Anginal IDocumfnts. The following early tlocuincnts, sclccteil from {iiiioiiGj many topoirrnpliical and genealogical contributions which I owe to the kindness nnd dilii'-oncu of my friends, Mr. Pitman Jones and the Rev. Dr. Oliver, of Exeter, will have some interest in the eyes of a Devonshire antiquary. " Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Joh'es filius Ade do Burdesdunc obligavi me et heredes meos domino G. de Dinanno ct heredibu-; suis com- municare cum tutliinga in manerio suo de Ilertiland de cscap latronum ct de torno Vicecoraitis et itinere Just[iciariorum] et omnibus aliis gudis et sectis forinsecis ad tuthingam pertinentem s[cil] de uno ferlingo terre qucm teneo de domino G.de Dinanno in Burdesdune. Ita quod dictus Juh'es de Burdesdune et heredes sui non teneantur connnunicarc cum tutliinga domini G. de Dinanno in sectis nequc in aliis serviciis pcrtinentibus domino G. et heredibus suis preter predicta. In cujus rei testimonium sigilli mei impressionem preseuti scripto apposui. lliis testibus, Galfrido de Bitaford', Johele de Langforlang', Alurcdo filio ejus, Johele de Bitaford', Ricardo Blida, et multis aliis." Seal of white wax, pointed-oval ; a rude fleur de lis. Circumscribed, S', lOII'IS D' B'D'N. Indorsed, in a contemporaneous hand — " De contributione decennar' pro terra de burdesdon'." The above instrument bound the obligor, John, son of Adam de Burdes- dune, to be contributory to a tithing of the manor of llartknd, of which Geoffrey de Dinan was lord, in respect of land held of him in Burdesdune ; but the obligation was to be confined to escapes of thieves or robbers, to sheriff's torns, attendance on the King's eyre, and other c-vtrinsic payments and suits. The effect and object of the deed was to oblige the party to participate in those burdens of the lord, or his tithings, which were due to the lord paramount, viz. the King ; but not to make him a general suitor to the lord's court for all ordinary purposes. On the occasion of an escape the vill or tithing was amerced. Every vill appeared by its four men and reeve at the eyres and torns, and, in case of default, was amerced. These are the three specified cases (besides those referred to generally) in which the land of de Burdesdune was to be contributory. The word "gudis" is equivalent to guldis, and imports pecuniary burdens or gelds. As I find it so spelt in some other deeds of the same tenor, I presume that it is not a mere mistake. In an inquest in tlie Hundred Rolls (vol. i., p. 93), the Abbot of Ilertland is found by the jury to be bound " communicare ad regale servicium et ad alia gulda cum terra W. le Spek' apud Brigford." This explains the above docutnent, Burdesdone is probably Burden, in the parish of IIigham|ttnn, near Hatherley. It has continued in the family of Bunion from a .late juobably anterior to the execution of this instrument, which is in the writing of the thirteenth century.
