By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 65 
it was so expressed in the recording document, even though the 
-lands were held mediately under the Abbess of Shaftesbury. The 
following examples will explain our meaning. They are taken from 
a survey of the Manor and Hundred of Bradford (1629-1631 ), 
long, of course, after she ceased to hold the Lordship:—they will, 
however, suffice for illustration. 
“‘Joun Lone,! Esq’. holdeth freely one half yardland in Wraxall as of the 
said eae by Serjeancye, viz., to make out all somons in the Hundred 
and Court of the Manour of Bradford, which belong to the King as Lord of 
the Manour before the Kinges Mats Justices, and at the Countie, and to 
somon all the men of Wraxall to do the Lords workes, and to. have his 
drinking when the Lords Steward shall keep the Hundred Courts and 
Courts of the Manour, and to do all executions which pertain to the said 
Hundred at his proper costs and charges besides his drinking.” 
“Dante, Yerbury holdeth freely one half yardland in Wraxall as of the fore- 
said Manour by Serjeancye, viz., to attend the Bayliff of the Hundred of 
Bradford, to take distresses throughout the Hundred, to make somons and 
' to bear witness to the Bayliff.”’ 
It would seem that there were occasions in which the Crown 
asserted its rights as Chief Lord. On the appointment for instance 
of a newly elected Abbess, the King not only gave his formal sanc- 
tion to it, but directed the Sheriffs of the various counties, in which 
lands belonging to the Abbey were situate, to deliver seisin of the 
same to the Abbess so appointed. This was the case on the election 
of ‘Amicia Russell’ in the year 1225.? 
such services as he ought to do in his own proper person to the king, as to carry 
the banner of the king, or his lance, or to lead his army, or to be his marshall 
..... or to be one of his chamberlaines of the receipt of his exchequer, or to 
do other like services.” Coke, in his commentary on this last clause, adds, ‘ or, 
by any office concerning the administration of justice, quia justitid firmatur 
solium.”’ Coke upon Littleton, ii. 2 § 153. 
‘In another part of this MS. we have this entry ;—‘‘ John Long, Esq". is 
Bayliff of the Hundred by right and tenure of certain lands he holdeth in [MS. 
illegible] (Wraxhall ?) as is before set forth.” 
* The document is printed in Hardy’s ‘Calendar of Close Rolls,’ i. 553. The 
following is a translation ofit.—‘‘The King to the Sheriff of Dorset; Health,- Know 
ye that we have given our royal consent and approval to the election of Amicia 
Russell, a nun of Shaftesbury, as Abbess of Shaftesbury. Wherefore we direct 
you without delay to deliver full seisin to her of all lands, rents, chattels, and 
other possessions belonging to the said Abbey. Witness, Henry, the King, at 
Evesham, July 3, 1223. ‘he Bishop of Sarum is commanded to do his part in 
this matter ;’—viz., of instituting the Abbess to the ecclesiastical rights pertain- 
ing to her office. 
F 
