Heyward Kt. and others who sold it to ..... Over and Phyneis But Phyneis releasing Over past the same away to Richard Perkins by the name of the Mannour and capitall Messuage in Barnakell Which Richard in 14 Eliz. granted it to Edw. Aglionby And in 15 Eliz. the above mentioned Iohn Wade joyn'd with the said Perkins in levying a Fine thereupon by the name of the Mannour of Barnakell 8 Messuages and ..... Acres of land lying in Barnakell and Shilton Which Edw. Aglionby by his deed dated 8 Maii 32 Eliz. granted the reversion thereof after the death of Mary his wife unto Mich. Feilding and his heirs who dying without issue it descended unto Basill Feilding late of Newnham Esq his elder brother which Basill setled the same upon Roger Feilding his younger son afterwards Knighted whose son Basill now enjoys it Shilton I Have now done with the Parish of Bulkinton The next Town in my designed order is Shilton which the Earl of Mellent held in the Conq. time Wallef being his tenant thereof whose free-hold it was before the Norman invasion It then contained two hydes having woods of two furlongs in length and one in breadth and was valued at xl sol being in the general Survey then taken written Scelftone I suppose that it attended the succession of Bernangre for a long time though I have not light enough from Record to manifest as much for in 8 H. 5. it appears that Iohn Beauchamp of Holt dyed seized thereof and that Margaret the wife of Iohn Pauncefot was his daughter and heir After which time till 5 H. 8. have I seen no more of it but then did Raph Swillington and Alice his wife paâ—s it to Richard Bishop of Winchester and others though to what uses I kâ—ow not And in E. 6. time was Thomas Essex Esq son of Sir Thomas Essex Kt. seized thereof This Village is now reputed to be a Parish of it self whereas antiently it was of the Parish of St. Michael in Coventre and the Chappel here appropriated to the Priory of Coventre Howbeit the Inhabitants had not then liberty of sepulture in the Chappel-yard which was made and consecrated by Roger de Clinton B. of Coventre with the permission of the Prior and Covent but were enjoyn'd to bring the bodyes of their dead to be buryed at the Mother Church of Coventre the Curate being a Stipendiary to the Prior of Coventre and removable at his pleasure having onely the small tythes assigned him for his Salary which in 26 H. 8. were valued at 5 l. per annum It seems that the interest which the said Prior had here was by Composition with the Canons of Leicester forasmuch as this with Ansty were antiently Chappels belonging to Bulkinton and given to the Monastery of Leic. by Roger de Watervill for which the said Prior paid x sol yearly to the Canons of Leicester Wolvey NOrthwards and somewhat by East from Shilton lyes Wolvey whereof Alricus the son of Meriet was possest in Edw. the Conf dayes but after the Norman invasion it came to the hands of Robert de Veci with other Lands in the Counties of Leic. and Linc. and by the general Survey is certified to contain five hydes and a half valued at 50 s. there being at that time a Church In that Record it is written Ulveja taking its name originally no doubt from one Ulf or Wulf whose seat it was in the Saxons time and the Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the same with domus the g being for easiness of pronunciation changed into y or i and the h sometimes left out and sometimes retained as in 32 E. 1. may be observed To the posterity of this Robert de Veci it continued not for in H. 2. time the Earl of Warwick had it and enfeofft Harecourt thereof it being part of those 7. Knights fees which William E. of Warwick in 12 H. 2. certified that Yvo de Harecourt then held of him de veteri feoffamento This Ivo de Harecurt disposed thereof inter alia to Robert Basset with Beatrice his sister in frank marriage to hold and enjoy as freely as he the said Ivo or his father ever held them which Robert was of the family of Basset of Riston now called Rushton in Northamptonshire and a good Benefactor to the Monks of Combe for he purchased a great part of Bilney from Thurbert the son of Hadhelwlfus and gave it to that Monastery By the consent of Beatrice his wife he gave likewise thereunto C. acres of land lying in this Lordship with pasture to the same belonging which K. H. 2. also confirmed This Robert Basset had issue Reginald who ratified to the Monks of Combe the said grant by his Father in which confirmation it is exprest that those C. acres did lye partly upon Caldwellehull on Wolvey-heath and partly betwixt Sandford and Grimeswrose towards Watlingstrete adding also of his own gift pasture for 500 Sheep upon Wolvey-heath And likewise bestowed on them the Church of St. Iohn Bapt. here at Wolvey of his patronage with all lands tythes and obventions thereunto belonging The one moytie whereof was appropriated to them by Geffrey Muschamp B. of Cov. and Lich. in K. Iohn's time at the request of the said Reginald and the other by agreement betwixt the said Reginald the Monks and the said B. made a Prebend to the Cathedral of Lichfield whereof the said B. and his successours was to have the advouson Which agreement was confirmed by Pope Innocent the 4. in the 8. year of his Papacy 34 H. 3. as also by Hubert Archb. of Canterb. William Bishop of Coventre and the Prior and Covent of that Church Other grants of land and rent here in Wolvey did the said Reginald make to them which to particularize will not be much material as also of lands in Herberbury whereof I shall say more when I come to that place Of this Reginald the first mention that I find in Record is in 23 H. 2. In 4 and 5 R. 1. he was joyn'd with Gilb. de Segrave as substitute for Hugh Nuvant Bishop of Coventre to whom the custody of these Counties was committed but afterwards viz. for the 6 7 8 and 9 years of that K. reign as also in 1 Ioh. he had the sole charge of them himself and accounted for them as Shiriff To the Monks of Kirby he gave Common of Pasture upon his Heath here at Wolvey viz. for their draught Oxen at Copstone with 5. Kine and a Bull and to their tenants of that village Common of Pasture upon the same Heath for all kind of Cattle As also 20. loads of Heath and Fern yearly to be cut upon the same Heath for those Monks with liberty to their tenants of Copston to get Heath and Fern there yearly
in 18 E. 3. got License to pass this Mannour away unto the Monks of Merevale but it was not accordingly conveyed for in 7 H. 4. upon seizure of the lands belonging to those forraign Monasteries for the reasons before exprest as a member of the Priorie of Okeburne which was a Cell to Bec before mentioned it was demised to Will. de Brynklow Clerk and Peter Purly Esq. by Iohn the King's son afterwards Duke of Bedford and Thomas Longley Chancelour of England who had the King's grant of all the lands belonging to the said Priorie of Okeburne to hold for xx years at the rate of xl l. per an After which time viz. in 16 H. 6. the Duke of Bedford being then dead the King gave it to Humphrey Earl Stafford for life and within six years after granted the reversion thereof for ever unto the Provost and Scholars of King's Colledge in Cambridge then newly by him founded Heremitanus S â— Augustini Yet of this grant had that Colledge no benefit as it seems for in 31 H. 6. did the said King bestow it upon Edm. Earl of Richmund his half Brother and the heirs of his bodyâ— but that Patent held good no longer than the life of that King for it appears that King Edward 4. in the first year of his reign disposed thereof unto the Carthusian Monks of Montgrace in Yorkshire who accordingly enjoy'd it till the dissolution of that House by King Henry 8. Whereupon coming to the Crown it was granted to Henry Marq. Dorset and Thomas Duport and to the heirs of the said Marquess for ever upon whose attainder in 1. Mariae whereof in Astley I have spoke it returned again to the Crown and in 1 2 Ph. M. was past to William Devereux Esquire and his heirs Which William being afterwards a Knight died seized thereof in 21 Eliz. leaving Margaret the wife of Edward Litleton of Pillaton-Hall in Com. Staff Esquire and Barbara the wife of Edward Hastings his daughters and heirs But since it is come by purchase to Sir Iohn Repington Knight whose son and heir sc. Sir Iohn R. of Amington Knight now enjoys it Within the precincts of this town there was very antiently a Chapell whereunto the Monks of Bec about the beginning of H. 2. time gave xii acres of land viz. six lying on the one side of the town and six on the other Concerning which Chapell the said Monks and the Parson of Manceter then came to this agreement viz. that the Rector of Manceter for the time being should cause Divine service to be celebrated therein three days every week sc. Sunday Wednesday and Friday and if a Holy-day did happen on any other than of these to be accounted for one of them solemn Service being then to be there performed And moreover in case the passion of St. Peter should happen on any of those days that Mass should be there and then celebrated but on all other days omitted all Tithes and Obventions arising out of this Hamlet to be payd to Manceter yet that Buriall and Baptism should be performed here for the Inhabitants of Atherston except any particular person on his death bed should rather desire sepulture at Manceter than in this Chapell-yard which Agreement was ratified by Richard Peche the Bishop of Cov. and Lich. The Friers THis House was founded by Raphe Lord Basset of Draiton in 49 E. 3. for Friers Heremites of St. Augustine over the Gate whereof is yet to be seen his Armes cut in a fair Shield of Stone Touching the originall of this Order there is no absolute certaintie as Polydore affirmeth Some alleadge that St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo retiring into the Wilderness during the rage of the Manichean Hereticks then instituted it gathering together into one Covent those that were disperst in the Desert Others that divers devout persons desiring to imitate the piety and singular learning of St. Augustine even whil'st he lived left all that they had and betook themselves to the Wilderness whereupon they were called Heremites By which of these means it was I shall not farther stand to enquire but Mendicants they were for certain and for their Habite did wear in their Cloister a white garment close girt to them and when they went out a Black over it with a broad lethern Gâ—rdle buckled as on the last page is represented being shorn on the Head as the Dominicans are These first began to propagate in England about the year 1250. 34 H. 3. as did the Carmelites but in this Countie not of a long time after for to this in Atherston which was the onely House of them therein it was the 49 th of Ed. 3. ere the said Lord Basset gave the land sc. xii acres whereupon it stood at which time they begin to build their Church and came to an Agreement with the Parson of Manceter in the presence of the said Lord Basset the Abbot of Leicester Tho. Harecurt Lord of Bosworth and others Iohn Combe being their Precurator or Warden at that time Which was in substance this that for the Tithes of those places whereupon that structure was to be made and for the rest of the lands before specified they should pay to the said Parson and his Successors xx s. per an at the Feast of St. Michaell the Arch-Angell and Easter by even portions in default whereof a distress to be taken and that if they should acquire any more land then to pay Tithe in kind for the same It seems the Church and buildings were not perfected till King Ric. 2. time for it appears that the said Lord Basset by his Testament bearing date at London 12 Sept. an 1383. 7 R. 2. gave them a Legacie of five hundred marks for compleating thereof This is he that was the last Lord Basset of Draiton for he died without issue and lieth magnificently entombed in Lichfield Cathedrall on the South side of St. Chad's Shrine though the place be not now known by that name the Lord Paget's Monument being erected where that Shrine stood But I do not find that they ever had any more lands than what are above exprest for by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. all that belonged to them was valued but at xxx s. iii d. per an over and above reprises and came to the Crown by the Act of dissolution in 27 H. 8. After which viz. in 35 H. 8. the King granted the site and circuit of the House with a Dove-cote Barn Orchard and two Messuages that stood upon the before specified ground first given thereto unto one Henry Cartwright and his heirs to hold by the xxxth part of a Knight's Fee Which Henry the same year sold it to .... Hill Since which by purchase it came to Sir Iohn Repington Knight who having bought the Mannour as hath been already shewed built a fair House of Brick upon the ruins of this
testimony of a good Historian that divers persons of quality in that Province whereof he names some accompanied him as also that a third part of the Conquerours Army was commanded by the same Alan who had the Earldome of Richmund given him as a reward for his service This Geffrey bore a great respect unto the Monastery of St. Nicholas founded at Angiers the principall City of Anjou in the year 1020. to the honour of St. Nich. Archb. of Nice St. Hierome and St. Lazarus whom Christ so loved For by his deed bearing date here at Kirby the xii year of K. William's reign he gave thereunto both land and tythes out of divers Lordships here in England whereof he was possest by the Conq. favour and in particular to the Church of this Kirby which he found decayed and rebuilt dedicating it to the honour of the blessed Virgin and St. Dennis which singular munificence occasioned the Monks of Angiers to send over part of their Covent hither making it a Cell subordinate to that forreign Monastery whereby it became one of those we usually call Prioryes-alien and thereupon had the name of Monkskirby By the generall Survey this Lordship was certified to contein xv hides there being two Priests here at that time who held xxi carucats of land These were Franus and Osgot as I guess mentioned in the before specified Charter All which then extended to x. l. value whereof the Monks of St. Nicholas had two Carucats in demesn and vi bord holding v. more and in that Record it is written Chirchberye which gives further illustration to what I have said already touching the name Howbeit of the said Geffrey Wirce have not I seen any thing else memorable nor do I find that he had any Children so that I most incline to believe that dying without issue his possessions in England returned to the Crown for all in this and the before cited Counties came to the hands of Nigel de Albani Progenitor to the Moubray's by the grant of K. H. 1. whose possessions in this Shire by that means and by mariage of Segrave's Daughter and heir were of no small extent But returning to this antient Monastery I find that Nigel de Mulbray Grand-child to Nigel de Albani made a generall confirmation unto the Monks here of all the lands tythes and other his possessions which had been given to them by his Ancestors in divers particular Mannours there exprest and in all others as the grants of Geffrey de Wirce Nigel his Grand-Father and Roger his Father witnessed I am of opinion that the before specified Nigel de Albany gave all the rest of this Lordship to those Monks for in that confirmation made to them by Rog. de Stutevill of what his ancestors had given in Newbold id est Newbold super Avon he makes mention that they had possessions there in the time of Geffrey Wirce and that Nigel de Albani augmented the same by grant of certain lands and other benefits But all that I have seen of any further grants thereunto in this County is certain common of pasture on Wolvey-heath and in Little-Copston by Reginald Basset of Wolvey and of a yard land in Rokeby by Sir Henry Rokeby Kt. of both which I have spoke more fully in my discourse of those places In Leicestersh I find that Hugh de Rampaine gave unto them 7 oxgangs of land with the capital Mess of Kirkby super Wreke which grant Will. de Molbrai who was superiour Lord of the fee there confirmed And that Geffrey Trussell gave them the Church of Sharneford in the same County whereof Will. Basset added his ratification After which viz. in K. Iohn's time Geffrey Muschamp B. of Coventre confirmed to them that which by his Predecessours had been granted viz. the Church of Kirkby with the Chappel of Widebroc so that they should hold the same appropriat to their own benefit as also 3 marks of silver yearly out of the said Chappel of Widebroc in the name of a pension And ratified to them the Church of Wapenbury with the Chappel of Huningham so that they should receive xx s. yearly out of the same and a stone of wax in the name of a pension and likewise the Church of Neubold that is to say two parts thereof to their proper use and to the third that the Prior of Kirkby should present a fit Clerk to the Bishop Being therefore thus plentifully endowed they obtained in 50 H. 3. a Charter for a weekly Mercate upon the Wednesday with a Faire yearly to begin on the even of the feast of St. Ioh. Bapt. and to continue 3 days but the Wednesday Mercate after a while being not found so convenient they procured K. E. 1. in 33 of his reign to alter it for Tuesday at which time he likewise granted to them Free-warren in all their demesn lands of Monkskirby Walton Neubold-Paunton and parva Herdebergh with view of Frank-plege of all their Tenants in these and other places within this County as also in Kirkby super Wreke in Leicestersh with tryal of Malefactors and Weyfs In consideration whereof they were to pay to the King his heirs and successors v marks yearly Which Mannour of Kirkby super Wreke was by these Monks in 14 E. 2. granted to Roger Beler and Alice his wife and to the heirs of their two bodyes paying yearly to them and their successors viii marks vi s. viii d. at the feasts of St. Michael and Easter by even portions What else is memorable relating to this Monastery remains now to be spoke of as it was a Priory-alien viz. first of its sundry seizures made by the King and next of its dissolution Of which seizures hapning by reason of our wars with France as in Wolston hath been shewed the first that I have seen authority for was in 18 E. 1. for by an Indenture bearing date on the feast day of St. Mathew the Apostle in that year it appears that Rob. de Sottewell and Rog. de Belegrave to whom the lands and tenements of the said Prioryes-Alien in the Countyes of Warr. and Leic. were by the K. precept committed did upon certain conditions and agreements deliver to the Prior of Kirkby the said Monastery with what thereto belonged and the stock upon the ground all prized at estimable rates In which Indenture amongst other things it is observable that Wheat was then rated at vi s. a quarter Rye v s. Barly iii s. Beans and Pease ii s. viii d. Oats ii s. Swans at iii s. iiii d. a peice and Ducks at i d. After which viz. in 14 E. 3. the K. having again made the like seizure and committed the custody of this with the other Cels subordinate to the Monastery of S. Nich. at Angiers unto their Procurator general in England for a certain sum of money to be yearly paid into his Exchequer
Mâ—nastery as a member and Chappell of Wotton out of which upon the appropriation of Wotton to those Canons half a marke per annum was reserved for their use but afterwards it seems they had it wholly for so doth the Record of 7 E. 1. express whereby it also appears that it was endowed with a yard land and half having been appropriated to them the very preceding year by R. de Meulend Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield and and confirmed by the King In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at viii marks and the Vicaridge at two marks but the Vicaridge in 26 H. 8. was rated at Cxiii s. iv d. per annum over and above 8 s. 4 d. yearly allowed for Procurations and Synodals That which now beareth the name of Blakdon is onely a hilly ground in Lillington-field having originally had its denomination from the dark colour thereof done or dune signifying a Hill The Mill which yet also retains the name thereof lyeth upon Avon at the skirt of the same field and was given to the Mâ—nks of Combe by William de Burton as in Bourton super Dunsmore I have shewed Whether there were ever any village at this Blakdon I know not but do findâ— that it was part of that which the Canons of Kenilworth had in Lillinton though not of the Mannour it and Wridfen being held of Verdon's heirs by a Knights fee and half Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes temp Inst. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. de Kylkeni an 1252. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Maâ—r Wâ—scard an 1255. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Camezane Auditor contradict D. Papae an 12â—6 Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rog. de Reygate an 1284. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. dictus Lok Diaâ— 8. Id. Oct. 1308. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. de Henyugham Cap. 5. Cal. Apr. 1344. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. de Rodburne 5. Id. Ian. 1375. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Robolot Pbr. 13. Iunii 1397. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Stamford Pbr. 5. Feb. 1398. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Adam Felchyn 9. Maii 1401. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Racheford Cap. penult Ian. 1421. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rad. Wikeley 17. Ian. 1425. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Blaby Pbr. 29. Oct. 1431. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Cowper Pbr. 16. Febr. 1435. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Normanton Pbr. 17. Apr. 1493. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Snelston Cap. 10. Febr. 1506. Will. Pynnok ar ratione concess Pr. C. de Kenilw. Ioh. Shirburne art Magr. 7. Martii 1552. Henr. Porter alii ratione concess Rob. Grey gen Agnetis Grey Viduae Thom. Badnall 24. Iulii 1554. Rob. Craston Brigittaux ejus Rob. Chewe Clâ—r 3. Apr. 1566. Laur. Grey gen Ioh. Brooke Cler. 8. Apr. 1594. Iana Domina Puckering de Warwick Thom. Mayoe Clâ—ric 16. Martii 1598. Tho. Puckering Mil. Bar. Will. Cooper Cler. in art Bacc. 20. Iulii 1631. Wolphamcote HAving thus followed the Northern side of Leame till it meets with Avon it now remains that I ascend to the South-east part thereof where it enters this Hundred which is within the precincts of Wolphamcote This is now vulgarly called Ovencote contaning within its parish the villages of Flekenhâ— Nethercote and Sawbridge in all which there are decayed Chappell 's and in the Conq. time was possest by Turchill de Warwick the content thereof being certified at 4. hides and a half valued at lx s. having also a Church situat therein but in that Survey it is written Ulfelmescote and was before the Norman invasion the freehold of one Aschil As for the originall of the name 't is evident enough that it sprung from some antient planter or Inhabitant there in the Saxons time Wlfelmus being a usuall appellation amongst them and the Word Cote as I have elsewhere observed being the same with domus or habitatio To the before specified Turchill succeeded Siward de Arden his son and heir who being permitted to enjoy this as part of his rightfull inheritance granted it to Lecelina daughter to Geffrey de Clinton and her heirs Ailwin the then Bayliff of Flekenho and his sons being some of the witnesses thereto qui reddiderunt pecuniam as the Deed expresses id est making attournment by paying some money in token thereof Which Lecelina marryed to Norman de Verdon as in Brandon I have shewed and had issue by him Bertram de Verdon in whose line it continued till towards the end of H. 3. time that Iohn de Verdon past it away by the name of a Mannour to Walter de Langlegh and Alice his wife and their heirs for the service of half a Knights fee provided that they the said Walter and Alice and their heirs should appear in their proper persons twice a year with their tenants at the Court-leet of him the said Iohn and his heirs at Flekenho in case they did reside here at Wolfhamcote and if not then their Bayliff to supply their room Which grant though not dated was made as I guess about 40 H. 3. For in 41. the said Walter and Alice had a Charter of Free-warren granted to them in all their demesn lands here But the said Alice surviving her husband did in 23 E. 1. settle it upon Robert de Langley her younger son and his heirs To whom succeeded Margaret his daughter and heir wedded to William de Peto whereby it divolved to that family about the beginning of E. 3. reign From which time I shall not need to instance by particular proof from Records that their descendants were successively Lords thereof for they continued so till within these few years that Sir Edward Peto of Chesterton Kt. in consideration of 2520 li. by his Deed dated 2. Apr. 11. Iac. sold it to Rob. Clerke Yeoman then his tenant thereof This Lordship being antiently held of Verdon as I have shewed upon partition of Verdon's inheritance was held of Will. de Ferrers son and heir of Isabell one of the coheirs to the last Theob de Verdon William de Peto grandchild to the before specified Will. doing his homage accordingly for the half Knights fee here unto William Lord Ferrers of Groby in 2 H. 4. But further than what I have said I do not find any thing memorable of this place other than the complaint which our Countrey-man Rous long since did make of the Depopulation here as well as in many other towns of this County In An. 1291. 19 E. 1. the Church dedicated to S. Peter was valued at xxv marks the advouson whereof was in 38 E. 3. granted by Sir Iohn de Peto Kt. Ian. 9. unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and to Thom. B. his
mentioned had Free-warren granted to him in 42 H. 3. And that the said Iohn held the same being half a Knights fee of Thomas de Arden lineall heir to the before specified Siward by the service of a Hawke As also that in 13 E. 1. Theobald de Verdon â— son and heir of the said Iohn claymed a Court-leet Assise of bread and beer Free-warren and weyfs with other priviledges here in Flekenho and the members thereof viz. Nethercote Wolshamcote Sawbridge for these do appear so to be by the antient stile of the Court there kept all which were allowed Which Theobald had issue Theobald and he severall daughters and heirs as in Brandon is shewed whereupon it came by partition to be assigned unto Isabell the wife of Henry de Ferrers of Groby To whose posterity in the direct line it continued untill it was put into the hands of Iohn Stafford Bishop of Bath and Wells Iohn Visc. Beauâ—ont and other feoffees by William the last Lord Ferrers of Groby who by their deed dated 20. Ian. 20 H. 6. setled it upon the said William for terme of life and after his decease upon Thomas his younger son and the heirs male of his body Which Thomas being so seized thereof gave it to Henry Ferrers his younger son to hold during the life of the said Henry but afterward to remain to Thomas Ferrers son and heir of him the said Thomas by Eliz. one of the sisters and heirs to Sir Baldwin Frevill Knight by whom he had the Castle of Tamworth in this County From which Thomas and Eliz. did lineally descend Sir Iohn Ferrers Knight who by his deed bearing date 20. Sept. 12. Iac. gave it with Anne his daughter in Marriage unto Sir Symon Archer Knight and his heirs of whom and his family which hath been of great continuance in this Shire I have spoke in Tanworth where their seat is Nethercote THIS having been antiently called Parva-Flekenho and originally a member of the other was in 10 E. 2. held by Iohn de Coigne of Theobald de Verdon for half a Knights fee And after him viz. in 2 E. 3. by Will. Coyne who wrote himself Dominus de Nethercote To whose posterity it continued till 31 H. 8. that Robert Cuny esquire past it away to Roger Wigston esquire and his heirs whose son and heir William Wigston esq but afterwards Knight levyed a Fine thereof to Eliz. Onely widow in 3 E. 6. But I have heard that Roger Wigston son and heir to the said Sir William sold it to one Thomas Lee which Thomas in 14. Eliz. by the name of Tho. Lee of Clatercote in Com. Oxon. esquire was certified to dye seized thereof leaving William Watson son of Anne Watson one of his sisters his next heir Which William sold it to Tho. Wilcox who passed it to Robert Clerke late owner thereof Sawbridge THIS being written Salebrugge in antient Records makes me imagine that the name was at first occasioned from the Bridge here over Leame and that the syllable Sal which by corrupt pronuntiation is now called Saw proceedeth from the old Brittish word Sal or Salw id est vilis sive parvae estimationis But it was originally a member of Wolfhamcotâ— and continued in the family of Ardern till King Iohn's time that Thomas de Arderne granted it to the Monks of Thorney in Cambrige-shire who in 19 E. 1. were certified to hold in this place one carucate of land rated at xxx s. and iv li. xii s. rent of Assise at which time the value of those customary works due to the Monks from hence were rated at 26 s. 8 d. â—nd the pleas and perquisites 6 s. 8 d. They had then also a Mill of 4 li. per annum and a stock upon the ground worth xx s. by the year The totall viii li. xix s. iv d. This continued in the Crown after the dissolution of the Monasteries til 2 Eliz. that the Q past it away to ...... Gerard and others by the name of the Mannour of Sawbridge How it came again to her hands I know not but in 4. of her raign by her Letters Pat. dated 28. Oct. she granted it to Ranulph Crew esq and Richard Cartwright gent. and their heires together with a water-mill in Ryeton â— to be held in Feeferme paying xx li. yearly into the Exchequer Which Ranulph and Richard by their deed dated the 10. of Nov. following past it to Edward Brook of Flekenho gent. Roger Tibbots of Southam gent. Robert Clâ—rk of Wolfhamcote Yeoman Thomas Chiles of Sawbridge Yeoman and Richard Roberts of Nethercote Yeoman and their heires Shuckborough-superior SOuthwest from Wolfhamcote stands Shuckborough superior part whereof lyes within Kineton-Hundred In the Conq. time the Earl of Mellent held four hides here as appears by the generall Survey then made and Turchill de Warwick half a yard land All which being valued at lv s. were possest by the same Leuvinus before the Norman invasion of whom I have made mention in Monkskirby and Flekenho But in that Record it is written Socheberge whence I conjecture that the originall name was at first composed of a Brittish as well as a Saxon word Swch in that language signifying a Plow and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the other a Hill which is not unsutable to the nature of the ground viz. arable and the situation thereof That the greatest part of the Earl of Mellent's lands and likewise of the before specified â—urchill's came soon after to the antient Earls of Warwick I have often observed yet it when it was or whom that those Earles first enfeoft of this place doth not directly appear but plain it is that Earl Roger who dyed in King Stephen's time gave the Church to the Nunns of Wroxhale and confirmed the grant which Robert then Lord of this Mannour had made of 4. yard land and xx acres of Inclosure to the same Religious house But after this Robert the next that I find to have been Lord of it was Osbert de Lemintone who granted an Oxe-gang of land lying within the precincts thereof to the Abby of Leicester Which Oxe-gang being half a yard land and confirmed by King H. 2. was within a short space given by the Canons of that House to Thomas the son of Oliver de Shukborow and his heires for ix s. yearly rent to be payd to the said Monastery From this Thomas did descend as 't is like that family which long continuing here bore the sirname of Oliver whereof was Thomas Oliver who in 7 E. 1. held 7. yard land in this place viz. 3. yard land and a half of Henry de Berchesdone by the 4. part of a Knights fee which the said Henry held over of the Prior of Coventre and the rest of Iordan de Say by the like service This Thomas Oliver had at that time
death I have not discovered To Henry succeeded Roger his son in the Earldom of Warwick who amongst other of the great Nobility was a witnesse to the Charter of K. Steph. Laws in 1. Steph. but for his military actions I finde no great commendation of him Nay it is reported by an Author of that time wherein he lived that he was vir mollis deliciis magis quam animi fortitudine affâ—uens Neverthelesse being one of those that adhered to Maud the Empresse he was with the Earle of Glouc. and divers other great men at the siege of Winchester in 6. Steph. at which time their Army being utterly routed by the Royallists most of the chief Nobility were taken prisoners but I do not finde that he had much prejudice thereby in regard K. Steph. who had been taken prisoner before in the battail at Lincoln was set at liberty upon condition that the Earle of Glouc. taken then at Winchester with the rest of those that were of his party should also stand in the same condition of freedom as they were before that overthrow And besides this is he reputed to have been the Conqueror of Gowher-land in Wales which his posterity for a long time afterwards enjoyed and wherein he founded a little Priory at Languenith annexing it as a Cell to the Monastery of S. Taurines in Normandy and to the Abby of Nethe gave certain Lands and fishing lying in Glamorgansh within his said Territories of Gouher-land The foundation of the Priory here at Warwick begun by his Father he perfected and did himself found the Collegiat Church of S. Mary in Warwick whereof together with its endowment I shall hereafter speak more fully as also S. Michaels Hospital for Lepers there together with the House of Templars beyond the bridge To divers other Monasteries was he also a benefactor viz. to Bruere in com Oxon. whereunto he gave the Lordship of Mersedene To Pipwell in Northamptonsh by confirming the grant of Causton in this County thereto which as his Charter testifieth he did for the Souls of his Father and Mother Rotrode his Uncle and all his Ancestors To Kenilworth by confirming the grants of the Mannours of Saltford and Newnham thereto and bestowing on the Canons of that House certain Lands in Warwick with the Churches of Brailes Welsburn in this County To the Monks of Preaux in Normandy by giving to them two Hides of Land in Walton To the monastery of Geroudon in com Lâ—ic by conferring thereto the Town of Badsley Endsor in this County which was afterwards given up by those Monks to Earle William his Son and Successor To the Monks of Bordsley in com Wigorn in confirming the grant of Suhanger now called Sunger near Clardon in this County which Will. Giffard had given to that House and conferring on them one Hide of Land in Oxshelve To the Monastery of Thorney in Cambridge shire by confirming the grant thereunto made of the moyety of the Mannour of Wenge by Rob. de Montfort To the Priory of Canwell in Staffordsh by granting thereto 3. yard Land lying in Hull called Hill within his Lordship of Sutton-Colfield in this County And lastly to the Nuns of Wrocheshale by confirming the Church of Shukborow with certain Lands there as also in Bourton and Radford given to them by several persons as I have elsewhere fully declared together with whatsoever was granted to them by Hugh fil Ricardi their Founder By which his several concessions as also his often journeys to the Holy-land may appear that he was a very devout and pious man He wedded Gundrede daughter to Will the second Earle Warren and sister by the mothers side to Waleran â— of Mellent by whom he had issue 3. sons viz. Will. Waleran and Henry and a daughter called Agnes which Will. and Waleran were both Earls of Warwick successively Henry had Gowher-land in Wales left to him by his father but by his death without issue it came to Earle Will. his brother Agnes his daughter was married to Geffrey de Clinton Chamberlain to the King son unto Geffrey the noble founder of the Priory and Castle of Kenilworth who had in Frank-marriage with her by the gift of Earl Roger her Father ten Kts. fees of those xvii that he the said Geffrey held of his fee for which he was to do service in the Castle of Brandon And besides all this he had a grant of this County id est the Sheriffalty of the Shire for so it appeareth by sundry testimonies to hold to him the said Geffrey and his Heirs of the said Earle and his Heirs in such sort as he the said Earle held it of the K. This Earl Roger departed the world xii Iunii An. 1153. 18. Steph. in which year Henry D. of Normandy afterwards K. of England by the name of H. 2. came into England with a great power and was very prosperous for whose better welcome Gundred the Countesse of Warwick before mentioned outed K. Steph. souldiers forth of Warwick-Castle and delivered that Fort unto him To Roger succeeded in the Earldom of Warwick Will. his Son and Heir of whom the first memorable passage that I finde relating to any certain time is the Certificate which he made in 12. H. 2. in answer to that precept he received from the K. touching the number of Knights fees then held of him whereby it appears upon calculation of the particulars that they amounted to Cv. and a half This Earle William founded the Hospitals of S. Iohn and S. Thomas both in Warwick built a new Church for the Templars there and enlarged their possâ—ssions by the gift of the Mannour of Shireburn and certain Lands in Morton both in this County ratified to the Monks of Combe a Hide of Land in Bilney granted to them by Thurbert de Bilney and made the like confirmation to the Monks of Pipwell as Earle Roger his father had done to them concerning Causton for which respect he was received into their fraternity as a Founder of that Abby To the Canons of Kenilworth did he ratifie the Churches of Loxley granted unto them by Rob. fil Odonis as also the Churches of Brayles and Wellesburne which his father gave them in consideration whereof they allowed him one Canon there presentable alwayes by himself This Earl had two wives viz. Maud the eldest of the two daughters and coheirs to Will Lord Percy and Margaret Deivill if Rous mistake not but I rather think that Mâ—ud was the later for I find that by her speciall Charter as Countess of Warwick which was doubtless in her Widowhood she gave to the Monks of Salley in York-shire the Church of Tatcaster with the Chapell of Haselwood and one Carucat of Land in Catthon
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
paticular name certain Knights from the several Counties and Burgesses for the Burroughs to appear the Fryday next before the Feast of St. Michael with whom the said King resolved to have personall Treaty amongst these was our Roger de Aylesbury with Ric. de VVhitacre and Iohn Revell for this County but it seems that Ric. de VVhitacre appeared not for upon assignation of their expences for xv dayes being the time it lasted the appointment to the Shiriff is only for payment of this Roger and Iohn Revell this being the year preceding the said King 's assuming the title of King of France and quartering the Armes of that Realm with England whereupon he took into his royal consideration that the same might occasion him a War with the French and proposed the borrowing of money from the Clergy and people of England for avoiding thereof constituting Commissioners through the several Counties to declare that to be the reason of the said loan And the next year following being resolved of an expedition beyond Sea for effecting his designes in France summoned the like Councell of his Subjects to be held at Westminster the morrow following the Clause of Easter whereunto were again appointed to come in the behalf of this County the said Roger de Aylesbury Ric. de VVhitacre and Iohn Revell there to consult about the conservation of this Realm in peace and safety during the King's absence In 13 E. 3. he served in the Parl. then likewise held at Westminster as one of the Knights for this Shire but after this I find no more of him that is memorable other than that he was a Kt. and left issue Philip his son and heir who bore for his Armes a Bend gules over his Azure Crosse and married Agnes the daughter and coheir of Hugh de Brandeston Lord of the Mannour of Lapworth by whom he had issue Roger. Which Roger had very little to do in the affairs of the publique other than as a Commissioner in 6 H. 4. for collection of a Subsidy in this Connty Neither had Iohn his son any more than in the Office of Eschaetor for this County and Leicestershire in 23 30. H. 6. And Iohn the son and heir of him none at all the Family being declined so much that notwithstanding his descent as heir to Roger before spoken of who was a Knight he wrote himself no other than Gentilman Which Iohn being the last male branch of this house here at Edston left issue Ioane a daughter and heir wedded unto Thomas Somervile of Somervile-Aston in com Glouc. Esquier whereby this Mannour with the rest of his lands came to that Family in which it still continues having been since that time their principal Seat as appears by many authorities But touching the ancestors of this Thomas Somervile I shall say little in regard that having their estate and residence in Gloucestershire they are out of my limits only of this I conceive fit to take notice that they have been of a very antient continuance there and no lesse eminent as it seemâ—â— for one of them was a Knight in 45 H. 3. being stiled Iohannes miles de Aston Somervile and bore for his Armes ...... upon a border ...... 6 Leopards heads ...... as by his Seal appeareth whereunto his great granchild Sir VVill. Somervile Knight in the beginning of Edw. 3. time added one more Leopards head upon the border and Sir Iohn Somervile Knight his son and heir altered it more bearing Argent upon a fâ—sse gules 3 Leopards heads Or betwixt 3 Annulets of the second which coat hath been continued by his posterity to these very times From whom descended Iohn Somervile Esq who in 25 Eliz. being a hot spirited Gentleman and about 23 years of age but a Roman Catholique by profession is said to have been so far transported with zeale for the restoring that Religion by the instigation of one Hall a Priest that he resolved to kill the Queen and to that purpose made a journey to London and that upon his apprehension he confest his intent but being arraigned condemn'd and committed to Newgate within three days after he was found strangled in his lodging How far forth he was guilty of this God knows for with what a high hand things were then borne through the power of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester is not unknown to most men which Earl had a particular spleen against M r Arden of Parkhall father in Law to this Gentleman as by sundery aged persons of credit I have often heard Bearley THis being written Burlei in the Conqueror's Survey was then held of Rob. de Stadford by one Ailric whose freehold it had been before the Norman invasion but the extent of it by that Record is certified to be no more than 1. hide valued at x s. which was but the one half of what it had been rated at in Edw. the Confessor's days By one of whose descendants sc. of Stafford was Cumin antiently Lord of Snitfield as I conceive first enfeoft hereof and by Cumin Nicholas that assumed his sirname from hence without doubt for in H. 2. time I find that such a man there was and that he with Will. de Burlei his son gave to the Monks of Bordsley xx acres of land lying within the precincts o Claverdon and held of Walter Cumin who coâ—â—â—mâ—d â—â—e grant As also that to the Church of Wootton and the Monks of Conchis they likewise gave in 1 R. 1. all their interest in the Chapell here addâ—ng the grant of one yard land with a Croft and Messuage To which William succeeded Iohn his son and heir who quitted his total interest and claim in the said Chapell unto those Monks and for its better confirmation levied a Fâ—ne thereupon in 5 H. 3. This Iohn had issue Will. de Burle a further Benefactor also to the Monks of Bordsley by granting to them certain lands in Claverdon which he had recovered by a suit in Law in the Kâ— Court at Westminster and bore for his Armes three Garb with 3 flower de lices in Chief which shews what relation he had to Cumin and Cantilupe Lords of Snitfield successively To whom succeeded Hugh his son and heir who gave likewise to those Monks of Bordsley one yard land lying here in Burley but within the Fee of Snitfield and therefore confirm'd by Margery de Cantilupe and Iohn her son Which Iohn about the beginning of Edw. 1. time withdrew the suit that the Inbabitants of this place had usually done to the Hundred Court unto his own Court held a Snitfield So that I think there needs no question to be made but that Cumin was first enfeoft hereof by Stafford to fortifie which my conjecture the more I find that Iohn de Cantilupe son to the last mentioned Iohn was in 9 E. 2. certified
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
de Herle Four Messuages also lying here and in Rothy Com. Leic. by Iohn Huwet and William Wytherley Priest The appropriate Rectorie of this Parish-Church at Nun-Eaton by the Prior and Covent of Shene All which with the rest whereof I have not found the grants or which being not very considerable for brevities sake are omitted were as a preparative to that fatall dissolution soon after following by the Survey made in 26 H. 8. valued at CCXC li. xv s. ob Out of which inter alia were deducted for the Fees of Henry Marquess Dorset then high Steward of this Monasterie and Iohn Dabridgcourt the Under-Steward vi li. xiii s. iv d. per annum Of William Fynderne Receiver generall ii li. xiii s. iv d. and of William Font Auditor i li. xiii s. iv d. So that being one of the greater Monasteries it was not dissolved till 31 H. 8. But then did the Prioresse and her Covent by their publique Instrument under Seale dated 12 Sept. surrender it to the King whose names as they are subscribed theretoâ— with the severall Pensions by Patent allowed them for life I have here added Agnes Oulton Prioresse xl li. Agnes Wylsey iii li. Isabell Purfrey iii li Ioane Whalley iii li. Eliz. Milward iii lâ—â— Ioane Wetnall iii li. Isabell Repington Liii s. iv d. Ioice Fitz-Herbert Liii s. iv d. Anne Everat Xlvi s. viii d. Luce Haselrig Xlvi s. viii d. Ioane Bale Xlvi s. viii d. Ioane Haseley Xlvi s. viii d. Margaret Dixwell Xlvi s. viii d. Rose Cetonâ— Xlvi s. viii d. Marie Worsley iii li. Ioane Copston Xl s. Marie Barington Xl s. Elene Townsend Xl s. Dorothe Ryddell Xl s. Ioyce Clarke Xl s. Eliz. Berdmore Xxvi s. viii d. Eliz. Banaster Xxvi s. viii d. Ioane More Xxvi s. viii d. Agnes Kyngeston Xxvi s. viii d. Ioane Palmer Xxxiii s. iv d. But in the Crown it continued not long for it appears that King Henry by his Letters Patent dated 29. Maii 32. of his reign which was abought eight months after the Surrender gave it with all the lands in this Countie thereto belonging unto Sir Marmaduke Constable junior of London Knight then his servant son of Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough in Yorkshire which Sir Marmaduke sold part thereof but died seized of the site as also of the Mannour and greatest proportion of the lands so given him 28. Apr. 2 Eliz. leaving Robert his son and heir xxx years of age unto whom the said Queen in the sixt of her reign for the summe of CCCCxxxv li. xiii s. granted the reversion of the premisses scil to him and his heirs generall Of which Sir Robert they were soon after purchased by Sir Ambrose Cave Knight who died seized thereof 2. Apr. 10 Eliz. leaving Margaret the wife of Henry Knolls Esquire his daughter and heir by which means it is come to the Lord Paget and Sir Henry Willoughby in like sort as Kingsburie is whereof I have already spoken and divided accordingly In farther reference to this town the most notable passages which have come to my observation are these viz. That after the Mercate and Faire was so obtained by the Nuns in 7 â— 2. as hath been said they procured speciall Patent to take Toll of all vendible commodities coming thither by the space of five years towards the charge of paying it and next that in 9 E. 3. the Townsmen had the like Patent to take Toll for four years of all such commodities for repairing the Bridge there The Church dedicated to S. Nicholas was given to the Monasterie of Lira in Normandie by Robert sirnamed Bossu Earl of Leicester in Hen. 1. time whose Charter thereof inter alia King H. 2. confirmed In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xxxii marks but after the dissâ—â—ution of the Priories-Alien whereof in Wolston and Wootton-Wawen I have spoke it was sâ—â—â—ed upon the Carthusian-Monks at Shene in Surrey by King H. 5. in 3. of his reign when he founded that Religious House of whom the Nuns here at Eaton obtained it in 38 H. 6. In 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was valued at xix li. xiv s. vi d. over and above ix s. vi d. per annum allowed for Procurations and Synodals and C s. per annum Stipend to the Curate serving in the Chapell at Attilborough Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Procurator Abb. Conv. de Lira Galfr. de Vilers 14. Cal. Apr. 1310. Procurator Abb. Conv. de Lira Thomas de Blyburgh Non. Iulii 1318. Procurator Abb. Conv. de Lira D. Edm. de Schireford Cap. xv Cal. Apr. 1321. Edw. Rex Angl. ratione posses Abb. de Lira in manu sua exist Sim. de Thorp Pbr. 4. Id. Ian. 1341. Edw. Rex Angl. ratione posses Abb. de Lira in manu sua exist Walt. de Heyworth 5. Cal. Oct. 1351. Edw. Rex Angl. ratione posses Abb. de Lira in manu sua exist Sim de Thorp 2. Id. Nov. 1351. Edw. Rex Angl. ratione posses Abb. de Lira in manu sua exist Rob. de Haselbech Cap. 18. Cal. Iulii 1357. Procurator Abb. C. de Lira Ioh. Bosevill Cap. 19. Cal. Sept. 1361. Procurator Abb. C. de Lira Magr. Ioh. de Carswell 4. Non. Aug. 1364. Procurator Abb. C. de Lira Will. Lorkin Pbr. 7. Id. Febr. 1368. Dominus Rex ratione ut suprà Henr. Hunt 3. Cal. Nov. 1373. Dominus Rex ratione ut suprà Nich. Derby Pbr. 10. Nov. 1390. Abb. Conv. de Lira Will. Deper Cap. 29. Iulii 1402. D. Henr. Rex Angl. ratione ut suprà Ioh. Wylton Cap. 2. Dec. 1406. D. Iohanna Regina Angliae Ioh. de Tybbay Cap. 13. Dec. 1412. D. Iohanna Regina Angliae D. Ric. Mortomy Cap. 20. Febr. 1412. D. Iohanna Regina Ioh. Tybbay Cler. Nich. Derby Cap. 2. Iulii 1413. Prior Conv. Domus Iesu de Bethlem apud Shene Thomas Waryn Cler. 14. Iunii 1501. Prior Conv. Domus Iesu de Bethlem apud Shene Thomas Dei gratia Panadensis Episc. 4. Iunii 1505. Prior Conv. Domus Iesu de Bethlem apud Shene D. Rob. Whittinton 10. Iunii 1521. Rob. Langley gen Iac. Lyngard in art Bac. 14. Martii 1558. Elizabetha Regina Angl. Thomas Stonynge Cler. 5. Maii 1561. Elizabetha Regina Angl. Nich. Cleyton Cler. 10. Apr. 1565. Elizabetha Regina Angl. Georgius Downes Cler. 7. Iunii 1572. Elizabetha Regina Angl. Iac. Persons Cler. 24. Sept. 1583. Elizabetha Regina Angl. Will. Gurrie Cler. 24. Febr. 1591. Iacobus Rex Will. Butterton in Art Magr. 11. Oct. 1604. Carolus Rex Sampson Hawkhurst Cler. S. Theol. Bac. 19. Maii 1626. Carolus Rex Will. Cradok Art Magr. 3. Sept. 1627. Leek's-Chantrie IN this Parish-Church did one Iohn Leek found a Chantrie in 23 H. 7. of one Priest
to celebrate Divine service for the good estate of him the said Iohn during his life in this world and after his death for the health of his Soul as also for the health of the Souls of his Parents Benefactors and all the faithfull deceased but of this there is no remembrance in the Survey of 37 H. 8. so that when it was dissolved I know not The Free-Schoole THis was founded in 6 E. 6. by the Inhabitants of this town unto whom the King gave for that purpose three Closes of ground lying within the Liberties of Coventre which sometime belonged to the Trinitie-Gild there and were then valued at x li. xv s. viii d. to be held of the Mannour of East-Grenewich in Socage Horeston-Grange THis was originally part of the Lordship of Nun-Eaton but thereof I have not seen any particular mention till 19 E. 1. where it is called the Grange of Horeston belonging then to the Nunns and certified to contain six Carucates of land which by the Survey in 26 H. 8. were valued at xv li. ix s. viii d. and past with the Monasterie unto Sir Marmaduke Constable Knight in 32 H. 8. Which Sir Marmaduke sold the Grange it self with certain lands thereto belonging unto one Iasper Fisher Esquire who died seized thereof in 21 Eliz. leaving Katherine Norwood widow and Anne the wife of Richard Wolriche his cosins and heirs But the grounds called Horeston-fields together with Horeston-Wood were aliened in 4 Eliz. by Robert Constable son and heir to Sir Marmaduke unto Stephen Hales Esquire Attilborough THis being part of the Lordship of Nun-Eaton was at length totally possest by the Nunns as may seem by the Survey taken in 26 Hen. 8. But had a Chapell for the benefit of the Inhabitants whereunto for maintenance of a Priest there serving was antiently the summe of C s. allowed but with the dissolved Monasterie it passed out of the Crown in 32 H. 8. to Sir Marmaduke Constable Since which they have not been severed Stockingford THis was originally a member of Eaton and involved therewith in the Conqueror's Survey but afterwards by the Earl of Leicester scil Robert Bossu granted in exchange to William de Newmarch for Wittewike in Leicestershire which William gave it to the Canons of Leicester About that time also had those Canons the Chapell here by the grant of Geffrey de Turvill and certain lands bordering on Hardreshull which Geffrey the Herâ—mite bestowed on them Within the precincts of this place the Nunns of Eaton had likewise a Grange containing three Carucates of land as is certified by the valuation thereof in 19 E. 1. At which time all that the Canons of Leicester had here was rated but at one Carucate so that what the said Nunns were then possest of was it seems formerly granted to them by those Canons But afterwards it came into Lay hands though how I find not for it appears by a Fine levied in 10 E. 3. betwixt Roger Iabet Plantiff and William Iabet and Maud his wife Deforc. that it was entailed upon William Iabet son of the said William after his Father's decease and upon the heirs of the said William the younger by Elene his wife but for default of such issue on the right heirs of the before specified Maud From which time till 14 H. 4. I have seen no more of it but then did the reversion of it belong unto Hugh Lilburne Iohn the son of Thomas Boteler of Exhale holding it for the life of the same Hugh wâ—â—ch reversion in 1 H. 5. was granted by Will. Boteler and William Babington to the Canons of Erdburie in this Countie the Canons of Leicester of whom it was held giving License for the same reserving to themselves Fealtie and securitie for Lxiii s. iv d. to be payd to them in the name of a Relief which summe by the Survey of 26 H. 8. appears to have been an yearly Rent So that upon the dissolution of the Priorie at Erdburie it was therewith granted unto Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk in 30 H. 8. Which Duke inter alia past it unto Sir Edward Wootton Knight Iohn Danet and Anthony Cooke Esquires betwixt whom being as it seems divided Marie Danet in 35 H. 8. conveyed a third part thereof unto George Medley to certain uses Of the other two parts Sir Anthony dying seized in 18 Eliz. left Richard his son and heir of full age But that which belonged to Nun-Eaton was with that Lordship granted out of the Crown of Sir Marmaduke Constable Knight and hath been possest by the owners thereof ever since Chilverscoton IN the Conqueror's Survey this is written Celverdestoche which shews that it was at first so called from him that possest it in the Saxons time whom I suppose to have been one Ceolfredus that being a name then in use It is there rated at viii hides the Woods containing a mile and a half in length and a mile in breadth the whole being valued at L s. and held by Haroldus fil Radulfi which Raphe was Earl of Hereâ—ord and owner thereof in Edward the Confessor's days In the line of this Haroldus Lords also of Sudley in Com. Glouc. whence they assumed that â—â—rname it continued for divers generations and at length by an heir female divolved to the Butlers as by the Descent in Griffe is manifested But there is little to be said of this place in particular other than that Bartholmew de Sudley in 51 H. 3. ha Free warren inter alia granted to him in all his demesn lands here it having attended the succession of Griffe ever since as a member of that Mannour Within the precinct of this Parish had the Knights Templars certain lands given to them which the Record of 31 Hen. 2. says were de feodo Radulfi de Suthlega being probably of his or his Father's gift and afterwards reputed for a Mannour for by that name had those Templars Free-warren granted to them and their successors therein in 32 H. 3. Which Mannour coming to the Crown in 30 Hen. 8. with all other the possessions belonging to the Religious Houses was in 4 Eliz. sold unto Iohn Fisher and Thomas Dabridgcourt Which Thomas Dabridgcourt having obtained a Release from Fisher of all his right therein by his last Will and Testament in 44 Eliz. gave it to Christian one of his daughter who became the wife of William Belcher of Gilsborough in Com. Northampt. From whom it was purchased by Walter Giffard of Chillington in Com. Staff Esquire and since that of him or his son by Richard Chamberlain Esquire Register of the Court of Wards The Church was given to the Canons of Erdburie together with two yard land by Raphe de Sudley Founder of that Monasterie and in anno 1291. 19 Edw. 1. valued at viii marks being then appropriated to that Religious House and
