Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/393

 THE CHURCHYARD. 355 Thomas Bridge, the original "hamlet" or cluster of houses, and the most densely-populated part of the parish). They held also the adjacent Bodier's Quarry, and other lands eastward of it ; while they had larger possessions around St. John's Chapel, and by the Deer Park to the old Penny- gillam Cross, near Tresmarrow. This ownership gave them an important interest in the affairs of the church of St. Thomas. We need not, therefore, be surprised at the contention, recorded at page 13, between them and the Prior and Convent of Launceston. The agreement, dated 4th September, 1400, which terminated that strife, shows a reservation of the privileges of the " Waterfeire " to the prior and convent ; that they were to be permitted to hold in peace some steps, and other probable encroachments, and to enjoy the messuages and tenements which they had acquired from John Tregorek and other persons, subject to the ancient rights of the mayor and commonalty therein. Then follows this clause : " And the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty shall not have, nor claim to have, road or passage by Sextcnyshaye to the Church of St. Thomas, near the Priory aforesaid ; that is to say, they by these presents relinquish for ever to the aforesaid prior and convent the bottom road or way." We think that this road "by Sextonshaye" was the present Wooda Lane, or rather a footway running near and parallel with it, which, being just outside the municipal jurisdiction of the mayor, was on that account more assail- able by the cautious prior and his brethren. These religious men had also perhaps a sentimental grievance in the user of this road by the parishioners when going to and from vestry meetings in St. Thomas Chapel, or even when passing to and from their devotional services in that chapel. Mr. Arundell Jago has noted from Tanner's MSS. a quarrel which occurred in St. Thomas Churchyard on Wednesday, 24th September, 16 Hen. VI. (1438), between