son of Ansculph, and William of Munges, and Richard of Stoke, and Alured his brother, and William Paganel, and Bernard his son, and Ralph Mansell, and Ralph the son of Ralph, and Robert Cordebeof, and Godfrey the Sewer, and Pagan of Ambriton, and Fulk the son of William Paganel, and Robert Paganel, and William of Dudley, and William Espechell, and Everard the butler, and Roger of Hagley, and Geoffrey Rowley, and Eustace Mord'. Also by Peter the Sewer, Walter Mansell, Widon of Offney, Richard the son of Ralph, Hugh of Morfe, Geldew' Briton, William of Darlaston, Peter of Ettingshall, William of Hagley, Nicholas of Hagley, and Warren his son, Henry of Erdington, Robert of Chesterton, Udard Marshall, Robert Salvage, Robert de Crest, Richard the son of Robert, John of Wickford, Gilbert of Wandlesworth, Richard the Fair, William de la Ferte, and many others."

66

What a specimen does this document afford of the numerous Retainers which, in those days of feudal strife, were deemed indispensable appendages to the Castles of the Great! To the long list here enumerated, if the many others" could also be specified, a tolerably-accurate estimate might be formed of the far-surpassing comfort that pervades similar establishments in this kingdom at the present day, compared with the revelry and uproar which then prevailed. No longer than "a strong man armed, could keep his Castle, his goods were in peace for if a stronger than he came upon him, and happened to overcome him, he took away all his armour wherein he trusted, and divided the spoils.". -In the present day, every man's house is his castle; which, if its possessor have done no wrong, the mightiest cannot invade with impunity.

As connected with Roger de Somery, mentioned in page 67, a literal translation is here inserted of the following curious Agreement; which was entered into between him and his kinsman William Burdet, in the reign of Henry III. about the year 1230. The original Document is in the possession of Wm. Hamper, Esq. F. S. A. "Let persons at the present and future times know, That it is so agreed npon between Roger de Somery, on

T

the one part, and by William Burdet on the other part (to wit) that the aforesaid William Burdet hath surrendered, and for ever quitted claim, to the aforesaid Roger and his heirs, all right and title whieh he had, or by any means might have, in the Chase of the said Roger in his Wood of Pennak.* Whence it is amicably agreed between the aforesaid Roger and William, in the Court of the Lord the King, before the justices of the Bench, so as that the aforesaid Roger de Somery hath given of his own free will, for himself and his heirs, to the aforesaid William his kinsman and to the lawful heirs of his body, eight beasts (octo bestias) annually, in the aforesaid Chase of Pennak; namely, 4 bucks, of the summer season, and 4 does, of the winter season (quatuor Damos de pinguedine, et quatuor Damas fermisona). And be it known, that the said William Burdet must take the said 4 bucks, of the summer season, between the feast of Holy Cross, in May,+ and the Feast of Holy Cross in September; and the said 4 does, of the winter season, between the Feast of All Saints, and the tuesday before ash wednesday. (diem Martis ante Cineres). And be it known, that when the said William Burdet and his heirs, as before-mentioned, shall be willing to come to take the beasts aforesaid, in the said Chase, they must præmonish or warn the Serjeant of Dudley, with the Foresters of the said chase, for the time being, one night before and if it so happen that the said Serjeant and the said Foresters fail to come on the morrow,—the said William do cause a horn thrice to be sounded (ter cornari faciat) at entering the said chase; and if, at the third sounding of the horn, they shall not come, it then may be lawful for the aforesaid William and his said heirs to enter the said chase, and to take the said beasts, in the same manner in which the said Roger hath given them to him that is, in this manner he must come to take the said beasts, within the terms aforesaid,-namely, with 12 bowmen, and 12 hounds, and with three leash of greyhounds, and with the people of his family, and others as many as he will; excepting that he bring

:

Supposed to be the Penn Wood of the present day; then forming part of Pensuet Chase.

The 3d of May. The 14th of Sep.-§ The 1st Nov.

nobody with him into the said chase, to take the said beasts, concerning whom the said Roger or his heirs may doubt or have suspicion, so that, by his entering with the said William into the said chase, any right or claim may ensue, to the detriment of the said Roger or his heirs. And if by chance it happen that the said William or his heirs, in the summer season take a doe, a hart, a brockett, or a fawn,-that shall be reckoned for a buck in the before-mentioned number of 4 bucks; and if, in the winter season, they take a buck, a hart, a brockett or a fawn,-in like manner it shall be reckoned in the number of does, before-mentioned. And because we desire that this our gift on the one part, and quit-claim, on the other, should for ever continue firm, -to this writing between us, made in form of a Cyrograph, we have interchangeably affixed our seals: these being witnessess-Sir Geoffry Despenser, Sir Ralph Basset, Sir Roger de Clifford, Sir Alan de Brinton, Sir Hugh de Clifford, Sir Richard de Ambresley, Sir Ralph the Chamberlain, and many others."

