16 Extracts from the Records of the 



" All y' did account did i-eturne diverse places to be behinde w"' suraes of 

 moneye w"^*" they should have paid, but whether those sumes were levied and in 

 the costables or other officers handes they could not tell. M' Tho Ivye returned 

 sx^ to be in M' Kente's hande, clarke of the peace, who tooke of him to pay to 

 y"^ Kinoes benche and marshallsye more than was due 20'. 



"JhON HuaEEFOEDE.* 



" M'' Kent cofesseth y^ receyte thereof affirminge y' he paid it for xx' behind 

 and unpaied for y^ south pt of y" cowtye, deliveringe 40' for y^ whole cowtye." 



Of a rating' appeal, or similar proceeding, the earliest extant 

 sessions roll affords the following example. 

 Easter, 1603 :— 



" To the right worshipfuU the Kinges Ma"" Justices of the peace of the 

 countie of Wiltes. 

 "Humbly complaining sheweth unto yo' good worships That whereas wee the 

 inhabitants of the parishes of Hilprington and Whaddon w'hin this countie of 

 Wiltes for divers yeares past have ben compelled by the innabitantes of Melkesham 

 to pay one third parte w'''^ them towardes all accustomed payments, and they the 

 other two pax-tcs, by reason of an agrement w'^'' some of our parish did heretofore 

 yeld unto, being then by them perswaded that the quantity of acres (by w"^"" such 

 payments are apportioned) belonging to their parish would amount in value to 

 no more, beinge equally rated. Synce w'''' (may it please yo' good worships) the 

 matter havinge ben further looked into by us, that have borne the burden thereof, 

 And finding no equallity, betweene them and us according to the former agree- 

 ment, but that their rate of acres do exceede ours by 2500 acres (and far better 

 ground) as wee can certainly prove, for ours are but 1200 acres and theirs are 

 4700 acres at the least, a matter wee hope worthie reformacon, for wee are well 

 contented to pay the uttermost. And beinge by the former meanes brought to 

 such an inconvenience wee have before this tyme coraplayned to the Justices of 

 peace of the same division who have dealt w^'' them on our behalfes but have not 

 yet prevayled, wherby wee are now compelled to seek for redresse at this gen'all 

 Sessions of the peace humbly beseeching yc good worships to have good con- 

 slderacon of us and the uprightness of our cause And to take such order therein 

 as may stand w'*' equitie and good conscyence And wee shall dailie praye for 

 yo' prosperous estates long to contynew." 



This petition was referred to the hearing of Sir William Eyre and 

 John Bauntsey and James Ley, Esquires, who were empowered to 

 deal with it "at there next meeting and sittinge at Trowbridge " : 

 and any inhabitant of the litigant parishes who refused " to stand 

 to abide and performe the order and decree " of these Justices was 

 to be bound over to shew cause at the next sessions. 



• This document appears to be entirely in the handwriting of Sir John Hungerford, and, like all 

 the documents bearing his signature, is conspicuous for neatness and legibility. 



