Apelby Walt. de Bereford Osbertus de Bereford 2 E. 1. Will. de Bereford miles 16 E 1. Iohanna ux Gilb. de Elsfield D. Gilb. de Elsfield 25 E. 3. Guliel de Elsfield obiit 21 R. 2. Anna filia cohaeres ..... Iohanna Ioh. Hore de Childerley 8 H. 4. Gilbertus Hore ar 16 H. 6. Thomas Hore obiit 20 H. 6. Gilb. Hore obiit infra aetat Ioh. Hore Rowl fil Henr. Pudsey de Barford Bolton in Com. Ebor. filii haer Ioh. Pudsey mil. Editha consangu haeres Gilb. Hore aet 40 an 7 H. 8. Thomas Fulthorp de Castro Bernardi 19 H. 7. Will. Pudsey Robertus Pudsey Alianora filia Hug. Harman de Morehall Georgius Pudsey ar Margareta filia Will. Gibbons Georgius Pudsey an 1640. Matilda filia Humfr. Cotton de Bothe ux r. Ric. Pudsey obiit sine prole Mich. Pudsey Georgius Pudsey Iuliana uxor Thomae de Loundres Margar. ux Jac. de Audle Agnes ux Ioh. Matravers Edm. de Bereford obiit 28 E. 1. Iohâ— de Bereford nothus Alianora filia Ric. Comitis Arundeliae Baldw. de Bereford miles frater haeres defunctus sine prole 1 H. 6. Joh. de Bereford 6 E. 2. Rob. de Bereford Which Iohn wedded Alianore daughter to Ric. Earl of Arundell and after that another wife but dying in Gascoin 30 E. 3. left Baldwin his brother and heir xxiiii years of age This Baldwin was a Knight in 36 E. 3. and in 1 R. 2. constituted by Thomas de Holland half brother to the K. chief Guardian of all the Forests on this side Trent his Lievtenant in that Office In 4 R. 2. he had Free warren granted to him in all his demesn lands and Woods of Brightwell Chalgrave Newnham and Rufford in Com. Oxon. Stene and Fernyngho in Com. Northampt. Bykmersh Shotswell â— and Wyshaw in this County with Sutton and Meysham in Derbyshire And in the same year was made Keeper of the King's Park at Eltham for life with a Fee of iii d. per diem to be received out of the Rents of that Mannour He was a speciall favourite and a powerfull man with K. Ric. 2. For besides the discharge of an C li. due by him for the Wardship and Marriage of Iohn the son and heir of Iohn de Odingsells he is noted to be one of those who had the Character of an evill Counceller given him by that tumultuous Parliament held in 11 R. 2. and thereupon with the Lord Zouch and divers other great men expelled the Court. But the affection born towards him by the King was not without great cause I presume For he had been servant to his Father the Black Prince retained by Covenant for life as well in Peace as Warr having an Annuity of xl li. per an granted unto him out of the Lordship of Coventre which the said King not only confirmed after his Father's decease whilst hâ— was Prince of Wales but again in the first year of his reign This Sir Baldwin had a Bear for his Crest in regard it alluded so near to his name a course very frequent in those times And having no issue he setled a great part of his estate by Fine upon Iohn Hore and Ioane his wife which Ioane was grandchild by a coheir to Will. de Ellesfield and he grandchild of Gilb. de Ellesfield by Ioane eldest sister to Sir Edmund de Bereford before spoken of as the Dâ—scent doth shew This Iohn being of Childerley in Cambridgshire and likewise Gilbert his his son resied wholy there After which ere long viz. about the beginning of H. â— time their male line extinguished and this Lordship with other lands came to the Pudseys For Edith cosyn and heir to the last Gilbert Hore residing at her Mannour of Ellesfield near Oxford having a speciall liking to Rowland Pudsey a younger son to Henry Pudsey of Barford and Bolton in Yorkshire then a Student in that University and a Genâ—leman much accomplisht took him for her husband the posterity of which Rowâ—and and Edith have ever since enjoy'd it New-Hall THis being a member of Sutton was about the beginning of H. 3. time possest by one Will. de Sutton of Warwick which Wâ—ll or his predecessors had it doubtlesse from one of the Earls of Warwick and granted it to one Rob. de Sutton a Merchant of Coventre who past it in 13 E. 3. unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and Sir Iohn Lizours of Fledborough in Com. Nott. Knight to the behoof of the said Sir Iohn and his heirs as it seems for the next year following the said Earl released all his right therein accordingly in which Release it is termed one Messuage called New-Hall After this till 15 H. 6. I have seen no more of it but then did the Homage in a Court Baron held at Sutton present that Sir Ric. Stanhope Kt. died seized thereof by the name of the Mannour of New-Hall held of the Earl of Warw. by the serivce of x s. x d. per an a Heriot being then seized by the Bayliff Whereupon Iames Stanhope son and heir to Sir Richard exhibited a Deed whereby it appeared that his Father had in his life time enfeoft Sir Thomas Aston Knight Nich Goushall Esquier and others in this Mannour and other lands aswell in this County as elsewhere and therefore required a discharge from the Heriot But all that I have further seen thereof is that Katherine the widow of Will. Basset of Fledborough beforementioned demised it in 20 H. 6. unto Will. Deping of Sutton and Ric. Ley of Maney for 21 years by the name of Dominium Vocatum New-Hall Pedimore HEre is now no more remaining of an antient Mannour place that the Ardens had than a large double moat for after they setled in these parts having another House on the South side of Tame called Park Hall whereof I have already spoke they resided for the most part there and let this goe to ruine I do not conceive this to have been the inheritance of that antient Family so long as Curdworth and Minworth whereof I am next to discourse but am of opinion that they had it from one of the Earls of Warwick after Sutton within the territories whereof it lies came to their hands howbeit till 9 E. 1. I have not seen any mention of it at all no not so much as the name but then was it stiled the Mannour of Pedimore and passed by Thomas de Arden of Rotley unto Hugh de Vienna together with all his lands in Curdworth Minworth Moxhull c. Which grant was no other than a trust I suppose for very sâ—on after did the same Thomas convey the inheritance of it to Thomas de Arden of Hanwell and Roise his wife together with all his said lands in Crudeworthâ— Moxhull Minneworth Echenours and Overton as by his Deed whereunto Sir Richard de Mundevill
brother to the said E. of Mellent had of that Earl's lands is not to be doubted forasmuch as 't is plain that the Ancestor of Peter de Montfort became enfeoft thereof in H. 1. time it being questionlesse part of those x. Knights Fees and a fourth part which Thurstane de Montfort in 12 H. 2. certified that he then held of William Earl of Warwick de veteri feoffamento for in 20 H. 3. the said Peter de Montfort held it of the Earl of Warwick by the service of one Knights Fee After which viz. in 32 H. 3. there being some difference betwixt the beforespecified Peter and Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester then Lord of Ilmendon whereof I have lately spoke touching the bounds of each Mannour the King directed his Precept to the Shiriff of this County to cause perambulation to be made there betwixt them Whereupon in 34. H. 3. this Peter obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here but being slain in the battaill of Evesham anno 49 H. 3. fighting against the King this with the rest of his lands was seized on which neverthelesse by the Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth â— came to Peter his son who in 7 E. 1. held it of the Earl of Warwick by the service of one Knights fee having four carucates of land in demesn as also divers Tenants holding severall proportions by certain Rents and servile imployments together with a Court-Leet and Free-warren Which Peter in 13 E. 1. exhibâ—ted his claim for those priviledges and likewise for a Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beer producing King H. 3. Charter for the Free-warren manifesting that himself and his Ancestors had enjoyed all the rest of those immunities time out of mind and had allowance of them accordingly To this Peter succeeded Iohn and to him Peter as in Beldesert is shewed which last mentioned Peter in 20 E. 2. entailed it with other lands upon Iohn de Montfort his son by Lora de Ullenhale a Concubine Other Entails do I also find thereof viz. on Guy de Montfort the legitimate son to the said Peter and Margaret his wife daughter to Tho. de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and the heirs of the body of the same Guy begotten on her the said Margaret and for lack of such issue on the said Thomas E. of Warwick and Katherine his wife and the heirs of the said Earl Which Guy departing this life without Children as in Beldesert shall likewise be shewed the said Earl in 35 E. 3. entailed it again as also divers other Lordships in this and other Counties upon Thomas Beauchamp his eldest son with severall remainders But notwithstanding all this the heirs generall of Iohn de Montfort father of the last recited Peter scil Sir Baldwin Frevill and Sir Thomas Boteler Knights recovered it with other lands by a writ of Formedone through the advantage of a preceding Entail but making partition betwixt them in 9 R. 2. as cosins and heirs to Sir Peter de Montfort it was allotted to Boteler whose heirs at length marrying to Norbury and Belknap as the descent in Griff sheweth and their lands thereupon divided betwixt Sir Iohn Norbury Knight and Edward Belknap Esquier this Mannour inter alia was in 13. H. 7. allotted to him the said Edward who made much depopulation and inclosure here but being one of the Esquiers to the body of Henry 7. in 24. of that Kings raign obtained a Pardon for the same and afterwards viz. in 4 H. 8. past it away with other lands in exchange unto Iohn Cotes of Honingham in this County From whom it came to Anthony Cotes of Benefeild in Com. Northampt. Esquier which Anthony in 25. H. 8. depopulated the Capitall Messuage and inclosed C. acres of land there and in 1. 2. Ph. M. levied a Fine thereof to Thomas Gibbons The Church in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. was valued at xxv marks and in 26 H. 8. at xxi li. vi s. viii d. the Procurations and Synodalls being ix s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Ioh. de Monteforti miles Will. de la Plaunch Cler. crast Purif b. M. 1293. D. Alicia de Monteforti D. Walt. de la Plaunche 7. Cal. Ian. 1297. D. Alicia de Monteforti Will. de la Plaunch Accol 19. Cal. Feb. 1298. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles Will. de Stodley Pbr. 18. Feb. 1336. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles Ric. de Budeford Pbr. 25. Aug. 1349. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles Adam Alreshawe Accol 5. Apr. 1357. Thomas Comes Warwici Rog. de Tangeley Cap. 7. Iunii 1382. D. Tho. Boteler miles Dominus de Suydley D. Thomas Knyzt Pbr. 25. Iunii 1392. Will. Boteler ar Magr. Regin Povy 26. Sept. 1410. Rob. Buyschell Ioh. Eburton sen. Ioh. Eburton Cler. penult Feb. 1415. Alicia nuper ux Will. Boteler mil. Ioh. Balle 20. Ian. 1419. Alicia nuper ux Will. Boteler mil. D. Ioh. Smith Cap. 23. Iulii 1420. D. Walt. Taylboys Dominus de Kyma D. Rog. Bealfitz 1. Dec. 1442. .......... D. Steph. Russell Cap. 4. Maii 1443. .......... Ioh. Elys 20. Martii 1451. Rad. Boteler miles Dominus de Sudley Thomas Thornton in S. Theol. Scholar 9. Febr. 1460. Rad. Boteler miles Dominus de Sudley D. Will. Thommes Cap. 4. Iunii 1462. Edw. Belknap ar Will. Urmeston Pbr. 6. Nov. 1493. Edw. Belknap ar D. Will. Cokkes Prior de Erdbury 15. Iulii 1504. Edw. Wotton miles Maria Danet vidua Anth. Cook ar Magr. Rob. Serle S. Theol. Bacc. 16. Ian. 1539. Rob. Brook ar Tho. Callow gen ex concess Anth. Cook mil. Nich. Underhill 19. Iunii 1571. Crimscote OF this place is there no particular mention in the Conquerors Survey neither have I seen any thing thereof till 7 E. 1. at which time Peter de Montfort held it with Whitchurch whereof originally it was a member without question having divers Tenants holding their lands by performance of sundry servile employments and some small Rents together with certain Freeholders with which Lordship it came to Sir Edward Belknap who possest it in 1 E. 6. As for the name I am of opinion that it first proceeded from some antient Inhabitant here in the Saxons time though antiently it be written in a various manner scil Kenermarcote Kilmescote Kirmiscote and Kenemyscote but of its Owners I can say no more Wimpston THis being also a member of Whitchurch and possest by the Family of Mountfort therewith was heretofore written Wilmeton Wilmeston and Wilmyston and yet is reputed as part of that Mannour Broughton THis Hamlet antiently written Brocton and so called by reason of its situation neer the Stoure which passeth on the Western side thereof was originally a member of Whitchurch as may be inferred from the Roll
