Aspeden

by Sir Henry Chauncy Vol I pages 240 to 252 first published in 1700

In the time of the Saxons, they held their Lands free from all Secular Service, except that Trinoda Necessitas, viz, Supply for the Wars, the building of Bridges and repair of Castles, which was usually excepted in the King's Grants of Church Lands after the Words had freed them, ob omni seculari servitio or exactione. They had Place and Voice in the Mycel Synods and Witenagemots, as Bishops and spiritual Persons, a Relick whereof seems yet to remain in sending Writs of Summons to Parliament to the Guardian of the spiritualities of the void Bishopricks, and the Charters granted in those Councils prove the same, and that the Bishops assented to them.

They enjoyed this Freedom and Priviledge, till the fourth Year of King William I. who seized all the Bishopricks which were held of the King by free Alms into his Hands, and granted them back again to his Bishops, to hold of him by Knight's Service in Chief, and so turned their Possessions into Baronies, and thereby made them Barons of the Realm by Tenure.

After many Debates, King H. II. in his great Council held at Clarendon, Anno 1164, in the Presence of the Earls and Barons, confirmed by his Royal Mandate, that all Archbishops, Bishops, &c. and all Persons of the Kingdom, who held of the King in Capite, shall have Possessions of the King, as a Barony, and thereof shall answer his Justices and Ministers, and as the other Barons ought to be concern'd in the Judgment of the King's Courts with the Barons, so shall the Bishops until they shall proceed to Loss of Member or Death.

Works of PIETY and CHARITY.

Mrs. Joan Sandford by Will, dated 1606, gave to the Poor of Aspeden and Layston 40s. per Annum, payable out of certain Lands in the same Parishes.

William Freman, Esq. by Will, dated 29th Aug. 1623, gave to the Poor of this Parish 4s. in Bread, to be paid weekly out of the Rent of the Water Mill.

Mrs. Elizabeth Freman by Will, dated 24th June, 1633, gave to ten poor People in Aspeden 5l. per Annum, to be paid by the Haberdashers in London, and disposed in such Manner as the Owner of Aspeden Hall shall think fit.

Mrs. Elizabeth Freman gave one large Silver Communion Plate to the Parish Church of Aspeden.

Ralph Freman, Esq. An. Dom. 1644, gave the Treble Bell to this Parish Church.

Seth Ward, late Bishop of Salisbury, by Will, dated 1687, gave to Ralph Freman, Esq. and Charles Crowch, Gent. 600l. to be laid out in Land, and the Rent employed to the putting forth three poor Children Apprentices yearly, whereof two out of Aspeden, and one out of Layston one Year, and one out of Aspeden, and two out of Layston another Year, and so from Year to Year by Turns.

Mrs, Elizabeth Freman, Wife of Ralph Freman, Esq. Anno 1690, gave one large Silver Communion Plate to this Parish Church.

Select page number:  Page 252