Timeline
The village's big days, newest first: births and deaths, weddings, the manor court, the feasts and the troubles.
June 1354
- John Carter and Agnes Fletcher leapt the Midsummer fire hand in hand.
- The Shepherds' bees swarmed, and they were taken in a new skep.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Adam Fisher and John Carter, taken in the lord's wood by night; Beatrice Shepherd against Stephen Brewer, beasts in the corn; Henry Cooper against Thomas atte Well, beasts in the corn. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- The Shepherds' bees swarmed, and they were taken in a new skep.
- The Shepherds' bees swarmed, and they were taken in a new skep.
- The Brewers' bees swarmed, and they were taken in a new skep.
May 1354
- Roger Warrener, the lord's warrener, came on Adam Fisher and John Carter at the warren before light, with two coneys out of the lord's warren. They must answer for it at the manor court.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Henry Cooper was let off for snaring in the lord's warren with a last warning.
- Rogation: Sir John led the procession round the bounds and the fields, blessing the crops.
- John of Thornbury and Thomas atte Well made a loveday, Joan Brewer standing between them, and drank on it. Thomas paid 3d damages and 2d for the lord's licence to agree, and John's plea was withdrawn.
- Robert Fisher is in bed with the flux.
- May Day: the young ones were up before dawn bringing in the may from the woods, and Maud Miller was Queen of the May. There was dancing on the green all afternoon.
April 1354
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Henry Cooper, taken in the lord's warren by night — the second time this year; John of Thornbury against Thomas atte Well, beasts in the corn. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Alan Shepherd's ask about meadow ground for hay was answered: the old terms stand.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Thomas atte Well's ask about rent for the empty holding by the mere was answered: the old terms stand.
- Hock Tuesday: the men had their turn and caught the women, 11d more for the church.
- Thomas atte Well is in bed with a fever.
- Hock Monday: the women caught the men and bound them till they paid their forfeits, 1s 2d for the church.
- Peter Miller and Stephen Brewer made a loveday, Adam Brewer standing between them, and drank on it. Stephen paid 2d for the lord's licence to agree, and Peter's plea was withdrawn.
- Isabel of Kingsley is in bed with the ague.
- Alan Fisher is in bed with the ague.
- Edith atte Well and Roger Warrener made a loveday at the inn, Beatrice Shepherd standing between them, and drank on it.
- Thomas atte Well and Roger Warrener made a loveday, Beatrice Shepherd standing between them, and drank on it. Roger paid 2d damages and 2d for the lord's licence to agree, and Thomas's plea was withdrawn.
- Roger Warrener, the lord's warrener, came on Henry Cooper at the warren before light, with a coney out of the lord's warren. He must answer for it at the manor court.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Thomas atte Well asks the lord about rent for the empty holding by the mere; Alan Shepherd asks the lord about meadow ground for hay; Thomas atte Well against Roger Warrener, a pig in the garden; Peter Miller against Stephen Brewer, a furrow over the mere. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Edith atte Well 2d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- By the steward, at the manor court: The Coopers asked the lord's mercy and were refused.
- Thomas atte Well and Roger Warrener made a loveday, Beatrice Shepherd standing between them, and drank on it. Roger paid 2d for the lord's licence to agree, and Thomas's plea was withdrawn.
March 1354
- Alice Warrener was buried in the churchyard, on the south side.
- Alice Warrener, 26, died of a fever.
- Beatrice Shepherd lent the priest's household a peck of seed, to be given back at the harvest.
- Alice Warrener is gravely ill with a fever.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Thomas atte Well against Roger Warrener, a furrow over the mere; the Coopers ask the lord's mercy. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Edith atte Well 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 6d.
- John of Westcott, a pilgrim on the way to Walsingham, to Our Lady's shrine, with a staff and a scrip, came in from the road and slept by the Shepherds's hearth.
- Stephen of Ashby, a pilgrim keeping a vow made on a sickbed, walking barefoot to St Thomas, came in from the road and slept by the Warreners's hearth.
- Adam Fisher came from Fairford with his wife Joan and three children, Alan and Robert and John, and took up the empty forge.
- Joan of Stanton, a pilgrim keeping a vow made on a sickbed, walking barefoot to St Thomas, came in from the road and slept by the Millers's hearth.
February 1354
- By the lord's ruling: Thomas atte Well was amerced 6d for snaring in the lord's warren a second time, and lost the snares; Peter Miller and Stephen Brewer stood pledge for his good behavior.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Thomas atte Well, taken in the lord's warren by night — the second time this year. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Edith atte Well 2d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- Stephen Brewer is in bed with a bad cough, caught from Margaret Smith.
- Roger Warrener, the lord's warrener, came on Thomas atte Well at the warren before light, with a coney out of the lord's warren. He must answer for it at the manor court.
- Hugh Smith is in bed with a fever.
