were at that time betwixt the Abbot of Combe and the before mentioned Giles touching the metes and bounds of their lands on Wolvey-heath and concerning common of pasture which the said Giles challenged in those C. acres of land long before granted to the Monks of Combe by Rob. Basset and Reginald his son as is before exprest and concerning the sole presentation to the Heremitage before specified and commoning upon all that Heath by which Arbitrators it was determined that the said Abbot and Giles should present to the Heremitage in Common and hold all the said Heath in Common except the above mentioned C. Acres of land But all that I further find of this Giles is that he dyed at Dunstaple upon the day of St. Nicholas the Bishop an 1427. 6. H. 6. After which viz. in 16. H. 7. Will. Astley his great Grand-child presented one Iohn Iddezeard to the Heremitage From which VVilliam is Giles Astley Esq. now Lord of the same Mannour descended Having thus deduced the succession of Astley's Mannour I am next to take notice of what the Templars had here Of which the first mention I find is in the Shiriffs account of 1. E. 2. after the seizure of the lands belonging to the Templars into the K. hands wherein he certifies vii s. Rent of Assize received at the Feast of the Annunc of our Lady next before of certain Free-holders and Cottagers there and xx s. at the same terme for the Rent of a Water-mill and a VVind-Mill let to ferm at xl s. per an which possessions were antiently held by the Templars of Alan la Zouch by the fourth part of a Kts. Fee That the Templars were supprest and how their lands came to the Hospitalars I shall shew when I come to Balshall in Hemlingford-Hundred And that the Hospitalars possessions came to the Crown in 31. H. 8. upon that great dissolution of the Monasteries is known sufficiently at which generall deluge this Mannour of theirs in Wolvey was swept in being then accounted as a Member of the Preceptorie of Balshall above-mentioned and continued in the K. hands till 7. E. 6. but was then granted inter alia to Edw. Aglionby of Balshall Esq. and Henry Hugford of Solihull Gent. and their Heirs which Edw. in 3. 4. Ph. M. aliened the same to Thomas Marrow Esq. who the same year granted it to Will. Newman of whom in 3. Eliz. it was purchased by Edmund Scarning Esq. which Edmund dyed seized thereof 3. Apr. 1. Iac. leaving issue Ezechias his son and heir then aged 34. years Touching that Mannour which belong'd to the Monks of Combe I further find thereof this that in 8. H. 6. it was granted by the then Abbot and Covent of that Monastery to Humfry Earl Stafford and his heirs the advouson of the Church with the lands in Little-Copston belonging thereto excepted Here it hapned that K. Edw. 4. being surprized by Ric. Nevill the stout E. of Warwick was carryed away Prisoner to Midleham-Castle in York-shire the circumstances whereof I have briefly touched in my discourse of that Earl in Warwick In an 1291. 19. E. 1. the Church dedicated to St. Iohn Bapt. was valued at xx marks the one moytie being then a Prebend of Lichfield at which time the Vicaridge was rated at 1. mark But in 26. H. 8. at vi l. vi s. iiii d. over and above ix s. allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni vicariae Incumbentes Abb. Conv. de Cumba Hen. de Thurlauston Pbr. 3. Id. Febr. 1301. Abb. Conv. de Cumba Ioh. le Smith Pbr. 12. Kal. Nov. 1352â— D. Tho. Clerc Canon Eccl. Cath. Lich. Ioh. Osmunderley 3. Nov. 1429. Abb. Conv. de Cumba Ioh Ioykin Pbr. 14. Ian. 1438. Prebend de Wolvey Ric. Blockley diac 28. Nov. 1493. Abb. C. de Cumba D. Rog. VVyldie Cler. 3. Febr. 1537. VV. Marton Preb. de VVolvey in Eccl. Cath. Lich. Ric. Palmer Cler. 10. Iulii 1564. Humf. Perot de Belne in Com. VVigorn Gen. Geo. VVilcockson Cler. 10. Dec. 1619. Copston-parva NOrthwards from Wolvey and in the same Parish lyeth Little-Copston now a depopulated place and known onely by the name of Copston-Fields which originally had its denomination from one Copsi possessor thereof in the Saxons time as I guess that being a name then in use but in the Conq. Survey is there not any express mention thereof so that I do conceive it was involved with Wolvey for in the beginning of H. 2. time Ivo de Harecurt granted all his land in this place together with Wolvey unto Rob. Basset in frank marriage with Beatrice his Sister as in Wolvey is shewed Which Robert very suddainly after gave to the Monks of Combe one carucat of land here In villa igitur mea quae dicitur parva Copston saith he unam caruc terrae c. in perpetuam elemosinam dono So that it seems he was then owner thereof which grant K. H. 2. confirmed Here was antiently a Chappel as appears by the Composition touching the Church of Wolvey betwixt G. Muschamp B. of Coventre and the Abbot of Combe 34 H. 3. whereof I have already spoken How it past from Basset's posterity I have not seen but in H. 3. time Thomas de Asteley had it for after he was slain in the battail of Edâ—sham 49. H. 3. as in Astley is shew'd this with the rest of his lands being confiscate was given by the K. to Warine de Bassingburne But after the Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth whereby they which were not slain in the battail aswell as the posterity of those that lost their lives were admitted to Composition for their forfeited estates as in Kenilworth is manifested Andrew de Astley son and heir to the said Thomas past away this his village of Little-Copston with the appurtenances to the Monks of Combe and their successors for ever in consideration of CCCxx marks sterling which he received of them to redeem his lands so forfeited as hath been said After which viz. in 18. E. 1â— the said Monks obteined a Charter of Free-Warren in all their demesn lands here whose possession it continued in till the dissolution of that Monastery Wibtoft I Now come to Wibtoft a petty village but eminent for its situation for it lyeth in one of the Corners where the two famous old Romane ways viz. UUaflingstreet and Fosse do meet in which place once also stood a flourishing City of the Romans called Cleychester as the tradition goes whereof I can say no more than what Mr. Cambden in Leicester-sh hath already spoken the very foundations thereof being now for the most part turn'd up by the Plough and spade and large stones Roman-brick with Ovens and Wells nay Coins of Silver and Brass mixt with its ruins frequently discovered the earth so far as it extended being of a darker colour then the rest thereabouts
had the victory at Faukirke in Scotland This Andrew gave or rather sold to the Cannons of Erdbury a wood lying within the precincts of Chilverscoton called Herewardshey which his Father had of the grant of Tho. the son of Thomas the son of Scherus de Stoke And dyed in 29. E. 1. leaving Nicholas his son and heir aged 24. years who doing his fealty had then livery of his Fathers lands Which Nicholas in 1. and 3. E. 2. being constituted one of the Commissioners for conservation of the peace in Warwicksh and to see the Statute of Winchester observed in 5. E. 2. was a Knight and bore for his Armes a Lion rampant as by his Seal appeareth But in 7. E. 2. attending the K. in that unfortunate expedition against the Scots was taken prisoner in the battail of Strivelin where many a gallant Englishman had the same fate or lost his life The time of his death I cannot certainly point out but he dyed without issue for I find that Thomas his nephew viz. son of Sir Giles de Astley his younger brother and with him taken prisoner at Strivelin became heire to the estate and in 19. E. 2. had livery of his lands being then of full age Which Thomas was a Knight in 10. E. 3. and such a man whose pious and noble actions gave no small lustre to this family For in 11. E. 3. he founded a Chantry in the Parish-Church here at Astley of one Priest to sing Mass daily for the health of his soul and for the soul of Eliz. his wife daughter to Guy de Beauchamp E. of Warr. as also for the souls of his Father and Mother and all the faithfull deceased to which he had license for the amortizing of 8. mess. 2. carucats of land pasture for 2. horses and 4. Oxen cvj. s. viij d. rent with the appurtenances lying 〈◊〉 Astley Wolvey Milverton and Willughby juxta Dunchurch in this County In 12. E. 3. he was assigned one of the Commissioners for conservation of the peace and to be assistant to Ric. E. of Arundell and Tho. Lord Berkley for arraying of all men in this Shire according to their severall estates and faculties The same year he had license to grant the advouson of the Church here at Astley to the Guardian and Priests belonging to the Chappell of our blessed Lady therein for the health of his soul and the souls of his ancestors and all the faithfull deceased which by Rog. Northburg then B. of Cov. and Litch was appropriated thereunto 8. Kal. Oct. following Who thereupon reserved these pensions viz. to the Chapter of Litchfield 5. s. to the Chapter of Coventre as much and 13. s. 04. d. to the Cathedrall of Litchfield to be payd at the feast of S. Mich. th'Archangell yearly out of the profits thereof Which Chantry as appeares by the Bishops said Instrument of Appropriation consisting of 4. secular Priests one called the Custos or Warden and another the Subwarden was founded for the good estate of the said Thomas de Astley the Lady Eliz. his wife and of Dame Alice and Alice Mothers to them both their heirs and successors as also Roger then B. of Cov. and Lich. and after their decease for the health of their souls and of the souls of Sir Walter de Astley and Isabel his wife Sir Thomas de Astley and Ioane his wife Sir Andrew de Astley and Sibill his wife Nich. de Astley and Alice his wife Sir Giles de Astley father of the said Thomas the founder Sir Thomas de Wolvey and Alice his wife and of Sir Thomas de Clinton Knight For augmentation of which number to seaven Priests and one Clerkâ— in 14. E. 3. he obteyned license to amortize 2. mess. 3. yard land and half 2. acres of wood and 2. s. -8 d. rent in Withibroke Hapsford and Bedworth In that year he was joyn'd in Commission with the Bishop of Worcester the Abbot of Stoneley and Prior of Erdbury to supervise the ninth of Sheaf Lamb and Wooll for this County granted to the K. in Parliament And the next year did he grant to the Prior and Covent of Erdbury and their successors 1. mess. and 36. acres of land lying in Wolvey Thus was the heart of this worthy person still more and more enlarged as we see by these his pious concessions and yet thinking all not enough procured license of the K. for the changing these Chantry-Priests into a Dean and Secular Canons and to grant to them and their successors the perpetuall patronage of the Church of Hill-Morton which was appropriated thereto by the said Rog. Northburgh Bishop of Coventre and Lich. 3. Cal. Martii the same yeare with reservation of x. s. annuall pension to be payd out of the profits thereof at the feast of S. Michael th'Archangel Whereupon he then began to erect a most fair and beautifull Collegiat-Church in the form of a Cross dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin with a tall spire covered with lead whereof I shall say more anon Which foundation consisted of a Dean and two Canons who were to be secular Priests each having their lodgings appointed to them with particular lands out of the before mentioned possessions so given the Dean being to provide a Priest as perpetuall Vicar there and by him presented to the Bishop by the the B. to be instituted and by his mandate to the Chapter of his Church to be admitted having v. Marks by the year quarterly for his salary And likewise another priest with a fit Clerk to serve the Parishioners in the said Church Shortly after which viz. in 20. E. 3. did Tho. Beauchamp E. of Warwick grant thereunto the Church of Long-Stanton in Cambridgshire Nor was it long after that the before specified Founder added more for in 36. E. 3. I finde that he gave ix marks and x. s. yearly Rent issuing out of lands situate in Lilburn and Creek in Northamptonsh and lxv s. v. d. ob q. rent out of lands in Shustoke Filungley and Nun-Eaton in this County And lastly his son Will. Lord Astley in 12. R. 2. xl s. yearly rent issuing out of the mannour of Bentley to Iohn de Plompton Vicar and then Sacrist and to his successors for ever Having now done with the endowment I have a word or two more to say of the Founder relating to his publique employments which is that in 33. E. 3. he was the first in ranke authorised by commission in this County for arraying of men in the K. absence according to the Statute of Winchester As also in 35. constituted one of the Justices of peace in this shire And that by Elizabeth daughter to Guy de Beauchamp E. of Warâ—wick he had issue Sir Will de Astley and Sir Thomas both Knights with Giles his third son from whom the Astley's of Wolvey
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
be without prejudice of the mother Church which License was to continue only for two years To him succeeded Laurence his son and heir who by marriage with Maud daughter and heir to Sir Thomas Charnells of Aylmesthorpe in Com. Leic. much increast his estate and amongst other lands of her inheritance had the Mannour of Bilton in this County as in my discourse of that place is shewed Which Laurence had issue by her Sir Will. Trussell Knight who by the death of Margaret the wife of Sir Fouk Pembruge Knight daughter of Sir VVill. Trussell of Acton-Trussell before specifyed and heir not only to her fathers estate but also at length to the lands of Sir Iohn Trussell her Uncle as hath been already shewed became possest of Cublesdon and Acton-Trussell with divers other Lordships lying in the Counties of Staff Salop. Northampt Berks. Norff. and Essex and left issue Sâ—r Thomas and he another Sir VVill. Shiriff of Staffordshire in 6 H. 5. but had his residence in Leicestershire at Aylmesthorpe in H. 6. time Which Sir VVill. Trussell in 11 E. 4. being then the Kings servant in the Office of Valâ—t de Chambre had a grant of the custody of the Kings private Pallace at Westminster for life But afterwards scil in 14 E. 4. he was one of the Kts. for the body to the same K. retained by Indenture to serve him in his French wars for one whole year with six spears himself accounted for one and Lx. Archers well and sufficiently armed and arrayed taking for himself ii s per diem wages xii d per diem for the other Spears and for the Archers vi â— In 15 E. 4. he bore the Office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestershire and dyed 22 Ian. 20 E. 4. seized of the Mâ—â—nours of Acton-Trussell Bedenhale Shiriff-Hales and Thriff-Haly lying in the Counties of Staff and Salopâ— Waburne in Norfolk Shotesbroke in Berks. Aylmesthorpe in Câ—m Leic. Langport Eston-Maâ—duit Merston and Thorp-Malesours in Com. Northampt. Kenington and Wâ—nington in Essex as also of this our Billesâ—ey in Warwickshire but how that comes to passe I doe not apprehend leaving Edw. his son and heir who departed this life 10 Iunii 14 N. 7. Eliz. his daughter and heir being then not much above two years of age whose wardship and marriage in 22 H. 7. was granted by the King to Iohn Vere then Earl of Oxford and to Iohn Vere cosyn of the said Earl which Iohn marryed her and became afterwards Earl of Oxford in whose family most of the lands of her inheritance continued till of late time I now come to Sir Edmund Trussell Kt. second son to Will by Roese the daughter and heir to Will. Pantulf of Cublesdon He marryed Margaret the daughter to Walt. de Osevile and left issue Will. and Edmund which Edmund having to do at Mancestre and other places in this County as shall there be shewed was a man of some note and action as well as his elder brother for I find that he assisted Guy de Beauchamp E. of Warw. and his complices in the murther of Piers de Gaveston It seems that he and his brother had committed some high misdemenour about the 16 of E. 2. for that year did the K. by a speciall Pat. dated at Yorke 20 Sept. appoint Robert de Digby to pursue arrest and seize upon them In 12 E. 3. being â—hen a Knight he founded a Chantry at Hill-Morton as I have there shewed and gave for his Armes argent a Crosse fleurè gules debruised with a bend .... but whether he left any issue or not I cannot determine So likewise was Will. his elder brother a K t in 12 E. 2. and then gave for his Armes Argent a Crosse fleurè gules but his principall seat was at Flore in Northamptonshire though he also possest Morton-Bagot and Nuthurst in this County This is the man that was imployed by the Commons in that wofull convention of theirs in 20 E. 2. called by themselves a Parliament who pronounct the words of Deposition to that unhappy King in this manner as Knighton relates Ego Will. Trussell vice omnium de terra Angliae totius Parliamenti Procurator tibi Edwardo reddo homagium prius tibi factum extunc diffido te privo omni potestate Regia dignitate nequaquam tibi de caet ero tanquam Regi pariturus There are some circumstances that induce me to think that he did repent of this strange fact or at least that he did abhominate that cruell murther of K. E. 2. which so soon followed his said deposal for thouh his lands were seized on as a Rebell by King E. 3. after the beginning of his reign yet upon his submission in the Parl. held at Winchester he was received into favour again having had restitution of them and pardon for his offence which as I conceive was for adhering to Edmund Earl of Kent brother unto the murthered King at that time when being made to believe K. Edw. the second was alive he designed the delivery of him from imprisonment for during that Parliament held at Winchester 1 E. 3. was the said Earl of Kent arrested and lost his life for that buisnesse It seems he was a man of great abilities for immediately upon receipt of his pardon the King made him his Secretary sent him Embassadour to the King of Arragon to treat for a marriage â—etwixt Peter his son and heir and Alianore sister to our K. Edward which took not effect After which I find him imployed as a Commissioner in this County and Leicestershire upon sundry occasions viz. in 6 E. 3. for the Gaol delivery at Warwick In 10 E. 3. for hearing and determining cases of Felony and other misdemeanours In 11 E. 3. for declaring the Kings purposes to the Clergy and Laitie upon their lending money to prevent war betwixt England and France In 12 E. 3. for conservation of the peace in this County as also in the Counties of Worcester and Oxford In 19 E. 3. again for conservation of the peace in this County In which year being of the Kings Councell as the Pat. expresseth he had a grant of xl â—â— per an fee to be received at Michaelmas and Easter yearly out of the Exchequer so long as he should attend that imployment To which Will. succeeded Theobald and to him Iohn of whom and his descendants I shall here say no more than that he was Lord of Solihull in this County about the latter end of E. 3. and beginning of R. 2. time in right of his wife as when I come to that place shall be manifested whose issue male became shortly after extinct so that Sir Alured Trussell Knight his brother became Lord of this Mannour it being setled upon him and the heirs of his
Philip de Aâ—lesbury was Lord of Edston in this County This Ric. de Mountfort a younger son to Sir Peter de Montfort by Lora de Astley a Concubine as in Beldesert appeareth after his marriage with the above mentioned Rose resided here at Lapworth as I think for I find that he frequently wrote himself of this place In 37 E. 3. he was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parl. then held at Westm. and in 46 E. 3. he and his wife came to an Agreement with Phil. de Ailesbury and Agnes his wife for their moytie of this Mannour by which it appears that they the said Ric. and Rose should hold it during their lives paying to the before specified Philip and Agnes a Rose yearly at the Feast of the Nativity of St. Iohn Bapt. but that after their deceases it should return to the above mentioned Philip and Agnes and the heirs of the said Agnes In 47 E. 3 this Ric. de Mountfort founded a Chantrie here at Lapworth as when I come to speak of the Church shall be shewed In 48 E. 3. he was in Commission for assessing a Tenth and xv th in this County then granted to the K. in Parl. and bore for his Armes the paternall cote of that Family scil Rendè of ten pieces Or and Azure with a border gules Of Rose his wife I find that she lived many years after him and in 1 H. 4. founded a Chantrie in the Church of Tanworth residing then at Codbarow within that Parish and by her Deed bearing date at Lapworth the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Faith the Virgin 6 H. 5. past away the inheritance of this Mannour to Iohn Catesby of Ashby-Legers in Northamptonshire and other Feoffees which Iohn having wedded Margaret one of the two daughters and coheirs to Will. Mountfort son and heir of Ric. Mountfort and Rose his wife before mentioned granted back to her the said Rose an estate for terme of life therein After which it was not long ere all these Mannours in Lapworth became united For Rog. Aylesbury son and heir to the before specified Philip and Agnes by his Deed bearing date 13 H. 4. granting all the lands in this County accruing to him by inheritance from his said Father and mother unto Sir Will. Bishopsden Kt. and his heirs amongst which Lapworth Hall juxta Henle is mentioned Sir Will. Catesby Kt. son and heir to the said Iohn taking to wife Philippa one of the daughters and coheirs to the same Sir W. de Bishopsden became in her right seized thereof Forasmuch therefore as the said Sir Will. Catesby and his descendants till of late time being possest of this Lordship and had for the most part their residence here and that his Ancestours from E. 3. time had a fair estate at Rodburne and Lodbroke in this County I have here resolved to speak historically of them I have seen an antient Pedegree which makes Will. de Catesby the first that assumed this sirname in E. 1. time as is there exprest to be son of Iohn de Esseby Brother to Will. de Esseby of Esseby now commonly called Ashby ..... in com Northampt Whether that were so or not I am not conâ—cern'd to enquite but that they sprung from the Family of Esseby is not improbable considering that divers younger sons in those times relinquisht their paternall names and took other from the places where they seated themselves and that the two Lions passant which for many ages they have born for their Arms is the same Coat which Esseby gave by their Seals appeareth But the antientest Lordship that any of them had in Warwicksh is that of Lodbroke which Will. de Catesby obtained in E. 3 time first by an estate in reversion entailed upon him in 21 E. 3. and afterwards through Releases made by those that had the present interest as in Lodbroke is shewed Nevertheless before this it doth appear by his speciall imployments that the said Will. had some interest in this County for in 13 E. 3. he served as one of the Knights for the Shire in the Parl. then held at Westm. And the next year following was constituted Eschaetor for this County and Leicestershire together with the Counties of Nott. Derb. and Lanc. being the same year also Kt. for this Shire in the Parl. of Westm. Severall times also did he afterwards serve as Kt. for this Shire viz. in 27.28.31 and 39 E. 3. those Parliaments being held at Westm. and in 28 E. 3. was in Commission with other persons of the superior rank for enquiry touching the excess of Labourers wages as also for conservation of the Peace for divers years In 33 for arraying of Souldiers In 37 he had a speciall Pat. to exempt him from serving on Juries as also from the Office of Shiriff Bayliff Eschaetor or Coroner In 40 E. 3. he was assigned one of the Commissioners Will. de Catesby 13 E. 3. Joh. de Catesby 36 E. 3. Emma fil haeres Rob. de Crawnford Will. de Catesby fil haeres ob s. p. 9 H. 4. Ioh. de Catesby frater haeres 9 H. 4. Margar. una fil cohaer Wil. de Montfort Edm. Catesby defunctus 17. E. 4. Ioh. Catesby de Stowell ar 16. E. 4. Wil. Catesby miles 31 H. 6. Philippa una fil haered Wil. Bishopsden mil. ux 1. Wil. Catesby attinctus 1 H. 7. Margareta fil Wil. D. Zouch Georgius Catesby restitutus 11 H. 7. Eliz. filia Ricardi Empson mil. Will. Catesby defunctus 10. H. 8. Dorothea filia Ioh. Spenser mil. ux 1. Ric. Catesby miles obiit 7 E. 6. Will. Catesby obiit vivo patre Cath. filia una cohaer Wil. Willington ar Will. Catesby miles 20 Eliz. Anna filia Rob. Throkmorton de Coughton mil. nupta 11 Eliz. Anna ux Henr. Brown eq aur Robertus Catesby attinctus 3. lac Catherina filia Thomae Leigh de Stoneley eq aur Will. Catesby ob s. prole Robertus obiit s. prole Ric. Catesby miles obiit 7 E. 6. Eliz. filia Will. Astell de Nun. Eaton Thomas Catesby Ric. Catesby aet 42. an 20. Eliz. Wil. Catesby miles 31 H. 6. Iohanna fil Tho. Barry mil. ux 2. Ioh. Catesby de Althorp in com Northamp ob 20 H. 7. Tho. Catesby ar 1 R. 3. à quo Catesbei quon dam de Wavers-Merston Ioh. Catesby 1 H. 7. Rob. de Catesby 6 H. 4. Alicia uxor Tho. filii Ioh. de Lodbroke mil. 24 E. 3 Agnes uxor Rob. Fitzwith Simon de Catesby 23 E. 3. for levying and receiving a certain Toll upon sundry commodities for walling the town of Coventre In 42. he underwent the Office of Eschaetor for this County and Leicestershire so also in 44 of Shiriff notwithstanding his Pat. of privilege before specified and left issue Iohn his son and heir constituted one
