heads ar.," and to carry for

grailed gu., three spear heads ar.,

crest a demi griflin rampant, was confirmed.42

He lived in a house built in the Tudor style that is to-day approached by an avenue of trees and is now known as "The Firs." Its embattled porch, ancient oak beams, quaint back stairs, and other features show its age."

43

He was one of the trustees of the Ilminster Free Grammar School in 1600, 1605, 1606, 1607, 1633, 1635, 1637, 1639, 1642, 1645, 1647, 1648, 1650, 1651, 1655, and 1656, and very likely in the intervening years.44 At the annual meeting of the trustees on the first Sunday of October, 1635, a time when the question of Sunday sports was a burning subject, George Balche was one of the feoffees who voted to adjourn over until the following Tuesday:

"It is now the Sabbath day and wanting time to fynishe our account it is agreed by those whose names are under written to meete again on Tuesday. G. Speke, George Balche, Rd. Webbe," and others.

42 Harley Manuscripts, Nos. 1141, 1445 and 1559 (British Museum). 43 In 1651 in the rate book of Ilminster Parish this entry occurs: "late George Balch £.1.1.0." In 1652 the name drops out and that of Henry Warre takes its place. Later occurs the name of Mr. Portman; in 1726 that of Henry Portman; and about 1864 the late Lord Portman sold it to Samuel Palmer, whose executors sold it in 1888 to Mr. Baker.

44 Archives of the school. In 1655 in the Court of Common Bench at Westminster: case relating to lands in Aishill, Ilminster, Crickett, and the forest of Roch, otherwise Neroche. The trustees, including George Balche, plaintiffs versus Humfrey Walrond, Esq., Grace his wife and George Walrond deforcients. Result: the plaintiffs were ordered or agreed to pay the debts, the sum of eighteen pounds sterling.

This George Balche of Horton, like his forefathers for at least three generations before him, belonged to the English Protestant Church. During the Civil War between the King and the Parliament, he was loyal to the former, and exercised under the authority of King Charles the office of coroner in the County Court in Somerset, when the Royal forces held possession of the shire. This entry of his services as coroner under the authority of the King has come down: "Mr. George Balch, the coroner his fee concerning Coles that destroyed himself, 13s, 4d." For thus adhering to the side of the Cavaliers, George Balche, after the Round Heads had finally won under the able leadership of Oliver Cromwell, was forced to pay a large fine, two hundred and twenty-one pounds sterling and seven shillings, one sixth of the value of his estates, to the Parliamentary authorities, in order to retain his landed estates. The papers in this compounding by George Balche for his estate, the originals of which are in the Royalist Composition Papers, are as follows:

George Balche of Horton in the

County of Somersett gent.

45

His delinquency that he adheared unto the forces raised agt. the pliament.

He peticoned here the 11th of January 1648.
Its deposed by Henry Warr gent. that the Compounder

45 State Papers Domestic. Interregnum. Volume G. 208. fo. 10.