one half of Gropenhale should revert to the Heirs of Sir John and the other half to the Heirs of Joan. Lib. C. fol. 242. v. fol. 290. a. Sir John Daniell had Issue by Joan a Daughter and Heir called Nicolaa Mother of Margaret Wife of Alan de Rixton in Lancashire which Margaret dying without Issue 6 Rich. 2. Margaret the Wife of John Savage of Clifton Daughter and Heir of Sir Thomas Daniell of Bradley the younger elder Brother of the said Sir John Daniell had the Purpart of the said Lands as one of the Heirs of Margaret late Wife of Alan de Rixton 9 Rich. 2. And Thomas Boydell Son of William sir-named Boydell Son of Howell Son of Margaret Sister of Joan Mother of Nicolaa was the other Heir Lib. C. fol. 290. c. whose Land was after divided as anon shall appear Margaret Wife of John Savage afterwards married Piers Legh of Maxfield 1388. 12 Rich. 2. younger Son of Robert Legh of Adlington and she gave unto Peter Legh of Lyme her Son the Moiety of Gropenhale 4 Hen. 4. in her Widowhood which she had as Heir to Margaret late Wife of Alan de Rixton from whom the Leghs of Lime now Lord of the moiety of Gropenhale 1666. Lib. C. fol. 290. d. The Originals Penes Legh of Lime The other Moiety of Gropenhale descending to Thomas Boydell aforesaid Ex Chartulis Merbury de Merbury juxta Great Budworth came to the Part of Hugh Reddish of Caterich younger Son of Reddish of Reddish in Lancashire in Right of Margaret his Wife Daughter and Co-heir of Thomas Boydell by Partition made of all Thomas Boydell's Lands 5 Hen. 5. Lib. C. fol. 282. I. Isabell the other Daughter and Co-heir of Thomas Boydell married John Alburgham whose Son Gilbert had also two Daughters and Heirs Constance Wife of Henry Byrom of Byrom in Lancashire and Isabel Wife of James Holte 3 Hen. 7. The Part belonging to Reddish of Caterich came to William Merbury of Merbury Esq in Right of Maud his Wife Daughter and Heir of Thomas Reddish of Caterich in Gropenhale Anno 1556. Lib. C. fol. 284. P. whose Heirs have ever since enjoyed the same to this present 1666. In this Township hath been anciently and yet is a Parish-Church Dedicated to St. Wilfrid whose Feast of Dedication was usually Celebrated the twelfth day of October yearly and hath onely two Townships in its Parish to wit  The Mize  l. s. d. Gropenhale 00 14 00 Lachford 00 10 00  01 04 00 I find Gropenhale Church was a Rectory in the Reign of Henry the Third Lib. C. fol. 283. x. and had then the Boydells of Dodleston for its Patron who were Lords of Gropenhale and Lachford both But now Byrom of Byrom in Lancashire hath the Advowson hereof 1666. Sir William Boydell of Dodleston built a Chappel in this Church wherein William Boydell his Son and Heir swore to find an honest Chaplain to pray for the Souls of the said Sir William and Nicolaa his Wife for evermore 8 Edw. 3. 1334. She was Daughter of William de Doncaster Lib. C. fol. 285. d. e. Charterers now in Gropenhale 1666. 1. John Middlehurst 2. William Morris of Gropenhale 3. Richard Davys 4. Thomas Blackborne of Lachford now hath got half of Davys's Land Hale THis Township of Hale was held by Hamon Massy in the Conqueror's Time as appears by Doomsday-book So that it is anciently of the Fee of the Barons of Dunham-Massy In this Town were Seated the Massies of Hale anciently who were propagated Originally out of the Massies of Dunham-Massy which Family continued for many Ages but is now extinct 3 Hen. 4. there were fourteen Free-holders or Charterers in Hale At this day 1666. there are twenty three Free-holders The Lord Delamere is now Chief Lord of the one Moiety of Hale and John Crew of Crew Esquire is Chief Lord of the other Moiety Here is a Hamlet in Hale called Ringey wherein is situated a Chappel of Ease called Ringey-Chappel within the Parish of Bowdon of which I have little to say save that it was much frequented in the late War by Schismatical Ministers and as it were a Receptacle for Non-Conformists in which dissolute Times every Pragmatical Illiterate Person as the Humor served him stepp'd into the Pulpit without any Lawful Calling thereunto or Licence of Authority Halton THis Town in common Pronunciation is called Hauton and is as much as A Town upon a Hill for Hawe and Howe is an old English word for A Hill Howbeit in our Norman way of Writing it is usually written Halton in Doomsday-book it is written Heletune Here is yearly a Fair kept on the Feast of the Nativity of St. Mary which is the eighth day of September and hath been very anciently for I find it mentioned in an Old Deed made towards the latter end of the Reign of Henry the Third Lib. C. fol. 164. b. It is now a poor Town or Village and the Inhabitants that have any Lands of Inheritance there are all Copy-holders to the King as Baron of Halton save two small Cottages now 1666. in possession of John Jackson and Richard Jennings which are of the Fee of St. John of Hierusalem The Castle was built by the Barons of Halton presently after the Norman Conquest and by degrees Repaired and Enlarged who being Seated here flourished for a long time and were Constables of Cheshire in Fee that is to them and their Heirs by Descent as it were after the manner of Lord High Constables of England so were the Barons of Halton to the Earls of Chester and in their Ancient Charters did always stile themselves by the Title of Constabularius Cestriae Constables of Cheshire and were the Highest in Place and Dignity next to the Earl himself and above all the other Barons of Cheshire In the Reign of Henry the Third their Posterity became Earls of Lincoln And upon the Death of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln 1310. all his Lands and Honors came to the Earl of Lancaster with Alice his Daughter and Heir in Marriage And at last Henry of Bolingbroke Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was so Great a Subject and so Popular that he drew unto his Part most of the Nobility of England and thereby most Traiterously and Rebelliously Deposed Richard the Second and made himself King of England by the Name of Henry the Fourth So was the Barony of Halton annexed to the Crown All which will better appear by the following History of these Eminent Barons of Halton till this Barony came to the Crown In this Town of Halton was formerly a Chappel of Ease within the Parish of Runcorne situated near to the Castle as I well remember the same 1625. But it is now totally in decay 1666. Barons of Halton This Nigell if we may believe Pecham in his Compleat Gentleman pag. 189. was the Son of Ivo Vice-Comes or Governor of Constantia in Normandy by Emme Sister to Adam Earl of Bretagne
and Apuly with a Ring sent from the Pope by the Bishop of Romania 1255. 39 Hen. 3. Mat. Paris But it was a meer delusion for he never had it He had the Castle of Kenilworth given him 16 Decembris 51 Hen. 3. Lib. C. fol. 71. f. And the Savoy-House in London by the Gift of Queen Elinor his Mother 24 die Februarii 12 Edw. 1. 1283. Lib. C. fol. 72. n. And the Castle of Chartley he had by the Grant of his Brother King Edward the First 26 die Julii 4 Edw. 1. 1276. Lib. C. fol. 72. k. Anno Domini 1271. 55 Hen. 3. in the Month of May Prince Edward Son of King Henry with Edmund his Brother and four Earls and so many Barons and many other Gentlemen took a Voyage into the Holy Land So Mat. Paris Edmund Earl of Lancaster married to his first Wife Aveline Daughter and Heir to William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle and Holderness and Widow to Ingram de Percy Aveline and all her Issue died before her Parents but left no Issue by her Vincent upon Broke pag. 293. He married her the eighth day of April 1270. Mat. Paris pag. 1006. of the Edition by Wats sed cùm totâ prole illa mortem Parentum praevenit Walsingham in his Hypodigma Neustriae placeth her Marriage with Edmund Anno 1269. His second Wife was Blanch Queen of Navarre the Widow of Henry de Champaigne King of Navarre and Daughter of Robert Earl of Artois Brother of St. Lewis King of France in whose Right Edmund was Earl of Champaigne 7 Edw. 1. So as he was now Earl of Lancaster Leycester Derby and Champaigne and High Steward of England Vincent on Broke Tit. Lancaster pag. 293. By Blanch the King of Navarre had Issue Joan married to Philip the Fair King of France Vincent pag. 293. Blanch married Edmund Earl of Lancaster Anno Domini 1276. and by him had Issue three Sons Thomas Earl of Lancaster the eleventh Baron of Halton in Right of his Wife of whom I have spoken before who Rebelled against his Prince and died without Issue Henry de Lancaster Lord of Monmouth second Son afterwards Earl of Lancaster and Heir to his Brother Thomas And John third Son who lived with the Queen of France his Half-Sister and died there without Issue Hypodigma Neustriae pag. 473. Lib. C. pag. 73. a. b. Vincent pag. 293. will have the Queen of Navarr's Name here to be Elinour and not Blanch from a Record which he there voucheth Quaere if that Record be not mistaken for I find her called Blanch in sundry Deeds in the Register-Books of the Duke of Lancasters Evidences in the Dutchy-Office called The two Couchir-Books Anno Domini 1296. 24 Edw. 1. this Edmund the King's Brother and Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln went into Gascoyn with a strong Army where many Castles were delivered unto them but when they came within two Miles of Burdeaux the French Army coming out of Burdeaux as it were unawares upon them after a sore Conflict retreated to the City and the Earls burned a great part of the Suburbs And shortly after Edmund died Hypodigma Neustriae pag. 483. Ob. 1296 XII Henry of Lancaster Lord of Monmouth sir-named Grismond second Son of Edmund Crook-back and Brother and Heir to Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster was restored to all his Brothers Lands and Honors 1 Edw. 3. Anno Domini 1326. and then his Titles were thus Henricus Comes Lancastriae Leycestriae Seneschallus Angliae Lib. C. fol. 74. k. 13 Edw. 3. And he was the twelfth Baron of Halton He married Maud Daughter and sole Heir of Sir Patrick de Chaworth or de Gadurcis Lord of Kidwelly in Caermarthenshire and of Ogmore Castle in Glamorganshire Cambden's Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 619. sub Titulo Lancastriae Lib. C. fol. 73. d. This Maud was formerly given to Edmund Son of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln by Edward the First Anno 1282. being then a Girl but five Years old which Edmund died very young before he came to Maturity without Issue as you may see above in Henry Lacy. Henry Earl of Lancaster had Issue by this Maud onely one Son Henry made Earl of Derby in his Fathers Life-time to wit 1336. 11 Edw. 3. Hypodigma Neustriae and Vincent pag. 297. And six Daughters Blanch married Thomas Lord Wake of Lidell Maud married William Lord Burgh Earl of Ulster in Ireland and after to Sir Rafe Ufford Joan married John Lord Mowbray of Axholme Isabel was Abbess of Ambersbury Elinour first married to John Son of Henry Lord Beaumont and Earl of Bughan in Scotland after to Richard Earl of Arundel And Mary sixth Daughter married Henry Lord Percy of Alnwick So Broke in his Catalogue of Nobility This Henry of Lancaster with others was sent by the Queen into Wales where the King then sculked to take King Edward the Second her Husband whom they took with Hugh Spenser the Son Robert de Baldock and Simon de Reading The King was committed to the Custody of this Henry of Lancaster This was in Anno 1326. Soon after this was the King deposed and Edward his young Son made King by the Name of Edward the Third Which young King was Knighted by this Henry Earl of Lancaster Walsingham Hist Ang. Edw. 2. pag. 125 126 127. But this Henry was in nothing more infamous than in betraying his Lawful Sovereign Obiit 1345 Anno Domini 1345. obiit Henricus Grismond Frater Thomae Comitis Lancastriae Jacet apud Leycestriam X Calendas Octobris which is the twenty second of our September 19 Edw. 3. A Manuscript in the University Library at Oxford among the Books given by Archbishop Laud of an ancient Character noted G. 9. fol. 125. And Walsingham's Hist Ang. Edw. 3. pag. 165. thus Anno 1345. 19 Edw. 3. obiit Henricus Comes Lancastriae Pater Henrici Comitis de Derby Sepultus est Leycestriae in Monasterio Canonicorum Praesentibus Rege Reginâ tà m antiquâ quà m novâ Archiepiscopis Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus quasi totius Regni Filius ejus eo tempore in Wasconiâ ut praefertur actus bellicosos strenuos exercebat quamobrèm interesse non potuit exequiis Patris sui XIII Henry of Monmouth sir-named Tort-Coll or Wry-neck onely Son of Henry Grismond succeeded his Father in all his Lands and Honors and was the thirteenth Baron of Halton He was Earl of Derby in his Fathers Life-time Created 16 Martii 11 Edw. 3. After his Fathers death his Title was thus 21 Edw. 3. 1346. Henricus Comes Lancastriae Derbiae Leycestriae Seneschallus Angeliae Lib. C. fol. 75. o. He was Created Earl of Lincoln 23 Edw. 3. and then his Stile was 1349. Henricus Comes Lancastriae Derbiae Leycestriae Lincolniae Seneschallus Angliae Lib. C. fol. 75. P. Lastly He was Created Duke of Lancaster 6 Martii 25 Edw. 3. 1350. Vincent pag. 297. Selden's Titles of Honour pag. 754. But Walsingham placeth his
dishonour of the King's Person which the Duke of Norfolk denied Whereupon they had a Combat granted by the King to have been fought at Coventry on the seventeenth day of September both of them entring the Lists courageously But the King took up the Matter causing it to be Proclaimed That the Duke of Hereford had honourably performed his Part and presently after Banished the Duke of Hereford for ten Years and the Duke of Norfolk for ever So Stow and Walsingham But this Duke of Hereford returning into England Deposed Richard the Second causing the King to read his own Resignation of the Crown to this Henry publickly in the Tower before the Nobles of England Walsingham's Hist pag. 359. Cursed Traytors And so by force of Arms made himself King by the Name of Henry the Fourth So was the Dutchy of Lancaster and the Barony of Halton united to the Crown of England John of Gaunt had also Issue by Blanch two Daughters Elizabeth married John Holland Duke of Exeter and after to Sir John Cornwall Knight of the Garter and Baron of Fanhope Philippa the other Daughter married John King of Portugal After the death of Blanch he married Constantia Daughter and Co-heir to Petro late King of Spain and Edmund Earl of Cambridge his Brother married Isabella the other Daughter Anno Domini 1372. 46 Edw. 3. Stow and Walsingham Lib. C. fol. 78. f. And from this time he writ himself King of Castile and Leons By this Constance he had Issue Katharine married to Henry Son of John King of Spain 1389. Upon the Marriage of Katharine a Peace was concluded between John of Gaunt and the King of Spain John of Gaunt was to have ten thousand Pounds yearly for his own Life and the Life of Constance his Wife Walsingham Who before in the Year 1367. had routed the Spaniards in a great Battel between him and Henry the Bastard who had ejected Peter King of Spain Constance died Anno Domini 1394. Walsingham John of Gaunt relinquishing his Title of King of Castile and Leons was Created Duke of Aquitain by Consent of Parliament 2 die Martii 13 Rich. 2. 1389. And then his Title Anno 1394. 18 Rich. 2. did run thus Johannes Filius Regis Angliae Dux Aquitaniae Lancastriae Comes-Leycestriae Lincolniae Derbiae Seneschallus Angliae Couchir-Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 2. Comitatus Southampton num 36. For he had Honorem de Tickhil 46 Ed. 3. while he was stiled King of Castile and Leons and Duke of Lancaster Castrum Leucatam de Pevenese inter alià in exchange for the Earldom of Richmond 46 Edw. 3. And by his Brother the Black Prince Earl of Chester he had 100 Marks yearly given him out of the Exchequer at Chester during his Life by the Name of John by the Grace of God King of Castile and Leons and Duke of Lancaster 47 Edw. 3. 1373. Lib. C. fol. 78. e. After the death of Constance his second Wife the Duke went into Aquitain scilicet Anno 1396. 19 Rich. 2. to have obtained the Good-will of the Inhabitants having the Title of Duke of Aquitain conferred upon him before by his Father but was suddenly called back into England by the King And as soon as he returned into England he married Katharine Swynford his old Concubine to the wonder of all Men which Katharine formerly waited on Blanch his first Wife Stow and Walsingham This Katharine was the Daughter of Payn Roet alias Guyen King at Arms and Widow of Sir Otes Swynford by whom John of Gaunt had Issue before he married her Sir John Beaufort the eldest was Earl of Somerset and Marquis Dorset which Marquis-ship was taken away by Parliament 1 Hen. 4. Henry de Beaufort was after Bishop of Winchester Cardinal of St. Eusby sive Euscbii and Chancellor of England Thomas Created Earl of Dorset 21 Rich. 2. Joan de Beaufort was second Wife of Raufe Nevill the first Earl of Westmorland after she married Robert Ferrers Lord of Owseley They were all sir-named de Beaufort because they were born at Beaufort in France All which were Legitimated by Parliament 1397. 20 Rich. 2. to all Purposes Honors State and Dignities exceptâ Dignitate Regale as you may see in the Record transcribed by the Lord Cook in his Jurisdiction of Courts pag. 37. Lib. C. fol. 82. P. Walsingham put out by Mr. Cambden calls Thomas Beaufort Comitem de Somerset all along pag. 354. 550. for Dorset unless the Title of Somerset and Dorset were promiscuous See Vincent on Brooke pag. 169. Katharine Synford died in May 4 Hen. 4. 1403. Stow. This John procured the County of Lancaster to be made a County Palatine to whom his Father King Edward the Third by his Charter granted Jura Regalia And when he hath reckoned up the Good Service which the said John of Gaunt his Son had done for his Countrey at home and abroad he addeth Concessimus pro nobis Haeredibus nostris praefato Filio nostro quod ipse ad totam vitam suam habeat infra Comitatum Lancastriae Cancellariam suam ac Brevia sua sub Sigillo suo pro Officio Cancellarii deputando consignanda Justiciarios suos tam ad Placita Coronae quam ad quaecunque alia Placita Communem legem tangentia tenenda Cognitiones eorundem quascunque Executiones per Brevia sua Ministros suos ibidem faciendas Et quascunque alias libertates Jura Regalia ad Comitatum Palatinum pertinentia adeo libere integre sicut Comes Cestriae infra eundem Comitatum Cestriae dignoscitur obtinere c. 28 die Februarii Anno Edw. 3. Angliae 51 Franciae 38. Couchir-Book of the Dutchy-Office Tom 1. fol. 430. num 16. Confirmed to him and his Heirs by Consent of Parliament 16 die Febrùarii 13 Rich. 2. Ibidem Tom. 1. fol. 52. Many are the Acts of this John of Gaunt Recorded in our Annals and Histories I will reckon up some of the most memorable Anno Domini 1373. 47 Edw. 3. John Duke of Lancaster went with a Puissant Army into France He passed by Paris to Burgundy and so through all France no Man daring to oppose him but at last leaving France he came into the Desart Mountains of Avernia where there was neither Meat for Horse nor Man and so lost most part of his Army through Famine and Pestilence whence he came to Burdeaux scarce with forty Horse whereas he entred France with thirty thousand Horse attending him Walsingham Anno 1377. he was threatned to be killed by the Londoners for some high Word spoken against their Bishop of London they had burned his House called The Savoy but that the Bishop interceded Whereupon the Duke fled to Kensington and hating the Londoners caused the Mayor and other Officers to be put out and new ones chosen Shortly after Richard the Second before his Magnificent Coronation at Westminster reconciled the Citizens and the Duke of Lancaster Anno 1376. the King sent again for
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
of Westminster computeth onely from the beginning of King Ethelwolfe's Reign to the Norman Conquest which I wonder at since the same Author tells us that in Anno 800. the Danes spoiled Tinmouth Church and after they had Robbed thereabouts they returned with their Spoils and besides he tells us of several Battels in England between King Egbert and the Danes But his words are these pag. 302. Misit ergò eis Deus Omnipotens Gentes Paganas crudelissimas velut Apum Examina quae nè quidem Sexui muliebri aut Parvulorum parceret aetati Danos scilicet Norwegenses Gothos Swathedos Vandalos Frisios qui ab exordio Regis Ethelwolfi supradicti usque ad Normannorum Adventum per annos fermè 230 terram hanc peccatricem à mari usquè ad mare ab homine usquè ad Pecus deleverunt non eam possidere subjugare sed praedari ac perdere satagebant So that there was a long time of intermixture with various Nations and sorts of People Cambden saith That the Name of Danes was not known to the World before the time of Justinian the Emperor about the Year of Christ 570. Tunc enim Galliam vastare caeperunt Rerum Anglicarum Latinis Historicis Wiccingi dicti sunt Wiccinga Saxonicè Piratam denotat Cambden's Britannia pag. 101. And Dudo Sancti Quinti Decanus saith That out of Scanza that is Scandia the Danes Getes or Gothes Amarobii Tragoditae Alani Sarmatae came out like Swarms of Bees Lib. 1. sub initio Also Gemeticensis lib. 1. cap. 2. CHAP. VII Of the coming of the Normans into England and whence they are descended 1. THe Normans invaded England Anno Domini 1066. when William sirnamed The Bastard Duke of Normandy commonly called William the Conqueror Landed with a great Army at Pemsey near Hastings in Sussex and overcame Harold King of England in Battel which was fought the fourteenth day of October being Saturday Anno Domini 1066. about nine Miles from Hastings in Sussex upon which Victory the English submitted to him And in the Race of the Norman Blood hath the Kingdom of England since continued to this day 1670. by Maude the Empress Daughter and Heir to King Henry I. and Wife of Geffrey Planagenet Earl of Anjou in France Married to him Anno Domini 1127. Mother of King Henry the Second from whom the succeeding Kings are descended The English continued their native Language notwithstanding the great and long commixture with the Normans but much altered since Chaucer's time who lived under King Richard the Second especially since Henry the Eighth's time downward it is so intermingled with Latine besides some old words retained from the Norman-French anciently that it is now become a new Language and much of the ancient English Tongue quite lost and perish'd and daily in our Age creep in many Latine and French words to the utter decay of the English Tongue The Conqueror gave away the Lands of the English to his Friends and Soldiers who assisted him in the Conquest some few he suffered to enâ—oy their own Estates and but very few Most of the ancient Gentry now in England of great and ancient Estates are Descended from the Normans who came into England with the Conqueror yet doubtless are there many of the Saxon Blood now remaining and by reason of a long intermixture by intermarrying one with another have incorporated our Nation into a Hotchpot of several Nations for the Normans themselves were a People intermingled of Norwegians Swedes and Danes It is observed of the People of England that they are so naturally given to Faction and Rebellion that since the Norman Conquest we scarcely read of any of our Kings to this day who have not met with the disturbance of some rebellious and treasonable Practises of their own Subjects and that in open Arms too King James onely excepted and yet he wanted not a Gunpowder Treason miraculously discovered and prevented Anno 1605. nor a Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland 1600. and his Son King Charles the First most miserably murthered in our Days by his own Subjects through the Puritan Factions in England Anno 1648. the thirtieth day of January A short Table of the Norman Kings and when they began their Reigns Anno Chr. 1066. 1. William the Conqueror Bastard-Son of Robert Duke of Normandy by one Arlet a Skinner's Daughter of Faloys in Normandy He caused Domes-day Book to be made which was begun and finished between the fourteenth and twentieth Year of his Reign He died the ninth day of September aged 64 Years Anno Domini 1087. He Reigned 20 Years 10 Months and 26 Days 2. William sirnamed Rufus third Son of William the Conqueror succeeded in the Kingdom of England Robert the eldest Son was Duke of Normandy William Rufus died secundo die Augusti 1100. in the thirteenth Year of his Reign being slain with an Arrow which was shot by Sir Walter Tirrel a Frenchman at a Deer in New-Forrest in Hampshire and hitting a Bough of a Tree glanced aside and hit the King He Reigned 12 Years 11 Months ferè 3. Henry for his Learning sirnamed Beauclerk the fourth Son of the Conqueror but the third Son that lived to be a Man and younger Brother to William Rufus in the absence of Robert Duke of Normandy his eldest Brother then in the Holy Land succeeded King of England and afterwards took from his Brother Robert the Dukedom of Normandy also he died primo die Decembris 1135. He Reigned 35 Years and four Months 4. Stephen second Son of Stephen Earl of Blois by Adela Daughter of William the Conqueror usurped the Kingdom of England and was in continual War with Maude the Empress he died the twenty fifth day of October 1154. He Reigned 18 Years 10 Months and odd Days 5. Henry II. Son of Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou in France by Maude the Empress Daughter and sole Heir of Henry I. King of England he added to the English Empire Anjou Touraine and Main which were his Fathers and also the Dutchy of Aquitain and the Earldom of Poictu by Elianor his Wife and conquered Ireland he died the sixth day of July 1189. aged 61 Years He Reigned 34 Years and 9 Months wanting 18 Days 6. Richard I. Son of Henry II. sirnamed Ceur de Lyon Warred in the Holy Land and in his return was taken Prisoner in the Dominions of the Duke of Austria He was slain at the Siege of the Battel of Chaluz in the Province of Limoges in France and died of his Wound the sixth day of April 1199. He Reigned 9 Years and 9 Months Anno Chr. 1199. 7. John Brother to Richard I. lost Normandy Aquitaine and Angeau to the French 1204. He died the 19 of October 1216. at the age of 51 Years He Reigned 17 Years and 6 Months 8. Henry III. Son of King John was but nine Years old when he was Crowned He died the 16 of November 1272. aged 65 Years He reigned 56 Years
and one Month. 9. Edward I. Son of Henry III. subdued Wales and brought Scotland into subjection He died the seventh of July 1307. aged 68 Years He Reigned 34 Years 7 Months and 22 Days 10. Edward II. Son of Edward I. was Barbarously and Traiterously deposed through a strong Faction raised against him by his Queen and afterwards murthered in Barkley-Castle He was deposed the 25 of January 1326. and murthered September 21. 1327. He Reigned 19 Years 6 Months and 18 Days 11. Edward III. Son of Edward II. a Valorous Prince overthrew the French in two great Battels took Caliz and many other Places in that Kingdom and Quartered the Arms of France in his Coat which the succeeding Kings of England have ever since imitated and retained He died at Richmond the 21 day of June 1377. in the 56 Year of his Age. He Reigned 50 Years and almost 5 Months 12. Richard II. Son of Prince Edward called The Black Prince and Grandson of Edward III. was Traiterously deposed by his Cosin Henry Duke of Hereford and Lancaster the 29 of September 1399. and after murthered in Prison the 14 day of February following in Pomfret Castle He Reigned 22 Years 3 Months and 8 Days The Lancastrian Line 13. Henry IV. Duke of Lancaster Son of John of Gant fourth Son of King Edward the Third traiterously and villainously taking up Arms against his Prince caused Richard the Second to be deposed and made himself King He spent his whole Reign in suppressing of home-bred Rebellions He died the 20 of March 1412. in the 46 Year of his Age. He Reigned 13 Years and 6 Months wanting 10 Days 14. Henry V. Son of Henry IV. the Mirror of Magnificence and passing swift in running He was of New-College in Oxford under the Government of Henry de Beaufort his Uncle on the Fathers side then Chancellor of Oxford He Conquered France and died in the Castle of Boys de Vincennes not far from Paris the last day of August 1422. He Reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 Days 15. Henry VI. Son of Henry V. an Infant of 8 Months old a Pious but Unfortunate Prince He was Crowned King of France in Paris 7 Decembris 1431. which he held during the Life of his Uncle John Duke of Bedford Regent of France But afterwards he did not onely lose all France again but England also to the Duke of York's Faction who claimed the Crown of England in right of Anne Grandmother to Edward IV. and Daughter to Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son of Edmund Mortimer by Philippa Daughter and Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of Edward III. and Elder Brother of John of Gant He Reigned 38 Years 6 Months and 4 Days Kings of the Duke of York's Line 16. Edward IV. Son of Richard Duke of York challenged the Crown as aforesaid and prevailing in several Battels against Henry VI. was Crowned King of England the fourth of March 1460. Yet Henry VI. was Crowned again 13 die Octobris 1470. But he enjoyed his Title of Redemption but a while for he died about six Months after to wit in Anno 1471. having lived 52 Years He Reigned 22 Years 1 Month and odd Days This Edward the Fourth died the ninth of April 1483. aged 41 Years He was the first of all the Norman Kings who married his own Subject Anno Chr. 1483. 17. Edward V. Son of Edward IV. was never Crowned but murthered by his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester Protector in June 1483. in the thirteenth Year of his Age in the Tower of London He Reigned two Months 18. Richard III. youngest Brother of King Edward IV. being Protector to the late young King and dispatching him and his Brother out of the way usurpeth the Crown He was slain at Bosworth-field in Leycestershire the 22 day of August 1485. He Reigned 2 Years and 2 Months The Union of the Two Families Lancaster and York 19. Henry VII Earl of Richmond next Heir to the House of Lancaster as Son of Edmund a That Edmund was called Edmund of Haddam Son of Owen Tudor by Queen Katharine the Widow of Henry the Fifth Tudor by Margaret Daughter of John Duke of Somerset descended of John of Gant Duke of Lancaster after the Overthrow given by him unto Richard the Third at Bosworth married Elizabeth Daughter and Heir to King Edward the Fourth and so United the Families He died at Richmond the 22 day of April 1509. after he had Reigned 23 Years and 8 Months 20. Henry VIII Son of Henry VII Heir to both Families He shaked off the Pope's Supremacy in this Nation suppressed the Monasteries and began the Reformation of Religion in England A Prince of great Vices and of great Vertues He wrote a Book against Luther for which Pope Leo X. gave him by Charter the Title of Defender of the Faith dated 1521. Herbert's Hist of Hen. 8. pag. 95. Which Title hath ever since been used by his Successors He died at Westminster the 28. of January 1546. having Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and 6 Days Trussel's History pag. 263. saith There perished in the Civil Wars between the the Houses of Lancaster and York Two Kings One Prince Ten Dukes Two Marquesses Twenty one Earls Twenty seven Lords Two Viscounts One Lord Prior of St. Johns of Jerusalem One Judge 139 Knights 441 Esquires 84998 Common Persons Dr. Heylyn in his Cosmography pag. 320. accounts thus Seventeen Pitched Fields Eight Kings and Princes slain Forty Dukes Marquesses and Earls 200000 Common People Besides Barons and Gentlemen 21. Edward VI. Son of Henry VIII by Jane Seymour a Child He died at Greenwich 6 die Julii 1553. about 15 Years old In his time Priests were allowed to Marry See Stat. 2 3 Edw. 6. cap. 21. He Reigned 6 Years 5 Months and 8 days 22. Queen Mary Daughter of Henry VIII by Katherine of Spain his Brother Arthur's Widow lost Caliz to the French 1557. A Bloody Queen She married Philip King of Spain 25 die Julii 1554. And she died at St. Jameses House in London the 17 of November 1558. She set up Popery and Reigned 5 Years 4 Months and 11 Days 23. Queen Elizabeth Daughter of Henry VIII by the Lady Anne of Bullein his second Wife A most Gracious Heroick Princess She perfected and refined the Reformation of Religion begun by her Father furnished the Royal Navy with all Warlike Ammunitions succoured the Scots against the French and the French Protestants against the Papists defended the Netherlands against the Attempts of the Spaniards commanded the Whole Ocean entred League with the Muscovite and was most Famous in the Prudent Government of her Kingdom assisted by most Wise and Able Statesmen and Privy-Counsellors about her as any Prince in Christendom had and which is most rare were all Faithful and Loyal to her She died the 24 day of March 1602. which is the last Day of the Year according to the Computation of the Church of England at Richmond in Surrey aged 70 Years She
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
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.
