184 PREFACE 



Though the story of Cottenham possesses a unique interest, it 

 does not stand alone, as analagous difficulties in regard to pasture 

 rights arose in several of the neighbouring parishes, at one time or 

 another; still the proceedings in each case had special characteristics. 

 The course of events at Stretham was so closely parallel as to be 

 very instructive : the inhabitants of Stretham and of Thetford inter- 

 commoned to some extent, and there had been long controversies 

 and diverse suits between Sir Miles Sandys lord of the manor of 

 Stretham and his tenants. In 1597 Sir Miles Sandys was the com- 

 plainant ; but on June 22 1607 the Court of Exchequer on the 

 complaint of the Lord of the Manor of Thetford, the Rector of 

 Stretham and other tenants, granted a commission ; and an award 

 was made on the adjudication of Francis Tyndall, Henry Bynge 

 and John Batisforde. The scheme of these commissioners was 

 that of granting Sir Miles Sandys 100 acres out of Stretham Fen, 

 of bringing the intercommoning of the Stretham and Thetford 

 herds to an end, and of excluding Sir Miles from interference of 

 any kind in an area of 1600 acres of fen. Occasion was taken at 

 the same time to secure the copyholders from arbitrary exactions : 

 heriots were abolished and the lines were to become certain, 

 but it is remarkable that even at this late date the obligation of the 

 copyholders to give personal service in ploughing and reaping was 

 reinforced. 



The orders which were made immediately in consequence of 

 this decree have not been preserved. They gave rise to complaint, 

 which was exhibited to the Court of Exchequer on 25 May 1609, 

 as the requirements of the tenants for pasturing the stock with 

 which they worked the land had not been allowed for sufficiently, 

 and a new set of orders were issued by the commissioners on 

 June 28 1609. Subsequent orders and bye-laws were made in 

 1614 and 1622. The question of tithe was also a cause of dispute 

 at Stretham, and the libels which have been preserved are instruc- 

 tive as showing the manner in which the tithe was claimed in 

 regard to pasturage and to milk. 



At Willingham the same Sir Miles Sandys, who had entered on 



