cursum aquæ usque pasturam vocatam lez Pyttes in Campo de Estharlesay, et sic per eundem cursum de Foulbroke usque pontem inter Ingelby et Estharlesay, vocatum Foulbrokebryg'; et sic descendendo per eundem cursum usque Warmdale, quæ est divisa de Ingelby, Rungton et Estharlesay; et sic procedendo versus occidentem per quoddam vetus fossatum, quod est divisa inter Rungton et Sythell', usque campum de Standfra, qui pertinet ad parochiam de West Rungton; et sic procedendo per finem Campi de Standfra Still broke, a very suitable name, as it is a muddy stream with a very slight fall during the whole of its course to its junction with the Swale. The boundary descends along the Wiske or Foulbroke to Foulbrokebrig, where there is a bridge on the road between East Harlsey and Ingleby. following this stream the next point reached is Warmdale, which formed the boundary between Ingleby, (East) Rounton, and East Harlsey. The place answering to these requirements is Pierrepoint Nook, the corner where the Trenholme Stell runs into the Wiske, north of Breckon Hill Farm. The place derives its name from the Pierrepoints, Dukes of Kingston, who at one time had a mortgage over the Arncliff estate. From Warmdale the boundary turned to the west, as it does now, though the old dyke (fossatum) which then marked it has gone. This dyke divided (West) Rounton from Sythell', now Siddle, as far as Standfra, Stamfrey Farm in the parish of West Rounton. Skirting along the border of the Common-field (Campi) of Stamfrey, the boundary came to the street, now the road between Harlsey and Rounton, which divided Ireby in West Rounton from East Harlsey; and on along the bounds between Ireby Moor and East Harlsey Moor, all of which is now enclosed, up to Irebykerr. Then along a sike, or small run of water, which was the boundary between Welbury and East Harlsey, to the dyke (fossatum) of Sawcock, then along the mound between the Sawcocks, going westward, to West Harlsey Moor, now called Low Moor. At this point the boundary runs east between Sawcock and West Harlsey, which is in the parish of Osmotherley, along the heads of Thynghowe, per capita de Thynghowe. This most interesting name, which appears in the Rievaulx Chartulary (p. 208) as Thynghou, is lost. There is a hill in West Harlsey, on the south side of the Harlsey Beck, 256 feet high, which may mark the site. Passing between Thyngowengs and Holmeng', both lost, the boundary passes along the rivulet between the two Harlseys southwards to Seggyngcroke, no doubt some croke or nook in the Harlsey Beck, then along the same rivulet to the street, leading to Emcros, which forms the division between West Harlsey and the Grange of the Abbat of Rievaulx. Emcros is lost, but the Grange of the Abbat of Rievaulx was no doubt Morton Grange, just south of Harlsey Church. The street seems to be the road between Harlsey and Ellerbeck. Following this road, which runs due south, the next point reached is the dyke (fossatum) of Ellerbeck, where the boundary turns eastward and follows Bruncliffe Dyke, a large dyke made in part by the monks of Mount Grace. This dyke is followed to Bruntcliffe Gate, where Bruntcliffe Lane comes out on the Yarm and Thirsk Road, close by the old Turnpike Gate. Still going eastward along the dyke which formed the division between the Common-field (Campi) of Mount Grace and le Clak, commemorated in Clack Lane, the boundary ascended the hill to Roubery, a still existing name, turned northwards, followed the Stone Wall on the Moor brow, which divided the wood formerly called Bordelby Wood from Osmotherley, as far as the park of Arncliff. Here the boundary turned westward and, following the park dyke and a rivulet, returned to Staddle Bridge. usque stratam, quæ est divisa inter Ireby et Estharlesay, et sic per divisas inter moram de Ireby et moram de Estharlesay usque Irebykerr; et sic per quoddam siketum, quod est bunda inter Welbery et Estharlesay, usque fossatum de Salcok; et sic procedendo per fossatum inter Salcok et Salcok (sic) versus occidentem usque moram de Westharlesay, et versus orientem per bundas inter Salcok et Westharlesay per capita de Thyngowe, et sic inter Thyngowengs et Holmeng' per rivulum aquæ inter Estharlesay et Westharlesay versus austrum usque Seggyngcroke, et per eundem rivulum usque stratam quæ ducit usque Emcros, quæ est divisa inter Westharlesay et Grangiam Abbatis de Ryevalle, et sic per "This is really a most suggestive name, and would be such even if it stood more by itself than it in reality does. It should be remarked that in many books dealing with ancient economic matters, which have been published within the last few years, the phrase 'Danish Counties' is one of somewhat frequent occurrence. But there are good grounds for desiring to emphasize that which is directly implied in such an expression. It is not, by