The Society’s MSS.—Chiseldon and Draycot. 51 
All the above persons were allied, and their connexion with 
each other and with St. John’s College will be explained, so far as 
it can be ascertained, when we come to the history of Chiseldon 
proper. Meanwhile, so far as Draycote was concerned, the proposed 
sale to Bishop Buckeridge never took effect, and we pass on another 
fifty years, to an “answer” to a “bill,” which, with search, the 
future historian of Draycote will no doubt discover. The “answer,” 
it will be seen, traverses the “bill” at all points, and, without it 
even, is a very interesting record :— 
* Jurat’ 24° Die Novembris 
1671 
W™. Beversham 
Blucke. 
“The answer of Thomas Twittie 
Clerk to the bill of Complainte 
of Roger Ewin Complainant. 
* ; The said Defendant saveinge unto himselfe now and att all 
eee bee tymes hereafter the benefitt and Advantage of Exception to 
’ the uncerteintyes and Insufficiencies of the said Complainants 
bill of Complainte for answer thereunto or unto soe much thereof as doth 
coneerne this defendant to make answer unto he saith that about seaven yeares 
sithence this defendant was by his Majestie that now is by his Highnesse 
Letters Patents under the greate Seale of England duely presented unto the 
Parish Church of Dracott in the said Bill mencioned and was legally instituted 
and inducted unto the same and is by meanes thereof lawfull incumbent 
there and by that meanes alsoe is legally entitled unto all tythes both great 
and small groweing ariseing happening or encreaseing within the said parish 
And saith that he beleives his Majesties presentacion was ratione Lapsus as 
the plaintiffe by his bill suggesteth for that the inhabitants of Dracott by 
some combinacion or confederacy amongst themselves or otherwise (the per- 
ticulers whereof this Defendant cannot discover) did heretofore suffer the 
Parish Church to fall into decay and at last became wholly dissolved into 
ruinous heapes as alsoe the parsonage house and buildings and two Yard Land 
of the gleabland thereunto belonging wholly swallowed up soe that there is 
_ not any place for this defendant to read the service of God. in nor to administer 
the Sacraments within the said Parish But is constrayned to exercise his 
function for the said parish of Dracott within the Parish Church of Chissledon 
neere adjoyneing to the said parish of Dracott wether the Inhabitants of the 
said parish of Dracott may and many of them doe resort to heare Divine 
Service according to the Law parte of which Church of Chisseldon is allowed 
to be used by the inhabitants of Dracott and is used by them att their pleasure 
“untill such tyme as this defendant can procure the said Parish Church to be 
rebuilt And this defendant further saith that he beleives itt to be true that 
the Complainant Roger Ewen is owner or possessor of the ffarm and lands in 
D2 
