118 RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 16H. 



one of another, for feare that the kyne breake over to them. 

 As it is a token of recovery when they licke themselves, soe hke- 

 wise is it with a bull, when (in pissinge) hee draweth, as allsoe 

 when tliey scrape att the sight of other beasts ; the like signe 

 is allsoe to bee observed for horses, that they are on mendinge hand 

 when they kneppe one with another. Our townesfolkes (most 

 commonly) just on St. Hellen-day, beinge the 3d of May, be- 

 ginne to teather theire draught aittle, viz. ; theire horses and 

 theire oxen, abroad ; in the field, on the heads, common balkes, 

 bounders of fields, and theire owne lande endes, togeather Avith 

 the towne, towne side, and the like ; as for such heads and 

 balkes as part two fields, and are bounders betwixt two severall 

 lordshipps, they are common to both, and the one towne hath 

 as much interest and right to teather on tliem, and on such 

 phices I have knowne poore folkes beginne to teather theire 

 kyne the 20th of Aprill. Aboute St. Hellenmasse, when our 

 townesfolkes beginne to teather theire cattle al^roade, our cheife 

 care is to save our come, our owne lande-endes, and our fresh 

 pitts ; and if wee doubt eyther theire teatheringe, or theire 

 tuminge loose on nights,' but to rise before day bee light, and 

 sometimes att midnight, otherwise one shall neaver meete with 

 them ; the course which wee take to prevent them from put- 

 tinge theire cattle into the Spellowe on nights, is, to gette it 

 well fenced a little before May day, and then cuttinge a longe 

 thicke stake, wee knocke it downe soe close to the gate, and 

 leave it soe high above grownd, that the gate cannot possibly 

 bee lifted over ; and this is not stirred till such time as wee 

 sende our waines to fetch away the hey. 



See more of this subjeckt in the beginninge of the first booke 

 before the desc[ription] of lands appertaininge to each farme. 



For takinge of Gates or Geastes for Beastes. 

 Aboute a weeke afore St. Hellen day, wee beginne to inquire 

 and listen after gates for our youngo beasts ; if wee heare of 

 none to our minde, then on May-day, the day after, or jierhapps 

 a day or two before, wee sende our foreman, or some other, to 

 take as many as wee stande neede of att some such place wlieare 

 wee knowe theire beast pasture to bee good, and wheiire they 

 may have water to come to ; when wee take gates for our 

 younge beasts, wee hire usually for all oiu* yeeringes, all our 

 two yeare old beasts, and but seklome for our three yeare old 

 beasts, unlesse wee bee very full stocked att hoame ; such beasts 



» See paRcs 12, 14, 72, 84, and 94, for notices of the jealous fear lest otlier men's 

 shorp should stray intfl the corn in the open field. Inclosure Acts have prevented 

 many hcnrt-1)urniuf»<>. 



