ea ars 
105 
ribs, and laths for the roofs. The lord was not bound to provide 
wood, if the tenant would build larger houses than were necessary ; 
for, as the author says, “it were an unreasonable custom that the 
lord should find his tenant timber for building for his pleasure or 
vainglory.” In the Manor of Hawkshead, until a few years ago, 
there was a singular rent payable, called “bloomsmithy rent.” It 
originated as follows :—There were three iron forges or “bloomaries” 
in the Manor of Hawkshead, the ore being brought from Low 
Furness to be smelted with charcoal made from the woods of High 
Furness. ~The tenants of the manor complained that their woods 
were being destroyed by the increasing use of charcoal, and, in the 
seventh year of the reign of Elizabeth, the forges were suppressed, 
on the tenants of the manor agreeing amongst themselves to pay 
the rent of 20/7, The amount was assessed rateably over the 
various properties, and this was the origin of the “bloomsmithy 
rents” which we find mentioned in most old deeds. The Duke 
of Buccleuch, a few years ago, gave the tenants the option of 
buying them out, which I think all took advantage of, so that they 
are now extinguished. 
MILITARY SERVICE. 
In these manors, besides the certain rents, the tenants were 
liable to a military service, which makes me think that, though of 
villein tenure, it was the most exalted species of that tenure which 
existed in these manors. In fact they were big villeins. By this 
service every tenant in the Barony, from the age of sixteen to sixty, 
was obliged “at all times, in their most defensible array for the 
wars, to be ready to serve their prince upon horseback and upon 
foot at the West Borders of England against Scotland, on their 
own proper costs and charges, and so be ready night and day at 
the command of the Lord Warden of the said West Marches, 
always for the time being being warned thereunto by beacon fires, 
_ post, or proclamation, and there to continue during the said Lord 
Warden’s pleasure.” In Furness a like service was required ; but 
Piel was also a vulnerable place, and there the tenants were bound 
to muster in the common defence against pirates, as well as on the 
