PRINCIPAL LANDOWNERS IN CORNWALL. 377 



the sheriff acknowledges the receipt of twelve marks from 

 Robert de Bikeleia for 5 knights' fees of the same honor. The 

 total amount accounted for by Plandrensis for the farm of the 

 County of Cornwall was £232 4s. Id. 



The extent of Cornish acres, in 12 Edward I (1284) gives 

 Middeland as containing 68 acres, and it was then the largest 

 manor in the Hundred of Stratton, the entire acreage of which 

 was set down as 341^ Cornish acres. It is styled " Decena de 

 Middeland," and as the Hundreds were presided ever by their 

 decanus, head-borough, or hundred-man, this honor was probably 

 the privilege of this head-manor. The change of name from 

 Middelton to Middeland seems to have been then made. In the 

 Inq. p.m. of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, which was held in 

 1300, Middellande is reckoned as 10 fees. In 5 Edward II (1332) 

 the Inq. p.m. of Patricius de Cadurcis, (Chatworth) finds that 

 he died possessed of 10 fees in Middellonde. 



Lyson'ssays of Middelton that "these 10 fees were granted 

 to William Briwere, by King John, in 1203, and this property, 

 of course, we trace no farther." We find, however, as above 

 stated, that Patrick Chaworth held it, temp. Edward II. William 

 Briwere, that great feudal lord in the time of King John, died 

 in 1226, and was buried before the high altar, in the abbey of 

 Dunkeswell, Devon, of which he was the founder. His second 

 daughter and co-heir, Margaret, was wife of — De la Perte, and 

 their heir, William de la Perte had a daughter and heir, named 

 Gundred, married to Pain de Chaworth, whose grandson, 

 Patrick, died in 1332, the last male of the great feudal branch 

 of the family of Chaworth. 



Dugdale, in his Barony of England, says that " in 5 John 

 William Briwere procured from the king those 10 fees in 

 Cornwall, which Nicholas de Middelton formerly held, with the 

 marriage of the heirs of the said Nicholas." This statement 

 differs from the grant mentioned by Lyson's ; William Briwere, 

 then sheriff of Cornwall, having procured from the king, the 

 wardship and marriage of the heirs of the deceased Nicholas de 

 Middelton. 



In 1380, Pitz- Walter held Midland manor and franchise. 

 The feodary (1346) under Stratton hundred, says Herbert de 

 Pyn holds 3 fees in Middeland. 