5. Stow. Sub Henrico Quinto Ann. Dom. 1413. The Prior of Kilmaynan continued Justice to 1413. 64. 7 die Octobris Sir John Stanley lands at Cloncarfe in Ireland the second time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and died the sixth of January following 1413. 65. The eleventh of February Thomas Cranley Archbishop of Dublin is elected Lord Justice of Ireland 1414. 66. Sir John Talbot Lord Furnival lands at Dalkey in Ireland the tenth of November Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Anno 1419. July 22. Sir John Talbot went into England much in debt and left the Archbishop of Dublin his Deputy This was the Famous John Talbot Marshal of France under Hen. 6. who was Earl of Shrewsbury and also created Earl of Waterford in Ireland 1446. 24 Hen. 6. and also Seneschal or High Steward of Ireland to him and his Heirs after the manner of the High Stewards of England in their Office He was killed at the Battel of Burdeaux in France 1453. Vincent upon Brooke Title Shrewsbury 1420. 67. James Butler Earl of Ormond lands at Waterford the fourth of April Lord Lieutenant of Ireland So far out of the Annals of Ireland Sub Henrico Sexto Leiutenants of Ireland to H. 6. Stow. 68. Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. James Earl of Ormond his Deputy 69. John Sutton Lord Dudley Sir Thomas Strange his Deputy 70. Sir Thomas Stanley Sir Christopher Plunket his Deputy 71. Lion Lord Wells The Earl of Ormond his Deputy 72. James Earl of Ormond by himself 73. John Earl of Shrewsbury The Archbishop of Dublin his Deputy 1433. 74. Richard Plantagenet Duke of York Father to King Edw. 4. made Lieutenant by Patent for 10 Years whose Deputies at sundry times as appears by the Statutes of Ireland were The Baron of Delvin Sir Richard Fitz-Eustace James Earl of Ormond Tho. Fitz-Maurice Earl of Kildare 75. Thomas Fitz-Maurice Earl of Kildare Lord Justice to 3 Edw. 4. Sub Edwardo Quarto Ann. Dom. 1463. 76. George Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother made Lieutenant for his Life His Deputies at sundry times were The Earl of Desmond John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester Thomas Earl of Kildare But falling afterwards to discord with his Brother the King made another Lieutenant This George is said to be drowned in a But of Malmsey 1478. 18 Edw. 4. So Stow. 1470. 77. Henry Lord Grey of Ruthin Lord Lieutenant Sir Rowland Eustace his Deputy 1481. 78. Richard Duke of York younger Son of King Edw. 4. Lord Lieutenant Sub Ricardo Tertio 1483. 79. Edward Son of King Rich. 3. Lord Lieutenant Gerald Earl of Kildare his Deputy This Edward died 1484. 2 Rich. 3. Buck's Hist of Rich. 3. pag. 43. 1484. 80. John Earl of Lincoln Lieutenant The Earl of Kildare his Deputy Sub Henrico Septimo 1491. 81. Jaspar Duke of Bedford and Earl of Pembroke Lord Lieutenant Walter Archbishop of Dublin his Deputy Anno 1494. Sir Edward Poynings Deputy Jaspar died the 21 of December 1495. 11 Hen. 7. 1501. 82. Henry Duke of York afterwards King Henry 8. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Gerald Earl of Kildare his Deputy Sub Henrico Octavo 83. Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Lieutenant 1520. 84. Piers Butler after Earl of Ossery Lord Deputy 1522. 85. Gerald Earl of Kildare again Lord Deputy 86. Nugent Baron of Delvin Lord Deputy 87. Piers Butler Earl of Ossery again Lord Deputy 1529. 88. Sir William Skeffington Lord Deputy 1530. 89. Gerald Earl of Kildare Lord Deputy 1532. 90. Sir William Skeffington again October 4. 1534. 91. Leonard Lord Grey 1 Januarii Lord Deputy 1534. 92. Sir William Brereton Lord Deputy 1540. 93. Sir Anthony Seintleger 25 July Lord Deputy 1541. 94. Sir William Brabazon 1 Aprilis Lord Deputy 1546. 95. Sir Anthony Seintleger August 4. again Lord Deputy 1546. Sub Edwardo Sexto 96. Sir Edward Bellingham in May Lord Deputy 1548. 97. Francis Bryan December 27. Lord Justice 1549. 98. Sir William Brabazon February 2. Lord Justice 1549. 99. Sir Anthony Seintleger August 4. again Lord Deputy 1550. 101. Sir Thomas Cosake Sir Gerald Attlemore Decemb. 6. Lord Justices 1552. Sub Maria Regina 102. Sir Anthony Seintleger September 1. fourth time Lord Deputy 1554. 103. Thomas Lord Fitz-Walter May 26. Lord Deputy 1555. 104. Hugh Curren Lord Arcbishop Lord Chancellor Sir Henry Sidney Treasurer Decemb. 4. Lord Justices 1557. 105. Sir Henry Sidney alone February 6. Lord Justice 1557. Sub Elizabetha Regina 106. Thomas Earl of Sussex April 27. Lord Deputy He went into Scotland and left Sir Henry Sidney Septemb. 24. Lord Justice The Earl came out of Scotland and went into England leaving Sir Henry Sidney December 13. Lord Justice 1558. 107. Thomas Earl of Sussex August 27. Lord Deputy 1559. 108. Sir William Fitz-Williams February 15. Lord Justice 1559. 109. Thomas Earl of Sussex June 24. Lord Lieutenant 1560. 110. Sir William Fitz-Williams February 2. Lord Justice 1560. 111. Thomas Earl of Sussex June 1. Lord Lieutenant 1561. 112. Sir William Fitz-Williams January 22. Lord Justice 1561. 113. Thomas Earl of Sussex July 24. Lord Lieutenant 1562. 114. Sir Nicolas Arnold May 25. Lord Justice 1564. 115. Sir Henry Sidney January 20. Lord Deputy 1565. 116. Dr. Weston Lord Chancellor Sir William Fitz-Williams October 14. Lord Justices 1567. 117. Sir Henry Sidney October 20. Lord Deputy 1568. 118. Sir William Fitz-Williams March 26. Lord Justice Idem January 13. 1570. Lord Deputy 1570. 119. Sir Henry Sidney September 18. Lord Deputy 1575. 120. Sir William Drury September 14. Lord Deputy 1578. 121. Sir William Pellam October 11. Lord Justice 1579. 122. Arthur Lord Grey arrived in Ireland August 12. Lord Deputy 1580. 123. Adam Lofties Lord Archbishop Lord Chancellor Sir Henry Wallop Treasurer Septemb. Lord Justices 1582. 124. Sir John Parrot June 21. Lord Deputy 1584. 125. Sir William Fitz-Williams June 30. Lord Deputy 1588. 126. Sir William Russel August 11. Lord Deputy 1594. 127. Thomas Lord Burrough May 22. Lord Deputy 1597. 128. Sir Thomas Norreys October 30. Lord Justice 1597. 129. Adam Lofties Archbishop and Chancellor Sir Robert Gardiner November 27. Lord Justices 1597. 130. Robert Earl of Essex April 15. Lord Lieutenant 1598. 131. Adam Lofties Archbishop Lord Chancellor Sir George Carew Treasurer Lord Justices 1599. 132. Sir Charles Blunt Lord Mountjoy October 24. Lord Lieutenant 1599. Sub Jacobo Rege 133. Sir George Carew June 1. Lord Deputy 1603. 134. Sir Arthur Chichester February 3. Lord Deputy 1604. 135. Thomas Jones Archbishop Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Wingfield March 14. Lord Justices 1613. 136. Sir Arthur Chichester Lord Belfast July 27. Lord Deputy 1614. 137. Thomas Jones Archbishop Lord Chancellor Sir John Denham February 11. Lord Justices 1615. 138. Sir Oliver Saint John August 30. Lord Deputy 1616. 139. Sir Adam Lofties Viscount Ely Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Wingfield Viscount Powerscourt May 4. Lord Justices 1622. 140. Henry Viscount Falkland September 8. Lord Deputy 1622. Sub Carolo Primo 141. Sir Adam Lofties Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Boyle Earl of Cork Lord Treasurer Lord
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
molendinum de Fareslei Praetereà concedo eis in Duntona Manerio meo quatuor Virgatas terrae unam Virgatam ex dono Osberti Capellani mei cùm omnibus quae ad eas pertinent in eâdem Villâ unum Molendinum quod dicitur Le Corre Et volo concedo ut praedicti Monachi teneant haec omnia benè in pace liberè quietè ab omni Servitio Seculari ad me vel ad Haeredes meos pertinente Et habeant omnes consuetudines libertates suas in nemore plano pratis Pascuis ità quòd nullus eis nequè pro Pannagio nequè pro aliquâ occasione molestiam vel injuriam faciat Hanc quoquè Donationem feci concessione Haeredum meorum scilicèt Gaufridi Ridelli Radulfi Basset Hujus Concessionis sunt Testes Radulfus Decanus de Blabi Gaufridus Decanus de Butneswella Gubertus Canonicus de Legercestria c. This Deed was made about the Year 1120. or soon after And though she here writes her self Uxor Gaufridi Ridel yet truly was her Husband then lately drowned Ordericus pag. 870. with many others of the Nobility Neither could she have made a Deed legally without her Husband had he been alive And because of the Civility of those Ages she was stiled onely Daughter of Earl Hugh not Base Daughter whence some suppose her a Legitimate Daughter But if she had been Legitimate then must her Issue have inherited the Earldom of Chester and not Earl Randle for as much as a Sister is inheritable before an Aunt Besides Ordericus tells us in express Words That Earl Hugh had no other Child by Ermentrude but onely Richard nor doth it appear by any Record or Ancient Historian that he ever had any other Wife besides Ermentrude But Ordericus saith E Pellicibus plurimam sobolem utriusque Sexûs genuit quae diversis infortuniis absorpta penè tota periit pag. 522. But these before-named are so many of them as I haue hitherto collected or met withal As for the usual Custom in ancient Times of omitting that infamous Title of Bastard Robert Earl of Glocester Base Son of Henry the First is termed onely Brother of Maud the Empress by Hoveden pag. 553. Also in a Charter made by Maud the Empress her self he is stiled Brother not Bastard-Brother Selden Tit. Hon. pag. 649. Reginald Earl of Cornwal another Bastard of Hen. 1. is called Uncle to Henry the Second not Base Uncle by Hoveden pag. 536. Infinite other such Examples we meet with The Death of Hugh Lupus THis Hugh Earl of Chester died the 27 day of July Anno Christi 1101. Obiit 1101 in the first Year of the Reign of King Henry I. almost expired So Ordericus Vitalis p. 787. Anno 1101. Intereà Hugo Comes Cestriae in lectum decidit post diuturnum languorem Monachatum in Caenobio quod idem Cestrae construxerat suscepit atquè pòst triduum sexto Calendas Augusti obiit Polychronicon thus Anno 1102. Hugo Comes Cestrensis Nepos Regis Willielmi Conquestoris ex parte Sororis obiit But for the most part the Year is very uncertainly put down in the Margent and many times omitted by him He was Earl of Chester one and thirty Years This Hugh had Whitby in Yorkshire given him by the Conqueror and he gave the same to William de Percy who Founded an Abbey there Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 172. Earl Hugh gave also to the Prior of Whitby the Church of St. Peters of Whitby and also the Church of Flemesburgh Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 73. This Earl also Founded the Abbey of St. Severus in the Bishoprick of Constance in Normandy Monasticon vol. 2. pag. 950. He gave also to the Abbey of Bek in Normandy the Mannor of Atherstone in England in Warwickshire Ibid. vol. 2. pag. 954. Robert de Beaumont Earl of Mellent in France and this Hugh Earl of Chester were the principal Supporters of Henry the First in advancing him to the Crown of England Ordericus pag. 783. CHAP. II. Of Richard Earl of Chester G. Crusilly Or a Wolfs Head erased Ar. He was but seven years old when his Father died saith the Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon lib. 7. cap. 13. with whom agrees Knighton the Monk of Leycester pag. 2376. And I find in an old Leiger Book of the Monastery of Abbington a Manuscript in Cotton's Library at Westminster in London noted Claudius c. 9. fol. 147. of the whole Book but lib. 2. fol. 45. of that particular part De Historiâ Ecclesiae Abbendonensis speaking of this Richard's Grant of Wudmundsley to the said Abbey and Church of Abbington Ipse Comes benefactum extulit suo descripto roboravit quod descriptum Sigillo quidem matris Signari constitit nondùm enim militari Baltheo cinctus materno Sigillo literae quaelibet ab eo directae includebantur hâc de re quod eò annotatur Comitissae potiùs quà m Comitis Sigillo Signatur Cujus Forma haec fuit Ricardus Cestrensis Comes Ermentrudis Comitissa mater ejus Nigello de Oilli Rogero filio Radulfi omnibus Baronibus de Oxenford Scirâ Salutem Amicitiam Sciatis quià pro amore Dei animâ Patris mei remissione nostrorum Peccatorum Concedimus hidam illam quam Droco de Andeleiâ dedit Ecclesiae Abbendonensi quae est in loco qui dicitur Wudemundeslai Nos eidem Ecclesiae Concedimus auctorizamus perpetuò habendam solidam quietam ab omni nostro servitio Et Rogerus filius Radulfi Successores ejus sint quieti in nostro servitio quantum ad illam hidam pertinet Et defendimus ùt nullo modo Rogerus vel alius per eum inquietet habitantes in terrâ illâ Hoc autèm fecimus testimonio nostrorum Baronum scilicèt Willielmi filii Nigelli Hugonis filii Normanni Ricardi Balaste Willielmi filii Auskitilli Ricardi filii Nigelli Domini Goisfridi Capellani aliorum Hoc actum est in sexto Anno Regni Henrici Regis in mense Maii 6 Hen. 1. 1106. in die Pentecostes This was in May Anno Christi 1106. Earl Richard being then about twelve years old By the words nondùm militari Baltheo cinctus I suppose the Monk meaneth that the Earl was a Child and under the Tuition of his Mother and for that reason used her Seal to this Charter and also to other his Letters Of which opinion likewise is Selden in his Titles of Honor pag. 786. The Law saith he being such that whosoever was Knighted though before the Age of one and twenty he was esteemed as of full Age in regard of any Wardship or other Tuition and the Use being that such Great Lords were often Knighted before they were of full Age. Now this Earl as yet not having received that Honour of Knighthood but being under Age used the Seal of his Guardian to make the Act more authentick and valid and that he was but a Child when his
Piscariam de Derewent Piscariam de Egre Pascua ad omnia Animalia in Forestâ ipsius Ranulphi Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 774. But quaere whether this were not Randle de Micenis Son of William de Meschin Lord of Coupland who Founded the Cell of St. Beges in Cumberland belonging to St. Mary's of York see Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 395 396. and not our Earl of Chester here spoken of for that the Page 774. before-cited shews that the Abbey of Kaldra was Founded Anno Domini 1134. which was after the Death of this Randle Earl of Chester and it seems not to be meant of our second Randle Earl of Chester because then he would probably have been stiled Earl and not barely Randle Meschin as there he is stiled Pipe-Roll 5 Stephani Lincolnshire Lucia the Widow of this first Randle Earl of Chester gave 266 l. 13 s. 4 d. for Livery of her Father's Lands and also 500 Marks Fine that she might not be compelled to Marry within five Years CHAP. IV. Of Randle the Second Gules a Lion rampant Ar. Anno Domini 1139. King Stephen made Henry Son of David King of Scotland Earl of Northumberland at Durham and gave him Carlisle and Cumberland upon a Peace then concluded between Stephen and the King of Scotland Which incensed this Randle Earl of Chester more vehemently against Stephen howbeit in respect of his Alliance to Robert Earl of Glocester whose Daughter he had Married Randle was more apt to be drawn unto the Part of Maude the Empress So that John Prior of Hagulsted in his Continuation of the History of Simon of Durham pa. 268. tells us That in Anno 1140. Henry Son of the King of Scotland with his Wife coming to visit King Stephen in England this Earl of Chester was much displeased at him for Randle required Carlisle and Cumberland as his rightful Patrimony and would have fought the said Henry in his Return to Scotland But Stephen having notice of Randle's intentions sent Henry back into his Countrey safe from all danger and afterwards was the Earl of Chester's indignation bent against King Stephen and the Earl surprised the Castle of Lincoln and possessed himself of all the Strong Holds in Lincolnshire II. This Randle was a gallant Man at Arms and took King Stephen Prisoner at the Battel near Lincoln on Candlemas-day Anno Domini 1141. Ordericus Huntington and Hoveden But Mat. Paris placeth this Battel in Anno 1140. The Story is set down at large by Ordericus lib. 13. Eccles Hist pag. 921 922 as followeth Anno Domini 1141. Anno sexto Stephani Regis Randle Earl of Chester and William de Romara his half-Brother by the Mother Earl of Lincoln rebelled against Stephen and fraudulently surprised the Castle of Lincoln wherein King Stephen had placed a Garrison of Soldiers for Defence of the Town which Castle was taken thus Spying the Opportunity when the Castle-Soldiers were dispersed abroad the Earl of Chester unarmed and without a Cloke or Coat as if he meant to fetch home his Wife whom he had before sent thither accompanied with the Countess of Lincoln Wife of the said William de Romara as walking abroad for their Recreation enters the Castle with three Soldiers which followed him not far off no Man suspecting any Treachery They presently seised the Port or Gate and took all the Arms which they found letting in William de Romara with a Company of armed Soldiers who hasted after according to the contrivement of the Plot and so turning all out that remained in the Castle which were of the King's part the two Brothers possessed themselves both of the Town and Castle Bishop Alexander and the Townsmen willing to insinuate themselves into the favor of King Stephen gave him notice of what had hapned The news much incensed the King and so much the more by how much the Fact was committed by those whom he took for his special Friends and on whom he had conferred many Favors Stephen forthwith gathereth an Army and after Christmas-day which was in the seventh Year of Stephen's Reign Anno 1141. marcheth towards Lincoln where by his sudden and unexpected coming in the Night and the Intelligence of some of the Townsmen he surprized seventeen of the Earls Soldiers which were in the Town The two Earls with their Wives and Friends were Besieged in the Castle and knew not how to escape this present Danger At last Randle Earl of Chester who was the younger and more courageous Earl adventures out by Night attended onely with a few and went to Cheshire as amongst his own Men He makes known his Condition to Robert Earl of Glocester his Father-in-law and to others of his Friends The Disinherited Welsh and many others he exasperates against the King and raiseth all the Forces he can to help his Friends that were Besieged in the Castle of Lincoln especially he implores the Aid of Maude the Empress and Countess of Anjou swearing Fealty unto her whose Favour he obtained Having now gathered a numerous Army the two Earls Robert Earl of Glocester and Randle Earl of Chester march speedily to Lincoln The King hearing of their approach adviseth what is to be done Some counsel him to leave a competent Strength to defend the Town and to go away himself and raise a potent Army through all the parts of the Kingdom whereby in due time he might be able to disperse them if they should continue before that Town Others advise him to send a Parley to the Enemy to put off the Battel since that Day being Candlemas-day was sacred and to be set apart in commemoration of the Purification of the Virgin Mary But the obstinate King not willing to delay the Matter draws forth all his Forces immediately both Armies meet near the Town of Lincoln and being put in order joyn Battel The King divides his Army into three Bodies so did the Earls likewise divide their Army on the contrary part In the Front of the King's Army were the Flemmings and the Britons Commanded by William de Ipro and Alan de Dinan On the opposite part to them stood a furious Company of the Welsh Commanded by two Brothers Mariadoth and Kaladrius The Earl of Chester alights from his Horse resolving to Fight on foot The stout Earl bravely encouraged his courageous Cheshire Regiment of Foot and made this short Speech to the Earl of Glocester and the rest of his Army This Speech is not in Ordericus but is taken out of Huntington pag. 390. It is also in Hoveden and others I humbly thank you most invincible General and you the rest of my fellow Soldiers that you have so faithfully and courageously expressed your Affection to me even to the hazard of your own Lives And since I have been the cause of this your danger it is but reason I should lead the Way and give the first Onset to the Army of the perfidious King who hath broken the Truce he made and onely out of the
