Unhappilytheartificialfeaturesofthesystemhavebeenmadebymoderninquirersthestartingpointofveryfar-reachingtheoriesandsuppositions。Seebohmhasproposedanexplanationoftheintermixtureofstripsasoriginatinginthepracticeofcoaration。Hearguesthatitwasnaturaltodividethelandtilledbyamixedplough-teamamongtheownersoftheseveralbeastsandimplements。Everymangotastripaccordingtoacertainsettledandever-recurringsuccession。IdonotpretendtojudgeofthevalueoftheinterestinginstancesadducedbySeebohmfromCelticpractices，butwhateverthearrangementinWalesorIrelandmayhavebeen，theexplanationdoesnotsuittheEnglishcase。Adoubtiscastonitalreadybythefactthatsuchauniversalfeatureastheintermixtureofstripsappearsconnectedwiththeoccurrenceofsuchaspecialinstrumentastheeight-oxenplough，TheintermixtureisquitethesameinCentralRussia，wheretheytillwithonehorse，andinEnglandwheremoreorlessbigploughswereused。thedoubtincreaseswhenwereflectthatifthestripsfollowedeachotheraspartsoftheplough-team，thegreatownerswouldhavebeenpossessedofcompactplots。Everyholderofanentirehidewouldhavebeenoutoftheintermixture，andeveryvirgaterwouldhavestoodinconjunctionwithasequenceofthreeothertenants。Neithertheonenortheotherinferenceissupportedbythefacts。TheobservationthatthepeasantryarecommonlyprovidedwithsmallploughsdrawnbyfourbeastsruinsSeebohm’shypothesisentirely。
Onewouldhavetosupposethatmostfieldsweredividedintotwoparts，asthemajorityofthetenementsareyardlandswithhalfateam。Theonlyadequateexplanationoftheopen-fieldintermixturehasbeengivenabove；ithasitsrootsinthewishtoequalisetheholdingsastothequantityandqualityofthelandassignedtotheminspiteofalldifferencesintheshape，theposition，andthevalueofthesoil。
BeforeIleavethequestionastotheholdingsofthefeudalpeasantry，ImustmentionsometermswhichoccurindifferentpartsofEngland，althoughmorerarelythantheusualhidesandvirgates。64*OfthesulungIhavespokenalready。Itisafullploughland，and200acresarecommonlyreckonedtobelongtoit。
ThenameissometimesfoundoutofKent，inEssexforinstance。
InTillingham，amanorofSt。Paul’sofLondon，wecomeacrosssixhides’triumsolandarum’。65*Themostprobableexplanationseemstobethatthehideorunitofassessmentiscontrastedwiththesolandaorsullandsulung，thatiswiththeactualploughland，andtwohidesarereckonedasasinglesolanda。
TheyokesjugaofBattleAbbey66*arenotvirgates，butcarucates，fullploughlands。Thisfollowsfromthefactthatacertainvirgatementionedintherecordisequivalentonlytoonefourthoftheyoke。IntheNorfolkmanorsofElyMinsterwefindtenmanlands67*of120acresinthepossessionofseveralcopartitioners，participes。Thesurveydoesnotgointoadetaileddescriptionoftenementsandrights，andthereckoningofservicesstartsfromtheentirecombination，asintheKentishdocuments。Acommonlyrecurrenttermiswista；68*itcorrespondstothevirgate：agreatwistaisasmuchashalf-a-hide，ortwovirgates。69*
Thetermsdiscussedhithertoareappliedtothetenementsinthefieldsofthevillage；butbesidesthosethereareothernamesfortheplotsoccupiedbyanumerouspopulationwhichdidnotfindaplaceintheregularholdings。Therewerecraftsmenandrurallabourersworkingforthelordandforthetenants；
therewerepeoplelivingbygardeningandtheraisingofvegetables。Thisclassisalwayscontrastedwiththetenantsinthefields。Theusualnamefortheirplotsiscote，cotland，orcotsetland。Theso-calledferdel，orfourthpartofavirgate，isusuallymentionedamongthembecausetherearenoploughbeastsonit。70*Anothernamefortheferdelisnook。71*Nextcomethecrofters，whosegardenssometimesextendtoaveryfairsize——
asmuchastenacresinoneenclosedpatch。72*Thecottersproperhavegenerallyone，two，andsometimesasmuchasfiveacreswiththeirdwellings；theycannotkeepthemselvesonthis，asarule，andhavetolookoutformoreonotherpeople’stenements。Averycommonnamefortheirplotsis’lundinaria’73*’Mondaylands，’becausetheholdersareboundtoworkforthelordonlyonedayintheweek，usuallyonMonday。
