had issue Richard Earle of Clare which was slaine by the Welshmen This Richard had issue three sonnes Gilbert Earle of Clare that dyed without issue Roger Earle of Clare created Earle of Hertford by Henry the second and Robert his third sonne from whom the familie of Fitz-Walters discended Roger begat Richard Earle of Clare Hertford who marryed Amicia yongest daughter and heire of William Earle of Glocester Pag. 350. YOur historicall reportes are very changeable for in the title of Haresfield Pag. 312. you tell vs that Richard was Earle of Clare in William the Conquerors time and now here you affirme that Gilbert his sonne was the first Earle of Clare of that familie And againe in the title of Dunmowe there haue you set downe this Robert the third sonne of Earle Richard truely to be the sonne of the first Richard that came into this land with William the Conqueror but here will you haue him to be great grand-child to the same Richard Which by no meanes the now Earle of Sussex will consent vnto because thereby he shall loose two of his greattest auncestors with their wiues they being the daughters and heires of Saint-Lyce Earle of Northampton and the Lord Lucy which were both marryed the one to the said Robert and the other to Walter his sonne as more plainely doth appeare by the true discent here following Richard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Angy in Normandye was Lorde of Tunbridge and Clare in England by the gift of William the Conqueror and had issue Gilbert Earle of Clare Roger that dyed without issue 1173. and Robert who was Sewer to king Henry the first and Lord of Dunmow by the said kings gift He maryed Matilda de Sainct-Lice lady of Bradham and had issue Walter Lord and Baron of Woodham that had to wife Matilde the daughter and coheire of Richard Lucy Lord chiefe Iustice of England in Henry the seconds time Of which Walter the honorable familie of Fitz-walters tooke first their surname He dyed 1198. leauing the second Robert his sonne to succeede him who dyed in the 19. yeare of king Henry the third So that by this your mistaking you would cut off the first Robert and Walter his sonne making the second Robert to be the first that came from the maine line of the familie of Clares And for proofe hereof I wish you to examine Gemiticensis who will affirme the same to be true that I haue here said GEffery Magnauill made Walden the seate and head of his honor and Earledome Pag. 342. THe dignitie and Earledome of the Magnauills whilest they were honored with the title of Earles was Essex and not Walden Well that familie might be Lordes and owners thereof but that neuer the head of their honour and Earledome Wherefore if your Author so write hee did it rather like a nouice then an Herauld and your discretion may be suspected in that you played not rather your parte to teach him to speake more Herauld-lyke then to bring in his absurd tearmes for a testimonie amongst Earledomes and Honors THe first Earles of Essex of the Norman race was Geffrey Magnauill commonly called Mandeuill sonne of William by Margaret heire of Eudo the Sewer who was slaine in battell in king Stephens time There succeeded him two sonnes Geffrey and William from whome by a daughter that honour went to Geffrey Fitz-Pieres whose two sonnes Geffrey and William succeeded in that honor Geffrey dyed yong slayne at the Tilte William tooke parte with Lewis of Fraunce against king Iohn and dyed without issue 1227. After whome succeeded Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Constable of England who had marryed their sister Pag. 343. YOur vndiscreete wordes vsed in this place may make those noble personages deceased to be called in question for that which nature abhorreth but it were better your penne should prooue a false witnesse then so heynous a matter true Shall we surmise as you write in this page that Humfrey de Bohun sonne of Henry did marrye his owne mother Assuredly we might seeme in so dooing not onely ouer-credulous but also irreligious Yet you say here Humfrey Bohun marryed the sister and heire of William Magnauill Earle of Essex who dyed without issue 1227. Which by no meanes we may beleeue because the match were against nature if it be true that Henry Bohun marryed with that sister and heire of William Magnauill aforesaid which is so vndoubted a trueth that voluntarily it drops out of your owne penne Pag. 479. of your booke in the title of the Earles of Hereford Besides that it is most euident that the saide Henrie in the right of his wife aboue mencioned was the first Earle of Essex of that familie as appeareth by a Charter of king Henrie the thirde in the 25. yeare of his reigne concerning lands that he gaue to the Abbay of Westminster whereunto the said Henrie was a witnesse by the name of Henrie de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England And further to manifest that it was not Humfrey the sonne of this Henrie that married with Matilda Know you that she died 1236. in the one and twentie yeare of king Henrie the third which was during the life of the said Henry her husband and foure years before he was a witnesse to the kings Charter aforesaide AFter the death of the familie of Bigots and Vffords Richard the second aduanced Michael De-la-Poole from a Marchant to the Honour and dignitie of Earle of Suffolke and Lorde Chauncellor of England King Henrie the sixt created William his sonne first Marques and after Duke of Suffolke He was beheaded on the Seas and left issue Iohn who married the sister of king Edward the fourth Pag. 357. VVHat is it that you will not vndertake to write and publish of a meane person when you verie vniustly haue wrōged that honorable familie of De-la-Pooles reporting Michael De-la-Poole the first Earle of that name to haue beene aduaunced by Richard the second from a Merchant of Hull Pag. 549. to the dignitie of Earle of Suffolke he being