ibi jacent Iohannes Edmundus et Henricus filii domini Willielmi de Hastings filii D. Iohannis de Hastings Et Ioh. Huntingfeld filius Will. de Huntingfeld et D. Iohanna consortis suae That this Order of Friers was very much esteem'd and reverenced by all sorts of people is evident enough For whosoever shall take notice of such bequests as by the Testaments of most men and women were made in antient time may find that as they seldome neglected to give more or less to one or other Religious house of this Rule so if they were persons of quality they did frequently make choice of their sepulture in them as I shall have occasion to shew in some part of this work Neither was it the least pollicy of these Friers to obtain from great persons such a disposall of their bodies considering how they were imployed and trusted in making their Testaments as I have already shewed For where ever they sped in that kind they were sure to have a good Legacy from the Testator and not without hope by so fair an example to obtain no less advantage from his posterity So that Tho. de Walsingham speaking of the buriall of Q. Elianore's heart in the Church of the Friers-Minors at London did not without cause complain of them in these words Qui meaning the said Friers sicuti et cuncti fratres reliquorum Ordinum aliquid dâ— corporibus quorumcunque potentium morientium sibâ—met vendicabant more canum cadaveribus assistentium ubi quisque suam particulam avide consumendam expectat you see he writes somewhat passionatly of the poor Friers but consider that he was himself a Monk and the reason may easily be discerned Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very famous for the Pageants that were play'd therein upon Corpus-Christi-day which occasioning very great confluence of people thither from far and near was of no small benefit thereto which Pageants being acted with mighty state and reverence by the Friers of this House had Theaters for the severall Scenes very large and high placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent parts of the City for the better advantage of Spectators And contain'd the story of the New-Testament composed into old English Rithme as appeareth by an antient M S. intituled Ludus Corporis Christi or Ludus Coventriae I have been told by some old people who in their younger years were eye-witnesses of these Pageants so acted that the yearly confluence of people to see that shew was extraordinary great and yeilded no small advantagâ— to this City The next thing whereof I am to take notice in relation to this Friery is K. H. 8. Survey in 26. of his reign At which time it did apâ—pear that they had no lands or tenâ—â—ents nor other possessions spirituall or temporall but onely a liberty in the Countrey to receive the Charity of good people This being so I expect that some may demand why it was not dissolved in 27 H. 8. when the leâ—ser Houses went to wrack Whereunto I answer that the Act for that purpose extendeth onely unto Monks Channons and Nuns but if it be askt why these were then so sheltred from the first storm the reason I think is apparent viz. there was nothing to be got by their ruin forasmuch as they had no endowment of lands c. though God was as much dishonoured by the lewd lives of the Friers for want of good government as the preamble of that Act imports in case it say true as by any other whose Houses were certified to be of less value then C C. l. per an which favour we see gâ—ve these poor Friers liberty to breath here a while longer in expectation of their ruin viz. till 30 H. 8. that all the great Houses were dissolved they being then forc'd to subscribe an Instrument whereunto their Common-Seal is affixt and in which the error of that Regular câ—urse they had practised is confest whereby they surrendred this House into the said K. hands as the Copy thereof being not ordinary and therefore here inserted doth manifest For as moche as wee the Warden and Freers of the House of Saynt Frances in Coventre commonly callyd the Grey-Freers in Coventre in the County of Warwick doo profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian livinge dothe nott consist in dume Ceremonies werynge of a grey coot disgeasinge our selfe aftur straunge fassions do Kynge noddynge and beckyng in gurdyng our selves wythe a gurdle fulle of knotts and other like Papisticall Ceremonies wherein we hade ben mooste principally practised onâ— misâ—yd in tymes paste but the very tru waye to plese God and to live a tru Christian mon wythe out all ypocrisie and fayned diseimulation is sinceerly declared unto us by our Mr. Christe his Evangelists and Aposteles being myndyd hereaftur to followe the same conformynge our self unto the will and plesure of our Supreme hedde under Gode in erthe the Kynges Majestie and not to folowe henseforth the superstitius traditions of ony forinsecall potentate or peere wythe mutuall assent and consent doo submitt our selves unto the mercy of owre seide Soverayng Lord. And wythe like mutuall assent and consent do surrendre and yelde up into the hondes of the same all our seide House of Saynt Frances in the Cite of Coventre commonly callyd the Grey-Freers in Coventre wythe alle the londs tenements gardens medows waters poâ—diards fedings pastures comens Rents reversions and alle other our interest ryghtes or titles appertaining unto the same Mooste humbly beseechiuge his mooste noble Grace to dispose of us and of the same as beste shall stonde wythe his mooste gracious pleasure And further frely to graunte unto every on of us his license under wreiyng and Seealle to chaunge our habitts into secular fashion and to receve suche maner of livinges as other seculat Priests commonly be preferred unto And we all faithfully shall pray unto Almighty God long to preserve his mooste noble Grace wythe increse of moche felicite and honor And in witnes of alle and singuler the premisses wee the seide Warden and Covent of the Grey-Freeres in Coventre to thes presences have putte our Covent Seealle the fivithe day of Octobâ—â— in the thertythe yere of the raynge of our mooste Soveraynge Lord King Henry the eyghte Per me Iohannem Stafford Gardian Per me Thomam Maller Per me Thomam Sanderson Per me Iohannem Abell Per me Iohannem Woode Per me Rogerum Lilly Per me Thomam Aukock Per me Matheum Walker Per me Robartum Walker Per me Thomam Bangsit Per me Willielmum Gosnelle Which said House or site was in 34 H. 8. granted by the K. inter alia to the Mayor Bayliffs and Commmonalty of this City and their successors for ever NEar unto the ruins of this Friery is there an Hospitall now called the Gray-Frier-Hospitall in respect of its situation touching the Foundation whereof and its successive Benefactors I shall
the ascent whereon it stood Pen in the Brittish language signifying the head top or chief part and I le the same with Locus It should seem that antiently it was a pretty village otherwise there had been no cause for the Chappel but till H. 3. time that Geff. de Langley a man of great note in those days made it his seat I have not seen any thing memorable of it 'T is very like that the neerness of its situation to Coventre invited him to build here for in 22. H. 3. he had a grant from the King of certain timber trees out of Kenilworth-woods for that purpose Of what extraction this family was I know not though they had divers fair Lordships in this County but for as much as this was their chief seat I do here resolve to take notice of what I have found memorable of them Galfr. de Langley temp H. 2. Galfr. de Langley 22. H. 3. obiit 2. E. 1 ....... ux 1. Magr. Rob. de Langley 2. E. 1. Galfr. de Langley 22. H. 3. obiit 2. E. 1 Matilda ux 2. Walt. de Langley defunctus 8. E. 1. ...... ux 1. Ela una fil cohaer Isab. de Hulles 17. E. 2. Joh. de Langley miles 29. E. 1. ..... ux 1. Walterus ob S. p. Ioh. obiit S. prole Magr. Tho. de Langley 4. E. 3. Galfr. de Langley defunctus 10. E. 3. Maria 18. E. 2. Galfr. de Langley 4. E. 3. Ioh. fil Alani de Cherlton militis 33. E. 3. Iohanna filia haeres ob S. p. Ioh. Trillow jun. miles 2. maritus Edm. de Langley 9. E. 2. .... filia Will. de Bereford Iustic Regis Ioh. de Langley Williel de Careswell 2. maritus 4. E. 3. Ioh. de Langley de Atherston super Stour 18. R. 2. Ioh. de Langley Edm. de Langley 9. E. 2. Iohanna ux 1. Ioanna ux Edm. de Chesterton Rog. de Chesterton Eliz. filia haeres Ioh. Barndesley 4. H. 4. Galfr. obiit vita Patris Walt. de Langley defunctus 8. E. 1. Alicia Domina de Bykenhull ux 2. Rob. de Langley 29. E. 1. Alianora filia Rad. de Molington Marg. filia haeres Will. de Peto 47. E. 3. Ioh. de Peto Chivalier Will. de Pâ—to consangu haeres Galf. de Langley 22. R. 2. Galfr. de Langley 15. E. 1. The first mention I have met with of this name and stock is in H. 2. time the K. confirming the grant made by one Geffrey de Langley to the Monks of Combe of lands in Herdebergh now called Harborow-magna in this County 'T is very like that the same Geffrey was the father of this but if there were more than two in a direct line of that Christen name I know not how to distinguish them With Geffrey whom I suppose to be the son of that Geffrey which was a benefactor to Combe I will begin He was first Marshall of the K. Household an office belonging to the E. Marshall of England in fee who by the K. consent appoints a Knight under him to execute the same In which he so behaved himself that the King took great notice of him for a thrifty servant and for that cause afforded him much grace and respect though others con'd him little thank in regard he cut shorr the antient allowance for the Kings own table and lessened the old hospitality of the Court. In 23. H. 3. he obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn-lands here And in 26. H. 3. attended the King in that expedition of Gascoign wherein the English suffered great loss in which voyage he got such reputation with the King as accelerated it seems his further profit and advancement For in 34. H. 3. he obtained a Patent to his own use dated 29. Dec. of the whole benefit accruing by expeditation of Dogs throughout all the Forests of England And the fourth of March following to be Justice of the Kings Forests from Trent Southwards As also within few days after to be Governour of the Castle and Honour of Rokingham in Northampton-shire The same year likewise upon the return of a Writ of Ad quod dampnum had he license to stop up and inclose a certain High-way which interposed betwixt his House and woods here at Pinley and to impark those woods 'T is not to be doubted but as he managed the business his office of Justice in the Forests was very beneficiall to him but with what credit he did the King that service and inrich't himself let us hear an impartiall relation from an Author of that time Sub eisdem siquidem temporibus c. About these times saith he a certain in Knight called Geffrey de Langley who was a Bayliff to the King and a strict Inquisitor after all trespasses committed in the Forests rode through most parts of England In which Office he behaved himself with that cunning frowardness and violence in extorting vast summs of money especially from the Northern gentry as that the very Auditors themselves were astonisht at such a mass And for the better carrying on this course of oppression he rode with a great company of attendants well armed so that if any of those against whom he thus proceeded did but seem to excuse themselves in a muttering way their enemyes being Judges he presently caused them to be cast into prison Neither did he use any proportion in the punishment sutable to the offence for were it but the killing of a Fawn or a Hare and that crossing the way in a mans passage though he were the greatest Noble-man that did itâ— he would ruin him So that this his cruelty made the memory of his predecessors pretious nay Robert Passelew himself in comparison of him was counted a Saint Which Robert being Justice of the Forests immediatly before had been the man that first brought him into that imployment whose good turn he requited with supplanting him putting out all those under Officers that he had placed and undoing them to boot Whereupon the said Robert considering the instability of these terrestriall things forsook the Court and became a Priest Which ways of oppression and cruelty rendred our Geffrey so odious that the K. within two years thought best in prudence to remove him from that Office least the peoples discontents should reflect upon himself And therefore the better to satisfy the world he sent him away into Scotland there to be one of the Governours unto his daughter the Queen of Scots But the Nobles of that Realm finding of what an insolent Spirit he was would not long endure him there whereupon he betook himself to the service of Prince Edward in which he so managed the business that he raised up many enemyes to the King and Prince as well as to himself For being imployed in Wales by the Prince he so tirannized that in 40. H. 3. the Welch broke out into rebellion which
