79 



IV.— TITHES. 



IT has been recorded that Tithes in Westmorland, where they did 

 exist, were very Hght as compared with those in some other 

 counties— but when the nature of the soil is taken into account it is 

 seen that they constitute a considerable tax upon the agricultural 

 population. It is impossible to ascertain the total amount, as in many 

 cases the tithe was redeemed by an allotment of land when the 

 commons were inclosed. 



As indicating what some of the tithes were, the following may 

 be cited : — 



" The Pensions, rates and tythes belonging to the rectory of Windermere, agreed 

 to by the Revd. Wm. Barton and the " four and twenty " on the 2nd of June, 

 1743- 



Personal Tythes. — Every person at the age of i6 id. ; each householder 

 Jd. smoak ; every woman parishioner married with Ucence 5d., with publication 

 at parish church 1/4, a certificate 4d., churching 4d., every person dying in the 

 parish 8d., burials out of the parish 1/6, if buried in chancel 10/- in addition 

 to rector. 



Predial Tythes. — Each garden id., according to custom and Easter 

 reckoning book ; all grounds improved from oS the common into garden id., 

 a composition for hay and com called field tythe as appears by the Easter reckon- 

 ing book ; all grounds taken from off the common after seven years tillage and 

 growing hay and com, tythe in kind. 



MixT Tythes. — Every cow calving within the parish for milk ijd., if 

 strip'd milk Jd. ; for 5 calves 1/6 ; for 6 calves 3/- ; each plough id., every 

 last of bees till 5 one id. each, and if 5 then 1/6, and six lasts 3/- ; every person 

 keeping a hen or hens and pays field tythe id. in Ueu of eggs and chickens ; 

 every other person keeping hen or hens Jd. in Ueu of eggs and chickens ; for 

 geese if 5 young ones half a goose, if six young ones a whole goose ; the owner 

 to choose the first two out of the flock and the tyther the third ; each foal id., 

 five foals 1/6, six foals 3/- ; pigs if five half a pig, if six a whole pig and tythed 

 as geese ; fishing on Windermere water as by composition 4d. each ; wool in 

 kind every lo pound or stone, hogg wool excepted, if paid in lambs according 

 to custom ; all sheep sold after Candlemas id. each ; all sheep brought into the 

 parish after St. Peter's day and kept 3 months and sold before that time twelve 

 months, unclipt, id. each ; lamb tythe, the four first Jd. each, the fifth 2jd., 

 the sixth 2jd., and the next Jd. each, which makes up 1/6 a score, according 