a knight of the noble order of the Garter by the Satutes whereof none can bee elected vnlesse hee be borne gentle three discents both of father and mother Also it doth appeare by an inquisition taken the 9. of Edwarde the third that sir William De-la-Poole knight Banneret father of this Michael was sonne and heire of sir William De-la-Poole knight All which testimonies might haue satisfied you or any other reasonable person both to haue thought and written more reuerentlie of him But not herewith contented you after depriue him the saide Michaell both of his sonne and eldest grandchild which succeeded him in the said dignitie the one after the other by the names of Michaell the second and Michaell the thirde placing in their rowmes as immediate successor and son to the foresaid first Michaell William De-la-Poole duke of Suffolke his second grandchilde In both which points howe much you haue
succession of these Earles saying That from the first Hugh in Henry the first time succeeded in direct line from father to sonne Hugh that tooke parte against king Henry the second c. To this I answere that you were in a Labyrinth not able to finde out what issue there was betwixt the first and second Hugh And to vnfolde this your error I affirme that the first Hugh and those that you say succeeded betweene from father to sonne to that Hugh whome you name the second were all but one person for he that was Steward to king Henry the first and was after made Earle of Norffolke by king Stephen was the same person that liued in the time of king Henry the second and that tooke part with the yong king against his father Thirdly where you affirme that the last Earle Roger surrendred all his honors and almost all his inheritance vnto king Edward the second it seemeth a matter vnto me very vnlike that the said Roger dying in the life of king Edward the first could in the reigne of king Edward the second make any such surrender But here haue you done very wisely in leauing out the cause of the kings displeasure against the said Roger for therein would you haue disclosed your owne error But because I would not haue you ignorant of the same king Edward the first in the fifteenth or sixteenth yeare of his reigne required this Roger Bygot Eerle of Norffolke Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and Humfrey de Bohun then Earle of Hereford to goe with him into France whose request these three noble persons refused whereupon at the said kings returne againe into England he forced Gilbert de Clare and Humfrey de Bohun the yonger sonne of the soresaid Humfrey to marrye with two of his daughters without either land or money and the said Roger Bygot to appease the kings indignation did make ouer vnto him most part of his landes with the office of Marshall of England And this was done by king Edward the first and not by Edward the second as you haue here set downe KIng Edward the third gaue the Earledome of Cambridge vnto Edward of Langley his fift sonne Afterwardes Richard his yonger sonne enioyed the same honor by the fauour of king Henry the fift But he being disloyall and vngratefull plotting the death of that most excellent prince was beheaded and the Earledome of Cambridge vtterly decayed with him Pag. 381. THe Earledome of Cambridge vtterly decayed not with Richard of Conesborough yonger sonne of Edmond of Langley Earle of Cambridge and Duke of Yorke who was executed in the third yeare of Henry the fift as you say but was after reuiued againe in Richard his sonne whome king Henry the sixt in the fourth yeare of his reigne created Earle of Cambridge and after Duke of Yorke Regent of Fraunce and protectour of England HVntingdon had these Earles Syward and Walthe of his sonne after whome by Maude his daughter that honor came first to Simon Sant-lize Earle of Northampton After that to Dauid brother to Alexander king of Scots for Maude was marryed to to them both and had issue by both Whereupon as the princes fauour and fortune changed sometimes the Sant-lizes and sometimes the Scots enioyed this honor vidz Henry the sonne of Dauid then Simon Sant-lize sonne to the first Simon And then Simon Sant-lize the third who dying without issue William king of Scots brother of the foresaid Malcolme succeeded whome Dauid his brother followed and had issue that succeeded him Iohn his sonne surnamed Scote that was Earle of Chester and dyed without issue leauing for his successor Alexander the second which marryed the daughter of king Henry the third who possessed this honor but a while Pag. 387 BEfore I enter to open your errors in this succession of the Earles of Huntingdon I would entreate you of this number of eleuen Earles to put out fiue of them at the least And because you shall take them right I will first nominate vnto you those which ought to stand beginning with Walthe of Earle of Northumberland vnto whome William the Conqueror gaue in mariage with Iudith his neece the Earledomes of Huntingdon Northampton This Walthe of had issue Maude who was giuen in marriage vnto Dauid brother to Alexander king of Scots which Dauid was after a witnesse to the Charter of king Henry the first touching landes and liberties that the said king gaue vnto the Cittie of London by the name of Dauid Earle of Huntingdon After the death of Dauid the foresaid Maude was marryed againe to Simon Sant-lize a Norman gentleman who had with her the Earledome of Northampton Dauid before named had issue Henry who in the life of his father was Earle of Huntingdon and dyed in the 18. yeare of king Stephen leauing issue three sonnes Malcolme William and Dauid Malcolme being king of Scottes rebelled against king Henry the second for which cause the king seised into his handes the Earledome of Huntingdon After the said Malcolmes death William his brother succeeded him in the kingdome of Scotland He likewise rebelled against his Lorde king Henry the second