the King to consider least the Earl had a Design to ensnare him telling him That it was not safe for him to bring his Army into the midst of so barbarous a Countrey through mountainous and steepy places where he might be entraped on every side besides it were a very rash part to go into his Countrey who had taken from him the greatest part of his Kingdom for although he might seem to incline to the King yet there was no certainty of his Fidelity nor Pledges of Assurance And that if he would have the King's Assistance he should first deliver up what he had unjustly taken which if he refused then presently he should be seized on as the King's Enemy and be imprisoned till he made Restitution But Randle when he heard the Conditions which he was to perform before he could have the King's Aid answer'd That he came not to the Court for that purpose neither had he any notice of this beforehand whereby he might have advised thereon and uttering many high words he was laid hold on by the King's Officers and imprisoned The Nobles who took part with Earl Randle Petitioned the King for his Enlargement and offered Sureties or any Security the King should demand for the delivering up of those Castles which were of Right belonging to the King so that the Earl might be released And thereupon Randle Earl of Chester having given Pledges and taken a solemn Oath that he would never hereafter take up Arms against the King was restored to his Liberty But as soon as he was released he violated his Oath and raised an Army against the King prosecuting his wrathful indignation with revenge of Fire and Sword wheresoever he came and as my Author saith In omnem aetatem in omnem Sexum Herodianam Tyrannidem Neronianam truculentiam exercebat He came often with a Party of Soldiers in view of the Town of Lincoln where now the King had placed the Flower of his Soldiery and had many Skirmishes with them sometimes he was put to the worse sometimes by the smiling Success of Fortune he victoriously triumphed over the King's Party He likewise blockt up the Castle of Coventrey which also he had delivered up to the King till Stephen came to relieve it with Victuals whereof it was in some distress and that was done with great difficulty to the King by forcing his Passage through Randle's Army where by the Way he had many Conflicts In the first Skirmish the King having received some slight Wound was forced to retreat but as soon as he was recovered he fell upon the Earls Army took many wounded others and the Earl himself put to flight and almost slain The King then pulls down the Castle of Coventrey which had been delivered to him before and victoriously proceeds to other Castles in Randle's possession sometimes blocking them up sometimes burning and destroying all about them and ever after became a sore Enemy to Randle and his Adherents Thus much ex Gestis Stephani Anno Domini 1150. David King of Scotland Entertained Henry Son of Maude the Empress at Carlisle very magnificently about Whitsuntide and Knighted him there in the Presence of Henry Son of King David and Randle Earl of Chester which Randle was then appeased concerning his Claim of Carlisle and Cumberland as his Patrimony and did Homage to King David for there was some Speech amongst them that for Carlisle Randle should have the Honour of Lancaster and that Earl Randle's Son should Marry one of the Daughters of Henry Prince of Scotland And so King David and Henry Duke of Normandy and Earl Randle were agreed to unite their Forces against King Stephen And King David with his Son Henry came to Lancaster with their Forces where Earl Randle promised to meet them with his but Randle failing of his Promise they returned back Johannes Prior Hagustaldensis pag. 277 278. Anno 1151. Randle Earl of Chester having been imprisoned which Imprisonment Radulfus de Diceto Chronica Gervasii John Bromton Chronica Normanniae Mat. Paris and Mat. Westminster do all place in Anno 1145. but Hoveden in Anno 1146. and having given his Nephew Gilbert de Clare for his Hostage was released But falsifying his Word and endangering his Hostage he sendeth for Henry Duke of Normandy into England promising him all Assistance Whereupon Henry came into England to whom Robert Earl of Leycester and many of the wisest Noblemen of England then resorted Idem Johannes pag. 278. What a tumultuous Age this was and how the Great Men of the Kingdom divided the Spoils may appear by the Agreement made between this Randle Earl of Chester and Robert sirnamed Bossu Earl of Leycester about the Year 1151. the Original whereof remains in Cotton's Library in Westminstsr Haec est Conventio intèr Ranulfum Comitem Cestriae Robertum Comitem Legrecestriae finalis Pax Concordia quae fuit Concessa divisa ab eis corà m Secundo Roberto Episcopo Lincolniae hominibus eorum ex parte Comitis Cestriae Ricardo de Lovetot Willielmo filio Nigelli Ranulfo Vice-Comite Ex parte Comitis Legrecestriae Ernaldo de Bosco Gaufrido Abbate Reginaldo de Bordineio Scilicèt quòd Comes Ranulfus dedit Concessit Roberto Comiti Legrecestriae castrum de Mountsorell sibi haeredibus suis Tenendum de eo haeredibus suis haereditariè sicùt Charta ipsius Comitis Ranulfi testatur Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae receptare debet ipsum Comitem Ranulfum familiam suam in Burgo Ballâ—s de Mountsorell ad guerrandum quemcunque voluerit ut de feodo suo Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae non potest indè forisfacere Comiti Ranulfo pro aliquo Et si necesse sit Comiti Ranulfo corpus ipsius receptabitur in Dominico Castro de Mountsorell Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae portabit ei fidem salvà fide Ligei Domini sui Et si oportuerit Comitem Leycestriae ire super Comitem Cestriae cùm Ligeo Domino suo non potest ducere secum plus quà m viginti milites Et si Comes Leycestriae vel isti viginti milites aliquid ceperint de rebus Comitis Cestriae totum reddetur Nec Ligius Dominus Comes Leycestriae nec aliquis alius potest forisfacere Comiti Cestriae nec suis de Castris ipsius Comitis Leycestriae nèc de terrâ suâ Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae nec potest proptèr aliquam Causam vel proptèr aliquem Casum impedire Corpus Comitis Cestriae nisi eum desidaverit quindecem dies anteà Et Comes Lycestriae debet juvare Comitem Cestriae contrà omnes homines praetèr Ligium Dominum ipsius Comitis Leycestriae Comitem Simonem Comitem Simonem potest juvare hoc modo quod si Comes Ranulfus forisfecerit Comiti Simoni ipsâ— Comes Ranulfus noluerit Corrigere forisfactum proptèr Comitem Leycestriae tunc potest eum juvare Et si Comes Simon forisfecerit
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
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
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-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
Antecessores sui de Antecessoribus meis tenuerunt This was the Service for the Ancient Barony of Halton in Cheshire for the Service of half a Knights Fee to be done by him and his Heirs for all Service to the said John Scot and his Heirs Testibus Domino Henrico de Audidelegh Domino Willielmo de Cantilupo Domino Ricardo Phiton tùnc Justiciario Cestriae c. Couchir-Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 1. fol. 49. a. Comitatus Cestriae num 24. Lib. C. fol. 65. s. John Lacy had Issue by Margaret his second Wife Edmund Lacy and Maud a Daughter married to Richard de Clare Earl of Clare Glocester and Hartford Anno Domini 1238. 22 Hen. 3. Stow in his Annals Ob. 1240. 22 Julii Anno 1240. 24 Hen. 3. die Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae scilicèt undecimo Calendas Augusti died John Earl of Lincoln after a long and tedious Sickness Mat. Paris p. 533. Margaret Countess of Lincoln afterwards married Walter Marshall Earl of Pembroke which Walter died without Issue 29 Hen. 3. 1245. Mat. Paris Also Vincent upon Broke But Margaret survived both her Husbands and then was stiled Domina Margareta Comitissa Lincolniae Pembrochiae in all her Charters Lib. C. fol. 66. y. Living 33 Hen. 3. I find mention in the Book of Whalley fol. 126. b. of one Peter de Lascy a Bastard called also Peter de Cester Rector of Whalley Church in Lancashire 1249. but whether Bastard-son of this John Lacy I cannot positively affirm IX Edmund Lacy Constable of Cheshire Son and Heir of John Lacy Earl of Lincoln succeeded his Father and was the ninth Baron of Halton His Mother Margaret enjoyed the Earldom of Lincoln while she lived by whom it came and she survived Edmund her Son who was Ward to the King And howbeit Vincent upon Brook pag. 318 319. cites a Record out of the Close Rolls to prove that this Edmund by way of Recitation had tertium Denarium Comitatus Lincolniae yet certain it is he was never stiled in any of his own Chartes by the Title of Comes Lincolniae but onely Edmundus Lacy Constabularius Cestriae Lib. C. fol. 67. c. fol. 1. f. Sometimes Sir Edmund Lacy onely Lib. C. fol. 67. b. Yet Matthew Paris tells us That in the beginning of May 1247. two Girls of Provence in France were by the Providence of Peter of Savoy married unto two very Noble young Gentlemen Edmund Earl of Lincoln and Richard de Burgo whom King Henry the Third had Educated for some few Years in his own Court the King himself staying at Woodstock from the twenty eighth of April to the first of May for the accomplishment thereof Concerning which Marriages there was much murmuring through the Kingdom because those strange Ladies were married as it was said contrary to the desires of the young Noblemen and against their wills Where he stiles this Edmund Earl of Lincoln rather out of Civility in regard it was Hereditarily in him if he had survived his Mother than that in truth he was so stiled in any Deed or Record during his Life ⚜ The young Ladies Name to whom the King married him was Alice Daughter of the Marquis of Saluces in Italy and Cosin to the Queen of England of whom he begot Henry Lacy afterwards Earl of Lincoln Roger Quency Earl of Winchester and Constable of Scotland gave unto his Cosin Edmund Lacy the Mannors of Kypes and Scales in Yorkshire Lib. C. fol. 67. a Tom. 1. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office fol. 168. b. Com. Eboraci num 12. Anno Domini 1254. aliqui magnatum utpote Johannes de Warrennâ Edmundus de Lascy apud Doveram transfretantes versùs Burdegaliam lora direxerunt Mat. Paris Obiit 1258 Edmund Lacy died the fifth day of June 1258. 42 Hen. 3. and was Buried at Stanlaw Abby in Wirrall in Cheshire So the Book of Whalley Abby Lib. C. fol. 61. a. fol. 67. e. Alice the Widow of this Edmund was living 1271. 55 Hen. 3. Tom. 2. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office Honor sive Soca de Bolingbroke fol. 23. num 49. being a French Deed wherein by Agreement with Henry Lacy her Son she was to hold for her Life all those Lands whereof she was Enfeoffed by the King And she releaseth all her Dower in Halton in Cheshire and in Widneys and in Almanbyrye X. Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Cheshire Son and Heir of Edmund Lacy succeeded his Father and was the tenth Baron of Halton King Edward the First gave unto him the Castle and Lordship of Denbigh in Wales Anno Domini 1284. 12 Edw. 1. Stow in his Annals In this Year on the ninth of April was so great Thunder and Lightning that Men could scarce stand on their Feet His Title in Anno 1286. 14 Edw. 1. and also 1296. 24 Edw. 1. did run thus in his own Charters Henricus de Lacy Comes Lincolniae Constabularius Cestriae Dominus de Roos Rowynock Monasticon 1 Pars. pag. 901. Lib. C. fol. 67. g. He was in greatest Favour with his Prince on whose Fidelity Edward the First did principally rely making him the Chief Commissioner for the Rectifying and Discovering of the Abuses and Briberies of his Corrupt Judges complained of in Parliament 18 Edw. 1. 1290. Among whom Sir Thomas Weyland Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was Banished and all his Goods Confiscate Sir John Lovetot Compounded for 3000 Marks Roger Leycester Clerk for 1000 Marks Sir William Brompton for 6000 Marks These were all Judges of the Common Pleas and other Judges were also Fined About this time 1290. Sir Nicolas Leycester Knight was Seneschal to this Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln G. num 60. from whom the Leycesters of Tabley in Cheshire Henry Lacy is placed next after the Prince of Wales as the Prime Noble-man of England in the Catalogue of the Parliament at Carlisle 1307. 35 Edw. 1. as they be ranked by Stow in his Chronicle He was very Famous in all Grand Matters of State in the Reign of King Edward the First as Walsingham Stow and other of our Historians do report Anno 1293. he was sent Embassador to the French King to demand Satisfaction for the Goods of the English Merchants which were taken by the French Also after the death of Edmund Earl of Lancaster he was Commander in Chief of all the Kings Forces in Gascoyn and sometime Vice-Roy of the Dutchy of Aquitain Anno 1298. he Marched into the Confines of Tholouse and expelled the French delivering the Castle of St. Catharine from a strict Siege Anno 1299. he led the Foreward of the Battel of Fowkirk in Scotland where the Scots were defeated He was Protector of England when Edward the Second was in Scotland In a word He was Vir Illustris in Concilio strenuus in omni Praelio Princeps Militiae in Angliâ in omni Regno Ornatissimus saith the Book of Dunmow as I find it cited by Wever in his Funeral
Monuments pag. 366. Anno 1273. 1 Edw. 1. Edmund Earl of Lancaster Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Reginald Grey for the Preservation of the Peace of this Nation Besieged Robert de Ferrers in the Castle of Chartley in Staffordshire which Castle Robert had entred and kept by Force it being lately given by King Henry the Third unto Hamon le Strange which Castle indeed was the Inheritance of the said Robert and descended unto him by Agnes his Grandmother third Sister and Co-heir to Randle Blundevill Earl of Chester till Robert forfeited the same by his Rebellion In this Siege many Persons were slain on both Sides and the said Robert and his Complices were at last taken Now the King Pardoned these Besiegers for the slaying of these Disturbers of the Peace and Confirms the Protection of such Persons as the said Edmund had received into Favour Dated at Rothelent 20 die Decembris 11 Edw. 1. 1282. Lib. C. fol. 67. I. Tom. 2. of the Couchir-Books at Grays-Inn in the Dutchy-Office there Derby-Ferrers num 4. This Henry by the Name of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Cheshire Confirms to the Prior and Canons of Burstow a Place called Ruddegate which Henry Torbock and Ellen his Wife had before Granted unto them so as one Leprous Person of his Fee of Widneys in Lancashire if any such were found should be admitted in the said House and be reasonably maintained and after the Decease of one another to come in his room And that the said Henry Lacy and Margaret his Wife be put in their Martyrologie and their Names written in the Canon Dated at Halton die Sancti Geronimi Confessoris which is the thirtieth day of September Anno Domini 1285. The Original hereof was in possession of Sir Simon Dewes Baronet 1646. with a very fair Seal scilicèt The Earl on Horseback with his Sword drawn and on the Breast of the Earl an Escocheon of Arms in which is A Lion Rampant and on the Reverse or Back-part of the Seal also A Lion Rampant in an Escocheon which I take to be the Coat of these Lacies Earls of Lincoln Lib. C. fol. 68. k. Queeen Elinour's Grant to Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln That all his Tenants in the Mannor of Dynelnegh be quit of all Toll Stallage Payage Pavage Pontage Murage and Passage for ever per omnes Terras nostras Walliae in Comitatibus Cestriae Staffordiae Salopiae Glocestriae Wigorniae Herefordiae Apud Gretindon primo die Septembris 18 Edw. 1. Tom. 1. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office fol. 28. num 49. Infinite other Grants were made to and by this Henry Lacy which here would be tedious to mention He had two Wifes Margaret Daughter of Sir William Longspée and his onely Heir was the first Wife of Henry Lacy married about Christmas 1256. 40 Hen. 3. For on Friday before Christmas in that Year it was agreed between Sir Edmund Lacy on the one Part and Sir William Longspée on the other Part That whereas the Marriage of Henry Lacy Son and Heir of the said Edmund with Margaret Daughter and Heir of the said William had been formerly mentioned in Gascoyne it was now finished by the Consent of the Parties And William Longspée gave with Margaret his Daughter and Heir in Free-Marriage to Henry Lacy the Mannors of Burencester and Middleton cùm omnibus Homagiis Redditibus Servitiis And Edmund Lacy gave for Joynture to the said Margaret his Mannors of Kypeis and Scales in Yorkshire Lib. C. fol. 67. b. Tom. 2. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office Comitatus Oxoniae num 2. Henry Lacy was but six Years old when he was married This William de Longspée although he was Right Heir to the Earldom of Salisbury yet did he never enjoy the same nor had Henry Lacy ever that Title but all the Lands of this Longspée descended to him Henry Lacy had Issue by this Margaret two Sons Edmund and John and both died young and also two Daughters Alice and Margaret Ferne in Lacy's Nobility calls Margaret by the Name of Joan pag. 125. but falsly Onely Alice survived who became Sole Heir to her Father and married Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leycester and Darby Lib. C. fol. 86. So was the Barony of Halton annexed and united to the Earldom of Lancaster Brooks and Fern say That Edmund eldest Son of Henry Lacy was drowned in the Draw-well of Denbigh Castle but I am told by a more Ancient Authority Monasticon 2 Pars pag. 188 b. That in Anno 1282. Edward the First gave to Henry Lacy two Cantreds in Wales to wit Roos and Roweynock and that the King eodem Anno gave to Edmund Lacy his Son a young Girl in Marriage but five Years old namely Maud the Daughter and Heir of Patrick de Chaworth by Isabel Beauchamp his Wife Daughter of William de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Lib. C. fol. 73. e. But this Edmund Lacy died young without Issue and John his Brother running hastily in his Youth upon a Turret in Pomfret Castle in Yorkshire fell down from the Walls and was killed The second Wife of Henry Lacy was Joan Daughter of William Martin Lord Keimis but had no Issue by her Lib. C. fol. 86. a. This Great Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Constable of Cheshire Baron of Halton Pomfret Blackburnshire Roos Roweynock and Protector of England died on the fifth day of February 1310. 4 Edw. 2. at his own House in Chancery lane at London now called Lincolns-Inn and was buried at St. Paul's Church in London in the New Work which was of his own Foundation under a goodly Monument with his Armed Pourtraicture cross-legged as one that had taken a Voyage in Defence of the Holy Land He was aged sixty Years at the time of his death Wever's Funeral Monuments pag. 366. and Stow in his Annals sub Anno 1310. Lib. C. fol. 69. t. Joan his Widow afterwards married Nicolas Lord Audley Lib. C. fol. 69. v. which Nicolas died 1316. And it is to be remembred That in the Time of this Henry Lacy who gave the Church of Whalley in Lancashire with the Chappels thereof unto the Monks of Stanlaw the Abby of Stanlaw was Translated unto Whalley scilicèt Anno Domini 1296. in Festo Sancti Ambrosii Episcopi id est 4 Aprilis Lib. C. fol. 61. a. Domino Gregorio de Norbury tùnc Abbate Anno 1309. 3 Edw. 2. die Vincentii Martyris obiit Gregorius de Norbury Primus Abbas de Whalley An old Parchment Book of Whalley in possession of Mr. Townley of Carre in Lancashire 1657. fol. 23. He was Beheaded at Pomfret his own Mannor Anno Domini 1321. 15 Edw. 2. 22 die Martii for Rebelling against his Sovereign King Edward the Second Stow and Walsingham Leaving no Issue of his Body to succeed him whose Lands were now forfeited to the King Anno 1314. 8 Edw. 2. he purchased from Audomare de Valentia the Temple-house at London which formerly
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.
