preferred to a Schollars place in the University grew such a proficient that the Monks resolved to make him a Sollicitor for managing their Law-suits and to that purpose from the University placed him at the Inns of Court where he grew so skilfull in his profession that finding King H. 7. politiquely resolving to raise great summs of money by taking the forfaiture of penall Lawes which he conceived would be much more plausible to his subjects than the exacting from them by Loans Subsidies and such other ways of tax as his predecessors had used applyed himself to his service wherein being very officious and bringing store of money to the Kings Coffers he obtained a grant of the Wardship and Marriage of Elizabeth daughter and heir to Edward Grey Visc. L'â—sle before mentioned whom he made his wife That the later part of this Story is true I find testimony enough but that the father of Edmund was a Carpenter is not very likely in regard he marryed so eminently viz. Elizabeth one of the daughters and coheirs to Iohn Bramshot Eâ—quier seized of the Mannours of Gatton Calbourne and Whitwell in the Isle of Weight as also of Bramshot in Hant-shire which Eliz. dyed 12. Oct. 14 H. 7. leaving Edmund her son then 36. years of age the other coheir called Agnes being the wife of Iohn Pakenham whence I conclude that he was a Gentleman as some others of the name of Dudley in severall parts of England are though perhaps not of the Baron of Dudley's line therefore how this formall Story of the Carpenter should rise I cannot well imagine unless the grandfather or great-grandfather of Edm. had been of that trade for it is no wonder to see those that are sprung from as poor Mechanicks by their activeness in the world to get wealth and assume the title of Esquire or Gentlemen without controull yea and be allowed so do Neither do we often find that those which are in truth of right noble extraction will boggle at matching their children with them But I return unto Edmund Dudley He was a man well vers't in the Law and one of the Privy Councell to that prudent Prince King H. 7. chosen in the first year of his raign propter prudentiam singularem fidem gravitatem saith Polydore In 19 H. 7. he was Speaker of the Parliament and should the same year have been made a Sergeant at Law on the 13. of November but for what reason I will not take upon me to assign he desired that he might be discharged from assuming that degree whereupon the King directed his Precept to Will Bishop of London then Lord Keeper of the great Seal commanding his forbearance of making out any Writ to him for that purpose In 22 H. 7. he had the Stewardship of the Rape of Hastings granted to him by Patent and wrote a Book called Arbor Reipublicae Whether he with Richard Empson another Lawyer but a Sive-makers son in Touceter as our Historians affirm discerning King Henry to be of a frugall disposition did project unto him the taking aduantage of such as had transgrest by exacting the forefaitures of penall Statutes or whether the King seeing so fair a gap open for him to rake vast summs of money from his subjects and finding those persons to be sit Instruments for his purpose did put them upon such courses of filling his Coffers 't is hard to say certain it is that these were the men he constituted his Iudices fiscales Dudley being an eminent man and one that could put hatefull business into good language as Sir Fr. Bacon saith and after he had long made use of their service to that end exposed them to those advantages which the discontented people could justly take for their abhominable extortions For their course was to proceed secretly to the Outlary against men and then seize their estates And besides that they had packt Jurors upon all occasions who were sure to them in any verdict which served for their purpose but at last found they a just reward for such their service for King H. 8. in the first year of his raign being desirous of popularity made known by his Proclamations that whosoever had received injury by the unjust oppressions of any should upon complaint to him have redress which liberty did so so animate the vulgar who were sufficiently imbittered against them that nothing then would satisfy but their lives so that the King to appease the multitude gave way that they might be legally proceeded against which accordingly was done Dudley being thereupon arraigned in Guild-Hall London on Munday next after the xv of S. Iohn Baptist 1 H. 8. before Edward Duke of Buck. Henry Earl of Northumberland Thomas Earl of Surrey George Earl of Shrewsbury Thomas Earl of Derby Thomas Prior of S. Iohns of Hierusalem in England Charles Somerset of Herbert Knight Stephen Iennings Knight