336 Notes on Durrington. 
in 1443, 1444, 1449, sheep fetched such very high prices for that 
age as 4s., 3s. 3$d., 4s. 2d. respectively. The only explanation that 
suggests itself is that in one of the waves of lawlessness which 
swept over South Wilts in the latter part of the 14th century and 
the first half of the 15th, this and other neighbouring villages must 
have been laid waste. In 1381 armed peasantry from the neigh- 
bourhood seized Salisbury Market Place: in 1450 the Bishop of 
Salisbury was murdered. And in those days no insurance covered 
losses by incendiary fire ; so that recovery would be very slow. Per- 
haps that was the cause why the rent of the chief tenant of the 
college fell from £40 10s. in the middle of Henry the Sixth’s reign 
to £11 13s. 4d. in 1 Richard ITI. 
And it also explains what would otherwise be a great puzzle. There 
is a p.m. inquisition on the deathof Ralph Thorpe in 1446,which states 
that he held certain houses and land, which seem to be those of the 
chief tenant of Durrington of the Warden of New College, Winchester. 
Ing. p. m. 25 Hen. 6. No. 88. 
Ralph Thorpe. 
Inquisition taken at Ambresbury in Co. Wilts on Monday in the Feast of 
All Souls 24 Hen. 6 [1446] before John Ro...e Esq. Escheator of the Lord 
the King, by the oath of John Rowe, William Botreaux &c¢ Jurors, who say 
that Ralph Thorpe Esq. in his demesne as of fee of the manors of Boscombe, 
Burdensballe and Powlesholt with the appurtenances . . . The Jurors 
further say that the said Ralph Thorp held on the day that he died in his 
demesne as of fee 2 messuages in Durrington each of which is worth yearly 
beyond reprises in all issues 3d. also 2 acres and one rood of meadow called 
Hosermede which are worth yearly in all issues 20d., and pasturage for 100 — 
sheep and 8 beasts going and pasturing in the pastures of Boshynee & 
Duryngton aforesaid, which is worth yearly 9s. ; also one cottage which 
is called Goldecote, with one close which is worth yearly beyond reprises — 
12d.; also 27s. of the rent of assize issuing yearly from the lands and tene- — 
ments of divers tenants in Durrington aforesaid, to be paid at the feasts of — 
Easter and St. Michael by equal portions; also a certain water called Mille — 
ponde, which is worth nothing yearly beyond reprises; also a certain fishing 
in the common water called above which is worth nothing by the year beyond 
reprises. The Jurors say that the messuages, lands, pasture, rent, water and 
fishing aforesaid are held of the Warden of New College, Winchester, but by 
what service the Jurors know not. 
But Winchester College has no such name as Ralph Thorp on 
its roll. The firmarius, or tenant, of the manor farm under Henry 
VI. until 30-31 of his reign was John Thurberne; then James 
