We will now give a few peculiar extracts from some of the deeds connected with the abbey. Most of these, until late years, were in the possession of the Marquis of Exeter, at Burghley House, Stamford, whose ancestors, as will be shewn hereafter, once held the property, and in 1881 they were presented to the Right Honble. E. Stanhope, by his lordship. In celebration of the foundation of the Abbey, William de Romara “manumitted,” or released from serfdom, any of his villeins and dependants who would accept their freedom, “to go where they chose, and, if they remained on the estate, to give them land instead.” Among those who accepted freedom, were William Medicus, or the Doctor, and Roger Barkarius, a name still known in the neighbourhood. {161} The witnesses to the deed of liberty were Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, William Archdeacon, William Chancellor, and others. By deed No. 8, William gives land in Stickney, and services due to him, from Alan of Stickney and his successors, to which Alan agrees; the money to be spent on wine for the “Masses” of the Abbey services. To one deed (No. 20), for conveyance of pasturage for 20 cattle, 20 pigs, and 100 sheep, the witness is Thorold, Dean of Horncastle, a scion, doubtless, of the family of the Lady Lucia. He is further designated as “Magister Willelmus Novi Operis,” _i.e._ of Newark. By deed 24, Matilda daughter of Roger de Huditoft (Huttoft) widow of William of Stickney gives half a bovate of land in Stickney “in the time of my widowhood” _i.e._, when the property became at her own disposal. The witnesses are two women, Christiana, wife of Henry de Claxby, and Eda, wife of Richard, priest of Mareham; not, therefore, a celibate. By deed 27, Alan Smerehorn of Kirkby (East) gives a sedes molendini, _i.e._ a water mill and premises, with right to draw water through his land from Bolingbroke and Kirkby. By deed 30, Hamelinus de Jherdeburcg (Jerburg) gives land in Stickney, “quam tenui de hospitalibus de Jerusalem in terretorio de Stickenei” _i.e._ which he had held of the monks of the Hospice of Jerusalem in Stickney, there having been a minor religious house there; of which Robert Picha is named as Preceptor in another Deed (25), temp. Henry II. By a charter of Richard I. (Dugdale V. 456) the abbots are confirmed in the possession of lands in Toynton, the grange of Toft (still existing) Fulsby, lands in Miningsby, Kirkby, Claxby, Mareham, Tumby, Hameringham, Wood Enderby, Skegness, and many other parishes. By deed No. 41, William, son of Roger de Bikinghesbi gives land in Miningsby for gate alms, _i.e._ to relieve beggars at the Abbey-gate, the monks being the great, and almost only, friends of the suffering and needy. By deed No. 50, Ranulph, Earl of Chester, gives to the Abbey “his servant Roger, son of Thoreword of Sibsey, with all his property and chattells.” Here the man himself is treated as part and parcel with the chattells.