Onemoresubjectremainstobediscussed。Isthereinthesurveysanymarkeddifferencebetweendifferentclassesofthepeasantryinpointofruralduties？
Anexaminationofthesurveyswillshowatoncethatthefreeandtheservileholdingsdifferverymateriallyastoservices，quiteapartfromtheircontrast，inpointoflegalprotectionandofcasualexactionssuchasmarriagefines，heriots，andthelike。Thedifferencemaybeeitherinthekindofdutiesorintheirquantity。Bothmaybetracedintherecords。Ifwetakefirstthediversitiesinpointofqualityweshallnoticethatonmanyoccasionsthefreetenantsaresubjectedtoanimpositiononthesameoccasionastheunfree，buttheirmodeofacquittingthemselvesofitisslightlydifferent——theyhave，forinstance，tobringeggswhenthevillainsbringhens。Theobjectcannotbetomaketheburdenlighter；itamountstomuchthesame，andsotheaimmusthavebeentokeepupthedistinctionsbetweenthetwoclasses。Itisverycommontorequirethefreetenantstoactasoverseersofworktobeperformedbytherestofthepeasantry。Theyhavetogoaboutorrideaboutwithrodsandtokeepthevillainsinorder。Suchanobligationisespeciallyfrequentontheboon-days(precariae)，whenalmostallthepopulationofthevillageisdriventoworkonthefieldofthelord。Sometimesfreehouseholders，whohavedependentpeopleresidentunderthem，areliberatedfromcertainpayments；anditmaybeconjecturedthatthereasonistobefoundinthefactthattheyhavetosuperintendworkperformedbytheirlabourersorinferiortenants。(104*)Allsuchpointsareofsmallimportance，however，whencomparedwiththegeneraloppositionofwhichIhavebeenspeakingseveraltimes。Thefreeandtheservileholdingsarechieflydistinguishedbythefactthatthefirstpayrentandthelastperformlabour。
Wheneverwecometoexaminecloselythereasonunderlyingthecaseswhentheclassificationintoservileandfreeisadopted，wefindthatitgenerallyresolvesitselfintoacontrastbetweenthosewhohavetoserve，intheoriginalsenseoftheterm，andthosewhoareexemptedfromactuallabour-service。Beingdependentnevertheless，theselasthavetopayrent。IneednotrepeatthatIamspeakingofmaindistinctionsandnotofthevariousdetailsboundupwiththem。Inordertounderstandthoroughlythenatureofsuchdiversities，letustakeupaveryelaboratedescriptionofdutiestobeperformedbythepeasantsinthemanorofWye，Kent，belongingtotheAbbeyofBattle。(105*)Ofthesixty-oneyokesitcontainsthirtyareservile，twenty-ninearefree，andtwooccupyanintermediateposition。Thedutiesofthetwochiefclassesoftenantsdifferinmanyrespects。Theservilepeoplehavetopayrentandsohavethefree，butwhilethefirstcontributetomakeupageneralpaymentofsixpounds，eachyokebeingassessedatsevenshillingsandfive-pence，thefreepeoplehavetopayasmuchastwenty-threeshillingsandseven-penceperyoke。Bothsetshavetoperformploughings，reapings，andcarriageduties，buttheburdenoftheservileportionissomuchgreaterinregardtothecarriage-work，thatthecorrespondingyokessometimesgettheirverynamefromit，theyarejugaaveragiantia，whilethefreehouseholdsaremerelyboundtohelpafewtimesduringthesummer。Everyservileholdinghasacertainnumberofacresofwoodassignedtoit，orelsecorrespondingrightsinthecommonwood，whilethefreetenantshavetosettleseparatelywiththelordofthemanor。Andlastly，thereliefforeveryunfreeyokeisfixedatfortypence，andforeveryfreeoneisequaltotheannualrent。Thiscomparisonofdutiesshowsthatthepeasantscalledfreewerebynomeanssubjectedtoverylightburdens：infactitlooksalmostasiftheyweremoreheavilytaxedthantherest。Stilltheywereexemptedfromthemostunpopularandinconvenientlabourservices。
