as that at Bretford and have that again in exchange This Geffrey de Clinton the second wedded Agnes the daughter of Roger Earl of Warwick and had with her in Frank marriage by the gift of her Father inter alia ten Knights Fees of those seventeen that were held by him of the said Earl de Veteri Feoffamento that is to say whereof he or his Father were enfeoffed in the time of K. H. 1. which ten by those covenants of marriage were to perform their military service in the custody of this Brandune whereby 't is plain that the Castle was then in being though it be hard to say whether Geffrey de Clinton the Father of Lescelina or her husband Norman de Verdune built it Bertramus de Verdon temp Conquestoris Normannus de Verdon Lescelina filia Gaufridi de Clintona Bertramus de Verdon Rohesia Tho. de Verdon Eustachia postea nupta Ric. de Camvil Nich de Verdon 7 R. 1. mortuus 16 H. 3. Theobaldus le Butiller Rohesia filia haeres 16 H. 3. Marg. filia Gilb. de Lacy haeres Walteri de Lacy avi sui uxor 1. Joh. de Verdon 31 H. 3. obiit 2 E. 1. Elianora uxor 2. Theobaldus de Verdon fil haeres 2 E. 1. obiit 3 E. 2. Joh. obiit in Hib. vita patris 25 E. 1. Eliz. filia Gilb. de Clare Com. Gloucestriae uxor 2. Theobald de Verdon obiit an 1316. 10. E. 2. Matildis fil Edm. de Mortimer de Wigmore 30 E. 1. ux 1. Isabella Johanna uxor Tho. filii heredis Tho. d. Furnivall Eliz. uxor Barthol Burghersh Margeria primò nupta Will. le Blount postea Marco Husee ult Joh. Crophull Matildis ux Ioh. Fitz-Alan Comit. Arundeliae 30 E. 1. In the line of which Norman it continued for divers ages as the descent here inserted sheweth their principal seat being at Alton-Castle in Staffordshire But little do I find memorable of it other than that in 7 R. 1. it was garrison'd by VVill. fil Ricardi a great man in this County as in Wroxhall shall be manifested who had then the custody thereof by reason of the minority of Bertram son and heir to the before specified Norman de Verdon To which Bertram succeeded Nicholas who in 11 H. 3. had a Charter of Free-warren granted to him and his heirs in all his demesn lands here And raised a Pool in this place to so great a height as that the Monks of Combe brought an Assize of Novel-disseisin against him for drowning their lands in Stretton thereby But it was not long afterwards ere that this Castle underwent the fate which is incident to such strong holds in time of hostility for it appears that the partakers with Simon Montfort E. of Leicester who in 39 H. 3. held Kenilworth Castle against the King taking notice that Iohn de Verdon Grandchild to the before specified Nicholas had Commission to raise Forces in Worcestershire against thâ—se Rebels issued out of of that place and pulled it down To which Iohn succeeded Theobald who abâ—ut the beginning of E. 1. time extended his Free warren here beyond the bounds of his Barony 〈…〉 lands oâ— the Prior of Coventre and Abboâ— of Combe and ingrossed the whole fishing oâ— Avon on the one side to himself viz. from Bretford to Mervines-mill which had wont to be common It seems he rebuilt the Castle for I find that it was then again in being though now nothing remain thereof but the moats and heaps of rubbish and had a Park thereto containing a mile in length As also that his Tenants were thus distinguisht viz. by Servants Cottagers and Free-holders Of the first sort there being xxv that held xii yard land and a half in servage that is to say besides payment of a certain Rent each of them to find one workman at the Lords disposal to labour from Monday next after the feast day of St. Peter and Paul untill the feast of St. Peter ad vincula which is the first of August in every week two daies and after that time till Michaelmass to find one man working two daies one week and three daies another by turns at such imployment as the Lord should appoint And the Cottagers to find each of them every week from the first of August till Michaelmass one labourer to work upon Monday onely as the Lord should appoint But the Free-holders which were onely three held by a certain Rent and homage and to do service to his Court every three weeks It was likewise then found that he had Free-warren here of the grant of K. H. 3. and how he had incroacht upon the Prior of Coventre and Abbot of Combe as also that he had a Court Leete Gallowes with assize of Bread and Beer for a Palfrey yearly payable to the K. Unto which Leet his Father being a powerfull man had drawn the Hamlets of Thurlaston and Ashoe without any justifiable authority but as to the rest of those priviledges being questioned in 13 E. 1. by what authority he claimed them he pleaded prescription which was allowed To which last mentioned Theobald succeeded Theobald his son and heir and to him his four daughters and heirs whereof Elizabeth the wife to Bartholmew de Burghersh had inter alia this Lordship in partition assigned unto her Whose son and heir viz. Sir Bartholmew shortly after past it unto Sir VValter Pavely Kt. and other feoffees who in 43 E. 3. conveyed it to Sir Iohn Delves a Staffordshire Kt. from whom it came to Sir Iohn Arundell Kt. who in 3 R. 2. dyed seized thereof and so descending to Sir Richard Arundell fell by partition in 16 H. 6. unto Elianore wife of Sir VVilliam St. George Kt. one of the two daughters and heirs to the said Sir Richard which Elianore departing this life without issue it divolved to Sir Robert VVilloughby of Eresby Kt. son and heir of Thomas VVilloughby Esq and Ioane the other sister and co-heir which Sir Robert VVilloughby dyed 5. E. 4. leaving Robert his son and heir within age but Sir VVilliam St. George had the possession thereof during his life as Tenant by the curtesy of England and dyed 11 E. 4. the reversion thereby coming to Christopher VVilloughby brother of the last mentioned Robert who was at that time 19 years of age From which Christopher by Thomas a third son one of the Justices of the Common Pleas in the later end of K. H. 8. reign descended Sir Percivall VVilloughby Kt. late of Middleton in this County as I shall further shew when I come to speak of that place who sold it to Sir Henry Yelverton Kt. Atturney General to K. Iames within our memory Bretforde THis was a member of Brandon as will appear by what I am now
also in delineation of divers Monuments for adorning the present work Ioh. Verney Ioh. Verney Cleric Rector Eccl. de Bredon in Com. Wigorn 6 H. 6. Supervisor Receptor generalis Ric. de Bellocampo Comitis Warw. Dec. Eccl. Cath. Lich. 14 H. 6. Ric. Verney miles obiit 5 H. 7. Alianora filia haeres Ioh. Loutham de Northampton Edm. Verney ar ob 6. Feb. 10 H. 7. Eliz. filia Will. Fielding mil. Ric. Verney ar obiit 28. Sept. 18 H. 8. Anna filia Will. Davers unius Iustic de Banco temp H. 7. Thomas Verney mil. 28 H. 8. Alicia soror cohaeres Edm. Tame de Fairford in Com. Glouc. mil. Ric. Verney miles 3 4 Ph. M. Francisca filia Georgii Raleigh de Farnborough ar Georgius Verney ar obiit 8. Apr. 16 Eliz. Iana filia Will. Lucy de Cherlecote ar Ric. Verney miles obiit 7. Aug. 1630. Margar. filia Fule Grevill mil. soror haeres Fulconis domini Brook obiit 26. Martii an 1631. Grevillius Verney miles obiit 12. Maii 1642. Cath. filia Rob. Southwell eq aur Grevillius Verney ar obiit 9. Dec. 1648. Eliz. filia Ric. Vicecomitis Wenman Grevilius Verney natus 26. Ian. anno 1648. Ricardus Georgius Eliz. ux Edw. Peto de Chesterton ar When this town was depopulated I cannot directly affirm but it seems to have been antiently for I find that our Countreyman Rous hath it in the list of those whereof he so much complains The Church being given by Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick as a Prebend for the maintenance of one Canon in the Church of our Lady at Warwick was confirmed thereto by Walter Durdent Bishop of Coventre in King Stephen's time as also by Guy de Beauchamp Earl Warwick in 4 E. 2. And in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at viii marks But in 26 H. 8. not taken notice of other than as appropriated to the Collegiat Church of our Lady in Warwick and there rated So that there have not ever been any Presentations thereto excepting those of the Earles to the Prebend in the said Collegiate Church Wellesburne Hastang FOllowing this petty stream I behold Walton-Mauduit on my right hand and Walton-D'eivill and Wellesburne-Mountfort on my left all which are in the Parish of Wellesburne-Hastang lying above a mile below them whereofâ— according to my accustomed methodâ— I must first speak In the Conquerors time there was no distinction betwixt these two Wellesburnes but both being then included togetherâ— were joyned with Quintone in Gloucester-shire and certified to be in the Kings own hand having been held by King Edward the Confessour before the Norman invasion In Domesday-book it is written Waleburne but afterwards Walesburne and Welesburne so that 't is apparent that the little brook upon which it stands did at first occasion the denomination thereof burne in the Saxon importing the same that torrens in the Latine doth That the whole which shortly after came to be two Lordships was inter alia given by the Conqueror unto Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line is not to be doubted considering that he was Founder of the Church as when I come to speak thereof shal be shewed This was originally granted by one of the antient Earls of Warwick to Robert de Hastang or some of his Ancestors from whom William de Pacy became enfeoft of certain lands here which afterwards were conveyed to Godfrey Giffard Bishop of Worcester who possest them in 7 E. 1. it being then called Wellesburne-parva In which year I find that Walt. Giffard Arch-Bishop of York Brother to the said Godfrey past unto Henry le Foune and Isabell his wife xxviii Mess. six yard land and xxx s. Rent lying in this place But long it was not after this ere that Iohn de Strattelenges and Maud his wife became Lords thereof for by a Charter bearing date at Westm. 20 Maii 18 E. 1. they had a grant of a Mercate here weekly every Munday and an yearly Fair to hold for two days viz. the Even and day of the Apostles Peter and Paul After which I can give no further account thereof till 9 R. 2. that Sir Iohn le Strange of Walton Kt. and Mabell his wife levyed a Fine of xl Mess. x. tofts one Mill eleven yard land 17 s. Rent and half a pound of Pepper lying in this place then called by the name of Wellesburne le Strange and in Wellesburne-Mountford with the advouson of the Chantry in the Church here at Wellesburne le Strange by which Fine the premâ—sses were vested in the two Vicars of Wellesburne and Walton As this was an act of trust so also was there another in H. 6. time whereupon Rob. Danvers and the rest of his fellow Feoffees did entail this Mannour with other lands upon Sir Thomas le Strange Kt. and Eliz. his wife and the heirs of their two bodies lawfully begotten and for want of such issue on the right heirs of the said Sir Thomas which Sir Thomas had issue Thomas and he two Daughters and heirs viz. Anne and Margaret as in Walton D'Eivile appeareth to whom it descended and hath ever since attended the succession of that Mannour being now possest therewith by Sir Charles Mordant The Church dedicated to St. Peter was originally built as it should seem by Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman race as also dedicated and endowed with glebe and Tithes by him and Earl Roger his son as the Charter of the said Roger and the confirmation of Earl Will. his son do testify whereby also it appeareth that it was the Mother Church to the two Waltons both the Wellesburnes and Cherlecote which E. Roger soon after bestowed it on the Canons of Kenilworth whereupon they had the confirmation of K. H. 1. as also of Simon then Bishop of Worcester In an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xxii marks howbeit the time of its appropriation I find not but in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was rated at viii l. over and above ix s. v. d. allowed for Procurations and Synodals In this Church there was a Chantrye founded by one of the Hastangs as is likely by their nomination of him to the Canons of Kenilworth whom they presented thereto but after 14 R. 2. that William son and heir to Sir Iohn le Strange presented to it through the default of those Canons I have not seen any more thereof Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. de Rollandrit Diac. 5 Cal. Apr. 1288. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rob. de Cestanlede Pbr. 6. Non. Iulii 1301. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. de Keten Pbr. 10. Cal. Aug. 1303. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Sim. de Salle Cap. 9. Cal. Nov. 1303.
Jejunia adhuc retinent nomen officii nam communiter Vigiliae non Jejunia nuncupantur The substance of this I have found Englished in an old Manuscript Legend of S. Iohn Baptist as followeth And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were first found in old time In the beginning of holl Chirche it was so that the pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold Wake and coome with light toward night to the Chirche in their devocions and aftir they fell to lecherte and songs daunses harping pipingâ— and also to glotony and sinne and so tourned the holinesse to cursydnes wherefore holy faders ordeined the pepull to leve that Waking and to fast the Evyn But hit is callyd Vigilia that is Waking in English and it is callyd the Evyn for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche Howbeit the direct time when this prohibition for coming so to Church in the Evening was made hath not as yet appeared to me but I do conclude it to have been very antient for though Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1362. 36 E. 3. by vertue of that appointment made by Pope Gregory the ninth for observation of some speciall Holy days and leaving the rest thus quas singuli Episcopi in suis Diocaesibus cum Clero Populo duxerint solenniter venerandas comanded that Solennitas Dedicationum Ecclesiarum Parochialium Sanctorum in quorum honore Ecclesiae parochiales dedicantur according to the Canon Law Dist. 1. cap. 16.17 Dist. 3. cap. 1. yet there is no doubt to be made considering what is before exprest but that such solemnities of the Churches Dedication were no lesse antient than the primitive times of Christianity and annually kept for many ages upon the same Saints day to whose memory such dedication was made but in processe of time certain inconveniencies being found in the observance of those very dayes especially such as hapned in Harvest when a little neglect may occasion much losse many of them were by speciall authority from the Bishop for that very reason altered and the solemnity transferred to the next Sunday following or some other Sunday as I have seen for instance of Tadcaster and Bishop-Wilton in Yorkshire where the Churches Festivall of the one being on the 28 of August was in the year MCCC xiv assigned to be kept on the Sunday next ensuing the Feast of the Decollation of S. Iohn Baptist and of the other which fell out on the fifteenth of September to be observed the Sunday ensuing Which alteration forasmuch as it broke the antient course and order perhaps occasioned for uniformities sake that Injunction of King Henry made in the year 1536. 28. of his raign whereby with the common assent and consent of the Prelates and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation lawfully assâ—mbled amongst other things he decreed ordained and established that the Feast of Dedication of Churches should in all places throughout this Realm be thenceforth celebrated and kept on the first Sunday of the month of October for ever and upon none other day Since which time that Rule hath been observed in divers places as I have particularly taken notice especially where the Saints day unto whom the Church was dedicated hapneth in the Winter time but where it falls out in that time of the year that the weather is warm and proper for merry meetings it is generally seen that the said Festivall is yearly kept on the Sunday next following such day though not by commemoration of the Saint in any particular Church service but by holding up the Custome of Feasting amongst friends and good neighbours with the exercise of dancing and other sports which time is now usually called the Wake through most parts of this Kingdom But returning to Stratford and the successive Bishops that were Lords thereof I find that William de Bleys then being Bishop procured a Charter for another Faire to be kept here on the Eve of S. Augustin and on the day morrow after which Festivall falls yearly on the seventh Cal. of Iune being the 26. of May And within xvi years after Walter de Cantilupe obtained another to be yearly kept on the Eve of the Exaltation of the Holy Crosse the day and two days following viz. 14. Oct. which Charter bears date at Winchester 23. Dec. 24 H. 3. This indeed hath continued till the present times frequented by multitudes that come from far and neer unto it the Toll whereof was very antiently leased for ix s. iv d. and the Toll of the Mercate at xvi s. per annum which Walter sate Bishop for divers years in 39 H. 3. obtained a Charter of Free-warren for himself and his successors in all their demesn lands here bearing date at Merton 2. Apr. Another Faire likewise did Godfrey Giffard when he was Bishop procure in 53 H. 3. to be held for three days viz. the Eve of the Ascension of our Lord commonly called Holy Thursday and upon the day and morow after And moreover the next year following got a new Charter for renewing the Faire again on the Eve of Trinity Sunday so granted by King Iohn as aforesaid and to continue for three days after Touching the revenue which the said Bishop had here in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. I find that it was in Rent of Assize xx li. two carucates of land rated at xx s. one Mill yeilding C s. the pleas and perquisites lx s. and the profits of the store xx s. But it should seem that the said Thursday Mercate grew in time to be neglected for it appears that Walter de Maydenstane made Bishop of Worcester in 2 E. 2. did in the very first year of his consecration obtain a new Charter for one to be kept upon the same day every week and added also another Fair thereto to begin yearly on the Eve of S. Peter and Paul being at the later end of Iune and to hold for xv days Which Charter bears date at Westminstr 4. Martii 2 E. 2. And now that the Mercate became thus setled it was not long ere that the Paving of the town began for in 5 E. 3. did one Robert de Stratford then Parson of the Church of Stratford but afterwards highly advanced as I shall shew by and by procure a Patent for taking Toll for the space of four years upon sundry vendible commodities that should be thither brought for sale towards defraying the charge thereof which Patent being directed Ballivis probis hominibus villae de Stratford super Avone expresseth that it was obtained ad requisitionem dilecti Clerici nostri Roberti de Stratford And was afterwards twice renewed at the request of the said Robert viz. in 8 E. 3. for four years longer and in 10 E. 3. for two years more This Robert de Stratford was afterwards Archdeacon of Canterbury
neer those petty streams which run into it beginning always with that wherein the Church is seated and then proceeding with the severall small Hamlets or places of note whether depopulated or otherwise contained within the same Parish setting forth a succession of their antient possessors by which the rise growth continuance and decay of many Families with their most memorable actions are manifested And have also adorned it with those Armes and Pictures of many eminent persons in their times which being antiently set up in the windows of severall Churches and Houses did continue till of late And that there may want nothing conducible to the honour aswell of the Families long since extinct as those that remain I have to my utmost preserved their very Monuments and Memorialls yet remaining following the Example therein of the famous Sertorius Ursatus in his Monumenta Patavina well knowing of what high and venerable esteem such things were with the most civill people of the world in so much as amongst the Romans the defacing and violation of them was punished by great pecuniarie Fines cutting off Hands Banishment nay sometimes by Death according to the merit of the transgressors Most of which through the pious respect of the immediate heirs or neerest relations to those their worthy Ancestors and to their lasting memorie are represented excepting such Plates whereof the persons therein mentioned by particular Inscriptions partly out of some speciall respect to those that they have thus memorized and partly as an ornament to the work have born the charge And excepting these three in p. 188.498 and 758. of the following work viz. 1 of the Hugfords and Beaufoes Lords of Emscote interred in the Collegiate Church at Warwick men of great note in their days as by my discourse of them in that place appeareth whose lineall heir and successor in that estate is Henry Beaufoe now of Emscote Esquire 2 Of Thomas Spenser late of Clardon Esquire a person of much eminencie in this Shire in his time and for his large and noble Hospitalitie the honour of all these parts whose great-grandson and heir male aswell as by adoption is Sir Thomas Spenser now of Yarnton in Com. Oxon. Baronet 3 And that of Sir Richard Bingham Knight one of the reverend Iudges of the King's Bench temp H. 6. who lieth buried at Midleton with the Ladie Margaret his wife daughter and coheir to Sir Baldwin Frevill of Tamworth-Castle Knight and widow of Sir Hugh Willoughby Knight From which Sir Hugh and Margaret is Sir Francis Willoughby now of Midleton Knight descended possessing that Lordship as heir to her Which three last Monuments had I confesse been omitted could I have doubted that the persons here mentioned considering such their relations and the estates they so enjoy would have refused the preservation of their memories by a small charge to the Graver as these following are for the very same reason and no other as is well known viz. 1 of the Temples at Dasset whose heirs and successors in that estate there are Sir Richard Temple Baronet and the Lady Viscountesse Baltinglasse 2 Of Richard Murden Esquire at Morton-Morell whose sole daughter and heir is the Ladie Harvey widow of Sir Stephen Harvey Knight of the Bath 3 of Sir Edward Ferrers at Badsley-Clinton whose heir is Henry Ferrers Esquire now Lord of that place 4 And of Sir Edward Devereux Knight and Baronet at Aston juxta Bermingham whose grandson and heir is the present Viscount Hereford Of the Religious Houses Hospitalls and Chantries those signall Monuments of our Forefathers Pietie I have shewed their Foundations endowments and continuance with their dissolutions and ruine which gave the greatest blow to Antiquities that ever England had by the destruction and spoil of many rare Manuscripts and no small number of famous Monuments And to the end that my discourse of the severall places may be the more perspicuous taking notice of that excellent expression of Arias Montanus viz. Si enim absque locorum observatione res gestae narrentur aut sine Topographiae cognitione Historiae legantur adeò confusa atque perturbata erunt omnia ut ex iis nihil non obscurum nihil non difficile elici possit I have drawn exact Schemes of the severall Hundreds wherein besides the rectifying of divers places which stand amisse in the ordinarie Maps are inserted many that were hitherto omitted fixing them according to their direct stations as also the depopulated Villages and other places of note whereof there is mention in the following work extending the Rivers neerer their originall heads and adding sundry petty streamlets heretofore not taken notice of by our Geographers In etymologizing the names of Towns and Places I have not been over-bold because most of them had their originall denomination from the Britans or Saxons and that Time hath much varied the antient name by contracting it for the more ease in pronunciation or in some sort altered it from what it was at first as is evident in most of them Nor should I have adventured thus far had I not received much light from that learned Gentleman Mr. VVilliam Somnâ—r of Canterbury my singular friend unto whom I cannot attribute enough for his great knowledge in Antiquities and those commendable works which he hath already published and is now taking pains in Much variation there is I confess in the names of sundry places and persons which perhaps may cause some doubt of my care therein but in that I have been very curious having Records or other authentique writings for my authoritie which I thought much more fit to follow than to deliver the names as they are now written And as my chief aime hath been to illustrate the Antiquities of this Countie so must I desire my Readers to observe what intricate parts I have walkt in to make good that undertaking scil the whole series of publick Records and a multitude of antient and obscure Manuscripts as the references to them do shew for the better understanding whereof because the narrownesse of my Margent hath confined me to such brevitie I have added a short Scheme adjoyning to my Index which will plainly demonstrate what those pieces of words and single Letters do mean with notice where the said Records and Manuscripts were when I had the perusall of them And whereas I have cited nothing to give testimonie of the Churches Dedications that what I have said therein of them is from divers old VVills Testaments and other authorities in the Registries of the Bishops of Coventre Lichfield and Worcester which to have instanced particularly could not well be done in regard they were all in loose parcells And moreover it is to be noted that to such or such parts of the Pedegrees where no quotation at all is entred the proof to make them good will appear in the historicall part And lastly that the passages of later times are obvious to the present age wherein we live
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
and it being enacted that all that were then dis-herited should be restored to their estates command was given by the K. writ directed to his Eschaetor in this County to put Sir Iohn Beauchampe Kt. son and heir of the aforesaid Iohn into possession of the viii l. per an rent payable during the life of Iohn Catesby which Sir Iohn Beauchamp dyed seized of this Mannour 8. H. 5. leaving issue Margaret his Daughter and heir then the wife of Iohn Pauncefot and shortly after of Iohn Wysham who in 1. H. 6. with her husband Iohn Wysham levyed a Fine of divers Mannours and amongst the rest of this whereby it was put into the hands of many named in the same Fine which were Feoffees in trust no doubt howbeit in 10. H. 6. Iohn Blounce of Wygington in Com. Oxon was certified to be Lord thereof but how it past from him I know not neither have I seen more thereof till 12. E. 4. that Thomas Craft and Elizabeth his wife setled a third part of it by a Fine then levied upon themselves and the heirs of the said Elizabeth From which Thomas it divolved to Iohn Crofte who in 8. H. 8. passed what interest he had here by the name of the moytie of the Mannour unto Sir Edward Grevill Knight In whose line it did not long continue for in 29. Eliz. Edward the son of Thomas Wotton possest it and I have heard that his descendants are still Lords of it The Church dedicated to St. Giles being a Prebend belonging to the Cathedrall of Lichfield was first granted thereunto by Roger Prior of Coventre in 32. H. 3. and in an 1291. 19. E. 1. valued at x. marks Being now come to the skirts of Stoneley Parish wherein the River of Sow meets with Avon before I follow the Banks of that River any further on this South-east side I am according to my declared method to take notice of those places which are situate on the North-west side thereof but because the Northern part of this Hundred lyes not adjacent to any branch of Avon I must be constrained to observe some few places in that Eastern Corner by their bordering on Watlingstreete or near thereto till the same great and well known road do meet with the River Swifts at Bensford-bridge which will lead me to those other towns that lye on the North-west Bank of that stream as also of Avon Which being done I then purpose to discover the originall of Sow and so following that Channell with its branches not onely to finish all that Northern side of this Hundred but to take view of the City of Coventre with the liberties which antiently was part of the same though now an intire County of it self And having thus declared the course that I purpose to take wherein the Map will be a proper guide to the Reader I shall begin with Stretton now a depopulated place and known commonly by the name of Stretton-fields but antiently called Stretton-Baskervile to distinguish it from the many other Strettons in this County according to which appellation I have fixt it in the Map Stretton-Baskervile AS all other Strettons take their names from some great road near unto which they are situate so doth this of that known Roman way called Watlingstreet lying on the North side of it with the addition of Baskervile in regard that family were antiently Lords thereof as I shall shew anon In Edw. the Conf. days one Edricus possessed it but after the Norman invasion it was bestowed on Raph de Mortimer Progenitor to that eminent family seated at Wigmore in Com. Salop who had also lands in the Counties of Oxford Linc. Salop York Hereford Worcester Somers and Berks. as by the generall Survey then taken appeareth where this place written Stratone is rated for three hides and valued at xxx sol How or when it went out of the line of Mortimer I have not found but the next possessâ—s thereof that I meet with was Baskervill and that very antient for in 12. H. 2. when Will. Earl Ferrers certified what Fees were held of him it appears that Raph de Boskervill held one of those three of which William de Boskervill his Father was enfeoffed by Robert Earl Ferrers his Grand-Father which must needs be in H. 1. time whereof this Stretton was part as the Aid-roll in 20. E. 3. manifesteth For Iohn de Twyford was then found to hold the fourth part of a Kts see here of the fee of Tutebury â— which Honour of Tutebury did antiently belong to Ferrers as is commonly known But the first of the Baskerviles that the Records I have seen do directly point out to be possessor hereof was Walter de Baskervile who lived in K. Iohn's time and this is in a pleading betwixt the said Walter and the Prioress of Eton now Nun-Eaton which the said Prioress claimed in right of the Church of Burton whereunto she alleaged this to belong as a Chappell and to fortify her title produc't the grant of the Church of Burton to the Nuns of Eaton by Raph de Turevill together with the confirmation of H. Nuvant Bishop of Coventre whereby it was mentioned to be a Chappel belonging to Burton And besides all this she exhibited a writing made by Alice de Baskervile Grand-Mother to this Walter directed to the Bishop of Coven whereby it appeared that after the truth touching the right of advowson was known unto her she did for ever after further desist laying claim thereto But to this Walter answered that what the Nuns had there produced could not prejudice his title for they had shew'd no grant thereof from any of his ancestours and alleged that this of his Grand-Mothers ought not to bind him in regard she had no interest there but by her dowrie This as it is historical in relation to the Church so doth it shew that Alice was Grand-Mother to Walter And that VVilliam was his Grand-Father and Raph his Father I think there is no doubt Of these Raph was a Benefactor to the Monastery of Merevale in this County founded in his time by Robert Earl Ferrers And VValter gave three palfreys in 10. Iohan. for having respite in the payment of x. l. owing to the King for a Fine which he made with him and of xxv l. debt that he owed to the Jews But in 16 Ioh. this Walter was dead for then Ysolda his widow gave C. marks and one palfrey to have possession of her inheritance as also of the dowry accruing to her by the death of her husband and that she might not be distreyned to marry Yet what issue she left is not known to me except Ascilia with whom he gave 6 marks rent in frank marriage to Walter Biset was his daughter which Ascilia afterwards married to Nigell de Pinchbec But if she were his daughter she dyed without issue as it seems for in 4 H. 3.
souls of the father and mother with the ancestours and heirs of the said Will. la Zuche and Will. Danet and of all the faithfull deceased Concerning which Chantry the B. of Cov. and Lich. upon his Ordination thereof the next ensuing year thus declared That there having been a Chappel of the blessed Virgin Mary within this Mannour of Weston and therein divine service celebrated time out of mind which being grown ruinous was then newly fallen down Sir Will. la Zuche of Haringworth Kt. had rebuilt the same with a fair fabrick in honour of the said blessed Virgin for the good estate of himself as also of Sir Will. la Zuche of Totenes and the Lady Eliz. his wife with their children during this life and afterwards for the health of their souls and for the souls of Will. de Boys Sir Eudo la Zuche Melisent de Montalt Maud la Zuche Elene la Zuche and their children departed this life And for the souls of Will. Danet and Richard Dobyn and other Benefactors with all the faithfull deceased But whereas the first licence for amortizing the lands before mentioned was for two Priests as I have said it seems the said Sir VVill. la Zuche chang'd his purpose for I find that in 21 E. 3. he had the K. licence for the alteration thereof for one Priest onely so that the said Priest might have another under him for performance of that service Belonging to the Lord Zouch his Mannour-house here there was antiently a Park as it seems for in 46 E. 3. Sir VVill. la Zuche had licence to turn a way for the enlargement thereof Howbeit in 10 H. 6. where VVill. Lord Zouch was certified to hold this Mannour it is called Weston-Arnold for distinction from the other Westons in this County in regard that Arnold de Boys had antiently been owner thereof But after the attainder of Iohn Lord Zouch in 1 H. 7. the K. granted it to Sir Iames Blount and to the heirs males of his body nevertheless it seems that the family of Zouch afterwards regain'd it for in 6 E. 6. George Lord Zouch was possest thereof and dyed seized of it 19 Iunii 19 Eliz. leaving Edward his son and heir who sold it to Humphrey Davenport Esq. and Richard Bucknam with Bulkinton and other lands by which means it came to Sir Christopher Yelverton Kt. of the Bath and Anthony Stoughton Esq the present Lords thereof as Bulkinton did A Tradition there is that one of the Lord Zouches who much affected to reside here and wanting sufficient mowing ground for his use upon a time invited the Free-holders of Bulkinton to his house and welcoming them with very good entertainment proposed the purchasing of their several doles in a fair large meadow which lay fitly for him All which assented except one Rogers Whereupon the rest urging him to do as they had done the Lord Zouch said Let the Churle alone with his peice And so to this day the posterity of the said Rogers continue possest thereof it being called the Churles peice Rieton juxta Bulkinton THE first mention that I find of this place is in that grant of the Tithes thereof to the Abby of Leicester as a member of the Parish of Bulkinton viz. when the Church of Bulkinton was first given thereto by Roger de Watervile of which I have already spoken but that it was and is a member of Bulkinton or rather Weston where the Lord had his seat all the testimonies from Record which I have produced before do manifest and therefore I shall not need to say any more thereof Bramcote THis place in the Conq. time contained two hydes whereof one and a half then belonged to Earl Alberie of whom I have made mention in Clifton and the other half hyde to Ric. Forestarius of whom I shall speak in Chesterton But before the Conquest one Salo was owner of that which Earl Alberic had being the same man that afterwards held Bulkintone of the Earl of Mellent The other half hyde one Sexi possest It is there written Brancote perhaps from Bran the Saxon and coit or coed the British word which signifie the burnt wood That the inheritance of this Village was as antiently in Watervile as any of those before specified were I am induced to believe for Roger de Watervile gave six yard land and the Mill here to the Abby of Leicester by the consent of Robert Earl of Leicester his Lord and Founder of that Monastery which grant was afterwards confirmed by Arnold de Boys his Nephew and all the rest of the succeeding Arnolds Yet in an Inspex made by Thomas Earl of Lanc. whereby he recites divers grants to the Canons of Leic. and amongst those the same yard land in Bramcote he declares it to have been given to them by Geffrey le Abbe of whom I had occasion to make mention in Burton-Hastings and together with his confirmation thereof ratifies also the gift of two yard land more which one Ranulph held so that there being eight yard land therein belonging to the Abby of Leic. besides the Mill and what was appurtenant thereto the Canons of that House did as in other their lands in this County claim a Court-Leet and other priviledges therein in 13 E. 1. as granted by the Ks. progenitors to that Monastery for which they then produced their Charters But in 6 E. 2. I find that the heirs of Henry de Hastings held the third part of a Kts. fee here of Iohn de Hastings the elder then deceased it being then written Brompcote The like is certified as to the tenure of that third part by the heirs of the said Henry in 49 E. 3. 14 H. 6. and 16 E. 4. But what the Lord Zouch possest in this Village I am not able directly to point out howbeit certain it is that something he enjoy'd in regard the Free-warren granted to him in 7 E. 2. extended into his demesn lands here as well as in those of Weston Bulkinton and Ryton As for that which the Abbot of Leic. had it amounted to the third part of a Kts fee for in 20 E. 3. it is certified that so much he held of the Earl of Lancaster who then had the Honour of Leic. as is well known All which lands so belonging to that Abby were in 38 H. 8. granted to Edward Watson Esq and Henry Herdson and to the heirs of the same Edward who as I have heard had two daughters that were his heirs the one marryed to ..... Turner the other to ..... Lisle from which ..... Lisle descended ..... Lisle that sold his moytie to George Purefey of Wolvershill Gent. And from ..... Turner William his Grandson of whom Gamaliel Purefey son to the said George purchased the other Wolvershill THE first mention that I meet with of this place is in 21 E. 1. where it is setled
with Bulkinton and other Mannours upon Will. la Zuche and Maud his wife and the heirs of Maud by VVill. de Boys as I have in Bulkinton already observed In that Fine it is written Wulfareshull which doth import that the original of its denomination was from one VVulphere his residing there that being a very common name in the Saxons time In the line of Zouch it continued with Weston before spoken of till the time of Edw. Lord Zouch the son of George as the Records which I have cited touching Weston do shew VVill. la Zuche and Maud his wife having Free-warren granted to them here in 7 E. 2. Which Edw. sold the same with Weston c. unto Humphrey Davenport Esq and Richard Bucknam in ..... Eliz. from whom Geo. Purefey 5th son to Mich. P. of Caldecote in this County Gent. purchased it whose son Gamaliel now enjoys it Merston-Iabet THis Village taking its name from the flat and moorish situation had the addition of Iabet to distinguish it from the other Towns in this County of the same appellation in regard the Iabets were antiently Lords thereof In the Conq. time it was in the possession of the E. of Mellent and certified to contain one hyde valued at 3 lib. one Hereuuard being owner thereof in Edw. the Conf. dayes who after the Norman invasion was glad to become Tenant to it under the said E. of Mellent This being part of those 3 Kts. fees whereof Philip de Estley Ancestour to the family of Astley had been enfeofft in the time of H. 1. as I have already pointed at in my discourse of Hill-morton was held by his descendants of the Earls of Warwick by the third part of a Kts. fee and of them by Henry sirnamed Iabet son to Fulco de Merston which Henry gave 4 yard land here to the Abby of Leicester whereupon he was received into that Monastery as a Canon and his wife as a sister To him succeeded Iohn his son and heir sometimes called Ioh. filius Henrici de Merstona and sometimes Iohn Iabet who was a Benefactor to the Monks of Combe by giving to them lands in this place which grant K. H. 2. confirmed This Henry had a brother called Robert who having certain lands in this Village gave divers small parcels thereof to the said Monks of Combe and not onely so but by his deed made them promise that he would neither sell nor pawn any of it except to that Monastery Which grants to those Monks with divers more made by several persons whose names are of no great note were confirm'd by Thomas the son to Walter de Estley in an 1241. 25 H. 3. To whom succeeded Sir Andrew de Astley Kt. who confirmed to them and their successours for ever a Court-Leet here for their own tenants which with other priviledges was allowed of by the K. in 13 E. 1. But the residue of this town the said Sir Andrew himself held by the service of half a Kts. fee as I have already said and in 13 E. 1. claimed here by prescription a Court-Leet Gallows Weyfs power to punish the breakers of the Assize of Bread and Ale Free-warren with immunity from the common amerciaments and of aid to the Shiriff it being then accounted a member of Astley all which were allowed But further than this have I not found any thing considerable of it other than that after the dissolution of the Monasteries that part which belong'd to the Abby of Combe was with divers other lands granted by Letters Pat. dated 28 Octob. 36 H. 8. to Thomas Broke and Iohn Williams and to the heirs of Broke from whom it seems Henry Waver soon purchased it for I find that on the 26 of Febr. next following the said Henry aliened it to Will. Perkins whose descendants do still enjoy it Bernacle IN the Conq. time this was in the Earl of Mellent's possession and held of him by the same Hereuuard that had Merston whose freehold it had been in Edw. the Conf. dayes By the general Survey it is certified to contain 3 virgats of land and of wood 4 furlongs in length and 3 in bredth the value of all being xx s. and there written Berenhangre the latter part of the name viz. hangre signifying of old the same that collis or mons doth but afterwards it is otherwise written There were 4 yard land lying in this place given very antiently to the Abby of Leicester by Henry the son of Fulke de Merston of whom I have made mention in Merston-Iabet all of the fee of Ernald de Boys before spoken of and by him confirmed to that Monastery as also by K. H. 2. In that grant it is written Bernangul but in Thomas E. of Lanc. his ratification of a carucate of land to the same Monastery Berhangil In 13 Edw. 1. the Abbot of Leicester had a Court-Leet here for his own Tenants with other priviledges which he claimed to have had time out of mind It seems that the Fitzwiths of whom in Bobenhull and Shotswell I have spoke were antiently owners of this place though the grant thereof to them have I not found for it appears that the Canons of Leicester granted unto Guy a Knight then Lord thereof that he and his heirs should have an Oratory or Chappel in his house here at Bernangre provided that such Priest who was to celebrate divine service there before he entred upon that duty should take a solemn oath in the presence of the Vicar of Bulkinton for the time being that it might be no damage to the Mother-Church of Bulkinton and that he would be faithfull to the said Vicar This was in H. 3. time as will appear by the descent of that family in Bobenhull for his Grand-child Robert called Robertus filius Iohannis filii Guidonis Lord also of this place dyed in the beginning of E. 2. time From whom descended Robert whose daughter and heir Ioane being the wife to Iohn Beauchamp of Holt brought this Lordship to that family whereof also in Bobenhull I have spoke After which time it accompanyed the possession of Bobenhull first to Pauncefote afterwards to Croft and then to Sir Edw. Grevill as the authorities there cited will manifest but further I cannot speak It seems that the Hospitalars were antiently Lords of the moytie of this Village for so in an old Rentall of lands lying in Ansty and Short-wood they are said to be Which moytie was after the generall dissolution of the Religious Houses granted inter alia by K. E. 6. 15. Dec. in 4. of his reign to Sir Raph Sadler Kt. and Laurence Wennington Gent. by the name of a messuage called Ferne-place Which Sir Raph sold the same to Iohn Wade Gent. and his heirs From whom in 3 Eliz. it was past by the name of the Mannour of Barnakell to Sir Rouland
