THE HALL OF OAKHAM. 131

for his scutage ^. During this year he died, and was succeeded by his son llugli, who in tlic 9th Rich. I. (119S) gave a fine of 300 marcs to the king tV)r permission to marry tlie daughter and heir of Hugh de Say, of Richard's Castle. He gave Broc to the canons of Kenilworth, which thencefoi'tli be- came a cell to that monastery. Tlie Clause rolls inform us that all the lands he held in Herefordshire by right of his wife, as also those in Worcestershire, were granted by John to William de Cantilu})e'^. Dying without issue, Isabella his only sister, wife of Roger Lord Mortimer, became his heir, and this emled the connexion of the Perrars family with the town of Oakham. 1 have deemed it advisable to collect together every fact which would in the least degree serve to illustrate their his- tory, because there is a peculiar custom existing in this place which has been generally considered to trace its origin to their privileges, with what amount of credibility Ave will ex- amine at a later stage in the narrative. It has also been considered prudent to disentangle the subject at once from any connexion it may be supposed to have with the nume- rous collateral branches of this noble family, who as barons of Chartley, of Groby, of Tamworth, and of Wem, occupy so nmch notice in the English peerage ; and also to leave at this point the impression distinctly upon the mind, that Walke- line de Ferrars and his son Hugh, who died in or about the year 1204, are the only individuals of that name and family who possessed the manor of Oakham. In the Sth of John (1207) the Fine rolls state that Roger de Mortimer and his Avife Isabella, gave 700 marcs and seven palfreys for- the manor of Oakham and its appurtenances, and the sheriff was ordered to admit them to plenary seisin. On this occasion several of the nobility were taken as pledges to the amount of 100 marcs eacl/. This custom of ottering palfreys together with a sum of money was very common during the reign. Besides her fine, Isabella had presented a charger for the lands in Gloucestershire on a former occasion, and boroughs frequently made donations of horses in addition to fines for enjoyment of their privileges ^'. J Rot. Cancel. In the 5th of John tlie seventh of John the Herefordshire i)os- coiinty of lluthnui and Kockinii;huni castle sessions were granted to Tlionias ilc Oal- were granted to Isabella, wife of John. Hot. weye. Chart. H9. Regranted 17 John. Rot. ' Rot. de Fin. 9 John. Chart. 213. s Rot. Oblat. G John. <: Rot. Clans, (i John, p. 5. In the