By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 177 



the King's one-third was held by one Nigel, of Calne, the King's 

 physician. Most of the officers of the royal household in those 

 days were paid in this way ; not by fees from time to time, but by 

 easy leases of land to them and their descendants. Whilst the 

 Cathedral was still at Old Sarum certain rectories — Alderbury, 

 Pitton, and Figheldean — were given by one of the Talbot family to 

 the Church for the maintenance of the treasurer. That dignitary 

 had a great many burdens and expenses thrown upon him. He had 

 to supply the Church with wax lights all the year, and as the con- 

 sumption of tapers of all sorts of sizes, was, in the services of those 

 days, enormous, the wax-chandler's bill alone was a very heavy 

 charge upon the income. Besides this, the treasurer had to find, at 

 his own expense, everything connected with the services ; to do all 

 repairs, and pay the salaries of officers. His means not being 

 sufficient, about the time of the removal to New Sarum, the 

 Prebend of Calne was added. But with the new Cathedral came 

 additional services and increased expenses. The treasurer applied 

 for more means, but whether he got it or not I am not able to say. 

 The part of the parish of Calne which belonged to the treasurer for 

 many centuries was held under him by various succeeding families, 

 who often sold their interests in it one to another. 1 Some years 

 ago it all fell into the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, 

 from whom it was purchased, and now forms part of the Bowood 

 property. The King's one-third continued to be held on similar 

 tenure by many successive families. I am not able to trace all the 

 history, but one or two principal transactions may be mentioned. 



The first owner under the Crown, of whom there is record, was 

 Baron Cantilupe, one of King Henry the Third's staunch supporters 

 in that disturbed reign. He had for his reward lands at Calstone 

 and Heddington as well as here. His heiress, Milicent Cantilupe, 

 married another Baron, John de Montalt [de Monte Alto, or the 

 High Hill] 8 



1 1719. Joshua Sheppard (Bradenstoke) sold the manor of Calne and East- 

 man street, being the Prebend of Calne, to Haskins Stiles, for £12,000. 



2 He was not a Wiltshire but a Flintshire baron. I have been kindly informed 

 by Mr. W. H. Gladstone that 11 the original castle of the Montalts was at Mold 

 [as it is now called, being an abbreviation of Mons Altus]. It is six miles from 



