livery of those lands doing their homage in 44 H. 3. whereupon the possession of this Mannour went with Ednesoure Menill having of Savages lands in this County Neuton before mentioned as shall there be shewed at large Of this Tho. de Ednesoure I find that he was in Armes with the Barons against K.H. 3. whereupon his lands were confiscate and given by the K. first to Stephen de Eddeworth and afterwards making other satisfaction to the said Stephen to Philip Marmion Lord of Tamworth But by the Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth repossessing them again was in 7 E. 1 certified to be Lord of this Mannour then held of Tho. de Arden by the service of half a Kts. fee having in demesn 1 carucat 1 yard-land and 4. acres a water-mill and grove containing 1 acre of land and a half with a park of 4. acres As also xii villains holding 4. yard-land and a half in bond service xii Freeholders occupying xi yard-land and half and one acre by certain Rent and suit to his Court here at Bathkinton and Freewarren having appropriated to himself the fishing in the river Avon on the one side from Fintford-bridge to the bounds of Stonley as also the fishing of Sow on the one side from the lands of the Prior of Coventre unto Bathkinton-park That he had likewise Court-Leet Gallows Assize of bread and beer and all things else belonging to such liberties but by what authority not known Whereunto the said Tho. answered that he used those priviledges by vertue of a certain Cup that K.H. 1. gave to Leticia the daughter of Siward de Arden then his Concubine which allegation of his makes it not improbable that the favour vouchsafed to Hen. de Arden from that K. for enjoying this with some of those other lands of his grandfather Turchill's before mentioned was for her sake for he much affected beautiful women But shortly after this viz. in 13 E. 1. the said Tho. de Edneseure was questioned by what authority he used those privilidges here who pleading prescription it was by the Jury found that he and his ancestours had enjoy'd a Court-Leet and Weyfs time out of mind howbeit as to his other claims he fell short and so they were not allowed This Tho. gave to the Monks of Stoneley all his lands in Hull juxta Wotton vulgarly now called Hill wotton and to the Nuns of Polesworth a piece of ground within his Lordship of Badsley-Ednesoure containing 125. foot in length and 61. in breadth in both which grants he is stiled a Kt. For his descent he was of a very antient family viz. of Ednesoure in Derbysh. whence his ancestors assumed the name and in respect of his relation to the Ferrers Earls of Derby I mean by the tenure of his lands in that County bore for his Armes a fesse betwixt three Horse shoos as by his Seal appears but dyed in 13 E. 1. without issue so that Amicia his sister the wife of Sir Walt. de Miriden Kt. and Ric. de Herthull grandchild to Ioane his other sister became his heirs which Sir Walter had then livery of her inheritance doing his homage This Amicia upon the partition it seems had Baginton for her share but over living Sir Walt. de Miriden took to husband .... de Derley whom she likewise survived and in 20 E. 1. founded a Chantry in the Church of Bathkinton endowing it with one carucat of land and xxx s. yearly rent for doing whereof she had the license of the K. and of Will B. then E. of Warw. the Priest to serve there being to sing Mass daily for the health of her soul the souls of her ancestors and successors and for the soules of the said W. Beauchamp Maud his wife and their children and of all the faithfull deceased And moreover gave one acre and half of land one rood and three â—elions lying in this Lordship to one Ric. Deverell and his heirs to provide for her and her heirs two torches to be burning daily at the high Altar in the Church here at Bathkinton at the elevation of the Host as also to find one Lamp burning at all divine excercises in her Chappell there for ever and dyed in 30 E. 1. leaving Ric. de Herthull her Cousen and heir who then doing his homage had livery of her lands in whose line they continued for divers descents Being now therefore to speak of these Herthull's I shall first in the generall observe that this was an antient family in Derbysh. and Lords of Herthull whence they assumed their sirname being owners of other good possessions in that County This Ric. de Herthull was 30 years of age 30 E. 1. and became a man of much action and note in his time In 29 E. 1. he had summons to be at Berwik upon Twede thence to advance with the K. in person against the Scots The same year was he one of the Commissioners appointed in this County for taxing of a xv And in 30 E. 1. being one of the Kts. for this Shire in the Parl. then held at Westm. was joyn'd in Commission with the Shiriff to collect the Aid for Marriage of the K. eldest Daughter granted in the Parl. of 18 E. 1. In 34 E. 1. he served again in the Parl. as one of the Kts. for this Shire and in 1 E. 2. I find him a Kt. as also in 7. one of the Justices for the gaol-delivery at Warwick In 14 E. 2. he had warning to attend the K. against his rebellious Barons at that time in Arms whereof Tho. E. of Lancaster was the ringleader but being weak and ill could not himself go in person whereupon he sent his son Ric. who served in that expedition under Raph Lord Basset This Sir Ric. gave to the Nuns of Polesworth and to the Chappell of St. Nich. at Badsley of which Mannour he was Lord that mess. and half yard land which those Nuns had held of his ancestors in Badsley aforesaid And on Will. Silvester Vicar there and his successors he bestowed a certain tenement which Alan the precedent Vicar held in the time of Will. Sauvage his ancestour And dyed in 18 E. 2. leaving Adam his son and heir who doing his homage had livery of his lands being then 32 years of age In 10 E. 3. this Adam was a Kt. but departed the world the next ensuing year leaving Ric. his son and heir then aged 25. years which Ric. being likewise a Kt. in 16 E. 3. was in 18. in Commission for assessing of a xv then granted to the K. in Parl. and in 20. with others assigned in this County to levy the Aid granted to the K. in Parl. for making his eldest son Kt. In 21 E. 3. upon the array of souldiers being charg'd with two Hoblers he was for some speciall respect as
in patientia ornatissimus fuit Vitae honestissimè sanctissiméque actae diem supremum 5. Cal. Ian. 1572. clausit animae corporis Reliquiae hoc loco sitae sunt But notwithstanding the before-specified appointment it was not accordingly sold for Iohn Hales Esq. descended from Christopher his eldest brother now enjoys it as his heir At the death of the before specified Iohn the Church was compleatly standing as appears by that Inquis but it continued not long after for about .... Eliz. Mr. Edward Boughton obteyning the materials built his house at Causton therewith The Gilds THE next thing that I am to take notice of is the severall Gilds or Fraternities founded in this City wherewith I will now go on in their order observing by the way that Gild proceedeth from the Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifyeth money because that such as were either for charity religion or merchandize sake associated did cast their moneys goods yea and sometimes lands together for the publique support of their own common charge These had their annuall Feasts and neighbourlike meetings which custome as Sir H. Spelman observes was very antiently used by the Franks Longobards and other Nations and is still continued by the Germans who call the frequent yearly banquets of the country people made at their common charge Gilden As to the direct time when these had first a beginning in England there is nothing of certainty to be found for as much as they were in use long before any formall Licenses were granted unto them for such meetings or for conferring lands or Rent towards the support of their publique expences in what sort soever as by what I have observ'd in Stratford super Avon will appear The first and most antient of these Gilds here in Coventre was founded in 14. E. 3. at which time the King granted license to the Coventre-men that they should have a Merchants-Gild and a Fraternity of Brethren and Sisters of the same in this town with a Master or Warden thereof to be chosen out of the same Fraternity and that they might make Chantryes bestow Almes do other works of piety and constitute Ordinances touching the same with all apperteining thereto And in 17. E. 3. by another Pat. dated 25. Maii did give leave unto Iohn Holland Priest Iohn Lemman Thomas Porter Ric. de Stoke Peter de Stoke and Will. Welnesburgh that they should enter into a Fraternity and make a Gild consisting of themselves and such others who were content to joyn with them to the honour of S. Iohn Baptist. As also to purchase certain lands tenements and Rents to the value of xx l. per annum lying within the liberties of Coventre for the founding of a Chantry of six Priests to sing Mass every day in the Churches of the holy Trinity and S. Michael in Coventre aforesaid for the soules of the Kings Progenitors and for the good estate of the King Q. Isabell his mother Q. Philippa his consort and their children As also of Walter de Chesthunt and Will. de Belgrave during their lives here on earth and for their soules after their departure hence and for the good estate of the said Iohn Iohn Thomas Rich. Peter and Will and the rest of the said Gild with their benefactors And likewise for their souls and for the Soul of Iohn of Eltham late E. of Cornwall and of all the faithfull deceased Which Gild being so founded as aforesaidâ— within two years after the same K. Edward at the request of Q. Isabell his mother granted license unto her to give and assigne thereunto a parcell of land with the appurtenances situat in Coventre and called by the name of Babbelake containing cxvii foot in length and xl foot in breadth to build thereupon a certain Chappell to the honour of our blessed Saviour and S. Iohn Baptist for two Priests to sing Mass daily for the good estate of the said K. Edward Q. Isabell his mother Q. Philippa his consort Edward Prince of Wales and of the Brethren and benefactors of the same Gild whil'st they lived in this world and for their soules after their departure hence As also for the souls of Iohn of Eltham E. of Cornwall and the souls of the said Brethren and benefactors with all the faithfull deceased Which Chappell was finish't within the compass of 5. years as it seems by the Dedication thereof 6. Non. Maii An. 1350. 24. E. 3. The Trinity Gild. IN 38. E. 3. Henry de Kele and Tho. Orme of Coventre founded another Gild to the honour of the holy Trinity having license to purchase lands within the liberties of Coventre of x. marks yearly value for the maintenance of two Priests to sing Mass daily in Tâ—inity Church for the good estate of the K. Q. Philippa his consort and their children and after their departure out of this world for the health of their souls as also for the souls of all the Brethren and Sisters of the same and their benefactors for ever Which Gild being in 16. R. 2. united to that of S. Iohn Baptist before mentioned was upon that conjunction and afterwards to bear the name of the Gild of the holy Trinity our Lady and S. Iohn Bapt. the Fraternity thereof having then license to purchase lands for the maintenance of ix Priests to sing Mass dayly in the said Chappell of Babbelake for the good estate of the K. and Q. as also of his Uncles viz. the Dukes of Aquitane and Lanc. York and Glouc. with their children So that presently it began to be endowed with lands Richard Clarke Richard Dodenhale Simon de Langham of Coventre Iohn Stiward Roland Danet and Henry atte Hâ—y Mercer giving 2. mess and 24 s. rent in Coventre And Iohn Percy with divers others 140. 1. Mill 92. acres of land 1. acre of meadow 1. acre of wood 20 l. -17 s. -01 d. -ob rent and the rent of 2. Hens yearly thereunto the Brethren whereof in anno 1399. 1 H. 4. had license from the Bishop for celebrating divine service in the said Chappell so that the mother-Church might not receive prejudice thereby More addition of lands also do I find hereunto viz. in 10. H. 4. of 1. mess. in Coventre given by Will. Broke parson of Lodbrok Iâ—â—n Broke his brother and Iohn Barbour of Bishops Ithington And in 6. H. 5. of 4. mess. one tofte one garden and xi acres of land with the appurtenances by Iohn Preston and Will. Whitchurch merchants of Coventre and of lands to the value of 50 l. per annum by Henry Smyth esquire and others in 23. H. 7. S. Katherines Gild. ANother Gild do I find that Tho. de Ichynton Nich. Pake Will. de Tuttebury Will. de Overton Clark Peter Percy Ric. de Darkere Sim. Wareyn Iohn Vincent and Iohn de Pakynton gave a fine to the K. for license to found in 17.
them the said Roger and Cecily and their heirs are excepted the homage services of Walter Deyvill and Milo Gerbold for lands they then held in this Whitley Whereby it is clear that they or their ancestors were enfeof't of what they had here from some of the Earls of Chester Which Roger and Cecily in 7. E. 1. were found to be Lords thereof but that the King had at that time foure Freeholders here who held one cottage two yard land and five acres under severall rents And that the said Roger then had one Freeholder viz Adam fil Milonis who held one yard land It was then also certified that the Prior of Coventre had six Freeholders here who occupyed one yard land and half two acres and half a rod with a Water-mill Of which tenants who paid certain rents and did sute to his Court twice in the year Raph de Whitley was one I am of opinion that the said Milo Gerbold was the father of that Adam who is stiled Adam fil Milonis This Adam fil Milonis for I presume it was he was in 12. E. 1. called Adam de Whitley and then certified to hold one yard land in this place by inheritance of Sim. fil Mauricii Who had a grant of K. H. 3. of xxii s. free yearly rent issuing out of those lands so held of the K. as abovesaid Which Rent was in 31. E. 1. convey'd by Roger le Tayllur to one Adam de Okes and his heirs Who in 18. E. 2. was found to dye seized of certain tenements here held of the King by the payment of a half-penny per annum called Warthe at the feast of S. Martin by the hands of the Shiriff of Warwick-shire Will. de Okes son of Will brother to the said Adam being his cosin and heir and of full age Which Will. 18. E. 3. dyed seised of the same leaving Philip his son and heir of full age But hitherto hath there been no mention of Whitley as a Mannour howbeit in 3. R. 2. it was found that Thomas de Freberne dyed seized of it by that name leaving Alice his daughter and heir then ten years of age Nevertheless in 6. R. 2. upon a suite for the title thereof it was found that the said Thomas Freberne had sold the inheritance thereof to one Thomas de Whitley and his heirs Which Thomas de Whitley past it away to Iohn Botoner and two others to whom it was adjudged What bargaining there had been for it I cannot declare but in 19. R. 2. the King granted the custody thereof to Rob. de Malton Clerk and Henry Wybbe it being seised into his hands by reason of the Minority of Margaret sister and heir to Iohn Palmer son of William Palmer Which Will. dyed in 16. R. 2. and his brother Iohn in 19. After this viz. in H. 6. time I find that Iohn Schipley of Coventre was seized of it perhaps by some private deed to direct the uses unto that Fine levved in 2. H. 6. betwixt Will. Schipley Clerk and others plaintiffs and Iohn Burton of Coventre and Ioan his wife deforc But hence for want of light I must make a leap to Q. Marye's time in the second year of whose raign Will. Starky gent. dyed seized of it leaving Thomas his son and heir of full age By whom or his descendants it was sold to .... Tate as I have heard which is like to be true for in 43. Eliz. Will. Tate son of Bartholomew Tate of Northamptonshire was certified to be Lord thereof and of full age A little below Whitley the river Shirburne quitting the libertyes of Coventre where with also I have now done joyns with Sow I must therefore ascend that stream again untill it bring me to its entrance of Knightlow-Hundred which is just at Sow a place taking its name from the brook neer which it is sitâ—at Sow HAlf of this village was given to the Priory of Coventre by E. Leofrike the Founder in the first year of King Edward the Confessor and by the Conq. Survey certified to containe 3. hides and a half whereof the woods extended to half a mile in length and 4. furlongs in breadth all being valued at lx s. But the residue thereof the King and R. Venator then held which R. Venator is also called Rich. Forestarius and had here only one hide The Record doth not express the particular extent of his woods but declares that those there belonging to the King the Abbot id est of Coventre and him the said Richard were three miles in length and one in breadth which with the abovesaid hide being rated at the other half were then also valued at lx s. With the Priors part wherein the Monks in 41. H. 3. had Free-warren I will begin By the Record of 7. E. 1. it appears that the Monks of Cov. had in this place one carucate of land with a Mill in demesne and ten servants holding five yard land by rent service viz. plowing harrowing mowing making and carrying hay reaping corne raking and the like work As also 13. Freeholders which held xii yard land paying each of them a certain annuall rent and doing suit to the Priors Court twice in the year for all services And likewise the royalty of 80. acres of out-wood in which all their Freeholders were to have house-bote and heybote and moreover the Chappell appropriat with half an acre of land adjoyning thereto Which said appropriation was made by Roger Meuland B. Coventry and Lichfield 5. Non. Nov. An. 1260. 44. H. 3. whereby it appears to have been appurtenant unto the Church of S. Michael in Coventry but the greater Tithes viz. corne hey wood and of the Mill the Prior held in his own hand â—he rest viz. wooll lambe with all the small tythes being allowed to the Priest that served the cure there who had also a house adjoyning to the Churchyard and ten acres of glebe which Priest was removable at the Priors pleasure having neither Institution nor induction by the ordinary But besides the particulars above exprest they had likewise here a Mannour-house Court-Leet Gallows Pillory Cuckingstool Felons-goods as also power to punish the breakers of the Affize of bread and beer to which Court did resort all the Priors tenants in Bilney Wilnhale and Ruyton Some other grants there were made at severall times to the said Monastery by particular persons having Freeholders in Sow which being so intermixt with the rest would hardly now be distinguish't though I should point at them as exactly as by the help of Records I could therefore I shall spare that labour and observe that after the dissolution of that Monastery the said Priors Mannour in 32. H. 8. being passed with other lands to Sir Iohn Harington Knight and his heirs to be held in Capite there was then the remainder of a lease unexpired which had
which were the antient possession of those Monks it is mentioned to be one of those places that they had then newâ—y recovered and recorded bâ— the name of Chadeseâ—font but with Bishops-Itchington it past from the Monks of Coventre to the Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield and in 7 E. 1. was certified to be in the possession of the Bishop of Chester for so was the Bâ—shop of Coventre and Lichfield then called who at that time held 6. carucats of land here in demesn and had xvii servants occupying severall proportions as also two Cottiers and three Freeholders which Freeholders held other tenements by a certain Rent and performance of some services In 13 E. 1. Roger Molend then Bâ—shop of Coventre and Lichfield claymed the like priviledges heâ—e as he did in Ichington-Episc which were allowed Whose successors enjoyd it till 1 E. 6. that Richard Sampsun tâ—e then Bishop aliened it with Ichington to Thomas Hawkins alià s Fisher as I have there shewed From which Fisher it past in exchange 6 E. 6. to Thomas Newsam gentleman for xiii yard land lying in Over and Nether-Ichington and the sum of Cxl. li. in money whose great-grandchild scil Thomas Newsam now enjoys it Within this Mannour so belonging to the Bishop the chief Chanter of Lichfield it seems had antiently also certain possâ—ssions for I find that in 16 H. 3. Richard de Hauton then chief Chanter recovered against one Thomaâ— Mathew 41. acres of land and three messuages whereupon a Fine was then levied and the said mess. and land acknowledged to be the right of the same chief Chanter as belonging to the Cathedrall of Lich. And besides these mess. and lands had he also a title to eight yard land in Radway as an Agreement made in An. 1275. 3 E. 1. betwixt Thomas de Wymundham then chief Chanter and the Monks of Stoneley manifesteth by which it was concluded that the said chief Chanter and his successors should thenceforth accept of xiii s. iv d. per annum payable on the morrow after Easter and the feast day of S. Matthew the Apostle by even portions in lieu thereof The Chapell here was dedicated to All-Saints in the windows whereof are no Armes neither are there any Monuments in it but of a late erection as the Epitaphs I have here added doe manifest On the South Wall Here lyeth buried the Predecessors of Walter Newsam Lord of Chadshunt in the County of Warwick He wedded the daughter of Anthony Aylworth of Aylworth Com. Glouc. Esquier who lived the severall ages of 76. years and had issue Thomas John George Edward and Anne 1621. Upon the said Monument are these Armes viz. Arg. upon a fesse sable 3. Crosses Croslets of the first and a Mullet in chief of the second On a plate of brasse in the said South-wall is the picture of a man with this Inscription Here lyeth the body of William Askell gent. who deceased the 6. of Febr. Anno Dom. 1613. aetat suae 48. On a flat stone in a plate of brass towards the East end of the Chappell Here lyeth buryed the body of Theophilus Wilkyns late of Chadsunt who dyed on the first of August 1613. And in the Chapell yard there hath been an antient Oratory as the Inhabitants report in which was the Image of S. Chadde whereunto Pilgrimages had wont to be made for by an Inquisition taken in 4 Eliz. it appears that the Offrings brought thither upon that occasion did amount to xvi li. per annum one year with another Herberbury FOllowing the course of Ichens I come next to Herberbury wherein I find that divers persons had shares in the Conq. time viz. the Monks of Coventre 1. hide and 1. virgat which being wasted by the Kings Army were then certified to be worth but ii s. The Earl of Mellent 4. hides and a half valued at C s. and held by Leuuinus and Alricus in Edward the Confessors time Turchill de Warwick 4. hides valued at lx s. whereof Willielmus Progenitor to the family of Lodbroke as I conceive was then his tenant one Ordric having been owner of them before the Conquest in which part of the town the Church stood Henry de Ferrers 2. hides valued at iv li. and then held by Wazelinus but were the Freehold of Siward Barn of whom I have spoke in Burton-Hastings before the Norman invasion And William Buenvasleth 3. virgats rated at v. sol But this place is in Domesday-book variously written viz. Edburberie Erburberie and Erburgeberie which considered makes me suppose that one Erneburga or Erburga the name of a woman antiently was possessor thereof in the Saxons time Touching that which the Monks of Coventre had here I find that it came afterwards to the Canons of Kenilworth though how or when I cannot declare the quantity thereof being five yard land as in 7 E. 1. was certified whereof four the said Canons then held in demesn and the fift was occupyed by three servants who performed certain servile labours for the same But the Earl of Mellent's share descended to his son viz. Robert Earl of Leicester which Robert enfeoft the same G. de Clinton thereof who was founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenilworth temp H. 1. Whose grandchild Henry past a great part of it to Reginald Basset of whom in Wolvey I have made mention and Henry Mallore son to Ankitell Mallore Robert Fitz-Parnell Earl of Leic. in King Iohn's time confirming the grants Which Henry kept his part not long but aliened some of it away to the said Reginald who disposed thereof with all he had here besides to the Monks of Combe levying a Fine thereupon in 3. Ioh. and gave the residue to the Canons of Kenilworth But the greater proportion thereof the Monks of Combe had viz. two carucats excepting one virgat in demesn and two Windmills with 12. servants holding ...... yard land and half at the will of the Lord performing divers servile labours two Cottagers holding two Cottages and two Freeholders who occupyed half a yard land and two acres all which were held by them of the heires to the said Reginald Basset by the eight part of a Knights fee That which the Canons of Kenilworth held being 2. Windmills and 2. yard land in demesn three servants occupying one yard land and a half and seven Freeholders holding one mess. two yard land 24. part and two acres Another part of what the same Earl of Mellent had here was granted by some of his descendants to the Monastery of Nun-Eaton whereof they were Patrons But that which Turchill de Warwick had was given it seemes to Henry de Neuburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line and by the said Henry unto Geffrey de Clinton before specified which Geffrey bestowed the Church on the Canons of Kenilworth immediatly after his foundation of that Monastery Henry his grandchild confirming the gift It should seem
besides all this he conferred upon the said Sir Richard and his heirs all his right in that Chappell But the next mention that I find thereof is in 20. H. 3. where Walter de Daivill owner also of Walton-Daiville answered for the 4. part of a Kts. fee in this place which said 4. part in 36. H. 3. was certifyed to be held by Rob de Dayvill of Will de Cantilupe and that the said Will held it over of the heirs of Geffrey Corbicon whereby it may seem that Peter Corbicon son to that Peter which founded the Priory of Studley at such time as he passed the advouson of that Religious house with other lands and Fees unto Will. de Cantilupe as I shall shew when I come to Stodley granted likewise this 4. part of a Kts Fee here to the said Will for I suppose that the same Geffrey here mentioned was a son to the said Peter After this viz. in the same 36. year of H. 3. had Walt D'eyvill whom I account son of the before mentioned Robert a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here and other lordships of this County Howbeit in 13. E. 1. Iohn de Hastings as superior Lord of the Fee claymed a Court-Leet Weyfs and other priviledges therein Ioan his mother being one of the sisters and heirs to George de Cantilupe But when or how D'eyvill parted with his interest I have not yet seen nor any more thereof till E. 1. time that Rog de Clifford senior past what he had here which then extended to xx l. lands per ann unto Sir Vrian S. Pere Kt. in exchange for certain lands in Dreyton in Com. Suss. which Sir Vrian for I take it to be he was in 23. E. 1. found to dye seized of a certain Mannour-house with divers lands and tenements situat in this place which he held ioyntly with Margaret his wife of the before recited Iohn de Hastings by the third part of a Kts. Fee leaving Urian his son and heir then xvj years of age but the Record expresseth that the said Mannour-house and lands were purchased by him and the said Margaret of one Ralph de Bure Which last mentioned Sir Vrian for he was a Kt. had issue Iohn who in 8. E. 3. levyed a Fine of this Mannour unto Will the Son of Sir VVilliam Trussell of Cublesdon Kt. but to what uses appears not VVhich VVill. in 20 E. 3. was certifyed to hold the 4. part of a Kts Fee here of the heirs of Hastings notwithstanding all which it should seem that it came by Isabell the daughter of Sir Urian who perhaps was heir to her brother Iohn vnto Sir Walt Cokesey Kt. son and heir of Hugh Cokesey who in 30. E. 3 dyed seized of another Mannour lying in this place both which being thus vnited continued to the heirs of Cokesey for divers generations as I shall shew anon But in the mean time taking a view of such other persons as had to do here I find that in 4. E. 4. Will Cotes dyed seized of a capitall mess and certain lands leaving Iohn his son and heir xv years of age which Will was son and heir vnto Roger who stiles himself Rog fil Silverstri de Honyngham by his deed bearing date in 30. E. 1. and in 9. E. 2. Steward unto Iohn de Warren E. of Sussex and Surrey for all his Courts in these Counties And that in 20 E. 3. Iohn Cotes Will. Blundell and Rog. de Tiringham held here likewise the 4. part of a Knights fee of the Earl of Lancaster and the heirs of Hastings Which 4. part in 44 E. 3. was certified to be held of the E. of Warwick by Iohn de Cotes and Will. Corbizon de Kenilworth In 2 H. 4. it also appears that Edw. Metley held the 4. part of a Knights fee here of the Earl of Warwick And in 10 H. 6. all the principall persons that then had interest in Honyngham are exprest viz. Sir Hugh Cokesey of Worcestershire Knight Iohn Cotes of Honyngham esq Margaret Meâ—ley and Will. Warmyngton of Honyngham husbandman where it is recorded that they held the Mannour of Honyngham with certain lands and tenements there by the 4. part of a Knights fee. Of which family of Cotes I find that some wrote themselves of this place whereby it is manifest that they had their residence here VVherefore having reduced hither all that I have found of them in order of time and with as much certainty in the descent as I have any authority to warrant it withall I shall take notice of what is memorable of them Will. de Cotes obiit 4 E. 3. Ioh. de Cotes fil haeres aet 15. 4 Eâ— 4. Will. Cotes 3. R. 2. Margareta postea nupta Edw. Metley Ioh. Cotes de Honingham 12 H. 6. Iohanna 10 H. 6. Thomas Cotes ar temp E. 4. Râ—c Cotes ar obiit 15. Dec. 20. H. 7. Alicia una filiarum cohaer Ioh. Hugford de Emscote Ioh. Cotes aet 18. 20 H. 7. Anthon. Cotes ar 1. M. In 3 R. 2. Will. Cotes was a Commissioner for levying and assessing a xv then granted to the K. in Parliament And Iohn his son one of those men of note in this County who bearing antient Armes from his Ancestors had command in 7 H. 5. to attend the King in person for defence of the Râ—alm VVhich Iohn in 12 H. 6. was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held and that by Indenture certified to the then Lord Chancelour the names of all such persons in the County as were thought fit to make oath that they would perform certain Articles established in the same Parliament And lastly in 20 H. 6. Escheator for Warwick and Leicester-shires But how long this family continued possest of what they had here I am not sure therefore upon these incertainties I shall leave them resolving next to take notice of the Cokeseys who had likewise an interest in this place as I have already intimated though their principall residence was in Worcester-shire The first of which family was Hugh de Cokesey a younger son as I guess to Sir Walter Cokesey of Cokesey in Worcester-shire Kt. for so it may seem by the Testament of the said Sir Walter bearing date 24 E. 1. The same year that the said Hugh de Cokesey departed this life which was 30 E. 3. as I have already shewed Dionysia his widow one of the daughters and heirs of Will. le Botiller vowed chastity in the presence of Reginald Bryan Bishop of Worcester touching the manner and form of which vows I shall speak in Warwick when I come to historify the family of those Earls and their posterity In 39 E. 3. Walter Cokesey son and heir of the said Hugh making proof of his age had livery of his inheritance and being
