the Celtic people were wont to send to their
friends in the other world. The reader may divert himself with
trying to explain it."

Has this inscription ever been explained, and how? Stukeley's book is by
no means a rare one; therefore I have not trusted myself to copy the
inscription: and such as feel disposed to help me in my difficulty would
doubtless prefer seeing the Doctor's own illustration at p. 31.

Henry Cunliffe.

Hyde Park Street.{120}

ATHELSTANE'S FORM OF DONATION.--MEANING OF "SOMAGIA."

Tristram Risdon, in his quaint _Survey of the Co. of Devon_, after
mentioning the foundation of the church of High Bickington by King
Athelstane,

"Who," he says, "gave to God and it one hide of land, as
appeareth by the donation, a copy whereof, for the antiquity
thereof, I will here insert: 'Iche Athelstane king, grome of
this home, geve and graunt to the preist of this chirch, one
yoke of mye land frelith to holde, woode in my holt house to
buyld, bitt grass for all hys beasts, fuel for hys hearth,
pannage for hys sowe and piggs, world without end,'"--

adds presently afterwards, that

"Sir John Willington gave _Weeksland_ in this tything, unto
Robert Tolla, _cum 40 somagia annuatim capiend in Buckenholt_
(so be the words of the grant) in the time of K. Edw. I."

The Willingtons were lords of the manor of Umberleigh, where
Athelstane's palace stood, with its chapel dedicated to the Holy
Trinity, formerly rich in ancient monuments, and having a chantry near
to it. Some of the monuments from this chapel are still preserved in the
neighbouring church of Atherington.

My Queries upon this Note are:

1. Whence did Risdon derive his copy of King Athelstane's form of
donation? 2. What is the precise meaning of the word _Somagia_?

In _Ducange_ (ed. Par. 1726, tom. vi. col. 589.) I find:

"_Somegia_. Praestatio, ut videtur _ex summis_, v. gr. bladi,
frumenti. Charta Philippi Reg. Franc. an. 1210. Idem etiam
Savaricus detinet sibi census suos, et venditiones, et quosdam
reditus, qui _Somegiae_ vocantur, et avenam, et _captagia_
hominum et foeminarum suarum, qui reditus cum una Somegiarum in
festo B. Remigii persolverentur; deinde secunda Somegia in
vicesima die Natalis Domini, et tertia in Octabis Resurrectionis
Dominicae, ei similiter persolventur; caponum etiam suorum in
crastino Natalis Domini percipiet solutionem: unaquaeque