had issue Richard Earle of Clare which was slaine by the Welshmen This Richard had issue three sonnes Gilbert Earle of Clare that dyed without issue Roger Earle of Clare created Earle of Hertford by Henry the second and Robert his third sonne from whom the familie of Fitz-Walters discended Roger begat Richard Earle of Clare Hertford who marryed Amicia yongest daughter and heire of William Earle of Glocester Pag. 350. YOur historicall reportes are very changeable for in the title of Haresfield Pag. 312. you tell vs that Richard was Earle of Clare in William the Conquerors time and now here you affirme that Gilbert his sonne was the first Earle of Clare of that familie And againe in the title of Dunmowe there haue you set downe this Robert the third sonne of Earle Richard truely to be the sonne of the first Richard that came into this land with William the Conqueror but here will you haue him to be great grand-child to the same Richard Which by no meanes the now Earle of Sussex will consent vnto because thereby he shall loose two of his greattest auncestors with their wiues they being the daughters and heires of Saint-Lyce Earle of Northampton and the Lord Lucy which were both marryed the one to the said Robert and the other to Walter his sonne as more plainely doth appeare by the true discent here following Richard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Angy in Normandye was Lorde of Tunbridge and Clare in England by the gift of William the Conqueror and had issue Gilbert Earle of Clare Roger that dyed without issue 1173. and Robert who was Sewer to king Henry the first and Lord of Dunmow by the said kings gift He maryed Matilda de Sainct-Lice lady of Bradham and had issue Walter Lord and Baron of Woodham that had to wife Matilde the daughter and coheire of Richard Lucy Lord chiefe Iustice of England in Henry the seconds time Of which Walter the honorable familie of Fitz-walters tooke first their surname He dyed 1198. leauing the second Robert his sonne to succeede him who dyed in the 19. yeare of king Henry the third So that by this your mistaking you would cut off the first Robert and Walter his sonne making the second Robert to be the first that came from the maine line of the familie of Clares And for proofe hereof I wish you to examine Gemiticensis who will affirme the same to be true that I haue here said GEffery Magnauill made Walden the seate and head of his honor and Earledome Pag. 342. THe dignitie and Earledome of the Magnauills whilest they were honored with the title of Earles was Essex and not Walden Well that familie might be Lordes and owners thereof but that neuer the head of their honour and Earledome Wherefore if your Author so write hee did it rather like a nouice then an Herauld and your discretion may be suspected in that you played not rather your parte to teach him to speake more Herauld-lyke then to bring in his absurd tearmes for a testimonie amongst Earledomes and Honors THe first Earles of Essex of the Norman race was Geffrey Magnauill commonly called Mandeuill sonne of William by Margaret heire of Eudo the Sewer who was slaine in battell in king Stephens time There succeeded him two sonnes Geffrey and William from whome by a daughter that honour went to Geffrey Fitz-Pieres whose two sonnes Geffrey and William succeeded in that honor Geffrey dyed yong slayne at the Tilte William tooke parte with Lewis of Fraunce against king Iohn and dyed without issue 1227. After whome succeeded Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Constable of England who had marryed their sister Pag. 343. YOur vndiscreete wordes vsed in this place may make those noble personages deceased to be called in question for that which nature abhorreth but it were better your penne should prooue a false witnesse then so heynous a matter true Shall we surmise as you write in this page that Humfrey de Bohun sonne of Henry did marrye his owne mother Assuredly we might seeme in so dooing not onely ouer-credulous but also irreligious Yet you say here Humfrey Bohun marryed the sister and heire of William Magnauill Earle of Essex who dyed without issue 1227. Which by no meanes we may beleeue because the match were against nature if it be true that Henry Bohun marryed with that sister and heire of William Magnauill aforesaid which is so vndoubted a trueth that voluntarily it drops out of your owne penne Pag. 479. of your booke in the title of the Earles of Hereford Besides that it is most euident that the saide Henrie in the right of his wife aboue mencioned was the first Earle of Essex of that familie as appeareth by a Charter of king Henrie the thirde in the 25. yeare of his reigne concerning lands that he gaue to the Abbay of Westminster whereunto the said Henrie was a witnesse by the name of Henrie de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England And further to manifest that it was not Humfrey the sonne of this Henrie that married with Matilda Know you that she died 1236. in the one and twentie yeare of king Henrie the third which was during the life of the said