de Clifford for by a pleading in 12 Edvardi 1. betwixt Thomas de la More and Hugh D'Eyvile the said Thomas called Roger de Clifford to warranty for the same which Roger in 7 Edvardi 1. was certifyed to be Lord thereof and to hold it of the said Earl by the service of half a Knights Fee having then one carucate of land in demesn and xix yard land held of him in Villenage To this Roger de Clifford succeeded another Roger who wedded Isabell daughter and one of the coheirs to Robert de Vipount and upon an agreement made with Iohn de Crumbwell husband to Idonea widow of Roger de Leyburne the other daughter and coheir of Robert de Vipount past his interest in this Mannour to the said Idonea and her heirs in exchange for some other lands whereupon it became afterwards seized into the Kings hands for some misdemeanour committed by the said Iohn de Crumbwell in staying beyond Sea contrary to the Kings command yet such was the Kings respect to the said Idonea that he permitted her to take the profit thereof towards her maintenance but upon her death without issue which hapned in 8 Edvardi 3. it divolved to Edw. le Spenser son of Hugh le Spenser the younger by virtue of an entail made in 15 E. 2. Howbeit that which is here called the Mannour was but the moytie of this Hamlet as it seemes the other moytie continuing in the family of Clifford still for I find that in 14 Edw. 3. Rob. de Clifford Lord of Westmerland gave to the Canons of Haghmon in Shropshire all his lands and Tenements lying here in Winderton having the Earl of Warwick's license for the same of whom they were held as also the King 's which expresseth plainly that it was the half of this Village But that which was Spenser's Mannour came at length by descent to Isabell daughter of Thomas Lord Despenser as sister and heir to her brother Richard which Isabell first married to Richard Beauchamp Lord Bergavenny afterwards made Earl of Worcester and secondly to Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick After whose death she settled it inter alia upon S t Ralph Boteler K t and others and their heirs for the performance of her last Will as she should make declaration of her mind therein for the health and advantage of her soul Yet it should seem that notwithstanding this purpose of hers it descended to her heire and so consequently came to the Crowne as the rest of the Earl of Warwick's Lands did and was not granted away till 1 M. that the Queen disposed thereof to Michael Throkmorton Esquier and his heirs who dyed seized of it 1 Nov. 5. 6. Ph. M. leaving Francis his son and heir 7. years of age As for what the Canons of Haghmon had here or at least so much thereof as I have seen any authority for it was past out of the Crown by Q. Eliz. unto Iohn Dudley and Iohn Ascough and their heirs in 17. of her reign I shall now follow this hilly part of the Country no farther but returning more into the Vaâ—e must take my course by those brooks and streams which glide through the rest of this Hundred till I have made a perfect view thereof In observance of which order I next come to that petty torrent that hath its head within the precincts of Dasset and so dividing the Lordships of Merston-Boteler Kineton creepeth along betwixt the two Waltons as also the Wellesbourns neer unto which it joyneth with Avon Merston-Boteler THis being possest by Hugh de Grentemaisnill in thâ— Conquerors time had then a Church and two Mills and containing x. hides was valued at xv li. But ere long after Raph Boteler of Oversley had a grant thereof as it seems for in King Stephen's time he gave the Church to the Monastery of Alcester of his foundation And it may very well be presumed that the above specified Hugh de â—rememaâ—â—nill so conferred it upon Boteler in regard that Robert Blanchemaâ—ns Earl of Leicester wedded not his daughter and heir called Petronill till H. 2. time But of this family of Boteler I shall speak historically in Oversley therefore will I next take notice of what is most memorable in relation to this place in particular From the beforespecifyed Raph â— it descended to William le Boteler who in 7 E. 1. held it of the Earl of Leicester by the service of two Kts. fees having then one Watermill here and two carucates of land in demesn and xxx Tenants holding one yard land and a half by payment of certain Rent and performance of severall services viz. Plowing Reaping carrying Corn and the like As also x. Cottâ—ers but these did their suit to the Court-Leet held for the Honour of Leicester In this town had Raph de Ardern also at that time seven yard land which he held of Iohn Mallore and he of the said William le Boteler Of which Botelers the last that had to do here was Sir William le Boteler Knight who left issue Eliz. his daughter and heir first marryed unto Sir Robert de Ferrers Knight and afterwards to Thomas Mollington as by the descent in Oversley will appear From which Eliz. it descended to Nevill and afterwards to Gascoign as Oversley did and was by Sir William Gascoign Knight the fourth from him that marryed Nevill's heir sold to Thomas Lord Cromwell in 29 H. 8. which Thomas being attainted in the Parl. begun at Westminster 30 H. 8. it eschaeted to the Crown and was thereupon granted to Richard Fermour and Anne his wife and to Iohn Fermour their son and Maud his wife and to the heirs male of the said Iohn by the Kings Letters Patent dated 23. Nov. 36 H. 8. But it seems that the said Iohn dyed without issue male for I find that K. Edward 6. in 7. of his raign by his Patent bearing date 23. Iunii granted it to Peter Temple of Derset in this County gent. and Thomas Lee of Clatercote in the County of Oxford gentleman and their heirs to hold in Capite by the xl th part of a Knights fee. Which Peter sold away sundry parcells thereof to severall persons about the beginning of Queen Maryes reign amongst which Iohn Woodward purchased the Mannour place and a large proportion therewith Which Iohn dyed seized thereof 8. Nov. 2. 3. Ph. M. leaving Richard his son and heir 50. years of age who dyed also seized thereof 14. Aug. 4. 5. Ph. M. leaving Iohn his son and heir 26. years of age But the greatest proportion besides viz. 1. mess. 1. Garden 1. Orchard CCC acres of land x. acres of meadow viii acres of pasture and L. acres of Heath Furrs was sold to Tho. and Edward Savage by the before specified Peter Temple and Thomas Lee which
consideration he therefore commandeth that if they would use their private Oratories otherwise than onely for their private Prayers the Bishop should appoint them a Clerk whom they might entertain for that purpose All which is plain by later Constitutions made in the time of Leo It was thought good saith the Emperour in their judgement which have gone before that in private Chapells none should celebrate the holy Communion but Priests belonging unto greater Churches which order they took as it seemeth for the custody of Religion lest men should secretly receive from Hereticks insted of food the bane of their souls pollution insted of expiation To the descendants of which Iohn Harewell did this Mannour continue so long as the male line lasted and then by partition made betwixt the Sisters and coheirs of Thomas Harewell bearing date 4 Feb. 25 H. 8. was it allotted to Agnes the wife of Iohn Smith one of the Barons of the Kings Exchequer in whose line together with Wotton-wawen before specified it still continueth Ludington THis place being in the Saxons time belonging to the Bishoprick of Worcester and by the power of the Danes in the reign of Canutus with other lands taken from that Church was in Edw. the Confessors time possest by 4 Theins and reputed for two Mannourss but after the Norman conquest by the Earl of Mellent being esteemed at xii hides by the Survey then taken which were held of him by 4. Knights and valued at vi l. In which Survey it is written Luditone having had its originall appellation from the name of some antient possessor thereof as I guess From this Earl it came to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick his Brother and was granted by him or Earl Roger his son to the ancestour of Rob. de Valle in H. 1. time as that certificate made by Will Earl of Warwick in 12 H. 2. doth manifest at which time Rob. de Valle held it of the same Earl by the service of half a Kts. fee in whose line it continued till the issue male failing it came by a daughter and coheir to Burdet as the descent here inserted doth shew Of these the third Robert was a Justice of Assize in this County in 17 and 20 H. 3. and his son Robert a Kt. in 21 E. 1. as also in 3 E. 2. in Commission for assessing and collecting a xv th and tenth and afterwards a Coroner in this County but being not able to attend that office in respect of his great employment for severall eminent persons the Shiriff in 14 E. 2. had command to cause another to be chosen To which Robert succeeded his son called Rob. de Vaal jun. who went in that Welch expedition of 15 E. 2. which I take to be it that was occasioned by the difference betwixt Iohn de Moubray Rog. Mortimer and Hugh le Despensor the younger touching the land of Gowher in Wales This Robert was in 18 E. 2. constituted one of the Commissioners for conservation of the peace in this County and for taking care that the Articles contained in the Statute of Winchester should be observed and in 20 E. 2. and 1 E. 3. one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick as also a Commissioner for assessing and collecting a xx th in this County and in 7 E. 3 being a Kt. bore for his Armes a Fesse chequy betwixt 3. Lions rampant Rob. de Valle 12 H. 2. Robertus de Valle 6 Ioh. Nichola filia Ade de Crumbe Robertus de Valle 17 H. 3. Rob. de Valle miles 2 E. 1. Petronilla 9 E. 2. Rob. de Valle jun. 15 E. 2. miles 7 E. 3. Ioh. de Valle ob s. prole 34 E. 3. Elianora uy Gerardi Burdet de Sâ—kindon Ioh. Burdet alter consangu haered Ioh. de Vale 36 E. 3. Cath. ux Henrici filii Ric. le Noreys 7 E. 3. Ioh. Norrys 36 E. 3. Eliz. relicta Steph. de Aldermarston To whom succeeded Iohn his son and heir a Commissioner likewise for levying a xv th and x th in this County in 27 and 28 E. 3. which Iohn died without issue in 34 E. 3. leaving Iohn Burdet and Iohn Norrys his Cosens and heirs murthered as it seems for I find that Will. Abbot of Evesham had in 39 E. 3. a pardon for the same by means whereof the inheritance of this Lordship came at length to Burdet though an estate therein some other persons had for a while for in 2 H. 4. Iohn Wyard of whom I shall speak in Alspath was certified to hold the 4 th part of a K. s. fee here in right of his wife of the Earl of Warwick and in 11. H. 4. Rob. Castell had Freewarren granted to him in all his demesn lands here and in Alspath aforesaid And in 10. H. 6. it was found that Sir Thomas Burdet of Arrow in this County Kt. together with Iohn Welsh of Sheldesley in com Wigorn Gent. held two messuages and 2 yard land here by the service of the 4th part of a Kâ—s fee To which Sir T. Burdet the whole right in this Mannour came at length to be fixed as by his Feoffment thereof in 21 H. 6. appeareth and so descended to his great grandchild Ric. Burdet as the Pedegree in Arrow sheweth To whom succeeded Anne his daughter and heir married to Edw. Conway Esq. by which means the inheritance hereof divolved to their posterity Edw. Vicount Conway of whom and his family I shall speak in Ragley and Arrow now possessing it The Priest serving in this Chapell had in 26. H. 8. v li. vi s. viii d. per an for his stipend payd unto him by the Warden of the Collegiate Church at Stratford super Avon and the like salary had his successor in 37 H. 8. but I find no more than one presentation thereto and that was by the Warden of the Chantry at the Altar of S. Thomas the Martyr in the said Collegiate Church of one Iohn Pebworth Priest 20 Apr. an 1420. Ruin-Clifford IN the Conqueros time Rob. de Stadford possest one hide and 1. virgate of land here then held of him by one Hugh but before the Norman invasion it was the freehold of Saward the rest of this Hamlet being a member of Stratford as I shall shew by and by I am of opinion that the posterity of the said Hugh residing here assumed from hence the sirname of Clifford the last male branch of which family that continued owners hereof was Iohn de Clifford who in H. 3. time past away all his lands here to Raph le Power Son of Margerie his Sister which makes me conclude that he had no Children of his own It is very like that Hugh le Poer an assistant to the Barons against K. H. 3. became Husband to her the said Mergerie for I find that the same Hugh was seized
William This Peter was a most devout man for to the Monks of Bordsley he gave lands in Hilborough To the Knights Templars the Mill here at Stodley and certain lands besides And moreover was the pious Founder of that Monastery for Canons Regular here in Studley whereof together with its particular endowments benefactors and dissolution I shall speak by and by But to him succeeded Peter his son heir who left very little here to his descendants for it 2 Ioh. he sold to his Tenants of this Mannour all his wood called the Haye to the intent that they and their heirs should have Common of Pasture therein for their Cattell saving onely to himself and his heirs the paunage and agistment for Hoggs Besides this it appears that he gave to Henry de Montfort Lord of Beldesert a large proportion of lands here with Emme his daughter in Frank marriage and likewise divers tenements and particular parcells of ground in exchange for that which the said Henry recovered at Hildeburgewerthe now Hilborough in the Kings Court at Westminster by a triall at Law And moreover to Thurstan Montfort son to the said Henry the intire Park of Stodley with severall other tenements So that accounting also the homage and services of certain particular Tenants in this place which together with the advouson and patronage of the Priory he granted to William de Cantilupe I do not find that he left his posterity much more than the bare name of the Mannour for those of the Inhabitants here that held of Cantilupe by reason of the grant to him so made as aforesaid appeared at his Court-Leet for Aston-Cantilupe and did partake with the Tenants of that Mannour in sundry other priviledges Of the particulars which Montfort had here I find this mention in 24 E. 1. Upon the Extent of Iohn de Montfort's lands viz. that he had ix s yearly Rent payable from five Freeholders at the Feasts of S. Michael and the Annunciation of our Lady as also a Park and a certain Meadow held of the Earl of Warwick by the fourth part of a Knights Fee which Park was then in the hands of the said Earl as it seems for that very year did there a Commission issue out to certain persons to enquire who those were that had entred therein and killed his Deer But these came at length to William Beauchamp Lord Bergavenny in such sort as the Castle of Beldesert and town of Henley did As to what the Templars had here the extent thereof upon the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was signified to be one mess. one carucate of land ten acres of meadow two Mills and xxx s. Rent all which he had seized into his hands and held during his life as superior Lord of the Fee upon the suppression of that Order in 4 E. 2. But it was not long after that the Knights Hospitalars possest the same with the rest of the Templars lands as in Balshall shall be manifested That which the heirs of Cantilupe had here was held of them by the third part of a Knights Fee Iohn the son of William de la Hay to holding it of Iohn de Hastings Lord Bergavenny in 18 E. 2. from whom it came to William Beauchamp before specified with much more of Hastings lands And touching the Mannour the substance of what else I have seen is that Peter Corbison in 29 E. 3. enfeoft the then Vicar of Studley therein together with pasturage for a Horse called a Hackney in a meadow there known by the name of Castle-meadow to be tyed and flitted with an iron chain from the Feast of the Purification of our Lady untill the said meadow should be mowed reserving an yearly Rent of three broad Arrow heads to the chief Lord of the Fee for all services Which Peter Corbison had issue one only daughter and heir called Felicia married to Iohn Barret of Shelfhull unto whom the said Vicar of Studley past the premisses in 9 R. 2. which Iohn and Felicia left also a daughter and heir wedded to ..... Atwood who had onely issue Female one whereof became the wife of ... Hunt in H. 8. time from whom .... Hunt who now possesseth the site of the before specified Castle derives his descent The Church being given to the Canons of Studley upon the Foundation of that Monastery as shall anon be shewed and in anno 1291. 19 E 1. valued at xv marks and a half was very antiently appropriated to the Priory here and in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge rated at viii li. not in Tithes but a meer stipend payable by the Canons to the Incumbent for the time being Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Stodleg Adam de Hemburi Pbr 4. Id. Iulii 1290. Prior Conv. de Stodleg Adam de Stodley Pbr. 12. Cal. Iulii 1293. Prior Conv. de Stodleg Nich. de la Sale Pbr. 3. Id. Dec. 1338. Prior Conv. de Stodleg Ioh. de Walton Pbr. 3. Dec 1345. Prior Conv. de Stodleg Rob. de Ordelescote 4. Iulii 1354. D. Episcopus Henr. de Geydon Pbr. 14. Dec. 1362. Prior Conventus de Stodleg Thomas Newman Pbr. 6. Martii 1364. Prior Conventus de Stodleg Petrus Dycones Pbr. 13. Ian. 1375. Prior Conventus de Stodleg D. Ioh. Litster alias Tiyhill Pbr. 16. Aug. 1414. D. Episc. per lapsum Ioh. Campion Pbr. 23. Dec. 1437. Prior Conv. de Stodleg Rob. Ekynton Pbr. 14. Nov. 1438. Prior Conv. de Stodleg D. Ioh. Morton Canon 26. Apr. 1458. Prior Conv. de Stodleg D. Milo Sheghe Cap. 2. Iunii 1461. Prior Conv. de Stodleg D. Thomas Dawes Cap. 13. Aug. 1479. D. Episcopus Magr. Rob. Knowles S. Theol. Dr. 6. Aug. 1536. Edm. Knightley miles D. Ric. Kylmar 14. Sept. 1541. Ioh. Knotsford de majori Malvern unus servien D. Regis ad Arma Iana ejus conjux una haered Edm. Knightley mil. D. Ioh Coxetur Pbr. 23. Sept. 1546. Ioh. Knotsford de majori Malvern unus servien D. Regis ad Arma Iana ejus conjux una haered Edm. Knightley mil. Rob. Dowse Cler. 21. Martii 1550. In this Church there hath been a Chantry founded in 7 H. 4. by Thomas Middlemore of Edgbaston for a certain Priest to sing Masse daily at the Altar of the blessed Virgin on the South part of the same Church for the good estate of him the said Thomas during this life and the health of his soul after his departure hence as also for the souls of his Father and mother and all the faithfull deceased Which Chantry was endowed with Lxxx. acres of land x. acres of meadow and xiii s. iv d. yearly Rent lying in Studley above mentioned the revenues whereof in 26 H. 8. were rated
to be yearly kept here for 8. days beginning on the Even of S. Barnabas the Apostle In 1 E. 3. he was constituted Constable of England but dyed the year following whose brother William then found his heir and xl years of age did not enjoy this Lordship of Alcester in regard the said Walter had about xii years before setled it upon Giles de Beauchamp another brother Of which William all that I have seen memorable is that upon the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who was Shiriff of Worcestershire by inheritance he had the custody of that County committed to him during the minority of his heir But of Giles I find that in 15 E. 2. he was made Shiriff of Caernarvonshire and Governour of the Castle of Beaumaris that in 14 E. 3. he had a Charter to fortify his Mannour-house here at Alcester with a wall of lime and stone and to embattle the same for the use of himself and his heirs and having had summons to the severall Parliaments amongst the other Barons from 20 E. 2. to 9 E. 3. he left issue Iohn of whomâ— I have seen but little other than his founding a Chantry in the Parish-Church here at Alcester in 36 E. 3. whereof I purpose to speak particularly in its proper place and he Sir Will. Lord of this place and Powik and Sir Walt. de Beauchamp a younger son from whom the Beauchamps Barons S. Amand did descend which Walter in 4 H. 4. was retained by Indenture to serve the King in a voyage royall that he intended for France in his proper person with four men at Armes himself accounted for one and xii Archers whereof the third part were to serve on Foot and the rest on Horseback for one whole year taking for himself ii s. per diem For his men at Armes xii d. and for his Archers vi d. And in 3 H. 5. to serve the King for one whole year in a voyage that he made in person into Guienne in which service he was to have four men at Armes and xii Archers all on Horseback and to receive xl marks a piece for his men at Armes and xx marks a piece for each of his Archers But I come now to Sir William the elder brother of whom it appears that in 16 R. 2. he was made Constable of the Castle of Gloucester In 3 H. 4. Shiriff of Worcestershire and in 1 H. 5. of Gloucestershire This Sir William took to wife Catherine one of the daughters and heirs of Gerard Ufflete and left issue Sir Iohn Beauchamp Knight who in 17 H. 6. upon the death of Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was constituted one of the Commissioners unto whom the Guardianship of all his Castles and lands during the minority of Henry his son and heir were granted and in 22 H. 6. purchased of Thomas Botereux the other moytie of this Mannour of Alcester which had continued in that Family for divers descents as I shall shew anon And being now intire Lord of the whole in 25. of the same King's reign obtained a speciall Charter which reciting that he the said Iohn and his Ancestors had time out of mind enjoyed a Court-Leet of all their Tenants and Inhabitants within this town to be kept twice every year viz. once after Easter and once after Michaelmasse as also Weyfs Streys and all other priviledges to a Leet belonging together with a Mercate upon the Tuesday every week and a Faire yearly on the Sunday next after the Feast of S. Fayth the Virgin did confirme them to him and his heirs And moreover in consideration of the good and acceptable services performed unto that King and to King Henry the fift his father had he by the same Charter a grant of sundry other priviledges viz. Return of Writts and all other Mandates Precepts and Attachments belonging to the said King his heirs and successors his Justices Eschaetors or other Commissioners Steward and Marshall of his houshold as also of all Summons of the Exchequer levying of Estreats from the said Exchequer execution of Writts and Attachments c. all which thenceforth to be performed and executed by the said Sir Iohn and his heirs or such Officers as he or they should appoint within this town and precincts of the Mannour so that no Shiriff Coroner Bayliffe or other Officer belonging to the King should have ought to do there To which was further added that the said Sir Iohn and his heirs should have cognisance of all Pleas belonging to any of the King's Courts touching such lands and tenements as are within this town and Mannour of Debts Accompts Trespasses Covenants Contracts and causes of Contracts arising within the limits of them as also of Assizes of Novell disseisin and Mort D'ancestor Iurates and Certificates of all lands and tenements within the same to be held before the Steward to him and his heirs here for the time being And likewise full power and authority of holding hearing and determining before their Stewards without any speciall Writ from the King Pleas of Pie pouders and all other Pleas of Debts Accounts Trespasses Covenants Contracts and other Controversies whatsoever arising within this town and Mannour or their precincts although they exceed the summe of xl s. value and to make out Processe against such persons as shall be lyable to any action or distresse by his and their own Officers and Ministers and to attach theit persons within the said town and Mannour and precincts of them in case they have not goods whereby to be summoned and distreined And moreover that the said Sir Iohn his heirs should have the priviledges of Infangthef and Outfangthef the goods of Felons Fugitives and all such as are condemned put in exigend for Treason or Felony as also the Chattells of persons outlawed whether it be at the Kâ—ng's suit or at the suit of the party with the Chattells of those that are Felones de se or any way confiscated And likewise all Fines and Redemptions Issues Amerciaments and Forfeitures with Fines for license of concord Year Day Strepe and Wast of all his and their Tenants as well resident as not resident within this town and Mannour and their precincts in whatsoever of the King's Court they shall happen c. And that neither the King's Steward Marshall Coroner of his Houshold Clerk of the Mercate for the time being nor any servant or Officer belonging to any of them shall have power to meddle within the same or the precincts thereof nor any Purveyor to take any thing there from him the said Iohn his heirs or any the Inhabitants of this place And further that all the Tenants thereof aswell resident as non-resident should be for ever quit of Toll Stallage Pontage Pavage Murage Kayage and Chiminage in all places as well by Land as Water throughout the whole Realm of England and
