90 MANORS OF STRATTON AND GRIMSTON. 



The holdings were "livings" or "half-livings"; a whole 

 living had about 10 acres of land in the common field, not 

 together, but dotted about in strips of from one to two acres, in 

 different parts of the field, proportionate shares in the common 

 meadows, with common rights for two horses, two cows, and 

 forty sheep. Above the arable land, between it and the common 

 sheep downs beyond, were small enclosed pasture fields called 

 " Doles " of from one to two acres each, similar in shape and in 

 distribution to the strips of land in the common fields. These 

 had been taken out of the downs, and each copyhold tenant had 

 a " Dole " in size proportionate to his holding. The meadows 

 were commonable after the hay had been cut, each tenant being 

 entitled to take his foreshear or first cut of hay, which had to be 

 removed before the loth of July in each year. 



Most of the strips into which the .meadows were divided were 

 definitely attached to certain holdings, but some were inter- 

 changeable and belonged in rotation to 2, 4, 6, or eight different 

 tenants in successive years. 



The lower parts of the arable lands called the hatching ground, 

 which were both more fertile and nearer the village than the 

 remaining arable lands, after successive crops of wheat, barley, 

 &c., were sown with clover or hay, which was fed off by the 

 combined flocks of sheep belonging to the whole manor, under 

 the charge of the common shepherd. 



The Manor of Grimston was divided up much in the same 

 way and the customary tenants were governed by similar customs 

 with those prevailing in the Manor of Stratton. 



At each annual Court Baron held with the Court Leet, the 

 following officers were appointed : 



i .The constable, whose duty it was to arrest vagabonds and 

 night-walkers, distrain on the goods of defaulters, and generally 

 to preserve the king's peace within the manor. 



2. The tything-man or head-borough who summoned the 

 jurors, served notices, &c. 



3. The hay ward, who was responsible for the fences and 

 hedges, and answerable for stray cattle, &c., which it was his 



