PORTLAND. 121 



Nov. 29, 1708 \ Confirmation of a Warrant of Nov. 3 granting to 



MSS. Harl : 73, 48 inhabitants of Isle of Portland 12d. for every ton of 



7 Anne ' stone dug in the Commons in the Island (excepting 



stone taken for King's use by Warrant of Surveyor, 



Works). Power to inhabitants to dig stone according 



to ancient custom. Out of every 12d. 9d. to be held 



by Trustees for inhabitants during Queen's life, the 



3d. remaining to be accounted for in manner 



accustomed. 



"With reference to the general Historical matters connected with 

 Portland Eufus Castle and the Old Church I may quote the 

 following extract from Lelaud's Itinerary, temp. Queen Elizabeth 

 (vol. 3, 2nd edition, 66-7) 



" Portland hath bene of anncient tyme be al likelihood 

 " environed with the se and yet berith the name of an isle. 

 " It is eminent and hilly ground on the shore of it and a 

 * "great plain yn the middle of it. The cumpace of it is 

 " counted to be about 7 miles. . . . There is a castelet 

 " or pile not far from the streate and is set on a high roche 

 " hard by the se clitfes a little above the est end of the 

 " Chirch. The Paroche Chirch that is but one at this 

 " tyme in the isle is large and some whet low builded in the 

 " hangging rootes of an hille by the shore. The Chirch 

 " and Paroche is about a mile dem. to go the next way to it 

 " from the Kinges Xew Castelle in the Isle. . . sum 

 " say that in tymes past ther was a nother Paroche Chirch 

 " in the Isle but I there lerned no certente of it. There be 

 " very few or utterly no trees in the isle saving the elmes 

 " about the Chirch. Ther wold grow more if they were 

 " ther planted yet the isle is very bleak. . . The 

 " personage sette in the High Streat is the best building in 

 " the Isle. The Bishop of Winchester is the Patrone of the 

 " Chirch. The isle is the Kynges. 



Coker, in his particular account of the Historic of Dorset 

 published 1732, gives the following : 



" On the south point stands the onlie Church soe near the 

 " sea, that for safetie of it they have beene forced to wall 



