but cleared the trueth according to the oth and profession of an Herault vnlesse learnedly with trueth you confute the same Vntill then I bid you farewell A DISCOVERIE OF DIVERS ERRORS PVBLISHED IN PRINT ANNO 1594 preiudiciall to the discents and successions of most of the auncient Nobilitie of this Realme TVtburie castle was built by Henry Lo. Ferrars a Norman vnto whome William the first gaue large possessions which Robert Earle Ferrars and Derbie his grand-child by his sonne Robert lost by reuolting the second time from king Henrie the third Pag. 447. THe Catholike credite of your great learning which might haue beene a clubbe to daunt the courage of vnlettered Heraulds and cause them to retire the fielde from encountring with you hath beene the drumme that hath summoned me out not as a champion but as a defendant by my oth and profession for the triall of the truth and defence of the vnspotted honour of Armes and auncient Nobilitie The sacred bodie of my sweete and natiue Countrie Britannia I embrace The phrases of your scholler-like language I esteeme as gorgeous ornaments vpon a Matrone that is naturallie beautifull the reliques of industrious Leyland together with his farre-fetched and deare bought Antiquities I admire almost I had saide adore but for religion sake Onlie the disgrace of auncient Herauldie wherwith England hath much flourished in former age the empeachment of manie illustrious families the misreport of many honorable discents and the daungerous errors auouched by your lowd-sounding pen I must repeale and reuerse with a writ of Quo warranto least in time the countenance of your world-wondred and selfe-conceited knowledge cause naked truth to be helde in scorne of others as it is in captiuitie by your selfe My humble requestis that the honourable beholders of our combat blush not nor the scholasticall Readers bite the lippe to see an English Herauld encounter with an antique Hercules Let not the fore-running breath of deepe renowmed science blow vp the weight of long experience you may enioy the reputation of Artes but in Armes and Herauldie we except against your skill And because I intend onely a freedome of truth in matter of mine own profession you shal vnderstand that I wil not intermeddle with any other the commendable discoueries of Antiquitie beeing without the lists and compasse of mine exception but onelie where the auncient pedegrees of honourable families are either clipped or strange feathers imped into their traines there am I bold to note the defects and to declare the excesse that may make a worthie progenie seeme some monstrous ofspring if the truth bee not vnfolded What cause I haue to vndertake this charge may appeare by these fewe erronious slippes gathered out of manie in your Britannia In the detection whereof I haue not followed your Methode a long by the Riuers side from shire to shire and towne to towne for that were a iourney too tedious and out of my way but I haue fastened first vppon that noble Ferrarian line whose present issue so glorious at this time seemeth to commaund a redresse of that iniurious obscuritie wherewith your superficiall skill or rather ignorance hath somewhat eclipsed the former excellencie thereof First therefore I am prest to encounter you at the castle of Tutburie in the honour of whose founders I am to spend my first breath and valour to the ende I may reuiue the race of them which you haue ouerthrowne by falsifying and extinguishing foure discents in seuen If you demaund how I answere in making Robert Earle Ferrars grand-childe of Henrie Lord Ferrars the Norman to bee that Robert which did forfait all his landes to king Henrie the third when in truth it was the said Roberts great great grand-child And therefore to build vp againe this honourable discent and succession of the Earles Ferrars which you haue ruinated I will first begin with Henry Lord Ferrars the Norman vnto whom by the booke of Domesday William the Conquerour gaue manie large possessions in the counties of Stafford Leicester Bedford Glocester Oxford Bucking and Barkshire He had issue Robert Earle Ferrars who founded the Abbay of Muriuall in king Henrie the first his time and died the 19. of king Stephen whose eldest sonne William Earle Ferrars and Lord of Tutburie being slaine in his lodging in Lumbards streete in London without issue Robert his second son succeeded and was Earle Ferrars Lord of Tutburie and Oucam He kept the towne of Leicester for king Henrie the second against the yong king and had issue William Earle Ferrars and first earle of Derbie who maried Margaret daughter and heire of William Peuerell Lord of Nottingham and died the 12. of Henrie the thirde leauing issue William the second Earle Ferrars and Derbie his sonne who tooke to wife Agnes the third sister and coheire of Ranulph Earle of Chester and Lincolne and died 1242. vnto whome succeeded the thirde William Earle Ferrars and Derbie who maried Margaret daughter and coheire of Roger Quincy earle of Winchester On whom he be got Robert Earle Ferrars and Derbie who in the fiftie yeare of king Henrie the third was taken prisoner at the battell of Chesterfield and imprisoned in the castle of Chipenham where he for the obtaining of his liberty made assurance before Iohn Chishall then Lord Chancelor of England of all his lands except Chartley and Bolbroke to Lorde Henrie sonne of the king of Romanes William Valence Earle of Penbroke Iohn earle Warren Surry William Beauchamp earle of Warwicke Roger Somery Thomas Clare R. Walleron Roger Clifford Hamon le Strange Bartholomew de Sudley Robert Bruse Barons his suerties for the paiment of 50000. poundes on a day at one entire paiment to Lord Edmond the Kings sonne Which day paiment being broken and not performed the said Lord Edmond by the surrender of the sureties aforesaid tooke possession of those his lands and enioyed the same during his life and after left them to his heires the same being then valued at two thousand pounds by the yeare And this is that Robert whom you verie vntruly haue set downe to be grand-child to Henrie Lorde Ferrars that liued in the time of the Norman conquest he being the seuenth in line all discent from him as by your owne words in the title of Derby pag. 430. it may appeare where you confesse William to be the father William the grandfather of this Robert that forfeited his lands in king Henrie the third his time Now to let you knowe the inconuenience arising hereby It is the concealment and losse of three most notable inheritrices that were married vnto three of these Ferrarian Earles The first was the daughter and sole heire of William Peuerell Lord of Nottingham whose sonne was honoured with the title of earle of Notingham The second was the sister and coheire of Ranulph Earle of Chester and Lincolne who inriched this familie with the Castle and honour of Chartley. The third being the daughter and coheire of
and to bee a witnesse to the said kings Charter touching the foundation of the Abbay of Selbie by the name of Edward Earle of Salisburie Which proueth that Patrike his grand-childe was not then the first Earle of Salisburie of that familie as you affirme Secondly where you hold for a certaintie that Walter the sonne of Edward aforesaid before his monasticall profession left issue to succeede him Patrike his sonne To that I answere that Sybill his wife after the death of the said Walter her husband took vpon her the habit of a Nunne and hauing continued in that estate but one moneth perceiuing her selfe to be with child forsooke that order again and afterwards was deliuered of a son which was named Patrike who was after steward to Maude the Empresse by whose meanes king Henry the second in the 28. yeare of his reigne confirmed vnto the said Patrike the earledom of Salisburie Thirdly concerning your affirmation that William sonne of the said Patrike had but one only daughter named Ella maried to William Longa-Spatha who in her right was Earle of Salisbury and did beare her Armes To this I say you do hereby greatly preiudice the honorable familie of Howards for the said William had not onely two sonnes but also two daughters as appeareth by the booke of Bermondsey in Southwarke viz. Patrike William Mabell and Ella Mabell was maried to Nigell Lord Mowbray of whom all the Howards with many others are discended Ella was maried vnto William Longa-Spatha base sonne to Henrie the second who afterward by the speciall fauour