Penbroke's grandfather upon condition that he should not bestow it upon any but whom he did make his wife And moreover that the D. of Norf. was the principal mover of the said marriage but that the said Earl pretending a fear of the Q. indignation in case it should come to her knowledge made her vow not to reveal it till he gave leave whereupon all her servants were commanded secrecy therein And further was it likewise deposed that within two dayes after the birth of the said Sir Robert Dudley who afterwards was born at Shene and there christned by a Minister sent from Sir Henry Lea having to his Godfathers the Earl of Warwick his Uncle with the same Sir Henry and Godmother the Lady Dacres of the South by their Deputies the said Lady Douglasse received a Letter from the Earl which one Mrs Erisa but then Lady Parker read wherein his Lordship did thank God for the birth of his said son who might be their comfort and staffe of their old age as are the words of the said Letter and subscribed Your loving Husband ROB. LEICESTER As also that the said Lady was after this served in her Chamber as a Countess untill he commanded the contrary for fear the marriage should be disclosed Other depositions there were many by several persons testifying what the said Earl himself had said in relation to this his son as of one Owen Iones who swore that attending upon the said Sir Rob. Dudley at Offington in Sussex when he was but ten years of age and at School the E. of Leic. came thither to see him and said OWEN thou know'st that ROBYN my boy is my lawfull son and as I do and have charg'd thee to keep it secret so I charge thee not to forget it and therefore see thou be carefull of him Divers other expressions from the said Earl testified by sundry credible persons all tending to the same purpose as also of what Ambrose E. of Warwick his brother had uttered in like kind could I adde were it not for brevities sake But that it may appear what was the true cause that the Earl so declining his lawfull wife durst not publickly own this his son I shall observe from the same depositions viz. his marriage with the before specified Lady Lettice in her life-time with whose beauty he became so captivated that he endeavoured to perswade the said Lady Douglasse to disclaim the marriage above mentioned offering her no less than 700 l. per ann in the close Arbour of the Q. Garden at Grenewich in the presence of Sir Iohn Hubaud and George Digby in case she would so do and upon her refusal terrifying her with protestations that he would never come at her and that she should never have peny of him It seems that the said Lady Douglasse had then the custody of her son for I find it deposed that the Earl tendred her 1000 l. to deliver him unto Sir Edw. Horsey Captain of the Isle of Wight to be conveyed into the said Isle there to be brought up by him which she refused And there wants not strong suspicion that being doubtfull lest the life of the same Lady Douglasse might minister discourse of this foul play he designed to dispâ—tch her out of this world for certain it is that she had some ill potions given her so that with the loss of her hair and nails she hardly escap'd death which being discerned to secure her self from the like attempts for the future she contracted marriage with Sir Edw. Stafford Kt. a person of great honour and parts and sometime imploy'd as an Embassadour into France whereof afterwards most sadly repenting she said that she had thereby done the greatest wrong that could be to her self and son Having thus manifested what is observable in reference to Sir Rob. Dudley's legitimacy let us now see the Catastrophe For after these fair hopes in obtaining what he aimed at there was not onely a stop to all further proceedings in the before specified cause but a special Order by the Lords that the Depositions should be sealed up and no Copies taken of them without the Kings special license Which unexpected dealing so astonish'd him that he forthwith resolved to quit the Kingdome and to that purpose obtaining license to travel for 3 years went into Italy whereof his adversaries taking advantage procured his Summons to return by a special Privy Seal unto which not obeying this Castle and all his lands were seized on to the K. use by vertue of the Statute of Fugitives and soon after surveyed as by what I have here added to the end that the greatness and state thereof may the better appear The Castle of Kenilworth situate upon a Rock 1. The circuit thereof within the walls containeth 7 acres upon which the walks are so spacious and fair that two or three persons together may walk upon most places thereof 2. The Castle with the 4 Gate-houses all built of free-stone hewen and cut the walls in many places of xv and x foot thickness some more some less the least 4 foot in thickness square 3. The Castle and 4 Gate-houses all covered with lead whereby it is subject to no other decay than the glass through the extremity of weather 4. The rooms of great state within the same and such as are able to receive his Majestie the Queen and Prince at one time built with as much uniformity and conveniency as any houses of later time and with such stately Cellars all carryed upon pillars and architecture of free-stone carved and wrought as the like are not within this Kingdome and also all other houses for offices answerable 5. There lyeth about the same in Chases and Parks 1200 l. per an 900 l. whereof are grounds for pleasure the rest in meadow and pasture thereto adjoyning Tenants and Free-holders 6. There joyneth upon this ground a Park-like ground called the Kings-wood with xv several Copices lying all together containing 789 acres within the same which in the E. of Leic. time were stored with red Deer since which the Deer strayed but the ground in no sort blemished having great store of timber and other trees of much value upon the same 7. There runneth through the said grounds by the walls of the Castle a fair Pool containing Cxi acres well stored with Fish and Fowl which at pleasure is to be let round about the Castle 8. In timber and woods upon this ground to the value as hath been offered of 20000 l. having a convenient time to remove them which to his Majestie in the Survey are but valued at 11722 l. which proportion in a like measure is held in all the rest upon the other values to his Majestie 9. The circuit of the Castle Mannours Parks and Chase lying round together contain at least xix or xx miles in a pleasant Countrey the like both for strength state and pleasure not being within the realm of England 10. These lands have been
to be yearly kept here for 8. days beginning on the Even of S. Barnabas the Apostle In 1 E. 3. he was constituted Constable of England but dyed the year following whose brother William then found his heir and xl years of age did not enjoy this Lordship of Alcester in regard the said Walter had about xii years before setled it upon Giles de Beauchamp another brother Of which William all that I have seen memorable is that upon the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who was Shiriff of Worcestershire by inheritance he had the custody of that County committed to him during the minority of his heir But of Giles I find that in 15 E. 2. he was made Shiriff of Caernarvonshire and Governour of the Castle of Beaumaris that in 14 E. 3. he had a Charter to fortify his Mannour-house here at Alcester with a wall of lime and stone and to embattle the same for the use of himself and his heirs and having had summons to the severall Parliaments amongst the other Barons from 20 E. 2. to 9 E. 3. he left issue Iohn of whomâ— I have seen but little other than his founding a Chantry in the Parish-Church here at Alcester in 36 E. 3. whereof I purpose to speak particularly in its proper place and he Sir Will. Lord of this place and Powik and Sir Walt. de Beauchamp a younger son from whom the Beauchamps Barons S. Amand did descend which Walter in 4 H. 4. was retained by Indenture to serve the King in a voyage royall that he intended for France in his proper person with four men at Armes himself accounted for one and xii Archers whereof the third part were to serve on Foot and the rest on Horseback for one whole year taking for himself ii s. per diem For his men at Armes xii d. and for his Archers vi d. And in 3 H. 5. to serve the King for one whole year in a voyage that he made in person into Guienne in which service he was to have four men at Armes and xii Archers all on Horseback and to receive xl marks a piece for his men at Armes and xx marks a piece for each of his Archers But I come now to Sir William the elder brother of whom it appears that in 16 R. 2. he was made Constable of the Castle of Gloucester In 3 H. 4. Shiriff of Worcestershire and in 1 H. 5. of Gloucestershire This Sir William took to wife Catherine one of the daughters and heirs of Gerard Ufflete and left issue Sir Iohn Beauchamp Knight who in 17 H. 6. upon the death of Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was constituted one of the Commissioners unto whom the Guardianship of all his Castles and lands during the minority of Henry his son and heir were granted and in 22 H. 6. purchased of Thomas Botereux the other moytie of this Mannour of Alcester which had continued in that Family for divers descents as I shall shew anon And being now intire Lord of the whole in 25. of the same King's reign obtained a speciall Charter which reciting that he the said Iohn and his Ancestors had time out of mind enjoyed a Court-Leet of all their Tenants and Inhabitants within this town to be kept twice every year viz. once after Easter and once after Michaelmasse as also Weyfs Streys and all other priviledges to a Leet belonging together with a Mercate upon the Tuesday every week and a Faire yearly on the Sunday next after the Feast of S. Fayth the Virgin did confirme them to him and his heirs And moreover in consideration of the good and acceptable services performed unto that King and to King Henry the fift his father had he by the same Charter a grant of sundry other priviledges viz. Return of Writts and all other Mandates Precepts and Attachments belonging to the said King his heirs and successors his Justices Eschaetors or other Commissioners Steward and Marshall of his houshold as also of all Summons of the Exchequer levying of Estreats from the said Exchequer execution of Writts and Attachments c. all which thenceforth to be performed and executed by the said Sir Iohn and his heirs or such Officers as he or they should appoint within this town and precincts of the Mannour so that no Shiriff Coroner Bayliffe or other Officer belonging to the King should have ought to do there To which was further added that the said Sir Iohn and his heirs should have cognisance of all Pleas belonging to any of the King's Courts touching such lands and tenements as are within this town and Mannour of Debts Accompts Trespasses Covenants Contracts and causes of Contracts arising within the limits of them as also of Assizes of Novell disseisin and Mort D'ancestor Iurates and Certificates of all lands and tenements within the same to be held before the Steward to him and his heirs here for the time being And likewise full power and authority of holding hearing and determining before their Stewards without any speciall Writ from the King Pleas of Pie pouders and all other Pleas of Debts Accounts Trespasses Covenants Contracts and other Controversies whatsoever arising within this town and Mannour or their precincts although they exceed the summe of xl s. value and to make out Processe against such persons as shall be lyable to any action or distresse by his and their own Officers and Ministers and to attach theit persons within the said town and Mannour and precincts of them in case they have not goods whereby to be summoned and distreined And moreover that the said Sir Iohn his heirs should have the priviledges of Infangthef and Outfangthef the goods of Felons Fugitives and all such as are condemned put in exigend for Treason or Felony as also the Chattells of persons outlawed whether it be at the Kâ—ng's suit or at the suit of the party with the Chattells of those that are Felones de se or any way confiscated And likewise all Fines and Redemptions Issues Amerciaments and Forfeitures with Fines for license of concord Year Day Strepe and Wast of all his and their Tenants as well resident as not resident within this town and Mannour and their precincts in whatsoever of the King's Court they shall happen c. And that neither the King's Steward Marshall Coroner of his Houshold Clerk of the Mercate for the time being nor any servant or Officer belonging to any of them shall have power to meddle within the same or the precincts thereof nor any Purveyor to take any thing there from him the said Iohn his heirs or any the Inhabitants of this place And further that all the Tenants thereof aswell resident as non-resident should be for ever quit of Toll Stallage Pontage Pavage Murage Kayage and Chiminage in all places as well by Land as Water throughout the whole Realm of England and
