Tristram Risdon, in his quaint _Survey of the Co. of Devon_, after
mentioning the foundation of the church of High Bickington by King
Athelstane,
"Who," he says, "gave to God and it one hide of land, as
appeareth by the donation, a copy whereof, for the antiquity
thereof, I will here insert: 'Iche Athelstane king, grome of
this home, geve and graunt to the preist of this chirch, one
yoke of mye land frelith to holde, woode in my holt house to
buyld, bitt grass for all hys beasts, fuel for hys hearth,
pannage for hys sowe and piggs, world without end,'"--
adds presently afterwards, that
"Sir John Willington gave _Weeksland_ in this tything, unto
Robert Tolla, _cum 40 somagia annuatim capiend in Buckenholt_
(so be the words of the grant) in the time of K. Edw. I."
The Willingtons were lords of the manor of Umberleigh, where
Athelstane's palace stood, with its chapel dedicated to the Holy
Trinity, formerly rich in ancient monuments, and having a chantry near
to it. Some of the monuments from this chapel are still preserved in the
neighbouring church of Atherington.
My Queries upon this Note are:
1. Whence did Risdon derive his copy of King Athelstane's form of
donation? 2. What is the precise meaning of the word _Somagia_?
In _Ducange_ (ed. Par. 1726, tom. vi. col. 589.) I find:
"_Somegia_. Præstatio, ut videtur _ex summis_, v. gr. bladi,
frumenti. Charta Philippi Reg. Franc. an. 1210. Idem etiam
Savaricus detinet sibi census suos, et venditiones, et quosdam
reditus, qui _Somegiæ_ vocantur, et avenam, et _captagia_
hominum et foeminarum suarum, qui reditus cum una Somegiarum in
festo B. Remigii persolverentur; deinde secunda Somegia in
vicesima die Natalis Domini, et tertia in Octabis Resurrectionis
Dominicæ, ei similiter persolventur; caponum etiam suorum in
crastino Natalis Domini percipiet solutionem: unaquæque vero
somegiarum quatuor denarios bonæ monetæ valet."
Ducange refers also to some kindred words; but, instead of clearing up
my difficulty in the word _somagia_, he presents me with another in
_captagia_, the meaning of which I do not clearly understand. Perhaps
some of your more learned contributors will obligingly help me to the
true import of these words?
J. Sansom.
* * * * *
Minor Queries.
_Charade_.--Can any one tell who is the author of the following charade?
No doubt, the lines are well known to many of your readers, although I
have never seen them in print. It has been said that Dr. Robinson, a
physician, wrote them. It strikes me that the real author, whoever he
be, richly deserves to be named in "Notes and Queries."
"Me, the contented man desires,
The poor man has, the rich requires;
The miser gives, the spendthrift saves,
And all must carry to their graves."
It can scarcely be necessary to add that the answer is, _nothing_.
Alfred Gatty.
July 1. 1850.
"_Smoke Money_."--Under this name is collected every year at Battle, in
Sussex, by the Constable, one penny from every householder, and paid to
the Lord of the Manor. What is its origin and meaning?