country villages*. The term Burgh or Borough became the appropriate word for those that exercised the right of sending Burgesses or representatives to Parliament. These Burghs are distinguished into classes, those by charter or statute, and those by prescription or custom.

It was in the reign of Henry III. in consequence of the enormous encroachments of the Barons, and the efforts they were evidently making to usurp the royal prerogative, that the COMMONS rose to importance. The Earl of

Leicester was the first to employ this influence both against the other haughty and aspiring nobles, and the king himself: and, after a long continued and severe struggle, a new power was introduced into the constitution, with a

Brady on English Boroughs, fol. p. 3, 4, 5, 6, &c. Hume's Eng.

vol, i. p. 278. note; 8vo. ed. 1808.

We have every reason to believe from ancient manuscripts, which we have perused, that there were from 70 to 80 burgage tenements in this town from the period of the twelfth century,

view of counteracting the overstrained and tyrannical influence of the Barons. From this period we date the history of the House of Commons. Leicester, who had obtained a preeminence in the council of twenty-four Barons, all of whom seemed resolved to reduce the government to a very narrow aristocracy, having completely superseded the royal prerogative, evidently aspired at crushing the power of the other nobles, and of exalting himself to the throne. Finding his popularity increase, and taking advantage of the favourable opportunity, he summoned a new parliament; when, besides the ordinary members, he ordered returns to be made of two knights from each shire: and, of two deputies from every borough, -a class of men, who, in every former age, had been accounted too mean and ignorant to fill a place in the councils of the nation. But this was mainly intended to swell his own influence. In the twenty-third year of Edward I. (1295) these deputies were, by a royal summons, called into parliament. He enjoins the sheriffs, to whom he issued writs, to send to parliament with two knights of the shire, two deputies for each borough within the county, and these provided with sufficient powers, from their community, to consent, in their name, to what he and his council shall require of them, He says, in his preamble, in his preamble, "As it is a most

equitable rule, that what concerns all should be approved of by all and common dangers be repelled by united efforts*."

Under that new constitution of things the Electors were charged with the expenses of their representatives, and many cases are on record of claims brought by members against their constituents. The amount of their travel

ling expenses, &c. was held recoverable by law. Since neither emolument nor honor was then attached to this trust, many boroughtowns were anxious to be released from the obligation, and accordingly petitioned to be exempted. It also appears, that when the sheriff thought a place possessed no individual of sufficient abilities or wealth, he omitted that borough in his returns. Now it is not improbable that this town anciently possessed all the qualifications necessary to entitle it to send members to parliament, being evidently at first constituted as a borough; but it might have declined exercising the privilege from the reasons we have referred to; or, from its deficiency of suitable representatives; or, like many other small towns, it may have been omitted by the sheriffs in their returns.

* See Brady, 25, 33. and Hume, vol. ii. p. 506.

+ Madox's Firma Burghi, p. 100. fol.

In 1366 King Edward IV. by writ commands the sheriffs of Middlesex to cause two knights to be chosen out of the community of that county to come to parliament for the said county: two citizens out of each city; and two burgesses out of each burgh; to come for the community of such burgh*. But it does not appear from any of the returns or records, that this burgh was summoned, though it is evident that at the beginning of the thirteenth century it was of sufficient importance to have entitled it to the privilege.

SECTION 2.

HISTORY OF THE MANOR OF COLHAM AND BOROUGH

OF UXBRIDGE,― DISPUTES

RELATING TO THE

TOLL OF THE MARKET AND FAIRS,-PRESENTMENT

OF THE MANOR IN 1636,-SUBSEQUENT HISTORY.

History of the Manor of Colham, &c.

We shall commence this part of our work with a brief history of the Manor of Colham. The Manor of Uxbridge, has, by some persons, been considered as altogether distinct from that of Colham; but in Domesday there

* Madox's Firma Burghi, p. 102, 103.

is no mention of a distinct manor* and in all the earliest accounts, which are preserved, they are spoken of as one; we shall accordingly consider the Manor of Uxbridge, as more properly a part of the Manor of Colham. Lysons in his work entitled, An Historical Account

of those parishes in the county of Middlesex, which are not described in the Environs of London," has given a brief history of this manor, which, as it is correct as far as it goes, we shall extract; making those additions, which our local advantages afford.

"The manor of Colham, which, in the reign of Edward the Confessor had been the property of Wigot de Wallingford, appears to have descended to Milo Crispin, who married Maud, daughter and heir of Robert Doiley, by the daughter and heir of the said Wigot. This Milo gave lands parcel of the demesnès of the manor of Colham, to the Abbot of

The following is the account of Colham recorded in Domesday "The manor of Coleham is taxed at eight hides, and is held by Roger, the Earl (of Arundel.) The land is seven carucates. There are six hides in demesne, on which are three ploughs; and the villans have three ploughs. There are six villans who hold a virgate each, and four others who hold two virgates jointly. The priest has one hide. There are ten bordars, each of whom has five acres ; there are four cottars, and eight slaves. There are two mills of 41s. rent; the moiety of a third mill, which produces 5s. ; meadow equal to three carucates; pasture for the cattle of the manor, pannage for 400 hogs, and one acre of vineyard. The whole value is 81. per annum. When it came into the Earl's possession it was 67.; in the reign of King Edward (the Confessor) 10l. It was then held of the king at that rent by Wigot.".