The laborer wore a tunic
that reached to the knee, cloth stockings, and shoes of heavy
felt, cloth, or perhaps leather. Ladies wore a full-length tunic
with moderate fullness in the skirt, and a low belt, and tight
sleeves. A lady's hair was concealed by a round hat tied on the
top of her head. Over her tunic, she wore a cloak. Monks and nuns
wore long black robes with hoods.
The barons now managed and developed their estates to be as
productive as possible, often using the successful management
techniques of church estates. They kept records of their fields,
tenants, and services owed by each tenant, and duties of the manor
officers, such as supervision of the ploughing and harrowing.
Annually, the manor's profit or loss for the year was calculated.
Most manors were self-supporting except that iron for tools and
horseshoes and salt for curing usually had to be obtained
elsewhere. Wine, tar, canvas and millstones were imports from
other countries and bought at fairs, as was fish, furs, spices,
and silks. Sheep were kept in such large numbers that they were
susceptible to a new disease "scab". Every great household was
bound to give alms.
As feudalism became less military and less rough, daughters were
permitted to inherit fiefs. It became customary to divide the
property of a deceased man without a son equally among his
daughters. Lords were receiving homage from all the daughters and
thereby acquiring marriage rights over all of them.
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