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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36791	The antiquities of Warwickshire illustrated from records, leiger-books, manuscripts, charters, evidences, tombes, and armes : beautified with maps, prospects and portraictures / by William Dugdale.	Dugdale, William, Sir, 1605-1686.	1656 (1656)	Wing D2479; ESTC R4379	1,795,370	725

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 I●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 Chaddes●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

that he might not be admitted to that Bishoprick as being a man wholy seeking to inrich himself by unjust means a disturber of the Kingdoms tranquility welfare In the same year this Earl received Summons with divers other great men to be at Chester on Munday next before the feast of S. Ioh. Bapt. sufficiently accoutred with horse and arms to attend the K. in his Welch expedition against Lewelin ap Griffith his complices In 44. H. 3. he had the like command to attend the K. at Shrewsb on the feast day of the Nativity of our Lady thence to march with him into Wales as abovesaid And the next year following to be at London on the morrow after Simon Iude's day with Horse and Arms c. which hapned about the time that matters grew high betwixt the K. and his Barons by reason whereof the K. having had sufficient experience of his fidelity committed then to him the custody of this County and Leicestersh with the Castle of Sauvey But he lived not to see the issue of these troubles which growing on more more every day occasioned much misery bloudshed in this Realm for in Feb. 47. H. 3. he grew desperately sick insomuch as the K. apprehending his death not far off out of the great love affection he bore towards him as the Patent imports granted that the Executors of his Testament whensoever he should dye might freely administer of his goods Chattels for the fulfilling thereof And that for such debts as were due from him to the Crown the K. would require them of his Heirs and on the 26. of the same moneth departing this life was honourably buried in the Quire of the Abby at Missenden in Buckingham-sh After which viz. in Apr. following Hugh de Plessets his Son Heir by a former wife called Cristine and daughter of Hugh be Sandford did his homage and had livery of the Mannours of Okenarton Kydelington and Suttesdon in com Oxon. which were of her inheritance the two former being held of the K. by Barony When Margery his Countess dyed I am not certain I. Rous alledgeth that it was 7. Iunii An. 1243. 27. H. 3. but in that he is much mistaken for by what I have already shewed it appears that she was living in 34. H. 3. All that I finde further memorable of her is that in her widow-hood before she match't with Ioh. de Plessets she confirm'd to the Hospital of S. Mich. in Warwick for the health of her Soul and for the Souls of E. Henry her Father E. Tho. her brother Iohn Mareshall her husband and her ancestors all the obventions as well in great as small Tithes and other things of the assarts of Wegenock with the Tyth of the Paunage Venison of Wegenock and Rinsell as freely as Earl Waleran her grand-father did give them thereto And moreover bestowed on the poor of Warwick towards their better relief for ever a common Pasture called Cley-pits lying on the West-side of the Town I now come to Will. Mauduit the succeeding E. unto whom the inheritance of that Honour lands thereto belonging upon the death of the said Countess descended as Son Heir to Alice the daughter of E. Waleran This Will was of Hanslap in com Buck Chamberlain of the Exchequer to the K. by inheritance for by that service did he hold the same Lordsh. Of Warw. Castle with all other the Mannours c. belonging to that Honour he had livery 4 Apr. 47. H. 3. then doing his homage giving security to pay C. li. for his Relief The first mention that I afterwards find of him is that the same year he had Summons with many other great men to attend the K. at Worcester on the feast day of S. Peter ad vincula furnisht with Horse and Arms thence to march into Wales against Lewelin ap Griffin again in rebellion The next year following had he the like Summons to attend the K. at Oxf. in Midlent for the same respects but so great was the strength that the rebellious Barons had then got together that the K. grew necessitated to let his Welch expedition alone and march to Northampt. and in all probability sent away this E. to make sure his Castle of Warwick being a place so considerable in regard of its strength and situation and the rather because the Rebels were possest at that time of Kenilworth-Castle But such was the unhappinesse of this E. that for want of diligent guards they came from Kenilw. under the command of Iohn Giffard Governour of that Castle and surprized this at Warwick by treachery slew divers of the Earls Souldiers and carried him with his Countess prisoners to Kenilworth out of which before he could be delivered they made him pay nineteen hundred Marks for his ransome and threw down all the Walls except Towers of Warwick-Castle After which unhappy accident I finde no more of him than this Character by I. Rous viz. that he was Vir in Consilio providus caeteris virtutibus meritò laudandus and that he married Alice the daughter of Gilbert de Segrave but died without issue 8. Ian. an 1267. 52. H. 3. as also that his Heart was buried in the Monastery of Nuns at Catesby in Northampton-shire and his body at Westm. whereupon Will. de Beauchamp son to Isabel his sister as his next Heir succeeded him in the inheritance of this Earldom and estate who was at that time xxx years of age But Alice his Countess during her life for she was then alive held the Mannours of Brayles in this Shire Gretham in com Rutl. and Cheddeworth in com Glouc. which were assigned for her dower by agreement betwixt the said Will. Beauchamp and her with divers Knights fees in the Counties of Warr. Leic. Buck. Northampt Suthampt. Rutl. and Devon And having now brought the succession of these great Earls into the line of Beauchamp whose principal seat was the Castle of Elmley in Worcester-shire it will not be taken amisse I hope if here I disgresse a while in speaking historically of that antient and noble family especially considering that some of them had to do in this County long before they became Earls of Warwick The first with whom I will begin i● Walter de Beauchamp by descent a Norman who was the protoparent of this family that setled in Worcester-shire for ought I could ever finde to the contrary for besides all the Lands here of one Rog. de Wygracestra that K. Henry 1. bestowed upon him with divers ample priviledges thereto belonging he gave him the Sheriffalty of Worcester-shire to hold as freely as any of his ancestors had done which Office Vrso d'Abitot hereditarily held in the time of K. William the Conq. whose daughter Heir Emelina he had married Howbeit what

and one of the most active of those Barons but afterwards through the Kings mercy received his pardon for that offence And in the beginning of E. 1. time had the trust amongst other men of note in this County to be constituted one of the Justices of Goal-delivery for so I find him recorded in an 2. 3. 6. ● 8. E. 1. Which Nicholas left issue George who amongst divers other men of valour in that time had summons to be at Barwick upon Twede upon the feast day of the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist 29 E. 1. sufficiently furnisht with Horse and Arms to attend the King in his expedition against the Scots Which George by a fine levyed Octab Trin 2 E. 2. entailed this Mannour with the advouson of the Church upon his son Nicholas Charnels and Ioan his wife and the heirs of the same Nicholas by her the said Ioan reserving unto himself first an estate for life therein and was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament of 6. E. 2. but after that time he lived not long for in 13. E. 2. Lucia his widow held this Lordship in dower To whom succeeded Nicholas his son of whom I find that in 18 E. 2. he was joyned with Roger la Zouch for the choosing of xxx Hobelers and lx Archers in the Counties of Warr. and Le●c for an expedition into Gascoine In 13 E. 3. one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster In 20 E. 3. of the retinue to Thomas Hatfield then Bp. of Duresme in the French expedition which B. was the Founder of Duresme-Colledge in Oxford and Duresme-House in London In 30 E. 3. assigned one of the Justices in this County for putting the statute of Labourers in execution And that he had issue Thomas and he Maud a daughter and heir wedded to Laurence Trussell of Cublesdon in Staffordshire by which means this Lordship with divers Mannours also in Leicestershire divolved to that family but was not enjoyed without great suits for Iohn Charnells of Be●worth in this County combining with one Iohn Marshall Parson of the Church of Swepston in Leicestershire who had been a feoffee in trust for those lands intruded himself into the possession of a large part thereof obtaining a Charter of Free-warren in this Mannour of Bilton to himself and his heirs And for the better effecting of his purpose deduced his pretended title from the King alledging that Edw. Prince of Wales Father to the King dyed seized of it having been enfeoffed thereof by the said Iohn Charnells And the better to carry on his design caused an Inquisition to be taken after the death of the said Prince whereby it was found accordingly so that after much suit in the latter end of E. 3. time exhibiting a Petition in Parliament 1 R. 2. the K. directed his Precept to the Judges of the Common Pleas to do her right therein whereupon it seems she recovered it for in 9 R. 2. she with Laurence Trussell her husband demised it to Sir Raph Ferrers Kt. to hold during his life paying a Rose onely at the Feast of the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist yearly After which it continued in the line of Trussel till the beginning of H. 8. time for though I finde in the Institutions of 10. and 14. H. 4. that Sir Robert Lytton Kt. as Lord of the Mannour presented to the Rectory I conceive it to be an estate to him in trust onely because neither before nor after that time is there any mention of him otherwise and then by Eliz. daughter of Edward but sister and heir to her brother Iohn it came to the Earls of Oxford for in 22 H. 7. the K. granted to Iohn E. of Oxford and to Iohn Vere Nephew of the same Earl the wardship and marriage of the said Eliz to the intent as the Record saith that she should be married to the said Iohn Vere who was then servant to the King and next heir male to the abovesaid Earl Of which Trussells whose seat was at Aylmesthorpe in Leicestershire which they also had by Charnells heir I have onely added the descent that the succession of this Lordship may be the better illustrated for in Warwickshire they had no imployment of note But by Edward Earl of Oxford towards the latter end of Qu. Eliz. reign was it sold unto Iohn Shugborough Esq then one of the six Clerks in Chancery which Iohn dyed seized thereof in 42 Eliz. leaving Henry his son and heir of whom Edward Boughton of Lawford Esq having those lands in Bilton sometime belonging to Pipwell-Abby which after the dissolution were obtained by his Grandfather purchased it about the beginning of King Iames his reign and procured afterwards a Charter of Free-warren to him and his heirs therein which Edward disposed thereof to Thomas Boughton his second son who now scil anno 1640. maketh his residence here The Church dedicated to St. Mark was in a. 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at ix marks but in 26 H. 8. at xvi l. xs vi d. the Procurations and Synodals then being ix s. vi d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes temp Instit. Thomas de Leycestria rector eccl de Beaulton a. 1308. 7 E. 2. Nich. de Charnels Ioh. de Charnells filius D. Georgii de Charnells 8. Kl. Iulii a. 1322. 16. E. 2. D. Lucia quondam uxor D. Georgii de Charnells Ric. des Aspes xii Kal. Iulii a. 1322. 16. E. 2. Nich. de Charnels miles Gilb. de Sutton accolitus iii. Non. Sept. a. 1349. 23. E. 3. Laur. Trussell ar D. de Beaulton Matildis ux ejus patroni Ric. de Wodeman Pbr. xv Martii a. 1390. 14. R. 2. D. Rob. Lytton miles D. de Beulton Ioh. Wyllye Cap. xx Sept. an 1409. 10. H. 4. Rob. Lynton miles D. de Bylton Ioh. Redyman Cap ... Martii a. 1413. 14. H. 4. D. Will. Trussell miles Thom. Rygby Diac. 14. Aug. a. 1429. 7. H. 6 D. Will. Trussell miles Ioh. Woburn Pbr. xxvi Apr. a. 1444. 22. H. 6. D. Will. Trussell miles Ioh. Worsley Pbr. xix Martii a. 1445. 24. H. 6. Ioh. Veer Co. Oxon. ratione maritagii Eliz. filiae heredis Edwardi Trussell Magr. Will. Base xxix Iulii a. 1527. 19. H. 8. Alicia Worcester Rob. Dypsi●●l●r 16. Ian. an de Bylton vidua ratione dimiss Ioh. Co. Oxon. 1558. 1 Eliz. Alicia Worcester vidua ratione ut supra D. Thomas Shapman cler 6. Apr. an 1559. 1. Eliz. Will. Randall firmarius manerii de Bylton Edmundus Enos x. Dec. an 1570. Will. Replingham de Harborow-magna generosus ratione dimiss Co. Oxon. Ioh. Enewes in art baccal 18. Maii an 1621. Church-Lawford WEstward from Bilton and near the bank of Avon stands Church-Lawford within which Parish is likewise the Village of Long-Lawford lying somewhat

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 pri●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 Armes● 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

the foundations of much building there discovered and a place yet called S. Nicholas-Church-yard testify But touching that Monastery of Nuns all that I find is no more but this viz. that in the year of Christ 1016. Canutus K. of Denmark and that infamous traytor Edricus invading Mercia with an Army burnt and wasted divers towns in Warwicksh at which time the said House of Nuns whereof St. Osburg a Holy Virgin had been sometime Abbess was destroyed What this Osburg was I mean for her parentage or when she lived I have not seen for Iohn Capgrave a learned man and diligent searcher after our English Saints makes no mention of her I shall therefore descend to K. Edw. the Conf. time about the beginning whereof I find that the Noble Leofrick Earl of Mercia founded a goodly Monastery for Monks in the place where the other stood which Monastery was the chief occasion of all the succeding wealth and honour that accrued to Coventre as I shall sufficiently demonstrate when I come to treat in par●icular thereof for of its beginning growth riches greatness honour and dissolution I purpose to speak at large and therefore referring my discourse concerning the same and all other the Religious Houses Churches c. here to their proper place I will take notice of what I find otherwise memorable touching this City And because this great Earl and his Countess were the most eminent Benefactors that ever it had I shall here make a brief Narrative of them so far at least as they had any relation to this place The first of his Progenitors concerning whom I have any historicall authority was Leofrik Earl of Chester in the time of Ethelbald K. of Mercia about 900. years agoe whose descendants to this our Leofrik the Pedegree which in this discourse I have inserted doth succinctly point out As to the time of his advancement unto the Earldom of Mercia which contains the most of the Counties in this Midland part of the Realm I can say nothing In the days of K. Ethelred he was stiled Leofricus Comes at large which might be of Chester onely by defcent from his ancestors By K. Canutus he was made Capt. Generall of his forces an 1018. and grew afterwards in high favour with the said K. In the time of Hardi Canutus he was called Merciorum Comes and though that in the beginning of Edw. the Conf. days he is stiled onely Comes Herefordiensium yet do I conceive that he had that title attributed to him in such sort as Edwyn his Grand-child had of Comes Warwici as I shall hereafter shew those Counties being included within his Mercian territories That his power was very great in the times wherein he lived appears by these instances First that after the death of Cnut and great debate who should succeed him in the kingdom he with the Barons on the North of Thannes advanced Harold sirnamed Harefoot Son to the said Cnut unto the Crown And next that Hardi Canutus being dead he was one of the chief that raised K. Edw. called the Confessor at that time in Normandy to the regall throne and afterwards with intire affection defended him from the malice of Earl Godwyn This Leofrik wedded Godeva a most beautifull and devout Lady Sister to one Thorold Shiriff of Lincolnsh in those days and founder of Spalding-Abby As also of the stock and lineage of Thorold Shiriff of that County in the time of Kenulph K. of Mercia Which Countess Godeva bearing an extraordinary affection to this place often and earnestly besought her Husband that for the love of God and the blessed Virgin he would free it from that grievous servitude whereunto it was subject but he rebuking her for importuning him in a matter so inconsistent with his profit commanded that she should thenceforth forbear to move therein yet she out of her womanish pertinacy continued to solicit him insomuch that he told her if she would ride on Horse-back naked from the one end of the town to the other in the sight of all the people he would grant her request Whereunto she returned But will you give me leave so to do And he replying yes the noble Lady upon an appointed day got on Horse-back naked with her hair loose so that it covered all her Body but the Legs and thus performing the journey return'd with joy to her Husband who thereupon granted to the Inhabitants a Charter of freedom which immunity I rather conceive to have been a kind of manumission from some such servile tenure whereby they then held what they had under this great Earl than onely a freedom from all manner of Toll except Horses as Knighton affirms In memory whereof the picture of him and his said Lady were set up in a South window of Trinity-Church in this City about K. R. 2. time and his right hand holding a Charter with these words written thereon I Luriche for the love of thee Doe make Coventre Tol-free But besides his foundation and endowment of the Monastery here at Coventre before specified of his proper patrimony was he a great Benefactor to divers other Religious-houses viz. Leominster in Herefordsh Wenloc in Shropsh S. Werburgs and St. Iohn's in Chester Worcester and Evesham both in Worcestersh to all which he likewise gave divers rich ornaments To the Abby of Burton super Trent in Staffordsh he also granted a large part of Austrey in this County and departing this life in a good old age at his house in Bromley 2 Cal. Sept. 1057. 13 Edw. Conf. was honourably interred in the Monastery here at Coventre before mentioned unto which he bequeathed it with a great quantity of Gold and Silver By some Authors he is called Comes Leicestriae but 't is plain by what I have already cited that it should be Cestriae And now before I proceed I have a word more to say of the noble Countess Godeva which is that besides her devout advancement of that pious work of his in founding this magnificent Monastery for my Author says it was instigante uxore sua Godeva omnem thesaurum saith another eidem Ecclesia contulit c. She gave her whole treasure thereto and sent for skilfull Goldsmiths who with all the Gold and Silver she had made Crosses Images of Saints and other curious ornaments which she devoutly disposed thereto Neither did her zeal to Gods service and honour rest here for over and above all this she built the monastery of Stow near Lincoln dedicating it to the blessed Virgin and endow'd it with the Lordships of Newark Flatburgh and Martinewelle giving possession of them by a fair Jewell and rich Bracelets curiously wrought as her Charter imports whereunto were witnesses K. Edw. the Conf. himself Aldred Archb. of York Wlfwi B. of Dorchester E. Leofrik her Husband with divers more great Earls and others But I am

Martii 1624. Carolus Rex Will. Clerke in art Magr. 11. Iulii 1625. Smite FOllowing the before specified rivulet I come next to certain pasture grounds called by the name of Over-Smite and Nether-Smite where antiently two villages bearing that name stood the depopulation whereof hath been very antient it seems for the vestigia of the towns are scarce now to de discerned In the beginning of the Conq. time this place was held of the King by E. Alberic of whom I have made mention in Clifton but at the time of the general Survey it with the rest of E. Alberic's lands was in the K. hands and committed to the custody of Geffrey Wirce so often before mentioned but in that Record it is written Smitham and then contained 6 hydes the woods being half a mile in length and as much in breadth and all valued at vi l. whereof in Edw the Conf. time one Harding was owner Howbeit by the Conq. or K. H. 1. it was disposed of unto Rob. E. of Mellent and Leic. as it seems and by him or his son to Nigel de Albany whose son Roger de Moubray gave the Church to the Canons of Kenilworth at the request of Samson de Albeneio the then Incumbent which grant Ric. Peche B. of Coventre confirmed as Rog. de Clinton his predecessor had done and very soon after viz. in K. St●ph time granted the whole Lordship of Smite to Ric. de Camvill and his heirs to be held by the service of one Knights fee. Ordinis Cisterciensis Monachus Which Richard being a devout and pious man and much affecting the Cistertian Monks whose Order had then been but newly transplanted into England and finding that part thereof which is situate in the valley to be full of woods and far from any publick passage as also low and solitary and so consequently more fit for Religious persons gave unto Gilbert Abbot of the Monastery of our blessed Lady of Waverley in Surrey and to the Covent of that place all this his Lordship of Smite there to found an Abby of the Cistercian Order Whereupon they presently began to build and out of their own Covent planted some Monks here dedicating the Church thereof to the blessed Virgin also and calling it the Abby of Cumbe in respect of its low and hollow situation the word Cwmm in the British signifying vallis or convallis as doth also Cumbe and Combe in the Saxon Consonant whereunto the Vulgar in Yorksh. and those Northern parts term a large hollow vessel of wood such as they use to steep Barley for Malt in a Cumbe to this day Which pious and bountifull gift was confirmed by the said Roger de Moubray about the later end of K. Steph. time who acquitting the Monks of the service of that Kts. fee due to him from Ric. de Camvill as aforesaid granted to them a very large compass of woods lying towards Bilney as the bounds of them do more fully shew with dead wood for their use in his wood called Burchlei where he also allowed them pasturage for Cattle and to be quit of paunage for their Hogs And afterwards ratified in H. 2. time by Rob. E. of Leicester of whom Rog. de Moubray held the said Kts. fee in Smite at the desire of him the said Roger the above specified Ric. de Camvill and the Monks who thereupon joyntly allowed that the said Earl should be reputed the principal Founder of this Abby and that they would perform for him and his heirs such duties both in his life time and at his death as for their chief Founders And now having briefly spoke in Coventre of the beginning and increase of a Monastick life by reason that Monastery was not onely the greatest but the most antient Religious House of Monks in this County it will not be improper I conceive because this is the first that was here founded for those of the Cistercian Order before I proceed further to point at the beginning of that Rule and when it was first propagated in England First therefore for its original I shall deliver the substance of what an approved Author hath thereof In Burgundia est locus qui dicitur Molismus c. In Burgundy saith he is there a place called Molisme where in the time of Philip K. of France Robert an Abbot having built a Monastery and thither gathered a Covent of devout Monks after a time searching diligently into the strict Rules of S. Benet would have perswaded his disciples that they ought to live by the labour of their hands leaving Tithes and Oblations to the secular Clergy abstaining also from any breeches either of cloth or leather but they inclining to the custome observed in the Western Monasteries which were instituted by S. Maure the disciple of S. Benet and of S. Columbanus and of later time by S. Odo Abbot of Cluni said they would not recede from the same Whereupon the said Robert departed from them with one and twenty which were of his mind seeking long for such a place where they might live and observe S. Benets Rule as strictly as the Iews did the Law of Moses And at the length Odo D. of Burgundy favouring their devout purposes bestow'd on them certain lands in a place called Cisteaux in the Bishoprick of Chalons where the said Abbot Robert with the rest for some time inhabited by example of whose strict and holy life in that wilderness many began to do the like But in time the Covent at Molisme wanting a Pastor to govern them complained to Pope Urban shewing unto him the inconveniences that they sustained by reason thereof who having a paternal affection to both places commanded Abbot Robert to go back thither substituting some one of those Monks at Cisteaux to supply his room as Abbot there whereupon he constituted one Alberic to whom afterwards Stephen an Englishman of great piety succeeded This plantation at Cisteaux was in the year 1098. as the same Author affirmeth with whom agreeth an antient Chron of the Church of Durham further manifesting that this Abbot Robert was an Englishman his sirname Harding and a Monk of Shirburne who in his younger years forsaking his habit went over into France for advancement of his knowledge in learning and coming to the Monastery of Molesme before mentioned was there shorn a Monk the second time and shortly after became Abbot Which Monks increased so much by the great conflux of men to Cisteaux that from thence almost 500 Abbies of that Order were sprung within the compass of 55 years so that in a general Chapter held there by the Abbots and Bishops that were of that Rule it was ordained that from thenceforth there should be no more erected of that Order for their Monasteries were built in desarts and woody places by their own proper handy-work unto many whereof they gave special holy names as Domus-Dei Clara-vallis C●ria-Dei and the like But

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 Real●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

