344 The CvsUnns of Four M(inor>i uj the. Abbey of Leicoch. 



{10) Med-metc, or iiiead-ineat, a sort of minor " harvest home ' 

 after the hay has l)eeii got in. 



{11) The expi'essiou "in domiiiico " seems to show that the 

 the process, whicli we can trace elsewhere, was going on in this 

 manor; that small portions of the demesne were heing let out in 

 virgates, etc., to tenants for money-rents. 



{12) Levabit prata. This means " clear the meadows " (of hay). 



[13) Mansum. This word is cliaracteristic of this manor among 

 the four recorded. 



[IJi) These hens were evidently paid as " chirset," in lieu of 

 the usual three hens and one cock. 



[16] Le siaierc, probably " the sewer," either in the sense of 

 dapifer, or in that of " drainei'." cf. Lat. Terrct assewiata, drained 

 land {Battle Abbey Custuriud, Camden Ser., p. 18). In view of 

 Edward's small holding, and evidently unimportant position, I 

 should incline to the latter view. 



{16) In curia domine appears to mean in the abbey's grange at 

 Heddnigton. 



{17) He would be sup])osed to be in attendance on the lady of 

 the manor, and therefore to require to be " found " in victual. 



{18) *SerWepc=" seed-lip" (A.S. saed-leap), the box or basket 

 used by a sower for carrying his seed-corn. In present or recent 

 use in Wilts, Gloucester, and other counties. See Davis, Afiriculture 

 of Wilts, 1811, s.v. 



{19) The " falda," or fold, was a movable enclosure and was a 

 valuable fertiliser for the ground on which it was set up. 



{M) Ad tionam strictly would mean 3 p.m., but the name at any 

 rate is now attached to mid-day. The indications of time are a 

 little uncertain. 



{21) Warectare. To plough for fallow according to the " three- 

 field " system, the rotation of crops being unknown. 

 {22) The servile custom of " merchet." 



{23) The custom of " heriot." The " auxilium " mentioned in 

 the next sentence was the " aid " paid to the lord by the village 

 as a whole, and apportioned among the tenatits. 

 {2j^) i.e., on the same basis as if lie were hired from outside. 



