FUEL. 425 



purpose of trapping salmon , and such a wear would generally 

 be constructed of stout fagots. The word c kyd,' or c kid,' is 

 still found in the midland counties. 



Spelden, which are mentioned in the two Kingesdon ac- 

 counts, 1321, 1322, are perhaps bundles of splintered wood. 

 A spelder, according to the glossarists, is a splinter or chip. 

 On the above-named estate they are coupled with fagots, and 

 rated at the same price. The same locality gives the price of 

 chevrons, by which are meant, I suppose, split oaken planks, to 

 be used for strong palings. 



Bavins are mentioned occasionally; at Farley in 1309, at 

 Letherhead in 1345, and at Maldon in 1372. If the medieval 

 use is the same with that of Hampshire in the present time, 

 these were long fagots made of light underwood, and used 

 chiefly for burning tile, brick, or lime. 



Billets are mentioned once, at Castle Rising. The price, 

 unless they were of considerable siz,e, appears to be high. 



There are many entries of tallwood. By this term is 

 probably meant what is called the top and lop of large trees. 

 The price of tallwood varies but little from that of fagots, 

 with which indeed it is often united. 



A more distinct inference could be gathered from the price 

 of underwood (boscum] sold by the acre. It seems (vol. ii. 

 p. 610. i.) that occasionally at least these periodical sales 

 were notified by the crier in the neighbouring towns, as that 

 of Hampstede was in Newbury and Hungerford. Information 

 is not very abundant as to the price of underwood, but an 

 average, taken from the highest prices recorded, gives about 

 6s. an acre. It is found, however, as high as 135-. 8*/., and on 

 three occasions (1274, 1286, 1304) the price at which this 

 produce sold, (in two woods called respectively Howood and 

 Badegrym, part of the manor of Stanham,) is specified, the 

 rate of the latter being generally less than half of that realised 

 on the former. 



And if we take 6^. as the ordinary rate at which underwood 

 was sold, deducting 64. a hundred for the labour of making 



