Which Alwine left issue Turchill who likewise stands in the Catalogue of our Earls and was a great man in that age but no more really Earle than his Father and Ancestors were For if the Earldom of Mercia with which Honour Edwyn the Grand-Childe to Earle Leofrike was dignified did as it included this Shire really vest him in power and authority therein as he had in some other Counties then was this Alwyne his Vicecomes or substitute here which may seem to have been so in as much as the said Edwyne is in an ancient MS. particularly stiled Comes Warwici But that which argues him to have been onely Custos of the County to the Kings immediate use is that in Domesday-book where the profits of the Shire are set down as they were raâ—ed in Edw. the Conf. time there is nothing of the Tertius denarius reckoned to the Earle as in such where the Earle had absolute Jurisdiction is usual but all to the King By which it should seem that these hereditary Vicecomites whom we repute to have been Earles were immediately Officers to the King and not to the Earles of Mercia This Turchill residâ—d here at Warwick and had great possessions in this County when Will. D. of Normandy invaded England and vanquish't K. Harold and though he were then a man of especial note and power yet did he give no assistance to Harold in that Battail as may easily be seen from the favour he received at the hands of the Conquerour for by the general Survey begun about the 14th of K. William's Reign it appears that he then continued possest of vast Lands in this Shire and yet thereof was neither the Borough or Castle of Warwick any part as from the said Survey may be colâ—ected the Borough in Edw. the Conf. time answering a certain yearly Ferm to the King and the Castle properly belonging to the Earle of Mercia if not to the King as a special strong hold for the defence of all these parts and whereof the said Turchill being in the nature of a Governour as his Ancestors were had his denomination viz. Turchill de Warwick attributed to him by the Normans who first introduced such surnames of places here amongst us And therefore whereas my Author represents him to have been a great enlarger of Warwick-Castle his words are Castri Warwici Willâ—elmi Conquestoris and adds nam Rex Will. Conquestor ad Castella construenda totam Angliam fatigabat And what was this for but to busie their mindes and bring them low in their estates that they should neither have time nor abilities to contrive any insurrection against him as also to have places of strength in every corner for better keeping the subdued English in awe But of this Turchill I have not now much more to say besides the mention of these Lands whereof I find him possâ—st by the Conquerour's special favour as yâ—u must conclude at the time of his said general Survey which were these following all in this County and whereof I have in their due places spoken particularly scil Curdworth Bikenhull Minworth Wolthamcote Ricton Pakinton Lanâ—done Mackstoke Merston Elmedone Dosthill Wiginshille Whitacre Bercheston Badsley â—ndsor Lodbroke Caldecoteâ— Rodburn Causton Birdingbury Naâ—ton Fleckno Hodenhill Willoughby Bilton Walecote Shukborow Newton Holme Church-Over Ashow Harbury Baginton Binley Weston Brandon Lillington Radford Rotley Compton Winyatâ— Miton Wimpston Bericote Fulredy Etendone Chesterton Coughton and Nun Eaton Neither can I say that he had all these clearly to himself for in some few I finde that others had a share as where I speak of them in particular will be manifested And though he had so much respect from the victorious Norman as to possesse these during his life yet is it most clear that his Son enjoy'd none of them as his Heir but by the favour of the Conquerour or of those on whom he had bestowed them as will be found by that small remnant in comparison of all these Lordships before recited which was left him and that also to hold by military service from some of the Norman Nobility Which dealing generally in a manner by the Conquerour I have in my Introduction sufficiently made evident Leaving therefore what else I have to say of Turchill till I come into Hemlingford-Hundred in which he and his posterity afterwards resided assuming the sirname of Arden from those woody parts wherein they inhabited I shall now descend to speak of those Earls that were of the Norman race the first of which was called Henry de Novo-burgo from the Castle of Newburgh in Normandy â— the place of his birth He was the younger Son of Rog. de Bellomont Earle of Mellent but of his advancement to the Earldom of Warwick the direct time appears not yet by all circumstances I guesse that it was towards the later end of Will the Conq. time in regard there is no mention of him in the general Survey begun as I have elsewhere shew'd in 14. of his reign for my Author sayes that K. Will. having begirt Warwick with a mighty ditch for the precinct of its Walls and erected the Gates at his own charge did then promote this Henry to the Earldom and annexed thereto the royalty of the Borough of Warwick with the appurtenances which at that time belong'd to the Crown That Earls so anciently had no formal Charters of their Creation is plain enough to any that hath look't into Antiquities the manner of their investiture into that dignity being then and a good while after per cincturam gladio Comitatus as Math. Paris and others do observe it cannot therefore be expected that I should say more as to the manner of his advancement thereto howbeit that it was the Conqueror who conferr'd the same honour upon him is not onely manifest by what I have already said from the Testimony of I. Rous but from the credit of divers other noted Historians It should seem that before the King raised him to that state of Earle he was trusted with the custody of Warwick-Castle then newly built by the Conqueror or rather enlarged and more strengthened as in my discourse of Turchill hath been said and shall be further declared when I come to the particular story thereof but though he had this honour by the Conqueror's gift he was not during that Kings dayes possest of all those great Lands whereof he died seized for it is evident that K. Will. Rufus in the very beginning of his reign bestow'd on him the whole inheritance of Turchil before specified in augmentation of his Earldom so that whatsoever Turchill's posterity enjoyed thereof was but by the favour of this Earl as I have already intimated Nay so clearly did he account himself seized of all Turchill's patrimony that he laid claim to what the Monks of Abendon had in Little Chesterton and Hille both in this County of the said Turchill's gift in the days of Abbot Aldelme so
the ascent whereon it stood Pen in the Brittish language signifying the head top or chief part and I le the same with Locus It should seem that antiently it was a pretty village otherwise there had been no cause for the Chappel but till H. 3. time that Geff. de Langley a man of great note in those days made it his seat I have not seen any thing memorable of it 'T is very like that the neerness of its situation to Coventre invited him to build here for in 22. H. 3. he had a grant from the King of certain timber trees out of Kenilworth-woods for that purpose Of what extraction this family was I know not though they had divers fair Lordships in this County but for as much as this was their chief seat I do here resolve to take notice of what I have found memorable of them Galfr. de Langley temp H. 2. Galfr. de Langley 22. H. 3. obiit 2. E. 1 ....... ux 1. Magr. Rob. de Langley 2. E. 1. Galfr. de Langley 22. H. 3. obiit 2. E. 1 Matilda ux 2. Walt. de Langley defunctus 8. E. 1. ...... ux 1. Ela una fil cohaer Isab. de Hulles 17. E. 2. Joh. de Langley miles 29. E. 1. ..... ux 1. Walterus ob S. p. Ioh. obiit S. prole Magr. Tho. de Langley 4. E. 3. Galfr. de Langley defunctus 10. E. 3. Maria 18. E. 2. Galfr. de Langley 4. E. 3. Ioh. fil Alani de Cherlton militis 33. E. 3. Iohanna filia haeres ob S. p. Ioh. Trillow jun. miles 2. maritus Edm. de Langley 9. E. 2. .... filia Will. de Bereford Iustic Regis Ioh. de Langley Williel de Careswell 2. maritus 4. E. 3. Ioh. de Langley de Atherston super Stour 18. R. 2. Ioh. de Langley Edm. de Langley 9. E. 2. Iohanna ux 1. Ioanna ux Edm. de Chesterton Rog. de Chesterton Eliz. filia haeres Ioh. Barndesley 4. H. 4. Galfr. obiit vita Patris Walt. de Langley defunctus 8. E. 1. Alicia Domina de Bykenhull ux 2. Rob. de Langley 29. E. 1. Alianora filia Rad. de Molington Marg. filia haeres Will. de Peto 47. E. 3. Ioh. de Peto Chivalier Will. de Pâ—to consangu haeres Galf. de Langley 22. R. 2. Galfr. de Langley 15. E. 1. The first mention I have met with of this name and stock is in H. 2. time the K. confirming the grant made by one Geffrey de Langley to the Monks of Combe of lands in Herdebergh now called Harborow-magna in this County 'T is very like that the same Geffrey was the father of this but if there were more than two in a direct line of that Christen name I know not how to distinguish them With Geffrey whom I suppose to be the son of that Geffrey which was a benefactor to Combe I will begin He was first Marshall of the K. Household an office belonging to the E. Marshall of England in fee who by the K. consent appoints a Knight under him to execute the same In which he so behaved himself that the King took great notice of him for a thrifty servant and for that cause afforded him much grace and respect though others con'd him little thank in regard he cut shorr the antient allowance for the Kings own table and lessened the old hospitality of the Court. In 23. H. 3. he obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn-lands here And in 26. H. 3. attended the King in that expedition of Gascoign wherein the English suffered great loss in which voyage he got such reputation with the King as accelerated it seems his further profit and advancement For in 34. H. 3. he obtained a Patent to his own use dated 29. Dec. of the whole benefit accruing by expeditation of Dogs throughout all the Forests of England And the fourth of March following to be Justice of the Kings Forests from Trent Southwards As also within few days after to be Governour of the Castle and Honour of Rokingham in Northampton-shire The same year likewise upon the return of a Writ of Ad quod dampnum had he license to stop up and inclose a certain High-way which interposed betwixt his House and woods here at Pinley and to impark those woods 'T is not to be doubted but as he managed the business his office of Justice in the Forests was very beneficiall to him but with what credit he did the King that service and inrich't himself let us hear an impartiall relation from an Author of that time Sub eisdem siquidem temporibus c. About these times saith he a certain in Knight called Geffrey de Langley who was a Bayliff to the King and a strict Inquisitor after all trespasses committed in the Forests rode through most parts of England In which Office he behaved himself with that cunning frowardness and violence in extorting vast summs of money especially from the Northern gentry as that the very Auditors themselves were astonisht at such a mass And for the better carrying on this course of oppression he rode with a great company of attendants well armed so that if any of those against whom he thus proceeded did but seem to excuse themselves in a muttering way their enemyes being Judges he presently caused them to be cast into prison Neither did he use any proportion in the punishment sutable to the offence for were it but the killing of a Fawn or a Hare and that crossing the way in a mans passage though he were the greatest Noble-man that did itâ— he would ruin him So that this his cruelty made the memory of his predecessors pretious nay Robert Passelew himself in comparison of him was counted a Saint Which Robert being Justice of the Forests immediatly before had been the man that first brought him into that imployment whose good turn he requited with supplanting him putting out all those under Officers that he had placed and undoing them to boot Whereupon the said Robert considering the instability of these terrestriall things forsook the Court and became a Priest Which ways of oppression and cruelty rendred our Geffrey so odious that the K. within two years thought best in prudence to remove him from that Office least the peoples discontents should reflect upon himself And therefore the better to satisfy the world he sent him away into Scotland there to be one of the Governours unto his daughter the Queen of Scots But the Nobles of that Realm finding of what an insolent Spirit he was would not long endure him there whereupon he betook himself to the service of Prince Edward in which he so managed the business that he raised up many enemyes to the King and Prince as well as to himself For being imployed in Wales by the Prince he so tirannized that in 40. H. 3. the Welch broke out into rebellion which
been granted by Thomas Wygford Prior of Coventre and his Covent to one Will. Allicock for 80. years from the 29. of Sept. 26. H. 8. And that afterwards viz. 32. Eliz. the Q. by her Letters Pat. bearing date 21. Martii conveyed inter alia to Sir Iohn Harington Knight afterwards created Lord Harington of Exton and Iohn Read gentleman this Mannour of Sow so before leased Which said Sir Iohn and Iohn by their deed of bargain and sale bearing date 2. Iunii the same year past away the Mannour house to Edw. Lapworth and his son with divers lands thereto belonging from whom descended Alexander Lapworth the present owner thereof Anno 1640. But the Royalty or Mannour with some lands there being reserved by the said Sir Iohn Harington were by Lucie Countesse of Bedford his daughter and heir bequeath'd by Will as I have heard to Mr. George Purefoy of Belgrave in Leicestersh who still enjoys it I now return to that part which Richardus Forestarius held This as Chesterton in Kineton-Hundred also did went with Margery the daughter and heir of the said Richard unto William Crok which William leaving it to his son William who was hang'd for felony it escheated to the Crown but by the favour of the King was given to Rob. de Brok that had marryed Margery sister to the said William which Robert leaving one onely daughter and heir who was wedded to Hugh de Loges it thereby came to that family and so through Loges his heir generall at length to Peto as will more clearly be discerned by the descent in Chesterton where I have observed what is memorable of all those families I shall therefore here take notice onely of them so far as they had relation to this place and no further And first concerning Croc I find that though by the abovesaid forfeiture his estate here was confiâ—cate and that Loges had his interest by force of the Kings grant yet did the said Loges think fit to strengthen his title by an agreement with the heir of Croc as may appear by a Fine that Gilb. Croc levyed thereof in 1. Ioh. to the use of the said Hugh Loges and Margerie his wife and their heirs the proportion being the same viz. 1. hide as in the Conq. time the before specified Richardus Forestarius held Betwixt which Gilbert and the Prior of Coventre there had been suit concerning some claime that the said Gilbert made here for conclusion whereof the Prior granted to him Husbote and Heybote and the moytie of the third peny which should be made of the paunage in Sow In 7. E. 1. the particulars that Loges possest in this place were certified for two Carucats of land which he kept in demesne with six Freeholders who held two Cottages one yard land a half and fourth part and two acres by certain Rent and particular services and xl acres of out-wood wherein the Freeholders had reasonable estovers together with a Court-Leet all which he held of the King by Sergeanty viz. to be Keeper of the Forest of Cank though he had no originall grant to shew but certifies that it was per antiquam tenuram sine Charta Which words clearly manifesting that grants by Deed or Charter were not frequent in those elder times it will not be amisse I suppose to shew when such concessions first began wherein I shall exhibite the authority of a most authentique Historian I mean Ingulphus Secretary to the Conq. while he was only D. of Normandy and afterwards Abbot of Crouland who being so great a Schollar and withall a strict observer of the most eminent passages in his time deserves much the more credit Nam Chirographorum confectionem Anglicanam saith he quae antea usque ad Edwardi Râ—gis tempora fidelium praesentium subscriptionibus cum crucibus aureis aliisque signaculis firma fuerunt Normanni condemnantes Chirographa Cartas vocabant Chartarum firmitatem cum cerea impressione per uniuscujusque speciale Sigillum sub instillatione trium vel quatuor testium astantium conficere constituebant Conferebantur etiam primò multa praedia nudo verbo absque scripto vel charta tantùm cum Domini gladio vel cornu vel galea vel â—ratera plurima tenementa cum Calcari cum Strigili cum Arcu nonnulla cum Sagitta Sed hac initio regni sui posterioribus annis immutatus est iste modus The first sealed Charter that we have in England being that of King Edward the Confessor upon his foundation of Westminster Abby who having his education in Normandy brought into this Kingdom that and some other of their fashions with him which afterwards came to be imitated by all others though by the inferior sort not of a â—â—ng time as Mr. Lambert out of the History of Battail-Abbey observes where Ric. de Lucy Chief Justice of England in H. 2. time is reported to have blamed a mean subject for that he used a privat Seal when as that apperteyn'd as he said to the King and Nobility only But returning to Loges I finde that he held five tenements in this place of the Earl of Chester by the service of conducting the said Earl towards the Kings Court through the midst of the Forest of Kanck meeting him at Rotford-bridg upon notice of his coming and at Hopwas-bridg upon his return In which Forest the Earl might if he pleased kill a Deer in his going and another at his coming back giving unto Loges at each time he should so attend him a barb'd Arrow After which viz. in H. 3. time it appears that Hugh de Loges granted to Will. Bagot and his heirs all his lands in Sow to hold of him the said Hugh and his heirs by the payment of a pair of white Gloves price 1 d. or 1 d. in money at the feast of St. Michael yearly for all services Howbeit this though confirm'd by the King 16. Febr. 54. H. 3. took not effect For Richard de Loges son of the said Hugh commencing suite for the same land as his inheritance proved that his father was not compos mentis at the time when he sealed that Deed and so recovered it again Whereupon it became assigned by the name of a Mannour inter alia unto Eliz. the widow of the above mentioned Richard in 28. E. 1. upon whose decease in 11. E. 3. it was found that she held in dowrie certain lands here by petty-Sergeanty viz. giving to the King one barb'd Arrow as often and whensoever as he should pass through the road-way in Sow towards Wales to hunt there How this Mannour came by descent from the family of Loges to Peto the Pedegree in Chesterton will fully shew in whose line it hath ever since continued till this present age In this parish are the hamlets of Attoxhale and Woodend with the Mannour of Hanksbury but of the two first have
the name of Kenilworth was then in two parts the one called Optone certified to contain three hides being then held immediatly of the King by Albertus Clericus in pure Almes upon which were resident two Priests the woods whereof conteyned half a mile in length and four furlongs in breadth This being that part of Kenilworth which now the Inhabitants call the High-town and situate upon the ascent on the North part of the Church But the other which in the same Record is written Chinewrde and possest by Rich. Forestarius did then contain no more than three virgats besides the woods which were certified to be half a mile in length and four furlongs in breadth Haec duo membra saith Domesday-book jacent ad Stanlei manerium Regis That the name originally did proceed from some antient possessor of it whose habitation was there is not to be doubted the syllable Wrde which should be Wrâ—e id est Worthe and signifieth a mansion or dwelling place manifesting as much but whether his name was Kenelm or Kenulph for antiently it was written Kenilworth or whether it were the above mentioned Rich. Forestarius who had his seat there which Richard in some very antient authorities that I have seen is called Rich. Chineu I cannot positively determine and therefore will not insist longer on conjectures Certain it is that it continued in the Kings hands till H. 1. time and then was given to Geffrey de Clinton a Norman who doubtless had his first abode in England at Clinton now vulgarly called Glinton in Oxford-shire and thence assumed his sirname This Geffrey if we may credit our Countrey-man Rous was grandson to Will. de Tankervile Chamberlain of Normandy and Maud his wife daughter to Will de Arches whose descent is derived from Wevia sister to Gunora Dutchess of Normandy but of the certainty thereof I much doubt considering that an authentique Historian his Contemporary renders him to have been of very mean parentage and meerly raised from the dust by the favour of the said King Henry from whose hands he received large possessions and no small honour being made both Lord Chamberlein and Treasurer to the said King and afterwards Justice of England which great advancements do argue that he was a man of extraordinary parts It seems he took much delight in this place in respect of the spacious woods and that large and pleasant Lake through which divers petty streames do pass lying amongst them for he it was that first built that great and strong Castle here which was the glory of all these parts and for many respects may be ranked in a third place at the least with the most stately Castles of England Neer unto which he also founded at the same timeâ— a goodly Monastery for Black Canons of which Order it will not be amiss to take a brief view before I go on with my discourse of this particular Monastery The most received opinion is that these Canons Regular had their first institution from S. Augustin Bishop of Hippo wherefore I will succinctly deliver the occasion and ground thereof This Augustin was born in the City of Tagaste in Africa and betaking himself to the study of Philosophy in his younger years grew to be an excellent Schollar and a famous Rhetorician for which he became so eminent that being sent for to Millain there to teach Rhetorique by the preaching of S. Ambrose then Bishop of Millain he was reclaimed from the Heresy of Manicheus wherewith he had been tainted And afterwards coming to Hippo at the solicitation of a great person was by Valerius then B. of that place ordayned a Priest in which City he shortly instituted a Covent of Clerks and lived according to the Rule constituted by the holy Apostles instructing them in the Evangelique perfection viz. love of Poverty Obedience and Chastity After which upon the death of Valerius he became B. of Hippo but notwithstanding being desirous to continue his Religious Course of life he founded a Monastery of Clerks within the precincts of his Church Divers sorts of Religious persons have taken him for their Law-giver viz. the Heremites called Augustines Canons Regular c. making all profession under his Rule Their habite as Polyd. Virg. affirmeth is a white coat and a linnen surplis under a black cloak with a hood covering their head and neck which reacheth to the shoulders having under it doublet breeches white stockings and shoos or slippers and when they walk out a black corner'd cap or a broad Hat their Crowns being shaven but not so much as other Monks Thus much as to the Order With this Monastery so founded by the said Geffrey de Clinton I will now proceed in regard it was so signall a Monument of his piety reserving my story of the Castle till anon By his Foundation Charter it appeares that he gave to the Canons of this House for the redemption of his sins as also for the good estate of King Henry whose consent he had thereto and of his own wife and children all the lands and woods of this Kenilworth excepting what he had reserved for the making of his Castle and Park Together with the Mannors of Salford Itlicote and Neunham in this County The Church of Wotton with a hide of land thereto belonging Two hides in Lilenton with the Churches of Clinton in Oxford-shire and Barton in Northhampton-shire Granting further unto them of pasturage viz. that wheresoever his own Cattell Hoggs should be whether within his Park or without there also might theirs have liberty to feed And their tenants Hoggs to have the like freedom in all other except his inclosed woods and Park as his own tenants had Adding by another Charter the gift of a full tenth of whatsoever should be brought to his Castle viz. either to his Cellar Kitchin Larder Granary or Hall-garth as well of all bought or given either in Corn Hay Hoggs Muttons Bacon Venison Cheese Fish Wine Hony Wax Tallow Pepper and Cumin though they had been tithed elswhere before as of his own proper revenue Together with all his Lambskins throughout every his Mannours as well those as should be kill'd to eat as of others that might dy casually Canonicus Regularis S â— Augustini To these large and munificent gifts he added the Mannour of Hichenden in Com. Buck. which he had by the bounty of King Henry and the Church of Stone in Stafford-shire which he procured of one Enisan within whose Lordship it lay by the consent of Nich. de Stafford it being founded in his fee. But that which I call here the Church of Stone was a small Monastery founded in memory of Wolfade and Ruffin slain by King Wolpherus their father in respect that they became Christians being converted from Paganism and baptized by that holy man S. Chad B. of Lichfield near a thousand years since And besides these particulars did he likewise give
