MEDIEVAL LIFE & MANORALISM
I.
LIFE IN MIDDLE AGES
A.
CHANGE-OVER FROM ROMAN ESTATES TO MEDIEVAL MANORS
1.
LARGE ROMAN ESTATES DISAPPEARED
2.
MEDIEVAL MANORS REPLACED THEM
3.
MANOR GREW FOOD PRIMARILY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON IT
a.
NOT FOR URBAN MARKETS AS ROMAN TIMES
4.
RURAL, AGRARIAN SOCIETY
5.
OWNERSHIP OF LAND VARIED
6.
WIDE ASSORTMENT OF MANORS IN SIZE & OPERATION
B.
CHANGEOVER FROM SLAVES TO SERFS & PEASANTS
1.
SLAVES WHO WORKED BIG ROMAN ESTATES GRADUALLY REPLACED BY SERFS
2.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SERFS & SLAVES
3.
WHILE SAME LATIN WORD, SERVUS USED FOR BOTH
4.
CLEAR DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN TWO
5.
SLAVE IS A PIECE OF PROPERTY WHICH CAN BE BOUGHT & SOLD
6.
SERF HIMSELF COULD NOT BE SOLD, BUT HIS LABOR COULD
7.
BUT SERF CANNOT GET OUT OF OBLIGATIONS HE IS BORN INTO
8.
SERF - PERSON W/SERVILE OBLIGATIONS, SOME VERY HEAVY
9.
BUT SERF NOT SUBJECT TO LORD'S ARBITRARY WILL
10.
SLAVE HAD TO DO WHATEVER HE WAS COMMANDED
11.
SERF KNOWS THERE ARE SOME LIMITS ON WHAT MAY BE COMMANDED - NO
KILLING OF SERF
12.
HIS OBLIGATIONS ARE SET & CANNOT BE INCREASED BY LORD
13.
SERFS HAD PLOT OF LAND HE FARMED FOR HIS USE
14.
SERFS HAD THEIR OWN HOUSES, OWN FAMILIES UNLIKE SLAVES
15.
BUT PASSED ON THEIR SERVILE STATUS & OBLIGATIONS TO THEIR CHILDREN
16.
MANY BARBARIANS VOLUNTARILY SOUGHT SERFDOM UNDER ROMAN MASTERS
TO ESCAPE STARVATION & PRESERVE LIFE
17.
VIKING & MAGYAR RAIDS ADDED SERFS TO SOCIETY TOO
18.
IN ENGLAND 1066 CONVERTED LOTS FREEMEN INTO VILLEINS OR SERFS
a.
LATIN FOR VILLAGERS
19.
BY MID 7 TH C. TRANSISTION FROM SLAVE TO SERF SOCIETY
a.
BUT SLAVES STILL EXISTED MAINLY IN ITALY TILL 16TH C.
II.
SPECIFIC OBLIGATIONS OF SERFS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
WIDE VARIETY OF OBLIGATIONS IN EUROPE
2.
EVERY MANOR OPERATED DIFFERENT
a.
NO 2 MANORS HAD SAME CUSTOMS FOR SERFS/FREEMEN
3.
OWED LORD RENT FOR LAND THEY USED
a.
USUALLY BOTH MONEY & FOOD
b.
A FIXED AMOUNT NOT PERCENTAGE OF CROP
4.
IN GOOD YRS SERF FOUND IT EASY TO PAY HIS RENT
5.
BUT IN BAD YRS IT WOULD BE ROUGH
6.
ON MOST MANORS SERFS OWED CERTAIN # OF WORK DAYS
a.
# OF DAYS SERF OBLIGATED TO WORK ON LORD'S DEMESNE LAND
(1)
WHERE LORD GREW HIS OWN FOOD
b.
USUALLY 2-3 DAYS, BUT VARIED
B.
SERFS ALSO OWED SEVERAL SERVILE DUES
1.
NOT PARTICULARLY NB ECONOMICALLY BUT NB PSYCHOLOGICALLY BECAUSE
SYMBOLIZED SERF'S PERSONAL DEPENDENCE ON HIS LORD
2.
HEAD TAX MOST NB
a.
PEASANT HAD TO COME BEFORE LORD ON HIS KNEES, SOMETIMES EVEN
2
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
W/A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK & A PENNY ON HIS HEAD
b.
INDICATED ABSOLUTE SUBSERVIENCE OF SERF & CONSIDERED
DEGRADING
OTHER MONETARY OBLIGATIONS
1.