Penbroke's grandfather upon condition that he should not bestow it upon any but whom he did make his wife And moreover that the D. of Norf. was the principal mover of the said marriage but that the said Earl pretending a fear of the Q. indignation in case it should come to her knowledge made her vow not to reveal it till he gave leave whereupon all her servants were commanded secrecy therein And further was it likewise deposed that within two dayes after the birth of the said Sir Robert Dudley who afterwards was born at Shene and there christned by a Minister sent from Sir Henry Lea having to his Godfathers the Earl of Warwick his Uncle with the same Sir Henry and Godmother the Lady Dacres of the South by their Deputies the said Lady Douglasse received a Letter from the Earl which one Mrs Erisa but then Lady Parker read wherein his Lordship did thank God for the birth of his said son who might be their comfort and staffe of their old age as are the words of the said Letter and subscribed Your loving Husband ROB. LEICESTER As also that the said Lady was after this served in her Chamber as a Countess untill he commanded the contrary for fear the marriage should be disclosed Other depositions there were many by several persons testifying what the said Earl himself had said in relation to this his son as of one Owen Iones who swore that attending upon the said Sir Rob. Dudley at Offington in Sussex when he was but ten years of age and at School the E. of Leic. came thither to see him and said OWEN thou know'st that ROBYN my boy is my lawfull son and as I do and have charg'd thee to keep it secret so I charge thee not to forget it and therefore see thou be carefull of him Divers other expressions from the said Earl testified by sundry credible persons all tending to the same purpose as also of what Ambrose E. of Warwick his brother had uttered in like kind could I adde were it not for brevities sake But that it may appear what was the true cause that the Earl so declining his lawfull wife durst not publickly own this his son I shall observe from the same depositions viz. his marriage with the before specified Lady Lettice in her life-time with whose beauty he became so captivated that he endeavoured to perswade the said Lady Douglasse to disclaim the marriage above mentioned offering her no less than 700 l. per ann in the close Arbour of the Q. Garden at Grenewich in the presence of Sir Iohn Hubaud and George Digby in case she would so do and upon her refusal terrifying her with protestations that he would never come at her and that she should never have peny of him It seems that the said Lady Douglasse had then the custody of her son for I find it deposed that the Earl tendred her 1000 l. to deliver him unto Sir Edw. Horsey Captain of the Isle of Wight to be conveyed into the said Isle there to be brought up by him which she refused And there wants not strong suspicion that being doubtfull lest the life of the same Lady Douglasse might minister discourse of this foul play he designed to disp●tch her out of this world for certain it is that she had some ill potions given her so that with the loss of her hair and nails she hardly escap'd death which being discerned to secure her self from the like attempts for the future she contracted marriage with Sir Edw. Stafford Kt. a person of great honour and parts and sometime imploy'd as an Embassadour into France whereof afterwards most sadly repenting she said that she had thereby done the greatest wrong that could be to her self and son Having thus manifested what is observable in reference to Sir Rob. Dudley's legitimacy let us now see the Catastrophe For after these fair hopes in obtaining what he aimed at there was not onely a stop to all further proceedings in the before specified cause but a special Order by the Lords that the Depositions should be sealed up and no Copies taken of them without the Kings special license Which unexpected dealing so astonish'd him that he forthwith resolved to quit the Kingdome and to that purpose obtaining license to travel for 3 years went into Italy whereof his adversaries taking advantage procured his Summons to return by a special Privy Seal unto which not obeying this Castle and all his lands were seized on to the K. use by vertue of the Statute of Fugitives and soon after surveyed as by what I have here added to the end that the greatness and state thereof may the better appear The Castle of Kenilworth situate upon a Rock 1. The circuit thereof within the walls containeth 7 acres upon which the walks are so spacious and fair that two or three persons together may walk upon most places thereof 2. The Castle with the 4 Gate-houses all built of free-stone hewen and cut the walls in many places of xv and x foot thickness some more some less the least 4 foot in thickness square 3. The Castle and 4 Gate-houses all covered with lead whereby it is subject to no other decay than the glass through the extremity of weather 4. The rooms of great state within the same and such as are able to receive his Majestie the Queen and Prince at one time built with as much uniformity and conveniency as any houses of later time and with such stately Cellars all carryed upon pillars and architecture of free-stone carved and wrought as the like are not within this Kingdome and also all other houses for offices answerable 5. There lyeth about the same in Chases and Parks 1200 l. per an 900 l. whereof are grounds for pleasure the rest in meadow and pasture thereto adjoyning Tenants and Free-holders 6. There joyneth upon this ground a Park-like ground called the Kings-wood with xv several Copices lying all together containing 789 acres within the same which in the E. of Leic. time were stored with red Deer since which the Deer strayed but the ground in no sort blemished having great store of timber and other trees of much value upon the same 7. There runneth through the said grounds by the walls of the Castle a fair Pool containing Cxi acres well stored with Fish and Fowl which at pleasure is to be let round about the Castle 8. In timber and woods upon this ground to the value as hath been offered of 20000 l. having a convenient time to remove them which to his Majestie in the Survey are but valued at 11722 l. which proportion in a like measure is held in all the rest upon the other values to his Majestie 9. The circuit of the Castle Mannours Parks and Chase lying round together contain at least xix or xx miles in a pleasant Countrey the like both for strength state and pleasure not being within the realm of England 10. These lands have been

find that Henry de Neuburgh the first E. of Warwick after the Conquest in imitation of K. H. 1. who made the Park at Woodstoke containing 7 miles in compass and which was the first in England did impark it but at that time it contained no more than what now is called the Old-Park the rest having been enlarged by the succeeding Earls who had as it seems a Mannour here for so it is called in that settlement made 31 H. 3. by Iohn de Plesse●s E. of Warwick upon Will. Mauduit and Alice his wife And concerning this place I further find that the tythes of the assarts here as also of the paunage and venison were by Margery Mares●hall Countess of Warwick in H. 3. time given to the Hospital of S. Mich. in Warwick in pure alms And that in 26 E. 1. upon the extent of the lands belonging to Will. Beauchamp E. of Warwick then deceased it was certified that he had here at Wegenok besides the Park containing xx acres a little Pool and eight acres of arable land As also that in 9 E. 2. the underwood of this Park did yeild 26 s. 8 d. per an the herbage 10 s. and the paunage with the Nuts 6 s. 8 d. Howbeit in those dayes the Park was but small till Tho. Beauchamp E. of Warw. enlarged it with certain woods called Wegenok-Donele lying within the parish of Hatton and adjoyning thereto which he purchased of the Lady Scolastica de Melsa After which it continued to the succeeding Earls even to the last of that family but coming to the Crown with the rest of their lands was by K.E. 6. in 1. of his reign granted with the Castle of Warwick and divers other Mannours unto Iohn Dudley E. of Warwick upon whose attainder in 1 M. the Q. demised the herbage and paunage thereof to Henry Iernegan for 30 years at x marks per ann And Q. Eliz. in 14 of her reign past the inheritance of it together with the wood called Fernehill and the Mannour-house named Goodrest to Fulke Grevill Esq and his heirs Which Fulke being created Lord Brooke by K. Iames as I have elswhere shewed setled this and many other lands on Rob. Grevill his kinsman now sc. 1640. Lord Brooke by vertue of an entail with that Honour Touching the said Mannour-house called Goodrest first built by Tho. Beauchamp the second of that name Earl of Warwick in part of E. 3. and R. 2. time I suppose it was so called in respect that some of the Countesses of Warwick to avoyd much concourse of people retired hither when they were near the time of Child-birth for 't is plain that many of their children were born here as I have elswhere observed But all the further mention that I find thereof is that K. H. 7. the Earldome of Warwick being in his hands granted the custody of it with the Gardens and Waters in the Park to Edw. Belknap Esq of the body for life Cuckow-Church THat which beareth this name is onely certain grounds lying within Wedgnok-park where antiently stood a Chapel which was of the Earl of Warwick's patronage How long it is since that Chapel fell to ruine is uncertain but in 16 H. 7. the K. by his Letters Pat. dated 18 Martii reciting that it had been down to the ground of a long time and that the place where it stood with the Chapel-yard had also been and then was imployed to prophane uses As also that there were no Inhabitants there which should rebuild it to the intent that the same place formerly so consecrated might thenceforth be converted to pious uses bestowed it on the Dean and Chapter of the Collegiat-Church in Warwick and their successors together with xl s. yearly rent thereto belonging formerly given to the said Chapel in recompence of the glebe pertaining thereto which the Earls of Warwick had obtained in exchange for the said xl s. rent But the Village whereunto this Chapel did belong many years since depopulated was called Rykmersbery See more thereof in Beausall Blacklow-hill THere is nothing else memorable in the parish of Wotton but Blacklow-hill where the Earls of Lanc. and Warwick having at Dedington in Oxfordsh surprized Piers de Gaveston Earl of Cornwall a great Favourite to K. E. 2. beheaded him without judgement of his Peers or any course of Law on the day of S. Gervasius and Prochasius 7 E. 2. scil mense Iunii under the side of the hill in the place where since that time stood a Cross called Gaverston's-Cross Guyes-Cliffe THis being a great Cliff on the Western bank of Avon was made choyce of by that pious man S. Dubritius who in the Brittons time had his Episcopal seat at Warwick for a place of devotion where he built an Oratory dedicated to S. Mary Madg. unto which long after in the S●xons dayes did a devout Heremite repair who finding the natural Rock so proper for his Cell and the pleasant Grove wherewith it is back'd yeilding entertainment fit for solitude seated himself here Which advantages invited also the famous Guy sometime E. of Warwick after his notable atchievements having weaned himself from the deceitfull pleasures of this world to retire hither where receiving ghostly comfort from that Heremite he abode till his death as by my discourse of him in Warw. shall more fully be manifested It seems that this place continued in the same condition for a long time afterwards For I find that in 8 E. 3. one Thomas de Lewes being a Heremite here had the K. Letters of protection for himself and all his goods in which Record it is written Gibbeclyve And that in 10 H. 4. one Iohn Burry at that time likewise Heremite here had C s. per ann salary for to pray for the good estate of Ric. Beauchamp then E. of Warw. as also for the souls of the father mother of the said Earl Whether it was out of respect to the memory of the famous Guy before mentioned or to view the rareness of its situation I cannot say but certain it is that K. Henry 5. being on a time at Warw. came to see it and did determine to have founded a Chantry here for 2 Priests had he not been by death prevented After which the before specified Ric. Beauchamp E. of Warw. bearing a great devotion to the place whereupon then stood nothing but a small Chapel and a Cottage in which the Heremite dwelt in 1 H. 6. obtained license to do the like sc. for 2 Priests which should sing Mass in the Chapel there daily for the good estate of him the said Earl and his wife during their lives and afterwards for the health of their souls and the souls of all their parents friends with all the faithfull deceased Of which Chantry Will. Berkswell afterwards Dean of the Collegiat-Church in Warw. and one Iohn

Clement it came to Iohn Dunheved in right of Christian his wife heir to the said William Which Iohn upon the death of the then Incumbent had a purpose to have entred upon the rights of the Church howbeit the Abbot of Pipwell being advertised thereof got a great number of men Horse and foot and kept possession of it by force whereupon the said Iohn forbore to prosecute his intention yet afterwards the Monks and he came to an Agreement so that with Christian his wife he did by a Fine in 31 H. 3. quit his right in the advouson thereof to the said Monks Within the precincts of this Lordship was the same W●gan of whom I have spoke in Willoughby enfeof't by K. H. 2. with 8. yard land whose son Raph bestowed upon these Monks of Pipwell 7. yard land and a half thereof giving the residue to the Church of this place In consideration whereof the said Monks made him partaker of all the Prayers and benefits of their Order and covenanted to receive him to be a Monke in their Covent or else his brother in case either of them should be willing to live a regular life And besides all this gave unto him 27● marks of silver to his mother 2. Cows with Calves to Thurstane his brother a Horse and to Wygan his other brother xii d. Which Monks having so large a portion did in 11 E. 1. inter alia obtain a Charter of Free-warren in all their demesn-lands here In 28 E. 1. two parts of this Mannour were setled by the before specified Iohn Dunheved upon himself and Eustachia his wife for their lives the remainder to Stephen their son Which Iohn in 29. E. 1. with divers other persons of note had summons to attend the K. with Horse and Armes at Barwick upon Twede on the feast day of the Nativity of S. Io. Bapt. to march against the Scots To this Iohn succeeded Iohn his younger son Stephen being dead as it seems who in 11 E. 2. entred into Covenants with Sir Iohn Peche Kt. Lord of Hampton in Arden to prosecute suit at the costs charges of the said Sir Iohn touching this and other Mannours as his right by inheritance against whomsoever should lay claym thereto and having cleared his title to enfeoff the said Sir Iohn Peche of them to the use of him the said Sir Iohn and his heirs In consideration whereof the same Sir Io. covenanted to find provide for the said Io. Dunheved during his life a Robe of the same suite that he gave his Esquiers and in time of peace to furnish him with a Horse a Groom in such sort as he allowed to the rest of his servants of that rank but in Warr with two Horses and Grooms and one Horse armed in like fashion as he did to others paying to him the said Iohn x li. per annum quarterly at Hampton in Arden before specified Which Agreement bears date the Sunday after S. Luke the Evangelist the year before mentioned After this viz. in 19 E. 2. I find that Edm. de Verdon and Agnes his wife did by their deed dated 16. Sept. grant to the said Sir Iohn Peche and Alianore his wife and the heirs of their bodyes lawfully begotten this Mannour of Dunchurch but how Verdon came to any title therein appears not And that in 4 E. 3. Iohn Dunheved levyed a Fine thereof to the uses of the said Sir Iohn Peche and Alianore and the heirs of their two bodyes and for default of such issue to Nich. Peche son to the said Sir Iohn for life but after his decease to the right heires of the same Sir Iohn In whose family it continued so long as the male line lasted and then by Margaret one of the daughters and heirs to the last Sir Iohn came to Sir William Montfort of Colshill Knight to whose posterity it remained till the attainded of Sir Simon Montfort in 10 H. 7. Of which families viz. Peche and Montfort I shall peak historically when I come to Hampton in Arden and Colshill in Hemlingford-Hundred But then e●cheating to the Crown was by King H. 7. given to Girald Earl of Kildare and Eliz. S. Iohn his wife and to the heirs male of their bodyes 25. Aug. 12 H. 7. And by another Patent dated 20. Iulii 18 H. 7. confirmed whereby also Free-warren was granted to them therein which King H. 8. likewise ratified By vertue of which entail it divolved to Sir Iames Fitz Gerald Knight one of his sons by the said Eliz. S. Iohn But by attainder of the said Sir Iames in 28 H. 8. again resorted to the Crown and in 32 H. 8. was granted to Sir Sir Iohn Fitz Williams Knight and his heirs From which Sir Iohn it came very suddainly to one Anthony Stringer of London to whom I find that King H. 8. in 35. of his reign granted in lieu thereof and other lands which he then had of him in exchange the site of the Prior● of S. Margarets near Marlborough in Wilt-shire After which it stayd in the Crown till Que●n Marie's time and then was passed in 1. ● of her raign to ...... Smyth and others who the same year aliened it to Sir Rouland Hill and Sir Tho. Leigh Aldermen of London And so being by partition betwixt the said Sir Rouland and Sir Thomas allotted inter alia to the said Sir Thomas was setled upon Sir William Leigh his younger son which Sir William had issue Sir Francis who in 18. Iac. obtained a speciall Pat. for a Court-Leet to be yearly held within this Lordsh●● F●●m whom it is descended to Francis Lord Dunsmore his son and heir now living An. scil 1640. That which the Monks of Pipwell had here came in time also to have the reputation of a Mannour and in 3. 4. Ph. Mar. was granted out of the Crown to the said Sir Rouland Hill and Sir Thomas Leigh and their heirs and so upon the same partition being assigned to Sir Tho. Leigh is enjoyed by the Lord Dunsmore as abovesaid The Church dedicated to S. Peter being given to the Monks of Pipwell as I have already shewed was appropriated to that Monastery by Ric. Peche B. of Cov. in H. 2. time and the Vicaridge endowed by Alex. Savensby his successor an 1220. 13 H. 3. at which time there was x li. per ann reserved to be payd out of the fruits of the Rectory to the Cathedrall of Lich. for ever In an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xv marks per an over above the xv marks yearly Pension payable to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield the Vicaridge at lx s. But in 26 H. 8. at xiv li. xxii d. over above viii s. yearly allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Lambertus de Hale Cap. 8. Cal.

Thorp-Mundevile Pbr. 6 Cal. Oct. 1346. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Hugo Aleyn Pbr. 7 Id. Dec. 1348. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thom. Silvestre Cap. 7 Id. Maii 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Haywoll Cap. 17 Cal. Nov. 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Blacfordby Cap. 6. Febr. 1401. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thom. Halford Cap. 7 Oct. 1402. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Tho. Hulle 28 Ian. 1410. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Marchall Cap. 4 Oct. 1421. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Walt. Lydom 19 Dec. 1422. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rog. Wylkins 4 Oct. 1425. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Hull Cap. 9 Iun. 1427. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Loweles Pbr. ult Ian. 1428. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rob. Wells Pbr. 15 Nov. 1437. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Steph. Percivall Pbr. 20. Iunii 1439. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Gybbys 24 Ian. 1441. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Huggeford Cler. penult Iulii 1444. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rog. More Cap. 5 Febr. 1450. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Sherdun alias Iordan Cap. 26 Sept. 1454. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Marten Cap. 4 Maii 1457. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Alryche alias Lyllyngton Pbr. 23 Febr. 1511. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rob. Wylliamson Cap. 1. Maii. 1533. Edw. 6. Rex Angl. Magr. Ioh. Olde 22 Martii 1548. Edw. Bowne gen ratione concess Ioh. Hanby ar D. Will. Ludmans 19 Nov. 1554. Anth. Shughburgh gen Ioh. Dasset gen ratione conces Tho. Shughburgh Tho. Gardiner art Magr. 16 Oct. 1557. Benedictus Shukeburgh ar Ioh. Lounde in Leg. Bacc. 20 Febr. 1561. Benedictus Shukeburgh ar Will. Catherall Cler. 27. Oct. 1564. Will. Catherall hac vice ex assign Bened Shukeburgh Rog. Barker Iunii 1569. Bened. Shukeburgh Georgius Burley Cler. 18. Nov. 1572. Bened. Shukeburgh Ric. Marrell 27 Nov. 1581. Will. Lisley de Evenley in Com. North. ar Ioh. Harper Cler. art Mr. 23 Martii 1626. Lillington LOwer yet on the same side of Leame stands Lillinton perhaps so called from the old English word Lytlan which signifies small or little wherein the E. of Mellent held 4 hydes in the Conq. time with a Mill valued at vi s. viii d. and woods of a mile in length and half a mile in bredth all which were valued at xl s. having been the Free-hold of one Edric in Edw. the Conf. dayes Here was also half a hyde more which Rog. de Olgi then held of Turchill de Warwick valued at xx s. There is no question but that the E. of Mellent's part was by K. H. 1. or by the E. of Warwick upon such terms as the K. directed given to Geffr de Clinton Founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenilworth For by the foundation Charter of that Monastery he granted thereunto 2 hydes of land in this place And as for the half hyde which belong'd to Turchil de Warwick I presume that Hugo fil Ricardi of whom I am to speak in Wroxhall and Hatton was enfeofft thereof inter alia by the said Earl who had the most of Turchil's lands For I find that immediatly upon the foundation of the before specified Monastery the Canons of Kenilworth had the same by his grant in consideration whereof they rendred to him the said Hugh the Churches of Snitenfeld and Claverdon which they held of him and gave him over and above a Cloak valued at vi marks of silver and to Margaret his wife a saddle Nag After which K. H. 1. added his Charter of confirmation and so also did Roger E. of Warwick But the other two hydes belonging to the E. of Mellent above mentioned were as I am induced to believe given by the said Geffr de Clinton with his daughter Lescelina in marriage to Norman de Verdon for I find that they were held of the heirs of the said Norman and her by Rob. de Verdon and of him by Peter de Wolvardington by the service of half a Kts. fee. The extent whereof in 7 E. 1. was certified to be one carucat which the said Peter had in demesn and eleven yard land occupyed by ten servants who did manage that carucat for the benefit of the same Pet. This P. de Wolvardington granted to the Monks of Cumbe that his tenants here in Lillington should grind their Corn at their Mill called Blakedon mill Of the successors to the said Peter in this Mannour I cannot give a perfect account but of what I have found from Record relating thereto I will here adde which is that in 20 E. 3. Margaret de VVolvarton and Iohn de VValdgrave answered for half a Kts. fee in this place held of the heirs of Theob de Verdon and that in 10 H. 6. Iohn VValdgrave of the County of Buckingh Gent. and Ric. Beauchamp E. of Warwick held the same by the name of a Mannour by the service of half a Kts. fee. As also that in 10 H. 7. VVill. Grey Esq dyed seized thereof leaving Thomas his son and heir 15 years of age from whom it came to Edw. Grey who in 28 H. 8. was owner of it I now return to that which the Canons of Kenilworth had in this place which in 7 E. 1. was certified to be one carucat of land then held by them in demesn and 16. yard land managed by xx servants who performed divers servile works for the said Canons and payd also certain yearly Rent for the same Here the said Canons had a Court-Leet and other priviledges as appears by their claim in 13 E. 1. But this coming to the Crown at the dissolution of that House was by Q. Eliz. in 2. of her raign granted unto ...... Gerard and others and in 6. to Ambrose Earl of Warwick and the heirs male of his body but in 38 Eliz. being again in the Crown by reason of the death of the said Earl without issue was in consideration of the good faithfull service which Sir Iohn Puckering Knight then Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England had performed as the words of the Patent do import passed by the said Queen together with the advouson of the Church unto William Borne and Iames Orenge esquiers and their heirs Which William and Iames for a certain sum of money to them payd by Thomas Puckering son and heir of the ●a●d Sir Iohn then deceased and in performance of a Decree in the Court of Wards made 23. Oct. 38. El●z sold and confirmed the said Mannour to the same Thomas afterwards Knight and Baronet and his heirs by their deed bearing date 27. Iunii 39. Eliz. The Church dedicated to S. Mary Magd. was ●●ig●nally belonging to the Canons of Kenilworth from the very foundation of that

name of Herdwick-Grimbald was before the said partition assigned to William Dingley esquire and Alice his wife one of the daughters and heirs to the said Iohn and to the heirs of the said Alice from which William and Alice descended Francis Dingley of Shreveslench in Com. Wigorn. who in Dec. 32 Eliz. past it to Richard Clever whose grandson William now enjoys it Bradwell THIS village stands at a larger distance from Leminton than the other Hamlets within the Parish and taketh its name from the breadth of the Spring which riseth there But of it I have not seen any mention in Record till 49 E. 3. that upon the assignation of what Maud the daughter and coheir of Iohn Hastang had of her fathers inheritance it was reserved in the Kings hands in respect of the minority of Ioan the other sister and coheir which Ioan became the wife of Sir Iohn Salisbury Knight attained in the Parliament of 12 R. 2. But afterwards of Sir Rustine Villenoef Knight and dyed seized thereof 7 H. 5. leaving Ioan the wife of Henry Delves esquire her daughter and heir Birdingbury LOwer yet on the same side of Leame lyes Birdingbury being one of those towns that E. Leofrik gave to the Monks of Coventre upon his foundation of that Monastery and probably was so called at first from its situation so neer the brink of the River Bord in the French signifying a shore Which Monks had here in the Conquerors time two hides valued at xxv s. as appeareth by the generall Survey then made But through mistake of the transcriber the D. is put in the place of the first B. and a G. for the later so that in stead of Berdingberie as it should have been recorded it is written Derbingerie At the same time it was certified that Turchill de Warwick held one hide and half a yard land in this place by Goslinus his under-tenant then valued at xl s. How long those Monks of Coventre held their interest here I have not seen but by what I shall say by and by it will appear that it was granted by them to one of the Hastings of Allesley in this County and to hold by the service of one Knights fee. And for that which Turchill de Warwick had it seems it came to Henry de Armentiers of whom I have spoke in Wotton For in 7. Ioh. Henry Travers being impleaded by the said Henry de Armentiers for the service of a Knights fee which he held of him in this place confest the action and gave him a Fine in consideration of the arrerages then due Which part so belonging to Armentiers amounting to half a Knights fee was in 36 H. 3. certified to be held by Thom. de Clinton of the Earl of Warwick But the Mannour belonging to Hastings was about that time committed to the custody of Stephen de Wautham after the death of Henry de Hastings in respect of the minority of Henry his heir Which last mentioned Henry being an active man in that great rebellion against King H. 3. as in Allesley and Kenilworth I have shewed forfeited all his lands yet such was the favour that the King shew'd unto Ioan his wife as that he assigned divers Lordships of her said husbands amongst which this was one for her maintenance even at that time when he most obstinately held the Castle of Ken●lworth against him which also by vertue of the Dictum de Kenilworth came to his posterity For Iohn de Hastings son to the said Henry possest it and in 13 E. 1. claymed a Court-leet and other priviledges therein which were allowed And afterwards granted it to Sir Iohn Paynel Knight who in 28 E. 1. stiling himself Dominus de Burdingbury presented to the Church and in 6 E. 2. obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here and at Asheleye in Norff. But it seems the estate he had therein was only for terme of life for so was it certified upon the Inquisition taken 6 E. 2. after the death of Iohn de Hastings This Iohn Paynel was no lesse than a Baron having been summoned to the severall Parliaments from 27 E. 1. to 12 E. 2. But Drax in York-shire being his principall seat I shall say no more of him than that he bore for his Armes two barrs with an Urle of Martlets and dyed before the 19. of E. 2. Whereupon this Mannour was assigned to Iulian then the wife of Thomas le Blount as part of her dowrie from Iohn de Hastings her former husband but the inheritance thereof belonging to Laurence de Hastings E. of Pembroke son and heir of the before specified Iohn came at length by force of an entayle together with Fillongley as I have there at large discovered unto William Beauchamp second son to T. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who in 16 R. 2. granted it unto Iohn Olney Receiver generall of all his lands in consideration of his good and faithfull service to hold during life paying to the said William xl s. per annum Which Iohn then Lord of Weston-Underwood in Com. Buck. was in 2. H. 4. certified to hold half a Knights fee in this place of the E. of Warwick It seemes that the inheritance of it was afterwards granted to the same Iohn Fo● Margaret the daughter and heir of Robert Olney son to the said Iohn ● being wedded to Thomas Throgmorton of Coughton in this County brought it to that family whose grandson Sir George Throgmorton Knight together with Robert his son and he●r by their deed dated 27. Martii 32 H. 8. past it to Iohn Hylmer Citizen of London and his heirs But the next possessor thereof that I find 〈◊〉 Iasper Leek of Grays-Inne in Com. Midd. Gent. which Iasper 16. Dec. 10 Eliz. granted it to Henry Goodeere of Baginton esquire who in June next following sold it to Iohn Shukburgh then of Napton Gent. one of the 6. Clerks in Chancery whose great grandchild Thomas now enjoys it There was certain land lying in this place very antiently given to the Nuns of Polesworth by Edelina the sister to Robert Boteler of Englebj for the health of the soul of Walter de Sumervile and of Roger de Sumervile as also of her own soul and the souls of all her Ancestors and Successors to perform the Anniversary for the said Walter on the feast day of S. Mary Magdalen In consideration of which grant the said Nuns promised that whensoever she should happen to depart this life they would cause her body to be carryed to Polesworth and bury it honourably in their Cloyster with due Exequies The Church dedicated to S. Leonard was in Anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at vi marks and in 26 H. 8. at vii li. x s. over and above viii s. allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Ecclesiae

