57 Q Tropenell Memoranda. 



It is not to be expected, though much would be possible if 

 Wiltshire records were in any shape or form accessible in print, 

 that we can trace a definite succession of the demesne tenants at 

 West Chalfield. We now know that they took their style from 

 the place and were called " of Chalfield " and tliat they were 

 enfeoffed of it before the day on which King Henry was alive and 

 dead, viz., 1 December, 1135, for they were of the old feoffment 

 and we shall find their heiress, Margaret, yet alive in 1348. 



We begin with Walter de Chaudefeld, mentioned in the Carta 

 of Eeynold fitz Urse, and therefore alive in 1166. There was still 

 a Walter in 1198, as appears by a fragment of a roll of Easter 

 Term, 9 Richard I, when, under the heading " Hundred of 

 Bradeford," Walter de Chaudefeld appealed certain persona of an 

 assault and withdraws himself {Ahlrev. Flac., pp. 6 and 18). 

 William de Chaudefeld was at home, holding for one knight's fee 

 in 1236 and 1243, and also holding f of a fee in Eton, as appears 

 by the Testa entries given above. Henry Engayne succeeded his 

 father, Viel, in November, 1248, as already mentioned ; Henry 

 himself was dead before 31st January, 1271 — 2, when a writ of 

 diem clausit issued ; between these dates he gave to Worspring, as 

 above recited, the service of William de Chaldefeld. By October, 

 1285, another Walter was in possession. The evidence this time 

 is obtained not in respect of Clial field but of the other family fee 

 in Eton. It is an unpleasant little story. While under age, 

 presumably not long before, Walter exchanged 12a. of his own 

 land in Eton Meysey with Kobert de Meysey (presumably his 

 over lord) for 13a. of Robert's land. Robert died and Walter de 

 Chaldefield sued another Robert, son of the first Robert, for his 

 original 12a. and recovered seisin before the justices in eyre, 

 as well as 10/., apparently damages. He then seized Robert, the 

 son's, goods to the value of 20/. In an action coram rege brought 

 by Robert, Walter acknowledged in court that he was still in 

 possession of the 13a., but that the exchange was made when he 

 was under age. The court took the usual view of a defendant's 

 conduct when " infancy " is pleaded (Ahbrev. Flac., p. 278). Tliis, 

 or another Walter, occurs in the Cartulary (i., pp. 124, 300, 379) 



