36 RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1641. 



rakers-after are usually of our owne hey-makers, whoe (if hey 

 bee all made) have but 3c?. a day, otherwise, as longe as hey- 

 time lasteth, they have 4(7. a day, or else it weare an injury to 

 take them from hey-makinge and not to make them like tlie rest. 

 Loaders are to bee forewarned that they make theire loadea 

 broade, and large, but not over high and toppe-heavy, for feare 

 of thro"\vinge over, and for sweighinge and streininge the waine. 

 Forkers are to bee foretolde that they give upp goode forkefuUs, 

 because the winde hath not soe much force and power to blowe 

 it away, and likewise (by this meanes) it is sooner layde, and 

 the loader comes more ridde. Rakers-after should have charge 

 given that they rake cleane, and then that which they rake up 

 when the waine is gone to another cocke, if they canne carry it 

 all at once they are to carry it after the waine ; otherwise theire 

 best way is to carry it and lay it mito the cocke that is next 

 unto them. In loadinge of a waine they fii"st fill the body, and 

 then doe they beginne with the fan- fore-nooke, and after that 

 with the neare fore-nooke, then with the farr hinder nooke, and 

 last of all with the neare hinder nooke ; layinge on usually 

 three goode course, and seldome any more, for makinge her too 

 high ; yett some will lay on fower. Some that buy hey by the 

 loade will say that they will give soe much for three course 

 above the waine ; others againe for as much as an eighteene 

 fatham bande, which is usually accounted a loade if there bee 

 no conditions made ; others vnU bargaine for as much as they 

 can lye on, but the honestest and best way is to have the waine 

 loaden, and then to bargaine when they see the loade. Twenty- 

 eight grasse cockes is a sufficient loade, some there are that wiU 

 lay on 30, but 24 or 26 is accomited an indifferent loade, and 

 as much as they usually bringe. Our hey-leath will holde 20 

 goode loades, if it bee well troden ; to which place wee usually 

 leade our best hey. Wee have allwayes one man, or else one of 

 the ablest of the women, to abide on the mowe, besides those 

 that goe with the waines ; whose office is to helpe to teame, 

 tluit the waines bee not hindered, and then, in the absence of 

 the waines, to treade and putte it downe by the sides. Wee 

 usually leade to one place till such time as it beginne to bee 

 troublesome teaminge, and then goe wee to anntlier and doe the 

 like, and soe to the third, givinge the fii-st all the time to sattle 

 that ])ossibly may bee ; and then, when wee are aboute to come 

 to it againe, doe wee sende one afore with a forke to take of 

 the u])permost of the hey, and to thrust it downe by the sides 

 wheare the hey is shrunke and sattled from the walles, then 

 after that doe wee toppe it up soe close that a catte can hardly 

 goe betwixt the hey and the ridge of the howse ; then, when 