Altogether，thestudyofruralworkandrentsleadstothesameconclusionastheanalysisofthelegalcharacteristicsofvillainage。TheperiodfromtheConquestonwardsmaybedividedintotwostages。Inlatertimes，thatisfromthecloseofthethirteenthcenturydownwards，thedivisionbetweenthetwogreatclassesoftenantsandtenements，acontraststrictlylegal，isregulatedbythematerialtestofthecertaintyoruncertaintyoftheservicedue，andtheformaltestofthemodeofconveyance。
Inearliertimestheclassificationdependsprimarilyontheeconomicrelationbetweenthemanorialcentreandthetributaryhousehold，labourisdeemedservile，rentheldtobefree。Itisonlybykeepingthesetwoperiodsclearlydistinct，thatoneisenabledtocombinetheseeminglyconflictingfactsinoursurveys。Ifwelookatthemostancientofthesedocuments，weshallhavetoadmitthatarent-payingholdingisfree，neverthelessitwouldbewrongtoinferthatwhencommutationbecamemoreorlessgeneral，classificationwassettledinthesameway。Aserviletenementnolongerbecamefreebecauserentwastakeninsteadoflabour；itwasstillheld’atthewillofthelord，’andconveyedbysurrenderandadmittance。Whenallholdingswerefastexchanginglabourforrent，theoldnotionshadbeensurrenderedandanewbasisforclassificationfoundinthoselegalincidentsjustmentioned。Thedevelopmentofcopyholdbelongstothelaterperiod，copyholdbeingmostlyarent-payingserviletenure。Again，ifweturntotheearlierepochweshallhavetorememberthatthecontrastbetweenlabourandrentisnottobetakenmerelyasaresultofcommutation。Localdistinctionsarefittedontoitinawaywhichcannotbeexplainedbythemereassumptionthateverysettlementofarentappearedintheplaceofanoriginallabourobligation。Thecontrastisprimordial，asonemaysay，andbasedonthefactthatthelabourofasubjectappearsdirectlysubservienttothewantsandarrangementsofthesuperiorhousehold，whilethepaymentofrentsevers。theconnexionforatimeandleaveseachbodytomove。Initsowndirectiontillthedaywhenthetributaryhastopayagain。
Therecanbenodoubtalsothatthemoreancientsurveysdiscloseadifferenceinpointofquantitybetweenfreeandservileholdings，andthisagainisastrongargumentforthebeliefthatfreesocagemustnotbeconsideredmerelyasanemancipatedserviletenancy。Wheretherehasbeencommutationwemustsupposethatthelabourservicescannothavebeenmorevaluablethanthemoneyrentintowhichtheywerechanged。Thefreerentintowhichlabourbecomesconvertedisnothingbutthepricepaidfortheservicessurrenderedbythelord。Itmusthavestoodhigher，ifanything，thantherealvalueofthelabourexchanged，becausetheexchangeentailedadiminutionofpowerbesidesthegivingupofaneconomiccommodity。Nomatterthatultimatelythequit-rentsturnedouttothedisadvantageofthelord，inasmuchasthebuyingstrengthofmoneygrewlessandless。Thiswastheresultofaverylongprocess，andcouldnotbeforeseenatthetimewhenthecommutationequivalentsweresettled。Andsowemaysafelylaydownthegeneralrule，thatwhenthereisaconspicuousdifferencebetweentheburdensofassessmentoffreeandunfreetenants，suchadifferenceexcludestheideathatoneclassisonlyanemancipatedportionoftheother，andsupposesthatitwasfromthefirstasociallyprivilegedone。