Page:Wiltshire, Extracted from Domesday Book.djvu/14

[ viii ] in their value. And this feems to be the cafe, for it appears, that no new general aement was made by William, though many of the lands are valued at a much higher rate in his urvey, than they were in the reign of his predeceor. A imilar intance occurs in the preent Land tax, where the original aement of the lat Century till continues, though the rents of the etates are indiputably improved, at leat a fourth part, ince the commencement of the tax.

Carucata is a Ploughland, which latter word is till, I believe, ometimes to be found in this county. The modern term, as well as the antient, applies to arable land only. The meaurement of the Carucata is omewhat arbitrary, and differs coniderably, not only in different Counties, but even in the different ditricts of the ame County. In ome parihes, it is no more than 100 acres, while in others it may be 140. I hall therefore take it upon an average at 120. But where the term Ploughland is till ued, it may naturally be conidered as the original Carucata, and, conequently, at firt in the parih uing the term, it's jut meaurement may be acertained.

Virgata is a Yardland, and conits of 25 to 35 acres, beng the fourth part of a Caructa. As the Yardland is in very common ue throughout this County, the