afterwards the Earldome of Shrewsbury bestowed upon him by the Conq. And by him or one of his sons do I conclude that Alanus filius Fladaldi progenitor to that great family of Fitz Alan became enfâ—oft of this Lordship for that he had to do here I have seen good authority besides the testimony that his descendants Earls of Arundell were superior Lords of the fee. From which Alan it divolved to Roger de Fredvill in mariage with Sibilla his wife whose daughter 't is like she was For I find that the same Roger and Sibill gave lands out of it to the Monks of Burton super Trent in an 1132. viz. 33. H. 1. quas priùs obtulerat domina Adeliza mater Sibillae tempore Nigelli Abbatis as the Leiger book of that house expresses but who this domina Adeliza her mother was I cannot yet discover Here was in Wolston a religious House subordinate to the Abby of St. Peter super Dinam in the Dioces of Sais in France of which I shall say more anon resolving now to take notice of the posterity of the said Roger de Frevill and Sibilla with whom the inheritance of Wolston went and what I find memorable of them for the clearer understanding whereof I have inserted this descent Domina Adeliza Rogerus de Frevilla 33. H. 1. Sibilla 33. H. 1. Hamo Extraneus 1. maritus Agatha superstes 21. H. 3. Rad. Extraneus Agatha le Strange Ric. G. de Turvill archidiac Dublin 21. H. 3. Gaufrid de Thorville 2. maritus Hamundus de Thurvile 24. H. 3. R. Turvile miles â—9 E. 1. 2. E. 2. Iohan. Turvile 15. E. 2.28 E. 3 Tho. Thur. vile 19. E. 3. fil haeres Wil. Rob. Galfr. Rob. le Turvile 9. E. 2.18 E. 2. Robert de Chetwode Sibilla Wil. de Chetwode Agneta W. le Bret. de longa Ichindon 21. E. 1. 3. E. 2. Guil. le Bretun 12. E. 2.20 E 3. Avicia W. Bretun miles 45. E. 3.1 R. 2 Guido Bretun â— H. 4. Rad. de Chetwode Ric. de Frevil This Roger was a benefactor to the Cannons of Kenillworth by the consent of Sibill his wife giving them one hyde and one virgate of land here And had issue Richard Agatha and Sibill which Richard became a benefactor to the monasteries of Alcester and Combe in this County To the first whereof he granted the Church of Pebworth in Gloucester-shire and to the other his Mill at Merston in this Parish but had no children it seems for his Sisters became his heirs whereof Agatha marryed to Geffrey Thorvile and Sibill to Robert Chetwode who both with their husbands did confirm the gift of Merston-Mill made to the Monks of Combe by their Brother Richard But forasmuch as the descent from the said Agatha is not so cleared by authority of Record or other evidence as I could wish I must by that light which I have point out what I conceive hath most affinity with Truth which in this and the like uncertainties is exprest by prickt lines as in the example may be discerned This Geffrey Turvill for it may very well be he gave the Chappel of Stockingforth with certain lands there to the Abby of Leicester But the first husband to the said Agatha was Hamon Strange which Hamon by his wifes consent confirmed to the monastery of Kenillworth five virgates of land in Wulfricheston that Roger Frevill and Sibill his wife had formerly given thereto and had issue a daughter named Agatha who gave to the Abby of Combe for the health of her soul and the soul of Richard her son and the rest of her children certein errable land lying in Wulricheston fields In which grant she is called Agatha le Straunge filia Hamonis le Straunge but what her husband was I find not In 24 H. 3. amongst the Kts. fees which were assigned to Hawys the widow of Iohn Fitz-Alan in this County there is mention of one held of the said Iohn by Hamon Turvill and another by the heirs of Raphe Straunge Which Hamon as I guesse was the son of Geffrey Turvile and Agatha and gave lands in Merston within this Parish to the Monks of Combe This Agatha de Turvill lived to a great age for I find that by the procurement of Geffrey Turvill her son who was Arch-Deacon of Dublin and the Kings Treasurer there she had a Patent whereby her self and her heirs were during her life free'd from suit to the County and Hundred Courts for Wuluerecheston Merston and Bretford in this Shire Which Geffrey being elected Bpp. of Ossorie in that Kingdom had the royall assent for confirmation thereof But the next of this line that I meet withall as Lord of Wolston is Sir Richard Turvile Kt. in 29. E. 1. then one of the Coroners in this County an Office in those days of great accompt and confer'd onely upon the wisest and discreetest Knights that might best attend thereon for there is a writ in the Register Nisi sit miles whereby it appeareth that there was a sufficient cause to remove a Coroner chosen if he were not a Knight and had not C. sol Rent of Free-hold But I find that in regard of impotency he was discharged of that Office and dyed the same year as 't is like for in 9 E. 2. was Robert de Turvile certified to be Lord of Wolfricheston with the members thereto belonging To which Robert succeeded Iohn de Turvile who in 19. E. 2. levyed a Fine thereof entayling it on himself and his children by Margaret his wife but for default thereof to Thomas Ferrers and his heirs and left issue Thomas Turvile his son and heir William Robert and Geffrey Howbeit after the 34 E. 3. that this Thomas presented to the Chappel of Bretford I find no more mention of these Turviles here Nor further of this place till x. R. 2. that Sir William Wauton Kt. and Dame Ismania his wife levyed a Fine thereof to the use of Sir William Bagot Kt. and William Glym and the heirs of the said Sir William Bagot for ever by which Fine it appears that there was special warranty against her the said Ismania whence I guess that she was Turviles daughter and heir Which Sir William Bagot left issue Isabell his daughter and heir wife to Thomas Stafford who in H. 5. time past it to the Canons of Kenilworth without licence whereupon it being seized into the Kings hands was in 6 H. 6. granted to Iohn Verney Clerk and Iohn Throgmorton to hold for twelve years but in 10 H. 6. Iohn Weston of Weston Sergeant at Law Iohn Beauchampe of Kenilworth Priest and Iohn Stokes of the same Kenilworth Yeoman were certified to hold it with Merston by the fourth part of a Knights fee. How they had it or how they parted with it I find not but certein it is that Nicholas Metley a Lawyer soon after obteined
demesn Free-warren Court-Leet Gallows and other priviledges together with xxxix Tenants holding 26. yard land by payment of severall Rents and performance of certain services as also viii Cottiers and iv Freeholders From whom descended Sir Iohn de Mountfort Knight who in E. 3. time wedded Ioan the daughter and heir to Sir Iohn de Clinton of Colshill as by the descent in Beldesert will appear And from him Sir Baldwin who in H. 6. time had great suits with Sir Edmund his brother by the Fathers side touching the title to this Lordship which the same Sir Edmund in disherison of Sir Baldwin endeavoured to hold the Story whereof I have set forth in Colshill in regard that Mannour was then in question upon the same title But the last of the Montforts that possest this Lordship was Sir Symon son and heir to the above specified Sir Baldwin who being attainted in 11 H. 7. as in Colshill I shall also shew the inheritance thereof inter alia eschaeting to the Crown was by the said King 1. Dec. 12 H. 7. bestowed on Sir Reginald Bray Knight a great favourite in those days who dying without issue Margerie the onely child of his brother Iohn wife to Sir William Sands Knight became his next heir Which Sir William afterwards Lord Sandes did his homage for the same in 31 H. 8. But it continued not long in the family of Sandes for Thomas Lord Sandes son and heir to William past it a way to Thomas Andrews Esquire since which time I have seen no more of it The Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin was in anno 1291. 19. E. 1. valued at xxx marks there being at that time a portion of 1. mark issuing out of it to the Monastery of Evesham but in 26 H. 8. at xxx li. out of which the Synodalls and Procurations payd amounted to x s. v d. ob and the yearly Pension to the said Monastery of Evesham vi s. viii d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. per lapsum Hugo de Vienna 5. Id. Dec. 1270. D. Ioh. de Monteforti Will. de Monterforti 8. Cal. Apr. 1290. D. Ioh. de Monteforti Henr. de Astede Subdiac 12. Cal. Aug. 1295. D. Ioh. de Monteforti Petrus de Monteforti Cler. 18. Cal. Iulii 1312. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles D. Ioh. Anneys Cap. 3. Non. Oct. 1320. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles D. Ric le Archer Pbr. 8. Cal. Martii 1323. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles D. Ric. de Budeford Pbr. 5. Apr. 1357. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles Will. de Monteforti Cler. 13. Iunii 1368. D. Will. Mountfort miles D. Ioh. Hathewey Pbr. 26. Sept. 1431. D. Will. Mountfort miles Ric. de Mountfort Diac. 13. Oct. 1433. Simon Mountfort miles Ioh. Frysby S. Theol. D. 5. Oct. 1467. Simon Mountfort miles D. Oliverus Alwode ulâ— Martii 1474. Simon Mountfort miles D. Ioh. Menske Pbr. 19. Nov. 1492. Will. Sandys miles D. Margeria ux ejus Nich. Hall Cap. 7. Apr. 1528. Eliz. Angl. Regina Augustinus Walker Cler. 22. Nov. 1586. Compton-Scorfen THis as all other Comptons taking its name from the situation thereof in a deep narrow Valley as I have elswhere observed being possest by Robert de Stadford in the Conquerors time was then certified to contain six hides five whereof Warinus then held which were valued at C s. and the sixt Aluinus then rated at x s. In the generall Survey it is in one place written parva Contone and in the other Contone without any distinction at all Howbeit after this till 36 H. 3. I do not directly find who was owner of it but then did Robert de Haleford answer for half a Knights Fee which he held here of Roger le Poer and he of Ernald de Bois and he of the Lord Stafford in which Record it is called Hethin-Compton After this viz. in 7 E. 1. it had the name of Scorfen added thereto at which time Robertus filius Petri was Lord thereofâ— and held it of Thomas de Stoke Iordan Cathelewe and Felicia his wife by the service of half a Knights Fee de parvo feodo Stafford as the Record hath it having at that time three yard land in demesn and three Tenants holding certain lands by payment of sundry Rents and performance of severall base services I am of opinion that this Peter abovementioned father to the said Robert was sirnamed de Valle for clear it is that the Family of that name whose principall seat was at Lodinton neer Stratford were owners of this place from E. 1. time till 34 E. 3. and that Peter de Valle in this County temp H. 3. who preceded the same Robert had first to do here is also apparent which makes it the more likely Which Robert de Valle possest it in 9 E. 2. being afterwards a Knight and so was Robert his son and heir as in Lodinton is shewed Which Robert the younger having issue Iohn that died childlesse Iohn Burdet of Arrow and Iohn Norrys who were his sisters sons as the descent in Lodinton manifesteth became his heirs But the direct time when partition was made of the lands which descended to these coheirs I have not seen howbeit certain it is that this Mannour was allotted to Burdet for the Entail made by Thomas Burdet Esquier temp E. 4. doth shew that he was solely seized of it After whose attainder Margaret his widow had restitution thereof by force of that entail and so it descended and continued to his posterity till Robert Burdet of Bramcote in this County his great grandson by his Deed bearing date ult Sept. 37 H. 8. in consideration of 1300 li. sold it to William Sheldon of Weston in this County and Robert Palmer of Curton in Com. Glouc. Yeoman Foxcote THis having been antiently a member of Ilmindon and possest therewith by Peter de Montfort in 7 E. 1. before which time I have not seen it named in Record was then held by the same tenure all the Tenants which the said Peter had here being ix in number holding 8. yard land of him by certain Rents and severall base services doing their suit twice a year at the Court-Leet held for the Honour of Leicester In which Family it continued a great while for Sir William Montfort of Colshill possest it in 10 H. 6. but it hath been long depopulated Whitchurch THis containing the Hamlets of Crimscote Wimpston and Broghton was in the Conquerors time reputed for two Mannours and possest by the Earl of Mellent the extent thereof by the generall Survey then made being certified at seven hides where it is written Witecerce having â—wo Mills and a Church and the value of all rated at viii li. x s. That this was part of that which Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line and
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
paternall inheritance into which he was by the said Decree again so reinvested had restitution of an Annuitie of Lv li. per annum to be paid out of the Exchequer to himself and his heirs which had been formerly granted to his Father in lieu of certain woods lying in the Forest of Rutland wherein he had quitted his title to the said King After which I find that resolving on a Pilgrimage to S. Iames in Gallicia he constituted Humphrey de Hastang and Richard de Wrenhull or one of them his Atturney to transact his affairs in the mean time but whether he went the same year or not being 56 H. 3. I am not certain for in 3 E. 1. he had another License to that purpose and within a short space grew in such esteem with King Edward that being imployed in his service for the warrs of Wales 5 E. 1. in 8. of that King's reign he granted unto the renowned Queen Elianore the marriage of Iohn his son and heir with power that she should dispose of him in that kind to whom she pleased and in 11 E. 1. attended the King in that Welch expedition wherein those parts were wholy reduced to obedience for which service he was acquitted of L li. debt due by him to have been paid into the Exchequer This Peter altered his coat of Armes from what his Father and grandfather bore changing their Bendé of six pieces to Bendé of ten but retaining the Colours and departed this life in 15. E. 1. leaving issue Iohn his son and heir and Elizabeth a daughter afterwards married to Will son and heir of Simon de Montacute for which Lady there is yet standing a very beautifull Monument of Marble with her statue cut to the life on the North side of the Quire at Christ Church in Oxford heretofore the Conventuall Church of S. Fridiswides Monasterie there where there was afterwards a Chantrie of two secular Priests founded to celebrate divine service daily for her soul and for the souls of the said William de Montacute as also of Iohn Bokyngham Bishop of Lincolne Sir Peter de Montfort her father the Lady Maud her mother and of Iohn de Montacute William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury Simon de Montacute Bishop of Ely Edward de Montacute Alice de Aubenie the Lady Mary Cogan Elizabeth Prioresse of Haliwell the Lady Hawise Bavent the Lady Maud Abbesse at Berking the Lady Isabell a Nun of Berking children of him the said Sir William de Montacute and her and moreover for the souls of Sir Thomas de Furnivall her second husband Sir Peter Limsie her kinsman and Simon Islipâ— and for the souls of all her parents and friends But of the said Iohn de Montfort do I find very little memorable other than that he took to wife Alice the daughter of Will. de la Plaunche by whom he had issue Iohn and Peter with two daughters viz. Eliz. and Maud whose issue came to possesse a great part of the inheritance pertaining to this family as I shall shew anon for Iohn their elder brother who was one of the murtherers of Peirs de Gaveston having in 7. E. 2. received his Pardon for that offence march't with our English Army into Scotland and there lost his life in the battail of Strivelin without issue Peter the other brother having none legitimate Which Peter for I am next in course to speak of him was first in Holy Orders but after his brother's death enjoying a fair inheritance