o 
oS 
the Ile of Wight and Portesmouth, where needs, and at Dover coste 
must be employed out of Hande.” 
The next fact in Chaloner’s history is of remarkable interest, 
and specially so at the present time. From an early period in our 
history succeeding the Conquest, the lot of the thralls or villeins 
had been gradually becoming more endurable, and this was largely 
owing to the gentle treatment of the Religious Houses. Curiously 
enough, the villeins on this account not caring to be freed, nominal 
villeinage lasted longer on their lands than on those of the Lay 
Lords. The lands which they held in customary copyhold, or 
other such tenures, had gradually come to be considered as fixed, 
although in the case of these very tenures the occupants are called 
“Tenants at Will” in the Percy Survey of 1578. Now the Church 
had little or no voice, and the Lords were desirous of resuming 
possession of lands which at this time were worth more than the rents 
paid for them ; probably in most instances to turn into huge sheep 
walks to supply wool for the looms of Bruges and Ghent. The 
tenants naturally resisted, and, in most cases in the north, where 
tenancy is a common form of tenure, and the sympathy of the 
population was altogether in their favour, triumphed, This struggle 
went on till James by a final effort raised such a storm that there 
was some danger of a rebellion. In Ireland I doubt whether the 
customary tenure ever hardened, as with us, into an universally 
recognized fact; and hence, in our own time a struggle there, 
which was fought and fought successfully in this kingdom, and 
especially in these northern counties, three centuries ago. 
I find indications of this struggle at Saint Bees in the Record of 
an Agreement made October 25th, 1560, between Sir Thomas 
Chaloner, Knt., and ninety tenants of Saint Bees, whereby the 
former grants to the latter, in consideration of £88 and payment 
and performance of the accustomed dues, duties, and services, 
except gressomes and heriotts, with leave to supply themselves 
with coal, a lease of their lands for fifty years, at the termination 
of which period their position of tenant right was in no degree to 
~ be damaged by this temporary arrangement. 
Chaloner’s letters from Brussels are all of interest. He relates 