The words "inter Roger' de Somery et W." at the top of the original document, are cut through indentwise. Somery's Seal of white wax is still appended, bearing a shield, with two lions passant. The circumscription is defaced.

The following also, alluded to in page 67, relates to the same distinguished person. In the 17th of Henry III. 1233, the Manor of Dudley was siezed by the king,—its owner, Roger de Somery, having neglected or refused to appear, when summoned, to receive the distinction of knighthood. The writ is preserved in Maddox's history of the Exchequer; and in English runs thus: "because Roger de Somery, at the feast of Pentecost last past, did not appear before the king, to be girded with the military girdle, the Sheriff of Worcestershire is hereby commanded to sieze on the honour of Dudley, and all the other lands of the said Roger, within his jurisdiction, for the king's use; and to keep them, with all the cattle found upon them, so that nothing may be moved off, without the king's permission. Witness the king at Wenlock, &c."

Postscript.

ORNITHOLOGY,

APPERTAINING TO THE CASTLE HILL.

(Classification according to Bewick)

Falco Milvus, or Kite-Falco Nisus, or Sparrow Hawk.

Strix Flammea, or White Owl.
Strix Stridula, or Tawny Owl.

Corvus Corax, or Raven: the same pair was supposed to have built their nest on the loftiest trees near the Castle for many successive years, till shot, or driven away by persecution.

Corvus Frugilegus, or Rook; shared the fate of the Ravens.

Corvus Pica, or Magpie-Corvus Glandarius, or Jay. Ampelis Garulus, or Chatterer; shot near the side of the hill, in January, 1823.

Turdus Torquatus, or King Ouzel-Turdus Merula, or Black Ouzel-Turdus Viscivorus, or Missel Thrush -Turdus Pilaris, or Fieldfaré-Turdus Musicus, or Throstle-Turdus Iliacus, or Redwing.

Loxia Coccothraustes, or Grossbeak; was shot, Jan. 1823. Loxia Chloris, or Greenfinch.

Emberiza Miliaria, or common Bunting.
Loxia Citrinella, or Yellow Bunting.

Fringilla Montana, Pied or Mountain Finch-Fringilla Coelebs, or Chaffinch-Fringilla Carduelis, or Goldfinch-Fringilla Linaria, or Brown Linnet.

Alauda Arvensis, or Skylark.
Alauda Pratensis, or Titlark.

Motacilla Alba, or Pied Wagtail-Motacilla Boarula, or Grey Wagtail-Motacilla Flava, or Yellow ditto.

Motacilla Rubecola, or Redbreast-Motacilla Modularis Winter Fauvette, or Dunnock-Motacilla Atricapilla, or Black-cap-Motacilla Trochilus, Yellow or Great Wren-Motacilla Regulus, or Golden-crested WrenMotacilla Troglodytes, or Common Wren.

Parus Major, or Great Titmouse-Parus Coeruleus, Blue ditto, or Tomtit-Parus Ater, or Coal Titmouse

Phasianus Colchicus, or Pheasant.
Phusianus Perdix, or Partridge.

BIRDS WHICH ONLY APPEAR DURING THE SUMMER SEASON. Lanius Collurio, or Red-backed Shrike.

Cuculus Canorus, or Cuckoo.

Jynx Torquilla, or Wryneck.

Motacilla Luscinia, or Nightingale-Motacilla Phoenicurus, or Redstart-Motacilla Sylva, or Whitethroat-Motacilla Enanteh, or Wheat-ear-Motacilla Rubetra, Whinchat, or Utick.

Caprimulgus Europeus, Night Jar, or Goat-sucker.

ENTOMOLOGY.

(Classification according to Samouelle)

Alucita Hexadactylla, Six-cleft Plume.

Arctia Menthrustra, Ermine Moth-Arctia Inrbicipeda, Buff Ermine-Arctia Caja, Garden Tiger.

Pyralis Farinalis, Meal Moth.

Geometra Ocellaria, False Mocha Chenopodaria, Small Mallow-Bilineata, Yellow Shell-Didymaria, Twin-spot Carpet-Ferrugaria, Red Twin-spotOcellata, Purple Bar-Pusaria, White Wave-Nemoralis, Small Fan-foot-waved-Cratogaria, Brim