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What kinds of cases were heard in a manor court?

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feudalism Detail from the *Heidelberger Sachsenspiegel* showing the homage ceremony, in which the vassals put themselves under the protection of their lords by placing their hands between his hands, 14th century; in the Universitatsbibliothek, Heidelberg, Germany.

The manor court served as a vital institution through which a lord exercised jurisdiction over his tenants, with its business generally categorized into criminal, manorial, and civil matters.12

Types of Cases and Business

Criminal Matters: The court primarily handled petty offenses, such as small thefts, assaults, and breaches of the assize of bread and ale. It also addressed offenses against the "custom of the manor," including improper wood gathering or poor plowing practices. Serious crimes were typically reserved for the king or other territorial sovereigns.2
Manorial Business: This included appointing manorial officials—such as the reeve and hayward—and establishing regulations for managing the estate. A central function was recording the surrender and admittance of villein tenants to their holdings.12
Civil Matters: The court presided over land-related disputes within the manor, including questions of inheritance and dower, as well as limited civil suits not connected to land.2

Proceedings were recorded on the court roll, and the court provided the lord with a consistent source of income through the collection of fines.13