retinue to Maurice de Berkley an English Baron But about the 33 E. 3. the said Gerard departed this life leaving Iohn his son and heir under age the custodie of whose lands together with his marriage was granted in 33 E. 3. by Sir Ric. Stafford Kt. unto Ric. de Clodshale of Saltley in this Countie which Iohn by the death of Iohn de Vale his Uncle by the Mothers side without issue in 34 E. 3. was found to be one of his Cosins and next heirs and in 2. R. 2. being then a Kt. was constituted one of the Commissioners in this Countie for taxing a subsidie at that time granted to the K. in Parliament To whom succeeded Sir Thomas Burdet Kt. his son and heir a person honoured with divers great imployments in his time In 5 R. 2. he was constituted one of the Commissioners for arraying of men in this Countie being then of the retinue unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick In 17 R. 2. he served in the Parlâ— then held at Westm. as one of the Kts. for this Shire so also in the Parliaments of 2. and 8. H. 4. In 3. H. 5. he was made Shiriff for this Countie and Leicestershire In 6 H. 5. again one of the Commissioners of Array in this Shire and the next year following jointly intrusted together with the Shiriff and some other select persons to treat with the people for a loan of money to the King In 9 H. 5. he was in Commission for assessing and collecting a Subsidie then granted to the K in Parl. and left issue Nicholas his son and heir of whom I find that being one of those who bearing Armes from his Ancestors as the Writ and Return thereof specially intimates he had Summons to attend the King in person at Westminster upon Tuesday in the first week of Lent 7 H. 5. for defence of the Realm Shortly after which he was retained to serve the said K. in his wars for by an Indenture bearing date at Suthwike 6 Maii 8 H. 5. it appears that he received in hand from Iâ—hn Sâ—lvâ—â—â—e Treasurer at Wars to the D. of Bedford for himself two men at Arms and seaven Archers xxix l. xi s. vi d. for one quarters wages And continuing in those wars in 3 H. 6. was one of those that defended the town of S. Iames de Bevuron situate on the frontiers of Normandy towards Britany and upon the siege thereof by Arthur Earl of Richmont and Yverie Constable of France made a courageous â—ally wherein 7 or 800 of the enemy were slain 50 Prisoners 18 Standards and one Banner taken In 15 H. 6. he was a Knight but being afterwards made chief Butler of Normandy and Governour of Cureur in that Dutchy was slain in the battail of Pontoise 18 H. 6. To whom succeeded Thomas his son and heir which Thomas in 28 H. 6. being imployed in this Countie about levying the subsidie then granted to the K. in Parl. was from the 7 th to the fourteenth of E. 4. reign in Commission for conservation of the Peace But in 17 E. 4. having incurred the King's displeasure for his good affections to the D. of Clarence so strict were the eyes and ears that were set â—ver him that an advantage was soon taken to cut of his Head for hearing that the King had killed a white Buck in his Park here at Arewe which Buck he set much store by passionately wishing the Hoâ—es in his Belly that moved the K. so to do being arraigned and convicted of high Treason for those words upon inference made that his meaning was mischievous to the K. himself he lost his life for the same his Body being buried in the Chapell of All Saints within the Gray-Friers Church near Newgate with this memoriall in their Martyrologe viz. that he was valens Armiger Domini Georgii Ducis Clarenciae After the death of which Thomas their grew great suits for this Mannour and other lands betwixt Richard Burdet his son by a former wife that â—ad been for nearness of kindred divorced from him and Iohn Burdet his son by Margaret a later wife For the said Thomas by License obtained from the K. in 12 E. 4. had aliened his lands to his younger son to the disherison of the elder of which he became afterwards so sensible that as he was drawn from the Tower to the place of execution espying his eldest son in Westchepe over against St. Thomas Becket's Hospitall now Mercers Chapell he caused himself to be stayed and there asked his said son forgiveness and acknowledging the wrong he had done him concluded that to be the cause of Gods vengeance then against him But in that suit before mentioned the said Iohn the younger son prevailed Margaret his Mother holding her estate therein for life who shortly after married to Thomas Woodhill Howbeit after this it was not long ere that the before specified Ric. Burdet so wrought with his Brother Iohn as also with the said Margaret and her husband that they levâ—ed a Fine of this Mannour and other lands whereby the same Richard became vested into the present possession thereof the remainder to Thomas his son and for want of issue by him to Robert his other son and the heirs of his body and for lack of such issue to the right heirs of Richard Which two sons died young in their Fathers life time and Richard himself left no heir male The consideration whereof much moving the said Iohn forasmuch as this Mannour and the rest of those entailed lands were like to be transferred to another Familie by Anne the daughter and heir of the same Richard he exhibited a Petition in Parl. to K. H. 8. about the beginning of his reign wherein the better to ingratiate himself he set forth his adherence to Henry D. of Buckingham in the behalf of Henry Earl of Richmund afterwards King by the name of H. 7. against Ric. 3. King in deed but not of right alleadging that upon the miscarriage of that Duke in his said attempts he himself was taken at Gloucester and there kept Prisoner and moved that the said Fine should be made void so that himself and his heirs might enjoy this Mannour with the lands before mentioned in such sort as he and they should and ought to have done hat it not been levied This Iohn Burdet was one of the retinue unto Sir Edm. Howard Admirall in 4 H. 8. for scouring the Seas on the Southern coast of England and in no small favour at Court as it seems for his Petition took such effect that he pursued his claim to this Lordship and all other the lands whereof his Father was seized against Edward Conway and Anne his wife daughter and heir to the before specified Ric. Burdet as if there had been no such entail as hath been said Which suits
H. 6. that the price of 〈◊〉 Fish in thâ—se days compared with other thâ—ng may the bâ—tter appear Item John Buâ—bage and Will Lâ—mpe â—â—r â—â—â—hing on Wensday nexte bâ—â—â—r the Exaltacion of the â—ros and dyde â—â—ke it Brews and were lade to my Lorde to Lychefelde be Will. Alyn And to the seyde Fycâ—ers â—yre and fâ—r her 〈…〉 meâ—e and horsmete iii s. x d. Item the same Fychers were send for again on Thursday nexte afâ—â—r the Exaltacion and was theâ— Thursday Frydaie and Setyrday and 〈…〉 Brenis ther hyre and ther costs iiii s. viii d. Iâ—â—m the â—osts of bâ—kyng the seyde iiii 〈…〉 xii d. Item in Spâ—e Pepâ—r Safâ—â—rm Ciâ—â—â— and Synamum vi d. Iâ—em the costs of carynâ— the seyd iiii Breâ—â—s to Mydlam to my Lord in the North Câ—ntrey be Thomas Harys of Suttun x s. Item for the Swans fâ—ur quarter â—teâ— and a bushell two quarter of hem a 〈…〉 quarter and a bushell a streke iii d. vii â— x â— The Church dedicated to the H ◠〈◊〉 was in an 1291. 19 E. 1. valâ—â—d aâ— xx 〈◊〉 and in 26 H. 8. at xxxiii l. ix s. over and abâ—vt xii s. yearly allowed for Procuratâ—â—es and Synodalls Here was in this Church a certain 〈◊〉 fâ—unded by one Thomas Broad 〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 when appears not for one 〈…〉 anâ— to pray for the soul of the said 〈◊〉 Parents the value of the Lands and 〈◊〉 belonging thereto being in 26 H. 8. 〈◊〉 at Cvi s. viii d. and in 37 H. 8. at Câ—â— Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbenâ—eâ— c. Edwardus Rex Anglâ—â— hac vicâ— Patronus Râ—â— â—illari 7 Id. Maii 1317. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Ioh. de Bukâ—ingham Accol 4 Nor. Ian. 1345. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Will. de Sharneburne Cap. 2 Id. â—an 1348. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Sim. Basset de Sapcote Cler. 3. Cal. Sept. 1349. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Will. de Barton Cler 15 Cal. Aug. 1361. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Rad. de Friseby Pbr. 12 Cal. Sept. 1361. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Rog. de Tangley Pbr. 3 Sept. 1382. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Nich. Stokes 5 Iunii 1389. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Rad. Bromley Cler. 13 Sept. 1391. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Thomas Henster Pbr. penuli Ian. 1391. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Ric. Penne 16 Apr. 1397. Thom. Dux Surr. Co. Cantii Ioh. de Malverne Pbr. 4 Ian. 1397. Henr. Rex Angl. ratione minoris aet Ric. Comitis VVarw. Ric Penne Cap. .... 1401. â—ic de Bellocampo Co. VVarw. Ludov. Beelte 15 Maii 1412. Ioh. Verney alai Ric. Comite Ioh. Arundell 8 Apr. 1431. VVarw. in part transmar existente Ric. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Ioh. Adams Pbr. 2 Martii 1433. Ric. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Thomas Hill Cler. 12 Dec. 1436. Henr. 7 Rex Angl. Edw. Scot Legum Dr. 24 Apr. 1499. Henr. 7 Rex Angl. Magr. Ioh. Taylour Decret Dr. 4 Feb. 1504. Henr. 8 Rex Angl. D. Georgius Henege 15 Ian. 1516. Henr. 8 Rex Angl. Ioh. â—urges S. Theol. Bac. 27 Maii 1521. Henr. 8 Rex Angl. Rad Wendon 29 Martii 1527. Thomas Gybbons ar Iâ—h Fâ—don Cler. 2 Nov. 1563. Eliz. Angl. Regina Petrus Sankeâ—â—â— in Art Magr. 28 Nov. 1583. â—liz Eâ—yot vidua Râ—ges Eâ—â—et Cler. 5 Oct. 15â—5 Rob. Shâ—lton Gen. Ioâ— â—urges in Art Magr. Medâ—ciâ—ae Dr. 14 Iâ—lii 16â—7 Monumentall Inscriptions in the North I le Hic iacet Agnes Filia junior Willielmi Harman domini de Morehall nupta Willielmo Gibons per quem habuit duos Filios Iohannem clericum Thomam tres Filias seniorem nuptam Thome Keene tertiaâ—â— nuptam Edwardo East que Agnes mater obiit 5. die Februarii an MD xx Orate pro animabus Iohannis Leveson Amicie uroris sue qui habuerunt exitum Willielmum Cancellarium ecclesie cathedralis Exon. Eliz. nuptam Thome Yard armigero comitatus Devonie ac Annam nuptam Georgio Robinson Mercatori Londinensi The Grammar School here founded by the before mentioned Bishop of Exeter after this sort FIrst whereas the annuall Rent of vii l. formerly by virtue of a certain Feoffment had been received to the disposall of the same Bâ—shop either for the maintenance of a Priest to celebrate divine Service â—â—â—ce every week in the Parish Church of Sutton or else of an hâ—â—est Lâ—y-man â—uffiâ—enâ—â—y learned and skilfuâ—l to teach Grammar and Rhetorâ—que within the â—aid town was by him appointed to be allowed and payd for the 〈◊〉 of a fiâ—man to teach â—rammar and Rhetoâ—ique as abovesaid and that together with his Scholars should daylie say the Psalm of De profundis for their Benefactâ—rs And in 〈◊〉 a meet person should not be found then to be imployed in the providing of certain Lay-Artificers to teach their trades within this 〈◊〉 of Sutton there living well and honesâ—ly or else to other piâ—uâ— uses ordained and declarâ—d by the saâ—d Bishâ—p And wheras for perfâ—rmance the 〈◊〉 be appoinâ—edâ— that whensoever it hapned â—hat ix of the xxi Feoâ—fees by him constituted shâ—uld be departed this life that then the xii â—urviving ought within one month after to 〈◊〉 otâ—â—r 〈◊〉 of the most substantiall Inhabitants from time to time for ever And whereas by the saâ—d Fâ—â—ffees not performance of what was so ordainedâ— and for certain â—â—ther causes the said settlement therâ—â—f became void in Law he being in full power to dâ—â—pose otherwise of the same out of his wonted pious regâ—rd to the publick benefit of the Common-wealth and this his native Countrey made a Feâ—ffment of divers lands lying withâ—n the precincts â—f this Parish unto the Warden and Fellowship of Sutton bearing date the first day of October in 35 H. 8. to the intent that the said Warden and Fâ—llowship and their successors with the profits thence arising should find a certain learned Lay-man fit and skilfull to teach Grammar and â—hetorique within the same Parish who togâ—ther with 〈◊〉 Scholars ought daily to say the Psalm of De Profundis for the souls of their Bâ—nefactâ—rs and â— such person could not be found thâ—n to â—â—â—vide certaine skilfull Artificeâ—s to teach 〈◊〉 trades as abovesaid or to distribute the Reâ—â—â— and profits of those Lands for the discharge of Tallage Taxes or other impâ—siâ—iâ—ns made by the King's authoritie upon the pâ—or people of the Parish or else to be imployed for the marriage of poor Maidens or Orphans or to some other charitable secular use within this Lordship of Sutton Whereupon the said Warden and Fellowshâ—p by their publick Instrument dated 6 Apr. the year ensuing constituted one Iohn Savage Schoolmaster there for life granting him an Annuitie of x l. per an issuing out of those lands And on the first of October in 38 H. 8. conferred the same again upon Laurence Noel in like