- Elena Brewer is in bed with a bad cough, caught from Margaret Smith.
- Agnes Fletcher saw the steward about a hand at the plough; he will put it to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Edith atte Well 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Elena Brewer 4d, Edith atte Well 2d, John of Thornbury 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- Alan Shepherd is in bed with a fever.
- Isabel of Kingsley saw the steward about what the Warreners need; the old terms stand for another year.
January 1354
- Word came down the north road that a fire in the night at Northshire took their mill and the houses beside it. The village gave 1s at Mass for the burnt-out families, and Northshire is carting its corn down to be ground at our mill till theirs is rebuilt.
- Alan Shepherd saw the steward about meadow ground for hay; he will put it to the lord.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: the ale-tasters' presentments. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: The Warreners asked the lord's mercy and were refused.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Joan Brewer 4d, Edith atte Well 4d, John of Thornbury 2d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- Stephen Brewer and Elena Smith were married at the church door. They live with the Brewers.
- Plough Monday: Adam Brewer, Roger Warrener, Alan Shepherd and Robert Fowler dragged a plough round the houses and collected 1s 2d for the plough-light in church.
- Agnes Fletcher saw the steward about the hire of his ox team; the old terms stand for another year.
- The banns of marriage between Stephen Brewer and Elena Smith were read at Mass for the third time.
December 1353
- The banns of marriage between Stephen Brewer and Elena Smith were read at Mass for the second time.
- Roger Warrener saw the steward about the loan of his oxen for the spring ploughing; the old terms stand for another year.
- Edith atte Well saw the steward about the egg and honey money; the old terms stand for another year.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: the ale-tasters' presentments; the Warreners ask the lord's mercy. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Joan Brewer 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Thomas atte Well was amerced 1s for poaching in the lord's wood.
- The banns of marriage between Stephen Brewer and Elena Smith were read at Mass for the first time.
- Stephen Brewer and Elena Smith are betrothed. The banns will be read at Mass on the next three Sundays, and no one is married in Advent and Christmas, so the wedding waits till 14 January 1354.
- Word came by a carter on the road that Agnes Fletcher's sister Emma has married at Long Marston.
- Word came by a carter on the road that Joan Brewer's sister Alice has married at Hatherley.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Thomas atte Well, taken in the lord's wood by night; the ale-tasters' presentments. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- Stephen Brewer paid Robert Fowler 1d, for the pottage he brought in the flux and the herbs for Joan.
November 1353
- Thomas atte Well is in bed with a bad cough, caught from Amice Warrener.
- Joan Brewer is in bed with a fever.
- The lord's woodward came on Thomas atte Well in the wood before light, with a young buck dead at his feet. He must answer for it at the manor court.
- By the lord's ruling: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Joan Brewer 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 4d.
- Roger Warrener is in bed with a bad cough, caught from Amice Warrener.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Adam Brewer against Roger Warrener, a pig in the garden; the ale-tasters' presentments. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- Amice went souling at the doors, and the Brewers, Smiths and Coopers gave them soul-cakes for a prayer for their dead.
- At the All Souls Mass Sir John read out the names of the parish's dead, and prayed for all the pestilence took.
- On All Saints' night the bell was rung for the dead, as every year, for all the parish has lost.
October 1353
- Agnes Fletcher saw the steward about hiring a plough team; the old terms stand for another year.
- By the lord's ruling: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, before the tasters came, the court amerced Joan Brewer 8d, Beatrice Shepherd 8d.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: the ale-tasters' presentments; Henry Cooper asks leave to cut timber. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- Agnes Fletcher came from Norton with a daughter, Christina, and took up 15 acres of the vacant land.
- Alan Shepherd is in bed with the flux.
- Beatrice Shepherd is in bed with the ague.
- Henry Cooper is in bed with the flux, caught from Stephen Brewer.
- Stephen Brewer is in bed with the flux.
- By the lord's ruling: Henry Cooper and Peter Miller and Elena Smith were amerced 11s 1d in all for taking excess wages against the Statute; it goes toward the next subsidy.
- By the lord's ruling: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Joan Brewer 4d, Beatrice Shepherd 2d.
- By the lord's ruling: Adam Brewer and Henry Cooper were amerced 6d each for snaring in the lord's warren, and warned off the warren.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Adam Brewer and Henry Cooper, taken in the lord's wood by night; the ale-tasters' presentments; Henry Cooper and Peter Miller and Elena Smith, for taking excess wages. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- At the manor court Roger Warrener and Peter Miller were chosen ale-tasters for the year, and Thomas atte Well hayward, and Henry Cooper reeve.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Joan Brewer 4d.
September 1353
- The steward put 10 more acres of the lord's demesne back under the plough: there will be wage work for any who want it.
- The Coopers took up 6 more acres of the vacant land.