are descended as I have already shewed Of which Sir Thomas in respect he had some publique employments of note in this County I shall say something leaving his posterity by Eliz. daughter of Richard Harecourt son of Sir Will. Harecourt Kt. whose cosin and next heire she was seated at Patshull in Staffordshire where they still continue Of which family viz. of Patshull was the famous Iohn de Astley who on the 29. of Aug. Anno 1438. 17. H. 6. maintaining a Duel on Horsback within the street called St. Antoine in Paris against one Peter de Masse a French-man in the presence of Charles the the vii K. of France pierc't the said Peter through the head and had as by the Articles betwixt them was conditioned the Helmet of the said Peter being so vanquish't to present unto his Lady And on the 30. of Ian. 20. H. 6. undertook another fight in Smyth-field within the City of London in the presence of the same K.H. 6. with Sir Philip Boyle an Arragonian Knight who having been in France by the K. his masters command to look out some such hardy person against whom he might try his skill in feats of Armes and missing there of his desires repaired hither After which combate ended being gallantly perform'd on foot with Battail-axes spears swords and daggers he was knighted by the K. and had an annuity of c. marks given him during his life Nay so famous did he grow for his valour that he was elected Knight of the Garter bearing for his Armes the Coats of Astley and Harcourt quarterly with a label of 3. points Ermine as by a very antient MS. book wherein the Ensignes of those Kts. of that honourable order are depicted appeareth But I return to the before specified Sir Will. de Astley eldest son to Thomas founder of the said Coll. Church He was in Commiss for the Peace upon the severall renuings thereof from 17. R. 2. till 6. H. 5. And in 3. H. 4. assigned to enquire concerning the disturbers of the Laws and framers of Lyes In 4. H. 4. for arraying of men In 6. to treat with the people for a loan of money to the K. and left issue one only daughter by whom the inheritance of this great House divolved to the Grey's of Ruthin But before I speak farther thereof I must add a word or two more of this family of the Astley's in reference to them as they were Barons which is that Thomas who was slain in the battail of Evesham is reputed by our Historians so to have been for before 49. H. 3. have we no particular summons to Parliament to distinguish the Barons from other great men But his son Andrew was summoned in 23 24 25 28 32 33 and 34. E. 1. Nicholas in 30. E. 1. as also in 2 and 3. E. 2. And Thomas who founded the Coll. Church in 16.22 and 23. E. 3. as appears by the Records of those times Howbeit William never had summons Which instances do shew that what is now claim'd as due by custome was not so esteem'd in those days To this William succeeded Ioan his daughter and heir first marryed to Thomas Raleigh of Farnborough in this County Which Thomas by his Testament bearing date here at Astley the Wednesday after the feast of St. Luke the Evang. 6. H. 4. bequeath'd his body to be buryed in the Quire of this Coll. Church and ten pounds for performance of his Obit and gave xx marks also to find a Priest to sing Mass for his Soul the space of 3. years He likewise bequeath'd a bowl of silver with a cover to the Lord Astley and to the Lady Ioan his wife a diamond with a silver bowl and cover To every Yeoman servant of that house vi s. viii d. and to every groom iii. s. iiii d. After whose death which hapned at that time as by the Probate of his will appeareth she marryed to Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin whose posterity by her possest this place for divers generations and were advanced to great honour as I shall shew anon for which respect it will not be amiss to take some notice of this Reginald their common ancestor and whence he sprung He was son of Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin son of Roger by Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn Lord Hastings of Bergavenny and Isabel his wife one of the daughters and heirs to Will. Valence Earl of Penbroke by means whereof he became heir to the last Iohn Hastings E. of Penbroke as I shall shew more fully when I come to Fillongley Which Rog. was first summoned to Parliament in 28. E. 1. by the name of Roger de Grey Chivalier but his son Reginald had in all his summons the addition of de Ruthin the Castle of Ruthin being his seat and granted by K. Edw. 1. to Reginald Lord Grey of Wilton his grandfather Betwixt this Reginald who had great possessions in Wales and Owen Glendowr there grew some difference about a Common lying betweeen the Lordship of Ruthin and the Lordship of Glendowr-duy whereof Owen was owner and took his sirname Which Owen during the reign of K. R. 2. was too hard for the Lord Grey being then a servitour in Court to K. Ric. with whom he was at the time of his taking by the D. of Lanc. in the Castle of Flint But after K. Richard's deposall the Lord Grey as better friended than Owen entred upon the Common Whereupon Owen having many friends and followers in his Countrey as those that be great with Princes commonly have put himself in Armes against the Lord Grey whom he meeting in the field overcame and took prisoner spoiling his Lordship of Ruthin so that many resorted to him from all parts of Wales not knowing but that he was in as great favour then as in K. Ric. days others also putting in his head that now the time was come that the Britons by his means might recover again the honour and liberties of their ancestors The Lord Grey therefore thus made priâ—oner was constrain'd to ransom himself at ten thousand marks the King consenting that the Lord Rosse and Willughby with other of his friends and allies should endeavour to raise the said Fine in regard as the Record expresses the King knew him to be a loyal and valiant Kight After which viz. in 9. H. 5. he was retein'd by Indenture to serve the K. in his warrs beyond Sea for half a year with six men at Armesâ— himself accounted one and 18. Archers mounted armed and arrayed according to their severall conditions taking per diem for himself 2. s. and for each of his men at Armes 12. d. with the accustomed reward and 6. d. a piece for his Archers As also to have the benefit of all prisoners they should take excepting Kings Princes or any of the Royall blood and especially Charles the Dauphin of Uiennois or any that murthered
his issue Male extinguisht this Mannour inter alia came by force thereof to Sir Will. Beauchamp Kt. second Son to Thomas Beauchamp E. of Warwick which Will. being afterwards summoned to Parl. as Lord Bergavenny had issue Richard whose Daughter and Heir Eliz. brought this Lordship unto the family of Nevill as in Fillongley is also more fully shew'd In which line it continued till Sir Henry Nevill late Lord Bergavenny sold it in our time to Sir Henry Compton Kt. of the Bath now scil an 1640. owner thereof Upon the brow of an hill in the Park here at Allesley do appear some ruins of building which as the Inhabitants say were of a Castle but in Record I cannot find that it was ever so termed That the Church was originally but a Chappell belonging to the Priory of Coventre and the occasion of its building I have already declared In 33 H. 3. there were certain persons delegated by the B. of Cov. and Lich. who with the consent of the Monks of Coventre and the then incumbent presented by the Lord Hastings did ordain that the said Incumbent and his successors should have of the profits belonging thereto all oblations obventions tythes and other emoluments reserving 6. s. 8. d. yearly to the said Church of Coventre in lieu of all burialls and excepting also the tythes of Allesley-Park and all personall tythes which were used amongst the oblations to be offered upon Sundaies in regard that the Lord Hastings being Patron of the Church had released to the Church of Coventre all his right of common in Coventre and Coundulme and the Hamlets adjacent which Ordination bears date on the day of St. Tiburce and Valerian an M. CCXLIX 33. H. 3. Patroni Incumbentes Edm. Com. Cornub ratione minoris aet custodiae haeredis c. Henr. de Hastings Gaufr de Stokelle Cler. 1283. Tho. le Blound miles Sim. de Gaynesburgh accol 13. Cal. Ian. 1326. Will. de Clinton Co. Hunt Ioh. Lynie Pbr. 7. Id. Maii 1337. Will. de Clinton Co. Hunt Tho. de Blythe accol 8. Id. Feb. 1341. D. Iuliana de Hastings Comitissa Hunt Henr. Hunte Cler. 3. Id. Martii 1357. Com. Penbrok Rob Ferror Pbr. 4. Kal. Aug. 1373. D. Rex ratione Dominii de Allesley post mortem Com. P. in manâ— sua exist Ioh. Bekâ—n Pbr. 4. Id. Ian. 1375. D. Rex ratione Dominii de Allesley post mortem Com. P. in manâ— sua exist Will. Reynald Pbr. 7. Kal. Dec. 1376. D. Iohanna de Beauchamp domina de Bergavenny Will. Neuport Cler. ult Martii 1422. D. Iohanna de Beauchamp domina de Bergavenny Tho. Rishum Cap. 19. Apr. 1426. Edw. Nevill dominus de Bergav Ioh. Strangwish Cler. 2. Oct. 1438. Edw. Nevill dominus de Bergav Will. Loveles Cap. 29. Aug. 1450. Rob. Diâ—son gen ratione conc H. Nevil mil. D. de Bergav Tho. Steele Cler. 20. Oct. 1554. Edm. Brode hac vice per conc H. domini de Bergav Phil Brode in art Bac. 17. Iunii 1569. Margar. Sanders vidua hac vice per conc ejusdem H. D. de Bergav Sam. Sanders Cler. 4. Oct. 1570. Coundon THis was originally a Member of Coventre as I have said and involved therewith in that grant of E. Leofric made to the Monks upon the foundation of the Monastery 1 Edw. Conf. though it be not particularly named in his Charter By the Conq. Survey it appears that the proportion belonging to the Monks in Condone for so it is there written extended to three virgats of land as also that the words were three furlongs 30. perches in length and 3. furlongs in breadth all being valued at xx s. And in the same Survey it is also recorded that Will. fil Corbuâ—ionis of whom I am to speak in Studley had one virgat of land here at the same time with woods conteining half a mile in length and four furlongs in breadth all which were then valued at 4. s. but there it is written Condelme so that in regard the name at that time is so variously recorded and altered out of doubt by corrupt pronunciation from what it first was I shal not trouble my self to guess at the Etymology thereof In 41 H. 3. the said Monks of Coventre had inter alia Free-warren granted to them in all their demeâ—â— lands here And in 44 H. 3. the tythes of this place amongst other of their Mannours were appropriated to them as belonging to Trinity Parish one of the Churches in that City In 53. H. 3. I find that Iohn Beneth of Allesley hâ—ld the xx part of a Kts. Fee here of Henry de Hasting Lord of Allesley which I suppose to be the same that is certified by the Conq. Survey to have been in the hands of Will. fil Corbucionis before specified the extent whereof was in 7 E. 1. signified to be but half a yard land and two acres then in the hands of three Freeholders So that the Monks of Coventre being owners of all the rest had a yard land thereof in demesn and nine Freeholders who held half a Carucat and 12. acres paying severall Rents doing suit of Court twice a year and performing certain servile work in Harvest In this village had the said Monks also a Court-Leet gallows with Assise of Bread and Beer by the grant of K. H. 3. As also weyfs estreys Felons-goods and for Heriots the principall vesell the names of what they so held in demesn being a certain grove named Fowlesmore and a parcell of ground called Priors-field The greatest part of which lands together with the tythes were after the dissolution of the Monasteries granted unto Ric. Andrews Gent. and Leonard Chamberlein Esq. but how they have past since is not much materiall for me to enquire Coventre FOllowing the stream of Shirburn it leads me next into Coventre still a City of eminent note yet much short in glory and Riches to what heretofore it hath been as I shall shew anon but for the originall of its name I can give no positive reason and therefore whither the first part thereof viz. Coven was occasioned by some Covent of Religious persons antiently founded here as some think for there was a Monastery of Nuns long before the Priory as I shall shortly manifest or whither from this little brook of which others conceive the true name to be Cune I will not stand to argue Sure I am that the last Sillable thereof viz. Tre is British and signifieth the same that villa in Latine doth from whence I conclude that the first plantation here hath been of very great antiquity though when or by whom made I cannot expect to discover having so little light of story to guide me through those elder times And as certain is it that a great part thereof and probably the most antient stood on the bank without Bishop-gate North-westward of the City for no less do
cast by the oppression of Hugh Novant the B. before-mentioned for I find that in the time of Prior Roger who died about the 32. of this Kings reign there being a great league of friendship betwixt the Monks of this Monastery and the Canons of Derley in Derbysh these of Coventrâ— represented their miserable miserable condition unto those of Derley not only with very lamentable expressions but with tears protesting that their wants were so great that the whole Covent was like to be dispersed except they had present succour and therefore humbly besought the Canons of Derley that they would vouchsaâ—e to receive some of them into their Monastery there to have subsistence for a while quousque oriens ex alto miseratio altissimi nostro foeliciùs illuxerit occidenti are their words Of which great good will that had been for a long time before betwixt these two Religious houses I find this testimony that by way of mutuall curtesies the Monks of Coventre used to send unto them of Derley Needles and Sope and they of Derley to these Saddles and riding-furniture But after this they received as well from the King as others divers great favours and benefits for the advantage of their Monastery For in 34. H. 3. it was that they obteyn'd in fee-ferme from Rog. de Montalt and Cecily his wife all their interest in the mannour of Coventre with the advouson of the Church of S. Mich. and the Chappell 's thereunto belonging excepting their capitall seat called Cheylesmore and the Park with the House of Friers-Minors and the homage and services of their freeholders whose names I have particularly exprest already in my discourse of the said Roger. And in 41. H. 3. had they the Kings Charter of Free-warren in all their demesn lands of Coventre Cundulme Sow Wylenhale Frankton Merston and Herdwyke Sutham Olethon Offechurch Wasperton Honyton and Packwood with divers other places in this County and Leicestershire As also in 44. H. 3. an appropriation of S. Michaels Church before mentioned with all the Chappell 's thereunto belonging viz. Ansty Shulton Wykin Stoke Bilney Sow Stichall Folkeshull and Sponne and of Trinity-Church with it's Chappell 's the Chappell of S. Iohn with the Hospitall the Churches of Corley and Allespath the Church of Herdwyke and it's Chappell 's with Archidiaconall jurisdiction there The Church of Packwood with Archid. jurisdiction also And likewise the whole Tythes arising in their demesn-lands whersoever In 46. H. 3. the like appropriation for Offechurch And in 51. H. 3. a confirmation of their foundation Charter by E. Leofrik with the Bull of Pope Alexander the first As also a further grant of freedom from doing suite to the County or Hundred-Courts and to the Shiriffs-Turn And that they should have a Coroner within the town of Coventre that might answer before the Justices Itinerant for whatsoever concern'd that office and moreover a Merchants-Gild with all priviledges thereto belonging and that they their tenants nor their goods should be distreyned for any debt not properly their own or for which they were suretyes And after this ere long suffering great losses by reason of such excursions as young Montfort and his fellow Rebells in Kenilworth-Castle or the Kings Army during the six months siege thereof did make had they the Kings Letters-Pat recommending their wants to all their tenants and desiring them that they would so contribute to their relief as that they might expect recompence at God's hand and thanks from him And in 5. E. 1. license to inclose certain wast-grounds neer Coventre â— which inter alia were granted to them in fee-ferme by Roger de Montalt and Cecily his wife So that the state wherein this Monastery stood about those times was thus represented by a speciall Inquisition taken shortly after viz. that consisting of black-Monks it had therein a Cathedrall Church and that the Prior and his Covent together with the Chapter of Litchfield did elect the Bishop these having the first voice That the Prior here was also Lord of this town a moytie whereof with the whole Barony he held of the K. in Capite by the service of 2. Kts. fees in the Army And had a weekly Mercate on the Fryday and a Faire every year enduring 8. days with a Coroner and Free-warren in all his demesn-lands which moytie he held as freely as Earl Leofâ—ik did the same of K. Edward the Conf. And that he the said Prior with his tenants being priviledg'd of murther had Gallows Pillory Tumbrell Assise of bread and beere as also fealty of his Burgers and appearances at his Court twice in the year for all which the Charters oâ— K. H. 3. and divers other his progenitors were then exhibited And Moreover that he held the other moytie called the Earls part with the outwood wherein the Inhabitants claymed Common of pasture for all manner of Cattell and other commoning in the woods belonging to the Abby of Stoneley of the heirs of Roger de Montalt by the service of cx marks per annum according as in the Fine levyed betwixt the said Roger and Cecily his wife and the said Prior and Covent is more at large conteined which heirs held it of the K. as of the fee of Chester In which half the said Prior had once in the year a Faire lasting six days about the feast of the holy Trinity with Gallows Pillory Tumbrell Assise of bread and beere and fealty of all the Burgers as also two appearances yearly at his Court. By which Inquisit likewise appeareth that the whole town was then exempt from Toll excepting for Horses whereof the Burgers were onely freed but that the said Burgers had Toll of Horses for their own tenants there inhabiting and that the â—ame Prior had three Mills here with the ponds thereto belonging and two pools in demesn All which immunities and priviledges were in 13. E. 1. pleaded by the Monks who then likewise manifested that they had time out of mind enjoyed two great Courts every year in this place and weyfs and that the Priors Bayliff used ever to go a long with the K. Bayliff to execute all such precepts as concern'd the Crown As also that the town of Coventre answered for xii having Free warren Infangthef Assise of bread and beer Mercate and Faire with all things belonging thereto Pillory Tumbrell and a Coroner of their own And that they were quit of Murther Robbery Suite to the County or Hundred-Courts Ayd to the Shiriff c. Touching the Mercate they had here it was kept in that part of the town called the Priors-half as it seems where still it continues that being the place peculiar thereunto for in E. 2. time upon a suite commenced by the Prior against one Will. Graumpe and others for selling divers wares in Erle-street every week upon the Friday in their houses and shops who pleaded that they did so by vertue of the Charter
made him begin too late to repent of his doings After this it was not long ere that Symon de Montfort Earl of Leic. with divers of the Barons taking advantage of certain miscarriages in government occasioned by this Geffrey and such other who had abused the power and trust committed to them put themselves in Armes under pretence of asserting the Laws and subject's liberties the particulars of which story I must not here stand to tell but so much thereof as relates to the said Geffrey I shall briefly touch Which is that amidst those turbulent doings in 48. E. 3. he was trusted with the custody of Windsor-Castle as appears by his render thereof upon the Kings command being then necessitated to submit unto a dishonourable truce with the Barons Certainly he was a man of extraordinary note for I find him in the Catalogue of those great men who stood stoutly to the King against his rebellious Barons and lived to a great age for he departed not this world till 2. E. 1. and then Walter his son and heir doing his homage had livery of his lands A younger son he had named Geffrey who was in the Welch expedition with his brother Walter in 41. H. 3. But of him and his descendants I have said something already in Shortley and shall have occasion 〈◊〉 say more when I come unto Atherston super Stoure and therefore now return to Walter This Walter had his Christen name as 't is most like from Walter Marshall Earl of Pembroke under whom his father executed the officâ— of Marshall in the K. houshold And in 36. H. 3. obtain'd a speciall Pat. exempting him from serving on any Juryes so long as he lived The next year following he attended the King into Gascoign and in 41. H. 3. went into Wales with the Royall Army In 3. E. 1. he was constituted onâ— of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick And in 7. E. 1. being certified Lord of this place had here ten Cottiers holding nine Cottages for which they payd severall Rents performed divâ—rs services in Harvest and gathered Nutts for one day He had then also 3. Carucats of land and 3. acres and a Water-myll in demesn and kept a certain outwood containing 5. acres inclosed as a Park which had wont to be common The same year I find that he was again a Justice for the Goal-delivery at Warwick and so likewâ—se the year following in which he dyed leaving his son and heir viz. Iohn de Langley 22. years of age who did his Homage and had livery of his lands immediatly after And had also a younger son called Râ—bert of whom and his posterity I shall speak it Wolfhamcote Which Iohn who had the inheritance of this mannour as also of Wikin and Milcote had summons to be at London with many other great men the Sunday next after the Octaves of S. Iohn Baptist 25. E. 1. to attend the K. in his expedition beyond Sea And in 29. of the said Kings raign had the like summons to be at Barwick upon Twede at the feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist to wait on the K. in his Scottish war wherein he was knighted as 't is probable for the same year he so stiled himself In 5.6 and 7. E. 2. he was constituted one of the Justices for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick In 8. he and Henry de Erdington were appointed to levy and collect in this County and Leicester-sh the Scutage due to K. E. 1. in 34. of his raign when his Army came together at Carleol which was not till then received And the next ensuing year was in Commission for making choyse of one stout and able Footman in every village throught-out this County to march with the King in person against the Scots as also to see that they were sufficiently armed according to the Statute of Winchester In 10. E. 2. he had the like imployment for choosing one Footman in every village of this Shire for the war of Scotland and to see them sufficiently arm'd with Haketones Bacenets Swords Bows and Arrows as also with Slings and such other weapons that were proper for them In 12. E. 2. he with Rob. de Stoke were assign'd to collect an eighteenth in this County In 13. E. 2. for levying and collecting Scutage for the Scottish war In 14. and 15. E. 3. he was again in Comission for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick And in 18. entail'd this Lordship with other lands upon his son Geffrey and his heirs After which I neither find more mention of him nor any historicall matter relating to his descendants excepting of Ioan his great-grandchild and heir to this branch of that family who being wedded to Iohn the son of Sir Alan Charlton of Apley Knight was forcibly taken from him by Sir Iohn Trillow the younger Kt. and kept as his wife many years during which time the same Sir Iohn and she by their deed dated 39. E. 3. granted this Mannour to Sir Baldwin Frevill the elder Kt. and his heirs Who for the corroborating of his title had a Release from Sir Peter Careswell Kt. son and heir to Sir Will. Careswell Kt. of all his interest therein bearing date 3. Maii 46. E. 3. which Ioan was afterwards reconciled to her first husband but dyed without issue Upon the partition of Frevill's lands 31. H. 6. whereof in Tamworth I shall speak this Mannour was allotted unto Robert Aston esq son and heir to Ioyce one of the three Sisters and coheirs to the last Sir Baldwyn Since which it hath continued in the line of Aston till of late time for in 39. Eliz. did Sir Edw. Aston of Tixhall in Com. Staff Knight dye seized of it leaving Walter his son and heir who in 1. Caroli or about that time sold it to severall Coventre men then his tenants to the particular parcells thereof Whitley A Little lower upon the Eastern-bank of Shirburn stands Whitley where there is now no more than a Mannour-house with an old Chappell and a Mill to be seen but antiently it was a village of divers Inhabitants yet is there no mention of it in the Conq. Survey for as much as it was then involved with Coventre As for the name I suppose it proceeds from a Brittish originall viz. Coit id est a wood and by corruptness in pronouncing is come to be writter Whit the latter syllable Ley being also from the Brittish I le which is the same with locus or sedes Nor till K. Stephen's time have I seen it at all mentioned but then did Ranulph Eeal of Chester of whose fee it was render the Chappell thereof to the Monks of Coventre In 34. H. 3. upon the passing of Coventre in Fee-ferm by Roger de Montalt and Cecily his wife to the Monks amongst certain reservations made to
and a Buck. As also a Court-Leet Gallows with Assize of bread and beer Whereunto K. E. 1. added power for them to to take weyfs and a Charter of Free-warren in 18 of his reign but they payd Tithes to the Monks of Coventre for all whether held in their own occupation or let to ferme except the meadowing of half a yard land which Tho. the son of Laurence de Stoke sometime enjoyed and of a croft which Geffrey Lord of Bilney heretofore held as also of the Mills For which meadow croft and Mills the Monks of Combe did pay yearly to those of Coventre half a mark on the Feast day of the Circumcision of our Lord by Composition But of the Tithes of a certain wast within the limits of Bilneje with the meadow adjoyning which being reduced to tillage by the Monks of Combe reacheth from the old field of Bilney almost to Ernesford the Priors of Coventre had released their right to the Monks of Combe reserving to their tenants Common of pasture therein All which lands c. being reputed Mannour were by that name granted to Iohn Dudley E. of Warwick together with the site of the Monastery of Combe and other lands belonging thereto in 1 E. 6. And coming again to the Crown by his attainder past with Combe to Rob. Keylway as I have there declared and from him to Harington as that did In this village also had the Hospitalars two Cottages held in 7 E. 1. by Freeholders of them but these were originally of that which the Monks of Coventre antiently had there for it was then certified that they were held by the said Hospitalars of Rob. de Mortimer which was as he was descended by heirs generall from that Osb. fil Ric. from whom the Monks of Coventre purchased that they had here in the Conq. time as I have already intimated Within the precincts of Bilney is there a place called Ernesford-grange sometime belonging to the Abby of Combe wherein the Monks in 7 E. 1. had 2 yard land in demesn and 1 Freeholder that held 2 yard land and 4 acres by the service of 2 s. and a half peny yearly homage and suit to their Court at Bilney twice a year out of all which the Prior of Coventre had Tithes whether the Monks held it in their own hands or not Which Grange was in 36 H. 8. granted by the K. to Tho. Brooke and Iohn Williams and to the heirs of Brook From whom it being soon after conveyed unto Christopher Waryn and his heirs to hold by the lx part of a Kts. fee and paying 4 s. yearly into the Court of Augmentation at the Feast of S. Michael descended to Will. Waryn his grandchild aged 5 years in 14 Eliz. Winnall SOw having left Binley passeth next by Winnall â— which though it lye in this Hundred of Knightlow is of the Parish of the Holy Trinity within the City of Coventre This though it be not particularly mentioned in the Charter of Earl Leofrick upon his foundation of the Priory was then a member of that half of Coventre by him given to the Monks but the first speciall mention that I find thereof is in 41 H. 3. at which time the K. inter alia granted to the said Monks Free-warren here and in divers other places where it is written Wylnhale Howbeit in the appropriation of all the Tithes in their severall Mannours which Rog. Meuland B. of Cov. and Lich. made to that Monastery an 1260. 44 H. 3 it is written Wylenhal and was first so called as I guess from the Wells or Springs in severall parts thereof Willas and Willon in our old English being so called In 7 E. 1. the Prior of Coventre had here in demesn half a yard land a fourth part with 4. acres and a half of meadow and 8. servants holding 3. yard land by the service of mowing making and carrying hay and the like with some Rent six Cottagers and two Freeholders the particulars which they held being exactly specified in the said Record As also an out-wood containing 8. acres but the said Priors tenants here used to repair to the Court Leet held at Sow as I have there observed After the dissolution of which Monastery it was granted out of the Crown as it seems unto Sir Ric. Lee Kt. for in 36 H. 8. the said Sir Ric. had license to alien it with the Tithes to Iohn Hales Gent. whose Nephew and heir viz. Iohn Hales now of Coventre Esq. Grandson to Christopher Brother to the said Iohn enjoys it Baginton SOw being gone beyond Winnall within less than a mile receiveth Shirburne and so hasting on its course leaveth Baginton on her Southern bank which before the Norman invasion was possest by one Archil but after the Conquest Turchil de Warwick had it and as tenant to him Alwin By the Survey then taken it is certified to contain 4. hides there being a Mill rated at x. s. viii d. per an but all valued at 50. s. and recorded by the name of Babechitone by mistake of the d. for a b. But whether the name had its originall from some antient possessor thereof or from the Brittish word Bechan which is the same with parva and so might signify a small village the later syllable tone importing with the Saxons as much as villa in the Latine I will not stand to argue The Lieger book of Stoneley says that before the Conquest it was a member of that Lordship which is doubtless true for upon the confirmation made of the Church of Stoneley to the Canons of Kenilworth in H. 2. days Bathkinton is there included as a Chapell belonging thereto And in K. Iohn's time when Stoneley became first appropriat to the Priory of Kenilworth xx s. Pension was granted to it yearly by the Bishop out of this Chapell That the posterity of Turchil de Warwik were not permitted to enjoy any thing as of their fathers inheritance I am sufficiently satisfied from the authority of the black Book in the Exchequer cited in my Introduction touching the Conquerors hard dealing with the native English and therefore that which the said book of Stoneley affirms viz. that K. H. 1. gave it with Ruyton to Sir Henry de Ardern Kt. is the more probable yet that the father of the same Henry viz. Siward de Ardern son to Turchil was suffered to hold it and that they esteemed it as their own in right the grant of the said Henry under his Seal doth manifest wherebyâ— with the consent of Oliva his wife and Will his son he grants Batchintune which Rog. de Wirenhale held of his father and himself to Filicia his sister to hold to her and her heirs by the service of a sore-Hauke yearly in consideration whereof she gave unto him a gold Ring Whether the same Filicia dyed issuless by which means this Mannour came
to the said Canons liberty to fish with boat and nets one day in every week viz. Thursday in his pool here at Kenilworth But other particulars of him worthy of Note have not I seen any except that false accusation of Treason made against him at Woodstock where K. Henry kept his Easter in 30. of his raign To him succeeded Geffrey his son and heir Lord Chamberlain likewise to the King as his father was and possest of a great estate for by the certificate of William E. of Warwick in 12. H. 2. it appears that he held of him no less than XVII Knights fees de veteri feoffamento Which Geffrey wedded Agnes daughter unto Roger Earl of Warwick with whom he had in marriage ten of those 17. Knights fees id est a discharge from any service for them except in some speciall cases As also Shrivalty of this County to hold to him and his heirs in such sort as he the said Earl had held or might hold it of the King and was a great benefactor to this Monastery of Kenilworth not onely by confirming all his fathers grants thereto but adding these particulars viz. the land at Newton at the buriall of his father The Mannour of Pakinton with the Church and Mill there The greatest part of Leminton with the Church and Mill. The Mill of of Guy-Cliff The Cell of Bretford with lands at Wridfen and Wotton The Churches of Wilmeleghton now called Wormleghton Herberbury Radford and Budbroke all in this County with the Church of Stivecle in Buckingham-shire confirmed to them by William Pipard All which were likewise ratified by Henry de Clinton son to the last specified Geffrey who also gave thereunto the town of Tachebroke with much more land at Wridfen in consideration whereof the before specified Canons allow'd to him every day during his life two manchets such as two of the said Canons used to have and four gallons of their better beer according to wine measure which he was to have whither he were at Kenilworth or not from the time he should enter into a religious life in case he did so do except on those dayes he had entertainment in the said Monastery After whose death Amicia de Bidun his wife released unto these Canons all her right of dowrie which she had in the lands so given by her said husband I will now onely enumerate the principall grants made by divers other persons to this Monastery for as much as of such that were in this County I speak more largely as I discourse of those particular places viz. Brueria now called Hethe near Wotton given by Odo de Turri The Church of Stoneley by K. H. 1. Divers lands in Molington by Iulian de S. Remigio As also the Church of Yftele with a yard land in Couley neer Oxford The Church of Hethe in Oxford-shire by Lescelina daughter to Geffrey the Founder and wife to Norman de Verdon which Bertram de Verdon her son confirmed granting besides a meadow at Asho called Rugenhale and another at Bretford The Churches of Brailes and Wellesburne by Roger Earl of Warwick Of Locksley by Rob. fil Odonis with certain lands also there Of Whitnash by Raph de Mara and Lesceline his wife Of Hampton in Arden and Smite with the Chappell of Brinklow by Roger de Moubray Of Langford in Derby-shire by Nich. de Gresley and Margaret his wife which Margaret in her minority with her whole patrimony was long under the care and tutelage of the before specified Geffrey the Founder Of Chesterton by Will. Croc. Of Fenny-Compton and one hide of land there by Gilbert le Bigoth Of Eatendon with divers lands there by Sewal fil Fulcheri ancestor to the antient family of Shirley yet lords of that Mannour And of Cherlton-Canvile in Com. Somerset by Rich. de Canvile All which with their severall Chappell 's were confirm'd to these Canons by severall Kings and Bishops as I shall have occasion more fully to manifest when I come to each of them Of Broke in Rutland which was a Cell to this Monastery given by Hugh de Ferrers and confirmed by Walcheline his brother Of lands in Newton by Ernald de Bois In Herdwic and Halford by Will. Giffard In Baginton by Hen. de Arden In Ludewell by Manasses Arsic In Tisho by Ric. de Bereford Cecily his wife and Raph de S. Edmundo Of half a yard land in Ricardscote in Com. Staff By Cecily the daughter of Rog. le Wayte Of lands in Herberbury by Henry Malory and others Of fire-wood in Berkswell by Nigel de Mundevill Of lands in Wolston by Rog de Frevill and Sibill his wife And to these were added the Church of Milverton by Walter Espigurnell and Celestina his wife in 16. H. 3. With the greatest part of Locksley Westcote and Morton and the advouson of the Church of Locksley by Peter de Mora about the 38. of H. 3. Afterwards viz. in 19. E. 2. Iohn Lok and Roger de Boyvill had license from the King to grant the Mannour of Patleshull in Stafford-shire to this Monastery In 20. E. 3. Thomas de Hampton to give five mess. with cxii acres of land in Radford thereunto And in 25. of the same K. raign Iohn the son of Iohn de Peto for granting xiv mess. two Carucats and five yard land in Loxley to it Many other small parcells in severall places were at sundry times given to these Canons by common persons the mention whereof I do purposely pass by for brevities sake Of all which the Prior and Covent of this House being thus possest in 12. E. 1. granted away the Churches of Fenny-Compton and Chesterton to the B. of Coventre and Lichfield and his successors for ever And of these their possessions as they had ample confirmations by severall Kings of this Realâ—e so were the priviledges very great which they enjoyed by those Charters viz. power to keep Court-Leet Assise of bread and beer authority to try malefactors within divers of their Lordships and freedom from suite to the County and Hundred-Courts as by the same Charters unto which I have pointed may be seen besides Free-warren in divers of their Mannours as I shall instance when I come to them in particular To these was added by King E. 3. that the Sub-prior and Covent should during the vacancy have the custody of the said House and all the Temporalties appertaining thereunto paying only to the King his heirs and successors for every whole year cxvii li. ii s. viii d. As to the appropriation of the particular Churches before recited to the use and benefit of this Monastery I shall take notice of them when I come to
13 Dec. to go to their own houses or stay where they pleased within this Kingdome till Candlemas following carrying themselves peaceably The same Author saith that Sim. Montfort and his Mother the Countess got away privately but five dayes before the Castle was delivered and fled beyond Sea but when he so got out of the Castle is somewhat uncertain for by what I have said already it appears that he was in the Isle of Ely the K. Letter Pat. bearing date Ian. xvi after the render of the Castle importing as much Which render was upon the Feast-day of S. Thomas the Apostle so that the seige lasted full six months Whereupon the K. took his journey the next day to Osney near Oxford and there celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour with great joy But this seige was very prejudicial to the Canons of Kenilworth and did impoverish them much for in September after it was begun though they allowed the K. 300 quarters of Corn and many other things that the rest of their goods might be protected yet were they not free from the Souldiers oppression so that to releive their wants by his Letters Pat. bearing date the 24 of Ian. next ensuing the render of the Castle he recommended the same to all their Tenants requiring them to contribute in such manner thereto as they would expect that God should bless them and himself give them thanks Neither did the Monks of Stoneley avoyd the burthen of this Leaguer but all the recompence they had was that the K. confirmed their Charters There is no question but that the charge of this seige was very vast for in 53 of this K. reign Will. Bagot who had been Shiriff for 6 years before was allowed upon his account 75 l. 13 s. 9 d. for 255 quarters of Wheat 52 Oxen and 173 Muttons which he then took up and sent in out of this County and it is not to be doubted but that besides what the Countyes adjacent suffered by extravagancies of the Souldiers they sent in proportionable provisions or money All that I have else found memorable relating thereto is the delivery of the Sword called Curtina which is used to be carryed before the K. of England at their Coronation unto the Keeper of the K. Pavilion here on Sunday next after the Feast of S. Margaret the K. being then in the Camp as a so that the Queen accompanyed the D. of Brunneswik from Windsor-castle hither the said D. then marrying the K. Neece in his presence And lastly that Philip Marmion being Constable of this Castle immediatly after the seige carryed away divers Arms Lead Iron and other things to the then value of x l. But after the Articles for render hereof were so signed as aforesaid the K. staid not long ere he disposed of it for on the 16 day of the same month his Charter bears date at Warwick whereby he gave it unto Edmund his younger son and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten reserving to himself the advousons of the Priory of Kenilworth and Abby of Stoneley And in short space conferred certain priviledges unto him here viz. on the 28 day of December ensuing Free-chase and Free-warren in all his demesn lands and woods belonging to this Castle And the next year following a weekly Mercate upon the Tuesday and a Faire yearly to last for 3 dayes viz. the Even day and morrow after the Feast of S. Michael Which Edmund was E. of Leicester and Lancaster viz. of Leicester created 25 Oct. 49 H. 3. after the death of S. Montfort shin in the battle of Evesham and of Lancaster 31 Iunii 51 H. 3. And in 7 E. 1. held this Castle in demesn having two Mills standing upon the water of the Pool belonging thereto and several Freeholders which held of him by suit of Court and fealty As also two woods one called the Frith and another the Park then Common and containing 300 acres according to the large measure At that time it was certified that his Park here contained 40 acres of wood and the Pool half a mile in length and a quarter of a mile in bredth as also that he had here a Court-leet Gallows Assize of Bread and Beer with a Mercate on the Tuesday The same year I find that there was a great and famous concourse of noble persons here at Kenilworth called the Round-table consisting of an hundred Knights and as many Ladies whereunto divers repaired from forreign parts for the exercise of Arms viz. Tilting and martial Tournaments and the Ladies Dancing who were clad in silken Mantles Rog. Mortimer E. of Marâ—h being the chief and the occasion thereof Which Exercises began on the Eve of S. Mathew the Apostle and continued till the morrow after Michaelmas day the reason of the Round-table being to avoyd contention touching precedency a Custome of great antiquity and used by the antient Gauls as Mr Cambden in Hantsh from Athenaeus an approved Author observes As for other memorable matters relating to this place the enlargement of the Park hath next priority which was begun by Thomas E. of Lanc. son to the before specified Edmund for it appears that in 30 E. 1. Iohn Peche then Lord of Honile near adjoyning released his right of Common there so that the said Earl might hold it up inclosed with ditches and pales saving to him the said Iohn and his heirs Common of pasture for his Hogs and Cattle in two places viz. Merebroc and Bernet and in all other places not inclosed at the making of that release But after this viz. in 15 E. 2. Tho. E. of Lanc. beheaded at Pontfract being for his rebellion attainted and thereupon his lands and possessions confiscate Iohn de Somery Baron of Dudley and Raph Lord Basset of Drayton were appointed to seize this Castle for the K. use as by a special Precept dated at Tutbury 12 Martii appeareth which within 4 dayes following was committed to the custody of Ranulph Charun then his servant howbeit 24 Maii after he removed the said Ranulph and made Rob. de Stoke Governour in his stead In 16 E. 2. Iohn de Hastings had the custody of it and the next year Odo de Stoke which Odo held that command so long as his unfortunate Master had any power for in Febr. which was towards the later end of the 19 year of E. 2. the K. discerning those clouds which shortly after raised the flood of rebellion to such a height as that himself was miserably overwhelm'd therein commanded the same Odo then his Constable thereof to take and retain as many able men as he should in his discretion think fit for the garrisoning thereof But alas all too late such was the defection of most of the Nobles in their allegiance to him the cause whereof was principally attributed to his being so much swayed