notwithstanding his sacred function was so dispensed with as it seems that he betook himself to the world and became a Knight And standing loyall to King E. 2. in the time of that great defection when so many adhered to Thomas Earl of Lancaster had a joint Commission with Will. de Beauchamp and Roger de Aylesbury for the safe custody of the City of Worcester In 20. of that King's reign he was made Governour of Warwick Castle then in the King's hands by reason of the Earls minority In 18 19 25 and 26. of E. 3. one of the Commissioners for conservation of the Peace in this County In 20. for arraying of Clx. Archers and in 29. for putting the Statute of Labourers in execution This Iohn took to wife Margaret daughter of the Lord Furnivall but by her had issue no more than one onely son called Guy betwixt whom and Margaret one of the daughters to Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick there was a marriage in 21 E. 3. by vertue of a speciall dispensation from Roger Northburgh Bishop of Coventry Lichfield having authority from Pope Clement the sixt for the same in regard they stood allied in the third and fourth degrees of Consanguinity which marriage was designed by the said Peter and the Earl for the better founding a league of friendship betwixt them and their posteritie in regard that many suits had been betwixt their Ancestors by reason that their lands in divers places lay contiguous Shortly after which marriage there was an estate in tail made of this Castle and Mannour with divers other Lordships lying in this Countie as also in the Counties of Nott. Rutl. and Surrey whereby for want of issue by the said Guy and Margaret they were after the decease of the said Sir Peter to remain unto Tho. de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick and Katherine his wife and the heirs of the said Earl Which Thomas having obtained such an estate thereof in reversion in 35 E. 3. the same Guy being then dead without issue entailed the same upon Thomas his son and heir and the heirs male of his body and for lack of such issue on William his second son afterwards Lord Bergavenny and the heirs male of his body and for want of such issue on his own right heirs But all this while was Sir Peter de Montfort living who having had certain issue by an old Concubine called Lora de Ullenhale in E. 2. time daughter to one Richard Astley of Ullenhale took care for their advancement as may appear by those possessions they enjoyed whereof I have taken notice in due place And being grown an old man made his Testament bearing date on Saturday next after the Feast of the Conception of our Lady anno 1367. 41 E. 3. by which he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Church of the Friers Preachers at Warwick whereunto he gave x li. that the said Friersâ— should pray for his soul. To the Nuns of Pinley he gave x. marks for the like purpose and to the Lady Lora de Astley his old paramour then a Nun there C s. To Sir Baldw. Frevill the elder Kt. his kinsman xx li. To his son Richard de Montfort all hâ—s silver and gilt plate as also all his goods moveable and unmoveable lying in his Mâ—nnours of Kingsâ—urst in this Countie and
Roger de Someri Baron of Dudley and recovered them forasmuch as it appeared that the said Walter was born before matrimony betwixt his Father and mother Which Iohn in 19 E. 1. was certified to hold three yard land here of the said Baron by the x th part of a Knight's fee. But from that time till 3 H. 8. that there was a Fine levied thereof betwixt Edward Belknap Esquire and others plantiffs and Richard Wodshawe and othes Defore I have seen little of this Mannour After which it was not long ere that one Iohn Bonde a wealthy Clothier in Coventre and Merchant of the Staple possest it who bearing a good affection thereto by the consent of Geffrey Blythe then Bishop of the Dioces as also of the Prior and Covent of Tikford Rectors of the Parish Church of Aston and Richard Stich then Vicar there built a Chapell here to the honour of the blessed Virgin and S t Margaret for the benefit of the Inhabitants of this Hamlet in respect that the distance from hence to the said parish Church was such as that many times by reason of flouds they could not repaire unto it And for the maintenance of a Priest to perform divine Service therein and likewise support of the ornaments belonging thereto obtained a grant from the said Vicar with the consent of the before specified Monks of Tikford and the Bishop of all Oblations aswell in money as others things which should happen to be there made as also that it should be lawfull for him the said Iohn Bonde his heirs and assignes to retain all his own Tithes aswell arising out of his Park here at Ward end as out of a certain meadow commonly called Irish meadow and belonging of right to the Vicars of Aston paying unto the said Vicar and his successors in the same Church of Aston the summe of vi s. viii d. of lawfull English money for ever as by the publique Instrument of the said Vicar bearing date at Aston aforesaid 23. Feb. Anno 1516. 8 H. 8. appeareth Which Iohn Bonde made a small Park here of xxx acres in 6 H. 8. and stored it with Deer and left issue Thomas Bonde and he severall daughters and coheirs whereof Margaret being the wife of Edward Kynardesley son to Iohn Kynardesley of Brallesford in Com. Derb. brought this Mannour to that Family wherein it still continues Castle Bromwich THat this place had its first denomination from the Broome that the soile being of a sandy disposition naturally produceth and the crooke of the River which our Ancestors used to call a Wich or Wik there is likelyhood enough Neither do I doubt but that originally it was a member of Aston and so disposed of by some one of the old Barons of Dudley unto him who in respect of his residence here had the sirname of Bromâ—wich Of these the first I find mentioned in Record is Wido de Bramewic in 15 H. 2. and nexâ— unto him Alan de Bromwich in 31 H. 2. whose son Thomas granted to the Canons of Leicester certain Common of Pasture in Berwode on the other side the River Besides which Thomas there was one Henry de Bromwich but whether he was also son to Alan I am not sure I am of opinion that this Henry is he who in 54 H. 3. is called Henricus del Chastel de Bromwyz by reason that he had his residence at a little Pile or Castle here situate upon the brow of the Hill on the Southern bank of Tame as by the Vestigia thereof yet remaining may appear from which Castle I suppose that the Family sirnamed de Castello whereof I have spoke in Withibroke took their sirname Henricus de Bromwyz Robertus filius Henrici de Bromwyz 49 H. 3. Anselmus de Bromwyz 15 E. 1. Henr. de Bromwich 16 E. 2. Isabella filia haeres 18 E. 3. Will. de Pero 18 E. 3. obiit s. p. Thomas de la Roche Guliel de la Roche Rob. de la Roche miles Ioh. de la Roche miles 48 E. 3. Thomas de la Roche infra aetat 9 R. 2. Elâ—zabeâ—ha Edm. Ferrers dominus de Chartley Chivalier Elena una consangu haered Joh. Bermingham 5 H. 6. Philippus Chetwind secundus maritus 18 H. 6. Will. dominus Ferrers de Chartley obiit 28 H. 6. Anna filia haeres Walt. Devereux de Ferrers Chivalier 2 E. 4. Ioh. Ferrers armiger 22 H. 6. Eliz. uxor Georgii Longvile ar Tho. de Bermingham frater haeres Iohannis defunctus 9 R. 2. Mariota Margareta ux Rog. de Clarindon mil. obiit infra aet 15 R. 2. Lucia Elianora ux Rob. de Verney Johanna Margar. ux Sim. fil Robert Fleming de Com. Cork in Hibernia Alicia Ioh. Archdekne Of Robert son to the same Henry de Bromwiz I find that in 49 H. 3. he was one of the Collectors of the revenues arising out of those lands within this Hundred of Hemlingford which eschaeted to the King by the overthrow of them that were vanquisht in the battail of Evesham fighting on the Barons part and that he had issue Anselm de Bromwich who in 19 E. 1. was certified to hold of Roger de Someri then Baron of Dudley one hide of land in Wody-Bromwich by the sixt part of a Knights fee for at that time the severall parts of this Hamlet were distinguisht by the name of Wody-Bromwich Little-Bromwich and Castle-Bromwich Henry de Castello then holding in Castel-Bromwich one yard land by the xxxii th part of a Knights fee. As also that Iohn Lovell at that time held of the said Roger de Someri a certain Park here at Bromwich paying ii s. per annum at Michaelmasse for all services And that Thomas de Bromwich held likewise one yard land by the service of the xxii th part of a Knights fee both which I presume to be meant of Castle-Bromwich To this Anselm succeeded Isabell his grandchild and heir who in 18 E. 3. was wedded to William de Peto a younger son of William de Peto at which time this Mannour of Castle-Bromwich wherein the said Anselm reserved an estate to himself for terme of life was setled upon the same William and Isabell and the heirs of their two bodies lawfully begotten but she having no issue by him afterwards married to Sir Iohn de la Roche Knight by whom she had divers Children whereupon being desirous that this Mannour of her so antient inheritance might remain to her posteririty she joyned with her said husband in the levying of a Fine in 48 E. 3. whereby reserving their own lives therein they entailed it upon Iohn their son and the issue male of his body with remainder to Roger Thomas and William their younger children successively and for default of issue by them to the heirs generall of their two bodies and for lack of such issue to the right heirs of the same Isabell. Of which
to ix carucats of land But notwithstanding that this giâ—t was soe confirm'd to the Monks by the Conq. yet did Henry de Newburgh after he had by the favour of K. Will. Rufus in the beginning of his reign obtained Turchill's lands in augmentation of his Earldome lay his claim thereto soe that Rainaldâ—s the then Abbot was glad to give him a mark in gold to ratify their title After which sc. in 4. H. 1. the said Monks granted it in fee to one Auskitill who held lands â—f them at Tadmarton in com Oxon. in exchange for those wherein the said Auskitill upon this agreement quitted his title But forasmuch as that land at Tadmarton had been taxed to the K. in all payments for 5 hides and that this at Chesterton was assest at no more than one the said Auskitell allowed the Monks all the Tithe of his corne arising out of this To which Auskitell in K. Iohn's time succeeded one Sir Rob. de Kyngestune Kâ— in the possession of this place whether by descent or otherwise is hard to say which Sir Rob. gave some lands lying here unto Will. de Ardern of Rodburne with Avicia his daughter in frank marriage but in 36. H. 3. one Will. de Ley was owner of it and held it of the Monks of Abingdon by the service of a Kts. fee. 'T is not unlike but that this Will. de Ley might be son to Sir Rob. de Kyngestune and changed his name by residing at his Mannour of Ley â—n Berkshire as was usuall enough in those times when sirnames were but in their infancy To whom succeeded Thomas de Ley who had a whole carucat of land here and a virgat in demesn with x Servants holding severall proportions of him under particular Rents and certain servile employments And to him Iohn de Leye who in 6. E. 3. obtain'd a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here and at Leye in Berksh which Iohn in 12. E. 3. past away all his estate herein to Thomas de Leye his brother his Seal of Armes being 3. lyons passant upon a bend cotized From which time till 3. R. 2. have I seen noe more mention of it but then was it possest by Cath the widow of Sir Thomas Besyles Kt. daughter of Iohn son as I suppose of the said Thomas Leye which Sir T. Besyles had issue Sir Peter who dyed without children whereupon Rob. Craunford son of Margaret daughter of Alice sister to Iohn father to the above specifyed Catherine became his heir and was 30 years of age 3. H. 6. howbeit soon after this viz. in 10. H. 6. Iohn Verney Clerk Parson of Bredon in UUorcestersh with others were certifyed to be Lords thereof of which Iohn I shall say more in Compton-Murdak But it seemes that he and the rest were onely Feoftees in trust for Ric. Verney esq after wards Kt. his brother in those turbulent times for I find that in 25. H. 6. Tho. Hugford esq Nich. Rody and Will. Berkswell Clerk to whom belike the other Feoffees past their interest by their deed bearing date 10. Maii released to the said Ric. Verney and Elianore his wife all their right in this Mannour the depopulation whereof as may seem by Rous his complaint hath been antient From which Sir Ric. Verney descended Sir Ric. Verney late of Comptou-Murdak Kt. who in our time setled a considerable part thereof together with the Mannour-House upon Iohn Verney his younger son whose posterity do still enioy it Tachebrooke Episcopi FOllowing this petty stream I come next to Tachebrook â— commonly called Bishops Tachbrook for distinction from the other which is in this parish In the Conq. time it was held by the Bp. of Chester id est Cov. and Lich and contained 7. hides having then 2. Mills rated at xii s. but all at vii l. being part of the possâ—ssiâ—ns belonging to the Church of St. Chad at Lichfeild as Dâ—mesday book witnesseth wherein it is written Taschebroc I can but guess at the Etymologie of the name perhaps it might be from the Brittish word tegwch though there be so much difference in the orthography for in pronuntiation there can be no great dissonance and therefore considering that tegwch signifyes the same that pulchritudo and serenitas doth it may be applicable enough to this little brook which is soe pure and clear a torrent To the succâ—ssive Bishops of this Dioces it continued till E. 6. time of which Rog. Molend in 43. H. 3. obtaind a Charter of Free warren for himself and his successors in all his demesn lands here In 7. E. 1. it appears that the Bp. held 3 carucats of lands here in demesn and that he had xix servants who work't 3 dayes a weeke for him through the whole year and used to mow ad magnam Pâ—ecariam which I take to be his generall Reap or some such day in Harvest That he had also ix Cottiers who payd certain Rents and did work in Harvest as also six Freeholders that did the like and a Court-Leet with Gallows for which together with Assize of Bread and Beer he pleaded Prescription in 13. E. 1. and had allowance of them But in 1. E. 6. it was passed by Ric. Sampson the then Bp. to Thomas Fysher esq togeâ—her with Bishops Ichington Geydon and Chadshunt as in Bishops Ichington is shewed which alienation was confirm'd by the Dean and Chapter as also by the K. who granted unto the said T. Fisher and his heirs certain Liberties to be excercised within the precincts of these Lordships whereof I have also made mention in Ichington which T. Fysher dyed seized thereof in 20. Eliz. leaving Edw. his son and heir who sold it The Church dedicated to S. Chad hath for a long time been a Prebend of Lichfeild and had a Vicar antienly endowed In an 1291. 19. E. 1. it was valued at xxx marks and in 26. H. 8. the Vicaridge at Cxiii s. iiii d. per an Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Hugo Leyng Cap. 4. Id. Oct. 1327. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. de Stamford 3. Non. Iulii 1345. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. de Stretford 7. Id. Nov. 1348. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. de Derset Pbr. 7. Id. Iulii 1349. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Hugo de Leeth Pbr. 16 Cal. Feb. 1353. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Rob. de .... D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Barthol Power Pbr. 11. Dec. 1390. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. atte Kirk Pbr. 8. Oct. 1391. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Henr. Bowyar Pbr 24. Apr. 1394. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. D. Ric. Wytherley Cap. 4 Sept. 1405. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. Burwell Cap. 24. Apr. 1406. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. de Olughton Pbr. 10. Dec. 1423. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh.
