not that he ever used the Title of Earl of Chester II. A Catalogue of all such Princes of England as have been created Princes of Wales and Earls of Chester and used these Titles 1. EDward of Caernarven fourth Son of King Edward the First born at Caernarven in Wales the twenly fifth of April 1284. was Summoned to the Parliament Anno 1303. 32 Edw. 1. being now the King 's eldest Son living by the Name of Edward Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester Our most dear Son Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 594. and was afterwards King of England by the Name of King Edward the Second 2. Edward of Windsor eldest Son of King Edward the Second born at Windsor Castle 13 die Novembris 1312. 6 Edw. 2. had onely the Title of Earl of Chester and Flint in his Summons to the Parliament 1322. 15 Edw. 2. being then scarce ten years old Cambden's Britannia Edita 1607. pag. 118. He was also Duke of Aquitain and Earl of Pontive created 19 Edw. 2. 1325. Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 599. and Stowe and was after he had deposed his Father King of England by the Name of King Edward the Third Crowned February 1. 1326. 3. Edward of Woodstock commonly called The Black Prince eldest Son of King Edward the Third born 15 Junii 1330. 4 Edw. 3. was made Earl of Chester 7 Edw. 3. I find him stiled Edwardus illustris Regis Angliae Filius Comes Cestriae in a Writ at Chester Dated 13 die Aprilis 9 Edw. 3. 1335. R. num 18. He was created Duke of Cornwall by Patent Dated 17 die Martii 11 Edw. 3. 1336. Habendum sibi haeredum suorum Regum Angliae Filiis Primogenitis Per ipsum Regem totum Consilium in Parliamento Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 752. And he was the first Duke in England as that Title was now made a distinct Dignity and by this Creation not onely the first-born Son of the Kings of England but the eldest living are always Dukes of Cornwall neither needed any new Creation of this Title although sometimes we find it joyned with the Creation of the Title of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester Selden's Tit. Hon. qag 754. He was also created Prince of Wales by Patent Dated 12 die Maii 17 Edw. 3. 1343. Habendum sibi haeredibus suis Regibus Angliae in perpetuùm Per ipsum Regem Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 595. And since this time the Title of Earl of Chester hath been usually joyned with that of Prince of Wales in the Patent Selden ibidem pag. 598. So that now the Black Prince was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester In the 40. of Edward the Third his Stile was Princeps Aquitaniae Walliae Dux Cornubiae Comes Cestriae Lib. C. fol. 181. w. He died June 8. 1376. 50 Ed. 3. in the Life-time of his Father 4. Richard of Burdeaux Son and Heir to the Black Prince was created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester by his Grandfather King Edward the Third in Festo Sancti Michaelis 1376. 50 Edw. 3. Stowe But Walsingham names onely the Title of Earl of Chester in Parliament 1376. pag. 190. Others say he was after created Prince of Wales at Haveringe 20 Novembris 50 Edw. 3. Powel on the Welsh History pag. 385. He had a special Charter for Duke of Cornwall Anno 50 Edw. 3. Cooks Reports lib. 8. fol. 30. for he was not eldest Son of the King his Father dying before he enjoyed the Crown This Richard was afterwards King of England by the Name of King Richard the Second And in Anno 1397. he erected the Earldom of Chester into a Principality and ordained that no Grant should be made thereof to any Person but to the King 's eldest Son onely if it please the King to make him See Stat. 21 Rich. 2. cap. 9. But this Parliament was wholly Repealed 1 Hen. 4. cap. 3. which Henry deposed Richard the Second and made himself King 1399. 5. Henry eldest Son of Henry the Fourth born at Monmouth Anno 1388. was created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester about October 1 Hen. 4. 1399. in Parliament and not long after was created Duke of Aquitain in the same Parliament Stowe and was afterwards King of England by the Name of King Henry the Fifth F. num 99. 6. Edward onely Child of King Henry the Sixth born at Westminster 13 Octobris 1452. 31 Hen. 6. Fabian pag. 456. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in Parliament March 15. 31 Hen. 6. 1452. and was murthered at the Battel of Teuksbery May 4. 1471. 11 Edw. 4. See Vincent upon Brook pag. 143 He was also Duke of Cornwall by Descent King Henry the Sixth was never created Prince of Wales nor Earl of Chester he was King whiles he was but an Infant of eight Months old 7. Edward eldest Son of King Edward the Fourth born at Westminster November 4. 1470. 10 Edw. 4. was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester July 26. 1471. 11 Edw. 4. Vincent upon Brook pag. 115. and in Anno 19 Edw. 4. He was made Earl of Pembroke and March He was also Duke of Cornwall and so Entituled and was afterwards King Edward the Fifth but was most barbarously murthered in the Tower by the procurement of his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester Anno 1483. who usurped the Crown to himself 8. Edward the onely Child of King Richard the Third created Earl of Salisbury 1477. 17 Edw. 4. was also created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester by his Father August 24. 1483. 1 Rich. 3. being then about ten years old and died about March 1484. in the Life-time of his Father 9. Arthur eldest Son of King Henry the Seventh created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester November 30. in 1489. 5 Hen. 7. and died without Issue at Ludlow in April 1502. 17 Hen. 7. about the Age of sixteen Years in the Life-time of his Father He was also Duke of Cornwall by Birth 10. Henry Duke of York second Son of King Henry the Seventh after the Death of his Brother Arthur was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester February 18. 1502. 18 Hen. 7. at the Age of eleven Years and was afterwards King of England by the Name of King Henry the Eighth 11. Henry Stewart eldest Son of James King of Great Britain was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in Parliament June 4. 1610. 8 Jacobi and died November 6. 1612. 10 Jacobi without Issue in the life-Life-time of King James his Father He was also Duke of Cornwall by Birth 12. Charles Stewart second Son of King James born at Dunferling in Scotland Nov. 19 1600. was Duke of Albany in Scotland and was also created Duke of York in England by his Father at Whitehall in London January 6. 1604. and after the Death of his Brother Prince Henry he was Duke of Cornwall for the Case of the Dutchy of
King I meet with of the South-Saxons who was slain in Battel by Cedwal King of the West-Saxons 688. Yea. Before this time it remained in the Power of the West-Saxons a good while and upon the death of Edelwach Berthan and Authun two Brothers took upon them the Government of the South-Saxons with the Title of Dux and held it for a little while but Ina Successor of Cedwall King of the West-Saxons subdued it and united it to that Crown The Kings of Mercia A.C. 582. 1. Criedda the first King A.C. 593. 2. Webba Son of Criedda A.C. 614. 3. Cheol or Ceorl Son of Wibba A.C. 626. 4. Penda the Strong Son of Wibba who some say was the first King A.C. 656. 5. Peda Son of Penda a Christian King A.C. 659. 6. Wulfere Father of St. Werburge and Son of Penda A.C. 675. 7. Ethelred Son of Penda A.C. 704. 8. Kenred Son of Wulfere's Brother A.C. 708. 9. Ceolred Son of Ethelred A.C. 716. 10. Ethelbald the Proud overcome by Cutbert or Cuthred King of the West-Saxons near Burford in Oxfordshire the place is still called Battellage-Hill A.C. 757. 11. Beornred a Tyrant slain by Offa. A.C. 758. 12. Offa the Great King of Mercia Abnepos Pendae saith Malmesbury He made a great Ditch in Wales near 100 Miles long dividing Wales and Mercia called Offa's Dike He subdued Kinulf King of the West-Saxons and also the Northumbrians and the Kentish-men A.C. 796. 13. Egferd Son of Offa. A.C. 797. 14. Kenulf He took Egbert Prisoner A.C. 819. 15. Kenelm Son of Kenulf murthered by his Sister Quendrid A.C. 820. 16. Ceolwulfe Brother to Kinulf A.C. 821. 17. Bernulf overcome by Egbert A.C. 824. 18. Ludecan A.C. 826. 19. Witlaf Tributary to Egbert A.C. 839. 20. Bertulfe A.C. 852. 21. Beorred a Substituted King by the West-Saxons the last King of Mercia A.C. 874. Celwulfe sometimes Servant to Beorred Rebelled and Usurped This Kingdom being tyrannized over by the Danes was united to the West-Saxons by Alfred Anno 886. The Kings of the Northumbrians A.C. 547. 1. Ida the first King A.C. 560. 2. Ella King of Deira A.C. 589. 3. Edelric Son of Ida King of Bernicia A.C. 593. 4. Ethelfrid A.C. 617. 5. Edwin Son of Ella A.C. 633. 6. Osric I. A.C. 634. 7. St. Oswald slain at Maserfelt by Penda King of Mercia 5 die Augusti Anno 642. Bede de Hist Angl. lib. 3. cap. 9. A.C. 643. 8. Oswy who having slain Oswin King of Deira was the first Absolute King of Northumberland He slew also Penda King of Mercia Anno 656. A.C. 671. 9. Egfrid A.C. 686. 10. St. Alfrid A.C. 705. 11. Osred I. A.C. 716. 12. Kenred A.C. 718. 13. Osric II. A.C. 729. 14. Ceolwolfe A.C. 738. 15. Egbert A.C. 758. 16. Eswulfe A.C. 759. 17. Ethelwald A.C. 765. 18. Alred A.C. 774. 19. Ethelred I. A.C. 778. 20. Afwold A.C. 789. 21. Osred II. A.C. 794. 22. Ethelred II. slain 3 Calend. Maii. And after the Interregnum of 33 years Egbert King of the West-Saxons enjoyed this Kingdom Anno 827. In that Interregnum it was invaded on the one hand by the Danes and on the other by the Picts and Scots The Kings of the West-Saxons A.C. 522. 1. Cerdic the first King of the West-Saxons Yea. 17 He killed 5000 Brettans Anno 509. Hen. Huntington pag. 312. and routed Nazaleod the Great King of the Brettans at Certicsford A.C. 539. 2. Kenric Son of Cerdic Yea. 26 A.C. 565. 3. Ceaulin Son of Cenric with Cuthwin his Son Yea. 30 A.C. 595. 4. Celric Son of Ceaulin Yea. 5 A.C. 600. 5. Ceolwolfe Son of Cutha Son of Kenric Son of Cerdic Yea. 14 A.C. 614. 6. Kingils Son of Ceolric Brother of Ceolwolfe Yea. 31 A.C. 645. 7. Cenwald or Kenwalchin Son of Kingils Yea. 31 A.C. 676. 8. Sexburga Wife of Cenwald Yea. 1 A.C. 677. 9. Escwine Son of Cenwald Yea. 2 A.C. 679. 10. Centwin or Kentwin Cosin of Escwin Yea. 9 A.C. 688. 11. Ceadwall with Mull his Brother took the Isle of Wight Huntington Yea. 2 A.C. 690. 12. Ine Son of Cenred Son of Ceoldwold Son of Cuthwin Son of Kenric Anno Regni sui 21. he fought with Gerent king of Wales and routed him Huntington pag. 337. He first gave the Peter-Pence to the Pope Yea. 37 A.C. 727. 13. Ethelard Yea. 14 A.C. 741. 14. Cuthred Yea. 16 A.C. 757. 15. Sigebert He was deposed by the Pope Yea. 2 A.C. 759. 16. Kinulf elected King of the West-Sazons Yea. 26 A.C. 785. 17. Bithric or Brichtric Yea. 16 A.C. 800. 18. Egbert or Egbricht He subdued the other Kings and reduced the Heptarchy into a Monarchy Yea. 37 The Monarchs of England of the Saxon Blood Anno Chr. 823 1. Egbert the First Saxon Monarch of England was Crowned King of all England at Winchester about Anno Christi 823 and commanded that all that part of Brettaine whereof he had now the Sovereignty should be called England since which time it hath been called England Polychronicon He began his Reign over the West-Saxons Anno Christi 800. But over England in Anno 823. or thereabouts He Reigned 14 Years 2. Ethelwolfe eldest Son of Egbert He Reigned 20 Years 3. Ethelbald eldest Son of Ethelwolfe Huntington saith he Reigned five Years p. 349. He Reigned one Year 4. Ethelbert second Son of Ethelwolfe He Reigned five Years 5. Ethelred third Son of Ethelwolfe Huntington saith he Reigned but five Years pag. 349. He Reigned nine Years 6. Alfred fourth Son of Ethelwolfe a Learned Prince He totally united the Heptarchy into one Kingdom vanquished the Danes and subdued them though he could not quite expel them He divided the Shires of England into Hundreds and Tythings as Egbert his Grandfather had before divided England into Shires as now they stand at this day some few having been new modelled since He erected a University at Oxford and Reigned 29 Years Anno Chr. 901 7. Edward sirnamed The Elder Son of Alfred he recovered the Countrey of the East-Angles from the Danes whom he shut up in Northumberland He Reigned 24. years 8. Athelstan Bastard-Son of Edward subdued the Brettans of Cumberland and Cornwall and made the Danes to submit to his Government He Reigned 16 years 9. Edmund legitimate Son of Edward subdued the Danes in Northumberland and utterly subverted the Kingdom of the Brettans in Cumberland He Reigned 6 years 10. Ethelred Brother of Edmund He Reigned 9 years 11. Edwy Son of Edmund He Reigned 3 Years and 9 Months 12. Edgar sirnamed The Peaceable Brother to Edwyn was the most absolute Monarch of England since the time of the Saxons by whom the Tribute-money imposed on the Welsh by Athelstan was exchang'd into a Tribute of Wolfs This Edgar in the thirteenth Year of his Reign is said to have been Rowed on the River Dee at Chester by eight Kings who swore Fealty to him Anno 972. their Names were Kunud or Rynad King of the Scots Malcolme King of Cumberland Maccusius the Arch-Pyrat and all the Kings of Wales whose
of time And yet have they preserved their Native Language but with some corruption of various Dialects For the Description of Wales it was anciently bounded from England with the Rivers of Dee and Severn all the rest of it almost is bounded with the Irish Seas But Offa the Puissant King of the Mercians in England drave the Brettans from the Rivers aforesaid and forced them up to the Mountains of Wales where he caused them to be divided from England by a very great Ditch called by the English Offa's Dike at this day This was about the Year since Christ's Birth 760. and it began at the River Dee by Basing-werk between Chester and Ruthlan and so ran along the sides of the Hills to the South Sea a little from Bristow reaching near a hundred Miles in length and is in many places yet to be seen The Countrey between it and England is commonly called by the Welsh Y Mars though the greatest part of it be now inhabited with Welshmen namely in North-Wales which yet keepeth the ancient Limits to the River Dee or Dwy and in some Places over it Powell on the Welsh History pag. 5. According to Cambden it was divided into these sorts of Inhabitants in the time of the Romans and before But this was long before it had the Name of Wales Silures Herefordshire Radnorshire Brecknockshire Monmouthshire Glamorganshire Dimetae Caermardenshire Pembrokeshire Cardiganshire Ordovices Montgomeryshire Merionethshire North-Wales Caernarvanshire North-Wales Isle of Anglesey North-Wales Denbighshire North-Wales Flintshire North-Wales About the Year of Christ 870. Roderik the Great then Prince of Wales divided it into three Parts or Territories which they called Kingdoms North-Wales 1. Guinedh in Latin Venedotia which the English call North-Wales comprehending the Counties of Merioneth Caernarvan The Isle of Môn or Anglesey and the greatest parts of Denbighshire and Flintshire This had as it were the Sovereignty of the other two whose Chief Seat was Aberfraw in Anglesey which little Island the Welsh call Yir-Môn that is The Land of Môn This Part Roderik gave to Anarawd his eldest Son Powys 2. Mathraval or Powys-land This Territory containeth all the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Severn to wit the whole Counties as they be now called of Montgomery Radnor and all Shropshire from Severn towards Wales and the rest of Denbighshire and Flintshire The chiefest Towns herein are St. Asaph Shrewsbury and Matraval This Territory Roderik gave to Mervin his third Son South-Wales 3. Deheubarth in Latin Dimetia which the English call South-Wales contained the Counties as we now call them of Monmouth Glamorgan Pembroke Caermarden Cardigan and Brecknock The Chief Seat was Caermarden after removed to Denevowr-Castle The Chief Towns thereof Caermarden Monmouth Landaff and St. David's in Pembrokeshire so called from St. David sometime Archbishop thereof the Metropolitan of Wales who removed the See from Caer-Leon upon Usk to this Place St. Davids is by the Welsh called Mynyw whence in Latin it is termed Menevia And this Part Roderik gave to Cadelh his second Son who after the death of Mervin his Brother took Powys-Land also to himself Of these three Parts Roderik had North-Wales in right of his Mother Esylht and Powys in right of his Grandmother Nest Daughter of Cadelh Prince of Powys and South-Wales he had as some say by his Wife Daughter and Heir of Meyric Prince of Cardigan Powell on the Welsh History pag. 35. CHAP. II. THe Counties of Wales as they now stand divided were apppointed out as followeth 1 Glamoganshire 2 Caermarthenshire 3 Pembrokeshire 4 Cardiganshire 5 Flintshire 6 Caernarvonshire 7 Anglesey 8 Merionethshire These Shires were newly appointed out Anno Domini 1283. 11 Edw. 1. saith Stow. In which Year Wales was totally subdued by Edw. 1. who built two strong Castles there one at Conwey the other at Caernarvon and then newly divided Wales into Shires and Hundreds 9 Monmouthshire 10 Radnorshire 11 Brecknockshire 12 Montgomeryshire 13 Denbighshire These five were appointed by the Statute of 27 Hen. 8. ca. 26. and also divers Dominions and Lordships in the Marches of Wales were then also annexed to Shropshire Herefordshire and Glocestershire And by the Statute aforesaid of 27 Hen. 8. cap. 26. Anno Domini 1535. the Dominion of Wales is from henceforth incorporated united and annexed to the Realm of England In the Statute of 34 Hen. 8. cap. 26. they are called The Twelve Shires of Wales because Monmouth was by the other Statute of 27 H. 8. subjected to the Chancery of England and to the Kings Judges at Westminster and therefore accounted among the Counties of England and not among the Counties of Wales And by the Statute of 34 35 Hen. 8. cap. 26. there is a President and Council appointed to the Principality of those 12 Shires of Wales And that the Judge of Chester for the time being shall keep Sessions twice every Year in the Shires of Denbigh Flint and Montgomery And that there be a Judge of North-Wales to keep Sessions twice every Year in the several Shires of Caernarvan Merioneth and Anglesey And another Judge in like manner for the Shires of Radnor Brecknock and Glamorgan And another Judge in like manner for the Shires of Caermarthen Pembroke and Cardigan It appears also by the same Statute that the King had lately granted Commissions out of the Chancery of England for the Limitations of the Hundreds lately made in the said Shires It is also to be remembred That by the Statute of 33 Hen. 8. cap. 13. the Honour of Hawarden-Castle with its Members to wit certain Villages in the Parish of Hawarden which formerly belonged to Broxton-Hundred in Cheshire were now laid to Flintshire by that Act of Parliament CHAP. III. THe Welshmen embraced the Reformation of Religion according to the Church of England in Doctrine Discipline and Worship the Liturgy whereof was by Queen Elizabeth's Command translated into the Welsh or British Tongue as the BIBLE also by an Act of Parliament 5 Eliz. 1563. But because that Church-Bible then set forth the Care whereof was committed to the Bishop of Hereford and the four Bishops of Wales was of a large Bulk it was reduced into a more portable Volume in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First at the Charge of Rowland Heylyn Alderman of London who caused also a Welsh Dictionary to be Printed Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography pag. 323. CHAP. IV. I Come now to the Ancient Descent of the Brettans and Welsh I have before spoken something hereunto concerning the Ancient Inhabitants of Brettaine when I treated of England cap. 1. sect 5. a Supra pag. 10. I have now to add That in the first place I must crave leave to note the ridiculous and fabulous Story and Descent of Brute with the long Series of Kings downwards from him to Cassibelaun to the number of 70 in a direct Line Which Brute these Brettans would have to live when Eli Judged the People