any means, simply that in the counties so specialized, place-names of Danish origin or formation abound, but that distinct traces of both Danish polity and Danish influence still veritably exist. Thus, to mention but one instance, it would not be too much to say that wherever the name and the system of the 'byrlaw' or 'bylaw' exist (or have existed until recent times), there the Danish civil economy has prevailed, and very possibly may not be quite defunct even yet-the number of places within the North Riding affected, being such as to be much more than merely remarkable. And it is in the same connection that the name noted is more than ordinarily suggestive. Probably, however, the special suggestiveness centres round the name Thingwala, Tingwal, lost now, but recognizable till at all events the fifteenth century, as that of a place close to Whitby. For it can only be collated with the Manx Tynwald, Dumfriesshire Tinwald, Shetland Tingwal, Cheshire Thingwall, and Icelandic Thingvöllr. Under the word Thing in Vigfusson's Icelandic Dictionary, we read 'An as sembly, meeting; a general term for any public meeting, especially for purposes of legislation, including courts of law; in this sense Thing is a standard word throughout all Scandinavian countries'; and under Thingvöllr, the parliament field, or place where the thing sat. It answers in sense to the modern parliamenthouse; but parliaments and courts of old time were held in the open air on a plain, and hence the name.' With the Thingwall, that is, the locality where the chief 'thing' or parliament sat, at Whitby, it is impossible for one possessing even only rudimentary acquaintance with the old Danish polity, not to think also of the minor things,' or the more local courts or meetings held for discussion, consideration, settlement of matters of local, or comparatively less general interest, which must necessarily have been held throughout the district. The old Danish names for the places in which such 'things' were held were thing-brekka (thing-brow, or edge of the hill), thing-haugr (thing-how, the hill of laws). But this last word, quoted directly from Vigfusson, is precisely identical with the name under notice, while, in Vol. i. pp. 171, 172, a place in Hutton Lowcross, called Tinghoudale, is specifically mentioned. The joint occurrence then of Thingwall, close by Whitby, and Tinghous in the limited district called Cleveland, without allowing for those like which have been lost, it is hardly necessary to suggest, is singularly significant." -J. C. A. 3 eandem stratam usque fossatum de Ellerbek, et sic versus orientem usque Burnclyfdyke, et sic per Burnclyfdyke usque Burnelyfyate, quæ est ex parte australi Campi Montis Gratiæ, quondam vocati Brodelby felde, et sic versus orientem per fossatum inter dictum Campum et le Clak usque Roubery, et sic versus boream per le Stane Walle super le Morebrowe, quod est divisum inter boscum quondam vocatum Brodelbywodde et Osmonderlay, usque parcum de Erneclyf, et sic descendendo versus occidentem per le Parkedyke usque rivulum1 aquæ, et sic descendendo per eundem rivulum1 usque Stathelbryg'. Et insuper prædicti Prior et Conventus de Gysburne concesserunt et ad firmam dimiserunt præfatis Priori et Conventui Domus Montis Gratiæ mansum suum in Estharlesay prædicta, continentem quinque tofta pariter inclusa in medio villæ prædictæ, et quatuor bov. terræ et prati in Campo et territorio ejusdem villæ cum omnibus suis pert., libertatibus et aisiamentis,2 prout jacent inter terras diversorum, sicut patet in quadam cedula indentata huic indenturæ annexa. H. et T. dictam Capellam cum omnibus oblationibus, obventionibus, decimis, proficuis et pert. suis quibuscumque; ac etiam prædictas terras et ten. cum omnibus suis pert., libertatibus et aisiamentis prædictis, præfatis Priori et Conventui Domus Montis Gratiæ, succ. et assign. suis, a festo S. Marci Evangelistæ quod erit in anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo nono, usque finem termini quinquaginta annorum, extunc proximum sequentium et plenarie completorum. Reddendo inde annuatim præfatis Priori et Conventui de Gysburne, et succ. suis, octo libras argenti bonæ et legalis monetæ Angliæ, ad duos anni terminos, viz. ad festa Pentecostes et S. Martini in yeme, per æquales portiones. Et si contingat dictam annuam firmam octo librarum a retro existere non solutam per quadraginta dies post aliquem terminum solutionum prædictarum, in parte vel in toto, quod tunc bene liceat præfatis Priori et Conventui de Gysburne et succ. suis, seu eorum attornato, in dictis Capella, terris et ten. prædictis, cum suis pert., ac etiam in omnibus aliis terris et ten., campis, clausis, sive pasturis dictorum Prioris et Conventus Domus Montis Gratiæ prædictorum distringere, et districtiones sic captas abducere, fugare, asportare et penes se retinere, quousque de prædicta annua firma octo librarum cum suis arreragiis et expensis, si quæ fuerint, eis plenarie fuerit satisfactum. Et si contingat dictam annuam firmam octo librarum a retro existere non 1 rivolum. 