Mayor of the City of London Iohn Fineux Knight Robert Rede Knight William Hodie Knight Robert Brudnell Humfrey Coningesby Iohn Fisher Knight Iohn Boteler William Grevill Thomas Lovell Knight Edward Poynings Kt. Henry Marney Knight Thomas Englefield Knight and Robert Drury Knight Justices to enquire c. Where the said Edmund being indicted of divers high Treasons was on wednesday next before the Feast of S. Margaret the Virgin attainted in Parliament and had his head cut off on Tower Hill with Empson who was tryed at Northampton through the peoples clamours and for their satisfaction 18. August 2 H. 8. by vertue of the K. speciall Writ for that purpose Having said thus much of the parentage of this Iohn Earl of Warwick I will now go on with my story of him At his fathers death he was scarce eight years old having to his Guardian Edward Guilford Esquire of the Body to the King who by his Petition exhibited in Parliament 3 H. 8. obtained an Act for the repeal of the said Edmund's attainder and the restitution of this Iohn in name blood and degree to enjoy all his said fathers lands Being therefore thus young it was a great while ere he came to appear in any publique employments so that till 24 H. 8. I have not yet seen any farther mention of his name but then I finde he was a Knight though how long he had been so I am not certain After which about ten years he was created Visc. L'isle viz. 12. Martii 34 H. 8. in respect of his descent on the mothers side as I have shewed and the same year made Lord Admirall of England for life Of person he was very comely and of a Spirit highly aspiring saith my Author neither wanted he skill industry nor resolution to attempt great matters In 36 H. 8. he landed the Kings Army at Leith in Scotland with a Fleet of CC. sail on which after they had wasted Edenburgh they also set fire The
Peter Fitz-Herbert and his successors This Peter after he had so obtained the eschaeted moytie as abovesaid grew exasperated for that large Scutage exacted by the King for maintenance of his Army in Poictou 16 Ioh. for which the Barons broke out into Rebellion and therein continued during the life of that King by reason whereof his lands here in Alencester were seized â— and committed to the custody of Will. de Camvill but in 1 H. 3. returning to obedience he had restitution of them again It seems that King H. 3. requiring the arrears of that Scutage in the fift of his reign this Peter was questioned for six marks due thereupon but had his discharge for for the same in regard he produced testimony that he had maintained Souldiers at his own costs in the said Army at that time In which year he had also the Kings Letters mandatory to his Tenants requiring their contribution to himâ— according to the rate of x s. for every Knights Fee towards the defraying of that charge he was at in attendance upon the King at the siege of Bitham Castle In 13 H. 3. he had Letters of protection for a journey beyond Sea wherein he was also to attend the King This Peter confirm'd to the Monks of Alcester whatsoever lands they were possest of in this place granting unto them freedome of paunage for their Hoggs in his Woods here with timber out of the same woods for their necessary occasions and Common of pasture for their Cattell and left issue Herbert commonly called Herbertus fil Petri who in 25 H. 3. came to a composition with Emma the widow of the before specified H. Falconer there called Hamo de Brome for her thirds in this moytie which Herbert shortly after past away all his right in the said moytie to Robert de Chaundoys who held it in 33 H. 3. Howbeit this was not the inheritance as it seemes for that did Walt. the son of Will. de Beauchamp purchase of Reginald son to the same Peter Fitz-Herbert in 56 H. 3. whereupon was reserved the forrein service of half a Knights Fee After which time the posterity of the said Walter enjoy'd it for very many ages having a goodly Mannour-house here whereat frequently making their residence they had sundry eminent imployments relating to this County for which respect purposing to speak historically of them I have inserted the ensuing Genealogie This Walter was brother to William de Beauchamp the first Earl of Warwick of that Family and being signed with the Crosse for a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 53 H. 3. had a Legacy of CC. marks bequeathed to him by his Father towards his better performance of that Holy Voyage In 21 E. 1. he obtained a Charter bearing date at Canterbury 14. Iulii for an yearly Faire to be held at this his Mannour of Alcester for eight days viz. on the Even of S. Giles and seven days following In 26. of the same Kings raign he had Summons amongst other