by the Spensers insomuch as the giddy multitude were easily stirr'd up to appear in Arms for any design which savoured of Reformation whose strength and assistance when the great ones had got they made no other use of it than the deposal of their rightfull King upon which in short time ensued his barbarous Murther But the circumstances of this tragique business I must not stand here to tell our Stories being large enough of it howbeit that which relateth to this Castle I will briefly touch which is that the K. being seized upon in Wales by Henry E. of Lanc. brother and heir to the before mentioned Thomas who was beheaded and others was by the said Earl forthwith brought hither viz. in Dec. 20 of his reign where he had not long staid ere news came to him that in a Parliament held at Westm. on the morrow after Twelf-day he was deposed and his son young Edward elected King in his stead being then but 14 years of age Which wofull tidings being accompanied with a Message from the same Parl. for so they called that headless meeting proposing to him the renouncing of his Regal Dignity and Crown and permitting his said son to reign otherwise they would do homage to his son and proceed in what they had begun the distressed K. knowing no remedy told them that seeing they would reject him he was glad that his eldest son might be received Which answer of his being return'd by the same Messengers they proclaimed the new King on the 20 of Ian. and set out Proclamations in his name declaring to the people that K. E. 2. had made a voluntary and free resignation of his Regal Dignity to his eldest son whom within few dayes after they formally crowned at Westm. But they who had prosecuted their wicked contrivances against their rightfull K. thus far thought all was not safe except they went further and therefore gave it out that the deposed King was too much observed and respected so that about Palm-sunday following he was committed to the custody of Sir Tho. Berkley and Sir Iohn Matravers â— who hurried him from hence privately to Berkley-castle in Gloucestershire where their horrid intentions towards him wrought perpetual jealousies in their heads that he would be rescued which caused them closely to carry him from thence to Corf castle in Dorsetshire And to the end it should not be certainly known where he was kept him in perpetual motion to one secret place or other till about the Feast day of S. Mathias the Apostle that they most barbarously murthered him with a spit red hot thrust up into his body at the Fundament at Berkley aforesaid But I return to the succession of this Castle In 1 E. 3. Henry brother and heir to Thomas E. of Lanc. beheaded at Pontfract and attainted as I have already shew'd was restored to the Earldomes of Lancaster Leicester c. and all his brothers lands whereof this was part Which Earl dyed at Leicester 19 E. 3. and was there buryed leaving issue Henry his son created E. of Derby 16 Martii 11 E. 3. his father being then alive Earl of Lincoln 20 Aug. 23 E. 3. and lastly Duke of Lancaster 6 Martii 25 E. 3. which D. dyed seized inter alia of this Castle the Tuesday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady 35 E. 3. leaving his two daughters his heirs viz. Maud then 22 years of age and Blanch 19. and was buryed in the Collegiat-Church at Lâ—icester of his own foundation Which Maud became the wife to Will D. of Bavaria E. of Henault Holland c. and Blanch. of Iohn of Gant fourth son to K. E. 3. who shortly after was created D. of Lancaster viz. 13 Nov. 36 E. 3. so that upon partition of the lands of the said Henry Duke of Lancaster this Castle inter alia came to Blanch. Which Iohn of Gant began the Structure of all the antient buildings here now remaining excepting Cesars-tower with the outer walls and turrets towards the later end of R. 2. time as it seemeth for in 15 R. 2. I find that the King did appoint Iohn Deyncourt then Constable hereof and his Lieutenant as also Robert de Skyllington Mason to hire Diggers of stone Carpenters and Labourers to the number of xx persons and to provide stone timber tile and all other necessaries for the use of the said Duke in his buildings here Which Record above cited doth also agree with the tradition of the Inhabitants by whom the same part of the Castle is to this day called Lancasters buildings But this Iohn D. of Lanc. having issue Henry sirnamed Bullenbroke by reason of his birth at Bullenbroke in Lincolnshire afterwards King of Engl. by the name of H. 4. upon the deposal of King R. 2. as is very well known this Castle came to the Crown and is contained in the Act amongst other the possessions belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster that were united to the Dukedome of Cornwall in the Parl. of 1 H. 7. Whose son and successor K. H. 8. bestow'd much cost in repairing thereof removing that building erected by K. H. 5. near the tail of the Pool in a low marish ground thereupon called Le plesans en marys and setting part thereof up in the base court of the Castle near the Swan-tower In the Crown it continued till Q. Eliz. by her Letters Pat. bearing date 9 Iunii 5 of her reign granted it to Robert Lord Dudley and his heirs Which Robert being one of the sons to Iohn Dudley D. of Northumberland was upon the 28 of Sept. 6 Eliz. created Baron of Denbigh and the day next following Earl of Leicester â— and having obtained this noble seat spared for no cost in enlarging adorning and beautifying thereof witness that magnificent Gate-house towards the North where formerly having been the back-side of the Castle he made the Front filling up a great proportion of the wide and deep double ditch wherein the water of the Pool came And besides that stately peice on the Southeast part still bearing the name of Leicesters-buildings did he raise from the ground two goodly towers at the head of the Pool viz. the Floud-gate or Gallery-tower standing at one end of the Tilt-yard in which was a spacious and noble room for Ladies to see the exercises of Tilting and Barriers and at the other Mortimers-tower whereupon the Arms of Mortimer were cut in stone which doubtless was so named by the E. of Leicester in memory of one more antient that stood there formerly wherein as I guess either the Lord Mortimer at the time of that great and solemn Tilting formerly mentioned did lodge or else because Sir Iohn Mortimer Kt. prisoner here in H. 5. time was detain'd therein The Chase he likewise enlarged impaling part of Blakwell within it and also a large nook extending from Rudfen-lane towards the Pool
To whose maintenance she charged 29 li. per annum to be payd out of Milburn-grange situat in this parish and thus distributed viz. 52 s. to each of the poor people at the Feasts of S. Iohn Baptist S. Michael the Nativity of our Lord and the Annuntiation of our Lady by even portions vi s. viii d. apiece yearly to the Church-wardens for the time being whom she constituted Supervisors of the said poor people as to their orderly coming to Church every Sunday and Holy day except there were urgent cause to the contrary x s. per annum to the Mayor of Coventry for the time being whom she also appointed to oversee the performance thereof And x s. yearly towards the repair of the Church here at Stonley as also xxii s. viii d. to a Preacher for to preach 4. Sermons there yearly All which Q. Elizabeth by her Letters Pat. bearing date 28. Iunii 19. of her raign confirmed Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes temp Inst. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. de Wylmeleighton Diac. Non. Oct. 1307. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. de Wylmeleighton Subdiac 19. Maii 1307. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. Wake Cap. 17. Cal. Sept. 1337. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Will. Aleyn de Shulton Pbr. 2. Non. Iunii 1348. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Io. de Sutham Cap. 17. Cal. Oct. 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Henr. de Mollington Diac. 3. Cal. Maii 1350. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Will. Payn Pbr. 5. Cal. Sept. 1361. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. Scarburgh Pbr. 8. Iulii 1398. Abbas Convent de Stonley Ioh. de Coventre Monachus 13. Aug. 1401. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Will. Clifton Cap. 23. Oct. 1417. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ioh. Hull Cap. 5. Iunii 1421. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ioh. Morecock Cap. 28. Martii 1425. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Nich. Blake Cap. 19. Iunii 1428. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ioh. Westhouse Pbr. 1. Nov. 1442. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Will. Loveles 5. Novemb. 1445. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Tho. Canke Pbr. 22. Ian. 1450. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ric. Whyngar Pbr. 14. Ian. 1494. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Will. Wall Pbr. 27. Martii 1494. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ric. Mawdesley Cap. 1. Martii 1537. Tho. Reyley Civis Cov. ratione concess Pr. C. de K. Ioh. Hessam Cap. 21. Oct. 1545. Eliz. Regina Henr. Belingham Cler. 23. Ian. 15â—8 Cloud THis being now only known by the Bridge over Avon betwixt Babnell and Starton hath its name from the rock on the Southern side thereof Clude in the Saxon signifying as much In the Conq. time there were two Priests in Stoneley which had each of them a Chappell viz. one at Flechamsted and the other here at Cloud Of these he that served here was called Edmund the Hermite in regard that antiently here had been an Heremitage Unto which Edmund for his maintenance certain parcels of land lying in Starton were given by Will sirnamed Hasteler brother and heir to one Simon Cook to K. H. 1. which Edmund was buried in the Chappell here afterwards burnt by theeves After whose death neither the King nor any Lord of Starton presenting thereto the Prior of Kenilworth as Rector of the Church of Stoneley entred upon the lands belonging to it and appropriated them to the use of that Monastery As for the Bridge before specified it was built by one of the said Heremites out of the Almes bestow'd upon him by good people Which falling in time to decay the Prior of Kenilw. in 26. E. 3. was presented by the Hundred for not amending it for as much as his Predecessors time out of mind had used to repair the same as then was alledged but the Prior proved that no certain person was obliged to repair it in regard it had been built by the Heremite as above said And moreover that there being another Bridge neere at hand there was no necessity to keep up this whereupon he was acquitted Starton A Little below Cloud lyeth Starton taking its name from the Stoure or streame as I guess Which being a member of Stoneley continued therewith in the Crown till K. H. 1. granted it unto his Cook called Simon sirnamed Hasteler de Arderne and his heirs by the service of a soar-Sparhawk yearly From whom it descended to Will his brother who gave to Edmund the Heremite then Priest at Cloude those parcells of land before mentioned To which Will. succeeded Geffrey sirnamed Arderne and to him Rhese who past this mannour to Walter Marescall Earl of Pembroke in exchange for lands in Ireland Which Walter soon convey'd it to Sir Geffrey de Langley Knight of whom I have spoke in Pinley and Maud his wife and the heirs of their two bodyes and for want of such issue to the right heirs of the same Geffrey reserving the said Rent of a Soar-sparhawk to be yearly payd to the King his heirs and successors at the feast of S. Michael the Archangellâ— and to him the said Earl and his heirs a pair of Gloves or a peny for all services King H. 3. by his Charter dated 12. Martii 29. of his raign confirming the grant Soon after which viz. in 30. H. 3. the said Geffrey obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here but the next year following sc. 31. H. 3. he past away this Mannour to the Monks of Stoneley and their successors in Fee-ferm for xx li. per annum undertaking to pay the Soar-Sparhawk to the K. And afterwards releasing the said xx li. Rent to the Monks obtained the Kings confirmation of his grant the Soar-Sparhawk being afterwards paid by his heir The particulars which the said Monks had here were in 7. E. 1. certified to be two carucats of and and one Water-mill in demesn with six villains and seven Cottagers holding by severall Rents and Services All which with liberty of Free-warren renew'd to them by another Charter in 12. E. 1. they enjoyed till the dissolution of their House in 27. H. 8. But then coming to the Crown it was in 33. of the same Kings raign granted to Charles Brandon D. of Suff. which D. by his deed bearing date the last day of the same month passed it unto Matthew Wrottesley and Anthony Foster who in March 3. E. 6. sold it to Thomas Marrow of Rudfyn Esq. of whose grand-child Samuel it was purchased by Sir Thomas Leigh Knight Citizen and Alderman of London 17. Iunii 7. Eliz. and so continueth to his posterity together with Stoneley unto this day There is a fair Bridge of stone over Avon lying neer Starton now commonly called Starebridge but formerly Kingsbrigge This in 51. H. 3. being in decay the King directed his Precept to the
leaving Alured his grandchild and heir four years of age But Spâ—gurnel's part came at length to the Hugfords by purchase as I guess for in 12. H. 4. Rob. Hugford esq obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands that he then had in possession or reversion here and in Edmescote To which Robert succeeded Thomas who in 10. H. 6. was certified to be Lord thereof with Emscote and that he held it by the sixt part of a Knights fee but since that time it is divolved by a daughter and coheir of Hugford to the Beaufoes as in Emscote I shall shew and continueth unto them untill this day That the Church was antiently a Chappell belonging to Wotton I have already manifested being afterwards appropriated to the Canons of Kenilworth and endowed with xv acres of land but of the Vicaridge there hath not been any Ordination considering its vicinity to Kenilworth whence the Prior usually sent a Priest to serve the Cure to whom he allowed the small tithes and offerings for his pains which in 26. H. 8. were certified to be worth vi li. per annum Emscote HEre is now no more left than the Mannour-house the rest having been long since depopulated The first mention I find thereof is that Walter Spigurnell in a grant to the Monks of Combe of certain common of pasture within his fee of Mulverton calls himself of this place then written Edulfescote which shews that one Edulfus was antiently owner thereof But upon collection of the Aid in 20. H. 3. it is written Edelmescote and so by contraction in pronouncing now made Emscote Of which family scil Spigurnell there were these that had to do here viz. Walter who lived in King Iohn's time and beginning of H. 3. Iames against whom Will. Trussell in 37. H. 3. brought an Assise for common of pasture in this villagâ— then written Edelvecote and Iohn Spigurnell in 55. H. 3. Who in 7. E. 1. was certified to be Lord thereof holding it of Elen la Souch one of the coheirs to whom part of the Honour of Leicester descended as I have intimated in Milverton by suit of Court twice a year Which Iohn held here a certain meadow then in demesn paying to Will. Trussell a mark yearly and as much to the Prioress of Grace-Dieu and had five servants holding two yard land and a fourth part by a certain Rent and performing severall services viz. reaping mowing carrying Hay and corn gathering of stubble harrowing c. And two Cottiers holding two Cottages for certain Rent and Hay-making To whom succeeded Henry Spigurnell who in 1.2.4 and 11. E. 2. was in Commission for taking Assises of Novel disseisin and for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick But after him I have not seen more of any male branch of this family nor female except Maud Spigurnell who in 20. E. 3. held the sixt part of a Knights fee here and in Milverton of the Honour of Winchester The next possessor of this mannour that I have met with was Will Revell descended from the Revells of Newbold-Revell as in the Pedegree there inserted is manifest that dyed without issue leaving Ioan his sister and heir wife to Geffrey Reynolds by whom she had issue Richard who affecting his mothers name called himself Revell Which Ioan in her widdowhood marryed to Will. Attelberge a Citizen of Coventre and party to the Covenants of Marriage betwixt the said Ric. Revell his son in law and Margery the daughter of Robert Hâ—ggeford in 7. H. 4. What this Richard Revell was by his profession or practise appears not but he kept not this Lordship long for in 9. H. 4. he levyed a Fine thereof to the abovementioned Rob. Hâ—gford his father in law and Ioyce his wife and to the heirs of the said Robâ—rt And by his deed of Release dated 18. Maii the same year wherein he calls himself Ric. filius Galfridi Reynald de Edmescote alias dictus Ric. filius Iohaâ—nae filiae Willielmi Ryvell confirmed to the said Robert Hâ—gford and Ioyce and the heirs of the said Robert all his right therein Which Robert obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here and in Milverton dated 12. Dec. 12. H. 4. in whose male line it continued till the beginning of H. 7. time and then by a daughter and coheir came to Beaufo But before this Robert Hugford I have not seen anything of their name in this County howbeit in Shropshire there was an antient family of them And if I may have liberty to guess at the originall of this man's advancement to so good a fortune in Warwickshire I shall conclude it to have been through his relation to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick For it appears that in 20. R. 2. he was Custos Hospitii id est Comptroller of the houshold unto the said Earle who by his Letters Pat. for so they are termed bearing date at Warwick 26. Apr. 1. H. 4. granted unto him by the title of his beloved Eâ—quire for his good service done and to be done as well to him the said Earl as unto Richard Beauchamp his son an Annuity of 8 li. to be yearly received during his life out of the said Earles Mannour of Wike neer Pershore in Com. Wigorn. And upon the last day of the said moneth of Aprill in the same year I find that this Robert was retained by Indenture to serve the said Earl and his son Richard all his life as well in Peace as Warr receiving for his wages in time of Peace 7 li. per annum out of the issues and profits of the said Mannour of Wike but upon these further Covenants viz. to come to the said Earle or his said son whensoever he should be required in times of peace with a Groom and two Horses during his stay Rob. Hugford 20. R. 2. Iâ—cosa obiit 3. H. 5. Margeria nupra Roberto Rivel 7. H. 4. Tho. Hugford 3. H. 5. Tho. Hugford dominus de Prinsethorp 4. E. 4. Will. Hugford 4. E. 4. Ioh. Hugford 9. H. 8. Ioh. Hugford 1. E. 4. Margar. filia haeres Nich. Metley Iohanna filia haeres Humfridus Beaufo 20. H. 7. Ioh. Beaufo 20. H. 7 Ioh. Beaufo Ioh. Beaufo obiit 25. Eliz. Tho. Beaufo aetat 33. ann 25. Eliz. That in time of Warr he should receive from the said Earl or his son xx li. for his wages whereof half to be payd at the beginning of the Warr and the rest quarterly as long as he did continue therein That he should be well and sufficiently armed arrayed and horsed for the warr sutable to his degree with one Yeoman 2. Grooms and 4. Horses and to have dyet for himself and livery for his said servants and Horses but that the said Earl or his son should have the third part of whatsoever he the said Robert or his men did gain by the war
the other two I am not yet able to discover any more Of the Church dedicated to the holy Trinity the moytie antiently belonging to the Monks of Hertford was given unto them by David de Lyndesei and confirmed by Gerard his brother and heir The benefit which they received thereby being two parts of the Tyth-corn throughout all the demesn-lands of this town But the other moytie was granted by the said David to Will. de Odingsels which Will. past it unto Gerard his brother In An. 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xxxiii marks yet how or when the said moytie was granted from the Monks of Hertford to Odingsells I know not but do find that in 13 E. 2. Hugh de Meryngton of Coventre purchased the perpetuall patronage of the whole from Iohn de Odingsells Which Hugh in 1 E. 3. dyed seised thereof leaving Iohn his son and heir 28. years of age who the next year following past it to Sir William de Clinton Knight Which William in 6 E. 3. gave it with 8. mess. six yard land and xx s. Rent in this town to Iohn Lynye Warden of the Chantry at Maxstoke and his successors for the health of his soul and the souls of his ancestors and successors But it was not long after that the said Sir William having begun the foundation of a Priory for Canons-Regular of St. Augustines order at the same place annexed that Chantry with the appurtenances thereunto whereupon the advouson of this Church with the rest of those lands in Ichington were appropriated to the use of the said Canons by R. Northburgh Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield 12. Cal. Martii Anno 1386. 10. E. 3. and a Vicaridge soon after endowed which in 26 H. 8. was valued at vii li. xviii d. over and above 18 d. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls But the said Rectory after the dissolution of that Religious house with the lands before specified coming to the Crown was with the site of that Monastery c. past unto the D. of Suff. as also from him to Traps and from the coheirs of Traps to Anthony Ludford and Thomas Fisher which Anthony and Thomas in 25 Eliz. aliened the said lands by the name of a Mannour with two parts of the Tithes of Corn and Hay c. to Robert Dudley then Earl of Leicester since which time they have attended the possession of that Lordship so sold by Odingsells as hath been said Patroni Ecclesiae Incumb temp Instit. Hugo de Odingsels miles D. Ioh. de Odingsels Cler. An. 1288. D. Will. de Clinton miles Rob. de Wyke Pbr. 4. Cal. Nov. 1329. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Rob. de Maxstoke Cap. 11. Cal. Nov. 1336. Patroni Vicariae Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Adam de Wythibroke Pbr. Cal. Maii 1337. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. de Bradwell Cap. 8. Cal. Aug. 1349. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Adam de Colsshull Pbr. .... 1359. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. de Caldecote 5. Id. Dec. 1375. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Thom. Nassyngton Cap. 22. Sept. 1407. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. Inderay Cap. 28. Feb. 1422. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. D .... get 17. Aug. 1423. D. Episc. per lapsum Will. Sylk decret Dr. Pbr. 2. Aug. 1427. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke D. Ric. Whitelombe 8. Martii 1428. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. Nobull Pbr. 8. Iunii 1439. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Thom. Smyth Cap. 16. Dec. 1529. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke D. Thom. Hopkyns Pbr. 9. Maii 1531. Rich. Bartue ar ac Cath. Ducissa Suff. ux ejus Thom. Odingsels 29. Martii 1569. D. Regina Eliz. Georgius Soden 17. Ian. 1569. Thom. Moulde Clerie ex concess Leticiae Comitissae Leic. Math. Gilbert Cler. 28. Apr. 1606. Rob. Comes Leic. Raphaell Pearce in art Mgr. 18. Sept. 1628. Upon a Marble Gravestone this Inscription in a plate of brass Of your charite pray for the soule of Edward Odingsell late o Long-Ichington in the County of Warwick esquier Geâ—tleman-Usher to King Henry the seventh who died ................ in the year of our Lord M. D. xxii Bascote THIS Hamlet was originally a member of Long-Ichinton yet I hâ—ve not met with any mention of it 〈◊〉 7 R. 1. and then do I find that Robert Briton had lands here but afterwards in King Iohn's time that David the son of David de Lindesei whoâ—e right here came by Elianore his mother one of the coheirs to Iohn de Limesi as in Ichington I have shewed did confirm to Nicâ—olas Briton and his heirs eight yard land lying here and in Ichinton to hold by the 4. part of a Knights fee which lands Roger Briton father of the saith Nicholas formerly held After this viz. in 21 E. 1. Sir Iohn Pinkney Knight having granted unto Sir Hugh de Odingsells all his interest in Long Ichinton gave notice to William le Breton that for the future he should perform those services to the said Sir Hugh and his heirs as were due by the same William to the above named Sir Iohn Pinkney Which William was son to the before recited Nicholas as I guess but what I have seen worth note in relation to him or his descendants I have already mentioned in Wolston for in 7 E. 2. Guy le Bretoun son to the said Will. sold all his lands here to Peter de Lâ—mesi and Alice his wife and the heirs of the said Peter which lands in 18 E. 2. eschaeted to the Crown by reason that he was in the rebellion of Thomas Earl of Lancaster as in Arley I have fully manifested The next possessor thereof of whom I have found any mention was Sir Iohn Rochford Kt. who by his deed dated 8 Oct. 4 H. 4. past it unto Thomas Seyvill which Thomas enjoy'd it in 2 H. 5. But in 9 H. 5. Iohn Morton a Priest conveyed it to Ioh. Lee of Warwick Thomas Wyrth and Richard Smyth who were but Trustees it should seem For 6. Sept. 8 H. 6. the same Iohn Lee did pass to Thomas Molesley and his heirs his whole right therein unto whom also T. Wyrth released his interest so that in 10 H. 6. the said â— Molesley who then wrote himself of Mokkushull in this County was certified to be Lord thereof Which Thomas by his deed of feoffment bearing hate on the day of S. Nicholas 30 H. 6. granted it to Wâ—lliam Lyle and Thomas Magot in trust for the use of the town of Walshall but it so fell out that the Inhabitants being kept from the profits thereof in the beginning of H. 8. time by Iohn Lyle son of Will. Lyle the surviving feoffee who denyed any such trust pretending it to be his own inheritance came to Moxhull and drove away Mr. Lyle's Cattell of
prejudice of his successors I cannot certainly tell but finding by the story of him that he had a good affection to the Romish Religion notwithstanding he had formerly asserted the K. Supremacy in H. 8. time 't is not unlike but there were those that had a mind in the beginning of Edw. 6. raign when Popery was abolish't to heave him out of his Bishoprick and that he to gain a friend in Court parted with these Lordships to that end For this Tho. Fisher as I have heard was no less than Secretary to the D. of Somerset at that time Lord Protector to the K. and being as greedy of Church-lands as other Courtiers in those days were swallowed divers large morsells whereof this was one and indeed so fair a bit as that he was loath any should share with him therein and therefore making an absolute depopulation of that part called Nether-Ichington where the Church stood which he also pulled down for the building of a large Mannour-house in its room to perpetuat his memory changed the name of it from Bishops-Ichington to Fisher's-Ichington And after all this the better to strengthen his title procured Raph Bane the succeeding Bishop to levy a Fine thereof in 4. 5. Ph. M. But how such sacrilegious acquisitions do thrive though fenc't about with all worldly security imaginable we have manifold examples whereof this is one and not the least observable for after the death of the said Thomas which hapned in 20 Eliz. Edward his son and heir making a shift to consume all those great possessions which his father left him excepting only this Lordship and dying in prison as in Warwick I shall more particularly observe left it to Iohn his son and heir who by his deed bearing date 8 Iac. sold it unto Thom. Coxe of Honyngham in this County and after that went into Ireland Which Thomas Coxe had issue Thomas who convey'd it to Sir Iames Enyan of Flore in Com. Northampt. Baronet about the xii year of our late soveraign King Charles Which Sir Iames by Iâ—ne daughter to Sir Adam Newton of Charlton in Com. Cantii Baronet having issue onely daughters whereof Dorothe the eldest married to Thomas Stanley son and heir of Sir Thomas Stanley of Cumberlow in Com. Hertf. Knight one of the chief ornaments of our time for his exquisite learning and other vertues within five years after his said purchase past it away to Sir David Conyngham Knight so that the third generation never enjoyd it since it was thus aliened from the Bishoprick The Church dedicated to All-Saints very antiently belonging to the Chief Chanter of Lichfield-Cathedrall and given I presume by Roger Molend the first Bishop that had the whole Lordship was in 7 E. 1. held appropriat by the said Chanter who then had there a carucat of land in demesn with 8. Freeholders occupying 4. yard land In 19 E. 1. it with the Chapells belonging thereto viz. Over-Ichington Chadshunt and Geydon were valued at lx marks and the vicaridge at 5. marks but in 26 H. 8. the said Vicaridge with the Chapells were rated at xiii li. vi s. viii d. Patroni Vicariae Incumb temp Instit. Magr. A. praecentor Eccl. Cath. Lich. Warinus de Walton Pbr. die Sab. prox post fest S. M. Magd. An. 1300. D. Petr. de Columpna Praecentor c. Will. de Neusum Pbr. 15. Cal. Nov. 1319. Mr. Franc. de Luco Canon Ebor. Procur praed Petri. Henr. Savage Pbr. 2. Non. Iulii 1322. Mr. Mich. de Northburgh praecentor c. Adam de Hale Pbr. 4. Non. Iunii 1339. Thom. de Badby praecentor c. Adam de Hale Pbr. 8. Id. Maii 1342. Thom. de Badby praecentor c. Hugo Adam Pbr. 16. Cal. Oct. 1361. D. Rob. Wolnedon Praecentor c. Ioh. Careswall 24. Dec. 1407. Precentor Eccl. Cath. Lich. Rob. Paneshall 4. Aug. 1410. Precentor Eccl. Cath. Lich. Ioh. Raulins 27. Maii 1412. Precentor Eccl. Cath. Lich. Thom. Flesher Cap. 1. Sept. 1416. D. Episc. per lapsum Ioh. Probus Pbr. 22. Iulii 1426. Praeceptor Eccl. Cath. Lichf Ioh. Balsham Pbr. 26. Oct. 1442. Praeceptor Eccl. Cath. Lichf Will. Mylde Pbr. 5. Nov. 1444. Praeceptor Eccl. Cath. Lichf Ioh. Ingelmels 15. Martii 1446. Praeceptor Eccl. Cath. Lichf Ioh. Probus Pbr. 10. Dec. 1446. Praeceptor Eccl. Cath. Lichf Will. Bustarde Diac. 15. Martii 1492. Mr. Thom. Fitzherbert Praecentor c. D. Will. Betham penult Martii 1530. Mr. Hugo Palmer S. Theol. Bacc. Praecentor c. D. Ric. Iudson Cap. 12. Iulii 1546. Henr. Comberford Praecentor c. Edw. Keble Cler. 9. Maii 1558. Edw. Leedes Praecentor c. .............. 1568. D. Eliz. Regina Will. Wigan Cler. 4. Nov. 1586. Thom. Coxe gener Ric. Hunte Cler. in art Magr. 8. Iulii 1621. Geydon OF this place originally a member of Chadshunt and involved therewith in the Conq. Survey I have not seen any mention in Record till 7 R. 1. where there is no more said than that Will. le Butler gave 1. mark to have seisin of his freehold therein After which viz. in 7 E. 1. it was certified that the B. of Cov. and Lich. antiently called B. of Chester had xxiii tenants here who performed divers servile labours as Plowing Sowing Mowing Reaping c. And ten Freeholders whereof one sc. Will. le Boteler had 4. yard land To whose successors it continued with the like priviledges as they had in Chadshunt till 1 E. 6. but was then granted to Thom. Fisher together with Itchington and confirmed by the K. in 3 E. 6. As also in 4. 5. Ph. M. by Raph Bane the succeeding Bishop and descended to Edward Fisher son and heir of the said Thomas for proof of all which I have cited authorities in Itchington which Edward by his deed bearing date 6. Nov. 27 Eliz. sold the greatest part of what he had here being nineteen yard land to one Iohn Askell and his heirs whose posterity enjoy it till this day and the rest being 5. yard land to others Which xxiv yard land was all that the Bishop had here for the other xviii partly belonged to the antient Freeholders and partly to the Vicars of Bishops-Ichington being of the Glebe to that Church The Chappell here was dedicated to S. Giles but hath no Armes in it Chadshunt THIS is one of those 24. towns given by E. Leofrike to the Monastery of Coventre at the foundation thereof above xx years before the Norman Conquest and is in that Charter called Chaddesâ—eyhunt but in Domesday-book written Cedeleshimte and there valued at vii li. As for the name there is no question but that it proceeded originally from one Cedde or Ceadde which we now call Chadde for in the Saxons time that appellation was usuall Upon the confirmation made by K. Stephen to the Priory of Coventre of the lands
books of their own language invited him to his Palace and Royally feasting him presented him with three pretious stones of great value besides divers clothes of silk and gold given to his servants where this Baltredam told him privately that he faithfully believed as he did though he durst not discover himself and rehearsed the Articles of the Creed But on the morrow he feasted Sir Baltredams servants and gave them scarlet with other English Cloth which being shewed to Sir Baltredam he returned again to him and said he would wear his livery and be Marshall of his Hall whereupon he gave Sir Baltredam a Gown of black puke furred and had much discourse with him for he was skilfull in sundry languages From Hierusalem he came back to Uenice and was there nobly received Thence travailed he into Russia Lituania Poland Prussiaâ— Westphalia as also some Countreyes of Germany shewing great valour in divers Tourneaments whilst he was in those parts and no sooner returned into England but that he was by Indenture bearing date 2 Oct. 12 H. 4. retained with Henry Prince of Wales afterwards King by the name of H. 5. to serve him aswell in times of Peace as War both in this Realm upon and beyond the Seas for CCL marks per an to be payd out of the Prince his Exchequer at Kaermardyn at Easter and Michaelmass by even portions and whensoever he should be in the said Prince his Court to have 4. Esquiers and 6. Yeomen with him and dyet there for them all Provided that the said Prince in service of Warr should have the third part of what he got in battail and the third of the thirds of what his men at Armes should gain And in case he took any great Commander Fort or Castle the Prince likewise to have them giving him reasonable satisfaction Nay he stood in such high esteem with that heroik Prince that against his Coronation he was for his wisdom and industry as the words of the Charter import constituted high Steward of England for that solemnity And in the second year of his raign when the Sect of Lollards being much increased in all parts of the Realm through the doctrine of Wickliff and others had conspired to seize upon the K. and his brothers with divers other persons of quality and to murther them as my Author affirmeth as also to destroy the Monasteries and Prelates and to share their possessions he forthwith armed himself and gave great assistance to the subduing of them After which he was retained by Indenture bearing date 19. Iunii 3. H. 5. to serve the K. as Captain of Caleys from the 6. day of .......... in 2. H. 5. till Febr. 3. An. 1416. 4. H. 5. to have with him in the time of truce or peace for the safeguard thereof during the time before limited xxx men at Arms sc. Horsmen himself and 3. Knights accounted as part of the number xxx Archers on hors-back CC. foot Souldiers and CC. Archers all of his own retinue besides ten men at Arms and x. Archers on hors-back belonging to the Treasurer of Caleys all which were to be at his command in every thing touching the safe-guard of that place For which service he was himself to receive vi s. viii d. per diem for his Knights ii s. a piece for the rest of his horse xii d. for every Archer on horsback and foot Souldier viii d. and for every Archer on foot vi d. per diem for their wages In which Town there was also to be at the Kings charges xl Cross-bow-men xx Carpenters and v. Masons besides Bowyers with other Officers and Pensioners And in time of war was he to have Cxl. men at Arms on hors-back himself and ix Knights accounted part Cl. Archers on hors-back C. foot Souldiers Clxxxiiii Archers on foot and 4. Scouts on hors-back for his own retinue over and above xx men at Arms and x. Archers on hors-back as also x. Archers on foot belonging to the said Treasurer besides Balisters Carpenters c. Whereupon he soon hasted to Caleys and with the more speed because he heard the French were raising great forces against that place and there was recived with solemne Procession but when he understood that those forces bent another way he resolved to practise some new point of Chevalry causing three Shields to be made and in each of them a Lady painted The first harping at the end of a bedsted with a grate of Gold on her left slieve and her Knight called the green Knight with a black quarterâ— who was ready to just with any Knight of France xii courses having two Shields of purveyance and his Letter sealed with the Seal of his Arms the field silver a manch gules The second Pavice or Shield had a Lady sitting at a covered bord working Pearls and on her sheve a glove of plate â—acâ—ed her Knight being called Chivalier Vâ—rt having his Letter sealed with these Arms the field silver two bars of gules who was to Just xv courses and that should be Saddles of Chains The third Pavice had a Lady sitting in a Garden making a Chaplet and on her slieve a Poleyn with a rivet her Knight being called Chivaliâ—r attendant who with his fellow must run and course with sharp Spears his Letter being sealed with gold and gules quarterly and a border Vert which Letters were sent to the Kings Court of France where 3. French Knights received them and promised their fellows to meet at a day and place assigned whereof the first was a Knight called Sr. Gerard Herbaumes who called himself le Chivalier rouge the 2. a famous Knight named Sir Hugh Launey calling himself le Chivalier blank and the third a Knight named Sir Collard Fines Twelf-day in Christmasse being appointed for the time that they should meet in a Laund called the Park-hedge of Gynes On which day this Earle came into the field with his face covered a plume of ostrich feathers upon his Helm and his Horse trapt with the Lord Toney's Arms one of his Ancestors viz. Arg. a manch gules where first encountring with the Chivalier Rouge at the third course he unhorst him and so return'd with close vizor unknown to his Pavilion whence he sent to the said Knight a good Courset The next day also he came into the field with his Vizor close a Chaplet on his Helm and a Plume of Ostrich feathers aloft his Horse trapt with the Arms of Hanslap viz. silver 2. bars gules where he met with the blank Knight with whom he encountred smote of his Vizor thrice brake his Besagurs and other Harneys and returned victoriously to his Pavilion with all his own habiliments safe and as yet not known to any from whence he sent this blank Knight Sir H. Launey a good Courser But the morrow after viz. the last day of the Justs he came with his face open and his Helmet as the day before save
although it sufficed not to bear out any bad attempt of his own as my Author observeth yet was it of force to cross the evill purposes of others and therefore speeches were cast out that he caused himself to be proclaimed King in divers Counties and much more layd in charge against him by Northumberland's contrivance who when he came to his tryall was one of his Peers upon which Triall though they acquitted him of Treason yet did they find him guilty of Felony whereupon he had Judgment to be hang'd never remembring to crave the benefit of his Clergy which is by some observ'd to be a just Judgment of God upon him for having so much wronged the Church and all learning and had his head smitten off upon a scaffold on Tower-hill After this 't was not long ere infirmities seized upon the King from whom Northumb. was little absent to ordering the matter that whil'st he languish't Guilford Dudley his 4. son did marry with the Lady Iane Grey eldest daughter to Henry Duke of Suff. by Frances daughter to Mary second sister to King H. 8. and that a Patent was sealed for the said Lady Iane's succession to the Crown for drawing whereof in excâ—uding his two sisters with fair pretences the assistance of the Lord chief Justice Mountagu and Secretary Cecill was used which Letter 's were subscribed by alâ— the Privy Councell the greatest part both for number and power of the Nobility the Kings learned Councell and all the Judges at the Common Law except Sir Iames Hales one of the Justices of the Common Pleas some being guided with particular interest for that they were possest of so much Monastery and Chantry lands which if Religion should be altered through Qu. Maryes coming to the Crown they might be in danger to loose and others by fear of or obligation to the Duke of Northumberland then so potent and almost absolute in government of the State that 't was supposed he could make any title good either by his authority or his sword And having now thus designed to himself the power of a King for no less would he have had if the Lady Iane had been Queen he contrived to get the Lady Mary into his hands causing K. Edw. to write his Letters for her coming to him in his sickness but she being made sensible of the device when she was within half a days journey of London directed her course another way after which the King immediatly dyed whereupon Northumb. causes the Lady Iane to be proclaimed Queen but the tide of the peoples affections bending to Mary the Kings eldest sister she is likewise proclaimed first by the Citizens of Norwich and afterwards in Buck. and Northampton-shires neither was there want of numbers in severall parts that began to put themselves in Armes on her behalf So that 't was no sitting still now Northumberland therefore being Queen Iane's Champion with a Commission under the great Seal marcheth out with 600. Horse to suppress any power that should appear for Queen Mary having a promise from the Lords of more forces to be sent after him but such a change did he perceive in the affections of his own Souldiers whereof many forsook himâ— that to daub up the matter he returns to Cambridge and there without either Herauld or Trumpet accompanyed with the Maior and Marquess of Northampton proclaimes Queen Mary himself in the Market-place and in token of joy threw up his Cap. All which would not now secure him for the very next day the Earl of Arundell coming thithither from the Queen arrested him of Treason whence he was with his three sons Iohn Ambrose and Henry convey'd to the Tower of London and from that place ere long to his arraignment where being condemn'd for a Traitor he suffered death at Tower-hill the 22. of Aug. and was buried in the Tower Church by Iohn Cock then Lancaster-Herauld who having been his old servant was willing to shew some respect to him dead from whom living he had received so much favour and therefore begg'd his Head onely of the Queen that he might bury it in the Tower upon which suit he had his wholy body also granted Our Historians that write of his death do say that at his end he profest the Roman Religion and I have heard that for a witness of his Faith he vouch't Dr. Heath Archbishop of York afterwards Lord Chancelour yet was he so much blinded by ambition that apprehending the alteration of Religion to be the chief means whereby he might accomplish his worldly ends he told Sir Anthony Brown afterward Visc Mountacute when he moved him for restoring the Roman Religion â—hat albeit he knew the same Religion to be true yet seeing a new Religion was begun Run Dog run Devill he would go forwards One thing have I further to observe of him which is that being arrived to such a pitch of honour and greatness he was not content with those vast possessions that he had by the bounty of the K. and his own just acquisition but finding Iohn Lord Dudley grandfather to the last Baron to be a weak man whereby he had exposed himself to some wants and so became entangled within the Usurers bonds made those money-merchants his Instruments to work him out of Dudley-Castle which Usurers accordingly getting a mortgage of part of his lands let in such room for the Duke to put in a foot that he soon justled him out of his Castle and Barony so that the poor Lord being thus turn'd out of dore and left to the Charity of his friends for a subsistence spent the rest of his days in making visits amongst them with whom he usually stayed according as he found welcome being commonly called the Lord Quondam but so soon as Queen Mary had taken off the Dukes head she bestowed the Castle of Dudley and all the lands which belong'd to the quondam Lord upon Edward his son and heir who had wedded Katherine Bridges daughter to Sir Iohn Bridges Knight Lord Chandois one of her maids of Honour During the time that this our Earl of Warwick was so possest of Dudley-Castle it being a place that he thirsted after in regard of his name and for the honourableness of the House and seat from which he was desirous the world should believe he was descended for he had thrust into his titles Dux Northumbriae Comes Warwici Mareschallus Angliae Vâ—cecomes L'isle Baro de Somery Basset Tyase Dominus de Dudley praenobilis Ordinis Garterii miles Magnus Magister Seneschallus Hospitii regis he made great repairs there and built that stately fabrick within the walls thereof on the North part which was called the New work adorn'd the Gate-house tower with the Armes of Malpas Someri and the Lyon rampant by him assumed for Sutton's coat fairly cut in large shields of stone and fixt in the wall just over the Port cullice By Iane daughter and
