ON A CHARTER OF DARLEY ABBEY. 95 



In free alms (or frankalmoign). This tenure is thus described 

 by Cruise. " Frankalmoign, libera elymosina, or free alms, 

 whereby a religious corporation, aggregate or sole, may hold lands 

 to them and their successors for ever. The services due for 

 this tenure are purely spiritual. Most of the ancient monasteries 

 and religious houses held their lands by this tenure. The 

 parochial clergy, with many ecclesiastical and charitable corpora- 

 tions, still hold their lands in the same manner: but Littleton 

 says that in consequence of the statute Quia emptores terrarutn, 

 none can give lands to be holden in frankalmoign except the 

 King." 



The witness Sir Robert de Esseburne (Ashburne), Knight, 

 was probably he of that name who established a chantry at 

 Holland (now Hulland), in the reign of Henry III., circa 1250. 

 This might also be the Robert de Esseburne who was living at 

 Ashburne in A.D ,1276 (Dawson and Hobson's History of Ash- 

 burne, p. 10). A Robert de Esseburne represented the County 

 of Derby in three Parliaments of Edward I. (1272-1307.) 



Sir Jordan de Snutterton (Snitterton), Knight. His name 

 occurs amongst those of witnesses to other charters now extant. 

 Snitterton is near Matlock. The first syllable of this place-name 

 is believed to allude to the caves at Snitterton, and is referable to 

 the same root as the first syllable of the old name of Nottingham, 

 i.e. Snottingahame, the home of cave-dwellers, The Snittertons 

 are stated by Lysons to have been a branch of the Shirley family. 



Sir Hugo de Meynil, Knight, was a frequent witness to charters 

 of this period. A Hugo de Meynell was of Meynell Langley in 

 1252, and he had a grandson of the same name. 



The place-names descriptive of some of the ether witnesses, 

 viz.: Aldwark, Wakebridge, Plaistow, and probably Lowes, are 

 in the neighbourhood of Wirksworth and Cromford — William 

 le Liv. (?) If this be the correct reading, it may possibly be an 

 abbreviation for a Norman word signifying liveryman. 



It is probable, that the actual date of this deed, if it relates to 

 Vincent's gift to Darley Abbey, is not later than the year 1249, 

 because No. 6 of the Wigwell deeds given in the Reliquary 