it and by his last will and Testament dated 12 Nov. 16. H. 6. appointed that his Feoffees thereof should hold it to the use of Ioane his wife during her life and afterwards to the behoof of Margaret his Daughter by the said Ioane and her heirs for ever which Ioane took to her second husband one Richard Hotoft who was constrained to defend his wifes right therein against Thomas Throgmorton and one Iohn Brokesby in 30. H. 6. they then laying claim thereto but of this suit the Plantiffes had little benefit as it seems for after the decease of the said Ioane Iohn Hugford of Emscote possest it in right of Margaret his wife daughter to the before specified Nicholas Metley and dyed seized thereof 1. H. 7. leaving Iohn Beaufoe son and heir of Ioane his daughter Margaret Alice and Anne daughters to him the said Iohn and Margaret Metley abovesaid his next heirs as when I come to Emscote shall more plainly be shewed whereupon in 4. H. 8. scil 12. Aug. partition being made of Hugford's lands Iohn Cotes of Honingham in right of Alice his mother had these mannours of Wolston and Merston which Iohn by his deed bearing date xx Aug. the same year past them in exchange to Edward Belknap Esq. and his heirs as in Dercet I shall more fully shew This Edward Belknap was afterwards a Kt. and by his Testament gave Wolston with the mannour of Marston to his brother in Law VVilliam Shelley Esq and Alice his wife sister of the said Sir Edward and to the heirs of the said Alice reserving first an estate for life in them to his wife which VVilliam Shelley by the said Alice had issue Iohn Shelley his son and heir who dyed seized of them 16. Dec. 4. E. 6. leaving William his son and heir 12. years old who being attainted for treason committed xv Dec 25. Eliz. forfeited all the estate he had here which was no more than for life by reason of an entayl made 16. Ian. 23. Eliz. so that dying without issue 15 Apr. 39 Eliz. these Mannours by vertue of the said entail came to Sir Iohn Shelley Kt. and Bt. son and heir to Iohn Shelley brother of the said William which Sir Iohn by his deed of bargain and sale bearing date 19 Oct. 10 Iac. conveyed the same to George Warner Gent. and his heirs the present Owner thereof an 1640. I now return to the descendants from Robert de Chetwode by Sibilla the other daughter and coheir of Roger de Frevill before mentioned This Robert had issue Raph de Chetwode and William which Raph confirmed his Uncle Richard Frevill's grant of Merston-mill to the Abby of Combe but left no issue as it seems for VVilliam his brother inherited the estate and having given to those Monks certain errable lands in Wolston-field left one onely daughter and heir married to VVilliam le Bretun of Long-Ichington betwixt whom they had issue Guy le Bretun Which Guy in 15 E. 2. with other Commissioners was appointed to assess the sum of ccl imposed upon those Knights Esquires and other men at Arms in this County who being summoned to attend the King in person against the Rebels here in England viz. Thomas E. of Lancaster and his complices desired to be exempted from that service In 2 E. 3. he was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament held at York And in 9 E. 3. one of the Commissioners assigned to assess and collect the sum of 120 l. in this County for the discharge of lx Hobelers and cc Archers which were to be chosen and armed as also conducted to Newcastle upon Tine In 14 15 E. 3. he was assigned with others to make sale of the Ninth of Sheafes Fleeces and Lambs in this County granted to the K. in Parliament as also to levy and collect a Tenth granted in the same Parliament and founded a Chantry in the Abby of Combe for one Monk to sing Mass daily there at the Altar of St. Edmund the Archb. for the soules of William le Breton his father and of Avice his wife and their ancestours which Avicia was a Benefactress in the enlarging and beautifying the Church of Wolston as her picture in a North window thereof doth manifest This Guy had issue Sir William Bretun Kt. Lord also of Wolverton in this County and one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament held at Westminster 45 Edw. 3. who being constituted Shiriff of the Counties of Warwick and Leicester 49 E. 3. in 1. R. 2. served again as one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster and left issue Guy of whom I find nothing memorable neither can I trace down this descent any further I now come to the Monastery sometime here situate which being a Cell as I have said to St. Peters sup Dinam in France â— was one of those we commonly call Pryories-alien But of these Cels have I not seen many formal foundations the course being for the most part barely to grant the Land and Tithes as by a multitude of instances might be manifested After which the Monks beyond Sea partly to propagate more of their own Rule and partly to have faithfull Stewards to transmit unto them a good proportion of the profits arising out of such their new acquired possessions at so great a distance built competent places for the reception of a small Covent and then sent over such a number as they thought fit constituting Priors over them successively as occasion required which grants were all very antient I mean shortly after the Conquest being commonly made by such who had themselves been Founders of some Religious House or at least their Ancestours or near Allyes And that the grant of this at Wolston was about that time I have intimated these circumstances do much satisfie me for in our publick Records can I find nothing thereof First that the Fabrick of the Tower Steeple hath the apparent form of those Buildings which were in use soon after the Normans entrance And next that Roger de Montgomeri the Possessour of this place in the Conquerours time stood in a near relation of kindred to Robert Earl of Ewe who with his Brother Hugh Bp of Liseux assisted their Mother Lescelina in the foundation of St. Peters super Dinam before specified as the descent herewith drawn will shew and so consequently was the more like to be a Benefactor to that Monastery Quidam potens de nobili genere Danorum Richardus 1. dux Normanniae Gunnora Guillelmus Lescelina Hugo episcopus Lexovii Rob. Aucensis Comes Osbertus de Bolebec Wevia Hugo de Montegomerico â—oscelina Rogerius de Montegomerico But whether there was any grant thereof at all otherwise than verbal is somewhat disputable for in those elder times concessions by Charter were not very
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
exactions And by other Benefactors had as folâ—followeth viz. 4. mess. 2. acres and a half of wood and 20. s. rent lying in Coventre and Bedworth given by Bernard de Arley 1 E. 3. Twenty acres of land 1. rood of medow and 30. s. rent in Stonley Harnale and Coventre by Nich. Crumpe of Coventre 2 E. 3. Three mess. 6. acres of land and half an acre of medow lying in Coventre and Corley by Ric. Southam Priest And 5. more mess. lying in Coventre by Henry Page of Wellesborough 15 E. 3. Four mess and 11. s. rent in Coventre by Iohn de Filungley Priest 21 E. 3. One mess. in Coventre by Iohn de Melton Priest Iohn Smyth Hosyer and Tho. Marchall 6 R. 2. Four mess. 5. shops and 12. d. rent in Coventre by Hugh de Geydon Vicar of Merton and Will. Suwett Parson of Southam 9 R. 2. Four mess. 40. acres of land and 20. s. rent in Coventre with two acres of wood in Bedworth As also five mess twelve Cotages and eight shops in Coventre likewise given by the said Will. Suwett and Hugh Geydon in 16 R. 2. And besides all this an allowance in bread beer and two messes of meat as much as was sufficient for two Monks every day given by the Monks of Coventre to them at the foundation of this Hospitall Other lands and rents they had as is evident by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. but when or by whom bestowed I have not seen the value of all being then certified to extend unto 99. l. -13 s. -06 d. per an Out of which I will onely instance such of their reprises as are most observable viz. 33. s. -04 d. yearly to the Mayor and Chamberleyns of this City towards the repair of the walls 26. s. per an in bread and beer given to poor people at the Gate of the Hospitall by the Ordinance and foundation thereof 60. s. yearly in renewing of 20. Beds for entertainment of poor and weak people as also of strangers 16. l. per an for the stipend of three Priests serving there viz. 05. l. 06. s. -08 a piece All which with the other deductions not mentioned amounting to 32. l. -10 s. 04. d. per an leave the clear yearly value as it was at that time certified 67. l. -03 s. -02 d. But this Hospitall with most else of the same kind being dissolved in the Parl. of 37 H. 8. was by the said K. Letters Pat. dated 23 Iulii the same year with all the lands and possessions thereunto belonging granted unto Iohn Hales Gent. and his heirs which Iohn being an active man in those days and Clerk of the Hamper an Office then of no small benefit and having accumulated a great estate in Monastery and Chantry lands resolved to erect a lasting monument to his memory for he had neither child nor wife and thereupon designing the foundation of a Free-School here and that the King should have the honour thereof for which respect he had no little favour in his purchases as I have credibly heard obtaind license for the amortizing of lands thereto of CC. marks per an value converting the buildings to that use on the front whereof is this following Inscription SCHOLA REGIS HENRICI OCTAVI A IOHANNE HALES Armigero fundata in qua bonis literis imbuantur pueri usque ad consummationem saeculi in Christi gloriam Ecclesiae aedifiâ—ationem Howbeit till the 15 of Q. Eliz. reign which was the year wherein he dyed this School so by him begun to be founded was not certainly endowed but then did his Executors viz. Thomas Docura of Offeley in com Hertf. Esq. and Bartholmew Hales of Snytterfeld in this County of War Gent. in accomplishment of the trust reposed in them by the said Iohn by their deed dated 5 Martii convey and assure unto the Mayor Bayliffs and commonalty of this City the site of the said Hospitall and lands thereto appertaining with divers mess. Gardens c. lying also in Coventre and belonging to the late dissolved Priories of Coventre and Kenilworth together with certain Mills called the White frier-mill Bastile mill and Hill-mill to the intent that out of the profits of the premisses the sum of xx l. yearly should be payd to an able Schoolmaster for to teach Grammar in the said School and x. l. to an Usher the Schoolmaster having for his habitation the mansion-House wherein the late Master of the said Hospitall did dwell and the Usher another House within the site of the said Hospitall Lii s. per an to a Musique-master for to teach at three convenient times in every week so many of the Schollars of the same School to sing as should be willing to learn And to a Bayliff to gather up the said Rents and see the Houses kept in reparations xxvi s. viii d. yearly the residue to be imployed in repayring of the same Houses and the overplus to augment the living of the said School-master and Usher The Gray-Friers THe place where this quondam Religious house stood is very well known to all that have observed any thing of Coventre in regard the spire-steeple which was part thereof is yet standing giving occasion unto strangers that pass through the town to think that there is still a Church in that place But before I descend to speak in particular of this Friery it will be proper I conceive to say something of their Order in generall and next of their propagation in this Kingdom First therefore as to their originall we shall find that St. Francis a person famous for his strict and holy life was the man from whom this Order sprung whose birth-place being of a noble extraction is said to have been at Assise in Umbria a Province of Italy And that in the very time of his youth betaking himself to divine studies no whit regarding the transitory pleasures of this present world he afterwards neglected his patrimony which was not small wore a coul and hair-shirt went barefoot and macerated himself with frequent watches and fastings As also to the intent that he might make choice of voluntary poverty he resolved to enjoy nothing as his own no not so much as food for his body otherwise than what he received in Almes from good people And moreover if he had any thing left after a slender refreshment he ever bestow'd it on the poor reserving nothing for the morrow That in the night time he always slept in his cloaths lying down upon a Matt having no pillow for his head but a stone And thus going barefoot with an Evangelique preparation did embrace an Apostolique life preaching upon Sundays and Festivalls in Parish-Churches which did so much the more work upon the hearts of his auditory by how much he was a stranger to all carnall desires The Statutes of which Order to this day observed together with some other strict Rules he presented to Pope
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.
back to the said Henry her brother as her heir or whether she quitted her title thereof to him appears not but certain it is that the same Henry had it again for by his deed in writing he gave it in Frank-marriage at the Church dore with Letice his daughter unto Geffrey Savage the day that he wedded her In whose line it continued till towards the later end of H. 3. time but then by an heir female divolved to Ednesoure from whom it shortly went by the like means unto Herthull as the desent here plac't will shew After which it continued to the Herthull's till R. 2. time and then was passed to Sir Will. Bagot by Sir Ric. de Herthull Kt. Of which families of Savage Ednesoure and Herthull I will here take notice in an historicall way in respect I do rather think that their residence was here this being a Castle and standing till R. 3. time if not longer than at any other of their seats which they had in this County and Derbysh. Of the first Geffrey Savage this is all I find viz. that he is mentioned in the Shiriffs account of 5 H. 2. As also that in 31 H. 2. Thomas de Ardern had suites with him for two hides of land in this County and that he had issue Helias and Geffrey which second Geffrey gave to the Monks of Stoneley two parts of his Mill called Yartford-mill â— with the sure thereto due from his tenants of Hull and Wotton And was also a Benefactor to the Nuns of Polesworth granting unto them one Rob. de Weston his bondman with his issue But it seems he was in some disfavour with K. Ric. 1. for in 7. of his reign he gave 50. marks pro habenda benevolentia Regis in which year he came to an Agreement with Tho. de Arden concerning the Mannour of Wotton About the beginning of K Iohn's time I find that Henry de Armentiers impleaded him for a Kts. fee here in his absence when he was beyond Sea in the K. service for which he had afterwards tryall by Battail of which I shall more particularly speak in Wotton In 6. Ioh. it appears that being surety for Will. de Hardreshill to the Jews of Northampton of whom the said Will. had borrow'd a large sum of money he was distreined for that debt and thereupon necessitated to complain to the K. to whom he gave a fine of x. marks that the said Will. might be compelled to pay it himself In 5 H. 3. he was joyn'd in Commiss with other persons of quality in this County to be one of the Justices for taking an Assize of Novel disseisin which Philippa Marmion had brought against Rob. Marmion the younger touching her dowrie of such lands as Rob. Marmion her husband dyed seâ—zed of in Tamworth and Midleton And dyed the next year following as it seems for in that year did his son Geffrey the 3. pay his Releif and do homage for half a Kts. fee he held of the K. in this County Which Geffrey in 12. H. 3. was with Hugh Despenser in the K. Army for which cause the Shiriff had command to respight those demands he made of him this being the time when Ric. E. of Cornwall the K. Brother with divers of the Barons put themselves rebelliously in Armes but dyed in 15 H. 3. the same H. De spenser having the custody of his heir as father to Petronill his wife leaving issue Geffrey who being thus in ward dyed without issue in 32 H. 3. whereupon Will. le Savage his brother then Rector of the Church of Neuton in this County became heir to the estate and doing his homage had livery of all his lands held of the K. in Capite Galfridus Salvagius 5 H 2. Leticia filia Henrâ— de Ardern Helias Galfr. Salvagius 2. R. 1.5 H. 3. Galfr. Salvagius 6 H. 3. defunctus 15 H. 3. Petronilla filia Hug. le Despenser Rob. Will. frater haeres Galfr. Rector Eccl. de Neuton defunctus 43 H. 3. Galfr. Salvagius defunctus 32 H. 3. f. prole Lucia ux Thomae de Ednesoure Iohanna ux Ric. de Hert. Hull Adam de Herthul fi haeres defunctus 13 E. 1. Ric. de Herthull miles obiit 18 E. 2. Ric. de Herthull 15 E. 2. Adam de Herthull miles defunctus 11 E. 3. Alicia filia Egidii de Astley militis ux prima Ric. de Herthull miles defunctus 13 R. 2. Maria filia notha Thomae de Bellocampo Comitis Warwici postea nupta Othoni Worthington 16 R 2. Adam de Herthull obiit vivo patre s. prole Egid. de Herthull obiit vivo patre Kath. filia Ioh. Walsh Will. de Herthull consangu haeres Ric. de Herthull mil. aet 10. an 13 R. 2. obiit s. prole 3 H. 4. Eliz. amita haeres Will. de Herthull 1. nupta Edm. Cokeyn ar 2. Ioh. Franceis de Ingelby Ioh. Cokeyn miles Amicia soror cohaeres 1. nupta Walt. de Miriden 2 ..... de Derley obiit s. prole Tho. de Ednesoure 1. haeâ—duÌ„ Wil. le Sauvage 43 H. 3. obiit 13 E. 1. s. prole Philippa ux Hug. Menill 43 H. 3. Gulielmus de Menill Hugo de Meinill 7 E. 2. Iohanna primogenita filiaruÌ„ haeredum Roberti de la Ward Ric de Meinill 39 E. 3. Which Will. had a brother called Robert who being Steward to the Nuns of Polesworth gave certain Rent issuing out of lands in Freseley for maintenance of the Lights belonging to the Chappell of our blessed Lady in that Monastery by reason of his purpose to be buried there for so I find he was as also Petronill his mother and that there was a speciall Indulgence of xx days penance afforded by Brandanus B. of Ardagh in an 1253. 37 H. 3. to all those of what Dioces whatsoever that should say three Pater-nosters and as many Ave's for the health of his the said Rob. and Petronill's souls This Will the Parson overlived his said brother Robert and was a further Benefactor to those Nuns giving them all such mess. lands and rents which the same Rob. held in Fresele and Dodenhale with his part of that land where the Chappel beyond St. Edith's-well in Povele-wood was built to the end that out of the profits thereof a mark of silver should be yearly paid viz. half at the Anniversary of the Lady Petronill his mother and the other at the Anniversary of the before mentioned Rob. Savage his brother as also a stone of wax for the Lights at Mattens in the said Monastery and dyed in 43 H. 3. seised of large possessions in this Shire and in the Counties of Wigorn Staff Leic. and Derb. leaving Tho. de Ednesoure the son of Tho. de Ednesoure by Lucia his sister and Philippa then the wife of Hugh de Meynill his other sister his heirs which said Tho. and Hugh had
the name of Kenilworth was then in two parts the one called Optone certified to contain three hides being then held immediatly of the King by Albertus Clericus in pure Almes upon which were resident two Priests the woods whereof conteyned half a mile in length and four furlongs in breadth This being that part of Kenilworth which now the Inhabitants call the High-town and situate upon the ascent on the North part of the Church But the other which in the same Record is written Chinewrde and possest by Rich. Forestarius did then contain no more than three virgats besides the woods which were certified to be half a mile in length and four furlongs in breadth Haec duo membra saith Domesday-book jacent ad Stanlei manerium Regis That the name originally did proceed from some antient possessor of it whose habitation was there is not to be doubted the syllable Wrde which should be Wrâ—e id est Worthe and signifieth a mansion or dwelling place manifesting as much but whether his name was Kenelm or Kenulph for antiently it was written Kenilworth or whether it were the above mentioned Rich. Forestarius who had his seat there which Richard in some very antient authorities that I have seen is called Rich. Chineu I cannot positively determine and therefore will not insist longer on conjectures Certain it is that it continued in the Kings hands till H. 1. time and then was given to Geffrey de Clinton a Norman who doubtless had his first abode in England at Clinton now vulgarly called Glinton in Oxford-shire and thence assumed his sirname This Geffrey if we may credit our Countrey-man Rous was grandson to Will. de Tankervile Chamberlain of Normandy and Maud his wife daughter to Will de Arches whose descent is derived from Wevia sister to Gunora Dutchess of Normandy but of the certainty thereof I much doubt considering that an authentique Historian his Contemporary renders him to have been of very mean parentage and meerly raised from the dust by the favour of the said King Henry from whose hands he received large possessions and no small honour being made both Lord Chamberlein and Treasurer to the said King and afterwards Justice of England which great advancements do argue that he was a man of extraordinary parts It seems he took much delight in this place in respect of the spacious woods and that large and pleasant Lake through which divers petty streames do pass lying amongst them for he it was that first built that great and strong Castle here which was the glory of all these parts and for many respects may be ranked in a third place at the least with the most stately Castles of England Neer unto which he also founded at the same timeâ— a goodly Monastery for Black Canons of which Order it will not be amiss to take a brief view before I go on with my discourse of this particular Monastery The most received opinion is that these Canons Regular had their first institution from S. Augustin Bishop of Hippo wherefore I will succinctly deliver the occasion and ground thereof This Augustin was born in the City of Tagaste in Africa and betaking himself to the study of Philosophy in his younger years grew to be an excellent Schollar and a famous Rhetorician for which he became so eminent that being sent for to Millain there to teach Rhetorique by the preaching of S. Ambrose then Bishop of Millain he was reclaimed from the Heresy of Manicheus wherewith he had been tainted And afterwards coming to Hippo at the solicitation of a great person was by Valerius then B. of that place ordayned a Priest in which City he shortly instituted a Covent of Clerks and lived according to the Rule constituted by the holy Apostles instructing them in the Evangelique perfection viz. love of Poverty Obedience and Chastity After which upon the death of Valerius he became B. of Hippo but notwithstanding being desirous to continue his Religious Course of life he founded a Monastery of Clerks within the precincts of his Church Divers sorts of Religious persons have taken him for their Law-giver viz. the Heremites called Augustines Canons Regular c. making all profession under his Rule Their habite as Polyd. Virg. affirmeth is a white coat and a linnen surplis under a black cloak with a hood covering their head and neck which reacheth to the shoulders having under it doublet breeches white stockings and shoos or slippers and when they walk out a black corner'd cap or a broad Hat their Crowns being shaven but not so much as other Monks Thus much as to the Order With this Monastery so founded by the said Geffrey de Clinton I will now proceed in regard it was so signall a Monument of his piety reserving my story of the Castle till anon By his Foundation Charter it appeares that he gave to the Canons of this House for the redemption of his sins as also for the good estate of King Henry whose consent he had thereto and of his own wife and children all the lands and woods of this Kenilworth excepting what he had reserved for the making of his Castle and Park Together with the Mannors of Salford Itlicote and Neunham in this County The Church of Wotton with a hide of land thereto belonging Two hides in Lilenton with the Churches of Clinton in Oxford-shire and Barton in Northhampton-shire Granting further unto them of pasturage viz. that wheresoever his own Cattell Hoggs should be whether within his Park or without there also might theirs have liberty to feed And their tenants Hoggs to have the like freedom in all other except his inclosed woods and Park as his own tenants had Adding by another Charter the gift of a full tenth of whatsoever should be brought to his Castle viz. either to his Cellar Kitchin Larder Granary or Hall-garth as well of all bought or given either in Corn Hay Hoggs Muttons Bacon Venison Cheese Fish Wine Hony Wax Tallow Pepper and Cumin though they had been tithed elswhere before as of his own proper revenue Together with all his Lambskins throughout every his Mannours as well those as should be kill'd to eat as of others that might dy casually Canonicus Regularis S â— Augustini To these large and munificent gifts he added the Mannour of Hichenden in Com. Buck. which he had by the bounty of King Henry and the Church of Stone in Stafford-shire which he procured of one Enisan within whose Lordship it lay by the consent of Nich. de Stafford it being founded in his fee. But that which I call here the Church of Stone was a small Monastery founded in memory of Wolfade and Ruffin slain by King Wolpherus their father in respect that they became Christians being converted from Paganism and baptized by that holy man S. Chad B. of Lichfield near a thousand years since And besides these particulars did he likewise give
