By the Rev. J. Silvester Dairies. 197 



It may be well as a specimen to begin at the beginning. The 

 book commences with Corsham. Corsham, we know, has a pre- 

 Norman history, and the extract from " Domesday " concerning it 

 is given on page three. But the first deed is that of Eichard, Earl 

 of Cornwall, second son of King John. " Carta Ricardi comitis 

 Cornubie sigillata siyillo armorum suorum." It is tested but not 

 dated. He confirms to his consuetudinaries of his manor of Corsham 

 his whole manor of Corsham, &c, reserving to himself a third part 

 of the meadow of Myntmede, which third part the customary 

 tenants were to cut, carry, and stack at their own expense, 

 reserving also the vineyard, parks, warren, pleas, perquisites, and 

 all escheats which might fall. The manor was granted to the 

 customary tenants and their successors for ever, on payment of 

 110 marks annually to the bailiff of the Earl, his heirs or assigns, 

 for all services and demands, &c, &c. The witnesses were : — 

 l)om. Eic. de Turry, Dom. Sampson de la Bokye, Dom. Hen. Crok, 

 Dom. Phil, de Eye, Walter Galim (then bailiff), Hartin de Hartham, 

 Domp. Gilbert (prior of Corsham), Eic. de Cumberwell, Ealph (then 

 vicar of Corsham), and others. (I fancy this charter exists with 

 the Corsham Court Eolls — see Lewis' Topographical Dictionary?) 



Next we have confirmation and inspeximus of Edward III. and 

 of Henry VI. Then follows an inquisition of 47 Edward III. 

 (1373), concerning the principal messuage and one virgate of land, 

 called Eyres, in Neston ; and we are introduced to the family of 

 John Eyre or John Baldwin, William Lepegate, and others. This 

 is followed by fourteen deeds, pleas, and inquisitions concerning 

 the same property of Corsham Eyres. Then come Corsham Colyns 

 and Dodishill (three deeds) ; Corsham Deraunts — the names stand 

 for families — five deeds ; Corsham Westwell (four deeds). Then 

 two deeds concerning the chapel of St. John the Baptist, Corsham, 

 which was adjacent to the principal messuage, then called Eyres. 

 (These are copies of Court Eolls.) Then we have Corsham Coppys 

 — Corsham Comyns — (several documents from the rolls). Then 

 we have Corsham Whetemans, with pedigree of successions, and 

 documents from the Corsham Court Eolls (twelve in number). 

 Next Corsham Lepegate-is-place cum Neston-is-lyes(nine documents 