de Boyvile Cap. iii. Non. Aug. an 1330. Edw. R. Angl. ratione temporal Priorat de Wolfrichston in manu sua existen Ioh. de Weston accol pridie Non. Dec. an 1337. D. Rex hac vice Ioh. Grene Pbr. xv Kl. Dec. an 1357. D. Rex c. Will. de Swafeld Cler. iiii Febr. an 1383. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Penreth Cler. xxi Apr. an 1408. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Penreth accol vii Oct. an 1408. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Gregorius Neuport decret bacc 7. Sept. an 1416. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Rob. Helpe Pbr. xvi Oct. an 1421. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Nich Bolton xxi Martii an 1425. Id. Pr. C. Ioh. Norton in decretis bacc x. Febr. an 1452. Id. Pr. C. D. Thomas Walker ix Apr. an 1508. Id. Pr. C. Mag. Rog Carleton .... an 1534. Ioh. Bradburne hac vice ratione concess Pr. Conv. Carthus juxta Coventre Mag. Rob. Baytt in sacra theol bacc iii. Ian. an 1546 Tho. Leigh miles Maior modernus Civitatis London Humfr. Bate in art baccal vi Febr. an 1559. Tho. Leigh miles VVill. Bolton Cler. x. Aug. an 1567. Chr. Hoddesden Gener. hac vice patronus ex concessione Will. Leigh militis Ioh. Sclater in art Mag. xviii Maii an 1612. Long-Lawford THis place as I have said is in the Parish of Church-Lawford In the Conq. time Geffrey VVirce of whom I am to speak in Monkskirby possest it and in the xii year of that Kings reign gave to the Monastery of St. Nicholas at Anglers in France amongst other things two parts of the Tâ—thes of Corn and Cattel and the whole Tyth of the Wool and Cheese arising within the Precincts thereof which were received by the Prior and Covent of Monkskirby before mentioned In that Grant it is written Lellevort but in the Conq. Survey where the same Geffrey is certified to hold five hydes here Lelleford The addition of the first Syllable Longe being of later times used to distinguish it from the other which we now call Church Lawford and doubtless was put thereto in respect that it lyes not so round together as many other towns do That Nigellus de Albany Progenitor to the family of Moubray became possest of all VVirce his lands is apparent whereof I shall speak more largely when I come to Monkskirby which Nigellus or Roger his Son who assumed the name of Moubray enfeoft Robert de Stutville thereof for I find that the said Robert about the beginning of H. 2. time passed it to Iohn de Stuteville his younger brother who for the health of his own soul and of the souls of his father and mother Robert his brother both their childrens souls as also the souls of K. Henry 2. and his Queen bestowed it on the Monks of Pipwell Within the Precinct of this Lordship was a certain Spynney called Black-thyrne whereupon those Monks built a Corn-Mill and a Fulling-Mill which graunts were in the beginning of H. 2. time for by the said Iohn de Stutevile's confirmation he ratified it unto the Monks by the name of Thyrne-Mill with the Floodgates and Damme to the same height and breadth as it was that year in which the said K. Henry returned from Tholose viz. the vi year of his reign All which were confirmed by William the son of the said Robert de Stotevile Iohn and Roger sons of the said Iohn and by Roger de Moubray chief Lord of the Fee as also by Roger Pantolfe nephew and heir to Roger de Stutevile betwixt which Roger and the Monkes of Pipwell there were two agreements concerning Common in the Moor of Long-Lawford digging of Turf for fewell and likewise about fishing in the River of Avon one of these bearing date in xi Ioh. and the other 3. H. 3. as are to be seen at large in the Leiger-Book of that Monastery In 11. E. 1. the Monks of Pipwell had Free warren inter alia granted to them in this Lalleford But there is little else of moment that I have met with concerning this place till after the dissolution of the Monasteries howbeit then viz. in 33 H. 8. did the K. Grant amongst other things to Edward Boughton Esq. and his heirs the graunge of Long-Lawford Thyrn-Mill and divers other lands there which were belonging to Pipwell-Abby And in 7 E. 6. the Mannour unto one Iohn Green of the City of Westminster and Raphe Hall of London Scrivener and their heirs which Iohn in 1 Mariae past away his right therein unto Elizabeth Boughton But I suppose that Hall's part came shortly after to one Thomas VVightman for in 4 Eliz. the said Thomas granted it by the name of the Manour of Lawford which belong'd to the Monks of Pipwell unto Sir Thomas Leigh Kt. and Dame Alice his wife which Sir Thomas dyed seized thereof and at this day Francis Lord Dunsmore his great grand-child by Sir VVilliam Leigh a younger son enjoys it viz. an 1640. I have now done with Long Lawford There is in this Parish of Church-Lawford a place called the Stude situate upon Dunsmore-heath where was antiently a Chappell which with divers Churches and other things became appropriate to the Priory of Coventre in the year of our Lord 1260. 44 H. 3. and as appears by the Grant of K. Philip and Mary an 1. 2. of their reign was an inclosed grove but stands from the town about a mile South-west Wolston FOllowing the stream of Avon the next place I come to is Wolston which is a large Parish and conteins sundry villages and hamlets viz. Merston Stretton upon Dunsmore and Prinsthorpe on the same side the River with Brandon and Bretford on the other In the Conq. days Earl Roger held it by Rainaldus his under-tenant it being then certified to contein five hydes and one virgate of land but in the generall Survey written is Uluricetone in one place and Uluestone in another all under the title of Terra Rogerii Comitis at which time there was a Church and had its appellation originally from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time Wulfricus being a name usuall in those days from whence it hath antiently been written Wulfricheston and Wolfrichston though by contraction it be now called Wolston This Rogerius Comes before mentioned is he who was surnamed de Montegomerico by our old Historians being one of the chief Councellours to VVilliam Duke of Normandy for his expedition into England and to second his advice adventured himself in the Battail against K. Harold in which the Duke was victor whereupon as a reward for his fidelity and service he had first the City of Chichester and Castle of Arundell and
Isabell entayling it upon the heirs of the Body of her the said Isabell with remainder to the right heirs of Walter Which Walter had issue Sir Raph White-horse Kt. who in 16 R. 2. granted it to VVill. Giffard and others From whom as also from Sir Will. Bagot Kt. who it seems had an estate in trust therein it was convey'd in 18 R. 2. to Iohn Leventhorpe Thomas Totty and others but to the use of the said Iohn Leventhorpe which Iohn in 3 H. 5. agreeing upon a price with Totty levyed a Fine thereof to him and his heirs upon condition that the money should be forthwith payd but the said T. Totty going presently beyond Sea where he was made Captain of the Castle of Rysbanke neer Caleys and a Knight to boot for so was he after stiled hapned to be slain at the battail of Marke so that the bargain could not be compleated Whereupon the before specified Iohn Leventhorpe being fully siezed of it as his own right by his deed bearing date 11 Nov. 12 H. 6. past it to Iohn Fildyng and his heirs which Iohn was great-grand-great-Grand-Child to Rob. de Newnham before specified as the Pedegree here inserted sheweth and paternally of a very noble Philippus de Neunham Iuliana Iohanna filia haeres Alanus de Kilworth Philippus de Newnham Cath. uxor Ioh. Collard Isabella ux Walt. Whitehorse Rad. Whitehorse miles 16 R. 2. Robertus de Newnham Iohanna filia haeres Will. Prud home Iohanna filia haeres Wil. Fildyng Ioh. Fildyng 12 H. 6. extraction viz. from the Earls of Hapspurg in Germany as is apparent from divers authentique evidences whereof I shall only give these two for instance the one a Letter of Atturny made by Geffrey his grandfather bearing date at Munsterton Com. Leic. on the feast day of S. Barnabas the Apostle 9 Edw. 2. in which he calls himself filius Galfridi filii Galfridi Comitis de Hapsburg domini in Laufenburg Rinfilding in Germania and wherein by the consent of Agnes de Napton his wife he gives power to VVill. Purefey to deliver seisin of his Mannour of Munsterton before specified unto Sir Rauf de Stanlow as also of one yard land in Lutterworth which his Mother Maud de Colvile sometime held And the other an Accquittance made by the said Sir Raufe upon the receipt from him of x li sterling wherein he mentions his descent as abovesaid which Acquittance bears date at Westm. 5 Iulii 12 E. 2. And that it may not seem strange that a forreigner so eminent for his parentage should thus settle here in England I have here added what I find in an antient MS. written about K. Edw. 4. time which manifesteth the occasion thereof Memorandum quod Galfridus Comes Hapsburgicus propter oppressiones sibi illatas à Comite Rodolpho qui postea electus erat Imperator ad summam paupertatem redactus unus ex filiis suis nomine Galfridus militavit in Anglia sub Rege Henrico tertio Et quia pater ejus Galfridus Comes habuit praetensiones ad certa dominia in Lauffenburg Rinfelden retinuit sibi nomen de Felden Anglicè Filding reliquit ex Matilda de Colevile uxore sua Galfridum Johannem Thomam tunc pueros Galfr. Filding duxit in uxorem Agnetem filiam Joh. de Napton qui fuit frater Roberci de Napton milâ—tis ex Alicia filia Ricardi de Misterton uxoris suae habuit exitum Will. Filding qui duxit in uxorem Johannam filiam Will. Prudhome ex Juliana filia haerede Roberti de Newnham ex illa genuit Joh. Filding militem qui ex Margareta Purfrey uxore sua genuit Will. Fildâ—ng mil. qui quidem Will. duxit in uxorem Agneâ—em de Seyton habuit exitum Johannem Everardum Edw. Martinum Filding It seems that K. Henr. 3. much tendring the condition of the before specified Geffrey who was in Armes on his part here in England as by what is above exprest may appear gave him a considerable support in Rents and Fees lying in sundry places For in a Roll of them yet extant and written in E. 3. time whereunto the title is Redditus feoda Willielmi Filding filii Galfridi filii Galfridi filii Galfridi Comitis de Hapsberg Lauffenberg Rinfelden in the margent thereof is this inâ—ertion Ex dono quondam Regis Henrici filii Regis Johannis As the testimony of these things is in truth of much honour to those of this Family so do I perceive that it hath heretofore had no lesse estimation amongst them for in an old Book sometime belonging to the Hospital of S. Iohn Bapt. in Lutterworth I find this written Notum sit omnibus hunc librum visuris quod ego Willielmus Veâ—sy Magr. Hosp. S. Joh. Bapt. de Lutterworth praesent sui quando Joh. Fylding qui postea erat miles codem anno quo inserviebat Johannem ducem Bedfordiae in Bello contra Gallos tradidit multas veteres scripturas custodiendas Thomae Bellers Gentilman quae certificabant dominum Galfridum Felding filium fuisse Galfridi Comitis de Hapsburg c. ut supra And likewise this following expression made by Sir Will. Filding Kt. who lived in H. 8. time The Evidence of all these things was left with VVill. Cave the son of Thomas Cave Gentleman by Sir VVilliam Filding befor the battail of Tewksbery and a Bill of remembrance of the same after given to Ric. Cave which was also written in the book of VVill. Veysy Mayster of the Hospitall of S Iohn Bapt. of Lutterworth This was the bok of my Fader Syr Everard Fylding That they have antiently born for their Armes three Lozenges upon a Fesse some Seals to Deeds before date as also of K. E. 3. and Ric. 2. time do testifie and for their Crest sometimes an Eagle and at other a Palm Tree though of later times altered And that these matches with Napton and Prudhome before specified were heirs the quarterings on those their Monuments at Monkskirby are satisfaction enough But I return This Iohn having served in the warrs of France and been dignified with the honour of Knighthood as by what is before exprest appeareth left issue VVilliam his son and heir a person so well affected to the Lancastrian side in the Civill Wars betwixt that and the House of York that no sooner did K. H. 6. regain his soveraignty viz. in 49 of his reign but that he constituted him Shiriff of the Counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon being then a Kt. In which year fighting on the behalf of the said K. in that memorable battail of Tewksbury he lost his life and was there buried This Sir William by Agnes the Daughter and heir of Seton with whom he had the Lordship of Martinsthorp in Rutland and a descent in
Iohn Duke of Burgoine or were consenting thereto And in 3. H. 6. was again reteined to serve the K. for half a year in his French warrs under the command of Iohn D. of Bedford the Kings uncle then Regent of France with xx men at Armes and 60. Archers for the like wages Of his children by the first wife from whom the Earles of Kent are descended it concernes me not here to speak but by this Ioane the heir of Astley he had issue Sir Edward Grey Knight who wedded Eliz. the daughter of Henry Ferrers and grandchild and heire to Will L. Ferrers of Groby in whose right he was L. Grey of Groby Which Edward having been in Commission for the peace in this County 21 22 and 23. H. 6. was in 28. H. 6. appointed with others to treat with the people for a loan of mony to the King and dyed in 36. H. 6. leaving Sir Iohn Grey his Son and heir aged 25. years and Edw. Grey a second son created Lord Lisle by K. E. 4. in right of Eliz. his wife daughter to Iohn Talbot Visc. L'isle sister and heir to Thomas son of the said Iohn and afterwards made Visc. L'isle by King R. 3. viz. 28. Iunii 1. R. 3. Which Edward was with others in 4. H. 7. assigned a Commissioner for choosing of Archers in this County for relief of the Dutchy of Britanny and dyed in 7. H. 7. 1492. as may appear by the Probat of his Will whereby he bequeathed his body to be buried in the new Chappell of our Lady begun by himself to be built in the Colledge of Astley where the body of Eliz. his late wife was interred but he had another wife called Iane whom by the said Will he appointed to cause certain lands to be amortized to endow and find a Priest perpetually to sing in the said Chappell for his Soul and the Souls of his late wife Eliz. as also the said Iane and all Christen Souls Of his descendants the Pedegre before inserted taketh notice I shall therefore return to Sir Iohn Grey his elder brother the heir of this Lordship This Sir Iohn marryed Eliz. the eldest daughter of Ric. Widvill Earl Rivers as is sufficiently manifested by our Historians in regard that K. E. 4. afterwards made her his wife the said Sir Iohn being slain in the battail of St. AlbanÌ„s 39. H. 6. and had issue by her Sir Thomas Grey Knight created Marq. Dorset 18. Apr. 15. E. 4. who sate in his habit at the upper end of the table that day amongst the Knights in S. Edwards Chamber but for near relation and affection to the young King murthered by Ric. D. of Glouc. the then Protector his unnaturall uncle was 18. Oct. in 1. R. 3. attainted of treason Whereupon King Ric. by his Letters pat bearing date 2. Aug. 2. R. 3. granted this Lordship to the above mentioned Edward Visc. L'isle and the heires male of his body But in 1. H. 7. the Marq. being again restored possest himself thereof and by his testament bequeathing his body to be buryed here in the Coll. Church before the Image of the Blessed Trinity in the midst of his closet within the same Colledge on the South side dyed 20. Sept. 17. H. 7. By which Testament he willed that his Executors should cause to be said for his soul in every of the 4. Orders of Friers in London an hundred Masses by the Fryers in each place with as much hast as might be after his decease And that c. marks should be disposed in Almes to poor people at his buriall Likewise that the Hospitall of Lutterworth in Leicestersh of his patronage to be appropriate to the said Colledge of Astley if the Dean and his Brethren or their successors could obtein such appropriation to be lawfully made within 3. years after his decease to the intent that they should especially pray for the Souls of K.E. 4. and Q. Eliz. his consort and all Christen Souls By the Lady Cecily his wife daughter and heir to Will Lord Bonvile marryed afterwards to Henry E. of Wiltsh who likewise bequeath'd her body to be buried in the same Chappell where the Marq. her husband was interred appointing a tombe to be made over the place of their sepulture he left issue Thomas Marq. Dorset which Thomas impaled 30. acres of wood and pasture for to make that parke here at Astley now called the Little-parke and enlarg'd the great parke here with 90. acres of land in 12. H. 7. taken out of the precincts of Arley which to this day bears the name of Arley laund And by his Testament bearing date 2. Iunii 22. H. 8. bequeath'd his body to be buryed in the Church of Astley neer unto his father appointing that his mothers will should be observed for the maintenance of two Priests in the Chappell there as also that his Executors should with all speed and diligence after his Funeralls were performed and debts payd make and build a Chappell here at Astley according to the will of his father with a goodly tombe over his father and mother which being done to make another tombe in the midst of the Chancell where he himself resolved to be buried And after that should be finished then to build an Almeshouse for xiii poor men there to inhabite and to be for ever nominated by his Executors during their lives and afterwards by his heires each of them to receive xii d. a week for their maintenance with a livery of black Cotton yeerly price 4. s. which said payment he appointed should be made out of the Rents and profits of his mannours of Bedworth and Pakinton and all such lands and tenements as were in the occupation of the Lord L'isle reputed or taken as parcell of the same Lordships the surplusage to be bestowed in repayring the said Almes-house and keeping his Obit yearly And dyed the same year as may seem by the probate of his said Testament leaving issue Henry who marrying the Lady Frances eldest daughter to Charles Brandon D. of Suff. and Mary the Q. of France his wife was in her right by reason her two broâ—hers dyed without issue created D. of Suff. 11. Oct. 5. E. 6. In whose time it hapned that the Monasteries were dissolved for effecting of which work his father in law Charles Brandon D. of Suff. was not a little active as may appear by the large share he had of their possessions And there want not circumstances to shew that this Henry then Marq. Dorset was stirring enough therein for amongst other the lands belonging to those religious Houses he had all that appertain'd to this Collegiate Church granted to him and the Lady Frances his wife and his heirs 7. Aug. 37. H. 8. which he enjoy'd not long for leaving issue onely 3. daughters Iane the eldest wedded to Guilford Dudley 4. son to Iohn D.