with the Lady Felicia before mentioned being gone into the Holy-land on Pilgrimage was not yet returned● But it so fell out that God being moved with the sorrowfull tears and intercessions of the English sent a good Angel to comfort the King as he lay upon his bed the very night of the Nativity of S. Iohn Bapt. directing that he sho●ld arise early on the morrow taking two Bishops with him and get up to the top of the North-gate of that Citie staying there till the hour of Prime and then sh●uld he see divers poor people and Pilgrims enter thereat amongst which there would be a personable man in a Pilgrims habit bare footed with his head uncovered and upon it a Chaplet of White-Roses and that he should intreat him for the love of Iesus Christ the devotion of his Pilgrimage and the preservation of all England to undertake the Combat for he should Conquer the mighty Colbrond and deliver his Realm from the Danish servitude Whereupon K. Athelstan with fervent zeal hasted betimes in the morning to Masse and sent for the Archb. of Canterbury with the Bishop of Chichester to whom he rela●ed his Vision taking them along to the Gate assigned About this time it hapned that the famous Guy before specified returning from his Pilgrimage in forreign parts landed at Portsmouth and being there advertised of S● Heraud's absence with the occasion thereof a● also of Earle Rohand's death together with the great distresse that the K. and his Nobles were then in hasted towards Winchester immediatly and comming at night unto an Hospital but little distant from the North-gate of that Citie in which place afterwards the Hospital in honour of the Holy-Crosse was founded where he rested himself on the next m●rning he went with other poor people to the City-gate To which place the K. being come for the purpose before specified and espying one neatly clad in a white short-sliev'd Gown reaching to the mid-leg wi●h a Garland of Roses upon his head and a large staft in his hand but looking wan and much macerated by reason of his travailing bare-foot and his beard grown to a very great length he concluded that the same was the man described to him by the Angel and being full of joy told those that were with him as much The Palmer for so was he at that time called taking notice of the K. and Bishops put of his Chaplet and reverently saluting them entred the Gate whereupon the K. hasted down and laying hold of his Coat tendred him entertainment with desire to hear some news but the Palmer returning humble thanks answered that the hour to take up his lodging was not yet come for that he intended first to visit the Churches of that Citie and there offer up his prayers unto God but afterwards seek some food for to refresh himself withall which being done he purposed to depart thence and perform such penance as he was to do for 〈◊〉 sins Whereunto the K. replied The reason why we have here stayed hath been onely to wait upon your coming for it is the will of God that you must encounter with that wicked Colbrond the Saracen for the safeguard of us and all the English Nation and freedom thereof from the yoak of slavery for Olaus K. of Denmark and Golavus of Norway have besieged us here almost a twelve moneth and now have we concluded a truce upon condition that we must finde a man to undergo the Combate with Colebroxd their Champion and in case our Champion shall overcome him they are forthwith to quit the Land without doing injury to any and not disturb this Realm any more therefore we do desire you for the love of Christ our Saviour and for the pardon of your own sins that you will heartily undertake this Duel against that cursed Pagan for the cause of Gods Church and Christian Religion To whom the Palmer answered Oh my Lord the King you may easily see that I am not in any condition to take upon me this fight being feeble and weakned with dayly travail Alas where are your stout and hardy Souldiers who had wont to be in great esteem with you Ah quoth the K. some of them are dead and some of them are gone to the Holy-land but not yet returned I had one valiant Knight which was Earle of Warwick called Guy and he had a couragious servant named Sr. Heraud de Ardene would to God I had him here for then should this Duel be soon undertaken and the War finisht and as he spake these words tears fell from his eyes Whereat the Palmer being very sorrowfull besought him to forbear further grieving assuring him that for the love of Christ Iesus and the blessed Virgin as also for the honour of Gods holy Church and for the Soul of Guy and Heraud his companion he would in the fear of God undergo that Combat Then did they bring him into the Citie and to the Church with ringing of Bells and Te Deum was begun with cheerfull voices and entertained him with meat and drink as also with bathing putting apparel upon him and for the space of 3. weeks cheared him up with the best refreshments After which when the day appointed for that Duel was come the Palmer rose early and heard 3. Masses the first of the Holy-Ghost the second of the blessed Trinity and the third of the Holy-Crosse Which being ended he forthwith armed himself with the Kings best harness and girt the sword of Constantine the great about him and taking S. Maurice his Lance in his hand got up on the K. best Courser being accounted of all that then beheld him the most proper and well appointed Knight that ever they saw From thence rode he through the midst of the Citie towards the place assigned for the Combate which was in a valley called Chiltecumbe where he waited for Colbrond who shortly after came so weightily harnessed that his Horse could scarce carry him and before him a Cart leaded with Danish-axes great Clubs with knobs of Iron squared barrs of Steel Lances and Iron hooks to pull his Adversary to him And so soon as he saw the Palmer make towards him calling loudly he bad him get of his Horse and cast himself down with submission But the Palmer arming himself with the sign of the Crosse and commending himself to God put Spurs to his Horse to meet the Gyant and in the first encounter pierced his shield so far that his own Lance broke into shivers which so enraged the Gyant that he bore up fiercely towards the Palmer smote his horse with such strength that he cut of his head The Palmer therefore being dismounted nimbly and with great courage directed his blow at the Gyants Helmet but by reason of his height could reach no further then his shoulder Then Colbrond smote at the Palmer with a square bar of steel but he seeing his danger interposed his sheild w ch bore of the blow and on a

death I have not discovered To Henry succeeded Roger his son in the Earldom of Warwick who amongst other of the great Nobility was a witnesse to the Charter of K. Steph. Laws in 1. Steph. but for his military actions I finde no great commendation of him Nay it is reported by an Author of that time wherein he lived that he was vir mollis deliciis magis quam animi fortitudine aff●uens Neverthelesse being one of those that adhered to Maud the Empresse he was with the Earle of Glouc. and divers other great men at the siege of Winchester in 6. Steph. at which time their Army being utterly routed by the Royallists most of the chief Nobility were taken prisoners but I do not finde that he had much prejudice thereby in regard K. Steph. who had been taken prisoner before in the battail at Lincoln was set at liberty upon condition that the Earle of Glouc. taken then at Winchester with the rest of those that were of his party should also stand in the same condition of freedom as they were before that overthrow And besides this is he reputed to have been the Conqueror of Gowher-land in Wales which his posterity for a long time afterwards enjoyed and wherein he founded a little Priory at Languenith annexing it as a Cell to the Monastery of S. Taurines in Normandy and to the Abby of Nethe gave certain Lands and fishing lying in Glamorgansh within his said Territories of Gouher-land The foundation of the Priory here at Warwick begun by his Father he perfected and did himself found the Collegiat Church of S. Mary in Warwick whereof together with its endowment I shall hereafter speak more fully as also S. Michaels Hospital for Lepers there together with the House of Templars beyond the bridge To divers other Monasteries was he also a benefactor viz. to Bruere in com Oxon. whereunto he gave the Lordship of Mersedene To Pipwell in Northamptonsh by confirming the grant of Causton in this County thereto which as his Charter testifieth he did for the Souls of his Father and Mother Rotrode his Uncle and all his Ancestors To Kenilworth by confirming the grants of the Mannours of Saltford and Newnham thereto and bestowing on the Canons of that House certain Lands in Warwick with the Churches of Brailes Welsburn in this County To the Monks of Preaux in Normandy by giving to them two Hides of Land in Walton To the monastery of Geroudon in com L●ic by conferring thereto the Town of Badsley Endsor in this County which was afterwards given up by those Monks to Earle William his Son and Successor To the Monks of Bordsley in com Wigorn in confirming the grant of Suhanger now called Sunger near Clardon in this County which Will. Giffard had given to that House and conferring on them one Hide of Land in Oxshelve To the Monastery of Thorney in Cambridge shire by confirming the grant thereunto made of the moyety of the Mannour of Wenge by Rob. de Montfort To the Priory of Canwell in Staffordsh by granting thereto 3. yard Land lying in Hull called Hill within his Lordship of Sutton-Colfield in this County And lastly to the Nuns of Wrocheshale by confirming the Church of Shukborow with certain Lands there as also in Bourton and Radford given to them by several persons as I have elsewhere fully declared together with whatsoever was granted to them by Hugh fil Ricardi their Founder By which his several concessions as also his often journeys to the Holy-land may appear that he was a very devout and pious man He wedded Gundrede daughter to Will the second Earle Warren and sister by the mothers side to Waleran ● of Mellent by whom he had issue 3. sons viz. Will. Waleran and Henry and a daughter called Agnes which Will. and Waleran were both Earls of Warwick successively Henry had Gowher-land in Wales left to him by his father but by his death without issue it came to Earle Will. his brother Agnes his daughter was married to Geffrey de Clinton Chamberlain to the King son unto Geffrey the noble founder of the Priory and Castle of Kenilworth who had in Frank-marriage with her by the gift of Earl Roger her Father ten Kts. fees of those xvii that he the said Geffrey held of his fee for which he was to do service in the Castle of Brandon And besides all this he had a grant of this County id est the Sheriffalty of the Shire for so it appeareth by sundry testimonies to hold to him the said Geffrey and his Heirs of the said Earle and his Heirs in such sort as he the said Earle held it of the K. This Earl Roger departed the world xii Iunii An. 1153. 18. Steph. in which year Henry D. of Normandy afterwards K. of England by the name of H. 2. came into England with a great power and was very prosperous for whose better welcome Gundred the Countesse of Warwick before mentioned outed K. Steph. souldiers forth of Warwick-Castle and delivered that Fort unto him To Roger succeeded in the Earldom of Warwick Will. his Son and Heir of whom the first memorable passage that I finde relating to any certain time is the Certificate which he made in 12. H. 2. in answer to that precept he received from the K. touching the number of Knights fees then held of him whereby it appears upon calculation of the particulars that they amounted to Cv. and a half This Earle William founded the Hospitals of S. Iohn and S. Thomas both in Warwick built a new Church for the Templars there and enlarged their poss●ssions by the gift of the Mannour of Shireburn and certain Lands in Morton both in this County ratified to the Monks of Combe a Hide of Land in Bilney granted to them by Thurbert de Bilney and made the like confirmation to the Monks of Pipwell as Earle Roger his father had done to them concerning Causton for which respect he was received into their fraternity as a Founder of that Abby To the Canons of Kenilworth did he ratifie the Churches of Loxley granted unto them by Rob. fil Odonis as also the Churches of Brayles and Wellesburne which his father gave them in consideration whereof they allowed him one Canon there presentable alwayes by himself This Earl had two wives viz. Maud the eldest of the two daughters and coheirs to Will Lord Percy and Margaret Deivill if Rous mistake not but I rather think that M●ud was the later for I find that by her speciall Charter as Countess of Warwick which was doubtless in her Widowhood she gave to the Monks of Salley in York-shire the Church of Tatcaster with the Chapell of Haselwood and one Carucat of Land in Catthon

William and 40. marks more together with the land that he bought in Britlamton to enjoy till she should be marryed and no longer To Sarra his daughter C. marks for augmentation of her marriage portion To William his eldest son the Cup and Hornes of S. Hugh To the Countess his wife a Ring with a Ruby in it To Sir Roger Mortimer a Ring To Sir Bartholomew de Suley a Ring To the Friers-Minors of UUorcester xl s. To the Friers-Minors of Gloucester 1. mark To the Friers Carmelites there 1. mark To the Hospitall of St. Wolstan at Worcester 1. mark To the Hospitall of St. Oswald there x sol To the Canons of Doddeford in Com. Wigorn. 1. mark To the Church and Nuns of Cokehill and Isabell his wife x. marks To the Church and Nunns of Westwood 1. mark To the Church and Nunns without Worcester 1. mark To every Anchorite in Worcester and the parts adjacent iv s. To the Church of Salewarp in Com. Wigorn. a house and garden neer to the Parsonage for to find a Lamp continually burning therein to the honour of God the blessed Virgin St. Catherine and St. Margaret Of which Testament he constituted these Executors viz. William his eldest son Earl of Warwick Sir Roger Mortimer Sir Barth de Sudley with the Abbots of Evesham and great Malverne It seemes he lived not long after for I find that his son and heir viz. William Beauchamp Earl of Warwick before specified did his homage to the Bishop of Worcester in the Chapell of Bredon for the lands he held of him 2. Non. Maii Anno 1269. which was within 4. months after the date of this his Testament And now before I pass further will it be requisit to observe two things First that the noble Lady I mean Isabell his wife who by the death of her brother William Mauduit Earl of Warwick became heir of this great Earldom was not onely Foundress of the Nunnery at Cokehill before specified but betook herself to a Religious life there as may be plainly inferred by the Legacy wherein she is joyned with those Nunns as abovesaid And secondly that this William the Testator though the said Lady his wife the rightfull inheritrix of that Earldom was then living and that he and she both together survived the said William Mauduit her brother above a twelve month never had the title of Earl but that his son and heir was invested with that Honour before his death as appeareth by these two instances from his said Testament viz. Item Willielmo primogenito meo Cornua ciphum Seint Huwe filiae meae Comitissae uxori suae unum annulum cum lapide de Rubie And afterwards Caetera autem bona mea commisi ordinationi dispositioni dilectorum Executorum Testamenti mei D. Rogeri de Mortuomari Willielmi primogeniti mei Comitis Warewyk c. In the first whereof he calls his said sons wife Countess and in the second plainly stiles him Earl Which title he the said William did not onely use in that Instrument of Agreement made betwixt him and Alice the widow of William Mauduit the late Earl in 52 H. 3. whereof I have formerly spoke but hath the same attributed to him by the Kings Precept bearing date 9. Martii next ensuing the month of Ian. wherein the Earl his Uncle dyed his Father and Mother being both alive Where may be also discerned that he was in good esteem with the King forasmuch as by the same Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer it appears that the King pardoned his Relief viz. C li. and at the same time acquitted him of xcv li. which William Mauduit the late Earl owed to a Jew of London That this William Beauchamp might bear the title of Earl by right from his mother she being heir generall to Mauduit considering what the custome of those antient times was as Mr Selden in his Titles of Honour hath observed I shall not need here to argue But whether he ought so to have done during his fathers life especially before his mothers decease had it not been by the Kings speciall favour I make a great question All that I shall say herein is to shew some probable reason why he was so summoned during their times which is from what I find delivered by Leland out of an old Chronicle of the gests of England written in French but with some mistake exprest The words are these The old Lord Beauchamp of Helmeley sent 3. or 4. of his sons to the battail of Eavesham to help K. Henry the third and Prince Edward against Simon Mountford and the Barons And these brether with their band did a great feate in vanquishing the hoste of Mountfort whereupon the eldest had Bellomont 's heir and the residue were highly preferred The Beauchamps afterwards kept the name of Earl of Warwick to King Edward the fourth's time Now that the substance of this is true viz. that for the service done in that battail he was by the Kings speciall favour honoured with the title of Earl I am very inclinable to believe yet that either he or his father did marry the immediat heir of Bellomont or that the Beauchamps kept the name of Earls till E. 4. time cannot be proved But I return to his Story The 9. of Febr. 52 H. 3. he did his homage as nephew and heir to the said William Mauduit Earl of Warwick for all the lands descended to him by his fa●hers death at which time the King did express that p●o laudabili servicio quod dilectus fidel●s noster Will. de Bellocampo Comes Warwici nobis impendit for those are the words of the Writ he was contented to accept of him for those debts which we●e due from his father to the Exchequer xx li. per annum till they were run up And in further remuneration of his services did he the year following pardon unto him xcv li. of the same And as he stood in great esteem with K. H. 3. so also did he with K. E. 1. For mense Pasch. 2 E. 1. he was sent in Commission with Roger de Clifford William Bagod Odo de Hodenet and the Prior of S. Thomas juxta Stafford unto the ford of Montgomery in Wales to examin hear and reform the wrongs and trespasses done in those parts contrary to the form of peace concluded betwixt the said King Henry and Lewelin Prince of Wales and to rectify all things according to the tenour of that Agreement at which meeting the Prince of Wales was to be there or send Commissioners on his part to manage that business In 4 E. 1. he was constituted Captain generall of all the Kings Forces in Cheshire and Lancashire for securing those Counties against the vio●ence of the Welch and the next year following attended the King in that notable expedition of Wales wherein he became so victorious but in 6 E. 1. his Office of Chamberlainship of the

Exchequer was seized into the Kings hands by reason of some misdemeanour therein committed by one William de Bradecote his Clerke howbeit the King taking into consideration his speciall services before exprest made a quick restitution of it again I find that this Earl had great suits with William de Breause for the dominion of Gowher in Wales wrongfully alienated by King Iohn 4. Ioh. to Will. de Breause great-grandfather of this William whilst Henry Earl of Warwick was in his minority but could not recover it In 15 E. 1. he was again imployed into Wales at which time he beseiged the Castle of Drosselan and had ccxl li. delivered to him by the Bishop of Ely then Treasurer for the defraying his charges in that service At that time the King being in France had constituted Edmund Earl of Cornwall his lieutenant here in England during his absence who taking great care to preserve all things in quiet here whilst the King was away directed his speciall Precept to this Earl of Warwick and other great men requiring them most strictly that they should not ride with armed power in any part of the Kingdom for any respect whatsoever to the terrour of the Kings leige people and disturbance of the Peace but if that any diff●rence did arise betwixt them and others they should make it known unto the said E. of Cornwall who would apply a timely remedy thereto In 23 E. 1. being again in Wales with the K. he performed a notable Warlike exploit which was thus Hearing that a great body of the Welch were got together in a plain betwixt two woods and to prevent any danger had fastned their pikes in the ground sloping towards their assailants he marcht thither with a choyse company of Cross-bow-men and Archers and in the night time incompassing them put betwixt every two Horsemen one Crossbow-man who killing many of them that supported those Pikes the Horse charged in suddainly and made so great a slaughter that the like hath seldom been heard The next ensuing year he received command to be at New-castle upon Tine on the first of March furnisht with Horse and Armes for an expedition into Scotland and afterwards was sent with Iohn Earl of Surrey to recover the Castle of Dunbar trecherously gained by the Scots In which action they were constrained to cope with the whole Scotch Army that came to raise the Siege but at length after a sharp dispute obtained a glorious victory wherein the number of slain were supposed to be ten thousand which success made the Castle suddainly to render In 25 E. 1. he had command to be at London upon the Sunday next after the Octaves of S. Iohn Bapt. well provided with Horse and Armes to attend the King into Flanders but it seemes he had other direction to stay behind for I find that he was one of those who were made Governours to Prince Edward then in minority during the Kings absence whom the King had constituted his Lieutenant during that time In the same year he was made Governour of the Castle and Forrest of Rokingham in Com. Northampt. And in Oct. following again appointed to be at New-castle upon Tine on St. Nicholas day to march against the Scotts with Prince Edward But that proved an unhappy business the English Army being for the most part destroyed in attempting to pass the Bridge at Sterling This year it was and on Holy-Rood day being in perfect health that he made his Testament whereby he disposed his body to sepulture in the Quire of the Friers-Minors a● Worcester in case he should depart this life within the compass of the four Eng●ish Seas but if otherwise then in the next House of Friers-M●nors to that place where his death might happen and his Heart wheresoever the Countess his dear consort should resolve to be herself interred To which place when his body was to be buried did he bequeath two great Horses viz. those which at his funerall should carry his Armour for the celebration whereof he gave CC li. which was as much as three thousand in these times For the maintenance of two Souldiers in the Holy-land he gave C li. To Maud his Countess all his silver vessell with his Cross wherein was contained part of the wood that had been of the very Cross whereupon our B. Saviour dyed As also the Vestments belonging to his Chapell to make use of during her life but afterwards the best suit to remain to Guy his eldest son His second suit to his Chapell of Hanslape and the third to his Chapell of Anneley To Guy his son a gold Ring with a Ruby in it together with his blessing To his said Countess a Cup which the B. of Worcester gave him but all his other Cups together with his lesser sort of Jewells and Rings he bequethed unto her to distribute for the health of his soul where she should think fittest And to his two daughters which were Nunns at Shouldham in Com. Norff. a Monastery of their great-grandfather's foundation by the mother side he gave fifty marks He was a benefactor to the Monastery of Thelesford in this County Ratified the grant of Warmington made by Henry de Neuburgh s●metime Earl of Warwick to the Monks of Preaux in Normandy bore for his Armes gules semé of Cross-crosslets with a fess Or which Cross-crosslets were by him added to his Coat for his father used them not but whether as a badge of any Pilgrimage that he made unto the Holy-Land or vow so to do I will not take upon me to determine Wedded Maud the eldest of the four sisters and heirs to Richard Fitz-Iohn son of Iohn Fitz-Geffrey Justice of Ireland and widow of Gerard de Furnivall which Maud had for her purpartie of his l●nds the Mannours of Chiriel in Com. Wilts Potters-Piri in Com. Northampt. and Querndon in Com. Buck. assigned to her And departed this life either in May or the beginning of Iune Anno 1298. 26 E. 1. leaving Guy his son and heir then 26. years of age who did his homage the 25. of September following and had livery of his fathers lands And 2. Iunii following performed the like homage for the lands descended to him by the death of Maud his mother who dyed the same year This Guy had his Christen name out of doubt in remembrance of the warlike Guy Earl of Warwick in the Saxons time and was a martiall man as well as his Ancestors The same year that his father dyed he had summons with many other great men to be at Carleol on the even of Pentecost well furnisht with Horse and Armes to march into Scotland this being the time that the King made a personall expedition thither and obtained a great victory at Fawkirk in which Battail he behaved himself so gallantly that the King rewarded him with all the Castles

and suit of harness with all that belong'd thereto To his son Iohn his second coat of Maile Helmet and harness and appointed that all the rest of his Armour Bows and other warlike provision should remain in the Castle of Warwick for his heir constituting these his Executors viz. Alice his Countess Sir Iohn de Hastings Iohn Hamelin Piers le Blund Parson of Hanslape Adam de Herewynton Richard de Brumesgrave Henry de Sidenhale Simon de Sutton Parson of Luffenham William de Wellesburne Parson of Berkeswell with Roger Caumpere Parson of Kibworth and departed this life 12. August next following in his said Castle of Warwick by poison as some thought but had sepulture in Abby of Bordsley before specified Before his death he obtained a grant from the King that his Executors when it should fortune him to depart this life might have the custody of his lands during the minority of his heir being answerable for the value of them to the Exchequer at Michaelmass and Easter every year saving that his Castles of Elmeley and Warwick should not be disposed of to any without the Kings speciall license which grant was confirmed to Iohn Hamelyn and the rest of the Executors in December following his death Nevertheless● so much was the K. wrought upon by them whose miscarriages afterwards gave the discontented Nobles opportunity to work his own ruine as that notwithstanding the grant before recited made to those Executors about two years after he passed the custody of them by a new Patent to Hugh le Despenser the elder in satisfaction of a debt of 6770 li. due to him from the said King as was pretended But before I proceed to speak of Thomas Earl of Warwick son and heir to the said Guy I have a word or two to say of the Countess his mother and the rest of her Children which is that she was the daughter of Raph de Tony of Flamsted in Hertford-shire widow of Thomas de Leybourn and at length heir to Robert her brother In November following the Death of her husband she had assigned to her in dowrie the Mannours of Hanslape in Com. Buck. Lygthorne Beausale Haseley Claverdon Berkswell with the third part of the Templars Mannour in Warwick and Shirburne and divers Knights fees all in this County And the next year following gave a Fine of 500. marks for license to marry with William La Zouch of Ashby in Com. Leic. to whom she was accordingly wedded but dyed in 18 E. 2. The other children of Earl Guy were Iohn a martiall Knight Emma the wife of Roul Odingsells Isabell married to ...... Clinton Elizabeth to Thomas Lord Astley and Lucia to Robert de Napton Which Iohn was a man of singular note in his time for in 22 E. 3. the King in consideration of his great services made him a Banneret and gave him Cxl li. per annum out of the Exchequer for his better support In 25 E. 3. he was Governour of Caleis In 26 Iohn Darcy to whom the King had granted the Constableship of the Tower of London for life for the great affection he bore to this Iohn de B. past over his interest in that Office to him which the King also ratified but within two years through the sinister suggestions of some he became much offended with him and put him out of that place constituting Barthol de Burghersh in his stead and after his death Robert de Morley but at the length it appearing to the King that those suggestions were false he received him again into favour and in consideration of his speciall services restored unto him the custody of the said Tower of London by his Letters Patents bearing date 25. Ian. a● the town of S. George neer the Castle of Beaufort in France and the same year constituted him Constable of Dovor-Castle Warden of the Cinque-ports for life and Admirall of the Seas for the North and West coasts He was also one of the Founders of that noble Order of the Garter instituted by King E. 3. and departing this life without issue 2. Dec. 34. E. 3. lyeth buryed betwixt two pillars on the South part of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul in London before the Image of our Lady where he had a fair Monument lately demolisht which was through mistake usually called Duke Humfrey's Tombe I now return to Thomas the succeeding Earl born in Warwick-Castle having to his Godfathers Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Henry his brother with Thomas de Warington Prior of Kenilworth This Thomas was very young at his fathers death but who had the custody and tuition of his person during King Edward 2. reign I find not Most likely it is that Hugh le Despenser the great favourite at that time having a grant of his lands as abovesaid had also the charge of his person but in 1 E. 3. the Castle of Warwick with the rest of his lands were committed to Roger Mortimer of Wigmore till he should arrive to his full age and in 3 E. 3. the King being minded to afford speciall favour to him as the very words of the Writ do import● accepted of his homage though he was not then of full age commanding that he should have livery of all his fathers lands and the next year following admitted him to the office of Shiriffalty for Worcester-shire which was of his inheritance as also to that of the Chamberlainsh●p in the Exchequer with power to appoint whomsoever he should think ●it for the execution of them in such sort as in his Ancestors times had been used 'T is not to be doubted but as this Earl was descended from an antient race of worthy Progenitors and by many noble heirs so were his vertues no less eminent than the chiefest of them for from the time that he came to mans estate even till his death which hapned in 23. of King Edw. 3. raign was he scarce ever cut of some notable and high imployment whereof in order I will briefly make recitall In 5 E. 3. he had the goverment of the Isles of Gernsey Serke and Aureney In 6. he was joyn'd in Commission with Raph Lord Basset and William de Shareshull a great Lawyer and afterwards Chief-Justice for conservation of the peace in this County and Worcestershire In 7. to attend the King in his expedition for Scotland at which time Edward de Baliol King of Scotts did homage to King Edward for the Realm of Scotland with the adjacent Isles In 9. he had the custody of the Marches of Scotland committed to him All which was whilst he lived a batchelour For I find that in 12 E. 3. the King in satisfaction of a great summe of money that he owed to Roger Lord Mortimer for the time that he was his Lieutenant of Ireland

