Page:Sussex Archaeological Collections, volume 6.djvu/189

 roofed cottage called the Mill-house, clad in the grey livery of time, and backed by some pendant elms, an air of faded consequence which at once makes an impression upon the mind of a visitor. Seen under favourable circumstances these half ruined remains excite a deep interest, and are certainly amongst the most remarkable of their kind to be met with in our south- feastem counties.

It now only remains for me to say a few words about the descent of the property of this religious house.

In doing this, I have no intention of going into very minute details, but of giving, as a matter of some curiosity and interest, the broad general outlines of the course by which the bulk of the estate has come down to its present noble owner, with a short notice of some considerable portions which have been alienated from it at various times. For the first of these objects my authorities are chiefly the Burrell MSS., with a few additional particulars gleaned from other sources.

In the twenty-ninth year of Henry VIII ( 1538) that monarch granted Letters Patent to Thomas Lord CromweU, his most active agent in suppressing the monasteries, and then standing high in his favour, enabling him to hold the posses- sions of this dissolved priory of the king, in chief, by the tenure of military service.

Upon the attainder and execution of that nobleman, after a brief possession of two years, these estates reverting to the erown were again granted, in the way of a compulsory exchange, to William Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel. By an indenture dated February 4th, 1541, the earl, for divers causes and good considerations, " bargained and sold to the king his manors of Shyllyngle, Hibemhoo, WooUavington, and other property in the west of Sussex; and the king on his part granted to the earl " the scite, circuit, and precinct of the late monastery or priory of Michelham," with a portion of the estates lately pertaining to the priory of Lewes ; to hold the same " in capite, per servicium militare," i,e, by the suite of half a knight's fee, paying yearly £4. 19^. Qd, for Michel- ham Park Gate, £2. 3^. llfrf. for Shamefold, £3. 17^. &d. for Downeash, 4*. for Cowdean, 4^. for Holwech, £6. 7«. 2d. for Swanborough, £1. 6^. 6^. for Horsted, £2. 6«. &d. for Imberhome Felbridge ; the last three formerly belonged to Lewes priory.