I i 4si ■ ■ ■■; • "0 v-; W0"^' '"■ - (Enroll llttte ratty ICtbrarg BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF ftettrg W. Sage 1891 fjatr^&H-b" ^.^y.w.U-fe Cornell University Library DA 690.B47P35 History of the manor of Bensington (Bens 3 1924 028 090 367 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028090367 A HISTORY OF THE MANOR OF BENSINGTON. BENSINGl A HISTORY OF THE . MANOR OF BENSINGTON (BENSON, OXON), A MANOR OF ANCIENT DEMESNE. BY REV. M. T. PEARMAN, M.A. LONDON : ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, EC. 1896. £ V, TO THE RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM, LORD BISHOP OF OXFORD, CHANCELLOR OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER, THIS WORK Is Inscribeb, WITH THE GREATEST ESTEEM AND RESPECT. NOTE. I have to express my indebtedness, and I do so with pleasure, to the Rev. J. E. Field, M.A., Vicar of Benson, for his kind and very valuable help in tracing the boundaries of the land granted by King Ethelbert in 996 to his three brothers. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. A.D. 571 — A.D. I244. Conquest of Benson — Church property — Limits of Benson Manor — The manor wrested from the West Saxons by Offa — Royal charter attested at Benson— Early importance of the place — Transference of slaves— Grant by Ethelred 1 1, in 996— Domes- day Book — ' Dialogus de Saccario' — Story from Abingdon Chronicle — Charter of Richard I. — Grant of Benson and Henley to Robert de Harcourt — Knight's fee — Extent of manor — Har- court loses his possessions — Benson in King's hand — Granted to John de Harcourt — Grant of Benson Church to Dorchester Abbey — Manor assigned to E. de Cygony — Cygony's letter to H. de Burgh — He revolts and surrenders — Benson and Henley re-granted to him — Complaint of him to the King by men of Benson — His death — Grants of Henry III.— Lay Subsidy Roll — Testa de Nevill - - Pages 1 — 27 CHAPTER II. A.D. 1244— A.D. 1337. Grant of manor to Earl Richard — Let at fee-farm — Manor in ancient demesne — Rent given to St. Nicolas' Chapel — Death of Earl Edmund — Bigod — Piers Gaveston — Account of John de Clinton — Manor granted to Queen Isabella — To John of Eltham — Local names ...... Pages 28 — 54 Appendix - - „ 55—62 Contents CHAPTER III. A.D. 1337— a.d. 1540. Grant to the Black Prince — His marriage with Joan of Kent — Benson dower of Joan— Her death— Grant to Salisbury — Inquest at Benson — Proceedings against W. Shaldeston — Officers of the manor — Grant to John Beaufort — To Thomas Chaucer — Proceedings in the Exchequer — Manor part of Queen Katherine's dower— Grant to William de la Pole — Inquest — Result — Duchess Alice succeeds her husband — John, Duke of Suffolk— Grant to Francis, Lord Lovel — His end — Stewards of the manor — Computus of Thomas Howe — Reversion of stewardship to Sir Nicolas Carew — Henry Norres, steward — Court-leet -------- Pages 63—95 Appendix -------- n 96—108 CHAPTER IV. A.D. 1540— A.D. 1628. Dissolution of Honour of Wallingford — Benson and other manors added to Honour of Ewelme — Sir F. Brian — Subsidy Roll — Sir Francis Knollys steward — Succeeded by his son — Proceed- ings in Chancery — Commission sits at Henley — Interrogatories to deponents, and answers — Inhabitants proceed in the Ex- chequer Court against St. John's College, Oxon — Commission sits at Benson, 1590 — Thirty-three interrogatories put to de- ponents — Their answers — Litigants referred to common law — Survey of manor — Description of it — Impossibility of accurately defining its limits — Aspect of Benson — Sale of manor by Charles I. — Subsequent owners ... - Pages 109 — 128 Appendix - - - ,, 129 — 147 CHAPTER I. A.D. 571 A.D. I244. Conquest of Benson — Church property — Limits of Benson Manor — The manor wrested from the West Saxons by Offa — Royal charter attested at Benson — Early importance of the place — Transference of slaves — Grant by Ethelred II. in 996 — Domes- day Book — ' Dialogus de Saccario ' — Story from Abingdon Chronicle — Charter of Richard I. — Grant of Benson and Henley to Robert de Harcourt — Knight's fee — Extent of manor — Har- court loses his possessions — Benson in King's hand — Granted to John de Harcourt — Grant of Benson Church to Dorchester Abbey — Manor assigned to E. de Cygony — Cygony's letter to H. de Burgh — He revolts and surrenders — Benson and Henley re-granted to him — Complaint of him to the King by men of Benson — His death — Grants of Henry III. — Lay Subsidy Roll — Testa de Nevill. IN the year 571 the West Saxons, under Cuthwulf, overcame the British at Bedford, and wrested from them an extensive territory.* They took four * The text of the Saxon Chronicle, so far as it relates to Ben- sington, is as follows : ' An DLXXI. Her CuJ>wulf feaht wif> Bretwalas set Bedcan- forda I IIII tunas genon. Lygeanbirg | ^Egelesbirg | Baenesing- tun I Egonesham.' I 2 History of the Manor of Bensington ' tuns,' one of which was Bensingtnn. But this name is not that by which the district was known to the British, but was bestowed on it by the victorious Saxons. The Banesingas, or Bensingas, descen- dants of a warlike leader or of some mythical hero, settled in this portion of the territory they had helped to conquer, which accordingly was called by their name. The spot where the captured ' tun ' was located was probably on the Chiltern Hills, and near the Icknield Way. Swincomb Down and the adjacent Britwell Hill have on them marks of entrenchment, and seem to have been connected by a road with the Upper Icknield. There may have been fought the battle on which the fate of this district depended. On the acquisition of territory, the English were accustomed to grant out of it estates to individuals, and to retain the remainder as folk-land, or land of the community. Whether at the first any grants were made in the Chiltern district it is impossible to say. But subsequently the Church was largely endowed out of the lands that fell to the West Saxons by their victories in 571. The Hundred of Dorchester, including Thame and the outlying The Cott. Tibur A vi. differs very little : ' An DLXXI. Her CutSulf feaht wif Bryttas set Biedcanforda feower tunas genam. ' Liggeanburh | ^Eglesburh | Bensingtun | Egonesham.' Cotton Tibur B i. agrees with A vi. Limits of the Manor parish of South Stoke, were bestowed on the see established at Dorchester, and very likely on Birinus himself. The King bad Bensington. But whether the land so called was at first as extensive as it afterwards appears to have been is uncertain. If it were less, the additional acreage must have been folkland, as after the consolidation of the kingdoms the folkland was gradually merged in the royal demesne. To define the limits of Bensington land is somewhat difficult. But there is reason for con- sidering it likely that previous to King Ethelred's grant in 996 it comprised the tract of country included within the following boundaries : On the west the Thames was its limit from Littlestoke to the point where the river Thame flows into the Thames. The smaller stream formed the north-west limit as far as Newington,* and included Brookhampton ; from which place a line excluding Ascot through Chal- arove to Brightwell-Baldwin and Britwell, across the Icknield Way and over the hill to Pishill and Bix, skirting Buckinghamshire, would end at Henley, which was part of Benson. Another line drawn in a south-easterly direction from the Thames would end at the same place. But at what point on the river it should commence and what lands it should include is not very evident. There is no ' record that Mongewell and Ipsden formed part of Bensington-land. But certainly Wyfold, * It is stated in Rot. Hund., 1279, that Newington was originally part of the King's demesne. Britwell Prior belonged to Newington. 4 History of the Manor of Bensington Neels, and Kingwood* belonged to the manor for more than a century after the Norman Conquest. Probably some part of Checkenden besides Wyfold appertained to the manor, so that the line may probably be drawn from Stoke to Wyfold, and thence to Henley. In two inquests of the reign of Edward Il.t some parcels of land in Clifton and Dorchester are stated to be held of the Manor of Bensington. It may be that these tenements, which were held with other parcels that unquestionably belonged to the manor, were added to it for sake of convenience. But it may be that some portion of the Hundred of Dorchester was part of the original Bensington, and these parcels were remnants of the King's demesne. In the Hundred Rolls of 1279, under the heading of Drayton, Brudecot-Burcott in Dorchester, and of Dorchester apparently, for the name of the place is obliterated, it is stated that the ancestors of some of the tenants were free sokemen, and accustomed to serve the King in war. This service, it is added, had been taken away by the Bishops of Lincoln, who exacted instead agricultural work. But such military service was rendered by occupiers of folkland. During the eighth century Bensington several times changed masters. ^Ethelbald, King of the * The Abbot of Thame appropriated 200 acres of the King's land in Bensington called Kingwood in the time of Henry III. (Rot. Hund., 4 Edw. I.). t Inq. ad q. d. 9 Edw. II., No. 75, and 18 Edw. II., No. 154. Attestation of Charter Mercians, reduced Wessex to the rank of a de- pendent State. From this subjection, which did not last twenty years, it was freed in 752, by the victory at Burford obtained over the Mercians by Cuthred, who regained, among other advantages, possession of Bensington. But the West Saxons were unable successfully to resist the arms of Offa, who in the year 777 fought a battle around Benson and took the town.""' He drove the Wessex men across the river, and added somewhat to his territory on that side. King Offa is said to have left several memorials of his connection with this district. It has been pointed outf that, like his predecessor vEthelbald, he had a favourite saint to whom he dedicated the churches he founded or rebuilt. The saint he favoured was St. Helen, to whom the churches of Benson, Berrick-Salome, and Albury are dedicated. In the ninth century, in the reign of ^Ethelbald, a royal charter ' de Wachenesfeld ' was attested in Banesinga villa.\ Among the signatories was Forthere, Bishop of Sherborne. To the importance of Bensington at the period when the charter was granted, and earlier, the late Professor Freeman bears testimony. Writing of Oxford, he says :§ * The text of the A.S. Chronicle is as follows : ' Her Cynewulf | Offa gefuhton ymb Benesingtun | Offa nam (or genam) pone tiin.' + ' Vestiges of the Supremacy of Mercia.' I Chron. de Abingdon, vol. i., p. 4°- § ' Norman Conquest,' vol. i., p. 409, ed. i. 6 History of the Manor of Bensitigton ' As it was a frontier town of Mercia and Wessex, one might have expected to find far earlier mention of it ; but in more ancient times the now utterly insignificant Bensington seems to have been the chief military post of the frontier.' Oxford is not mentioned in the chronicles till the early part of the tenth century. In the reign of Alfred the Great there was a transference of slaves from Bensington to Radnor. ^Ethelred, Duke of Mercia, ' dux et patricius gentis Merciorum,' with the King's consent and with the consent of the elders of the nation, granted certain lands to the church at Radnor, and likewise six men belonging to the ' royal vill ' in Bensington. These men were trans- ferred with their offspring and their posterity for ever.* This happened in the year 880. Probably these slaves, so completely dependent on their lords, were of Welsh extraction, descendants of those who were conquered by the victorious Bensingas. In the year 996 King yEthelred II. granted an estate in Bensington to his brothers. | He gave ' binas mansas in loco qui ab accolis Bynsingtun-land nominatur, tribus fratribus meis hominibus vocitatis Eadric et Eadwig atque Ealdred.' The donees were empowered to leave the land by will. The estate was free from all burdens, ex- cepting the trinoda necessitas, or contribution to * Codex Diplomaticus, No. 311. t Abingdon Chronicle, vol. i., p. 404 ; Codex Diplomaticus, vi. 136-138. Grant to the King s Brothers military expeditions and reparation of castles and bridges. The grant is in Latin, but the metce, or boundaries, are given in Anglo-Saxon : ' His limitibus prcefatum rus circumcingi videtur. ' iErest of smalan wylle east be heafdan be ; than gemaere thset hit cymth innan cealcseathes weg ; and swa andlang weges innan Aculfes dene ; andlang dene thaet on fildena wudu weg ; andlang weges thaet on bryda beorht ; middeweardne of than beorge andlang dene on Waddene ; andlang Waddene on Wyrthe ; of Wyrthe andlang weges to hean lincan ; to rugan hegcan ; swa andlang hegeraewe on Abban wylle ; thannon eft on smalan wylle. ' This sind thaes wudes gemaera the to tham lande gebyriath, thaet is aerest andlang aecerweges on hreodslaed ; andlang sleedes on gegan dene ; andlang dene thaet on gegan lege ; eastewearde of thaere lege ; andlang burhslacdes ; on burhwege ; thanon on hageweg ut on thaene feld ; and swa thwyres ofer fernfeld on Wynstanes ham ; of than hamme a be wurtruman thaet eft on thone aecer weg.' The spring a little west of Berrick-Salome Church is small well. Proceeding east you pass a little way on other wells or springs, the heads by the mere or boundary, the junction, i.e., of Bensington- land and the Queen's estate* into Hollantide- * Queen Emma, the consort of ^Ethelred, was then possessed of Newington with Berwick Prior and Britwell Prior. She gave the estate the following year to Christ Church, Canterbury. 8 History of the Manor of Bensington bottom, Chalk-pit way, an old road that runs close by an ancient, large, disused chalk-pit into a hollow or shallow valley in Brightwell, Aculfesdene, to Turners-green lane, the wood way of the By/das, an old road leading southerly to Britwell-Salome, the Mount of the Brides or Brides -hill; from middle of the Mount you go along the hollow or dene to Brightwell Grove, Wadden; from the Grove, where the depression or valley seems less shallow, to or towards Rumbolds' Copse, whereabouts Worth probably was, past Scald-hill to the high Link, and to rough hedge ; thence along the hedgerow, now no longer existing, to Hewell-Spring, Abban-well, and thence back by Keems hedge way to the small well or spring. The field from which Scald Hill rises was formerly divided by banks or ridges some six feet high, called Lynchetts or Lynches. Such divisions were very usual in the common field husbandry. One of them may have been the high Link. The Lynchetts were destroyed when the enclosure was made. The Woodland Boundary. The acre way is the Lower Icknield, called in the neighbourhood Hackney-way. Leave the Icknield — the aerezaay — at North Farm, and ascend the slope — the Reed-slade — to Deans- wood — Gegandene — along the hollow and out at the S.E. corner of the wood on to the arable — Geganley east — and round the top of the slays — the Burslade — to the road at Coates Farm — the Burway — thence by Grant to the King s Brothers the road through the wood — the Hay or Haw way — out into the open country ; across over Fernfield to the Lower ¥a.rm—Hynstans-ham or home — and then on the road — by the root stumps — till you are back again in the acre way. The Burh was Swyncombe Down, which has on it a considerable fortification, marked in the Ordnance map as Danish entrenchments. The Burway appears to have connected the Burh with the Upper Icknield at Cookley Green. It went circuitously, in order, it may be presumed, to avoid descending into the valley, now called the Slays, under the southern side of Swincombe Down. In the year 1010* Benson, with other places on the Thames, suffered from the ravages of the Danes, who burned Oxford. Florence of Worcester says they went per saltiim qui dicitur Cittern. Probably they crossed the Thames at Staines or somewhere near, and, entering the shire from the Bucks side, surprised Oxford. They returned by the river in two parties, one on each bank, plundering the town- ships on their course. In Domesday Book is an account of the manor.f * Saxon Chronicle, sub anno. t ' Terra Regis. Rex tenet Besintone. Ibi st xii hidse una v tra; min. T. R. E. erant ibi L car. Ne in dnio viii car & v. serui et xxxii uiffi cu xxix bord hnt xiii car. ' Ibi ii molini de xl solid. Int pta et pascua & piscarias et siluas exeunt xviii lib et xv sol & v den pjmnu. De Circet xi sot. de annona uni anni xxx lib. Soca de iv Hund et dimid ptin ad hoc manerium. ' Int tot redd p annu q ! xx" lib et c solid.' io History of the Manor of Bensington It is stated that it was terra Regis, and at that time in the King's hand. In consequence, probably, of the disturbance caused by the Norman Conquest, it had deteriorated in value. There were then but thirty-one ploughs, whereas in the time of Edward the Confessor there were fifty. The quantity of land a plough-team will turn up in a year varies according to the soil. In the reign of Edward I. the hide or plough-land in Preston-Cromarsh, a part of Benson before the Conquest, consisted of one hundred acres. In a Chancery suit in the time of Queen Elizabeth it was stated that ninety-six acres composed the hide in Warborough, which was, and is now, in Benson Manor. In other parts of the manor the plough-land may have been less or more. But in the reign of Edward the Confessor fifty ploughs would show a great amount of arable, for in the eleventh century the woods in Benson, as in other parts, were deep and extensive ; commons and moorland abounded, and in the lower parts near the river the amount of marsh and swamp was large. There were two mills, worth 40s. Including meadows and pastures and fisheries and woods, ^"18 15s. 5d. issued from the manor yearly. The King received us. as Church-set. This is defined by Fleta as a certain measure of wheat, which everyone offered on St. Martin's Day to the Church. This offering was enjoined by the laws of Ina and Knut. The laws of Henry I., which refer chiefly to pre-Norman times, recognise Domesday Book 1 1 ' cyriesceat ' as a payment due at Martinmas to the Bishop, under the ancient penalty of a fine of eleven times the amount if it were not made on the day appointed. For one year's produce or harvest ^"30 were paid. The soke, or jurisdiction of four hundreds and a half, i.e. of the Oxfordshire Chilterns, belonged to the manor. The final statement is that the whole yearly payment was ^80 and 100s. In this must be included the profits of the courts as well as other things not referred to. At the time of the Survey five servi, thirty-two villani and nineteen bordarii inhabited the manor. The servi, who were personally in bondage, without property or rights, probably traced their descent to the British or Welsh. The villeins and bordars were differently circumstanced. The former were indeed in praedial servitude, being unable to leave the manor without their lord's permission ; but they were personally free, subject to limited, definite services, and holders of property, though at the lord's will. They were the English ceorls, or freemen, who after the subjugation of the country by the Normans lost their social status and liberty, and sunk to a lower level. In the ' Dialogus de Saccario'* is a passage con- cerning them, translated by Somner as follows : 'After the conquest of the kingdom and the deserved subversion of the Rebells, when the King himself, with his Nobles, surveyed his new Country, * Liber i., cap. x., quid murdrum. 12 History of the Manor of Bensington a diligent enquiry was made who they were, which taking part in the war against the King, had saved themselves by flight : to all these, like as to the heirs of such as had fallen in the war, all hope of any lands, possessions and rents, which formerly they enjoyed, was cut off. For they accounted it no small favour to escape with life under enemies. But those, who when summoned, came not to the war, or being occupied in household or other neces- sary affairs, were absent, when in process of time by their constant serviceableness they had ingratiated themselves with their lords without hope of succes- sion, their children only, and that but at the lord's will, began to possess. Afterwards when becoming odious to their lords they were everywhere expelled their possessions, nor was there any that would restore what was taken away, a common complaint of the Natives came to the King, that being thus hated of all, and bereaved of their estates, they should be enforced to betake themselves to foreign parts. At length, after consultation upon these matters, it was decreed, that what by their deserv- ings, and upon a lawful agreement, they could obtain of their lords, should be their own by inviolable right. But they should challenge nothing to them- selves by name of succession from the times of the Nation's subduing. Which thing, truly, how dis- creetly it was considered of is manifest, especially when as thus by all means for their own good, they were bound from thenceforth to apply themselves, by con- Extract from ' Dialogns stant serviceableness to purchase their lord's favour. Insomuch as who of the conquered people possessed lands, or such like, obtained them not, as seeming to be due by right of succession, but in recompense of his deservings, or by some intervening agreements.' What was the difference as respects tenure or status between the servi and villain of Benson at the time of Domesday does not appear. Two hundred years or so later the distinction is apparent ; but there is no evidence to show whether in the year 1086 any of the villain were in the position of those subsequently called sokemen, or whether all were absolutely villeins. The bordarii occupied a place between the villani and servi. They are not mentioned after the time of Domesday or thereabouts, being pro- bably, in after-years, included among the villeins or natives. They were cottagers whose services were available at specified times in the cultivation of the demesne land. Their holdings were smaller than those of the villani, and their services consequently less. They were accustomed to supply the lord's table with a certain amount of eggs and poultry. The jurisdiction, as has been noticed, is mentioned. This was a source of revenue to the lord, as he received the fines and other payments made on the court days. Originally all persons owed attendance at the hundred, which was the tribal court, at which all business, civil, criminal and, till William the Con- queror altered the law, even ecclesiastical business 14 History of the Manor of Sensing ton was transacted. But with the growth of the monarchy grew the King's jurisdiction. The Sheriff's turn or leet was established for criminal matters. Exemp- tions from attendance at these courts were intro- duced before the Conquest. The tenants of Benson Manor were exempt, on which account the Hundred of Bensington, or of Ewelme, as it was subsequently- called, was termed a half-hundred. When the manor was exempted from the hundredal jurisdic- tion does not appear. But in those parts of Ben- sington land which had been separated from the royal demesne before the exemption was made, the grantees with their tenants attended the hundred. Under the heading of land of Richard and of other Ministers of the King occur the following entries : ' William holds of the King one hide in Besintone, and it is the King's soke. Land to one plough. There are four acres of pasture. It was worth 20s. ; now 12s. 6d.' ' Teodricos the goldsmith holds two hides in Besin- tone, land to two ploughs. There there are three bordars and four acres of pasture. It was and is worth 20s. Sauuold freely held it in time of King Edward.' The former of these properties was doubtless part of the manor. William may have had in it an estate for life or other interest less than the fee-simple. The land of Teodric was evidently an old estate. Sauuold held it, apparently, on the most advan- Story from the Abingdon Chronicle 1 5 tageous terms. It was no longer part of the manor, but a separate estate. Under the heading ' in dim. Besintonc hd' ' is the following entry : ' The King has half a hide waste in " Verneveld." Harvey had the profit.' Verneveld looks like Fernfield. The Fernfield is mentioned in the grant to King ^Ethelred's brothers. In papers of the sixteenth century referring to Brightwell