- Thomas atte Well saw the steward about rent for the empty holding by the mere; he will put it to the lord.
- Peter Miller saw the steward about the mill lease terms; the old terms stand for another year.
- The lord gave his reapers and the village their harvest supper in the manor hall.
- Harvest home: the last load of the corn came in, the reapers riding on top of it.
- Roger Warrener, the lord's warrener, came on Adam Brewer and Henry Cooper at the warren before light, with two coneys out of the lord's warren. They must answer for it at the manor court.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: the merchet for Beatrice Shepherd's marriage; the reeve's presentment: boon-work not done; the ale-tasters' presentments; John of Thornbury against Thomas atte Well, beasts in the corn; Roger Warrener against Thomas atte Well, a pig in the garden. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Joan Brewer 4d.
- Alan Shepherd and Beatrice Mason were married at the church door. Alan came from Fairford, and they took an empty cottage and three acres.
- The banns of marriage between Beatrice Mason and Alan Shepherd were read at Mass for the third time.
- The banns of marriage between Beatrice Mason and Alan Shepherd were read at Mass for the second time.
August 1353
- Peter Miller helped the Brewers with their harvest.
- The banns of marriage between Beatrice Mason and Alan Shepherd were read at Mass for the first time.
- Beatrice Mason and Alan Shepherd are betrothed. The banns will be read at Mass on the next three Sundays, and the wedding may be from 9 September 1353.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: the ale-tasters' presentments. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Stephen Brewer was amerced 3d for a straying pig, and paid Henry Cooper 2d for the damage to his garden.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Thomas atte Well was amerced 3d for his cow in Stephen Brewer's wheat, and paid 6d damages.
- By the steward, at the manor court: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, the court amerced Stephen Brewer 4d.
- By the steward, at the manor court: Peter Miller was amerced 3d for snaring in the lord's warren.
- Margaret Smith is in bed with the flux, caught from Elena Smith.
- Elena Smith is in bed with the flux.
- Adam Brewer and Joan of Thornbury were married at the church door. They live with the Brewers.
- The banns of marriage between Adam Brewer and Joan of Thornbury were read at Mass for the third time.
- Henry Cooper helped the priest's household with their harvest.
- Beatrice Mason helped the priest's household with their harvest.
- Adam Brewer helped the priest's household with their harvest.
- The banns of marriage between Adam Brewer and Joan of Thornbury were read at Mass for the second time.
- Stephen Brewer helped the Smiths with their harvest.
July 1353
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Peter Miller, taken in the lord's wood by night; the ale-tasters' presentments; Stephen Brewer against Thomas atte Well, beasts in the corn; Henry Cooper against Stephen Brewer, a pig in the garden. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- The banns of marriage between Adam Brewer and Joan of Thornbury were read at Mass for the first time.
- Adam Brewer and Joan of Thornbury are betrothed. The banns will be read at Mass on the next three Sundays, and the wedding may be from 12 August 1353.
- Maud Miller is in bed with a fever.
- By the lord's ruling: For brewing and selling ale against the assize, before the tasters came, the court amerced Beatrice Mason 8d.
- Roger Warrener, the lord's warrener, came on Peter Miller at the warren before light, with three coneys out of the lord's warren. He must answer for it at the manor court.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: The hayward's presentment: ditches not scoured; The ale-tasters' presentments; Elena Smith against Thomas atte Well, beasts in the corn. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- At the manor court Henry Cooper and Peter Miller were chosen ale-tasters for the year, and Thomas atte Well hayward.
June 1353
- Margaret Smith is in bed with the flux.
- Adam Brewer and Joan of Thornbury leapt the Midsummer fire hand in hand.
- Walter Smith is in bed with spots and a fever.
May 1353
- Roger Warrener came from Hatherley with his wife Alice and two children, Amice and Margery, and took up the keeping of the lord's warren.
- May Day: the young ones were up before dawn bringing in the may from the woods, and Maud Miller was Queen of the May. There was dancing on the green all afternoon.
April 1353
- Rogation: Sir John led the procession round the bounds and the fields, blessing the crops.
- The manor court sat in the hall. Before it: Elena Smith against Stephen Brewer, a furrow over the mere. The steward has put it all to the lord.
- Hock Tuesday: the men had their turn and caught the women, 10d more for the church.
- Hock Monday: the women caught the men and bound them till they paid their forfeits, 1s 4d for the church.
January 1353
- Plough Monday: Stephen Brewer, Adam Brewer, Thomas atte Well, Henry Cooper and Peter Miller dragged a plough round the houses and collected 6d for the plough-light in church.
October 1352
- Peter Miller came from Westcott with his wife Juliana and a daughter, Maud, and took up the lease of the mill.
- Henry Cooper came from Brookfield with his wife Cecily and took up a cottage and a croft.
- Sir John came from Thornbury to be priest of Ambermead, and Joan with him to keep his house.