gave to the Abbey of Utica in Normandy where his Brothers Ernald and Roger were Monks and his Father and Mother aliique Parentes ejus were buried the Church of Tellioles and the Tythe of his Mills Lands and Beer in his Cellar And he gave in England two Carucates of Land and twenty Villanes and the Church of Cumbivel all the Town Tythe and Church of Kirkby in Wirrall within the County of Cheshire and the Church of the Island and the Church of St. Peters in Chester City In the Charter of Confirmation of all the Lands given unto the Abbey of Utica by many Noblemen in England made by William the Conqueror An. 1081. we read among other things thus Robertus verò de Rodelento Praefato Hugone Cestrensi Comite Domino suo concedente dedit Sancto Ebrulfo Cherchebiam cùm duabus Ecclesiis unam scilicèt quae in ipsâ villâ est aliam propè illum Manerium in insulâ maris Ecclesiam Sancti Petri Apostoli quicquid ad eam pertinebat in Cestrensi urbe in Merestonâ quae est in Northamptonshire Ecclesiam Sancti Laurentii quicquid ad eam pertinet in eâdem Provinciâ Ecclesiam de Bivellâ cùm duabus terrae Carucatis c. This Charter is set down at large in Ordericus pag. 602. So that Kirkby with the two Churches I conceive is Kirkby in Wirrall within Cheshire one Church then standing in the said Town and the other near thereunto in the Island of the Sea which I conceive is meant of the Island now called Ilbree Robert of Rothelent came very young into England with his Father and Served King Edward the Confessor both in his House and in his Wars till at last the King Knighted him afterwards having been trained up in Arms here he got leave of King Edward to go see his Friends in his own Countrey of Normandy and after the Battel of Senlace he came again into England with his Cosin Hugh Son of Richard de Auranches sirnamed Goz and was a very principal Man in all Military Employments And after many Conflicts the said Hugh was made Earl of Chester and Robert of Rothelent was the chief Commander of all the Forces under Earl Hugh and made Governor of all Cheshire And William the Conquerour caused Rothelent Castle and Town to be built and gave it to this Robert that he might make it a Defence to England by curbing the Excursions of the Welsh And this stout Champion Seating on their Borders had many Skirmishes with the Welsh and slew many of them and enlarged his Territories and on the Mount Dagaunoth close by the Sea he built a strong Castle and for fifteen years sore afflicted the Britons or Welshmen But at last Griffith King of Wales on the third day of July Anno Christi 1088. Obiit 1088 Landed with three Ships under the Hill called Hormaheva and when he had pillaged the Countrey returned back to his Ships But as soon as Robert had notice he calls his Soldiers together and with a few Soldiers coming to the top of the Hill he saw them Shipping the Men and Cattel which the Welsh had taken and being incensed thereat himself runs violently down the Steep Hill attended onely with one Soldier called Osberne de Orgiers towards the Enemy but they perceiving him so slenderly Guarded returned back upon him and with their Darts or Arrows mortally wounded him yet whilst he stood and had his Buckler none durst approach so near as to Encounter him with a Sword but as soon as he fell the Enemy rushed upon him and cut off his Head which they hanged upon the Mast of the Ship in triumph Aftewards with great lamentation both of the English and Normans his Soldiers brought his Body to Chester and it was Interred in the Monastery of St. Werburge in that City which Monastery Hugh Earl of Chester had built and had made Richard a Monk of Becke in Normandy the first Abbot thereof Thus Ordericus pag. 670 671. So much of Robert of Rothelent I shall now proceed to the the Earls of Chester IV. The Title of Earl of Chester since the coming in of the Normans is more properly and peculiarly applied than before for although in the time of the Saxons Leofric Algar and Edwine who was Earl when the Conqueror invaded England had all of them successively that Appellation or Title yet they were not onely Earls of Chester but were sometimes denominated from other Places also as Leofric and Algar both many times stiled Earls of Leicester And indeed they were not so much Earls of either of those two Counties as of all Mercia whereof those were but small Branches or Members But now more particularly the Conqueror gives to Hugh sirnamed Lupus the whole County and Earldom of Chester to hold of him Tâm liberè ad gladium sicùt ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam as the very words of the Charter do run saith Cambden Which words some Expound to be the Tenure of being Sword-bearer of England at the Coronations of the Kings of England whence we read in Matthew Paris that when King Henry the Third Married Queen Elinour Anno Domini 1236. the Marriage was pompously solemnized and all the great Men of the Kingdom used those Offices and Places which had of ancient Right belonged to their Ancestors at the Coronation of the Kings The Earl of Chester then carried the Sword of St. Edward which is called Curtein before the King in token that he was an Earl Palatine and had Power by Right to restrain the King if he should do amiss his Constable of Cheshire attending on him and beating back the People with a Rod or Staff when they pressed disorderly upon him This Paris voucheth an Author who lived in that very Age pag. 421. But although this Office might have of ancient Right belonged to the Earls of Chester ever since the time of Hugh Lupus yet I believe there is something more magnificent couched in those words of the first Charter or Donation namely a Dignity inherent in the Sword as purchased by it and to be kept by it also For as in the Crown of England there is an inherent Right of Regality annexed so here is given an inherent Right of Dignity in the Sword This is to hold as freely by the Sword as the King holds by the Crown onely inferiour to his King Hence was it that whatsoever we say concerning the Pleas of the Crown or to be done against the King's Crown and Dignity the same is also said but in a more limited course concerning the Pleas of the Sword of Chester or to be done against the Sword and Dignity of the Earl of Chester as is most evident out of the Records and Endictments of those Times V. I come now to Hugh sirnamed Lupus howbeit in truth he was not the first Earl of Chester after the Norman Conquest for I have before shewed that Gherbod a Nobleman of Flanders had
came in Person to Assault it Anno 1216. after the Death of King John on the Feast-day of Simon and Jude the Apostles the twenty eighth day of October Henry the Third being then but nine Years old eldest Son of King John was Crowned at Glocester principally by the Power of Walo the Pope's Legat Peter Bishop of Winchester Randle Earl of Chester and William Marshall Earl of Pembroke and some others Paris and Polychronicon Anno Domini 1217. after Easter Randle Earl of Chester with many others met about the besieging of the Castle of Mountsorell by the procurement of William Marshall Regent of England for the young King which they fiercely assaulted But Lewis King of France and the Barons of England sent Forces from London in the very beginning of May to raise the Siege Randle Earl of Chester hearing thereof with others came to Nottingham The Barons march on and Besiege Lincoln Castle In the interim William Marshall Guardian of the young King and Kingdom Commanded all the Forces out of his several Garrisons to meet at Newark on Tuesday in Whitsun-week for the raising of the Siege at Lincoln among whom Randle Earl of Chester was the Prime Commander and in the beginning of the Week following they routed the Barons at Lincoln Mat. Paris pag. 294 295. And the Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon saith That Randle Earl of Chester slew many of the French so that Lewis the French King seeing his Party much weakned for a Sum of Money surrenders up all his Garrisons and returns to France Anno 1158. the Abbey of Pulton in Cheshire was Founded Anno 1214. that Convent was removed to Deulacresse in Staffordshire 10 Calendas Maii by this Earl Randis Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 891. Anno 1218. 2 Hen. 3. Randle Earl of Chester after he was accorded with Lhewellin Prince of Northwales took a Voyage to Jerusalem In which Year Damieta was taken by the Christians Mat Paris pag. 303. Anno 1220. 4 Hen. 3. Randle returning out of the Holy Land built Beeston Castle in Cheshire and Chartley Castle in Staffordshire and the Abbey of Delacresse near Leeke in Staffordshire of the Order of white Monks * De ordine Cisterciensi To which Abbey he gave Leeke and Rudeyard in Staffordshire Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 891 892. Bivelegh vulgo Byley near to Middlewich in Cheshire was a Grange belonging to the Monks of Delacresse Monasticon Vol. 2. pag. 919. Towards the Charge of the Castles he Levied a Tax through all his Lands and Tenants Polychronicon Also Knighton pag. 24. 30. Nor can I here pass by the Mistake of Bale de Scriptoribus Britanniae Cent. 3. num 93. where he writes thus Ranulfus de Glaunvyle Cestriae Comes vir nobilissimi Generis in utroque jure eruditus in Albo illustrium virorum à me meritò ponendus venit ità probè omnes adolescentiae suae annos Legibus tùm humanis tùm divinis consecravit ut non priùs in hominem per aetatem evaserit quà m nomen decusque ab insigni eruditione sibi comparaverit Cùm Profecti essent Francorum heroes Ptolemaidem inito cùm Johanne Brenno Hierosolymorum Rege concilio Damiatam Egypti urbem obsidendam constituebant Anno Salutis humanae 1218. misit illùc Henricus Rex ab Honorio tertio Romanorum Pontifice Rogatus cùm magnâ Armatorum manu Ranulfum ad rem Christianam juvandam Cujus virtus Polydoro teste in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit Quo confecto negotio Ranulfus in patriam reversus scripsit unum librum de Legibus Angliae Fertur praetereà alia quaedam scripsisse sed tempus Edax rerum ea nobis abstulit Anno 1230. claruit confectus Senio dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi Tyrannide in Angliâ regnaret So Bale and from him Pitseus thus Ranulfus Glanvillus ex Splendissimâ familiâ Cestriae Comitum in Angliâ natus c. in his Book De illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus These are both mistaken in the Name confounding Randle Blundevill and Randle Glaunvill together Randle Glaunvill indeed was Chief Justice of England under Henry II. and writ a Book De Legibus Angliae yet extant amongst us He died at the Siege of Accon Anno Christi 1190. Hoveden pag. 685. But this Randle Blundevill Earl of Chester is of later time a little and died Anno Christi 1232. This Earl was at the Siege of Damiata but writ no Book De Legibus Glaunvill writ the Book but was neither Earl of Chester nor of the Race of the Earls of Chester So much of Bale See Spelman's Glossary pag. 338. b. Anno 1224. Randle Earl of Chester John Constable of Cheshire and others of the Nobility were much displeased with Hubert de Burgo Chief Justice of England alledging that he did exasperate the King against them and did not well Execute the Laws insomuch that the Earl of Chester with his Complices at Leycester in stead of surrendring up the Castles which the King demanded from him as belonging to the Crown had thought to have sent threatning Messages both against the King and his Chief Justice but upon more deliberate Advice surrendred them Paris pag. 318 319 320. Anno 1229. the King having gathered a great Army together at Portsmouth thought to Transport them beyond Sea to recover those Lands which his Father had lost but not finding sufficient Shipping for half his Army he imputed the fault to the Treachery of Hubert de Burgo that he should have been Bribed thereunto by the Queen of France and drawing his Sword to have killed Hubert Randle Earl of Chester interposed and saved him that he got out of the King's sight till his fury was past Paris pag. 363. And in the same Year Randle Earl of Chester refuseth to pay Tythes to the Pope Paris ibidem Anno 1230. Randle Earl of Chester marched through Anjou and took certain Castles and so returned into Little Britain where the King had made him Commander in Chief of his Forces together with William Marshall and William Albemarle Paris pag. 367. Anno 1232. in the Parliament assembled at London the King demanded Money for the Discharge of his Debts occasioned by the Wars The Earl of Chester answering for the Nobility of the Kingdom told him That the Earls Barons and Knights which hold of him in Capite were personally with him in the Service and had exhausted their own Money in that Service and therefore ought not to pay any thing and so nothing was Granted Paris pag. 372. In this Year Randle Earl of Chester did a second time save the Life of Hubert de Burgo when the King being exasperated with Hubert sent to the Mayor of London to send away all the Armed he could raise immediately to put him to Death who in one Nights space were encreased to 20000. willing of the occasion But the King by the perswasion of Randle Earl of Chester telling how dangerous it might be to raise
Justitiariorum Domini Regis Has Conventiones _____ tam praedictus Comès Cestria quam Willielmus de Filgeriis Et ex parte Comitis Juraverunt isti Hugo _____ Praer Petrus de Sancto Hilario Petrus Roaud Ex parte Willielmi de Filgeriis juraverunt _____ Henricus de Viterio Gaufridus de Sancto Bricio Willielmus de Sancto Bricio Et hoc ipsum juraverunt _____ Fontenai ut autem hae Conventiones firmae inconcussae permaneant _____ Sigillorum Comitis Cestriae Constabularii Normanniae Willielmi de Filgeriis Alani filii Comitis Guidonis de Avall confirmatae Actum est autem hoc Nonis Octobris Anno Incarnationis Domini 1200. Three large Seals of green Wax appendant Anno 1230. Ranulfus Comes Cestrensis munivit Castellum apud Sanctum Johannem de Beveronâ quod ad jus uxoris suae Comitissae jure haereditario pertinebat militibus alimentis Armis Reddiderat illi Castrum illud Comes Britanniae Henricus quando confaederatus Regi Angliae omnia jura sua in Regno Angliae Rege Concedente recepit Mat. Paris p. 367. Some have added here a third Wife to Randle namely Margaret Daughter of Humfrey Bohun Constable of England So Ferne and Powel and Brooks in his Catalogue of Nobility who for this his Error is justly Corrected by Vincent These Persons are full of absolute Falsities It is plain that Clemence Countess of Chester survived her Husband Randle Blundevill for she Sued out her Dower In the Close Rolls Claus 16 Hen. 3. memb 1. A Writ is directed to the Sheriff of Lincoln Quod de Maneriis de Beminton de Luneberge quae sunt maritagium Clementiae Comitissae Cestriae quae fuit uxor Ranulfi Comitis Cestriae plenam Seisinam eidem Clementiae habere faciat faciat etiam eidem Clementiae plenam Seisinam habere de omnibus terris quas Bertreia quondam Comitissa Cestriae habuit nomine dotis in Maneriis de Wadinton Normanby c. quas quidem Rex assignavit eidem Clementiae loco dotis ad sustinendum eo tamen Salvo dictae Comitissae quod plus possit petere in dotem si non fuerit sufficienter dotata How could Randle now have any Wife after Clemence unless he could Marry when he is dead away with these Lyes But Randle had no Issue by either of his Wives leaving his whole Inheritance to be shared by his four Sisters and Coheirs as is before mentioned in Hugh Cyveliok V. The Death of Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill Obiit 1232 16 Hen. 3. Anno 1232. Ranulfus Comes Cestriae Lincolniae apud Wallingford diem clausit extremum quinto Calendas Novembris that is the 28. day of our October cujus Corpus delatum est apud Cestriam tumulandum viscera apud Wallingford tumulabantur Mat. Paris pag. 380. The Book of Teuksbury thus Anno 1232. obiit Ranulphus Comes Cestriae 7 Calendas Novembris apud Wallingford ubi posita sunt viscera sua Cor apud Delacres Corpus apud Cestriam Agreeing herewith take this Deed which I found transcribed in a Paper Book belonging to Sir Thomas Delves of Dodington in Cheshire Baronet Anno 1668. vouching the Original to have been in possession of Mr. Thomas Rudyard of Rudyard and to be Sealed with three Garbs or Wheatsheafs as followeth made a little before Randle's Death about the 16 Hen. 3. 1232. UNiversis Ranulfus Comes Cestriae Lincolniae Salutem Sciatis me dedisse Deo Sanctae Mariae de Delacres Monachis ibidem Deo Servientibus Cor meum post obitum meum ibi Sepeliendum ubicunque Corpus meum Sepeliri contigerit Quare volo firmiter praecipio quod ubicunque vitam meam finiri contigerit aut ubicunque Corpus meum tumulatam fuerit quod haeredes mei homines mei Cor meum ad Abbatiam meam de Delacres quam ego ipse fundavi absque omni impedimento contradictione asportent Condendum ibidem c. Testibus W. Abbate Cestriae Willielmo de Vernon tunc Justiciario Cestriae c. The Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon thus Anno 1232. Ranulphus Comes Cestriae Lincolniae Huntindoniae obiit apud Wallingford sepultus est apud Cestriam in Capitulo Monachorum cùm Progenitoribus suis Certainly the Monk is mistaken here in the Title of Huntindoniae for Randle was never Earl of Huntindon John the Scot who next succeeded Earl of Chester was also Earl of Huntindon I find that Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln had the Earldom of Leycester given him by Henry the Third as Cambden in Leycestershire informs us For Simon Montfort Earl of Leycester in Right of his Wife took part with the French King and for his Rebellion was expelled England He was slain at the Siege of Tholouse in France Anno 1219. Mat. Paris After whose Death Henry the Third gave Simon Montfort's Lands in England to Randle Earl of Chester Howbeit I find not that Randle ever assumed or used the Title of Earl of Leycester at any time But Almaric de Montfort Son and Heir of the said Simon Petitions Henry the Third thus Couchir Book in the Dutchy-Office at Grays-Inn Tom. 2. Comitatus Leycestriae num 4. EXcellentissimo Domino suo Henrico Dei Gratiâ Illustri Anglorum Regi Almaricus Comes Montisfortis Leycestriae Salutem in eo qui dat salutem Regibus cùm omni subjectione tà m debitum quà m devotum ad obsequia famulatum Vestrae Regiae Majestati multotiès supplicavi humilitèr devotè ut mihi terram meam jus meum quod habeo habere debeo in Anglia quod bonae memoriae Pater meus de vestro tenuit tenebat dùm decessit pacificè quietè mihi vestro Militi redderetis Quòd quià Dominationi vestrae non placuit hucusquè facere adhuc vestrae Majestati supplico humilitate quâ possum quatenùs hâc vice mihi vobis servire parato sicut decuit reddere dignemini terram Et si hoc vobis non placuerit ego ad pedes Dominationis vestrae transmitto Simonem Fratrem meum qui de Domino Regae Franciae nihil tenet cui si eam reddideritis me pro bene pacato tenerem Datum Parisiis Mense Februario Whereupon King Henry 6 Februarii 14 Hen. 3. Anno 1229. engageth himself to restore all the Lands in England which were parcel of the Honour of Leycester cùm tertio Denario Comitatus Leycestriae to this Simon younger Brother of Almarick aforesaid so soon as he could get them out of the Hands of Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln for to him he had formerly granted them And afterwards Almarick surrendred up his Right to his Brother Simon 23 Hen. 3. in these words following Couchir Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 2. Com. Leycestriae num 5. SCiant praesentes futuri quòd ego Almaricus Comes Montisfortis Franciae Constabularius ìn praesentiâ Henrici Illustris Regis Angliae Filii Regis
sub Anno 1236. Comite Cestriae Gladium Sancti Edwardi qui Curtein dicitur antè Regem baiulante in signum quòd Comes est Palatii Regem si oberret habeat de jure potestatem cohibendi suo sibi scilicet Cestrensi Constabulario ministrante Virgâ Populum cùm se inordinatè ingereret subtrahente This is the first time saith Selden in his Titles of Honour pag. 641. speaking of the Title of Earl-Palatine in England that in express words he found the Earl of Chester called Earl-Palatine nor hath he observed the word Palatine to be applied so with us before Henry the Second's time or thereabout For although the County of Chester be frequently called a County Palatine as well in our Laws as in common Language as Comitatus Palatinus or Palantinus or Counter-Paleys corruptly for County-Paleis as sometimes it is in our Law-Books And although indeed it be truly a County-Palatine and hath so continued ever since the first Gift to Hugh Lupus unless we except the short time whiles it was a Principality Statute 21 Rich. 2. cap. 9. which was repealed 1 Hen. 4. cap. 3. Yet neither in their Summons to Parliament nor in any other Writ directed to them were they stiled Earl-Palatines Neither do I see testimony to perswade me that when the first Grant was made to Hugh Lupus it was granted to him by the Name of Earl-Palatine But this Earldom being given him with such Liberties and kind of Regal Jurisdiction as Count Palatines of Territories in Foreign Parts had it hath therefore since been called a County Palatine and the Earls thereof Palatines Now to be Earl Palatine was to have the Possession of a County or Earldom ad Regalem potestatem in omnibus under the King as Bracton well expresseth the same And to this day the County Palatine of Chester hath had a Chamberlain who supplieth the Place of Chancellor and also Justices before whom the Causes which of their nature should otherwise belong respectively to the Kings Bench and Common Pleas are triable a Baron of the Exchequer a Sheriff and other Officers proportionable to those of the Crown at Westminster See more of this County Palatine in my Lord Cook 's Jurisdiction of Courts IV. The Wife of John Scot. HE Married Helen Daughter of Lhewellin Prince of North-Wales about Anno Domini 1222. 6 Hen. 3. This Marriage was concluded on as a final Peace between Lhewellin and Randle sirnamed Blundevill Earl of Chester Knighton pag. 2430. Take here the Agreement about this Marriage the original Deed whereof remained in possession of Somerford Oldfield Esquire at Somerford in Cheshire Anno Domini 1653. Haec est Conventio facta inter Dominum Ranulfum Comitem Cestriae Lincolniae Dominum Lhewellinum Principem Northwalliae Quòd Johannes do Scotiâ Nepos praedicti Comitis de Sorore suâ primogenitâ ducet in Uxorem Helenam Filiam ipsius Lhewelini ità quòd dictus Lhewelinus dabit dicto Johanni in libero Maritagio totum Manerium de Budeford in Warewicâ Manerium de Suttehele in Comitatu Wigorniae cùm omnibus pertinentiis sicùt Dominus Johannes Rex ea illi dedit in libero Maritagio Et totum Manerium de Welneton in Comitatu Salopesburiae cum omnibus pertinentiis infrà villam extrà Habendum dicto Johanni haeredibus suis ex dictâ Helenâ provenientibus sicùt idem Lhewelinus ea aliquo tempore meliùs integriùs tenuit Et praetereà dabit eidem Johanni mille marcas Argenti c. Testibus Domino Reverendo Episcopo de Sancto Asaph Domino H. Abbate Cestriae Domino Hugone de Lasci Comite Ultoniae Philippo de Orreby tùnc Justiciario Cestriae H. de Aldideley Gualtero de Daivill Ricardo Fitton Edrevet Liagham Edmundo Filio Righerit Goronon Filio Edrevet Helin Idhit Magistro Estruit Magistro Adâ Davide Clerico Lhewelini Magistro H. Clericis Domini Comitis Cestriae multis aliis V. The Death of John Scot. THis John Scot Earl of Chester and Huntingdon died without Issue at the Abbey of Dernhale in Cheshire the seventh day of June Anno Domini 1237. 21 Hen. 3. not without suspicion of being poysoned by the contrivance of Helene his Wife and was buried at Chester having been Earl of Chester almost five years for Matthew Paris saith Anno 1237. 21 Hen. 3. Johannes Comes Cestriae Uxore suâ Filiâ Leolini machinante Potionatus diem clausit extremum circà Pentecosten With whom agrees Polychronicon Walsingham and Knighton pag. 2431. Helene the Widow of this John sirnamed The Scot did afterwards Marry Robert de Quincy third Son of Saher de Quincy Earl of Winchester See Vincent upon Brook pag. 260. Which Robert de Quincy died Anno Domini 1257. 41 Hen. 3. at the Justs or Torneament at Blie Matth. Paris put out by Wats 1640. pag. 942. And I find that Saher de Quincy Earl of Winchester had two Sons called Robert Robert de Quincy eldest Son Married Hawise fourth Sister and Coheir to Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln sirnamed Blundevill by whom he had a Daughter called Margaret Married to John Lacy Constable of Cheshire and Baron of Halton and after Earl of Lincoln in his Wifes Right as is before more fully proved in the Issue of Hugh Cyveliok Earl of Chester This Robert died in the Life-time of Saher his Father which Saher died 1220. as Matthew Paris recordeth Roger de Quincy second Son of Saher succeeded his Father in the Earldom of Winchester and this Robert third Son of Saher who Married the Widow of John Scot. VI. But this John the Scot having no Issue King Henry the Third took the Earldom of Chester into his own hands and laid it to the Demaine of his Crown and gave unto the Sisters of John the Scot other Lands unwilling that so great an Inheritance as the Earldom of Chester was should be divided as the King himself said among Distaffs Cambden's Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 464. Now the Sisters were these Margaret the eldest was the second Wife of Alan de Galloway Constable of Scotland of whom he begot Derbergoille Married to John Baliol of Bernards-Castle in the Bishoprick of Durham Founder of Baliol Colledge in Oxford and died 1269. and was Father to John Baliol sometime King of Scotland in the Reign of Edward the First King of England Isabel second Sister to John the Scot Married Robert de Bruis Maud the third Sister died without Issue and Alda or Ada the fourth Sister Married Henry Hastings Knighton pag. 2431. But the first Wife of Alan de Galloway aforesaid was the Daughter of Hugh Lacy of Ireland by whom he had Issue three Daughters Helen Married Roger de Quincy Earl of Winchester in whose Right he was afterward Constable of Scotland but had no Issue Male onely three Daughters Christian second Daughter of Alan de Galloway by his first Wife Married William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle and Mary third Daughter died without Issue
