Kingsthorpiana ; or, Researches in a Church Chest. Edited by
I. Halbert Glover, M.A. (Elliot Stock.)—Mr. Glove; Vicar of Kings- thorpe, near Northampton, has printed here a calendar of certain documents existing in the church chest of his parish, and ranging in date from 1346, when Edward III. granted a right of free warren to Ralph de Drayton, to 1705 ; and he has also given the documents themselves, in extenso and verbatim. The most interesting of therm refer to the subject which is suggested by King Edward's grant. The "ground game" question was very much to the front in the middle of the sixteenth century. A certain Sir Thomas Tresham and his keeper, Thomas Latham, raised the head of ," conyes" to a point which the Kingsthorpe people could not endure. A commission was sent down to hold an inquiry, and some very carious evidence was produced. Henry Tanner deposes that, forty years before, one Thomas Aylmer did " accustomably kyll conyes in the feldes of Buckton and Rysford, both with his long-bow, his dogge,. ferrett, and purse-nette ;" and that he would never ride be- tween Northampton and Backton "but that he would have his cross-bowe hangyng at his saddle-bowe wt. hym, to the intent to kyll conyes by the waye." He himself had killed conyes with his bow, and his dog, without denial of any keeper. Now, the conyes had turned up two hundred acres of grass-land. Thirty acres of corn land was left fallow, "for fere lest it should be destroyed wt. conyes." The common was so damaged, that the "bests and cattel of the inhabitants of Buckton ben almost sterved and redy to dye for Worst of all, in the churchyard of Buckton the conyes had " dygged up many menus bones, that it is dangerous for men to go in it, for breaking of their necks." Keeper Latham seems to have been a masterful person. He "made aasaute of Master Williams, because he was wont to walks in the feids of Boughton with doggs, and there slewe the said Williams." He even seems to assaulted the chantry priest of Boughton, Sir John Chese, for hunting in the warren. The cause was tried at Westminster, and three of the chief in- habitants of Kingsthorpe went up to London to look after it. Their expenses, which are recorded in detail, came to something over £9 (this for a stay, including a journey of nearly five weeks). Fees and presents also were defrayed out of the same sum, but their counsel was satisfied with three shillings and fourpence. Counsel, by the way, seems to have done solicitor's business. Mr. Glover deserves our thanks for the careful way in which he has done his work. We wish that other rectors and vicars would follow his example.
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