Account of the Manor of Cuxham, 1316-17

[Source:  Taken verbatim from Translations and Reprints from the Original Sources of European History, vol. 3, no. 5, English Manorial Documents, ed. Edward P. Cheyney (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, Department of History, 1912), pp. 13-20. Cheyney cites as his source [Thorold] Rogers, History of Agriculture and Prices in England, vol. 2, pp. 619-22, Appendix. Cheyney’s volume is available online at https://books.google.com/books?id=mSJWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=account+of+the+manor+of+cuxham&source=bl&ots=4vak0SEXM1&sig=SLfyBBzzy5-8dqsFhkUGbnUFn5A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGqI3ShPvdAhVMRK0KHaGKBdUQ6AEwDHoECAIQAQ#v=onepage&q=account%20of%20the%20manor%20of%20cuxham&f=false]
[Note:  The feast of St. James the Apostle is 25 July, and the 10th year of the reign of Edward II began on 8 July 1316, so this account runs from 26 July 1316 to 25 July 1317. A “quarter” of grain was 8 bushels. “Drage” or “dredge” was a mixture of oats and barley sown together.]

 

Compotus of Robert Oldman, reeve of Cuxham, from the morrow of St. James, in the 10th year of the reign of King Edward, to the morrow of St. James in the next following year, that is the beginning of the 11th year of the reign of King Edward.

Arrearages. He is charged with £6. 19 1/2d. of arrearages from the preceding account.  Total £6. 19 1/2d.

Rents of Assize. He is charged with 13s. 1d. of rent of the period of St. Michael; and with 11 3/4d. from the foldage of the animals at the feast of St. Martin; and with 6s. 1 1/2d. of rent of the period of St. Thomas . . . . . .for the same; and with 5s. 1 1/2d. at the period of St. John; and with 18d. of new rent for 1 acre of land granted to Robert Taylor. Total 38s. 10 3/4d.

Rent. He is charged with 40s. of rent of the water mill; and with 13s. 4d. of yearly rent of the fulling mill. Total 53s. 4d

Sale of Wheat. He is charged with £4. 16s. for 6 quarters of wheat sold Thursday next before the first of August, at 16s. a quarter; and with 10d. for 1 bushel of wheat sold in the autumn to William Walderugge because the keeper granted this to him; and with £6. 6s. for g quarters of wheat sold before the feast of All Saints at 14s. a quarter. And with £4. 16s. for 6 quarters of wheat sold on the Thursday next before the feast of St. Michael, at 16s. a quarter. Total £15. 18s. 10d.

Sale of Peas and Oats. He is charged with 24s. for 2 quarters and 2 bushels of peas sold, at 13s. 8d. a quarter. And with 8s. 8d. for 1 quarter and 5 bushels of oats sold, at 5s. 4d. a quarter. Total 32s. 8d.

Sale of Malt. He is charged with 17s. 6d. for 1 quarter and 2 1/2 bushels of malted barley sold, at 13s. 4d. a quarter. And with 16s. 3d. for 1 quarter and 5 bushels of malted drage sold, at 10s. a quarter. Total 33s. 9d.

Sale of Animals. He is charged with 15s. for 1 work horse sold; and with 40s. for 4 oxen sold; and with 12s. for 1 cow sold in the autumn because she was barren; and with 11s. for 1 cow sold because she was barren; and with 8s. for 1 cow sold because she was weak and old; and with 4s. 6d. for 1 young bull sold because he was weak; and with 11s. 1d. for 7 calves sold, the price of each being 19d.; and with 18d. for 2 sheep sold in winter before the shearing because they were weak; and with 5s. 11 1/2d. for 13 geese, the price of each goose being 5 1/2d.; and with 11s. 1d. for 4 score of pigeons sold. Total £7. 17s. 1 1/2d.

Products of the Manor. He is charged with 9d. for swine running in the stubble in the autumn, as shown in the items; and with 5 1/2d. for sheepskins sold; and with 2s. 6d. for works of Richard Est sold in the winter; and with 2s. 6d. for works of Adam Brian sold in the winter; and with 15d. for works of Joanna Bonecherche sold in the winter; and with 2s. for 1 perna [leg or ham] of bacon; and with 12d. for peas-straw sold; and with 11s. 3d. of present bread of the customary tenants sold at the feast of Christmas; and with 18 1/2d. for 308 eggs sold, viz., 16 for 1d.; and with 33s. for 5 1/2 stone of wool sold, the price of a stone being 6s., that is the stone weighing 16 lbs. and containing 42 fleeces. Total 47s. 3d.