particular places where the lands so given did lye These were Stephen de Segrave who gave all his land of Bericote with the Mannour house Geffrey de Langley the Mannour of Staverton Hugh de Arden lands in Rotley Robert de Broc lands in Radway Sir Shomas de Ednesoure Knight all his lands in Hull juxta Wotton Geffrey Savage and Sir Will. Whelâ—on Knight Yartford-miln standing upon the little torrent neer Gate-bridge Richard Trussell 1. mess. in Lorley Thomas de Arden the Church of Rotley Iohn de Mercote lands in the said Rotley and Radway Rob. de Waldene more in Radway In all which the priviledges which these Monks had were very many and great viz. Free-warren Infangthef Outfangthef Weyfs Streys goods of Felons and Fugitives Tumbrell Pillory Sok Sak Toll Theam amerciaments for murders Assise of bread and beer with a Mercate and Faire in the town of Stoneley which Lordship was to answer for xii before the Kings Justices or Coroner and the tenants thereof id est Freeholders to plead the Writ of Right according to the custome of the Mannour having Assise of fresh force against such as should disease them without a Writ And moreover that the Kings officers might not take distresses nor make any attachment within the same without the Bayliff of the Mannour As also that the Lord and his tenants of the same Mannour should be free from payment to the County or Hundred-Courts from Murthers Aid to the Shiriff and coming to his Turne from all common amerciaments of Toll Pontage Passage and Murage throughout England and from payment of the expences to the Knights for the Shire sent to Parliament Which Mercate Faire and Free-warren were granted to them by K. E. 1. as his Charter bearing date at Kaernarvon 27. Maii in the 12. year his raign testifieth viz. the Mercate on Thursday every week and the Faire yearly to last for eight days beginning on the Even of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist. But the tenants within the libertyes of Stonley for as much as it was antient demesn of the Crown were to pay Tallage to the Monks as oft as the King had Tallage of the like Mannours the particular summs then due from the Town of Stonley and from the Hamlets antiently belonging thereto being these Stonle 20 s 06 d ob-q Fynham 10 03 o. q. Hull 19 07 o q. Flechamsted 18 09 ob Canle 16 04 ob Melburn 10 s 01 d o. Crulefeld 16 00 o. Hurst 18 05 ob Staverton 19 07 q. The totall-07 li. -09-09 d. -ob Which Aid in 36. H. 3. upon the Kings transfretation into Gascoign the Abbot of Stonie had as appears by the Kings mandate to the Shiriff of this County As for the other memorable passages touching this Monastery or the Abbots and Monks thereof they were these viz. That Will. de Gyldeford the ninth Abbot being a man of singular wisdom and made Penetentiary to Panduph the Popes Legat was afterwards sent with Legatine authority into Wales which occasioned many superior Abbots and others to malign him so that because he countenanc'd a Shepherd belonging to the Monastery to fight a Duell and to hang a Thief that had privately stole away some Cattell of theirs such advantage was taken against him as that being prosecuted for it he was deprived in anno 1235. 15. H. 3. Within ten years after which his deposall the Monks of this House sustained much loss by fire whereby a great part of the Abby was consumed towards the reparation whereof the King allow'd them fourty Oaks out of his Woods at Kenilworth which the Shiriff of this County had command to deliver And not long after this viz. in 43. H. 3. divers of the Monks grew so exorbitant that they fell to wandring insomuch as the King sent forth his Precepts to all Shiriffs and other his Officers to apprehend and deliver them to the Abbot for chastisement according to their demerits and as their Rule required The xvi Abbot viz. Rob. de Hockele though a young man yet being very sage and prudent freed the House from many debts that were owing at the entrance of his goverment and was a great builder for he caused the stalls of the Quire to be all new made as also the carved-work under the steeple with the great East window above the high Altar and the Church to be new dedicated covered with lead all which are now totally demolish't But the Gate-house a fair and strong building and also one of his works still standeth on the front whereof outwards there is remayning yet a large Escocheon of stone whereon three Lyons passant gardant are cut with a Lyon passant gardant upon a Helme set on the corner of the shield according to the fashion of that time wherein he lived Which Badge he fixed here in memory of K. Henry the 2. their Founder But all that I have further to say of them is that in 38. E. 3. there was a Complaint made against Thomas de Pipe the then Abbot viz. that he granted estates to divers persons for lives of severall Fermes and lands without reserving any Rent to be paid to the great pejudice of the Monastery And this was alledged to be for the support of a Concubine that he had called Isabell Beushale and his children by her which were more in number as the Record says than the Monks then in the Covent And it was then also alledged that were it not for these Leases xx might very well have been maintayned therein How he acquitted himself of this scandalous charge I know not but certain it is that the man was a person of notable parts and deserved very well of the House for he composed that excellent Leiger-book being the transcript of their evidences wherein are all things historically entred that concern this Monastery and very many particulars relating to the generall Story of the Kingdom especially of these parts which are not elswhere to be met with whereof I have made much use in this present work and for which his memory will be of good esteem with all that are lovers of History By the Survey taken in 26. H. 8. the revenue of this Abby was certified to be Ch l. iii s. 1 d. ob over and above all reprises Of which the sum of 04 l. -05 s. -04 d. was then reckoned for the charge of 8. quarters of Rye made in bread at 5 s. the quarter 3. quarters of Malt in beer at 4 s. the quarter and 200. Herings at 20 d. the Hundred All which were yearly given in Almes to poor and impotent people upon Maunday-Thursday at the washing of their feet by the decree of a generall Chapter of their Order And moreover Cvii s. viii d. per ann for their charge in relief of poor people viz. three bushels of Rye weekly made in bread being
Canons of Kenilworth had Free-warren granted to them in all their demeâ—n lands here which they enjoyed till the generall dissolution of the Religious houses by K.H. 8. But after that fatall blow whereby the Monastery lands became dispersed Sir Thomas Darcy Kt. obtained this Mannour of Radford to himself and his heires by Pat. bearing date 27. Aug. 37 H. 8. And being afterwards created Lord Darcy of Chich in Essex past away this Lordship to Ric. Knevit and Elene his wife entayling it on the heirs male of the said Richard by her the said Elene and for default of such issue on Luce the wife of Sir Henry Gate Kt. Anne the wife of Nich. Robertson and Alice the wife of Edm. Verney esq which Ric. Knevit departed this life 1 Nov. 1 Eliz. leaving by her the said Elene Henry his son and heir aged 7. months and 15. days who about the 36. year of Q. Eliz. sold it to Iohn Brown of Barnam in Com. Suss. lineal heir to Iohn Brown esq who being Standard bearer to Iohn D. Bedford at such time as he was Regent of France bore for his Armes sable 2. bends verry Or and gules and lost his life in those warrs as the Pedegree of this family doth manifest Which Iohn had issue Sir Will. Brown late of this place deceased who for the better fortifying his title obtained a new Pat. from the Crown dated 12. Martii 15. Iac. to himself and Iohn Warde and the heirs of him the said Sir Will. in Fee-ferm viz. paying to the said K. his heirs and successors the yearly Rent of iii li. xviii s. v d. ob Which said Sir Will. dying seized thereof not long since left George Brown esquier his son and heir the present owner thereof In 10 H. 4. the Hundred presented that this village ought to repair the Bridge called Quenes-brigge lying within the precincts thereof over the river Leame but what was determined therepon I find not The Church dedicated to S. Nicholas being given to the Monastery of Kenilworth by Henry de Simely in H. 1. time as I have already shewed was appropriated thereto by G. Muschamp B. of Coventre in K. Iohn's time and in An. 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at vi marks but the Vicaridge at ii marks Which Vicaridge in 26 H. 8. was rated at ....... over and above ii s. allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Vicariae Incumb temp Inst. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Ioh. de Chadlefhunt Cap. 2. Id. Apr. 1320. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. de Whitnash Cap. 6. Cal. Iulii 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Barthol de Wappenburry Pbr. 15. Cal. Aug. 1352. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. de Bedford Pbr. 14. Cal. Oct. 1361. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Henr. Bryth Pbr. 3. Nov. 1378. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Starter Pbr. 8. Iunii 1397. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Cowper Cap. 10. Iulii 1422. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thomas Yonge Pbr. 12. Iunii 1436. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Henr. We le Cap. 5. Febr. 1450. Ric. Knyvet ar D. Edw. Lysterley Cler. 15. Martii 1552. Ric. Knyvet ar Ioh. Cruce Cler. 12. Maii 1557. Elena Knevet vidna Ric. Gardiner Diac. 29. Martii 1564. Thomas Brown Ric. Gardiner Cler. 13. Maii 1575. Will. Brown de Radford miles Nath. Potter Cler. in art Mâ—gr 21. Iulii 1631. In the West window of the Church these Arms. Arg. a plain Crosse gules S. George the tutelary Saint for England Or. 2. bends gules Sudley Whitnash FOllowing the course of Leame I come next to Whitnash wherein the same Hunfridus of whom I made mention in Leminton-Hâ—stang was certified to hold 2. hides of Hasculf Masard in the Conquerors time then valued at C s. and which were the Freehold of one Alured before the Norman invasion In that Survey it is written Witenas but afterwards in most Records Witenes As to the originall occasion of the name I cannot speak positively but do suppose that it was Brittish and by time much corrupted as most others are For I have observed that Coit which with them signifieth a wood is sometimâ—s found to be written quit and Whit by our English and Norman Ancestors so that then the syllable nes with the Brittans importing the same as propè doth in Latine sheweth that this place in probability had it's first denomination by being situat nigh some wood then growing there From the before specified Hunfridus descended the family of Hastang whereof in Leminton I have spoke who enjoyed this Lordâ—hip for some descents during which time one of them viz. Aâ—trop Hastang confirmed the grant made to the Canons of Oseney by Ric. Kentensis of half a hide of and lying in this Village But to Hastang in the possession of this Lordship succeeded Roger de Cherlecote who lived in K. Iohn's time From whom descended Sir Thomas de Haseley Kt. who assumed his sirname from that place in 〈◊〉 it was his principall seat as when I come to Hâ—seley â—hall be manifested Of which Sir Thomas in 7 E. 1. it was certified that he held this Mannour of Rob. de Hastang by the service of half a Knights fee excepting iv s. and that he then had here a Water-mill and 3. carucats of land in demesn as also a great pool with xix servants holding 7. yard land six acres and a fourth part at the Will of the Lord performing divers servile imployments and six Free-holders occupying 3. yard land and a hallf It was then also certified that the Kts Hospitalars had 4. messuages lying in this Village held by 4. Free-holders and given unto them by Atrop Hastang Which Sir Thomas de Haseley had issue Robert who granted this Mannour unto Iohn his son from whom descended Thomas Haseley of Whitnash â— who by his Deed dated on the day of S. Lucie the virgin 20 E. 3. past it awy to Tho. Savâ—ge of Tachebroke-Malory in this County which T. Sâ—vage had a fair estate in lands here before purchased by Iohn his father from Iohn Malory of Walton in Leicestershire descended to him the said Iohn from Will. Malory his grandfather All which lands together with the said Mannour did the same T. Savage by his deed bearing date on the feast-day of the translation of S. Edward the K. 1 R. 3. grant unto Benedict Medley of Warwick and his heirs Besides this there was another Mannour here in Whitnash but of its antiquity I can say little for the first mention I meet with of it is that Sir Baldwin Frevill Kt. was seized thereof and that by partition betwixt his sisters and coheirs in 31 H. 6. it fell to Margaret then the wife of Sir Ric. Bingham one of the Justices of the Common Pleas but formerly of Sir Hugh Willoughby Kt. whose grandchild viz. Sir Henry Willoughby Kt. sold
Which Alwine left issue Turchill who likewise stands in the Catalogue of our Earls and was a great man in that age but no more really Earle than his Father and Ancestors were For if the Earldom of Mercia with which Honour Edwyn the Grand-Childe to Earle Leofrike was dignified did as it included this Shire really vest him in power and authority therein as he had in some other Counties then was this Alwyne his Vicecomes or substitute here which may seem to have been so in as much as the said Edwyne is in an ancient MS. particularly stiled Comes Warwici But that which argues him to have been onely Custos of the County to the Kings immediate use is that in Domesday-book where the profits of the Shire are set down as they were raâ—ed in Edw. the Conf. time there is nothing of the Tertius denarius reckoned to the Earle as in such where the Earle had absolute Jurisdiction is usual but all to the King By which it should seem that these hereditary Vicecomites whom we repute to have been Earles were immediately Officers to the King and not to the Earles of Mercia This Turchill residâ—d here at Warwick and had great possessions in this County when Will. D. of Normandy invaded England and vanquish't K. Harold and though he were then a man of especial note and power yet did he give no assistance to Harold in that Battail as may easily be seen from the favour he received at the hands of the Conquerour for by the general Survey begun about the 14th of K. William's Reign it appears that he then continued possest of vast Lands in this Shire and yet thereof was neither the Borough or Castle of Warwick any part as from the said Survey may be colâ—ected the Borough in Edw. the Conf. time answering a certain yearly Ferm to the King and the Castle properly belonging to the Earle of Mercia if not to the King as a special strong hold for the defence of all these parts and whereof the said Turchill being in the nature of a Governour as his Ancestors were had his denomination viz. Turchill de Warwick attributed to him by the Normans who first introduced such surnames of places here amongst us And therefore whereas my Author represents him to have been a great enlarger of Warwick-Castle his words are Castri Warwici Willâ—elmi Conquestoris and adds nam Rex Will. Conquestor ad Castella construenda totam Angliam fatigabat And what was this for but to busie their mindes and bring them low in their estates that they should neither have time nor abilities to contrive any insurrection against him as also to have places of strength in every corner for better keeping the subdued English in awe But of this Turchill I have not now much more to say besides the mention of these Lands whereof I find him possâ—st by the Conquerour's special favour as yâ—u must conclude at the time of his said general Survey which were these following all in this County and whereof I have in their due places spoken particularly scil Curdworth Bikenhull Minworth Wolthamcote Ricton Pakinton Lanâ—done Mackstoke Merston Elmedone Dosthill Wiginshille Whitacre Bercheston Badsley â—ndsor Lodbroke Caldecoteâ— Rodburn Causton Birdingbury Naâ—ton Fleckno Hodenhill Willoughby Bilton Walecote Shukborow Newton Holme Church-Over Ashow Harbury Baginton Binley Weston Brandon Lillington Radford Rotley Compton Winyatâ— Miton Wimpston Bericote Fulredy Etendone Chesterton Coughton and Nun Eaton Neither can I say that he had all these clearly to himself for in some few I finde that others had a share as where I speak of them in particular will be manifested And though he had so much respect from the victorious Norman as to possesse these during his life yet is it most clear that his Son enjoy'd none of them as his Heir but by the favour of the Conquerour or of those on whom he had bestowed them as will be found by that small remnant in comparison of all these Lordships before recited which was left him and that also to hold by military service from some of the Norman Nobility Which dealing generally in a manner by the Conquerour I have in my Introduction sufficiently made evident Leaving therefore what else I have to say of Turchill till I come into Hemlingford-Hundred in which he and his posterity afterwards resided assuming the sirname of Arden from those woody parts wherein they inhabited I shall now descend to speak of those Earls that were of the Norman race the first of which was called Henry de Novo-burgo from the Castle of Newburgh in Normandy â— the place of his birth He was the younger Son of Rog. de Bellomont Earle of Mellent but of his advancement to the Earldom of Warwick the direct time appears not yet by all circumstances I guesse that it was towards the later end of Will the Conq. time in regard there is no mention of him in the general Survey begun as I have elsewhere shew'd in 14. of his reign for my Author sayes that K. Will. having begirt Warwick with a mighty ditch for the precinct of its Walls and erected the Gates at his own charge did then promote this Henry to the Earldom and annexed thereto the royalty of the Borough of Warwick with the appurtenances which at that time belong'd to the Crown That Earls so anciently had no formal Charters of their Creation is plain enough to any that hath look't into Antiquities the manner of their investiture into that dignity being then and a good while after per cincturam gladio Comitatus as Math. Paris and others do observe it cannot therefore be expected that I should say more as to the manner of his advancement thereto howbeit that it was the Conqueror who conferr'd the same honour upon him is not onely manifest by what I have already said from the Testimony of I. Rous but from the credit of divers other noted Historians It should seem that before the King raised him to that state of Earle he was trusted with the custody of Warwick-Castle then newly built by the Conqueror or rather enlarged and more strengthened as in my discourse of Turchill hath been said and shall be further declared when I come to the particular story thereof but though he had this honour by the Conqueror's gift he was not during that Kings dayes possest of all those great Lands whereof he died seized for it is evident that K. Will. Rufus in the very beginning of his reign bestow'd on him the whole inheritance of Turchil before specified in augmentation of his Earldom so that whatsoever Turchill's posterity enjoyed thereof was but by the favour of this Earl as I have already intimated Nay so clearly did he account himself seized of all Turchill's patrimony that he laid claim to what the Monks of Abendon had in Little Chesterton and Hille both in this County of the said Turchill's gift in the days of Abbot Aldelme so
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
x li. x s. ii d. over and above all reprises which undervalue exposing it to dissolution by the Statute of 27 H. 8. Robert Radford the then Prior had a Pension of 5 li. per annum granted to him by the King for his maintenance during life Priores Elect. per Conventum Frater VVill. de Bereford 11. Cal. Nov. 1284. Elect. per Conventum Frater Hugo de Brok Canonicus de Kenillworth 11. Cal. Apr. 1288. Elect. per Conventum Petrus de VVarwic Canonicus 16. Iunni 1338. Elect. per Conventum D. Ioh. VVarwic Canon post mortem Ioh. Alvestre ult Pr. Elect. per Conventum Frater Rob. VVotton Canon 15. Ian. 1473. Elect. per Conventum Frater Rob. Ichington 12. Maii 1493. After which till 38 H. 8. the site of this Religious House with the Lands in Warwick belonging thereto continued in the Crown but then by the Kings Letters Patent bearing date 24. Septemb. it was granted to Thomas Hawkins alias Fisher Gentleman and his heirs to be held in Socage of the Castle of Warwick by the Rent of xxvi s. ix d ob per annum Which Thomas accumulated a vast estate in Monastery and Church lands the most whereof were wasted by his Son as will appear when I come to the particular places where they lay And therefore having been in his time a man so eminent and active it will not be amisse to say something historically of him As for his parentage all that I can say is from the relation of an aged Gentleman sometime the honour of this County for his singular knowledge in Antiquities viz. that his true name was Hawkins and that his father being by profession one that sold Fish by retail at the Mercate Crosse in Warwick was thereupon called Fisher by most people This Thomas as he had good naturall parts so wanted he not convenient education in learning for I find that being a servant to Iohn Dudley heretofore Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland then Visc. L'â—sle he was by him constituted high Steward and Bailiff of his Mannour of Kibworth-Beauchamp in Com. Leic. 4. Maii 34 H. 8. and for his exercise of that Office during life had an Annuity of vi li. xiii s. iv d. granted to him which Queen Mary in 1. of her reign confirmed In 38 H. 8. as I have said he obtain'd the site of this Priory with the lands adjacent In 1 E. 6. the Lordships of Bishops-Ichington Tachebroke Chadshunt and Geydon in this County of the then Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield with the advouson of the Church of Fenni-Compton In 2 E. 6. he purchas 't from the Bishop of Exeter of whom in Sutton I have spoke the Mannours of Chadham and Thorney in Sussex as also of Horsley and Tyting in Surrey the Rectory of South-Mens with the Mannour of Fernefelds in Heringham alias Haringhay in Com. Midd. with the advousons of the Rectories and Vicaridges of Chadham Thorney Horsley South-Mens Fernefelds and Haringham all which were confirm'd by King E. 6. in 3. of his reign about which time he also purchas 't from the Crown the Chantry of Aston juxta Bermingham with all the lands revenues thereto belonging situate in this County Leic. and Staff shires as also lands in Yngton belonging to the Colledge of Stratford super Avon with the Mannour of Draicote in this shire belonging to the Colledge of Newark in Leicester And about the same time joyned with Thomas Dabridgcourt in the buying of much more Chantry land of which in this County these were part viz. a Chapell in Bermingham with lands c. thereto belonging the Chantryes of Deryate-end juxta Bermingham of Hurley Sutton-Colfield and Hill-Morton lands in Lapworth belonging to the Gild of Henley lands in Longley pertaining to the Gild of Aston Cantlow the Chantry of Alspath as also Marlers in Coventre with the lands to them belonging besides a multitude in other places given originally for the maintenance of Obits Anniversaries Lamps and Lights in Churches and the like The Chapell of Bidford as also that of UUarton juxta Polesworth with the lands to them belonging the Rectory of Pillerton-Hercy with the advouson of the Vicaridge and lands in Warwick belonging to a Gild there In 6 E. 6. he had a grant of the Bailywick of Banbury in Oxfordsh being made Collector of the Kâ— revenue within that Borough and Hundred as also Governour of the Castle having a fee of Lxvi s. vii d. per an for exercising the office of Steward and keeping the K. Court within that Mannour In 4 Eliz he purchas 't the Mannour of Herberbury and divers lands in other parts of this County which were sometime belonging to the Monasteries of Nun-Eaton Kenilworth and the Preceptory of Balshall And being thus enricht with such ample possessions he pull'd to the ground this Monastery and raised in the place of it a very fair House as is yet to be seen which being finished about the 8. year of Queen Eliz. reign he made his principall seat giving it a new name somewhat alluding to his own viz. Hawkyns-nest or Hawks-nest by reason of its situation having a pleasant grove of loftie Elmes almost environing it adorning the windows with his Armes and likewise with the Armes of the Dukes of Somerset and Northnmberland expressing his name by a Rebuâ— upon the timber work as the T. R. with a Dolphin betwixt the Letters do import For his publique employments besides what I have already mentioned I shall speak of them from tradition Having been first a servant to Iohn Visc. L'isle from thence he arrived to be Secretary to the D. of Somerset Protector to K. E. 6. and wanting not personall valour was Colonell of a Regiment in the English Army under the conduct of the said Duke and Earl of Warwick at Muâ—kleborough field in Scotland in which battail the English had the day where he taking te Cholours of some eminent person in which a Griffon was depicted had a grant by the said Duke that he should thenceforth in memory of that notable exploit bear the same in his Armes within a Border Verrey which the Duke added thereto in relation to one of the quarterings of his own coat viz. Beauchamp of Hatch as an honourable Badge for that service I have also heard that when the before specified Duke of Northumb. out of his ambition to get the whole sway of all into his power had obtain'd a designation from King E. 6. that the Lady Iane Grey should succeed him in the Throne as I have elsewhere intimated with whom he had matcht his fourth son Sir Guilford Dudley he apprehending that some stirrs might arise thereupon by reason that the Kings two sisters were thereby excluded pivately conveyed a vast summe of money to the hands of this Fisher in whom he reposed great confidence as having been formerly his servant to the end that Forces might be the