in all 17. quarters and a half and 6. quarters of Malt made in beer at 4 s. the quarter The yearly fee then to the principall Officers being to Henry Marq. Dorset their high Seward Liii s. iv d. To Robert Caster gent. their generall Receiver xxvi s. viii d. And to Thomas Gregory Auditor xxvi s. viii d. So that being in clear yearly value less than CC li. it was suppressed by Act of Parl. in 27. H. 8. whereupon the Monks were for the most part disposed of to other Religious Houses that then stood undissolved Thomas Tutbury the then Abbot having a Pension of 23 li. per annum assigned to him during his life Catalogus Abbatum 1. Willielmus primus Abbas obiit Id. Dec. anno 1159. 2. Rogerus obiit Non. Feb. anno 1178. 3. Nicholaus obiit Cal. Sept. anno 1188. 4. Henricus obiit 3. Id. Sept. anno 1189. 5 Will. Pershore translatus ad Bordesley 6. Will. de Campden Abbatizavit 8. ann 7. Will. de Tysoe obiit 10. Cal. Aug. an 1217. 8. Ranulphus cessit officio ann 1221. 9. Will. Gyldeford depositus ann 1231. 10. Osbertus de Westwelle renuntiavit officio Non. Sept. ann 1258. 11. Petrus Wyche obiit 9. Cal. Martii 1261. 12. Ric. de Merynton à regimine amotus ann 1272. 13. Tho. de Orlescote translatus ad Bordesle an 1277. 14. Wâ—ll de Heyford assumptus in Abb. de Bordesse an 1293. 15. Ioh. de la Sale depositus post an 16. 2. menses 16. Rob. de Hockele obiit die S. Desiderii Episc. an 1349. 17. Rob. de Atherston renuntiavit officio anno tertio regiminis sui 18. Thomas de Weston alià s dictus Tho. de Pipe successit eidem Roberto 9. Cal. Iunii an 1352. aetate juvenis Rob. Sutton 10. H. 7. Thom. Hodskinson Thom. Tutbury 27. H. 8. After the before-specified dissolution it contitinued not long in the Crown for in 30. H. 8. it was granted to Charles Brandon D. of Suff. and his heirs Which D. had issue Henry and Charles who both dying childless Sir Ric. Cavendish Knight Sir William Sidney Knight Thomas Glemham Esq. Tho. Lovell Esq. Christian Darnell widow Eliz. the wife of Walter Ayscough Esq. and Eliz. the wife of Iohn Trye were found to be their cosins and heirs Betwixt whom partition being made 21. Maii 2. Eliz. the site of this Monastery with part of the lands thereunto belonging was allotted unto William Cavendish Esq. son and heir to the said Sir Richard Which Will. by the name of Will. Cavendish of Trymley St. Martin in Com. Suff. Esq. by his deed bearing date 17. Martii 3. Eliz. sold it unto Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Leigh Knights Aldermen of London After which upon division made of divers Mannours and Lands joyntly acquired by them the site of this Monastery became allotted to the same Sir Thomas Leigh who purchasing in the greatest part of all other lands lying in Stonley thereabouts and obtain'd in 4. Eliz. a Pat. of confirmation for them all together with the Mannour of Stonley Which Sir Thomas being son to Roger Leigh of Wellington in Shrop-shire descended by a younger branch from that antient family of the Leigh's of High-Leigh in Cheshire as their descent sheweth and bred up under the said Sir Rowland Hill an opulent merchant of London became at length for his skill and diligence his Factor beyond Sea and underwent that trust so well that Sir Rowland having no child match't his neece whom he much affected to him viz. Alice daughter to ...... Barker of Hamon in Shropshire upon whose issue he bestow'd the greatest part of his estate Much might be said of this Sir Thomas Leigh who was Lord Mayor of London in 1 Eliz. but let the Epitaph upon his Monument at Mercers-Chappell where he lyeth buried suffice for he dyed in that City ....... 14. Eliz. leaving issue 3. sons Rouland Thomas and William The eldest of which was largely provided for in Gloucester-shire at Longborow and thereabouts by the said Sir Rouland Hill his Godfather But the second here And the third at Neunham in this County had ample possessions setled upon them by their father and mother she being joyned purchaser in all and lived here at Stonley to a very great age to see her childrens children to the fourth generation where departing this life ..... Ian. an 1603. she was buried at the upper end of the Chancell on the North side The memoriall of which worthy Lady though there be none over the place of her sepulture will continue in that lasting monument of her piety erected in this Town I mean the Hospitall for poor people of which I shall say more anon Thomas the second son Knighted by Q. Eliz. and honoured with the title of Baronet at the first erection of that order scilicet 29. Iunii 9. Iac. wedded Katherine daughter to Sir Iohn Spenser of Wormleighton Knight by whom he had issue Sir Iohn Leigh Knight his son and heir whom he survived And having lived to a great age in much reputation being Custos Rotulorum for this County and in all publique employments of his time one of the superior rank deceased in Febr. 1. Car. leaving Sir Thomas Leigh son to the before specified Sir Iohn his next heir Which Sir Thomas now Lord of this Mannour having been dignified with Knighthood by King Iames wedded Mary daughter and coheir to Sir Thomas Egerton Knight eldest son to Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancelour of England and firmely adhering to the late King Charles in his greatest distresses was in testimony of his stedfast loyalty advanced to the degree and title of a Baron of this Realm The Church dedicated to our Lady whereunto belonged 8. yard land being given by K. H. 1. to the Canons of Kenilworth shortly after the Foundation of that Monastery was appropriated to them by Geffrey Muschamp Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield in King Iohn's time with a Pension of v. marks out of the Vicaridge and confirmed by Pope Gregory the ix anno 1228. 12. H. 3. And in anno 1291. 19. E. 1. valued at 24. marks the Vicaridge in 26. H. 8. being likewise rated at vi li. -xv s. iv d. over and above xxx s. yearly Pension then payd to the Canons of Kenilw. and 8 s. per annum allowed for Procurations and Synodals Which Vicaridge was by the Lady Aliza Dudley augmented with 20 li. per annum out of lands purchased in Manceter whereof I have there taken notice who also gave three large and faire pieces of gilt plate to remain for the use of the Communicants here for ever The Hospitall before mentioned was founded by the said Lady Alice Leigh for ten poor people viz. five men and five women all of them to be unmarried persons and nominated by her but after her decease by Sir Thomas Leigh her son during his life and his heirs for ever
which summe of ten pounds was it seems in lieu of the tertius denarius de Placitis Comitatus whereof I have formerly spoke And before the end of this 27. year of H. 3. his reign wedded to the before specified Iohn de Plessets who was a man in such high esteem with the K. that being a great part of the year precedent attending him in France he there received a Horse from the Seneschall of Gascoign of the Kings special gift prized at xxx Marks which was no small value compared with the rate of other things about that time a quarter of Wheat being then but at ii s. price And in Sept. following had a discharge to the Barons of the Exchequer for C. li. whâ—ch was due to the K. out of the Lands belonging to her then his wife for her brother's Relief not till then satisfied as also in Nov. of CC. Marks further debt due by the said Earle her brother to the K. And the next Aug. so weâ—l wâ—s the said K. pleased with her for taking this husband gave her 3. Bucks out of the Forest of Havering in Essex at which time she had the title of Margerie Countesse of Warwick wife to Iohn de Plessets without any name of Earl then attributed to him Neither do I finde that he had that appellation very suddenly after the said Precept so directed to the Sheriffe of this County for livery of the x. li. per ann to him nomine Comitatus sicut praedictus Comes meaning Earl Thomas eas percipere consuevit as the words thereof import which Writ bore date 26. Apr. 29. H. 3. for in the Fine levied 3. septim Hill 31. H. 3. betwixt this Iohn then Plantiffe and Will. Mauduit Alice his wife deforc whereby the Mannours of Warwick Miton Wegenock Sutton Claverdon Tanworth and Brails all in this County as also Cheddeworth and Lydneie in com Glouc. all belonging to the Earldom of Warwick were settled upon the said Iohn during his life though he should have no issue by Margerie the Countesse then his wife in case he over-lived her he is barely stiled Ioh. de Plesseto But afterwards I suppose he took upon him the title of Earl by reason of a clause in that Fine whereby the before specified Will. and Alice do as much as in them lies confer the same Earldom upon him for life being loath it seems to use that attribute till he had made such an agreement with the next Heir that in case he overlived his Countesse and had no issue by her he should not lay it aside again for in Aug following which is the first mention that I finde of him after this Fine was levied the K. in the permission given him to fall certain Oaks in the Forest of Dene affords him the title of Comes Warwici which after that time upon all occasions he used But as there was extraordinary means used as by what I have shew'd appeareth about woing and winning this great Lady to marry with Iohn de Plessets so was there not wanting suspition that being such an Heir she had been strongly solicited by some and that possibly by reason of the frailty incident to her Sex she might have been wrought upon to contract her self privately unto another Wherefore to make sure work with her estate the K. got a Bond of her with a Deed to boot whereby she obâ—â—ged her self that if it could justly be prov'd that she had so contracted marriage with any other before all her Lands and possessions should be forfeited Which advantage being so obtained by the K. by his Letters P. bearing date 18. Oct. â—4 of his reign he granted to the said Iohn all those Lands to hold during his life in case that any such contract should be proved and thereupon a divorce betwixt them ensue Nay he was a man so much in that K. esteem that there is little mention of him upon any occasion but what relates to some special trust or favour for in 34. H. 3. he had the Castle of Divises in Com. Wilts with all the Mannours thereto belonging and the Forests of Melkesh and Chippeham committed to his charge out of which there being a Rent of Lxxx. l. per ann reserved to the K. he had 25. Marks yearly allowed him for the custody of that Castle In 37. H. 3. the K. released to him the Wardship of Hugh his Son and Heir as to his person in case he should die and leave him under age and shortly after did he make him a grant that if the before mentioned Margery his Countesse should dye before him without any issue of her body all the Lands and Tenements in Hogenarton Katerinton and Bradeham Kts. Fees Reliefs c. which did belong to Henry d'Oily her Uncle and by inheritance were descended to her should remain unto him the said Iohn during his natural life And the same year did he attend the K. into Gascoign But before his return out of those parts a great mishap befell him for after things were quieted that he resolved to come again for England determining to pass through Normandy in regard he was that Countrey-man by birth he obtained Letters of safe conduct from the K. of France and with divers other Noble persons set forwards on the journey howbeit lodging at a Citie called Pontes in Poictou after all free courteous entertainment outwardly used to them they were suddenly seized on by the Towns-men and cast into close prison This was in 38. H. 3. but when or how he with the rest were releast appears not Which ill usuage together with the great expences he underwent in that service of Gascoign the debt that he owed to the K. for making Prince Edw. Kt. occasioned the K. to direct his Letters P. to all the said E. Tenants wherein giving testimony that in the service of Gascoign he did laudabiliter strenuè se gerere and that being gravibus immoderatis sumptibus variis anxietatibus corporis fatigatus did earnestly intreat and desire them that they would freely contribute such reasonable Aid to him towards the payment of his debts as they might expect his royal favour when fit opportunity should be offered How long he continued Governour of the Devises-Castle by virtue of the K. former grant appears not but 't is very like that upon his going over with the K. to the wars in Gascoign some other had the charge thereof for after his return it was again committed to his custody viz. 20. Iunii 39. H. 3. By all which testimonies it appears that he was a martial active man Whereunto I shall adde that in 49. H. 3. he joyn'd with the E. of Gloucest Hereford Albamarle and other of the great Nobility in writing to Pope Alex. the 4th against Ethelmare the K. half brother then elect of Winchester beseeching his Holiness
William and 40. marks more together with the land that he bought in Britlamton to enjoy till she should be marryed and no longer To Sarra his daughter C. marks for augmentation of her marriage portion To William his eldest son the Cup and Hornes of S. Hugh To the Countess his wife a Ring with a Ruby in it To Sir Roger Mortimer a Ring To Sir Bartholomew de Suley a Ring To the Friers-Minors of UUorcester xl s. To the Friers-Minors of Gloucester 1. mark To the Friers Carmelites there 1. mark To the Hospitall of St. Wolstan at Worcester 1. mark To the Hospitall of St. Oswald there x sol To the Canons of Doddeford in Com. Wigorn. 1. mark To the Church and Nuns of Cokehill and Isabell his wife x. marks To the Church and Nunns of Westwood 1. mark To the Church and Nunns without Worcester 1. mark To every Anchorite in Worcester and the parts adjacent iv s. To the Church of Salewarp in Com. Wigorn. a house and garden neer to the Parsonage for to find a Lamp continually burning therein to the honour of God the blessed Virgin St. Catherine and St. Margaret Of which Testament he constituted these Executors viz. William his eldest son Earl of Warwick Sir Roger Mortimer Sir Barth de Sudley with the Abbots of Evesham and great Malverne It seemes he lived not long after for I find that his son and heir viz. William Beauchamp Earl of Warwick before specified did his homage to the Bishop of Worcester in the Chapell of Bredon for the lands he held of him 2. Non. Maii Anno 1269. which was within 4. months after the date of this his Testament And now before I pass further will it be requisit to observe two things First that the noble Lady I mean Isabell his wife who by the death of her brother William Mauduit Earl of Warwick became heir of this great Earldom was not onely Foundress of the Nunnery at Cokehill before specified but betook herself to a Religious life there as may be plainly inferred by the Legacy wherein she is joyned with those Nunns as abovesaid And secondly that this William the Testator though the said Lady his wife the rightfull inheritrix of that Earldom was then living and that he and she both together survived the said William Mauduit her brother above a twelve month never had the title of Earl but that his son and heir was invested with that Honour before his death as appeareth by these two instances from his said Testament viz. Item Willielmo primogenito meo Cornua ciphum Seint Huwe filiae meae Comitissae uxori suae unum annulum cum lapide de Rubie And afterwards Caetera autem bona mea commisi ordinationi dispositioni dilectorum Executorum Testamenti mei D. Rogeri de Mortuomari Willielmi primogeniti mei Comitis Warewyk c. In the first whereof he calls his said sons wife Countess and in the second plainly stiles him Earl Which title he the said William did not onely use in that Instrument of Agreement made betwixt him and Alice the widow of William Mauduit the late Earl in 52 H. 3. whereof I have formerly spoke but hath the same attributed to him by the Kings Precept bearing date 9. Martii next ensuing the month of Ian. wherein the Earl his Uncle dyed his Father and Mother being both alive Where may be also discerned that he was in good esteem with the King forasmuch as by the same Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer it appears that the King pardoned his Relief viz. C li. and at the same time acquitted him of xcv li. which William Mauduit the late Earl owed to a Jew of London That this William Beauchamp might bear the title of Earl by right from his mother she being heir generall to Mauduit considering what the custome of those antient times was as Mr Selden in his Titles of Honour hath observed I shall not need here to argue But whether he ought so to have done during his fathers life especially before his mothers decease had it not been by the Kings speciall favour I make a great question All that I shall say herein is to shew some probable reason why he was so summoned during their times which is from what I find delivered by Leland out of an old Chronicle of the gests of England written in French but with some mistake exprest The words are these The old Lord Beauchamp of Helmeley sent 3. or 4. of his sons to the battail of Eavesham to help K. Henry the third and Prince Edward against Simon Mountford and the Barons And these brether with their band did a great feate in vanquishing the hoste of Mountfort whereupon the eldest had Bellomont 's heir and the residue were highly preferred The Beauchamps afterwards kept the name of Earl of Warwick to King Edward the fourth's time Now that the substance of this is true viz. that for the service done in that battail he was by the Kings speciall favour honoured with the title of Earl I am very inclinable to believe yet that either he or his father did marry the immediat heir of Bellomont or that the Beauchamps kept the name of Earls till E. 4. time cannot be proved But I return to his Story The 9. of Febr. 52 H. 3. he did his homage as nephew and heir to the said William Mauduit Earl of Warwick for all the lands descended to him by his faâ—hers death at which time the King did express that pâ—o laudabili servicio quod dilectus fidelâ—s noster Will. de Bellocampo Comes Warwici nobis impendit for those are the words of the Writ he was contented to accept of him for those debts which weâ—e due from his father to the Exchequer xx li. per annum till they were run up And in further remuneration of his services did he the year following pardon unto him xcv li. of the same And as he stood in great esteem with K. H. 3. so also did he with K. E. 1. For mense Pasch. 2 E. 1. he was sent in Commission with Roger de Clifford William Bagod Odo de Hodenet and the Prior of S. Thomas juxta Stafford unto the ford of Montgomery in Wales to examin hear and reform the wrongs and trespasses done in those parts contrary to the form of peace concluded betwixt the said King Henry and Lewelin Prince of Wales and to rectify all things according to the tenour of that Agreement at which meeting the Prince of Wales was to be there or send Commissioners on his part to manage that business In 4 E. 1. he was constituted Captain generall of all the Kings Forces in Cheshire and Lancashire for securing those Counties against the vioâ—ence of the Welch and the next year following attended the King in that notable expedition of Wales wherein he became so victorious but in 6 E. 1. his Office of Chamberlainship of the
as good value in recompence thereof that Charter of confirmation bearing date at Wenloc 26 Maii. Of which noble person I further find that he obtained the Advouson and patronage of the Priory of Studley near this place as I have there shewed from Peter de Corbucon heir to the Founder whereunto he gave a fair portion of lands lying in Shotswell That he also built an Hospitall at the Gates of that Monastery That he bore for his Armes Gules 3 flower de lices Or as by his Seal appeareth within the compasse whereof scil towards the lower part of the Shield there is a Star with a Cressant which is a Badge as hath been observed by judicious Antiquaries of his service in the Holy warrs And that he departed this life 7 Id. Apr. 23 H. 3. being then very aged leaving issue several sons viz. William his son and heir Walter a Priest and imployed by King H. 3. as his Agent to the Court of Rome afterwards elected Bâ—shop of Worcester â— whose story I refer to Godwyn Iohn Lord of Snitfield in this Countie and Nicholas of whom I find no more than the bare mention Which Will. being a martial man as well as his father and accompanying him at raising the seige of Lincolne Castle in 1 H. 3. had in 15 H. 3. much of his father's estate past over to him for which he then did his homage to the King And in 24 H. 3. obtained a special Charter for exempting him from any suit to the County or Hundred Courts Leet Aid to the Shiriff and Hidage for all his lands in England After which viz. in 26 H. 3. he attended the King in that his French expedition which was so unprosperous and having been in 28 H. 3. sent with other of the great Nobilitie to solicite the Prelates for an Aid of money according to the Popes Letters on the King's behalf was the next ensuing year one of those that went Embassiador to the general Councell then held at Lions there to complain of the grievous exactions used here in England by the Court of Rome as well from the Clergie as Laitie and to crave remedie for the same Which William bearing a devout affection to the Canons of Studley before specified gave to the Hospital of his Father's building there lands to the value of x li. per an lying within this Lordship as also certain Rent and pasturage for Cattell in Southernkeston with the Church of Hemeston in Devonshire And having besides all this obtained a special Charter for exempting their Woods situate within the Forest of Fekenham from any view of the King's Foresters and Verderers and been Steward to the King as his Father was as also a most faithfull Councellor left issue by Milisent the daughter of Hugh de Gornay Will. his son and heir Thomas Bishop of Hereford who in 34 E. 1. was canonized for a Saint and Iulian the wife of Sir Rob. de Tregoz and departed this life in 35 H. 3. immediatly whereupon William his eldest son performing his homage and giving security for payment of his Relief which was C li. had livery of his lands Which William in 37 H. 3. obtained a pardon from the King for pulling down the Castle of Penros in Wales belonging to Iohn de Monemuth as also for five marks at which this his Mannour of Aston was amerced for protecting one Rob. de Shelfhill who had been indicted for certain misdemeanors and in 38 H. 3. was constituted Governor of Bovelt Castle in Brecknockshire To the before specified Hospitall built at the Gate of the Priory of Studley he gave the advouson of the Church here at Aston and having wedded Eva one of the daughters aad coheirs to Will. de Braose of Brecknock with whom he had the territory of Upper Went and other lands in England and Wales departed this life in the flower of his youth to the great grief of many leaving issue by her the said Eva George his son and heir and two daughters Of which George being scarce 3. years old at that time I have found very little that is memorableâ— his death hapning before he arrived to years whereby he could be qualified for any great action viz. in 1 Edw. 1. Therefore whether the marriage betwixt him and Margaret the daughter of Edmund de Lacy was ever consummated as their parents had designed when he was scarce two years old I cannot tell but sure I am that he had no issue for Iohn the son of Henry de Hastings and Milicent then the wife of Eudo or Yvo la Zouche were found to be his sisters and heirs Which Henry being in minority in 36 H. 3. and in Ward to Guy de Luzignian the King 's half brother had the benefit of his marriage then disposed of by the said Guy unto Will. de Cantilupe before specified who gave his daughter Ioane thus in wedlock to him Whereupon by partition made betwixt those coheirs the said Milisent had for her share the Castle of Totenesse in Com. Devon the Mannours of Eyton â—n com Bedf. and Haringworth in Northamptonshire â— with other fair possessions in England and Wales as also the advouson of the Priory of Studley in this County And Iohn de Hastings the son of Ioane beforementioned had Bergavenny with the Castle and Honour which were of the inheritance of Eva de Breause his grandmother together with the Castle of Kilgaran in Com. Pembr and amongst other large territories in England and Wales this Mannour of Aston then valued at Lix li. iiii s. i d. per an all which were in the King's hands at the time of the said Partition made by reason of his minority But touching the Family of Hastings I shall speak historically in Fillongley and therefore purpose to make no other mention of them here than what particularly relates to this place In 13 E. 1. this Iohn de Hastings claimed a Court-Leet with Assize of Bread and Beer Weifs Gallows and Free warren within this Mannour by Prescription all which were allowed From which time this Mannour was for divers descents enjoy'd by the posterity of the said Iohn as I could sufficiently demonstrate if need were except for so long as Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon held two parts of it in right of Iulian his wife widow to Iohn de Hastings father of Laurence Earl of Pembroke After the death of which Laurence it appears that it was held of the King in Capite by the service of one Foot souldier in the Warrs of Wales with a Bow without a string and a Helmet for his head by the space of xl dayes at his own proper costs as often as there should be any hostility in Wales From which Family of Hastings it descended not to the Lord Grey of Ruthin
doing Scutage to the Earl of Leicester for half a Knights Fee upon occasion As also that within this Mannour of Oversley there was at that time a certain Messuage with a Dove-house two Gardens Cxxvi. acres of land in two fields and six acres of meadow of the Abbot of Evesham's Fee and likewise x. Villains who held ten yaâ—d land paying yearly x. marks xi s. iiii d. And moreover a free Rent service therein of two Arrows with vi Cottagers paying yearly vii s. vi d. and two marks yearly by way of Tallage but doing service to the Abbot of Evesham yearly for the whole vi marks and for four acres lying here to Hugh Aguilon i d. And besides all this that there was of the Abbot of Bordsley's Fee seven yard land a Mess. and xix Cottages with vi s. viii d. being a Rent service from two Freeholders That there was also a Park with two Gardens paying to the said Abbot v s. per an in recompence for Housebote which he had used to have there as belonging to his Mannour of Budiford And lastly of the â—â— of Warwick's Fee a Rent of xx d. issuing yearly out of a certain Mill. Unto which William succeeded Iohn his son and heir then but xvi years of age a grant of whose marriage Walter de Beauchamp of Alcester the same year obtained in the behalf of Elianore his daughter and in case the said Elianore should die before the accomplishment of that intended marriage that then he might marry some other of his daughters And moreover that if the same Iohn should depart this life before such marriage that then the said Walter might have the like benefit of his next heir and so from heir to heir till one of his daughters were wedded to one of those Butlers or in case that such one should take a wife of his own choise otherwise then to have the forfeiture due to the King thereupon But this Iohn died within 3 years following so that whether the said marriage were compleated by him or his brother Gawine who was his heir I make a question so that the inheritance came to Will the third brother as the Descent sheweth Which Will. in 25 E. 1. had Summons with other great men to be at London on Sunday next after the Octaves of S. Iohn Bapt. well furnisht with Horse and Armes to attend the K. in his expedâ—tion beyond the Seas whose service was so gratefull that the next year following the K. in recompence thereof acquitted to him the debt due by his Father for the Scutage of 3 Knights Fees which Scutage ought to have been performed by Maud his grandmother in the service of Wales in the tenth year of the same K. Edward's reign This last mentioned William died in 8 E. 3. leaving Will. his son and heir who in 18 E. 3. by the solicitation of Will. de Clinton then Earl of Huntingdon obtained a special discharge from the K. that he should not be compelled to bear Armes in respect of his impotencie nor to take upon him the Order of Knighthood against his own good will And departed this life in 35 E. 3. leaving Will. his son and heir 32 years of age and another son called William as it seems but whether by one wife or not I cannot affirm Which Will. the younger son I take to be him that married Ioan the sister and coheir of Sir Iohn Sudley Knight from whom the Butlers Barons of Sudley descended as in Griffe is manifested For it is evident that Will. the grandchild to William and Ankaret left issue Eliz. his only daughter and heirâ— who being wedded to Robert de Ferrers a younger son to the Lord Ferrers of Chartley brought this place with Wemme and other lands of a fair extent to her said husband who was thereupon summoned to Parliament by the name of Rob. Ferrers de Wemme Chivalier which Lordships viz. of Oversley and Wemme with other of her inheritance lying in the Counties of Salop. Leicester and Warwick were after her said marriage in 44 E. 3. entailed upon the heirs of the body of them the said Robert and Elizabeth with remainder to her right heirs But in 4 R. 2. this Robert died leaving by the same Eliz. Robert his son and heir 4 years of age which Elizabeth continued not long a widow for I find that the next year following she was the wife of Iohn Say and surviving him afterwards became wedded to Thomas Molinton who wrote himself Baron of Wemme in her right and that by her Testament bearing date 6 Ian. 1410 12 H. 4. whereby she bequeathed her body to be buried in the Church of the Crouched Friers near the Tower of London she stiles her self Elizabetha Ferrers Baronissa de Wemme retaining the name of that husband who was of the greatest dignity a custome which I find that women have long used and not yet left and departed this life the same year leaving Elizabeth the wife of Iohn Greistoke son to Raph Lord Greistoke and Mary the wife of Raph Nevill a younger son to Raph Nevill Earl of Westmerland her cosyns and heirs as saith the Inquis viz. daughters of Robert son to her the said Eliz. But I think it mistaken For the Fine Roll of 13 H. 4. whereby this Mannour of Oversley with Merston-Boteler in this County and the Mannour of Tirley in Com. Staff are assigned to the said Raph Nevill and Mary for her purpart she having at that time issue by him directly calls her una filiarum haeredum praedictae Elizabethae Neither is it very likely that she should be her grandchild as the Inquis imports for Robert the son of Rob. Ferrers by her was but 4 years of age in 4 R. 2. so that had he been then living he could have been but 34 years of age And to fortifie my opinion the Clause Roll of 9 H. 5. expresses as much To which Sir Raph Nevill for he was a Kt. succeeded Iohn Nevill Esq. his son and heir by the same Mary who dyed seized of this Mannour in 22 E. 4. leaving Sr. Will. Gascoin Knight his cosyn and next heir viz. son of Ioane his daughter then 30 years of age Which said Sir Will. being great grandchild to Sir Will. Gascoin who served under the renowned H. 5. King of England in his French Warrs and he son to that sometime famous Lawyer Will. Gascoin of Gauthorpe in Yorkshire chief Justice of the Kings bencâ— temp H. 4. was made K t of the Bath at the Queens Coronation in 1 H. 7. From whom descended S Will. Gascoin jun. of Cussworth in the same County of York who in 29 H. 8 past away the inheritance of this Lordship with all other his lands in Warwickshire to Sir Thomas Cromwell Knight then Lord Cromwell which eschaeting to the Crown by his attainder in 31 H. 8.
