On The Manor: Henry's Medieval Occupations Quiz

Answer: Ackerman

Also called an acreman, an ackerman is the leader of a plow team. In addition, he can be an oxherder. This is very difficult work considering our methods and equipment, and the acreman's work is very important on the manor.

Answer: Fewterer

The fewterer will take the hounds to the fields where we are hunting, and release them at the appointed time. His job is well respected on the manor because hunting is not only an important pastime, but also a way to acquire more food. My lord has dozens of hounds, but his favorites live inside the castle with us!

Answer: Hayward

In the case of my lord's manor, the hayward is in charge of supervising the hedging and enclosures around hay meadows. Also in charge of leading the sowing and harvesting, he captures stray cattle and blows his horn if they invade the crops. In town, the hayward, also called the "hedge warden", is in charge of enclosures and fences.

Answer: Ostler

On my lord's manor we have chargers, or war horses, palfreys, or riding horses, and horses that are used as pack horses. They are vital to our economy as they are used in so many different ways. The ostler, also called a hostler, can also work at an inn, tending the horses of the travelers.

Answer: Woolman

Wool is very important to us on the manor; it is the material from which most of our clothing is made. After shearing, the first step to making wool is sorting it by its coarseness into various grades, because different grades are used for different products.

There are many steps before the wool eventually makes its way to the comber: it goes through cleansing, beating, dying, and greasing before it is ready for combing.

Answer: Parker

My lord, the Earl of Warwick, maintains a deer park; he had to obtain a royal license called a "licence to empark" in order to do so. His agreement with the king, however, gives him the right to everything on his fief, and he exclusively owns the fish, deer, and other wildlife. Venison makes a fine meal, and if we hunt carefully, there will always be food available.

Answer: Pigs

A swineherd has an important job because the pigs feed many people on the manor. Not only does he look after the pigs, but he feeds them, and clears out the manure, which is used on the fields. Although it varies from place to place, the swineherd is expected to raise fifteen pigs for slaughtering annuals, and he is responsible for doing the slaughtering.

Many times, if he raises more than fifteen, he can keep the extra for himself.

Answer: Forester

A forester is also called a woodward. He patrols our lord's woodlands, negotiating for the sale and use of the timber, and stops illegal poachers from hunting. Sometimes there are gangs of criminals who live in the forest. If that happens, the forester will organize a group to capture and bring them to justice.

Answer: Mews

The mews is a building made for keeping hawks or falcons. Falconry is a wildly popular sport; my lord enjoys hunting with these birds, who are trained by the falconer to fly when they are released. The birds are more than pets, however; they assist with hunting game birds that we use for food.

Answer: Ratcatcher

The ratcatcher is an important person on the manor because by killing rats he protects our food supply. My lord has told a story about the Pied Piper of Hamelin. He was hired to rid the town of rats, but when the townspeople refused to pay him the full amount, he lured the children into a cave while the adults were at church. Only three children were left behind; one was deaf, one was blind, and one was lame.

They saw or heard what happened, but could not keep up with the others, who were never seen again. That is how the townspeople found out what had happened.