DERLEY ABBEY CHARTERS PRESERVED AT BELVOIR. 27 



de Ferrar, my brother, Robert de Esseburne, Jordan de 

 Snitterton, Rob. le Vavassur, Thomas de Curcun, Fulcher de 

 Irton, knights, Thomas Juvene, Robert de Aldewerc, Roger de 

 Thoc, Will de Codint, Will, de Chaddesden, Roger, clerk, and 

 others." 



The seal, enclosed in a silk wrapper, is of white 

 wax, and is of unusual freshness and beauty. On 

 one side, on a ground of gracefully curving tendrils, 

 is a fine heat er shaped shield with Ferrar's arms — 

 (vaird ar. and giiki) — surrounded by the legend, 



"+ SIGILLV ARIIS aOMITlS 



DSRBGCYS." On the reverse is an armed figure, 

 with helm, haqueton, and singlaton, wielding a 

 drawn sword, and seated on a horse at full speed. 

 The horse cloth, bearing the Ferrars coat, covers 

 the w'hole animal, but is divided for the saddle 

 girth. Round the margin, "+ ROB'S FIL GCT 

 f]aRaS do: WILLI Da . . ." Unfortunately, 

 a piece of the margin is missing. 



There are doubtless many other charters of the Earls of Derby 

 remaining at Belvoir, but these are all which Mr. Carrington has 

 yet discovered in the short time he has had for his investigation. 



Messinaton Cbarters. 



The Wessington Charters are numerous and highly interesting, 

 and throw much valuable light on the early history of this upland 

 Derbyshire village. 



Many of the names mentioned in the charters still designate 

 the lands and localities specified, although none occur in deeds 

 later than 1250. Here are a few of them : — Houemeadow, 

 Mosewell, Berchersland, Fair-Oaks-flat, The Tounstede, or 

 Tunstudes, Barneclif, Backesterfelde, Cardeville Hey, Barweclif, 

 The Butts, The Hey, Middilfeld, Bromflatt— all of which have 

 been identified by Mr. Goodwin, an old inhabitant. 