that the Chaplet was rich with Pearl and pretious stones and in his Coat of Arms of Guy and Beauchamp quarterly having the Arms of Tony and Hanslap on his trappers and said that as he had in his own person perform'd the service those two dayes before so with Gods grace he would the third whereupon encountring with Sr. Collard Fines at every stroke he bore him backward to his Horse insomuch as the French-men saying that he himself was bound to his Saddle he alighted and presently got up again but all being ended he returned to his Pavilion sent to Sr. Collard a fair Courser feasted all the people gave to those three Knights great rewards and so rode to Caleys with great honour About this time it was that the general Councel of Constance in Germany began unto which totius Christianit at is prudentissimi Pontifices Praelate cum aliis Clericis velut innumeris confluxere as Walsingham saith the cause of which meeting was chiefly about choise of the Pope whereupon from England were sent the Bishops of Salisbury Cov. and Lich. Bath and Wells Norwich Hereford and S. Davids the Abbot of Westm. Prior of Worcester with divers other learned men and for their greater honour our Earle of Warwick themselves and their whole retinue amounting in number to 800 Horse During whose stay at Constance he receiving a Chalenge from a great Duke for his Ladies sake slew the Duke in Justing whereupon the Empresse took his livery viz. the Bear from one of his Knights shoulders and for great favour to him set it on her own shoulder but he having notice thereof made one of Pearle and precious stones which being presented to her she received with much respect Here also was it that the Emperour Sigismund gave him his sword to bear and offered him the heart of S George the English-mens tutelary Saint to bring over into this Realm but hearing the Emperour say that he would come in person into England he restored it to him again saying that the delivery thereof with his own hand would be much more acceptable Nor was it long after that the Emperour did come over accordingly and being made Knight of the Garter offered the holy Heart at Windsor which was there kept in great esteem Upon whose passage hither and return he was royally entertained at Caleys by this our Earle then Captain there his comportment being such that the Emperour told King Henry that no Christian Prince had such another Knight for Wisdom Nurture and Manhood adding that if all courtesie were lost yet might it be found again in him insomuch as ever after by the same Emperours authority he was called the Father of Courtesie In his return from Caleys at that time he took at Sea two great Carricks and shortly after sc. 5. H. 5. attended Thomas D. of Clarence General of the Kings Army into France where he further manifested his valour in divers eminent services for having taken Dampfront he first entred Cane and set the Kings Arms on the Walls with the Duke's crying a Clarence a Clarence Then laid he siege to Caudebek on the River of Seine blockt up the Citie of Roan both by land and water and afterwards won Mount S. Michael as also divers other strong Towns As a reward for which signal services the K. created him Earle of Aumarle At the siege of Roan his Tent stood betwixt the Kings pavilion and S. Katherines and S. Katherines being won he was appointed to keep Port-Martevile After this viz. in May following K. Henry imploy'd him to the K. of France attended with a thousand men at Arms to treat concerning a marriage with the Lady Kath. his daughter but to obstruct his passage the Dolphin sent the Earles of Uandosme and Lymosin with 5000 men at arms to whom the Earle gave Battail wherein both those French Earls lost their lives and one of them by E. Richard's own hands 2000 of their men being slain and taken In which Embassy he sped so well that all things were concluded for the Kings marriage to that Lady whom he wedded 3. Iunii 8. of his reign and that he should enjoy the Realm of France intirely after the death of the then K. whereupon siege being laid to those places that rebelliously opposed this agreement of which the strong Citie of Melon was one this noble Earle gained it with great honour after xiiii weeks and four dayes opposition The next ensuing year viz. the last of the victorious Henry's reign he was sent with Iohn D. of Bedford the Kings brother and other noble persons to raise the siege which the Dolphin had laid to a Citie of the D. of Burgundie's howbeit the D. hearing of their approach did not stay their coming But shortly after K. Henry departed this world having appointed by his last Will that this Earle should have the tutelage of young Henry his Son then an Infant till he were xvi years of age which the Parliament approving he accordingly had In the first year of whose reign he was by Indenture bearing date x. Iulii retained to serve as Capt. of Caleis from the 4. of Febr. past for the space of 2. years having for the custody thereof CClx men himself accounted who with his Lieutenant and the Marshall of the Town were onely to be Horst but all the rest to serve on foot to have also CC. Archers besides ten men at Arms and x. Archers belonging to the Treasurer of Caleys that were to be at his command in all things tending to the safe-guard of that place for which service he was to receive vi s. viii d. per diem for himself ii s. for his Lieutenant xii d. for his Marshall for every of his Foot-souldiers viii d. and for his Archers vi d. After which Philip D. of Burgundy besieging Caleys was by the valour of this noble Earle assisted by Humfr. D. of Glouc. and Humf. E. of Stafford forc'd to flee Nay so conspicuous was his fidelity wisdom and circumspection as the words of the Pat. do import for which respect the custody of the K. royal person as I have already intimated had been by the advice of the D. of Bedf. and Glouc. his Uncles all the Lords of the Councell committed to him as well for the security thereof as education in learning virtue that upon the death of the D. of Bedf. then Regent of France he was discharg'd of that burthen and care and in stead thereof constituted Lieutenant general of the whole Realm of France and Dutchy of Normandy whereupon with his Lady and Son taking sh●pping for passage over and discerning great danger by a hideous tempest he caused him●elf with both of them to be bound unto the main mast of the ship to the intent that if they had perisht and were

appears that being Admiral to K. H. 6. ●e was stiled great Captain of the Sea having for his support in that place not onely all the Tonnage and Poundage belonging to the King in any wise but a thousand pounds per. ann out of the revenues of the Dutchy of Lancaster as also that by the same Kings favour he had a grant of preheminence above all the Earles in the Land And moreover to adde to his greatness a peculiar Officer at arms for his service in martial imployments called Warwick-Herauld But after the death of this Earle his Countesse underwent no little distresse being constrained to take sanctuary in the Abby of Beaulieu in Hantsh where she continued for a long time in a mean condition but thence privately got into the North where also she abode in great streights all her vast inheritance by authority of Parliament being taken from her and setled upon Isabell and Anne her two daughters and heirs the first of them wife to George D. of Clarence and the second to Ric. D. of Glouc. as if she the said Anne had been naturally dead which was with-held from her till 3. H. 7. that the K. having a minde thereto her said daughters being both dead by a new Act of Parliament anulled the former as against all reason conscience and course of nature and contrary to the Laws of God and man as the words thereof import And in consideration of the true and faithfull service and allegiance by her born to K. H. 6. as also that she never gave cause to such disherison restored unto her the possession of the premisses with power to alien the same or any part thereof but with little purpose that she should enjoy it as it seems for it appears that the same year by a special Feoffement bearing date 13. Dec. and a Fine thereupon she convey'd it wholly to the K. entailing it upon the issue male of his body with remainder to her self her Heirs the particular Lordships in which grant for asmuch as the magnificence of our preceding Earls may thereby be the better illustrated I have here set down viz. the Mannours of Warrewyk Toneworth Lighthorne Morton Berkswell Brayles Claverdon Sutton Winterton Budbroke Haseley Snitterfeld and Pipe hall in this County Abbotley Shraveley Elmley-Lovet Salwarpe Hull-place Wyche Elmley-Castle Chadsley Hervington Shrieve-Lench Yerdley Cromb-Simonds Warpdell● Hanley Busheley Ridmerley Upton super Sabrinam with the Citie of Worcester all in Worcestersh Tewksbury Stoke-Archer Whitington Fairford Sobbury Tredyngton Panyngton Fydington Northey Muth Berton-Regis juxta Bristoll Barton-Hundred Kenmerton Chedworth and Lydney in Gloucestershire Burford Shypton Spellesbury Chadlyngton-Hundred and Langley in Oxfordsh Kaversham and Stanford in Berksh Chyriel Sherston and Brodton in Wiltsh Dertford Willington and Hendon in Kent Walhamstow and Fraunceys in Essex Flampsted in Hertfordsh Potters-Pirye Asherugge-Hundred Querendon Aylesbury Buckland Agmondesham Slingesbury● Hanslape Olney and Merlaw in Com. Buck. Buckby Multon Conesgrave and Yelvertoft in Com. Northampt. Walshale Perry-Bar Patingham and Shenston in Com. Staff Barnard-Castle in the Bishoprick of Durham Kybworth in Com. Leic. Kymworth Bautre and Hotham in Com. Ebor. Essindon Shellingthorp Greteham Barowden Preston and Uppingham in Com. Rutl. Stillingthorp in Com. Linc. Kertling in Com. Cantabr Snodel and Faunhope in Com. Heref. Saham-Toney Outsokyn Nekton Panneworthall Gressyngham-parva in Com. Norf. Carnaunton Hoston-Toney Blyston and Lantran in Cornwall Glamorgan Burgavenny● Elvell Snodehyll Llangtre Llaugero Wale-Bykyneour in Wales the Marches thereof South-Tanton Sele with the Hundred of South-Tanton in Com. Debon The Isles of Iersey Garnsey Serk and Aureney with the Castles therein and certain houses in Southwerk She was living in 5. H. 7. as appears by an assignation from the K. of the Mannour of Sutton in this County for her maintenance but how long after I know not for of her death is there no mention in Record that I can finde By the Earle her husband she left issue two daughters viz. Isabel and Anne Which Isabel was born in Warwick-Castle 5. Sept. An. 1451. 30. H. 6. and on Tuesday 11. Iulii An. 1469. 9. E. 4. married at Caleys by the Archb. of York to George D. of Clarence brother to K. E. 4. having a Dispensation from Pope Paul the 3. in regard that they stood allyed in the second and third and third and fourth degrees of consanguinity as also in respect that the mother of the said Duke was God-mother to this Isabel which Dispensation bears date at Rome Prid. Id Martii An. 1468. 7. E. 4. Anne the other daughter first married to Edw. Prince of Wales son of H. 6. stab'd at the Battail of Tewksbury in cool bloud by Rich. D. of Glouc. as our Historians affirm afterwards to Ric. D. of Glouc. who possest himself of all Warwick's lands imprisoning her mother as long as she lived and poisoning her as 't was thought to make way for his marriage with his brother's viz. K. E. 4. eldest daughter Which George D. of Clarence having wedded the said Isabel and being reconciled to his brother K. E. 4. as I have already intimated was in regard of that marriage by Charter bearing date 14. Aug. 12. E. 4. created Earl of Warwick And in 49. H. 6. being the year of that Kings readeption of his regal power had a Pat. of Lieutenancy for Ireland to the end of xx years After which K. Henry loosing all he had the like Pat. from King E. 4. for xx years dated 16. Martii 12. E. 4. the stile he used being Georgius Dux Clarentiae Comes Warwici Sarum Magnus Camerarius Angliae nec non locum tenens terrae Hiberniae But after all this being charged with divers great offences towards the King as our Historians affirm viz. in endeavouring to possesse the people that the King his brother used by Negromancy and poison to make away those that he hated as also that the said King was a Bastard and therefore not fit to reign And moreover that he had procured divers of the Kings subjects to be sworn to him and his Heirs without reservation of their allegiance to the King as also sundry persons to give out that Thomas Burdet his servant of whom in Arrow I have spoke was wrongfully put to death he was attainted in Parl. 15. Ian. An. 1477. 16. E. 4. and about a moneth after viz. 17. Febr. being a prisoner in the Tower there cruelly murthered by drowning in a Butt of Malmsey not without the Kings consent But the Lady Isabel his wife departed this World at Warwick-Castle 2. Dec. 16. E. 4. which was about a year before poysoned as our Writers say and was buried in the Abby of Tewksbury This D. had issue by her 2. sons and one daughter the elder called Edw. Plantaginet born in Warwick-Castle 21. Feb. An. 1474.

14. E. 4. as some say but others that it was on Ship-board when his father fled towards Caleys The younger Richard in the Monastery of Tewksburie An. 1476 who lived scarce a year being poysoned as 't was thought Which Edward being about three years of age at his fathers death was Knighted at York by K. R. 3. in the first year of his Reign with Edw. the onely son to that King but both he his sister were attended with a very hard fate For Edward that bore the title of E. of Warwick onely being at the age of 8. years committed prisoner to the Castle of Shiriff-Hutton in Com. Ebor. by the said K. Rich. 3. where he remained all his Reign was immediatly upon the victory obtained at Bosworth-field by Henry Earl of Richmund thenceforth K by the name of H. 7. by special Warrant removed to the Tower of London and there shut up in a more close and streight condition for no other offence than being the onely male Plantaginet at that time living and so consequently the most rightfull Heir to the Crown and being at length charged with privity of Perkin Warbeck's escape out of the Tower strange inferences were raised by which they made advantage to take away his life whereas the truth is that K. Henry being upon Treaty with Ferdinand K. of Spain for a marriage in the behalf of Prince Arthur his eldest son and the Lady Kath. daughter to the said Ferdinand and finding that the Spaniard thought K. Henrie's title to have no sure foundation whil'st this branch of Plantaginet was extant had a minde to dispatch him out of the world for the fairer effecting whereof a Commission was granted to Iohn Earle of Oxford then high Steward of England to arraign him for that pretended offence which was accordingly done 21. Nov. 15. H. 7. care being taken to perswade him that by confessing himself guilty he should be sure to find mercy from the K. With which fair promises being caught he pleaded as they directed him and so betraying his life into the hands of those that so ●agerly sought it had judgement of death past upon him and accordingly was beheaded on Tower-Hill the 28. day of the same moneth of November After which viz. 25. Ian. 19. H. 7. the better to countenance what was done he was attainted in Parl. so that all the favour he had was that being thus put to death his body should be sent to the Monastery of Bisham and buried with his Ancestors Which cruel dealing we may well think hath been some cause of Gods judgements upon H. 7. posterity as well as upon that noble Lady Katherine who became so sensible thereof when King H. 8. her second husband prosecuted the divorce betwixt them that she expressed as some have said that it was the hand of God for that to clear the way to her marriage the innocent E. of Warwick was put to unworthy death And if it be seriously considered what afterwards befell the said Earle of Oxford and his family we have cause enough to doubt that God was no whit pleased with his activenesse in this bloudy scaene for having within a short time lost the Kings favour and been fined at 30000. li. for a very small offence he spent the rest of his life in discontent and dyed without any lawfull issue After which it was not long that the possessions of that great Earldom became totally wasted and the very Monuments of his noble ancestors in the Abby of Colne torn in pieces in that hideous storm raised by K. H. 8. son and successor of him to whom this Earle had been so obsequious As for the Lands whereof this our Earle of Warwick dyed seized I do not finde that they were any other than the Mannours of Wyke in Com. Midd. Stanford in the Vale of White-horse in Berks. and of Snitterteld in this County Of his sister Margaret born at Farley-Castle in Wilts 14. Aug. An. 1473. 13. E. 4. and married c to Sir Rich. Pool Knight I finde that she had issue Henry Pool Lord Mountagu Reginald Pool Cardinal Geffrey and Arthur with a daughter called Vrsula wife to Henry Lord Stafford Son and Heir to Edw. Duke of Buck. which Marg. in her widowhood sc. An. 1513. 5. H. 8. petitioned in Parliament as Sister and Heir to Edw. Earle of Warwick attainted 19. H. 7. that she might inherit his estate and dignity and so be stiled Countesse of Salisbury which was granted but of her fathers inheritance she had very little that ever I could finde and that also by attainder in Parliament taken away unheard in 31. H. 8. for privity to the conspiracy of Henry Marq. of Exeter as was pretended After which she enjoy'd her life but a short time being barbarously put to death on Tower-Hill 27. Maii 33. H. 8. drag'd to the block by the hair of the head in the lxviii year of her age After the before specified Edward Plantaginet till 1 E. 6. there was no Earl of Warwick but then Iohn Dudley son of Edmund by Eliz. daughter of Edward Grey Visc. L'isle Aunt and heir to Elizabeth Grey Countess of Devon daughter and heir of Sir Iohn Grey Visc. L'isle having been advanced to the dignity of Visc. L'isle 12. Martii 34 H. 8. was through the great favour of King Edward or rather of Edward Duke of Somerset then Lord Protector created Earl of Warwick 16. Febr. 1 E. 6. as descended from Margaret the eldest daughter to Richard Beauchamp sometime E. of Warwick Howbeit before I proceed to speak further of this Iohn I shall crave leave to say something of his parentage That he was the son of Edmund Dudley of whom I shall say more by and by and he the son of one Iohn Dudley is plain enough but as I am not sufficiently satisfied that the said Iohn his grandfather was a younger branch of the Barons of Dudley in Stafford-shire though with his own hand in a descent of those Barons he exprest him so to be viz. second son to Iohn Sutton first of that name that had the title of Lord Dudley so shall I be as tender in affirming that to be true which I have seen under the hand of a very good Genealogist in his time and which he alledgeth to have received from a person of credit id est that the same Iohn his grandfather was a Carpenter and indeed born in the town of Dudley though not of the name other than travailing for his living he hapned to be entertained at the Abby of Lewes in Sussex and was by the Monks called Iohn of Dudley and so growing in favour with the Abbot there marryed and continued Carpenter to the House And that having a son called Edmund who for his pregnancy in learning was taken notice of by the Abbot and

same VValter and his heirs And that he they should have sufficient provision of fewell in the woods belonging thereto as other Constables thereof used to have And further that whensoever the said VVilliam or his heirs by the command of the said VValter and his heirs or his or their Bayliffs should be called to any place where the said VValter or his heirs were to hold their Courts receive Accompts or upon other occasions that he and they should have entertainment for themselves and their Horses during their abode there for that purpose at the charge of the said VValter and his heirs which Agreement beareth date at Trim in Ireland 1. Augusti 18 H. 3. This VVilliam de Lucy was a Knight in 17 H. 3. and Executor to his brother Stephen de Lucy by whose death he had a great personall estate In 20 H. 3. the Custody of this County and Leicester-shire was committed to his charge together with the strong Castle of Kenilworth 23. Apr. in which trust he continued for the space of 3. years And in 25 H. 3. was he joyned in Commission with the then Shiriff viz. Philip de Ascells and some others for viewing all the Castles of this County and certifyng the defects in every of them under their Seales to the King In 26 H. 3. the before recited Walter de Lascy sealed a bond unto him of CCClxxii li. sterling in consideration that he should discharge all his debts owing to any Jews in England except those of Hereford and Oxford which sum was to be paid by Lxxx li. per annum untill it might be discharged and in case of making default the said VValter and his heirs were to abide such Ecclesiasticall censure and the like Penance if need were as the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishops of Salisbury and Bath should impose on them that were debtors to those who were signed with the Crosse according to the Constitution of Pope Honorius the said VVilliam de Lucy being so signed And in 28 H. 3. did Roys de Verdon of whom in Brandon I have spoken agree with him for Cxx li. to discharge all the debts which the said Walter de Lacy and Iohn de Verdon with Margerie his wife then owed to the Jews except to those of Hereford unto whom the said William was bound to pay 80 li. due to them from the same Iohn de Verdon This William de Lucy was he that founded the Monastery of Thelesford whereof I have lately spoke and had a Chapell within his Mannour-house here at Cherlecote allowed unto him for himself his wife and family by Roger de Cherlecote Parson of the Church of Cherlecote with reservation of his obedience to the mother Church of Cherlecote as touching all Oblations and accesse thereto with his said wife and family upon seven Festivall days in the year viz. Christmasse Candlemasse Easter the Ascension Whitsontide S. Leonard and All-Hallows He bore for his Armes Verry ....... three Lucies hauriant d'Argent as may seem by the impression of one of his Seales but by another r there is nothing of Verry at all He marryed two wives viz. Ysabell daughter to Absalon de Aldermoneston with whom he had certain lands given to him by Gervase then Abbot of Pershore The second was Maud sister and one of the coheirs to Iohn Cotele of whose inheritance he had the Mannour of Bereuton in Hantshire and departed this life about 32 H. 3. leaving issue Sir William Lucy Knight his son and heir of whom I find nothing memorable but his marriage which was with a great heir viz. Amicia daughter and heir to Will. de Furches and heir also to William Fitz Warin by whom he had issue Fouk de Lucy of the retinue to Peter de Montfort one of the rebellious Barons that took up Armes against the King in 48 H. 3. of whom in Beldesert I have spoke was in such favour with them for his activeness in those times that being indebted to one Elyas le Blund a Jew of London in a great sum of money which himself and his Ancestors had taken up at interest he procured a speciall Mandate dated 7. Maii 49 H. 3. directed unto the Commissioners unto whom the estates of the Jews then seized upon were intrusted to deliver up the bonds and to discharge him thereof acquitting him of all interest money due thereupon but reserving the payment of the principall into the Exchequer for at that time those Barons had the Kings person in their custody whom they took Prisoner in the battail of Lewes and made use of his great Seal and all other Regall authority in his name But what a dismall fate attended them though they prospered for a while that which I have said in Kenilworth will plainly manifest the sum whereof is that being utterly vanquisht soon after at Evesham their estates thereupon became confiscate most of which were given away to those that had firmly stuck to the King amongst whom Robert Waleraund had this of our Fou● de Lucy howbeit by that favourable Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth being admitted to Composition he reenjoy'd it again and for CC. marks of silver obtained from Peter de Montfort son and heir to the before specified Peter ● a discharge of that x li. per annum Rent reserved out of this Lordship upon the originall grant thereof to his Ancestor as hath been already noted paying only for the future a pair of gilt Spurs or 4 d. at Christmasse only to the said Peter and his heirs for all services whatsoever All which was certified into the Exchequer by that notable Inquis of 7 E. 1. and moreover that he then held here two Water-mills and two Carucats of land in demesn together with the whole Mannour except six yard land called the Hullelond As also that he had xxii Tenants which held 42. yard land at will● performing severall services scil Plowing Reaping Mowing making Hay Harrowing carrying Wood and the like and paying certain yearly Rent in money And likewise a Court-Leet with other liberties granted to his Ancestors by King Ric. 1. and confirm'd by King Iohn which Court-Leet was not to be kept but in the presence of the Kings Bayliffe as the said Charter testifieth This Fouk was a speciall lover of good Horses as it should seem for in 11 E. 1. he gave x ● marks to two Londoners that were Merchants of Horses for a black Horse about which time a fat Oxe was sold but for xvi s. In 13 E. 1. being questioned by what authority he held a Court-Leet here and had Assize of Bread and Beer Gallows Infangthef weyfs c. he produced King Iohn's Charter above mentioned but the Jury then found that he and his Ancestors had kept their Court-Leet without the presence of the Ks. Bayliff and so he did at that time notwithstading

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 sav●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 certi●i●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 C●p●●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 Sudle●'s that had to doe here was Sir I●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 ●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

leaving Sir Iohn de Meaux Knight her son and heir then xl years of age Which Sir Iohn sold the same before the 38 of E. 3. to Nich. Fililode and Will. Fililode his brother passing it by the name of the moitye of the Mannour of Shrevesie Nich. having but an estate for life and the inheritance to Will The custody of which moitye was in 6 R. 2. committed by the King to Iohn Horewode one of the Grooms of his Chamber in respect that Iohn Fililode heir to the said W. was under age which Iohn dyed seized thereof 1 H. 4. leaving Giles Fililode his Uncle his next heir who departed this life in 2 H. 6. Katherine the widow of Iohn Blike being found his sister heir To whom succeeded Ric. Blike her son and heir who had livery thereof in 4 H. 6. and to him Richard and to Ric. Humfrey But the last of the Blikes that had to do here was Iohn Blike Gentleman who sold all his interest to Iohn Oldnale in 4 E. 6. by the name of one mess. CC. acres of land xl acres of meadow C. acres of pasture x. acres of wood and lxxx acres of Heath and Furs part thereof lying in Pinley all which in 4 Eliz. the said Iohn Oldnale conveyed to Thomas and Clement Walford But besides this moytie and the other which so came to the coheirs of Philip de Gayton 't is certain that the Lucies of Cherlecote had a Mannour here for in 16 E. 3. the Lady Eliz. the widow of Sir Will. de Lucy Knight had a grant thereof together with the Mannour of Cherlecote made by Sir Will. de Lucy Knight son to the said Sir Will. to hold during her life in consideration whereof she released her interest in other lands which she had right to have held And it is plain by sundry Records that the posterity of the said Sir Will. Lucy possest it till H. 7. time but how much longer I find not Beausale THis is also in the parish of Hatton and by the Conquerors Survey certified to contain half a hide being at that time possest by Odo Bishop of Baieur the Kings half brother but then held of him by one Wadardus and under him by Geroldus the woods containing two furlongs and the whole valued at xx s. In that Record it is written Beoshelle But very shortly after this it came to the hands of Hugo fil Ricardi also Lord of Hatton as hath been shewed and so by Margerie his grandchild and heir to Osbert de Clinton which Osbert had issue Osbert and he Thomas by whom the inheritance thereof was given together with Hatton to Iames de Clinton his younger son Whether this grant to Iames proved invalid or that he quitted his title therein to Iohn his elder brother's son I know not but certain it is that the said I. pass'd it with Hatton unto W. de Beauchamp E. of Warw. and his heirs And for the better strengthening of their title did Maud Countess of Warwick after the death of the said Earl her husband purchase from Sir Hamon le Strange Knight all his right therein which Hamon had a grant thereof from S●r Thomas de Clinton above specified but I suppose it to have been only as a trust for it continued with Hatton to the succeeding Earls of Warwick as by several instances I could manifest Within the precincts of this Lordship there was antiently a Chapell dedicated to S. Iohn the Evang and endowed with Glebe and Tithes by Margerie de Clinton wife to Osbert de Clinton above specified as is exactly exprest in a special grant made by her thereto and confirmed by Ioh. de Abetoth her 2 husband Amongst the particulars whereof are mentioned the Tithe of the Foul caught in the Park and of the Fishes in the Pool there as also of the Venison viz a shoulder of each with the Tithe of the paunage and pasturage in the same for six beasts seven Hogs one Sow a Mare and Cole with two loads of wood at Christmasse yearly All which were antiently given and united to the Collegiate Church of our Lady in Warwick as it seems after the Mannour of Beausale was so possest by the Earls of Warwick as abovesaid For at the death of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who dyed towards the later end of E. 3. time and in R. 2. time did the Canons of that Church enjoy them But this is now included within Wedgnok Park and was of later time called by the name of Cuckow-Church whereof in my discourse of Wedgnock I have alreade spoke Haseley NExt unto Hafton on the other side of that rivulet which cometh fromwards .... standeth Haseley which in the Conquerors time was possest by Hasculf Musard but of him held by Hunfridus progenitor to the Family of Hastang as in Lemington-Hastang appeareth and then certified to contain 3. hides and half a virgate of land there being a Church as also a Mill rated at iiii s. and the woods belonging thereto extending to a mile in length and two furlongs in breadth all valued at xxx s. having been the Freehold of Azur before the Norman Invasion But it continued not long in the Family of Hastang for Aytrope Hastang granchild to the before specified Hunfredus in consideration of lxxx marks of silver sold it to Will Turpin a gentleman of the Kings Bedchamber reserving from the said W. and his heirs to him the said Aytrop and his heirs the like service as was due by him to his Lord for the same viz. the half and the tenth part of a K t s Fee By which grant the said Aitrop also covenanted that every of the heirs to the said W. Turpin should be quit of their Relief for one Besantine From this W. Turpin was it soon after conveyed to Rog. the son of Thurstane de Cherlecote and his heirs By which grant it appeareth that the Knights service due in respect thereof was as much as belong'd to two hides whereof five made the service of one Knights Fee And for the better confirmation thereof did Osbert Turpin brother to the same Will levy a Fine unto Thomas de Cherlecote son to the above mentioned Roger in 7 H. 3. Of which branch of Cherlecote's Family residing here at Haseley and assuming it for their sirname as I shall shew anon I must not omit to mention what I have met with in an historicall way the descent being placed in Cherlecote In 12. H. 3. the King remitted to Thomas de Cherlecote the Scutage then due from him viz. for half a Knights Fee and a fourth part where he is called Thomas de Cherlecote Vadletus Magistri Stephani de Lucy which shewes he was Lucie's servant though in what capacity is hard to say And in 20 H. 3. accepted of 5 marks instead of xx which were due from him unto the Exchequer for

