844 The Customs of Four Mil /tors oj the Abbey of Lacock. 



(1") Med-mete, or mead-meat, a sort of minor " harvest home' 

 after the hay has been got in. 



(11) Tin 1 expression "in dominico" seems to show that the 

 the process, which we. can trace elsewhere, was going on in this 

 manor; that small portions of the demesne were being Let ont in 

 virgates, etc., bo tenants for money-rents. 



(12) Levabit prata. This means '-clear the meadows" (of hay). 



(13) Mansion. This word is characteristic of this manor among 

 the four recorded. 



(14) These hens were evidently paid as " chirset," in lieu of 

 the usual three hens and one cock. 



(15) Le siicierc, probably " the sewer," either in the sense of 

 dapifer, or in that of "drainer." cf. Lat. Terra assewiata, drained 

 land (Battle Abbey Cmtumal, Camden Ser., p. 18). In view of 

 Edward's small holding, and evidently unimportant position. I 

 should incline to the latter view. 



(16) In curia domine appears to mean in the abbey's grange at 

 Heddington. 



(17) He would be supposed bo be in attendance od the lady of 

 the manor, and therefore to require to be " found " in victual. 



(IS) Sed~lepe=" seed-lip" (A.S. saed-leap), the box or basket 

 used by a sower for carrying his seed-corn. In present or recent 

 use in Wilts, Gloucester, and other counties. Sec 1 )a\ is. . igricultwre 

 of Wilts, 1811, s.v. 



(19) The "falda," or fold, was a movable enclosure and was a 

 valuable fertiliser for the ground Oil which it was set up. 



(.'<>) Ad ii on 1 1 in strictly would mean 3 p.m., but t he name at any 



rate is dow attached bo mid-day. The indications of time are a 



lit t le uncertain. 



( 21) Warectare. To plough for fallow according bo the " three- 

 field " system, the rotation of crops being unknown. 



( J J) The servile custom of " men-bet." 



(.'./) The custom <»f " heriot." The " auxilium " mentioned in 

 the next sentence was the "aid" paid to the lord by the village 

 as a whole ami apportioned among the tenants. 



(J/,) /.»■., on the same basis as if he were hired from outside. 