exactions And by other Benefactors had as folâ—followeth viz. 4. mess. 2. acres and a half of wood and 20. s. rent lying in Coventre and Bedworth given by Bernard de Arley 1 E. 3. Twenty acres of land 1. rood of medow and 30. s. rent in Stonley Harnale and Coventre by Nich. Crumpe of Coventre 2 E. 3. Three mess. 6. acres of land and half an acre of medow lying in Coventre and Corley by Ric. Southam Priest And 5. more mess. lying in Coventre by Henry Page of Wellesborough 15 E. 3. Four mess and 11. s. rent in Coventre by Iohn de Filungley Priest 21 E. 3. One mess. in Coventre by Iohn de Melton Priest Iohn Smyth Hosyer and Tho. Marchall 6 R. 2. Four mess. 5. shops and 12. d. rent in Coventre by Hugh de Geydon Vicar of Merton and Will. Suwett Parson of Southam 9 R. 2. Four mess. 40. acres of land and 20. s. rent in Coventre with two acres of wood in Bedworth As also five mess twelve Cotages and eight shops in Coventre likewise given by the said Will. Suwett and Hugh Geydon in 16 R. 2. And besides all this an allowance in bread beer and two messes of meat as much as was sufficient for two Monks every day given by the Monks of Coventre to them at the foundation of this Hospitall Other lands and rents they had as is evident by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. but when or by whom bestowed I have not seen the value of all being then certified to extend unto 99. l. -13 s. -06 d. per an Out of which I will onely instance such of their reprises as are most observable viz. 33. s. -04 d. yearly to the Mayor and Chamberleyns of this City towards the repair of the walls 26. s. per an in bread and beer given to poor people at the Gate of the Hospitall by the Ordinance and foundation thereof 60. s. yearly in renewing of 20. Beds for entertainment of poor and weak people as also of strangers 16. l. per an for the stipend of three Priests serving there viz. 05. l. 06. s. -08 a piece All which with the other deductions not mentioned amounting to 32. l. -10 s. 04. d. per an leave the clear yearly value as it was at that time certified 67. l. -03 s. -02 d. But this Hospitall with most else of the same kind being dissolved in the Parl. of 37 H. 8. was by the said K. Letters Pat. dated 23 Iulii the same year with all the lands and possessions thereunto belonging granted unto Iohn Hales Gent. and his heirs which Iohn being an active man in those days and Clerk of the Hamper an Office then of no small benefit and having accumulated a great estate in Monastery and Chantry lands resolved to erect a lasting monument to his memory for he had neither child nor wife and thereupon designing the foundation of a Free-School here and that the King should have the honour thereof for which respect he had no little favour in his purchases as I have credibly heard obtaind license for the amortizing of lands thereto of CC. marks per an value converting the buildings to that use on the front whereof is this following Inscription SCHOLA REGIS HENRICI OCTAVI A IOHANNE HALES Armigero fundata in qua bonis literis imbuantur pueri usque ad consummationem saeculi in Christi gloriam Ecclesiae aedifiâ—ationem Howbeit till the 15 of Q. Eliz. reign which was the year wherein he dyed this School so by him begun to be founded was not certainly endowed but then did his Executors viz. Thomas Docura of Offeley in com Hertf. Esq. and Bartholmew Hales of Snytterfeld in this County of War Gent. in accomplishment of the trust reposed in them by the said Iohn by their deed dated 5 Martii convey and assure unto the Mayor Bayliffs and commonalty of this City the site of the said Hospitall and lands thereto appertaining with divers mess. Gardens c. lying also in Coventre and belonging to the late dissolved Priories of Coventre and Kenilworth together with certain Mills called the White frier-mill Bastile mill and Hill-mill to the intent that out of the profits of the premisses the sum of xx l. yearly should be payd to an able Schoolmaster for to teach Grammar in the said School and x. l. to an Usher the Schoolmaster having for his habitation the mansion-House wherein the late Master of the said Hospitall did dwell and the Usher another House within the site of the said Hospitall Lii s. per an to a Musique-master for to teach at three convenient times in every week so many of the Schollars of the same School to sing as should be willing to learn And to a Bayliff to gather up the said Rents and see the Houses kept in reparations xxvi s. viii d. yearly the residue to be imployed in repayring of the same Houses and the overplus to augment the living of the said School-master and Usher The Gray-Friers THe place where this quondam Religious house stood is very well known to all that have observed any thing of Coventre in regard the spire-steeple which was part thereof is yet standing giving occasion unto strangers that pass through the town to think that there is still a Church in that place But before I descend to speak in particular of this Friery it will be proper I conceive to say something of their Order in generall and next of their propagation in this Kingdom First therefore as to their originall we shall find that St. Francis a person famous for his strict and holy life was the man from whom this Order sprung whose birth-place being of a noble extraction is said to have been at Assise in Umbria a Province of Italy And that in the very time of his youth betaking himself to divine studies no whit regarding the transitory pleasures of this present world he afterwards neglected his patrimony which was not small wore a coul and hair-shirt went barefoot and macerated himself with frequent watches and fastings As also to the intent that he might make choice of voluntary poverty he resolved to enjoy nothing as his own no not so much as food for his body otherwise than what he received in Almes from good people And moreover if he had any thing left after a slender refreshment he ever bestow'd it on the poor reserving nothing for the morrow That in the night time he always slept in his cloaths lying down upon a Matt having no pillow for his head but a stone And thus going barefoot with an Evangelique preparation did embrace an Apostolique life preaching upon Sundays and Festivalls in Parish-Churches which did so much the more work upon the hearts of his auditory by how much he was a stranger to all carnall desires The Statutes of which Order to this day observed together with some other strict Rules he presented to Pope
alias Holme Tho. Holme mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. Thom. Hermworth alias Clarke Tho. Clarke mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. Galfr. Snead alias Danyell Galfr. Danyell mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. Rob. Derby alias Hepworth Rob. Hepworth mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. But of the Abbots here have I not found the names of more than these which were immediatly preceding the dissolution viz. VVill. Whittington Iohn Tolton Oliver Adams and Robert Bayte As for the Curses which were usually pronounc't by the Founders of these Religious houses whether they have attended those violators of what they so zealously and with devout minds had dedicated to Gods service I will not take upon me to say but sure I am that after K. H. 8. had accomplish'd this work he thrived but a little as I shall elsewhere in particular observe And how long such possessions have been enjoyed by those that had them they that have look't into the course of this world may easily see For this whereof I am now speaking it was by K. E. 6. first granted to Iohn E. of Warwick and to his heirs 22. Iuuii 1 E. 6. and after his attainder whereof in Warwick I have spoke in 3. 4. Ph. M. Rob. Keylway had a lease of the site and divers lands thereto belonging for 40. years at the Rent of 196. l. -08 s. -01 d. And afterwards another for lx years Which Robert Kelway in 23 Eliz. dyed seized in fee of certain lands belonging to this Monastery Anne the wife of Iohn Harrington Esq. being his sole Daughter and heir and then 30. years of age Binley ABout a mile below Combe the litlte brook before mentioned meeteth with Sow which passing gently on leaveth Binley on its Southeast side In the Conq. time the Monks of Coventre held three hides here whereof the woods were half a mile in length and one furlong in breadth all being then valued at lx sol which they purchased of Osbernus fil Ricardi a great man in that age as when I come to Aston-Cantelow shall be shewed but in Edw. the Conf. time Aldgid widow to Grifin was owner thereof The other part of this village Hadulfus in some places written Hadewolfus progenitor to the family of Rokeby and already mentioned there possest at that time as Tenant unto Turkill de Warwick it containing two hides whereof the woods extended to four furlongs in length and two in breadth all which were valued at 35. s. having been held by the same Hadulfus of the said Turchill before the Norman Conquest Touching the name I shall but onely deliver my conjecture viz. that it may probably be compouâ—ded of two Saxon words Bilene signifying to dwell and ea water which being contracted together came at length to be written according to the usuall pronunciation And that this Etymologie is not unsutable to its situation is plain enough but now we write it Binley as it is vulgarly called though in all an ient authorities it be recorded by the name of Bilneje As to the succession of its owners I shall first proceed with that part which the Prior of Coventre held whereof the Chappell dedicated to St. Bartholmew is a Member having been confirm'd to that Monastery by Ranulph E. of Chester in H. 1. time and appropriated thereto by Rog. Meuland B. of Cov. and Lich. in 44 H. 3. In K. Stephans time or beginning of H. 2. Laurence then Prior of Coventre granted half a hide of that which they had here to the Monks of Combe to hold in Frank-almoign paying to the Monastery of Coventre viii s. per an viz. 4. s. at the Feast of the Nativ of St. Iohn Baptist. and 4. s. at Christmass for all services but how their portion came to be further lessened I know not for of a long time before the dissolution the said Monks of Coventre were reputed Lords of no more than a fourth part of this village All which with the tythes were by K. H. 8. inter alia granted to Robert Burgoine and Iohn Scudamore and their heirs in 36. of his reign The rest very little excepted was bestowed on the Monks of Combe soon after the Foundation of that Abby for Thurbert son of the above mentioned Hadewlfus who is in some places called Thurbert de Bilneja and in other Thurbert de Rochebe gave a large portion thereof as by his Charter where it is set forth by bounds appears whereupon it should seem that he and his wife betook themselves to a retired life in that Monastery the Monks giving them allowance of dyet during their lives as also to Henry his son and heir two marks of silver and to all the rest of their children xii d. a piece for their assent which grant was confirm'd by Rog. E. of Warwick in respect that the lands of the before specified Turchill came for the most part to those Earls and afterwards by Earl William the extent thereof being one hide amounting to the 5. part of a Kts. fee. About the same time Ioeslinus the son of Raph de Bilneje gave to the said Monks a good quantity of land and woods in this place reputed also for one hide and held by the 6. part of a Kts. fee whereupon he had allowance of his dyet as long as he lived according to the proportion for one Monk and as much for his mother All which his brother Robert confirmed in consideration whereof he had a Horse with two marks and 4. s. of silver To this Robert succeded Robert his son who gave them also a large part in woods which is in his Charter set forth by bounds in consideration whereof the Monks granted that after his death as much solemnity should be made for him in that Abby as for one Monk in Masses and Prayers and participation of all other benefits And not long after did Henry de Rochebe son and heir to the before recited Thurbert not onely confirm what his father had given but granted them the Mill here and half his wood called Munechet for which besides the 2. marks he had in his fathers lifetime they gave him 4. marks of silver more with 7. s. to his mother and to each of his brothers viz. Will. Alex. Thomas Ingeram and Ric. xii d. a piece And to him the said Henry as also to his mother allowance of as much dyet as was the proportion for one Monk during their lives By which grants and some others that for brevity I pass by it appears that the said Monks of Combe had here in 7 E. 1. one carucat of land a Water-mill as also two Windmills all held in demesn five Cottages seven yard land and seven acres held by seven Freeholders at a certain Rent homage and suit of Court Foutry two acres of out-wood whereof two were then inclosed within the Park of Brandon for which they had yearly 2. s.