ThePeterboroughBlackBook，which，alongwiththeBurtonCartulary，presentsthemostcuriousinstanceofanearlysurvey，describestheservicesofsocmenonthemanorsoftheabbeyasthoseofaclearly。privilegedtenantry。(106*)Theinterestingpointis，thatthesesocmenareevensubjectedtoweek-workandnotdistinguishablefromvillainssofarasconcernsthequalityoftheirservices。NeverthelessthecontrastwiththevillainsappearsthroughouttheCartularyandissubstantiatedbyamarkeddifferenceinpointofassessment：asocmanhastoworkoneortwodaysintheweekwhenthevillainismadetoworkthreeorfour。
Threemainpointsseemestablishedbythesurveyofruralworkandrents。
1。Notwithstandingmanyvexatiousdetails，theimpositionstowhichthepeasantryhadtosubmitleftaconsiderablemarginfortheirmaterialprogress。Thissystemofcustomaryruleswaseffectivelyprovidedagainstgeneraloppression。
Thedevelopmentfromfood-farmstolabourorganisation，andlastlytomoney-rents，wasaresultnotofone-sidedpressureonthepartofthelandlords，butofaseriesofagreementsbetweenlordandtenants。
Thesettlementoftheburdenstowhichpeasantsweresubjecteddependedtoagreatextentondistinctionsastothesocialstandingoftenantswhichhadnothingtodowitheconomicfacts。
ElyInqu。，CottonMSS。Claudius，c。xi。f185：’Unusquisquearabitpertresdies，sihabeatsexboves；perduos，sihabeatquatuorboves；perunum，sihabeatduosboves；perdimidium，sihabeatunumbovem。’
Add。MSS。6159，f。53，a：’Itemdebentpredicte22virgateterrearrareadfrumentum，adauenametadwarectum113acrasetvalent56solidos6denarios。’
GloucesterCart。iii。92：’Etquicquidaraveritdebetherciaretemporeseminis。Etfacietunamhersuramquevocaturlandeggingeetvalet1den。’iii。194：’Etdebetherciarequotidlesinecessefueritquousquesemendominiseminetur，etallocabitureiprooperacionemanuali，etvaletultraobolum。Etquianonestnumeruscertusdediebusherciandis，aestimantjuratores40
dies。’
RamseyCart。I。345：’Qualibetautemseptimana，afestoStiMichaelisusqueadtempussarclationistribusdiebusoperatur，quodcunqueopussibifueritinjunctum；etquartodiearabitunumsellionem，sivejungaturcumalio，sivenon。’
GlastonburyInqu。of1189，p。64：’Adiecircumcisionissimiliter，exceptaebdomadaPasche，sipossitpergelu，etsigeluduratper12dies，quietusdebetesse。Siampliusdurat，restituetaraturam。’
Add。MSS。6159，f。49，b：’Idemtenentesdepredictis22etdimidia(terris)debentarrareadseysonamfrumenti45acrasdegableetdequalibetterra2acras。’35，b：’Gauilherth：
WillelmusdeBergatedebetarraredimidiamacram；NicholausdeJonebriggeetsociiejusunamvirgam；heredesJohannis8pedes；
RicardusCutte8pedes。Summaacrarum25acre1pes。Hecdebentarrareetseminare。’
Rot。Hundred。ii。768，b：’Itemsihabeatcarucamintegramvelcumsociisconjunctam，illacarucaarabitdomino2acrasterreadyvernagiumetherciabitquantumillacarucaaraveritindie，etistudserviciumappellaturGreserthe，proquoservicioipseW。etomnesaliiconsuetudinariihabebuntpasturasdominicasaddiem(sic。corr。adie)adVinculaStiPetriusqueadfestumbeateMarieinMarcioetpratadominicapostquamfenumfueritcariatum。’
GlastonburyCart。，WoodMSS。I，f44，b：’Tenensdimidiamhidamhabet4animaliainpasciusquieta，etsiplushabuerit-arabitetherciabitprounoquoquedimidiamacram。’
Add。MSS。6159，f26，b：’Dequalibetcarucaarantunamacramdeaverherde。，etsipernegligenciamalicujusremanseritacranonarata，tuncmittetdominussemenquodsufficiatadunamacramaddomumilliusetoportebitillumredderebladumadmensurampropinqueacreethabebittumherbagiumdeacraassignata。’Cart。
