Page:History of Norfolk 5.djvu/24

 last valuation 5l. 6s. 8d and that the first valuation of the vicarage alone, was 53s. 4d.

The following vicars were all presented by the masters and scholars of Emmanuel college in Cambridge.
 * 1608, Alex. Wixted.
 * 1611, John Fawether.
 * 1612, Will. Merrick.
 * 1613, Tho. Robinson.
 * 1618, Ric. Youngs.
 * 1640, Tho. Bulbek.
 * Gawen Nash, one of the minor canons, deprived for not taking the oaths to King William III.
 * 1691, John Brandon, united to Wramplingham.
 * 1743, The Rev. Mr. John Freeman, on Brandon's death, united to Rackhithe, the present vicar.

This town belonged to Edwin in the Conqueror's time, who settled it at his death on the abbey of St. Bennet at Holm in Ludham in Norfolk; it was then worth 40s. afterwards 60s. and at the Conqueror's survey 4l. and was then held by Godric the Sewer, after Earl Ralf's forfeiture. There was also another manor here, and in Great Melton, held by one of the Confessor's thanes, which Godric also had; LittleMelton was one mile and an half long, and 1 mile and 1 furlong broad, and paid 8d. q. to the geld. Ingreda, wife to Edwin, confirmed her husband's grant, but after their deaths, Ralf their son agreed with Richer the Abbot, Ralf the Prior, and the monks, that he should hold it for life, remainder to Letseline, his wife, for life, and the heirs of Ralf for ever, if he had any, if not, it was to revert to the convent, of which it was to be always held, by a clear rent of 10s. a year. It was called in this deed Medeltun the Less, or the Middle-Town. King Henry II. sent a precept to the sheriff of Norfolk, that the Abbot of St. Bennet should hold quietly this manor, which Hubert de Montchensy had disseized him of, during the war, and which he had acknowleged before the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be of that convent's fee; whereupon it was agreed, that Hubert and his heirs should hold the town of the convent, paying a fee-farm rent to the Abbot, of 10s. which is now paid to Bishop's manor of Heigham, which belonged to that convent. In 1284, William, son of Sir Warine de Montchensy, had view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale, free-warren, &c.

In 1272, Reginald de Argentein and Lora his wife purchased several lands here; and in 1318, John son of Reginald, held one part of the manor at the 16th part of a fee, of Aymer de Valence Earl of Pembroke,