Ierusalem and that thereupon at the end of nine years they had a certain Rule assigned to them in the Councell of Trecas as also a White habit by Pope Honorius After which they began to multiply very much their possessions being greatly enlarged But in the time of Pope Eugenius they sowed Crosses made of red cloth upon the left shoulder of their Mantles partly to the end that having such a triumphall signe instead of a Buckler they should not flee back from any Infidell whil'st they were armed with so great a protection and partly to the intent they might be distinguished from other Religious persons There are who affirm that the beginners of this Rule were some of the meanest Hospitalars and that they were at first sustained with weapons and food from the reliques of their provisions whether it was so or not I shall not stand to argue but 't is agreed on all parts that they were originally called Knights Templars from having their residence in certain rooms adjoyning to that Temple sometime built by King Solomon As for their Habit the description which William Darrell made thereof to Mâ— Lambard was thus viz. that on their Heads they woâ—e linnen Coâ—fes like to the Sergeants at Law and red Caps close over them on their Bodies shirts of maile and Swords girded unto them with a brod belt over all which they had a White Cloak reachâ—ng to the ground with a red Crosse on the left shoulder as hath been said in such sort as on the next page is represented And that they used to wear their Beards of a great length whereas most other Religious Orders doe shave I shall exhâ—bit the testimony of King Edw. 2. made in the behalf of an eminent servant in his Court Rex c. Cum dilectus valettus noster Petrus Auger exhibitor praesentium nuper voverit quod Barbam suam radi non faciat quousque peregrinationem fecerit in certo lâ—co â—n partibus transmarinis idem Petrus sibi timeat quod aliqui ipsum ratione Barbae sua prolixae fuisse Templarium imponere sibi velini ei inferre impedimenta seu gravamina ex hac causa Nos veritati volentes testimonium perhibere vobis tenore praesentium intimamus quod praedictus Petrus est valetâ—us Camerae nostrae nec unquam fuâ—â— Templarius sed â—arbam suam sic prolixam esse permitâ—it ex causa superius annotata c. Teste Rege c. 17. Febr. Anno c. 4. And touching theâ—r manner of reception into this Order thus I find câ—râ—â—â—â—ed of one of them being examined as to that point Requisitus de modo râ—câ—ptionis dicit quod eraâ— laviger â—â— Templo dum â—raâ— secularis requisiviâ— Magist um ut eum rec perat in Fâ—aâ—â—em Eâ— expositis sib hiis quae regorâ—s sunt in Ordine Templâ— substam talibus Ordinis quâ—aâ—a Obeatentiam â—â—â—stitatem abdicationem pâ—â—prietatis â—uit ducâ—us in Capellam Fraâ—ribus Orainis duntaxat Capellanis Militibus servientibus praesentibus secularibus omnibus exâ—lusis praestito ab eo ad sancta Dei Evangelia juramento quod praedicta tria substantialia dicti Ordinis consueâ—udines bonaâ— laudabâ—les Ordinis Templi servaret negotium terrae Sanctae ultra-marinae pro posse suo â—uvareâ— contrainimicos fidet Christianae Adâ—ecit etiam quod â—uravit quod neminem injuste exhaereditaret â—unc sibi tradebatur Mantellum cum Cruce Pilleum in Capiâ—e The first setling of this Order in England was in that â—â—reet called Holburne in the suburbs of London but there they rested not long for in K. H. 2. â—â—â—e that House which still retaineth the name of the Temple in Fleet-street was erected by them and the 〈…〉 according to the form of the Temple â— Ierusalem dedâ—cated to God and our blessed Ladie by Heraclius Patriarch of Ierusalem in the year 1185. Of the vast possessions they soon obtained in England aswell as other parts of Christendome which at length occasioned their ruine I am not here to speak neither of their Priviledges which were very ampâ—e as by thoâ—e Bulls of Pope Hadrâ—an the 4 â—h and Alexander the third exempâ—ing them from payment of Tithes for their demesn lands and the Charter of Kâ—ng H. 3. affording them divers Liberties and granting unto them extraoâ—â—inarie â—mmunities unto which I refer my Reader Templarius I come now to the speciall Priviledges which they had here in Balshall In 32 H. 3. they obtained a Charter oâ— Free warren in all their demesn lands here In 52 H. 3. a weekly Mercate upon the Thursday with two Faires every year the one on the Eve day and morrow after the Feast of S. Gregory the Martyr and the other on the Eve day and morrow after the Feast of S. Mathias the Apostle And for the surer enjoyment of their interest here in 13 E. 1. they procured a full confirmation from Roger de Moubray heir to Roger the first donour before specified with waâ—rantie of that his Ancestor's Charter for which they made him Partaker of all their Prayers and other spirituall benefits But whether it were really their guilt of such high enormities which through Christendome were layd to their charge or rather their potencie so generally feared which occasioned their ruine I will not here stand to argue certain it is that on Wednsday next after the Feast of the Epiphanie Anno 1307. scil 1 E. 2. by the King 's speciall command and a Bull from the Pope were they generally through England layd hold on and cast into Prison nay througâ— all Christendom as my Author saith and afterwards â—roceeded against in a generall Councell held at London where being convicted of divers great impiâ—ties all their possessions were seized into the Kâ—ng's hands In an antient MS. Chron. which I have seen the cause of their ruine is thus set forth Anno MCCCX. circafestum S. Hillarii omnes Templarii in Anglia in Scotia alii omnes ut dicebantur per totam Christianitatem una hora diei capti sunt propter Heresiae pravitatem necnon propter fraudem quam fecerunt in quodam bello inter Regem Tharsis Paganos in quo tergiverserunt ad Paganos occiderunt praedictum Regem exercitum ejus filium eâ—us unicum ceperunt undè tota Christianitas turbata est valdè But Thom. de Wals. setteth forth other reasons for this severe proceeding against them namely severall grosse and Heathenish yea rather devillish practises unto whom I refer my Reader All which and more were layd to their charge in particular Articles whereupon witnesses being examined they were proceeded against as hath been said the whole series thereof being at large yet to be seen in an antient M S. of that time wherein I have observed that the said Articles do charge them with no lesse than Heresie Idolatrie and most execrable Blasphemie
after his Father's death as my authoritie saith he then made a new grant of the premisses to the same Lord Clinton during the minority of the heir then his Ward whereupon the said Lord Clinton in consideration of Lxx li. sterling made an assignation of the said Custodie c. unto Iohn Hales Gentleman at that time Clerk of the Hamper and a very active man in the world as in Coventre I have shewed To the posterity of which Sir Will. Compton it continued till that Will. Lord Compton his great grandchild by his Deed bearing date 3. Febr. 39 Eliz. sold it unto Sir Thomas Egerton Kt. then Lord Keeper of the great Seal from whom Thomas Dilke Esquire afterwards Knight purchased it scil 21. Iunii 41 Eliz. whose grandson William now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Michael was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at viii marks In 5 E. 3. Sir William de Clinton Knight purposing to found a Chantrie therein obtained License to bestow the advouson thereof inter alia upon the same with Lands and Rents to the value of xx li. per annum In pursuance whereof he gave to Iohn Lynie Priest Warden of the said Chantrie and his successors a certain piece of land lying then betwixt the road-way leading from Filongley towards Colshill on the one side and the Church-yard of Maxstoke on the other and extending in length from the Lord of Maxstoke's Quarrie to the Pale of his Park together with the advouson of the Church as by his Charter bearing date at Maxstoke on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady 6 E. 3. appeareth And moreover by the same Charter granted unto the said Warden and his successors 8. Messuages six yard land lying in Long-Ichinton as also the Bodies of viii Natives dwelling there with all their Chattells and Off-spring And besides this xx s. yearly Rent payable by one William Snede and Iohn his son out of a Messuage lying in Long-Ichinton aforesaid with the reversion of the same Messuage and one yard land after their deceases and lastly 4. Acres of land lying in the said town of Ichinton together with the advouson of the Church Which endowment being so made he forthwith by the consent of Roger de Northburgh at that time Bishop of this Dioces Iohn Lynie the then Parson whom he constituted Warden as abovesaid Sir Iohn de Clinton Lord of Maxstoke his brother and Parishioner there as also all the other Parishioners of Maxstoke ordained that the said five Priests should thenceforth celebrate divine Servâ—ce daily in the same Church where the Bodies of his Ancestors lay interred for the good estate of him the said Sir William de Clinton Iulian his wife Sir Iohn de Clinton his brother Alice his wife and for the souls of Sir Iohn de Clinton his Father the Lady Ida his Mother as also for the good estate of Edward the third then Kâ—ng of England Laurence de Hastings and for aâ—l the Lords Hastings in time to come And moreover of the said Roger then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield Henry Prior of Coventre and â—heir succâ—ssors and for the souls of all the Kâ—ngs oâ— England Lords Hastings Bishops of Coventre â—nd Lichfield Priors of Coventre Brethren and sisters Parents and benefactors and all the faithâ—uâ—l deceased Appointing that the said Warden and his successors as aâ—so the Subwarden and his should be always Priests in Orders admitted and instituted by the Bishop or Coventre and Lichfield for the time being and after the decease of him the said Sir William always presented by the said Sâ—r Iohn de Clinton his brother and his heirs having a House convenient for themselves and the other three adjoyning to the Churchyard of Maxstoke afâ—resaid there to inhabâ—te and lodge together And that the said Warden and his succâ—ssâ—rs shâ—uld pâ—â—vâ—de from time to timeâ— Bâ—â—â—ks Vâ—â—â—ments Lâ—ghts as also two Clerks fâ—r the use of himself 〈◊〉 Sub-warden and the other Priests aswell in the Church as in the Houseâ— viz. their Hall and Chamberâ— nâ—ght and day And mâ—reover that he and his said Sub-warden and thâ— othâ—r Priestsâ— shâ—â—â—d wear white Surpliceâ— with black Copes and Sâ—â—les after the manner of the Vicars-Chorall in the Caâ—hedrall of Lichfield whil'st they were about divine Service both in the Church and Quire And that the charge of the Books and Ornaments shâ—uld belong to the Sub-warden whose Office was to direct câ—ncerning the celebration of Masses viz. of whâ—m what howers and in what order by himself and the other Priests they were to be performed And that Bread Wine Water and Lights should be ready for the said Masses and divine exercises but at the charge of the Warden to be provided And further that aswell the Warden when he could fitly be at leisure and Sub-warden as all the Priests except some great occasion did hinder every day after dinner and before Vâ—â—pers should together in the said Church sing the full Office of the Dead viz. Placebo and Dâ—riâ—e except on double Fâ—â—tivalls and the time of Easter in whâ—ch theâ— ought to observe the custome of the Church of Salisbury in saâ—â—ing the said Office Aâ— also 〈…〉 and Canonicall howers with Note â— in the Qâ—â—re of the Church aforesaid admitting the Chaplains and Clerks of the same Church to sing with them if they pleased And likewise that after the Compline they should say the Commenâ—â—â—tion of the Dead â— in â—he said Quire according â—o the course above described And every Holy day in the Quire together the seven Penitentiall Psalmes and the â—v â—radualls with the Letanie and accustomed Prayers unless there were cause exprest by the Warden that they should say them out of the Quâ—re And that both the Warden and Sub-warden all the other Priests should every day celebrate their particular Masses in the said Church or Quire according to appointment except there were a lawfull impediment so that upon every Sunday the Masse of the B. Virgin should be celebrated with Note and the Mass of the day in such sort as was fit And upon every Munday one of them whom the Sub-warden should appoint to celebrate the said Mass of our Lady by Note with the Office for the Dead for the souls of the persons before recited and all the faithfull deceased And after the death of the said Sir William de Clinton and Sir Iohn his brother for their souls also And that another of the said Priests should celebrate the same day the high Mass of S. Michaell th'arch Angell Patron of that Church and of all the holy Angells with Note and the rest throughout the week thus Upon every Tuesday the Mass of S. Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury by Note besides the high Mass of the day by Note also On Wednsday the first Mass of our blessed Ladie by Note and the high Mass of the said day with Note as also a memoriall of S. Katherine the Virgin On