ofBeaulieu，CottonMSS。Nero，A。xii，f102，b：’Etsihabeatbovemvelvaccamiunctam，arabitproquolibetvirgodimidiamacramadfestumStiMartinisinecibo。’GlastonburyInqu。of1189，f。116：’Dequalibetcarrucadebentarareadseminandum7
acras，etadwarectum7acras，utbovespossintirecumbobusdominiinpastura。’
Exch。Q。R。Min。Acc。Bk。514；T。G。41，173：’(ExtentamaneriideBurgo)medwelond。debentararetantamterramquantumhabentdeprato。’
Exch。Q。R。Min。Acc。Bk。513，97：’Beinerth：12custumariiarabunt6acrasterreadsemenyemale。Grasherthe：12arabuntcumquantoiunguntperunumdiemadsemenyemale。’ElyInqu。，CottonMSS。Claudius，C。xi。f。30，a：’Arabitdebeneerthesihabeatcarucamintegram3rodas，etsiiungatcumaliisipseetillecumquoiungitassiduearabunt3rodas。’DomesdayofSt。Paul’s，26；
’Etadprecariamcarucarumarabitunamrodamscil。quartampartemacresinecibo。’GlastonburyInqu。of1189，p。98：’R。deWttonetenetdimidiamhidamprounamarcaetdebethabereadprecesperannum12hominesetbisarareadpreces。’
GloucesterCart。iii。115：’JohannesBarefothtenetdimidiamvirgatamterrecontinentem24acras。etdebetararequalibetsecundaseptimanaafestoStiMichaelisusqueadfestumBeatiPetriadVinculaunodie。Etpraetereadebetquaterarareinterradomini，etvocanturillearuraeUnlawenhere。’BlackBookofStAugustine’s，CottonMSS。Faustina，A。i。f44：’。arare18acrasadfrumentumdegodlesebene。’
ElyInqu。，CottonMSS。Claudius，C。xi，f45，a：’PretereaidemarabitdeLenteneredimidiamacram。’
Ibid。，30，b：’Itemistecumquantoiungitarabitdefilstnertheeodemtempore(anteNatale)perunumdiem。Itemarabitinquadragesimatresacraset3rodasetaraturamdefilsingerhe(sic)。Itemarabitinestate3acrasetdebeneerthe3rodasutinhyeme，setnihilarabitdefilsingere。’
18。Ibid。，35，a：’Itemperidemtempusarabit(anteNatale)
dimidiamacramprofastningsedesineciboetoperesihabeatcarucamintegram。EtsiiungatCumaliis，tuncisteetsocenariisuicumquibusiungetarabunttantumetnonamplius。’
GloucesterCart。ii。134：’Etfacitunamaruramquevocaturpenihereetvalettresdenarii，quiarecipietdebursadominiquartumdenarium。’Cfii。162：’Etpraetereafacietunamaruramquevocaturyove(yoke？)，scil。arabitdimidiamacram，etrecipietdebursadominiunumdenariumobolum，etvaletultraUnumdenariumobolum。’
GloucesterCart。iii。80：’(Dimidiusvirgatarius)debetunamaruramquevocaturradaker，scil。arareunamacramadsemenyemale，ettrituraresemenadeamdemacram，scil。duosbussellosfrumenti。’Oniii。79wehaveanotherreadingforthesamething：
’EtarabitunamacramquaevocaturEadacreet[debet]trituraresemenadeamdemacram，etvaletaruracumtrituracioneseminis4
denarios。’Whatistherightterm？——ElyInqu。，CottonMSS。
Claudius，C。xi。f133，a：’EtarabitqualibetdieafestoStiMichaelisusqueadgulamAugustidimidiamrodam，quefaciuntpertotumquinqueacras。EtpraetereaarabitUnamrodamdeRytuesse。’
Add。MSS。6159，f53，b：’ItemtotavillatadeBocayngdebetfalcare12acraspratietdimidiam，etvalet4solidos。’
DomesdayofSt。Paul’s，47：’Etpreterhecunaquaquedomushidedebetmetere3dimidiasacrasaveneetcolligereunumsellionemfabarum。’
GloucesterCart。iii。84，85：’RicardusBissoptenetunummessuagiumet10acrasterre。(operabitur)inmessedominicum24hominibus。’
EynshamCart。88，b：’Idemmetetdimidiamacrambladidominisinecibodominietvaletopus4denariosetvocaturlabene。