Court by having a Steward present I do also grant That the Wife upon the Death of her Husband shall remain peaceably in her House forty Days And the Heir if he be at Age shall have his Heritage for reasonable Relief to wit Five Pounds for a Knights Fee Nor shall the VVidow nor the Heir be Married where they may be disparaged but shall be Married by the free assent of their Kindred None of them shall lose his Villane by reason of his coming into the City of Chester unless the same hath remained there a Year and a Day without claim And in regard of the great Service which my Barons do me in Cheshire none of them shall do me Service beyond the Lime * * That is out of the Limits of the County as I conceive Lima being an old word for Limes but at their own free will and at my Cost And if my Knights from England shall be Summoned which ought to VVard at Chester and are come to keep their VVard and that there be no Army of my Enemies at present from some other Place and that there be no need then my Barons may in the mean time return unto their own Houses and take their ease And if an Army of my Enemies be ready to come into my Land in Cheshire or if the Castle be Besieged the aforesaid Barons upon my Summons shall immediately come with all their Army to remove the Enemy according to their Power And when that Army of the Enemy shall retreat out of my Land the said Barons may return to their own Homes and Rest while my Knights from England keep the Guard and that there shall be no need of my Barons saving unto me the Services which the Barons ought to do I do also grant unto them that in time of Peace they may have onely twelve Sergeants itinerant in my Land with one Horse of the Master Sergeant which shall have no Provend from Easter to Michaelmas but by curtesie And that the Sergeants eat such Meat as they shall find in Mens Houses without buying any other Provision for their use Nor shall they eat in any Mannor-Houses of the Barons And in the time of War shall be appointed Sergeants sufficient for the keeping of my Land by my Advice and by the Advice of my Judge and Barons as need shall require And you are to know that my Barons aforesaid have for them and their Heirs released to me and my Heirs the Petitions under written which they desired from me so that they can challenge nothing hereafter of them but by my free Favour and Mercy To wit my Steward hath released his Petition of Wrec and of Fish cast upon his Land by the Sea and liberty of shooting Deer in my Forrest for three Shoots * * The Deed runs thus Et de Bershare in Foresta mea ad tres Arcus Birsare i. e. Telo configere a Germ. Birsen So Spelman To shoot an Arrow or Dart and for the running of his Dogs Others their Petition for Lay of their Swine in my Forrest and shooting at Deer for three Shoots and for running their Greyhounds in the Forrest going to Chester upon Summons or in returning and also the Petition of the Amercement of the Judgers of the Wich of thirty Walms of Salt But the Amercements and Laws of the Wich shall be such as they were before I do therefore grant and by this present Deed confirm from me and my Heirs to all my common Knights and Gentlemen of Cheshire and their Heirs all the aforesaid Liberties to have and to hold of my Barons and of other their Lords whosoever they be as the same Barons and Knights and other Gentlemen hold the same of me These being Witnesses Hugh Abbot of St. Werburge of Chester Philip Orreby then Judge of Chester c. Prince Edward Son of King Henry the Third confirmed the aforesaid Liberties in these words EDWARDUS Illustris Regis Angliae Primogenitus Omnibus Salutem Sciatis quod concessum est pro nobis haeredibus nostris Baronibus Militibus liberè Tenentibus aliis ac toti Communitati Cestershiriae quòd ipsi in perpetuùm habeant gaudeant omnibus Libertatibus Consuetudinibus eisdem Progenitoribus suis dudùm concessis à Domino Ranulpho quondà m Comite Cestriae per Chartam suam prout in eâdem Chartâ pleniùs continetur Concessimus autèm eisdem quòd si aliquis tenens Terram in Comitatu Cestriae de quâcunque Feloniâ convictus fuerit ubicunquè locorum fuerit Dominus Feodi Feodum suum habeat recipiat post Annum Diem sinè contradictione alicujus Volumus etià m quòd Servitia quae praedicti haeredes Cestershiriae nobis ad opus rogatum nostrum extrà Comitatum praedictum fecerunt in posterùm non trahentur in Consuetudinem Et ut omnia haec rata firma in perpetuum remaneant praesentibus Literis Sigillum nostrum duximus apponi Datum Cestriae 27 die Augusti Anno Regni Domini Regis Patris nostri 49. 49 Hen. 3. Which afterwards he confirmed also when he was King Dated March 30. 28 Ed. 1. as appears by the Exemplifications of all these Charters in Rotulo Recognitionum 3 Edw. 4. CHAP. II. Of the Bishops of Chester I Find no mention of a Bishop at Chester before the Norman Conquest onely we read that Dwina a Scotchman was made Bishop of Mercia by King Oswy whereof Cheshire was a small Parcel and that he had his Seat at Lichfield Anno Christi 656. from which time there remained a Succession of Bishops in that See until by doom of Canon Law all Bishops were to remove to the greatest Cities in their Diocese Polychronicon lib. 1. cap. 52. And thereupon Peter Bishop of Lichfield Anno Domini 1075. removed his Seat from Lichfield to Chester and was then commonly stiled Bishop of Chester But Robert de Limsey next Successor to Peter leaving Chester fixed his Seat at Coventrey Anno 1095. which was brought back to Lichfield by Roger Clinton in the Reign of Henry the First but so as his Title was Bishop of Lichfield and Coventrey From which time downwards the Bishops here were sometimes stiled of Chester sometimes of Lichfield and sometimes of Coventrey from the Place where they fixed their Residence having then three Sees one at Lichfield another at Coventrey and a third at Chester yet all one and the same Bishoprick At last King Henry the Eighth made Chester an entire Episcopal Dignity Anno Regni sui 33. turning the Monastery of St. VVerburge in Chester into the Bishop's Palace unto which Jurisdiction was allotted Cheshire Lancashire Richmondshire and part of Cumberland and was appointed to be within the Province of York See Stat. 33 Hen. 8. cap. 31. A Catalogue of the Bishops of Chester since 33 Hen. 8. 1541. which Bishoprick was erected upon the dissolution of the Abbeys I. JOhn Bird Doctor of Divinity of the University of Oxford having been formerly
10. Fingondulf 11. Frederwolf 12. Freolf 13. Fredwald 14. Woden 15. Bealdag 16. Brand. 17. Freodgar These three are omitted by Asser as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy 1603. also by Simon Dunelmensis pag. 119. 18. Frewin These three are omitted by Asser as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy 1603. also by Simon Dunelmensis pag. 119. 19. Wigg These three are omitted by Asser as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy 1603. also by Simon Dunelmensis pag. 119. 20. Gewis Iste fuit Caput Gentis suae à quo tota Gens illa nomen accepit à Britonibus Gewissorum Gens fuit Hantshire sive Regio Wintoniae Ordericus lib. 4. pag. 512. See also Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 4. cap. 15. Gewis is omitted in Mat. Paris Copy 21. Edda omitted by Asser and called Egla by Mat. Paris 22. Elesa 23. Ceordwic He lived Anno 520. 24. Creoda 25. Chenric or Kenrick 26. Cheulin 27. Cuthwin 28. Cutha Son of Cuthwin 29. Ceoldwald 30. Ceonred 31. Ingels cujus Frater fuit Ina Rex famosissimus Occidentalium Saxonum 32. Eoppa 33. Offa ceù Eafa 34. Alcmund 35. Egbert or Egbricht the first Saxon Monarch of all England Obiit Anno Christi 836. 36. Ethelwolf Obiit Anno 856. 37. Alfred He Reigned not till 872. because his Brothers Reigned before him Obiit 899. 38. Edward the Elder Obiit Anno Christi 924. 39. Edmund Obiit Anno Christi 946. 40. Edgar the Peaceable Obiit Anno Christi 975. 41. Ethelred He plotted to kill all the Danes in their Beds on the 12th of November at night An. 1012. Obiit Anno. Christi 1016. 42. Edmund Ironside He died Anno Christi 1017. 43. Edward the Outlaw He was never King though Right Heir Cnut the Dane dispossessed him 44. Margaret Wife of Malcolme the third King of Scotland Christian a Nun at Ramsey in Huntington-shire 1086. Si. Dunelmensis Edgar Atheling Right Heir to the Crown created Earl of Oxford 1065 Stowe and Cambden 45. Maud Wife of Henry the First King of England 46. Maud the Empress Daughter and Heir She was after married to Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou in France 1127. 47. Henry the Second King of England Son of Geffrey and Maud. c. ⚜ This Descent carrieth great uncertainty both for the defect of time wherein each lived and also for want of Authority vouched but chiefly for that Bedwig the first here named is made the Son of Sem Howbeit the later part of it is very true but the making of Bedwig Son of Sem is either foisted into the Copy by some ignorant Person or else is to be understood as descended from Sem originally not immediately as Christ is called the Son of David the Son of Abraham Matthew cap. 1. ver 1. For Sem the Son of Noah died Anno Mundi 2158. Anno post Diluvium 502. which was 1790 Years before Christ was born And no Learned Man versed in Antiquities can imagine the Descents here reckoned up to Bedwig from King Alfred to exceed 1000 Years So that reckoning from Alfred's death which was in Anno 899. it cannot be supposed that these Descents can reach much above the time of Christ's Birth if they reach so high admitting them to be exactly true so far as they reach which would yet fall short 1700 Years from the death of Sem. Besides we find no such Son of Sem as Bedwig mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures And if we well observe the third Chapter of S. Luke we shall find 66 Descents reckoned up between Sem and Christ containing the Revolution of 2000 Years and more if we account the Age wherein Sem lived And S. Matthew reckons up onely 52 Descents to that time by another Line besides three Kings omitted by him between Joram and Ozias for some Reasons best known to the Holy Spirit of God which will better appear by comparing S. Matth. 1. ver 8. with 1 Chron. cap. 3. ver 11 12. So as the whole Descents therein make up onely 55. And although some Mens Lives are longer and some shorter yet the Generations carry some proportion one with another as we may easily observe in others where the Descents are exactly put down But now between Sem and Alfred are onely 37 Descents here reckoned up which cannot comprehend above 1000 Years and between Sem and Alfred are effluxed 2690 Years accounting from both their deaths So that unless some Descents be here skipped over in many places it is impossible that any of these should reach the Age of Sem and then these cannot be exact and true Descents through Besides those more ancient Descents between Bedwig and Gewis not having been proved by some good Authority may yield them uncertain to relie upon So much for the Descent of the Saxons before-mentioned CHAP. V. Containing a Brief Catalogue of all the Saxon Kings in England from the first beginning of the Heptarchy and when they Reigned The Kings of Kent A.C. 455. 1. Hengist with Horsa his Brother 32 Years A.C. 488. 2. Esk Son of Hengist 24 Years A.C. 512. 3. Otta 20 Years A.C. 532. 4. Imirik 29 Years A.C. 561. 5. Ethelbert the first Christian King of Kent 56 Years A.C. 617. 6. Eadbald 24 Years A.C. 640. 7. Ercombert He first caused Lent to be kept in England Anno 640. Bede 24 Years A.C. 665. 8. Egbert 9 Years A.C. 674. 9. Lotharius 12 Years A.C. 686. 10. Edrik 7 Years A.C. 693. 11. Withtred 33 Years A.C. 726. 12. Egbert or Edbert 23 Years A.C. 749. 13. Ethelbert II. 11 Years A.C. 760. 14. Alric slain by Offa 34 Years A.C. 794. 15. Ethelbert III. 3 Years A.C. 797. 16. Cuthred 8 Years A.C. 805. 17. Baldred the last King of Kent He lost his Kingdom to Egbert King of the West-Saxons Anno Domini 824. 19 Years The Kings of the East-Angles A.C. 575. 1. Uffa the first King A.C. 582. 2. Titullus A.C. 593. 3. Redwald a Potent King A.C. 624. 4. Erpenwald A.C. 636. 5. St. Sigebert A.C. 638. 6. Egric A.C. 642. 7. Anna. A.C. 654. 8. Ethelbert I. A.C. 656. 9. Ethelwold A.C. 664. 10. Aldulf A.C. 683. 11. Elfwold A.C. 690. 12. Beorn A.C. 714. 13. St. Ethelred A.C. 749. 14. Ethelbert II. who being slain by Offa King of Mercia 793. this Kingdom was united to Mercia The Kings of the East-Saxons A.C. 527. 1. Erchwin the first King A.C. 587. 2. Sledda A.C. 596. 3. St. Sebert A.C. 617. 4. Sexred Seward and Sigibert Fratres A.C. 623. 5. Sigebert the Little A.C. 636. 6. Sigebert III. A.C. 638. 7. Egricus A.C. 642. 8. Anna. A.C. 654. 9. Ethelbert A.C. 656. 10. Ethelwald A.C. 661. 11. Swithelme A.C. 664. 12. Sighbert and Sebba A.C. 694. 13. Sigehard and Senfrid A.C. 701. 14. Offa. A.C. 709. 15. Selred A.C. 747. 16. Suthred The Kings of the South-Saxons A.C. 488. 1. Ella the first King 27 Yea. A.C. 515. 2. Cissa Son of Ella who lost his Kingdom to Cerdic King of the West-Saxons Yea. A.C. 687. 3. Edelwach or Ethehwolfe is the next
Names were Duswall Griffith Huvall Jacob and Judethil or Inchil Malmesbury pag. 56. Huntington pag. 356. and Hoveden pag. 426. He Reigned 16 Years 13. Edward II. sirnamed The Martyr Son of Edgar was treacherously murthered by his Step-mother to make way for her Son Ethelred to succeed He Reigned 3 Years 14. Ethelred II. younger Son of Edgar was oppressed and broken by the Danes and to buy his own Peace was forc'd to pay them a yearly Sum of 10000 l. which at last was enhanced to 48000 l. This Tax was imposed on his Subjects and called Dane-geld but weary of this great Taxation he Plotted warily with his Subjects to kill all the Danes in their Beds which was put in Execution on the Eve of Saint Britius being the twelfth of November 1012 in the night-time But soon after Swane King of Denmark Landed Forces in England and forced Ethelred to flie out of England into Normandy He Reigned 38 years Ethelredus iste baptismum stercore foedavit 15. Edmund II. sirnamed Ironside Son of Ethelred having in vain attempted to recover the Kingdom at last divided it with Cnut or Canutus the Dane Son of Swane and not long after was this Edmund basely murthered 1017. This was the common Fame saith Malmesbury but Florentius and Hoveden tell us that he died at London about the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle He Reigned nine Months By the Counsel of Edrick de Streon Cnut banished Edwin Brother to Edmund Ironside and also Edward and Edmund Sons of King Edmund Ironside Edward sirnamed The Outlaw Son of Edmund Ironside had issue Edgar Atheling the right Heir of the Crown and Margaret Married to the third Malcolme King of Scotland and Christian a Nun of Ramsey in Huntingtonshire 1086. Simeon Dunelmensis Kings of England of the Danish Blood 1. Canutus or Cnut King of Denmark and Norway after the death of Edmund Ironside was sole King of England He Married Emme the Widow of King Ethelred and Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy He Reigned 20 years 2. Harold Bastard Son of Cnut sirnamed Harfuger He Reigned four years 3. Canutus II. commonly called Hardy-Cnut the lawful Son of Cnut He Reigned two years The Saxon Blood restored 16. Edward III. sirnamed The Confessor Son of Ethelred II. by Emme Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy and half Brother to Edmund Ironside and to Hardy-Cnut the Dane was now advanced to the Throne of England and the Danes utterly expelled the Countrey having tytannized here above 200 years whereof they Reigned onely 26 years He Reigned 24 years He was the first of the Kings of England who cured the Disease call'd The Kings Evil a Prerogative continuing hereditary to the Kings of England and after his Death he was Canonized for a Saint Dr. Heylins Cosmography pag. 318. Anno Chr. 1066 17. Harold Son of Godwin Earl of Kent was chosen King of England in the Nonage of Edgar Atheling Grandchild to Edmund Ironside and true Heir of the Kingdom he was Crowned the sixth of January 1065. He Reigned nine Months and eight days But before I pass farther I would remember you of one thing mentioned by Dr. Heylin how in memory of the joyful clearing of the Countrey from the cruel Danes in the time of Edward the Confessor the English did institute the Merriment of the annual Sports of Hock-Tide and from their barbarous stabbing of the English at the time of their Drinking to avoid such villany the Party who was to Drink requested some of the next to him to be his Pledge or Surety whilst he was Drinking and hence came our Custom of Pledging one another a Phrase used in time of Drinking even to this day Harold was slain in Battel the fourteenth of October 1066 by William Duke of Normandy upon which Victory William was Crowned King of England and so ceased the Rule of the Saxons Thus have I briefly run over the Saxon Kings of England out of the most authentick Historians so that putting all together if we reckon the coming in of the Saxons with Cambden to be in Anno Domini 428 to the time of the Norman Conquest and including the small time of the Rule of the Danish Kings in the Account the whole time of the Saxons Rule in England was 638 years CHAP. VI. Of the time of the Danes in England 1. ANno Domini 800. the Danes first arriv'd in England to wit in the Isle of Portland which belongeth to Dorsetshire Brithric being then King of the West-Saxons Stowe's Annals but were after driven out of the Land These Danes did much infest England for a long space burning Towns and Temples and making woful destruction Osbert and Ella Kings of Northumberland were slain at York by the Danes Anno 867. Matth. of Westminster And in Anno 870. the Danes under the Command of Hinguar and Hubba slew Edmund King of the East-Angles and so possessed themselves of that Kingdom Florentius Wigorniensis and Stowe And in Anno 874. the Danes forced Beorhred King of Mercia to flie out of England and after his Expulsion they possessed all the Kingdom of the Mercians Florentius Infinite other Battels of them we meet with so that now they had the Kingdoms of the Mercians and of the East-Angles and a great part of Northumberland And in the time of Ethelred King of England Anno Domini 991. the Tribute call'd Danegeld was first Collected to appease the fury of the Danes and their Depopulations which continued a long time after See Spelman's Glossary on the word Danegeldum Anno Domini 1012. on the twelfth of November at Night Anno Regni Ethelredi 35. the English to free themselves from the great Oppression of the Tax called Danegeld did by a general Conspiracy strangle all the Danes in their Beds Heylin's Cosmography pag. 317. To revenge which Fact Swane King of Denmark came into England with a Fleet of 350 Ships Anno 1013. and ceased not to spoil many parts of the Kingdom and at last so far prevailed and subdued England that Cnut his Son was made King thereof after the death of Edmund Ironside to wit Anno 1017. and Cnut and his Sons enjoyed the Crown 26 years to the Year 1043. and then was the Saxon Blood restored to the Crown in Edward the Confessor but alass soon after Edward's Death were both the Danes and Saxons conquered by William Duke of Normandy to wit Anno 1066. So that we see the Justice of God how he set the Danes as a Scourge to the Saxons who had so perfidiously and cruelly used the poor Brettans and at last were driven out of their Lands by the Normans as they before had driven out the Brettans 2. The whole time that the Danes so miserably afflicted the Saxons in England was 266 years if we reckon to the Norman Conquest from the first coming of them into England Anno Domini 800. but if we reckon to the time of Edward the Confessor sub Anno 1043. then it containeth onely 242 years But Matth.
reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days The Scotch Line Kings and Monarchs of all Great-Brettaine and Ireland 24. James VI. King of Scotland Son of Mary Queen of Scots Anno Chr. 1602. Daughter and Heir of James V. Son of James IV. and of the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter of Henry the Seventh King of England was Proclaimed King of England in London March 24. 1602. as the next undoubted Heir to the Crown of England A Learned and Religious Prince of whom the Lord Bacon saith in his Advancement of Learning pa. 2. It is no Amplification but a positive and measured Truth That there was not so Learned a Temporal Monarch since Christ 's time in all Literature Divine and Humane as this King James Of whom see more in Scotland He died at Theobalds the 27 of March 1625. aged 60 Years He was the first Monarch of all Great-Brettaine He Reigned 22 Years and 3 Days 25. Charles I. Son of James VI. of Scotland was overpowred by the Puritanical Faction in England confederate with the Covenanters of Scotland who began their Rebellion in England Anno 1642. which continued by the Assistance of the Rebellious Parliament of England until the Year 1660. miserably ruinating both our Church and State And these Rebels murthered this Good King the 30 day of January 1648. in the 49 Year of his Age and banished his Children He Reigned 23 Years 10 Months and 3 Days 26. Charles II. Son of Charles I. was kept out of his Kingdoms till after the death of Oliver Cromwel the Traytor stiled the Protector but was after Restored and Returned to his Kingdoms the 29 day of May Anno Domini 1660. chiefly next under God who disposeth and ordereth the Hearts of all Men by the Assistance of Colonel George Monk who then had the Command of all the Forces in Scotland and England Principally and was afterwards made Duke of Albemarle by this King as well he deserved Of the Dukes of Normandy before William the Conqueror II. THe Dukes of Normandy from whence our Norman Kings of England aforesaid are descended are the Progeny of Rollo the Dane who invaded the Province of Neustria in France with a great Army which because they consisted of Men brought out of the North part of the World they were called Normans and that Province of France was called Normannia in Latin For in the Saxon Language of our Ancestors Normans denotes as much as Populi Septentrionales in the Latine And were a People as Cambden saith commixt of Norwegians Swedes and Danes 1. This Rollo took Baieux in Normandy by Storm and slew Berengarius Earl thereof and after married Popa Daughter of the said Berengarius on whom he begot William afterwards Duke of Normandy sirnamed Longespée because of the long Sword he used to wear And Rollo much perplexed the French by his daily Rapines over-running almost all France to Burgundy At last for the Mediation of a Peace Charles the Simple King of France gave unto him all the Land of Normandy from the River Epta to the Sea to be held by Homage from the Kings of France with Gista his Daughter in Marriage Popa his former Wife being now either dead or divorced Whereupon Rollo was Baptised by Franco Archbishop of Roan Anno Chr. 917. Anno Domini 912. And he was the first Duke of Normandy and died Anno Christi nati 917. Ordericus Vitalis lib. 3. ad initium Will. Gemeticensis lib. 2. cap. 12 17. 2. William sirnamed Longespée Duke of Normandy was Son of Rollo Slain Anno Christi 942. 3. Richard I. Duke of Normandy Son of William was but 10 Years old when his Father was slain He was Duke 54 Years 4. Anno 996. Richard II. Son of Richard I. by Gunnor first his Concubine and after his Wife Gemeticensis lib. 8. cap. 36. succeeded Duke of Normandy and was Duke 30 Years He had two Sons who succeeded Dukes one after another Richard and Robert besides other Children 5. Anno 1026. Richard III. Son of Richard II. succeeded Duke of Normandy and was Duke scarce a Year and a half 6. Anno 1028. Robert Brother to Richard III. succeeded Duke and after he had been Duke seven Years and a half he died at the City of Nice in Bithynia Anno 1035. 7. William Bastard Son of Robert by Arlet or Herlue as some write her a Skinners Daughter of Faloys in Normandy Chronicon Joh. Bromton pag. 910. a Child of eight Years of Age succeeded Duke of Normandy and was Duke 53 Years Ordericus lib. 3. in initio In the 32 Year of his Dukedom to wit Anno 1066. he Conquered England and is commonly called William the Conqueror Robert Curthose eldest Son of the Conqueror was after his Father also Duke of Normandy See the rest above pag. 32. among the Norman Kings of England ⚜ Normandy was lost to the French in the Reign of King John Anno 1204. Mat. Paris pag. 212. Normandy won again from the French by Henry V. Anno 1416. Normandy lost again by Henry VI. Anno 1449. And so much of England OF VVALES CHAP. I. Of the Name of Wales and Description of the Countrey I. THe Name of Wales was imposed from our Saxon Ancestors For the Ancient Brettans being beaten out of England by the Saxons fled into the West Parts of Brettaine being naturally fortified with great Mountains and Overflowings of the Sea to wit into that Part now called Wales and into Cornwal But the Brettans of Cornwal though they stoutly endeavoured to defend their Country yet were they soon forced to leave it to the Saxons Cambden and Verstegan tell us That the Saxons termed all Aliens and Strangers Walsh And hence they called these Inhabitants because Strangers unto them by the name of Walsh-men and their Countrey Wales But more probable it is that forasmuch as they be descended from the ancient Gaules their Neighbors in Latin termed Galli by the French Galles which the Saxons pronounce Walles and from whence Walles-man and now corruptly Welsh-man it seems to me to be thence called Wales as one should say The Countrey of the Waules or Walles And in ancient Latin Authors it is many times stiled Guallia and the Inhabitants thereof Gualli and every Man knows how the Saxons in most Words do use W for G as War for Guerre Ward for Guard and the like And at this day the French stile the eldest Son of the King of England Le Prince de Galles The ancient Galli were called Cimbri or Kimbri undè Cambro-Britannia is used for Wales and Cambro-Britannus for a Welshman And ask these Cambro-Brittans or Welsh-Brittans how they call themselves they will presently tell you Kimeri or Kumeri which sounds as much as Kimbri or Kymbry now in Latin molded into Cambri Howsoever the Name came the Inhabitants of Wales at this day are the Remnant of the Ancient Brettans but not without great commixture of the English their Neighbors which must needs follow in so long a Tract
came Horsemen about the Grove and as he would have escaped one Adam Francton pursued him and ran him through but knew him not and when he came to see his Face in the Spoil he knew him well and struck off his Head sub Anno 1282. Yet Stow saith That whiles Lhewelyn was speaking disgraceful Words against the English at Buelht-Castle where he was taken Roger le Strange ran upon him and cut off his Head And in Anno 1283. King Edward the First subdued all Wales and annexed it to the Crown of England and David the Brother of Lhewelyn was taken with some of his Sons and Daughters And David was sent to the Castle of Chester and after convicted of Treason in the Parliament at Shrewsbury and put to death saith our Stowe Giraldus Cambrensis in his Description of VVales cap. 3. hath this Pedegree of the Ancient Princes of VVales which I thought good here to insert Roderik the Great King of All VVales who was slain Anno Christi 876. Princes of North-VVales 1. Mervin Prince of North-VVales 2. Anandhrec Son of Mervin 3. Meyric Son of Anandhrec 4. Edwal Son of Meyric 5. Jago Son of Edwal 6. Conan Son of Jago 7. Griffith Son of Conan 8. Owen Son of Griffith 9. Jorwerth Son of Owen 10. Lhewelyn Son of Jorwerth who died Anno 1240. Princes of Powys Anaraud Son of Roderik had no Issue undè Principes Powisiae suam habent per se Generationem So Giraldus But this agrees not with the Welsh History which makes Anaraud to be the Prince of North-VVales and Father of Edwal Vowel Princes of South-VVales Cadelh Prince of South-Wales Son of Roderik Howel Dha that is Howel the Good Son of Cadelh Owen Son of Howel Aeneas Son of Owen Theodor Son of Aeneas or Eneon Rees Son of Theodor 1077. Griffith Son of Rees Obiit 1137. Rees Son of Griffith To conclude We see how uncertain the VVelsh History in the later Times is not so much as vouching any Author or Record either to prove the Deaths or Marriages or Children punctually nor when and therefore full of Errors till of late since the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror And how should we believe any thing of the long Pedegree of Brute in the more ancient and dark Ages And so much concerning Wales OF SCOTLAND CHAP. I. Of the Description of Scotland and the Ancient Inhabitants thereof I. SCOTLAND is the Northern Part of Great-Brettaine separated from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot-Hills extending from the one to the other It is of no great Breadth there being no Place distant from the Sea above 60 Miles and the Countrey ending like the sharp Point of a Wedge And the length measuring in a strait Line from North to South to wit from Solway-Frith to the Strait-by-Head amounteth but to 310 Italian Miles and from Barwick to Strait-by-Head is a great deal shorter Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography pag. 330. II. The whole North part of Brettaine anciently inhabited by the Picts was divided into two Nations the Dicalidonii and the Vecturiones But when the Scots came into those Parts and were seated there then did seven Princes divide it into seven Parts as it is in an Ancient Book concerning the Division of Scotland in these words following Cambden's Britannia pag. 682. Prima Pars continebat Enegas Maern Secunda Atheol Gouerin Tertia Stratheern cùm Meneted Quarta fuit Fortheuer Quinta Mar cùm Bughen Sexta Muref Ros. Septima Cathenesia quam Mound Mons medius dividit qui à Mari Occidentali ad Mare Orientale procurrit According to the respect of the People Scotland is divided into two Parts the High-land-men and the Low-land-men The Low-land-men are more civilized and use both the Tongue and Habit of the English The Highlanders more barbarous and cruel like the Wild Irish The Borderers I exclude out of this Division as to be reckoned among the British People According to respect of Places Scotland is divided into two Parts also South-Scotland on this side the River Tai and North-Scotland beyond the River Tai besides many circumjacent Islands South-Scotland hath these Countries Tiefidale Merch. Lauden Liddesdale Eskedale Annandale Niddesdale Galloway Carrick Kyle Cunningham Arran Cluydsdale Lennox Stirling Fife Stratherne Mentieth Arguyle Cantire Lorn North-Scotland hath these Countries Loquabria Braid Albin Perth Athol Angus Mern Marr. Buquhan Murray Ross Sutherland Cathanes Strathnavern And these are again divided for Civil Government into Sheriffdoms Stewarties and Bayleries Sheriffdoms or Counties Edenborough Lynthiquo Selkirk Roxburgh Peblis Berwick Lanark Kenfrew Dunfreis Wighton Aire Bute Argile Tarbet Dunbarton Perth Clackmannan Kinros Fife Kincardin Forfair Aberdene Bamf Elgyn Forres Narne Innerness Chromartie Orkney Shetland Stewarties Mentieth Strathern Kircudbricht Annandale Bayleries 1. Kile 2. Carrik 3. Cunningham Hadington A Constableship III. The Ancient Inhabitants of this Countrey dwelling within the Limits of the Roman Province about Anno Christi 100. according to Cambden de Scotiâ were The Gadeni Tevidale Twedale Merch. Lothaine Latine Lodeneium The Chief City whereof was Castrum Alatum now called Edenborough The Damnii Cluydsdale Lennox Sterling Mentieth Fife Whose Chief City was Randuara now called Renfraw in Cluydsdale The Selgovae Liddisdale Eusedale Eskdale Annandsdale Niddisdale Whose Chief Place was Carbantorigum now Caerlaverok in Niddisdale Lindum now Linlithquo The Novantes Galloway Carricht Kyle Cunningham Whose Principal Places were Leucopibia now White-Herne and Berigonium now Bargeny Without the Roman Province among the Picts or Barbarous Britons were Caledonii Stratherne Argile Cantire Albanie Lorn Perth Angus Fife These Regions the Picts held Anno 605. Cambden's Britannia pag. 707. Cantae Ross Sutherland Cornabii Strathnavern Epibii Cantirre Vernicones forsà n Vecturiones à Marcellino Mernis Marr. Taizali Buquhan Catini Catness The Principal Castle is Girnego Vacomagi Loqhaber Murray IV. As the Bishops of other Parts of the World had no certain Diocesses before Dionysius Bishop of Rome about Anno Christi 268. had distributed Diocesses to Bishops so the Bishops of Scotland executed their Office without distinction till about Anno 1070. in the time of Malcolme the Third Diocesses were circumscribed with theit Limits Cambden's Britannia pag. 683. Afterwards in tract of time Scotland had two Archbishops one of St. Andrews who was Primate of Scotland the other of Glasco To the Archbishop of St. Andrews are substituted these eight Bishopricks Dunkeld Aberdene Murray Brichen Dumblane Ross Cathness Orkeney Under the Archbishop of Glasco are onely three 1. Candida Casa or Galloway 2. Lismore or Argile 3. Of the Isles Of the Isles the Isle of Man was the first Cathedral Seat but by the Invasion of the Norwegians and the English the same was translated to Ilcomkill In Man Amphibalus was the first Bishop After the Translation of the Seat to Ilcomkill I find onely one Onacus mentioned about the Year 1289. with another called Mauritius whom Edward I. King of England sent Prisoner to London So far to the time of the
Reformation Spotswood's History of the Church of Scotland pag. 116. CHAP. II. Of the Original of the Scots in Scotland I. FIrst for the Etymologie of the Name of Scots it is as of other Nations round about full of obscurity Buchanan a Man otherwise of deep Insight an excellent Latin Poet but a bad Statesman will have Scotland named from Scota a counterfeit Daughter of Pharaoh King of Egypt wedded forsooth to one Gaithelus Son of Cecrops Founder of Athens for which he is justly taxed by Cambden in his Britannia pag. 85. For no Man skilful in Antiquities can endure such palpable Falsities and Fables Matthew of Westminster sub Anno Gratiae 77. saith That from the Picts and the Irish the Scots had their Original as it were compacted of divers Nations For Scot saith he is a heap made up of several things But Learned Cambden supposeth and proveth That the Scots inhabited Ireland and from thence came into Scotland and that they were originally Scythians for as from Getae Getici Gothi Gothici so Scythae Scythici Scoti Scotici take their derivation Hibernia propriè Patria Scottorum est saith Bede And Henry of Huntington lib. 1. Histor pag. 301. saith It is certain that the Scots came out of Spain into Ireland and from Ireland part of them came into Brettaine and so added a third Nation in Brettaine to the Britons and Picts For the Part which remained in Ireland did in Huntington's time use the same Language and were called Navarri II. But for the time when the Name of Scot was first known there is some question Homfrey Lhuid saith The Name of Scots cannot be found in any Author before the time of Constantine the Great that is till about 310 Years after Christ's Birth Cambden in his Observation tells us The first mention of the Scots was under Aurelian the Emperor in his Britannia pag. 90. And that must be about the Year of Christ 270. The Nation of the Scots prevailed in Ireland and began to be famous towards the declining of the Roman Empire Orosius lib. 1. cap. 2. pag. 19. Orosius saith That in the time of Honorius and Arcadius Emperors Ireland was Inhabited with the Scots about the Year of Christ 400. Whence Claudian the Poet de Quarto Consulatu Honorii which was in Anno 398. and lived in the same Age saith Scottorum cumulos flevit Glacialis Ierne And again in his second Book de Laudibus Stiliconis Totam cùm Scotus Iernam Movit There were Scoti Ierni Irish Scots and Scoti Albini Scots of Albin in Scotland Buchanan pag. 54. Historians called Ireland Scotia major and Scotland in Brettaine Scotia minor Cambd. Brit. pag. 90. III. For the time when these Scots came first out of Ireland into Brettaine it was about the time of Valentinian the Emperor for they assisted the Picts in their Wars against the Brettons then under the Roman Yoke in that part of Brettaine which is now called England about Anno Christi 366. So Cambden's Britannia pag. 55. ex Ammiano Marcellino For at this time the Picts Scots Saxons and the Attacotti did much infest the Brettans And Claudian the Poet in his Panegyrick of the fourth Consulship of Honorius the Emperor which was in the Year of Christ 398. saith thus Ille Caledoniis posuit qui Castra Pruinis Qui medio Libyae sub Casside pertulit aestus Terribilis Mauro Debellatorque Britanni Littoris ac paritèr Boreae vastator Austri Quid rigor aeternus Coeli quid Sydera prosunt Ignotúmque fretum Maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thule Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hiberne And it should seem that the Romans had at this time an Officer called Comes Littoris Saxonici in Brettaine who with the Soldiers allotted him were to defend the Sea-coast in Brettaine from the Invasion of the Saxons And the Scots and Picts were also beaten out of that Part of Brettaine now called England by Stilico the Chief Governor of Brettaine under Honorius who also expelled the Saxons And the Scots returning back into Ireland shortly after came again And the Picts then first and afterwards continued in the Northern Parts of Brettaine yet ceased not to molest the Brettans Thus Bede lib. 1. Ecclesiasticae Historiae Anglorum Gentis cap. 14 Revertuntur ergò impudentes Grassatores Hyberni domum Post non longum tempus reversuri Picti in extremà parte Insulae tunc primùm deincèps quieverunt Praedas tamèn nonnunquà m exindè Contritiones de Britonum Gente agere non cessârunt Which Bede taketh verbatim out of Gildas cap. 18. fol. 17. b. Now Gildas placeth this after the Brettans had sent their lamentable Letter unto Aetius the Consul which was sent saith Bede Anno Christi 446. Anno Theodosii Secundi vicesimo tertio Lib. 1. Hist cap. 13. The substance of the Letter was thus Aetio tèr Consuli Gemitus Britannorum And so post pauca Repellunt Barbari ad Mare repellit Mare ad Barbaros Inter haec duo genera funerum aut jugulamur aut mergimur Yet for all this the Romans sent them no Aid at that time for the Roman Power was now declining Now the Computation of Bede is not right unless we understand it of the 23 Year of Theodosius after the death of Honorius And so Bede expresseth himself in the beginning of the Chapter For Aetius was Consul the first time with Symmachus Anno Christi 446. And thus the Scots must return about that time into Ireland But Cambden saith Liber Pasletensis casteth the Return of the Scots into the North of Brettaine in Anno Christi 404. Giraldus saith That in the time of Nellus Magnus Monarch of Ireland six Sons of Mured King of Ulster possessed the North Parts of Brettaine whence that Nation was propagated and called Scotland And therefore Cambden conceives it must fall in the Reign of Honorius Bede makes mention of Reuda about this time Lib. 1. de Hist Ang. cap. 1. under whose Conduct the Scots out of Ireland seated themselves in Brettaine on the North side of the River Cluyd which they possessed either by force or friendship from whom they were called Dal-Reudini that is The Part of Reuda And others think That from this Reuda we gave them the Name of Red-Shanks saith Cambden And the Opinion is That about this time flourished that Simon Brechus whom the Scots say was the Founder of their Nation Sinbrech is the true name of the Man Sin signifies Pimples or Freckles ut apud Fordonum legitur Perhaps this was the Brichus who in the time of St. Patrick with Thuibaius Macleius and Auspacus Scotchmen vexed Brettaine as we read in the Life of St. Carantocus But why did the Scots call their Countrey in Brettaine Alban or Albin and the Irish call it Allabany Cambden supposeth from Banno by which Name their Poets call Ireland as it were another Ireland Buchanan saith That Alpum and Album from whence comes Albin is an