Shiriff for enquiry who ought of right to repair it and to distrein them thereunto What was done thereupon I find not but in 26. E. 3. the Abbot of Stoneley being questioned for the not repair of it did not deny but that he ought of right so to do Finborgh WIthin the precincts of Stoneley there was a certain House with two yard land belonging to it called Fynborgh given by King H. 1. unto one William his Falconer by the service of keeping a Falcon. Which land one of the same William his descendants charged with an annuity of 5 s. per annum to the Canons of Kenilworth in respect whereof of the Priors of Kenilworth did chalenge to be Lords of the same tenement exacting Heriots and suite of Court from the possessors thereof But this tenement came at length by succession to one Alex. de Fynborgh who dying without issue Ioan the wife of Steph. Stretton and Alice the wife Iohn Fynborgh being his sisters inherited it Neither of which having children Ioan the survivor gave it in her widowhood to Will. de Hulle a Priest who past it unto one Iohn Bacon of Wolston Which Iohn sold it to Sir Will. Bagot of Baginton in R. 2. time but since that have I seen little of it Fynham THis village lyeth upon the bank of Sow and being a member of Stoneley was possest by the Monks from the Foundation of that Abby they having Free-warren granted to them here in 12. E. 1. In it antiently were xii houses of which eight were gone before the beginning of H. 7. time When it past out of the Crown I have not seen but in 3. E. 6. Cuthbert Ioyner a Citizen of Coventre and Thomas Kevet were owners of it Which Thomas died seized of six mess. here and certain lands to them belonging in 1 Eliz. leaving George his son and heir Fletchamsted THis is now in two parts one commonly called Over-Flechamsted and the other Nether-Flechamsted but antiently they were not divided Here it was that K. H. 1. observing it to be a place of great solitude in respect of the thick woods and large wasts thereabouts gave to one Gerard an Heremite and Priest a carucat of land whereupon in process of time he built Houses and let them for Rent Which Gerard had a Chappell here the yard whereof was consecrated by Walter Durdent then B. of Coventre upon condition that he the said Gerard and his successors should pay tithes to the Canons of Kenilworth in right of their Church of Stonley In this Chappell did he celebrate Divine service daily was afterwards buried therein After whose death K. Henry preferred one Bryan thereunto who also was a Priest and brother to a Templar named Peter Lomsy which Peter sent the said Brian into Ireland upon some business for the Templars and in his absence sung Mass in the Chappell here for the King But Brian dying in Ireland the Templars held this Chantry and the land thereto belonging and procured K. H. 2. to bestow it upon one Robert Pirou a Priest during his life for their use and after his decease upon them Whose grant K. Iohn confirmed Which lands were in 31. H. 2. certified to be worth 14 s. per annum and the Mill that the said Templars had also here 3 s. whereof they continued possest till the destruction of their Order yet not very peaceably in regard that the Canons of Kenilw. perplexed them with suites in R. 1. K. Iohn's time upon the title they pretended to have thereof by the grant of K.H. 1. In 7. E. 1. that which the Templars had here was certified to be 1. that one Carucat of land and Mill above specified held by the service to find a Priest to sing Mass daily for the souls of the Ks. Progenitors and for the soul of Gerard the Heremite 2. That the Tenants of this and the rest of the lands which they had here were to do suite to the Court at Balsall twice a year and each of them to find one man in Harvest for to work four days with their hooks the Templars providing them dyet All which had House-bote and Hey-bote in the Abbot of Stonley's woods called West-wood In the time that the Templars thus held it Guido de Foresta Master of that Order here in England temp E. 1. purchased from the Monks of Stonley for an C. marks and the releasing all their interest of common in the woods and lands belonging to the Abby of Stoneley 192. acres of wast lying in a great out-wood there adjoyning called West-wood with all such Rents and services which the Monks of Stoneley had of the said Templars tenants in Flechamsted except the rent of Iohn Fitz-Nicholas But when the Templars were supprest scil An. 1311. 5. E. 2. Robert de Hockele then Abbot of Stoneley entred into this Chappell and lands here and held them for 40. days Howbeit afterwards by the advise of Tho. de Hockele his brother then a Dr. in Divinity and a Canon of Kenilworth fearing that he might undergo some Ecclesiasticall censure for what he had done rendred them up to the Hospitalars to whom the K. and Pope had granted them as I shall fully shew when I come to Balshall All which lands except the carucat first belonging to this Chantry did pay tithes to the Church of Stoneley and in 21. H. 7. were held of the said Hospitalars by Iohn Beufitz of Balshall in Lease who by his Will disposed thereof to Ellene his wiâ—e Which Order with all the great Monasteries being dissolved in 30. H. 8. the K. by his Letters Pat. dated 26. Febr. 36. of his raign granted away whatsoever the said Hospitalars had here to Iohn Beaumont esq and his heirs by the name of a Mannour the particular lands thereunto belonging being said to be in Over-Flechamsted Who having license the same year to alien it unto William Humberston and his heirs levyed a Fine thereupon T. Hill 2. E. 6. But afterwards it came by purchase to Sir Tho. Leigh Kt. and Dame Alice his wife Which Sir Thomas had issue Sir Thomas who made the Park here built a fair House within it now enjoy'd by his grandson together with Stoneley whereof I have already spoke Nether-Flechamsted COncerning this I have not seen any thing before H. 7. time but then sc. 3. H. 7. was Sir Iohn Catesby Kt. seized thereof from whose son heir viz. Humfrey Catesby esq Iohn Smyth a wealthy Citizen of Coventre living in the Spon-street purchased this other lands of good value Which Iohn in 6. H. 7. was one of the Commissioners appointed in this County for arraying of men in defence of the Kingdom then in danger of an invasion by Charles 8. K. of France as also for conservation of the peace from 8. till 15. H. 7. and then was constituted one of the
the place of her birth of which Monastery she was reputed Patroness And that upon her death in 6. Ioh. the K. directed his precept to the Shiriff of Yorksh. commanding him to take order with the Abbot of Fountains and Henry de Percy her Executors that they should forthwith according to the custom of the Kingdom discharge those debts which were due to his Exchequer But by neither of these wives had he any issue so that departing this life in the Holy land 15. Nov. An. 1184. 30 H. 2. Waleran his Brother succeeded him in the Earldom and estate which Waleran in 2 R. 1. payd 51. l. 03. s. -04 d. to the K. for scutage in respect of the military service he ought to have personally performed in Wales but it seems he had not absolute possession of this Earldom till 7 R. 1. that he gave xx marks to have the tertium denarium de placitis Comitatus Of this Earl I find that in 9 R. 1. he stood charg'd to the K. in xlii l. iiii s. viii d. debt in the nature of scutage towards the payment of a Fine for the K. redemption who had been made Prisoner upon his return from the Holy land And in another debt of a C. l. for license to return into England and in a third debt of C. marks for leave to marry Alice the daughter of Rob. Harecurt and widow unto Iohn de Limesey As also that he had much adoe a great part â—f his time touching this inheritance there being one that feigned himself his elder Brother which dyed in the Holy land who put him to great vexation so that my Author is of opinion that the grant which he made to Hubert Archb. of Canterb. and Chancelour of England of the advouson of all the Prebendaries belonging to the Collegiat Church in Warwick to hold during his life was to purchase his favour in that weighty business But I do not finde that this Earle was a benefactor to any Religious-house other than the Hospitall of St. Michael in Warwick whereunto he gave all the Tith arising out of the assarts of Wedgnock as also of the paunage and Venison and to the Nuns of Pinley and Wrockshall in this County to the first whereof he gave certain Lands situate in Curdeshale within the Liberties of Claverdon and to the other a yard Land lying in Brails He had two wives Margaret the daughter to Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Alice the daughter of Iohn de Harecurt but widdow of Iohn de Limesi before mentioned and deparâ—ing this life in 6. Ioh. left issue divers Children of which Henry his eldest son succeeded him in the Earldom Waleran another son had the Mannours of Gretham and Cotesmore in com Runtl given to him by his father with certain Lands in Worcestersh but dâ—ed without issue Alice his daughter by Alice his last wife wedded to Will. Mauduit of Hanslape in com Buck. and had by her father 's appointment the Mannour of Waâ—ton now called Walton-Mauduit in this County for her marriage portion as is evident by K. Iohn's confirmation thereof to her bearing date 30. Nov. in the x. of his reign but at that time she was not married yet it seems she had a husband very young for it appears that she continued in the custody of her mother after she was so espoused by reason of her minority Gundred his other daughter was brought up in the Abby of Pinley before mentioned together with Isabel his Neice for whose education he gave in his life time to the Nuns of that house two Marks of silver yearly to be paid by the hands of his Steward at Claverdon and at the same time bestowed on them the redecimation of his Lordship of Walton in pure Almes for the health of his Soul and the Soul of Margerie his Countesse as also for the Souls of E. Roger his father Gundred his Mother Earle Will. his brother with all his Ancestors and Successors I finde that the same year of E. Waleran's death Alice his Countesse gave a fine of a thousand pounds and ten Palfreys that she might continue a widdow as long as she pleased so that the K. might not compell her to marry as also that she might have the custody of those Children she had by Earle Waleran and lx l. Lands per ann which he gave her freely to dispose of And likewise her reasonable dowry both of her husbands Lands Fees neverthelesse she was not to chuse a husband for her self without the K. approbation After which scil the next ensuing year she gave 3. Palfreys more to the K. that she might have a Jury of xii lawfull Knights to admeasure her dowry out of the Lands and Fees of E. Waleran her late husband but what was done therein appears not howbeit within 2. years after she came to a conclusion with Earle Henry whereupon she had the mannours of Tanworth and Claverdon in this County and of Cheddeworth in Gloucestersh with the service of two Knights Fees the one in Lodbroke and the other in Loxley assigned unto her This Earle Henry being in minority at the death of his Father was committed to the custody of Thom. Basset of Hedindon near Oxford which Thomas for a Fine that he paid to the King had a grant of his marriage 5. May 7. Ioh. to the intent he might match his daughter to him as was afterwards accordingly done though she was not his first wife and had also livery of all his Lands together with the Castle of Warwick by Hugh de Chaucumb then Sheriffe of this County to whom the K. had directed his Precept for that purpose bearing date 24. Aug. ensuing Upon Inquis taken in 12. and 13. Ioh. what number of Knights Fees the great men that held of the K. in Capite had there are fourscore and seventeen certified to belong unto this Earle in Warwicksh For which with the rest being all in number C ii and a third part he paid at the same time CC iiii marks viii s. x. d. for scutage upon the K. expedition with his Army into Wales viz. duaâ— marcas quo quolibet scuto In 15. Ioh. he came of age as I gather for by the K. special Writ bearing date 1. Iunii that year and directed to the Sheriffe of this County he had the tertium denarium de comitaetu Warewic delivered unto him as his Ancestors were used to have In 16. Ioh. he contributed xlii marks to the K. towards the support of his wars in Poictou but was by a special Writ acquitted of the Scuâ—age then exacted from him for that service And did so faithfully adhere to K. Iohnâ— when the Barons rebelliously took up Arms against him that the said K. by his Letters P. bearing date 10. Iunii
in the last year of his reign commanded Hugh de Nevil to whom he had committed the custody of Warwick-Castle in those turbulent times that he should deliver it to him and to Thom. Basset his father in Law And moreover by his precept to the Sheriffe of this County bearing date at Teuksbury 23. Iulii ensuing appointed that he should have livery of all the Lands of such Rebels which held of his the said Earls Fee to retain during the K. pleasure And as he was thus loyal to that K. so did he stand stoutly to the young K. H. 3. joyning with the Earls of Chester and Albamarle in the siege of Mount-Sorel-Castle 1. H. 3. as also in storming the Castle of Lincoln where they had a glorious victory over those sturdy Barons as our Historians do manifest And in 5. H. 3. when Will. de Fortibus E. of Albamarle had rebelliously strengthened his Castle of Bitham in com Linc. he attended the K. in person to the siege thereof having towards the support of his charge in that expedition x. s. de quolibet scuto for all the Knights Fees held of him In 9. H. 3. he paid xlix li. xii s. v. d. to the K. upon the advance of his Army into Wales which was called Scutagium de Mungumeri Yet afterward when other great men in 11. H. 3. put themselves in Arms on the behalf of Ric. Earle of Cornwall the K. brother he made one but that businesse was quickly composed In 12. H. 3. he paid CC iiii marks viii s. x. d. ob to the K. towards the charge of another Welch expedition called Scutagium de Kerry and the next year following had the K. Letters deprecatory to all his Tenants that held of him by military service for an aid towards such expences he was like to be at in a voyage for Gascoin and to discharge some debt that he owed to the K. During the minority of this Earle it was that K. Iohn in 4. of his reign gave the Seignory of Gowher in Wales of his inheritance unto Will. de Brews concerning which the succeeding Earls of Warwick had great suits as I shall hereafter shew He had two wives viz. Margery the eldest of the two daughters of Henry d'Oyli of Hoke-Norton in com Oxon. and sister of Henry that died without issue by which means part of d'Oylie's inheritance came to this family and Philippa one of the three daughters and Heirs unto Tho. Basset of Hedindon before mentioned but of this Earle Henry his death can I not point out the direct day yet for certain it was in 13. H. 3. for then did Philippa his Countesse give C. marks to the K. that she might not be compelled to marry but live a Widdow as long as she pleased or marry whom she lik't best provided he were a loyal subject to the K. Whereupon she took to husband the same year one Ric. Siward who proved a turbulent spirited man being as M. Paris saith vir martius ab adolescentia for in 17. H. 3. he joyned with divers great Earls Barons in the Rebellion about that time begun against the K. which was not well quieted till the 22. of his Reign but then notwithstanding all his evil demerits was received into favour Much more might be said of this Ric. Siward but it hath no relation to the story of our Earles therefore I shall forbear to discourse further of him especially considering that he was divorced from his Countesse and will close up what I have to speak of her with mentioning in what sort she was a benefactresse to the Canons of Berencester vulgò Bisseter in com Buck. viz. that in her full widdowhood she gave them vii s. yearly rent issuing out of certain lands in Studley within this County to finde one Lamp continually burning before the Altar of S. Iohn Bapt. in the conventual Church of Berencester for the health of her Soul and all her Ancestors and Childrens Souls When she died I do not finde but at Berencester she lieth buried in the Monastery there of her fathers foundation The issue left by this last mentioned Earle was one son and one daughter scil Thomas and Margery both by his first wife which Thomas was of full age at his fathers death as it should seem for in that year he had livery of his Lands paying C. 1. for his relief which was thus apportioned viz. xx l. for his Lands in Wiltshire for which summe Iohn Biset became surety xx li. for his Lands in Oxfordsh for which Thom. Basset stood bound xx li. for his Lands in Gloucestershire for which Raph de Wiliton was bound and xl li. for his Lands in Warwicksh for which Walt. d'Eivill and Ric. de Mundevil were his pledges And in 17. H. 3. being but 4. years after was inrich't with the inheritance of d'Oylie's Lands in Oxfordsh that descended to him by the death of his Uncle Henry d'Oily without issue whereof he had then livery doing his homage and paying C. l. for his Relief to the K. with two Palfreys In which year the K. keeping his Whitsuntide at Gloucester there girt him with the sword of Knighthood together with Rog. Bigod E. of Norff. and Hugh de Vere E. of Oxford Nay I make a question whether he had full seizin of his Earldom of Warwick till then though he had livery of his Lands 4. years before as I have shewed for the K. precept to the Sheriffe of this County bearing date at Teuksbury 24. Maii in that year saith thus Rex cinxit Thomam de Warwic cingulo comitatus Warwic mandatum est Vicecomiti Warwici quod eidem Comiti habere fâ—ciat de praedicto comitatu id quod habere debet nomine Comitis Warwici de quo praedecessores sui Comites Warwici seisiti fuerunt tanquam ad eos pertinente nomine Comitatus Warewici And that this was the meaning of the said Writ viz. that he should thereby be invested in the Earldom may seem by what my Author addeth to that mention of his being Knighted with Rog. Bigod and Hugh Vere as abovesaid scil Will. Long-espe accingitur gladio militari sed non fit Comes Sarum which was at that very time In 25. H. 3. this Earle Thomas gave Clxxx. Marks fine to the K. to the end he might be exempted from attendance upon him in his expedition into Gascoign which summe was over and above his due by way of Scutage for discharge of which Scutage and that he might levy the like upon his Tenants he paid the year following Cxx. l. more And further then this can I not say of him other than that he married Ela daughter to Will. Longspe E. of Salisbury base son to K. H. 2. as also that he departed this life without issue 26. Iunii An. 1242. 26. H. 3.
