264 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
First we must note that the statute mile and furlong were prob- 
ably independent of each other originally. The earliest mile near 
the statute mile was one of 5000 feet, defined as 7^ furlongs 3 
perches and 2 palms,* about 1350 ad. Then about 1470 a.d. a 
mile appears of 8 furlongs,* which first received legal recognition 
in 1593 A.D.t Now, if the mile of 8 furlongs had always existed, 
it is very unlikely that one containing a fractional number of fur- 
longs would have arisen, so that it is probable that the furlong is 
the older measure, and that the mile was adapted to fit it. And 
this is also indicated by the register of Battle Abbey mentioning 
furlongs but not miles ; so that the furlong appears a long time 
before the mile of 8 furlongs. 
The furlong, though now defined by the yard standard, was ori- 
ginally independent of the present foot and yard; for it is im- 
possible to suppose a length of 5J yards being selected without any 
reason. This is manifestly the nearest translation into the lesser 
standards of a measure which was originally incommensurable with 
them. 
Thus it seems most likely (as De Morgan supposes) that the 
statute mile was originally 5000 feet of 12 inches, and that it was 
modified to 5280 feet in order to agree with the furlong, with 
which — as being the nearest measure in size, and the basis of land 
measurement — it was most required to accord. And the furlong 
was an independent unit, not having any exact relation to the 
foot of 12 inches, or the mile of 5000 feet. 
Now we have seen by Gibson’s maps that the long mile was 
evidently reckoned as 10 furlongs, being exactly of the statute 
mile there ; and we have seen that the old mile was originally 
1'265 A 10 statute miles, or even slightly less. The furlong, then, 
would be T265 statute mile, —8015 ±64 inches, or rather less. 
The chain, or of the furlong, would be 801 ‘5 ± 6 inches. Below 
J of a chain, or a perch, we lose sight of the original subdivisions, 
as the link is a modern invention of land surveyors, and the 5|^ 
yards is merely an approximate adaptation of a different standard. 
Turning now to other countries, we meet at once with a mile 
* Canterbury registers, fourteenth century, quoted by De Morgan, art. 
“ League,” Penny Cydopsedia. 
t De Morgan, in art. “ Mile.” 