and being taken prisoner was caryed into Normandie Anno 1174. Where he compounded to pay for his raunsome ten thowsand markes and to release all his title and interest of the Earledomes both of Huntingdon and Northumberland After which king Henry gaue the Earledome of Huntingdon to Dauid the third sonne of Dauid Earle of Huntingdon before mentioned Which Dauid was a witnesse to the Charter of king Richard the first of landes that he gaue to the Abbey of Peterborough Anno 1189. by the name of Dauid Earle of Huntingdon He dyed in the second yeare of king Henry the third and left issue Iohn his sonne surnamed Scotte who succeeded him which dyed without issue in the 22. yeare of king Henry the third Thus haue I rightly set downe the succession of the Earles of Huntingdon vnto Iohn surnamed Scotte which vnlesse you can by good authorities disproue as I assure my selfe you cannot I hope you will not onely confesse your error but will abate in your next impression those fiue which in deede were neuer Earles of Huntingdon vidz Syward who was but Earle of Northumberland then the three Simons Sant-lizes that were Earles of Northampton onely and lastly William king of Scottes Ashbye de-la-zouch was sometimes belonging to Alane de-la-zouch Baron who bare for his armes a Shielde gules tenne bezants He by marrying the daughter of Roger Quincie Earle of Winchester greatly increased his inheritance But calling in question of lawe Iohn Earle Warrin who would haue his cause tryed by sworde and not by lawe he was by him slaine in the kings courte at Westminster Anno 1279. and within a fewe yeares after the daughters and heires of his grand-childe caryed this inheritance by marryage to the familie of Hollands who were Barons a long time whose inheritance passed to the Louels and
Grentemaisnill to be Earle of Hinckley I vtterly denye the same And now comparing your speaches here with those before in the title of Earles of Leicester I finde them very variable and your selfe forgetfull to contradicte your selfe in so little a distance for in that before you make erroneously Hugh Grantemaisnill to haue had but one onely daughter and heire named Parnell that was maryed to Robert Earle of Leycester and here you acknowledge that he had a second daughter named Alice marryed to Roger By got ancester to the Earles of Norfolke By disanulling of which Alice you endanger the succession and inheritance of most of the Nobilitie of this Realme which are from her discended But vnderstand that I doe not produce this your assertion as erronious in this place but rather to confirme your opinion here as true that your owne wordes before disagreeing from this trueth may not receaue any credite when they shall be read Pag. 404. of your booke VVIlliam Conqueror gaue Pontfret vnto Hildebert Lacy a Norman who builded there a Castel He had issue Robert that succeeded him to Robert succeeded Henrie whose onelie daughter Albrede was married to Robert de Luzures vnto whom she bare one onlie daughter maried to Richard Fitz-Eustace Constable of Chester whose successors tooke vnto them the name of Lacie and were Earles of Lincolne Pag. 534. YOu haue so long vsed this trade of patching and peecing of Petegrees with vntimelie issue and vnnaturall marriages as many now well experienced doe condemne you of palpable ignorance I wish you therefore some other practise more fitting your skill and lesse preiudiciall to the common wealth for here as in many other noble families you haue confused and falsified this petigree of Lacies making Henrie Lacie Lord of Pomfret to haue issue but one only daughter and sole heire named Albrede when as hee had a sonne named Robert that succeded him and no daughter at all After you auouch that daughter Albrede to bee wife to Robert de Luzurs a man as yet vnborne and to haue issue by him a daughter and sole heire married to Richard Fitz-Eustace Constable of Chester To which I answere that the same Albrede who you say married Robert de Luzurs was the widow of Henrie Lacie and not his daughter And that daughter and sole heire you affirme to be wife to Richard Fitz-Eustace was the onelie heire of Eudo de Luzurs by Albrede the relict of Henrie Lacie and not of Robert de Luzurs And for proofe that Henrie Lacie did marrie with Albrede and had issue Robert Lacie that died 1193. as also that the said Albrede after the death of Henrie Lacie married for her second husband Eudo de Luzurs and had issue one sole daughter heire named Albrede wife to Richard Fitz-Eustace Constable of Chester I set you downe these foure deeds folowing REgi Angliae omnibus fidelibus suis tam Franc. quam Angl. salutem To the king of England and to all his true and faithfull people as well French as English greeting Know ye that I Robert de Lacie of Pomfred for the health of my soule and Henrie my sonne and of all my auncesters haue giuen to Gilbert the Ermite of Saint Iames of Notall and to his ten brethren there seruing God being of the same house and to their successors the towne of Nether Sutton with all such liberties and bondmen as Gilbert my father had of the free gift of William Duke of Normandie the yeare after the conquest of England c. Witnesses Geffrey Estoteuile the Shiriffe and Roger his brother Sir Henrie de Alder c. OMnibus ad quos praesentes peruenerint tam Franc. quà m Angl. salutem To all to whom these presents shall come aswel French as English greeting Know ye that I Robert de Lacie of Pomfret for the health of my soule and for the soule of Henrie my father and Albrede my mother and for the soules of all my auncestors and successors haue giuen and confirmed in perpetuall Almes to the Abbay of Kirkestall and to the Monkes there seruing God foure Hydes of land with a Mill in the towne of Killinghale Witnesses Henrie the Archdeacon the writer William sonne of Richard c. OMmibus ad quos praesentes peruenerint tam Franc. quam Angl. salutem