GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. 73 



Thus Hugh the son of Chrispian at Haghe, held a messuage 

 and a quarterium of land, (which may probably contain the 

 same quantity as a virgate,) under the following conditions. 

 He pays one shilling a year rent. He is bound to carry 

 dung at a payment of a halfpenny a day, or to give three 

 halfpence in lieu of the service; to plough and be fed, or 

 pay sixpence for the year's work ; to gather nuts for three 

 days, or forfeit three halfpence ; to supply one man in harvest, 

 or pay two shillings, in case the lord assents to such a com- 

 mutation ; to plough half an acre for winter and half an acre 

 for Lent corn, or pay sevenpence ; to wash and shear sheep 

 and lambs, or pay a halfpenny a day during the time ; to 

 hoe and be fed, or forfeit three farthings a day; to collect 

 stubble for three days before dinner (ante prandium) and 

 receive a halfpenny, or forfeit three halfpence ; to give a hen 

 of the value of twopence and a cock worth three halfpence, 

 and find a help for the thatcher, or forfeit three farthings. 



There are ten other such tenants. One holds half as much 

 again as the above, pays twelvepence-halfpenny more annual 

 rent, is rated at autumn work to the value of two shillings 

 and sixpence, and pays eighteen pence as 'christening silver' 

 at the feast of the Purification. 



Other tenants in villenage hold parcels of fourteen and 

 eleven c acres.' Their duties are far lighter, being confined 

 chiefly to harvest labour. It is reasonable, therefore, to con- 

 clude that the c quarter' was considerably more than either 

 of these quantities, and that it could have fallen little if at 

 all short of the virgate of forty acres. 



Again, the rental of the manor of Thorncroft, that is, 

 Letherhead in Surrey, supplies the following facts for the year 



*334- 



Twelve freeholders occupy a virgate or more; one, for in- 

 stance, holding two, and each possessing a messuage with his 

 land. Two persons are described as holding c capital' mes- 

 suages, with a virgate of land annexed in each case. The 

 rent of these virgates varies from six shillings to one shilling 



