304 ANTIQUITIES 



(c meade cum abutt : et de cursu aque molendini." And also 

 a grant in reversion " unius virgate terre," [a yard land] in 

 Achangre at the death of Richard Actedene his sister's hus- 

 band, who had no child. He was to present a pair of gloves 

 of one penny value to the prior and canons, to be given an- 

 nually by the said Richard ; and to quit all claim to the said 

 lands in reversion, provided the prior and canons would en- 

 gage annually to pay to the king, through the hands of his 

 bailiffs of Aulton, ten shillings at four quarterly payments, 

 " pro omnibus serviciis, consuetudinibus, exactionibus, et de- 

 " mandis." 



This Jo. de Venur was a man of property at Oakhanger, 

 and lived probably at the spot now called Chapel-farm. The 

 grant bears date the 17th year of the reign of Henry III. 

 [viz. 1233.] 



It would be tedious to enumerate every little grant for 

 lands or tenements that might be produced from my vouchers. 

 I shall therefore pass over all such for the present, and con- 

 clude this letter with a remark that must strike every think- 

 ing person with some degree of wonder. No sooner had a 

 monastic institution got a footing, but the neighbourhood 

 began to be touched with a secret and religious awe. Every 

 person round was desirous to promote so good a work ; and 

 either by sale, by grant, or by gift in reversion, was ambitious 

 of appearing a benefactor. They who had not lands to spare 

 gave roads to accommodate the infant foundation. The reli- 

 gious were not backward in keeping up this pious propensity, 

 which they observed so readily influenced the breasts of men. 

 Thus did the more opulent monasteries add house to house, 

 and field to field ; and by degrees manor to manor : till at 

 last " there was no place left ;" but every district around be- 

 came appropriated to the purposes of their founders, and 

 every precinct was drawn into the vortex*. 



* [The following letter is in Gilbert White's handwriting, and is a copy 

 of the one sent to Dr. Nash. T. B. 



" To the Rev. Dr. Nash, the Historian of Worcestershire. 

 " Dear Sir, 



" As soon as ever I step out of Nat : history into the walk of Antiqui- 

 ties I find my feet as it were on strange ground : and am glad to catch at 