Thursday the first Mass of the Holy Ghost by Note as also the high Mass of the day On Friday the first Mass of the B. Virgin by Note and the high Mass of the holy Cross the same day by Note also On Satturday the first Mass of S. Iohn the Evangelist by Note and the high Mass of the glorious Virgin Mary And that every Priest in his severall Mass should specially pray for him the said Sir William and all the persons before recited both living and dead as also that in his Memento for the living speciall mention being made of them as aforesaid they should pray for the good estate of the Church and Kâ—ngdom and all the Benefactors to the said Chantrie And lastly that after his decease they should in the first place remember him next his Father and Mother Brother and their wives aforesaid and afterwards the rest before expressed with the Benefactors to the saâ—d Chantrie and after them whom they should think fit and then all the faithfull deceased Which Ordination so made bears date at Fulbroke in this Conntie 21 Iunii anno 1332. 6 â— 3. and was ratified by the before specified Bishop the sixt of Iuly following The Priorie BUt as this worthy person became advanced to further honour and riches so was his heart much enlarged for works of pietie for within the space of fâ—ur years next following having obtained Lâ—cense from the Kingâ— for the Foundation of a Monastery of Canons-Regular of S. Augustin's Order and for amortizing of the Churches of Maxstoke and Long-Ichinton thereto with xx li. lands per an of his own proper estate he began the fabrick thereof whereby the Chantrie before mentioned became dissolved and was incorporated to that Religious House And being then newly created Earl of Huntendon procured from the said King a most ample Charter of Liberties and priviledges thereto constituting by his own Charter most solemn and exact Rules for the government of those his Canons In which Charter having declared his Dedication thereof to the honour of the holy and individuall Trinity the blessed Virgin S. Michaell th'arch Angell and all Saints he expresseth his said Foundation and endowment to be for the good estate of himself and Iulian his wife as also of Edw. 3. then K. of England Laurence de Hastings Roger Bishop of Cov. and Lich. Henry Prior of Coventre Richard Dean of Lichfield as also of the Monks of Coventre and Canons of Lichfield during this life and for the health of his soul together with the souls of the said Iulian K. Edward the rest as aforesaid after their departures out of this world the souls of Iohn de Clinton his father Ida his mother Iohn his brother and their children living dead and moreover for the souls of all the Kings of England Lords Hastings Bishops of Cov. and Lich. Priors Deans Monks and Canons of the places before recited his Parents Benefactors and of all the faithfull deceased Appointing that there should be therein an elective Prior with a Covent of xii Canons besides there living religiously and regularly according to the Rule of S â— Augustin wearing both in Summer and Winter for their upper garment a black Cope and Hood with a Surplis under the said Cope and such other garments as all other Regular Canons then used And that upon the death of the Prior the Covent should within five or six days proceed to the election of another without seeking for any License of him his heirs or successors Likewise that none should be admitted as a Canon in this Monastery but a Free-born man and so reputed as also of good conversation competently learned for the state of such a Canonâ— having a fit voice to sing being xviii years old at least and fit to receive the Order of Priesthood when he should come of meet age and at the end of the first year after such his entrance that should read or cause to be read openly in his presence all and singular the things contained in the said Charter of Foundation promising his faithfull observance of them And further declared that whereas he had endowed the said Monastery with Lands and Rents to the value of CC li. per an lying within the precincts of Maxstoke and Long-Ichinton before specified when there should happen to be x. marks yearly increase of that revenue either by himself or any other Benefactor or through the industry of the said Prior and Covent within one month after another Canon might be added to their number and so still more Canons as their revenues should proportionably augment And likewise that no yearly Pension should be granted to any one by the Prior except for the certain advantage of the House whereof the Bishop of the Dioces to be Judge As also that the Accounts of all the Officers belonging to the Monasterie should be yearly exhibited to the Prior and Covent or three persons by them nominated and openly read before the whole Covent to the end that every one might thereby know the true state of the House and by Indenture to be then deposited in their Treasurie And hereunto did he adde that after his departure out of this life his Anniversarie should be yearly celebrated by the said Prior and Covent with Placebo and Dirige as also solemn Mass in the Quire and the whole Office of the Dead for the health of his soul with the souls above specified and all the faithfull deceased And that upon the same day there should be a Dole to an C. poor people viz. of Maxstoke and other places to each a Loaf weighing L s. and every day at dinner time over and above the accustomed Bread allowed to the poor one white Conventuall Loaf and a mess of meat out of the Kitchin together with a flagon of Beer assigned to one of the poorest people in Maxstoke or from some other place according to the discretion of the Prior or his Almoner for the health of the said Founder's soul and the souls of the persons above named and all the faithfull deceased And that the Mass of the blessed Virgin the Chapter-Mass and the Mass of the day should be daily celebrated at the houres and in the places accustomed in other Monasteries so that in all those Masses except on the greatest Festivalls mention should be made of him and of Iulian his wife as also of the said King Edward and the persons before recited during their lives in this world and afterwards in such sort as is usually done for the dead And moreover that every Prior before his installation should cause all the particulars contained in the said Charter of Foundation to be openly read promising his faithfull observance of them to his utmost power And after Mattens of the blessed Virgin finished in the Quire and the Mass of the same and at the end of every houre the Pâ—iest celebrating the Mass and the performer of the Office with the same voice that he
daughters and heirs scil Adeliza the wife of Simon de Harecurt and Amabil of Robâ—rt Fitz-Walter as the Descent in Curdworth sheweth Which Amabil gave with her body for sepulture to the Nuns of Polesworth the Mill here at Kingsburie with some grounds thereto belonging her sister Alice confirming the granâ— and adding the Mill at Hurley for the health of her soul. But these sisters having no Children this Lordship descended to Amicia their Aunt and heir wife to Peter de Bracebrigge so called from a place of that name neer Lincolne whereof he was possest The Descendants of which Peter and Amicia had their principall seat here till about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign divers of them being Knights as the Pedegree in the foregoing page sheweth This Peter de Bracebrigge was a militarie man as it seems for I find that he gave unto William the son of Fundui and his heirs certain lands lying within the precinct of this Lordship in a place called Esbroc to the intent that the said William shâ—uld upon lawfull warning carry hither to Kingsbury such painted Lances from London or Northampton at the charges of him the said Peter as he might have occasion to use in any Tourneament there and that whensoever the said Peter should take a journey beyond Sea for performance of such martiall exploits he the said Will. to attend him and to bring back his Lances To which Peter succeeded Iohn his son and heir who had much adoe in defending this his inheritance for in 7 Ioh. did Thomas de Arden begin his claim and gave five marks to the said King for a Writ of Right to trye his title thereto which in 9 Ioh. he did set forth as lineall heir to Turchil de Warwic who was seized of it in King H. 1. time and offred to decide his right to it by Duell naming one William de Kopland his Champion which William receiving comand from Ulfkill his Father as being Tenant to the said Iohn assented to undertake the Combate Whereupon Iohn de Bracebrigge answered that he denied not the said Turchil's seisin but tendred triall by the great Assize as to the time and right thereof Unto which the said Thomas replied that the great Assize ought not to be in this case because they were both descended from one stock viz. from Turchil of whose inheritance it was Howbeit Iohn answered that though he acknowledged their descent from Turchil yet he claimed nothing thereby because the said Turchil had two wives and that it was from the first that the said Thomas descended but that this land being the inheritance of Leverunia his second wife who held it all her life and after her decease Osbert her son and after him another Osbert that had severall daughters which died without issue it came to Amicia their Aunt mother to him the said Iohn tendring to put himself upon the great Assize to determine whether he had not more right thereto from the before specified Laverunia than the said Thomas from Turchil and whether the same Turchil were so seized of it the day and year that the said King Henry dyed And lastly because the said land did lye bordering on two Counties scil Warwick and Stafford he offered xx marks to have Knights of both Counties for triall thereof the said Thomas offring xx marks and a Palfrey whereupon it was concluded that the cause should be so decided and so I suppose it was or by some friendly Agreement for I find that the next year following the same Thomas de Arden quitted all his right and title therein to the said Iohn And yet it seems that they were not quiet for in 11 Ioh. the said Thomas de Arden gave a Palfrey that the determination thereof might be before the King and the next year after Iohn de Bracebrigge payd xl s. for to have another Jury but other particulars I have not seen This Iohn de Bracebrigge confirmed the grant of Kingsburie-Millâ— c. and Hurley-Mill made to the Nunns of Polesworth as hath been observed and died without issue in 2 H. 3. leaving William his Brother and heir Which VVilliam in 19 H. 3. was a Justice of Assize at Warwick and afterwards confirm'd to the Monks of Merevale â— the grant of a yard land in Holt made to them by Iohn his Brother and whatsoever else he the said Iohn had given to that Monasterie But to William succeeded Raph his son and heir who questioned the title that the Nuns of Polesworth had to Kingsburie-Mill and Hurley-Mill whereupon they came to a Composition with him giving six marks of silver This Raphe was at that time a Knight and shortly after commenced suit against the Nuns of Mergate for the advouson of Kingsburie-Church but to this they pleaded the grant of Osbert de Arden and exhibited the Charter of Peter de Bracebrigge before specified with the consent of Amicia his wife confirming the same whereupon he had no more to say To which Raphe succeeded Iohn de Bracebrigge betwixt whom and the Prioresse of Mergate there was a Fine levied in 36 H. 3. for certain lands lying within this Lordship of Kingsburie that were setled upon the said Iohn and his heirs paying iii s. yearly Rent to the Nuns In 40 H. 3 this Iohn gave a Fine to the King of two marks in gold that his Knighthood might be respited for three years longer wiâ—hin the compasse of which time being amerced at a mark by the Justices Itinerant in Lincolnshire because he was not a Knight he had a speciall Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer for acquitting him of that summe But adhering to the rebellious Barons who in 48 H. 3. did put themselves in Armes as in Kenilworth hath been shewed was on the fift of April the same year taken Prisoner in Northampton at the surprisall thereof by the King's Army being at that time a Knight for which this Lordship was seized and given by the King to Roger de Clifford and imprisoned at Shrewsbury as appears by the King's Precept for his deliverie directed to the Bayliffs of that town and dated 9. Ian. 49. H. 3. But the Inquisition upon the extent of his lands says that Hugh de Turberville had the charge of him till he had got his redemâ—ption yet after this he fled into the Isle of Axholme with young Simon Montfort and others where he continued till he saw all his partie totally vanquishtâ— and then submitted to the Diâ—ctum de Kenilworth Iames de Audele undertaking on his behalf It seems that his composition did cast him into some distress for in 53 H. 3. he mâ—d a Lâ—ase of this whole Lordship excepting a yard land that one Walter le Plummer sometime held unto Robert de Typetot and Eva his wife during their lives for which he received of them 500 li.