991. died Cadwalhon the onely Son of Meredyth Anno 992. the Welshmen chose Edwal Son of Meric the right Heir of Northwales for their Prince At Langwm in a Battel between Edwal and Meredyth was slain Theodor or Tudor Mawr the Nephew of Meredyth who lost two Sons Rees and Rytherch and Elen a Daughter Anno 998. died Meredyth ap Owen Prince of Wales leaving one onely Daughter called Angharad Married to Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht and after his Death she Married Conuyn Herdref or as others think Conuyn ap Gweristan 12. Edwal ap Meyric the Son of Meredith Anno Chr. 992. being now in possession of the Principality of Northwales endeavored to keep it but soon after Swane the Son of Harold destroyed the Isle of Man and entring into Northwales slew Edwall the Prince thereof which Edwall left behind him a Son called Jago 13. Aedan the Son of Blegored usurped Northwales and killed Conan Son of Howel one that then aspired to the Government Anno 1003. in open Field He was slain with his four Sons by Lewelin in Battel Anno 1015. 14. Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht Prince of Wales He was slain by Howel and Meredith the Sons of Edwin Anno 1021. leaving a Son called Griffith ap Lhewelyn 15. Jago or James ap Edwal ap Meyric ap Edwal Voel took upon him the Government of Northwales as right Heir Rytherch Son of Jestyn usurped Southwales Jago was slain by Griffith ap Lhewelyn 1037. 16. Griffith ap Lhewelin ap Sitsylht and Angharat This Griffith was King of all Wales and chased Howel and Edwin out of Southwales This Griffith Married Edgith * This Edgith after the Death of Griffith Married Harold King of England or Aldith Daughter of Algar Earl of Mercia in England by whom he had Issue Blethyn Successor of his Dominion and Nest a Daughter Odericus Vitalis lib. 3. pag. 492. lib. 4. pag. 511. also Will. Gemeticensis lib. 7. cap. 31. He was a valiant Prince and wasted a great part of Herefordshire 1052. Sim. Dunelmensis Algar being banished Anno 1055. he went into Ireland where having got 18 Pyrate Ships he came into Wales to King Griffith who joyning Forces routed the English about two Miles from Hereford Nono Calendas Novembris Sim. Dunelmensis Afterwards were both reconciled to the King of England Griffith was slain by his own Men Nonas Augusti 1064. and his Head being cut off was sent to Edward sirnamed The Confessor King of England See also Ingulphus pag. 899. Anno 1070 William Fitz-Osborne Earl of Hereford with Walter Lacy and other stout Champions were placed as a Curb to the Welsh by William the Conqueror These first Invaded the People of Brecknock and slew three Welsh Kings or Princes Rees Cadogan and Merydeth and many other of the Welsh Ordericus pag. 521. 522. ⚜ This King Griffith had two Brothers Blethyn and Ruthyn to whom Edward the Confessor Anno 1065 gave Wales to be held of the King of England Pro servitio debito juratâ Fidelitate Ingulphus pag. 899. 17. Blethyn in Latine Blidenus Son of Griffith saith Ordericus but the Welsh History put out by Powel pag. 103 calleth him Blethin Son of Conwin He was King of Northwales at least Meredyth ap Owen ap Edwyn was Prince of Southwales But this Meredith was slain by Caradoc ap Griffith ap Rytherch ap Jestin upon the River Rympyn Anno Dom. 1068. ⚜ Blethyn was traiterously murthered by Rees ap Owen ap Edwyn Anno Domini 1073. He joyned with Edwyn and Morcar his Uncles by the Mother against the Conqueror Anno 1068. Ordericus pag. 511. and in Anno 1069. the Welsh and Cheshiremen Besieged the Conqueror's Garrison of Shrewsbury See Ordericus pag. 515. 18. Trahaern ap Caradoc after the death of Blethyn Prince of Northwales He was Cosen-german to Blethyn and Rees ap Owen was Prince of Southwales which Rees was slain and outed by Trahaern ap Caradoc about 1076. Anno 1077. Rees ap Theodor ap Eneon ap Owen ap Howel Dha as right Inheritor to Southwales claimed the same and was received Anno Chr. 1078. 19. Griffith up Conan Prince of North-Wales Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-Wales These joyning their Forces slew Traherne and all his Cosins in Battel 1078. Anno 1079. William the Conqueror of England entred Wales with an Army as far as St. Davids and took Homage of the Princes of Wales Anno 1088. Griffith ap Conan King of Wales enters the Borders of England about Rothelent with an Army and made great destruction where Robert of Rothelent a Norman Governor of Rothelent Castle under William the Conqueror was slain in a Skirmish whose Head was cut off and carried away with King Griffith who caused it to be hanged upon the Mast of his Ship Ordericus pag. 670. This Robert of Rothelent and Robert de Malpas two of the Earl of Chester's Barons and other cruel Potentates spilt much of the Welshmens Blood Ordericus pag. 522. Anno 1090. Robert Fitz-Hamon with 12 other Knights invade Glamorganshire with an Army of Normans and spoiled the Lands of Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-Wales where Rees was slain in Battel near Brecknock with whom fell and decayed the Kingdom of South-Wales Those also slew Jestyn ap Gurgant Lord of Glamorganshire with a great number of his Men whereby Robert Fitz-Hamon got possession of Glamorganshire and gave certain Castles and Manors there to his 12 Knights and to other Gentlemen who were the first Strangers that inhabited Wales Powel on the Welsh History pag. 119 124. Cambden's Britannia in Glamorganshire pag. 494. Anno 1092. Roger de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury entred into Powys-land and did win the Castle and Town of Baldwine which he fortified and called it Montgomery after his own Name Welsh History put out by Powel pag. 152. Anno 1094. William Rufus entred Wales at Montgomery which Castle being lately demolished by the Welshmen he re-edified it again But the Welsh keeping the Straits of the Mountains with the Woods and the Rivers King William lost his Labor and a number of his Men and so returned Welsh History pag. 153. Matt. Paris pag. 18. Anno 1098. Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury called Hugh Gogh by the Welsh that is Red Hugh because of his Red Head and Hugh Earl of Chester called Hugh Dirgane by the Welsh that is Gross Hugh because of his Fat Corpulent Body enter Wales with an Army of Cheshire and Shropshire Men but Griffith ap Conan the Prince of North-VVales and Cadogan ap Blethyn fled into the Mountains Then the Earls entred the Isle of Anglesey and by the way they built the Castle of Abberlhiennawe over against it They slew many of the VVelsh therein but Griffith and Cadogan fled into Ireland Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury was slain with an Arrow by Magnus Son of Olave King of Norwey Ordericus pag. 768. Roger Hoveden pag. 467. also the VVelsh History pag. 155. which puts this in Anno 1096. for 1098. Anno
1108. King Henry the Frst with sundry Expeditions brought under the VVelshmen and sent all the Flemmings who came over into England when a great part of Flanders was drowned to inhabite in Ross in VVales where Penbrooke Tenby and Haverford are now built where they remain to this day as may appear by their Speech and Conditions far different from the rest of the Countrey VVelsh Hist pag. 163. Anno 1132. died Meredyth ap Blethyn Chief Ruler of Powys Anno 1137. died Griffith ap Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-VVales who had by his Wife Gwenlhiam Daughter of Griffith ap Conan Rees commonly called Lord Rees and others Anno 1137. towards the end of the Year died Griffith ap Conan Prince of North-VVales 20. Owen sirnamed Gwineth Son of Griffith ap Conan is made Prince of North-VVales and the Name of King is no further used in the British Book VVelsh Hist pag. 139. a With Powel's Notes Also pag. 6. Owen died Anno Domini 1169. after he had Reigned 32 Years 21. David ap Owen Prince of North-VVales assumed the Government because the eldest Son of Owen called Jorwerth Drwyndwn that is Edward with the Broken Nose was counted unmeet for Government Anno 1190. died Griffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield a Nobleman and a Wise man VVelsh History pag. 242. He was Lord of Bromfield Yale Hope-Dale Nanhewdwy Mochnant is Rhayard Chirke Cynlhayth and Glindoverdwy Ibidem pag. 211. This was part of Powys Vadoc Powys before Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers of Dee and Severn and had to Wife Angharat Daughter of Owen Guyneth Prince of North-VVales by whom he had a Son called Madoc who died 1236. leaving a Son called Griffith Pag. 293. Anno Chr. 1194. 22. Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth peaceably received all North-Wales to his Subjection He Married Joan base Daughter of John King of England by Agatha Daughter of William Ferrars Earl of Derby Anno 1206. Vincent upon Brooke pag. 204. Speed's History pag. 518. calls her Daughter of Robert Ferrers and had Issue two Sons Griffith and David and for Daughters he had Marret married to John de Bruse 1219. Welsh Hist pag. 279. and Gladys another Daughter married to Sir Rafe Mortimer Ibid. pag. 298. And it is certain he had another Daughter called Hellen married to John the Scot Earl of Huntington and afterwards Earl of Chester She was married about 1222. and this was for a Final Agreement and Peace between Randle Earl of Chester sirnamed Blundevill and this Lhewelyn Prince of North-Wales who before-time had many Conflicts and Wars one against the other Knighton pag. 2430. Matt. Paris pag. 380. See also my Antiquities touching Cheshire in this Book But Helen had no Issue by John Scot who saith Matt. Paris was consenting to the Poysoning of her Husband After she married Robert de Quency third Son of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester Vincent upon Brooke's Catalogue of Nobility pag. 260. About the Reign of Henry the Second Crogen when he made a Voyage against the Welsh to the Mountains of Berwin as he lay at Oswestrey a number of his Men who were sent to try the Passages to have passed Offa's Ditch at the Castle of Crogen were met withal and slain The Englishmen afterwards used to cry Crogen to the Welsh as much as to say Remember Crogen that they should expect no favour from the English But this Word in process of time grew to be an opprobrious Word when the English would in disgrace call the Welsh Crogens Welsh Hist pag. 257 258. This Lhewelyn was a valiant Prince and brought all Wales to subjection He died tertio Idûs Aprilis scilicèt die Sancti Guthlaci Anno Christi 1240. Matt. Paris pag. 525. And having tamed Griffith his Son who rebelled against him he left the Principality of Wales unto David his younger Son He died in the 46 Year of his Reign and was buried at Conwey Welsh Hist pag. 298. 23. David younger Son of Lhewelyn Prince of North-Wales with all the Barons of Wales did Homage to King Henry the Third for all the Lands which they had in Wales Hist of Wales pag. 299. This David imprisoned Griffith his elder Brother alledging also that he was a Bastard Senana the Wife of Griffith Petitions the King of England for the Release of Griffith her Husband and Owen his Son who was imprisoned with his Father Henry the Third makes an Agreement with Senana dated 25 Hen. 3. 1241. and Roger de Monte alto High-Steward of Cheshire was a Surety or Pledge for Senana to observe the Agreement David consents to deliver Griffith and Owen his Son and to stand to the Judgment of King Henry's Court about Griffith's part of the Land and to restore to Roger de Monte alto all his Land of Moald in Flintshire And David acknowledgeth to hold his Lands of Wales of King Henry in Capite Matt. Paris pag. 624 625. Griffith is sent by David unto King Henry who imprisoned him in the Tower of London but Griffith endeavouring to make an Escape fell down and broke his Neck 1 die Martii 1244. Matt. Paris pag. 617. David Prince of Wales took the Castle of Mould by Storm 1245. Matt. Paris pag. 655. And after it was taken and razed to the Ground by Griffith ap Gwenwynwyn 1268. Welsh Hist pag. 326. Anno Chr. 1246. David died without Issue 1246. Matt. Paris pag. 695. 24. Lhewelyn ap Griffith ap Lhewelyn was the last Prince of Wales of the British Blood who with his Brother Owen Gogh divided the Principality between them Lhewelyn ap Griffith married Elianour Daughter of Simon de Montfort Earl of Leycester Anno 1279. 6 Edw. 1. the Marriage being Solemnized at Worcester at the Charge of the King of England Walsingham pag. 48. Welsh Hist pag. 336. Matthew of Westminster placeth it Anno 1278. I find mention of a Daughter he had for whom the King of England promiseth to provide honourably and to give Lhewelyn 1000 l. Sterling and some Honourable County in England if Lhewelyn would upon his Submission put the King in possession of Snowdon This was Anno 1281. upon a Treaty to be had Welsh History with Powel's Notes pag. 365. But what became of this Daughter I find not but her Mother Elianour was now dead This Treaty took no effect Obiit 1282 Concerning the Death of this Lhewelyn it is variously reported by our Historians Matt. of Westminster saith He was slain in the Battel betwixt the English and the Welsh Anno 1282. when Edmund de Mortuo mari rushing with others into the Army of Lhewelyn he was slain among other Welshmen and his Head cut off which was carried to London and set upon the top of the Tower of London With whom agreeth Walsingham who placeth the time one Year later The Welsh History pag. 374. saith That Lhewelyn retiring to a Grove near Buhelt or Buelht whiles some of the Welsh were sent to defend the Bridge called Pont Orewyn suddenly there
first 39 Kings of Scotland which some Scotch Historians do reckon up are but vain and fabulous as Dr. Heylyn truly accounts them in his Cosmography pag. 335. Kings of Scotland before the Conquest of the Picts when the Scots had but one Part of Scotland and the Picts the other Part. Ann. Dom. 404 1. Fergus King of the Scots and Durstus King of the Picts slain in Battel against the Romans and Brettans Anno Christi 420. Buchanan 2. Eugenius or Euenus eldest Son of Fergus 3. Dongard Brother of Eugenius 4. Constantine Brother of Dongard and youngest Son of Fergus 5. Congall Son of Dongard 6. Goran Brother of Congall 7. Eugenius II. Son of Congall 8. Congall II. Brother to Eugenius 9. Kinnatel In his time Aidan Son of Gorran came into Scotland who two Years before came out of Ireland and was now by St. Columba brought to Kinnatel who left the Kingdom to Aidan having onely Reigned 14 Months 10. Aidan Son of Gorran had his Kingly Robes put on by Columba Deadly Feuds began between him and Brudeus * Brudeus was Son of Meilocon Ordericus l 8. p. 702. King of the Picts Aidan was routed by Ethelfrid King of Northumberland Anno 603. Bede lib. 1. cap. 34. So that he never came again into Scotland 11. Kenneth I. was elected King He Reigned but 4 Months or ut alii 12 Months 12. Eugenius III. Son of Aidan 13. Ferchard I. Son of Eugenius 14. Donaldus Brother of Ferchard 15. Ferchard II. Son of Ferchard He was wounded by a Wolf 16. Maldwine Son of Donwald He was strangled by his Wife upon suspicion he had lain with a Whore and she was burned for it 17. Eugenius IV. Son of Dongard 18. Eugenius V. Son of Ferchard 19. Amberkeleth Son of Findanus Son of Eugenius IV. 20. Eugenius VI. He married Spondana Daughter of Garnard and commanded the Acts of Kings to be Registred in Abbies 21. Mordac Son of Amberkeleth 22. Etfin Son of Eugenius VI. He forced Galloway to pay Tribute 23. Eugenius VII Son of Mordac was murthered by his Nobles 24. Fergus II. Son of Etfin was strangled by his Wife when he was asleep 25. Solvathius Son of Eugenius VII a good Prince 26. Achaius Son of Etfin first entred into a League with France Hungus King of the Picts obtains 10000 Scots of him 27. Congall III. Cosin to Achaius 28. Dongall II. Son of Solvathius 29. Alpin Son of Achaius slain in Battel by the Picts who challenged that Kingdom in right of his Mother Sister to Hungus King of the Picts and his Heir also 30. Kenneth II. Son of Alpin utterly subdued and destroyed the Picts and slew Drusken their last King extending thereby the Scottish Kingdom from one Sea to the other over all the Bounds of Modern Scotland Kings of Scotland after the Conquest of the Picts 1. Kenneth II. the first sole King of all Scotland conquered the Picts Anno 838. He promoted his Kingdom from the Isles of the Orcades to Adrian's Wall Buchanan 2. Donald II. Brother of Kenneth died at Scone Anno 858. 3. Constantine II. Son of Kenneth slain by the Danes 4. Ethus Brother of Constantine sirnamed Alipes à Pedum celeritate 5. Gregorius Son of Dongall a stout Prince He overcame the Danes Brettans and English subdued Cumberland and Westmorland entred Ireland with an Army in the time of Duncan or Donat or more truly Dunach King of Ireland a Child and overcame Brien and Cornelius General of the Irish Forces 6. Donald III. Son of Constantine II. 7. Constantine III. Son of Ethus 8. Malcolme I. stiled Milcolumbus in Latin Son of Donald III. had Cumberland and Westmorland by the Gift of Edmund King of England upon condition that every succeeding King of Scotland should swear Fealty to the King of England as the Supreme Sovereign 9. Indulf an Intruder 10. Duffe Son of Malcolme was murthered 11. Culen Son of Indulfe murthered by one Rohard a Thane or Nobleman 12. Kenneth III. Brother of Duffe 13. Constantine IV. Son of Culen sirnamed Calvus or The Bald a Usurper of the Crown 14. Grime Son of Duffe was slain in Battel by Malcolme Prince of Cumberland 15. Malcolme II. Son of Kinneth III. murthered by his Nobles in the Castle of Glammis in Angus 16. Duncan Son of Grime succeeded Malcolme II. Malcolme had no Issue Male but two Daughters Beatrix Married to one Crine a Nobleman Thane of the West-Islands and Ruler or President over the rest of the Thanes whom that Age called A-Thane Doaca the other Daughter married the Thane of Angus of whom he begat Macbeth So Buchanan And Duncan had by the Daughter of Siward the Great Earl of Northumberland two Sons Malcolme Cammoir and Donald sirnamed Ban that is White 17. Macbeth Grandson to Malcolme II. by Doaca his Daughter 18. Malcolme III. sirnamed Cammoir that is Great-Head Son of Duncan He enjoyed Cumberland and Westmorland with the Dominion of Scotland and married Margaret the Sister of Edgar Atheling Right Heir to the Crown of England but kept out by William the Conqueror by whom he had Issue six Sons Edward Edgar Alexander David Edmund and Ethelred These two last were driven into England by Donwald their Uncle and died in Banishment saith Buchanan Malcolme had also two Daughters Maud Wife to Henry the First King of England and Mary another Daughter of Malcolme married to Eustace Earl of Boloine Ordericus pag. 702. Buchanan pag. 215. This Malcolme with Edward his eldest Son was slain by Morell or Morkell an Officer under Robert de Moulbray Earl of Northumberland the 13 day of November 1093. near the River Alne in Northumberland Roger Hoveden pag. 463 464. as he was coming home peaceably towards Scotland Ordericus vitalis lib. 8. pag. 701 702. 19. Donald IV. sirnamed Ban Brother to Malcolme was beaten out of Scotland by Duncan II. after that he had Reigned six Months 20. Duncan II. base Son of Malcolme III. set up by the Scots and murthered by Macpendirus Earl of Merne Buchanan 21. Edgar Son of Malcolme III. by the help of William Rufus King of England recovered Scotland which Forces were procured by the Mediation of Edgar Atheling his Uncle Hoveden pag. 466. He built an Abbey at Coldingham consecrated to Ebba the Virgin * Anno 1102. afterward translated into the Name of Cutbert But Edgar died without Issue Anno 1107. 6 Idus Januarii Buchanan pag. 216. Matt. Paris pag. 63. Hoveden pag. 471. sub Anno 1108. 22. Alexander Brother of Edgar was sirnamed Acer or The Fierce He built the Temple of St. Michael at Scone and also a Temple in honour of Columbus in the Isle of Aemona He married Sibilla Daughter of William the Conqueror but left no Children by her So Buchanan But the Conqueror had no such Daughter that I can find either in Ordericus or Stowe who name all his Daughters She was base Daughter of Henry the First Ordericus pag. 702. Ann. Dom. 1124 23. David Brother of Alexander married Maude
pag. 280. But Walsingham pag. 129. saith Anno 1328 Hoc anno Robertus Bruis Rex Scotiae leprâ percussus obiit 7 Idus Junii not Julii The Scots then chose Thomas Randulf Earl of Murray Protector of David Bruse Son of Robert a Child about eight Years old Randulf died 1331 13 Calendas Augusti and Duncan Earl of Marre was then chosen Protector of Scotland 30. Edward Balioll Son of John Balioll King entred Scotland with an Army and was so prosperous that he was Crowned at Scone 8 Calendas Septembris 1332. Buchanan pag. 285. But Walsingham saith he was Crowned 5 Calendas Octobris that is the 27. of September 31. David Bruse Son of King Robert Bruse called David II. He was restored to his Father's Throne by the Power of the Scots He Married Jane Sister to King Edward the Third at Barwick 18 Julii 1329. She died in England 1357. and he died at Edenborough 7 Maii 1370. anno aetatis 47 annoque Regni propè 39 leaving no Issue Buchanan For he was Crowned 1330 23 Novembris So that this was a tumultuous Age in Scotland Ann. Dom. 1370. 32. Robert II. of the Family of the Stewarts King of Scotland by Descent from the eldest Sister of David Bruse He Married Euphemia Daughter of Hugh Earl of Rosse and by her had Issue Walter Earl of Athol and David Comes Ierniae which David had onely one Daughter Married to Patrick Gramus Buchanan pag. 353. also Euphemia a Daughter Married to James Duglas Euphemia the Queen died 1373. Buchanan pag. 307. Soon after he Married Elizabeth Moor Daughter of Sir Adam Moor his old Concubine of whom he had formerly begot three Sons and two Daughters and had placed her to be kept with with one Giffard a Nobleman of Lothaine whom he Married to make those Children legitimate John the eldest he made Earl of Carrict Robert he made Earl of Mentith and Fife and Alexander he made Earl of Buqhan who had a Bastard called also Alexander Earl of Marre Cambden's Britannia pag. 713. This Robert II. died Anno 1390. about the thirteenth of the Calends of May aged 74 Years and having Reigned 19 Years and 24 Days Buchanan lib. 9. pag. 323. Note Of the original of the Family of Stewart in Scotland there is a Fable mentioned by Dr. Heylin in his Cosmography pag. 336 which you may read there at large The sum of the truth if yet it be a Truth is this In the days of Malcolme Cammoir King of Scotland about Anno 1090 one Walter Son of Fleanch Son of Bancho was sent by the King against the Gallowidians in Scotland who slew their Commander and so quelled the Rebellion The King upon his Return for his good Service made him Stewart of Scotland an Office of Collecting all the King's Revenues In former Times such were called Thanes And the Thanes of Countreys in many Places are now called Stewarts the English Speech overspreading that Countrey Et qui illis erat ab Thanus nunc Stuartus Scotiae nominatur And from this Walter the Family of the Stewarts took their Name and Original who have for a long time flourished in Scotland Thus Buchanan Rerum Scoticarum lib. 7. pag. 212. But Powel on the Welsh History pag. 97. tells us That the said Fleanch a Nobleman of Scotland fled for safety to Griffith ap Lhewellyn Prince of Wales where he fell in Love with Griffith's Daughter whose Name I find to be Nest and got her with Child whereupon Griffith caused Fleanch to be killed At last she was Delivered of a Son called Walter who went into Scotland and at last became Stewart of Scotland as is above rehearsed 33. Robert III. Son of Robert II. whose right Name was John but changed into Robert after his coming to the Crown He was Crowned the Ides of August 1390. Buchanan lib. 10. pag. 324. sub initio He Married Annabill Daughter of Sir John Drommond of Stobhall Knight and had Issue two Sons David and James David died in Falkland famished saith Buchanan by his perfidious Uncle Robert Earl of Fife and Governor of Scotland Anno 1401. This David had before betrothed Elizabeth Daughter of George Earl of Narne Pag. 326. Robert III. was buried the first of April 1406. annoque Regni 16. Buchanan lib. 10. pag. 333. He died for grief that James his young Son was taken and kept Prisoner by the King of England At a Parliament at Perth Anno Dom. 1399. this King Robert created his Son David then aged 18 Years Duke of Rothsay and Robert Earl of Fife was made Duke of Albany These were the first Dukes of Scotland 34. James I. Son of Robert III. was taken upon the Seas going for France and brought to the King of England a little before his Father's death where he was kept Prisoner 18 Years and then set free in February 1423. and Crowned in Scotland the 21 of April following He Married Jane Daughter of John Beaufort Earl of Somerset in England 1423. Stow and had two Sons Twins Alezander and James Alexander died young and James succeeded King born the fourteenth of October 1430. Buchanan pag. 347. also six Daughters Margaret one Daughter Contracted to Lewis Son of Charles the Seventh King of France 1425. Buchanan pag. 342. James the First died in the beginning of the Year 1437. aged 44 Years and Reigned 13 Years Buchanan pag. 361. 35. James II. Son of James the First scarce seven Years old Crowned King at Edenborough in Caenobio Sanctae Crucis about the sixth of the Calends of April 1437. Buchanan pag. 362. Alexander Leviston made Protector and William Crihton Lord Chancellor He Married Mary Daughter of Arnold Duke of Gelderland Anno 1448. Hollinshed calleth her Margaret pag. 248. and had Issue by her three Sons and two Daughters James the eldest Alexander the second Son Duke of Albany Married the Earl of Orkney's Daughter and got on her Alexander Bishop of Murray and then parting with her went into France and Married the Countess of Boloigne by whom he had Sir John Steward Duke of Albany Governor of Scotland many Years in the Minority of James the Fifth The third Son was John Stewart Earl of Marre Mary the elder Daughter Married the Lord Boyd and after to James Lord Hamilton Buchanan pag. 420. So was the Blood Royal mingled with the Family of Hamilton The younger Daughter Married the Lord Crihton Hollinshed pag. 248. James the Second was slain at the Siege of Roxborough Castle 1460. Anno aetatis 29 Regni 23. Buchanan lib. 11. ad finem pag. 399. 36. James III. Son of James the Second Married Margaret Daughter of Christiern King of Denmark Anno 1470. Buchanan lib. 12. pag. 420. of whom he begat a Son called James born in March Anno 1473. Christern King of Denmark released unto this James all his Right to the Isles of Orcades in favour of his Daughter James the Third was slain by his own rebellious Subjects in Battel Anno Christi 1488. Regni
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
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