2 asiamentis. This schedule is wanting. There are no signs of one ever having been annexed. solutam post aliquem terminum solutionum prædictarum in parte vel in toto per dimidium annum, quod tunc bene liceat præfatis Priori et Conventui de Gysburne, et succ. suis, seu eorum attornato, in dictam Capellam de Estharlesay cum omnibus oblationibus, obventionibus, decimis, proficuis et pert. suis quibuscumque supradictis, ac etiam in prædicta terras, mansum, quatuor bov. terræ et prati cum suis pert. superius nominatis, reingredi et in pristino statu suo quo ante erectionem dictæ Domus Montis Gratiæ in loco prædicto habere consueverunt, imperp. retinere, ista concessione et dimissione in aliquo non obstantibus. Et prædicti Prior et Conventus Domus Montis Gratiæ, et succ. sui, invenient unum Capellanum ydoneum divina celebrantem in Capella prædicta, ac sacramenta et sacramentalia incolis et inhabitatoribus ibidem infra bundas eis superius limitatas ministrantem sumptibus suis propriis durante termino prædicto. Et quandocunque contigerit dictos Priorem et Conventum de Gysburne in prædictam Capellam de Estharlesay, terras et ten. cum suis pert. reingredi, quod tunc prædicti Prior et Conventus Domus Montis Gratiæ, et succ. sui, dimittent eisdem Priori et Conventui de Gysburne unam grangiam, sufficientem pro omnibus garbis decimalibus infra limites et bundas prædictas annuatim imponendis; ac etiam domum fumalem cum grangia competente pro tenente dicti mansi, una cum fossatis et clausuris ejusdem mansi, sumptibus et expensis dictorum Prioris et Conventus Domus Montis Gratiæ ædificatas et reparatas. Et prædicti Prior et Conventus de Gysburne, et succ. sui, warantizabunt et defendent dictam Capellam de Estharlesay, ac omnia terras et ten. prædicta cum pert. præfatis Priori et Conventui Domus Montis Gratiæ, succ. et assign. suis, in forma supradicta, contra omnes gentes durante termino prædicto. Ac etiam acquietabunt dictos Priorem et Conventum Domus Montis Gratiæ, succ. et assign. suos, versus Dominum Regem et Archiepiscopum Ebor., ac etiam versus quoscumque Dominos spirituales sive temporales, de omnibus redditibus, decimis, talliagiis et aliis oneribus quibuscumque ad dictos Priorem et Conventum de Gysburne pertinentibus; et similiter supportabunt omnia onera ordinaria sive extraordinaria ante datam præsentium indenturarum, per Priorem et Conventum de Gysburne supportari usitata et consueta, si quæ fuerint, durante termino prædicto. Proviso semper quod si prædicti Prior et Conventus Domus Montis Gratiæ, aut succ. sui, aliquas reparationes Chori Capellæ prædictæ, vel donationes librorum aut ornamentorum quorumcumque, ex donatione seu aliqua alia causa quacumque fecerint, illæ reparationes sive donationes in futurum non cedent, nec reputabuntur in exemplum præjudicii supradictorum Prioris et Conventus de Gysburne, nec succ. suorum, quandocumque dicta Capella ad manus suas redire contigerit. In cujus rei test. partes prædictæ partibus hujus indenturæ sigilla sua communia alternatim posuerunt. Dat. viz. partis remanentis penes prædictos Priorem et Conventum Domus Montis Gratiæ, in Domo Capitulari de Gysburne, vicesimo primo die mensis Julii, A.D. millesimo quingintesimo octavo. Dat. vero alterius partis remanentis penes prædictos Priorem et Conventum de Gysburne, in Domo Capitulari Domus Montis Gratiæ, die et anno supradictis, et anno regni Regis Henrici septimi post conquestum Angliæ vicesimo tertio. (From the original at Arncliff Hall.)' SAWCOCK." MCVI. Willelmus filius Warneri 3 . . . Ecclesiæ S. M. de Giseburne in lib. et perp. elem., et ab omnibus servitiis et 1 Endorsed in an old hand, "Capella de Estherlsey," and by Mr. Timothy Mauleverer, "East Harlesey being a grant from ye Prior of Gisbrough to ye Prior of Mount-grace. Dat. 23 Hen. 7th." 2 Both East or Great Sawcock, called in 1323 Nether Salkok, in the parish of East Harlsey, and West Sawcock in that of Welbury, are mentioned in these deeds. The latter is called a villa, but the former is spoken of as the manor of East or Great Sawcock. A moated farmhouse to the east of the line from Brompton to Welbury serves to mark the site of the ancient seat of the Sawcocks. Warner de Salecoc, who, with his son William, occurs as a witness to a grant of land in Ingleby Arncliff to Rievaulx Abbey by Walter Engelram (Cart. Rievallense, p. 56), who was living during the latter half of the thirteenth century, was the undoubted ancestor of the Sawcocks of Sawcock. Their arms were three cocks, which occur on a large double slab, probably not later than 1300, now erected against the north wall of the aisle of East Harlsey Church. |