Deed bearing date at Tamworth in 44 E. 3. past away the same unto Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight and his heirs reserving only an estate for life By which means upon partition made in 31 H. 6. betwixt the three sisters and heirs to the said Sir Baldwin it was allotted to Thomas Ferrers at that time Tenant by the Curtesie of England to all the lands which were of the inheritance of Eliz. his wife deceased eldest of the said three sisters In whose line it continued till Sir Iohn Ferrers Knight about the beginning of King Charles his reign sold it to Charles Adderley Esquiâ—e afterwards an Equerie to the said King and by him Knighted who now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist was antiently given to the Nuns of Mergate in Com. Beaf by one of the De la Launds as I guess But it seems that the title which those Nuns had was not very firme for in 26 H. 3. Iames de la Launde recovered the right of Presentation thereto Howbeit afterwards they grew to Composition with him and gave him 57. marks of silver to quit his claim to it which he did in 36 H. 3. whereupon it became appropriated to them but no Vicar endowed so that the Curate there was provided by those Nunns as a Supendiarie to them Merston juxta Lea and Coton THis place having its name from the flat moorish ground bordering upon it was possest by Turchil de Warwick in the Conqueror's time and then rated at three hides valued at xxx s. which were at that time held of him by one Roger But it was not long I presume ere it came to the Marmions of Tamworth-Castle for in 20 H. 3. Robert Marmion answered for half a Knight's Fee in respect thereof at which time it had the name of Merston-Marmion for distinction from the other Merstons in this Hundred but whether Marmion were any other than superior Lord of the Fee at that time I make a question the Limsies of Maxstoke holding it immediately of them for it appears that in 5 E. 1. Raph de Limesie and Ioane his wife gave to a Chantrie-Priest celebrating Divine Service at Solihull five marks of yearly Rent issuing out of certain lands lying here and in Cotes now called Coton and that the Family of Odingsels who were antiently Lords of Maxstoke by the marriage of Limesie's heir possest it there being xiv Freeholders here and in Cotes which held their Tenements of William de Odingsells in 23 E. 1. paying xxxvi s. viii d. per ann Rent But from Odingsells by an heir female it came to Clinton â— together with Maxstoke and with it being past in Exchange from Sir Iohn Clinton to Humphrey Earl Stafford in 16 H. 6. as the authorities which I have voucht in Maxstoke will manifest hath been reputed as it is a member of that Lordship and so continueth to this day Midleton OF this place there is mention made twice in the Conqueror's Survey first under the title of the lands then belonging to Hugh de Grentemaisnell where it is rated for four hides having a Church as also a Mill esteemed at xx s. which with the rest were all valued at vi li. having been the inheritance of one Pallinus in Edward the Confessor's dayes And next under the title of the lands belonging to Adeliz the wife of the said Hugh where the quantity and value in the grosse summe do not differ but there it is said to have been the freehold of one Turgot before the Norman Invasion After which ere long it was disposed of to one of the Marmions as I guess together with Tamworth-Castle and if we may believe the antient Windows of that Church and some other authorities by the Conqueror himself as in Tamworth I shall more fully shew Neither is it unlikely for by an accompt of the Templars revenues taken in 31 H. 2. it appears that they were then possest of certain lands here that had been bestowed on them by Geffrey Marmion In which Family of Marmion it continued whilst the male line lasted Philip Marmion in 13 E. 1. claiming by Prescription a Court Leet and Gallows here which were allowed as also Free warren within his demesn lands of this place But to this the Jury answered that the Earls of Warwick had free Chase within the same taking forfaitures for all offences done therein and that the said Philip had no Warren except by grant from Ela Countess of Warwick onely for terme of her life whereupon he was a merced for his undue chalenge But this Philip Marmion dying without issue male his lands came to be divided betwixt severall coheirs as the Descent in Tamworth sheweth Of which Alexander Frevill and Ioane his wife Raphe Boteler the elder with Maud his wife and Henry Hillary and Ioane his wife had their particular shares in this Mannour till at the length by purchase Hillarie's part became united to that which Frevill had whereupon Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight procured from Richard Scroope Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield about the 14 th of R. 2. License to have an Oratorie or private Chapell within his Mannour-house here Of the accession of Boteler's part I have not seen any thing but do conclude that it was before the partition made in 31 H. 6. betwixt the Sisters and heirs to the last Sir Baldwin Frevill for thereby it appeareth that Margaret the youngest of them had inter alia this Mannour of Midleton wholy as parcell of her purpart she being then wife to Richard Bingham one of the Justices of the King's Bench and afterwards a Knight Which Sir Richard resided here till he died scil in 15 E. 4. being ioyn'd in all Commissions of the Peace and other matters of importance with the superior Gentlemen of this Countie After whose death she continued a widow even to a very great age as by her Presentation to the Church of Preston-Bagot in 20 H. 7. appears To whom succeeded in the inheritance of this Lordship Sir Henry Willoughby Knight her grandson by Sir Hugh Willoughby of Wollaton in Com. Nott. Knight her first husband as the Pedegree here inserted sheweth Hugo Willoughby de Wollaton in Com. Nott. miles 10 H. 6. Margareta una soror cohaer Baldw. Frevill mil. Ric. Bingham miles unus Justic D. Regis ad plac coram Rege 31 H. 6. Robertus Willoughby Henr. Willoughby miles de S. Sepulchro obiit 20 H. 8. Dorothea ux Anth. Fitz Herbert unius Justic. de Banco 20 H. 8. Ioh. Willoughby miles ob sine prole Edw. Willoughby miles Henr. Willoughby nepos haeres Ioh. Willoughby mil. Anna filia Thomae March Dors. Thomas Willoughby obiit sine prole Franciscus Willoughby miles obiit 37 Eliz. Eliz. filia Ioh. Litleton de Frankley mil. Brigida ux Percev Willoughby eq aur Dorothea ux Henr. Hastings Margar. ux Rob. Spenser de Althorpe
them the said Thomas and Maud and their heirs by the service of 1 d. to be paid yearly at Easter Which Robert in consideration of xxx marks of silver soon after granted the inheritance thereof unto Henry de Hastings son and Heir of Sir Henry de Hastings Kt. to hold of him the said Robert and his heirs by the service of a pair of white Gloves or 1 d. yearly at Easter But this Henry kept it not long for I find that Sir Thomas de Bray purchased it of him within a short time after to whose posterity residing here it continued for divers descents and at length as it should seem by Elene one of the daughters and co-heirs of Richard Bray wife of Edmund Starky Gent. in H. 6. time divolved to that family in which it rested till 4 Eliz. that William Starky sold it by the name of the capital messuage and certain lands c. in Stretton to the Lady Longvile upon whose death it descended to Bartholmew her son and heir by Bartholmew Tate of de la Pre juxta Northhampton her first husband which Bartholmew in 23 Eliz. conveyed it to Anthony Tate his younger brother who left issue George Tate of Sutton-Bonington in Com. Nott. that by his deed dated 6 Iulii an 1620. sold them to Ric. Taylor of Binley in this County to whose posterity they still continue There is within this Village a Chappel of All Saints which had a Chantry therein founded by Thomas de Wolvardynton Parson of the Church of Lobenham in Leicestershire for two Priests to sing Mass daily at the Altar of St. Thomas the Martyr for the good estates of the said Thomas William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Richard Earl of Arundell Iohn Peyto the younger as also of Alice and Margaret sisters to the said Thomas the Founder during their lives and of the reverend Father in God Roger Northburgh then B. of Cov. and Lich. and for all their souls after their departure out of this life as also for the souls of Sir Peter de Wolvardington Kt. and the Lady Aliva his Wife Father and Mother of the said Thomas and of the souls of Iohn de Wolvardynton William and Peter brethren of the said Thomas deceased and of all faithfull people departed For the maintenance of which two Priests King E. 3. in 19 of his reign granted licence to the said Thomas de Wolvardynton to amortize three messuages three yard land four acres of meadow three acres of wood and xx sol rent with the appurtenances in Stretton aforesaid After this viz. in 2 R. 2. licence was also granted to Robert de Stretton then B. of Cov. and Lich. to amortize four messuages and eight yard land with the appurtenances lying in this Village of Stretton for the maintenance of a Priest to sing Mass daily in the abovesaid Chappel for the good estate of the said King whil'st he lived and for the health of his soul when he should depart this life as also for the souls of the Kings Father and Grandfather and all the faithfull deceased Whence I conclude that this B. was born here and took his name of the place having been first a Canon of Litchfeild and Chaplain to the Black Prince K. Richard the 2. Father but an illiterate man he was saith Godwin in so much as he found it a very difficult matter to obtain Consecration which nevertheless through the Kings power at length he got in 35 E. 3. The lands of the Chantry here founded by Thomas de VVolvardynton were in 26 H. 8. valued at iiii l. xiiii sol per annum but upon the survey taken 37 H. 8. at iiii l. xvii s. per annum Prinsthorpe OF this place lying in the Parish of Wolston but Southwards from it about two miles do not I find any mention till 4. E. 1. at which time it was written Prenesthorpe As for the name it proceeds doubtless from some antient possessor thereof the latter sillable viz. Thorpe signifying a Village or Hamlet for so in the Saxons time they were called the Dutch to this day whose Language hath a great affinity with our old English calling such Villages Dorpes pronouncing d instead of th In xx E. 3. it answered with Stretton upon the Aid then collected And in 31 E. 3. there was a Fine levyed thereof betwixt William de Peeke Parson of the Church of Wapenbury pl. and Nicholas de Stoneley and Hugh de Geydon Priests Deforciants whereby it was setled upon the said William de Peeke for life the remainder to Sir Richard Trewlow Kt. and the heirs of his body and for lack of such issue to Iohn Hockele and Cecelie his wife and the heirs of their two bodies and for default thereof to Nicholas le Eyr and his heirs After which I have seen little considerable of it till it came to the Hugfords of Emscote in H. 6. time but whether by Metley's heir or not I am yet to learn In which family it continued till 9 H. 8. that Iohn Hugford sold it to Sir William Compton Kt. whos 's great Grand-child Sir Henry Compton Knight of the Bath and brother to William late Earl of Northampton now enjoyes it an 1640. Brandon THis being a part of Wolston Parish lying on the other side of Avon and situate at the foot of a Hill the soyl whereof is sandy and dry makes me conjecture that it might originally have its name from the effect that the Sun by heat doth oft-times produce upon such high ground or otherwise because being antiently woody it was first made fit for tillage by burning the thickets that naturally grew thereon In the Conquerours dayes Turchill de Warwick was possest thereof Wlsi then holding it of him By the general Survey then taken where it is written Brandune the extent of it is certified at half a hide the woods containing four furlongs in length and two in bredth and the whole esteemed at xxv sol there being then a Mill rated at xxvi d. But Turchill's lands being by the Conquerour for the most part disposed of to others as I shall have occasion in due place to shew this was it seems given to Geffrey de Clinton Chamberlain and Treasurer to K. H. 1. and Founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenillworth of whose advancement and what else is memorable I am to speak in Kenillworth whose daughter Lescelina being married to Norman de Verdune brought it with other lands to that noble family but Geffrey her brother had a hope to regain it for having given lands in Bretford near adjoyning to found there a small Cell for Nuns as in Bretford I purpose to declare which lands were by those Nuns very soon after granted to the Monastery of Kenillworth and confirm'd by him covenanted wich the Canons of Kenillworth that if he recovered Brandone he would give them as much land in value
for fuell by the space of xv days before Christmass and for viii days before Easter And whereas the said tenants of Copston had wont in consideration of the said common of Pasture and getting of fuell to perform certain services to the same Reginald and his Father viz. plowing twice a year harrowing once mowing and raking once and in Harvest one man from every House to gather up Corn as also from every House a Hen at Christmass and ten Egges at Easter the said Reginald for the health of his soul and the souls of his Father Mother and Ancestors released to them all those services This Reginald seated himself here at Wolvey as by that grant appeareth and had great suites with Will. de Harecurt Thomas de Astley and other Knights that held of the Honour of Leicester for in 11. Ioh. he gave two palfreys that the cause might be heard before the King wherein he got the better as may seem by that Fine of CC. marks payd into the Exchequer by the said Tho. de Astley the year following pro falso clamore But having no Children the issue of his two Sisters became his Heirs viz. Yuo de Dene and Rob. de Leicester Which Yuo had his seat at Dene in the East part of Northampton-shire but was highly devoted to these Monks of Combe as may appear by his large concessions to them first for pasturage for their Horses and Oxen that were imployed in Tillage and likewise for 12. Kine and a Bull in all places within Wolvey where his own Horses Oxen and Kineâ— or his Heirs or others of the same town were to have pasture as also liberty for them to dig turfe yearly with two men for six days And moreover of his Mill here with the Pool below his Mannour-house and course of water thereto excepting all the Fish but Eels whereof the Monks were to have the one half And afterwards in further testimony of his bounty bestowed on them his Mannour-house and whole Lordship of Wolvey with the homage and services of all that held thereof which grants not onely Nich. de Dene son to the said Yuo confirmed but Ric. de Harecurt Superior Lord of the Fee by descent from the before specified Ivo de Harecurt So that now those Monks having a Lordship here which in 20. H. 3. and 20. E. 3. answered for a whole Kts. Fee claimed in 13. E. 1. a Court-Leet and other Priviledges therein whereof they had allowance And in 18. E. 1. obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all their demesn lands here And in 19. E. 2. the like for a Mercate every week upon the Wednesday with a Fair yearly to last for three days viz. the Even of St. Mark the Evang. and two days following But leaving the Monks of Combe thus possest of this Mannour I shall now observe what I find otherwise memorable in Wolvey which is that one Sir Thomas de VVolvey Knight had a fair estate here and left issue Ioan the wife of Sir Henry de Erdington of whom in Erdington I shall speak and Alice of Giles the Son and Heir to Andrew Lord Astley towards the latter end of E. 1. reign upon which Giles and Alice and the Heirs of Alice in 32. E. 1. he setled 37. mess. three carucats with ten yard land and a half lying in Withybroke and this Wulfhey in the County of War Three mess. 1 carucat of Land and 6. s. 6. d. rent in Sixteneby and Olcby in Com. Leic. and 13. mess. and 13. oxgâ—â—gs of land in Scakethorpe and Hothum in Com. Ebor reserving to himself and Alice his wife an estate for term of life in the aforesaid lands paying yearly to the said Giles and Alice a Rose at the Feast of the Nativty of St. Iohn Bapt. for all services But all that I have seen further of him is that being one of the Coroners in this County an Office of great note in those days as in Wolston I have shew'd in 6. E. 2. he was grown so aged and impotent to undergoe the same that he had his Writ of ease And that he bore for his Armes Or a Lyon rampant sable as by his seal and other authorities appeareth which Seal being adorn'd without the compass of the shield with Castles makes me suppose that his paternall ancestours were of the family of Castell residing at Withybroke hard by This Alice the wife to Giles de Astley surviving her Husband was stiled domina de Wolvey as by the institutions to the Chantry may be discerned which Chantry she founded in 17. E. 3. in the Chappel of our Lady within this Parish-Church endowing it with two mess and two yard land lying here in Wolvey for the maintenance of a Priest to sing Mass daily there for ever for the good estate of her self whilst she lived and for the health of her soul after she should depart this life as also for the souls of her ancestors and heirs and all the faithful deceased And left issue Thomas Lord Astley her son and heir of whom being to speak at large in Astley I shall now say no more than what relates to this Lordship which is that he gave 1. mess. and 36. acres of land lying therein to the Prior and Covent of Erdbury and their successors towards the maintenance of a Canon in that Monastery to sing Mass daily for the good estate of him the said Thomas and Eliz. his wife and of the same Alice de VVolvey and Andrew de Astley whilst they lived as also for the health of their souls after their departure hence and for the souls of their heirs and ancestors and all the faithfull deceased To which Thomas succeeded William Lord Astley and Giles a younger son which William in 15. R. 2. gave to the said Giles his Brother and Kath. his wife and to the heirs of their two bodies this Mannour of Wolvey paying to the said William and his heirs a grain of Wheat onely at the Feast of St. Iohn Bapt. yearly for all services Of which Giles all that I find memorable is that in 18. R. 2. which was about three years after he became possest thereof by the consent of the Abbot of Combe he admitted one VVill. de Scregham to the Heremitage upon Wolvey-heath there to live a Heremeticall life in the service of God and to pray for the souls of him the said Giles his ancestours and all the founders and benefactors of the said Monastery of Combe When this Heremitage was first founded appears not but by what is exprest in that Instrument of his admission it seems that it stood in a solitary place upon Wolvey-heath which long before that time had been inhabited by Heremites In 1. H. 5. there was an Award made by Reginald Grey Lord Hastings Weysford and Ruthin and Richard Crosby Prior of Coventre upon certain differences which
testimony of a good Historian that divers persons of quality in that Province whereof he names some accompanied him as also that a third part of the Conquerours Army was commanded by the same Alan who had the Earldome of Richmund given him as a reward for his service This Geffrey bore a great respect unto the Monastery of St. Nicholas founded at Angiers the principall City of Anjou in the year 1020. to the honour of St. Nich. Archb. of Nice St. Hierome and St. Lazarus whom Christ so loved For by his deed bearing date here at Kirby the xii year of K. William's reign he gave thereunto both land and tythes out of divers Lordships here in England whereof he was possest by the Conq. favour and in particular to the Church of this Kirby which he found decayed and rebuilt dedicating it to the honour of the blessed Virgin and St. Dennis which singular munificence occasioned the Monks of Angiers to send over part of their Covent hither making it a Cell subordinate to that forreign Monastery whereby it became one of those we usually call Prioryes-alien and thereupon had the name of Monkskirby By the generall Survey this Lordship was certified to contein xv hides there being two Priests here at that time who held xxi carucats of land These were Franus and Osgot as I guess mentioned in the before specified Charter All which then extended to x. l. value whereof the Monks of St. Nicholas had two Carucats in demesn and vi bord holding v. more and in that Record it is written Chirchberye which gives further illustration to what I have said already touching the name Howbeit of the said Geffrey Wirce have not I seen any thing else memorable nor do I find that he had any Children so that I most incline to believe that dying without issue his possessions in England returned to the Crown for all in this and the before cited Counties came to the hands of Nigel de Albani Progenitor to the Moubray's by the grant of K. H. 1. whose possessions in this Shire by that means and by mariage of Segrave's Daughter and heir were of no small extent But returning to this antient Monastery I find that Nigel de Mulbray Grand-child to Nigel de Albani made a generall confirmation unto the Monks here of all the lands tythes and other his possessions which had been given to them by his Ancestors in divers particular Mannours there exprest and in all others as the grants of Geffrey de Wirce Nigel his Grand-Father and Roger his Father witnessed I am of opinion that the before specified Nigel de Albany gave all the rest of this Lordship to those Monks for in that confirmation made to them by Rog. de Stutevill of what his ancestors had given in Newbold id est Newbold super Avon he makes mention that they had possessions there in the time of Geffrey Wirce and that Nigel de Albani augmented the same by grant of certain lands and other benefits But all that I have seen of any further grants thereunto in this County is certain common of pasture on Wolvey-heath and in Little-Copston by Reginald Basset of Wolvey and of a yard land in Rokeby by Sir Henry Rokeby Kt. of both which I have spoke more fully in my discourse of those places In Leicestersh I find that Hugh de Rampaine gave unto them 7 oxgangs of land with the capital Mess of Kirkby super Wreke which grant Will. de Molbrai who was superiour Lord of the fee there confirmed And that Geffrey Trussell gave them the Church of Sharneford in the same County whereof Will. Basset added his ratification After which viz. in K. Iohn's time Geffrey Muschamp B. of Coventre confirmed to them that which by his Predecessours had been granted viz. the Church of Kirkby with the Chappel of Widebroc so that they should hold the same appropriat to their own benefit as also 3 marks of silver yearly out of the said Chappel of Widebroc in the name of a pension And ratified to them the Church of Wapenbury with the Chappel of Huningham so that they should receive xx s. yearly out of the same and a stone of wax in the name of a pension and likewise the Church of Neubold that is to say two parts thereof to their proper use and to the third that the Prior of Kirkby should present a fit Clerk to the Bishop Being therefore thus plentifully endowed they obtained in 50 H. 3. a Charter for a weekly Mercate upon the Wednesday with a Faire yearly to begin on the even of the feast of St. Ioh. Bapt. and to continue 3 days but the Wednesday Mercate after a while being not found so convenient they procured K. E. 1. in 33 of his reign to alter it for Tuesday at which time he likewise granted to them Free-warren in all their demesn lands of Monkskirby Walton Neubold-Paunton and parva Herdebergh with view of Frank-plege of all their Tenants in these and other places within this County as also in Kirkby super Wreke in Leicestersh with tryal of Malefactors and Weyfs In consideration whereof they were to pay to the King his heirs and successors v marks yearly Which Mannour of Kirkby super Wreke was by these Monks in 14 E. 2. granted to Roger Beler and Alice his wife and to the heirs of their two bodyes paying yearly to them and their successors viii marks vi s. viii d. at the feasts of St. Michael and Easter by even portions What else is memorable relating to this Monastery remains now to be spoke of as it was a Priory-alien viz. first of its sundry seizures made by the King and next of its dissolution Of which seizures hapning by reason of our wars with France as in Wolston hath been shewed the first that I have seen authority for was in 18 E. 1. for by an Indenture bearing date on the feast day of St. Mathew the Apostle in that year it appears that Rob. de Sottewell and Rog. de Belegrave to whom the lands and tenements of the said Prioryes-Alien in the Countyes of Warr. and Leic. were by the K. precept committed did upon certain conditions and agreements deliver to the Prior of Kirkby the said Monastery with what thereto belonged and the stock upon the ground all prized at estimable rates In which Indenture amongst other things it is observable that Wheat was then rated at vi s. a quarter Rye v s. Barly iii s. Beans and Pease ii s. viii d. Oats ii s. Swans at iii s. iiii d. a peice and Ducks at i d. After which viz. in 14 E. 3. the K. having again made the like seizure and committed the custody of this with the other Cels subordinate to the Monastery of S. Nich. at Angiers unto their Procurator general in England for a certain sum of money to be yearly paid into his Exchequer
Iohn Duke of Burgoine or were consenting thereto And in 3. H. 6. was again reteined to serve the K. for half a year in his French warrs under the command of Iohn D. of Bedford the Kings uncle then Regent of France with xx men at Armes and 60. Archers for the like wages Of his children by the first wife from whom the Earles of Kent are descended it concernes me not here to speak but by this Ioane the heir of Astley he had issue Sir Edward Grey Knight who wedded Eliz. the daughter of Henry Ferrers and grandchild and heire to Will L. Ferrers of Groby in whose right he was L. Grey of Groby Which Edward having been in Commission for the peace in this County 21 22 and 23. H. 6. was in 28. H. 6. appointed with others to treat with the people for a loan of mony to the King and dyed in 36. H. 6. leaving Sir Iohn Grey his Son and heir aged 25. years and Edw. Grey a second son created Lord Lisle by K. E. 4. in right of Eliz. his wife daughter to Iohn Talbot Visc. L'isle sister and heir to Thomas son of the said Iohn and afterwards made Visc. L'isle by King R. 3. viz. 28. Iunii 1. R. 3. Which Edward was with others in 4. H. 7. assigned a Commissioner for choosing of Archers in this County for relief of the Dutchy of Britanny and dyed in 7. H. 7. 1492. as may appear by the Probat of his Will whereby he bequeathed his body to be buried in the new Chappell of our Lady begun by himself to be built in the Colledge of Astley where the body of Eliz. his late wife was interred but he had another wife called Iane whom by the said Will he appointed to cause certain lands to be amortized to endow and find a Priest perpetually to sing in the said Chappell for his Soul and the Souls of his late wife Eliz. as also the said Iane and all Christen Souls Of his descendants the Pedegre before inserted taketh notice I shall therefore return to Sir Iohn Grey his elder brother the heir of this Lordship This Sir Iohn marryed Eliz. the eldest daughter of Ric. Widvill Earl Rivers as is sufficiently manifested by our Historians in regard that K. E. 4. afterwards made her his wife the said Sir Iohn being slain in the battail of St. AlbanÌ„s 39. H. 6. and had issue by her Sir Thomas Grey Knight created Marq. Dorset 18. Apr. 15. E. 4. who sate in his habit at the upper end of the table that day amongst the Knights in S. Edwards Chamber but for near relation and affection to the young King murthered by Ric. D. of Glouc. the then Protector his unnaturall uncle was 18. Oct. in 1. R. 3. attainted of treason Whereupon King Ric. by his Letters pat bearing date 2. Aug. 2. R. 3. granted this Lordship to the above mentioned Edward Visc. L'isle and the heires male of his body But in 1. H. 7. the Marq. being again restored possest himself thereof and by his testament bequeathing his body to be buryed here in the Coll. Church before the Image of the Blessed Trinity in the midst of his closet within the same Colledge on the South side dyed 20. Sept. 17. H. 7. By which Testament he willed that his Executors should cause to be said for his soul in every of the 4. Orders of Friers in London an hundred Masses by the Fryers in each place with as much hast as might be after his decease And that c. marks should be disposed in Almes to poor people at his buriall Likewise that the Hospitall of Lutterworth in Leicestersh of his patronage to be appropriate to the said Colledge of Astley if the Dean and his Brethren or their successors could obtein such appropriation to be lawfully made within 3. years after his decease to the intent that they should especially pray for the Souls of K.E. 4. and Q. Eliz. his consort and all Christen Souls By the Lady Cecily his wife daughter and heir to Will Lord Bonvile marryed afterwards to Henry E. of Wiltsh who likewise bequeath'd her body to be buried in the same Chappell where the Marq. her husband was interred appointing a tombe to be made over the place of their sepulture he left issue Thomas Marq. Dorset which Thomas impaled 30. acres of wood and pasture for to make that parke here at Astley now called the Little-parke and enlarg'd the great parke here with 90. acres of land in 12. H. 7. taken out of the precincts of Arley which to this day bears the name of Arley laund And by his Testament bearing date 2. Iunii 22. H. 8. bequeath'd his body to be buryed in the Church of Astley neer unto his father appointing that his mothers will should be observed for the maintenance of two Priests in the Chappell there as also that his Executors should with all speed and diligence after his Funeralls were performed and debts payd make and build a Chappell here at Astley according to the will of his father with a goodly tombe over his father and mother which being done to make another tombe in the midst of the Chancell where he himself resolved to be buried And after that should be finished then to build an Almeshouse for xiii poor men there to inhabite and to be for ever nominated by his Executors during their lives and afterwards by his heires each of them to receive xii d. a week for their maintenance with a livery of black Cotton yeerly price 4. s. which said payment he appointed should be made out of the Rents and profits of his mannours of Bedworth and Pakinton and all such lands and tenements as were in the occupation of the Lord L'isle reputed or taken as parcell of the same Lordships the surplusage to be bestowed in repayring the said Almes-house and keeping his Obit yearly And dyed the same year as may seem by the probate of his said Testament leaving issue Henry who marrying the Lady Frances eldest daughter to Charles Brandon D. of Suff. and Mary the Q. of France his wife was in her right by reason her two broâ—hers dyed without issue created D. of Suff. 11. Oct. 5. E. 6. In whose time it hapned that the Monasteries were dissolved for effecting of which work his father in law Charles Brandon D. of Suff. was not a little active as may appear by the large share he had of their possessions And there want not circumstances to shew that this Henry then Marq. Dorset was stirring enough therein for amongst other the lands belonging to those religious Houses he had all that appertain'd to this Collegiate Church granted to him and the Lady Frances his wife and his heirs 7. Aug. 37. H. 8. which he enjoy'd not long for leaving issue onely 3. daughters Iane the eldest wedded to Guilford Dudley 4. son to Iohn D.
