By the Rev. G. V. Goddard. 215 



" Imprimis : Our Custome is to feede Three Score Sheep in the Common 

 Feilds and Downs and all Commons and wast Ground in Bourton Aforesaid ; 

 and ten Lams to Everey Yard Lande. 



"Item : Our Custome is to have four Beast Lease to Everey Yard Lande 

 on the Cow Down of Winterbourn Stoke ; and two Horses Lease to Everey 

 Yard Land in Bourton Mead. 



"Item; Our Custome | is for our fould to go, According to the Antient 

 Custom, that is to say, Eight weeks on the Down of Bourton, and all the 

 Rest of the time in the Common Feilds Aforesaid. 



" Item : Our Custome is for the Millor to provide a Sufficent Bridge ; and 

 to Maintain the Same for the passing over Cattle to a Ground Called Mill 

 Close, Lying to A Messuage Now in the possession of John Snow. 



" Item : Our Custom is for the parsonage Dung to Be Carried Accustomed 

 way, that is to say from London way through part of Mr. Duke's feild, at 

 the Lower End of the Vicarage Acre, and so into the Middle Feild. 



" Item : the Custome is for the parsonage Dung to Be Carried into the 

 North feild through parts of Mr. Duke's Feild. 



' " The Custom of Bourton is to pay Tithe of Wool and Lambs and the 

 Twentieth Pook of Hay to the Vicar of Winterbourn Stoke, with all other 

 Vicarial Tithes. 



* This is in a much later hand than the rest. 



The system described in these Customs was improved away by the great 

 advance in husbandry at the opening of the 18th century. The growth of 

 green crops (turnips, clover, &c.) during the 17th century had proved the 

 inconvenience of the " Three Field " common system with its strict rotation 

 of crop, fallow and ownership (See Customs 26, 28, 29). Between 1709 and 

 1797, three thousandand ten Acts of Parliament for inclosing " common fields" 

 were put in operation. In 1801 no fewer than 119 Acts were passed; and 

 thence on to 1842 there followed nearly 2000 more. As early as 1764 the 

 protection of the old rights of small farmers was discussed : and an agitation 

 in favour of allotments was kept up. Thus in the Act for inclosing Broad 

 Somerford, 1806, at the suggestion of the Rector, a clause was inserted assign- 

 ing an allotment of half-an-acre to every cottage : which example was 

 followed in many other neighbouring parishes. 



The manuscript of which an exact transcript is here given, is in the 

 keeping of the Vicar of Winterbourne Stoke, and was copied by me December, 

 1899. It is written on seven leaves of paper of small 4to size, bound in a 

 vellum cover formed of the half of a lease to Thomas Kenelman for lives ; 

 [on death of] " said Thomas & Elizabeth for & in the name of a Herriot " ; 

 " yardlands called Berydalu," &c., &c. There areno stops in the MS. — C.V.G. 



