GENERAL IMPRESSIONS 221
did the ceremonial exchange "by the verge" take place in court,
but the scribe entered the facts on his rolls,1 and often was asked
to give a copy of the entry so that all doubt might be avoided.
Again the Manor Court provided a speedy and comparatively
inexpensive way of obtaining redress for injury or wrong. While
we cannot agree with VinogradofFs view that "all foreign
elements in the shape of advocates or professional pleaders were
excluded*5,2 it is true that in general the procedure of the courts
was simple enough to be followed by most peasants. The old
patriarchal system still prevailed sufficiently for a man to be able
to go to the court in the reasonable expectation of receiving
protection from his lord if wrong had been done him. While the
Bang's Courts were remote and difficult of access, from time to
time his lord's court was open to him, and there he could plead
redress for almost every kind of wrong, and could claim and
could hear the " doom" of the court, which was the verdict of his
fellows, before the judgment of the lord was pronounced.
1 Selden Soc. n, 28, 35, 40,46, etc.; Wynslowe Rolls, 450; Eynsham Cart.
11,9,10» XI» ai> Ia9> I3°- r^lc "verge" was usually a slender rod which was
handed from tenant to lord, and symbolised the actual piece of land in
question.
1 Villainage, 367. See Hales Rolls, 134, 137 where R. de Bosco per attorna-
tum suum optulit se versus T. de W. etc., and Selden Soc. IV, 81.