The writer returns many warm thanks to those who have given much individual assistance in the undertaking, which could not have been attempted without such aid. C. M. YONGE. ELDERFIELD, OTTERBOURNE, 18_th_ _June_ 1898. CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I MERDON AND OTTERBOURNE 1 CHAPTER II MEDIÆVAL GIFTS 13 CHAPTER III REFORMATION TIMES 27 CHAPTER IV PURITAN TIMES 39 CHAPTER V CUSTOMS OF THE MANOR OF MERDON 53 CHAPTER VI CRANBURY AND BRAMBRIDGE 69 CHAPTER VII THE BUILDING AT HURSLEY 78 CHAPTER VIII OLD OTTERBOURNE 83 CHAPTER IX CHURCH BUILDING 92 CHAPTER X HURSLEY CHURCH 107 CHAPTER XI THE GOLDEN DAYS OF HURSLEY 125 CHAPTER XII HURSLEY VICARAGE 135 CHAPTER XIII LATER CHANGES 145 CHAPTER XIV A SURVEY 153 CHAPTER XV WORDS AND PHRASES 171 CHAPTER XVI NATURAL HISTORY 190 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS JOHN KEBLE, from the Pencil Drawing by John _Frontispiece_ Bacon, jun., (1851), by permission of the Rev. J. B. Medley of Tyntesfield MERDON CASTLE AND WELL, HURSLEY PARK _To face page_ 10 RICHARD CROMWELL, LORD PROTECTOR 49 THE OLD CHURCH AT HURSLEY 79 HURSLEY PARK HOUSE. N.-E. FRONT, 1867 81 EXTERIOR, OTTERBOURNE CHURCH 98 AMPFIELD CHURCH 102 FOUNTAIN AT AMPFIELD 103 HURSLEY VICARAGE AND CHURCH 122 SIR WILLIAM HEATHCOTE, Bart. After the picture 128 by George Richard, R.A., 1870; by permission of P. and D. Colnaglie and Co. HURSLEY CHURCH 141 INTERIOR, OTTERBOURNE CHURCH 144 [Picture: Map of Hursley, Otterbourne etc.] CHAPTER I MERDON AND OTTERBOURNE THE South Downs of England descend at about eight miles from the sea into beds of clay, diversified by gravel and sand, and with an upper deposit of peaty, boggy soil, all having been brought down by the rivers of which the Itchen and the Test remain.