Althoughtheabsenceofplough-beasts，ofapartincoaration，andofsharesinthecommonfieldsdrawsasharplinebetweenthesemenandtheregularholders，oursurveystrysometimestofittheirdutiesandplotsintothearrangementofholdings；thecotlandisassumedtorepresentonesixteenthorevenonethirty-secondpartofthehide。74*TheGlastonburySurveyof1189containsacurioushintthattwocottagesaremorevaluablethanonehalf-virgate：twocotlandswereruinedduringthewar，andtheywerethrowntogetherintohalfavirgate，althoughitwouldhavebeenmoreadvantageoustokeeptwohousesonthem，thatistwohouseholds。75*Thebordaementionedbythedocumentsaresimplycottagesorboothswithoutanylandbelongingtothem。76*Themanorialpolicekeepsalookoutthatsuchhousesmaynotarisewithoutlicenceandservice。77*
Agoodmanytermsarenotconnectedinanywaywiththegeneralarrangementoftheholdings，butdependuponthepartplayedbythelandinhusbandryortheservicesimposeduponit。
Tomentionafewamongthem。AplotwhichhastoprovidecheeseiscalledCheeseland。78*Thosetenementswhicharesingledoutforthespecialdutyofcarryingtheproceedsofthemanorialcultivationgetthenameofaverlands。79*Thetermslodland，80*serland81*orsharland，arealsoconnectedwithcompulsorylabour。Thefirstistakenfromthedutytocarryloadsorpossiblytoloadwaggons；thesecondmaybeemployedinreferencetoworkperformedwiththesitheorreap-hook。Aplotreservedfortheleaderoftheplough-team，theakerman，wasnaturallycalledakermanland。82*Sometimes，thoughrarely，theholdinggetsitsnamefromthemoneyrentithastopay。Wehearofdenerates83*andnummates84*oflandinthisconnexion。
Allthesevariationsindetaildonotavailtomodifytoanyconsiderableextentthechieflinesonwhichthemedievalsystemofholdingsisconstructed。Ipresumethattheforegoingexpositionhasbeensufficienttoestablishthefollowingpoints：
1。Theprincipleuponwhichtheoriginaldistributiondependedwasthatofequalizingthesharesofthemembersofthecommunity。Thisledtothescatteringandtotheintermixtureofstrips。Theprincipledidnotprecludeinequalityaccordingtocertaindegrees，butitaimedatputtingallthepeopleofonedegreeintoapproximatelysimilarconditions。
2。Thegrowthofpopulation，ofcapital，ofcultivation，ofsocialinequalitiesledtoaconsiderabledifferencebetweentheartificialuniformityinwhichthearrangementoftheholdingswaskeptandtheactualpracticeoffarmingandownership。
3。Thesystemwasdesignedandkeptworkingbytheinfluenceofcommunalright，butitgotitsartificialshapeanditslegalrigidityfromthemanorialadministrationwhichuseditforthepurposeofdistributingandcollectinglabourandrent。
4。Theholdingswereheldtogetherasunits，notmerelybythesuperiorpropertyofthelord，butbyeconomicconsiderations。Theywerebreakingupunderthepressureofpopulation，notmerelyinthecaseoffreeholdings，butalsowheretheholdingswereservile。
1。Itshouldbeobservedthattheworddemesnedominicumisconstantlyusedintwodifferentsenses，athenarrowersenseinwhichitstandsforthelanddirectlyoccupiedandcultivatedbythelordorforhisuse，andexcludesthelandheldbyhisvillaintenants，andbthewidersenseillwhichitincludesthesevillaintenements。Thefirstmeaningisthatwhichthewordusuallybearsinmanorialdocuments，inwhichthedominicumiscontrastedwiththevillenagiumorbondagium。Butinlegalpleadingsanddocumentswhichstatethedoctrineofthecommonlawandtheking’scourtsthevillaintenementsarepartofthelord’sdemesne，heisseisedoftheminhisdemesneindominicosuo。ThisdiscrepancybetweenwhatImaycallthemanorialandthelegalusesofthetermdeservesnoticeasanindicationoftheimperfectadjustmentoflawtofact。Ishallusetheterminitsnarrowersense。
EynshamCartulary，MSS。ofChristChurch，Oxford，N。27，f1，a：’EstunaculturanuncupataShyppelond，etcontinetintotoseptemacrasdimidiamacrametdimidiamrodam，etvaletacra4d。，etbissuccessiveseminatur。’Inqu。p。mortem20HenryIII，N。14
RecordOffice：’ExtensiomaneriideRemdunLincoln。Suntibidem360acreterreetfaciuntduascarucatas。Etseminatasuntperannum240acre。Dewaractoperannum12d。’
3GlastonburySurveyof1189RoxburgheSer。，99：’IdemtenetdedominicotresacrasatemporeHenriciepiscopiquascolitinunoannoetalteronoll。’
EynshamCart。，I，a：’EstibidempropealiaculturanuncupataClayfurlongetcontinetcumcapitaliinferioreoctoacrasunamrodamtresperticascumdimidia，etpotestterseminarisuccessive，videlicetpostwarectumordium，annosequentecumgrossopulstroetannoterciocumfrumento，etvaletacra8
Aliaculturaetpotestterseminariutsupramutatogrossopulstroinpisas。’