MERCHET = MARRIAGE FINE
a.
MARRIAGE IN GENERAL EXPENSIVE FOR PEASANTS
b.
1 OF MOST ODIOUS SERVILE OBLIGATIONS
c.
EVEN FREEMEN SOMETIMES HAD TO PAY IT AS PART OF THEIR LAND
HOLDING
d.
FATHER PAID FINE FOR MARRIAGE SINGLE DAU OK
(1)
EVEN STIFTER IF MARRIAGE OUTSIDE MANOR
2.
HERIOT
a.
RIGHT TO TAKE BEST BEAST OR MOST VALUABLE CHATTEL WHEN
PEASANT DIED
3.
LEYRWITE
a.
FINE FOR FORNICATION & SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCY IF GIRL DID NOT
MARRY
b.
LEVIED AGAINST HER FATHER
4.
CORVEE OR EXTRA LABOR SERVICES
a.
ONEROUS TOO
b.
REPAIR ROADS, BRIDGES
c.
CARRY STONE TO BUILD LORDS' CASTLE
d.
SUPPLIES FOR LORD'S SOLDIERS
5.
REQUIRED TO TAKE BASKET OF EGGS TO MANOR HOUSE IN RECOGNITION OF HIS
BEING ALLOWED TO KEEP HENS
OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF SERFS
1.
OBLIGED TO PATRONIZE MANORIAL WINE OR CIDER PRESS, ITS BAKE OVEN,
GRIST MILL
2.
MILLER
a.
ILL REGARDED & ACCUSED OF EVERY KIND OF PECULATION,
(1)
GIVING SHORT WEIGHT
(2)
TAKING UNDUE PROPORTION OF GRAIN FOR THEIR PAY
3.
TRAPPING OF ANIMALS
a.
PEASANTS NOT ALLOWED TO TRAP ANIMALS IN FOREST
b.
BUT WIDESPREAD POACHING TO COMBAT THIS
c.
1 OF WORSE CRIMES MA
d.
BIRDS, RABBITS, CONTINUALLY TAKEN
e.
MORE DARING PEASANT TOOK DEER OR WILD BOAR
f.
FISH FROM RIVERS ALLOWED BUT PEASANTS NOT ALLOWED SALMON
USE OF COMMON MEADOWS = LAMMAS LANDS
1.
ONCE CROP GATHERED, ANIMALS ALLOWED TO PASTURE ON IT
2.
LOTS DRAWN FOR INDIVIDUAL PEASANT TO GROW CROP ON PART OF MEADOW
WASTE LANDS
1.
PEASANTS HAD RIGHTS TO
a.
PASTURE THEIR ANIMALS
b.
TIMBER
(1)
FUEL
(2)
REPAIRS TO COTTAGES
(3)
MAKING TOOLS, HSHD GOODS
2.
NOT JUST WOOD FALLEN ALREADY
3.
BUT AS MUCH AS THEY COULD PULL DOWN OR KNOCK OFF TREES WITH A ROD
a.
BY HOOK OF BY CROOK
4.
CUT TURF FOR BANKING OR ROOFING
5.
GATHER NUTS, BERRIES, WILD FRUIT
NURSERY RHYMES
3
1.
2.
3.
MANY DATE FROM MIDDLE AGES
HAYWARD
a.
LITTLE BOY BLUE COME BLOW YOUR HORN, THE COWS IN THE MEADOW,
THE SHEEP IN THE CORN
THIS ONE SHOWS WHAT IS REQUIRED OF SERF
a.
BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP HAVE YOU ANY WOOL, YES SIR YES SIR 3 BAGS
FULL, ONE FOR MY MASTER ONE FOR MY DAME ONE FOR THE LITTLE BOY
THAT LIVES DOWN THE LANE
III.
OTHER MEDIEVAL AGRARIAN WORKERS NOT SERFS
A.
FREE PEASANTS OR FREEMEN
1.
SOME LIVED ON OWN IN COUNTRYSIDE
2.
OTHERS LIVED IN SMALL VILLAGES W/OTHER PEASANTS
3.
OFTEN RENTED LAND FROM LORD
4.
OFTEN OWED COMBINATION OF RENTS & LABOR DUES
a.
BUT ALWAYS LIGHTER
b.
& THEY HAD CHOICE IN MATTER
5.
OBLIGATIONS & FINES SERFS OWED COULD BE ASSESSED TO FREEMEN TOO
6.