this Church for the good estate of him the said Iohn during this mortall life and afterwards for the health of his soul as also for the Souls of his Parents and Benefactors and all the faithfull deceased and endow'd with six Mess and one Shop with a Chamber over it situat here in Coventre All which in 26 H. 8. were valued at 05. l. 09. s. per an over and above reprises but in 37 H. 8. at no more then 04. l. 06. s. 11. d. per an Crosses Chantry IN 13 H. 4. Iohn Scarburgh Philip Baron Laurence Coke and Thomas Henryes gave 5. Mess and 04. l. 06. s. 06. d. Rent per an lying here in Coventre to the Mayor and Commonalty of this City and their successors for ever to find a certain Priest to Sing Mass daily at the Altar of St. Katherine within the said Church for the good estate of the same K Henry during this life and for his soul after his departure hence as also for the soul of Iohn Crosse late Merchant of Coventre and the souls of all the faithfull deceased But when this Chantry was dissolved or altered I find not Pyseford's Chantry THis was founded by one Will. Pyseford and endowed with lands for to find one Priest to Sing Mass daily within this Church and to maintain six poor men and their wives such as had been honest House-holders and were fallen to decay within the City viz. 07. d. ob a week to every Couple to pray for the souls of the said William and his Parents for ever Howbeit the certain time of its foundation I have not seen but the lands and tenements thereunto belonging being by the Survey taken in 37 H. 8. valued at 26. l. 09. s. per an the Priest had out of it 6. l. yearly for his salary the residue being for the maintenance of the before specified poor people and discharge of other payments concerning the said lands and Chantry The Taylor 's and Sherman's Chantry OF this Chantryes foundation I find nothing but in the Survey of 26 H. 8. it was certified to be of the clear yearly value of 02. l. 16. s. 6. d. ob per an over and above all reprises Tate's Chantry HEreof all that I have met with is onely that there was an yearly stipend of Cvi s. viii d. payd to a Chantry-Priest singing Mass daily in this Church of St. Mich. by the Company of Dyers in the City of London Marler's Chantry IT doth not very clearly appear that this Chantry was in St. Mich. Church but in regard that there be circumstances which make it probable I have fixt it so It was founded by one Ric. Marler as his last Will doth manifest by which he assigned certain Rents to be yearly received by the Wardens of this City for the time being to find a Priest to Sing daily Mass in a Chappell built over the Grave of him the said Richard for the health of his soul and all Christen-souls and to keep divine Service in the Quire whose stipend was nine marks per an But the foundation of it is of no antiquity for there were no more than two Chantry-Priests successively belonging thereto viz. Henry Marler and Ric. Branker which Ric. was living in 37 H. 8. Trinity Church OF this the first mention I find is of it's appropriation to the Priory in 44 H. 3. In an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xx marks and the Vicaridge at two marks But in 26 H. 8. the said Vicaridge was rated at 33. l. 1. s. 6. d. ob per an out of which issued a Pension of C. s. to the Prior xvi s. in Procurations and Synodals and to the Church-wardens for a Quit-Rent yearly for the Vicaridge-house xx s. so that the clear yearly value deducting the reprises amounted to xxvi l. v. s. vi d. Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes Prior Conv. de Coventre Henr. de Harenhale 10. Cal. Apr. 1298. Prior Conv. de Coventre Ioh. de Holland 2. Non. Sept. 1334. Prior Conv. de Coventre Ioh. Greneburgh Cler. 4. Id. Ian. 1346. Prior Conv. de Coventre Egid. Fillilod Cap. Non. Sept. 1349. Prior Conv. de Coventre Will. Swet Pbr. 8. Maii 1380. Prior Conv. de Coventre Ioh. de Amcotes Pbr. 12. Martii 1381. Prior Conv. de Coventre Will. Gamell Pbr. 16. Oct. 1383. Ric. Umfrey domicellus Nich. Crosby Cap. 15. Ian. 1421. Pr. Conv. de Coventre Ioh. Meneley Pbr. 20. Dec. 1443. Pr. Conv. de Coventre Tho. Orton in decr bacc an 1508. Pr. Conv. de Coventre Nich. Darington S. Theol. bacc 23. Ian. 1527. Dom. Rex Will. Benet Cler. 5. Nov. 1546 Domina Regina Geo. Brooche in art Mag. 8. Aug. 1554. Domina Regina Geo. Cheston 6. Apr. 1568. Domina Regina Anth. Fletcher Cler. 4. Maii 1576. Domina Regina Humf. Fenne Cler. 21. Febr. 1577. Domina Regina Ric. Eaton Cler. 12. Ian. 1590 Iacobus Rex Tho. Cooper S. Theol. bacc 8. Maii 1604. Iacobus Rex Sam. Gibson Cler. 2. Ian. 1610. Iacobus Rex Ioh. Staresmore in art Mag. 15. Maii 1618. Iacobus Rex Sam. Buggs S. Theol. bacc 20. Iunii 1626. Monumental Inscriptions in this Church On the South Wall of the Quire EPITAPHIUM DOCTORIS HOLLANDI A SHIP SO CONFECTUM qui obiit 9. die Februarii 1636. Et 85. aetatis suae NEmo habet hic nemon hospes salveto Philemon Holland hâc recubat ritè repostus humo Si quaeras ratio quaenam sit nominis haec est Totus terra fui terraque totus ero At redivivus morte tuâ servabor Iesu Una fides votis haec est via sola salutis Hâc spe fretus ego culpâ poenâque solatus Iamque renatus inde novo conspectus amictu Caetu in Sanctorum post redimitus ero Claudicat incessu senior mea Musa vides ne Claudatur capulo mecum simulipsa valeto Valedictio Ad liberos nepotes superstites Dantque omnes unâ dudum de stirpe creati Henrice ah septem de fratribus une superstes O ephanici fratris Gulielmi nuper adempti Et mihi bis puero nutricis Anna Maria Cumque tuis Angelis Elizabeta valete Gulielmus filius sexto-genitus Chirurgus Conventrensis hic etiam jacet sepultus 1632. aetatis suae 40. Henricus filius haeres civis Londinensis P. 54. aetatis suae 1647. On the same South Wall Carmen in obitum charissimi Johannis Whithed quondam praetoris hujus civitatis dignissimi ROma NumaÌ„ jactat decorat Lacedemona priscaÌ„ Iussa Therapneus jura Lycurgus agens Non minor est nobis praeciso stamine vitae Qui jacet hic clausus lumine cassus humâ— Virtutis cursu constans athleta Iehovae O quam longè aberat subdola Graeca fides Mortuus ante diem proh saevo funâ—re raptus Tempore
mortua subscripta Henricus quartus Rex Angl. Henr. Princeps VValliae Henr. Bewfort Epicp Wint. Henr. sextus Rex Angl. Franc. Henr. Frowyk de London Alicia mater ejus Henr. Comes VVarwici Cecilia ux ejus D. Ioh. Botourt miles Iocosa ux ejus D. Ioh. Rex Castelli Legionis D. Lanc. D. Constancia regina Castelli Leg. Ducissa Lanc. recepti fuerunt in Fraternitatem Gildae die Sab. prox ante festum S. Lucae Evang. anno regni Regis R. 2. post Conq. Angliae secundo D. Ioh. de Arundell D. Alianora consors sua recepti fuerunt in Gildam 4. die mensis Nov. Anno D. 1379. Ioh. Beauchamp Iohanna ux ejus Ioh. Drax Serjaunt de Armis D. Ioh. Holland Dux de Exon. D. Isabella Ducissa Ioh. Holland miles D. Eliz. ux ejus Ioh. filius frater Regum Dux Bedfordiae Comes de Richemuad de Kendale Constabularius Angliae Isabella Comitissa VVarwici Katerina Ducissa Lanc. D. Ric. Comes Arundell ux ejus Die Merc. prox post festum annunc S. Mariae Anno M. CCCLXXVI D. Rog. de Clarindon miles filius excell Domini nostri Principis VValliae D. Rob. Stretton Episc. Lich. D. Regin Grey dominus de Ruthyn de VVayesford Tho. Beauchamp miles Co. VVarwici VVill. Beauchamp miles ux Tho. Arundell Archiep. Cant. Henr. de Ardern miles D. Ioh. Clinton miles eâ— ux ejus D. Tho. Lancastriae filius illustr Regis H. 4. locum-tenens Hiberniae VVill. de Burgh Iustic Domini Regis Margar. ux ejus D. Will. la Zouch miles Eliz. ux ejus D. Vmfridus filius illustr Regis H. 4. Dux Glouc. D. Humfr. Comes Staffordiae with a multitude more from all parts And it is observed that the annuall Master of this Gild was he that had been Mayor the year before who during his continuance in that office sate next to the Mayor in all publique meetings The Oath of which Master I have likewise here inserted I shall be good and true to the Brethren and Sistern of the Trinity-Gild S. Mary S. John and S. Katherine of Coventre and all lawfull points and Ordinances of this place afore this time ordeyned truly to kepe to my power and in especiall all the ordinances that been or shall be the generall days ordayned truly kepe and observe Also I shall truly receive and true accompt yeild as well of my receipts as of all other things that longen to the Master of this Gild and the arrerage of my accompt if any be truly pay or I depart from my accompt and all other things truly doe that longen to the office of the said Master So help me God and all Saints Also I shall once before Candlemas next coming with 6. or 4. Brethren of this Yeild oversee all the tenements of the sams Yeld Upon the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. it appears that Mr Rob. Glasmond being then Warden of this Colledge of Babbelake for by that name it was then called had viii l. per ann stipend and that there were 7 Priests more which had iiii l. xiii s. iiii d. per ann a peice for their Salary But in 37 H. 8. upon the Survey then taken I find that the revenue of all the lands belonging to the said Gild amounted to Cxi l. xiii s. 8 d. out of which inter alia was then paid 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. per ann to a certain Priest called the Warden of the Chappel of Babbelake And to eight other Priests celebrating divine service there 37 l. 6 s. 8 d. per ann To the Master of a Grammar-School there 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. per ann To two Clerks singing there 8 l. per ann To two Boys also singing there 2 l. per ann To divers poor men which had formerly been Brethren of the said Gild 10 l. in money according to the antient use To Tho. Gregory Clerk-Controuler of the same Gild 6 l. per ann And every Priest having likewise a Chamber within the precinct of the same Babbelake worth 4 s. per ann a peice Bond 's Almes-houses HEre was moreover within this place of Babbelake an Almes-house founded by one Thomas Bond a rich Merchant of Coventre wherein at the time of the said Survey were ten poor men and one woman kept to pray for the souls of the said Tho. Bond his grandfather father and all Christian souls All which were at that time maintained at the charge of Tho. Bond grandchild to the said Thomas by whose last Will the said Almes-house was to have been built and such poor maintained with a Priest and to that end certain lands put in Feoffees hands of 49 l. 11 s. 7 d. per ann value Out of which was paid to those poor people every Saturday 6 s. 8 d. which amounted to 17 l. 6 s. 8 d. per ann To the Priest celebrating divine service 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. per ann and 20 s. for a gown In toto 14 l. 6 s. 8 d. For 38 yards of black cloth to make gowns for the said poor men per ann 3 l. 16 s. 0 d. In Alms given to the poor yearly 13 s. 4 d. For 20 load of wood yearly for the said poor people 1 l. 3 s. 4 d. per ann For the Bayliffs fee 2 l. per ann In toto xliii l. viii s. xi d. ob But this being dissolved by Act. of Parl. as all other Chantryes Gilds and the like Fraternities were in 1 E. 6. I mean what belong'd to the Gild was by the K. Letters Pat. dated 12 Dec. 2 E. 6. granted unto the Bayliffs and Commonalty of this City and their successors to hold in Burgage by the service of 1 d. per ann Touching which Almes-house I shall further adde in memorial of the said Tho. Bond and other its Benefactors the Inscription upon the walls thereof This Hospitall was founded A. D. 1506. by Mr Tho. Bond Draper sometime Mayor and Alderman of this City for ten men and one woman who gave certein lands for mayntenance thereof which his son John Bond continued during his life But Tho. the son of John claimed those lands as his own whereupon the City sued him in Chancery and had a Decree against him which cost them a great sum of money for certein lands valued then at 20 l. per ann In the seventh year of K. James the said lands were questioned as concealed from the Crown which lands and tenements the City were enforc't againe to purchase of the K. to their very great cost and expences Notwithstanding the Citty have continued the charitable uses as formerly and as the lands have been improved so hath the maintenance of the old men been bettered and each mans place is now worth eleven pounds by the year Mr Sim. Norton Draper Mayor and Alderman of this City An. D. 1641. gave 300 marks for and towards the mayntenance of one man and one boy in this Hospitall of Babbelake
and one man and woman in Gray-Friers-Hospitall which man and boy are accordingly placed in this House and the Citty at their own charge makes their mayntenance equall with the rest of the Hospitall-men and boys In the year 1560. this Hospitall for Boys was first erected in the place where now it is being a House of the Cittyes and was for some years mainteyned by the Citty and the charity of well disposed people of Cittizens and Strangers till Mr Wâ—eatly in An. 1566. setled some lands towards the mayntenance thereof and other Benefactors since have given in all with his gift about 96 l. per ann Which being not sufficient to maynteine xxi Boyes and a Nurse and place them out Apprentices the Citty doth make up the rest being above 40 l. a year one year with another Corpus-Christi-Gild In Mill-lane THis Gild was founded in 22 E. 3. by Rob. Chaundos Iohn de Wynwik Clerk Iohn de Wyndsore Iohn de Weston Tho. Chaloner Will. Prest Henry de Busseby Nich. le Hunt Iohn Prest Will. de Teynton Gilb. de Pulteney Iohn Russell sen. Ric. le Gonere Iohn de Busheley Rog. de Tuwe Nich. Floutere Ric. Coupere Peter Percy and Nich. Pake in honour of the body and blood of our blessed Saviour for one Priest to sing Mass daily for the good estate of the same King E. and of the said Rob. Iohn c. above specified during their lives in this world and for their souls afterwards as also of all the faithfull deceased Unto which Iohn Scardeburgh of Coventre Iohn Wedon and divers others granted 29 mess. and a half 8 acres of land and 18 d. yearly rent all lying in Coventre in 15 R. 2. The lands and tenements belonging whereunto were by the Survey taken in 37 H 8. certified to be yearly worth 36 l. 10 s. 8 d. Out of which was annually paid to 4 Priests performing divine service in the Churches of the holy Trinity and S. Mich. viz. to each of them 4 l. a peice In toto 16 l. To poor people such as had formerly been of this Fraternity C s. per ann And in obits yearly C s. Of this Gild was Prince Edw. a Brother being so admitted 18 E. 4. as he was also of Trinity-Gild before mentioned Sheremen and Taylors Gild. adjoyning to Gosford-gate in S. George his Chappel as is said THere was yet one Gild more viz. of the Sheremen and Taylors founded it seems in R. 2. time to the honour of Christs Nativity Which K. gave them license to purchase lands in this City of 8 marks per ann value to find a Priest to sing Mass every day for the souls of the Founders thereof and all the faithfull deceased Whereunto K. H. 6. in 17 of his reign added his license for their purchasing of more lands to the value of x marks per ann and that they should choose 4 men of their Fraternity yearly at the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord to be Masters or Governours of the same and to have a Common Seal as also power to plead in any of the Kings Courts as a body corporate From which Gilds or Fraternities there is no doubt but divers Companies in the Cities and Corporations through England took their first patterns for obtaining such priviledges and immunities as at this day they enjoy And now that these Citizens had thus associated themselves into the several Fraternities before mentioned they began to have an opinion that if any more such Gilds were allowed in this place they might receive some inconvenience thereby And therefore in 1 H. 5. procured a declaratory Patent from the K. that thenceforth there should not be any new Gild erected But the young people viz. Journeymen of several trades observing what merry-meetings and feasts their Masters had by being of those Fraternities and that they themselves wanted the like pleasure did of their own accord assemble together in several places of the City and especially in S. George's Chappel near Gosford-gate which occasioned the Mayor and his Brethren in 3 H. 6. to complain thereof to the King alledging that the said Journeymen in these their unlawfull meetings called themselves S. George his Gild to the intent that they might maintain and abet one another in quarrels and for their better conjunction had made choyce of a Master with Clerks and Officers to the great contempt of the K. authority prejudice of the other Gilds viz. the holy Trin. and Corp. Christi and disturbance of the City Whereupon the K. directed his Writ to the Mayor and Justices with the Bayliffs of this City commanding them by Proclamation to prohibite any more such meetings HAving thus taken notice of all that is or hath been within the Walls which is worth observation I come to the Suburbs where I find nothing considerable but the Chappel or Hospital of Sponne on the West part of this City This Hospital was founded in H. 2. time by Hugh Keveliok E. of Chester who having a certain Knight of his houshold called Will. de Auney a Leper gave in pure Alms for the health of his soul and the souls of his ancestors his Chappel here at Sponne with the site thereof and half a carucat of land thereto belonging for the maintenance of such Lepers as should happen to be in the Town of Coventre In which Chappel was antiently one Priest at least to celebrate divine service for the living and the dead And with him had also wont to be certain Brethren and Sisters together with the Lepers praying to God for the good estate of all their Benefactors But this Hospital upon the grant of the Mannour of Coventre to the Monks in 34 H. 3. by Rog. de Montalt and Cecily his wife was inter alia reserved to the said Roger and Cecily and their heirs which Cecily had Coventre by inheritance from those Earls And in the Release made to the said Monks of the premisses by her the said Cecily in her widowhood is said to have been sometime belonging to the Abby of Basingwerk in Flintsh But clear it is that the Monks shortly after appropriated it to their own use though they held it not so very long for I find that it came at length to the Crown together with the Mannour of Cheylesmore and therein continued till 14 E. 4. But then did the K. pass it away to the Canons of Studley in this County and their successors by the name of Libera Capella S. Mariae Magd. apud Sponne juxta Coventrâ— with all the lands tenements c. thereto belonging in pure alms to pray for the good estate of him the said K. and of Q. Eliz. his consort Edw. his eldest son Pr. of Wales D. of Cornwall c. during their natural lives and for their souls afterwards as also for the soul of Ric. late D. of York the said K. father and all his progenitors The Arch-deaconry of Coventre AND now
Shiriff for enquiry who ought of right to repair it and to distrein them thereunto What was done thereupon I find not but in 26. E. 3. the Abbot of Stoneley being questioned for the not repair of it did not deny but that he ought of right so to do Finborgh WIthin the precincts of Stoneley there was a certain House with two yard land belonging to it called Fynborgh given by King H. 1. unto one William his Falconer by the service of keeping a Falcon. Which land one of the same William his descendants charged with an annuity of 5 s. per annum to the Canons of Kenilworth in respect whereof of the Priors of Kenilworth did chalenge to be Lords of the same tenement exacting Heriots and suite of Court from the possessors thereof But this tenement came at length by succession to one Alex. de Fynborgh who dying without issue Ioan the wife of Steph. Stretton and Alice the wife Iohn Fynborgh being his sisters inherited it Neither of which having children Ioan the survivor gave it in her widowhood to Will. de Hulle a Priest who past it unto one Iohn Bacon of Wolston Which Iohn sold it to Sir Will. Bagot of Baginton in R. 2. time but since that have I seen little of it Fynham THis village lyeth upon the bank of Sow and being a member of Stoneley was possest by the Monks from the Foundation of that Abby they having Free-warren granted to them here in 12. E. 1. In it antiently were xii houses of which eight were gone before the beginning of H. 7. time When it past out of the Crown I have not seen but in 3. E. 6. Cuthbert Ioyner a Citizen of Coventre and Thomas Kevet were owners of it Which Thomas died seized of six mess. here and certain lands to them belonging in 1 Eliz. leaving George his son and heir Fletchamsted THis is now in two parts one commonly called Over-Flechamsted and the other Nether-Flechamsted but antiently they were not divided Here it was that K. H. 1. observing it to be a place of great solitude in respect of the thick woods and large wasts thereabouts gave to one Gerard an Heremite and Priest a carucat of land whereupon in process of time he built Houses and let them for Rent Which Gerard had a Chappell here the yard whereof was consecrated by Walter Durdent then B. of Coventre upon condition that he the said Gerard and his successors should pay tithes to the Canons of Kenilworth in right of their Church of Stonley In this Chappell did he celebrate Divine service daily was afterwards buried therein After whose death K. Henry preferred one Bryan thereunto who also was a Priest and brother to a Templar named Peter Lomsy which Peter sent the said Brian into Ireland upon some business for the Templars and in his absence sung Mass in the Chappell here for the King But Brian dying in Ireland the Templars held this Chantry and the land thereto belonging and procured K. H. 2. to bestow it upon one Robert Pirou a Priest during his life for their use and after his decease upon them Whose grant K. Iohn confirmed Which lands were in 31. H. 2. certified to be worth 14 s. per annum and the Mill that the said Templars had also here 3 s. whereof they continued possest till the destruction of their Order yet not very peaceably in regard that the Canons of Kenilw. perplexed them with suites in R. 1. K. Iohn's time upon the title they pretended to have thereof by the grant of K.H. 1. In 7. E. 1. that which the Templars had here was certified to be 1. that one Carucat of land and Mill above specified held by the service to find a Priest to sing Mass daily for the souls of the Ks. Progenitors and for the soul of Gerard the Heremite 2. That the Tenants of this and the rest of the lands which they had here were to do suite to the Court at Balsall twice a year and each of them to find one man in Harvest for to work four days with their hooks the Templars providing them dyet All which had House-bote and Hey-bote in the Abbot of Stonley's woods called West-wood In the time that the Templars thus held it Guido de Foresta Master of that Order here in England temp E. 1. purchased from the Monks of Stonley for an C. marks and the releasing all their interest of common in the woods and lands belonging to the Abby of Stoneley 192. acres of wast lying in a great out-wood there adjoyning called West-wood with all such Rents and services which the Monks of Stoneley had of the said Templars tenants in Flechamsted except the rent of Iohn Fitz-Nicholas But when the Templars were supprest scil An. 1311. 5. E. 2. Robert de Hockele then Abbot of Stoneley entred into this Chappell and lands here and held them for 40. days Howbeit afterwards by the advise of Tho. de Hockele his brother then a Dr. in Divinity and a Canon of Kenilworth fearing that he might undergo some Ecclesiasticall censure for what he had done rendred them up to the Hospitalars to whom the K. and Pope had granted them as I shall fully shew when I come to Balshall All which lands except the carucat first belonging to this Chantry did pay tithes to the Church of Stoneley and in 21. H. 7. were held of the said Hospitalars by Iohn Beufitz of Balshall in Lease who by his Will disposed thereof to Ellene his wiâ—e Which Order with all the great Monasteries being dissolved in 30. H. 8. the K. by his Letters Pat. dated 26. Febr. 36. of his raign granted away whatsoever the said Hospitalars had here to Iohn Beaumont esq and his heirs by the name of a Mannour the particular lands thereunto belonging being said to be in Over-Flechamsted Who having license the same year to alien it unto William Humberston and his heirs levyed a Fine thereupon T. Hill 2. E. 6. But afterwards it came by purchase to Sir Tho. Leigh Kt. and Dame Alice his wife Which Sir Thomas had issue Sir Thomas who made the Park here built a fair House within it now enjoy'd by his grandson together with Stoneley whereof I have already spoke Nether-Flechamsted COncerning this I have not seen any thing before H. 7. time but then sc. 3. H. 7. was Sir Iohn Catesby Kt. seized thereof from whose son heir viz. Humfrey Catesby esq Iohn Smyth a wealthy Citizen of Coventre living in the Spon-street purchased this other lands of good value Which Iohn in 6. H. 7. was one of the Commissioners appointed in this County for arraying of men in defence of the Kingdom then in danger of an invasion by Charles 8. K. of France as also for conservation of the peace from 8. till 15. H. 7. and then was constituted one of the
which did exceed the value of ten Franks And if he or they hapned to take any prisoners he should not permit them to be ransomed without the consent of the said Earl or his son And lastly that himself with his Men and Horses should be upon all occasions shipt to and fro at the charge of the said Earl In 3. H. 4. he was Receivour generall to the same Earl and the same year joyned in Commission with the Shiriff for levying and collectâ—ng the Aid in this County for marriage of Blâ—nch the Ks. eldest daughter In 5. H. 4. he served as one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then holden And in 9. H. 4. was Surveyour of all the said Earles lands In 19. H. 6. he was one of the Commissioners appointed to treat with the people for a loan to the King In 20. one of the Knights for this Shire in Parliament And upon renewing the Commissions for the peace in this County from 17. till 27. H. 6. still joyned therein He was also Constable and Governour of Warwick-Castle and Supervisor of all the fishings pools and Swans belonging to Henry Duke of Warwick in this County and Stafford-shire In consideration whereof he had an annuity granted to him by the said Duke's Letters Pat. dated 5. Iunii 24. H. 6. And in 28. H. 6. in Commission about levying the Subsidy then granted to the King in Parliament So likewise from 30. H. 6. till 9. E. 4. upon all renewings of the Commissions for the Peace made one As also Squier of the body to the K. E. 4. and to Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick Surveyor of his lands And as his publick imployments were very great so were Iohn Hugford his son's whom I find in 34. H. 6. Steward to Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick As also a Justice of peace in this County from 1 E. 4. during the whole reign of that K. and of his brother K. Richard 3. as appears by the Records of their times This Iohn having been Shiriff of the Countyes of Warwick and Leic. in 12. and 18. E. 4. in consideration of the acceptable services which the said King acknowledged he had done was constituted Constable of Warwick-Castle as also Steward of Warwick and all the Lordships in this Shire then in the King hands in respect of the minority of Edward son to George Duke of Clarence by reason of the Earledome of Warwick Which office together with the place of Surveyour of all the Parks and Chases in this County King Richard 3. by his Letters Pat. dated 15. Nov. granted also to the said Iohn and Humfrey Beaufo esq in regard of the minority of the aforesaid Edward He was also a great Benefactor to the Abby of Stoneley as appears by the large quantity of land given thereunto by him lying in Ashoe and other places And having much augmented his fortune by the marriage of Margaret daughter and heir to Nicholas Metley as in Wolston and Merston I have shewed departed this life on the feast day of S. Nicholas the B. 1 H. 7. leaving issue by the said Margaret three daughters which were his heirs viz. Ioan marryed to Humfrey Beaufo of Bereford-S Iohn in Oxford-shire esq Alice to Richard Cotes esq and Anne to Gerard Danet esq upon the partition of whose lands this with Milverton came to Iohn Beaufo son and heir to Humfrey Beaufo above mentioned and Ioan the eldest daughter of the said Iohn Hugford Which Iohn in 20. H. 7. had livery of his inheritance without proof of his age that is to say of all the lands descended to him from Humfrey Beaufo his father Ioan his mother and Gerard Danet which Gerard was tenant by the curtesy to such lands as belong'd to Anne his wife another of the daughters and heires to the said Iohn Hugford and departing this life on Michaelmass day Anno 1516. 8 H. 8. lyeth buried together with the severall Hugfords before specified in the South part of the Collegiate Church at Warwick as their Monuments which I have here exactly represented do manifest From whom is lineally descended Henry Beaufo esq Lord of this Mannour Anno scil 1640. Willoughby HEre at Emscote it is that Avon is enlarged by the confluence of Leame which having its head in Northampton-shire about Bramiston and Daventre entreth Warwick-shire betwixt Wolfhamcote and Willoughby Touching its name I mean the etymologie it may seem to be derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifyeth a pool or lake for our antient Saxon language is affirmed by very learned men in both to have its originall from the Greek Neither is this conjecture improbable for as much as this River is of a muddy disposition having some standing holes in the nature of lakes or ponds in sundry places thereof And we find at this day that divers of those artificiall Rivers in Cambridg-shire antiently cut to drayn the Fens do bear the name of Leame as Watersey-leame New leame Morton's-leame c. being all muddy channells through which the water hath a dull and slow passage But leaving the better interpretation thereof to those that have more skill I come to Willoughby The occasion of this Towns name is evident enough the last syllable scil Bye in the old English signifying a Village as we use it in some sense to this day calling those orders which are made in a Court-Baron Bye-Laws id est the Town-Laws and the first willough importing that divers of such trees did antiently grow there In the Conq. time most of it was in the possession of Turchill de Warwick and the rest of Hugh Grentemaisnill howbeit the proportion which each had doth not directly appear for as much as it is in the Record confounded with other places But it is there written wilebere wilebej and wilebec which last if it were the originall name must be interpreted the willough-brook for Bee in the Saxon signifieth a little stream How it came into the Kings hands I have not seen but it seemes that King H. 1. possest it and enfeoft one Wigan his servant of 12. yard land here in Sergeanty then valued at xii li. which Sergeanty as well included lands in Dunchurch Thurlaston and Hulle as this viz. to find at his proper costs a man in harness for the Kings service with two Horses in every Army of his within England and wales Which Wigan held this willoughby all his life From whom it descended to Raph his son and heir and from Raph to Will and from Will to Ivo Which Ivo dying without issue it resorted to Thurstane his uncle who granted the whole Mannour with the advouson of the Church to the Hospitall of S. Iohn without the East-gate in Oxford founded by King Henry 3. in 17. of his raign ut ibidem infirmi peregrini suae remedium