back and the next Day it was surrendred to Dermot who gave Weshford with its Apurtenances to Robert Fitz-Stephen and to Maurice and to their Heirs according to his former Agreement and to Hervey de Mont-Morice he gave two Cantreds of Land lying after the Sea between Weshford and Waterford Girald Hib. Exp. l. 1. c. 3. The Annals of Ireland say That Fitz-Stephen entred Ireland Anno 1168. and that Strongbow followed 1169. with about 1200 Soldiers Landing at Waterford the 23. of August and on the 25. of August he took Waterford and there Eva the Daughter of Dermot was Married to Strongbow given by her Father But Roger Hoveden saith That Strongbow came into Ireland Anno 1168. and then Fitz-Stephen who went before him entred Ireland 1167. Thus Robert Fitz-Stephen prepared way for Earl Strongbow and Strongbow for the King of England to the Dominion of Ireland Weshford was the first Colony Planted by this Fitz-Stephen with the English in Ireland which to this day retains the ancient English Attire and much of their Language as a Badge of their Conquest and which by the Natives there is yet known and called by the Name of Weshford-Speach To Robert Fitz-Stephen and Milo Coggan King Hen. II. gave the Kingdom of Cork for the Service of 60 Knights Fees 1177. except the City of Cork with one Cantred which the King retained to himself and his Heirs Hoveden pag. 567. This Robert Fitz-Stephen was the onely Example of Valour and Industry one that had often tasted the various turnings of Fortune as well in Ireland as in Wales like Marius Secundus if you look back upon his Felicity none more prosperous and happy if upon his Misery none more unfortunate and miserable A Man of a large and sound Body of a comely Countenance of little more than a middle Stature sumptuous and plentiful in his Diet bountiful and pleasant but immoderately given to Wine and Women Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 26. About Anno Christi 1165 or 1164. Rees ap Griffin Prince of Southwales Besieged Aber-Tivy Castle and took it and demolished the same where Robert Fitz-Stephen was taken Prisoner by Rees his Cosin-german and after three Years Imprisonment he was released by Rees upon Condition that he would joyn with Rees against the King of England But he chose rather to go into Ireland with Dermot than to be perfidious to his Prince Giraldus But Cambden in Cardiganshire saith he was released on Condition that he would relinquish his Right to his Lands in Wales He was the Son of Stephen High Constable of Southwales and Governor of Aber-Tivy that is Cardigan in Wales Cambden called Constable of Aber-Tivy in the Welsh History put out by Powel This Stephen Married Nest Daughter of Rees the Great Prince of Southwales and the Widow of Gerald of Windsor By Gerald she had Issue Maurice Fitz-Gerald a principal Assistant in the Conquest of Ireland By Stephen she had Issue this Robert Fitz-Stephen who had no lawful Issue by his Wife saith Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 2. cap. 17. He then had a Bastard for Giraldus in another place lib. 1. cap. 40. makes mention of Radulfus Stephanidae filius who deserved very well for his Valour when O-Roric King of Meath was killed which O-Roric had like to have killed Hugh Lacy by Treachery This Rafe Son of Robert Fitz-Stephen was slain with his Father-in-law Milo de Coggan between Waterford and Lismore Anno 1179. by one Machtyrus treacherously Annales Hiberniae also Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 2. cap. 18. Robert Fitz-Stephen had also another Bastard Son called Mereducius Giraldus ibidem IV. Maurice Fitz-Gerald another Assistant in the Conquest of Ireland a Man well modelled in Mind and Body of an innate Goodness of little Speech but full of weight circumspect in Dangers not rash but resolute when once resolved on by him a sober modest and chaste Man Valiant and Faithful not altogether without Faults yet without any notorious Crime He died at Weshford about August 1176. and had three Sons William the eldest Married Ellen Daughter of Earl Strongbow Giraldus another Son Alexander another Son and Nest a Daughter Married to Hervey Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 42. cap. 23. lib. 2. cap. 5. cap. 15. V. Reymund another principal Person was Son of William Fitz-Gerald and Nephew to Maurice Fitz-Gerald and to Robert Fitz-Stephen by the eldest Brother He Married Basilia Sister of Earl Strongbow about the Year 1174. but had no Issue by her He was Constable to Strongbow to wit Praefectus Familiae The Governor or Lord Marshal of his Houshold Of a yellow Hair somewhat curling great Eyes grey and round a high Nose a chearful Countenance and good Complexion Provident and Prudent VI. John Curcy was a gallant Man at Arms. Ann. Dom. 1177. He was the first of all the English who subdued Ulster in Ireland Anno 1177 not till then subdued He Married Africa the Daughter of Gotred King of the Isle of Man It is observed of these four Props of Ireland Fitz-Stephen Hervey Reymund and this Curcy Girald Hib. Expug lib 2. cap. 17. that they had no Issue by their Wives Hoveden pag. 561. This John was the first Earl of Ulster and of the Family of the Curcyes of Stoke-Curcy in Somersetshire Cambden In the Year 1204. he had a great Battel at Down in Ireland with Hugh Lacy Son of the first Hugh and got the Day but afterwards by Treachery was delivered to Hugh Lacy who brought him to King John and the King gave the Earldom of Ulster and the Dominion of Connaught to the said Hugh Lacy Annales Hiberniae and Curcy never got his Right again It is said of this John Curcy that he should have fought a Duel for the King against the King of France's Champion but that Champion durst not meddle with him He strook his Sword through a Head-piece so deep into a Block that none could pull it out but himself Annales Hiberniae sub Anno 1204. put in the end of Cambden's Britannia after Ireland There were also some others as Robert le Poer the King's Marshal in Ireland to whom Henry the Second gave Waterford Town in custody with all the Apurtenances And he appointed all the Land between Waterford and the Water beyond Lismores and all the Land of Oiseric with its Apurtenances to belong to the Service of Waterford Hoveden pag. 567. And also afterwards at Marleberge the King gave to Philip de Breos all the Kingdom of Limrick for the Service of 60 Knights Fees for Herbert and William Brothers of Reginald Earl of Cornwal and Joslan de la Pumerai their Nephew would not have that Kingdom though given them before by the King because it was not yet gotten for Monoderus King of Limrick being slain by the English after he had sworn Fealty to the King of England there arose up another of his Progeny who would not submit because of the infidelity of the English also the King of Cork and
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
of Elflede his Countess Ethelred and his Countess restored Caerleon that is Legecestria now called Chester Anno Chr. 908. after it was destroyed by the Danes and enclosed it with new Walls and made it nigh such two as it was before so that the Castle that was sometime by the Water without the Walls is now in the Town within the Walls So Trevisa in his Translation of Polychronicon lib. 6. cap. 4. whereunto agreeth Florentius and Matthew of Westminster But Hoveden placeth it in Anno 905. Which Town of Chester remained in possession of the Britons or Welshmen till it was taken by Egbert the Saxon Monarch of England about the Year 824. Trevisa lib. 5. cap. 28. Ann. Chr. 910. Also he and his Countess translated the Bones of St. Oswald King and Martyr from Bardeny to Glocester where they built an Abbey in honour of St. Peter Polychronicon The Danes breaking their Truce with King Edward and this Ethelred wasted Mercia and were beaten by the English at Totenhale in Staffordshire and afterwards at Wodenesfield within a Mile of Wolverhampton in Staffordshire was a great Battel Fought on the fifth day of August in the same Year wherein the Danes were routed and three of their Kings slain Healfdene Eywysle and Igwar Stow. Ethelwerd in Chronico suo lib. 4. cap. 4. and Trevisa fol. 287. Ethelred Eximiae vir Probitatis Dux Patricius Dominus Subregulus Merciorum decessit Anno 912. So Florentius whose Death is placed by Hoveden sub Anno 908. He had onely one Daughter called Elfwine or Algiva at whose Birth Elflede her Mother was so much astonished with the pain that ever after she refrained the Embraces of her Husband for almost 40 Years saith Matth. Westminst pag 359. protesting often That it was not fit for a King's Daughter to be given to a Pleasure that brought so much pain along with it and thereupon grew an heroick Virago like the ancient Amazons as if she had changed her Sex as well as her Mind Ingulphus pag. 871. Malmesbury pag. 46. This Lady Elflede is variously written by our ancient Historians as Edelfled Ethelfled Egelfled and Elflede and from the time of her Husbands Death she Governed all Mercia excellently except London and Oxford which King Edward her Brother retained to himself She built a Fort at Sceargete and another at Bridge upon Severn which I conceive is now called Bridgenorth She repaired Tamworth nigh Lichfield and built a Fort at Stafford She built the Town of Eadsbury in the Forrest of Cheshire whereof now nothing remains but that we now call The Chamber of the Forrest And the same Year she built Warwick She built also Ciricbyrig now called Monkes-Kirkby in Warwickshire saith Dugdale in his Warwickshire pag. 50. a. and another called Weadbirig and a third called Runcovan but now called Runcorne in Cheshire This was long since demolished Polychronicon Florentius She took Brecannemere or Brecknock and carried away the Queen of Wales and 33 of her Men Prisoners into Mercia She took the Town of Darby from the Danes and the whole Province thereof In Storming of which Town she lost four of her chiefest Officers antè Calendas Augusti Elfled died at Tamworth the twelfth day of June Anno 919. and was buried in St. Peter's Church at Glocester Florentius Westminster Polychronicon and Huntington But Hoveden placeth her Death sub Anno 915. And so Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 4. So much do Writers vary for the time In the same Year wherein she died King Edward built a Fort or Town at Thelwall in Cheshire and Garrison'd it and also made another Garrison at Manchester which was then in the outmost Border of the Kingdom of Northumberland this way and took Mercia from his Neece Elfwin into his own Hands Florentius Polychronicon I cannot here pass by Henry Huntington's contradiction of himself Lib. quinto Histor pag. 353. where he tells us That Edred Dux Merciae died Anno 8 Edwardi Regis Angliae which falls Anno Christi 908. And in the same Page a little after he says That Ethered Dux Merciae Father of Edelfled died in the eighteenth Year of King Edward's Reign which must needs be a mistake unless there were two Ethereds Governors of Mercia successively and two Elfledes Mother and Daughter of which I find no mention in other Authors The Countess Elflede was a prudent Woman and of a manly Spirit She much assisted King Edward her Brother as well by Councel as by her Actions She was beloved of her Friends and feared by her Enemies Of whom Huntington hath these Verses lib. 5. Hist pag. 354. O Elfleda Potens O terror Virgo Virorum Victrix Naturae nomine digna Viri Tu quo Splendidior fieres Natura Puellam Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri Te mutare decet sed solùm nomina Sexûs Tu Regina Potens Réxque Trophaea parans Jam nèc Caesarei tantum meruêre Triumphi Caesare Splendidior Virgo Virago Vale. II. Alfere is the next Governor of Mercia He is also stiled Dux Merciae He is Witness to a Charter of King Edgar's made to the Abbey of Croyland Anno 966. Ingulphus pag. 882. 888. Anno 975. he destroyed many Abbeys turning out the Abbots with their Monks and bringing in Clergy-men with their Wives Hoveden pag. 427. Florentius pag. 361. Anno 983. Alfere Dux Merciorum and Cosin to King Edgar died and Alfric his Son succeeded in that Government Florentius pag. 363. And if we may believe Malmesbury pag. 61. he was eaten to death with Lice Ann. Dom. 983. III. Alfric Son of Alfere succeeded his Father and was Dux Merciae by Succession Anno 983. Huntington calls him Consul Alfricus Earl Alfric lib. 5. Hist pag. 357. For Dux and Consul in these Ages were Synonima He was banished England Anno 986. Florentius and not long after was received again into favor contrary to the Rule of State-Policy for Quem semel gravitèr laeseris non facilè tibi fidelem credideris Never think that Man will be faithful to you whom you have before greatly injured and distasted Wherefore Anno 992. this Alfric being made Chief Governor of the Forces which King Ethelred had collected and preparing a great Navy against the Danes gave private Intelligence to the Enemy and the Night before the Navy was to Engage he privily conveyed himself to the Danish Fleet and fled away with the Enemy But the English Ships pursuing slew many of the Danes and took the Ship wherein Alfric was he himself by flight scarcely escaping Florentius pag. 365 366. Anno 993. King Ethelred commanded that the Eyes of Algar Son of Alfric should be put out which was effected Florentius Howbeit Huntington saith pag. 358. that Algar's Eyes were caused to be pluck'd out by one Edwyn which may stand with the other as employed by the King to see it done Anno 1003. this Traytor Alfric feigned himself sick when he should have fought with the Danes Anno 1016. Alfricus
Dux was slain in Battel against the Danes with many other Noblemen of England Florentius pag. 388. IV. Edric sirnamed Streon a most perfidious Man was made Duke or Governor of Mercia by King Ethelred Anno 1007. in which Year the King of England agreed to pay thirty six thousand Pounds Tribute-money to the Danes so as they would desist from their Rapines Florentius pag. 373. with whom also agrees Huntington Hoveden and Polychronicon Onely Westminster saith he was made Duke of Mercia Anno 1003. He was the Son of Egelricus of low Kindred and to whom nevertheless his eloquent Tongue and crafty Wit procured great Riches and Honor and for Envy Florentius pag. 373. Falshood Pride and Cruelty exceeded all Men at that time He had to his Brothers Brihtric Alfric Goda Agelwin Agelward and Agelmer See Hoveden pag. 450. Father of Wulnoth Father of Godwin Earl of the West-Saxons He married Edgitha Daughter of King Ethelred Hoveden pag. 430. Stow calls her Edina pag. 90. b. and had Issue Wulfege and Wegete two Sons His unworthy Acts Historians Record thus Anno 1006. he murthered Duke Alfhelme whom VVestminster calls Ethelstane by a Wile for having invited him to a Banquet at Shrewsbury about the third or fourth day of his Entertainment he took him along with him on Hunting and led him into a Wood where he had laid in ambush a Butcher of Shrewsbury called Godwin Porthund whom he had hired to kill Alfhelme This Godwin spying his opportunity when all the rest of the Company were busied in Hunting fell upon Alfhelme and murthered him And shortly after King Ethelred caused the Eyes of Edric's two Sons VVulfeage and VVegate to be put out at Cocham or Cosham where the King then lived Florentius pag. 372. Anno 1015. he guilefully got Sigeferth and Morcar Sons of Earngrime into his Chamber where he caused them to be killed secretly and also endeavored secretly to have slain Edmund Prince of England And not long after having gotten forty Ships well Manned with Danish Soldiers he revolted to Canutus King of the Danes Florentius pag. 382. Hoveden pag. 433. Sigeferth and Morcar are stiled Earls of Northumberland by VVestminster whose Lands the King seised as forfeited by their Treason To omit many other of his Treacheries Anno 1016. Edric most perfidiously caused King Edmund sirnamed Ironside to be murthered for he caused his Son to thrust a sharp Knife into the King's Fundament as he was at the House of Office exonerating himself And this was done when the King lodged at Oxford on the last day of November Matt. VVestminster pag. 401. But Malmesbury pag. 72. saith Edric corrupted two of the King's Bed-chamber to thrust an Iron Hook into his Fundament as he was exonerating himself so was the common Fame saith he Howbeit Florentius and Hoveden both tell us That King Edmund died at London about the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle At last this Edric had a just Reward for all his Villanies for Anno 1017. Cnut the Danish King caused him to be Beheaded after he had told him what he had done to King Edmund and set his Head upon the Tower of London for he said he would make him higher than all the Noblemen of England Others say That for fear of Tumult he was privately strangled and his Body thrown into Thames So VVestminster pag. 402. Vide Ingulphum pag. 892. By Edric's Counsel Cnut banished Edwine Brother to Edmund Ironside and also Edward and Edmund Sons to King Edmund Ironside V. Leofric is the next Governor of Mercia I meet with He is the first that I find stiled Earl of Chester in express words Henry Huntington lib. 6. pag. 366. Leofricus Consul Nobilissimus Cestriae He is also stiled Earl of Leycester by Ingulphus pag. 891. Howbeit in truth he was now Earl of all Mercia whereof those Counties were Members or Branches and was one of the Primest Counsellors among all the Nobles of England and very gracious with his Prince He lived in the several Reigns of King Cnut Harald sirnamed Harefoot Hardy-Cnut and Edward sirnamed The Confessor But give me leave here by way of Digression to explain the Title of Earl which we give unto them for hitherto before this Leofric they have most usually by ancient Authors been stiled Duces Merciae But from Leofric downwards they are usually stiled Comites Merciae Wherefore it is to be observed That under the Saxons the subordinate Titles of Temporal Honour were those of Ethelinge Ealdorman and Thane or Theigne The Thanes were answerable to our Barons The Ealdormen usually stiled Aldermanni in the old Latin Translations of the Saxon Laws were such as had Provinces or Counties under their Government and signifies as much as Senior or Senator in Latin expressed sometimes by Subregulus Regulus Patricius Princeps Dux and in Saxon by Heretoga sometimes by Comes and Consul Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 605. Ethelinge was a Title attributed to those of the Blood-Royal Sons and Brothers to the King and signifies as much as Nobly Born which in the times of the Saxons was in Latin expressed Clyto from the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Famous Noble or Eminent About King Ethelstan's Reign the Word Earl was received in England as a Syncnima to Etheling and so denoted the Sons or Brothers of the King and not an Earl as at this day it is used for a Special Dignity Selden Tit. Hon. pag. 604. The word Earl coming into England with the Danes in whose Language Erlig at this day signifies as much as Noble or Honourable And after the Danish Power encreased in England under King Cnut the Name of Earl was fixed on those who before were by the Saxons called Ealdormen and the Saxon Title Ethelinge no more expressed by the word Earl The Title of Ealdorman continued until about the Year 1020. expressed by these words in Latin Duces Principes Comites c. Selden Tit. Hon. pag. 609. But from the Norman Conquest Earl and Comes most usually have translated each other And therefore because these Governors of Mercia first stiled Duces were also afterwards stiled Comites and Consules I give them the Title of Earls Howbeit in truth the Titles of Dux and Comes used by the ancient Historians of our Nation and also frequently found in old Latin Charters under our Saxon Kings about 800 Years after Christ did then signifie with us no other than Chief Governors of Provinces and Counties under the King and promiscuously used in that Age for the same Title So were also Consul and Subregulus But though Dux and Comes were promiscuously used by Florentius Huntington Hoveden and other old Authors yet I find in Latin Chartes of those Ages many stiled Duces and others Comites in the same Charters as we find in Ingulphus Nay you may observe in the Subscriptions of those Ages this Order First Bishops then Abbots then Duces then Comites then Minister which in those Chartes denotes a Thane or Lord
performed Earl Leofric granted the Townsmen a Freedom by Charter Polychronicon lib. 6. cap. 26. Westminster pag. 424. which Charter Mr. Dugdale in his Warwickshire pag. 86. conceives rather a Freedom from Servile Tenure than onely Toll This Illustrious Leofric died at his own Town of Bromley the last day of August Obiit 1057 Anno Domini 1057. So Florentius and Hoveden pag. 444. and also Matt. Westminster and was buried at Coventry in the Monastery which he had built there the richest Monastery then in England VI. Algar Son of Earl Leofric succeeded his Father in the Earldom of Mercia Anno Domini 1057. Hoveden pag. 444. and is stiled Earl of Chester by Huntington pag. 366. and also Earl of Leycester by Ingulphus pag. 898. Anno Domini 1053. the Earldom of the East-Saxons which before Harold Son of Earl Godwin held was given to this Algar And in the Year 1056. he was banished by Edward the Confessor but by the aid of Griffith King of Wales after the Slaughter of many he was reconciled to his Prince and received his Earldom In the Year 1058. being the Year after his Father's death he was again banished for Treason but by the help of King Griffith and the Norwey Navy he recovered his Earldom by force He had to Wife the Sister of William Mallet as Burton in his Antiquities of Leycestershire affirmeth pag. 168. and had two Sons Edwine Earl of Mercia and Morcar Earl of Northumberland and two Daughters Aldith first married to Griffith King of Wales and after to Harold King of England and Lucio who had three Husbands Ivo Talbois Earl of Angeau the first Husband of Lucy Roger de Romara Son of Gerold the Second Husband of Lucy by whom she had Issue William de Romara Earl of Lincoln Randle de Meschines Viscount Baieux in Normandy Lord of Cumberland in England and afterwards Earl of Chester was the third Husband of Lucy by whom she had also Issue But she survived all her Husbands Ingulphus pag. 898. Hoveden pag. 443 444. Ingul pag. 902 903. Ordericus vitalis pag. 511. 871. Cambden's Britannia in Leycestershire Obiit 1059 Anno Domini 1059. Algar died and was buried at Coventry Ingulphus pag. 898. VII Edwine Son of Algar succeeded Earl of Mercia Anno Domini 1059. He and his Brother Morcar stoutly opposed William the Conqueror Anno 1066. But the Conqueror prevailing he lost his Earldom He lived to the fourth Year of the Conqueror's Reign Anno 1070. Obiit 1070 When fearing to be imprisoned he conveyed himself secretly from the Court of William the Conqueror and rebelled against him and unable to withstand he intended to have gone to Malcolme then King of Scotland but being betrayed by his own Men was slain by the way Ordericus pag. 521. Florentius pag. 437 438. Some say Morcar was taken by the Conqueror and died in Prison Howbeit Ingulphus pag. 901. saith Comites Edwinus Morcarius ambo à suis per insidias trucidati I find no mention of any Issue either of Edwine or Morcar Finis Primae Partis Of the Earls of CHESTER Since the Norman Conquest PART II. CHAP. I. I. AFter that William Duke of Normandy had vanquished King Harold in Battel and obtained the Crown of England which hapned Anno Christi 1066. as all our Histories unanimously declare he by degrees conferred many great Patrimonies and large Possessions upon his more noble Barons as just Rewards for their Service by whose assistance he had got a new Kingdom So Ordericus Vitalis a Writer who lived near to those Times lib. 4. Eccles Hist pag. 521 522. as it is set out with other Histories by Andrew du Chesne and Printed at Paris Anno Domini 1619. tells us in these words Rex Guillielmus dejectis Merciorum maximis consulibus Edwino scilicèt interfecto Morcaro in vinculis constricto Adjutoribus suis inclytas Angliae Regiones distribuit ex infimit Normannorum Clientibus Tribunos Centuriones ditissimos erexit Amongst those of the meaner sort newly raised the principal were Geffrey de Clinton Rafe Basset with some others which Ordericus expresseth more at large pag. 805. II. But concerning the distribution of his Counties in England to his greater sort of Nobles and Barons who accompanied him in this Service see Ordericus pag. 522. Among others Anno 1070. the King gave to William Fitz-Ozberne Dapifero Normanniae that is High Steward of Normandy the Isle of Wight and the County of Hereford Which William with Walter Lacy and other tried Champions the King set as a Curb to the Welsh whose boldness first Invaded Brachavianos or Brecknockshire and slew Risen and Caducan and Mariadoth three Welsh Kings with many others Chester and the County thereof the King had but lately given to one Gherbod Gherbod first Earl of Chester after the Norman Conquest a Nobleman of Flanders who had gallantly behaved himself as well against the English as Welsh and afterwards being sent for by his Friends whom he had left in Flanders and to whom he had committed his hereditary Honour there he obtained liberty of King William the Conqueror to go thither and to return very quickly again but by misfortune he fell into the Hands of his Enemies when he came into Flanders and there endured a long and tedious Imprisonment In the mean time that is to say sub Anno Domini 1070. King William gave the Earldom of Chester to Hugh de Auranges Son of Richard sirnamed Goz. This Hugh with Robert of Rothelent and Robert of Malpas and other cruel Potentates spilt much of the Welshmens Blood And the Castle of Stutesbury now called Tutbury in Staffordshire which Hugh de Auranges held before was given to Henry Son of Walceline de Ferrars And divers other Lands were conferred on other Persons as you may see more at large in Ordericus III. But before I proceed to our Norman Earls of Chester it will not be amiss to note out of Ordericus who that Robert of Rothelent was whom I mentioned before with Earl Hugh for both he and the above mentioned Robert of Malpas were of the prime of the Noblemen and Barons belonging to Hugh Earl of Chester This Robert of Rothelent or Ruthelan is described by Ordericus pag. 669. thus He was a valiant and an active Soldier eloquent Facundus formidabilis but of a stern Countenance liberal and commendable for many Vertues Hic Edwardi Regis Armiger fuit He was one of those who attended the Person of King Edward the Confessor from whom he received the Honor of Knighthood Touching his Descent his Father was Umfrid de Telliolo Son of Amfrid of the Progeny of the Danes His Mothers Name was Adeliza Sister of Hugh de Grentemaisnill of the famous Family of the Geroians He was Commander in Chief at the Siege at Rochester 1 Willielmi Rufi At which time Griffith King of Wales Invaded the Coasts of England and had made a great Destruction about Rothelent For his Works of Piety he
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
