placed under the survey of the Court of Exchequer, and extents* mere directed to be taken of the same, after which they were confided to the care of certain trustworthy persons, styled " Guardians of the lands of the Templars," who were to account for the rents and profits to the king's exchequer. The bishop of Lichfield and Coventry had the custody of all the lands and tenements in the county of Hants. John de Wiiburgham had those in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and there were thirty-two other guardians entrusted with the care of the property in the remaining counties of England .f These guardians were directed to pay various pensions to the old servants and retainers of the Templars dwelling in the different preceptories,$ also the expenses of the prosecution against the order, and they were at different times required to provide for the exigencies of the public service, and to victual the king's castles and strongholds. On the 12th of January, A. D, 1312, William de Slengesby, guardian of the manor of Ribbestayn in the county of York, was commanded to forward to the constable of the castle of Knaresburgh a hundred quarters of corn, ten quarters of oats, twenty fat oxen, eighty sheep, and two strong carts, towards tbe victualling of the said fortress, and the king tells him that the same shall be duly deducted when he renders his account to tbe exchequer of the rents and profits of the said manor.§ The king, indeed, began to dispose of the property as if it was wholly vested in the crown, and made munificent donations to his favourites and friends. In the month of February of the same year, he gave the manors of * The extent* of the lands of the Templars are amongst the nnananged records in the Queen's Remembrancer's office, and various sherittV accounts are in the third chest in the Pipe Office. t Acta Rymcri, torn. ili. p. 130,134, 139,279,208,290, 1,2,297, S21. DadsworA. MS. vol. atra. p. 65,67. ΐ Acta Rymeri, torn. hi. p. 292, 3,4,5. § lb. torn, iu, p. 290.