Scope and Content
pp.1-51
begun as a vocabulary of words extracted from Lucian’s “Dialogues of the Dead”. Each letter allowed c.4 pages, but few entries made.
pp.53-58
excerpts from Lucian’s Dialogues, Simylus and Polystartus,Charon and Hermes, Diogenes and Alexander
pp.70-73, 109, 169, 171,176
notes in anglo-french and latin, suggestive of a “Year Book”, dated by terms 1486-8, recording legal decisions
The blank spaces on these pages, and the unused pages, are filled as follows:
pp.1-54
Accounts andd memoranda of Richard Sampson of Westoning 1561-1590/1
Grain sold or sent to the mill or for malting, payments for husbandry, blacksmiths’ work, livestock bought and sold, carriage of goods.
Mentions his mother, John Sampson, and his sisters Day, Bayly, Nasshe and Preston. Dating usually by saints days.
Westoning and district, i.e. Ampthill, Westoning, Bedford, Harlington,Toddington, Dunstable, Luton, Woburn, Hempstaed.
Memoranda as to law books;
1590 lent to Master Chapman the statutes of 13 Elizabeth;
12 March ... lent Master Emes “the great book” of statutes of Henry VIII
pp.79-80
Tables of weights and measures.
a “Wey” of Essex cheese is 12 score 12lb.
a “Wey” of Baldock cheese is 16 score 16lb.
a “Wey” of Country cheese 24 score
a load of square timber is 50ft square
a “last of heryng crells” of Osmowndes is 12 barrels
a barrel of steel = 12 burden
one burden = 6 “sheffes”
one “sheffe” = 180 gadds.
a “rode” of board is 20 score feet
a barrel of beer is 36 gallons
a firkin of beer is 28 gallons
a kilderkin of beer is 18 gallons
a firkin of beer is 9 gallons [sic]
a barrel of ale is 32 gallons
a kilderkin is 16 gallons
a firkin is 8 gallons
a barrel of pitch weighs 200 quartern
a thousand of tile will cover 12 square feet
a load of Fells is 400
1000 yards is a mile [sic]
[troy weight and years]
pp.81-89
A Terrier of Richard Sampson’s own land in Biddenham made 1 March 1540
... a messuage in the Grene end of Byddenham between the messuage of John Faldo called Tomlyns E, and close of Lewis Dyne W, abutting N on king’s highway, and S on own land called the Brade.
... 28 acres open field land: 9 acres 3 roods in North Field, 8 acres in Middle Field, 10 acres in South Field [detailed description]
... 2 acres ½ rood in Brodemede and Sondermede the messuage, with 15 acres land the meadow held of Lewis Dyve esquire by socage, paying 3s quit rent.
Pays ½d to parsonage of Biddenham each offering day
p.90
The land Richard Sampson bought of Richard Lorde is held by socage of Master William Butler of London, of Newnham manor, for 6d.
The land of St.Leonards in Byddenham also held of manor of Newnham etc.
pp.90-99
A Terrier of Richard Sampson’s land bought of Richard Lord and of land of St.Leonard’s of Bedford, 1 March 1540
detailed terrier of 31 acres 3 roods in open fields of Biddenham and 4½ acres ½ rood in meadows
pp.100-8
A Terrier of Richard Sampson’s land etc. in Byddenham bought of John Smyth once Cokkes formerly Teryttes, Lanes and Poleys
renewed 16 May 1558
detailed terrier of 17 acres 3 roods in open fields and 2 acres ½ rood meadow
p.109
a tenement with close in Byddenham bought of Robert Paradyne for £10 is held by Lewis Dyve;
a tenement with close in Elstow with land, rent 6½d to king;
a tenement in Sylver Street in Bedford bought of Thomas Frysby for £17 and leased
pp.110-121
A Roll of Broke Mede remade 1540, giving tenants and their doles
p.121
Certainty money from Byddenham for the Lord King 13 April 1540; names, amounts, brief note of names of tenements
Taxation of Biddenham called the 15th 1 May 1538; names, amounts brief note of holdings
p.127
Stint of 15th in shire of Bedford, 6 May 1538, giving names of collectors for each hundreds, names of parishes, amounts assessed and collected
Collectors are:
Manshead: John Blackhed
Bygleswade: Walter Worlyche
Redbornstoke: John Fowkes
Stodden: William Faldo
Flytt: Robert Smythe
Barford: William Kyng
Clyfton: John Ampes
Wylly: John Heyward
Wyxamtree: William Fletcher alias Cooke
p.138
Names of shires of England
p.139
Terrier of lands of the light of St.Mary in the church of Byddenham “in minibus villat’ ibidem”
p.140-1
Terrier of lands of light of St.Mary in tenure of John Harper. 20 Jun 1515
p.140
John Trowghton holds 3 roods meadow in the Broke Mead in the Gores paying 1d each Sunday for bread for blessing, beginning each year at feast St.James the Apostle
p.141
Bounds of one acre of meadow belonging to the bridge of Biddenham
p.142
Terrier of Sir John Bray’s land called St.Leonards land in Byddenham 1553
pp.143-7
Extent of land in Byddenham 1 Henry 1485/6, with names and amounts, and note of later owners
p.148
Memorandum that the Lynche was ditched and set and hedged the first year of King Edward VI with list and notes of exchanges 1547/8
p.149
Elstow: Terrier of the property of Richard Sampson of Byddenham, being a tenant and close adjoining in the village of Elstow. 1 May 1554
pp.151-2
Edward Duke of Buckingham. Account of the seignories held of him of the honour of Gloucester now in the King’s hand.
Roxton: Master Frogmarton 2 knights fees. Master Hamden 2 knights; fees, Elizabeth Halley one knights fee;
Pavenham: John Hayward half a knights fee and a half; Mr.Catesby holds in Bedfordshire a knights fee and a half; the late Abbot of Woburn a knights fee and a half;
Wroxhyll: Mr. Sherard holds in Wroxhyll, Holcott and other places a knights fee and a half; John Whygt half a knights fee;
Biddenham: Mr.Dyve holds half a knights fee, the same Dyve holds in Wroxhyll 100 acres in several and common, and in Battelsden 27 acres;
Chellington and Hinwick: Lord Vaux has in Chillington and Hinwick a knights fee
Battlesden: Lord Bray has in Battlesden and late Mr.Woxsbrygges, a knights fee
Battlesden and Holcot: the late Abbot of Woburn in Bedfordshire, Holcot and Biddenham a knights fee and a half
The late prior of Newnham in Collysden and Biddenham £3 by year
The late prior of Caldwell had in Biddenham £3 by year
William Butler has in Biddenham 4 marks a year
p.167
“It is to be understand that the Commen Fyne in Byddenham to be paid to the Honor of Glocetor it must be gathered and levied of suche landes and Tenements as is in this booke before rehersed, that is to say of All the land that is holden of Master Dyve, of all the land that William Butler holdeth of the honor and of all suche londes as was sumtyme the pryor of Newnam the pryor of Caldwell Nudygate londe or late Woborn lands etc.”
notes on cutting and carrying grass at Biddenham 15 Jul 1592
p.176
notes on trees, accounts etc.
[Sampson family of Biddenham and Westoning appears to be as follows:
William Samson, Biddenham, will made 4 Mar 1521 [Ref AB/R 2 172d]
children: William and Richard, who hadhouse and lands in Biddenham, and died by 1565, who had a son Richard Sampson of Westoning; a son of Richard Sampson late of Biddenham, yeoman deceased [Ref X55/5 1565] died ?1593 at Westoning]