Henry her husband and foure years before he was a witnesse to the kings Charter aforesaide AFter the death of the familie of Bigots and Vffords Richard the second aduanced Michael De-la-Poole from a Marchant to the Honour and dignitie of Earle of Suffolke and Lorde Chauncellor of England King Henrie the sixt created William his sonne first Marques and after Duke of Suffolke He was beheaded on the Seas and left issue Iohn who married the sister of king Edward the fourth Pag. 357. VVHat is it that you will not vndertake to write and publish of a meane person when you verie vniustly haue wrōged that honorable familie of De-la-Pooles reporting Michael De-la-Poole the first Earle of that name to haue beene aduaunced by Richard the second from a Merchant of Hull Pag. 549. to the dignitie of Earle of Suffolke he being a knight of the noble order of the Garter by the Satutes whereof none can bee elected vnlesse hee be borne gentle three discents both of father and mother Also it doth appeare by an inquisition taken the 9. of Edwarde the third that sir William De-la-Poole knight Banneret father of this Michael was sonne and heire of sir William De-la-Poole knight All which testimonies might haue satisfied you or any other reasonable person both to haue thought and written more reuerentlie of him But not herewith contented you after depriue him the saide Michaell both of his sonne and eldest grandchild which succeeded him in the said dignitie the one after the other by the names of Michaell the second and Michaell the thirde placing in their rowmes as immediate successor and son to the foresaid first Michaell William De-la-Poole duke of Suffolke his second grandchilde In both which points howe much you haue
succession of these Earles saying That from the first Hugh in Henry the first time succeeded in direct line from father to sonne Hugh that tooke parte against king Henry the second c. To this I answere that you were in a Labyrinth not able to finde out what issue there was betwixt the first and second Hugh And to vnfolde this your error I affirme that the first Hugh and those that you say succeeded betweene from father to sonne to that Hugh whome you name the second were all but one person for he that was Steward to king Henry the first and was after made Earle of Norffolke by king Stephen was the same person that liued in the time of king Henry the second and that tooke part with the yong king against his father Thirdly where you affirme that the last Earle Roger surrendred all his honors and almost all his inheritance vnto king Edward the second it seemeth a matter vnto me very vnlike that the said Roger dying in the life of king Edward the first could in the reigne of king Edward the second make any such surrender But here haue you done very wisely in leauing out the cause of the kings displeasure against the said Roger for therein would you haue disclosed your owne error But because I would not haue you ignorant of the same king Edward the first in the fifteenth or sixteenth yeare of his reigne required this Roger Bygot Eerle of Norffolke Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and Humfrey de Bohun then Earle of Hereford to goe with him into France whose request these three noble persons refused whereupon at the said kings returne againe into England he forced Gilbert de Clare and Humfrey de Bohun the yonger sonne of the soresaid Humfrey to marrye with two of his daughters without either land or money and the said Roger Bygot to appease the kings indignation did make ouer vnto him most part of his landes with the office of Marshall of England And this was done by king Edward the first and not by Edward the second as you haue here set downe KIng Edward the third gaue the Earledome of Cambridge vnto Edward of Langley his fift sonne Afterwardes Richard his yonger sonne enioyed the same honor by the fauour of king Henry the fift But he being disloyall and vngratefull plotting the death of that most excellent prince was beheaded and the Earledome of Cambridge vtterly decayed with him Pag. 381. THe Earledome of Cambridge vtterly decayed not with Richard of Conesborough yonger sonne of Edmond of Langley Earle of Cambridge and Duke of Yorke who was executed in the third yeare of Henry the fift as you say but was after reuiued againe in Richard his sonne whome king Henry the sixt in the fourth yeare of his reigne created Earle of Cambridge and after Duke of Yorke Regent of Fraunce and protectour of England HVntingdon had these Earles Syward and Walthe of his sonne after whome by Maude his daughter that honor came first to Simon Sant-lize Earle of Northampton After that to Dauid brother to Alexander king of Scots for Maude was marryed to to them both and had issue by both Whereupon as the princes fauour and fortune changed sometimes the Sant-lizes and sometimes the Scots enioyed this honor vidz Henry the sonne of Dauid then Simon Sant-lize sonne to the first Simon And then Simon Sant-lize the third who dying without issue William king of Scots brother of the foresaid Malcolme succeeded whome