the Vicaridge but at half a mark But in 26 Hen. 8. the said Vicaridge was estimated at vii li. iv s. Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Erdburie D. Will. de Knychtcote Cap. 14. Cal. Ian. 1308. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Rob. de Herdwyk Pbr. 11 Cal. Ian. 1311. Prior Conv. de Erdburie D. Steph. de Stocton Pbr. 4. Id. Sept. 1314. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Will. de Mershton Cap. 6. Cal. Maii 1339. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Will. del Hull Pbr. 13 Cal. Sept. 1361. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Ioh. de Sampson Pbr. 3. Id. Feb. 1373. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Ioh. Parker Pbr. 4. Nov. 1394. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Will. de Deene Cap. 24. Ian. 1413. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Ioh. Cooke Cap. 9. Apr. 1433. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Frater Will. de Woodcote Canon de Erdbury 28 Martii 1435. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Ioh. Lolleworth Cap. 1. Apr. 1452. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Will. Outelade Cap. 26. Sept. 1454. Prior Conv. de Erdburie Amias Halghton Pbr. 26. Oct. 1494. Prior Conv. de Erdburie D. Ioh. Keldermore Canon 21 Maii 1521. Phil. M. Rex Regina Henr. Wylkins Cler 14. Maii 1557. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Will. Pate Cler. 21. Nov. 1561. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Hugo Conwey Cler. 30. Martii 1574. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Ioh. Ashby Cler. 17. Aug. 1574. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Ric. Tayler Cler. 1. Dec. 1591. Iacobus Rex Arth. Oldame Cler. 1. Martii 1603. Iacobus Rex Ioh. Malen in art Bac. 12. Sept. 1621. Griffe OF this place there is no particular mention in the Conq â— Survey it being then involved with Chilverscoton and possest by Harold the son of Raphe Earl of Hereford whose posteritie took the sirname of Sudley yet sometimes made their residence here Whil'st the male line of which Family lasted it continued theirs but afterwards came to Boteler Norbury and Bray successively as the Descent on the next page inserted will shew This Raph Earl of Hereford was son to Walter de Maunt by Goda sister to K. Edw. the Confessor but of him there is little observeable other than his pusillanimitie whereby he suffered the Citie and Countie of Hereford to become a prey to the VVelch in the year 1055. 13 Edw. Conf. It seems that he was dispossest of his Earldome in the first year of K. Will. the Conq â—s reign for Will. fitz Osberne then had it conferred upon him but found favour to enjoy some of his inheritance which descended to Harold his son whereof this Lordship was part To this Harold succeeâ—â—â— Iohn â—irnamed de Sutlei from his residence aâ— Sudley in com Glouc. Of whom I have seen no more mention than that he was a witness to the Charter of Margaret Countess of Warwick widow to Earl Henry made in K. Stephen's time to the Canons of Kenilworth And to Iohn succeeded Raphe who gave divers lands lying in Herdwike juxta Derset to the Knights Templars as also founded the Priorie of Erdburie adjoyning to this Lordship and left issue Oâ—vel and Raphe which Raphe by his brother's death became heir to the estate and residing here at Griffe had a peculiar Chapell in his Mannour-house wherein he had a speciall License from the Canons of Erdburie to have divine service celebrated at such time onely as himself or his heirs their wives or mothers should be personally there present excepting Christmass-day Easter-day Whitsunday All Saints-day Candlemass-day and the Feast-day of the Church its Dedication on which there should be no solemnitie kept therein unless by speciall License obtained and that in case of their disabilitie to come unto the Mother-Church by reason of sickness or other good cause And provided that all Oblations made in the said Chapell should be delivered to the Vicar of Chilverdescote for the time being so that no indempnitie thereby nor in any thing else might accrue to the said Mother-Church of Chilverdescote by means of the said Chapell VVhich Raphe had issue Raphe concerning whom I have no more to say than of his marriage and death and therein for brevities sake do refer my self to the Pedegree To this last Raphe succeeded Sir Barth de Sudle Kt. who in 54 H. 3. being constituted Shiriff of Hereford-shire and Governour of Hereford-Castleâ— and in 7 E. 1. a Justice of Assize in this Countie gave the Monks of Stoneley leave to inclose two tofts in Radway and by Ioan his wife daughter to Will. de Beauchamp of Elmeley sister to William the first Earl of Warwick of that name left issue Sir Iohn de Suthley Kt. aged about xxiiii years at his Father's death which Ioane was interred in the Conventuall Church at Erdburie before specified for the health of whose soul did Walt. de Langton Bishop of Cov. and Lich. in 13 E. 2. grant a speciall Indulgence releasing XL. days of their enjoyned Penance to all such as should with a devout mind say a Pater noster and an Ave for the health of her soul and the souls of all the faithfull deceased VVhich Sir Iohn in 13 E. 1. claimed a Court Leet here with Assize of Bread and Beer Gallows Infangthef Tumbrell Weyf and Free-warren as also to be quit of Murther and suit to the Countie and Hundred Courts exhibiting K. H. 3. Charter for the Free-warren and pleading Prescription for the rest All which were allowed excepting his immunitie for Murther forasmuch as he ought to partake with the Hundred therein And in 15 E. 1. had the King 's speciall License to travail beyond Sea In 26 of that King's reign he was with other great men summoned to be at Karleol on Whitson-Eve well fitted with Horse and Armes to go into Scotland and was summoned to Parliament amongst the Barons from 28 E. 1. till 13 E. 2. inclusive having been a liberall Benefactor to the Canons of Erdbury by granting them certain lands and Walt. Medantinus Goda soror Regis Edw. Conf. Radulfus Comes Herefordiae temp Edw. Conf. Haroldus filius Râ—dulfi Com. Matilda filia Com. Cestriae Nicholaus de Stafford secunndus maritus Ioh. de Sutleia .... filia ..... Tracie domini de Berstaple Rad. de Suthleia 12 H. 2. Fundator Prioratus de Erdburie Emma filia Will. de Bellocampo Otvelus fil haeres obiit f. p. Rad. de Sudeleg 10 R. 1. Isabella neptis Galfridi Fitz-peers relicta 26 H. 3. Rad. de Suthleg miles 16 H. 3. Imenia filia Rogeri Corbet relicta 26 H. 3. Bartholomeus de Sudley 51 H. 3. â—ohanna filia Will. de Bellocampo soror W. de Bellocampo Comitis Warw. relicta 20 E. 1. Imenia Iohanna Ioh. de Sudley miles 8 E. 1. ....
de Kenilworth exâ—mpted it from forfeiture came to Sâ— Iâ—hn de Hardreshull Kt. brother to the said Robert who first bore for his Armes a border with Martlets but afterwards Arg. a Cheveron sable betwixt ten Martlets gules and died in 4 E. 1. leaving Wiâ—liam his son and heir five years of age who in 20 E. 1. doing his Homage had liverie of his lands This Will in 21. E. 1. obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here as also at Saleby Cukewold and Kelesey in Com. Linc. and Pulteneye in Leicestershire and bore for his Armes a Cross engrailed with a Martlet in the dexter quarter In 29 E. 1. he had Summons amongst divers other eminent persons to attend the King at Barwick upon Twede on the Feast day of S. Iohn Bapt. Nativitie to march with him into Scotland and departed this life in 32 E. 1. leaving Iohn his son and heir ten years of age whose marriage for he was in Warde was granted unto Nich. Malemeyns a servant to the King Which Iohn became of full age in 6 E. 2. and doing his homage had liverie of his lands immediatly whereupon he attended the King in that unfortunate Scotch expedition the same year and was taken Prisoner in the battail of Bannoksburne After which sc. in 10 E. 2. I find that having had some contestation with the Abbess of Polesworth touching an hereditarie right to present two Nuns into that Religious Houâ—e to be there admitted by the said Abbot and Covent upon better consideration of his title he quitted any farther claim thereto being at that time a Kt. And that in 15 E. 2. he was with Nich. de Grey joyned in the Governourship of Donington and Melburne Castles in Leicestershire as also the next ensuing year one of the Commissioners for arraying of men in this Countie for the Scotch expedition In 17 E. 2. imployed into Gascoign on the King's service and in 20 E. 2. made Governour both of St. Bâ—iavell Castle and the Forest of Dene in Gloucestershire And moreover that in 1 E. 3. he obtained a speciall License from Rog. Northburgh then Bishop of this Dioces for a Priest to celebrate divine service within this his Mannour house at Hardreshull that in 3 E. 3. he was constituted a Commissioner for conservation of the peace in this Countie and bore for his Armes Argent a Cheveron sable betwixt ten Martlets gules as his grandfather did and lastly that he wedded Margaret one of the daughters and coheirs to Sir Iames Stafford of Sandon Kt. by whom he had issue three daughters and heirs viz Eliz. the wife of Iohn Culpeper Ioane of Sir Iames de Burford Kt. and Margaret of Sir Ric. Talbot Kt. Upon partition betwixt which coheirs this Lordship together with Ansley came to Elizabeth From whom descended Sir Alex. Culpeper Kt. upon whose attainder in 1 R. 3. it was granted to Sir Charles Pilkinton Kt. for the Bodie to that King I have not seen for what cause the said Alexander became attainted but do suppose it was for adhering to Henry D. of Buck. But I find that Thomas Culpeper of Bedgburie in Kent Esq. son and heir to the said Alex. repossest it Of which Thomas Sir Anthonie Cook of Giddie-Hall in Essex purchased it and died seized thereof in 18 Eliz. leaving Richard his son and heir of full age Oldburie OF this is there not any particular mention in the Conquerour's Survey 〈◊〉 being then involved with Atherston as I guess though it be a place of great antiquitie as may appear by that quadrangular Fort whence at first it had this name which contains about seven acres of ground as by the rampires whose height and largeness do still shew the strength it was of is manifest being situate upon the most eminent crest of all that mountanous tract bordering upon this nook of the Wood-land and purposely chosen without doubt by the Romans in respect of its vicinitie to Manceter where they had a fixed station On the North part of this Fort have been found by plowing divers Flint stones about four inches and a half in length curiously wrought by grinding or some such way into the form here exprest the one end shaped much like the edge of a Pole-Axe which makes me conjecture that considering there is no flint in all this part of the Countrie nor within more than xl miles from hence they being at first so made by the native Britans and put into a hole boared through the side of a staff were made use of for weapons inasmuch as they had not then attained to the knowledge of working iron or brass to such uses On the South side of this Fort had the Nunns of Polesworth very antiently a Cell as appeareth by part of a Chapell yet standing which was dedicated to St. Laurence and if we may credit that old historicall MS. voucht in my discourse of that Monasterie it must not be denyed but that it was theirs before the Norman Conquest 'T is true that in K. Henry the first 's time Walter de Hastings and Athawis his wife did by their speciall Charter in the presence of Roger de Clinton then Bishop of this Dioces grant unto these Nuns Osanna being then the Prioâ—esse the site of this Oldburie and all Stipershull in fields and woods down to the midst of the Valley on that side Manceter As also a certain part of the wood lying Sâ—uth-east of Oldburie and extending to the rivulet which comes from Hardreshull And moreover all those grounds called Calve-croft and Birchley lying betwixt these two ways sc. Mere-street and Birchley street unto Hugh's wood in circumference But this I do not account to be any other than in the nature of a Confirmation which was very fit for these Nuns to have considering that notwithstanding the Conqueror by those Laws he made in the fourth year of his reign seemed favourable to Religious persons yet by the Preamble to those of K. Henry the first there is an acknowledgement of manifold oppressions which had there not been how expedient it was for them to obtain some good assurance from their new Lords will easily be judged And that this though it pass by the words dedit confirmavit was no other than a ratification seems likely to me both by that declaratorie Instrument made thereupon by the before specified Bishop in these words Rogerus Dei gratia Cestriae Episcopus Omnibus c. Noverint tam praesentes quam futuri Walterum de Hastings Hadevisam ejus uxorem in mea praesentia dedisse consessisse religioni conversationi pauperum mulierum deputasse locum de Aldeberia cum omnibus suis pertinentiis ita quod nichil proprii juris vel dominii vel advocationis terrenae inibi sibi retinuerunt praeter hoc quod