LORD THEY RENTED FROM ONLY LANDLORD LIKE TODAY
a.
NOT A PERSONAL LORD OR LORD OF THE BODY AS FOR SERFS
7.
MOST OF ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND HAD THIS STATUS UNTIL NORMAN
CONQUEST 1066
8.
REST OF EUROPE HODGEPODGE OF SERFS & FREE PEASANTS
IV.
NORTHERN EUROPE FARMING
A.
CARRUCA
1.
CULTIVATION DAMP & HEAVY SOILS EASIER TO PLOW
2.
W/DEVELOPMENT HEAVY PLOW - CARRUCA
3.
INVENTED LONG BEFORE BUT ONLY COMMON HIGH MA
4.
USUALLY HAD WHEELS, HENCE NAME RELATED TO CART, CARRIAGE
5.
MOULD BOARD
a.
MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE
b.
TURNED OVER SOIL OR MOULD DURING PLOWING
c.
AT FRONT PLOW SHARP IRON CUTTER
(1)
SLICED THROUGH SOIL
d.
BEHIND CURVED IRON PLATE = MOULD-BOARD
e.
IT TURNED OVER SLICES OF SOIL COMING FROM CUTTER
f.
TURNING OVER KILLED WEEDS
g.
ALSO AIDED DRYING DAMP SOILS
6.
BECAUSE MOULD-BOARD TURNED SOIL OVER ONLY NECESSARY TO PLOW FIELD
ONCE
7.
PLOW W/NO MOULD-BOARD FIELDS PLOWED TWICE
a.
W/2ND PLOWING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO 1ST
8.
CARRUCA USED ONLY NORTHERN EUROPE
9.
CARRUCA REQUIRED TEAM STRONG DRAFT ANIMALS PULL IT
10.
AS MOULD-BOARD THREW UP A RIDGE OF SOIL & SAME FURROWS PLOWED
CONTINUOUSLY
11.
PERMANENT RIDGES NOW EVIDENT FROM AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
B.
SHAPE OF FIELDS
1.
N. EUROPE WHERE CARRUCA USED WIDELY
2.
FIELDS LONG & NARROW
3.
AS HARD TO TURN OXEN MADE SENSE TO GO LONG DISTANCE BEFORE NEEDING
TO TURN
4.
FURLONG = LONG AS A FURROW = 1/4 MILE
5.
AS CARRUCA EXPENSIVE
4
6.
7.
a.
VILLAGERS WENT TOGETHER TO OWN THEM
EACH FAMILY WOULD HAVE 1 OR 2 FURLONGS TOGETHER IN A FIELD
a.
SO NO ONE HAD ALL HIS LANDS IN RICHEST OR POOREST FIELDS
b.
AS CROP ROTATION BY FIELD ONE'S LAND WOULD NOT BE UNDER
FALLOW EITHER
THUS VILLAGES N. EUROPE HOUSES CLOSE TOGETHER
a.
W/200 OR SO PEOPLE
b.
OPEN FIELDS STRETCHING OUT ON ALL SIDES
V.
SOUTHERN EUROPE FARMING
A.
ARATUM
1.
SOUTHERN EUROPE WHERE CLIMATE DRIER CONTINUED TO USE ROMAN
ARATUM
a.
AS JUST FORKED STICK W/POINT TO DIG THRU TOP LAYER SOIL
b.
COULD BE HITCHED TO A DONKEY
c.
IN EMERGENCY EVEN ONE'S WIFE
B.
SHAPE OF FIELDS
1.
S. EUROPE HAD SQUARE FIELDS AS NEED TO CROSSPLOW
2.
EACH FAMILY HAD OWN ARATUM AS INEXPENSIVE
3.
SO EACH FAMILY'S FIELDS ADJOINED THEIR HOUSE
4.
VILLAGES REALLY HAMLETS OF FEW HOUSES
a.
NORMALLY DISPERSED OVER WIDE AREAS
C.
COMMON LAND
1.
MOST VILLAGES HAD COMMON PASTURELANDS
2.
LAND NOT AS SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATION BUT USED FOR GRAZE ANIMALS
3.
NEWLY CLEARED LAND MIGHT COME UNDER THIS TOO AS IT WAS MORE
SUITABLE TO GRAZE LAND THEN CULTIVATION
VI.
AGRICULATURAL IMPROVEMENTS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
1 OF PROBLEMS FOR PEASANTS - NEED TO PLOW FIELDS FASTER
2.
LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME EACH YR WHEN PLOWING COULD BE DONE
3.
MORE PLOWS TOO COSTLY
4.
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE - HORSES
a.
OXEN VERY STRONG & WILL WORK INDEFINITELY BUT SLOW
b.
HORSES WILL PLOW HALF AGAIN AS FAST AS OXEN
c.
BUT MORE EXPENSIVE TO RAISE & FEED
d.
DID NOT HAVE HORSE COLLAR THAT WOULD NOT CHOKE THEM
5.
BEFORE 9TH C ALL ANIMALS HARNESSED BY WRAPPING SOMETHING AROUND
THEIR NECK
a.
WILL NOT BOTHER OXEN BUT CAN CHOKE HORSE IF HITCHED TO
ANYTHING HEAVY
b.
WHY ANCIENT WORLD DID NOT USE HORSES TO PULL ANYTHING HEAVIER
THAN LIGHT CHARIOT
6.
NEW HORSE COLLAR PUT FORCE ON ANIMAL'S CHEST & SHOULDERS
a.
SOLVED PROBLEM OF CHOKING
B.
2-FIELD TO 3-FIELD CROP ROTATION
1.
BEFORE DEV MODERN CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS SOILS WOULD QUICKLY BECOME
EXHAUSTED UNLESS LIE FALLOW
a.
& WEEDS PLOWED BACK UNDER AS "GREEN MANURE"
2.
EARLY MA 2-FIELD
3.
HIGH MA 3-FIELD
4.
OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES ONLY 1/3 FIELDS FALLOW
5.
WINTER WHEAT 1/3, 1/3 FALLOW, 1/3 SPRING OATS OR BARLEY OR PEAS OR
BEANS
5
VII.
LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES FOR PEASANTS
A.
ALES
1.
DRINKING & DANCING PARTIES CELEBRATING NUMBEROUS EVENTS
a.
FUNERALS, WEDDINGS, HOLIDAYS
b.
CHURCH ALES, BRIDE ALES, WAKE ALES
2.
BRIDE ALE - COLLECTION TAKEN TO HELP NEWLY WEDDED COUPLE
3.
BID ALE TO HELP A MAN OUT OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
4.
AT SOME ALES SPONSORED BY LORD OF MANOR
a.
PEASANT REQUIRED TO BRING OWN MUG AND PENNIES TO PURCHASE ALE
5.
OTHER ONES LORD FURNISHED ALE
B.
EXAMPLES OF SPECIAL FESTIVALS
1.
CANDELMAS
a.
2 FEBRUARY
b.
MARKED RESUMPTION OF TILLAGE
c.
40 DAYS AFTER XMAS, VIRGIN MARY FOLLOWING JEWISH CUSTOM
COMPLETED HER RITUAL CLEANSING AFTER JESUS' BIRTH
(1)
BROUGHT JESUS TO JERUSALEM TO PRESENT HIM TO THE LORD
d.
SO FEAST OF PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY & PRESENTATION AT THE
TEMPLE
e.
MEDIEVAL WOMEN NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER CHURCH AGAIN AS
UNCLEAN UNTIL RITUAL PURIFICATION
(1)
UNCHURCH MOTHER IS STILL VIEWED AS UNLUCKY IN CELTIC
BRITAIN TODAY
f.
FROM EARLY MA CHURCH CELEBRATED IT BY BLESSING CANDLES &
CARRYING THEM IN PROCESSION
2.
MAY DAY
a.
HAS LONG HX
b.
ORIGINAL CELTIC PAGAN RITE
c.
WHEN FLOCKS TURNED OUT TO SUMMER GRAZING
d.
& GODS INVOKED FOR THEIR PROTECTION UNTIL HALLOWEEN
e.
CELEBRATED BY GREAT BONFIRES ON HILL-TOPS
(1)
STILL IN WALES
f.
YOUNG GIRLS WENT OUT BEFORE DAWN TO WASH THEIR FACES IN MAY
DEW (MANY PLACES STILL DO)
(1)
WISHED FOR HUSBAND W/IN YEAR
g.
CENTRAL PART OF FESTIVAL WAS "BRINGING IN THE MAY"
(1)
MUCH OF NIGHT & EARLY MORNING SPENT IN WOODS & FIELDS
SEEKING FLOWERING BRANCHES TO BRING HOME AT SUNRISE
(2)
LEFT ON DOORSTEPS OR DECORATED HOUSES
(3)
CHIEF JEWEL MAYERS BROUGHT FROM WOODS MAY POLE
(4)
THEN COVERED POLE W/FLOWERS & HERBS & RIBBONS
h.
