And I William Wyght of Hopton, Clerk in the Diocese of Lichfield, a Public Notary by Apostolical and Imperial authority confess the publication of these presents for the observance and ratification of the Composition and approbation aforesaid so as are premised to have been done and acted together with the aforesaid witnesses being present All and singular of which so I have seen and heard done and reduced to writing in this public form with my sign annexed and signed with my name as required by the aforesaid Robert de Irton in faith and testimony of these premises."

8 by 12 inches in 34 lines beautifully written with initial let

ters and "sign" here engraved. Endorsed in same hand Wyggewell." In a rather more modern hand "The Public Notary, Wm Wyght de Hopton his testimonial of modus and agreemt betwixt Abbot of Derley and Vic of Wyrks" And in a later hand "No. 8, 1359, Wigwall Tythes.'

The above is, in many ways, a remarkably interesting document. It is, as will have been seen, the ratification of, and adhesion to, the Composition, by Robert de Yrton, or Ireton, Vicar of Wirksworth, in 1359, drawn up by William Wyght, Clerk, and Notary Public, of Hopton, near Wirksworth. Robert Yrton, or Ireton, was a member of the old Derbyshire family of Ireton of Ireton (and much later of Attenborough), from which the Parliamentary General Henry Ireton was descended, and who were in fact the elder branch of the family from whom the Shirleys took their origin. A main interest attached to the deed centres in the curious notarial mark of William Wyght (or White), of Hopton, which I have had engraved in exact fac simile. Each "Notary Public by Apostolical and Imperial authority," or otherwise, had his own special "mark," "sign," or device, with which, as well as his signature, he attested such deeds, documents, or copies of the same, as came officially before him. The mark, or as he phrases it "sign" of William Wyght is particularly elegant, and is one of the best early examples that has come under my notice. In the label below the cross is his name, Wills de hopton

I have also engraved the commencement of his attestation, at the bottom of the deed, Et ego Willus de Wyght de Hopton

clicus and so on, for the purpose of again giving his signature. In addition to this I have also had the initial letter (En Dei nomine Amen), which commences the deed, engraved of its full size, except that the upper line in the original runs the width of the deed. The translations of this and the preceding deeds are not, as already stated, my own, but are the work of the expert to whom they were submitted. The next three deeds are surrenders and admissions at the Wirksworth Court. 1451 29 H. VI.

Surrender and admission of John and Ralph Wigley

to a cottage in Wirksworth &c.

At a Court of Wirkesworth there held the 21st day of January in the 29th year of the reign of King Henry VIth. after the conquest came William Alson of Wirksworth and surrendered into the hands of the Lord one cottage at Will &c. late in the tenure of John Holond to the use and profit of John Wigley and Ralph his son which said John and Ralph [Radulphus] came into Court the same day and year and took of the Lord the said Cottage To hold to them their heirs and assigns according to the custom of the Manor Rendering and doing all services thereof due and of right accustomed And they did their fealty... .for entry

12d., And thereupon the aforesaid John Wigley and Ralph his son regranted the aforesaid Cottage to the aforesaid William to hold to him during the term of his life, all services due and of right accustomed, and he gave nothing for his entry because.....

with the aforesaid Ralph by grant of John Wigley his father by pledge of John Smyth and Henry Wylymot.......... in Wirksworth.

The Town of
Wirksworth

In the time of Humphrey Duke of
Buckingham, Steward there "

11 by 3 inches in 8 lines. Very imperfect. Endorsed 29th H. 6 21 Janry. Man of Wirksworth Admission of John Wigley and his son Ralph"

Robert Wilcockson admitted to a piece of Waste land in the Dale at Wirksworth. At a Court thereof holden on Tuesday next after the feast of St Thomas the Martyr in the 21st year of the reign of King Edward IV proclamation was made of one piece of land of the Lords Waste lying in the Dale between the house of Robert Wilcockson and the land of Blackwall under the Torr there to the use of Robert Wilcokson to enlarge the tenement of the said Robert, and no one came and at a Court thereof holden on Tuesday next after the Feast of St James the Apostle in the 22nd year of reign of King Edward IV a second proclamation was made of the aforesaid parcel of land to the use of the said Robert and no one came. And at a Court thereof there held on Tuesday next before the Feast of St Bartholomew the Apostle in the 23rd year of the reign of King Edward IV proclamation was made of the aforesaid parcel of land to the use of the said Robert and no one came. And thereupon came the said Robert and took of the Lord the aforesaid parcel of land To hold to him and his according to the custom of the Manor. Rendering therefor yearly for a new rent 2d and all other services, and was admitted tenant and did fealty."

1493 8 H. VII.

Wirksworth 8 Hen 7

11 by 1 inches in 6 lines. Surrender of Roger Wilcockson and admission of John Wilcockson and others to lands in Wirksworth.

At a small Court thereof held at Bradley Ashe on the 30th day July in the 8th year of the reign of King Henry VII., came Roger Wilkokson by William Wilkokson his attorney by virtue of a Letter of Attorney shown in Court, and surrendered into the hands of the Lord the King all the Messuages Lands and Tenements which lately belonged to Robert Wilkokson in the town of Wyrksworth and Wapentake thereof to the use and behoof of John Wilkokson of Frytcheley, Thomas Alsybroke of the same place, Roger Hellott of Pleystow, Thomas Smyth of Medilton and Ralph [Radd] Ryley of Wyrkysworth to have and

1501

to hold to the aforesaid John, Thomas, Roger, Thomas, and Ralph and
their assigns according to the custom of the Manor Court aforesai for
ever. Whereof the first proclamation was made and no one came, and so
respited unto the next small Court, And at the Small Court thereof held at
Wygewell the 20th day of August in the year aforesaid a second procla-
mation was made of all those Messuages lauds and tenements aforesaid and
no one came and so respited. And at a Small Court thereof held at Boutts
the 18th day of September in the 9th year of the reign of King Henry VII
a third proclamation was made of those Messuages, lands, and tenements
which lately belonged to Robert Wilkokson and no one came. And there-
upon came the aforesaid John, Thomas, Roger, Thomas, and Ralph Ryley
and took out of the hands of the Lord the King all the aforesaid Messuages,
lands, and tenements with their appurtenances To hold to them and their
assigus according to the Custom of the Manor for ever. Rendering there-
for yearly the rents, services, and customs due and accustomed
And they
gave to the Lord the King for a fine for admission 12 pence, and did their
fealty and were admitted tenants."

