"I, Ebenezer Punderson, do here declare my unfeigned assent and consent to all and everything contained and prescribed in and by ye Book entitled the Book of Common Prayer, and administrations of ye sacraments ; and ye Rites and Ceremonies of ye Church, according to the use of the Church of England ; together with ye Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or sai<l in Churches, and the form or manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating Bishops, Priests and Deacons."

" Upon the 4th day of December, 1763, the above mentioned Ebenezer Punderson, after divine service was began, and before it was ended, read distinctly the thirty-nine articles of Religion, and declared his unfeined assent and consent to them ; and also made the above declaration.

Witnes/i, HACHALtAii Brown, Tlmothv Wetmore."

The Rents incident to a manor were of two kinds, those arising from the demense lands of the lord, and those from the freehold lands held by the tenants of

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

th:e manor. It is a proof of the fact that the renting of land from a superior, was a most natural as well as most ancient custom, that from the payment of rent is derived our English word farm. In early Saxon days, and at, and just after, the Norman Conquest, the estates of the chiefs and leaders were cultivated by the people attached to their different lands, the villeins, heretofore mentioned, who were practically slaves, and, in the very earliest times, passed with the estates on which they dwelt. In course of time the laud owners allowed them to occupy specific parts of {heir lands at will, yielding a return of corn, hay, of other portions of their crops ; and later they granted them the lands for a certain number of years, by which they were enfranchised, the owners reserving an annual return of ])ortions of the corn or other provisions.