24. dishes and as many Saucers of silver as also two Bacyns and two Ewers with twelve pieces of silver To Isabell his daughter a thousand pounds to her marriage To Margaret his daughter a Nunne at Shouldam in Norff. a Ring and a Cup with a cover as also 40. marks in money To Katherin the daughter to his son Guy a Nunne likewise at Shouldam a gold Ring with xx li. in money and for the charges of his funerall 500. marks Hereunto adding that his Executors should make full satisfaction to every man whom he had in any sort wronged That his son William should have lands of 400. marks per annum value setled upon him and his heirs male That the Testament of his Countesse should be compleatly performed and fulâ—illed out of his goods That his Executors should new build the Quire of the Collegiat-Church in Warwick where he purposed to be buryed That with the residue of his goods his Executors should cause Masses to be sung for his soul and distribute Almes with all speed that might be especially at Bordesley Worcester and Warwick as also in other places of the Countrey unto which he had most relation And that all the vestments of his Chappell should be given to the Collegiat-Church in Warwick where he had chosen his sepulture His Jewells he thus disposed To his daughter Stafforâ— an Ouche called the Eagle which the Prince gave him all his Pearls and a Crosse made of the very wood of our Saviours Crosse a Ring with an Emeraud that his Countesse bequeathed to him another Ring whereof she herself was to make choyse a sett of Beads of gold with the buckles which the Queen gave him and the choyse of one of his Cups of gold with that silver boll which he always used himself as also his best Bed with the whole furniture thereto To his daughter Alice his next best Ouche which his Lady the Countesse gave him with a Cup of gold a set of Beads of gold and a Ring To his daughter Clifford an Ouche called the Eagle which his son Will. had bestow'd on him for a Newyears-gift with a Cup a set of Beads of gold and a Ring To his daughter Isabell a Cup with an Ewer and a Cover to it gilt and the next best Ring after his other daughters before remembred had chosen To the Bishop of Lincoln a Crosse of gold that the Lady Segrave gave him which sometimes was the good King Edwards wherein likewise was part of the very Crosse of Christ and other Reliques To his son William a Casket of gold with a bone of St. George which Thomas Earl of Lanc. bestowed on him at his Christening Touching his death the manner thereof was thus King Edward having called a Parliament at London in 43. of his reign wherein the breach of Peace by the French was discussed sent an Army into that Kingdom about the feast of the Nativity of the blessed Viâ—gin under the conduct of his son Iohn Duke of Lanc. and Humfr. de Boun Earl of Hereford to claim his right therein who being got over sea encampt at a place called the Chalkhull neer Caleys towards whom the French presently advanced but the two English Dukes delaied fighting so long as that their Army grew in want for provisions so that many dyed by famine and the plague pretending they were not strong enough to give them battail without more men In which interim our noble Earl hearing that the French Army was thus drawn out hasted away with some choyse men and sailed toward Caleys whereof the French having notice in great amazement they left their Tents with all their victuall behind them and fled And so soon as he came ashore he highly blamed those that occasioned the English to forbear fighting saying I will goe on and fight before the English bread which we have eaten be digâ—sted and thereupon presently entred the Isle of Caus which he wasted But alas in his return towards Caleys he fell sick of the pestilence and dyed on the 13. of Nov. Parem â—bi in armorum strenuitate Regi Regnique fideliâ—ate superstitem minimè derelinquens saith mine Author After which his body was interred in the midd'st of the Quire of the Collegiat Church at Warwick according to the direction of his Testament where is yet to be seen a goodly Tombe with the statues of hâ—m â—nd his Countess in white marble excellently cut viz. Katherine the daughter of Roger Mortimer before specified created the first Earl of March by King E. 3. a perfect representation whereof I have placed here in my Story of him because there being so many other Monuments in that Church to have put them altogether would not shew gracefull to the work Which noble Lady dyed before him as by what I have said appears yet not many weeks for her Testament bears date 4. Aug. the same year by which she appointed her body to be buried wheresoever the Earl her husband should think fit to whom she bequeathed her Goblet bound with gold and those Buckles of gold which she used to carry as also a Ring having an Emraud in it To Thomas her son she gave her book of Ch. To Will her other son a Tablet of gold To Maud de Clifford her daughter a Cup enameled with Doggs To Philippa de Stafford her daughter a Boll with a cover To her daughter Alice a Cup of silver gilt To Margaret Mountfort her daughter the Cross with the pedestall in her Chapell To Isabell her daughter a Cup. To Elizabeth the daughter of her son Guy a Cup. To the Covent of Friers Preachers in Worcester xx li. To the Friers Preachers of Shrewsbury xx li. To the Friers Minors there xx li. To the Friers Preachers of Northampt. xx li. To the Friers Minors of Coventre xx li. and to the Friers Minors of Lichfield xx li. Divers other Legacyes she gave to her servants and did constitute Isabell de Harley Rauf Tangele and Iohn Falvesle her executors desiring her husband to be assistant unto them in the performance thereof This Noble Earl had divers children of which I will only make a brief mention Guy his eldest son who received the honour of Knighthood in 29 E. 3. with a grant from the King of C li. per annum out of his Exchequer till his fathers inheritance should descend to him or that he could otherwise provide for his support and married Philippa the daughter of Henry Lord Ferrers of Groby by whom he had issue three daughters Elizabeth Katherine and Margaret whereof the two later were Nunns at Shouldham in Com. Norff. This Guy was a stout Souldier and upon his going into France in 33 E. 3. which I conceive was to attend the King in an expedition at that time made declared his Testament at Canterbury on the 26. of Sept. whereby he bequeathed his body to buriall where his parents should think fit To
anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xi marks And in 26 H. 8. at xv li. viii s. ii d. over and above viii s. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Amongst the Incumbents here 't is worth observation that Aimer brother to King H. 3. by the mothers side was presented to this Church by the Canons of Kenilworth and instituted Parson thereof being afterwards Bishop of Winchester and by Godwyn called Ethelmare Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Aymer frater Regis uterinus s. dat Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Walt. de Wodehouse Cler. 8. Cal. Maii 1336. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. Trailly Pbr. 15. Cal. Apr. 1337. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. Darrell Cler. 8. Id. Oct. 1338. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Roger. de Saperton Pbr. 4. Cal. Nov. 1349. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. Lampe Cap. 4. Cal. Nov. 1350. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. Penâ—rich Pbr. 4. Oct. 1378 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. Lugger Cap. ult Oct. 1404 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Tho. Chesterfeild in Decret Bac. 27 Nov. 1425 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Rog. Walle Cler. 18 Sept. 1444 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. Lye Cler. 26 Maii 1445 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. Bowier Pbr. ult Febr. 1448. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Rob. Baguley Cap. 1 Febr. 1451. D. Rex ratione temporal Cov. Lich. Episc. c. Magr. Ioh. Iolyff Pbr. 7. Dec. 1452. D. Episcopus Ioh. Clone in Decr. Bac. tenere in Comendam 2 Ian. 1455. D. Episcopus Mr. Rolandus Lee Decret Dr. 1. Oct. 1526. D. Rex ratione temporal Cov. Lich. Episc. c. D. Iohn Hopkins Cler. ....... 1533. Edw. Littleton de Pilletnallin Com. Staff ar hac vice ratione concess Cov. Lich. Episc. Mr. Will. Dawson Cler. 28. Iunii 1547. Thomas Fysher Thomas Nicholson 8. Sept. 1575. Ric. Venor Edw. Morcot Rad. Wylding Cler. 16. Aug. 1617. Iac. Horsley gen Randolphus Hancock Cler. 25. Martii 1627. Monumentall inscriptions in the Church Upon a Marble whereon is the portraiture of a man in brasse Of your charite pray for the soul of Richard Willis gentleman lord of the Mannour of Fenny-Compton and one of the Kings Iustices of peace in the County of Warwick And Ione his wife Which Richard deceased the viii â—h day of February in the yeare of our Lord M. D. XXXi Of whose souls Iesu have mercy Amen This Ioane was the daughter to one of the Graunts of Snitterfeild On another Marble Here lyeth buried the body of Ambrose Willis of Fenny-Compton in the County of Warwick Gentleman the son of William Willis who lyeth buried at Priors-Marson which William was the son of Richard Willis Ioane his wife both lying buried under the stone adioyning Which Ambrose had by Amye his wife eight sonnes all deceased in their infancy but one sonne named Richard and one daughter named Anne yet living He deceased the tenth day of Iune Anno Domini Millesimo quingent esimo nonagesimo This Amye was the daughter of Richard Colles of Little-Preston in the County of Northampton Esquier On another Here lyeth buried the body of Richard Willis of Fenny-Compton in the County of Warwick gentilman son of Ambrose Willis deceased Which said Richard had by Hester his wife five children that is to say George William Richard Iudith and Mary all now living who deceased the tenth day of Iune 1597. This Hester was the daughter of George Chambre of Williamscote in the County of Oxford Esquier In the East window of the North I le these Armes Sable a Fesse engrailed betwixt three Helmets Argent Derset I Come next to Derset a parish somewhat â—patious but that part wherein the Church stands is commonly called Burton-Dasset the Hamlets belonging thereto being these viz. Great Dasset Hardwick Knightcote and Northend In the Conquerors time the Earl of Mellent had x. hides within the compasse of this place which was the Freehold of three Thanes before the Norman invasion and then esteemed to be worth x li. but at the generall Survey no more than viii li. and there written Derceto The residue was then certified to contain xv hides which Harold son to Raph Earl of Hereford held and so did in Edward the Confessors dayes at which time it was valued at xvi li. but by the Conquerors Survey at xx li. where it is written Dercetone In each of which parts there was at that time a Priest and in likelyhood some Chapell besides the mother Church yet I presume the Mother-Church then stood where it now doth scil in that part belonging to Harold From this Harold did paternally descend â—he line of Sudley taking their sirname from Sudley in Gloucestershire their principall seat of which family for that they were Founders of the Monastery of Erdbury within the precinct of Chilverscoton in this County I reserve what I have to say historically till I come to Griffe in that parish where they resided It seems that the same part of this town held by the E. of Mellent as abovesaid came also to the Sudley's for it appears by good authorities that they were possest of the whole and so continued till by an heir generall it descended to Boteler as I shall manifest in due place But when it was past from the said Earl of any of his posterity I have not seen neither can I guess at the direct time otherwise than to conclude it to have been somewhat antient and yet do I make a question whether it were before the xx â—h of H. 3. for upon collection of the Aid then levied it is certified that Robert Mauduit held one Knights fee and a half here of the Earl of Warwick unto whom most of the lands and fees which were tâ—e Eaâ—l of Mellent's in this County divolved At whâ—ch time it was aâ—so found that Raph de Suyle answered for a Knights fee in this place But by another Record not above xi years after it appears that Raph de Suthlâ—g accounted for two Knights fees here which proportion the heirs of the said Raph held in 36 H. 3. For the etymologie of the name considering how vaâ—ioâ—sly it hath been written in antient time viz. Derceto Dercetone Derceth and Dorcestre I shall oneâ—y deliver my fancy viz. that being a hilly place â—t was originally a receptacle for Beasts of Chase wherewith this land before it grew pâ—puâ—ous did much abound which kind we knowâ— do much delight in Mountaneus grounds as this is So that I supposeâ— it might by reason thereof at first be called Deorset with the Saxons which betokeneth a place where wild Beasts have their abode but I leave it as a conjecture As for that part of the town called Burton-Dasset it is by way of distinction fâ—om the other of which addition I have exprest my conceipt where I discourse of Burton-Hastings in
intimation I find of it is in 20 H. 3. where half a Knights fee in this place is certified to be held of Raph de Todneye yet who it was that then so held it is not exprest but in 36 H. 3. it appears to be William le Bretun The next that had to do here I mean in this part was Walter Pykerell yet not reputed Lord of the Mannour though he had the advouson of the Chapell so that considering that the Abbot of Bordesley was shortly after certified to be Lord of this town as I shall more plainly shew by and by I may without much presumption conclude that by one means or other the Monks of that Monastery obtained a large proportion in this part thereof after that Walter Cumin as I shall declare anon had given them all that he had here Which Walter in 10 E. 2. levied a Fine of what he had here and in Hilborough viz. two mess. three carucates of land and eight marks Rent with the advouson of the Chapell whereby he entailed it upon â—he issue of his body by Agnes his wife the remainder to Iohn de Leicester Priest But it seemes that Pikerell had no children by that woman for Leicester enjâ—yed it according to this Entail and presented to the Chapell as will appear anon From whom it came to Roger Hillary who had Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands in this place and in Stafford-shire 4. Maii 18 E. 3. and held what he had here oâ— the Earl of Warwick by the fourth part of a Knights fee. Which Roger was a Kt. and had issue Sir Roger who dying childlesse in 1 H. 4. Sir Iohn Rochford Knight son of Saer de Rochford by Ioan his elder sister and Eliz. daughter to Will. de la Plaunch by Eliz. his other sister became his heirs which Eliz. had 4 husbands First Sir Iohn Bermingham Knight Secondly Sir Iohn Russell Knight Thirdly Sir Iohn Clinton Knight and Lastly Robert Lord Grey of Rotherfeild whereupon by partition betwixt these coheirs in 13 H. 4. the said Eliz. had inter alia this Mannour allotted to her but dying without issue in 2 H. 6. the posterity of Sir Iohn Rochford became her heirs as to it viz. Ioan the wife of Sir Robert Roos Knight Margaret the wife of Frederick Tilney and Alice of Iohn Gibthorp Betwixt whom partition being made it was assigned to Ioan for Sir Robert Roos presented to the Church in 5 H. 6. and dyed ult Sept 20 H. 6. leaving Margaret the wife of Thomas de Pinchbeck and Alianore his daughters and heirs which Margaret was afterwards marryed to Iohn Wittlebury But from Witlebury it ere long divolved to Sir Richard Clement Knight by Anne a daughter and heir as I guesse by the Presentations The other part of this town possest by Osbernus filius Ricardi in the Conquerors time as I have shewed was by Osbertus filius Hugonis grandchild to the said Osbern granted to Hugh Hubald progenitor to the Hubauds of Ipsley and his heirs to hold by the service of one Foot-man in the Marches of Wales for 8. dayes yearly upon xv days notice which Hugh past it away to Walter Cumin reserving the said service Osbertus filius Hugonis confirming the grant But it continued not long in the line of Cumin for Walter Cumin son to the said Walter gave it to the Monks of Bordsley at which time it was accounted three hides whose grant Henry Hubauld of whom it was held confirmed for the yearly Rent of x s. and the before specified service of a Footman c. which was to be performed in the guarding of Ricards-Castle as that Charter testifieth But it seems that the Monks of Bordsley obtained more lands here in Stretton besides these for in 4 E. 1. I find that they had 4. hides and in 9 E. 2. were certified to be Lords of the town which being the greatest part thereof continued to them till the dissolution of that House but soon after scil in 37. H. 8. was past out of the Crown together with the Grange unto Thomas Badger Thomas Fowler and Robert Dyson From whom it came at length to one William Freeman who in 1 Eliz. dyed seized thereof leaving Iohn his cosin and heir xv years of age In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. the Church here was not valued but in 14 E. 3. I find it rated at iii. marks and a half yet is there no mention of it in 26. H. 8. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Walt. Pykerel Ioh. de Cestaneslade Cler. 8. Id. Oct. 1298. Ioh. de Leicester Cler. Henr. de Schulton Cler. 17. Iulii 1330. Ioh. de Leicester Cler. Ioh. de Wentebrig 10. Nov. 1339. Ioh. de Leicester Cler. Rog. Clonne Pbr. 27. Apr. 1340. Walt. de Leicester Cler. D. Thomas de Bernak Cap. 2. Martii 1341. Rog. Hillarie miles Henr. de Ombrysley Pbr. 23. Martii 1393. Rog. Hillarie miles Ioh. de Sloghtre Pbr. 24. Iulii 1361. Ioh. de Hampton Dominus de Stretton D. Ioh. le White Pbr. penult Oct. 1371. Rog. Hillarie miles Rob. de Caldecote Pbr. 6. Dec. 1361. Rog. Hillarie miles D. Ioh. Sweter Cap. 28. Nov. 1368. D. Eliz. Domina de Clinton Gilb. Bury Cap. 5. Martii 1412. D. Eliz. Domina de Clinton D. Ioh. Handy Cap. 28. Aug. 1420. Rob. Roos miles Ioh. Staundford Pbr. .... 1426. Thomas Pinchebek ar D. Ioh. Westbury Pbr. 21. Nov. 1429. Ioh. Wittlebury ar Margar. ux ejus D. Ioh. Sonwyn Cap. 24. Ed. 1442. Ioh. Wittlebury ar Margar. ux ejus Will. Lumbard Cler. 11. Martii 1444. Rob Wyttelbury ar D. Rob. Lowth Cap. ult Iunii 1484. Anna Wittelbury D. Will. Flocton Cap. 18. Feb. 1506. Ric. Clemens ar VVill. Robyns 8. Dec. 1524. Anna Grey vidua nuper ux Ric. Clement militis Hugo Zulley Cler. 6. Apr. 1549. Rad. Sheldon ar Thomas Evans Cler. 29. Iulii 1575. Nich. Hobday Yeoman ex concess Rad. Sheldon ar D. Franc. Hunt Cler. 28. Aug. 1581. Barcheston SToure being increast with this torrent which passes by the skirts of Stretton hasteth Northwards and on its Eastern bank leaveth Barcheston with Willington a petty Hamlet Part of this town viz. two hides and a half belonging to Will. fil Corbucionis in the Conquerors time of whom in Studley I have spoke was then held of him by one Iohais and valued at xl s. having a Mill therein rated a C d. But the residue viz. one hide and half a virgate Aluriâ— then held of the King which is certified in the generall Survey amongst the lands of Ric. Forestarius and valued at xl s. All which with the two hides and a half before exprest was the freehold of one Wiching in Edward the Confessors dayes In Domesday book it is