he had lands in Farnborough by purchase in 8 E 2 from Margerie the Widow of Philip de Fillonâ—le Daughter of Avicia wife to Wâ—ll de Halâ—on oâ— Farnebergh â—â—hich Avicia was Dâ—ughter to Nicholas de Say Of Ioâ—n wife to 〈◊〉 â—bove specified Sir Iohn de Rale I find that she was a Gray though of what family I am not very certain by whom he had issue Iohn Father to Thomas upon which Thomas and the issue of his body by Eliz. Daughter to Robert de Evesâ—am was this Lordship entailed in 17 E. 3. After which viz. the same year did Amicia the Widow to the before mentioned Iordan de Say and Thomas dâ— Say son and heir to the said Iordan release unto the above specified Thomas de Ralegh all their right and claim therein as appears by their deed bearing date at Salisbury on the Feast day of S. Benedict the Abbot This Thomas de Ralegh was a man of much publick employment For in 47 E. 3. I find him in Commission for the levying and collecting a Fifteenth and Tenth In 4 R. 2. Shiâ—iff of this County and Leicestershire In the sixthâ— joyn'd in Commâ—ssion with Thomas Earl of Warwick and other persons of quality for conâ—ervaâ—ion oâ— the Peace and resistance of the Rebells in this Shire Iack Straw and his fellows being then up in Arms. In 12. R. 2. he bore the Office of Shirâ—ff again for this County and Leicestersh so also in 15 R. 2. being in Commission for the Peace at other times and departed this life in 21 R 2. leaving Thomas his son and heir xvii years of age who â—n 3 H. 4. had livery of his lands Which Thomas wedded Ioan the Daughter and heir to Will Lord Astley of Astley in this County and resided with her at Astley as it seems for by his Testament bearing date there upon Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Luke the Evang. in 6 H. 4. he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Quire of the Collegiate Church of our Lady at Astley and x li. of silver to the same Church to the end that his Obit should be perpetually there observed and his name written in the Martyrologe And also gave xiii l. xiii s. iiii d. for the providing of one Priest to celebrate divine service there for his soul for the space of three years after his decease To the poor xx marks To his Brother Iohn Raleigh two Gowns To the Bayliff of Farnborough xiii s. iiii To the Church of St. Botulph here at Farnborough xl s. To the Lord of Astley a Bowl with a Cover of silver and to Iâ—an Lady Astley his wife a Diamond and a Boal of silver with a cover To every yeoman of the Lord of Astley's household vi s. viii d. To every Groom there iii s. iiii d. and to Will. Raleigh his son a Sword harnessed with silver as also a Dagger and a wood knife And departed this life in the same sixth year of H. 4. leaving issue Will his son and heir but xii months old as also a Daughter called Ioan afterwards marryed first to Gerard Braybroke Esq. and secondly to Edw. Bromflâ—te which Edward by the death of the said Will. Raleigh in his minority 8 H. 5. was in his wifes right Lord of this Mannour and here resided in 10 H. 6. What particular agreement with the said Ioan or her posterity was made by the male branch of this family of Raleigh I find not but certain it is that they came to be owners of this Lordship again it continuing to their posterity even till this very day the first of them that had any publick employment in this Shire being Sir Edw. Raleigh Kt. son of VVill. son of Iohn a younger Brother to the last Thomas as the descent here placed will shew Ioh. de Rale miles 1 E. 3. Iohanna de Grey 1 E. 3. Ioh. de Ralegh junior Thomas de Ralegh obiit 21 R. 2. Eliz. filia Roberti de Evesham 17 E. 3. Regin Grey de Ruthin chivalier Iohanna filia haeres Will. D. Astley Thomas de Ralegh ob 6 H. 4. Iohanna sâ—â—or haeres 1. nupta Gerardo Braybroke ar 2. Edw. Bâ—omâ—lâ—te ar Will. Ralegh obiit infra aet 8 H. 5. Ioh. de Ralegh Will. Ralegh 27 H. 6. Edw. Ralegh miles 7 E. 4. Margareta filia Rad. Verney mil. Civis Merceti Lond. Anth. Ralegh Edw. Ralegh miles 9 H. 8. Anna filia Will. Chamberlain militis Georgius Ralegh ar 37 H 8. Iohanna filia Will. Cuningsby mil. Simon Ralegh ar 11 Eliz. Anna filia Martini Docwray de Balshall Georgius Ralegh miles obiit an 1614. Eliz. filia Christophori Smith ar Edw. Ralegh mil. an 1638. Cath. filia Gabraâ—lis Pultney de Misterton in Com. Leic. ar Which Sir Edw. bore the office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestersh in 7 E. 4. and being a Justice of Peace from 1 E. 5. till 18 H. 7. was at sometimes in Commission for arraying of of men and for the Gaol delivery at Warwick In 1 H. 8. he was Steward to the K. for his Mannours of Snitfield and Bearley in this County And by his Testament bearing date 20 Iunii 1509. 1 H. 8. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chapel of our Lady here at Farnborough directing that the sum of CCCC li. should be raised out of his estate lying in the Counties of Heref. and Glouc. to purchaâ—e lands of x li. per an value to be amortized to the Chantry in the said Chapel of our Lady and that the Chantry Priest there should be a well disposed D. of Divinity to Preach the word of God as also to pray for him the said Sir Edw. his wife with all his Ancestors and Successors and all Christen souls By which Testament he gave xxx l. for to build the South side of the Cleister at Combe and for Glasing it To the Abbot there he bequeathed xx s. To every Priest vi s. viii d. To every Monk profest and no Priest iii s. iiii d. All which were therefore to keep the yearly Obit of him the said Sir Edw. and Margaret his wife as also of Will. Ralegh and Eliz. his wife Raph Verney and Emme his wife Fathers and Mothers of them the said Sir Edw. and Margaret To the Dominican Friers at Warwick he gave x s. To the Friers Minors at Coventre x s. To the White Friers at Coventre x s. and to the Augustine Friers at Atherston x s. Which Margaret was Daughter to Sir Raph Verney Kt. Citizen and Mercer of London by whom he had issue Sir Edw. Ralegh Kt. Father of George who by his Testament dated 2 Apr. an 1546. 37 H. 8. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chancell of the Church of Ogburne-George if it should fortune him to dye there Concerning the Church here dedicated to St. Botulph I
Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Petrus de Salle Pbr. Cal. Feb. 1333. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. de Ansty Pbr 12. Maii 1339. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. de Clynes Pbr. 19 Iulii 1339. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Ioh. Lane Cap. 20. Maii 1439. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Thomas Whatton ult Apr. 1449. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thom. Young Cap. 3. Oct. 1450 Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Ioh. Mongomery 23. Dec. 1455. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Will. Longedone Cap. 2. Iulii 1460. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Henr. Russell 8 Sept. 1463. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Billingham penult Nov. 1469. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Adam Stapul Cap. 26. Martii 1489. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Tho. Hayken Pbr. 22. Ian. 1512. Eliz. Angliae Regina Ioh. Overton Cler. 7. Nov. 1577. Eliz. Angliae Regina Will. Bristow Cler. 23. Iulii 1584. Wellesburne-Mountfort OF this place I make no question but that Thurstane de Mountfort of whom and his family I shall discourse in Beldesert was enfeoft by the same Henry Earl of Warwick or his son Roger in H. 1. time as part of those x Knights fees and a fourth part which he then had given to him by one of those Earls To whom succeeded Rob. de Montfort his son and heir by whose forfeiture it eschaeted to the Crown about the 22. of K. H. 2. reign for at that time did the Shiriff account x li. for the half years Rent thereof as also according to the same rate in 23.24.25 and 30 H. 2. And in 31. H. 2. Mich. Belet the then Shiriff reckoned C s. layd out for CC. sheep towards the storing this Lordship forthe K 's. use vi s. for 5 Sows and a Boar and xxxvi s. for 8 Cows and a Bull In 33 H. 3. xxiii l. for the ferm thereof that year And in 1 R. 1. xxiii l. xv s. was accounted for the same But the next year following did Henry de Montfort Brother and heir to Robert before specified give a Fine to the K. of C l. for which he obtained it again and soon after enfeoft Will. de Bissopesdune and his heirs in C s. of land here with Iulian his Daughter in marriage viz. six yard land held in Villenage with the villeins residing thereon and all the service of Robert the son of Clerenbald and one yard land which a Herdsman held with the said Herdsman as also the fourth part of all his Lordship here in Wellesburne with Housbote and Heybote in Wellesburne-grove for repair of his buildings and hedges by appointment of his Forrester And a fourth part of his wood at Badsley And in 34 H. 3. Peter de Montfort Grandchild to the said Henry obtained a Charter of Freewarren to himself and his heirs in all his demesn lands here as also in divers other places but being slain in the Battail of Evesham 49 H. 3. there was a totall seizure of his estate at which time 't was certified that he had two Carucates of land here and x l. yearly Rent To whom succeeded his son Peter who in 4 E. 1. had a Gallows here as also Assize of Bread and Beer with weifs and in 7 E. 1. held it of the Earl of Warwick by the service of one Kts. fee at which time he had xx Tenants here holding xix yard land a half and fourth part paying sundry Rents and performing divers services as plowing mowing making and carrying Hay raking Corn and the like unto whom he was to allow at mowing time a vessell of Beer containing 52 Gallons and a Mutton or xii d. This Peter had then also five Freeholders who held severall parcells of land under certain Rents and suit of Court All which together with the Customary Tenants before spoke of had Common in Kingswood with paunage for their Hogs and certain proportions of wood for fuell It was then likewise certified that he had Freewarren and a Court Leet here by the grant of K. H. 3. Besides these Customary Tenants and Freeholders it was then also found that Will. the son of Thomas de Bishopsdon held half an acre of land here in demesn and had 4 Tenants holding the vi yard land and 3 quarters before specified by sundry servile imployments all which used to appear at the Court Leet held by the said Iohn Severall Cottiers had the same Peter also here who performed the like services as the other Tenants did All which priviledges of Court Leet Freewarren c. were pleaded in 13 E. 1. and allowed From this Peter descended Guy as the Pedegree in Beldesert will shew who taking to wife Margaret one â—f the Daughters to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick in 22 E. 3. entailed it with other lands upon the issue of his body to be begotten on the said Margaret and for default thereof upon the same Earl and Katherine his wife and the heirs of him the said Earl But this entail took not effect for Guy dying without â—ssue Sir Baldwin Frevill and Sir Thomas Boteler Kts. by a Writ of Formedone recovered this and the other Lordships so entailed as Cosins and heirs to P. de Montfort above mentioned whereupon by partition made betwixt them in 9 R. 2. it was allotted to the said Sir Thomas But the issue male of this Sir Thomas extinguishing in Sir Raph Boteler Kt. his son and heir Lord Treasurer of England in H. 6. time Sir Iohn Norbury Kt. and Will. Belknap Esq. being the descendants of Eliz. and Ioan his Daughters as the Pedgree in Griff sheweth became heirs to this inheritance Which Sir Iohn Norbury with Edw. Belknap Cosin and heir of the said VVilliam Belknap divided Botelers lands betwixt them in 13. H. 7. whereupon this Mannour fell to the said Sir Iohn and from himâ— by Anne his Daughter and heir wife to Ric. Hallywell to Iane his Cosin and heir wedded to Sir Edm. Bray Kt. which Iane dyed seized thereof 24 Oct. 5. 6. Ph. M. leaving Sir Will. Cobham Kt. Lord Cobham son of Anne one of the Daughters of the said Iane 26 years of age Eliz. Catesby late wife of Sir Ric. Catesby Kt. and afterwards of Will. Clerke Esq. aged 46 years Fridiswide wife of Sir Percevall Hart Kt. aged 43 years Dorothe the wife of Edw. Lord Chandois aged 29 years and Frances the wife of Thomas Lifeild her Daughters and heirs Walton-D'Eivile IN the Conq â—s time this being possest by the Earl of Mellent was certified to contain v. hiâ—â—â— and rated at vii l. having then a Mill of vi s. valueâ— unto which Earl succeeded Henry Earl of Warwick his Brother in the enjoyment of this Lordship as he did the most of his lands in this County who as 't is probable
away his interest here to Raph Pipard for this I take to be it which was afterwards called Weston juxta Chiriton whereof I shall speak particularly anon therefore I will now go on with that Mannour which Hubert de Burgo had In 15 H. 3. he obtained a Charter to himself and his heirs for a weekly Mercate here upon the Munday and a Fair every year to begin on St. Peter's Eve and to last for three days But being raised to greater honour he experimentally found the slipperiness of that high station for the King incensed against him as our Historians do manifest not onely removed him for his office of Iustitiarius Angliae but otherwise so persecuted him that he was constrained to flee privily to the Abby of Merton in Surrey there to hide himself Nay that was not all for being sought for and fleeing to Sanctuary for his preservation he was pulled out thence by the power of armed men and carried Prisoner to the Tower of London with his feet tyed under the Horse Belly his money extorted from him and his lands seized saying what the K. permitted his wife to have for her maintenance whereupon this Lordship coming so into the K. possession Maud the widow of Henry de Bohun Earl of Hereford before specified who had the title of Countess of Essex gave a Fine of C l. for to have the benefit of the Year and Day therein which belong'd to the King and that the Houses should not be pulled down nor the Gardens spoiled in regard that it was held by the said Hubert immediatly of her and so consequently by Eschaet to fall into her hands But afterwards the K. became reconciled to him again so that he had restitution of his lands whereof Iohn de Burgo his son though he did not succeed him in the Earldome inherited the greatest part if not all I presume Amongst which he had two parts of the moytie of this Mannour and in 31. H. 3. came to an agreement with Margerie Countesse of Kent widow of Hubert before specified for her thirds all which were rated at xl l. per an upon the Extent made of them in 50 H. 3. for his then taking part with the Rebellious Barons But the said Iohn in 2 E. 1. passing away to the K. and his heirs divers Lordships lying in the Counties of Nott. Essex Suff. Norff. Cambr. Somers Dors. and Surrey amongst them granted this Mannour reserving to himself an estate onely for life So that in 7 E. 1. the King being owner thereof by the said grant had then two Carucates of land in demesn and xlii tenants holding severall proportions under certain Rents and performance of divers services as plowing mowing harrowing thrashing and the like As also a Court-Leet Gallows Free-warren and other liberties At the same time it was found that Raph Pippard had one yard land and a half in this Lordship which he held of the Earl of Hereford together with a certain Water Mill and a wood containing xii acres as also xxxi Tenants holding divers proportions of land by certain Rents and severall servile labours together with a Court-Leet Gallows and Free-warren And that the Nuns of Stodle in Oxfordshire had then a Carucate of land here granted to them by Geffrey de Craucumbe in pure Alms which Geffrey obtained it of the said Earl of Hereford As also ix tenants holding severall proportions of land by performance of servile work and three acres of land in demesn bestowed on them by Hubert de Burgo before mentioned for the enlarging of their Court and likewise a Court-Leet and Free-warren At that time likewise did the Prior of Wroxton hold 7 acres of land here in demesn which he had of the gift of Geffrey de Langley he from Gilbert Earl Marshall and he of the Earl of Hereford And likewise Iohn de Compton a Priest two yard land of one Robert Fitz-Nicholas paying to Raph Pippard a half peny for all services As also two yard land more of the Hospitall of St. Iohn in Oxford given thereunto by one Will. de Compton a Priest who obtained the same from VVill. de Mandevile for which he payd to the Nuns of Stodle vi s. viii d. per an And half a yard land of the Nuns of Hurneley in pure Alms for iii s. But being so in the K. possession it was 10. Feb. 9 of his reign granted to Eustace de Hacche to hold during pleasure for the Rent of xli li. to be yearly payd into the Exchequer And the 28 of May following unto Hugh de Plessets for life In which demise to Eustace de Hacche it is called Compton in Hennemersh but in the other Compton-magna which Hugh de Plessets and Raph Pippard did in 13 E. 1. challenge to have here in Common with the Prioress of Stodle a Court Leet Assize of Bread and Beer Gallows Weyts and to be exempted from suit to the Hundred or County Court But because it was found that they had excercised these liberties in severall they were amerc't for their false claim Howbeit after this viz. in 27 E. 1. the said K. by his Lâ—â—tâ—r Pat. bearing date at Canterbury 10 Sept. â—mâ—â—gst other lands and Mannours assigned it to Margaret â—is Queen as part of her dowrie And by another Charter bearing date at York 16. Nov. â—â—llowing granted it to Iohn de Mohun and Alâ— his wife and to the heirs of the said Iohn to be held of him the said K. and his heirs in exchange for all those lands which the same Iohn had â—â—thin the County of Kildare in Ireland or elsewhere within that Realm the value of this being then xl li. xviii s. vi d. ob per an In recompeâ—ce whereof he made other assignations to his said Queen as by his Pat. doth at large appear Touching that which Raph Pipard had here in Compton being thenceforth reputed a Mannour 〈…〉 was in 3. E. 2. inter alia granted by the same Raph. to Edm. le Bâ—ttller and his heirs to enter upon after the decease of him the said Raph and that from the said Edmund it descendâ—â— to Iames his son and heir created Earl of Oâ—mâ—nd 2 E. 3. Which Iames the same year â—â—d a Charter of Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here In whose family it continued till the beginning of E. 4. time that Iames Boteler Earl of Wiltshire 〈◊〉 and heir to Iames Boteler the fourth Eâ—rl of Ormand being advanced to that Honour in the life tâ—me of â—is Father sc. 27 H. 6. adhering stoutly to the Lancastrian interest and 〈◊〉 â—â—rticipating in the hard fate which befell that House became attainted in the Parl. of 1 E. 4. But theâ— the K. by his Letters Pat. bearing date at Westm. 20 Febr. in the first year of his reign râ—ciâ—ing the notable servâ—ces which Sir VValter Devereux Kt. whom he
written Berricestone in one place and Bericestune in another and was of so much note in those antient times that it gave name to one of the Hundreds then in being as I have eslwhere already observed Whether it were any of the descendants of the before recited Iohais that became first enfeoft thereof by the posterity of Corbuceon I cannot affirm but do conclude that he was common Ancestor to the family of Whitacre and thence had first his sirname as in Whitacre-superior I have manifested Of which family was also Simon who likewise assumed his sirname from hence and wrote himself Dominus de Berchestone as in sundry old Records I have seen To whom succeeded Rich. de Barchestone in 6. Ioh. and after him Simon Henry and Alexander Then Richard in E. 2. time whose name in 17. of that Kings raign is in the list amongst those Esquiers which were certified as men at Armes of this County and bore a Crosse engrailed And lastly Thomas and Alexander temp E. 3. all Lords of this Mannour Which Alexander in 26 E. 3. was in Commission with other persons of quality for the levying and collecting of a xv and tenth so also in 34 E. 3. and in 45 Ed. 3. for the assessing a Subsidy of 1061 li. 07. s. in this County But from him can I not clearly discover the successive Lords of this Mannour untill Iohn Durant became owner thereof in 8. H. 6. After which Iohn I find one Thomas Durant in E. 4. time then William in H. 7. but nothing memorable of them other than that they were gentlemen for so is Iohn recorded in 10 H. 6. and VVill. in 12 H. 7. Which VVill. had issue Henry Duâ—â—nt who by his Deed bearing date 14. Sept. 23 H. 7. sold this Mannour to VVilliam VVillington son to Iohn VVillington of Todnam in Gloucester-shire and he of VVilliam VVillington of the same place son of another Iohn descended as 't is probable from that Ralph de VVylinton who lived in E. 1. time of whom I have made mention in Chiriton Betlesworth and Wiginshill of which line I conceive that Iohn de VVylinton and Raph de VVylinton were who in the times of King Edward 3. and R. 2. had successively Summons to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm Of this VVill. VVillington I find that being a wealthy Merchant of the Staple and setling himself here at Bercheston he depopulated the town in 24 H. 7. making inclosure of 530. acres of land so that there was no more than 64. acres left for tillage which were used by him as belonging to his Mannour-house there and mannaged with one Plough And that he had a very fair estate in lands in this County as also in Oxford and Gloucester shires but having no issue male advanced his seven daugthers in marriage to divers good familyes viz. Margery to Thomas Holt of Aston juxta Bermingham Esquier and afterwards to Sir Ambrose Cave Knight Godith to Basill Fielding of Newnham Esquier Elizabeth to Edw. Boughton of Lawford Esquier Mary to VVill. Sheldon of Beoley Esquier Margaret to Edw. Grevill of Milcote Esquier Anne to Francis Mountfort of Kingshurst Esquier and Katherine first to Richard Kempe secondly to VVilliam Catesby of Lapworth Esquier and lastly to Anthony Throkmorton a younger son to Sir George Throkmorton Knight And that by his Will which bears date 25. Martii anno 1555. he disposed of his body to be buried here at Bercheston having a fair Monument in the Church as I shall shew by and by But upon the partition betwixt these coheirs this Mannour came to Sheldon as it seems for his posterity of whom I have made some mention in Weston juxta Chiriton doe enjoy it at this day The Church dedicated to S. Martin in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. was valued at xxviii marks but in 26 H. 8. at no more than xiii li. vi s. viii d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Heur de Bercheston Ric. de Bercheston Pbr. 3. Cal. Febr. 1281. Thomas de Bercheston Ioh. de Bercheston Subdiac 10. Cal. Ian. 1296. Thomas de Bercheston Gilb. de Swaleclive Pbr. 12. Cal. Dec. 1333. Alex. de Bercheston Rog. de Chastelion Cler. 20. Apr. 1345. Alex. de Bercheston Nich. de Todenham Pbr. 17. Nov. 1361. Thomas Comes VVarwici Ioh. Asple 7. Martii 1382. Ric. Bromley alii Feoffati de dominio de Bercheston advoc Eccl. VVill. Taylor 26. Apr. 1388. Ric. Bromley alii Feoffati de dominio de Bercheston advoc Eccl. D. Ioh. Stark 28. Dec. 1389. Thomas Erdington ar Sibilla ux ejus D. Ioh. Gunne 18. Nov. 1433. Thomas Erdington ar Sibilla ux ejus Magr. Thoma Oldbury 15. Ian. 1433. Rob. Ardern ar Magr. Thomas Stocton 7. Maii 1439. Rob. Ardern ar D. Thomas Pyjon 5. Maii 1449. Ioh. Hugford ar alii Feoffati Will. Durant D. Hugo Byker Cap. 23. Iulii 1481. Tho. Wellys Ioh. Wellys ex concess Will. Durant D. Ioh. VVellys Cap. 6. Sept. 1498. Rob. Throkmorton miles Magr. Hugo Humfrey 17. Aug. 1503. Georgius Throkmorton miles VVill. Buckmaster S. Theol. Professor 23. Apr. 1530. Georgius Throkmorton miles D. VVill. Lane Cler. 4. Feb. 1545. Rad. Sheldon de Beoley ar VVill. Bullwer Cleric 8. Oct. 1606. Willington IN this village did Robert de Stadford possesse one hide and a half at the time of the Conquerors generall Survey then valued at xx s. and held of him by one Luvein but had been the freehold of Dodo and Leuric before the Norman invasion The residue had Gislebertus de Gand a great man in Lincoln-shire which was all he possest in this County and extended to no more than one hide one virgate and a half and being held of him at that time by one Fulbric together with a Mill was valued at xx s. having been the inheritance of Aluuardus in Edward the Confessor's days In that Record it is written Ullavintone Howbeit after this till 36 H. 3. I do not find a syllable more thereof but then amongst the Fees of the Lord Stafford it is certified that Richard de Bartone payd xxx d. for Scutage here and in 56 H. 3. Robert de Hamme was Lord of it as appears by a Release made by him and Mabell his wife to the Nuns of Sewardslee in Com. Northampt. of such suit of Court as he claimed of them for the lands they held of him and his said wife within this village Which Robert in 7 E. 1. held of the King four yard land here in demesn by the service of the seventh part of a Knights Fee and suit twice a year to his Court at Long Compton for of that Mannour it seems it was then a member and in 15 E. 1. in the possession of Iohn de Hamme son to the