Friery where residing he died in an 1625. The Gild. OF this Gild forasmuch as it consisted of the Inhabitants of the whole Parish I have spoke in Manceter The Free-School THis was founded in 15 Eliz. by Sir William Devereux Kt. who then residing at Merevale obtained License to purchase lands and to give them thereunto the substance whereof are situate in Dosthill near Kingsburie And farther of this Town I have not to say than that it gave birth to one of our late famous Poets scil Michaell Draiton who being one of the Esquires that attended Sir Walter Aston of Tixhall in Com. Staff Kt. when he was made Kt. of the Bath at the Coronation of K. Iames lieth buried in the South Cross Isle of Westminster-Abby with this Epitaph on his Monument Doe pious Marble let thy Readers know What they and what their Children owe To Draiton's name whose sacred dust We recomend unto thy trust Protect his memorie and preserve his storie Remain a lasting Monument of his glorie And when thy ruins shall disclaim To be the Tresurer of his name His name that never sades shall be An everlasting Monument to thee Feldon-Bridge AT the further side of Atherston field stands this Bridge over Anker which being ruinous in 6 E. 3. License was granted to Edmund de Shireford to take Toll of all vendible commodities passing over it by the space of three years towards the charge in repairing thereof Merevale WEstwards from Atherston scarce a mile stands Miravale of which there is no particular mention in the Conquerour's Survey in regard it was involved with Grendon lying on the other side the River whereto it then belonged as an Out-wood and therewith became possest by Henry de Feriers a great man in these parts as I shall shew anon whose grandson Robert Earl Feriers having a reverend esteem of the Cistertian Monks which in his time began to multiply in England made choice of this mountainous and woody Desert as fittest for solitude and devotion to found therein a Monasterie of that Order which was begun accordingly in the xiiith year of K. Stephen's reign and being propagated with Monks from Bordesley-Abby in Worcestershire had by reason of such its situation the name of Miravalle attributed thereto the lands wherewith he endowed it being these viz. all his Forest of Arden id est his Out-wood in that part of the Woodland which then bore the name of Arden and also what he had in Whitington together with the Mannour of Overton now called Orton on the Hill in Com. Leic. as also Herdwike in the Peake of Derbyshire unto Cranokesdune with Câ—mmon of pasture in Hertendon and Pillesburie for Sheep and other Cattell as the words of his Charter do import But besides this it had severall other Benefactors of which the principall were these scil Gerard de Limesi Walt. de Camvile Raphe de Baskervile and Pain de Baskervile as K. H. 2. Charter whereby he ratified their grants manifesteth So that about 30 H. 2. there were the Granges of More now More-Barne Broile Seile Litle Petling the Church of Overton on the Hill with the Chapells of Grendon Twicrosse Gopfhull and Baxterley some in this Countie and some in Leicestershire belonging thereto as the Bull of Pope Lucius the third whereby he confirmed them doth manifest Divers lands had these Monks afterwards bestowed on them also through the bountie of sundry other persons viz. in Litle Sheyle by Henry de Appelby and others In Overton subt Ardern by Iohn de Overton and Rob. Stapleton In Brantingthorp by Rob. de Brantingthorp and others In Shepye by Nich. de Temple and others In Hertyndon as parcell of the Mannour of Pillesburie they obtained Cxx. acres of land more from Thomas Earl of Lancaster in lieu of xx s. yearly Rent which they usually did receive at his Exchequer of Tutbury In 2 E. 3. they had a grant of two Messuages three Shops and xii s. Rent in Leicester by Petronill Oliver of Leicester to finde a Priest for celebration of Divine service in the Conventuall Church of Miravale for the soul of her the said Petronill her ancestors and all the faithfull deceased In 11 E. 3. they had more lands bestowed on them lying in Overton Peatling and Brantingthorpe before specified by sundry persons In 18 E. 3. they purchased xvii Messuages and divers lands in Atherston Bentley and Baxterley with the moytie of the Mannour of Baxterley In 31 E. 3. they had a Messuage and a yard land in Bentley bestowed on them by Iohn de L'isle then Lord of that Mannour to find xv Tapers in the Chapell of our Ladie near the Gate of the Abby In 10 R. 2. they purchased six other Messuages in Atherston and certain Rents in Whitington and Baxterley In 16 R. 2. four Messuagâ—s and certain lands in Tamworth â— and Wilmecote as also two Messuages more in Atherston And in 28 H. 6. they obtained the Church of Manceter with an appropriation thereof The value of all which lands and all other their possessions amounting unto CCLiiii l. i s. viii d. as appears by the Survey of 26 H. 8. preserved it from him when the lesser Houses went to wrack in 27 H. 8. But in 30 H. 8. it was overwhelm'd in the generall deluge being surrendred to the King's use by the then Abbot and Covent as their publick Instrument under the Conventuall Seal dated 13 Oct. the same year whereunto their names are particularly subscribed doth manifest whose Pensions during life as they were by Patent granted to them I have here also added Willielmus Arnold Abbas xl l. Ioh. Ownsbe Sub-Prior v l. vi s. viii d. Edm. Bromley alias Crockell v l. vi s. viii d. Will. Tunman v l. vi s. viii d. Rob. Fenne v l. Thomas Benson v l. Will. Robynson Sacrista v l. vi s. viii d. Ioh. Dunne v l. vi s. viii d. Will. Bron v l. Ioh. Spey Liii s. iiii d. After which viz. 2 Dec. 32 H. 8. was the site hereof with the lands and woods adjacent together with New-House-Grange and Pinwell-Grange in Com. Leic. As also Owsthirn-Grange in this Countie granted to Sir Walt. Devereux Kt. Lord Ferrers of Chartley and to the heirs male of his body so that there being a reversion in the Crown for defect of issue male in 4 E. 6. he obtained another Patent being then arrived to the dignitie of Vicount Hereford for the same site and the other lands to himself and his heirs generall Which Walter disposed thereof to Sir Will. Devereux Kt. his younger son as it seems for he it was that patcht up some part of the ruins here and resided thereon as I have heard And by his Testament bequeathing it to Ioan his wife for life gave the remainder to Walter Vicount Hereford his nephew and his heirs Which Walter afterwards created Earl of Essex left issue Robert
evident that he spared not the very Clergie imprisoning Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury till he died with many others degrading divers Abbots wasting the lands of Wolstan Bishop of Worcester Walter Bishop of Hereford and Frethric Abbot of S. Albans compelling many of the Nobilitie and others to forsake the Kingdom forcing divers aswell Priests as Layâ—men driven out of their possessions to betake themselves to Woods and Deserts where they were constrained to live as Savages whereby there was scarce a great man left all sorts of men being reduced to such miserie and servitude that it was held a disgrace to be accounted an Englishman Tantum tunc Anglicos abominati sunt saith Ingulphus ut quantocunque merito pollerent de dignitatibus pellerentur multò minùs habiles alienigenae de quacunque alia natione quae sub coelo est extitissent gratanter assumerentur For which being toucht with compunction when he lay upon his Death-bed he cryed out thus to his Friends Multis ô Amici gravibusque peccatis onustus contremisco mox ad tremendum Dei Judicium rapiendus quid faciam ignoro and so goes on deploring his iniquities and amongst other of his sins that lay heavie upon his conscience he hath this expression Naturales Regni filios plus aequo exosus habui Nobiles vulgares crudeliter vexavi injustè multos exhaereditavi innumeros maximè in pago Eboracensi fame seu ferro mortificavi And of his more particular proceedings against them and advancing his Normans observe this notable relation from a person that lived in the next age Post regni conquisitionem c. After the Conquest of the Realm there was diligent enquiry made who were in Armes at the battail against the King that had saved themselves by flight To these and the heirs of those which were slain therein all hope was shut for obtaining any of their lands or possessions Nay it was thought to be a great favour that they were permitted to live yet those which were required to put themselves in Arms and did not and others that were not in the battail with much and earnest suit had obtained favour from their new Lords though without hope that their Children should succeed therein and at length their sons began to retain those possessions at the will of the Lord but after a while they became odious to them and were driven away every where from their estates neither was there any man that would restore what he had so taken from them So that the Natives being thus despoiled of their substance and hated made a common complaint to the King whereupon advising with his Councell he decreed that what they could obtain from their Lords either in consideration of any merit or service by lawfull agreement they should enjoy to themselves without interruption but by way of descent they should challenge nothing which with what discreet consideration it was provided saith mine Author is manifest enough especially because by this means they were thenceforth for their own sakes bound to studie all obsequiousnesse to their Lords as to the purchasing of their favour for none of this conquer'd Nation saith he did possesse any thing which seemed to be his own by right of Descent but what onely through his deserts or by agreement he could obtain But besides these ways of high oppression he wanted not divers subtile devices to secure his dominion First by building of Castles in sundry parts of the Realme Then to prevent tumults in the Night season not only disarming the native English but causing a Bell to be rung in every Parish at eight of the clock in the evening at the sound whereof every one was to cover their Fire and go to rest Item ut ferociam populi ad otium perduceret omnibus arma ademit saith Polidore statuitque ut quisque paterfamilias vesperi circiter horam octavam post meridiem tecto ciâ—eribus igne dormitum iret ad id signum vicatim dari voluit per campanas id quod etiam nunc servatur Normanicè vulgò dicitur Coverfeu And in that year in which he triumphed saith M. Paris he took with him some of the English Nobility into Normandie and married them to Norman Ladies and in like sort did he marry divers English women to his Normans continually loading the people with heavy Taxes to the end they might have enough adoe in busying themselves how to live rather than to have any leisure to stir up commotions Moreover for the better new-moulding them he introduced hither the Norman fashion in making Conveyances and Grants viz. by Deeds sealed with wax whereas before they were testified with Crosses and subscribed by those which were present causing the Laws of the Land Statutes of the preceding Kings and all Pleadings to be written in the French tongue Nay to the end that the English Language might in time wear out of use he took care that the French should be taught in Schools as also in writing appointed that the French Fashion should be imitated And for the better accomplishment of his designe introduced the termes of Hawking Hunting Tennis-play Dice and other pastimes in that Language Thus came lo Englonde into Normans honde Normans ne cowde speche then but here owen speche But Franche as that did at hoom here children dide also teche So that heize men of this londe that of here blode come Holden al thilke speche that thei of hem nome For if a man can no Franche men telle of hem ryzt like But lo men holdeth English here kynde speche zitâ— I wene in the worlde ne is londe nether Countrie none That he ne holdeth his kinde speche but Engelonde now one But men wote well to conne both good hit is For the more men conne the more thei ben worthi I wis Nay the poor English were so humbled that they were glad to imitate the Normans even in cutting their hair and shaving their beards and to conform themselves to the fashion of their new Masters in their very cups and dishes For the order and methode of this present work I have followed the Rivers as the most sure and lasting marks where they lye proper for my course and sometimes have taken my aime from those great and well-known Roman ways viz. Wâ—tlingstreet and Fosse which thwarting each other upon the borders of this Countie extend themselves many miles through it or as a boundarie thereto And whereas the Hundreds are so few and the Rivers with their branches very many I have taken each Hundred by it self Following which course I first begin with Aâ—on as it enters the Shire at Clifton in the North-East following till it goes out at Sâ—lford in the South-West dividing the Wood-land for so that part of the Countie lying North thereof is called from the Feldon discoursing in order of the Towns as they lye adjacent thereto or
the fee of the Earl of Winchester in regard of that part of the Honour of Leicester which he held as I have already shew'd in Clifton And in the 55. of H. 3. it appears that Ernauld de Boys of whom I have also spoken in Clifton held four Knights fees in Weston Bulkinton Clifton Wauere viz. this Wauere and Wibtoft so that it may without doubt be concluded that the possession of this Mannour belonged as antiently to the family of Boys as Clifton did How or when they parted with it I know not but in 8. E. 1. it being then written Bruneswafre was granted by Robert Hovel and Alianore his wife to Theobald Malegal and Nicholas Test Merchants of Luke to be held of the said Robert and Alianore and the heires of Alianore for ever paying 1. d. at Easter yearly for all services and for this they gave then C C. marks of Silver so that it seems to have been of the inheritance of Alianore And yet in 13. E. 1. did Iohn de Bosco of whom I have made mention in Clifton claim a Court-leet here and other liberties used by his ancestours time out of mind As also Free-Warren by the grant of K. H. 3. to Ernauld de Boys his Father exhibiting the Kings Charter for the same which was allowed But from the before specified Theobald and Nicholas was it purchased by William Revell in 20. E. 1. which William in 27. of the same K. Reign obteyned a Charter for Free-warren in all his demesn Lands here And in 35. E. 1. entayled it with Clifton as hath been there exprest When these Revells parted with it I find not nor have I seen any thing more thereof till 11. E. 4. that Thomas Bellers Gentleman released to Richard Boughton Esquire all his right therein which Richard was of Little-Lawford and dyed seised thereof 3. R. 3. leaving William his Son and Heir whose descendants there continuing have enjoyed it to this day The Chappel here dedicated to St. Michael with tythes of Corn and Hay as also one yard land and a messuage belonging to the mother Church of Clifton were given by Ernald de Boys viz. the first to the Abby of Leicester In which Chappel there is Christening and Buriall by the speciall grant of the Abbot of Leicester in regard of the distance of this village from the Mother Church of Clifton and the hindrance of access thereto by the overflowing of Avon oft times Armes in this Chappel viz. in the East Window Gules a cinquefoile ermine Old Earl of Leic. Newton ADjoyning to this Village is Newton having its name from the first plantation there which was then new it seems in comparison of the other adjacent Towns In the Conq. time Turchil de Warwic Progenitor of the Ardens held it viz. by Tenants under him the remembrance of whose names are not of consequence it then conteining 3. hydes as is certified in the generall Survey A great part of this village belonged to the Priory of Kenillworth some whereof was given thereunto by Geffrey Clinton in H. 1. time at the Buriall of Geffrey his Father founder of that Monastery as shall be shew'd in its proper place which grant Henry de Arden Grandchild of the above mentioned Turchill confirmed And the rest viz. two Hydes Ernauld de Boys of whom I have already spoken in Clifton gave which Land he the said Ernauld as by his grant appears had of Geffrey Clinton before specified The residue in K. Steph. time did Hugh Bagot purchase together with Cotes now Coton of Raphe de Duuerne And in consideration of xl s. which Ingeram Bagot his Brother gave him towards his expedition beyond Sea with Otuerus de Sulley granted them both to the said Ingeram to be held of Rob. fil Odonis the chief Lord of the Fee Which Ingeram had issue Simon who sold to the Monks of Combe three yard land here Raph de Mora one of the Heirs to Robert fil Odonis confirming the grant But of these Bagots I purpose to speak when I come to Preston Bagot where I shall insert a scheme of their descent Afterward viz. in 8. Ioh. Robert de Cotes now called Coton in the Parish of Church-Over obteyned by exchange from the Abbot and Covent of Combe all the Land that they had in Newton for Lands which he gave them in Cotes And in the 25. of H. 3. Nichola the Widow of Simon Bagot of Preston in this County released to the Abbot and Covent of Combe and their successours the whole right which she had by reason of her dowrie in all those Lands of Cotes and Neuton So that in 36. H. 3. that which the Monkes of Combe had in Newton answered for the sixth part of a Knights Fee upon payment of the aid for the Kings transfretation into Gascoine which as it seemes was viii yard Land or else they had more granted after that time to them for in 4. E. 1. they enjoyed so much In the xx of E. 3. it answered also for the sixth part of a Knights Fee But in R. 2. time by new gifts or smaller measure that which the Abby of Combe had there was rated at xi yard Land and 1. Acre accounting 48. Acres to a yard of Land Thus did this Monastery continue possessed of Newton till its dissolution After which viz. in 36. H. 8. the K. granted away with divers other Lands that which belonged to the Monks of Combe to Thomas Broke and Iohn Williams and to the Heirs of Broke by the name of the Mannour of Neuton And yet in the same year I find a Licence to Mary Dutchess of Richmund to Alien the very same Mannour to Henry Leigh Esquire And afterwards by Inquisition taken upon the death of the said Henry is it found that he dyed seized thereof 14. Apr. 3. Eliz. and that Edward his Son and Heir was xx years of age But what became of those Lands which the Pr. of Kenylworth had here I have not seen Below Newton Eastwards lyes Biggin so called of later time Biggin signifying an habitation in resemblance whereof we have the Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for inhabitants As also in the Northern parts the name of Biggin for a fair House or Gentlemans seat but antiently this was called Holme having been a Village in the Conq. time though now there be scarce any thing left but a Mill which name it took from the situation lying in a nook betwixt the River Avon and a small brook that comes from Shawell in Leicestershire as the Map will shew for such grounds as are in whole or for the most part compassed with waters are so called as we may observe almost every where In the Conq. time Turchil de Warwick held it by his under-tenants From whom it came with the rest of his Lands as it seemes to the Earles of Warwick for of
the Ordination before specified It is very like that this Chantry swallowed up that whereof I made mention in 8. E. 3. viz. which Thomas Astley had Licence to found for upon the Survey taken an 37. H. 8. there was no other but this in that Chappell of our Lady the lands belonging whereunto were by the Commissioners in 37. H. 8. certified to be of the the yearly value over and above all reprises of iiii l. xviii sol x. d. For the other Chantry was in a Chappel of St. Iames in Hull super Dunsmore as the Record expresses which is that part of the town situate upon the Hill Westwards from the Church and founded by Mag. Thomas de Morton in 18. E. 3. The certificate in 37. H. 8. expresly says he was a Priest and the word Mag. imports as much yet in the Licence given to him to amortize lands thereunto viz. one messuage one yard land and four acres as also four acres and one rode of meadow in Hill Morton aforesaid it is for a Priest to sing Mass for the good estate of him the said Thomas and Alice his Wife and Margerie their Daughter during their lives and for their souls when they should depart this world As also for the souls of Adam de Morton his father and their ancestours c. But it seems he was a marryed man and a professour in some other science The value thereof in 37. H. 8. was certified to to be xlvi s. viii d. In this Lordship of Hill Morton there were also eight messuages and one yard land and a quarter given by one William Poyntell to the Hospitall of St. Iohn Baptist in Luterworth for the finding of a Chantry Priest there to sing Mass for the souls of him the said William and his VVife 3. E. 3. In the middle I le of this Church are two grave-stones of marble each of them having small portraictures in brass of a man and a woman with divers children on one of them is this Inscription Here lyeth Thomas Perkins and Alice and Elizabeth Our Lord save their souls from everlasting death Amen On the other this Here lyeth Richard Tant and Margaret his wife God bring their souls to everlasting life Amen Rugby ON the South-VVest side of this little Rill which comes from Hill Morton lyes Rugby bounded with Avon towards the North but in Doomesday-Book written Rocheberie Beriâ— signifying with our ancestours a Court or habiâ—ation of note And Roche a rock or quarry of stone for such there is VVestwards from this town about half a mile and 't is very like that the ground whereon the town stands being high is of the same condition though that the quarry lye not very near the surface of the earth so that then the nature of the soyl may be the occasion of the name Howbeit in all the elder times sithence it is written Rokeby with a K. instead of the Ch. In the Conquerours time Turchil de Warwick of whom I have already made mention was owner of it one Eddulfus for so he is called in the Conq. Survey then holding it of him it being then certified to contein two hydes and a half the posterity of which Eddulfus continued possest thereof holding it by half a Knights Fee of the said Turchill's Heirs till it went away with a Daughter and Heir in Edw. the first his time as the descent will shew Eddulfus tempore Conquestoris Thurbertus filius Hadewolfi Henricus de Rokeby Henricus de Rokeby Annabilla Ranulphus de Rokeby Annabilla filia haeres uxor Joh. Goband militis But Thurbert the son of this Eddulfus is sometimes called Thurbertus filius Hadelwolfi de Bilneja for it seems he had also a Seat at Bilney now called Binley and sometimes Thurbertus de Rochebe and was a notable benefactor to the Monks of Combe giving a large precinct of his land in Bilney adjoyning to Smite within which Smite the monastery was founded the lands being exprest by boundaryes after the antient manner which grant was ratified by Henry son to the same Thurbert who calls himself Henricus de Rokeby filius Thurberti de Bilney adding to his fathers gift the Mill of Bilney and some other land for the better assurance whereof Henry de Arderne grandson to Turchill confirms the grant though that with a great part also of his inheritance was taken away by the Conquerour or King H. 1. and given to the Earl of Warwick as I think before that time which was in the reign of K. Steph. Roger Earl of Warwick being a witness thereunto for Earl William son of Roger adds his Charter of confirmation to them all which needed not had he not been possest of Arden's lands Here was a little Castle at Rokeby which stood about a furlong from the Church Northwards as is to be seen by the banks of earth and part of the moat yet remaining I am of opinion that this was one of those Castles which were built in King Stephens time for fearing the coming of the Empress as saith mine Author concessit ut quilibet procorum suorum munitionem seu castrum in proprio fundo facere posset Almost all which were demolished by the command of K. H. 2. about the third year of his reign And besides the probability thereof the Inhabitants have it by tradition that it was Sir Henry Rokebye's castle This Henry de Rokeby was a benefactor to the Abby of Pipwell in Northampton-shire as appears by what he gave in Rokeby where the Monks of Pipwell had a grange He also gave all the land which he had in Holme to the Canons of Leicester whereof I have already spoke for the advouson of the Chappel of Rokeby which was a member of Clifton and belonging to that Abby touching which Chappel there was a sute betwixt the said Henry and the Abbot of Leicester in the 2. year of K. Iohn and bequeathing his body to be buried at Combe therewith gave the yearly rent of half a mark of silver issuing out of the Mill of Aston juxta Bermingham in this County which Henry had issue Henry who consumed all the grants to that Abby made by his grandfather and father adding something from himself in Bilney But it seems that the difference concerning the advouson of the Chappel of Rokeby ended not till this time For by a fine levyed 5. H. 3. betwixt Henry Rokeby and the Abbot of Leicester it was concluded that the said Henry and his heirs should exhibit a fit Clerk to the same Abbot and his successours whom they might present to the Bishop which Clerk should pay to them yearly the antient and due pension that the Abby of Leicester had wont to receive out of the said Chappel of Rokeby in right of their Church of Clifton And to perfect this agreement the said Henry gave to that Abby for ever a yard land in Holme
This Henry was a Knight for so by his grant under seal he is stiled whereby with the consent of Ranulph his son and heir he gave a yard land in Rokeby to the Prior and Monks of Kirby And in the 39 of H. 3. obtained for himself and his heirs a Charter for a weekly Mercate here every Saturday and for a Fair yearly beginning on the Even of St. Laurence to endure for three daies with Free warren in all his demesn lands in Warwickshire For the advantage of which Mercate the Abbot of Combe earnestly moved the Monks of Pipwell for permission that they might purchase or erect a house in Rokeby to receive those Monks of theirs as they should have occasion to imploy thither Howbeit in 13 E. 1. Annabilla the Widow of the said Henry holding this Mannour in dower and claiming Free warren with a Mercate and Faire here for which she exhibited the Charter of K. H. 3. extended her claim further than that Charter warranted as it seems for it was then found that she challenged liberty to punish the breakers of the Assize of Bread and Ale whereof being not seized the Shiriff entred upon the Market Fair and Free warren for the King To which last mentioned Henry succeeded Ranulph his son and heir who dyed before 20 E. 1. for in the 24 of that Kings reign Raph Basset son and heir of Simon Basset of Sapcote granted the custody of Annabil his daughter and heir with her marriage to Peter de Leicester Clerk Which Annabil was the wife of Sir Iohn Goband Kt. Howbeit Annabil her mother being married to ......... Mundevill held Rokeby in dower 3 E. 2. In 1 E. 3. the before specified Iohn Goband and Annabil his wife had a Court Leet and other priviledges granted to them in this their Mannour of Rokeby after which it continued not long in that family for in 23 E. 3. Iohn the son and heir of Sir Iohn Goband Kt. past the inheritance thereof with the advouson of the Church to Raph Lord Stafford and Sir Iohn Oddingsells Kt. and their heirs In which grant he makes mention that the same was setled upon Iohn Brown and Annabil his wife and upon him the said Iohn Goband and his heirs by Iohn Charnells Parson of the Church of Swepston in Leicestershire I suppose that this Annabil married to her second husband the before mentioned Iohn Brown for in 20 E. 3. Iohn Brown is said to be Lord of Rugby which doubtless was in her right After which in 24 E. 3. Sir Thomas Charnells Kt. releast to the said Raph Lord Stafford all his interest in this Mannour And in 7 R. 2. Nicholas Goband Rector of the Church of Cley did the like to Hugh Earl Stafford son of the said Raph in consideration whereof he received xl l. sterling Which Nicholas Goband sealed with three Crosses crosslets fitchè upon the fesse to difference him from the principall branch of that family who bore a plain fesse and 3. besants in chief The Release of Sir Iohn Odingsells to the said Baron of Stafford I have not seen Howbeit there is no question but that such a thing there was for in the same 23. year of E. 3. the Lord Stafford as Patron of the Church exhibited his Clerk to the Abbot of Leicester according to the Agreement before exprest This Mannour continued in the Family of Stafford till the death of Humfrey Duke of Buckingham in 38. H. 6. but how much longer I have not yet seen for the next mention I find thereof is that Ric. 3. an 1. of his Reign granted it to Iohn Lord Dudley and to the Heirs of his body in which Patent it appears that it came to his hands by the death of Margaret Countess of Richmund who was mother to K. Henry 7. and that he so gave it to the Lord Dudley for his faithfull service in favouring his usurped title to the Crown It should seem that Thomas Lord Stanley who was Husband to the Countess of Richmund held it during his life for I have seen a Grant by the said Lord Dudley dated 1 Aug. 2. R. 3. whereby he makes dilectum consanguineum for so he calls him his beloved Kinsman Will. Catesby Esq. Steward thereof whensoever it should come into his hands or the possession of his Heirs and to receive for his yearly Fee ten marks sterling In which grant it is exprest that the said Lord Stanley then had it for that term But I perceive it came again to the house of Stafford though I have not yet seen how nor when for immediatly upon the attainder of Edward Duke of Buckingham Henry 8. granted it to Sir Gilbert Talboys Kt. and Elizabeth his Wife and the Heirs of their two bodies expressing that it was Edward late Duke of Buckingham's attainted Which Sir Gilbert and Elizabeth had issue Elizabeth their Daughter and Heir wedded to Ambrose Dudley afterwards Earl of Warwick who in 2 Eliz. sold it together with the advowson of the Church to Iohn Wyrley and Dorothe his wife Which Dorothe dyed seized thereof ult Martii 28. Eliz. Francis her Son and Heir being then 40. years of age In an 1291. 19. E. 1. the Church dedicated to St. Andrew was valued at seaven marks and a half And in 26. H. 8. at xvii li. xix s. ii d. over and above xx sol yearly Pension issuing out of it to the Abb. of Leicester and ix sol vi d. for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes temp Instit. Abb. de Leic. ad nominationeÌ„ Henrici de Rokeby milit secundùm tenorem cyrographi inter ipsos Alex. de Rokeby Cleric ... an 1253. 37. H. 3. Annabilla domina de Rokeby Rog. Capellanus ... an 1291. 19. E. 1. D. Rad. Basset ratione custodiae haeredis de Rokeby ...................... D. Petrus de Leycest Rob. de Halughton Pbr. iiii Non. Iulii an 1301. Annabilla de MuÌ„â—â—vile D. de Rokeby Ric. de Toucestre accolitus xii Kl. Dec. an 1313. Ioh. Gobant Radulphus Gobant Cleric ... an 1313. Abb. conv Leic. ad nominationeÌ„ Ioh. Goband D. de Rokeby Ioh. Falconarius .... an 1314. Abb. C. de Leic. ad nominationem D. Ioh. Goband mil. D. de Rokeby Ric. de Walton Pbr. Nonâ— Iunii an 1332. Abb. conv Leic. Will. de Lyons Pbr. vi Id. Martii an 1341. Ioh. Goband Will. le Pyndere Capell .... an 1349. 23. E. 3. Abb. C. de Leic. ad denominationem D. Baronis de Stafford Petrus de Bilney Câ—p. xii Kl. Aug. an 1349. Abb. C. de Leic. Will. Parker Pbr. iii. Kl. Sept an 1361. Abb. C. de Leic. ad nominationem D. Rad. Comitis Staff Rog. Geffen Pbr. xiii Kl. Ian. an 1361. Abb. C. de Leic. Will. de Langton Cler. xi Kl. Sept. an 1375.
Abb. C. de Leic. ad nominationeÌ„ Comitis Staff Ioh. Baron Pbr. Id. Ian. an 1376. Abb. C. de Leic. ad nominationeÌ„ Comitis Staff Ric. de Hesell Pbr. iii. Apr. an 1384. Abb. C. de Leic. Thom. Thurston Cap. xix Apr. an 1416. Abb. C. de Leic. Ioh. Stones Cap. iii. Aug. an 1454. Abb. C. de Leic. Will. Melder Cap. penult Aug. aâ—â— 1507. Abb. C. de Leic. Ioh. Swalle xxi Martii an 1527. Rog. Martin civis Alderm Lond. alii ratione concess Ambr. Dudley mil. D. Eliz. Talboys uxoris ejus filiae haeredis Gilb. Talboys milit Anth. Blake Cler. vii Iunii an 1558. 4. 5. Ph. M. Ioh. Wyrley sen. ar Ioh. Wyrley jun. gener Percivallus Angrome yoman Edw. Bolton Cleric ix Dec. an 1570. Ioh. Cotta medicinae D. Ionathan Grover Cleric xii Martii an 1622. Geo. Wilcockson de Wolvey in com War cleric Henr. Clerk de Rugby gen ex concess Humf. Burneby de Rugby ar VVill. Wilcockson Cleric xxviii Maii an 1627. Bilton SOuthwards from Rugby stands Bilton which was the freehold of one Uluuinus before the Norman invasion And in the Conq. Survey certified to contain five hydes whereof all except one virgate were then possest by Roger de Montgomerie Earl of Arundell and Shrewsbury of which Earl I shall speak more largely when I come to Wolston that virgate belonging to Turchill de VVarwick In the certificate of what Earl Roger held it is written Beltone but in the other of Turchill's lands Bentone mistaking as I suppose the u. for an n. in regard it was there written Beutone the l. being changed for the u. according to the ordinary pronuntiation of many words amongst the vulgar as in Lalleford the very next town which is usually called Lauford and of latter times so written Hingant sive Ingald Walterus fil Ingaldi tempore regis Steph. Maria Beatrix sepulta in cimiterio de Pipwell Galfridus de Crafte Robertus de Crafte Rogerus de Crafte Rogerus de Crafte Beatrix sepulta in cimiterio de Pipwell Rogerus de Crafte 1 H. 3. 25. H. 3. Rogerus de Crafte Will. de Charnells 34. H. 3. Beatrix relicta 34. H. 3. Nich. de Charnells Georgius de Charnells Lucia relicta 13. E. 2. Nich. de Charnells Thomas de Charnells Laurentius Trussell Matildis filia haeres Gulielmus Trussell miles Tho. Trussel Will. Trussel miles Edwardus Trussel obiit x. Junii 14. H. 7. Joh. Trussel obiit 20 Dec. 15. H. 7. Joh. Vere Comes Oxonii Eliz. soror haeres aetat 10. an 22 H. 7. In K. Steph. time Walterus fil Hingan or Ingaldi being owner of this place was a great benefactor to the monastery of Pipwell in Northampton-shire for he gave them a large portion in Bilton which in his graunt is set forth by boundaryes viz. in breadth from the outmost limits of Dunchurch to the old Morewey antiently leading from Hill-Morton towards Warwick and in length from the end of that way to â— little rill of water called Reynesbroc exceping onely the lands belonging to the Church of Bilton lying within that precinct And because half the Lordship of Belton was the dowrie of Marie the wife of this Walter she for her confirmation thereof had a gold Ring and a palfrey given to her by the Abbot which Walter left one onely daughter his heir named Beatrix who brought this Lordship in marriage to Roger the son of Geffrey de Craft owner of Crafte in Leicester-shire whereof he took his name and confirmed the gift of his Father in Law as he acknowledges he promised to do the very day when he marryed the said Beatrix standing before the dore of the monastery in the presence of Geffrey his Father Robert his Brother and divers others And afterwards upon the buriall of the same Beatrix in the Church-yard at Pipwell with Roger his son and heir gave also to those Monks for the health of her soul xi selions of land and a piece of meadow in Bilton which Roger the second following the steps of his ancestours in bounty to that Abby ratified all that his Grandfather viz. Walterus fil Hingan gave and for the better assuring thereof levyed a fine thereupon at Westm. on the Eve of St. Peter and Paul 7. R. 1. adding of his own gift common of pasture in Bilton for three hundred Ewes twelve Kyne and a Bull five Sows and a Boar with their Pigs sixteen Oxen and six young Beasts and fewell in Bilton-moore as much as should be necessary for the expence of the Monks in their grange at Bilton which grange hath been usually called Dunchurch grange in regard that the lands belonging thereto did lye in the fields of Dunchurch and Bilton but it is scituate in part of Bilton This last Roger was in Armes against K. Iohn towards the end of his reign at that time when Robert Fitzwalter a great Baron was made Princeps militiae id est the Generall for the better carrying on of which work the people attributed to him the title of Mareschallus excercitus Dei Ecclesiae but this enterprise not thriving it was called a Rebellion and those that had a hand therein were glad to seek for mercy amongst which this Roger was one who by the favour of K. H. 3. son of K. Iohn upon returning to his allegiance had his lands that were seised on for that insurrection restored to him again which Roger for it might be he was living in 20. and 25. H. 3. for I find him charged in both those years for a Kts. see in Bilton Howbeit after that viz. in 36 H. 3. upon collection of the Aide for the Kings transfretation into Gascoigne Roger de Crafte answered for a Kts. fee in this place but I suppose that this was the third Roger for 't is not like that the other could then be alive It doth not appear to me clearly how Bilton went from this line of Crafte but Charnels was the next that I find possest it and if I may take my liberty to guesse I shall suppose that it was by a Daughter of Crafte About the beginning of Edw. 1. time Nicholas Charnels Kt. entayled this and other Lordships in Leicester-shire on his son George and the heirs male of his body and for default of such issue on Sir William Charnells Kt. brother of the said Sir Nicholas with divers other remainders In which family of Charnells it continued till the beginning of R. 2. time and then by Maude daughter and heir of Thomas Charnells came to Trussell Of the before specified Nicholas I find that being in that Rebellion with the Barons against K. H. 3. so happily crusht in 49 of his reign he was of the retinue to Hamon Straunge a great man towards the coast of Wales
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
to say having its name from the wideness of the Forde and for Bradforde is by corruption called Bretforde But the first mention I find thereof is that Geffrey Clinton son to Geffrey who founded the Castle and Priory of Kenillworth gave land to the foundation of a small Cell for Nuns here which land is particularly mentioned in his grant the name of the first Votress there being Noëmi but it seems she liked not the place for her fellow Nun named Seburge and she past away the same lands to the Canons of Kenillworth in the life time of the said Geffrey Clinton and by his consent Henry de Clinton son of the said Geffrey afterwards confirming the grant After this viz. in 11 H. 3. Nicholas de Verdon obtained a special Charter for a weekly Mercate here upon the Tuesday and his great Grandchild Theobald had here a Gallowes as a badge of those royal priviledges belonging to his Castle of Brandon which Gallowes were in this place at first erected as I guess because it lyes upon that great Roman way called the Fosse so that it might be in terrorem to passengers But upon partition of Verdons lands it went with Brandon to Burghersh in right of Elizabeth his mother one of the co-heirs since which time they have not been severed Here was a kind of Hospital or Chappel of St. Edmund founded I presume by the Turviles Lords of Wolston for they were Patrons of it as appears by the Institutions thereunto Rieton HAving now done with the Parish of Wolston I come to Rieton situate upon the Southern-side of Avon and usually called Rieton super Dunsmore for distinction from another of the same name which is in Bulkinton-Parish the reason being obvious enough forasmuch as the soyl here is of a light sandy disposition and beareth Rye best of any Grain This was one of those towns which Earl Leofrike gave to the Priory of Coventre upon the foundation thereof An. 1043. 1. Edw. Confessoris as I shall further declare when I come to speak of that Monastery But it seems that the Monks chopt it quickly away though it appears not how for Aluuinus Progenitor to the family of Arden had it before the end of the said Kings reign And in the Conq. time Turchill the son of the same Aluuin commonly called Turchill de Warwick held it It is there written Rietone and conteyning three hydes and half a carucate had at that time a Church and a Mill the woods thereof being then certified to contain half a mile in length and two furlongs in breadth and the value of the whole lx sol The word in Domesday-book signifying a mile is leuca or leuva which the French to this day call a legue but that it was used to express a mile that is to say a thousand paces and not a league which with the French is twice so much observe what Ingulphus an authentique Historian who lived in that age says viz. that the English being now brought under the dominion of the Normans did in many things follow the French Garbe and therefore in the stead of miles they called them leucas that is legues but intended miles Nay so carefull were those that took this Survey to account the measure with the scantest in regard of envious Informers that they would alwaies express the measure rather more than less of what it really was The Leiger Book of Stonley says that this Mannour was a member of Stonley and given to the family of Arden by K. H. 1. The first part of which expression is like to be true but I am of opinion that it was part of those lands which Turchills posterity were permitted to enjoy and not at all out of their possession till they granted it a way to the Hospitalars as I shall shortly manifest For Siward de Arderna son and heir to the said Turchill with Cecelia his wife gave to the Monks of Thorney in Cambridge-shire the Mill here at Ryeton for the health of his soul which grant Henry de Arderne his son confirmed which Mill yeilded xii s. Rent per an in that age howbeit in these grants and confirmations of Thorney it is written Rugintunia Rutunia and Ruitonia In which family of Arden it continued till Edw. 1. time Thomas de Arden being certified in 7. E. 1. Lord thereof and that he held it of the Earl of Warwick by the service of half a Kts. Fee This Thomas had here then in demesn three carucates of land and a water-Mill as also three servants each of them holding a yard land and a half and paying a certain yearly rent in money plowing one day in winter a peice and one day in Lent mowing raking making hay carrying corn and gathering Nutts at each work one day The Cottagers were at that time xiii in number who likewise besides their Rent did work one day a piece at some of those before mentioned labours And the freeholders xv which held eight yard land and a fourth part three acres and a half and one rode but their particular names and Rents for brevitie I omit At that time it was also certified that the Abbot of Thorney held a Mill there and half a yard land And the Hospitalars had two Free-holders holding one yard land and a water-Will But in 10. Edw. 1. there was a sure betwixt the before specified Thomas de Arderne and the said Hospitalars by which suit the Prior of St. Iohns recovered of the said Thomas one Mill CC. acres of land twelve acres of meadow and ten acres of wood and had possession thereof accordingly howbeit the Earl of Warwick of whose Fee it was came and interposed with his claim so that there issued out a Writ to enquire of the Earls right therein After which viz. in 14. E. 1. this Thomas though for what consideration I find not granted all his right therein to the said Hospitalars and their successors against whom in 9. H. 8. it was certified that they had inclosed here three hundred acres of land and that by this decay of husbandry if remedy were not provided the Church there would fall to ruin But after the dissolution of the Monasteries K. Edw. 6. in 4. of his reign granted this Mannour inter alia to Iohn Dudley Earl of Warwick and his heirs which Iohn was afterwards made Duke of Northumberland and lost his head in 1. Mariae as in Warwick I shall more fully shew After whose attainder Queen Mary restoring the Romish Religion granted it with other things to Sir Thomas Tresham Kt. as Master of the Hospitall of St. Iohn of Ierusalem in England and to his successours but upon the death of that Queen the Romish Religion being again supprest Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick son to the attainted Duke amongst divers other lands which were his Fathers obteined it to himself and the heirs
souls of the father and mother with the ancestours and heirs of the said Will. la Zuche and Will. Danet and of all the faithfull deceased Concerning which Chantry the B. of Cov. and Lich. upon his Ordination thereof the next ensuing year thus declared That there having been a Chappel of the blessed Virgin Mary within this Mannour of Weston and therein divine service celebrated time out of mind which being grown ruinous was then newly fallen down Sir Will. la Zuche of Haringworth Kt. had rebuilt the same with a fair fabrick in honour of the said blessed Virgin for the good estate of himself as also of Sir Will. la Zuche of Totenes and the Lady Eliz. his wife with their children during this life and afterwards for the health of their souls and for the souls of Will. de Boys Sir Eudo la Zuche Melisent de Montalt Maud la Zuche Elene la Zuche and their children departed this life And for the souls of Will. Danet and Richard Dobyn and other Benefactors with all the faithfull deceased But whereas the first licence for amortizing the lands before mentioned was for two Priests as I have said it seems the said Sir VVill. la Zuche chang'd his purpose for I find that in 21 E. 3. he had the K. licence for the alteration thereof for one Priest onely so that the said Priest might have another under him for performance of that service Belonging to the Lord Zouch his Mannour-house here there was antiently a Park as it seems for in 46 E. 3. Sir VVill. la Zuche had licence to turn a way for the enlargement thereof Howbeit in 10 H. 6. where VVill. Lord Zouch was certified to hold this Mannour it is called Weston-Arnold for distinction from the other Westons in this County in regard that Arnold de Boys had antiently been owner thereof But after the attainder of Iohn Lord Zouch in 1 H. 7. the K. granted it to Sir Iames Blount and to the heirs males of his body nevertheless it seems that the family of Zouch afterwards regain'd it for in 6 E. 6. George Lord Zouch was possest thereof and dyed seized of it 19 Iunii 19 Eliz. leaving Edward his son and heir who sold it to Humphrey Davenport Esq. and Richard Bucknam with Bulkinton and other lands by which means it came to Sir Christopher Yelverton Kt. of the Bath and Anthony Stoughton Esq the present Lords thereof as Bulkinton did A Tradition there is that one of the Lord Zouches who much affected to reside here and wanting sufficient mowing ground for his use upon a time invited the Free-holders of Bulkinton to his house and welcoming them with very good entertainment proposed the purchasing of their several doles in a fair large meadow which lay fitly for him All which assented except one Rogers Whereupon the rest urging him to do as they had done the Lord Zouch said Let the Churle alone with his peice And so to this day the posterity of the said Rogers continue possest thereof it being called the Churles peice Rieton juxta Bulkinton THE first mention that I find of this place is in that grant of the Tithes thereof to the Abby of Leicester as a member of the Parish of Bulkinton viz. when the Church of Bulkinton was first given thereto by Roger de Watervile of which I have already spoken but that it was and is a member of Bulkinton or rather Weston where the Lord had his seat all the testimonies from Record which I have produced before do manifest and therefore I shall not need to say any more thereof Bramcote THis place in the Conq. time contained two hydes whereof one and a half then belonged to Earl Alberie of whom I have made mention in Clifton and the other half hyde to Ric. Forestarius of whom I shall speak in Chesterton But before the Conquest one Salo was owner of that which Earl Alberic had being the same man that afterwards held Bulkintone of the Earl of Mellent The other half hyde one Sexi possest It is there written Brancote perhaps from Bran the Saxon and coit or coed the British word which signifie the burnt wood That the inheritance of this Village was as antiently in Watervile as any of those before specified were I am induced to believe for Roger de Watervile gave six yard land and the Mill here to the Abby of Leicester by the consent of Robert Earl of Leicester his Lord and Founder of that Monastery which grant was afterwards confirmed by Arnold de Boys his Nephew and all the rest of the succeeding Arnolds Yet in an Inspex made by Thomas Earl of Lanc. whereby he recites divers grants to the Canons of Leic. and amongst those the same yard land in Bramcote he declares it to have been given to them by Geffrey le Abbe of whom I had occasion to make mention in Burton-Hastings and together with his confirmation thereof ratifies also the gift of two yard land more which one Ranulph held so that there being eight yard land therein belonging to the Abby of Leic. besides the Mill and what was appurtenant thereto the Canons of that House did as in other their lands in this County claim a Court-Leet and other priviledges therein in 13 E. 1. as granted by the Ks. progenitors to that Monastery for which they then produced their Charters But in 6 E. 2. I find that the heirs of Henry de Hastings held the third part of a Kts. fee here of Iohn de Hastings the elder then deceased it being then written Brompcote The like is certified as to the tenure of that third part by the heirs of the said Henry in 49 E. 3. 14 H. 6. and 16 E. 4. But what the Lord Zouch possest in this Village I am not able directly to point out howbeit certain it is that something he enjoy'd in regard the Free-warren granted to him in 7 E. 2. extended into his demesn lands here as well as in those of Weston Bulkinton and Ryton As for that which the Abbot of Leic. had it amounted to the third part of a Kts fee for in 20 E. 3. it is certified that so much he held of the Earl of Lancaster who then had the Honour of Leic. as is well known All which lands so belonging to that Abby were in 38 H. 8. granted to Edward Watson Esq and Henry Herdson and to the heirs of the same Edward who as I have heard had two daughters that were his heirs the one marryed to ..... Turner the other to ..... Lisle from which ..... Lisle descended ..... Lisle that sold his moytie to George Purefey of Wolvershill Gent. And from ..... Turner William his Grandson of whom Gamaliel Purefey son to the said George purchased the other Wolvershill THE first mention that I meet with of this place is in 21 E. 1. where it is setled
blood from those great families of Vaux Longvile and Bellers a younger branch of Moubray left issue Everard Fildyng his son and heir Shiriff of this County and Leicestersh in 21. E. 4. and in 2 H. 7. a Commander in the Kings Army at the battail of Stoke juxta Newarke So likewise at Black-heath in Kent in 12 H. 7. which Everard being made Kt. of the Bath at the marriage of Prince Arthur in 15 of that King's reign was Custos Rotulorum in the County of Leic. within two years after And by his Testament bequeathing his body to be buried before the Altar of our blessed Lady in the Black-Fryers at Northampton departed this life in 6 H. 8. leaving issue by Iellis Russell his wife VVill. Fildyng Esq. Shiriff of Rutlandshire in 11 and 12. as also in 18 H. 8. but afterwards Kt. who having been imployed about raising forces out of his Tenants and otherwise for the Wars of France and Scotland in the time of H. 8. as by severall Privy Seals appeareth assisted likewise with no lesse than xvi Horse at his own charges against the Scots as from the Registers sometime belonging to the Councell-table hath been observed As also with ten able persons most Archers and Gunners in that Navall preparation made by the same King under the conduct of the Earl of Southampt for preventing such attempts as might be exercised by the Pope or his Agents whose Supremacy he had abolished And was in such esteem with Q. Iane third wife to the said K. H. that in 29 H. 8. upon her delivery of Prince Edward she sent a Privy-Seal unto him signifying the same with desire of his congratulation and prayers This S r Will. by Eliz. Daughter to S r Thomas Pultney of Misterton K t leaving issue Basill dyed 24 Sept. 2. E. 6. which Basill was Shiriff of this County in 11 Eliz. and took to wife Godith second of the 7 Daughters and coheirs to Will. Willington of Barcheston Esq by whom he had issue William Shiriff of this County also in 31 Eliz. and thrice of Rutland viz. 24 34 and 40 Eliz. who being afterwards a K t by Dorothy the Daughter to S r Raph Lane by a Daughter and coheir to the Lord Parre of Horton had issue Basill Shiriff of this County in 9 Iac. which Basill by Eliz. Daughter to Sir Walter Aston of Tixshall K t had issue William Lord of this place an scil 1640. who being Knighted by K. Iames about the beginning of his reign and after made Custos Rotulorum in this County was in 18 thereof advanced to the dignity of Baron and Vicount Fildyng And in 20 ob generis claritatem nuptias admodum honorandas sed praecipuè ob eximiam virtutem erga nos Coronam nostram fidem as the words of that Charter importâ— created Earl of Denbigh And having been constituted Master of the great Wardrobe and Admirall at Sea in severall expeditions did likewise by his marriage with Susan Sister to George late D. of Buck. not a little enlarge the honour of this Family In another Window of the Parlour In the parlour Window at Newnham Cester-Over THis was antiently a village of many dwellings but long since depopulated so that there remains now no more than the Mannour House and that reduced to so mean a condition as 't is scarce capable of any Inhabitant other than an ordinary Feâ—mour the grounds for the most part being converted to Sheep-pasture Of later times it hath been by the vulgar called Cester-Over which occasioned Mr. Cambden in his Britannia to represent it as a place of great antiquity and no less then a City in the Romans time to which opinion the adjacency of Watlingstreet did as it seems the more encline him But that addition which is by the corrupt pronunciation of the vulgar called Cester â— should in truth be Thester for so 't is antiently written as I shall shew anon and not used neither till a long time after the Conquest for in Domesday-Book it is called Wara where the place now called Church-Over is written Waure as well as Wara and Browns-Over also Waure and Wara as I have already shew'd with the reason thereof As for this addition of Thester for distinction from the other towns before mentioned it is no more than to signify the Eastern situation thereof from Monkskirby in which Parish it is and so by contracting two words into one viz. The Easter or The Eastward for the more brief expression is called and written Th'ester Robertus temp Conq. Robertus de Waure temp H. 2. Will. de Wavere dom de Thester-Waver 3. R. 1. Will. cognom de Blith Rob. de Waver miles Emma filia Rogeri Pantolf cohaeres Will. Pantolf fratris sui Will. de Waver miles 35. H. 3. obiit 56. H. 3. Johanna haeres Rob. de Hayrun dom de Church-Lalleford Will. de Waver 35. E. 1. Alicia filia Rob. Lovet de Neuton 35. E. 1. Robertus de Thestre-Waure 20. 47. E. 3. Ioh. Waver de Thestrewaver 10. H. 6 Christiana filia .... lakes Hen. Waver miles Aldermannus Civit. Lond. obiit 10 E. 4. Joh. Waver Thomas Waver Henr. Waver fil haeres ob 19. E. 4. Will. Brown ar 1 maritus Christiana filia haeres aet 5. an 19 E. 4. ob 37. H. 8. Humfr. Dimock ar 2. maritus Ioh. Browne â—sabella Edw. Browne ar consangu haeres Christianae aet 22. an 37. H. 8â— In the Conq. dayes Geffrey Wirce of whom I have so often made mention possest it at which time being certified to contain 5. Hides and having a Mill it was valued at xl s. one Robert then holdng it of the said Geffrey which Robert was paternall Ancestour as I conceive to the family of Waure written afterwards Waver who assuming their Sirname from hence flourished here till toward the end of E. 3. time as this descent manifesteth But the first of this line touching whom I have found any thing of note is Sir Rob. de Wavere Kt. who wedded Emma one of the two Daughters of Sir Roger Pantolf Kt. Lord of Neubold-Pantolf and coheirs to Will their Brother This Sir Robert was a good benefactor to the Monks of Combe for besides the grant of 2. yard land common for 100. Sheep 24. Beasts and 30. Hoggs for xxii marks of silver he gave them 96. acres of errable land lying in this village with his Body to be buried in that Monastery appointing the like solemnity to be performed for his Obit as for a Monk of that Covent To him succeded Sir William his Son and heir who wedded Iuliana heir to Rob. Hayrun Lord of Church-Lawford Which Sir VVill. in 35. H. 3. founded a Chantry in the Priory of Monkskirby and endowed it with certain lands and Rents lying in Cosford In 38. H.