the word occurs. Fern grew formerly plentifully at the base of the Chiltern Hills. An interesting story is related in the Abingdon Chronicle* of the way in which the abbey acquired a mill in Benson. The circumstance occurred in the reign of Stephen : ' William Boterel, the Constable of Wallingford, was paid a sum of money by Abbot Ingulfus, on con- dition of preventing his soldiers from plundering the property of the Monastery. Unmindful of his word, William carried off whatever he could find into the adjacent vill of Culham. When the Abbot heard of it, he besought him to restore the booty, wondering that, worse than any robber, he should have pillaged what he ought to have defended ; and sent certain of the brothers of the Abbey to him. As the Messengers were refused redress, the Abbot, at the instigation of the Archbishop and of the Bishop of Salisbury, excommunicated William ; who continued till the day of his death unforgiven and under ecclesias- * Vol. ii., pp. 232-328. i 6 History of the Manor of Bensington tical censure. Some time after William was mortally wounded. His brother Peter asked forgiveness for him, promising to restore whatever he had carried off, on account of which promise and intercession William was absolved on his death-bed. Afterwards Peter requested the Abbot, for the sake of Duke Henry,* who had sent him letters, to forgive him what he owed. The Abbot, fearing to act contrary to the Duke's letter, unwillingly granted the request. But after a short interval, Peter reflected that his dead brother was but little benefited, if at all, by forgive- ness alone, no restitution having been made for such heavy loss ; and therefore, in presence of the Abbot and Convent, offered a Mill at Bensington, of the rent of five shillings per annum, in restitution. The Abbot accepted the Mill, and granted it to the neces- sary purposes of the infirm brothers.' In the year 1150 the Chapel of St. George, within Oxford Castle, was dissolved, and its possessions bestowed on Oseney Abbey. According to Kennet.f the chapel owned two parts of the tithe of one hide and one third part of half a hide in Bensinton. But this is a mistake, Hensington being the place intended.;]; In the Oseney Chronicle^ a similar error occurs. Under date of this year, it is stated that John de Pageham, Bishop of Worcester, gave to the monastery the churches of Bensington and Turkdean. But probably Hensington is meant. * Afterwards Henry II. t ' Par. Antiq.,' vol. i., p. 142. % 'Hist, of Woodstock,' pp. 280, 281, and 408. § P. 26. Henley 1 7 The Abbot of Oseney held, however, some property within the manor. Richard I., in the first year of his reign, confirmed by charter* the gift made to Alured de St. Martin, the royal steward, of certain lands situated at Eleham and Bensington. These lands were the marriage portion of Aelicia, mother of Henry, Earl Angi, who after his mother's death had granted them for life to Alured in the presence of King Henry II. These lands Alured was to enjoy for life, in full possession, except the advowson of the church, which the Earl retained. The witnesses to this charter were the Bishops of Durham, Coventry, and Sarum, W. de St. John, John Mareschal, William Mareschal, Roger de Pratellis, Geoffrey, son of Peter or Fitz-Peter, Robert de Witefeld. It was given by the hand of William de Longchamp, Chancellor-elect of Ely, in Canterbury, November 30, in the first year of Richard's reign (1189). In the reign of John mention is made for the first time of the Manor of Henley. Previously it was in- cluded in Bensington. But on September 4, 1199, the King granted to Robert, a descendant of Errand de Harecourt, a companion of the Conqueror at Hastings, and to his heirs, the two manors of Benson and Henley.t This grant was in discharge of a debt of 100 librates of land.} The manors * Egerton Charters, No. 372. M.B. t Charter Rolls, John, p. 17 (printed). J A librate of land was worth annually 20s. 1 8 History of the Manor of Bensington were to be held by the service of one knight's fee. Probably at first a knight's fee consisted of a certain amount of land. But as the Kings were accustomed to grant estates of varying extent to be held as a knight's fee, the opinion of Selden may be considered correct. ' A knight's fee,' he says, ' did not consist of land of a fixed extent or value ; but was as much as the King was pleased to grant on condition of having the service of one knight.'* In the reign of Henry III. the value of a knight's fee is said by Camden to have been £1$ per annum. By the Stat, of Knights, 15 Edward II., such persons as had ^20 a year in fee or for life might be com- pelled to undergo knighthood. This provision ex- tended to socage tenants as well. The Stat, de Militibtt-s was repealed in 1 7 Charles I . In the sixth year of John an extent, or valuation, of Benson Manor was made. It sets forth that the land, with the stock, was worth £%o, and without the stock £70. But the steward, Robert de Harcourt, carried away three carts, with twenty-four oxen and one horse, which the Sheriff of Oxon brought back, except the horse. ' No one has received anything of the aforesaid manor, except ioos. of ferm, which the aforesaid Sheriff received ; and it was committed, by the will of the King, to Thomas Bassett, that he now may answer to the Exchequer.'t The extent shows a decrease of ^20 in the annual * Selden's ' Titles of Honour.' t Rot. Norm. 6 John, m. 3, de valore terr'" Norm'". Robert Harcourt 19 value of the manor, as, when granted to Robert, it was worth ^iooa year. Harcourt in the extent is called 'steward.' In the Pipe Roll of the third year of John he is stated to have lands in Bensington of the annual value of ^28 14s., and ^13 15s. blank. His beneficiary interest in the manor was thus considerably less than the full possession of it. Possibly in the interval between his third and sixth year John granted him other lands worth ,£100 per annum ; or he may have compelled him to accept the stewardship in discharge of the royal debt. However this may have been, he was no longer steward at the time when the extent was made. Together with the stewardship he forfeited the lands of Cherebery, Dilliber, Burstall, Ilmesdone, Wendlingbury, and other possessions. This whole- sale confiscation was made for political reasons. In the summer of the year 1204, Philip Augustus, King of France, conquered Normandy. The Anglo- Norman nobles who had estates in both England and Normandy were consequently placed in a diffi- cult position. For Philip confiscated the Continental estates of John's adherents, while John seized the lands in England belonging to Philip's supporters. Harcourt preferred, apparently, his Norman to his English interests, and his family followed his lead. The lands of Langeton and Blakedon, Leverkeber and Little Totnes, Devon, which the King lately had granted to the sons of R. de Harecourt, who. now 20 History of the Manor of Bensingt. 011 have withdrawn from the King's service, were given to Robert de Bikeley/" Bensington was in the King's hands in the ninth and tenth years of his reign, and was valued at ^ioo per annum.f Subsequently it was bestowed, with the Chiltern Hundreds in Oxon, on John de Harcourt, to whom it was again assigned in the second year of Henry III. John, in the sixth year of his reign, gave and con- firmed to the Church of St. Peter, Dorchester, and to Abbot Eustace, etc., the church of Bensington, with all its appurtenances and liberties, which they had by the charters of the Empress Matilda, Henry 1 1., and Richard. Also, in the seventeenth year of his reign, John directed the Sheriff of Oxfordshire to give the Abbot of Dorchester the tenth sheaf of the demesne of Bensington, instead of the tenth acre which he then had, provided the exchange should not be prejudicial to the King's interest.^ In the third year of Henry III. the manor, with Henley and its other appurtenances, was assigned to Engelard de Cygony.§ He was one of the Flemish mercenaries whom John brought into the country and advanced to offices and wealth. The Misae Roll * Close Roll 6 John, de tern's Norm™ datis. The lands of the Normans were granted out to others (not Normans), ' quousque terra Anglorum &• Normannorum sint communes ;' or 'quousque recti's heredibus reddiderimus per pacem.' t Madox, Excheq., p. 191. + Close Roll 17 John, m. 26. § Close Roll 3 Hen. III. (printed), p. 403. Engelard de Cygony 2 1 of the fourteenth year of John contains several references to him, as one of the King's most trusted servants. As these mercenaries were thoroughly hated by the nation, John, in compliance with the demands of the Barons at Runnymead, undertook to dismiss them. He promised to remove from their posts Engelard de Cygony, Gyon de Cygony, and several others, and not again to place them in office.* Not- withstanding this provision of the Charter, Engelard was again employed by the King shortly after. On the resettlement of the Government under Henry III., he was urgent with the Council for a better maintenance in the royal service. Probably he deserved something of the King ; for throughout the contest with Philip of France he had remained steadfast to the cause of John and Henry. The grant to him of Bensington, with its appurtenances, was accompanied by an undertaking on the part of the Council to indemnify him, should proceedings be taken against him by John de Harcourt, who had assumed the cross. Besides the manor and the custody of the four hundreds and the half which he received the year following, Engelard was promised 100 librates of land out of the first escheats. Meanwhile, he was to have .£50 sterling in two payments, the former of which was to be made at the next Hilary. But he was not to receive the librates, or, if he had received * Cart. Mag., c. 50. 22 History of the Manor of Bensington them, was to surrender them, if the King should deliver into his hands the county of Surrey. The £^o also would not be paid if before Hilary he re- ceived the escheats in full, or the county ; and if he had received a portion of the escheats, the amount would be subtracted. Whether or not this arrangement was carried out, does not appear ; but subsequently the manor and hundreds, which he had previously held de baillio, were regranted to him. In 1220, or thereabouts, De Cygony wrote to Hubert de Burgh, the Justiciary, on a matter con- nected with Benson.* The Bishop of Lincoln held a sluice there of the King, by the service of 2s. rent per annum, and the Abbot of Dorchester had a meadow for which he rendered to the King 3s. 6d. a year. These tenures were free socage. But Engelard de Cygony complained that the Bishop and Abbot ceased not, daily, to injure and trouble the King, him, and the men of the manor, intending, without doubt, to deprive the King of his right ; that is, of his seigniory over the land and sluice, and of the services, and of drawing the property into pure alms. By this means they would have got rid of all pecuniary payments, as the only service rendered, at that time, by tenants in pure alms, or frankal- moign, was to pray for the souls of the founder, or donor, and of his heirs, dead or alive. This tenure, * Royal Letters, Henry III., vol. i., p. 160. Engelard de Cygony 23 by which monastic property was largely held in past times, still exists, the parochial clergy in many cases holding their glebes in frankalmoign.* The Bishop, moreover, had excommunicated Engelard's demesne- men and the men of the manor, because, according to their power, they defended the King's right and their own, and still they were under the sentence. Engelard begged for letters from the King to the Bishop and Abbot, inhibiting them from proceeding further with respect to the lay fee which they held of the King, and assigning them and himself a certain day on which to appear before De Burgh and others of the Council at the Exchequer, concerning the controversy between them. He would take care to be present with his men to attend to the King's rights. Engelard, who had the custody of Windsor and Odiham Castles, joined the Earls of Chester, Albe- marle, and Lincoln, and the other malcontents, in their attempt to procure the Justiciary's overthrow. The cause of complaint was the Pope's order for the restitution of the royal castles. But dreading ex- communication by name, with which they were threatened, they submitted to the King at North- ampton, and surrendered all the lands, castles, and custodies belonging to the Crown in their possession. Among the Patent Rolls is a safe-conduct for Engelard and others to come to the King.t Bensing- ton and Henley, which he had surrendered, were * Blackstone. t Pat. 8 Hen. III., m. 12, tergo. 24 History of the Manor of Bensington regranted to him the same year, as were the hun- dreds the year following.* He was to have seisin of them during the King's pleasure. The men of Bensington, in 1227, made a com- plaint against their lord. The King, for that turn, had given to De Cygony the right of taxing the people of the manor. His demand was excessive, amounting to 15s. per hyde. The Sheriff was, therefore, compelled to go in propria persona to Benson, and to cause the tallage to be assessed reasonably, so that the tenants might not be over- burdened, t According to the Close Roll, De Cygony held the manor de baillio. In the year 1420, the Sheriff of Oxon was com- manded to permit E. de Cygony to hold the Manor of Bensington, with its hundreds and liberties. \ He was then again Constable of Windsor Castle. In the same year permission was given him to hold the plea de namio vetito in the Manor of Bensington for life, with all other usual pleas. § Engelard, who was sometimes called ' de Atyae,' or ' Athie,' died in or about 1244. In 28 Henry III., he was em- powered freely to make his will, and in the following year, for the good services done to the King by him in his lifetime, Henry granted to his executors * Close Roll 8 Hen. III., p. 595 ; 9 Hen. III., p. 6 b. t Ibid. 11 Hen. III. (printed), p. 192. % Ibid. 24 Hen. III., m. 13. § Ibid. This plea, namiutn vetitum, was a demand for satis- faction by the owner of cattle which had been unjustly taken and driven away on pretence of damage done by them. Royal Grants 25 that they should be quit of all accounts to be rendered by them at the Exchequer, and of all arrears of accounts and of all debts and imprests. He left one son, Oliver.* Cygony seems to have always held the manor during the King's pleasure. Whether he received the rents of the sokemen and other tenants is not clear. Probably he did. About four years before his death, as stated above, he was enabled to exercise jurisdiction, and on one occasion, at all events, had a grant of the tallage. In 1226, Henry, on the petition of Nicolas of the King's chamber, granted to Gilbert de Winter- bourne, a servant in the buttery, for his maintenance in the royal service, as long as it should please the King, the land in Bensintone, which the King at first had granted to the said Nicolas ; and the Sheriff of Oxon was commanded to give him full seisin of it. f Two years later, in 1228, Gilbert had the grant of another estate in Benson. The King then gave him one virgate and the fourth part of another, with appurtenances — land which had escheated to the Crown in consequence of the larceny of Walter Gesun, for which he was hanged. For this grant Gilbert was to render homage and service. The service was the payment of 6s. 3d. annually, one half at Easter and the other at Michaelmas, He had, besides, to carry the King's * Pat. Roll. T Close Roll 10 Henry III 26 History of the Manor of Bensington corn, with his man and cart, for one day in autumn, and to carry the King's hay at the royal expense for one day, which services were more fully set forth in his charter. The tallage of 2s. was reserved. As Walter held by charter, he was a liber soco- mannus, or free sokeman. On September 17, following, the Sheriff was commanded to cause Reginald Fitz-Roger to have full seisin, without delay, of one acre of land with its appurtenances in 'Bensingtone.'* This acre was the holding of Richard Fitz-Restwold, who had fled the country because of some grievous accusation brought against him. As the King had had the land in his hands for a year and a day, he ordered that it should be put in the possession of Reginald Fitz-Roger, of whom Richard held it. The land of a felon escheated to the lord, who in this case was Fitz-Roger. But the King, by prero- gative, had first, in all cases, possession for a year and a day. Previous to the time of Henry I., and perhaps later, the King had waste as well, and during his year and day used to commit great destruction. But in the Great Charter it was provided that the waste should be omitted, though this prerogative was afterwards revived. There is a Lay Subsidy Roll.t or fragment of * Close Roll 10 Hen. III. t Lay S. R. (Exchequer), Oxon, No. if A. Testa de Nevill 27 one, for this reign extant. The tax was 2s. on every carucate. After the abolition of the Danegelt, Richard I. imposed another tax on land, called carucage. Eighty-four shillings were received from Benson for forty-two carucates. This sum appears to be exclusive of 4s. paid for two carucates belonodnCT to one ' Coterellus.' In the Testa de Nevill* is the following return made to the Barons of the Exchequer : ' Ingelard Cigon holds the manor of Bensinton, with four hundreds and a half, at the will of the lord King, but it is not known by what service.' Then comes a list of the free tenants of the manor. Of them there were sixteen in all, holding their estates by money rents or other services. Among the chief properties were the estates of the monastery of Oseney and of the Aungeiny family, situated at Holcomb. Hunter- comb, in Nuffield, belonged to a family that bore the name of the place. Robert Brand held property in Bix, and hence the name. Bix-brand, as dis- tinguished from the other manor, Bix-gibwyn. The Abbess of Godstow had an estate in Shillingford, and the Abbot of Thame some land in Wyfold. Ernald Neel possessed a hide, still known as Neel's Farm. There were also some very small properties. One of them, a weir in the river and an acre of meadow, belonged to the Bishop of Lincoln, who seems to have endeavoured to get rid of his rent and to hold instead by the tenure of frankalmoign. * P. 118. CHAPTER II. A.D. I244— A.D. I337. Grant of manor to Earl Richard — Let at fee-farm — Manor in ancient demesne — Rent given to St. Nicolas' Chapel — Death of Earl Edmund — Bigod — Piers Gaveston — Account of John de Clinton — Manor granted to Queen Isabella — To John of Eltham — Local names. IN the twenty-eighth year of his reign, on Octo- ber 5, 1244, Henry committed the Manor of Bensington, with its appurtenances, also the Chiltern Hundreds, to his brother Richard, and commanded the Sheriff of Oxon to give him seisin of it.* In the Hundred Rollst it is stated that this gift was bestowed in frank or free marriage^ on occasion * MS. Dods., 109, f. 12. f Rot. Hund., p. 31. \ Frank-marriage is defined by Blackstone to be a species of entailed estate. The donor gives the land, together with a wife, who is (usually) his daughter or cousin, to the donee. The benefited persons, the man and his wife, are tenants in special tail, the property descending to the heirs of their two bodies begotten. ' Donees in frank-marriage are liable to no service but fealty, for a rent reserved thereon is void until the fourth degree of con- sanguinity be passed between the issues of the donor and donee.' Grant to Earl Richard of Richard's union with his second wife, the Lady Senchia of Provence, sister of the Queen. A con- firmation was also given him of the earldom of Cornwall, with the Honours of Eye and Walling- ford. The King further engaged to give him and his heirs by Senchia .£500 per annum in lands escheated to the Crown, and, till he was put in possession, granted him and his wife an annuity of 1,000 marks payable half-yearly at the Treasury. Probably the Manor of Benson was part of this gift of land. This Prince was conspicuous among the Barons of Henry III.'s reign for his ability, as well as for his rank. He was much superior to the King in common-sense, as is shown by his refusal of the crown of Sicily, which Henry so foolishly accepted for his son. Had it not been for his avarice and fickleness, which led him to subordinate every con- sideration to his personal interests, he might have conferred great benefits on his country. He is remarkable for having in some degree revived the glories of the Crusades by his advantageous treaty with the Sultan of Babylon, in consequence of which Jerusalem and Bethlehem, with the greater part of the Holy Land, were restored to the Christians. He is further remarkable as the richest Prince of that age in Europe, and as the only Englishman elected King of the Romans. He was thrice married : first to Isabella, daughter of the Earl of Clare, secondly to Senchia of Provence, and lastly to Beatrice, a great 30 Histoiy of the Manor of Bensington beauty, and niece of the Archbishop of Cologne. He died at Berkhampstead Castle, April 2, 1272. The Earl of Cornwall, some time prior to the year 1257, granted, by charter, the Manor of Benson to John Clark, Robert Cotel, Thomas Bone, Walter Gerard, William Visin, William Totare, Richard Fitzhugh, William Bone, Ralph Restwalde, Peter Saleman, John Cobbe, Reginald Ruff, Adam Palmer, lohn Vinet, Henry Funen, John Blundel, Robert of Sanford, John Haywarde, John Redemayne, Hugh Cotel, Ralph of the Marsh, Walter Thoremund, William Coppe, John Batayle, William Adelen, and to their successors, at a fee-farm rent* of £%o sterling per annum, to be paid yearly at Easter and Michael- mas.t By the terms of his grant, he passed away the whole manor, with its demesne, meadows, pastures, mill, with the toll paid for grinding, fisheries belong- ing to the mill, land and turves from the place where he had been accustomed to take them, with rents and customs — except all kinds of pleas, perquisites and tallages, fines for marriages and the foreign hundreds, i.e., the Chilterns, with the vill of Henley, which, together with the woods, he reserved to himself. He engaged also for himself, his heirs and assigns * 'A fee-farm rent is where an estate in fee is granted subject to a rent in fee of at least a quarter of the value of the lands at the time of its reservation.' — Stephen's Blackstone. f Inq. ad quod damnum 16 Hen. VI. Manor let at Fee-farm 3 1 holding land in the manor, that they should pay the ancient relief and heriot, when occasion required, according to custom ; and he granted to his farmers and their successors that they should have in his wood of ' Bokkor and hemer ' timber and brushwood at the view of the bailiff, sufficient for maintaining the said mill and the mill-dam. On breach of covenant, all tenements held by the Firmarii were to revert to the Earl and his heirs. In case any of the tenants of the manor should rebel in rents and customs, the said farmers had power of distraining on their goods and chattels. Finally, the grant was made without fraud, and the Earl gave them warranty against all men. The charter was sealed, the undernamed persons being witnesses : Dominus Walter de Balkenet, D DS Richard de Twong, D ns Ralph de Peyton, D ns Roger de Aung, Stephen Chendut, Henry Fitz-Robert, Fulk de Rycot, Henry de Whitefeld, Peter de Esserhugg, Hugh de Dunstew cum aliis. Richard, King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall, was succeeded by his only surviving son, Edmund, who was in his twenty-third year when his 2,2 History of the Manor of Bensington father died. On April 28 the young Earl did homage to the King, and obtained possession of his large inheritance. About Michaelmas he married Margaret, sister of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and soon after received the honour of knighthood. In the seventh year of his reign, 1279, King Edward caused a survey of every hundred to be taken. The rolls for Oxfordshire and four other counties are extant. The survey, which is similar in character to Domesday, but much more full and copious, gives a list of all the tenants of every manor, with a description of the services by which they held their lands. The twelve men sworn on the inquest in Ewelnie Hundred were: Lord William Was, Lord Thomas de Parco, Knight, William de Scalebroc, Gilbert de