The Agrarian Problem in the Sixteenth Century Part 35

TABLE II. (pp. 32 and 33)

This table is based on doc.u.ments relating to the undermentioned manors.

The sources from which the information is taken are given in the explanation of Table I., and I therefore do not repeat them.

1. Norfolk.

Metherwolde, Northendall, Brisingham, Ma.s.singham, Skerning Billingford.

2. Suffolk.

Ashfield, Stratford juxta Higham, Kentford, Dunstall.

3. Staffordshire.

Drayton Ba.s.set, Barton, Burton Bondend.

4. Lancashire.

Warton, Overton, Widnes.

5. Northamptonshire.

Paulespurie, Brigstock, Higham Ferrers, Duston.

6. Wiltshire.

South Newton.

7. Leicestershire.

Barkby.

I have thought it worth while to insert this table, but I am not satisfied with it. (i) I am inclined to think that, as stated in the text, fuller information would show that medium-sized holdings of between 20 and 60 acres were more common than it suggests. It is plain that surveyors often could not locate the properties of freeholders, and the larger the property the harder their task. (ii) Even where the holding is set out by the surveyor, one cannot always form an accurate judgment of its size. For example, rights of common, though often expressed in acres, are often expressed in some other way, _e.g._ in the terms of the number of beasts which the tenant may graze; and, again, a man is sometimes said to hold so many acres "c.u.m pertinentiis." What I have done is simply to enter the acreage as given in the surveys. In some cases, therefore, the size of the holding is certainly underestimated.

TABLE III. (p. 48)

The figures in this table are an a.n.a.lysis of the figures given under the heading of "Customary Tenants" in Table I., and the source from which they are taken will be found by looking at the explanation of that table given above. As I have pointed out in the text, it is probable that not all the "Tenants at Will" should have been entered as "Customary Tenants" in that table. I hope that any error which may have arisen through their inclusion under that heading there may be neutralised by setting them out here. It will be seen that they are not numerous.

TABLE IV. (pp. 64 and 65)

This table is based on doc.u.ments relating to the undermentioned manors.

The sources from which the information is taken are given, with a few exceptions (see below), in the explanation of Table I.

1. Wiltshire and Somerset.

South Newton, Byshopeston, Washerne, Knyghton, Donnington, Estoverton and Phipheld, Wynterbourne Ba.s.set (all in Wilts), South Brent and Huish (Somerset).

2. Suffolk.

Stratford juxta Higham, Ashfield, Snape, Desnage Talmaye, Chaterham Hall (the last Hen. VIII. R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, ff.

109-114).

3. Norfolk.

Barney, Great Walsingham, Gunthorpe, Brisingham, Aylsham, Ormesby, Northendall, and one manor, the name of which I have mislaid (see explanation of Table I.).

4. Staffordshire.

Barton, Wotton in Elishall, Agarsley.

5. Lancashire.

Ashton, Whytyngton, Warton, Widnes.

6. Northamptonshire.

Higham Ferrers, Brigstock.

7. Leicestershire.

Launde Priory, Barkby, Kibworth.

8. Northumberland.

High Buston, Acklington, Birling, Thirston, Preston, East Chirton, Middle Chirton, Whitney, Monkseaton, Eardon (the last six all 1539, _Northumberland County History_, vol. viii. p. 230, ff.).

9. Nine manors elsewhere in South of England.

Crondal, Sutton Warblington, Edgeware, Kingsbury, Aspley Guise, Gamlingay Merton, Gamlingay Avenells, Salford, Weedon Weston (two last from surveys on back of All Souls Maps).

In this table are included a few landholders as to whose tenure I am not certain. It has the defect stated in connection with Table I., that in a considerable number of instances the holdings of tenants are not fully expressed in terms of acres, and that therefore it probably somewhat underestimates their area. On the other hand, the holdings of the customary tenants are usually set out by the surveyors much more fully than those of the freeholders.

TABLE V. (p. 107)

1. Northumberland and Lancashire.

Acklington, Birling, High Buston, Thirston, Whytyngton.