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
xvi th of that month which shews that she dyed soon after it was made About ten years after this viz. 20. Sept. Anno 1480. 20 E. 4. Dame Eliz. Lady Latimer third daughter to the said Earl declared her last Will and Testament whereby she bequeathed her body to be interred in this Chapell at the head likewise of her noble father betwixt the above specified Sir Henry Nevill her son and Oliver Dudley her son in Law and appointed that there should be 4. stones of fair Marble with portraitures upon them of copper and gilt according to her estate and degree with Epitaphs representing their births and deceases and other fit things to such purposes cut upon the same and be layd upon the graves of her husband her son her son in Law beforementioned and her self And further ordained that lands of x l. per annum value should be put in Feâ—ffees hands to the end that with the revenue thereof a Priest might be maintained for the saying of Masse and other Divine services at the Altar in the aforesaid Chapell of our Lady to the honour of God and remission of the offences of her said Lord and Father her mother her husband her self her sons and all Christians till such time as the Kings license could be procured for amortizing of lands to that value to the purposes abovesaid And moreover with parcell of those revenues bought a pair of goodly vestments of white Damaske powdred with Bears and ragged staves of gold and in the orfray the Scocheon of her Armes to be well and richly embroydered and delivered to the said Chapell And that a pair of Vestments of black stuff with a like Scocheon in the orfray Crosse to be used in the Church of Wells in exercising the observances for her Lord and husband's soul who was it seems there interred In the East window of this Chapell there are besides those costly portraitures in glasse of Earl Richard with his wives and children which in my story of his life are represented the pictures in their full proportions of St. Alban the protomartyr of England St. Thomas of Canterbury St. Iohn of Bridlington and of St. Winifride unto each of which the renowned Earl Richard by his last Will and Testament bequeathed his Image in pure gold weighing xx li. in weight and in his surcoat of Armes holding an Anker in his hand appointing them to be offered at their severall Shrines in his name as in my story of him I have already declared so great an honour did he bear as it seems to those Saints On the North side of the Quire is a fair room built eight square which was heretofore the Chapter house for the Dean and Canons of this Collegiat Church but in our time converted to another use by the right honorable Foulk Lord Brook who in his life time erected therein a very stately Monument for himself of black and white Marble the representation whereof is on the next page truly exhibited his body being enbalmed and put into a coffin of lead in the Vault below Of the particular Churches which were heretofore in Warwick and so united to this Collegiate Church of our Lady as I have intimated I will here briefly say something That of S. Helene stood where the Priory of S. Sepulchers was founded as I have already shewed and by that means became swallowed up therein S. Michaells at the lower end of the street called Saltford on the North part of the town out of which the Canons of S. Maryes had a portion viz. xi s. per annum as in 19 E. 1. was certifyed and the Lepers in the Hospitall there vi s. viii d. But in 14 E. 3. the great and small Tithes with all oblations thereto belonging were rated at v. marks and a half This Church was governed antiently by its own proper Rector who used to be presented by the Dean of the Collegiat-Church of our Lady and the Prebendary thereof jointly but in 41 E. 3. the number of its Parishioners was so much decreased as also the yearly revenue belonging thereto that it became reduced in a manner to nothing having but three Parishioners and those onely Cottiers so that the yearly value thereof scarce reach't to one mark the Church it self being very ruinous the Church-yard small and not any House for the Parson then standing Patroni Ecclesiae Incumb temp Instit. Decan Canonici Eccles. Coll. B. Mariae Warw. Will. de Kenilworth Cap. 4. Non. Dec. 1296. Decan Canonici Eccles. Coll. B. Mariae Warw. Rob. de Breodun Cler. 26. Dec. 1329. Decan Canonici Eccles. Coll. B. Mariae Warw. Rob. fil Ioh. in le Gate 22. Apr. 1338. Decan Canonici Eccles. Coll. B. Mariae Warw. Reginaldus Dod Pbr. 15. Dec. 1349. Thomas Comes Warwici Henr. Hynks Pbr. 12 Febr. an 1353. Ric. Comes Warwici Ric. Wellys Cap. ult Sept. 1421. Ric. Comes Warwici D. Will. Berkswell Canon 3. Febr. 1434. The Church of S. Iohn Baptist stood in the midst of the Mercate place the outward fabrick whereof is yet to be seen whereunto in 41 E. 3. there was a Rector belonging presentable by the said Dean and the Prebendary of the Prebend but without any mansion for his dwelling the yearly value thereof then scarce amounting to four marks above all charges but this Church had neither Church-yard nor any Ecclesiastique sepulture pertaining thereto the Parishioners being buried in the Church-yard of S. Maries Patroni Incumbentes c. Decanus Canon Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warwici Hugo de Beoley Cap. 10. Kal. Nov. an 1281. Decanus Canon Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warwici Henr. de Compton Pbr. 2. Kal. Aug. 1315. Decanus Canon Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warwici Will. de Lalleford Pbr. 24. Dec. 1349. That of S. Peters antiently stood in the midst of the town whereunto in 14 E. 3. nothing but small Tithes appertained This also in 41 E. 3. had a Rector presentable by the said Dean and the Prebendary of that Prebend the value thereof being then scarce v. marks per annum having no dwelling house and without either Church-yard or Ecclesiastique sepulture the Parishioners burying their dead at S. Maries whereunto it was appropriated afterwards sc. in 22 R. 2. But in K. H. 6. time pulled down whereupon that of S. Peter in stead thereof was in those dayes newly built over the East gate The Church of S. Laurence standing at the lower end of the West street in the suburbe was in 19 E. 1. valued at viii marks and a half and in 14 E. 3. at ix marks In 41 E. 3. the Parson was presentable thereto by the Prebend thereof at which time the Dean of the Collegiate Church and the Prebendary received two parts of the Tith corne belonging to it the Colledge onely two parts of the Tith hay Mills and all small Tithes and the Rector the third throughout which scarce
his learning and holiness of life that divers eminent Prelates came to be his assistants at his first Masse in the performance whereof at the Elevation of the Host an Angell cloathed in white appeared before him bearing a Crosse of red and blew upon his brest having also his hands a Crosse layd upon the heads of two slaves that kneeled down by his side From which time God revealed unto him how he would be served in the foundation of a new Religious Order inciting him to leave all his goods to forsake the present world and to retire himself into the Desart which he accordingly did and distributing all that he had to the poor resorted to an holy Anachorite called Foelix de Valois who lived in an Hermitage within the Dioces of Meaux six leagues distant from Paris called Cerfroy in Latine Cervus frigidus in regard that there at the foot of a little hill was a fair clear and cold Fountain within which a white Hart used to come for refreshment Which two devout Hermites began within this solitary place an Order of the holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives about the year of grace M. CXCIV where they continued for the space of three years living in great austerity from any company of men and being on a day in Prayer were inspired of God to goe to Rome there to declare their intentions to his Holiness and to receive from his hands the Habit and Rule of the Order which they desired to institute for the better effecting whereofâ— they had Letters testimoniall from the Bishop of Paris making mention of the vision which the said Iohn de Matta had at the time that he first celebrated Masse When they came to Rome they were courteously received by Pope Innocent the 3. who forthwith celebrating the holy Masse on the 28. of Ian. being the Octaves of St. Anne did at the time of his elevation of the Host behold the like vision of an Angell cloathed in white as aforesaid with two Captives chain'd whereof the one was a Christian the other a Moore After which he assembled his Cardinalls and made known what he had seen and sent for the Anachorites declaring also to them that the Spirit of God did conduct them to those their designes and that he was the onely Author of the Order they would institute whereupon he gave them white Robes with a Crosse red and blew as on the following page is to be seen declaring to them the mystery of his vision scil the white Robe representing the candour of an innocent life and the purity of conscience The three colours scil of the habite and Crosse signifying the three persons of the holy Trinity the white the Father Eternall the blew which was the traverse of the Cross the Son in his Passion and the red the Charity of the holy Ghost and the two Prisoners bound and fettered had relation to the redemption of Captives appointing that this Institution should be called The Order of the holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives and that all the possessions which they should enjoy might be equally divided into three parts viz. the one for the entertainment and reception of Religious persons the other to relieve the poor and the third to redeem Christians kept Captive by the Infidells Trinitarianus Having signified thus much as to its Foundation I will now enumerate the severall Benefactors that the Canons of this Priory had beginning with the posterity of the pious Founder whereof Fouk de Lucy his grandchild was the first who gave them leave to inclose a way which interposed betwixt the Church of Teflesford and their habitation To him succeded Sir William de Lucy Knight which William gave them liberty to inclose two acres of land lying neer to their House and joyn them to the Court thereof as also a certain parcell of ground called the Hay lying at the head of those two acres along by the brook called Theulisforbrok so far as the breadth of those two acres extended In Bereford much was given thereto scil by Alice the wife of Walter de Bereford and daughter to Reinbald de Cherlecote five yard land By Philip de Kynton a good proportion which he had purchased of Henry de Bereford and others By Henry de Bereford the Church of Bereford and certain lands within that Lordship By Wâ—ll de Nasford sometime Lord of Bereford the fishing in Avon from Le-Milne to his own Mill poolâ— with liberty to make a Pâ—und upon their land at Bereford to keep in such cattell as should trespass upon them as also three yard land called the Free hide exempr from Warth and Scutage and all secular services and to have free ingress and egress to and from the Câ—mâ—on of pasture at Bereford for their cattell By Richard Malore son to VVilliam Malore of Kirkby in Leicester-shire certain lands in the same Kirkby with the advouson of the Church as also the Chapells of Shilton and Pakinton in that County By VVilliam Putot a yard land with a messuage and 4. acres lying in Ashorne in consideration whereof he and his tenants were to be quitted from paying any small Tithes for their lands in Newbold as also of Chircheset By VVilliam de Odingsells certain lands lying within his Lordship of Solihull at a place called Hundeshale By VVilliam de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick three parcells of errable land the one called Cley-pits the second Morecroft and the third Ferny-furlong with Common thereto belonging when the fields are open By Roger de Cherlecote all his lands and tenements in Hethcote viz. from Godewyneschich above Hethcote along to Newbold brook and from the torrent which runneth through the midst of Hethcote to Newbold brook in bredth unto the way leading from Newbold towards Warwick Divers petty grants of sundry others for brevity I omit Which endowments by severall persons so conferred enlarged the revenues belonging to this Monastery so much as that the Canons built their Church a new about the beginning of Edward 1. time as may seem by the Consecration thereof upon the day of the translation of S. Thomas the Martyr Anno 1285. 13 E. 1. which was solemnly performed by Godfrey Giffard the reverend Bâ— of Worcester who then preacht upon this Text there Domus tua decet c. The Benefactors that it afterwards had were these In 28 E. 3. Thomas Lucy then Lord of Cherlecote and Philippa his wife who gave certain lands in Cherlecote to these Friers that they should celebrate divine service and pray devoutly for the soul of VVilliam de Clinton sometime Earl of Huntingdon as also for the souls of them the said Thomas and Philippa In 18 R. 2. Sir VVilliam Lucy Knight Roger Straunge and Iohn Vicar of the Church of Wellesburne gave unto them one meâ—s xl acres of land and vi acres of meadowâ— lying in Ashorne and Newbold-Pacy and in 7 H.
a very large exâ—ent yet antiently more spacious for Tanworth which is of itself a great one was heretofore a member thereof as â—n my discourse of that place is manifested the whole being certifyed by the Conq. Suâ—vey to contain 46. hides having woods of 3. miles in length and 2. in breadth All which then yeilded to the K. yearly Lv l wiâ—h xx horse loads of salt and then were in his own hands But before the Conquest it was part of the possessions belonging to Edwine Earl of Mercia Which part wherein the woods were so contained I conclude to be Tanworth whereof there is no expresse mention by name in the said general survey I am of opinion that it was given to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick by K. Will. the Conq. for clear it is that the said Earl possessed it It should seeme that in the grant thereof the number of hides which it contained were exprest and very likely the same that the general Survey before mentioned had recorded but that either the measure was too large or that K. Stephen had a mind to get some mony from Roger Earl of Warwick under that pretence for it appears that about the beginning of his reign he put him to CC marks fine for the overplus of the hides â—n this Mannour After which his posterity enjoy'd it till K. Henr. 7. in 3. of his reign got all the possâ—ssions belonging to that great Earldome as in Warwick I have manifested In 31. H. 3. upon the agreement betwixt Iohn de Plessets with Will. Mauduit and Alice his wife it was inter alia setled upon the said Iohn for life he having wedded Margery the daughter and heir to Thomas Earl of Warwick as in my story of the Earls hath been shewed which Iohn together with his said wife the next ensuing year obtained a Charter from the King for a Mercate here upon the Munday every weeke and a Fair to begâ—n on the Even of S â— George and to continue for the space of two dayes following After which viz. upon the death of Will. Mauduit Earl of Warwick in 52. H. 3. it was by agreement betwixt Alice his widow and Will. de Beauchamp the succeeding Earl assigned to her as part of her dower But in 7. E. 1. was in the possession of the said Will. who then held in demesn 3. carucates of land here as also a certain Park containing xxx acres with Warren and other liberties Which Earl had lx yard land here held of him by sundry Tenants under several rents and certain particular services whereof in regard that in those times the like was usual in most places I will here give instance in one viz. Adam Underwood who holding one yard land payd for the same 7 Bushells of Oats yearly and a Hen being to work for the Lord from the feast of S t Mich. th'arch-Angell till Lammas every other day except Saturday viz. at mowing as long as that time should last for which he was to have as much grasse as he could carry away with his Sithe at the end of Hay-harvest he the rest of his fellow Mowers to have the Lord 's best Mutton except one or xvid in money with the best Cheese saving one or vid in money and the Cheese-fat wherein the said Cheese was made full of salt As also that from the said Feast of Lammas till Michaelmas he was to work two dayes in the week and to come to the Lord's Reap with all his houshold except his wife and his Sheepherd and to mow down one land of Corneâ— being quit of all other work for that day That he should likewise carry two Cart loads and a half of the Lords hay with seven Cart load of stones for three days and gather Nuâ—ts for three dayes And in case that the Lord should keepe his Christmasse at this his Mannour of Brailes he to find three of his horses meat for three nights That he should plow thrice a year for the Lord viz. 6. selions and do the same tillage within xx miles And moreover to make 3. Quarters of Malt giving for every Hogg above a year old id and for every one under a half peny And lastly that he and the rest of the said Tenants here should give xii marks to the Lord at Michaelmasse yearly by way of Aid and not marry his daughter nec filium coronare id est nor make his son a Priest without license from the Lord. That being an usuall restraint of old in Villenage tenures to the end that the Lord might not loose one of his villeins by coming into holy Orders As for the Freeholders here I shall only mention some of them viz. Nich. de Segrave who held at that time viii yard land of the Earl by the service of the sixth paâ—t of a Knights fee Theobald de Nevill and Robert de Hastang viii yard land by the service of a pair of gilt spurs and Peter de Montfort xvi yard land by the 4 th part of a Knights fee. At that time the Nuns of Wroxhall had one yard land here which was given to them in pure Almes by Walleran Eâ—râ— of Warwick So also had the Canons of Kenilworth 4. yard land but that was in right of the Church as part of its glebe After this viz. in 13. E. 1. Will. de Beaucamp Earl of Warwick claim'd by prescription to have certain priviledges here viz. Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beer which were allowed For iâ— is a large and goodly Mannour the yearly value whereof in 9 E. 2. being rated at no lesse than 93 05 s 04 l ob q. There is little else memorable touching this Mannour so long as it continued to the Earls of Warwick But shortly after it came to the Crown as aforesaid it was leased to Richard Hungerford and Iohn Hopper for xl years and afterwards viz. in 21 H. 8. the site thereofâ— and all the demesn lands with the Mercate and Fair as also the water-Mill and Warren of Coneys to VVill. VVillington of Bercheston for xxi years which VVill. held it not out the whole terme for in 30 H. 8. there was another Lease made thereof to VVill Rainsford one of the Gentlemen huishers to the King for xxi years And in 30 Henry 8. the King past away the inheritance thereof to Thomas VVymbush Esq and the Lady Eliz. Talboys his wife and to the heirs of the said Elizabeth Which Thomas and Eliz. in 1 E. 6. sold it to VVill. Sheldon of Beoley in Com. VVigorn whose great grandchild VVilliam now enjoyes it The Church dedicated to S. George was given to the Canons of Kenilworth in King H. 1 time by Roger Earl of Warwick Simon then Bishop of Worc. confirming the grant whereupon in R 1 time ensued the endowment of the Vicaridge by Iohn de Constantiis Bishop of Worc. with all the Altarage and small tythes as
for in 4. 5. Ph. M. S â— Thomas Pope K t had a grant thereof Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Patroni Vicariae Abbas Conv. de Walden Ioh. de Dersete Pbr. 9. Cal. Iulii 1289. Abbas Conv. de Walden D. Will. Hankyn 6. Cal. Maii 1319. Abbas Conv. de Walden Will. le Fullare Pbr. 28 Maii 1339. Abbas Conv. de Walden Will. in le Lane Pbr. 19. Feb. 1361. Abbas Conv. de Walden Ioh. Baynton 9. Iunii 1389. Abbas Conv. de Walden Ioh. Aldestre penult Martii 1390. Abbas Conv. de Walden Edw. Normanton Pbr. 11 Iunii 1406. Abbas Conv. de Walden Will. Gilbert penult Maii 1430. Abbas Conv. de Walden D. Will. Whithmale Pbr. 8. Maii 1455. Abbas Conv. de Walden Ioh. Toly Cap. 10. Maii 1465. Abbas Conv. de Walden D. Ioh. Mason Cap. 4. Iunii 1485. Abbas Conv. de Walden D. Richard Mason Pbr. 8. Dec. 1504. Praepos c. Colleg. Reg. de Eton. Egid. Cartwright Cler. 8. Aug. 1571. Praepos c. Colleg. Reg. de Eton. Ioh. Ivie Cler. 12. Nov. 1573. Praepos c. Colleg. Reg. de Eton. Will. Scooler Cler. 21 Martii 1577. Weston juxta Chiriton THat this was originally a member of Long Compton I have in my discourse of that place already intimatedâ— From Marshall Earl of Pembroke it came to Raph Pipard and from him to one Iohn de Weston soe called frâ—m his residence here as I guesse which Iohn in 7 E. 1. held it of the said Raph by the fourteenth part of a Knights Fee having then two carucates of land in demesn as also one Water mill with certain Tenants holding 8 yard land of him by several services as plowing sowing reaping making malt and the like but with his said Tenants made two appearances yearly at the Court Leet of the said Raph. at Compton paying iiiâ— to him at the Feast of S t Martin and iiid at Warth which Iohn de Weston in 27 E. 1. entailed this Mannour after his own decease upon Iohn de Broughton and Kath. his wife and the heirs of the said Iohn de Broughton whereupon the said Iohn within two years following obtain'd a Charter of Free-warren to himselfe and his heirs in all his demesn â—ands at Broughton near Banbury in Oxfordshire as also here and other places in this County Howbeit after this till E. 3. time I find no farther mention thereof worthy the notice but then was it setled upon Raph Earl Stafford and Will. de Peito for their two lives and afterwards upon S r Iohn de Peito Kt. son of the said Will. and Alianore his wife and Iohn the son of the said Iohn and Alianore and the heirs male of his body and for want of such issue on Hugh the son of the said Earl and the heirs male of his body by Philippae his wife with remainder to the right heirs of the said Will. de Peito as appeareth by a certain Feoffment bearing date here at Weston on the Munday next after the Feast of S t Thomas the Apostle the same year Whâ—ch Will. de Peito was justled out of it as by hâ—s Petition to King Ric. 2. appeareth the substance whereof I have here added viz. that one Walter de Chiriton being indebted to Kâ—ng E. 3. command was given unto one Rich. de Foxton then Eschaetor to enquire of what lands or Tenements he was seized of in the xx xxii and xxiiith years of his reign and afterwards in respect that he the said Walter had been a Fermour to the King and never accounted Whereupon by the corrupt procurement and abetting of Alice Perers who had been concubine to King Edw. then wâ—fe of S â— Will. Windsor Knight and for her behoofe it was falsly certified by the Enquest that the same VValter had an estate in Fee simple of this Mannour whâ—ch the said VVill. de Peito then held who upon the return of the Inquisition into the Chancery traversed the same shewing by good evidence that the said VValter had no right therein farther than for the life of Iohn de Segrave of Folkestane which Iohn had granted the reversion thereof to certain persons whose estate in Fee simple the said Will had obtaâ—ned Whereupon another Inquis was made but through the unjust procurement of the saâ—d Alice and the menaces made to the Jury by S â— Baldw. Frevill and S â— Thomas de Morehalle they durst not give any other Verdict than what had been before and that by this means â—t being seised into the Kâ—ngs hands was granted by him to Rob. Broune of Warwick Stewaâ—d to the said Alice and to one Iohn Vincent of London to her use who held it accordingly at the tâ—me of the said Petâ—tâ—on exhibâ—ted Whereupon the King referred the examination of the matter to S r Iohn Knyvet to make report but it seems there was nothing done therein to the advantage of the saâ—d VVill. de Peito for upon the attainder of the before specifyed Alice it being seized into the Kings hands the custody thereof was committed to S â— Iohn VVorth Knight and shortly after the inheritance of it given by the said Kâ—ng to the before specified S â— VVill. VVindsor Whâ—ch Sâ— VVill. past it into the hands of S â— VVill. de Beauchamp S r Hugh Segrave S r VVill. Cossington Knights and others and their heirs who granted their râ—ght therein to S t VVill. Murrers Knight and Christian his wife and the heâ—rs of their two bodyes lawfully begotten to hold untill such time as the debt due to the Kâ—ng by VValt de Chiriton formerly mentioned should be fully satisfyed Whâ—ch S â— VVill. Murrers and Christian past over their estate therein to Iohn Carpe and Raph Kâ—steven to enjoy accordingly till the said debt should be satisfied who upon the grant made by VVill. de Chiriton son and heir of the same VValter to the said S â— VVill. Murrers and his heirs of all his right therein by their deed bearing date at London 20 Iunii 8. R. 2. quitted their â—nterest â—n the reversion thereof unto the saâ—d S â— VVill. and his heirs Howbeit after thâ—s I find that Thomas Moubray D. of Norff. had an interest herein though by what means I know not but by one Inquis taken after his death in 22 R. 2. it appears that he granted it to the above specified S â— VVill. Morers Knight and Christian his wife to hold during their lives and by another that he past it to Ric. de Burgh Esq to hold likewise during his life And it was also found that he dyed seized of two parts thereof which two parts thereupon coming to the Crown by reason of the minority of Iohn Moubray brother and heir of Thomas Earl Marshall were in 11 H. 4. assigned to him by the King towards his maintenance
Knight Pl. and Iohn the son of Sir Iohn Trillow Knight and Ioan his wife Deforc. it being of her inheritance whereby it past to the said Sir Baldwin for life But in 10 Henr. 6. Richard Beauchamp Earl of UUarwick was Lord of it And shortly after that Iohn Arden of Park-hall Esquier who upon the marriage of Thomas his son and heir setled it inter alia upon him Which Thomas in 1. 2. Phil. M. levyed a Fiâ—e thereof but to what uses I know not The Chapell here as also that of Norton-Limesi antiently belong'd to the Church of UUotton-Wawen but in the year 1257. by a special Agreement made betwixt the Prior of UUotton and the then Rector of the Church of Claverdon it was concluded that from thenceforth the said Chapells with all the Tithes as well great as small arising within their precincts should belong to the Church of Claverdon as also that the Inhabitants of this Village and Norton should bury their dead and receive the Sacraments there In consideration whereof the Rector of Claverdon and his successors were to pay for ever unto the Prior of UUotton and his successors in the Church of Wawens-UUottou 5. marks and 8 â— yearly upon the Feast days of St. Iames the Apostle and St. Martin by equall portions or within two dayes following which agreement was confirmed by Maugerius Bishop of UUorcester upon Fryday being Saint Peters day the year abovesaid When or how the difference grew betwixt the Successors of the said Rector and Prior I know not but I find that about 22 H. 7. the Arch-Deacon of UUorcester as Rector of Claverdon and the Provost and Fellows of Kings Colledge in Cambridge successors to the said Prior came to a new Agreement viz. that the said Rector of Claverdon and his successors should themselves pay to the said Provost and Fellows and their successors xl s. yearly Pension at Easter and Mâ—chaelmasse by even portions in right of their Rectory of VVawens-UUotton which Agreement bears date 1 Februarii anno 1506. 22 Henry 7. Norton Limesi alias Norton superior FOllowing this little brook I come next to Norton-Limesi standing upon an ascent on the Northwest side thereof but it is not at all mentioned in the Conquerors Survey which makes me conclude that it was then involved with UUolvardinton being the very proportion which Rob. de Stadford then held in that place For in 13 Ioh. Where the Fees belonging to the Honour of Stafford in this County are recorded Langeleg and Norton which I take to be this Norton are certified for two Knights Fees And afterwards viz. in 36 Henr. 3. is it also joyned with Langele VVill. de Curli of whom I have spoke in Budbroke answering for one Knights Fee in both these places But in 9 E. 2. it was reputed a Hamlet of Fulbroke and written Norton-Limsey for distinction from the other Nortons It seems that the Earls of UUarwick became possest of it in E. 3. time if not before for in 46 E. 3. it appears that the Knights Fee here in Langley above mentioned was held of Raph Earl Stafford by Thomas Beauchamp then Earl of UUarwick and so likewise by the succeeding Earls of Warwick The Chapell here dedicated to the holy Trinity was antiently dependent upon the Church of UUotton-VVawen but long since annext to the Parish Church of Claverdon Sunger THis place was given to the Monks of Bordsley in K. Steph. time by Will. Giffard and confirm'd by Roger Earl of Warwick but the reason why it is not particularly mentioned in the Conquerors Survey is because it was then involved with Brailes of which Mannour it was accounted for half a hide as the Charter of its confirmation made by Will Earl of UUarwick son to Earl Roger doth testifie After the dissolution of which Monastery it was granted out of the Crown inter alia to Clem. Throkmorton Esquier and Alex. Avenon and their heirs by the name of the Mannour Ferm and Graunge called Songer-grange and is now possest by Clem. Throkmorton of Haseley Esq great grandchild to the said Clement Paulines-Heath OF this place all that I have seen is no more than that the Canons of Saint Sepulchers in UUarwick were seized thereof in 42 H. 3. But I do not find that those lands then so called did continue that name or were reputed a Mannour Pinley-Priory ON an ascending ground upon the North side of that torrenâ— rising about the skirts of Claverdon stands Pinley which was antiently a member of Rowinton and granted as I guesse by Robert the first Earl of Leicester of the Norman line who possest Hugh de Grenâ—emaisnill's lands whereof Rowinton was part to Robert Boteler of Oversley in this County which Robert as it seems enfe oft R. de Pilardinton thereof who was the Founder of this little Monastery For in the Confirmation made by Simon Bishop of UUorcester as also of Iohn Pagham and Alured his immediate successors who lived in K. H. 1. and K. Steph. times there is recitall that the said R. de Pilardinton gave to God and the Nuns of this place totam terram de Pineleia assensu Roberti Pincerâ—e de Overslâ—ia Whether there were any formall Charter of its Foundation I much doubt but if there were 't is â—o wonder through the various changes of its possessors since the dissolution that it is lost And for enroulment in our publique Records I am sure there is none it seldome hapning that such small Houses went to the charge thereof I come now to the severall Benefactors that they had In Pinley Will. the son of Wigan Mareschall gave them half a yard land In Shrewley Ernald de Bois one carucate and Robert de Tayden a certain Tenement containing a full carucate In UUalton-Mauduit VValeran Earl of UUarwick gave the tithe corne In UUalton-Daivil Walt. de D'avill the tithe of his Mill. In Claverdon several parcells of land were given some by Waleran Earl of Warwick in a place called Crudshale and the rest by Nich. de Crudshale In Ruhinton Will. the son of VVill. de Freynuse gave a meadow In Langeley VVill. de Curley and his Tenants several parcells In UUhatcote the Nuns of this House had one yard land and a half granted by Sir Iohn le Lowe Knight In UUhitchurch an yearly Rent of xiii quarters of Wheat and xiiii quarters of Barley which they purchased of Peter de Montfort Lord of that Mannour which Family of Montfort whose seat was a Beldesert were very devout Benefactors to this Monastery for I find that Thurstan de Montfort gave thereunto the tenth part of all the victualls spent in his House viz. Bread Beer Flesh Fish and whatsoever was drest in his Kitchin and that Peter his son obtained the patronage thereof from Roger de Pilardinton in H. 3. time whereof he had a
