Evidence from Essex.
But we would not rest our case altogether upon probability. In Essex we find one fairly clear case in which our equation is used[1569]. Sometimes, again, we read that a tract of land is, or gelds for, or defends itself for x hides and z acres, or for x hides, y virgates and z acres. Now in any entry which takes the first of these forms we have some evidence that z acres are less than one hide, and from any entry which takes the second of these forms we may infer that z acres are less than one virgate. Of course from such a statement as that ‘A holds 90 or 115 or 240 acres’ we draw no inference. It is common enough in our own day to speak of things costing thirty shillings or eighteen pence. But we never speak of things costing one pound and thirty shillings, or one shilling and eighteen pence, and we should require much proof before we thought so meanly of our ancestors as to suppose that they habitually spoke in this clumsy fashion.
Let us use this test. Happily in Essex we very frequently have a tract of land described as being x hides and z acres.
Now we read of
a half hide and 30 acres[1570],
a hide and a half and 31 acres[1571],
a half hide and 35 acres[1572],
a half hide and 37 acres[1573],
a hide and a half and 40 acres[1574],
a hide and a half and 45 acres[1575],