it first given to him by the Conqueror who enjoying it but a little while is commonly omitted without any notice at all But this Hugh was the first Earl of Chester of the Norman Race since the Conquest The Description of Earl Hugh out of Ordericus Lib. 4. Eccles Histor pag. 522. Hic non Dapsilis sed prodigus c. He was not abundantly liberall but profusely prodigal and carried not so much a Family as an Army still along with him He took no account either of his Receipts or Disbursements He daily wasted his Estate and delighted more in Falconers and Huntsmen than in the Tillers of his Land or Heavens Orators the Ministers He was given much to his Belly whereby in time he grew so fat that he could scarce crawle He had many Bastard Sons and Bastard Daughters but they were almost all swept away by sundry Misfortunes Again Ordericus Lib. 6. pag. 598. Ex his Hugo Abrincatensis Richardi cognomento Goz filius inter caeteros Magnates effulsit Cui Postquà m Gherbodus Flandrensis ad suos recessit Rex Comitatum Cestrensem consilio Prudentum concessit Hic nimirùm Amator Saeculi Saeculariumque Pomparum fuit quas maximam beatitudinum putabat esse portionem humanarum erat enìm in militiâ Promptus in dando nimìs prodigus gaudens ludis luxibus mimis equis canibus aliisque hujusmodi vanitatibus Huic maxima semper adhaerebat Familia in quibus nobilium ignobiliumque puerorum numerosa perstrepebat Copia Cùm eodem Consule commorabantur viri honorabiles Clerici milites quos tà m laborum quà m divitiarum gratulabatur esse suarum Participes In Capellâ ejus Serviebat Abrincatensis Clericus nomine Geroldus religione honestate peritiâque literarum praeditus Azure a Wolves Head erased Ar. He had Land in twenty Counties in England for in the Catalogue of the Counties wherein certain Great Men held Lands in the twentieth Year of William the Conqueror as it is put in the Appendix to the ancient Norman Writers set out by Andrew du Chesne and Printed at Paris Ann. Dom. 1619. we read thus Comes Hugo Hampshire Berkshire Dorset Somerset Devonshire Buckingham Oxford Glocester Huntington Northampton Warwick Shropshire Derbyshire Cheshire Nottingham Rutland Yorkshire Lincoln Norfolk and Suffolk Concerning certain Lands in Oxfordshire which he gave to the Monastery of Abbington I find in an old Lieger Book of that Monastery remaining in Cotton 's Library noted Claudius C. 9. fol. 137. of the whole Book but lib. 2. fol. 35. of that particular part of the History of the Church of Abbington as followeth Viculus est Burgo Abendonensi contiguus Scipena dictus hunc de Abbatiâ tempore Edwardi Regis quidam ipsius constabulus nomine Eadnotus tenebat Cujus viri terrarum metas posteà Hugo Cestrensis Comes adeptus cùm didicisset praedictum viculum hujus Abbatiae Juri pertinere commonitu Rainoldi Abbatis Baronum suorum consultu tertio Regni Willielmi Junioris Regis anno pridiè Calendarum Aprilium ipse Comes in Sanctuario Ecclesiae istius consistens toto conventu Fratrum ibi praesidente quicquid in illo loco posse videbatur habere Deo Genetrici ejus id obtulit manu cultellum Altari supponendo ut in perpetuùm ratum constet verbis illud prosequendo Affuere illo cùm Comite Engenulphus Willielmus uterque nepos ipsius Godardus etià m de Boiavillâ cùm Engerardo alii plures Charta de Scipena DE hâc ut dictum est re determinatâ cùm primo apud eundem Comitem oriretur Sermo literas Abbati indè direxit Quarum hujusmodi extitit Textus Hugo Cestrensis Comes Rainoldo Venerando Abbati charissimo Amico suo Salutem Mando tibi quòd de terrâ quam ergà me petiisti locutus sum cùm uxore meâ cum meis Baronibus inveni in meo Consilio quòd concedam eam Deo Sanctae Ecclesiae de quâ Pastoralis Cura super te imposita est Tali Pacto quòd dones mihi XXX libras denariorum de tuâ Pecuniâ ut frater vester sim uxor mea pater meus mater mea in orationibus vestris ità ut simus scripti omnes in Libro commemorationum ut sit factum tale obsequium pro nobis quale debet fieri pro uno fratre de Ecclesiâ ubicunque moriamur Quicquid itaque pro illâ terrâ exactum est nil fieri relictum nam pecunia data caetera quaesita omninò impensa What Lands this Earl Hugh held in Demaine in Cheshire appears in the Record of Dooms-day Book Title Cestre-Scire where in the beginning of the same after the Laws of Chester it is said The Bishop of Chester holds of the King the Lands in Cheshire which belong to his Bishoprick and those Lands are immediately reckoned up and set down All the rest of the Lands of the County Earl Hugh held of the King cùm suis hominibus where cùm suis hominibus I conceive is not there meant that the Earl and his Tenants held their Lands of the King but that the Earl held all Cheshire of the King with his Tenants also that is and the Tenure and Services of all his Tenants in Cheshire he holdeth of the King also for every Person in Cheshire except the Bishop held what Lands he was possessed of immediately from the Earl and the Earl held all from the King The Names of such Towns in Cheshire as Earl Hugh held in Demaine at that time Anno Christi 1086. WEverham Kennardsly Doneham on the Hill Elton Trafford Manly Hellesbye Frodshum Alreton Alderly Inferior Done Edesbery nigh the Chamber in the Forest Eaton in Broxton Hundred Lay in Broxton Hundred Cotinton Lay. Rushton Upton juxta Rushton Little Budworth Olton Over Estham Trafford Edlave Macclesfield Adlington Gowesworth Merton Chelford Hungerweniton Henbury Capesthorne Henshall Tingtweezle Hollinworth Wernith Ramiley Laiton Alsacher Sanbach Clive Sutton nigh Middlewich VVimboldsly Weever Occleston Upton in Wirrall Stanney Anterbus in Overwhitley In all forty eight The Descent of Earl Hugh Ansfrid or Amfrid a Dane Umfrid de Telliolo Governor of Hastings in England 1068. Ordericus pag. 512. Son of Amfred the Dane Ordericus pag. 669. Married Adeliza Sister of Hugh de Grentemaisnill Governor of Leicester and had Issue Robert of Tothelent Castle in Wales also Ernald and Roger both Monks of Utica in Normandy and William Abbas Sanctae Euphemiae Ordericus pag. 671. Robert of Rothelent Son of Umfrid whom Ordericus pag. 670. calls Consobrinum Hugonis Comitis Cestriae Cosin to Earl Hugh He was slain Anno 1088. Of whom see more suprà pag. 24. Turstine sirnamed Goz Son of Amfrid sometime Governor of Oxima kept the Castle of Faloys in Normandy against Duke William being yet a Child But Rodulfus Waceiensis who Commanded the Forces for the young Duke besieged him therein Turstine not able to hold out long
Willielmi omnium nostrûm ùt nullus post nos aliquid libertatis vel quietis addere possit Et quandò nos hanc Chartam confirmavimus nullum opus nullum servitium nullam consuetudinem nullam rem omninò praeter Orationes in terrâ Sanctae Werburgae retinuimus praeter hoc solùm quòd si Abbas hujus loci superbiâ inflatus nollet facere rectum Vicinis suis Comes constringeret eum ad rectum faciendum hoc in Curiâ Sanctae Werburgae Ideóque volumus quòd Sancta Werburga habeat per omnia Curiam suam sicut Comes suam Et ut haec omnia rata essent stabilia in perpetuùm Ego Comes Hugo Barones mei confirmavimuus ista omnia corà m Anselmo Archiepiscopo non solùm Sigillo meo sed etià m Sigillo Dei Omnipotentis id est Signo Sanctae Crucis ✚ ità quòd singuli nostrûm propriâ manu in testimonium Posteris Signum in modum Crucis facerent ✚ Signum Hugonis Comitis ✚ Signum Ricardi filii ejus ✚ Signum Hervei Episcopi ✚ Signum Ranulfi Nepotis Comitis ✚ Signum Rogeri Bigod ✚ Signum Alani de Percey ✚ Signum Willielmi Constabularii ✚ Signum Ranulfi Dapiferi ✚ Signum Willielmi Malbedeng ✚ Signum Roberti filii Hugonis ✚ Signum Hugonis filii Normanni ✚ Signum Hamonis de Massy ✚ Signum * * Alii Bigot de Loges hic legunt Vide Monasticon pars 1. pag. 200 202. Roberti de Loges Anno Domini 1098. 11 Willielmi Rufi this Hugh Earl of Chester and Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury took Anglesey They slew many of the Welsh some they gelded and put out their Eyes Hoveden also Brompton pag. 994. The Welshmen called Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury Hugh Gogh that is Hugh the Red because of his red Head and Hugh Earl of Chester they called Hugh Vras that is Hugh the Fat Powel's Notes on the History of Wales pag. 155. Some refer the Structure of the Castle and Walls of the City of Chester to Hugh Lupus Cambden in his Britannia in Cheshire saith thus Cum jà m Templum Conditum esset Normannici Comites moenia Cestriae scilicet Castrum adjecerunt But I see not how this agrees with Ordericus pag. 516. for there we find that in Anno Christi 1069. which was one Year before Hugh Lupus was made Earl of Chester the Cheshire Men and the Welsh Besieged Shrewsbury at which time William the Conqueror brings his Army to Chester suppressing all the Commotions through Mercia He then built a Fort or Castle at Chester Munitionem condidit and in his Return another at Stafford both which he Garrison'd with store of Men and Victuals unless by Munitionem we understand onely a Garrison of Men But condere Munitionem signifies to erect a Fortification which must be either a Castle or Walls or both for the Garrisonning thereof with Men and Victuals he speaks of afterwards Again we find that Elflede the Countess of Mercia with Ethelred her Husband repaired the City of Chester Anno 908. which the Danes had demolished and erected new Walls there enlarging the Town very much so that the Castle situated near to the River which before stood without the old Walls was now within the compass of the new Walls Polychronicon So before this there was a Castle and Walls So that the Norman Earls did not first erect the Castle and Walls of Chester Probably the Conqueror might re-edifie the Castle according to Ordericus And it is likely that Hugh Lupus and the succeeding Earls have by degrees beautified and added to the Structure both of the Walls and Castle The Wife and Issue of Hugh Lupus HE Married Ermentrude Daughter of Hugh de Clarimont Earl of Beavoys in France by whom he had onely one Child called Richard who succeeded Earl of Chester after his Father's death Ordericus pag. 522. pag. 787. His Base Issue Robert made Monk of Utica in Normandy Anno Christi 1081. Ordericus pag. 602. and afterwards made Abbot of Edmundsbury in Suffolk in England Anno 1100. Ordericus pag. 783. Othuerus or Ottiwell Tutor to the King's Children to wit the Children of Henry the First Malmesbury calls him Frater nutricius Richardi Comitis Cestriae pag. 165. that is Bastard-Brother * For that such were educated with legitimate Children usually in those Ages which Phrase I have often seen used in Old Deeds for the same He was drowned with his Brother Richard Earl of Chester Anno 1119. saith Ordericus but most other of our Historians do place that unfortunate Accident Anno 1120. When he saw the Ship sinking he clips the young Earl of Chester in his Arms and so both were drowned together Ordericus pag. 870. Philip another Base Son whom Miles in his Catalogue of Honor affirms he hath seen mentioned as a Witness to a Charter of William the Conqueror Geva a Base Daughter married Geffrey Riddell to whom Earl Hugh her Father gave Drayton-Basset in Staffordshire as appears by this Deed taken out of a Manuscript in Arundel-house in London Anno 1638. wherein the old Deed belonging to the Bassets of Drayton-Basset in Staffordshire about the Reign of King Richard the Second were enrolled Ibid. fol. 67. a. RAnulphus Comes Cestriae Willielmo Constabulario Roberto Dapifero omnibus Baronibus suis Hominibus Francis Anglicis totius Angliae Salutem Sciatis me dedisse concessisse Gevae Riddel Filiae Comitis Hughes Draitunam cùm pertinentiis in libero Conjugio sicut Comes Hughes ei in libero Conjugio dedit concessit teneat benè in pace honorificè liberè ut meliùs liberiùs tenuit tempore Hugonis Comitis aliorum meorum Antecessorum eisdem consuetudinibus libertatibus Testibus Gilberto filio Ricardi Adeliza Sorore mea Willielmo Blundo Alexandro de Tresgor Regero de Bello Campo Willielmo de Sais Roberto de Sais Ricardo Filio Aluredi Hugone Filio Osberti Henrico de Chalder apud Saintonam She Founded the Monastery of Canwell in Staffordshire within four Miles of Lichfield as appears by this Transcript which I received from Mr. Dugdale The Original remained with Sir William Peshale of Suggenhill in Staffordshire Anno 1638. It is also in Monasticon 1 Pars pag. 439. UNiversis Sanctae Dei Ecclesiae fidelibus Geva Filia Hugonis Comitis Cestriae Uxor Gaufridi Ridelli Salutem Noverint tà m posteri quà m praesentes quòd ego Geva Concilio Religiosarum Personarum Authoritate Rogeri Episcopi Cestriae Assensu Ranulfi Comitis Cestriae Cognati mei pro salute Animae meae omnium Antecessorum Parentum meorum Fundavi quandam Ecclesiam in honorem Sanctae Mariae Sancti Egidii omnium Sanctorum in loco qui dicitur Canwell ad opus Monachorum ibidèm Deo Servientium Et Concedo eis in Elemosynam terram de Stichesleia unum pratum quod vocatur Little-Mersi
Father died take the Authority of Ordericus lib. 10. pag. 787. Richardus autem pulcherrimus Puer amabilis omnibus Consulatum Cestriae scilicèt tenuit II. He Married Maude Daughter of Stephen Earl of Bloys in France by his Wife Adela Daughter of William the Conqueror and had no sooner tasted the Pleasures of his Marriage Bed but he with his young Countess were by the churlish Waves not onely prohibited their mutual Love Embraces and hopes of future Posterity to succeed them but were deprived of their Lives also as they were Sailing for England Anno Domini 1119. Ordericus pag. 787. So that he was about the Age of twenty five years when he was drowned Milles in his Catalogue of Honour hath clearly mistaken the Name of this Earl's Wife calling her Lucy in stead of Maude vouching no Authority a gross Absurdity in a Herald III. But because this lamentable Accident is memorable for the destructive influence it had upon many of the Nobility of England I will collect the whole Story out of Ordericus and as briefly as I may lib. 12. pag. 868 869 870. The Master of the Ship was Thomas the Son of Stephen who came to King Henry the First then in Normandy and ready to take Shipping for England and offered him a Mark of Gold in elder Ages valued at six Pound in Silver Rot. Mag. Pipae de Anno 1 Hen. 2. and as others say ten Marks of Silver 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. desiring that as Stephen his Father had Transported the Conqueror when he Fought against King Harold in England and was his constant Mariner in all his Passages between England and Normandy so that he himself likewise might now have the Transportation of King Henry with all his Attendance as it were in Fee for he had a very good Ship called Candida Navis or The White Ship well furnished for that purpose The King thanked him but withal told him he had already made choice of another Ship which he would not change yet he would commend him to his two Sons William and Richard with many others of his Nobility whereat the Mariners much rejoiced and desired the Prince to bestow some Wine upon them to drink He gave them Tres Modios Vini three Hogsheads of Wine wherewith they made themselves sufficiently Drunk There were almost three hundred in this unfortunate Ship for there were fifty skilful Oars or Galleymen had they not been intoxicated with Wine which belonged to the Ship besides the young Gallants which were to be Transported but now being neither able to govern themselves nor the Ship they suffered it to be split on a Rock and so all were drowned except one Beâ—olde a Butcher of Roan in Normandy who was took up the next Morning by three Fishermen into their Boat after a cold frosty Nights Shipwrack and with much ado recovered and lived twenty years after There were saith Hoveden in this Ship Militaris numeri 140. Nautarum 50. cùm tribus Gubernatoribus with many Noblemen and Women The Names of the more eminent Persons who then perished of whom Huntington thus Omnes velferè Omnes Sodomiticâ labe dicebantur irretiti I have here collected out of Ordericus viz. pag. 869. William and Richard two Sons of King Henry the First Rafe Rufus and Gilbert de Oximis pag. 870. Maude Daughter of Henry the First Wife of Rotron Earl of Morton Richard Earl of Chester juvenis multâ probitate benignitate laudabilis with Maude his Wife Sister to Tedbald Earl Palatine of Blois Othuerus also Brother to Richard Hugonis Cestriae Comitis filius Tutor Regiae Prolis Paedagogus ut fertur dùm repentina fieret ratis Subversio nobiliumque irreparabilis dimersio adolescentulum meaning Richard Earl of Chester illicò amplexatus est cùm ipso in profundum irremeabilitèr prolapsus est also Theodoricus Puer Henrici Nepos Imperatoris Almannorum also two brave Sons of Ivo de Grentemaisnill and William of Rothelent their Cosin who by the King's Command were coming to receive their Father's Inheritances in England William sirnamed Bigod with William de Prior the King's Steward Geffrey Ridell and Hugh de Molinis Robert Malconductus or Malduit and Nequam Gisulfus Semba Regis aliique plures multae ingenuitatis And in Page 649. he names two more Engenulfe and Goisfred Sons of Gilbert de Aquilâ And in Stowe we find named Walter de Curcy and Geffrey Archdeacon of Hereford in all 160 Persons Of which Shipwrack an excellent Rhimer of those Times composed these Verses Ordericus pag. 869. Accidit Hora gravis Thomaequè miserrima navis quà m malè rect aterit rupe Soluta perit Flebilis Eventus dùm nobilis illa Juventus est immersa mari Perditione pari Jactatur Pelago Regum Generosa Propago quosque Duces plorant monstra marina vorant O Dolor immensus nec Nobilitas nequè Census ad vitam revocat quos maris unda necat Purpura cùm bysso liquido putrescit abysso Rex quoquè quem genuit Piscibus Esca fuit Sic sibi fidentes ludit fortuna Potentes nunc dat nunc demit hinc levat indè premit Quid numerus Procerum quia Opes quid Gloria Rerum quid Guillelme tibi forma valebat ibi Marcuit ille Decor Regalis abstulit aequor quod factâ—s fueras quodque futurus eras Inter Aquas istis instat Damnatio tristis nî Pietas gratìs caelica parcat eis Corporibus mersis animae si dona Salutis nactae gauderent moesta procul fierent Certa salus animae verùm dat tripudiare his benè qui charos Commemorant Proprios Hinc Dolor est ingens humana quòd inscia fit mens An Requies sit eis quos capit uda Thetis The Place or Haven where they took Shipping is called Barbaflat that is Harefleet in Normandy the time 7 Calend. Decemb. 1119. So Ordericus But Hoveden Huntington Paris and Judicious Cambden do all place it in Anno 1120. Hoveden expresseth the very Day of the Week Anno 1120. in Scopulos dictos Chaterase fracta est Navis 6 Calendas Decembris feriâ quintâ noctis initio apud Barbefleet where he computes the Night to the Day following Ordericus to the Day past IV. I cannot but take notice here of the Printer's Error in Ordericus as it is set out by Andrew du Chesne with other Authors and Printed 1619. We read Page 787. Ricardus autem pulcherrimus Puer quem Solum ex Ermentrude filiâ Hugonis de Claromonte genuit Consulatum ejus ferè 12 annis Amabilis omnibus tenuit where the number 12 should have been 19. for if this place be conferred with Page 870. then Richard by exact computation out of Ordericus was Earl of Chester just eighteen Years and four Months But if you place the time of this Shipwrack in Anno 1120. as most Authors do then must he have held the Earldom nineteen Years and four Months I shall close all concerning this Earl with
his Charter of Confirmation to the Abbey of St. Werburge which remained among the Evidences of that Church Anno 1644. but were after removed thence in the late War 1648. ANno ab Incarnatione Domini Millesimo centesimo decimo nono Regnante Potentissimo Rege Henrico Ego Comes Ricardus meique homines Communi Concilio confirmavimus Sigillo meo omnes Donationes quae datae sunt à me vel à meis in meo tempore Ecclesiae Sanctae Werburgae Cestriae Ego itaque Comes Ricardus post obitum Patris mei dedi pro salute Animae meae suae terram quae fuit Wulfrici Praepositi foris Portam de North priùs per unam Spicam frumenti deindè per unum Cultellum supèr Altare Sanctae Werburgae Molendinum de Bache tres Mansuras quietas ab omni re liberas duas in Civitate unam extra Portam de North. Testibus Willielmo Constabulario Waltero de Vernon Radulfo Dapifero multis aliis Willielmus Constabularius dedit Neutonam simul cùm Servitio Hugonis Filii Udardi de quatuor Bovatis Servitium Wicelini de duabus Bovatis Hugo Filius Normanni dedit Gostrey Lawton Testibus Hugone de Lacy Radulfo Rogero Filiis Normanni multÃsque aliis Ricardus de Praers dedit Knoctirum Testibus Willielmo Ada Filiis ejus Corbinus dedit unam Carucam Terrae in Werewel Hamundus de Mascy concessu Haeredum suorum Rosa Uxor Pigoti concessu Rogeri Fratris ejus dederunt Norwordinam Ecclesiam cùm omnibus quae ad eam pertinent Concedentibus Testibus Filiis eorum Rogerus de Menilgarin dedit Plumleiam cùm Widone Filio suo quando factus est Monachus Teste Ranulfo Willielmo Filiis Ranulfus Venator dedit Bresseford unam Salinam in Northwich concessu Ricardi Comitis Hugonis de Vernon Domini sui Item Ricardus Comes dedit Decimum Salmonem de Ponte locum unius Molendini citrà Pontem Decimam illius Molendini ultrà Pontem Burel dedit Ecclesiam de Haliwella Decimam de Molendino suo de omnibus rebus suis Herebertus Wambarsarius dedit Terram quatuor Boum in Hole Ricardus Pincerna dedit Ecclesiam Sancti Olavi Terram juxtà Ecclesiam duas Mansuras in foro Rogerus de Sancto Martino dedit Terram duorum Boum in Bebington Willielmus de Punterling dedit Buttanari cùm omnibus Appendiciis suis id est Ecclesiam totum Manerium solutum quietum Silvam Lectone ad rogum faciendum ad communem usum Domestici Operis Consensu Testimonio Hereberti Filii sui Aluredi Domini sui Ricardi Comitis Hugo de Vernon concessu Ricardi Comitis dedit unam Mansuram in Civitate solutam quietam ab omni re consuetùdine His ità descriptis Ego Comes Ricardus meique Barones mei Homines Confirmavimus non solùm ista sed etià m illa omnia quae Comes Hugo Pater meus Barones sui confirmaverunt c. Ità liberè ut nihil libertatis possit eis addi ulteriùs nihil enìm retinemus praeter Orationes in rebus Sanctae Werburgae Concedimus etià m ut Beata Virgo Werburga habeat suam Curiam de cunctis placitis forisfactis sicut Comes habet suam Ità verò quòd Abbas illius loci non exeat nequè Placitet contrà aliquem de aliquo Placito vel de aliquâ re extrà Curiam suam Testibus Ranulfo de Meschines Willielmo Fratre suo Willielmo Constabulario Ricardo Fratre suo Hugone Malbanck Osberno de Meschines Hugone Filio Osberni Willielmo Fratre ejus multÃsque aliis Apud Graham CHAP. III. Of the First Randle Earl of Chester Or a Lion Rampant Gules He is also stiled Randle of Bricasard who stuck faithfully to King Henry the First in the midst of a tumultuous Rebellion in Normandy sub Anno 1119. with others of the Nobility scorning to be disgraced with the Name of a Traytor Ordericus lib. 12. pag. 851 879. In an ancient Roll of Knights Fees due to the Duke of Normandy I find Comes Cestriae Servitium X Militum de S. Severio de Bricasart ad suum servitium LI Milites dimidium quartam partem octavam unius Militis In the Appendix added by Andrew du Chesne to the Norman Writers at the end thereof pag. 1045. This Earl Randle was Lord of Cumberland and Carlisle by Descent from his Father For after the Normans had invaded England Cumberland fell to the share of Raufe de Meschines Cujus Filius natu maximus Ranulfus fuit Cumbriae Dominus materno jure PrincipÃsque gratiâ etià m Cestriae Comes saith Cambden in Cumberland II. But King Stephen willing to gain the Favour of the Scots gave Cumberland away to them again to be held of the Kings of England as by a Right of Protection For the eldest Sons of the Kings of Scotland before the Norman Conquest were Governors of Cumberland for a certain space But King Henry the Second brought back the Liberality of Stephen to himself and took from the Scots Northumberland Cumberland and Westmorland as Cambden in the same place addeth III. Raufe de Meschines had by Maude his Wife Sister of Hugh Lupus two Sons Randle the Eldest Earl of Chester and William de Meschines to whom King Henry the First gave the Castle of Egremont in Cumberland per Servitium unius Militis utque iret ad Praeceptum Regis in Exercitu Scotiae Walliae as Cambden my Author informs me * Geffrey a third Son to whom his brother Randle gave Gillesland in Cumberland and to William Coupland in Cumberland An old Parchment Roll in Custody of Henry Ferrars of Badsley in Warwick-shire See also Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 400. This William gave the Church of Dissart to the Abbey of St. Werburge in the City of Chester as appears by an ancient Charter among the Evidences of that Church and confirmed by this Randle Earl of Chester which for better satisfaction I think fit here to insert UNiversis Matris Ecclesiae Filiis Ranulfus Comes Cestriae Salutem Notum sit vobis pariter me Concessisse Quandò feci transferri Corpus Hugonis Comitis mei Avunculi à Coemeterio in Capitulum ut in die mortis meae darem simul cum Corpore meo Ecclesiae Sanctae Werburgae Uptunam solutam quietam ab omni re ut Elemosynam liberam sicut ego ipse in illâ die haberem eam in Terris in Hominibus in Planis in Pascuis in Pratis in Placitis in omnibus pertinentiis suis pro Animâ ipsius Hugonis Comitis pro salute Animae meae Animarum omnium Parentum meorum Itèm quià Comes Hugo concesserat anteà Ecclesiae Sanctae Werburgae Theoloneum omnes reditus Nundinarum trium dierum id est à Nonâ Vigiliae Sanctae Werburgae usquè ad
confidence of your Valour and the King's Injustice I doubt not to dissipate his Forces and with my Sword to make way through the midst of my Enemies Methinks I see them run already Then Robert Earl of Glocester who Commanded in Chief encouraged his Soldiers and told the Bassians and others who were Disinherited That now they should have one Bout for the recovery of their Right and Inheritance King Stephen on the other part alights from his Horse and Fought on foot very stoutly both for his Life and Kingdom but having no audible Voice commanded Baldwin de Clare a Man of great Honour and Prowess to make known his mind to the Army Henry Huntington li. 8. who made an Oration to encourage the Soldiers Impeaching the Earl of Chester as a Man audacious but without Judgment heady to plot a Treason but still wavering in the pursuit of it ready to run into Battel but uncircumspect of any danger aiming beyond his reach and conceiting things meerly impossible and therefore hath but few with him that know him leading onely a Rout of vagrant and tumultuous Pesants So there is nothing in him to be feared for whatsoever he begins like a Man he ends like a Woman unfortunate in all his Undertakings In his Encounters he hath either been vanquished or if by chance he rarely a obtain Victory it is with greater loss on his part then the Conquered But as soon as he had ended his Oration the Fight began which was very fierce and terrible many slain on both parts In the Head of the King's Army were very stout Soldiers but his Enemies outvying him in number prevailed William de Ipro with the Flemmings and Alan with the Britons first turn their Backs * Huntington and Hoveden say they beat the Welsh but the Earl of Chester coming up with his Forces quite routed them which much discouraged the King's Friends but encouraged the Enemy The King was ill betrayed for some of his Nobles accompanied him in Person whiles they sent whole Troops to the other side Waleran Earl of Mellent and William de Warren his Brother Gilbert de Clare and other famous Knights both of England and Normandy ran away as soon as they saw their own side shrink But Baldwin de Clare and Richard Son of Ursi Engelram de Say and Ildebert Lacy stuck stoutly to the King and Fought it to the last Man Stephen himself like a noble Branch of an heroick Family Fought so gallantly that when his Sword was broken taking a Battel-Axe from a young Gentleman which stood near him he ceased not to Encounter with his over-powerful Enemies but at last was constrained to yield himself Prisoner to Robert Earl of Glocester his Cosin who sent him to Maude the Empress at Bristow where he was imprisoned Baldwine de Clare likewise and other excellent Champions on the King's part were taken Prisoners Thus by the voluble Wheel of Fortune was King Stephen taken Prisoner at the Battel of Lincoln on Candlemas-day Anno Domini 1141. according to Ordericus who lived in that very Age which was principally occasioned by the Valour and Assistance of Randle Earl of Chester III. Alan Earl of Brettaine a treacherous and cruel Man Gesta Steph. pag. 953. lying in Ambush for the Earl of Chester to revenge the Dishonor of taking his Lord and King Prisoner was himself taken and imprisoned till he did Homage to Randle Earl of Chester and had delivered up his Castles unto him Others say Alan Earl of Richmond and Little-Britain was sent for by Randle to speak with him and so was Apprehended by him Anno 1141. John Hagustaldensis pag. 269. Not long after this Robert Earl of Glocester was taken Prisoner in another Battel by some others of Stephen's Party and so immediately King Stephen and Earl Robert were exchanged each for other Anno 1143. Stephen being released out of Prison Besieged Lincoln and would have built a Fort over against the Castle which Randle Earl of Chester kept but the Earl killed almost eighty of his Workmen and so he was forced to give it off Mat. Paris and Hen. Huntington But Hoveden placeth this 1144. 9 Stephani Anno Domini 1145. King Stephen gathering a great Army built a strong Castle over against Wallingford whither Randle Earl of Chester accompanied him with great Forces and was restored unto his Favour But afterwards the Earl coming to the King's Court at Northampton was surprized little dreaming of any such matter and cast into Prison untill he restored the Castle of Lincoln which he had fraudulently taken and all other Castles which he injuriously had taken from the King Chronica Normanniae put out by Du Chesne with other Histories pag. 982. Also Polychronicon addeth That the Welshmen then wasted Cheshire but were intercepted at Nantwich ⚜ lib. 7. cap. 19. Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 890. But for the Reconcilement of Stephen and Randle it is more fully set down in Gesta Stephani pag 968. thus The Earl of Chester who had got almost a third part of the Kingdom by his Sword comes to the King and desires Pardon for his Rebellion at Lincoln and for the seizing of his Soveraign's Possessions and thereupon was received into Favour And in farther testimony of his Obedience he helped the King's Forces and gallantly Assaulted the Town of Bedford which had much weakned and shattered the King's Army and having taken it delivers it into Stephen's Hands After this he accompanied King Stephen to Wallingford attended with three hundred gallant Horse till the King had erected a stately Castle in prospect thereof to stop the Incursions of the Enemy which were wont to issue out of Wallingford and prey upon the Countrey But for all this Friendship Randle was suspected of Stephen because he surrendred not the Castles and Rents which he had violently taken from him and because of the Earls wavering and unstable Mind not having put in Pledges of his Fidelity so that neither the King nor his prime Councellors durst rely upon him unless he would surrender all the King's Possessions and if he refused this then the King ought to clap him up at his best opportunity Ibidem pag. 970 971. Randle Earl of Chester seeing he was thus suspected turns himself to his wonted course of Treason plotting how he might more easily without Infamy deliver the King into the Hands of his Enemies and coming to the Court with some Attendance whereby he might be the freer from suspicion he complained how he was beset with a barbarous multitude of Welsh who made great spoil and waste of his Lands so that he and all his Tenants bordering on the Confines of his County would be quite extirpated unless the King gave him speedy Assistance telling him that his Presence would do more by the very Name of a King than many thousands of Soldiers without him The King cheerfully promiseth his Assistance but the Councel about his Royal Person would not suffer it for they wished
