The Society's 3ISS. — Chisledon and Draycoi. 



131 



tithes, were all subject similarly to a lease granted 4th September, 

 1515, to Richard Pulley and Margaret, his wife, for their lives, 

 and the lives of no less than four young children, in survivorship. 

 A precisely parallel state of affairs existed at Chisledon. The first 

 document mentioned in the schedule printed above is " the old lease 

 granted by the abboi t to Thomas Stephens and others for 61 years," 

 in 1537. That is to say, until the year 1598 the first Lord Chandos 

 and his descendants could look for slender profit only from their 

 new acquisition. By reference to that valuable class of documents 

 called kb particulars for grants " the terms of Stephen's lease might 

 doubtless be discovered, but, without it, there is a good deal of 

 available evidence touching the Stephens family, and their interest 

 at Chisledon. 



To begin with, it is tolerably certain that the lease of 1537 to 

 Thomas Stephens was a renewal of the like to his father, Richard, 

 whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court, as follows : — 



"In the name of God amen In the yere of o r lord god mvxix the xxj day of 

 January I Richard Stevyns of Birdethrop in the parishe of Chesildon w'in the 

 dioces of Salisbury with my hole mynde make my testament in this maner wise, 

 ffurst I bequeith my soule unto almyghtie god and to o r lady saint Mary w l all 

 the holy company of hevyn, and my bodie to be buried in the chauncell before 

 alhalown' the patron of the churche of Chesulden, Also I bequeith to the mother 

 churche of Sarum xijd Also I bequeith to the churche of Wrowton xx s Also I 

 bequeith to the churche of lydyard vj' viij d Also I bequeith to the churche of 

 Redbome vj s viij d Also I bequeth to the churche of Swyndon xl s Also I bequeth 

 to the churche of Wanborough vj s viij d Also I bequethe to the church of 

 lyddyngton vj" viij d Also I bequeth to the churche of Draycooth vj s viij d Also 

 I bequethe to my parishe churche of Chesulden my vestment that is there now, 

 and after the departyng of Margarett my wif I bequeth to the forsaid church of 

 Chesulden my chalis my book my corporas. Also I bequeth to the fy ve principull 

 lyghts in the churche of Chesilden fy ve sheepe Also I will that margaret my wif 

 and Thomas my sonne the yonger fynde a preest to pray for me And for my 

 frends by the space of one hole yere and he to have for his labo r ix marks and 

 that he say diriges for my soule one moneth every nyght at Chesulden in the 

 parisshe churche and he shall have for his labo r iiij 8 And also I will that they 

 Ryng w' one bell whille the dyrige ys in saying, Also I bequeth to every one of 

 my godchildren vj d , Also I will that Thomas Stewyns my eldest son have iiijli 

 whiche I promysed hym aforetyme, Also I bequethe to Margaret Stevyns the 

 dought r of Thomas Stewyns xx" shepe, Also I bequeth to Richard Stevyns 

 the son of Thomas Stewyns xx t! shepe, also I bequethe xxxiiij 8 iiij d for to pay 

 for the graylle that is behynde of the some of fyve marks vj s viij d which is to 

 pay xxxiij" iiij d when the grayl is brought home. Also I bequethe to Richard 



VOL. XXX. — NO. XC. I 



