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 Joh…