134 Abridgement of the History of the 



lords or barons as they were styled, possessed a Castle — that is to 

 say, a stronghold to which he and his dependents could retire for 

 their defence in case of civil war, or from which they might, if so 

 minded, as not unfrequently happened, wage a predatory warfare 

 against their neighbours. Such a castle was called the Caput 

 JBaroiiicp, or head lordship of the barony, which comprehended 

 several subordinate lordships, manors, or feudal estates, held either 

 directly by the baron himself, or under him through what was 

 called knight's service, by subfeudatories ; proprietors — that is, of 

 knightly rank. These were bound to do suit and service to the 

 baron for their estates ; to attend him in war with a certain auxi- 

 liary force ; and in peace to pay in lieu of such actual service an 

 annual fine called a " knight's fee." The baron had also the ward- 

 ship in minority, and marxiage of these subordinate tenants, as well 

 as other privileges. Castle Combe was the head lordship of a 

 barony of this kind, to which were held subject (ut de Baronid) as 

 many at least as twenty-six other Wiltshire manors. And it is 

 this circumstance chiefly, as well as its inheritance by a succession 

 of persons of some historical note, and the preservation of a very 

 complete series of documents relating to it, which induced the 

 present owner and Lord of the Manor to believe that the annals of 

 what at present is a comparatively unknown and insignificant rural 

 demesne might prove not uninteresting to the student of general 

 history. The volume printed by Mr. Poulett Scrope for private 

 distribution, met indeed with a more favourable reception than had 

 been anticipated by its author, who now greatly regrets that the 

 impression having been limited to 150 copies, he has been prevented 

 from putting it into the hands of many who have expressed them- 

 selves desirous to obtain it. A favourable review of it which 

 appeared in the Quarterly probably led to the demand exceeding 

 what had been calculated upon. Under these circumstances, it 

 has been thought that an abridgement of the work might not be 

 unacceptable to the readers of our Magazine. 



The population of the Village of Castle Combe (for though once 

 a market-town of some little importance, it is but a village now) is 

 600. It is situated in the extreme north-east angle of the county 



