John Keble's Parishes: A History of Hursley and Otterbourne Part 27

{53} Commentaries, vol. ii. p. 83, 8vo.

{54} See Commentaries, as before. N.B. Among the Garrows, a people of Hindostan, the youngest daughter inherits the property of her family. See Asiatic Researches, vol. iii. p. 34, 8vo.

{56} Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. ii. chap. v.

{57a} Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. ii. pp. 81, 85.

{57b} Sir Martin Wright is of opinion that Domesday-Book was made soon after our ancestors had agreed to tenures, i.e. the feodal system of tenure, for the purpose of ascertaining each man's fee; and he supposes that as soon as the survey was completed, the great landholders of the kingdom were summoned to London and Sarum to do homage to the king for their landed possessions. Now it may be presumed, that if Merdon had been then surrendered to the king, and any alteration made in the nature of the tenure of the lands in the manor, it would have been reported and registered in the book. But it certainly is not to be found there. May it not then be justly concluded that it was pa.s.sed over, and that the customs now prevailing are the same as were in use previous to the Conquest?

{58} See Commentaries, vol. ii. pp. 48, 81.

{67} This word cannot be understood. It probably may be the name of a holding, or of a family.

{154} Robin Hood's b.u.t.t, no doubt used for archery practice, lay on this down, called Rough Borrow.