Jejunia adhuc retinent nomen officii nam communiter Vigiliae non Jejunia nuncupantur The substance of this I have found Englished in an old Manuscript Legend of S. Iohn Baptist as followeth And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were first found in old time In the beginning of holl Chirche it was so that the pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold Wake and coome with light toward night to the Chirche in their devocions and aftir they fell to lecherte and songs daunses harping pipingâ— and also to glotony and sinne and so tourned the holinesse to cursydnes wherefore holy faders ordeined the pepull to leve that Waking and to fast the Evyn But hit is callyd Vigilia that is Waking in English and it is callyd the Evyn for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche Howbeit the direct time when this prohibition for coming so to Church in the Evening was made hath not as yet appeared to me but I do conclude it to have been very antient for though Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1362. 36 E. 3. by vertue of that appointment made by Pope Gregory the ninth for observation of some speciall Holy days and leaving the rest thus quas singuli Episcopi in suis Diocaesibus cum Clero Populo duxerint solenniter venerandas comanded that Solennitas Dedicationum Ecclesiarum Parochialium Sanctorum in quorum honore Ecclesiae parochiales dedicantur according to the Canon Law Dist. 1. cap. 16.17 Dist. 3. cap. 1. yet there is no doubt to be made considering what is before exprest but that such solemnities of the Churches Dedication were no lesse antient than the primitive times of Christianity and annually kept for many ages upon the same Saints day to whose memory such dedication was made but in processe of time certain inconveniencies being found in the observance of those very dayes especially such as hapned in Harvest when a little neglect may occasion much losse many of them were by speciall authority from the Bishop for that very reason altered and the solemnity transferred to the next Sunday following or some other Sunday as I have seen for instance of Tadcaster and Bishop-Wilton in Yorkshire where the Churches Festivall of the one being on the 28 of August was in the year MCCC xiv assigned to be kept on the Sunday next ensuing the Feast of the Decollation of S. Iohn Baptist and of the other which fell out on the fifteenth of September to be observed the Sunday ensuing Which alteration forasmuch as it broke the antient course and order perhaps occasioned for uniformities sake that Injunction of King Henry made in the year 1536. 28. of his raign whereby with the common assent and consent of the Prelates and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation lawfully assâ—mbled amongst other things he decreed ordained and established that the Feast of Dedication of Churches should in all places throughout this Realm be thenceforth celebrated and kept on the first Sunday of the month of October for ever and upon none other day Since which time that Rule hath been observed in divers places as I have particularly taken notice especially where the Saints day unto whom the Church was dedicated hapneth in the Winter time but where it falls out in that time of the year that the weather is warm and proper for merry meetings it is generally seen that the said Festivall is yearly kept on the Sunday next following such day though not by commemoration of the Saint in any particular Church service but by holding up the Custome of Feasting amongst friends and good neighbours with the exercise of dancing and other sports which time is now usually called the Wake through most parts of this Kingdom But returning to Stratford and the successive Bishops that were Lords thereof I find that William de Bleys then being Bishop procured a Charter for another Faire to be kept here on the Eve of S. Augustin and on the day morrow after which Festivall falls yearly on the seventh Cal. of Iune being the 26. of May And within xvi years after Walter de Cantilupe obtained another to be yearly kept on the Eve of the Exaltation of the Holy Crosse the day and two days following viz. 14. Oct. which Charter bears date at Winchester 23. Dec. 24 H. 3. This indeed hath continued till the present times frequented by multitudes that come from far and neer unto it the Toll whereof was very antiently leased for ix s. iv d. and the Toll of the Mercate at xvi s. per annum which Walter sate Bishop for divers years in 39 H. 3. obtained a Charter of Free-warren for himself and his successors in all their demesn lands here bearing date at Merton 2. Apr. Another Faire likewise did Godfrey Giffard when he was Bishop procure in 53 H. 3. to be held for three days viz. the Eve of the Ascension of our Lord commonly called Holy Thursday and upon the day and morow after And moreover the next year following got a new Charter for renewing the Faire again on the Eve of Trinity Sunday so granted by King Iohn as aforesaid and to continue for three days after Touching the revenue which the said Bishop had here in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. I find that it was in Rent of Assize xx li. two carucates of land rated at xx s. one Mill yeilding C s. the pleas and perquisites lx s. and the profits of the store xx s. But it should seem that the said Thursday Mercate grew in time to be neglected for it appears that Walter de Maydenstane made Bishop of Worcester in 2 E. 2. did in the very first year of his consecration obtain a new Charter for one to be kept upon the same day every week and added also another Fair thereto to begin yearly on the Eve of S. Peter and Paul being at the later end of Iune and to hold for xv days Which Charter bears date at Westminstr 4. Martii 2 E. 2. And now that the Mercate became thus setled it was not long ere that the Paving of the town began for in 5 E. 3. did one Robert de Stratford then Parson of the Church of Stratford but afterwards highly advanced as I shall shew by and by procure a Patent for taking Toll for the space of four years upon sundry vendible commodities that should be thither brought for sale towards defraying the charge thereof which Patent being directed Ballivis probis hominibus villae de Stratford super Avone expresseth that it was obtained ad requisitionem dilecti Clerici nostri Roberti de Stratford And was afterwards twice renewed at the request of the said Robert viz. in 8 E. 3. for four years longer and in 10 E. 3. for two years more This Robert de Stratford was afterwards Archdeacon of Canterbury
Neude 20 Ian. 1384. D. Episc. VVigorn Thomas Mile 4 Dic. 1384. Patroni Eccl. Collegiatae Magr. Ric. Praty in Art D. Episc. Wigorn. Magr. 20 Apr. 1423. D. Episc. Wigorn. Magr. Henr. Sever S. Theol. Bac. 16 Dec. 1436. D. Episc. Wigorn. Thomas Balsall S. Theol. professor 19 Feb. 1465. The Gild of the Holy Crosse. THe next thing whereof I have taken notice in this town is the Gild of the holy Crosse but the originall of this Fraternity I do not find recorded neither have I seen any formal Foundation thereof till 4 H. 4. Whence it is evident that such meetings were at first used by a mutuall Agreement of friends and neighbours and particular Licenses granted to them for conferring lands or Rents to defray their publique charges in respect that by the Statute of Mortmain such gifts would otherwise have been forfeited as in this place may be discerned For in 5 E. 3. several persons of this town had leave to amortize divers particular petty Rents thereunto which they charged upon certain Houses and lands situate within the compasse thereof And in 7 Richard 2. one Richard Fille an Inhabitant of this place gave thereunto eight mess. one toft and half a yard land lying in Stratford Clifford and Shotriche without License for which respect they were seized into the Kings hands but in such great request did it grow within a short time after that K. H. 4. by his Letters Pat. dated at Westm. 8 Iunii in the 4 th year of his reign reciting that whereas Thomas Aldebury Clerke Nich Sauser jun. and Thomas Compton sen. stood enfeoft of xx mess. 3 shops 4 s. 4 d. Rent half a yard land and the moytie of 2 Burgages with th' appurtenances lying within the towns of Stratford super Avene Bruggeton and Ruynes-Clifford to the use of this Fraternity which being antiently begun had continued till that time without the Royall License and that divers lands and Rents had been given thereto which K. E. 3. by his Letters Pat. dated 12 Nov. 5 E. 3. confirmed the said King therefore taking into consideration the devout intention of the Founders and Continuers thereof then gave License to the said Thom. Nich. and Thom. and to the rest of the Brethren and Sisters of the same Gild that they and their successors might not only continue the same but if they should think fit make and begin a new Fraternity of themselves and others to the honour of the Holy Crosse and S. Iohn Baptist. And that the Brethren and Sisters thereof for the time being might from year to year choose 8 Aldermen out of their said Fraternity which said Aldermen and their successors should have power to elect a certain Master and two Proctors of their Gild for to govern the lands and revenues thereto belonging And that the said Feoffees might assigne the said Messuages Lands and Rents to the said Master and Proctors and their successors for ever to provide two or more Priests to celebrate divine service for the good estate of the said K. H. 4. Queen Ioan his Consort of Nich. de Bubbewith the said King's Chaplain as also of the Master Proctors Aldermen Brethren and Sisters thereof which then were or should after that time be and for the good estate of all the Benefactors and maintainers thereof And moreover for the souls of the said K. Henry Ioan his Consort Nich. de Bubbewith and of the Master Proctors Brethren and Sisters thereof after their departure out of this life as also for the souls of the father and mother to the said King of Constance his late Queen and of all the faithfull deceased Which Pat. was confirmed by King H. 6. at Westminster xv Iunii 7 H. 6. At the time of the general Survey taken in 26 H. 8. there were 4 Priests belonging to this Gild each of which had 5 l. 6 s. 8 d. yearly salary And a certain Clerke who was Schoolmaster there having x li. per an wages But by the Survey made in 37 H. 8. the Lands and Tenements with the Tithes of Wylmyncote certified to belong thereto were valued in the whole at 50 l. 23 d. ob per an at which time it appeareth that there was a mansion House for the Priests having 5 Chambers 1. Garden and a Dovehouse appertaining to the same and that one .... Dalum was Master of the Grammar School there having x li. per an annuity as also that the four Priests of the said Gild had yearly salaries of Cvi s. viii d. apeice And that the other Officers were these viz. Iohn Combâ—s Steward of all the Lands and Possessions belonging thereto having xx s. per an Fee a Cooke Serviter to the Priests x s. per an a Clerk serving in the Chapell there iiii s. per an The Bayliff or Collector of the Rents xxvi s. viii d. per an And there is this farther observable from the said Survey viz. that once a year at receiving the Officers accounts there was a Feast made of antient custome to which the whole Fraternity with their Tenants and Fermors did resort there being Liii s. iiii d. assigned for defraying the charge of itâ— That the annuall allowance for wine and wax spent in the Chapell was xl s. To the said 4 Priests for severall Diriges there sung vi s. viii d. And to 4 poor people who were of the same Fraternity and fallen to decay in their estates Liii s. iiii d. per an amongst them Besides which it further appeareth that K. H. 4. before specified was accounted the Founder thereof and that at the time of the said Survey one of the Priests belonging thereto then Teacher of the Grammar School did use to celebrate divine Service within a Chapell standing in the midst of the said town in regard that the Parish Church situate out of the town was so far distant from a great part thereof that many impotent and poor people could not well resort thereto Which Chapell was reedified in a very beautifull manner as is yet to be seen by Hugh Clopton sometime Lord Major of London and dedicated to the holy Trinity towards the later end of H. 7. time as appeareth by his Testament but of him I shall speak more parti 〈…〉 Clopton On the North side of this Chapell was a fair House built of brick and timber by the said Hugh wherein he lived in his later dayes and dyed On the South side of which Chapell stands the Grammar School founded by one Iolepe a Master of Arts born in this town near which he had some patrimony that he gave thereto And near to the said School stands an Almeshouse which before the dissolution of the Gild had x poor people maintained therein by that Fraternity of the Holy Crosse before spoke of Which School and Almeshouse by the Letters Pat. of incorporating this Town in 7 E. 6. were appointed to be continued
seized into the King's hands but returning to obedience he had restitution of them in the last year of that King's reign To whom succeeded Will. who had severall imployments of much trust and note in his time within this County From 11. till 20 H. 3. he was frequently in Commission as a Justice of Assize In 16 H. 3. he with Iohn de Lodbeoc were constituted the King's Eschaetors here In 21 H. 3. he was in Commission for the collecting of a xxx th and in 56 H. 3. one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick To him succeeded Sir Thomas de Bishopsdon Knight his son and heir and to Sir Thomas Sir William howbeit of these I find little else notable than that they were Knights But the next was Sir Iohn de Bishopsdon who served in the Parl. held at Yorke in 12 E. 2. as one of the Knights for this shire being then seized of these Lordships viz. Bishopston Bishopswode vulgò Bushwode Lapworth Thorndon in this County Larkstoke in Gloucestershire Little Cokesey Herdewyk Pepewell and Waresley in com Wigorn. in all which he had Free-warren granted to him by a special Charter bearing date at Newcastle upon Tine 26 Sept. 13 E. 2. In 14 E. 2. he was a Knight and in the Rebellion with Thomas Earl of Lanc for which in 16 E. 2. he had pardon for xl lâ— Fine In 18 E. 2. he was in Commission for conservation of the peace in this shire and to take care that the Articles contained in the Statute of Winchester were observed In 1 E. 3. he served in the Parl. at Westminster as one of the Knights for this shire and was in Commission for the levying a xv th and tenth in this County So also in 2 E. 3. for collecting of a xx th In 4 E 3. again one of the Knights for this shire in the Parl. held at Westm. and the next year following constituted one of the Justices for conservation of the Peace Frethricus de Bissopesdone temp Regis Steph. Will. de Bissopesdone 9 R. 1. Juliana filia Henrici de Monâ—eforti Will. de Bishopsdon 11 H. 3. Thomas de Bishopsdon miles 31 H. 3. Cecilia una filiarum cohaer Henrici Pipard Will. de Bishopsdon miles temp E. 1. Christiana relicta 14 E. 1. Joh. de Bishopsdon miles 14 E. 2. Beatrix filia haeres Joh. de Sheldon Rog. de Bishopsdon 14 E. 3. Alicia filia haeres ux Walt. de Clodshale Thomas de Bishopsdon 7 E. 2. Johanna filia Edm. de Grafton militis Joh. De Bishopsdon 11 E. 3. Isabella filia Ioh. Stretch militis Thomas de Bishopsdon 8 R. 2. Will. de Bishopsdon m l 5 H. 5. Philippa 17 H. 6. Eliz. filia cohaeres ux Thomae Palmer de Holt in Com. Leic. ar Philippa ux Will. Catesby mil. Bearing a special affection to the Hospitall of S t Iohn Baptist in Warwick he gave thereunto the moytie of the advouson of the Church of Morton Merhull in this County and having wedded Beatrice the daughter and heir of Iohn de Sheldon dyed in 14 E. 3. being at that time Bayliff to the K. in his Forrest of Leekhay in Worcestershire which he held by grand Sergeantie leaving Roger his son and heir which Roger bore for his Armes bendè of six pieces Or and Azure with a cantonermine and dyed leaving issue Alice his daughter and heir wedded to Walt. de Clodshale of which Walter and his family I shall speak in Saltley whereupon this Lordship of Bishopsdon came to Iohn brother to the said Roger by virtue of an Entail made in 11 E. 3. whereby Sir Iohn de Bishopsdon Knight setled it with other lands upon his issue male by dame Beatrice his wife Which last mentioned Iohn being a man of eminent parts was in 32 E. 3. constituted Chancelour of the Kings Exchequer and took to wife Isabell the daughter of Sir Iohn Stretch Knight To whom succeeded Thomas and to him Sir Will. Bishopsdon Knight Sheriff of this County and Leicestersh in 5 H. 5. and in 6 H. 5. constituted one of the Commissioners for arraying of men in this Shire Of this Sir Will. I farther find that being retained by the Earl of Warwick for the fortifying of Calais he served in that imployment with one Launce and two Archers amongst the Knights that then were under him taking for his Launce and one Archer xx li per an and for the other Archer x. marks per an without their diet but he resided for the most part at his Mannour of Alscote in Gloucestershire and having in 17 H. 6. entailed this with divers other Lordships on the issue which he should beget on the body of Philippa his wife left only two daughters his heirs scil Eliz. and Philippa the former marryed to Thomas Palmer of Holt in Leicestershire from whom likewise by a daughter and heir the Nevills of Holt are descended the other to Sir Will. Catesby Knight Who in her right had this Mannour of Bishopston which by the attainder of Will. Catesby in 1 H. 7. whereof in Lapworth I have spoke came to the Crown and in 3 H. 7. was inter alia granted by the King to Sir Iohn Risley Knight and the heirs male of his body but by a speciall Act of Parl. in 11 H. 7. was restored unto George Catesby Esq son and heir to the said Will. together with the rest of his said Fathers forfeited lands whose grandchild viz. Sir Will. Catesby K t in 24 Eliz. sold to sundry persons the particular Tenements within this Lordship amongst which one was past to Will Askew of Lapworth by the name of the Mannour which Will. afterwards sold it to Andrew Archer of Tanworth Esq from whom it descended to his son and heir Sir Sim. Archer Knight and by him was lately granted to Iohn Greene and Thomas Greene yeomen and their heirs who being Inhabitants here are yet possest thereof The Chapell here dedicated to S t Peter is very antient as may appear by the Ordination thereof made in K. Iohn's time in the presence of Maugerius then Bishop of Worcester by S r Will. de Bishopsdon Knight who gave thereunto in pure Almes of his own demesn xiiii acres of land in one field and as much in another as also 4 acres of his land held by servile tenure and pasturage for 8. Oxen in what places soever his own Oxen should graze excepting in his meadows and moreover covenanted with Mauritius then Parson of Stratford super Avon that he and his Tenants there would sustain all the charges concerning the said Chapell viz. in building it up keeping it in repair and providing the Chalice Books Lights Vestments and all other necessaries therein and that the mother Church of Stratford should
Sept. in 50. of his reign required the Barons of his Exchequer that he should receive no prejudice for not making his account at Michaelmasse shortly ensuing forasmuch as he was then in attendance upon his person there that being the time when the Castle underwent a six months seige as I have elswhere shewed To whom also the King about the same time granted the custody of all the Castles lands and tenements of Robert de Ferrers Earl of Derby then in Rebellion signifying his Royall pleasure to all the Tenants of those lands that they should be answerable to him concerning them accordingly Neither was he in lesse reputation with Edw. 1. as it seems for in the second year of that Kings reign he had Commission with William de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick Roger de Clifford and others to go unto the Ford of Montgomery in Wales the month after Easter and there to hear and reform such things as were amisse contrary to the Articles of Peace betwixt the said King and Lewelin Prince of Wales This William Bagot being also of Hide in Staffordshire bore for his Armes Arg. two Cheverons azure and had issue William Robert and Hervey Of these William was a Knight and in 24 E. 1. in consideration of an hundred and thirty marks sterling sold this Mannour to Roger de Coningesby and Ioane his wife and their heirs Will. his father then stiling himself quondam Dominus de la Hide juxta Stafford confirming the grant and so also Hâ—rvie Bagot brother to the said Will. the younger Which Roger Coningesby being thus possest thereof in 32 E. 1. obtained a Charter of Free-warren to himself and his heirs throughout all his demesn lands here and having a speciall relation to Sir Philip Marmion of Tamworth Castle in this County was the Executor of his Testament whereby it appears that he had a grant from the Monks of Merevale to whom the said Sir Philip had been a Benefactor that himself and his heirs might present a fit Clerk for the increase of their Covent to be shorn a Monk in that Abby there to celebrate divine service for the soul of the said Sir Philip perpetually and after the decease of that Monkâ— to present others successively to the worlds end Which Roger observing the affection of those Monks so freely shewd therein out of his abundant gratitude and pious inclination gave them towards the ornament of their Church all the Vestments that belong'd to the Chapell of the before specified Sir Philip Marmion and left issue Iohn Coningsby his son and heir Which Iohn in 17 E. 2. was certified in the list of those Esquiers and other men at Armes of this County whose names were then returned into the Chancery and bearing for his Armes Gules 3. Coneys Argent was Rogerus de Coningesby 24 E. 1. Iohanna Ioh. de Coningsby obiit 39 E. 3. Alicia ux Ioh. de Lee. Will. de Lee. Alicia filia haeres primâ— nupta Thomae Stokes secundò Riâ—c Archer ar obiit s. prole Will. Coningsby obiit s. p. sepultus apud Fratres Carmelitas Calesiae Will. Coningsby sepultus apud Fratres .... Bristoll Benedicta filia Ingeranni Frene Thomas Coningsby Theophania filia Ioh. Almayn Guido Ioh. Coningsby Alicia filia Thomae Stones Thomas Coningsby Thomas Coningsby 1 E. 4. Thomas in 18 E. 3. one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster and in 31 E. 3. a Commissioner for putting the Statute of Labourers in execution throughout this County But in 39 E. 3. he departed this life leaving William his son and heir and Alice a daughter married to Iohn de Lee. Which William being a Knight before his death dyed without issue and was buried in the White Friers at Caleis Whereupon Alice his sister became his heir and possest this Mannour leaving it to William de Lee her son and heir from whom it descended to Alice his daughter and heir first the wife of Thomas Stokes and afterwards of Richard Archer Esquier But dying without any issue the inheritance thereof resorted to Thomas Coningsby great grandchild unto Thomas son of William second son of Roger de Coningsby and Ioan the first purchasers before specified as next heirs at Law to the said Alice From which Thomas Coningsby doth Thomas now of this place derive his descent How it comes to passe I know not but the Trussells of Billesley have been reputed Lords of this Mannour for a long time and had also an interest in the advouson of the Church as by some Records and other authorities appeareth The Church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was granted to the Canons of Kenilworth by Peter de Mora about 38 H. 3. and presented to by them onely for many ages and in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at vi marks and a half but in 26 H. 8. at vi li. the Synodalls then issuing out of it being xii d. per annum yet was it never appropriated to those Canons that I could discern Neither have I seen how the Trussells came to the patronage thereof Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episcopus Henr. de Lichfeld Cler. Cal. Nov. 1292. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Will. de Hanley Cap ..... 1293. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Rog. de Haukebiri Diac. 3. Non. Iunii 1299. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Magr. Will. de Mees Accol Non. Nov. 1315. Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Ioh. de Campeden Pbr. Cal. Maii 1320. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Thomas Pal. Pbr. 20. Iulii 1339. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Rad. de Ullenhale 11. Apr. 1359. Will. Trussell de Cublesdon miles Henr. de Copenhal Pbr. 15. Ian. 1361. Aluredus Trussell miles D. Rob. Ayleston 8. Nov. 1413. Will. Trussell ar dominus de Morton-Bagot Thomas Gale Cap. 21. Dec. 1427. D. Episc. per lapsum Ric. Bate Pbr. 4. Sept. 1429. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Spenser Cap. 1. Martii 1432. Humfr. Co. Staff ratione minoris aetat Ioh. fil haer Will. Trussell ar D. Will. Alcock Cap. 13. Aug. 1433. ...................... D. Ioh. Porrey Pbr. ult Aug. 1438. Ioh. Trussell ar Dominus de Morton D. Henr. Whelar Cap. 13. Feb. 1480. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Rob. Parke Cap. 17. Nov. 1485. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Thomas Bownell Cap. 12. Febr. 1487. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Thomas Bett Cap. 16. Aug. 1493. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Rob. Dolley 13. Apr. 1504. Aluredus Trussell ar D. Ioh. Yardley Cap. 14. Apr. 1541. Aluredus Trussell ar Henr. Shelmerdyne Cler. 29. Sept. 1551. Mauritius Gwyn Rector de Lodington Petroburg Dioc. Ric. Emerson Pbr. 16. Oct. 1610. Alcester REturning back to the stream of Arrow it brings me next to Alcester a place
