THE PEASANT BEFORE THE COURT 215
the Steward to behave himself reasonably as beseemed him."
Such conduct inevitably resulted in a fine.1
So far we have considered only such duties and possibilities as
confronted a serf by reason of his liability to suit of court. We
still have to see what action the court took when he appeared as a
plaintiff or defendant, and not merely as a suitor or juryman.
This may be illustrated by following the adventures of one man
over a series of years and noting his appearances in the Manor
Court, although it must be admitted that he is a particularly
troublesome fellow. His name was Richard Bradwater, and he
lived on the Manor of Tooting Bee, where we first meet him in
December 1394, at the first Court held by the new lord of the
manor, Dom Robert of Windsor, Prior of Merton. Here he
acknowledged that he held from the lord one tenement and
13^ acres of land, paying therefor twelvepence a year as fixed
rent, and for day-works in part commuted two shillings. Also,
he holds 9 acres of land in farm until the coming of age of William
Bradwater, his nephew, paying therefor three shillings a year for
all. Also he holds one cot with curtilage, paying therefor six-
pence a year. He was, in fact, one of the largest holders among
the prior's serfs, and he was ordered with his fellows to show his
Copy of Court Roll to prove his holding by the next Court.
Eighteen months later he is again admonished to show his copy.
The following autumn (for there were but two courts—spring
and autumn each year) he is still without his copy and is also in
further trouble, for his pigs have trespassed on the lord's meadow,
and he has held two acres of land without any permission for
two years past and has paid no rent for it. Further, when the
bailiff and the tithing man distrained on him at various times, he
broke the distraint, and assaulted the bailiff who tried to prevent
him. Further, in common with nearly all his neighbours, he has
broken the assize of ale.2 At the next court (November 1397) we
find him accused of allowing his cattle to stray among a neigh-
bour's green crops to the damage of ten shillings. Bradwater
admits the offence, and asks that the damage may be valued by
the Court. This is done, and found to amount to three shillings,
and it is ordered that this sum be levied and paid to his neigh-
1 V.C.H. Middlesex, n, 82. Cf. Durham Halmote, 49; Abbots Langley, f. 5;
Wdkefield Rolls, I, 97; Selden Soc. iv, 127. a Tooting Bee Rolls, 21 f.