Products of the Dairy. He is charged with 5s. 8d. for 17 cheeses of the fourth form sold, the price of each 4d.; and with 18s. 3d. for 73 cheeses of the third form sold, the price of each 3d.; and with 4s. 10d. for 29 cheeses of the second form sold, the price of each 2d.; and with 6d. for 6 cheeses of little form sold; and with 22d. for milk sold from the Thursday next after the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle to the morrow of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary; and with 3s. 1d. for butter sold in autumn and in winter; and 6d. for milk sold between the feast of the Annunciation and the Thursday next after the feast of S. John before the Latin Gate; and with 10d. for 5 cheeses of the second form sold within this year; and with 12d. for butter sold in summer, and not more because 3 1/2 jars of butter have been sent to Oxford. Total 36s. 6d.

Fines of Land and Heriot. He is charged with 40s. from Thomas Canon as a fine for the land which was Adam atte Hethe’s; and with 30s. from William Burdon as a fine for the land which was Robert Wyte’s; and 2s. for a copper pot coming as a heriot [death-duty owed by serfs to their lord] from Adam atte Hethe, which was sold. Total 72s.

Pleas and Perquisites. He is charged with 3s. 7d. of perquisites of the court held Wednesday next after the Least of St. Mary Magdalen.Total 3s. 7d.

Outside Receipts. He is charged with 12d. of perquisites of the court of Ibestane held Thursday next after the feast of St. Mary Magdalen; and for 13s. 4d. received from John, son of John Coleman, as a fine for the land which belonged to John the Wyte of Ibestane; and with 13s. 4d. received from Amisia, daughter of John Coleman, as a fine for the land which belonged to John the Baker of Ibestane; and with 37s. 6d. for so skins of wool sold in the past year which weighed 5 stones, viz., the stone being 16 lbs., the price of a stone being 5s. 6d. Total 56s. 10d.

Total of all the receipts with arrearages £48. 17s. 4 3/4d.

EXPENSES.

Quittances of his own rent. In quittance of his own rent of Waterilond 1d.; and for present bread 2d.; and for saltsilver 1/2d. Total 3 1/2d.

Cost of the plows. For 6 pieces of steel bought for the plows 5s. 10d.; for 3 pieces of steel bought for the same 3s. 7d.; for I piece of steel bought 15d.; for 6 wheels bought 18d.; for poles bought for the third plow 2 1/2d.; for the wages of the blacksmith for repairing the plowshares between the feast of St. James and the feast of St. Michael 2s.; for shoeing the draught horses in the same period 18 1/2d. Likewise in payment of the blacksmith for the repair of the plowshares between the feast of St. Michael and the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle 3s.; for shoeing the draught horses during the same time 18d. In payment to the blacksmith for mending the plowshares between the feast of St. Thomas and the feast of the Annunciation 2s. 1d.; for shoeing the draught horses during the same time 16d. Likewise in payment to the blacksmith for the repair of the plowshares between the feast of the Annunciation and the least of St. James 4s. 6d. For shoeing the draught horses during the same time 17d.; for 4 horseshoes bought 16d.; for 2 trees for timber for the plows 3s. s for cutting down and hauling the same 4d. Total 34s. 4d.

Cost of the Carts. For 17 clouts [metal plates to prevent wear] bought 21d.; for 100 clout nails bought 2 1/2d.; for 1 pair of packsaddles and 3 collars bought 3s. For 1 pair of traces bought 6d.; for leather bought for harness 12d.; for 5 lbs. of grease 15d., at 3d. per pound; for 1 pair of wheels without tires bought 2s. 4d.; for 1 rear cord bought 1 1/2d.; for the shoeing of 2 cart-horses between the feast of St. James and the feast of St. Michael 18d.; and the feast of St. Michael and the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle 19d.; and between the feast of St. Thomas and the Annunciaton 20d. For the shoeing of 3 cart-horses from the feast of the Annunciation to the feast of St. James 2s. 1 1/2d. Total 17s. 3d.

