128 RURAL ECONOMY IX YORKSHIRE IX 1641. 



which stood att the south ende of the West-hall, which two 

 oxegange is all worne out, either with exchainges, or else with 

 addinge to other farmes, in places wheare they wanted. 



A Note shevvixge howe the Closes belox(;ixge to the De- 



MAINES have usually BEENE LETTEX HERETOFORE, AS ALSOE 



OF THE Closes appertaixixge to the Farmes. 

 Of the Carre and lands therein. 



In the yeare 1628, the hay onely of LjTisley three lands in 

 the Carre weare letten for 2i. os. to Thomas Dring of Kirk- 

 bume. Letten to another man, the same yeare, the hey of the 

 east lande (that belongeth to the Fower oxegange) in the Carre 

 for fifteene shillinges. Letten, the same yeare, the hey of the 

 West Fower oxegange lande for fifteene shillinges. Letten, the 

 same yeare, to two other of Bume," the three buttes St 



the fees of Peter de Brus were returned as comprising 10 camcates each. But other 

 computations occur. At Killcrby a carucate was held by one-twelfth of a fee. 



" ilr. Gowland gives a very cmious division of "VNTiickham. ' In "VNTiickham 

 there are 70 oxgangs, i. e. 14 cabals, every ca\Tl being 14 oxgangs.' (Wilkinson's 

 MSS. ut supra.) 



" On the signification of the word Oxgang, much diflFercnce of opinion exists. In 

 the "Yorkshire Words" of 1855 we have "Oskin, an oxgang or oxgate, sufficient 

 land for the pasturage of one animal." Here is evidently a confusion with cattle- 

 gates. Some say that the oxgang was as much land a.s a team of oxen could plough 

 and make ready for sowing in a year, others so much as one gang or team of oxen 

 could plough in a dai/ ! Of the latter definition it is sufficient to say that one acre 

 would be a very fair day's work, and both explanations by the expression of a team 

 of oxen confound the oxgang with the carucate. In Northumberland the plough 

 ■was certainly drawn by 4 oxen, and from a purely blade diet and other circum- 

 stances the teams worked altemattly- Here were 8 oxen to each plough ; and it is 

 submitted that while the carucate was what one plough could cultivate in the year, 

 the oxgang was the siipposed capability of each individual of its team. Hence, 

 when one plough was worked by 8 oxen alternately, 8 oxgangs would go to the 

 carucate ; when the stock was less in proportion to the ploughs, and two animals 

 only were used, or the alternate days of rest wore imemploycd by another team, the 

 carucate would only consist of 4 oxgangs, or if it was still stated to consist of 8 

 oxgangs, the number of acres to an oxgang would be reduced by one half. Of this, 

 Lanchester is perhaps an instance. The remarkable circimistance that in the same 

 district the carucate varied exactly 50 per cent, may thus be explained, but on such 

 an obscure subject these suggestions are offi.'red with diffidence." — W. II. D. L. 

 — Sec page 108. 



At the Inclosiu-e of Driffield the oxgang was reckoned at 24, but supposed to 

 contain about 20 acres. 



• See note on page 2G. The church at Kirkburne is one of the most perfect 

 specimens of Anglo-Norman architecture in England. For a drawing of its font, 

 see the Graphic and Historical Illustrator. London, p. 148. The following wills 

 notice the hamlets, and confirm tlic descent of our author. Towtliorji and Tibthorp 

 are in the parish of Wharram Percy. 



1594, Nov. 18, John Best — to be buried in the church of Kirkbum : to the poor 

 man's box of Kirklmnie, to be paid out of my farm of Jiottleburtir, Id. monthly 

 during the lives of Uenrj' Best of London and James Best of Ilewton, co, York, 

 gent. ; Charles, Ralph, and William, my son William Best's sons ; Amy and Cecily 



