322 Notes on the History of Great Somerford. 
STARTLEY. 
This name is given to an outlying portion of the parish, through 
which passes the road from Rodbourne to Seagry. The ancient 
Hundred of Sterkeley comprised Christian Malford and twelve 
parishes now included in the Hundred of Malmesbury. At various 
times this name was spelt Sterkel, Sterkele, Stercklei and Steorch- 
leah—this last meaning “the young beasts’ run.” This hundred, 
with two others, was after the dissolution of monasteries merged 
into the Hundred of Malmesbury. I would suggest that the 
survival of the name in this parish points to the locality where the 
court of the hundred was anciently held. The lordship of the 
hundred was granted by King John to the Abbot of Malmesbury, 
and in later times passed through various hands until in 1840 it 
was sold to Joseph Neeld, Esq.1 According to tradition the court 
was held at the Startley Ash. This tree, marked in the Award 
Map, has now disappeared, though the field in which it once stood 
is remembered as the place of a village gathering, into which the 
court at last degenerated. Hockday and St. Martin’s were the 
ancient law-days of the hundred. 
AN Earty WILL. 
(P.R.C. 24 Horne.) 
In dei noi Amen the xx'" daye of the month of Maye in the yeare of oure 
Lord god al’ eecelxxxxiiij. I Water Robyns beyng of hoole mynde and good 
remembrance make my testament and laste will in this forme, furste I geve 
and bequeth my soule to Almighty god, to his blessed modre and moste holy 
Virgin Sent Marie and to all the holy company in heaven, and my bodie to 
be buried in the Churcheyarde of Saynte Petre and Paule of Grete Somerforde, 
my parishe Church. Item I bequethe and wille that my Executors shall 
find or do to be founde on sufficient and able preste for to synge and praye 
for my sowle, the sowles of my Father and moder and for all cristen sowles 
the space of ij hole yere within the parish Churche of Somerford aforesaid 
next ensueying after my departyng from this present life—Also I bequethe to 
the lightes of Saynte Kataryne, Saynte Margaret, and Saynte Nicholas in the — 
saide Churehe that is to every of them vjs, Item I bequeath to the sustentacion 
of torches and of the Lampe in the same Churche ijs, Item I bequethe to the 
parish Church of Grete Somerforde aforesaide vj platers of pewter, Item to — 
the Church of Segre xxd, Item to.the Church of Dauntesey xijd, Item to the — 
Churche of little Somerforde xijd, Item to the Churche of Lee viijd, Item I } 
bequeth unto Sir William Wiseman my goostly fadre iijs. viijd. Item I~ 
1 Jackson’s Aubrey, p. 124. : 