great men to appear at Karleol upon the Even of Pentecost well furnisht with Horse and Armes to march against the Scots and was the same year with the King in that eminent battail of Fawkirk In 28 E. 1. he had Freewarren granted to him in all his demesn lands here at Alcester as also at Powyk and severall other places in Worcestershire at which time he was Steward of the King's Houshold In that memorable Certificate sent unto the Pope by all the Peers of England sitting in the Parliament at Lincoln 12. Febr. 29 E. 1. whereby they asserted King Edward's superiority over the Realm of Scotland the name of this Walter is there subscribed with the addition of Dominus de Alcester whence I guess that he then resided here It seems that the time for the Faire here so obtained as aforesaid was found inconvenient for in 30 E. 1. in exchange thereof the King granted another Charter to him for to translate the same unto the Even of S. Faith the Virgin and to continue seven days following In 31 E. 1. he attended the King again into Scotland as appears by his being in person at that notable siege of Kaerlaverok But of this Sir Walter for he was a Knight I find no farther mention worthy the taking notice of other than that he wedded Alice the daughter of ...... Tony she being allied to him in the fourth degree of consanguâ—nity which marriage was long after ratified and the Children begot betwixt them decreed legitimate by Godfrey Giffard Bishop of Worcester as having authority from the Pope in asmuch as they knew not of the impediments at the time of that contract made And that about the 31. of E. 1. he departed this Will. de Bellocampo 53 H. 3. Isabella soror haeres Will. Mauduit Comitis Warwici Will. de Bellocampo Comes Warwici jure materno Walt. de Bellocampo 53 H. 3. Alicia filia .... Tony. Egid. de Bello-campo 3 E. 3. Katherina Iohanna filia â—oh de Cherleton jun. 25 E. 3 Ioh. de Beauchamp 25 E. 3. Elizabetha 7 H. 4. Will. Beauchamp de Powyke 9 H. 5. Cath. una filiarum cohaer Gerardi Ufflete 9 H. 5. Eliz. ux Thomae Swinford 6 H. 5. Ioh. Beauchamp miles Thesaur Angl. 28 H. 6. Margareta soror Ricardi Ferrers ar condidit Testam 3 H. 7. Ric. Beauchamp 25 H. 6. Eliz. filia Humfr. Stafford mil 25 H. â— Eliz. una filiarum cohaer Rob. Willough by dominus Brook Edw. Willoughby obiit vivo patre Eliz. una consangu cohaer Roberti Willoughby domini Brooke Fulco Grevill miles filius secundus Edw. Grevill mil. Fulco Grevill miles obiit an 1606. Anna filia Rad. Nevill Comitis Westmerl Fulco Grevill miles dominus Brook obiit coelebs anno 1628. Margareta ux Ricardi Verney militis Robertus Grevill Blanchia filia .... Whitney Fulc Grevill obiit ... Augusti 1632. Maria filia Christophori Copley de Sprodborough in Com. Ebor. Robertus Grevill dominus Brook Cath. filia Francisci Russell Comitis Bedfordiae Anna obiit ante nuptias Blanchia ux Francisci D'autrâ—y mil. ob s. pâ—ole Anna uxor Ric. Ligon Margar. uxor Will. Rede Walt. Beauchamp Chivalier 3 H. 5. Ã quo Beauchamp Baro S. Amand. Will. de Bellocampo haeres Walt. Walt. de Bello-campo obiit 2 E. 3. Hawifia 13 E. 2. life leaving the said Alice a widow and three sons viz. Walter William and Giles Which second Walter in 10 E. 2. upon the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick his kinsman had the custody of the lands belonging to Warwick Castle together with the said Castle during the minority of his heir committed to him and the same year was constituted Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire In 13 E. 2. he obtained a Charter for another Faire
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
Davyes in his Dictionary expoundeth it and so by contraction be pronounced lawe is not improbable for so it expresseth the same that tumulus with the antients did Nam terrae congestio super ossa Tumulus dicitur as we read in the most learned and antient Commentary of Servius upon Virgil's iii. Aeneid ver 22. And we know well that the word Tumlus signifieth the same that Sepulchrum or monumentum doth and yet not properly from the very nature of the word but by a Metonymie And that the British word Llehau might proceed from the Latine locare is also likely enough forasmuch as it is apparent that the Romans did by kind and most insinuating praises make the old Brittans overstudious of their language and customs Adde hereunto that the Romans calling the places wherein they layd the bones of the burned corpses loculos as it is clear à locando and that the British llogel is the same with loculus and it will not seem unsutable that they may have taken their word whose custome of interring they imitated or expressed And then that the Saxons comming after who frequently changed the vowels