the same year unto Rob. de Halford but of the residue I cannot give any farther account In An. 1291. 19 E. 1. the Church was valued at vii marks the portion that the Canons of Kenilworth had out of the Tithes belonging thereto being then rated at five marks but in 26 H. 8. it was esteemed at xiiili vis viiid the Synodalls and Procurations deducted thereout amounting to viiis xiâ— ob the Pension to the Canons of Kenilworth xls. and that to the Monks of Shene viiis Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. Wigorn. Adam de Bibye Cler. 14. Cal. Martii 1270. D. Episc. Wigorn. Rob. de Albinton Cler. 3. Iunii 1275. D. Episc. Wigorn. Ioh. de Bebury Accol 15. Kal. Iulii 1313. D. Episc. Wigorn. Magr. Byndo de Bandinell 8. Id. Apr. 1315. D. Episc. Wigorn. D. Will. Wydebrugge Pbr. die S.M. Magd. 1321. D. Episc. Wigorn. Magr. Thom. de Upton Cler. 25. Apr. 1335. D. Episc. Wigorn. Thom. Bakhouse Pbr. 10 Kal. Aug. 1335. D. Episc. Wigorn. D. Ioh. de Rippon Cap. 4. Aug. 1339. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Ioh. Botoner Pbr. 30. Dec. 1339. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Rob. Marny 18. Dec. 1340. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Ioh. Gate Cler. 17. Dec. 1341. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Bened. Palmer Accol 20 Feb. 1392. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Steph. Donne 11 Iunii 1405. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Ioh. Tymmes 2 Iunii 1406 Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Ioh. Rose 28. Sept. 1410. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae D. Will. Will Pikering 13. Aug. 1431. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Mr. David Geffrey in utroque jure Bacc. 27 Ap. 1488 Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae D. Will. Loket Pbr. 15 Iulii 1492. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae D. Will. Sudill Cap. 2 Martii 1514. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Ric. Cheney Cler. in S. theol Bacc. 21. Iulii 1546. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Nich. Iackson Cler. 5. Sept. 1561. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Edw. Mussage Cler. 24. Nov. 1571. Idem D. Episc. Wigorniae Will. Thornhill Cler. 8. Nov. 1579. In a North Window of the Church this Coat Or two Bends gules Sudley Upon a gravestone near the dore of the Church this Inscription Hic jacet Magister Henricus Kymycberi quondam Rector istius Eccclesiae qui obiit 5. die mensis Iulii An D. MCCCCLXXXIIII Cujus animae propitietur Deus Amen Nether-Eatendon A little below Halford Stoure leaveth Netheâ— Eatendon on its Eastern bank within the precincts of which parish are the Hamlets of Over-Eatendon Fulridy and Thorndon There is no doubt but that the name of this place was originally occasioned from its situation Ea in our old English signifying water and dune or don an ascending ground for at the foot of an hill and near the river doth it stand After the Norman invasion Henry de Feriers progenitor to that great family afterwards Earls of Derby possest it the extent thereof amounting to xvii hides then valued at xxi as appears by the Conquerors Survey and of him did one Saswalo hold it at which time there was a Church and a Mill to whose posterity in the male line it hath continued even to this day being the only place in this County that glories in an uninterrupted succession of its owners for so long a tract of time and till the reign of King Henry 3. was their principall seat though their possessions in other Counties were very large whence also they were denominated but afterwards fixing at Shirley in Derbyshire they assumed their sirname of that place which hath ever since been appropriated to this antient Family But of this Sasuualo whose name argues him to have been of the Old English stock as some think I have not much to say considering that we have so little light of History and nothing of Record for other discovery farther than the generall Survey before mentioned and the Registers of Abingdon and Kenilworth the one of which testifieth that he gave the Tithes of Hildesleie to the Monks of Abingdon and the other that he founded the Church here at Eatendon for it plainly appears that he endowed it at its Dedication But I do conclude that he was an eminent person forasmuch as he did not only possess this great Lordship but also Tichmersh in Northamptonshire part of Wintenai in Lincolnshire with Hatun Hoga and Etewell in Derbyshire For as most of the English were totally bereft of their antient patrimony so few of them were permitted to enjoy any more than a part thereof and to hold the same by military or other service from their new Lords as in my Introduction is manifested And if I may guesse at his greatnesse by the extent of his estate which we see amounted to xvii hides in this place I must conclude him to have been no lesse than a Thane in the Saxons time when not much more than five hides of land as the learned Selden observes was the estate of some which had that dignity But leaving this worthy person in regard that at so great a distance no more can be discerned of him I come to Henry his son who was a witnesse to the foundation Charter of Merevale Abby made by Robert de Ferrers granchild to the before specifyed Henry in K. Steph. time as also a devout Benefactor to the Canons of Kenilworth for by the consent of Robert Earl Ferrers his Lord and for the good estate of him the said Earl his wife and sons as also for the remission of his own sins and the souls-health of his Ancestors successors parents and freinds he gave them the Church of this place with all the Glâ—be and Tithes thereto belonging which grant of his was confirmed by the said Earl but dyed without issue as it seems for plain it is that Henry the son to his brother Fulcher succeeded him in the inheritance and conferred on the Monks of Bildwas the land of Ivenbroc Which Henry though he had issue Fulcher yet constituted his younger brother Sewall his heir de Baroniis Fulcheri Henrici id est of the lands of his father and uncle by Fine in the Court of Will Earl Ferrers his superior Lord levied in 4 R. 1. and perhaps by the power of that great Earl as more favouring Sewall which Baronies extended to nine Knights Fees whereof 4. belonged to Fulcher his father and 5. to the before specifyed Henry his Uncle as the red Book in the Exchequer testifieth This Sauualdus or Sewallus for he is both wayes written being a Knight and by reason of his residence here called r Sewallus de Etendon did not only disclaim and remit to the said Canons of Kenilworth all his interest that he had in the patronage of this Church but for the health of his soul and of the soules of his two wives gave
ground before there was any habitation at all In the Conq. time it was possest by the Earl of Mellent and esteemed at four hides there being then a Church and the whole rated at C s. In the generall Survey then taken it is written Snitefeld having been the freehold of one Sexi before the Norman invasion That it came to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick brother to the same Earl of Mellent with the rest of those lands in this Shire which he then had there can be no doubt for in 23 H. 1. Roger Earl of Warwick son to the said Henry being owner of it gave to the Collegiate-Church at Warwick one hide of land lying here with two parts of the Tithes of all the Inclosure as also of the paunage of those woods which belong'd to this Village It seems that Hugh fil Ricardi of whom in Wroxhall I have spoke being enfeoft hereof by the same Earl Roger for in King Stephens time he gave the Church to the Canons of S. Sepulchers in Warwick granted this Mannour to Will. Cumin who in H. 2. time wrote himself Dominus de Snitenesfeld to whom succeeded Walter his brothers son as the Descent sheweth Which Walter gave to the Monks of Bordsley certain lands lying here adjoyning to Songer before specified as also in Stretton super Fosse but his son Walter being in rebellion against King Iohn forfeited his lands which were seized on for that offence howbeit in 1 H. 3. returning to obedience he had restitution of them again Of these Cumins was Will. the last male branch who being dead in 18. Ioh. Margerie his widow and an heir then took to husband Will de Hastings Which Will. Cumin left issue a daughter and heir called Margerie within age in 13 H. 3. and in Ward to Will. de Cantilupe but afterwards married to Iohn de Cantilupe a younger son to the said Will. who in 36. H. 3. was certified to hold one Knights fee here in Snitterfeld of Thomas de Clinton the said Thomas holding it over of the Earl of Warwick This Iohn having his seat here obtained to himself and his heirs of King H. 3. a Charter bearing date at Worcester 24. Sept. 41 H. 3. for a weekly Mercate at this place upon the Wednsday and a Faire once every year to hold for three days viz. the Evenâ— day and morrow of S. Kenelm After which Margerie wife to the said Iohn surviving her husband did in her widowhood release to the Monks of Bordfley the suit which by their Atturnies they had used to make to his Court at Snitfeild for the lands they held within that fee. Will. Cumin 5. Steph. Rob. Cumin Walt. Cumin 5 H. 2. Margeria Walt. Cumin 1 H 3. Will. Cumin defunctus 18. Ioh. Margeria haeres Will. de Hastings 2. maritus Margeria filia haeres Ioh. de Cantilupo 20 H. 3. Walt. de Cantilupe Rector Eccl. de Snâ—â—feild 9 E. 2. Ioh. de Cantilupe miles 9 E. 2. Alianora 17 E. 2. Thomas West 17 E. 2. Ioh. West 4. E. 3. Thomas West miles obiit 10 R. 2. Thomas West miles obiit 6 H. 4. Thomas West miles obiit 4 H. 5. s. prole Regin West frater haeres dominus la Warre obiit 29 H. 6. Ric. West aetat 19. an 29 H. 6. Ioh. de Cantilupe miles 12 E. 2. Ioh. Cumin To the said Iohn de Cantilupe and Margerie succeeded another Iohn who in 25 E. 1. received summons with divers other great men to attend Edward the Kings eldest son then Lieutenant to the King for defence of the Realm at Newcastle upon Tine upon S. Nicholas day to march against the Scots and the next year following was in that memorable battail of Fawkirk as also in 1 E. 2. assigned one of the Commissioners for conservation of the peace in this County and for causing the Articles in the Statute of Winchester to be observed so also in 3.7 and 9 E. 2. In 5 6 7.10 and 11 R. 2. he was one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick In 9 E. 2. being a Knight he bore for his Armes 3. Leopards heads jessant flower de Lis Or. To whom succeeded Iohn his son and heir called Iohn de Cantilupe junior who in 12 E. 2. was also a Knight but after that year I find nothing of him and therefore do conclude that he dyed shortly after his father being then alive For in 17 E. 2. the said Sir Iohn de Cantilupe the elder entailed this Mannour upon Thomas West and Alianore his wife and the heirs of their two bodyes paying to him the said Sir Iohn and Maud then his wife xl li. sterling yearly during their lives with remainder for want of issue by the said Thomas and Alianore to the right heirs of the said Sir Iohn which Alianore was daughter and heir to the saidâ— Sir Iohn de Cantilupe It seems that Sir Iohn de Cantilupe dyed that very yeare for before the end thereof it appears that the same Thomas and Alianore obtained a Charter bearing date at Westminster 7. Maii for the change of the Wednsday Mercate weekly here unto Tuesday and enlarging the Faire unto eight dayes beginning on the even of S. Kenelm as abovesaid and granting also unto the said Thomas and Alianore and the heirs of their two bodyes Free-warren in all their demesn lands here which Thomas was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament held at Westminster the same year To these Thomas and Alianore succeeded Thomas their son and heir who was a Knight and past away this Mannour about the beginning of R. 2. time to Sir William Beauchamp Kt. and his heirs in exchange for the Mannours of Newenton-Tony and Stretford-Tony in Wilt-shire but reserving an yearly Rent of x li. per annum out of it to himself and his heirs Which Sir William being he that was Lord Bergavenny and brother to Thom. Earl of Warwick dyed seized thereof in 12 H. 4. leaving Richard his son and heir 14. years of age But some entail there was or other settlement hereof in remainder after the death of Ioane wife to the same Lord Bergavenny upon Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and his heirs for it appears that she held it during her life and the said Earl Richard afterwards By which means it came at length to the Crown through the attainder of Edward Plantaginet Earl of Warwick in H. 7. time and was inter alia granted out to Richard Morison Esquire and his heirs 29. Aug. 37 H. 8. who sold it the next year following to Iohn Hales of whom in Coventre I have spoke which Iohn being a wealthy man through a beneficiall Office that he had whereby he acquired a great estate especially in Monastery lands and living unmarried
afterwards seen any thing thereof till 8 E. 3. that upon the taxation of a Fifteenth and Tenth it was certified to bear somewhat a greater proportion than Alveston yet was it not a distinct Mannour of it self but a member of that and so past from the Crown in 33 H. 8. to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester before specified and is at this day reputed parcell thereof Bridg-town THis place hath its name by reason of the situation thereof so neer to Stratford-bridg but the chiefest thing memorable in it is that there hath been an Heremitage whereunto the Chapell of S. Mary Magdalen in this village belonged which Heremitage was antiently endowed with lands by some of the Powers of Ryen-Clifford for reparation of the before specified Bridg all which were confirmed thereunto by Thomas Power Esquier in 22 H. 6. who constituted one Iohn Rawlyns to be Heremite there during his life appointing that he should yearly celebrate an Obit in the Parish-Church of Stratford before mentioned upon the Eve of Corpus Christi for the souls of the Parents and Ancestors of him the said Thomas Power The donation of which Heremitage upon the grant of Ryen-Clifford from Christopher Power to William Clopton in 5 H. 8. is therewith past to him the said William and his heirs since when and not before that ever I could see this place hath been reputed a Mannour the said William Clopton being certified to dye seized thereof 4. Ian. 1 Eliz. From whom is descended Thomas Clopton of Clopton that hath the like right therein at this day but the site of the Heremitage was in 3. 4. Ph. M. granted to the Hospitall of Savoy in the Suburbs of London Loxley THis place was given by Offa King of the Mercians unto the Church of Worcester about CCC years before the Norman Conquest and continued thereto till the time of King Canutus the Dane but then the whole Realm being burthened with grievous taxes and a Constitution made that if any place did fail in payment by the space of 3. days of what was so exacted he that should deposite the money to the Shiriff might presently possesse himself thereof this with divers other lands whereof Ludington Draiton and Milcote in this County were part was by that crafty advantage most injuriously taken from it Sed Deus hanc sui rapinam absque ultione non dimisit saith the Monk of Worcester nam unusquisque eorum qui huic fraudi operam dederunt digna ultione percussi aut luminibus privati aut paralysi dissoluti aut in insaniam versi sunt plurimi etiam semetipsos interfecerunt But at the Norman invasion one Eatstanus had the greatest part of it as his freehold which by the Conq. was disposed of inter alia to the E. of Mellent as may appear by the generall Survey shortly after made where it is written Locheslei certified to contain 4. hides all which excepting one virgate held by Hugo fil Constantii of Hugh de Grentemaisnill and valued at v s. were rated at iv li. xv s. there being then a Church Another hide by the same Survey may seem to have been here though it be in that place written Lochesham which was then in the Bishop of Worcester's hands and rated at xxv s. But that which the Earl of Mellent had came to his brother Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick as it seems with the rest of those lands in this County which the same Henry and his posterity enjoy'd for by what I shall shew anon it will appear to have been of their Fee Whether Robert fil Odonis who lived in H. 2. time was the first that had it by the Earl of Warwick's grant or whether it were his father I am not sure but that the said Robert possest it and made it the place of his residence is out of doubt for in his grant to the Canons of Kenilworth of Cxx. acres of his demesn lands here with a messuage toft and croft and ii s. Rent which for xii marks of silver he sold to them he writes himself Robertus fil Odonis de Lochesleia And besides this so sold by him he gave unto them for the health of his fathers soul whose body lay buried in that Monastery and for the good estate of himself and his posterity pasturage for x. Oxen and C. Sheep in his demesn lands here Which Robert left issue onely 3. daughters his heirs whose matches and descendants I have here inserted Rob. fil Odonis de Locheslei Basilia Petrus de Mora senior ux Rad. le Falconer sive de Mora. Petrus de Mora senior ... ux Rob. de Offeworth ... ux Rob. Balance ... ux Paulini Peyvre ... ux Lenardi .... mil. Agnes ux Will. Trussell Margeria ux Will. Bagod Of Peter de Mora great grandchild to Rob. fil Odonis I find that he was a liberall Benefactor to the Canons of Kenilworth for it appears that about 38 H. 3. he gave them the Mannour-house here at Loxley and all his possessions belonging thereto besides his lands at Westcote and Morton-Bagot with the advouson of that Church Will. Mansell being then high Shiriff of this County and a witnesse thereto which was confirmed to them by Will. Mauduit Earl of Warwick in 47 H. 3. And that the Canons of Kenilworth had here in 19 E. 1. one carucate of land valued at xvi s. in Rent of Assise viii s. and one Mill rated at iv s. at which time the Monks of Worcester had xviii s. Rent of Assize in this Lordship But it seems that the Ancestour of Iohn de Wauton Lord of Walton D'eivile was enfeoft by the Canons of Kenilworth in the greatest part of this Lordship for it appears that the said Iohn held the same of them by Knights service and in 20 E. 3 Baldw. Frevill and William Trussell answered for half a Knights Fee in this place Which Canons having a great share here in 25 E. 3. purchased of Iohn the son of Iohn de Peyto xiv messuages more with two carucates five yard land three acres of meadow and x s. ob Rent in this place All which together with the rest whereof they were possest before coming to the Crown upon the dissolution of that Monastery was 28 Martii 33 H. 8. granted to Thom. Cawarden Esq. and Elizabeth his wife and the heirs of the body of the said Thomas and afterwards coming to Lodowyk Grevill Esquier and Francis Gyll Yeoman was by them sold to Edward Nevill Esquier but continued not long with him for in 12 Eliz. William Underhill dyed seized of it leaving William his son and heir aged xiv years and six months The Church being given to the Monastery of Stone in Staffordshire which was a Cell to the Priory of Kenilworth by Rob. fil Odonis before specified
of age who being an ambitious spirited man procured License from Q. Eliz. in 9 of her reign to make a Castle here at Milcote and to call it Mount-Grevill which accordingly he began to do on the top of the Hill above a quarter of a mile Southwards from the old Mannour house as is to be seen by part of the fabrick yet standing and therefore the better to support his greatness though he had very fair possessions in this and other Counties he eagerly coveted the estate of one ..... Web a wealthy Batcheler who had been his servant and then was Tenant to him at his Mannour of Draiton in Oxfordshire for obtaining whereof he plotted the murther of him and forged a Will to entitle himself thereto as from credible tradition I have heard To accomplish which execrable design he invited him to his House at a Christmass or Easter season there to make merry then residing at Seasoncote in Gloucestershire and having so train'd him thither hired two of his servants to strangle him in his bed which being accordingly effected he caused it to be given out in the House that the old man was fallen very sick and not like to live whereupon the Parson was sent for to write his Will and one of the Murtherers convey'd into the bed with the dead man about whom the curtains were close drawn and he dolefully groaning as not like to continue long so that being in this seeming weak condition as not able to give directions how the Will should be made all spoken by him with a counterfeit voice too was by way of answer to questions viz. how and to whom his estate should be disposed which in short was to his Master meaning Lodowik Grevill excepting a Legacy to an Atturny in Banbury whose mouth thereby being stopt no one else as he thought would expect any thing or at least not go about to question the Will which being accordingly effected and the company desired to depart the room that the sick man might repose himself a little the News of his death was soon after spread in the House whereupon people were called up who finding him dead in the bed took order for his buriall And now that all this Pageant was over Master Grevill thought himself secure enough of his large Legacy But to the end we may see how divine vengeance ceases not to prosecute such bloody actions though carryed on with never so much clâ—â—eness and subtilty the discovery of this wicked murther was ere long thus brought to light One of the Assasinates being in his Cups at Stratford dropt â—ut some words amongst his pot-companions that it lay in his power to hang his Master which expression being by one that heard hereof related to the other Murtherer he presently acquainted Master Grevill therewith who thereupon resolving to prevent the danger of any such further babling advised that he should be closely made away and for effecting thereof within a short space following sent them both out in the night season upon some pretended business by which means the other took his advantâ—ge to dispatch him and cast his body into a pit of water which afterwards floating was discovered by passengers and upon enquiry when and wâ—tâ— whom he had been last seen the villain was brought in queâ—tion who forthwith confest the whole business thereby detecting his Mr. throughout for which they both had their tryals at Warwick where Mr. Grevill to prevent the loss of his lands stood mute and so having Judgement to be prest suffâ—red death accordingly To whom succeeded Edward his son and heir in the inheritance of this Lordship and other lands of great worth Of which Edward I have heard that in his younger years inadvertently shooting an Arrow upright out of a long Bow it fell upon his elder Brother's head and kill'd him and that their Father was so little sensible of this sad mishap that he made a jest of it telling him that it was the best shoot he ever shot in his life but whether it was the judgement of God to put a period to the line of Lodowik before mentioned for that horrid murther of Web and one of his servants or for what else I may not take upon me to judge certain it is that the whole estate came in short time after to be strangely wasted for so great were Sir Edw. Grevil 's debts and leaving issue onely Daughters that his lands were exposed to sale by Sir Arthur Ingram a Yorkeshire Kt. Husband to Mary the fifth of them and this Mannour then purchased by Lionell Earl of Midlesex whose son and heir now enjoys it Dorsington-parva THis though it be in the Parish of Welford in com Glouc. is in Warwickshire and in the Conquerors time was possest by the same Stefanus who then had Milcote being certified to contain 1 hide which one Ordriâ— held before the Norman invasion With Milcote also it came to Geffrey Martell and so likewise to Hauvill and Langley as the Records I have there vouch't will manifest but after the 4th of E. 3. I have not found any farther mention at all of it in Record till 9 H. 8 that Maud Rous Widow was certified to have converted C C. acres of land lying in this place from tillage to pasture in 17 H. 7. and decaying three Ploughs being then possest of the Capitall messuage From which Maud did descend Sir Iohn Brome of Ragley Kt. as in Ragley appeareth who in 3 E. 6. possest it Binton THis being situate on the brow of an Hill about half a mile distant from the River Avon was one of the towns which S. Egwyn gave to the Abby of Evesham upon the foundation thereof in the year 709. but in the time of K. Ed. the martyr wrested from it with other great possessions by Alfâ—rus a potent Ruler in these parts who expelled the Monks and placed Canons there disposing of this place to certain of his Knights so that upon the Conquest by D. William it was given to some of his Normans for it appears by the generall Surveyâ— soon after made where it is written Banintone that Will. fil Corbucion of whom in Studley I shall speak held two hides here and had 4 quaâ—â—ers of Coin and 8 sticks of Ecles out of his part in the Mill and 3 quarters of Salt from Wiche as appurtenant to his part of the Mannour all which being valued at xxx s. were the freehold of one Edricus before the Norman invasion The residue of this town was then possest by Gerinus Urso de Abitot and Osbernus filius Ricardi that which Urso held extending to two hides with a Mill rated at iâ— s. was valued at xl s. having been the freehold of Ernvi in Edw. the Confessors days but the certain preportion which belong'd to Osbernus cannot be discovered forasmuch as it is certified and valued in gross together with what he had in Hilborough all which one
