WIGLEY COMMON. 185 



under hym or them or by his or there means consent command- 

 ment or hearement." 



This exemplification of the decree under the Great 

 Seal was handed to the tenants of the Cadnam Manor 

 as the charter of their rights. In the Court Rolls 

 of the Manor there is an entry dated December 9, 

 1783, to the effect that "At this Court Mr. Richard 

 Marsh, executor and trustee named in the last will and 

 testament of John Holloday deceased, one of the 

 customary tenants of this Manor, delivered the decree 

 of the Court of Chancery touching the rights and 

 privileges of this Manor, which was at the time of 

 the death of the said John Holloday lodged in his 

 hands, and by the unanimous consent of this Homage 

 the same is deposited for safe keeping in the hands 

 of Mr. Thomas Lovell one of the customary tenants of 

 the said Manor." Lovell on December 16, 1785, 

 produced a box prepared by him for the safe custody of 

 the decree touching the rights and privileges of this 

 Manor, with three locks and keys thereto. The Homage 

 directed that the box should be kept in the possession 

 of Thomas Lovell "with one of the keys thereof," one 

 other key was to be kept by Mr. Henry Hartley, the 

 third by Mr. John Comly. 



The precautions taken by Lovell were fully justified. 

 But for the big box, which impressed itself on the 

 traditions of the tenants, as connected with their rights, 

 the deed might have been lost. It is singular that the 

 recollection of the decree should have so completely 

 faded away. Mr. Eyre had never heard of it. He 



