THE 



WILT SHIRE MAG AZINE. 



"MTTLTOETTir MANIBUS GEANDE LETATTJR ONUS," — Ovid. 



C|e ^omiua ^ilferttm for Wilt^Ijte, 



9th Edward II. (1316). 

 By the Kev. W. H. Jones, M.A., F.S.A. 



Vicar of Bradford on Avon. 



^HE document termed "Nomina Villarum," consists of 

 gPi returns made to writs, tested at Clipston, 5th March, 1316, 

 (9 Edward II.,) addressed to all the SheriflPs throughout England, 

 stating that the King wished to be certified how many, and what 

 Hundreds and Wapentakes there were in the Sheriff's bailiwick ; 

 how many and what cities, boroughs, and townships there were in 

 each Hundred or Wapentake, and who were the Lords thereof. 

 The Sheriff was required, at a set time fixed for the purpose, to 

 furnish the information demanded, to the Treasurer and Barons of 

 the Exchequer. The returns were needed for the military levies 

 granted to the King in the Parliament held at Lincoln, 9 Edward II, 

 when it was directed that one man should be raised from every 

 Township to supply soldiers for the wars in Scotland.^ 



To assist the Sheriff in his work of providing from each county 

 the proper number of men, there were appointed two or three 

 trusty assistants. Those named to this oflBce in Wiltshire were 

 Walter Gocelyn, John Randolph, and Andrew de Grymstede. 



The writs required the Sheriff to attend in person, unless special 

 license were given him to be absent, to give the required informa- 

 tion to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer. It seems pro- 

 bable enough therefore that when they attended for this purpose the 



' Stowe, in his Annals, under the year 1316, says, — " The same yeere the 

 King tooke of everie towne in England a man to serve in his wars of Scotland, 

 and foure markes of money towardes his charges, having no respect to the 

 greatnesse or littlenesse of any towne, which seemed to be undiscreetly done." 

 VOL. XII. — NO. XXXIV. B 



