134 EPONYMOUS FAMILIES OF DORSET. 



lord," replies the child. " Bene Fauciulla," says the questioner, 

 relieved to have so ready an answer, and to his scribe, " Write 

 then brother 'Willielmus Belet, tenet, Odecote et Federlin de 

 eo, ' cum filia sua.' " * 



And so for eight hundred years this odd mistake, as it seems 

 to be, has lain frozen in the austere columns of the great 

 " Record," for, of course, to William Belet's lively brain it was 

 far too good a joke against those prying Commissioners to be 

 spoilt by giving it too much publicity. 



These estates seem to have been held by " Petty Sergeantry " 

 and Belet for a certain portion of the year was in personal 

 attendance on the King. It is difficult to say in what capacity, 

 but it is probable that his office was connected with the royal 

 cellars, since the last of his descendants of whom there is any 

 record officiated as butler to Henry III. 



This was, as we know, a post of great responsibility, usually- 

 hereditary, and only held by a man of undoubted fidelity ; for the 

 coarse, thick wine of the Middle Ages was an admirable vehicle 

 for poison, and every hall had its credence table, where both 

 food and drink were publicly tasted before being placed before 

 the company. 



In the history of this family we have some interesting typical 

 incidents that reflect vividly the social aspect of the feudal system. 



Robert Belet, who lived temp. Henry II. and Richard I., made 

 an investment of a kind that in those days was often very 

 remunerative, but which is now seldom quoted. He gave the 

 King 1,000 marks, and so purchased the wardship of Roger de 

 Newburgh, the infant son of a neighbouring 'squire, lately dead, 

 whose estates during the child's minority would be administered 

 by the judicious Belet. 



But in the next generation the case is reversed, and Wimand 

 de Ralegh for 100 marks obtains from the King the wardship of 

 the heiress apparent of this interesting family. This was 

 perhaps a " cheap lot," but the speculator does not seem to have 



* Exchequer Domesday, 48. 6. 2. 