Dauid his brother followed and had issue that succeeded him Iohn his sonne surnamed Scote that was Earle of Chester and dyed without issue leauing for his successor Alexander the second which marryed the daughter of king Henry the third who possessed this honor but a while Pag. 387 BEfore I enter to open your errors in this succession of the Earles of Huntingdon I would entreate you of this number of eleuen Earles to put out fiue of them at the least And because you shall take them right I will first nominate vnto you those which ought to stand beginning with Walthe of Earle of Northumberland vnto whome William the Conqueror gaue in mariage with Iudith his neece the Earledomes of Huntingdon Northampton This Walthe of had issue Maude who was giuen in marriage vnto Dauid brother to Alexander king of Scots which Dauid was after a witnesse to the Charter of king Henry the first touching landes and liberties that the said king gaue vnto the Cittie of London by the name of Dauid Earle of Huntingdon After the death of Dauid the foresaid Maude was marryed againe to Simon Sant-lize a Norman gentleman who had with her the Earledome of Northampton Dauid before named had issue Henry who in the life of his father was Earle of Huntingdon and dyed in the 18. yeare of king Stephen leauing issue three sonnes Malcolme William and Dauid Malcolme being king of Scottes rebelled against king Henry the second for which cause the king seised into his handes the Earledome of Huntingdon After the said Malcolmes death William his brother succeeded him in the kingdome of Scotland He likewise rebelled against his Lorde king Henry the second and being taken prisoner was caryed into Normandie Anno 1174. Where he compounded to pay for his raunsome ten thowsand markes and to release all his title and interest of the Earledomes both of Huntingdon and Northumberland After which king Henry gaue the Earledome of Huntingdon to Dauid the third sonne of Dauid Earle of Huntingdon before mentioned Which Dauid was a witnesse to the Charter of king Richard the first of landes that he gaue to the Abbey of Peterborough Anno 1189. by the name of Dauid Earle of Huntingdon He dyed in the second yeare of king Henry the third and left issue Iohn his sonne surnamed Scotte who succeeded him which dyed without issue in the 22. yeare of king Henry the third Thus haue I rightly set downe the succession of the Earles of Huntingdon vnto Iohn surnamed Scotte which vnlesse you can by good authorities disproue as I assure my selfe you cannot I hope you will not onely confesse your error but will abate in your next impression those fiue which in deede were neuer Earles of Huntingdon vidz Syward who was but Earle of Northumberland then the three Simons Sant-lizes that were Earles of Northampton onely and lastly William king of Scottes Ashbye de-la-zouch was sometimes belonging to Alane de-la-zouch Baron who bare for his armes a Shielde gules tenne bezants He by marrying the daughter of Roger Quincie Earle of Winchester greatly increased his inheritance But calling in question of lawe Iohn Earle Warrin who would haue his cause tryed by sworde and not by lawe he was by him slaine in the kings courte at Westminster Anno 1279. and within a fewe yeares after the daughters and heires of his grand-childe caryed this inheritance by marryage to the familie of Hollands who were Barons a long time whose inheritance passed to the Louels and
said Walleron But to reforme this your errour I wish you to vnderstande that the foresaid Walleron had issue Robert Earle of Millent Worcester and Lord of Ponttadomara which Robert did remaine heere in England and maried an English woman named Mauld Lady of Estrumenister Moreys and Rydlestone And by her had issue Henrie Peter Mabell and Mary the two sonnes and the youngest daughter dying without issue Mabell the eldest daughter was married to William de Vernon alias Ryduers Earle of Deuonshire and had issue Bauldwyn Earle of Deuonshire and Mary first married vnto Sir Robert Courteney by whom she had issue of whom all the Courteneys are descended After she married Peter de Prouz a noble Gentleman of Deuon to which Peter the said Robert Earle of Millent and Worcester did by his deede giue in franke marriage with the said Marie his grand-child the third part of all his Land in England and vnto Bauldwin his gran-child by his daughter Mabell all his Land in Normandie with the Mannors of Estrumenister Moreyes and Riddleston in England So that heere you are not onely found to faile in your affirmation that there was not any Earle of Worcester betweene the said Walleron in King Stephens time and Thomas Percy who had that dignitie of Richard the second But also in saying his issue returned to their auncient Patrimonie in Normandie when it is manifest that his sole heire continued here and left issue of whom are discended many of our noble Families at this present THe first Lord of Gillesland was William Meschines brother to Ranulfe Earle of Carlell Pag. 604. AS you did begin at the first so haue you in your Booke continued vnto the ende