indâ—fferently using the C for K and the like expressed the verb logian also for collocare or componere as we see Marc. 1.19 It may very well be that both Latine Bâ—itish and Saxon are all derived from the same Greek Fountain seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it signified many things with the antient Greeks so it was often used for cubare facio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also doth often signify cubo jacco and from this acceptation of the verb commeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lectus our Dutch leggen or liggen jacere leger stratum cubile as also llehau logian logiis c. But forasmuch as in things at this distance from us by reason of their antiquity we cannot go upon very absolute certainties I will adventure upon another and in my opinion more likely conjecture Bustum as we find in Pompeius Festus propriè dicitur locus in quo mortuus est combustus sepultus diciturque bustum quasi benè ustum Servius likewise upon the 185. verse of Virgil his xi Aeneid maketh this distinction Pyra est signorum congeries Rogus quum jam ardere coeperit dicitur Bustum jam exustum vocatur It is therefore not unlikely that the Antients in imitation of the word bustum which signified the place where a man was burnd and buryed made their word lowe from loge For illustration therefore of this Etymologie observe that not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also signified a flame as it should seem from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flamma the initiall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being here taken away which sometimes is added as when the English flanke is made out of the Teutonike lanke I will not alleage here the British word llosg incendium ustio and llosgi Urere for they may seem too much different but I do refer my self to the old Gothike Monuments in the which loge signifieth a flame Willeramus Abbas in his Paraphrasis also upon cap. 8. ver 6. of the Canticles useth loghon and linghon instead of ardere flammam emittere Those likewise who as yet in Frisland do entertain their antient Country language call the flame lochene yea almost all the other low-Dutch call a fired straw bunch to dry their vessels withall by the name of lochter Of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore which antiently signified a flame commeth lowe bustum without doubt even as the word law is corrupted out of the old Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lex and as the word maw is made of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stomachus And that it was so I am much the more confident when I consider that in the Northern parts of England as also in Scotland where the vestigia of our antient language the Saxon are most to be found the flame of any fire is called lowe to this day the common people usually saying that the fire low's when it blazeth or flameth consonant whereunto is that of the before specified Bishop of Dunkel in the said translation of Virgil. As king Latynus kindyllis on there gyse Apoun the Altaris for the sacrifice The clere chidis the dry fyre brandis Quhare that also by her fader standis Lavinia the maid his douchter fare Ane selcoth thing to se in hir hare It semyt the hate fyre kindillit bricht And hir gay cleithing all with lowis licht Gan glete and sperkilland birn up in ane bleis His ryal tressis inflambit c. Now for the word Tumulus it may very well be derived either from cumulus which signifies a heap or from the verb tumeo to swell for it is taken promiscuously not onely for a place of sepulture but any rising ground as in xii Aeneid Et tumulum caput c. tumulique ex aggere fatur Nor is it unlike but that these Tumuli have bin instead of Altars to Sacrifice unto the Ghosts of the dead as the same Virgil bears witness Et statuent tumulum tumulo solennia mittent We also observe that there was Sacrifice offred to those Ghosts upon Tumuli which were plac't at a great distance from the party deceas't as we find likewise in the before mentioned Authour tumulum Rhetaeo in littore inanem constitui And Andromache although in a Graecian Citty Sacrifices Hectoreum ad Tumulum As for the fashion of these Tumuli in Homer's days near 3000. years since let himself speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Terramque superfudere recentem tum facto tumulo redeunt And in the same place Achilles complains how small a Tumulus he had made for his beloved companion Patroclus and intreats those that should survive him to raise it to a greater height 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Exiguum statui tumulum quicunque relictus Post nostram fuerit mortem belloque superstes