86 



Extracts from the Records of the 



XIII. — Highways and Bridges. 



The loss, already deplored, of the " Great Rolls/'' of date parallel 

 to the minute books of Elizabeth's reign, has no doubt withdrawn 

 the solution of many of the entries to be found in the latter. The 

 mere statement that such and such a tithing was taxed by the court 

 at such and such a sum, leaves the purpose of the taxation a matter 

 of conjecture. From the amount of the levy and from the context of 

 the passage recording it, a guess may be made at its object, and 

 sometimes the cause of the impost is explicitly stated. Among such 

 causes the claims of highways and bridges assert themselves at no 

 long intervals. 



Although of local rather than general interest, a few extracts 

 under this head may be excused. 



Assizes at New Sarum, 26th February, 20th Elizabeth, before John 

 Jeffreys, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and Edmund Anderson, Ser- 

 jeant at law. Traverse of an indictment and presentment against the 

 inhabitants of the parishes and townships within the Hundred of 

 Frustfield, for non- repair of the Queen's highways called Fursy 

 Lane, and Tychborne Lane. Richard Gabell, and Thomas Bond, 

 were pledges. 



Later on, the tithing of Smythcott, pleaded successfully that a 

 way about which they were called to account, was not in their tithing ; 

 Pur ton threw itself on the mercy of the court and paid five shillings. 



Wilton appears as a special sufferer; Ditchampton, Frog Lane, 

 and another road unnamed, are mentioned as invaded by obstruction 

 or nuisance ; Stephens Hill, in Lockeridge ; Boytell Street, in Cal- 

 ston ; and a nameless road in " Orston Mary," figure as thoroughfares 

 which for one reason or another, were impassable. 



The following is illustrative of statute labour : — 



Easter, 22nd Elizabeth :— 



'* Md to discharge the process of those whose names do follow for caryage to 

 the Highways in Mere." [Nineteen names are appended.] 



Presentments of persons in relation to highways were frequent : 

 whether they pointed to a private or an official responsibility does 

 not always plainly appear. 



