455 
tract of country would be required to support 600 families, , 
sujiposedjajconstitute the population of ElmcFTToTa^femily 
in Saxon times had often a large number of dependents. 
From all these considerations it will perhaps be a moderate 
estimate to allot to the kingdom of Elmet about 400 square 
miles, or say 25 miles long and 16 miles broad. In corro- 
"^Boration of this surmise Bede states that the island of Ely 
(which is 24 miles in length and 14 miles in breadth) 
contained in his time 600 families, hides or households, and 
it was unquestionably then a more fertile spot than the 
country around Leeds. 
As to its bounds, Thoresby, in his Ducatus, observes : 
" The territory about Leeds called Elmet, or the Regio 
Laid Is, which seems in those ages [Saxon] to have been of 
equal extent." Undoubtedly, the Sylva jElmetice of Bede, 
and adds that he durst not venture upon defining the 
boundaries of this Regiuncula of Elmet. What Thoresby 
durst not venture upon it may appear rash to attempt. The 
following hints are, however, with all diffidence, offered 
towards solving this difficulty. Thoresby himself, in the V 
Ducatus (page 245, second edition), remarks: — "I take 
Shireburn to be the utmost limits, at least in this topo- 
graphy, of the ancient Elmed Setna, or the inhabitants 
of Elmet, as I take the word to signify." Here, then, we 
have the authority of Thoresby for assuming Sherburn to 
be on the eastern boundary of Elmet; but there are also 
other reasons for this opinion. 
In many ancient writings Sherburn is described as " Sher- 
burn in Elmet;" and Old Lambarde, in his Dictionary, 
published in 1577, says the " Territory or Hundredth about 
Shyrburne, iSi YorTT, is called Elmete." Again, the very 
title — " Shireburn" — denotes the boundary of a shire or 
district. Towards the north it is not unlikely that the river 
Wharfe formed the boundaiy. Nowhere can the monastery 
p p 