Illius extructus manibus consurgat ad astra Of which desire you shall find in the last Book of the Odysses that the Graecians were not unmindfull but built a Sepulcher for him and Patroclus a large one indeed which served afterwards for a land-mark as appeareth from the same Author in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Hos super Augustum tumulum vastumque pelasgi Littore sublime quaclauditur Hellespontus Struximus ut notum per secula long a maneret Etque mari longè speculantibus obvius esset And this was the fashion of these Monuments in Homer's time even for the most famous persons which may be taken notice of in many other places as that whereof he makes mention in the third Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And a little after another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is there called a high Hill As also in
amounted then to C s. per ann but had a Church-yard and Ecclesiastique sepulture In 22 R. 2. it was appropriated to the said Collegiat Church of our Lady a Pension of iii s. iv d. per ann being thereupon reserved to the Bishop and his successors out of it and in 26 H. 8. valued at iii li. vi s. viii d. per ann which sum the Dean and Canons of the said Collegiat Church then received Patroni Incumbentes c. D. Episc. auctoritate Diocesana Gilb. de Kyneton Cler. 10. Non. Feb. 1282. Canonici Eccl. B.M. Warw. Gilb. de Kington Subdiac 14. Cal. Dec. 1283. D. Episc. Henr. de Olney Cap. 6. Id. Nov. 1322. D. Adam de Herwynton Canon Praeb Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warw. Thom. de Burneby Cler. 9. Kal. Iunii 1325. D. Adam de Herwynton Canon Praeb Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warw. Will. de Walsh accol Non. Oct. 1338. Praebendarius de Comptox Adam Coriate Pbr. ..... 1339. Ioh. de Bokyngham Praeb Ioh. Roer Pbr. 15. Iunii 1357. Praebendarius de Compion Murdak Ric. de Broughton Pbr. 27. Aug. 1380. The Church of S. Iames being originally but a Chapell and founded over the West gate of this town was given to that of our Lady by Roger Earl of Warwick upon the making thereof Collegiate by him in King Henry 1. time as I have already shewed And in 41 E. 3. was presentable by the Dean and Canons of the above recited Colledge but being at that time void as it had been for many years had no more revenue than xx s. per ann belonging to it and neither Church-yard nor Ecclestique sepulture In 6 R. 2. the advouson thereof was bestowed on the Gild of S. George in Warwick whereof I shall speak anon Patroni Incumbentes c. Will. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Thom. de Beoleg Pbr. 3. Id. Iunii 1294. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. D. Will de Benynton Pbr. 22. Iunii 1330. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Rob. Sotemay Pbr. 27. Iulii 1339. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Philippus Bosse Pbr. 18. Maii. 1340. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. D. Walt. de Ulnehale Cap. 20. Martii 1342. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Ioh. de Harwode Pbr. 19. Iunii 1374. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Ric. Colet Pbr. 12. Sept. 1374. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Hugo de Pykton Cler. ult Dec. 1378. The Priory FRom hence I come to the Priory of S. Sepulchers situate on the North side of this town on a most pleasant ascent the Foundation whereof was begun by Henry de Neuburgh the first Earl of Warwick after the Conquest in K. H. 1. time the occasion thereof being by the recourse of divers Pilgrims in great devotion to the Holy Land the Christians prevailing much about that time who solicited this Earl to erect a Monastery in imitation of those Canons Regular there instituted in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher of our blessed Saviour which Canons used the like habite that other Regular Canons did adding onely a double red Cross upon the brest of their Cope this being the first House of that peculiar Order either in England Wales Scotland or Ireland But after the destruction of Hierusalem again which hapned in Anno 1188. 