MUCH DANCING AND OTHER RIBAULD ACTIVITY ALSO TOOK PLACE
i.
CHURCH NEVER ABLE TO DO AWAY WITH THIS PAGAN FESTIVAL
(1)
SO NOT CONVERTED TO CHRISTIAN ONE
3.
MIDSUMMER'S DAY = 24 JUNE
a.
BIRTH FEAST OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
(1)
ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE'S GOSPEL HE WAS BORN 6 MONTHS
BEFORE CHRIST AND HENCE 6 MONTHS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
b.
BUT CHURCH NEVER SUCCEEDED IN CHRISTENIZING THIS FESTIVAL
EITHER
c.
SIMILIAR ACTIVITIES TO MAY DAY BUT THIS HOLIDAY CELEBRATED IN
AREAS SETTLED BY ANGLO-SAXONS & VIKINGS NOT CELTIC
4.
LAMMNAS DAY - AUGUST 1
a.
ORIGINAL CELTIC FESTIVAL
6
5.
6.
(1)
HELD IN HONOUR OF CELTIC GOD LUGH
b.
SCOTTISH LAMMAS FAIRS DESCEND FROM IT
(1)
ONCE FAMOUS FOR "HANDFAST MARRIAGES"
(a)
TRIAL UNIONS WHICH EITHER PARTY COULD W/O SOCIAL
STIGMA, AGREE TO END AFTER A YEAR
(2)
MANY PEASANTS MARRIED AFTER WIFE PREGNANT ANYWAY AS
NEEDED FERTILE WIFE & CHILDREN TO HELP FARM
c.
ALSO FESTIVAL OF BEGINNING OF HARVEST
d.
NEWLY CUT GRAIN OR BREAD MADE FROM IT OFFERED IN CHURCHES
e.
LAMMAS LANDS THROWN OPEN FOR COMMON WINTER GRAZING
MARTINMAS - 11 NOV
a.
FEAST OF ST. MARTIN OF TOURS 4TH C ROMAN SOLDIER TURNED BISHOP
(1)
GREATLY VENERATED FRANCE & BRITAIN
b.
MAJORITY OF FARM ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED & SALTED DOWN IF NOT
ENOUGH WINTER FOODER AVAILABLE
(1)
DATES FROM ANCIENT CELTIC TRADITION THAT BLOOD MUST BE
SPILT
c.
TIME OF HIRING FAIRS - CHANCE FOR BETTER EMPLOYMENT
d.
COLLECTION OF FEUDAL DUES
CHRISTMAS DEC 25
a.
ORIGINAL APOLLO'S DAY GREEKS & ROMANS
b.
MANY CUSTOMS FROM GERMANIC MIDWINTER FEAST OF "YULE" TAKEN
OVER TOO
c.
BY MID 11TH C THE NATIVITY, ROMAN AND YULE ELEMENTS COMING
TOGETHER INTO A CHRIST'S MASS
d.
SOME OF THE QUASI-PAGAN CEREMONIES OF THIS COMPOSITE MEDIEVAL
CHRISTMAS STILL SURVIVE
(1)
WASSAILING
(2)
YULE LOGS
(3)
DECORATING HOUSE W/MISTLETOE, HOLLY, IVY (ALL MAGICAL
PLANTS BEARING FRUIT IN A DEAD SEASON
(4)
BERRIES OF MALE HOLLY SAID TO REPRESENT CHRIST'S BLOOD &
ITS PRICKLES HIS CROWN OF THORNS
(5)
CLINGING FEMALE IVY SYMBOLIZES IMMORTALITY
e.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
(1)
APPEARED 13TH C. BUT AS POPULAR SONGS NOT SPECIFICALLY
CONNECTED WITH CHRISTMAS OR RELIGIOUS THEMES
(a)
TO ACCOMPANY ROUND DANCES,
i)
WHY REPEATED CHORUSES
(2)
MOST FAMILIAR TODAY O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL & OTHERS DATE
FROM VICTORIAN TIMES
f.
FATHER CHRISTMAS - DATES FROM 15TH C. PLAYS (SANTA CLAUS AS WE
KNOW IT USA MADE)
g.
ENTIRE HOLIDAY PERIOD LASTED 12 DAYS
h.
ELECTION OF LORD OF MISRULE