12 THE HISTORY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



custody of the King's Buckhoimds, and the appurtenance, 

 henceforth belonged to Sir Bernard and his heirs. Down to 

 the time this deed was executed, in June 1366, we believe we 

 are correct in saying that there is no direct evidence of the 

 Mastership (in contradistinction to the custodianship) of the 

 Royal Buckhounds having appertained to the holders of this 

 manor. The details of the tenure, so far as it relates only to 

 the custody of so many couples of the Royal Buckhounds, 

 etc., do not directly affect the Hereditary Office of the Master 

 of the Pack, as we shall find it hereafter established and 

 fulfilled. Therefore the marriage settlement of June 1366 is 

 of paramount importance, provided we may take it as fixing 

 the date of Sir Bernard's second marriage ; for if he did not 

 acquire the Manor of Little Weldon by right of his second 

 spouse, before the year 13 66, he must have held the Office of 

 Master of the Royal Buckhounds independently and apart from 

 the tenure incident to the custody of the Buckhounds apper- 

 taining to that property. 



Professor Burrows commits a singular mistake when he 

 asserts that " We first hear of the salary [i.e., of the Hereditary 

 Master] being first assigned on the revenues of the Sherifi" 

 of Surrey in 1421, a memorandum of which date we find 

 in the Brocas chest concerning a payment of part of the 

 salary due to William Brocas from John Halle, Sherifi" of 

 Surrey."* The year 1421 was the 9th regnal year of the 

 reign of Henry V. ; and, instead of this having been the first 

 payment to the Hereditary Master of the Royal Buckhounds, 

 the stipend had been received by the holders of the office 

 from the 36th year of the reign of Edward III. (a.d. 1362-63). 

 This would be nearly five years anterior to the execution 

 of the deed of settlement between Matilda Lovel and 

 Mary de Borhunte, the second wife of Sir Bernard Brocas; 

 consequently he could have no legal right to the Manor 

 of Little Weldon and the bailiwick of the custody of the 

 King's Buckhounds thereunto belonging, until after his 



* " The Family of Brocas," p. 256. 



