312 
A N T I Q^U I T 1 E S 
the names of many fields, and fome families with a variety of 
words in hufbandry and common life, Hill fubfifting among the 
country people. 
What probably firft drew the attention of the Saxons to this fpot 
was the beautiful fpring or fountain called /F^//-/jtW, which in- 
duced them to build by the banks of that perennial current ; for 
ancient fettlers loved to refide by brooks and rivulets, where they 
could dip for their water without the trouble and expenfe of 
digging wells and of drawing. 
It remains ftill vuifettled among the antiquaries at what time 
irad:s of land were firft appropriated to the chafe alone for the 
amufement of the fovereign. Whether our Saxon monarchs had. 
any royal forefts does not, I beHeve, appear on record ; but the 
Conjlitutiones de Forejla of Canute, the Dane, are come down to us. We 
fliall not therefore pretend to fay whether Woolmer-foreft exifted as a 
royal domain before the conquefl. If it did not, v\'e may fuppofe it 
Thus the name c£ Aldred {\gnAt% all-reverend, and that of Kemp mtznz Vifoldier^ 
Thus we have a chitrch-Htton, or enclofure for dead bodies, and not a churcb-jard: 
there is alfo a Culver-croft near the Grange-farm, being the enclofure where the priory 
plgeon-hcvfe ftood, from culver a pigeon. Again there are three fteep paftures in this 
parifli called the Lithe, from Hlithe, clinjus. The wicker-work that binds and 
faflens down a hedge on the top is called ether, from ether an hedge. When the good 
women call their hogs they cry fic,fic*, not knowing that fic is Saxon, or rather Celtic, 
for a hog. Coppice or brufti wood our countrymen call rife, from hris, frondes ; and 
talk of a load of rife. Within the author's memory the Saxon plurals, hoifen and peafon, 
were in common ufe. But it would be endlefs to inftance in every eircumftance : he 
that wifhes for more fpecimens mull frequent a farmer's kitchen. I have therefore feleft- 
ed fome words to fhew how familiar the Saxon dialeft was to this diftriiSV, fince in more 
than feven hundred j ears it is far from being obliterated; 
^ Wdl-hccd ^ignmcs. fpfing- head, and not a deep pit from whence we draw water. 
For particulars aboiat which fee Letter I. to Mr. Pennaiit. 
* Siza, porcu?, apud Laconci; un Porccau chez les Lacldtrr.onicm : ce mot a fans doute efle 
pris de<: Cf.'.'a, qui dlfceiit fc, pour marquer un perceau. Encore aujour'huy qiiand ies Bntom chaf- 
fent CCS animaux, ils ne dli;nt point autrement, que fc, fic. 
^nuq-uhe de la Nat 'm, et de la LH'igue des Ctllcs, j-ar Fexroti, 
was 
