to Lynsley farme; one lande and one sweath to Laborne farme; one lande and an halfe to Skelton farme; one lande and a sweath to Pinders East howse; three landes and an halfe to the demaines, next the west balke. Exchainged with William Whitehead one of the Fower oxegange landes in the pasture, for his wandill on the north side of the West-beckes; this exchainge was made the 19th of May, 1634. Exchainged with Alse Edwards, att the same time, the other of the Fower oxegange landes which lyeth next her landes in the pasture, for her wandill on the north side of the West-beckes. There hayth formerly belonged two oxegange" of lande to a little howse

The oxgang at Driffield appears to me, from calculations which will be found in the Appendix, to have consisted of twelve and a half acres. I am happy to be able to insert here some learned and interesting remarks with which my friend Mr. Longstaffe has favoured me.

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"The oxgang was exclusively a measure of lands in cultivation, and therefore a præcipe quod reddat unam bovatam terræ et unam bovatam marisci was in 13 Edw. III. held to be bad, because an oxgang is always of a thing which lies in gainor. The measure is not applicable to the pratum of records, which was confined in extent; and it is generally found in connection with arable land. The demesne oxgangs at Lythum in Cleveland are described in 1341 as two-thirds sown and onethird fallow and pasture. (Inq. p. m. Will. de Twenge.) But the term is sometimes used for pasture, alluding, no doubt, to what such land would contain if in tillage. At Mainsforth, Durham, out of 17 oxgangs, nine lay with the moor in pasture. (Boldon Buke.) Tofts often accompanied oxgangs for the accommodation of the tenants, but were not part of them. We find such expressions as 'ij bovatæ terræ et j toftum,' and 'xxj bovatæ terræ sine toftis,' in great profusion. (Inq. p. m. Petri de Brus, 1279.) For the most part the oxgangs were uninclosed, and a tenement by the name of an oxgang frequently lay in very various parts of a township, probably in an equitable disposition of the different qualities and crops of the soil. But in some cases the oxgangs were not thus adjusted, as appears by an instance of the common practice of rating by oxgang, a custom which prevailed at Darlington and Blackwell, and existed at Skelton in Cleveland till about 1848. It was abolished at Norton, near Stockton, about 1735, for the very reason that the oxgang consisted of 30 acres whether the land was good or bad. The landlords of the bad out land not worth 58. an acre,' refused to pay the same rate as those who let land at 40s. an acre, and procured a pound rate. In other places the acreage is found to vary in a township or parish. At Boldon we have oxgangs of 15 and 18 acres. In Darlington (Allan MSS.) and Cockerton (Langley's Survey) we have the rate of 15 acres, in Blackwell in the same parish 20 acres, and it is not certain that the difference of soil will altogether account for these variations, though Norton, with its 30 acres, is certainly composed to a great extent of a light loam. An old account book, of Bondgate, in Darlington (17th cent.) states that 30 acres is an oxgang at Sedgefield, 16 acres in Hurworth, and 20 in Yorkshire." At Lanchester, Witton, and Fulford, the rate in Boldon Buke sinks to 8 acres, but 15 acres, as George Allan remarked, are the general computation in Durham; and in Lythum the same measurement held. (Inq. Will. de Twenge.) Yet in a neighbouring manor in Cleveland we have only 60 acres to a carucate, and this, with other instances seems to justify a statement by Mr. Ralph Gowland (J. J. Wilkinson's MSS., xi., 479) that 4 oxgangs formed a carucate, unless a suggestion to be made presently is accepted. Certainly the ordinary computation was 8 oxgangs. It occurs at Forcett, in Richmondshire (Arch. El. ii. 10). It held in Durham, for at Farnacres, near to the 16-acre oxgangs of Whickham, the carucate held 120 acres. Henry I. granted to Godeland cell (Whitby Abbey) ‘unam carucatam terræ arandam secundum carucatas de Pikering.'

"The Farnacres carucate was held by one-tenth of a knight's fee, and, in 1279,

which stood att the south ende of the West-hall, which two oxegange is all worne out; either with exchainges, or else with addinge to other farmes, in places wheare they wanted.

A NOTE SHEWINGE HOWE THE CLOSES BELONGINGE TO THE DEMAINES HAVE USUALLY BEENE LETTEN HERETOFORE, AS ALSOE OF THE CLOSES APPERTAININGE TO THE FARMES.

Of the Carre and lands therein.

In the yeare 1628, the hay onely of Lynsley three lands in the Carre weare letten for 2l. 58. to Thomas Dring of Kirkburne. Letten to another man, the same yeare, the hey of the east lande (that belongeth to the Fower oxegange) in the Carre for fifteene shillinges. Letten, the same yeare, the hey of the West Fower oxegange lande for fifteene shillinges. Letten, the same yeare, to two other of Burne, the three buttes St. the fees of Peter de Brus were returned as comprising 10 carucates each. But other computations occur. At Killerby a carucate was held by one-twelfth of a fee.

"Mr. Gowland gives a very curious division of Whickham. 'In Whickham there are 70 oxgangs, i. e. 14 cavils, every cavil being 14 oxgangs.' (Wilkinson's MSS. ut supra.)