better raysed in these parts as occasion should requireâ— which money was by him hidden in Bishops-Ichington pool and that the Duke fayling of his ends and losing his head as is well known Fisher became questioned by authority from Queen Mary for that money but denying it stoutly and put upon the Rack was so extreamly tormented that his fingers were pull'd out of the joynts yet would never reveal it After which he lived till 19 Eliz. and then on Ian. 12. anno 1576. departing this life was interred at the upper end of S. Maryes Church in Warwick where his Monument is yet to be seen leaving Edward his son and heir xxx years of age whose inheritance left him by his father was no lesse than what is now worth 3000 li. per an as I have heard but as such possessions I mean Church lands and the like which were originally given to the maintenance of Gods service wanting that blessing of continuance to the posterity of those that obtain them as for the most part others have doe often shift their owners so we find it here for the substance of all that had been thus rak't together with so much care and industry by the Father was in a short time wasted by the Son who lavish't it out so fast as that foreseeing his his own ruin he betook himself to the course of unthrifts which hastned it on the sooner for making a fraudulent conveyance to deceive Sergeant Puckring to whom in 23 Eliz. he had sold this fair seat and lands thereabout he was by him so prosecuted in the Star-Chamber that had not the Earl of Leicester interposed his Fine would have been very grievous for prevention whereof he at length consented that an Act of Parliament to confirm the estate to the said Sergeant Puckring then Lord Keeper of the great Seal should be made and being yet intangled with debts was committed Prisoner to the Fleet where he remained all the dayes of his life which conveyance from the before specified Edward Fisher being to George Chowne and others 1. Octob. 23 Eliz. they past away their right therein to the said Sergeant Puckring 13. Octob. 24 Eliz. This Sergeant Puckring being Speaker in the Parliament of 28. Eliz. upon answer to Queen Eliz. proposall as to some expedient whereby the life of the Queen of Scots might be saved urged that the Sentence given against her should be put in execution In 36 Eliz. he was Knighted and dyed in 38. whereupon M Cambden in his Annals of that time hath this expression Infra hunc annum nonnulli insignioris notae nobilitatis ex hujus vitae statione evocati fuerunt è quibus inprimis memorandi Ioh. Puokeringus magni Angliae Sigilli Custos qui ob famularum sordes corruptelas in Ecclesiasticis beneficiis nundinendis ipse vir integer apud Ecclesiasticos haud benè andivit But he left issue Thomas his son and heir afterwards made Knight and Baronet a Gentleman much accomplisht with learning and observation by travail in forrain parts in his younger years who afterwards lived here in great esteem for his prudence having been elected Burgess for Warwick or some other place in sundry Parliaments and departing this life 20 Martii anno 1636. left only one daughter called Iane to inherit this with other fair possessions who besides her weakness of body hath been attended with some misfortunes whereof for brevity I pass by the mention and dyed lately without issue whereupon Sir Henry Newton son to Sir Adam Newton of Charlton in Com. Cantii Baronet nephew to the said Sir Thomas Puckring is by his said uncle's designation become heir to this and the greatest part of his estate The next place of note for antiquity lying within the precincts of Warwick is the Hospitall of St. Michael situat on the North side of the town at the lower end of that street called Saltsford neer the Chapell of St. Michaell before spoken of This being founded by Roger Earl of Warwick about the later end of H. 1. or beginning of King Stephen's time had besides what it was then endowed withall little given thereto other than those obventions and Tythes of the assarts of Wedgenok as also of the paunage and venison by Waleran Earl of Warwick so that the whole revenue thereof by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. was certified to amount unto no more than x li. ii s. iv d. over and above reprises all which issued out of lands in Warwick excepting vi s. viii d. yearly Rent of Assize for someâ—hing that belong'd thereto situate in Aven-Derset out of which xxvi s. was annually payd to certain Leprous persons residing there towards their maintenance But by another Survey made in 37 H. 8. I find that the revenue thereof over and above all reprises amounted to x li. xix s. x d. And that it was founded by a King to give Almes weekly to poor people as also to harbour them Howbeit at that time there being no Master there resident the same was demised by Lease with all the Rents and profits thereto belonging unto one Richard Fisher paying therefore yearly x li. which Richard did then weekly distribute 8 d. to the poor and found four beds for their lodging giving viii d. a week to a certain poor woman attending on the poor men and making their beds But at this time the poor people there resident are onely women and viii in number having iv li. per annum distributed amongst them out of the Priory lands late Sir Thomas Puckrings at Michaelmasse and our Lady-day by equall portions A Catalogue of its Guardians scil such as I have found are here inserted with the times of their admission to that charge and the names of those by whom they were constituted Patroni Guardiani D. Episc. Frater Henricus de Cobynton 3. Kal. Iulii 1300. Frater Rogerus Bertram solus tunc frater in eadem domo existens D. Will. de Lichfeld Vicar de Wasperton prid Non. Maii 1308. Confratres ejusdem Hospit Frater Thom. de Olouthon 3. Id. Aug. 1315. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. D. Nich. de Southam 4. Iunii 1339. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Frater Will. de Knytcote 10 Sept. 1343. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Regin Dod Pbr. 7. Ian. 1361. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. D. Ioh. Kekenwich 10. Apr. 1388. Ric. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Walt. Lambard 11. Nov. 1410. Ric. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. D. Will. Blakemore Cap. 22. Iunii 1425. Ric. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Will. Berkswell Cler. 15. Martii 1431. Ric. Nevill Co. Warwici D. Thomas Went Cap. 28. Apr. 1450. Ric. Nevill Co. Warwici D. Thom. Clerke Cap. 20. Sept. 1460. D. Henricus Rex Angliae Williel Herryson Cler. 28. Sept. 1501. Phil. Mar. Rex Regina Angl. D. Ric. Iudson Pbr. 21. Oct. 1556. Phil. Mar. Rex Regina
Ieykyn Cap. 21. Iunii 1425. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. Radchiff Pbr. 10 Dec. 1440 D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Thomas Browell Pbr. 4. Ian. 1444. Prebend de Tachbrok in Eccl. Cath. Lich. Ric. Waterton Pbr. 10 Iunii 1453. D. Episc Cov. Lich. Thomas Compton Cap. 4. Feb. 1457. D. Episc Cov. Lich. Ric. Walker Pbr. 29. Oct. 1493. Thomas Fysher ar Ioh. Antrobus 11. Iunii 1575. Timoth. Wagstaff ar Nath. VVilliams Cler. 14. Feb. 1623. Eliz. Wagstaff vidua Ric. Harvye Cler. in art Magr. 26 Iulii 1626. Tachebrooke-Malory THough this be in the Hundred of Knightlow yet because it is contained within the parish of Bishops Tachebrook I have reserved it to be here spoken of It is called Tachebrook-Malory for distinction from the other in regard the Maloryes were antiently Lords thereof as I shall shew anon and in the Conq. time was certifyed to contain viii hides except one Virgate all which were then possest by the Earl of Mellent and valued at xl s. but in Edw. the Conf. days one Baldwin was owner thereof By the said E. of Mellent â— or Robert E. of Leic. his son was Raph Boteler of Oversley first enfeoft of it as it should seem who granted it to Geffrey de Clinton Founder of the Castle and Priory at Kenilworth in H. 1. time or to Geffrey his son for by â—is gift of certain lands lying within this Lordship to the Templars it appears that he was possest thereof But in the family of Clinton it continued not long for Henry de Clinton son to the last Geffrey gave the whole Village with the Mill and services of the Freeholders to the Canons of Kenilworth in which grant it is written Tachelesbroc though in the Conq. Survey Tacesbroc It seems that before the said grant from Boteler to Clinton was made Malory had some estate in this Lordship past to him by Boteler so that in the beginning of K. Iohns time there growing dispute betwixt them touching their titles they came at length to an Agreement whereupon all was setled by a Fine in 3. Ioh. in manner and form following by the consent of Raph Boteler heir to the beforementioned Raph and superior Lord of the Fee viz. that the Canons of Kenilworth should quietly enioy the one half of this Lordship sc. that which lyes North together with the antient Mannour-house and the Mill holding it of the same Henry de Clinton and his heirs by the service of half a Kts. fee the said Henry and his heirs holding it over by the like service of the before specifyed Raph and his heirs And that all the rest of this Village should remain to Henry Malory and his heirs to be held of the same Raph and his heirs by the service of half a Kts. fee at which time divers of the Tenants here held in Villenage and being then present and privy to this Agreement acknowledged themselves to be Villains This Henry was the son of Askitell Malore who forfeited all his lands in H. 2. time for taking part with young K. Henry in that rebellion against his father but by a Fine of lx marks which he the said Henry payd to the K. in 1. Ioh. he had restitution of them again To the Monks of Combe and Canons of Kenilworth he gave certain lands in Herberbury and to the Nunns of Polesworth 3 yard land in Osbaston in com Leic. But the succession of these Maloryes for the time that they continued Lords of this place can I not exactly point out certain it is that the seat where they most resided was Walton on the Woulds in Leicestersh though they were likewise owners of Botley in this County in all which places sc. Walton Tachebroke and Botley had Iohn Malory a Charter of Free-warren granted to him and his heirs dated 17. Nov. 9. E. 3. which Iohn in 10. E. 3. had license to amortize one mess. with the appurtenances lying within this Lordship for maintenance of a Preist to sing Masse daylie in the Chapel of St Iames situate here in Tachebroke for the health of his soul and the soules of Margery his wife with all the faithfull deceased As for the two half Kts. fees which Boteler thus had here as abovesaid they were by him and his heirs held over of the Earls of Leicester descendants from the E. of Mellent before specifyed to whose Court Leet held for the Honour of Leicester the Inhabitants of this place in token of the Royalty belonging to those Earls did antiently use to appeare This Lordship continued in the family of Mallore till towards the later end of H. 6. time if not longer Whether any of them sold it to Benedict Medley Clerk of the Signet to K. H. 7. as in UUhitnash I have shewed or from whom it was that the said Benedict purchased it I am not sure but apparent it is that he dyed seized of it in 19. H. 7. leaving Will. his son and heir 23. years of age who with Raph Maxfeild then Prior of Kenilworth depopulated 8. mess. here and converted CCCX acres of land into pasture which kept six Plows so that now there is not above 4 Houses left in all the Village After the dissolution of the Monasteries that whâ—ch the Canons of Kenilworth had here was by Q. Eliz. in 4. of her reign granted to Barth Brokesby and Edw. Downing who sâ—ld the same to George Medley esq heir to the before specifyed Benedict to whom succeeded Henry Medley esq who dyed seized of the whole in 21. Eliz. leaving Henry his son aâ—d heir 14. years of age Naspes WIthin the parish of Bps-Tachebrook lyeth a place called Naspes which hath not now above 4. houses in it but antiently it was more populous The first mention I find of it is in 7. R. 1. where Ric. des Aspâ—s payd one mark to the K. for seâ—sâ—n of his lands here and in 9. E. 2. it was certifyed to be a Hamlet belonging unto Tachebrook before specifyed Barford BElow Tachebrook about 2 miles this petty rivulet falls into Avon on whose Southern bank a little below stands Barford where is now a fair stone Bridg of many Arches In the Conq. time Will. fil Corbucion of whom I shall speak in Stodley held one hide here of the K. valued at L s. but in Edw. the Conf. days at xx s. being then possest by Saulf The residue of this town at the same time held by one Hugh of Osbernus fil Ricardi was then certified to contain 4 hides and valued at xl s. having a Mill rated at ii s. in both which places it is written Bereforde I am of opinion that from the said Hugh descended that family who assumed their sirname of this place and the rather for that I find one of them in 23. and 24. H. 2. bearing the same Christen name but
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
Knightlow-Hundred whereunto I shall adde that 't is probable it might proceed from the Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth the same with Collis the situation thereof upon a little hill savâ—uring this my conceipt But I now come to what I find memorable in relation to this place In 51 H. 3. Barthol de Suthleg being then Lord thereof had a Charter granted to him and his heirs for a Mercate to be kept every Friday weekly here and a Fair annually for three days viz. the Eve of S t Iames the Apostle and two days after And in 7 E. 1. Iohn de Suthley was certiâ—iâ—d to be Lord hereof where it is written Magna Dercet but said to be a member of Suthley as also to be held by him of the King in Câ—pâ—â—e with his Barony by the service of two Knights fees And that he had at that time here Liii servants holding xix yard land and a half paying severall Rents and performing divers servile labours with xxiv Freeholders holding 24. yard land and a half And moreover it there appears that the Chief Chanter of the Church of Lichfield held here at that time a fourth part of one yard land and the Canons of Erdbury two yard land one whereof the Church was endowed with As also that the Templars of Balshall then had xi Tenants here who held four yard land paying severall Rents and performing severall servile labours The Liberties and Priviledges which the said Iohn de Suthley then had in this Lordship were the Mercate and Faire whereof I have already toucht Free-warren Court-Leet Gallows Cuckstool and Pillory with Assize of Bread and Beer All which together with weyfs as also to be quit of Murther and suit to the Hundred and County Court he claimed partly by Prescription and partly by Charter but it being then found that for Murther he used to partake with the Hundred he was amerc't for that undue claim the rest of his Challenge being fully allowed Which Iohn de Sudley became a speciall Benefactor to the Monastery of Erdbury of his Ancestors foundation by the grant of lands and other advantages thereunto out of this place as I shall punctually shew when I come to speak of that Religious House I often find in Record that this town is called Cheping-Derset the reason whereof is because of the Mercate for Cheping with our Ancestors did signify the same that buying and selling doth with us whence it is that Cheping-Norton in Oxford-shire Chepinham in Wilt-shire and Chepstow in Monmouth-shire had their names But the last of the Sudleâ—'s that had to doe here was Sir Iâ—hn de Sudley Knight who dying without issue in 41 E. 3. left Thomas Boteler son of Ioan his eldest sister then dead and Margerie his younger sister his heirs whereby as also by the death of the said Margerie afterwards without issue the said Thomas became possest of this and all the rest of Sudley's lands which Thomas being afterwards a Knight dyed seized of this Mannour jointly with Alice his wife daughter to Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Powyk 21. Sept. 22 R. 2. then leaving Iohn his son and heir xiv years of age who in 8 H. 4. confirmed the estate for life therein which had been granted by certain Feoffees unto the said Alice she being at that time marryed to Sir Iohn Dalyngrugge Knight This Iohn and William his brother were sons to Sir Thomas Boteler by his first wife but both dyed without issue as it seems for upon the death of the abovespecified Alice in 21 H. 6. Sir Raph Boteler Knight was then found to be heir unto her and begotten by the said Sir Thomas being then xl years of age which Sir Raph became a man of great note in H. 6. time as it seems for I find that being Knight for the Body to the King â—e was made his Standard-bearer 28. Martii 17 H. 6. And by Letters Patent dated at Westminster x. Sept. 20 H. 6. created Lord Sudley with the grant of CC. marks per annum to himself and his heirs for the better maintenance of that dignity He was also constituted Lord Treasurer of England 7. Iulii 22 H. 6. which office he held about three years but in 13 E. 4. he departed this life leaving Sir Iohn Norbury Knight and William Belknap his heirs which Sir Iohn Norbury was son of Sir Henry Norbury Knight by Elizabeth and Will. Belknap son of Hamond Belknap by Ioan sisters to the said Raph for he left no issue male Sir Thomas Butler his only son dying in his life time which Sir Iohn Norbury and William Belknap in 16 E. 4. had livery of all the lands descended to them by the death of the abovespecified Sir Raph Boteler The partition whereof was made betwixt the said Sir Iohn and Edward Belknap Esquier son of Henry brother and heir to William Belknap aforesaid in 13 H. 7. whereby this Mannour inter alia became assigned to Belknap for in 2 R. 3. William dyed without issue leaving Henry Belknap his brother and heir 50. years of age which Henry by his Testament dated 25. Iunii anno 1488. 3 H. 7. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chapell of our Lady at Bekle in Sussex It seemes he lived there for by the same Testament he gave to the high Altar in that Church xx d. in lieu of his Tithes forgotten and not payd and departed this life 10 Iulii following leaving the said Sir Edward his son and heir xvii years of age who became a man of much publique action for in 2 H. 7. he was one of the Commanders in the Kings Army at the Battail of Stoke In 6. a Commissioner of Array in this County In 12. a Commander in the Battail of Blackheath in Kent against the Western Rebells In 17. he had the custody of Warwick-Castle committed to his charge being at that time Squier of the Body to the King And from 8 H. 7. for the most part during all that Kings raign was in Commission for the Peace in this County as appears upon the severall renewings thereof and sometimes for Gaol delivery In consideration of whose acceptable services the said King by a speciall Patent dated 14. Apr. 24. of his raign granted him immunity from being troubled or questioned for that Inclosure and depopulation which he had made in this Lordship contrary to the Statute in the third of his raign He was also Squier of the Body to King H. 8. being in the first of his raign again constituted Constable of Warwick-Castle for he resided at Weston subtus Wethele in this County as it seems by what I have there manifested And in 8. a Knight The Depopulation and Inclosure that he made within this Lordship scil in 14 H. 7. was of xii mess. and CCClx. acres
of land unto every of which messuages 24. acres belonged But by the Inquis then taken I find it certified that this decay of tillage was no prejudice but benefit to the publique for whereas before that time they were able to entertain but xx strangers upon occasion they could afterwards entertain Lx. as well And that the Church and ornaments were then in better condition than before having since cost the Parish CC li. That there were also xxi Ploughs maintained in the Parish And whereas before the Inclosure they had but one Priest then were there 2. and many Clerks performing divine service every Holy day by Note and divers times with Prick-song none such having been kept before by reason of the disability of the Parishioners That the Benefice was better and more of value to the Incumbent than when the lands did lye in tillage by iii li. or thereabouts That the Children of the Parish were better taught and better Houses kept and that there were then within the precincts of the same Parish Cxl. Communicants By his Testament bearing date 23. Martii anno 1520. 12. H. 8. he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Black-Friers near Ludgate in case he departed this life in London but if in Warwick-shire then to be buried in the Charterhouse neer Coventre And also appointed that Iohn Cotes with whom he had exchanged the Mannour of Whitchurch in this County for other lands should receive x. marks yearly to him and his heirs out of this Mannour till his Executors or his heirs had clearly discharged the said Iohn and his heirs of and for the Rent of xiii Quarters of Wheat and xiii Quarters of Barley and part Masselin against the Nuns of Pinley and their successors granted to their Predecessors by Sir Peter de Montfort sometime Lord of that Mannour And dyed by a pestilentiall aire in France 26. Martii the same year without issue being at that time a Captain in the English Army there leaving Anthony Coke son of Iohn Coke by Elizabeth his sister Mary wife of Gerard Danet Esquier and Alice the wife of William Shelley his two other sisters his heirs I have not as yet seen when or how the division was made betwixt these coheirs but I presume that Shelley's part came shortly after to Sir Edw. Wotton Knight son of Sir Rob. Wotton by Anne another sister to the said Sir Edw. Belknap for I find that the same Sir Edward was seized of the third part of this Mannour in 29 H. 8. From whom descended Edward created Lord Wotton 13. Maii 1. Iac. And that Gerard Danet being Squier of the Body to King H. 8. had issue Sir Iohn Danet Knight father of Leonard Danet that sold his interest here to Peter Temple Esquier in 2 Eliz. whose posterity do still enjoy it The Church dedicated to All Saints being given to the Canons of Erdbury by Raph de Sudley Founder of that Monastery was approriated thereunto by Geffrey Muschamp Bishop of Coventre in King Iohn's time and endowed with one carucate of land the Vicaridge being ordained in anno 1232. 16 H. 3. by Alex. de Savensby Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. the Rectory was valued at xxiv marks but the Vicaridge had another endowment in H. 7. time so that in 26 H. 8. upon the valuation then made it was rated at xiv li. Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles Rad. de Derset Pbr. die Purif 1301. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles D. Will. de Knistecote Pbr. 14. Cal. Dec. 1311. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles Rad. de Derset Pbr. 8. Iulii 1314. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles Thomas de Willoughby Pbr. 16. Cal. Nov. 1323. Pr. C. de Erdbury D. Edm. de Bereford Hugo de Brok Pbr. 2. Non. Oct. 1332. Pr. C. de Erdbury D. Edm. de Bereford Ric. de Bereuhby Cap. 4. Non. Iulii 1349. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury Alianora de Sudley Hugo de Claâ—dâ—n Capâ— 14. Cal. Aug. 1358. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury Alianora de Sudley Will. Adams Pbr. 14. Cal. Ian. 1358. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury D. Alicia Boteler Domina de Sudley Ioh. Harris 14. Sept. 1421. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury D. Alicia Boteler Domina de Sudley Henr. Greene penuls Febr. 1425. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury D. Alicia Boteler Domina de Sudley Ric. Leventhorpe 12. Dec. 1439. Pr. C. de Erdbury D. Rad. Boteler miles D. de Sudley Thomas Conway Pbr. 16. Ian. 1448. D. Episc. per lapsum D. Ranulphus Goldsmyth Cap. 9. Nov. 1541. Anth. Cooke miles Ric. Powle Cler. 18. Aug. 1564. Edw. Dominus Wotton Iohn Tayler Cler. 27. Feb. 1607. Thom. Andrews de Derset gen ex cont Mariae Mynne de Hayes in Comit. Midd. vid. Thomas Freman in art Bac. 9. Apr. 1613. Thomas Temple miles Bar. Ioh. Reignolds Cler. 20. Iulii 1619. D. Thomas Wotton Baro de Marleigh Ioh. Craige Cler. 21. Ian. 1629. Monumentall inscriptions in the Church Upon a Marble where have been two portraitures in brasse Here under this stone lyeth the body of Peter Temple Esquier who departed out of this world at Stow in the County of Buckingham the xxviii â—h day of May Anno .......... whose soule God hath in his blessed keeping Fixt in the wall betwixt two Corinthian Pillars Here under lyeth the body of Iohn Temple of Stow in the County of Buck. Esquire one of the Lords of this Mannour And Susan his wife who was the daughter and heir of Thomas Spenser of Everton in the County of Northampton Esquire who had issue six sons and six daughters as here may appear The said Iohn Temple deceased the ninth day of May 1603. being of age Lxi. years and the said Susan decâ—ased the .... day of .... being of the age of ..... years Cur liberos hic plurimos 〈◊〉 hic amicos pluâ—imos 〈◊〉 plurimas pecunias 〈◊〉 scire câ—r reliquerâ—t Tâ—mpellus ad plures abâ—it In the East window of the Chancell these Armes Or two barrs gules Sudley I will now proceed with the Hamlets beginning with Herdwick for that which is called Great Dasset is involved with Burton-Dasset alias Cheping-Dasset whereof I have already spoke Herdwick THis being a member of Dercet is not particularly mentioned in Domesday book but was then reckoned in the number of hides which are there certified for that place In H. 2. â—â—me Raph de Sudley part of whose possessions it was as belonging to Dercet gave some quantity of what he had here to the Templars which in 31 H. 2. was valued at xl s. per annum And in 7 E. 1. rated
therewith After which viz. in 4 H. 8. Iohn Crofte and Eliz. his wife levied a Fine of the moytie of this Mannour to Simon Rice Citâ—zen and Mercer of London and others but to what uses I know not Neither can I say to what uses that Fine did inure which was levied of this Mannour in 10 H. 8. between Iohn Trevâ—then and others Plantiffs and Margaret Boleyn widow Deforc Howbeit for certain that Fine levied thereof 29 H. 8. betwixt Thomas Pope Eâ—q Pl. and Ricâ— Fermour and others Deforc. was to the use of the said Thomas Pope and his heirs for even to these very times his posterity do enjoy the same together with another Mannour here which appertained to the dissolved Monastery of Studley for by that name it past from the Crown in 31 H. 8. unto the same Thomas and the heirs male of his body he being then a Knight and Treasurer of the Court of Augmentation Touching the Church dedicated to S. Laurence I have already shewed that the advouson thereof was vested in Robert Wandard and his heirs by the Monks of Preaux in Normandy whereupon a Pension of x s. per annum became setled out of the fruits thereof to be payd to the Parson of Warmington and his successors In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it being valued at viii marks was afterward granted to the Monastery of Lavenden in Com. Buck. about the beginning of E. 3. time as it should seeem by the Presentations thereto but not appropriated till 2 R. 2. and then Pope Urban the 6. by his Bull dated at Rome on the Ides of November granted unto the Canons of that House liberty to take the fruits thereof to their own peculiar use the same year Simon de Sudbury Archbishop of Cant. ordaining the Vicaridge which in 26 H. 8. was valued at Cxiii s. iv d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Rob. de Wandak miles Rob. de Shâ—teswell Cler. ...... 1287. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. Steâ—e Clâ—r Id. Iunii 1349. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. de Kneton Pbr. 6. Cal. Ian. 1355. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. de â—aâ—â—bury Pbr. 14. Cal. Oct. 1367. Patroni Vicariae Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas le Rowe Pbr. 22. Maii 1381. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas Ieâ—fus Pbr. 4. Martii 1394. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas Wotton Pbr. 26. Oct. 1438. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thom. Wyllingham Canon de Lavenden 9. Apr. 1443. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Will. â—urvey Canon de Lavenden ult Iulii 1451. D. Thomas Pope miles D. Ioh. Vernam Cler. 22. Iunii 1456. Will. Chancy de Edgcote in Com. Northampt ar ex concess T. Pope mil. D. Will. Rowse Cler. 20. Oct. 1554. Ioh. Pope ar Ric. Key Cler. 7. Feb. 1562. Edw. Grevill gen ex concess Ioh. Pope ar Will. Key Cler. 12. Oct. 1576. Will. Pope de Wroxton mil. de baln Bar. Rob. Petiver in Art Magr. 8. Febr. 1620. Will. Pope de Wroxton mil. de baln Bar. Ric. Hartwell Cler. in art Magr. 19. Maii 1627. Warmington MOre than a mile Northwards on the side of Edg-Hill stands Warmington which in the Conquerors time being possest by the Earl of Mellent contained xv hides and a half two whereof were held by a certain Knight of the said Earl and valued at xx s. and the residue rated at x li. all which had been the Freehold of one Azor before the Norman invasion In that Survey it is written Wermintone in one place and Warmintone in another but I presume that its denomination originally sprung from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time perhaps Weremundus for that appellation was then usuall This as most of the lands which the said Earl had in Warwick-shire came to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick brother to the same E. of Mellent but by what Agreement appears not w ch Henry gave it wholy excepting the Hamlets belonging thereto to the Monks of Preaux in Normandy who built a Cell here and sent over part of their Covent to reside therein and to be subordinate to their House of Preaux of which Cell the said Earl Henry is reputed to have been Founder which Religious House stood about the midst of the town as the Inhabitants by tradition do affirm This grant so made to Preaux by Earl Henry was in Edw. 1. time confirmed by William de â—eauchamp then Earl of Warwick it being then found that there were xx Tenants here that held their lands by a servile tenure viz. each one providing a Labourer one day every week for the Lordâ—â— imployment or to give 1 d. ob for every day in the week which would amount to x d. and so in the year to xliii s. iv d. And that every one of them should plow for the Lord thrice in the year or give x s. per annum and mow his meadowing or give xl d. As also that every yard land should find two men for 3. days in Harvestâ— or give for every day in stede of a man ii d. which comes to xxx s. in the year That they should carry the Lords Hay or give xl d. That each man should perform one dayes carriage in Harvest or give xl d. That they should make the Lords Hay or give x d. Rake his corne or give x d. Harrow each of them one day with a single Horse or give x d. And lastly carry once in the year at Warwick or give xl d. Howbeit afterwards I find that this whole town payd only a marke per annum to the Earls of Warwick at two termes viz. Candlemass and Whitsontide for all services But this Mannour so belonging to Preaux grew afterwards reputed to be parcell of the possessions pertaining to the Priory of Toftes in Norfolk which Religious House was founded by those forraign Monks after they had the grant of the Mannour of Toftes by Rob. E. of Mellent before mentioned the Monks here being either recalled into Normandy or transmitted to Toftes And upon the seizure of those lands which the Priors-Alien had in England whereof in Wolston I have fully spoke was in 33 E. 3. committed to the custody of Iohn de Herdewyk Howbeit afterwards the King allowing some favour to the Monks of thoâ—e Cells the Prior of Toftes had permission to ferm it who whilst he was Tenant thereto made much wast here by falling CC. Ashes prized then at xx li. the yearly value thereof being about that time rated at xxix li. xi s. vi d. per annum Certain it is that the frequent seizures of such lands by reason of the Warrs with France made those forrain Monks willing enough to sell their interest in them during those troubles at least as may appear by the passing them away aswell to divers Lay persons as unto some Religious Houses in England about this
granted to them in 12 E. 1. having a Grange within the precincts thereof called Egge-Grange But it was not long ere they became Lords of more for it is evident that in 14 E. 1. the above mentioned Iohn de Morcote sold part of that he had unto them Howbeit the Abbots tenants here did antiently use to performe their suit at the Court-Leet held for the Honour of Leicester The residue of that which was of Loges his see and forâ—erly possest by the above specified Alan de Morcote being 7. messuages one toft with 7. yard land and a half was in 22 R. 2. granted by Robert de Walden of Warwick to the said Monks to find a certain Wax Candâ—e burning in the Conventuall Church of Stoneley every day at the Masse of our blessed Lady whilst the world should endure Of these lands after the dissolution of the Monasteryes a great part was disposed to purchasers viz. Edge-Grange to Ric. Andrews gent. Leonard Chamberlain Esquire and to the heirs of Andrews in 34 H. 8. Radway-Grange which is in the parish of Bishops-Ichington to Francis Goodere gent. and his heirs 13. Apr. 36 H. 8. And in 7 E. 6. another proportion to Thomas and Humfry Cocks both brethren and to the heirs of Thomas But what hands they have past through since I know not The Church dedicated to S. Peter hath been antiently appropriated to the Monastery of Stoneley In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued but at two marks and in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge at Cxii s. over and above viii s. allowed for Procurations and Synodaells Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Will. Ebern Cap. 12. Cal. Aug. 1321. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Thomas de Radway Cap. Id. Iunii 1328. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. le Glees Pbr. 11. Cal. Oct. 1335. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Thomas Veysy Cap. 8. Cal. Sâ—pt 1349. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Thomas Yous Pbr. 3. Non. Iunii 1351. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Will. de Paylinton Pbr. 5. Cal. Iulii 1354. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Thomas de Haluton Monachus 4. Iunii 1378. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. de Doncaster Monach. 12. Oct. 1384. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Edm. Chamberlain Cap. 8. Iunii 1403. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Will. Smyth Cap. ult Nov. 1410. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ric. Watton Cap. 28. Sept. 1417. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Will. Reynolds Cap. 22. Dec. 1418. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. Roulande 11. Martii 1424. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley D. Thomas Harewode Cap. 24. Sept. 1427. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. Fletcher Pbr. 13. Apr. 1429. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Henr. Andrew 8. Apr. 1432 Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Nich. Swey 19. Iun. 1433 Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. Grover Pbr. 20. Nov. 1433. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Tho. Noel Pbr. 22. Ian. 1441 Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. Clerke ult Iulii 1443. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ioh. Smyth Pbr. 25. Apr. 1450. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley Ric. Bishop 5. Martii 1498. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley D. Ioh. Everton 5. Iun. 1506. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley D. Ric. Ionson Cap. 22. Iunii 1529. Abbas Conv. de Stoneley D. Will. Warner Cap. 11. Apr. 1536. Thomas Mecock 6. Sept. 1574. D. Maria Regina Walt. Gâ—les 30. Maii 1575. D. Eliz. Regina Iacobus Rex Ieremias Hill Cler. 4. Oct. 1620. Tisoe FOllowing the tract of Edg-Hill it leads me next to Tisoe which stands likewise at the skirt thereof having within its precincts the Hamlets of Westcote and Kyte-Herdwyke This is a great Lordship and contaâ—ned xxiii hides in the Conq. days as appears by his generall Survey where it is written Ticheshoc being then rated at xxx li. and possest by Râ—b de Stadford a person of eminent note at which time there was a Church but before the Norman Invasion Waga of whom in Wotton I shall speak held it Continuing to the posterity of the said Robert for divers ages I find that in 7 E. 1. Nich. de Stafford held it as part of his Barony by the service of one Knights fee having at that time two carucates in demesn and xiii Tenants occupying certain proportions of land under severall Rents and divers particular services viz. Plowing Harrowing Mowing Thrashing and the like And that Robert de Stafford son to the same Nicholas held then also a good quantity of land here of his said father upon which he had xix tenants who occupying the greatest part thereof performed the like servile dutyes as his father's Tenants dâ—d At that time also it appears that the Monks of Bordsley had 3. yard land and a half withâ—n the precincts of this Lordship The Nuns of Brewood two yard land and a half The Bishop of Worcester 4. yard land The Canons of Stone 3. yard land with the advâ—uson of the Church The Canons of Kenilworth 5. yard land The Canons of Erdbury 2. carucates and the Templars of Balshall 1. carucate all of the fee and gift of the Barons of Stafford Aâ—l whâ—se Tenants except those to the Canons of Kenilworth â— and â—emplars did their suit twâ—ce a year at the Court Leet held at Kinton for that Hundrâ—d Whâ—ch Nâ—cholas Lâ—rd Stafford in 13 E. 1. had Free-warren granted to him â—n all his demesne lands here So also in 15 E. 3. had Raph Lord Stafford grand child to the same Nicholas in consideratâ—on of his acceptable services he being at that tâ—me Steward of the King's houshold a weekly Mercate granted to hâ—m and his heirs therein upon the Tuesday and a Fair yearâ—y for four dayes viz. on the Even and day of S. Peter ad Vincula commonly called Lammas and two days following As a so a Court-Leet wâ—th Wâ—â—s Sâ—rey and divâ—rs other priviledges But â—n 12 H. 8. did Edw. D. of Buck passe away this Mannâ—ur to Râ—c B. of Winchester and others to the use of Sir Wâ—ll Compton Kt. and his heirs since which time they have enjâ—y'd it the Earl of Northampton whâ—se descent in Compton-Winyate inserted being now owner thereâ—t That whâ—ch the Teâ—plars had here was granted to them by Râ—b de Staffâ—rd and Henry de Clinton being in 31 H. 2. valued at vi li. ii s. viâ—i d. But coming afterwards to the Câ—own wâ—th all other lands belonging to the Religâ—ous Hâ—uses was â—n 7 E. 6. past out by the name of a Mannâ—ur to Edw. Aeliorby of Balshall gent. and Henry Hugford of Solthull gent. and their heirs by Letâ—ers Pâ—t dated 26. Maii being now called Temple-Tisoe by way of dâ—stâ—nction from the other Lâ—râ—ship Within the precinct of that Mannour in Tishoe now belonging to the E. of Northampton but antiently to the family of
a very large exâ—ent yet antiently more spacious for Tanworth which is of itself a great one was heretofore a member thereof as â—n my discourse of that place is manifested the whole being certifyed by the Conq. Suâ—vey to contain 46. hides having woods of 3. miles in length and 2. in breadth All which then yeilded to the K. yearly Lv l wiâ—h xx horse loads of salt and then were in his own hands But before the Conquest it was part of the possessions belonging to Edwine Earl of Mercia Which part wherein the woods were so contained I conclude to be Tanworth whereof there is no expresse mention by name in the said general survey I am of opinion that it was given to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick by K. Will. the Conq. for clear it is that the said Earl possessed it It should seeme that in the grant thereof the number of hides which it contained were exprest and very likely the same that the general Survey before mentioned had recorded but that either the measure was too large or that K. Stephen had a mind to get some mony from Roger Earl of Warwick under that pretence for it appears that about the beginning of his reign he put him to CC marks fine for the overplus of the hides â—n this Mannour After which his posterity enjoy'd it till K. Henr. 7. in 3. of his reign got all the possâ—ssions belonging to that great Earldome as in Warwick I have manifested In 31. H. 3. upon the agreement betwixt Iohn de Plessets with Will. Mauduit and Alice his wife it was inter alia setled upon the said Iohn for life he having wedded Margery the daughter and heir to Thomas Earl of Warwick as in my story of the Earls hath been shewed which Iohn together with his said wife the next ensuing year obtained a Charter from the King for a Mercate here upon the Munday every weeke and a Fair to begâ—n on the Even of S â— George and to continue for the space of two dayes following After which viz. upon the death of Will. Mauduit Earl of Warwick in 52. H. 3. it was by agreement betwixt Alice his widow and Will. de Beauchamp the succeeding Earl assigned to her as part of her dower But in 7. E. 1. was in the possession of the said Will. who then held in demesn 3. carucates of land here as also a certain Park containing xxx acres with Warren and other liberties Which Earl had lx yard land here held of him by sundry Tenants under several rents and certain particular services whereof in regard that in those times the like was usual in most places I will here give instance in one viz. Adam Underwood who holding one yard land payd for the same 7 Bushells of Oats yearly and a Hen being to work for the Lord from the feast of S t Mich. th'arch-Angell till Lammas every other day except Saturday viz. at mowing as long as that time should last for which he was to have as much grasse as he could carry away with his Sithe at the end of Hay-harvest he the rest of his fellow Mowers to have the Lord 's best Mutton except one or xvid in money with the best Cheese saving one or vid in money and the Cheese-fat wherein the said Cheese was made full of salt As also that from the said Feast of Lammas till Michaelmas he was to work two dayes in the week and to come to the Lord's Reap with all his houshold except his wife and his Sheepherd and to mow down one land of Corneâ— being quit of all other work for that day That he should likewise carry two Cart loads and a half of the Lords hay with seven Cart load of stones for three days and gather Nuâ—ts for three dayes And in case that the Lord should keepe his Christmasse at this his Mannour of Brailes he to find three of his horses meat for three nights That he should plow thrice a year for the Lord viz. 6. selions and do the same tillage within xx miles And moreover to make 3. Quarters of Malt giving for every Hogg above a year old id and for every one under a half peny And lastly that he and the rest of the said Tenants here should give xii marks to the Lord at Michaelmasse yearly by way of Aid and not marry his daughter nec filium coronare id est nor make his son a Priest without license from the Lord. That being an usuall restraint of old in Villenage tenures to the end that the Lord might not loose one of his villeins by coming into holy Orders As for the Freeholders here I shall only mention some of them viz. Nich. de Segrave who held at that time viii yard land of the Earl by the service of the sixth paâ—t of a Knights fee Theobald de Nevill and Robert de Hastang viii yard land by the service of a pair of gilt spurs and Peter de Montfort xvi yard land by the 4 th part of a Knights fee. At that time the Nuns of Wroxhall had one yard land here which was given to them in pure Almes by Walleran Eâ—râ— of Warwick So also had the Canons of Kenilworth 4. yard land but that was in right of the Church as part of its glebe After this viz. in 13. E. 1. Will. de Beaucamp Earl of Warwick claim'd by prescription to have certain priviledges here viz. Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beer which were allowed For iâ— is a large and goodly Mannour the yearly value whereof in 9 E. 2. being rated at no lesse than 93 05 s 04 l ob q. There is little else memorable touching this Mannour so long as it continued to the Earls of Warwick But shortly after it came to the Crown as aforesaid it was leased to Richard Hungerford and Iohn Hopper for xl years and afterwards viz. in 21 H. 8. the site thereofâ— and all the demesn lands with the Mercate and Fair as also the water-Mill and Warren of Coneys to VVill. VVillington of Bercheston for xxi years which VVill. held it not out the whole terme for in 30 H. 8. there was another Lease made thereof to VVill Rainsford one of the Gentlemen huishers to the King for xxi years And in 30 Henry 8. the King past away the inheritance thereof to Thomas VVymbush Esq and the Lady Eliz. Talboys his wife and to the heirs of the said Elizabeth Which Thomas and Eliz. in 1 E. 6. sold it to VVill. Sheldon of Beoley in Com. VVigorn whose great grandchild VVilliam now enjoyes it The Church dedicated to S. George was given to the Canons of Kenilworth in King H. 1 time by Roger Earl of Warwick Simon then Bishop of Worc. confirming the grant whereupon in R 1 time ensued the endowment of the Vicaridge by Iohn de Constantiis Bishop of Worc. with all the Altarage and small tythes as
12 Iac. whose grandchild Richard about 12 Car. sold it unto Ric. Shukborough of Shukborough Esq Besides this Mannour already spoke of is there another here at least in reputation for in 30 H. 8. Will. Walter was possest thereof in right of Isabel his wife Which Will. demised the same to Will. VVillington Esq of whom in Barcheston I have spoken who in 1 E. 6. converted 4 mess. here into cottages as also 200 acres of arable land into pasture And being seized in Fee-simple of one mess. and lx acres of land more did the like by it All which by his last Will and Testament he bequeathed inter alia to his cosyn Will. Barnes and his heirs upon condition that he should distribute certain summs of money to the poor of Brailes Shipston and Tysoe In the Chapell here at Chelmescote there was a Chantry founded by one Thomas de Pakinton of Brailes in an 1322 16 E. 2 as appears by a certain Agreement indented made the 16 day of Ian. the same year betwixt Thomas Cobham then Bishop of Worcester the Prior and Covent of Kenilw. and Gilb. de Wythibroke Vicar of Brailes on the one part and the said Thomas de Pakinton on the other part whereby the same Prior and Covent with the said Vicar of Brailes do grant liberty to the said Thomas and his heirs to provide a fit Priest for celebration of Divine service in the Chapell before-specified and to maintain him at his and their proper charges which Priest was to be presented to the Vicar of Brailes for the time being by the said Thomas and his assignes making oath to be accountable unto him for all Tithes obventions and oblations there received as due to the mother Church of Brailes provided that he the said Thomas with his Tenants and neighbours of Chelmescote might have divine service in that Chapell if they thought fâ—â— so that they did perform all parochiall ritesâ— and receivâ— the Sacraments at the Church of Brailes and in acknowledgement of their duty therâ—â—n to repair thither on Christmasse day Candlemasse Good Friday Easter day Whitsunday S t â—eorge his day and All Saints as also on the day of the Dedication of the said Church of Brailes there to hear divine service and visit the said parish Church except manifest and reasonable cause should appear to the contrary and that on those days there should be no service at all in that Chapell All which was confirmed by Simon Mountacute Bishop of Worcester in an 1334. 8 E. 3. But in 21 E. 3 the said Thomas de Pakinton then Parson of Maple-Derham in Oxfordshire by his Instument dated Feb. 25. setling upon Nich. Laumprey of Wroxston his nephew the inheritance of four Messuages and four yard land lying in Over Brailes and of the Fee called Segrave's Fee together with lxvis ob yearly Rent issuing also out of certain lands there did appoint that with the profits of the said land and rent two Priests should be perpetually maintained to celebrate divine service dayly in the parish Church of Brailes for his noble Lord Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick his ancestors kindred and heirs As also for himself his parents kinsfolks and their posterity and for the souls of all faithfull people deceased Howbeit the compleat Ordination of this Chantry was not till the year 1348 22 E. 3 And then did the said Thomas de Pakinton declaring himself to be the Founder of a Chantry consisting of four Priests within the Parish of Brailes appoint and direct that they should clebrate divine service for his Lord the Earl of Warwick his Countesse children and ancestors as also for him the said Thomas and all his ancestors and kinsfolke in manner following viz. two of them which were to inhabite near the said Chapel at Chelmescote in the house there assigned for them every day to sing the Mattens of our blessed Lady and the Mattens of the day with all Canonical hours distinctly and openly and to celebrate Masse dayly in manner and forme following unlesse they should be hindred by sufficient cause viz. One of them every sunday and on the great Festivalls and on Munday the Masse of the holy Trinity Tuesday of S t Thomas the Martyr Wednesday of S t Katherine and S t Margaret Thursday of Corpus Christi Fryday of the Holy Crosse and Saturday of the Annuntiation of our Lady The other Preist to celebrate every day the Masse of Requiem for the soules of all the faithfull departed this life And in every Masse except by reason of solemnizing the Festivall he should be hindred to say seven Collects one of the celebration of the Masse The second for him the said Thomas de Pakinton viz. Deus qui caritatis c. The third also for him likewise after he should be departed this World Deus cujus misericordiae non est numerus suscipe pro anima famuli tui c. The fourth of S t Thomas the Martyr The fift of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin The sixth for the soules of the deceased beginning with Inclina The seventh the generall Collect which beginneth thus Sanctissime Dei genetrix Maria especially naming therein the said Earl his Countesse and children as also him the said Thomas de Pakinton and all his kindred And upon all Holy dayes and others except the solemnity of the Festivall did hinder to say a Placebo and Dirige with commendation of the souls of the persons before spoken of for the souls of all the faithfull deceased And likewise ordained that the other two Priests should also live together near the said mother Church of Brailes in the house assigned for them and be daily present therein at Mattens and all other Canonicall houres to joyne with the Priests belonging to the Church except just cause and hinderance hapned and dayly sing Masse at the Altar near his Father's grave behaving themselves in Masses and all other things in such sort as is directed for the two Priests at Chelmescote And moreover that all these Priests before their admission to these Chanteries should take their corporal oaths before the Vicar of Brailes for the time being that they would preserve the mother Church of Brayles indempnified and observe all other orders as aforesaid to their utmost power Which Ordination was confirmed accordingly by the Canons of Kenilworth as Rectors of the said Church of Brailes as also by Iohn de Chelmescote then Vicar of Brailes â—he Earl of Warwick and Bishop of Worcester Winderton THis being also a member of Brailes is not very antiently for ought I have seen mentioned in Records for the first time that I meet with it is in 20 H. 3. Where it appears that it was held of the Earl of Warwick by half a Kts Fee one of the D'Eivills of Walton-Deivill in this County being possest thereof and in 36 Henry 3. Robert D'Eivill It seemes that D'Eivill became first enfeoft thereof by Roger