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
be there buried and of that his Testament constituting Rauf Boteler Lord Sudley then Treasurer of England his Overseer departed this life the same year as appears by the Probate thereof leaving Alianore his wife surviving Thomas his son heir and Iohn a younger son from whom the Throkmortons of Gloucestershire are descended Which Thomas his said mother in 26 H. 6. gave lands of six marks per annum value to the Monks of Evesham for the maintenance of a Priest to sing divine service perpetually at the Altar of our Lady in their Conventuall Church at Evesham for the good estate of King Henry the 6. Q. Margaret his royall consort and of them the said Alianore and Thomas during this life and for the health of their souls after their departure hence as also for the souls of the said King's father and grandfather late Kings of England of Katherine late Queen of England and for the soul of Iohn Throkmorton before specified Thomas his father and Anne his mother with their Ancestors and all the faithfull deceased Which King also in consideration of the good service performed by the said Iohn Throkmorton deceased to himself and to Henry the fourth and fift his father and grandfather late Kings of England in the Office of Chamberlain of the Exchequer gave further license to them the said Thomas and Alianore that they or either of them or the heirs of the longer liver of them might found a Châ—ntry of one Priest to sing divine service every day during the woâ—ld at the Altar of the B. Virgin in the Parish-Church of Fladbury before specified for the good estate of him the said King and of all those above mentioned and to endow the same with lands to the value of x li. per annum Till the time of the said Thomas Throkmorton it seemes that this family was not wholy possest of Coughton but then did Iohn Tracy son and heir of Alice the other daughter and coheir of Sir Guy Spine by his Deed bearing date 29. Maii 27 H. 6. grant unto him the said Thomas and his heirs that moitye thereof by inheritance belonging to him Of which Thomas all that I have seen further memorable is that in 5 E. 4. he underwent the Office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestershire and that he departed this life in 12 E. 4. leaving Robert his son and heir xxi years of age whom I find a Justice of Peace in this County from 2 R. 3. till towards his death as by the renewing of those Comissions at severall times appeareth In 2 H. 7. this Robert made the Park here at Coughton inclosing therewith a certain Common ground called Wike-wood whereunto he afterwards added Samburn-heath and Spiney's-Leys lying within the said Lordship of Samburne and the same year was a Commander in the Kings Army at the battail of Stoke In 5 6 15 17 21 and 23 H. 7. he was in Commission for the Gaol delivery at Warwick In 6 H. 7. for arraying of men against the preparation made by Charles the eight King of France then threatning England with an Invasion In 10 H. 7. he received summons with divers other persons of quality to appear before the King in person upon the Feast day of All Saints the same year to receive the Order of Knighthood upon advancement of Henry the Kings second son to the Dukedome of Yorke and creating him Knight of the Bath in honour whereof these were to be made Knights of that Order yet do not I find by any Comission that he had the title of Knight attributed to him till 17 H. 7. That he was a man of singular piety the sundry bequests contained in his Testament do sufficiently manifest and of no lesse devotion as may seem by his Pilgrimage to the Holy Land which in 10 H. 8. having setled his estate he undertook but dyed beyond Sea in that journey By which Testament bearing date on the Feast day of S. Philip and Iacob anno 1518. 10 H. 8. he bequeathed his body to be buried in the Parish Church here at Coughton under the Tombe in the midst of the Church in case he should dye within this Realm appointing that not above vi li. xiii s. iv d. should be spent at his said buriall and Months mind and that to be given to Priests celebrating thereat nor any entertainment in meat and drink for other than such Priests and Clerks with poor people that lived by Almes And further directed that forthwith after his buriall there should be said for his soul in the Monasteries of Studley and Evesham xxx Masses of Iesu every Priest saying such Masse to have iv d. for his labour And moreover wiâ—led that the East window of the Chancell at Coughton should be glased at the charge of his Executors with the story of the Dome as alâ—o that xx s. should be given to the glasing of the East window of the North I le there with the representation of the seven Sacraments and as much for the East window of the South I le that to be of the seven works of Mercy He also willed that the Image of our Lady should be set on the North side at the end of the Altar in the said South Ile and the Image of the Angell Gabrael on the same side of the I le at the pillar between the I le and the Chancell with a Roll in his hand of greeting looking towards our Lady And at the South end of the said Altar the Image of S. Raphael painted and gilded And that in the North I le at the North end of the Altar the Image of the Trinity to be placed and at the South end the Image of S. Michael all which Images to be richly painted and gilded And besides this he further willed that certain lands to the then value of xvi li. per annum purchased by him of sundry persons there named should be put into the hands of Feoffees to the use of a Priest to sing perpetually in the North I le of Coughton Church for his soul and the souls of his Ancestors and that thenceforth the said Ile should be called the Trinity Chapell and the Priest the Trinity Priest which Priest also to teach a Grammar School freely for all his Tenants Children and to have yearly thereof viii li. and his Chamber but the residue of the said xvi li. to be payd monthly to five poor men dwelling in the Almeshouse here in Coughton viz. every one vii d. a week and his Houâ—-room for ever the residue viz. viii s. viii d. to go to the reparation of the Almeshouse And that the said Priest should every Sunday say a Masse of the Trinity Wednsday Masse of Requiem and Friday Masse of Iesu in case he were disposed and once in the week Dirige for his soul and all Christen souls except the dayes before rehearsed fell upon
Grentemaisnill and held at that time by Roger his under-tenant But from Grentemaisnill it soon returned to the Crown though by what agreement I have not seen For certain it is that King Henry 1. had it in his hands and gave it to the Abby of Reading in Berkshire of his Foundation whose grant together with the Church King H. 2. his grandchild confirmed In the succeeding times I find it variously written viz. Ruhinton Ruchinton Rokintone and Rowintone and in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. that the extent of what the Monks of Reading had here was found to be three carucates of land valued at x s. a carucate two water-Mills and one Wind-Mill rated at vi s. viii d. In Rent of Assize xi li. and that the profits of their own store in this place amounted to one mark and the Pleas and perquisites one mark and a half Whereunto some Freeholders in this town made a little addition viz. Thomas de Rivere and Richard Goodman by the gift of one mess. Lxix acres of land with viii acres and a half of Meadow or the maintenance of one Monk being a Priest f to celebrate divine service every day in the Abby-Church of Reading above specified for the good estate of the said Thomas during his life in this world and for his soule after his departure hence as also for the soules of his Ancestors and heirs All which lands were by them held of the Barons of Stafford who answered to the King the fourth part of a Knights Fee for the same upon occasion as by sundry Records is evident But after the dissolution of the greater Monasteries in 30 H. 8. Iohn Oldnall the next year following obtained a Lease of this Mannour from the King for xxi years which Lease was it seems ere long surrendred for in 35 H. 8. the King upon the marriage of Katherine Parr his sixt and last wife past it inter alia unto her as part of her jointure Which Katherine dying in 2 E. 6. it returned again to the Crown and in 7 E. 6. was by that King past away with other lands in exchange to Iohn Dudley D. of Northumberland and his heirs whose attainder hapning soon after as in my story of him amongst the Earls of Warwick is shewed Queen Mary became possest of it and in 5. of her reign granted unto the said Iohn Oldnall another Lease for xxi years which he enjoyed not for in 5 Eliz. the Queen past an estate for life therein unto William Skinner Gentleman Alice his wife and Anthony their son but neither did this demise hold for in 6 Eliz. the said Queen gave it to Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick and the heirs male of his body who dying issuelesse it came again to the Crown wherein it remaineth to this day having been since leased to sundry persons The Church dedicated to S. Laurence was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xx marks the Vicars portion at that time being esteemed at viii marks but in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was rated at viii li. out of which the Synodalls and Procurations yearly payable amounted to viii s. v. d. ob Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Abbas Conv. de Reading Ioh. Tacham Pbr. 15. Oct. 1347. Abbas Conv. de Reading Hugo de Heyham 4. Sept. 1388. Abbas Conv. de Reading D. Will. Godfrey 11. Mar. 1400. Abbas Conv. de Reading Rob. Belde 21. Iulii 1402. Abbas Conv. de Reading Ioh. Hawkys 4. Aug. 1412. Abbas Conv. de Reading D. Ioh. Racheford 24. Ian. 1424. Abbas Conv. de Reading Ioh. Cook Pbr. 12. Dec. 1438. Abbas Conv. de Reading Ioh. Browne Cap. 3. Dec. 1458. Abbas Conv. de Reading Thomas Vtting Cap. 27. Aug. 1499. Abbas Conv. de Reading D. Thomas Heyward Cap. 3. Aug. 1536. Phil. Maria Rex Regina Angl. D. Ric. Heith Pbr. 17. Feb. 1556. Ambrosius Comes Warwici Philippus White Cler. 16. Ian. 1576. Ambrosius Comes Warwici Christoph. Kirkland in S. Theol. B. 14. Apr. 1578. Ambrosius Comes Warwici Magr. Henr. Heycrofte art Ma gr 23. Sept. 1584. Anna Comitissa Warwici Henr. Clerke Cler. 4. Nov. 1600. Iâ— a North window of the Church these Armes Argent upon a Fesse gules three Garbs Or. Preston-Bagot DEscending lower on the Western side of the before specified brook I come to Preston-Bagot which in the Conqueror's time Robert Earl of Mellent possest and by the generall Survey then made wherein it is written Prestetone was certified to be of a large extent viz. x. hides five whereof with a Mill rated at xvi s. and woods of a mile in length and half a mile in bredth were in his own hands and valued at L s. which had been the freehold of one Turbern before the Norman invasion the other five of which Britnod was owner in Edward the Confessor's days one Hugh then held of the said Earl they being estimated at xl s. But that which now and for a long time hath been reputed for Preston-Bagot is of a narrower compasse for out of doubt the places where both Beldesert and Henley do now stand together with most part of what belongeth to them whereupon there was no habitation was taken out of it This therefore coming from the said Earl of Mellent as the greatest part of his lands in this County did to his brother Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick was disposed of in H. 2. time as I guesse by William Earl of Warwick to Ingeram Bagot from whom it had the present name for distinction from other Prestons all which I conclude from severall circumstances the succeeding Earles of Warwick being chief Lords of the Fee as I shall shew by and by and the said Ingeram being possest of lands here at that time To which Ingeram Bagot succeeded Simon his son and heir who in 20 H. 3. answered for part of a Knights Fee here held by him of the Earl of Warwick and gave to the Monks of Reading two Mills lying within this his Lordship Which Simon had issue Robert and he a daughter and heir called Isabell married to Thomas de Etingdon From this Simon or if not from some other who was only the Instrument to convey it as I think did the Knights Hospitalars obtain it in H. 3. time for in 36 H. 3. it appears that Simon de Stoke and divers other held one Knights Fee here of the heir of the same Simon Bagot and that the said heir held it of the Hospitalars and they of the Earl of Warwick And by the Record of 4 E. 1. it is manifested that the Knights Hospitalars had it about 30 H. 3. for from that time had they withdrawn their suit due to the Hundred Court in respect thereof That this is but a small Village may appear by what was certified in 6 H.
paternall inheritance into which he was by the said Decree again so reinvested had restitution of an Annuitie of Lv li. per annum to be paid out of the Exchequer to himself and his heirs which had been formerly granted to his Father in lieu of certain woods lying in the Forest of Rutland wherein he had quitted his title to the said King After which I find that resolving on a Pilgrimage to S. Iames in Gallicia he constituted Humphrey de Hastang and Richard de Wrenhull or one of them his Atturney to transact his affairs in the mean time but whether he went the same year or not being 56 H. 3. I am not certain for in 3 E. 1. he had another License to that purpose and within a short space grew in such esteem with King Edward that being imployed in his service for the warrs of Wales 5 E. 1. in 8. of that King's reign he granted unto the renowned Queen Elianore the marriage of Iohn his son and heir with power that she should dispose of him in that kind to whom she pleased and in 11 E. 1. attended the King in that Welch expedition wherein those parts were wholy reduced to obedience for which service he was acquitted of L li. debt due by him to have been paid into the Exchequer This Peter altered his coat of Armes from what his Father and grandfather bore changing their Bendé of six pieces to Bendé of ten but retaining the Colours and departed this life in 15. E. 1. leaving issue Iohn his son and heir and Elizabeth a daughter afterwards married to Will son and heir of Simon de Montacute for which Lady there is yet standing a very beautifull Monument of Marble with her statue cut to the life on the North side of the Quire at Christ Church in Oxford heretofore the Conventuall Church of S. Fridiswides Monasterie there where there was afterwards a Chantrie of two secular Priests founded to celebrate divine service daily for her soul and for the souls of the said William de Montacute as also of Iohn Bokyngham Bishop of Lincolne Sir Peter de Montfort her father the Lady Maud her mother and of Iohn de Montacute William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury Simon de Montacute Bishop of Ely Edward de Montacute Alice de Aubenie the Lady Mary Cogan Elizabeth Prioresse of Haliwell the Lady Hawise Bavent the Lady Maud Abbesse at Berking the Lady Isabell a Nun of Berking children of him the said Sir William de Montacute and her and moreover for the souls of Sir Thomas de Furnivall her second husband Sir Peter Limsie her kinsman and Simon Islipâ— and for the souls of all her parents and friends But of the said Iohn de Montfort do I find very little memorable other than that he took to wife Alice the daughter of Will. de la Plaunche by whom he had issue Iohn and Peter with two daughters viz. Eliz. and Maud whose issue came to possesse a great part of the inheritance pertaining to this family as I shall shew anon for Iohn their elder brother who was one of the murtherers of Peirs de Gaveston having in 7. E. 2. received his Pardon for that offence march't with our English Army into Scotland and there lost his life in the battail of Strivelin without issue Peter the other brother having none legitimate Which Peter for I am next in course to speak of him was first in Holy Orders but after his brother's death enjoying a fair inheritance notwithstanding his sacred function was so dispensed with as it seems that he betook himself to the world and became a Knight And standing loyall to King E. 2. in the time of that great defection when so many adhered to Thomas Earl of Lancaster had a joint Commission with Will. de Beauchamp and Roger de Aylesbury for the safe custody of the City of Worcester In 20. of that King's reign he was made Governour of Warwick Castle then in the King's hands by reason of the Earls minority In 18 19 25 and 26. of E. 3. one of the Commissioners for conservation of the Peace in this County In 20. for arraying of Clx. Archers and in 29. for putting the Statute of Labourers in execution This Iohn took to wife Margaret daughter of the Lord Furnivall but by her had issue no more than one onely son called Guy betwixt whom and Margaret one of the daughters to Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick there was a marriage in 21 E. 3. by vertue of a speciall dispensation from Roger Northburgh Bishop of Coventry Lichfield having authority from Pope Clement the sixt for the same in regard they stood allied in the third and fourth degrees of Consanguinity which marriage was designed by the said Peter and the Earl for the better founding a league of friendship betwixt them and their posteritie in regard that many suits had been betwixt their Ancestors by reason that their lands in divers places lay contiguous Shortly after which marriage there was an estate in tail made of this Castle and Mannour with divers other Lordships lying in this Countie as also in the Counties of Nott. Rutl. and Surrey whereby for want of issue by the said Guy and Margaret they were after the decease of the said Sir Peter to remain unto Tho. de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick and Katherine his wife and the heirs of the said Earl Which Thomas having obtained such an estate thereof in reversion in 35 E. 3. the same Guy being then dead without issue entailed the same upon Thomas his son and heir and the heirs male of his body and for lack of such issue on William his second son afterwards Lord Bergavenny and the heirs male of his body and for want of such issue on his own right heirs But all this while was Sir Peter de Montfort living who having had certain issue by an old Concubine called Lora de Ullenhale in E. 2. time daughter to one Richard Astley of Ullenhale took care for their advancement as may appear by those possessions they enjoyed whereof I have taken notice in due place And being grown an old man made his Testament bearing date on Saturday next after the Feast of the Conception of our Lady anno 1367. 41 E. 3. by which he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Church of the Friers Preachers at Warwick whereunto he gave x li. that the said Friersâ— should pray for his soul. To the Nuns of Pinley he gave x. marks for the like purpose and to the Lady Lora de Astley his old paramour then a Nun there C s. To Sir Baldw. Frevill the elder Kt. his kinsman xx li. To his son Richard de Montfort all hâ—s silver and gilt plate as also all his goods moveable and unmoveable lying in his Mâ—nnours of Kingsâ—urst in this Countie and
of Does in Wiltshire bequeathing C li. to be given to certain Prâ—ests to pray for the souls of his Father and Mother and all the faithfull deceased and appointing that every of his old servants should be rewarded at the discretion of his Executors and within two years after died for the Probate of his said Testament bears date 19. Cal. Feb. anno 1369. 43 E. 3. Of which Peter all that I have seen farther memorable is that in 20 E. 2. he gave certain lands and Rent for the finding of a Priest to celebrate divine service daily in the Parish-Church of Preston-Bagot for the health of his own soul as also the souls of his Ancestors successors whereof I have more particularly spoke in my discourse of that place But that which I have to say of his posterity I reserve to be spoken in Colshill where they setled by the marriage of Iohn his eldest illegitimate son with Ioan the daughter and heir to Sir Iohn de Clinton Knight And shall now returne to make enquiry through what hands this Castle and Mannour hath since past In which I find that Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick son to the said Earl by whom the said entail was made as aforesaid by his Deed bearing date at Warwick 19. Iulii 50 E. 3. granted unto Sir William Beauchamp Knight his brother an estate for terme of life therein for the yearly Rent of a Red Rose payable at the Feast of S. Iohn Baptist. But the inheritance thereof did the said Earl passe away to Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight and Sir Thomas Boteler who were the right heirs to Montforts lands whereupon in 9 R. 2. upon the agreement for a partition betwixt Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight and Sir Thomas Boteler Knight of all the lands which by the marriage of those coheirs unto their Ancestors were descended to them it was accorded that when the said William Beauchamp should happen to depart this life the same Sir Baldwin and his heirs should inter alia entirely enjoy this Mannour of Beaudesert in case the said Sir Thomas Boteler had satisfaction in other lands by a reasonable extent in lieu of his right therein And the same Sir William Beauchamp by his Instrument dated at London 5. Febr. 17 R. 2. wherein he is stiled Seigneur de Bergaynne reciting the before specified grant made by his brother Thomas Earl of Warwick to Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight son and heir to Sir Baldwin as abovesaid attourned accordingly But it should seem that Frevill did not afterwards make such an assignation to Butler of any lands to equalize the interest he had here in Beldesert and that in default thereof there was another partition by which Butler had the site of the Castle and the Park wherein it stood and certain other lands in Beldesert with the advouson of the Church all which past by the name of the Mannour of Beldesert together with the town of Henley as parcell of the Mannour of Beldesert for by an Inquis taken after the death of Sir Raph Boteler of Sudley Knight in 13 E. 4. it appeareth that he dyed seized of all these leaving Sir Iohn Norbury Knight and Henry Belknap Esquire his cosins and heirs as by the Descent in Griffe appeareth From which Sir Iohn and Henry did King Edward the fourth in 17. of his reign obtain it as by an Obligation in two thousand marks wherein they the same Sir Iohn and Henry became bound unto the said King to release all their right and title therein by the name of the Mannour of Beaudesert with the appurtenances four Mâ—ssuages four Gardens two Acres of Land CCCC acres of Meadow a thousand Acres of Pasture CCCC acres of Wood and xii li. of Rent with the appurtenances in Beaudesert Henley Whitley and Uinhale unto Iohn Bishop of Worcester Anthony Wydevile Earl Rivers and others to the use of the said King appears And in 21 of his reign constituted Thomas Frebody Receiver to his Highnesse thereof together with other Mannours in these parts From which time it continued in the Crown till King Edward 6. by Patent dated 22. Dec. in the first year of his reign past it away by the name of the Mannour of Henley in Arden alià s Henly-Beaudesert with two Parks thereunto belonging unto Iohn Dudley Earl of Warwick and his heirs Which coming again to the Crown in 1 Mariae by his attainder whereof I have elswhere spoke was by Q. Elizabeth in the fourth of her reign granted to Ambrose Dudley then Earl of Warwick and the heirs of his body who dying issuelesse it returned again to the Crown from whence Alderman Cawdwell a Londoner purchased the site of the Castle with the Park wherein it stood in our time But the residue of Beldesert which Frevill enjoyed descended to Baldwin his son and heir who died seized thereof upon Thursday in the third week of Lent 5 H. 5. Eliz. wife to Tho. Ferrers Esquire a younger son to the Lord Ferrers of Groby one of the sisters to the said Sir Baldwin Robert Aston son of Sir Roger Aston Knight and Ioice his wife another sister and Margaret the wife of Hugh Willoughby the third sister being found his heirs Betwixt whom Partition also was afterwards made by vertue whereof as it seems this by the name likewise of the Mannour of Beldesert was allotted to Aston for I find that Sir Edward Aston of Ticksall in Com. Staff Knight son of Sir Walter being seized thereof sold it in 36. Eliz. to Francis Smyth of Wotton-Wawen Esquire and his heirs who in 15 Iac. obtained a Charter of Freewarren in all his demesn lands here and dying seized thereof left it to Sir Charles his son and heir since created Lord Carington the present owner thereof Of the Church dedicated to S. Nicholas I find no mention at all in that Taxation of Anno 1291. 19 E. 1. But in 14 E. 3. the Record runneth thus Ecclesia de Beldesert non extenditur propter paupertatem sed valet per annum xl s. and in 26 H. 8. it was rated at viii li. there being at that time ii s. yearly payable out of it for Procurations and Synodals and ii s. as a Pension to the Church of Wotton Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Petrus de Monteforti D. Ric. de Budiford Cap. 6. Non. Martii 1327. Petrus de Monteforti Ioh. de Grafton Accol 15. Oct. 1331. D. Episcopus Ioh. de Alne Pbr. ult Iulii 1332. D. Petrus de Monteforti Henr. de Pyrie Pbr. 4â— Aug. 1333. D. Petrus de Monteforti Galfr. Capellanus de Ilminton 1. Feb. 1368. D. Will. de Bellocampo dominus de Bergavenny D. Henr. Leeke Pbr. 8. Iulii 1407. Rad. Boteler miles Rob. Aston ar Rob. Loughborough Cap. 25. Sept. 1439. Rad. Boteler dominus de Sudley D. Ioh. Hopkyns 24. Ian. 1451. Henr. 7. Rex Angliae D. Iac.