To all to whom these presents shall come aswell French as English greeting Know ye that I Eudo de Luzures haue confirmed certaine landes by my deede in Euerstone with the assent of Albrede my wife and Robert Lacie her sonne to Hugh de Osmondwike and to his heires for euer for homage and seruice c. These being witnesse Matthewe Vicar of Pomfret Sir Richard de Thoresworth c. NOuerint vniuersi per praesentes quod ego Robertus de Lacy c. Knowe all men by these presents that I Robert de Lacie of Pomfret haue giuen and granted and by this my deede haue clearely confirmed to Richard Fitz-Eustace to my sister Albrede his wife to their heires for euer the towns of Hotton Newton Locton Euerston and Broitton with the half part of the towne of Riggeton c. Moreouer I doe clearely acquite the said Eustace and Albrede his wife and their heires for euer of all seruice and homage due to me and my heires for the same Witnesses Sir Richard de Lunel Constable of Pomfret Sir William de Waterton c. ALencester the free towne which king Henrie the first gaue to Robert Corbet for loue of his daughter But he the said Robert gaue the same towne to William Botreaux and Peter Fitz-Herbert his gradchildren Pag. 438. HEre are you to be commended in reforming your own errour for in the title of the Barons of Botreaux page of your Booke 229. You there haue set downe Richarde Corbet to be father to the concubine of king Henry the first And here you say that Robert Corbet was her father which is true indeede and the other false but as you haue here in this place amended one errour so haue you likewise committed an other in auouching Peter Fitz-Herbert to be the saide Robert Corbets grandchilde when as the said Robert in your sence had neither sonne graundchild nor great grandchilde which was called by the name of Peter Fitz-Herbert And therefore I maruaile from whence you haue these fabulous fragments BArons Burnell were an ancient familie here vntill that in King Edward the seconds time the onely daughter and heire of that house maried first with Iohn Louell after with Iohn Handlo whose sonne Hâ—gh tooke to him the surname of Burnell from whom the Radcliffes Earles of Sussex are descended Pag. 456. TO this may I answere as to manie others That you write you knowe not what otherwise you would not here so vntruly haue affirmed Hugh Handlo to be sonne of Iohn Handlo and Maude Burnell his wife they neuer hauing any such sonne nor you any other proofe then your owne imagination for the same And for
dignitie he continued vntill the fourth yeare of king Henry the fift in which yeare he sate in Parliament by that name of dignitie and after was made Duke of Exceter And therefore herein haue you failed And to the second concerning the time of Thomas Beaufordes death it maketh me much to muse how the said Duke should dye Anno 1410 and being deceased how he should start vp out of his graue and make personall appearance at the high courte of Parliament holden at VVestminster 1425. fifteene yeares after except you can shewe some strange Metamorphosis or prooue that dead men being summoned did take their places in that Parliament which cannot be without some Negromancie or strange worke beyond nature THe Barons Botreaux alias Boterels did beare for their armes three toades sable in a fielde argent The first of that familie named William maryed Alice daughter of Richard Corbet whose sister was Paramour to king Henry the first on whome he begot Reignald Earle of Cornewall From this William discended successiuely eleuen Barons all called Williams except the third and seuenth which were called Reignalds Margaret the sole daughter of the last of them maried Robert Hungerford by whose posteritie that inheritaunce came to the familie of Hastings Which said inheritance was augmented by the marriage of the said Margarets grandfather with Katherine a Coheire of Katherine Twenge and by the mariage of her great grandfather with the daughter heire of Sir Iohn Saintlow knight and by the mariage of her great great grandfather with the daughter and heire of Iohn de Moeles a rich Baron Pag. 129. FIrst in making Botreaux and Boterell to be all one family and name you do much erre they being seuerall and not one as may be proued by William Botreaux Sherif of Cornwall who liued in the ninth yeare of king Iohn and bare for his Armes as you fay three Todes Sable and William Boterell that liued in the fift yeare of king Edward the first and was summoned amongst other Barons for the leuying of an armie against Llewellin Prince of Wales did beare for his Armes checkie gold and Gules a cheueron Azur By which two great differences both of the name and Armes it doth euidently appeare that they were not one but two seuerall families Secondly in affirming that William Botreaux maried Alice the daughter of Richard Corbet sister to her that was Paramour to king Henrie the first and mother to Reignald Earle of Cornwall you are also greatly deceiued for the mother of the said Reignald was daughter and coheire of Robert Corbet and not of Richard as by the gift of king Henrie the first to the saide Robert his Concubines father of the borough of Alencester in the Countie of Warwicke it is manifested But I need not striue much against you for this point seeing I may oppose your owne narration pag. 438. of your booke against your selfe and therefore I leaue you to quarell with your owne memorie not doubting but you can take it best to bee controller to your selfe Thirdly your Arithmeticall pen can as well multiplie for a neede as detract when it list hauing as quicke a slight to make Barons as the heathens had to make gods which were something in name but manie times nothing in nature for here you make eleuen Barons of the familie of Botreaux one to succeede the other after the first William Whereas you are able to proue but foure And to make your computation aright you must