Aleyn Pbr. 7. Aug. 1368. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Will. Chapel Cap 13. Dec. 1375. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Ioh. Ragbroke 1. Iunii 1403. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Ioh. Hereward 22. Dec. 1403. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Rog. Coton 9. Sept. 1412. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Thomas Gale Pbr. 28. Novemb 1436. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Ioh. Yreby Cap. 20. Maii 1439. Custos Scholares domus de Merton D. Ioh. Capellanus 5. Iulii 1448. Custos Scholares domus de Merton D. Ioh. Dun. 14. Martii 1452. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Ioh. Pynk alias Seinbiry Cap. 28. Martii 1452. Custos Scholares domus de Merton D. Will. Wayte Cap. 18. Aug. 1462. Custos Scholares domus de Merton D. Ioh. Hylde Cap. 27. Nov. 1467. Custos Scholares domus de Merton D. Thomas Ley Cap. 20. Oct. 1479. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Magr. Ioh. Molder in art Magr. 8. Dec. 1502. Custos Scholares domus de Merton D. Guido Gourgeyne in art Magr. 8. Feb. 1524. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Ric. Powle in art Magr. 7. Aug. 1544. Custos Scholares domus de Merton Anth. Spurret Cler. 26. Martii 1572. Eliz. Angliae Regina Anth. Spurret Cler. 19. Nov. 1575. Wolford-parva IN the Conquerors time this was part of the Earl of Mellent's possessions and of him then held by one Radulphus at which time being certifyed to contain 4. hides and a half and rated at xl s. I find it written Ulwarda one Aluric having been owner thereof before the Norman invasion From the said Earl of Mellent it came to the Barons of Stafford but the direct time when the family of Ingram which to this day enjoys the greatest part of it were enfeoft thereof by any of them I cannot declare though certain it is that they had it very antiently for I find that in 3. Ioh. Engeram de Wiwarth doubtlesse one of that line levied a Fine of lands here and in 36 H. 3. it appears that the same Ingeram held half a Knights fee here of the Baron of Stafford which proportion his posterity also had as by sundry Inquisitions is evident But the Record of 7 E. 1. expresseth that one Thomas de parva-Woleward was Lord thereof and that he held it of Cecìly de Mucegros and she of Iohn de Boys and he of Elene la Zuche and she of the King which Thomas had at that time two yard land here in demesn with certain Freeholders and Cottiers Neverthelesse were the posterity of the Barons of Stafford reputed Lords of it and in 12 H. 8. did Edward Duke of Buckingham levie a Fine thereof together with the Mannours of great Wolford and Tisho unto Richard Bishop of Winchester and others as in great Wolford I have already intimated yet it seems that the Ingrams had a Mannour here for so it appears after the death of Richard Ingraham Esquier in 5 Eliz. Of which Mannour Hastang Ingram is Lord at this day At present this Village hath not many Inhabitants but antiently it consisted of 43. families Burmington IN the Conquerors Survey this place is written Buâ—dintone through mistake of the m for d and being then possest by Robert de Stadford contained v. hides wherein was a Mill rated at x s. but the value of all was certified at C s. whereof one Godwin was owner before the Norman invasion In 13. Ioh. I find it in the list of those places within this County whereof the Barons of Stafford were Lords and that it answered for one Knights Fee as part of that Honour being held in 36 H. 3. by Adam de Grenevill of Hawisia de Wulleward and by her of the Lord Stafford which Adam bore for his Armes a bend betwixt six Lions rampant and in 52 53 54. and 55 H. 3. was in Commission for taking Assizes of Novell disseisin in this County From whom descended William de Greinvill who for his Rebellion in E. 2. time forfeited this with other Mannours that he had in Wilt-shire Somerset-shire which were thereupon seized yet through the Kings favour he obtained them again and had a grant of this in tail to himself and Lucie his wife and the heirs of their two bodies lawfully begotten but for want of such issue on Iohn the son of Richard de Rodeney and his heirs After this viz. in 12 E. 3. it appears that Iohn de Wolverton and Lucia his wife levied a Fine of this Mannour as also of the Mannour of Suthwyke in Wilt-shire setling them upon Iohn de Greinvill and his heirs whereby it seemes that they were of the inheritance of her the said Lucia in respect of the warrantie against her heirs And in 17 E. 3. did William the son of Edmund de Greinvill release to the said Iohn all his right and interest in these Mannours But in 46 E. 3. I find that Umfrye Stafford of Suthwike possest it in right of his wife daughter and heir to Greinvill as I guesse From which Humfrey descended Sir Hâ—mfrey Stafford Knight who by his Testament dated 5. April 1 H. 5. gave inter alia to the Church here at Burmynton lx s. And from him Sir Humfrey Stafford of Hoke in Dorset-shire 10 H. 6. whose grandchild Humfrey created Lord Stafford of Southwike in 4 E. 4. as also Earl of Devon-shire 〈◊〉 9. of that Kings reign revolting from the King in the Battail of Banbury the same year was cut shorter by the head After whose death having no issue Alianore the wife of Thomas Strangways Esquier one of the daughters of Alice Aunt to the said Earl became a coheir to his inheritance to whom inter alia this Mannour of Burmington was alotted which Thomas had issue by her Sir Giles Strangways Knight who in 32 H. 8. levied a Fine hereof to Henry Annesley Gentleman but to what uses I know not nor through what hands it hath since past Ditchford-Frary BElow Burmington is Stoure augmented by a little stream which having its rise in Worcester-shire passes by Dichford-Frary and Stretton upon Fosse and then joyns therewith In the Conquerors time this being possest by Robert de Stadford contained two hides which one Brion then held of him with a Mill rated at lxviii d. and all valued at iv li. having been the freehold of Leuric in Edward the Confessors days But the first mention I find of it after that time is in 31 H. 2. where it appears that Adam de Standon had a suit with Roger de Dikeford for half a Knights fee here And next that in 16 H. 3. there was a Fine levied betwixt Herveus de Stafford and Vivian de Standon for the customes and services
said Robert But in 9 E. 2. the whole village was reputed a Hamlet of Bercheston Which Iohn departed this life in 13 E. 2. leaving Robert his brother and heir then Parson of Kuriwent lx years of age who in 17 E. 2. sold the inheritance of this Mannour to Thomas de Hamme Which Thomas gave a Fine to the King of five marks for license to make that purchase it being held in Capite of the King by the service of the fourth part of a Knights Fee and no more belonging thereto than one mess. half a carucate of land and xi s. Rent of Assize per annum But after this do I find no more mention thereof for a long time other than amongst the Knights Fees held of the Lord Stafford where it is certified that Robert Holewey held half a Knights fee in this place written Wolyngton and that the depopulation here hath been very antient Honington THis is one of those towns that Earl Leofrik in the first year of King Edward the Confessors reign gave to the Monastery of Coventre at the Foundation thereof and in the Conquerors time was rated at five hides having four Mills yielding liv s. iv d. per annum but the whole value is by the Survey then made certified at x li. wherein it is written Hunitone From which time forwards till the generall dissolution of the Monasteries it did continue to that Religious house so that there is not much remarkable thereof other than that in 33 H. 3. the Monks demised it unto Raph de Leicestre Canon of Lichfield to hold during his life together with the advouson of the Church and that in 41 H. 3. they obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all their demesn lands here As also that the Tenants thereof besides their severall Rents performed sundry services every other day from the Feast of S. Iohn Baptist till Michaelmasse but if the Lord would imploy them in mowing before Midsummer day then to allow them for their work For which services they were to have one Mutton or viii d. with viii loaves of Bread and a Cheese as also iv d. in money they being to carry Hay out of the Lords meadow and to mow with one man a piece for a day and a half And moreover that each of them should come to the Lords Reap with all his family excepting his wife where he was to reap two lands and carry them but to perform no other service for that day And likewise plow four times in the year scil two felâ—ons a piece as also sow and harrow the same having seed found at the Lords barn And lastly to harrow two days a piece giving x. Eggs and 1 d. for every Alehouse and repair the Lords Pool as often as need should require All which said Tenants were to pay unto the Lord xvii s. iv d. for antient Aid and for carriage of Fish iii s. iv d. per annum As also vi s. viii d. for maintenance of his Corn-caâ—t and every two yard land to carry one load of wood from Packwood to this town in which week they should do no other work but none of them to sell his Horse-Colt without License of the Lord. The Cottiers being xvi in number did then also perform such like services every of them paying four Hens one Cock and five Eggs which they were to carry unto Coventre Of these Freeholders was Nicholas Trimenell the Chief who held seven yard land of the said Monks by the service of the tenth part of a Knights Fee All which before specified was with the Rectory and advouson of the Vicaridge in consideration of 786 li. -07 s. -06 d. past to Robert Gybbes of Honyngton gentleman and his heirs 28. Apr. 32 H. 8. to hold in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights Fee paying 04 li. 07 s. 04 d. ob yearly to the King his heirs and successors Which Robert dyed seized thereof 10 Aug. 5. 6. Ph. M. leaving issue Robert his son and heir 30. years of age who was the father of Sir Raph Gibbs Knight and he of Sir Henry Gibbs that now enjoys it The Church dedicated to All Saints was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xv marks the portion which the Monks of Coventre had out of the Tithes belonging thereto being then rated at iii. marks and appropriated to them by Iohn Thoresby Bishop of Worcester 25. Febr. anno 135â— 25 E. 3. whereupon ten marks per annum was reserved for maintenance of the Vicar and a Pension of x s. yearly to the said Bishop and his successors the same appropriation being confirm'd by the King five years following about which time the saâ—d Mâ—nks granted to the Prior and Covent of Worcester an yearly Pension of xiii s. iv d. to be payd on the Quinsieme of S. Mich. for ever in recompence of such damage as they should sustain by reason of the said Appropriation But it seems there was some alteration afterwards made in these Pensions for in 26 H. 8. that payd to the Bishop of Worcester was xxvi s. viii d. per annum that to the Monks of Worcester xx s. and that to the Archdeacon of Worcester iv s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Coventre Magr. Ioh. de Thoresby Pbr. 6. Cal. Feb. 1325. Prior Conv. de Coventre Rad. de Holbeche 16. Iulii 1335. Prior Conv. de Coventre Magr. Lucas de Herdeburgh Accol 12. Ian. 1344. Patroni Vicariae Edw. 3. Rex Angl. ratione vacat Priorat de Coventre Ioh. Pillerton Pbr. penult Aug. 1361. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ioh. de Boys Cap. 1. Iunii 1368. Prior Conv. de Coventre Will. Tybet Pbr. 1. Feb. 1405. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ioh. Hannyer Cap. 10. Nov. 1424. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ric. Longe Cap. 21. Iunii 1446. Prior Conv. de Coventre Magr. Will. Palden in decr Bacc. 24. Maii 1507. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ric. Hays Pbr. 10. Martii 1510. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Thom. Copland Cap. 19. Dec. 1515. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Arnaldus Ryle Pbr. 23. Oct. 1530. Eliz. Angl. Regina Will. Thornhill Cler. 4. Aug. 1578. Rob. Gibbs de Honington ar D. Ioh. Heynes Cler. 26. Oct. 1584. Rad. Gibbs ar Georgius Ball Cler. 9. Martii 1600. Rad. Gibbs miles Thomas Brownent Cler. 23. Ian. 1607. Bradmore THis place taking its name from the flat and low situation thereof is a member of Honington In 36 H. 3. for before that time I find no mention of it Will. de Timor and Iohn de Bradmore held the tenth part of a Knights Fee here of the Monks of Coventre Which Monks in 7 E. 1. had six Tenants here holding x yard land by the
thereunto a certain peice of ground called Oddecrofth containing 18 acres and another of x. acres lying in Over-Eatendon as also 3. acres of land adjoyning to the said Oddecrofte To the Canons of Derley in Derbyshire he gave certain lands called Aldewerch and to the Monks of Tutbury two parts of Hoga now called Hown in that County To which Sewall succeeded Henry his son and heir called Henricus filius Sewalli who attended William Earl Ferrers in the Kings Army when he sailed into Poictou which was as I take it in 4 Ioh. And in 7 Ioh. by virtue of the Kings Precept had livery made to him of the Mannour of Ednesoure in Derbyshire whereof he had been disseised during his absence in that voyage as it seems This Henry likewise erected an Altar dedicated to S. Nicholas in the Church here at Eatendon and gave divers particular parcells of land thereto for the maintenance of a Chantry Preist to celebrate divine service thereat for the health of his own soul and the soules of his wives as also of his childrens souls every day except on Thursdayes and the Feast day of S. Nicholas on which day the said Preist was particularly to celebrate to that Saint And in augmentation of the maintenance for the said Priest he gave the tithe of the Toll of his Mill here and an annuity of 5s. whereof 4 s was to be received by the Preist for his own use and xiiâ— for the Lampe in the said Church of Eatendon reserving power for himselfe and his heirs to present to the said Chantry as often as by death it should become void To him succeeded Sewallus commonly called Sewallus filius Henrici who was a Knight but dyed before the 44 of H. 3. And to him Iames his son and heir the first of this family that assumed the sirname of Shirley for by that appellaon he had Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands as well at Shirley in Derbyshire 31 H. 3. as in 39 of the same Kings reign here at Eatendon in this County Which Iames being afterwards a Knight had issue Raph his son and heir who in 7 E. 1. held this Mannour of Edm. Earl of Lanc. the Kings brother by the service of two Knights fees having at that time three carucates of land in demesn here and xii Tenants holding several proportions by sâ—ndry services As also divers Freeholders The same year he was Shiriff of the Counties of Nottingham and Derby In 9 E. 1. being presented before the Justices Itinerant because being of full age and holding a whole Knights fee he was not a Knight he procured the Kings Letters Pat. as to the respiting thereof for five years And in 22 E. 1. upon the grant made to the King in Parliament of a Subsidy for the support of his warrs was with Thomas de Garshale constituted a Commissioner for the assessing and collecting thereof within this County In 28 E. 1. he had the custody of the Counties of Salop. and Stafford with the Castle of Shrewsbury committed to his charge In 29 E. 1. he had summons with divers other great men to attend the King at Barwick upon Twede on the Feast day of St. Iohn Baptist's Nativity well appointed with Horse and Armes to march against the Scots Sasuualo temp Will. Conq. Henricus 5 Steph. Fulcherus Henricus Fulcherus à quo familia de Ednesoure originem ducit Henricus filius Sewalli Dominus Sewallus filius Henr. 31 H. 3. Isabella filia cohaeres Roberti Meisnill Eliz. uxor Joh. de Walton Jacobus de Schirlâ—y 31 H. 3. Agnes de Wauton 31 H. 3. Rad. de Shirley 7 E. 1. Margareta filia una cohaer Walt. de Waldeshef Pincernae Regis E. 2. Rad de Shirley 4 E. 3. Thomas de Shirley miles defunctus 36 E. 3. Isabella filia Rad. Domini Basset de Draiton relicta 36. E. 3. Hugo de Shirley miles 1 H. 4. obiit 4. H. 4. Beatrix soror haeres Joh de Brews Jocosa fil haeres Thomae Basâ—â—t de Brailesford ar Rad. Shirley miles 3 H. 5. Alicia filia Joh. Cokain de Ashburn mil. 6 H. 6. Rad. Shirley ar obiit 6 E. 4. Margareta filia haeres Joh. Stanton ar Johannes Shirley ar obiit 18 Maii 3 R. 3. Alianora filia Hugonis Willoughby de Wollaton mil. Radulfus Shirley de Stanton mil. obiit 6 â—an 8 H. 8 Eliz. filia cohaeres Thomae Walsh de Onlip in com Leic. ar Anna haeres matris ux Thomae Pultney eq aur Radulfus Shirley de Stanton mil. obiit 6 â—an 8 H. 8 Iohanna filia Rob. Sheffeild mil. Franciscus Shirley de Brailesford ar 3 E. 6. Iohannes Shirley obiit vita patris Iana unica filia haeres Thomae Lovell ar Georgius Shirley ar erectus in gradum Baronetti 9 Iac. Francisca filia Henrici Domini Berkley Thomas Shirley eq auratus Henr. Shirley Bar. Dorothea filia Rob. Comitis Essexiae Carolus Shirley Bar obiit coelebs Robertus Shirley Bar. Sawaldus de Etendon mil. Matilda Ridel In 3 E. 2. he was constituted one of the two Justices in this County for the Goal delivery at Warwick And in 5. E. 2. served as a K t for this shire in two Parliaments the one held at London and the other at Westm. Being one of the Coroners in this County an office of great note in those days as I have elsewhere intimated he had through want of health a discharge from that employment in 6 E. 2. but in 8 E. 2. was Governour of Horeston Castle in Derbyshire and in 16 E. 2. one of the Commisioners in this County for levying a xvth In 17 in the list of those Knights and men at Arms whose names were then certifyed into the Chancery and in 20 E. 2. departed this life leaving Raph his son and heir who having been in Commission for the assessing and collecting a xv th and x th granted in the Parl. of 11 E. 3. was in 12 E. 3. appointed to assess and collect the Scutage then due to the King for the Scotch expedition â—n the first year of his reign and in 14 E. 3. served in the Parl. then holden at Westm. as one of the Knights for this shire To which Raph succeeded S r Thomas Shirley K t of whom I find nothing memorable but his death which hapned before the 36 of E. 3. and that by Isabell his wife he left issue Hugh who being a Knight in 1 H. 4. and the same year by Pat. dated at Westm. 20 Martii made Master of the Kings Hawks of all sorts was a Justice of Peace in this County in 2 H. 4. and the next ensuing year constituted one of the Commissioners to enquire of such persons as were disturbers of the Laws and
of them to himself and his successors xii d. for all services at four times in the year viz. at the Feast of S. Michael iii d. the Nativity of our Lord iii d. at Easter iii d. and at the Feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist iii d. to every of which Burgages he thereby allowed three perches and a half in breadth and twelve perches in length and that they should be free of Toll for ever according to the custome of Bristoll excommunicating all persons that should presume to make violation of those their priviledges All which Maâ—gerius the next Bishop confirmed Next unto whom succeeded Walter Grey who towards the later end of King Iohn's reign obtained a grant for an yearly Faire here beginning on the Even of the holy Trinity and to continue for the two next days ensuing which Charter bears date 29 Oct. 16. Ioh. Touching the originall occasion of which meetings called Faires let us hear what the learned Spelman hath observed Cum autem Christiani ad insignes aliquas celebritates praesertim encoenia dedicationes Ecclesiarum Festa annua peragenda convenirent adesse utique Mercatores solebant sua mercimonia sub ipsis Ecclesiis atque in coemiteriis distracturi And a little below he thus goes on Pariter verò convenisse tum ad merces vendendas tum ad emendas Mercatores quamplurimos atque ita Festum cum Nundinis Nundinas eum Festo miscuisse Tunc enim non solùm advolant ipsi parochiani saith he sed vicini plurimi majorque semper frequentia pro Ecclesiae villae dignitate And further he takes notice that this ill custome in the succeeding ages increast much not onely by the concourse which the Parishioners themselves had thither at that time but even multitudes from the neighbouring Towns and that the meeting was always the greater as the dignitie of the Church and Town became more eminent than ordinary as of S. Peters at Westminster S. Bartholomew's in Smithfield S. Cutberts at Duresme c. Neither saith he is it a hard matter to guesse by the Faire day in case it have been antient to what Saint the Church is dedicated And that this is so we have also an evident testimony here the Church of Stratford being dedicated to the Holy Trinity For the authority usually given by speciall Charter to keep such Faires or meetings he also gives a very good reason Cum verò ex tanta hominum frequentia saith he periculosi saepè tumultus orirentur tenendarum Feriarum praerogativa solius Principis diplomatibus est indulta As for the antiquitie of the word Faire which shews of what great continuance the thing it self hath been it is no lesse then from the Britans Faire in their language which Doctor Iohn Davies in his Britannico-Lat Vocabularie derives from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being the same with merces in Latin signifying as much as Nundinae Forum and Mercatum doth And that such Faires were frequently kept upon the Sunday in former times as this here had used to be is evident by this instance which I shall give In the year of our Lord 1200 being the second of King Iohn's raign the Abbot of Flay a man both devout and learned came into England saith my Author and preaching very zealously in sundry parts amongst other of his pious doctrines he prohibited the keeping of Faires and Mercates on the Lords day Nundinas verò Mercata Dominicae diei adeo interdixit quod omnia ferè quae diebus Dominicis per Angliam fieri consueverant constituerentur in una hebdomada sequentium feriarum Sicque Dominicis diebus fidelis populus divinis solummodo vacans obsequiis omne opus servile penitus abdicavit veruntamen tempore procedente plerique ut canes ad vomitum sunt reversi You see after a while his preaching was quite forgot as appears plainly here for this Charter for a Faire to be kept on Trinity Sunday was about xiv years after those good documents of that holy Abbot Nor indeed do I see that this prophane usage was left till by a Statute law made a long time afterâ— scil 27 H. 6. all such goods or merchandize which should be exposed to sale upon Good-Friday Corpus Christi day Ascension day All Saints day the day of the Assumption of our Lady Whitsunday Trinity Sunday or other Sunday the four Sundays in Harvest excepted were to be forfeited to the Lord of the Libertie or Franchise where such Faire should happen to be kept But the restraint for keeping them in the Church-yards antiently usuall was much elder viz. by the Statute of Winchester 13 E. 1. cap. 6. Having spoken thus much as to the first occasion of Faires viz. the concourse of people to keep the Festivall of the Churches Dedication it will not be amisse I think to say something of the Feast of Dedication it self now vulgarly called the Wake That these Feasts were antient we have the testimony of holy Scripture Facta sunt encoenia id est festa dedicationis in Hierosolimis saith S. John Jesus ambulabat in templo in porticu Solomonis ad confirmationem illius festivitatis And S. Angustin in his Homily upon that Text saith Illum diem quo Templum dedicatum est Iudaei solenniter celebrabant That they were originally kept on the same Saints day annually unto whose memory the Church was dedicated there is no scruple to be made which dutie so performed by Christians was by S. Basil termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and with all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est a worship of God and a reverence to the Martyrs Neither can we judge lesse than that the pious and devout munificence of him that was the Founder and endower of the Church was likewise then gratefully remembred Of the service used in that solemnity I shall not make rehearsall referring my Reader to Durandus where it is particularly described but to the end it may appear how it came to passe that the yearly celebration of that Festivall was and yet is called the Wake I shall briefly make some discovery Antiquitùs in praecipuis festivitatibus saith the same Author duo nocturnalia agebantur officia populus qui ad festa venerat tota nocte in Dei laudibus in Ecclesia vigilabat quod adhuc Romae in plerisque locis in magnis festivitatibus praesertim Sanctorum patronorum Ecclesiarum observatur And in another place he says Et vocabatur Vigilia quia habuit initium à Pastoribus vigilias noctis super greges suas servantibus And he goes on Sed quia lusores Cantores conveniebant turpibus Cantilenis saltationibus commensationibus potationibus fornicationibus intendere ceperunt propter haec multa alia inconvenientia quae fiebant hujusmodi Vigiliae sunt interdictae institutum ut loco earum fiant Jejunia quae
after the Norman Conquest enjoyed by Urso de Abetot and Osbernus fil Ricardi as by the generall Survey then made appeareth wherein it is written Hildeborde and Hildeberend that which the said Vrso held being then certified to contain 1. hide and a half rated at xx s baving been the Freehold of one Ernvi in E. the Confessor's dayes But the certain proportion which Osbernus had cannot be well known in regard it is confounded with what he held in Benintone now called Binton all which is there rated at 3. hides and a half and were held of him by one Hugh as in Binton is already shewed the Milâ— here being of the same antiquity if not greater Whether those Monks ever actually repossest it again I cannot affirm but certain it is that Abbot Robert who lived in the beginning of K. Will. Rufus his reign made a grant thereof to one Wil. de Sevecurte who held it not long as it seems for it is evident that about the time of K. Steph. or H. 2. Peter de Stodleg progenitor to the family of Corbizon and Henry de Montfort were owners of a great part thereof and that immediately upon the Foundation of Bordsley Abby the same Peter gave to that Monastery x acres of land lying here it being in his grant written Hilburgewrth And about the same time did the said Henry grant also to the Monks of that House fishing in the river of Avon and free passage with their boat through his floudgates here at Hildeburwicth but not the fishing of the said floudgates I am of opinion that the greatest part that Osbernus fil Ricardi had here came as soon to the ancestors of Hubaut as Ipsley did where I shall more fully speak of that antient Family howbeit till 3 Ioh. I have not seen any thing of them in relation to this place but then doth it appear that Henry Hubaut and Peter Corbizon levied a Fine of lands to the use of the Monks of Bordsley which portion of Corbizons was in 13 Ioh. certified to be held also of the Honour of Ricards Castle belonging to the descendants of the same Osbernus by the fourth part of a Kts. Fee But the whole lying here in Hilberwrth held of that Honour was half a Kts. Fee for so it appeareth in 20 H. 3. and in 39 H. 3 yeilded vi s. vi d. ob yearly Rent to the heir of Will. de Cantilupe as a member of Aston-Cantilupe in this County whereof the extent was then certified which at length came wholy to the said Henry Hubaut For that which Montfort had he granted it to Peter Corbizon before specified from whom all that he could lay claim to was recovered by the same H. Hubaut upon a tryall in the King's Court at Westminster so that in 20 E. 3. this with Ipsley were joyn'd together and accounted for one Kts. Fee being then held of Hastings E. of Pembroke as heir to Cantilupe by Iohn Hubaud lineall heir to the before specified Henry but afterwards I find that they were severed again and Ipsley certified to be held by the whole and this by the one half of a Kts Fee To give instances from the authority of Record that the descendants of the said Iohn Hubaud have successively continued Lords of this Mannour I shall not need for as much as they are possest of it at this day and therefore referring my Reader to Ipsley where I have inserted their Pedegree I hasten to Bidford Bidford THis was antient demesn of the Crown being possest by K. Edw. the Confessor and reteined by K. Will. the Conqueror as appears by his general Survey wherein it is certified that he had v. hides of land here with 4 Mills yeilding xliii s. iiii d. and 150 acres of medow as also that the woods belonging thereto were then accounted to be 4 miles in length and one mile in breadth In that Record it is written Bedeford But besides what the King had here it appears that the Bishop of Baleux sc. Odo half brother to the Conq. then held two yard land and a half with certain woods also containing two furlongs in length and one in breadth all which were valued at x s. having been the freehold of Ernulf and Ernegrin before the Norman Invasion Of that which belong'd to the Crown I find that Maud the Empresse in K. Steph. timâ— made the first diminution by granting to the Monks of Bordesley upon her foundation of that Abby all that was of her demesn in this Mannour totum dominicatum Budifordiae are the words whereof it seems two of the Mills were part for so doth the confirmation Charter of her said gift made by K. Ric. the first in 1. of his reign import whereby he reserved a power to repossesse that demesn whensoever he should bestow on them other lands of as good value but I do not discern that he or his successors ever did it for the Monks enjoy'd the same even till the dissolution of that Monastery as I shall further shew by and by As for the residue of this Mannour id est the Tenancies of all sorts it continued in the Crown till King Iohn's time the Inhabitants being at several seasons during K. H. 2. reign exposed to give Aid to the King upon â—undry occasions whereunto his Tenants in antient demesn were then lyable viz. in 15 H. 2. towards the marriage of his daughter four marks in 19 H. 2. upon a taxation made by the Justices Itinerant 7 marks in 20 H. 2. xlvi s. viii d. upon the like and in 23 H. 2. C s. upon another Aid assest by the then Justices Itinerant But upon the marriage of Ioane daughter to K. Iohn unto Lewelin Prince of Northwales towards the later end of his reign was it given by that King unto the said Lewelin for in 17 Ioh. the Shiriff of this County had command that Thomas de Erdington and Walt. le Poher should survey it and deliver the extent thereof to the Atturnies of the said Lewelin and to his use And in 2 H. â— the K. directed his precept to the then Shiriff that he should make livery thereof to the same Lewelin expressing that King Iohn his father had so given it to him in marriage with the before specified Ioane the account of its value for one half year being then lxxvi s. Which Prince of Wales being thus possest hereof in 4 H. 3. obtained a grant from the King for a Mercate to be kept here every Tuesday weekly But the Tuesday being soon found to be an inconvenient day within xx days following the Shiriff received command for proclaiming it to be held upon the Friday After which it was not long ere the said Prince gave it away inter alia with Helene his daughter in Frank marriage unto Iohn sirnamed Scot nephew to Ranulph Earl of Chester by the said Earl's eldest
a special exemption from that voyage In 20 E. 3. he was again appointed one of the Commissioners in this County for arraying of Clx. Archers for the Wars of France as also assigned one of the Collectors of a xv th and x th then granted in Parliament for the Kings service and bore for his Armes Sable a Cheveron betwixt 3. Leopards heads jesant flower de luces Argent which coat was assumed by him or his Ancestors for their relation to Cantilupe in the tenure of this Mannour without doubt To this Sir Iohn Hubaud succeeded Iohn his son and heir of whom all that I find memorable is that in 29 E. 3. he was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster And to him Thomas a Commissioner in 2 R. 2. for assessing and collecting of a Subsidy in this County then granted to the King in Parliament which Thomas had issue Richard Hubaud Esquier who is ranked amongst those persons of chief note in this Shire that in 12 H. 6. Made Oath for observance of certain Articles concluded on in the Parliament then holden and bore for his Armes the three Leopards heads without a Cheveron with a labell of 3. points in cheif But after him I have not seen any thing very memorable of this family relating to their publique imployments untill Queen Eliz. time that Iohn Hubaud Esquier a person highly favoured by Robert Earl of Leicester who bore so mighty a sway in those days was by him in 14. of the said Queens reign pro bono consilio favore fideli amicitia multipliciter impenso impendendo as are the words of his Charter constituted Constable of Kenilworth Castle and cheif Steward of all his Mannours and lands lying in this Countie as also in the Counties of Salop Worcester and Montgomerie and cheif Ranger of all his Forests Parks and Chases within those Lordships having the Fee of x li. per annum granted unto him during life for that service The Church dedicated to S. Peter was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xii marks so also in 14 E. 3. but in 26 H. 8. at xii li. at which time the Procurations and Synodalls were ix s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Dominus Ioh. Hubaud miles Ioh. Geraud Cler. 14. Apr. 1344. ........... Leonardus .............. 1348. Thomas Hebald Dominus de Ippesley Gralanus le Wolf Cler. .... Ian. 1386. Ric. Hubaude ar Thomas Chaturley Cap. 16. Ian. 1410. Ric. Hubaude ar D. Ric. Swyfte Cap. 5. Iunii 1420. Thomas Hubaude ar D. Will. Halford Cap. 28 Martii 1480. Ric. Hubaudar Magr. Hugo Livesay in jure Canon Bac. 2. Nov. 1482. Ric. Hubaudar D. Nich. Hubaud Cap. 21. Maii 1493. Ioh. Hubaud ar Will. Hubaud Accol 19. Maii 1529. Ioh. Hubaud ar Ric. Sherwyne Pbr. 20. Dec. 1558. Ioh. Hubaud miles Will. Bourne Cler. 2. Dec. 1572. Rad. Hubaud ar Clem. Lewes Cler. 22. Feb. 1583. Eliz. Angl. Regina per lapsum Henr. Daniell Cler. 13. Aug. 1588. Rad. Hubaud art Gabrael Cliff Cler. 11. Martii 1588. Anna Hubaud Vidua Ioh. Warmstry Cler. in art Magr. 26. Aug. 1615. In the body of the Church towards the North side is there a raised Monument but of a much meaner structure than either of those in the Chancell which are represented on the last page for it is onely of plaine stone-work with an Alabaster cover whereon is the portraiture of a man and woman graved and this Epitaph on the Verge Here lyeth the bodies of Nicholas Hubaud esquier and Dorothye his Wife the which Nicholas deceassed the second day of May in the yere of our Lord M Dliii and the said Dorothy deceassed the xvi â— day of May in the yeare of our Lord M Dlviii Upon whose soules God have mercy Amen In the East window of the North I le Sable 3. Leopards heads jesant flowers de lis Argent Hubaud Gules a Lyon rampant Argent crowned Or. Musard In the North window of the Chancell this coat Sable a Cheveron betwixt three Leopards heads jesant flowers de lis Argent Hubaud Studley DEscending lower on the same side of Arrow I come to Studley within which Parish these places of note are situate scil Mapleborow Skilts Holt and Padhougre In the Conquerors time the greatest part thereof viz. four hides in which also stood the Church and a Mill was possest by Will. fil Corbucionis whereunto belonged a Furnace yeilding annually xix Horse-loads of Salt and woods extending to one mile in length and half as much in breadth All which were then estimated at C s. having been the freehold of Swain before the Norman Invasion But the other part which in Edward the Confessors days belong'd to Godric and at that time to Will. Buenvasleth containing onely one hide besides the woods that were three furlongs in length and two in breadth and valued therewith at x s. was held of him by one William Of the before specified Will. fil Corbucion I find that he was a man of eminent note in this County having lands in Ilmindon Kineton Sekindon Wishaw Hodenhull Honingham Weston Coundon Barcheston Mapleborough Eccleshall Grafton Binton Bereford Wolverton Bearley and here at Studley where he or some of his descendants had a Castle as by the ruines thereof is evident and thereat their principall seat though they had likewise fair possessions in Berks. and Staffordshire I am of opinion that this William was Shiriff of this County for some part of William the Conquerors reign for upon that confirmation to the Monks of Worcester of Alveston in this County and the Mâ—ll at Salewarp in Worcestershire originally given to them by S. Wolstan the said King directed his speciall Precept unto Henry Earl of Warwick Vrso de Abetot and this Will. sil Câ—rbucion for their quiet enjoyment of those places which Urso was then Shiriff of Worcestershire as elswhere I have manifested To the said William succeeded Robert Corbusceon who in H. 1. time upon the Dedication of the Church of Eccleshale gave certain Glebe thereto And next unto him Peter his brother as I guesse who in some authorities is written Petrus filius Willielmi and in others Pâ—trus Corbezon as also Petrus de Stodley which Peter was a witness to severall Charters of Margaret Countesse of Warwick and of Earl Roger her son and in 12 H. 2. held ten Knights fees and a fourth part of William Earl of Warwick de veterifcoffamento whence I conclude that whatsoever William his grandfather did possesse in the Conquerors time upon erection of Henry de Novo-Burgo to the Earldom of Warwick the same was given to that Earl and that he newly enfeoft the said Peter thereof but it seems he kept them not long for I find that he passed them back to Earl Waleran brother to the said
double Festivalls Which poor men so to be placed in the said Almeshouse to be chosen out of those that had been his Tenants or serving men at the discretion of his son and heir and heirs successively Advertising his son and heir that if he should so amortize this land for those uses it would be a meritorious deed and for which he should have Gods blessing and his and adjuring that none should break this his Will under pain of the Churches Curse Whereunto when he was upon his Pilgrimage to the Holy Land as I have said he added that Anthony his son should have his best ambling Horse to offer at S. Thomas Hospitall in Rome for a Morâ—uary his son Michael his next best Horse and that his goods which he had sent before to Florence should be divided betwixt the said Anthony and Michael Which Will was dated 10. Aug. anno 1518. and proved 9. Nov. anno 1520. To this Sir Robert succeeded George his son and heir who being a Knight in 17 H. 8. was one of those that attended in Court at that solemn Coronation of Queen Anne in 25 H. 8. and in 18. and 35 H. 8. executed the office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestershire This Sir George built that stately Castle-like Gatehouse of free-stone here at Coughton intending as it should seem to have made the rest of his House sutable thereto and having erected a fair Monument for himself and the Lady Catherine his wife standing towards the North-side of the Chancell as I shall shew by and by bequeathing his body to be buried under the same departed this life in 1. Mariae as may seem by the Probate of his Testament leaving issue a fair ofspring Of which I find that Robert the eldest was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire in 1. M. being then a Knight That Clement the third son was of Haseley in this County of whom and his descendants I have there spoke That Nicholas the fourth was a Knight and in 1 Eliz. imployed as Embassador to Francis the second King of France and Mary Queen of Scots his consort to expostulate the matter with them for assuming the Armes of England in their quarterings and afterwards scil in anno 1567. 9 Eliz. into Scotland at which time the said Queen was most barbarously kept in prison by her rebellious subjects where and when they extorted a resignation of the Regall power from her unto which he having perswaded her to subscribe signified to Queen Eliz. that it was of no validity forasmuch as she had been constrained thereto by the terror of a base imprisonment His other negotiations I shall not stand to particularize referring my Reader to M r Cambden's Annals of Queen Eliz. raign Anno scil 1570. where he speaks of his death and unto Stow's Survey of London for his Epitaph on a fair Monument of Alabaster wherein his statue in armour is cut situate on the south side of the Chancell in S t Catherine Creechurch near Algate within that City But touching the other sons of the said Sir George I find not much memorable except it be of Sir Iohn his seventh son Knighted by Queen Eliz. in the first year of her reign whose Epitaph upon his Monument in the Chancell here at Coughton doth sufficiently declare his eminency and worth Which Sir Iohn had issue Francis attainted in 26 Eliz. for Treason layd to his charge as having conspired God knows what in behalf of the Queen of Scots To the before specified Sir Robert eldest son of Sir George succeeded Thomas and to him Iohn and to him Sir Robert Throkmorton Baronet erected to that dignity by Letters Patent bearing date at Nottingham 1. Sept. 19. Caroli and to him Sir Francis now living whose severall marriages the Pedegree before inserted sheweth The Epitaph upon Sir Robert Throkmorton's Monument represented at the bottome of pag 562. Here lyeth buried Sir Robert Throkmorton Knight son ad heir of Sir George Throkmorton Knight which Sir Robert was twice wedded in the fear of God first to Merell Barkley one of the daughters of the Lord Barkley and did beget on her bodie 3. sons and 4. daughters second to the Lady Elizabeth Hungerford sometime wife of the Lord Hungerford and one of the daughters of the Lord Hussie by whom he did beget two sons and five daughters who departed this life for happier estate the day of Anno Domini 15 .... On the other side of this Monument are these verses Conditur hoc tumulo generosae gloria plebis Luget ut amissum patria chara patrem Nam plebs patronum clari sensere parentem Fautor erat miseris pauperibusque pius Religiosus amans observantissimus aequi Sincerus cultor principis atque Dei. Armatum sensere hostes sensere togatum Pacificum cives clarus utroque fuit Auxerunt famam neptes clarique nepotes Undique multiplici prole beatus erat Erudienda bonos virtutis semina liquet In cinerem rediit qui fuit ante cinis Vita dedit mortem letam mors ultima vita Vita fugax obiit vita perennis adest Magne Roberte vale divae virtutis alumnae Namque tenes superas non rediture domos Circumscribed on the freeze of this Monument O miser respice finem qualis sum in brevi eris vigila ergo quia nescis diem neque horam Upon a plate of brasse fix't on the North wall of the Chancell is this Inscription Of your charite pray for the soul of dame Elizabeth Throkmerton the last Abbas of Denye and Aunt to Sir George Throkmerton Knight who deceassed the xiii day of Ianuarye in the yere of our Lord God a. MCCCCCxlvii who lieth here tumilate in this tumbe on whoze soule and all Christen soules Iesu have mercy Amen Vivit post funera virtus Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conventus de Stodley Ioh. Grenhull Pbr. 29. Maii 1339. Prior Conventus de Stodley Ioh. de Somburne Pbr. 23. Apr. 1378. Prior Conventus de Stodley Thomas de Balle Cap. 1. Oct. 1434. Prior Conventus de Stodley Rob. Cowper Cap. 20. Sept. 1440. Prior Conventus de Stodley D. Hugo Lynesay Pbr. ult Apr. 1471. D. Henr. 8. Rex Angliae D. Henr. Shelmerdyne Cler. 23. Apr. 1541. Thomas Throkmorton generosus Thomas Ireland Cler. 6. Apr. 1593. Ric. Berkley de Lancombe in Com. Gloucest ar Will Norwood de Lech-Hampton in dicto Com. ar Leonardus Digby Cler. 10. Dec. 1624 The Armes which were lately standing in the windows being onely such as had been set up at the new glasing of them in Sir George Throkmorton's time I have purposely omitted in regard they were no other than such as be in the windows of the Mannour-house whereof I have taken notice Samburne OF this place having its originall denomination from that little Sandy brook nigh unto which it stands I find very antient mention
