56 Erlestoke and its Manor Lords. 



cause of this seems to be explained hj certain entries in the Fine 

 Eolls of that year, which suggest that he was holding some judicial 

 office in Ireland.^ In 1215, when the trouble between John and the 

 barons was daily increasing, Matthew received importan t instructions 

 from the King by word of mouth, and was evidently among those 

 who remained faithful, biit the Sheriff of Wiltshire seems to have 

 thought otherwise, for when he received instructions to seize the 

 goods and chattels of the King's enemies he carried off' the cattle 

 belonging to Matthew and his tenants at Erlestoke, and instructions 

 had to be sent to the Constable of Marlborough to return them to 

 their owners."^ On the 15th June, 1215, Matthew and his brother 

 were with the King at Eunnymede when the Great Charter was 

 signed which for a short time put an end to the Civil War, and as 

 Sheriff of Sussex he had to make good to William, Earl of Warren — 

 one of the only four Earls who were on the King's side — the arrears 

 of an accustomed payment of twenty marks out of the receipts of 

 the county and to hand over to him certain land that had been 

 forfeited.^ Eor a time the barons remained quiet, more for the want 

 of a leader than for any other reason, but after several months of in- 

 decision they induced Louis, the son of Philip of France, to accept 

 that position by a promise to elect him King if they succeeded in 

 deposing John, and after Louis had gained a few successes many 

 of the King's most powerful friends deserted him. Among these 

 were Matthew's brother Peter, and William, Earl of Warren, who 

 had held the castle of Pe^ensey, which was now handed over to 

 Matthew with orders that he was to demolish it,^ and within two 

 months of the King's death Matthew received from him the land 

 of William de Pont Arch in Gloucestershire.'^^ 



After the death of King John Matthew continued his allegiance 

 to his son Henry, and soon after the commencement of this reign 

 he was appointed a justice itinerant in Wilts, Hants, Berks, and 



> Bot. Fin., p. 479, 551, 554. 



- lb. p. 214i. 



3 lb., i., 2276, 268. 



* Sussex Arch. Soc, vi., 272. 



^ Bot. Liu. Glaus., i., 283, 



