THE AUDITORS 189
landholders usually sent their auditors from manor to manor,
there to conduct on the spot a searching inquiry into the details
of the account. The unknown author of Seneschaucie says that the
lord ought to "ordain that the accounts be heard every year, but
not in one place but on all the manors [separately], for so can
one quickly know everything, and understand the profit and
loss...and then can the auditors take inquest of the doings
which are doubtful".1
We may see the steward of the Bishop of Chichester's Sussex
manors (c. 1225) constantly thus engaged. On one occasion he
is unable to fulfil a command because he and another official are
making a round of the manors and auditing the accounts.2
Before Michaelmas he is found writing to his master, and asking
for someone to be joined with him "as the feast of Saint Michael
is at hand, the season for hearing the accounts".3 As he gets no
answer from the Bishop, he writes again, urging that since "you
have directed me to come to you at London within 15 days of
Michaelmas, wherefore I should wish most freely to audit the
accounts first with some one of your household, so that I might
be able reasonably to answer about the proceeds of your
diocese".4
Walter of Henley and other writers give us considerable in-
formation concerning the qualities and duties of a good auditor.
He has to be a faithful and prudent man, well versed in his pro-
fession, and knowing all the points and details of the accounts,
and the many items of rents, outlays, returns, stock, etc. they
must contain. He must hear the plaints and wrongs of everybody
who complains of any of the lord's officers, and make an enquiry
into any doubtful matters and fine those who have been careless
with the lord's property.5
1 Walter of Henley t 105, 107. Cf. with this, however, the practice of the
monks of Canterbury, who refuse a plea to examine the accounts in situ,
since, they say, "We cannot do that without great disparagement of our
position, because from old time it has always been our custom that our
sergeants from all parts of England should come to Canterbury to our
chequer, there to hand in their accounts, and this in the presence of certain of
our brethren". Lit. Cant. (R.S.), I, 481 (1332).
a Sussex Arch. Soc. in, 54. s Ibid. 65. * Ibid. 70.
5 Op. cit. 105 ff. The auditors stayed at the manor house (see Higham
Ferrers, 112, for the "Auditor's Chamber" at the Castle), and the accounts
regularly contain items detailing the expenses of their visit. See Higham Fer-
rers, 56,162; and cf. Davenport, op. cit. xxxvi; Min. Ace. 843/29,1078/17, etc.