3. he was appointed Eschaetor for this County but having the K. speciall warrant to be freed of that office in case he were not willing to undergoe it as the Abbot of Pershore generall Eschaetor on this side Trent affirmed to the K. he procured a discharge and in 41 H. 3. obteined a Charter to himself and his heirs for a weekly Mercate here upon the Tuesday and a Fair once a year to last for three days viz. on the Even of St. Iames and two days following In 45 H. 3. he was constituted one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick but in 48 H. 3. adhering to the rebellious Barons then in armes was taken at Northampton and imprisoned his lands being given to Roger de Somery Baron of Dudley But afterwards taking benefit of the Dictum de Kenilworth he had the K. letters of safe conduct for access to the Court and compounding with the same Roger had all his lands restored again except the Mannour of Merston now called Wavers-Merston in this County which by agreement betwixt themselves the said Roger and his heirs was in consideration of his Fine to have After which he was again admitted to employments of trust as appears by those Commissions of 52.53 and 54. H. 3. for the Gaol delivery at Warwick and dyed in 56 H. 3. leaving Robert his Son and heir of full age and then marryed Whose Grand-child Robert past away the inheritance of this Lordship to Iohn Lovet of Newton in 32 E. 3. Unto which Iohn succeeded VVill. Lovet of Liscumbe in Com. Buck. who in 9 R. 2. granted 12. mess. 3. tofts and 13. yard land lying within this Lordship and Cosford in reversion after the death of Clementia his Mother then the wife of Iohn Paraunt unto VVill. Purefey of Church-Over and his heirs from whom they descended to VVill. his Grand-child for in 10. H. 6. I find that he and one Iohn VVaver were certified to be Lords of this Mannour But for ought I perceive the family of Waver notwithstanding its interest here was at that time very low and might have sunk to nothing had not the industry of Henry Cittizen and Draper of London rais'd it up again for he it was being questionlesse a branch of this antient house that in 39. H. 6. First obtaining a lease from Will. Broke gent. son and heire to Elene Brooke late of Astwell in Com. Northampt. of the one moytie of this mannour for the naturall life of himself and xii years after upon the reâ—t of xi l. per. ann sterling payable at Easter and Michaelmass by even portions purchased the inheritance thereof from the said William in 5. E. 4. as also at the same time bought the other moytie of Will. Bate of Melburne in Com. Derb. Esq. In which year on Ascension day being one of the Shiriffs for the Citty of Loâ—don he was made Knight of the Bath Whereupon resolving to restore this antient feat of his Progenitors not only to the condition wherein it formerly stood but to add a greater lustre thereto the next year ensuing obteined a speciall Patent from the King to rebuild it with Turrets and Walls embattelled and to inclose 500. acres of Land and Pasture with 20. acres of wood for a Parke and moreover to have a Court-Leet here with Free-warren and fishing in all his demesn lands belonging thereto This wealthy Alderman by his Testament bearing date 4. Febr. 9. E. 4. and proved in August following bequeathed his body to be buried in the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill before the Image of St. George there And gave to the Dean and Chanons of S. Steph. Chappell at Westminster and their successors an annuall Rent of 5. marks sterling to endure for xx years next after his decease so that they should pray for his soul and keep on Obit there during the said xx years with Placebo and Mass of Requiem by Note for his Soul and for the Souls of Sir Thomas Haseley Kt. and Annes his wife and all Christian Souls And willed that his Son Harry should have this mannour of Thesturwaver to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such issue to his Son Thomas with the like remainder to his Son Iohn as also to Eliz. and Anne daughters of the testator Bequeathing likewise an annuity of xx s. sterling out of it to the Parson and Wardens of the Church of Monkskirby to keep an Obit with Placebo and Dirige and Mass of Requiem by Note yearly in the said Church of Monkskirby for his Soul and for the Souls of his Father and Mother making a certain distribution in money to poor people there Which Henry the younger dyed 19. E. 4. leaving Christian his onely child but 5. years of age the custody of whose lands was committed to Thomas Points Esq. 21. E. 4. during her minority This Christian first marryed to Will. Brown Esq. who being a Justice of peace in this County from 18. H. 7. till his death and making his residence here built the Gate-house of timber now standing as appears by the Armes carved thereon which I have below exprest but afterwards became wife to Humfry Dimock Esq. and dyed 29. Martii 36. H. 8. leaving Edw. Brown her grandchild and next heire viz. Son and heire of Iohn Brown deceased in her life time Which Edward the year following his grand-mothers death sold it to Sir Fulke Grevill Kt. From whom it descended to Sir Fulke his grandchild created Lord Brooke of Beauchamps-court 9. Jan. 18. Iac. By which meanes it is come to Robert Lord Brook his heire adopted together with Beauchamps-court and other fair possessions I have now but a word or two more to say and then shall I leave this great parish of Monkskirby which is to observe that part of the old Roman way called Fosse leading through it lyes open like a ditch having not been filled with stones and gravell in such sort as in most other places it is And that on the West-side thereof stands an eminent Tumulus whereupon a Beacon is now situate but antiently some noted Bush as 't is like in regard it bears the name of Cloudsley-bush to this day But touching these Tumuli I have already spoke in my discourse of Knightlow-hill and therefore shall now say no more then that 't is hard to guess whether this had at first its name from one Claudius a Roman Souldier whose place of sepulture it was or from the Brittish word Claude signifying a ditch because it is so near the Fosse Harborow magna FOllowing the stream of Swift I come next to Harborow commonly called Great Harborow in wich parish there is onely one village more viz. Little-Harborow but antiently they were not divided In the Conq. time Ric. Forestarius of whom I shall speak in Chesterton held 4.
the mention of what the Abby of Combe and Monks of Kirby had viz. Combe 3. Mess. and 33 acres of Land and the Monks of Kirby the 4 th part of a Kts. Fee Newbold super Avon THis is one of those places which Geffrey Wirce before spoke of held in the Conq. days out of which he gave to the Monks of S. Nich. at Angiers two parts of the Tythes of corne and cattell and all the Tythe of Wooll and Cheese as also of the mill and a man to gather them After which time by the generall Survey it is certified to contain 8 hides then valued at C. s. and that Leuuinus held it before the Norman invasion But with VVirce his lands it came to Nigel de Albani progenitor to the family of Moubray as I have formerly intimated which Nigel enfeoft thereof Robert de Stutevill in H. 1. time as it seemes for in 12 H. 2. Roger de Moubray son to the same Nigel certified that Rob. de Stutevill then held of him 8 Kts. fees de veteri seoffamento id estâ— whereof his Ancestour had been so enfeoft temp H. 1. the most whereof lay in York-shire where the chief seat of this family was From which Robert descended Roger as the Pedegree on the next page inserted sheweth who granted away this Lordship to Roger Pantolf his nephew by Burgâ—a his sister to be held by the service of 1 Kts. Fee all which was confirmed by the Charter of the said Burgia and of Iseud Pantolf her grandchild But these Pantolfs enjoy'd it not long for Will the son and heire to the before specified Roger dyed without issue leaving his two sisters his heirs viz. Burgia and Emma Which Burgia gave her part to the Monks of Pipwell and Emme marryed to Sir Robert de Waver Kt. of whom in Thesterwaver I have spoke which Will. Pantolf before mentioned betook himself to a retired life and resided in the Monastery of Pipwell having a Chamber assigned him by the Monks there where he determined to end his days and to have been a good benefactor to them but on a time the Monks removed him out of that lodging in respect of an entertainment they gave to a great Judge who travailed it seemes that way which caused him to take such distast that he presently left the House and came to Monkskirby where he after dyed giving to that Monastery what he intended to Pipwell viz. the capitall mess. or Mannour-house of this Neâ—bold with 3. carucates of Land and fishing in the water of Avon To Sir Rob. de Waver and Emme succeeded Sir Will. de Waver Kt. betwixt whom and the Monks of Pipwell partition was made in 35 H. 3. of all the Lands that belong'd to the said sisters and heirs in respect that Burgia had given her part to that Monastery as I have said being at that time sirnamed de Bending After which viz. in 11 E. 1. the Abbot and Covent of Pipwell had inter alia Free-warren granted to them in all their demesn Lands here in Newbold And in 13 E. 1. they claimed a Court-Leet and divers other priviledges therein for which they exhibited the Charters of K. R. 1. and K. H. 3. whereunto allowance was given But it seems that the Monks of Kirby having the Mannour-house obtained some further grant of Lands in this Lordship afterwards for in 4 E. 1. I find that they had the moytie of the Mannour then written Newbold-Paunton and in 33 E. 1. obtained power to keep a Court-Leet for their Freeholders and Tenants here with other priviledges As also a Charter of Freâ—warren in all their demesn Lands of this place Yet I perceive that VVaver's interest in Newbold was not utterly quitted fot in 26 E. 3. it appears that Thomas de VVaver held the 4 th part of a Kts. fee here of Ioane late Countess of Kent heir to Stuteville as the descent sheweth Rob. de Stutevill senior dictus Grundebeof Rob. de Stutevill jun. Rob. de Stutevill Will. de Stutevill ob 4. Ioh. s. p. Nich. de Stutevil 14 H. 3. Hugo Wac Iohanna f. haeres Hugo Bigot Com. Norf. Baldw. Wake fil haeres Iohannae Nich. de Stutevill frater haeres Joh. de Stutevill 6 H. 2. Ioh. de Stutevill Rog. de Stuteville Burgia ..... Pantolf Rog. Pantolf Râ—heis Will. Pantolf ob s. p. Burgia soror cohaer Emma ux Rob. de Waver mil. Will. de Waver ... Pantolf Iseud Pantolf Walter de Tatshall Rob. de Tatshall Rob. de Tatshall duxit Mabiliam sororem haeredem Wil. de Albani Co. Arundeliae Which is it as I think that one VVill. Barbour purchased in E. 3. time for I find that the said VVill. bought certain Lands within the precinct of this Lordship which descended to Iohn his son by whose daughter and heir called Agnes wife to Richard Dalby of Brokhampton they came to that Family and had the reputation of a Mannour whereof the said Richard died seized in 20. E. 4. leaving Robert his son and heir 30 years of age After the dissolution of the Monasteries that which the Monks of Pipwell had here came thus to be disposed of viz. all those Lands called Newbold-grange to Edw. Boughton Esq. and his heirs by a grant from the Crown in 33 H. 8. but the Mannour one Thomas Wightman obtayned who in 4 Eliz. sold it to Sir Tho Leigh Kt. Alderman of London whose great-granchild Francis Lord Dunsmore had a confirmation of it from the K. in 15 Car. But the other Mannour which belong'd to the Monks of Kirby did the Boughtons of Lawford obtain as it seems for in 15 Car. Will. Boughton Esq had the Kings confirmation thereof The Church dedicated to St. Botulph belong'd to the Monks of Kirby very antiently for Geffrey Wirce granted to them the greatest part of the Tythes And by a confirmation thereof made to that Monastery from Roger de Stutevill he relates to the grants not onely of Iohn his father but of his Ancestours he means the former possessors thereof viz. Geffrey de Wirce and Nigel de Albaâ—i In K. Iohns time G. Muschamp then B. of Coventre confirmed it to the said Monks of Kirby upon condition that during the then Incumbent's time whose name was Alardus they might receive annually six marks out of it and afterwards two parts of the profits to their proper use but that to the third the Prior of Kirby should present a fit Clerke to the Bishop who was to discharg Synodals â— all other duties belonging thereto In the year 1291 19 E. 1. it was valued at xix marks and the Vicaridge at v. marks but in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was rated at viii l. xii s. over and
to those unreasonable Articles called Provisiones Oxonii which they by power had formerly forc't him unto constituting several persons of greatest trust in all parts of the Kingdom to secure what they had so got he was the onely man deputed in Warwickshire for that purpose having the title of Custos pacis Touching their giving battail to the K. at Lewes in May 48. H. 3. and how both K. and Prince were there made prisoners I must refer my Reaâ—der to our Historians observing onely that during the time the King was thus in their hands they made use of his great Seal doing what they listed in his name and in particular made a Charter to Thomas de Estley son of this Thomas for a Mercate and Faire at Hill-Morton which beares date 15. Ian. 49. H. 3. as I have already in my discourse upon that place intimated But see the successe after they had got the whole Kingdom into their power the Ring-leaders of them fell at emulation about sharing the spoil and superiority in command which caused such irreconcilable animosities that contrivances were layd for each others destruction Clare E. of Glouc. making what party he could to ruine Montfort E. of Leic. who had both the K. and Prince in his custody at the Castle of Hereford yet when he had considered his strength and found that of themselves it would be very difficult and hazardous if possible to effect rather than he would fail of his ends he was willing to take in the Royallists to his aid which could not be well accomplish't he knew without the presence of the K. or Prince for their countenance Whereupon plots were layd for the Prince his escape which taking effect accordingly an Army was raysed within two months and at Evesham gave battail to the E. of Leic. and his complices where they had a suddain and fatall overthrow In which conflict Montfort himself being slain and with him duodecim milites vexilliferi saith Math. Paris whereof this Thomas de Estley was one scarce a man of note escap't with life that was not made prisoner but touching the particular circumstances hereof having occasion to speak further in Kenilworth I shall now pass them by This victory so obtained the King rewarded those which adventured their lives for him in that battail with the possessions of his vanquish't Rebells amongst which he gave to Warine de Bassingburne the lands of this Thomas de Astley Which VVarine in 50. H. 3. obtain'd a charter bearing date at Kenilworth 22. Oct. for leave to fortify his house at Bassingburne in Cambridg-sh and this at Astley and to embattle the walls of them both but 't is not very probable that he did any thing thereupon at this place in regard it was so soon granted away again by him as I shall presently declare For that the posterity of those who had thus forfeited and lost their lives with the rest that were not slain except the Sonns of Montfort E. of Leic. were by that Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth whereof I shall speak elswhere admitted to composition is not unknown to those who have any cognusance of our English History I shall therefore here omit the relation thereof and descend to such particulars as concern the family of this Thomas And first to manifest what commiseration the K. had to Edith his wife do observe that whereas his lands in Astley Wetinton Willeby and Copston in this County Lilburn and Creek in Northampton-sh Brouton Cotes and Hecham in Leicester-sh were all bestowed on the said VVarine and whereof the value by extent was certified to be 151. l. -16 s. -11 d. per ann he notwithstanding gave unto her those in Willeby Hecham and Wetington valued at 34. li. 18. s. -1 d. ob per ann for the maintenance of her self children during her life paying to the same Warine and his heirs only one mark at the Feast of S. Iohn Baptist yearly I now come to Andrew his son and heir This Andrew compounding with the said Sir VVarine de Bassingburne according to the Edict before specified had a grant from him of those lands but for raising of money to that purpose was constrain'd to pass away his Lordship of Little-Copston before specified to the Monks of Combe and their successors for ever from whom he received for the same cccxx marks sterling which sum was to fit him for his voyage to the Holy-Land as by the originall Charter appeareth Shortly after which the said Andrew was received into favour giving security for his faithfull demeanour towards the K. and his heirs Rog. le Strange of Shrorpsh and Nich. Haversham of Northamptonsh by their speciall acts in Court undertaking for him therein And being thenceforth put into the condition of a loyall subject as to purchase of lands or any other thing the K. confirming the grant made to him by the said VVarine he was in 12. E. 1. joyn'd in Commission with Raph de Hengham a learned and eminent Professor in the Law of that time and afterwards chief Justice of the Common pleas for taking Assizes of Novel-disseisin Mort d'ancestor c. in this County In 13. E. 1. he claimed by Prescription a Court-Leet Gallows power to punish the breakers of Assize of bread and beere Free-warren with other priviledges in this Lordship with it's members viz. Merston-Iabet Wedington and Milverton and had allowance of them After which scil in 28. E. 1. Edm. de Bassingburne brought an Assize of Mort d'ancestor against him for this mannour before the then Justices Itinerant but prevailed not therein as it seemes Of his farther publique employments I finde that in 24. E. 1. he had summons with divers other great men to be at New-castle upon Tine the first of March there to attend the K. with Horse and Armes to vindicate the injuries done by Iohn K. of Scotland As also the next year following to be at Newcastle again upon St. Nicholas day to attend Pr. Edward who then went as Generall against the Scots And afterwards the same year was enjoyned to be at London the Sunday next after the Octaves of S. Iohn Baptist furnish't with Horse and Armes to wait upon the K. in his expedition beyond Sea into Flanders and Gascoine but it seemes he was dispens't with for his personal service in that voyage for I finde that Iohn de Clinton and he were then assigned by the Prince who during the K. absence was deputed his Lieutenant here in England to make choyce of such Knights and others of this County whom they should think fit and to retein them by wages for attendance on the said Prince at London on the Octaves of St. Michael the same year And that in 26. E. 1. he had command to be at York at the feast of Pentecost accoutred with Horse and Armes to march against the Scots which was the time that K. Edw.
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
he appointed to be founded at Astley their stipends and liveries but the inheritance remained to his heir and so eschaeting to the Crown by attainder of Henry D. of Suff. as in Astley is manifested was in 2 Eliz. granted unto ..... Gerard and others to hold in Capite Howbeit afterwards viz. in 44 Eliz. to Clement Fisher Esq and his heirs together with the mines of Coal and advouson of the Rectory But touching the succession of the other Mannours lying within the precincts of this Parish I can say little and therefore shall pass them by The Church dedicated to S. ....... in the year 1291. 19 E. 1. was valued at viii marks but in 26 H. 8. at x l. iii s. x d. over and above ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Will. de Charnels dom de Bedworth Magr. Phil. de Turvill 1300. Henr. de Charnels Ioh. Popard 4 Non. Iulii 1309. Will. Charnels Hug. de Stoke Diac. 4 Non. Iunii 1331. Will. Charnels miles Ioh. de Greneburgh Pbr. 6 Kal. Sept. 1349. Margareta Charnels domina de Bedworth Henr. Hud Pbr. 7 Id. Febr. 1366. Margareta Charnels domina de Bedworth Will. de Ashton Pbr. Non. Maii 1368. Margareta Charnels domina de Bedworth Ric. Waltham 3 Id. Maii 1369. Margareta Charnels domina de Bedworth Ioh. le Hay Id. Iunii 1370. Ioh. Charnels domicellus Ioh. Lavender Pbr. 11 Oct. 1397. Ioh. Charnels domicellus Ioh. Othehull Pbr. 7 Sept. 1400. Dom. Margareta de Astley Tho. Belgrave Pbr. 8 Oct. 1431. D. Regin Grey Will. Bele Pbr. 14 Ian. 1438. D. Iohanna Grey Rog. Webster 5 Novemb. 1445. D. Eliz. domina Ferrers de Groby Rog. Creke Pbr. 1 Iulii 1458. D. Arth. Plantaginet jure Eliz. ux suae Vicecomitissae de L'isle D. Sampson Webbe Cap. 8 Iunii 1520. Henr. Marchio Dorset D. Rob. Cowper Cap. 16. Nov. 1542. Henr. Marchio Dorset D. Edw. Bromley Cap. 11. Sept. 1543. Will. Sanders gen Ric. Palmer Cler. 20 Apr. 1569. D. Regina Ric. Brisco Cler. 25 Maii 1569. Smercote magna THis hath been of long time a depopulated place lying for the most part if not all in Bedworth-parish and in the Conq. Survey is joyn'd with Soule now called Soule-end in Astley parish the E. of Mellent then possessing them both which are certified to contain one hyde having woods of a mile in length and half as much in breadth In that Record they are written Smerecote and Soulege and valued at 5 s. having been the free-hold of one Sexi in Edw. the Conf. dayes After which till H. 3. time have not I seen any more thereof but then did Roger de Craft bring an Assize against VVill. de Charnells and others for common of pasture and certain lands lying here and in Bedworth And in 13 E. 1. VVill. le Boteler of Werington had a grant of Free-warren in all his demesn lands lying in Eccleshale Folkeshull and this place Which said Charter was exemplified by Sir Tho. Boteler Kt. in 15 H. 7. But the substance of both these Smercotes did as it seems belong to the Hospital of S. Iohn Bapt. in Coventre whereof I shall treat in its due place and after the dissolution thereof was past with divers other lands of that kind to Iohn Hales Gentleman and his heirs in 37 H. 8. from whom it divolved to Charles Hales late of Newland Esq descended from a younger brother to the said Iohn Following the stream of Sow it leads me next into the precincts of Coventre now a County of it self but originally part of this Hundred whereof taking my leave for a while I purpose to observe what memorable places are or have bin within that Cities liberties all which by the guidance of this torrent together with Shirburne that passeth through the Esterne part thereof I shall without much thwarting my resolved method industriously performe Hawksbury ON the East-side of this Brook lyeth Hawksbury in the Parish of Sow which antiently belonging to the Priory of Coventre had the reputation of a Mannour the rent or ferm whereof in 26 H. 8. was certified to be C s. Upon the dissolution of which Monastery it was in 34 H. 8. granted out of the Crown by the name of the Mannour Messuage and Ferm of Hawksbury and Hawksbury-grove to the Mayor Bayliffs and Commonalty of the City of Coventre and their successours who are still owners thereof Ansty IN the furthest nook of Coventre liberties North-eastwards stands Ansty which before the Norman invasion being part of the possessions that Godâ—va wife to Earl Leofrike had was after the Conquest in the K. possession and let out to ferm at the time of the general Survey unto one Nicholas but the number of hydes which it then particularly contained cannot be known in regard Folkshill and it are there joyned together which were then certified to be ix hydes and valued at xii l. In that Record it is written Anestie which differs nothing in effect from the present name but the original thereof was Heanstige as I think which for easiness of pronunciation is thus turn'd to Anstie for being so it is significant as to the situation hean in the Saxon high and stige a path-way That these lands which belong'd to the said Countess came afterwards to the Earls of Chester I shall in Coventre declare at large but the first particular person that I find possest thereof and by grant without doubt from one of those Earls was Roger de Burchervill or Buschervill in 30 H. 2. it being then held by him for half a Kts. fee. This Rog. de Buschervill gave some lands lying here to the Monks of Combe so also did one Henry de Buschervill by a daughter and heir of which family it divolved to Ireys as the descent here inserted doth shew Thomas le Ireys in 27 H. 3. being certified to hold it by half a Kts. fee. Tho. Fitz-Lucian Baro de Donnore in Ultonia infra reg Hib. Agnes de Boschervill D. de Ansty Galf. le Ireys miles Johanna de Charnels Rog. de Culy 16 E. 2. Tho. de Culy ob 8 R. 2. Joh. de Culy ob s. p. Eliz. ux Joh. Stanhop de Rampton 8 R. 2 Ric. Stanhope miles ob 14 H. 6. Joh. de Culy mil. 11 E. 3. Thomasina filia co-haeres Hugo de Culy ob s. p. Rogerus Hugo de Culy defunctus 11 E. 3. Rog. de Culy miles ob s. p. 33 E. 3. Margeria soror Tho. de Erdeswike ob 6 R. 2. Ioh. Deincourt de Blankney 2. maritus Rog. Deincourt fil haeres aet 15.17 R. 2. Henr. le Ireys Oliva Mandevill de Hib. Matilda Guliel Prior de Coventre Galfr. canon de Kenilworth
the work wholly to the same Sir Andrew Iud passing by this pious Lady without any memorial for the same In that place where this Cross is now situate there stood antiently another which having been set up in ann 1423. 2 H. 6. was taken down in ann 1510. 2 H. 8. but for what reason I find not The next most memorable thing in order of time relating to this place is that purchase by the City made in 34 H. 8. from the Crown of much Monastery-land lying in and near â—hereto viz. the great Orchard containing 8 acres and the little Orchard 2 acres One Rode lying within the precincts of the Priory a Pool called New-pool containing 1 acre a Mess. called the Mote-house with divers lands thereto belonging a Wood called St. Cleres-grove with a Water-mill and divers particular parcels of land lying in Radford Certain mess. and lands in Bigging alias Stoke-Bigging with a large field called Harnal-field Divers other grounds called the Stripe Swanscroft Parsons-meadow Marble-field Windmyll-fields and Crowmote The mess. and ferm of Hawksbery and Hawksbery-grove with a certain Mannour-house there moated about as also a number of particular grounds lying in Sow Folkeshull and Wykin together with the House of Friers-minors commonly called the Gray-friers with its whole site and circuit All which and much more that for brevity I omit to particularize were for the sum of 1378 l. 10 s. granted to the Mayor Bayliffs and Commonalty and their successors by the K. Letters Pat. dated 19 Iulii 34 of his reign to be held in Capite by the xx part of a Kts. fee and paying 7 l. 13 s. 2 d. yearly to the said K. his heirs and successors After which time viz. in 6 E. 6. that the lands and possessions of the Gilds and Chantryes came to de disperst they made the like purchase from the Crown for in consideration of the sum of 1315 l. 1. s. 8 d. they had a grant of whatsoever belong'd to Corpus-Christi and the Trinity Gilds As also to those Chanteryes called Mereton's Forde's and Pysford's-Chanteryes alias Forde's-Almes-houses and Copston's-Chantry together with divers lands lying in Weston Kinsbury Alspath Mereden and Gallesby in the Counties of Warw. and Leic. pertaining to them And likewise of Shepey's Haye's Preston's Allesley's Percye's Loginton's and Cellet's-Chantryes with lands in Gosfordstreet c. pertaining to the Chappel of St. George and divers rents belonging to the Priests of St. Michaels-Church with lands in Starton given for the maintenance of Obits But it was neither the lustre of their beautifull Cross nor all those large and easy acquisitions that did any whit balance the loss this City sustained by the ruine of that great and famous Monastery and other the Religious-houses c. which had so lately preceded for to so low an ebbe did their trading soon after grow for want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither before that fatal dissolution that many thousands of the Inhabitants to seek better livelyhoods were constrain'd to forsake the City insomuch as in 3 E. 6. it was represented unto the D. of Somerset then Protector by Iohn Hales a person of great note in those daies and whose memory is still famous here that there were not at that time above 3000 Inhabitants whereas within memory there had been 15000. To recompence which decay of trade in 6 E. 6. they obtained a Charter for another Faire to be kept here annually beginning 21 Oct. and to continue two daies after But after this time till 19 Iacobi I find nothing else memorable that relates to this City in general other than what I have already mentioned in my discourse of Cheylesmore Which King then granted them a most ample confirmation of all their former Charters Liberties Priviledges Lands and Rents As also that the House where they usually assemble for their City-affairs should be called the Councell-house of the said City and that those who then were or after that time were to be elected thereunto should be called the Councell of the City And moreover that the Mayor Recorder Bayliffs and other Officers should yearly be elected on their Leet-day to be held within a month after Michaelmass by xxxi persons nominated of those who have formerly born the principal offices in the City And likewise that there should be ten Aldermen in the ten wards as formerly had used to be And that the Mayor Recorder and those ten Aldermen should be Justices of peace within the same City and County thereof As also that the said xxxi persons should have power to tax themselves and all other the Inhabitants within the walls of the said City to the charge of repairing the said walls so as alwaies it discharge not those who of right or custome are liable thereto By which Pat. had they likewise a grant of two new Faires one to be held upon the first of April and the other upon the 16 of August with such Tolls as are taken in Smythfield within the suburbs of London And that they should take Recognizances for the peace and good behaviour and for appearance at the Sessions within the said City And further that they should have a second Councel consisting of 25 persons called the Common-Councell of the said City to prepare the affairs thereof for the Mayor and greater Councel And to have the government of such Orphans of Citizens of that City and of their estates as shall be commended by their own parents to the tutelage of the Mayor and Aldermen thereof in which case the Corporation to secure the Orphans portions to whomsoever that trusts them and pay six pounds per Centum for their maintenance And lastly that the said Mayor Bayliffs and Commonalty might have liberty to purchase lands in Mortmayn to the value of 300 l. per annum to the general behoof of this City provided that such lands be not held in Capite nor Kts. service VVhich Pat. bears date 18 Iulii 19 Iac. Having now done with what concerns the City in general I will here subjoyn a Catalogue of the Mayors thereof An. 1347. 21 E. 3. Iohn Ward Will. Horn. Iordan Shepey he built Iordan-well Will. Luff Nich. Michell Ric. Freberne Iohn Hayton Walt. Whitweb Henry Dodenhale X. An. 1355. 29 E. 3. Ric. Stoke Nich. Michel Henry Clerke Will. Botoner Will. Yarmouth Ric. Stoke Nich. Percy Will. Botoner Henry Clarke Will. Botoner XX. Henry Clarke Will. Botoner Henry Dodenhale Nich. Michell Iohn Tofte Iohn Papenham Iames Benyngton Iohn Percy Henry Clarke Will. Botoner XXX Adam Botoner Will. Wolfe Iohn Papenham An. 1377. 1 R. â— Iohn Papenham Ianyn Swynnyshed Ric. Luff Henry Kele Iohn Knight Ric. Dodenhale Ianyn Deyster XL. Adam Botoner Ric. Clarke Henry Kele Iohn Tofte Henry Kele Henry Kele Iohn Scarborought Iohn Liberde Iohn Northwode Iohn Crosse. L. Ric. Lichefeld Iohn Onley Ric. Clarke Iohn Preston Geffrey Hampton Will. Whitchurch An. 1399. 1 H. 4. Nich. Dodeley Rob.
the ascent whereon it stood Pen in the Brittish language signifying the head top or chief part and I le the same with Locus It should seem that antiently it was a pretty village otherwise there had been no cause for the Chappel but till H. 3. time that Geff. de Langley a man of great note in those days made it his seat I have not seen any thing memorable of it 'T is very like that the neerness of its situation to Coventre invited him to build here for in 22. H. 3. he had a grant from the King of certain timber trees out of Kenilworth-woods for that purpose Of what extraction this family was I know not though they had divers fair Lordships in this County but for as much as this was their chief seat I do here resolve to take notice of what I have found memorable of them Galfr. de Langley temp H. 2. Galfr. de Langley 22. H. 3. obiit 2. E. 1 ....... ux 1. Magr. Rob. de Langley 2. E. 1. Galfr. de Langley 22. H. 3. obiit 2. E. 1 Matilda ux 2. Walt. de Langley defunctus 8. E. 1. ...... ux 1. Ela una fil cohaer Isab. de Hulles 17. E. 2. Joh. de Langley miles 29. E. 1. ..... ux 1. Walterus ob S. p. Ioh. obiit S. prole Magr. Tho. de Langley 4. E. 3. Galfr. de Langley defunctus 10. E. 3. Maria 18. E. 2. Galfr. de Langley 4. E. 3. Ioh. fil Alani de Cherlton militis 33. E. 3. Iohanna filia haeres ob S. p. Ioh. Trillow jun. miles 2. maritus Edm. de Langley 9. E. 2. .... filia Will. de Bereford Iustic Regis Ioh. de Langley Williel de Careswell 2. maritus 4. E. 3. Ioh. de Langley de Atherston super Stour 18. R. 2. Ioh. de Langley Edm. de Langley 9. E. 2. Iohanna ux 1. Ioanna ux Edm. de Chesterton Rog. de Chesterton Eliz. filia haeres Ioh. Barndesley 4. H. 4. Galfr. obiit vita Patris Walt. de Langley defunctus 8. E. 1. Alicia Domina de Bykenhull ux 2. Rob. de Langley 29. E. 1. Alianora filia Rad. de Molington Marg. filia haeres Will. de Peto 47. E. 3. Ioh. de Peto Chivalier Will. de Pâ—to consangu haeres Galf. de Langley 22. R. 2. Galfr. de Langley 15. E. 1. The first mention I have met with of this name and stock is in H. 2. time the K. confirming the grant made by one Geffrey de Langley to the Monks of Combe of lands in Herdebergh now called Harborow-magna in this County 'T is very like that the same Geffrey was the father of this but if there were more than two in a direct line of that Christen name I know not how to distinguish them With Geffrey whom I suppose to be the son of that Geffrey which was a benefactor to Combe I will begin He was first Marshall of the K. Household an office belonging to the E. Marshall of England in fee who by the K. consent appoints a Knight under him to execute the same In which he so behaved himself that the King took great notice of him for a thrifty servant and for that cause afforded him much grace and respect though others con'd him little thank in regard he cut shorr the antient allowance for the Kings own table and lessened the old hospitality of the Court. In 23. H. 3. he obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn-lands here And in 26. H. 3. attended the King in that expedition of Gascoign wherein the English suffered great loss in which voyage he got such reputation with the King as accelerated it seems his further profit and advancement For in 34. H. 3. he obtained a Patent to his own use dated 29. Dec. of the whole benefit accruing by expeditation of Dogs throughout all the Forests of England And the fourth of March following to be Justice of the Kings Forests from Trent Southwards As also within few days after to be Governour of the Castle and Honour of Rokingham in Northampton-shire The same year likewise upon the return of a Writ of Ad quod dampnum had he license to stop up and inclose a certain High-way which interposed betwixt his House and woods here at Pinley and to impark those woods 'T is not to be doubted but as he managed the business his office of Justice in the Forests was very beneficiall to him but with what credit he did the King that service and inrich't himself let us hear an impartiall relation from an Author of that time Sub eisdem siquidem temporibus c. About these times saith he a certain in Knight called Geffrey de Langley who was a Bayliff to the King and a strict Inquisitor after all trespasses committed in the Forests rode through most parts of England In which Office he behaved himself with that cunning frowardness and violence in extorting vast summs of money especially from the Northern gentry as that the very Auditors themselves were astonisht at such a mass And for the better carrying on this course of oppression he rode with a great company of attendants well armed so that if any of those against whom he thus proceeded did but seem to excuse themselves in a muttering way their enemyes being Judges he presently caused them to be cast into prison Neither did he use any proportion in the punishment sutable to the offence for were it but the killing of a Fawn or a Hare and that crossing the way in a mans passage though he were the greatest Noble-man that did itâ— he would ruin him So that this his cruelty made the memory of his predecessors pretious nay Robert Passelew himself in comparison of him was counted a Saint Which Robert being Justice of the Forests immediatly before had been the man that first brought him into that imployment whose good turn he requited with supplanting him putting out all those under Officers that he had placed and undoing them to boot Whereupon the said Robert considering the instability of these terrestriall things forsook the Court and became a Priest Which ways of oppression and cruelty rendred our Geffrey so odious that the K. within two years thought best in prudence to remove him from that Office least the peoples discontents should reflect upon himself And therefore the better to satisfy the world he sent him away into Scotland there to be one of the Governours unto his daughter the Queen of Scots But the Nobles of that Realm finding of what an insolent Spirit he was would not long endure him there whereupon he betook himself to the service of Prince Edward in which he so managed the business that he raised up many enemyes to the King and Prince as well as to himself For being imployed in Wales by the Prince he so tirannized that in 40. H. 3. the Welch broke out into rebellion which
them the said Roger and Cecily and their heirs are excepted the homage services of Walter Deyvill and Milo Gerbold for lands they then held in this Whitley Whereby it is clear that they or their ancestors were enfeof't of what they had here from some of the Earls of Chester Which Roger and Cecily in 7. E. 1. were found to be Lords thereof but that the King had at that time foure Freeholders here who held one cottage two yard land and five acres under severall rents And that the said Roger then had one Freeholder viz Adam fil Milonis who held one yard land It was then also certified that the Prior of Coventre had six Freeholders here who occupyed one yard land and half two acres and half a rod with a Water-mill Of which tenants who paid certain rents and did sute to his Court twice in the year Raph de Whitley was one I am of opinion that the said Milo Gerbold was the father of that Adam who is stiled Adam fil Milonis This Adam fil Milonis for I presume it was he was in 12. E. 1. called Adam de Whitley and then certified to hold one yard land in this place by inheritance of Sim. fil Mauricii Who had a grant of K. H. 3. of xxii s. free yearly rent issuing out of those lands so held of the K. as abovesaid Which Rent was in 31. E. 1. convey'd by Roger le Tayllur to one Adam de Okes and his heirs Who in 18. E. 2. was found to dye seized of certain tenements here held of the King by the payment of a half-penny per annum called Warthe at the feast of S. Martin by the hands of the Shiriff of Warwick-shire Will. de Okes son of Will brother to the said Adam being his cosin and heir and of full age Which Will. 18. E. 3. dyed seised of the same leaving Philip his son and heir of full age But hitherto hath there been no mention of Whitley as a Mannour howbeit in 3. R. 2. it was found that Thomas de Freberne dyed seized of it by that name leaving Alice his daughter and heir then ten years of age Nevertheless in 6. R. 2. upon a suite for the title thereof it was found that the said Thomas Freberne had sold the inheritance thereof to one Thomas de Whitley and his heirs Which Thomas de Whitley past it away to Iohn Botoner and two others to whom it was adjudged What bargaining there had been for it I cannot declare but in 19. R. 2. the King granted the custody thereof to Rob. de Malton Clerk and Henry Wybbe it being seised into his hands by reason of the Minority of Margaret sister and heir to Iohn Palmer son of William Palmer Which Will. dyed in 16. R. 2. and his brother Iohn in 19. After this viz. in H. 6. time I find that Iohn Schipley of Coventre was seized of it perhaps by some private deed to direct the uses unto that Fine levved in 2. H. 6. betwixt Will. Schipley Clerk and others plaintiffs and Iohn Burton of Coventre and Ioan his wife deforc But hence for want of light I must make a leap to Q. Marye's time in the second year of whose raign Will. Starky gent. dyed seized of it leaving Thomas his son and heir of full age By whom or his descendants it was sold to .... Tate as I have heard which is like to be true for in 43. Eliz. Will. Tate son of Bartholomew Tate of Northamptonshire was certified to be Lord thereof and of full age A little below Whitley the river Shirburne quitting the libertyes of Coventre where with also I have now done joyns with Sow I must therefore ascend that stream again untill it bring me to its entrance of Knightlow-Hundred which is just at Sow a place taking its name from the brook neer which it is sitâ—at Sow HAlf of this village was given to the Priory of Coventre by E. Leofrike the Founder in the first year of King Edward the Confessor and by the Conq. Survey certified to containe 3. hides and a half whereof the woods extended to half a mile in length and 4. furlongs in breadth all being valued at lx s. But the residue thereof the King and R. Venator then held which R. Venator is also called Rich. Forestarius and had here only one hide The Record doth not express the particular extent of his woods but declares that those there belonging to the King the Abbot id est of Coventre and him the said Richard were three miles in length and one in breadth which with the abovesaid hide being rated at the other half were then also valued at lx s. With the Priors part wherein the Monks in 41. H. 3. had Free-warren I will begin By the Record of 7. E. 1. it appears that the Monks of Cov. had in this place one carucate of land with a Mill in demesne and ten servants holding five yard land by rent service viz. plowing harrowing mowing making and carrying hay reaping corne raking and the like work As also 13. Freeholders which held xii yard land paying each of them a certain annuall rent and doing suit to the Priors Court twice in the year for all services And likewise the royalty of 80. acres of out-wood in which all their Freeholders were to have house-bote and heybote and moreover the Chappell appropriat with half an acre of land adjoyning thereto Which said appropriation was made by Roger Meuland B. Coventry and Lichfield 5. Non. Nov. An. 1260. 44. H. 3. whereby it appears to have been appurtenant unto the Church of S. Michael in Coventry but the greater Tithes viz. corne hey wood and of the Mill the Prior held in his own hand â—he rest viz. wooll lambe with all the small tythes being allowed to the Priest that served the cure there who had also a house adjoyning to the Churchyard and ten acres of glebe which Priest was removable at the Priors pleasure having neither Institution nor induction by the ordinary But besides the particulars above exprest they had likewise here a Mannour-house Court-Leet Gallows Pillory Cuckingstool Felons-goods as also power to punish the breakers of the Affize of bread and beer to which Court did resort all the Priors tenants in Bilney Wilnhale and Ruyton Some other grants there were made at severall times to the said Monastery by particular persons having Freeholders in Sow which being so intermixt with the rest would hardly now be distinguish't though I should point at them as exactly as by the help of Records I could therefore I shall spare that labour and observe that after the dissolution of that Monastery the said Priors Mannour in 32. H. 8. being passed with other lands to Sir Iohn Harington Knight and his heirs to be held in Capite there was then the remainder of a lease unexpired which had
I not found any thing memorable other than the grant of the moytie of the Mannour of Hastokeshale for so it was written in 40 E. 3. by Alan Lesset and Margaret his wife to Thomas Langhurst and his heirs And as for Hawksbury in regard it is situate within the liberties of the City of Coventre I shall reserve what I have thereof to be there spoken This Church is not Presentative nor is there any Arms therein more than one Escocheon of Peto with his quarterings Withibrooke THE stream of Sow being here augmented by the access of a rivulet which ariseth above Withibrooke I am to take notice of those places that lye adjacent thereunto which are onely Withibrooke and Hopsford as the Map will shew the former taking its name of the brook on the banks whereof antiently as well as now many Willows have grown but of this place is there nothing recorded in Domesday-book so that whether it were then involved with Monkskirby or Hapsford I mean in the continent of hides certified of them in that Survey I am not able directly to affirm for that it was included in one of them there is no doubt in regard that Moubray afterwards had it with those and other the lands which belong'd to Geffrey Wirce then Lord of that place The first and most antient mention that I find thereof is that Richard de Morevill had it of Will. de Rudevill his kinsman in exchange for the village of Lindlei in Leicestersh by which deed it appears that the said Richard had formerly granted it unto the same Will. de Rudevill And that the ancestors of this Richard de Morevill were enfeofft thereof by Nigel de Albani father of Rog. de Moubrai in H. 1. time the certificate made by the said Roger in 12 H. 2. of what fees were held of him de veteri feoffamento doth sufficiently manifest in which it appears that this Ric. de Morevill held 5 Knights fees Which exchange was confirm'd by the said Rog. de Moubray This Ric. de Morevill gave to the Monks of Combe six yard land with the appurtenances lying in this Lordship with his body to be buryed in that Monastery at his decease But how or when it past from Morevill I have not seen so that whether that grant which Ivo de Harecourt made to Rob. Basset whereby he passed unto him totam terram suam de Wllveya de Copston de Withebroch in frank marriage with Beatrice his sister did contain the whole town of Withfbroch or onely some land that Harecourt had therein I cannot determine The next mention I find thereof is that Nicholaus fil Hulf in 7 Ioh. recovered the right of Presentation to the Church against the Abbot of Combe Which Nich. was afterwards called Nicholaus de Withibroe as appears by the Record wherein mention is made what he contributed towards that great sum which Will. de Molbrai gave to K. Iohn for a Fine that he might enjoy his inheritance concerning which Will. de Stutevile impleaded him and whereof I shall have occasion to speak at large in Brinklow Betwixt this Nich. and the Free-holders of Withibroke on the one part and the Monks of Combe on the other was there an Agreement made in 25 H. 3. concerning Common of pasture and other matters at which time he was a Knight To whom succeeded as Lord of this Mannour Will. de Castell in 37 H. 3. which William was a Benefactor to the Monks of Combe by grant to them and exchanges made with them of certain lands in this place and in 41 H. 3. gave a Fine to the King of half a mark in gold for respiting his Knighthood but whether he were son or marryed the daughter and heir of the before specified Nicholas I know not howbeit in allusion to his name he gave a Castle for his Arms as by his Seal appears which Coat his Grandchild William altered taking two bars and putting the Castle into a Canton Hulf Nich. miles de Withibroc 7 Ioh. Will. de Castell dom de Withibroc Nich. de Castello Remem Regis in Scac. 7 E. 1. Will. de Castello miles 35 E. 1. Georgius de Castello miles 4 E. 2. Will. de Castello 1 E. 3. Georgius de Castello 23 E. 3. Rob. de Castello 12 H. 4. Henricus del Chastel de Bromwiz 54 H. 3. In 7 E. 1. Nich. de Castello son to the last mentioned William was the K. Remembrancer in the Exchequer To whom succeeded another William who in 13 E. 1. paid a Fine of xl s. for replevin of his liberties at Withibrok viz. Courtleot and punishing the breakers of the Assize of Bread and Beer Which William was Shiriff of the Counties of Warw. and Leic. 22 E 1. and in 29 E. 1. received command to attend the K. at Berwic upon Twede on the Feast of S. Iohn Bapt. who then making a warlike expedition against the Scots was victorious as our Historians do manifest 'T is like he was made a Knight at that time for the next mention I meet with of him which was in 35 E. 1. shews him so to be He had issue George a Knight in 4 E. 2. but deceased before the 9 of that K. reign for in that year was it found that Alice his widow held this Lordship Which Alice in 1 E. 3. procured a special pardon for Will the son and heir to the above mentioned George touching the sum of 28 l. 7 s. 2 d. of the 58 l. 7 s. 2 d. which was required of him to be paid into the Exchequer for the Kings use as a debt due by VVill. his Grandfather when he was Shiriff of these Counties To the last mentioned VVill. succeeded George who had a Patent in 47 E. 3. to free him from bearing the office of Shiriff Eschaetor c. and in 51 E. 3. was one of the Commissioners for levying the subsidy of 4 d. upon every head commonly called Pole-money but in 5 and 8 R. 2. did bear the office of Eschaetor for this County and Leicestersh notwithstanding his priviledge In the Parliament of 10 R. 2. he served as one of the Knights for this Shire and in 11 R. 2. being in Commission with divers others for the levying of the moytie of a xv and x. in this County at the later end of the same year was constituted Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire After which viz. in 13 and 14 R. 2. he was in Commission for conservation of the peace But the next and last that I meet with of this name is Robert de Castell son of the said George perhaps which Robert was Shiriff of these Countyes in 12 H. 4. Knight for this Shire in Parliament 2 H. 5. one of the Justices of peace in 5 H. 5. In 7 H. 5. in Commission to treat with the people for a loan
touching the first of that Order erected here in England I find some difference amongst our Historians some affirming it to have been Rievaulx in Yorksh. Bernard Abbot of Clerevaulx sending over part of that Covent to plant there and to instruct the Monks thereof in that Rule which foundation was so made by Walter Espec in an 1132. 33 H. 1. But that Waverle in Surrey preceded it whereof this of Cumbe was a daughter I am much the more confident in regard 't is clear that Will. Giffard B. of Winchester was Founder thereof which Will. dyed 25 Ian. 29 H. 1. four year before Rievaulx is said to be founded And to confirm this that I say hearken to what our old Poet Robert of Gloucester hath to that purpose Houses of Religion as I seide er I wene Kynge Henry lovede moche as hit was wel sene For the ordre of Graye-monkes thorwz then men brouzt Furst here into Englonde and peraventer men him bisouzt As in the Abby of Waverle that hit furst become As in the eizte and twenty yeer of his Kyngdome Having said thus much of their original and first coming into England I shall adde a word or two of the strictness in their Rule and so proceed with my discourse touching the further endowment of this Monastery First for their habite they wear no Leather or Linnen nor indeed any fine Woollen Cloth neither except it be in a journey do they put on any breeches and then upon their return deliver them fair washt Having two Coats with Cowles in Winter time they are not to augment but in Summer if they please may lessen them In which habite they are to sleep and after Mattens not to return to their beds For Prayers the hour of Prime they so conclude that before the Laudes it may be Day-break strictly observing their Rule that not one jote or tittle of their service is omitted Immediatly after Laudes they Sing the Prime and after Prime they go out performing their appointed hours in work what is to be done in the day they act by day-light for none of them except he be sick is to be absent from his Diurnall hours or the Compline When the Compline is finished the Steward of the House and he that hath charge of the guests go forth but with great care of silence serve them For Dyet the Abbot assumes no more liberty to himself then any of his Covent every where being present with them and taking care of his flock except at meat in regard his Table is alwaies with the strangers and poor people nevertheless wheresoever he eats is he abstemious of talk or any dainty fare nor hath he or any of them ever above two dishes of meat neither do they eat of fat or flesh except in case of sickness And from the Ides of September till Easter they eat no more than once a day except on Sundays no not on any Festivall Out of the precincts of their Cloyster they go not but to work neither there or any where do they discourse with any but the Abbot or Prior. They unweariedly continue their Canonicall hours not peicing any service to another except the Vigils for the deceased They observe the Office of St. Ambrose so far as they could have perfect knowledge thereof from Millain and taking care of strangers and sick-people do devise extraordinary afflictions for their own bodies to the intent their souls may be advantaged Which Rules were duly observed by the first Abbot and Covent but afterwards somewhat was abated of that austerity but their habite is still white and nothing different in the fashion from the Monks of St. Benedict's Rule except a girdle which these wear about their middle Being now to speak of the particular endowments which this Monastery had I shall but onely point at the Benefactors with the places where those lands and possessions so given were situate in respect that the substance of them were in this County so that as they fall in my way I omit them not And first touching the posterity of Camvill I onely find that Gerard de Camvill son and heir to Richard the Founder and Nichola de Haya his wife Daughter of Geffrey de la Haya gave to these Monks C. sol to keep his Anniversary there for ever but Nigel de Moubray added all the rest of the woods which adjoyned to those that Roger his Father had bestowed on them before Will. de Moubray son to the same Nigel confirming whatsoever his ancestors had given The other speciall Benefactors were these Richard de Morevill who gave certain lands in Withibroke Thurbert de Bilneie with some others a large part of Bilneje Laurence Prior of Coventre with the Covent of that place half a hide of land in the said town of Bilneje Herbert Putot certain lands in Hopsford Thomas the son of Laurence de Stoke xxiiii acres of land in Withibroke and all his errable land in Bilneje Seher the son of Hugh le Harper of Stoke a wood called Harpers wood lying in Stoke Alice the wife of Walter Britton Wikin-mill which lyeth near Sow and a messuage there Rob. Chetwode and Sibil his wife Purmilne in Stretton super Fosse Agatha le Strange divers lands in Wlricheston now Wolston Ric. de Frevile Merston mill Hamund de Thurvile lands in the same Merston Will. de Borthun Blakedon-mill in â—he Parish of Lillington Walter Spigurwell of Emscote certain Common of pasture in the said Blakedon In Church-Lawford were there divers petty parcells of land given to these Monks some by Roger Hayrun Lord thereof and some by inferior men So also in Ansti and Shulton by Rog. de Buschervill and others Little-Lawford was wholy bestowed on them by Iohn de Chavini Lord of that Mannour In Herdeberwe were divers small parcells of land given by ordinary persons so likewise in Burthingbury In Little-Copston and Wolvey by Rob. Basset and Reginald his son which Reginald gave also the moytie of the Church of Wolvey In Shirford and Bromcote they had lands also given by Thomas Trove Lord of Shirford and others And in Merston Iabet divers petty parcels by inferior persons besides all that Iohn de Merston otherwise called Iohn Iabet had in that Village Part of which lands in Merston were particularly assigned to find shoos for the poor that were dayly releived at the Abby-gate So likewise were certain lands in Bilney and some houses in Coventre In Cotes id est Coton juxta Church-Over and Neuton they had much of the grant of Hugh Bagot Symon Bagot and others In Church-waver they had also divers small parcells bestowed on them by Rob. de Waver and others In Holme now called Biggin the Mill there with certain lands In Caldecote half a yard land given by Emme
alias Holme Tho. Holme mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. Thom. Hermworth alias Clarke Tho. Clarke mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. Galfr. Snead alias Danyell Galfr. Danyell mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. Rob. Derby alias Hepworth Rob. Hepworth mon. v. l. vi s. viii d. But of the Abbots here have I not found the names of more than these which were immediatly preceding the dissolution viz. VVill. Whittington Iohn Tolton Oliver Adams and Robert Bayte As for the Curses which were usually pronounc't by the Founders of these Religious houses whether they have attended those violators of what they so zealously and with devout minds had dedicated to Gods service I will not take upon me to say but sure I am that after K. H. 8. had accomplish'd this work he thrived but a little as I shall elsewhere in particular observe And how long such possessions have been enjoyed by those that had them they that have look't into the course of this world may easily see For this whereof I am now speaking it was by K. E. 6. first granted to Iohn E. of Warwick and to his heirs 22. Iuuii 1 E. 6. and after his attainder whereof in Warwick I have spoke in 3. 4. Ph. M. Rob. Keylway had a lease of the site and divers lands thereto belonging for 40. years at the Rent of 196. l. -08 s. -01 d. And afterwards another for lx years Which Robert Kelway in 23 Eliz. dyed seized in fee of certain lands belonging to this Monastery Anne the wife of Iohn Harrington Esq. being his sole Daughter and heir and then 30. years of age Binley ABout a mile below Combe the litlte brook before mentioned meeteth with Sow which passing gently on leaveth Binley on its Southeast side In the Conq. time the Monks of Coventre held three hides here whereof the woods were half a mile in length and one furlong in breadth all being then valued at lx sol which they purchased of Osbernus fil Ricardi a great man in that age as when I come to Aston-Cantelow shall be shewed but in Edw. the Conf. time Aldgid widow to Grifin was owner thereof The other part of this village Hadulfus in some places written Hadewolfus progenitor to the family of Rokeby and already mentioned there possest at that time as Tenant unto Turkill de Warwick it containing two hides whereof the woods extended to four furlongs in length and two in breadth all which were valued at 35. s. having been held by the same Hadulfus of the said Turchill before the Norman Conquest Touching the name I shall but onely deliver my conjecture viz. that it may probably be compouâ—ded of two Saxon words Bilene signifying to dwell and ea water which being contracted together came at length to be written according to the usuall pronunciation And that this Etymologie is not unsutable to its situation is plain enough but now we write it Binley as it is vulgarly called though in all an ient authorities it be recorded by the name of Bilneje As to the succession of its owners I shall first proceed with that part which the Prior of Coventre held whereof the Chappell dedicated to St. Bartholmew is a Member having been confirm'd to that Monastery by Ranulph E. of Chester in H. 1. time and appropriated thereto by Rog. Meuland B. of Cov. and Lich. in 44 H. 3. In K. Stephans time or beginning of H. 2. Laurence then Prior of Coventre granted half a hide of that which they had here to the Monks of Combe to hold in Frank-almoign paying to the Monastery of Coventre viii s. per an viz. 4. s. at the Feast of the Nativ of St. Iohn Baptist. and 4. s. at Christmass for all services but how their portion came to be further lessened I know not for of a long time before the dissolution the said Monks of Coventre were reputed Lords of no more than a fourth part of this village All which with the tythes were by K. H. 8. inter alia granted to Robert Burgoine and Iohn Scudamore and their heirs in 36. of his reign The rest very little excepted was bestowed on the Monks of Combe soon after the Foundation of that Abby for Thurbert son of the above mentioned Hadewlfus who is in some places called Thurbert de Bilneja and in other Thurbert de Rochebe gave a large portion thereof as by his Charter where it is set forth by bounds appears whereupon it should seem that he and his wife betook themselves to a retired life in that Monastery the Monks giving them allowance of dyet during their lives as also to Henry his son and heir two marks of silver and to all the rest of their children xii d. a piece for their assent which grant was confirm'd by Rog. E. of Warwick in respect that the lands of the before specified Turchill came for the most part to those Earls and afterwards by Earl William the extent thereof being one hide amounting to the 5. part of a Kts. fee. About the same time Ioeslinus the son of Raph de Bilneje gave to the said Monks a good quantity of land and woods in this place reputed also for one hide and held by the 6. part of a Kts. fee whereupon he had allowance of his dyet as long as he lived according to the proportion for one Monk and as much for his mother All which his brother Robert confirmed in consideration whereof he had a Horse with two marks and 4. s. of silver To this Robert succeded Robert his son who gave them also a large part in woods which is in his Charter set forth by bounds in consideration whereof the Monks granted that after his death as much solemnity should be made for him in that Abby as for one Monk in Masses and Prayers and participation of all other benefits And not long after did Henry de Rochebe son and heir to the before recited Thurbert not onely confirm what his father had given but granted them the Mill here and half his wood called Munechet for which besides the 2. marks he had in his fathers lifetime they gave him 4. marks of silver more with 7. s. to his mother and to each of his brothers viz. Will. Alex. Thomas Ingeram and Ric. xii d. a piece And to him the said Henry as also to his mother allowance of as much dyet as was the proportion for one Monk during their lives By which grants and some others that for brevity I pass by it appears that the said Monks of Combe had here in 7 E. 1. one carucat of land a Water-mill as also two Windmills all held in demesn five Cottages seven yard land and seven acres held by seven Freeholders at a certain Rent homage and suit of Court Foutry two acres of out-wood whereof two were then inclosed within the Park of Brandon for which they had yearly 2. s.
