98 
like four hundred years the monastery of Furness flourished. The 
Abbots, as may be concluded from the original charter, were 
temporal as well as spiritual princes, ruling, with an almost absolute 
sway, over their vassals and large domains. But with the reign of 
Henry VIII. a great change came, as you all know, and on April 
gth, 1537, Furness Abbey, with all its estates, was surrendered to 
the King. They remained in the hands of the Crown until 1662, 
when the manor of Hawkshead, with other manors belonging to 
the lordship of Furness, was granted by Charles II. to the Duke 
of Albemarle and his heirs. By marriage it came to the family 
of the Montagues, from whom it has descended to the Duke of 
Buccleuch, the present lord. I must now beg your attention to 
the question of 
TENURES. 
From what I have before said, you will have gathered that 
there arose out of feudalism the maxim that all lands in the 
kingdom were originally granted by the kings, and held immediately 
or mediately of them, as lords paramount, in consideration of 
certain services to be rendered by the holder. Those who held 
immediately of the king were called tenants 77 capi?e, (or in chief,) 
which was the most honourable tenure. These tenants granted 
portions to inferior persons, who were called lords with regard to 
inferior holders, who were styled “tenants paravail,” because they 
were supposed to make avail, or profit, of the land. In fact they 
were the tenant farmers. The lands were called either “feuds 
proper,” which were purely military, or “improper,” such as those 
which were sold for an equivalent, or granted free, or in consider- 
ation of any certain service. The two great divisions or distinctions 
of property were those of frank tenements, or freehold, and 
villenage. . 
FREEHOLD. 
Frank tenements were those which were held by knight’s 
service or free soccage. Knight’s service was, as may be supposed, 
considered the most honourable, and was rendered in return for a 
