MIU.STO.YES. 513 



the age supplied them, and to have in particular stinted no 

 expense for stones. But people at the beginning of the 

 seventeenth century were beginning to be very dissatisfied 

 with monopolies, and with the miller's privilege in particular. 

 The miller in the literature of the time is not a popular 

 personage, and stories became proverbial about his greed and 

 dishonesty. 



Merton College determined to come to the rescue of its 

 Holywell tenants. The College had a manor, the privileges of 

 which were very considerable, and for which the College con- 

 tended vigorously. I have pointed out in an earlier volume, 

 i. 128, what were some of the rights which this corporation as 

 lords of the manor exercised. Thus the Merton register 

 informs us, under date of August 21, 1606, that one Gabriel 

 Poultney, a Master of Arts of S. Alban Hall, was drowned in 

 the Cherwell near Holywell meadows, and the coroner of the 

 city sat on the case. The College protested that he had no 

 jurisdiction in their manor, which was not included in the 

 county or the city. The register states that this was done ' in 

 order to prevent the citizens of Oxford invading our liberties 

 of Holywell/ Some time afterwards they interpreted these 

 liberties very emphatically. Certain felons had six horses, 

 when they were arrested at the King's Arms Inn, and were I 

 presume convicted. These the College claimed as forfeitures 

 to them. The University and City both put in counter claims. 

 But the College satisfied the former as to the nature of their 

 liberties in Holywell, and defied the latter by instantly 

 transferring the six horses to their own stable. Nothing more 

 is heard of the transaction. 



Now the register informs us, under date of April, 1606, that 

 an attempt was made by the Oxford citizens to compel all 

 persons to grind their corn at the Castle Mill by suit at law, 

 and that the College determined to defend the action. A trial 

 at Nisi Prius was held during the Oxford circuit, in which the 

 jury found against the city. On this the citizens summoned 

 tlise persons who ground their corn at our mill (King's Mill) 



VOL. V. I, 1 