to the said Canons liberty to fish with boat and nets one day in every week viz. Thursday in his pool here at Kenilworth But other particulars of him worthy of Note have not I seen any except that false accusation of Treason made against him at Woodstock where K. Henry kept his Easter in 30. of his raign To him succeeded Geffrey his son and heir Lord Chamberlain likewise to the King as his father was and possest of a great estate for by the certificate of William E. of Warwick in 12. H. 2. it appears that he held of him no less than XVII Knights fees de veteri feoffamento Which Geffrey wedded Agnes daughter unto Roger Earl of Warwick with whom he had in marriage ten of those 17. Knights fees id est a discharge from any service for them except in some speciall cases As also Shrivalty of this County to hold to him and his heirs in such sort as he the said Earl had held or might hold it of the King and was a great benefactor to this Monastery of Kenilworth not onely by confirming all his fathers grants thereto but adding these particulars viz. the land at Newton at the buriall of his father The Mannour of Pakinton with the Church and Mill there The greatest part of Leminton with the Church and Mill. The Mill of of Guy-Cliff The Cell of Bretford with lands at Wridfen and Wotton The Churches of Wilmeleghton now called Wormleghton Herberbury Radford and Budbroke all in this County with the Church of Stivecle in Buckingham-shire confirmed to them by William Pipard All which were likewise ratified by Henry de Clinton son to the last specified Geffrey who also gave thereunto the town of Tachebroke with much more land at Wridfen in consideration whereof the before specified Canons allow'd to him every day during his life two manchets such as two of the said Canons used to have and four gallons of their better beer according to wine measure which he was to have whither he were at Kenilworth or not from the time he should enter into a religious life in case he did so do except on those dayes he had entertainment in the said Monastery After whose death Amicia de Bidun his wife released unto these Canons all her right of dowrie which she had in the lands so given by her said husband I will now onely enumerate the principall grants made by divers other persons to this Monastery for as much as of such that were in this County I speak more largely as I discourse of those particular places viz. Brueria now called Hethe near Wotton given by Odo de Turri The Church of Stoneley by K. H. 1. Divers lands in Molington by Iulian de S. Remigio As also the Church of Yftele with a yard land in Couley neer Oxford The Church of Hethe in Oxford-shire by Lescelina daughter to Geffrey the Founder and wife to Norman de Verdon which Bertram de Verdon her son confirmed granting besides a meadow at Asho called Rugenhale and another at Bretford The Churches of Brailes and Wellesburne by Roger Earl of Warwick Of Locksley by Rob. fil Odonis with certain lands also there Of Whitnash by Raph de Mara and Lesceline his wife Of Hampton in Arden and Smite with the Chappell of Brinklow by Roger de Moubray Of Langford in Derby-shire by Nich. de Gresley and Margaret his wife which Margaret in her minority with her whole patrimony was long under the care and tutelage of the before specified Geffrey the Founder Of Chesterton by Will. Croc. Of Fenny-Compton and one hide of land there by Gilbert le Bigoth Of Eatendon with divers lands there by Sewal fil Fulcheri ancestor to the antient family of Shirley yet lords of that Mannour And of Cherlton-Canvile in Com. Somerset by Rich. de Canvile All which with their severall Chappell 's were confirm'd to these Canons by severall Kings and Bishops as I shall have occasion more fully to manifest when I come to each of them Of Broke in Rutland which was a Cell to this Monastery given by Hugh de Ferrers and confirmed by Walcheline his brother Of lands in Newton by Ernald de Bois In Herdwic and Halford by Will. Giffard In Baginton by Hen. de Arden In Ludewell by Manasses Arsic In Tisho by Ric. de Bereford Cecily his wife and Raph de S. Edmundo Of half a yard land in Ricardscote in Com. Staff By Cecily the daughter of Rog. le Wayte Of lands in Herberbury by Henry Malory and others Of fire-wood in Berkswell by Nigel de Mundevill Of lands in Wolston by Rog de Frevill and Sibill his wife And to these were added the Church of Milverton by Walter Espigurnell and Celestina his wife in 16. H. 3. With the greatest part of Locksley Westcote and Morton and the advouson of the Church of Locksley by Peter de Mora about the 38. of H. 3. Afterwards viz. in 19. E. 2. Iohn Lok and Roger de Boyvill had license from the King to grant the Mannour of Patleshull in Stafford-shire to this Monastery In 20. E. 3. Thomas de Hampton to give five mess. with cxii acres of land in Radford thereunto And in 25. of the same K. raign Iohn the son of Iohn de Peto for granting xiv mess. two Carucats and five yard land in Loxley to it Many other small parcells in severall places were at sundry times given to these Canons by common persons the mention whereof I do purposely pass by for brevities sake Of all which the Prior and Covent of this House being thus possest in 12. E. 1. granted away the Churches of Fenny-Compton and Chesterton to the B. of Coventre and Lichfield and his successors for ever And of these their possessions as they had ample confirmations by severall Kings of this Realâ—e so were the priviledges very great which they enjoyed by those Charters viz. power to keep Court-Leet Assise of bread and beer authority to try malefactors within divers of their Lordships and freedom from suite to the County and Hundred-Courts as by the same Charters unto which I have pointed may be seen besides Free-warren in divers of their Mannours as I shall instance when I come to them in particular To these was added by King E. 3. that the Sub-prior and Covent should during the vacancy have the custody of the said House and all the Temporalties appertaining thereunto paying only to the King his heirs and successors for every whole year cxvii li. ii s. viii d. As to the appropriation of the particular Churches before recited to the use and benefit of this Monastery I shall take notice of them when I come to
granted out of the Crown by K. H. 8. inter alia to Thomas Marrow of London Esquire and his heirs by the name of the Mannour of Wrydfen alias Rudfyn 20. Iunii 37. H. 8. Which Thomas in 3. 4. Ph. M. reconvey'd it to the Crown and the same year had a grant thereof again with Berkswell and other lands in this County But it seemes that Marrow kept it not long for the next year following I find that the Queen passed it to Iohn Throkmorton Esq. for 21. years in which grant it is said to have been in the Qu. hands by exchange for other lands with the said Thomas Marrow Which Lease belike was surrendred for plain it is that Q. Eliz. in 7. of her raign convey'd it to Robert E. of Leic. and his heires After whose death Lettice Countess of Leic. his Widow during her life held it but the inheritance being in Sir Robert Dudley Kt. base son to the said Earl by vertue of his fathers Will he in the same grant whereby he past Kenilworth-Castle to Prince Henry joyned this since which it hath accompanyed the possession thereof There is no more building at this place then one house which having been a Grange belonging to the Canons of Kenilworth upon the dissolution of that Monastery was assigned to the last Prior for his residence whist he lived as I have heard Stonely I Now come to Stoneley situatâ—on the Northern bank of Sow a little below the joyning of of Kenilworth-water therewith which is a very spacious Parish and containeth many petty Hamlets and places of Note viz. Cloud Starton Finham Fletchamsted-Superior and Inferior Hurst Cryfield Canle and Hill with the three Granges called Helenhull Bokindene and Milburne of all which in their order Before the Norman invasion King Edward held it in demesn so likewise afterwards did William the Conq. by whose generall Survey it was certified to contain six hides there being then two Priests of whom I shall say more when I speak of Cloud and Fletchamsted the woods extending to four miles in length and two in breadth Kenilw. being a member thereof in which the King had feeding for 2000. Hoggs There were at that time also two Mills rated at 35 s. -4 d. As for the name there needs not much to be said in regard 't is obvious enough considering that the nature of the soil where the Town stands is rocky Stanlej the antient name now altered to Stoneley signifying a stony place In the Crown it continued till H. 2. time answering xvii l. xiv s. v. d. yearly to the King who had within the precincts thereof two Houses one in the Town of Stoneley and the other at Cryfield his tenants here being called Sokemanni by reason saith Bracton upon that word quod deputati sunt ut videtur taantummodò ad culturam quorum custodia maritagia ad propinquiores parentes jure sanguinis pertinebat Which tenants had wont from antient time every 3. Weeks to do their suite at the Kings Court held for this Mannour upon a hill then and yet called the Motstow-hill on the South-side the river opposite to the Church having that appellation because of the pleadings there the word Mote being to this day used in that sense by our Lawyers each Tenant holding one yard land and paying yearly xxx d. viz. 1 d. an acre in regard every yard land contained xxx acres and no more In the distinct Hamlets belonging to this Mannour there were viii yard land onely and if they had any more it was by improvement of the wasts each of which Hamlets gave a certain portion of money for a Common-fine twice a year howbeit that payment was not made by the Sokemanni but by the interior Tenants if there were any the further customes touching which Sokemanni were as followeth viz. 1. That each of them at his death should give an entire Heriot that is to say his Horse Harness and Armes if he had any otherwise his best beast and that the heire succeeding his father should be admitted to the inheritance at xv years of age doubling his Rent for a Relief and from thenceforth to be joyn'd with the rest of the Sokemanni in Juryes as also in collecting the Kings rents and answering to proces as if he had been of full age 2. That they were to have Estovers in the outwoods by the oversight of the Foresters scil Housebote Heybote and Firebote and freedome of paunage for their own Hogs but for such Hogs as they did buy after the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist to give paunage 3. That at the Bederipe in harvest id est the generall Reap for the Lords corn the word Bede signifying to pray or request they should all come upon request or notice with every of their tenants the Sokemanni to ride up and down on Hoseback with wands to see that they work't well and to amerce those in the Court then and there held that made default or laboured idly 4. That they should be in the field at Sun-rising and work till Sun set not sitting down to breakfast but each of them eating what he brought with him as they went up and down the lands to their work and after breakfast to sit down once before dinner the Lord finding them drink but at Noon both they and the Sokemen to have meat and drink provided by the Lord. 5. That the Reapers should eat by themselves every one having a little Wheat-loaf 4. Eggs and pot age viz. Grewell without flesh boyled in it except the Lord would afford them other with Cheese and Beer sufficiâ—nt and after dinner one sittâ—ng down with bread and beer but the Sokemen themselves to be served with better dyet according to their degrees 6. And lastly when the King should assess his Boroughs and Mannours with Tallage he to have from the Sokemen here the tenth part of their goods I now descend to the foundation of the Abby and the occasion thereof The Order of Cistercian Monks being propagated in England towards the later end of K.H. 1. raign as in Combe I have shew'd found in short time many pious Benefactors in severall parts of the Kingdom who bountifully bestowed upon them very large possessions in such places as were most proper for them to seat themselves with least disturbance in their strict and holy Rule of serving God Amongst which were Maud the Empress and King Stephen who though otherwise opposites to each other yet in this good work concurred granting a certain desert called Redmore lying in the Forest of Canok in Stafford-shire a mile Southwards from Beaudesert unto Clement and Herveâ—e two devout Hermits with others of their society As also a certaine laund called Mellesho for tillage and pasturing of cattell Which Concessions Roger de Clinton then Bishop of Chester not onely confirmed but gave them liberty to betake themselves to what regular life soever they through Gods direction should
To whose maintenance she charged 29 li. per annum to be payd out of Milburn-grange situat in this parish and thus distributed viz. 52 s. to each of the poor people at the Feasts of S. Iohn Baptist S. Michael the Nativity of our Lord and the Annuntiation of our Lady by even portions vi s. viii d. apiece yearly to the Church-wardens for the time being whom she constituted Supervisors of the said poor people as to their orderly coming to Church every Sunday and Holy day except there were urgent cause to the contrary x s. per annum to the Mayor of Coventry for the time being whom she also appointed to oversee the performance thereof And x s. yearly towards the repair of the Church here at Stonley as also xxii s. viii d. to a Preacher for to preach 4. Sermons there yearly All which Q. Elizabeth by her Letters Pat. bearing date 28. Iunii 19. of her raign confirmed Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes temp Inst. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. de Wylmeleighton Diac. Non. Oct. 1307. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. de Wylmeleighton Subdiac 19. Maii 1307. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. Wake Cap. 17. Cal. Sept. 1337. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Will. Aleyn de Shulton Pbr. 2. Non. Iunii 1348. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Io. de Sutham Cap. 17. Cal. Oct. 1349. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Henr. de Mollington Diac. 3. Cal. Maii 1350. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Will. Payn Pbr. 5. Cal. Sept. 1361. Prior Conv. de Kenilw. Ioh. Scarburgh Pbr. 8. Iulii 1398. Abbas Convent de Stonley Ioh. de Coventre Monachus 13. Aug. 1401. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Will. Clifton Cap. 23. Oct. 1417. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ioh. Hull Cap. 5. Iunii 1421. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ioh. Morecock Cap. 28. Martii 1425. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Nich. Blake Cap. 19. Iunii 1428. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ioh. Westhouse Pbr. 1. Nov. 1442. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Will. Loveles 5. Novemb. 1445. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Tho. Canke Pbr. 22. Ian. 1450. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ric. Whyngar Pbr. 14. Ian. 1494. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Will. Wall Pbr. 27. Martii 1494. Prior Conv. de Kenilworh Ric. Mawdesley Cap. 1. Martii 1537. Tho. Reyley Civis Cov. ratione concess Pr. C. de K. Ioh. Hessam Cap. 21. Oct. 1545. Eliz. Regina Henr. Belingham Cler. 23. Ian. 15â—8 Cloud THis being now only known by the Bridge over Avon betwixt Babnell and Starton hath its name from the rock on the Southern side thereof Clude in the Saxon signifying as much In the Conq. time there were two Priests in Stoneley which had each of them a Chappell viz. one at Flechamsted and the other here at Cloud Of these he that served here was called Edmund the Hermite in regard that antiently here had been an Heremitage Unto which Edmund for his maintenance certain parcels of land lying in Starton were given by Will sirnamed Hasteler brother and heir to one Simon Cook to K. H. 1. which Edmund was buried in the Chappell here afterwards burnt by theeves After whose death neither the King nor any Lord of Starton presenting thereto the Prior of Kenilworth as Rector of the Church of Stoneley entred upon the lands belonging to it and appropriated them to the use of that Monastery As for the Bridge before specified it was built by one of the said Heremites out of the Almes bestow'd upon him by good people Which falling in time to decay the Prior of Kenilw. in 26. E. 3. was presented by the Hundred for not amending it for as much as his Predecessors time out of mind had used to repair the same as then was alledged but the Prior proved that no certain person was obliged to repair it in regard it had been built by the Heremite as above said And moreover that there being another Bridge neere at hand there was no necessity to keep up this whereupon he was acquitted Starton A Little below Cloud lyeth Starton taking its name from the Stoure or streame as I guess Which being a member of Stoneley continued therewith in the Crown till K. H. 1. granted it unto his Cook called Simon sirnamed Hasteler de Arderne and his heirs by the service of a soar-Sparhawk yearly From whom it descended to Will his brother who gave to Edmund the Heremite then Priest at Cloude those parcells of land before mentioned To which Will. succeeded Geffrey sirnamed Arderne and to him Rhese who past this mannour to Walter Marescall Earl of Pembroke in exchange for lands in Ireland Which Walter soon convey'd it to Sir Geffrey de Langley Knight of whom I have spoke in Pinley and Maud his wife and the heirs of their two bodyes and for want of such issue to the right heirs of the same Geffrey reserving the said Rent of a Soar-sparhawk to be yearly payd to the King his heirs and successors at the feast of S. Michael the Archangellâ— and to him the said Earl and his heirs a pair of Gloves or a peny for all services King H. 3. by his Charter dated 12. Martii 29. of his raign confirming the grant Soon after which viz. in 30. H. 3. the said Geffrey obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here but the next year following sc. 31. H. 3. he past away this Mannour to the Monks of Stoneley and their successors in Fee-ferm for xx li. per annum undertaking to pay the Soar-Sparhawk to the K. And afterwards releasing the said xx li. Rent to the Monks obtained the Kings confirmation of his grant the Soar-Sparhawk being afterwards paid by his heir The particulars which the said Monks had here were in 7. E. 1. certified to be two carucats of and and one Water-mill in demesn with six villains and seven Cottagers holding by severall Rents and Services All which with liberty of Free-warren renew'd to them by another Charter in 12. E. 1. they enjoyed till the dissolution of their House in 27. H. 8. But then coming to the Crown it was in 33. of the same Kings raign granted to Charles Brandon D. of Suff. which D. by his deed bearing date the last day of the same month passed it unto Matthew Wrottesley and Anthony Foster who in March 3. E. 6. sold it to Thomas Marrow of Rudfyn Esq. of whose grand-child Samuel it was purchased by Sir Thomas Leigh Knight Citizen and Alderman of London 17. Iunii 7. Eliz. and so continueth to his posterity together with Stoneley unto this day There is a fair Bridge of stone over Avon lying neer Starton now commonly called Starebridge but formerly Kingsbrigge This in 51. H. 3. being in decay the King directed his Precept to the
Shiriff for enquiry who ought of right to repair it and to distrein them thereunto What was done thereupon I find not but in 26. E. 3. the Abbot of Stoneley being questioned for the not repair of it did not deny but that he ought of right so to do Finborgh WIthin the precincts of Stoneley there was a certain House with two yard land belonging to it called Fynborgh given by King H. 1. unto one William his Falconer by the service of keeping a Falcon. Which land one of the same William his descendants charged with an annuity of 5 s. per annum to the Canons of Kenilworth in respect whereof of the Priors of Kenilworth did chalenge to be Lords of the same tenement exacting Heriots and suite of Court from the possessors thereof But this tenement came at length by succession to one Alex. de Fynborgh who dying without issue Ioan the wife of Steph. Stretton and Alice the wife Iohn Fynborgh being his sisters inherited it Neither of which having children Ioan the survivor gave it in her widowhood to Will. de Hulle a Priest who past it unto one Iohn Bacon of Wolston Which Iohn sold it to Sir Will. Bagot of Baginton in R. 2. time but since that have I seen little of it Fynham THis village lyeth upon the bank of Sow and being a member of Stoneley was possest by the Monks from the Foundation of that Abby they having Free-warren granted to them here in 12. E. 1. In it antiently were xii houses of which eight were gone before the beginning of H. 7. time When it past out of the Crown I have not seen but in 3. E. 6. Cuthbert Ioyner a Citizen of Coventre and Thomas Kevet were owners of it Which Thomas died seized of six mess. here and certain lands to them belonging in 1 Eliz. leaving George his son and heir Fletchamsted THis is now in two parts one commonly called Over-Flechamsted and the other Nether-Flechamsted but antiently they were not divided Here it was that K. H. 1. observing it to be a place of great solitude in respect of the thick woods and large wasts thereabouts gave to one Gerard an Heremite and Priest a carucat of land whereupon in process of time he built Houses and let them for Rent Which Gerard had a Chappell here the yard whereof was consecrated by Walter Durdent then B. of Coventre upon condition that he the said Gerard and his successors should pay tithes to the Canons of Kenilworth in right of their Church of Stonley In this Chappell did he celebrate Divine service daily was afterwards buried therein After whose death K. Henry preferred one Bryan thereunto who also was a Priest and brother to a Templar named Peter Lomsy which Peter sent the said Brian into Ireland upon some business for the Templars and in his absence sung Mass in the Chappell here for the King But Brian dying in Ireland the Templars held this Chantry and the land thereto belonging and procured K. H. 2. to bestow it upon one Robert Pirou a Priest during his life for their use and after his decease upon them Whose grant K. Iohn confirmed Which lands were in 31. H. 2. certified to be worth 14 s. per annum and the Mill that the said Templars had also here 3 s. whereof they continued possest till the destruction of their Order yet not very peaceably in regard that the Canons of Kenilw. perplexed them with suites in R. 1. K. Iohn's time upon the title they pretended to have thereof by the grant of K.H. 1. In 7. E. 1. that which the Templars had here was certified to be 1. that one Carucat of land and Mill above specified held by the service to find a Priest to sing Mass daily for the souls of the Ks. Progenitors and for the soul of Gerard the Heremite 2. That the Tenants of this and the rest of the lands which they had here were to do suite to the Court at Balsall twice a year and each of them to find one man in Harvest for to work four days with their hooks the Templars providing them dyet All which had House-bote and Hey-bote in the Abbot of Stonley's woods called West-wood In the time that the Templars thus held it Guido de Foresta Master of that Order here in England temp E. 1. purchased from the Monks of Stonley for an C. marks and the releasing all their interest of common in the woods and lands belonging to the Abby of Stoneley 192. acres of wast lying in a great out-wood there adjoyning called West-wood with all such Rents and services which the Monks of Stoneley had of the said Templars tenants in Flechamsted except the rent of Iohn Fitz-Nicholas But when the Templars were supprest scil An. 1311. 5. E. 2. Robert de Hockele then Abbot of Stoneley entred into this Chappell and lands here and held them for 40. days Howbeit afterwards by the advise of Tho. de Hockele his brother then a Dr. in Divinity and a Canon of Kenilworth fearing that he might undergo some Ecclesiasticall censure for what he had done rendred them up to the Hospitalars to whom the K. and Pope had granted them as I shall fully shew when I come to Balshall All which lands except the carucat first belonging to this Chantry did pay tithes to the Church of Stoneley and in 21. H. 7. were held of the said Hospitalars by Iohn Beufitz of Balshall in Lease who by his Will disposed thereof to Ellene his wiâ—e Which Order with all the great Monasteries being dissolved in 30. H. 8. the K. by his Letters Pat. dated 26. Febr. 36. of his raign granted away whatsoever the said Hospitalars had here to Iohn Beaumont esq and his heirs by the name of a Mannour the particular lands thereunto belonging being said to be in Over-Flechamsted Who having license the same year to alien it unto William Humberston and his heirs levyed a Fine thereupon T. Hill 2. E. 6. But afterwards it came by purchase to Sir Tho. Leigh Kt. and Dame Alice his wife Which Sir Thomas had issue Sir Thomas who made the Park here built a fair House within it now enjoy'd by his grandson together with Stoneley whereof I have already spoke Nether-Flechamsted COncerning this I have not seen any thing before H. 7. time but then sc. 3. H. 7. was Sir Iohn Catesby Kt. seized thereof from whose son heir viz. Humfrey Catesby esq Iohn Smyth a wealthy Citizen of Coventre living in the Spon-street purchased this other lands of good value Which Iohn in 6. H. 7. was one of the Commissioners appointed in this County for arraying of men in defence of the Kingdom then in danger of an invasion by Charles 8. K. of France as also for conservation of the peace from 8. till 15. H. 7. and then was constituted one of the
leaving Alured his grandchild and heir four years of age But Spâ—gurnel's part came at length to the Hugfords by purchase as I guess for in 12. H. 4. Rob. Hugford esq obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands that he then had in possession or reversion here and in Edmescote To which Robert succeeded Thomas who in 10. H. 6. was certified to be Lord thereof with Emscote and that he held it by the sixt part of a Knights fee but since that time it is divolved by a daughter and coheir of Hugford to the Beaufoes as in Emscote I shall shew and continueth unto them untill this day That the Church was antiently a Chappell belonging to Wotton I have already manifested being afterwards appropriated to the Canons of Kenilworth and endowed with xv acres of land but of the Vicaridge there hath not been any Ordination considering its vicinity to Kenilworth whence the Prior usually sent a Priest to serve the Cure to whom he allowed the small tithes and offerings for his pains which in 26. H. 8. were certified to be worth vi li. per annum Emscote HEre is now no more left than the Mannour-house the rest having been long since depopulated The first mention I find thereof is that Walter Spigurnell in a grant to the Monks of Combe of certain common of pasture within his fee of Mulverton calls himself of this place then written Edulfescote which shews that one Edulfus was antiently owner thereof But upon collection of the Aid in 20. H. 3. it is written Edelmescote and so by contraction in pronouncing now made Emscote Of which family scil Spigurnell there were these that had to do here viz. Walter who lived in King Iohn's time and beginning of H. 3. Iames against whom Will. Trussell in 37. H. 3. brought an Assise for common of pasture in this villagâ— then written Edelvecote and Iohn Spigurnell in 55. H. 3. Who in 7. E. 1. was certified to be Lord thereof holding it of Elen la Souch one of the coheirs to whom part of the Honour of Leicester descended as I have intimated in Milverton by suit of Court twice a year Which Iohn held here a certain meadow then in demesn paying to Will. Trussell a mark yearly and as much to the Prioress of Grace-Dieu and had five servants holding two yard land and a fourth part by a certain Rent and performing severall services viz. reaping mowing carrying Hay and corn gathering of stubble harrowing c. And two Cottiers holding two Cottages for certain Rent and Hay-making To whom succeeded Henry Spigurnell who in 1.2.4 and 11. E. 2. was in Commission for taking Assises of Novel disseisin and for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick But after him I have not seen more of any male branch of this family nor female except Maud Spigurnell who in 20. E. 3. held the sixt part of a Knights fee here and in Milverton of the Honour of Winchester The next possessor of this mannour that I have met with was Will Revell descended from the Revells of Newbold-Revell as in the Pedegree there inserted is manifest that dyed without issue leaving Ioan his sister and heir wife to Geffrey Reynolds by whom she had issue Richard who affecting his mothers name called himself Revell Which Ioan in her widdowhood marryed to Will. Attelberge a Citizen of Coventre and party to the Covenants of Marriage betwixt the said Ric. Revell his son in law and Margery the daughter of Robert Hâ—ggeford in 7. H. 4. What this Richard Revell was by his profession or practise appears not but he kept not this Lordship long for in 9. H. 4. he levyed a Fine thereof to the abovementioned Rob. Hâ—gford his father in law and Ioyce his wife and to the heirs of the said Robâ—rt And by his deed of Release dated 18. Maii the same year wherein he calls himself Ric. filius Galfridi Reynald de Edmescote alias dictus Ric. filius Iohaâ—nae filiae Willielmi Ryvell confirmed to the said Robert Hâ—gford and Ioyce and the heirs of the said Robert all his right therein Which Robert obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here and in Milverton dated 12. Dec. 12. H. 4. in whose male line it continued till the beginning of H. 7. time and then by a daughter and coheir came to Beaufo But before this Robert Hugford I have not seen anything of their name in this County howbeit in Shropshire there was an antient family of them And if I may have liberty to guess at the originall of this man's advancement to so good a fortune in Warwickshire I shall conclude it to have been through his relation to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick For it appears that in 20. R. 2. he was Custos Hospitii id est Comptroller of the houshold unto the said Earle who by his Letters Pat. for so they are termed bearing date at Warwick 26. Apr. 1. H. 4. granted unto him by the title of his beloved Eâ—quire for his good service done and to be done as well to him the said Earl as unto Richard Beauchamp his son an Annuity of 8 li. to be yearly received during his life out of the said Earles Mannour of Wike neer Pershore in Com. Wigorn. And upon the last day of the said moneth of Aprill in the same year I find that this Robert was retained by Indenture to serve the said Earl and his son Richard all his life as well in Peace as Warr receiving for his wages in time of Peace 7 li. per annum out of the issues and profits of the said Mannour of Wike but upon these further Covenants viz. to come to the said Earle or his said son whensoever he should be required in times of peace with a Groom and two Horses during his stay Rob. Hugford 20. R. 2. Iâ—cosa obiit 3. H. 5. Margeria nupra Roberto Rivel 7. H. 4. Tho. Hugford 3. H. 5. Tho. Hugford dominus de Prinsethorp 4. E. 4. Will. Hugford 4. E. 4. Ioh. Hugford 9. H. 8. Ioh. Hugford 1. E. 4. Margar. filia haeres Nich. Metley Iohanna filia haeres Humfridus Beaufo 20. H. 7. Ioh. Beaufo 20. H. 7 Ioh. Beaufo Ioh. Beaufo obiit 25. Eliz. Tho. Beaufo aetat 33. ann 25. Eliz. That in time of Warr he should receive from the said Earl or his son xx li. for his wages whereof half to be payd at the beginning of the Warr and the rest quarterly as long as he did continue therein That he should be well and sufficiently armed arrayed and horsed for the warr sutable to his degree with one Yeoman 2. Grooms and 4. Horses and to have dyet for himself and livery for his said servants and Horses but that the said Earl or his son should have the third part of whatsoever he the said Robert or his men did gain by the war
Oct. 1329. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. de Shulton Pbr. 9. Cal. Maii 1337. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. de Bilney Pbr. 3. Id. Maii 1339. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. de Merâ— Cap. Non. Aug. 1357. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. Sars Pbr. 4. Id. Nov. 1358. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. de Oselveston Cap. Id. Sept. 1361. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. Giffard Pbr. 12. Mar. 1390. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. Grene Cap. 22. Nov. 1414. Dâ— Episc. Cov. Lich. D. Ioh. Insulens Episc. titulo Comendae 9. Feb. 1449. Dâ— Episc. Cov. Lich. Magr. Will. Elmeshale 29. Oct. 1450. Dâ— Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. Stag. Cap. 20. Oct. 1454. Dâ— Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. Harrys Cap. super deprivat Ioh. Stagg pro defectu resid 19. Iulii 1456. Dâ— Episc. Cov. Lich. Rad. Whitehed in decret Bace 20. Iulii 1515. Dâ— Episc. Cov. Lich. Tho. Bolte Cler. Nov. 6. 1547 D. Rex hae vice ratione Concess Rad. Cope aliorum Magr. Tho. Bolte 12. Iunii 1553. Nath. Williams art Bac. 19. Maii 1626. Ioh. Biker art Magr. 14. Martii 1626. Causton Northwest of Dunchurch lieth Canston which in the Conq. days one Vlf held of Turchil de Warwic being then certified to contain 1. hide valued at xii s. but before the Norman invasion Edvinus possest it After this till K. Steph. time I do find no more mention thereof but then doth it appear that Ingelramus Clement spoke of in Dunchurch was owner of it himself or his father having been enfeoffed thereof doubtless by Siward de Arden son to the said Turchill for by his grant of it to the Monks of Pipwell he mentions Henry de Ardern son to the said Siward to be his immediat Lord of whom he held it Which Henry with Oliva his wife of whose dowrie it was confirm'd the donation in consideration whereof the Monks gave unto her a Palfrey and a Cow and being possest of so large a proportion in this village soon after obtained from one Turchil de Causton whom Ingelram Clement had formerly enfeof't all his interest therein Will. Clement son to the same Ingelram confirming the grant in the presence of Ric. de Luci and other the Justices Itinerant at Northampton the same year that K.H. 2. came itno England after his son's Coronation and summons given concerning his expedition into Ireland viz. 17. H. 2. Of which Turchil de Causton and Wimare his wife I find that they gave the lands before mentioned to the said Monastery cum corporibus suis whereupon the Monks were to find them all necessaryes during their lives and afford them buriall in their Church-yard at Pipwell when they should dye with performance of the like solemnity as for a Monk of their Covent Many and frequent have been of antient time such grants of lands by particular persons cum corporibus as the expression is some whereof having this added in Ecclesia sive in Cimiterio ejusdem Monasterii sepeliri others not And therefore it may seem that divers who gave their bodyes in this sort did devote themselves during their lives to the service of God in attendance upon the Monks as we see the Lay-brothers in forrein Monasteryes now do Which puts me in mind of a singular instance of this kind whereby it appears that the person so disposed did with certain Ceremonies give livery and seisin after a sort of himself for the rarity of which example I have here transcribed a grant wherein the formality thereof is contained Dâ— Ingebaldo servo SCimus omnes fideliter credimus quod quisquis aliquid de rebus suis exterioribus devota Deo mente donaverit mercedis apud ipsum retributione pro certo gaudebit Quanto magis speraro debemus imo firmiter tenere illum potioris recompensatione mercedis Dei bonitate donandum qui non solùm res transitorias sed etiam seipsum eidem Domino Deo perseveranter mancipaverit serviturum Quod ego Ingebaldus diligenter considerans cum quidem naturalem secundùm seculum à progenitoribus habeo libertatem voluntate propria me in servum trado Domino Deo loco in nomine honore S. Trinitatis id est ejusdem unius summi Dei apud Vindocinum constructo Qua verò istud occasione conceperim cunctis fidelibus volo manifestari ad gloriam Dei habendam erga eundem locum reverentiam omnibus Christianis venerabiliorem Contigit mihi aegritudinem corporis incurrere adeo gravem ut desperatus spem recuperandae salutis prorsus perdiderim Vovi igitur si me Deus convalescere de infirmitate ipsa donaret quod me illi in servum traderem apud praefati Vendocini monasterium sancto ipsius nomini consecratum Quod ego molestia corporis urgente districtiùs promiseram hoc factus sospes incolumis libenter exsolvo Neque enim bonitati illius esse ingratus debui qui me de mortis confinio benignitate misericordissima liberavit Dono etiam mecum eidem venerabili loco universa quae possessionis meae sunt hodie vel esse in totae vita mea justè poterunt quae dare legaliter possum debeo In cujus facti memoriam etiam quatuor denarios de caputagio meo sicut mos secularis est talibus facere super Altare dominicum praedicti loci gratanter impoxens funem quoque signi collo meo devotè circumplicans Carinlam istam scribi in testimonium postulavi manuque mea firmavi addita insuper congerie testium juxta humanae opinionis estimationem idoneorum quorum ista sunt nomina Hilgodus de Carismot Hugo Planus frater Arnulphi Rogerius de Conis Urso Favellus c. Actum Vendocini in Capitulo S. Trin. An. Dom. incarn Mlxxx. 10 Cal. Oct. die nat S. Mauricii The next thing that in order of time I find observabâ—e in relation to this place is that in the year 1266. 51. H. 3. all the chief men in Thurlaston joyned together and would have had Common of pasture by force on Causton-heath At which time Gerard de Lega was Abbot of Pipwell and advising with good Councel as the Register of that House saith stood against the whole Town of Thurlaston like a wall and by a chargeable suit in an Assize of Novel-disseisin before the Judges at Warwick obtained the upper hand on the Feast-day of S. Malachie the B. the year abovesaid In those dayes there was at Causton 2 large Ovens wherein were baked weekly xvi quarters of Corn for coarser bread and vi quarters of the better sort for the Monks and Converts with their servants in their several Grangâ—s of Dunchurch Thurlaston Rokeby Lalleâ—ord Neubold and Thirnmilne in this County as also of Ashby Winwik and Eltingdon in Northamptonsh In 11 E. 1. the Monks of Pipwell had Free-warren granted to them in their demesn-lands
Margaret and Mary the onely daughters and heirs apparent of Thomas Morgan of Heyford in the County of Northampton Esquier sonne and heire of Francis Morgan of Heyford aforesaid sometimes one of the Iustices of the Kings Bench and Marye wife of the said Thomas daughter and sole heir of Sir Edward Saunders Knight sometime chief Iustice of England and after chief Baron of the Exchequer and lyeth buryed in this parish Church of Weston Which Margaret and Mary the daughters dyed that is to say Mary the 22 day of May 1568. before she was one yeare oulde and Margaret the 30 day of September 1568. being of the age of seven years and 21 days On whose soules God have mercy Anno Domini 1584. Upon a Plate of Brass fixed in Marble on the South wall of the Chancel Arâ—is Apolline fueras qui Mista Jodoce â— Heu mortis jaculo victa Tomere jaces Cujus in interitum tulit haec solatia tristem Saunderus verae pignora amicitiae Anno Domini 1566. Decembris 22. Heare lyeth Ioyce Tomer slayne by death That had of Physick skyll Whose losse these comforts Saunders shews As tokens of good wyll Cubington I Come next to Cubington wherein by the Conq. Survey the Prior of Coventre was certified to have 2 hydes valued at xxx s. the E. of Mellent 3. rated at as much which one Boseher then held of him and Roger de Iuri 5. esteemed at xl s. In one place it is written Cubitone and in the other two Cobintone but afterwards Cumbyngton which shews that it had its name originally from the situation of it in a low or deep hallow for the word Cumbe doth signifie as much That which the Prior of Coventre had here was half a Kts. fee which in 20 H. 3. Simon de Cubinton and in 36 H. 3. Henry de Cubinton held of that Monastery But the substance of what the said E. of Mellent had aâ—i which the same Boscher held of him came to the Monks of Stoneley either given by the heirs of the before specified Boscher or by those whom he or they enfeoffed thereof though the particular grants do not appear For Henry Boscher grandchild to the first Boscher made a general confirmation of them in H. 3. time the quantity being 5 carucats of land and xxiiii s. iii d. yearly Rent of Assize as was certified in 19 E. 1. But of that which Rog. de Iveri had Hastings of Allesley was as it seems antiently enfeoffed By one of which line it was given to Semely Lord of Radford-Semely and to S. Maure though when I find not for in 7 E. 1. Will. de Semely held what he had here by the service of half a Kts. fee of Iohn de Hastings viz. 2 yard land in demesn and 3 held by 6 servants at the will of the Lord paying certain yearly rent and doing suit twice a year at the Court of the said Iohn de Hastings at Allesley Which W. de Semely had also six Cottagers holding as many Cottages and 4 Free-holders occupying 2 yard land and 3 quarters and doing suit to his 3 weeks Court here at Cobyngton as also making two appearances every year at the Court of Allesley abovesaid But from Semely I cannot deduce the succession of his part in this place That which Iohn Hugford and Thom. Waldeyve granted to the Monks of Stoneley in 13 E. 4. was certainly it for the quantity viz. 5 mess. 80 acres of land 3 acres of meadow and 4 acres of pasture doth not onely argue the same but the tenure thereof from Sir Edw. Nevill in right of his Mannour of Allesley antiently belonging to Hastings doth put it out of doubt Of Henry de S. Maure who had the rest of Cobington I find that he committed a Murther and fled for it whereupon K. E. 1. seized his Mannour here but allowed to Ermengard his wife liberty to hold it for her maintenance during his royal pleasure It should seem that the K. taking advantage of this forfeiture gave it soon after to the Templars for in 7 E. 1. it was certified that they had here 3 yard land in demesn and a certain Grove inclosed like a Park but being willing to strengthen their title from S. Maure in 9 E. 1. grew to an Agreement with him viz. to pay to them the said Henry and Ermengard 4 marks per ann during the life of her the said Ermengard in consideration whereof they levyed a Fine of it to the use of the said Templars and their successors for ever Which lands so possest by them were in 1 E. 2. seized by the K. and then yeilded 25 s. rent of Assize but were soon after transmitted to the Knights Hospitalars and continued to them till the general dissolution as did also that which the Monks of Coventre and Stoneley had Being thus lodg'd in the Crown the K. in 38. of his reign granted to Edw. Watson and Henry Herdson and their heirs all that belong'd to the Abby of Stoneley called then by the name of Cobynton-grange Which Edw. and Henry had license the same year to alien it unto Ric. Faukoner and his heirs who sold it to one Thomas Fawkoner Which Thomas reserving an estate to himself for life entailed it upon Eliz. his daughter then the wife of George Bodyngton and the heirs of her body with remainder to Agnes Fermour widow his other daughter and the heirs of her body but for lack of such issue to the right heirs of the said Ric. Fawkoner and departed this life 10 Febr. 1 Eliz. his said daughters being then of full age Touching that which belong'd to the Priory of Coventre I find that it was by K. E. 6. in 4 of his reign inter alia granted to Sir Raph Sadler Kt. then Master of the great Wardrobe and to Laurence Wennington Gent. and to the heirs of the said Sir Raph. As also that the Hospitalars Mannour here was past out of the Crown by Q. Eliz. the same year to Iohn Fisher and others The Church dedicated to the Nativity of our Lady being antiently but a Chapel and belonging to Wotton was therewith granted to the Canons of Kenilworth as in Wotton I have already shewed and in ann 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xii marks Which Canons in 5 E. 3. had License to appropriat the Fruits thereof to the use of that Monastery Whereupon scil in 19 E. 3. ensued the endowment of the Vicaridge which in 26 H. 8. was rated at vi l. vi s. viii d. over and above 2 s. allowed for Synodals Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes temp Inst. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thom. de Harewell Pbr. 11 Cal. Apr. 1309. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. de Shotteswell accol 3 Ian. 1313. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Rob. le Fitzwith Pbr. 8. Cal. Maii 1342. Patroni Vicariae Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Adam dâ—
Mich. 15. Sept. the same year conveyd the greatest part of the lands but excepted the site of the Mâ—nnour unto Iohn Whood and others whose son Tho. Whood together with one T. Wilcox 3. Novâ— 44 Eliz. granted them to Ric. VValter and he to Thomas VValter his second son that now enjoys them There was very antiently as yet is a Bridge here at Martonâ— over Leame â—t which it seems passengers used to pay Tollâ— for in 7 H. 3. the K. committed the charge of receiving it to the Abbot of Sulby who gave security for payment of a cerâ—ain Râ—nt to him for the same After which the Prioress of Catesby had the custody thereâ—f For in 4 E. 1. she was presented for withholding 2. of the 5 s. due from her for the same But in Kâ— H. 5 time Iâ—hn Middilâ—on a wealthy Mercer of Londonâ— born in this town conceiving it to be a good and charitable worke to disburthen the people from further payment of that Toll for the repair and support thereof built a fair Bridge here of lime and stone and obtained thereupon the Kings Precept to the Shiriff requiring him to forbear any more to demand those customary payments from such passengers as should have occasion to go that way The Church dedicated to S. Esperit hath been very antiently appropriated to the Monastery of Nun-Eaton but the certain time when appeareth not In Anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at 7. marks and in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge at vii li. xiv s. viii d. over and above xviii d. yearly allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Vicariae Incumb temp Instit. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton VVill. Prud. Cler. 3. Cal. Maii 1296. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. de Honygham Cap. 17. Cal. Iunii 1316. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Will. de Wappenbury Pbr. Id. Oct. 1333. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Hugo de Grendon Pbr. Cal. Dec. 1362. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. Newcumbe Pbr. 1. Dec. 1395. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton VVill. Trendale Pbr. 19. Iulii 1400. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. Denes Cap. 23. Dec. 1404. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Will. att Tâ—yn Cap. 30. Aug. 1408. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. VVestley Cap. 24. Oct. 1424. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. Gerrard Pbr. 2. Ian. 1430. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. Herford Pbr. 2. Iunii 14â—5 Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Sym. Byllyngey Pbr. penult Iâ—â— 1436. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Rad. Wâ—de Cap. 29. Oct. 1451. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ioh. Bakâ—r art Magr. 23. Sepâ— 1499. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton Ric. Iackson Cap. 24. Maii 1513. Priorissa Conv. de Nun-Eaton D. Rob. Mylner 1530. Rob. Fysher miles Bar. Thom. Sybleâ— Cler. in art Magr. 17. Oct. 1623. Hodnell LEame being here augmâ—nted with Ichene which riseth at the skirt of those Hâ—lls neer Hodnell I shall ascend to the head of that Brook and â—iâ—st take notice of all those places that lye on the North-East part of it But beâ—ore I begin so to do it will not be amiss to observe the cause of its name which without all dâ—ubt was occasiâ—ned by the subterranean passâ—ge thereof For at Over-Ichington upon a Common within little more than two miles of the head thereof is there a pool upon the Heath from which passâ—th a petty stream that enters the ground and running through certain intricate passages or Clâ—fâ—s in the earth for tâ—e space of about half a mile at last findeth an issue and taketh its course into the brook before spâ—cified for which râ—ason the name thereof scil Ichene being derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which language was doubtless the mother of our old English-Saxon that signifyeth to try or search out diligently was not unfitly applyed thereto Nâ—er to the head of this little stream stood Hodnell which as it is of a large extent so was it antiently well inhabited and had a Church whereof now the ruines are scarce to be seen In the Conquerors time the Earle of Mellent held four hides in this pâ—ace by Gislebertus his tenant then valued at lx s. and possest by one Ordric before the Norman invasion At the same time also Turchill de Warwick held 5. hides here then rated at lx s. and which were the freehold of the same Ordric and one Ulnod before the Conquest And Will. fil Corbucion 1. hide then likewise rated at xx s. In the generall Survey it is writtenâ— in 2. places Hodenelle and in the third Hodenhelle the originall of the name being as is most probable from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time perhaps Odo which then was an usuall appellation for the H. is indifferently received or omitted as we experimentally find in many cases the later part viz. Hulle Hille or Helle all signifying the same which is the high situation thereof But though it was thus in severall hands at that time as hath been said yet came it soon after to be united and possest by the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line who enfeoft Hugo fil â—â—cardi as it seâ—ms thereof â—nd 〈◊〉 Ric. de Burton of whom in Burâ—on â—uper Dunsmore I have spoke for it appears that the said Hugo fil Ricardi and VVill. Earl of Warwick confirmed to the Nunns of Eaton all that which was then called Great Hodenhull being given to them by the said Ric. de â—urâ—on sâ—on after the foundation of that Monastery Howbeit of some other part of this place was one VVill. Angevin antiently enfeoft by Robert de Tayden which VVill. in H. 2. time gave the totaâ—l of what he had here to the Monks of Combe â— excepting two yard land reserved for his own use afterward bestowed on them by Nigell Angevin son of the same VVill. All which was confirmed by the said Rob. de Tayden and Henry his son Divers other grants of land in this place to those Monks were made by severall persons of mean rank but because they were small quantities I have past them by After the Nuns of Eaton and Monks of Combâ— were thus possest of the greatest part of Hodenhull there grew some question betwixt them touching the payment of Tithes for the Nuns having the Church to which they were due required them accordingly But the Monks insisted upon their priviledge being of the â—istercian Order howbeit this dâ—fference lasted not long for the Monks were contented to wayve their priviledge and by an Agreement concluded that those Tithes should be assigned unto them for the enlargement of their Dyet yearly upon Tuesday in the third week of Advent For which favour it was then determined that VVill. the then second Abbot of Combe should have the day of his death recorded in their Martyrologe at Eaton yearly to be
recited in their Chapter and that after such his decease the said enlargement of Dyet for the Nuns should be changed from the before mentioned Tuesday to the day of his Obâ—t But these Hodenhulls came in process of time to be distinguisht otherwise than they were at first the one being called Hodenhull-Gurmund by reason that one Gurmundus held the 5. part of a Knights fee here of the Earl of Warwick and the other Hodenhull-Osbert from one Osbert who held the fourth part of a Knights fee of those Earles which family of Gurmund continued here for some descents for it appears that in 36 H. 3. Thomas Gurmund held the said 5. part of a Knights fee of the Earl of Warwick at which time one Simon de Hodenhull answered for half a Knights fee in the other then called Schiten-Hodenhull Touching that which the Monks of Combe possest here I find that it had antiently the reputation of a Mannour for by that name in 13 E. 1. they claymed a Court-Leet and other priviledges therein and had allowance of them as I have seen by the testimony of an antient Roll being vi mess. with vi yard land and a half 48 acres going to a yard land which part was also called Schiten-Hodenhull But the Monks of Combe continued not owners thereof till the general dissolution of the Religious Houses For in 16 E. 4. Will. Catesby Esq son of Sir Will. Catesby Kt. obtained the same together with the Mannour of Rodburne and what they had in Ascote to himself and the heirs male of his body from the Abbot and Covent of that House Other persons there were also that held lands in this place viz. in 20 E. 3. Iohn Burnell the 8 part of a Kts. fee Simon Gurmund the 4 part And about the 44 E. 3. Rob. Burnell by marriage of the heir the 4 part of a Kts. fee in Hodinhull-Bruiz and Ric. Gurmund a 5 part in Hodenhull-Gurmund which 5 part Iohn Harryes was found to hold in 2 H. 4. But the Mannour which belong'd to Nun-Eaton continued to that Monastery till 30 H. 8. that all the great Houses went to wrack After which it was purchased from the Crown as I have heard by Iohn Spenser whose ancestours had their residence here in H. 7. time and one Tho. Brauncefeild Which Iohn and Thomas sold it to Thomas Wilkes a Merchant of the Staple who dying without issue it divolved to Will. Wilkes his brother and so by reason that Robert his onely son dyed without issue to his daughters and heirs whereof Anne the eldest was marryed to Sir Will. Kingsmill Kt. Frances the second to Erasmus Dreyden Bar. and Margaret the third first to Francis Dimock and afterwards to Thomas Gibbs whereupon partition being made Old-Hodnell being that part thereof where the Mannour-house sometime stood fell to the said Erasmus Dreyden whose son and heir Sir Iohn Dreyden now of Canons-Ashby in Com. Northampt. enjoys it Ascote another part of it to Sir Will. Kingsmill who had issue Sir Henry Kingsmill of Sydmenton in Com. Sutht Kt. and he Sir Will. the present owner thereof And Watergall likewise parcel thereof to Thomas Gibbs whose son Edward still hath it Touching the depopulation here I find that in 18 H. 6. there were but 4 Housholders yet the Church was standing in 23 H. 8. for Tho. Spenser before specâ—fied by his last Will and Testament made at that time bequeathed his body to be interred before the Image of our blessed Lady in the Chancel thereof near to the place where his father was buryed and over and above xl marks that he gave by his said Testam to this Church dedicated to S. Helene appointed that his Executors should cause the Church-yard to be paâ—ed round and to be so kept Which Thomas gave also C marks to a C poor mens daughters such as dwelt nearest to Hodenhull to buy them Kyne at their marriages and entailed his lands upon Thomas son and heir to Will. Spenser of Badby The Church in old time but a Chapel had a mark per ann and a Stone of Wax granted out of it to the Canons of Kenilworth by G. Muschamp B. of Cov. in K. Iohn's timeâ— and being appropriat to the Monastery of Nun Eaton very antiently was in ann 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at v marks but never any Vicar endowed Neither in 26 H. 8. upon the valuation of the Church-livings doth it appear that here was so much as a Curat the Tythes being then let by the Nuns of Eaton to Iohn Audley Esq for xi l. xiii s. 10 d. per ann Ascote THis was originally a member of Hodenhull but antiently written Astanescote and Estanescote which shews that the name at first sprung from some possessor thereof in the Saxons time perhaps Estanus for that was an appellation then in use I find that the Monks of Combe had divers petty parcels of land granted to them by sundry persons of mean rank all which Will. de Ludinton confirmed But there is little further memorable of this place in particular considering that the several Mannours in Hodenhull extended into it other than that it hath been long since a Village of many Inhabitants though since depopulated with Hodenhull â— and that there was a large quantity of land lying within it granted by K. H. 7. to Sir Iohn Risley Kt. with the Mannours of Lodbroke and Rodburne 3 H. 7. Rodburne THis also from a Village of divers Inhabitants and having a Church is now by depopulation shrunk into one dwelling and had its original name from the little Brook near which the town was seated and the road from Southam towards Daventre over it burne in our old English signifying a petty rivulet and Rode a passage where people ride and travel as is commonly known All the mention that I find of it in the Conq. time is that Turchill de Warwick held something here but it being in the Survey then made joyned with Lodbroc I cannot distinguish the exact proportion thereof Whatever it was more or less his posterity possest it yet with the rest of his lands that the Conq. was pleased that they should enjoy to be held of the Earls of Warw. by the x part of a Kts. fee. Of which line Will. de Arden great grandchild to Turchill viz. son of Henry son of Siward as in Curdworth I have manifested was the first that made it their seat This Will being a good Benefactor to the Nuns of Henwood besides the grant of one yard land lying here which Walâ— Durdent B. of Cov. in H. 2. time confirmed gave them the Church of this Rodburne which G. Muschamp his successor in K. Iohn's time ratified with allowance that they should receive the fruits thereof to their proper use Neither was he less liberal to the Monks of Combe as appears by what