"On the signification of the word Oxgang, much difference of opinion exists. In the "Yorkshire Words" of 1855 we have "Oskin, an oxgang or oxgate, sufficient land for the pasturage of one animal." Here is evidently a confusion with cattlegates. Some say that the oxgang was as much land as a team of oxen could plough and make ready for sowing in a year, others so much as one gang or team of oxen could plough in a day! Of the latter definition it is sufficient to say that one acre would be a very fair day's work, and both explanations by the expression of a team of oxen confound the oxgang with the carucate. In Northumberland the plough was certainly drawn by 4 oxen, and from a purely blade diet and other circumstances the teams worked alternately. Here were 8 oxen to each plough; and it is submitted that while the carucate was what one plough could cultivate in the year, the oxgang was the supposed capability of each individual of its team. Hence, when one plough was worked by 8 oxen alternately, 8 oxgangs would go to the carucate; when the stock was less in proportion to the ploughs, and two animals only were used, or the alternate days of rest were unemployed by another team, the carucate would only consist of 4 oxgangs, or if it was still stated to consist of 8 oxgangs, the number of acres to an oxgang would be reduced by one half. Of this, Lanchester is perhaps an instance. The remarkable circumstance that in the same district the carucate varied exactly 50 per cent. may thus be explained, but on such an obscure subject these suggestions are offered with diffidence."-W. H. D. L. -See page 108.

At the Inclosure of Driffield the oxgang was reckoned at 24, but supposed to contain about 20 acres.

See note on page 26. The church at Kirkburne is one of the most perfect specimens of Anglo-Norman architecture in England. For a drawing of its font, see the Graphic and Historical Illustrator. London. p. 148. The following wills notice the hamlets, and confirm the descent of our author. Towthorp and Tibthorp are in the parish of Wharram Percy.

1594, Nov. 18, John Best-to be buried in the church of Kirkburn: to the poor man's box of Kirkburne, to be paid out of my farm of Bottleburne, 7d. monthly during the lives of Henry Best of London and James Best of Hewton, co, York, gent.; Charles, Ralph, and William, my son William Best's sons; Amy and Cecily

Nicholas Inges, the twel-pence peece, and the balke, for thirty shillinges. Letten to Richard Duddinge of Kirkburne, this 1st of Aprill, 1630, the hey of Lynsley three landes in the Carre at 16s. 8d. a lande, without the eatage. Letten to Thomas Drynge the same time the hey of the Fower oxegange landes in the Carre att 16s. 8d. a lande, viz.; for the two landes 11. 13s. 4d. Letten to Rattcliffe of Burne, the same yeare, the hey of one of Skeltons landes in the Carre for fifteene shillinges. Letten againe to Richard Duddinge of Kirkeburne the hey of the two landes in the Carre belonginge to the Fower oxegange, for 338. 4d., to pay 20s. when it is in cocke, and the rest att Michaellmasse after. Letten the same yeare to Joseph Bealby and his parteners, the hay of the three landes in the Carre belonginge to Lynsley farme, att 16s. 8d. a lande. Letten to Ralph White the same yeare the hey of the three buttes, St. Nicholas Inges, the peece of Skeltons lande beyonde St. Nicholas Inges, and the balke, for two powndes. Letten to Leonard Thurnam and Anthony Thompson of Kirkeburne, the hay of the two lands in the Carre belonginge to the Fower oxegange, att 188. a lande, viz.; for them both 36s.; they weare thus letten the 27th of March, 1632. Letten alsoe the 19th of May, 1634, to Leonard Thurnain, Anthony Rattcliffe, and Richard Scotte, the hey of the two Fower oxegange landes in the Carre, for 1l. 168., viz. ; 18s. a lande. One of the Fower oxegange landes beareth usually a good loade of hey, and the three landes belonginge to Lynsley farme yeelde usually more then loades a peece. Those that lette theire landes to mowe (in the Carre) by greate, pay (for the most parte) 10d. a lande, and I have knowne those that have given 11d. and 12d. a lande for mowinge of theire landes in the Carre.

OF THE PASTURE AFORE IT WAS INCLOSED.

The landes in the pasture weare (att my fathers first comminge) letten to our owne tenants and others, for 28. a lande;

Best, his daughters; my daughters Jane, Susanna, and Joane. To my son Thomas 84 orgings of land in Towthorp; Thomas Jackson his tutor and gardiner. John Norton, parson of Cowtown, and James Best of Hewton Cranswick, my cozen, supervisors,

1511-2 Feb 24. Thomis Best, of Old Malton, gent.-to Elizabeth, now my wife, and Isabel my daughter, 187. per annum, due to me out of my lease of Towthorpe during the tyme that Thomas Jackson of Wath th'elder enjoyeth it, and my yearly rent of 131_6s_8d. out of Towthorpe during the lives of Henry Best of London, gent, and James Best of Hemswell, gent; rest to Mr, James Best of Helmswell, gentleman, my cozen-he executor Proved April 30, 1611.