Esquier And to manifest that he was a person eminently qualified in 18 E. 2. he served in the Parliament then held at London as one of the Knights for this Shire having ii s. vi d. allowed him per diem for his expences during that imployment But in 1 E. 3. upon a strong suspition of Heresie suggested against him to the King a Commission to Will. de Clinton bearing date 3 Maii was forthwith issued out not only to arrest and take him but to seize on all his lands goods and Chattels of which being advertised he submitted himself to prison and brought in sureties to stand to a lawfull triall therein viz. Raph. de Crophull of Notinghamshire Walt. de Heselarton of Yorkshire Edm. de Shireford David de Caunton Rog. le Pledour and Iohn de Alspath of this County whereupon he was set at liberty and his lands and goods restored to him as by the King 's special Precept bearing date at Notingham 3 Sept. appeareth After which viz. in 5 E. 3. the said Lord Basset received his full accompt for all the time he had served and reâ—eined to him and gave him a generall Acquittance To whom succeeded Iohn who for the lands in Blaggreve which sometime belong'd to Rob. de Blaggreve his grandmothers Father obtained a Release from Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight heir â—o Marmion as to the suit due to his three weeks Court at Stipershull and all other services for that land during his own life and the life of Maud his wife saving to the said Sir Baldwin his homage and a pair of gilt spurs at the Feast of S. Edith yearly This Iohn in 30 E. 3. payd to Sir Iohn de Arden Kt. and Henry his brother Executors to Raph de Arden their father the sum of vi s. viii d. for reasonable Aid due upon the marriage of Sibill his eldest daughter in respect of the lands in Moxhull which he held of him by military service and at the same time xxxiii s. iiii d. for a Relief due to the before specified Raph for those lands and bore for his Armes three Eglets displayed gules as by his Seal and an old Glasse window in Bentley Chapell appeareth which coat or part thereof at least was assumed by Henry his Father for I have seen a Seal of his with one Eglet displaied within the compasse of a roundle and not in a Shield a course very antiently used before they put their Badges into Shields as I have observed in the Families of Beke of Eresby and Darcy the first of which bore their Crosse sarcilè so and the other their Cinquefoile Which Iohn bearing a singular reverence to the Monks of Merevale desired that his body might be there buried as may appear by certain land and Rent that he assigned to some friends in trust for the finding of divers wax Lights to burn every Sunday and Holiday in the Chapell of our Lady adjoyning to the gate of that Abby for which respect he had a special grant from Robert de Atherston Abbot of that House and his Covent under their publick Seal bearing date the Wednsday after Lammas 33 E. 3. of a certain proportion of ground within the said Chapell of our Lady containing seven foot square where he and Maud his wife at the death of each should have sepulture And that upon all great Festivall days aswell as Sundays five waxen Lights should be burning there as also that he the said Iohn and Maud should have liberty to set up Images in the same Chapell in honour of the blessed Virgin Henricus de Insula Will. de Insula 21 H. 3. Margareta Nicholaus de Insula 36 H. 3. Amieâ—a 41 H. 3. Iuliana filia haer Rob. de Blaggreve 1 E. 1. Ankitellus de Insula 22 E. 1. Christiana ux 2 obiit 33 E. 1. Philippus de Insula Rector Eccl. de Wishaw 4 E. 2. Henr. de Insula 4 E. 2. Iohanna 9 E. 2. Philippus de Insula Rector Eccl. de Cavendish 9 E. 3. Henr. de Insula 9 E. 3. Ioh. de Insula 9 E. 3. Matilda relicta 47 E. 3. Idonea 1 R. 2. Ioh. de Insula 6 H. 4. Margeria 13 H. 4. Will. de L'ile ar 29 H. 6. Iuliana filia Rob. Midlemore de Eggebaston Henricus de L'isle ob 20 H. 7. Eliz. filia Will. Morgan Iohannes L'isle obiit 29 H. 8. Anna filia haeres Will. Lecroft de Colshull 12 H. 8. Nich. L'isle obiit 32 H. 8. Anna filia Thomae Swinerton de Hilton in Com. Staff Thomas L'isle ob 23 Aug. 8 Eliz. Anna filia Georgii Masterson una sororum cohaer Thomae Ioh. L'â—sle obiit 24 Ian. 36 Eliz. Dorothea filia Georgii Willoughby filii Hugonis Wiloughby mil. Franciscus L'isle obiit infra aet 38 Eliz. Ioh. L'isle ar Brigitta filia Ioh. Knotsford de Studley Ioh. L'isle Maria filia Mathei Cradock de Caverswall-castro in Com. Staff ar Regin L'isle de quo illi de Bremor in Com. Suthâ— To which Iohn succeeded Iohn his son who in H. 5. time was retained by the Earl of Warwick amongst other of his Esquires to serve him with one Lance and one Archer at the seige of Caleis for which he was to receive xxl per an besides his diet And to him William and to William Henry who gave the Rectorie of Wilmecote with all the Tithes thereto belonging to Thomas Clapton Master of the Gild at Stratford super Avon to the intent that the Priest singing the first Masse every day in the said Gild should say De profundis before the holy Lavatorie for the good estate of him the said Henry and Elizabeth his wife and for their souls after their departure hence as also for the soules of his ancestors and successors Which Henry was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire in the second and nineteenth years of K. H. 7. reign and by his Testament dated 13 Sept. 20 H. 7. bequeathing his body to be buried within his own proper Chapell in the Church of S. Chad at Wishaw before the Image of Henry the sixth sometime King of England departed this life about that time for the Probate of his Will beareth date the next month following Unto which Henry succeeded Iohn his son and heir who taking to wife Anne the daughter and heir of Will. Lecrofte had with der divers Houses and a great proportion of land lying in Colshill and other places Of this Iohn I find that upon the birth of Elizabeth second daughter to King H. 8. afterwards Qu. of England he received a special Letter from Qu. Anne dated at Greenwich 7 Sept. 25 H. 8. advertising him of the good speed she had in her deliverance and desiring his congratulation unto God for it as also his Prayers for the good health prosperity and continuall preservation of the said young Princesse To whom succeed Nicholas and to him Thomas who wedded
made in 2 E. 1. betwixt the daughters and heirs of Cantilupe came to Eudo la Zouche with Milisent his wife This Thomas de Clinton was a man of fair possessions for it appears that he held five Kts. fees of the Earl of Warwick In 32 H. 3. I find that he had a great suit with Hugh de Culi touching Common of pasture here in Colshill which the said Hugh claymed as belonging to his lands in Merston-Culi adjacent and that in the same year he was one of the Justices for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick as also in 35 H. 3. constituted the King's Eschaetor in this Countie in those days an Office of great note for performance whereof he made Oath in the presence of Henry de Wengham afterwards Chancellour of England and the Shiriff of the Shire and had a speciall precept to the same Shiriff to exempt him from serving on Juries by reason of that imployment which held till 37 H. 3. In 38 H. 3. he obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn-lands here In 45. and 49 H. 3. he was again in Commission for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick and bore for his Armes onely a Chief which I conceive was Azure the feild being Argent in regard that his posteritie retained the same ordinarie with those colours and wedded Mazera the daughter and heir of Iames de Bisegg Lord of Badsley in this Countie by whom he had issue divers children as the Descent sheweth whereof unto Iohn whom I take to be his second son he gave the inheritance of this Mannour with all his right in the advouson of the Church reserving to himself an C l. sterling during his own life in consideration thereof and the performance of such service to his heirs as to the Chief Lord of the Fee was due and accustomed as also after his own decease 1 d. yearly to be payd at Christmass to his heirs for all services except forrain entailing it upon his other son Osbert and his heirs in case the same Iohn should die without issue which grant was made in 44 H. 3. as appears by the Fine then levied for confirmation thereof This Iohn adhering to the Barons against K. Henr. 3. was one of those that held out Kenilworth-Castle touching the siege whereof I have elsewhere spoke for which offence this Mannour being inter alia seized on was bestowed upon Roger de Clifford but thereof was he not long out of possession through that favourable Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth after which he grew in such esteem for his fidelitie that from 6 E. 1. till 20 of the same King's reign he was sundry times in Commission for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick and in 25 E. 1. intrusted together with Andrew de Astley a great person in these parts to choose and retain all such Knights and Esquires within this Countie as they should think fit for the service to attend Prince Edward then the King's Lieutenant in England with Horse and Armes at London on the Octaves of S. Mich. to be imployed as he the said Prince and the King's Councell should direct In 13 E. 1. he claimed by Prescription within this his Lordship of Colshill Assize of Bread and Beer Gallows Pillorie Tumbrell a Court-Leet Infangthef â— and Utfangthef Mercate Faire and Free-warren but it being demanded of him how he could justifie the said claim he replied that thereto he was not bound to make answer without the King 's speciall Writ to enquire of his Ancestors being seized thereof whereupon there was no more at that time said and bore for his Armes Argent upon a chief Azure two flower de Lices Or as by his Seal and Monument in an arch of the Wall of Colshill-Church where he lieth in male cross-leg'd is yet to be seen which kind of Buriall was onely used by those that had taken upon them the Cross to serve in the Holy-land as Mr. Cambden observes To him succeeded Iohn de Clinton his son and heir who being afterwards a Kt. and in 28 E. 1. constituted one of the Conservators of the Peace in this Countie the next year following had summons amongst dâ—veâ—â— great men to be at Barwick upon Twede on the Feast of the Nativitie of St. Iohn Bapt. well furnisht with Horse and Armes to attend the King in his Scotch expedition So also in 34 E. 1. to be at Carleol in the quinzime of the Nativitie of St. Iohn Bapt. with the King's Army to march against Robert Brus then in Armes in Scotland and in 16 E. 2. had the custodie of the passage from England towards Scotland from Whitoff haven unto Creshopheved This Sir Iohn bore for his Armes Or three piles Azure and a Canton Ermine as by his Seal and other authorities appeareth and wedded Alice the daughter of Sir Rob. de Grendon Kt. by whom he had issue Iohn his son and heir who in 5 E. 3. was a Kt. and bore for his Armes Argent upon a Chief Azure two flowre de Lices Or as his grandfather did and departing this life in 27 E. 3. left issue by ..... daughter of Sir Roger Hillarie Kt. Ioane his daughter and heir within age who first became the wife of Sir Iohn Mountfort Kt. by which means this Lordship of Colshill divolved to that Family secondly of Sir Iohn Sutton Kt. Lord of Dudley and thirdly of Sir Henry Griffith of Wichnoure Kt. Which Sir Iohn de Montfort was the illegitimate son of Peter de Montfort of Beldesert in this Countie but by reason of his said marriage made his residence here and in 35 E. 3. served in the Parliament at Westminster as one of the Kts. for this Shire In 38 E. 3. he was one of the principall Commanders of those few English forces which having besieged the Castle of Doverey in France encountred Charles de Bloys with neer thrice that number which he routed slew the said Charles with neer a thousand others took Prisoners two Earls 27 Lords besides xv men at Armes and left issue Sir Baldwin de Montfort Kt. But Ioane his widow held this Lordship during her life and in 45 E. 3. being then Sir Henry Griffith's wife entailed it upon his issue by her and for lack of such issue upon Iohn the son of Sir Iohn de Sutton and the heirs of his bodie and for lack of such issue upon Baldwin the son of Sir Iohn de Montfort her first husband with divers other remainders Whence I observe that her husband Griffith though he was the last became the first in her respects and Montfort the first set in the last place But all that I have seen worth observance of this Sir Baldwin is that he was one of the Commissioners of Array in this Countie in 8 R. 2. as also that he attended
of age but was attended with very ill success in that expedition for no sooner did he arrive with his Army at the Port of Rochel but that the Spanish Navie fell suddainly upon them before they could put themselve in order to fight so that few of them escaped death wounds or imprisonment and yet without any considerable loss to the Enemy who forthwith set fire on all the English Ships carrying away the Earle and many gallant Gentlemen as also no less than twenty thousand marks in money sent over by the K. of England to continue the war which unhappy accident fell out on the Eve of St. Iohn Baptist's Nativitie being the Festivall of St. Aetheldred the Virgin and therefore was it censured by many as my Author observeth that God's judgement so followed him as a punishment for the injurie he had done to the Church of that holy Virgin sc. Ely in a cause betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and it before his departure out of England and that the money so lost had no better luck forasmuch as it had been got from the Religious Houses and Clergy But others attributed it to his living an adulterous life being a married man that he also had attempted in Parliament an infringement of the Church its Liberties and that he perswaded the King to lay greater Taxes upon the Clergie than Laitie for support of his wars which practises of pilling and poling the Church however the temporall Lords saith the same Author were pleased yet what success they had not onely England but the whole world hath sufficiently found I now come to speak of his death the circumstances whereof were as followeth viz. that having undergone four years imprisonment in Spain with most inhumane usage he sent to Bertrand Clerkin Constable of France desiring that he would use some means for his enlargement who thereupon interceded for him to the Bastard of Spain that called himself King and obtained his libertie in consideration of part of that money due to himself whereupon he was brought to Paris and a sum of money assigned which he must pay for his redemption but after his coming thâ—ther it was not long ere that he fell mortally sick of Poison as 't was thought given to him by the Spaniards who were reputed to have such a speciall facultie in that Art as that the potion should kill at what distance of time they pleased The French therefore seeing death approaching him being eager to get his ransome money before he died made haste to remove him unto Calais but on his jâ—urney thither he departed this world upon the very day of St. Aetheldred the Virgin which Saint he had so much offended before his coming out of England as hath been said though the Inquis after his death expresseth it to have been the xvi th of Aprill his son and heir Iohn being at that time but two years old and a half and was buried in the Quire of the Friers Preachers at Hereford as by his Testament and what I shall hereafter say may seem But here before I proceed farther I must observe that this Iohn in 43 E. 3. obtaining License for that purpose from the King made a Feoffment unto Walter Amyas and others of all his Castles Lordships Mannours c in England and Wales to certain uses which Feoftment being left sealed up in the hands of the Feoffees to be kept till his return from beyond Seas was upon his death delivered to the King's Councell at Westminster who opening it found that in case he died without issue of his body the town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his heirs and successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and all other his lands in England and Wales in Fee to his Cosin Will. de Beauchamp viz. his Mother's sisters son provided that he should bear his Armes and endeavour to obtain his title of Earl and in case he neglected so to do that then his Kinsman Will. de Clinton to have them upon the same conditions But I return to his said son and heir of whom I find that at the Coronation of K. Ric. 2. he claimed to carry the great gold Spurs and that though he shewed sufficient evidence for his right so to do yet being under age it was adjudged that the King might appoint another for that time whereupon Edmund Mortimer Earl of March was assigned thereto And moreover that he took to wife whilst he was very young Philippa daughter to the said Edmund Earl of March â— but had no issue by her for being at Wodstoke where the King kept his Christmass in 13 of his reign he tilted with Sir Iohn St. Iohn and by an unfortunate slip was run into the bottome of his Belly so that his bowells breaking out he suddainly died to the great lamentation of many in regard he was a person of so noble a disposition that in bountie and curtesie he exceeded most of his degree So that it is observed that from Aymerie de Valence Earl of Pembroke his lineall ancestor who was one that gave Judgement of death upon Thomas Earl of Lancaster in â— 2. time even unto this Iohn the last Earl of the line none of them ever saw his Father nor any Father of them took delight in the seeing his Child so young were they at their Fathers deaths His body was interred in the Church of the Gray Friers near New-gate in London now called Christ's-Church where he had a fair Monument since with all the rest defaced Dying thus without issue Râ—ginald Lord Grey of Ruthin was by some Inquis found his next heir of the whole blood as descended from Elizabeth sister to Iohn great-grandfather to the said Earl so slain in tilting as hath been said and by other y Inquis Hugh de Hastings son of Hugh son of Hugh son of a second Iohn by Isabell the daughter of Hugh le Despenser as the Pedegree here placed sheweth But so little did Iohn Earl of Will. de Valencia Comes Pembr Andomarus ob â— p. Joanna Isabella Henr de Hastings Joanna de Cantilupe Iohannes de Hastings primus Râ—â—erus de Grey Elizabetha Râ—ginaldus de Grey de Ruthin Reginaldus de Grey Joh. de Hastings secundus Isabella filia Hug. le Despenser Com. Wint. Johannes de Hastings tertius Laurentius de Hastings erectus in Com. Pembr Ioh. Comes Pembr mari captus Ioh. Comes Pembr caesus in hastiludio apud Wodstoke Hugo de Hastings Hugo de Hastings Hugo de Hastings ob s. p. Edwardus de Hastings Pembroke Father to the last Iohn regard his next heir male as it seems and so much hate Reginald Grey father to the last Reginald that he entailed the greatest part of his lands as hath been said on Will. de Beauchamp before mentioned Notwithstanding which settlement 't is observeable that the right of bearing Armes was in those days of such esteem as
Earl of Essex attainted in 43 Eliz. Whose son and heir Robert being restored now scil an 1640. possesseth the site thereof and much of the lands Of the Abbots I have not found the names of any more than these three Ioh. Buggeley 12 H. 6. Thomas Arnold 23 H. 8. Will. Arnold 26 H. 8. 30. H. 8. THough I have now done with this Monasterie and should according to my method proceed to Wedington which is next in order to be spoke of yet in respect that the Family of the before specified Robert Earl Ferrers have had for many ages such large possessions in this Countie and that the principall male branch now remayning of it with another fair stemme do flourish here to this day as in Tamworth and Badsley-Clinton is manifested I shall here digress a little in speaking historically thereof The first of them that setled in this Realm was Henry de Feriers son to Gualcheline de Feriers a Norman which Henry having a great proportion of land by the Conqueror's gift lying in the Counties of Berks. Wiltes Northampt. Hereford this of Warwick Leicester Glouc. Nottingham Derby Essex and Stafford seated himself at Tutburie Castle in Staffordshire near unto which he founded a goodly Monastery for Cluniac Monks endowing it with large possessions But there is little else at this distance that I have seen memorable of him saving that he was amongst other of the great Nobilitie one of the witnesses to King William the Conqueror's Charter made to the Monks of St. Edmundsburie in an 1181. 14. of his reign whereby he confirmed the lands and possessions which they had by the grant of former Kings and that he gave to the Monks of Abingdon the Tithes of Laking To which Henry succeeded Robert for it seems that Eugenulfus and William died without issue which Robert was a witness unto the Charter of King Stephen's Laws made in the first year of his reign and having brought in and commanded the Derbyshire men in that famous Battail near North-Alverton in 3. Stephani where the King had a glorious Victorie against David King of Gualchelinus de Ferrariis Normannus Henricus de Ferrariis intravit Angliam cum Will. Conquestore Bertha Eugenulphus Willlelmus Robertus de Ferrariis erectus in Comitem Derbiae 3 Steph. Robertus Comes junior de Fâ—rrariis de Nottingham Fundator Abb. de Miravale â—3 Steph. Will. Comes de Ferrariis Derb 12 H. 2. Margareta filia haeres Will. Peverell de Nottingham Rob. Comes de Ferrariis 19 H. 2. Sibilla filia Will. de Braosa Will. Co. de Ferrariis obiit in obsid. civitatis Acon 2 R. 1. Sibilla Will. Comes de Ferrariis obiit 31 H. 3. Agnes una filiarum cohaer Ranulphi Comitis Cestriae Will. Comes de Ferrariis obiit 38 H. 3. Margareta una filiarum cohaer Rogeri de Quâ—ncâ— Câ—m Wintoniae Will. de Ferraris de Groby 25 E. 1. Henr. de Ferrers obiit 15 Sept. 17 E. 3. Isab. una fil haer Theob de Verdon Margar. una fil haer Rob. de Ufford Comitis Suff. ux 1. Will. de Ferrers obiit 45 E. 3. Margaâ—eâ—a filia Henrici de Peâ—â—i relicta Rob de Unâ—ranvill fiâ—ii Gilb. Com. Aâ—gusiae Will. de Ferrers miles obiit 11 R 2. Johanna filâ—a .... dom ni Poinings Will. Ferrers de Grobi miles obiit 23 H. 6. Henricus Ferrers obiit vivo patre Eliz. consanguinea haeres Will. Ferrers de Grobi mil. ux Edwardi Grey mil. Tho. Ferrers arm quo Ferrers de Tamworth Maria filia Hug. le Brune Comitis Angolesmi ux 1. Robertus de Fâ—râ—ariis ultimuâ— Comes Dâ—rb Alianora Johannes de Ferrariis de Chartley miles 27 E. 1. Hawisia filia haer Rob. de Muscegrosâ— Robertus de Ferrariis miles 16 E. 3. Joh. de Ferrariis miles 30 E. 3. Eliz. relicta Fulconis filii Ioh. â—e Strange Rob. Ferrers miles 12 R. 2. Edmundus Ferrers de Chartley miles 5 H. 6. vide de posteris in Castle-Bromwich Rob. de Ferrers duxit Eliz. filiam haer Will. le Boteler de Wemme Oversley Will. Comes de Ferrariis obiit 38 H. 3 Sibilla una fil haer Will. Marescalli Comitis Pembr ux prima Agnes ux Will. D. Vesci Isabella 1. nupta Gilb. Basâ—eâ— postea Reg. de Mohun Matilda 1 ux Wâ—ll de Kime 2. Will. de Vinonia 3. Emercio de Rupe Canardi Sibilla ux Franc. de Bohun de Midherst Iohanna 1. ux ... Aguilon postea Ioh. de Mohun Agatha ux Hug. de Mortuomaâ—i de Châ—lmarsh Alianora 1. nupta Will. de Vallibus 2 Rog. de Quâ—â—ci Coâ—iti Winton 3. Rog. de Leiburne .... ux Walchelini Maminot Matilda ux Bertrami de Verdon Walchelinus dâ— Ferraiis Hugo de Fâ—rrariis duxit ... fil haer Hugonis de Say obiit s. prole Will. de Ferrariis Ysabella ux ..... de Mortuomari heres Fratri 6 Joh. Scots was for that good service advanced to the Earldome of Derby but died the year following sc. an 1239. leaving issue Robert his son and heir who stiled himself Robertus Comes junior de Ferrariis and likewise Comes junior de Nottingham Which Robert gave the Church of Bredon in Com. Leic. with the Tithes of his Tenants in Tonge Andreskicke and Wivelestone as also the Chapells of Worthington and Stanton and the Tithes of Newbold and Dichesworth of his Fee to the Canons of Nostel in Yorkshire which Church of Bredon became thenceforth a Cell to that House of Nostell And having been also the pious Founder of the before specified Abby of Merevale in 13 Steph. lyeth there buried wrapt in an Oxe hide To whom succeeded William as appears by that Certificate made in 12 H. 2. of the Knight's Fees he then held which amounted to Lxxix And to him another Robert of whom the first mention I find is in 19 H. 2. at which time hearing how the King's territories in France were invaded by the adherents of young Henry who through the assistance of the King of France then brake out into high Rebellion against his Father and of some ill successes which his said Father's forces had in those parts joyning with the Earls of Chester Leicester Norfolk and other great men here in England in the like hostile Actions manned the Castles of Tutburie and Duffeild against his sovereign and not onely so but raysing the power of Leicestershire marcht early in the morning to Nottingham which then was kept for the King by Reginald de Luci and having without any great difficulty entred the town burnt and plundred it slaying and taking Prisoners most part of the Inhabitants But the year following the King having notice of these
outrages in England returned at whose entrance his good Subjects took courage and prevailed over the Rebells in every place against whom Rhese Prince of Wales came also with a great power and besieged Tutburie-Castle whereupon this Robert Earl Ferrers apprehending what danger he was in hastned to the King then at Northampton and to obtain his favour rendred the said Castles of Tutburie and Duffeild giving securitie for his future fidelitie but so little did the King trust him that though he received him to outward favour he caused those Castles to be demolished This Robert was a Benefactor to the Abby of Dore in Herefordshire and by Sibilla his wife daughter to William de Braose left issue another William Earl Ferrers who not onely confirmed to the Monks of Geroldon the inclosed ground at Hethcote and pasture for C. Sheep there which his Father had given to them but added another piece of Inclosure adjoyning thereto with pasturage for CC. sheep more at six score to the Hundred five Kine and a Bull and six Oxen. And in 1 Richard 1. gave to the Monks of St. Denis in France for the health of his soul and the soul of Sibill his wife one Wax Taper yearly price xiii d. as also a Stag and a Boar in their proper seasons to be sent thither annually at the Feast of St. Dennis by the Messengers of him the said Earl and his heirs And likewise to the Monks of Lenton all his right to the Church of Woodham in Essex specially for the health of the souls of those that were with him at the burning of Nottingham which belike was the time that his Father made such spoil there as I have before exprest But this William was outed of his Earldomes of Nottingham and Derby by King Richard 1. in the first year of his reign as it seems for upon the said King's first arrivall in England after his Father's death I find that he bestowed them with divers other upon Iohn Earl of Moreton his brother yet I hardly think that the said William continued long so dispossest of them for it appears that the same year he attended King Richard in the Holy Voiage and died at the siege of Acon an scil 1190 2 R. 1. leaving issue William his son and heir Of the great misfortunes that befell that King in his journey by being taken Prisoner I shall not here stand to tell forasmuch as our Historians speak so fully thereof nor of the advantage which Iohn Earl of Moreton before specified made upon it in seizing divers Castles here into his hands reporting that his Brother was dead whereupon he layd claim to the Crown But shall observe that upon the King's enlargement and return order was given for the siege of those Castles whereupon our William Earl Ferrers joyned with the Earl of Chester in besieging of Nottingham Castle which after a while was rendred and for his fidelity was made choice of by the same King to sit with the rest of the Peers in that great Councell held there on the 30 th of March next ensuing At the second Coronation of which King he was one of the four that carried the rich silken Canopie over his head With the Earls of Clare Chester and others of the great Nobilitie he swore Fealtie to King Iohn in the first year of his reign but conditionally that he should render to each of them his own At the Coronation of that King in the Church of St. Peter at Westminister on Ascension day he was also present and one the seventh of Iune following being solemnly invested Earl of Derby by a speciall Charter then dated at Northampton was girt with the Sword by the said King 's own hands having a grant likewise of the Tertium Denarium de omnibus Placitis confirm'd to him and his heirs In 5 Ioh. he obtained a speciall Mandate to Geffâ—ey Fitz-Piers then Iusticiarius Angliae for livery of those lands in Stapleford in Com. Leic. that belong'd to the Vidame of Chartres and were of his Fee which Vidame died in a voyage to the Holy land and was a Ferrers though he bore for his Armes a Bend betwixt six Martlets This Earl was very loyall to King Iohn even in his greatest distresses for in 14 of his reign when that the Pope had deposed him of his Kingdome and that Pandulfus his Legate came over to treat with him the French King being then upon the Seas with a powerfull Navie threatning an Invasion so that King Iohn's condition was so desperate as that he became necessitated to yeild to what termes he could get he manifested his great affection to him in becomming one of the four that gave his solemn Oath for the King's performance of those Articles whereunto he had submitted which Agreement was made 13 Maii the same year as also a witness to the Charter of K. Iohn dated within two days following whereby he gave up his Realm to the Pope Of whose favour to him I cannot omit to take notice of this singular instance viz. that on the 27 th of Iune following he had a speciall grant to himself and his heirs sitting at Dinner upon all Festivalls in the year when they should solemnly celebrate those days with his Head uncovered and without any Cap having a Garland thereon of the breadth of the said Kâ—ng's little Finger In 16 Ioh. he had the Castle of Hareston in Com. Derb. committed to his charge and the next year following when the Barons put themselves in Armes and seized divers Castles having raised Forces on the said King's behalf he took from them by assault the Castles of Bolesover and Pec in Derbyshire whereupon he had a speciall Patent constituting him Governour of them And upon the death of King Iohn stood so firm to the young King Henry the third as that with the rest of the loyall Nobilitie he not onely assisted at his Coronation on Simon and Iude's day but immediatly after Easter accompanied the famous William Maâ—shall then Governour of the King and Kingdome the Earls of Chester Albamarle and many other gâ—eat men to the siege of Mountsorell Castle in Lecestershire then held out by Henry de Braibâ—oke and ten other stout Knights The same year he was also with those noble persons at raising the siege of Lincoln which the Rebellious Barons with Lewes K. of France whom they brought into the Realm had madâ—â— And having new Patents from the King for the custody of those Castles held the government of them for full six years But in the second year of this King's reign he made a jâ—urney to the Holy Land with Ranulph Earl of Chester and some others appointing his Steward viz. Raphe Fitz-Nicholas to transact aâ—l businesses concerning him which should relate to the Exchequer till his return from