of King Richard the first in the 9. yeare of his reigne was made Earle of Salisburie and not in right of his wife as you would haue it And where you say the said William Longa-Spatha and Ella had issue William who succeeded his father in that dignitie and left issue the third William which lost that Earledome through displeasure of King Henrie the third I answere that I maruaile howe you can inuent two so great vntruths as first to affirme these two last Williams to be Earles of Salisburie when neither of them both were euer Earles either of that or anie other place And that the saide William did vse or beare the Armes of his wife I take it you haue no other proofe for the same then your owne bare imagination which with you is verie great Lastly where you affirme Henrie Lacie to bee Earle of Salisburie in right of his wife the daughter and heire of the last William Longa-Spatha I say that neither hee the saide Henrie nor any other of his Surname were euer at anie time honoured with that title or Earledome And nowe to manifest the mariage of the Lorde Nigell de Mowbray with Mabell daughter of William Fitz-Patrike I will set you downe for proofe the said Nigels deed which is as followeth SCiant presentes futuri quod ego Nigellus dominus de Mowbray dedi concessi c. Know ye that I Nigell Lord Mowbraw haue giuen and confirmed from my Mannor of Bensted in Surrey which I had in mariage with Mabell my wife heire of William Fitz-Patrike the Church of Bensted to the canons of Southwarke in whose possession I found the said Church confirmed by Richard Bishop of Winton c. TOuching the Earles of Winchester as our Herauldes report after that Clito the Saxon was by the Normans depriued of his auncient dignitie King Iohn made Saer de Quincie Earle of Winchester who vsed for his Armes a Fesse with a Labell of fiue points as wee haue seene in his Seale but Roger his sonne bare seuen Losenges golde voyded in a field Gules He hauing no issue male by Helene his wife the eldest daughter and Coheire of Alane Prince of Galloway in Scotland that honour lay dead A great while after Hugh de Spencer was honoured with that title by King Edward the second whose sonne for treason lost both that dignitie and his life After that by the bountie of king Edward the fourth Lewis of Bruges a Belgian Baron of Gruthuse and Prince of Stenhuse enioyed this title with the Armes of Quincies Which title after the death of King Edwarde aforesaide he surrendered againe to King Henrie the seuenth Pag. 197. VVHom you vnderstand by the terme of our Heralds I knowe not my selfe being one of her Maiesties Heralds do approue for truth that Seer de Quincy was Earle of Winchester and did vse in his shield for his Armes a Fesse and a Labell of 13. points and not of 5. as you misreport to haue seene in his seales And to proue my assertion true I haue diuerse deedes with the Seales of the saide Quincies in my custody made aswell in the reigne of king Richard the first as in the times of king Iohn and Henry the third As for Hugh Spencer he was made Earle of Winchester high Treasurer of England in the 15. yeare of King Edwarde the second and in the 19. yeare of the said kings reigne hee was executed at Bristow by Queene Isabell so that the dignitie ceased in himselfe and not in his sonne as you affirme who neuer had or was possessed of that dignitie Lastly where you say that King Edward the fourth did giue to Lewes of Bruges the Earledome of Winchester with the Armes of Quincies I answere you haue not onelie misreported the same but also shewed your selfe to be very ignorant in matters of Armes for those Armes giuen by Edward the fourth to Lewes of Bruges were neither the armes of Quincies nor any thing at all resembling the same And for proofe hereof I pray you let vs a little compare them both togither first the armes giuē by K. Ed. 4. to the said Lewes were Azur ten mascles gold the armes of Quincies were Gules 7. masclesgold Bruges did beare in his armes a canton Gules charged with a Lion passant gardant of the second Quincy had neither Canton nor Lion in his Armes So that here is neither colour nor charge to induce a man of any iudgement or knowledge to thinke or say that this gift of Edward the fourth was the Armes of Quincy And for better proofe hereof I will here insert the wordes of king Edwardes graunt concerning the gift of the said Armes REx omnibus c. Sciatis quod c. Lodouicum Brugensem principem de la Gruthuse dominum de Spieres de Aemsted de Oestamp in Comitat. Winton praefecimus Creauimus insigniuimus ac per praesentes praeficimus Creamus insignimus vnà cum armis insignib armorum modo forma hîc depict in gallico sic discernundis Il port d' azure a dix mascles d'or en orme de vn canton de nostre propre armes de Angleterre c ' est ascauoir de gules vn Leopard passant d'or armé d'azure pat 12. Edw. 4. LAnheron was the seate of the familie of Arundels or de Hirundine that is of the Swallow for Arondell is in French a Swallow Those of
second Earle of Sussex and Arundell father of William the third Earle which had issue by Maude coheire of Ranulfe Earle of Chester William the fourth Earle and Hugh that was the fift Earle both dying without issue After which time that honour of Sussex lay dead vntill that king Henrie the eight in the 21. yeare of his reigne created Robert Radclife Earle of Sussex Pag. 234. IN this succession of Albeneys Earles of Sussex you haue taken great paines making fiue of that surname to haue beene Earles both of Sussex and Arundell when as you can prooue but foure in all to haue beene Earles of that familie and but two of them Earles of Sussex viz. William whom king Henrie the second made the first Earle of Sussex and Hugh his sonne who died without issue in the 27. yeare of king Henrie the third for that VVilliam whom you call the fourth Earle of Arundell I deeme as yet neuer borne And the first VVilliam which married Queene Aelidise the widow of King Henrie the first who you say was both earle of Sussex and Arundell I make great doubt of thinking you not able to make proofe he was Earle of either For sure I am that his owne deed doth shew the contrarie that he was onelie Earle of Chichester and not of Arundell and Sussex which to manifest I haue here set downe his deed as followeth GVilielmus Comes Cicestriae c. William Earle of Chichester to the Bishop of Norwich and to all faithfull children of our holie mother the Church and to all men as well French as English c. Knoweye that I haue giuen and granted to God and to the Church of Saint Maries in Thetford and to the Monkes there seruing God for the the soules of my father and mother and Queene Aelidise my wife and the health of our children in pure almes the lands that were Godricks in Ridlesworde and in Guareshall which belonged to Garestorpe which land the same day that I made this grant one Robert held Witnesses Raph the Chaplaine and Hubert de Montecaniso with manie others Lastly where you say that after the familie of the Albeneyes were extinct the Earldome of Sussex lay dead vntill he 21. yeare of king Henrie the eight who then created Robert Radcliffe Earle of Sussex To that I answere it did not lie dead all that while for after the death of Hugh de Albeney 1242. king Edward the first in the 18. yere of his reigne made Richard Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell knight at which time he also girded him with the sworde of the Earldome of Sussex In whose issue it continued diuers discents and then by attainture fell vnto the crowne As in my booke entituled the Nobilitie of England which I meane shortly God willing to publish you may see at large RIchard Earle of Clare builded the Castle of Tunbridge hauing had the said Tunbridge in exchange for Brionie in Normandie for his grandfather Godfrey base sonne of William the second Duke of Normandie was Earle of Aniou Brionie Pa. 243 THis discent of Godfrey Earle of Aniou and Brionie is forreine and bredde beyond the Seas in Normandie from whence you haue had little intelligence therfore not so much to be condemned for mistaking the right father of the saide Godfrey making him the sonne of William the second duke of Normandy when as he was sonne to Richard the first Duke of Normandie Which fault notwithstanding I woulde wish you to amende in your next edition and also to take away from this Richard his grandchilde the title of Earle vntill such time as you haue a better commission for making of Earles And