Mulesham, John de la Rose, Umfrey Was, William Ouatermeys, Richard de Berewyk, Roger de Cadewell, Richard Restwold, John Salvein, Thomas de Dorset. They returned that Bensington Manor was the King's demesne, with the hamlets of Henley, Nettle- bed, Huntercombe, Wyfaude, Prest - Cromarsh, Wardburg, Silingford, and Hupholecumbe ; that the manor with the hamlets, excepting Preston-Cro- marsh* and Huntercombe, King Henry gave his brother, together with the Chiltern Hundreds. * Preston-Cromarsh was given by William the Conqueror to Battle Abbey. Tenants of the Manor 33 Earl Edmund held in demesne 184 acres of arable, as they lie together with the fallow ; and of demesne meadow 58 acres, and separable pasture 12 acres, and one mill which is called ' Ouatie.' The advowson of Bensington Church, with its chapels of Nettlebed and Wardburgh, belonged to the Abbot of Dorchester. Henley Church, which also was a chapel to Bensington, had been given by Earl Richard of Cornwall to Henry de la More. The following descriptions of tenants holding of the Manor of Benson are mentioned in the Hundred Rolls. I. Liberi Tenentes. — Of these there were forty-six holding thirty-nine tenements. Only a few of these tenements correspond with those enumerated on p. 118 of Testa de Nevill and referred to above. Most of the others were very small parcels of land, as an acre of meadow, a croft or two, a pasture for two plough-teams, etc. Some of the tenants, how- ever, had holdings larger than these little freeholds. John de Mandevil held one virgate and a half for 8s., and he owed tallage and suit and service at the court at Benson. This holding was the Manor of Nettlebed. Agnes and Elena le Felawes held one virgate and one-fourth part of another for 6s. 3d., and carried the lord's corn in autumn for one day with one cart ; and they carried hay one day with one cart, the lord providing victuals, i.e., for the hay- makers ; and that work was worth 6d. They owed 3 34 History of the Manor of Bensington suit and service at the court at Benson, and paid tallage 2s. The Earl of Cornwall himself held one fourth of a virgate in Bochor, and Hugh Restwald held a piece of water by rendering five sticks of eels. These libcri tenentes* differed nothing, apparently, from the liberi socmanni in respect of the nature of their services. Like the sokemen, they were subject to tallage. Probably the distinction between the two classes of tenants or tenures proceeded from the fact that the tenements of the free tenants had never been held in base tenure. The lands of the free sokemen were originally held in villenage, but enfranchised by the King. The tenements held by the free tenants consisted of 379 acres and a slip of arable, 12 acres of wood, 14 acres of meadow, four pastures, a mill and croft (which, being tallaged for a virgate, were probably about that extent), a dam, a weir, four ' waters,' four crofts, one messuage, and one enclosure. Their rents amounted to £^ 14s. 4d. * The following names of freeholders occur : John de Man- devil, Agnes and Elen le Felawes, Richard Morin, John Brand, Robert Brian, Jordan de Saukevil, William Nel, Robert de Hacle, Andrew de Kingeswood, Ralph Guul, Henry son of Robert, William Cotere, Richard Sundy or Sundi, Walter Morgan, Richard Restwald, Robert Cotel, John Benenig, Peter Paumer or Palmer, Hugh Cook, Henry Simming, Hugh son of William, William Wlfraven, Walter Merchant, William Sopere, Hugh Clerk, Andrew le Butiler, John Sugge, John Hosegood, Hugh son of Felicia, Adam Reynald, William Walerond, Henry Thurnind, John Batayle, John Apelam, Hugh de Mogeputte, John Polekin, Henry Lucas, Walter Lufesone, Robert Miller, or the Miller. Tenants m Ancient Demesne 35 The other tenants mentioned in the Hundred Roll are free sokemen, and customary tenants. These are the real tenants in ancient demesne. They were bound by their tenure to plough and till the King's land, to mow his meadows, and to perform similar services for his maintenance. They were of two classes : ( 1) those who held their lands freely by grant or charter of the King ; (2) those called tenants by the verge, or by copy of court roll, at the wilt of the lord, according to the mstom of the manor. The former class of tenants, they who held by charter, enjoyed several privileges : 1. They were quit of 'toll and passage, and such impositions as men might demand of them, for the goods and chatells sold or bought by them in Fairs or Markets.' But the immunity was probably limited, as to sale, to the products of their fields ; and in respect of purchases, to manure for their land, or to things necessary for the use of their families. It was enjoyed not only by the tenants themselves, but also by all persons inhabiting houses built on land in ancient demesne.* 2. They were quit of tallages and taxes granted by Parliament, except when named in the grant. They were subject to taxation by the King. * In the reign of Elizabeth it was decided in an action of trespass, that freedom from toll did not extend to merchandise, but only to things above-named. In the same Queen's reign the court was of opinion that even an inhabitant of a house who built on lands in ancient desmesne, though he were not a tenant holding by that tenure, should be discharged of toll. It is doubtful what was law or custom in these respects in the time of Edward I. 3 6 History of the Manor of Bensington 3. They were quit of attendance at the court-leet, or at hundred courts. 4. They were exempted from contributing any- thing to the expenses of knights of the shire. 5. They were exempted from serving on juries and inquests in the county, out of their manor, or seigniory of ancient demesne, unless they had lands at common law for which they ought to be charged. If returned by the Sheriff to be on a jury, they might sue out a writ, and if he disregarded it, they might have an attachment against him. 6. They were not to be impleaded out of their lord's court. As it was their business to provide victuals for the King's garrisons, and for the soldiers in other places, in time of war or rebellion, it was not desirable that they should be taken away from their homes to the neglect of their farming, on which account this privilege was granted them. Tenants in ancient demesne required admittance by the lord to perfect their title ; and they held according to the custom of the manor, but not at the will of the lord. Their right to their land was tried in the court of ancient demesne, which was a court-baron corre- sponding to the ordinary court in other manors. They proceeded by the writ of right close. In the Coram Rege Roll, 25 Henry III., there is mention of an action, brought at the assizes at Oxford, by the writ of novel disseisin, against certain persons for unjust dispossession in Bensington. But the action Tenants in Ancient Demesne ^j could not be sustained, as the writ of novel disseisin did not run in the manor, because it was in ancient demesne. The mode of procedure was by the writ of right close in the lord's court. This writ was addressed to the bailiffs of the manor, even when the manor was in the King's hands. But when the lord himself ousted his tenant by charter, the writ was directed to him, and not to his bailiffs. The tenant, in case of being dispossessed by his lord, might proceed against him at common law. When, however, the King was actually the lord, the tenant's chance of redress must have been slight. If a tenant by charter were distrained to render to his lord other services or customs than he or his ancestors had rendered, he might sue a writ of monstraveritnt, directed to the lord, commanding him not to demand these unaccustomed services ; or addressed to the Sheriff, ordering him to prevent the tenant from being distrained on. No pleas could be removed from the court of ancient demesne, except for false judgment. They were then decided in the Common Pleas. Tenants by charter were called ' sokemen ' — men, that is, of the soke or privilege. Their holdings were denominated 'sokemanries.' As we shall see, the term ' sokemen ' is used of a number of tenants in Bensington, though it is not of frequent occurrence elsewhere in Oxfordshire. The sokemen were undoubtedly the ' privileged 38 History of the Manor of Bensington villeins' described by Bracton. They were liberi homines, since they could not be compelled to relin- quish their holdings at the lord's will, or to hold them against their own. The inferiority of their tenure to common socage seems to have been tradi- tional and nominal rather than real ; since their services, which were similar to those performed by tenants in socage, were ' certain and determined,' and ' their privileges coeval with the Government, or at least as ancient as any estates or tenures whatever.'* 'As to ancient demesne,' says Blackstone, ' it is clear that the freehold is in the tenant.' The other description of tenure in ancient demesne was very similar to ordinary copyhold. The freehold was in the lord. The tenants consequently pro- ceeded in the court of ancient demesne by bill, and not by writ of right close. They were also de- barred from proceeding against their lord by monstraverunt. "j" II. Liberi Sokemanni. — There were about forty- four sokemanries. The largest holding was that of Symon Gerard, who possessed seven virgates. But Feylet and several others held one hide and up- wards. The remaining holdings were small. Symon Gerard paid 31s. rent, besides predial services. He had to find seven scythes in Haslemere * Chief Justice Holt, quoted in Nelson's ' Lex Maneriorum.' f Fitzherbert, ' Natura Brevium.' Tenants in Ancient Demesne 39 for one day, and in Alwardesmor' seven scythes, and to make eight and a half acres and one rod of hay, and to find for one day for carrying hay four carts, and for another day three carts, and at three request- days thirteen men at each request, the lord providing food. Symon, and Richard Restwald his tenant, were to ride on the further side of the mowers, that they might work well ; and they ought to eat and sup with the lord's bailiff. Symon also found eleven carts for carrying the lord's corn for three days. He owed suit and service and tallage. His seven virgates were distributed among twenty- one tenants, whose services were similar to his own. Richard Restwald, who held three of his seven virgates, had eight free tenants possessed of eleven acres and a half. The holdings of these sokemen consisted of 1,279 acres of arable, one wood and three slips of wood, two enclosures, two messuages, two acres of meadow, one pasture, three crofts, one little meadow, and one moor. The sub-tenants held five acres, and one half-acre of meadow not otherwise mentioned. The rent amounted to more than £\2, and the hidage was from 30s. to 35s. The names of the sokemen are fully recorded in the Hundred Rolls. III. Consuetudinarii. — Clement le Gul held half a virp-ate for 2s. 6d. rent annually, and he had to hoe three half-days at his own cost, and to mow with one scythe two days, and to find one man half a 40 History of the Manor of Bensington day to reap nedirip at his own cost. He had to find one man for two days to make hayricks, and on three request-days, in autumn, on each day two men, the lord finding food. He had to stack the lord's corn three days, with one man, and he owed suit of court and paid tallage. He could not give his daughter in marriage without license ; and with his companions mentioned below he had to make five acres and a half of meadow — to make, i.e., the hay. The names of his 'companions' were: Ralph of Bric- walton, Richard Meymund, John Bishop, Richard of Baldon, John Revening, John of the More, Robert Wolfrick, Richard son of Dion, Henry Simming. All performed the same customs and services as Clement le Gul. The following entries appear to be new regulations for the settlement of doubtful or disputed points : No mention is made of sokemen in Bampton, a manor in ancient demesne. The liberi tenentes paid rent, and two a fixed sum for all tallage. The labours and services of the villeins had been commuted for a money payment, and most of them paid tallage. All the villeins owed suit at the view of frank-pledge twice a year, and pleaded by the little writ or writ of right close, according to the custom of the manor. They probably, therefore, held by charter. Exemption from the visits or court-leet was, apparently, a local custom, though it is stated to have been a general privilege of tenants in ancient demesne. In Headington, another of these manors, the tenants in servitude paid a money rent, and performed certain labours which are not specified. Nothing is said about license to marry, etc. The lord's court was held from three weeks to three weeks, when the writ of right close was pleaded. There is no reference to tallage. Some of the free tenants held in chivalry. Tenants in Ancient Demesne 41 ' Item. Clement the Gul, and the other Consuetu- dinarii of Benson, Warborough, and Shillingford will have a certain portion of meadow in common, called " Le Hale"; and one acre of meadow in Haseleffre, of four perches wide, which is called " Medaker"; and also they ought to have two acres of wheat, by view of the Bailiff, neither of the better nor of the worse, but of the middle, for their labours, which was called " Ripkowel." ' The labourers, who of custom ought to stack the hay, when the hayricks were finished, would have of the lord's purse 13d.; and they who ought to stack the corn would each of them have one sheaf in the field with a band of the same corn.* ' The free sokemen and the customary tenants ought in common to make two ploughings in the year, and at each ploughing will have i-^d. for food, for the day's work. Each plough ought to plough two acres, which is called Geserthe, and for that ploughing all ought to join in common within the demesne, and without trouble. All the mowers in the lord's meadow will have towards their harvest supper, called " medsipe," 2s. All who were in hydage, if they ought to be amerced, gave before judgment 6d., and after judgment I2d. ' All holding land in the aforesaid manor, with its appurtenances, after the death of ancestors, for * The sheaf is a bundle, which may be of any size. But it was limited by the provision that it should be such a bundle as could be tied together by a band formed of the corn. 42 History of the Manor of Bensington entrance on their lands gave as a relief as much as a year's rent.' The necessity for the lord's license in order that the customary tenant might dispose of his own daughter in marriage was a mark of slavery. It is curious to note how extremes meet. The tenant in chivalry or knight-service, who held by the most honourable tenure in the country, and was therefore at the opposite end of the social scale to the servus, was, if under age, disposed of in marriage by the lord who was his guardian. When the ward was fourteen years old, the lord was at liberty to tender him a wife of his rank in life. If he refused the offer and married another person, he forfeited to the lord double the amount offered to the lord for the match. In the case of a female ward, the refusal of the lord's offer was punished by his retaining her lands in his possession till she was twenty-one years old — for seven vears longer than he would have done had she accepted the proposed alliance. The reason for placing restrictions on marriage was in these cases similar. It was not for the lord's interest that his tenants in knight-service should contract marriages with his enemies ; nor could he afford to lose the services of his villeins. The c onsuetudinarii held 108 acres, with a plot of land, at a rent amounting to £\ 2s. j\d. They had also, as stated above, some meadow-land in common. In Warborougk, which was a hamlet of Benson, and is still included in the manor, the sokemen held Tenants in Ancient Demesne 43 by services similar to those of the Benson sokemen. Several of the cultivators held by charter granted to them by sokemen, and so were under-tenants. None of them possessed more than a virgate and a half, excepting William le Totere, who held two virgates. But one of these virgates he held as liber tenens. The property owned by these sokemen consisted of 486 acres of arable, nine acres and one half-acre of meadow, one mill and one weir, equal to half an acre, and half an acre of pasture. Their rent amounted to £\ 17s. iod., and hidage 3s. 6d. The consttetu dinar ii of Warborough were holders of eleven virgates, or 264 acres, at 40s. rent and 1 6s. hidage. Their services were similar to those of equal position in Benson. They could not give their daughters in marriage without license. In Shillingford, which appears to have been part of Warborough, the customary tenants held 156 acres, at £\ us. 3d. rent and 12s. hidage. The Abbess of Godstow held two carucates formerly belonging to the King's demesne of Ben- sington. She had also one acre given by R. Rest- wald, and three acres given by Walter Cotel, of Restwald's fee, and Cotel was medius between Rest- wald and the Abbess. She held two acres of land and a pasture given by Walter Clerk, and one little pasture given by William le Totere. The Abbot of Oseney held one virgate of land, formerly King's demesne, which used to render 44 History of the Manor of Bensington predial service. He had six cottars, who reaped on the principal boonday in autumn. He possessed also a carucate at Holcombe, formerly the King's demesne land. The beginning of the reign of Edward III. is fixed as the time when tenants in ancient demesne were confounded with ordinary burgesses.* That applies to their exemption from being tallaged by royal prerogative. The Confirmatio Chartarum of Edward I.'s reign did not apply to the King's demesne, though probably it was meant to. Edward I. imposed a tallage on his demesne tenants in 1304, and Edward II. in 131 2. The last instance was in 1332. The King, however, accepted a tenth and a fifteenth instead ; and in 1340 the King's right to tallage his demesne was abolished by Act of Parliament.! When the various privileges of the tenure ceased to be enjoyed or exercised by the people of Benson does not appear. They were lost in most manors by non-user. Earl Edmund, in 1283, endowed his chapel in Wallingford Castle with a portion of the rents of Benson Manor. His father, as already stated, granted the manor to the tenants at a fee-farm rent of ^80. Edmund, who for his munificence to the religious was called Summus rehgiosorum patronus, had founded, some years previously, a chapel in * Hallam, 'Mid. Ages,' iii. 112, 113. f Stubbs' ' Constit. Hist.,' vol. ii., p. 568. Library edition. Grant to Roger Bigod 45 Wallingford Castle dedicated to St. Nicholas. To this foundation he now gave, as an additional endowment for the maintenance of six chaplains, six clerks, and four cofferers, ^40 of his fee-farm rent. The lands out of which the payment issued, which were in Warborough and Shillingford, were, it was stated, completely separated from the manor, though it does not appear that they really were. Besides this, Edmund also diverted, but when and for whose benefit is not known, 17s. id. of yearly rent. From that time the tenants paid to the Earl ^"39 2S. 1 id. for the manor. On October 1, 1300, Earl Edmund, who was very wealthy, died at Ashridge. As he had no children, his property devolved on the King, his first cousin and heir. His arms were : arg. within a bordure sa. bezantee a lion rampant gu. crowned or. On his seal this coat is represented as borne by an eagle in his beak. Kennet says he bore three lions. The King, at the intercession of the peers in 1301, allowed Margaret, Earl Edmund's widow, ^500 a year out of her husband's lands. One of the manors settled on her was Henley. After her decease and that of her second husband, Lord Audley, Henley was granted in fee to Sir John de Molyns. In the same year the King made Walter de Aylesbury Custodian of Wallingford Castle and of the Honours of Wallingford and St. Walery, an office he had filled under Earl Edmund, and soon after directed him to deliver to Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and 46 History of the Manor of Bensington Marshal of England, the townships of Watlington, Beckley with Horton, and the Manor of Bensington for his life.* The circumstances, prior to the Earl's submission to the King, that led to this grant are interesting, though obscure. Bigod, with the Earl of Hereford and the Archbishop of Canterbury, were strenuous opponents of Edward's policy. The Archbishop's object was the advancement of ecclesiastical power ; but the motive of the Earl's conduct is not so evident. Their names are so associated with the Confirmatio Chartarum and other restrictions on royal power that they must be reckoned benefactors, though their resistance to the King was factious, and even treasonable. ' There was opened to King Edward a conspiracy wrought by the Archbishop of Canterbury and divers Earls and Barons against him at such time as he was in Flanders. And when the Earl Marshal was examined of this, and was not well able to clear himself, he made the King his heir and put him in possession of his lands. The King gave him his lands again for his life, and also land of _£i,ooo value in addition.' The next lord of Bensington was the notorious Piers de Gaveston, Edward the Second's favourite. His father, a Gascon gentleman, had bravely served the late King in the wars ; on which account Piers, when a little boy,t was placed about the person of * Abbrevatio Rot" 1 Originalium 30 Edw. I., Rot. 8. t Walsingham. Piers Gaveston 47 the Prince. By his pleasing obsequious manner he succeeded in so ingratiating himself with Edward as to become his companion and adviser to the exclusion of all other influence, though it appears doubtful whether he really cared much for him.* Edward I., on his death-bed, solemnly enjoined his son not to recall Gaveston from banishment without the consent of the nobles ; but the King, disregarding in this respect, as in others, the counsel of his wise father, immediately sent for him, and made him Earl of Cornwall. Piers was a brave, accomplished soldier, and does not appear to have been a worse Minister or adviser than others, except where his own interests were concerned. But his insolence to the nobles, whom he delighted to offend and ridicule, procured for him their relentless animosity, and at last occa- sioned his downfall. He was seized at Deddington Castle, Oxon, June 17, 1312, by Guy, Earl of Warwick, and conveyed on a mule to Warwick Castle. When his arrival was known, the Earls of Lancaster, Hereford, and Arundel repaired thither, and after a consultation it was determined to kill him. He was put to death on Blacklow Hill, near Warwick, July 1, 1312. On August 5, 1309, while the King was at Stam- ford, an exchange of lands was made between him and the Earl of Cornwall. Piers and his wife Margaret, who was the King's niece, granted for themselves and their heirs the Honours of the Peak ■■'■ Walsingham. 48 History of the Manor of Bensington and Cockermouth, with several other estates, to the King, in exchange for the county of Cornwall, with the castles, vills, manors, hundreds, sheriffdom, mines, etc., belonging formerly to Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, the Castle and Honour of Knaresborough, the Castle and Honour of Wallingford, the Manor of Watlington, the Manor of Bensington, the four hundreds and the half-hundred of Ciltria, the Honour of St. Walery, with a number of manors, honours, castles, chaces, hundreds, etc., all which possessions had been the property of Earl Edmund.