Crossword-Solution: SOKEMAN 7 letters, 1 clue 🏆 scrabble score: 13

Fitzwalter might choose from the sokemanry, or inhabitants of the soken, a Sokeman _par excellence_; and if any of the sokemanry was impleaded in the Guildhall on any matter not touching the body of the Mayor or any of the Sheriffs for the time being, the Sokeman might demand the court of Fitzwalter.

One of the questions addressed to the jurors--from whose verdicts the Hundred Rolls were made, was--Si aliquis liber sokemannus de antiquo dominico alii sokemanno vendiderit vel alio modo alienaverit aliquid tenendum libere per cartam[870]? The _free_ sokeman's tenure is meant, although the inquest is taken on ancient demesne soil, and the point is that none of these persons can alienate by charter, but must use the ceremonial surrender in the court of ancient demesne according to the custom of the manor.

That such a distinction should be made was in accordance with the instruction given to the commissioners by which they were directed to find out not only how many ploughs were in demesne and on the villeins’ land respectively, but also how much each free man and sokeman in the manor possessed.

But in Domesday the process is not yet complete; the sokeman is still a somewhat independent member of the manorial economy, and as such it is desirable to indicate exactly the place which he fills in each estate.