for your warrant to doe this you shall haue both the booke of Domesday and diuerse charters of William the Conqueror wherein the said Richard was a witnesse by the name onely of Richard Fitz-Gilbert without any other title of honor THe Creuecueurs so named de crepito-corde builded the Castell of Leedes of which familie the first was Robert who had issue Daniell that was father to Robert who had issue Hamon which married the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone and by her had issue Hamon the father of Robert who wanting issue gaue his patrimonie to King Edwarde the first Pag. 244. THe familie of Abrinces were Barons of Folkestone from whom by marriage the same went to Hamon de Creuecueur and by his daughter to Iohn of Sandwich whose grandchilde by his sonne Iohn named Iulian carried that title to Iohn Seagraue Pag. 259. TO reconcile your contradictions in these two titles of Leedes Castle and Folkestone I thinke it a verie harde matter for in the first you say That Hamon Creuecueur who marryed the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone had issue Hamon that succeeded him which Hamon had issue Robert who dying without issue gaue his patrimonie to king Edwarde the first And after in the title of Folkestone you affirme the contrarie saying That the same Hamon had issue a daughter that carried Folkestone by her marriage to Iohn of Sandwich By which thus still ouermuch busying your selfe in matters passing your skill it maketh you so forgetfull that oftentimes you are faine to vtter matters incoherent and much contradictorie Wherefore vnderstande that Hamon Creuecueur who you say married the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone had issue Hamon who succeeded his father and he had issue Robert which died without issue and foure daughters Eleonor married to Bertram Criell Agnes to Iohn of Sandwich Isolde to Nicholas Lenham and Isabell to Henrie Hawt Of which foure daughters you haue left out the first and two last naming but onely the second married to Iohn of Sandwich who was not the daughter of the first Hamon as you affirme but of the second whom you haue casscered out of this discent And whereas in the title of Leedes castle you say that the last Robert Creuecueur dying without issue gaue his patrimonie to K. Edward the first Before I answer there unto I first demaund of you how that may be When your selfe in the title of Folkstone haue set downe the said Roberts sister to carie Folkestone by her marriage to Iohn of Sandwich which was a part of the said Roberts patrimony And for direct proofe that the said Robert did not giue his patrimony to king Edward the first as you haue said it appeareth by an inquisition taken after the death of the saide Robert in the thirtieth yeare of King Edward the first that his foresaide foure sisters were his heires and that Eleonore the eldest had for her part of her brothers inheritance the Mannor of Estwell in Kent and Agnes the second sister had Folkestone the other two had other landes that descended to the said Robert from his auncestors which I take to be his patrimonie HVbert de Burgo was made Earle of Kent by king Henry the third and died without issue Pag. 262. IF this be true that Hubert de Burgo
Ebroice◠soun◠to Mabel the secōd daughter Earle of Glocester who dying without issue the inheritāce came to the yongest daughter Amicia that was wife to the Earle of Clare and had by him issue Gilbert Earle of Clare Glocester who had issue Richard father of Gilbert the second which had issue Gilbert the third that was slaine at Sterling in Scotland but during the nonage of this Gilbert the third Rafe de Mounthemerye who had marryed Ioan of Acres the kings daughter and widowe of Gilbert the second was for a while called Earle of Glocester Afterwardes this honor as some say came to Peter of Gaueston a Gascoyne by right of his wife which was daughter to Gilbert the second He dying without issue this honor discended to Hugh Spencer sonne of Eleonor second daughter of Gilbert aforesaid Hugh Spencer being executed this title came to Hugh Audley who had marryed the widowe of Gaueston Pag. 275. YOu heere charge the Heraldes with thrusting vpon you one Earle that you cannot finde nor thinke as yet euer to haue bene borne And sure I suppose this was but a flourish of your flowing stile whereby you loue to girde at Heraldes Yet graunt they did obtrude some such Earle you are euen with them for you force on them here two Earles of Glocester which neuer attained vnto that dignitie vidz Peter de Gaueston and Hugh de Spencer Wherefore the better to satisfie you and those that haue written Peter Gaueston to be Earle of Glocester and to haue succeeded Raphe Mont-Hermerye I affirme that the said Raphe Mont-Hermerye sate in Parliament in the 27. yeare of king Edward the first as Earle of Glocester and continued in all Parliaments by that name vntill the last yeare of the said kings reigne when yong Gilbert de Clare his wiues sonne came of age who the next yeare after being the first yeare of K. Edward the second was placed in Parliament by the name of Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester He continued in that dignitie vntill he was slaine at Sterling in Scotland in the sixt yeare of the same kings reigne which was a yeare after the said Peter Gaueston was beheaded by the Earle of Warwicke Which I hope is sufficient proofe against the said Peter And touching Hugh de Spencer that he was euer Earle of Glocester I vtterly deny the same and therefore now it standeth you vpon being in the affirmitiue to proue it otherwise neither I nor any other are bound to beleeue you Lastly where you haue made Sibill to be the onely daughter and heire of Robert Fitz-Hamon and wife to Robert Earle of Glocester called the Consull I deny not onely that the one had euer any such daughter named Sibill but also that the other euer marryed any such wife And for proofe hereof I will desire no other then your owne Author the booke of Tewkesbury which you haue so greatly wronged IF it please you to beleue our Heraulds Hertford had these Earles Roger who was also Earle of Clare and those Clares whome we haue said to be Earles of Glocester for Richard Clare who dyed 1262. is plainely named by Florilegus to be Earle of Glocester and Hertford Pag. 309. TO this your scoffing sporte that you make your selfe vpon the credite of Herauldes I answere that there is great reason and so I hope all men will acknowledge that her Maiesties Heraulds inuested officers of Armes who at their creations and admittances into their offices are solemnly sworne to be true in all their reportes and haue their imploiments in the greatest affaires betweene Princes should be beleeued in matters of their owne profession before others not of like experience And touching this Roger whome you haue brought vpon the Stage by the name and title of Earle of Hertford I saie it resteth in you to make proofe of your affirmation the Herauldes being quite against you whome you notwithstanding so iniuriously traduce and yet produce as Authors of your owne fantastique assertions And for your better direction herein I will here inserte the saide Rogers deede by which it is very manifest that he was Earle of Clare and not of Hertford ROgerus Comes de Clare confirmauit donationem H. Comitis Cestr. quam fecit Sanctae Werburg super Ecclesia de Deneford terram Ecclesiae cum decimis de molend omnibus pertin precipuè illam virgatam terrae quam Adeliza de Claro-Monte aura sua dedit praefatae Ecclesiae c. HAresfield the Patrimonie of Richard Earle of Clare in William Conquerors time Pag. 312. THat there was one Richard Fitz-Gilbert in the time of William the Conqueror which held Haresfield of the king it is manifest by the booke of Domesday but that he was euer Earle of Clare and that Haresfield was his patrimonie I vtterly deny And for proofe hereof I say that he being the first of his name that euer came into this realme and that possessed any landes here could haue no possessions left vnto him by his Auncestors which might be said to be his patrimonie And where you nominate the said Richard to be Earle of Clare that are you not able to proue for in diuers Charters of William the Conqueror and William Rufus the said Richard is a witnesse by the name of Richard Fitz-Gilbert Dapifer as also in the booke of Domesday by the name of Richard sonne of Earle Gilbert And this doe you your owne selfe confesse