22 PROLOGUE
This done, Roger fell on his knees, and placing his hands between
those of the cellarer, swore " so help me God and all His Saints "
that from this day forth he would be true and faithful to the
Lord Prior, and should owe fealty for the land which he held of
him in villeinage, and that he would be justified by him in body
and goods, and would not take himself off the lord's manor.
Next, the reeve told a long tale of many dilapidations that had
accrued since the last Court: some houses were falling into serious
disrepair; the path outside certain cottages was continuously
foul; many men had taken timber from the Lord Prior's wood
without leave; three men___So he droned on, and John paid
but slight attention, for he was not conscious of having broken
any of the manorial laws, and only noticed with dismay that the
name of his brother Henry was constantly mentioned. All these
matters took but a short time, for no one denied his guilt, and a
fine of twopence or threepence was generally imposed by the
cellarer. The reeve then told the cellarer of the misdemeanours
of several men at the recent haymaking—of their late-coming,
their laziness or their impudence. These received short shrift,
and were fined twopence each, all except Richard Cook, who
spoke opprobrious words to the cellarer, for which he was
sternly rebuked and fined sixpence. Lastly, the reeve brought
forward Thomas Attegate, who told the cellarer how his son
was eager for book-learning, and how Sir William thought so
well of him that he wanted to send him to the grammar school in
the near-by town if this were allowed. After some questions the
cellarer gave his consent, on the assurance that the boy wished
to devote himself to learning in the hope of rising to the dignity
of the priesthood in due course. His father thanked the cellarer
in halting words, and paid the sixpence demanded of him for the
permission, and then fell back among his fellows once more.
After this the beadle called for the tithing men to come for-
ward and make their reports. Each in his turn told the steward
of how matters stood in so far as he was responsible. William
Sleford presented that Richard Tubbing and Johanna atte Grcne