Editing Yard (section)

===From ell to yard===
The earliest record of a prototype measure is the statute [[II&nbsp;Edgar Cap.&nbsp;8]] (AD&nbsp;959&nbsp;{{abbr|x|sometime between}} 963), which survives in several variant manuscripts. In it, [[Edgar the Peaceful]] directed the [[Witenagemot]] at [[Andover, Hampshire#Early history|Andover]] that "the measure held at [[Winchester]]" should be observed throughout his realm.{{sfnp|Thorpe|1840}} (Some manuscripts read "at [[Anglo-Saxon London|London]] and at Winchester".){{sfnp|Thorpe|1840|p=113}}{{sfnp|Liebermann|1903|p=204–206}} The statutes of [[William the Bastard|William&nbsp;I]] similarly refer to and uphold the standard measures of his predecessors without naming them.

{{anchor|Henry I}}<!--linked-->
[[William of Malmesbury]]'s ''[[Deeds of the Kings of England]]'' records that during the reign of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] (1100–1135), "the measure of his arm was applied to correct the false [[ell (unit)|ell]] of the traders and enjoined on all throughout England."{{sfn|Giles|1866|p=445}} The [[folk etymology|folktale]] that the length was bounded by the king's nose{{sfnp|Green|1986|p=106}} was added some centuries later. [[Charles Moore Watson]] dismisses William's account as "childish",{{sfnp|Watson|1910|pp=36–39}} but William was among the most conscientious and trustworthy medieval historians.{{sfnp|Connor|1987|p=xxiv}} The [[Carolingian units|French]] "[[king's foot]]" was supposed to have derived from [[Charlemagne]],{{sfnp|Connor|1987|p=xxiv}} and the English kings subsequently repeatedly intervened to impose shorter units with the aim of increasing tax revenue.{{citation needed|reason=historical record? closely argued conclusion of modern historian(s)? or sneer?|date=September 2021}}

The earliest surviving definition of this shorter unit appears in the [[Act on the Composition of Yards and Perches]], one of the [[statutes of uncertain date]]{{refn|group=n|Although not originally statutes, the [[statutes of an uncertain date]] were eventually accepted as such with the passage of time.}} tentatively dated to the reign of [[Edward I of England|Edward&nbsp;I]] or [[Edward II of England|II]] {{circa|lk=no|1300}}. Its wording varies in surviving accounts. One reads:{{refn|{{abbr|BL|British Library}} Cotton {{abbr|MS|manuscript}} Claudius D2, cited and translated in [[Statutes at Large#England and Great Britain|Ruffhead]].{{sfnp|Ruffhead|1765|p=421}}}}

<blockquote>It is ordained that 3 [[barleycorn (unit)|grains of barley]] dry and round do make an [[inch]], 12 inches make 1 [[foot (unit)|foot]], 3 feet make 1 yard, 5 yards and a half make a [[perch (unit)|perch]], and 40 perches in length and 4 in breadth make an [[acre]].</blockquote>

The [[Liber Horn]] compilation (1311) includes that statute with slightly different wording and adds:{{sfnp|Fowler|1884|p=276}}

<blockquote>And be it remembered that the [[iron]] yard of our Lord the King containeth 3 [[foot (unit)|feet]] and no more, and a foot ought to contain 12 [[inch]]es by the right measure of this yard measured, to wit, the 36th part of this yard rightly measured maketh 1 inch neither more nor less and 5 yards and a half make a [[perch (unit)|perch]] that is 16 feet and a half measured by the aforesaid yard of our Lord the King.</blockquote>

In some early books, this act was appended to another statute of uncertain date titled the [[Statute for the Measuring of Land]]. The act was not repealed until the [[Weights and Measures Act 1824]].{{refn|5 Geo. 4. c. 74, §24.{{sfnp|Statutes|1824|p=349}}}}