roofed cottage called the Mill-house, clad in the grey livery of time, and backed by some pendant elms, an air of faded consequence which at once makes an impression upon the mind of a visitor. Seen under favourable circumstances these half ruined remains excite a deep interest, and are certainly amongst the most remarkable of their kind to be met with in our south- feastem counties.
It now only remains for me to say a few words about the descent of the property of this religious house.
In doing this, I have no intention of going into very minute details, but of giving, as a matter of some curiosity and interest, the broad general outlines of the course by which the bulk of the estate has come down to its present noble owner, with a short notice of some considerable portions which have been alienated from it at various times. For the first of these objects my authorities are chiefly the Burrell MSS., with a few additional particulars gleaned from other sources.
In the twenty-ninth year of Henry VIII (a.d. 1538) that monarch granted Letters Patent to Thomas Lord CromweU, his most active agent in suppressing the monasteries, and then standing high in his favour, enabling him to hold the posses- sions of this dissolved priory of the king, in chief, by the tenure of military service.
Upon the attainder and execution of that nobleman, after a brief possession of two years, these estates reverting to the erown were again granted, in the way of a compulsory exchange, to William Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel. By an indenture dated February 4th, 1541, the earl, for divers causes and good considerations, " bargained and sold to the king his manors of Shyllyngle, Hibemhoo, WooUavington, and other property in the west of Sussex; and the king on his part granted to the earl " the scite, circuit, and precinct of the late monastery or priory of Michelham," with a portion of the estates lately pertaining to the priory of Lewes ; to hold the same " in capite, per servicium militare," i,e, by the suite of half a knight's fee, paying yearly £4. 19^. Qd, for Michel- ham Park Gate, £2. 3^. llfrf. for Shamefold, £3. 17^. &d. for Downeash, 4*. for Cowdean, 4^. for Holwech, £6. 7«. 2d. for Swanborough, £1. 6^. 6^. for Horsted, £2. 6«. &d. for Imberhome Felbridge ; the last three formerly belonged to Lewes priory.