begin first with William Botreaux who began his Baronie at a Parliament holden at Westminster the first day of May in the 24. yeare of king Edward the third which William had issue William that was the second Baron who begat William the third father of William the fourth and last Baron of that familie Of which second and third Barons you haue made the father to marry his sonnes wife and the sonne to marry his own mother To which most vnnatural matches I wonder how you could euer giue your consent you being the onely parent of seuen of those eleuen Barons who had all their conceptions and births in the wombe of your pregnant braine Lastly I denie that any of the saide Williams Lordes Botreaux did marie with anie Katherine that was coheire to Katherin Twenge as you vntruly haue set downe Pemsey Castle was sometime belonging to the Earle Morton afterward William sonne to king Stephen had it who deliuered vp the same with the landes thereabout vnto King Henrie the second It was called the honour of the Eagle of Gilbert Lord of the Eagle who taking part against King Henrie the second beeing depriued of all that hee had fled into Normandie Pag. 231. THis Castle tooke not the title of honour of the Eagle of Gilbert who tooke part against King Henrie the second as you say for King William the Conquerour gaue to Stephen Earle of Blois and Charters with Ella his daughter the Earledome of the Eagle in Normandie and the Castle and honour of Pemsey in Suffex Which foresaid honours the said Stephen enioyed and afterward gaue the same to Henrie of Bloys his sonne who enioied the same vntil he resigned them vnto Richard his sonne and became Abbot of Glastenburie and after Bishop of Winchester This Richard being Earle of the Eagle and Lord of Pemsey liued in King Stephens time and was a witnesse to the couenants of peace betwixt him and Henrie Duke of Normandie by the name of Richard Earle of the Eagle He gaue his said Earledome and honour of Pemsey to William Earle of Morton his Cosen germane sonne to King Stephen Which gift with the said titles of honour King Henrie the second did confirme but not long after he constrained the said William to surrender vnto him againe aswel those honours as also all other lands that he had both in Normandie and in England vpon condition that the said king should re-assure vnto him al those lands which king Stephen his father was possessed of at the death of king Henrie the first And how truly you affirme the honour of Pemsey to haue belonged to any Earle Morton before the reigne of King Stephen William sonne to king Stephen being the first Earle Morton which enioyed the same it is thought as vnworthie of credit as that before where you alledge Pemsey castle to haue taken his first honour from Gilbert Lord of the Eagle in the reigne of King Henrie the second when it is trulie proued to bee an honour at such time as William the Conquerour gaue the same in marriage with his daughter FIue Earles of Sussex were of the familie of the Albeneys who in like maner were Earles of Arundell William de Albeney sonne of William Lord of Buckenham in Norfolke was the first of them who vsed for his Armes a Lion rampant in a field Gules He was called Earle of Chichester and of Arundell who had issue by Adelize daughter of the Duke of Loraine and Brabant William the
second Earle of Sussex and Arundell father of William the third Earle which had issue by Maude coheire of Ranulfe Earle of Chester William the fourth Earle and Hugh that was the fift Earle both dying without issue After which time that honour of Sussex lay dead vntill that king Henrie the eight in the 21. yeare of his reigne created Robert Radclife Earle of Sussex Pag. 234. IN this succession of Albeneys Earles of Sussex you haue taken great paines making fiue of that surname to haue beene Earles both of Sussex and Arundell when as you can prooue but foure in all to haue beene Earles of that familie and but two of them Earles of Sussex viz. William whom king Henrie the second made the first Earle of Sussex and Hugh his sonne who died without issue in the 27. yeare of king Henrie the third for that VVilliam whom you call the fourth Earle of Arundell I deeme as yet neuer borne And the first VVilliam which married Queene Aelidise the widow of King Henrie the first who you say was both earle of Sussex and Arundell I make great doubt of thinking you not able to make proofe he was Earle of either For sure I am that his owne deed doth shew the contrarie that he was onelie Earle of Chichester and not of Arundell and Sussex which to manifest I haue here set downe his deed as followeth GVilielmus Comes Cicestriae c. William Earle of Chichester to the Bishop of Norwich and to all faithfull children of our holie mother the Church and to all men as well French as English c. Knoweye that I haue giuen and granted to God and to the Church of Saint Maries in Thetford and to the Monkes there seruing God for the the soules of my father and mother and Queene Aelidise my wife and the health of our children in pure almes the lands that were Godricks in Ridlesworde and in Guareshall which belonged to Garestorpe which land the same day that I made this grant one Robert held Witnesses Raph the Chaplaine and Hubert de Montecaniso with manie others Lastly where you say that after the familie of the Albeneyes were extinct the Earldome of Sussex lay dead vntill he 21. yeare of king Henrie the eight who then created Robert Radcliffe Earle of Sussex To that I answere it did not lie dead all that while for after the death of Hugh de Albeney 1242. king Edward the first in the 18. yere of his reigne made Richard Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell knight at which time he also girded him with the sworde of the Earldome of Sussex In whose issue it continued diuers discents and then by attainture fell vnto the crowne As in my booke entituled the