they had of his gift in this place To him succeeded Will. his son and heir who exceeded his father in bounty to those Monks for he bestowed on them above CC acres and half a yard land with pasture for 600 Sheep five Sows with their Pigs one Boar 2 teams of Oxen 5 Kyne with their Calves and one Bull 2 young Heifers with their Calves and his Sheep-cotes on the Hills for their Sheep all in this his Lordship of Rodburne Neither was Michael his son streight-handed to them nor almost any other that had Free-hold in this place as may appear by their particular grants of several parcels of land some of them therewith bequeathing their bodyes to sepulture in that Monastery Which Monks obtained divers priviledges here viz. Court-leet Assize of Bread and Beer Gallows c. as appeareth by their claim in 13 E. 1. whereunto K. E. 1. added his Charter of Free-warren dated at Westm. 18 Febr. 18 of his reign But the posterity of Arden who were Lords of this Mannour having their seat here sometimes called themselves de Rodburne as by divers Records besides these which I have in the margent pointed at might be instanced yet the last of them scil William assumed the name of Arden again and in 43 E. 3. sold all the interest he had here to Iohn the son of Will. Catesby at which time Hugh de Prestwode and Agnes his wife past their whole right therein to the said Iohn by a Fine then levyed with warranty against the heirs of the said Agnes So that it seems she was an heir and probably of the same Will. de Arden Which Catesbyes were of Ashby Legers in Com. Northampt. and afterwards had the Mannour of Lapworth in this Shire where I purpose to speak historically of them In 13 H. 4. after the death of Iohn de Catesby the purchaser I find that Enime his widow and Iohn his son had a Charter of Free-warren granted to them inter alia in alâ— their â—emeâ—n lands here And that in 21 E. 4. the Monks of Combe quittâ—d all their interest here by the name of the Mannour of Rodburne grange to Will. Catesby Esq son and heir of Sir Will. Catesby Kt. for which alâ—enation K. H. 7. granted his pardon to the said Monks in 13 of his reign But this Will. Catesby having been a great Favourite to K. Ric. 3. was attainted in the Parl. of 1 H. 7. whereupon his lands eschaeting to the Crown this was by the K. given away to Sir Iohn Risley Kt. and the heirs male of his body Whether it came again to the Crown for want of issue male by the said Sir Iohn Risley I cannot say but in 2 3 Pâ— M. the Q. granted it to Thom. Wilkes Meâ—chant of the Staple and his heirs whose brother and heir viz. Will. Wilkes dyed seized thereof 27 Sept. 15 Eliz. leaving Robert his son and heir then aged 12 years Which Rob. dyed 26 Iulii 19 Eliz. withouâ— issue whereupon his 3 sisters became his heirs as in Hodnell I have shewed But that part of this place which is called Little-Rodburne did heretofore belong to the Priory of Coventre and coming to the Crown at the general dissoluâ—ion of the Religious Houses was in 6 Eliz. granted by the Q. to Henry Goodere of Polesworth Esq and Clem. Throgmorton Esq and their heirs Which Henry by his Deed bearing date 26 Nov. 8 Eliz. released all his right therein to the said Clement and his heirs who in 15 Eliz. sold the same to Will. Catesby of Ashby-Legers in Com. Northampt. Esq and his heirs After whichâ— viz. in 43 Eliz. Rob. Catesby Thomas Leigh and others all Feoffees in trust of Catesby's lands as it seems by their Deed of bargain and sale past it to Ranulph Crew Esq afterwards Kt. and chief Justice of the K. Bench whose grandchild Iohn Crew son and heir to Sir Clipsby Crew his eldest son in Easter Term ann 1650. sold the same to Sir Iohn Dreyden of Cannons-Ashby before mentioned That the Church was very antiently appropriated to the Nuns of Henwood I have already shewed but how long they took benefit thereof I know not for it appears that the Catesbyes presented thereto as a Rectory and that in 26. H. 8. the Parson received onely iiii l. xvi s. ii d. yearly besides ix s. vi d. for Procurations and Synodals from Ric. Catesby Esq then his Patron whereby it seems that there was no Church then standing but how long it had been down I am not yet certain for our Countryman Rous complains of the depopulation here amongst the rest of the Villages in this County which in his time were ruined by inclosure Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes temp Inst. Ioh. Catesby ar D. Ioh. Steward Cap. 27. Apr. 1417. Ioh. Catesby ar Ioh. Watson Pbr. 22 Nov. 1431. Will. Spenser mil. ratione custodiae gard Ric. Catesby fil haer Georgii Catesby D. Thom. Palmer Cap. 24 Maii 1527. Venerab vir Ric. Catesby ar D. Rob. Holme Cap. 20. Ian. 1540. Henr. Philips ar D. Eliz. Catesby ux ejus Tho. Thackam art Magr. 20 Iulii 1573. Edw. Onley ar Gryffin Lhoyde Cler. 16. Dec. 1573. Ran. Crew miles capit Iustic ad Plac. Tho. Wilbraham jure Eliz. ux ejus Sym. Venables Cler. 6 Martii 1625. Ladbroke ABout 2 miles lower on the Northern bank of the same Torrent stands Ladbroke which I suppose had its name originally from the dirty soyl and clay where the stream runneth Llaid in the old British signifying the same with lâ—â—um and limus but it is frequently written in all antient authorities Lodebroc the a being changed into o. In the Conq. time the E. of Mellent had two hydes here then valued at 50 s. Turchill de Warwick 3 hydes with 4 yard land and better whereof one the Priest held and the other two one William whom I suppose to be progenitor of the family which afterwards assumed this place for their sirname And Hugh de Grentmaisnill three yard land with a Mill of iii s. That Turchill's lands for the most part came to Henry E. of Warwick before the end of the Conq. reign I have in Warwick sufficiently manifested but of what family he was whom the succeeding Earls enfeoft of this place I cannot certainly discover but Will. de Lodbroch the first that I find to have assumed his sirname from hence in 11 H. 2. was certified to hold a Kts. fee of Will then Earl of Warwick de veteri feoffamento that is to say whereof himself or his ancestor was enfeoft in H. 1. time so that I am induced to believe that the brother of this Will became so enfeoft For in the Confirmation which the said Will. made to the Canons of Kenilworth of the Church of Herberbury given originally unto them by G. de Clinton
that one of the ancestors to the family of Lodbroke had some grant from the Earl of Warwick of all that the said Earl had here so that the above specified G. de Clinton and he were at odds about the same which of them had the better title I will not here stand to argue but that Geffrey was a mighty man in H. 1. time in Kenilworth I have shewed so that the said ..... de Lodbroke though he recovered it as the Charter expresseth yet was he contented to hold it of the same Geffrey and by the advice of Walter Durdent then Bishop of Coventre did confirm the grant of this Church to the said Monastery in the presence of that Bishop and a great part of his Clergy which also was ratified by William de Lodbroch his brother and heir who likewise acquitted those Canons of v s. yearly Rent that had been paid to his predecessors out of a yard land that belonged to the said Church Of those possessions here in Herberbury that were of Clinton's fee in 31 H. 2. it was certified that the Templars held 5. yard land part of which were given by Geffrey de Clinton and part by Henry his son against whom in 2. Ioh. the said Templars required warranty Which land in 7 E. 1. was certified to be 1. carucat 2. yard land and 8. Acres all then held by 6. Freeholders who payd certain Rents for the same besides 2. cottages It was then also certified that the said Templars held 5. yard land here in demesn of Rob. fil Odonis which implyes that they had it of his grant But that part of Herberbury so possest by Lodbroke was given it seemes to Raph the son of Rob. de Lodbroke sirnamed Macer or Megre an appellation that he had by reason of his leanness Rob. de Lodbroch Rad. cognom Macer temp H. 2. Rob. le Megre 3. Ioh. Rob. le Megre 28. H. 3. Oliva soror Hug. de Ardern de Hampton amita una cohaer Willielmi Will. le Megre 52. H. 3. Amicia relicta 13 E. 1. Amicia filia cohaeres ux Ioh. Lupi sive Lou 13 E. 1. Margeria ux Philippi le Lovet Will. de Lodbroch For from the said Raph Macer had the Canons of Kenilworth also a confirmation of this Church with 2. yard land thereto belonging in the presence of Will. de Lodbrock his uncle in whose Fee it was situat To whom succeeded Robert le Megre his son who ratified his fathers grant and bestowed on the said Canons 2. yard land lying also in this place Which Rob. in 3. Ioh. gave 2. yard land lying here likewise to the Nuns of Eaton whereon the said Nuns in 7 E. 1. had x. tenants who held 1. yard land and half thereof at will performing divers servile imployments and 2. Freeholders that possest the other half yard land To this Robert succeeded another Robert who in 20 H. 3. answered for half a Kts fee in this place then held of the E. of Warwick and in 28 H. 3. was one of the Justices for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick This last mentioned Robert was a man of very great eminency in this Shire for his knowledge as appears by the trust then reposed in him For whereas in 30 H. 3. the K. had constituted Henry de Wyngham with one Kt. in every County from Trent Southwards to have custody of his Eschaets in the said severall Shires as also to enquire of all Sergeanties so as to certify in whose tenure they then were and in case any of them were alienated without the Ks. consent to discover by whom and to whom such alienations were made and of their values By vertue of which Commission they had also power to call before them xxiv or xii of the most antient lawfull and discreet Kts. in each particular County who being sworn were to enquire upon such Articles as should be exhibited to them touching the said Escheats Sergeanties the certificats whereof are recorded in the Exchequer in that known volume called Testa de Nevill under the title De sergeantiis arentatis this Rob. le Megre being the onely man made choyce of and appointed by the K. in this County performed that service and left issue Will. le Megre who on the Eve of S. Martin an 1254. 38 H. 3. by his Testam bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Monastery of Combe at which time he was received by those Monks to be partaker of all the benefits of their Order Which Will. departed this life before 13 E. 1. for then do I find that Amicia and Margerie were his daughters and heirs one whereof became the wife of Iohn Low and the other of Philip Lovet Whether these daughters had no issue and that thereby this Mannour eschaeted to Iohn de Lodbroke of whom it was immediatly holden or whether the said Iohn de Lodbroke obtained it by purchase or any other Agreement with them I know not but certain it is that his posterity enjoy'd it For in 9 E. 2. Henry de Lodbroke his son was certified to be owner thereof and that he held it by a Kts. fee of the E. of Warwick Which Sir H. de Lodbroke for he was a Kt. in 17 E. 2. setled it upon Iohn his son and Hawise then the wife of the said Iohn and the heirs of their two bodyes lawfully begotten rendring to him the said Sir Henry x marks sterling during his life After which viz. in 24 E. 3. by a â—ine then levyed betwixt the said Hawise Pl. and Will the son of Nich. le Wodward of Ichinton Deforc. it was setled upon the said Hawise for life and from her decease upon Will. de Catesby for life the remainder to Thomas the son of the said Sir Iohn de Lodbroke and Alice the daughter of the same Will. de Catesby and the heirs of their two bodies but for default of such issue to the right heirs of the said Thomas Which Thomas and all his brothers dyed without issue so that Alice the wife of Lewes Cardian became heir at law to them as by the descent in Lodbroke may be seen From whom descended Iohn Hathewyk son of Will. Hathewyk and Catherine daughter and heir of her the said Alice who in 10 H. 6. was certified to hold this Mannour by the 8 part of a Kts. fee at which time he resided here and had the addition of generosus But after this do I find no more mention in Record of this Mannour till 21 H. 8. that there was a Fine levyed thereof betwixt Rob. Dormer Esq and others Pl. and Rob. Corbet Dâ—forc though to what uses I know not Howbeit the next year following it was passed by Ioan the widow of the said Rob. Corbet unto Thomas Englefeild one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas Sir George Throgmorton Kt. and Edward Underhill Gent. as
de Ody Cap. 18. Iulii 1408. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Will. Rogers Cap. 17. Nov. 1410. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Hugo Ruhale 5. Apr. 1411. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Regin Carix Cap. 15. Martii 1416. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Magr. Will. Heyne Pbr. 21. Dec. 1421. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Rog. Crosby Pbr. 11. Martii 1421. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Will. Fuller 7. Iulii 1423. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Ioh. Warde Cap. 28. Sept. 1429. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre Ioh. Radforde Pbr. 8. Nov. 1441. Priorissa Conv. de Coventre D. Ioh. Crosse 6. Maii 1515. Henr. Alicock alii ratione concess Pr. C. de Cov. Degorius Stapullz 12. Oct. 1557 Steph. Hales de Fladbury in Com. Wigorn. gen D. Ioh. Beteerton in art Bacc. 28. Apr. 1559. Hen. Alicock gen ratione concess Steph. Hales de London gen Thom. Baddenall Cler. 12. Iunii 1561. Thomas Morgan ar David Inland Cler. 16. Oct. 1579. Anth. Morgan gen ex concess Thomae Morgan ar fratris eâ—us Amanus Bedford Cler. 2. Aug. 1591. Tho. Morgan de Heyford Com. Northt ar Nich. More Cler. 27. Sept. 1597. Ioh. Spire de Barford ex concess Mariae relictae T. Morgan ar Will. Wiggan Cler. 3. Dec. 1604. Iac. Rex Angl. ratione minoris aet T. Morgan Rad. Flexney Cler. 21. Nov. 1617. In a North window of the Church these Armes Gules a fesse betwixt 6. Crosses Croslets Or Beauchamp Earl of Warwick quartering Chequi Or and Azure a Cheveron Ermine Neuburgh Earl of Warwick Radford-Simely A Little below lyes Radford which had its name originally from the road or passage towards Warwick over the ford here and for distinction from another Radford now included within the libertyes of Coventre is called Radford-Simely by reason that the Simelyes were antiently owners of it In the Conquerors time it was part of the possessions which belonged to Turchill de Warwick and of him one Ermenfridus then held it the number of hides which it then contained being five besides a Mill rated at vi s. viii d. all which made up the value of vi li. as in the generall Survey at that time taken appeareth wherein it is written Redeford but in Edw. the Conf. dayes it was the freehold of Edvinus whom I take to be Earl Edwine the son of Algarus for he had much land in these parts It should seem that this was given to Henry de Novo Burgo the first E. of Warwick of the Norman race as the greatest part of Turchill's lands were and that by some Agreement with him G. de Clinton founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenilworth had it who enfeoft Henry de Simely thereof for I find that the said H. de Simely was owner of it in K. H. 1. time and at the request of Emme his wife gave his consent that Rog. de Clinton then Bishop of Chester should confer the Church of this village on the Canons of Kenilworth â—â—t being situat within the fee of the said Henry which accordingly was performed the said Geffrey ratifying the grant tanquam testis dominus as the words of his Charter are To this Henry de Simely succeeded William who joyned with Will. de Pludieu and Emme his wife in the grant of certain lands lying here to VValter Briton and his heirs to be held of the Knights Templars in pure almes which in 31 H. 2. were so held by VVill. de VVarminton and rated at 1. yard land and a half From which Henry descended Geffrey de Simely who was certified to hold half a Knights fee in this place of the Earl of Warwick in 36 H. 3. This Geffrey gave an yearly Rent of ii s. to the Hospitall of S. Iohn in Warwick which annuity was due from Rog. de Cherlecote for the leave that he had to raise his Mill-dam of Whitnash upon the lands of the said Geffrey here at Radford He was also a benefactor to the Monks of Stoneley by granting unto them 72. Acres of land in Cobbynton To Geffrey succeeded William who in 41 H. 3. for a mark of gold that he gave to the King was freed from his Knighthood in regard he had the palsy Which William in 52 H. 3. answered for half a Knights fee here held of the Earl of Warwick â— and had issue Geffrey who in 7 E. 1. was certified to hold one Water-mill and 2. carucats of land here in demesn having at that time 2. servants holding 2. yard land at will and performing divers kindes of servile imployments with 8. Freeholders who held 3. yard land and a half doing suit to his three-weeks Court This Geffrey was â—iving in 9 E. 2. and then also found to be Lord hereof but after that I have seene no more mention of him nor of his posterity except once which is in 41 E. 3. where by an Inquis then taken it appears that the Canons of Kenilworth had obtained this Mannour with 4. carucats of land and certain Rent from Iohn de Siâ—ely without the Kings license Certain it is that those Canons had a good share in this village which they had got before by purchase from severall freeholders For in 7 E. 1. they had 2. yard land in demesn one tenant holding half a yard land and 8. servants xxviii acres who performed divers servile works for them And in 11 E. 2. had they a grant of 1. mess. with 62. acres of land and meadow from Will. de Bereford and 1. mess. 1. carucat and 2. yard landâ— 6. acres of meadow and x s. vi d. rent from Raph de Salford at the the same time In 15 E. 2. from Iohn Lok Rob. Leges and Nich. Balle 2. mess. 2. yard land and 21. acres In 18 E. 2. from the said Iohn Lok and Rog. de Boyvill one mess. 1. Mill 15. acres of land meadow and pasture and xvi s. yearly Rent And in 3 E. 3. 6. mess. 4. yard land 6. acres of meadow and x s. Rent lying also here and in Leminton In 10 E. 3. 2. mess. and one yard land by T. Beauchamp E. of Warwick and in 19 E. 3. 5. mess. with 120. acres of land by one Thomas de Hampton So that in 20 E. 3. there was none that answered for any thing here but the Canons of Kenilworth who at that time were certified to hold tâ—e â—ourth part of a Knights fee of the Earl of Warwick in this place That which the Templars had here was in 7 E. 1. certified to be three yard â—and and a half six freehâ—â—deâ—s then occupying it Something the Nuns of Wroxhall then had but it was no more than a yard 〈…〉 half given to them by Roger Earl of Warwick who lived in K. Stephen's time In 11 R. 2. the said
it to the abovenamed Benedict Medley 12. Maii 14 H. 7. which Benedict was Cleke of the Signet to K. H. 7. at the same time and bore for his Armes sable 2. barrs gemells Arg. upon a chief of the second three Mullets of the first and dyed 13. Oct. 19 H. 7. leaving Will. his son and heir 23. years of age who marryed Margaret the daughter of Sir Robert Wotton Kt. and had issue George Medley esq that wedded Mary the daughter of Gerard Danet which George left issue Henry Medley esquire who by Frances the daughter of Clem. Throgmorton of Haseley esq had issue Henry 14. years of age in 21 Eliz. To whom succeeded Clem. Medley who in 2 Iac. past away this Mannour to Robert Wale gent. The Church dedicated to S. Margaret was given to the Canons of Kenilworth in H. 1. time or thereabouts by Atrop Hâ—â—tang concerning which I am to observe one thing further which is that the said Atrop then confirmed 18. Acres of land that his Tenants viz. Freeholders nere in Whitnash gave thereunto at its Dedication Whereby may be discerned that so fervent was the zeal of those elder times to Gods service and honour that they freely endowed the Church with some part of their possessions and that in those good works even the meaner sort of men as well as the pious founders were not backwards Amongst divers other concessions made by G. Muschamp Bishop of Coventre to the Canons of Kenilworth in K. Iohn's time I find that one was of two shilâ—ings yearly Pension granted to them out of this Church which had been endowed of one yard land and a half as the Record expresses In An. 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at vi marks and in 26 H. 8. at Cix s. viii d. over and above the yearly Pension of ii s. payable to the Monastery of Kenilworth and-viii s. for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumb temp Instit. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Sim. de Redeswell subdiac prid Non. Iunii 1300. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Henr. de Compton Pbr. 3. Non. Apr. 1302. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Osb. de Banneburi Cler. 5. Id. Dec. 1326. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thomas de Brayles Cap. 2. Cal. Maii 1332. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. de Wigorn. Cap. 7. Id. Iulii 1336. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. Comyn de Neubold Cler. 5. Cal. Ian. 1352. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Will. de Feryby Pbr. 26. Iunii 1372. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Brikstok Pbr. 15. Cal. Aug. 1378. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Thomas Durich 25. Iulii 1393. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. de magna Cotes Pbr. 10. Iunii 1398. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Normanby ult Martii 1406. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Walt. Smyth 1. Iulii 1445. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ric. Geydon Cap. 5. Oct. 1453. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth D. Ric. Benet Pbr. 8. Oct. 1492. Mr. Edw. Litleton ar T. Rowley hac vice ex concess Pr. C. de K. D. Edw. Bolyfant Cap. 12. Ian. 1354. Humfr. Riddel gen ex concess Pr. C. de K. Humfr. Weyring Cler. 10. Oct. 1554. D. Regina Eliz. Rad. Kent Cler. 16. Febr. 1572. In the Chancell is a Marble Grave-stone with this Epitaph Hoc loco sepelitur dominus Ricardus Bennet Artis sacre Magister huius quondam Ecclesie diligens Pastor qui fatis concessit octavo die mensis Februarii Anno D. M. D. XXXi cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Leminton-Priors THis for distinction from the former called Leminton-Priors hath its name as the other had from its situation upon the same river In the Conquerors time Earl Roger. scil de Montgomeri of whom I have spoke in Wolston held it the extent thereof being then certified at 2. hides which were valued at 4 li. having two Mills rated at xxiv s. But before the Norman invasion Oluuinus was owner thereof whom I suppose to be the same man which is elsewhere written Aluuinus father unto Turchill de Warwick It seemes that one of the Bishops of Coventre and Lichfield in those days called Bishop of Chester by reason of his residence in that City possest this place in H. 1. time but which of them it was is not exprest for in the grant made thereof by Geffrey de Clinton Founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenilworth to Gilbert Nutricius of Warwick and his heirs to hold by the service of half a Knights fee in consideration whereof the said Gilbert gave to the above mentioned Geffrey ten marks with a silver cup and to Agnes his wife a Besantine of goldâ— is is said to be de feodo Episcopi Cestriae And if I may have liberty to guess how the said Bishop had it I shall not doubt but that it was given to him by the King upon the forfeiture of Rob. de Belesmo E. of Shreusbury son to the before recited Earl Roger. Whether the before named G. Nutricius dyed without issue and that thereupon this Mâ—nnour returned to Geffrey de Clinton son to the donour or whether he made any agreement by Exhange or otherwise appears not but certain it is that the same Geffrey gave it to the Canons of Kenilworth â— together with the Church and Mill of this village It seems that the service of half a Knights fee by which the said Canons held it though in the grant there be no mention thereof was by the Bishop past over to the Monks of Coventre for in 20 H. 3. the Prior of Coventre certifying what Kts. fees were held of that Monastery makes instance of half a Knights fee in Leminton juxta Warwick held by the before specified Canons The like was signified in 36 H. 3. Which Canons in 7 E. 1. had a watermill 3. yard land and a 4. part and the half of another Mill here in demesn as also ix servants holding 3. yard land and 3. quarters performing divers servile labours 8. Cottiers holding 8. Cottages and 8. acres of land and xi Freeholders which held 13. yard land and a 4. part with the other half of the Water-mill And besides all this a Court-Leet Gallows Assise of bread and beer by the grant of K. H. 3. together with the Church appropriat endowed with two yard land All which was enjoyed by them till the dissolution of the Monasteries by K. H. 8. but then came to the Crown wherein it continued till 6 Eliz. that the Q. granted it to Ambrose E. of Warwick and the heirs male of his body All that is further observable touching this place is that nigh to the East end of the Church there is a Spring of Salt-water not above a stones-throw from the river Leame whereof the Inhabitants make much use for seasoning of
suddain did so vigorously lay at the corner of the Gyants target that his Club bossed with Iron fell to the ground w ch whil'st he stretched out his arm to take up the Palmer with his sword cut of his hand whereupon the Danes grew much dismayed and on the other sidâ— was there as great rejoycing by K. Athelstan and the English and yet notwithstanding did Colbrond hold out the Combate till the evening of that day that by loosing so much bloud he fainted so that Guy with all his strength fetching a blow cut of his head The victory therefore thus happily obtained occasioned the Danes with great confusion to hasten a way and the valiant Guy to give thanks unto God repairing forthwith to the Cathedral where he was honourably received with solemne Procession by the Clergy and others and offered his weapon to God and the Patron of that Church before the high Altar which my Author saith even to his time was kept in the Vestry there and called by the name of Colbrond's Ax but this being done reassumed his Pilgrims habit Whereupon the K. became most importunat with him to discover his name but he utterly refused so to do except to himself and that upon his oath not to reveal it unto which condition the K. assenting they walkt out alone in a by-path to a certain Crosse at some distance from the Citie and as soon as they came thither humbly bowing himself to the K. and saying that he was Guy Earle of Warwick the K. embraced him in his arms kissed him and promised him large rewards if he would live in his Court but he with much thankfulnesse refusing to receive any besought the K. that he would not disclose what he had said in regard his resolution was to continue in that Pilgrims state and so they there parted with tears From whence the Earle bent his course towards Warwick and coming thither not known of any for three dayes together took Almes at the hands of his own Lady as one of those xiii poor people unto which she dayly gave relief her self for the safety of him and her and the health of both their Souls And having rendred thanks to her he repaired to an Heremite that resided amongst the shady woods hard by desiring by conference with him to receive some spiritual comfort where he abode with that holy man till his death and upon his departure out of this World which hapned within a short time succeeded him in that Cell and conâ—â—nued the same course of life for the space of two years after but then discerning death to apprâ—â—ch he sent to his Lady their Wedding Ring by a trusty servant wishing her to take care of his burial adding also that when she came she should find him lying dead in the Chapel before the Altar and moreover that within xv dayes after she her self should depart this life Whereupon she came accordingly and brought with her the Bishop of the Dioces as also many of the Clergy other people and finding his body there did honourably inteâ—re it in that Heremitage and was her self afterwards buried by him leaving her paternal inheritance to Reynburn her onely son Which departure of our famous Guy hapned in the year of our Lord Dccccxxix and of his own age the seventieth To whom succeeded the Noble Reynburn Earle of Warwick through his Mothers right who haveing been stolen away in his Child-hood and carried into Russia where he gave great testimony of his singular valour in sundry Warlike feats whilst he continued in those forreign part upon his return into Engl. wedded the beautifull Lady Leonetta daughter to K. Athelstan but afterwards dying beyond the Seas was buried in a certain Island near unto Uenice and left for his successor Wegeat alias Weyth the humed a person of great courage and much honoured for his skill in martial affairs This Wegeat was a benefactor to the Monastery of Evesham by giving thereunto six messuages lying in Whitlaxford and Grafton in this County and had issue Vsa commonly called Huve the humed a most deveut man and a special friend to the Monks of Evesham for in the year Dcccclxxiiii by the consent of K. Edgar he gave them the whole Village of Whitlaxford now called Wixford and little Grafton and bequeathing his body to sepulture in that Monastery departed this life about the beginning of the reign of S. Edward the K. and Martyr To whom succeeded Wâ—lgeat who obtained a grant from those secular Canons which were possest of the Abby of Evesham upon expulsion of the Monks for 5. hides of Land in the same Whitlaxford upon an easier rent than had wont to be given conditionally that upon his death the Monastery might repossesse the same Land with all the stock that then should happen to be upon it Notwithstanding which the Monks could not get it again of a long time after till that Abbot Egelwyne purchased it a new of Earle Wigod a potent man in the dayes of K. Edw. the Conf. This Wolgeat was in special favour with K. Ethelred but for his wicked courses and oppressions had all his Lands and honour taken from him in the year M. vi Whether he had ever restitution of them or in whose hands the Earldom was thereupon put is uncertain but true it is that Warwick with a great part of the Countrey became shortly after viz. An. M. xvi much wasted by Canutus the Dane at which time the Nunnery near to the Church of S. Nicholas as also the Abby were burnt to the ground When or by whom those Religious houses were founded I never yet could finde nor any mention of them before this It seems the Abby stood on the Northwest part of the Town for the Lane there called Abby-lane argueth as much And the said house of Nuns took up all that which is now S. Nichols-Church-yard with a great part of the ground whereupon the Hospital of S. Iohn Bapt. was afterwards built the Chancel of S. Nicholas Church being the Quire thereof I now come to Wigod the hereditary successor of Wolgeat who being a potent man and a great Warriour as also a special benefactor to the Monks of Evesham lived in the times of K. Ethelred K. Edmund and of the Danish Kings and had to wife the sister of Earle Leofrik founder of the Monastery at Coventre To him succeeded Alwyne contemporary with K. Edward the Conf. and Will the Conq. This is he that in the Conq. Survey is called Alwinus Vicecomes the reason whereof I conceive to be either because that he did exercise the power and Authority of the Earle of Mercia scil Earle Leofrike his Uncle here in Warwick-shire as his ancestors had done for which respect my Author reputes him and them Earls as I have already shewed and hath ranckt them in that degree or else that he had the custody of the County to the Kings immediate use
the place of her birth of which Monastery she was reputed Patroness And that upon her death in 6. Ioh. the K. directed his precept to the Shiriff of Yorksh. commanding him to take order with the Abbot of Fountains and Henry de Percy her Executors that they should forthwith according to the custom of the Kingdom discharge those debts which were due to his Exchequer But by neither of these wives had he any issue so that departing this life in the Holy land 15. Nov. An. 1184. 30 H. 2. Waleran his Brother succeeded him in the Earldom and estate which Waleran in 2 R. 1. payd 51. l. 03. s. -04 d. to the K. for scutage in respect of the military service he ought to have personally performed in Wales but it seems he had not absolute possession of this Earldom till 7 R. 1. that he gave xx marks to have the tertium denarium de placitis Comitatus Of this Earl I find that in 9 R. 1. he stood charg'd to the K. in xlii l. iiii s. viii d. debt in the nature of scutage towards the payment of a Fine for the K. redemption who had been made Prisoner upon his return from the Holy land And in another debt of a C. l. for license to return into England and in a third debt of C. marks for leave to marry Alice the daughter of Rob. Harecurt and widow unto Iohn de Limesey As also that he had much adoe a great part â—f his time touching this inheritance there being one that feigned himself his elder Brother which dyed in the Holy land who put him to great vexation so that my Author is of opinion that the grant which he made to Hubert Archb. of Canterb. and Chancelour of England of the advouson of all the Prebendaries belonging to the Collegiat Church in Warwick to hold during his life was to purchase his favour in that weighty business But I do not finde that this Earle was a benefactor to any Religious-house other than the Hospitall of St. Michael in Warwick whereunto he gave all the Tith arising out of the assarts of Wedgnock as also of the paunage and Venison and to the Nuns of Pinley and Wrockshall in this County to the first whereof he gave certain Lands situate in Curdeshale within the Liberties of Claverdon and to the other a yard Land lying in Brails He had two wives Margaret the daughter to Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Alice the daughter of Iohn de Harecurt but widdow of Iohn de Limesi before mentioned and deparâ—ing this life in 6. Ioh. left issue divers Children of which Henry his eldest son succeeded him in the Earldom Waleran another son had the Mannours of Gretham and Cotesmore in com Runtl given to him by his father with certain Lands in Worcestersh but dâ—ed without issue Alice his daughter by Alice his last wife wedded to Will. Mauduit of Hanslape in com Buck. and had by her father 's appointment the Mannour of Waâ—ton now called Walton-Mauduit in this County for her marriage portion as is evident by K. Iohn's confirmation thereof to her bearing date 30. Nov. in the x. of his reign but at that time she was not married yet it seems she had a husband very young for it appears that she continued in the custody of her mother after she was so espoused by reason of her minority Gundred his other daughter was brought up in the Abby of Pinley before mentioned together with Isabel his Neice for whose education he gave in his life time to the Nuns of that house two Marks of silver yearly to be paid by the hands of his Steward at Claverdon and at the same time bestowed on them the redecimation of his Lordship of Walton in pure Almes for the health of his Soul and the Soul of Margerie his Countesse as also for the Souls of E. Roger his father Gundred his Mother Earle Will. his brother with all his Ancestors and Successors I finde that the same year of E. Waleran's death Alice his Countesse gave a fine of a thousand pounds and ten Palfreys that she might continue a widdow as long as she pleased so that the K. might not compell her to marry as also that she might have the custody of those Children she had by Earle Waleran and lx l. Lands per ann which he gave her freely to dispose of And likewise her reasonable dowry both of her husbands Lands Fees neverthelesse she was not to chuse a husband for her self without the K. approbation After which scil the next ensuing year she gave 3. Palfreys more to the K. that she might have a Jury of xii lawfull Knights to admeasure her dowry out of the Lands and Fees of E. Waleran her late husband but what was done therein appears not howbeit within 2. years after she came to a conclusion with Earle Henry whereupon she had the mannours of Tanworth and Claverdon in this County and of Cheddeworth in Gloucestersh with the service of two Knights Fees the one in Lodbroke and the other in Loxley assigned unto her This Earle Henry being in minority at the death of his Father was committed to the custody of Thom. Basset of Hedindon near Oxford which Thomas for a Fine that he paid to the King had a grant of his marriage 5. May 7. Ioh. to the intent he might match his daughter to him as was afterwards accordingly done though she was not his first wife and had also livery of all his Lands together with the Castle of Warwick by Hugh de Chaucumb then Sheriffe of this County to whom the K. had directed his Precept for that purpose bearing date 24. Aug. ensuing Upon Inquis taken in 12. and 13. Ioh. what number of Knights Fees the great men that held of the K. in Capite had there are fourscore and seventeen certified to belong unto this Earle in Warwicksh For which with the rest being all in number C ii and a third part he paid at the same time CC iiii marks viii s. x. d. for scutage upon the K. expedition with his Army into Wales viz. duaâ— marcas quo quolibet scuto In 15. Ioh. he came of age as I gather for by the K. special Writ bearing date 1. Iunii that year and directed to the Sheriffe of this County he had the tertium denarium de comitaetu Warewic delivered unto him as his Ancestors were used to have In 16. Ioh. he contributed xlii marks to the K. towards the support of his wars in Poictou but was by a special Writ acquitted of the Scuâ—age then exacted from him for that service And did so faithfully adhere to K. Iohnâ— when the Barons rebelliously took up Arms against him that the said K. by his Letters P. bearing date 10. Iunii
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
the said Rog. de Wigracestra was I cannot certainly determine but do conclude him from the formality of that grant which K. Henry so made of his Lands to have been a man of no mean rank and that having his sirname of Worcester where it seems his chief seat was might probably have the like Office of Sheriffalty of that County hereditary to his family before the Norman invasionâ— as Turchill de Warwick and his Ancestors of whom I have already spoke had in this Shire To which Walâ—er de Beauchamp succeeded Will. his son and Heir who bore the Office of Despenser to that King as his father had done and had his confirmation thereof together with Livery of all his Lands This Will was in great favour with Maud the Empresse as it should seem for whereas K. Sâ—eph had given the Citie of Worcester unto Waleran E. of Mellent the Castle whereof did hereditarily belong to him by descent from Vrso d'Abitot before mentioned she by her Letters P. bearing date at Oxford did grant and restore unto him and his Heirs not onely the said Castle with the Fortifications thereof to hold of her and her Heirs in Capite but also the Sheriffalty of that County with the Forests and all that belonged thereto of inheritance paying unto her the like ferm as Walt. de Beauchamp his father had formerly done whereupon he became her leige-man against all persons whatsoever and especially against the same Waleran E. of Mellent with whom by that her Charter she declared she would make no agreement for the premisses And furthermore did she then give and restore unto this Will the Castle and Honour of Tameworth here in Warwick-shire to hold as freely as Rob. Despenser brother to the before mentioned Vrso d'Abitot enjoyed the same And likewise the Mannour of Bekeford with Weston and Luffenham in com Rutl. as his right and LX. l. per ann English Lands for his service And besides all this did she again give and restore unto him and his Heirs that Constableship which Vrso de Abitot had as also the Office of Despenser that Walter his father held of K. H. 1. and all the Lands and inheritances of his next Ancestors which had been in Arms against her and that could not make Fine with her for the same unlesse some of their nearest kindred had served in war on her part Of which Will. I further also finde that upon the foundation of Bordsley-Abby by the said Empresse he was not onely a witnesse to her Charter but a benefactor to that house giving the Town of Osmaresley thereto That in 5. H. 2. he was Sheriffe of this County and that by the Certificate of the Knights Fees held of him in 12. H. 2. de veteri feoffamento it appears he had no lesse than xv whereof 7. were held by him immediately of the K. But after 14. H. 2. I have not seen any more mention of him To this Will succeeded Will. his Son and Heir who in 3. R. 1. was charg'd with xl s. for the Scutage of Wales In 13. Ioh. he answered for the like Scutage 4. Marks for two Knights Fees which he had in this County and in 16. Ioh. is taken notice of amongst those upon whom Scutage for support of the K. Army in Poictou was assest which being at 3. Marks per Scutum gave such advantage to the discontented Barons as that they afterwards broke out into rebellion brought in Lewes eldest son to Philip the French King of which businesse our Historians are not silent This last mentioned Will. had issue Walter who was in arms against the K. with the rest of the Barons at that time but there being a composure made with them at Runnimede near Stanes on the xv of Iune 17. Ioh. for on that day doth the K. Charter of liberties bear date he had the Sherivealty of Worcester-sh again restored to him by thy K. Letters P. dated 19. Aug. ensuing which it seems for the causes premised was committed to Will. de Cantilupe and in Febr. following had the custody of all those Mannours in this County belonging to the Bishoprick of Worcester and then in the K. hands committed to his trust by reason of Walâ— Gâ—ey's translation at that time from thence to York But it was not long after ere that the K. holding himself not obliged by that agreement made at Runnimede in regard he was in a sort constrain'd to what he did through the great mens potency at that time strengthened himself with a powerfull Army and procured a sentence of excommunication against all those Rebellious Barons by particular name amongst which this Walt. de Beauchamp was one who it seems taking the same more to heart than many others did made his peace again with the K. and thereupon went to Gualo the Pope 's Legate for absolution from which time of his going till he returned fully absolv'd the K. committed his Castle of Elmeley and all the rest of his possessions to the custody of Walter de Lascy Hugh de Mortimer Walt. de Clifford and Iohn de Monemuth Will. de Cantilupe having command to deliver the same unto them Walterus de Bellocampo temp H. 1. Emelina filia haeres Ursonis de Abetot Will. de Bellocampo Dispensator Regis H. 1. superstes 14. H. 2. Will. de Bellocampo 3. R. 1. Walt. de Bellocampo obiit 20 H. 3. Will. de Bellocampo ob 53. H. 3. Isabella soror haeres Will. Mauduit Warwici Comitis Walt. de Bello-campo de Alcester Isabella Sibilla Will. de B. Comes Warw. ob 26. E. 1. Matilda f. Joh. Fitz-Geffrey ... monial apud Shouldham ..... monialis apud Shouldh Guido de B. Co. Warw. ob 9. E. 2. Alicia soror haer Rob. de Toney Matild ux Galf. de Say Eliz. ux Thom. de Astley mil. Thom. de B. Co. Warw. ob 43. E. 3. Cath. filia Rog. de Mortimer Comitis Marchiae Guido de B. duxit Philippam f. Henr. D. Ferrers de Groby Eliz. Cath. monialis apud Shouldham Margar. Monialis apud Shouldham Tho. de B. Co Warw ob 2. H. 4. Marg. f. Wâ—ll D. Ferrers de Groby Cath. obiit in pueritia Ric. de Bellocampo Co. Warwici Albamarliae ob 17. H. 6. Isabella filia haeres Thomae D. Despenser ux secunda Anna Ric. Nevil Co. Warw. caesus in praelio apud Barnet 11. E. 4. Isab. filia cohaerâ— ux Georgii Dacis Clarentiae Edw. Plantaginet Co. Warw. decollatus 15. H. 7. Margar. uxor Ric. Pole mildecollata temp H. 8. Anna primò nupta Edw. Princ. Walliae posteà Ric. D. Glouc. Edw. Princeps Walliae obiit vita patris s. p. Henr. de Bellocampo Dux Warw. ob 23. H. 6. Cecilia filia Ric. Nevil Comitis Sarum Anna obiit in pueritia Ric. de Bellocampo Co. Warwici Albamarliae ob 17. H. 6. Eliz. filia haeres Thom.
and suit of harness with all that belong'd thereto To his son Iohn his second coat of Maile Helmet and harness and appointed that all the rest of his Armour Bows and other warlike provision should remain in the Castle of Warwick for his heir constituting these his Executors viz. Alice his Countess Sir Iohn de Hastings Iohn Hamelin Piers le Blund Parson of Hanslape Adam de Herewynton Richard de Brumesgrave Henry de Sidenhale Simon de Sutton Parson of Luffenham William de Wellesburne Parson of Berkeswell with Roger Caumpere Parson of Kibworth and departed this life 12. August next following in his said Castle of Warwick by poison as some thought but had sepulture in Abby of Bordsley before specified Before his death he obtained a grant from the King that his Executors when it should fortune him to depart this life might have the custody of his lands during the minority of his heir being answerable for the value of them to the Exchequer at Michaelmass and Easter every year saving that his Castles of Elmeley and Warwick should not be disposed of to any without the Kings speciall license which grant was confirmed to Iohn Hamelyn and the rest of the Executors in December following his death Neverthelessâ— so much was the K. wrought upon by them whose miscarriages afterwards gave the discontented Nobles opportunity to work his own ruine as that notwithstanding the grant before recited made to those Executors about two years after he passed the custody of them by a new Patent to Hugh le Despenser the elder in satisfaction of a debt of 6770 li. due to him from the said King as was pretended But before I proceed to speak of Thomas Earl of Warwick son and heir to the said Guy I have a word or two to say of the Countess his mother and the rest of her Children which is that she was the daughter of Raph de Tony of Flamsted in Hertford-shire widow of Thomas de Leybourn and at length heir to Robert her brother In November following the Death of her husband she had assigned to her in dowrie the Mannours of Hanslape in Com. Buck. Lygthorne Beausale Haseley Claverdon Berkswell with the third part of the Templars Mannour in Warwick and Shirburne and divers Knights fees all in this County And the next year following gave a Fine of 500. marks for license to marry with William La Zouch of Ashby in Com. Leic. to whom she was accordingly wedded but dyed in 18 E. 2. The other children of Earl Guy were Iohn a martiall Knight Emma the wife of Roul Odingsells Isabell married to ...... Clinton Elizabeth to Thomas Lord Astley and Lucia to Robert de Napton Which Iohn was a man of singular note in his time for in 22 E. 3. the King in consideration of his great services made him a Banneret and gave him Cxl li. per annum out of the Exchequer for his better support In 25 E. 3. he was Governour of Caleis In 26 Iohn Darcy to whom the King had granted the Constableship of the Tower of London for life for the great affection he bore to this Iohn de B. past over his interest in that Office to him which the King also ratified but within two years through the sinister suggestions of some he became much offended with him and put him out of that place constituting Barthol de Burghersh in his stead and after his death Robert de Morley but at the length it appearing to the King that those suggestions were false he received him again into favour and in consideration of his speciall services restored unto him the custody of the said Tower of London by his Letters Patents bearing date 25. Ian. aâ— the town of S. George neer the Castle of Beaufort in France and the same year constituted him Constable of Dovor-Castle Warden of the Cinque-ports for life and Admirall of the Seas for the North and West coasts He was also one of the Founders of that noble Order of the Garter instituted by King E. 3. and departing this life without issue 2. Dec. 34. E. 3. lyeth buryed betwixt two pillars on the South part of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul in London before the Image of our Lady where he had a fair Monument lately demolisht which was through mistake usually called Duke Humfrey's Tombe I now return to Thomas the succeeding Earl born in Warwick-Castle having to his Godfathers Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Henry his brother with Thomas de Warington Prior of Kenilworth This Thomas was very young at his fathers death but who had the custody and tuition of his person during King Edward 2. reign I find not Most likely it is that Hugh le Despenser the great favourite at that time having a grant of his lands as abovesaid had also the charge of his person but in 1 E. 3. the Castle of Warwick with the rest of his lands were committed to Roger Mortimer of Wigmore till he should arrive to his full age and in 3 E. 3. the King being minded to afford speciall favour to him as the very words of the Writ do importâ— accepted of his homage though he was not then of full age commanding that he should have livery of all his fathers lands and the next year following admitted him to the office of Shiriffalty for Worcester-shire which was of his inheritance as also to that of the Chamberlainshâ—p in the Exchequer with power to appoint whomsoever he should think â—it for the execution of them in such sort as in his Ancestors times had been used 'T is not to be doubted but as this Earl was descended from an antient race of worthy Progenitors and by many noble heirs so were his vertues no less eminent than the chiefest of them for from the time that he came to mans estate even till his death which hapned in 23. of King Edw. 3. raign was he scarce ever cut of some notable and high imployment whereof in order I will briefly make recitall In 5 E. 3. he had the goverment of the Isles of Gernsey Serke and Aureney In 6. he was joyn'd in Commission with Raph Lord Basset and William de Shareshull a great Lawyer and afterwards Chief-Justice for conservation of the peace in this County and Worcestershire In 7. to attend the King in his expedition for Scotland at which time Edward de Baliol King of Scotts did homage to King Edward for the Realm of Scotland with the adjacent Isles In 9. he had the custody of the Marches of Scotland committed to him All which was whilst he lived a batchelour For I find that in 12 E. 3. the King in satisfaction of a great summe of money that he owed to Roger Lord Mortimer for the time that he was his Lieutenant of Ireland
Of which Testament were Executors the Lord Cromwell the Lord Tiptoft Iohn Throkmorton Ric. Curson Thomas Huggeford Will. Berkswell Priest and Nich. Rody his Steward After which viz. ult Apr. An. 1439. 17. H. 6. he departed this life as his monumental inscription here most exactly imitated together with the true representation of his magnificent Tombe sheweth leaving issue by Eliz. his first wife daughter and Heir to Thom. L. Berkley three daughters viz. Margaret born at Good-rest in Wedgnok-park the next year after the Battail of Shrewsbury â— second wife to the famous Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury which Margaret died at Londonâ— An. 1467. 7. E. 4. and was buried under the Quire in the Cathedral of St. Paul commonly called St. Faiths Church Alianore born at Walkinston in Essex shortly after the feast of our Ladye 's Nativity 9. H. 4. first married to the L. Rosse â— and afterwards to Edm. Beaufort Marq. Dorset and D. of Somerset And Elizabeth born in Warwick-Castle wife to George Nevil Lord Latimer To his second wife he wedded Isabel daughter of Thomas le Despenser E. of Glouc. and by the death of her brother Richard and elder sister Eliz. without issue Heir to all his Lands but being the widow to Ric. Beauchamp E. of Worcest his Uncles son as in Fillongley I have shewed he had a special dispensation from the Pope to marry her The pictures of which his wives children together with his own as they stand in the East window of that stately Chapel before specified where his Monument is I have upon the next page exquisitely represented By this Isabel he left issue Henry and Anne of both which I shall speak in their order The Lands whereof he was possest were very vast as may seem by that computation of their yearly value extracted from the Accompts of his several Bayliffs through England and Wales in 12. H. 6. amounting to no lesse than 8306. Marks 11. s. 11. d. ob Which setting aside the good penniworths that his Tenants had of what they then held would in the dayes we live augment that sum sixfold at least considering that about that time Barly was sold for 4. s. 2. d. the quarter Oats at 2. s. 1. d. ob Capons at 3. d. a piece and Hens at 1. d. ob as by certain Accompts of his Houshold-Officers appeareth Of her death let us hearken to what the MS. Hist. of Tewksbury saith Isabella uxor Ricardi quinti patrona de Theokesbri rediit de Francia aliquandiu se in Monasterio Canonicorum de Southwyke resocillavit Haec Isabella sepulta est in Theokesbyri eodem anno quo obiit Ricardus quintus Comes de Warwike ejus maritus But of her Monument so designed as I have said there is no more now remaining than what I have here in this Figure exprest I now come to Henry the succeeding Earle Son and Heir to Richard by the said Lady Isabel. This Henry was born at Hanley-Castle in Worcester-shire on Thursday xi Kal. Apr. An. 1424. 3. H. 6. and baptized on the Saturday by Philip Morgan Bishop of Worcester having to his God-fathers at the font Henry Beaufort Cardinal and Bishop of Winchester with Humfry E. Stafford and to his God-mother Ioane Lady Bergavenny the same B. of Worcester being his God-father also at confirmation At his fathers death he hardly exceeded the age of fourteen years but was a person of extraordinary hopes as by the early appearance of his heroick disposition is evident for before he accomplisht full xix years of age he tendred his service for defence of the Dutchy of Aquitane in consideration whereof and to give him the more encouragement in that expedition the K. by his Charter bearing date at Dover 2. Apr. 22. of his Reign created him Primier Earle of England and for a distinction betwixt him and other Earles granted to him and the Heirs male of his body leave to wear a golden Coronet about his head as well in his own presence as elsewhere upon such great Festivals as the like used to be worn And within 3. dayes following considering the high deserts of his noble father of whom he hath this expression quem meaning Earl Richard dignissimè in Armorum strenâ—itate ut columnam immobilem belli fata pro nobis nostris magnanimiter libenter sustinentem suorum cognoscit commendat ingenia ex excellentia meritorum minimè per nos aut progenitores nostros huc usque remuncratorum c. advanced him to the title of Duke of Warwick granting him place in Parl. and all other meetings next to the D. of Norff. and before the Duke of Buck. and giving him xl l. per ann to be paid by the Sheriffe of Warr. and Leic. Shires for the time being out of the revenue of these Counties towards the better support of that Honour But this businesse of Precedency was so stomackt by Humfrey Duke of Buck. that had not the K. by Act of Parl. in 23. of his reign which was the next year ensuing the said Duke of Warwick's Creation qualified it much inconvenience had arisen upon it Therefore for appeasing the contention and strife moved betwixt them for that preheminence those are the words of the Act it was established that from the 2. of Decemb. then next following they should take place of each other by turn viz. one that year and the other the next and so as long as they lived together the Duke of Warwick to have the first years precedency and he which should survive to have place of the others heir male as long as he livedâ— And from that time that the heir male of each should take place of other according as it might happen he had livery of his lands before him After which he had a grant in reversion from the death of Humfrey Duke of Glouc of the Isles of Gerneseyâ— Iersey Serk Erm and Aureney for the yearly Rent of a Rose to be paid at the feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Bapt. As also of the Monnour and Hundred of Bristoll in Glouchesterâ—sh for the yearly ferm of lx li. and besides this of all the Kings Castles and Mannours within the Forest of Dene for the Rent of C. l. per ann To all which Honours he had this further added viz. to be Crowned King of the Isle of Wight by the Kings own hands But this hopefull branch the onely heir male to these great Earlsâ— was cropt in the flower of his youth before the fruits of his Heroik disposition could be fully manifested to the world for upon S. Barnabas day sc. xi Iunii 1445. 23. H. 6. being but xxii years of age he died at Hanley the place of his birth and was buried in the Abby of Tewksbury about the midst of the Quire at the head of Prince Edw. Son and Heir to
appears that being Admiral to K. H. 6. â—e was stiled great Captain of the Sea having for his support in that place not onely all the Tonnage and Poundage belonging to the King in any wise but a thousand pounds per. ann out of the revenues of the Dutchy of Lancaster as also that by the same Kings favour he had a grant of preheminence above all the Earles in the Land And moreover to adde to his greatness a peculiar Officer at arms for his service in martial imployments called Warwick-Herauld But after the death of this Earle his Countesse underwent no little distresse being constrained to take sanctuary in the Abby of Beaulieu in Hantsh where she continued for a long time in a mean condition but thence privately got into the North where also she abode in great streights all her vast inheritance by authority of Parliament being taken from her and setled upon Isabell and Anne her two daughters and heirs the first of them wife to George D. of Clarence and the second to Ric. D. of Glouc. as if she the said Anne had been naturally dead which was with-held from her till 3. H. 7. that the K. having a minde thereto her said daughters being both dead by a new Act of Parliament anulled the former as against all reason conscience and course of nature and contrary to the Laws of God and man as the words thereof import And in consideration of the true and faithfull service and allegiance by her born to K. H. 6. as also that she never gave cause to such disherison restored unto her the possession of the premisses with power to alien the same or any part thereof but with little purpose that she should enjoy it as it seems for it appears that the same year by a special Feoffement bearing date 13. Dec. and a Fine thereupon she convey'd it wholly to the K. entailing it upon the issue male of his body with remainder to her self her Heirs the particular Lordships in which grant for asmuch as the magnificence of our preceding Earls may thereby be the better illustrated I have here set down viz. the Mannours of Warrewyk Toneworth Lighthorne Morton Berkswell Brayles Claverdon Sutton Winterton Budbroke Haseley Snitterfeld and Pipe hall in this County Abbotley Shraveley Elmley-Lovet Salwarpe Hull-place Wyche Elmley-Castle Chadsley Hervington Shrieve-Lench Yerdley Cromb-Simonds Warpdellâ— Hanley Busheley Ridmerley Upton super Sabrinam with the Citie of Worcester all in Worcestersh Tewksbury Stoke-Archer Whitington Fairford Sobbury Tredyngton Panyngton Fydington Northey Muth Berton-Regis juxta Bristoll Barton-Hundred Kenmerton Chedworth and Lydney in Gloucestershire Burford Shypton Spellesbury Chadlyngton-Hundred and Langley in Oxfordsh Kaversham and Stanford in Berksh Chyriel Sherston and Brodton in Wiltsh Dertford Willington and Hendon in Kent Walhamstow and Fraunceys in Essex Flampsted in Hertfordsh Potters-Pirye Asherugge-Hundred Querendon Aylesbury Buckland Agmondesham Slingesburyâ— Hanslape Olney and Merlaw in Com. Buck. Buckby Multon Conesgrave and Yelvertoft in Com. Northampt. Walshale Perry-Bar Patingham and Shenston in Com. Staff Barnard-Castle in the Bishoprick of Durham Kybworth in Com. Leic. Kymworth Bautre and Hotham in Com. Ebor. Essindon Shellingthorp Greteham Barowden Preston and Uppingham in Com. Rutl. Stillingthorp in Com. Linc. Kertling in Com. Cantabr Snodel and Faunhope in Com. Heref. Saham-Toney Outsokyn Nekton Panneworthall Gressyngham-parva in Com. Norf. Carnaunton Hoston-Toney Blyston and Lantran in Cornwall Glamorgan Burgavennyâ— Elvell Snodehyll Llangtre Llaugero Wale-Bykyneour in Wales the Marches thereof South-Tanton Sele with the Hundred of South-Tanton in Com. Debon The Isles of Iersey Garnsey Serk and Aureney with the Castles therein and certain houses in Southwerk She was living in 5. H. 7. as appears by an assignation from the K. of the Mannour of Sutton in this County for her maintenance but how long after I know not for of her death is there no mention in Record that I can finde By the Earle her husband she left issue two daughters viz. Isabel and Anne Which Isabel was born in Warwick-Castle 5. Sept. An. 1451. 30. H. 6. and on Tuesday 11. Iulii An. 1469. 9. E. 4. married at Caleys by the Archb. of York to George D. of Clarence brother to K. E. 4. having a Dispensation from Pope Paul the 3. in regard that they stood allyed in the second and third and third and fourth degrees of consanguinity as also in respect that the mother of the said Duke was God-mother to this Isabel which Dispensation bears date at Rome Prid. Id Martii An. 1468. 7. E. 4. Anne the other daughter first married to Edw. Prince of Wales son of H. 6. stab'd at the Battail of Tewksbury in cool bloud by Rich. D. of Glouc. as our Historians affirm afterwards to Ric. D. of Glouc. who possest himself of all Warwick's lands imprisoning her mother as long as she lived and poisoning her as 't was thought to make way for his marriage with his brother's viz. K. E. 4. eldest daughter Which George D. of Clarence having wedded the said Isabel and being reconciled to his brother K. E. 4. as I have already intimated was in regard of that marriage by Charter bearing date 14. Aug. 12. E. 4. created Earl of Warwick And in 49. H. 6. being the year of that Kings readeption of his regal power had a Pat. of Lieutenancy for Ireland to the end of xx years After which K. Henry loosing all he had the like Pat. from King E. 4. for xx years dated 16. Martii 12. E. 4. the stile he used being Georgius Dux Clarentiae Comes Warwici Sarum Magnus Camerarius Angliae nec non locum tenens terrae Hiberniae But after all this being charged with divers great offences towards the King as our Historians affirm viz. in endeavouring to possesse the people that the King his brother used by Negromancy and poison to make away those that he hated as also that the said King was a Bastard and therefore not fit to reign And moreover that he had procured divers of the Kings subjects to be sworn to him and his Heirs without reservation of their allegiance to the King as also sundry persons to give out that Thomas Burdet his servant of whom in Arrow I have spoke was wrongfully put to death he was attainted in Parl. 15. Ian. An. 1477. 16. E. 4. and about a moneth after viz. 17. Febr. being a prisoner in the Tower there cruelly murthered by drowning in a Butt of Malmsey not without the Kings consent But the Lady Isabel his wife departed this World at Warwick-Castle 2. Dec. 16. E. 4. which was about a year before poysoned as our Writers say and was buried in the Abby of Tewksbury This D. had issue by her 2. sons and one daughter the elder called Edw. Plantaginet born in Warwick-Castle 21. Feb. An. 1474.