* The account of John de Clinton senior for the year immediately preceding the grant to Gaveston is extant.t He accounted annually at Michaelmas, but as the manor was given to Piers on August 5, 1309, the account is for rather less than a twelvemonth. The fee-farm rent amounted to ^19 us. 5^d. Under the head of issues of the manor, fines of lands, he accounts for William le Totare's heriot 8s. i^d. ; for his relief a similar sum ; for the relief of Agnes, daughter of John Bataille, 2^d. ; for the relief of John le Goul, \qd. ; for relief of Geoffrey le Cartere, 2d. Then follow the names of those tenants whose suit and service at the court of ancient demesne were relaxed or remitted, with the perquisites of * MS. Dods., 35, fol. 23. Piers was created Earl of Cornwall in the first year of Edward. t Excheq. Q.'s Remembrancer anc' misc a , Minister' Accounts, No. i-z-l. The Account of John de Clynton 49 court. A fine was paid pro secta relaxata. The court of ancient demesne corresponded to the ordinary manorial court, or, rather, was similar to it with different modes of procedure. Like the hundred court, it was held 'from three weeks to three weeks,' that is, about seventeen times a year. On account of its frequency, attendance at it was by many con- sidered tiresome. For which reason, and for other reasons also, the higher class of tenants preferred paying a fine to rendering suit and service. Thirty- four persons paid the fine, among whom were the Abbots of Dorchester and North Oseney, John Neel, the owner, probably, of Neel's Farm, Ralph de Whiterugge, a name preserved in Witheridge Hill, and John Soundy, whose name is still to be met with in the locality. The fine in no case exceeded 2s. The perquisites of court were levied on the fol- lowing accounts :* For not warranting essoins, for license of agreement in a matter before the court, for not appearing, for hue and cry, for false plaint, * In No. 424 are about a dozen other accounts of officers of the manor, viz., four in the reign of Edward II., John de Clynton and Edmund Bacon being stewards of the Honour of Walling- ford ; one for the fiftieth year of Edward III. and 1 Richard II., by Alan atte Bregge, the receiver ; two in the reign of Richard II., the former by Wm. Gerveys, the latter by another receiver ; three in the reign of Henry IV., John Coterell being receiver for the Prince of Wales ; and four in the reign of Henry VI., William Shaldeston's name occurring as Surveyor of Benson in 1440, and Richard Houghton's as Bailiff in 1455-56. 4 5 cover, which is modern, it is dated an. 1 Edw. III. however, correspond with the Warborough Roll, No. Afi (given hereafter), which is of the first year of Edward III. 30 th levied in 34 Edward I. 28. On the It does not, 161 9 There was a Appendix 59 LIST OF INHABITANTS IN WARBOROUGH IN 1306 (?). £ s. d. D a John Lawer ... ... ... — 2 10 Richard Chapman ... ... — 2 11 John Adam ... ... ... — — 14 William Hosegod... ... ... — 2 4 Richard Little ... ... ... — — 7 Walter Lut ... ... ... — 3 6 William Wy tefeld ... ... ... — — 9 John Sugge ... ... ... — 3 — Walter Bone ... ... ... — 2 3 John Onyet ... ... ... — • 3 4 Walter Wyte ... ... ... — 4 4 Hugh Felice ... ... .. — 2 1 Thomas Reginald ... ... — 4 3 Richard Adelham ... ... — — 14J John Blondel ... ... ... — — l\ William Cobbe ... ... ... — — 18 Thomas Sugge ... ... ... — 2 z\ Emma Adulham ... ... ... — — io| John Palmer ... ... ••• — — u John Catour ... ... ... — — 7 Henry Heryat ... ... •■• — 2 8| Henry Veisyn ... ... ■•■ — 3 4 Thomas Bataile ... ... ... — 5 1 William Batayle ... ... ... — — 20 The remainder is destroyed by damp. The majority of these names occur in Rot. Hund. 7 Edw. I., and some in the roll for 1 Edw. III. INHABITANTS OF SCHILLYNGFORD IN £ D Simon Prestes ... ■•• ••• — John Prestes ... ••■ ••• — Alice Prestes ... •■• ••• — William Leuesone ■■• •■■ — Henry Kyntte ... ••■ ■■• — John Coppe ... •■• •■■ Richard Rokemond ■ • • • • • — Hugh Lyard ... ■•• •■• Henry Bondel ... ••• •■• Thomas Sauntford •■• ••• John Tormound ... ••- ••■ Abbess of Godstowe ■ • ■ ■ • • Sm a xxx me ... ■•■ xxiiijs. ix3. 9 1306 (?). s. d. — 9 7 6 — 11} — 12 3 S 6 — 9 — !5 2 — — 21 n 4 6o History of the Manor of Bensington The three following lists* contain the names of the principal inhabitants of Bensington, Warborough, and Shillingford in the first year of Edward III., 1327 : VILL OF BENSINGTON. d. Ralph West wold, t assessed at 4 — Ralph Salem an ... 3 — Ralph Pesemere 6 — Matilda Bisschop ... 3 — Ralph Laurence ... .. — 12 William Cook ... .. — 6 John atte Broke .. — 12 Peter le Palmere .. — 12 William Aykych 2 — John Somay — 6 Thomas Geffray .. — 12 Andrew Pikard . . . .. — 6 Margaret Abel . . . .. — 12 John Mordock ... .. — 8 William Burgeys 4 6 John Burgeys ... ■ 3 6 William Rauenyng 3 6 Geoffrey le Blount 4 6 Sweyn de Morle ... 5 6 Robert Grapmel 5 6 Ralph Dauy .. — 18 Elias de Pushulle •■ 15 — Henry ate Norcharde — 12 Clement .... 2 — John Soundy 4 — John de Alueton ... ... 3 — Sum* Lxxviiis. viiid. * Excheq. Lay Subsidy Rolls, Co. Oxon, Nc ). Afi, collection Ofonr- t A mistake, probably, for Restwold. Appendix 61 HAMLET OF WARBOROUGH. £ John Hosegod, assessed at William Sug John Daleber Richard Adam John Sug ... Stephen le Botiler Walter Omer John Plekyn Henry Onyet Robert Howet John Acheham John Palmere William le Rede Alice Hosegod William Cobbe William Hosegod Richard Gouyme Henry Heruyet John Cotel John Mereot John Bataille William Bone Thomas de Mountford ff Sm a ... ... Lxiijs. vijd. s. 2 2 7 4 5 3 2 6 2 2 HAMLET OF SHILLINGFORD. Henry le ffollare, assessed at Thomas le Cartere Robert Samford William Blondel Hugh Lyard Robert Coppe ... John Knyht Simon Prest Agnes Leuesone ff Sm a ... ... ... xixs. iiiid. s. 2 d. 6 i 6 12 14 78 62 History of the Manor of Bensington There occurs a fragment headed :* u ' In R° de exit tallag assess anno vi° R. E. fil R. E. in Com Oxon continef ut inferius.' At bottom of membrane : ' Villa de Bensynton. ' D. Abbatissa de Godestowe de tallag j mobiliu suor ... ... ... j ' ' D. Abbatissa de Godestowe tallag ] redd sui . . . ... ... ... j ' * Excheq. Lay Subsidies, Oxon, No. if-i. CHAPTER III. A.D. I337— A.D. I54O. Grant to the Black Prince — His marriage with Joan of Kent — Benson dower of Joan — Her death — Grant to Salisbury — Inquest at Benson — Proceedings against W. Shaldeston — Officers of the manor — Grant to John Beaufort — To Thomas Chaucer — Proceedings in the Exchequer — Manor part of Queen Katherine's dower — Grant to William de la Pole — Inquest — Result — Duchess Alice succeeds her husband — John, Duke of Suffolk — Grant to Francis Lord Lovel — His end — Stewards of the manor — Computus of Thomas Howe — Reversion of stewardship to Sir Nicolas Carew — Henry Norres, steward — Court-leet. IN March, 1337, the King conferred on his son Edward, the celebrated Black Prince, the dignities which had reverted to the Crown by the decease of John of Eltham. The Prince, who was already Earl of Chester, was created Duke of Corn- wall* in the Parliament at Westminster, and received with the duchy the shrievalty of the county, the stannaries and profits of the stannary courts, the carriage of tin, and the appendant advowsons, fees, * First instance of the creation of a Duke in England. 64 History of the Manor of Bensington and farms. Various franchises and manors, which hitherto had been unconnected with the duchy, and among them the Honour of Wallingford* with the Manor of Benson, were by Act of Parliament added to it ; and the whole was granted to Prince Edward and his eldest son, and to the eldest sons of his heirs — Kings of England, or entitled to succeed to the throne. The Treaty of Bretigni in 1360 was followed by an interval of peace between England and France. The Black Prince availed himself of the cessation of war to marry Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent. This Princess was sole daughter of Edmund, Earl of Kent, executed by Mortimer's orders in 1330, and grand-daughter, consequently, of King Edward I. On the death of her brother, John, Earl of Kent, without issue, she succeeded him in his title and possessions. Joan had been previously married ; her first husband was Sir Thomas Holland, Steward of the Household to William Montague, Earl of Salisbury. As this alliance was not such as her rank and descent entitled her to expect, she was contracted to the Earl of Salisbury himself, on the departure of Sir Thomas beyond sea. But Holland, not choosing to be deprived of his young, beautiful, and royal wife, petitioned Pope Clement VI. He represented to him that the Earl * In 1344 Thomas Gervays, of Wycombe, was ordered to collect all the dues of the Honour of Wallingford for the Prince's use. (Mem a Roll, Trin>', 18 Edw. III.) The Princess of Wales 65 of Salisbury intended to have wedded Joan, had not a pre-contract existed between her and himself, followed by a consummation of the marriage. Not- withstanding these circumstances, the Earl, taking advantage of his absence abroad, made a second con- tract with her, and unjustly withheld her. After giving the case full consideration, the Pope gave sentence for Holland.* Sir Thomas, by whom Joan had three sons and a daughter, died December 28, 1360. The Princess did not long remain a widow, being married to the Black Prince on October 10, 1 361. The match appears to have been chiefly of her own making. For it is said that when the Prince first made his addresses to her, it was on behalf of one he much favoured ; but that after several denials, with which he would not be put off, she told him with some warmth how, when she was under ward, she had been disposed of by others, but that now, being at years of discretion and mistress of her own actions, she would not cast herself beneath her rank, but re- membered she was of the blood royal of England, and therefore resolved never to marry again but to a Prince for quality and virtue like himself. This hint, or, rather, open declaration of her resolve, charmed the Prince. He returned her compliment * These circumstances, doubtless, originated the stories about her referred to by Froissart. She always considered her marriage to Holland a mesalliance, though she willed to be buried by his side, and not in Canterbury Cathedral with the Black Prince. 5 66 History of the Manor of Bensington in an endearing manner, and from that instant became a suitor for himself. The Princess was in the thirty-third year of her age, the Prince in his thirty-first. He was the glory of his sex for military per- formances and all princely virtues, and she the flower of hers for a most surprising beauty, sweetened with a sprightly wit and honourable mind."" On his death, which took place on June 8, 1376, his estates fell to his son, with the exception of those that were given to the Princess as dower. Among the possessions assigned her were the county of Merioneth, with Harlech Castle, worth ^"748 12s. 3fd. ; two commotesf in Carnarvonshire worth respectively £b\ 2s. and £ioj 3s. iod. ; the annual rent of the Abbey of Bardsey, amounting to £1$ 6s. 8d. ; the town and castle of Cardigan, worth £4.3 13s. 4d. ; and many other estates in South Wales. In England she had, inter alia, Camelford, Tintagel, Wallingford Castle, with the rent of the demesne, consisting of a fishery in the Thames valued at 46s. 8d. ; a mill with eel fishery near the flood-gates ; an island ; thirty-six acres called King's- mead, worth £7 11s. 4d. ; the fee-farm of the Manor of Bensington, worth ^39 9s. 7d., with per- quisites of the court and visus of the manor, valued at £\o 1 8s. 8^d. ; and the Manor and Park of Wat- lington, worth £\o. * Collins' ' Life of the Black Prince.' t A commote is a lordship including several manors. Poll-tax, 1377 67 In 1377, the last year of the reign of Edward III., a poll - tax* was collected. The returns give the number of inhabitants above a certain age. There are two indentures concerning Bensington, Warborough, and Shillingford. The former wit- nesses that Richard Chambernon and his companions, collectors of the subsidy in Oxfordshire, have re- ceived of Hugh Wolf and John atte Wyle, discreet men of the vill of Bensington and Nettlebed, and of William Chaldeston and John Baldon, constables of the same vill, 68s. 8d. for 206 men and lay women exceeding fourteen years of age found in the said vill ; and they swore that there are not more men nor lay women dwelling in the said vill above the aforesaid age, except such as are really beggars. It is rather surprising that at so late a date as 1377 Benson and Nettlebed should be reckoned as one township or vill. Hugh Wolf is elsewhere termed Sir Hugh, and was a person of some importance in Benson. Possibly he had served in the French wars, and received in consequence the honour of knighthood. The other indenture, endorsed Warborwe and Shilyngford, is similar. Chambernon received of John Huwet and Henry Pelkyn, discreet men of the vill of Warborwe, and Shilyngford, a member of the said vill, and of Walter Garlyk and John Dalber, constables, 50s. 8d. for 152 persons, men and women, above fourteen years of age. These indentures * Excheq. Lay Subsidies, Oxon, No. W 1 -. 68 History of the Manor of Bensington are dated Watlington, April 2 and March 26 respectively. The Princess's death, which took place at Walling- ford Castle, her usual abode, on August 7, 1385, was very melancholy. Her son, the brutal and ruffianly John Holand, while with the King at York on their way to Scotland, quarrelled with Ralph, eldest son of the Earl of Stafford, and stabbed him mortally with his dagger. The quarrel arose about an unfortunate circumstance that had recently oc- curred. Stafford's archers, in protecting a Bohemian knight, a friend of the Queen, killed a favourite squire belonging to Holand. The King, who had not forgotten the murder of Latimer a few years previously, was highly incensed at Holand's crime, threatening him with death if he should ever quit the sanctuary of St. John at Beverley, to which he had betaken himself for safety. On hearing of this, the Princess of Wales, who was at Wallingford, was alarmed for her son's safety, and sent a message to the King, earnestly imploring his favour. On the return of the messenger with an adverse answer, she fell into a state of the deepest grief, and after four days of ceaseless lamentation expired. In her will, dated at Wallingford, August 7, 9 Richard II., she directed that her body should be buried in her chapel in the Grey Friars at Stamford, near the tomb of her first husband. In 1386, the year following the decease of the Sir John Salisbury 69 Princess, Benson was in the possession of Sir John de Salisbury. He was one of the King's party, or favourites, as they were termed, and consequently opposed to the domination and policy of the Duke of Gloucester. After the defeat of the Duke of Ireland at Radcot Bridge, December 20, 1387, Gloucester, with a strong force, and accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Derby (afterwards Henry IV.), Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel, and others, repaired to Oxford, and thence, without delay, to London. Richard, who was at the palace in the Tower keeping Christmas, being unable to refuse the demands of the confederates, consented to the seizure and banishment of his friends. About a dozen of the King's party were imprisoned in various fortresses, Sir John Salisbury with the Lord Beauchamp, Sir Thomas Trivet, and a gentleman named Lincoln, being committed to Dover Castle. In the Parliament which met in February, 1388, the confederate lords adjudged William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, the Judges, and others, to be guilty of high treason on various counts, none of which amounted to the crime of which they were accused. In March, Sir Simon Burley, Lord Beauchamp, Sir John Salisbury, and Sir James Berners, were accused, by the Commons, at the Bar of the House of Lords. All were found guilty of treason, Sir John Salisbury being convicted in May of ' knowing and advising the cession of Calais, and of consenting that the King of France should be asked for a safe- Jo History of the Manor of Bensington conduct that he and another might go over to treat and to settle the affair.' He was for this offence hanged, drawn, and quartered. An inquisition was made at Benson, October 4, 1388.* It appears from the evidence of the jury- that Sir John held the Manors of Bensington and ' Nettelbed ' for life, and that the tenants of the Manor of Benson had it at a fee-farm rent of ^39 2s. 1 id., which rent Sir John received from October 1, 1386, to Lady Day, 1388. From that date to the time of the inquisition, William Shafton junior, one of the tenants and farmers of the vill of Benson, had received the rents. The fines, heriots, amerciaments, view of frankpledge, and perquisites of courts, which had been reserved by the Earl of Cornwall in his grant, Sir John Salisbury had received and used from October 1, 1386, to April 28, 1388. From that time Thomas Aldrington, the bailiff of the court, had, by the King's letters patent, enjoyed these various profits. The jury added that Sir Hugh Wolph owed Salisbury £b of silver, which he still had, but for which he was going to answer to the King. In the following Hilary term, 1389, proceedings were taken in the Exchequer]- against William Shaldeston, who was bailiff of the manor during the time Sir John Salisbury possessed it. Sir Hugh Wolf exhibited a bill against him, alleging that he * Inq. post-mortem 12 Ric. II., No. 92, m. 10. t Exchequer, Q.R., Memor a Roll, Hilary, 12 Ric. II. William Shaldeston 71 had not accounted for the issues and profits of the manor from Michaelmas, 1387, to Midsummer, 1388, and praying the Barons of the Exchequer to issue a writ to the Escheator for Oxfordshire, directing him to make inquisition for the King's profits. Shaldeston, who came into court, replied that he could not make an account without the rolls of the manor, which were in the possession of John Rede, the steward. He was then directed to make a view of the account of the issues and profits of the court, which he did from Michaelmas, 1387, to Michael- mas, 1388, allowing that he owed 3s. 4d., which he paid into the Exchequer at one payment, on February 20 in this term. Till the following Easter was given him to make a final account of these profits, William Beek and John Woderove being his bail to produce him at the time named. Rede also was ordered by writ out of the Exche- quer to produce his rolls at Easter. But all failed at the appointed time to put in an appearance, on which account they were attached by their bodies, and their lands and chattels seized into the King's hand ! The same failure occurred at Trinity and Michaelmas following ; but at the octave of St. Martin John Rede appeared in court and delivered four rolls of courts held at Bensington, during the aforesaid time, which ' are in the custody of this Remembrancer, in a certain bag of new lesser me- moranda! At the same time return was made of the Sheriff's writ. He declared that Shaldeston, Beek, and John Woderove were not to be found in his 72 History of the Manor of Bensington bailiwick, nor had they anything there which could be taken into the King's hand. But at Hilary a different return was made. Shaldeston was attached by his body and produced in court, though Beek and Woderove were not forthcoming. The Sheriff had distrained on the goods and chattels of Shaldeston and Beek, and on the latter's lands and tenements to the value of fy ; which was fully set out in 'an inquest stitched to the writ, which is in the bundle of writs of the thirteenth year of the King, in Oxon.' Shal- deston was committed to the Fleet, but being bailed by Richard Marmion, William Bedewyn, William Abyngdon, and Simon Hert, all Oxfordshire men, and having made satisfaction for his contempt of court, and for that of his bail, Beek and Woderove, he was let out of gaol. He took an oath to make his account well and faithfully in the premises, and John Drax, an auditor of accounts in the Ex- chequer, was appointed to audit it. Afterwards he made out a thorough account. Ten years later* William Shaldeston was again in trouble. He had been excommunicated by his diocesan, Henry, Bishop of Lincoln, for his manifest contumacy ; and as he did not submit himself, the King's writ had issued to the Sheriff, directing him to seize his person and imprison him till he should make satisfaction to Holy Church for his contempt and the injury done her. But Shaldeston appealed from the Bishop's sen- * Close Roll 22 Ric. II., p. i, mem. 2, dorso. William Shaldeston h\ tence of excommunication, alleging its injustice, to the so-called Holy See, and notified his appeal in Chancery, by exhibiting there a public instrument drawn up for the purpose. The King, on his peti- tion, 'being unwilling to hinder the prosecution of his appeal,'* directed the Sheriff to notify to the Bishop that he should be present in the Chancery on the morning of Ascension, on which day William would be there, to show cause why the seizure of William's person should not be superseded pending the appeal. For William's appearance in the Chancery on the day named, Richard Surby, John Wedon, John Conier, and William Colbrond, of London, were bail each in ,£40. This Close Roll is dated March 1, 1399. In May, 1400, there is a similar Close Rollf to the same effect. The Bishop was ordered to be in court on the quinzaine of Trinity ensuing. The manucaptors, or bail, for Shaldeston were George Roudon, William Beek, Richard Milton, and John Eggeslade. The name of William Shaldeston, son, probably, of the above-named William, occurs among the inhabitants of Bensington in the year 1438. In 1440-41 he was surveyor of the manor. In the reign of Henry VII. a William Shalston suffered a common recovery.^ The property re- * This is, of course, the formal language of the document. No appeal could be made to Rome without the King's consent, t Close Roll 1 Hen. IV., p. 2, mem. 18, dorso. % De Banco Roll, Easter Term, 13 Hen. VII., mem. 318. 74 History of the Manor of Bensington covered consisted of two messuages, sixty acres of arable, ten acres of meadow, twelve acres of pasture, and 1 6s. rent, with appurtenances in Bensynton, Warborough, and Shelyngforde. Richard Slyhurst was the recoveror. In the year 1388 an inquisition of the manor was made. The record is much obliterated ; but it is stated that the perquisites of the court of the manor of Benson were worth ,£8 per annum. Watlington was valued at ^"45 10s. annually.* It does not appear that the King again separated the Manors of Benson and Nettlebed from the Honour of Wallingford. The honour he retained in his own possession, and on February 12, 1391, granted the bailiwick of the honour to Edmund Haxton for life ; and in the seventeenth year of his reign, at Haxton's request, to John Rayner, for a similar term.f In the Memoranda Roll for the third year of King Richard the names of one or two previous bailiffs occur. J William de Stratton held the office by letters patent of Edward III. dated October 27, 1368. The precise terms on which this grant was made not being stated, a difficulty subse- quently arose. For the Black Prince had appointed Richard Braunche,§ his emptor or purveyor, to the place, to hold it as Stratton had held it ; but as the * No. 182, 12 Ric. II. t Sec a Pat a , 17 Ric. II., m. 24. % They are described as bailiffs of the Honour of Wallingford and of the Chiltern Hundreds. § In the grant to him called Richard Baillyf. John Beaufort 75 conditions of Stratton's holding- were not evident, a summons was issued against Braunche, in the third year of Richard, for £17 6s. 8d., profits of his office unaccounted for by him. As it appeared from the Memoranda Rolls of the first year of Richard that Alan atte Bregge, the receiver of the lordship of Wal- lingford, had received nothing and paid nothing on account of the bailiffs' ferms, an inquisition was taken in three counties to elicit that which the patent should have shown. The three juries found that the office had been granted to Stratton free of all payment. On February 12, 1397, in the twentieth year of his reign, Richard, by letters patent under the Great Seal, appointed John Woderove his receiver of the lordship of Wallingford, Honour of St. Walery, and of the four hundreds and a half of Ciltria. The office was to be held during pleasure, and with the same fees as William Gerveys had received. The issues were to be paid into the Exchequer. In the same year the King bestowed the con- stableship of Wallingford Castle, and the steward- ship of the honour, in which Benson was included, on John Beaufort, Marquis of Somerset, son of John of Gaunt by his third wife. The Beauforts were illegitimate, having all of them been born before the marriage of Lancaster and their mother Katherine Swinford. But Richard, who was thoroughly recon- ciled to his uncle, caused them this year to be legitimated, by his letters patent and by Act of Parliament, and raised John, the eldest, to the J 6 History of the Manor of Bensington dignities of Earl of Somerset and Marquis of Dorset. This legitimation excited, apparently, the jealousy of Henry IV., who, when he confirmed Richard's patent in 1407, excluded the Beauforts from succession to the Crown. This restriction, excepta dignitate regali, now appears as an interlineation on the Patent Roll of 20 Ric. II., p. 2, m. 6.