of age who being an ambitious spirited man procured License from Q. Eliz. in 9 of her reign to make a Castle here at Milcote and to call it Mount-Grevill which accordingly he began to do on the top of the Hill above a quarter of a mile Southwards from the old Mannour house as is to be seen by part of the fabrick yet standing and therefore the better to support his greatness though he had very fair possessions in this and other Counties he eagerly coveted the estate of one ..... Web a wealthy Batcheler who had been his servant and then was Tenant to him at his Mannour of Draiton in Oxfordshire for obtaining whereof he plotted the murther of him and forged a Will to entitle himself thereto as from credible tradition I have heard To accomplish which execrable design he invited him to his House at a Christmass or Easter season there to make merry then residing at Seasoncote in Gloucestershire and having so train'd him thither hired two of his servants to strangle him in his bed which being accordingly effected he caused it to be given out in the House that the old man was fallen very sick and not like to live whereupon the Parson was sent for to write his Will and one of the Murtherers convey'd into the bed with the dead man about whom the curtains were close drawn and he dolefully groaning as not like to continue long so that being in this seeming weak condition as not able to give directions how the Will should be made all spoken by him with a counterfeit voice too was by way of answer to questions viz. how and to whom his estate should be disposed which in short was to his Master meaning Lodowik Grevill excepting a Legacy to an Atturny in Banbury whose mouth thereby being stopt no one else as he thought would expect any thing or at least not go about to question the Will which being accordingly effected and the company desired to depart the room that the sick man might repose himself a little the News of his death was soon after spread in the House whereupon people were called up who finding him dead in the bed took order for his buriall And now that all this Pageant was over Master Grevill thought himself secure enough of his large Legacy But to the end we may see how divine vengeance ceases not to prosecute such bloody actions though carryed on with never so much cl●●eness and subtilty the discovery of this wicked murther was ere long thus brought to light One of the Assasinates being in his Cups at Stratford dropt ●ut some words amongst his pot-companions that it lay in his power to hang his Master which expression being by one that heard hereof related to the other Murtherer he presently acquainted Master Grevill therewith who thereupon resolving to prevent the danger of any such further babling advised that he should be closely made away and for effecting thereof within a short space following sent them both out in the night season upon some pretended business by which means the other took his advant●ge to dispatch him and cast his body into a pit of water which afterwards floating was discovered by passengers and upon enquiry when and w●t● whom he had been last seen the villain was brought in que●tion who forthwith confest the whole business thereby detecting his Mr. throughout for which they both had their tryals at Warwick where Mr. Grevill to prevent the loss of his lands stood mute and so having Judgement to be prest suff●red death accordingly To whom succeeded Edward his son and heir in the inheritance of this Lordship and other lands of great worth Of which Edward I have heard that in his younger years inadvertently shooting an Arrow upright out of a long Bow it fell upon his elder Brother's head and kill'd him and that their Father was so little sensible of this sad mishap that he made a jest of it telling him that it was the best shoot he ever shot in his life but whether it was the judgement of God to put a period to the line of Lodowik before mentioned for that horrid murther of Web and one of his servants or for what else I may not take upon me to judge certain it is that the whole estate came in short time after to be strangely wasted for so great were Sir Edw. Grevil 's debts and leaving issue onely Daughters that his lands were exposed to sale by Sir Arthur Ingram a Yorkeshire Kt. Husband to Mary the fifth of them and this Mannour then purchased by Lionell Earl of Midlesex whose son and heir now enjoys it Dorsington-parva THis though it be in the Parish of Welford in com Glouc. is in Warwickshire and in the Conquerors time was possest by the same Stefanus who then had Milcote being certified to contain 1 hide which one Ordri● held before the Norman invasion With Milcote also it came to Geffrey Martell and so likewise to Hauvill and Langley as the Records I have there vouch't will manifest but after the 4th of E. 3. I have not found any farther mention at all of it in Record till 9 H. 8 that Maud Rous Widow was certified to have converted C C. acres of land lying in this place from tillage to pasture in 17 H. 7. and decaying three Ploughs being then possest of the Capitall messuage From which Maud did descend Sir Iohn Brome of Ragley Kt. as in Ragley appeareth who in 3 E. 6. possest it Binton THis being situate on the brow of an Hill about half a mile distant from the River Avon was one of the towns which S. Egwyn gave to the Abby of Evesham upon the foundation thereof in the year 709. but in the time of K. Ed. the martyr wrested from it with other great possessions by Alf●rus a potent Ruler in these parts who expelled the Monks and placed Canons there disposing of this place to certain of his Knights so that upon the Conquest by D. William it was given to some of his Normans for it appears by the generall Survey● soon after made where it is written Banintone that Will. fil Corbucion of whom in Studley I shall speak held two hides here and had 4 qua●●ers of Coin and 8 sticks of Ecles out of his part in the Mill and 3 quarters of Salt from Wiche as appurtenant to his part of the Mannour all which being valued at xxx s. were the freehold of one Edricus before the Norman invasion The residue of this town was then possest by Gerinus Urso de Abitot and Osbernus filius Ricardi that which Urso held extending to two hides with a Mill rated at i● s. was valued at xl s. having been the freehold of Ernvi in Edw. the Confessors days but the certain preportion which belong'd to Osbernus cannot be discovered forasmuch as it is certified and valued in gross together with what he had in Hilborough all which one

paternall inheritance into which he was by the said Decree again so reinvested had restitution of an Annuitie of Lv li. per annum to be paid out of the Exchequer to himself and his heirs which had been formerly granted to his Father in lieu of certain woods lying in the Forest of Rutland wherein he had quitted his title to the said King After which I find that resolving on a Pilgrimage to S. Iames in Gallicia he constituted Humphrey de Hastang and Richard de Wrenhull or one of them his Atturney to transact his affairs in the mean time but whether he went the same year or not being 56 H. 3. I am not certain for in 3 E. 1. he had another License to that purpose and within a short space grew in such esteem with King Edward that being imployed in his service for the warrs of Wales 5 E. 1. in 8. of that King's reign he granted unto the renowned Queen Elianore the marriage of Iohn his son and heir with power that she should dispose of him in that kind to whom she pleased and in 11 E. 1. attended the King in that Welch expedition wherein those parts were wholy reduced to obedience for which service he was acquitted of L li. debt due by him to have been paid into the Exchequer This Peter altered his coat of Armes from what his Father and grandfather bore changing their Bendé of six pieces to Bendé of ten but retaining the Colours and departed this life in 15. E. 1. leaving issue Iohn his son and heir and Elizabeth a daughter afterwards married to Will son and heir of Simon de Montacute for which Lady there is yet standing a very beautifull Monument of Marble with her statue cut to the life on the North side of the Quire at Christ Church in Oxford heretofore the Conventuall Church of S. Fridiswides Monasterie there where there was afterwards a Chantrie of two secular Priests founded to celebrate divine service daily for her soul and for the souls of the said William de Montacute as also of Iohn Bokyngham Bishop of Lincolne Sir Peter de Montfort her father the Lady Maud her mother and of Iohn de Montacute William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury Simon de Montacute Bishop of Ely Edward de Montacute Alice de Aubenie the Lady Mary Cogan Elizabeth Prioresse of Haliwell the Lady Hawise Bavent the Lady Maud Abbesse at Berking the Lady Isabell a Nun of Berking children of him the said Sir William de Montacute and her and moreover for the souls of Sir Thomas de Furnivall her second husband Sir Peter Limsie her kinsman and Simon Islip● and for the souls of all her parents and friends But of the said Iohn de Montfort do I find very little memorable other than that he took to wife Alice the daughter of Will. de la Plaunche by whom he had issue Iohn and Peter with two daughters viz. Eliz. and Maud whose issue came to possesse a great part of the inheritance pertaining to this family as I shall shew anon for Iohn their elder brother who was one of the murtherers of Peirs de Gaveston having in 7. E. 2. received his Pardon for that offence march't with our English Army into Scotland and there lost his life in the battail of Strivelin without issue Peter the other brother having none legitimate Which Peter for I am next in course to speak of him was first in Holy Orders but after his brother's death enjoying a fair inheritance notwithstanding his sacred function was so dispensed with as it seems that he betook himself to the world and became a Knight And standing loyall to King E. 2. in the time of that great defection when so many adhered to Thomas Earl of Lancaster had a joint Commission with Will. de Beauchamp and Roger de Aylesbury for the safe custody of the City of Worcester In 20. of that King's reign he was made Governour of Warwick Castle then in the King's hands by reason of the Earls minority In 18 19 25 and 26. of E. 3. one of the Commissioners for conservation of the Peace in this County In 20. for arraying of Clx. Archers and in 29. for putting the Statute of Labourers in execution This Iohn took to wife Margaret daughter of the Lord Furnivall but by her had issue no more than one onely son called Guy betwixt whom and Margaret one of the daughters to Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick there was a marriage in 21 E. 3. by vertue of a speciall dispensation from Roger Northburgh Bishop of Coventry Lichfield having authority from Pope Clement the sixt for the same in regard they stood allied in the third and fourth degrees of Consanguinity which marriage was designed by the said Peter and the Earl for the better founding a league of friendship betwixt them and their posteritie in regard that many suits had been betwixt their Ancestors by reason that their lands in divers places lay contiguous Shortly after which marriage there was an estate in tail made of this Castle and Mannour with divers other Lordships lying in this Countie as also in the Counties of Nott. Rutl. and Surrey whereby for want of issue by the said Guy and Margaret they were after the decease of the said Sir Peter to remain unto Tho. de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick and Katherine his wife and the heirs of the said Earl Which Thomas having obtained such an estate thereof in reversion in 35 E. 3. the same Guy being then dead without issue entailed the same upon Thomas his son and heir and the heirs male of his body and for lack of such issue on William his second son afterwards Lord Bergavenny and the heirs male of his body and for want of such issue on his own right heirs But all this while was Sir Peter de Montfort living who having had certain issue by an old Concubine called Lora de Ullenhale in E. 2. time daughter to one Richard Astley of Ullenhale took care for their advancement as may appear by those possessions they enjoyed whereof I have taken notice in due place And being grown an old man made his Testament bearing date on Saturday next after the Feast of the Conception of our Lady anno 1367. 41 E. 3. by which he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Church of the Friers Preachers at Warwick whereunto he gave x li. that the said Friers● should pray for his soul. To the Nuns of Pinley he gave x. marks for the like purpose and to the Lady Lora de Astley his old paramour then a Nun there C s. To Sir Baldw. Frevill the elder Kt. his kinsman xx li. To his son Richard de Montfort all h●s silver and gilt plate as also all his goods moveable and unmoveable lying in his M●nnours of Kings●urst in this Countie and

as good value in recompence thereof that Charter of confirmation bearing date at Wenloc 26 Maii. Of which noble person I further find that he obtained the Advouson and patronage of the Priory of Studley near this place as I have there shewed from Peter de Corbucon heir to the Founder whereunto he gave a fair portion of lands lying in Shotswell That he also built an Hospitall at the Gates of that Monastery That he bore for his Armes Gules 3 flower de lices Or as by his Seal appeareth within the compasse whereof scil towards the lower part of the Shield there is a Star with a Cressant which is a Badge as hath been observed by judicious Antiquaries of his service in the Holy warrs And that he departed this life 7 Id. Apr. 23 H. 3. being then very aged leaving issue several sons viz. William his son and heir Walter a Priest and imployed by King H. 3. as his Agent to the Court of Rome afterwards elected B●shop of Worcester ● whose story I refer to Godwyn Iohn Lord of Snitfield in this Countie and Nicholas of whom I find no more than the bare mention Which Will. being a martial man as well as his father and accompanying him at raising the seige of Lincolne Castle in 1 H. 3. had in 15 H. 3. much of his father's estate past over to him for which he then did his homage to the King And in 24 H. 3. obtained a special Charter for exempting him from any suit to the County or Hundred Courts Leet Aid to the Shiriff and Hidage for all his lands in England After which viz. in 26 H. 3. he attended the King in that his French expedition which was so unprosperous and having been in 28 H. 3. sent with other of the great Nobilitie to solicite the Prelates for an Aid of money according to the Popes Letters on the King's behalf was the next ensuing year one of those that went Embassiador to the general Councell then held at Lions there to complain of the grievous exactions used here in England by the Court of Rome as well from the Clergie as Laitie and to crave remedie for the same Which William bearing a devout affection to the Canons of Studley before specified gave to the Hospital of his Father's building there lands to the value of x li. per an lying within this Lordship as also certain Rent and pasturage for Cattell in Southernkeston with the Church of Hemeston in Devonshire And having besides all this obtained a special Charter for exempting their Woods situate within the Forest of Fekenham from any view of the King's Foresters and Verderers and been Steward to the King as his Father was as also a most faithfull Councellor left issue by Milisent the daughter of Hugh de Gornay Will. his son and heir Thomas Bishop of Hereford who in 34 E. 1. was canonized for a Saint and Iulian the wife of Sir Rob. de Tregoz and departed this life in 35 H. 3. immediatly whereupon William his eldest son performing his homage and giving security for payment of his Relief which was C li. had livery of his lands Which William in 37 H. 3. obtained a pardon from the King for pulling down the Castle of Penros in Wales belonging to Iohn de Monemuth as also for five marks at which this his Mannour of Aston was amerced for protecting one Rob. de Shelfhill who had been indicted for certain misdemeanors and in 38 H. 3. was constituted Governor of Bovelt Castle in Brecknockshire To the before specified Hospitall built at the Gate of the Priory of Studley he gave the advouson of the Church here at Aston and having wedded Eva one of the daughters aad coheirs to Will. de Braose of Brecknock with whom he had the territory of Upper Went and other lands in England and Wales departed this life in the flower of his youth to the great grief of many leaving issue by her the said Eva George his son and heir and two daughters Of which George being scarce 3. years old at that time I have found very little that is memorable● his death hapning before he arrived to years whereby he could be qualified for any great action viz. in 1 Edw. 1. Therefore whether the marriage betwixt him and Margaret the daughter of Edmund de Lacy was ever consummated as their parents had designed when he was scarce two years old I cannot tell but sure I am that he had no issue for Iohn the son of Henry de Hastings and Milicent then the wife of Eudo or Yvo la Zouche were found to be his sisters and heirs Which Henry being in minority in 36 H. 3. and in Ward to Guy de Luzignian the King 's half brother had the benefit of his marriage then disposed of by the said Guy unto Will. de Cantilupe before specified who gave his daughter Ioane thus in wedlock to him Whereupon by partition made betwixt those coheirs the said Milisent had for her share the Castle of Totenesse in Com. Devon the Mannours of Eyton ●n com Bedf. and Haringworth in Northamptonshire ● with other fair possessions in England and Wales as also the advouson of the Priory of Studley in this County And Iohn de Hastings the son of Ioane beforementioned had Bergavenny with the Castle and Honour which were of the inheritance of Eva de Breause his grandmother together with the Castle of Kilgaran in Com. Pembr and amongst other large territories in England and Wales this Mannour of Aston then valued at Lix li. iiii s. i d. per an all which were in the King's hands at the time of the said Partition made by reason of his minority But touching the Family of Hastings I shall speak historically in Fillongley and therefore purpose to make no other mention of them here than what particularly relates to this place In 13 E. 1. this Iohn de Hastings claimed a Court-Leet with Assize of Bread and Beer Weifs Gallows and Free warren within this Mannour by Prescription all which were allowed From which time this Mannour was for divers descents enjoy'd by the posterity of the said Iohn as I could sufficiently demonstrate if need were except for so long as Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon held two parts of it in right of Iulian his wife widow to Iohn de Hastings father of Laurence Earl of Pembroke After the death of which Laurence it appears that it was held of the King in Capite by the service of one Foot souldier in the Warrs of Wales with a Bow without a string and a Helmet for his head by the space of xl dayes at his own proper costs as often as there should be any hostility in Wales From which Family of Hastings it descended not to the Lord Grey of Ruthin

retinue to Maurice de Berkley an English Baron But about the 33 E. 3. the said Gerard departed this life leaving Iohn his son and heir under age the custodie of whose lands together with his marriage was granted in 33 E. 3. by Sir Ric. Stafford Kt. unto Ric. de Clodshale of Saltley in this Countie which Iohn by the death of Iohn de Vale his Uncle by the Mothers side without issue in 34 E. 3. was found to be one of his Cosins and next heirs and in 2. R. 2. being then a Kt. was constituted one of the Commissioners in this Countie for taxing a subsidie at that time granted to the K. in Parliament To whom succeeded Sir Thomas Burdet Kt. his son and heir a person honoured with divers great imployments in his time In 5 R. 2. he was constituted one of the Commissioners for arraying of men in this Countie being then of the retinue unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick In 17 R. 2. he served in the Parl● then held at Westm. as one of the Kts. for this Shire so also in the Parliaments of 2. and 8. H. 4. In 3. H. 5. he was made Shiriff for this Countie and Leicestershire In 6 H. 5. again one of the Commissioners of Array in this Shire and the next year following jointly intrusted together with the Shiriff and some other select persons to treat with the people for a loan of money to the King In 9 H. 5. he was in Commission for assessing and collecting a Subsidie then granted to the K in Parl. and left issue Nicholas his son and heir of whom I find that being one of those who bearing Armes from his Ancestors as the Writ and Return thereof specially intimates he had Summons to attend the King in person at Westminster upon Tuesday in the first week of Lent 7 H. 5. for defence of the Realm Shortly after which he was retained to serve the said K. in his wars for by an Indenture bearing date at Suthwike 6 Maii 8 H. 5. it appears that he received in hand from I●hn S●lv●●●e Treasurer at Wars to the D. of Bedford for himself two men at Arms and seaven Archers xxix l. xi s. vi d. for one quarters wages And continuing in those wars in 3 H. 6. was one of those that defended the town of S. Iames de Bevuron situate on the frontiers of Normandy towards Britany and upon the siege thereof by Arthur Earl of Richmont and Yverie Constable of France made a courageous ●ally wherein 7 or 800 of the enemy were slain 50 Prisoners 18 Standards and one Banner taken In 15 H. 6. he was a Knight but being afterwards made chief Butler of Normandy and Governour of Cureur in that Dutchy was slain in the battail of Pontoise 18 H. 6. To whom succeeded Thomas his son and heir which Thomas in 28 H. 6. being imployed in this Countie about levying the subsidie then granted to the K. in Parl. was from the 7 th to the fourteenth of E. 4. reign in Commission for conservation of the Peace But in 17 E. 4. having incurred the King's displeasure for his good affections to the D. of Clarence so strict were the eyes and ears that were set ●ver him that an advantage was soon taken to cut of his Head for hearing that the King had killed a white Buck in his Park here at Arewe which Buck he set much store by passionately wishing the Ho●es in his Belly that moved the K. so to do being arraigned and convicted of high Treason for those words upon inference made that his meaning was mischievous to the K. himself he lost his life for the same his Body being buried in the Chapell of All Saints within the Gray-Friers Church near Newgate with this memoriall in their Martyrologe viz. that he was valens Armiger Domini Georgii Ducis Clarenciae After the death of which Thomas their grew great suits for this Mannour and other lands betwixt Richard Burdet his son by a former wife that ●ad been for nearness of kindred divorced from him and Iohn Burdet his son by Margaret a later wife For the said Thomas by License obtained from the K. in 12 E. 4. had aliened his lands to his younger son to the disherison of the elder of which he became afterwards so sensible that as he was drawn from the Tower to the place of execution espying his eldest son in Westchepe over against St. Thomas Becket's Hospitall now Mercers Chapell he caused himself to be stayed and there asked his said son forgiveness and acknowledging the wrong he had done him concluded that to be the cause of Gods vengeance then against him But in that suit before mentioned the said Iohn the younger son prevailed Margaret his Mother holding her estate therein for life who shortly after married to Thomas Woodhill Howbeit after this it was not long ere that the before specified Ric. Burdet so wrought with his Brother Iohn as also with the said Margaret and her husband that they lev●ed a Fine of this Mannour and other lands whereby the same Richard became vested into the present possession thereof the remainder to Thomas his son and for want of issue by him to Robert his other son and the heirs of his body and for lack of such issue to the right heirs of Richard Which two sons died young in their Fathers life time and Richard himself left no heir male The consideration whereof much moving the said Iohn forasmuch as this Mannour and the rest of those entailed lands were like to be transferred to another Familie by Anne the daughter and heir of the same Richard he exhibited a Petition in Parl. to K. H. 8. about the beginning of his reign wherein the better to ingratiate himself he set forth his adherence to Henry D. of Buckingham in the behalf of Henry Earl of Richmund afterwards King by the name of H. 7. against Ric. 3. King in deed but not of right alleadging that upon the miscarriage of that Duke in his said attempts he himself was taken at Gloucester and there kept Prisoner and moved that the said Fine should be made void so that himself and his heirs might enjoy this Mannour with the lands before mentioned in such sort as he and they should and ought to have done hat it not been levied This Iohn Burdet was one of the retinue unto Sir Edm. Howard Admirall in 4 H. 8. for scouring the Seas on the Southern coast of England and in no small favour at Court as it seems for his Petition took such effect that he pursued his claim to this Lordship and all other the lands whereof his Father was seized against Edward Conway and Anne his wife daughter and heir to the before specified Ric. Burdet as if there had been no such entail as hath been said Which suits