Daughter of Waltheof Earl of Northumberland and Widow of Simon Seintliz Earl of Northampton and Huntington Vincent upon Brooke pag. 367. By which Marriage he had the Counties of Northumberland and Huntington in England and by her had Issue Henry a Son who married Ada Sister of William Warren Earl of Surrey in England and half Sister by the Mother to Walleran Earl of Mellent in France and to Robert sirnamed Bossue Earl of Leycester in England Simon Dunelmensis sub Anno 1139. pag. 265. Henry had Issue by Ada Malcolme William Earl of Northumberland David Earl of Carricht in Scotland and of Huntington in England also Maude a Daughter But this Prince Henry died before his Father Anno Domini 1152. and Maude his Daughter also Anno Domini 1153. nono Calendas Junii died David King of Scotland Hoveden pag. 490. 24. Malcolme IV. Son of Henry and Grandson to David a Child of the Age of twelve Years succeeded King He resigned Northumberland to King Henry the Second of England Cumberland and Huntington being left to Malcolme Buchanan He died without Issue nono die Decembris 1165. in the 25 Year of his Age and 12 Year of his Reign and a little more Buchanan Hoveden pag. 496. 25. William Brother to Malcolme fetched Northumberland back again He married Ermengard Daughter of Richard Viscount de Beaumont Cosin to Henry the Second King of England scilicet Anno 1186. Hoveden And in Anno 1174. this William was taken Prisoner at Alnwick by Robert Stutevile Sheriff of York William de Vescy Randle Glanvill Bernard Baliol and others Hoveden pag. 538 539. Henry King of England restored unto him the Earldom of Huntington 1184. upon the death of Simon de Seintliz then Earl thereof and King William immediately conferred it on David his younger Brother Hoveden pag. 622. William did Homage to John King of England for his Lands in England at Lincoln Anno 1200. Hoveden Buchanan Fecit homagium de omni Jure suo and after swore Fealty to him Matth. Paris pag. 204. King William died Anno 1214. aged 74 Years Annoque Regni 49. Buchanan He had a Son by Ermengard called Alexander born Anno 1199. and another Son kill'd in his Infancy with his Nurse by an Inundation Buchanan pag. 232. He had also two Daughters Margaret and Isabel promised to the two Sons of King John when they should be marriageable Hollinshed But one of these Daughters afterward married the Earl of Flanders 1210. Knighton pag. 2420. 26. Alexander II. Son of William married Joan Sister to Henry the Third King of England 1221. Matt. Paris pag. 313. He demands Northumberland which King John promised him in Marriage with Joan his Daughter Matt. Paris pag. 432. He denieth that he holdeth any part of the Kingdom of Scotland from the Kings of England or that he either would or ought so to hold it This was Anno 1244. Joan his Queen dying in England Anno 1236. was buried in London And soon after for yet he had no Children he married Mary Daughter of Ingelram de Cuscy a Frenchman Anno 1239. by whom he had Issue Alexander a Son who succeeded his Father Buchanan and Matt. Paris pag. 638. Anno 1244. he makes a League with the King of England his Brother-in-Law wherein he acknowledgeth the King of England his Leige-Lord See the Charter in Matt. Paris pag. 646. This Alexander the Second died Anno 1249. Anno aetatis 51. Annoque Regni 35. Buchanan and Matt. Paris pag. 771. 27. Alexander III. Son of Alexander II. Crowned at Scone a Child not above eight Years old He was Knighted at York by Henry the Third Anno 1251. on Christmas day and the day after he married Margaret Daughter of the said King Henry Mat. Paris pag. 829. also Buchanan He did Homage to the King of England at that time for the Lands which he had in England but refused to do Homage for Scotland when it was tendred him according to the Custom of his Predecessors by the Testimony of Ancient Chronicles Robert Abbot of Fermelinodunum Chancellor to the King of Scotland was accused for Legitimating the Wife of Alan Durovart Bastard-daughter of Alexander the Second that so if the King should now die without Issue she might succeed as Heir Buchanan Henry King of England created this Alexander Earl of Huntington by Charter Anno 1256. to hold as freely as any of his Predecessors ever held the same Matt. Paris pag. 931. This Alexander overcame Acho King of Norwey in Battel 1263. and took the Isle of Man and all the Western Isles Buchanan He promised his Daughter Margaret yet but four Years old to Hangonan Son of Magnus King of Norwey to be his Wife when she was marriageable which it seems was performed afterwards for she had Issue by him a Daughter called also Margaret who died young about Anno 1291. Alexander in few Years being deprived of his Wife and all his Children did after marry Iolet Daughter of the Earl of Dreux Comitis Druidum but I find not that he had any Children by her for soon after within a Year to wit 14 Calendas Aprilis Anno 1285. he was killed by a fall from his Horse not far from Kingorne aged 45 Years Annoque Regni 37. Buchanan ⚜ Now Walsingham tells us Hist Edw. 1. pag. 54. That Alexander the Son of this King Alexander the Third died in his Father's life time And Buchanan saith That the young Alexander married the Earl of Flanders's Daughter and that Alexander the Third had another Son called David and a Daughter called Margaret but all died before the King So that now great strife did arise who should succeed King of Scotland Onely give me leave to observe here how Walsingham saith That the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders was second Wife of King Alexander the Third Wherein I believe he is mistaken for according to Buchanan she was the Wife of young Alexander his Son who died before his Father Here was now an Interregnum of six Years and nine Months in which time there were twelve Competitors to the Crown of Scotland who lay down their Claims in the Competition-Roll in the Tower mentioned by Vincent upon Brooke Title Huntington pag. 253 c. Which for brevity I shall give you here in a short Pedegree of the Kings of Scotland Malcolme III. sirnamed Cammoir King of Scotland slain 1093. See Malcolme's Pedegree in Imag. Histor by Radulphus de Di ceto pag 627. Margà ret Sister to Edgar Atheling Ordericus pag. 701 702. 1 Edward eldest Son slain with his Father 1093. 2 Edgar King of Scotland died without Issue 1107. 3 Alexander also King 1107. Obiit sine prole 1124. Melcofus a bastard Ordericus pag. 702. 4 David also King 1124 Obiit 1153 Maud Daughter of Waltheof Earl of Northumberland Another Son the eldest kill'd by a Varlet in his Nurses arms Ordericus pag. 702. Henry Prince of Scotland died before his Father viz. Anno 1152. Ada Sister to the third
28. aetatis 35. Buchanan lib. 12. the last words pag. 440. 37. James IV. Son of James the Third Married Margaret Daughter of Henry the Seventh King of England Anno 1501. Buchanan pag. 454. But Stow saith she was Betrothed 1502. and Married at Edenborough the eighth of August Anno 1503. and had Issue James Arthur Alexander and a Daughter which last three died all young Speed's Hist pag. 763. James the Fourth was slain at the Battel of Floden-Field fought between the English and the Scotch on the ninth of September 1513. Anno Regni 25. aetatis 40. in the flower of his Youth Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey being then General of the English Forces Queen Margaret afterwards Married Archibald Duglas Earl of Angus Anno 1514. unto whom she bore Margaret a Daughter afterwards Married to Matthew Stewart Earl of Lennox In this King's Reign about Anno 1490. was born in Scotland a Man-child from the Navel downward and two Men upward he lived 28 Years and learned Musick and Languages he had two distinct Wills one part oftentimes falling out with the other Buchanan Hist Scot. lib. 13. pag. 444. 38. James V. Son of James the Fourth Married Mary Daughter of the Duke of Guise and Dutchess of Longevil then Widow to the Duke of Longevil Married at St. Andrews in July 1538. by whom he had Issue two Sons who died Infants and Mary a Daughter sole Heir to the Crown of Scotland He had a former Wife named Magdalene Daughter to the King of France but she had no Issue for she was Married on New-years-day 1536. and died the seventh of July 1537. James the Fifth died the thirteenth of December 1542. aged 33 Years and in the thirtieth of his Reign He had a base Son called James commonly styled Prior of St. Andrews who was first made Earl of Marre and after of Murray Cambden's Annals of Eliz. in Latine pag. 112. 39. Mary Queen of Scots Daughter and sole Heir of James the Fifth was but eight days old when her Father died James Hamilton Earl of Arran being made Protector She was desired in Marriage for Edward the Sixth King of England but the Faction of Lennox supported by the French King prevailed so that the Queen Mother sent her at six Years of Age to the French King and to the Duke of Guise for Breeding In the end she was Married to Francis the Dolphin of France whose Nuptials were celebrated at Paris with great Pomp the 28. of April Anno 1558. Godwin's Annals But the Dolphin died Anno 1560. not fully 18 Years old leaving no Issue by her Cambden's Annals Afterwards Queen Mary Married Henry Stewart Lord Darley Son of Matthew Stewart Earl of Lennox in Anno 1565. and by him had Issue her onely Son born in June 1566. called James But this Henry Lord Darley about a Month or two after the Christening of the young Prince of Scotland was Strangled in his Bed in the dead time of the Night and thrown out into an Orchard the House being blown up with Gunpowder Anno 1566. in the one and twentieth Year of his Age. The common Report was that this detestable Fact was caused by Morton and Murray So Cambden in his Annals Afterwards the Queen Married the Earl Bothwel now made Duke of Orkney Anno 1567. whereunto the Lords implored the Queen The Scots rebell Bothwel and the Queen were worsted Bothwel flies and the Queen is taken Prisoner Queen Mary is forced to resign her Crown to her young Son scarce 13 Months old Anno 1567. The Earl of Murray is made Regent the twentieth of August The Queen escapes out of Prison and flies into England and after 18 Years Imprisonment in England she is accused of High-Treason against Queen Elizabeth for conspiring her Death and inviting foreign Forces to Invade England of which she was Arraigned Convicted and Sentenced to die and afterwards Beheaded at Fotheringay Castle in Northamptonshire on Wednesday the eighth of February Anno 1586. aged 46 Years or rather in the 45. Year of her Age. Sanderson in the Life of Queen Mary Bothwel wandring up and down at last came to Naples where he lived and died very poor about the Year 1624. 40. James VI. Son of Henry Stewart Lord Darley and Queen Mary was Crowned King of Scotland quarto Calendas Augusti 1567. Buchanan pag. 669. and Cambden's Annals He Married Anne Daughter of Frederick the Second King of Denmark Anno 1589. by whom he had Issue Prince Henry born at Sterling in Scotland the nineteenth of February 1593. who died at St. Jame's House in London the sixth of November 1612. Charles the second Son born at Dunferne in Scotland the nineteenth of November Anno 1600. he was King of Great Britain after his Father The Lady Elizabeth born the sixteenth of August 1596. She Married Frederick Prince Elector Palatine of Germany in February 1612. afterwards King of Bohemia 1619. and also two other Daughters by Queen Anne born in England the Lady Mary and the Lady Sophia but these both died young This James the Sixth upon the death of Queen Elizabeth was Proclaimed the next undoubted Heir to the Crown of England in London March 24. being Thursday which was the last Day of the Year 1602. according to the Computation of the Church of England as lineally Descended from Margaret eldest Daughter of Henry the Seventh King of England so that in the thirty sixth Year of his Reign over Scotland and the thirty seventh of his Age he was now Proclaimed King of Great Britain and Ireland Thus were the Crowns of England and Scotland united in this King James whose continual Jars had spilt formerly an infinite deal of Blood both of the Scotch and English ⚜ He was the first Monarch of all Great Britain and first used the Title of King of Great Britain and Ireland in all Instruments of State and Writings which his Successors have ever since retained sometimes in Records mentioning them in particular thus King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Two great Deliverances had this King by the assistance of the King of Kings One from the treasonable Conspiracy of Earl Gowry before he was King of England the principal Actors were John Ruthen Earl of Gowry in Scotland and Alexander Ruthen his Brother Andrew Henderson and John Cranston Plotted in revenge of the Death of William Ruthen Earl Gowry Father of the said John which William for his Rebellion at Dundee suffered deservedly at Sterling Anno 1584. The manner of the Conspiracy was thus John Earl Gowry sends Alexander his Brother from his House at St. Johnstons in Scotland August the fourth Anno 1600. to the King then at Falkland to entice the King thither as privately as might be he tells the King there was a Man taken with much Gold Coin and suspicious Letters now at his Brothers House at St. Johnstons desiring the King to come thither to Examine the Man with all speed and privacy The King promiseth
to be there the next day at Noon and to do it whiles his Noblemen and Train should be at Dinner Alexander sends Henderson to his Brother John Earl Gowry with all speed to advertise him of the King 's coming The next day being the fifth of August the King came and towards the end of his Dinner Alexander desires the King to dispatch the Business The King arising from the Table Alexander leads him through four or five Rooms locking each Door after him till he came into the round Chamber where Henderson stood Armed Alexander plucking out Henderson's Dagger points it to the King's Breast saying You must die for my Father's Blood calls for vengeance The King deals gently with his Fury and worked so upon him with words that Alexander left him and went to his Brother leaving Henderson with the King who trembled at the Reverence of his Soveraign The King asked Henderson whether he would kill him to whom Henderson replied Not for a World By and by Alexander comes again with a Garter in his Hand swearing that the King should die and then endeavoring to bind the King the King and Alexander strugling together the King dragged him to the Window holding him fast as he could not stir the King cried out Treason into a back Court they hasten up and John Ramsey formerly the King's Page forced the Door at a back Way and finding the King and Alexander panting for the King having closed with him never let loose his hold the King bid Ramsey strike low whereupon Ramsey wounds Alexander mortally in the Belly with his Faucheon then came others into the Room They cast the King's Coat upon the dead Body advising the King to withdraw into another Room Presently enters John Earl Gowry with a Case of Rapiers ready drawn with seven Servants then seeing the King's Coat on the dead Body supposed the King was slain and let fall the Points of his Weapons and suddenly Herres assails him with his rusty Sword and Ramsey stepping in strikes the Earl to the Heart Thus was the King delivered by the Providence of God August the fifth 1600 and Ramsey was Knighted for his Service and had an addition given him to his Coat of Arms to wit of a Hand holding forth a Dagger mounted proper and piercing a bloody Heart with this Motto Haec Dextra vindex Principis Patriae and after had other Honors conferred upon him The other miraculous Deliverance was from the most bloody Plot of the Papists commonly called The Gunpowder Treason which should have been executed the fifth day of November Anno 1605. in the third Year after he was King of England in memory of which Deliverance we have now a Form of Thanksgiving in our Common-Prayer-Book to be used yearly on the fifth of November and a Statute made 3 Jacobi cap. 1. for keeping that Day Holy-day to be set apart yearly for a Thanksgiving to God for this great Deliverance which ought never to be forgotten but to be Recorded to all Posterity and the manner was thus A little before the beginning of that Parliament at Westminster some Welwiller to William Parker Lord Monteagle sends him a Letter to advise him to shift off his Attendance this Parliament as he tendred his Life For though there be no appearance of any Stir yet they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet shall not see who hurts them c. This Letter was given by an unknown Fellow to a Footman of the Lord Monteagles with a charge to give it to his Lord 's own Hands which having neither Date nor Subscription the Lord Monteagle not knowing what to make of it brings it to the Earl of Salisbury then Secretary of State But the King not being then in Town the Secretary shews it to the Earl of Suffolk and others and upon the King 's coming back on the Thursday following Salisbury shews it to the King who as it were by Divine Instinct conceived the Letter ought not to be contemned and judged the words of the Letter to be meant of Gunpowder But upon the meeting of the Council order was given for the searching of all Rooms about the Parliament-House by the Lord Chamberlain where a Vault was found under the Lords House stuffed with Wood and Coals which Room was hired by Mr. Thomas Percy a violent Papist Kinsman to the Earl of Northumberland But the care of a farther Search being committed to Sir Thomas Knevet a Justice of Peace for Westminster who the Night before the Parliament was to sit about twelve of the Clock in the Night with competent Assistance with him seized one Guido Faux calling himself John Johnson and Percy 's Man at the Door of the Lodgings ready Booted and Dressed so late and searching the Vault by removing some Billets they found 36 Barrels of Powder and in Faux's Pockets three Matches a dark Lantern and other Implements nay a Watch wherewith to tell the Minutes for Execution All which he confessed upon his Examination There were other Contrivers of the Plot Thomas Winter Robert Catesby Thomas Percy John Wright Christopher Wright and Robert Winter Concerning which Plot and the Confessions of the Parties in their Examinations before the Privy Council King James himself took pains to note it which you may find amongst his Works in Print Anno Chr. 1625. This King James as my Lord Bacon observes in his Advancement of Learning pag. 2. was the most Learned Temporal Monarch since Christ's time in all Literature Divine and Humane He died at Theobalds on Sunday Morning the 27. of March 1625. in the 59. Year of his Age and in the 58. of his Reign over Scotland and having Reigned 22 Years compleat over England whose Son Charles I. ascended his Father's Throne and was the second Monarch of all Great Britain and Ireland whose Subjects as well of England as Scotland are the most rebellious People in the World ever Factious and perfidious towards their Prince See the rest in England So much of Scotland the Revenues of which Kingdom Boterus estimateth at 100000 Crowns or 30000 l. Sterling Dr. Heylin's Cosmography pag. 338. A Table of the chief Battels between the English and the Scots since the Norman Conquest Ann. Dom. 1139. 4 Steph. AT Conton or Couton in Yorkshire about four Miles from Alverton August 22. 1139. where were slain above 10000 Scots by Thurstan Archbishop of York Stow. This is commonly called Standard-Field Mat. Paris puts it Anno 1138. and onely among the Horsemen of the English of any note the Brother of Gilbert Lacy was found slain 1174. 20 Hen. 2. At Alnwick in Northumberland July 7. 1174. where William King of Scotland was taken Prisoner by Robert de Stotevil Rafe Mandevil Bernard Baliol and William Vescy 1296. 24 Ed. 1. At Barwick the English slew 25000 Scots and did win Barwick and Dunbar and conquered Edenborough where Edward the first found the Regal Ensigns of Scotland In his Return he called a
Scythians Celto Scythae ut habet Strabo omnes olìm ad occasum Populi dicti waxed strong in Ireland Orosius writes That in the time of Honorius and Arcadius Emperors Ireland was inhabited by the Scots about Anno Christi 400. These Scots came out of Spain into Ireland and part of them going again out of Ireland into the North of Brettain sub Duce Reudâ à quo Dal-Reudini vocantur Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 1. Seated themselves there and added a third Nation in Brettaine to the Picts and Brettans and afterwards from those Scots the whole North of Brettain was called Scotland even to this day And from those Scots inhabitng Ireland that Kingdom was by Isidore and Bede called Scotia Haec propriè Patria Scottorum est saith Bede of Ireland l. 1. de Hist Ang. c. 1. Anno Christi 684. Egfrid King of Northumberland wasted Ireland Bede ib. l. 4. c. 26. Anno Christi 838. the Norwegians under the Command of Turgesius for 30 Years miserably wasted Ireland but he being slain by Treachery the Inhabitants slew all the Norwegians Giraldus Topogram Hiberniae Distinct 3. cap. 37. These Norwegians without doubt were those Normans who as Rhegino saith in the Times of Charles the Great setting upon Ireland the Island of the Scots were put to flight by the Scots Afterwards the Oustmanni that is The Eastern Men came from the Sea-coast of Germany into Ireland under pretence of Merchandize and soon after raised a great War About the same time almost Edgar King of England overcame a great part of Ireland and subjected it under his Dominion Cambden's Britannia pag. 731. But besides these there arose great Dissention among the Irish themselves which made way to the conquering of Ireland for the King of England Hen. II. taking notice of these Jars Treated seriously with his Nobles of England about the Year 1155. concerning the conquering of Ireland for the use of his Brother William of Angeau but by the Advice of his Mother Maude the Empress the Matter was at that time deferred Not many Years after Dermot Mac Morrog King of Leinster being driven out of his Kingdom by Rodoric King of Connaught and Monarch of Ireland implores the Aid of Hen. II. who condescending thereunto Dermot prevailed with Richard de Clare Earl of Pembroke sirnamed Strongbow Son of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Pembroke which Gilbert was a younger Son of Gilbert Earl of Clare in Suffolk to raise Forces for his Assistance Covenanting to make Strongbow his Successor in the Kingdom of Leinster and to give unto him Eva his Daughter in Marriage Hereupon Strongbow gathers an Army of select Soldiers in Wales and England accompanied with Fitz-Gerald Fitz-Stephen and other Gentlemen and in few Years obtained so great a part of Ireland that Hen. II. fearing his Power sends out his Proclamation in Anno 1171. That Strongbow and other his Associates should return back out of Ireland by Easter next or else be utterly Disinherited for ever Strongbow returns into England the King is pacified with him Conditionally that he surrender Dublin to the King with the Cantreds adjoyning and also all the Maritime Towns and Castles the residue of his Conquest he must acknowledge to hold from the King of England and his Heirs So Giraldus CHAP. II. Of the chief Persons in the Conquest of Ireland I. RIchard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke a Man much in Debt had large Possessions but had much lesned his Estate by his profuseness and therefore more easily drawn in to the getting of new Territories Chron. Joh. Brompton pag. 1069. Vir plus nominis hactenùs habens quam hominis plus senii quà m ingenii Giraldus Hib. Expug li. 1. cap. 12. Of a ruddy Complexion Freckled great Eyes a womanly Face a small Voice a short Neck Bountiful and of a mild Nature being fixed in Battel was a Standard for his Forces to resort unto not puffed up with a Victory nor dejected with a Defeat Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 27. He was sirnamed Strongbow from the strong Bowe which he used to draw having Arms of an extraordinary length of whom it is reported that standing upright he could touch his own Knees with the Palms of his Hands Brooke in his Catalogue of Nobility Title Pembroke The King of England Hen. II. gave him what accrued unto him in Right of Eva his Wife and what he had got in War and gave him the Counties of Weshford Ossery Caterlogh and Kildare to hold of the Kings of England Cambd. Britan. pag. 731. Ireland He died An. Chr. 1176. and Dermot King of Leinster his Father-in-law died at Fernys about the Calends of May Anno 1171. full of Days Annales Hiberniae at the end of Camb. Britan. II. Hugh Lacy was also very instrumental in the Conquest of Ireland to whom Hen. II. gave all the Land of Meath in Ireland with the Apurtenances by Charter to hold of him and his Son John for the Service of 100 Knights Fees He gave him also in custody the City of Dublin with its Apurtenances and appointed these following to belong to the Service of Dublin all the Land of Offlan with its Apurtenances and Wilkechelon with its Apurtenances and the Service of Meath and the Service of four Knights Fees which Robert Poer ought to do for the Castle of Dunavet Hoveden pag. 528. 566. He was Descended of Walter Lacy a great Baron who Founded Lanthony-Abby in the Valley of Ewyas in the Borders of Monmouthshire to which Walter William Earl of Hereford gave great Possessions in those Parts Cambden in Monmouthshire This Hugh was of a black Complexion hollow Eyes the right side of his Face even to his Chin was disfigured by Burning which hapned in his Youth a short Neck a hairy Body strong Sinews of a little Stature and a deformed Shape firm to his Trust intent on his own Business and very vigilant in the Affairs of Government a good Soldier much trusted by his Prince who made him Lord Justice of Ireland 1172. Hoveden pag. 528. He Fortified Leinster and Meath with many Castles and had his Head chopt off with a Hatchet by an Irishman treacherously as he stooped down Anno 1186. at Dernath where he intended to have built a Castle Hoveden pag. 631. also Annales Hiberniae He left two Sons of great eminency in Ireland Walter de Lacy Lord of Meath and Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster afterwards III. Robert Fitz-Stephen was the first of Strong-bow's Forces who entred Ireland with three Ships containing about 130 Soldiers of his Friends and Allies Landing at Banvan about May Anno 1167. besides 60 other Horse and 300 Foot Archers among whom Hervey de Mont-Morice The Day after Maurice de Prendergest followed with two Ships of Soldiers more raised out of Cardiganshire or thereabouts De Rosensi Walliae Demetiae Provinciâ These with 500 Soldiers more sent by Dermot out of his own Countrey under the Command of his Bastard Son Donwald Assaulted Weshford but were beaten