consideration he therefore commandeth that if they would use their private Oratories otherwise than onely for their private Prayers the Bishop should appoint them a Clerk whom they might entertain for that purpose All which is plain by later Constitutions made in the time of Leo It was thought good saith the Emperour in their judgement which have gone before that in private Chapells none should celebrate the holy Communion but Priests belonging unto greater Churches which order they took as it seemeth for the custody of Religion lest men should secretly receive from Hereticks insted of food the bane of their souls pollution insted of expiation To the descendants of which Iohn Harewell did this Mannour continue so long as the male line lasted and then by partition made betwixt the Sisters and coheirs of Thomas Harewell bearing date 4 Feb. 25 H. 8. was it allotted to Agnes the wife of Iohn Smith one of the Barons of the Kings Exchequer in whose line together with Wotton-wawen before specified it still continueth Ludington THis place being in the Saxons time belonging to the Bishoprick of Worcester and by the power of the Danes in the reign of Canutus with other lands taken from that Church was in Edw. the Confessors time possest by 4 Theins and reputed for two Mannourss but after the Norman conquest by the Earl of Mellent being esteemed at xii hides by the Survey then taken which were held of him by 4. Knights and valued at vi l. In which Survey it is written Luditone having had its originall appellation from the name of some antient possessor thereof as I guess From this Earl it came to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick his Brother and was granted by him or Earl Roger his son to the ancestour of Rob. de Valle in H. 1. time as that certificate made by Will Earl of Warwick in 12 H. 2. doth manifest at which time Rob. de Valle held it of the same Earl by the service of half a Kts. fee in whose line it continued till the issue male failing it came by a daughter and coheir to Burdet as the descent here inserted doth shew Of these the third Robert was a Justice of Assize in this County in 17 and 20 H. 3. and his son Robert a Kt. in 21 E. 1. as also in 3 E. 2. in Commission for assessing and collecting a xv th and tenth and afterwards a Coroner in this County but being not able to attend that office in respect of his great employment for severall eminent persons the Shiriff in 14 E. 2. had command to cause another to be chosen To which Robert succeeded his son called Rob. de Vaal jun. who went in that Welch expedition of 15 E. 2. which I take to be it that was occasioned by the difference betwixt Iohn de Moubray Rog. Mortimer and Hugh le Despensor the younger touching the land of Gowher in Wales This Robert was in 18 E. 2. constituted one of the Commissioners for conservation of the peace in this County and for taking care that the Articles contained in the Statute of Winchester should be observed and in 20 E. 2. and 1 E. 3. one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick as also a Commissioner for assessing and collecting a xx th in this County and in 7 E. 3 being a Kt. bore for his Armes a Fesse chequy betwixt 3. Lions rampant Rob. de Valle 12 H. 2. Robertus de Valle 6 Ioh. Nichola filia Ade de Crumbe Robertus de Valle 17 H. 3. Rob. de Valle miles 2 E. 1. Petronilla 9 E. 2. Rob. de Valle jun. 15 E. 2. miles 7 E. 3. Ioh. de Valle ob s. prole 34 E. 3. Elianora uy Gerardi Burdet de Sâ—kindon Ioh. Burdet alter consangu haered Ioh. de Vale 36 E. 3. Cath. ux Henrici filii Ric. le Noreys 7 E. 3. Ioh. Norrys 36 E. 3. Eliz. relicta Steph. de Aldermarston To whom succeeded Iohn his son and heir a Commissioner likewise for levying a xv th and x th in this County in 27 and 28 E. 3. which Iohn died without issue in 34 E. 3. leaving Iohn Burdet and Iohn Norrys his Cosens and heirs murthered as it seems for I find that Will. Abbot of Evesham had in 39 E. 3. a pardon for the same by means whereof the inheritance of this Lordship came at length to Burdet though an estate therein some other persons had for a while for in 2 H. 4. Iohn Wyard of whom I shall speak in Alspath was certified to hold the 4 th part of a K. s. fee here in right of his wife of the Earl of Warwick and in 11. H. 4. Rob. Castell had Freewarren granted to him in all his demesn lands here and in Alspath aforesaid And in 10. H. 6. it was found that Sir Thomas Burdet of Arrow in this County Kt. together with Iohn Welsh of Sheldesley in com Wigorn Gent. held two messuages and 2 yard land here by the service of the 4th part of a Kâ—s fee To which Sir T. Burdet the whole right in this Mannour came at length to be fixed as by his Feoffment thereof in 21 H. 6. appeareth and so descended to his great grandchild Ric. Burdet as the Pedegree in Arrow sheweth To whom succeeded Anne his daughter and heir married to Edw. Conway Esq. by which means the inheritance hereof divolved to their posterity Edw. Vicount Conway of whom and his family I shall speak in Ragley and Arrow now possessing it The Priest serving in this Chapell had in 26. H. 8. v li. vi s. viii d. per an for his stipend payd unto him by the Warden of the Collegiate Church at Stratford super Avon and the like salary had his successor in 37 H. 8. but I find no more than one presentation thereto and that was by the Warden of the Chantry at the Altar of S. Thomas the Martyr in the said Collegiate Church of one Iohn Pebworth Priest 20 Apr. an 1420. Ruin-Clifford IN the Conqueros time Rob. de Stadford possest one hide and 1. virgate of land here then held of him by one Hugh but before the Norman invasion it was the freehold of Saward the rest of this Hamlet being a member of Stratford as I shall shew by and by I am of opinion that the posterity of the said Hugh residing here assumed from hence the sirname of Clifford the last male branch of which family that continued owners hereof was Iohn de Clifford who in H. 3. time past away all his lands here to Raph le Power Son of Margerie his Sister which makes me conclude that he had no Children of his own It is very like that Hugh le Poer an assistant to the Barons against K. H. 3. became Husband to her the said Mergerie for I find that the same Hugh was seized
Fullwode and others divers lands for to find two Priests celebrating divine service here for ever all which being forfeited to the King in regard of such disposall made of them without the Royall License contrary to the Statute in that case made and provided were thereupon given away by K. Ric. unto one Iohn Swet who having a desire to assign over his right and state in them unto Rose Mountfort then a great woman in this Parish obtained a Pat. from K. H. 4. in the first year of his reign whereby the said K. gave them unto her and her heirs for ever to the intent that shâ— and they should provide and maintain two Chantrie-Priests to celebrate divine service daylie in this Church at the Altar of our Lady before mentioned aswell for the good estate of the said K. Henry during this life and afterwards for the health of his soul and the souls of his Mother and Queen deceased as for the soul of the said Rose and the souls of her ancestors and heirs and other Benefactors to the said Chantrye Which Rose by her Deed bearing date 8 Maii in the same year reciting the grant so made to her as abovesaid gave those lands unto Iohn Blakenhale and Ric. Boys Priests serving at the before specified Altar to hold to them and their successors Priests of that Chantrie to celebrate divine service there for ever according to the limitations before mentioned The advouson of which Chantrie descended by the said Rose Mountfort to the Catesbies but by reason of the attainder of Sir Wil. Catesbie in 1 H. 7. was granted in 3 H. 7. to Sir Iames Blount and to the heirs male of his body In â—6 H. 8. the lands belonging thereto were valued at xiii l. vi s. viii d. per an but in 37 H. 8. to no more than vii l. vii s. iiii d. at which time I find it certified that this Parish was xx miles in compass so that in case of Plague or ohter sickness there the Priests belonging thereto did use to assist the Vicar in ministring the Sacraments and Sacramentals The lands of both which Chantries were granted in 7 E. 6. to Kenelm Throkmorton Clem. Throkmorton and Iohn Throkmorton Esquires and their heirs I now come to the particular places of note within this Parish viz. Umberslade Monkspath Cley-Hall Codbarow Cheswikes Betlesworth Lodbroke's-Mannour Sidenhale and Crewenhale of which in their order Vmberslade THis being onely an antient Mannour house was in H. 2. time partly given by Henry de Vilers Sewer to Will Earl of Warwick unto Rob. Archer and Seliit his wife and to the heirs of Seliit in which grant it is termed terra de Ombreslade and the said Robert called Rob. Sagittarius and partly by Roger de Hulehale to her the said Seliit onely From which Robert and Seliit I have on the next page represented the lineall descendants with their matches clearly warranted from the originall Charters and evidences of this antient Family whose principall seat it still continues Of William the son to Rob. and Seliit I find that he had a grant of much land here in Tanworth by VValeran Earl of Warwick about the beginning of K. Iohn's reign which is set forth by speciall boundaries according to the use of those times and likewise a Bull from Pope Gregory the ix th for a peculiar Chapell at this place bearing date in 19 H. 3. In the Windows whereof are yet standing and of no less antiquity than E. 3. time the Arms of Beauchamp E. of Warwick Clinton Earl of Huntingdon as also of this Family as they were then set up in the Glass Which VVill. left issue Iohn who being Champion to Thomas Earl of Warwick obtained a speciall Charter from the said Earl to himself and his heirs for freedom to hauk and hunt every where within the territories of Tanworth excepting the Park and to excercise all other Liberties belonging to the said Earl within Monkspath and Ombreslade paying therefore unto him and his heirs xii broad Arrow heads a couple of Capons at Whitsontide yearly This Iohn had issue Iohn and divers other children whereof Thomas was Lord Prior of the Hospitall of St. Iohn of Hierusalem in England in 14 E. 2. which Iohn the younger matching with Margery the daughter of Sir VVill. Traci of Todington in Gloucestershire an eminent family in those parts left issue Iohn and Thomas Of which Thomas I find that having been in that Rob. Sagittarius temp H. 2. Seliit Ricardus Johannes Will. le Archer obiit circa 23 H. 3. Margeria Iohanna ux Walt. filii Sim. de Cherlecote Isab. ux Wil. filii Rad. de Lee. Thomas Joh. le Archer obiit temp H. 3. Christiana secundò nupra Will. de Berneville Tho. Prior S. Ioh Hicrosol in Anglia 14 E. 2. Wil. Rector Eccl. de Pilardinton Rob. Rector Eccl. de Queinton Ioh. le Archer ob ante 28 E. 1. Margeria filia Will. Traci de Toding ton in Com. Glouc. Ric. Rector Eccl. de Ilmindon 23 E. 3. Will. le Archer 2 E. 2. Thomas 10 E. 2. Ioh. le Archer obiit circa 22. E. 3. Isabella filia Rad. Escote 1 E. 3. Ioh. le Archer 16 E. 3. Thomas le Archer obiit 46 E. 3. Margareta filia .... Cleburie Gilbertus le Archer Agnes filia Walteri Cokesey mil. Thomas le Archer obiit 4 H. 6. aetat 84. an Alicia ux 2. Alicia filia Will. Hugford de Midleton in Com. Salop mil. obiit 8. H. 5. Ric. Archer obiit 11 E. 4. aetat 85. Margareta relicta Tho. Newport de Ercall ar ux 2. Alicia filia haeres Wil. Lea de Stotfold ux 3. Ioh. Archer obiit 3. E. 4. vivo patre Christiana sola filia haeres Rad. de Blacklow Civis Lond. relicta Hen. Sewall nupra 25 H. 6. Ioh. Archer obiit 4 Dec. 11. H. 8. Alicia filia Baldwini Mountfort de Colshill mil. nupta 7 E. 4. Ioh. Archer obiit 16 Apr. 12. H. 8. Margareta filia Humfridi Staftord de Blatherwick nupta 19 H. 7. obiit 21. H. 8. Edw. Archer obiit coelebs temp Iac. Regis Iohannes Robertus Ric. Archer ob 5. Oct. 36. H. 8. aet 39. Matilda filia cohaer Nich. De la mere de Hereford parva ob 23. Aug. 6 5. Ph. M. Edw. Fulco Miles Francisca Wimfrida Anna Humfr. Archer obiit 24 Oct. 4. Eliz. Anna filia Rob. Tounsend de Ludlow mil. Capit Iustic Walliae obiit 28 Nov. 5. Iac. Ioh. Archer duxit Elianoram fil haer Ric. Frewin de Handley in Com. Wigorn. Andreas Archer ob 23. Apr. An. 1629. Margar. filia Sim. Ralegh de Farnborough at obiit 16 Aug. 1614. Ric. Archer de Nethorp in Com. Oxon. duxit MariaÌ„ fil haer Roul Bull de Nethorp Simon Archer natus 21 Sept. 1581. factus eq aur per Regem Iac. 21 Aug. 1624. Anna filia Ioh. Ferrers de Tamworth castro eq aur
