Dite de hosebondrie"The four treatises which are brought together in this volume are of interest from many points of view. A work attributed to Robert Grosseteste deserves to be rescued from oblivion and the pecularities of the dialect in which these writings were composed may attract the attention of students of early French. Others may, however, be led to examine them from an interest in the subject-matter of which they treat and this has been a primary consideration in planning the present edition. The work of an author who is only known through this book and two anonymous treatises have been placed alongside the maxims which were laid down by the great Bishop of Lincoln [Robert Grosseteste], for they deal, and deal at greater length with the management of estates ... The treatises are distinctly practical and were intended to assist men in the ordinary business of life; they assumed on the part of the readers a familiar knowledge of institutions and practices that have long since passed away. Though they so far supplement one another as to give a fairly complete picture of the life in a thirteenth century manor" - introduction. |
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Common terms and phrases
aconte acres auant auer bailiff baillif berbiz bercher bien Cambridge University Library ceus chapitur tellithe charue chescun choses COMENT corn cows defaute deit estre demy deners deuant deuet deus deyt deyuent donkes e les Edward III estor eûy faude fere fetes forage funt garde garder gardez grange grete Henley's hostel Husbandry iiij issi issue ke il land leyne Liber Horn loke londe londis lord makithe maner manor manure medle mester meyns moche nule ovte pasture plough provost pur ceo quarters quey respondre RULE TEACHES sanz sauer secunde seed seignur seneschal Seneschaucie seyngnur seynt seyt sheep shepe soient sowing sown sunt tere terre three field system totes treatise treys tyme vaches viij villans voster vpon Walter of Henley ye haue yeff ye yere
Popular passages
Page 87 - the lord and to his council, and he shall do as he shall think good. The seneschal should not have power to sell wardship, or marriage, or escheat, nor to dower any lady or woman, nor to take homage or suit, nor to sell or make free a vilein without special warrant from his lord.
Page 109 - It is not necessary so to speak to the auditors about making audit because of their office, for they ought to be so prudent, and so faithful, and so knowing in their business, that they have no need of other teaching about things connected with the account.
Page 123 - made for the Countess of Lincoln to guard and govern her lands and hostel: whoever will keep these rules well will be able to live on his means, and keep himself and those belonging to him. THE
Page 67 - on a manor must elect as provost such a one as they will answer for, for if the lord suffer any loss by the fault of the provost, and he have not of his own goods the wherewithal to make it good, they shall pay for him the surplus which he cannot pay.
Page 35 - Those who have the goods of others in their keeping ought to keep well four things: To love their lord and respect him, and as to making profit, they ought to look on the business as their own, and as to outlays, they ought to think that the business is another's,
Page 137 - if any of them speak back or grumble, tell them that you will be lord or lady, and that you will that all serve your will and pleasure, and whoever will not do so send away, and get others who will serve your pleasure—of whom you will find enough.
Page 15 - furrow to be quick you will do harm. How ? I will tell you. When the ground is sown, then the harrow will come and pull the corn into the hollow which is between the two ridges, and the large ridge shall be uncovered,
Page 13 - summer twelve pennyworth of grass : the sum three shillings, one penny, without fodder and chaff. And when the horse is old and worn out then there is nothing but the skin; and when the ox is old with ten pennyworth of grass he shall be fit for the larder,
Page 33 - let it be raised and taken from the hands of the servants. For often it happens that servants and provosts by themselves or by others make merchandise with their lord's money to their own profit and not to the profit of their lord, and that is not lawful.
Page 19 - Change your seed every year at Michaelmas, for seed grown on other ground will bring more profit than that which is grown on your own. Will you see this ? Plough two