that place having pursued them to Southfleet, they were seized, imprisoned, and tried by the Lord Henry de Cobham and many other discreet men of the country, who adjudged them to undergo the fine ordeal, or examination of the hot iron. By this foolish and impious test of innocence, one of them was exculpated, and the other condemned, and afterwards drowned in a pond called Bikepool. The two chief species of trial by ordeal were those of fire and water, the former being, in the opinion of some learned writers, confined to persons of high rank, and the latter only used for the common people. But if the case of the two female thieves at Southfleet be truly related, it is rather probable that this distinction was not strictly observed.

CHAP. IV.

Manor, and Vicinity of Croydon.

THE manor of Croydon has belonged to the See of Canterbury from the earliest times to the present day, except for a short period during

the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell. The extent of it appears to have been in former times nearly equal to the space which it at present comprises, and it is represented by the survey taken in the year 1797, to consist of 9872 acrest.

In the survey taken by order of the Parliament, in 1644, the following customs of this Manor are recorded, and are still observed.

1. One Heriot, being the best beast of every Copyholder dying, seized of any messuage or tenement not lying within the four Crosses§, shall be paid for every such messuage or tene

* See Note, page 14. † Ibid.

§ The exact situation in which the four crosses stood, cannot now be discovered; but the Copyhold Estates which lie within the square, originally formed by these four crosses, are well known, and they are exempt from the payment of Heriots, though they are, of course, subject to all other manorial claims.

We find the situation of the crosses to have been thus described in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The first is at Burchall's House, in an Elm tree; the second is at the Pound; the third is at the little Alms House corner; and the fourth is at Dodd's corner, in an Elm-tree against the Catharine-wheel

corner.

ment-and if he have no quick cattle, then three shillings and sixpence for a dead Heriot.

2. On the death of every Copyholder for life, three shillings and sixpence for a dead Heriot, and no more.

3. If any person to whom a right of Copyhold shall descend, shall die before admittance, one quick Heriot is due for every messuage or tenement, and no more, and for want of a quick Heriot, three shillings and sixpence for a dead Heriot. (This is understood to mean for every distinct Copyhold).

4. If a surrender be made to any person being no copyholder before, then, he is to fine at the will of the Lord, and to pay three shillings and sixpence for a dead Heriot, and no relief.

5. If a surrender be made of a Copyhold to any Copyholder, there is due to the Lord three shillings and sixpence for a dead Heriot, and a relief, which is the extent of the rent (i. e. the quit rent) by the year due to the Lord, and no

more,

6. Copyholds descend to the youngest son, and if no son, then to the youngest daughter, and so to the youngest in every degree.

7. All Copyholders who have any estate of inheritance, may strip and waste, but the tenant for life may do neither.

8. No Copyholder may let a lease of his Copyhold without licence of the Lord, for more than three years, and is to give to the Lord for every year that he is to have licence to let his Copyhold, sixpence, and no more.

At the Court Leet and Baron, which is held annually in Easter week, are appointed Constables, Headboroughs, Aleconners, Fleshtasters, and other Officers.

Formerly the King's writs were executed and returned by the bailiff.

The quit rents are collected by the Reeves annually chosen by the homage jury, at the general Court Baron: there are eight Reeves-wick lands; (that is eight estates, the owners of which are liable to be chosen to serve the office of Reeve) the Reeves are generally chosen in rotation.

There are also eight Beadle-wick lands, the owners of which in their turn, serve the office of Beadle-they collect the fines and amercements. To neither of the offices of Reeve or

Beadle is any pecuniary consideration allowed for the duties performed.

When the revenues of the Archbishop were seized at the time of Cromwell's usurpation, the annual value of the manor, palace, and lands in Croydon, were computed at £274 19 9. The land being valued at ten shillings per acre, the Copices at from three to five shillings, the timber and underwood at £3456 1 4.-In the woods of Norwood such extreme waste was at this time committed, that there remained but 9200 oaken pollards, and 80 timber trees.

The Park Hill

Is a very agreeable spot, about half a mile East of the town of Croydon, beautifully situated on an elevation, from which it commands extensive views of Windsor, Blackheath, and part of Middlesex. It has always belonged to the manor and See of Canterbury, except during a short interval, when Henry VIII. obliged Archbishop Cranmer to give it him in exchange for some other lands. But it reverted to the See by grant from Edward VI.

William Walworth, the famous Lord Mayor of London, who slew Wat Tyler, upon his in