By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 307 



(No, 39.) Oct. 1552. To the Kyng our Soverayn Lord. 



"In moste humble wise sheweth and compleyneth unto your excellent Majestye 

 your pore subject Robt. Coward, that where at a Court holden at the maner of 

 Seylis-clevedon and Woodlands the xxix day of August, in the sixt yere of 

 your most noble raign cam one Jane Dycke wyflfe of William Dycke, whiche 

 held one close of lands and pasture with the appertenaunce in "Woodlands called 

 Crete White Mede, and two acres of errable lande with th' appurtenances in 

 Southbrooke called Pyper's Acres, which the said Jane did holde of the said 

 maner according to the custome of the same for terme of her lyffe, and then 

 and ther surrendred the premusses in to the Lordes handes to the use of your 

 seid subject, Randall his son, and Edith his dowghter, to whome seison was 

 delyvered by the lorde to have and to holde to your said subject, Randall and 

 Edith, for terme of their lyves and the longer lyver of them successivelye, 

 according to the custome of the seid maner : by force whereof your seid subject 

 was admitted tenaunt and paid his fyne and did his fealty. And after your 

 said subject into the said premusses did entre and was therof seized in his 

 demesne as of freeholde according to the custome of the said manor, and your 

 said subject, as beyng therof seized, the issues and profittes therof did quyetly 

 and peasably perseve and take untill now of late that Charles Stourton Knyght, 

 Lord Stourton, John Webbe, Rich. Dicke, John Blanford, Roger Horseman and 

 "William Dackham, with dyvers other ryotouse and evill disposed persons to 

 the nomber of xij to your said subject unknowen, ryotously and in ryotouse 

 maner, that is to saye with swordes, buklers, billes, bowes and arrowes and 

 other maner of wepons in maner of warr arrayed, the xxij daye of October in 

 the sixte yere of your most noble raigne entred into the premusses apon the 

 lawfuU possession of your seid subject, and then and there ryotously with like 

 force expulsed and put out your seid subject from the possession of the same, 

 and then and there ^\'ith like force took one Robert Lawnsdown, being the ser- 

 vaunt unto your seid subject and kepyng the catell of your said subjectes apon 

 the premisses, and him did imprison at Mere in the seid countie of Wiltes, and 

 then and there the cattell of your seid subjectes did take and impounde, and 

 the seid Lord Sturton and the other ryotouse persons with that not contented, 

 the seid Lord Sturton and the other ryotous and evell disposed persons the day 

 and yere aforesaid with like force, did put into possession of the premisses the 

 said William Dackcombe contrarye to your Majestye's lawes and statutes in 

 suche cases provyded and contrarye to your gracious pais [peace], crown and 

 dignitye, to the perrillous and evell example of all suche ryotouse and evell 

 disposed persons, except condyng ponysshment be unto them showed in this 

 behalf. In consideracon wherof it may pleise your Highnes the premisses con- 

 sidered to graunt your gracious severall wryttes of snb-pena to be directed 

 unto the said ryotous and evill disposed persons, comandyng them by the same 

 personally to appere before your most honorable Councell in the Sterr-Chamber 



mentioned in a former note. It belonged at this period to Thomas Chafyn Esq. 

 Messuages, &c., in both "Over Selle and Netherselles " as well as in Mere- 

 Woodlands, are named among the lands of the "William Lord Stourton who 

 died in 1413 (I. p. M.) : and Seals Aylesbury (or Over Seals) belonged to 

 Charles Lord Stourton, but after his death was obtained by the Chafyns. 



