TItc Priory of Marcigny and its connexion with Wiltshire. 99 



virgate, and certain services. For these services she compounded 

 with them by a further fixed payment in money. Subsequently 

 she farmed tlie whole estate to the prior of Farleigh, a neighbouring 

 Cluniac house, who superseded the composition and exacted the 

 services originally due, with others besides. 



The real grievance of the tenants it may fairly be inferred, was the 

 exaction of the services in lieu of the composition money. This 

 however is not stated. They profess themselves ready to render 

 the accustomed services. At the same time they put forward the 

 claim that Allington, as member of Chippenham, is parcel of the 

 ancient demesne of the crown, and in proof allege that they have 

 been accustomed to plead by the little writ of right close. The 

 prior on the other hand declares that Allington is member of 

 Corsham. 



The jury found that Allington was, as a matter of fact, member 

 of Chippenham, and that the tenants fined for succession to an in- 

 heritance as did the men of Chippenham,&c. Further, when pressed, 

 the jurors state the exact nature of the services due to the lord by 

 the tenants. In the result, the prior is found to be " in mercy," 

 because he has exacted services in excess of those stated. Of the 

 alleged pleading by the little writ nothing is specifically said in 

 the verdict. Leaving aside the exact nature of the privileged 

 position claimed by the men of Allington, it certainly appears that 

 the place had been parcel of Chippenham, and that it could only 

 have come into the possession of the priory of Marcigny by grant 

 from the Crown. 



An indirect result of the trial was apparently to call the at- 

 tention of the king's officers to the arrangement made between the 

 prioress and the prior of Farleigh. The following entries appear 

 in the Close Eoll Calendar : — 



1277, Ap. 30. To Ralph de Sandwico, the King's seneschal. Order to 

 restore to the prior of Farnlegh, to be held until the parliament to be held 

 after Michaelmas, the lands that the prior holds at fee-ferm of the prior and 

 convent of Martigny ( Martiniaco) in Shlachtreford, Almton (sic), and 

 Brome, which lands they had of the gift of the King's progenitors and which 

 were taken into the King's hands by the sheriff of Wilts, then escheator, by 

 reason of the alienation thereof made, and to restore to the prior of Farnlegh 

 everything received thence. 



H 2 



