was chosen as constable; two burleymen1 were also appointed, one for each township. At various Courts Baron the deaths or wills of tenants were "found," heriots of 3s. 9d. levied, and other persons, their heirs, admitted as customary tenants. When a holding was sold, the seller first surrendered it to the steward, from whom the purchaser then received it, paying a fine of 3s. 9d. and doing fealty before he was admitted. Absentees from Court were fined, in 1729, 6d.; in 1733, 2s.; and in 1880, 1s., unless "excused." At a Court Leet and Baron held on 25th May, 1739, cattle trespassing from other manors upon the commons of this manor were ordered to be impounded, and their owners fined-1s. for the first fault, 1s. 6d. for the second, and 2s. for the third. At a like Court held on 8th June, 1736, the heirs of John Holland were "presented" for not appearing to crave admittance; and it was announced that the estate would be forfeited if the heir did not appear, that being the third proclamation. On 19th October, 1750, the jury "presented" Richard Dod for keeping a great dog to the annoyance of his neighbours Dod to be fined 39s. 11d. if the dog be not made away with in three weeks. Pleas of debt were also dealt with, and judgment given by verdict of the jury at the Court Baron. Here is an example :

"John

Kendrick, of Allington, in ye county of Denbigh, Shoem'r, complainant, against William Martin in action. of debt of xxxixs. xid.: the pl't recovered ye whole debt of xxxixs. xid. by ye verdict of ye jury at a court held ye 8th of Aug't, 1740, and 3 weeks time given for ye payment, besides 3s. 8d., charges of court." In 1814 George Boscawen, Esq., was lord of the manor; and on

1 "Burleymen," a corruption of " Byrlawmen." 1750, C. Campbell, in Stewart's Trial, App., 146-"I think it's quite right to have burliemen. . . . You will, therefore, appoint two discreet honest men for that purpose of the tenants, and ... be sure you swear them to fidelity in their office." "1599, Skene ... Laws of Burlaw are maid and determined be consent of neichtbors quhilk . . . ar commonly called Byrlaw men." - Quoted from New English Dictionary.

.

the 15th of April of that year William Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts, and Benjamin Roberts, were admitted tenants of a messuage, garden, and croft, and, in consideration of £700 to them paid, surrendered the same to Mr. Boscawen, "to the intent that the s'd Lord may do therewith his pleasure and will."

The chief interest of these records lies in the information as to the devolution of estates and the history of families. But there is nothing in the procedure or constitution of this manor that is peculiar to Wales. The Court does not represent in any way the court of the Welsh commote (cymwd) of Merford; it does not even represent the court of the maerdref of Merford (supposing that maerdref to have had a court), for the maerdref was larger than the present township. It represents, I cannot but think, a manor formed at a comparatively late period, when Bromfield had finally absorbed the greater part of the old commote as well as of the maerdref of Merford, and when the township of Merford, together with Hoseley, had been reduced to its present limits; perhaps towards the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century.

I give now lists, compiled from the existing manor records, of the Stewards, Deputy - stewards, and Recorders of the Manor :

Stewards of Marford Manor.

1729. John Travers.1

deputy Thomas Hayman of Wrexham, 25 Nov., 1743. deputy Wm. Travers, of Lincoln's Inn,1 5 Oct., 1744.

deputy Thos. Hayman,2 7 May, 1745.

1 John Travers (see Allington chapter afterwards).

2 Thos. Hayman (see History of the Town of Wrexham, Index), buried June 19th, 1783.

9 Apl. 1802. John Boydell the elder [the deputy-steward of

1 Josiah Boydell, of Hawarden, who was brother to Alderman John Boydell, of London, the engraver.

2 Thomas Boydell, of Trefalyn Hall, younger son of above-named Josiah Boydell, died July 31st, 1795, aged 66.

3 John Wilbraham, of Chester.

4 John Boydell, fourth son of above-named Thos. Boydell, of Roft Castle Cottage, died April 19th, 1839, aged 71.

5 John Boydell, of Bryn Alyn and Rossett, one of the sons of James Boydell, who was a younger brother of John Boydell the elder, and youngest son of Thomas Boydell the elder, both of whom are mentioned in preceding notes: died August 26th, 1888, aged 77.

Richard Twiss, a younger brother of Sir Travers Twiss.

7 Edward Arthur Hughes, one of the sons of Thomas Hughes, solicitor, of Wrexham, and brother to Mr. J. Allington Hughes, died October 12th, 1902; buried at Gresford.

Francis Edge Barker, of Llyndyr in Burton, and of Chester, died June, 1827, aged 48.

2 Thomas Longueville Longueville, of Oswestry, eldest son of Captain Thomas Jones, of Willow House, Wrexham.

3 Richard Barker, son of Mr. Francis Edge Barker, and father of the late Major Barker, of Chester and Llyndir (see note in Burton chapter).

Henry Yates Barker, of Chester, etc., son of the Major Frank Barker mentioned in preceding note.

317

ABERYSTWYTH CASTLE.

EXCAVATIONS CARRIED ON IN THE YEAR 1903.

BY HAROLD HUGHES, Esq., A.R.I.B.A.

IN 1902, I reported to the Mayor and Corporation of Aberystwyth on the condition of their Castle, and advised a general scheme of carrying out excavations. The substance of my report has been published in Archæologia Cambrensis.

During the year 1903, considerable progress has been made in tracing and exposing large portions of the curtain walls of the outer ward. On August 7th, 1903, I inspected the excavations, and advised the Council as to the desirability of proceeding further with the work. I found that the greater portion of a mound which existed between the north-east curtain and St. Michael's churchyard, in position A on plan, had been removed. I cannot but regret the destruction of this feature. A large portion of the mound was natural rock. It had been added to and extended by the deposit of débris. The nature of the débris gave no clue as to the period to which it belonged. It consisted of loose stones of small size, bearing the appearance of refuse rock, quarried in excavating in connection with building operations. Probably a portion of the débris was a deposit of ancient formation, and possibly it had been added to in modern times. I have been informed that refuse was carted to the Castle grounds by Colonel Powell, when excavating for the foundations of the houses in Laura Place. The top of the mound was about 15 ft. above the level of the rock on which the north tower (N on plan) stands. The excavations have been carried out by the Borough Surveyor, Mr. Rees Jones, to whom I am indebted for providing me with every facility to inspect the works. Mr. Eyre

6TH SER., VOL. IV.

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