GLOSSARY
affeer. To settle the amount of an amercement, to assess.
assart. A piece of forest or waste, converted into arable by grubbing up
the trees and brushwood.
assize of bread and ale. The statutory regulation or settling of the price
of bread and of ale, with reference to that of grain, in accordance
with the ordinance of 51 Henry III.
balk. A ridge left between two furrows, or a strip of ground left un-
ploughed as a boundary line between two ploughed portions.
boon-work. A day's work, given gratuitously to a lord by his men on
a special occasion.
" Borough English." The name of a form of land-tenure whereby a man's
property descended to his youngest son.
bovates. An ox-gang, or as much land as an ox could plough in a
year; varying in amount from 10 to 18 acres according to the
system of tillage.
chevage. An annual payment made to a lord by each of his unfree
tenants.
court-leet. A court held periodically in a lordship or manor, before the
lord or his steward, having jurisdiction over petty offences and the
civil affairs of the district.
croft. A piece of enclosed ground, generally adjacent to a house, used
for tillage or pasture.
curtilage. A small court, yard, or piece of ground attached to adwelling-
„ n house, and forming one enclosure with it.
customal. A written collection or abstract of the customs of a manor.
dooms. Judgments or decisions made formally by the suitors or the
jury of the Manor Court. ,
essoin. The allegation of an excuse for non-attendance at a court at the
appointed time.
extents. The formal recitation and valuation of the various lands of a
manor, and also of the services, rents, profits, etc. of the same.
eyre. The circuit court held by the justices in eyre (Lat. in itinere, on a
journey).
fire-bote. The wood granted to the tenants by a lord for the purpose of
fuel.
frank-pledge. The system whereby every member of a tithing (q.v.)
was answerable for the good conduct of, or the damage done by,
any one of the other members.
— view of. A court held periodically for the production of the members
of a tithing, later of a hundred or manor.