Small necessary Expenses. For 2 hair ropes bought, of which one was of 6 fathoms and another of 11 fathoms, for keeping the draught horses in the pasture, 9d.; for iron bought at Pyrtone 22s.; for iron bought from Robert Weylond 18d.; for a dish for meat and 4 other dishes because it was autumn 4d.; for 6 bushels of salt bought 12s.; for 3 bushels of salt bought 3s. 6d.; for the custom of the cotters for carrying the fold 2d.; for 75 quarters of drage bought for feeding the swine 4s. 10d., at different prices. For brushwood bought for the hearths 3s. 6d.; for 3 quarters and 2 bushels of gleanings bought for the swine, of which 5 bushels were sent to Oxford, 8s. 8d., the price per quarter being 2s. 8d.; for 1 knife bought for cutting the vegetables for the servants; for rods bought for wattling the fold 8d.; for 12 clouts bought for the fold 2s.; for rods bought for the harrows 2 1/2d.; for fines bought 18d.; given for the tithe of 7 calves sold 13 1/2d.; and for the tithe of 3 calves remaining 1/2 d.; and for the tithe of 1 lamb 1/2d.; and for the tithe of 4 skins sold Bid. For milk bought for the lambs 4 1/2d.; for washing and shearing the sheep 6d.; for making 4 halters of horsehair 1d.; for expenses of the reeve at Henley for 6 days, selling grain, 9d.; for the expenses of the clerk when he made the account 12d.; for parchment bought for the account 12d.; for pasture bought at Pyrtone 18d.; for hay bought for next year 22s. 3d. Total £4. 9s. 8 1/4d.

Cost of the Dairy. For rennet bought 6d.; for cloth bought for the dairy 3d.; for pots bought 3 1/2d. Total 12 1/2d.

Purchase of Grain. For 2 quarters and 2 bushels of oats bought on account of the lack of threshing 9s., the price of a quarter being 4s.; for 5 bushels of vetches bought 7s. 6d., the price of a bushel being 8d.; for 1 quarter of barley bought 10s. 2d. Total 26s. 8d.

Purchase of Animals. For 1 draught horse bought on St. James’ Day 22s. 6 1/4d.; for 1 draught horse bought in Easter week 14s. 4d; for one cow bought in the autumn, before calving 11s. 1d. Total 45s. 11 1/2d.

Cost of the Buildings. For one man and his helper hired for 22 days to put a roof on 2 barns, a hay-mow, and the kitchen 11s., being 6d. a day; for 2 women helping them for 10 days 3s., being 2d. a day. For 1000 lath-nails bought 11d.; for poles bought for prys 6d. For one man hired for 4 days to roof 2 cottages of the vill 16d., at 4d. a day; for poles bought for prys 2d.; for one woman helping him 4d. For 2 quarters of lime bought 8d. Total 17s. 11d.

Cost of the Mill. For timber bought to renew the water wheel of the mill; for nails bought for the same 6d. Total 3s. 10d.

Threshing and Winnowing. For the expnses of Peter of Wantage while he was having the threshing done 5s. 2d.; for the threshing of 9 quarters and 6 bushels of wheat by task, before the feast of St. Michael, 3s. 3d., the price of a quarter being 4d.; for 3 bushels of wheat threshed, at task, after the feast of St. Michael 9d. For the winnowing of the same 2d., because the dairyman winnowed one-half. For the threshing of 12 quarters and 1 bushel of wheat and 25 quarters of peas, in the time of master John of Tube 3s. 7  3/4d., the price of a quarter being 3d.; for winnowing the same 25d., because the dairyman winnowed one-half, being 3 quarters for 1d. For the expenses of master John of Tube while he was having the threshing done 7s. 4 3/4d., besides some wheat. For the expenses of John of Odiham while he was having the threshing done 22d., besides some of the produce of the oats. For the expenses of master Walter of Durton while he was having the threshing done 3s. 3d., for the same time.  For the expenses of master John of Crofton while he was having the threshing done 8d., besides some of the wheat. For the threshing of 1 quarter and 3 bushels of wheat in the time of Walter of Durton 4 1/4d. ; for the winnowing of the same 1 farthing. Total 27s. 6 1/2d.

Weeding and Mowing. For 20 men hired for 8 days to pull bitter weeds and cut thistles in the grain 13s. 4d., a penny a day to each one. For the custom of the mowers for medsipe, for hauling hay, 2d.; for the custom of 12 cottagers stacking hay 6d. For mowing the garden 2s. 1d. Total 16s. 7d.