same year the King went over Sea in person and took Bolein in France where this new Admirall having scoured the Seas towards Scotland and being upon the Kings return left his Lieutenant through his valour and military skill defended it against the Daulfin and the French Army of 52000. men as they were reputed though the walls at that time were very much shattered And when the Daulfin had entred the base town not without slaughter of divers English by a brave sally he beat out the French again with the loss of above 800. of their men which were esteemed the best souldiers in that Realm The next yeare after when the French had got a great Fleet at Sea for invasion of England being appointed Admirall he presented battaill to them which they refused returning home with the loss of all their cost Hereupon he landed 5000. men in France fired Treport as also divers Villages thereabouts with the loss of one man and was one of the three Comissioners on the King of England's part by whom the Articles of Truce made 7. Iunii 28 H. 8. in the Camp betwixt Ardres and Guines were concluded To say truth for enterprises by Armes quoth Sir Iohn Haward he was the minion of that time so as few things he attempted but he atchieved with honour which made him more proud and ambitious when he had done Generally he always increased both in estimation with the King and authority amongst the Nobility but doubtfull whether by fatall destiny to the State or whether by his vertues or at least by his appearance of vertues as saith the same Author so that King Henry constituted him one of his xvi Executors whereupon finding the Duke of Somerset Protector to Edward 6. to be neither a man of great wisdom or courage ambitiously aimed to have the sway of all and therefore insinuated himself into his friendship whereby he made him a shadow for accomplishing his own ends To which purpose he first obtained an increase of honour being presently created Earl of Warwick and made Lord high Chamberlain of England for life which office he surrendred in 4 E. 6. and soon after got a grant of Warwick-Castle with the Mannour as also of divers other great Lordships and lands in this Shire whereof I shall take notice as they come in my course most of which he exchanged away with the King in 3 E. 6. for the Mannour of Minster-Lovell in Oxford-shire and divers other Lordships in the same County and in Nott. Glouc. Worcester Berks. and York-shires yet by his power got them again the next year following with more in exchange for lands in Northumberland Bishoprick of Durham Hartford-shire and Middlesex Of his particular great employments and actions I shall not stay to make any large relation for as much as they are obvious enough in our Common Chronicles but will onely point at them in brief He was Lieutenant generall in that expedition for Scotland in 1 E. 6. when the Scots were overthrown at Muscleborough where he made many Knights and indeed the principall person for military skill and prowess upon whom the management of that Warr rested In 3 E. 6. he commanded the Forces that were sent against Ket and his fellow Rebells in Norff. of which he slew about 5000. took Ket himself and setled all in quiet again In 4 E. 6. he was made Lord Steward of the Kings houshold and being now elated with these great successes his ambitious mind had no bound for it mattered not whom he ruin'd so it tended in his own opinion to the ends he aimed at First therefore he rayses discontents betwixt the Protector and the Lord Thomas Seymour his brother whereby soon after the said Lord Seymour became attainted by Parliament upon pretence that he had conspired his brothers death and so lost his head Then did he put the Protector upon making alteration both in State and Religion whereupon some of the Bishops that opposed it were committed to prison What vast summs did he make a shift to pocket by despoiling the Church of her Chalices Crosses and an infinite number of consecrated vessells with the like both silver and gold as also by rich Copes and other vestments under colour of bringing them into the Kings Wardrobe for he it was that led the Protector on to those courses as 't is well known as also by the lands given to maintain Lamps and Lights and for other pious uses Which doings with the ruine of the Cloister and Charnell at Paules the Church in the Strand and two Bishops houses there besides the goodly Church of S. Iohns neer Smithfield that were pulled down to build Somerset House brought upon the Protector no little hatred and so hastned his ruine that being it which our Warwick aimed at who spying so fair an oportunity wrought upon xviii of the Privy Councell to joyn with him therein yet such was his cunning that he accomplisht the work by others being least seen in it himself And because he could not win the Earls of Arundell and Southampt to be his Instruments for that purpose he found means to discharge them from the Councell and confine them to their houses as also to fine the Earl of Arundell 12000 li. upon suggestion that he had taken away bolts and locks at Westminster and given away the Kings stuff when he was Lord Chamberlain And now that he might carry the greater sway he did cause himself to be made Lord great Master of the Kings houshold and having been a prime Actor in the Peace made with France he was by way of reward for that service made generall Warden of the North having 1000. marks per ann lands granted unto him and C. Horsemen of the Kings Charge Mr. Herbert his chief Instrument being made President of Wales with a grant of 500 li. per ann And yet all this seemed not enough for within a while after viz. 20. April 5 E. 6. was he made Earl Marshall of England and xi Oct. following Duke of Northumb about which time he got his son Robert afterwards made Earl of Leic. by Q. Eliz. to be sworn one of the six Gentlemen in ordinary which Robert was as saith my Author his fathers true heir both in hatred towards persons of Nobility and cunning to dissemble the same as also for lust and cruelty a Monster of the Court and sure executioner of his hate After whose entertainment into that place of so neer service the King enjoy'd his health but a while And being now inferior to none of the Nobility in titles of honour and superior to all others in authority and power he could not restrain his haughty hopes from aspiring to an absolute command yet before he directly levelled at his marke the Duke of Somerset was thought fit to be taken away whose credit with the Common people
those dayes making Warwick his Episcopal seat had his residence there but if by any enlargement of the Castle it came afterwards to be encompas't with it's Walls it alters the case This Church had divers customs and privileges belonging to it as appears by K. H. 1. Charter dated at Woodstoke whereby he confirmed them as also Iudicia Ferri Aqua id est fire and water Ordeal in as ample manner as it had wont to have them in Edw. the Conf. time afterwards but in the said K. H. 1. time it became united to the Collegiate Church of our Lady founded by Roger Earle of Warwick as when I come to speak thereof shall be shewed Out of this Castle towards the later end of King Steph. reign upon the arrival of Henry Duke of of Normandy did Gundred the then Countesse of Warwick turn out the Kings Souldiers and delivered it up to the said Duke who was shortly after King of Engl. by the name of H. 2. After which viz. in 19. H. 2. upon the Rebellion of young Henry whom his father had caused to be Crowned it was garrison'd by the K. at which time the Sheriffe of this Shire scil Bertram de Verdon accounted vi li. xiii s. iiii d. for 20. quarters of Bread-Corn xx s. for 20. quarters of Malt C. s. for 50. Biefs salted up xxx ◠for 90. Cheeses and xx s. for Salt then laid in for the victualling thereof And the next ensuing year did the same Sheriffe account xxx li. x. s. viii d. paid to the Souldiers therein as also v. li. vii s. xi d. for repairs And in 21. H. 2. xiiii l. xv s. v. d. more for the Souldiers wages But I do not finde it any longer garrison'd in that Kings time howbeit in 7. Ioh. the then Sheriffe sc. Hugh de Chaucumbe accounted xxv l. vi s. for the ward thereof which King had grea◠affiance in the fidelity of Thomas Basset of Hedingdon in Com. Oxon. for he not onely granted to him the wardship and marriage of Henry Son and Heir to Waleran Earle of Warwick but trusted him with the custody of this Castle the same Sheriffe having command to deliver it up to him After this the like custody thereof was committed to Hugh de Nevil but in 18. Ioh. the said Hugh had command to deliver it unto Henry the then Earle of Warwick and the before specified T. Basset And of what great regard it was in those times may be discerned by the Kings precept to the Archb. of York and Will. de Cantilupe for requiring good security of Margery sister and heir to Thomas then E. Warwick that she should not take to husband any person whatsoever in whom the said King could not repose trust as in his own self the chief reason being there given in these words eo quòd Castrum habet ingentis fortitudinis situm versus partes Marchiae But in 48 H. 3. when Will. Mauduit the then Earle of Warw. with his Countesse were surprized here by a treacherous practise of the Rebels that then held Kenilworth-Castle as I have elsewhere declared the Walls hereof were thrown down by those conspirators least they of the Royal party should have made any advantage to themselves by possessing it Upon the extent of the Lands of Guy de Beauchamp Earle of Warw. taken after his death in 9. E. 2. the Ditches and Courts belonging to this Castle were valued at vi s. viii d. per ann and the Garden adjoyning thereto with another Garden called the Vineyard as much Shortly after which sc. 14. E. 2. was Will. de Sutton constituted Constable thereof in regard of the minority of Thomas Son and Heir to the deceased Earle command being given to Walter de Beauchamp the then Constable of it to deliver it up accordingly But this Will. de Sutton held not that Office long for the next year following I finde it in the Sheriffs custody as also that one Thomas Blauncfront and certain others by Force and Arms entred it and turning him out kept possession thereof whereupon complaint being made to the King he immediatly directed his precept to the said Sheriffe to take along with him Iohn Peche a great man in this County as in Hampton in Arden shall be shewed or any other of the Kings loyal subjects and requiring the delivery thereof to commit those Malefactors that so held it to prison which being accordingly perform'd the said Iohn Peche was made Governour of it but in that trust he continued not long for in 20. E. 2. Thomas le Blount had the charge thereof granted to him and in 1. E. 3. Rog. de Mortimer of Wigmore together with the rest of the E. of Warwick's Lands during his minority After this sc. in 10. E. 3. John the Son and Heir to Rob. le Purser of Warwick a servant to Tho. Beauchamp the then Earle granted unto the said Earle a Chantery founded by the said Rob. his father in the Church of St. Nicholas here in Warwick for one Priest to sing Masse in this Castle for the said Earle and his Heirs for ever Which Earle erected anew the outer wall of the Castle with divers Towers but the great Tower at the North-East corner thereof called Guye's Tower the walls whereof are x. foot thick was built by Thomas Earle of Warwick son to the last Earle about the 17. of K.R. 2. reign upon whose banishment in 20. R. 2. of which I have elsewhere spoke the K. granted the custody thereof to Iohn de Clinton sc. 3. Aug. the same year but the 28. of Sept. following he gave it with a great part of the said Earls possessions to Tho. Holland Earle of Kent and the Heirs male of his body howbeit in 1. H. 4. the said Earle repossest it again as I have also elsewhere shewed nor do I finde that from this time till Edw. 4. reign it was out of the possession of the successive Earles but then upon the death of George D. of Clarence it being seized into the Kings hands Iohn Hugford Esq by reason of the minority of Edw. Plantagenet Son and Heir to the said D. was constituded Constable thereof And in 2. R. 3. Humfrey Beaufo his Son in Law became joyn'd with him in that charge From which time it continued in the Crown a great while and in 17. H. 7. Edw. Belknap Esquire of the body to the K. was made Constable thereof which Office K.H. 8. in 1. of his reign confirmed to him But in 1. E. 6. upon the advancement of Iohn Dudley to the Earldom of Warw. he had a grant of it and divers lands which had belong'd to the former Earls All which upon his attainder in 1. M. whereof I have elsewhere spoke eschaeted to the Crown Howbeit by the speciall favour of Q. Eliz. unto Ambrose one of the sons to
Church from the ground in the form it now appears the timber employed therein being bought of his brother in Allesley woods for that purpose In which Quire there was at that time a statue of the famous Guy but altered in 19. R. 2. by one Iohn Sutton a Carver who did cut the Arms of the ancient Earls of Warwick upon it But as some out of their devout affections for the advancement of Gods service were munificent Benefactors to this Collegiate Church yet were there others as apt to detain its rights for notwithstanding that Decree made by Will. Wittlesey Bishop of Worcester before specified the profits of the Churches of S. Nicholas S. Peter S. Laurence and Budbroke were yet withheld under colour that the said restitution and confirmation did not in expresse words extend to the Successors of the then Dean and Canons to whom the same was granted therefore in 22. R. 2. the King gave a new License to them for their union and appropriation which appropriation was accordingly made by Tideman de Winchcombe Bishop of Worcester 7. Martii the same year Amongst other the Benefactors to this Church Walâ—er Power was not the least for I finde that by his deed bearing date 4. Martii 2. H. 4. to the intent that the Dean and Chapter and their Successors should there celebrate two Obits yearly for ever viz. one for the Soul of Margaret his wife then deceased and the other for his own Soul after his departure out of this world he gave thereunto his Mannour of Hethcote in this County with Proviso that if they failed in the celebration of the said Obits they should forfait xl s. to be levied by distresse upon that Mannour Shortly after which did Will. de Peto Eâ—quire of whom and his family I have spoke in Chesterton release unto them sc. 15. Apr. 6. H. 4. all his interest in the advouson of the Church of Wolfhamcote before specified â—or it was purchas 't by T. Beauchamp Earle of Warwick who gave iâ— of Sr. Iohn de Peto Kt. father to this Will in 38. E. 3. covenanting with them thereupon that in case he departed this life within the County of Warw. they should cause his body to be brought thither and interred in the said Coll. Church in such a place as he did before direct and celebrate his Anniversary on the day of his Obit register his name in their Martyrologe and pray for him his Ancestors and Heirs as Founders and Patrons of the said Church of Wolfhamcote as also to cause his grave to be covered with a Monumental stone and his Arms cut thereupon with an inscription declaring his death according to his or his Councell's directions I will now proceed with its other Benefactors in order of time as I finde them The first whereof was K.E. 4. who partly in consideration of an an annuity of viii s. 1. d. ob q. and of a portion of Tithe amounting to xxiiii s. per an issuing out of Fulbroke in this County which the said Coll. Church was possest of till Iohn D. of Bedford inclosed that Lordship and made it a Park And partly for that the said Dean and Canons had undertaken to solemnize perpetually upon the 30. of Decemb. yearly one Obit in the said Church for the health of the Sâ—uls of the most excellent Prince Richard Duke of York father to the said K. and Rich. Nevill E. of Salisbury deceased did by his Letters Pat. bearing date 16. Decemb. in the first year of his reign grant unto them and their Successors a certain portion of inclosed ground called Northbroke parcel of that Lordship of Fulbroke lying Northwards of the said Park but not included therein And about the 8. of Edw. 4. Ric. Nevil then Earle of Warwick and Anne his wife daughter to Râ—ch Beauchamp Earle of Warwick but sister and Heir to Duke Henry her brother gave them the Mannours of Bathkinton Wolvardinton in this County with 3. Tenements and one Garden in Warwick situate next to the Church-yard of this Coll. Church which grant was as I conceive in accomplishment of the last Will of the said Rich. B. who ordained that â—or the increase of Divine service in this Church there should be lands or advousons a mortized to finde 4. Priests and two Clerks for ever over and above the number that were there before as in my story of the said Earle is shewed To these K.H. 7. in 16. of his reign granted the place where a Church called Cuckow-Church had heretofore stood with the Church-yard which was in Wedgnock-Park as I have already declared and all the rights thereto belonging together with xl s. annuity in exchange for the glebe antiently given thereto by the E. of Warwick Having thus made recital of whatsoever I have seen memorable in relation to its endowments I shall here add a Catalogue of such Books as finde did belong thereto in An. 1407. 8. H. 4. As also of the Reliques as they were inventoried in An. 1455. 33. H. 6. First viii Masse book is and a Gospellarye and a Pistellarye Also vi new G ... yells and ii old Also ii Troperes Also viii Portos with Legend and ii Legends the one of temporal another of ........ Also ii new Antiphoners and ii old Also iii. Sauters Also vi Processionals and another with an Emanuel Also a Martyrologe and an Ynmer with Immitatories Also a new Emanuel and an Ordinal Also a Catholicon Reliquiae Quaedam pars de Cruce in qua Crucifixus est Iesus De Capillis b. Mariae de vestimentis ejus Quaedam zona ejusdem b. Marie Virg. de tumba ejusdâ—m b. Mariae Ossa b. Egiâ—ii Abbatis stola ejusdem cum aliis diversis relâ—quiis Quaedam pars de lacte b. Mariae Virginis De oleo S. Katherinae Virginis Reliquiae Sanctorum Edw. regis Swithini Alkâ—mundi Wolfadi Ruffini sc. ossa eorum Quaedam reliquiae S. Iacobi Apostoli Quoddam cilicium S. Thomae Cantuar. Archiep. De tumba Domini nostri Iesu Christi de spina quae posita fuit super capud Iesu. De dente ossibus S. Laurentii martyris Quaedam pars de Cathedra Patriarchae Abrahae Oleum in quo venit ignis in vigilia Paschae de coelo Quoddam os beati Andrei Apostoli Pecten b. Edmundi Cantuar. archiep Quaedam pars de manutergio Nichodemi quando sustinuit corpus domini super humeros Quaedam pars de arboribus montis Calvariae De rubo quem viderat Moyses incombustum Cornu eburneum S. Georgii martyris Oleum S. Nicholai episc cum aliis reliquiis Quaedam sartago S. Brandani De clamyde S. Martini episc De ossibus Sanctorum Innocentium Reliquiae de S. Margareta de S. Maria Magdalena Reliquiae S. Blasii S. Taddei Apostoli Reliquiae S. Hugonis Lincoln episc Martyris De sepulchro Domini de petra Montis Calvariae
amounted then to C s. per ann but had a Church-yard and Ecclesiastique sepulture In 22 R. 2. it was appropriated to the said Collegiat Church of our Lady a Pension of iii s. iv d. per ann being thereupon reserved to the Bishop and his successors out of it and in 26 H. 8. valued at iii li. vi s. viii d. per ann which sum the Dean and Canons of the said Collegiat Church then received Patroni Incumbentes c. D. Episc. auctoritate Diocesana Gilb. de Kyneton Cler. 10. Non. Feb. 1282. Canonici Eccl. B.M. Warw. Gilb. de Kington Subdiac 14. Cal. Dec. 1283. D. Episc. Henr. de Olney Cap. 6. Id. Nov. 1322. D. Adam de Herwynton Canon Praeb Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warw. Thom. de Burneby Cler. 9. Kal. Iunii 1325. D. Adam de Herwynton Canon Praeb Eccl. Coll. B. M. Warw. Will. de Walsh accol Non. Oct. 1338. Praebendarius de Comptox Adam Coriate Pbr. ..... 1339. Ioh. de Bokyngham Praeb Ioh. Roer Pbr. 15. Iunii 1357. Praebendarius de Compion Murdak Ric. de Broughton Pbr. 27. Aug. 1380. The Church of S. Iames being originally but a Chapell and founded over the West gate of this town was given to that of our Lady by Roger Earl of Warwick upon the making thereof Collegiate by him in King Henry 1. time as I have already shewed And in 41 E. 3. was presentable by the Dean and Canons of the above recited Colledge but being at that time void as it had been for many years had no more revenue than xx s. per ann belonging to it and neither Church-yard nor Ecclestique sepulture In 6 R. 2. the advouson thereof was bestowed on the Gild of S. George in Warwick whereof I shall speak anon Patroni Incumbentes c. Will. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Thom. de Beoleg Pbr. 3. Id. Iunii 1294. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. D. Will de Benynton Pbr. 22. Iunii 1330. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Rob. Sotemay Pbr. 27. Iulii 1339. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Philippus Bosse Pbr. 18. Maii. 1340. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. D. Walt. de Ulnehale Cap. 20. Martii 1342. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Ioh. de Harwode Pbr. 19. Iunii 1374. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Ric. Colet Pbr. 12. Sept. 1374. Thom. de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Hugo de Pykton Cler. ult Dec. 1378. The Priory FRom hence I come to the Priory of S. Sepulchers situate on the North side of this town on a most pleasant ascent the Foundation whereof was begun by Henry de Neuburgh the first Earl of Warwick after the Conquest in K. H. 1. time the occasion thereof being by the recourse of divers Pilgrims in great devotion to the Holy Land the Christians prevailing much about that time who solicited this Earl to erect a Monastery in imitation of those Canons Regular there instituted in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher of our blessed Saviour which Canons used the like habite that other Regular Canons did adding onely a double red Cross upon the brest of their Cope this being the first House of that peculiar Order either in England Wales Scotland or Ireland But after the destruction of Hierusalem again which hapned in Anno 1188. 35 H. 2. almost all the Houses of this Rule began to decay so that then the Religious persons of this Order betook themselves to solicit and implore the aid of good people for help to regain the Holy Land having power to bestow great Indulgences upon those that were bountifull thereto their habite being then chang'd to a gray Cloake and the Prior going with a Pastorall staff howbeit all their endeavours for regaining the Holy Land at last comming to nothing their lands and revenues were transferred to the Order of Friers of the Holy Trinity for redemption of Captives touching the first Institution whereof I have spoke in Thelesford Canonicus Regularis S. Sepulchri The Church of Snitfield given by Hugh fil Ricardi Certain lands lying betwixt Tunstall and Stochull near Warwick by Geffrey de Vinea A stone-house and some particular ground in Warwick by William the son of Gilbert Nutricius Those grounds called Levenhull situate on the Northwest side of Warwick by Robert de Morton in 29 H. 3. One yard land in Lighthorne confirm'd i by Nigell de Mundevill which his father gave when he bequeath'd his body to sepulture here Certain lands in Upton by Thomas de Arden The Church of Hasele confirm'd by Thomas de Cherlecote Lord of Hasele having been given by some of his Ancestors Certain lands in Solihull by Sir William de Odingsells An annuity of 50 s. by Margery de Nerburne given out of Austrey in this shire Certain lands in Claverdon by Ela Longespe Countess of Warwick which she gave for the health of her soul and for the soul of Thomas Earl of Warwick her husband William Earl of Salisbury her father Ela her mother VVilliam and Richard her brothers and Ida her sister sometime wife of VValter fil Roberti Besides all these there belong'd thereto five Mess. one carucat of land and x s. x d. yearely Rent lying within the parish of S. Clements-Danes in the suburbs of London together with the advouson of the said Church of S. Clements all which the Prior and Canons of this House exchanged away unto VValter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter to the use of his Bishoprick for eight acres of land in Snitfield before specified with the advouson of the Church in 17 E. 2. Which Church they had then License to hold appropriate to them and their successors and did accordingly so that it seems the former title they had thereto by the grant of Hugh fil Ricardi either was not good or else they had aliened it away soon after It also seems that much of the lands they had here at Warwick was antiently Common for by an Inquis taken 9 H. 8. I find that they had inclosed foure hundred acres here and depopulated one mess. whereunto eighty acres belonged But over and above these lands had they sundry liberties and priviledges granted to them by King Henry 2. and Richard 1. and confirm'd by King Hen. 3. and Edw. 3. so great an esteem had they of that Order as the Preamble of King Henry 3. Charter implies scil pro reverentia S. Dominici Sepulchri And by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. it appears that besides the Rectories of Snitfield and Haseley above specified there belong'd to this Monastery the Church of Gretham in Com. Rutl. antiently of the Earl of Warwick's advouson though when given thereto I am not very certain all which with the rest of its possessions lying in Warwick Hatton Claverdon Church-Lawford Austrey Snitfield Pinley Solihull and Fenni-Compton were then rated at no more than
to Iohn his next Heir and then 9 years of age Cotes THis is that part of Warwick which lyes on the East part of the town beyond the little Brook coming from the Priory Mill and is now called Coton-end In Edw. the Confessors time Edwine E. of Mercia held it but after the Norman Conquest K. Will. had it in his own hand in whose time it was certifyed to contain one hide there being then two Mills rated at C s. and the Woods containing 3 Furlongs in length and as much in breadth In the Conq. Survey it is written Cotes which in our old English signifies the same with Domus It seems that upon the advancement of Henry de Newburgh to the Earldome of Warwick it was by the K. bestowed on him for it appears that the same Henry gave certain lands lying here to the Churches of our Lady and Allhallows which Rog. his son and successor confirmed adding his Grant of all the Tithe thereof and C. acres of land in 23. H. 1. when he united those two Churches making that of our Lady Collegiate But there is no more to be said of it forasmuch as it was so united to Warwick that part thereof being in the possession of the Earls which did not belong to the Colledge Stokehull ON the Northwest side of Warwick lyes Stokehull â— now onely known by certain grounds bearing that name but heretofore it hath been a petty Hamlet as the name imports Stoke signifying the same with Villa The first mention I find thereof is in the foundation of the Collegiate Church of Warw. by E. Roger in H. 1 time where he grants thereto the Tithes of certain Lands situate therein so that there is no question but it came to Henry E. of Warwick as all the rest of the lands thereabout â—â—d viz. upon his advancement to that Earldome or in augmentation of it as I have elsewhere shewed Howbeit till 14 E. 1. I have not seen any thing more thereof that is remarkable but then was there a Fine levied of the moyetie of this Mannour by Iohn le Lou and Amice his wife Plantiffs and Philip le Lou and Margery his Wife deforc whereby the said moyetie became setled upon the same Iohn and Amice and the Heires of Amice And further than this have I no more to say of it other than that it is in Rous his Catalogue amongst the antiently depopulated Villages whereof he makes so much complaint Levenhull THis place lying neer to the last hath no habitation now thereon yet do the Grounds retain the name but what I have seen of it is no more than that Rob. de Morton who stiles himself Dominus de Levenhull by his Deed whereupon a Fine was levyed xv Hill 29 H. 3. granted to the Monastery of S. Sepulchers here in UUarwick totam terram illam extra Warrewyke ex parte occidentali quae appellatur Levenhull which it seems was a Purchase for the Canons of that House gave fourty Marks of Silver in consideration of that Grant and covenanted to pay to the said Robert and his Heirs 13 s. 4 d. per an at the Feasts of S. Mich. and the Annunciation of our Lady by even portions Woodlow THE first mention I find of this place is in that foundation of the Collegiat Church at Warwick made by Earl Roger in 23. H. 1 where the Tithes of certain lands lying here are given thereto and in that grant it is called Wudulan By which testimony t is plain enough that it was originally part of those possessions which Henry de Newburgh the first Earl after the Norman Conquest had hereabouts and there is no doubt I think to be made but that it was a member of Warwick In H. 1 time one Richard the Sonn of Yvo Cook to the before specified Earl Roger held it but having no grant thereof in writing and leaving a Sonn called Alan whom he had trained up in his own profession the said Alan succeeding in that office as servant to William E. of Warwick sonn to Earl Roger obtained a special Charter from him in H. 2 time of this Lordship to himself and his Heirs whereby the Metes and Bounds thereof are exactly set forth By which Charter he also granted to the said Alan and his Heirs power to keep a Court of all his own proper Tenants aswell those residing in Warwick as at Woodlow and to take Toll of them for all things that they should buy or sell within the Borough of Warwick Ratifying moreover to him and his Heirs ths office of Master Cook in his Kitchen which the said Richard his father heretofore held in his and E. Roger his fathers time with all Fees of his Kitchen belonging to the Master Cook both in liveryes and Horses as the Esquiers of his houshold then had and as the said Richard his father used to have in the days of the same Earl Roger and his the said Earl And moreover granted unto him and his heires a yard land lying in Cotes with whatsoever lands the said Richard his father held in Warwick to hold therewith freely and quietly c. with Tol and Team Sach and Soc Infatheyeol and in free socage paying yearly to the said Earl and his heires a pair of Gloves at Easter for all secular service suit of Court and demand whatsoever for which grant and confirmation the said Alan gave unto him x s. in money xij Geese and a firkin of wine From this Alan descended the family of Woodlow as the pedegree here inserted sheweth so named in respect of their residence here who bore for thir Armes Gules a fesse argent betwixt six crosses crosslet Or differing nothing from the coat of Beauchamp E. of Warwick but in the colour of the fessâ— Of which was one Thomas de Woodlow Feodary to Ric. Beauchamp E. of Warwick for all his lands in this County in 10. H. 4. And in 5. H. 5. one of his Councell In 15. H. 6. this Mannour being entailed by Iohn Wodelow was setled upon George Herthul his granchild with divers remainders but it seems that some of these Herthulls past away their right herein to Alice the daughter of Ric. Chester grandchild and heir after the death of her brother Thomas to Avicia one of the daughters and coheirs of Alan de Wodelow for after the death of her second husband sc. Iohn Mayell being in her free state of widowhood by her deed bearing date at Warwick on the feast day of S. Hillary 27. H. 6. she granted the capital mess. of Wodlow with all the lands thereto belonging excepting some that had been exchang'd away to Iohn Brome of Warwick which Iohn was he that became owner of Badsley-Clinton in this County as I shall there shew from whose son Nich Brome by Lettice the daughter of Nich Catesby his third wife is descended Robert Brome Gent. now residing here to
whether Amfridus de Bereford mentioned in 26. H. 2. were the son of this Hugh I cannot positively affirm howbeit that he was the father of Walter de Bereford is most certain which Walter left issue Henry and a daughter called Dionysia married to ...... de Nasford by whom she had issue Henry de Nasford who became heir to his uncle and so consequently Lord of this Mannour From this family of Bereford did descend as I conceive that male branch who were Lords of Wishaw and Shotswell in this County But in the line of Nasford this Lordship continued not above 4 generations for to Henry de Nasford abovespecifyed succeeded Will. his cosyn and heir who had issue Iohn which was the last of that name as the descent here drawn doth shew Hugo de Bereford 23 H. 2. Amfridus de Bereford 26 H. 2. Walt. de Bereford 9 R. 1. Alicia fil Rembaldi de Cherlcote Henr. fil haeres 6 Ioh. ob s. p. Dionysia 8 H. 3. Dionysia ux ........ de Nasford Henricus de Nasford 10 H. 3. Will. de Nasford junior consanguineus haeres Henrici de Nasford 34 H. 3. Joh. de Nasford 7 E. 2. Of these were Benefactours to the little Monastery of Thelesford hard by viz. Walt. de Bereford and Alice his wife with Henry their son as also Will. de Nasford and Iohn his son which Iohn confirmed what his ancestors had so given and further added that the Canons of that House should have free liberty of Fishing in the river of Avon every day in the week except Sundays viz. from Le Mill to his Mill pool as also Common of pasture for their Cattell in the Common of Bereford In 7. E. 1. upon that Inq. then taken it appears that the said Will. de Nasford was then Lord of this Mannour and that he held it of Theobald de Verdon by the service of half a Kts. fee who held it over of Rob. de Mortimer of Ricards-Castle descended from Osb. fil Ricardi before mentioned as I have elswhere shewed at which time the said Will then had here in demesn two carucats of land a watermill and free fishing in Avon with a Court-Leet and Gallows as also 4 Tenants holding 4 yard land by base service And moreover it is evident that the Kts. Templars then held here of his fee one yard land and the Canons of Thelesford xi five whereof were given to them by Alice the wife of Walter de Bereford In 13. E. 1. the said Will. de Nasford claymed here a Court-Leet Gallows Weyfs with Assize of Bread and Beer by Prescription all which were allowed to whom succeeded Iohn his son and heir who being the last of that family as I have intimated was one of those that did partake with Guy de Beauchamp E. of Warw. and others in the murder of Piers de Gaveston for which offence he had his pardon in 7. E. 2. which Iohn about that time it seems past away this Lordship to the said Earl for in 9 E. 2. Thomas E. of Warw. was certified to be Lord thereof it being then in the Kings hands by reason of his minority And yet afterwards in 14 E. 3. do I find that the same Earl had a grant thereof from William de Clinton Earl Huntingdon unto himself and his heirs with the reversion of certain lands which Iulian his wife held in dower of the Earl of Pembrok's inheritance his Charter bearing date here at Bereford the Sunday next after the Feast day of S. Mathew the Apostle After which time it continued to the succeeding Earls of Warwick as appears by sundry Authorities till all the rest of their possessions came to the Crown as in my discourse of Anne Countess of Warwick is manifested wherein it rested till 1 E. 6. but then together with the Castle of Warwick was granted to Iohn Dudley Earl of Warwick and his heirs upon whose attainder in 1 M. it divolved again to the Crown and was by Queen Eliz. in 4. of her raign together with other lands past to Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick and the heirs male of his body whereof fayling it return'd to the Crown Here was also a reputed Mannour within the precincts of this parish belonging to the Collegiate Church of Westbury in Gloucestershire though how or when it came thereto I have not found but after the dissolution viz. in 35. H. 8. the King sold it to Sir Raph Sadler Knight and his heires who it seems past it to Iohn Earl of Warwick for in 6 Eliz. the Qu. granted it to Ambrose Earl of Warwick and the heires male of his body in like sort as the other Mannour whereof I have already spoke The Church dedicated to S. Peter was in K. Iohn's time given by Henry de Bereford to the Canons of Thevelesford but some Release did they make thereof to him again or to his heirs for in 4 E. 1. Will. de Nasford bestowed the Advouson of it on the Monks of Evesham for which grant they made him partaker of all their spirituall benefits In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xi marks and in 26. H. 8. at xii li. having never been appropriated Patroni Ecclesiae Incumb tempt Instit. Abbas Conventus de Evesham M. Ioh. de Norton 14. Cal. Martii 1280. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Will. de Wellesburn .... 1298. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Walt. Roos accolitus 1. Iulii 1339. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Ioh. de Wengrave Pbr. 20. Oct. 1363. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Ioh. Thorp 17. Sept. 1385. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Ioh. Parkere penult Nov. 1395. Abbas Conventus de Evesham D. Rob. Forster Cap. 2. Nov. 1442. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Mr. Henr. Pantry 1. Ian. 1457. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Ric. Hacker Cler. 17. Ian. 1464. Abbas Conventus de Evesham D. Baldw. Hide Cap. 15. Aug. 1466. Abbas Conventus de Evesham D. Ioh. Smyth Cap. 9. Nov. 1468. Abbas Conventus de Evesham D. Will. Ewkeston Cap. 22. Dec. 1470. Abbas Conventus de Evesham D. Rob. Adams in Art Bacc. ...... 1505. Abbas Conventus de Evesham Will. Landisdale Cap. penult Sept. 1524. Abbas Conventus de Evesham D. Rob. Kendale Cap. 21. Oct. 1526. Rog. Barlo gen ratione concess Decan C. de Westbury in Com. Gloucest Ioh. Sewell Cler. 24. Martii 1549. Steph. Hales Civis Lond. gen D. Ric. Michel Cler. 13. Ian. 1558. Edw. Combes gen Iac. Wheler Cler. ult Feb. 1576. Rowley Warde ar Magr. Tho. Warde Cler. 9. Ian. 1623. Wasperton A Little below Barford lyes Wasperton one of the towns 〈◊〉 Earl Leofrik gave to the Monastery of Coventre upon the first Foundation thereof 1 Edw. Conf.
other lands in this County upon VVilliam Buenvasleth a Norman and at the time of the generall Survey certified to contain five hides besides the Inclosure there being at that time a Grove containing two furlongs in length and xx perches in bredth all which were rated at vii li. But the direct time or manner how it came first to the family of Mundevile I have not yet discovered yet do believe it was very early that is to say in H. 1. time for in H. 2. days did Nigel de Mundevile confirm to the Canons of S. Sepulchers in Warwick a yard land lying in this Lordship which his father bequeathed to them with his body to be buried in that Monastery whose name as I take it was Ranulph de Munnevile for such a one lived in this County in H. 1. time and was a witness to that Charter of Earl Roger 23 H. 1. whereby he founded the Collegiate Church at Warwick as also to his grant of Salford to the Canons of Kenilworth about the same time And by what afterwards appears 't is most certain that Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line had these lands of VVilliam Buenvasleth by Agreement or otherwise and thereof enfeof't Mundevile together with Berkswell to hold by the service of one Knights fee for of a Knights fee was he enfeof't in H. 1. time and by the service of one Knights fee was Richard de Mundevile certified to hold this Lordship and Berkswell of the Earl of Warwick in 20 H. 3. in both which he had Free-warren granted to him as also in Thorp-Mundevile in Com. Northampt. by the Kings Charter dated at Clarendon 19 Nov. 37 H. 3. As for the name I find it variously written in antient Records viz. Leitethorne Littethirn Lichthirn Lythtehirne and in Domesday-book Listecorne where doubtless some Letters are mistaken for I am confident that the last syllable should be hirne which in our old English signifies a corner and by what I guess at the former syllable viz. Lich which is the same with Cadaver I suppose that it had originally its name from some sepulture of dead bodies there Of these Mundeviles I shall say more in Berkswell because that was their seat the beforespecified Richard being the last of them that had to do in this County for in 6 E. 1. he past away his interest in the reversion of these Mannours to VVill. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick reserving onely an estate for life to himself and Maud his wife and the longer liver of them in consideration whereof the said Earl granted to them his Mannour of Brayles to enjoy during that terme In 7. E. 1. it appears that the said Richard and his wife so held it for life and that there was then a certain Park here containing four acres and five carucats of land held by the Lord in demesn as also xxi Tenants holding ten yard land and a fourth part performing sundry servile works and ...... Freeholders holding two yard land and a half under certain Rents and doing suit to his three weeks Court And likewise that what the Canons of S. Sepulchers in Warwick had here was then held by Freeholders paying severall Rents After which viz. in 13 E. 1. the beforespecified Richard de Mundevill challenged a Court-Leet here with Assize of Bread and Beer by Prescription but it being found that the King was in possession of those liberties he was amerc't for that claim Which Richard and his wife were dead before the 29 E. 1. as it seems for by the Inquis taken after the death of Maud de Beauchamp widow to VVilliam de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick I find that she dyed seized of this Mannour Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick her son and heir being then of full age Upon the death of which Guy scil 9 E. 2. it was inter alia assigned to Alice his Countess in dower and after the attainder of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick in 22 R. 2. given by the King to Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey But the deposition of King R. 2. shortly after ensuing annihilated that grant so that in 2 H. 4. the said Earl dying seized thereof it was assigned to Margaret his Countess as part of her dower and continued to the successive Earls till it came to the Crown with the rest of their lands as in Warwick I have shewed After which I find that King H. 8. made a Lease of it in 21. of his reign for xxi years to Roger Wigston Esquier and in 36. by his Letters Patent dated 9. Apr. in consideration of 536 li. 18 s. 11 d. sold it to Sir Thomas Pope Knight and his heirs together with the advouson of the Church and the next year following granted to him the said Thomas and his heirs all the lands lying within this town and formerly belonging to the Priory of S. Sepulchers at Warwick which are at this day possest by his descendant viz. Sir Thomas Pope of Wroxston in Oxfordshire a younger son to the late Earl of Downe In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. the Church dedicated to S. Laurence was valued at xxvi marks and in 26 H. 8. at xv li. vi s. viii d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Guido de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Magr. Henr. de Hampton Pbr. 15. Cal. Iulii 1307. D. Rex ratione custodiae terrae haered Guidonis Com. Warw. Ioh. de Asheberghe Cler. 10. Cal. Maii 1327. Thomas de Bellocampo Co. Warw. D. Will. de Chilmersh Diac. 4. Iulii 1331. Thomas de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Ioh. de Blockley Pbr. 7. Aug. 1349. Thomas de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Rob. Childe Cap. 1. Dec. 1382. Henr. Rex Angliae ratione minoris aetat Ric. filii haered Thomae Com. Warw. VVill. Kydermyster 18. Iulii 1402. Ric. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Thomas Taylard Cap. 19. Iulii 1431. Attornati Ricardi Comitis Warw. D. Ioh. Nowell Cap. 13. Martii 1437. D. Henr. 6. Rex Angl. Thomas Canke Cap. 23. Iunii 1460. Henr. 7. Rex Angliae VVill. Benet Cler. 19. Aug. 1494. Henr. 7. Rex Angliae D. Alanus Hynske 6. Aug. 1501. Leonardus VVorsley gen ratione advoc sibi concess per D. Regem D. VVill. Benet Pbr. 21. Apr. 1541. Thomas Pope miles D. Ioh. Vernam Pbr. 20. Apr. 1548. Will. Pope de Wroxton in Com. Oxon. ar Rad. Lees Cler. 24. Ian. 1602. In a South window of the Chancell these Armes Chequy Or and Azure a Cheveron ermine old Earls of Warwick Gules a fesse betwixt 6. Crosse Croslets Or. Beauchamp E. of Warw. Of these Incumbents Iohn de Blockley in 37 E. 3. intended the foundation of a Chantry here and to have endowed it with lands of good value as may seem by the return of a Writt of Ad quod dampnum to that purpose but I do not discern
the said Charter for which respect he had a day assigned him to make good his claim In 14 E. 1. he was constituted one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick In 15 E. 1. one of the 4. Knights to take care that the Articles for conservation of the Peace according to the Statute of Winchester should be observed in this County And the same year as also in 17 E. 1. again one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick He was a Benefactor to the Canons of Thelisford as I have already there shewed and dyed in 31 E. 1. leaving issue by Petronill his wife William Lucy his son and heir then 26. years of age who had livery of his lands the same year which Will. was a Kt. in 2 E. 2. if not sooner and bore for his Arms Gules semé of Crosslets with three Lucies hauriant d'Argent as by his Seal appears Whose publique imployments were as followeth viz. Knight for this Shire in the Parliament held at Westminster in 6 E. 2. In that at Yorke 15 E. 1. Again at Westminster 17 E. 2. In that of Northampton 2 E. 3. and of Westminster in 10 E. 3. For the Gaol-delivery at Warwick he was in Commission in 10â— 16 17â— and 19 E. 2. For conservation of the Peace according to the statute of Winchester in 13 E. 2. In 15 E. 2. for choosing Foot-Souldiers and conducting them to New-Castle upon Tine to march against the Scots so also in 16. at which time the number so conducted were in this County full CCC In 18 E. 2. for ordering of those Knights Esquiers and other Souldiers which were to serve on Horseback with the K. in his Warrs of Gascoin And in 19 E. 2. for conservation of the Peace according to the Statute of Winchester To the Canons of Thelisford he was also a Benefactor as other of his Ancestors had been And by Elizabeth his wife left issue William his son and heir who in 15 E. 2. was in that Welch expedition for the Kings service and in 18 E. 3. a Knight being then in Commission with others to enquire within this County and to certify the names of all persons who had Lands and Rents to the value of an C s. and upwards to a thousand pounds per annum deducting the services and necessary reprises In 19 E. 3. he received Summons with many other persons of quality to prepare himself with Horse and Armes by the Feast of S t Laurence for to wait upon the K. in his French expedition This was the time when that notable battail of Cressy whereof our Historians make relation was fought he being of the retinue of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick but exempted from attendance at that time being then joyn'd in Commission with the Shiriff and some others to array Clx. Archers in this County for the Kings service but after the 22 E. 3. I find no mention of him By Elizabeth his wife he left issue Thomas Lucy who had two wives viz. Elizabeth and Philippâ— which Philippa in 28 E. 3. joyned with him in a grant of certain errable land lying here in Cherlecote to the Canons of Thelesford â— to the intent that they should celebrate Divine Service and pray devoutly there for the soul of William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon as also for the souls of them the said Thomas and Philippa This Thomas had issue William Lucy who being a Knight in 5 R. 2. was the same year retained by Indenture with Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster King of Castile c. to serve him with one Esquier for terme of his life aswell in times of Warr as Peace for which service to have xx li. per an besides his dyet and in 1 H. 4. was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster To him succeeded Thomas his son and heir retained also with the said D. of Lanc. for terme of life to serve him aswell in times of Peace as Warr for which he was to have x. marks per an wages This Thomas being a Kt. in 7 H. 4. served the same year for this County in the Parl. then held In 8 H. 4. he was constituted Shiriff of this and Leicestershire and having been of the retinue to Richard de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick for which he had xx li. per annum Fee wedded Alice the onely daughter of Sir William Hugford but by the death without issue of Margerie daughter to William son and heir to the said William at length his heir by whom he had a fair inheritance of lands lying in the Counties of Bedford and Salop. and departed this life 28. Iulii 3 H. 5. leaving William his son and heir 13. years of age the said Alice taking to husband Richard Archer of Tanworth Esquier within 8. weeks after his said decease This William was during his minority in Ward to Iohn Boteler of Werington in Com. Lanc. Esquier and in 2 H. 6. upon the death of Eliz. the widow of Sir Iohn Clinton Knight found Cosen and heir to her viz. son of Alice Hugford daughter of Margerie son of Iames Pabenham son of Ioan sister of William father of William father to the said Elizabeth In 12 H. 6. I find him listed in the Catalogue of those men of note in this Shire that made oath for performance of such particular things as were determined of in the Parliament held at Westminster that year In 14 H. 6. he was constituted Shiriff of this County and Leicester-shire so also in 28 H. 6. and the same year jâ—in'd in Commission with the Lord Grey of Groby and others for treating with the people about a loan to the King â—o likewise in 31 H. 6. with Humfrey Duke of Buck. and others for that purpose It seemes that he adhered to the Hâ—use 〈◊〉 Yorke in those turbulent times when so much bâ—oâ—d was spilt in that quarrell with the Lancastrians for in 38 H. 6. he had a Protect on 〈◊〉 himself and all his goods from the Earls of March and Warwick which bears date 18. Iulii and departed this life in 6 E. 4. leaving by Elianore his wife daughter to Reginalâ— Lâ—rd Grey of Ruthin William his son and heir 26. years of agâ—â— whom 7 E 4. doing fealty for the Mannour of Haversham â—n â—om Buck. held of the K. as of his Honour â—f Peverell as also for the Mannour of Shrewley in thâ—s Câ—unâ—y held also of the King as â—f â—â—s Dutchy of Lancaster had his homage respited This William was one of the Commissioners for conservation of the Peace in this County in 11 12 13 and 14 E. 4. in which fourteenth year he had for some
Knightlow-Hundred whereunto I shall adde that 't is probable it might proceed from the Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth the same with Collis the situation thereof upon a little hill savâ—uring this my conceipt But I now come to what I find memorable in relation to this place In 51 H. 3. Barthol de Suthleg being then Lord thereof had a Charter granted to him and his heirs for a Mercate to be kept every Friday weekly here and a Fair annually for three days viz. the Eve of S t Iames the Apostle and two days after And in 7 E. 1. Iohn de Suthley was certiâ—iâ—d to be Lord hereof where it is written Magna Dercet but said to be a member of Suthley as also to be held by him of the King in Câ—pâ—â—e with his Barony by the service of two Knights fees And that he had at that time here Liii servants holding xix yard land and a half paying severall Rents and performing divers servile labours with xxiv Freeholders holding 24. yard land and a half And moreover it there appears that the Chief Chanter of the Church of Lichfield held here at that time a fourth part of one yard land and the Canons of Erdbury two yard land one whereof the Church was endowed with As also that the Templars of Balshall then had xi Tenants here who held four yard land paying severall Rents and performing severall servile labours The Liberties and Priviledges which the said Iohn de Suthley then had in this Lordship were the Mercate and Faire whereof I have already toucht Free-warren Court-Leet Gallows Cuckstool and Pillory with Assize of Bread and Beer All which together with weyfs as also to be quit of Murther and suit to the Hundred and County Court he claimed partly by Prescription and partly by Charter but it being then found that for Murther he used to partake with the Hundred he was amerc't for that undue claim the rest of his Challenge being fully allowed Which Iohn de Sudley became a speciall Benefactor to the Monastery of Erdbury of his Ancestors foundation by the grant of lands and other advantages thereunto out of this place as I shall punctually shew when I come to speak of that Religious House I often find in Record that this town is called Cheping-Derset the reason whereof is because of the Mercate for Cheping with our Ancestors did signify the same that buying and selling doth with us whence it is that Cheping-Norton in Oxford-shire Chepinham in Wilt-shire and Chepstow in Monmouth-shire had their names But the last of the Sudleâ—'s that had to doe here was Sir Iâ—hn de Sudley Knight who dying without issue in 41 E. 3. left Thomas Boteler son of Ioan his eldest sister then dead and Margerie his younger sister his heirs whereby as also by the death of the said Margerie afterwards without issue the said Thomas became possest of this and all the rest of Sudley's lands which Thomas being afterwards a Knight dyed seized of this Mannour jointly with Alice his wife daughter to Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Powyk 21. Sept. 22 R. 2. then leaving Iohn his son and heir xiv years of age who in 8 H. 4. confirmed the estate for life therein which had been granted by certain Feoffees unto the said Alice she being at that time marryed to Sir Iohn Dalyngrugge Knight This Iohn and William his brother were sons to Sir Thomas Boteler by his first wife but both dyed without issue as it seems for upon the death of the abovespecified Alice in 21 H. 6. Sir Raph Boteler Knight was then found to be heir unto her and begotten by the said Sir Thomas being then xl years of age which Sir Raph became a man of great note in H. 6. time as it seems for I find that being Knight for the Body to the King â—e was made his Standard-bearer 28. Martii 17 H. 6. And by Letters Patent dated at Westminster x. Sept. 20 H. 6. created Lord Sudley with the grant of CC. marks per annum to himself and his heirs for the better maintenance of that dignity He was also constituted Lord Treasurer of England 7. Iulii 22 H. 6. which office he held about three years but in 13 E. 4. he departed this life leaving Sir Iohn Norbury Knight and William Belknap his heirs which Sir Iohn Norbury was son of Sir Henry Norbury Knight by Elizabeth and Will. Belknap son of Hamond Belknap by Ioan sisters to the said Raph for he left no issue male Sir Thomas Butler his only son dying in his life time which Sir Iohn Norbury and William Belknap in 16 E. 4. had livery of all the lands descended to them by the death of the abovespecified Sir Raph Boteler The partition whereof was made betwixt the said Sir Iohn and Edward Belknap Esquier son of Henry brother and heir to William Belknap aforesaid in 13 H. 7. whereby this Mannour inter alia became assigned to Belknap for in 2 R. 3. William dyed without issue leaving Henry Belknap his brother and heir 50. years of age which Henry by his Testament dated 25. Iunii anno 1488. 3 H. 7. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chapell of our Lady at Bekle in Sussex It seemes he lived there for by the same Testament he gave to the high Altar in that Church xx d. in lieu of his Tithes forgotten and not payd and departed this life 10 Iulii following leaving the said Sir Edward his son and heir xvii years of age who became a man of much publique action for in 2 H. 7. he was one of the Commanders in the Kings Army at the Battail of Stoke In 6. a Commissioner of Array in this County In 12. a Commander in the Battail of Blackheath in Kent against the Western Rebells In 17. he had the custody of Warwick-Castle committed to his charge being at that time Squier of the Body to the King And from 8 H. 7. for the most part during all that Kings raign was in Commission for the Peace in this County as appears upon the severall renewings thereof and sometimes for Gaol delivery In consideration of whose acceptable services the said King by a speciall Patent dated 14. Apr. 24. of his raign granted him immunity from being troubled or questioned for that Inclosure and depopulation which he had made in this Lordship contrary to the Statute in the third of his raign He was also Squier of the Body to King H. 8. being in the first of his raign again constituted Constable of Warwick-Castle for he resided at Weston subtus Wethele in this County as it seems by what I have there manifested And in 8. a Knight The Depopulation and Inclosure that he made within this Lordship scil in 14 H. 7. was of xii mess. and CCClx. acres