35 H. 2. almost all the Houses of this Rule began to decay so that then the Religious persons of this Order betook themselves to solicit and implore the aid of good people for help to regain the Holy Land having power to bestow great Indulgences upon those that were bountifull thereto their habite being then chang'd to a gray Cloake and the Prior going with a Pastorall staff howbeit all their endeavours for regaining the Holy Land at last comming to nothing their lands and revenues were transferred to the Order of Friers of the Holy Trinity for redemption of Captives touching the first Institution whereof I have spoke in Thelesford Canonicus Regularis S. Sepulchri The Church of Snitfield given by Hugh fil Ricardi Certain lands lying betwixt Tunstall and Stochull near Warwick by Geffrey de Vinea A stone-house and some particular ground in Warwick by William the son of Gilbert Nutricius Those grounds called Levenhull situate on the Northwest side of Warwick by Robert de Morton in 29 H. 3. One yard land in Lighthorne confirm'd i by Nigell de Mundevill which his father gave when he bequeath'd his body to sepulture here Certain lands in Upton by Thomas de Arden The Church of Hasele confirm'd by Thomas de Cherlecote Lord of Hasele having been given by some of his Ancestors Certain lands in Solihull by Sir William de Odingsells An annuity of 50 s. by Margery de Nerburne given out of Austrey in this shire Certain lands in Claverdon by Ela Longespe Countess of Warwick which she gave for the health of her soul and for the soul of Thomas Earl of Warwick her husband William Earl of Salisbury her father Ela her mother VVilliam and Richard her brothers and Ida her sister sometime wife of VValter fil Roberti Besides all these there belong'd thereto five Mess. one carucat of land and x s. x d. yearely Rent lying within the parish of S. Clements-Danes in the suburbs of London together with the advouson of the said Church of S. Clements all which the Prior and Canons of this House exchanged away unto VValter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter to the use of his Bishoprick for eight acres of land in Snitfield before specified with the advouson of the Church in 17 E. 2. Which Church they had then License to hold appropriate to them and their successors and did accordingly so that it seems the former title they had thereto by the grant of Hugh fil Ricardi either was not good or else they had aliened it away soon after It also seems that much of the lands they had here at Warwick was antiently Common for by an Inquis taken 9 H. 8. I find that they had inclosed foure hundred acres here and depopulated one mess. whereunto eighty acres belonged But over and above these lands had they sundry liberties and priviledges granted to them by King Henry 2. and Richard 1. and confirm'd by King Hen. 3. and Edw. 3. so great an esteem had they of that Order as the Preamble of King Henry 3. Charter implies scil pro reverentia S. Dominici Sepulchri And by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. it appears that besides the Rectories of Snitfield and Haseley above specified there belong'd to this Monastery the Church of Gretham in Com. Rutl. antiently of the Earl of Warwick's advouson though when given thereto I am not very certain all which with the rest of its possessions lying in Warwick Hatton Claverdon Church-Lawford Austrey Snitfield Pinley Solihull and Fenni-Compton were then rated at no more than
double Festivalls Which poor men so to be placed in the said Almeshouse to be chosen out of those that had been his Tenants or serving men at the discretion of his son and heir and heirs successively Advertising his son and heir that if he should so amortize this land for those uses it would be a meritorious deed and for which he should have Gods blessing and his and adjuring that none should break this his Will under pain of the Churches Curse Whereunto when he was upon his Pilgrimage to the Holy Land as I have said he added that Anthony his son should have his best ambling Horse to offer at S. Thomas Hospitall in Rome for a Morâ—uary his son Michael his next best Horse and that his goods which he had sent before to Florence should be divided betwixt the said Anthony and Michael Which Will was dated 10. Aug. anno 1518. and proved 9. Nov. anno 1520. To this Sir Robert succeeded George his son and heir who being a Knight in 17 H. 8. was one of those that attended in Court at that solemn Coronation of Queen Anne in 25 H. 8. and in 18. and 35 H. 8. executed the office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestershire This Sir George built that stately Castle-like Gatehouse of free-stone here at Coughton intending as it should seem to have made the rest of his House sutable thereto and having erected a fair Monument for himself and the Lady Catherine his wife standing towards the North-side of the Chancell as I shall shew by and by bequeathing his body to be buried under the same departed this life in 1. Mariae as may seem by the Probate of his Testament leaving issue a fair ofspring Of which I find that Robert the eldest was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire in 1. M. being then a Knight That Clement the third son was of Haseley in this County of whom and his descendants I have there spoke That Nicholas the fourth was a Knight and in 1 Eliz. imployed as Embassador to Francis the second King of France and Mary Queen of Scots his consort to expostulate the matter with them for assuming the Armes of England in their quarterings and afterwards scil in anno 1567. 