Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/173

Rh for his scutage. During this year he died, and was succeeded by his son Hugh, who in the 9th Rich. I. (1198) gave a fine of 300 marcs to the king for permission to marry the daughter and heir of Hugh de Say, of Richard's Castle. He gave Broc to the canons of Kenilworth, which thenceforth became a cell to that monastery. The Clause rolls inform us that all the lands he held in Herefordshire by right of his wife, as also those in Worcestershire, were granted by John to William de Cantilupe. Dying without issue, Isabella his only sister, wife of Roger Lord Mortimer, became his heir, and this ended the connexion of the Perrars family with the town of Oakham.

I have deemed it advisable to collect together every fact which would in the least degree serve to illustrate their history, because there is a peculiar custom existing in this place which has been generally considered to trace its origin to their privileges, with what amount of credibility we will examine at a later stage in the narrative. It has also been considered prudent to disentangle the subject at once from any connexion it may be supposed to have with the numerous collateral branches of this noble family, who as barons of Chartley, of Groby, of Tamworth, and of Wem, occupy so much notice in the English peerage; and also to leave at this point the impression distinctly upon the mind, that Walkeline de Ferrars and his son Hugh, who died in or about the year 1204, are the only individuals of that name and family who possessed the manor of Oakham.

In the 8th of John (1207) the Fine rolls state that Roger de Mortimer and his wife Isabella, gave 700 marcs and seven palfreys for the manor of Oakham and its appurtenances, and the sheriff was ordered to admit them to plenary seisin. On this occasion several of the nobility were taken as pledges to the amount of 100 marcs each. This custom of offering palfreys together with a sum of money was very common during the reign. Besides her fine, Isabella had presented a charger for the lands in Gloucestershire on a former occasion, and boroughs frequently made donations of horses in addition to fines for enjoyment of their privileges.