But the prevalence of an open-field husbandry in its simpler forms was, as we have been taught by the investigation into the tribal systems of Wales and Ireland, no evidence of the prevalence of that particular form of the open-field husbandry which was connected with the _manorial_ system, and of which the yard-land was an essential feature. In order to ascertain the probability of the manorial system having been introduced by the Saxons, or having preceded the Saxon conquest in the south and east of Britain, it becomes necessary to examine the manorial system in its Continental history, so as if possible, working once more from the known to the unknown--this time from the better known Roman and German side of the question--to find some stepping-stones at least over the chasm in the English evidence. FOOTNOTES: [275] _Inquisitiones Cancellariæ Hiberniæ_, ii. xxx. iii. [276] _Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy_, vii. p. xiv., p. 474. Paper by the Rev. W. Reeves, D.D. [277] _Inquisitiones Cancellariæ Hiberniæ_, ii. p. xxi. [278] _Calendar of State Papers, Ireland_, 1606–8, p. 170. [279] Appended to Sir John Davies' _Discovery of Ireland_, in some of the early editions. [280] Compare the words of Tacitus, 'Agri pro numero cultorum ab universis vicis occupantur, quos mox inter se _secundum dignationem_ partiuntur. _Germania_, xxvi. [281] In Monaghan Sir J. Davies had found tates with 60 acres each. Here there were only 30 acres in a tate, so he kept to his old rule, and took 2 tates as his lowest unit. [282] This may be found also in _Ancient Laws of Ireland_, iii. Preface, xxxv. 6. [283] _Calendar of State Papers, Ireland_, 1603–6, p. 554; and 1606–8, p. 492. [284] The evidence by which he was gradually informed may be traced in detail in the above-mentioned _Calendars_. [285] Sir John Davies' _Discovery of Ireland_, 1612, pp. 167 _et seq._ [286] _Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish_, E. O'Curry. Dr. Sullivan's Introduction, p. xcvi. See also Skene's _Celtic Scotland_, iii. 154. [287] Skene, iii. 155. Sullivan, p. xcii. [288] Skene, iii. 158, quoting a tract published in the appendix to _Tribes and Customs_ of Hy Fiachraich, p. 453. [289] _Id._ p. 160, quoting the _Tribes and Customs of Hy Many_. [290] _Calendars of State Papers, Ireland_, 1606–8, pp. 491–2. [291] Skene's _Celtic Scotland_, iii. c. vi. [292] In a poem of the sixteenth century (1507–22), in Manks, given in Train's _Isle of Man_, i. p. 50, occur the lines-- 'Ayns dagh treen _Balley_ ren eh unnane D'an sleih shen ayn dy heet dy ghuee,' alluding to St. Germain; translated thus by Mr. Train:-- 'For each four _quarterlands_ he made a chapel For people of them to meet in prayer.' For the 'quarterlands' see Statute of the Tinwald Court, 1645. Also Feltham's Tour, _Manx Society_, p. 41, &c.