By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 305 



but were afterwards restored to their owner. That John Blandford, 

 Richard Mackhill and eight others, on the 16th May, armed with 

 weapons, again entered on the demesne lands and assaulted Leonard 

 Chafyn, Thomas Horton and Robert Clemente, beating, "manassing" 

 (menacing) and mis-entreating them ; taking from them " one 

 ferratte, one iron barre, a bagge, a bottle, a purse conteyning ixs. 

 in money, and one plowme of feathers : and did also carry away 

 the said Leonard Chafyn, &c., against their will to the mansion- 

 house of Lord Stourton, where they were shut up in a prison in. 

 the house for some days and afterwards released." On the 12th 

 July other servants of Lord Stourton, also armed with weapons, 

 entered the demesne of Mere and took prisoner Thomas Hopkins, 

 shepherd to Mr. Chafyn, and carried him also to Stourton House 

 and kept him in prison some days. On 12th August they again 

 went to the folds of Mr. Chafyn on the said demesne and took out 

 240 sheep which they drove to Lord Stourton's grounds, and, by 

 his command, proclaimed them in the markets as strayers, and still 

 detained them. On the 22nd August, Lord Stourton attended by 

 his men all armed, entered the demesne and drove out 1000 sheep 

 of Chafyn's and impounded them also. Mr. Chafyn served a 

 " replevy " for their delivery, in spite of which they were de- 

 tained. On 24th August, Lord Stourton and his servants 

 entered the barley-fields, part of the said demesne, carried away 

 40 loads of barley and " innyd " it, (i.e. took it home and housed 

 it.) Further, that Lord Stourton or his servants had threatened 

 *' the seyde T. Chafiyn at any time to slaye, kill and hurt hym, 

 hys sonnes or servaunts, if they were taken upon the said demesne 

 lands." 



In explanation of these riotous proceedings it may be stated 

 that the Manor and Park of Mere were (as they still are) part of 

 the estates of the Prince of Wales as Duke of Cornwall. Lord 

 Stourton's father William had a lease of them in 1544 from King 

 Henry YIII., but it seems that Mr. Chafyn also claimed them 

 under another lease granted in the name of Prince Edward, King 

 Henry's son, as Duke of Cornwall. These two claims led to a 

 Suit at law which is referred to in Coke's Reports as one involving 



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