[ 123, J 
By the fame kind of mutual agreement, they fhut 
up, and in fome cafes inclofed, fuch parts of their 
common pafiures which were moft proper to mow for 
hay, dividing them into certain {pecific quantities, 
either by land-marks, or by lot, for mowing, and 
fuffering the common herd of catile to feed them. 
again as foon as the hay was carried off, till it was 
time to lay them up for a new crop. 
This was the origin of common meadows. 
And thefe mutual agreements, originally founded 
in neceflity, became, when approved by the lords, 
and obferved for a length of time by the tenants, 
what are called “ Cuftom of Manors,” conftituting 
the very effence of the Court Baron or Manorial 
Court; by which both lord and tenants were, and 
‘are ftill bound; and of which, though the lord or 
his fteward is the judge, the tenants are the jury, the 
cuftom of the manor equally binding both. 
The reafons why fo little alteration has taken 
place in the property of the lands in this diftrict, 
has been already given, fo far as it relates to the 
land-owners: but there muft have been fome rea-~ 
fons,on the part of the occupiers, why, notwithe 
ftanding fuch great improvements have been made 
in other parts of the kingdom, by the abolition of 
common-field hufbandry, (or, as it is called in Wilt- 
fhire, “ Tenantry,”) and bringing the difperfed 
properties of each perfon into fewer pieces, freed 
from all rights of commonage, (or, as it is called 
in 