this is of so little weight that it will need no Answer for I yet apprehend no Reason in it IV. Roger Manwaring Son of Raufe Manwaring calls Randle Blundevill Earl of Chester and Lincoln his Uncle in another Deed wherefore it is to be supposed that Amice was no Bastard otherwise Roger durst not have presumed to have called the Earl Uncle Answ Histories Deeds and Records are full of Examples in this nature where we find Bastards frequently called Cosin Brother Uncle Son and Daughter for example Robert Earl of Glocester base Son of King Henry the First is frequently called in Histories Brother to Maude the Empress Hoveden pag. 553. He is also so stiled in a Deed made by Maude Empress her self Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 649. called also Cosin to King Stephen Ordericus pag. 922. Reginald Earl of Cornwall another base Son of Henry the First stiled Avunculus Regis Henrici Secundi by Hoveden pag. 536. Robert and Ottiwell two Bastard Sons of Hugh Lupus frequently called Filii Hugonis Comitis Cestriae and Ottiwell stiled Frater Ricardi Comitis Cestriae Ordericus pag. 602 783. 870. Geva a base Daughter of Hugh Lupus stiled in old Deeds Filia Hugonis Comitis and there also she calls Earl Randle her Cosin Monasticon par 1. pag. 439. Also Richard Bacon Son of another base Daughter of Hugh Cyveliok calls Randle Blundevill Earl of Chester his Uncle in another Deed as Manwaring in like manner here stiles him in this Deed. Monasticon par 2. pag. 267. Every Man that is but the least versed in Antiquities knows these things to be very usual The Reasons that Amice was a Bastard I. IF Hugh Cyveliok had no other Wife but Bertred then Amice must certainly be a Bastard for she was not a Daughter by Bertred as is granted on all sides But Hugh Cyveliok never had any other Wife but Bertred Ergo Amice was a Bastard Now the Minor is to be proved by the Affirmer Oportet affirmantem probare for as yet I never saw the least proof thereof either by Deed Record or any ancient Historian nor yet any inducement of good Reason to incline my belief of it And till this be done it is unreasonable to impose it upon any Man's Belief by supposing that he had another Wife for Suppositions are no proof at all It is not enough to suppose Amice might be by a former Wife but it must be clearly proved or strongly inferred from solid Reason that it is so and that Hugh had a former Wife Neither is it a sufficient Answer hereunto to say That it is unreasonable to conclude all Children Bastards whose Mothers cannot be proved God forbid But in this Case we find a Wife certainly Recorded and a Son and four Daughters who were afterwards Coheirs and carried away all Earl Hugh's Lands clearly proved by Records and ancient Historians And also Earl Hugh is certainly known to have had many Bastards both Sons and Daughters which gives occasion of strong suspicion that Amice was a Bastard she being neither Recorded by any Historian nor ever had or claimed any Land as a Coheir and therefore here is a necessity of proving a former Wife which for my part I believe firmly Earl Hugh never had II. Whatsoever is given in Frank-Marriage is given as a Portion now the Release of the Service of one Knights Fee in Frank-Marriage seems not a competent Portion for a legitimate Daughter of the Earl of Chester especially for the eldest Daughter for so she must be being of the first Venter which always is more worthy than the second if she were at all legitimate and we find the other Daughters Married to four of the greatest Earls in England all which is a strong presumption that Amice was a Bastard and no legitimate Daughter To this it may be answered That possibly Earl Hugh might give Amice a great Portion in Money though she had no Lands And I say possibly too he might give her no Money or at least nothing considerable which great Portion in Money when it shall appear to be true may take off the strength of this Argument or second Reason till then it must be very pressing III. The ancient Historians of our Nation as Polychronicon writ by the Monk of Chester Henry Knighton the Monk of Leycester and others also Stowe and Cambden have Recorded the lawful Daughters and Coheirs of Earl Hugh and so the Record of 18 Hen. 3. And had Amice been a legitimate Daughter it is likely that these Historians would not all have omitted her but of her there is Altum silentium among all the Historians and Records which I have yet seen though indeed I look upon this onely as a probable not as a sure evincing Argument These were the Reasons which inclined my Opinion to place Amice in that Order as I have done But since there are some Learned Men of another Opinion I must leave every Person to the dictate of his own Reason CHAP. VI. Of Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill Azure 3 Garbs Or 2 1. King Henry the second Knighted him and gave him to Wife Constance the Widow of Geffrey his fourth Son Daughter and Heir of Conan Duke of Little Britain and Earl of Richmond Anno 1188. 34 Hen. 2. Polychronicon lib. 7. cap. 24. But Hoveden placeth it Anno 1187. 33 Hen. 2. for Geffrey died 1186. and left Constance great with Child who bore Arthur a Son eodem Anno. Hoveden This Randle confirms to the Abbey of St. Werburge all the Grants of his Predecessors in these words RAnulfus Comes Cestriae Constabulario Dapifero Justitiario Baronibus Ministris Ballivis omnibus Hominibus suis Francis Anglis Clericis Laicis tà m praesentibus quà m futuris Salutem Sciatis me concessisse Omnes donationes libertates quas Comites Antecessores mei scilicèt Hugo Comes Ricardus Filius ejus Ranulfus Comes alius Ranulfus Avus meus Hugo Pater meus Barones tempore illorum vel in meo eidem Ecclesiae Sanctae Werburgae dederunt c. Testibus Bertreyâ Comitissâ Matre meâ Radulfo de Mesnilwaringe Hugone de Bosco-ale Radulfo Filio Simonis Rogero Fratre Comitis Rogero Constabulario Gaufrido de Buxeriâ Stephano de longo Campo Alano de Bosco-Ale Bertramo Camerario Alexandro Filio Radulfi Johanne Clerico Bech Dispensatore Petro Clerico aliis multis Apud Cestriam in Capitulo Monachorum in Anniversario die Hugonis Comitis Patris mei II. I will begin first with the Acts of this Randle then with his Titles then with his Wives For his Acts. Anno 1194. 5 Rich. 1. Earl David Brother of the King of Scotland Randle Earl of Chester and the Earl Ferrars with a great Army Besieged Nottingham Castle which John the King's Brother had caused to be Garrison'd against the King in his absence whiles he was detained Prisoner by the Roman Emperor Hoveden pag. 735. but the Castle was not taken till the King
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
Filiis Ranulfus Comes Cestriae Salutem Notum sit vobis me dedisse Deo Beatae Mariae Monachis de Stanlaw quietantiam de Bestiis Sylvestribus occisis vel attinctis in terra ipsorum Monachorum portandis usque ad Cestriam quod dicti Monachi eorum homines non ideo causentur propter aliquam Bestiam aliquo casu mortuam inventam in terra eorum nisi fuerit aliquis Sakerbor qui de hoc loqui voluerit adversus dictos Monachos aut eorum homines quod sint quieti de servientibus Forestariis Testibus hiis Rogero Constabulario Cestriae Warino de Vernon Hamone de Massy Philippo de Orreby Willielmo de Venables Ricardo de Aldford Adam Hugone de Dutton Petro Clerico Thoma Dispensatore Collino de Quatuor-Maris Radulfo de Munfichet Gaufrido de Dutton Adam de Byri multis aliis Apud Frodsham RANULFUS Comes Cestriae Constabulario suo Dapifero Justitiae Vicecomiti Baronibus Ballivis suis Salutem Sciatis me pro Dei amore pro salute Animae meae dedisse in perpetuam puram Elemosynam Deo Sanctae Mariae Monachis loci Benedicti de Stanlaw quietantiam de Tolneio per totam terram meam de Sale de omnibus aliis rebus quas emerint vel vendiderint ad usus suos proprios tà m per aquam quà m per terram c. Testibus hiis Rogero Constabulario Cestriae Philippo de Orreby tùnc Justiciario Cestriae Warino de Vernon Willielmo de Venables Petro Clerico Adam Hugone de Dutton Liulpho Vicecomite Alexandro Filio Radulfi Bertramo Camerario Josceramo de Hellesby multis aliis Apud Cestriam Both these Deeds aforesaid were Sealed with the Impression of a Lion in an Escocheon or rather a Triangular form like a Heart Couchir Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 2. Honor sive Soca de Bolingbroke pag. 116. num 17. OMnibus tà m futuris quà m praesentibus Petrus Cantor de Quarendona Salutem Sciatis me remisisse quietum clamâsse de me de Haeredibus meis Domino meo Ranulfo Comiti Cestriae totam terram meam quam habebam in Weinflet aliam terram meam totam in Lindseia quae pertinet ad terram praedictam de Weinflet Tenendas praedicto Comiti Cestriae Haeredibus suis Haereditariè in Dominico suo c. Hiis Testibus Thoma Dispensario Willielmo Picot Waltero de Coventreya Juhello de Loningneio Johanne de Pratell Helya Pincerna Gaufrido de Sancto Bricio Engeramo Pisce Henrico Dispensario Willielmo Filio Hamonis Henrico de Civile multis aliis Apud Baronam But when Gilbert de Gant Earl of Lincoln was taken Prisoner who had then forfeited both his Lands and Honour in taking part with the Rebellious Barons against the King of England which Title Lewis King of France conferred upon him a little before to wit Anno 1216. then was Randle Earl of Chester made Earl of Lincoln by King Henry third 1217. 1 Hen. 3. for so was the Writ directed to the Sheriff of Lincoln dated at Lincoln 23 Maii 1 Hen. 3. Claus 1 Hen. 3. Memb. 17. commanding him quòd habere faciat Comiti Cestriae tertium Denarium de Comitatu Lincolniae qui eum contingit jure Haereditario ex parte Ranulphi patris sui Where if Vincent hath not mis-writ the Record it should have been Avi sui not Patris For Randle the Second sirnamed Gernons Earl of Chester was half-Brother by the Mother to William de Romara Earl of Lincoln as whose Heir upon this Forfeiture Henry the Third now grants the Earldom of Lincoln to Randle Blundevill Another Writ was dated at Worcester 15 Martii Claus 2 Hen. 3. memb 9. 2 Hen. 3. directed to the same Officer Praecipimus tibi quòd recipias Clericum illum quem fidelis noster dilectus Ranulphus Comes Cestriae Lincolniae ad te miserat per Literas suas ad eundum tecum per Comitatum Lincolniae ad recipiendum tertium Denarium de Placitis Comitatus ejusdem nomine Comitis Lincolniae ad opus ipsius Comitis sicùt eidem illum tertium Denarium concessimus Vincent upon Brooke pag. 316. Mat. Paris pag. 296. And from this time to the time of his death he was usually stiled in all his Charters Ranulphus Comes Cestriae Lincolniae Some Deeds I shall insert here proving the same Couchir Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom 2. Honor sivè Soca de Bolingbroke pag. 111. num 5. of Lands in Lincolnshire OMnibus praesentibus Gilbertus de Beningeworth Salutem Noverit universitas vestra me dedisse Ranulpho Comiti Cestriae Lincolniae Haeredibus suis totum Manerium meum de Halton in Dominicis in Hominibus c. homahomagium Radulfi de Gousle de Feodo unius Militis in Yreby c. totum Manerium meum de Kynthorp c. Pro hâc verò donatione dedit mihi praedictus Ranulphus Comes ducentas Libras Sterlingorum Et adquietavit me versùs Elyam Filium Martrinae Judaeum Lincolniae de octiès viginti decem Marcis Argenti c. Hiis Testibus Radulfo Filio Simonis Gilberto Cusyn tunc Seneschallo c. Ibidem pag. 111. num 6. SCiant praesentes futuri quod ego Gilbertus de Beningworth quietè clamavi Ranulpho Comiti Cestriae Lincolniae haeredibus suis totum Manerium de Stepinge quod est de feodo ipsius Comitis cum tota terra de Halton cum Advocatione Ecclesiae de Stepinge c. Pro hâc verò donatione quietâ Clamatione dedit mihi praedictus Ranulfus Comes ducentas marcas Esterlingorum c. Many other of his Charters might be produced but let these suffice IV. Now for his Wives His first Wife as you have already heard was Constance the Widow of Geffrey fourth Son of King Henry the Second and Daughter and Heir of Conan Duke of Little Britain and Earl of Richmond She was Married to Randle Anno 1187. 33 Hen. 2. as is before proved But upon the Divorce of Constance Anno scilicet Christi 1200. 2 Johannis Regis he Married Clemence Sister of Geffrey de Filgiers in Normandy and Widow to Alan de Dinnam Ferne in his Lacy's Nobility pag. 58. and Powel on the Welsh History pag. 296. most absurdly call her the Daughter of Ferrers Earl of Derby And the Translator of Polychronicon lib. 7. cap. 32. calls her Daughter of Rafe de Filgiers who in truth was her Grandfather But she was Daughter of William de Filgiers and Sister to Geffrey See Monasticon 2 Pars pag. 997. And for farther proof hereof take these two subsequent Deeds Couchir Book in the Dutchy Office at Gray's Inne Tom. 2. Comitatus Northampton num 3. OMnibus tam futuris quam praesentibus ad quos literae praesentes pervenerint Gaufridus de Filgeriis Salutem Notum sit vobis me concessâ—sse dedisse Ranulfo Comiti Cestriae cum Clementia Sorore mea in
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
milites de Anglia VVardam suam facient ad opus de eis non fuerit Salvis mihi Servitiis suis quae facere debent Concedo etià m eis quòd in tempore Pacis tantùm duodecem Servientes itinerantes habeant in terrâ meâ cùm uno equo qui sit Magistri Servientis qui etià m Prebendam non habeat à Pascha usquè ad Festum Sancti Michaelis nisi per gratum Et ut ipsi Servientes Comedant Cibum qualem in Domibus Hominum invenerint sinè emptione alterius Cibi ad opus eorum nèc in aliquibus Dominicis Baronum Comedant Et tempore Guerrae pèr Consilium meum aut Justiciarii mei ipsorum Ponantur Servientes sufficientes ad terram meam Custodiendam prout opus fuerit Et sciendum est quòd praedicti Barones Petitiones Subscriptas quas à me requirebant omninò mihi haeredibus meis de se haeredibus suis remiserunt ità quòd nihil de eis de caetero clamare poterint nisi per Gratiam Misericordiam meam Scilicèt Seneschallus Petitionem de Wrec de Pisce in terram suam per mare dejecto de Bersare in Forestâ meâ ad tres Arcus de percursu Canium suorum Et alii Petitionem de Agistamento Porcorum in Forestâ meâ de Bershare ad tres Arcus in Forestâ meâ vel ad cursus Leporariorum suorum in Forestâ in eundo versùs Cestriam per Summonitionem vel in redeundo Petitionem de Misericordiâ Judicum de Wich triginta Bullionibus Salis sed erunt Misericordia Leges in Wich tales quales prius fuerint Concedo igitùr praesenti Chartâ meâ confirmo de me haeredibus meis Communibus Militibus omnibus liberè Tenentibus totius Cestershire eorum haeredibus omnes praedictas libertates habendas tenendas de Baronibus meis de caeteris Dominis suis quicunque sint sicut ipsi Barones Milites caeteri liberè Tenentes eas de me tenent Hiis Testibus Hugone Abbate Sanctae Werburgae Cestriae Philippo Orreby tùnc temporis Justiciario Cestriae Henrico de Aldithley Waltero Deyvell Hugone Dispensario Thoma Dispensario Willielmo Pincerna Waltero de Coventrey Ricardo Phitton Roberto de Cowdrey Ivone de Caletoft Roberto de Say Normanno le Painter Roberto Dispensario Roberto Deyvell Mattheo de Vernon Hamone de Venables Roberto de Massy Alano de Waley Hugone de Columbe Roberto de Pulford Petro Clerico Hugone de Pasey Joceralino de Hellesby Ricardo de Bresby Ricardo de Kingsley Philippo de Terven Liulfo de Twamlowe Ricardo de Perpoint toto Comitatu Cestriae This Charter I have here for the satifaction of some translated also into English as followeth with the exposition of the hardest words RANDLE Earl of Chester To his Constable Steward Judge Sheriff Barons Bailiffs and to all his Tenants and Friends present and to come that shall see or hear this Charter Sendeth Greeting Know ye that I being Signed with the Cross * * Those were said to be Signed with the Cross in these Ages who had undertaken a Voyage to Jerusalem in defence of the Holy Land and as a Badge of their Warfare they wore a Cross on their right Shoulder So Spelman for the love of God and at the Request of my Barons of Cheshire have granted to them and their Heirs from me and my Heirs all the Liberties in this present Charter underwritten to have and to hold for ever to wit That every one of them may have his own Court free from all Pleas and Plaints moved in my Court except such Pleas as belong to my Sword ††The Pleas of the Sword were the Pleas of the Dignity of the Earl of Chester who held that Earldom as freely to the Sword as the King held England to the Crown And if any of their Tenants shall be taken for any Offence within their Fee or Lordship he shall be Replevied without any Ransom so as his Lord bring him to three County Courts and then he may carry him back as acquit unless * * Sakerboth Sakber and Sacraber is as much as a Pledge to Sue one that puts in Surety to Prosecute another Spelman Sakerborh do follow him And if any Stranger who is faithful shall come upon their Land and desires to dwell there it shall be lawful for the Baron of that Fee to have and retain him saving to me the Advowries who shall come to me on their own accord and others who for any Trespass elsewhere shall come unto my Dignity and not to them And every one of my Barons when need requireth shall in time of War do the full Service of so many Knights Fees as he holdeth And their Knights and Freeholders shall have their Coats of Mayle and Haubergeons and may defend their own Land by their Bodies although they be not Knights And if any of them be such a one that he cannot defend his own Land by his Body he may put another sufficient Person in his Place Neither will I compell their Villanes to take Arms but I do hereby acquit their Villanes which by Randle of Davenham shall come to my Protection and other their Villanes whom they can reasonably shew to be their own And if my Sheriff or any Officer shall Implead any of their Tenants in my Court he may defend himself by Thirtnic * * Thiertnic or Thirdnicht is Trium Noctium hospes Hoveden pag. 606. Here it seemeth to signifie three Nights Charges for the Sheriffs-Tooth Sheriffs-Tooth was a common Tax Levied for the Sheriffs Diet. for the Sheriffs-Tooth which they do pay unless fresh Suit do follow him I do also grant unto them acquittance from the Corn and Oblations which my Serjeants and Bedells were wont to require and that if any Judger ††It is in the Deed Judex which is sometimes taken for a Judge sometimes for a Jury-man or Freeholder which Freeholders are by Law the Judges of a Court-Baron or Suitor of the Hundred or County-Court shall be Amerced in my Court the Judger shall be quit from his Amercement for Two shillings and the Suitor for Twelve pence I do also grant unto them liberty of Inclosing their Lands within the Boundaries of their Tillage in the Forrest And if there shall be a Land or parcel of Ground within the Boundary of their Township which hath been formerly Manured where no Wood groweth it shall be lawful to Till the same without Graizing And they may also take Housebote and Haybote in their VVoods of all manner of VVood without the view of my Forester and may give or sell their dead VVood to whom they please and their Tenants shall not be Impleaded for the same in the Forest Court unless they be found in the manner or very act And every one of my Barons may defend all his Mannors and Lordships in the County or Hundred
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
1403. He was made Lieutenant or Deputy in the Office of the Seneschalcy of the County of Chester by Elizabeth Countess of Salisbury while they both should live and to be of Council with her for which Service she gave him two Marks Annual Rent which he ought to pay her for his Lands of Little Legh held of her Castle of Harden during the Term aforesaid 1408. 10 Hen. 4. Lib. C. fol. 164. b. Great Contention fell between this Sir Peter Dutton and Sir William Athurton of Athurton in Lancashire insomuch that they made Inroads and Invasions one upon the other And the said Sir Piers Dutton and his Adherents to wit Sir Rafe Bostock of Bostock Richard Warburton of Budworth Thomas Warburton of Halton John Done of Utkinton junior John Manley of Manley Hugh Dutton of Hatton the elder William Leycester of Nether-Tabley Sir Peter Legh of Clifton Ancestor to Legh of Lyme and John Carington of Carington were all sued by Sir William Athurton for taking away forty of his Oxen and forty Cows out of his Closes at Athurton and for beating of his Servants But this Variance was composed between them by the Award of John Duke of Bedford Earl of Richmond and Kendall Constable of England and Regent of the Kingdom in the absence of Henry the Fifth Dated 9 Aprilis 7 Hen. 5. 1419. Restitution being awarded on both sides The Horses and Saddles taken by Sir William Athurton to be restored to Sir Piers Dutton and the Cattel taken by Sir Piers to be restored to the said Sir William Lib. C. fol. 146. n. Sir Peter de Dutton was made Parcarius de Northwood or Governor of Northwood Park in Over-Whitley during his Life with all the Fees thereof 1 Hen. 6. 1423. Vel 1 Hen. 5. Out of which he had Orders from William Harrington Chief Steward of Halton under Henry Archbishop of Canterbury and other Feoffees of King Henry the Fifth to deliver one Oak for the Repair of Witton Bridge then in decay and another for the Repair of Farnworth Chappel Dated 9 Hen. 6. Lib. C. fol. 147. w. Sir Peter died 12 Hen. 6. 1433. aged sixty six Years Obiit 1433 Lib. C. fol. 147. x. y. fol. 163. x. XIII John Dutton of Dutton Esquire Son and Heir of Sir Peter married Margaret Daughter of Sir John Savage of Clifton 6 Hen. 5. 1418. Lib. C. fol. 160. w. and had Issue Thomas Dutton Son and Heir Roger Dutton another Son afterwards Lord of Dutton John Dutton slain with his Brother Sir Thomas Dutton at Blore-Heath 1459. Stow. Robert Dutton another Son died without Issue Lib. C. fol. 180. k. Margaret married Hugh Son and Heir of Raufe Egerton 21 Hen. 6. 1443. Lib. C. fol. 147. b. Maud married Sir William Booth of Dunham-Massy 21 Hen. 6. 1443. Lib. C. fol. 164. g. Agnes married Richard Wynnington of Wynnington nigh Northwich Son and Heir of Robert Wynnington Son and Hir of Sir Richard Wynnington 25 Hen. 6. 1446. Lib. C. fol. 160. y. Ellen married Edward Son and Heir of Richard Longford of Lancashire Esq 28 Hen. 6. 1450. Lib. C. fol. 160. a. Elizabeth married John Merbury Son and Heir of James Merbury of Merbury nigh Comberbach Esquire 1458. The Original penès Thomam Merbury Armigerum 1666. Obiit 1445 This John Dutton of Dutton died 24 Hen. 6. 1445. aged forty two Years Lib. C. fol. 160. y. z. Margaret his Wife survived and was living 1450. XIV Sir Thomas Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of John and Margaret married Anne Daughter of James Lord Audley and had Issue Peter eldest Son slain with his Father at the Battel of Blore-Heath as Tradition hath it John Dutton second Son who succeeded Heir to his Father Anno married Sir Thomas Molineaux of Sefton in Lancashire Isabel married Sir Christopher Sotheworth of Sotheworth in Lancashire Lib. D. pag. 173. f. Elizabeth married Raufe Bostock of Bostock in Davenham Parish in Cheshire Esq by whom he had Issue Anne Daughter and Heir married to Sir John Savage of Clifton in Cheshire juxtà Halton which Elizabeth after the death of Raufe Bostock married Thomas Scriven of Frodsley in Shropshire and she died Anno Domini 1516. 5 die Februarii 8 Hen. 8. Lib. C. fol. 139. x. Margaret another Daughter of Sir Thomas Dutton married Thomas Aston of Aston juxtà Sutton Esquire 7 Edw. 4. 1467. Afterwards she married Raufe Vernon of Haslington in Cheshire Esquire And Elinour another Daughter married Richard Cholmondley of Cholmondley in Broxton Hundred Esq Lib. C. fol. 161. I. n. Obiit 1459 This Sir Thomas was slain at the Battel of Blore-Heath in Staffordshire September 23. 38 Hen. 6. 1459. Stow in his Annals and in the thirty eighth Year of his Age. Anne his Widow afterwards married Hugh Done of Olton in Cheshire and she died 19 Hen. 7. 1503. Lib. C. fol. 162. v. XV. John Dutton of Dutton Esquire Son and Heir of Sir Thomas and Anne was made Steward to the Prior of Norton for his Life of all the Lands and Tenements belonging to that Priory Robert Leftwich being then Abbot of Norton and for which the said John Dutton had three Pound yearly for his Fee Dated at Norton in September 38 Hen. 6. 1459. Lib. C. fol. 145. c. He married Margaret Daughter of Richard and Sister to Sir Thomas Molineaux of Sefton in Lancashire Obiit 1473 but died without Issue 13 Edw. 4. 1473. leaving Roger Dutton his Uncle to succeed in his Estate Lib. C. fol. 160. d. e. Margaret his Widow married William Buckley of Eaton junior 15 Edw. 4. Lib. C. fol. 160. b. XVI Roger Dutton of Dutton Esquire younger Brother to Sir Thomas and Heir to his Nephew John Dutton married Joan Daughter of Sir Richard Aston of Aston juxtà Sutton and had Issue Lawrence Dutton Son and Heir Obiit 1499 This Roger died 14 Hen. 7. 1499. Joan his Widow afterwards married Sir Richard Strangewaies Lib. C. fol. 162. v. fol. 164. e. XVII Lawrence Dutton of Dutton Esquire 14 Hen. 7. Son and Heir of Roger and Joan Obiit 1526 8 Hen. 8. married Joan Daughter of Robert Duckenfield of Duckenfield in Cheshire Esquire but died without any Lawful Issue Anno Domini 1526. aged fifty Years Lib. C. fol. 164. e. fol. 161. k. He had a Bastard-son called John Dutton to whom he gave the Messuage in Preston nigh Daresbery called The New Mannor for his Life 1526. Lib. C. fol. 162. s. He had also two Bastard-daughters Isabel and Joan. Upon the sailing of the Issue Male of this Line of Dutton there fell great Controversie and Suits of Law concerning this fair Inheritance of Dutton between Sir Piers Dutton of Hatton in Broxton Hundred as next Heir Male on the one part and the Daughters and Co-heirs of Sir Thomas Dutton of Dutton and their Heirs on the other part At last it was composed and ended by the Award of King Henry the Eighth Dated the sixteenth day of May 26 Hen. 8. 1534. and Confirmed by
