222 ANTIQUITIES OP SELBOKNE. 



Constantia, their predecessors and successors, grant to the prior and 

 canons quiet possession of all the tenements and gardens, " curtillagia" 

 which they had built and laid out on the lands in Selborne, on which 

 he and his vassals, " homines" had undoubted right of common ; and 

 moreover did grant to the convent the full privilege of that right of 

 common, and empowered the religious to build tenements and make 

 gardens along the king's highway in the village of Selborne. 



From circumstances put together, it appears that the above were the 

 first grants obtained by the Priory in the village of Selborne after it 

 had subsisted about thirty-nine years ; moreover, they explain the 

 nature of the mixed manor still remaining in and about the village, 

 where one field or tenement shall belong to Magdalen College in the 

 University of Oxford, and the next to Norton Powlet, Esq., of 

 Eotherfield House, and so down the whole street. The case was, that 

 the whole was once the property of Gurdon, till he made his grants to 

 the convent, since which some belongs to the successors of Gurdon in 

 the manor, and some to the college ; and this is the occasion of the 

 strange jumble of property. It is remarkable that the tenement and 

 crofts which Sir Adam reserved at the time of granting the Plestor 

 should still remain a part of the Gurdon Manor, though so desirable an 

 addition to the vicarage that is not as yet possessed of one inch of 

 glebe at home ; but of late, viz., in January, 1785, Magdalen College 

 purchased that little estate, which is life-holding, in reversion, for the 

 generous purpose of bestowing it, and its lands, being twelve acres 

 (three of which abut on the church-yard and vicarage garden) as an 

 improvement hereafter to the living, and an eligible advantage to 

 future incumbents. 



The year after Gurdon had bestowed the Plestor on the Priory, viz., 

 in 1272, Henry III., King of England, died, and was succeeded by his 

 son Edward. This magnanimous prince continued his regard for 

 Sir Adam, whom he esteemed as a brave man, and made him warden, 

 " custos" of the forest of Woolmer.* Though little emolument might 



* Since the letters respecting Woolmer-forest and Ayles-holt, pp. 14 26, were 

 printed, the author has been favoured with the following extracts : 



"In the 'Act of Resumption, 1 Hen. VII.' it was provided, that it be not 

 prejudicial to 'Harry at Lode, ranger of our forest of Wolmere, to him by oure 

 letters patents before tyme gevyn.'" Rolls of Parl., vol. vi. p. 370. 



"In the 11 Hen. VII., 1495, 'Warlham (Wardleham) and the office of forest 

 (forester) of Wolmere,' were held by Edmund, duke of Suffolk." Rolls, ib. 474. 



" Act of general pardon, 14 Hen. VIII., 1523, not to extend to ' Rich. Bp. of 

 Wyntoii (bishop Fox) for any seizure or forfeiture of liberties, &c., within the 

 forest of Wolmer, Alysholt, and Newe Forest ; nor to any person for waste, &c. , 

 within the manor of Wardlam, or parish of Wardlam (Wardleham); nor to 

 abusing, &c., of any office or fee, within the said forests of Wolmer or Alysholt, 

 or the said park of Wardlam.' "County Suth't. RoUs prefixt to 1st Vol. of Journals 

 of the Lords, p. xciii. b. 



To these may be added some other particulars, taken from a book lately 

 published, entitled " An Account of all the Manors, Messuages, Lands, <fec., in 

 the different Counties of England and Wales, held by Lease from the Crown ; as 

 contained in the Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the State 

 and Condition of the Royal Forests, &c." London, 1787. 

 " Southampton. 



P< 64. " A fee-farm rent of 31L 2s. lid. out of the manors of East and West 

 Wardleham ; and also the office of lieutenant or keeper of the forest or chase of 

 Alieeholt and Wolmer, with all offices, fees, commodities, and privileges thereto 

 belonging. 