as good value in recompence thereof that Charter of confirmation bearing date at Wenloc 26 Maii. Of which noble person I further find that he obtained the Advouson and patronage of the Priory of Studley near this place as I have there shewed from Peter de Corbucon heir to the Founder whereunto he gave a fair portion of lands lying in Shotswell That he also built an Hospitall at the Gates of that Monastery That he bore for his Armes Gules 3 flower de lices Or as by his Seal appeareth within the compasse whereof scil towards the lower part of the Shield there is a Star with a Cressant which is a Badge as hath been observed by judicious Antiquaries of his service in the Holy warrs And that he departed this life 7 Id. Apr. 23 H. 3. being then very aged leaving issue several sons viz. William his son and heir Walter a Priest and imployed by King H. 3. as his Agent to the Court of Rome afterwards elected Bâ—shop of Worcester â— whose story I refer to Godwyn Iohn Lord of Snitfield in this Countie and Nicholas of whom I find no more than the bare mention Which Will. being a martial man as well as his father and accompanying him at raising the seige of Lincolne Castle in 1 H. 3. had in 15 H. 3. much of his father's estate past over to him for which he then did his homage to the King And in 24 H. 3. obtained a special Charter for exempting him from any suit to the County or Hundred Courts Leet Aid to the Shiriff and Hidage for all his lands in England After which viz. in 26 H. 3. he attended the King in that his French expedition which was so unprosperous and having been in 28 H. 3. sent with other of the great Nobilitie to solicite the Prelates for an Aid of money according to the Popes Letters on the King's behalf was the next ensuing year one of those that went Embassiador to the general Councell then held at Lions there to complain of the grievous exactions used here in England by the Court of Rome as well from the Clergie as Laitie and to crave remedie for the same Which William bearing a devout affection to the Canons of Studley before specified gave to the Hospital of his Father's building there lands to the value of x li. per an lying within this Lordship as also certain Rent and pasturage for Cattell in Southernkeston with the Church of Hemeston in Devonshire And having besides all this obtained a special Charter for exempting their Woods situate within the Forest of Fekenham from any view of the King's Foresters and Verderers and been Steward to the King as his Father was as also a most faithfull Councellor left issue by Milisent the daughter of Hugh de Gornay Will. his son and heir Thomas Bishop of Hereford who in 34 E. 1. was canonized for a Saint and Iulian the wife of Sir Rob. de Tregoz and departed this life in 35 H. 3. immediatly whereupon William his eldest son performing his homage and giving security for payment of his Relief which was C li. had livery of his lands Which William in 37 H. 3. obtained a pardon from the King for pulling down the Castle of Penros in Wales belonging to Iohn de Monemuth as also for five marks at which this his Mannour of Aston was amerced for protecting one Rob. de Shelfhill who had been indicted for certain misdemeanors and in 38 H. 3. was constituted Governor of Bovelt Castle in Brecknockshire To the before specified Hospitall built at the Gate of the Priory of Studley he gave the advouson of the Church here at Aston and having wedded Eva one of the daughters aad coheirs to Will. de Braose of Brecknock with whom he had the territory of Upper Went and other lands in England and Wales departed this life in the flower of his youth to the great grief of many leaving issue by her the said Eva George his son and heir and two daughters Of which George being scarce 3. years old at that time I have found very little that is memorableâ— his death hapning before he arrived to years whereby he could be qualified for any great action viz. in 1 Edw. 1. Therefore whether the marriage betwixt him and Margaret the daughter of Edmund de Lacy was ever consummated as their parents had designed when he was scarce two years old I cannot tell but sure I am that he had no issue for Iohn the son of Henry de Hastings and Milicent then the wife of Eudo or Yvo la Zouche were found to be his sisters and heirs Which Henry being in minority in 36 H. 3. and in Ward to Guy de Luzignian the King 's half brother had the benefit of his marriage then disposed of by the said Guy unto Will. de Cantilupe before specified who gave his daughter Ioane thus in wedlock to him Whereupon by partition made betwixt those coheirs the said Milisent had for her share the Castle of Totenesse in Com. Devon the Mannours of Eyton â—n com Bedf. and Haringworth in Northamptonshire â— with other fair possessions in England and Wales as also the advouson of the Priory of Studley in this County And Iohn de Hastings the son of Ioane beforementioned had Bergavenny with the Castle and Honour which were of the inheritance of Eva de Breause his grandmother together with the Castle of Kilgaran in Com. Pembr and amongst other large territories in England and Wales this Mannour of Aston then valued at Lix li. iiii s. i d. per an all which were in the King's hands at the time of the said Partition made by reason of his minority But touching the Family of Hastings I shall speak historically in Fillongley and therefore purpose to make no other mention of them here than what particularly relates to this place In 13 E. 1. this Iohn de Hastings claimed a Court-Leet with Assize of Bread and Beer Weifs Gallows and Free warren within this Mannour by Prescription all which were allowed From which time this Mannour was for divers descents enjoy'd by the posterity of the said Iohn as I could sufficiently demonstrate if need were except for so long as Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon held two parts of it in right of Iulian his wife widow to Iohn de Hastings father of Laurence Earl of Pembroke After the death of which Laurence it appears that it was held of the King in Capite by the service of one Foot souldier in the Warrs of Wales with a Bow without a string and a Helmet for his head by the space of xl dayes at his own proper costs as often as there should be any hostility in Wales From which Family of Hastings it descended not to the Lord Grey of Ruthin
through the heir female but by virtue of a speciall Entail made by Iohn de Hastings E. of Pembroke son and heir to the before specified Laurence whereof in Fillongley I shall speak was setled together with the Castle and Honour of Bergavenny and other large possessions upon Sir Will. de Beuchamp K t second son to Thomas E. of Warwick and his heirs Which William bearing the title of Lord Bergavenny dyed seized thereof in 12 H. 4. from whom it descended to Ric. Beauchamp Earl of Worcester his son and heir whose daughter and heir Elizabeth being wedded to Sir Edw. Nevill Knight a younger son to Raph Earl of Westmerland thenceforth summoned to Parl. as Lord Bergavenny brought it with other lands of a large extent to that noble Family wherein it hath ever since continued being enjoy'd by the right honourable Iohn Lord Bergavenny at this day The Church dedicated to St. Iohn Bapt. being given to the Canons of Studley as I have formerly intimated by the last Will. de Cantilupe in H. 3. time was in an 1291 19 E. 1. valued at xxxiii marks which grant did not stand so firme but that the heirs of Cantilupe repossest it again for in 24 E. 1. it appears that the said Canons granted to Iohn de Hastings then Lord of this Mannour lands to the value of xiii li. per an lying here in exchange for the said advouson Nay I find that after this the Family of Hastings being potent had it again from the said Canons for in 19 E. 3. did Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke passe it away to Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon and his heirs who immediately thereupon gave it to the Priory of Makstoke then newly by him founded whereupon the Canons of Mackstoke obtained License from the K. for appropriating it to their House which appropriation was accordingly accomplisht the same year by VVolstan then Bishop of Worcester as by his Instrument dated at Blocklegh 4 Oct. appeareth and confirmed by his Chapter by reason whereof they had a yearly Pension of xiii s. iiii d. payable on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady granted to them In which year was likewise an Ordination of the Vicaridge But notwithstanding all this it so fell out afterwards that the Canons of Studley by colour of their originall title got into the possession thereof again whereupon great suits arose betwixt those of Mackstoke and them yet in the end they of Makstoke prevailed who to strengthen their title had the King's confirmation in 5 H. 4. For which they gave a Fine of Lxxi li. xi s. that they might enjoy it according to the tenor of the appropriation thereof so made to them as aforesaid In 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was valued at x li. at which time the Synodalls and Procurations issuing out of it were x s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Alianora Regina Angliae Rad. de Alemannia Cler. 8. Id. Dec. 1277. D. Ioh de Hastings D. Will. de Stratford Cap. 2. Cal. Maii 1295. D. Ioh de Hastings Ioh. de Brom Accol 14 Cal. Ian. 1299. D. Ioh de Hastings Aegid de Baggeshoure Cler. 15 Cal. Apr. 1305. D. Rad. de Monthehermerii Mr. Ioh. Mauduit 4 Non. Oct. 1319. Nobilis mulier Isabella de Hastings Will. de Beresord Cler. 23 Apr. 1328. Nobilis mulier Isabella de Hastings Rob. Mauduit Cler. 2 Cal. Iulii 1330. Patroni Vicariae Prior Conv. de Makstoke Nich. de Sheldon Pbr. 17 Iulii 1339. Prior Conv. de Makstoke D. Adam de Overton Pbr. 14 Sept. 1345. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Ric. de VValford Pbr. 14 Sept. 1361. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Rob. de â—irchesley Non. Febâ— 1365. Prior Conv. de Makstoke Ric. Pulâ—eney Pbr. 22 Nov. 1369. Patroni Ecclesiae Henr. Rex Angl. per recuperat juris ad praesent de Pr. C. de Studley Thomas Burdet Cler. 25 Iunii 1402. Pr. Conv. de Studley Thomas Shelford Cler. 12 Maii 1403. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke Thomas Lucas Pbr. 15 Nov. 1407. Patroni Vicariae Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. VVill. Drewe Cap. 27 Sept. 1409. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Henr. Hurle Cap. 28 Apr. 1410. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. VVill. Andrew Cap. 23 Martii 1423. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke Ioh. Barun ult Maii 1425. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Ioh. Salwey Cap. 18 Aug. 1427. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Ioh. Hende Cap. 16 Aug. 1457. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Rog. Felawe Cap. 4 Aug. 1469. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Rog. Montgombry Cap. 12 Ian. 1484. Pr. Conv. de Makstoke D. Thomas Berton Cap. 16 Iunii 1486. D. Episc. per lapsum D. Rogerus ........ 8 Apr. 1491. Pr. Conv. de Coventre Petrus Irlam Cap. 23 Febr. 1531. H. Dux Suff. D. Franc. ux ejus D. Marg. Clifford Will Stanley miles cohaer Caroli D. Suff. VVill Burton Cler. 20 Dec. 1553â— Thomas Chapman ratione concess W. Stanley mil. D. Rad. Brock Pbr. 25 Sept. 1557. D. Episc. per lapsum Thom. Clerke Cler. 15 Oct. 1560 Henr. 8. Rex Angl. c. D. Thomas King Pbr. 23 Feb. 1536. Ric. Wright de Clopton sen. gen VVill. Tomlinson Cler. 29 Iulii 1622. In this Church there was antiently a certain Fraternity or Gild consisting of the Parishioners only being founded by them to the honour of God and the blessed Virgin but it had no lawfull establishment till 9 E. 4. at which time upon the humble Petition of the Inhabitants License was granted to Sir Edw. Nevill Knight then Lord of the Mannour that he should so settle and order the same as that there might be a certain Priest maintained there to celebrate divine service daily at the Altar of the blessed Virgin in the said Church for the good estate of the said K. Edw. 4. and Eliz. his Consort as also for the Brethren and Sisters of that Fraternitie during this life and for their souls after their departure hence and the souls of all the faithfull deceased which accordingly was effected and lands disposed thereunto for that purpose valued at vii li. ix s. ii d. ob per an in 37 H. 8. Armes depicted on the roof of the Chancell Gules a fesse betwixt six Crosse Crosslets Or. Beauchamp E. of Warwick Argent 3 Crosse Crosslets fiche sable upon a cheif Azure a Mullet and a Rose Or. Argent 6 Crosse Crosslets fichè Sable upon a cheif Azure two Mullets Or. Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Wilmecote IN the Conqueror's time Osbernus fil Richardi possest this place it being then certified to contain three hides which were valued at Lxs. and at that time held of him by one Urso but before the Norman invasion
whereupon this Lordship together with Aston was inter alia assigned unto Roese de Cokefeld his widow for her maintenance untill such time as her dowrie should be set forth leaving Giles his son and heir of whom in 14 H. 3. the King accepted of C s. per annum to be payd into his Exchequer till all his Father's debts were run up or that the said King should please to require them From the 34. to the 51. of which King 's reign this Giles was a Justice of Assize in this Countie He was also a Benefactor to the Canons of S t Thomas juxta Stafford for it appears by a speciall Instrument under their Covent Seal that they granted to him the admittance of a Canon into their Monasterie upon his Presentation and his heirs successively to celebrate divine service there at the Altar of S t Thomas the Martyr for the health of his soul as also for the souls of his Father Mother and Ancestors And likewise that at the celebration of the Masse of our Lady in the Collect for the dead the name of the said Giles should be always remembred and after his decease his name registred in the Martyrologe and his Aniversary duely kept in as ample manner as for their Patron To the Monks of Tâ—kford in Buckinghamshire had he likewise been a friend as may appear by their assignation of a Monk of that Covent at their own proper costs to sing for his soul and the souls of his parents within that Monasterie To which Giles succeeded Henry his son and heir who in 5 E. 1. was of the retinue unto William de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick in the Warrs of Wales and made a Knight in that expedition as I think for in 7 E. 1. he had that title This Henry married Maud daughter of Roger de Someri Baron of Dudley one of the coheirs of Nichola daughter and coheir to Hugh de Albini Earl of Arunrundel for which respect as 't is most probable he bore for his Armes Azure two Lions passant Or and sometimes with a border of Besants having so neer a resemblance to the Coat of Someri scil Or two Lions passant Azure He also for the health of his soul and the soul of her the said Maud gave to the Nuns of Catesby in Com. Northampt. towards supporting the charge of their Habits and relief of poor people the perpetuall patronage of the Church at Yerdley in Worcestershire to the intent that the fruits of the same Church should be appropriated to their use in consideration whereof the said Nuns covenanted with him that so soon as they could obtain an appropriation thereof they would thenceforth appoint one of the Canons of that their Monasterie to celebrate divine Service daily to the worlds end for the souls of him the said Henry and Maud. and of Giles de Erdinton his Father with all their Ancestors and Successors and likewise solemnly keep the Anniversaries of him the said Henry and of the Lady Roese his sister and lastly after his decease bury his body in the Chapell of S. Edmund before the Altar there within the precincts of their Monasterie And departed this life in 10 E. 1. possessed of a fair estate in this County so likewise in the Counties of Leicester Salop. Staff then seized into the King's hands by reason of the minoritie of his heir of which lands this Mannour of Erdington was inter alia assigned for the dowrie of the before specified Maud his wife who shorthly after married to William de Bifeild without License from the King whereupon she gave C li. Fine for her Pardon To this Henry de Erdinton succeeded Henry his son and heir who doing his homage in 23 E. 1 had liverie of his Father's lands and in 30 E. 1. performing the like homage had also liverie of those lands which descended to him by inheritance from his mother then deceased This last mentioned Henry in 3 E. 2. procured Walter Laugton then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield to ordain one Iohn de Hull-Lemynton a subdeacon to celebrate divine Service within the private Chapell of his Mannour-house here at Erdinton undertaking to settle the sum of Lx s. per an for his maintenance and to preserve the said Bishop indempnified therein For his publique employments I find that in 7 E. 2. he was constituted one of the Assessors and Receivers of a Fifteenth as also a Commissioner for conservation of the Peace in this Countie In 8. one of the Justices for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick In 9. one of the Collectors of Scurage in arrear to the King for the Warrs of Scotland in 28.31 and 34. years of his Father's reign In which year likewise he was assigned to supervise that both Men Armes in this Countie were in a fit order and readinesse according to the Statute of Winchester for the Scotch expedition being also constituted one of the Justices for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick and conservation of the Peace In 11 E. 2. he was in Commission to enquire what persons had or should retain any souldiers Horse or Foot or to make confederacies or private meetings within this Shire From that time till 14 E. 2. he was again one of the Justices for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick and in 17. of that Kings reign he is in the list of those Knights and other men at Armes of this Countie whose names were then certified into the Chancerie This is he as I suppose that built the South I le to the Parish-Church of Aston commonly called Erdingtoâ—s Chancell for I find that in 12 E. 2. he gave a certain Rent seck of vi d. per annum to the maintenance of the Gutter betwixt the Church and it in which grant he calls it Nova Capella beatae Mariae de Aston and by Ioane his wife one of the daughters and heirs unto Sir Thomas de Wolvey of Wolvey in this Countie had issue Giles de Erdinton who in 19 E. 3. had a Pardon for not appearing to receive the honour of Knighthood before the Feast of S. Laurence the same year according to the form of the King's Proclamation This Sir Giles in 20 E. 3. was in the Warrs of France the King himself being there in person being of the retinue of Iohn de Montgomery in that servâ—ce and in 23 E. 3. in Commission for the levying of a xvth and Tenth in this Countie So also in 26 E. 3. In 31 E. 3. he was a Knight and bore for his Armes a bend over his Lions passant and in 33 E. 3. one of the Commissioners in this Countie assigned for the arraying of men for defence of the Realm in the King's absence which is the last mention I have seen of him To whom succeeded Thomas his son and heir xxviii years of
which year there was a Fine levied thereof by one Richard atte Ruyding and Elizabeth his wife to the said Nicholas and Ioane and the heirs of Nicholas with warrantie against the same Elizabeth and her heirs whereby it should seem that she was an Inheritrix To which Nich. and Ioane succeeded Margaret their daughter and heir wife to Iohn Waldeif Esquire which Iohn Waldeif had issue by her two daughters and heirs scil Alice married to Iohn Boteler and Anne to Sir Thomas Burdet of Arrow Knight Which Sir Thomas together with Sir Nicholas Burdet Knight Richard Hubaud Esquire and others in 15 H. 6. released to the said Iohn Waldeyff and the same Margaret all their right therein But it afterwards came to Burdet again though how I am not sure for certain it is that Richard Burdet of Arrow before specified was seised of it and that Sir Hugh Conway Knight who married Ioyce his widow held it in 19 H. 7. for the life of the said Ioyce as her Jointure but afterwards it descended to Anne the daughter and heir of the said Richard wife of Edward Conway Esquire which Edward died seized thereof in 38 H. 8. leaving issue Iohn 35. years of age and afterwards knighted Here hath been antiently a kind of Park and a Warren which had the reputation of a Chase in Richard Burdet's time but there is no more memoriall of the Mannour-house than a double old moate of a large extent a Coppice-wood now growing where the House stood Widenay THis is an antient Mannour though not a Village what ever it hath been formerly the first mention thereof that I find being about the beginning of H. 3. time one Philip de Cumtune then granting to William de Parles his Kinsman and his heirs Lx. acres of land here which are set out by certain metes and bounds But the quantity I conceive to be much more than we now allow for Acres for the words of the grant are per magnam mensuram de Arderne in which Deed it is written Withenhai and the Rent reserved thereupon x s. per annum in lieu of all secular sevice and demand From this William de Parles descended another William who in E. 1. time granted to Walter de Aylesbury all this his land at Wydenhay which as his Deed importeth was before past to him from Sir William Bagot So that it seems that Sir William Bagot then of Hide â—uxta Stafford was the Chief Lord thereof by whose grant to the said Walter is reserved onely one Rose yearly at the Feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist to be payd to him and his heirs for all services Which Walter in 13 E. 1. obtained a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here whose posteritie seated at Edricston now called Edston in this Countie continued owners thereof as long as the male line lasted Iohn de Ailesbury in 17 H. 6. having a Patent for confirmation of the said Free warren so granted as abovesaid But by Ioane a daughter and heir of Ailesbury it came to Somervile in H. 7. time as in Edston is shewed and by the attainder of Iohn Somervile Esquire in Q. Eliz. time eschaeted to the Crown Langdon THis place takes its name from the rising ground on the South side whereof it is situate which lying in length like a ridge was called Langdone or Langdune id est the long Hill In the Conqueror's time one Almar held it of Turchill de Warwick it being then certified to contain two hides and a half valued at xx s. having Woods of one mile in length and half a mile in breadth But in H. 1. time one Chetilbernus possest it by the grant of Siward de Arden son to Turchill before mentioned which Chetilbern is written Chetelbernus homo Siwardi and sometimes Ketelbernus de Langdona being not onely a Tenant to the same Siward but his servant in the Office of Sewer This Chetilbern had a son called Robert who died as it seems without issue for the posteritie of his daughter inherited his lands and assumed the sirname of Launde or de la Laund though from what place I am not sure the Christen name of which daughter appears not but she was the wife of one Thomas fil Thurstani called also Thomas de Tamewrda 'T is like that he lived at Tamworth and was a Retainer to the Marmions there for his posteritie were owners of a place called Stretford lying near Faseley-bridg upon Watling-street near Tamworth as also this of Lea juxta Merston in this Hundred both Marmion's fee. Of these I find that in 37 H. 3. Iames de Lande had inter alia a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here and past away his estate in this place to one Gilbert de Kirkeby with the advouson of the Nunnery of Henwood of his Ancestors Foundation For the said Gilb. granted the Capitall Messuage or Mannour place here with all the lands thereto belonging and services of Freeholders others together with the Patronage of that Religious House unto William de Ardene and his heirs for which he had Cxl. marks of silver reserving to the said Iames whom he calls Capitalis Dominus feodi and his heirs all such services that were of right due for the same Of which William de Arden and his Family I purpose to speak in Hampton in Arden where I shall more fully shew how much of their inheritance was disposed of to Queen Elianore by Iohn le Lou and Amice his wife one of the heirs to Richard his grandson Ketelbernus de Langdona temp H 1. Juliana Robertus ....... filia Ketelberni Thomas fil Thurstani cognom de Tameurda Thurstanus Radulfus de Landa 1 Joh. Matilda Jacobus de Landa 20 H. 3. Joh. de Landa 20 E. 1. Elianora 44 E. 3. Jacobuâ— de la Launde 41 E. 3. Sibilla uxor Rog. de Aston Robertus de la Launde Amicia uxor Ricardi filii Radulphi And though this Mannour of Langdon be not particularly mentioned therein yet do I believe that it then past to her as lying within Solihull which is there exprest for the Plea Roll of 46 E. 3. directly affirms as much And in 20 E. 1. upon that grant made by the King to the Monks of Westminster of divers Mannours situate in this and other Counties to the intent that they should solemnize the Anniversarie of the said Queen Alianore then deceased as in Knoll shall be farther manifested this of Langdon is one of the number which in 22 E. 1. was certified to be held by the Abbot of Westminster of Iohn the son and heir of Iames de la Lande rendring to him yearly five marks of silver and that the said Iohn held it of Walter de Winterton in Capite by the thirtieth part of a Knights fee. Upon the dissolution of which
to the posteritie of the said Sir George passed away all his right therein to Sir Rob. Digby Kt. and his heirs by whom it is enjoyed together with Colshill at this day Hawkswell THis is no Mannour of it self but as a member of Colshill and involved therewith hath been and is still enjoyed by the owners of that Lordship Gilsdon THis was heretofore written Gudlesdone for it seems that the Hill which lyes North-Eastwards from the Village being antiently so called gave denomination thereunto But the first mention I find of it in Record is in 10 E. 3. where it appears that one Will. le Wrounge of Colshill whose inheritance it was past away his right therein unto Sir Ric. de Peshale Kt. for an C. marks of silver the occasion whereof was this Sir Richard having an estate for life in the Mannours of Hinton in Cambridgeshire and Shustoke in this Countie was requested by Will. de Clinton then Earl of Huntingdon of whom in Maxstoke I have spoke to quit his right therein unto him inasmuch as he the said Earl had obained the estate in reversion of those Lordships from the Lord Moubray in exchange for other lands whereunto the said Sir Richard assented upon condition that he might have this Mannour cleerly and libertie to take down and remove whether he pleased a certain new House then built by him at Shustoke and likewise to carry away such timber as he had cut down in the Park at Shustoke as also to fell and take away six Oaks more for timber and six for fuell out of the said Park All which being assented unto there were Indentures made betwixt the said Sir Richard and Iohn de Peto junior then of Sheldon in the behalf of the said Earl unto whom he was of Councell for consummating the bargain So that it hereby appears that the C. marks given to the before-specified Will. le Wrounge came out of the Earl of Huntindon's purse Unto which Sir Richard's part of the Indentures is his Seal of Armes affixed viz. Argent upon a Crosse fleuriâ—è sable an Escâ—cheon of Augmentation bearing a Lion rampant But it was not long ere that the said Sir Richard again quitted his right to this Mannour unto the before specified Earl whereupon the said Will. le Wrounge and Isabell his wife for the better confirmation thereof levied a Fine to the same Iohn de Peto unto the said Earl's use for in 20 E. 3. did the said Earl pass it unto Iohn de Collesley and his heirs in exchange for certain lands lying in Colshill near Dywyke-bruge which lands do bear the name of Collesleys to this day From this Iohn de Collesley it descended to his two daughters and heirs sc. Margaret the wife of Thomas Holt and Alice betwixt whom partition being made in 23 E. 3. it was allotted to the said Margaret who surviving her first husband afterwards married to Philip de Budeford which Philip joyned with her in the sale thereof unto Will. le Mascy of Swonley in Cheshire whose grandchild William of Sirescote in Staffordshire had issue Catherine his daughter and heir married to Will. de Chisâ—nhale of Chisenhale in Lancashire Lord of this Mannour and of Sirescote in her right who in 12 〈◊〉 2. sold it to one Iohn de Barwe a Smith of Coventre Which Iohn in 13 R. 2. past it to one Raph Richards who in 3 H. 4. aliened it to Iohn Tate of Coventre in whose line it continued till 27 H. 8 that Iohn Tate a descendant from the said Iohn conveyed it to George Kebyll To whom succeeded in the possession thereof Thomas Kebyll and to him Iohn Wise Gent. by purchase in 14 Eliz. a branch of the Wises of Devonshire as by some antâ—ent writings shewd unto me may seem whose nephew Richard Wise scil son of his Brother William now enjoys it At the skirts of this Parish sc. Coleshill wherewith I have now done Cole meets with Blithe which carrieth away the name scarce half a mile further for having there met with Tame that River hath the prioritie a little below which confluence Bourne likewise enters unto the head whereof next having recourse I come to Corley Corley I Am of opinion that this place had its name originally from the situation which is very high Coryn in the Brittish-tongue signifying the Head or top of any thing for in the Conquerour's Survey it is written Cornelie In that Record it is rated at one hide the Woods belonging thereto being a quarter of a mile in length and half as much in breadth all which were then in the hands of the same Godvine who was owner thereof before the Norman invasion and valued at xxx s. The next that possest it of whom I have seen any mention were the Hasting's Lords likewise of Fillongley hard by yet how soon I cannot declare but by some one of them was Hugh de Ringedon or his ancestor enfeoft thereof which Hugh had it in 4 H. 3. from whom descended Raph de Ryngesdon who in 53 H. 3. was certified to hold it of Henry de Hastings by the service of half a Kt's fee. It should seem that the heir generall of the said Raph de Ryngesdon married to one of the Mancesters Lords of Mancester in this Countie for by severall authorities it appears that the family of Mancester held this Mannour of the heirs of Hastings But for want of light from private evidence I cannot discern how it went from the Mancesters nor of a long time after who possest it I must therefore pass from the later end of Edw. 3. time for then did the male line of Mancester determine untill the reign of E. 4. wherein I find that Iohn de Champernoun died seized of it in 15 E. 4. leaving two daughters and heirs viz. Blanche the wife of Sir Robert Willoughby Kt. and Ioane Which Sir Robert was summoned to Parliament amongst the Barons in 7 H. 7. and afterwards by the name of Rob. Willoughby de Brooke Chivalter by reason of his residence at Brooke in Wiltshire and had issue Robert Willoughby Lord Brooke whose heir was married to Sir Fouke Grevill as in Alcester I have manifested by which means this Lordship of Corley is come with the rest of Grevill's lands to the Lord Brooke who now enjoys it The Church was antiently given to the Monks of Coventre yet neither by whom nor the direct time when have I seen but in 44 H. 3. they had it In an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at four marks and in 26 H. 8. at iiii l. over and above ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls In a North window of the Church Gules a Saltire varrè betwixt xii billets Or Champernoun Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Prior Conv. de Coventre Egidius de Trebys an 1250. Patroni Vicariae Henr. Over Gen. D.
