EARLY BREADSALL CHARTERS. 163 



at the depth of one ' bescata,' or spade graft, with reparation of 

 the ditch on one side, formed one stint. 



"On level ground, one perch (i8 ft.) dug to tiie depth of 

 3 feet, and the width of 5 feet, formed one stint. 



" Of woodcutting ; 5 bundles of thorns with 5 stakes or 

 stems (but not of oak, ash or apple), to be carried to any place 

 appointed, formed one stint. 



'• Two bundles of stems, well cleaned, gathered and carried 

 as appointed, formed also one work. In the style of the 

 survey : — 



Of Hedging, "If he shall make an enclosure of brushwood 

 round the park he shall work until nones for one work. 



'' In the fields, he will make 15 yards of fencing, and collect 

 and carry the thorns from the wood for that purpose, and so 

 construct his fence that no ploughshare can be drawn through — 

 for one stint. 



Of Ploughing, " He must plough with his yoked oxen one 

 selion* in any place appointed him in the cultivated land for his 

 day's ploughing. The harrowing of the said selion formed one 

 work. 



" In winter time he will as of custom plough one rood, and 

 will sow it with his own seed, which is called ^ Benese^d' {i.e., 

 ' boon seed,' because given to the lord) and will harrow it — (for 

 one work). 



" For 12 days before the Nativity he shall rest — and from the 

 Epiphany to the Feast of Purification he shall perform carrying 

 work only, except that every Friday during this term he shall 

 plough for lightening or lessening the ploughing (in the spring). 



" He is free in Easter week and Xmas week, but from the 

 ist of February to the ist of August, and from Michaelmas Day 

 to Xmas Day, he will work each week in manner aforesaid — 

 (doing I suppose one stint each day). 



Of Hoeing, "At hoeing time he is bound to hoe as of 



* A ridge of land of an uncertain quantity ; a strip of ridged land between 

 two furrows. 



