204 



The Tropenell Cartulary. 



hundred } T ears, which, at length, supplemented by a little money, 

 placed Tropenell in the manor. You will, I am sure, excuse my 

 entering upon this, but I cannot exaggerate its interest. Some 

 sixteen coats of arms are emblazoned in the text, and the account 

 is followed by the cartulary of Great Chalfield, and notices on the 

 constableship of Trowbridge Castle. 



Next come (p. 479) documents concerning lands at Hindon, 

 Knolle Episcopi, Milton, Chicklade, East and West Codford, Maiden 

 Bradley, the advowson of Great Cheverell, Hazelbury, Castle Combe, 

 and Langdene, Hassage, Littleton, and Wellow. 



Next a pedigree (p. 711) of the Tropenell family. After which 

 documents about Whaddon by Ivychurch, Sopworth, Sherston, 

 Kington, East Harnham, possession of which is traced before the 

 Conquest, Kilmersdon, Walton, Broughton Gilford, and Durnford. 



Lastly comes the note of the possessor of 1695. 



It is interesting, not only for its genealogical information, but 



also as being the original account of the family legend, which is 



fairly well known. It states that " Mr. Tropenell had issue one 



sonne and two daughters; the son, being at man's estate, died by 



an unfortunate accident, as hunting, putting one end of a pair of 



dog couples over his head, running after his sport, and leaping over 



a hedge, the end of the dog couple which hung at his back took 



hold of a bough, kept him from touching the ground till he was 



strangled. His sisters, co-heiresses, the youngest married Mr. John 



Eyre, the other Mr. Young." The note then gives the lineage of 



the elder daughter (the Eyre family), and ends with the reflection, 



Quale foliorwm genus tale et virorum : — 



" As leafs from trees mankind doe drop away, 

 So sonns of mortals flourish and decay." 



1695. 



Concerning this family tradition, it may be well to point out that 

 the writer of the notes gives do Christian name to t he Mr. Tropenell, 

 or to t In- sun who is Baid to have met with the fata] accident, or to 

 the two daughters who succeeded. It may be thai he supposed 

 the occurrence to have concerned the author of the cartulary and 

 bis children, This, however, is impossible; bul there may. perhaps, 



