DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0281
ACCOUNT OF SINGULAR TENURES.
249
a dragon, a worm, or flying serpent, that devoured men,
women, and children. The then owner of Stockburne, as
a reward for his bravery, gave him the manor, with its
appurtenances, to hold for ever, on condition that he
meets the Lord Bishop of Durham with this falchion, on
his first entrance into his diocese, after his election to
that See.
And in confirmation of this tradition, there is painted
in a window of Stockburne Church, the falchion we just
now spoke of; and it is also cut in marble, upon the tomb
of the great ancestor of the Conyers, together with a dog,
and the monstrous worm or serpent, lying at his feet, of
his own killing, of which the history of the family gives
the above account.
When the bishop first comes into his diocese, he crosses
the river Tees, either at the ford at Nesham, or Croft-
bridge ; (where the counties of York and Durham divide)
at one of which places, Sir Edward Blackett, either in
person, or by his representative, if the bishop comes by
Nesham, rides into the middle of the river Tees, with the
ancient falchion drawn in his hand, or upon the middle
of Croft-Bridge; and then presents the falchion to the
bishop, addressing him in the ancient form of words. Upon
which the bishop takes the falchion into his hands, looks
at it, and returns it back again, wishing the lord of the
manor his health, and the enjoyment of his estate.
Stow.— County of Cambridge.
John de Curtese held thirty acres of land in Stow, in
the county of Cambridge, by the serjeanty of carrying a
truss of hay to the necessary house of our lord the King,
when the King passed through those parts, and is rated at
the Exchequer at ten shillings a-year.
Wichnor C ounty of Stafford.
Sir Phillip de Somerville, knight, held the manor of
Wichnour in com. Stafford, of the Eirle of Lancaster,
Eccentric, No. VI. k k then
249
a dragon, a worm, or flying serpent, that devoured men,
women, and children. The then owner of Stockburne, as
a reward for his bravery, gave him the manor, with its
appurtenances, to hold for ever, on condition that he
meets the Lord Bishop of Durham with this falchion, on
his first entrance into his diocese, after his election to
that See.
And in confirmation of this tradition, there is painted
in a window of Stockburne Church, the falchion we just
now spoke of; and it is also cut in marble, upon the tomb
of the great ancestor of the Conyers, together with a dog,
and the monstrous worm or serpent, lying at his feet, of
his own killing, of which the history of the family gives
the above account.
When the bishop first comes into his diocese, he crosses
the river Tees, either at the ford at Nesham, or Croft-
bridge ; (where the counties of York and Durham divide)
at one of which places, Sir Edward Blackett, either in
person, or by his representative, if the bishop comes by
Nesham, rides into the middle of the river Tees, with the
ancient falchion drawn in his hand, or upon the middle
of Croft-Bridge; and then presents the falchion to the
bishop, addressing him in the ancient form of words. Upon
which the bishop takes the falchion into his hands, looks
at it, and returns it back again, wishing the lord of the
manor his health, and the enjoyment of his estate.
Stow.— County of Cambridge.
John de Curtese held thirty acres of land in Stow, in
the county of Cambridge, by the serjeanty of carrying a
truss of hay to the necessary house of our lord the King,
when the King passed through those parts, and is rated at
the Exchequer at ten shillings a-year.
Wichnor C ounty of Stafford.
Sir Phillip de Somerville, knight, held the manor of
Wichnour in com. Stafford, of the Eirle of Lancaster,
Eccentric, No. VI. k k then