TwohusbandrytreatiseswerechieflyinuseinmediaevalEngland。Thefourteenth-centuryMS。，MertonCollege91，containsboth，andbothmentionthetwosystems。Modusqualiterballiuietprepositidebentonerarisupercompotumreddendumetqualitermaneriumcustodiri，f152：’Elavuleschaumpssuntsemezepartiendeus，leiuernageeletrameyssunttoussemezenunchamp。’——Maiorhusbonderia，otherwiseWalterofHenley’streatise，f155：’Silesterresseentpartizeniii，laullepartieenleyuernage，lautrepartieenlequaremel，elatiercepartieawarect，donqesestlacharruedeterredexxxacres，sic，corr。ixxx。，Esivosterresseentpartezenii，comsontenplusurspays，launepartieayuernageeaquaremel，elautrepartieawaret，donqesserralacharuedeterredeviiixxacres。’
Cf。ThoroldRogers，SixCenturies，75。
MalmesburyCart。RollsSer。，ii。186：’DeterrisinbladandisetinhocfaclendisincampisdeBrokenebereweetdeBurestone，apontedeJulebrockeusqueadHalbriggedeBremelham，ubidictusRicardusdicebatsehaberecommunam，itaquodnecabbasetconventus，neceorumtenentespossintinhocfaceresineconsensudictiRicardi，necprovoluntatesuaterrassuasibideminbladare。AbbasetconventusconcesseruntpraedictoRicardo。
utcumterraeprenominataeinbladataefuerintetbladaaterrisamota，liberametplenamcommunaminpraefatisterrisunacumabbateetsuishominibushabeatsicutipsevelpraedecessoressuiunquammeliusetpleniushabereconsueverunt……Itaquodsidecampopredictoinquofactumestinhocparsquaedamremaneatincultasineblado，ineadempartehabebuntpredictusRicardusetheredessuicommunamcumabbateetconventuetsuis。SimilitersivillanipraedictiRicardinolintinhokareterrassuasinfrapraedictuminhocsitas，habebuntliberumingressumetegressumadwarectandumeas。’
8。CoramRege，Hill。3Edw。I，m。17，d：’Itemquicumquefacitinhechescilicetexcolitwarectumfrumento，ordeovelauena，dabitproqualibetacraunumdenarium，exceptaunaacraquamhaberedebetquietam。’SeeApp。xii。
9。GloucesterCart。iii。35，36：’Omnesdictaeparticulaejacentprounocampo，summaI74acrearabiles，etc……Etdepredictocampopossuntinhokariquolibetsecundoanno40acreetvaletindecommodumeoanno10solidos……Dedictis63acrispossuntquolibetsecundoannoinhokari20acre，etvaletindecommodumeoanno11sol。8d……Etestsummatotalisomniumacrarumarabilium412。Etestsummadictarumacraruminvaloredenariorum9librae12solidi。Dequibussubtractatertiaparteprocampojacenteadwarectum，64sol。scilicet，remanentadextentamannuamdepuro6librae8sol。etdecommodoterraequaesingulisannispotestinhokari15sol。10d。’——CfMinorhusbanderia，MertonColl。MS。91，f152：’EsiliadInhom，ideitveerquelecutureiprentdelInhom，edequelbleestsemechecunecuture，etelsemaildeitilcuilertutperlyerespondretutperly，horsdesautresblees。’
10。Cart。ofBoxgrave，CottonMSS。，Claudius，A。vi。p。2：’Debetcompostareunamhelvamadfrumentumetaliamadordeum。’EssexCourtRollsBodleian，4：’MilenciaTegulatrixposuitfimosincommunaadnocumentumcustumariorum。’GlastonburyInquestof1189
RoxburgheSer。，141：’A。deN。occupavitquendammariscumperconcessumRobertiabbatisetillummarliavitetcoluit。’CfDomesdayofSt。Paul’sCamdenSer。，8：’Dicunteciamquodemendatumestmaneriumin50acrismarlatisperWillelmumThesaurariumadsummam10solidorum。’Ib。21。
11。MalmesburyCart。RollsSer。’ii。27：’Concessimus。
RobertofilioRoberti。illamvirgatamterrequamA。deC。
tenuitincampis，scilicetinunocampo21acrasetinaliocampo21acras。’
12。GloucesterCart。，iii。194：’RobertusAbovetuntenetunamvirgatamterrecontinentem44acrasinutroquecampo。’
13。RamseyRegister，CottonMSS。，Galba，E。x。27，d：’Radulfustenet11selionesinunocampoet5inaliodevilenagio。，WorcesterCart。CamdenSer。，62，a：’Henricusclericustenetunamvirgatam，16acrasinunocampoet14inalio。Itemtenetaliamvirgatamsimiliter。T。T。tenetunamvirgatam，15acrasexceptodimidiofurtendelloinunocampoet11inalio。O。leE。
tenetunamvirgatam13a。et1/2inunocampoet12etdimidiaminalio。T。leF。tenetunamvirgatam，16acrasinunocampoet12inalio。’
14。AsinGloucesterCart。，i。246：’EcclesiamOmniumSanctorum。cumomnibuspertinenciissuis，videlicetunamvirgatamterrae，undecimacrasterraeincampolucrabili。’Cf247。
15。DunstableCart。，HarleianMSS。1885，f7，d：’Postquambuttumhabuimusbisseminatiofueritetnonamplius，quiaomnesceterinonexcoluntibiterram，sedatpascuareservant。’