of an authentick Writer that St. Benedict first prescribed that Rule Benedictus cum sorore Scholasticâ primus Regularem vitam certis Legibus ordinibus cum hactenus seorsim liberè Christo inservissent inchoavit which Rule came in time to have that venerable esteem that as Baronius tells us In Liptinensi Concilio in Cameracensi Galliae agro sancitum est ut Monachi ac Nonnae juxta Regulam S. Benedicti Coenobia sua ordinarent The first Monasterie of Nuns which we had here in England was that of Berking in Essex founded by Erkenwald Bishop of London about the year of Christ DCLXVI long before the reception of St. Benet's Rule in this Nation I now come to this of Polesworth and in the first place shall take notice upon what occasion it was founded and then go on to shew the endowment thereof with lands c. King Egbert having one onely son called Arnulph who was a Leper and hearing by a Bishop which came from Ireland that the then King of Connaught had a Nun to his daughter called Modwen that healed all diseased people repairing to her sent his said son at the perswasion of that Bishop into Ireland where he was accordingly cured by the same holy Woman which great favour so pleased King Egbert that he forthwith invited St. Modwen to come into England promising that he would â—ound a Monasterie for her and her Covent Of which tender she soon after accepted forasmuch as the Religious House wherein she resided was by Wars betwixt those petty Kings of Ireland burnt and wasted and brought over with her two of her fellow Nuns Whereupon the King having a great opinion of her sanctitie recommended his daughter Edith unto her to be instructed in Religion after the Rule of St. Benet giving her a dwelling place in the Forest of Ardeâ—â—e then called Trensale where the said Edith together with St. Lyne and St. Osithe lived together in a holy manner and soon after founded a Monasterie for them on the bank of the River Anker at this place called Pollysworth the first syllable Pol importing a deepness of Water and the other scil Worth a dwelling or habitation constituting the said Edith Abbess thereof Ordinis Benedictini monialis I shall not take upon me to censure the truth of this Storie as to the substance of it but in circumstance perhaps there may be some mistakes therein for by an Author who more compendiously speaks thereof it is referr'd to King Ethelwolph son to K. Egbert whose son Alured languishing of a desperate infirmitie was thus cured by S. Modwene whereupon he gave unto her lands in this Realm for the founding of two Monasteries of Nunns one here in Arden at Polesworth wherein as he saith Osithe and Athea two holy Virgins and S. Edith sister to the said King Ethelwolph dwelt and the other at Streneshale But of their going to Oldbury and bringing back hither I shall not make any question though the appartion of S. Edith with her Crosier may be doubted forasmuch as the words of Robert Marmion's Charter and Milisent his wife do import no lesse which I have here transcribed Notum siâ— omnibus me concessisse Osannae Priorissae ad religionem instaurandam Sanctimonialium ibi Ecclesiam S. Edithae de Pollesworda cum pertinentiis it a quod Conventus de Aldeberia ibi sit manens Hence it is as I guess that this Robert Marmion and his wife are by the learned Leland accounted to have been Founders thereof in which repute I shall leave them forasmuch as it also appears that they gave the town of Polesworth totally thereto with their whole demesnes in Waverton all which were confirmed by King Stephen I shall now descend to such other Benefactors as these Nuns had the next and chiefest whereof was Walter de Hastings who gave Oldbury unto them it being a Cell to this Monasterie as I have already observed After which they had by Robert Marmion son to the before-specified Robert and Milisent the Church of Queinton in Gloucestershire which in 12 R. 2. they procured to be appropriate to them As also the Mill at Kingsburie â— called Hemlingford-Mill with certain Meadow-ground and other lands by Robert Fitz-Walter and Amabill his wife one of the coheirs unto Osbert de Arden and moreover a Mill at Hurley given by Alice sister to the said Amabil then wife of Simon de Harecurt both which were confirmed by Raphe de Bracebrigge afterwards Lord of that Mannour In Draiton in Com. Leic. they had a good proportion of land given by Picot Archer in H. 2. time and confirmed by Robert then Earl of Leicester with a farther augmentation by William de Trumpinton In Burdingburie in this Countie certain lands by Edelina sister to Robert Boteler of Ingleby for the souls health of Walter de Somervile her husband The Church of Barwell in Leicestershire by Erneburga the mother of William de Hastings the Church of Ansley in this Countie by William the son of Robert de Hardreshull Certain lands in Bromcote by William Fitz-Walkeline of Bromcote which were confirm'd by Robert his son and heir in consideration that these Nuns allowed him to have a Chantrie in his Chapell at Bromcote Whereunto Robert de Grendon in 32 E. 1. added a yard-land and certain Messuages lying in the same Village All those lands called Coppenhull neer Shuttenton given by William Burdet which Hugh his son confirmed temp H. 2. A yard land in Sirescote by Roger the son of Walter de Sumervile Certain lands in Snarkeston Com. Leic. which William de Appilby gave together with his body to sepulture in this Monasterie which were confirmed by Will. de Charnells and Clementia his wife The Mill of Freseley and a proportion of land there by Robert de Kaily with addition of more by Sir Iordan de Whitacre Knight and Will. Savage which William gave also certain lands in Dodenhale as also all the ground he had in Povele-Wood where the Chapell above S. Edith's Well was built In Bromcote they had an yearly Rent of xx s. given to them by Eustace de Mortein for the health of his soul and the soul of Hillaria his wife upon condition that if they did enjoy those lands in Shotswell whereof he made them a grant that then they should not challenge this Annuitie From Raphe Lord Basset of Draiton they had an annuall Rent of a mark of silver for the enlarging of their Diet upon the day of S. Iohn Baptist's Nativity in honour of that Festivall In Norton now Hoggs-Norton a Carucate of land given by Robert de Gresele and a yard-land by Geffrey de Greseley with certain Rents as also the Homage and services of sundry persons and in Harlaston the Rent of v s. yearly given by William de Vernun for the maintenance of a Lampe to
three days following and in xx H. 6. procured another Patent for taking Toll of all vendible commodities comming hither for the space of four years towards the finishing of the Pavement and repair of Bol-brigge After which I have not seen any thing more of â—t that is considerable till 3 Eliz. that the Queen by her Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster 24 Dec. taking notice that it had been a very antient Mercate-town and that the Inhabitants thereof by the name of the Bailiffs and Commonaltie had not only held it time out of minde of her Royall Progenitors in Fee-Ferme by the Rent of v. li xvi s. per annum but enjoyed divers Jurisdictions and Priviledges aswell by Prescrâ—ption as by severall Charters which Charters as they then suggested had been either burnt or casually lost imploring her Royall favour that she would for the better governing thereof vouchsafe to make it a Corporation did at that time ordâ—in it to be a Burrough Corporate consisting of two Bailiffs the one for that part of the town situate in this Countie and the other for that part lying in Staffordshire granting them libertie to have a Common Seal and assigning Peter Bradoke and Henry Draper the first Bayliffs As also that from thenceforth there should be xxiv of the most substantiall Inhabitants assistants to the said Bayliffs and called the principall Burgesses which said Bayliffs and Burgesses to have power as often as they should think fit to call a Court of themselves or the major part of them there to consult and determine of all things tending to the well goverment of it and to choose two Sergeants at Mace for performance of all Proclamations Arrests c. Which Bayliffs to be Justices of the Peace within the same Burrough And moreover that they should have power to keep a Court of Record upon Munday once in three weeks there to hold Plea c. after the usage of the Citie of London And likewise a Gaole for the imprisonment of Felons and Malefactors As also a weekly Mercate every Saturday and two Faires the one on the Feast-day of S. George the Martyr and four days following and the other on the Feast-day of S. Edward the King and Martyr and four days then likewise next ensuing Granting further unto the said Bayliffs for the time being that they should be Clerks of the Mercate within the precincts of the Burrough and to have a Court-Leet twice in the year scil within the compass of a month after Michaelmass and the like limit of time after Easter as also power to purchase or receive by gift lands to the value of Xl li. per annum notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain And by another Patent bearing date xo Oct. in 30. of her reignâ— gave the inhabitants of this Burrough immunitie from being returned on Juries except they held lands out of the compasse thereof and likewise to choose a Recorder constituting Robert Devereux Earl of Essex their Steward and granting them another Faire yearly to begin on the Feast-day of S. Swithin and to endure for four days At which time she founded an endowed a Grammar School hereâ— but thereof forasmuch as it is situate on the Staffordshire side it concerns me not to speak Closing up therefore I shall observe that forasmuch as 't is not apparent by any of our publique Records that the Saturday-Mercate was granted by Charter till now it was held before by Prescription and questionlesse from the very time that the Saxon Kings had their residence here whereof I have already touched Nor it is to be doubted but that the Priviledge whâ—ch they had in sending of Burgesses to Parliament was of great antiquitie and used only by the like Prescription in such sort as other the antient Burroughs of this Realm did enjoy The Castle HAving now done with the Burrough I come to the Castle touching the Foundation whereof I have already spoke This being in the hands of King William after his Conquest was by him given towards the end of his reign as I guess unto Robert Marmion as my Story in Polesworth intimateth and as is verified by an antient window of this Church where the same King being depicted in his Robes of State and crowned stretcheth forth his hand to him holding a Charter therein neer the Gate of a faire Castle an exact representation whereof I have in page 822. exhibited Which Robert had issue Robert unto whom King Henry the first by his Charter dated at Canoc in Com. Staff granted Free-warren in all his lands within this Countie as Robert his Father had and by name here at Tamworth This last mentioned Robert was possest of the strong Castle of Fontney in Normandie which Castle Geffrey Earl of Anjou beseiged and razed in 4 o Steph. because he held out Faleis against him and gave the Church of Queinton in Gloucestershire to the Nunns of Polesworth Being a great adversarie to the Earl of Chester in 8. Steph. he entred the Priorie of Coventre neer unto which the said Earl had a Castle as I have elsewhere observed and expelling the Monks fortified it making in the fields adjacent divers deep Ditches lightly covered over to the intent that such as should make approaches thereto might be intrapt but it so hapned that as he rode himself to view the Earl's forces that began to draw neer it he sell into one of them and broke his Thigh so that he was forthwith seized on by a Common Souldier who immediatley cut off his Head To him succeeded Robert his son and heir by whose Certificate in 12 H. 2. it appears that he then held xi Knights Fees whereof his Ancestor was enfeoft in H. 1. time and three which he had obtained since for which in 14 H. 2. he gave vii li. xii s. viii d. Aid upon the marriage of Maud the King's daughter This Robert was a Benefactor to the Knights Templar's as by his grant to them of Barston Mill is manifested as also in 33 H. 2. a Justice Itinerant in this Countie and confirmed to the Nunns of Polesworth his Father's gift of the Church of Queinton But in the beginning of H. 3. time he died leaving two sonns by severall wives as it seems both of them bearing the name of Robert Of which Robert the younger gave the summe of 500 li. to the King in 2 H. 3. for the custodie of this Castle and to have possession of the lands whereof his Father died seized untill matters should be so setled as that Englishmen might peaceably enjoy their lands in Normandie and the Normans theirs in England in regard that the Dukedome of Normandie was seized on by the French about the beginning of King Iohn's time for the murther of Arthur Duke of Brittanie but with this condition too that if Robert Marmion his elder brother should make his peace with the King for it seems he then adhered
neer those petty streams which run into it beginning always with that wherein the Church is seated and then proceeding with the severall small Hamlets or places of note whether depopulated or otherwise contained within the same Parish setting forth a succession of their antient possessors by which the rise growth continuance and decay of many Families with their most memorable actions are manifested And have also adorned it with those Armes and Pictures of many eminent persons in their times which being antiently set up in the windows of severall Churches and Houses did continue till of late And that there may want nothing conducible to the honour aswell of the Families long since extinct as those that remain I have to my utmost preserved their very Monuments and Memorialls yet remaining following the Example therein of the famous Sertorius Ursatus in his Monumenta Patavina well knowing of what high and venerable esteem such things were with the most civill people of the world in so much as amongst the Romans the defacing and violation of them was punished by great pecuniarie Fines cutting off Hands Banishment nay sometimes by Death according to the merit of the transgressors Most of which through the pious respect of the immediate heirs or neerest relations to those their worthy Ancestors and to their lasting memorie are represented excepting such Plates whereof the persons therein mentioned by particular Inscriptions partly out of some speciall respect to those that they have thus memorized and partly as an ornament to the work have born the charge And excepting these three in p. 188.498 and 758. of the following work viz. 1 of the Hugfords and Beaufoes Lords of Emscote interred in the Collegiate Church at Warwick men of great note in their days as by my discourse of them in that place appeareth whose lineall heir and successor in that estate is Henry Beaufoe now of Emscote Esquire 2 Of Thomas Spenser late of Clardon Esquire a person of much eminencie in this Shire in his time and for his large and noble Hospitalitie the honour of all these parts whose great-grandson and heir male aswell as by adoption is Sir Thomas Spenser now of Yarnton in Com. Oxon. Baronet 3 And that of Sir Richard Bingham Knight one of the reverend Iudges of the King's Bench temp H. 6. who lieth buried at Midleton with the Ladie Margaret his wife daughter and coheir to Sir Baldwin Frevill of Tamworth-Castle Knight and widow of Sir Hugh Willoughby Knight From which Sir Hugh and Margaret is Sir Francis Willoughby now of Midleton Knight descended possessing that Lordship as heir to her Which three last Monuments had I confesse been omitted could I have doubted that the persons here mentioned considering such their relations and the estates they so enjoy would have refused the preservation of their memories by a small charge to the Graver as these following are for the very same reason and no other as is well known viz. 1 of the Temples at Dasset whose heirs and successors in that estate there are Sir Richard Temple Baronet and the Lady Viscountesse Baltinglasse 2 Of Richard Murden Esquire at Morton-Morell whose sole daughter and heir is the Ladie Harvey widow of Sir Stephen Harvey Knight of the Bath 3 of Sir Edward Ferrers at Badsley-Clinton whose heir is Henry Ferrers Esquire now Lord of that place 4 And of Sir Edward Devereux Knight and Baronet at Aston juxta Bermingham whose grandson and heir is the present Viscount Hereford Of the Religious Houses Hospitalls and Chantries those signall Monuments of our Forefathers Pietie I have shewed their Foundations endowments and continuance with their dissolutions and ruine which gave the greatest blow to Antiquities that ever England had by the destruction and spoil of many rare Manuscripts and no small number of famous Monuments And to the end that my discourse of the severall places may be the more perspicuous taking notice of that excellent expression of Arias Montanus viz. Si enim absque locorum observatione res gestae narrentur aut sine Topographiae cognitione Historiae legantur adeò confusa atque perturbata erunt omnia ut ex iis nihil non obscurum nihil non difficile elici possit I have drawn exact Schemes of the severall Hundreds wherein besides the rectifying of divers places which stand amisse in the ordinarie Maps are inserted many that were hitherto omitted fixing them according to their direct stations as also the depopulated Villages and other places of note whereof there is mention in the following work extending the Rivers neerer their originall heads and adding sundry petty streamlets heretofore not taken notice of by our Geographers In etymologizing the names of Towns and Places I have not been over-bold because most of them had their originall denomination from the Britans or Saxons and that Time hath much varied the antient name by contracting it for the more ease in pronunciation or in some sort altered it from what it was at first as is evident in most of them Nor should I have adventured thus far had I not received much light from that learned Gentleman Mr. VVilliam Somnâ—r of Canterbury my singular friend unto whom I cannot attribute enough for his great knowledge in Antiquities and those commendable works which he hath already published and is now taking pains in Much variation there is I confess in the names of sundry places and persons which perhaps may cause some doubt of my care therein but in that I have been very curious having Records or other authentique writings for my authoritie which I thought much more fit to follow than to deliver the names as they are now written And as my chief aime hath been to illustrate the Antiquities of this Countie so must I desire my Readers to observe what intricate parts I have walkt in to make good that undertaking scil the whole series of publick Records and a multitude of antient and obscure Manuscripts as the references to them do shew for the better understanding whereof because the narrownesse of my Margent hath confined me to such brevitie I have added a short Scheme adjoyning to my Index which will plainly demonstrate what those pieces of words and single Letters do mean with notice where the said Records and Manuscripts were when I had the perusall of them And whereas I have cited nothing to give testimonie of the Churches Dedications that what I have said therein of them is from divers old VVills Testaments and other authorities in the Registries of the Bishops of Coventre Lichfield and Worcester which to have instanced particularly could not well be done in regard they were all in loose parcells And moreover it is to be noted that to such or such parts of the Pedegrees where no quotation at all is entred the proof to make them good will appear in the historicall part And lastly that the passages of later times are obvious to the present age wherein we live
to a very flourishing condition as by what I have said and shall further shew appeareth for in 18. E. 3. at the instance of Q. Isabel who had an estate in Cheylesmore for life as also in consideration that the reversion thereof was vested in Edw. then Prince of Wales D. of Cornwall and E. of Chester the K. by his Letters Pat. bearing date 20. Jan. did make it a Corporation consisting of a Mayor and Bayliffs which the Inhabitants should have power to choose and make out of themselves yearly who taking their oath according to the accustomed manner in the like cases might from thenceforth do all things appertaining to those offices And that they their heirs and successors for ever should thenceforth also have power to hold plea as well of trespasses contracts and agreements as of all other things hapning within the town And for the better tranquility of the said Inhabitants and of all merchants repayring thither the K. then granted that from thence-forth there should be a Common Seal by his Royall direction consisting of two pieces according to custome for Recognizances of debts there according to the form of the Statutes-merchant made and published the greater part whereof to remain in the custody of the Major for the time being and the lesser in the hands of a certain Clerk to be there deputed by the said K. his heirs and successors according to the tenure of the said Statutes And that the said Major and Clerk from thenceforth should receive Recognizances of debts according to the tenor of those Statutes as also to give in charge and commit them to due execution And lastly that there should be a Prison made in that part of the Town belonging to the said Q. for the chastizing of malefactors there taken wherof the Mayor and Bayliffs for the time being to have alwaies the custody and charge The xii persons that purchased these liberties for Coventre being Nicholas Michell Henry Dodenhale Walter Whitweb Roger Hunt Will. Trymelei Geffrey Freberne Iohn Rushall Rob. Thymbler Ric. Kerseley Will. Walsale Maurice Norfolk and Will. Wellyngbright Whereupon about two years after they elected a Mayor viz. Iohn Ward and after him continued the like yearly choyce as by the Catalogue of them which I have at the end of my discourse touching this City inserted may appear And in the year 1355. 29 E. 3. did they begin to build the walls by vertue of the K. license in 2 E. 3. before mentioned Richard Stoke at that time Mayor laying the first stone at the gate called New-yate where they began the work but whether they did vigorously proceed therein I cannot say rather supposing that they were restrained For afterwards when Edw. the black Prince came to enjoy that interest here which was setled upon him by the entail before mentioned having granted the same to the Mayor Bayliffs and Commonalty thereof to hold in Fee-ferm for so doth that Pat. dated at Westm. 20 Nov. 37 E. 3. import he gave them license to enclose this City by that name it is there called with a wall of lime and stone embattailed to hold to them their heirs and successours of him the before specified Prince and his heirs for ever Whereupon the next ensuing year these good men of Coventre considering with themselves the great charge that would be required in thus fortifying the Town obtained license 3 Nov. from the K. to tax all the Tradesmen and Inhabitants thereof according to their estates and faculties and to collect all such sums of money as should be levyed for that purpose For effecting whereof accordingly the Mayor and Bayliffs then being with Thomas de Nassyngâ—on Will. Wolfe and Will. Corby were appointed Assessors out of which tax were excepted the lands and goods of all Ecclesiastick persons And to the end that the great charge which they were to undergo in making these walls might be the better born amongst them the K. being very desirous to further the work granted a Commission dated 3 Iulii 40 of his reign unto the Mayor and Bayliffs then being together with VVil. Catesby Nich. Michell VVill. Botoner Ric. de Stoke Henry de Dovedale and Iohn del Tofte giving them power to levy and receive these customs following viz. of every tun of wine 2 s. of every quarter of malt 4 d. of every Ox 4 d. of every Hog and Calf a peny and every Sheep a farthing sold in this Town for the space of 5 years then next ensuing towards the alleviating their charge But this assessment much pinching the Victuallers about 4 years after they made a grievous complaint to the K. alledging that they were almost undone by it Whereupon by his Pat. dated 14 Febr. 44 of his reign he revoked the former Commission commanding nevertheless that the Merchants and other rich men should be taxed with the meaner sort according to their several abilities towards the support of that cost in building those walls That Coventre then flourish'd very much may be discerned by so great and costly a work as this of the Walls Gates and Towers still remaining and second to none in England appears to be as also by that incomparable structure of St. Michael's steeple begun in ann 1373. 47 E. 3. Henry Clerke being Mayor and finished in ann 1395. 18 R. 2. the year of Richard Lichfeild's Mayoralty Neither did it want any advantage that by the K. favour could well be had for to the end that they might securely enjoy all those liberties and priviledges granted by K. H. 2. H. 3. Edw. 2. and E. 3. which are together contained in the Charters of 15 and 20 of E. 3. K. Ric. 2. in 1 of his reign made them an ample confirmation and not onely so but in the same year did constitute Iohn Percy Adam Botoner Henry de Keel Simon de Lichfeld Iohn de Herdwyke and Iohn Toftes Justices for conservation of the peace within the Town of Coventre with power to hear and determine matters of felony and trespass And moreover was out of his Princely goodness so indulgent to them that by his Pat. dated 4 Maii 8 of his reign he ratified the Charter of license made by K. Edw. his Grandfather in 37 E. 3. for building and embattailing the walls and thereby granted them liberty to dig as much stone in his Park of Cheylesmore as should suffice for so much of them as includes the Mannour-house of Cheylesmore with the making of one Gate near the said park adjoyning to the House of Friers-minors which is now called the Gray-frier-yate And likewise that towards the support of that charge the Mayor and Bayliff should for the space of 5 years then next ensuing have his Ferm of sealing woollen cloaths here to the value of xxiiii l. sterling And in 11 of his reign vouchsafed such freedome to the Mayors after that time to be elected there that they should
