x Preface. 



held with a tenacity justly proportioned to their 

 propounder's inexperience of the details of hus- 

 bandry, it is scarcely probable that the numerous 

 examples drawn from English records in these 

 pages, can possibly diminish the confidence of those 

 who allege historical evidences in support of what 

 passes for Scholarship to any actually acquainted 

 with the practice of Agriculture, the appeal to 

 records, (which uphold such) is entirely super- 

 fluous. 



The curiosities of Domesday can very well be 

 studied in Sir H. Ellis' General Introduction and 

 Index of Matters (Vol. Ill), nevertheless in writing 

 on our ancient Record, it has (contrary to the 

 practice of many of its exponents), been esteemed 

 necessary to traverse it, entry by entry, for certain 

 matters exemplified in this volume. This remark 

 applies but partially to Little Domesday, whose 

 technical manorial details have been almost unpe- 

 rused (valuable as they may be for the three coun- 

 ties therein contained), nor is there the least pre- 

 tension towards exhausting in any way the 

 contents of that unrivalled witness of Anglo-Saxon 

 customs. 



In conclusion, it should be stated that Mr. N. 

 J. Hone, of Surbiton, is responsible for the evi- 