against your selfe in the title of Clare in your booke Pag. 350. Dunmow was the towne of the Fitz-walters who issued from the familie of the Clares Iuga daughter of Raphe Baynard founded a Monasterie there 1103. But William Baynard of whome Iuga did holde forfaited the Barony of Dunmowe to the king through fellonie King Henry gaue the same to Robert sonne of Richard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Clare with the Castle of Baynards in London Pag. 332. HEre haue you made Gilbert the grandfather of Robert Fitz-Richard to be Earle of Clare which Gilbert neuer arriued in England till your penne conducted him hither but was slaine in Normandie by Raphe Waceio Anno 1033. Which was 33. yeares before the Norman Conquest And Richard his sonne was the first of that familie that came into England with William the Conqueror who had issue Gilbert and this Robert to which Robert king Henry the first gaue the Towne of Dunmowe by the name of Robert Fitz-Richard his Sewer As witnesseth your Author of Dunmowe whome you alledge though very vnfaithfully for had you alleadged the same truely and put downe what king Henry he was which gaue to the said Robert Dunmowe as your Author doth you should then haue disclosed your owne error and saued me a labour RIchard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Angy in Normandie for his seruice in the Conquest was by the Conqueror aduanced to the honor of Clare He had issue Gilbert who succeeded his father and was the first that was called Earle of Clare Who
said Walleron But to reforme this your errour I wish you to vnderstande that the foresaid Walleron had issue Robert Earle of Millent Worcester and Lord of Ponttadomara which Robert did remaine heere in England and maried an English woman named Mauld Lady of Estrumenister Moreys and Rydlestone And by her had issue Henrie Peter Mabell and Mary the two sonnes and the youngest daughter dying without issue Mabell the eldest daughter was married to William de Vernon alias Ryduers Earle of Deuonshire and had issue Bauldwyn Earle of Deuonshire and Mary first married vnto Sir Robert Courteney by whom she had issue of whom all the Courteneys are descended After she married Peter de Prouz a noble Gentleman of Deuon to which Peter the said Robert Earle of Millent and Worcester did by his deede giue in franke marriage with the said Marie his grand-child the third part of all his Land in England and vnto Bauldwin his gran-child by his daughter Mabell all his Land in Normandie with the Mannors of Estrumenister Moreyes and Riddleston in England So that heere you are not onely found to faile in your affirmation that there was not any Earle of Worcester betweene the said Walleron in King Stephens time and Thomas Percy who had that dignitie of Richard the second But also in saying his issue returned to their auncient Patrimonie in Normandie when it is manifest that his sole heire continued here and left issue of whom are discended many of our noble Families at this present THe first Lord of Gillesland was William Meschines brother to Ranulfe Earle of Carlell Pag. 604. AS you did begin at the first so haue you in your Booke continued vnto the ende making to some Nobles vnnaturall mariages and to others vnlawfull issue In this place you haue made the sonne to be brother to his owne father by affirming William Meschines Lord of Gillesland to be brother to Ranulph Earle of Carlell And to prooue that the saide William was sonne of Ranulph Earle of Carlell and not his brother I will first for the better vnderstanding of the reader hereof set downe a briefe of the said Williams discent beginning at Hugh Lupus his vncle the first Earle of Chester whose sister Margaret was married to Ranulph Earle of Carlell and by him had issue two sonnes Ranulph the first of that name and thirde Earle of Chester and William Mischines Lord of Gilleslande and that this is true which heere I haue incerted reade this Deede following which done I trust you will not onely recant your errour but also acknowledge from whence you haue receaued the trueth hereof NOtum sit omnibus me Ran. Comit. Cestrae concessisse quando feci transferri corpus Hugonis Comitis auunculi mei a cimiterio in Capitulum c. Be it knowne vnto all mem That I Ranulph Earle of Chester haue graunted at such time as I caused the body of Hugh the Earle my vncle to be translated from the Church yard into the Chapter house That on the day of my death I should giue togither with my body to the Church of S. Werburge Vpton in pure Almes free from euery thing for the soule of the foresayd Hugh and the health of my soule and the soules of all my kinsfolkes And whereas Hugh the Earle before had graunted to the Church of S. Werburge at the feast of the translation of the same the Priuiledge of a Fayre I also do graunt and confirme the same Moreouer William Meschinus my brother hath geuen the Church of Destart Mathew of Ruelant hath giuen the Church of Thurstanestone c. An inforced Conclusion WHen as I had collected readie for the Presse so many of your defectes and errors published in your so highly commended Britannia as might well haue satisfied the worlde that I vndertooke not this worke in vaine nor yet without good cause me moouing thereunto Then was I stayed in the printing thereof by the disturbance and indirect dealing of your friendes the Stationers who heretofore haue made no small gaine of your foure former Impressions and thereby constrayned abruptly heere to make an ende suppressing a great part of my first pretended purpose yet before I doe ende I thinke it my duetie heere to put the Nobilitie in minde that your Booke now going in hand may be both seene and alowed before it goe to the Presse by such as haue both skill and authoritie so to doe I meane the Earle Marshall and not to passe as before it hath done to the preiudice of so many honourable Families And to the ende the worlde may know with whose plumes you haue heretofore fethered your nest besides the Heraults I haue hereunto annexed a New-yeeres gyft dedicated to king Henrie the eight in the. 37. yeere of his reigne by that worthy and learned Englishe Antiquarie Maister Iohn Leyland concerning his sixe yeeres trauayle and laborious Iourney for the search of Englandes Antiquities vpon the sayd Kinges commission and charges by which it may appeare vnto the indifferent Reader who was the first Author and contriuer of this late borne Britannia either he whose name is cleane razed and blotted out or you that haue both taken the tytle and whole credite thereof to your selfe Also I may not heere let passe the wordes of Maister Iohn Bale in his declarations vpon the same worke dedicated to King Edward the sixt which are these following Blessed be the man which shall set this worthy worke abrode and contrarywise Cursed be he for euer and euer that shall in spight of his Nation seeke thereof the distruction Iohn Leylands nevv yeeres Gyft giuen of him to King Henrie the. viii in the. 37. yeere of his reigne concerning his laborious Iorney and search for Englandes antiquities WHere as it pleased your Highnesse vpon very iust considerations to encorage me by the authoritie of your most gratious Commission in the XXXV yeere of your prosperous reigne to peruse and diligently to search all the Libraries of Monasteries and Colledges of this your noble Realme to the intent that the Monuments of auncient Writers as well of other Nations as of your owne Prouince might be brought out of deadly darknesse to liuely light and to receiue like thankes of their posteritie as they hoped for at such time as they employed their long and great studies to the publique wealth Yea and furthermore that the holy Scripture of God might both be sinceerely taught and learned all maner of superstition craftie coloured doctrine of a route of Romane Byshops totally expelled out of this your most catholique Realme I thinke it now no lesse then my very duetie briefly to declare to your Maiestie what fruite haue sprung of my laborious iourney and costly enterprise both rooted vpon your infinite goodnesse liberalitie qualities right highly to be esteemed in all Princes and most specially in you as naturally your owne well knowne proprieties First I haue conserued many good Authors the which otherwise had bin like
