Note 161 — Chapter IV · LANDED POSSESSION. THE EÐEL, HÍD OR ALOD.

This seems clear from a comparison of two passages already quoted in a note, but which must here be given more at length. The law of Æðelstán defines the king’s peace as extending from his door to the distance on every side of three miles, three furlongs, three acres’ breadth, nine feet, nine palms, and nine barleycorns. The law of Henry gives the measurements thus: “tria miliaria, et tres quarantenae, et ix (? iii) acrae latitudine, et ix pedes et ix palmae, et ix grana ordei.” Thus the furlang and quarantena are identified. But it is also clear that the series is a descending one, and consequently that the furlang or quarantena is longer than the breadth of an acre. If, as is probable, it is derived from quarante, I should suppose three lengths and three breadths of an acre to have been intended; in fact that some multiple of forty was the longer side of the acre.