Innocent the third which together with the circumstances of his reception and their confirmation I shall for brevity pass by and the rather for that they are at large set forth by my Author and confirm'd by the said Pope in the year of Christ 1207. 9. Ioh. To this relation I shall briefly adde what a later author hath of him viz. that when he first betook himself to this regular life he wore shoos and a Lethern Girdle but revolving in his mind that our blessed Saviour gave command to his Apostles that they should not have two coats nor any purse he put on a single coat of plain wool girt himself with a cord and went barefoot And at the length that he might live an Anchorite betook himself to the Apenine-mountains and in Averne at the foot of them continued in great solitude where devoting himself wholy to divine contemplations he branded his body with the marks of our Lords Passion and called those Minors which he chose from the first to be his companions in that Rule as a manifest token of his humility to the end that they being mindfull of that slender appellation should be free from all pride which is oft times the companion of sanctity His Rule being confirmed by Honorius the third and two years after viz. an 1229. Gregory the ix canonizing him for a Saint no humane institution increased so much as this in a short time did for they were soon spread over the whole Christian world Terram repleverunt saith Math. Westm. In towns and Cities they dwelt by tens and seavens in a Covent and possessing nothing but meerly living by the Gospell in food and rayment they manifested their voluntary poverty and going bare-foot girt with a knotty cord gave the greatest example of humility imaginable Touching their first comming into England I find it was in an 1224. 8 H. 3. viz. two years before the death of S. Francis but how well the Monks lik't of it let us hear one of them speak An. 1224. Oh dolor O plus quam dolor O pestis truculenta Fratres Minores venerunt in Angliam For which grievous complaint I need not look further as to the reason than Math. Westm. who modestly gives this character of them They were diligent instruments for the Pope in all his affairs saith he sometimes as Messengers or Legats sometimes in gathering up Taxes alwaies sedulous for his advantage neither were they slack in Preaching signing with the Cross and assisting the sick in making of their Testaments which imployment did not a little hinder the Monks both in point of profit and power Minorita It seems that these Friers had afterwards also many good Benefactors for so fair a Church as that hath been by view of the steeple yet standing could not be built without very great cost But that the same structure was made in E. 3. time I am induced to believe partly from the form of its fabrick and partly because I find that Edw. Prince of Wales commonly called the Black-Prince by his Charter bearing date 14. Dec. 32 E. 3. gave leave to these Friers of whom as the same grant expresses he was Patron for to take so much stone out of his Quarry in the Park of Cheylesmore as they should have occasion to use about heir buildings and walls And likewise liberty to have a Postern from their mansion into his Park to carry out any of their Covent that should be diseased so that they were not to go further then the said Quarry The Key of which Dore to be alwaies kept by the Warden of the same Friers or his substitute and no other to pass that way but such as were sick And as I am of opinion that then was the time of its building so do I imagine that some of the Hastings were good Benefactors thereto in regard that divers of them lay buried in a Chappell of the same Church called Hasting's Chappell and some in the very habite of Friers-Minors so great an esteem had they of this Order Wherefore to fortify my conjecture I have here added a very notable memoriall touching those honourable persons of that family who lye here interred En la Chapelle de lez Freres-Menours de Coventre appelle Hastinges-Chapelle est une fenestre en la Northe parte oue vne scucheon des Armes de Hastinges la second partie de d'or de cinople ove vne Lyon de gules rampant La tierce d'azure ove troys garbs de Cumyn d'or enceinter de gules en milieu d'icelle En vne fenestre en le Est est lez Armes de Hastinges de Cantelow de Valence En l'autre fenestre en le Est est lez Armes de Hastings d'azure a. 6. lionceux d'argâ—nt de la Spenserâ— Item en vne autre fenestre en base est lez Armes de Hastinges de Huntingfeld cestasavoir d'or ove vne fesse de gules trois torteux d'argent En le second est Hastings argent deux barrs de geules ove vne label de Valence En le tierce est lez Armes de Hastings En le quart est de gules ove vne Egle d'argent du quel sonbill est d'or Et la sont enterres deux chivaliers cestasavoir Monsr Henry de Hastings Iohan la file de Monsr Guiliam de Cantelow soer a S. Thomas de Hereford l'evesque Et proschein lui gist la dit Iohan ove lez Armes de Hastings Cantelow L'autre chivalier est oue l' Armes de Hastings enseint ovesque lez Armes de Valence son nome estoit Iohan de Hastings Et proschein lui gist dame Isabel de Valence ovesque lez Armes de Hastings Et joust la dit Isabel gist dame Iohan de Huntingfeld file a Monsr Iohn de Hastings Isabel de Valence en vne gowne powdre dez Armes de Hastings d'or fesse de gules en son mantel par dessus celle est est d'argent a deux fesses de gules sur sez manches dez Armes de Valence Et est vne pillew desoubs son test sur quel sont lez Armes de Hastings Huntingfeld quatrefoitz cestasavoir d'or a vne manche de gules d'or a vne fesse de gules 3. torteux d'argent En le table estoit escrit Dominus Henricus de Hastings cum Domina Iohanna consorte sua filia Domini Willielmi de Cantilupe soror sancti Thomae Herefordensis dominus Iohannes de Hastings filius eorundem cum domina Isabella consorte sua filia domini Willielmi de Valence Comitis Pembrochiae Wexford sepultus in habitu fratrum Minorum Iohannes obiit 9. Martii 1312. et Isabella 3. Oct. 1305. Ad cujus dextram jacet domina Iohanna de Huntingfeld filia praedictorum Iohannis et Isabellae Robertus de Shotesbroke armiger strenuissimus et ejusdem domini Henrici quondam vexillator et postea Seneschallus Et
not need to say any thing more then what the Inscription upon the walls there do declare May the 4. an 1529. Mr. William Fourd of this City Merchant of the Staple founded this Almehouse for five men and one woman and gave to each of them five pence a week for their maintenance Afterwards Mr. William Pisford his Executor gave other lands aud appointed six men and their wives to be placed therein and each couple to have seaven-pence half peny a week But Mr. William Wigston having power from both of them to alter adde or diminish their wills for the better ordering of the said House did ordain that there should be but five men and their wives and a Nurse and each couple to have seven pence half peny a week and the Nurse the same In the seventh year of King James the lands given to this Hospitall were questioned as concealed from the Crown and were again purchased by the City who have ever since maintained the charitable uses with a great addition out of the Chamber of the City In the year 1621. the City added another man and woman at their own charge so that there is now six couple besides the Nurse each couple being allow'd two shillings weekly and the Nurse one shilling a week although there be not any advance of the Rent to the City Mr. Simon Norton Alderman of this City gave towards the maintenance of one man and woman in this Hospitall for which the City doth allow two shillings a week also as the rest have so that there is now seaven couple and a Nurse in this Hospitall The white Friers ON the South-east part of this City stood the Friers-Carmelites commonly called the White-Friers another sort of Mendicants The first institution of which Order as divers Authors affirm having been Elias the Prophet at Mount-Carmell in Syria where living a retired life in the service of God he gave example unto many devout Anachorites to repair thither for solitude but these being disperst over the whole mountain in private Cells were at length by Almeric Bishop of Antioch reduced into one Covent at which time they elected out of themselves a Superior and first began the foundation of a Monastery where the Chappell of the Blessed Virgin stood viz. near the fountain of Helias Howbeit the observance of this life began not till the days of Pope Alexander the third about the year 1170. Nor till the time of Innocent 3. near 40. years after had they any direct Order that Albert B. of Hierusalem prescribed unto them thus living in the wilderness a form out of St. Basills Rule and a parti-coloured mantle of white and red such a one as Helyas the Prophet antiently used which afterwards Honorius iii. altered conceiving it not to be so proper and in sted of the party-colour appointed that it should be all white calling the Covent of these Freres the family of the Blessed Virgin in regard the white colour being least spotted doth best accord with Virginity But the first mention that I find of their propagating in this Realm is in an 1250. 34 H. 3. at which time Sir Iohn de Vescy of Alnwike in Northumberland a great Baron in those days returning from the Holy land brought into England this Order of Friers and built for them a Monastery at Holme in Northumberland then a desert place and not unlike to Mount-Carmell before mentioned Yet here in Coventre they setled not till an 1342. 16 E. 3. that Sir Iohn Poultney Kt. 4. times Lord Mayor of London erected this House for them whose Armes cut in stone are still extant over the Gates thereof With lands they had no endowment but as the Grey-Friers before spoken of lived on the charity of good people which was not slender so high an opinion had the strictness of their Rule and austerity of their lives obtained there being few persons of quality residing within many miles that by their Testaments gave not liberally to them as by that of the Lord Basset of Drayton in 7 R. 2. appeareth whereby they had no less then a Legacy of CCC l. Further mention after which time I find not till 1 H. 5. that the K. granted licence to Will. Botener of Withibroke to give unto them a piece of ground lying here in Coventre containing 141. foot in length and 45. in breadth for the enlargement of their habitation in consideration whereof they were to celebrate the Anniversary of Iohn Percy and Alice his wife deceased But shortly after the foundation of this Religious house was there one William a Frere thereof who became very famous for his learning and was commonly called Guilhelmus Coventre of whom Balaeus in his sixth Century pag. 461. maketh large mention and of the works that he wrote whereunto I refer my Reader In 22 H. 7. did Sir Thom. Poultney of Misterton Kt. lineall heir to the before specified Sir Iohn by his Testament bearing date 3. Apr. bequeath his body to be buried in the Chancell here appointing that at his Funerall 24. torches each having his Armes upon them should be born by xxiiii poor men every one having a Gown with the Libberds-head behind and before Carmelita Hugo Burnby Thom. Fyscher Ric. Wodcoke Thom. Vicars Will. Walkar Will. Harryson Ioh. Pasty Ioh. Hurst Ric. Cowper Will. Madder Ioh. Newbold Ioh. Elyson Ric. Cowper Will. Kynge No Pension being allow'd to any of them After which this House with all that belong'd thereunto excepting the rent of xx s. per annum due to Mereton's Chantry before mentioned was inter alia by the Kings Letters pat dated 27. Aug. 36. H. 8. granted to Sir Raph Sadler Knight and his heirs to hold in Burgage which Sir Raph sold it to Iohn Hales of whom I have spoke in S. Iohn's Hospitall who made it his habitation as it seems For by his last Will and Testament dated 17. Dec. 15. Eliz. appointing it to be sold he there calls it by the name of Hales-place alias White-Friers in Coventre This was that Iohn whom the learned Leland called Hales with the club-foot which lameness and deformity was occasioned as I have heard by a wound with a dagger that casually in running fell forth of the sheath into the dirt so that as he stept forward the sole of his foot did hit upon the point thereof He dyed 5. Cal. Jan. Anno 1572. 15. Eliz. and was buried in the Church of S. Peters the Poor in Broadstreet London as his Epitaph in Stow's Survey which I have here inserted imports Dominus Johannes Hales à pueritiâ literis deditus excellenti ingenio docilitate memoriâ studio industria singulari adjunctâ linguarum disciplinarum juris Antiquitatis rerum divinarum atque humanarum magna multiplici doctrina instructissimus Evasit innocentiâ integritate gravitate constantiâ fide pietate religione gravissimae etiam aegrotationis rerum difficilium diuturnâ perpessione
Thorp-Mundevile Pbr. 6 Cal. Oct. 1346. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Hugo Aleyn Pbr. 7 Id. Dec. 1348. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thom. Silvestre Cap. 7 Id. Maii 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Haywoll Cap. 17 Cal. Nov. 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Blacfordby Cap. 6. Febr. 1401. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thom. Halford Cap. 7 Oct. 1402. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Tho. Hulle 28 Ian. 1410. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Marchall Cap. 4 Oct. 1421. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Walt. Lydom 19 Dec. 1422. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rog. Wylkins 4 Oct. 1425. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Hull Cap. 9 Iun. 1427. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Loweles Pbr. ult Ian. 1428. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rob. Wells Pbr. 15 Nov. 1437. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Steph. Percivall Pbr. 20. Iunii 1439. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Gybbys 24 Ian. 1441. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Huggeford Cler. penult Iulii 1444. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rog. More Cap. 5 Febr. 1450. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Sherdun alias Iordan Cap. 26 Sept. 1454. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Marten Cap. 4 Maii 1457. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Alryche alias Lyllyngton Pbr. 23 Febr. 1511. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rob. Wylliamson Cap. 1. Maii. 1533. Edw. 6. Rex Angl. Magr. Ioh. Olde 22 Martii 1548. Edw. Bowne gen ratione concess Ioh. Hanby ar D. Will. Ludmans 19 Nov. 1554. Anth. Shughburgh gen Ioh. Dasset gen ratione conces Tho. Shughburgh Tho. Gardiner art Magr. 16 Oct. 1557. Benedictus Shukeburgh ar Ioh. Lounde in Leg. Bacc. 20 Febr. 1561. Benedictus Shukeburgh ar Will. Catherall Cler. 27. Oct. 1564. Will. Catherall hac vice ex assign Bened Shukeburgh Rog. Barker Iunii 1569. Bened. Shukeburgh Georgius Burley Cler. 18. Nov. 1572. Bened. Shukeburgh Ric. Marrell 27 Nov. 1581. Will. Lisley de Evenley in Com. North. ar Ioh. Harper Cler. art Mr. 23 Martii 1626. Lillington LOwer yet on the same side of Leame stands Lillinton perhaps so called from the old English word Lytlan which signifies small or little wherein the E. of Mellent held 4 hydes in the Conq. time with a Mill valued at vi s. viii d. and woods of a mile in length and half a mile in bredth all which were valued at xl s. having been the Free-hold of one Edric in Edw. the Conf. dayes Here was also half a hyde more which Rog. de Olgi then held of Turchill de Warwick valued at xx s. There is no question but that the E. of Mellent's part was by K. H. 1. or by the E. of Warwick upon such terms as the K. directed given to Geffr de Clinton Founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenilworth For by the foundation Charter of that Monastery he granted thereunto 2 hydes of land in this place And as for the half hyde which belong'd to Turchil de Warwick I presume that Hugo fil Ricardi of whom I am to speak in Wroxhall and Hatton was enfeofft thereof inter alia by the said Earl who had the most of Turchil's lands For I find that immediatly upon the foundation of the before specified Monastery the Canons of Kenilworth had the same by his grant in consideration whereof they rendred to him the said Hugh the Churches of Snitenfeld and Claverdon which they held of him and gave him over and above a Cloak valued at vi marks of silver and to Margaret his wife a saddle Nag After which K. H. 1. added his Charter of confirmation and so also did Roger E. of Warwick But the other two hydes belonging to the E. of Mellent above mentioned were as I am induced to believe given by the said Geffr de Clinton with his daughter Lescelina in marriage to Norman de Verdon for I find that they were held of the heirs of the said Norman and her by Rob. de Verdon and of him by Peter de Wolvardington by the service of half a Kts. fee. The extent whereof in 7 E. 1. was certified to be one carucat which the said Peter had in demesn and eleven yard land occupyed by ten servants who did manage that carucat for the benefit of the same Pet. This P. de Wolvardington granted to the Monks of Cumbe that his tenants here in Lillington should grind their Corn at their Mill called Blakedon mill Of the successors to the said Peter in this Mannour I cannot give a perfect account but of what I have found from Record relating thereto I will here adde which is that in 20 E. 3. Margaret de VVolvarton and Iohn de VValdgrave answered for half a Kts. fee in this place held of the heirs of Theob de Verdon and that in 10 H. 6. Iohn VValdgrave of the County of Buckingh Gent. and Ric. Beauchamp E. of Warwick held the same by the name of a Mannour by the service of half a Kts. fee. As also that in 10 H. 7. VVill. Grey Esq dyed seized thereof leaving Thomas his son and heir 15 years of age from whom it came to Edw. Grey who in 28 H. 8. was owner of it I now return to that which the Canons of Kenilworth had in this place which in 7 E. 1. was certified to be one carucat of land then held by them in demesn and 16. yard land managed by xx servants who performed divers servile works for the said Canons and payd also certain yearly Rent for the same Here the said Canons had a Court-Leet and other priviledges as appears by their claim in 13 E. 1. But this coming to the Crown at the dissolution of that House was by Q. Eliz. in 2. of her raign granted unto ...... Gerard and others and in 6. to Ambrose Earl of Warwick and the heirs male of his body but in 38 Eliz. being again in the Crown by reason of the death of the said Earl without issue was in consideration of the good faithfull service which Sir Iohn Puckering Knight then Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England had performed as the words of the Patent do import passed by the said Queen together with the advouson of the Church unto William Borne and Iames Orenge esquiers and their heirs Which William and Iames for a certain sum of money to them payd by Thomas Puckering son and heir of the â—aâ—d Sir Iohn then deceased and in performance of a Decree in the Court of Wards made 23. Oct. 38. Elâ—z sold and confirmed the said Mannour to the same Thomas afterwards Knight and Baronet and his heirs by their deed bearing date 27. Iunii 39. Eliz. The Church dedicated to S. Mary Magd. was â—â—igâ—nally belonging to the Canons of Kenilworth from the very foundation of that
the place of her birth of which Monastery she was reputed Patroness And that upon her death in 6. Ioh. the K. directed his precept to the Shiriff of Yorksh. commanding him to take order with the Abbot of Fountains and Henry de Percy her Executors that they should forthwith according to the custom of the Kingdom discharge those debts which were due to his Exchequer But by neither of these wives had he any issue so that departing this life in the Holy land 15. Nov. An. 1184. 30 H. 2. Waleran his Brother succeeded him in the Earldom and estate which Waleran in 2 R. 1. payd 51. l. 03. s. -04 d. to the K. for scutage in respect of the military service he ought to have personally performed in Wales but it seems he had not absolute possession of this Earldom till 7 R. 1. that he gave xx marks to have the tertium denarium de placitis Comitatus Of this Earl I find that in 9 R. 1. he stood charg'd to the K. in xlii l. iiii s. viii d. debt in the nature of scutage towards the payment of a Fine for the K. redemption who had been made Prisoner upon his return from the Holy land And in another debt of a C. l. for license to return into England and in a third debt of C. marks for leave to marry Alice the daughter of Rob. Harecurt and widow unto Iohn de Limesey As also that he had much adoe a great part â—f his time touching this inheritance there being one that feigned himself his elder Brother which dyed in the Holy land who put him to great vexation so that my Author is of opinion that the grant which he made to Hubert Archb. of Canterb. and Chancelour of England of the advouson of all the Prebendaries belonging to the Collegiat Church in Warwick to hold during his life was to purchase his favour in that weighty business But I do not finde that this Earle was a benefactor to any Religious-house other than the Hospitall of St. Michael in Warwick whereunto he gave all the Tith arising out of the assarts of Wedgnock as also of the paunage and Venison and to the Nuns of Pinley and Wrockshall in this County to the first whereof he gave certain Lands situate in Curdeshale within the Liberties of Claverdon and to the other a yard Land lying in Brails He had two wives Margaret the daughter to Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Alice the daughter of Iohn de Harecurt but widdow of Iohn de Limesi before mentioned and deparâ—ing this life in 6. Ioh. left issue divers Children of which Henry his eldest son succeeded him in the Earldom Waleran another son had the Mannours of Gretham and Cotesmore in com Runtl given to him by his father with certain Lands in Worcestersh but dâ—ed without issue Alice his daughter by Alice his last wife wedded to Will. Mauduit of Hanslape in com Buck. and had by her father 's appointment the Mannour of Waâ—ton now called Walton-Mauduit in this County for her marriage portion as is evident by K. Iohn's confirmation thereof to her bearing date 30. Nov. in the x. of his reign but at that time she was not married yet it seems she had a husband very young for it appears that she continued in the custody of her mother after she was so espoused by reason of her minority Gundred his other daughter was brought up in the Abby of Pinley before mentioned together with Isabel his Neice for whose education he gave in his life time to the Nuns of that house two Marks of silver yearly to be paid by the hands of his Steward at Claverdon and at the same time bestowed on them the redecimation of his Lordship of Walton in pure Almes for the health of his Soul and the Soul of Margerie his Countesse as also for the Souls of E. Roger his father Gundred his Mother Earle Will. his brother with all his Ancestors and Successors I finde that the same year of E. Waleran's death Alice his Countesse gave a fine of a thousand pounds and ten Palfreys that she might continue a widdow as long as she pleased so that the K. might not compell her to marry as also that she might have the custody of those Children she had by Earle Waleran and lx l. Lands per ann which he gave her freely to dispose of And likewise her reasonable dowry both of her husbands Lands Fees neverthelesse she was not to chuse a husband for her self without the K. approbation After which scil the next ensuing year she gave 3. Palfreys more to the K. that she might have a Jury of xii lawfull Knights to admeasure her dowry out of the Lands and Fees of E. Waleran her late husband but what was done therein appears not howbeit within 2. years after she came to a conclusion with Earle Henry whereupon she had the mannours of Tanworth and Claverdon in this County and of Cheddeworth in Gloucestersh with the service of two Knights Fees the one in Lodbroke and the other in Loxley assigned unto her This Earle Henry being in minority at the death of his Father was committed to the custody of Thom. Basset of Hedindon near Oxford which Thomas for a Fine that he paid to the King had a grant of his marriage 5. May 7. Ioh. to the intent he might match his daughter to him as was afterwards accordingly done though she was not his first wife and had also livery of all his Lands together with the Castle of Warwick by Hugh de Chaucumb then Sheriffe of this County to whom the K. had directed his Precept for that purpose bearing date 24. Aug. ensuing Upon Inquis taken in 12. and 13. Ioh. what number of Knights Fees the great men that held of the K. in Capite had there are fourscore and seventeen certified to belong unto this Earle in Warwicksh For which with the rest being all in number C ii and a third part he paid at the same time CC iiii marks viii s. x. d. for scutage upon the K. expedition with his Army into Wales viz. duaâ— marcas quo quolibet scuto In 15. Ioh. he came of age as I gather for by the K. special Writ bearing date 1. Iunii that year and directed to the Sheriffe of this County he had the tertium denarium de comitaetu Warewic delivered unto him as his Ancestors were used to have In 16. Ioh. he contributed xlii marks to the K. towards the support of his wars in Poictou but was by a special Writ acquitted of the Scuâ—age then exacted from him for that service And did so faithfully adhere to K. Iohnâ— when the Barons rebelliously took up Arms against him that the said K. by his Letters P. bearing date 10. Iunii
books of their own language invited him to his Palace and Royally feasting him presented him with three pretious stones of great value besides divers clothes of silk and gold given to his servants where this Baltredam told him privately that he faithfully believed as he did though he durst not discover himself and rehearsed the Articles of the Creed But on the morrow he feasted Sir Baltredams servants and gave them scarlet with other English Cloth which being shewed to Sir Baltredam he returned again to him and said he would wear his livery and be Marshall of his Hall whereupon he gave Sir Baltredam a Gown of black puke furred and had much discourse with him for he was skilfull in sundry languages From Hierusalem he came back to Uenice and was there nobly received Thence travailed he into Russia Lituania Poland Prussiaâ— Westphalia as also some Countreyes of Germany shewing great valour in divers Tourneaments whilst he was in those parts and no sooner returned into England but that he was by Indenture bearing date 2 Oct. 12 H. 4. retained with Henry Prince of Wales afterwards King by the name of H. 5. to serve him aswell in times of Peace as War both in this Realm upon and beyond the Seas for CCL marks per an to be payd out of the Prince his Exchequer at Kaermardyn at Easter and Michaelmass by even portions and whensoever he should be in the said Prince his Court to have 4. Esquiers and 6. Yeomen with him and dyet there for them all Provided that the said Prince in service of Warr should have the third part of what he got in battail and the third of the thirds of what his men at Armes should gain And in case he took any great Commander Fort or Castle the Prince likewise to have them giving him reasonable satisfaction Nay he stood in such high esteem with that heroik Prince that against his Coronation he was for his wisdom and industry as the words of the Charter import constituted high Steward of England for that solemnity And in the second year of his raign when the Sect of Lollards being much increased in all parts of the Realm through the doctrine of Wickliff and others had conspired to seize upon the K. and his brothers with divers other persons of quality and to murther them as my Author affirmeth as also to destroy the Monasteries and Prelates and to share their possessions he forthwith armed himself and gave great assistance to the subduing of them After which he was retained by Indenture bearing date 19. Iunii 3. H. 5. to serve the K. as Captain of Caleys from the 6. day of .......... in 2. H. 5. till Febr. 3. An. 1416. 4. H. 5. to have with him in the time of truce or peace for the safeguard thereof during the time before limited xxx men at Arms sc. Horsmen himself and 3. Knights accounted as part of the number xxx Archers on hors-back CC. foot Souldiers and CC. Archers all of his own retinue besides ten men at Arms and x. Archers on hors-back belonging to the Treasurer of Caleys all which were to be at his command in every thing touching the safe-guard of that place For which service he was himself to receive vi s. viii d. per diem for his Knights ii s. a piece for the rest of his horse xii d. for every Archer on horsback and foot Souldier viii d. and for every Archer on foot vi d. per diem for their wages In which Town there was also to be at the Kings charges xl Cross-bow-men xx Carpenters and v. Masons besides Bowyers with other Officers and Pensioners And in time of war was he to have Cxl. men at Arms on hors-back himself and ix Knights accounted part Cl. Archers on hors-back C. foot Souldiers Clxxxiiii Archers on foot and 4. Scouts on hors-back for his own retinue over and above xx men at Arms and x. Archers on hors-back as also x. Archers on foot belonging to the said Treasurer besides Balisters Carpenters c. Whereupon he soon hasted to Caleys and with the more speed because he heard the French were raising great forces against that place and there was recived with solemne Procession but when he understood that those forces bent another way he resolved to practise some new point of Chevalry causing three Shields to be made and in each of them a Lady painted The first harping at the end of a bedsted with a grate of Gold on her left slieve and her Knight called the green Knight with a black quarterâ— who was ready to just with any Knight of France xii courses having two Shields of purveyance and his Letter sealed with the Seal of his Arms the field silver a manch gules The second Pavice or Shield had a Lady sitting at a covered bord working Pearls and on her sheve a glove of plate â—acâ—ed her Knight being called Chivalier Vâ—rt having his Letter sealed with these Arms the field silver two bars of gules who was to Just xv courses and that should be Saddles of Chains The third Pavice had a Lady sitting in a Garden making a Chaplet and on her slieve a Poleyn with a rivet her Knight being called Chivaliâ—r attendant who with his fellow must run and course with sharp Spears his Letter being sealed with gold and gules quarterly and a border Vert which Letters were sent to the Kings Court of France where 3. French Knights received them and promised their fellows to meet at a day and place assigned whereof the first was a Knight called Sr. Gerard Herbaumes who called himself le Chivalier rouge the 2. a famous Knight named Sir Hugh Launey calling himself le Chivalier blank and the third a Knight named Sir Collard Fines Twelf-day in Christmasse being appointed for the time that they should meet in a Laund called the Park-hedge of Gynes On which day this Earle came into the field with his face covered a plume of ostrich feathers upon his Helm and his Horse trapt with the Lord Toney's Arms one of his Ancestors viz. Arg. a manch gules where first encountring with the Chivalier Rouge at the third course he unhorst him and so return'd with close vizor unknown to his Pavilion whence he sent to the said Knight a good Courset The next day also he came into the field with his Vizor close a Chaplet on his Helm and a Plume of Ostrich feathers aloft his Horse trapt with the Arms of Hanslap viz. silver 2. bars gules where he met with the blank Knight with whom he encountred smote of his Vizor thrice brake his Besagurs and other Harneys and returned victoriously to his Pavilion with all his own habiliments safe and as yet not known to any from whence he sent this blank Knight Sir H. Launey a good Courser But the morrow after viz. the last day of the Justs he came with his face open and his Helmet as the day before save
same year the King went over Sea in person and took Bolein in France where this new Admirall having scoured the Seas towards Scotland and being upon the Kings return left his Lieutenant through his valour and military skill defended it against the Daulfin and the French Army of 52000. men as they were reputed though the walls at that time were very much shattered And when the Daulfin had entred the base town not without slaughter of divers English by a brave sally he beat out the French again with the loss of above 800. of their men which were esteemed the best souldiers in that Realm The next yeare after when the French had got a great Fleet at Sea for invasion of England being appointed Admirall he presented battaill to them which they refused returning home with the loss of all their cost Hereupon he landed 5000. men in France fired Treport as also divers Villages thereabouts with the loss of one man and was one of the three Comissioners on the King of England's part by whom the Articles of Truce made 7. Iunii 28 H. 8. in the Camp betwixt Ardres and Guines were concluded To say truth for enterprises by Armes quoth Sir Iohn Haward he was the minion of that time so as few things he attempted but he atchieved with honour which made him more proud and ambitious when he had done Generally he always increased both in estimation with the King and authority amongst the Nobility but doubtfull whether by fatall destiny to the State or whether by his vertues or at least by his appearance of vertues as saith the same Author so that King Henry constituted him one of his xvi Executors whereupon finding the Duke of Somerset Protector to Edward 6. to be neither a man of great wisdom or courage ambitiously aimed to have the sway of all and therefore insinuated himself into his friendship whereby he made him a shadow for accomplishing his own ends To which purpose he first obtained an increase of honour being presently created Earl of Warwick and made Lord high Chamberlain of England for life which office he surrendred in 4 E. 6. and soon after got a grant of Warwick-Castle with the Mannour as also of divers other great Lordships and lands in this Shire whereof I shall take notice as they come in my course most of which he exchanged away with the King in 3 E. 6. for the Mannour of Minster-Lovell in Oxford-shire and divers other Lordships in the same County and in Nott. Glouc. Worcester Berks. and York-shires yet by his power got them again the next year following with more in exchange for lands in Northumberland Bishoprick of Durham Hartford-shire and Middlesex Of his particular great employments and actions I shall not stay to make any large relation for as much as they are obvious enough in our Common Chronicles but will onely point at them in brief He was Lieutenant generall in that expedition for Scotland in 1 E. 6. when the Scots were overthrown at Muscleborough where he made many Knights and indeed the principall person for military skill and prowess upon whom the management of that Warr rested In 3 E. 6. he commanded the Forces that were sent against Ket and his fellow Rebells in Norff. of which he slew about 5000. took Ket himself and setled all in quiet again In 4 E. 6. he was made Lord Steward of the Kings houshold and being now elated with these great successes his ambitious mind had no bound for it mattered not whom he ruin'd so it tended in his own opinion to the ends he aimed at First therefore he rayses discontents betwixt the Protector and the Lord Thomas Seymour his brother whereby soon after the said Lord Seymour became attainted by Parliament upon pretence that he had conspired his brothers death and so lost his head Then did he put the Protector upon making alteration both in State and Religion whereupon some of the Bishops that opposed it were committed to prison What vast summs did he make a shift to pocket by despoiling the Church of her Chalices Crosses and an infinite number of consecrated vessells with the like both silver and gold as also by rich Copes and other vestments under colour of bringing them into the Kings Wardrobe for he it was that led the Protector on to those courses as 't is well known as also by the lands given to maintain Lamps and Lights and for other pious uses Which doings with the ruine of the Cloister and Charnell at Paules the Church in the Strand and two Bishops houses there besides the goodly Church of S. Iohns neer Smithfield that were pulled down to build Somerset House brought upon the Protector no little hatred and so hastned his ruine that being it which our Warwick aimed at who spying so fair an oportunity wrought upon xviii of the Privy Councell to joyn with him therein yet such was his cunning that he accomplisht the work by others being least seen in it himself And because he could not win the Earls of Arundell and Southampt to be his Instruments for that purpose he found means to discharge them from the Councell and confine them to their houses as also to fine the Earl of Arundell 12000 li. upon suggestion that he had taken away bolts and locks at Westminster and given away the Kings stuff when he was Lord Chamberlain And now that he might carry the greater sway he did cause himself to be made Lord great Master of the Kings houshold and having been a prime Actor in the Peace made with France he was by way of reward for that service made generall Warden of the North having 1000. marks per ann lands granted unto him and C. Horsemen of the Kings Charge Mr. Herbert his chief Instrument being made President of Wales with a grant of 500 li. per ann And yet all this seemed not enough for within a while after viz. 20. April 5 E. 6. was he made Earl Marshall of England and xi Oct. following Duke of Northumb about which time he got his son Robert afterwards made Earl of Leic. by Q. Eliz. to be sworn one of the six Gentlemen in ordinary which Robert was as saith my Author his fathers true heir both in hatred towards persons of Nobility and cunning to dissemble the same as also for lust and cruelty a Monster of the Court and sure executioner of his hate After whose entertainment into that place of so neer service the King enjoy'd his health but a while And being now inferior to none of the Nobility in titles of honour and superior to all others in authority and power he could not restrain his haughty hopes from aspiring to an absolute command yet before he directly levelled at his marke the Duke of Somerset was thought fit to be taken away whose credit with the Common people
the said Iohn whom she created Earle of Warwick was it bestow'd upon him and the Heirs of his body in 4. of her reign but he dying without issue as I have formerly observed it came again to the Crown and there rested till King Iames 9. Iuly in the second year of his Reign out of the great respect that he bore unto Sir Fouk Grevill Knight whom he afterwards advanc't to the Dignity of a Baron as in Beauchamps-Court I shall shew bestow'd it on him in Fee at which time it was a very ruinous thing the strongest and securest parts thereof being onely made use of for the common Goal of the County but he bestowing more then 20000. l. cost as I have heard in repairing and adorning it made it a place not onely of great strength but extraordinary delight with most pleasant Gardens Walks and Thickets such as this part of England can hardly paralell so that now it is the most Princely seat that is within these midland parts of the Realm Here is to be seen a large two handed Sword with a Helmet and certain Plate-Armour for Horse service which as the tradition is were part of the accoutrements sometime belonging to the famous Guy but I rather think that they are of a much later time yet I finde that in 1. H. 8. the Sword having that repute the King granted the custody thereof to Will. Hoggeson one of the Yeomen of his Buttry or his sufficient Deputy with the Fee of ii d. per diem for that service Near unto the Castle towards the North-East stands a place fenced with large and strong Walls of stone still called the Vineyard for so it was long since as it seems allowance of wages haveing been given to certain women for gathering of Grapes there during the space of five dayes in 3. H. 4. The next place of note within the precincts of Warwick is the Church of our Lady This in the Conq. time had 1. hide of Land lying in Miton belonging thereto valued at x. s. which it seems was given to it by Turchill de Warwick for by the Survey then made it was certified to be held of him The design for making of it Collegiate id est consisting of a Dean and secular Canons and uniting the Priests belonging to the Church of All Saints which stood within the Castle unto those here was originally laid by Henry de Newburgh the first Earle of Warwick of the Norman line who gave the Church of Compton Murdak for a Prebend to the maintenance of one Canon therein But the work being not effected by him Roger his Son and Successor in the Earldom did in the year MCxxiii 23. H. 1. consummate it with the assent and at the request of the Clerks of the before specified Churches so united and of S. Bishop of Worcester for the health of the Soul of K. Will. the Conq. Q. Maud his consort K. Will. Rufus and for the future advantage of the Soul of K. H. 1. Q. Maud his wife and their Children As also for the Soul of Roger de Belmund and Aelina his wife and of Earle Henry father to the before specified Earle Roger Robert Earle of Mellent and all the faithfull deceased to the end that all the said Clerks might serve God together Canonically night and day in the said Church of our Lady Granting unto them for their necessary sustenance the Church of S. Nicholas the Church of S. Laurence with x. Acres of Land and a House the Church of S. Mich. with 5. Acres of Land and three houses the Churches of S. Sepulcher and S. Helen with two parts of the Tithes of Bidford scil of the Inclosure In Wellesburn 2. parts of the Tith of the inclosed grounds and Chircheset so also in Herdwick with 2. Carucats of Land lying near Long-bridge In Cherlecote half a hide of Land with the Tyth of the demesnes and of the 2. Mills there In Fulbroc half a hide with 2. parts of the Tyth of the demesne 2. parts of the Tyth of the Mill belonging to that Village In Snitenefelt 1. hide with 2. parts of the Tyth of the Inclosure In Claverdon 2. parts of the Tyths of the Inclosure as also the Paunage of the whole Wood belonging to that Town In Shirburn half a hide with 2. parts of the Tyth of the Inclosure In Milverton half a hide vvith all the Tyth of the Earle of Warwick's Fee In Cotes all the Tythe as well in the Mills as other things living dead and likewise of two Carucates of Land lying in Stochull and Wodelaw In Comton 2. parts of the Tyth of the Inclosure In Walton-Theoderic all the Tyth of the demesne and of one Mill. In Walton-Spilibert 2. parts of the Tythes of the Inclosure as also of the 2. Mills and in the Meadow adjoyning to Bereford vi Acres Within and without the Town of Warw. lx houses In Miton all the Tyth and all the third part of the demesne as also the Land of one Neatheard and 4. Land And moreover the Church of Gretham with the Church of S. Iohn and 6. Acres of Land the Church of S. Peter with one house The Church of Budbroke and all the Tyth of that Village with all that belongeth thereto and the Tythe of the Rent of the Burrough of Warw. In Hethe 1. Hide In Caldecote half a Hide as also the Schools of Warw. together with judgement by Fire Water and Battail and lastly C. Acres of land in Cotes with the land of Wimund the Priest All which possessions he the said E. Roger ratified unto them by his Charter sealed granting that they might have a Dean and Chapter and a fraternal Covent in the said Church and to enjoy the premisses as freely and honorably as the Churches of Lincoln Salisbury or York did theirs And besides this did the said Earle Roger give to the Canons of this his Collegiate Church the Chapel of S. Iames built over the West-gate in Warwick with a croft thereto belonging lying without the Town ditch and extending in length from the said Chapel as far as S. Iohn's Chapel on the other side the way And to these grants did Robert de Curli add his confirmation of the Church of Budebroke acknowledging it to be a Chapel belonging to the said mother Church of our Lady to which Church of Budebroke did then belong lx Acres of Inclosure on the one side of the Town and as many on the other and a House for the Priests with certain crofts anciently belonging to that Church as also the whole Tythes of Budbroke Hamton Norton and Greve and of the Mill and Pool belonging to the Town provided that the said Canons did place a Vicar there with the consent of him the said Robert and his Heirs All which were confirmed by Simon Bishop of Worcester who in the third year of his Episcopacy translated the Priests out of the said Church of
7. Sir VVilliam Lucy then Lord of Cherlecote releast to them certain Priviledges which he and his Ancestors had in Thelesford viz. Toll Tack Sâ—allage and Blâ—odhed Other passages as had relation to this House of Thelesford from the Lucyes I shall mention anon when I speak of that family in Cherlecote Upon the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. the value of all that belong'd thereto over and above reprises was certified to be no more than xxiv li. xix s. yet through the Kings favour or rather for that it was of so small consequence the dissolution thereof was forborn in 27 H. 8. when the rest of the lesser Houses went to wrack so that till 30 H. 8. it stood but then following the example of others the poor Friers here by their publique Instrument dated 26. Octob. 30 H. 8. surrendred it up to the Ks. use the names of those that subscribed thereto being Edw. Davie Minister Frater Iacobus Brown Will. Lacie and Nich. Turnar Of which the Prior scil Edward Davie had a Pension of 5 li. per an granted to him during life but the rest nothing After this scil 7 Iulii 35 H. 8. the King in consideration of 648 li. 19 s. 02 d. sold the site thereof together with a thicket of trees neer adjoyning to the House containing seven Acres and called by the name of Thelesford-grove as also certain lands in Cherlecote and Wasperton belonging thereto unto William Whorwood Esquier and William Walter to be held in Capite by the C. part of a Knights fee under severall Rents Since which it is by purchase come again to the Lucies of Cherlecote Ministri Domus de Thelesford Frater Elias 31 H. 3. Robertus temp E. 1. Henricus 2 E. 2 Thomas de Offinton 3 E. 3. Thomas de Cherlecote 28 E. 3. Williel de Clarindon temp R. 2. Iohannes Brokeden 7 H. 7. Edmundus Alceyter 26 H. 8 Edw. Davy 30 H. 8. Charlecote AUon passing on scarce a mile lower leaveth Charlecote upon its Eastern bank whereof one Saxi was possest before the Norman invasion but afterwards the Earl of Mellent By the Conquerors Survey it was certified to contain three hides having two Mills prized at xxi s. the whole being rated at iv li. In that Record it is written Cerlecote and had its appellation originally from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time as I guess Ceorle being a name then in use as we find in some antient Authors In those days it was of the parish of Wellesburne hard by as when I speak of the Church shall be shewed and came doubtless to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick with most of those lands which were the said Earl of Mellent's his brother in this Shire whose son and heir viz. Roger Earl of Warwick in 23 H. 1 gave to his Collegiate Church of Warwick then newly by him founded half a hide of land lying here with the Tithe of the whole Lordship and of the two Mills before specified By the same Earl Roger was Thurstane de Montfort a great man in those days enfeof't of large possessions in this County as in Beldesert I shall manifest whose son Henry de Montfort with Alice de Harecourt the widow of Robert de Montfort his elder brother gave to Walter the son of Thurstane de Cherlecote all this Village of Cherlecote which grant King R. 1. by his Letters Patent bearing date at Dovor 6. Decemb. .... confirmed to the same Walter and his heirs adding divers immunities and priviledges thereto all which were ratified l by King Iohn in 5. of his raign 'T is not unlike but that the said Thurstane de Cherlecote was a younger son unto the before specified Thurstane de Montfort for that he was paternally a Montfort the MS. History of Wroxhall importeth and that the same Thurstane was his father not onely the likelyhood in point of time but his Christen name doth very much argue From this Walter de Cherlecote who was a Kt. by Cecily his wife descended William that assumed the sirname of Lucy which makes me think that she was an heir to some branch of that family for it hath antiently been usuall enough with the descendants of great heirs to relinquish their paternall names and take the Mothers as M â— Cambden doth sufficiently manifest Which William had a confirmation of this Lordship made to him by Thurstane de Montfort son and heir of Henry de Montfort above specified whereby it appears that upon the originall grant made to Walter his father the summe of ten pounds of silver was annually reserved from him and his heirs to be payd at the Feasts of St. Michaell and the Annunciation of our Lady by equall poâ—tions at the time of which confirmation made he the said William did his homage for this place This William was in Armes with the Barons against King Iohn but returning to his allegiance in 1 H. 3. had his lands seized upon for that offence restored to him as appears by the Kings Mandate to the Shiriffs of Worcester Gloucester Warwick and Leicester-shires within which Countyes his estate lay In 6 H. 3. he had the Kings Letters Patent of confirmat on made to him of the Hundred of Kinton originally granted to VValter the son of Thurstane de Cherlecote by King H. 2. and ratified by King Iohn but had been seâ—zed upon by King H. 3. with the demesns of the Crown and such Eschaets as had hapned In 18 H. 3. Walter de Lascy a great Baron in that age confer'd upon this William and his heirs the Stewardship of all his laâ—ds that he then had or that he might have in England with two carucats part of the demesn belonging to his Castle of Ludelaw In consideration of which two carucates the said VVilliam and his heirs were to be Constables of that Castle for the safe custody thereof and to maintain for ever a Priest a Poâ—ter and two Centinells there as formerly had been used except at such times as the said VValter de Lascy himself or his heirs should come thither and then he and his heires to remain in the outer ward during their stay there But for the times of hostility it was agreed that the said VValter and his heirs should fortify and defend it themselves at their own costs and the said VVilliam and his heirs to remain in the same outer Ward whilst it should be so fortified And further that the said VVilliam and his heirs might take the like rates taxt upon Bread and Beer in the town of Ludelaw in the absence of the said VValter and his heirs which he had used to have or ought to receive when he was there in person As also that the repair which he and his heirs should make there upon occasion to be by the view of two honest men and at the charge of the
the Counties of Berks. Northampton Stafford Wigorn. Linc. Oxford and Suff. were bestowed by the Conqueror on Robert de Stadford paternally descended from that great and noble Family of Tonei being son as I think to Roger de Tonei totius Normanniae Signifer as also Brother to Raph de Tonei who came into England with Duke William and fought stoutly on his behalf in the battail against King Harold in which I need not make question but that this Robert also was for my Author having mentioned the said Raph and some few others of the highest rank addeth these words aliique quamplures militaris praestantiae fama celebratissimi quorum nomina Historiarum voluminibus inter bellicosissimos commendari deceat In consideration therefore of that notable service I shall conclude that he was rewarded with such vast possessions in the severall Counties before mentioned amongst which this town of Wootton with the rest of Wagen's lands were part but making choise of Stafford for his principall seat where he had a strong Castle as is evident assumed his sirname from thence The extent of this Wootton was then certified to be 7. hides there being at that time a Church and two Mills and the woods belonging â—hereto containing two miles in length and one in breadth which with all the rest were valued at iv li. In the line of which Robert it continued till the death and attainder of Edward Duke of Buck. temp H. 8. But the story of that noble Family I reserve for another work and shall here take notice only of what I find thereof in reference to this place which is no more than that in 13 E. 1. Nich. Lord Stafford obtained a Charter of Free-warren for himself and his heirs in all his demesn lands here And that in 2 Edw. 2. Edmund his son dying seized of this Mannour was certified to hold it together with Tisoe in this Countie and certain lands in Staffordshire of the King in Capite by Barony scil to find three armed men with Horses compleatly harnessed for service in the Warrs of Wales during the space of xl days at his own proper charges After the death of which Duke Thomas Grey Marq. Dorset obtained it inter alia from the King first for life and afterwards to himself and the heirs male of his body Which Thomas had issue Henry Marq. Dorset created Duke of Suff. by King Edw. 6. as in Astley is shewed but attainted in 1 Mariae whereupon this Mannour was granted by that Queen to Sir Iohn Grey Knight and Mary his wife and their heirs 3 Iunii 2 3. Ph. M. From whom Dame Agnes Smyth the Widow of Sir Iohn Smyth Knight one of the Barons of the Exchequer and Francis Smyth son and heir to the said Agnes purchased it 1. Maii 1 Eliz. which Francis died seized of it 3. Sept. 4 Iac. whose grandchild Sir Francis Smyth Knight having in 15 Iac. obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here left issue Sir Charles Smyth Knight his son and heir now Lord Carington the present owner thereof BEsides this Mannour here in Wootton that continued so long in the line of Stafford there was another which belonged to the Family of Harewell for many descents but had not the reputation of a Mannour for ought I have seen till of later time For the originall of it grew by divers petty purchases of severall parcells of land in the times of King Edw. 1. and E. 2. made by one Richard de Stanford and Idonea his wife which Richard is stiled in most of the deeds that I have seen Magister Ric. de Stanford Clericus and left issue Iohn his son and heir who in 23 E. 3. being one of the Commissioners in this County for assessing and collecting a xv th and x th then granted to the King in Parliament and in 27 E. 3. Coroner in this Shire bore for his Armes a Fesse and upon a Canton in the dexter part of the shield a martlet as by his Seal appears and had issue Iohn as also Maud a daughter married to Roger de Harewell brother to Iohn Harewell Bishop of Bathe and Wells towards the later end of E. 3. and beginning of R. 2. time which Maud became her brother's heir and possest all those his lands whereunto by marriages of severall heirs and otherwise her descendants made so fair an addition as that they were rankt amongst the superior gentry of this Shire therefore having something to say historically of them this being their principall Seat I have inserted the following Pedegree extracted out of the Evidences of the before specified Lord Carington Of Iohn Harewell son and heir to Roger and Maud I find that he being elected one of the Coroners in this Countie in 16 R. 2. upon his complaint to the King that the choise was not according to the tenour of the Statute of 3. E. 1. Cap. 10. which provideth that those to be chosen ought to be sage and wise Knights that might know how to undergo and that would attend the said Office a Precept was directed to the Shiriff to make a new election in his full Countie wherein the form of the said Statute should be exactly observed In 1 H. 5. he was Eschaetor for this County and Leicestershire In 5 o one of the Councell to Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick In 7 H. 5. imployed by Commission with other persons of quality to treat with the people here for a loan of money to the King and from 9 H. 5. till his death a Justice of Peace in this Shire He bore for Magr. Ric. de Stanford Clericus 15 E. 1. Idonea 23 E. 1. Ioh. Harewell Ioh. Harewell Bath Wellen. Episc. obiit 10 R. 2. Rog. Harewell de Wootton 42 E. 3. Ric. Harewell canonicus Eccl. de Wells 20 R. 2. Ioh. Harewell obiit 7 H. 6. Ioh. Harewell de Whitley 7. H. 5. Nich. Harewell ob s. prole Ioh. Harewell de Whitley 17 H. 7. Rog. Harewell de Solihull 21 H. 8. Will. Harewell de Stoorton Ric. Harewell de Shoterich ob 17 H. 6. Iohanna filia haeres ob s. p. 29 H. 6. Rog. Harewell 9 H. 6. Agnes filia cohaer Will. Clopton mil. Will. Harewell obiit 16 H. 7. Agnes filia Henrici Wogan Ioh. Harewell obiit 10 Apr. 20 H. 7. Anna filia haeres Ric. Midleton Agnes filia quinta cohaeres Ioh. Smyth Baro Scac. 25 H. 8. Franciscus Smyth ar obiit 3. Sept. 1606. Maria filia haeres Joh. Morton de Ashby-Folvile in Com. Leic. Georgius Smyth Anna filia Thomae Giffard de Chillington mil. Franciscus Smith miles Anna filia Thomae Markham de Merton in Com Nott. ar Carolus Smyth de Wotton miles erectus in Baronem Carington Eliz. filia Ioh. Carrell eq aur Thomas Harewell obiit sine prole Thomas Harewell ob sine prole 22
of the possessions of Waga of whom I have spoke in Wootton in Edw. the Confessors days was held by Robert de Stafford in the Conq. time and by the generall Survey then taken wherein it is written Holehale certified to contain one hide the woods being half a mile in length and one furlong in breadth all valued at iv li. From which Robert or his son Nicholas did Roger Earl of Warwick obtain it as it seemes and enfeoft thereof one Roger who residing here assumed the sirname of Ulehale from whom descended certain male branches which continued till Edw. 1. time at the least whereof one viz. Robert grandchild to the said Roger wrote himself Dominus de Holenhale and in 36 H. 3. was certified to hold a fourth part of a Knight's fee here of the Earl of Warwick I suppose by some circumstances that this Mannour first came to the family of Mountfort about King H. 3. time for I find that Peter de Mountfort did then confirm the grant of certain particular parcells of land lying here given by petty Freeholders to the Monks Wootton but the first positive proof that I have which manifesteth Montfort directly to have been Lord thereof is in 32 H. 6. where one Richard Hawnell who was enfeoft thereof by Sir William Mountfort of Colshill Kt. releases his right therein to Humphrey Duke of Buck. and others which Duke with the rest had likewise but an estate in trust thereof for it appears that it came to the Crown in 10 H. 7. by the attainder of Sir Simon Montfort Knight as in Colshill shall be shewed and was by the same King in 12. of his reign granted away with divers other Lordships in this Countie to Gerald Earl of Kildare and Elizabeth S. Iohn then his wife and the heirs male of their two bodyes K. H. 8. in 2. of his reign confirming the same From which Earl it descended to Sir Iames Fitz Gerald Knight one of his sons by the said Eliz. But by his attainder in 28 H. 8. as I have elsewhere shewed returned again to the Crown and in 1 Mariae was by that Queen granted unto Michael Throkmorton Esquire a younger son to Sir Robert Throkmorton of Coughton Knight who died seized thereof 1. Nov. 5 6 Ph. M. leaving Francis his son and heir seven years of age which Francis had issue Iohn Throkmorton of whom it was purchased in our time by Mr. Bolton a Citizen of London Here is a fair Chapell dedicated to the blessed Virgin wherein the Vicars of Wootton for the time being have of antient time used to find a Priest at their own proper charge to celebrate divine service The Epitaph belonging to the Monument represented on the next page Here lieth the body of Francis Throkmorton Esquire borne in the Citie of Mantua in Italy son and heir unto Michaell Throkmorton Esquire and of Agnes Hide of Southamptonshire which Michaell was borne at Coughton-Court in the Countie of Warwick and was youngest brother to Sir George Throkmorton of Coughton aforesaid Knight And after that the said Michaell had lived many years in Italy in good and great reputation with bountifull Hospitalitie entertaining most of the Noble-men and gentlemen of England that had occasion to come that way and did returne into the Realm of England in the very beginning of the reigne of Q. Mary and received of her gift the Maenours of Honiley Blackwell Packhurst Winderton Vllenhall in Ullenhall and others as appeareth by her Majesties Letters Patent bearing date in the first year of her reign And after went into Italy againe where he departed this life and lieth buried in S. Martin's Church in the said Citie of Mantua under a fair Tombe The said Michael married Iudith Tracie daughter of Richard Tracie of Stanway in the Countie of Gloucester Esquire and of Barbara Lucy of Charlecote in the aforesaid County of Warwick and sister to Sir Paul Tracie Baronet and had by her six Children whereof three that is to say Francis Michaell and Iudith are departed this life without issue and the other three are living that is to say Iohn Michaell and Iudith Anno Dom. 1617. anno decimo quinto domini nostri Iacobi Regis Angliae Mors mihi lucrum portus refugium Sic transit gloria Mundi Omnia vana vidi solo mea Christo repono Mors tua Mors Christi fraus Mundi gloria Coeli Et dolor inferni sunt meditanda tibi Botley THis being originally a member of Wootton is not taken notice of in the Conqueror's Survey but the name which is Saxon shews it to be of greater antiquity for Botle was the word which our Ancestors used in the same sense that we do Domus in Latine In H. 2. time Robert de Stadford possessor also of Wootton gave to the Canons of Kenilworth certain lands lying in this place with the homages and services of severall persons as also to Geffrey Malore and his heirs all those lands homages services which he likewise held of him here reserving the payment of a Sparhawk to himself and his heirs by the said Geffrey and his heirs which Geffrey was of those Malories that resided at Tachebroke in this Countie From whom descended Iohn Malore who in 9 E. 3. had Free warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here and at Tachebrooke before specified as also at Walton on the Woulds in Leicestershire and from him another Iohn who with Ankitell Malore his son and heir by their Deed bearing date the Thursday after the Feast of S. Michael th'arch-Angell 22 H. 6. aliened it to Richard Archer Esquire and his heirs whose posteritie have ever since enjoy'd it Sir Simon Archer of Tanworth Knight being the present owner thereof Whitley THis being in the Conqueror's time possest by Robert de Stadford with Wootton and then certified to contain three hides was held of him by one Drogo which name we now call Drew having then a Mill Woods extending to half a mile in length and two furlongs in breadth all which were valued at xl s. and before the Norman Invasion had been the inheritance of three brothers Some have affirmed that this Drogo was a Norman and servant to the said Robert de Stadford and that his posterity assumed the sirname of Whitley in regard of their residence here as also that from this Family of Whitley came the Offords and Fulwoods the one from Robert who seating himself at Offord whereof I shall speak anon left that name to his descendants and the other from Richard who planting at a place in the parish of Tanworth then called Fulwood but now Clea-Hall had also thence that denomination all which from antient evidences is likewise in some sort manifested Of this Family was one Thomas de Witele who had issue Robert which Robert in consideration of x. marks of silver past
it was the Freehold of Leuvinus Doda In that Survey it is written Wilmecote the originall of which appellation did questionlesse proceed from the name of some antient Inhabitant there in the Saxons time But the next mention that I find thereof is not till 6 Ioh. where it is written Wilmundecote and certified to be part of those lands that the Normans had in England which were then seized on for their adhering to the K. of France as in Ilmindon I have already observed one Bricto Camerarius being then Lord thereof and Chamberlain of Normandy as I guesse the value of it then consisting only in rent of Assize amounting to xliis per an and no more After which ere long one Will. de Wilmecote was owner of it who doubtlesse took that sirname from his residence here for in 12 H. 3. it appears that he brought an Assize against Maurice Arch-Deacon of Gloucester touching the advouson of the Chapell belonging to this Village yet in E. 1. I find that Raph de Lodinton had a good proportion here viz. two yard land in demesn with a Water Mill as also 5 yard land in Villenage all which he held of Sir Thomas de Camvill by the fourth part of a Kts fee which fourth part in 25 E. 1. was certified to be held of Edm. Earl of Lancaster the Kings Brother by Robert de Vale of whom in Lodington I have spoken already But about that time was there one Iohn de Wilmecote Lord hereof and shortly after him Henry de L'isle of Moxhull in this Countie who with Ioan his wife in 9 E. 2. were found to hold half a Kts. fee here of the Earl of War which half Kts. fee was of her inheritance she being the heir to the before specified Iohn de Wilmecote To which Henry succeeded Iohn his son and heir who in 10 E. 3. entailed this Mannour with the advouson of the Chapell upon the issue of his body by Maude then his wife with remainder to his right heirs by reason whereof it continued to his posterity whereof I shall speak in Moxhull till 8 H. 7. but then was past away by Henry L'isle Esquire and Eliz. his wife to Will. Purchesse and others in trust as I conceive for Hugh Clopton Alderman of London for I find that the said Hugh dyed seized thereof 15 Sept. 12 H. 7. leaving Will. Clopton his Cosin and next heir as in Clopton is shewed who had livery thereof accordingly in 19 H. 7. The Chapell here dedicated to St. Mary Magd. was given to the Gild of the Holy Cross in Stratford super Avon in E. 4. time by the before mentioned Henry de L'isle and Eliz. his wife one Thomas Clopton being then Master of the same Patroni Capellae Incumbentes c. Matilda de Lyle Ioh. de Walton 21 Martii 1372. Matilda de Lyle Ioh. Cade 18 Ian. 1380. Newnham AS for the name of this place it proceeded originally without doubt from the first habitation fixed thereat whether it were one single House or more the syllable Ham with our Ancestors the Saxons not onely signifying a House but a neighbourhood of divers dwellings as we may observe by the many towns that terminate in Ham so that Neunham imports the same that nova habitatio doth But of this little village I have not seen any mention at all in Record above 9 E. 2. where it is certified as a Hamlet of Aston-Cantelupe of which Mannour it is stâ—ll reputed to be parcell Little Alne THis was also originally a member of Aston-Cantelupe and antiently possest by the Lords of that Mannoâ—r It should seem that a great part of those lands which were given to the Canons of Studley by some of the Cantelupes do lye within the compass of this village though in the grant they are said to be in Aston-Cantelupe for upon the passing them out of the Crown in 1. Mariae they are granted to Anthony Skinner by the name of the Mannour of Little-Alne five Tenements a water Mill with a meadow as parcell of the possessions of the Monastery of Studley which Anthony dyed seized thereof 19 Nov. 1 Eliz. leaving issue George and William which George dying without issue Will. became heir to the estate whose grandchild Anthony now enjoys it Shelfhull THe first mention I find of this place is in H. 3. time upon the grant of a large assart to the Canons of Studley by Will. de Cantilupe the third where it is bounded upon the Park of Scelefhull which Park belonging to the Lords of Aston-Cantelupe doth argue that it was antiently a member thereof And out of all doubt those Woods or the greatest part of them which are mentioned by the Conquerour's Survey to belong unto Aston were imparkt by the Lords of that Mannour for their pleasure in Hunting it being a mountanous ground most proper for Deer an Conies But the extent of Shelfhull was more than this Park for in 6 E. 2. after the death of Iohn de Hastings Lord of Aston before specified it appeareth that Will. le Walsh held the sixth part of a Kts. fee of him lying in this place Howbeit till 14 H. 6. I have not seen it called a Mannour but then upon the death of Ioan Beauchamp Lady Bergavenny it carries that name nevertheless it is reputed as a member of Aston-Cantelupe and therewith belongs to the Lord Bergavenny at this day Haseler SOmewhat lower but yet farther distant from the bank of Alne stands Haseler containing these two petty Hamlets sc. Walcote and Upton which before the Norman invasion was the freehold of Vlviet and Aluric but at the time of the Conquerour's generall Survey possest by Nich. Balistarius being certified to contain 5. hides with a Mill rated at vi s. viii d. as also a Salt House of iiii s. Rent and two quarters of Salt all being valued at vi li. In that Record it is written Haselove the stroke over the v. through the transcribers neglect being omitted for it should be Haselovere That the later part of the name viz. Overe which in our common speech signifies the same with supra agreeth with the situation of the place is evident enough for it stands upon a notable ascent almost every way and if I may take leave to guess at the other part I shall conclude that the same hilly ground whereupon the town stands being originally woody and full of Hasells as much of the Country thereabouts yet is gave occasion thereof How it past from the before specified Nich. Balistaerius or his posterity I find not but in H. 2. time Nicholas de Pole one of the King's Justices was chief Lord here whose descendants enjoy'd it not long for in 20 H. 3. it appertained to W. de Hastings and upon the Aid then gathered answered for half a Kts. fee amongst divers other lands in this Countie then certified to be
land lying in Lonkeleye Blackmore and Brockhurst all which are said to be within the territory of Sutton So that hence I conclude that the same Walter or his ancestors first had it from one of the antient Earls of Warwick adding thereto that by a multitude of Inquisitions it appeareth to have been of their Fee But all the farther mention that I find of this Walter is in the Shiriffs Accompt of 23 H. 3. and that in 36 H. 3. he brought an Assise of Novell disseisin against Nich. L'ile for certain Common of pasture in Moxhull To whom succeeded Walter his son and heir and to him Osbert de Bereford who in 2 E. 1. was constituted Shiriff of this Countie and Leicestershire as also the next year ensuing a Commissioner for levying a Fifteenth and in 8 E. 1. Shiriff again of these Counties And to him William his brother for he and his descendants went away with this Langley and certain lands in Wishaw Sutton Curdworth Minworth Midleton and Wigginshill in this Countie as also Stapleford in Leicestershire Which Will. was in 16 E. 1. a Kt. and being learned in the Laws in 2 E. 2. had the Chief-Justiceship of the Common Pleas conferred upon him But about three years after such his advancement to that eminent place there was an high Complaint made against him to the King by Iohn de Someri a great Baron in these parts for words of defamation viz. that he did so domineere in Staffordshire that no man could enjoy the benefit of Law or reason taking upon him more authoritie than a King as also that it was no abiding for any thereabouts unlesse they did bribe him in contributing largely towards the building of his Castle at Dudley And moreover that the said Iohn did use to beset mens Houses in that Countrey threatning to murther them except they gave him what he would demand Whereupon the King issued a Commission to Alan la Zouche and Will. Trussell to enquire thereof and in case the words were proved then to find out whether the before specified Iohn were really guilty of those misdemeanours and to certifie the truth therein How he answered this businesse appears not but in 8 E. 2. I find that he was one of the Justices of Assize in this County so likewise in 13 E. 2. As also a Benefactor to the Canons of Kenilworth by granting to them Lx. acres of land and two acres of meadow lying in Radford-Simelie and that he departed this world in 20 E. 2. leaving Edmund his son and heir 28 years of age who did his homage the same year and had livery of his lands Which Edmund in 1 E. 3. obtained License from the King to fortifie his Mannour House here at Langley with a wall of lime and stone and to embattle it In that Record the K. calls him dilectus Clericus noster yet was he then a Knight for in a Release bearing date at Chaucumbe the same year whereby Henry de Bereford Parson of the Church of Corson gave up unto him all his right in this Mannour as also in Wishaw he is so stiled the sealing whereof was somewhat observabâ—e In cuâ—us râ—i testimonium saith the Parson Sigillum meum apposui Et quia Sigillum meum plurimis est incognitum Sigillum Rogeri Hillari nepotis mei apponi procuravi Whereunto were witnesses Sir Gilbert de Elsefield Sir Sim. de Bereford Sir Miles de Beauchamp Sir Iames de Audley and Sir Iohn de Broughton Kts. Rog. Hillari Iohn Dimock and others Which instance as it shews of what regard Seals were antiently so doth it give me an oportunitie to say something as to the original use of them in this Realm and of the great esteem wherein they have continued ever since That K. Edw. the Confessor was the first here in England that ever put Seal to his Charters is very evident and that he did so in imitation of the Normans amongst whom he had been educated is not to be doubted but till after the Conquest we have no testimony that they were used here by any Subject as Ingulphus manifesteth Nam ChirographoruÌ„ confectionem Anglicanam saith he quae antea usque ad Edv. Regis tempora fidelium praesentium subscriptionibus cum Crucibus aureis aliisque sacris signaculis firma fuerunt Normanni condemnantes Chirographa Cartas vocabant Chartarum firmitatem cum cerea impressione per unius cujusque speciale Sigillum sub instillatione trium vel quatuor testium astantium conficere constituebant Conferebantur enim prim ò multa praedia nudo verbo absque scripto vel Charta tantùm cum Domini Gladio vel Galea vel Cornu vel Cratera plurima tenementa cum Calcari cum Sâ—rigili cum Arcu nonnulli cum Sagitta Sed haec initio Regni sui speaking of Will the Conq. posterioribus annis immutatus est iste modus But that this use of Sealing was of greater antiquity with the French I shall exhibite the testimony of a learned person from whom I have abstracted what follows Karolus deâ— gratia Rex Francorum c. Notum sit omnibus c. qualiter vir illustris Rogerus Comes fidelis noster c. Monasterium c. in loco nuncupato Karrofum c. in pago Pictavense construxit c. Et ut haec praesens auctoritas nostris futuris temporibus inviolata perducare valeat manus nostrae signaculis eam decrevimus roborari de Annulo nostro jussimus Sigillari circa An. D. Dâ—Clxix In nomine domini Dei c. Hludovicus divina ordinante clementia Imperator Augustus Notum sit c. Haec verò authoritas ut nostris futurisque temporibus melius credatur c. manu propria subscripsimus de Annulo nostro subter jussimus Sigillari Dat. c. An. D. DCCCxiiii But I return to England That our Kings and all great persons antiently used their own pictures in the impressions of their Seales is very evident Militarie men allways on Horsback and in the same kind of Armour that they wore which in the elder times was Male for the most part with a Shield on the left Arme and in the right hand a naked Sword upon which Shields 't is rare before K. Ric. 1. time to see any distinct charge at least such as became hereditary but after that it was held a great honour for those whose Ancestors had served in the Holy Warrs to retain in the same Badges and Marks which they there bore so that then they did not only continue them upon their Shields but to be the better known had the like depicted upon surcoats of silke behind and before which they wore over their Male as in those excellent observations made upon Vpton by that learned gentleman and my singular Friend Edw. Bisshe Esq is made most evident and as is farther testified by
Iohn Rous Tempore Regis Ioh. saith he erant in Sigillis Dominorum tunicae super loricis non autem ante erant autem tunicae longae ad talos But after this ere long divers bore their Armes on fair large and deep Shields in their Seales and some on the reverse where the picture on Horsback was on the other side of which the same Author saith Circiter annum MCCxviii Domini qui in Sigillis more solito habebant Equites armatos cum gladiis nunc in dorso sigillorum Arma sua posuerunt de novo in Scutis Howbeit in Edw. 1. days and after most men began to leave of their pictures on Horsback in their Seals which custome by degrees declining was utterly given over in Edw. 3. time So that our Historian observes Post captionem Johannis Regis Franciae an sc. 1356 Domini atque Generosi relictis imaginibus Equitum in Sigillis posuerant Arma sua in parvis Scutis Now in what reverend esteem this practise of Sealing hath antiently been may be observed from these testimonies sc. Of a Charter made by K. H. 1. unto the Abby of Evesham touching the Hundred of Blackherst and divers Liberties it appeareth that being exhibited to K. H. 3. and through rude handlâ—ng the Seal cloven in sunder that the validity thereof might not be lessened the K. forthwith caused it to be confirmed 3 Maii 25 H. 3. with this clause Ne igitur praefata Carta occasione fissurae praedictae processu temporis ab aliquo possit haberi vitiosa hac praesenti Charta nostra duximus testificandum quod praedictum Sigillum sanum integrum recepimus Statuentes per hanc Cartam nostram pro nobis haeredibus nostris firmiter percipientes quod praedicta Cartae avi praefati Henrici avi nostri nichilominus esse idem robur omnem eandem efficaciam habeat imperpetuum quod haberet si Sigillum integrum esset indivisum sicut fuit quando praefatus Abbas eam nobis liberavit And for counterfaiting another man's Seal observe what punishment was antiently used Rex Vice comiti Oxon Mandamus tibi quod Anketillum Manvers qui captus fuit pro falsina Sigilli Roberti de Veteri ponte abjurare facias terram nostram ipsum postea sine dilatione mittas ad mare per aliquos de tuis qui videant quod exeat à terra nostra c. T. Rege apud Clipston 27 Martii Nay so tender was every man in those times of his Seal that in case he accidentally had lost it care was taken to publish the same least another might make use of it to his detriment as is manifest in the case of Benedict de Hagham in 54 H. 3. Where the Record runs thus Memorandum quod publicè clamatum est in Banco quod Sigillum Benedicti de Hagham cum uno capite in medio sub nomine suo in quacunque manu fuerit de caetero nullum robur optineat And not much unlike to this is that of Henry de Perpount a person of great quality in 8 E. 1. Memorandum quod Henricus de Perpount die Lune in crast Octab. beati Mich. venit in Cancellaria apud Lincolniam publicè dixit quod Sigillum amisit protestabatur quod si aliquod instrumentum cum Sigillo illo post tempus illud inveniretur consignatum illud nullius esse valoris vel momenti As also that in 7 E. 2. Iohannes E. recognovit in Cancellaria Regis se amisisse Sigillum suum petit quod dicto Sigillo deinceps non habeatur fides Nay by a Pleading in 9 H. 3. I find that CC. marks damages was recovered against Henry de Grendon and Will. de Grendon by Sir Raph de Crophull Knight for forcibly breaking a Seal from a Deed. And in 13 E. 3. when by misfortune a Deed then shewed in the Chancerie was severed from the Seal in the presence of the Lord Chancelour and other noble persons command was not only given for the affixing it again thereto but an Exemplification made thereof under the great Seal of England with a recitall of the premises Nor is that publication made by Iohn de Greseley of Drakelow in Com. Derb. 18 R. 2. upon the losse of his Seal lesse considerable Notum sit omnibus Christianis quod ego Ioh. Greseley non habui potestatem Sigilli mei per unum annum integrum ultimo praeteritum jam notifico in bona memoria sana mente Scripta Sigillo meo contradico denego in omnibus à tempore praedicto usque in diem restaurationis Sigilli praedicti In cujus rei testimonium Sigillum Decanatus de Repindon apposui Testibus domino Thoma Stafford milite Ioh. Arderne Ioh Corsoun de Ketleston Rog. de Montgomeri Dat. apud Drakelow xviii R. 2. And here we see that as Henry de Bereford procured his nephew Roger Hillari to affix his Seal to that Instrument before mentioned in regard it was more known which hath occasioned this digression so doth Iohn de Gresely now cause the Seal of the Deanry of Repindon to be put to his Deed. A multitude of Examples in the like kind I could produce some of the Seals of Bishops some of Deans and Chapters some of Corporations and some of sundry eminent persons whose Seals were most notable but for brevities sake I forbear concluding my discourse of this matter with that which is very observable viz. that King Iohn whilst he was Earl of Moreton to his grant of the Church of Hope in Derbyshire made unto the Canons of Lichfield affixed his gold Ring with a Turky stone in it to the silk string whereunto the Seal was put with this expression non solum Sigilli mâ—i impressione sed proprii Annuli appositione roboravi But further concerning Seales I refer my Reader to the learned Selden's Titles of Honour Part 2. Cap. 5. Sect. 37. And so returning to Sir Edmund de Bereford I find that in 9 E. 3. his Seal of Armes was Crusule fichè and three flowre de lices the colour sable and the field Arg. which coat hath a good affinity with Hillaries before mentioned that differing from this in nothing but a border as the Seal also sheweth In 25 E. 3. this Sir Edmund having by his Testament made at Brightwell in Oxfordshire bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Priory of Chaucumbe betwixt the steps and the Altar in the midst of the floor if with conveniency it might be and to his poor Tenants of Chaulgrave in Oxfordshire Shotswell Derset Wishaw Wiginhill Maney Sutton Bikemershe and Thorpe all in this County given liberall Legacies died in 28 E. 3. leaving Iohn his son possest of most of his lands by vertue of a special entail in 22 E. 3. For it seems he was illegitimate Gualt de Bereford 37 H. 3. Margâ—ria domina de
Alice one of the sisters and coheirs to Iohn Masterson Which Thomas in the first year of Q. Mary being one of the Justices of Peace in this County received a speciall Precept from Francis Earl of Huntingdon the Queens Levtenant forthwith to muster and levy such and so many able men well appointed for the Warrs as he should call together meet to serve the said Queens highnesse under that Earl against the Duke of Suffolk and his complices then proclaimed Traitors and to bring them forthwith both Horse and Foot to Warwick Castle where the said Earl then lodg'd In which service he was so active that as a reward for his diligence the Q. granted him a Warrant under her Signet to the Marquesse of Winchester then Lord Treasurer for a grant to passe the great Seal of the Mannour of Hampton in Arden for xxxi years in reversion after the decease of the Lady Margaret then wife to Sir Gawen Carew Knight upon the old accustomed Rent of xxx li. to be reserved unto the said Queen her heirs and successors But the number of years fell short in the Patent for it was but for xxâ— years and the Rent increased to Lv li. As for the rest which relates to this Family either in point of descent or matches the Pedegree before inserted will shew all that I can say Returning now to the banks of Tame I come to Ousthirne whereof in respect it was heretofore a Grange belonging to Merevale I shall reserve what is to be said till I speake of that Abby and so ascending the stream of Blithe whose confluence with Tame is near this place take notice next of Solihull within the precincts of which Lordship it first enters this Hundred Solihull OF this I have not seen any mention till King Iohn's time where the profit of the Leetes kept for the severall Hundreds and some other places is certified one Mark is accounted for it but though the name be of no greater antiquity yet that the place I mean the whole territory which of antient time and still is reputed to belong thereto is I will presently demonstrate notwithstanding that it had at first another appellation and to that end shall begin my discovery by the light of that incomparable Record viz. Domesday book Where I find that it was heretofore called Uluerlei and that Edwine Earl of Mercia possest it in Edward the Confessor's days but after the Conquest one Cristina then owner of Ichinton longa in this County At which time it was certified to contain viii hides and that the Woods belonging thereto were 4 miles in length and half a mile in breadth there being then a Church How it came to passe appears not but certain it is that the rate of all was much lesse at that time than before the Norman Invasion for then it amounted to x li. in value whereas at the time of the generall Survey but iiii li. That this with the other lands which the said Cristina then held came to the Familie of Limsie I have in Long-Ichinton already manifested here being the seat of Limsie's Barony I mean in that place called Ulverle about a mile distant from Solihull Northwards though there be now so litâ—le memory thereof that were it not for some grounds lying adjacent to a petty Hamlet called Olton which yet retaining the name of Hullerley gave me occasion of farther search I should have been at a great losse for the discovery thereof but looking well thereabouts and making diligent enquiry of the Inhabitants I found a large Moat containing within it at least an Acre whereon they say a Castle long since was situate though now nothing be left thereof a parcell of old Oaks growing where the buildings stood which tradition hath the more colour of truth forasmuch as there is a Lane near at hand bearing the name of Castle lane Some of the neighbourhood do call this Hoggs moat which I conceive is intended Odingsells moat but by corrupt pronuntiation now so termed for I have seen the name of Odingsells very antiently written Hoginsells Which grounds being at least a mile diameter have heretofore been a Park as the Country people say and is probable enough from the large bank that lieth on the out side of them invironed with Lanes Not far from whence are the Vestigia of three very large Pooles long ago converted to meadow ground And 't is not to be doubted but that the Village now called Olton was antiently this Wolverle above specified which since the plantation at Solihull having lost the true name is and hath since Edw. 1. time for brevitie been called Olton id est the Old town In H. 1. time I find that Raphe de Limesi the first of this line who was a great man in the Conqueror's days as appears by the possessions he then had lying in divers Counties of England gave to the Church of Piriton in Hartfordshire which he had founded two parts of the Tithes here at Wolverle â— then written Hulferle From which Raph the male line of these Limesies continued but four descents and then between two sisters and coheirs the Barony became divided as in Ichinton I have shewed this upon the partition falling to Basilia the wife of Hugh de Odingsells by whom it was disposed of to Will. de Odingsells his younger son in whose time was Solihull out of the ruines of Wulverle grown to be a town of some note as it seems for in 26 H. 3. he had a Charter bearing date 9 Apr. for a Mercate on the Wednsday every week and a yearly Faire beginning on the Eve of S. Alphage and continuing for 3 days that being the Saint to whom the Church had been dedicated for that it was a very antient usage to have the Faire at that time when the day of the Churches Dedication was yearly solemnized I have in my discourse of Stratford super Avon given a reason In the same 26 th year of H. 3. was this Will attendant upon the King in person beyond the Seas but being returned the next year following he obtained License that there should be a Perambulation made betwtixt the lands in Kings-Norton and Bromesgrove in Worcestershire belonging to the Crown which then were in the hands of Henry de Hastings by Lease and the lands of the above specified Will. de Odingsells here at Solihuâ—l by the Shiriffs of Worcestershire and Warwickshire and xii lawfull and discreet Knights of each Countie After which viz. in 33 H. 3. this William whom my Author calls miles strenuus being made Governour of Montgomeri Castle in Wales was the same year one of those that met at the Tourneament then held at Brackley in Northamptonshire where he had some affront offered to him by Will. de Valence the King's brother who being an Alien had got Richard Earl of Gloucester to side with him by which means the English were much insulted