making to some Nobles vnnaturall mariages and to others vnlawfull issue In this place you haue made the sonne to be brother to his owne father by affirming William Meschines Lord of Gillesland to be brother to Ranulph Earle of Carlell And to prooue that the saide William was sonne of Ranulph Earle of Carlell and not his brother I will first for the better vnderstanding of the reader hereof set downe a briefe of the said Williams discent beginning at Hugh Lupus his vncle the first Earle of Chester whose sister Margaret was married to Ranulph Earle of Carlell and by him had issue two sonnes Ranulph the first of that name and thirde Earle of Chester and William Mischines Lord of Gilleslande and that this is true which heere I haue incerted reade this Deede following which done I trust you will not onely recant your errour but also acknowledge from whence you haue receaued the trueth hereof NOtum sit omnibus me Ran. Comit. Cestrae concessisse quando feci transferri corpus Hugonis Comitis auunculi mei a cimiterio in Capitulum c. Be it knowne vnto all mem That I Ranulph Earle of Chester haue graunted at such time as I caused the body of Hugh the Earle my vncle to be translated from the Church yard into the Chapter house That on the day of my death I should giue togither with my body to the Church of S. Werburge Vpton in pure Almes free from euery thing for the soule of the foresayd Hugh and the health of my soule and the soules of all my kinsfolkes And whereas Hugh the Earle before had graunted to the Church of S. Werburge at the feast of the translation of the same the Priuiledge of a Fayre I also do graunt and confirme the same Moreouer William Meschinus my brother hath geuen the Church of Destart Mathew of Ruelant hath giuen the Church of Thurstanestone c. An inforced Conclusion WHen as I had collected readie for the Presse so many of your defectes and errors published in your so highly commended Britannia as might well haue satisfied the worlde that I vndertooke not this worke in vaine nor yet without good cause me moouing thereunto Then was I stayed in the printing thereof by the disturbance and indirect dealing of your friendes the Stationers who heretofore haue made no small gaine of your foure former Impressions and thereby constrayned abruptly heere to make an ende suppressing a great part of my first pretended purpose yet before I doe ende I thinke it my duetie heere to put the Nobilitie in minde that your Booke now going in hand may be both seene and alowed before it goe to the Presse by such as haue both skill and authoritie so to doe I meane the Earle Marshall and not to passe as before it hath done to the preiudice of so many honourable Families And to the ende the worlde may know with whose plumes you haue heretofore fethered your nest besides the Heraults I haue hereunto annexed a New-yeeres gyft dedicated to king Henrie the eight in the. 37. yeere of his reigne by that worthy and learned Englishe Antiquarie Maister Iohn Leyland concerning his sixe yeeres trauayle and laborious Iourney for the search of Englandes Antiquities vpon the sayd Kinges commission and charges by which it may appeare vnto the indifferent Reader who was the first Author and contriuer of this late borne Britannia either he whose name is cleane razed and blotted out or you that haue both taken the tytle and whole credite thereof to your selfe Also I may not heere let passe the wordes of Maister Iohn Bale in his declarations vpon the same worke dedicated to King Edward the sixt which are these following Blessed be the man which shall set this worthy worke abrode and contrarywise Cursed be he for euer and euer that shall in spight of his Nation seeke thereof the distruction Iohn Leylands nevv yeeres Gyft giuen of him to King Henrie the. viii in the. 37. yeere of his reigne concerning his laborious Iorney and search for Englandes antiquities WHere as it pleased your Highnesse vpon very iust considerations to encorage me by the authoritie of your most gratious Commission in the XXXV yeere of your prosperous reigne to peruse and diligently to search all the Libraries of Monasteries and Colledges of this your noble Realme to the intent that the Monuments of auncient Writers as well of other Nations as of your owne Prouince might be brought out of deadly darknesse to liuely light and to receiue like thankes of their posteritie as they hoped for at such time as they employed their long and great studies to the publique wealth Yea and furthermore that the holy Scripture of God might both be sinceerely taught and learned all maner of superstition craftie coloured doctrine of a route of Romane Byshops totally expelled out of this your most catholique Realme I thinke it now no lesse then my very duetie briefly to declare to your Maiestie what fruite haue sprung of my laborious iourney and costly enterprise both rooted vpon your infinite goodnesse liberalitie qualities right highly to be esteemed in all Princes and most specially in you as naturally your owne well knowne proprieties First I haue conserued many good Authors the which otherwise had bin like