1677. Apr. 2. John Heron of Beverley Esq.-wife Elizabeth 1007., per annum; dan. Catherine my manors of Kellithorpe, Eastborn, Catlam, Kelke, &c.; dau. Eliza beth Dawney my manors of Rimiswell, Gansted, and Woodhouse in Holderness, and lands at Skerne. Southborne, and Driffield. Sir John Dawney and Sir Hugh Bethell, supervisors

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afterwards for 2s. 6d. a land, and lastly for 3s. a lande; but nowe, beinge inclosed, they will lette for thrice as much.

Letten to Robert Laborne the grasse in the Mast-hills" belonginge to the West hall, Laborne farme, and Skelton farme, for twenty shillinges.

Of the Spellowe close.

The Spellowe was letten to Mathewe Bird and Richard Bradley of Eastburne, in the yeare 1628, for 4l. 108.; and to John Browne of Garton, in the yeare 1631, for 5l.; and in the yeare 1636, it was letten to Richard Towse and Bryan Towse of Garton att 5l. 108. per annum; I have knowne the fogge of this close letten from Michaelmasse till Lady-day for 338. 4d., conditionally, not to putte any sheepe into it; but nowe of late wee lette the fogge of it for 2l. 3s. 4d., viz.; to Christopher Towse, 1639.

Of the Farre longe close.

The farre longe close was letten in the yeare 1628, to Thomas Hudson of Tipthorpe and his partners att 12l. per annum, and in the yeare 1630 for 12l. 10s., and in the yeare 1632, it was letten to William Tompson of Tibthorpe and his three partners att 121. per annum, togeather with the fower nooked peece; the farre longe close is aboute some nine acres of grownde.

Of the Lords-garth.

The Lords-garth was letten to William Pinder in the yeare 1628 for 31. 10s., and in the yeare 1636 to Richard Towse and William Pinder att 41. per annum.

Of the Chappell-garth.

The Chappell-garth was letten to Thomas Huggett in the yeare 1628 att 2l. 138. 4d. per annum, and two dayes dykinge aboute it; and in the yeare 1636, it was letten to Edward Lynsley att 31. 2s. 6d., and hee to pay for the fencinge of it.

Of the Medowe Sikes or Mount Sikes.

The Medowe Sikes is aboute five acres of grownde, and was letten in the yeare 1628, to Ralphe White and Mathewe Craforth att 61. per annum; after that it was letten to Edward Towse and Bryan [Towse] att 6l. 108. per annum, and lastly to Mr. Hodgson, the 28th of March, 1635, till Lady day next ensuinge, for 61. 138. 4d.

Of the West Halls pasture close.

This close was att the first letten for 61. 28. 6d., but in the yeare 1636, it was letten to Richard Deeringe of Eastburne, for 6l. 13s. 4d.

• The modern name is "Maskells."

Of the Carre close apperteininge to the demaines, and havinge in it sixe shorte lands.

This close was letten, 1628, for 21. 8s., and afterwards it was letten by lease to John Gray, for 2l. 6s. 8d.

Of the Football-garth and sheep-garth.

The football-garth and sheep-garth belonginge to Laborne farme, weare letten to John Browne of Garton, in the yeare 1635, for 5l. 5s. 6d. Those closes weare letten over deare.

Of Laborne little West close.

This was letten to John Towse of Garton, Taylor, in the yeare 1640. att 17. 13s. 4d. per annum. The two pittes in the middle and west field weare letten to Thomas Huggett for 108., and Stygate pitte for 6s. Sd., viz.; the hey of them without the eatage.

Of the Fower oxegange close next the Cunnigarth.

This close was letten to Thomas Clithero, in the yeare 1635, for 11. 2s. 6d., and in the yeare 1641, to Thomas Leake att 1l. 48. per annum. Letten the same yeares, the close that lyeth next unto it to William Pinder att 11. 3s. per annum; this close is sayd to belonge to Thomas Styringes house.

Of Lynsleys West close.

That close was letten to Ralphe White, in the yeare 1628, for twenty shillinges. I have knowne the North close, belonginge to the West howse farme, letten from Lady day to Michaellmasse for eight shillinges. Allice Edwards used to lette her lands in the pasture for 29. 6., and nowe, since they weare inclosed, shee letteth them for 78. and 78. 6. a lande: Richard Parrott tooke her pasture close this 16th of May, and was to give her 78. a lande, and have it till Lady day, the 25th of March.

I extract a few notices from the MS. Diary of Timothy Whittingham, Esq., of Holmeside, co. Durham.

1559. The Fawside field and house let to Cuthbert Kirby pro 127. per annum. If he go away at yeeres end he must pay for standish of his corne.

"1662, June 11. The East Cutsbanke let to Mr. Johnson for 61. I am halfe engaged to get it mowne and wone into dry cook for 208.

“1671. Nov. 7. George Dickeson hath taken the whole Moorefield farm and tho Leafeild, upon condition he be a good husband to it, and manner well upon the second crop of oates, &c. and scoure every year ten roods of dike.

"2676-7, Feb. 38. The East Cutsbank to Richard Minikin; 'he to leave at the end well and husbandly skaled.'"