age at his Fathers death viz. in 49 E. 3. who in 9 R. 2. served in the Parliament then held at Westminster as one of the Knights for this Shire being then a Knight and departed this life in 18 R. 2. leaving issue Thomas his son and heir who being 30. years of age at his mothers death in 6 H. 4. was in 5 H. 5. in Commission for conservation of the Peace in this County and in 8 H. 5. Shiriff of this Countie and Leicestershire but dyed in or before 12 H. 6. as appears by the respite given to Thomas his son and heir for doing his homage being then thirty years of age Which Thomas was Shiriff of these Counties the next year following and one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament of 18 H. 6. about which time he had the honour of Knighthood confer'd upon him for in 19 H. 6. I find him so stiled being then in Commission touching a Joan of money to the King In 24 H. 6. he againe underwent the Office of Shiriff In 28 H. 6. he was imployed as a Commissioner for another Loan and about levying the Subsidie then granted to the King in Parliament In 31 H. 6. again for a Loan In 39 H. 6. as also in 1 E. 4. he was constituted one of the Justices of Peace in this Countie But notwithstanding these imployments of trust by King H. 6. he stood more cordially affected to the House of Yorke as he manifested by declaring himself for Edward the fourth in his greatest straights for which faithfull service in the second year of that King's reign he had a grant of the Mannour of Bordsley already spoke of for his own life and the life of Ioyce his wife which Mannour was then eschaeted to the Crown by the attainder of Iames Earl of Wiltshire This is the man that founded the Chantrie in Aston Church 27 H. 6. whereof I have there spoke being the last of his Family that possest this place In 6 E. 4. he was joyn'd in Commission for the Peace in this Countie but what came of him I know not for after 7 E. 4. I have seen no more mention of his name The next owner thereof concerning whom I find any authoritie was George Duke of Clarence Sir William Harecourt Knight being his Steward here in 11 E. 4. After which ere long it came to the hands of one Robert Wright but by what means I know not who in 11 H. 7. past it together with the advouson of the Chantrie of S. Mary Magdalen at Aston unto Sir Reginald Bray Knight a great favorite to that King which Sir Reginald having no issue gave it with other lands of great value by his Testament to Edmund his nephew scil son to his brother Iohn Which Edmund in 21 H. 8. being then a Knight sold it together with the advouson of the said Chantrie at Aston to Francis Englefield Esquire afterwards Knight from whom in 4 E. 6. it was purchased by Humphrey Dimock Esquire who left issue Francis and Henry after the death of which Francis the same Henry as engaged for his Brothers debts held it during his life and resided here being then a Knight but dying unmarried Sir Walter Earle of Charborow in Dorsetshire possest himself thereof in right of Anne his wife sole daughter and heir to the before specified Francis Dimock and in 1 Car. sold it to Sir Walter Devereux Knight and Baronet From which Sir Walter it was purchased in 23 Car. by Sir Thomas Holt of Aston before specified Pipe THâ—s Mannour lying within the precincts of Erdington was antiently possest by one William Maunsel who having his residence here underwent the Office of Shiriff for this Countie and Leicestershire from 35. to the 40 H. 3. inclusive and in 39 H. 3. was join'd in Commission with William Trussell and Robert de Grendon for the finding out of certain notorious malefactors in this Countie as also in 52. of the same King's reign for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick and left issue one onely daughter and heir called Emme married to Sir Henry de Harecourt Knight which Sir Henry had issue by her one sole daughter named Margaret whose wardship and marriage Richard de Pipe having wedded her mother purchased for an C. marks of Iohn de Bishopston in 22 E. 1. and having so done made her the wife of Iohn de Pipe his son by a former venter which Iohn had issue by her divers Children as the Descent in the following page sheweth Will. Maunsel de Erdinton Ric. Pipe secundus maritus 31 E. 1. Emma filia haeres Henr. de Harecourt miles 6. E. 1. Margareta Ioh. de San. desterd obiit sine prole Ric. Pipe secundus maritus ...... uxor prima Joh. Pipe Ric. Pipe Henr. Pipe Matilda fil Geor. gii de Castello Joh. factus Canon regul in prioratu de Oveston in Com. Leic. Ingrith ux 1. Ioh. Henr. Thomas ob s. p. Alianora Katherina Elizabetha Margeria ob s. p. Ioh. Pipe monachus Thom. Pipe Ab. de StoÌ„ley Rob. ob in part transm Marg. monial apud Godstow Kath. monial apud Litlemore Will. ob s. p. Rob. obiit s. p. Alianora ux Philippi Beche Margeria ux ...... Durvassal Agnes ux Rog. Blakenhole Thomas Pipe Cler. By Richard the eldest of which sons it descended to Henry his son and heir who by Ingrith his first wife had many Children all which excepting Margerie died with their mother of the Pestilence so that the same Henry afterwards wedded a second wife scil Maud. the daughter of George de Castello of whom he had but little joy for not long after the marriage he found that she was with child by one Iohn Boote his Fathers servant at which he took such grief that he died before the child was born viz. on the Feast day of St. Laurence 36 E. 3. being then also seized of the Mannour of Morton-Daubenie in this Countie as also of Staunton and Sitbeston in Leicestershire Whereupon Iohn D. of Lancaster of whom as in right of the Honour of Leicester the said Mannour of Morton was held seized the said Margerie his survâ—ving daughter and Iohn the son of Maud so begotten as aforesaid as his Wards granting them to Iohn de Stafford his Clerk who to prevent that ill begotten child of enjoying the inheritance made him a Canon Regular in the Priorie of Duston in Leicestershire where he died and afterwards having procured the said Margerie to make a Feoffment unto one Peter Banaster a Priest and others of all her inheritance to the use of him the said Iohn and his heirs which Feoffment bears date in 47 E. 3. past it a way to Will. Paylington Vâ—car of Radway and other Feoffees for the Abbot of Stoneley's use whereupon they by virtue of the
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
of age but was attended with very ill success in that expedition for no sooner did he arrive with his Army at the Port of Rochel but that the Spanish Navie fell suddainly upon them before they could put themselve in order to fight so that few of them escaped death wounds or imprisonment and yet without any considerable loss to the Enemy who forthwith set fire on all the English Ships carrying away the Earle and many gallant Gentlemen as also no less than twenty thousand marks in money sent over by the K. of England to continue the war which unhappy accident fell out on the Eve of St. Iohn Baptist's Nativitie being the Festivall of St. Aetheldred the Virgin and therefore was it censured by many as my Author observeth that God's judgement so followed him as a punishment for the injurie he had done to the Church of that holy Virgin sc. Ely in a cause betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and it before his departure out of England and that the money so lost had no better luck forasmuch as it had been got from the Religious Houses and Clergy But others attributed it to his living an adulterous life being a married man that he also had attempted in Parliament an infringement of the Church its Liberties and that he perswaded the King to lay greater Taxes upon the Clergie than Laitie for support of his wars which practises of pilling and poling the Church however the temporall Lords saith the same Author were pleased yet what success they had not onely England but the whole world hath sufficiently found I now come to speak of his death the circumstances whereof were as followeth viz. that having undergone four years imprisonment in Spain with most inhumane usage he sent to Bertrand Clerkin Constable of France desiring that he would use some means for his enlargement who thereupon interceded for him to the Bastard of Spain that called himself King and obtained his libertie in consideration of part of that money due to himself whereupon he was brought to Paris and a sum of money assigned which he must pay for his redemption but after his coming thâ—ther it was not long ere that he fell mortally sick of Poison as 't was thought given to him by the Spaniards who were reputed to have such a speciall facultie in that Art as that the potion should kill at what distance of time they pleased The French therefore seeing death approaching him being eager to get his ransome money before he died made haste to remove him unto Calais but on his jâ—urney thither he departed this world upon the very day of St. Aetheldred the Virgin which Saint he had so much offended before his coming out of England as hath been said though the Inquis after his death expresseth it to have been the xvi th of Aprill his son and heir Iohn being at that time but two years old and a half and was buried in the Quire of the Friers Preachers at Hereford as by his Testament and what I shall hereafter say may seem But here before I proceed farther I must observe that this Iohn in 43 E. 3. obtaining License for that purpose from the King made a Feoffment unto Walter Amyas and others of all his Castles Lordships Mannours c in England and Wales to certain uses which Feoftment being left sealed up in the hands of the Feoffees to be kept till his return from beyond Seas was upon his death delivered to the King's Councell at Westminster who opening it found that in case he died without issue of his body the town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his heirs and successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and all other his lands in England and Wales in Fee to his Cosin Will. de Beauchamp viz. his Mother's sisters son provided that he should bear his Armes and endeavour to obtain his title of Earl and in case he neglected so to do that then his Kinsman Will. de Clinton to have them upon the same conditions But I return to his said son and heir of whom I find that at the Coronation of K. Ric. 2. he claimed to carry the great gold Spurs and that though he shewed sufficient evidence for his right so to do yet being under age it was adjudged that the King might appoint another for that time whereupon Edmund Mortimer Earl of March was assigned thereto And moreover that he took to wife whilst he was very young Philippa daughter to the said Edmund Earl of March â— but had no issue by her for being at Wodstoke where the King kept his Christmass in 13 of his reign he tilted with Sir Iohn St. Iohn and by an unfortunate slip was run into the bottome of his Belly so that his bowells breaking out he suddainly died to the great lamentation of many in regard he was a person of so noble a disposition that in bountie and curtesie he exceeded most of his degree So that it is observed that from Aymerie de Valence Earl of Pembroke his lineall ancestor who was one that gave Judgement of death upon Thomas Earl of Lancaster in â— 2. time even unto this Iohn the last Earl of the line none of them ever saw his Father nor any Father of them took delight in the seeing his Child so young were they at their Fathers deaths His body was interred in the Church of the Gray Friers near New-gate in London now called Christ's-Church where he had a fair Monument since with all the rest defaced Dying thus without issue Râ—ginald Lord Grey of Ruthin was by some Inquis found his next heir of the whole blood as descended from Elizabeth sister to Iohn great-grandfather to the said Earl so slain in tilting as hath been said and by other y Inquis Hugh de Hastings son of Hugh son of Hugh son of a second Iohn by Isabell the daughter of Hugh le Despenser as the Pedegree here placed sheweth But so little did Iohn Earl of Will. de Valencia Comes Pembr Andomarus ob â— p. Joanna Isabella Henr de Hastings Joanna de Cantilupe Iohannes de Hastings primus Râ—â—erus de Grey Elizabetha Râ—ginaldus de Grey de Ruthin Reginaldus de Grey Joh. de Hastings secundus Isabella filia Hug. le Despenser Com. Wint. Johannes de Hastings tertius Laurentius de Hastings erectus in Com. Pembr Ioh. Comes Pembr mari captus Ioh. Comes Pembr caesus in hastiludio apud Wodstoke Hugo de Hastings Hugo de Hastings Hugo de Hastings ob s. p. Edwardus de Hastings Pembroke Father to the last Iohn regard his next heir male as it seems and so much hate Reginald Grey father to the last Reginald that he entailed the greatest part of his lands as hath been said on Will. de Beauchamp before mentioned Notwithstanding which settlement 't is observeable that the right of bearing Armes was in those days of such esteem as
heirs release the said x s. annuall Rent unto Geffrey Sauvage brother and heir of the said Elias And moreover that the same William Burdet acquitted to Sir Philip Marmion all his right in the Homage and services of William le Salvage successor to the before specified Geffrey for these lands in Povele which from thenceforth were held immediatly of the Marmions by the service of the said Sore-Sparhawk or ii s. to be payd at the Feast of S. Iames the Apostle in the nature of a Socage tenure But by a daughter and heir of Sauvage as the Descent in Baginton manifesteth it came in processe of time to Sir Thomas de Endeshoure of Endeshoure in Com. Derb. who sometimes residing here obtained a speciall License from Pope Urban the ivth for to build a Chapell within the precincts of this Lordship and to have a Priest for celebration of Divine Service and administring the Sacraments therein by reason of the flouds at sometimes especially in Winter which hindered his accesse to the Mother-Church Howbeit in the Family of Endeshoure it rested not two Descents ere by an heir female it came to Herthull in whose male line it continued for divers ages and at length divolved to Cokain by Eliz. the daughter and heir of Sir Richard de Herthull Knight wife to Edm. Cokain Esquire From which Edmund and Elizabeth is â—ineaâ—ly descended Sir Aston Cokain Baronet now Lord of this Mannour Ioh. Cokain de Ashburne in Com. Deâ—b 44 E. 3. Edm. Cokain ar 5 R. 2. Eliz. filia haeres Ric. de Herthull militis Ioh. Cokain miles obiit 16 H. 6. Isabella filia Hug. Shirley mil. Will. Cokain à quo Will. Cokain eq aur Alderm Civiâ— London temp Regis Iacobi Ioh. Cokain ar obiit 20 H. 7. Anna filia Ric. vernon mil. Thomas Cokain cesus per ...... Burdet vivente patre Agnes filia Rob. Barlow Thomas Cokain miles obiit 28 H. 8. Barbara filia Ioh. Fitz-Herbert Remem Regis H. 7. Franciscus Cokain ar 28 H. 8. Dorothea filia cohaeres Thomae Marrow servientis ad legem Thomas Cokain factus miles apud Leith per Edw. Com. Hertf. 36 H. 8. Dorothea filia Humf. Ferrers mil. nupta 31 H. 8. Franciscus Cokain duxit Annam fil Valentini Knightley mil. obiit s. prole 38 Eliz. Edw. Cokain frater haeres obiiâ— anno 1606. Iana filia Nich. Ashby Thomas Cokain ar Anna filia Ioh. Stanhope de Elvaston mil. Aston Cokain Baronettus anno 1655. .... filia Gilberti Kniveton de Mircaston in Com. Derb. Bar. Alicia ux Edw. Litleton 36 H. 8. Alicia ux Rad. Shirley mil Ioh Cokain de Bury-Hatley in Com. Bedf. Regin Cokain 4 H. 5. These Cokains being Derbyshire Gentlemen originally and of a very antient Family had their chief seat at Ashburne in that Countie But it seems that Sir Iohn Cokain Knight son and heir to the before specified Edmund and Elizabeth made his residence here at Pooley for some time for it is evident that in 13 H. 4. when he was to go into France in the King's service in aid of the D. of Orâ—eans against the D. of Burgundy he made his Will at this place which bears date the Thursday next after the Feast of S. Barnabas the Apostle the same year whereby it appears that having enfeofâ— Sir Iohn Dabâ—idâ— court Knight and others in his Mannour of Badsley-Endsor in this Countie to the end that a certain summe of money might bâ— raised out of the profits thereof for payment of us â—â—oâ—s and towards a marriage portion for 〈◊〉 Elyn he directed that then his said 〈◊〉 should make an estate thereof unto Io 〈…〉 his son and heir and the heirs of his 〈…〉 appointed that if the said Iohn did happen to 〈…〉 â—ssue it should be amortized to find as many Priests singing to the worlds end for his soul his wifes his Children and all his Ancestors â—ouls as the Rent thereof would reasonably maintain viz. in S. Marie-Chapell at Polesworth five pounds to one Priest in S. Marie Chapell near Ashburne seven marks to another Priest and the remnant to be spent in Wax Vigils and Almesdeeds on the Eve and day of his Obit But after this voyage he lived many years for certain it is that he was a Justice of Peace in this Shire from 5 H. 5. till the end of that King's reign and a Commissioner of Array in 6 H. 5. This Sir Iohn Cokain bore the Armes of his Mothers Familie for the most part scil Argent two Barrs vert she being an eminent heir and died in 16 H. 6. leaving issue Iohn his son and heir and William a younger son from whom Sir William Cokain Knight Alderman of London in King Iames his time deduced his descent Which Sir William was father to Charles erected to the dignitie of Viscount Colâ—in by the late King Charles now residing at Râ—shton in Northamptonshire Of the last mentioned Iohn I finde that he had issue Thomas who dwelling here at Pooley and having difference with Thomas Burdet of Bromcote Esquire his neer neighbour so irritated him with affronts that he was slain by Burdet in his passage to Polesworth-Church as the tradition is Which unhappy accident fell out in his Father's life time so that Thomas his son upon the death of Iohn the grandfather in 20 H. 7. became heir who being a brave spirited Gentleman and with King H. 8. at the Seiges of Therovene and Tourney was then Knighted This Sir Thomas built the Mannour-House here at Pooley of Brick as is yet to be seen having in 22 H. 7. imparked the Woods lying Westwards thereof but by his Testament bearing date 4 Apr. 28 H. 8. bequeathed his body to sepulture in our Ladyes Quire at Ashburne where his Ancestors lye interred before the Image of S. Modwen appointing that his Executors should cause a Tombe of Marble to be made there for him which was accordingly performed with this Inscription thereon Here châ—sted in this Tombe and closed in this Clay Doth lie Sir Thomas Cokain Knight and must till Iudgment Day This martiall man so bold and eke this warlikâ— wight At Tyrwyn and at Turney siege was dub'd a worthy Knight Three goodly Houses he did build to his great praise and fame With profits great and manifold belonging to the same Three Parks he did impale therein to chase the Deere The lofâ—y Lodge within this Park he also builded here He did his House and name renew and â—herestore Which others had with negligence in time decayed before This virtuous Knight had issue male three sonns of manly port And eke three daughters virtuous and married in this sort The eldest to her husband had a Knight of worthy same Sir William Basset Lord of Blore he called was by name To Vincent Lowe of Denby Squier the second married was The third to Robert Burdet Squyer as fate