find that Nicholas the Son of Hugh de Fernberge in Ric. 1. time made a grant that in case it happened he should sell or pawn any of his lands to the Canons of Claâ—ercote or any other Religious House it might be no prejudice to the Church of this place in their Tithes arising out of any Cattell depasturing thereon And that Sir Thomas de Say Kt. in H. 3. time granted to Thomas de Wymundham then Parson thereof the homage and service of Will. de Williamscote uncle to him the said Sir Thomas and of his heiâ—s for 1. mess. and 1 yard land which he the said Will. held of him here in Farnborough In an 1291. 19 E. 1. this Rectory was valued at xi marks and in 11 E. 2. the advouson thereof was granted by Iordan de Say Lord of the Mannour unto Iohn de Ralegh and his heâ—rs After which viz. in 13 E. 3. I find that Sir Will. Shareshull Kt. purchased it of Thomas de Hulhampton Kt. and Margaret his wife but how they had Iohn de Rale's title therein I know not And the next year following granted it to the Canons of Lilshull in com Salop. and their Successors which Canons obtained an appropriation thereof from Roger de Northburgh Bishop of Cov. and Lich. 3 Non. Martii an 1345. 19 E. 3. the Vicaridge being endowed the xii Cal. of Dec. following and a Pension of v. sol per an granted to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield and their Successors by the said Canons of Lilshull out of the fruits of the same Rectâ—â—y But the said endowment was made void as it seems for it appears that by an Instrument bearing date x. Kal. Iulii 1367 41 E. 3. upon a Petition exhibited to the Abbot of Lilshull by the Canons of that House setting forth how short their maintenance was the said Abbot by the consent and License of Rob. de Stretton then Bishop of Cov. and Lich. granted all the profits thereof unto them for augmentation of their dyet and clothing though what was thereupon reserved for the Vicar I have not seen which Vicaridge in 26 H. 8. was rated at C xii s. over and above viii s. allowed for Procurations and Sinodals Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. per lapsum Wâ—ll de Pichford Pbr. crast Apost Petri Paulâ— 1307. Gâ—lf de Cornwayl miles Petrus de Norton Pbr. 16. Kal. Maii 1323. Patroni Vicariae Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. de Waverton Cap. 2. Cal. Dec. 1345. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Rog. de Wâ—â—thynton Cap. Id. Ian. 1352. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Morys Cap. 5. Id. Nov. 1361. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Wiâ—â— Power Pbr. 4. Id. Nov. 1363. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Râ—b de Kitton Pbr. Non. Martii 1364. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Thomas aâ—â—e Nashe Pbr. 2. Aug. 1375. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Hâ—go de Wardyngton Pbr. Non. Apr. 1367. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ric. Câ—lâ—e Pbr. 25. Nov. 1391. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Gâ—over Cap. 22. Nov. 1414. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Thomas Alfoâ—th Pbr. 12. Maii 1427. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Stoke Cap. 8. Oct. 1432. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Kirge Pbr. 16. Apr. 1436 Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Edwardâ— Pbr ..... 1440. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Petrus Green Pbr. 17. Ian. 1443. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ric. â—ele 19. Dec. 1444. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Wesâ—ourne Pbr. 11. Dec. 1449. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Wâ—ll Bradbury Cap. 22. Nov 1453. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Ioh. Vlceby Cap. 28. Sâ—pt 1454. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull Hâ—nr Syddall Diac. 24 Maii. 1533. Abbis Conv. de Lilshull D. Hâ—go Lache Cap. 6. Dec. 1534. Dominus Rex D. Thomas Cotton Cap. 8. Iunii 1546. Symon Ralegh arm Thomas Rowley Cler. 4. Iunii 1569. Symon Ralegh arm Thomas Warde Cler. 23. Martii 1577. Symon Ralegh arm VVill. Hobson Cler 2. Iulii 1581. Edw. Ralegh miles Samps Gaâ—ge Cler. in art Bac. 6. Iulii 1620. Cancellarius Magistri Scolar Uuiversitatis Oxon vigorâ— Actus Parl. Tâ—om Gâ—stelow S. Theol. Bac. 6. Martii 1629. In the Church windows are no Arms by reason the whole fabrick hath of late times been rebuilt Mollington THere is but part of this town in Warwick-shire the rest lying in Oxford shire wherewith I am not to meddle That which is certified by the Conq. Survey to be in this County was then rated at v. hides which were valued at lx s. and possest by Osbernus fil Ricardi of whom in Aston Cantilupe I have spoke but before the Norman invasion belonged unto the Mother of Leuvinus de Niâ—ueham From the descendants of which Osbernus the one half thereof came to Iuliana de S. Remigio who bestowed it upon the Canons of Kenilworth about K. H. 2. time to whom it continued tâ—ll the dissolution of that Monastery but then coming to the Crown was purchased by Fouk VVoodhull Gent. in 37 H. 8. who had a grant thereof bearing date 12. Iunii the same year to himself and his heirs to hold in Capite by the xl th part of a Kts. fee paying x s. ix d. ob yearly Rent Which Fouk had issue Leonard and he Iohn that dyed seized of it 30 Ian. 30 Eliz. leaving Anthony his son and heir then of full age But the other part came to Thomas de Arden of Rotley or his Ancestor by grant from some of the descendants of the before specified Osbernus to hold by the half of a Kts. fee for by the Record of 36 H 3. it appeareth that Agnes Cagthelewe then held â—t of the said Thomas and he of Ricards-Castle From which Agnes it divolved to Alianore dâ— Claâ—e who in 1 E. 2. held it of the heirs of Ricards Castle by the like service and in 5 E. 3. dyed seâ—zed of it leaving Iohn her son and heir 22 years of age After which Iohn de Herdwike in 20 E. 3. held it by the third part of a Kts. fee at which time the Prior of Kenilworth's part answered for no more but in 13 R. 2. it went for half a Kts. fee as formerly Howbeit in 18 R. 2. Edm. Waldeyve was found to dye seized thereâ—f and that he held it in right of Margaret his wife as of her inheritance leaving Thomas his son and heir xiiii years of age But how to derive the title that these had from each other is past my skill except I had the sight of private evidence And as much am I to seek in the discovery of its succession till of late for after this till H. 8. time I have not seen ought else thereof neither then do I find any more but two Fines the one levied
therewith After which viz. in 4 H. 8. Iohn Crofte and Eliz. his wife levied a Fine of the moytie of this Mannour to Simon Rice Citâ—zen and Mercer of London and others but to what uses I know not Neither can I say to what uses that Fine did inure which was levied of this Mannour in 10 H. 8. between Iohn Trevâ—then and others Plantiffs and Margaret Boleyn widow Deforc Howbeit for certain that Fine levied thereof 29 H. 8. betwixt Thomas Pope Eâ—q Pl. and Ricâ— Fermour and others Deforc. was to the use of the said Thomas Pope and his heirs for even to these very times his posterity do enjoy the same together with another Mannour here which appertained to the dissolved Monastery of Studley for by that name it past from the Crown in 31 H. 8. unto the same Thomas and the heirs male of his body he being then a Knight and Treasurer of the Court of Augmentation Touching the Church dedicated to S. Laurence I have already shewed that the advouson thereof was vested in Robert Wandard and his heirs by the Monks of Preaux in Normandy whereupon a Pension of x s. per annum became setled out of the fruits thereof to be payd to the Parson of Warmington and his successors In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it being valued at viii marks was afterward granted to the Monastery of Lavenden in Com. Buck. about the beginning of E. 3. time as it should seeem by the Presentations thereto but not appropriated till 2 R. 2. and then Pope Urban the 6. by his Bull dated at Rome on the Ides of November granted unto the Canons of that House liberty to take the fruits thereof to their own peculiar use the same year Simon de Sudbury Archbishop of Cant. ordaining the Vicaridge which in 26 H. 8. was valued at Cxiii s. iv d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Rob. de Wandak miles Rob. de Shâ—teswell Cler. ...... 1287. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. Steâ—e Clâ—r Id. Iunii 1349. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. de Kneton Pbr. 6. Cal. Ian. 1355. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. de â—aâ—â—bury Pbr. 14. Cal. Oct. 1367. Patroni Vicariae Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas le Rowe Pbr. 22. Maii 1381. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas Ieâ—fus Pbr. 4. Martii 1394. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas Wotton Pbr. 26. Oct. 1438. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thom. Wyllingham Canon de Lavenden 9. Apr. 1443. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Will. â—urvey Canon de Lavenden ult Iulii 1451. D. Thomas Pope miles D. Ioh. Vernam Cler. 22. Iunii 1456. Will. Chancy de Edgcote in Com. Northampt ar ex concess T. Pope mil. D. Will. Rowse Cler. 20. Oct. 1554. Ioh. Pope ar Ric. Key Cler. 7. Feb. 1562. Edw. Grevill gen ex concess Ioh. Pope ar Will. Key Cler. 12. Oct. 1576. Will. Pope de Wroxton mil. de baln Bar. Rob. Petiver in Art Magr. 8. Febr. 1620. Will. Pope de Wroxton mil. de baln Bar. Ric. Hartwell Cler. in art Magr. 19. Maii 1627. Warmington MOre than a mile Northwards on the side of Edg-Hill stands Warmington which in the Conquerors time being possest by the Earl of Mellent contained xv hides and a half two whereof were held by a certain Knight of the said Earl and valued at xx s. and the residue rated at x li. all which had been the Freehold of one Azor before the Norman invasion In that Survey it is written Wermintone in one place and Warmintone in another but I presume that its denomination originally sprung from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time perhaps Weremundus for that appellation was then usuall This as most of the lands which the said Earl had in Warwick-shire came to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick brother to the same E. of Mellent but by what Agreement appears not w ch Henry gave it wholy excepting the Hamlets belonging thereto to the Monks of Preaux in Normandy who built a Cell here and sent over part of their Covent to reside therein and to be subordinate to their House of Preaux of which Cell the said Earl Henry is reputed to have been Founder which Religious House stood about the midst of the town as the Inhabitants by tradition do affirm This grant so made to Preaux by Earl Henry was in Edw. 1. time confirmed by William de â—eauchamp then Earl of Warwick it being then found that there were xx Tenants here that held their lands by a servile tenure viz. each one providing a Labourer one day every week for the Lordâ—â— imployment or to give 1 d. ob for every day in the week which would amount to x d. and so in the year to xliii s. iv d. And that every one of them should plow for the Lord thrice in the year or give x s. per annum and mow his meadowing or give xl d. As also that every yard land should find two men for 3. days in Harvestâ— or give for every day in stede of a man ii d. which comes to xxx s. in the year That they should carry the Lords Hay or give xl d. That each man should perform one dayes carriage in Harvest or give xl d. That they should make the Lords Hay or give x d. Rake his corne or give x d. Harrow each of them one day with a single Horse or give x d. And lastly carry once in the year at Warwick or give xl d. Howbeit afterwards I find that this whole town payd only a marke per annum to the Earls of Warwick at two termes viz. Candlemass and Whitsontide for all services But this Mannour so belonging to Preaux grew afterwards reputed to be parcell of the possessions pertaining to the Priory of Toftes in Norfolk which Religious House was founded by those forraign Monks after they had the grant of the Mannour of Toftes by Rob. E. of Mellent before mentioned the Monks here being either recalled into Normandy or transmitted to Toftes And upon the seizure of those lands which the Priors-Alien had in England whereof in Wolston I have fully spoke was in 33 E. 3. committed to the custody of Iohn de Herdewyk Howbeit afterwards the King allowing some favour to the Monks of thoâ—e Cells the Prior of Toftes had permission to ferm it who whilst he was Tenant thereto made much wast here by falling CC. Ashes prized then at xx li. the yearly value thereof being about that time rated at xxix li. xi s. vi d. per annum Certain it is that the frequent seizures of such lands by reason of the Warrs with France made those forrain Monks willing enough to sell their interest in them during those troubles at least as may appear by the passing them away aswell to divers Lay persons as unto some Religious Houses in England about this
being then held by Almarus of Turchill de Warwick and valued at C s. but before the Norman invasion it was the freehold of one Ordric In that Record it is written Roteleâ— and doubtless had its name originally from the redness of the soil all Edg-Hill being of the like colour which is the reason that the rich vally below is called the Uale of Red Horse as when I come to Tishoe shall be more certainly manifested That the possession of this Lordship continued to the posterity of the same Turchill the enjoyment thereof by Hugh de Arden his grandchild in H. 2. time plainly sheweth which Hugh was a Benefactor to the Monks of Stoneley by the gift of certain lands here as I shall have occasion to demonstrate when I come to speak historically of that family in Hemlingford Hundred So also was Thomas de Arden his nephew whose grant to them inter alia of three carucats of land here is by his own deed interpreted to be CCCxxx acres which Thomas held this Mannour of the Earl of Warwick by the service of a Knights fee But in 50 H. 3. I find it extended and valued at vi li. per annum For if not he his son Thomas was taken prisoner in the battail of Evesham fighting on the Barons part but by the Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth he repossest it again and in 7 E. 1. was certified to hold it of the Earl of Warwick by the service of a Knights fee having two carucates of land in demesn and a small piece of inclosure containing two acres as also the patronage of the Church and Free-warren together with xviii servants who held xi yard land of him under severall Rents and divers services It was then also found that the Monks of Stoneley held foure yard land here in demesn given to them by the Ancestors of the same Thomas which Thomas in 15 E. 1. in consideration of an C li. sold this Mannour excepting the Capitall messuage and Park to Nich. de Eton and and afterwards the same year by another Dâ—ed wherein he is stiled Thomas de Arden de Rotley miles past unto him and his heirs the said Mannour-house with the advouson of the Church whereupon the said Nicholas de Eton did his homage for the same to William de Beauchamp E. of Warwick at his Mannour-house of Beoley in Worcester-shire upon S. Stephens day the year following And having in 18 E. 1. obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here did in 30 E. 1. entail it upon the issue of his body by Margerie his wife with remainder to his right heirs But all that I further find of this family is that Nicholas his grandchild was one of them whose name in 17. E. 2. was certified into the Chancery amongst the Knights and men at Armes then residing in this County by whose daughter Cecilie it came to the family of Warren as the descent here inserted sheweth Nich. de Eton 34 E. 1 miles 1 E. 3. Margeria Nich. de Eton miles dominus de Stocport 34. E. 1. Iohanna filia cohaeres Râ—c de Stocport mil. 34 E. 1. Nich. de Eton 1 E. 3. Cecilia haeres Isabellae filiae Ric. de Eton. Edw. Warren miles Ioh. Warren Rob. de Eton aliter dictus Stockport Isabella filia Ioh. Davenport militis relicta 46 E. 3. Ric. de Eton 26 E. 3 Isabella obiit sine prole Of which was Laurence Warren who in 21 H. 8. levied a Fine of it to Thomas Tropnell and others though to what uses I know not But it was not long after this that Iohn Warner purchased it for before the latter end of H. 8. reign I find that he was seized thereof and in 1 E. 6. a Fine was levied thereupon unto him by Francis Englefield Esquire and others From which Iohn Warner the present Lord of this Mannour is lineally descended The Church dedicated to S. Peter ad vincula was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xvii marks It seems that Thomas de Ardern Lord of this Mannour in E. 1. time as I have shewed notwithstanding the grant he had made to Nicholas de Eton before mentioned past away his right in the advouson thereof to the Monks of Stoneley for so doth their publique Instrument whereby they gave it unto one Guy de Gyllebroke a Priest and his heirs import whereunto the said Thomas added his confirmation which Guy immediatly disposed of it to William de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick whose grandchild Thomas Earl of Warwick in 16 E. 3. conferred it on the Canons of Clatercote in Oxford-shire whereupon they obtained an appropriation thereof within two years following from Roger de Northburgh then Bishop of of Coventre and Lichfield who 8. Id. Apr. anno 1348. 22 E. 3. ordained the Vicaridge Which in 26 H. 8. was valued at vi li. x s. over and above viii s. per annum for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Thomas de Arden miles Philippus de Sapelton Cler. anno 1251. Guido de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Philippus fil D. Ioh. de Clinton de Colshill 5. Apr. 1305. Guido de Bellocampo Co. Warw. Will. de Clinton Accol 2. Non. Martii 1309. Thomas de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Henr. De Grendon Clâ—r 11. Cal. Oct. 1330. Patroni Vicariae Prior Confratres de Clatercote Rob. de Newentham Pbr. 6. Id. Martii 1347. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Ioh. de Westwardyn Cap. 3. Non. Martii 1348. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Ioh. atte Bourne Pbr. 14. Apr. 1380. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Nich. Henry 8. Iulii 1398. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Ioh. atte Bourne Pbr. 7. Dec. 1398. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Thomas Wayte 13. Apr. 1404. Prior Confratres de Clacercote D. Will. Nicolus 8. Dec. 1414. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Will. Breton 29. Aug. 1424. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Thomas Bright Pbr. 12. Oct. 1429. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Thomas Deffâ—e Pbr. 2. Iulii 1430. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Ioh. Wyndesoever Pbr. 4. Iulii 1431. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Will. Henlaâ— Pbr. 13. Ianuarii 1433. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Ioh. Reynold Pbr. 18. Aug. 1435. Prior Confratres de Clatercote Thomas Reyâ—ford Pbr. 21. Apr. 1438. Prior Confratres de Clatercote D. Alex. Baron 18. Nov. 1457. Prior Confratres de Clatercote D. Oliverus Wiganne Cap. 18. Apr. 1505. Marg. Will. Peter lâ—gum Doctor D. Christoph. Sylbarne Cler. 4. Feb. 1538. D. Rex D. Henr. Lâ—ke alias Wise Cap. 14. Apr. 1546. D. Regina Elizab. Rob. Perry Cler. 13. Nov. 1578. Iacobus Rex Thom. Brandon alias Berryman Cler. 19. Feb. 1620.
here was by him held directly of the Earl and the other that it was held by Thomas de Cumton son of the same Philip I presume of Thomas de Arden lineall heir to Turchill and that he held it over of the Earl Neither am I certain that this Philip was the first that became enfeoft thereof for I find an Arnulphus de Comton and likewise an Osberâ—us de Comton in 16 H. 2. As also Waleranus de Cumton in R. 1. and beginning of K. Iohn's time all of this County but whether these or any of them were of this place is hard to determine The first mention I meet wâ—â—n of Philip de Cumpton above specified from whom I conclude this family to be descended is in 5 Ioh. or thereabouts For Will. Poer Shiriff of this County in 4.5 6 Ioh. was witness with him to a grant of lands lying in Tiâ—hoe made by Râ—c de Bereford and Cecilia his wife to the Canons of Kenilworth at that timeâ—che succession from which Philip is on the next page inserted in order of time as Records do warrant it but I have not adventured to knit them together excepting where there is apparent proof In 7 E. 1. it was certified that Philip de Comptone Grandchild I presume to the former was then Lord of this Mannour where it is writ Compton-Wyniate â— and that he held it of Thomas de Aâ—dern by the service of half a Kts. fee and he of the Earl of Warwick At which time the said Philip had 2 carucats of land here in demesn and ...... Freeholders who held of him six yard land by severall Rents As also 5 Tenants holding 3 yard land paying certain Rent and performing divers servile labours It was likewise then certified that the Templars had 3 Freeholders here who were possest of two yard land for which they payd a certain Rent and did suit to their Court at Warwick Of the memorable imployments that any of this Family had I shall here briefly take notice as I find them recorded Robert de Compton grandchild to the last Philip was in that expedition of Wales in 15 E. 2. In 6 E. 3. Iohn de Compton was a Knight for this Shire in the Parl. then held at Westin In 23 E. 3. Thomas de Compton of this place being one of the Coroners in this Shire an office of very great account in those days which he held till 50 E. 3. was also in the same 23 year of E. 3. joyn'd in Commission with sundry other persons of quality for assessing and collecting a xv th and x th To him succeded Edmund a Coroner also both in the beginning and later end of R. 2. time But touching his descendants I have not seen much that is memorable till H. 8. time that Will. Compton son and heir to another Edmund who was but xi years of age at his Fathers death which hapned in 8 H. 7. being first a Page to Henry Duke of York second son to K. H. 7. afterwards when he was King by the name of Henry the 8 â—h became Groom of his Bed-chamber for I find him stiled Garcio Camerae in the first year of his reign Nay he quickly grew in such farther favour with that K. that he was the same year advanced to be chief Gentleman of his said Bedchamber and within three years after in consideration of his good and faithfull service had a speciall grant to himself and his heirs of an honourable Augmentat on to his Arms out of the said King 's own royall Ensigns and Devises viz. a Lion passant gardant Or and for his Crest a demi Dragon erased gules within a Coronet of gold upon a torse Argent and vert as by speciall Letters under the same King's sign Manuall bearing date at Westminster the 7th of Novemb. in the fourth yâ—ar of his reign and exemplified by Thomas Wâ—â—â—thesley then Garter principall King of Arms with his Seal and the Seal of his Office the 14 th of December following appeareth About which time or soon after he was Knighted as is evident by that title attributed to him the next ensuing 〈◊〉 in a Patent for life of the Chancelourshâ—p â—f Ireland But that office he held not long for the Archbâ—shop of Dublin had a grant thereof in 7 H. 8. Philippâ—â— de Compton 5. Ioh. Thomas de Cumpton 36 H. 3. Philippus de Cumpton 7 E. 1. Robertus de Cumpton 9 E. 2 Râ—b de Cumpton 1â— E. 2. Thomas de Compton 23 E. 3. Edm. de Compton 12 R. 2. Will. de Compton 10 H. 6. Rob. Compton deâ—unctus 21 E. 4 Edmundus Compton obiit â—â— 7. Will. Compton miles obiit 20 H. 8. Werburgia filia haeres Ioh. Brereton mil. relicta Franciser Cheyney mil. Petrus Compton obiit 30 Lan. 35. H. 8. Anna filia Georgii Comiâ—is Salopiae Henricus Baro-Compton obiit 31 Eliz. Anna filia Ioh. Spenser de Althorpe in com Northampt. mil. Heâ—r Compton miles de balneo Francisca filia Franciâ—ci Comitis Hunâ—indoniâ—â— ux 1. Will. Baro Compton erectus in Comiteâ— Norâ—hamp 2 Aug. 16. Iac. obiit 24. Iunii 7. Car. Eliz. filia haeres Ioh. Spenser mil. Spenser Comes Northampâ— occisus in praelio apud Hopton-Heath an 1643. Maria filia Francisci Beaumont militis Jacobus comâ—s Northampt. duxit Isabellam filiam cohaer Ric. Sackvile Comitis Dors. Carolus Will. Spenser mil. Franciscus Henricus Anna. Penelope mil. Thomas Compton mil. Margar uxor Henr. Baronis Mordant Ioh. de Cumpton 6 E. 3. In the same year of that K. he led the Rereguard of the Kings Army at Therouene composed for the most part of the retinue belonging unto Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and Wolsey then the King's Almoner being about 800. in number In 10 H. 8. he was charged with providing of 50 Archers for the Kings service in his Wars In 16 H. 8. joyned with the Marq. Dorset to assist Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey â—n his expedition towards Scotland against the D. of Albany who then had invaded the North parts And in 17 H. 8. he had the title of Bursarius Regis This Sir Will. erected a fair Mannour house here at Compton most of the brick used in that structure being brought y from Fulbroke where a ruinous Castle was whereof he had the custody by the Kings grant and Keepership of the Park which Castle he pulled down making use of the materials for that building In the Chapell within this House was a costly window of rare workmanship the passion of our Saviour being therein very lively represented and in the lower part there of his own portâ—aiture as also that of his Lady bâ—th kneeling in their surcoats of Arms. The Parke likewise which is very large was begun by the same Sir Will. about the xi year of H. 8. For then had the License not onely to impark certain
one of the two Justices for conservation of the Peace in this Shire as also for putting in execution the Articles contained in the Statute of Winchester In 19 E. 3. he was in Commission for arraying of men in this County and the next year following being of the retinue unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick at such time as the said Earl was in France and got that great honour by his valiant atchievements in the battail of Cressy and elswhere as in my story of him is shewed he bore for his Armes Or frettè sable The time of his death I do not certainly find but to him succeeded Thomas his son and heâ—r who past away his interest in this Mannour in 44 E. 3. to Alice Perers of whom our Historians make much mention in regard she was Concubine to King E. 3. Which Alice being banisht by authority of Parliament in 1 R. 2. and all her estate confiscate it was seized into the Kings hands and committed to the custody of Iohn Spenser But in 3 R. 2. she being then wedded to Sir William Windsor Kt. the King out of the singular respects that he bore towards the said Sir William for his many notable services and especially because he was at that time retained by Indenture to serve him in his Warrs with CC. men at Armes and CC. Archers under the conduct of Thomas de Wodstoke then Earl of Buck. the Kings Uncle for the expedition of Britanny in which the said Earl was to be Generall by his Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster 15. Martii wherein he reciteth that the said Alice whilst she was single purchased the third part of this Mannour in possession and two parts thereof in reversion after the death of Alice the widow of Sir Iohn Murdak Knight granted it unto the same Sir William Windsor and his heirs for ever Which Sir William dying without issue male his daughters became his heirs whereof Ioan the elder marryed to Robert Skerne of Kingston upon Thames in whose right the said Robert became possest thereof and to strengthen his title therein obtained a Release from Arnold Murdak brother and heir of Thomas Murdak son to the above-mentioned Sir Thomas bearing date 10 Febr. 6 H. 4. as was necessary for I find that there had been an Entail thereof made by the said Sir Thomas in in 37 E. 3. Which Robert in 3 H. 6. did his homage to Richard Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick for those lands held by him here of that Earl by Knights service But long it was not that Skerne continued possest thereof though how it came to passe or the direct time when he parted with it I have not seen For certain it is that about 20 H. 6. Richard Verney Esquire afterward Knight possest itâ— and built a great part of the House as it now standeth wherein besides his own Armes with marches he then set up in a fair Canton window towards the upper end of the Hall the Armes of King H. 6. Queen Margaret Hâ—mfrey Earl of Stafford afterwards created Duke of Buck. Henry Beauchamp Duke of Warwick and the Lord Zouch with some others in such sort as they are represented in the foregoing page by which it appeareth that he was one of those that adhered to the House of Lancaster This Richard Verney was the son of Iohn Verney but whence I cannot tell yet I find one Iohn Verney Eschaetor in Worcester-shire 17 H. 6. So also a Robert Verney who held half a Knights fee in great Wolford of the Baron of Stafford in 46 E. 3. and had issue William his son and heir Lâ—kewise Richard Verney of Wolverton Esquier in 12 H. 6. yet am I not sure what relation any of these had to him Most probable it is that these Verneys of Compton are sprung from Simon de Vernai who in K. Richard the first 's time wedded Agnes the sister of Hervey Bagot progenitor to the Barons of Stafford for amongst the evidences of this Family I have seen a grant of certain lands in Bromshull in Com. Staff by the said Hervey Bagot to the above specified Simon with Agnes his sister in Frank marriage but how to trace down the descent from that Simon to the said Richard passes my skill except I had more light from Record or private evidence But till 21 H. 6. I find nothing of this Richard howbeit then it appears that he began to have publique imployment in this County viz. in Commission for conservation of the Peace from that time till 14 E. 4. except for the six first years of E. 4. reign being also a Commissioner of Array in 38 H. 6. and in 39 H. 6. a Knight Which Richard departed this life in 5 H. 7. leaving Edmund his son and heir 49. years of age who had speciall Letters of Protection from Thomas Lord Stanley Steward of the Houshold to King E. 4. dated 3. Nov. 8 E. 4. exempting him from being subject to any seizure for his Corn Beeves Muttons or any thing else for the Kings Houshold provision without payment of ready money for the same and bore the office of Eschaetor for this County and Leicester-shire in 21 E. 4. In 2 R. 3. he was in Commission for arraying of men and by his Testament bearing date 24. Feb. anno 1494. 10 H. 7. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Conventuall Church of the Friers-Preachers at Warwick betwixt the Altar of our Lady and the Altar of S. Dominick on the North part appointing that by the care of his Executors a Lamp should be continually maintained burning in the Chancell of that Church before the Host and dyed 26. Feb. the same year leaving issue Richard his son and heir then 30. years of age Which Richard was in that esteem with King H. 8. that being inform'd of some infirmity in his Head he afforded him a speciall License bearing date at Grenewich 2. Ian. 8. of his reign that he should wear his Bonnet at all times and in all places aswell in the said Kings presence as elswhere according to his own pleasure without the interruption of any man whatsoever And by his Testament bearing date 2. Oct. anno 1526. 18 H. 8. bequeathed his body to be buried in the new Chapell on the North side of the Church here at Compton wherein his Monumentall stone with the portraiture of himself his wife and children in brasse are yet to be seen From whom did lineally descend Sir Grevill Verney late of this place Knight a gentleman accomplisht with singular endowments and of a Noble and courteous disposition who left three sons and one daughter as the Pedegree here inserted doth shew From the second of which viz. Richard a person happily qualified with a most ingenious inclination I have received much assistance for rectifying the Map of this Hundred as
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
lack of issue by them on Iohn the brother of the said VVilliam and Lora his wife and the heirs of their two bodies with remainder to Iohn the son of Robert VVolf and his heirs By which entail the moytâ—e thereof divolved to Ioan the wife of Iohn son to Richard de Foxcote who past it away together with the advouson of the Church unto Thomas de Morehall Clerk But it was not long after that the whole Mannour became the possession of Edmund Earl of Stafford who being slain in the battail of Shrewsbury 4 H. 4. Anne his widow had it inter alia assigned to her in dower After which the posterity of the said Earl enjoy'd it till 12. H. 8. that Edw. D. of Buck. past it to Richard Bishop of Winchester and others to the use of S Will. Compton Knight from whom the Earl of Northampton now Lord thereof is descended The Church dedicated to St. Peter being originally endowed with half a yard land was in an 1291. 10. E. 1. valued at vi marks and a half the advouson whereof in 3. E. 2. had Philip le Lou and Margerie his wife License from the King to grant unto the Nuns of Pinley in this County Neverthelesse they did not so dispose thereof for in 41 E. 3. Thomas de Morehall had the like License to passe it to the Canons of Little-Maldern in Worcestershire and they leave to appropriate it which was performed the 5. of Iune an 1368 42 E. 3. by Will. VVittlesey Bishop of Worcester Another Instrument of the like nature did Henry VVakefeild Bishop of Worcester make dated at Hertlebury 21. Nov. an 1388 12 R. 2. whereupon a yearly Pension of iiis iiiid was reserved to the said Bishop and his successors to be paid out of the fruits thereof But notwithstanding all this those Canons of Malverne never took benefit of these appropriations for it continued a Rectory and in 26. H. 8. was valued at xiiil vis viiid over and above ixs vd ob allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Ioh le Lou Amicia ux ejus Philippus le Lou Margeria ux ejus Ioh. le Lou Cler. 5. Id. Maii 1281. Margeria le Wolfe domina de Whatcote Will. le Brut Pbr. 12. Iulii 1329. Margeria le Wolfe domina de Whatcote Rad. de Snelleston Pbr. 8. Dec. 1329. Ioh. de la Morehall Thomas de la Morehall 24 Nov. 1340. Thomas atte Morehall resignavit presentavit Barth de Brechinham Pbr. 18. Iunii 1359. Phil. de Todenham Rog. Dod Ric. de Mene Ric. West Ioh. Mulward Pbr. 3. Dec. 1361. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori Frater Thomas Bandy monachus 5. Cal. Iunii 1368 Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Ric. de Depedale 11. Apr. 1374. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori Rog. de Caldecote 12. Oct. 1380. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori Ioh. Kyldale 14. Oct. 1384. Hugo Comes Staffordiae Ioh. Clifford Pbr. 27 Maii 1385. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori Ioh. Wygot 10 Maii 1392. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori Ioh. Aspele 3 Iulii 1409. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Ioh. Taylour 13. Ian. 1409. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Thomas Stanford 4. Nov. 1413. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Ioh. Aspele Cap. 10. Martii 1414. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori Ioh. Hancock Cap. 26 Aug. 1414. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Thomas Chyn Cap. 23. Martii 1426. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Christoph. Strange Cap. 29. Iulii 1440. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Thomas Nelle Cap. 4. Dec. 1451. Prior Conv. de Malvern minori D. Will. Aldyngton Cap. 23. Iunii 1486. Will. Hill ratione concess Pr. Conv. de Malvern Rob. Maud Cler. 2. Maii 1511. Henr. 8. Rex Angl. Nich. Austin Cler. 26 Apr. 1542. D. Anna Comitissa Penbrochiae Henr. Michell Cler. 14. Iulii 1573. Ioh. Morell ex concess Will. Domini Compton D. Ioh. Damport Cler. 20. Dec. 1597. Oxhill ON the North side this torrent lyes Oxhill in the Conquerors Survey written Octeselve and being possest by the same Hugh de Grentemaisnil of whom I have made mention in Whatcote was then certified to contain x. hides having a Mill rated at xvid but the value of all together was xil and before the Norman invasion belong'd to the same Toli who had Whatcote After this viz. in H. 2. time Engelram de Dumart became owner thereof whose sisters named Emma and Aeliz by reason of his death without issue succeeded him in the inheritance of it and had livery thereof in 31 of that Kings reâ—gn Upon what occasion it was that K. Iohn seized upon it appears not but in 18 of his reign the Shiriff of this County received command to deliver possession thereof to Thodoric de Whicheford to whom he had given it in which Record it is wrâ—tten Hocteshulve howbeit in 3 H. 3. Thomas de Periton had restitution thereof as heâ—r to Engelard Dummarish sive Dumart his uncle Which Thomas departing this life in 11 H. 3. Adam his son and heir had livery of these lands in Ofteschelfe for so it is written of his inheritance and the next year following was acquitted of the Scutage for half a Knights fee here due upon the expedition of Kerry which Adam bore for his Armes Barry of six peices and upon a Canton 3. barrs wavie But from the family of Periton it divolved to S t Will. de Keyns K t by Margaret a daughter and heir as the Descent sheweth which S r Will. had issue Robert who in 7 E. 1. held it of the King in Capite by the service of one Knights fee having one carucate of land in demesn and five Tenants holding severall proportions by performance of certain servile labours and payment of particular Rents As also divers Freeholders It was likewise then found that the Prior of Ware had one yard land here and the Monks of Bordesley 2 carucates and 6 virgates bestowed on them by Geffery de Beningworth three virgates by Nich. de Donington one by Ric. Clerke and one by Rob. Dumbard As also that they had ix Tenants holding sundry proportions by several Rents and servile imployments with a Court-Leet by the grant of K. H. 3. Which Family of Keyns being of eminent note possest Dodford in Northamptonshire Combe-Keynes and Tarent-Keynes in Dorsetshire and other lands of good value held by Barony but afterwards for want of issue male this Mannour divolved to Cressy through a coheir Sir Iohn Cressy of Dodford before specifyed being owner of it in 10 Henry 6. who departing this life without issue in 31 H. 6. Alianore the wife to S r Humfrey Stafford of
same Collegiate Church there being by him then reserved out of the same a congruous portion for maintenance of a Vicar to the value of xii marks and a yearly Pension of half a mark to himself and his successors to be payd at the Feast of S. Mich. the Archangell the Monks of Worcester having an annuall Pension aâ—so granted to them 10 Kal. Aug. 23 E. 3. by the Canons of the said Coll. Church for their indempnity in respect of the said appropriation In 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge being valued at viii l there was an yearly Pension of iiil vis viiid payd to the Monks of Shene out of it as also xlis to the Bishop of Worcester and xvis viiid to the Monks of Worcester by composition issuing out of the Rectory Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Ioh. de Hercy dominus de Pilardinton Nich. de Hercy Cler. filius Ioh. 3 Non. Nov. 1287. Ioh. de Hercy dominus de Pilardinton Nich. de Hercy Pbr. 8. Id. Dec. 1292. Ioh. de Hercy dominus de Pilardinton Henr. de Hampton medicus Subdiac 18 Cal. Maii 1299. Ioh. de Hercy dominus de Pilardinton Iac. de Warr Cler. 8. Id. Martii 1307. Guido de Bellocampo Comes Warwici Will. le Archer de Toneworth 11 Cal. Iunii 1310. Thomas Co. Warw. Henr. de Staunton Cler. 18. Feb. 1336. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. D. VVill. Haukin Pbr. 9 Ian. 1367. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. Ioh. Colet Pbr. 8 Oct. 1388. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. D. Ioh. Wethy Pbr. 28 Apr. 1403. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. Thomas Sumnâ—r Cap. 24. Ian. 1419. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. D. Ric. Ferthyng 3. Nov. 1440. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. D. Rog. Kenyan 24 Dec. 1472. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. D. Ioh. Hobbys Cap. 4. Iulii 1476. D. Cap. Eccl. Coll. S. Maria Warw. D. Ric. Salford Pbr. 8 Martii 1510. D. Episc. per lapsum Ric. More Cler. 6 Nov. 1562. Will. Compton dominus Compton Rob. Hall Cler. 23 Feb. 1590. Over Pillerton THis also being part of the possessions of Hugh de Grentemaisnill in the Conquerors time was by him given to the Monastery of St. Ebrulf in Normandy founded by his brother Robert and two uncles sc. VVill. and Robert sons of Geroi In the confirmation of which grant by King Will. the Conqueror it is called parva Pilardenton The extent thereof by the generall Survey taken at that time was vi hides and one virgate of land then valued at xl and possest by 4. Theins in Edw. the Confessors dayes But the revenue of this Lordship was received and disposed of by the Monks of Ware in Hertfordshire a Cell to the said House of S. Ebrulf who in 7 E. 1. held two carucates of land here in demesn and had xxi Tenants holding severall proportions by payment of certain Rent and performance of sundry services as plowing mowing making Hay and the like As also two Cottiers and four Free-holders After this upon the valuation of the Priors Aliens lands in 1.2 3. R. 2. it was rated at vii lâ— xiiii s i d per annum and at the dissolution of those Houses whereof I have spoke in Wolston given by K. H. 5. to the Priory of Shene in Surrey then newly founded by him But at the generall dissolution in 30 H. 8. coming to the Crownâ— it was in 35 of that Kings reign sold out to Geffrey Shakerley Esq who had License the same year to pass it unto .... Holt. In 2. 3. Ph. M. there was a Fine levied thereof betwixt Richard Cliff and others Pl. and Christopher Lee and others Deforc. and in 3. 4. Ph. M. another Fine betwâ—xt Henry Ward Pl. and the same Christoph. Lee and others Deforc. the said Henry having purchased it from Lee which Henry died seized thereof 16 Dec. 1. Eliz. leaving VVill. VVard his son and heir 19. years of age The Priest serving in the Chapell here had Tithes to the value of vl per an in 26 H. 8. for his salarie Halford THis place taking its name originally from the forde or passage through the river Stoure at first called Aldford i. e. the old Ford hath had the H. added thereto by use in pronuntiation In the Conquerors Survey there is no particular mention of it neither can I perfectly discover of what place it was then a member but certain it is that Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick or Roger his son were possest thereof and that from one of those Earls Will. Giffard had it granted to him in H. 1. time for it appears that the said VVill. held two Knights Fees of Will Earl of Warwick in 12. H. 2. de veteri Feoffamento and that this Lordship was part thereof is clear enough from the grant which the same W. Giffard made to the Canons of Kenilworth of one hide of land here either in K. Sâ—eph or H. 2. time but whether that Rob. de Halford who held half a Knights Fee here of the Earl of Warwick in 20 H. 3. was descended from the said Will. Giffard I cannot affirm The Record of 36 H. 3. expresses that the heirs of Andrew Giffard then held that half Kts. Fee of the said Earl And in 7 E. 1. Margerie de Cantilupe held one Watermill here of the Earl of Warwick by the service of one Knights Fee having at that time two servants as also certain Free holders here It was then likewise found that one Iohn de Breggewrithe held three acres of land in this place of H. de Halford by homage and the service of finding for xxxvi poor people on every Christmasse day sc. each of them a loaf of Bread a Herring and a flaggon of Beer And that the glâ—be belonging to the Church consisted of two yard land the Bishop of UUorcester being then Patron thereof as also that the whole town did their suit to the Kings Court Leet held for the Hundred of Kineton And in 7 E. 1. it was certified that S â— Robert Burdet Knight held one Knights Fee here of Alan la Zousche And in 9 E. 2. that Iohn de Fosse held the fourth part of a Knights Fee here of the Earl of Warwick which Knights Fee so held by S r Rob. Burdet was in 2. E. 3. held by another Rob. Burdet of Robert de Holand as in the right of Maud his wife one of the daughters and coheirs of Alan la Zousche of Ashby de la Zousche As for the lands here which belong'd to the Canons of Kenilworth they were after the dissolution sold by the King to Iohn Pope and his heirs 8 Feb. 36 H. 8. for 1501l. 13 s 08l. Which Iohn aliened them again
in all his demesn lands here from whom it descended to Sir William Bishopsdon of Alscote in Com. Glouc. Kt. who in 10 H. 6. held it by half a Knights Fee which Sir William in 17 H. 6. entailed it with divers other lands upon his issue by Philippa his wife with remainder to his right heirs After which I have seen no more thereof save that in 18 H. 7 Thomas Nevill Esquier dyed seized thereof leaving William his son and heir 27. years of age and that about the later end of Queen Eliz. raign Iohn Watson of Bretforâ—on in Com. Wigorn. gent. nephew to Iohn Watson Bishop of Winchester possest it whose son sold it to Lewes Hobdy of late years Lambcote OF this place originally a member of Eatendon inferior I do find no mention till 34 H. 8. but then was it past out of the Crown by the name of a Mannour and lately belonging to the dissolved Monastery of Kenilworth unto Richard Andrews Gentleman and Leonard Chamberlain Esquier and to the heirs of Andrews I Must now passe over to the Western side of Stoure to observe the rest of those places which remain in this Hundred to be spoke of and in so doing am to skip over a long and narrow tract of land that is part of Worcestershire and yet wholy environ'd with this County therefore before I go farther it will not be amisse to give some probable reason for apparent proof I have none why this and such parcells so encompassed as is frequenly seen became thus severed from the Counties wherein they lye which in short I conceive to be no more than this viz. that they being originally I mean before the division of Counties was absolutely made and setled belonging to some great person whose residence was far distant and in the old assessments rated there continued always afterwards so taxt and for that respect have beenâ— and are still reputed part of those Shires And that this was the first ground thereof will be evident enough from the instances that might be given therein through sundry parts of this Realm as in this particular here before us where it is cleer that Tredinton with those Hamlets belonging thereto viz. Tidelminton Blackwelle and Darlingscote together with Newbold antiently a member thereof were parcell of the lands heretofore belonging to the Church of Worcester founded before K. Alfred's time that the condition of our Counties as now they are was absolutely setled As also Goldicote and Alder-Marston belonging to the Monastery of Pershore of which place 't is most like they were members long before that antient Abby was erected But all I have now to take notice of in this Hundred is Ilminton Whitchurch and Atherston super Stoure with the small Hamlets belonging to them Ilmington THis containing the Villages of Compton-Scorfen and Forcote and rated at ix hides by the Conquerors Survey whereof eight were at that time possest by the Earl of Mellent and prized at xii li. and the odde hide by Robert de Stadford valued at L. s. is in two places of that Record written Ilmedone and in the third Edelmitone so that whether it had the name originally from the antient owner thereof as the later imports or from the high situation as the former doth seem to imply I cannot well determine but in that part which the Earl of Mellent had there then stood the Church Of this Mannour was the Progenitor of Robert de Harecourt enfeoft as it seems either by the said Earl of Mellent or one of his descendants for in 5. Ioh. it being seized into the Kings hands amongst the rest of those lands which belong'd to the Normans in respect that the Dukedome of Normandy was then recovered out of the possession of King Iohn by Philip sirnamed Augustus King of France xiii li. land thereof was given by the said King to Owen fil Davidis in exchange for his land of Ellesmere In that Record it is written Illamedone but the next year ensuing being extended together with the rest of those lands which had belong'd to the Normans and were then so seized on the Rent of Assize there amounted unto xiv li. seting aside the Lord's Aid and the profits of his Court And it was then certified that there might be maintained four Ploughs of xl Oxen 500. Sheep 4. Kine 3. Horses and 24. Hogs it having been used to be let to ferm for xx li. with the like stock upon it After which seizure King Iohn bestowed it upon Simon de Montfort first of that name Earl of Leicester but he being disherited and banished for adhering to the French Iohn de Harecourt a famous Baron saith my Author with the Archbishop of Roan interceding with King H. 3. in behalf of the Earl and making then his Claim to this Mannour obtain'd it by the consent of the said Earl who had possest it ever since the Normans lost their lands for their subjection to the above specified King of France I suppose that his name was Richard de Harecourt and not Iohn for by the Record of 5 H. 3. it appeareth that Richard de Harecourt making Fine with the King for all the lands in England which belong'd unto the above specified Robert de Harecourt his father and did by inheritance rightly belong to him the said Richard had restitution of this Mannour by the Kings Precept dated from the Tower of London 6. Ian. that very year Howbeit notwithstanding this restitution to Harecourt Simon de Mounâ—fort Earl of Leicester scil the second of that name held the possession as it should seem for I have seen his originall Deed whereby he granted quit claimed Domino Iohanni filio Ricardi de Harecourt Normanni are the words all his right therein with the advouson of the Church reserving to himself his heirs the service of one Knights Fee and the inheritance of the Court-Leet with all other Royalties And another grant of his whereby he passed to Sir Peter de Montfort and his heirs xl li. lands of his demesn here according to an indifferent and lawfull extent together with the Mannour-house and Warren as also all Homages Rents Reliefs and free customes belonging thereunto for the service of one Knights Fee to him the said Earl and his heirs This Peter de Montfort was a great man in this County as when I come to Beldesert shall appear and had issue Peter who in 56 H. 3. obtained of Sir Iohn de Harecourt Knight before specified a full grant of this Mannour to himself and his heirs having possession thereof delivered accordingly in May Anno 1272. the same 56. year of K. H. 3. as also the Kings Charter of confirmation bearing date 10. Iunii following Which Peter in 7 E. 1. held it of the Earl of of Leicester by the service of one Knights Fee having at that time 4. Carucates of land in
things being done the great stone which covers the Altar is fitted for it and then annointed with Oil in 5. placesâ— and after the same manner with Chrysme Then is it confirmed on the front with a Crosse made of Chrysme and Incense is burnt in 5. places thereof After which it is clensed and covered with clean linnen and lastly the Sacrifice celebrated thereon Now the reason and signification of all these Ceremonies follows which I here for brevity omit resolving to speak a word or two of the cause wherefore Churches do bear the name of some Saint by which many of them are yet distinguished although the Consecration or Dedication were unto none but to God alone wherein I shall make use of S. Augustine's testimony To them saith he speaking of Angells and Saints we appoint no Churches because they are not to us as Gods Again The Nations to their Gods erected Temples we not Temples unto our Martyrs as unto Gods but memorialls as unto dead men whose spirits with God are still living So that hereby is cleerly manifest that as they were dedicated to God alone so was it in memory of some speciall Saint either as M r. Hooker observes because by the ministry of Saints it pleased God there to shew some rare effect of his power or else in regard of death which those Saints having suffered for the testimony of Jesus Christ did thereby make the places where they died Venerable Thirdly for that it liked good and vertuous men to give such occasion of mentioning them often to the end that the naming of their persons might cause enquiry to be made and mâ—ditation to be had of their vertues And I have seen a very antient transcript of a Decree made by Robert de Winchelse Archbishop of Canterbury in his Metropoliticall visitation temp E. 1. which was confirmed by Walter Reynold his immediate successor whereby it appeareth inter alia that the parishioners throughout all the Archdeaconries of his Province were appointed to see that the Image of that Saint to whose memory the Church was dedicated should be always erected in the Chancell of every Parish-Church But these as all other Images which stood heretofore in Churches being pulled down as we know either in King Edw. 6. or beginning of Queen Eliz. reign hath left the name of such Saint in many places forgotten So that now except it be by keeping the Festivall called the Wake whereof in Stratford super Avon I have spoke which usually is observed the Sunday following the Saints day to whom such Dedication was there is very little memoriall thereof considering how of late time the fury of some out of a pretended zeal to Reformation hath battered the windows in pieces in more places whereof the portraiture of such Saint was depicted than of any other whatsoever as I have frequently observed But I now return to this Religious House of Wroxhall from the ruine and destruction whereof as also of the Church and Altar before specified no Consecration or Dedication were it never so solemn and sacred could affright that barbarous generation which under the power and authority of K. H. 8. subverted this and the rest of those goodly structures of that kind wherewith England was so much adorned as a preamble whereunto was that fatall Survey in 26 H. 8. made whereby it appears that the value of this then extended to lxxii li. xii s. vi d. above all reprises Sir Edward Ferrers Knight being high Steward thereof and his Fee iii li. vi s. viii d. per annum And that there then was every Maunday-Thursday distributed to poor people for the Founders soul in Bread and Herrings with xiii d. in money the sum of xx s. After which viz. the next year following was it dissolved with the rest of the small Houses by Act of Parliament Anne Litle being then Prioresse and having a Pension of vii li. x s. per annum granted to her by the King during life but the rest of her fellow Nuns were exposed to the wide world to seek their fortune And in 36 H. 8. granted inter alia I mean the site thereof with the Church Belfrey Church-yard and all the lands in Wroxhall thereto belonging as also the Rectory and Tithes of Wroxhall unto Rob. Burgoyn and Iohn Scudamore and their heirs From which Robert is Sir Iohn Burgoyn of Sutton in Com. Bedf. Baronet the present possessor thereof descended Catalogus Priorissarum Erneburga Helena Sabina Helena Matilda Emma Matilda Cecilia Ida Amicia Conventus ejusdem domus D. Sibilla d'Abetot Non. Apr. 1284. Conventus ejusdem domus Isabella relicta Ioh. de Clinton de Maxstoke mil. obiit an 1300. Conventus ejusdem domus Agnes de Alesbury 8. Id. Dec. 1311. Conventus ejusdem domus D. Agnes de Broy Conventus ejusdem domus D. Isabella de Fokerham 8. Cal. Nov. 1339. Conventus ejusdem domus D. Alicia de Clinton Conventus ejusdem domus D. Iohanna Russell 2 Iulii 1356. Conventus ejusdem domus D. Horabila de Aylesbury 19 Aug. 1361. Conventus ejusdem domus D. Alicia de Aylesbury Conventus ejusdem domus D. Isolda Walshe 3 Sept. 1425. Conventus ejusdem domus D. Isabella Asteley 20 Iulii 1431. Conventus ejusdem domus D. Iocosa Brome filia Ioh. Brome obiit 21 Iunii an 1528. Conventus ejusdem domus Anna Lytle 28 H. 8. Hatton THis place having its first denomination from the Heath near which it was situate and so for facilâ—ty of expression contracted from Heathton into Hatton is not at all mentioned in the Conquerors Survey neither indeed do I find any thing thereof sooner in Record than what is exprest in those grants which were made to the Monastery of UUroxhall of the Church and lands here by Hugh fil Richardi the Founder of that House which I judge to be about the later end of H. 1. or beginning of King Steph. time Howbeit that this with UUroxhall which was originally a member hereof as is there manifested was possest by Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line I have not only the MS. history of UUroxhall for my authority but a strong and most evincing circumstance in further testimony thereof viz. the certificate made by Will Earl of Warwick in 12 H. 2. whereby it appeareth that the said Hugh held of him ten Knights fees de veteri feoffamentâ— id est whereof he was enfeoft in H. 1. time whereof this place was questionless a part it being his principall seat and the place whence he assumed his sirname to the Charters of which Earl he was frequently a witnesse But having already spoke at large of that eminent and pious work of his viz. the Foundation of Wroxhall Nunnery I shall here goe on in taking notice briefly of what otherwise I have found memorable of him which is that he confirmed the Mannour of
Newnham in this County to the Canons of Kenilworth in King H. 1. time and gave unto them certain lands in Lillington all which the said King ratifyed To the Priory of Warwick he gave the Church of Snitfeild and to the Nuns of Polesworth confirmed the grant of Oldbury which was of his Fee being bestowed on them by Walt. de Hastings and Hathâ—wis his wife Richardus Hugo fil Richardi cognominatus de Hatton Will. fil Hugonis Matilda Ric. cognom de Saunford obiit s. prole Hugo fil Willielmi 3 Ioh. obiit s. prole Hawisia de Tracy Matilda ux Steph. de Nerbon Margeria de Stivichale 36 H. 3. Ranulphus de Stivichale fil haeres Ioclinus de Stivichale Margeria ux Osberti de Clinton Osbertus de Clinton Thomas de Clinton miles Iacobus de Clinton Osbertus Iohannes de Clinton Thomas de Clinton Ioscelinus fil Hugonis But the issue male of this Family extinguishing as the Descent sheweth and this Lordship thereby coming unto daughters part thereof divolved by Margerie one of the coheirs to the Clintons but the residue the Nuns of Wroxhall and the Canons of Studley had Which part so coming to Clinton was by Sr. Thomas de Clinton Knight grandchild to the before specified Margerie given by the name of his Mannour of Hatton and Beausale unto Iames his younger son and to his heirs reserving to the said Sir Thomas and his heirs a peny to be paid yearly at Christmass for all secular service and demands whatsoever But it should seem that Iames quitted his title therein to Iohn his elder brother's son for in 13 Edw. 1. the said Iohn commenced suit against Will. de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick for the whole Mannour excepting two messuages and two yard land therein in which the said Earl claimed right by virtue of a grant from Hamon le Strange Howbeit the Earl pleading that he held but a third part thereof whereas the other chalenged the whole had by reason of that advantage the better in the suit so that the said Iohn within a short time after came to an Agreement with him and past unto him one mess. 1 Mill 27. acres of land 4 acres of meadow xl acres of wood 7 Rent and the Rent of 2 li. of pepper with two pair of Gloves price iid yearly quitting wholy also all his title and claim that he had to this Mannour To whose posterity it continued till 3 H. 7. that all the lands belonging to that great Earldome were given up to the King by Anne Countesse of Warwick as in Warwick I have more fully shewed Since which I have not seen any more thereof That which belong'd to the Nuns of Wroxhall being in E. 6. time reputed for a Mannour was then in the Kings hand In an 1291 19 E. 1 the Church dedicated to the holy Trinity was valued at five marks and had a portion of iiiiâ— issuing out of it to the Canons of Warwick but in 14 E. 3. at vi l. xiii s. iiii d. being not presentative Shrewley THis Village is in the parish of Hatton and being possest by Hugh de Grentemaisnill in the Conquerors time was then certified to contain three hides valued at xxx s. the woods thereof extending to one mile in length and half a mile in breadth all which before the Norman invasion had been the freehold of one Toli But soon after this Rob. Earl of Leic. the first of that name had it and enfeoft Ernald de Boss thereof as it seems for in a grant which the said Ernald made to the Nuns of Pinley of one carucate of land here in Sravesle for so it was then written he expresses it to be by the consent of Rob. E. of Leic. his Lord which grant the same E. for the health of his own soul and the souls of his father and mother as also of the soul of K. H. 1. confirmed The next mention I find thereof is that in 6 H. 3. Magr. Henry de Waltham had livery of those lands here together with the rest in Wileby which Will. fil Wigani his uncle held of the K. in Capite And in 33 H. 3. I find that Iohn de Screveila held a yard land in this vâ—llage of the King by Sergeantie in Capite which Iohn was Lord of the Mannour as it seems for in 13 E. 1. it appears that Fouk de Lucy had kept a Court-Leet here in prejudice of the said Iohn he holding of the King by Sergeantie and that the said Fouk had without authority erected a Gallows in this Village wherefore it was determined that the said Gallows should be pulled down and that the same Iohn might enjoy his Court-Leet again Neverthelesse upon the death of the said Fouk de Lucy in 31 E. 1. I find that he dyed seized of this Mannour and held it of Maud the daughter and heir of Iohn de Shrevele Will. de Lucy his son and heir being then 26. years of age But the said Will. enjoy'd it not accordingly for Maud the wife of Walt. de Culy whom I conclude to be her that is before exprest having license from the King in respect of the tenure in Sergeantie sold it for CC li. to Iohn de Dufford and his heirs in 1 E. 2. Which Sergeantie was to find one armed man with an Hauberk on Horsback in the Kings service for the space of xl days viz. to ride personally with the K. in his expedition for Wales Which Iohn de Dufford was a Knight in 3 E. 2. and in 6 E. 2. sold it to Philip the son of Philip de Gayton who departed this life in 9 E. 2. leaving his two sisters his heirs sc. Iuliana â— the elder wife to Sir Thomas Murdak Knight and Scolastica the younger wedded to Godfrey de Meaux being also heirs to their brother Theobald Of the moitie whereof the said Scolastica had livery in 10 E. 2. she being then a widow But all that belong'd to Iulian as I can find was but one carucate of land which eschaeted to the Crown by reason of her forfeiture in conspiring with Sir Iohn Vaux Knight to murther her husband for which she was burnt the inheritance whereof was given by the King to Henry Earl of Lanc in 23 E. 3. it then passing by the name of one messuage 26 acres of land and one roode of meadow a pasture called Berry-more and x s. iii d. ob Rent Neither did that which her sister Scolastica had here goe any longer by the name of the moitie of the Mannour for in 27 E. 3. she was found to dye seized of one messuage xx acres of land 3 acres of meadow and viii s. Rent held of the King in Capite by the eighth part of a Knights fee