Nobilitie of England which I meane shortly God willing to publish you may see at large RIchard Earle of Clare builded the Castle of Tunbridge hauing had the said Tunbridge in exchange for Brionie in Normandie for his grandfather Godfrey base sonne of William the second Duke of Normandie was Earle of Aniou Brionie Pa. 243 THis discent of Godfrey Earle of Aniou and Brionie is forreine and bredde beyond the Seas in Normandie from whence you haue had little intelligence therfore not so much to be condemned for mistaking the right father of the saide Godfrey making him the sonne of William the second duke of Normandy when as he was sonne to Richard the first Duke of Normandie Which fault notwithstanding I woulde wish you to amende in your next edition and also to take away from this Richard his grandchilde the title of Earle vntill such time as you haue a better commission for making of Earles And for your warrant to doe this you shall haue both the booke of Domesday and diuerse charters of William the Conqueror wherein the said Richard was a witnesse by the name onely of Richard Fitz-Gilbert without any other title of honor THe Creuecueurs so named de crepito-corde builded the Castell of Leedes of which familie the first was Robert who had issue Daniell that was father to Robert who had issue Hamon which married the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone and by her had issue Hamon the father of Robert who wanting issue gaue his patrimonie to King Edwarde the first Pag. 244. THe familie of Abrinces were Barons of Folkestone from whom by marriage the same went to Hamon de Creuecueur and by his daughter to Iohn of Sandwich whose grandchilde by his sonne Iohn named Iulian carried that title to Iohn Seagraue Pag. 259. TO reconcile your contradictions in these two titles of Leedes Castle and Folkestone I thinke it a verie harde matter for in the first you say That Hamon Creuecueur who marryed the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone had issue Hamon that succeeded him which Hamon had issue Robert who dying without issue gaue his patrimonie to king Edwarde the first And after in the title of Folkestone you affirme the contrarie saying That the same Hamon had issue a daughter that carried Folkestone by her marriage to Iohn of Sandwich By which thus still ouermuch busying your selfe in matters passing your skill it maketh you so forgetfull that oftentimes you are faine to vtter matters incoherent and much contradictorie Wherefore vnderstande that Hamon Creuecueur who you say married the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone had issue Hamon who succeeded his father and he had issue Robert which died without issue and foure daughters Eleonor married to Bertram Criell Agnes to Iohn of Sandwich Isolde to Nicholas Lenham and Isabell to Henrie Hawt Of which foure daughters you haue left out the first and two last naming but onely the second married to Iohn of Sandwich who was not the daughter of the first Hamon as you affirme but of the second whom you haue casscered out of this discent And whereas in the title of Leedes castle you say that the last Robert Creuecueur dying without issue gaue his patrimonie to K. Edward the first Before I answer there unto I first demaund of you how that may be When your selfe in the title of Folkstone haue set downe the said Roberts sister to carie Folkestone by her marriage to Iohn of Sandwich which was a part of the said Roberts patrimony And for direct proofe that the said Robert did not giue his patrimony to king Edward the first as you haue said it appeareth by an inquisition taken after the death of the saide Robert in the thirtieth yeare of King Edward the first that his foresaide foure sisters were his heires and that Eleonore the eldest had for her part of her brothers inheritance the Mannor of Estwell in Kent and Agnes the second sister had Folkestone the other two had other landes that descended to the said Robert from his auncestors which I take to be his patrimonie HVbert de Burgo was made Earle of Kent by king Henry the third and died without issue Pag. 262. IF this be true that Hubert de Burgo
coulde not containe his hope offered touching the kingdome within the bounds of right and reason grieuouslie afflicted this citie And afterward being made Earle of Norfolke he is thought to haue builded that Castle vpon a high hill neare to the Church which being maruailous deepely entrenched about was in those dayes thought impregnable But Lewis the Frenchman to whom the seditious Barons of England had sworne their fidelitie easilie tooke the same by composition We thinke in deed that Bygot did build this Castle because we haue seene their Lyons saliant in the same forme engrauen in stone as the Bygots vsed them in their seales before they obtained the honour of Marshals Pag. 363. IF your wordes here had beene but coniecturall or gathered by reports as in many other places they are you should haue lesse discredited your selfe then by affirming you had seene that which in truth you did neuer see for where you say We thinke that the Bygots builded this Castle because wee haue there seene Lions saliant in the same forme engrauen in stone as the Bygots vsed in their seales before they obtained the honour and office of Marshall certaine it is that on the said Castle there are no Lions saliant nor any such Ensigne or token as the Bygots did beare in seale or shield or any Armes at all And for that you did of late as before vpon conference had before the now Earle Marshall of England affirme the saide Lious saliant vpon the Castle walles of Norwich to bee the true Armes of the Bygots before they came to bee Marshals of England my selfe hauing seene diuerse deedes of the said Bygots to prooue the contrarie the Seales whereof were Shieldes charged onelie with a plaine Crosse which coate you then auouched to be the Armes of Vlster