Kenilworth should be duly payd And moreover that a Pension of two Marks per an should be payd to the Bishop of Worcester and his successors and to the Prior and Monks of Worcester and their successors xx s. per an whereupon ensued the Ordination of the Vicaridge made by the same Bishop and dated at Hertlebury xi Martii an 1341. 16 E. 3. In 26 H. 8. the Rectory here was certified to be worth iii l. xiii s. iiii d. per an being so let at that time by Indenture and the Vicaridge vi l. xiii s. iiii d. per an which Rectory with the advouson of the Vicaridge was inter alia past out of the Crown together with the dissolved Monastery of Maxstoke unto Charles Brandon D. of Suff. ult Sept. 30 H. 8. And from the said Duke excepting the advouson of the said Vicaridge conveyed to Rob. Trapps with Maxstoke also being since sold viz. 2 Oct. 44. Eliz. to the before specified Andrew Archer by Will. Poulet son of the Lord Giles Poulet and Mary his wife one of the daughters and heirs of Nich. son to the before specified Rob. Trapps Which advouson coming by mean conveyance unto VVill. Stanley L. Mouteagle was by him 12. Ian. 12. Eliz. aliened unto Ellys Aynesworth of Bolton in com Lanc. Gent. whose son and heir by his deed bearing date 4 Oct. 21. Eliz. conveyed it to Iohn Addenbrook of Beoley in com Wigorn. yeoman which Iohn 12 Oct. 27 Eliz. past it to the same Andrew Archer Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rad Bolemere Pbr. 3. Cal. Apr. 1292. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Nich. le Boteler 17 Cal. Apr. 1303. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thomas Talbot Cleric 15. Cal. Febr. 1307. Idem Pr. C. ad nominat D. Hug. le Despenser ratione custodiae haered Comitis Warw. Ingelram Berenger Cler. 4. Non. Oct. 1319. Idem Pr. C. ad nominat D. Hug. le Despenser ratione custodiae haered Comitis Warw. Mag. Ric. de Vppavene 11. Cal. Oct. 1322. Idem Pr. Conv. ad nominat Edw. Regis Angl. ratione ut supra D. Thom. de Pakynton Pbr. 8 Martii an 1328. Pr. C. de Kenilw Ric. le Gardiner Pbr. 17. Iulii 1339. VVill. de Clinton Comes Huntendon D. Rob. Wyke 3 Apr. 1340. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Will. de Coton 3. Maii 1340. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Rob. de Folewode Pbr. 25. Aug. 1341. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Henr. le Gardner 19. Nov. 1349. Prior Conv. de Makstoke VVill. Tykenhale Pbr. 24. Maii 1375. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Ric. Dolfyn Pbr. 5. Aug. 1379. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Hugo de Cookes Pbr. 21 Sept. 1381. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Ric. Martyn 23 Maii 1398. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Tho. Hopley 23 Apr. 1399. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Will. Bakon 21 Aug. 1402. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Tho. Draper 16 Oct. 1046. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Will. Elys Cap. 14 Iulii 1420. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Ric. Greswould Pbr. 28. Nov. 1442. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. VVill. Swyneshede Cap. 3. Sept. 1465. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D VVill. Harrys Cap. 17 Iulii 1471. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Rad. VVhitehede in leg Bac. 12. Apr. 1514. Henr. 8. Rex Angl. D. Rad. Aleyne Cler. 13. Dec. 1537. Elizeus Aynsworth Gen. Ioh. Parks Cler. 7 Aug. 1573. Monumentall Inscriptions in this Church Orate pro animabus Ricardi Fulwode armigeri Agnetis uxoris ejus qui quidem Ricardus obiit xxiii die Februarii An. Dom. M.D. secundo quorum animabus propitietur Deus Orate pro animabus Roberti Fulwode armigeri Margaretae uxoris suae qui quidem Robertus fuit excellentissimè doctrinatus sive literatus in Communi lege Angliae Et obiit xx die mensis Octobris An. D. 1531. Cujus animae propitietur Deus Amen Here lyeth buried Edward Archer Gent. whiles he lived was a friend to poore He dyed the xviith of Feburary Anno D. 1592. ✚ Ricardum Dolfyn cerne homo locus tenet iste Aeternam lucem ei dare dedignaris Christe But because this did import praying for the dead complaint was made to the Bishop who caused that Inscription to be defaced and instead of it set up this IESUS Ricardum Dolfyn cerne homo mortuum locm tenet Christi Sed noluit locum Christi vivus intrare iste Hic jacet Elizabetha filia Edwardi Gryffyn armigeri obiit 7 Oct. 1608. In this Church were two Chantries the one at the Altar of the blessed Virgin and the other of St. Katherine Of these the former was founded by Robert Folewode first Vicar of Tanworth after the Church became appropriated to the Canons of Makstoke which Rob. by his Deed bearing date at Tanworth on the Feast day of S. Gervasius and Prochasius 19 E. 3. granted to one Ranulph de Folewode and the heirs of his body his capitall Messuage with all the lands and tenements thereto belonging heretofore possest by one Will. de Lee and situate in a place called Beaumunt as also another mess. sometime belonging to Ric. de Piryhull both in this Parish to the intent that the said Ranulph and his said heirs should find a competent Priest of good conversation chosen by the twelve principall Inhabitants of the town to celebrate divine service daylie in this Church at the said Altar of the Blessed Virgin for all the living and dead of this Parish as also for the Benefactors to the said Church and Chantry Which Chantry-Priest for the time being was every year to take his Corporall Oath on the Feast day of St. Mich. the Archangell in the presence of him the said Robert his heirs and successors that he would faithfully perform such servâ—ce as abovesaid and likewise daily say a Placebo and Dirige with a speciall comendation of him the said Robert by name and his heirs and if the said Ran. de Folewode did happen to depart this life without issue of his body that then the Messuages beforementioned should remain to Iohn de Lodbroke and the heirs of his body upon the like termes and so for default of issue by him to Iohn le Archer with these severall remainders in case of issue failing viz. to Henry de Sidenhale Rob. de Crewenhale Iohn Wodard Will. Dolfyn Will. Gower Ric. Alleyn Thomas Wystan and Ric. atte Berne and the heirs of their bodies To which Feoffment were witnesses Sir Peter de Montfort Sir Edm. de Trussell Sir Rog. de Aylesbury and Sir Thomas Blancfront Kts. with others The lands of this Chantrie being in 37 H. 8. valued at vii l. xix s. vii d. above all reprises Touching the other Chantrie I find that in 14 R. 2. one Thomas Collins of this town gave to Thomas Archer Iohn
Staffordshire which Will. had issue by her Thomas and he Thomas and he Iohn Parker who dyed 18 H. 8. leaving issue Alice his daughter and heir wedded to Thomas Greswould second son to Ric. Greswould of Solihull in this County from whom the Greswoulds of Cobington who now enjoy this place are descended Packwood ALne having thus past that large Parish of Tanworth enters the Hundred of Barlichway wherein before it hath gone two miles the access of a petty stream called Silesburne which hath its beginning in the nook of Kineton Hundredâ— before mentioned about the edge of Packwood â— enlargeth its Chanell This place sc. Packwood lying in the utmost corner of Barlichway Hundred and bordering upon Hemlingford is reputed to be a member of Kineton Hundred and as it hath in all Taxes antiently payd therewith so doth it still the reason whereof I conceive to be because it was originally a member of Wasperton whereof I have already spoke though it lye at so great a distance from thence and so consequently belonging to the Monks of Coventre which was no strange thing consisidering what I have said in Tanworth relating to Brailes Yet the first mention that I do find in Record of it by name is in 7 R. 1. where Philip de Kingtone levied a Fine thereof to Roger de Cherlecote But it afterwards came again to those Monks it seems for in 41 H. 3. upon that grant of Freewarren which they had in divers of their Mannours this of Packwood is instanced for one and in 44 H. 3. upon the appropriation of all the Churches and Tithes which were within any of their lands it is there enumerated amongst the rest Howbeit that which chiefly shews it to have been a member of Wasperton and so consequently to have past therewith to the Monastery of Coventre upon the very Foundation thereof by Earl Leofrike is the Record of 7 E. 1. where it being certified that the Prior of Coventre was Lord of both for they are there joined together it is said thus Et tenet per Cartam Warrantum S. Edwardi Regis per confirmationes plurimorum Regum At which time viz. 7 E. 1. the Monks had here two Carucates of land in demesn and two tenants which held one yard land by performing divers servile labours being subject to what taxe and exaction the Prior was pleased to impose upon them As also six Freeholders who held two yard land and a half under severall Rents and suit of Court twice in the year and at the same time a certain Park inclosed with an Out-wood and not within the precincts of any Forest But to put it out of all doubt that it was a member of Wasperton I shall vouch one more authority viz. the taxation of the Temporalties belonging to the Religious houses in an 1291. 19 E. 1. where it is said thus Prior de Coventre habet apud Pacwode quod est membrum de Wasperton duas carucat asterrae valet Carucata x s. de redditu Assisa vii marc unum molendinum aquaticum quod valet vi s. viii d. de placitis perquisitis ii s. The metes and bounds of which Mannour are exactly set forth in the Leiger book of Coventre where divers other things relating thereto that for brevitie I omit are to be found As for the particular privileges that the Monks had here I shall not need to recounc them forasmuch as in Coventre it appeareth what they were throughout all their Mannours in 13 E. 1. In 26 H. 8. upon the Survey then taken the value of what the before specified Monks had in this place was thus certified viz. in Rent of Assise ix s. v. d. In lands tenements pastures and a Mill xiiii l. viii s. iiii d. and the ferm of the Mannour vii l. xiiii s. iiii d. Out of which was allowed to Thomas Hugyn then Bayliff an Annuity of xxvi s. viii d. But coming to the Crown at the generall dissolution in 30 H. 8. it was by the said King's Letters Pat. bearing date 8 Feb. 35. H. 8. past inter alia to Will. Willington then of Barcheston Esq. and Will. Sheldon of Beoley who had wedded one of his daughters and to the heirs of the said Will. Sheldon together with the advouson of the Church to be held in Capite Which W. Sheldon granted it to Rob. Burdet of Bramcote Esq. who died seised thereof 11 Ian. 2 E. 6. leaving Thomas his son and heir xvi years of age which Thomas had issue Robert who in consideration of two thousand pounds demised it to Thomas Spenser Esq. late of Claverdon for 2000 years by which means it came to Sir Will. Spenser of Yarnton in com Oxon. upon whom a great part of the said T. Spenser's estate was setled The Church dedicated to S. Giles antiently appropriated to the Monks of Coventre as I have already intimated was long after viz. in H. 6. time reputed but for a Chapell Wasperton doubtless being the mother Church and therefore not Presentative the Curate having then allowed unto him for his annuall Salary the small Tithes with the Altarage the Tithe Corn and all living Mortuaries being received by the said Monks All which Tithes and Oblations together with the Glebe being allowed to the Curate for his stipend were in 26 H. 8. valued at C s. per an In 30 Eliz. amongst divers other things there was a grant made by the Queen to one Ed. Wymerke of the Chapell here by the name of libera Capella de Pacwode cum pertinentiis but this as I conceive is of the same nature as those Patents were to Tipper and Daw apprehending it to be concealed land Lapworth THis being given to the Bishoprick of Worcester by Kenulph K. of Mercia in the time of Denebert the ix th Bishop of that See continued thereto till the days of K. Canutus the Dane but Brightegus the then Bishop being sent into Saxony to conduct Gunnilda the King's daughter wedded to Cono the Emperour having a speciall servant called Hearlewinus attending upon him in that journey as a reward for his pains and travail bestowed upon him this Village then reckoned for no more than half a hide reserving xiid. yearly to be payd at the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady in acknowledgement of the Church its right as the Register of Worcester manifests where it is written Lappawurthin so that after that time the Bishops had no more to do here In the Conquerours time Hugh de Grentemaisnill held it as appears by the generall Survey then made in which it is written Lapeforde and certified to contain 1 hide the woods extending to two miles in length and 1 in breadth the whole being valued at xx s. But immediatly before the Norman invasion it was the freehold of one Baldwinus who afterwards being glad to stoop as most others then
affirm but the next that I meet with viz. William who flourisht in H. 2. time undoubtedly was This being he that founded that little Cell at Ancote near Sekindon in 5 H. 2. as when I come to speak thereof shall be manifested was in 12 H. 2. certified to hold half a Kts. fee of Will. de Beauchamp of Elmeley Castle in Com. Wigorn. de veteri feoffamento He was also a witness to the Charter made by Robert Earl of Leicester to the Monks of Combe whereby he coâ—firmed the Foundation of that Monastery seated within his Fee and gave to the Nuns of Polesworth certain lands called Coppenhull lying near Sekindon above mentioned which Hugh his son and heir confirmed From which William descended Sir William Burdet Kt. who with the Shiriff and Richard de Mundevill was in 36 H. 3. a Commissioner for assessing a Tallage upon all the King's demesns within this Countie and Leicestershire and bore for his Arms Azure two barrs Or as by the impression of his Seal and other authorities appeareth within the compass whereof the Cressant and Star are put as a Badge of his service in the Holy land And gave so the Monks of Anecote xii d. yearly Rent issuing out of a Tenement there for the maintenance of a Lampe in the Church of our Lady and St. Blase at Auecote above specified before the Altar of the Blessed Virgin for the health of his soul and of the soul of Alice his wife and their ancestors As also when he lay upon his death bed bestowed on them half a yard land lying in Radclive with a Water Mill there But the next of this line of whom I have found any thing memorable was Robert Burdet one of the Justices for Gaol delivery at Warwick from 11 E. 1. to the 20 â—h of that King's reign yet none of these had to do here at Arewe the next Robert nephew to the last by Hugh his Brother being he that first setled here in right of Eliz. his wife daughter and heir to Gerard de Camvill before spoken of Which Robert in 12 E. 2. gave three acres of land parcell of his demesn to William de Bremesgreve then Rector of the Church here at Arewe for the enlargement of the Church-yard as also of the Parsonage glebe and was a man of much publick action in his time for I find that in 14 E. 2. he served in the Parl. at Westminster as one of the Knights for this Shire In 17. and 18 E. 2. that he was one of the Commissioners for the Gaol delivery at Warwick and in 19 E. 2. that he was again Knight for the Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster This Robert â— in 1 E. 3. had a Charter of Free-warren granted to him and his heirs in all his demesn lands here and at Sekindon in this Countie as also for those at Huncote and Mithe in Leicestershire The next year following he served in the Parliament held at York as one of the Kts. for this Countie but before the end of that year was constituted Shiriff for this and Leicestershire being also a Commissioner for the Gaol delivery at Warwick In 7 E. 3. he was again in Commission for the like Gaol delivery at Warwick as also by a speciall Patent bearing date at York 4 Feb. the same year had a License to impark his Woods here at Arewe and so .... de Camvill Hugo de Camvill Ric. de Camvill Fundator Abbatiae de Cumba temp Regis Steph. Walt. de Camvill Petâ—onilla ux Ric. de Curson Matilda ux Thomae de Astley Alicia ux Rob. de Esseby Rog. de Camvill 12. Joh. Ric. de Camvill Milisent Isabella soror haeres ux Roberti Harecurt de Bosworth 4 R. 1. Ric. de Camvill obiit â— prole Girardus de Camvill fil haeres Nichola de Haia Ric. de Camvile duxit Eustach relictam Thomae de Verdon 2 Ioh. Will. de Camvill Albreda filia haeres Galfridi Marmion Galfridus de Camvil à quo Domini de Clifton Camvill Will. de Camvill de Arewe Sekindon 18. Ioh. Thomas de Camvill defunctus 20. H. 3. Agnes Thomas de Camvill 35 H. 3. Elizabetha 1 E. 1. Gerardus de Camvill miles 21 E. 1. Elizabetha filia haeres 9 E 2. Gerardus Burdet miles defunctus 33 E. 3. Alianora soror haer Ioh. Vale de Compton Scorfin Ioh. Burdet miles 2 R. 2. Thomas Burdet miles 5 R. 2. Anna filia cohaer Ioh. Waldeif Nich. Burdet miles 15 H. 6. Iohanna consanguinea haeres Henrici Bruin Thomas Burdet attinctus 17 E. 4. Agnes repudiata consanguinitatis causa Ricardus Burdet ob 7. H. 7. * Iocosa filia Sim. Montfort mil. Anna Rob. Burdet obiit f. prole Thom. Burdet obiit â— prole Hugo Conway Thesaur Hibern secundus maritus * Iocosa filia Sim. Montfort mil. Ioh Conway de Potrithan Edw. Conway obiit ult H. 8. Ioh. Conway miles Cath. filia Rad. Verney eq aur Ioh. Conway miles obiit 4 Oâ—â— 1. Iac Elena filia Fulc Grevill militis Edw. Vicecomes Conway obiâ—t 3 Ian. 1630. Dorothea filia Ioh. Tracâ—e eq aur Edw. Vicecomes Conway obiit 1655. Francisca filia Francisci Popham eq aur Edw. Vicecomes Conway Anna filia Henagii Finch eq aur Thomas Burdet attinctus 17 E. 4 Margareta uxor secunda postea nupta Thomae Woodhill Ioh Burdet miles duxit Annam fil Will. Harewell Thom. Burdet defunctus 31 H. 8. Maria fil Rob. Throgmorton mil. Robertus Burdet ar obiit 11. Ian. 2 E. 6. Eliz. filia Thomae Cokain de Ashburne mil. Thomas Burdet ar obiit 15. Iulii 33 Eliz. Brigitta filia Thomae Curson de Croxall ar Rob. Burdet ar ob 29 Martii 1603. Maria filia Tho. Wilson unius primar Secretar Reg. Eliz. Thomas Burdet erectus in gradum Baronetti 24 Dec. 16 Iac. Iana unica filia haeres Will. Franceis de â—ormark in Com. Derb. ar Francisc. Burdet Baronettus Eliz. filia Ioh. Walter eq aur Capit. Bar. Scaccarii Robertus Burdet miles duxit Eliz. fil Roberti Garshale mil. Felicia ux Philippi Durvassell Will. de Camvill 17 H. 3. Thomas de Camvill Presbiter Will. Burdet Fundator Prioratus de Aucote 5 H. 2. Hugo Burdet duxit Matildam de Sumeri Will. Burdet miles 36 H. 3. Alicia Rob. Burdet 11 E. 1. ob â— p. Hugo Burdet Robertus Burdet 12 E. 2. Matilda uxor Will. de â—os to hold them to himself and his heirs for ever and left issue by the said Eliz. Gerard and Robert both Kts. which Robert was of Bourton super Duâ—smore in this Countie as I have there manifested But Gerard had here his principall seat and in 20 E. 3. served in the Wars of France being then of the
and he three daughters that were his heirs with the eldest of whom he gave these lands of Nechels to Sir Robert de Handsacre Knight in frank marriage but she dying without issue they came to Alice her niece then the wife of Sir George de Castell Knight which Alice in her widowhood sc 4 E. 3. in consideration of xl li. of silver past away all her interest in this Mannour unto Simon del Holt of Bermingham and his heirs whose posteritie have continued Lords thereof ever since Sir Thomas Holt now of Aston Knight and Baronet being the present owner thereof Anno scil 1640. But it hath been long since totally depopulated though antiently it was a pretty Village as by severall instances might be shewed for in 34 E. 3. Sir Thomas de Arden Knight had a mansion here as appears by a License granted to him from Robert de Stretron then Bishop of this Dioces to have a private Oratorie or Chapell therein for himself and his own Family It seems that the same Philip de Aylesbury of whom I have made mention in Dudston had also some interest here in R. 2. time for he then wrote himself Dominus de Dudston de Nechells but of what extent it was I cannot say all which was passed by Sir William de Bishopsdon in 2 H. 5. unto Rich. de Clodshale of Saltley and his heirs being said to have sometime belong'd unto the same Philip de Aylesbury In 33. H. 6. there was a Fine levied betwixt Thomas Waldeyve and Williaem Leycroft Plantiffs and Robert Danvers Henry Fillongley and Iohn Holt Esquire deforciants of this Mannour for by that name it then passed by which it seemeth that the inheritance thereof became vested in the before specified Thomas Waldeyve perhaps to the use of the same Iohn Holt and his heirs for in 20 H. 8. Thomas Holt who then wrote himself de medio Templo London generosus was owner thereof which Thomas was grandfather to Sir Thomas above mentioned Dudston OF this Hamlet there is now no more left than the Mannour-house but by the name I should judge it to be a Village of great antiquitie and so called from Dode or Dud whence Dudley doubtlesse had the appellation But till E. 1. time I have not found any mention of it in Record in regard it was involved with Aston and so came to Sir Thomas de Erdington as a member thereof though it be not particularly named for it is evident that Henry de Erdington great grandchild to the said Sir Thomas did his fealtie to Ioane Botetourt Lady of Weoley as coheir to Someri Baron of Dudley on S. Mark 's day 17 E. 2. for this place together with Aston mention being made of their tenure by a pair of gilt Spurs or six pence as in the originall grant of Aston may be seen which Sir Henry for he was afterwards a Knight granted it by the name of Manerium de Dudeston to Thomas de Maidenhache and his heirs about the beginning of E. 1. time who had Free warren in all his demesn lands here together with Aston as by the King's grant thereof in 14 E. 1. appeareth but having severall daughters and heirs as in Aston is shewed this inter alia was allotted as a member of Aston unto Sibill the wife of Adam de Grymesarwe by means whereof it came to Iohn de Grymesarwe their son and heir who sold it unto Iohn atte Holt in 38 E. 3. for xl marks From which Iohn it is descended as the Pedegree in Aston manifesteth unto Sir Thomas Holt now of Aston Knight and Baronet the present Lord thereof and was his principall seat till he had built Aston house But notwithstanding the Mannour thus fixed in the Familie of Holt there was a considerable part of this Village antiently possest by the Aylesburyes of whom I have spoke in Edston for I finde that Roger de Aylesbury stiled himself Dominus de Dodestone in 5 E. 2. so also did Philip de Aylesbury in 10 R. 2. yet when or how it past from Aylesbury I have not seen but in 2 H. 5. Sir William de Bishopsden Knight granted to Richard de Clodshale all the lands and tenements lying here which had formerly belong'd to the before specified Philip de Aylesbury after which I have not met with farther mention of them Deretend THis place antiently written Dury-yatehend though it be within the Parish of Aston is parcell of the Lordship of Bermingham so that of it self there is nothing farther memorable than a certain Chapell erected about the beginning of King Ric. the second 's time wherein by an Agreement made 13. Iunii Anno 1381. 4 R. 2. betwixt the Monks of Tykford in right of their Rectorie of Aston before specified Richard Shobenhale then Vicar of Aston and Sir Iohn Botetort Knight Patron of the said Priorie of Tykford on the one part And Sir Iohn Birmingham Kt. Lord of this Hamlet Geffrey Boteler Robert Greene and others Inhabitants here and in Bordsley on the other part by the consent of Robert de Stretton then Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield the said Inhabitants of these two Hamlets partly in respect of the danger by flouds especially in Winter-time and their great distance from the said mother-Church of Aston and partly that their Children might not want Baptisme in case of necessity there should be a Font in the said Chapell and that they might have libertie to find at their own proper costs a fitting Priest to celebrate divine Service therein as also for Churching of women Provided that the same Inhabitants should repaire to the said Mother-Church of Aston on Easter-day Christmasse-day All-Hallown-day and the days of the Dedication of the said Church scil S. Peter S. Paul hapning next after the Feasts of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist and Purification of the blessed Virgin then and there to render and pay to God and the said Parish Church all their Tithes great and small with Oblations in such sort as they had antiently used and were of right to do to the same Church Which Priest so serving in this Chapell was by the before specified Agreement in case the Vicar of Aston for the time being or his Parochiall Priest could not attend it to visit the sicke of these two Hamlets and to administer unto them as also to confesse and absolve them so as they should shrive themselves once a yeare to the said Vicar of Aston or his Parochiall Priest as of right they ought After which viz. in 6 R. 2. did William Geffen Thoms Holden Robert of the Greene Richard â—ene Thomas de Belne and Iohn Smyth obtain License of the King to give certain lands of x. marks yearly value and lying within the said Parish of Aston for the finding of a Priest to celebrate divine Service daily in this Chapell But in 37 H. 8. were the possessions lying in Bordsley
Master Bermingham was to ride out from home which being accordingly done they so contrived their business that one of their plot should ride leisurely before so that they might soon keeping but an ordinary pace overtake him whereupon they watcht an opportunity to strike into Master Bermingham's company as Travailers with whom they soberly rode for a while but being come up to their confederate forthwith set upon him for his Purse so that the villain thus seemingly rob'd makes pursuit after them and likewise after Master Bermingham as one of the pack who being thereupon apprehended and prosecuted apparently saw his danger The business therefore now working according to Dudley's first design there were others imployed to Mr. Bermingham with overture how he might save his Life viz. to make the Vicount L'isle his friend in giving up this Lordship of Bermingham to him which that it might bear the better colour and be the more valid was performed by yeilding it to the King and ratified by a speciall Act of Parliament the tenor whereof was as followeth Where Edward Byrmingham late of Byrmingham in the Countie of Warwick Esquire otherwise callid Edward Byrmingham Esquire ys and standyth lawfully indettid to our sovereing Lord the Kynge in diverse grete summes of money Aud also standyth at the mercy of his Highness for that the same Edward ys at this present convicted of Felony our seide sovereign Lord the Kyng ys contentid and pleased that for and in recompence and satisfaction to his grace of the seyde summes of money to accept and take of the seyde Edwarde the Mannoâ—r and Lordship of Byrmingham otherwise callid Byrmincham with the appurtenances lying and being in the Countie of Warwick and all and singular other lands and tenements reversions Rents Services and hereditaments of the same Edward Byrmingham set lying and beyng in the Countie of Warwick afforeseyde Be yt therefore ordeyned and enacted by the authorite of this present Parliament that our saide sovereine Lord the Kynge shall have hold and enjoy to him his heirs and assignes for ever the seide Mannour and Lordship of Byrmingham c. In which Act there is a reservation of xl l. per an to the said Edward and Elizabeth his wife during their lives Howbeit after this it was no less than nine years ere the grant of it from the Crown to the said Vicount L'isle was made for it bears not date till December 21 37 H. 8. perhaps on purpose so deferred that the world might the less censure him for this hard dealing at which time the inheritance thereof together with the Burgh of Bermingham and patronage of the Rectorie late belonging unto the before specified Edward Bermingham were past unto him with other lands lying in the Counties of Salop Heref. and Worcester But how short a time he enjoy'd it my Story of him as Earl of Warwick will further shew for being attainted and losing his head in 1 M. whereby all that he had eschaâ—ted to the Crown the same Queen in 3. and 4. of her reign by her Letters Pat. dated 9 Apr. granted the inheritance thereof to Thomas Marrow Esq. whose posteritie seated at Berkswell in this Countie continue Lords of it till this day Other particulars memorable relating to this place are as followeth viz. in 35 H. 3. a grant that another Faire should be yearly kept here for three days sc. on the Eve of St. Iohn Bapt. and the two days next following the Shiriff of Worcestershire having then command to proclaim it accordingly throughout his Liberties And that in 12 E. 2. the Inhabitants at the instance of Aâ—domare de Valence Earl of Pembroke obtained a License to take Toll of all vendible commodities brought hither to be sold for the space of three years viz. for every Quarter of Corn a farthing c. towards paving the town But this work was not perfectly compleated within that time nor of xv years after for in 7 E. 3. I find that they had another Pat. to take Toll in like manner for the space of 3. years more The Hospitall of St. Thomas the Apostle THis was situate at that end of the town towards Wolverhampton and on the right hand the road almost opposite to the sign of the Bull but touching the originall Foundation thereof I have not seen any farâ—her testimony than that Certificate made by the Commissioners upon their Survey in 37 H. 8. where it is said they were informed that the Ancestors of the Berminghams Lords of Bermingham erected it for one Priest to sing Mass daylie therein for the souls of the Founders for ever as also that the late Lord of Bermingham viz. Edw. Bermingham Esq. did inter alia grant the patronage of it to one Iohn Prettye for XCIX years which said Iohn past away his title therein to Mr. Clem. Thrâ—kmorton Gentleman And the first mention of it that I find is in 13 E. 1. where it appeareth that Thomas de Maidenhache of whom I have spoke in Aston gave unto it ten acres of Heath in Aston Wiâ—â— de Bermingham x. acres likewise and Ranulph de Rokeby 3. acres of land in Saluteley About that time were divers Cottages and lands lying also in Bermingham and the adjacent Villages given to it by sundry others viz. xxii acres of land and half an acre of meadow by the same Will. de Bermingham and the rest by a number of ordinary persons for all which the Prior and Brethren thereof obtained the King's speciall pardon in 4 E. 2. in regard they had been given thereto after publication of the Statute of Mortmain made in 7 E. 1. In 24 E. 3. Foub de Bermingham and Ric. Spenser gave thereunto two Messuages and an 〈◊〉 â—crces of land lying in Aston and Bermyngham â—o find a Priest to celebrate divine servâ—c◠〈◊〉 at the Altar of our Blessed Lady in the Church of the same Hospitall for the souls of Will. le Mercer and Margerie his wife and of certain others The clear yearly value of all which lands and tenements belonging thereto over and above reprises were in 26 H. 8. certified to be viii l. v s. iii d. at which time Sir Edw. Tofte was Chantrie Priest there but in 37 H. 8. the value above reprises was rated at viii l. viii s. ix d. Patroni Custodes sive Guardiani ejusdem Hospitalis D. Episcopus Frater Rob. Marmion 16. Cal. Oct. 1326. D. Episcopus Ioh Nevill confrater Non. Nov. 1353. D. Fulco de Bermyncham miles Rob. Cappe Cap. 6. Cal. Iunii 1361. D. Fulco de Bermyncham miles Thomas Edmund Pbr. 2 Non. Aug. 1369. D. Ioh. de Clinton miles Ioh. Frotheward Pbr. 15. Nov. 1390. D. Ioh. de Clinton miles Ioh. Cheyne 5. Sept. 1393. Domina Eliz. de Clinton Henr. Bradley Pbr. 22 Oct. 1398. D. Ioh. Russell miles Tho. Salpyn 24 Sept. 1403. D. Eliz. Domina de Clinton Rob. Browe Cap. 7. Martii 1407. D.
