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 A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK this the profits from the ewe-flock and lambs are very considerable. Yet for all this they pay but £2'^ ^ year rent. The intermission of manorial courts from 1643 to 1650 during the Civil War and the unsettled state of the lordship of the manors led to great con- fusion in many cases about the ownership of the land. The Act of Charles II which converted all tenures into free and socage had considerable effects in those parts of Suffolk where the ancient services remained intact, and many manors were lost to their former owners."* The historian of Framlingham, while lamenting this effect of the ' sacred laws of liberty,' holds out the warning that even the rights remaining are threatened by the extravagant demands of lords of manors and stewards for fines and fees on the admission of copyhold tenants."^ With regard to the personnel of the farmers under these prosperous conditions Reyce's statement may well be believed : ' Whilst many of the better sort, as having passed their uttermost period do suffer an utter declina- tion, these only (the yeomanry of the county) do arise and do lay such strong sure and deep foundations that from thence in time are derived many noble and worthy families.' "' Of the position of the agricultural labourer in the middle of the 17th century, interesting evidence is afforded by agreements between Paul D'Ewes (father of Simonds D'Ewes the diarist) and a shepherd, a ploughman, and a labourer employed on his estate in 1628—9."' John Tillot, the shepherd, is bound over to keep his master's flocks well and safely, to make good any that are missing, and if any die to bring him the skins. He is also to make amends for any corn bitten or spoiled by the sheep, and to bring any stray sheep to Stowlangtoft pound. If any man do sow any ground, and the stiffs of the field are broken, and may not be duly taken and fed as heretofore they have been used, then the said Tillot to feed ofif the said corn and to drive his sheep upon that part of the ploughed land. And to forbid any particular man to sow his ground or any part thereof whereby the sheep-walk may be hindered. He is also to keep the ' conies ' from destroying the corn and to stop their runs, but to kill none upon the warren ; and to mend gaps in the hedges when need arises. In consideration of these services Paul D'Ewes agrees to give pasture for fifty ewes yearly, in money for wages 50J. yearly, in corn 7 combs, and 2 bushels of rye, and 7 combs and 2 bushels of barley, part of the corn grown on the estate ; also a fleece at every shearing and a sucking lamb. To the ploughman,"" one Bartholomew Peirson, D'Ewes lets the house called Dutchman's House at the rent of ^2 loj. per annum, the yards and a close of pasture belonging to it at ^^4 additional ; Chandler's meadow, con- taining 1 1 acres, and certain fields lately divided at £% i os. in all ; with all the profits derived therefrom, as part and parcel of his wages ; with the sum of ^5 in money paid half-yearly, to make a total of >C20. Peirson for his part agrees to serve Paul D'Ewes as his ploughman and servant for one year, and to do no other work for any man whatsoever. He is also bound to main- tain and keep at his own charges one other able and sufficient ploughman or husbandman, as his servant, to be used solely in D'Ewes' interest. Both men are to be ' careful, diligent, and painful ' in the work which their master '" MS. Hist, of Framlingham (Add. MS. 33247), fol. 391. ■" Ibid. fol. 399. "» Reyce, Breviary o/Suff, 58. '" Harl. "MS. 98, fol. 31. "° Ibid. fol. 32. 668