to be Lord of this place id est Lord Paramount and that this was then reputed a Hamlet of Snitfield But farther than the before specified Hugh de Burley I cannot trace the succession of this Mannour in that family of Burley nor do I find when or how it went out of it the next possessor thereof that I have discovered being Will. the son of Nich. de Warwick of whom in Fulbroke I have spoke which Will. in 9 E. 2. sold to one Robert Moryn an Inhabitant of Snitfield Which Robert had issue Iohn who by a Fâ—ne levied in 8 E. 3. setled it upon Margaret his mother and Iohn de Cumpton her second husband for their lives with remainder to himself and his heirs After which time I have not seen any more mention of it the reason whereof is plain enough viz. that it was swallowed up amongst divers petty Freeholders by the purchase of their several Ferms as in many other places it falls out so that the Lords of Snitfield who were Superiour Lords here have of later times been taken for the immediate Lords thereof as in 10 H. 6. Ioan Beauchamp Lady of Bergavenny and in 1 H. 8. the King But now the reputed Lord thereof is the owner of those lands here which were antiently given to the Monks of Bordsley and in 19 E. 1. were estimated at two Carucates Which lands upon the dissolution of that Monastery were in 37 H. 8. inter alia past out of the Crown to Clem. Throkmorton Esquier and Alex Avenon and their heirs by the name of the Mannour Grange or Ferme of Byrley alias Buryley And in 3 E. 6. purchased of the said Clem. Throkmorton c. by Will. Walter From which William it is come to Mr. Fanshaw the now owner of it in such sort as Wasperton and Binton are Silesburne THis is a place lying near the little brook which thwarteth the Road from Henley to Alcester whereupon antiently stood an Hermitage but now there is no habitation near it Wawens-Moore OF this I find no other mention than the very name in 9 E. 2. and 8 H. 8. it being a member of Wootton Wyche NEither of this can I say any more than that it was reputed a member of Beldesert in 2 H. 5. Offorde THere is no more now left here than a Mill which being called Offord Mill preserveth the memory of this place but antiently there was a fair Mannour house the vestigia whereof do appear in those grounds lying about a Bow-shoot Northwards from the Mill in the nature of a round Fortification In the Conqueror's time here was also a Village of divers Inhabitants as appears by the general Survey then taken wherein it is recorded to contain 5 hides with a Mill and Woods of a mile in length and half as much in breadth all which were valued at iii li. besides one carucate of Inclosure rated at x s. and then wholly possest by Rob. de Stadford mentioned in Wootton but before the Norman invasion were the freehold of Waga of whom I have there also spoken To which Rob. de Stadford succeeded Nicholas and to him another Robert who in H. 2. time enfeoft one Robert the son of Matthew and his heirs of all his interest in this Village excepting the lands belonging to three Freeholders there named granting likewise to him all that Wood lying on the left hand the antient way leading from Wootton to Morton-Bagot to hold of him the said Robert de Stafford and his heirs by the service of half a Kts. Fee in consideration of which grant the said Robert received the summe of ten Marks one Palfrey and a labouring Horse and Avice his wife two Bisantines Whereupon this Robert seating himself here assumed his sirname from hence but it seemes he held the fourth part of a Knight's Fee besides this of the said Robert de Stafford for in 12 H. 2. by the Certificate then made it appears that he held 3 parts of a Knights Fee of him whereof he had been enfeoft since the death of K. H. 1. This Robert de Offord wedded Agnes the second of the five daughters and coheirs of Peter de Mâ—ra by Basilia his wife the eldest of the three daughters and coheirs to Rob. fil Odonis Lord of Loxley and Morton now Morton-Bagot yet am I not certain of any issue that he had neither till 25 H. 3. have I seen more of this place but then was Will. de Blancfront impleaded for certain lands here and in 36 H. 3. certified to hold half a Knight's Fee therein of the Lord Stafford Which Will. Blancfront was one of the Coroners for this County in 15 E. 2. and had issue Walter and he Henry who wrote himself Lord of this place in â—1 E. 3. but resided at Potsgrave in Bedfordshire After this it returned again to the Family of Stafford â— but whether by Eschaet or purchase I cannot directly say Humfrey Earl Stafford being owner of it in 10 H. 6. Since which time having been enjoy'd by the possessors of UUootton-wawen and being a depopulated place little notice hath been taken of it so that now it is accounted as part of UUootton Lordship and accordingly held by the Lord Carington at this day Aston Cantlow BEing now past that large parish of UUootton-wawen I come next to Aston-Cantlow situate on the Southern bank of Alne Before the Norman Invasion Algar Earl of Mercia was possest hereof but upon that great distribution then made by King William unto his friends and followers this place with divers lands of a large extent as well here as in other Counties was conferred as I guesse upon one Richard a noble Norman for it appears by the generall Survey begun about the xiiiith year of that King's reign that Osbernus fil Ricardi then enjoy'd it with several other fair Lordships lâ—ing in this Shireâ— as also in the Counties of Worcester Hereford Bedford Salop and Nottingham whose principal seat was as I also conjecture at Ricard's Castle in Herefordshire which being doubtlesse built by the same Richard â— for better a wing of the vanquisht English did afterwards retain his name and continueth it to this day In that authentique Record this place is written Estone by reason of its Eastern site from Alcester I presume which was of a more antient plantation and the value thereof then certified to be vi li. being esteemed at v. hides â—â—ving a Church as also one Mill with Woods of a mile in length and as much in breadth the Descendants of which Osbernus I have put in Farnborough for unto them did it continue but a while Tankervile who was Camerarius Normanniae possessing it in 15 H. 2. yet no otherwise than as a Fermor to the King as appears by some Records But in 6 Ioh. Will. de Cantilupe obtained it with the corn and stock
through the heir female but by virtue of a speciall Entail made by Iohn de Hastings E. of Pembroke son and heir to the before specified Laurence whereof in Fillongley I shall speak was setled together with the Castle and Honour of Bergavenny and other large possessions upon Sir Will. de Beuchamp K t second son to Thomas E. of Warwick and his heirs Which William bearing the title of Lord Bergavenny dyed seized thereof in 12 H. 4. from whom it descended to Ric. Beauchamp Earl of Worcester his son and heir whose daughter and heir Elizabeth being wedded to Sir Edw. Nevill Knight a younger son to Raph Earl of Westmerland thenceforth summoned to Parl. as Lord Bergavenny brought it with other lands of a large extent to that noble Family wherein it hath ever since continued being enjoy'd by the right honourable Iohn Lord Bergavenny at this day The Church dedicated to St. Iohn Bapt. being given to the Canons of Studley as I have formerly intimated by the last Will. de Cantilupe in H. 3. time was in an 1291 19 E. 1. valued at xxxiii marks which grant did not stand so firme but that the heirs of Cantilupe repossest it again for in 24 E. 1. it appears that the said Canons granted to Iohn de Hastings then Lord of this Mannour lands to the value of xiii li. per an lying here in exchange for the said advouson Nay I find that after this the Family of Hastings being potent had it again from the said Canons for in 19 E. 3. did Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke passe it away to Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon and his heirs who immediately thereupon gave it to the Priory of Makstoke then newly by him founded whereupon the Canons of Mackstoke obtained License from the K. for appropriating it to their House which appropriation was accordingly accomplisht the same year by VVolstan then Bishop of Worcester as by his Instrument dated at Blocklegh 4 Oct. appeareth and confirmed by his Chapter by reason whereof they had a yearly Pension of xiii s. iiii d. payable on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady granted to them In which year was likewise an Ordination of the Vicaridge But notwithstanding all this it so fell out afterwards that the Canons of Studley by colour of their originall title got into the possession thereof again whereupon great suits arose betwixt those of Mackstoke and them yet in the end they of Makstoke prevailed who to strengthen their title had the King's confirmation in 5 H. 4. For which they gave a Fine of Lxxi li. xi s. that they might enjoy it according to the tenor of the appropriation thereof so made to them as aforesaid In 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was valued at x li. at which time the Synodalls and Procurations issuing out of it were x s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Alianora Regina Angliae Rad. de Alemannia Cler. 8. Id. Dec. 1277. D. Ioh de Hastings D. Will. de Stratford Cap. 2. Cal. Maii 1295. D. Ioh de Hastings Ioh. de Brom Accol 14 Cal. Ian. 1299. D. Ioh de Hastings Aegid de Baggeshoure Cler. 15 Cal. Apr. 1305. D. Rad. de Monthehermerii Mr. Ioh. Mauduit 4 Non. Oct. 1319. Nobilis mulier Isabella de Hastings Will. de Beresord Cler. 23 Apr. 1328. Nobilis mulier Isabella de Hastings Rob. Mauduit Cler. 2 Cal. Iulii 1330. Patroni Vicariae Prior Conv. de Makstoke Nich. de Sheldon Pbr. 17 Iulii 1339. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Adam de Overton Pbr. 14 Sept. 1345. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Ric. de VValford Pbr. 14 Sept. 1361. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Rob. de â—irchesley Non. Febâ— 1365. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Ric. Pulâ—eney Pbr. 22 Nov. 1369. Patroni Ecclesiae Henr. Rex Angl. per recuperat juris ad praesent de Pr. C. de Studley Thomas Burdet Cler. 25 Iunii 1402. Pr. Conv. de Studley Thomas Shelford Cler. 12 Maii 1403. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke Thomas Lucas Pbr. 15 Nov. 1407. Patroni Vicariae Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. VVill. Drewe Cap. 27 Sept. 1409. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Henr. Hurle Cap. 28 Apr. 1410. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. VVill. Andrew Cap. 23 Martii 1423. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke Ioh. Barun ult Maii 1425. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Ioh. Salwey Cap. 18 Aug. 1427. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Ioh. Hende Cap. 16 Aug. 1457. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Rog. Felawe Cap. 4 Aug. 1469. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Rog. Montgombry Cap. 12 Ian. 1484. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Thomas Berton Cap. 16 Iunii 1486. D. Episc. per lapsum D. Rogerus ........ 8 Apr. 1491. Pr. Conv. de Coventre Petrus Irlam Cap. 23 Febr. 1531. H. Dux Suff. D. Franc. ux ejus D. Marg. Clifford Will Stanley miles cohaer Caroli D. Suff. VVill Burton Cler. 20 Dec. 1553â— Thomas Chapman ratione concess W. Stanley mil. D. Rad. Brock Pbr. 25 Sept. 1557. D. Episc. per lapsum Thom. Clerke Cler. 15 Oct. 1560 Henr. 8. Rex Angl. c. D. Thomas King Pbr. 23 Feb. 1536. Ric. Wright de Clopton sen. gen VVill. Tomlinson Cler. 29 Iulii 1622. In this Church there was antiently a certain Fraternity or Gild consisting of the Parishioners only being founded by them to the honour of God and the blessed Virgin but it had no lawfull establishment till 9 E. 4. at which time upon the humble Petition of the Inhabitants License was granted to Sir Edw. Nevill Knight then Lord of the Mannour that he should so settle and order the same as that there might be a certain Priest maintained there to celebrate divine service daily at the Altar of the blessed Virgin in the said Church for the good estate of the said K. Edw. 4. and Eliz. his Consort as also for the Brethren and Sisters of that Fraternitie during this life and for their souls after their departure hence and the souls of all the faithfull deceased which accordingly was effected and lands disposed thereunto for that purpose valued at vii li. ix s. ii d. ob per an in 37 H. 8. Armes depicted on the roof of the Chancell Gules a fesse betwixt six Crosse Crosslets Or. Beauchamp E. of Warwick Argent 3 Crosse Crosslets fiche sable upon a cheif Azure a Mullet and a Rose Or. Argent 6 Crosse Crosslets fichè Sable upon a cheif Azure two Mullets Or. Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Wilmecote IN the Conqueror's time Osbernus fil Richardi possest this place it being then certified to contain three hides which were valued at Lxs. and at that time held of him by one Urso but before the Norman invasion
it was the Freehold of Leuvinus Doda In that Survey it is written Wilmecote the originall of which appellation did questionlesse proceed from the name of some antient Inhabitant there in the Saxons time But the next mention that I find thereof is not till 6 Ioh. where it is written Wilmundecote and certified to be part of those lands that the Normans had in England which were then seized on for their adhering to the K. of France as in Ilmindon I have already observed one Bricto Camerarius being then Lord thereof and Chamberlain of Normandy as I guesse the value of it then consisting only in rent of Assize amounting to xliis per an and no more After which ere long one Will. de Wilmecote was owner of it who doubtlesse took that sirname from his residence here for in 12 H. 3. it appears that he brought an Assize against Maurice Arch-Deacon of Gloucester touching the advouson of the Chapell belonging to this Village yet in E. 1. I find that Raph de Lodinton had a good proportion here viz. two yard land in demesn with a Water Mill as also 5 yard land in Villenage all which he held of Sir Thomas de Camvill by the fourth part of a Kts fee which fourth part in 25 E. 1. was certified to be held of Edm. Earl of Lancaster the Kings Brother by Robert de Vale of whom in Lodington I have spoken already But about that time was there one Iohn de Wilmecote Lord hereof and shortly after him Henry de L'isle of Moxhull in this Countie who with Ioan his wife in 9 E. 2. were found to hold half a Kts. fee here of the Earl of War which half Kts. fee was of her inheritance she being the heir to the before specified Iohn de Wilmecote To which Henry succeeded Iohn his son and heir who in 10 E. 3. entailed this Mannour with the advouson of the Chapell upon the issue of his body by Maude then his wife with remainder to his right heirs by reason whereof it continued to his posterity whereof I shall speak in Moxhull till 8 H. 7. but then was past away by Henry L'isle Esquire and Eliz. his wife to Will. Purchesse and others in trust as I conceive for Hugh Clopton Alderman of London for I find that the said Hugh dyed seized thereof 15 Sept. 12 H. 7. leaving Will. Clopton his Cosin and next heir as in Clopton is shewed who had livery thereof accordingly in 19 H. 7. The Chapell here dedicated to St. Mary Magd. was given to the Gild of the Holy Cross in Stratford super Avon in E. 4. time by the before mentioned Henry de L'isle and Eliz. his wife one Thomas Clopton being then Master of the same Patroni Capellae Incumbentes c. Matilda de Lyle Ioh. de Walton 21 Martii 1372. Matilda de Lyle Ioh. Cade 18 Ian. 1380. Newnham AS for the name of this place it proceeded originally without doubt from the first habitation fixed thereat whether it were one single House or more the syllable Ham with our Ancestors the Saxons not onely signifying a House but a neighbourhood of divers dwellings as we may observe by the many towns that terminate in Ham so that Neunham imports the same that nova habitatio doth But of this little village I have not seen any mention at all in Record above 9 E. 2. where it is certified as a Hamlet of Aston-Cantelupe of which Mannour it is stâ—ll reputed to be parcell Little Alne THis was also originally a member of Aston-Cantelupe and antiently possest by the Lords of that Mannoâ—r It should seem that a great part of those lands which were given to the Canons of Studley by some of the Cantelupes do lye within the compass of this village though in the grant they are said to be in Aston-Cantelupe for upon the passing them out of the Crown in 1. Mariae they are granted to Anthony Skinner by the name of the Mannour of Little-Alne five Tenements a water Mill with a meadow as parcell of the possessions of the Monastery of Studley which Anthony dyed seized thereof 19 Nov. 1 Eliz. leaving issue George and William which George dying without issue Will. became heir to the estate whose grandchild Anthony now enjoys it Shelfhull THe first mention I find of this place is in H. 3. time upon the grant of a large assart to the Canons of Studley by Will. de Cantilupe the third where it is bounded upon the Park of Scelefhull which Park belonging to the Lords of Aston-Cantelupe doth argue that it was antiently a member thereof And out of all doubt those Woods or the greatest part of them which are mentioned by the Conquerour's Survey to belong unto Aston were imparkt by the Lords of that Mannour for their pleasure in Hunting it being a mountanous ground most proper for Deer an Conies But the extent of Shelfhull was more than this Park for in 6 E. 2. after the death of Iohn de Hastings Lord of Aston before specified it appeareth that Will. le Walsh held the sixth part of a Kts. fee of him lying in this place Howbeit till 14 H. 6. I have not seen it called a Mannour but then upon the death of Ioan Beauchamp Lady Bergavenny it carries that name nevertheless it is reputed as a member of Aston-Cantelupe and therewith belongs to the Lord Bergavenny at this day Haseler SOmewhat lower but yet farther distant from the bank of Alne stands Haseler containing these two petty Hamlets sc. Walcote and Upton which before the Norman invasion was the freehold of Vlviet and Aluric but at the time of the Conquerour's generall Survey possest by Nich. Balistarius being certified to contain 5. hides with a Mill rated at vi s. viii d. as also a Salt House of iiii s. Rent and two quarters of Salt all being valued at vi li. In that Record it is written Haselove the stroke over the v. through the transcribers neglect being omitted for it should be Haselovere That the later part of the name viz. Overe which in our common speech signifies the same with supra agreeth with the situation of the place is evident enough for it stands upon a notable ascent almost every way and if I may take leave to guess at the other part I shall conclude that the same hilly ground whereupon the town stands being originally woody and full of Hasells as much of the Country thereabouts yet is gave occasion thereof How it past from the before specified Nich. Balistaerius or his posterity I find not but in H. 2. time Nicholas de Pole one of the King's Justices was chief Lord here whose descendants enjoy'd it not long for in 20 H. 3. it appertained to W. de Hastings and upon the Aid then gathered answered for half a Kts. fee amongst divers other lands in this Countie then certified to be
held of Hugh de Albinie but in 36 H. 3. being possest by one Rob. de Haselovere is recorded to be held by hâ—m of the said Will de Hastings I am of opinion that this Rob. de Haselovere is the same man who is elswhere called Rob. Lyvet for certain it is that Rob. Lyvet was Lord of this town about that time and it was not unusuall in those dayes for men totally to relinquish their paternall name and assume that of their residence insted thereof or indifferently to use either Which Robert died seized of this Mannour in 9 E. 2. then held as the Record expresses of Will. de Hastings of Thormarton by the service of a pair of white Spurs price ii d. leaving Iohn Lyvet his son and heir of full age It seems that one Iohn de Chiltenham came afterwards to have some interest here perhaps in right of Alianore his wife for I find that in 3 E. 3. the same Iohn and Alianore aliened a third part thereof with the advouson of the Church to Iohn de Trillow and Katherine his wife and the heirs of the said Katherine After which viz. in 7 E. 3. Rob. de Stratford parson of the Church of Stratford purchased the whole from Henry the son of Rob. Lâ—vet and in 10 E. 3. being then Archdeacon of Canterb. obtained all the interest that the before specified Iohn de Chilâ—enham and Alianore his wife had therein together with the advouson of the Church which he kept but a while as it seems for in 20 E. 3. Will. de Meldon accounted for the half Kts. fee by which it was held as hath been said and presented to the Church as Patron about that time But the next possessor thereof concerning whom I have seen any authoritie was Sir Almaric de S. Amand Kt. who to fortifie his title got a Release from Iohn de Perto the elder of all his right therein which bears date at London on Wednesday next after the Feast of the Purification of our Lady 39 E. 3. and within 3. years after a grant or rather confirmation as I thinkâ— from Nich. de Dounamney likewise of what title he had thereto From which Sir Almaric it was conveyed to Will. de Stoke and Thomas de Sekindon Priests who by their deeds dated on the Feast day of St. Clement the Pope 8 R. 2. past it away unto Thomas de Beauchamp then E. of Warwick and others which Earl having the same year obtained the King's License for that purpose by his speciall Charter dated at Warwick 20 Sept. 19 R. 2. bestowed it upon the Canons of his Collegiate Church in Warwick and their successors for ever Notwithstanding which pious gift King R. 2. taking advantage of the attainder shortly after befalling that Earl as in my story of him in Warw. appeareth violated this his grant to those Canons and gave it to Robert Gowsell Esq. to hold during life But the deposall of that K. which followed soon after reverst that gift of his to Gowsell wherby both the Earl himself became restored to aâ—l his possessions and the said Canons to this Mannour which in 26 H. 8. was valued at xix l. vii s. vii d. and in 4 E. 6. after the dissolution of that Colledge passed out of the Crown inter alia to Sir Raph Sadler Kt. then Master of the Wardrobe and Laurence Wenington Gent. and to the heirs of the said Sir Raph. to be held of the Mannour of Est Greenwich in Socage The Church here with the Church-yard was founded by King ..... to the honour of Christ the blessed Virgin St. Laurence and All Saints and originally endowed with a House for the Parson and two yard land lying in the fields of Haselore and UUalcote as also certain pasture grounds to the same belonging with a certain place and croft lying opposite thereunto And afterwards in King H. 2. time augmented with an ample addition which Nich. de Pole one of the King's Justices and then Lord of this Mannour by the consent of Maud his wife with Robert and Raph his sons both Knights gave thereunto in pure Almes viz. xi acres of his woods called UUidecombe Middelgrove and Rowheye with the land adjoyning and Common of pasture for viiâ— Oxen in his pasture called Speries as also for four Kine and a Bullock in the pasture on the Heath for the Summer time Besides which he gave thereunto out of divers yard lands of his demesn vi Bushells of Oats and of an halfyard land 3. Bushels as also a certain number of Cocks and Hens to be delivered on St. Martin's day yearly by the Tenants holding the same lands together with Law-grist of his Mill with the Tithe thereof Toll free and libertie of Fishing on the banks of his water upon Fasting dayes with Shuf-net and Ese and other Engines except draught Nets in liew of the Tithe of the water being in the Lords hands but if it should happen to be let to ferme then the Parson to have Tithe of all the great Fishes taken therein In an 1201. 19 E. 1. this Rectorie was valued at xv marks and in 15 R. 2. the advouson thereof granted by Thomas Beauchamp E. of Warwick to the Dean and Canons of his Collegiate Church in Warwick and their successors and appropriated thereunto by the Abbot of Evesham deputed by Pope Boniface the ix th 22. Oct. 1394. whereupon the Vicaridge was endowed In 26 H. 8. the said Rectory so appropriated was valued at xxi l. per an the Vicar then having an yearly Pension onely of vi l. xiii s. iiii d. payable by the said Canons of Warwick Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. .......... Nich. â—e Buvynton Cap. 5. Cal. Dec. 1282. Rob. Lyvet Nich. Lyvet Cler. 4. Non. Oct. 1297. Will. de Meldon de Langeford Ioh. Guldune Cler ...... 1339 Will. de Meldon de Langeford Will. de Southam Pbr. 19 Apr. 1345. VVill. de Meldon miles Rob. de Overton Pbr. 6. Oct. 1349. Patroni Vicariae Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. Will. Elys Cap. 16. Martii 1464. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. Ioh. Betley 7 Ian. 1423. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. D. Thom. Grene Cap. 13. Iulii 1472. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. D. Edm. Par. alias Kellet 17 Martii 1500. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. Rog. Palmer Pbr. 9 Iunii 1523. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. D. Ric. Brugges Cup .... 1530. Thom. King de Aston Cantlow Cler. Mart. Barker ratione concess D. Cap. Warw. D. Thomas Tayler Pbr. 13. Oct. 1545. Eliz. Angl. Regina Regin Broke Cler. 15 Dec. 1576. Iac. Rex Angl. c. Thomas Honthye Cler. 9. Iunii 1609. Walcote OF this small Hamlet being a
was in exchange for certain lands in Bedfordshire and the summe of 774 li. 09 s. 02 d. granted unto Sir George Throkmorton Knight and his heirs 30 Maii 33 H. 8. From which sir George is S r Robert Throknorton Baronet of whom in Coughton I have spoke lineally descended who in 7 Caroli obtained a special Charter for himself and his heirs to hold a Court Leet here and to have Free-warren with certain other priviledges But here before I proceed farther I may not omit to observe that though the possession of this Lordship went thus from the line of Gascoine yet is the honorary title thereof revived in his posterityâ— for in 4 Caroli the King taking notice of Sir Thomas Wentworth of Wentworth-Woodhouse in Yorkshire Knight and Baronet descended by an heir female from the said Sir William to be a man of singular prudence and eminent word and theâ—efore resolving to employ him in the highest affairs of State advanced him to the dignity of Baron Wentworth of the same Wentwoâ—â—h-Woodhouse Newmarcâ— as also of this Oversley and afterwards to the Lieutenancy of Ireland and Earldome of Strafford Nor must I forget that likewise from the same stock viz. from Nicholas a younger brother to the Chief Justice Gascoin before spoken of is also sprung my special friend Richard Gascoine late of Bramham-Biggin in the said County of York Esq a gentleman well worthy of the best respects from all lovers of Antiquities to whose good affections and abilities in those studies his own Family and several others of much eminency allied thereto are not a little obliged How long the Tithes of this Lordship were enjoyed by the Monks of Alcester in order to the grant made by Raph Boteler Founder of that Monastrie I am not certain but in 26 H. 8. it doth not appear that they had them And by what I have otherwise seen it is evident that the Church of Arrow wâ—thin the precincts of which Parish this place is possest them till that Mich. Clerke Parson there in Q. Eliz. time grew so a Composition with Sir Rob. Throkmorton Knight then Lord of Oversley for the same wherby it was concluded that the said Sir Rob. his heirs and assignes owners of this Mannour should be exempt from payment of any Tithes whatsoever arising within the compasse thereof in consideration of which immunity they should pay to the said Michaell and his successors the summe of vi li. of current English money at the Feasts of the Annunciation of our Lady S. Iohn Bapt. S. Mich. th'Archangell and the Nativity of our Lord by even portions but that the Parson of Arrow for the time being should receive all personal Tithes from the Inhabitants of the Hamlet called Oversley-greene and also the Tithe of certain parcells of medowing there particularly expressed Exhall THis in Edw. the Confessor's days having been the Fâ—â—ehold of one Suain but after the Norman Invasion with divers lands of a great extent in this and other Counties bestowed by the Conqueror on Will. fil Corbucion was by the generall Survey whereâ—n 't is written Eccleshelle certified to contain one hide and a half valued at v s. and then held of the same William by Turchill To the posterity of which Corbucion it continued till King Iohn's time or thereabouts but then Will. de Cantilupe obtained it from Ric. Corbicun a younger son to Peter as I guesse of whom in Studley I have spoke which Will. bestowed it on Sibill his sister and Geffrey Pancefot her husband and the heirs of their two bodies Howbeit there is little else that I have seen relating to the Mannour which makes me suppose that it was parcell'd out to Freeholders and no Courts kept whereunto they did any suit or service But I find that Walter Pykerell in 26 E. 1. died seized of one Messuage and two yard land here being of the Fee of Budiford And that Peter de Leicester in 32. E. 1. held Lxxx. acres of land lying here also leaving Iulian his sister and heir then married to Walter de Berntâ—orpe As also that in 10 H. 6. Iohn Ippewell yeoman possest two Messuages and three yard land here which he held by the fifth part of a Knights Fee And that in 37 H. 8. Eliz. Walsingham widow died seized of two Messuages and Lxii acres of land lying in this place leaving Iohn Walsingham her cosin and next heir But farther I have not seen any thing of much note relating thereto other than that the heirs of Corbison have been certified to hold the fourth part of a Knights Fee here of the Earl of Warwick it being now reputed a member of Overslei the Lord of that Mannour having the Roialty thereof Touching the Church originally a Chapell belonging to Saltford and therewith given to the Canons of Kenilworth I find that it was dedicated to S. Giles by Simon Bishop of Worcester in H. 1. time as also then endowed with Glebe and Tithes as by his confirmation which I have thought fit here to transcribe appeareth Universis c. Simon Dei gratia Wigorniensis Ecclesiae minister humilis in Domino salutem Confirmo praesenti pagina donationem quam probi homines de Eccleâ—â—ala donaverunt Ecclesiae praedicti Manerii in die qua eam dedicavi Sciendum est autem quod Robertus Corbusceon ejus uxor donaverunt eidem Ecclesiae imperpetuum unam virgatam terrae cum prato ad tantum terrae pertinente totam suam partem ejusdem Crosti except is duabus acris quas Wido erga eum excambiavit ad opus ejusdem Ecclesiae cum moro sub â—rosto Wido verò ex sua parte quatuor aeras in campo dimidium in prato Robertus similiter duas acras Hanc donationem similiter omnes fecerunt cum Decimis suis plenartis eidem Ecclesiae liberam quietam ab omni seculari servicio Et ego ex mea parte volo praecipio ut libera sit quieta ab omni Episcopali consuetudine Qui autem aliquid inde subtraxerit sive minuere vel perturbare praesumpserit Anathematis gladio feriatur Testibus Gervasio Archidiaconâ— Radulpho Priore de Stanes Pagano Capellano c. And as it was a Chapelry to Saltford so had the said Canons of Kenilworth a ratification thereof to them by the before specified Bishop with Releases from Raph de Budiford and Sir Ric. de Eccleshale Kt. of their right in the advouson thereof which Sir Richard was the same man as I take it who in the grant to Will. de Cantilupe formerly spoke of is called Richard Corbusceon Howbeit the fruits thereof were never appropriated to that Monastery but continued still to the Parson serving the Cure therein In An. 1291 19 E. 1. this Rectory was valued at x. marks but in 26 H. 8. at x li. at which time it appeareth that there was a Pension of xiii s. iiii d.
at Dublin for his support in his service But I must not here stand to trace down the descent of that Family in Ireland it being besides my business and therefore shall pass it by with this onely note that in 12 E. 2. when Edward de Brus raised a rebellion in those parts and caused himself to be crowned King of Ireland through the singular valour and prudent conduct of Iohn de Bermingham then Commander in chief for the King against those Rebells the said Edw. de Brus with a multitude of his party were slain and the rest routed for which signall service he the said Iohn was created Earl of Loveth whose posteritie do continue there in great honour till this day bearing the antient Armes of this Family before exprest with a Castle in the sinister part of the Shield for a distinction Willielmus Petrus de Bermingham 12 H. 2. Will. de Bermingham Will. de Bermingham occcisus in praelio de Evesham 49 H. 3. Isabella filia Thomae de Estelegh Will. de Bermingham 11 E. 1. Isabella 32 E. 1. Will. de Bermingham 2 E 2. Matilda relicta 1 E 3. Will. de Bermingham miles 5 E. 3. Will. fil Will. Coleson de Walshall 2 maritus Fulco de Bermingham miles 16 E. 3. Eliz 50 E. 3. Iohanna 5 E. 3. Baldw. de Berming 13 R. 2. s. p. Will. de Bermingh miles 40 E. 3. ob s. p. Cath. filia einiscia cohaer Will. de la Planch 30 E. 3. Ioh. de Berming miles 6. R. 2. ob s. p. Eliz. altera fil cohaer Will. de la Planch ob 2 H. 6. Ioh. de Clinton miles 3. maritus Thom. de Berm mil. 2 R. 2. Isabella fil Ioh. fil Ric. de Whitacre Eliz. filia haeres Thomas de la Roche Elena ux Edm. Ferrers domini de Chartley 2 H. 6. Eliz. ux Georgii Longvile ar Ioh. de Bermingham 5 E. 3. Will. de Bermingham Will. de Berm mil. 27. H. 6. duxit Isab. fil haer W. Hilton Will. de Bermingham ob 7 Iunii 15 H. 7. Nich. Bermingham Edw. Bermingham aet 3. an 15 H. 7. Eliz. posteà nupta Will. Ludford de Ansley gen deinde Will. Askeric gen 2. 3. Ph. M. Anna filia haeres ux or Ric. Atkinson Will. Bermingham 14 H. 7. Henr. Bermingham Will. Bermingham obiit 10 Aug. 1 Eliz. Ioh. de Berm mil. 38. H. 6. Eliz. filia haer ux Baldw. fil Ric Bracebrig 19 E. 4. Thomas de Bermingh Arm. pro corp Regis 24 H. 6. Henr. de Bermingmiles 3 E. 3. ob s. p. D. Petrus de Bermingham defunctus 2 E. 2. Ela filia una haer Will. de Odingsells â— E. 2. Ioh. de Bermingham Com. de Lovâ—th in Hibernia 12 E. 2. Petrus de Bermingham 18 H. 3. I now come to Will. de Bermingham son and successor to the last mentioned William In 25 H. 3. he had a suit for certain lands lying in this place with Iohn the son of Robert de Hathewy for determination whereof certain Justices of Assize were then constituted In 34 H. 3. he was by a speciall Pat. exempted from serving on Juries and the next year following had a Charter for a Faire to be annually held here by the space of four days beginning on the Eve of the Ascension commonly called Holy Thursday as also Free warren in his Mannour of Hoggeston in Com. Buck. Not long after this I find that there grew some dispute betwixt Rog. de Someri Baron of Dudley of whose Fee Bermingham was held and this Will. de Bermingham touching the services due by him to the said Roger for this Mannour with the members thereto belonging for which he required that the same Will should perform the service of eight Knights Fees a half and fourth part and also do suit to the Court at Dudley for the Knights fees belonging thereto once every three weeks whereupon they came to an Agreement in 46 H. 3. viz. that the same Will should do service for so many Knights fees as aforesaid and appear at the Court at Dudley onely twice every year scil at that held next after Michaelmass and that likewise after Easter And moreover that whensoever the King 's Writ of Right should be executed there id est that when of necessitie all the Kts. and Peers of the same Court holding by service military were to be called thither to give Judgement in cases of difficultie as also for triall of a Theif upon reasonable Summons he should not neglect to make his appearance Upon which Agreement the before specified Roger de Someri released to him his suit of Court from three weeks to three weeks But the next thing memorable that I find of this Will. de Bermingham is that he sided with his Father in Law Thomas de Astley and the other Barons in that grand Rebellion against King H. 3. and that being slain in the battail of Evesham in 49 H. 3. and his lands extended this his Mannour of Bermingham was rated at xl l. and the inheritance of it given by the K. with divers Lordships more forfeited by others unto Roger de Clifford for his faithfull service Howbeit by vertue of the Dictum de Kenilworth whereof I have there spoke the greatest part of all mens lands so confiscate being liable to Composition this with the rest upon satisfaction made according to the tenor of that Decree was repossest by Will. de Bermingham son and heir to the Rebell who in 11 E. 1. obtained a Charter of Freewarren throughout all his demesn lands here as also within his Mannour of Stokton in Worcestershire Shetteford in Com. Oxon. Maidencote in Berkshire Hoggeston in Com. Buck. and Cristelton in Cheshire which last viz. Cristleton was given by Thomas de Estley with Isabell his daughter in frank Marriage to Will. de Bermingham Father to the present William In 13 E. 1. this Will upon a Quo Warranto brought against him and all others who excercised or claimed any Liberties or Priviledges within their Lordships exhibited K. Henry the 2. Charter for the Thursday Mercate Toll Tem Sak Sok and Infangenthef And for the Faire and Freewarren K. H. 3. Charter pleading Prescription for Weyfâ— Gallows Court Leet with Assize of Bread and Beer all which were allowed The next year following he had Letters of protection upon the King 's purposed transfretation whom he was to attend therein Whether at that time he went bâ—yâ—nd Sea considering it doth not appear by our Historians that the King himself was out of England I am uncertain but in 25 of the same King's reign it is manifest that he was in Gascoin in his service under the conduct of the Earl of Lincolne and Iohn de S. Iohn of Basing a great Baron where intending to relieve Bellagard then besieged by the Count of Arras the said Earl and Baron divided their forces the Lord S. Iohn leading the Van
Master Bermingham was to ride out from home which being accordingly done they so contrived their business that one of their plot should ride leisurely before so that they might soon keeping but an ordinary pace overtake him whereupon they watcht an opportunity to strike into Master Bermingham's company as Travailers with whom they soberly rode for a while but being come up to their confederate forthwith set upon him for his Purse so that the villain thus seemingly rob'd makes pursuit after them and likewise after Master Bermingham as one of the pack who being thereupon apprehended and prosecuted apparently saw his danger The business therefore now working according to Dudley's first design there were others imployed to Mr. Bermingham with overture how he might save his Life viz. to make the Vicount L'isle his friend in giving up this Lordship of Bermingham to him which that it might bear the better colour and be the more valid was performed by yeilding it to the King and ratified by a speciall Act of Parliament the tenor whereof was as followeth Where Edward Byrmingham late of Byrmingham in the Countie of Warwick Esquire otherwise callid Edward Byrmingham Esquire ys and standyth lawfully indettid to our sovereing Lord the Kynge in diverse grete summes of money Aud also standyth at the mercy of his Highness for that the same Edward ys at this present convicted of Felony our seide sovereign Lord the Kyng ys contentid and pleased that for and in recompence and satisfaction to his grace of the seyde summes of money to accept and take of the seyde Edwarde the Mannoâ—r and Lordship of Byrmingham otherwise callid Byrmincham with the appurtenances lying and being in the Countie of Warwick and all and singular other lands and tenements reversions Rents Services and hereditaments of the same Edward Byrmingham set lying and beyng in the Countie of Warwick afforeseyde Be yt therefore ordeyned and enacted by the authorite of this present Parliament that our saide sovereine Lord the Kynge shall have hold and enjoy to him his heirs and assignes for ever the seide Mannour and Lordship of Byrmingham c. In which Act there is a reservation of xl l. per an to the said Edward and Elizabeth his wife during their lives Howbeit after this it was no less than nine years ere the grant of it from the Crown to the said Vicount L'isle was made for it bears not date till December 21 37 H. 8. perhaps on purpose so deferred that the world might the less censure him for this hard dealing at which time the inheritance thereof together with the Burgh of Bermingham and patronage of the Rectorie late belonging unto the before specified Edward Bermingham were past unto him with other lands lying in the Counties of Salop Heref. and Worcester But how short a time he enjoy'd it my Story of him as Earl of Warwick will further shew for being attainted and losing his head in 1 M. whereby all that he had eschaâ—ted to the Crown the same Queen in 3. and 4. of her reign by her Letters Pat. dated 9 Apr. granted the inheritance thereof to Thomas Marrow Esq. whose posteritie seated at Berkswell in this Countie continue Lords of it till this day Other particulars memorable relating to this place are as followeth viz. in 35 H. 3. a grant that another Faire should be yearly kept here for three days sc. on the Eve of St. Iohn Bapt. and the two days next following the Shiriff of Worcestershire having then command to proclaim it accordingly throughout his Liberties And that in 12 E. 2. the Inhabitants at the instance of Aâ—domare de Valence Earl of Pembroke obtained a License to take Toll of all vendible commodities brought hither to be sold for the space of three years viz. for every Quarter of Corn a farthing c. towards paving the town But this work was not perfectly compleated within that time nor of xv years after for in 7 E. 3. I find that they had another Pat. to take Toll in like manner for the space of 3. years more The Hospitall of St. Thomas the Apostle THis was situate at that end of the town towards Wolverhampton and on the right hand the road almost opposite to the sign of the Bull but touching the originall Foundation thereof I have not seen any farâ—her testimony than that Certificate made by the Commissioners upon their Survey in 37 H. 8. where it is said they were informed that the Ancestors of the Berminghams Lords of Bermingham erected it for one Priest to sing Mass daylie therein for the souls of the Founders for ever as also that the late Lord of Bermingham viz. Edw. Bermingham Esq. did inter alia grant the patronage of it to one Iohn Prettye for XCIX years which said Iohn past away his title therein to Mr. Clem. Thrâ—kmorton Gentleman And the first mention of it that I find is in 13 E. 1. where it appeareth that Thomas de Maidenhache of whom I have spoke in Aston gave unto it ten acres of Heath in Aston Wiâ—â— de Bermingham x. acres likewise and Ranulph de Rokeby 3. acres of land in Saluteley About that time were divers Cottages and lands lying also in Bermingham and the adjacent Villages given to it by sundry others viz. xxii acres of land and half an acre of meadow by the same Will. de Bermingham and the rest by a number of ordinary persons for all which the Prior and Brethren thereof obtained the King's speciall pardon in 4 E. 2. in regard they had been given thereto after publication of the Statute of Mortmain made in 7 E. 1. In 24 E. 3. Foub de Bermingham and Ric. Spenser gave thereunto two Messuages and an 〈◊〉 â—crces of land lying in Aston and Bermyngham â—o find a Priest to celebrate divine servâ—c◠〈◊〉 at the Altar of our Blessed Lady in the Church of the same Hospitall for the souls of Will. le Mercer and Margerie his wife and of certain others The clear yearly value of all which lands and tenements belonging thereto over and above reprises were in 26 H. 8. certified to be viii l. v s. iii d. at which time Sir Edw. Tofte was Chantrie Priest there but in 37 H. 8. the value above reprises was rated at viii l. viii s. ix d. Patroni Custodes sive Guardiani ejusdem Hospitalis D. Episcopus Frater Rob. Marmion 16. Cal. Oct. 1326. D. Episcopus Ioh Nevill confrater Non. Nov. 1353. D. Fulco de Bermyncham miles Rob. Cappe Cap. 6. Cal. Iunii 1361. D. Fulco de Bermyncham miles Thomas Edmund Pbr. 2 Non. Aug. 1369. D. Ioh. de Clinton miles Ioh. Frotheward Pbr. 15. Nov. 1390. D. Ioh. de Clinton miles Ioh. Cheyne 5. Sept. 1393. Domina Eliz. de Clinton Henr. Bradley Pbr. 22 Oct. 1398. D. Ioh. Russell miles Tho. Salpyn 24 Sept. 1403. D. Eliz. Domina de Clinton Rob. Browe Cap. 7. Martii 1407. D.