or the lande at Evertons and the xli and pray you in every place see cleerness in my soul and pray fast and I shall for you and Iesu have mercy on my Soule Amen My Lords Stanley Strange and all that blood helpe and pray for my Soule for ye have not for my Body as I trusted in yow and if my issue rejoyce my Land I pray you lett Mr. John Elton have the best Benefice and my Lord Lovell come to grace then that ye shew to him that he pray for me And uncle John remember my Soule as ye have done my Body and better and I pray you see the Sadler Hartlington be paied and in all other places After which viz. in the Parl. begun 7 Nov. 1 H. 7. ensued his attainder whereupon all his lands eschaâ—ting to the Crown this Lordship in 3 H. 7. was bestowed on Sir Iames Blunt Kt. and the heirs male of his body To this William succeeded George his son and heir who in 10. H. 7. having Livery of divers lands descended to him aswell by inheritance from Margaret his mother as from William Lord Zouch and Elizabeth his wife Father and Mother to the said Margaret and being by Act of Parl. held the year following restored to his Father 's forfeited possessions whereby this Lordship came again to that Family wedded Elizabeth daughter of Sir Richard Empson Kt. one of the great Projectors in H. 7. time and by his Testament bearing date 8 Maii 19 H. 7. bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Church of Ashby-Legers before the Image of the holy Trinity in his Chapell there appointing that two marble stones price of each vi l. xiii s. iiii d. should be brought thither one to be layd upon his Father and Mother and the other upon himself as a memoriall for him and his wife The Probate whereof bears date two years after which shews that he dyed about the latter end of 20 H. 7. leaving William his son and heir by reason of his minority in ward to Iohn Spenser of Wormleâ—ghton who departed this life about the 10 th of H. 8. leaving Richard his Brother and heir in ward also to Sir Will. Spenser Kt. in 19 H. 8. Which Richard having been one of the Kts. for this Shire in that Parl. of 30 H. 8. so fatall to the Monasteries and the next year following Shiriff and so also in 37 H. 8. being then a Knight had two wives scil Dorothe daughter to Sir Iohn Spenser Knight and Eliz. daughter to Will. Astell one of the daughters and heirs to the Lady Iane Bray and departed this life 4 Maii 7 E. 6. leaving William his grandchild and heir for his eldest son William died in his life time Which William being likewise a Knight and residing much at Bushwode underwent the Shiriffalty of this County in 20. Eliz. and by Anne his wife the daughter of Sir Robert Throkmorton Kt. had issue Robert and other sons which Robert having sold this Lordship to Sir Edward Grevill of Milcote Knight of whom Sir Thomas Holt of Aston juxta Bermingham purchased it being unhappily confederate with the Gunpowder Conspirators in 3. Iac. and thereupon slain with Percy at Holbeach-house in Worcestershire was afterwards by Act of Parl. attainted as is fully manifested by our vulgar Writers The Church dedicated to St. Mathew being given about the later end of K. H. 3. time by Will. de Harecurt son of Rob. de Harecurt of whom I have already made mention unto Iohn the son of Peter de Glen and by the said Iohn granted to the Warden and Schollars of Merton Colledge in Oxford â— was by them past over to King Edw. 1. Which King in 4. of his reign conferred it on the Provost and Canons of the Hospitall of Montchensy as by his Charter bearing date 24. Nov. appeareth But it seems that those Canons had little benefit by this grant for I find that the same K. by another Charter bearing date 4. Iunii the year ensuing rendred and restored it to the Warden and Schollars of Merton Colledge above mentioned After which viz. in an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xvii marks and a half but in 26 H. 8. at no more than x l. per an the Procurations and Synodals yearly payable out of it being x s. v. d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. per â—â—psum Rob. de Lutleburi Cler. 2. Id. Nov. 1286. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. de Cliva Diac. Non. Maii 1286. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Magr. Thomas de Wylton 8. Id. Oct. 1303. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Magr. Will. Waleys 3. Id. Iulii 1320. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Heyne Cler. 19. Nov. 1349. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Beaugrant Subdiac 9. Cal. Ian. 1367. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Rob. de Horton Pbr. 8. Iulii 1370. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Will. Rous. .... 1370. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Magr. Will. Heryngton 14. Maii 1411. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Coke 4. Maii 1422. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Rad. Paret 13. Maii 1433. Custos Scolares domus de Merton D. Rad. Spire 29. Martii 1446. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Hill penult Febr. 1456. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Magr. Rob. Arden in Art Magr. 10. Ian. 1488. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Magr. Ioh. Iohnson Art Magr. 7. Maii 1509. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Thomas Raynolde Pbr. 17. Aug. 1540. Custos Scolares domus de Merton D. Ioh. Raynshaw Cler. 10. Nov. 1556. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Litton Cler. 30. Oct. 1584. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Morley Cler. in art Magr. ult Maii 1613. Custos Scolares domus de Merton Ioh. Elly Cler. 16. Oct. 1613. In 47 E. 3. there was a Chantry founded in a certain Chapell adjoyning to this Church by Ric. de Montfort Roger de Ulbarwe Roger atte Greene of Lapworth and Richard Dolfyn a Priest and by them endowed with two messuages two carucates of land twelve acres of meadow and xvi s. Rent all lying in Toneworth for maintenance of a Priest to sing Masse there every day to the honour of the blessed Virgin S. Thomas the Martyr and All Saints which lands were then called by the name of Wodardes-Lond Heath-land â— and Lysterley-field as appeareth by the Earl of Warwick's License for amortizing of them whereby also he gave authoritie to the said Richard Montfort and the heirs male of his body to present a fit Priest thereto as often as cause should require but in
default of such issue male he the said Earl and his heirs to do it After which establishment so made the said Richard de Montfort and his fellow Founders by their Deed indented bearing date at Toneworth the Tuesday next after the Feast of the Epiphany 49 E. 3. setled the said lands and Rent upon Iohn Iori the first Chantrie-Priest there and his successors to celebrate divine service daily in the said Chapell of our Lady and S. Thomas the Martyr for the souls of Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lady Katherine his wife William Witlesey late Archbishop of Canterbury Sir Peter de Montfort Knight and Margaret his wife Sir Baldw. Frevill Knight Henry de Wolfrigeston late Vicar of Toneworth Sir Iohn de Montfort Knight Isabell late wife of Richard de Montfort Hugh de Brandeston and Christian his wife Nicholas Durvassall and Iohn de Honygton and for the good estate of T. de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick son and heir to the before mentioned Earl and Margaret his consort Sir William de Beauchamp Knight Sir Iohn de Clinton Knight Sir Baldw. Frevill Knight son and heir to the said Sir Baldwin Sir Henry de Arderne Knight Richard de Periton Priest Iohn Harewood Priest Lora de Astley Baldwyn de Montfort the Lady Alice de Langley Richard de Montfort and Rose his wife Thomas le Archer Philip de Aylesbury and Agnes his wife Roger de Ulbarwe and Alice his wife William de Montfort Clerk Richard Dolfyn Priest Richard Lyndsey Priest Roger de Green of Lapworth and Iohn Anketill and for every of their Children during this life and for their souls after their departures hence and the soules of all the faithfull deceased the value of which lands over and above reprises in 37 H. 8. were rated at Ciii s. ix d. Besides what belong'd to this Chantrie the Church of Lapworth had certain lands given thereto in 18 H. 6. by George Ashby the Elder viz. one messuage 12. acres of land and one acre of meadow then in the occupation of Thomas Hilton and Agnes his wife and another mess. with fifty acres of Land five acres of Meadow 31. acres of Pasture five acres of Wood two acres of Moore and viii s. vi d. Rent lying in Lapworth and Nuthurst All which were granted by the said George to Raph Perot then Parson of that Church and his successors to provide a certain Lamp to burne there and to performe other works of Charitie But these by Act of Parliament in 1 E. 6. coming to the Crown with all others of that kind were past away to ..... Grey in 18 Eliz. as concealed lands Before I leave Lapworth there are two things which I desire to cleer the one is how it comes to passe that it lying so far distant from Kineton Hundred is neverthelesse reputed to be parcell thereof and the other touching Bushwode which is a small Village of some scattering Houses within the precinct of this Lordship upon what reason it is in the parish of Old Stratford so many miles from it and in another Hundred To the first I answer that Lapworth coming by descent from Grentemaisnill to the old Earles of Liecester and that Earldom being at length swallowed up in the Dutchy of Lancaster it was antiently joyned with those towns in Kineton-Hundred which were certified under the title of Lancastriae Ducatus viz. â—â—â—â—â—ndon Foxcote Eatendon Thorndâ—n Fenni-Compton Oxshulf Tachebrokeâ— Merston-Boteler and Compton-wynzate and so still continuing in all assesments and otherwise is accounted part of that Hundred And yet in 9 E. 2. it was reputed as part of the Hundred now called the Libertie of Pathlow as Stratâ—ord still is And to that of Bushwode I say that it having long before the Norman Conquest been parcell of the possessions pertaining to the Bishops of Worcester as Stratford and Lapworth were and not disposed by the Conqueror with Lapworth to H. de Grentemaisnill but continuing to that Bishoprick was held by some of the succeeding Bishops as part of the demesn of Stratford their chief Mannour in this County being a meer Wood and therefore called Bissopeswude and so through corruptnesse of pronunciation Bushwode It seems that Frethric de Bishopesden was enfeoft thereof together with Bishopsden by Sampson Bishop of Worcester in H. 1. time for I find that he afterwards quite claimed his right therein and so did William his son and heir to Iohn de Constantiis Bishop in 9 R. 1. and his successors so that ever after it continued to that Bishoprick as a member of Stratford untill Nich. Heath Bishop of that See in 3 E. 6. past it with Stratford unto Iohn Dudley Earl of Warwick of which Mannour it still continues a member But that which is now called Bushwood-Hall hath no relation to it being the Mannour-house of Lapworth and indifferently stiled Lapworth-Hall or Bushwood-Hall because of its situation neer Bushwood Kingswood partly in the Parish of Lapworth and partly of Rowington OF this place by the name of the Mannour of Kingswood I have not seen any particular mention in Record till H. 5. time it having been antiently part of the possessions belonging to that great Family of Montfort Lords of Beldesert in this County as may appear from what I have observed in Wellesburne-Mountfort where it is taken notice of as a Wood lying at Badsley unto which it is contiguous and there it did passe with Wellesburne so that it seems it had long before that time been reputed a member thereof which is the reason why to this day it is accounted part of the Constablery though so far distant thence But from these Montforts by a daughter and coheir it came to Butler as Wellesburne did and in 13 H. 7. to Edward Belknap then of Merston juxta Wolston in this County Esquire upon partition made betwixt him and Sir Iohn Norbury Knight of all Butler's lands Which Edward by his Deed bearing date 16 Ian. in the year abovesaid sold it to Nich. Brome of Badsley-Clinton Esquire from whom it divolved with that Lordship to the Family of Ferrers and is so possest at this day Rowington FOllowing this petty torrent which cometh from Lapworth it soon leads me into the Hundred of Barlichway again where it forthwith meets with another little brook that hath its rising in Hemlingford Hundred on the Western side whereof Rowington vulgarly called Rownton is situate whereof I am next in order to speak This town standing upon a rocky ground had originally its name from thence as may seem by the antient Orthographie thereof viz. Rochintone for so it is written in the Conqueror's Survey where it is certified to contain three hides having a Church and woods belonging thereto then esteem'd at one mile in length and half a mile and eight furlongs in bredth All which having been the freehold of one Baldwin in Edward the Confessors days were then possest by Hugh de