【論文】 What the Paston Letters Tell about Land Owning in the 15th Century England

Summary:This article attempts to analyze certain terms on land owning and farm workers ( = tenants) which occur in the Paston Letters and Papers. The purpose is to reveal, through the close examination of these terms, some aspects of the land owning system and the status of farm workers in the 15th century England. Jacob (1961) points out that the manorial system of England was declining in the 15th century. How do the terms on land and manors which appear in the Paston Letters reflect his observation? I pick up several terms relating to the land owning system in the England of Middle Ages and examine their distribution in the letters; i.e. the terms ‘villein, serf, demesne, bond, rent, and tenant.