integram virgatam terrae de Bondagio solebant operari cum Domino in Autumpno per duos dies similiter omnes alii Custumarii ad quantitatem tenurae per rationabilem praemonitionem Praepositi pro quo solebant habere unum Multonem pingue iiii d. Panem album xii lagenas cervisiae Et si non venerint tunc solebant amerciari ad proximam Curiam sequentem Et dicunt quod omnes praedictae Consuetudines solebant fieri à tempore Regis Athelstanâ— tempore Regis Johannis ante Coronationem Henrici Regis Et praedecessores praedictorum Iuratorum ....... dicebant Et dicunt quod Waleranus quondam Comes VVarwici concessit quod omnes praedictae consuetudines omnes aliae antiquae consuetudines pro se haered suis durabunt imperpetuum The next things of note that I have observed concerning this Lordship are these viz. that in 9 E. 2. upon the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick it was valued at xxiiii l. iii d. ob q. per an as also the next ensuing year in respect of the minority of his heir committed to the custody of Iohn de Someri And that in 17 E. 2. there was a notable Robberie committed upon a certain Road thwarting that part of the Chase called Colfeild â— then and yet known by the name of Rugewey the partie rob'd being one Elias le Collier and the summe of money taken from him CCC l. about nine of the Clock in the morning whereupon he commenced his suit against the Inhabitants of this Hundred of Hemlingford and those of the Hundred of Offlow in Staffordshire according to the Statute of Winchester for not prosecuting the Felons in regard that the same Way as the Record saith divideth the Counties of Warwick and Stafford viz. leaving Sutton and Aston 〈◊〉 Bermingham on the one side of it of this Countie and Barre Alrewich with part of Shenston in Com. Staff on the other side and had Jâ—â—gment to recover the money accordingly wâ—ereupon Writts being directed to the Shiriffs of both Shires to levie the said summe return was made that the people were so much indebted to the King and impoverisht by Murrein of their Cattell dearth of Corn and other accidents that they were not able to pay it Nevertheless it seems that the Shiriff pressing hard upon them by virtue of severall Writts to him directed at the procurement of the partie rob'd levied xl marks of it Much ado there was about this Money the Bishop of Cov. and Lich. pleading for himself and his Tenants immunitie from such charges and the Countie still shifting the payment so that at length they procured a Supersedeas from the King to stop any farther proceeding therein Over part of this Chase there is another antient Way called Ykenild-street though not now much noted being one of those four eminent ones made by the Romans concerning which I have said something in my discourse of Watling-street the tract whereof is yet to be seen in divers places within this Countie especially here and over a corner of Sutton Park where going over low grounds it appeareth to be firm and high ridged up with Gravell This Way coming from Tinemouth in Northumberland through Yorkshire to Bolesover and thence by Chesterfeild through Scaresdale comes over Morley-moore to Little Chester near Derby and so over Egginton Heath câ—â—â—sseth the River Dove at Monks-bridge then over Burton-moore and passing Trent at Whichnour-bridge stretcheth through Alderwas-Hays thence to Street-hey and so to Wall antiently called Etocetum where it thwarts Watling-street thence over Radley-moore leaving Little Aston on the right hand entreth this Lordship of Sutton as the Map sheweth and so extendeth it self to Alcester in this Countie Thence over Bitford-Bridge leaving Cambden in Gloucestershire a liitle on the left hand to Stow on the Woulds where it crosseth the Fosse and from Stow to Burford and over Isis at Newbridge directly â—o Wallingford and so through Winchester to Southampton But I return Perhaps the Tuesday Mercate formerly granted as is before exprest grew to be discontinued for in 27 E. 3. Thomas de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick and Lord of this Mannour obtained another Charter for it upon the same day by which he had likewise a grant of two Faires to be yearly kept here sc. the one on the Eve of the Holy Trinitie and two days after the other on the Eve and day of St. Martin With the other lands belonging to these great Earls this Mannour at length came to Ric. Nevill in right of Anne his wife as in Warwick is shewed but towards the later end of H. 6. reign when this haughty spirited Earl sided with the House of York it was seized by the King and demised to Sir Edm. Mountfort Knight one of his Carvers for the terme of x. years and the Rangership of the Chase disposed of by the same King to Iohn Holt Esq. one of his Household servants to hold for terme of life with the Fees and profits thereof antiently due and payable How it was afterwards sc. in 14 E. 4. taken from the said Anne with the rest of the lands of her inheritance and setled by Act of Parliament upon Isabell and Anne her Daughters I have in UUarwick fully shewed as also how by a speciall grant and Act of Parl. likewise to strengthen the same it came to the Crown It now therefore remains to shew the course of it since in which disquisition I find that K. H. 7. in 5. of his reign assigned it to the before specified Anne to hold during her life After which ere long the Mercate being utterly forsaken the Town fell much to ruin and the Mannour place was totally pulled down by one Winâ—stâ—n who being imployed as an Officer there for the King made use of most of the timber for himself selling the intire fabrick of the Hall unto the Marq. Dorset which was set up at Bradgate in Leicestershire And in this dâ—cayed condition did Sutton continue till that Iohn Hâ—rman â—lias â—eâ—sy Bishop of Exeter â— bearing a gâ—eat affection thereto in respect it was the plâ—ce of his birth having obtained of the King in 19 H. 8. certain parcells of Inclosure here called More crofts and Hethe yards and more than xl acres of wast with Licence to inclose it the next year ensuing procured Letters Pat. dated 16 Dec. for the making it a Corporation by the name of a Warden and Societie to consist of xxiiii persons besides the Warden As also another yearly Faire on Simon and Iude's day with a weekly Mercate upon the Munday the Tuesday Mercate being discontinued together with a Commâ—n Hall or Monte Hall for their assemblies a Clerk of the Mercaâ—e and a Steward and one or two Sergeants at Mace the VVarden for the time being tâ— be Coroner within the same Corporation and that no Shiriff nor Bailiff shall medle within
inheritance appertaining to Amicia the wife of Iohn le Lou one of the coheirs being past away unto Queen Alianore then wife of Edward 1. King of England as in Hampton hath likewise been intimated it was totally possest by that Queen and after her death in 20 E. 1. given together with the Mannours of Ardens-Grafton and Langdon and certain lands lying in Alspath Buleye Hulverleye Witlakesfeldâ— Kinwaldesheye Nuthurst and Didington all in this Countie as also with the Mannours of Briddebrok in Essex Westerham and Edulnebrugge in Kent and Turveston in Buckinghamshire to the Monks of Westminster upon condition that the Abbot Prior and Covent of that House or the Prior and Covent if the Abbot should be out of the way upon the Eve of S. Andrew the Apostle on which day the said Queen's Anniversary had used to be kept being solemnly revested in the Quire of that Monasterie should sing a Placebo and Dirige with nine Lessons C. wax Candles weighing xii li. a piece being then burning about her Tombe and every year new ones made for that purpose And furthermore that those Wax-Candles should be lighted at the Placebo and Dirige on the Eve of the same Anniversarie and burn on the day thereof till high Masse were ended And that all the Bells both great and small then ringing they should sing solemnly for her souls health And moreover that on the day of her said Anniversary the Abbot himself in case he were present or the Prior in his stead if he could not procure a more eminent Prelate should sing Masse at the high Altar the Candles then burning and Bells ringing and every single Monk of that Abby a private Masse the inferior Monks their whole Psalter and the Friers Converts of that House the Lords Prayer Creed and Aves as many as the Abbot and Covent should appoint for her soul and the souls of all the faithfull deceased And that likewise the said Prior and Covent and their successors on the same day to distribute unto every poor Body repairing to that Monasterie one penny sterling or money to that value staying till three of the clock expecting their coming before they should begin the Dole which was to be unto seven-score poor people And that of the Waxen Tapers before specified xxx to remain all the year long about the said Queens Tombe till the renewing of them on the day of her Anniversary all which to be lighted upon the great Festivall days and upon the coming of any Noble men thither and as often else as they should see fit And moreover that the said Abbot Prior and Covent and their successors should find two waxen Lights each of them weighing two pounds of wax to burn continually at the Tombe of the said Queen All which being performed the surplusage of the revenue issuing out of these lands to remain for their Pâ—ttances to be provided according as themselves should best like And for the more strict observance hereof every Abbot successively before the restitution of his temporalties to take a solemn Oath for observance of the premisses And that every year upon S â— Andrew's Eve the said King's Charter to be publiquely read in the Chapter-House in the presence of the whole Covent which Charter bears date at Barwick upon Twedâ— 20 Oct. 20 E. 1. The Monks of Westminster being thus possest thereof leased it for life in 34 E. 1. to Raph de Perham but after that time retained it in their own hands for ought I have seen to the contrary untill the generall dissolution of the Religious Hâ—uses by Kâ—ng H. 8. and then Westminster being made a Bishoprick as is very well known this Mannour inter alia became annext unto it but long it continued not so for in 4 E. 6. it was converted to a Deanrieâ— with secular Canons and the jurisdiction of the Bishop united to London Nicholas Ridley being then Bishop unto whom and his successors the same King Edw. 6. by his Patent dated 12. Apr. that very year gave and confirmed this Mannour which grant was afterwards ratified by Queen Mary But in 2 Eliz. there being a Commission for the reassumption of divers lands from the said Bishoprick at which time this Lorship came to the Queens hands it was in 15. Eliz. granted to Robert Earl of Leicester and his heirs which Earl in 23 Eliz. past it a way again in exchange for other lands unto the same Queen so that being thus in the Crown Sir Fulk Grevill Knâ—ght Lord Brook in consideration of his service as the Patent expresseth obtained it in Fee form of King Iames in 20. of his reign to be held of the Mannour of East-Greenwich for the Rent of Lxvii li. xvi s. viii d. per annum The Colledge ABout the later end of Ric. 2. time Walter Cook a Canon of Lincolne bearing a speciall affection to this place considering that it stood distant above a mile from the parish-Church did for the health of his own and his parents souls at his proper costs erect a fair Chapell here with a Tower-Steeple and Bells all in his Fathers own land to the honour of S. Iohn Baptist S. Laurence the Martyr and S. Anne adding also a Church-yard thereto purposing to endow the same Chapell with maintenance sufficient for one secular Priest to celebrate divine service therein so as that there should thenceforth be a Font for Baptizing of all Infants to be born within this Hamlet of Knolle and all persons there deceasing to be buried in that Church-yard For performance whereof he obtained a speciall Bull from Pope Boniface the ixth wherein was contained an Indulgence for seven days of their enjoyned Penance to all such as having made a true confession and were heartily sorâ—y for their sins and repairing yearly out of devotion thither on the Festivalls of our Saviour's Nativity Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection and Ascension Corpus Christi day and Pentecost As also on the Nativity Annunciation Purification and Assumption of the blessed Virgin Nâ—tivity of S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter and Paul S. Anne and S. Laurence and on the Feast day of the said Chapells Dedication and All Hallown day or on the Octaves of those Feasts and for six days immediatly ensuing the said Feast of Pentecost should confer something towards the repair of the same upon every of those Holy days for the space of seven years which Indulgence bears date at S. Peâ—â—râ— in Rome â—viii Cal. Dec. in the ninth year of his Papacie scil 21 R 2. To second which Bâ—ll was there a speciall License granted to the Inhabitants here residing by Iohn Burghill Bishop oâ— Coventry and Lichfield in 1 H. 4. â—â—nchâ—ng the celebration of Dâ—vine Service therein by any sitting Prâ—ests For confirmation oâ— whith Chapell so built together with the Churchyard before specified there being a speciall Patent made by King H. 4. dated 18. Nov. in the fourth year of his reign License was
and heir of Sir Henry Ferrers and Margaret Hekstall his wife of East Peckham in the County of Kent Knight He died th xxix th day of August 1535. leaving issue Henry Edward George and Nicholas Here also lieth Dame Constance his wife daughter heir to Nicholas Brome Esquire of this Mannour of Badsley-Clinton who died the xxx th day of September 1551. Here also lieth Henry Ferrers their eldest son and heir who married Catherine one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir John Hampden of Hampden in the Countie of Buck. Knight He died Anno D. 1526. leaving issue Edward Ferrers married to Briget daughter to William Lord Windsor of Bradenham 1548 and died Anno Dom. 1564. Ecce hic in pulvere dormimus Hic nostrae residet gloria carnis Disce mori mundo Vivere disce Deo Hodiae nobis Other Monumentall Inscriptions Upon a stone in the midst of the Chancell Here lieth Henry Ferrers Esquire son and heir of Edward Ferrers and Briget Windsor his wife who was sometime Lord of this Mannour and married Jane one of the daughters and coheirs of Henry White son and heir of Sir Thomas White of South-Warnborn He died the x th day of October Anno Dom. 1633. of his age the 84 th leaving issue Edward Ferrers Upon another near the former Here lieth the body of Edward Ferrers Esquire son and heir of Henry Ferrers and Jane White his wife sometimes Lord of this Mannour who married Anne the eldest daughter of William Peto of Chesterton Esquire and Elianor Aston his wife who died March the xx â—h aged 65. Anno à pariente Virgine 1650. leaving issue onely Henry Ferrers Haec mihi lapidea marmorea posita est immo tibi qui hoc legis quisquis es vigila dum vigilas in rem tuam maturè propera horam scit nemo Vale. In the body of the Church Here lieth Anne the eldest daughter of William Peto of Chesterton Esquire and Elianor Aston his wife who was married to Edward Ferrers Esquire Lord of this Mannour of Badsley the xii th day of February Anno Dom. 1611. and died in child-birth the xii th day of September Anno 1618. aetatis suae 33. leaving issue onely Henry Ferrers Inscribed on the South side of the Chancell in stone Edward Ferrers Esquire son and heir of Henry Ferrers and Jane White his wife did new build and reediâ—ie this Chancell at his own proper costs and charges Anno Dom. 1634. Monuments and Monumentall Inscriptions now defaced which were taken notice of by Mr. Henry Ferrers in Queen Elizabeth's time In the Chancell upon a raised Monument Hic jacet Beatrix Brome vidua filia Radulfi Shirley militis quondam uxor Iohannis Brome de Badsley-Clintoâ— armigeri que obiit â— die mensis Iulit anno Domini MCCCClxxxiii cujus anime propitietur Deus Amen Vpon a Marble there whereon was a large Portraiture in Brasse of a man in armour Hic jacet Philippus Purefey armiger filius heres Willielmi Purefey de Shirford in Com. War armigeri qui obiit xviâ— die mensis Septembris anno Domini MCCCClxviâ— cujus anime propitietur Deus In this Chancell there is a large grave-stone whereon is a plaine Cross but no Inscription under it lyeth buried Dorothy sole daughter and heir of Thomas Marrow Sergeant at Law who was first married to Francis Cokeyne of Pooley in this County Esquire and afterwards to Sir Humfrey Ferrers of Tamworth-Castle Under a large marble lying within the Church dore at the very entrance whereupon hath been a faire portraiture in brasse of a man in armour lyeth buried Nicholas Brome sometime Lord of this Mannour And under the next stone lyeth Elizabeth one of his daughters wife to Thomas Hawe of Solihull Under another neare thereto lyeth Edward Brome son of the said Nicholas by Katherine Lampeck his second wife which Edward married Margery the daughter to Iohn Bâ—aufo of Emscote in this County Eâ—quire and dyed Anno 1531. 23 H. 8. Church-Bikenhill REturning now to the stream of Blithe I come next to Church-Bikenhill This containeth four other petty Hamlets viz. Hill-Bikenhill Midle-Bikenhill Kingsford Wavers-Merston Merston-Culy and Lindon of all which Turchill de Warwick was possest in the Conqueror's time but then they were reputed for no more than two Villages the one certified to contain two hides with Woods of four furlongs in length and as much in breadth having been the freehold of Aluuardus before the Norman invasion And the other likewise two hides the Woods belonging thereto being xii furlongs in length and six in breadth all which one Aluric enjoyed in Edw. the Confessor's days In Domesday-book they are both written Bichehelle but afterwards Bychenhulle and Bigenhull wherefore considering therewith the present manner of pronouncing the word I do conâ—clude that the name originally grew from the old English word Biggen which signifieth a Hall on Mannour-House the later syllable shewing that it stood upon an ascent as we see this town doth It should seem that a younger branch of Arden's Familie whereof the said Turchill was the root had that which is now called Church-Bikenhill assigned for his patrimonie for in the Deed made by Henry de Arderne Turchil's grandson and heir of certain lands for the dowrie of Leticia his wife he likewise grants unto her servitium Eustachii de Arderne de Bychenhulla which it appears that he held of him But I am of opinion that the descendants of this Eustace forsook the name of Ardern and in respect of their residence here assumed the name of Bikenhull for in 33 H. 2. and afterwards I find mention of Thomas de Bikenhulle with relation to this place and about the beginning of H. 3. time Alexander de Bykenhull which Alexander bound himself in the summe of â—v marks of silver unto Sir Hugh de Arden of Hampton Knight that he would neither sell or pawn any part of his lands without the consent of the said Sir Hugh and in 19 H. 3. was one of the Justices of Assize in this Countie After which scil in 23 E. 1. Alice de Langley of whom in Wolfhamcote I have spoke wrote her self Domina de Bygenhull perhaps she was widow unto the said Alexander and yet the same year did Thomas whom I conceive to be his son stile himself so likewise But the next possessor of it though how I find not was Walter Parles about the later end of E. 2. time To whom succeeded William Parles who in 1 E. 3. past away his title therein unto Sir Iohn Peche of Hampton in Arden Knight whose grandchild Sir Iohn Peche in 28 E. 3. obtained a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here From which time for want of light I have not discovered any more thereof The Church dedicated to S. Peter though at the first Foundation of the Monasterie of Henwood it was united thereto continued not 〈◊〉 â—o thâ—se Nunns but was transmitted
after his Father's death as my authoritie saith he then made a new grant of the premisses to the same Lord Clinton during the minority of the heir then his Ward whereupon the said Lord Clinton in consideration of Lxx li. sterling made an assignation of the said Custodie c. unto Iohn Hales Gentleman at that time Clerk of the Hamper and a very active man in the world as in Coventre I have shewed To the posterity of which Sir Will. Compton it continued till that Will. Lord Compton his great grandchild by his Deed bearing date 3. Febr. 39 Eliz. sold it unto Sir Thomas Egerton Kt. then Lord Keeper of the great Seal from whom Thomas Dilke Esquire afterwards Knight purchased it scil 21. Iunii 41 Eliz. whose grandson William now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Michael was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at viii marks In 5 E. 3. Sir William de Clinton Knight purposing to found a Chantrie therein obtained License to bestow the advouson thereof inter alia upon the same with Lands and Rents to the value of xx li. per annum In pursuance whereof he gave to Iohn Lynie Priest Warden of the said Chantrie and his successors a certain piece of land lying then betwixt the road-way leading from Filongley towards Colshill on the one side and the Church-yard of Maxstoke on the other and extending in length from the Lord of Maxstoke's Quarrie to the Pale of his Park together with the advouson of the Church as by his Charter bearing date at Maxstoke on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady 6 E. 3. appeareth And moreover by the same Charter granted unto the said Warden and his successors 8. Messuages six yard land lying in Long-Ichinton as also the Bodies of viii Natives dwelling there with all their Chattells and Off-spring And besides this xx s. yearly Rent payable by one William Snede and Iohn his son out of a Messuage lying in Long-Ichinton aforesaid with the reversion of the same Messuage and one yard land after their deceases and lastly 4. Acres of land lying in the said town of Ichinton together with the advouson of the Church Which endowment being so made he forthwith by the consent of Roger de Northburgh at that time Bishop of this Dioces Iohn Lynie the then Parson whom he constituted Warden as abovesaid Sir Iohn de Clinton Lord of Maxstoke his brother and Parishioner there as also all the other Parishioners of Maxstoke ordained that the said five Priests should thenceforth celebrate divine Servâ—ce daily in the same Church where the Bodies of his Ancestors lay interred for the good estate of him the said Sir William de Clinton Iulian his wife Sir Iohn de Clinton his brother Alice his wife and for the souls of Sir Iohn de Clinton his Father the Lady Ida his Mother as also for the good estate of Edward the third then Kâ—ng of England Laurence de Hastings and for aâ—l the Lords Hastings in time to come And moreover of the said Roger then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield Henry Prior of Coventre and â—heir succâ—ssors and for the souls of all the Kâ—ngs oâ— England Lords Hastings Bishops of Coventre â—nd Lichfield Priors of Coventre Brethren and sisters Parents and benefactors and all the faithâ—uâ—l deceased Appointing that the said Warden and his successors as aâ—so the Subwarden and his should be always Priests in Orders admitted and instituted by the Bishop or Coventre and Lichfield for the time being and after the decease of him the said Sir William always presented by the said Sâ—r Iohn de Clinton his brother and his heirs having a House convenient for themselves and the other three adjoyning to the Churchyard of Maxstoke afâ—resaid there to inhabâ—te and lodge together And that the said Warden and his succâ—ssâ—rs shâ—uld pâ—â—vâ—de from time to timeâ— Bâ—â—â—ks Vâ—â—â—ments Lâ—ghts as also two Clerks fâ—r the use of himself 〈◊〉 Sub-warden and the other Priests aswell in the Church as in the Houseâ— viz. their Hall and Chamberâ— nâ—ght and day And mâ—reover that he and his said Sub-warden and thâ— othâ—r Priestsâ— shâ—â—â—d wear white Surpliceâ— with black Copes and Sâ—â—les after the manner of the Vicars-Chorall in the Caâ—hedrall of Lichfield whil'st they were about divine Service both in the Church and Quire And that the charge of the Books and Ornaments shâ—uld belong to the Sub-warden whose Office was to direct câ—ncerning the celebration of Masses viz. of whâ—m what howers and in what order by himself and the other Priests they were to be performed And that Bread Wine Water and Lights should be ready for the said Masses and divine exercises but at the charge of the Warden to be provided And further that aswell the Warden when he could fitly be at leisure and Sub-warden as all the Priests except some great occasion did hinder every day after dinner and before Vâ—â—pers should together in the said Church sing the full Office of the Dead viz. Placebo and Dâ—riâ—e except on double Fâ—â—tivalls and the time of Easter in whâ—ch theâ— ought to observe the custome of the Church of Salisbury in saâ—â—ing the said Office Aâ— also 〈…〉 and Canonicall howers with Note â— in the Qâ—â—re of the Church aforesaid admitting the Chaplains and Clerks of the same Church to sing with them if they pleased And likewise that after the Compline they should say the Commenâ—â—â—tion of the Dead â— in â—he said Quire according â—o the course above described And every Holy day in the Quire together the seven Penitentiall Psalmes and the â—v â—radualls with the Letanie and accustomed Prayers unless there were cause exprest by the Warden that they should say them out of the Quâ—re And that both the Warden and Sub-warden all the other Priests should every day celebrate their particular Masses in the said Church or Quire according to appointment except there were a lawfull impediment so that upon every Sunday the Masse of the B. Virgin should be celebrated with Note and the Mass of the day in such sort as was fit And upon every Munday one of them whom the Sub-warden should appoint to celebrate the said Mass of our Lady by Note with the Office for the Dead for the souls of the persons before recited and all the faithfull deceased And after the death of the said Sir William de Clinton and Sir Iohn his brother for their souls also And that another of the said Priests should celebrate the same day the high Mass of S. Michaell th'arch Angell Patron of that Church and of all the holy Angells with Note and the rest throughout the week thus Upon every Tuesday the Mass of S. Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury by Note besides the high Mass of the day by Note also On Wednsday the first Mass of our blessed Ladie by Note and the high Mass of the said day with Note as also a memoriall of S. Katherine the Virgin On
concludeth it to use the Angelique salutation of our Lady and recommendation of her Mother in this manner Ave Maria gratia plona Dominus tecum benedicta tu inter mulieres benedicta fructus ventris tui Jesus Amen Et benedicta sit venerabilis mater tua Anna ex qua tua caro Virginea immaculata processit whereunto the Quire shall answer Amen And lastly obliging his heirs and successors under the penaltie of God's curse with the curses of the blessed Virgin S. Mâ—chaell th'arch Angell and All Saints that they should not make any advantages to themselves out of the possessions belonging to this Monasterie appointed that if the Prior did transgress in any thing pertaining to his dutie every Canon of the House should be obliged to make complaint to the Bishop thereof and the Bishop to see satisfaction made and if any Canon should faile in his particular dutie and thereof be convicted before the Prior or other competent Judge that for the space of five years â—e might not be capable to bear any Office in the Monasterie except the Prior by the advice of the better part of the Covent should think fit to abate three years thereof or any part of that time And for the firmer observance of all these his Ordinances and the more lasting memory of this his establishment he caused this his Charter to be indented and exemplified in three parts the one to remain with the said Prior and Covent for â—ver the other with the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield and the third with himself his heirs and successors unto every of which he affixed his Seal procuring likewise a ratification thereof from Roger de Northburgh then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield as also by the Dean Chapter of Lichfield His bearâ—ng date here at Maxstoke x o ... An. MCCCxxxvi and theirs in April and May following Unto all which the K. added his Confirmation dated 4 0 Martii in the xiith year of his reign Neither was it long after this but that the said Earl made a farther augmentation to what he had so given as hath been said For within one year next following he bestowed on them the advouson of the moitye of the Church of Halughton in Leicestershire In 14 E. 3. the advouson of the Church of Tanworth which was immediatly thereupon appropriated to them by Wulstan Bp. of Worcester with reservation of a Vicaridge to the value of xx `marks yearly to the Prior of Worcester xx s. which Vicaridge was accordingly ordained within two years aftes In 17. E. 3. the Mannour of Shustoke with the advouson of the Church and Chapell or Chantry at Bentley then newly by them purchased of Iohn Lord Moubray Which grant was of so great consequence to these Canons as that by the advantage thereof they soon obtained in exchange for the same from Iohn the son and heir of Sir Iohn de Clinton before specified the antient Mannour-house of Maxstoke moated about and situate neer to this Monasterie together with the Park and all that part which hath since that time been known by the name of the Priory-Lordship Whereupon they converted the old House the antient seat of the said Founder's Ancestorâ— into Barnes keeping up the Moat for the turning of a Water-mill which so continued till within the memory of some aged persons lately deceased By which exchange it likewise appears that the said Founder had also given to this Monastery the moâ—tye of the Mannour of Netherwhitacre and that his nephew had it with Shustoke aforesaid upon that agreement In 19 F. 3. he gave the advousons of the Churches of Aston-Cantlow and Fillongley thereunto then newly obtained by him from Laurence de Hastings E. of Penbroke his son in Law which were immediately appropriated unto it viz. that of Aston-Cantlow by Wolstan B of Worcester and that of Fillongley by Pope Clement the vi th which grant Rog. de Northburgh B p of Coventre Lich. confirmed To these Concessions did Tho. de Beauchamp then E. of Warw. adde the advouson of the Church of Yardley in Worcestershire w ch was forthwith appropriated to them by Wolstan Bp. of Worcester whereupon they had a Release from the Monks of Tikford of all their right thereunto And now that they were so plentifuâ—ly provided for by their Founders bounty and favour of other Benefactors they soon after began to make severall purchases in sundry places though but petty parcells viz. in Maxstoke Coventre and Long-Ichinton as also of a Water-mill in Shustoke and in 10 H. 4. obtained from Will Lâ—rd Clinton Say x li. yearly Rent issuing out of certain lands lying in Dunton-Basset in Com. Leâ—c and in 38 H. 6. a Legacie of an C li. from Humfrey Duke of Buckingham to purchase lands of C s. per ann value to the end that the Covent here might be augmented by one Canon more in number sc. xiii in all and that the same Canon or some other should daily sing and pray for the soul of the said Humfrey and for the souls of his Ancestors wife and children at the Altar in the North I le of this Conventuall Church All which lands and possessions with some other whereof for brevitie I omit the mention were in 26 H. 8. upon the Survey then taken estimated at the worth of Cxxx li. xi s. viii d. ob per an Out of which sum considering these severall deductictions viz. for the Conventuall loaf Flagon of beer and Mess of meat given every day to the poor according to the Founder's direction as hath been already observed and valued at iv d. per diem which amounts to vi li. xx d. per ann In money bread and beer distributed to poor people upon Mâ—unday Thursday at the Gates of the Priory iv li. per annum To two Priests weekly celebrating divine service in the Chapell dedicated to the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin within the said Monastery by the appointment of Adam de Overton Lxvi s. viii d. per an Twelve pence per diem to a Canon specially celebrating for the Founders soul Lii s. per an For the Fee of Sir Edw. Ferrers Knight high Steward of the said Monasterie Lx s. per an And in Annuities to other Officers Pensions and Rents the clear yearly value amounted to no more than Lxxxi li. xiii s. vii d. ob So that by Act of Parliament the year following being involved with those which then went to wrack it was in 30 H. 8. with a multitude more granted out of the Crown unto Charles Brandon D. of Suff. and his heirs Which Duke for the sum of 2103 li. sterling sold the same with all the Lands Rectories c. thereunto belonging unto Robert Trapps of London Goldsmith as by his Deed dated 17. Iulii 32 H. 8. appeareth Unto whom succeeded Nich. Trapps his son and heir who leaving issue only
But none of them had better advantages for his faithfull services than the before mentioned Simon for in the first year of that King's reign he obtained the Stewardship of severall Lordships in com Rutl. viz. Upâ—ingham Preston Barowghdon Esenden and Greteham and all the lands in that Countie which had belonged to George D. of Clarence to hold during life and the like Office together with the Receiver-ship for the Mannour of Bedale in Yorkshire And having in the second been a Commander in the King's Army at the battail of Stoke had in consideration of his acceptable services a grant of the Mannour of Ravysbury in the Parish of Micham in Surrey and to the heirs male of his body in which the said King calls him dilectus serviens noster and the next year ensuing bestowed on him the Office of Comptroller of his petty Customes in the Port of London as also the Forestership of Thornewodes in Shirewood formerly conferred upon him by K. Edw. 4 th And in 11 H. 7. this Lordship of Colshill as I have already observed After which viz. in 12 H. 7. I find that he had a Commission to exercise Marshall-Law in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall against divers malefactors and that in 22 H. 7. he was first in Commission for the Peace in this Countie in 23 for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick and in 1 and 9 H. 8. underwent the Shiriffaltie of this Countie and Leicestershire as also that by his Testament bearing date 22 Aug. 9 H. 8. he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Chancell here at Colshill under the Tombe made by himself in his life-time which still remaineth and departed this life 24 Feb. 12 H. 8. leaving issue by Alice his wife daughter and heir to Iohn Waleys of Est-Raddon in com Devon Esq. Reginald Digby his son and heir Which Alice by her last Will and Testament bearing date ult Nov. 12 H. 8. gave a messuage here in Colshill of the yearly value of xxxviii s. viii d. and the Rent of vi s. viii d. issuing out of other lands as also one acre of land lying in Colemeadow within the said Mannour of Colshill to the intent that the issues and profits of the same should be distributed after this manner viz. every day in the year immediatly after the sacring of the high Mass in the Church of Colshill and at the end of the same Altar where the said Mass should so happen to be sung to a Child viz. male or female whose parents are Householders dwelling within the Parish and under the age of ix years that can and will before the said sacring kneel down at the said Altars end and say five Pater nosters five Aves and a Creide for the soul of Simon Digby her late husband hers her Childrens and all Christen-souls a peny of silver sterling beginning first at the House next to the Church and so in order passing on from House to House till all be gone through And to the Dean of the said Church for the time being yearly for his labour and diligence in seeing the said Prayers so performed and himself also saying at the said time a Pater noster an Ave and a Creed for the souls abovesaid the yearly summe of vi s. vâ—â—i d. And that the remainder shall be to maintain a solemn Obit in the said Church for the souls abovesaid with the number of three Priests whereof the Vicar of Colshill to be one and the Deacon and the Clerke besides the said Vicar in case he be present to have viii d. And to xii poor people the same time kneeling about the Herse and saying our Ladies Psalâ—er xii d. To the Bell-ringers v. d. For Waxe and Torches burnt then likewise xii d. To the reparation of the House out of which the greatest part of the Rent issueth iii s. iiii d. To the chief Lord of the Fee ii s. And the remainder being viii d. to run on and be kept in store for renewing of this Feoffment as occasion shall be But this bequest being in after times deemed superstitious and the land so given divolving therefore to the Crown the Inhabitants of this Parish obtained it by purchase as I have heard and setled part of the yearly profits thereof for the maintenance of a School there and part for to distribute to such Children viz. pence a piece as abovesaid which repairing to the Church at ten of the clock every morning shall say the Lords-Prayer before the Clerke who for tolling a Bell at that time and hearing the Children to perform that dutie hath also a certain yearly allowance payd unto him Of the before specified Reginald and his descendants I have little more to say till within the compass of this last age considering that their severall matches are expressed in the Pedegree before inserted and that t being Gentlemen of the superior rank they underwent the most publick imployments of note scil Justices of Peace Shiriffs and Commissioners upon all great occasions But in Sir George Digbye's issue grandchild to the said Reginald was there an accession of very much honour to this antient Familie First by the marriage of Sir Rob. Digby Kt. his son and heir with Lettice grandchild and heir female to Gerald Earl of Kildare in Ireland whose son and heir viz. Robert having a fair estate in that Kingdom of his mothers inheritance was by K. Iames created Lord Digby of Geashill his Castle there which Dignitie descends to the heirs male of his body And secondly by Iohn fourth son to the said Sir George who being a person of extraordinary parts and imployed by the same King in that notable Embassie of Spain for a marriage betwixt a daughter of that Kâ—ng and the then Prince of England was created Lord Digby of Shirburne in Dorsetshire 25 Nov. 16 Iac. and about four years after Earl of Bristoll Which Robert Lord Digby in 20 Iac. obtained a a new Charter for a weekly Mercate here upon the Wednesday and two Faires yearly the one upon St. Mark 's day and the other on St. Mathew's in regard the Mercate and Faire granted by K. Iohn as hath been said were discontinued The Church dedicated to St. Peter was very antiently given to the Nuns of Merkyate in Bedfordshire for in H. 3. time it had a Vicar endowed Nevertheless about the beginning of Edw. 1 reign there grew suits betwixt these Nuns and Iohn de Clinton sen. touching the Advouson thereof but at length they came to an accord and gave him C. marks of silver to quit his title thereto which he did by a Fine then levied whereby it appears that the now Churches of Lea Over-Whitacre and Nether-Whitacre were Chapelries antiently belonging thereto In an 1291. 19 E. 1. the Rectorie then appropriated to those Nuns was valued at xviii marks and the Vicaridge at vi marks but in 26 H. 8. at x l.