of Warin fitz-Gerald a sonne called Baldwin the third Earle of Deuon who changed his anncesters Escuchion from a griffon golde in a field gules vnto a shield golde charged with a Lyon azure He had issue two children Baldwin the last Earle of this familie and Isabell that was maryed to William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle and of Deuonshire in her right Pag. 144. HEre doe you wrong this discent of the Earles of Deuonshire making Baldwin Ryuers to be the first Earle of Deuonshire and Lord of Twyfferton and Plympton in king Henry the first his time when as it is very manifest that Richard Ryuers father of this Baldwin was the same person vnto whome king Henry the first gaue Twifferton Plimpton and the yle of Wight with the Earledome of Deuonshire and not to Baldwin his sonne whome you name as is very well prooued by the booke of Brightley and Forde where those of that familie doe lye buryed as also by your owne Testimonie against your selfe in the tittle of Iles in your booke Pag. 710. Secondly to your affirmation that Baldwin the third Earle of Deuon did change his Auncestors Escucheon gules a griffon gold vnto a shield golde a Lyon azure I answere it is a fault in a meane person to be founde vntrue in his reportes much more in you to publish in print such an vntrueth as this for you can not euer prooue the said shielde gules with the griffon golde to haue bene borne or vsed by any of the said familie or any other Armes at all of theirs can you shewe vntill that Baldwin the third did vse for his Armes the foresaid Lyon azure vpon golde Thirdly because in the beginnning of this succession of Earles of Deuon you abridged vs of the first now to make amendes for the same and to fill vp the number againe you doe here name for an Earle of Deuon William de Fortibus who neuer as yet attayned vnto that dignitie And therefore no reason why you should thus adde or substracte to or from noble persons dignities at your pleasure But here peraduenture yee will say Isabel the wife of the aforenamed William de Fortibus did in her widowhood write her selfe Countesse of Albermale and Deuon and Lady of the I le which if I graunt vnto that she did it was in respect that she was the onely heire then left aliue of that honorable familie and yet will not that make a necessitie that her husband must be Earle of Deuon THe Barony of Stoke-Curcy was so named of the Lordes thereof It was the seate of William Curcy that was Sewer vnto king Henry the first He had issue William whose daughter Auice was wife to Warin Fitz-Gerald and their daughter and heire was maryed to Baldwin Riuers Earle of Deuon Of this familie of Curcies did discend Iohn Curcie which by warlike force ouercame Vlster in Ireland Pag. 157. YOur errors here committted are these first you make William de Curcy that was Sewer to K. Henry the first to haue issue a sonne named William which is vntrue for that he dyed without issue and left Robert de Curcy his brother his heire Secōdly you say the said Williā de Curcy had a grand-childe by his sonne William called Auice maryed to Warrin Fitz-Gerald who had issue a daughter and heire maryed to Baldwin Earle of Deuon In which you are also deceiued For the first William as I saide before had not any issue at all and therefore no such grand-childe And where you affirme the said Warin Fitz-Gerald to haue issue by Auice his wife but one onely daughter it is manifest that he had issue a sonne named Warin Fitz-Gerald who had issue the third Warin Fitz-Gerald But for your better instruction herein and to correct this your errour I will set you downe the truth of this discēt as followeth Robert de Curcy a great Baron and Councellour vnto William Rufus had issue two sonnes William and Robert William the eldest sonne dying without issue Robert his brother succeded him in his dignitie and was a witnesse to the Charter of king Stephen of landes that hee gaue to the Abbay of Westminster by the name of Robert de Curcy the kings Sewer After whose death Robert de Curcy his eldest sonne Sewer to king Henry the second being slaine in Ireland without anie issue William the seconde sonne succeeded and was a witnesse to the Charter of king Henrie the second of landes and liberties that he gaue to Saint Peters at Westminster He had issue Iohn de Curcy gouernour of Vlster in Ireland in the time of king Iohn who hauing no issue left his rich patrimonie to Alice or Auice his sister then the wife of Warin Fitz-Gerald which Warin was a witnesse to the Charter of king Iohn of his submission to the Pope 1212. Hee had issue by his said wife the second Warin Fitz-Gerald Lord of Harewood father to the third Warin THe greatest glorie of Bridgewater was that king Henrie the seuenth honoured it with the title of an Earldome by making Giles Dawbeney Gentleman of his Chamber Earle thereof whose onely daughter and heire was maried to I. Bourchier the first earle of Bath of that familie Pag. 161. IF the making of Gentlemen heretofore hath beene greatly misliked by her Maiestie in the kinges of Armes much more displeasing I thinke it will be to her that you being no Officer of Armes should erect make and put downe Earles and Barons at your pleasure publishing in print falslie their admittance or depriuation as in this place you haue done making Giles Dawbeney to be created Earle of Bridgewater by King Henrie the seuenth when as the said King neuer aduaunced him nor any other to that dignitie neither was the said Giles euer anie Earle during his life And therefore here haue you no great cause to boast of your skill in Heraldie But to pleasure you I will bring you to the marke whereat your vnaduised penne hath roued which is to Henrie Dawbeney whome king Henrie the eight on the 21. day of Iulie in the 30. yeare of his reigne did at his Mannor of Ocking create Earle of Bridgewater which Henry was both the first and last that euer caried that title of dignitie and died without issue All which I hope you will confesse to bee true and acknowledge your fault HVngerford was a familie of great account euer since the time of King Edward the third for Thomas Hungerford was grandfather to Walter Lord Hungerford Treasurer of England Which Walter enriched his familie by marying Katherin Peuerell she being descended from the Moyles and Courtneys His son Robert also enlarged the same more by marying with Eleonore the daughter and heire of William Lord Mollins who was beheaded at New-castle in the ciuill warres betwixt the families of Lancaster and Yorke He had issue Thomas that was slaine at Salisbury in the life of his father yet left hee issue one sole daughter called Marie that was
the Parliament Anno 25. of Henry the sixt by the name of Robert Lord Mollens And after the death of the forenamed Walter the said two Roberts were both at one time of the Parliament Anno 29. of Henry the sixt the father by the name of Robert Lord Hungerforde senior and the sonne by the Name of Robert Hungerforde Lord Mollens Iunior Which I take to be so strong a proofe as vpon the sight hereof you will recant and subscribe to the same VVIdehay was the auncient seate of the Barons Saint Amend whose inheritance and dignitie came to Gerald Braybrooke in right of his wife And Elizabeth his grand-child by Gerald his sonne transported the same to William de Beauchampe who left issue but one onely sonne which was a bastard Pag. 207. VVHat an vngodly course is this you take to depriue noble men both of their honor and honestie framing to some vnnaturall mariages falsifying the discentes of other and making legitimate heires illegitimate which abuses by reason of my oath taken at my creation I may not let passe without telling you thereof Vnderstand therefore that where you affirme William Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond who maryed Elizabeth grand-childe to Gerald Braybrooke to haue issue one onely sonne and he a Bastard therein doe you greatly both wrong and scandalize him for he had in lawfull matrimonie by his said wife Richard Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond his legitimate sonne that succeeded him in the dignitie of Saint Amond and maryed Anne the daughter of Sir Walter Wrotesley knight And therefore very vntruely haue you charged the said William to haue had any such Bastard THe Barons of Windsore tooke their original from William the sonne of Other that was Constable or keeper of Windsore Castle in the time of king William the first from whome also are discended the Fitz-Geraldes in Ireland Earles of Kildare and Desmond as Robert Glouer called Somerset the most studious and