Dudston Saltley and Bermi●gham which belong'd thereunto seized upon as Chantrie lands and then valued at xiii li. xix d. per annum out of which two Priests officiating in the said Parish Church of Aston had x li. per an betwixt them Dordsley THis being originally a member of Aston and therewith involved at the time of the Conqueror's Survey descended to the Someries Barons of Dudley by the heir female of Paganell as the Castle of Dudley which was part of William fitz Ausculf's possessions together with Aston did yet have I not seen it particularly mentioned in any Record till H. 3. time but then was it certified to be in the Earl of Chester's hands who had obtained the Wardship of the son and heir to William Percival de Someri whose posterity were onely sirnamed Someri And afterwards scil in 1 E. 1. being assigned to Anabill the widow of Roger de Someri as part of her Dower was valued at xviii li. xvii s. v d. q. having a Leet which the Barons of Dudley antiently held here extending into Bromwych parva Bromwych magna Dodeston Saluthley Echells Overton and Erdington as by the Claim of Roger de Someri in 13 E. 1. appears At which time it was also found that three Rodmen of Witton a Hamlet likewise in the same Parish did usually by turnes do suit to the King's Hundred-Court of Hemlingford from three weeks to three weeks for all those Hamlets except Erdington but that all the Freeholders of Erdington did personally perform their suit to the said Hundred from three weeks to three weeks or pay a Fine of xix d. And that all the said Hamlets before specified together with Erdington used to pay for the Shiriffs Aid xxxiv s. To the Leet a mark and for Warthe xi d. q. but that the King was in possession of the Weyfs Which Roger de Someri had issue Roger upon whose death in 19 E. 1. the extent of what he had here was thus certified viz. a certain Grange with an Oxe-house Lxi. acres of land in demesn three Meadows scil one lying here another in Dodeston and the third at Olton as also a certain proportion of pasture ground That he had likewise xvi Customarie Tenants which held in Villenage six yard land and a half with a fourth part and ten Acres paying Lx s. xi d. ob per an And four Freeholders who held in Socage four Messuages and four half yard lands paying yearly xxxvi s. x d. q. doing suit of Court as also giving Heriot and Relief as it should happen And moreover that besides these there were Lxxviii Freeholders that held lands without Houses newly reduced to tillage paying yearly xii li. xv s. iii d. q. and performing two appearances in the year unto the Court held at this place All which being put together amounted to xxvii li. xii s. ii d. per annum whereof iv li. viii s. v d. ob was assigned towards the Dower of Agnes his widow But by the constant possession which the Barons of Dudley had of this Lordship it came at length to be reputed as a member of Dudley and was therefore after the death of Iohn de Someri in 16 E. 2. certified to be held of the King in Capite as part of that Baronie and so came to Ioane one of his two sisters and coheirs then the wife of Thomas de Botetort and by her death in 12 E. 3. to Iohn de Botetourt her son and heir a great Baron in those dayes together with Weoley in Com. Wigorn. a Castle scarce three miles distance from hence built by Rog. de Somerie in H. 3. time which afterwards was his principall seat Howbeit these with the rest of his lands for want of issue male came to Ioyce his grandchild scil daughter unto the said Iohn who brought them in marriage to Sir Hugh Burnell Knight Which Ioice dying without issue 1. Ian. 7. H. 4. Maud and Agnes Botetourt Maurice de Berkley Agnes Wykes and Ioice Wykes became her cosins and heirs of which Maud and Agnes Rotetourt were Nuns the first at Polesworth in this Countie and the second at Elnestow in Bedfordshire viz. Maurice Berkley son of Maurice son of Katherine sister of Iohn Botetourt father of t●e said Ioyce Agnes and Ioyce Wikes being daughters of Ioane daughter of Alice the other sister to the said Iohn Botetourt The estate of which coheirs came by purchase in H. 5. time to Ioane Beauchamp Lady Bergavenny as at large may appear by these Records Which Ioane by her last Will setled it upon Iames of Ormund her eldest son by Iames Earl of O●mund her last husband so that by the attainder of the same Iames in 1 E. 4. no being then Earl of Wiltshire it escha●ted to the K●ng who the next year following in consideration of the good and acceptable service which Sir Thomas Erdington Knight had performed to him in his adversitie confer'd it upon the said Sir Thomas and Ioyce his wife to hold during the life of the longer liver of them without any Rent or other thing to be given in lieu thereof And by his Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster 10. Dec. in the sixt year of his reign in consideration of the great and memorable services which Sir Iohn Dudley Knight Lord Dudley had likewise performed granted the reversion thereof to the said Lord Dudley and the heirs male of his body But whether the said Lord Dudley survived them and so became actually possest of it I cannot tell for in 11 H. 7. there was a Fine levied thereof by Edward Bishop of Chichester Sir Thomas Ormund Knight with dives others Plantiff and Sir William Berkley Knight and Anne his wife Deforc by which Fine the inheritance thereof became vested in the before specified Sir Thomas Ormund with Warrantie against the heirs of the same Anne Which Sir Thomas Ormund was brother to Iames Earl of Wiltshire formerly attainted as hath been shewed and left issue two daughters his heirs viz. Margaret the wife of Sir William Bullein and Anne married to Sir Iames St L●ger Knight which Anne in 11 H. 8. wrote her self Domina de Bordesley To whom succeeded Sir Iohn S● Leger Knight her grandson and heir that sold it to Edward Arden of Park-Hall Esquire about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time whose posteritie do still enjoy it Heybarnes HAving thus traced down the succession of Bordesley I shall not need to say much of Heybarnes it being only a member of the other and by the Inquis taken after the death of Sir Iohn Botetourt Knight certified to contain one Messuage and three Carucates of land all which hath been and is to this day still possest by the owners of Bordsley Saltley THis place also having been originally a member of Aston is involved therewith in

their Liberties Granting besides unto them the whole town and Mannour of Sutton-Colfeild as also the Chase and Park to hold to them and their success●rs for ever in Fee ferm at the Rent of Lviii l. per a● in which sort it continueth till this day Concerning the parentage of this Iohn Harman I find that he was born in this Lordship and of a Family residing here his Father's name being Will. Harman and his mother 's Ioane daughter unto Henry Squier of Handsworth in Staffordshire from which Henry is also descended my singu●ar ●end M. Scipio Squ●er now one of the Vice-Chamb●rlains in the Exchequer a Gentleman of g●●a● knowledge in Antiquities and a special further●● of this worke The first mention that I have 〈◊〉 of the said Iohn Harman is in 11 H. 7. 〈◊〉 the King grants unto him by the name of 〈◊〉 Harm●n D of Law the free Chapell of S. 〈…〉 within this his Mannour of Sutton in Colfield with all the lands and possessions thereunto belonging for life By which Pat. recitall is made that the same Chapell c. was forme●ly granted also for life unto one Iohn Hermon 〈◊〉 in 20 H. 6. to celebrate D●vine Service therein according to the Ordination of the Founders thereof and confirm'd to him by ●eorge Duke of Clarence in right of his Earldome of Warwick 12 O●t 11 E. 4. and then viz. 11 H. 7. surrendred to the King and cancell'd to make way for this grant Of which Chapell all I have seen else is only that in 2 E. 3. the King in respect of the ●●en Earl of UUarwick's minoritie confer'd it upon Thomas de Hampton Clerk as a Donative But I return to Iohn Hermon He was afterwards viz. in 22 H. 7. Vicar of St. M●chael's Church in Coventre Next Dean of the Royall Chapell at UUindsor to K. H. 8. Homo cui nec eruditio decrat nec prudentia morum porro comitate insignis perhibetur saith Godwyn For which his abilities being highly esteemed of the King he was imployed on sundry Embassies made Tutor to the Lady Marie then the King 's onely Daughter and President of Wales and after the death of Hugh Oldham Bishop of Exeter advanced to that See being consecrated 6 Dec. an 1519 11 H. 8. To this town he bore a speciall aff●ction and besides the procuring it to be incorporate as I have said bestow'd very great cost aswell for ornament as inriching thereof sc. The Mo●● Hall with a Prison under it and a Mercate place he built at the charge of xxxv l. v s. vi d. Inclosed all the Coppices called the seaven Heys and set up Gates and Locks to them at xliii l. ii s. vi d. Paved the whole Town at xl l. i●i s viii d. Stored the Park with Mares Colts and Horses at xl l. Gave to the ditching and Quicksetting thereof at one time xvi l. viii s. x. d. And at another x l. xvi s. viii d. Paid for weights and Balances and the VVarden's expences at the first Leet xli s. For the Organs in the Church an 22 H. 8. xiiii l. ii s. viii d. For building of two Iles to the Church an 25 H. 8. XCu l. xii s. ii d. Besides the finishing of them iiii l. vi s. xi d. Built the School and endow'd it as I shall further shew anon Destroy'd the Chase for the benefit of the Poor who for xx d. per an had keeping for their Cows and gave a meadow for Hay to the poor Widows appointing the Coppices to be for Fewell to the Inhabitants Nay so great a desire had he that it should increase in people and wealth not doubting but that the barrenness of the soil would give an edge unto Industrie that building Li. stone Houses within the precincts of the Lordship he began to set up a trade of Cloathing there in making Kerseys in imitation of Devonshire which he saw had much inriche that County But so much did he impoverish his Bishoprick to do these things that as Godwyn observes what was so founded upon Sacriledge thrived but little for this Cloathing trade being soon neglected his design therein came to nothing Neither had that better success wherewith he advanced his kindred which continued not to them for three generations The later part of his days he spent here at Sutton having built from the ground a very fair House North East near a mile from the Town called Moore Hall where he lived very hospitably having of his retinue Cxl. men in Scarlet Caps and Gowns his Houshold expences then amounting to 1500 l. per an which was no small summe at that time To Bulloin he sent xx able men with K. H. 8. and C l. with them and twice as many to Norwich feild giving also money ex-ordinary with them for their support in case any fell sick by the way and afterwards in recompence of their service bestowed on them lands and livings And for prevention of Robberies which were in those days frequent upon the Road over Bassets-Heath leading from Litchfeild towards London he erected a House upon a piece of Wast called Cotysmore contaning nine acres of gr●und lying in a kind of desert place near to Canwell-yate which place as by an Autograph I have seen was deservedly called La●ro●um spelunca receptaculum wherein he placed one of his own domestique Servants to ●eside paying ii s. yearly at Michaelmass to himself and his heirs and xviii d. to the Warden and Fellowship of Sutton and their Successors At his own proper costs he also built two Stone Br●dges within 3. miles of Sutton viz. at Curdworth and Water-Orton and for that purpose as the tradition is pulled down the remainder of the antient Mannour House which stood about a furlong Westwards from the Church And departing this world at the age of Ciii years lyeth buried on the North side of the Chancell here at Sutton having a fair Monument there with his sta●●●e mitred and vested for the Altar as I shall shew anon Of the before specified Mannour House I may not omit to observe that it stood very delightfully having not onely the Chase for pleasure of hunting but d●vers large Pools near at hand as also a Chapell within it that of St. 〈◊〉 before sp●ke of as I take it wherein the Priest tha● celebrated divine service in 24 H. 6. had xxxiii s. iiii d. per an for his S●ipend Concerning which Pools being in number four I have ob●erved that Sir Raph Bracebrigge of Kingsbury Kt. having a Lease of them for terme of life from 7 H. 5. covenanted to pay the yearly Rent of x l. or Cxx. B●emes the price of each B●eme reckoned at xx d. but if they should happen to be at a greater rate then to be allowed back proportionably Whereunto I shall adde part of an Accompt made by the before recited Earl of Warwick's Bay●●ff in 32

Beste que iai illoques le iour de ma moriant And lastly that of Simon Digby Esquire in 9 H. 8. who bequeathing his Body to sepulture in the Chancell of the Church at Colshill in this Countie hath this expression and my best Good to my Principal after the use of the Countrey But this kind of payment was converted into money by the Statute of 21 H. 8. whereunto I refer my Reader And so having herein digrest enough by the help of that learned gentleman Master Thomas Barlow of Qu. Coll. Oxon. my singular friend from whom I acknowledge that divers of the materialls whereof I have here made use were imparted to me I return To this Iohn Arden who died ...... Iunii 17 H. 8. succeeded Thomas and to him Edward son and heir to William that died in his Fathers life time in ward to Sir George Throgmorton Knight in 38 H. 8. whose daughter he afterwards married Which Edward though a gentleman not inferior to the rest of his Ancestors in those virtues wherewith they were adorned had the hard hap to come to an untimely death in 27 Eliz. the charge layd against him being no less than high Treason against the Queen as privie to some foul intentions that Master Somervile his son in Law a Roman Catholick had towards her person For which he was prosecuted with so great rigour and violence by the Earl of Leicester's means whom he had irritated in some particulars as I have credibly heard partly in disdaining to wear his Livery which many in this Countie of his rank thought in those days no small honour to them but chiefly for galling him by certain harsh expressions touching his private accesses to the Countess of Essex before she was his wife that through the testimonie of one Hall a Priest he was found guiltie of the Fact and lost his life in Smithfield Tristis hic exitus nobilis viri saith Master Cambden qui sacerdotis insidiis illectus ejusdem testimonio perculsus Lecestrii invidiae vulgò vertebatur Certum enim est illum Lecestrii invidiam nec immeritò incurrisse cui in omnibus quibus poterat se temerè objecerat quasi adultero obtrectaverat ut homini novo detraxerat Upon whose attainder his lands were given away to Edward Darcy Esquire and his heirs but Robert son and rightfull heir to that inheritance being a prudent person and well read in the Laws by virtue of an Entail made upon his marriage in his Father's life time after very long suits recovered all again this Mannour of Curdworth and Minworth excepted and living to a great age with no small reputation in his Countrey left Robert his grand-child heir to the estate Which last mentioned Robert being much accomplisht with learning and other excellent parts died in the flower of his youth whereby the inheritance of this antient Family resorted to his Sisters of whose marriages I have in the Pedegree before inserted taken notice Within this Lordship did the Abbot of Leicester in 13 E. 1. having a large proportion of land by the grant of Hugh de Arden in H. 2. time claim a Court Leet as also Infangthef with Assize of Bread and Beer and to justifie this Challenge exhibited the Charters of K. H. 2. and Ric. 1. whereby the Canons of that house had sundry generall priviledges granted to them throughout all their possessions whereupon the Jury finding that they had enjoy'd a Court-Leet with Assize of Bread and Beer time out of mind those Liberties were allowed And forasmuch as it appeared that in the time of Abbot Henry a Gallows had been set up and a Thief there taken committing Felony adjudg'd to death and hanged by his Bailiff the same Priviledge was likewise allowed The Church dedicated to S. Peter ad vincula being given to the Canons of Leicester in H. 2. time by Hugh de Arden before specified was soon after appropriated to them by Ric. Peche Bishop of Cov. and Lich. his Successors Hugh Novant and Geffrey Muschamp confirming the same And in An. 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at vii marks and a half but the Vicaridge at no more than two marks having long before been endowed with a certain proportion of Glebe and Tithes for maintenance of the successive Incumbents which Vicaridge in 26 H. 8. was certified to be worth C s. per an over and above x s. deducted for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Mag. R●b de Leyrcestre An. 1283. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Will. de Sutton Cap. 1284. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Ioh. de B●rhangre Diac. 9. Cal. Iulii 1305. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Thomas Atteyate Cap. 19. Cal. Ian. 1350. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Henr. Wyshaw Pbr. 17. Cal. Sept. 1361. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Ioh. Hamund Pbr. 5 Id. Martii 1367. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae D. Ioh. Broke Cap. 5 Feb. 1404. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Ric. Lawrence Pbr. 5 Sept. 1493. Abbas Conv. Leicestriae Ric. Singleton Cap. 8. Mar● 1498. Edw. Arden ar Edm. Lyngard Cler. 27 Maii 1561. Iac. Rex Angl. c. ratione minoris aet Edw. Darcy ar Thomas Aylesbury Cler. 4. Maii 1618. Iac. Rex Angl. c. ratione minoris aet Edw. Darcy ar Will. Clifford in Art Mag. 23 Iulii 1619. Carolus Rex ratione ut supra Iosephus Clifford Cler. 20. Martii 1625. In a North Window of the Church these Armes Gules a Cinquefoile Ermine Old Earls of Leicester Minworth THis having been the freehold of one Godric before the Norman invasion and in the Conqueror's time possest by Turchill de Warwick was by the generall Survey certified to contain 1 hide the woods extending to half a mile in length and 3 furlongs in breadth All which with the rest were then valued at v s. In that Record it is written Meneworde ● the later syllable signifying an habitation or dwelling and the former shewing of whom though a name now out of use But farther of this Village I have very little to say forasmuch as it continued in the Ardens Family till the attainder of Edward in 27 Eliz. and was past out of the Crown therewith in 28 of the same Queens reign to Edward Darcy Esquire and his heirs That part of the Park which lyeth Northward of the River was first impaled by the before specified Edward Arden about the beginning of Q. Eliz. reign as I have heard but before the recoverie of it by Robert Arden his son from Darcy all the Trees were cut down and rid out of it Berwood THis being involved originally with Curdworth is not at all mentioned in the Conqueror's Survey neither have I seen any thing thereof till H. 2. time that Hugh de Arden gave it to the Canons of Leicester viz. locum de Berwda cum exsartis pratis for those are the

Esquier And to manifest that he was a person eminently qualified in 18 E. 2. he served in the Parliament then held at London as one of the Knights for this Shire having ii s. vi d. allowed him per diem for his expences during that imployment But in 1 E. 3. upon a strong suspition of Heresie suggested against him to the King a Commission to Will. de Clinton bearing date 3 Maii was forthwith issued out not only to arrest and take him but to seize on all his lands goods and Chattels of which being advertised he submitted himself to prison and brought in sureties to stand to a lawfull triall therein viz. Raph. de Crophull of Notinghamshire Walt. de Heselarton of Yorkshire Edm. de Shireford David de Caunton Rog. le Pledour and Iohn de Alspath of this County whereupon he was set at liberty and his lands and goods restored to him as by the King 's special Precept bearing date at Notingham 3 Sept. appeareth After which viz. in 5 E. 3. the said Lord Basset received his full accompt for all the time he had served and re●eined to him and gave him a generall Acquittance To whom succeeded Iohn who for the lands in Blaggreve which sometime belong'd to Rob. de Blaggreve his grandmothers Father obtained a Release from Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight heir ●o Marmion as to the suit due to his three weeks Court at Stipershull and all other services for that land during his own life and the life of Maud his wife saving to the said Sir Baldwin his homage and a pair of gilt spurs at the Feast of S. Edith yearly This Iohn in 30 E. 3. payd to Sir Iohn de Arden Kt. and Henry his brother Executors to Raph de Arden their father the sum of vi s. viii d. for reasonable Aid due upon the marriage of Sibill his eldest daughter in respect of the lands in Moxhull which he held of him by military service and at the same time xxxiii s. iiii d. for a Relief due to the before specified Raph for those lands and bore for his Armes three Eglets displayed gules as by his Seal and an old Glasse window in Bentley Chapell appeareth which coat or part thereof at least was assumed by Henry his Father for I have seen a Seal of his with one Eglet displaied within the compasse of a roundle and not in a Shield a course very antiently used before they put their Badges into Shields as I have observed in the Families of Beke of Eresby and Darcy the first of which bore their Crosse sarcilè so and the other their Cinquefoile Which Iohn bearing a singular reverence to the Monks of Merevale desired that his body might be there buried as may appear by certain land and Rent that he assigned to some friends in trust for the finding of divers wax Lights to burn every Sunday and Holiday in the Chapell of our Lady adjoyning to the gate of that Abby for which respect he had a special grant from Robert de Atherston Abbot of that House and his Covent under their publick Seal bearing date the Wednsday after Lammas 33 E. 3. of a certain proportion of ground within the said Chapell of our Lady containing seven foot square where he and Maud his wife at the death of each should have sepulture And that upon all great Festivall days aswell as Sundays five waxen Lights should be burning there as also that he the said Iohn and Maud should have liberty to set up Images in the same Chapell in honour of the blessed Virgin Henricus de Insula Will. de Insula 21 H. 3. Margareta Nicholaus de Insula 36 H. 3. Amie●a 41 H. 3. Iuliana filia haer Rob. de Blaggreve 1 E. 1. Ankitellus de Insula 22 E. 1. Christiana ux 2 obiit 33 E. 1. Philippus de Insula Rector Eccl. de Wishaw 4 E. 2. Henr. de Insula 4 E. 2. Iohanna 9 E. 2. Philippus de Insula Rector Eccl. de Cavendish 9 E. 3. Henr. de Insula 9 E. 3. Ioh. de Insula 9 E. 3. Matilda relicta 47 E. 3. Idonea 1 R. 2. Ioh. de Insula 6 H. 4. Margeria 13 H. 4. Will. de L'ile ar 29 H. 6. Iuliana filia Rob. Midlemore de Eggebaston Henricus de L'isle ob 20 H. 7. Eliz. filia Will. Morgan Iohannes L'isle obiit 29 H. 8. Anna filia haeres Will. Lecroft de Colshull 12 H. 8. Nich. L'isle obiit 32 H. 8. Anna filia Thomae Swinerton de Hilton in Com. Staff Thomas L'isle ob 23 Aug. 8 Eliz. Anna filia Georgii Masterson una sororum cohaer Thomae Ioh. L'●sle obiit 24 Ian. 36 Eliz. Dorothea filia Georgii Willoughby filii Hugonis Wiloughby mil. Franciscus L'isle obiit infra aet 38 Eliz. Ioh. L'isle ar Brigitta filia Ioh. Knotsford de Studley Ioh. L'isle Maria filia Mathei Cradock de Caverswall-castro in Com. Staff ar Regin L'isle de quo illi de Bremor in Com. Suth● To which Iohn succeeded Iohn his son who in H. 5. time was retained by the Earl of Warwick amongst other of his Esquires to serve him with one Lance and one Archer at the seige of Caleis for which he was to receive xxl per an besides his diet And to him William and to William Henry who gave the Rectorie of Wilmecote with all the Tithes thereto belonging to Thomas Clapton Master of the Gild at Stratford super Avon to the intent that the Priest singing the first Masse every day in the said Gild should say De profundis before the holy Lavatorie for the good estate of him the said Henry and Elizabeth his wife and for their souls after their departure hence as also for the soules of his ancestors and successors Which Henry was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire in the second and nineteenth years of K. H. 7. reign and by his Testament dated 13 Sept. 20 H. 7. bequeathing his body to be buried within his own proper Chapell in the Church of S. Chad at Wishaw before the Image of Henry the sixth sometime King of England departed this life about that time for the Probate of his Will beareth date the next month following Unto which Henry succeeded Iohn his son and heir who taking to wife Anne the daughter and heir of Will. Lecrofte had with der divers Houses and a great proportion of land lying in Colshill and other places Of this Iohn I find that upon the birth of Elizabeth second daughter to King H. 8. afterwards Qu. of England he received a special Letter from Qu. Anne dated at Greenwich 7 Sept. 25 H. 8. advertising him of the good speed she had in her deliverance and desiring his congratulation unto God for it as also his Prayers for the good health prosperity and continuall preservation of the said young Princesse To whom succeed Nicholas and to him Thomas who wedded

stood a Mannour-House as by the moat is still to be seen but the other almost a mile and a quarter distant from the same Church Northwest towards Elmedon antiently called Bederichesley in which was a Castle where the intrenchements do appear and are still called Castle-hills lyeth in the Parish of Bikenhull though it be a member of this Lordship But upon the death of the said William de Arden without issue Richard his brother being heir to the estate as also within age and an Ideot the custodie of this Mannour was granted by the King to Barth de Sudlei a person of great quality as in Griffe appeareth so that the inheritance resorted to the descendants of Hawisia and Oliva sisters of Hugh and Aunts to the said Richard as the Descent sheweth of which Amicia grandchild to Oliva with Sir Iohn le Lou Knight her husband sold all her right not onely in this Lordship but in the rest of the lands hereabouts as also in Burton super Swale in Yorkshire unto King Edw. 1. and Queen Elianore in consideration of xxx li. per annum Rent to be received out of the Mannour of Newton-Harcourt by the said King's assignation during their naturall lives and the longer liver of them Which part so purchased being the full moytie for Margerie the other sister had the Mannour of Hund-Burton in Yorkshire allotted to her part and assigned for the said Queens immediate use gave opportunitie to her Officers to possesse themselves of all the rest so that Sir Iohn Peche Knight son and heir to Hawise before specified was constrained to sue for his right therein which at length he recovered and had liverie thereof and afterwards obtained of the same Queen the other moytie In whose Family it continued til Richard 2. time and then by a daughter and heir came to the Mountforts of Colshill by whom it was possest till the attainder of Sir Simon Mountfort Knight in 11 H. 7. that it eschaeted with the rest of his lands to the Crown as in Colshill is shewed But before I descend to manifest the same in particulars I shall here speak historically of Peches Family in regard that this was their principall seat after the before mentioned Sir Iohn Peche became owner of it This Sir Iohn Peche was great grandchild out of doubt to Rob. Peche Bishop of Coventre in King Stephen's time for cleer it is by what I have manifested in Blakwell that Richard Peche son to Geffrey was next heir to Richard Archdeacon of Coventre and Richard son to that Bishop But of Geffrey I have not much to say other than that he had Wilmelegton in this Countie in right of Petronill his wife daughter and at length heir to Richard Walsh nor of Richard his son than that he was a Justice of Assize in this Countie in 13. and 22 H. 3. I shall therefore descend to the before mentioned Iohn who resided at Wilmelegton which came by his grandmother till this Lordship of Hampton divolved to him as I have exprest Rob. Peche Episc. Coventriae temp Regis Stephani Gaufridus Peche Petronilla filia tandem haeres Ric. Walensis de Wilmeleghton Ric. Peche 13 H. 3. Hawisia filia Will. de Arden Ioh. Peche miles 31 E. 1. Ioh. Peche obiit vivente patre Ioh. Peche miles obiit 50 E. 3. Elizabetha 16 E. 3. Ioh. Peche miles obiit 9 R. 2. Katherina postea nupta Kinardo de la Bere Iohanna filia una haeredum 9 R. 2. Margareta altera fil cohaer nupta Will. Montfort de Colihull militi 12 H. 4. Nich. Peche miles 28 E. 3. Thomas Peche miles 23 E. 3. Ric. Peche 45 E. 3. duxit Annoram fil Gerardi de Allespath Hugo Peche 31 H. 3. Ida relicta Steph. de Segrave Ric. Peche Archidiac Coventriae In October 49 H. 3. which was soon after that memorable Battail of Evesham he had the King 's speciall Letters of protection to be in force till Whitsontide following which shews that he stood loyall at that time Shortly after which he wanted not employment in places of publique trust for from 53 H. 3. till 9. E. 1. inclusive he was frequently one of the Justices for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick as also in 16 E. 1. in that Welch expedition under Edmund Earl of Cornwall to whom the King being then in France had committed the custodie of this Realm during his absence In 33 E. 1. he was a Knight In 12 E. 2. in Commission for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick and the next year following upon complaint to the King that this Countrey swarming with Vagabonds and lewd people divers Murthers Robberies and extraordinary mischiefs were daily committed he was constituted a Commissioner together with Iohn de Segrave to proceed against those malefactors according to the Statute of Winchester and appointed one of the conservators of the Peace for this County so also upon renewing that Commission in 14 E. 2. being then likewise one of the Justices for the Gaole-deliverie at Warwick In 15 E. 2. upon information given that one Thomas Blauncfront and others had possest themselves of Warwick-Castle then in the King's hand by reason of the Earl's minority he received a Commission to accompany the Shiriff thither and requiring the render thereof to imprison the transgressors whereupon he became Governour of it and the next year ensuing was constituted one of the Commissioners for arraying of Souldiers scil Horse and Foot to march against the Scotts In 17 E. 2. in the Certificate of all the Knights and Esquires whose names were returned into the Chancerie he is there ranked with the Knights and the same year was made Constable of Dovor-Castle as also Warden of the Cincque Ports But in that confession made by Edmund Earl of Kent the King's uncle in 3 E. 3. when he stood charged with Treason for reporting that King Edward the second was alive and that he should thereupon conspire his enlargement and restitution of his Kingdom being accused to be one of the said Earl's abettors therein Precepts were issued out to the Shiriffs of Warwick Dorset and Hant-shires for his speedy apprehension by command of the Parliament held shortly after at Winchester scil in March After which his lands were seized by the King but ere long he was cleered of that charge and restitution made as appears by the said King's Mandate to the Shiriff of this Countie bearing date in August following This Sir Iohn Peche bore for his Armes Gules a fesse between six Crosse croslets Arg. with a labell of 3. points in Cheif and being an aged man departed this life about the 11 th or 12 th year of King Edw. 3. reign leaving Iohn his grandson heir to this and divers other fair Lordships who being in 16 E. 3. a Knight in 28 E. 3. served in the Parliament then held at

