110. Passages in the History of Downton. 
Hoare’s Wiltshire. It is taken from the Government publication 
of the ‘ Parliamentary Writs.” The period covered by the list 
was one when surnames were not fixed, and it is possible that what 
appears as a surname in many instances expresses the trade of the 
burgess or his immediate forefathers. Thus, Geoffrey Rotarius is 
called in another place Geoffrey le Wheler, “ rotarius,” being the 
latin name for a wheelwright. “Taylor” and “Cissor” are in 
another case interchangeable, and it may be suggested that Henry 
“le Drapier”’ was really a cloth-worker; Robert le Wryere, a 
basket-maker ; and Nicholas “le Mareshal,’’ a farrier. Concerning 
the representation of small boroughs such as Downton must have 
been, it may be useful to give a quotation from that ancient 
document, ‘“‘ Modus Tenendi Parliamentum,” which represented the 
custom at the above period :— 
“Concerning the Burgesses. 
“Tt used and ought to be commanded to the bailiffs and good men of boroughs 
that they should elect two fit, honourable, and experienced burgesses from among 
themselves, and for them to come and be present at the en: 
but the two burgesses used not to receive for their expenses more than wn 
shillings for one day, and sometimes not more than half a mark, and this used 
to be taxed by the court according to the greatness and power of the borough and 
according to the greatness and power of the person sent.” ! 
It is to be regretted that, so far, it has not been found possible 
to trace the effect upon Downton of such calamities as the “ Black 
Death,” or such political events as the Labourers’ revolt in the time 
of Richard II. The following entry may have some connection 
with the latter, though Downton is not mentioned in it :— 
“] Richard II. Westminster. Commission in pursuance of the recent 
ordinance of Parliament, of oyer and terminer to ‘certain people’ in respect of the 
tenants of the Abbess of Shaftesbury at Bradford, Ludyngton, Donhevede 
(Donhead?) and Donyton (Donington?) Co. Wilts, who at the instigation of 
certain counsellors, maintainers and abettors, have long refused the customs and 
service due for their tenures, and have in divers assemblies confederated and 
bound themselves by oath to resist and daily congregate to do further mischief— 
with power to imprison those who are indicted.” ? 
This rising was not confined to one locality, but is alluded to in 
1 Trans. by Sir T. Duffus Hardy, 1846. 
? Patent Rolls. 
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