skilfull in Heraldie of all that societie hath proued Pag. 213. HEre would you impeache the credite of that worthie Officer of Armes Robert Glouer in making him the Authour of your imagined dreames he hauing vnder his owne hand in the Petigree of the honorable Lord Windsor both denyed that William de Windsor was sonne to Other keeper of the Castle of Windsor as also that the Earle of Kildare and Desmond were discended from the said William By which your vntrue misse-alledging the said Somersets workes to serue your turne you shewe your selfe very vngratefull towardes him out of whose bookes in the custodie of the late Lorde Treasorer you gathered the flowers wherewithall you haue made your vnperfect garland which you in your last edition so much haue boasted of But here would I not that you or any other should misconceaue my meaning that I thinke or iudge Somerset Herald hath written or set downe in his said bookes any of these vntruthes but rather that you not rightly vnderstanding them nor able to discerne the true vse of his trauels haue thorough ignorance committed these your errors in affirming William de Windsor to be sonne to Other and auncester to the Earles of Kildare and Desmond in Ireland of which two pointes you cannot prooue any one for the originall auncester of these before spoken of was Walter the sonne of Other and not William sonne of Other for Walter had two sonnes William of whome are discended the Lordes of Windsor and Gerald who was auncester to the Geraldines Earles of Kildare and Desmond And where you make William de Windsor to be sonne of Other therein are you also deceiued for the same William you speake of was sonne of Walter and grand-childe to Other as doth appeare by the Charter of king Henry the second here following HEnricus rex Angliae Dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegauiae Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. Henry king of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earle of Aniou to all Archbishops Byshops c. Knowe ye that I haue giuen and graunted to William de Windsor as his inheritance all the landes which before were the possessions of William sonne of Walter his father and of Walter sonne of Other his grandfather Wherefore I will c. that he hold it as his fee and inheritance c. peaceably freely and honorably euen as his father and grandfather held the same in the time of king Henry my grandfather and of my predecessors in woodes and plaines c. Witnesses William my brother Reignald the Earle and Ioceline Baillol c. VVIlliam Rufus king of England made William Earle Waren first Earle of Surrey whose armes were a shield gold checked azure He had issue a sonne and a grand-childe of the same name succeeding him but the last had issue onely a daughter who marrying first with William sonne of king Stephen and after with Hamelin base sonne of Geffrey Plantagenet honored both her husbands with this title Hameline begot on her William Earle of Surrey who marryed the eldest daughter and coheire of William Earle of Penbrooke widow of Hugh Bygot This William was father of Iohn who begat William father of Iohn Afterwardes king Henry the fourth aduaunced Thomas Beauford to that title and dignitie making him after Duke of Exceter and Lord Chauncellor of England Pag. 223. ALthough I omit here to tell you that the first William Earle Warren was made Earle of Surrey by William Conquerour and not by VVilliam Rufus yet will I by your patience put you in minde of an other error by you here cōmitted of more importance which is if you remember in the title of the Earles of Norffolke Pag. 370. You there haue made Roger By got Earle of Norffolke to be husband vnto Maude the eldest daughter and coheire of VVilliam Marshal Earle of Penbrooke and now in this place you make the said Maude to be the widowe of Hugh Bygot father of the foresaid Roger which I take to be incest for the sonne to marry his owne mother And therefore least all their modest posteritie might blushe at such an incestuous Oedipus as your poeticall fansie hath brought vpon the stage I would wishe you to correct this your tragicall fable KIng Richard the second made Thomas Holland Earle of Kent being his halfe brother by the mother Duke of Surrey who being atteinted Thomas Beauford was aduanced to that dignitie by king Henry the fourth and after made Duke of Exceter and Chauncellor of England He dyed as Walsingham saith Anno 1410. Pag. 223. VVHere you say that Thomas Beauford after the attainder of Thomas Holland was aduaunced to the dignitie of Duke of Surrey and dyed Anno 1410. as VValsingham saith To the first I answere the said Thomas Beauford was neuer dignified with the title of Duke of Surrey by K. Henry the fourth or any other king And to proue the same I finde that the saide king in the 13. yeare of his reigne did create the said Thomas Earle of Dorset in which
dignitie he continued vntill the fourth yeare of king Henry the fift in which yeare he sate in Parliament by that name of dignitie and after was made Duke of Exceter And therefore herein haue you failed And to the second concerning the time of Thomas Beaufordes death it maketh me much to muse how the said Duke should dye Anno 1410 and being deceased how he should start vp out of his graue and make personall appearance at the high courte of Parliament holden at VVestminster 1425. fifteene yeares after except you can shewe some strange Metamorphosis or prooue that dead men being summoned did take their places in that Parliament which cannot be without some Negromancie or strange worke beyond nature THe Barons Botreaux alias Boterels did beare for their armes three toades sable in a fielde argent The first of that familie named William maryed Alice daughter of Richard Corbet whose sister was Paramour to king Henry the first on whome he begot Reignald Earle of Cornewall From this William discended successiuely eleuen Barons all called Williams except the third and seuenth which were called Reignalds Margaret the sole daughter of the last of them maried Robert Hungerford by whose posteritie that inheritaunce came to the familie of Hastings Which said inheritance was augmented by the marriage of the said Margarets grandfather with Katherine a Coheire of Katherine Twenge and by the mariage of her great grandfather with the daughter heire of Sir Iohn Saintlow knight and by the mariage of her great great grandfather with the daughter and heire of Iohn de Moeles a rich Baron Pag. 129. FIrst in making Botreaux and Boterell to be all one family and name you do much erre they being seuerall and not one as may be proued by William Botreaux Sherif of Cornwall who liued in the ninth yeare of king Iohn and bare for his Armes as you fay three Todes Sable and William Boterell that liued in the fift yeare of king Edward the first and was summoned amongst other Barons for the leuying of an armie against Llewellin Prince of Wales did beare for his Armes checkie gold and Gules a cheueron Azur By which two great differences both of the name and Armes it doth euidently appeare that they were not one but two seuerall families Secondly in affirming that William Botreaux maried Alice the daughter of Richard Corbet sister to her that was Paramour to king Henrie the first and mother to Reignald Earle of Cornwall you are also greatly deceiued for the mother of the said Reignald was daughter and coheire of Robert Corbet and not of Richard as by the gift of king Henrie the first to the saide Robert his Concubines father of the borough of Alencester in the Countie of Warwicke it is manifested But I need not striue much against you for this point seeing I may oppose your owne narration pag. 438. of your booke against your selfe and therefore I leaue you to quarell with your owne memorie not doubting but you can take it best to bee controller to your selfe Thirdly your Arithmeticall pen can as well multiplie for a neede as detract when it list hauing as quicke a slight to make Barons as the heathens had to make gods which were something in name but manie times nothing in nature for here you make eleuen Barons of the familie of Botreaux one to succeede the other after the first William Whereas you are able to proue but foure And to make your computation aright you must begin first with William Botreaux who began his Baronie at a Parliament holden at Westminster the first day of May in the 24. yeare of king Edward the third which William had issue