* John Beaufort, having been one of the accusers of the Duke of Gloucester, lost the title of Marquis by the judgment of his peers ; and also surrendered to Henry IV. all castles, possessions, etc., which he held of him. He retained the King's favour, and was advanced by him, but was not again appointed Steward of Wallingford. Henry IV., within a month of his accession to the Crown, conferred the constableship of Wallingford Castle, and the stewardship of the honour, to which Bensington was reckoned to belong, and of the Chiltern Hundreds, on Thomas Chaucer for life.t The revenue of the appointments was fixed at £^0 per annum, to be paid half-yearly by the receiver, exclusive of £10, to be annually paid, for a deputy, to discharge the duties in Chaucer's absence. By his alliance with Maud, daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Burghurst, Chaucer became lord of the Manor of Ewelme, and of Donnington, Berks. He * 'Annals of England.' t Pat. Roll 1 Hen. IV. Chaucer's parentage is doubtful. The balance of opinion, at present, seems to be against the commonly received notion that he was the poet's son. Prince Henry claims the Honour Jj served the office of Capitalis Pincema, or Chief Butler, to three Kings in succession, Richard II., Henry IV., and Henry V. He also represented the county in several Parliaments, and was Speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of Henry IV. Prince Henry, to whom the Honour of Walling- ford, as part of the duchy of Cornwall, belonged, took measures, in the third year of his father's reign, to assert his rights. John Woderove, the receiver appointed by Richard on February 12, 1397, died about a year after his appointment, leaving as his executrix Alice, probably his daughter, the wife of John Darby.* The Darbys were distrained to render an account of the issues and profits of the receivership at the Exchequer in Easter term, 1402, from the time of Woderove's appointment. But Richard Denton, the Prince of Wales's attorney, appeared in court, and prayed cessation of the process against the Darbys, because the honour belonged, not to the Crown, but to the Prince of Wales, by grant of Edward III. ; and also because the reigning King had granted to his son all dues rents, fines, etc., and all accounts owing to the King and in arrears within the principality of Wales and duchy of Cornwall. To which reasoning the Barons of the Court of Exchequer agreed.! The Manor of Bensington became a portion of * There was a family named Darby in the Chilterns ; a J. Darby was Mayor of Wallingford in this reign, t Mem a Roll, Easter, 3 Hen. IV., Roll 9, dorso. 78 History of the Manor of Bensington the dower of Queen Katherine, wife of Henry V. She had the castle and demesne of Wallingford and of St. Walery, with the Manors of Bensington and Nettlebed, then granted to two persons and valued at ^68 2s. 6d.; part of the fee- farm of Wallingford with the mill, valued at ^13 6s. 8d.; also the Manor of Watlington, valued at £9 13s. 4d.; and the Manor of Whitchurch, in Oxon and Berks.* The various castles, manors, and lands settled on her were to produce an annual income of 40,000 scutes. A scute was a French gold piece, first coined in 1427 by Henry V., of the value of half a noble, or 3s. 4d. The Queen led a life of retirement after Henry's death. Whether she was formally married to Owen Tudor is doubtful. Henry VI. conferred favours on Owen, but does not seem to have recognised him as his stepfather. Katherine died in 1437. On February 22, anno 15 Henry VI. (1437), the King granted the office of Constable of Wallingford Castle, etc., to William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk. These same offices — the constableship of Wallingford and the stewardship of the Honours of Wallingford and St. Walery, and of the four and a half hundreds of Chiltern — he granted, by letters patent dated January 19, 1440, in the eighteenth year of his reign, to William, Earl of Suffolk, Alice his wife, and Sir William Phelips. This grant was surren- dered, and the offices were conferred on the Earl * Pr a Pat a , 2 Hen. VI., m. 14. The Duke and Duchess of Suffolk 79 and his wife for their lives, at a salary of ^40 per annum, and £10 for their deputy, by patent dated March 17, 1442 ;* and finally, on November 27, in the twenty-fourth year of Henry, 1446, new letters patent were, issued to the Earl, his wife, and to their son John.t William de la Pole, successively Earl, Marquis, and Duke of Suffolk, obtained his Oxfordshire property by his alliance with Alice, daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Chaucer, and widowj of the Earl of Salisbury. He is well known as the Minister of the unfortunate Henry VI., to whom he was greatly attached. His beautiful letter to his son, preserved in the Paston Collection^ renders it diffi- cult to believe that he was, intentionally, at all events, an evil counsellor. He exhorts him to a religious and devout life, to obedience to the advice of his mother, and to the avoidance of the company of ' proude, coveitowse, and flateryng men.' Probably the example of Henry VI., who was esteemed a saint by his contemporaries, had made an impression on him. His loyal counsels to his son are also admirable. He charges him to be ' trewe liege- man in hert, in wille, in thought, in dede, unto the King our alder, most high and dredde Sou'eygne lord, to whom bothe ye and I been so moche bounde * Pat. Roll 20 Hen. VI., p. 2, m. 4. t Pat. Roll 24 Hen. VI., p. 1, m. 1. (Pat. of 15 Hen. VI. recited in pat. of 24 Hen. VI.) % She was first affianced to Sir John Phelips. § Vols. I.— IX. 8o History of the Manor of Bensington to, chargyng you, as Fader can and may, rather to die yan to be y e contrarye, or to knowe any thyng y e were ayensthe y e welfare or prosperite of his most riall p'sone, but y' as ferre as youre body and lyf may strecthe ye lyve and die to defende it. And to lete his highnesse have knowlache y' of in alle y e haste ye can.' He was murdered, as is described in a letter of the Paston Collection, off Dover, May 2, 1450. On the Friday after St. Barnabas, 1438, the inquisition,* already once or twice referred to, was taken at Cromarsh Giffard, before William, Earl of Suffolk, John Cottesmore, and William Marmyon. The King's letters patent were addressed also to Ralph Cromwell, Knight; William Lovell, Knight ; Thomas Wykeham, Knight ; John Golafre, John Rokes ; the Sheriffs of Berks, Oxon, and Bucks ; and to Andrew Sperling, deceased, who were not present, two forming a quorum. They were to inquire of the state and real value of the town of Wallingford, and of the manors of ' Watlynton, Bensynton, Bekkeley, Whitchurche, and Risburgh, parcels and members of the Honours of Wallingford and St. Walery ; of lands let at fee-farm rents, and of the amount paid to the King,' etc. The jurors were Roger Badele, William Bosenho, John Badby, Thomas atte Hyde, Richard Neuby, Thomas Chibenhurst, Thomas atte Welle, John Walkelyn, Thomas Bartlot, John Holte, Thomas * 16 Hen. VI., No. 1, Chancery Inq s ad. q. d. Inquest ' ad qtwd dammim ' Martyn, and Richard Geoffrey of Lacheford : who said that Richard, formerly Earl of Cornwall, was seized of the Manor of Benson in his demesne, as of fee, who, by his charter showed to the jurors in evidence at this inquisition, granted the manor in fee-farm. Then follows the charter. They then narrated the appropriation of half the fee-farm rent, by Earl Edmund, to the chapel in Wallingford Castle, and stated that the £40 of rent so appropri- ated, and the lands and tenements whence the rent issued, had been altogether separated from the manor and the fee-farm rent. This statement, as will appear, was incorrect as respects the separation of the land and jurisdiction from the manor ; though the Dean of the chapel was seized of the ,£40 per annum. The jurors also stated that the farmers were seized of the manor by paying to the Earl and his suc- cessors ^"39 2s. 1 id., 17s. id. having been separated or subtracted from the rent by Earl Edmund. After this separation, the manor, by which was meant that portion of it whence the fee-farm paid to the Crown issued, consisted of seven virgates and four acres of arable, called Buryland ; a meadow called Riffale, containing four acres ; an island in the Thames called Chichele-eyot, in extent one rood ; a water-mill with a fishery adjacent, and rents of assize to the amount of ^20 per annum. The complaint of the tenants was that, though neither the manor nor any portion of it was granted to them or to their ancestors, yet, under colour of 6 82 History of the Manor of Bensington the grant to the original farmers, the free tenants and inhabitants of the vill of Bensington were com- pelled by distraint to pay, and had paid, the rent to the Crown. The grant of the Earl was to the farmers and their successors ; but the complaint of the tenants points to a great oppression from which they suffered. Unfortunately, however, the property had de- creased in value. The jurors returned that the manor was not worth more than £2\ per annum, the Buryland being valued at 70s., the meadow at 6s. 8d., the eyot at 4d., the mill — which was in ruins — at nothing, and the fishery at 13s. 4d. The lands and tenements also, out of which the ^"20 of assized rents issued, had so diminished in yearly value that most of the tenants, on account of the rent, had left them, and now more than £1 7 3s. 4d. could not be obtained. For the same reason the seven virgates held in base tenure had come into the hands of the free tenants and inhabitants of the vill, and were not worth more than £2 6s. 8d. per annum. In the hands of the King's bailiffs and ministers were the following woods : South Park, North Park, Grofrigge, Bernegrove, and Homewode, worth annually £\. The court of visits franci plegii, held once a year, and a court held from three weeks to three weeks were worth ordinarily 40s. The names of the free tenants and inhabitants of the vill at this time are mentioned in the inquisition. They were : Alesia, widow of Sir Hugh Wolf, Abolition of the Fee-farm Rent 83 William Shaldeston, William Gofeyre, Thomas Baldon, Robert Bray, William Prentys, Richard Couper, William Everard, John Everard, John Brightelton, Thomas Welyngton, Nicholas Motte, Simon Tiler, Walter Hose, Walter Catermayn, William Justise, William Baldon, John Palmer, Robert Thornhull, John Meryweder, John Bartlot, John Bray, and William Bacon. The result of this inquest was that the fee-farm rents paid to the Crown were abolished, and the King again became seized of the manor. According to this statement, the manor, or demesne land, when resumed by the King, consisted of seven virgates and four acres of arable called Buryland ; four acres of meadow called Rifhale ; Chichele- eyot, equal to one rood in extent ; a mill at Shilling- ford in ruins, and a fishery ; rents of assize to the value of £20 per annum. The King previous to the resumption had four woods and the leet and baronial courts. In the 19th year of Henry VI. John Rokes was receiver of the honour. The Duchess of Suffolk, by virtue of the grant above mentioned, and of another confirming to her the possessions of her deceased husband, continued in the office of Steward of the Honour of Walling- ford.* She stood high in Margaret's favour, who would not allow her to be banished from the royal * She, probably from political reasons, surrendered the grant on one occasion ; but it was restored to her. 84 History of the Manor of Bensington household, though Parliament petitioned the King to dismiss her.* But Duchess Alice, who may pass for the typical courtier, was observant of the signs of the times. She perceived the approaching change, and having arranged a marriage between her son and the Duke of York's daughter, allied herself to the stronger side. From the charge of ingratitude to Henry and Margaret of Anjou it seems impossible to clear her memory ; though it does not appear that she and Duke John, her son, took an active part against the House of Lancaster. Subsequently the dethroned Queen was imprisoned at Wallingford in her custody or in that of the Duke. As Henry VII. favoured Duke John, notwith- standing his alliance with the House of York, it seems likely that the Queen met with respectful treatment from the De la Poles in the time of her adversity. Duchess Alice's ruling motive was the security and aggrandisement of her family ; which, however, her policy did not effect, as the marriage with Elizabeth of York led to the downfall of the Poles. The almshouse at Ewelme, for the erection of which the late Duke obtained the royal permission, was completed by her after his decease. She died at Ewelme in 1475, and lies buried in the church there under a beautiful alabaster tomb, with a Latin in- scription to the following effect : ' Pray ye for the soul of the most serene Princess Alice, Duchess of Suffolk, patron of this church, * Strickland. Lord Lovel 85 founder of this hospital, who died the 20th day of the month of May in the year 1475.' The Duchess was succeeded, according to the terms of the grant,* by her son John, who in 1464 was restored to thedukedom of Suffolk by Edward IV. He took no prominent part in public affairs, being anxious, apparently, only for his own safety in times of such vicissitude and danger. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard, Duke of York, as has been observed, and was among the nobles who recognised the title of Prince Edward, afterwards Edward V., and took the oath of fealty to him. Notwithstanding, he carried the sceptre at the coro- nation of his brother-in-law, Richard III. In 1482 Sir Richard Grey, the Queen's son, was appointed to the posts the Duke held. But he lost them, with his life, in the following year. He was arrested at Stamford with Earl Rivers and others by order of the Protector, and executed in June, 1483. The offices of steward of the honours of Walling- ford and of St. Walery, and of the Chiltern Hun- dreds, with the constableship of the castle, were con- ferred in the first year of Richard III. on Francis, Viscount Lovel.t He held them on the same terms as the Duke of Suffolk had held them, having power to appoint all inferior officers, who were to be paid by the receiver for the honours. * He was appointed again to these offices by letters patent of Edward, Prince of Wales, in 147 1. f Pat. 1 Ric. III., p. 1, No. 60, August 14, 1483. 86 History of the Manor of Bensington The Lovels were at this time among the principal families in the Chiltern district. William, Lord Lovel, grandfather of Francis, married Alice, one of the daughters and co-heiresses of John, Lord Dein- court, by which alliance the baronies of Deincourt and Rotherfield Greys were brought into the posses- sion of the Lovell family. Francis, Lord Lovel, for his services in Scotland, whither he had accompanied the Duke of Gloucester, was made a Viscount in January, 1483. At the coronation of his friend, Richard III., he bore a sword, and was made Cham- berlain of the Household and Chief Butler. His influence in the Government was satirized in the well-known distich : ' The Cat, the Rat, and Lovel the dog, Rule all England under the Hog.' His crest was a talbot passant. Lord Lovel's death is involved in mystery. He was a leader at the Battle of Stoke, fought June 6, 1487. Some writers say that he was slain in the battle ; but in Leland's ' Collectanea ' it is stated that he was put to flight. Lord Bacon says : ' Of the Lord Lovel there went a report that he fled and swam over Trent on horseback, but did not recover the further side, by reason of the steepness of the bank, and so was drowned in the river.' But another report leaves him not there, stating that he lived long after in a cave or vault.* In Banks's ' Dormant and Extinct Peerage ' is a letter from * ' Life of Henry VII.' Lord Lovel 87 William Cowper, Esq., dated Hertingfordbury Park, August 9, 1737, in which, after the recital of the passage from Lord Bacon's 'History,' the writer adds : 'Apropos to this, on the 6th May, 1728, the present Duke of Rutland related in my hearing that about twenty years then before, viz., in 1708, upon occa- sion of new laying a chimney at Minster Lovel, there was discovered a large vault or room underground, in which was the entire skeleton of a man, as having been sitting at a table, which was before him, with a book, paper, ink, etc. ; in another part of the room lay a cap all much mouldered and decayed, which the family and others judged to be this Lord Lovel, whose exit has hitherto been so uncertain.' The same circumstance is also narrated by Gough, with the addition 'that the clothing of the body seemed to have been rich ; that it was seated in a chair with a table and a Mass-book before it ; and also that upon the admission of the air the body soon fell to dust.'* Carte relates the story with the variation ' that the skeleton was found resting his elbow on a table and supporting his head with one of his hands.'t Among the Ministers' Accounts is the computus of John Jevan for the year ending Michaelmas, 14844 It is interesting because of a strange mistake. The arrears from the last year were £z\ 19s. iod., an amount which would cover the rent stated to be * Addit. to Camden's ' Mag. Britt.,' ed. 1789, vol. ii., folio 289. t Vol. ii., p. 829. \ Ministers' Accounts, Oxon, 1, 2 Ric. III., No. 4. 88 History of the Manor of Bensington due from William Marmion, of Henley, and some- thing over. Marmion's rent was 33s. 6d. per annum, which, as stated, he had not paid ; but in reality it was not due, for in 1462, thirteen years before, he had obtained from Henry IV. a confirma- tion of grants of Edward III. and the Black Prince. From this grant or confirmation it appears that the Black Prince, at the desire of his father, released to Sir John Molyns a rent of 33s. 6d. for land in Benson Manor, and the suit and service at the court at Benson held from three weeks to three weeks, reserving to himself a rose on Midsummer Day in lieu of rent and service. This grant was made on February 12, 1340, and confirmed by Edward III. two days after. Edward IV. confirmed this grant and confirmation, by letters patent dated June 28, 1462, to Edmund Rede, Esq., Peter Marmion, and Thomas Waldyene, the possessors of the land.* Henry VII., in the first year of his reign, restored the stewardship of the Honour of Wallingford, with the offices that accompanied it, to John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.t This proceeding, on the part of so suspicious a King, seems rather remarkable, as the Duke's son, the Earl of Lincoln, had been declared heir to the Crown by his uncle, Richard III. Probably, however, Henry felt satisfied, from his knowledge of the Duke, that he would prove a loyal * Pat. Roll 2 Edw. IV., p. 3, mem. 21. t He was reappointed September 21, 1485 (Pat. Roll 1 Hen. VII., p. 1). Howes Account 89 subject to any king de facto — especially as, with his son, he had recently given a proof of his want of partisanship by absenting himself from Bosworth Field. The Duke did not long hold the offices, possibly on account of failing health. On March 3, 1489, they were conferred on Sir William Stonor, who married the Duke's illegitimate daughter, and on Sir Thomas Lovel,* in joint tenancy, the Duke's letters patent having been surrendered into Chancery.t The introduction of his son-in-law into his place shows the continued favour of Henry VII., notwithstanding the Earl of Lincoln's rebellion. The Duke died in 149 1 .% In 1490, Arthur, Prince of Wales, had livery of the Honour of Wallingford as parcel of the Duchy of Cornwall. He died April 2, 1502. Benson continued part of the honour. For the year ending Michaelmas, 1498, there is extant the computus of Thomas Howe, collector of rents for the Manor of ' Bensyngdon.'§ There were free-tenants in the vills of Benson, Warborough, Chalgrove, Berwick, and Roke, also in Holcomb and in ' Chiltorne.' Their rents amounted to ^"22 1 8s. 6|d. ; but the number of the tenants is * On the accession of Henry VIII, Sir Thomas Lovel was appointed Master of the Wards and Constable of the Tower of London. He was also one of the King's Council. He died in or about 1525. t Pat. Roll 4 Hen. VII., m. 28. % Burke's ' Extinct Peerage.' § Ministers' Accounts, Oxon, 12, 13 Hen. VII., No. 11. 90 History of the Manor of Bensington not given. The payments received from those in base tenure, who held ad voluntatem domini, were £i\ 19s. 4d. The lands were in Benson, War- borough, and Holcomb. Altogether the receipts amounted to £50 2s. /\.\&. There was a payment of ijd. ' de redditu Salts et Ollaruni luti vitr et Urinat apud Bensyngton, Stokyngchnrch et Henley! The manufacture of glass from stones and sand at Henley and other places in the Chilterns is referred to by Plot. He says (1676) that the invention was lately brought into England, but the manufacture appears to have existed two hundred years earlier. In Howe's account reference is made to this rent as existing in the twentieth year of Henry VI. The whitest sand was at Nettlebed. Only eight manorial courts were held this year, about half the proper number. In each of the hundreds, also, but one court was held, instead of seventeen. This diminution of the number of court-days denotes, apparently, the decadence of the jurisdiction. Hundred courts were held in the reign of Henry VIII., and perhaps later. On June 12, 1521, the reversion of the steward- ship, and of the offices that went with it, was granted, on the death of Lovel, the survivor of the two joint tenants, to Sir Nicholas Carewe, of Beddington, Surrey.* He was employed on several embassies * Rot. Pat. 13 Hen. VIII. Beddington was parcel of the Honour of Wallingford. Sir Nicholas Carewe 91 by Henry VIII., who appointed him to the Master- ship of the Horse, and made him a Knight of the Garter.* Being a zealous Papist, he entered into correspondence with Cardinal Pole, and was one of the victims of Sir Geoffrey Pole's treachery. While in prison, he was converted from his Romish errors by reading some books that had been supplied to him, and at his execution, which took place January 15, 15ft, he acknowledged the justice of God's judgments for the hatred he had borne the Gospel.t Whether Carewe entered on his reversion is doubtful. In 1535 an exchange of landsj was made between the Kino- and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, his brother-in-law. Among the possessions which the Duke bargained and sold were the Manor of Ewelme and the High Stewardship and Con- stableship of Wallingford. Possibly Carewe, who apparently had no other connection with the district, sold his reversion to the Duke, who had a grant from the Crown of the De la Pole property. Shortly after he had thus by exchange acquired the offices, Henry VIII. conferred the constableship, with the stewardship of the Honours of Wallingford and of St. Walery and of the Chiltern Hundreds, on the unfortunate Henry Norres,§ with the usual fees and an annual rent of ^"50. * 'Historical Notes,' vol. i. t Carte, vol. iii., p. 148. \ Authorized by 27 Hen. VIII., c. 38. § Nov. 29, 1535. Pat. Roll 27 Hen. VIII. 92 History of the Manor of Bensington This gentleman, son of Sir Edward and grand- son of Sir William Norres, who commanded for Henry VII. at the Battle of Stoke, stood high in the King's favour, and received from him many marks of esteem. His various offices, as Groom of the Stole, etc., brought him much to Court, into the society of Queen Anne Boleyn, whose disgrace and fall, as is well known, he shared. The account usually given is that, at the fatal jousts held at Greenwich on May i, 1536, the Queen dropped her handkerchief at the feet of Norres, who wiped his face with it, and then returned it to Anne on the point of his lance. This action aroused the King's anger, who retired at once with his immediate followers, and ordered the arrest of Norres and Lord Rochefort, on the charge of high treason. Norres, though promised his life if he would implicate the Queen, declared that, 'in his conscience, he thought her innocent of the things laid to her charge, and that he would die a thousand deaths rather than ruin an inno- cent person.' He was executed on Tower Hill. On June 20, in the same year, Sir Francis Brian was appointed to the vacant offices.