[ viii ]
in their value. And this feems to be the cafe, for it appears, that no new general aſſeſſment was made by William, though many of the lands are valued at a much higher rate in his ſurvey, than they were in the reign of his predeceſſor. A ſimilar inſtance occurs in the preſent Land tax, where the original aſſeſſment of the laſt Century ſtill continues, though the rents of the eſtates are indiſputably improved, at leaſt a fourth part, ſince the commencement of the tax.
Carucata is a Ploughland, which latter word is ſtill, I believe, ſometimes to be found in this county. The modern term, as well as the antient, applies to arable land only. The meaſurement of the Carucata is ſomewhat arbitrary, and differs conſiderably, not only in different Counties, but even in the different diſtricts of the ſame County. In ſome pariſhes, it is no more than 100 acres, while in others it may be 140. I ſhall therefore take it upon an average at 120. But where the term Ploughland is ſtill uſed, it may naturally be conſidered as the original Carucata, and, conſequently, at firſt in the pariſh uſing the term, it's juſt meaſurement may be aſcertained.
Virgata is a Yardland, and conſiſts of 25 to 35 acres, beng the fourth part of a Caructa. As the Yardland is in very common uſe throughout this County,
