132 EPONYMOUS FAMILIES OF DORSET. 



The connection of this family with Dorset was short of 

 duration ; it is not certain that it lasted longer than one genera- 

 tion, but it seems impossible that so short a time would have 

 sufficed to stamp their name upon the place. 



It appears that the paternal estates of the Elias de Rabayne, 

 that over-crafty baron, were partly in the Manor of Little Puddle, 

 and that he was punished for his disregard of Feudal Law by the 

 transfer of his estates to Isabel Beaumont, the wife, by some 

 accounts, but more probably the sister, of Henry, the first Lord 

 Beaumont. She was married to John de Vesci, Lord of Alnwick, 

 so it is the more remarkable that the estate should be labelled 

 with her previous name. 



Perhaps we may account for this by supposing that her 

 brother had an interest in the property and that this interest 

 was retained by his heirs after Isabel's life tenancy expired. 



This Henry, the first Baron Beaumont, married Alice, niece, 

 and ultimately heir of John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, and, in 

 consequence of this alliance, he was summoned to the Parlia- 

 ment of 1339 as " Comes de Boghan." This title, however, was 

 not continued by the second Baron Beaumont, and remained on 

 the far side of the Border, where, it will be remembered, the 

 aged Countess of Buchan placed the Crown of Scotland on the 

 head of Robert Bruce. But who this Countess of Buchan was, 

 in what way related to the Red Comyn, or in what degree 

 associated with our remote Dorset village, is beyond the purpose 

 of these notes to enquire. 



The barony continued in the male line of the Beaumonts for a 

 century and a quarter, when it was augmented to a viscounty, 

 which title, however, became extinct in the succeeding genera- 

 tion, and the barony fell into abeyance in 1507. 



BEAUSHINE. 



This name is probably outside our field of enquiry, as it is 

 likely this was a place-name originally, i.e., Beau Eschine "the 

 fair ridge." There were, however, Bewshines at or near 

 Beauchin from 1439 to 1593, and at the latter date the Manor of 



