Everyone knew their place and what was expected of them.  They knew that they had to pay for their land with services to their lord, they also knew that they had to pay taxes (or fines) to him when they or their children married, when they inherited land and when the king commanded it they knew that they had to fight with their lord.

It was the job of the Reeve to make sure that everyone worked hard to produce a harvest for their lord, his family and retainers.