whervpon I for my better satisfaction therein did ride to Norwich for to search the truth of your speach and going into the said castle I founde ouer the first gate two great stones fixed of some yarde square and vppon each of them a Lyon passant cowardie their tayles turning vnder their bellies and comming ouer their backes but in no Shielde or Escucheon And seeking more diligentlie all other places about the saide Castle I did finde ouer the hall doore other two like stones with a Lyon also vppon each of them but contrarie to the former for these were passant regardants with their tayles ouer their backes and the endes in their mouthes yet neither in Shielde nor Escucheon And therefore no such coate armour is there vppon the Castell of Norwich as you sayde you had seene that the Bygots did vse in their Shieldes and Seales In consideration of this my great paines and iourney I desire but that you will from hencefoorth make a difference betweene the Antique fictions of a caruers braine and the right ensignes of our auncient Nobilitie which you say Were in King Henrie the thirds time but euerie mans owne inuentions they being long time before the honorable rewardes and tokens of valorous persons VVOrmegay commonly called wrongay was giuen by William the third Earle Warren and Surrey to Reignald de Warren his younger brother by whose grandchilde Nicholea daughter of William his sonne it was forthwith translated to the Bardolphs who bare for their armes in a shield Azur three Cinkfoyles golde a great part of whose inheritance togither with the dignitie fell to William Philips and by his daughter vnto the viscount Beaumount Pag. 369. YOur bare imagination coÌ„cerning the gift of Wormegay by William Earle Warren to his yonger brother is nothing probable for Reignald de Warren had the same by marriage with the daughter heire of William de Wormegay not by any gift of his brother And where you affirme the said Reignald had a grandchild by his sonne William named Nicholea married to Bardolph I say he neuer had anie such grandchild but two others called Beatrix and Isabell which Beatrix was married to Bardolph as by the testimonie of seuerall deedes here following it may appeare NOtum sit omnibus tam praesentibus quam futuris quod ego Reginaldus de Warren c. Be it knowne vnto all men aswell present as they that shall be hereafter that I Reignald de Warren haue giuen my church of PlumbtoÌ„ to the Canons of Southwark for the health of my soule and of Alice my wife William my sonne Isabel the Countesse my mother and William Earle Warren my brother and of William de wormegay father of Alice my said wife c. SCiant praesentes futuri quod ego Gulielmus de Warren c. Let those men know that are present and they that shall come hereafter that I William de Warren do giue and confirme to the Canons of Southwarke thirtie Acres of land in â—otisâ—ray for the health of mine owne soule my father Reignald my mother Alice and my wife Beatrix my sonne Reignald and my daughters Beatrix and Isabell and for all my auncestors c. VVIlliam the Conquerour made Raph the first Earle of Norfolke who as I haue saide stirring vp newe Rebellion had for his successor Hugh Bygot Earle of Norfolke who had the third pennie of the said Countie as appeareth in his Charter of creation giuen him by king Henrie the first whose stewarde he was After whom in direct succession from father to sonne followed Hugh that tooke part with Henrie the yong king against king Henrie the second his father Roger which flourished in king Iohns time Hugh who died in the yeare of our Lord 1225. Roger who in right of his wife brought into his familie the Honor of Marshall of England for he married Maude the eldest daughter and one of the heires of William Marshall Earle of Penbroke by whom he had issue Roger earle of Norfolke who being wounded with running at the tilt died without issue and Hugh Bygot Lord chiefe Iustice being slaine in the battell of Lewis his sonne Roger was placed after his vncles death in the Earldome of Norfolke and dignitie of Marshal who incurring the displeasure of king Edward the second was inforced to passe ouer all his honours and almost his whole inheritance to the king Pag. 370. THe errors herein are these first you say that Hugh Bygot was Earle of Norfolke and had the third pennie of that Countie as appeareth by his Charter of creation giuen him by king H. the first For answere I say you haue not seene nor can proue any such Charter as you here auouch neither was he the said Hugh or any of that familie Earle before the first yeare of king Stephen who then made him Earle of Norfolke because he being present at the death of king Henrie the first testifie before the Archbishop of Canterburie and other the Barons of this realme that hee heard king Henry vpon his death bed say his will was that his Nephew Stephen and not Maude his daughter should succeede him in his kingdome of England Secondly where you reckon a confused
the Parliament Anno 25. of Henry the sixt by the name of Robert Lord Mollens And after the death of the forenamed Walter the said two Roberts were both at one time of the Parliament Anno 29. of Henry the sixt the father by the name of Robert Lord Hungerforde senior and the sonne by the Name of Robert Hungerforde Lord Mollens Iunior Which I take to be so strong a proofe as vpon the sight hereof you will recant and subscribe to the same VVIdehay was the auncient seate of the Barons Saint Amend whose inheritance and dignitie came to Gerald Braybrooke in right of his wife And Elizabeth his grand-child by Gerald his sonne transported the same to William de Beauchampe who left issue but one onely sonne which was a bastard Pag. 207. VVHat an vngodly course is this you take to depriue noble men both of their honor and honestie framing to some vnnaturall mariages falsifying the discentes of other and making legitimate heires