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
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
yearly Pension of xiii s. iiii d. to him the said Bishop and his successors and iiii s. iiii d. to the Arcdeacon of Coventre being reserved As also a Vicaridge endowed whâ—ch Vicaridge in 26 H. 8. was valued at x. l. xiii s. iiii d. per an Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Ioh. de Mancesâ—re miles Hugo de Stanford Cler. 1287. Rob. de Herle Ioh. de Herle subdiac 14. Cal. Apr. 1298. D. Guido de Mancestre miles Rog. de Crophul Pbr. 11. Cal. Apr. 1333. D. Guido de Mancestre miles Ric. de Bulcote 15 Cal. Aug. 1349. D. Edm. de Manceâ—tre miles Ric. de â—ybâ—â—smore Cap. Cal. Aug. 1349. D. Gaâ—f Brochull miles Petr. Prilley Leonardus Worthâ—â— Will. Bâ—â—â—kâ—â—w Pbr. xxii Iunii 1392. D. Epâ—â—c per laps Tho. Heton Cler. 10 Nov. 1432. Patroni Vicariae D. Episc. hac vice Ioh. Mâ—â—â—ford alias Barbour Pbr. 20 Feb. 1449. Abbas Conv. de Merevale Magr. Râ—b Whitinton 21. Aug. 1514. Abbas Conv. de Merevale D. Râ—b Barfâ—â— 14. Oct. 1530. Abbas Conv. de Merevale Thomas Allrad Cap. 1. Iunii 15â—8 Anna Hyll de Atherston Tâ—omas Smyth Cler. 9 Nov. 1553. D. Eliz. Regina Wilâ—â—â—dus Rosse Cler. 26. Aug. 1574. Iacobus Rex 〈◊〉 Abell â—ler Art Mag. 31 Iulii 1622. The Chantrie IN 37 â— 6. the Abbot and Covent of Merevale founded a Chantrie at the Altar of the holy Trinitie within this Church for one Priest to celebrate divine service daylie thereat for the soul of K. H. 6. after his departure out of this life and for the souls of Thomas Slawteley Alice and Catherine his wives and all the faithfull deceased The lands belonging whereunto lying in Whitington and Atherston were in 26 H. 8. valued at vi l. vii s. iii d. per an over and above all reprises and in 37 H. 8. at vi l. x s. ii d. ob The Gild. THis was likewise founded in the said 37 â—h year of K. H. 6. at the instance of Iohn Riggeley then Abbot of Merevale and did consist of divers men women Inhabitants of Atherston this Parish of Manceter who were every year upon Trinitie-Sunday to choose amongst themselves for the better rule and government of that Fraternitie two Masters unto which Gild did belong one Priest to celebrate divine service at the Altar of the blessed Virgin in this Church of Manceter for the good estate of the said K. H. 6. and his Queen during this life and for their souls afterwards as also for the good estate of all the Brethren and Sisters of the said Fraternitie Which Priest so serving there had in 26 H. 8. a Stipend of vi l. per an allowed unto him but in 37 H. 8. all the lands belonging thereto were valued at x l. x s. out of which xx s. was yearly given to poor people Hartshill THis place is joyned with Ansley in the Conq â—â—â— Survey where it appears that both of them were then esteemed for two hides and valued at C s. being then fermed out by the King together with Coventre and with Manceter doubtless came to the Earl of Chester for it appears that it was held of those Earls and their heirs and that one Hugh was the first that seated himself here assuming this place for his sirname having a fair Mannour house situate with very much advantage for defence viz. at the utmost point of a ridge that stretcheth ifself betwixt two deep and narrow Vallies and had the reputation of a Castle as the tradition is there being some embattelled Walls yet standing to testifie as much To this Hugh succeeded Robert and to him William who wrote himself Will. de Hardreshulle as his grandfather did and in 3 Ioh. underwent the Shiriffaltie of this Countie and Leicestershire for that great man Will. de Cantilupe of whom in Astonâ—Cantilupe I have made mention as also gave the Church of Ansley to the Nuns of Polesworth and left issue Robert his son and heir who in 2 H. 3. was one of the sureties in the behalf of Robert Marmion for his safe custody of Tamworth Castle to the King's use and in 5. and 6 H. 3. one of the Justices of Assize in this Countie Hugo de Hardredeshull temp H. 1. Rob. de Hardredeshull Will. de Hardredeshull 3 Joh. Rob. de Hardredeshull 2 H. 3. Will. de Hardredeshull deâ—unctus 46 H. 3. Matilda postea nupta Will. de Arderne Rob. de Hardreshull defunctus 1 E 1. Margareta â—oh de Hardeshull mil. defunctus 4 E. 1. Isabella 5 E. 1. Will. de Hardreshull defunctus 32 E. 1. Iuliana Ioh. de Hardreshull miles 10 E. 2. Margareta una fil cohaer Iac. Stafford de Sandon mil. Eliz. filia cohaer Ioh. Culpeper Thomas Culpeper de .... in com Cantii miles 1 R. 2. Alianora 1 R. 2. Ioh. Culpeper de Ashene in Com. Northampt. milâ—s 10 H. 6. Walt. Culpeper ar 16 H. 6. Thomas Culpeper miles Ioh. Culpeper miles obiit 22 E. 4. Alex Culpeper miles 27 H. 8. Thomas Culpeper de Bedgburie in Com. Cantii ar 3 E. 6. Iohanna ux Iac. de Burford mil. Margareta ux Ric. Talbot mil. Erneburga de Hardreshull Abbatissa de Pole sworth 29 E. 1. Ric. de Hardredeshull 23 H. 3. To which Robert succeeded Will. de Hardredeshull his son and heir who in 9 H. 3. gave xx marks to the King for his Releif and 447 l. 7 s. 5 d. being a debt due by him to the Jews In the same year he was in Commission for levying and collecting a xv th in this Countie and Leicestershire so likewise the next year following And for taking Assizes of Novel disseisin in this Shire In 23 H. 3. he gave x. Marks Fine for the custodie of the lands which were belonging to Ric. de Hardredeshull his Uncle and in 43. of the said King's reign did his Homage for all those lands in Lincolnshire which Grace de Li'sle died seized of and were of his inheâ—itance But in 46 H. 3. he departed this life leaving Robert his son and heir who gave Lx s. to the King as a Releif for the lands which his Faâ—her died seized of that were held of the said K. in Capâ—te and doing his Hâ—mage had liverie of them Which Robert â—iding with the Earl of Leicester and other the rebellious Barons in 49 H. 3. and being slain fighting on their part in the battail of Evesham his lands were seized and this Mannour by name given to Wâ—â—ine de Bassiâ—gburne yet to Margaret his widow the King allowed certain of her said husband's forâ—â—â—ted possessions lying in Pultenhethe and Paxton for the maintenance of her â—eâ—â— and her Children but what Children these were doth not appear to me nor what became of â—hâ—m for the inheâ—itance of this Lordship considering that the Dâ—ctum
Rob. de Bromcote Serlo de Grendon Robertus Jordanus xl s. But before the Norman invasion one Siward Barn was owner of it as also of som other lands in this Countie that at the Conquest were in like manner disposed of to the before specified Henry de Feriers Which Siward being a potent Englishman was kept Prisoner with divers other persons of qualitie till the end of the Conqueror's reign that the King lying upon his death-bed being moved with compunction for his hard dealing to the native English gave order for their enlargement Whether the before specified Thurstan who held it in the Conqueror's time were paternall ancestor to that Familie which for many ages afterwards enjoy'd it is hard to say Roger de Grendon being the first that took his sirname from hence in King Stephen's time Which Roger or his Father was originally enfeoft hereof in H. 1. time yet not immediatly by Ferrers but by Camvile who it seems had the first grant of it from the said Henry or his son to hold by the service of one Knight's Fee But of Robert Marmion Lord of Tamworth-Castle he held another Knights Fee lying in Dordon and Waverton and to the Church of St. Leonard at Hou gave certain lands which he held of the said Robert Marmion as also to the Nuns of Polesworth half a yard land in Waverton leaving issue Richard de Grendon who confirmed his said Father's grant and for the health of his soul and the soul of Margaret his wife bestowed on the said Nuns half a yard land more situate in the same Vilâ—age towards the support of their garments being likewise a Benefactor to the Canons of Calc near Repton in Derbyshire To this Richard succeeded Sir Robert de Grendon Knight who by Avicia the daughter of William de Bray had issue Robert which Robert being heiâ— to his said grandfather W. de Bray became thereby possest of Shenston a fair Lordship in Staffordshire After which sc. in 20 and 25. H. 3. he was a Justice of Assize in this Countie In 21 H. 3 he was in Commission for collecting a Subsidie and from 26 till 33 H. 3. inclusive a Justice of Gaol-delivery at Warwick In 34 H. 3. he was constituted Shiriff for the Counties of Salop. and Staff as also Governour of the Castles of Salop Bruges and Ellesmere at which time he gave C s. to the King for a Charter of Free-warren In 37 H. 3. he was a Knight but afterward either really or in shew an adherent to the rebellious Barons for it appears that he had some speciall favour from them in respect of a Debt that he owed to the Jews and was by them constituted Shiriff of the Counties of Salop and Staff But if he were cordially theirs he soon gave the King testimony of his more loyall affections for it appears that shortly after their overthrow in the battail of Evesham he was join'd in authoritie with the Shiriff of this Countie for the seizure of their lands and possessions as also made a Commissioner for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick and the next year following having the King 's speciall acknowledgement of his faithfull service obtain'd respite for payment of those Debts which were due from him to the Exchequer for such money as he had received whilst he was Shiriff as abovesaid having libertie to pay it by xx l. per an He was likewise a Benefactor to the before specified Chapell of St. Leonard at Hoo in which the Nuns of Polesworth for it belong'd to them found two Priests perpetually celebrating divine service for the health of his soul. Of this Robert I farther find that he contracted matrimony with one Ioane le Butiller yet did not thereupon receive her as his wife which caused a controversy betwixt them in the Spirituall-Court What he alleag'd in justification of himself appears not but by sentence of the Chief-Chanter of Lichfield and others it is evident that he was quit of her and wedded Emme the daughter to William Basset of Sapcote by whom he had in frank marriage all her Father's lands in Houby with the Homage and service of Sir Steph. de Segrave To which last mentioned Sir Robert succeeded Sir Raph de Grendon Knight one of the Justices for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick in 2 E. 1. Bewixt whom and Geffrey de Camvile there grew certain differences touching the services to be performed for this Lordship which was held of the same Geffrey by one Knight's Fee but in 4. E. 3. they came to an Agreement sc. that the said Sir Raph and his heirs should from thenceforth answer xl s. to the King for Scutage when it might happen and according to that rate doing Homage and paying Relief upon occasion as also performing suit to the Court of the same Geffrey at Clifton-Camvile upon reasonable summons whensoever any Triall might fortune to be there by virtue of the King 's Writ or that a Thief was to be judged In 26 E. 1. this Sir Raphe had Summons amongst sundry other great men to be at Carleol on Whitson-Eve well furnisht with Horse and Armes to march against the Scots In 28 E. 1. he was a Knight In 29 E. 1. he received another command to attend the King at Barwick upon Twede to march into Scotland In 31 E. 1. having confirm'd to the Nuns of Polesworth those grants of his ancestors made to the Chapel of Hoo before mentioned he released to them all the right he had in severall assarts of Woods and arable within the precincts of Polesworth and departed this life in 5 E. 3. leaving Robert his son and heir and a daughter called Ioane marryed to Iohn Rochford Esquire Which Robert was a man but of weak understanding insomuch as Sir Roger and Sir Philip de Chetwin with Iohn de Freford who had married his Aunts alledging that A. de Clinton second wife to old Sir Raph de Grenden and mother to those three daughters had a joint estate with her said husband in all his lands challenged the inheritance of them she being dead from the before mentioned Robert in right of their wives by virtue of an Entail made in 27 E. 1. and accordingly entred upon them Whereupon the said Robert discerning that he was like to be over-born by the subtilty of those his adversaries resorted for refuge to Henry Duke of Lancaster a potent man at that time yeilding unto him the whole Mannour of Shenston to hold for terme of his life or the longer liver of them conditionally that he would protect him in the possession of this Mannour and his lands at Gopshull and Dordon c. All which being in like sort performed the said Roger de Chetwynd and Ioane quitted their interest to the same Robert
to the French and regain his inheritance here in England that then he should pay back to the said Robert the younger so much of that summe as the profits of the lands of which he had received the issues did fall short thereof and that the said Robert should then enjoy the Lordships of Witringham and Coningeby in Com. Linc. Queinton in Com. Glouc. and Berewic in Com. Suss. As also that William his younger Brother should have Torinton in Com. Linc. and lands to the value of X li. per annum in Berewic abovesaid of all which they had speciall grants from their Father And further it was then concluded that the said Robert the younger should not only give the King good caution to keep this Castle to his use but upon occasion deliver it up into his hands For performance thereof these were his sureties scil Nicholas de Verdon Geffrey de Camvile William de Hardreshull Raphe fitz Raphe Thomas de Ofirton Iohn de Culi Richard Russell Robert de la Lande Robert de Passi William de Fou and Mathew de Charnels All which being effected he had the King 's speciall Precept to William de Harecurt then Governour thereof for the King to deliver it up unto him But it was not long after this that Robert the elder made his peace for in 5 H. 3. he had possession of this Castle delivered to him and the rest of his Father's lands as appears by the King's signification of his pleasure therein to all that held of it by Militarie service or otherwise as also to the Shiriff of this County So that here I must leave the said Robert the younger whose posteritie flourisht in Lincolnshire for a long time after and speak of the elder Robert I am of opinion that this Robert the elder return'd into Normandie in 17 H. 3. for in that year did he passe over the estate of all his lands in England for seven years unto Peter de Rupibus that potent Bishop of Winchester in those times together with the custodie of â—hilip his son and heir for to marry him where he should think fit without disparagement whereupon by the consent of the same Robert and Philip he made an assignation thereof unto William de Cantilupe Of this Robert I finde no more after that time than his death which hapned in 25 H. 3. But the said Philip became a person of no small account in the world for having married Ioane one of the daughters and heirs to Hugh de Kilpeck of Kilpeck Castle in Herefordshire whose custodie and disposall in marriage the said William de Cantilupe had in 33 H. 3. he was constituted Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire and Governour of the Castle of Sauvey which office he held for three yeares then next following and at that time obtained a Confirmation of the Charter of Free warren before mentioned granted to his Ancestor by King H. 1. But in 36 H. 3. he was questioned for sitting with Richard de Mundevill and the rest of the Justices for Gaol-deliverie at Warwick having no Commission so to do for which I do not find that the Kin'gs displeasure stuck long upon him in regard he attended him so soon after into Gascoin upon his return from which voyage he was taken Prisoner by the French in Poictoâ— with Gilbert de Segrave and divers other of the English Nobilitie notwithstanding that they had Letters of Protection from the French King The next mention that I find of him is that he was in that Welch expedition of 41 H. 3. and the year ensuing had Summons with divers other great men to be at Chester on the Eve of S. Iohn Baptist well furnisht with Horse and Armes to march into Wales against Lewelin ap Griffith then in Rebellion In 45 H. 3. he had the like Summons to be at London with all the chief Nobilitie upon the morrow after Simon and Iude's day in which year it was that the defection of the Barons began farther to shew it self by their intrusion upon the King's authoritie in placing Shiriffs for sundry Shires of this Realme In which respect this Philip Marmion as a person in whose fidelitie the King reposed much confidence had by speciall Patent the Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk committed to his custodie And in 47 H. 3. had summons amongst other great men to be at Hereford upon the Munday after Candlemas day well furnisht with Horse and Armes to resist the power of the before specified Lewelin so also to be at Worcester on Lammas day next ensuing in like sort accoutred to the same purpose Immediatly whereupon divers of the Barons put themselves in Armes to force the King's assent to those Ordinances which they had made at Oxford so much derogating from his regall power who seeing himself over-powred was necessitated to submit to the determination which the King of France should make therein and to bring in severall of the Peers and other eminent persons to give Oath for his performance thereof amongst which this Philip Marmion was one who likewise adhered stoutly to him throughout those turbulent times which soon after ensued For the next year following he was at the taking of Northampton and in 50 H. 3. as a reward for his faithfull services had a grant of all the King's demesns here in Tamworth aswell in that part which lyes in Staffordshire as of that in this Countie as also in Wyginton to hold during his naturall life for the Rent of xxxiv li. vi s. ix d. And was made Governour of Kenilworth-Castle immediatly upon the render thereof after that memorable six-months siege whereof I have elswhere spoke In 13 E. 1. this Philip claimed by Prescription a Court-Leet and Gallows here at Tamworth with all Weyfs found in a certain place called Asselonde within this his Mannour as also Free-warren in his demesn lands here and in those belonging to the Nunns of Polesworth all which were allowed And upon his death which hapned in 20 E. 1. it was certified that he held this Castle of the King in Capite by Knight's service finding three Knights at his own proper costs for xl days in the Warrs of Wales and that Ioane the wife of William Mortein Maud the wife of Raphe le Boteler Ioane the daughter of Raph Cromwell and Mazera his wife and Ioan Marmion were his next heirs as the Descent in the following page doth more plainly shew Which Ioan Mortein being the eldest daughter had this Castle for her share and died seized of it about three years after leaving no issue whereupon by Agreement betwixt the rest of the coheirs it was allotted to Ioane the wife of Alexander Frevile Which Alexander being brother and heir to Sir Baldwin Frevile Knight of whose inheritance he had fair lands in Norfolk and Herefordshire died seized