in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge with the Chapell of Nuthurst thereunto annexed at xv li. vi s. viii d. over and above xx ● Pension payable yearly to the Canons of Kenilworth ● and xi s. to the Bishop and Archdeacon for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclcsiae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nominat Hugh de Ardena mil. Thomas de Notehurst Diac. anno 1250. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nominat Ioh. Peche mil. Ioh. de Olnefel 11. Cal. Oct. 1320. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nominat Ioh. Peche mil. Ioh. atte Well Cap. 2. Non. Iunii 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nominat Kinardi De la Bere mil. Ioh. de Braunteford 6. Oct. 1387. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nominat Kinardi De la Bere mil. Rob. Eyberhale Pbr. 9. Iunii 1391. Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Ioh. Gerveys Cap. 20. Oct. 1410. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nom D. VVill. Mountfort mil. Ioh. Gylbard Cap. 6. Sept. 1413. Prior Conv. de Kenilw ad nom D. VVill. Mountfort mil. Ioh. Harman Cap. 21. Martii 1431. Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Thom. Boresden 12. Martii 1510. Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Rad. Massy Cap. 7. Feb. 1515. Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Petrus Irlam 5. Febr. 1537. D. Henr. 8. Rex Angl. D. Ric. Baynton Cap. 24. Maii 1542. Thomas L'ysley ar Thomas Robynson 26. Ian. 1565. Eliz. Angliae Regina Leonardus Fetherston Cler. 14. Dec. 1584. Eliz. Angliae Regina Walt. Byckles Cler. 3. Feb. 1594. Eliz. Angliae Regina Sim. Grover 30. Oct. 1596. This Church being situate on so fair an ascent had a tall Spire which was a noted mark to a great part of the Wood-land till by the extraordinary violence of Lightning and Thunder hapning on S t Andrew's day at night in the year 1643. it was cloven and fell to the ground at which time the whole fabrick with the tower were torn in divers places Nuthurst OF this place I have seen no mention before H. 3. time it being a member of Hampton originally and therewith coming to Moubray From one of which Family it was past to Montfort and from Peter de Montfort or one of his Ancestors to one of the Hastangs of Lemington-Hastang in this Countie For upon the challenge made by Peter de Montfort in 46 H. 3. of certain services which he claimed as due unto him from Robert de Hastang for the fourth part of a Knights fee here they came to an agreement viz. that the same Robert de Hastang and his heirs upon levying of Scutage after the rate of xl s. a Knights fee should pay to him the said Peter and his heirs x s. and so according to that proportion When or how it past from Hastang I have not seen but about the beginning of E. 3. time Will. Trussell of Flore in Com. Northampt. became owner of it and in 5. of that King's reign had a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here as also a speciall License to make a Park of his Woods in this place From which Will. it descended to the Trussells of Billesley and continued in the possession of that Family whose Descent in Billesley is to be seen till Edward Trussell son and heir to the last Thomas sold it within these few years to William Iesson an Alderman of Coventre The extent of what these Trussells had here being one Mess. CC. acres of land CCC acres of pasture x. acres of meadow xxx acres of Wood and iv s. Rent as appeareth by an Inq. taken after the death of Thomas Trussell in 8 H. 8. Here is an ancient Chapell which in respect of its great distance from the Parish Church hath some Parochiall rites belonging thereto In 2 H. 3. it was with the Church of Hampton appropriated to the Canons of Kenilworth by William de Cornhull then Bishop of this Dioces whereupon an assignation was made of what Tithes the Vicar of Hampton should thenceforth have within this Hamlet as in Hampton is shewed In 18 E. 2. I find that Iohn de Olnefel Vicar of Hampton made a Lease for the terme of eight yea●s unto one Thomas Ketel of Kings-Norton Priest of this Chapell with all the G●ebe Tithes and every thing else thereto belonging reserving to himself all living Mortuaries of the Inhabitants there deceasing and the buriall of the bodies of all married persons and widows with Funerall oblations as also pasture and forage of Hay and Straw yearly sufficient for the maintenance of four young beasts Steers or Hey●ers to be there kept and the keeping of three or four Hoggs yearly in Harvest-time and for a month after Michaelmass The conditions to be performed of the part of the said Thomas being these viz. that he and his Clerke should serve personally every day in the said Chapell honestly and decently so that the said Vicar might not have blame therefore and that he should keep the Housing and Chapell with Books Vestments and all other ornaments in as good state or better than he found them not cutting down any Trees and paying to the said Vicar or his Deputie xx s. per annum Unto which Chapell Edmund Fulwood of Tanworth Esquire bearing a good regard in respect of his so near residence thereto scil at Cley-Hall in 9 Eliz. granted a Mess. and certain lands thereto belonging unto Thomas Trussell Thomas Greswould Iohn Lidyate Gentlemen Iohn Sidnall and some others to the use of such Priest as should thenceforth serve therein and be continually resident but in case of such non-residencie the Church-wardens to take the benefit thereof to bestow on the poor and needy Inhabitants of Nuthurs● on Good Friday or else to the repair of the said Chapell as in their discretion should be thought meet Knoll THis was originally a member of Hampton and therefore not particularly mentioned in the Conqueror's Survey nor till K. Iohn's time have I seen it so much as named but then did William de Arden of Hampton grant it unto Amicia de Tracie his wife as part of her Dower to hold during life in which Deed it is written Gnolle the C. being mistaken for a G. having had its name originally from the situation for in our old English Cnolle signifieth the knap of an Hill or an ascending ground In 35 H. 3. Hugh de Arden son and heir to the said William had Free warren granted to him in all his Demesn lands in this place where it is written la Cnolle And in 46 H. 3. William de Arden son of Hugh commenced suit against Peter de Montfort and others for certain lands here upon the death of which William Agatha his widow had it assigned unto her for part of her dowrie Which William and his brother dying without issue as in Hampton is shewed and the whole

to them of Mergate in 〈◊〉 Bedf. and appropriated to that Religious House In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at ix marks and the Vicaridge at two marks but in 26 H. 8. the said Vicaridge was estimated at vii 〈◊〉 s. ii d. over and above ix s. vi d. yearly allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Galfr. de Newnham Cap. D. Alanus de Waverton 7. Cal. Nov. 1320. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Ioh. de Wylmun●●cote 4. Id. I●n 1325. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Ioh. Martin Cap. 15. Cal. Nov. 1330. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Henr. de Umbresley Cap. 4. No● Oct. 1349● Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate D. Will. le Warde prid Id Ian. 1358. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Will. atte G●ange Cap. 2. Id. Martii 1362. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Ioh. Sp●nne Pbr. 19. Maii 1395. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Nich. Burton 28. Ian. 14●8 Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Will. Bichenhull Cap. 3. Iunii 1416. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate Will. Erle Pbr. 6. Aug. 1447. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate D. Thomas Orme 15. Sept. 1522. Priorissa Conv S. Trin. de Bosco juxtae Merkyate D. Humfr. Robyns 22. Iunii 1537. Eliz. Angl. Regina Thomas Vagham Cler. 3. Dec. 1565. Eliz. Angl. Regina Andr. Dent Cler. 10. Sept. 1582. Clem. Fisher de Pakinton miles Ioh. Keeling Cler. 31. Oct. 1605. Maria Fisher vidua Will. Hytsonne Cler. 20. Nov. 1620. Middle-Bickenhill and Hill Bickenhill THese were antiently reputed but for one Hamlet and called Little-Bikenhill being in King Iohn's time possest by Richard de Kaines which Richard gave it unto his three sisters scil Ra●ace Ala and Margaret Will. de Kaines their other brother confirming the grant and Henry de Bickenhull releasing to them all his right therein By these sisters it was divided but a good part thereof came afterwards to the Nunns of Henwood and after the generall dissolution was past out of the Crown inter alia to Edward Aglionby of Balshall Esquire and Henry Hugford of Solihull Gentleman and their heirs by the name of a M●nnour with certain lands and Rents in Hill Bickenhill all which were purchased as it seems shortly after by Iohn Fisher of Pakington Esquire for by the Inquisition taken after his death it appears that he died seized of them from whom they are descended to Sir Clement Fysher Baronet his great grandchild who now enjoys them Kington alias Kingsford part in Bickenhill and part in Solihull-Parish THis is a very antient place though now there be little signe thereof for I find that there stood a Church here in the beginning of H. 3. time the ●dv●u●on whereof was granted in 5 ●● of that King's reign to the Nunns of Mergate in Bedfordshire by one Henry le Notte But afterwards viz. in 16 E. 2. it had the reputation for no more than a Chapell belonging to Bikenhill In 37 H. 6. it appears that the Mountforts of Colshill were Lords thereof and therefore I am of 〈◊〉 that it came to them by the daughter and 〈◊〉 of ●ec●e a Hampton in Arden did For in that year Sir Baldwin son and heir to Sir William Mountfort passed his estate therein unto Sir Humphrey Stafford Knight son and heir to the Duke of Buck. and others which grant was but in trust as it seems for in 7 H. 7. did Sir Simon Montfort Knight son and heir to the said Sir Baldwin demise it by the name of the Mannour of Kingsford unto Henry and Thomas his two younger sons and in 10 H. 7. died seized of it but attainted as in Colshill is shewed whereupon it eschaeting to the Crown was soon granted inter alia to Girald Earl of Kildare and El●z S t Iohn his wife and to the heirs male of their two bodies lawfully begotten by which it came to Sir Iames Fitz Girald Knight son to the said Earl by that Ladie who being attainted in 28 H. 8. as in Dunchurch appeareth it resorted again to the Crown and in 7 E. 6. was with other lands granted unto Thomas Lucy of Cherlecote Esquire and his heirs which Thomas afterwards a Knight sold it unto Thomas Dabridgment Esquire of whom in Langdon I have made mention Waver's Merston OF this place there is no mention at all in the Conqueror's Survey so that I presume it was then involved with Bikenhill because it afterwards appeareth to be of Arden's Fee From one of which Familie I am of opinion that Anketill de Crafte was first enfeoft thereof about King Stephen or H. 2. time for cleer it is that the same Anketil possest it and had his residence here From whom it descended to Roger de Crafte his nephew scil son of Roger his brother which Roger about the beginning of King Ric. 1. time sold it unto William de Waver son of Robert de Waver his kinsman for XL. li. of silver to be held of him the said Roger and his heirs by the sixth part of a Knights Fee whereupon for distinction from the many other Merstons in this Countie it came to be called Waver's-Merston whose grandchild William in 41 H. 3. obtained a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here But taking part with the rebellious Barons in 49 H. 3. for which his lands were seized and this Mannour given to Roger de Someri Lord of Dudley upon his Composition according to the Diclum de Kenilworth he was necessitated to sell it 〈◊〉 to the said Roger for CC. marks of silver Howbeit afterwards either he or his son Robert redeem'd it again for in 35 E. 1 the same Robert entailed it at his son's marriage together with Th'ester-waver and other lands as in my discourse of that place hath been already said In whose ●ine it continued till 6 H. 6. that Iohn Waver of Th'ester-waver Esquire past it unto Iohn Catesby of Lapworth from whom it came to Iohn Catesby o● Stowell grandchild to the said Iohn who in 16 E. 4. obtained a Release from Henry Waver of Th'ester-waver Esquire of all his right and title thereto and afterwards though by what direct steps I have not seen unto the descendants of Thomas Catesby a younger son of Sir Will. Catesby Knight whose Pedegree is in Lapworth to be seen one of which viz. Iohn about the beginning of King I●mes his time sold it unto Henry Mayne of Bovington in Hartfordshire in reversion after his own decease by which

the Duke of Lancaster ●nto Spain in 9 R. 2. and there died ●eaving issue by Margaret the daughter to Sir Iohn de Clinton of Maxstoke Kt. Iohn Wi●liam Baldwin Thomas and Margaret which Iohn was under age at his father's death whereupon Sir Wi●l Bagot Kt. had his Wardship and married Catherine his daughter to him but he died without issue before 23 R. 2. unto whom succeeded William his brother in the inheritance Of which William I find that having been in H. 4 time one of the chief Esquires retained with the Earl of Warwick for the siege of Callais and in 5 H. 5. Steward of the Household to the same Earl being retained with him at xl marks per an fee As also from 9 H. 5. at which time he was a Kt. till his death in Commissi●n for conservation of the Peace in this Countie he was one and indeed chief of the Councell unto the same Earl and Executor to the Ladie Isabell his Count●ss and that almost in all imployments for the publick service of the Countrie he had a principall place for in 4.8.14.19 and 24 H. 6. he was in Commission for treating with the people concerning Loans of money to the King In 14. and 28 H. 6. for assessing and levying of Subsid●es In 15 and 23 H. 6. one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then he●d In 12 H. 6. one of those who swore to the observance of those Articles agreed on in the Parliament of that year and three times Shiriff of this Countie and Leicestershire viz. in 10.20 and 29 H. 6. As also that he bore for his Armes A●●ent upon a chief Azure two flowre de 〈◊〉 O being the Coat of Clinton his grand-mothers Father In whose time that fair Spire-S●e●ple here be●ng newly built from the ground and the Chancell as appeareth by the structure and Armes in sundry of the Windows he was without doubt a speciall Benefactor thereto His Testament bears date the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Mathew the Apostle 30 H. 6. but there is very little worth notice therein other than the disposall of all his lands in Mollington for the Foundation of a Chantrie here at Colshill which was never accomplished By his first w●●e sc. Marg●ret daughter and heir to Sir Iohn Peche of Hampton in Arden he had issue Sir Baldwin Mountfort Kt. Iohn that died without issue Robert Richard Parson of Ilmindon and Raph Which Robert being possest of the Mannour of Monkspath in this Countie and of Bescote in Staffordshire left issue one onely daughter and heir named Catherine married to George Booth son and heir to Sir Will. Booth of Dunham in Cheshire of the antient Familie of the Booths of Barton in Lancashire From which George is lineally descended Sir George Booth now of Dunham Baronet But by Ioane a second wife born in Little Bri●tany had the said Sir Will. Mountfort a son called Edmund first one of the Esquires to King H. 6. and afterwards a Kt. and Shiriff of this Countie and Leicestershire in 38 H. 6. As also one of the Carvers to the same King and a Commissioner for arraying of men the same year A man indeed much in favour with that unfortunate Prince as appears by an acknowledgement of his services exprest in the preamble of a certain Patent whereby he had the Lordships of Shustoke and Bole-Hall in this Countie then given to him which were seized on for the activeness of Iohn Lord Clinton and Say on the behalf of the House of York Which Sir Edmund by his Testament bearing date 12 Martii 10 H. 7. bequeathed his body to sepulture in our Lady Chapell within the Parish Church of Henley upon Thames in com Oxon. at the window side before the Image of our Lady in the same Chapell appointing thereby that a metely Tomb should be made according to his degree and his Armes set upon it with this inscription Here lyeth Sir Edmund Mountford Knyht sometime Counceller and Kerver with the most blessed King Henry the sixt and after Chamberleyne to the high and mighty Prince Jasper D. of Bedford brother to the said Prince the said King But I return to Sir Baldwin who at his Father's death in 31 H. 6. was xl years of age and in 34 H. 6. a Kt. being then in Commission for conservation of the Peace in this Countie Betwixt this Sir Baldwin and Sir Edm. Mountfort his half brother there was a great contestation for this Mannour of Colshill and the Mannour of Ilmindon for it seems that Sir Will. Mountfort their Father being wrought upon by the importunitie of Ioane his second wife did endeavour the dishe●i●on of his Children by the first for the better bearing out whereof he enfeoft Humphrey D. of Buckingham a potent man in that age to the use of the same Ioane and of Edmund his son by her which Edmund to make the said Duke the more frm to his interest setled the reversion in case he should have no issue upon him and Humphry Earl Stafford his son so that when Sir Baldwin made his claim thereunto the Duke through his greatness so terrified him with threats that he forced him solemnly to disclaim the former intail and not onely so but to procure Richard and Iohn his brothers of the whole blood under their hands and Seals to do the like Notwithstanding all which Sir Baldwin afterwards taking heart did set a-foot his title again so that at length the matter was referred to Thomas Bourchier Archb. of Canterb. Richard D. of Yorke Ric. Earl of Salisbury Iohn Earl of Worcester and Henry Vicount Bourchier who awarded the said Duke to have Colshill to himself and to his heirs and that Ilmindon should be to the same Sir Baldwin and his heirs whereupon they released each to other and the said Sir Edmund released to Humphrey Earl Stafford before specified all his right to this Mannour and Sim. Montfort son and heir to Sir Baldwin gave bond of a thousand pounds to the said Duke not to molest the said Ioane and Edmund for the same By which means she the said Ioane and her son went away with the present possession thereof the reversion remayning in the before specified Duke and his heirs Howbeit the said Sir Baldw. and his son upon the attainder of that Duke who was slain in the battail of Northampton an 38 H. 6. procured a speciall clause to be inserted in the Act for the regaining of their right hereunto which forasmuch as it is memorable I have here inserted Foresien alwey that this Act of atteynder in noo wise hurt nor prejudice the right title nor pos●session of Symond Mountfort Esquire of in nor for the Mannours of Colshull and Ilmyndon in the Shire of Warrewyk and the Manor of Rampnam in Berkshire and the advouson

Will. Forster Cap. 5. Maii 1543. Mich. Cameswell ar D. Ric. Branker 9 Sept. 1554. Mich. Cameswell ar D. Nich. Caponhurste 16 Sept. 1557. Nich. Harding Gen. Nic. Frauncys alias Deakyn Cler. 21 Iunii 1571 Margar. Fox Sam. Sanders Exec. Testam Galfr. Iones 19 Apr. 1572. Tho. Sanders defuncti● Ioh. Gregorie Basilius Smyth 2 Oct. 1621. Fillongley IN the Conqueror's time this place was rated at two hides and possest by severall persons Half a hide thereof the Bishop of Constance had then held by Leuuinus and valued at xxx s. whereof the Woods extended to two furlongs in length and one in breadth another half the Monks of Coventre possest valued at xxx s. more the Woods belonging whereunto were a quarter of a mile in extent A third half hide one Alsi then enj●yed rated likewise at xxx s. whose inheritance it had been before the Norman invasion the Woods amounting to x s. thereof and the fourth half hide did Rob. Dispensator hold which though it was then va●ued but at xx s. had the Church there●n and Woods containing two miles in length and one in breadth But the name of it is variously written in D●mesday Book viz. Filungelei Filingelei Felingelei and Filunger Of these parcells that one half hide appertaining to the Monks of Coventre came afterwards to Gerard de Alspath who held it of them in H. 3. time it being then called Old-Fillongley by the fourth part of a Kts. fee but whether he were the first that was enfeoft thereof I cannot affirm That which Rob. Dispensator held soon after divolved to Marmion Lord of Tamworth Castle and the residue to one of the old Earls of Leicester ● as it should seem from whom Hugh de Hastings or rather Walter whom I take to have been father of Hugh was enfeoft in H. 1. time as by circumstance may be inferred for certain it is that Hugh de Hastings who lived about the later end of H. 1. time possest it which Hugh had issue William and he another William and that these and their posteritie held it of Marmion and the Earl of Leicester I have proof enough Nor do I doubt that this Familie of Hastings had in those elder times their seat here I mean before their marriage with the heir of Cantilupe that they setled at Bergavenny for here are the ruines of two Castles the one North-East of the Church about a quarter of a mile to this day called by the name of the Castle-hills and the other Southwards from the Church scarce half that distance bearing still the name of Castle-yard and which was standing in 18 E. 2. unto which adjoyned a Park of a very large extent and therefore forasmuch as they had other fair possessions in this Countie I think it not amiss to say something here of them historically beginning with Walter Walt. de Hastinges Hadewisa Hugo de Hastings Erneburga neptis haeres Rob. de Flamvile Will. de Hastings 11 H. 2. relicta Will. Cumin 18 Ioh. Will. de Hastings 9 H. 3. Henr. de Hastings obiit 34 H. 3. Ada una sororum cohaer Ioh. Comitis Cestriae Huntend Henr. de Hastings defunctus 53 H. 3. Iohanna soror haeres Georgii de Cantilupe Ioh. de Hastings dominus de Bergavenny defunctus 6 E. 2. Isabella soror cohaer Audomari de Valentia Comitis Pembroch●ae Eliz. uxor Rogeri de Grey Regin de Grey de Ruthin Regin de Grey consangu haeres Ioh. de Hastings ult Comitis Pembr aet 28. an 13 R. 2. Ioh. de Hastings D. de Bergav defunctus 18 E. 2. Iuliana filia haeres Tho. de Leyburn secundò nupta Tho. le Blount tertio Will. de Clinton Com. Hun● Laur. de Hastings Co. Pembr obiit 22 E. 3. Rog. de Mortimer Comes Marchiae Anna. Ioh. de Hastings Co. Pembr obiit 49 E. 3. Anna filia haeres Walteri Maney mil. Ioh. de Hastings Co. Pembr obiit infra aet 13 R. 2. Philippa filia Edm. Mortimer Co. Marchiae Catherina Thom. de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Will. de Bello-campo miles D. de Bergav 17 R. ● Iohanna filia haeres Ric. Comitis Arund Ric. de Bellocampo Comes Wigorniae Elizabetha filia haeres Edw. Nevill miles filius junior Radulphi Comitis Westmerl Georgius Nevill Dominus de Bergav 3 H. 7. Henricus Ric. de Hastings Rector Eccl. de Barwell This Walter was an especiall benefactor to the Nuns of Polesworth for it appears that he gave them Oldbury with a large portion of land adjoyning which was thenceforth made a Cell to that Monasterie To him succeeded Hugh de Hasting● who wedded Erneburga neece and heir to Rob. de Flamvile which Erneburga gave the Church of Barwell to the said Nuns of Polesworth The next was William de Hastings whose lands in this Co●ntie ●n● Lecestershire were disposed of about the later end of K. Iohn's reign to Will. de Roeley and Elias his Uncle for their support in the said King's service but whether he were then dead or in Armes against that King is not directly man●fest from the Record Which William had issue William of whom I have seen l●ttle memorable other than his being at the siege of Bitham-Castle with K. H. 3. and that he was dead in 10 H. 3. for in that year did Henry his son and heir give L. marks Fine to have Liverie of the lands descended to him by his Father's death then doing his homage This Henry wedded Ada fourth daughter to David Earl of Huntingdon and of Maud one of the sisters unto Ranulph the last of that name Earl of Chester by which means he came to have a share in that great inheritance I mean the Earl of Chester's lands after the death of Iohn sirnamed Scot his wifes brother and last Earl of that Familie and in 26 H. 3. attending the King into France was taken Prisoner at that great defeat which the English Army had neer Xante but soon released by exchange In 34 H. 3. he went beyond Sea again in the company of Richard Earl of Cornwall and divers of the prime Nobilitie who passed through France in very great state and with a pompous retinue though to what purpose is not manifested Whether h● died in that journey I know not but certain it is that it was the same year M. Paris having thereupon this expression Eisdemque dicbus obiit Henricus de Hasting● miles egregius Baro opulentus To whom succeeded Henry his son and heir at that time in minoritie of whose Wardship Guy de Luzingman half brother to the King had it seems a grant for in 36 H. 3. the said Guy past it overunto Will. de Cantilupe the K●ng confirming the same which William gave his daughter Ioane in marriage to him as I shall farther observe anon This Henry in 44 H. 3. had Summons amongst

the Justs of Peace which belong'd to War To Ioane and Elizabeth his daughters a thousand marks a piece to their marriage And constituting Thomas Arundell Archb. of Canterbury Thomas Earl of Arundell Ioane his wife c. his Executors departed this life in 12 H. 4. leaving issue by the same Ioane who was one of the daughters and coheirs to Ric. Earl of Arundell Richard Beauchamp his son and heir Of this deceased Lord I have the rather taken occasion to speak in regard that he made his residence at some times in this Countie as I presume his Lady also did in her widdowhood for I find that she was at severall times in Commission for treating with the people about Loanes to the King within this Shire surviving him many years her death hapning not till 14 H. 6. Of whose Testament forasmuch as by it that greatness and state wherein the English Nobilitie in those days lived may in some sort be seen as also the pomp of their Funeralls I have here transcribed the greatest part In the name of the blessed Trynyte Fader sonn and Holy Ghoast the xth day of Ianyver in the yeer of our Lord MCCCCxxxiiii I Johanne Beuchamp Lady of Bergavenny as a meke daughter of holi Chirche full in the Christen fayth and belive hool in minde and body blessed be God considering that the freel condicion of this wrechid and unstable lief ys ful of perels and the yend and conclusion thereof is not elles but Deth fro the which no persone of none astate schall escape and therfore purposyng with the love of God to dyspose such goods as of his grace he hath lent me in such use as aryght be most to hys plesauns and profit to my soule and all theirs that I am bounden to I have ordeyned and make my Testament and last Will in this forme First I bequethe my soule to the mercy of my blessed Saviour and maker Ihesu Chryst through the besechyng of his blessed Moder Mary and alle holy companye in Hevene and my symple and wreched body to be buried in the Queer of the Frere-Prechours of Hereford in a new Tumbe by my worthi Lord and somtime husband Sir Will. Beuchamp on whoo 's soule God have merci But I w●l that my Bodi be kept unburied in the place where hit hapneth me to die unto the time my maigne be clethed in black my Hers my Chare and other covenable purviance made and then to be carried unto the place of my buryeng before rehersed with alle the worship that ought to be done unto a woman of myne astate which God knoweth wele procedeth not of no pompe or vayn glorie that I am set in for my Bodi but for a memorial and a remembrance of my soule to my kyn friends servants and alle other And I wol that every Parish Chirch that my seid Bodi resteth ynne a night after hit passeth fro the place of my dying be offred two Clothes of Gold and if hit rest ynne any College or Conventuall Chirche three Clothes of gold Also I devyse that in every Cathedrall Chirche or Conventuall where my Bodi restes a nyght toward the place where my Bodi shall be buried that the Dean Abbot or Prior have vi s. viii d. and everi Chanon Monk Vicar Preste or Clerke that ys at the Dirige at the Mass in the morning shall have xii d. Also I ordeyn that anon aftur my burying there be done for my soule five thousand Masses in alle the hast that they may goodly And I bequethe unto the House of the seid Freres at Hereford in generall CCC marks for to fynd two Prostes perpetuall for to syng for my Lord my Husbond my Lord my Fader my Lady my Moder and me and Sir Hugh Burnell Kt. and alle my good doers and alle Crysten soules the one Prest to syng the fyrst Mass in the mornyng in the same House and the other the last Mass that ys done in the day yn the same House so that it be sene that there be sure ordinauns made therefore to be kept perpetually as Law wolle And I bequethe ech Frere of the same House in speciall the day of my burying to pray for my soule iii s. iiii d. And I wool that the forseyd Freres have a hool sute of black that ys to sey a Chesepyl two Tunycles three Coopes with my best pair of Candelsticks of sylver wrethen and my best sute of vestments of Clothe of gold with Pecocks with Autere-clothes and Aubes and alle that longeth thereto for a memoriall perpetualle to use hem euerie yere at the Anniversarie of my Lord my Husbond and of me And for the costes of myne enterement upon my deth and burying I ordain and devyse a thousand Marks And I devyse C. marks to be dalt peny mele or more after the discretion of myne Executors among poer men and women that come to myne e●teremen● the day of my burying And I ordain and devise to have five Prestes for to syng for me xx wynters for my Lord my Fader my Lady my Moder my Lord my Husband my son Richard Earl of Worcestre Sir Hugh Burnell Kt. and alle my good doers and alle Crysten soules and that of the most honest persones and good conversacions that mow be founden of which ●ive Prestes I ordeyn and devyse two to syng in the parish of Rocheforde and other three in Kirkeby-Belers in the Counte of Lecestre duryng the terme aforeseyd Moreover I devyse CC. marks to be departed among my poer Tenants in England in such place as moost nede ys aftur the discrecion of myne Executors Also I devise C l. to be dysposed in clothyng Bedding Hors Oxen and other bestial and necessaries within halve a yere aftur my deth to be yeven dalt among Bed-red men and other poer people dwellyng in the Lordships that I have And also I devyse that Bartholmew Brokesby and Wauter Kebyll be everi yere at Hereford the day of my Anniversarie seing that my Obite with the remnant of my obsequies be done in due wise to the most profit of my soule spendying about the execution thereof at every time x l. after here discrecion Moreover I devise to the marriage of poer Maydens dwellyng withyn my Lordships C l. And to the makyng and emendyng of febull Brugges and foul weyes C l. And to the fynding and deliverans of poer Prisoners that have ben well condicioned xl l. Also I bequethe to Sir James son and eyre of the Erle of Ormond Five hundred pounds to be dispent by myne Executors about the defence of the lands that I give and assigne him by the Will of my Landes in caas they be chalenged or ympugned wrongfully within his age or elles to have the same money or elles so much thereof as ys unspend at hys ful age to the same intent and a payr of Baysins of silver gylt and covered with my Armes And I devyse and bequethe to