xviii s. vi d. over and above ix s. vi d. per an allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Of the Vicars here I find that they have antiently been the Rurall-Deanes for this part of the Countrie I mean the Deanrie of Arden containing the Hundred of Hemlingford wherein my present discourse lies Which order of Rurall-Deans was constituted by the Bishop or Arch-Bishop as the learned Spelman observes for the better regulating of Ecclesiasticall affairs concerning whom in a Councell held at London an 1237 21 H. 3. by Otho the Pope's Legate there is this Canon Quod in quodam Concilio statutum invenimus approbantes statuimus ut per quoslibet Decanatus prudentes viri fideles constituantur per Episcopum Confessores quibus Personae minores Clerici confiteri valeant qui Decanis erubescunt confiteri forsitan verentur In Ecclesiis verò Cathedralibus Confessores institui praecipimus generales All that I have farther to observe of this place is that in 4 E. 6. the tall and beautifull Steeple here suffered much hurt by Lightning and Thunder which crackt the West side of the Tower and shattered the upper-part of the Spire for repairing whereof though the Inhabitants sold one of their Bells yet did they shorten it xv foot at the least Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Henr. de Waleshale Cap. an 1285. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Alanus de Pollesworth Pb. die Lune post fest transl S. Th. Mart. 1300 Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate D. Galsr. de Neunham Pb. 7 Cal. Nov. 1320. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Adam de Whitington Pb. 3 Non. Aug. 1350. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Will. de Attleberwe Non. Dec. 1353. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Hugo de Lyndon Pbr. 4. Cal. Aug. 1377. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate D. Rob. Cheyne Pbr. 19. Dec. 1396. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Ioh. Wellysed Pbr. 6. Sept. 1441. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Will. Wodehouse Pbr. 4. Aug. 1447. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Will. Abell Cap. 18. Oct. 1455. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Ric. Eliot 15 Iulii 1500. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Mr. Tho. Barker in Decr. bac 6. Apr. 1504. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate D. Thomas Mathew Cap. 18 Dec. 1515. Thom. Pye ex consess Pr. C. de Bosco Humfr. Ryddyll D. Ioh. Fenton Cap. 6. Nov. 1538. Thom. Pye ex consess Pr. C. de Bosco Humfr. Ryddyll Simon Digby postea deprivatus 4. Sept. 1566. Ioh. Nevill Rad. Foxe Cler. 23. Iunii 1574. Episc. Cov. Lich. ratione lapsus Rob. Petipher in art Magr. 5 Iulii 1627. Monumentall Inscriptions in the Chancell Hic jacet Dominus Willielmus Abel quondam vicarius istius Ecclesie qui quidem Dominus Willielmus obiit xviii die mensis Maii anno Domini MD. Cujus anime propitietur Deus Amen Here lyeth the body of Sir Iohn Fenton Prest Bachelour of Law sometime Uicar of this Church and Officiall of Coventre who decessed the xvii day of May 1566. Whose soule Ihesus pardon Amen Monumentall Inscriptions in the Church Of your charite pray for the soullis of Grace Strelly aud Iohn hyr sonne Whych Iohn discessyde the xx day of Iune in the year of our Lord MDxi on whos soullys Iesu have mercy Prey for the sol ✚ of Simond Digbe Of your charite pray for the soules of Homfrey Grevill Gentilman and Katherine his wiffe the whiche decessed the day .... of Ianuary the yeare of our Lord MCCCCCxxxiii Here lyeth Isabell Ryddel late the Wife of Humfrey Ryddel Baylie of Colshil the only daughter of Edmund Parker of Hartshill Which Isabel dyed the xxixth day of October the yere of our Lord God MCCCCClxvi whose soul Iesu pardon Amen Here lyeth the bodyes of William Riddel of Blythâ— hall and Ione hys Wife the which William departed this life the last day of August in the yeare of our Lord God MDlviii And the said Ione dyed the xix of August in the yeare of our Lord God MDlvi whose soules Iesu pardon 14. Novembris A. D. 1629 aetatis suae 42. Here resteth the body of Iane late wife of Simon Blyth Gent. who had issue one sonne and 4. daughters whose soule rejoyceth with the Lord. Quam conjux suus amantissimus sic piè deflevit Te faustum non me miserum fleo proh mihi natis Absis Chara conjux religiosa parens Kingshurst THis place did antiently belong to the Mountforts before they were Lords of Colshill for it appears that Peter de Mountfort of Beldesert had it in Edw. 3. time and in 41 of that K's reign by his Testament bequeathed unto Richard his younger son all his goods both moveable and unmoveable there which Richard dwelt here and after his death Roese his widow enfeoft Iohn de Catesby therein who wedded her grandchild as in Lapworth is manifested But Sir Baldw. Mountfort grandchild to the said Peter by Iohn his eldest son getting into possession resided long upon it and so did Sir Will. son and heir to Sir Baldwin as may seem by the License he obtaiin 14 R. 2. from Ric. Scroope Bishop of Cov. and Lich. to have divine Service celebrated in his Chapell here yet at length Iohn de Catesby before-specified brought an Assize of Novel disseisin against the said Sir William but upon the triall lost it So that the said Sir William having thus establisht his title inclosed it laying much of his demesn lands parcell of the Mannour of Colshill thereunto and afterwards gave it unto Sir Edm. Mountfort Kt. his son by a second wife which Sir Edmund made the Parke in 26 H. 6. and resided much here But after him Sir Sim. Mountfort his nephew died seized thereof whose grandchild Simon also dwelt upon it and so did Francis his son betwixt whom and George Digby of Colshull Esq. afterwards Kt. there were great suits for it Which George layd claim thereâ—o as a member of Colshill and so consequently his right by virtue of K. H. 7. grant made to his Ancestor of that Mannour â—s hath been already said So that after much expence of money therein the said Francis was glad to come to an Agreement with him in respect that part of the lands belonging theâ—eto and lying without the Park did not so clearly appear to be parcell of Kingshurst as the other did and gave him a thousand pounds to quit his title and afterwards Sir Edw. Mountfort Kt. grandchild to the said Francis for further confirmation thereof
window thereof and therefore that portraiture in one of the North windows of Iohn Lord Moubray kneeling before S. Cuthbert must be of that Iohn that was beheaded at Yorke for his adhering to Thomas Earl of Lancaster which Iohn being doubtlesse a great Benefactor to that new structure and bearing an extra ordinarie respect to S. Cuthbert sometime Bishop of Duresme whose same for sanctitie and miracles was very great in the Northern parts where the said Lord Moubray's estate most lay did upon the rebuilding thereof honour him with the Dedication Bentley THis place though it do lye two miles distant interposed by Whitacre-superior 〈◊〉 Shustoke parish the reason thereof being plain viz. that in antient time being both possest by one and the self same Lord who founded and endowed the Church it was both lawfull and proper that he should dispose of the Tithes thereto arising out of it for the better support of the Incumbent the payment of them being then arbitrarie I mean to what Church any man pleased as in Church-Over I have shâ—wed which custome of payment ever after continuing to Shustoke hath fixt it to be of that Parish By the Conquerour's Survey having Woods of half a mile in length and three furlongs in breadth it was rated for one Hide and is there recorded by the name of Benechelie then being possest by Geffrey deâ— Wirce with Shustoke and valued at Lxiv pence at which time one Ansgot a Priest held it of the said Geffrey in pure Almes but afterwards with Wirce his lands it came to Nigel de Albani by whom as it appears by these authorities which I have cited in Shustoke the Ancestor of Walter de Camvile was first enfeoft thereof Which Camviles had large Woods here part whereof being given by Walter de Camvile in H. 2. dayes to the Monks of Merevale have since that time born the name of Monks-Park and been reputed a member of Merevale Out of the residue antiently imparked I find that King H. 3. gave command to the Shiriff of this Countie in 24. of his reign to deliver unto Alexander de Savensby then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield six Bucks in which Precept it is said to have belonged unto Maud de Kamvile wife of Thomas de Astley as the Descent in Arrow sheweth by which Maud most of this Lordship upon partition betwixt those coheirs came to the Familie of Astley and was by Sir Thomas de Astley in King H. 3. time granted unto Iohn de Wilnechote of Winecote juxta Stratford super Avon and his heirs excepting the Park and Out-wood and the service of certain persons residing in the said Hamlet of Bentley to be held of him the said Sir Thomas and his heirs by the Rent of five marks of silver yearly payable at the Feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist and S. Andrew the Apostle by even portions for all services and demands whatsoever which grant was afterwards confirmed by Sir Andrew de Astley Knight son and heir to the before specified Sir Thomas who reduced the Fee-ferm Rent to xl s. per annum to be payd at the termes abovesaid Which Rent in 12 R. 2. did Sir William de Astley Knight lineall heir of the said Sir Andrew give to the Sacrist of the Collegiate-Church at Astley and his successors for ever But of the Park above mentioned had the said Sir Thomas de Astley no more than a moytie for so it appears by the Extent thereof in 50 H. 3. Henry de Curson being seized of the other part by Descent from another coheir of Camvile Which Sir Thomas and Henry being both Rebells the one slain and the other taken Prisoner in that memorable battail of Evesham 49 H. 3. it was extended and valued at i li. vi s. viii d. About the beginning of King Edw. 2. time was this Mannour of Bentley for so I find it then called granted by the before specified Iohn de Wilnecote unto Henry de L'isle and Ioane his wife and the heirs of the said Henry to whom in the male line it still continueth as by the Descent in Moxhull the seat of that Familie it appeareth Here is now but the carcasse of a Chapell dedicated to the Holy Trinity which antiently was of use to the Inhabitants being a Presentative as the Institutions do manifest the Patronage whereof pertaining to the Lords of Shustoke and granted in 17 E. 3. with that Mannour and advouson of the Church by Iohn Lord Moubray unto Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntendon as also by the said Earl soon after to the Canons of Maxstoke became involved in the appropriation with Shustoke as being part of that Parish The endowment it had as by a Certificate to the Bishop in 34 H. 3. appeareth was an Annuitie of four Marks the Rectorie of Shustoke being then valued but at ten Marks which summe of four marks was payable by the heirs of Roger de Camvile viz. three marks and a half out of the Ferm of a Mill lying in Shustoke and the rest out of Ousthirne-grange all which being swallowed up by the Appropriation before specified there doth not appear to have been any more than one Presentation thereto afterwards and that as the words of the Institution do import to a Chantrie there so that how the Cure was served for a long time I have no certaintie Howbeit in 1 H. 5. did Sir William de Clinton Knight then Lord of Maxstoke and Iohn Boteler of Eccleâ—hale juxta Coventre by their Feofment bearing date on michaelmass-Michaelmass-day give a certain Tenement and half a yard land lying here in Bentley unto one Thomas Serjeant of Bentley and others and their heirs for the maintenance of a Priest celebrating divine Service every day in the said Chapell for ever But how or by whom this Priest was presented or placed there I have not seen till 2 R. 3. that the Canons of Maxstoke admitted one VVill. Moore thereto by a speciall Instrument dated 18 Iunii under the Covent Seal enjoyning him to perform divine Service therein onely upon Sundays and double Festivalls and at all other times at least three dayes in the week at the Altar of S. Catherine in the Priorie of Maxstoke in case he should be in bodily health and not otherwise lawfully hindred for the souls of the Founder and Benefactors of the said Chantrie and all the faithfull deceased Which Mill before specified did belong to this Chapell for by a Letter Patent from Iohn Lord Clinton directed to the Prior and Covent of Maxstoke and dated 6. Febr. 2 R. 3. taking notice that it was decayed and the VVater-course thereto filled up for want of clensing as also that the said Prior and Covent had a purpose to repair it for the benefit of this Chapell the said Iohn signified his pleasure that they should have leave so to do by cutting down wood in the antient Water-course and scouring
the same for that purpose By the Survey made in 26 H. 8. I find that the Priest weekly celebrating divine Service here had a stipend of Liii s. iv d. per annum payd by the Canons of Maxstoke but this was in lieu of the Mill in Shustoke which they had for of the Tenement and half yard land lying in Bentley it doth not appear by that Survey that they were possest Patroni Incumbentes Rad. fil Nicholai ratione custodiae terrae haeredis VVill. de Asseby VValt de Stretton temp H. 3. Nich. de Astley miles Rob. Morlanges ..... 1311. D. Ioh. de Moubray D. Rob. Ireland Cap. 3. Id. Febr. 1331. post mortem Rad. de Oulmor Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. VVillie Cler. 10. Cal. Ian. 1347. Arms in the East window of this Chapell Azure a Cinquefoile Ermine Astley Argent three Eaglets gâ—les L'isle of Moxhull Blithe THis being originally a member of Shustoke and involved therewith in the Conqueror's Survey came to Nigel de Albani out of doubt with Shustoke and by the said Nigel as I guess was disposed of in H. 1. time unto the Ancestor of that Family whose seat being at Th'ester-waver now called Cester-Over assumed that place viz. VVaver for his sirname and to fortifie this conjecture I have these evincing circumstamces whereof wanting better light at so great a distance I presume to make use scil the Tenure thereof from the descendants of the before specified Nigel who took the name of Moubray and that VVilliam a younger son of VVilliam de VVaver seding here in King Iohn's time had his sirname from hence his posteritie bearing the same Coat as VVaver did viz. Argent on a Fesse sable three Escalops Or as by a Pedegree drawn about the beginning of King H. 7. time appeareth Rog. de Blithe 50 H. 3. Will. de Blithe 30 E. 1. Rog. de Blithe 16 E. 3. Will. de Blithe 28 E. 3. Thomas de Blithe Escaetor D. Regis infra Com. Warw. 9 R. 2. Thomas de Blithe 2 H. 4. Margareta una filiarum cohaer ux Will. Bishbury de Bishbury in Com. Staff ar 4 H. 6. Ric. Bishbury Roesia filia haeres ux Ioh. Cleyton de Harwood parva in Com. Lanc. gen relicta 36 H. 8. Roesia filia cohaeres ux Ioh. Grosvenour de Tetnall in Com. Staff .... ux Will Leveson Ioh. Leveson de Bishbury gen 4 Eliz. Alicia altera filiarum cohaer ux Gerardi Râ—ngley de Tubington in Com. Staff Edm. Ringley Barbara filia haeres ux Ric. Lawley 37 H. 8. To which VVilliam de Blithe succeeded Roger who in 50 H. 3. was amongst other persons of good note of the Jury for extending the lands of those in this Hundred that had taken part with the rebellious Barons then newly vanquisht in the battail of Evesham From which Roger I have here drawn the Descent of this Familie so long as the male line that continued possessors hereof lasted and through the heire female till they past away their interest here to the end that its successive owners may the more perspicuously be discoveredâ— By which it appeareth that by the coheirs of Thomas de Blithe in H. 6. time it came to Bishbury and Ringley who making no division of it their posterity became Tenants in common thereto But long they kept it not for in 37 H. 8. did Reginald Bellers purchase that moitie belonging to Richard Lawley and Barbara his wife and in 13 Eliz. the other moytie from Iohn Leveson of Bishbury cosin and heir to Rose the Widow of Iohn de Cleyton as the Pedegree sheweth So that then being possest of the whole by his Deed bearing date 6. Iulii 21 Eliz. he conferred the inheritance thereof upon William his second son which William reserving an estate therein for himself and his wife during their lives sold the reversion to Sir Edward Aston of Tixhall in Com. Staff Knight who by his lâ—st Wilâ— and Testament disposed thereof unto Henry Skipwith of Tugby in Com. Leic. Gent. and Iane his wife and the heirs of their two bodies the said Iane having been his Concubine But of them did Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Bath son and heir to the said Sir Edward purchase it again in 5 Iac. Which Sir Walter afterwards Lord Aston of Forfare in Scotland by his Deed of bargain and sale dated 14. Nov. 1 Car. conveyed it unto the William Dugdale it being the place of my residence and where I compiled this present Work Ousthirne ON the skirts of Shustoke-parish is the confluence of severall Rivers viz. Blithe and Cole Tame and Blithe as also of Tame and Bourne as the Map sheweth in pursuance therefore of my methode I must passe over to the Western bank of Tame whereâ—â— first behold Ousthirne sometime a Grange belonging to Merevale Abby and for that respect still reputed a member thereof but originally the greatest part of it did belong to Shustoke being first given to the Monks of Merevale as I guess by Walter de Camvile in H. 2. timeâ— for at that time was the said Walter Lord of Shustoke as I have shewed and that he gave lanes to that Monasterie King H. the second 's confirmation doth manifest though the particular names thereof are not there exprest But upon the dissolution of Merevale this Grange coming to the Crown was granted with the site of that Monasterie unto Sir Walter Devereux Knight Lord Ferrers of Chartley and by him given as it seems to Sir Edward Devereux Knight and Baronet his son by a second wife whose son and heir Sir Walter hath within these few years sold the site thereof and most of the lands thereto belonging unto Charles Adderley Esquire now Knight Lord of Lea hard by Lea. OF this place there is no mention in the Conqueror's Survey it being then involved with Whitacre of which Constablerie it is till this day and so consequently possest therewith by the Marmions Lords of Tamworth-Castle From one of those Marmions as it seems was the Ancestor of Iames de la Launde enfeoft thereof which Iames lived in H. 3. time and in 37. of that King's reign had a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here From this Iames descended Iohn de la Launde as the Pedegree in Langdon sheweth who manifesting that his Ancestors had enjoyed a Court-Leet here with Assize of Bread and Beere and other Liberties thereto belonging in 3 E. 3. obtained a Charter from the King for confirmation thereof to himself and his heirs with Infangthef Tumbrell and Pillorie and bore for his Armes a Rend Cotized as by his Seal appears To whom succeeded Iames his son and heir the last of this Family that had to do here for in 41 E. 3. he quitted all the interest he had in this Mannour to Alianore his mother which Alianore by her
filia .... domini Say Barth de Sudley defunctus 20 E. 2. Matilda filia Ioh. de Monteforti Ioh. de Sudley defunctus 14 E. 3. Alâ—anora filia Rob. domini de Seales Ioh. de Sudley defunctus â— p. 41 E. 3. Iohanna ux Will. le Boteler mil. defuncta 41 E. 3. Iohanna filia Ioh. Beauchamp de Powyk mil. Thomas Boteler consangu haeres Ioh. de Sudley 41 E. 3. Alicia ux secunda postea nupta Joh. Dalingrugge mil. Ioh. Boteler deâ—unctus s. p. 5 H. 5. Will Boteler 5 H. 5. Rad Boteler miles Thesaur Angl. duxit Aliciam fil haer Will. Deincourt mil obiit 13 E. 4. Thomas Boteler miles duxit Alianorâ—m sororem Joh. Talbot mil. domini L'isle obiit vivo patre Eliz. ux ..... Norburie Henr. Norburie miles Joh. Norburie miles unuâ— consangu haered Rad. Boteler de Sudley mil. 13 E. 4. Anna filia haeres Ric. Haliwell Iana consangu haer Joh. Norburie mil. 15 H. 8. Edmundus Bray miles 15 H. 8. Anna ux ... Coâ—ham Eliz. 1. nupta Ric. Catesby mil. postea Wil. Clerke ar Fridiswida ux Percevalli Hart. mil. Maria ux Rob. Peckham mil Dorothea ux Edw. Domini Chaundos Francisca ux Tho. Lifeild Iohanna ux ..... Belknap Will. Belknap ar ob s. p. 2 R. 3. Henricus Belknap Edw. Belknap miles obiit 12 H. 8. Margeria ux Rob. Massy mil. defuncta â— prole 3 R. 2. pasturage for Cattell in Derset Radway and Chelverscote But after 20 E. 2. I have not found any more mention of him neither of Iohn his grandchild scil son of Bartholmew is there much to be sayd who died in 14 E. 3. leaving Iohn his son and heir little more than a twelve month old which last Iohn departed this world without issue in 41 E. 3. whereupon Thomas Boteler son of Sir Will. Boteler of Wemme by Ioane eldest daughter to the last Bartholmew and Margerie her sister afterwards married to Sir Robert Massy Kt. became his Cosins and next t heirs This Thomas Boteler was a Kt. in 9 R. 2. To whom succeeded as heir to his Mother Sir Raphe Boteler Kt. a man eminently imployed and highly advanced as I shall forthwith shew For having in 8 H. 6. served the King with xx men at Armes and Lx. Archers in his personall expedition for France he was in 20 H. 6. created Baron of Sudley with an Annuitie of CC. marks per an to himself and his heirs for the better support of that dignitie and became soon after Lord Tresurer of England But in that Office he continued not long for in 28 H. 6. he was retained by Indenture to serve the King for five years as Governour of the Cittadell at Calais with .... men at Armes on Horseback xxix men at Armes on foot and xx Archers all able men of war taking for himself ii s. per diem for his men at Arms on foot viii d. and for his Archers vi d. besides the speciall Fee of C s. the quarter for himself And immediatly thereupon being made the King's Lieutenant of that Town covenanted for the defence and saâ—eguard thereof and the Marches adjoyning to keep C. men at Arms over and above the number before specified and DCCCC Archers for a quarter of a year taking for his men at Arms xii d. a man and his Archers vi d. besides the reward accustomed And was in so great esteem with the Canons of Erdburie for his munifence to them in sundry wiâ—e but specially in procuring for them the Appropriation of the Church at Leyth in Lancashire dated 15 Ian. 28 H. 6. that in consideration thereof they did by their publick Instrument ordeign that two of their Covent should every day celebrate divine service in that Monasterie for the health of his soul appointing parâ—icular Masses for each day of the week binding themâ—elves and their successors to observe his Anniversarie after his decease with Placebo Dirige and Masse of Requiem and to spend vi s. viii d. yearly on the day of his said Anniversarie in their Covent by way of Pittance over and above their usuall allowance After which viz. in 30 H. 6. he had a speciall Pardon granted to him for all offences whereby any advantage mâ—ght be taken against him in respect of his great and generall imployments in which pardon his partâ—cular services to King H. 5. aswell as to the said K H. 6. in France and in the Dutchie of Normandieâ— even from his very youth are gâ—atefully â—cknowledg'd For he had been Lord Tresurer and Chamberlain to K. H. 6. and Standard-beaâ—er and chief Butler of England as also Knight of the Garter and Steward of his Household But after this I find no more of him till his death which hapned 2 Maii 13 E. 4. where it appears that Iohn Norburie and Will. Belknap were his câ—sins and heirs for Sir Thomas Boteler his son died before him without issue So that this Mannour came at length inter alia by Partition made 15 Maii 11 H. 7. to Sir Iohn Norburie and so by Iane his grandchild and heir to Sir Edmund Bray which Iane died seized thereof 24 Aug. in the last year of Q. Maries reign leaving severall daughters and heirs as the Descent before inserted sheweth whereof Frances married to Thomas Lifeild who by the name of Thomas Lifeild of Stoke-Dabernon in com Sur. Esq. together with the said Frances his wife did by his Deed of bargain and sale Dated 7 Maii 3 Eliz. in consideration of 1050 l. sell and convey it unto Iohn Giffard of Chillington in com Staff Esq. whose grandchild sc. Peter son of Walter Giffard in our memorie passed the Mannour consisting of a Royaltie and certain chief Rents to Sir Iohn Newdigate of Erdburie Kt. and the Demesns to certain persons in trust for the use of Thomas Lord Coventre late Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England So that at this day the said Mannour is now enjoyed by Ric. Newdigate Sergeant at Law son to the same Sir Iohn and the demesns by the Lord Coventre son and heir to the said Lord Keeper The Priorie of Erdburie WIthin the precincts of Chilverscoton Parish stood the Monasterie of Erdburie built in K. Henry 2. time by Raphe de Sudley for Canons Regular of St. Augustine the Foundation Charter whereof I never saw but do conceive that the substance wherewith he at first endowed it was as followeth viz. the Church of Chelverdescote with two yard land belonging thereto as also six yard land and a Wood there reputed for half a hide ten Acres of land lying in Broadmedow and a place called the Breche at Whitemore with certain messuages and half a VVood called the Hudells And besides this with some lands and a meadow at Sulingfen together with the Church of Dercet and CC. acres of land lying in one of Dercet fields As also ten
of an authentick Writer that St. Benedict first prescribed that Rule Benedictus cum sorore Scholasticâ primus Regularem vitam certis Legibus ordinibus cum hactenus seorsim liberè Christo inservissent inchoavit which Rule came in time to have that venerable esteem that as Baronius tells us In Liptinensi Concilio in Cameracensi Galliae agro sancitum est ut Monachi ac Nonnae juxta Regulam S. Benedicti Coenobia sua ordinarent The first Monasterie of Nuns which we had here in England was that of Berking in Essex founded by Erkenwald Bishop of London about the year of Christ DCLXVI long before the reception of St. Benet's Rule in this Nation I now come to this of Polesworth and in the first place shall take notice upon what occasion it was founded and then go on to shew the endowment thereof with lands c. King Egbert having one onely son called Arnulph who was a Leper and hearing by a Bishop which came from Ireland that the then King of Connaught had a Nun to his daughter called Modwen that healed all diseased people repairing to her sent his said son at the perswasion of that Bishop into Ireland where he was accordingly cured by the same holy Woman which great favour so pleased King Egbert that he forthwith invited St. Modwen to come into England promising that he would â—ound a Monasterie for her and her Covent Of which tender she soon after accepted forasmuch as the Religious House wherein she resided was by Wars betwixt those petty Kings of Ireland burnt and wasted and brought over with her two of her fellow Nuns Whereupon the King having a great opinion of her sanctitie recommended his daughter Edith unto her to be instructed in Religion after the Rule of St. Benet giving her a dwelling place in the Forest of Ardeâ—â—e then called Trensale where the said Edith together with St. Lyne and St. Osithe lived together in a holy manner and soon after founded a Monasterie for them on the bank of the River Anker at this place called Pollysworth the first syllable Pol importing a deepness of Water and the other scil Worth a dwelling or habitation constituting the said Edith Abbess thereof Ordinis Benedictini monialis I shall not take upon me to censure the truth of this Storie as to the substance of it but in circumstance perhaps there may be some mistakes therein for by an Author who more compendiously speaks thereof it is referr'd to King Ethelwolph son to K. Egbert whose son Alured languishing of a desperate infirmitie was thus cured by S. Modwene whereupon he gave unto her lands in this Realm for the founding of two Monasteries of Nunns one here in Arden at Polesworth wherein as he saith Osithe and Athea two holy Virgins and S. Edith sister to the said King Ethelwolph dwelt and the other at Streneshale But of their going to Oldbury and bringing back hither I shall not make any question though the appartion of S. Edith with her Crosier may be doubted forasmuch as the words of Robert Marmion's Charter and Milisent his wife do import no lesse which I have here transcribed Notum siâ— omnibus me concessisse Osannae Priorissae ad religionem instaurandam Sanctimonialium ibi Ecclesiam S. Edithae de Pollesworda cum pertinentiis it a quod Conventus de Aldeberia ibi sit manens Hence it is as I guess that this Robert Marmion and his wife are by the learned Leland accounted to have been Founders thereof in which repute I shall leave them forasmuch as it also appears that they gave the town of Polesworth totally thereto with their whole demesnes in Waverton all which were confirmed by King Stephen I shall now descend to such other Benefactors as these Nuns had the next and chiefest whereof was Walter de Hastings who gave Oldbury unto them it being a Cell to this Monasterie as I have already observed After which they had by Robert Marmion son to the before-specified Robert and Milisent the Church of Queinton in Gloucestershire which in 12 R. 2. they procured to be appropriate to them As also the Mill at Kingsburie â— called Hemlingford-Mill with certain Meadow-ground and other lands by Robert Fitz-Walter and Amabill his wife one of the coheirs unto Osbert de Arden and moreover a Mill at Hurley given by Alice sister to the said Amabil then wife of Simon de Harecurt both which were confirmed by Raphe de Bracebrigge afterwards Lord of that Mannour In Draiton in Com. Leic. they had a good proportion of land given by Picot Archer in H. 2. time and confirmed by Robert then Earl of Leicester with a farther augmentation by William de Trumpinton In Burdingburie in this Countie certain lands by Edelina sister to Robert Boteler of Ingleby for the souls health of Walter de Somervile her husband The Church of Barwell in Leicestershire by Erneburga the mother of William de Hastings the Church of Ansley in this Countie by William the son of Robert de Hardreshull Certain lands in Bromcote by William Fitz-Walkeline of Bromcote which were confirm'd by Robert his son and heir in consideration that these Nuns allowed him to have a Chantrie in his Chapell at Bromcote Whereunto Robert de Grendon in 32 E. 1. added a yard-land and certain Messuages lying in the same Village All those lands called Coppenhull neer Shuttenton given by William Burdet which Hugh his son confirmed temp H. 2. A yard land in Sirescote by Roger the son of Walter de Sumervile Certain lands in Snarkeston Com. Leic. which William de Appilby gave together with his body to sepulture in this Monasterie which were confirmed by Will. de Charnells and Clementia his wife The Mill of Freseley and a proportion of land there by Robert de Kaily with addition of more by Sir Iordan de Whitacre Knight and Will. Savage which William gave also certain lands in Dodenhale as also all the ground he had in Povele-Wood where the Chapell above S. Edith's Well was built In Bromcote they had an yearly Rent of xx s. given to them by Eustace de Mortein for the health of his soul and the soul of Hillaria his wife upon condition that if they did enjoy those lands in Shotswell whereof he made them a grant that then they should not challenge this Annuitie From Raphe Lord Basset of Draiton they had an annuall Rent of a mark of silver for the enlarging of their Diet upon the day of S. Iohn Baptist's Nativity in honour of that Festivall In Norton now Hoggs-Norton a Carucate of land given by Robert de Gresele and a yard-land by Geffrey de Greseley with certain Rents as also the Homage and services of sundry persons and in Harlaston the Rent of v s. yearly given by William de Vernun for the maintenance of a Lampe to
then Bishop of Coventre Lichfield reserving the Rent of a pair of Gloves or a Peny at Easter to Sir Raph de Grendon and his heirs for all service suit of Court and demand whatsoever After which it was not long ere it came to the hands of the Lords of Grendon again for I perceive that in 22 E. 1. Raph de Grendon son to the before specified Sir Raph had it From whom the greatest part of it is divolved with Grendon to the Familie of Chetwin and enjoyed by them at this day But the Inhabitants thereof are within the Leet of Polesworth Freseley THis was also very antiently belonging to the Marmions being originally a member of Polesworth as I guess by one of which Familie I conclude that Robert de Kaily or his Ancestor became at first enfeoft of it for it appears that Robert Marmion who lived in H. 2. time calls that Robert his Knight in respect he held of him by militarie service and confirmed the grant of Freseley Mill which the said Robert had made to the Nunns of Polesworth This Robert de Kaily gave and sold to the Canons of Lilshull in Com. Salop. full two parts of this Village disposing his body to sepulture in that Monasterie and having no issue left the inheritance of the rest to his Sisters whereof one was married to Simon de Whitacre of Whitacre-superior in this Countie and the other to one Richard de Pakington who ratified her Brother's grant But wanting the like Confirmation from the former there grew suits betwixt Sir Simon de Whitacre Knight grandchild to the said Simon and the Canons of Lilshull for part of that land which suits being accorded in 25 H. 3. he released unto them all his title claim thereto Notwithstanding which Release Iordan de Whitacre son and heir to the said Simon after his Father's death taking advantage of those turbulent times scil the Barons Warrs entred upon the same lands again and dyed possest of them in so much as Philippa his widow who shortly after became the wife of Iames de Astley retained them in her hands till another Agreement being made betwixt the said Canons and her unto which Richard de Whitacre her son and heir assented they had quitted their right thereto And yet did not this binde the said Richard de Whitacre but that he began a new suit for those lands whereupon a Jury was returned for triall thereof yet before it came to be so decided they grew to a finall accord which being made in 21 E. 1. he released once more all his right and interest to those lands So that afterwards they enjoy'd them till the generall dissolution by King Henry the viiith but then coming to the Crown they were granted out in 35 H. 8. by the name of the Mannour of Fresely unto Iames Leveson Merchant of the Staple to be held in Capite by the xxth part of a Knight's Fee which Iames the same year aliened part of them to one Iohn Beck That which remained to the Whitacres as hath been said into which the Free warren granted to Simon de Whitacre in 41 H. 3. extended came at length to Alan Waldeiffe by an heir female of that Family as the Descent in Whitacre sheweth and afterwards to Poultney as it seems but it being so small a proportion I have not farther taken notice of it Hall-End OF this place I have not seen any thing till K. Ric. 3. times that it came by a daughter and heir of Sturmie to the Family of Corbin whose antient seat is at Corbins-Hall within Swinford-Parish in Com. Staff where most of them have had their residence but their Descent since they had to do here I have added Nich. Corbin 1 R. 3. Johanna filia haeres Joh. Sturmie Ric. Corbin 20. H. 8. Anna filia haeres Thomae Ramsey de Hitcham in Com. Buck. Thomas Corbin obiit an 1584. Anna filia Will. Repington de Amington ar nupta 31 H. 8. Georgius Corbin ob 25. Sept. 1636. Maria filia Will. Faunt de Foston in Com. Leic. ar Thomas Corbin obiit .... Iunii 1637. Winifreda filia Gawini Grosvenor de Sutton-Colfield Henricus Georgius Thomas Corbin natus .... Apr. 1624. Leticia Dodenhale THis is a depopulated place and did totally belong to the Nunns of Polesworth part thereof being given to them about H. 3. time by William Sauvage sometime Lord of Pooley and the rest by Richard Dodenhale Merchant of Coventre in 21 R. 2. In consideration whereof the said Nunns by their publique Instrument dated 12. Apr. 1. H. 4. granted that there should be every day and night a speciall Collect said for the same Richard in their Chapter-House in such sort as they used to do for their other Benefactors and at his death his name registred in their Martyrologe as also his Anniversarie kept with Placebo and Dirige and solemn Masse celebrated for the soul of Henry Dodenhale sometime Merchant and for the said Richard with Beatrice and Alice his wives their Parents Benefactors and all the faithfull deceased over and besides the night of S. Thomas the Martyr and likewise one Collect once a year for the said Henry Richard Beatrice and Alice their Parents and Benefactors for ever And lastly that at the celebration of the Anniversarie of the said Henry Richard Beatrice and Alice on the Feast-day of S. Thomas the Martyr's translation all the Nunns present thereat to have xii Eggs in the name of a Corrodie for their faithfull performance of that Office Pooley THis as a member of Polesworth did antiently belong to the Marmions of Tamworth-Castle and being originally given by Marmion to Burdet in Fee-Ferme for the Rent of xâ— s. yearly was soon after granted from Burdet to Sauvage as appears by a Confirmation made from Geffrey Sauvage to William Burdet in 10 H. 3. Which passages from Marmion to Burdet and Burdet to Sauvage were about King Stephen's time for Osanna then Abbesse of Polesworth with the consent of her fellow Nunns granted to Helias the son of Geffrey Sauvage a Chapell here but without Service as also a Chapell-yard in consideration whereof he gave to that Covent the inheritance of four Acres of the best Meadow-ground in this Village promising to pay yearly during his life xii d. upon S. Edith's Altar on the day of her Festivall and bequeathed his body wheresoever he should depart this life to be buried in the Church of Polesworth Which Agreement was so made in the presence of Roger de Clinton then Bishop of this Dioces But this tenure in Fee-Ferm did not long continue for it is evident that Robert Marmion whom I take to be the man that first granted it to Burdeâ— did in consideration of x. marks in the nature of a Fine and the yearly payment of a Sore-Spaâ—hawk to himself and his
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
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
did bring to passe The body of this worthy Knight shall never come to Hell But yet in Tombe of Marble-stone till Iudgment day shall dwell To which Sir Thomas succeeded Francis and to him Sir Thomas who resided frequently here in Queen Elizabeth's time being a Gentleman of eminent note in those dayes but since his Descendants have seldome dwelt at this place I now come to that part of Polesworth-Parish lying on the North side of Anker Stipershill THe place which bears this name is situate on the Northern side of Anker a little above Polesworth where the ground hath a naturall and steep descent to the River and by the form of an old entrenchment seems to have been a little Fortification Till Edw. 3. time I have not seen any thing of its name but then being written Stipurnshull it was made use of by the Lords of Tamworth-Castle for the keeping of their Threeweeks-Court as it had been I presume in the Marmions time Which Court continued so kept there for a long time after as by severall Records appeareth all the Tenants of that Fee doing their suit and service there but now it is usually kept no more than twice in the yeare Waverton THis had it's name originally from the high situation Waver and Over importing one and the same with suprà and being a member of Polesworth belong'd to the Marmions of Tamworth-Castle for it appears that Robert Marmion and Milisent his wife gave all their demesn lands lying therein to the Nunns of Polesworth in H. 1. time or thereabouts and enfeoffed g Robert de Grendon of certain lands in this Village which lands are by an heir female come with Grendon to the Chetwins Severall other parcells there were which sundry persons held afterwards of the heirs of Marmion viz. the Culies of Radâ—live in Com. Leic. The heirs of Iohn de Langdon and Will. de Fago and likewise Roger Hillarie though to whom these were first granted will be hard to discover Bramcote THat this was originally a member of Grendon and so consequently possest by the first Henry de Feriers need not to be doubted neither that Râ—ger de Grendon or his Ancestor was very antiently enfeoffed thereof by the same Henry for I finde that Walkeline a younger son to that Roger being seated here assumed it for his â—irname and that it was held by his Descendants of the heirs of Ferrers by half a Knight's Fee the posteritie of which Walkeline bore the Armes of Grendon scil two Cheverons but the colours I know noâ— Of these William son to the said Walcheâ—ine â— was a benefactor to the Nunns of Polesworth by the gift to them of one yard land and four acres lying in this village which grant Robert his son confirmed and bestowed upon the Monks of Aucote a Meadow called Bramcote-Meadow but with Proviso that he and hâ—â— heirs might be Toll-fâ—ee for the Corn they should grinde at Aucote-Mill To the said Robert succeeded William sirnamed de Grendon in the possession of this Mannour whom I take to be his brother From which William at length descended Sir Thomas de Grendâ—n Knight that left issue Margaret his daughter and heir first the wife unto ..... Charnells and afterwards of Thomas Malorie Which Margaret in her last widowhood past away all her title in this Mannour unto Iâ—hn Charnells of Snarkeston Eâ—quire her son and heir and to the neâ—s of his body lawfully begotten as appears by her Deed bearing date here at Bramcote the Munday next after the Feast of S. Andrew the Apostle 7 H. 6. From which Iohn descended William Charnells who in 6 E. 4. sold it unto Thomas Burdet Esquire Ancestor to Sir Francis Burdet Baroneâ— the present owner thereof as by the Pedâ—gree in Arrow doth appear where I have spoken historically of that antient Family whose Seat was for many ages at that place till Conway by an heir female had it Since which time till the marriage of Sir Thomas Burdet Bâ—ronet with Iâ—â—e daughter and heir to William Franceis of Formark in Com. Derb. Esquire a Ladie of singular endowments they resided here but now have made choâ—se of Formark before specified for their principall Mansion Austrey HAving now done with that large Parish of Polesworth I come to Austrey whereof I find that Wâ—lâ—ric Spot the Founder of Burton-Abby in Com. Staff was possest in the time of King Aethelred viz. about Lx. years before the Norman Conquest as also that it was by him given u to the wife of one Morcar but afterwards it came to Leofrike Earl of Mercia of whom in Coventre I have spoke which Leofrike gave two hides thereof to the Monks of Burton before mentioned Of the residue after the Norman Invasion did Henry de Ferrers hold two hides and a half and Nigel de Albingi five hides and a half which five hides were in the hands of eight Theines in Edward the Confessor's â—or's days the Church standing within the compass of them But in the Conqueror's Survey where the value of the whole is rated at v li. x s. scil that which belong'd to Burton-Abby xxx s. That which Henry de Ferrers had xx s. and that which Nigel de Albingi held iii li. it is written Aldulvestreâ— the last syllable thereof being Brittish discovering its great antiquitie and the former that it was originally so called from some antient possessor thereof Of what the Monks of Burton had with other additions given by severall persons afterwards they continued possest till the dissolution of that Monasterie But of the residue neither were the posteritie of Henry de Ferrers nor of Nigel de Albingi long owners For Hugo fil Ricardi of whom I have spoke in Hatton had it in H. 1. time In whose male line it rested so long as the same did last and afterwards by Margerie and Maude sisters and coheirs to Hugh fil Willielmi grandchild to the before specified Hugh as the Descent in Hatton sheweth it divolved to other Families the said Maud wife of Stephen de Nerbon making partition thereof with Thomas de Clinton grandson to her sister Margerie Which partition being so made the moytie belonging to Maude descended to Margerie de Nerbone her daughter and heir who gave all her said purpart to the Monks of Burton before mentioned in pure Almes Osbert de Clinton a younger son to the said Thomas unto whom it seems that the other part was by his Father assigned confirming the grant Which Osbert died without issue as I guess for it is plain enough that his purpart of Austrey came to the posteritie of Thomas his elder brother who were Lords of Maxstoke as the Pedegree in Maxstoke and Colshill sheweth and so descended to Edward Lord Clinton who by his Deed bearing date 6. Febr. 31 H. 8. sold this Mannour unto Iames Leveson of Wolverhampton in Com. Staff Esquire who gave it in