284 



On the cognizance of the " Fetter-lock: 



four hundred years before by Osbert Sperling is expressly called 

 that of the " Serjeant of the Hundred." 



" John Long Esq r . is Bayliffe of the Hundred by inheritance and tenure of 

 oertain lands he holdeth in Wraxall as before is set forth." 



Again at fol. 24 : — 



" John Long, Esq 1 , holdeth freely one Hide of land in Wraxall as of the 

 foresaid Manour, sometymes the land of William Bedell, by Knight's Service, 

 and xxxvs. Rent and Sute of Court," &c. 



"The said John holdeth also freely one half-yard land in Wraxall, as of 

 the said Manour, by Serjeancye, viz* to make all Somons in the Hundred and 

 Court of the Manour of Bradford, which belong to the King as Lord of the 

 Manour, before the King's Majesties Justices and at the Countie, and to somon 

 all the men of Wraxall to do the Lords Workes, and to have his Drinking when 

 the Lord Steward shall keep the Hundred Court and Courts of the Manour, and 

 to do all Executions which pertain to the said Hundred at his proper Costs and 

 Charges," &c. 



Then at fol. 25 we are told : — 



" Daniel Teebtjet holdeth freely one half-yard land in Wraxall as of the 

 foresaid Manour by Serjeancye, viz fc . to attend the Bailiff of the Hundred of 

 Bradford to take distresses throughout the Hundred, to make somons, and to 

 bear witness to the Bailiff." 



The inferences we draw from these extracts are, that the Long 

 family came into possession not only of the estate of " one hide/ 3 

 held in "Wraxall about the year 1250 by William Bedel, but also 

 into possession of the smaller holding of " one half-yard land 33 that 

 was appurtenant to the office of " Bedel'''' (or bailiff) of the Hundred 

 of Bradford. As the badge of the " fetter-lock 33 was adopted by 

 them from the earliest period of their settlement in Wraxall, and 

 certainly before they had anything to do with Draycote, we venture, 

 in opposition to the usually accepted tale, to submit that it was used 

 as an emblem, appropriate enough, of the honourable office of " Bedel 33 

 or " Bailiff'''' which they held there under the Abbess of Shaftesbury 

 as Lady of the Hundred of Bradford. 



October, 1872. 



W. H. Jones. 



