Domesday Terms
Curtilage
An area attached to a dwelling (Small Court)
Virgates
Yardland, as much land as would keep busy through the year a pair of oxen, about
30 acres.
Ferling
Fourth part of an acre or hide.
Bedripes
A service which some tenants had to perform to their lord at his request to reap
his corn at harvest time.
Gule of August
Lammas Day, 1st of August
Messuage,
House with its land and outbuildings.
Tallage
Form of taxation abolished in the 14th Century, paid to the king or superior.
Perquisites
Casual profit coming to the lord of the manor above regular revenue.
Easments
Right of privilege of using something not one’s own
Provision rent
1lb Pepper 1 per year 1 lbs of pepper
9 eggs x 16 once per year 1 gross of eggs
1 Hen x 12 once per year 12 Hens
1 Cock x 12 once per year 12 cocks
RIDING MEN. Of higher standing than villagers. However, they were apparently not allowed to leave the manor. Originally they were men who rode as messengers or as escorts for the king or their lord but they also worked their own holdings and those of their lords. They did not owe full military service and were equivalent to the later tenants in sergeantry.
