162 > T OTES ON THE MANOR OF FORDINGTON. 



Wales ; but it was granted away to various persons for their lives. 

 Lastly, King James I. granted to Prince Charles, which grant is 

 still in force. 



So much have I set down about the Manor its system and its 

 history " Well rid of it," you may think, " both system and story 

 about it." I say not a word for the latter ; no, nor for the former 

 either. I know my place too well here " au fin du siecle." Brand 

 new is the only excellent quality in everything. Just so. Yet, as 

 I say this, I see pleasant sights of the old Manor in long past years. 

 A vast many neighbouring lawns would be in wheat, as we have 

 said. What a picture I see half-a-mile or more of waving gold, 

 with not a fence to break it. And then, in harvest, as old Augusts 

 shine again in fantasy, what trains and processions of loaded 

 waggons bear down on the village homesteads from all parts of 

 Great Field. Yes, and I see myself leazing among the neighbours, 

 on the stubble of it ; my spoil going to some old woman of the 

 scattered busy crowd. Again, what snug quiet little homesteads 

 those waggons made for deep thatched roof all round the bartons, 

 thatched roofs on several of the farmhouses. But most clear is the 

 picture of that great herd of cows sauntering home at evening from 

 the Moor, through Fordington Ford, below the Mill. Never was 

 anything of the kind more picturesque than the hundred and fifty- 

 four of every colour of the species bos, coming through that wide 

 shallow, past some tall trees, past a high-pitched thatched farmhouse. 

 There is no great herd now, no ford. The trees are gone, and as to 

 the thatched house, there is a Methodist Chapel instead. All is 

 well, let no one accuse me, these remembrances notwithstanding, 

 of that evil crime, laudatio temporis acti. 



