2i6 THE MANOR COURT
hour, and Bradwater is fined twopence for his offence. He is also
charged with driving another neighbour's cattle out of the com-
mon pasture, but this he denies, and is ordered to make his law
with five compurgators. To do this it was necessary for him to
appear at the next Court with five friends who would one and
all swear with him that to the best of their knowledge he was
innocent. When the case comes on again (October 1398) he fails
to produce his five compurgators and is adjudged guilty, and
ordered to pay the amount claimed and is fined twopence. "And
a precept is made to levy the said pence from the goods and
chattels of the said Bradwater for the use of the said Nicholas."1
He is also found guilty of trespassing with his cattle in the lord's
grain, and of mowing and lifting the lord's meadow, and is fined.
He retaliates by accusing Richard Christinas of depriving him of
two acres of land, and Christmas is summoned to answer this
at the next Court.2 The following October (1399) he (Bradwater)
fails to prosecute his suit and is fined twopence.3 Later at the
same court he and his wife pay ten shillings in order to take over
several plots of ground and cottages from a relative who is
leaving the manor and who pays two capons yearly for permission
to dwell outside the demesne at the lord's pleasure.3 The
tithing man later presents him for assaulting a neighbour, and
also for seizing for his own a stray white hog. For his mis-
behaviour he is fined eighteenpence, to be levied on his goods.4
The following May (1400) he is fined for pasturing his beasts and
sheep in the lord's meadow; he is accused of assaulting and
beating the bailiff, and also of taking away his goods. Part of
this he acknowledges and part he decides to clear himself of
with five compurgators. He is ordered to bring them at the next
Court, and the homage is ordered to assess the damages done
to the bailiff by the assault before the next Court.5
The following October he produces his five compurgators and
they swear to his innocence, and "therefore it is adjudged by the
Steward that the said Richard be quit".6 The homage had not
assessed the damage and were threatened with a fine unless they
did so in time for the next Court.6 This they did, and 3$. 4^. was
ordered to be levied on his goods to recoup the injured bailiff.7
1 Tooting Bee Rolls, 33. a Op. cit. 33. 8 Op. cit. 35,
* Op. cit. 39. 6 Op. cit. 43. « Op. cit. 47. ' Op. dt. 51.