Add MS 40174

COURT-BOOK of manors in the lordship of Chirk, co. Denb. Latin. The lordship was bought by Thomas Middleton, esq. [knighted 26 July 1603], from John, 2nd Baron St. John of Bletso, in 1595, and the dates in the present court-book extend from 5 Nov. of that year (with some "placita pendentia" from earlier in the year) to 12 Sept. 1599. The entries were made from time to time

in a separate, book for each manor, the whole being bound together later (ff. 157-162 were bound in upside down and must he read in the reverse order). The manors are:-Ysclaudd [Isglawdd], ff. 1-27 ; Glyn, ff. 28-52; Llangollen, ff. 53-108 b ; Moghnant [Mochnant], ff. 110-162 b; Kynlleth yr Yarll [Cynlleth yr Iarll], ff. 163-194 b; and Carreckova [Carreghofa], ff. 195-end; all in co. Denb. except the last, which is now partly in co. Montgom. For these manors see the 1568 survey of Chirkland published by J. Y. W. Lloyd, The History ... of Powys Fadog, iv, pp. 39-43. The courts were held most often at Llangollen or Chirk, but also at Glyn Fechan, Llansilin, Llanrhaiadr, and Chirk Castle; the steward was William Penryn, esq. On f. 143 is a letter or copy of a letter, signed, from him to Gruffydd Lloyd ap Lewis, bailiff of Mochnant, in Latin, concerning a case for the next court; 30 Nov. 40 Eliz. [15971 ; followed by notes, in Lat. and Engl., with signatures, by Lloyd and another bailiff Wm. ap Kaddr [William ap Cadwaladr]. Printed, with a description of the whole MS., by H. I. Bell, Bull. of the Board of Celtic Studies (Univ. of Wales), v, pp. 47-8. On f. 164 b, reversing the volume, is the beginning of a letter of apology for breaking a promise ; printed ibid. Paper (vellum cover, f. i); ff. i + 212. Folio. 1595-1599. Leaves have been torn out in several places, and others are imperfect. Presented by Sir H. Lloyd Verney, K.C.V.0.