leaving Sir Iohn de Meaux Knight her son and heir then xl years of age Which Sir Iohn sold the same before the 38 of E. 3. to Nich. Fililode and Will. Fililode his brother passing it by the name of the moitye of the Mannour of Shrevesie Nich. having but an estate for life and the inheritance to Will The custody of which moitye was in 6 R. 2. committed by the King to Iohn Horewode one of the Grooms of his Chamber in respect that Iohn Fililode heir to the said W. was under age which Iohn dyed seized thereof 1 H. 4. leaving Giles Fililode his Uncle his next heir who departed this life in 2 H. 6. Katherine the widow of Iohn Blike being found his sister heir To whom succeeded Ric. Blike her son and heir who had livery thereof in 4 H. 6. and to him Richard and to Ric. Humfrey But the last of the Blikes that had to do here was Iohn Blike Gentleman who sold all his interest to Iohn Oldnale in 4 E. 6. by the name of one mess. CC. acres of land xl acres of meadow C. acres of pasture x. acres of wood and lxxx acres of Heath and Furs part thereof lying in Pinley all which in 4 Eliz. the said Iohn Oldnale conveyed to Thomas and Clement Walford But besides this moytie and the other which so came to the coheirs of Philip de Gayton 't is certain that the Lucies of Cherlecote had a Mannour here for in 16 E. 3. the Lady Eliz. the widow of Sir Will. de Lucy Knight had a grant thereof together with the Mannour of Cherlecote made by Sir Will. de Lucy Knight son to the said Sir Will. to hold during her life in consideration whereof she released her interest in other lands which she had right to have held And it is plain by sundry Records that the posterity of the said Sir Will. Lucy possest it till H. 7. time but how much longer I find not Beausale THis is also in the parish of Hatton and by the Conquerors Survey certified to contain half a hide being at that time possest by Odo Bishop of Baieur the Kings half brother but then held of him by one Wadardus and under him by Geroldus the woods containing two furlongs and the whole valued at xx s. In that Record it is written Beoshelle But very shortly after this it came to the hands of Hugo fil Ricardi also Lord of Hatton as hath been shewed and so by Margerie his grandchild and heir to Osbert de Clinton which Osbert had issue Osbert and he Thomas by whom the inheritance thereof was given together with Hatton to Iames de Clinton his younger son Whether this grant to Iames proved invalid or that he quitted his title therein to Iohn his elder brother's son I know not but certain it is that the said I. pass'd it with Hatton unto W. de Beauchamp E. of Warw. and his heirs And for the better strengthening of their title did Maud Countess of Warwick after the death of the said Earl her husband purchase from Sir Hamon le Strange Knight all his right therein which Hamon had a grant thereof from Sâ—r Thomas de Clinton above specified but I suppose it to have been only as a trust for it continued with Hatton to the succeeding Earls of Warwick as by several instances I could manifest Within the precincts of this Lordship there was antiently a Chapell dedicated to S. Iohn the Evang and endowed with Glebe and Tithes by Margerie de Clinton wife to Osbert de Clinton above specified as is exactly exprest in a special grant made by her thereto and confirmed by Ioh. de Abetoth her 2 husband Amongst the particulars whereof are mentioned the Tithe of the Foul caught in the Park and of the Fishes in the Pool there as also of the Venison viz a shoulder of each with the Tithe of the paunage and pasturage in the same for six beasts seven Hogs one Sow a Mare and Cole with two loads of wood at Christmasse yearly All which were antiently given and united to the Collegiate Church of our Lady in Warwick as it seems after the Mannour of Beausale was so possest by the Earls of Warwick as abovesaid For at the death of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who dyed towards the later end of E. 3. time and in R. 2. time did the Canons of that Church enjoy them But this is now included within Wedgnok Park and was of later time called by the name of Cuckow-Church whereof in my discourse of Wedgnock I have alreade spoke Haseley NExt unto Hafton on the other side of that rivulet which cometh fromwards .... standeth Haseley which in the Conquerors time was possest by Hasculf Musard but of him held by Hunfridus progenitor to the Family of Hastang as in Lemington-Hastang appeareth and then certified to contain 3. hides and half a virgate of land there being a Church as also a Mill rated at iiii s. and the woods belonging thereto extending to a mile in length and two furlongs in breadth all valued at xxx s. having been the Freehold of Azur before the Norman Invasion But it continued not long in the Family of Hastang for Aytrope Hastang granchild to the before specified Hunfredus in consideration of lxxx marks of silver sold it to Will Turpin a gentleman of the Kings Bedchamber reserving from the said W. and his heirs to him the said Aytrop and his heirs the like service as was due by him to his Lord for the same viz. the half and the tenth part of a K t s Fee By which grant the said Aitrop also covenanted that every of the heirs to the said W. Turpin should be quit of their Relief for one Besantine From this W. Turpin was it soon after conveyed to Rog. the son of Thurstane de Cherlecote and his heirs By which grant it appeareth that the Knights service due in respect thereof was as much as belong'd to two hides whereof five made the service of one Knights Fee And for the better confirmation thereof did Osbert Turpin brother to the same Will levy a Fine unto Thomas de Cherlecote son to the above mentioned Roger in 7 H. 3. Of which branch of Cherlecote's Family residing here at Haseley and assuming it for their sirname as I shall shew anon I must not omit to mention what I have met with in an historicall way the descent being placed in Cherlecote In 12. H. 3. the King remitted to Thomas de Cherlecote the Scutage then due from him viz. for half a Knights Fee and a fourth part where he is called Thomas de Cherlecote Vadletus Magistri Stephani de Lucy which shewes he was Lucie's servant though in what capacity is hard to say And in 20 H. 3. accepted of 5 marks instead of xx which were due from him unto the Exchequer for
inricht his kinred much as elswhere I have in some sort shewed disposing of this Lordship to Bartholomew his third brother who dyed seized thereof 15. Febr. 41 Eliz. leaving Bartholmew his son and heir thirty years of age which last mentioned Bartholmew being afterwards made a Knight by King Iames and having no issue did in consideration of 1500 li. payd in hand and 500. marks at his death where he should appoint settle it upon Stephen Hales of Newland Esquire his neer kinsman and his heirs whose grandchild scil Stephen now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Iames was given to the Canons of S. Sepulchers in Warwick by Hugo fil Ricardi about King Stephens time as I have already intimated But in 20 H. 2. there growing a Controversie betwixt the said Canons and William Cumin then Rector thereof the same was determined by Roger Bishop of Worcester and Adam Abbot of Evesham as Delegates from Pope Alexander the third in this manner viz. that the said William should yearly pay to those Canons in the name of this Church one mark of silver yearly within the Octaves of S. Michaell and when it should become void that Walter Cumin the Patron and his heirs might present thereunto but that the Parson presented before he did receive institution should give security to the said Canons by his corporall Oath to make just payment of that sum yearly unto them In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. this Church was valued at xx marks the Canons of Warwick receiving one mark as a Portion out of the same but about 17 E. 2. Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter obtained the perpetuall Patronage of it from Walter de Cantilupe and made an exchange thereof unto the Canons of Warwick before specified for certain messuages and lands lying without Temple-barr in the Parish of S. Clement Danes within the suburbs of London together with the advouson of the said Church of S. Clement at which time the said Canons had the Kings license for appropriating thereof to their own use it being accordingly effected by Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester 3. Id. Iunii 1325 18 E. 2. and the Vicaridge ordained by Adam de Orlton his successor 14. Ian. 1330. 4 E. 3. which Vicaridge was in 26 H. 8. valued at x li. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Ioh. de Cantilupo Walt. de Cantilupo Subdiac Cal. Iunii 1288. D. Episcopus Wigorn. Philippus de Hambury Cler. 5. Id. Dec. 1326. D. Episcopus Wigorn. Will. de Lemynton Pbr. 15. Dec. 1330. D. Episcopus Wigorn. Walt. Powyk Pbr. 3. Matii 1386. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Will. Walton Pbr. 15. Sept. 1432. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Ioh. Chestryfeld Pbr. 28. Oct. 1444. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Ric. Harryes Pbr. 2. Ian. 1444. D. Episcopus Wigorn. ..... 10. Iulii 1465. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Rog. Clarke Cap. 3. Iunii 1485. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Ioh. Done Pbr. 6. Iunii 1515. D. Episcopus Wigorn. Thomas Hargreve Pbr. 3. Iunii 1541. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Thomas Burton Pbr. 18. Maii 1557. D. Episcopus Wigorn. Ioh. Peder in S. Theol. Bac. 26. Sept. 1561. D. Episcopus Wigorn. D. Thomas Ferymon Cler. 15. Oct. 1571. D. Episcopus Wigorn. Ioh. Smyth Cler. 20. Apr. 1597. Wolvertonâ— IN the Conquerors time Robert de Stadford was possest of one hide one virgate and a third part lying in this Village valued at xx s. and then held of him by Urser all which before the Norman invasion belonged to one Simund a Dane The residue viz. two hides and a half and two parts of a virgate did Will. fil Corbucionis hold with the woods thereto belonging which were in length one furlong and half a furlong in breadth as also one House of viii d. rent lying in Warwick be-being a member thereof all which were rated at xxx s. and had been the freehold of one Ernvin in Edward the Confessors days In the generall Survey then taken it is written Ulwarditone which shews that the originall denomination thereof proceeded from some antient possessor that it had in the Saxons time But touching that proportion so held by Robert de Stadford I find no further mention under the name of Wolverton which makes me suppose that the Village called Norton-Limesi is it and that what Peter Corbucion son to the same William granted to William the son of Remfred and his heirs by the appellation of Wolfordintone was the same part and no more than is above mentioned which he gave to hold of him the said Peter and his heirs by the third part of a Kts. Fee yet so as that xx s. yearly whereof x s. to to be payd at Easter and x s. at Michaelmasse should suffice in lieu of that service Remfredus Will fil Remfredi temp Regis H. 2. Petrus de Wulwardinton 1 H. 3. Walt. de Wolwardinton Margeria Petrus de Wolwardinton miles 7 E. 1. Aliva Tho. de Wolvardington Rector Eccl. de Lobenham 19 E. 3. Will. de Wolvardinton Petrus de Wolvardinton defunctus 10 E. 3. Ioh. de Brome defunctus 10 E. 3. Eliz. filia haeres Eustach de Folvill Will. de Brome fil haeres 25 E. 3. Ioh. de Wolvardinton 1 E. 3. Alianora 10 E. 3. Will. Mufard 2. maritus Margeria filia haeres Ioh. Walgrave Warinus Walgrave Walterus Walgrave Ioh. Walgrave 7 H. 5. To this William the son of Remfred succeeded Peter who residing here assumed his sirname from this place Of whom what I find most memorable is that he was in rebellion against K. Iohn by reason whereof his lands were seized but in 1 H. 3. returning to obedience he had restitution of them again And that in 18 H. 3. he gave one mark fine to the King for coursing in the Forest. Which William had issue Walter who gave to Richard then Rector of the Church of S. Mary Magdalen at Tanworth in this Countyâ— and his successors one mess. situate in Tanworth to hold of him the said Walter and his heirs in pure Almes his Deeds whereby he made that grant having a large Crâ—ssant betwixt two Starrs in the impression of the Seal which hath been esteemed by skilfull Antiquaries for a badge only used by those who had made a journey to the Holy Land To the said Walter succeeded Peter who being a Knight in 7 E. 1. as also one of the Justices for Gaol-delivery at Warwick was in 33 E. 1. one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster which Peter had issue Iohn William and Peter as also Thomas Parson of Lobenham in Leicester-shire and Founder of the Chantry at Stretton super Dunsmore in this County But all these dying without issue male Elizabeth daughter to the last Peter became his heir and was first the wife of Iohn Brome
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
body in 6 R. 2. as I have already shewed and was one of the most eminent men in Warwickshire of his time for it appears that he served as one of the Knights for this shire in the several Parliaments of 1.2 and 4 th of H. 4. held at Westminster as also in 9 H. 4. at Gloucester and was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire in 4 H. 4. In 9 H. 4. he was constituted Eschaetor for these Counties in 6 H. 5. one of the Commissioners of Array in this Shire In 7 appointed with others to treat with the people for lending money to the King and both in K. H. 4. and H. 5. time a Justice of Peace in this County for divers years but of his posterity farther than the Genealogic before inserted expresseth I can say little other than that Thomas Trussell Esq boâ—e the Office of Shiriffe for this County and Leicestershire in 23 H. 7. and bequeathing his body to be buried in the Church here at Billesley departed this life in 7 H. 8. and that Thomas the fifth in descent from him sold this his so antient patrimony in our time to S t Robert Lee K t son and heir to S t Rob. Lee Alderman of London which S r Robert having so purchased it new built a great part of the Mannour House and made it his chief seat being a Justice of Peace in this County a great pat of K. Iames his time and afterwards as long as he lived and High Shiriff in 17 of his reign The Church dedicated to All Saints was in an 1291 19 E. 1. valued at xi marks and in 26 H. 8. at v li vi s viii d at which time the Synodalls and Procurations amounted to ii c iiid. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Will. Trussell Will. de S. Mauro Cap. .... 1280. Will. Trussell Ric. Trussell Cler. 3 Cal. Ian. 1288. Ioh. Trussell de Cublesdon Rog. de Coningesby Cler. 9 Iunii 1339. Ioh. Trussell de Cublesdon Ioh. de Hobonere Cler. 1 Oct. 1349. D. Will. Trussell de Cublesdon miles Henr. Coppenhald Pbr. ult Iulii 1357. D. Will. Trussell de Cublesdon miles Alanus de Vyse Pbr. 15 Ian. 1361. D. Aluredus Trussell miles Thomas Ungueon Pbr. 5 Iunii 1392. D. Episc. per lapsum Ric. Burton Abbas de Alencestre 2 Oct. 1454. D. Episc. per lapsum D. Will. Shirwood 23 Apr. 1460. Thomas Trussell generosus D. Rob. Mercer Pbr. 12 Iulii 1498. Alveredus Trussell ar D. Thomas Taylor Pbr. 26 Nov. 1538. Alveredus Trussell ar D. Thomas Daygle Cap. 8 Iulii 1546. D. Episc. per lapsum Thomas Clerke Cler. 27 Febr. 1560. Ioh. Trussell ar Rob. Spenser Cler. 29 Oct. 1574. Rob. Lee miles Ric. Wright Cler. 6 Oct. 1619. Rob. Lee miles Magr. Ric. Wright Cler. 20 Oct. 1624. Temple-Grafton THis containing the Villages of Ardens-Grafton and Hilborough was one of those towns given to the Abby of Evesham shortly after the foundation thereof but through the oppression of certain potent men with divers other lands belonging to that Monastery was taken away from the Monks long before the Norman Invasion so that upon the Conquest by Duke Will. it became disposed of to some of his followers for by the generall Survey shortly after made whereby 't is certified to contain 5. hides valued at 4 li I find thaâ— Osbernus fil Ricardi of whom I shall speak in Aston-Cantlow possest it at that time there being then a Church and that one Gilebert was his Tenant thereto as also that Mervin Scotin Toti and Tosti held it in Edw. the Confessors dayes but in that Record it is written Grastone the f being mistaken for an s for out of doubt it was originally both written and called Graestone or Graevetone having its appellation from bushes which in our old English were called Greves Whether the Monks of Evesham did ever actually enjoy it again is hard to say though it be plain that much of their antient possessions was afterwards through the prudence of some succeeding Abbots regained but certain it is that Abbot Mauricius who lived in the reigns of K. Will. Rufus and H. 1. made a grant thereof to Raph Boteler of Oversley a great man in these parâ—s Howbeit long was it not after ere that one Bernard de Grafâ—on became owner of it for by the grant of a messuage here from Henry the son of Rob. Parker unto Geffrey Pancefoth and his heirs scil about K. R. 1. time which messuage is said to be de feodo Henrici Bernardi no lesse may be inferred I have not yet seen by any Record till 26 H. 8. that it had the name of Temple-Grafton for antiently it was called Grafton superior and by that name I find it in 20 E. 3. and that which is now called Arden's Grafton Grafton inferior By which name viz. Temple-Grafton it might be supposed that the Knights Templars were sometime seized of all or a great part of this town howbeit I do not discern that they had any thing to do here either by that Survey taken of their lands in an 1185 31 H. 2. or in that of 1 E. 2. which was after the dissolution of their Order but in truth it was the Knights Hospitalars upon whome the Templars â—lands were bestowed who were possest of it some whereof they had by grant from Henry the son to Bernard de Grafton before specified as appeareth by their publique Instrument bearing date an 1189. 1 R. 1. whereby they gave to Simon de Arden and his heirs half a hide of land lying in this place being all or part of that which they had acquired of the said Henry paying to them and their successors xii d per an for all services so that at the decease of him and his heirs the third part of the Chattells which should happen to be upon that land might for the health of his soul remain to their house But though Henry was son to the before specified Bernard he was not his heir as I conceive but rather Raph de Grafton of whom I find mention in 33 H. 2. and 7 R. 1. betwixt which Raph and Will. Picot a fine was levied in 1 Ioh. of one hide of land lying in this place Which Raph was dead without issue before the 6 year of K. Iohn for then did Raph Boteler of Oversley give a Fine to the K. of an Câ— that he might seize those lands which the said Raph de Grafton held untill it should be determined by a legall triall whether he had more right to them than Henry de Bereford What title it was that the said Raph Boteler challenged I find not but plain it is that he prevailed not for Henry de Bereford enjoyed it having obtained the interest that Margaret daughter to Will. de Grafton
certain things to be performed by Iohn Copley his nephew gave it to him the said Iohn and the heirs male of his body Marclive THis place taking its name from the Marly-Cliff or descent which we see on the Southern side of Avon was at first a member of Bidford and therewith past from Baldwin Wake and the before specified Hawisia to Rob. Burnell Bishop of Bathe and Wells in 8 E. 1. but then was it written only Clive and in 9 E. 2. as a Hamlet of Bidford was held by Aliva Burnell in dower It seems that much of it was sold long since by the Burnells to ordinary persons which may well be the cause that there is so little notice taken thereof in Record for I find that in 29 E. 3. Walt. Lenche father of Ioh. Lenche then living had purchased two messuages 1 yard land 1 acre of meadow and xxv s. yearly Rent lying in this place of Alice the widow of Edward Burnell and Nich. Burnell her husband's nephew of some part whereof Iohn Rous of Ragley dyed seized in 20 R. 2. But in 16 H. 7 Will. Harewell of Wotton-Wawen dyed seized of the whole Mannour Bickmersh THis Village is in the Parish of Welford in Gloucestershire but by antient depopulation much shrunk from what it heretofore was Part hereof did K. Edgar in the year of Christ 967 grant to Brithnothus his servant for life which Brithnothus transmitted his right therein to the Monastery of Worcester with his son whom he thither sent to live a religious life In that grant of King Edgar it is written Bicamnersce but it seems that afterwards the Church of Worcester became possest of the whole Village for it appears that Edwin brother to Earl Leofrick in Edw. the Confessor's time unjustly seized upon it yet did not long enjoy the fruits of his rapine being ignominiously slain by Griffin King of the Britans whereupon Wulstan the then Prior hoping to regain it went to Alritune and required the lands belonging to his Monastery but all that he could get was only the meadow lying at Marclive the rest being never restored In the Conquerors Survey it is recorded under the title of Elemosinae Regis and written Bichemerse being there certified to contain 5 hides which were then valued at C s. and held of the K. by one Eddid a woman who was also owner thereof in Edward the Confessors dayes After which till the beginning of King Iohn's time I have not seen any further mention of this place but then doth it appear that Robert Foliot was Lord of it and in minority who in 14 H. 3. had a suit with the Parson of Welneford for the Advouson of the Chapell here at Bikemers-Foliot for so it is written claimed by the said Parson as a Chapell belonging to Welneford in which pleading the Composition under the seal of the said Robert was produced manifesting that the Tithes with the parochiall rights of the Court id est the Mannour house did belong to the said mother-Church of Welneford In 20 H. 3. upon collection of the Aid for marriage of the King's sister to the Rom. Emperour it answered for one Knights Fee being there certified under the Fees of Hugh de Albini and expressed to be held of him by Corbeth But in â—6 H. 3. it is recorded to be of the Earl of Gloucester his Fee and then held by Rob. Foliot What right it was that Corbet had here I know not but it seems that he did not quietly enjoy it for first I find that in 32 H. 3. Roesia Foliot brought an Assize of Novell disseisin against Will. Corbet for lands here and in 45 H. 3. Ioan Foliot an Assize of Mort d'ancester against him for this Mannour which Will. Corbet was of Chadsley-Corbet in Worcestersh I am of opinion that this Ioane Foliot was daughter and heire to the before specified Robert and married to Ric. de Williamescote for by a pleading in 52 H. 3. I find that the said Richard and Ioan his wife had to do here and in 4 E. 1. the said Ric. was presented for withdrawing his suit due to the Hundred Court for this Village To which Richard succeeded Henry de Willemscote that sold this Mannour to Iohn de Bloxam in 35 E. 1. Who in 18 E. 2. past it away to Will. de Bereford which Will. died seized of it in 20 E. 2. Whereupon it was inter alia assigned to Margaret his widow in dower In the family of Bereford whereof I shall speak in Langley it continued for some descents S r Baldw. de Bereford Knight grandchild to the beforespecified Will. having Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here But it seems that this S r Baldw. having no issue male of his body the reversion thereof after the decease of Eliz. his wife was setled upon Thomas the son of Philip St. Clere for upon her death in 1 H. 6. the said Thomas was found to be next heir thereto though what relation he had to him in blood I am not very certain which Thomas in 13 H. 6. dyed seized of it leaving Eliz. Alianore and Edith his daughters and heirs Eliz. being afterwards married to Will. Lovell Alianore to Iohn Gage and Edith to Ric. Harecourt Esquiers But farther as to its succession can I say no more than that it was about the beginning of Q. Eliz. time purchased by the Lady S. Iohn widow to S r Edw. Griffin of Dingley Atturney Generall to Q. Eliz. for S r Ries Griffin her son by the said Sir Edward which Sir Ries left issue Edward his son and heir now owner thereof It should seem that a good proportion of this Hamlet was antiently belonging to the family of Morehall of Morehall juxta Wicksford for in 20 E. 3. Amicia de Morehall with VVill. de Audley were certified to answer for one Knights Fee here held of VVill. Corbet and by him of the Honour of Gloucester â— and so divolving to Clopton as the Mannour of Morehall did was past therewith by S r VVill. Clopton Kt. to Thomas Crewe Esq for life After which Sir Iohn Burgh Kt. held it for life as Tenant by the Curtesie of England being of the inheritance of Ioane his wife daughter and coheir to the said VVill. Clopton which Ioane had likewise severall daughters and heirs as in Morehall is shewed amongst whom this with the rest of her lands wâ—re divided The Chapell here is very antient having been founded by Will. Foliot in H. 2. dayes to whom succeeded Robert before mentioned About the beginning of K. Iohn's time there was one R. Foliot Parson here betwixt whom and the Monks of Tewksbury there growing some dispute as to the right of the Tithes g arising out of the Court or Mannour House an Agreement was made and confirmed by Malgerius then Bishop of
at iv li. xiii s. iv d. which sum in 37 H. 8. was yearly received by the Priest belonging thereto at the hands of M r Robert Midlemore notwithstanding he did not duly attend here but sung in other places at his pleasure The Priory of Studley THis was first founded in King Stephen's time by Peter Corbicon otherwise called Peter de Stodleg in regard of his residence here for Canons Regular of S. Augustin's Order at a place called Wicton neer Wiche in Worcestershire and by him endowed with the Churches of the same Wicton as also of Stodley Cocton now Coughton in this County Salperton in Gloucestershire and all other Churches of his Patronage after the death of the Incumbents that had been presented thereto by him the said Peter or his father and likewise with half the town of Wicton before specified three Houses in Worcester and two Furnaces of Salt at Wiche and the Tithes of all the rest of his Salt there And moreover with half the Tithes of all his demesn lands in Tikenapletre in Com Wigorn. the whole proportion of his essarts there with a Meadow and the oblations called Chirset of that village and likewise of C. acres of his demesn lands in Salperton before specified of the Chapelry of his own House and all thereto belonging with the freedom from Toll Tak and many other exactions Which Canons rested not long at Wicton but were translated hither with an assignation unto them of the Churches above-specified and an addition of the Church of Anedeburne with the Chapell of Dormeston in Gloucestershire and the Chapelry of his own House there as also the grant of divers particular lands viz. one yard land in Stodley situate on the bank of the river Arrow with two curtilages thereunto belonging which I take to be it whereupon the Monastery was built all his lands lying below the high way leading from Bordsley to the bounds of Ipsley a Meadow called Brunham a grove of Alders lying betwixt Stretford and Wasford a Mill that Edwin Brochard held lands which had been belonging to one Aschetill with the wood adjoyning the land of Eluric the Clothier and the wood situate betwixt Alan's land and that of Roger de la Haye with certain other lands which appertained to Robert Meriam And over and above all this he gave them CC. acres of his demesn lands lying in Salperton before specified scil C. acres in the East field and C. acres in the West Confirming likewise his former grant of the said three Houses in Worcester half the Tithes of Tikenapletre with the essarts Meadow and Chircheset before mentioned as also the Tithes of his Salt at Wiche with the two Furnaces there But as the greatnesse of this family much diminished in the time of Peter Corbicon son and heir to Peter the Founder so did also the glory of this Monastery for it appears that at such time as the Patronage thereof was granted by the said Peter unto William de Cantilupe and his heirs the revevenues of it were so wasted by ill guidance and goverment that there were no more than three Canons then left therein Neverthelesse by the pious care and munificence of him and his posterity it soon came to flourish again For besides the grant of those his possessions in Shotswell in this County which he had acquired from Eustace de Mortein and Iohn Wandard with a House and Curtilage he vouchsafed unto them the priviledge that whensoever their House should happen to be vacant by the death of their Prior they should as freely proceed to a new election of another as any Collegiate Church in such cases used to do first only craving the License of him the said William and his heirs and after the election so made then humbly desiring his or their assent thereunto And moreover that whereas by Custome in some Monasteries of England the custody during the vacancy appertained to the Patron he notwithstanding granted unto them for him and his heirs that whensoever any such vacancy should happen the Sub-Prior and Celerer for the time being should in the name of him the said William and his heirs have the custody thereof so that both or one of them did first repair unto him or his heirs to receive the administration thereof at his or their hands but that the Bishop nor any other should have ought to do therewith All which concessions and immunities were ratified by William Wittlesey Bishop of Worcester as his publique Instrument dated here a Stodlegh upon the day of S. Sylvester the Pope Anno 1364. 38 E. 3. doth testify To which William de Cantilupe succeeded Will. his son and heir who followed the steps of his devout father in bounty to these Canons as appears by his grant of lands to them lying in Aston-Cantilupe to the value of x li. per annum for the support and maintenance of a certain Hospitall erected by his father neer the Gate of this Monastery where impotent people might have relief and entertainment Which William likewise bestowed upon them xx s. yearly Rent issuing out of certain lands in Snarkeston in Com. Leic. held of him by Raph de Charnells with pasturage for eight Oxen two Kine and one Horse in his own demesn Pasture of Buchme and the Rene granting them also power to hold a Court for their own Tenants as freely as ever he himself used to do And further added the Church of Hemeston in Devonshire of his patronage as also all those essarts with their appurtenances lying within his Park at Shelfhull as they are bounded with the High-way leading from Spernore towards Aston together with the perpetuall patronage of the Church at Aston as also certain lands situate in the Village of Trente And lastly obtained a Charter from King H. 3. dated at Westminster 22. Dec. 26 H. 3. whereby he granted to them that their woods lying within the Forest of Fekenham might be free to themselves and no Officer of the Kings belonging to the Forest to intermedle therein nor presse upon them for hospitality or entertainment without their own good liking From other Benefactors they had as followeth viz. in Yerdeley Com. Wigorn. 33. acres of land given by William Cumin antiently Lord of that Mannour as also a certain proportion there and in Grete conferred on them by William de Edricheston In Ipsley some quantity by Thomas le Barbour In Aldeswelle by Peter de Asserugge In Wicton by Iohn le Roter A place called the Vineyard here in Stodley by Peter de Montfort All those lands in Wike within the precincts of Coughton by Constance the daughter to William a Parke sometime wife of Sir Simon de Cocton Knight in her widowhood which lands she had in frank marriage of her father's gift and certain lands in Hatton given by Iohn de Stodley and Robert de Freynuse All which are confirmed with divers priviledges as the Charters of
King H. 2. H. 3. and Edw. 3. do manifest as also by a Bull of Pope Gregory the ix bearing date 7. Kal. Martii Anno 1228. 12 H. 3. whereby likewise they had a speciall immunity from payment of Tithes for any of their lands which they did or should hold in their own occupation Nor may I omit to take notice that the Lady Eva de Cantilupe widow to the last William gave unto them lands lying within her Mannour of Lodeswell in Devonshire of C s. per annum value with the homage and services of sundry Freeholders there as also an yearly Rent of xx s. per annum issuing out of the said Mannour payable at the Feasts of S. Michael and th' Annunciation of our Lady by equall portions But notwithstanding that grant of the Church of Aston-Cantilupe so made by the said William de Cantilupe as aforesaid some advantage was afterwards taken to the legality thereof insomuch as Queen Elianore who had the wardship of Iohn de Hastings one of the heirs to George de Cantilupe in 4 E. 1. recovered the Advouson thereof in his right Howbeit in the end the said Canons obtained it by an exchange for certain lands lying within the precincts of Aston-Cantilupe which they past to the said Iohn de Hastings about the 24. of E. 1. in lieu thereof And yet I do not perceive that they enjoy'd it long for plain it is by what I have elsewhere shewed that the Canons of Maxstoke in this County had it even till the dissolution of that Monastery And being thus inricht with such fair and ample possessions as by what hath been said appeareth they began to rebuild their Church as may seem from the Dedication thereof by Iohn de Monemuth Bishop of Landaff then Suffragan to Renaud Bryan Bishop of Worcester 3. Non. Iunii anno 1308. 1 E. 2. But after the male line of Cantilupe was so extinguisht as abovesaid the Patronage of this Monastery upon partition betwixt the Coheirs resorted to William la Zouche of Haringworth unto whom one of them was wedded Which William in 20 E. 3. became also a Benefactor thereto giving one mess. 4. acres of land with 51 s. rent lying in Stodley and Mertone within this County From whâ—ch time till the dissolution thereof I find nothing else given thereto other than the free Chapell of S. Mary Magdalen at Sponne neer Coventre with the lands thereto belonging by King Edw. 4. in 14. of his reign to pray for the good estate of him and his Queen as also of Edward Prince of Wales his eldest son and for their souls after their departure out of this world together with the soul of Richard Duke of Yorke his late father and all his Ancestors Upon the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. the yearly revenue belonging to this Religious House over and above all Reprizes was certified to be Cxxv l. iv s. viii d. ob Amongst which deductions I find xlvi s. viii d. yearly Rent payable to the Parson of Strensham in Com. Wigorn. to be distributed in Almes and to defray the charges of the Obit annually kept there for the Lady Elizabeth Russell one of the Benefactors to this Monastery For the Obit of Iohn Basset another of the said Benefactors yearly vi s. viii d. For the Obit of William de Cantilupe xiv s. viii d. To be distributed in Almes to poor people yearly within the Parish of Studley by the appointment of Peter Corbicon the Founder vii s. viii d. To poor people every Maunday Thursday by direction of the said Founder v s. vii d. And to poor people upon every Good Friday by the same appointment v s. So that the totall value thereof being certified under CC li. per annum it was rank't amongst the lesser Houses and suppressed by Act of Parliament in 27. H. 8. Iohn Yardley the then Prior having an annuity of xv li. per annum assigned unto him by Patent in 28 H. 8. for his life After which it continued not long in the Crown for in 30 H. 8. Sir Edmund Knightley Sergeant at Law had a grant of the site thereof together with the Mannour of Studley thereto belonging and some other lands to hold in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying viii li. xi s. ii d. yearly into the Exchequer in the name of a Tenth Which Sir Edmund departing this life ff 2. Sept. 34 H. 8. left the five daughters of his brother Richard Knightley of Upton in Com. Northampton Esquier his cousins and heirs viz. Ioane the wife of Iohn Knotsford Sergeant at Armes Anne marryed to George Throkmortan Esquire Mary to Barth Hussey with Susan and Frances then unmarried Betwixt whom it came to be divided as by the distinct parts which these sisters had therein doth appear Whereof the site of the Monastery fell to Knotsford being possest by his descendants at this day Priores de Studley Electi per Conventum Fromundus temp Regis Steph. Electi per Conventum Rogerus temp H. 3. Electi per Conventum Frater Ioh. le Souche 10 Iulii 1338. Electi per Conventum Ioh. de Gorcote Electi per Conventum Ioh. de Evesham Canon 9. Ian. 1371. Electi per Conventum Rob. Wynby Canon 27. Sept. 1431. Electi per Conventum Thomas Bedull temp H. 6. Electi per Conventum D. Ric. Wode Canon 8. Martii 1454. Electi per Conventum Ioh. Yardly 26 H. 8. Mapleborough THis with the greatest part of Studley being possest by Will. fil Corbucionis in the Conquerors time and of him held by one Goisfridus did then contain onely one hide besides the woods of one furlong in length and as much in breadth all valued at xv s. having been the inheritance of one Leviet before the Norman Invasion But after this I do not find that it retained the name of a Village for the next notice that I have taken thereof is in 19 R. 2. where mention is made of it as a part of Stodley Thomas Midlemore of Edgbaston being them certified to hold two mess. 400. acres of land 60. acres of Meadow and xxviii s. Rent of Assize therein Which lands in 10 H. 6. were found to be in the possession of Iohn Midlemore of Edgbeston before specified Esquier and held by the fourth part of a Knights fee being in the Record called the Mannour of Stodley and to this day enjoyed by his posterity lying contiguous to that large piece of wast called Mapleboroughgreen which is the only place that now retaineth any thing of that antient name but was heretofore called the Hay-wood as may seem by the endorsement upon that deed of Peter the son of Will. Corbucion of Studley to the Freeholders there in 13 E. 2. confirming the grant of Peter his Ancestor made in 2 Ioh. for Common of Pasture in that place as in Studley I have
Sept. in 50. of his reign required the Barons of his Exchequer that he should receive no prejudice for not making his account at Michaelmasse shortly ensuing forasmuch as he was then in attendance upon his person there that being the time when the Castle underwent a six months seige as I have elswhere shewed To whom also the King about the same time granted the custody of all the Castles lands and tenements of Robert de Ferrers Earl of Derby then in Rebellion signifying his Royall pleasure to all the Tenants of those lands that they should be answerable to him concerning them accordingly Neither was he in lesse reputation with Edw. 1. as it seems for in the second year of that Kings reign he had Commission with William de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick Roger de Clifford and others to go unto the Ford of Montgomery in Wales the month after Easter and there to hear and reform such things as were amisse contrary to the Articles of Peace betwixt the said King and Lewelin Prince of Wales This William Bagot being also of Hide in Staffordshire bore for his Armes Arg. two Cheverons azure and had issue William Robert and Hervey Of these William was a Knight and in 24 E. 1. in consideration of an hundred and thirty marks sterling sold this Mannour to Roger de Coningesby and Ioane his wife and their heirs Will. his father then stiling himself quondam Dominus de la Hide juxta Stafford confirming the grant and so also Hâ—rvie Bagot brother to the said Will. the younger Which Roger Coningesby being thus possest thereof in 32 E. 1. obtained a Charter of Free-warren to himself and his heirs throughout all his demesn lands here and having a speciall relation to Sir Philip Marmion of Tamworth Castle in this County was the Executor of his Testament whereby it appears that he had a grant from the Monks of Merevale to whom the said Sir Philip had been a Benefactor that himself and his heirs might present a fit Clerk for the increase of their Covent to be shorn a Monk in that Abby there to celebrate divine service for the soul of the said Sir Philip perpetually and after the decease of that Monkâ— to present others successively to the worlds end Which Roger observing the affection of those Monks so freely shewd therein out of his abundant gratitude and pious inclination gave them towards the ornament of their Church all the Vestments that belong'd to the Chapell of the before specified Sir Philip Marmion and left issue Iohn Coningsby his son and heir Which Iohn in 17 E. 2. was certified in the list of those Esquiers and other men at Armes of this County whose names were then returned into the Chancery and bearing for his Armes Gules 3. Coneys Argent was Rogerus de Coningesby 24 E. 1. Iohanna Ioh. de Coningsby obiit 39 E. 3. Alicia ux Ioh. de Lee. Will. de Lee. Alicia filia haeres primâ— nupta Thomae Stokes secundò Riâ—c Archer ar obiit s. prole Will. Coningsby obiit s. p. sepultus apud Fratres Carmelitas Calesiae Will. Coningsby sepultus apud Fratres .... Bristoll Benedicta filia Ingeranni Frene Thomas Coningsby Theophania filia Ioh. Almayn Guido Ioh. Coningsby Alicia filia Thomae Stones Thomas Coningsby Thomas Coningsby 1 E. 4. Thomas in 18 E. 3. one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster and in 31 E. 3. a Commissioner for putting the Statute of Labourers in execution throughout this County But in 39 E. 3. he departed this life leaving William his son and heir and Alice a daughter married to Iohn de Lee. Which William being a Knight before his death dyed without issue and was buried in the White Friers at Caleis Whereupon Alice his sister became his heir and possest this Mannour leaving it to William de Lee her son and heir from whom it descended to Alice his daughter and heir first the wife of Thomas Stokes and afterwards of Richard Archer Esquier But dying without any issue the inheritance thereof resorted to Thomas Coningsby great grandchild unto Thomas son of William second son of Roger de Coningsby and Ioan the first purchasers before specified as next heirs at Law to the said Alice From which Thomas Coningsby doth Thomas now of this place derive his descent How it comes to passe I know not but the Trussells of Billesley have been reputed Lords of this Mannour for a long time and had also an interest in the advouson of the Church as by some Records and other authorities appeareth The Church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was granted to the Canons of Kenilworth by Peter de Mora about 38 H. 3. and presented to by them onely for many ages and in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at vi marks and a half but in 26 H. 8. at vi li. the Synodalls then issuing out of it being xii d. per annum yet was it never appropriated to those Canons that I could discern Neither have I seen how the Trussells came to the patronage thereof Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episcopus Henr. de Lichfeld Cler. Cal. Nov. 1292. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Will. de Hanley Cap ..... 1293. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Rog. de Haukebiri Diac. 3. Non. Iunii 1299. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Magr. Will. de Mees Accol Non. Nov. 1315. Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Ioh. de Campeden Pbr. Cal. Maii 1320. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Thomas Pal. Pbr. 20. Iulii 1339. Prior Conv. de Kenilw Rad. de Ullenhale 11. Apr. 1359. Will. Trussell de Cublesdon miles Henr. de Copenhal Pbr. 15. Ian. 1361. Aluredus Trussell miles D. Rob. Ayleston 8. Nov. 1413. Will. Trussell ar dominus de Morton-Bagot Thomas Gale Cap. 21. Dec. 1427. D. Episc. per lapsum Ric. Bate Pbr. 4. Sept. 1429. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Ioh. Spenser Cap. 1. Martii 1432. Humfr. Co. Staff ratione minoris aetat Ioh. fil haer Will. Trussell ar D. Will. Alcock Cap. 13. Aug. 1433. ...................... D. Ioh. Porrey Pbr. ult Aug. 1438. Ioh. Trussell ar Dominus de Morton D. Henr. Whelar Cap. 13. Feb. 1480. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Rob. Parke Cap. 17. Nov. 1485. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Thomas Bownell Cap. 12. Febr. 1487. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Thomas Bett Cap. 16. Aug. 1493. Thomas Trussell Dominus de Morton D. Rob. Dolley 13. Apr. 1504. Aluredus Trussell ar D. Ioh. Yardley Cap. 14. Apr. 1541. Aluredus Trussell ar Henr. Shelmerdyne Cler. 29. Sept. 1551. Mauritius Gwyn Rector de Lodington Petroburg Dioc. Ric. Emerson Pbr. 16. Oct. 1610. Alcester REturning back to the stream of Arrow it brings me next to Alcester a place
whose great antiquity the old foundations of buildings Roman bricks and coines both in gold silver and brasse which even in our time have been frequently there found do sufficiently manifest To which notable tokens may be also added that antient Roman way viz. Ykenild street which coming from Tinemouth neer Derby and Lichfield extends it self over a nook of Sutton-Park and the great wast called Colfield crossing the river Tame about a mile above Aston juxta Bermingham and thence thwarting the Countrey as the Map sheweth runs in a streight line hither being still called Ickle-street for a great part of the way Neither doth its name import lesse the later part thereof scil Cestre or Cester an expression used by our Ancestors the Saxons denoting a City or fortified place for so it was as Capgrave observes Erat namque saith he juxta Evesham ad octo miliaria Castrum Alnacestre regale tunc mansum cujus loci habitatores quantò rerum opulentia temporalium abundantia affluebant tantò magis gulae luxuriae dediti studentes avaritiae cupiditati misericordia Dei se indignos afficiebant Ad hâ—nc locum accedens beatus Egwinus praedicavit illis regnum Dei Which S. Egwin that thus preacht to the Inhabitants here whom plenty of worldly wealth had made so vitious as my Author observes was the third Bp. of Worcester and the pious Founder of that goodly Monastery at Evesham about the year of Christ DCC whose endowment thereof together with those munificent concessions made thereunto by Kenred his kinsman as also by K. Offa were confirmed in a generall Synod held at this place at which were present Bertwald Archbishop of Canterbury and Wilfrid Archbishop of Yorke Howbeit this Synod is there said to be in loco qui Alne dicitur yet from what Capgrave before recited hath exprest and the judgment of that learned man it need not be doubted but that this was the place and originally called Alncester as 't is very like from its situation so neer the river Alne the confluence whereof with Arrow is close by the Southern side of the town as the Map doth shew And of the same opinion is Leland judging that the old town stood most by the side of that stream And so do the Inhabitants by tradition still say though the greatest tokens of buildings are now found in that field lying Southward of the town towards Arrow which from the dark colour of the ground is called Blackfield or Blacklands at this day Neverthelesse though it was a place of so great antiquity and no lesse eminency as by what hath been said appears there is no mention of it at all in the Conqueror's Survey neither till H. 1. time have I seen so much as the name of it in our publique Records where then I find it by the title of Francus Burgus Domini Regis meaning that King which addition of Burrough continued to it long after for in 23 H. 2. it payd 4. marks Aid to the K. amongst other the Burroughs of this County But in the account of Bertram de Verdon Shiriff of this Shire in 22 H. 2. as also divers years before and after where he answers x li. for the ferm thereof I find it placed under the title de Escaetis And in severall years after till 1 R. 1. is the said ferm accounted for under the like title in most of which the words of the Record run thus viz. de exitu de Alencestre quae fuit Comit is Reginaldi Now who this Comes Reginaldus was and by what means he became so possest of it I shall here declare It is not unknown to those who are any whit acquainted with the Story of our Kings that King H. 1. had a large illegitimate offspring by certain Concubines amongst which one is said to have been a daughter and coheir to Sir Robert Corbet Knight upon whom he begot a son called Reginald advanced to the Earldom of Cornwall by King Stephen in the fift of his reign To this Sir Robert for that fair Damsells sake did the said King give Alcester the inheritance whereof had it not been diverted would have legally descended to his two daughters and heirs whereof the one viz. the Concubine was wedded to Henry Fitz-Herbert the King's Chamberlain and had issue by him a son called Peter and the other to William Boterell or Botreaux But it seems the King's favour to his Bastard son was such that Peter Fitz-Herbert could not obtain the moitye lawfully belonging to him for cleer it is that the said Earl Reginald enjoy'd it and so in all probability should Henry his son had he not been guilty of some great offence adhering to the King's enemies in Normandy as it should seem by reason whereof it was-seized into the King's hands as an Eschaet immediatly upon the death of his Father which hapned in 21 H. 2. After which viz. in 9. R. 1. under the title likewise de Escaetis did the Sheriff account for the Ferme of one moytie together with the like part of Brome the Record expressing thus quae fuerunt Henrici de la Pennel which Henry was the same man without doubt for that he had a son called Henry is manifest and that the said Earl had a Mannour in Cornwall called Penhel whereof â—tis to be presumed by reason of his birth or habitation there he might asssume that sirname there is probability enough From whence I conclude that notwithstanding the due title thereto was in Fitz-Herbert as I have shewed yet by reason that the said Earl actually held it upon advantage taken against his son it was seized into the King's hands and the profits thereof accounted for by the shiriffs for divers years as I have already intimated But at length it was disposed of by King Iohn as I guesse to one Hamon Falconer for upon the said King's grant thereof to Peter Fitz-Herbert in the sixt of his reign in consideration of xx marks Fine by him payd care was taken that the said Hamon should be furnisht with other lands to as good value out of the said Kings Eschaets The Record whereby the said Peter had seisin of it expresseth the same thus viz. medietatis Manerii de Alencester quam pater suus tenuit By which it should seeme that before the Earl of Cornwall had it Henry Fitz-Herbert was in right of his wife possest thereof But the rest was cleerly enjoyed by Will. Boâ—erell in right of Alice his wife the other daughter and coheir also to the said Robert Corbet and continued to the posterity of the said William of whom and his descendants I shall speak anon which moyties became not united of many ages In the mean time therefore whilst they were thus in severall hands let us see what is observable either touching the persons that possest them or the place it self and first of
Fullwode and others divers lands for to find two Priests celebrating divine service here for ever all which being forfeited to the King in regard of such disposall made of them without the Royall License contrary to the Statute in that case made and provided were thereupon given away by K. Ric. unto one Iohn Swet who having a desire to assign over his right and state in them unto Rose Mountfort then a great woman in this Parish obtained a Pat. from K. H. 4. in the first year of his reign whereby the said K. gave them unto her and her heirs for ever to the intent that shâ— and they should provide and maintain two Chantrie-Priests to celebrate divine service daylie in this Church at the Altar of our Lady before mentioned aswell for the good estate of the said K. Henry during this life and afterwards for the health of his soul and the souls of his Mother and Queen deceased as for the soul of the said Rose and the souls of her ancestors and heirs and other Benefactors to the said Chantrye Which Rose by her Deed bearing date 8 Maii in the same year reciting the grant so made to her as abovesaid gave those lands unto Iohn Blakenhale and Ric. Boys Priests serving at the before specified Altar to hold to them and their successors Priests of that Chantrie to celebrate divine service there for ever according to the limitations before mentioned The advouson of which Chantrie descended by the said Rose Mountfort to the Catesbies but by reason of the attainder of Sir Wil. Catesbie in 1 H. 7. was granted in 3 H. 7. to Sir Iames Blount and to the heirs male of his body In â—6 H. 8. the lands belonging thereto were valued at xiii l. vi s. viii d. per an but in 37 H. 8. to no more than vii l. vii s. iiii d. at which time I find it certified that this Parish was xx miles in compass so that in case of Plague or ohter sickness there the Priests belonging thereto did use to assist the Vicar in ministring the Sacraments and Sacramentals The lands of both which Chantries were granted in 7 E. 6. to Kenelm Throkmorton Clem. Throkmorton and Iohn Throkmorton Esquires and their heirs I now come to the particular places of note within this Parish viz. Umberslade Monkspath Cley-Hall Codbarow Cheswikes Betlesworth Lodbroke's-Mannour Sidenhale and Crewenhale of which in their order Vmberslade THis being onely an antient Mannour house was in H. 2. time partly given by Henry de Vilers Sewer to Will Earl of Warwick unto Rob. Archer and Seliit his wife and to the heirs of Seliit in which grant it is termed terra de Ombreslade and the said Robert called Rob. Sagittarius and partly by Roger de Hulehale to her the said Seliit onely From which Robert and Seliit I have on the next page represented the lineall descendants with their matches clearly warranted from the originall Charters and evidences of this antient Family whose principall seat it still continues Of William the son to Rob. and Seliit I find that he had a grant of much land here in Tanworth by VValeran Earl of Warwick about the beginning of K. Iohn's reign which is set forth by speciall boundaries according to the use of those times and likewise a Bull from Pope Gregory the ix th for a peculiar Chapell at this place bearing date in 19 H. 3. In the Windows whereof are yet standing and of no less antiquity than E. 3. time the Arms of Beauchamp E. of Warwick Clinton Earl of Huntingdon as also of this Family as they were then set up in the Glass Which VVill. left issue Iohn who being Champion to Thomas Earl of Warwick obtained a speciall Charter from the said Earl to himself and his heirs for freedom to hauk and hunt every where within the territories of Tanworth excepting the Park and to excercise all other Liberties belonging to the said Earl within Monkspath and Ombreslade paying therefore unto him and his heirs xii broad Arrow heads a couple of Capons at Whitsontide yearly This Iohn had issue Iohn and divers other children whereof Thomas was Lord Prior of the Hospitall of St. Iohn of Hierusalem in England in 14 E. 2. which Iohn the younger matching with Margery the daughter of Sir VVill. Traci of Todington in Gloucestershire an eminent family in those parts left issue Iohn and Thomas Of which Thomas I find that having been in that Rob. Sagittarius temp H. 2. Seliit Ricardus Johannes Will. le Archer obiit circa 23 H. 3. Margeria Iohanna ux Walt. filii Sim. de Cherlecote Isab. ux Wil. filii Rad. de Lee. Thomas Joh. le Archer obiit temp H. 3. Christiana secundò nupra Will. de Berneville Tho. Prior S. Ioh Hicrosol in Anglia 14 E. 2. Wil. Rector Eccl. de Pilardinton Rob. Rector Eccl. de Queinton Ioh. le Archer ob ante 28 E. 1. Margeria filia Will. Traci de Toding ton in Com. Glouc. Ric. Rector Eccl. de Ilmindon 23 E. 3. Will. le Archer 2 E. 2. Thomas 10 E. 2. Ioh. le Archer obiit circa 22. E. 3. Isabella filia Rad. Escote 1 E. 3. Ioh. le Archer 16 E. 3. Thomas le Archer obiit 46 E. 3. Margareta filia .... Cleburie Gilbertus le Archer Agnes filia Walteri Cokesey mil. Thomas le Archer obiit 4 H. 6. aetat 84. an Alicia ux 2. Alicia filia Will. Hugford de Midleton in Com. Salop mil. obiit 8. H. 5. