[From Train's History and Account, 1844]

APPENDIX. — CHAPTER XX.

NOTE I. — PAGE 225. MILITARY TENURES.

Sir George Mackenzie's Institutions, books 2-4; Wallace's Ancient Peerages, Edinburgh, 1775, p. 103. '' When land was held by a vassal during life or for a shorter period, it was commonly called a benefice; but when it was allowed to descend to the heirs of vassals, it received the appellation of fief." — Miller's Distinction of Ranks, London, 1773, p. 212. The following extract from a charter, dated at Airth, 9th November, 1343, granted by David II of Scotland, will show the nature of these military tenures: — " We grant, in favour of Sir Malcolm Fleming, knight, and of the heirs male of his body, for his homage and worthy services, the lands of Fraynes, Deal, Rynos, and burgh of Wigtoun, and all the lands of the whole sheriffdom of Wigtoun, with the advocation of the churches and right of patronage of the monas teries and abbacies existing within the said sheriffdom, and ordains that the said Mal colm and his heirs for ever take the name of Earl and be called Earls of Wigtoun. Farther, that the said lands be erected into a free regality, with power to judge for the four articles of the crown ; the said Earl and his heirs giving the service of five knights or soldiers to the king's army." Essay on British Antiquities, Edinburgh, 1747, pp. 85, 86. " Not only the highest jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, but of levying troops and of coining money were rights possessed allodially by the great proprietors of land several centuries before even the name of the feudal law was known in Europe." Smith's Wealth of Nations, edition 1819, vol. ii, pp. 189, 190 ; Robertson's History of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1813, vol. i, p. 12.

NOTE II. — PAGE 229.

SALE OF LANDS.

On this subject, the parliamentary commissioners of 1790 remark: — " Among the instances in which the commands of the lord proprietor have been intruded into the laws, we find, in 1583, a prohibition to dispose of lands without license of the lord, prefaced by the broad admission ' that contrary to good and laudable order and diverse and sundry general restraints made, the inhabitants have and daily do, notwithstanding the said restraint, buy, sell, give, grant, chop, and exchange their farms, lands, tenements, and their liberties at pleasure.' Alienation fines were first enacted in 1643." — Report of the Parliamentary Commissioners, published 1791 ; Appendix A N 71, Report of Law Officers.

The commissioners have thus shewn from the Statute Book that alienation fines first commenced in 1643, although Mr. Johnstone states, twenty years afterwards, with vaunted accuracy, that " the records of the Island throw no light on that subject." Johnstone's Manks Jurisprudence, pp. 7, 32. This is a mistake, for the commissioners appointed by James, Earl of Derby, 20th April, 1650, granted to John Cannell, the tenament of Nerlogher, at the single rent of xxiiijs. . To Robert Barrie, one close of land in the Treene of Scarlett, in the parish of Kirk Malew, at five shillings of yearly rent, with several similar grants made out in due form. Liber Cancellarius, ap. Mills's Ancient Ordinances, p. 505.

NOTE III. — PAGE 234.

LAW OF THE DESCENT OF HEREDITARY PROPERTY.

To the eldest son of A, last seised, or his issue.

If his line be extinct, to the other sons of A respectively, in order of birth, or their issue.

In default of these, to the eldest daughter of A, or her issue.

If her line be extinct, to the other daughters of A respectively, in order of birth, or their issue.

In default of these, to the eldest brother of A, by the same parent, from whom the estate descended, whether of the whole or half blood, or his issue.

If his line be extinct, to the other brothers by the same parent, respectively, in order of birth, or their issue.

In default of these, to the eldest sister by the same parent, or her issue.

If her line be extinct, to the other sisters by the same parent respectively, or their issue.

In default of these, to the eldest brother of the parent through whom the estate descended.

The blood of that line of ancestors, from whom the estate did not descend, can never inherit it. If it descend from the father, the blood of the mother will be perpetually excluded, and so vice versa.

If the person last seised were a purchaser — (that is, took otherwise than by descent,) and to die without issue, the estate would descend as follows, vii. : —

To his eldest and other brothers, of the whole blood, respectively, in order of birth, or their issue.

In default of these, to the father's eldest brother, and other brothers, and eldest and other sisters of the whole blood, — the paternal grandfather's eldest brother of the whole blood, &c., in infinitum, in the paternal line: the paternal grandfather's mother's eldest brother of the whole blood, or his issue, &c. — Jeffcott's Statute Laws of the Isle of Man, Douglas, 1837, Appendix.

NOTE IV. — PAGE 239.

ANCIENT MODE OF BURNING LIME.

The lime formerly used in building was made solely from shells. The process of making it in Galloway is thus described by Symson, who wrote his Description of that district in the year 1684: — " On a bank in the parish of Kirkinner, that lyes opposite to the sea, in winter time, the storms and high tydes cast in innumerable and incredible quantities of cockle shells, which the whole shore make use of for lime. The way of making it is thus: — Upon an even area, they set erected peits (turffs) in a circle, according to the quantity of shells required, upon which they put a layer of shells a foot thick or more, and then upon them again lay peits, then another layer of shells, and so on till they bring it to a head like a pyramid. But as they put on these layers, just on the centre they make a tunnel of peits like a chim ney, hollow in the middest, reaching from the bottom to the top; this done, they take a panful of burning peits and put them down into the tunnel or chimney, and so close up all with shells. This fire kindles the whole kilne, and in twentie-four hours space or thereby, will so burn the shells that they will run together in a harde masse ; after this they let it cool a little, and then, by sprinkling water thereon, it will dissolve into small white powder, which is excellent lime. " — Symson's Descrip. tion of Galloway, from MS. in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, 1823, p. 42 ; see also, Dickson's Husbandry of the Ancients, Edinburgh, 1788, vol. i, p. 338.

NOTE V. — PAGE 241.

RUDE MANNER OF TILLAGE.

Quayle says: — ' ` The ox is wrought, not by the bow and yoke, but by a coltar of oat straw. The same material, twisted into ropes and woven into walletts of a square form, is slung across the horse and supplies the place of panniers : these are called creels. — Page 83. From half an acre to three quarters of an acre is thought a good day's work for a team of four small oxen ; the same for a horse team of two horses. Small holders frequently join to make up a team." — Page 110.

The Zetlanders, till a recent period, were wedded to a mode of agriculture still more antiquated. " An old Zetland plough is a real curiosity: it has but one han dle or stilt and a coulter, but no stock ; it ripped the furrows therefore, but did not throw them aside. When this precious machine was in motion, it was dragged by four little bullocks yoked abreast, and as many ponies harnessed, or rather strung, to the plough by ropes and thongs of raw hides. One man went before, walking back wards, with his face to the bullocks, and pulling them forward by main strength; another held down the plough by its single handle, and made a sort of slit in the earth, which two women, which closed the procession, converted into a furrow by throwing the earth aside with shovels." — Diary of Sir Walter Scott, ap, Memoirs of his Life by J. G. Lockhart, first edition, vol. iii, p. 154.

NOTE VI. — PAGE 244.

PEASANTRY OF SCOTLAND FORMERLY AS POOR AS THOSE OF MAN.

Till near the end of the last century, the cottages of the peasantry, both in Gallo way and Ayrshire, were equally miserable with those in the Isle of Man. " Along the shores of Galloway, the cottages were of very humble and inartificial construction. The walls were rude poles of wood fixed in the earth having slender branches closely interwoven amongst them, and on both sides bedaubed with clay wrought by the intermixture of straw to a proper consistency. Under the same roof were lodged both the cottager and his cattle." Heron's History of Scotland, Perth, 1794, vol. i, p. 365. Another author says: — " They were wretched hovels built of stone and mud, thatched with fern or turff, and without chimneys." — Smith's Agricultural Survey of Galloway, London, 1810, p. 40. The state of Ayrshire was much the same: — " The farm houses were mere hovels made with clay, having an open hearth or fire place in the middle : the cattle starving and the people wretched — (this refers to about the year 1750.) The rent was commonly paid in kind, or in what was called half-labour by the steel-bow tenants. " — FWlarton's General View of the Agriculture of Ayrshire, 1793, p. 10. The account of Dumfriesshire is different: — " Some time ago, farm houses were built in the form of three sides of a square; the dwelling house formed the front, the stables and byres the second, and the barn, cart-house, and granary the third. " — Johnstone's General View of the Agriculture of Dumfries shire, London, 1794, p. 74.

NOTE VIL — PAGE 247.

ORIGIN OF THE AYRSHIRE BREED OF CATTLE.

The valuable breed of cattle known throughout Scotland and England by the name of Ayrshire, the county that produces them, are called in Ayrshire, Cunningham cattle, and in the district of Cunningham they bear the name of Dunlop cattle, from the family name of the gentleman upon whose estate and under whose care the breed originated — the result from the cross of the short-horned cow with the Alderney bull. The cross was first made about the year 1740 ; and the breed is still rising in estimation. Attentive breeders select the darkest brown with little white, these being found more hardy than the cream colour or those with much white, although it must be admitted the milk of the latter is richer. — Quayle's Agricultural View, p. 107. The celebrity of the Ayrshire breed of cattle is not confined solely to the British dominions. The Prussian Government, in 1837, sent commissioners from that country to Ayrshire to procure some of the best specimens that could be had there of that superior description of agricultural stock. The number purchased by these gentlemen was twenty bulls and one hundred and fifty calf queys of from two to three years old. Ayr Advertiser, 28th September, 1837.

NOTE VIII. — PAGE 249.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

John Christian Curwen, Esq., of Workington Hall, in the county of Cumberland, many years member of parliament for the city of Carlisle, attained great distinction as an agriculturist. He was founder of the Workington Agricultural Society, an establishment which did more for the advancement of husbandry, perhaps, than any other association of a similar nature. — Quayle's General View of Agriculture in the Isle of Man, London, 1812, p. 162.

In an early stage of the Workington Society, some of the Manks gentry, who had witnessed the good effects resulting from it, wished to form a branch of that association in the Isle of Man, which proposal having received the unanimous concurrence of the Workington members, the first meeting of the Insular branch took place at Douglas, in November, 1806, under the direction of the Workington president, Mr. Curwen, but with vice-presidents and a committee for managing their own internal affairs.

The first premiums offered were for the year 1807 : a cup, value ten pounds, was given by the president for the best managed farm, and various sums were given by the society as premiums; namely, for the best entire horse for agricultural purposes, for the best crop of clover, for the best crop of vetches, best crop of flax, for the greatest extent of land sufficiently marled, for the greatest extent of land sufficiently limed, for irrigation, for skill in ploughing, and to servants of both sexes, who had continued for the longest period in their respective services. — Ibid., p. 163.

The president visited the Island annually, and was thereby enabled to state in his printed reports the progress made by the Manks branch, in which he was individually concerned, being a large proprietor in the Island. Though his annual reports were always highly favourable to the improving state of the husbandry of the Island, the proceedings of the Manks branch, and more recently the agricultural survey made by Mr. Quayle, met with strong and decided opposition from the majority of the inbabi tants of the Island. They fancied they perceived, under pretence of fostering the agriculture of the Island, the precursor of increased taxation and a deep laid plot to introduce the exciseman. Unfortunately, these suspicions were not confined to the poor and illiterate ; many of the most opulent and learned persons in the Island entertained similar opinions. — Ibid., p. 163. Consequently the exertions of the society were not duly appreciated and did not receive adequate support. In 1813, it withdrew from that of Workington, and shortly afterwards, fell into a state of disunity. — Bullock, p. 242. Happily, however, the subject has now assumed a more favoured place in public estimation. An association, denominated The Isle of Man Agricultural Society, has been again instituted for the encouragement of agriculture and for improving the breed of farming stock.

This society was formed on the 13th March, 1841. His excellency General Ready, lieutenant-governor of the Island, was then pleased to accept the office of patron ; whilst Edward Moore Gawne, Esq., of Kentraugh — a gentleman distinguished for his knowledge of agriculture and, also, for his patronage of it — was unanimously elected president; Deemster Heywood, William Farrant, and Alexander Spittall, Esquires, were chosen vice-presidents, the number of whom has subsequently been increased to fourteen. Under the patronage of such men, and with the hearty concurrence and co-operation of the greater proportion of the scientific and wealthy farmers of the Island, the society is at present in a state of prosperity, and its beneficial effects are evident — a most gratifying result in the minds of those gentlemen who, regardless both of time and money, so long as the true interests of the Island could be furthered, have exerted themselves in the farmers' behalf. Four annual exhibitions have, since the formation of the society, taken place; namely, at Douglas in 1841, at Ramsey in 1842, at Castletown in 1843, and at Peel in 1844 ; and it is most satisfactory to state that the description of stock exhibited was such as to elicit unequivocal praise.

The Manks agriculturist has numerous obstacles to improvement to contend with, as has been already shewn ; yet the great extent of waste lands; capable of being brought under cultivation, with which the Island abounds, will, it is hoped, in due time, stimulate the members of the Agricultural Society individually, to dispel the evils set forth in the following extract from a memorial dated May, 1844, to the Lords of the Treasury, in reference to the importation of foreign corn : —

" Respectfully sheweth, — That in consequence of the humidity and uncertainty of its climate — the small extent of land, suitable for the growth of wheat, together with the increased number of inhabitants in the Island within the last few years, it has been found necessary to import considerable quantities of grain and flour, as will be seen from the following statement — being an average of the annual importation for the four last years ending the 5th Jan., 1844 — and to which your Memorialists respectfully beg leave to refer, viz : — 2,787 quarters wheat ; 12,416 cwt. flour; 500 qrs. oats, and 4,545 cwt. oatmeal. Amounting in value, with other articles of agricultural produce, to a sum little less than £25,000 of yearly outlay."

The framers of this document, in order to have placed a fair statement before parliament, should have given an account of the amount of exports also for the same period, which far exceeded the imports, as appears by the following returns

" Return to an Order of the House of Commons, on the motion of Dr. Bowring, 7th May, 1844 ; — for a Tabular Return of the quantities of Wheat, Flour, Meal, Barley, Oats, Potatoes, Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs, imported into the Isle of Man, in each year, ending the 5th day of January, from 1835 to 1844 : —

Custom-house, Douglas, Isle of Man, May 23, 1844.

Tesos. JONES, pro Collector. G. H. ANDERSON, Comp.

" Return to an Order of the House of Commons, on the motion of Dr. Bowring, 7th May, 1844, — for a Tabular Return of the quantities of Wheat, Flour, Meal, Barley, Oats, Potatoes, Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs, exported from the Isle of Man, in each year, ending the 5th day of January, from 1835 to 1844

Custom-house, Douglas, Isle of Man, May 23, 1844.

Thos. JONES, pro Collector. G. H. ANDERSON, Comp.

NOTE IX. — PAGE 250..

SUIT SERVICE OF STREWING RUSHES.

Any custom in England is said to be of time immemorial that has been in use since before the days of King Edward II. Barclay's Universal Dictionary, 4th edit. 1512. A thousand years before the time of this monarch, the Manks, according to traditibn, presented Mannanan-Beg-Mac-y-Leirr with a quantity of coarse meadow grass or rushes annually, on Midsummer eve, either on the top of Barrool or at the residence of the chief at the foot of the hill. — Traditionary Ballad, vol. i, p. 30, of this work.

The payment of green rushes in the time of Mannanan-Beg was the tenure by which Islanders held their lands. — Quiggin's Illustrated Guide, Douglas, edition 1840, p. 92.

The farm of Ballakilley, in the parish of Kirk German, is allowed yet to be holden tithe free, on the occupier performing this ancient service.

Rushes were strewed by the Druids over the floors of their temples, to absorb the blood of their victims ; and the early Christians strewed their churches also with rushes or coarse meadow grass.

In England, the custom of strewing churches with rushes continued down to a comparatively recent period. In the churchwardens' account of St. Mary at Hill, in the city of London, is the following article: — " Anno 1493, Howyton and Overy paid for 3 birdens of ryshes for ye new pewes, 3d." — Ap. Brand's Popular Antiquities, by Ellis, edit. 1841, vol. ii, p. 10.

In Coat's History of Reading, page 227, among the entries of the churchwardens' accounts of the year 1602, there appears — " Paid for rushes for the churche, when the Queen was in towne, xxd." Hentyner in his Itinerary, speaking of Queen Elizabeth's presence chamber, says: — " The floore, after the English fashion, was strewed with rushes." The English stage was also formerly strewed with rushes, as were the best rooms in private houses. Reed's Edition of Shakspeare, 8vo., London, 1803, vol. xviii, p. 467.

In the Isle of Man the floors were strewed with green rushes, when such guests as St. Bridget were expected. — Ante, p. 116, Extract from MS. Accounts of Manks Customs.

NOTE X. — PAGE 251 BISHOP BARROW'S BEQUEST.

Bishop Barrow, by instrument, dated Sth February, 1667, assigned the impropriate tithes of Kirk Christ Rushen to Richard Stephenson, Richard Tyldesley, and others, on condition of their paying annually, in lieu of the said tithes, unto the master of the free school of Castletown thirty pounds. Mr. Castley, who was appointed master of the school, in 1758, received for some years sixty pounds salary, which was then the ascertained value of the said tithes, but which the trustees tried to reduce to the original stipend of thirty pounds. Mr. Castley, therefore, on the 28th October, 1750, filed a bill in the court of chancery against George, Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, William Mylrea, archdeacon, and Thomas Fargher and Robert Heywood, gentlemen, stating that the said Bishop Barrow, with the concurrence of the said Charles, Earl of Derby and archdeacon, fixed the said free grammar school at Castletown, and endowed the same with the tithes of the said rectory of Rushen, and that the said sixty pounds was the ascertained yearly value of the said tithes, and praying that the defendants might be ordered to pay the same. On the 21st February, 1782, the chancellor decreed that the complainant, as master of the free grammer school of Castletown, was entitled to the annual salary of sixty pounds in lieu of the impropriate tithes of Kirk Christ Rushen; and the defendants were ordered to pay the same. The defendants appealed from this decree to the king in council; and the appeal having come on to be heard on the 30th April, 1783, the decree was confirmed and the appeal dismissed. — Isle of Man Charities, p. 22. The salary of the master of the free school is now seventy pounds per annum.

be baptised is for rendering the rite more efficacious ; but it is rather understood literally as for averting demoniac influence — Gration Decretalia, part iii. Both Greeks and Romans, in their lustrations, made use of salt and water ; hence the origin of the holy water of after times. Brand by Ellis, vol iii, p. 82.

The celebration of baptism in Scotland, by a layman, was afterwards confirmed by a priest, who taking a bit of salt out of a little silver box, kept for the purpose, said "' Receive the salt of wisdom, and may it be a propitiation to thee for eternal life." — Stewart's Conformity between Popery and Paganism, p. 50, ap. Ellis, vol. iii, p. 84. The use of salt in baptism is yet preserved by the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church, it being the single ingredient employed in compounding holy water, esteemed of such importance in sanctifying the rites of that church and of such ineffable virtue in expelling demons. Records of Orkney, anno 1629, ap. Dalyell's Darker Superstitions, p. 98.

In Ireland, " before the seed is put into the ground the mistress of the family sends salt into the field" for the purpose of counteracting the power of the witches and fairies. — Gough's Camden, folio, 1789, vol. iii, p. 659.

As a preventive from disease, salt was put into a cloth and bound to a cow's horn. It was put into milk when first drawn from the cow after calving. — Sir John Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. v, cap. xvi, p. 121. The :Manks people yet throw salt into the churn " lest the production of butter may be prevented by the fairies, for whom, after the churning is finished, a certain portion of butter is left stuck against the wall." — MS. Account of Manks Customs.

The efficacy of salt and brandy, as a panacea for all diseases, is at present in high repute in the Isle of Man. The dread of spilling salt, as in the Isle of Man, is a generally known superstition elsewhere, even the falling of a particle of salt at table is " received as a presage of some future calamity, to avert which it is customary to fling some salt into the fire over the shoulder." — Pennant's Tourney from Chester to London, p. 31.

Salt was an Egyptian hieroglyphic representation of life ; and was placed by christians on the breast of a corpse as an emblem of the immortality of the soul, which superstitious practice has only recently disappeared in the Isle of Man. — Brand's Observations on Bourne's Antiquities, Newcastle, edition 1777, p. 24.

"To trace the connexion of nations by their usages, and the similarity of the implements which they employ, has been long my favourite study. Everything that can illustrate such connexions is most valuable to me." — Sir Walter Scott's Antiquary, cap. xxx.

Note XI - Page 252

Parochial Teachers

[as this is merely copied out of IoM Charities it is not included]

Note XII - Page 253

Extracts from Parish Registers

[as this is merely copied out of IoM Charities it is not included]