William that was the second Baron who begat William the third father of William the fourth and last Baron of that familie Of which second and third Barons you haue made the father to marry his sonnes wife and the sonne to marry his own mother To which most vnnatural matches I wonder how you could euer giue your consent you being the onely parent of seuen of those eleuen Barons who had all their conceptions and births in the wombe of your pregnant braine Lastly I denie that any of the saide Williams Lordes Botreaux did marie with anie Katherine that was coheire to Katherin Twenge as you vntruly haue set downe Pemsey Castle was sometime belonging to the Earle Morton afterward William sonne to king Stephen had it who deliuered vp the same with the landes thereabout vnto King Henrie the second It was called the honour of the Eagle of Gilbert Lord of the Eagle who taking part against King Henrie the second beeing depriued of all that hee had fled into Normandie Pag. 231. THis Castle tooke not the title of honour of the Eagle of Gilbert who tooke part against King Henrie the second as you say for King William the Conquerour gaue to Stephen Earle of Blois and Charters with Ella his daughter the Earledome of the Eagle in Normandie and the Castle and honour of Pemsey in Suffex Which foresaid honours the said Stephen enioyed and afterward gaue the same to Henrie of Bloys his sonne who enioied the same vntil he resigned them vnto Richard his sonne and became Abbot of Glastenburie and after Bishop of Winchester This Richard being Earle of the Eagle and Lord of Pemsey liued in King Stephens time and was a witnesse to the couenants of peace betwixt him and Henrie Duke of Normandie by the name of Richard Earle of the Eagle He gaue his said Earledome and honour of Pemsey to William Earle of Morton his Cosen germane sonne to King Stephen Which gift with the said titles of honour King Henrie the second did confirme but not long after he constrained the said William to surrender vnto him againe aswel those honours as also all other lands that he had both in Normandie and in England vpon condition that the said king should re-assure vnto him al those lands which king Stephen his father was possessed of at the death of king Henrie the first And how truly you affirme the honour of Pemsey to haue belonged to any Earle Morton before the reigne of King Stephen William sonne to king Stephen being the first Earle Morton which enioyed the same it is thought as vnworthie of credit as that before where you alledge Pemsey castle to haue taken his first honour from Gilbert Lord of the Eagle in the reigne of King Henrie the second when it is trulie proued to bee an honour at such time as William the Conquerour gaue the same in marriage with his daughter FIue Earles of Sussex were of the familie of the Albeneys who in like maner were Earles of Arundell William de Albeney sonne of William Lord of Buckenham in Norfolke was the first of them who vsed for his Armes a Lion rampant in a field Gules He was called Earle of Chichester and of Arundell who had issue by Adelize daughter of the Duke of Loraine and Brabant William the
erred to the great preiudice of the honourable Lord viscount Monta-cute the Lord Cobham and the Baron Wentworth with manie other now liuing descended of the same honourable familie the true discent here following will explaine Michael De-la-Poole Lord Wingfield Earle of Suffolke and knight of the noble order of the Garter sonne and heire of Sir William De-la-Poole knight Banneret and of Katherine his wife sister of sir Iohn Norwich knight had issue Michaell De-la-Poole the second Earle of Suffolke who died at Haresflew 1415. leauing issue two sonnes Michaell De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk that died at the battell of Agincourt in the 3. yeare of Henry the fift without issue William De-la-Poole Marques and afterward Duke of Suffolke who was beheaded on the seas 26. of king Henrie the sixt whom you make sonne to his grandfather Michaell the first of that name And for the better satisfying of the world that this Michaell De-la-Poole the first Earle of Suffolke of that familie was not basely descended nor a marchant of Hull as you and others after you haue written I haue hereto added a deede of the said Michaels before he was Earle which doth proue his father mother brother sister and children MIchael De-la-poole dominus Wingfield c. I Michael De-la-Poole Lord Wingfield doe confirme certaine landes to the religious house of Saintcleare neare vnto Kingstone vpon Hull the which lands were before giuen by sir William De-la-Pole knight my father to pray for the good estate of king Richard and for Michaell De-la-poole Iohn Thomas William Richard and Margaret my children and for sir Edmond De-la-Poole knight my Brother and Margaret Neuill my sister and for the soules of sir William De-la-Poole my father and Katherin my mother c. Witnesses Alexander Archbishop of York Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland Thomas Sutton Robert de Hilton and Walter Fawconbridge knights with manie others Dated at Hull the first of March the seuenth yeare of the reigne of King Richard the second HEngham the Barons thereof were called the Barons of Rhia who discended from Iohn Marshall nephew of William Marshall Earle of Penbroke by his brother to whome King Iohn gaue the lands of Hugh Gurney a traitor togither with the daughter and coheire of Hubert de Rhia From the Marshals the same came to the Morleys and from them by the Louels to Parker now Lord Morley Pag. 360. NOw comming to speake of the Barons of Rhia let mee by your patience put you in minde of a late conference had before the now right honourable Earle marshall of England concerning the true coates of the two families of Bygot Earle of Norfolke and Marshall Earle of Penbroke Master Garter hauing before that time set downe and quartered in diuerse noble personages atchieuements for Marshals coate quarterly gold and vert a Lion passant Gules a coate latelie deuised and for Bygots coate perpale golde and vert a Lion rampant Gules neither of them both being in truth their right coates My selfe being commaunded to say what I knew touching these matters shewed for Marshals coate one faire deed with a seale of Armes thereto of Iohn Marshall father of William Marshall Earle of Penbroke and Anselme that was father to Iohn Marshall Baron of Rhia on which seale was written Iohn Marshall and in his shield or escucheon a bend fuzulie Also I shewed a transcript of an other deed of the said Iohn in which was written Iohn sonne of Iohn the Kinges Marshall with the same Armes of a bend fuzulie testified vnder the hand of an Officer of armes long before that time deceased Lastly I shewed an old roll of Armes wrought in colorus in Henrie the thirds time wherein was the same coate viz. Gules a bende fuzulie golde and ouer the heade thereof written the name of Marshall All which proofes notwithstanding your selfe being there then present verie stedfastlie denied the same to bee the coate of Marshall Earle of Penbroke affirming that bend fuzulie to be the peculiar coate of Marshall Baron of Rhia who was as you then said of no consanguinitie to Marshall Earle of Penbroke For further maintaining of which your speach you then shewed two newe petegrees lately contriued and made by your consent declaring the saide two Marshals to bee seuerall families and not one Since which time perusing well your Britannia fol. 360 I finde the same there auouched by yourselfe for truth which at that time you so confidently denied before the said Earle Marshall viz. That Iohn Marshall Baron of Rhia was nephew to William Marshall Earle of Penbroke by his brother which is quite contrarie to your speeches before vsed By this your information of these Marshals to be seuerall families without which you had no colour to maintaine your errour for that the Barons of Rhia alwayes vsed for their coate of Armes the said bend fuzulie the right coate of Marshall is like now to bee neglected and the Lion in the parted field vsed in stead thereof the same being the peculiar coate borne by Marshall and Bygot when they were Marshals of Englnd and not belonging to anie one priuate name as by many other good proofes it may appeare And because I would not haue any heareafter to stand doubtfull which of vs both are to be beleeued touching these two Marshals to bee discended of one parent I will here set downe