In the year 1897, the Rev. J. A. Penny, Vicar of Wispington, discovered and published in “Linc. N. and Q.,” some very interesting Bardney charters of the 13th century, which make many mentions of Edlington. In one case they record the gift of a bondman, and his progeny to Thomas de Thorley, living in Gautby, the slave being William, son of Peter Hardigrey, of Edlington; among the witnesses to the deed of gift being Master Robert, of Poolham, Simon, the Chamberlain of Edlington, and others. Date, 22nd May, 1281. Another is a declaration of Thomas de Thorley, living in Gautby, that he grants to Master William Hardegrey, Rector of Mareham, all the lands and tenements which he owns in the village and fields of Edlington; among the witnesses being Simon, son of John, the Chamberlain of Edlington; Richard King of the same, Simon the Francis of Edlington, and others. Another charter states that, “I, William, son of William of Wispington, have granted, and by this deed confirmed, the gift, to William Hardigrey, of Edlington, clerk, all my toft, with its buildings, lying in the parish of Edlington, which is situate between the public highway, and the croft of Richard, son of Henry King, for ever. Among the witnesses being Simon, the Chamberlain of Edlington, John, his son, Alured of Woodhall, and others. Given at Edlington, the Wednesday after Michaelmas, A.D. 1285. (30th Sep., 1285), and 13th year of the reign of King Edward I.” We further get disconnected notices of various owners of, or in, Edlington, but I can not make out a connected series. For instance, in a Chancery Inquisition, 13. Ed. I. (12th May, 1285), held by order of the King, among the jurors are Henry of Horsington, Robert, son of the Parson of Horsington, Hugh Fraunklyn, of Langton, William de Wodehall, of Edlington, and others. Thus the William de Woodhall, already named, was a proprietor in Edlington, as early as 1285. We find, in a Final Concord, Nov. 22nd, 1208 (three-quarters of a century earlier than the preceding), between Andrew, of Edlington, plaintiff, and Alice, daughter of Elvina, who acted for her, the said Andrew acknowledged the said Alice to be free (he had probably claimed her as a bond-slave, in his house, or on his land, at Edlington), for which Alice gave him one mark. It was only in the reign of Henry VI. that a servant was permitted, after giving due notice to leave his place, and take the services of another (23. Hen. VI. c. 13). Before that, all were the property of their owners, unless given their freedom for some special reason. Here is another proprietor in a dispute, on 10th Nov., 1208, between Thorold, of Horsington on the one part, and John, son of Simon, of Edlington. The said Thorold surrendered for ever, certain lands in Edlington, to John and his heirs, another family of proprietors, at the same date as the previous.