[NEARLY the whole of this chapter, with some additions, is included
under the head of "Local Fatality" in Aubrey's Miscellanies. 12mo.
1696.-J. B.]
"Omnium rerum est vicissitudo". Families, and also places, have their
fatalities,
"Fors sua cuiq' loco est." OVID, PAST. lib. iv.
This verse putts me in mind of severall places in this countie that
are or have been fortunate to their owners, or e contra.
The Gawens of Norrington, in the parish of Alvideston, continued in
this place four hundred fifty and odd yeares. They had also an estate
in Broad Chalke, which was, perhaps, of as great antiquity. On the
south downe of the farme of Broad Chalke is a little barrow called
Gawen's-barrow, which must bee before ecclesiastical lawes were
established. [Aubrey quotes a few lines from the "Squire's Tale" in
Chaucer, where Gawain, nephew to King Arthur, is alluded to.-J. B.]
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The Scropes of Castle-Comb have been there ever since the time of King
Richard the Second. The Lord Chancellor Scrope gave this mannour to
his third son; they have continued there ever since, and enjoy the old
land (about 800li per annum), and the estate is neither augmented nor
diminished all this time, neither doth the family spred.
The Powers of Stanton St. Quintin had that farme in lease about three
hundred yeares. It did belong to the abbey of Cyrencester.
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The Lytes had Easton Piers in lease and in inheritance 249 yeares; sc.
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