Size, 9 by 4 inches in 13 lines.
Endorsed-" 13th July 8th H. 7 Wirksworth Man Admission of John
Wilkokson & others to lands in W & inye Wapentake of W "

17 H. VII.

Lease from the Abbot of Darley to Thomas Babington of tenement &c. at Wigwall

This Indenture made the last day of September in the 17th year of King Henry the VIIth between John, Abbott of the Monastere of owre lady of Derley and Convent of the same place of the one ptye and Thomas Babyngton of Dethyk in the Countie of Derb esquier on the other ptie Witnesseth that the said Abbot and Convent by their common assent consent aud agreement Have demised sett and to farme llet to the said Thomas their tenement and chief place at Wygewall with all lands Closures, Meadows, Leasures, and Pastures to the said chief place belonging, To have and to hold the said Tenement and chief place with all the Premises to the aforesaid Thomas and his Assigns from the date hereof unto the end and term of Forty Four [44] years then next following and fully to be ended Yielding and paying therefore yearly to the said Abbot and Convent and their successors £3 6s. 8d. of good and lawfull money of England at the Feasts of Easter and St Michael the Archangel by even portions and to bear and pay all manner of Out Rents and other charges to the said Chief Place belonging And furthermore the said Thomas grants by these Presents that he during the said terme at his proper costs and charges shall repair maintain and uphold all manner of reparations for and about all houses builded and hereafter to be builded upon the said chief place with all hegges and closures thereto belonging and them in the end of the said Term shall leave sufficiently repaired And if it happen the said Rent or any Parcel thereof to be behind and unpaid at any of the feasts aforesaid Then it shall be lawful to the said Abbot and Convent and their successors into the said Chief Place and other the Premises to enter and destrain and the distress so taken to drive chace and carry awaye and them to hold to such time they be of the said Rent with the arrearages of the same fully coutent and paid, and if it happen the said Rent or any parcel thereof to be behind by the space of half-a-year after any of the Feasts at which it should be paid Or if the said Thomas or his assigns fail in doing and making of reparation of the premises Then it shall be lawfull to the sai Abbot and Convent and their successors into the said Chief Place and other premises to re-euter and them to hold in their first estate this present Lease notwithstanding. In Witness whereof to one part of this present Indenture remaining with the said Abbot and Convent the said Thomas hath set his seal and to the other part of the same remaining with the said Thomas the said Abbot and Convent have set their common Seal the day and year abovesaid.

Inrolled by me John Wyseman Auditor

by 6 inches, in 17 lines.
Lease of
Wigwall at

3 68 8d Rent

for 44 years."

THE LEMONS OF PRESTON.

BY LIEUT.-COLONEL FISHWICK, F.S.A.

SIR WILLIAM DUGDALE in his Lancashire Visitation of 1664-5, records a short pedigree of this family, but its incompleteness and vagueness form a striking example of the flimsy materials which were allowed to " pass muster," by the "Norroy King of Arms.' The member of the family who entered the pedigree must have been William Lemon who was then in his 20th year, and who was unable to say when his great-grandfather, his grandfather, or even his father died, or to supply the names of his grandmother or great-grandmother. The following is all that is recorded :

The Lemons were not an old Preston family, and probably the first who settled there was the Edmund recorded in the pedigree, and who in 1596 was elected Mayor, which office he again held in 1602-3, and he is the person alluded to in an indenture, dated 1st Dec., 1605, between the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Burgesses of the Borough of Preston. and Edmund Lemon, of Preston, gentleman, which witnesses that in consideration of 23s. 4d., "paid for, and in the name of a fyne, as also, upon the surrender of a former lease, made by the said Maior, &c., to William Wall, of Preston, gentleman, of a parcel of land called the northend of the Carrygreave, which lease is now in possession of said Edmund Lemon," the Mayor, &c., has granted the same to the said Edmund Lemon, as also "one shoppe or Rome under the West side of the Town Hall, or Mootehall of Preston, and also one Baye of a Barne, annexed to the Northend stone Barne," which is "situate in St. John's Wynde, in Preston, and of the yearlie rent of 4d., and also one new brick house in the said Wynde, wherein certaine poore folkes doe now dwell at the will and sufferance of the said Edmund Lemon, and laitly erected and builded by the said Edmund Lemon, to have and to hold the same for 39 years," paying a rent of 9s. 4d. per anA proviso is inserted that the premise shall not, during the term of 39 years, be sub-let to any one not free of the Borough." Edmund Lemon died early in 1609, and an accurate and detailed

num.

list of his household goods, &c., has been preserved, and furnishes an admirable example of the interior economy of the house of a well-todo burgess of Preston in the 16th century.

A true and perfect Inventorie of all the goods Chattells and dettes of Edmnd lemon late of Preston gentleman deceased taken p'ised and valued by Richard Wearden, Nicholas Sudall, Edmund Machon and Henry Briere, the fifh day of Aprile 1609 as foloweth viz

* Truckle, or trundle Beds, were then in common use, they were so constructed

that they could be wheeled under an ordinary bedstead.