ii。13：’Etpurceoqeteussokemanssountnosgaynoursdenosterres，nevolomsmieqetelesgentzseintanulepartsomounsdetravailerenjurezneenenquestes，forqeenmanersaqueusilappendent。’CfF1eta，p。4。

20。NaturaBrevium，f。3b(ed。Pynson)。

21。Y。B。H。49E。III，pl。12(Fitzherbert，Abr。Aunc。Dem。42，quotespl。7insteadof12bymistake)：Belk(nap)，’Veriteestqeleterreestdemandableparlebriefededroitpatentenlecourtleseigniourapreslaconfirmacion(sc。parchartre)parceqelebriefdedroitserracommenceenlecourtleseignior，mesapreslaconfirmacionilneserrademandeenaunciendemesneparbriefdedroitclosesecundumconsuetudinem，’etc。

22。Bractonactuallycallsthepleaofancientdemesneanexceptionofvillainage，f200：’Siauteminsokagiovillano，sicutdedominicodominiRegis，licetservitiacertasunt，obstabiteiexceptiovillenagii，quiatalissokmannusliberumtenementumnonhabetquiatenetnominealieno。’CfFitzherbert，Abr。Aunc。Dem。32。

23。Bract。Note-book，pl。652：“Nondebentextramaneriumilludplacitarequianonpossunt[ponere]seinmagnamassisamnecdefenduntSeperduellum。’Onthecaseswhenanassizecouldbetakenastotenementsinancientdemesne，seetheopinionprintedinHorwood’slntroductiontoY。B。21/22Edw。I，p。xviii。

24StoneleighReg。，f。76sqq：’Iteminplacitoterrepossuntpartessivoluerintponerejusterresueinduellocampionumvelpermagnamassisam，proutpatetinrecordorotulideannoxlvRegisHenriciinterWalterumH。etJohannemdelHuletc。etinterGalfridumCrulefeldetWillelmumElisaundreannoxxRegisEdwardifiliiRegisHenrici，’etc。

25。Bract。Note-book，1973：’NotaquodsimaneriumquodsoletessededominicodominiRegisdatumfueritalicuietposteasemelcaptafueritassisanoueuelmortisdeconsuetudine，iterumcapianturassisepropterconsuetudinem。’

26。Britton，ii，142。

27。Ifthelordbringsanactionagainstthetenant，ancientdemesneisnoplea，Viner，Abr。，Anc。Dem。G。4。Thiswasnotquiteclearhowever，becauseancientdemesneisagoodpleawheneverrecoveryintheactionwouldmakethelandfrankfee。