divers others of the better sort of the Irish rebelled against the King of England Hoveden pag. 567. Joh. Bromton pag. 1128. The Princes of Ireland who submitted to the Rule of the King of England Henry the Second Anno 1172. Chartis subsignatis Romam transmissis Cambd. Britan. pag. 731. ROtheric O-Conor-Dun Fuscus Hiberniae Monarcha Dermot Mac-Carty King of Cork Donald O-Bren King of Limrick O-Carel King of Uriel Mac-Shaglin Rex Ophaliae O-Roric King of Meath O-Nele King of Ulster and the chief Noblemen of them all Now followeth a Catalogue of all the Lord Deputies of Ireland CHAP. III. A Catalogue of the Chief Governors of Ireland under the Sovereignty of the Kings of England since the Conquest thereof by Henry the Second to the Year 1670. Stiled sometimes Lord Justices sometimes Lord Lieutenants sometimes Lord Deputies of Ireland Ann. Dom. 1171 HEnry the Second King of England landed at Croch in Ireland eight Miles from Waterford the 17 of October 1171. and staid there till Easter following In which space the Princes of Ireland submit and swore Fealty to him Roderik King of Connaught being as it were the Chief Head and Monarch of Ireland Hoveden and Giraldus The Conquest of Ireland was before prepared for him Anno 1168. by Richard Strongbow who then entred Ireland with his Forces and very victoriously winning one Place after another Hoveden The King of Connaught agreeth to hold all his Lands under the King of England Ut Rodericus sit Rex sub Henrico paratus ad Servitium suum and to pay him Tribute as the words of the Deed run which you may see at large in Hoveden's History or Annals bearing date in the Octaves of St. Michael 1175. made at the Parliament at Windsor in England 1. Hugh Lacy Lord Justice of Ireland 2. Richard Strongbow Lord Justice Obiit 1176. Hoveden 3. William Fitz-Aldelme Justice of Ireland Hoveden But Giraldus Hiber Expug lib. 2. cap. 15. saith Reymund was elected Governor of Ireland while Messengers were sent to the King of England to certifie him of Strongbow's death who forthwith sent William Fitz-Aldelme Procuratorem in Hiberniam joyning with him John Curcy Robert Fitz-Stephen and Milo de Coggan in Commission 4. Hugh Lacy again made Generalis Hiberniae Procurator Robert le Poer the King's Marshal being joyned as an Assistant to him which Robert was then Governor both of Waterford and Weshford Giraldus 5. John Lacy Constable of Cheshire and Baron of Halton with Richard Peche Bishop of Chester were sent into Ireland about the Calends of May 1181. and made Governors of Dublin for the King had sent for Hugh Lacy as jealous of his Strength and Power in Ireland having now married the Daughter of Roderik King of Connaught without the King of England's Licence first obtained Hoveden 6. Hugh Lacy again in the Winter following eodem Anno Robert of Shrewsbury a Clergy-man being joyned with him 7. Philip of Worcester vir Dapsilis Militaris Hib. Expug lib. 2. cap. 24. called by Hoveden Philip de Breos sent Governor into Ireland about the Calends of September 8. John the King's Son afterwards King John went into Ireland but soon returned after he had appointed Justices and settled the Garrisons there Hoveden But who those Justices were he mentions not Hoveden saith That Anno 1176. the King of England gave Ireland to his Son John and then after at a Parliament at Oxford Anno 1177. the King did constitute him Regem in Hiberniâ Concessione Confirmatione Alexandri summi Pontificis And Anno 1185. 31 Hen. 2. the King Knighted him at Windsor the last day of March and sends him forthwith into Ireland where he staid not long indè eum Regem constituit Certain it is That this John after he became King of England assumed the Title of Dominus Hiberniae to his other Titles which also the succeeding Kings of England ever since retained until the Year 1542. 33 Hen. 8. at which time by a Parliament in Ireland King Henry the Eighth was declared King of Ireland as a Title of greater Majesty which Title of Rex Hiberniae the Kings of England have used ever since Probably when the King gave unto his Son John Dominium Hiberniae 1176 it was as much as King of Ireland in effect whereby the Supreme Power was implied and from thence we see he assumed the Title of Dominus Hiberniae afterwards But it is not probable that the King did create him Regem Hiberniae by Charter though possibly he might sometimes be so called for then he would have assumed the Title of Rex Hiberniae and not of Dominus Hiberniae which afterwards we find he assumed but never Rex Hiberniae Ann. Dom. 1211 9. John Grey Bishop of Norwich Lord Justice Matt. Paris King John went then into Ireland 10. Henry Londers Archbishop of Dublin Lord Justice Annales Hiberniae Sub Henrico Tertio 1224. The same Archbishop of Dublin Fuller's Eccles Hist lib. 3. pag. 58. 1230. 11. Geffrey de Maurice Lord Justice Matt. Paris These following are Collected out of the Annals of Ireland apud Cambdenum in Britannia sua to the Year 1420. 1248. 12. Sir John Fitz-Geffrey Lord Justice 1255. 13. Alan de la Zouch Lord Justice 1259. 14. Stephen de Longspée Lord Justice See Vincent upon Brook pag. 447. 1259. 15. William Dene Lord Justice Obiit 1261. 1261. 16. Sir Richard de Capell Lord Justice 1267. 17. Sir David de Barry Lord Justice 1268. 18. Sir Robert de Ufford Lord Justice 1269. 19. Ricardus de Exoniis Lord Justice 1270. 20. Sir James Audley Lord Justice He was kill'd with a fall from his Horse in Toomond 1272. Sub Edwardo Primo 1272. 21. Maurice Fitz-Maurice Lord Justice 1273. 22. Sir Geffrey de Genevill Lord Justice 1276. 23. Sir Robert de Ufford Lord Justice But going to England Anno 1279. Robert de Fulborne Bishop of Waterford was put in his Place Ufford returns 1280. and is Lord Justice 1281. 24. Stephen de Fulborne Archiepiscopus Turonensis Lord Justice eodem Anno. Ufford goes into England and Fulborne dieth Anno 1287. 1287. 25. John Sampford Archbishop of Dublin Lord Justice ad Tempus 1291. 26. William Vescy Lord Justice 1294. 27. William D'oodyngzele Lord Justice Obiit 1298. 1295. 28. Sir Thomas Fitz-Maurice Lord Justice Obiit 1298. 1295. 29. John Wogan Lord Justice Sir Thomas Fitz-Maurice surrendring the Place to him Sub Edwardo Secundo Ann. Dom. 1312. 30. Sir Edmund le Butler is made Deputy to Sir John Wogan Both died 1321. 1314. 31. Sir Theobald de Verdon Lord Justice He came into Ireland the 20 of June 1314. 32. Sir Edmund le Butler Lord Justice He received his Commission on Friday after St. Matthew's day 1317. 33. Sir Roger de Mortimer Lord Justice but going into England to the King makes William Archiepiscopum Cassiliensem Custodem Hiberniae who was Lord Justice Chancellor and Archbishop all at a time 1318. And in Anno 1319. Sir Roger returns and is Lord Justice
1320. 34. Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare made Lord Justice This Year Dublin is made an University Alexander Bicknor then Archbishop of Dublin 1321. 35. John Bermingham Earl of Louth Lord Justice 1323. 36. John Darcy Lord Justice Sub Edwardo Tertio 1327. 37. Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare again Lord Justice Obiit 1328. 1328. 38. Roger Outlaw Prior of Kilmaynan Lord Justice He was Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Ireland and Chancellor of Ireland Nicolas Fastoll and Elias Ashburne Justiciarrii de Banco 1329. 39. John Darcy second time Lord Justice Darcy going into England 1330. Roger Outlaw is deputed Justice 1331. 40. Sir Anthony Lucy comes Chief Justice 3 die Junii 1333. 41. Sir John Darcy third time Justice 1337. 42. Sir John Charleton Miles Baro came Lord Chief Justice in Festo Calixti Papae Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford Brother to Sir John Chancellor of Ireland and John Rees Treasurer 1338. 43. Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford Lord Justice and Governor Anno 1340. The Bishop of Hereford called into England by the King Roger Outlaw again was made Lord Justice who died Lord Justice and Chancellor of Ireland 13 die Februarii 1341. 44. Sir John Darcy the fourth time now made Lord Justice for his Life Sir John Morrice comes into Ireland mense Maii 1341. Deputy to John Darcy 1343. 45. 13 die Julii Sir Rafe Ufford with his Consort the Countess of Ulster came into Ireland Lord Chief Justice He died on Palm-Sunday the 9 of April 1346. 1346. 46. Sir Roger Darcy Lord Justice ad tempus de assensu Ordinatione Regalium aliorum in Hiberniâ And Sir John Morris comes Lord Chief Justice May 15. 1346. who being put out by the King Sir Walter Bermingham was instituted mense Junii he came into Ireland 1348. 47. John Archprior of Kilmaynan Deputy to Sir Walter in his absence but Sir Walter returns out of England Lord Justice as before to whom the King gave the Barony of Kenlys in Ossery which belonged to Eustace le Poer who was attainted and hanged Obiit Bermingham quondà m Optimus Justiciarius Hiberniae in Vigiliâ Margaretae Virginis 1350. in Angliâ 1349. 48. Dominus de Carew Miles Baro Lord Justice 1350. 49. Sir Thomas Rokesby Lord Justice 1355. 50. Sir Thomas went out of his Justice-ship July 26. and Maurice Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond is made Lord Justice He continued as long as he lived which was not long for he died in Dublin-Castle die Conversionis Sancti Pauli following 1356. 51. 31 Edw. 3. Sir Thomas Rokesby again Lord Justice Obiit eodem Anno. 1357. 52. Sir Almaric de Sancto Amando Lord Justice 1359. 53. James Butler Earl of Ormond Lord Chief Justice 1360. 54. 35 Edw. 3. the Earl of Ormond coming into England Maurice Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare is made Chief Justice ut sequitur OMnibus ad quos hae Literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quòd Commisimus dilecto fideli nostro Mauritio Comiti de Kildare Officium Justiciarii nostri Terrae nostrae Hiberniae Terram nostram Hiberniam cùm Castris omnibus pertinentiis suis Custodiendam Quamdiu nobis placuerit Recipiendo ad Scaccarium nostrum Dubliniae per Annum quamdiù in Officio illo sic steterit quingentas Libras Pro quibus Officium illud terram Custodiet erit vic◠simus de hominibus ad arma cùm tot equis Coopertis continuè durante Commissione nostrâ supradictâ In cujus rei Testimonium c. Datum per manus dilecti nostri in Christo Fratris Thomae de Burgey Prioris Hospitalis Sancti Johannis Hierusalem in Hibernia Cancellarii nostri Hiberniae apud Dubliniam 30 die Martii 35 Edw. 3. And after the Return of the Earl of Ormond into Ireland Ormond was Justice as before and the Earl of Kildare surceased 1361. 55. Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the Third and Earl of Ulster in Right of Elizabeth his Wife Daughter and Heir of William de Burgo Earl of Ulster venit in Hiberniam Locumtenens Domini Regis in Octavis Nativitatis Beatae Mariae Here was the first Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Anno 1364. April 22. Lionel went into England leaving Ormond his Deputy of Ireland Lionel returned the eighth of December He was sent for again into England 1365. and then leaves Sir Thomas Dale his Servant Governor and Justice of Ireland Lionel died at Languvil in Italy 1368. Cambden apud Albam in Piemont 1367. 56. Gerald Fitz-Maurice Earl of Desmond Lord Justice 1369. 57. Sir William de Windsore came into Ireland the 12 of July Lord Lieutenant 1372. 58. Sir Robert alii Richard de Ashton Lord Justice of Ireland 59. Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and Ulster Lord Lieutenant He died at Cork 1381. 5 Rich. 2. Sub Richardo Secundo 1387. 60. Robert Vere Earl of Oxford created Marquis of Dublin 9 Rich. 2. and after made Duke of Ireland 10 Rich. 2. And after that the King granted him the Kingdom and Sovereignty of Ireland by Letters Patents saith Brook the York-Herald and to bear for his Arms Azure three Crowns Gold in a Border Argent to be quartered before his own Coat Obiit in Lovaniâ 1392. 1397. 61. Roger Mortimer Earl of March Lord Lieutenant of Ireland He was slain by the Irishmen 1399. 22 Rich. 2. Stow. Rex Anglia contrà Juramentum quod praestiterat revocavit de Hiberniâ Justiciarios quos olìm de Consensu suo Proceres propter defectus eorum notabiles Constituêrunt exulare So Walsingham sub Anno 1397. 20 Rich. 2. pag. 353. Sub Henrico Quarto 1400. 62. Sir John Stanley Lord Lieutenant 1401. 63. In May Sir John went into England leaving Sir William Stanley in his Place And on St. Bartholomew's Eve eodem Anno Stephen Scroope entred Ireland Deputy to Thomas of Lancaster the King's Son Lord Lieutenant who came into Ireland in die Sancti Bricii November 13. eodem Anno. Anno 1403. about the eleventh of November Thomas the King's Son going into England left Stephen Scroope his Deputy and Scroope going into England the first day of Lent the Noblemen of Ireland chuse the Earl of Ormond Lord Justice Anno 1405. Scroope the Deputy of Thomas of Lancaster returns into Ireland but going again into England the Earl of Ormond is Justice Anno 1406. Scroope returning after Michaelmas into Ireland is Deputy as before Anno 1407. Scroope going this Year also into England James Butler Earl of Ormond is elected Lord Justice Anno 1408. Thomas of Lancaster Lord Lieutenant lands at Carlingford in Ireland the second of August In this Year died Stephen Scroope at Tristel-Dermot 16 die Januarii And the third of the Ides of March following Sir Thomas de Lancaster Lord Lieutenant going for England leaves the Prior of Kilmaynan his Deputy in Ireland Thomas of Lancaster was slain at the Battel of Bangy by the Duke of Alanson 22 Martii being Easter Eve Anno Domini 1421. 9 Hen.
Justices 1629. 142. Thomas Viscount Wentworth July 25. Lord Deputy 1633. 143. Sir Adam Lofties Lord Chancellor Christopher Wansford Master of the Rolls June 2. Lord Justices 1636. 144. Thomas Viscount VVentworth November 23. Lord Deputy 1636. 145. Robert Lord Dillon of Kilkenny-VVest Christopher VVansford Master of the Rolls September 12. Lord Justices 1639. 146. Thomas VVentworth Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant He was Beheaded May 12. 1641. very unjustly by the Parliament of England's Faction 1640. Christopher VVansford was Deputy to Strafford 147. Robert Lord Dillon Sir VVilliam Parsons Master of the Court of Wards Decem. 30. Lord Justices 1640. 148. Sir VVilliam Parsons Sir John Borlace Master of the Ordnance February 9. Lord Justices 1640. 149. Sir John Borlace Sir Henry Tichborn May 1. Lord Justices 1643. 150. James Butler Marquess of Ormond February 21. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Rebellion of the Parliament of England was now broken out by raising Arms and Forces against the King and great Troubles arose both in England and Ireland 1643. Anno 1649. Oliver Cromwel Voted General of all the Forces sent against Ireland by the Parliament of England March 30. On the 20 of June following Dublin was Besieged by the Marquess of Ormond and on August 2. he was defeated before Dublin by Colonel Jones and his Party who issued out of the Town and Ireland reduced by Cromwel soon after Sub Carolo Secundo 151. King Charles the Second being restored to his Kingdoms 1660. makes James Butler now Duke of Ormond Lord Liutenant of Ireland 1662. who landed in Ireland 28 die Julii eodem Anno. 1662. 152. The Duke of Ormond is desired by the King to surrender his Commission and the Lord Roberts Lord Privy Seal is made Lieutenant of Ireland in February 1668. 153. Roberts is recalled and John Lord Barkley came Lord Lieutenant 1670. Finis Totius Operis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 SOME ANTIQUITIES TOUCHING CHESHIRE Faithfully Collected out of Authentique Histories Old Deeds Records and Evidences BY Sir PETER LEYCESTER Baronet A Member of the same County Nescio qua Natale Solum dulcedine cunctos ducit immemores non sinit esse sui LONDON Printed Anno Domini M.DC.LXXII THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK THe first Part treateth of the Governors and Earls of Mercia from the time of King Alfred to the time of the Norman Conquest The second Part comprehendeth the History of the Earls of Chester from the Norman Conquest till that Earldom was Invested in the Crown of England under King Henry the Third with a short Catalogue of all such Princes of England as have been created Princes of Wales and Earls of Chester ever since to this day The third Part treateth of the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester with several Catalogues of all the Bishops Deans Chamberlains Judges Sheriffs and Escheatours of Cheshire and also of the Recorders of the City of Chester The fourth and last Part comprehendeth the Antiquities of Bucklow Hundred in Cheshire SOME ANTIQUITIES TOUCHING CHESHIRE PART I. CHAP. I. I. OUr Island of Great Brettaine was altogether unknown both to the ancient Grecians and Romans until the Days of Caius Julius Caesar Bede de Historiâ Gentis Anglorum lib. 1. cap. 2. Learned Cambden in his Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 24 25. Also Sheringham de Gentis Anglorum Origine pag. 99. For the Name of Brettaine is not to be found in any Author Greek or Latine before that time as far forth as I have ever seen or heard of Diodorus Siculus being the first among the Greek Authors and Lucretius among the Latines who made mention thereof and both these lived about the same Age with Caesar or a little sooner Wherefore we have no certain History of this Island but from Caesar downwards The ancient Brettans were a barbarous People and left no Writing or History of their Countrey to Posterity Gildas called Sapiens is the first among the Brettans who hath left us any mention in Writing hereof and those very short and imperfect Now Gildas writ about the Year of Christ 540. and what he writ as he confesseth in his Prologue was by Relation from beyond Sea more than out of ancient Records and Writings of his own Countrey for those if any such were at all were either burned by the Enemy's rage or carried away by the banished Natives so that in his time there was no such extant II. Now Julius Caesar upon his second Expedition into Brettaine Anno antè Christum natum 54. or thereabout subdued part of Brettain and many Cities submitted and yielded up themselves to the Romans Caesar de Bello Gallico lib. 5. in ipso initio And the Rule of the Romans in Brettaine ceased upon the declination of the Roman Empire after that Alaric King of the Gothes had taken Rome which hapned in the Year of Christ 410. according to our vulgar Computation So Helvicus in his Chronology also Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 11. So that the Rule or Soveraignty of the Romans over Brettaine continued almost 470 Years as Bede computeth in the same Chapter But Cambden in his Britannia pag. 60. computing to Valentinian the Third saith 476 Years III. But now the poor Brettans upon the Romans withdrawing of their Forces out of Brettaine to defend themselves were miserably devoured by the Scots and Picts And therefore they called in and invited the Saxons to aid them who came first into Brettaine Anno Christi 449. saith Bede and Malmesbury But the Brettans to use Gildas's own words perceiving the Saxons Quasi pro patriâ pugnaturos sed eam certiùs impugnaturos defended themselves as well as they could But the Saxons after they had expelled the Scots and Picts did also by degrees root out the Brettans also and the Saxons at last solely possessed themselves of all the South part of Brettaine which we now call England but disagreeing among themselves and contending for Superiority each Party would set up themselves as it commonly falls out in such Cases and so had a Heptarchy or seven distinct Kingdoms in England till at last they were all swallowed up into one by that of the West-Saxons the poor Brettans being driven into Wales and Cornwall IV. Egbert King of the West-Saxons being now sole Monarch of all England for so Hoveden calls him pag. 414. and having routed Wilaf King of Mercia and made him Tributary which Kingdom of Mercia was the largest in compass of all the seven and the last of the six unsubdued ordained That this part of Brettaine whereof he had now the Soveraignty should be called England since which time it hath gained the Name of England Verstegan's Saxon Antiquities p. 123. And this Edict saith Trevisa in his Translation of Polychronicon was when Egbert was Crowned King of all England at Winchester after the Battel of Ellindon Fol. 275. Now the Battel of Ellindon is placed in Anno Christi 823. by Florentius Wigorniensis and Stowe This Egbert also is said to have new