prec xl d. Another Auter cloth steynet prec xvi d. Three Twayles prec xviii d. Four other Auter cloths without fronts one prâ—c xx d. a piece Another prec xii d. the third prec vi d. the 〈◊〉 prec iiii d. Two Cruets prec vi d. Two Paxbâ—eâ—es prec iiii d. Three pieces of old silk for the images prec xl d. A Cofer in the Chapel prec v s. Another Cofer in Sir Thomas Bromley's Chamber prec ii â— A folet of thrid also a gret portvos prec C s. A vestment of the Cheyspel of purple silk prec xxxiii s. iiii d. A Chalice with patyn and Spoâ—e prec xxvi s. viii d. and this Boke vestment and Chalice were yeâ—ven by Sire Henry Wastneys Priest And also a new Missale prec ix marks yeven by Sire Roger Bugge Priest In 26 H. 8. the value of the lands and tenements belonging thereto was esteemed at Ci s. Sir Thomas Allen and Sir Iohn Grene Priests being then Wardens thereof But in 37 H. 8. the value of these Chantries was divided that of the first by the name of Prima Cantaria beatae Mariae in parochia S. Martini rated at Cxv s. xi d. ob over and above all reprises and the other by the name of Secunda Cantaria in praedicta parochia at vi li. iiii d. ob And after the dissolution of them by the Statute of 1 E. 6. the lands belonging to the later were in 4 E. 6. granted out of the Crown to Will. Morice of Cheping-Angre in Essex Esquire and Edw. Isaak of Welle in Kent and their heirs And in 7 E. 6. those appertaining to the other sold to Kenelm and Iohn Throkmorton Esquires Sutton HAving now done with Bermingham and tracing Rhea through the Parish of Aston I come to its confluence with Tame following which River about two miles lower I find the accession of a pretty torrent from the North west at the head whereof stands Sutton being a large Parish but a barren soil and containeth divers Hamlets and places of note viz. Wigginshill Maney Hillâ— Little Sutton Warmley Langley Newhall and Pedimore of all which in their order That this Sutton was originally so called from â—ts situation there is no doubt and therefore as it stands South to Lichfield I am inclin'd to believe that the name at first arose In Edw. the Confesâ—or's days Edwine Earl of Mercia was owner of it but after the Norman invasion the Conqueror held it in his own hands as appeareth by the generall Survey shortly after made wherein it is rated at viii hides the Woods extending to two miles in length and one in breadth and all valued at 4 l. But it continued not long in the Crown for I find that K. H. 1. past it away in exchange unto Roger Earl oâ— Warwick for the Mannours of Hocham and Langham in Rutland Habendum tenendum dicium Manerium de Sutton saith my authoritie dicto Rogero Comiti haeredibus ejus cum omni libertate regalitate sine sectis ad Hundredum sine solutione Scutagii vel alicuius forinseci servitii cum libero Chaceo inter Thame Bourne quae dividunt libertatem dicti Manerii ab aliis Et habeat dictus Rogerus haeredes sui unum Parcum unam liberam Hayam in defensione Et habeant liberam Curiam suam ad voluntatem in omnibus liberis consuetudinibus cum visu Franci plegii Item habeant boscum forinsecum communem libere tenentibus sine Ripario Item habeant in dominico duas Carucatas terrae â—num molendinum aquaticum cum sectis Item habeant Octodecem Cervos non nobiles But it doth not appear by this that any yearly Rent was reserved to the King his heirs and successors upon the said Exchange therefore 't is probable that by some other Agreement with that King or King H. 2. it might be For in the Shiriffs Accompt of 23.24 and 25 H. 2. there is xxxix s. per an answered to the King de Firma de Sutton In 26 H. 2. xvii s. x d. de porquisitis In 30 H. 2. xxxix s. de Firma In 31 H. 2. Lii s. de Firma and in 1 R. 1. iiii l. de Firma howbeit in these two last 't is like some arrears are accounted in regard that xxxix s. was the standing Rent or Ferm formerly due The next thing in order to be spoke of is the Chase whereof the bounds extended as by the before recited authoritie is evident to the banks of Thame and Bourne which Rivers are described by the Map and so consequently out of the bounds of this Countie aswell as into other Lordships within it that are no members of Sutton To give some reason therefore for this I have look't further into the antiquitie thereof and do find that whilst this Lordship continued in the King's hand that which afterwards bore the name of the Chase was then a Forest and this appears by a speciall Inquisition taken in 3 E. 2. where the Jury say upon their Oaths that they had heard their Ancestors affirm the same For that the antient King 's of England before they limited themselves by Carta de Foresta in 9 H. 3. might and did make Forests where they pleased Manwood in his treatise of Forest Laws whereunto I refer my Reader doth sufficiently declare And here before I proceed further I have thought fit to insert a Copie of the bounds of this Chase as by the before-specified Inquisition they are set down Sez sount lez boundes trovez de la Chace de Sottone en Colfelde se commencez à la teste de Bourne dekes à la Boltestile dekes tank à la Tindit hoc dekes tank à Mosewall dekes tank à le Holebrok dekes tank a le Thame dekes tank a Wolford brugge dekes tank a Schrafford brugge dekes tank a Wyford dekes tank a la teste de Bourne Most of which places if not all are I am sure very well known at this day That the Earl of Warwick so held it with all privileges thereto antiently belonging may appear by sundry testimonies some of which I shall here point at About the beginning of K. Iohn's time the Lord Basset of Draiton a great Baron in these parts erected a Park at Draiton-Basset which being within the precincts of this Chase and questioned by Waleran then Earl of Warwick necessitated the said Lord Basset rather than he would pull down his pales again to come to an Agreement with the Earl which accord was in 3 Iâ—â— and because 't is very memorable I will here recite it Haec est finalis concordia inter Comitem Waleranum de Warewic querentem Radulfum Basset tenentem de una sepe in Draiton quam idem Comes dixit fuisse levatam ad nocumentum Forestae suae de Colmesfeld unde placitum conventionis summonitum est inter eos coram Iusticiariis
pence at Lammas And shortly after past away all his right here to Iohn Lovel of Tichmersh his uncle which Iohn by his deed bearing date at Tichmersh on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady 3 E. 2. in consideration of CCC li. sterling sold it to Hugh de Quâ—lly together with all his lands lying in Lee Curdworth Mynworth and Mokshull so granted to him likewise by the said Raphe de Gâ—rges his nephew This Hugh de Citilly was Lord of Radelive in Leicestershire and being Constable of Kenilw. Castle under Thomas Earl of Lancaster was one of those that had a hand in the murther of Piers de Gaveston for which with the said Earl and others he had his pardon in 7 E. 2. It seems that he made his residence here at Dunton in those times for in 8 E. 2. he served as a Knight for this shâ—re in the several Parliaments then held at Westminster and Yorke and was a Knight before his death which hapned at Pomfret Castle in 16 E. 2. he being then the King's prisoner there To which Hugh succeeded Roger who adhering to his Father in that Rebellion with the Earl of Lancaster became also a Prisoner at Pomfret but paying C. marks fine and giving security for his future good behaviour he was enlarged After the last mentioned Roger I find another Roger his grandson I impose which Roger in 14 E. 3. was in Commission for levying and collecting fifteenth and tenth then granted to the King in Parliament and lâ—â—ewise for making sale of the ninth part of Sheaf Wâ—ol and Lamb in this County given also to the King in Parl. about that time in which imployment he continued the next ensuing year as appeareth by a new Commission In 19 E. 3. he had summons amongst the other Knights of this County to be ready with Horses and Armes at the Feast of S. Laurence to attend the King in his French expedition and in 33 E. 3. departed this life without issue leaving Thomas de Cuâ—lly his Uncle and heir of whom all that I find memorable is that in 37 E. 3. he obtained License from Thomas Earl of Warwick to cut and â—ell timber in his Wood called Clapshaw before specified with proviso that it should be for the defence thereof till the spring were gâ—own up according to the Custome of his Chase. Which Thomas left one only daughter called Elizabeth his heir wedded to Iohn Stanhope of Rampton in Notinghamshire who had â—ssue Sir Ric. Stanhope Knight Which Sir Richard by his Deed bearing date the Sunday next before the Feast of S. Laurence the Martyr 10 H. 5. past away the inheritance of this Mannour to Nich Ruggeley of Hawksheard in com Staff Esq whose posterity do still enjoy it Nich. Ruggeley 10 H. 5. Editha filia haeres ..... Waldelf Nich. Ruggelâ—y 33 H. 6. Will. Ruggeley Jana filia ... Mâ—llâ—y Ioh. Ruggeley Iocoâ—a filia Rad. Shâ—lâ—on de â—â—â—oley ar Thomas Baskervile de de Cuâ—dworth sâ—cundus maâ—itus Raduâ—fu Ruggeley Râ—becca filia Roulandi Ruggeley de Shenston Roulandus Ruggeley de Dunton Eq. aur obiit an 1629. Eliz. filia cohaeres Thomae Knoâ—les Eq. aur Will. Ruggeley ar Jacobus Ruggeley de Warwick 14 H. 7. Will. Ruggeley 20 E 4. Thom. Ruggeley Editha filia haer ux Ric. Thicknes de Sution Câ—eney This Nicholas was the first of his Family that had to do in Warwickshire for ought I have seen his Ancestors being of Staffordshire and Gentlemen there of very good note for in 26 E. 1. Will. de Ryggele de Comitatu Staffordiae as the Record saith being constrained to abjure the Realm for killing one Rob. de Biskeland received Pardon for that fact which was so granted to him for the faithfull service he had done to the said King in his Army then in Flanders And in 10â— 13 and 14 E. 3. Simon de Ruggeley being Shiriff of the Counties of Salop. and Staff had the Castle of Salop. committed to his custody having the title of Valettus Regis which shewes that he was a servant to the King in an honourable condition I am of opinion that the speciall affection which the before specified Nicholas had to Hunting caused him to settle here at Dunton for I find that he had the Rangership of Sutton Chase from 2 H. 4. which is xx years before he purchased this Lordship and that he continued in that command for the space of ten years after sc. till 10 H. 6. at which time he was an old man and not fit for that imployment And that in 12 H. 6. he is recorded amongst the Knights and Esquiers of this County who made Oath for observation of the Articles concluded on in the Parliament then held But further of this Family I have no more to say than what the Descent before inserted expresseth Wishaw NOrthwards from Curdworth lyes Wishaw having been possest by one Ordric before the Norman Conquest but afterwards disposed of to Wil. fil Corbucionis of whom I have made mention in Studley and by the general Survey where it is written Witscaga certified to contain two hides there being then a Church as also Woods that contained three furlongs in length and one in breadth all valued at no more than x s. Which argueth that it then lay for the most part wast in regard it is said to have been worth xxx s. in Edw. the Confessor's days But there is little to be found thereof in our publike Records till Edw. 1. time so that I am not able directly to discover who possest it in the interim In 29 H. 2. Iohn de Doura impleaded Rob. sil Willieâ—â—i and Will. de Arden for the fouâ—th part of a Knight's see lying in Gorcote juxta Studley and here in Witteshage And the Knights Templars were antiently possest of some lands here thoâ—gh by whose gift I yet know not for about 12 H. 3. it appears that under their publick Seal they granted unto Margaret de L'isle two yard land and a half lying therein Which Family have been long owners of land in this Lordship for in 56 H. 3. Helewis the widow of Nich. de L'isle brought an Assize of Novell disseisin against Anketill de L'isle and othersâ— concerning certain tenements here and in Moxhull But that the Templars notwithstanding what they so past away as abovesaid had still some possessions here is manifest by that Presentment in 4 E. 1. Wherby it was certified that they had withdrawn their suit due to the Hundred Court for 4. yard land and a half thereof Of that Family of Bereford which had to do in this place whether Osbert were the first I cannot affirm for till 16 E. 1. I have not found any thing of him in relation thereto but then I do conclude that he was Lord thereof and that by aâ— Deed of Entailâ— he setled
Iesu have mercy Amen On an Alabaster gravestone in the Chancell Willielmus Plasted soror ejus Elizabetha Plasted alter natus annos sex menses duos altera nata annos octo menses decem uterque optimae spei adolescentes uno eodem morbo vitam finierunt consepulti 7 Sept. An. 1591. The Chantrie There was a Chantry founded in E. 1. time by Sir Will. de Odingsells Kt. for one Priest to celebrate Divine service for ever in this Church for the health of the souls of Will. de Odingsells and Ioane his wife father and mother to the said Sir Will. as also for his own soul with the souls of his progenitors Children and all the faithfull deceased for maintenance of which Priest he gave with the consent of Ioan his mother and Raph de Limesi then her husband certain Houses and land situate near to St. Alphag's Well within this Lordship and iii li. yearly Rent payable by severall of his Tenants here whose names are exprest in the grant Which Priest was successively to be presented by the said Sir Will. and his heirs to the Bishop of Coventre and Lich. for the time being and by him to be instituted to the said Chantry In augmentation of whose maintenance the said Raph de Limesi and Ioane his wife gave five marks yearly Rent issuing out of certain lands lying in Cotes now called Coton and Merston juxta Kingsbury in 5 E. 1. To this Chantry in H. 4. time did likewise Will. Hawe and others give one Messuage and xl acres of land lying also here in Solihull called Caldeford's Tenement to the end that the Chantry-Priest for the time being should celebrate Divine Service for the soules of Hugh le De-Spenser and Sibill his wife before specified but the grant being made without License obtained from the K. the said lands became forfeited and were in 14 H. 4. bestowed upon Iohn Birkyn one of the yeomen of the Larder to the K. to hold during life How the means belonging hereunto came to be so diminished appears not but in 16 H. 6. upon the addition of Lx s. more yearly Rent by one Thomas Greswould it appears that the maintenance was so slender that no Priest did then serve therein which Annuity he the said Thomas gave that the Priest officiating there should sing Masse every day for the good estate of the said K. H. 6. and of the same Thomas Greswould and for their souls after their departure hence as also for the souls of the Father and mother of the said Thomas and all the Benefactors thereunto So that in 26 H. 8. the value thereof was found to be Cxiiii s. per an over and above xviii s. yearly Rent payd out of it to severall persons and in 37 H. 8. vi l. xvi s. vi d. per an over and above all Reprizes at which time the Chantrie Priest serving here did upon occasion assist the Parson in ministring the Sacraments in regard that the Parish was spacious and contained 700 Communicants This Chantrie was called the Chantrie of Haliwell the reason whereof I conceive to be because the Houses given thereto by Sir Will. de Odingsells at the first Foundation thereof did stand near S. Alphage his Well but it was in a Chapell on the North side of the Church of Solihull called libera Capella S. Alphegi One thing more I shall observe before I passe from this Church viz. that in 13 E. 3. one Will. de Stow a Priest and Parson of Solihull gave xii acres of land and six acres of meadow to the succeeding Rectors here for the finding of two wax Candles burning therein every day at the celebration of Masse and two Torches alwayes at the elevation of the Host. Olton THis through the corrupt pronunciation of the vulgar is now called Oken end but that it had its name after the plantation at Solihull is apparent enough from what I have formerly said that of Wolverle being waâ—ved and thereupon called the Old-town But by this new name of Olton I find no mention of it till 19 E. 1. upon the extent of the lands belonging to Roger de Someri Baron of Dudley who was then certified to have one meadow and a pasture here at that time and in 23 E. 1. it appears that Ela de Odingsels was jointly enfeoft thereof with William de Odingsells her husband in which Record it is called Manerium de Dulton After which upon the partition of Odingsels lands betwixt the daughters and coheirs it came to Grey of Rotherfeld who wedded Margaret as the Descent sheweth for in 2 H. 4. after the death of Sir Robert Grey of Rotherfeld Knight Ioane his daughter and heir then the wife of Sir Iohn Deincourt Knight had liverie thereof From whom it descended to Alice one of the daughters and coheirs of the said Sir Iohn Deincourt and Ioan the wife of Sir Will. Lovell Knight who in her right died seized of it in 33 H. 6. leaving Sir Iohn Lovell Knight his son and heir 22. years of age which Alice afterwards married to Sir Raphe Boteler Knight who by a Fine levied in 6 E. 4. entailed it upon the issue of his body by her the said Alice with remainder to Anne the wife of Sir Remfride Arundell Knight and the heirs of her body and for want of such issue to the right heirs of Alice Of this Lady Arundell I find that she married afterwards to Robert Crane Esquire and that in 5 H. 8. she demised it â—o Catherine Boteler widow for xx years But in 33 H. 8. Henry Ogard Esq. was Lord thereof and since that as I have heard one M r Oliver Briggs a Shropshire man who sold it to M r Midlemore of Eggebaston Foshaw THis being within the territories of Solihull and antiently a member thereof was towards the later end of H. 3. or beginning of E. 1. time given by William de Odingsells unto Nicholas his younger son and his heirs and is in that grant bounded with Tanworth on the one side Kings-Norton on the other Beoley on a thâ—rd and a great road-way leading from Wihtewrthemilne towards the Earl of Warwick's wood in Tanworth reserving to the said William and his heirs one peny to be yearly payd at the Feast of S t Michaâ—ll the Archangell for all services and demands whatsoever By which deed was there also granted unto the same Nicholas and his heirs a Court-Leet of all the said William's Tenants inhabiting within those precincts paying yearly to hâ—m and his heirs for the same a pound of Cummin seed at the next Court after Michaelmasse to be held at Solihull From whom descended another Nicholas Lord thereof in 10 R. 2. who bore for his Armes the antient coat of Odingsells of Solihull viz. Arg. a Fesse gules with two Mullets of the second in cheif and the addition of three Escalops upon the Fesse in
after his Father's death as my authoritie saith he then made a new grant of the premisses to the same Lord Clinton during the minority of the heir then his Ward whereupon the said Lord Clinton in consideration of Lxx li. sterling made an assignation of the said Custodie c. unto Iohn Hales Gentleman at that time Clerk of the Hamper and a very active man in the world as in Coventre I have shewed To the posterity of which Sir Will. Compton it continued till that Will. Lord Compton his great grandchild by his Deed bearing date 3. Febr. 39 Eliz. sold it unto Sir Thomas Egerton Kt. then Lord Keeper of the great Seal from whom Thomas Dilke Esquire afterwards Knight purchased it scil 21. Iunii 41 Eliz. whose grandson William now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Michael was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at viii marks In 5 E. 3. Sir William de Clinton Knight purposing to found a Chantrie therein obtained License to bestow the advouson thereof inter alia upon the same with Lands and Rents to the value of xx li. per annum In pursuance whereof he gave to Iohn Lynie Priest Warden of the said Chantrie and his successors a certain piece of land lying then betwixt the road-way leading from Filongley towards Colshill on the one side and the Church-yard of Maxstoke on the other and extending in length from the Lord of Maxstoke's Quarrie to the Pale of his Park together with the advouson of the Church as by his Charter bearing date at Maxstoke on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady 6 E. 3. appeareth And moreover by the same Charter granted unto the said Warden and his successors 8. Messuages six yard land lying in Long-Ichinton as also the Bodies of viii Natives dwelling there with all their Chattells and Off-spring And besides this xx s. yearly Rent payable by one William Snede and Iohn his son out of a Messuage lying in Long-Ichinton aforesaid with the reversion of the same Messuage and one yard land after their deceases and lastly 4. Acres of land lying in the said town of Ichinton together with the advouson of the Church Which endowment being so made he forthwith by the consent of Roger de Northburgh at that time Bishop of this Dioces Iohn Lynie the then Parson whom he constituted Warden as abovesaid Sir Iohn de Clinton Lord of Maxstoke his brother and Parishioner there as also all the other Parishioners of Maxstoke ordained that the said five Priests should thenceforth celebrate divine Servâ—ce daily in the same Church where the Bodies of his Ancestors lay interred for the good estate of him the said Sir William de Clinton Iulian his wife Sir Iohn de Clinton his brother Alice his wife and for the souls of Sir Iohn de Clinton his Father the Lady Ida his Mother as also for the good estate of Edward the third then Kâ—ng of England Laurence de Hastings and for aâ—l the Lords Hastings in time to come And moreover of the said Roger then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield Henry Prior of Coventre and â—heir succâ—ssors and for the souls of all the Kâ—ngs oâ— England Lords Hastings Bishops of Coventre â—nd Lichfield Priors of Coventre Brethren and sisters Parents and benefactors and all the faithâ—uâ—l deceased Appointing that the said Warden and his successors as aâ—so the Subwarden and his should be always Priests in Orders admitted and instituted by the Bishop or Coventre and Lichfield for the time being and after the decease of him the said Sir William always presented by the said Sâ—r Iohn de Clinton his brother and his heirs having a House convenient for themselves and the other three adjoyning to the Churchyard of Maxstoke afâ—resaid there to inhabâ—te and lodge together And that the said Warden and his succâ—ssâ—rs shâ—uld pâ—â—vâ—de from time to timeâ— Bâ—â—â—ks Vâ—â—â—ments Lâ—ghts as also two Clerks fâ—r the use of himself 〈◊〉 Sub-warden and the other Priests aswell in the Church as in the Houseâ— viz. their Hall and Chamberâ— nâ—ght and day And mâ—reover that he and his said Sub-warden and thâ— othâ—r Priestsâ— shâ—â—â—d wear white Surpliceâ— with black Copes and Sâ—â—les after the manner of the Vicars-Chorall in the Caâ—hedrall of Lichfield whil'st they were about divine Service both in the Church and Quire And that the charge of the Books and Ornaments shâ—uld belong to the Sub-warden whose Office was to direct câ—ncerning the celebration of Masses viz. of whâ—m what howers and in what order by himself and the other Priests they were to be performed And that Bread Wine Water and Lights should be ready for the said Masses and divine exercises but at the charge of the Warden to be provided And further that aswell the Warden when he could fitly be at leisure and Sub-warden as all the Priests except some great occasion did hinder every day after dinner and before Vâ—â—pers should together in the said Church sing the full Office of the Dead viz. Placebo and Dâ—riâ—e except on double Fâ—â—tivalls and the time of Easter in whâ—ch theâ— ought to observe the custome of the Church of Salisbury in saâ—â—ing the said Office Aâ— also 〈…〉 and Canonicall howers with Note â— in the Qâ—â—re of the Church aforesaid admitting the Chaplains and Clerks of the same Church to sing with them if they pleased And likewise that after the Compline they should say the Commenâ—â—â—tion of the Dead â— in â—he said Quire according â—o the course above described And every Holy day in the Quire together the seven Penitentiall Psalmes and the â—v â—radualls with the Letanie and accustomed Prayers unless there were cause exprest by the Warden that they should say them out of the Quâ—re And that both the Warden and Sub-warden all the other Priests should every day celebrate their particular Masses in the said Church or Quire according to appointment except there were a lawfull impediment so that upon every Sunday the Masse of the B. Virgin should be celebrated with Note and the Mass of the day in such sort as was fit And upon every Munday one of them whom the Sub-warden should appoint to celebrate the said Mass of our Lady by Note with the Office for the Dead for the souls of the persons before recited and all the faithfull deceased And after the death of the said Sir William de Clinton and Sir Iohn his brother for their souls also And that another of the said Priests should celebrate the same day the high Mass of S. Michaell th'arch Angell Patron of that Church and of all the holy Angells with Note and the rest throughout the week thus Upon every Tuesday the Mass of S. Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury by Note besides the high Mass of the day by Note also On Wednsday the first Mass of our blessed Ladie by Note and the high Mass of the said day with Note as also a memoriall of S. Katherine the Virgin On
not for taking part with Thomas Earl of Lancaster in 15 E. 2. he was beheaded at Yorke after which it became soon disposed of by the King together with Creke in Com. Northampt. unto Elianore the wife of Hugh le Despenser the younger to hold during her life to the use and behoof of Gilbert le Despenser son to the said Hugh which I suppose she held accordingly during the remainder of the said King's reign and no longer as may seem by an Inquis then taken and a confirmation made the year following by Iohn de Moubray son and heir to the last mentioned Iohn unto Sir Richard Pesehale Knight of the third part thereof together with the advouson of the Church which Aliva de Moubray mother of the said Iohn of whose dowrie it was had granted to him the said Richard to hold during life But besides this third part it seems that the said Sir Richard obtained an estate in the rest to hold likewise during his own life for in 16 E. 3. when William de Clinton then Earl of Huntendon had began the Foundation of Maxstoke Priorie having a minde to endow it with lands and possessions situate convenient thereto it appears that after he had agreed with the Lord Moubray to have this Lordship in Exchange for the Mannour of Hinton in Cambridgeshire he gave unto the said Sir Richard in lieu of his terme in this the inheritance of the Mannour of Gudlesdon juxta Colshill with leave to take down a new House which he had built here at Shustoke and to remove it whither he should think fit as also all such timber as was then fallen by the said Richard in the Park here at Shustoke and libertie to cut down in the said Park six more Oaks for Timber and six for Fewell the same grant bearing date 5 Ian. 16. E. 3. After which scil the morrow following Ascension day the said Lord Moubray granted the same with the advouson of the Church unto that Earl and his heirs for ever Whereupon he accordingly by his Deed dated the Saturday before the Translation of S t Thomas the Martyr setled it upon the Canons of Maxstoke and their successors who the next year following for their better conveniencie past it away unto Iohn de Clinton nephew to the before specified Earl in exchange for that part of Maxstoke which was afterwards and still is called the Priorie-Lordship Aâ—l which being thus performed the same Iohn de Clinton immediately granted it unto the said Earl his uncle to hold during life who being so seized thereof procured a Charter bearing date 20. Ian. the year ensuing that himself for his life and his said nephew and his heirs for ever should have a Court Leet within this Mannour extending likewise into the Hamlets of Bentley and Blithe within the same Parish together with Assize of Bread and Beer Pillorie Tumbrell as also the Liberties of Infangthef and Outfangthef Gallows and Weyfs rendring for the same to the said King his Heirs and Successors xviii d. yearly by the hands of the Shiriff in augmentation of the ferme of the Countie By which Charter there was farther granted to the said Earl as also to his nephew and his heirs Free warren in all his demesn lands within the precincts aforesaid Upon whose death in 28 E. 3. his said nephew Sir Iohn de Clinton had liverie thereof From whom descended Iohn Lord Clinton and Say whose lands were seized on in 38 H. 6. for adhering to the House of Yorke at which time this Lordship inter alia was given by the King to Sir Edmund Mountfort Knight one of his Kervers in consideration of his faithfull service against the said King's enemies but the deposall and ruine of King Henry hapned so soon after as that the Lord Clinton was not long out of possession thereof in whose line it continued till 31 H. 8. that Edward Lord Clinton and Say sold it unto Iames Leveson of Wolverhampton Esquire a rich Merchant of the Staple as by his Deed bearing date 6. Febr. the same year appeareth Which Iames gave it in marriage in 36 H. 8. unto Walter the son and heir of Sir Edward Aston of Ticksall in Com. Staff Knight whose grandson Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Bathe being plunged into vast debts by supporting himself in that Embassie of Spaine towards the later end of King Iames his time first sold the greatest part of the Fermes to the severall Tenants and soon after the Mannour it self unto Sir George Devereux of Sheldon Knight the now owner thereof The Church dedicated to S. Cuthbert was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at x. marks and the advouson thereof in 17 E. 3. given by William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon together with the Mannour unto the Priorie of Maxstoke then newly by him founded whereupon soon ensued its appropriation scil 4. Id. Iulii the same year And in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was valued at Cvii s. over and above ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Rad. fil Nicholai ex conces D. Regis ratione custodiae haeredis D. Will. de Eseby Rad. le Breton Cler. post mortem Gilb. de Camvile ult Rectoris an 1250. D. Ioh. de Moubray miles Ioh. de Acom Pbr. 3. Id. Oct. 1336. post mortem Ric. de Colshull ult Rectoris Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Will. Edithe Cap. Cal. Martii 1343. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Rob. le Spicer Cap. 4. Cal. Martii 1349. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Will. Edithe Cap. 12. Cal. Aug. 1353. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. de Linley Pbr. 7. Id. Martii 1365. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. Kytewyld Pbr. 21. Dec. 1390. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. Bishop Pbr. 24. Aug. 1398. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. Pryce Diac. 21. Sept. 1425. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Will. Orme Pbr. 5. Martii 1456. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. Eliot Cap. 18. Iunii 1494. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Thomas Perkins Pbr. 20. Oct. 1500. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Henr. Sutton Cap. penult Iulii 1501. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke D. Ioh. Robynson Cap. 7. Apr. 1536. D. Edw. 6. Rex Angliae D. Rad. Pykering 13. Febr. 1547. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Nich. Haighe Cler. 9. Maii 1562. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Georgius Mutley Cler. 2. Oct. 1576. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Ric. Warde Cler. 29. Oct. 1594. Iac. Rex Angl. c. Iosepâ—â—s Harison Cler. ..... 1605. Carolus Rex Angl. c. Ioh. Warde in art Magr. 18. Maii 1632. The present fabrick of this Church was erected in King Edw. 2. time as is evident by the picture of Richard de Coâ—â—ull the last Rector which stood within these few years in a South