they be fully cleansed of that disease.' Swine have to be ringed or yoked from the 2nd day of November to the 1st of May in the following year, that being the time when the 'ring hedges' were not made, and when, by being allowed to stray, they would injure the newly-sown or growing crops.[1] The 'out hedges' or 'ring hedges,' that is the hedges adjoining the commons or lanes, are to be duly repaired before the 1st day of May and kept repaired until Michaelmas. The number of cattle or sheep which each copyholder, or tenant of the manor, is allowed to take to the commons depends on the size of his holding. He must not turn out more cattle then he can keep on his holding in he severalty in winter time. Strong restrictions are laid upon the tenants not to cut wood in the lord's demesnes. The tenants are bound, by the ancient custom, to make fences round a part of the demesne land. Each tenant has a prescribed amount of fencing to do, and for this he is duly rewarded by the lord with so much bread and ale. The old 'bole works,' or places on the common lands, where, in ancient time, lead was smelted, and not to be dug up or removed. If peat pits are dug upon the moors, the copyholder who digs must 'slit' them to allow the water to escape. The brushwood and trees which overhang the lanes, and which tend to impede traffic, are to be sneatherd (cut) and lopped as every year comes round. No houses are allowed to go out of repair. The duties of the miller are rigidly defined; his toll dishes are to be examined in open court, and the amount of his toll is duly fixed.[2] The copyholders must grind their corn at the manorial mill. The custom respecting dower is curious and interesting. It appears that widows did not take a third of the rents during life, but had specific possession during life of a third part of their late husbands' lands and houses. Such and such rooms in this or that house were allotted to her. She had the right to walk in the orchard as far as a certain plum tree or apple
- ↑ Except the 'ring hedges' and the hedges of the few tofts or closes which were held in severalty there were no other fences except the turf balks which divided the ploughed strips, acres, or sellions scattered about the common fields which were thrown open for the pasturage of swine and other cattle after the crops were gathered. The officer who had charge of the 'ring hedges' was the hayward; he is not, however, mentioned in the Holmesfield Rolls.
- ↑ See Toll Dish in the glossary.