modelled England into Shires the word Share we use at this day for a Part or Division Huntington lib. 1. Hist pag. 298. Postquà m Reges West-Sexe caeteris praevaluerunt Monarchiam obtinuerunt terras in 35 Provincias dividebant This might be Ethelwolfe Son of Egbert yet Egbert was the first Monarch Ingulphus saith Alfred the fourth Son of Ethelwolfe divided England into Counties Hundreds and Tythings pag. 870. But Selden supposeth Ingulphus is herein mistaken otherwise Malmesbury would have attributed the Division of Shires unto Alfred as well as Hundreds and Tythings which he omitteth altogether pag. 44. Therefore Shires were distinguished somewhat sooner to wit by Egbert Hundreds and Tythings by Alfred This Alfred also ordained Judges and Sheriffs making two Officers for the Governing of a Shire whereof before was but one Officer called Vice-Dominus This was but a new Model by Egbert and Alfred for without doubt the ancient Brettans had their Divisions of Counties Cities and Towns as Cook upon Littleton well observes Sect. 248. V. As to this new Division of Shires Huntington in the place cited reckons up 35. where he reckons Cornwall Northumberland and Cumberland to make up the Account But Malmesbury De Gestis Regum lib. 2. cap. 10. pag. 63. saith That under King Ethelred Anno Domini 1016. there were but 32 Shires in England and the Record of the two Dooms-day Books hath onely 33 Shires under William the Conqueror Anno Christi 1086. unless we take the East-Ryding North-Ryding and West-Ryding there mentioned for Shires See Splelman's Glossary on the word Dooms-day which three do now make up but one Shire called Yorkshire as it now stands divided Nor do we find in Dooms-day Book any mention at all of Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Durham or Lancashire howbeit part of Lancashire as it now stands distinguished is put under the Title of Cestershire in that Book to wit all that part between the two Rivers of Ribbell and Mersey and the rest of it I conceive was put under Euruic-Scire So that Lancashire seems to have got and gained a distinct Name of a County or Shire since the Norman Conquest but of later time it was made a County Palatine by the King's Charter to his Son John of Gaunt Dated 28 die Februarii 51 Edw. 3. 1376. with all Priviledges sicùt Comes Cestriae infrâ Comitatum Cestriae dignoscitur habere Confirmed by Parliament 13 Rich. 2. 1389. Durham also hath not his Title in Dooms-day Book but may seem there to be comprehended under Euric-Scire or Yorkshire So likewise Northumberland Cumberland and Westmorland are either there omitted or comprehended under Yorkshire But soon after these were all accounted for distinct Counties or Shires which six as they now stand divided Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Durham Yorkshire and Lancashire were by the Romans during their Rule in Brettaine stiled Brigantes that is Robbers In the first Age of the Saxons Rule in Brettaine these all made up the Kingdom of Deira as it was then called which afterwards the Saxons called The Kingdom of the Northumbrians so called because they possessed all the North of England from the River Humber in Yorkshire to Scotland So Cambden's Britannia in the Preface to Yorkshire Polychronicon lib. 1. cap. 49. saith thus That if Northumberland be counted for one Shire which reached sometime from the River Humber to the River Twede then are in England but 32 Shires over and above Cornwall But if it be parted into six Shires that is to say Evoric-shire or Yorkshire Durham-shire Northumberland Carlisle-shire or Cumberland Appleby-shire or Westmorland and Lancashire then are there 36 Shires besides Cornwall In the Conqueror's time who Described all the Provinces of England were found 36 Shires and half a Shire 52080 Towns 45002 Parish Churches 75000 Knights Fees whereof Houses of Religion had 28015. But now are more Towns and Villages inclosed and inhabited then were at that time and whereas before it was written that Cornwall was not set in the Shires of England it may stand among them well enough for it is not in Wales nor in Scotland but it is in England and so reckoning Cornwall be 37 Shires in England Thus the Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon who writ under Edward the Third But the Monk erreth in his Account for there are 33 Shires named in Dooms-day Book with Cornwall and if Yorkshire in Dooms-day Book have five other Shires taken out of it and be added to the rest then there must be in all 38 Shires and not 37. as the Monk counteth And if we add Rutlandshire which was formerly part of Northamptonshire but since Edward Plantagenet Son and Heir to Edmund of Langley Duke of York was made Earl of Rutland under King Richard the Second it hath been reckoned for a County and also Richmondshire which is part of Yorkshire being now also put into the number of our Counties then have we just 40 Counties in England at this present VI. Wales was newly divided into Shires and Hundreds Anno Domini 1283. 11 Edw. 3. saith Stow in his Annals in which Year Wales was totally subdued by Edward the First who then built two strong Castles there one at Conway the other at Caernarvan Cambden saith there were onely six Shires in Wales in the Reign of Edward the First constituted and the rest were ordained by Parliamentary Authority under Henry the Eighth in his Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 115. But the Statute of 34 35 Hen. 8. cap. 26. tells us That eight Shires were of ancient and long time to wit the Shires of Glamorgan Caermarthen Pembroke Cardigan Flint Caernarvan Anglesey and Merioneth but other four were made and appointed by the Statute of 27 Hen. 8. cap. 26. besides Monmouthshire to wit Radnor Brecknock Montgomery and Denbigh and divers Dominions and Lordships in the Marches of Wales were then also united and annexed to Shropshire Herefordshire and Gloucestershire so that there were five Shires newly made under Henry the Eighth and eight Shires under Edward the First but some now account Monmouth among the Shires of England as Cambden and Speed and so make 41 Counties in England because in that Statute of 27 Hen. 8. cap. 26. it is made subject to the Chancery of England and to the King's Judges of Westminster as all other the King's Subjects be within every Shire of the Realm of England By the same reason we may now account all the 13 Shires of Wales for Counties of England because by the same Statute of 27 Hen. 8. the Dominion of Wales is from thenceforth incorporated united and annexed to the Realm of England Yet it seems to me more proper that Monmouth be placed among the Shires of Wales in regard it was formerly part of Wales to preserve the memory thereof and so we have at this day 13 Shires in Wales CHAP. II. Of the Kingdom of Mercia I. FOr my better method and clearer passage to the Earls of Chester it will not be amiss briefly to
Cambden's Britannia Printed 1607 pag. 693. Matthew Paris put out by Wats 1764. pag. 430. where also it appears that in Anno 1236. Alan had a Brother named Thomas and also a Bastard Son called Thomas who by the assistance of their great Allies sought by force to possess themselves of Galloway in Scotland which the King of Scotland had distributed to the three Daughters and Heirs of Alan but these Rebels were beaten and dispersed by the King of Scotland Anno 1236. But to return to our Earls of Chester The Line of the ancient Earls of Chester now failing this Earldom was by King Henry the Third taken into his own hands Anno Domini 1237. 21 Hen. 3. It remains that I now shew the Earls of Chester of the Royal Blood since this time which in the next Chapter I shall briefly reckon up And observe that the County of Flint appertaineth to the Dignity of the Sword of the Earls of Chester and that the County Palatine of Chester is still preserved in the Crown as a County Palatine if there be no Creation of the Prince into the Title of Earl of Chester If the King 's eldest Son be created Prince of Wales then usually is the Title of Earl of Chester also conferred with it but upon the death of every Prince so created these Titles are preserved in the Crown till a new Creation These Notes following I had from Mr. Dugdale HElen the Widow of John the Scot held these Lands following till a Dower was assigned out viz. Fotheringhay and Jarwell in Northamptonshire Keweston in Bedfordshire Totnam in Middlesex Bramton Conington and Limpays in Huntingtonshire Bado in Essex and Exton in Rutlandshire Claus 22 Hen. 3. memb 20. The Sisters of John Scot had these Lands following Devergoil Daughter of Margaret eldest Sister of John had the Mannors of Luddington and Torksey in Lincolnshire with the Farm of Yarmouth in Norfolk Tower of London Pat. 22 Hen. 3. memb 11. Isabel had Writtell and Hathfield in Essex Maude the third Sister died without issue Pat. 22 Hen. 3. mem 4. Ada the fourth Sister had Bromsgrove in Worcestershire Bolsover in Derbyshire the Mannor and Castle Oswaldesbeck in Nottinghamshire See Stat. 32 H 8. cap. 29. the Mannor and Sok of Maunsfield in Nottinghamshire and Oswardbeck Wapentake and Wurfield Stratton and Cundover in Shropshire Wigginton and Wolverhampton in Staffordshire Pat. 22 Hen. 3. memb 4. Claus 22 Hen. 3. mem 12. After this to wit 31 Hen. 3. the Earldom of Chester with the Castles of Gannok and Disart * * Disart Castle is in Denhighshire in the Borders of Wales were annexed to the Crown for ever Pat. 31 Hen. 3. mem 7. CHAP. VIII Of the Titles of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester since they were invested in the Crown of England and who have been so created with the time of their Creation I. KIng Henry the Third brought Lhewellin Prince of North-Wales into Subjection and made Peace with Lhewellin Anno Domini 1228. 12 Hen. 3. upon Condition that Lhewellin and his Successors should be called Princes and do Homage to the Kings of England Whereupon King Henry received from him three thousand Marks Knighton pag. 2436. And then King Henry made a Charter to Lhewellin which was confirmed by the Pope Anno 25 Hen. 3. 1241. David the Son of Lhewellin obligeth himself to King Henry to hold all his Lands in Capite of the King and to free his elder Brother Griffith * Stowe saith Griffith was a Bastard Son of Lhewellin pag. 185. and Owen the eldest Son of Griffith out of Prison whom he had unjustly detained and that the Land of Englesmere should remain to King Henry and his Heirs Mat. Paris put out by Wats pag. 625 and yet did this David acknowledge to hold his Lands in Wales of the Pope endeavouring to shake off the Yoke of his Fealty to the Kings of England and Griffith promised by Sureties if he obtained his portion of the Lands due unto him to pay 300 Marks yearly to King Henry and to his Heirs for ever Now David rebelled and after much perplexity and destruction of his Lands in Wales by King Henry he died Anno 1246. King Henry the Third Anno Domini 1254. 38 Hen. 3. gave Wales to his eldest Son Prince Edward by the Name of unà cùm Conquestu nostro Walliae as also Gascony Ireland and some other Territories recited in the Charter This was upon the Marriage of Prince Edward with Elinour Sister to Alphonso King of Spain Yet saith Selden notwithstanding the Grant of Wales I find no warrant that therefore the special Title of Prince of Wales as it belongs to the Son and Heir Apparent began in this Prince Edward Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 594. Matthew Westminster sub Anno 1254. Also Matthew Paris put out by Wats 1640. pag 890. Nor were the ancient Princes of Wales of the British Blood at this time quite extinct for Wales was not absolutely subdued till this Prince Edward was King of England Scilicèt 1283. 11 Edw. 1. So Stowe Neither did this Edward whiles he was Prince ever assume the Title of Prince of Wales as far forth as I can find And for the Earldom of Chester Cambden saith it was given by Henry the Third to this Prince Edward who being taken Prisoner by the Barons surrendred it up to Simon de Monifort Earl of Leycester that he the Prince might be redeemed Sed Simone statim interfecto ad Regiam Familiam citò rediit Cambden's Britannia Tit. Cheshire ad finem And indeed by the Charter of Maxfield Dated 45 Hen. 3. 1261. This Prince Edward seems to be possessed of the County of Chester Howbeit in this Charter and all others that I have seen he useth onely the Title of Edwardus illustris Regis Angliae Primogenitus and not at all the Title of Comes Cestriae The Charter made to Simon de Montfort of the Earldom of Chester bears Date 24 die Decembris 49 Hen. 3. 1264. at Woodstock Vincent upon Brook pag 108. whereunto the King was forced to make his Peace for both the King and Prince Edward his Son were then Prisoners to Simon taken at the Battel of Lewis in Sussex 12 die Maii 48 Hen. 3. 1264. See Stowe Yet Simon enjoyed it but a little space for he was slain at the Battel of Evesham the fourth day of August 49 Hen. 3. 1265. and then all Montfort's Estate was forfeited by his Rebellion and so the Earldom of Chester reverted back to Henry the Third And I have seen the Copy of the Deed whereby Prince Edward confirms to the Barons of Cheshire all the Liberties which Randle sometime Earl of Chester had formerly granted unto them by his Charter and in this he is onely stiled Edwardus illustris Regis Angliae Primogenitus Dated 27 die Augusti 49 Hen. 3. which is but 23 Days after the Battel of Evesham so that the Prince soon had the Earldom again but I find
Cornwall in Cook 's Reports lib. 8. was Printed by his Majesty's special Command 1613. 11 Jacobi where it is set forth That by the Advice of the Privy Council it was clearly and absolutely Resolved that Prince Charles now the King 's eldest Son was in Right and by virtue of the Statute of 11 Edw. 3. ought to be Duke of Cornwall and therefore his Majesty commanded that Prince Charles his Son should have and enjoy the Honor and Stile of Duke of Cornwall which he presently had and enjoyed accordingly Vincent upon Brook pag. 146 147. And on the third of November 1616. 14 Jacobi he was also created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and was afterwards King of England by the Name of King Charles the First A summary Collection of the Earls of Chester contained in this second Part. 1. GHerbod a Nobleman of Flanders had the Earldom of Chester given him by the Conqueror about the Year of Christ 1068. but going into Flanders was there taken Prisoner And then did William the Conqueror give the Earldom of Chester to Hugh sirnamed Lupus Anno Domini 1070. 2. Hugh sirnamed Lupus Earl of Auranches in Normandy was made Earl of Chester Anno 1070. He died July 27. 1101. after he had held the Earldom of Chester 31 Years 3. Richard the onely Child of Hugh Lupus by his Wife was but seven Years old when his Father died He was drowned with many others as he was Sailing from Normandy towards England Anno 1120. after he had been Earl 18 Years but had no Issue 4. Randle de Mecinis or Meschines Son of Maud Sister to Hugh Lupus succeeded Earl of Chester as Cosin and next Heir to Richard And he died Anno 1128. having been Earl eight Years 5. Randle the Second sirnamed Gernouns Son of Randle de Meschines succeeded his Father He died Anno Domini 1153 having been Earl 25 Years 6. Hugh the Second sirnamed Cyveliok Son of Randle the Second succeeded his Father And he died Anno Domini 1181. having been Earl 28 Years 7. Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill Son of Hugh the Second succeeded his Father in the Earldom of Chester He was also made Earl of Lincoln 1217. and died at Wallingford in the latter end of October Anno Domini 1232. without Issue and was Earl of Chester 51 Years 8. John sirnamed The Scot Earl of Huntingdon Son of Maud eldest Sister and Coheir to Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill succeeded Earl of Chester and died at Dernhale Abbey without Issue June 7. 1237. having been Earl of Chester almost five Years from which time this Earldom was seized to the Crown of England Finis Partis Secundae The Third Part Treating of the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester with several Catalogues of all the Bishops Deans Chamberlains Judges Sheriffs and Escheators of Cheshire and also of the Recorders of the City of Chester CHAP. I. Of the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester I. COncerning the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester of whom I promised before to speak in this third Part of my Book these things I have principally to Discuss and Illustrate the true notion of their Title the time of their Institution their Office Place and number II. For the true notion of their Title Selden tells us in his Titles of Honour pag. 688. that the noblest and greatest Tenants to the greater sort of Subjects had anciently the Appellation of Barons ascribed to them especially those to the Earls of Chester Spelman in his Glossary deriveth the word Baro from the old English-Saxon Per or Wer and of later Times written Par Francis Antiquis Ber signifying the same with the Latine word Vir Glossarium Latino-Gallicum Ber Bara Vir so that the Latine word Vir seems to be the original Fountain whence it springs And both these words Baro by some written Varo and Vir do agree in their several significations sometimes for a Man barely and absolutely sometimes for a Man of Worth Power or Prowess sometimes for a Husband For the notion of the word here it denotes as much as Magnates or Optimates where we may observe That Noblemen or Barons seem to be a necessary Supplement as essential to the Royalty of a Count Palatine for the Earl of Chester having Royal Authority within himself we may not unfitly stile him a petty King And that the Majesty of his Palace may be answerable to a King he must have Noblemen about him in imitation of the Barons of the Kingdom Hence also the Earls of Chester subtuted Offices making the Baron of Halton Constable in Cheshire in Fee in imitation of the Lord High-Constable of England and making the Baron of Montalt Steward of Cheshire in Fee after the example of the Lord High-Steward of England These Barons under the Earl Ruled and Governed the County and from their great Power and Sway had the Appellation of Barons III. As to the time of their first Institution I find the Great Men of Cheshire about the Earl stiled Barons in the time of Hugh Lupus In the Charter of his Foundation of the Monastery of St. Werburge in Chester Anno 1093. 6 Willielmi Rufi in the conclusion thereof it is said Ego Comes Hugo mei Barones confirmavimus ista omnia corà m Anselmo Archiepiscopo c. Neither must we fondly imagine or expect any formal Creation of them either by Patent for such are of later Times by much or any solemn Investure But as I conceive upon the conferring of the Earldom of Chester on Hugh Lupus by the Conqueror Anno Domini 1070. the principal Gentlemen and Commanders under Earl Hugh being called to advise and assist the said Earl either in any time of imminent danger or in regulating and ordering the more weighty Affairs of the County were of course so stiled and thus I conceive they retained the Name of Barons by little and little after the manner of the Great Nobles of the Realm IV. And hence may we guesse their Office Adesse Comiti in Concilio as Cambden hath it to assist the Earl in Council upon all grand Designs and Affairs V. Concerning their Place of Precedence and Dignity we must consider them either in relation to others or among themselves In relation to others out of the County I conceive them inferior to the rank of the Barons of our Realm for these are but titularly or analogically Barons as I may so speak to those of the Kingdom nay in Place beneath all Knights but they were the greatest Men in the County under the Earl for Power and Estate Their Priority or Dignity among themselves we shall trace as exactly as we can in so remote and obscure a Path. Some would have the Baron of Malpas to be the prime Baron forasmuch as Robert Fitz-Hugh who was Baron of Malpas under Hugh Lupus in the Conqueror's time hath for the most part the preeminence in the Subscription of old Charts of those ancient Times as also in the Record of
Brooks similitèr 22 Henry Brooks of Norton Esquire by the two Houses sinè Regè. 23 Idem Henry continued by the Parliament sinè Rege 24 Roger Wilbraham of Darford Esquire by the Parliament sinè Rege 1649. Caroli Primi Robert Duckenfield of Duckenfield Esquire by the Committees of State calling themselves Custodes Libertatis Angliae after they had Beheaded the King Sub Carolo Secundo Caroli Secundi 1650. Sir Henry Delves of Dodington Baronet by the Committees of State 1651. Edmund Jodrill of Yerdesley Esquire by the Committees of State 1652. John Crew of Crew Esquire by the Committees of State 1653. Peter Dutton of Hatton Esquire by the Committees of State 1654. George Warburton of Arley Esquire by Oliver Protector 1655. Philip Egerton of Olton Esquire by the same Oliver 1656. Idem Philip continued by Oliver 1657. Thomas Manwaring of Over-Pever Esquire by Oliver 1658. John Legh of Booths Esquire by Oliver 1659. Idem John continued by Oliver 1660. 12 Thomas Cholmondeley of Vale-Royal Esquire by the King now Restored 1661. 13 Idem Thomas continued by the King 1662. 14 Thomas Legh of Adlington Esquire 1663. 15 Sir John Bellot of Morton made Baronet this Year 1664. 16 Sir Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey Baronet 1665. 17 Sir Thomas Delves of Dodington Baronet 1666. 18 Sir John Arderne of Harden Knight 1667. 19 Sir Richard Brook of Norton Baronet 1668. 20 Roger Wilbraham of Darford Esquire 1669. 21 Sir Peter Brook of Mere Knight His Writ is Dated in November 1668. 1670. 22 Roger Wilbraham of Nantwich Esquire 1671. 23 Edmund Jodrill of Yerdsley Esquire 1672. 24 William Lawton of Lawton Esquire CHAP. VII A Catalogue of the Escheators of Cheshire to the Reign of King James IN ancient time there were but two Escheators in England the one on this side of Trent and the other beyond Trent at which time they had Sub-Escheators But in the Reign of Edward the Second the Offices were divided and several Escheators made in every County for Life c. and so continued till the Reign of Edward the Third And afterwards by the Statute of 14 Edw. 3. it was Enacted that there should be as many Escheators assigned as when Edward the Third came to the Crown and that was one in every County and that no Escheator should tarry in his Office above a year and by another Statute to be in Office but once in three years The Lord-Treasurer nameth him Cook upon Littleton fol. 13. b. But Chester and other County-Palatines made their own Escheators long time before the Statute of 14 Edw. 3. and their Priviledges for making Escheators are allowed by the said Statute 45 E. 3. 1261. Thomas de Orreby 1261. as appears by the original Deed of the Liberties of Maxfield Hugo le Mercer sub Edw. 1. 10 E. 1. 1282. Adam de Chetwine Mr. Holms's Book Lib. B. pag. 124. Ex placitis Cestriae die Martis proximè post Festum Sancti Nicolai 10 Edw. 1. de custodiâ maritagio Johannis Filii haeredis Hugonis de Hatton 22 E. 1. 1294. Frater Robertus de valle Regali per Inquisitionem post mortem Hugonis de Dutton Lib. C. fol. 156. bb 24 E. 1. 1296. Peter of Newcastle under Lime as appears by the Writ for the Office of Vrian de Sancto Petro vulgò Sampier in the Pleas at Chester proximè post Festum Sancti Augustini Episcopi 28 Edw. 1. 27 E. 1. 1299. Hugh Bushy per Inquisitionem concerning Sampier in Placitis ibidèm in Festo Translationis Sancti Thomae Apostoli 27 Edw. 1. 6 Ed. 2. 1312. Matthew de Hulgrave Edward de la Mare also 6 Edw. 2. Mr. Holms's Book B. pag. 114. 1 Ed. 3. 1327. William de Swetenham ut per Inquisitionem post mortem Hugonis de Dutton 1 Ed. 3. Lieger Book of Vale-Royal fol. 46. 2 Ed. 3. 1328. 5 Ed. 3. 1331. 6 Ed. 3. 1332. John de Wetenhale Mr. Holms's Book E. fol. 256. Thomas Daniers ut per Inquisitionem penès me V. num 11. Hamo Massy de Tatton O. num 1. He was younger Son to Robert Massy of Tatton in Cheshire and Married Katharine Daughter and Heir of Alan Rixton of Rixton in Lancashire 6 Edw. 3. 1332. from whom the Massyes of Rixton He was afterwards Sir Hamon Massy Knight 1347. Lib. C. fol. 105. num 42. fol. 292. num 1. 7 Ed. 3. 1333. Peter Arderne made Escheator 7 Edw. 3. Mr. Holms's Book E fol. 77. Quamdiù benè se gesserit This Peter had Lands in Over-Alderley 19 E. 3. 1345. Hugh de Hopwas as appears by an Inquisition Ex Officio for the Bondary of Stubs supèr Rudheath quae tenetur de Fratribus Sancti Johannis Hierosolymitani in possession of Sir Thomas Delves of Dodington Baronet Anno 1664. He was also Escheator 23 26 Edw. 3. Quae sequuntur ex Recordis scilicèt intèr Recognitiones Scaccarii Cestriae apùd Cestriam propriâ manu collecta sunt 35 E. 3. 1361. Adam de Kingsley 36 Edw. 3. 39 E. 3. 1365. John Scolehall made Escheator quamdiù nobis placuerit 26 Martii 39 Edw. 3. He was also Sheriff of Cheshire 42 Edw. 3. I find him also Escheator 2 Ri. 2. 6 7 Rich. 2. 8 Ric. 2. 1384. Adam Kingsley 10 R. 2. 1386. John Ewlowe 11 12 13 R. 2. Adam Kingsley 14 R. 2. 1390. John Leech part of 13 14 Rich. 2. 15 R. 2. 1391. Thomas Masterson of Nantwich part of 14 15 16 Rich. 2. 16 R. 2. 1392. Adam de Kingsley part of 16 19 20 Rich 2. 21 R. 2. 1398. Hugh Leigh id est of High-Legh of the East-Hall made Escheator quamdiù nobis placuerit 23 Octobris 21 Rich. 2. The Original is among the Evidences of Mr. Legh of High-Legh of the West-hall Anno 1664. 22 R. 2. 1399. Adam de Kingsley 1 H. 4. 1400. Richard Manley 3 Hen. 4. 18 Augusti 4 Hen. 4. 4 H. 4. 1403. Matthew Mere made Escheator 4 Hen. 4. 7 H. 4. 1405. Richard Manley made Escheator 7 Hen. 4. I find him also Escheator 10 Hen. 4. 2 H. 5. 1414. Henry de Ravenscroft 2 3 Hen. 5. 6 Hen. 5. 9 H. 5. 1421. Richard Done of Crowton made Escheator 9 Hen. 5. 10 H. 5. 1422. John Wetenhale of Nantwich made Escheator quamdiù nobis placuerit 26 Aprilis 10 Hen. 5. He continued to 7 Hen. 6. and part of 7 Hen. 6. 7 H. 6. 1428. John Bruen made Escheator December 8. 7 Hen. 6. He continued to 12 Hen. 6. and part of 12 Hen. 6. This was Bruen of Stapleford 12 H. 6. 1434. John Legh del Ridge 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Hen. 6. 31 Hen. 6. 38 H. 6. 1459. Raufe Legh ut per Inquisitionem post mortem Domini Thomae Dutton de Dutton Militis 38 H. 6. Robert Fowelshurst made Escheator 4 Julii 38 Hen. 6. 1460. 1 Ed. 4. 1461. William Venables de Copenhale made Escheator 20 Julii 1 Edw. 4. 17 E. 4. 1477.