the Parliament Anno 25. of Henry the sixt by the name of Robert Lord Mollens And after the death of the forenamed Walter the said two Roberts were both at one time of the Parliament Anno 29. of Henry the sixt the father by the name of Robert Lord Hungerforde senior and the sonne by the Name of Robert Hungerforde Lord Mollens Iunior Which I take to be so strong a proofe as vpon the sight hereof you will recant and subscribe to the same VVIdehay was the auncient seate of the Barons Saint Amend whose inheritance and dignitie came to Gerald Braybrooke in right of his wife And Elizabeth his grand-child by Gerald his sonne transported the same to William de Beauchampe who left issue but one onely sonne which was a bastard Pag. 207. VVHat an vngodly course is this you take to depriue noble men both of their honor and honestie framing to some vnnaturall mariages falsifying the discentes of other and making legitimate heires illegitimate which abuses by reason of my oath taken at my creation I may not let passe without telling you thereof Vnderstand therefore that where you affirme William Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond who maryed Elizabeth grand-childe to Gerald Braybrooke to haue issue one onely sonne and he a Bastard therein doe you greatly both wrong and scandalize him for he had in lawfull matrimonie by his said wife Richard Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond his legitimate sonne that succeeded him in the dignitie of Saint Amond and maryed Anne the daughter of Sir Walter Wrotesley knight And therefore very vntruely haue you charged the said William to haue had any such Bastard THe Barons of Windsore tooke their original from William the sonne of Other that was Constable or keeper of Windsore Castle in the time of king William the first from whome also are discended the Fitz-Geraldes in Ireland Earles of Kildare and Desmond as Robert Glouer called Somerset the most studious and skilfull in Heraldie of all that societie hath proued Pag. 213. HEre would you impeache the credite of that worthie Officer of Armes Robert Glouer in making him the Authour of your imagined dreames he hauing vnder his owne hand in the Petigree of the honorable Lord Windsor both denyed that William de Windsor was sonne to Other keeper of the Castle of Windsor as also that the Earle of Kildare and Desmond were discended from the said William By which your vntrue misse-alledging the said Somersets workes to serue your turne you shewe your selfe very vngratefull towardes him out of whose bookes in the custodie of the late Lorde Treasorer you gathered the flowers wherewithall you haue made your vnperfect garland which you in your last edition so much haue boasted of But here would I not that you or any other should misconceaue my meaning that I thinke or iudge Somerset Herald hath written or set downe in his said bookes any of these vntruthes but rather that you not rightly vnderstanding them nor able to discerne the true vse of his trauels haue thorough ignorance committed these your errors in affirming William de Windsor to be sonne to Other and auncester to the Earles of Kildare and Desmond in Ireland of which two pointes you cannot prooue any one for the originall auncester of these before spoken of was Walter the sonne of Other and not William sonne of Other for Walter had two sonnes William of whome are discended the Lordes of Windsor and Gerald who was auncester to the Geraldines Earles of Kildare and Desmond And where you make William de Windsor to be sonne of Other therein are you also deceiued for the same William you speake of was sonne of Walter and grand-childe to Other as doth appeare by the Charter of king Henry the second here following HEnricus rex Angliae Dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegauiae Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. Henry king of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earle of Aniou to all Archbishops Byshops c. Knowe ye that I haue giuen and graunted to William de Windsor as his inheritance all the landes which before were the possessions of William sonne of Walter his father and of Walter sonne of Other his grandfather Wherefore I will c. that he hold it as his fee and inheritance c. peaceably freely and honorably euen as his father and grandfather held the same in the time of king Henry my grandfather and of my predecessors in woodes and plaines c. Witnesses William my brother Reignald the Earle and Ioceline Baillol c. VVIlliam Rufus king of England made William Earle Waren first Earle of Surrey whose armes were a shield gold checked azure He had issue a sonne and a grand-childe of the same name succeeding him but the last had issue onely a daughter who marrying first with William sonne of king Stephen and after with Hamelin base sonne of Geffrey Plantagenet honored both her husbands with this title Hameline begot on her William Earle of Surrey who marryed the eldest daughter and coheire of William Earle of Penbrooke widow of Hugh Bygot This William was father