the record that doth warrant the same Which being proued I trust you will shew vs some reason why the yonger brother did beare the bend fuzulie if not discended to him from his father That done I will then shew you proofe howe and when both the elder Marshall and Bygot did beare the Lion on the parted field which you missed to find in Master Somersets Notes and Master Leylands twelue bookes lent you by master Iohn Stow in whose custodie I haue seene diuerse of them being most excellent and rare works touching the description of this Countrey written not vpon here-say and reportes but vpon his eye-sight and long trauell from towne to towne and place to place vpon the Kings charge and Commission which Bookes I wish might bee published in the right Authours name EX Rotulo cartarum de Anno quinto Regis Iohannis Iohannes Mariscallus nepos Guilielmi Marescalli comitis Penbroc Habet terras in Norfolke Suffolke quae fuerunt Hugonis de Gornaco proditoris regis terram quae fuit Hugonis de Angee in Norfolke Kantelee Castre c. Testibus I. Norwich Episcopo Gulielmo Marescallo Comit. Penbroc Galfrid filio Petri Comit. Essex Roberto filio Rogeri Hugone de Neuill Dat. apud Merleberge 16. Ianuarii KIng Stephen gaue Norwich to his sonne William from whom king Henrie the second tooke it againe and kept it himself although that Henrie his sonne called the yong King had when hee had aspired vnto the crowne with great protestation promised the same vnto Hugh Bygot whom he had drawne vnto his faction Bygot notwithstanding following the yong kings side who
Saint-mawres Pag. 399. BY ayming at successions without sure grounde you still misse the marke whereat you doe shoote as here when you say That the daughters and heires of the grand-childe of Alane Baron Zouch were marryed to the families of Holland Who long time continued in the name and title of Barons you being not able to proue but one of those daughters marryed to Holland and he no Baron nor any of his posteritie other then of your making And where you say That the said Hollands inheritance discended to the families of the Louells and Saint Mawres I answere Well may you dreame of such a succession but neuer can you produce any testimony for the same For had you knowne the trueth hereof you would haue said that both Holland Saint-Mawre maried the two daughters and coheires of Zouch and not haue made Saint-Mawre to discend from Holland when there was neuer any such matter NOw let vs come to the Earles of Warwicke And to let passe Guare Morindus Guy that bare the bell of England and others of like account whome the fruitefull wittes of our Herauldes were brought a bed with all at one byrth c. Pag. 438. BY this may all men euidently see your malicious and disdainefull humour against her Maiesties Herauldes of Armes in that you cannot be contented in many other places of your booke to make doubt and question of their reportes and dooings whether the same may be credited yea or no but heere most iniuriously and falsely you charge them to haue brought forth for Earles of Warwicke Guare Morindus Guy the bel-ringer and many others of that rancke of which though Rouse of Warwicke and others haue written of Guy yet are not you able to iustifie that the Herauldes were Authors of any such suspected Chieftaines And in that you make your worship mery with The fruitefull wittes of our Herauldes supposed by you To haue bin brought a bed with those imagined Earles all at one birth I wonder that so cunning a midwife should make vs the reputed fathers of those which we neuer wrapped vp within the sheets or leaues of our Recordes But such a midwife such a nursse are you as haue not onely changed other mens children in the cradle and sophisticated the reportes of worthie Authors but also most vngratefully haue charged the parents and first collectors of many sounde notes helpefull to your credite and labours as the inuentors of your misreportes whereby you haue not onely falsified in your booke many things concerning the discents of noble families imagining of your owne braine diuers nobles to haue bene that neuer were extinguishing the memoriall of others that were But also most vntruely haue made her Maiesties Herauldes the Authors of feigned stories and legends of lyes when beside concealement of many fauours receaued from the Heraulds you cease not to carpe at them from whose workes you haue borrowed the substance of your Herauldy and the groundes of your skill in discents therefore owe them good wordes at the least for your owne credite least they should call for their lent feathers againe and leaue you naked of your Armorie as Esops crowe EArles of Leicester were of the Saxons first Leofrike who was Earle there in the yeare of our Lorde 716. to whome in right line succeeded Algare the first Algare the second Leofrike the second Leofestan Leofrike the third who lyeth buryed at Couentrie Algare the third whose sonnes were Edwine Earle of March Morkar Earle of Northumberland and Lucie his daughter who first was marryed to Iuon Talboys borne at Aniou after to Roger de Romara of whome was borne William de Romara Earle of Lincolne when male issue of the Saxons fayled and the naeme of a Saxon became dispised Robert de Beamont a Norman Lord of Pont-Audomare and Earle of Millent was created Earle of Leicester by king Henry the first After him succeeded his sonne surnamed Bossu then his grand-childe called Blanchmaine and his grandchildes sonne named Fitz-Parnell all Roberts This Fitz-Parnell so called of Parnell his mother the daughter and onely heire of Hugh Grantmaismill dyed without issue Within a fewe yeares after Simon de Mountford who was discended of the kings of Fraunce Robert Fitz-Parnels sisters sonne enioyed this honor After that Ranulfe Earle of Chester had it not by right of inheritance but by the princes fauour Then Almericke the sonne of Simon de Montford and after him Simon de Mountford his sonne whome being banished king Henry the third sent for out of Fraunce and honoring him wich the Earledome of Leicester and other great promotions marryed him to his sister he rebelling against his soueraigne Edmond surnamed Crouchbacke Earle of Lancaster yongest sonne to king Henry the third had this honor giuen him by his brother Afterwardes this honor lay hid as it were a long time amongst the titles of the familie of Lancasters And Maude the daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster being marryed to William of Bauare Earle of Holland Zeland c. Added moreouer to him the Earledome of Leicester she dying without issue it came againe to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who had marryed Blanch the other sister of Maude Since that it continuaed to be all one with Lancaster vntill the sixt yeare of Queene Elizabeths reigne when she made Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Pag. 404. HEre will we not stand to examine the trueth of your Saxon Earles but receaue them as mattter indifferent to fill vp a roome in your booke And touching these other Earles of Leicester I say your wittes haue misconceiued and brought forth Rainulph Earle of Chester Almarike Earle Mountfort Simon his sonne William of Bauare and others which as yet were neuer Earles of Leicester with whose vntimely byrth you were so payned as it seemeth that you quite forget foure other Earles that were rightly inuested and succeeded in that dignity vidz Thomas Henry grand-children to king Henry the third by his sonne Edmond After Henry succeeded the second Henry his sonne And after him his grand-childe by his daughter Blanch called Henry of Bullingbrooke who was after king of England by the name of Henry the fourth And therefore I would intreate you to leaue out in your next and fift edition your first foure Earles here mentioned in which doing you should make roome for the other foure whome very iniuriously you haue thrust out of their right place of succession HInckley if our Heraults deceaue me not had for Earles thereof Hugh Grantmaisuill great Steward of England during the reigne of king William Rusus and of Henry the first he had issue two daughters Petronell that was marryed to Robert Earle of Leicester who in her right was high Steward of England And Alice marryed to Roger Bygot c. Pag. 399. TRuely I must needes confesse that her Maiesties Herault hath deceaued you and contrary to your expectation hath answered some of your vntruthes but that the Heraults doe affirme Hugh