Chapter Lords, Peasantries and the remuneration of labour services in the Southern Low Countries, 13th-18th centuries

Abstract

In the late medieval and early modern Southern Low Countries, servile work gradually disappeared in most lordships. This contribution researches how and why unfree labour persisted in a minority of seigneuries. The main argument for the survival of so-called corvée labour, is that subjects performing these works received some form of remuneration. From the thirteenth century onward, peasantries were also able to negotiate favourable working conditions. Lords could not claim works during harvest and had to respect reasonable notification intervals. During the performance of the corvée labour, peasantries were usually provided food (and drink) in proportionate quantities to the caloric consumption needs of their respective work and status. Compensation of expenses in coin was rather rare, but lords often offered favourable benefits such as fiscal exemptions or use rights to the performing population or even the whole community. Male breeding animals were provided, and access to the lords domain such as hunting and fishing rights, or pastures could also be heeded. In this manner, small farmers could enjoy additional income streams or cut expenses. The existence of an array of rights and benefits to subjects performing labour indicate favourable negotiation terms of the peasant population. The case studies presented showcase a more nuanced historical reality, where peasants successfully (re-)negotiated labour duties with their lords. This paper reconstructs the negotiation process between lords and subjects as recorded in village customs.