of Iohn who begat William father of Iohn Afterwardes king Henry the fourth aduaunced Thomas Beauford to that title and dignitie making him after Duke of Exceter and Lord Chauncellor of England Pag. 223. ALthough I omit here to tell you that the first William Earle Warren was made Earle of Surrey by William Conquerour and not by VVilliam Rufus yet will I by your patience put you in minde of an other error by you here cōmitted of more importance which is if you remember in the title of the Earles of Norffolke Pag. 370. You there haue made Roger By got Earle of Norffolke to be husband vnto Maude the eldest daughter and coheire of VVilliam Marshal Earle of Penbrooke and now in this place you make the said Maude to be the widowe of Hugh Bygot father of the foresaid Roger which I take to be incest for the sonne to marry his owne mother And therefore least all their modest posteritie might blushe at such an incestuous Oedipus as your poeticall fansie hath brought vpon the stage I would wishe you to correct this your tragicall fable KIng Richard the second made Thomas Holland Earle of Kent being his halfe brother by the mother Duke of Surrey who being atteinted Thomas Beauford was aduanced to that dignitie by king Henry the fourth and after made Duke of Exceter and Chauncellor of England He dyed as Walsingham saith Anno 1410. Pag. 223. VVHere you say that Thomas Beauford after the attainder of Thomas Holland was aduaunced to the dignitie of Duke of Surrey and dyed Anno 1410. as VValsingham saith To the first I answere the said Thomas Beauford was neuer dignified with the title of Duke of Surrey by K. Henry the fourth or any other king And to proue the same I finde that the saide king in the 13. yeare of his reigne did create the said Thomas Earle of Dorset in which
second Earle of Sussex and Arundell father of William the third Earle which had issue by Maude coheire of Ranulfe Earle of Chester William the fourth Earle and Hugh that was the fift Earle both dying without issue After which time that honour of Sussex lay dead vntill that king Henrie the eight in the 21. yeare of his reigne created Robert Radclife Earle of Sussex Pag. 234. IN this succession of Albeneys Earles of Sussex you haue taken great paines making fiue of that surname to haue beene Earles both of Sussex and Arundell when as you can prooue but foure in all to haue beene Earles of that familie and but two of them Earles of Sussex viz. William whom king Henrie the second made the first Earle of Sussex and Hugh his sonne who died without issue in the 27. yeare of king Henrie the third for that VVilliam whom you call the fourth Earle of Arundell I deeme as yet neuer borne And the first VVilliam which married Queene Aelidise the widow of King Henrie the first who you say was both earle of Sussex and Arundell I make great doubt of thinking you not able to make proofe he was Earle of either For sure I am that his owne deed doth shew the contrarie that he was onelie Earle of Chichester and not of Arundell and Sussex which to manifest I haue here set downe his deed as followeth GVilielmus Comes Cicestriae c. William Earle of Chichester to the Bishop of Norwich and to all faithfull children of our holie mother the Church and to all men as well French as English c. Knoweye that I haue giuen and granted to God and to the Church of Saint Maries in Thetford and to the Monkes there seruing God for the the soules of my father and mother and Queene Aelidise my wife and the health of our children in pure almes the lands that were Godricks in Ridlesworde and in Guareshall which belonged to Garestorpe which land the same day that I made this grant one Robert held Witnesses Raph the Chaplaine and Hubert de Montecaniso with manie others Lastly where you say that after the familie of the Albeneyes were extinct the Earldome of Sussex lay dead vntill he 21. yeare of king Henrie the eight who then created Robert Radcliffe Earle of Sussex To that I answere it did not lie dead all that while for after the death of Hugh de Albeney 1242. king Edward the first in the 18. yere of his reigne made Richard Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell knight at which time he also girded him with the sworde of the Earldome of Sussex In whose issue it continued diuers discents and then by attainture fell vnto the crowne As in my booke entituled the Nobilitie of England which I meane shortly God willing to publish you may see at large RIchard Earle of Clare builded the Castle of Tunbridge hauing had the said Tunbridge in exchange for Brionie in Normandie for his grandfather Godfrey base sonne of William the second Duke of Normandie was Earle of Aniou Brionie Pa. 243 THis discent of Godfrey Earle of Aniou and Brionie is forreine and bredde beyond the Seas in Normandie from whence you haue had little intelligence therfore not so much to be condemned for mistaking the right father of the saide Godfrey making him the sonne of William the second duke of Normandy when as he was sonne to Richard the first Duke of Normandie Which fault notwithstanding I woulde wish