but very little or nothing at all appeareth to have been proved And so much doth an honest Historian in his Acts of the Archbishops of Yorke declare where speaking of the proceedings against them he saith Quamvis in multis essent accusati nichil tamen inventum est quod de jure videretur statum illorum annullare And that this was truth speaking then of Will. de Grenefeld Archbishop of Yorke at that time he further saith Archiepiscopus Willielmus pietate motus super statu Templariorum suae Diocesit omni auxilio destitutorum eos in diversa suae Diocesis instituit Monasteria eisque suo perpetuo vitae necessaria ministrari praecepit Yet such was their hard fate that having been thus dealt withall their whole Order became shortly after condemned in a genetall Councell at Uienna under Pope Clement the v. Anno 1311. 4 E. 2. So that their possessions being thereupon seized into the King's hands what they had in this Countie and Leicestershire was committed to the custodie of Alexander de Compton who in 6 E. 2. answered Lx li. to the King for the issues thereof But 't is plain that the heirs of the Donours for a while came to enjoy them again and that thereupon Iohn de Moubray had this Mannour of Balshall which he held till his death and attainder for adhering to Thomas Earl of Lancaster in 15 E. 2. as also that it was thereupon committed to the custodie of Iohn Peche of whom in Hampton I have spoke to hold during the King's pleasure Houbeit in this condition they scarce continued one year longer For by a generall Decree of Pope Clement before specified dated at Uienna vi Non. Maii in the seventh year of his Papacie they were annexed and incorporated to the Knights Hospitalars of which Order before I proceed farther I will here as I have done of the Templars give a brief account The first institution of this Order was about the year MXCII. after which ere long they setled in England for in the year MC and beginning of King Henry the first his reign Iordan Briset a wealthy and devout man built then an House in the suburbs of London neer Smithfield which was afterwards called S. Iohns of Ierusalem But these also from a low beginning through the great austeritie of their lives at first obtained vast possessions before what belong'd to the Templars was setled upon them In this Countie they had antiently I mean before the accession of the Templars lands to them lands in Grafton given to them by Henry the son to Bernardus de Grafton and others In Chesterton by William de Croc In Preston-Bagot Whitnash Newbold-Pacie Bilney Rieton super Dunsmore Halford Anstie and other places by the gift of sundry persons And of what great esteem this their Order was within England the Charter of priviledges and Liberties granted to them by King Ric. 1. in 5 0 of his reign doth sufficiently manifest where the generall words â—un thus Conâ—essimus omne sus omne Dominium quod ad nos pertinet pertineat omnem potestatem omnes libertates liberas consuetudines quas Regia potestas conferre potest in omnibus c. But I return to Balshall The next thing most observable in reference to these Knights Hospitalars wherewith I have met is a passage which manifesteth that all their Tenants for the better fruition of the many priviledges belonging to those lands did use to erect Crosses upon their Houses which Custome appears by the seizure of a House and certain grounds thereto belonging that lay in Wishaw into the King's hands in respect that one Chestershire the owner thereof had set a Crosse upon it to the end that he might partake of the Templars priviledges whereas in truth the premisses had not any relation to that Order I do not find that the Hospitalars held this place as a Preceptorie by the residence of any of their Fraternity here as the Templars did but rather the contrary for it appears that in E. 4. time Iohn Beaufitz Esquire was their Fermour of the House called the Preceptorie and resided there which Iohn in 22 H. 6. underwent the Office of Eschaetor for this Countie and Leicestershire as also from 11 E. 4. till 4 H. 7. inclusive was a Justice of Peace in this Shire And moreover that having been in 16 E. 4. Shiriff for both these Counties and in 1. and 2 H. 7. again Eschaetor he dyed in 22 H. 7. as the date and probate of his Testament do manifest by which he bequeathed his body to be buried in the Monasterie of Kenilworth before the Image of the blessed Virgin at the door of the Quiâ—e or where else Iohn Yardley the then Abbot should think more expedient And to the Abbot and Covent of that House gave a Basin and Ewre of silver to serve at the high Altar the same Abbot during his whole life being to pray for him daily in his Masse especially by name and he that should daily say the Chapter Masse to pray for the Soul of Sir Raufe Boteler Lord Sudley and his Lady and him the said Iohn Beaufitz especially by name as the said Abbot and Covent pleased and likewise he that was to sing our Lady Masse To the same Abbot he also gave a gilt piece to the value of ten marks to pray daily for him by name in his Masse and he and his Covent to assoil him in the Chapterhouse This Iohn had also in Fletchamsted an estate by Lease from the Knights Hospitalars and besides this possest a Mannour in Lodbroke called Wynteners as also the Mannour of Wodcote in this Countie and left issue Margerie his daughter and heir afterwards married to Sir Robert Belyngham Knight Little have I seen else worthy the notice touching this place other than the Customes which antiently as is evident by that Account in 31 H. 2. were as followeth viz. that their Tenants were yearly to mow three days in Harvest one at the charge of the House and to plow three days whereof one at the like charge As also to reap one day at which time they should have a Ram from the House or viii d. xxiv loaves and a Cheese of the best in the House together with a pail full of drink And moreover that they might not sell their Horse-Colts if they were foaled upon the land belonging to the Temple without the consent of the Fraternity nor marry their daughters without their License After the dissolution of the Monasteries this Mannour being inter alia assigned for the dowrie of Queen Catherine the last wife of King H. 8. was in 1 E. 6. granted I mean the reversion to Edward Duke of Somerset and his heirs to hold by the xlth part of a Knights fee But he being attainted in 5 E. 6. as our Historians do
of the before specified Iohn Mireden THis place situate upon London-road having from some Inns and Alehouses built for the receipt of Passengers grown of late times to the credit of a Village doth now utterly eclipse the name of Alspath by which and none other the Town it self â—c where the Church standeth was known even from the Saxons times till about the beginning of King Henry the sixt's reign for of Myredene till then I have never seen mention in any authentique writing so that I conceive it to have been about that time that the buildings in this thorough-fare increast to such a considerable number that the name of the place where they stand came to be more frequently used than that of the Town it self Yet am I of opinion that the place where the greatest part of Myridene now stands was very antiently so called for the later syllable dene â—mporteth no lesse being the old English word that signifieth a Valley as this is which I suppose for the foulnesse thereof was at first called Miredene By the Conqueror's Survey where it is written Ailespede and certified to contain four hides having Woods of a mile and half in length and a miâ—e in breadth it appears that the Countess Godeva possest it in Edward the Confessor's days whence I conclude that the famous Earl Leofrike her husband of whom I have spoke at large in Coventre was formerly owner thereof but at the time of the said Survey it with the rest of the lands in this Shire which the said Countess before the Norman invasion held were in the King's hands and ferm'd out by him to one Nicholas This at that time being valued at xxx s. with Coventre and the rest was granted afterwards to the Earl of Chester as it seems but as yet I have not seen when the first of that Familie who assumed their sirname from hence was enfeoft of those lands here which they enjoyed Perhaps it was Ivo de Alspath who lived in H. 2. time for before him I have not observed this sirname attributed to any other To which Ivo succeeded Gerard and Walter but whether they were brothers or not I am not certain It seems that both these had a good share in this place for Gerard de Alspath son of that Ger. in 41 H. 3. obtained a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here and Walter was stiled Dominus de Alspath This Gerard holding certain lands of Richard de Amundevill Lord of Berkswell for which he did Homage in 33 H. 3. by his Deed obligatory bound himself to pay unto the said Richard and his heirs a pair of gilt Spurs yearly at Easter in Berskwell-Hall or xii d. in money whether they should please to choose But that which Walter de Alspath had descended to William de Alspath who in 32 E. 1. had also Free warren granted to him in all his demesn lands thereof This William had a daughter called Annabel second wife to Gerard de Alspath son and heir to the last mentioned Gerard but whether she was an inheritrix or not I make a question Which Gerard and Annabel had issue Sâ—r Gerard de Alspath Knâ—ght a Servant or at least a very great Well-wisher to Roger Mortimer Earl of March who helping to contrive the escape of the said Roger out of the Tower of London where he was a Prisoner by reason of the difference betwixt him and Thomas Earl of Lancaster fled with him out of England for which he got a speciall Pardon in 4 E. 3. Betwixt the descendants of this Sir Gerard and Margerie his neice grew afterwards suits for a great part of these lands the issue whereof was this in brief that the said Margerie whom one William Cocks had taken to wife past away all her right unto Iohn de Chetwyn in whose line it conâ—inued till 2. E. 6. that Thomas Chetwyn of Ingestre in Com. Staff Esquire sold it by the name of the Mannour of Alspath alias Myridene with th' appurtenances unto Iohn Hales of Coventre Gentleman Which Iohn by his Deed bearing date 4 Ian. 4 E. 6. past it unto his brother Christopher and his heirs who in 1. 2. Ph. M. sold it unto Edward Aglionby Esquire and Iohn Holbech Gentleman and Elizabeth his wife to the uses following viz. the one moitie thereof to the said Edward Aglionby his heirs and assignes for ever and the other to the said Elizabeth and the heirs of her body begotten by Iohn Dabridgcourt Gentleman her late husband and for lack of such issue to the right heirs of the said Elizabeth But afterwaâ—ds viz. in 6 Eliz. did Thomas Dabridgcourt Esquire son and heir to the said Iohn and Elizabeth pass back their right and title therein to the before specified Edward Aglionby and his heirs which Edward within 4. years after sold it unto his son in Law William Foster Gentleman Ivo de Alspath Gerardus de Alspath Gerardus de Alspath 41 H. 3. Gerardus de Alspath 27 E. 1. Matilda filia Oâ—berti de Clinton 27 F. 1. Ioh. de Alspath Margeria 50 E. 3. Will. Cocks 50 E. 3. Walt. dominus de Alspath Will. de Alspath 32 E. 1. Annora 9 E. 2. Annabellaâ— Gerardus de Alspath 8 E. 2. Annora filia haeres Gebon ... Arnamentarius Regi E. 3. Margareta Isab. Margeria Radulfus Peche secundus maritus Annora filia haeres Ioh. Peche Ioh. Peche And of this William Foster did Richard Corbet of Clatercote in Com. Oxon. Esquire purchase it in 25 Eliz. viz. to himself and Mary his wife for their lives with remainder to Robert Corbet of Morton-Corbet in Com Salop. his brother and his heirs From which Robert Corbet it descended to Elizabeth his daughter and heir wife to Sir Henry Wallop of Fairley in Com. Sutht Knight who in 7 Iac. aliened it to William Andrews and Iohn Halsall Gentlemen and their heirs From which William and Iohn did Thomas Holbech Gentleman purchase the Capitall messuage or Mannour place with certain lands thereto belonging in Iune 10 Iac the residue being for the most part parcell'd out in petty sales to other persons From whom it is come to Mathew Holbech his son and heir that now enjoys it Within the precincts of this Parish had the Segraves antiently certain lands and Rents which were held of them immediatly of Iohn de Langley and by him of the Earl of Chester's heir viz. Hugh de Albini by the fourth part of a Knight's Fee and in process of time came to have the reputation of a Mannour All which were extended in 50 H. 3. for the rebellion of Nicholas de Segrave but repossessing them again by vertue of the Dictum de Kenilworth they descended to Iohn de Segrave his son and heir who having made a good addition to his inheritance here by
Rog. de Roderham 7. Cal. Apr. 1345. Abbas Conv. de Merevale Thom. de Poleye Cap. 5. Id. Sept. 1348. Rob. de Ferrers dominus de Bosworth miles Ioh. Woodcock Pbr. 12. Cal. Nov. 1349. Abb. Conv. de Merevale Ioh. de Rommessere Pbr. 6. Cal. Ian. 1349. Abb. Conv. de Merevale Ioh. Fynch Cap. 18. Cal. Dec. 1358. D. Rad. de Ferrers miles D. Ioh. Scropton 4. Id. Martii 1358. D. Thomas de Astley Thomas Boton Pbr. 8. Iunii 1376. Abb. Conv. de Merevale Ioh. de Polesworth Pbr. ult Maii 1379. Thomas de Astley junior miles Ric. de Derset ult Martii 1382. Abb. Conv. de Merevale Ric. Rymyld 8. Cal. Dec. 1386. Thom. de Astley de Appulby ar Will. Aleyn Cap. 26. Iunii 1416. Abb. Conv. de Merevale Henr. Cloghes Cap. 13. Febr. 1456. Hug. de Astley Cler. alii ex concess Tho. Astley de Patshull ar D. Ric. Hall Cap. 14. Iulii 1541. Henr. Porter alii ratione concess Pr. Conv. de Kenilw. D. Ioh. Farmer Cler. 9. Sept. 1552. Geo. Stoneynge ex concess Abb. Conv. de Merevale D. Will. Wood 19. Sept. 1554. Gilb. Astley ar fil haer Tho. Astley de Patshull Ric. Morgan Cler. 25. Martii 1561. Tho. L'isle de Moxhull ex concess Tho. Astley de Pateshull Ric. Slanye 26. Nov. 1561 Ioh. Wood ex concess Gilb. Astley ar Ric. Browne Cler. 3. Apr 1569. T. Bromley miles Cancellar Angl. ad implend ult volunt Walt. Comitis Essexiae Will. Bate Cler. 1. Nov. 1583. Will. Crompton de Stone ex concess T. Astley de Patshull ar Ioh. Foxe Cler. ... Ian. 1591. Ioh. Palmer Cler. Rector Eccl. B. Mariae Staff Ioh. Watson Cler. 4. Aug. 1627. Kingsbury I Come next to Kingsbury which is a large Parish containing these Viâ—lages and places of note viz. Kymberley-Hall Hurley Plumpton Flanders-Hall Hallaton Drakenege Whateley Slateley Holt Cliffe and Dosthill of all which in their order That this place in the Saxons time was a Seat belonging to some of the Mercian Kings is not to be doubted the name it self importing no lesse Besides if we regard the situation for delight few in these parts will equall it considering the vicinity of the River bordered on the one side with Hills and Woods and on the other with spacious and pleasant Meadows And that the verge of Sutton-Chase in those days a Forest as by what I have in Sutton observed extended to the skirts thereof So thaâ— if I shall hence conclude that this is the same Kingsburie where Bertulphus King of Mercia residing had a grand Councell of his Prelates and great Nobles in the yeare from our Saviour's Incarnation DCCCLI I think it will be no great presumption But of these antient times as we have little Discoverie so is there no great certaintie to be found I shall therefore descend somewhat neerer the Norman Invasion where by the light of that generall Survey where it is written Chinesburie which King VVilliam here made shortly after his Conquest I find that the Countess Godeva of whom in Coventre I have spoke held it in Edward the Confessor's days whence I guess that Earl Leofrike her husband possest it in his time By which Survey here are said to have been six hides of land two Priests one Mill valued at ix s. iv d. xii acres of Meadow and Woods extending to a mile in length and as much in breadth which together with the rest were rated at xiii li. by weight being then in the possession of one Nicholas as Fermour to the King of all the lands that had belong'd to the said Countess Turkillus de Warewic ...... ux prima Siwardus de Ardena temp H. 1. Turkillus de Warewic Leverunia ux secunda Osbertus de Ardena Matilda Henricus de Ardena Thomas de Ardena 9. Ioh. Osbertus de Ardena Adeliza ux Sim. de Harcuria obâ—â—t s. prole Amabilis ux Rob. fil Walteri ob s. prole Amicia ux Petri de Bracebrigge Joh. de Bracebrigg 9 Ioh. ob s. prole Will. de Bracebrigge frater haeres Anketil de Bracebrigg 32 H. 3. Rad. de Bracebrigg miles 33 H. 3. Ioh. de Bracebrigg miles 36 H. 3. Ioh. de Bracebrigg miles 3 E. 2. Ioh. de Bracebrigg miles 31 E. 3. Rad. de Bracebrigg miles 19 E. 3. Ioanna Ioh. de Bracebrigg miles 19 R. 2. obiit s. p. Rad. de Bracebrigg mileâ— 10 H. 4. Rad. Bracebrigg ar 13 H. 4. Ioanna filia Will. Neuport mil. Ric. Bracebrigg ar aet 9 an 14 H. 6. Ioh. Bracebrigg ar obiit 23. Martii 7 H. 8. Sim. Bracebrigg obiit vivo patre Eliz. filia Will. Harewell de Wotton-Waven ar 9 H. 7. Iohanna filia Geoâ—gi Cateâ—by de Lapworth ar ux 1. Thomas Bracebrigg ar obiit 1. Martii 11 Eliz. Will. Bracebrigg duxâ—t Annam fil Iulini Nethermill Civis Coventriae ob ... Apr. 2 Eliz. Margeria primò â—â—pta Wâ—ldeâ—vo Willington gen postea Barn East gen Iana ux Leonelli Skipwith gen Michaell Bracebrigg ob s. prole 6 Eliz. Geiinus Edwardus Ricardus Thomas Bracebrigg ar obiit 1 Martii 11 Eliz. Iocosa filâ—a Thomae Wâ—lson ux 2. Thomas Bracebrigg obiit anno 1607. Alicia filia Ioh. Rugeley de Dunton ar Ioh. Bracebrigg duxâ—t Susannam filiam Thomae Coton Anna ux Mich. Sanders de Bedworth Edw. Bracebrigg duxit Doroth. fil Rad. Rugeley de Dunton ar Roulandus Bracebrigg Humfridus Willielmus Henricus Ioh. Bracebrigg Anketillus Bracebrigg duxit Annam filiam Thomae Corbin de Hall-End Ric. Bracebrigg de Atherston Sam. Bracebrigg Sim. Bracebrigg duxit Elenam filiam haer Anth. Crewker de Twiford in com Derb. Eliz. fil haeres ux Francisci Beaumont de Barrow in Com. Leic. ar Thomas Bracebrigg ar obiit 1 Martii 11 Eliz. Eliz. filia Georgii Winter de Worthington in Com. Leic. ux 3. Matilda ux Thomae de Clinton But after that great change made by the Norman Conquerour Turchill de Warewic had it in right of Leverunia his second wife whose inheritance it was Which Turchill in imitation of the Normans who had their Cognomina long before their coming into England with Duke William residing here as I presume assumed Arden for his sirname in regard that all this tract of the Countie Northwards of Avon being Woodland was antiently so called as I have elsewhere observed By the said Leverunia he had issue Osbert de Arden whose service for this Mannour as I take it did Ranulph Earl of Chester possessing a great part of the lands which belonged to the Countesse Godeva before mentioned about King Stephen's time grant unto Robert Marmion of Tamworth-Castle and his heirs Howbeit notwithstanding this grant it appears that this Mannour was afterwards held of the Earl of Chester's heirs as of their Mannour of Cheylesmore in Coventre But I return To this Osbert succeeded Osbert his son and to him two
filia .... domini Say Barth de Sudley defunctus 20 E. 2. Matilda filia Ioh. de Monteforti Ioh. de Sudley defunctus 14 E. 3. Alâ—anora filia Rob. domini de Seales Ioh. de Sudley defunctus â— p. 41 E. 3. Iohanna ux Will. le Boteler mil. defuncta 41 E. 3. Iohanna filia Ioh. Beauchamp de Powyk mil. Thomas Boteler consangu haeres Ioh. de Sudley 41 E. 3. Alicia ux secunda postea nupta Joh. Dalingrugge mil. Ioh. Boteler deâ—unctus s. p. 5 H. 5. Will Boteler 5 H. 5. Rad Boteler miles Thesaur Angl. duxit Aliciam fil haer Will. Deincourt mil obiit 13 E. 4. Thomas Boteler miles duxit Alianorâ—m sororem Joh. Talbot mil. domini L'isle obiit vivo patre Eliz. ux ..... Norburie Henr. Norburie miles Joh. Norburie miles unuâ— consangu haered Rad. Boteler de Sudley mil. 13 E. 4. Anna filia haeres Ric. Haliwell Iana consangu haer Joh. Norburie mil. 15 H. 8. Edmundus Bray miles 15 H. 8. Anna ux ... Coâ—ham Eliz. 1. nupta Ric. Catesby mil. postea Wil. Clerke ar Fridiswida ux Percevalli Hart. mil. Maria ux Rob. Peckham mil Dorothea ux Edw. Domini Chaundos Francisca ux Tho. Lifeild Iohanna ux ..... Belknap Will. Belknap ar ob s. p. 2 R. 3. Henricus Belknap Edw. Belknap miles obiit 12 H. 8. Margeria ux Rob. Massy mil. defuncta â— prole 3 R. 2. pasturage for Cattell in Derset Radway and Chelverscote But after 20 E. 2. I have not found any more mention of him neither of Iohn his grandchild scil son of Bartholmew is there much to be sayd who died in 14 E. 3. leaving Iohn his son and heir little more than a twelve month old which last Iohn departed this world without issue in 41 E. 3. whereupon Thomas Boteler son of Sir Will. Boteler of Wemme by Ioane eldest daughter to the last Bartholmew and Margerie her sister afterwards married to Sir Robert Massy Kt. became his Cosins and next t heirs This Thomas Boteler was a Kt. in 9 R. 2. To whom succeeded as heir to his Mother Sir Raphe Boteler Kt. a man eminently imployed and highly advanced as I shall forthwith shew For having in 8 H. 6. served the King with xx men at Armes and Lx. Archers in his personall expedition for France he was in 20 H. 6. created Baron of Sudley with an Annuitie of CC. marks per an to himself and his heirs for the better support of that dignitie and became soon after Lord Tresurer of England But in that Office he continued not long for in 28 H. 6. he was retained by Indenture to serve the King for five years as Governour of the Cittadell at Calais with .... men at Armes on Horseback xxix men at Armes on foot and xx Archers all able men of war taking for himself ii s. per diem for his men at Arms on foot viii d. and for his Archers vi d. besides the speciall Fee of C s. the quarter for himself And immediatly thereupon being made the King's Lieutenant of that Town covenanted for the defence and saâ—eguard thereof and the Marches adjoyning to keep C. men at Arms over and above the number before specified and DCCCC Archers for a quarter of a year taking for his men at Arms xii d. a man and his Archers vi d. besides the reward accustomed And was in so great esteem with the Canons of Erdburie for his munifence to them in sundry wiâ—e but specially in procuring for them the Appropriation of the Church at Leyth in Lancashire dated 15 Ian. 28 H. 6. that in consideration thereof they did by their publick Instrument ordeign that two of their Covent should every day celebrate divine service in that Monasterie for the health of his soul appointing parâ—icular Masses for each day of the week binding themâ—elves and their successors to observe his Anniversarie after his decease with Placebo Dirige and Masse of Requiem and to spend vi s. viii d. yearly on the day of his said Anniversarie in their Covent by way of Pittance over and above their usuall allowance After which viz. in 30 H. 6. he had a speciall Pardon granted to him for all offences whereby any advantage mâ—ght be taken against him in respect of his great and generall imployments in which pardon his partâ—cular services to King H. 5. aswell as to the said K H. 6. in France and in the Dutchie of Normandieâ— even from his very youth are gâ—atefully â—cknowledg'd For he had been Lord Tresurer and Chamberlain to K. H. 6. and Standard-beaâ—er and chief Butler of England as also Knight of the Garter and Steward of his Household But after this I find no more of him till his death which hapned 2 Maii 13 E. 4. where it appears that Iohn Norburie and Will. Belknap were his câ—sins and heirs for Sir Thomas Boteler his son died before him without issue So that this Mannour came at length inter alia by Partition made 15 Maii 11 H. 7. to Sir Iohn Norburie and so by Iane his grandchild and heir to Sir Edmund Bray which Iane died seized thereof 24 Aug. in the last year of Q. Maries reign leaving severall daughters and heirs as the Descent before inserted sheweth whereof Frances married to Thomas Lifeild who by the name of Thomas Lifeild of Stoke-Dabernon in com Sur. Esq. together with the said Frances his wife did by his Deed of bargain and sale Dated 7 Maii 3 Eliz. in consideration of 1050 l. sell and convey it unto Iohn Giffard of Chillington in com Staff Esq. whose grandchild sc. Peter son of Walter Giffard in our memorie passed the Mannour consisting of a Royaltie and certain chief Rents to Sir Iohn Newdigate of Erdburie Kt. and the Demesns to certain persons in trust for the use of Thomas Lord Coventre late Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England So that at this day the said Mannour is now enjoyed by Ric. Newdigate Sergeant at Law son to the same Sir Iohn and the demesns by the Lord Coventre son and heir to the said Lord Keeper The Priorie of Erdburie WIthin the precincts of Chilverscoton Parish stood the Monasterie of Erdburie built in K. Henry 2. time by Raphe de Sudley for Canons Regular of St. Augustine the Foundation Charter whereof I never saw but do conceive that the substance wherewith he at first endowed it was as followeth viz. the Church of Chelverdescote with two yard land belonging thereto as also six yard land and a Wood there reputed for half a hide ten Acres of land lying in Broadmedow and a place called the Breche at Whitemore with certain messuages and half a VVood called the Hudells And besides this with some lands and a meadow at Sulingfen together with the Church of Dercet and CC. acres of land lying in one of Dercet fields As also ten
Friery where residing he died in an 1625. The Gild. OF this Gild forasmuch as it consisted of the Inhabitants of the whole Parish I have spoke in Manceter The Free-School THis was founded in 15 Eliz. by Sir William Devereux Kt. who then residing at Merevale obtained License to purchase lands and to give them thereunto the substance whereof are situate in Dosthill near Kingsburie And farther of this Town I have not to say than that it gave birth to one of our late famous Poets scil Michaell Draiton who being one of the Esquires that attended Sir Walter Aston of Tixhall in Com. Staff Kt. when he was made Kt. of the Bath at the Coronation of K. Iames lieth buried in the South Cross Isle of Westminster-Abby with this Epitaph on his Monument Doe pious Marble let thy Readers know What they and what their Children owe To Draiton's name whose sacred dust We recomend unto thy trust Protect his memorie and preserve his storie Remain a lasting Monument of his glorie And when thy ruins shall disclaim To be the Tresurer of his name His name that never sades shall be An everlasting Monument to thee Feldon-Bridge AT the further side of Atherston field stands this Bridge over Anker which being ruinous in 6 E. 3. License was granted to Edmund de Shireford to take Toll of all vendible commodities passing over it by the space of three years towards the charge in repairing thereof Merevale WEstwards from Atherston scarce a mile stands Miravale of which there is no particular mention in the Conquerour's Survey in regard it was involved with Grendon lying on the other side the River whereto it then belonged as an Out-wood and therewith became possest by Henry de Feriers a great man in these parts as I shall shew anon whose grandson Robert Earl Feriers having a reverend esteem of the Cistertian Monks which in his time began to multiply in England made choice of this mountainous and woody Desert as fittest for solitude and devotion to found therein a Monasterie of that Order which was begun accordingly in the xiiith year of K. Stephen's reign and being propagated with Monks from Bordesley-Abby in Worcestershire had by reason of such its situation the name of Miravalle attributed thereto the lands wherewith he endowed it being these viz. all his Forest of Arden id est his Out-wood in that part of the Woodland which then bore the name of Arden and also what he had in Whitington together with the Mannour of Overton now called Orton on the Hill in Com. Leic. as also Herdwike in the Peake of Derbyshire unto Cranokesdune with Câ—mmon of pasture in Hertendon and Pillesburie for Sheep and other Cattell as the words of his Charter do import But besides this it had severall other Benefactors of which the principall were these scil Gerard de Limesi Walt. de Camvile Raphe de Baskervile and Pain de Baskervile as K. H. 2. Charter whereby he ratified their grants manifesteth So that about 30 H. 2. there were the Granges of More now More-Barne Broile Seile Litle Petling the Church of Overton on the Hill with the Chapells of Grendon Twicrosse Gopfhull and Baxterley some in this Countie and some in Leicestershire belonging thereto as the Bull of Pope Lucius the third whereby he confirmed them doth manifest Divers lands had these Monks afterwards bestowed on them also through the bountie of sundry other persons viz. in Litle Sheyle by Henry de Appelby and others In Overton subt Ardern by Iohn de Overton and Rob. Stapleton In Brantingthorp by Rob. de Brantingthorp and others In Shepye by Nich. de Temple and others In Hertyndon as parcell of the Mannour of Pillesburie they obtained Cxx. acres of land more from Thomas Earl of Lancaster in lieu of xx s. yearly Rent which they usually did receive at his Exchequer of Tutbury In 2 E. 3. they had a grant of two Messuages three Shops and xii s. Rent in Leicester by Petronill Oliver of Leicester to finde a Priest for celebration of Divine service in the Conventuall Church of Miravale for the soul of her the said Petronill her ancestors and all the faithfull deceased In 11 E. 3. they had more lands bestowed on them lying in Overton Peatling and Brantingthorpe before specified by sundry persons In 18 E. 3. they purchased xvii Messuages and divers lands in Atherston Bentley and Baxterley with the moytie of the Mannour of Baxterley In 31 E. 3. they had a Messuage and a yard land in Bentley bestowed on them by Iohn de L'isle then Lord of that Mannour to find xv Tapers in the Chapell of our Ladie near the Gate of the Abby In 10 R. 2. they purchased six other Messuages in Atherston and certain Rents in Whitington and Baxterley In 16 R. 2. four Messuagâ—s and certain lands in Tamworth â— and Wilmecote as also two Messuages more in Atherston And in 28 H. 6. they obtained the Church of Manceter with an appropriation thereof The value of all which lands and all other their possessions amounting unto CCLiiii l. i s. viii d. as appears by the Survey of 26 H. 8. preserved it from him when the lesser Houses went to wrack in 27 H. 8. But in 30 H. 8. it was overwhelm'd in the generall deluge being surrendred to the King's use by the then Abbot and Covent as their publick Instrument under the Conventuall Seal dated 13 Oct. the same year whereunto their names are particularly subscribed doth manifest whose Pensions during life as they were by Patent granted to them I have here also added Willielmus Arnold Abbas xl l. Ioh. Ownsbe Sub-Prior v l. vi s. viii d. Edm. Bromley alias Crockell v l. vi s. viii d. Will. Tunman v l. vi s. viii d. Rob. Fenne v l. Thomas Benson v l. Will. Robynson Sacrista v l. vi s. viii d. Ioh. Dunne v l. vi s. viii d. Will. Bron v l. Ioh. Spey Liii s. iiii d. After which viz. 2 Dec. 32 H. 8. was the site hereof with the lands and woods adjacent together with New-House-Grange and Pinwell-Grange in Com. Leic. As also Owsthirn-Grange in this Countie granted to Sir Walt. Devereux Kt. Lord Ferrers of Chartley and to the heirs male of his body so that there being a reversion in the Crown for defect of issue male in 4 E. 6. he obtained another Patent being then arrived to the dignitie of Vicount Hereford for the same site and the other lands to himself and his heirs generall Which Walter disposed thereof to Sir Will. Devereux Kt. his younger son as it seems for he it was that patcht up some part of the ruins here and resided thereon as I have heard And by his Testament bequeathing it to Ioan his wife for life gave the remainder to Walter Vicount Hereford his nephew and his heirs Which Walter afterwards created Earl of Essex left issue Robert