222 EXGLISII FIELD SYSTEMS 



of the testimony from a midland county. Even if it be admitted 

 that a threc-ficld system at times appeared in Northumberland, 

 it seems equally clear that an alien influence early made itself 

 felt and differentiated the county from its southern neighbors. 

 A ready conjecture would designate such an influence as Celtic, 

 and evidence supporting the surmise is not wanting. 



One aspect of this evidence is the character of the terms used 

 in describing Northumberland open-field strips and field divisions. 

 At Long Houghton the parcels lay " rigge by rigge," ^ and some 

 terriers enumerate " riggs " without giving areas.^ The descrip- 

 tion, further, of a husbandland at Chollerton, which has been 

 already quoted, shows how frequently the names of the furlongs 

 ended in '' rig." ^ This nomenclature was, of course, the sub- 

 structure of Scottish runrig. 



More decisive, however, than terminology is the appearance 

 in Northumberland of the Scottish method of tillage. A descrip- 

 tion of this in 1599 refers to what was perhaps at that time the 

 persistence of an antiquated usage, but it is particularly instruc- 

 tive as indicating the character of primitive husbandry in the 

 county. It occurs in an account of the queen's demesne lands 

 at Cowpen, but relates as well to the lands of freeholders and 

 lessees : — 



" At the layenge forth of any decayed or wasted corne feilde, 

 and takinge in any new feildes of the common wastes in liewe 

 thereof, everie tenaunte was and is to have so much lande in 

 everie new fielde as everie of them layde forth in everie wasted 

 or decayed corne feilde, or accordinge to the rents of everie 

 tenaunte's tenement in such place and places as did befall everie 

 of them by their lott; and so hath everie of the quene's tenauntes 

 within the towne of Cowpon aforesaide, as well leassors, ten- 

 naunts at will, as freeholders, contynewed the occupacion of all 

 their arable lands by partinge by lott as aforesaide; and that 

 after the layenge oute of everie wasted corne feilde within the 



^ Cf. above, p. 208. 



* For example, the terrier of the demesne lands at Corbridge (History of North- 

 umberland, X. 124). 

 ^ Cf. above, p. 217. 