* He was Master of the Henchmen and Chief Cupbearer. In 1536-37, John Smythewas Bailiff of Bensington, and Francis Brian, Knight, was himself Bailiff of Nettle- bed, with William Slithurst as deputy.t In the year 1536 a view of frank-pledge or court - * Pat. Rolls 28 Hen. VIII., June 20, Westm. t Excheq. Ministers' Accounts, 28, 29 Hen. VIII., No. 56, m. 4, d and c. Court-leet 93 leet was held at Benson.* Not that a court-day was at all unusual. On the contrary, it was an annual occurrence at Benson, and throughout the Chiltern district. But the record of this day's pro- ceedings has been preserved, and is of some interest. Business commenced with the administration of the oath to the constables, William Bennett and Andrew Pallynge, and to Richard Arnolde and Richard Meryweder, the decenners and ale-tasters, who then made various presentments. The amount of the cert-money was 2s. id. Two brewers, William Mose- dale and Marion Tewesdale, had broken the assize, and were each fined 2d. The miller, John a Wodde, was fined 4d. for taking an excessive toll. The boundaries of Bensington were to be put in a state of repair before the Exaltation of Holy Cross (Sep- tember 14), under a penalty of 3s. 4d. Ralph Spyer, who was presented for a nuisance to the tenants by making a course backwards and forwards with his cattle beyond the lordship of Ganglesdene to the lordship of Bensington, was ordered to desist under penalty of paying 40s. to the King. He was also presented for unjustly keeping the King's tenants out of his common of Bensington after March 25. From this nuisance he was also ordered to desist under a penalty of 20s. Nettlebed and Nalfelde, that is, Northfield, near Henley, were represented at this court by Henry Cocke, constable, and Richard Butler, decenner. * Aug. Office, rec s Manor Rolls. 94 History of the Manor of Bensington These places were considered to be members or limbs of Benson Manor. There were three cases of excessive charges by innkeepers, and one person who should have been present did not appear. A fine was imposed in each case. Two constables and two decenners and ale-tasters represented Warborough. The cert-money was 2s. id. The bounds were to be sufficiently repaired before Pentecost next, under penalty of 2od.; and a running stream flowing from Stratbrigge to Coppidde stone to be scoured by Michaelmas under penalty of 3s. 4d. Isabella Roose and William Aleyn, common ale-tipplers, were presented for breaking the assize, by selling their beer by unsealed measures, and each was fined 2d. At Shillingford and at Holcomb all was well. A payment was made for cert-money. The jury consisted of the following persons : Geoffrey Slade, William Bennett, Andrew Pallynge, Rolland Barrett, John Meryweder, Thomas a Dene, Richard Whitfelde, Robert Blakall, Thomas Pythe, Richard Phelpe, Thomas Ffelpe, Thomas Randall. The affeerers were Richard Phelpe and Andrew Pal- lynge. Affeerers are ' such as are appointed in court - leets, upon oath, to set the fines on such as have com- mitted faults arbitrarily punishable, and have no express penalty appointed by the statute.'* Summa hujus visits, ix E iiij d , of which sum 6s. 8d. fell under the head of cert- money, and 2s. 8d. was ' perquisites.' * Cowell's ' Interpreter.' APPENDIX. On June n, 15 Richard II. (1392), an inquisition was made at Oxford, whether it would be to the King's injury, or anyone else's, if the King should license William, Vicar of Stratfield Mortimer, and Richard Mason, of Euston, to grant to the Abbot and Convent of Dorchester four messuages, one toft, fifty-four acres of land and half an acre, and six acres of meadow, with appur- tenances, in Dorchester, Warborough, Drayton, Bredecote, and Clyfton. Of these, one messuage, twenty-eight acres of land and half an acre, and five acres and half an acre of meadow, were in War- borough, and held of the King of the Honour of Wallingford by service of 9s. 6d. annual rent, and suit of court at the Manor of Bensington, from three weeks to three weeks for all service. The jury stated that Benson Manor was parcel of the Honour of Wallingford, and that the messuage, arable and meadow were worth annually near their true value, 6s. " ;: In the twentieth year of Richard II., John James, of Wallingford, and Christiana, his wife, held one water-mill in Bensyngton, and 20s. rent, of the Honour of Wallingford ; also a messuage, one carucate of land, and twenty acres of wood in Sotwell, Pirton, and Benson, t * Chanv Inq. ad q. d. 15 Ric. II., p. 2, No. 105. t Inq. ad q. d. 20 Ric. II. g6 History of the Manor of Bensington POLL-TAX, AN. 4 RIC. II., 1381* Fragment of Bensington (?). £ s. d. He (nr) Witt John Taylur Will. Kyte and Alicia his wife Henry Stratfeld ... his wife John North and Matilda his wife Eds. Syningge (?) and Matilda his wife Richard Dobbe and Elena his wife Luke de Weme and Milicent his wife ... — — 16 Nicolas Tyler ... ... ... — — 12 John Bacon and Christiana his wife ... — 2 — Richard Bacon ... ... ... — — 12 Thomas Smyth and Johanna his wife ... — 2 — William Dauy and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — John Sotten and Ernot his wife ... — — 12 Richard Mabbily and Christiana his wife — 2 — Henry Carpuntur and Johanna his wife... — — 16 Thomas Scarfeld (?) ... ... ... — — 12 John atte Legge ... ... ... — — 12 John Boteler ... ... ... — — 12 Thomas Auerey and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — Walter Hook and Isabel his wife ... — 2 — John Trendle and Agatha his wife ... — 2 — Richard Kene and Johanna his wife ... — 2 — Walter Baker and Thomasina his wife ... — 2 — John Megre John Soutton Walter Leper Matilda Clerk ... ... ... — 12 Johanna Clerk ... ... ... — — 12 Peter Lucas and Johanna his wife ... — — 12 William Cotel and Clara his wife ... — 2 — Benet Cotel ... ... ... — — 6 John Payable and Johanna his wife ... — 2 — John ffortheley and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — * Exc. Lay Subsidy Rolls, Oxon, No. ^-. Appendix gj poll-tax, an. 4 Ric. ii., 1 38 1 (continued). £ s. d. Symon Deyer and Alice his wife ... — — 16 John Baldon ... ... ... — I2 Nicholas Abel and Alice his wife ... — 2 William Brywalton and Matilda his wife — 36 William Euerhard and Mary his wife ... — 2 6 Adam Northeme and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — William Motte and Clara his wife ... — 2 — Henry Batte and Agnes his wife ... — 2 — Stephen Langenhull and Mariot his wife — — 12 Geoffrey Gatton and Alice his wife ... — — 12 Richard Bartelot and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — Richard Smyth ... ... ... — 2 — Elias Taylur and Julia his wife ... — 2 — John Plesse and Margaret his wife ... — 2 6 Richard Saleman and Johanna his wife ... — 2 — Thomas Carpuntur and Margaret his wife — — 12 John Pryme and Margaret his wife ... — — 12 John Baldon and Alice his wife ... — 3 4 John Messager (?) and Isabella his wife .. . — — 18 John Tressche and Julia his wife ... — — 12 Robert Palmer and Margaret his wife ... — 2 — William Shaleston and Margaret his wife — 4 — John Carpuntur and ... — — 18 Thomas Messager (?) and Isabel his wife — 2 — John Costowe and Johanna his wife ... — — 12 Roger Costowe and Margaret his wife ... — 2 — John Drayton and Johanna his wife ... — — 6 Thomas Beele and Isabel his wife ... — 3 8 Hugh his servant ... ... ... — — 8 Johanna Wille ... ... ... — — 6 Isabel her daughter .. . ... ... — — 6 William Lokwey and Agnes his wife ... — 2 — John Randulf and Agnes his wife ... — 4 — John his servant ... ... ... — — 12 Johanna his servant... ... ... — — 12 Robert Newby and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — William Scheperde and Isabel his wife ... — 2 — John Walfrich ... ... ... — 2 — Sm a 152. 98 History of the Manor of Bensington This poll-tax, ' the cause of unheard-of evil in the land,'* was granted by Parliament in December, 1380. The debts of the nation were stated, by the Chancellor, to be ,£160,000. It was, after much debate, agreed to impose a tax of three groats per head, on every male and female person of fifteen years of age ; but, for the relief of the poor, it was provided that the aggregate amount due from a city or town should be divided among the inhabitants, according to their ability, so that no one should pay less than one groat, or more than sixty groats for himself and wife. The tax was assessed by collectors of the King's appointment, according to the real value of a man's estate, and was appropriated to the payment of the Earl of Buckingham's army. POLL-TAX, AN. 4 RIC. II., 1381. Warborough. £ s. d. John Daleber and Johanna his wife ... — 3 — Robert his son ... ... ... — — 10 Matilda his daughter ... ... — — 10 Laurence Willy and Johanna his wife ... — 2 — Richard Adam and Matilda his wife ... — 3 — Edward his servant ... ... ... — — 10 Julia his servant ... ... ... — — 10 William Jans (?) and Agnes his wife ... — 2 — William Lockwey and Katherine his wife — — 15 Stephen Daleber and Alice his wife ... — 2 6 John Bocher and Matilda his wife ... — 3 — John his servant ... ... ... — — 10 Mark (?) his servant ... ... ... — — 10 John Carpenter and Matilda his wife ... — — 9 Henry Godman and Johanna his wife ... — 2 — Richard his servant ... ... ... — — 10 John Harvy and Marion his wife ... — — 15 John Coupere and Agnes his wife ... • — 2 — John Longge and Alice his wife ... — — 20 Edward Bocher and Elizabeth his wife ... — 3 — Nicholas his servant ... ... ... — — 10 Thomas his servant ... ... ... — — 10 John Bardon and Julia his wife ... — — 8 John Strech and Johanna his wife ... — — 18 John Redyng and Matilda his wife ... — 2 — Alice Plonte, servant ... ... — — 10 * Walsingham. Appendix 99 POLL-TAX, AN. 4 RIC. II., Robert his servant ... John his servant John Boteler and Agnes his wife John Athelam and Joan his wife Thomas his son William his son Richard his son John Gildeforde and Dionisia his wife John Toubbe and Agnes his wife John Taylur and Margaret his wife John Howet and Alice his wife Robert his son John Batheleye and Katherine his wife John Bamptoune and Alice his wife John Palmere and Joan his wife William Cobbe and Alice his wife William his son William Hyckes and Agnes his wife William Armet and Agnes his wife Matilda Carter John her son William Letcoumbe ... Walter Garlyc and Joan his wife John Cook and Agnes his wife Richard Osegod and Joan his wife John his servant William Lorde (?) and Alice his wife John Kyng and Magot (?) his wife John Dygelyn and Joan his wife John Sceperde and Alice his wife Walter Jurdan and Margaret his wife Thomas Carpunter and Agnes his wife Symon Edrych and Agnes his wife Matilda Wi Henry Polkyn and Edith his wife John his son Richard Omo . . . Elizabeth his wife Richard Ven (?) and Agnes his wife Henry Hacker and Margaret his wife Matilda Howet Thomas Howet and Matilda his wife John Howtone and Matilda his wife John Sougge and Alice his wife Hugh Styl and Alice his wife . . . John, son of William Wyte Srn a 117 S a den 117s. 1 38 1 (continued). £ s. d. 10 6 6 10 10 10 10 10 6 10 6 S 15 15 iS 16 ioo History of the Manor of Bensington FEET OF FINES. 5 Henry VI., Hilary (Feet of Fines, Oxon), 1427, N.S. Between Thomas, Bishop of Durham, John Seynesbury, clerk, John Warefeld, and William Rasshe, quer s , and Richard Hertipole and Joan his wife, deforc 5 , of eight messuages, four tofts, three hundred acres of land, six acres of meadow and a half, twelve acres of pasture, and 40s. rent, with appurtenances in Cadewell, East-bryghtwell, Chalgrave, Ewelme, Goldore, and Bensyngton. Richard and Joan acknowledged the aforesaid tenements to be the right of John Seynesbury. The Bishop and the others gave Richard and Joan 100 marks of silver. 17 Henry VI., Easter, 1439. Between William Colche and Joan his wife, quer 5 , and Henry Payn and Agnes his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, twenty-two acres of land, and pasturage for two oxen, with appurtenances in Bensyngton, Oke,* and Berewyk. Henry and Agnes acknowledged the tenements to be the right of William ; and for themselves and the heirs of Agnes granted to William and Joan, and to the heirs of William, and received 20 marks for the grant. Westminster, 14 Henry VII., Morrow of St. Martin. Between Edmund Gadbury, quer., and John Yonge and Margaret his wife, def 5 , of one messuage, one garden, and thirty-six acres of land, with appurtenances in Watlington and Warburgh (War- borough). John and Margaret acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Edmund, as held of their gift ; and they quit-claimed, etc., for John and Margaret, and for heirs of Margaret, to Edmund and his heirs for ever. Edmund gave them ^20 sterling. 19 Henry VIII., Easter, 1527. Between William Compton, Knight, William Wotton, second Baron of the Exchequer, John Hales, third Baron of the Exchequer, and Richard Lyster, Attorney-General of the King, * Oke must be a mistake for Roke. Appendix j o i quer s , and John Hereford and Henry Hereford, deforc 5 , of one messuage, three hundred acres of land, and one hundred acres of meadow in Plymouth ; and of three messuages, three hundred acres of land, sixty acres of meadow, one hundred acres of pasture, and thirty acres of wood in Benston and Eynsham ; and a property in Cornwall. Result — Sir W. Compton, etc., paid the Herefords 200 marks of silver, the settlement being in favour of Sir W. Compton and his heirs. The Barons were feoffees. 26 Henry VIII., Easter, 1534. Between William Baldewyn, Robert Pakynton, James Bolney, John Grene, and Humphry Partridge, quer s , and Thomas Mayhewe and John Mayhewe, deforc 5 , of one messuage, sixty acres of land, ten acres of meadow, twenty acres of pasture, and six acres of wood, with appurtenances in Bensyngton, Crowmarsh, Roke, and Stoke. Thomas and John Mayhewe acknowledged the lands, etc., to be the right of James, as that which he and the other plaintiffs held of their gift. They warranted the lands to them and to James's heirs against William, Abbot of St. Peter's, Westminster, and his successors. The plaintiffs paid the Mayhewes 40 marks of silver. 102 History of the Manor of Bensingtou SUBSIDY ROLL, EWELME HUNDRED.* Bensyngton. William Benett, for his goods Geoffrey Slade, do. Michael ffere, servant, for wages . . . Richard Dewby, for goods John Merewether, do. ... Andrew Pallyng, do. Thomas Geoffrey, do. ... William ffreman, day labourer, for wages Robert Newby, day labourer, do. . . . William Merewe[ther], day labourer, do. Richard Woresdale, for goods William Benett jun., for goods Thomas Mayn, for goods William Penny, do. Agnes Lyn, widow, do. ... Thomas Yong, servant, for wages . . . Henry Kyng, day labourer William Taylor, day labourer, for wages Richard Norcott, day labourer, for wages John Bowden, for goods Richard Merewether, for goods . . . Roland Barrett, for goods Robert Hilton, do. Geoffrey Geoffrey, servant, for wages Richard Stauneton, servant, for wages William Reve, for goods Sm a Amount. xli xxs. xxiiij// xli xli. x\s. xxvs. xxvs. xxvs. xh, iiij/z iij/i vj/z iiij/z' xx.r. xxvs xxv.s\ X . iij »j iiij/i Tax. \\\}d. xxiiijj. vs. uijs. vid. xiid. vd. vd. vd. xud. i'yd. xvii)d. ii]s ijs. iii]d. vd. vd. * This roll is undated, but, according to the calendar, is of an. 14 and 15 Hen. VIII. — Excheq. Lay Subsidy Roll, Oxon, Appendix 103 FEODARY'S ACCOUNT.* Siltr {i.e., Ciltria). Bensyngton. Per Annum. d. Tho. Rooker, Esq., holds one close called Hawslade, formerly belonging to Tho. Savquen- vyle ... ... ... ... ... 2 8 Amis Mantell, widow, holds the manor called Phylletes,f and land, etc., late belonging to William Marmion, and after to Tho. SquerrJ ... 33 10 (extinguished) Ralph Vyne, lands, etc. ... ... ... 10 6 Abbot of Dorchester, one carucate ; his land in Nettlebed, called Soundeys ... ... 10 6 (extinguished by unity of possession) Abbot de Regali loco, in Nettlebed ... ... 5 — (extinguished) Adrian Fortescue, Knt, now Francis Stonor ... 26 8 Roger Whytton, bailiff of Nettylbed, lands, etc., in N., afterwards belonging to R. Blackall junior, now Richard Tyrtill ... ... 14 — Wm. Denton, for his life, in Rotherfield Grays ... 17 — Idem, in R. Grays ... ... ... 6 2 John Gosewell, in Chakenden ... ... 10 — * This account by the King's Feodary was drawn up at, or soon after, the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It gives the locality of the properties and the names of owners, corrected in many instances, apparently to the first year of Elizabeth. These correc- tions are made in the margin. (Land Revenue Office Rec s Surveys, Oxon, James I., f. 2 et seq.) f Phylletes is the estate in Henley, the rent of which the Black Prince remitted, reserving only a red rose at Midsummer. The rent was consequently extinguished. For Manor of Phyllis Court, see Burns' ' History of Henley,' pp. 267-281. X Probaby Tho. Spyer. 104 History of the Manor of Bensington feodary's account (continued). Per Annum. s. d. The Earl of Suffolk, for a messuage in Chaken- den, and one virgate of land called Tumors, held of the Manor of Ewelme (extinguitur hie) 6 8 Wm. Rede, in Chakenden, now Alice Marten ... 36 — Richard Slythurst, now W m . Pawling .. . ... 25 6 Richard Forde, now Roger Hacheman ... — 12 Summa ... ,£10 5s. i|d. Warborough. Abbot of Dorchester, lands, etc. ... ... n 9 (extinguished) Idem (these rents are, in the Allocation, put at 2s. 1 id., which makes the summa correct) ... 2 2 (extinguished) Thomas Clerke and Robert Knight, now J. Janes — 16 Bishop of Lincoln, now Richard Bewforest ... 2 — Prior of Wallingford* ... ... ... 3 4 (extinguished) Abbot of Oseney, land and cottages ... ... — 6 (extinguished) Abbess of Godstoke(stow) ... ... ... — 12 (extinguished) Summa ... ... 11s. id. Chalgrave. Richard Somer holds in Bensynton half an acre of land ... ... ... ... — 2 Summa ... ... 2d. Berewyke. John Smythe, lands, etc. ... ... ... 3 — Idem, Joannes ... ... ... ... — 14 Richard Slythurst, now VV m ... 2 2 Summa ... ... 6s. 4d. * This rent was for the fishery and ferryboat, etc., called Huddesbote, at Shillingford, and was extinguished by unity of possession, the priory being in the King's hand. Appendix 105 feodary's account (co?itinued). Roke. Per Annum. s. d. Guardian of the Church of Newington, lately in tenure of John Snell ... ... ... — 4 John Smythe ... ... ... ... — 2 John King of Newington, now Thos. Randall ... — 20 John Benet ... ... ... ... — 18 W m . Jefferye, now Roger Quelche Robert nuper . . . Bowbrok {sic) Summa ... ... ... 4s. Bensyngton. Rents of Assize President of Exeter College, Oxford, land, etc. Earl of Suffolk,* one messuage and forty-eight acres of arable and four of meadow, formerly Sir Hugh Wolf's, held of Manor of Ewelme, and called the Honour House 17 John Motte, now Thomas Mayne Thomas Mayhoo ... W m . Reade John Smythe W m . Pennye junior Same William John Myrywether, now R. Myrywether John Cottesmore, son of John Cottesmore, now George Carleton 57 8 (extinguished by unity of possession) 6 — 13 12 4 2 4 4 4 9 16 — 3 — * Mistake for Duke. This property was held of the Manor of Bensington by the payment of a rent resolute to the lord of £\ 17s. 8d. per annum. Hen. VIII., Ewelme.) (Excheq. Ministers' Accounts, 9 to 10 io6 History of the Manor of Bensington feodary's account (continued). Per Annum. s. d. John Hereford, of Folley, in co. Cornw. -42 William Pennye •■• ■•3 4 John Hereford ..6 8 Richard Slythurst . . . ..6 5 W m . Rede, Knt. ... ..16 4 Richard Slythurst . . . ••3 4 Same Richard .. 4 6 John Sparrowehawke, as of farmers of the chapels of St. John in Wallingford, Blessed Mary Magdalen in Crowmershe (mention here of date Nov. 2, an. 1 Elizabeth) W m . Rede, Knt., lands, etc. Heirs of John Welbye ... ... ... — President of M. Magdalen* Coll., Oxon, free tenants of same Vill hold in common one virgate and sixteen acres of land, called More- land ... ... ... ... ... 10 Summa ... ... ^9 9s. nd. — 19 (' conceyled ') 5 — — 2 HOLCOMBE. John Cottesmore held three pieces of land in free tenure at £1 8s. nd. rent. Thomas Spyer holds in base tenure half one virgate at 5 s. rent, and Richard Slythurst half one virgate in same tenure at 3s. rent. ::c By Patent 1 Henry VII., two carucates of land, one hundred acres of pasture, twenty acres of wood, and 100s. rent, in Chalgrave, Colder, Berwicke, Roke, and Benson, besides three manors, were granted to Magdalen College, Oxford. Appendix 107 feodary's account (continued). Bensyngton. Base tenure Richard Pauling Thomas Cotterell ... and Henry King John Hereford W m . Penye John Hereford W m . Penye and W m . Adingrose John Berewyke ... Summa ... Per Annum. s. d. £2 os. 6d. (sic). Base tenure John Cottesmore ... Idem Summa Holecumbe. 15s. 10 5 Warborough. Demesne, base tenure Abbot of Dorchester, one virgate John Poken, four acres of Buryland ... Same John, an island in Thames, called Cheleytt, lately Hugh Woodward's, and afterwards Walter Penye's, now Robert Clack Richard Randall holds of the Abbess of Godstoke (sic) four cottages John Pauling, now John Janes Idem Idem Robert Clack Summa ... ... 40s. 2d. (sic). 24 6 16 10 — 2 — • — 6 2 2 io8 History of the Manor of Bensington feodarv's account (continued). Bensyngton. Per Annum. s. d. Demesne land Duke of Suffolk, two virgates* Robert Hylton "} . ,, , „ , , . -, I one virgate called Buryiand in ( Warborough Field ■J and Roland Barrett J John Myrywether, one virgate Robert Hylton ~i and J- part of one virgate .. . Roland Barrett J Richard Slythurst ... John Slythurst, one virgate in Warborough Field John Pawling, four acres ... ... John George, alias Arnold, holds there a piscary called ' le Quattye,' where formerly was a water- mill, formerly in tenure of William Euered, after of Birm la Crowell, and afterwards Thomas Whytborne 49 ^4 16 24 33 Summa £9 iQS. Sum total £ 36 s. 10 £ s. d. 8 11 5 Rents extinguished 1 6 8 Bailiffs' fees 26 * In 28 Henry VIII. (1536-37) the rent of these virgates — which are described as being of the King's demesne in Warborough, called Buryland, parcel of Benson Manor, late in tenure of Sir Hugh Wolf — was in arrears. For eight years ending Michaelmas, 1533, 40s. only had been paid annually, payment of the excess being refused. £3 12s. were therefore due to the King from the Duke of Suffolk. 9s. also were owing from other tenants in War- borough. (Chap. House, Miscellaneous Books, A Y * F .) CHAPTER IV. A.D. I54O — A.D. 1628. Dissolution of Honour of Wallingford — Benson and other manors added to Honour of Ewelme — Sir F. Brian — Subsidy Roll — Sir Francis Knollys steward — Succeeded by his son — Proceedings in Chancery — Commission sits at Henley — Interrogatories to deponents, and answers — Inhabitants proceed in the Exchequer Court against St. John's College, Oxon — Commission sits at Benson, 1590 — Thirty-three interrogatories put to deponents — Their answers — Litigants referred to common law — Survey of manor — Description of it — Impossibility of accurately denning its limits — Aspect of Benson — Sale of manor by Charles I. — Subsequent owners. IN the thirty-first year of Henry VIII., 1540, the Honour of Wallingford was separated from the Duchy of Cornwall by Act of Parliament. By this Act 'it is enacted that the Honour and Castle of Wal- lingford shall from henceforth be separated from the Dukedom of Cornwall ; and shall not in any wise hereafter be reputed or taken by the name of the Honour of Wallingford, and that the King's manor of Newelme, otherwise called Ewelme, from hence- forth shall be for ever called and adjudged to be the Honour of Newelme, otherwise Ewelme.'