84 Some Account of the Parish of MonJcton Farleigh. 



still very nearly that acreage computed as in demesne or tithe-free. ^ 



This \s, as briefly as possible, the history of our parish, extending 

 over a period of eight hundred years, and this it seems to me is very 

 much the history of many such parishes in England. 



The comparative independence of the Saxon thane, paying only 

 his geld and his personal services to the sovereign ; the state of 

 servitude, almost amounting to slavery, of the villagers, with yet 

 some elements of freedom to be worked out in the future. 



The rapacity, mixed with a certain religious superstition, of the 

 followers of the Conqueror, taking without scruple, on the one hand, 

 from the Saxon proprietor, and giving without stint, on the other 

 hand, to the Church, for the benefit of the souls, that, even to their 

 perverted consciences, seemed so urgently to require some expiation. 



The mild and industrious rule of the monks, turning the waste 

 lands to profit, rearing flocks and herds, creating new industries, 

 promoting learning and charitable deeds, and gradually emancipating 

 the agricultural laborer from his state of servitude and ignorance to 

 a state of freedom and comparative knowledge. 



The spoliation of the industrious community of the monks, with- 

 out sometimes — as in our case — even the allegation of corruption to 

 justify it, and the absorption of their lands and goods for purposes 

 of family and personal greed and aggrandisement.^ 



1 I am unable to account for the difference plus, but I am bound to remark 

 that, this acreage does not correspond with that made for the purpose of the 

 tithe-rent charge commutation on the 26th January, 1842. According to this 

 computation the total acreage was as follows : — 



Demesne lands (tithe free) 1034 1 25 



Glebe (tithe free if in hand) 25 3 10 



Subject to tithes 750 1 25 



Total 1810 2 20 



2 1 think it would be useful, as evidence of the motives which led to the 

 dissolution of the monasteries, if enquiry were to be made, perhaps it has been 

 made, into the number of chai-itable trusts that were absorbed and discontinued 

 when the monasteries were dissolved. The following is the list in our own 

 case : — 



Distributed to the poor on the anniversary of 



Humphrey de la Bound £2 



Distributed to the poor, four days in the year, 

 on the foundation and gift of Barthei Bygote, 

 per annum 13 4 



Total 2 13 4 

 Not an insignificant sum 350 years ago. ■ 