you to amende in your next edition and also to take away from this Richard his grandchilde the title of Earle vntill such time as you haue a better commission for making of Earles And for your warrant to doe this you shall haue both the booke of Domesday and diuerse charters of William the Conqueror wherein the said Richard was a witnesse by the name onely of Richard Fitz-Gilbert without any other title of honor THe Creuecueurs so named de crepito-corde builded the Castell of Leedes of which familie the first was Robert who had issue Daniell that was father to Robert who had issue Hamon which married the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone and by her had issue Hamon the father of Robert who wanting issue gaue his patrimonie to King Edwarde the first Pag. 244. THe familie of Abrinces were Barons of Folkestone from whom by marriage the same went to Hamon de Creuecueur and by his daughter to Iohn of Sandwich whose grandchilde by his sonne Iohn named Iulian carried that title to Iohn Seagraue Pag. 259. TO reconcile your contradictions in these two titles of Leedes Castle and Folkestone I thinke it a verie harde matter for in the first you say That Hamon Creuecueur who marryed the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone had issue Hamon that succeeded him which Hamon had issue Robert who dying without issue gaue his patrimonie to king Edwarde the first And after in the title of Folkestone you affirme the contrarie saying That the same Hamon had issue a daughter that carried Folkestone by her marriage to Iohn of Sandwich By which thus still ouermuch busying your selfe in matters passing your skill it maketh you so forgetfull that oftentimes you are faine to vtter matters incoherent and much contradictorie Wherefore vnderstande that Hamon Creuecueur who you say married the daughter and heire of the Baron of Folkestone had issue Hamon who succeeded his father and he had issue Robert which died without issue and foure daughters Eleonor married to Bertram Criell Agnes to Iohn of Sandwich Isolde to Nicholas Lenham and Isabell to Henrie Hawt Of which foure daughters you haue left out the first and two last naming but onely the second married to Iohn of Sandwich who was not the daughter of the first Hamon as you affirme but of the second whom you haue casscered out of this discent And whereas in the title of Leedes castle you say that the last Robert Creuecueur dying without issue gaue his patrimonie to K. Edward the first Before I answer there unto I first demaund of you how that may be When your selfe in the title of Folkstone haue set downe the said Roberts sister to carie Folkestone by her marriage to Iohn of Sandwich which was a part of the said Roberts patrimony And for direct proofe that the said Robert did not giue his patrimony to king Edward the first as you haue said it appeareth by an inquisition taken after the death of the saide Robert in the thirtieth yeare of King Edward the first that his foresaide foure sisters were his heires and that Eleonore the eldest had for her part of her brothers inheritance the Mannor of Estwell in Kent and Agnes the second sister had Folkestone the other two had other landes that descended to the said Robert from his auncestors which I take to be his patrimonie HVbert de Burgo was made Earle of Kent by king Henry the third and died without issue Pag. 262. IF this be true that Hubert de Burgo
Ebroice◠soun◠to Mabel the secōd daughter Earle of Glocester who dying without issue the inheritāce came to the yongest daughter Amicia that was wife to the Earle of Clare and had by him issue Gilbert Earle of Clare Glocester who had issue Richard father of Gilbert the second which had issue Gilbert the third that was slaine at Sterling in Scotland but during the nonage of this Gilbert the third Rafe de Mounthemerye who had marryed Ioan of Acres the kings daughter and widowe of Gilbert the second was for a while called Earle of Glocester Afterwardes this honor as some say came to Peter of Gaueston a Gascoyne by right of his wife which was daughter to Gilbert the second He dying without issue this honor discended to Hugh Spencer sonne of Eleonor second daughter of Gilbert aforesaid Hugh Spencer being executed this title came to Hugh Audley who had marryed the widowe of Gaueston Pag. 275. YOu heere charge the Heraldes with thrusting vpon you one Earle that you cannot finde nor thinke as yet euer to haue bene borne And sure I suppose this was but a flourish of your flowing stile whereby you loue to girde at Heraldes Yet graunt they did obtrude some such Earle you are euen with them for you force on them here two Earles of Glocester which neuer attained vnto that dignitie vidz Peter de Gaueston and Hugh de Spencer Wherefore the better to satisfie you and those that haue written Peter Gaueston to be Earle of Glocester and to haue succeeded Raphe Mont-Hermerye I affirme that the said Raphe Mont-Hermerye sate in Parliament in the 27. yeare of king Edward the first as Earle of Glocester and continued in all Parliaments by that name vntill the