Yorkshire Natural History 200 Years Ago. 313 
the Banks of it, and giving to a great Town, situate on its 
Side, the Name of Doncaster, it rises upon the southern 
Border of this Riding, and diving itself into two Channels 
about Doncaster, takes in the Brook Went, and so passes 
by the Isle of Marshland into the Ouse. It is of great 
Service to these southern Parts for its Water and Fish. 4. 
The Calder, which flows along the Borders between this Riding 
and Lancashire, hath at first but a small Current ; but being 
supplied with the Waters of divers Rivulets, becomes so large 
about Estland, that it is not passable but by a Bridge, from 
whence it runs many Miles, still augmented by many Brooks, 
five Miles beyond Wakefield, and there empties itself into, 
4. The Are, a large River issuing from the Root of the Mountain 
Pennigent, (which is the highest Hill in these Parts). It at 
first seems doubtful, whether it shall run forwards into the 
Sea, or return to its Spring ; for it is so winding and crooked, 
that in travelling hereabouts it is passed over seven or eight 
times in Half an Hour in a strait Road. Its Course is calm and 
quiet, even so easy that it hardly appears to move ; and 
that is the Reason of its Name ; for the British Word Ara, 
signifies slow and easy. The Head of this River lies in this 
Part of this Riding called Craven, from the British Word Crage, 
a Rock ; for what with huge Stones, steep Rocks, and rough 
Ways, this Tract is very wild and unsightly. This River holds 
on a long Course, quite cross this Riding almost, before it falls 
into the Done near Snath, and so passes into the Ouse, affording 
pleasant and fruitful Meadows, and Pasture all along its Cur- 
rent, and Plenty of good Fish. Bondman s Dam, upon this 
River deserves ou,r Notice, (1.) Upon the Account of the 
Tenure with certain Copyholds, which were charged with the 
Repairs of it, sometimes to their great Charge as well as Toil ; 
but to compensate this slavish Tenure, they were Hopper-free, 
i.e. had their Corn ground immediately as soon as the Hopper 
was empty, though never so many waited. 2. In Gratitude 
for the Abolishing the Bond-Law, whereby not only the Lands 
and Services, but the Bodies of these Tenants, and their 
Children, were sold or given away, as Cattle by their Lords. 
Fox Martyrol. Tom 1. p. 120. N.E. The River Ribble, 
(which we shall not number among the Waters of this County, 
because it passes so soon into Lancashire) must not be for- 
gotten here ; because it rises in these Mountains of Craven, 
and holds on a Course of forty Miles before it leaves this 
Riding, receiving in its Way a considerable Brook, called 
Hudor, rising on the Side of Bowland Forest, but having 
spoken of that in Lancashire, we shall pass to, 5. The Wherfe, 
which hath its Rise out of the Foot of Craven Hills. In 
Saxon it is written guerr. which may well be derived from 
Guer. a British Word, signifying Swift, for such is the Nature 
1314 Oct. 1 . 
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