Deed bearing date at Tamworth in 44 E. 3. past away the same unto Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight and his heirs reserving only an estate for life By which means upon partition made in 31 H. 6. betwixt the three sisters and heirs to the said Sir Baldwin it was allotted to Thomas Ferrers at that time Tenant by the Curtesie of England to all the lands which were of the inheritance of Eliz. his wife deceased eldest of the said three sisters In whose line it continued till Sir Iohn Ferrers Knight about the beginning of King Charles his reign sold it to Charles Adderley Esqui●e afterwards an Equerie to the said King and by him Knighted who now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist was antiently given to the Nuns of Mergate in Com. Beaf by one of the De la Launds as I guess But it seems that the title which those Nuns had was not very firme for in 26 H. 3. Iames de la Launde recovered the right of Presentation thereto Howbeit afterwards they grew to Composition with him and gave him 57. marks of silver to quit his claim to it which he did in 36 H. 3. whereupon it became appropriated to them but no Vicar endowed so that the Curate there was provided by those Nunns as a Supendiarie to them Merston juxta Lea and Coton THis place having its name from the flat moorish ground bordering upon it was possest by Turchil de Warwick in the Conqueror's time and then rated at three hides valued at xxx s. which were at that time held of him by one Roger But it was not long I presume ere it came to the Marmions of Tamworth-Castle for in 20 H. 3. Robert Marmion answered for half a Knight's Fee in respect thereof at which time it had the name of Merston-Marmion for distinction from the other Merstons in this Hundred but whether Marmion were any other than superior Lord of the Fee at that time I make a question the Limsies of Maxstoke holding it immediately of them for it appears that in 5 E. 1. Raph de Limesie and Ioane his wife gave to a Chantrie-Priest celebrating Divine Service at Solihull five marks of yearly Rent issuing out of certain lands lying here and in Cotes now called Coton and that the Family of Odingsels who were antiently Lords of Maxstoke by the marriage of Limesie's heir possest it there being xiv Freeholders here and in Cotes which held their Tenements of William de Odingsells in 23 E. 1. paying xxxvi s. viii d. per ann Rent But from Odingsells by an heir female it came to Clinton ● together with Maxstoke and with it being past in Exchange from Sir Iohn Clinton to Humphrey Earl Stafford in 16 H. 6. as the authorities which I have voucht in Maxstoke will manifest hath been reputed as it is a member of that Lordship and so continueth to this day Midleton OF this place there is mention made twice in the Conqueror's Survey first under the title of the lands then belonging to Hugh de Grentemaisnell where it is rated for four hides having a Church as also a Mill esteemed at xx s. which with the rest were all valued at vi li. having been the inheritance of one Pallinus in Edward the Confessor's dayes And next under the title of the lands belonging to Adeliz the wife of the said Hugh where the quantity and value in the grosse summe do not differ but there it is said to have been the freehold of one Turgot before the Norman Invasion After which ere long it was disposed of to one of the Marmions as I guess together with Tamworth-Castle and if we may believe the antient Windows of that Church and some other authorities by the Conqueror himself as in Tamworth I shall more fully shew Neither is it unlikely for by an accompt of the Templars revenues taken in 31 H. 2. it appears that they were then possest of certain lands here that had been bestowed on them by Geffrey Marmion In which Family of Marmion it continued whilst the male line lasted Philip Marmion in 13 E. 1. claiming by Prescription a Court Leet and Gallows here which were allowed as also Free warren within his demesn lands of this place But to this the Jury answered that the Earls of Warwick had free Chase within the same taking forfaitures for all offences done therein and that the said Philip had no Warren except by grant from Ela Countess of Warwick onely for terme of her life whereupon he was a merced for his undue chalenge But this Philip Marmion dying without issue male his lands came to be divided betwixt severall coheirs as the Descent in Tamworth sheweth Of which Alexander Frevill and Ioane his wife Raphe Boteler the elder with Maud his wife and Henry Hillary and Ioane his wife had their particular shares in this Mannour till at the length by purchase Hillarie's part became united to that which Frevill had whereupon Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight procured from Richard Scroope Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield about the 14 th of R. 2. License to have an Oratorie or private Chapell within his Mannour-house here Of the accession of Boteler's part I have not seen any thing but do conclude that it was before the partition made in 31 H. 6. betwixt the Sisters and heirs to the last Sir Baldwin Frevill for thereby it appeareth that Margaret the youngest of them had inter alia this Mannour of Midleton wholy as parcell of her purpart she being then wife to Richard Bingham one of the Justices of the King's Bench and afterwards a Knight Which Sir Richard resided here till he died scil in 15 E. 4. being ioyn'd in all Commissions of the Peace and other matters of importance with the superior Gentlemen of this Countie After whose death she continued a widow even to a very great age as by her Presentation to the Church of Preston-Bagot in 20 H. 7. appears To whom succeeded in the inheritance of this Lordship Sir Henry Willoughby Knight her grandson by Sir Hugh Willoughby of Wollaton in Com. Nott. Knight her first husband as the Pedegree here inserted sheweth Hugo Willoughby de Wollaton in Com. Nott. miles 10 H. 6. Margareta una soror cohaer Baldw. Frevill mil. Ric. Bingham miles unus Justic D. Regis ad plac coram Rege 31 H. 6. Robertus Willoughby Henr. Willoughby miles de S. Sepulchro obiit 20 H. 8. Dorothea ux Anth. Fitz Herbert unius Justic. de Banco 20 H. 8. Ioh. Willoughby miles ob sine prole Edw. Willoughby miles Henr. Willoughby nepos haeres Ioh. Willoughby mil. Anna filia Thomae March Dors. Thomas Willoughby obiit sine prole Franciscus Willoughby miles obiit 37 Eliz. Eliz. filia Ioh. Litleton de Frankley mil. Brigida ux Percev Willoughby eq aur Dorothea ux Henr. Hastings Margar. ux Rob. Spenser de Althorpe

imploying a speciall Agent to treat with the Abbot of Athelney and to offer him C. marks per annum Pension in case he would surrender which the Abbot refused insisting on a greater summe And the personall endeavours that he used with the Abbot of S. Osithes in Essex as by his Letter to the said Visitor appeareth w●erein is signified that he had by great solicitation prevailed with the said Abbot but withall insinuated his desire that his place of Lord Chancelour being very chargeable the King might be moved for an addition of some more profitable Offices unto him Nay I find that this great man the Lord Chancelour hunting eagerly after the Abby of Walden 〈◊〉 Essex out of the ruines whereof afterwards that magnificent Fabrick called by the name of Audley-end was built as an argument the sooner to obtain it did besides his ex●enuation of its worth alledge that he had in this world sustained great damage and infamy in his serving the King which the grant of that should recompence Amongst the particular Arguments which were used by those that were averse to surrender I finde that the Abbot of Feversham alledg'd the antiquitie of that Monasterie's foundation scil by King Stephen whose body with the bodies of the Queen and Prince lay there interred and for whom were used continuall suffrages and commendations by Prayers yet would it not availe For resolv'd they were to effect what they had begun by one means or other in so much as they procured the Bishop of London to come to the Nunns of Sion with their Confessor to solicite them thereto who after many perswasions took it upon their consciences that they ought to submit unto the King's pleasure therein by God's Law But what could not be effected by such Arguments and fair promises which were not wanting nor unfulfilled as appears by the large Pensions that some active Monks and Canons had in comparison of others even to a fift sixt fold proportion more than ordinarie was by terror and straight dealing brought to pass for under pretence of suffer●ng dilapidation in the buildings or negligent administration of their Offices as also for breaking the King's Injunctions they deprived some Abbots and then put others that were more pliant in their rooms From others they took their Covent-Seals to the end they might not by making Leases nor ●ale of their Jewe●ls rai●e money either for supply of their present wants or payment of their debts and so b● necessitated to surrender N●y to some as in particular to the Canons of Leicester the Comm●ssioners threatned that they would charge them with Adulterie and Buggerie unlesse they would submit And D● London told the Nuns of Godstow that because he found them obstinate he would dissolve the House by vertue of the King's Commission in spite of their teeth And yet all was so managed as that the King was solicited to accept of them not being willing to have it thought they were by terror moved thereto and speciall notice was taken of them as did give out that their Surrenders were by compulsion Which courses after so many through underhand corruption had led the way brought on others apace as appears by their dates which I have observed from the very Instruments themselves in so much as the rest stood amazed not knowing which way to turn them Some therefore thought fit to trie whether money might save their Houses from this dismall fate so neer at hand the Abbot of Peterborough offering 2500. marks to the King and 300 li. to the Visitor Generall for his favour therein Others with great constancy refused to be thus accessorie in violating the donations of their pious Founders but these as they were not many so did they tast of no little severitie For touching the Abbot of Fountaines in Yorkshire I find that being charged by the Commissioners for taking into his private hands some Jewells belonging to that Monasterie which they called Theft and Sacriledge they pronounc't him perjur'd and so deposing him extorted a private resigna●ion And it appears that the Monks of Charterhouse in the Suburbs of London were committed to Newgate where with hard and barbarous usage five of them died and five more lay at the point of death as the Commissioners signified but withall alledged that the suppression of that House being of so strict a Rule would occasion great scandall to their doings forasmuch as it stood in the face of the world infinite concourse from all parts coming to that populous City and therefore desired that it might be altered to some other use And lastly that under the like pretence of robbing the C●urch wherewith the before specified A●bot of Fountaines was chardged the Abbot of Glastenbury with two of his Monks being condemn'd to death was drawn from Wells upon a Hurdle then hang'd upon the Hill called the Tor near Glastenbury his Head set upon the Abby-gate and his Quarters disposed of to Wells Bath Ilchester and Bridgwater Nor did the Abbots of Colchester and Reading speed much better as they that shall consu●t our Storie of that time may see And for farther terror to the rest● some Priors and other Ecc●esiastique persons who had spoke against the King's Supremacie a thing then somewhat uncouth being so newly set up were condemn'd as Traytors and executed And now that all this was effected to the end it might not be thought that these things were done by a high hand the King having protested that he would suppress none without consent of Parliament a Parliament being called April 28. Anno 1539. to confirm these Surrenders so made as hath been said there wanted not plausible insinuations to both Houses for drawing on their consent with all smoothness thereto the Nobilitie being promised large shares in the spoile either by free gift from the King easie purchases or most advantagious Exchanges and many of the active Gentrie advancements to honour with increase of their estates all which wee see happened to them accordingly And the better to satisfie the vulgar was it represented to them that by this deluge of wealth the Kingdom should be strenghthened with an Army of 40000 men and that for the future they should never be charged with Subsidies Fifteens Loans or common Aides By which means the Parliament ratifying the before specified surrenders the worke became compleated for the more firme setling whereof a suddain course was taken to pull down and destroy the buildings as had been before upon that dissolution of the smaller Houses whereof I have touch't Next to disperse a great proportion of the lands amongst the Nobility and Gentrie as had been projected which was accordingly done the Visitor Generall having told the King that the more had interest in them the more they would be irrevocable And least any domestique stirs by reason of this great and strange alteration should arise

with the Milk of the Cow i d. ob And that the Parson of Newton and his successors should receive the Tithe Wooll wholly and the Tythe of Piggs and other living things depasturing in the said Parish of Clifton In 26 H. 8. this Rectorie was valued at xiv li. xvi d. over and above ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Ric. de Herthull miles Thomas de Poule Subdiac 17. Cal. Dec. 1307. D. Hug. de Meygnill miles Ioh. de la Warde Cap. 6. Id. Apr. 1320. D. Ric. de Herthull miles Rob. de Aldeport Cap. Cal. Febr. 1350. D. Ric. de Herthull miles Will. de Blaby Pbr. 2. Cal. Ian. 1364. D. Rex ratione custod terr c. Ric. Meignil defunct● Rob. de Sekindon Pbr. 4. Martii 1378. D. Ric. Herthull miles Nich. de Sekindon Cap. 12. Oct. 1381. Thom. de Sekindon Rector Eccl. de Blechingley Ric. de Sekindon Rect. Eccl. de Ol●on Rob. de Sekindon Pbr. 10. Nov. 1388. Tho. de Greseley miles alii hac vice patroni D. Will. Childecote ult Iulii 1406. D. Ioh. Cokain miles hac vice patronus Ioh. Kempe Pbr. 18. Feb. 1425. Rad. Pole Iustic D. Regis Ioh. Gresley miles Ioh. Neuton 21. Maii 1458. Will. Compton miles ratione minoris aetat Fr. Shirley D. Will. Leson Cap. 26. Aug. 1517. Thomas Cokain gen ex concess Barb. Cokain jure juncturae D. Edw. Bowear Cap. 17. Feb. 1537. Franc. Shirley de Stanton-Harold ar D. Rob. Tarleton Cler. 20. Apr. 1552. Thomas Cokain miles Thom. Shepard Cler. 28. Ian. 1561. Rad. Shirley ar Christophorus Hodgson Cler. 22. Oct. 1572. Dorothea Barwell vidua ratione concess Georgii Shirley ar Ric. Orgell 17. Nov. 1617. Sekindon THis place is famous for a memorable Battail fought thereat in the year from our Saviour's Incarnation DCCLVII betwixt Cuthred King of the West-Saxons and Ethelbald King of the Mercians wherein the same Ethelbald was slain by Beornred one of his own military Commanders and buried in the Monasterie of Repandune now called Repton in Derby-shire not far distant But Beornred had little enjoyment of that rule which by the death of Ethelbald he expected for within a short space he was cut off by King Offa who succeeded the said Ethelbald in the Kingdom of Mercia In the Conqueror's time the Earl of Mellent was possest of the greatest part of this Village whereof two hides and a half one Leuuinus then held of him in which there were Woods of half a mile in length and three furlongs in breadth all having been the freehold of Celred and Godric in Edward the Confessor's days Other two hides and a half did Godric hold of him at the same time whose inheritance it had been before the Norman Invasion In which part there were Woods of the very same extent as aforesaid and a Mill Half whereof pertained to this part and a half to the other But the last two hides and half Ingenulfus and Arnulfus held which also had been of the said Godric's inheritance Besides these particular parcels so possest by the Earl of Mellent Will. fil Corbucionis of whom I have spoke in Studley held at that time two hides and a half here by one Iubellus his undertenant whereof one Ernvi had been owner before the Conquest All which joyned together were valued at v li. x s. But by the said Earl of Mellent or Robert Earl of Leicester his son was the Father of Richard Bruton as I guess enfeoft of a good proportion hereof for I finde that the said Richard by the consent of Hamon his Brother about the 24 th of King H. 2. reign sold it to William de Camvile and his heirs by the name of Domus de Secchendona for Xl. marks of silver to be held in Capite of the Earl of Leicester unto which grant young King Henry scil son of H. 2. gave his assent To this William de Camvile succeeded William who being thus possest of the Mannour-House for so I take it the word Domus here imports obtained ere long a grant from Aubreda Marmion his mother of the fourth part of a Knight's Fee in this place which was of the Fee of Leicester and then held by the said William in demesn and another fourth part likewise from her of the Fee of Warwick as also half a Knight's Fee more lying here and in Weston which Simon de Bercheston held In consideration whereof he the said William gave her Xl. marks and discharged her of xx marks more due to the Monks of Combe for to perform the Anniversarie of William de Camvile her husband One of which fourth parts did Geffrey Marmion father to the said Aubreda hold of Robert Bossu sometime Earl of Leicester But all of them were afterwards held though by what agreement I find not by the heirs of the said William de Camvile of the Earls of Warwick Of these Camviles the last that had to do here was Gerard whose daughter and heir Elizabeth wife to Robert Burdet brought this Lordship to that Familie Which Robert being so possest thereof obtained a Charter for Free warren inter alia in all his demesn lands here bearing date at ●orcester 25 Dec. 1 E. 3. From whom as the Pedegree in Arrow sheweth is lineally descended Sir Francis Burdet Baronet now Lord of this Mannour Scarce a furlong from the Church North-wards upon an ascending ground is yet to be seen a notable Fort made after a circular forme the dimensions whereof though much lesse than what they were at first by reason that the Earth is so shrunk down are yet as followeth viz. The breadth of the outer Ditch at the top xx foot and at the bottome x. foot The depth of it xii foot The diameter within the bank CCXCvii foot On the North-side of it opposite to the entrance there is a round Hill artificially raised of Xlii. foot in height which at the top is xxiii foot in breadth and whereupon as it should seem some Watch-Tower hath formerly stood By the Countrey people it bears the name of a Castle whose tradition is that it was antiently the Burdets and pulled down in King Hen. 2. time by William Burdet for the structure of that little Monasterie at Aucote hard by which as they report he founded to expiate the murther of his wife But having not seen that the Burdets were so long since possest of this Lordship I somewhat doubt the truth thereof Patroni Ecclesiae de Sekindon Incumbentes c. Thomas de Kamvile Dominus de Sekindon Hugo de Folvile Cler. anno 1251. Guido de Bellocampo Com. Warw. ratione minoris aet filiae haer D. Gerardi de Camvile defuncti Will. de Brymsgrave Accol 10. Cal. Apr. 1305. Henr. de Campvill Henr. de Newton Pbr. 4.

it was purchased by William Comberford of Tamworth Esquire and Anne his wife 2. Oct. 13. Iac. and is now possessed by Will son to the said William and Anne Glascote THe name of this place I take to be Brittish Glascoit in that language signifying Sylva viridis but of it I have not seen any thing till about the beginning of King H. 2. time that Will. the son of Hugh de Hatton confirmed to the Nunns of Polesworth all those lands lying here which William le Franceis had given them By which confirmation it appears that they were of the inheritance of Maud wife to the said William de Hatton But the next possessor hereof was Raphe Fitz-Raph Lord also of Nether-Whitacre where his seat was Which Raph in 6 Ioh. purchased some lands here of Hugh de Culi From whom descended Giles Fitz-Raph as the Descent in Nether-Whitacre sheweth whose daughter and heir called Isabell brought it to Robert son of Philip Marmion in marriage From which time it past along with Nether-Whitacre before specified as the Records there cited do manifest till after the beginning of Edw. 3. time After which till H. 6. time I finde no mention of any more than six Messuages and one yard-land here belonging to Sir Iohn de Clinton of Maxstoke Knight which are said to be parcell of the Mannour of Piricroft but upon the Death of Sir William Clinton in 10 H. 6. it appears that he was seized of the moitie of a Mannour here Whether his descendants purchased in the residue afterwards or whether there be any other member of a Mannour here saving a fourth part which the Lord Ferrers had together with Nether-Whitacre as may seem by some authorities I cannot say but sure it is that in 29 H. 8. Edw. Lord Clinton lineall heir to the before specified Sir Will. sold it together with Bole-Hall by the name of a Mannour or certain Messuages unto Iames Leveson Merchant of the Staple all which came to Sir Walter Aston Knight in marriage with Elizabeth daughter to the said Iames and since to William Cumberford Esquire in such sort as Bole-Hall did Stretford juxta Tamworth THis is now a depopulated place and had its name originally from the situation thereof upon that great Roman way called Watling-street where it thwarts the River towards Faseley But the first mention that I have seen of it is in 37 H. 3. at which time Iames de la Lande was possest of it and had Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands thereof There is no doubt but that it was at first a member of Tamworth and granted by one of the Marmions to the Ancestor of this Iames whose sirname was Tamworth as the Descent in Langdon sheweth In the line of which De la Laundes it continued till 19 E. 3. but shortly after came to the Frevills Lords of Tamworth-Castle for I find that Sir Baldwin Frevill the elder Knight made a Feoffment in trust thereof inter alia unto Sir William de Beauchamp Knight and others and that upon the Partition made betwixt the heirs of Frevill in 31 H. 6. whereof in Tamworth I have spoke it was allotted to Ferrers in which Familie together with Tamworth-Castle it continueth to this day Wilnicote IN Edward the Confessor's days this was the Freehold of one Levenot but after the Conquest it being given unto the Earl of Mellent with a multitude of other Lordships in this Shire by the generall Survey soon after made was certified to contain three hides the Woods extending to one mile in length and half a mile in breadth all which together with the rest were then rated at xxx s. whereof v s. was accounted for an Iron-work here at that time In that Record it is written Wilmundecote whereby it may seem that the name originally sprung from some one that possest it in the Saxons time Howbeit till 6 Ioh. I have not seen any more thereof but then it appears that Robert de Valle of which Family I have spoke in Ludinton was in suit for six yard land here whereof Robert his Father had been wrongfully dispossest by William de Longcamp Bishop of Ely and Chancelour to King Richard the first But from the Earl of Mellent part hereof came as the most of those lands which he had in this Countie did unto the old Earls of Warwick and so to Marmion for it is manifest that Will. de Ludinton held part of a Knight's Fee here of Albreda Marmion which divolved to William de Camvile then Lord of Sekindon in this Hundred being held of those Earls But of another part which afterwards had the reputation of a Mannour were the posteritie of the before specified Robert de Vale seized as by an Autograph that I have seen bearing date in 28 E. 1. is evident and so continued till that Sir Robert de Vale Knight in 18 E. 2. sold away the inheritance thereof in reversion after his Father's death unto Roger de Culi son to Sir Hugh de Culi Knight Which Roger was certified to hold it of Henry Duke of Lancaster unto whom a great part of the Honour of Leicester heretofore belonging to the said Earl of Mellent came by the fourth part of a Knight's Fee When it past from these Culies I have not seen but plain it is that Sir Raph Bracebrigge of Kingsbury Knight died seized thereof in 14 H. 6. From whom it descended to Iane and Margerie daughters of William Bracebrigge as the Descent in Kingsburie sheweth and heirs to Michaell their brother which Iane was the wife of Leonell Skipwith of Calthorpe in Com. Linc. and Margerie of Waldeiffe Willington of Hurley in this Countie Gent. who in 8. Eliz. kept Court here in right of their said wives and after that Thomas Willington son and heir to the said Margerie in 43 Eliz. to whose posteritie this Mannour still doth continue Beside this Mannour last spoke of there is yet another here in Wilnicote whereof Sir William Brabazon Knight now Earl of East-Methe in Ireland is owner This I take to be it which Roger Brabazon purchased partly of Adam de Wellesbergh and Maud his wife in 25 E. 1. and partly of Simon de Bruilli and Ioane his wife within two years after But by the name of a Mannour I have not seen it called in Record till 29 H. 8. The Chapell here being a Prebend belonging to the Collegiate Church of Tamworth was in 14 E. 3. valued at vi marks Kingswood THe antientest mention that I find of this place is in 11 E. 2. where Hugh de Meinill entailes one carucate of land lying therein together with the Mannour of Kings Neuton upon the issue male of his body with severall remainders Which carucate was afterwards accounted as parcell of that Mannour having a Messuage situate thereupon called Wardbernes