last yeare of the said kings reigne when yong Gilbert de Clare his wiues sonne came of age who the next yeare after being the first yeare of K. Edward the second was placed in Parliament by the name of Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester He continued in that dignitie vntill he was slaine at Sterling in Scotland in the sixt yeare of the same kings reigne which was a yeare after the said Peter Gaueston was beheaded by the Earle of Warwicke Which I hope is sufficient proofe against the said Peter And touching Hugh de Spencer that he was euer Earle of Glocester I vtterly deny the same and therefore now it standeth you vpon being in the affirmitiue to proue it otherwise neither I nor any other are bound to beleeue you Lastly where you haue made Sibill to be the onely daughter and heire of Robert Fitz-Hamon and wife to Robert Earle of Glocester called the Consull I deny not onely that the one had euer any such daughter named Sibill but also that the other euer marryed any such wife And for proofe hereof I will desire no other then your owne Author the booke of Tewkesbury which you haue so greatly wronged IF it please you to beleue our Heraulds Hertford had these Earles Roger who was also Earle of Clare and those Clares whome we haue said to be Earles of Glocester for Richard Clare who dyed 1262. is plainely named by Florilegus to be Earle of Glocester and Hertford Pag. 309. TO this your scoffing sporte that you make your selfe vpon the credite of Herauldes I answere that there is great reason and so I hope all men will acknowledge that her Maiesties Heraulds inuested officers of Armes who at their creations and admittances into their offices are solemnly sworne to be true in all their reportes and haue their imploiments in the greatest affaires betweene Princes should be beleeued in matters of their owne profession before others not of like experience And touching this Roger whome you haue brought vpon the Stage by the name and title of Earle of Hertford I saie it resteth in you to make proofe of your affirmation the Herauldes being quite against you whome you notwithstanding so iniuriously traduce and yet produce as Authors of your owne fantastique assertions And for your better direction herein I will here inserte the saide Rogers deede by which it is very manifest that he was Earle of Clare and not of Hertford ROgerus Comes de Clare confirmauit donationem H. Comitis Cestr. quam fecit Sanctae Werburg super Ecclesia de Deneford terram Ecclesiae cum decimis de molend omnibus pertin precipuè illam virgatam terrae quam Adeliza de Claro-Monte aura sua dedit praefatae Ecclesiae c. HAresfield the Patrimonie of Richard Earle of Clare in William Conquerors time Pag. 312. THat there was one Richard Fitz-Gilbert in the time of William the Conqueror which held Haresfield of the king it is manifest by the booke of Domesday but that he was euer Earle of Clare and that Haresfield was his patrimonie I vtterly deny And for proofe hereof I say that he being the first of his name that euer came into this realme and that possessed any landes here could haue no possessions left vnto him by his Auncestors which might be said to be his patrimonie And where you nominate the said Richard to be Earle of Clare that are you not able to proue for in diuers Charters of William the Conqueror and William Rufus the said Richard is a witnesse by the name of Richard Fitz-Gilbert Dapifer as also in the booke of Domesday by the name of Richard sonne of Earle Gilbert And this doe you your owne selfe confesse against your selfe in the title of Clare in your booke Pag. 350. Dunmow was the towne of the Fitz-walters who issued from the familie of the Clares Iuga daughter of Raphe Baynard founded a Monasterie there 1103. But William Baynard of whome Iuga did holde forfaited the Barony of Dunmowe to the king through fellonie King Henry gaue the same to Robert sonne of Richard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Clare with the Castle of Baynards in London Pag. 332. HEre haue you made Gilbert the grandfather of Robert Fitz-Richard to be Earle of Clare which Gilbert neuer arriued in England till your penne conducted him hither but was slaine in Normandie by Raphe Waceio Anno 1033. Which was 33. yeares before the Norman Conquest And Richard his sonne was the first of that familie that came into England with William the Conqueror who had issue Gilbert and this Robert to which Robert king Henry the first gaue the Towne of Dunmowe by the name of Robert Fitz-Richard his Sewer As witnesseth your Author of Dunmowe whome you alledge though very vnfaithfully for had you alleadged the same truely and put downe what king Henry he was which gaue to the said Robert Dunmowe as your Author doth you should then haue disclosed your owne error and saued me a labour RIchard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Angy in Normandie for his seruice in the Conquest was by the Conqueror aduanced to the honor of Clare He had issue Gilbert who succeeded his father and was the first that was called Earle of Clare Who