William de Mere in Staffordshire Lib. C. fol. 156. w. Margaret a Daughter married William Venables Son and Heir of Roger Venables of Kinderton 38 Hen. 3. 1253. Lib. H. num 40. And Katharine married John Son of Vrian de Sancto Petro. So I find it in an old Pedegree This Sir Thomas was Sheriff of Cheshire 1268. 53 Hen. 3. Lib. A. fol. 143. o. He died in the beginning of the Reign of Edward the First Philippa was living a Widow 1290 1294. Lib. C. fol. 156. x. bb VIII Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of Sir Thomas bound himself to the Abbot of Vale-Royal to make a Foot-Bridge at Acton and to find a Boat and Ferry-man at Acton-Ford about 1286 Lib. C. fol. 156. aa The same is now made a County-Bridge He also was bound to William Gerard his Squire in unâ Robâ Armigerorum annuatìm ad totam vitam suam ad Festum Natalis Domini 13 Edw. 1. 1285. Lib. C. fol. 156. z. He Purchased Barterton and married Joan Daughter of Sir Vrian de Sancto Petro vulgò Sampier I have no Authority for this but an old Pedegree And had Issue Hugh Dutton Son and Heir and William Dutton who married Maud Daughter and Co-heir to Sir Richard Stockport of Stockport 1305. Lib. C. fol. 146. k. Which William with others was Indicted 35 Edw. 1. for taking away the said Maud by force from Dunham-Massy being then in the Custody of Haemon Massy whom they took out of her Chamber into the Court stripping her of all her Clothes save her Smock saith the Record Lib. C. fol. 215. a. Robert Dutton Parson of Eccleston 1320. Lib. C. fol. 157. II. Also Margaret a Daughter Lib. C. fol. 255. d. Obiit 1294 This Sir Hugh died 22 Edw. 1. 1294. Lib. C. fol. 156. bb Joan his Lady survived she was living 1298. Lib. C. fol. 157. cc. IX Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of Sir Hugh born the eighth day of December 5 Edw. 1. 1276. at Dutton and Baptized at Great Budworth the day following Lib. C. fol. 139. y. He sued the Prior of Norton before Adam Burum and Nicolas Gruchundelée Commissaries of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry at the Visitation of the Arch-Deanery of Chester Anno Domini 1315. for not finding a Chaplain and Lamp at Poosey Chappel according to the Original Grant which he there produced And John Olton then Prior confessed the same and was ordered to find them Lib. C. fol. 146. m. This Priory was of the Order of St. Augustine He married Joan Daughter of Sir Robert Holland of Holland in Lancashire and had Issue Thomas Dutton Son and Heir William Parson of Thornton 22 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 157. ee fol. 180. l. Geffrey Dutton another Son Robert Dutton another Son Lib. C. fol. 157. ee kk 11 Edw. 3. Obiit 1326 This Sir Hugh was made Steward of Halton 24 Decembris 20 Edw. 2. Lib. C. fol. 180 m. and died 1 Edw. 3. 1326. at the Age of fifty Years Joan his Widow afterwards married Edmund Talbot of Bashall and after to Sir John Ratcliff of Urdeshall in Lancashire living 11 Edw. 3. 20 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 157. hh kk fol. 157. f. g. X. Sir Thomas Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of Sir Hugh and Joan was fifteen years old on Whitsunday 1329. 3 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 161. oo He Purchased those Lands in Dutton which formerly belonged to Halton-Fee and also those Lands in Dutton which formerly belonged to Boydell of Dodleston and so made the Township of Dutton entirely his own Lib. C. fol. 158. b. c. as I have more particularly shewed before This Thomas was made Seneschal Governor and Receiver of the Castle and Honour of Halton in Cheshire by William Clinton Earl of Huntington and also of all his Lands and Mannors in Cheshire and Lancashire quamdiù benè se gesserit which the Earl Farmed unto him for 440 Marks yearly Dated at Maxstock 19 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 145. d. It seems he was Indicted for that he and others came with Armed Power when King Edward the Third was out of England within the Verge of the Lodgings of Lionell the King's Son Protector of England and assaulted the Mannor of Geaumes nigh Reading in Wiltshire and there slew Michael Poynings the Uncle and Thomas le Clerke of Shipton and others and committed a Rape on Margery the Wife of one Nicolas de la Beche for which the King pardoned him and he found Sir Bernard Brocas Sir Hugh Berewyk Philip Durdanyt and John Haydoke his Sureties in the Chancery for his good abearing 26 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 153. d. He was by several Commissions employed for the apprehending of certain Malefactors Robbers and Disturbers of the Peace in this County One is directed unto him by the name of Thomas Dutton Equitator in Forestâ de Marâ and to Richard Done Forester of the same Forest 14 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 181. v. fol. 164. e. Anno Domini 1379. 3 Rich. 2. William Eltonhed Prior of the Hermit-Fryars of the Order of St. Augustine at Warrington in Lancashire and the Convent there grant to Sir Thomas Dutton Knight a perpetual Chantry to wit That a sufficient Fryar of the Convent of Warrington shall be especially elected to pray for the Salvation of Sir Thomas his Children and of Philippa his Wife and her Parents and for the Soul of Dame Ellen late Wife of the said Sir Thomas their Children and Parents when they shall die at the Great Altar of their Church yearly for ever and that their Names be written down in their Martyrology Whereunto the Prior and Convent were bound under a Penalty of 3 s. 4 d. to be levied by the Provincial Prior upon omission of such Form of Service and if for a Week or a Fortnight it were omitted then must they double the time omitted in manner aforesaid If neglected for six Months then upon pain of Suspension If for a Year then upon Excommunication until the time omitted be made up Whereunto are Witnesses Thomas Abbot of St. Werburge of Chester Stephen Abbot of Vale-Royal Richard Prior of Norton and Roger Prior of Berkenhed This was confirmed by Henry de Towesdale Provincial Prior of the Hermit-Fryars of the Order of St. Augustine in England with a special Injunction That the said Persons be yearly twice Commemorated before the whole Convent once at the first entrance of the Prior of Warrington into the Convocation-house yearly the other time on the Election-day of a Fellow-Prior for a Provincial Convocation Dated at Warrington on Sunday next after the Feast of St. Martin Anno supradicto Lib. C. fol. 167. a. This Sir Thomas Sealed usually with his Coat of Arms and Crest to wit Quarterly a Fret in the second and third over which upon the Dexter-Angle of the Escocheon a Helmet and thereon a Plume of Feathers Anno Domini 1344. Robert Monning of Tatenhale grants to Thomas de
Dutton to the said John And all the rest of Hatton Lands he continued and gave to Raufe Dutton Lib. C. fol. 168. b. John Dutton of Dutton died the thirtieth day of January 6 Jacobi 1608. at Dutton Obiit 1608 aged seventy Years See the Office taken 7 Jacobi XX. Thomas Dutton of Dutton Esquire Son and Heir of John married Thomasin Daughter of Roger Anderton younger Brother of Anderton of Anderton in Lancashire and Widow to John Singleton of Stany in Lancashire by whom he had Issue John Dutton who married Elizabeth eldest Daughter and Coheir of Sir Thomas Egerton late Son of Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Chancellor of England 3 Jacobi 1605. Lib. C. fol. 163. bb But this John died without Issue the ninth day of February 6 Jacobi 1608. at Tarvin in the life-Life-time of Thomas his Father Also Elinour a Daughter who became sole Heir to her Father This Thomas Dutton of Dutton was Sheriff of Cheshire 1611. 9 Jacobi and died 1614. 12 Jacobi aged forty six Years Lib. C. fol. 163. dd ee Elinour his Daughter and Heir being then aged eighteen Years Thomasin his Widow afterwards married Sir Anthony St. John younger Brother to the Earl of Bolingbroke but had no Issue by him She was second Wife to Sir Anthony and he was third Husband to her XXI Elinour sole Daughter and Heir of Thomas Dutton married Gilbert Gerard Son and Heir of Thomas Gerard Lord Gerard of Gerards-Bromley in Staffordshire 7 Jacobi 1609. she being then but thirteen Years old Lib. C. fol. 163. cc. Gilbert was afterwards Sir Gilbert Gerard Knight of the Bath 30 Maii 1610. at the Creation of Henry eldest Son of King James into the Title of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester And after the death of Thomas Lord Gerard his Father he was then Gilbert Lord Gerard 1618. and had Issue Dutton Lord Gerard and Thomas who died in his Infancy Also Alice eldest Daughter born in Chester 12 Junii and Baptized 18 Junii 1615. She married Roger Owen Son and Heir of Sir William Owen of Cundor in Shropshire who died 1660. and Alice his Wife after married Henry Heylyn of Oxfordshire 1663. Nephew to Dr. Peter Heylyn Frances second Daughter married Robert Nedham Son and Heir of Robert Viscount Kilmorcy by whom he had onely one Child called Elinour which died young 1643. Frances was Buried at Great Budworth 25 Maii 1636. she died in Child-bed And Elizabeth third Daughter born at Gerards-Bromley in Staffordshire Anno Christi 1620. married Peter Leycester of Nether-Tabley in Cheshire Esquire 6 Novembris 1642. afterwards Sir Peter Leycester Baronet 1660. the Author of this Book After the Death of Gilbert Lord Gerard who died 1622. Elinour his Lady married Robert Nedham of Shenton in Shropshire Viscount Kilmorey in Ireland She was second Wife of Robert and had Issue by him Charles Nedham afterwards Lord Kilmorey who died at London 1660. George second Son died at Chester without Issue 1644. Thomas Nedham third Son now living 1669. Arthur another Son died an Infant over-laid by his Nurse Anne died in her Infancy Elinour first married Peter Warburton Heir to Arley Estate 1638. she was then but eleven Years old But Peter dying without Issue and under Age of the Small Pox at Oxford Anno 1641. she married afterwards John Lord Byron of Newstede in Nottinghamshire Anno 1644. then Governor of Chester who died in France without any Issue by her Anno 1652. This Elinour a Person of such comely Carriage and Presence Handsomness sweet Disposition Honour and general Repute in the World that she hath scarce left her Equal behind died at Chester the twenty sixth day of January 1663. about the Age of thirty six Years and was Buried in Trinity Church in that City Susan third Daughter married Richard scriven of Frodsley in Shropshire Esquire 1652. She died in August 1667. at Frodsley Katharine the fourth Daughter died unmarried at Dutton 11 Martii being Sunday 1665. Mary fifth Daughter now living and unmarried 1669. Penelope sixth Daughter married Randle Egerton of Betley in Staffordshire Esquire 1653. Dorothy seventh Daughter died unmarried at London in June 1669. And Elizabeth youngest Daughter now living and unmarried 1669. Robert Viscount Kilmorey died at Dutton 12 Septembris 1653. So that the Lady Elinour Kilmorey survived both her Husbands in whose Custody Hudard's Sword as Tradition hath it now remains whereof I made mention in the beginning This Lady Elinour died at Dutton the twelfth day of March 1665. aged sixty nine Years and her Daughter Katharine also dying at Dutton the day before were both Interred at Great Budworth together on the Fryday following being the sixteenth day of March 1665. So ended the Family of Dutton of Dutton Gropenhale THis Town of Gropenhale in the Conqueror's Time belonged to Osbern Son of Tezzon Ancestor to the Boydells of Dodleston in this County Afterwards it seems to be given to William Son of Samson who released the same to Hugh Boydell about the Reign of Richard the First in these words Ex Chartulis Thomae Merbury de Merbury de Merbury juxta Great Budworth Armigeri 1666. Notum sit Ego Willielmus Filius Samsonis dedi omnino relaxavi Domino meo Hugoni de Boydell pro defectu Servitii sui quod retrò est Gropenhale cùm omnibus pertinentiis suis in Bosco Plano c. Salvo forinseco scilicèt dimidiâ Parte trium Partium de Feodo unius Militis Et pro hâc Donatione meâ Dictus Hugo de Boydele Dominus meus valentiam trium Marcarum mihi donavit Testibus Radulpho de Manwaringe tùnc Justiciarto Cestriae Hamone de Massy c. Lib. C. fol. 280. bb After this Sir John Boydell in the Reign of Edward the First gives Caterich a certain Place in Gropenhale unto Robert his younger Son who granted the same to Thomas Son of Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton but Thomas Dutton releaseth it unto William Son of Sir William Boydell of Dodleston 16 Edw. 3. 1342. Lib. C. fol. 280. cc. 6 Edw. 2. the King granted to William Boydele liberam Warrennam in Dominicis Terris suis de Dodleston Gropenhale Lachford Lib. C. fol. 282. r. This William Boydell married Maud Daughter of Raufe Vernon and had Issue Raufe Boydell who died without Issue and so the Inheritance of Boydell was shared by the two Sisters and Co-heirs of William Boydell aforesaid to wit Margaret Wife of Owen Voil a Welshman and Joan Wife of Sir John Danyell of Gropenhale younger Son of Thomas Danyers of Bradley in Appleton senior and afterwards Heir to his Father Howel ap Owen Voil released to Sir John and Joan all his Purparty of Gropenhale-Wood 25 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 291. f. The Original hereof is now among the Evidences of Legh of Lime 1666. 42 Edw. 3. Sir John and Joan Levied a Fine of the Mannor of Gropenhale To remain to the Heirs Males of the said John and Joan and if Sir John had no Heir by Joan then
all one Name by the Court of the King's Bench Cambden in his Remains on the Name Jane pag. 98. This Sir William Stanley of Holt was Lord Chamberlain to Hen. 7. and Brother to Thomas Stanley the first Earl of Darby of that Family which Sir William was Beheaded 1495. as supposed to encline to the Part of Perkin Warbeck See Crokes Reports 4 Car. 1. pag. 123 124. whose Lands and Goods were all Confiscated to the King He had in ready Money and Plate in his Castle of Holt forty thousand Marks besides Jewels Houshold-stuff and Stock of Cattel in his Grounds He had in Lands 3000 l. per Annum of an old Rent as my Lord Bacon saith in his History of Henry the Seventh He aspired to Petition the King for the Earldom of Chester which ended both in a denial and a distaste He had by Joyce his Wife Daughter of Edward Lord Powys and Widow of John Tiptoft William Stanley before-mentioned and Jane married to Sir John Warburton of Arley in Cheshire one of the Knights of the Body to Henry the Seventh William Stanley of Tatton died about 14 Hen. 7. 1498. Joan his Widow afterwards married Sir Edward Pickering 16 Hen. 7. 1500. And lastly she married Sir John Brereton to her third Husband living 24 Hen. 7. And Joan died 3 Hen. 8. 1511. XII Joan sole Daughter and Heir of William Stanley by Joan Massy his Wife had two Husbands First she married John Ashton Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Ashton of Ashton super Mersey in Cheshire 16 Hen. 7. She was then but eight Years old This John Ashton died young without any Issue by her 5 Hen. 8. 1513. Afterwards she married Sir Richard Brereton younger Son of Sir Randle Brereton of Malpas in Cheshire by whom she had Issue Richard Brereton eldest Son who married Dorothy Daughter of Thurstan de Tildesley in Lancashire Esquire 35 Hen. 8. 1543. But he died without Issue about 4 Edw. 6. Geffrey Brereton second Son succeeded Heir Anne Brereton a Daughter married John Booth of Barton in Lancashire Esq 32 Hen. 8. 1540. X. num 26. This Lady Jane Brereton died the sixth of April 12 Eliz. 1570. aged 77 Years Sir Richard Brereton her Husband died at Islington in Middlesex 3 4 Phil. Mar. 1557. Geffrey his Son and Heir being then of full Age. XIII Geffrey Brereton of Tatton Esquire Son and Heir of Sir Richard Brereton and Jane Stanley married Alice Daughter of Piers Leycester of Nether-Tabley Esq 5. Edw. 6. 1551. A. num 35. and had Issue Richard Brereton Son and Heir and Anne a Daughter living 8 Eliz. who died without Issue This Geffrey died in June 1565. 7 Eliz. about the age of thirty Years Alice his Widow afterwards married Robert Charnocke Gentleman and she died the second of April 1572. 14 Eliz. XIV Richard Brereton of Tatton Esquire Son and Heir of Geffrey and Alice married Dorothy Daughter of Sir Richard Egerton of Ridley in Cheshire 14 Eliz. 1572. but died without Issue December 18. 41 Eliz. 1598. Dorothy his Widow afterwards married Sir Peter Legh of Lime in Cheshire but had no Issue by him She was second Wife to Sir Peter and survived both her Husbands and she died the fourth of April 1639. This Richard Setled all his Estate on Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Chancellor of England from whom the Earls of Bridgewater are descended who are now Owners of these Lands 1667. Thelwall IN the Year of Christ 920. King Edward sirnamed The Elder built a Town here at Thelwall though now an obscure Village so called Teste Forilego from the Stakes and Stumps cut from the Trees wherewith they had environed it about as a Wall for the Saxons called such Stakes Thell and the word Wall is a word yet used for a high Fence that encompasseth any Place about with Stone or other thing or Building So Cambden's Britannia Cheshire Polychronicon lib. 6. cap. 5. ad finem and that King Edward made it a Garrison and placed Soldiers therein wherewith also agrees Florentius Wigorniensis But it seems to lie waste in the time of the Conqueror for I find no mention of it in Dooms-day Book Roger of Poictou Son of Rogerde Montgomery the first Earl of Shrewsbury was Lord of all the Land in Lancashire between the Rivers of Ribble and Mersey and gave half of the Fishing of Thelwall to the Abbot of Shrewsbury under Henry the First Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 383. This was the Fishing on the Lancashire side The Prior of Norton had the other half of the Fishing of Thelwall on the Cheshire side granted by William Constable of Cheshire the younger Baron of Halton about the Reign of King Stephen Monasticon vol. 2. pag. 186. In our Mize-book of Cheshire anciently the Abbot of Salop stood charged with three Shillings in the Mize for Fishing in Thelwall but this Mize is now totally lost no Man now living being able to inform us who ought to pay the same I conceive after the dissolution of Abbeys in England by Henry the Eighth that Fishing coming to the King's hands the Mize thereof ceased being not at all paid of late Times the Fishing being then but of little value This Township of Thelwall is of the Fee of the Honor of Halton one third part whereof William Constable of Cheshire gave to the Abbey of Salop cum pertinentiis in bosco in plano in aquâ Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 383. In the Reign of Henry the Third Edmund Lacy Baron of Halton and Constable of Cheshire gave Domino Galfrido de Dutton Ancestour to Warburton of Arley totam terram suam de Thelwall cum Wera Piscaria Stallagiis suis and also all the Land which he had of the Abbot and Convent of Evesham in Thelwall Reddendo inde annuatim unam Par Cheirothecarum Cervi Furratarum ad Festum Sancti Michaelis pro omni Servitio Lib. C. in ipso initio Ex Chartulis Roberti Pickering de Thelwall fol. 1. f. This could be but two third parts of Thelwall The Original of this Deed is now in possession of Mr. Pickering of Thelwall 1666. This Geffrey Dutton gave these Lands to Thomas his younger Son Ibidem g. Afterwards it was possessed by Clayton in the Reign of Edward the Third and continued in the possession of the Claytons till John Clayton of Thelwall sold it to Richard Brooks of Norton Esquire about 4 Eliz. 1561. whose Son Thomas Brooks of Norton Esquire sold the same to John Moores Doctor of Physick in London Anno Christi 1621. and John Moores of Kirtlington in Nottinghamshire Nephew of Doctor Moores aforesaid sold them to Robert Pickering Councellor at Law 1662. who is now possessed of the Mannor of Thelwall 1666. In this Township of Thelwall are now 1666. certain Freeholds of Inheritance possessed by these Persons following 1. Sir Peter Brookes of Mere hath four Tenements which were given him by his Father Thomas Brookes of Norton Esquire before he sold away the other
Charterers following 1. Moldesworth of Winsham These Lands were purchased by Edmund Moldesworth of Winsham Gent. from Raufe Egerton of Ridley in Cheshire Esq 3 Jac. 1605. Lib B. pag. 56. a. 2. Robert Venables of Anterbus in Over-Whitley hath two Messuages in Winsham one now in possession of Raufe Pownall the other of Richard Eyton 3. Thomas Marbury of Marbury Esq hath one Messuage in Winsham the greatest part whereof he hath now laid to his Demain of Merbury the other part and the House is now in possession of Widow Maddock 1666. 4. John Swinton of Nether-Knotsford hath a parcel of Land in Winsham adjoyning to his Land in Picmere This was purchased from Mr. William Merbury elder Brother of the said Thomas 5. William Peacock of Winsham This Messuage was sold by Mr. William Merbury aforesaid unto Raufe Billinge and Raufe Billinge sold it to William Peacock Father of the said William 6. Hugh Lowton of Winsham This Cottage he purchased from Mr. William Merbury aforesaid the 13. of April 14 Car. 1. 1638. Richard Leftwich of Leftwich Esquire Obiit 2 Hen. 8. Margery Daughter of Laurence Marbury of Marbury Esquire Richard Leftwich of Leftwich senior died 30 Hen. 8. Katharine Daughter of Henry Manwaring of Carincham Esquire 1. Richard Leftwich junior Son Heir died without Issue-male 34 Hen. 8. Margaret Daughter and Heir of Robert Buckley of Eyton nigh Davenham Lord of the Moiety of Winsham Margaret Daughter and Heir of Richard Leftwich She died 1588. 30 Eliz. Thomas Woodrofe first Husband He died 1 Eliz. William Harcourt third Son of John Harcourt of Ranton in Staffordshire Esquire second Husband Thomas sine prole Elizabeth Wife of Robert Edowe Brigit 2. Raufe Heir-male to his Brother Richard Ob. 37. H. 8. Elizabeth daughter of Foulk Dutton of Chester John Legh del Ridge second Husband Raufe a Child died 6 Edw. 6. 3. George Leftwich third Son of whom the Leftwiches of Leftwich ⚜ Thomas Buckley of Eyton died 6 Hen. 7. and had Issue Thomas Buckley of Eyton living 15 Hen. 8. who died without Issue and Robert Buckley of Eyton Brother and Heir to Thomas This Robert Buckley had Issue Margaret Wife of Richard Leftwich and Anne Wife of John Brereton 7 Hen. 8. younger Son of Sir William Brereton and Katharine third Daughter But Anne and Katharine had no Issue The Family of the Harcourts of Ranton in Staffordshire are a Noble and Ancient Family whose Ancestor Richard Harcourt Son of William Harcourt of Stanton-Harcourt in Oxfordshire married Orabella Daughter of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester and of Margaret his Wife Sister and Co-heir to Robert Fitz-Parnell Earl of Leycester unto whom her Father Saher gave Bosworth in Leycestershire in Marriage to wit Market-Bosworth about the end of King John's Reign to be held by the Service of a whole Knights Fee So saith Burton in his Description of Leycestershire p. 47. where he addeth That this Family came originally out of France and that Jean le Feron a Frenchman who wrote under our Edward the Sixth blazeth the Coat-Armor of John de Harcourt Marshal of France under Philip le Beau 1286. thus Gules two Fesses Or which is the same Coat born by the Harcourts in England And further saith That the Family of Harcourt had continued more than 800 Years to his time But of this enough And by Parnell a second Wife William Harcourt had Issue Mary Wife of Robert Pownall of Witton she was born 1599. And Jane married Richard Broom of Lostock-Gralam Margaret the first Wife of William who had her Mothers Lands to wit the Moiety of Winsham died 30 Eliz. 1588. William Harcourt her Husband died 43 Eliz. 1600. II. Richard Harcourt of Winsham Gentleman Son and Heir of William was Lord of the one Moiety of Winsham by Descent in Right of his Mother The other Moiety he Purchased 1606. He married one Elizabeth Widnester of London and had Issue William Harcourt eldest Son born 1605. Raufe born 1614. he died without Issue 1647. Thomas another Son died without Issue Elizabeth married Randle Birchenhead of Northwich whose Father was Usher of the Free-School of Northwich Mary married John Capper of Brindley she was born 1619. Margaret and Jane both died Infants This Richard Harcourt died 1628. III. William Harcourt of Winsham Gentleman Son and Heir of Richard married Mary Daughter of George Holford of Newborough in Dutton Gentleman Anno Domini 1629. This George Holford was younger Son of Thomas Holford of Holford nigh Nether-Tabley Esquire This William Harcourt and Mary are both yet living 1669. and had Issue Frances a Daughter who died young 1651. and George Harcourt a Son born 1632. yet living 1669. who hath sold the Reversion of all Winsham-Lands after the death of his Father and Mother and also what he had in possession unto Robert Venables of Anterbus in Over-Whitley Gentleman Anno Domini 1668. to whom he had Mortgaged the same before THus have I by God's Assistance run through BUCKLOW-HUNDRED according to such Evidences and Records as I had carefully collected concerning the same If I had not met with some Obstructions by some Gentlemen who either out of Waywardness or Jealousie did refuse to let me have the Perusal of their Evidences some things might possibly have been further discovered and illustrated In the mean time I wish this may incite some more able Hand to undertake the like for the reviving of those decayed Monuments of Antiquity in the other Hundreds of this our County which yet lie buried and covered in the Rubbish of Devouring Time FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Addenda in Part II. Page 134. It seems that Hugh Cyveliok Earl of Chester had either another Base Son or Daughter not there mentioned as appears by this following Deed the Original whereof is now in possession of Somerford Oldfield of Somerford in Cheshire Esquire 1672. SCiant omnes tà m praesentes quà m futuri Quòd ego Nicolaus de Verdon concessi hac praesenti Chartâ meâ confirmavi Siwardo filio Siwardi totam illam terram in Bidulf quam de Johanne de Lindele tenet cùm Bosco cùm omnibus aliis aisiamentis libertatibus eidem terrae pertinentibus sicut Charta praedicti Johannis testatur Sed praedictus Siwardus non dabit praedictam terram nec Hospitalariis nec Templariis nisi licentiâ praedicti Nicolai vel Haeredum suorum Pro hâc autèm Concessione praefatus Siwardus dedit praedicto Nicolao unam Marcam Argenti homagium suum annuatìm octo Sagittas barbatas ad Natale Domini Hiis Testibus Davide de Malo passu Willielmo filio ejus Randulpho de Estbury Nepote Comitis Cestriae multis aliis Where we find plainly That Randle of Estbury was Nephew to the Earl of Chester and this was Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill who was then Earl of Chester And it is not probable that this Randle de Estbury was Nephew to the Earl by any of his four Sisters and