of England who were Witnesses of the King of Scotland s Homage and where the Chief of the Nobility are named by Hoveden Anno Domini 1201. King John sent before-hand William Marshall Earl of Strigvill cùm centum militibus Soldariis and Roger Lacy Constable of Cheshire cùm aliis centum militibus Soldariis into Normandy for the suppressing of his Enemies Hoveden p. 819. Milites Soldarii id est Stipendarii Stipendio retenti So Spelman Anno 1204. Roger Constable of Cheshire Vir magnificus bellicosus a most Heroique and Magnanimous Champion kept the Castle de Rupe Andeliaci in Normandy for King John against the French with such Gallantry that after all his Victuals were spent having been Besieged almost a Year and many Assaults of the Enemy made but still repulsed by him he mounts his Horse and issues out of the Castle with his Troop into the midst of his Enemies Forces chusing rather to die like a Soldier than to be starved to death He slew many of the Enemy but was at last with much difficulty taken Prisoner So he and his Soldiers were brought Prisoners to the King of France where by the Command of the King Roger Lacy was to be no strict Prisoner * Sub libera custodia detentus est saith Paris meaning as I conceive had liberty to go up and down at his Pleasure on his Paroll or Word for his great Honesty and Trust in keeping the Castle so gallantly Mat. Paris put out by Dr. Wats pag. 211. King John's Letter to Roger Lacy concerning the keeping of the said Castle you may see among the Norman Writers put out by Andrew du Chesne and Printed at Paris 1619. pag. 1059. One other notable Exploit of this Roger Lacy I find mentioned in the Ancient Roll of the Barons of Halton When Randle Earl of Chester sir-named Blundevill Monasticon ◠Pars p 188. was Besieged in Rothelent Castle in Flintshire by the Welsh this Roger gathers a tumultuous Rout of loose and dissolute Persons Players Minstrels Shoe-makers and the like and marched speedily towards the Enemy The Welsh seeing a great Multitude coming raised their Siege and fled The Earl thus delivered confers the Authority over all the loose idle Persons in Cheshire upon his Constable And John Constable of Cheshire Son of the said Roger confers the Authority and Rule over all the Letchers and Whores in Cheshire on Hugh Dutton of Dutton as freely as he held the same of the Earl saving the Right of the said John to him and his Heirs See the Deed it self Transcribed suprà Pars 2. pag. 142. Roger Lacy purchased from Robert Bushell the Barony of Penwortham in Lancashire to hold of John King of England and his Heirs in Capite for which he acquitted the said Robert Bushell of 310 Marks of Silver to King John Couchir-Book in the Dutchy-Office at Grays-Inn Tom. 1. fol. 79. b. Com. Lancastriae num 78. This Roger gave the Church of Rochdale in Lancashire which belonged to the Honor of Pomfret unto the Abby of Stanlaw Lib. C. fol. 61. h. and also the Town of Little Wolneton Lib. C. fol. 62. c. in Principio fol. 12. d. He gave also his Moiety of Nether Pever cùm Little Pever which belonged to the Fee of Halton unto Osbert de VVethale rendring to him and his Heirs the yearly Rent of 6 s. 8 d. and by doing Foreign Service as much as belongeth to the twentieth part of a Knights Fee The Original in my possession and which Rent of 6 s. 8 d. is at this day 1666. paid to Halton by Leycester of Tabley for the same moiety Roger Lacy married Maud de Clare Lib. C. fol. 70. a. The Original Penès Towneley of Carre in Lancashire June 24. 1657. and had Issue John Lacy Constable of Cheshire afterwards Earl of Lincoln Pecham in his Compleat Gentleman pag. 190. tells us of another Son of Roger called Robert Constable of Flamborough in Yorkshire whose Posterity assumed the Sir-name of Constable From which Robert in a direct Line are descended Sir VVilliam Constable of Flamborough Sir Philip Constable of Everingham Christopher Constable of Hatfield Esquire James Constable of Cliffe Esquire John Constable of Carthrop Esquire Marmaduke Constable of Kirby Esquire Constable of VVassam Esquire Sir John Constable of Dromandby with many others then living 1622. I find mention indeed of Robert Constable of Flamborough called also Robert Son of the Constable to the Earl of Chester Monasticon Anglicanum 2 Pars pag. 799. But whether Son of Roger is not manifest to me but must leave it to Pecham's Authority Nor can I here pass by the mistake of the ancient Roll of the Barons of Halton ⚜ Lib. C. fol. 84 85 Monasticon 2 Pars pag. 187. and several other old Manuscripts there be of the same In all which this Maud de Clare Wife of Roger Lacy is said to be Sister of the Treasurer of York Minster Now Bevoys de Clare Treasurer of York Minster had no Sister called Maud for all the Sisters are punctually reckoned up in the Book of Tewksbery as you may find them copied out by Vincent in his Corrections of Brook's Catalogue of Nobility pag. 221. whereby it appears plainly that those Sisters also were all born after the death of Roger Lacy. Possibly in the old Roll there may be an omission of a Word as where it is said Sororem Thesaurarii Eboracensis Ecclesiae for Sororem Patris Thesaurarii Eboracensis Ecclesiae or some other Word Quaere Anno Domini 1211. 13 Johannis Regis Obiit 1211 vir Nobilis Miles egregius Rogerus Cestriae Constabularius vitam finivit Mat. Paris put out by Wats pag. 230. Anno 1211. obiit Rogerus de Lacy in Festo Sancti Remigii which is the first day of October cui successit Johannes Filius ejus posteà Comes Lincolniae per Uxorem suam Manuscript in Oxford Library among the Books given by William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury noted G. 9. fol. 125. b. He was one of those Great Persons of England whom Pope Innocent the Third Excommunicated for Conspiring against King John Anno Dom. 1216. Mat. Paris pag. 277. See also pag. 262. Anno Domini 1218. there came to the Siege of Damiata a City in Egypt many Strangers out of divers Parts of the World Out of England came the Illustrious Randle Earl of Chester with Saher Earl of Winchester and William Earl of Arundel and the Barons Robert Fitz-Walter John Constable of Cheshire William de Harecourt with much Company Idem Paris pag. 303. This John had two Wifes The first was Alice Daughter to Gilbert de Aquila She was Buried at Norton Abby Afterwards he married Margaret Daughter and Heir or Co-heir at least to Robert de Quency eldest Son of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester This Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester was Lord of Groby in Leycestershire and died Anno Domini 1220. as Mat. Paris saith He married Margaret younger Sister and
Co-heir to the fourth Robert Earl of Leycester called Robert Fitz-Parnell and had Issue Robert Quency eldest Son who married Hawys fourth Sister and Co-heir to Randle sir-named Blundevill Earl of Chester and Lincoln by whom he had Issue Margaret married to John Lacy aforesaid Roger de Quency second Son of Saher who succeeded his Father in the Earldom of Winchester Lib. C. fol. 67 a and another Robert de Quency third Son who married Hellen the Widow of John the Scot Earl of Chester which Robert died Anno Domini 1257. 41 Hen. 3. in a Torneament at Blie So Mat. Paris Also Hawys Daughter of Saher de Quency married Hugh de Vere Earl of Oxford and Orabella another Daughter of Saher married Richard Son of William Harecourt with whom her Father gave Bosworth in Leycestershire in Marriage Burton's Antiquities of Leycestershire p. 47. This was Harecourt of Stanton-Harecourt in Oxfordshire Hawys the Widow of Robert de Quency eldest Son of Saher which Robert died in the Life-time of Saher his Father had the Earldom of Lincoln given unto her by her Brother Randle Earl of Chester scilicèt quantum ad me pertinuit ut indè Comitissa existat as the Words of the Deed do run This was not long before Randle's death who died at Wallingford 26 die Octobris Anno Domini 1232. 17 Hen. 3. Vincent upon Brook pag. 317. And King Henry the Third by Patent dated at Northampton 23 die Novembris Anno Regni sui 17. 1232. granted the Earldom of Lincoln to John Lacy in these words HENRICUS Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegaviae Omnibus ad quos praesentes Literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis Quòd ad instantiam Hawisiae de Quency dedimus concessimus dilecto fideli nostro Johanni de Lascy Constabulario Cestriae illas viginti Libras quas Ranulphus quondà m Comes Cestriae Lincolniae recepit pro tertio Denario Comitatus Lincolniae nomine Comitis Lincolniae quas praedictus Comes in vitâ suâ dedit praedictae Hawisiae Sorori suae Habendas Tenendas nomine Comitis Lincolniae de nobis Haeredibus nostris ipsi Johanni Haeredibus suis qui exibunt de Margaretâ Uxore suâ Filiâ praedictae Hawisiae in perpetuum Et in hujus rei Testimonium has Literas nostras Patentes ei fieri fecimus Teste meipso apud Northampton 23 die Novembris Anno Regni nostri decimo septimo Couchir-Cook in the Dutchy-Office at Grays-Inn scilicet Tom. 2. Honor sivè Soca de Bolingbroke num 10. pag. 500. Lib. C. fol. 66. w. Thus was John Lacy in Right of his Wife made Earl of Lincoln Some Competition there was by this John concerning the Inheritance of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester and also of the Inheritance belonging to Margaret his Countess For Saher had by Deed formerly Covenanted with Robert his Son and Heir quòd infantes sui qui procreabuntur ab ipso Hawisiâ de Cestriâ Uxore suâ Haeredes sint totius Haereditatis dicti Saheri Haereditatis Uxoris suae Comitissae Margaretae hoc legaliter tenendum affidavit The Original in possession of Sir Simon Dewes Baronet 1647. Lib. C. Paper antè fol. 66. But how Roger de Quency and John Lacy were agreed appears by this Fine following 14 Hen. 3. 1230. Haec est finalis Concordia facta in Curiâ Domini Regis apud Westmonasterium in Octabis Sancti Michaelis Anno Regni Regis Henrici Filii Regis Johannis quarto decimo corà m Thomâ de Mulet Willielmo de Ralegh Roberto de Lexington Willielmo de Insulâ Willielmo de London Magistro Roberto de Sherdelawe Justiciariis aliis Domini Regis Fidelibus tùnc ibidèm praesentibus Inter Rogerum de Quency Querentem Johannem de Lascy Constabularium Cestriae Margaretam Uxorem ejus Deforciantes de Haereditate Saheri de Quency Comitis quondà m Wintoniae in Kotelastan Chennoure Sudho Aymbirye Bukby Gransete Hardwyk Bradenham cùm pertinentiis de Haereditate Margaretae de Quency Comitissae Wintoniae scilicèt de medietate Honoris Leycestriae Undè Placitum Conventionis summonitum fuit intèr eos in eâdem Curiâ scilicèt quòd praedicti Johannes Margareta recognoverunt omnes praedictas Terras praedictam medietatem Honoris Leycestriae cùm pertinentiis totam Haereditatem ipsius Saheri in Angliâ Scotiâ Flandriâ Normannia totam Haereditatem ipsius Margaretae Comitissae Wintoniae in Anglia Normannia esse jus ipsius Rogeri Et pro hac Recognitione Fine Concordia Idem Rogerus dedit concessit praedictis Johanni Margaretae Mannerium de Kingston cùm omnibus pertinentiis in Comitatu Dorsetiae similitèr totam Terram cùm pertinentiis quam Loretta quondà m Comitissa Leycestriae aliquandò tenuit nomine Dotis in Wymburne Blaneford cùm tota Foresta Chaceis de Wimburn-Holt cùm omnibus Boscis Warrennis de Kingston Excepto Tenemento quod Nicolaus de Wilelegh tenuit praetereà idem Rogerus recognovit concessit praedictis Johanni Margaretae Maneria de Bradeham de Granset de Bukby de Hardewyck cùm omnibus pertinentiis suis sicut Hawisia quae fuit Uxor Roberti de Quency ea tenuit in Dote Homagium totum Servitium Matthaei Tinfin Haeredum suorum de Feodo unius Militis cùm pertinentiis in Winterflawe in Comitatu Wiltshire Habendum Tenendum eisdem Johanni Margaretae Haeredibus de Corpore ipsius Margaretae procreatis de praedicto Rogero Haeredibus suis Faciendo indè Servitium quinque Militum pro omni Servitio Exactione Et sciendum est quòd si praedicta Margaretae sinè Haerede de Corpore suo procreato decesserit omnes praedictae Terrae cùm pertinentiis redibunt ipsi Rogero Haeredibus suis sinè ullo retenemento Salvis praedicto Johanni Constabulario omnibus praedictis Terris cùm pertinentiis tenendis tota vita sua Couchir-Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 2. Comitatus Dorset num 10. Lib. C. fol. 66. x. Henry the Third gave to this John Lacy the Manors of Colingham and Berdsey undè Abbas de Kirkstall nobis reddidit per Annum 90 Libras de firma donèc ei dederimus rationabile Escambium ad Valentiam eorundem Manneriorum in Escaetis vel Wardis Datum apud Aurebel 17 die Julii 14 Hen. 3. Ibidèm Tom. 2. Honor sivè Soca de Bolingbroke fol. 22. num 46. Anno Domini 1233. 18 Hen. 3. John Scot Earl of Chester and John Lacy Earl of Lincoln were by Peter Bishop of Winchester for the Bribe of a thousand Marks drawn to the Kings Party who before were Confederat with Richard Earl-Marshal against the King Mat. Paris About the same Year 1233. John sir-named The Scot Earl of Chester and Huntingdon gave to John Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Cheshire ten Knights Fees in England illa scilicèt quae de me tenuit
belonged to the Templars but is since become a Society for the Students of our Law with all the Lands and Rents thereto belonging in the Suburbs of London and in the County of Middlesex which were of the Fee of the Honor of Leycester and Confirmed unto him by the Grant of King Edward the Second Dated at York primo die Octobris 8 Edw. 2. Tom. 2. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office Comitatus Middlesex Alice the Widow of this Thomas had the Earldom of Lincoln restored unto her by the King during her Life 20 die Septembris 1322. 16 Edw. 2. She had also the Mannor of Halton in Cheshire cùm pertinentiis restored unto her for her Life 12 die Julii 16 Edw. 2. in which Deed she is stiled Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury Lib. C. fol. 68. l. Afterwards she married Sir Eubulo le Strange without the Kings Consent about 1325. 19 Edw. 2. but had no Issue by him Eubulo Lord Strange was in her Right made Earl of Lincoln Vincent upon Broke pag. 320. and he died about 7 Edw. 3. 1333. For 9 Edw. 3. I find Alice stiled Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury Lib. C. fol. 69. p. q. After this Alice married Hugh de Frenes to her third Husband who usurped the Title of Earl of Lincoln in her Right and died 1334. Walsingham pag. 134. but had no Issue by her Concerning this Alice and one Richard de St. Martin I shall give you here the Story out of Walsingham sub Anno 1317. 10 Edw. 2. pag. 108 109. On Monday before Ascension-day 1317. the Countess of Lancaster was Ravished at Caneford in Dorsetshire by a certain Knight of the House of John Earl of Warren very many of the English being assistant to that detestable Fact and by the Kings Assent as it was said She was brought in great Triumph to the Earl Warren 's Castle of Ryegate in disgrace of her Husband Thomas Earl of Lancaster and by the way the Conductors supposing they had seen Flags or Banners between the Hedges and Woods of Halton and Farnham afar off which was nothing but Priests in their Surplices walking Procession with the People in the Fields according to their Custom were struck with a great fear thinking the Earl of Lancaster her Husband had been coming with a Power to revenge her Injury and so ran away leaving the Lady almost all alone But the matter being discovered they returned with Threatnings and Pomp with whom there was a low lame hulch-back'd Fellow of a malicious spirit called Richard dè St. Martin who being backed with great Aid challenged the miserably-derided Lady for his Wife protesting that he carnally knew her before she married the Earl of Lancaster which she openly acknowledged to be true And although she was reputed a most Noble Lady all her life-time before she was by the Wheel of Fortune proclaimed an odious Strumpet And the said Richard triumphing over her presumes to challenge the Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury in the King's Court as in Right of his Wife but in vain as shall after appear more fully Thus Walsingham But here seems to be great improbability in this Story Cambden tells us out of the Book of Stanlaw Monastery that she was but nine Years old when she married Thomas Earl of Lancaster Lincolnshire pag. 409. And then St. Martin must lie with her before she was nine Years old which is not probable And then these Actions and Words done and said unto her in time of Hostility to make the Earl odious might be given out against her as if she had confessed the Fact though perhaps an absolute Falsity Nor is it likely Eubulo Lord Strange would have married her as he did had these things been true which are here related by Walsingham This Countess Alice died Anno Domini 1348. 22 Edw. 3. Annóque aetatis suae sexagesimo septimo and was Buried at Berlyng Abby by Eubulo her second Husband Monasticon 2 Pars pag. 190. leaving no Issue by any of her Husbands Now for the Lands which were the Inheritance belonging to this Alice they are said to be worth 10000 Marks per Annum and more howbeit she had not above 3000 Marks thereof per Annum allowed her by the King Monasticon Pars 2. pag. 189. b. The Inheritance of Henry Lacy was so setled upon the Marriage of Alice his Daughter and Heir that in Case Henry Lacy had no Heirs of his Body in defect of such then his Lands were to revert to Edmund the King's Brother and to his Heirs for ever Dated 28 Octobris 22 Edw. 1. 1294. Lib. C. fol. 67. f. Monasticon Pars 2. pag. 189. a. So Alice having no Issue all Henry Lacy's Lands came to the Earls of Lancaster But before I proceed it will be requisite I say something here of the Earls of Lancaster before Thomas Plantagenet The first Earl of Lancaster I meet withal was John sir-named Without Land younger Brother to King Richard the First He was afterwards King John and therefore I shall say the less of him The next Earl of Lancaster was Edmund Plantagenet sir-named Crook-back younger Son to King Henry the Third and Brother to King Edward the First He had given him by his Father Honorem Comitatum Castrum Villam de Lancaster omia Dominica nostra quae sunt in Comitatu Lancastriae cùm Vaccariis Forestis de Wiresdale Lounsdale Novum Castrum subtùs Limam Manerium Forestam Castrum de Pickering Manerium de Scaleby Villam de Gomecester redditúmque Villatae de Huntendon Dated at St. Pauls in London 30 die Junii 51 Hen. 3. 1267. Lib. C. fol. 71. e. Tom. 1. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office fol. 1. num 1. So he was made Earl of Lancaster 1267. He was also Earl of Leycester and High Steward of England by Patent dated 25 die Octobris 49 Hen. 3. 1265. upon the Forfeiture of Simon de Montfort Earle of Leycester who was slain at the Battel of Evesham 5 die Augusti 1265. He was made Earl of Derby at Kenillworth 28 Junii 50 Hen. 3. wherein he hath granted unto him Castra omnes terras quae fuerunt Roberti de Ferrariis quondà m Comitis Derbiae qui Simoni de Monteforti quondà m Comiti Leycestriae Inimico Feloni nostro Imprisis suis adhaesit tempore Guerrae quae nupèr in Regno nostro mota fuit per ipsum Simonem Lib. C. fol. 71. g. Tom. 1. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office fol. 3. num 11. Which Robert de Ferrars was also Lord of Tutbury and was afterwards bound unto this Edmund with William de Valentia Earl of Pembroke John Warren Earl of Surrey William de Beauchampe Earl of Warwick and many other Sureties for the Payment of 50000 l. Sterling in Quindenâ Johannis Baptistae proximè venturâ 53 Hen. 3. for the Redemption of his Lands Lib. C. fol. 71. I. But I find not that they were ever redeemed This Edmund was Invested King of Sicily
set down the Kings of Mercia during the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England under which our County of Cheshire is comprised This Kingdom of Mercia began Anno Domini 626. under Penda sirnamed The Strong Son of Wibba Howbeit Huntington brings it somewhat higher even to begin under Crida who died Anno Domini 596. lib. 2. pag. 315. whose Descent he also sets down out of the ancient Saxons Chronicle to Woden pag. 316. and the Descent of Woden Malmesbury reckons up Also Matth. Paris de H. 2. and Asser Menevensis de Alfredo pa. 1. lib. 2. de Gestis Regum cap. 2. ad initium out of the English Chronicles to Noah Also Hoved. Annal. pars prior p. 414. brings it up to Adam Which Descent although we may conceive it true as far as is set down yet it carries great improbabilities along with it in respect of the long Tract of Time it contains for Woden is but the tenth Ancestor from Crida inclusively and Noah but the sixteenth from Woden according to Malmesbury So all the Generations from Noah to Crida are but 26. which in all probability cannot contain much above 600 Years and so Crida living after Christ 550 Years as Huntington clearly expresseth the Generation where Noah is placed cannot exceed 100 Years before Christ or thereabouts Now Noah lived above 2000 Years before Christ as is evident by the Scripture and the Generations from Noah to Christ are reckoned up 68 Luke cap. 3. and according to Matthew from Noah to Christ are reckoned up 52 Generations which far exceed the proportion and number here set down by Malmesbury Besides this that Bedwegius should be the Son of Sem as Hoveden hath it is much to be suspected or as Malmesbury sets it down that he should be the Son of Stresaeus and Stresaeus reported to be the Son of Noah seems likewise incredible forasmuch as no such Son is recorded in the Text Genesis cap. 10. either to Noah or Sem. But to return II. The Kingdom of Mercia was otherwise called Midel-Engle or Mediterranea Anglia Huntington lib. 2. Histor pag. 317. and was distinguished into the Northern and Southern Mercians The South-Mercians were 5000 Families and were severed by the River Trent from the North-Mercians who contained 7000 Families and this distinction was in the time of Peda Son of Penda Huntington lib. 3. pag. 332. It was called Mercia not from the River Mersey running from the corner of Wirral in Cheshire because that River was the utmost Limit thereof Westward but I rather believe that River took Denomination from this Kingdom which it Bounded on that side and was called Mercia because it abutted or bordered upon part of all or most of the other Kingdoms of the Heptarchy for Marche in the Saxon Tongue signifieth A Border or Limit Hence we call the parts of Wales next bordering upon England The Marches of Wales and at this day we call the utmost Border of a piece of Land A Land-March now pronounced Land-Mark which is as much as A Mere or Boundary III. I shall now briefly run over the Kings of Mercia since the Saxons first set up their Rule here with the Years of their several Reigns 1. Crida died about the Year of Christ 596. He began his Reign Anno Domini 586. and Reigned ten Years 2. VVibba Son of Crida He began his Reign Anno 596. and Reigned twenty Years 3. Ceorlus Son of VVibba He began his Reign Anno 616. and Reigned ten Years 4. Penda sirnamed The Strong Son of VVibba slew Edwin and Oswald Bede de Hist Angl. lib. 3. cap. 9. Kings of Northumberland in several Battels Oswald was slain the fifth day of August Anno Domini 642. Oswald was a holy Man and many Churches and Chappels were Consecrated and Founded in honour of him This Penda was slain by Oswy Brother of Oswald in the Year 656. in Battel He began his Reign Anno 626. and Reigned thirty Years 5. Peda or Weda Son of Penda Married Alflede Daughter of Oswy King of Northumberland and was the first King of Mercia that received the Christian Faith He received half of Mercia by the Gift of Oswy his Father-in-law to wit South-Mercia This Oswy Founded Lichfield Church and made Dwina a Scotchman Bishop thereof Anno Domini 656. He was the first Bishop of Mercia Stow. pag. 67. This Peda began his Reign Anno 656. and Reigned three Years 6. Wulfere Son of Penda after the Death of his Brother Peda succeeded King of Mercia for the Nobility of Mercia Jumin Eaba and Eadbert did rebell against Oswy and set up Wulfere who Married Ermenhild Daughter of Erconbert King of Kent and had Issue by her Kenred a Son and Werburge a Daughter that holy Virgin who died at Chester and there buried Will. de Malmesbury lib. 1. de Gestis Regum cap. 4. This Wulfere was the first of the English Kings who committed Simony and sold the Bishoprick of London to one VVina He killed two of his own Sons Ulfade and Rufin because they went to be instructed in the Christian Faith by St. Chad Bishop of Lichfield whose Bodies Ermenhild the Queen buried in a Sepulchre of Stone where after she Founded a Priory called The Priory of Stones in Staffordshire Stow. pag. 69. He began his Reign Anno 659. and Reigned seventeen Years 7. Ethelred Brother to VVulfere erected a Bishoprick at VVorcester He began his Reign Anno 675. and Reigned twenty nine Years 8. Kenred Son of VVulfere in the fifth Year of his Reign went to Rome and became a Monk in St. Peters Church in Rome where he continued all his Life He began his Reign Anno 704. and Reigned five Years 9. Ceolred Son of Ethelred Fought stoutly against Ina King of the VVest-Saxons Ceolred was buried at Lichfield He began his Reign Anno 708. and Reigned eight Years 10. Ethelbald the Proud whom Malmesbury stiles Pronepos Pendae ex Alwio fratre Reigned peaceably one and forty Years This Ethelbald and almost all the Nobility of Mercia were much addicted to Adultery rejecting their Wives as appears by the Letter of Boniface Archbishop of Mentz and German Legate to Ethelbald about Anno 747. He Founded the Abbey of Crowland and was slain by his own Subjects by the procurement of Berared at the Battel of Segiswold within three Miles of Tamworth as he was Fighting against Cuthred King of the VVest-Saxons Anno 757. Stow. and his Body was Interred at Ripedon or Ripon He was Son of Alwy Son of Eoppa Son of VVibba Matth. VVestminst pag. 264. He began his Reign Anno 716. and Reigned one and forty Years 11. Berared an Usurper was slain by Offa and had an end meet for a Traytor He began his Reign Anno 757. and Reigned one Year 12. Offa was Cosin to Ethelbald scilicet Son of Dingferth Son of Eanulf Son of Osmod Son of Eoppa Son of VVibba Florentius VVigorniensis pag. 274. He overcame in Battel Kinulf King of the VVest-Saxons He built the famous