Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/275

 ITS FEUDAL TENURE. 247 Fords of the Gayte of Lanceveton Castle. [These Gate Fords were presumably at the drawbridge over the ditch at the south-western entrance to the Castle Green (Keep Court.)] The term serjeantry, whether grand or petit, was generally applied to knight-service, and was always of an honourable nature. Sometimes it was a fixed duty, at other times uncertain in some particulars ; e.g. as to the time of its render. To carry the king's banner, or his sword, in war, or to be his champion, or other officer, at coronations, or the like, are illustrations of these latter servitudes. In 1 301 John of Dunheved was summoned to perform in person military service against the Scots. The Messrs. Lysons mention a peculiar service claimed from the mayor of Launceston by the lord of the manor of Treveniel, now belonging to Francis Rashleigh Rodd, Esq., of Trebartha. They say that whenever the lord of Treveniel mounted his horse in Launceston, in presence of the Duke of Cornwall, the mayor was obliged to hold Trcveniei's stirrup. We imagine that the rare combination of circumstances necessary to enable the validity of this claim to be tested, will not cause much anxiety to his worship, the present mayor. The story itself is perhaps not quite without foundation. Our pages have shown that, at least from the year 14.61 down to a recent period, the lord of Treveniel had a piece of land within the borough, in right of which he was paid threepence yearly. This payment may have been the commuted render for the former humiliating service. We now reintroduce the Inquisition of 5th May, 11 Edward III. (1338), partly cited ante pp. 96-8. The report on this Inquisition contains the most copious existing information as to the then condition of the Castle, and the tenures and duties of the various persons connected with it. We translate fully :