_Ancient Tenure of Lands._--I should feel obliged to any of your readers who would inform me as to the ancient tenure by which estates were held in this country. For instance, a manor, including within its limits several hamlets, is held by A, who grants by subinfeudation one of the said hamlets to B; B dies, leaving a son and successor, who continues in possession of the hamlet, and grants leases, &c., and thus for several generations. My question is, did A, in granting to B, relinquish all interest in the hamlet, or how much did he still retain, since in after years the hamlet is found to have reverted to him, and no allusion is afterwards made to the subinfeudatory lords who possessed it for some generations? It is presumed that in early times lords of a manor were owners of the _lands_ of the manor of which they were lords; at present an empty title is all that remains. When did the practice of alienating lands by a piecemeal partition and sale commence? and did a subinfeudatory lord possess the power of alienation? In fact, what is the origin of the numerous small freeholds into which our ancient manors are broken up? J. B. _Dramatic Works._--_Dramatic and Poetical Works_, very rare, privately printed, 1840. Information relative to this work will oblige JOHN MARTIN. Woburn Abbey. _Devreux Bowly._--An old and excellent hall clock in this city bears the name of Devreux Bowly, of Lombard Street, London, as the maker. Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." (either horologists or others) say when he lived? UNEDA. Philadelphia. _"Corruptio optimi," &c._--What is the origin or earliest use of the saying, "Corruptio optimi est, al. fit, pessima," in its present form? I state it in this way, because I am aware of its having been referred to Aristotle's remarks on the different forms of government. The old Latin translation however, does not contain the expression, and I have not traced it farther back than to writers of the seventeenth century,--to Jeremy Taylor, for instance. E. M. Hastings. _Lamenther._--Who was the writer of the _Life of Lamenther, written by herself_, published by subscription in 1771? Is it a genuine narrative; and if so, where can I find a key to the initials? C. CLIFTON BARRY. _Sheriff of Somersetshire in 1765._--Will any of your correspondents resident in, or acquainted with the county of Somerset, oblige me by stating the date of death of James Perry, Esq., the Sheriff of that county in 1756; and also his place of residence, and the names of his children, if any; and where any of their descendants now reside? H.