illegitimate which abuses by reason of my oath taken at my creation I may not let passe without telling you thereof Vnderstand therefore that where you affirme William Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond who maryed Elizabeth grand-childe to Gerald Braybrooke to haue issue one onely sonne and he a Bastard therein doe you greatly both wrong and scandalize him for he had in lawfull matrimonie by his said wife Richard Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond his legitimate sonne that succeeded him in the dignitie of Saint Amond and maryed Anne the daughter of Sir Walter Wrotesley knight And therefore very vntruely haue you charged the said William to haue had any such Bastard THe Barons of Windsore tooke their original from William the sonne of Other that was Constable or keeper of Windsore Castle in the time of king William the first from whome also are discended the Fitz-Geraldes in Ireland Earles of Kildare and Desmond as Robert Glouer called Somerset the most studious and skilfull in Heraldie of all that societie hath proued Pag. 213. HEre would you impeache the credite of that worthie Officer of Armes Robert Glouer in making him the Authour of your imagined dreames he hauing vnder his owne hand in the Petigree of the honorable Lord Windsor both denyed that William de Windsor was sonne to Other keeper of the Castle of Windsor as also that the Earle of Kildare and Desmond were discended from the said William By which your vntrue misse-alledging the said Somersets workes to serue your turne you shewe your selfe very vngratefull towardes him out of whose bookes in the custodie of the late Lorde Treasorer you gathered the flowers wherewithall you haue made your vnperfect garland which you in your last edition so much haue boasted of But here would I not that you or any other should misconceaue my meaning that I thinke or iudge Somerset Herald hath written or set downe in his said bookes any of these vntruthes but rather that you not rightly vnderstanding them nor able to discerne the true vse of his trauels haue thorough ignorance committed these your errors in affirming William de Windsor to be sonne to Other and auncester to the Earles of Kildare and Desmond in Ireland of which two pointes you cannot prooue any one for the originall auncester of these before spoken of was Walter the sonne of Other and not William sonne of Other for Walter had two sonnes William of whome are discended the Lordes of Windsor and Gerald who was auncester to the Geraldines Earles of Kildare and Desmond And where you make William de Windsor to be sonne of Other therein are you also deceiued for the same William you speake of was sonne of Walter and grand-childe to Other as doth appeare by the Charter of king Henry the second here following HEnricus rex Angliae Dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegauiae Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. Henry king of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earle of Aniou to all Archbishops Byshops c. Knowe ye that I haue giuen and graunted to William de Windsor as his inheritance all the landes which before were the possessions of William sonne of Walter his father and of Walter sonne of Other his grandfather Wherefore I will c. that he hold it as his fee and inheritance c. peaceably freely and honorably euen as his father and grandfather held the same in the time of king Henry my grandfather and of my predecessors in woodes and plaines c. Witnesses William my brother Reignald the Earle and Ioceline Baillol c. VVIlliam Rufus king of England made William Earle Waren first Earle of Surrey whose armes were a shield gold checked azure He had issue a sonne and a grand-childe of the same name succeeding him but the last had issue onely a daughter who marrying first with William sonne of king Stephen and after with Hamelin base sonne of Geffrey Plantagenet honored both her husbands with this title Hameline begot on her William Earle of Surrey who marryed the eldest daughter and coheire of William Earle of Penbrooke widow of Hugh Bygot This William was father of Iohn who begat William father of Iohn Afterwardes king Henry the fourth aduaunced Thomas Beauford to that title and dignitie making him after Duke of Exceter and Lord Chauncellor of England Pag. 223. ALthough I omit here to tell you that the first William Earle Warren was made Earle of Surrey by William Conquerour and not by VVilliam Rufus yet will I by your patience put you in minde of an other error by you here cōmitted of more importance which is if you remember in the title of the Earles of Norffolke Pag. 370. You there haue made Roger By got Earle of Norffolke to be husband vnto Maude the eldest daughter and coheire of VVilliam Marshal Earle of Penbrooke and now in this place you make the said Maude to be the widowe of Hugh Bygot father of the foresaid Roger which I take to be incest for the sonne to marry his owne mother And therefore least all their modest posteritie might blushe at such an incestuous Oedipus as your poeticall fansie hath brought vpon the stage I would wishe you to correct this your tragicall fable KIng Richard the second made Thomas Holland Earle of Kent being his halfe brother by the mother Duke of Surrey who being atteinted Thomas Beauford was aduanced to that dignitie by king Henry the fourth and after made Duke of Exceter and Chauncellor of England He dyed as Walsingham saith Anno 1410. Pag. 223. VVHere you say that Thomas Beauford after the attainder of Thomas Holland was aduaunced to the dignitie of Duke of Surrey and dyed Anno 1410. as VValsingham saith To the first I answere the said Thomas Beauford was neuer dignified with the title of Duke of Surrey by K. Henry the fourth or any other king And to proue the same I finde that the saide king in the 13. yeare of his reigne did create the said Thomas Earle of Dorset in which