* * Hedges' ' History of Wallingford,' vol. ii., p. 91. i r o History of the Manor of Bensington Sir Francis Brian appears to have continued in office after the dissolution of the Honour of Wal- lingford. In the Ministers' Accounts for the year ending Michaelmas, 1544, he is mentioned as being bailiff of Watlington, and also of Nettlebed, and as Steward of the Manor of Wallingford and constable. But it is not clear whether he held any office in con- nection with Benson. Sir John Wyllyams was his deputy. The other officers whose names are men- tioned were Robert Laward, alias Lorde, the receiver, and his deputy, John Doyley. Sir Francis Brian was with the Protector at the Battle of Pinkey, in September, 1547. In a Ministers' Account for a few years earlier, John Smythe is mentioned as being Bailiff of Ben- syngton. In a Subsidy Roll* for the year 1545 occur the names of the principal residents in Benson and War- borough at that time. The tax was paid by John Collyns, Henry Slade, Thomas Benet, Elizabeth Benet, Maryan Benet, Elisabeth Pauling, John Brasier, John Merywether, George Penny, and William Pauling, inhabitants of Benson. All these were assessed on goods only, with the exception of George Penny, whose lands were valued at 36s. 8d. John Brasier, or one of his family, probably gave their name to Brasiers, an estate in Ipsden. The tax-payers in ' Warborowe ' were Thomas * Excheq. Lay Subsidy Rolls, Oxon, No. \%-"-. Sir Francis Knollys 1 1 1 Felpe, Adam Hobbes, and John Felpe, who were assessed on their goods. In 1551, Sir Francis Knollys, of Rotherfield Grays, succeeded to the offices held by Sir Francis Bryan. He was a zealous Protestant, and is said to have prudently retired beyond sea during the reign of Mary. Shortly, however, before the Queen's death he was in England, as on November 5, 1558, he had a warrant for lead delivered by him out oi the store at Wallingford Castle, for repairs at Windsor.' 5 ' 5 On the accession of Elizabeth he ob- tained honours and advancement, having married Catherine Carey, the Queen's first cousin. This lady attended her aunt, Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold — a circumstance that endeared her to Elizabeth. Sir Francis was sworn a Privy Councillor in 1 558-i" He was Vice-chamberlain \ from 1565 to 1569, and in August, 157 1, was appointed Treasurer of the Household,^ and in 1593 Knight of the Garter. || He was thoroughly trusted by the Queen, who sent him, in May, 1568, to Mary of Scotland, immediately after her landing in England, with a letter of comfort. He continued with Mary till the following February, when he was relieved of his charge, which he greatly disliked, by the Earl of Shrewsbury. Sir Francis was employed in several important affairs, and died * Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, 1547-80, p. 112. t Strype's 'Annals,' vol. i., p. 5. \ Thomas's 'Historical Notes.' § Ibid. II Beltz's ' Memoirs of Order of the Garter.' ii2 History of the Manor of Bensington at an advanced age in 1593. His stewardship of Benson Manor, Wallingford, etc., were granted to him for life ; but he was succeeded in them by his son Henry, April 4, 1578. Henry died in 1582, and William, another son, was appointed a year or two after. In the third and fourth year of Philip and Mary, a question arose connected with that portion of the manor in Warborough the rent of which had been given by the Earl of Cornwall to the chapel in Wal- lingford Castle. Henry VIII. had sold the bury- lands to Thomas Blanke senior. The Abbot of Dorchester, who appears to have been the tenant of the college, received from each yardland 24s. 6d. per annum, and was alleged to have exercised manorial rights. Blanke succeeded the Abbot, but his possession of manorial rights was contested by the tenants of the land. Blanke therefore took the matter into the Court of Chancery. Ten interroga- tories were put on his behalf to the defendants James Braybrooke, Richard Spyer, and James Bowier. From them it appears that Warborough was asserted to be a manor, of which the Abbot of Dorchester had been lord ; that several persons, Sir William Rede among them, had held, as was alleged, portions of the burylands at the will of the lord ; and that eighteen yardlands pertained to the Abbot as lord of the manor. The result of these proceedings does not appear. But in the previous year of Philip and Mary, on Commission of Inquiry, 1587 113 June 14, 1556, license* had been granted to Blanke to alienate to Sir Thomas White the Manor of Shil- lingford and the Manor of Shillingford and War- borough, lately the property of Godstowe Nunnery, and also the Manor of Warborough that had be- longed to the monastery at Dorchester. The nuns' property in Shillingford, which was granted them in the reign of Henry II., was undoubtedly a manor. In the sale of those lands, the profit of which had belonged to the Abbey of Dorchester, the King's interest was described as a manor, though in reality the lands were part of the Manor of Benson. In the fine, by which the whole property passed from Blanke to Sir Thomas White, mention is made of the manors of Shillingford and Warborough, and of a considerable estate in those places, but not of a third manor, as in the Patent Rolls. An inquiry was made in the twenty-eighth year of Elizabeth's reign into the Queen's rights and posses- sions in Warborough and Shillingford. By virtue of their commission,t Michael Molins, Esq., and Edward Martin, gent., went to Henley on January 20, 1587, and called before them John Martin, John Middleton, Anthony Randall, John Lee, and Walter Martin, who, being sworn, were examined. The following interrogatories were put to them : 1. ffirste of howe many yard lande is the Quenes Ma tie seised in Warboroughe and Shillingford in the * Pat. Roll 2 and 3 Philip and Mary, p. 5, m. 14. t Exchequer Special Commission, Oxford, 28 Eliz., No. 1846. 8 1 1 4 History of the Manor of Bensington Countie of Oxonpcell of the possessions of Edmonde sometyme Earle of Cornewall out of w ch an yerely rent of one and thirtye pounds, seaven shillings, seaven pence was yerely paid to o r soveraigne Ladye and whether have the said lands ben concealed from her Maiestie. 2. Itm of what estate is o r said soveraigne Ladie seised of the said lands and in whose possession be the said lands and tents at this pnte. 3. Itm whether hath the Quenes Ma" e any more or other lands and tents in Warborough and Shil- lingford aforesaid sometyme pcell of the possessions of the saide Earle out of the w ch the said yerely rent of xxxi 1 ' vijs. vijd. was issuing. 4. Whether the Quenes Ma" e have any other lands there not being the said Edmonde's Earle of Cornewall. 1. John Martin, of Warborough, yeoman, aged about sixty years, deposes (in answer) that the Queen is seized of twelve yardlands and one half in War- borough and Shillingford, sometime parcel of the possessions of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, out of which there is paid yearly ^15 6s. 3d., parcel of the annual rent of ^31 7s. yd., sometime paid to the College of Wallingford, and issuing as well out of the said twelve yardlands and one half as out of certain quit rents which the said Earl had in War- borough and Shillingford. The said twelve yard- lands and one half have been concealed and detained from her Majesty for many years. Commission of Inquiry, 1587 115 2. To the second article he says that the Queen is seized in her demesne as of fee of and in the said land, and that the possession thereof is now and for many years past has been in the President and scholars of St. John the Baptist's College in the University of Oxford, and of their farmers and tenants, by several grants from the said college, to wit, in the hands and occupation of William Phelpe, William Martin, James Braybrok, gent., John Martin, Johan Hobbes, widow, Thomas Hill, Alice Martin, widow, Thomas Mould r (?), John Lee, John Gamond, Richard Butler, and Richard Wallis. . 3. The Queen has no other lands in Warborough and Shillingford to this deponent's knowledge. 4. To the fourth article deponent says that her Majesty hath the said lands in the fields of War- borough and Shillingford, to wit, seven and one half yardlands of Burie Land, called Checker Land, because the rent thereof is paid into the Exchequer ; also four acres of arable land, and eleven acres of meade in the tenure of William Stampe, gent. ; also four acres of arable land in the tenure of Nicolles ; also a plot of meade called Shogmere plot, containing by estimation one acre ; a parcel of meade in North More called a hooke, and an acre of meade in the end of Haseley meade called rent acre, in the tenure of John Janes ; also a parcel of arable land called Grove peece, containing by estimation four acres, and one little eight thereunto belonging in the tenure of ——Clarke. None of the said parcels of il6 History of the Manor of Bensington land are charged with the said rent of £$ 1 7 s - 7&- ; but whether the said lands were of the said Earl's possessions, or of any other man's possessions, de- ponent cannot say. John Middleton, of Shillingford, husbandman, aged about seventy-eight years ; Anthony Randall, of Shillingford, husbandman, aged about sixty-six years; John Lee, of Warborough, husbandman, aged about sixty years ; and Walter Martin, of Warborough, husbandman, aged about thirty years, depose to the same effect as John Martin deposed. Endorsed : ' Delivered into Court on the 26th day of January, 29 Eliz., by the hands of Francis Willis, Dean of the Cathedral Church of Worcester.' In the thirty-second year of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the question respecting manorial rights in Warborough was revived. The tenants and in- habitants took proceedings in the Exchequer Court against St. John's College, Oxford, upon whom Sir Thomas White, the founder, had bestowed his pro- perty in Warborough and Shillingford. A commis- sion* was issued to ' Owyn Oglethorp and William Grene, Esquires,' to receive the depositions of wit- nesses at Bensington. This they did on August 25, 1590. Thirty-three interrogatories were ' ministered ' on the part of the tenants and inhabitants against St. John's College. The inquiries were respecting the * Exchequer Depositions, 32, 33 Eliz., Michaelmas, No. 7. Commission of Inquiry, 1590 1.17 burylands ; whether the freehold belonged to the tenants ; whether the lands were parcel of Benson Manor when the Earl of Cornwall had it ; how many yardlands there were in the burylands, and of how many acres a yardland consisted ; how much of these lands was in the seisin of the tenants and their ancestors within recollection, and of how much were they dispossessed and by whom ; whether the tenants held by any other service than rent only without suit of court, and whether they have paid to the Queen, on death or change of estate, a fine or heriot, as they do in base tenure, and what other difference there is between buryland, base-tenure land, and homeland as regards suit and service and customs ; whether the late Abbot of Dorchester held four yardlands and one half of buryland in War- borough, parcel of Benson Manor, in time of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, and paid a proportionate rent to the College of Wallingford ; what rent for a yardland has been paid to the Queen, and is not the payment continued ; whether the tenants at any court-day in Benson have been treated as tenants at will by the Queen's steward or any of her officers ; whether the burylands have not descended as free- holds to the heirs of deceased tenants without inter- ference of the Queen's officers ; of what measure is the buryland, and what is the quantity of seed corn, wheat or barley, per acre, and is it not light ground, and dear enough at a rent of i2d. per acre ; in what respects does the base-tenure land differ from the 1 1 8 History of the Manor of Bensington buryland, and does it not descend to the son by custom of the manor, and is it or not parcel of the homeland, and are any fines or heriots paid for it on death or sale ; is not the homeland freehold and never considered to be part of the Earl of Cornwall's land, and in what respects does it differ from bury- land and base-tenure land ; have not the tenants always possessed homeland and base-tenure land as their proper freehold land, and did the Queen ever lease the said buryland or part thereof ; did they know the three buryfields and a meadow called Haseley mead, and another called Allysmore, and is this mead lot mead, and does it belong to the bury- land or no ; did they know the ' Stert' that lies in ' Leyses ' to the tenants of the burylands, and so belongs to them, and did they know the meadow called Weymark, and how ought it to go ; did they know the College land in Warborough which was formerly the Abbot of Dorchester's, to be called Vesons land, and used not the Abbot to pay rent for it to the college in Wallingford ; did they not know the gatherer of the rent of ,£40, out of Warborough and Shillingford for the lands now in variance, and other lands there, and certain other called the Abbot of Dorchester's, and did they not know who had the rent before the dissolution of the college and since ; did they know anything more touching the lands in controversy, did the Abbot of Dorchester challenge a manor in Warborough, or hold a court, or let copies or leases of the lands now in controversy ; did they Interrogatories 1 1 9 know the buryland out of which the yearly rent of ^31 7s. yd. has been paid to the Queen since the dissolution of Wallingford College ; had not the complainants and their ancestors always had quiet and peaceable possession of the said burylands pre- vious to Allen's and Blanck's interruption ; did they ever know the plaintiffs to have taken the said burylands by copy of court roll, or as tenants at will, before Allen's and Blanck's interruption ; was not the rent now paid to the Queen paid to Wallingford College before the dissolution, and how much was it ; did they know of any land in Warborough and Shillingford concealed from the Queen, and how do they understand the word ' concealed ' ; were they not examined in this case at Henley before Michael Molyns, Esq., and Edward Martyn, gent. ; and what they there deposed, was it only to their own certain knowledge, or on the sight and hearing of any book or evidence read to them, or did any person persuade or direct them what to swear, and how long is it since ; were they called before the above-named per- sons by process, etc., or messenger, or how; were they not with others called before Dr. Wyllys, President of St. John's College, or some other, before they came before the said commissioners, and were per- suaded to depose according to evidence read to them, and did not the President promise to save them harmless for deposing as they did. In answer to these questions, the deponents stated that the plaintiffs and their ancestors never received 120 History of the Manor of Bensington the burylands in question of the King by copy of court roll, or as tenants at will at common law ; though the Checker burylands were granted at the court at Bensington by copy of court roll, and fines and heriots paid for the same. But of those lands the plaintiffs had none. Before the dissolution of Wallingford College the rent, ^40 yearly, was paid to the college. With respect to the concealment of land, two deponents out of three stated that certain lands, twelve yard- lands and a half according to one of them, were con- cealed from the King, part in Warborough, and the rest either in Shillingford or in Bensington. On this point their depositions varied. The lands lay, one said, in the burylands of Warborough and Shilling- ford, and were formerly demesne land of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall. The concealment was attributed to Blank and Allen. One of the deponents, Walter Martyn, defined concealment. He understood the word ' concealed to be ' that the Queen's Majesty hath not had the use of the land, although she re- ceived the rents of it.' The rent was paid because of the inheritance. John Mochett, of Wargrave, gent., deponed that William Mercer, gent., was at that time steward and deputy of Sir Francis Knowles, knight, Treasurer of her Majesty's Household and of her Privy Council, High Steward of Bensington Manor. For nine or ten years Mochett was clerk to Mercer, and had, by his master's orders, kept court on several occasions. At Answers 121 these courts appeared Richard Spy re, gent., deceased, living in Warborough, foreman of the jury, and others of Bensington, Warborough, and Shilling- ford. Mochett had heard divers of the tenants and others say that St. John's College had, within the manor, nothing but a dead rent, and could hold no court, as Warborough was not a manor. The college officers had held court there ; but Mercer and Mochett had amerced at the court at Benson such as called themselves tenants to Warborough, and had often warned the tenants not to appear at the college's court at Warborough, Other deponents stated that the burylands were free, held by a rent of 24s. the yardland, to the plaintiffs and their heirs, until ' Allyn and Blancke ' interrupted them ; that the Abbot of Dorchester kept no court in Warborough ; nor did he challenge any manor, nor let leases or copies of the land in controversy. One of the deponents to the Abbot of Dorchester's usage was a man, ninety-one years old, named Henry Polkins. He had been brought up in a house called Veasons, belonging to the Abbot. There was a difference respecting the land in question. Some said that the buryland consisted of twenty-four yardlands, each yardland containing twenty-four acres, but this acreage, according to others, included the ' Queen's land' as well. The tenure of the lands was rent only. The base- tenure land was subject to the payment, for every 122 History of the Manor of Bensington yardland, upon every death or change, of one- fourth of the rent, which was 12s. per annum for every yardland. For the freeland, called homeland, one-half the rent. It was incumbent on holders of base-tenure land to appear twice in the year at the court at Benson, as also it was on the holders of homeland. No heriot was rendered for the base- tenure land, which was held in Borough-English ; it descended, i.e., to the youngest son. Some of the deponents put the rent of the buryland at 24s. 6d. for every yardland. The buryland was of 'small measure ' and light ground. About one bushel and one peck were sufficient to sow every acre, one with another. The rent is. per acre was judged as much as the land was worth. The names of three collectors of the ^40 rent, on behalf of the college, are given: Corver, Bennett, and Surbye. After the dissolution the rent was paid to the King. The names of deponents were : John Martyn, of Warborowe, husbandman, aged 70 ; John Mochett, of Wargrave, gent., aged 41 ; Walter Martyn, of Warborough, husbandman, aged 35 ; John Janes, of Turvyle, yeoman, aged 72 ; John Randall, of War- borough, aged 71 ; Edward Norton, of Warborough, aged 76 ; Richard Stevens, of Ewelme, yeoman, aged 29; Richard Ffrenche, of Warborough, husband- man, aged 57 ; John Crowdye, of Warborough, fisher, aged 50 ; Henry Polkins, of Warborough, husband- man, aged 92 ; Nicholas More, of Warborough, Survey in 1606 12- labourer, aged 55 ; Thomas Bennett, of Bensington, husbandman, aged 70. No decree was made in the case, as on hearing it was dismissed, each side paying its own costs, that the litigants might resort to common law. A commission was issued at about the same time to Robert Chamberlayn, Esq., and others, to survey the manor, etc. ; but the result of the inquiry is not to be found. The commission was dated June 23, in the thirty-third year of Elizabeth's reign. On July 23, 1606, which was in the fourth year of the reign of James I., a commission* was issued out of the Exchequer to Sir Francis Stoner and others to make a survey of the manor. The commissioners were empowered to administer an oath to the tenants. The manor consisted chiefly of lands and tenements in Benson, Warborough, Shillingford, and in Newn- ham-Murren. The farm or manor at Newnham had been leased by Elizabeth in the forty -fourth year of her reign, January, 1602, to Sir John Ffortescue for the term of sixty years. Sir John parted with his interest to Mr. Samborne, an Oxford- shire man, and Mr. Samborne with his to Mr. Walter Minter, of the Inner Temple, whose executor, Mr. Jones, of Southwark, gave to Sir Francis Stoner a lease for nine years, of which four only were to come. The residue, after the expiration of Sir Francis * Land Revenue Office Records, Mis. Counties, Surveys James I, Books I. and II., and V., fo. 83. 124 History of the Manor of Bensington Stoner's lease, belonged to Mr. Minter's youngest son. There was at Newnham a convenient farmhouse, with two barns and two stables and other offices. Two pastures belonged to it, called Butt-close and Table-close, lying together, and estimated to contain ten acres. Newnham Wood, which is described as 'one other Chiltorne pasture in several!,' was part of the property. The greatest part of this pasture consisted of ' small tymber-trees of oak,' and was estimated to contain, wood and pasture together, ninety acres. Under the heading of Newnham-Murren Farm is a list of names of persons described as holding in 'base tenure,' by which is meant Borough-English, but who, according to the record, had nothing to do with Newnham, though tenants of Benson Manor. The first of these names is Ralph Spier, gentleman, who claimed to hold to himself and his heirs half a virgate of land in Bensington, called Pottys or Potters, of the King of his Manor of Benson. His rent was 5s. per annum, with fealty and suit of court. Richard Waterer held, by similar rent and service, a house with barns, stables, orchards, etc., in Benson. Walter Bartlemewe, otherwise Marten, and nineteen other persons, viz., William Bartlett, John Coxe, Edward Bartlemew, otherwise Marten, John Bare- foote, Richard Wallis, John Bisley, William Hobbes, Robert Coxe, Edward French, Thomas French, John Samon, James Porter, William Arnett, Ralph Survey in 1606 125 Arnett, Richard Spire, Richard Butler, John Janes, John Webbe, Thomas Wallis, held small premises in the manor on the same conditions, only that their rent was paid to St. John's College, Oxford. These tenements all appear to have been situate in War- borough and Shillingford. It may therefore be concluded that the legal proceedings in Elizabeth's reign resulted adversely to the claims of the college. The plaintiffs in the suit contended that the college possessed no manor in Warborough, but certain rents only, and in all these cases it is stated that fealty was due to the King, as lord of the Manor of Benson, with suit of court. The survey of the manor was not accomplished without difficulty. Indeed, it was not thoroughly accomplished ; for the jury have left it on record that the manor so stretched into adjacent manors, and was so mixed up with them, that they were not able to set out with certainty the bounds and limits of it. In fact, Benson Manor included originally all these adjoining manors, which were carved out of it at various times. There were in Bensington two commons, parcel of the manor called Bensington Heath and Hartock Hill, estimated to contain fifty acres. Certain tenants of Ewelme Manor, and the farmer of Fifielde, claimed right of common, with the tenants of Benson, on these heaths. There was in Benson a common moor, called the ' Stearte,' estimated to contain twenty acres. The 126 History of the Manor of Bensington tenants of ' Fifeilde,' and certain tenants of ' Rooke ' and certain tenants of Ewelme, claimed common for cows and oxen with the tenants of Benson. This right of common was called ' Rotherbeast.' There was also in Benson a common marsh, called Bensington Marsh, and Rowe Marsh, estimated to consist of twenty acres. The tenants of Fifeilde, Rooke, and Berwick Sallom, and certain tenants of Ewelme, had right of common. In Warborough there was a common pasture, parcel of the manor, called Warborough-green, con- taining, by estimation, ten acres ; also another common there, called the Marsh, nearly joining the green, estimated to contain sixteen acres of pasture. The farmer of Shillingford claimed, in respect of one messuage and ten virgates of land, to have common in Warborough. On all these commons were about six cartloads of firewood. The jury said that everything was in good order in the manor, and that there were on the commons of Benson and Warborough cottages and other buildings necessary for the dwelling and use of the poor. They further returned that the King had and held within the manor the court of frank-pledge, and all waifs and strays and chattels of felons, and all other things belonging to the court of frank-pledge. The fishery within the manor, valued at 33s. 4d., was in the possession of Robert Arnold, by authority of letters patent dated July 2, in the thirty-fifth year of Oueen Elizabeth's reien. Sale of the Manor by the King 127 The aspect of Benson at the time when this survey was made, and previously, must have been uninviting. The place was little better than an aguish swamp.