They were taken down in the year 1794 and recast, at an expence of £120, which was defrayed by a liberal subscription. The new bells were opened on the 6th of May, 1795, by the Cambridge and Soham youths; and in 1797, the Soham youths farther celebrated their erection, by ringing upon them a peal of 5780 changes in three hours and a half. The weight of the present bells and their inscriptions are as follow: : 1st. Thomas Osborn, Downham, fecit, 1794, Intactum Sillo. Percute Dulce Cano cwt. qrs. lb. 2d.-T. Osborn, Founder, 1794.... 3d.-T. Osborn, Founder, 1794.. 3 20 4th.-T. Osborn, Fecit, our voices shall with joyfull sound, 1794 7 Make hills and valleys echo round. 8th.-Rev. Castle Sherard, Rector; Jno Martin, Robert Waller, Bailiffs; John Scott, Richard Miles, Churchwardens; T. Osborn, Fecit, 1794 20 2 11 319 CHAPTER XI. MISCELLANEOUS. UCH has been said on the tenure or service by which the Manor of Godmanchester is held, and the probability suggested of its having been antiently that of the plough," which was exchanged for a money rent by Edward the Confessor, or perhaps before his reign. This conclusion may be drawn from the circumstance of agriculture having always been the chief employment of the inhabitants; and by a custom which was continued to the reign of James 1st, of meeting the Kings of England, when on their royal progresses they passed through the manor, with ploughs and other implements of husbandry; the fact of which custom is confirmed by the concur a Vide p. 77-78. ،، that rent testimony of Historians, and whose deduction might be founded upon tradition, that by custom they held their lands." In the “ Progresses, processions, and magnificent festivities of King James the First," &c. is contained "the true narration of the entertainment of his Royal Majestie, from the time of his departure from Edenbrough till his receiving at London; with all, or the most speciall occurrences," which furnishes an interesting account of the King's progress through Godmanchester. King James left Hinchingbrook 29th of April, A.D. 1603.-" Thence with regall thankes for his entertainment he departed to Roiston; and as he passed through Godmanchester, a towne close by Huntingdon, the Bailiffes of the towne met him and acknowledged their alleageance. There convoying him through their towne, they presented him with three score and ten teeme of horse all traced, two faire new ploughs, in shew of their husbandrie; which, while his Majestie being very well delighted with the sight, demanded why they offered him so many horses and ploughs; he was resolved, that it was b By John Nichols, F.S.A. Lond. Edinb. and Perth, 1828. c "At London: printed by Thomas Creede for Thomas Millington, 1603."-At the sale of the library of Mr. Gough, in 1810, a copy of this scarce little Tract was sold to Mr. George Chalmers for £4 10s. In the sale of Mr. Garrick's Library, 1823, a copy of it, bound up with several other Tracts, sold for £53. : their aunciente custome, whensoever any King of England passed through their towne, so to present his Excellence. Besides, they added, that they held their lands by that tenure, being the King's tenants his Majestie not only tooke well in worth their good mindes, but bad them use well their ploughs, being glad he was landlord of so many good husbandmen in one towne. I trust his Highnesse, when he knows well the wrong, will take order for those, as her Majestie" began, that turn plough-land to pastorage; and where many good husbandmen dwelt, there is now nothing left but a great house without fire; the Lord commonly at sojourne neere London, and for the husbandmen and ploughs he only maintaines a sheepeheard and his dog. But what do I do talking of sheepe, when I am to follow the gestes of a King? I will leave them and their wolvish Lords, that have eaten up poor husbandmen like sheepe, and proceede where I left. His Majestie being past Godmanchester, held on his way towardes Royston." Sir Richard Baker, Knight, the Chronicler of the Kings of England, describing James's progress d Allusion is here made to the enactments of Elizabeth, regulating the extent and occupation of farms. In the 7th year of Edward 1st, A. D. 1278, (vide Appendix, No. 2,) 534 tenants were assessed to the fee-farm rent; in 1827, 422 tenants were assessed. e Chronicle of the Kings of England, from the time of the Roman Government unto the death of King James.—Fol. London, 1665, p. 427. Y from Hinchingbrook, observes, from thence he rode towards Royston, and as he passed through Godmanchester, a town close by Huntingdon, the Bailiffs of the town presented him with seventy teem of horses, all traced to fair new ploughs; at which the King wondering, they said it was their antient custom so to do when any King of England passed through their town, and by which, as being the King's tenants, they held their land." Sir Robert - Cotton says of Godmanchester, that "it is seated by as fruitful and flowery meadows as any this kingdom yieldeth, and is the most spacious of any one parish in fertile tillage, oft' having waited on the Sovereign Lords with nine score ploughs in a rural pomp." Camden remarks, "that there is no place in all England that has so many stout hinds, or employs more ploughs, for they make their boast of having formerly received the Kings of England in their progress this way with nine score ploughs, brought forth in a rustical kind of pomp for a gallant shew." The Charter of James recites, that Godmanchester" is an antient and populous town, and the men and inhabitants of the said town are chiefly employed in agriculture, which is of the greatest importance to the commonwealth;" and by the provisions of the Charter, the horses, &c. of the inhabitants are specially exempted from the King's f Speed's Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine.-Fol. 1676. |