9 Eliz. into Scotland at which time the said Queen was most barbarously kept in prison by her rebellious subjects where and when they extorted a resignation of the Regall power from her unto which he having perswaded her to subscribe signified to Queen Eliz. that it was of no validity forasmuch as she had been constrained thereto by the terror of a base imprisonment His other negotiations I shall not stand to particularize referring my Reader to M r Cambden's Annals of Queen Eliz. raign Anno scil 1570. where he speaks of his death and unto Stow's Survey of London for his Epitaph on a fair Monument of Alabaster wherein his statue in armour is cut situate on the south side of the Chancell in S t Catherine Creechurch near Algate within that City But touching the other sons of the said Sir George I find not much memorable except it be of Sir Iohn his seventh son Knighted by Queen Eliz. in the first year of her reign whose Epitaph upon his Monument in the Chancell here at Coughton doth sufficiently declare his eminency and worth Which Sir Iohn had issue Francis attainted in 26 Eliz. for Treason layd to his charge as having conspired God knows what in behalf of the Queen of Scots To the before specified Sir Robert eldest son of Sir George succeeded Thomas and to him Iohn and to him Sir Robert Throkmorton Baronet erected to that dignity by Letters Patent bearing date at Nottingham 1. Sept. 19. Caroli and to him Sir Francis now living whose severall marriages the Pedegree before inserted sheweth The Epitaph upon Sir Robert Throkmorton's Monument represented at the bottome of pag 562. Here lyeth buried Sir Robert Throkmorton Knight son ad heir of Sir George Throkmorton Knight which Sir Robert was twice wedded in the fear of God first to Merell Barkley one of the daughters of the Lord Barkley and did beget on her bodie 3. sons and 4. daughters second to the Lady Elizabeth Hungerford sometime wife of the Lord Hungerford and one of the daughters of the Lord Hussie by whom he did beget two sons and five daughters who departed this life for happier estate the day of Anno Domini 15 .... On the other side of this Monument are these verses Conditur hoc tumulo generosae gloria plebis Luget ut amissum patria chara patrem Nam plebs patronum clari sensere parentem Fautor erat miseris pauperibusque pius Religiosus amans observantissimus aequi Sincerus cultor principis atque Dei. Armatum sensere hostes sensere togatum Pacificum cives clarus utroque fuit Auxerunt famam neptes clarique nepotes Undique multiplici prole beatus erat Erudienda bonos virtutis semina liquet In cinerem rediit qui fuit ante cinis Vita dedit mortem letam mors ultima vita Vita fugax obiit vita perennis adest Magne Roberte vale divae virtutis alumnae Namque tenes superas non rediture domos Circumscribed on the freeze of this Monument O miser respice finem qualis sum in brevi eris vigila ergo quia nescis diem neque horam Upon a plate of brasse fix't on the North wall of the Chancell is this Inscription Of your charite pray for the soul of dame Elizabeth Throkmerton the last Abbas of Denye and Aunt to Sir George Throkmerton Knight who deceassed the xiii day of Ianuarye in the yere of our Lord God a. MCCCCCxlvii who lieth here tumilate in this tumbe on whoze soule and all Christen soules Iesu have mercy Amen Vivit post funera virtus Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conventus de Stodley Ioh. Grenhull Pbr. 29. Maii 1339. Prior Conventus de Stodley Ioh. de Somburne Pbr. 23. Apr. 1378. Prior Conventus de Stodley Thomas de Balle Cap. 1. Oct. 1434. Prior Conventus de Stodley Rob. Cowper Cap. 20. Sept. 1440. Prior Conventus de Stodley D. Hugo Lynesay Pbr. ult Apr. 1471. D. Henr. 8. Rex Angliae D. Henr. Shelmerdyne Cler. 23. Apr. 1541. Thomas Throkmorton generosus Thomas Ireland Cler. 6. Apr. 1593. Ric. Berkley de Lancombe in Com. Gloucest ar Will Norwood de Lech-Hampton in dicto Com. ar Leonardus Digby Cler. 10. Dec. 1624 The Armes which were lately standing in the windows being onely such as had been set up at the new glasing of them in Sir George Throkmorton's time I have purposely omitted in regard they were no other than such as be in the windows of the Mannour-house whereof I have taken notice Samburne OF this place having its originall denomination from that little Sandy brook nigh unto which it stands I find very antient mention
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