Autumn Expenses. For reaping 33 acres and 1 rood of wheat, at task, 22s. 10d., during the time of master William Boliner, the price of an acre being 8d. For reaping 44 1/2 acres of drage and oats, at task, 31s. 9 1/2d., the price of an acre being 7d., through the same time. For reaping 6 acres of drage and oats, at task, 3s., during the same time, the price of an acre being 6d. For the expenses of master William Boliner, Peter of Wantage, the reeve, hayward, and dairyman through 4 weeks in autumn, and at the coming of the keeper and others who came after, 15s. 1d., through the same time. For 3 men hired at the park of Pyrtone 6d. Total 73s. 2 1/2d.

Wages of Servants. For the wages of 2 hostlers in the winter season 4s., also for 2 drivers 3s., also for the carter 2s., also for the shepherd 12d., and not more because he kept the sheep of others; also to the cowherd in winter 12d., likewise to the dairyman 12d. For the payment to the clerk who drew up the account 2s., and 2s. as a gratuity. Total 16s.

Expenses of the Steward. For the expenses of the steward in holding the courts of Cuxham and Ibestane Monday and Tuesday next after the feast of St. Mary Magdalen, bread from the store-room, for ale 22d., for meat 3d. Total 2s. 3d.

Expenses of the Keeper. For the expenses of the keeper on his coming from London on the morrow of St. Frideswide’s, bread from the store-room. For ale 4d., for one sheep given to the servants 3d., and to the bailiff of the king 12d., and to the hayward of Pyrtone, at the order of the keeper, 12d. For the expenses of the same near Hokeday, staying 5 days, bread from the store-room; for ale 2s. 11d., for meat 11s. 5d., besides bacon from the store-room; for peas 6d., for bridles 4d., given to the bailiff of the king 6d., and to the servants 4d., and to a man coming from Scotland to the lord king 6d.   Total 10s. 2d. [sic]

Outside Expenses. For the expenses of the bailiffs of Maldon, Ledrede, and Farley, in coming to the account and in returning; bread and cheese from the store-room, for ale, 12d. For the expenses of the carter of Chetindone coming from Oxford and of the carters of Haliwell on their coming to Bredefeld to get timber there, bread and cheese from the Store-room; for ale, 8d. For the expenses of the same and of the carter of Cuxham on the way to Bredefeld four times and on the way to Alremanson twice, with the expenses of one man going with him twice, 5s. 6d. For 6 clouts with nails bought for the cart from Chetindone 9d. For hay bought on the way for the horses 12d. For the expenses of the tax collectors of the sixteenth penny, bread and cheese from the store-room, for ale, 7 1/2d. ; given to the same 6s. 8d. Given to the lord king for the sixteenth penny 28s. For poles bought as prys for preparing timber 3d.; for one, man and his helper hired for 3 days at preparing timber 28d.; for one woman helping them for 2 days 2d. For the expenses of 2 men coming to Maldon to hunt for a pig there, bread and cheese from the store-room, ale, 2d. For eggs 1d. For the expenses of the 2 men driving a pig to Chetindone 6d. For the expenses of lord Stephen of Chenidant, Friday next before the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, bread and cheese from the store-room, ale, 2d. For the expenses of 4 masters coming to Reading for orders and returning about the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, bread 5d., beside bread from the store-room, ale 13d., garlic 1d., cheese from the store-room. For shoeing 3 horses of the cart of Chetindone and for mending the broken strakes and hooks of the cart 15d. For the expenses of master Adam of Hystede coming from London on the morrow of St. Agatha the Virgin, bread from the store-room, ale, 4d. For the expenses of a man of the king and his servant coming from Oxford to mark the door of the barn, Thursday next after the conversion of St. Paul; and the same servant remained for 2 days ; and of another servant who came to him and remained 2 days; bread and cheese from the store-room, ale, 8d., meat 3d., eggs 1d. Also given to the said men of the lord king 2s. For hauling 4 casks and i pipe from London to Henley 6s. 9d., at 18d. a cask and 9d. for the pipe. For a house hired for storing the said casks at Henley 6d.; for rolling the said casks into the house and out of the house again when they had to be put into the cart 7d. ; for placing the same in the cart 9d.; for hauling the same from Henley to Cuxham 18d. For expenses at Cuxham. For 2 men coming from Oxford to get one cask, bread and cheese from the store-room, ale 2d., garlic 2d. For the expenses of the bailiff of Ledrede going to Oxford and returning, about the feast of St. Osyth the virgin, bread from the store-room, ale 2 1/2d., eggs 1d., cheese from the store-room. For 164 eggs bought for the account 12d. Total 65s. 1d.

Total of all expenses £22. 7s. 9 1/2d

And he owes £26. 9s. 7 1/2d.