* On one side was the overflow of the river called Crowmarsh, extending down the stream to the bridge connecting the two counties, while it was separated from Berwick by Roke and Benson marshes. In 1628, the fourth year of his reign, King Charles I. made a grantf of the manor to Ditchfield, Highlord, and others, land speculators, of the City of London. It was to be held by them of the King, in free socage of the Manor of East Greenwich, Kent, at a rent of £2% 14s. i^d. What the pur- chasers gave is not apparent, as the manor was sold in a lump with several others. The property parted with is described as ' the Manor of Benson, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances, and all our lands, tenements, rents, and hereditaments whatso- ever called or known by the name of the Manor of Benson '; ' all those our rents of free tenants in Chiltre, Walborough, Chalgrave, Berwick, Roke, Bensington, and Holcombe, with i2d. of new rent laid on the tenants in the sixteenth year of King James, amounting to ^22 6s. 6^d. per annum : all those our rents of tenants at will of the lord in base tenure, viz., in Chiltre, Bensington, and Holcombe, * The unhealthiness of Benson is, or was, I am told, expressed by a common saying, ' the Benson shakes,' i.e., ague, t Patent Roll 4 Chas. I., pt. 35, June 14, 1628. 128 History of the Manor of Bensingtou amounting to £$ 3s. 6d. per annum : all those our demesne lands of the manor in the tenure of divers tenants in Warborough and Bensington, of the annual rent or value of 37s. and upwards.' The fishery in the occupation of Robert Arnold and his sons, valued at 33s. 4d. per annum, was included in the grant. But the assissed rents, and those rents which were extinct through unity of possession, and the perquisites of the court and other payments, were not reckoned parcel of the manor. The manor is described as parcel of the possessions of the Duchy of Cornwall, annexed to the Honour of Ewelme. In the same year, Ditchfield, Highlord and the others acquired the Manor of Tumors, in Bensing- ton, formerly belonging to Charles, Duke of Suffolk. It was held by John Eldred and William Whitmore. They acquired also Morrell's Wood and land and tenements let to Stephen Smyth. These lands were in Nuffield parish, in Bensington. Burns, in his history of Henley, states that in 1638 Sir Christopher Clitherowe was lord of the manor. He was succeeded by Thomas Cory, James Clitherowe, and John Clitherowe, Esqs. James Paule was owner of it in 1692, in whose family the manor continued till 1726, when it was acquired by the Stapletons, in whose possession it remains. Sir F. Stapleton, Bart., of Greys Court, is the present lord of the manor. APPENDIX. FEET OF FINES. 33 Henry VIII., Hilary. Between Laurence Hanforde, quer., and John Butler, Esq., deforc', of Manor of Berwyk, with appurtenances ; and of two hundred acres of land, twenty acres of meadow, sixty acres of pasture, and one hundred acres of heath and furze, and 6s. 8d. rent in Berwyk and Warborowe. John acknowledged it to be the right of Laurence, who paid him 140 marks of silver. 1 Edward VI., Easter, 1547. Between John Rolles, quer., and John Smith and Elizabeth his wife, deforc s , of two messuages, one garden, and thirty-two acres of land, and common of pasture for three cows, with appurtenances in Roke, Berwick, Ewellme, and Benston. The result was that Rolles gave J. and E. Smith ^30. 3 Edward VI., Octave of St. Michael, 1549 (Divers Counties). Between Katherine Dormer, widow, quer., and John Vacye and Edmund Wynter, deforc 5 , of two messuages, two gardens, one hundred acres of land, forty acres of meadow, one hundred acres of pasture, with appurtenances in Bensington, Oxon ; and of ten acres of land, six acres of meadow, and eight acres of pasture, in Mowlesford, Berks. John and Edmund acknowledged it to be the right of Katherine, etc. She gave them ^,'80. 9 1 30 History of the Manor of Bensington 6 Edward VI., Easter. Between Richard Spyre, quer., and Thomas Dynham, Esq., and Katherine his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, one cottage, three barns, two gardens, one orchard, and two hundred acres of land, twenty acres of meadow, and ten acres of pasture, with appurten- ances in Warburgh and Shillingford. Thomas and Katherine acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Richard, etc. Richard gave Thomas and Katherine Dynham ,£53. 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, Michaelmas. Between Sir Thomas White, citizen and Alderman of London, quer., and Thomas Blanke, senior, citizen and haberdasher of London, and Joan his wife, deforc 5 , of the Manors of Shelyngford and Warburgh with appurtenances ; and of twenty messuages, twenty tofts, eight hundred acres of land, one hundred acres of meadow, eight hundred acres of pasture, twenty acres of wood, and one thousand acres of furze and heath, and 20s. rent, with appurtenances in Shelyngford and Warburgh. For this Sir Thomas White gave ,£400. 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, Michaelmas. Between George Penny, quer., and Geoffrey Geoffray and Margia his wife, deforc 5 , of four messuages, two hundred acres of land, twelve acres of meadow, twenty acres of pasture, with appur- tenances in Bensington. Geoffrey and Margia acknowledged the right of George, etc., and gave warranty for themselves and Margia's heirs. George Penny paid ^60. 2 and 3 Eliz., Octave of St. Michael. Between Roger Manwood, gentleman, quer., and John Marmyon, gentleman, and Cecily his wife, and Edmund Marmyon, gent., deforc s , of two messuages, two gardens, one hundred acres of land, twenty acres of meadow, sixty acres of pasture, ten acres of wood, twenty acres of marsh, with ^5 in rents, with appurtenances in Bensyngton, alias Bensingden, and Ewelme, alias Newelme. The Marmyons, for themselves and Cecily's heirs, admitted the tenements, etc., to be Roger's, and warranted to him and his heirs, etc., and received from him ^40 sterling. Appendix 131 10 and 11 Eliz., Michaelmas (Divers Counties). Between Valentine Dale, Doctor of Laws, quer , and John Forth, gent, deforc', of three messuages, two cottages, three gardens, three orchards, one hundred acres of land, twenty acres of meadow, ten acres of pasture, and two acres of wood, with appurtenances in Bensynton ; also common of pasture for all beasts in Bensynton, which, together with properties in Herts and Middlesex, John sold to Valentine for ,£460. 12 Eliz., Hilary. Between President and scholars of Magdalen College, Oxford, quer., and John Marmyon, gent., and Cicely his wife, and Edmund Marmyon, son and heir apparent of John and Cicely, deforc b , of six messuages, six tofts, two dovecots, six gardens, three hundred acres of land, thirty acres of meadow, sixty acres of pasture, twelve acres of wood, twenty acres of heath and furze, and 10s. rent, with appurtenances in Ewelme, Bensington, Warborow, Rooke, and Barwyke. The college paid ^400. 15 and 16 Eliz., Michaelmas. Between Thomas Bowden, quer., and John Mayne and Cristiana his wife, and William Mayne and Beatrice his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, one garden, one orchard, twelve acres one rood of land, and one rood of meadow, with appurtenances in Bensington, alias Benson. It was acknowledged to be the right of Thomas, as held by him of the gift of the deforc 5 . Thomas gave ^40. 16 Hliz., Hilary. Between John Bennett, quer., and John Mayne and Alice his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, one garden, one orchard, twenty- two acres and three roods of land, with appurtenances in Bensing- ton, alias Benson. The land and tenements were admitted to be the right of John Bennett, who paid £40. 22 Eliz., Hilary. Between George Dynham, gent., and Francis ffolyatt, gent., quer., and John Dynham, Esq., and Katherine his wife, deforcs, 132 History of the Manor of Bensington of the Manor of Fyfehyde, otherwise Fyshide, otherwise Fyfeilde, with appurtenances ; and of five messuages, one water-mill, two dovecots, five gardens, five orchards, five hundred acres of land, forty acres of meadow, forty acres of pasture, thirty acres of wood, and 10s. rent, in Benson, otherwise Bensington ; Shyllingford, otherwise Shellyngford, otherwise Shyllyngworthe; Roke, Ewelme, Warborowe, and Berewycke. George and Francis gave the deforciants 800 silver marks. Fifield, though in Bensington, was not included in the manor. It is situated in Dorchester Hundred. 23 Eliz., Trinity. Between Edward Bennett, quer., and Wm. Smyth and Thomas Smyth, deforc s , of one messuage, one garden, twenty-four acres of land, four acres of meadow, three acres of pasture, and two acres of wood, with appurtenances in Bensington. Edward gave William and Thomas ^40. 25 Eliz., Trinity. Between Sir Henry Nevell, John Doylye, Esq., William Stampe, gent., Edward Molyns, clerk, Richard Mountague, Thomas Bowdon, Richard Mery wether, Thomas Quelche, John Quelche, Robert George, alias Arnolde, and John Warner, quer s , and George Pennye, deforc', of one messuage, one garden, one orchard, thirty- eight acres of land, two acres of meadow, and common of pasture for four cows, with appurtenances in Bensyngton. George Pennye acknowledged the tenements to be the right of John Quelche, etc. They paid Pennye ^40. 27 Eliz., Trinity. Between Thomas Webbe, quer., and Richard Hambleden and Alice his wife, deforc s , of one messuage, one garden, and one orchard, with appurtenances in Warborowe and Dorchester. Thomas paid the Hambledens jQ\°- 28 and 29 Eliz., Michaelmas. Between Nicholas Gibbes, quer., and Robert Wyse, deforc', of eight acres one rod of land in Berricke Sollam, Bensington, and Ewelme. Nicholas gave Robert ^40. Appendix 133 29 Eliz., Easter. Between William Janes, quer., and Thomas Janes and Elen his wife, deforc s , of two messuages, two gardens, half an acre of land, five acres of meadow, and one rod of pasture in Warborough. William paid Thomas and Elen ^40. 30 Eliz., Hilary. Between Richard Lybbe, gent., quer., and Walter Hildesley, gent., deforc 1 , of one messuage, two hundred acres of land, twenty acres of pasture, and twenty acres of wood in Bensington. Walter gave a warranty against Thomas Freeman and his heirs, as well as against his own. Richard Lybbe paid ,£80. 30 and 31 Eliz., Michaelmas. Between Richard Lybbe, quer., and Thomas Freeman and Margaret his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, two hundred acres of land, twenty acres of pasture, and twenty acres of wood in Ben- sington. Richard paid to the Freemans ;£8o. 30 and 31 Eliz., Michaelmas. Between Richard Lybbe, quer., and John Stampe, gent., and Isabella his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, two hundred acres of land, twenty acres of pasture, and twenty acres of wood in Ben- sington. Richard gave deforciants ^80. 32 Eliz., Easter. Between William Janes, otherwise Phelpe, and John Wheler, quer 5 , and Thomas Janes, otherwise Phelpe, and Elianor his wife, Peter Smale and Katherine his wife, deforc 5 , of three messuages, three gardens, twenty-five acres of land, and five acres of meadow, with appurtenances in Warborough. William and John Wheler gave the deforciants £\o. 33 and 34 Eliz., Michaelmas. Between Edmund Thorpe and Robert Arnold, quer 5 , and Richard Meryweather, senior, Thomas Meryweather and Richard Meryweather, junior, deforc 5 , of four messuages, two barns, four gardens, four orchards, thirty-six acres of land, six acres of pasture, 1 34 History of the Manor of Bensiugton and common of pasture for all animals, with appurtenances in Bensington, otherwise Benson, Roke, Ewelme and Warborowe. Edmund and Robert gave the Meryweathers ^,80. 36 Eliz., Hilary. Between John Janes, quer., and Richard Hambledon and Alice his wife, deforc 5 , of five acres of meadow and one acre of pasture, with appurtenances in Warborowe. John gave the Hambledons ^40. 37 and 38 Eliz , Michaelmas. Between John Cheynye, quer., and Roger Quelch and Elizabeth his wife, deforc 5 , of one messuage, one toft, two gardens, two orchards, fourteen acres of land, one acre of meadow, three acres of pasture, and common of pasture for all animals, with appur- tenances in Roke, Bensington, Berwick and Chalgrove. John Cheynye paid £%o. 38 Eliz., Trinity. Between the Queen herself, quer., and Thomas Fourde, Simon Fourde and John Smyth and Alice his wife, deforc 5 , of one mes- suage, one garden, one orchard, one hundred and sixty acres of land, two acres of meadow, forty acres of pasture and common of pasture, in Ewelme and Bensington, otherwise Benson. The Queen paid ^41. 39 and 40 Eliz., Michaelmas (Divers Counties). Between William Farrand, Esq., and John Warner, Esq., quer s , and Dorothea Northe, widow, deforc 4 of the Manor of Fifed, otherwise Fifeilde, with appurtenances ; and of six messuages, six gardens, two hundred acres of land, forty acres of meadow, two hundred acres of pasture, one hundred acres of wood, twenty acres of heath and furze, and 4s. rent in Fifed, otherwise Fifeilde, and Rednam, in County of Southampton ; and of two messuages, two gardens, six acres of land, three acres of meadow, and five acres of pasture in Hokeston, otherwise Hoggesdon, in the parish of S. Leonard, in Shorditch, in the County of Mid- dlesex ; and of two messuages, two gardens, one hundred acres of land, forty acres of meadow, and one hundred acres of pasture in Bensington, in County of Oxford; and of six messuages, one Appendix 135 hundred acres of land, six acres of meadow, and twenty acres of pasture in Baldock, Norton, Wyllyen, Weston Bygrave, and Clothall, Herts. William and John paid Dorothea a sum of money, the amount of which is obliterated. 6 James I., Michaelmas. Between Robert Quatermayne and John Barrett, quer s , and ffrancis Quatermayne and Jane his wife, deforc s , of five acres of land and a half, with appurtenances in Berwicke and Warborowe. Robert and John paid Francis and Jane Quatermayne ^40. 7 James I., Hilary. Between ffrancis fforde, quer., and Thomas fforde and Barbara his wife, deforc s , of one messuage, two hundred acres of land, one acre of pasture, and common of pasture for three hundred sheep, and twenty avers in Ewelme and Bensington, otherwise Benson. Thomas and Barbara grant to Francis the tenements and common of pasture for the term of the life of themselves and the survivor of them. Francis paid them ^100. 9 James I., Easter. Between Richard Waterer, gentleman, quer., and Francis Fortescue, Knt.,and Grace his wife, deforc s , of one messuage, one garden, one orchard, thirty-two acres of land, seven acres of meadow, eight acres of pasture, and three acres of wood, with ap- purtenances in Bensington, otherwise Benson, Ewelme and Warburgh. Richard gave Sir Francis and his wife ^60. 10 James I., Michaelmas. Between Richard Chambers, gentleman, and John Middlemore, gentleman, quer s , and Richard Braybroke, Esq., deforc', of one messuage, one hundred acres of land, ten acres of meadow, six acres of pasture, and 4s. rent, with appurtenances in War- borough. Richard and John gave Braybroke ^100. 1 James I., Easter. Between Ralph Quelche and Thomas Bennett, junior, quer 5 , and Thomas Merrywether and Elizabeth his wife, John Merry- 136 History of the Manor of Bensington wether and Elizabeth his wife, and William Merrywether, deforc 5 , of four messuages, two barns, four gardens, four orchards, thirty-six acres of land, six acres of pasture, and common of pasture for all kinds of avers, with appurtenances in Bensington, otherwise Benson, Roke, Ewelme, and Berricke. Ralph Quelche and Thomas Bennett gave the Merrywethers ,£60 sterling. 3 James I., Easter. Between John Wiggins and Ralph Wiggins, quer s , and Richard Willibye, otherwise Wilbye, and Dorothy his wife, deforc 5 , of three messuages, three gardens, two orchards, eight acres and one rod of land, three acres of pasture, common of pasture and common of estovers, with appurtenances in Benson, otherwise Bensington. John and Ralph paid Richard and Dorothy ,£80. 5 James I., Easter. Between William Stampe and Francis Quatermayne, gentlemen, quer s , and Thomas Bowden and Richard Waterer and Unica (?) his wife, deforc s , of one messuage, one curtilage, one garden, one orchard, sixteen acres of land, one acre of meadow, two acres of pasture, and half an acre of wood, with appurtenances in ' Besington,' otherwise Benson. William and Francis paid the others ^4r sterling. 12 James L, Michaelmas. Between John Tuttye, quer., and Thomas Willis and Anne his wife, deforc 5 , of six acres of land and a half, with appurtenances in Bensington, Ewelme, Berwicke and Roke. John Tuttye paid them ^41. 12 James I., Michaelmas. Between Richard Tuttye and Gregory Andrewes, quer 5 , and John Lydall and Anne his wife, deforc 5 , of three acres of land, with appurtenances in Bensington, Ewelme, Berwicke and Roke. Richard and Gregory paid the others £,\o. 13 James I., Easter. Between Samuel Gibbes, quer., and John Barrett, deforc', of one messuage, one barn, one curtilage, one garden, one orchard, five acres of land and a half, half an acre of pasture, and common of Appendix 137 pasture for two cows, with appurtenances in Bensington and Ewelme. Samuel paid John ^41. 18 James I., Trinity. Between Richard Waterer, gentleman, quer., and Thomas Denton, Knt., and Susanna his wife, deforc s , of one messuage, one water-mill, two gardens, two orchards, seventy acres of land, six acres of meadow, twenty acres of pasture, ten acres of wood, and common of pasture for all kinds of avers, with appurtenances in Benson, otherwise Bensington, otherwise Bensingborne, Roke, Berwick, Shillingford and Ewelme. Richard Waterer gave Sir Thomas and Susanna ^160. 19 James I., Easter. Between Michael Bennett, quer., and John Brasier and Agnes his wife, deforc s , of three messuages, three cottages, three barns, six gardens, three orchards, thirty-three acres of land, four acres of meadow, one acre of pasture, and common of pasture for all avers, with appurtenances in Bensington, Berrick Sallam, Roke and Ewelme. John and Agnes held the messuages, etc., for the term of Agnes's life, with reversion on her death to Michael and his heirs. They sold Agnes's life interest to him for ^100. 20 James I., Michaelmas. Between Richard Waterer, gentleman, quer., and Richard Spier, gentleman, Anthony Spier, gentleman, Salomon Lowgie, Walter Bartholomew, otherwise Martin, and Andrew Quatermayne, de- forc s , of one messuage, one garden, one orchard, thirty acres of land, eight acres of meadow, six acres of pasture, and common of pasture for all kinds of avers, with appurtenances in Benson, otherwise Bensington, Roke, Ewelme, Berwick, Shillingford and Warborough. Richard Waterer gave the deforciants ^100. 21 James I., Easter. Between Charles Wiseman, Esq., and John Blacknall, Esq., quer s , and Richard Lybb, Esq., deforc 1 , of the Manor of Hard- wick, with appurtenances ; and of six messuages, two cottages, one dovecot, three gardens, three orchards, three hundred acres 138 History of the Manor of Sensing ton of land, forty acres of meadow, one hundred acres of pasture, one hundred and forty acres of wood, forty acres of furze and heath, common of pasture for all animals, and a several fishery with appurtenances in Hardwick, Whitchurch, Goring, Bensington, otherwise Benson, Ippesden, Checkenden and South Stoke. Charles and John gave Richard Lybb ,£400. Appendix 139 SUBSIDY ROLL,* 1566-67 (8 and 9 Eliz.). The Halfe Hundred of Ewelme. Bensington. Amount. 'I ax. Thomas Freman, in Landes . iij/z. \\\)S. Richard Merywether, in Landes ... xxj-. xv)d. George Pennie, in Landes xxs. xv)d. Steven Smithe, in goodes ixli. vi)s. vid. Elisabeth Bennett, widowe, in goodes ... iiij/z'. \\)s. ivd. Will'm Rawlinge, in goodes iij/z'. i]s. vid. Geffrey Barret, in goodes iij/z'. i]s. vid. Will'm Brookes, in goodes iij/z'. i]s. vid. Thomas Bartlett, in goodes iij/z'. ijs. vid. Thomas Bawden, in goodes . . iij/z. ijs. vid. Warborowe. Adam Hobbes, in goodes xv/i. xiis. vid. Richard Marten, in goodes iij/z'. ijs. vid. Will'm Gamon, in goodes vi/z'. vs. Jhon Randall, in goodes xiij/z. XS. Xd. Thomas Porter, in goodes iiij/z'. ii]s. iii)d. Will'm Felpe, in goodes vi//. vs. Jhon Wise, in goodes vli. iii]s. iid. Thomas Jacobe, in goodes iij/z. ijs. vid. Richard Walles, in goodes iij/z. ijs. vid. Will'm Marten, in goodes iij/z'. ijs. vid. Thomas Felpe, in Landes xi.r. ijs. viijd. Thomas Bisley, in Landes xx.f . xv)d. Exc. Lay Subsidy Rolls, No. £ff 140 History of the Manor of Bensington SUBSIDY ROLL,* 1576 (18 Eliz.). The Half Hundred of Ewelme. Bensington. Amount. Tax. Steven Smythe, in goodes ... ... xj/z. xis. Jeffrey Barret, in goodes ... ... iiij/z'. iiij.?. Thomas Bowdon, in goodes ... ... iiij/i. iiijj-. Will'm Brookes, in goodes ... ... iiij/z'. iiijj. Thomas Bartlet, in goodes ... ... iiij/z'. iiij .?. Elizabeth Bennet, in goodes ... ... iiij/z'. iiij^. George Penny, in landes ... ... xxj\ xv')d. Rychard Merywether, in landes ... xxs. xvjd. Summa xxxiij.?. viijd. Warborowe. John Randall, in goodes John Marten, in goodes Will'm Felpe, in goodes Thomas Portar, in goodes John Wyse, in goodes Richard Wallys, in goodes Will'm Marten, in goodes John Jacobbe, in goodes Agnes Gammon, in goodes Johan Hobbys, in goodes Thomas Felpe, in landes Thomas Bysley, in landes Summa iij/z'. vjj-. xij//. xijs. iij/z'. iij^. vij/z'. vijs. v/z'. vs. v/z'. \'S. iiij/z'. in]s. iiij/z'. 111J.J. iij/z. iijy. iij/z. iij.r. xvj/z. xvjs. xk ijs. vii]d. xxs. xv)d. Ex. Lay Subsidy Rolls, Co. Oxon, No. ^ff. Appendix 141 SUBSIDY ROLL,* 1581 (23 Eliz.). The Half Houndred of Ewelm. Bensington. Amount. Tax. Steven Smythe, in goods ... ... \xli. xvs. Thomas Bowden, in goods ... ... iij/z. vs . Jeffrey Barret, in goods ... ... iiij/z". vjs. viijd. William Bartlett, in goods ... ... vj/z". xs. Edward Bennet, in goods ... ... vj/z. xj-. Richard Mountigen, in goods .. . ... iij/z". V s. George Penney, in Lands ... ... xx*. ij.r. viijV. Richard Merywether, in Lands ... xk v*. iiijz/. Summa lixs. viija'. Warborouge. Jone Hobbes, in goods Jhon Randole, in goods William Felpe, in goods Thomas Porter, in goods William Marten, in goods Richard Wallis, in goods Jhon Jacobbe, in goods Jhon Marten, in goods Agnes Gamon, w., in goods Thomas ffelpe, in Lands Thomas Bisley, in Lands Alice Marten, w. , in goods Summa iiij/*'. xvj.r. iiijj ij J Tax. li. s. d. j iiii o o xvi o o x viij o viij o o x viij o viij o o viij o o viij o o iiij o Sum' col' iiij/z'. xviu. \\\\d. Warborough et Shellingfokd. Dame Dorothy ff leetwood, in goodes William Deny, gent., in goodes John Phelpe, in goodes Walter Bartholomew, or Martin, in goodes, Thomas Gamon, in landes Richard Beesley, in landes William Hobbs, in landes William Beesley, in landes Jacob Bishopp, in landes Widow Martin, in landes Thomas Beesley, in landes Sum' col' vli. iiiji-. * Ex. Lay Subsidy Roll, Oxon, No. ]-J| VI 1 J J J "11 VI IJ J J "ij lllj — X VIIJ 111] X VIIJ J — lllj — J — lllj — llj — Xlj — J — lllj — J — lllj — J — lllj — JJ — VIIJ — lni 10 146 History of the Manor of Bensington SUBSIDY ROLL,* 1640 (16 Charles I.). The Halfe Hund. de Ewelme. Bensington. Thomas Plat and Samuell Hatt, in lands Richard Machen, gent, in goods John Hambledon, in goods Wid. Waterer and John her son, in lands Wid. Barrett, in goods John Brasier for Twines farme in lands Mr. Barker's ffarme, in lands Nathaniell Arnold, in lands ... Allaways (?) farme, in lands ... Ralph Gibbs, in lands Summa x/z. \)s. viijV. in lands Amount. It. J vij vij iiij iij ij J J Tax. s. d. viij — xvii iiij xvii iiij xxxii — xvi — XX111J xvj viij viij Warborowe com Shilingford. John Samon, gent., in goods William Deane, gent., in goods John Phelp, in goods Mrs. Dewy, in goods Thomas Gamman, in lands ... Richard Bissly, in lands M ris Catermaine, in lands Thomas Hobbs, recusant, in lands William Bisslie, in lands Jacob Bishoppe, in lands Wid. Martin, in lands Recusants there chargable by the pole : Joane, the wife of Thomas Hobbs Joane, the wife of John Phelpe VI IJ •J IJ VllJ VllJ 'J IJ VllJ 111J — XXI 111J 111J — XXI 111J J — VllJ — J — VllJ J — VllJ IJ — XX1J J — VllJ J — VllJ J VllJ — — — xvi — — — xvi * Ex. Lay Subsidy Rolls, Co. Oxon, No. iff. Appendix 147 John Bissly and Joane his wife Ann, the wife of William Bissly Joane, the wife of William Carter Richard Wheler Joane Wheler ... Summa xli. xvii]s. viii