| Description | The manor of Bocking, situated just north of Braintree in the middle of Essex, is accounted for by a serjeant up to 1382. His accounts record annually his receipts and expenses for administering and farming the priory's estate, with details of the corn, livestock, and agricultural activities on the dorse, often with an inventory of the manor at the year end as well. From the late fourteenth century, the agricultural estate is farmed by a farmer who accounts very briefly for the farm he pays, and any building repairs, though his early accounts do itemise corn and stock. The collection of rents is undertaken by the bedel and rent collector, with accounts surviving from 1394. The bedel accounts for Boningdon as well up to 1407. By the middle of the fifteenth century, the bedel is often synoymous with the farmer, and accounts solely for Bocking. |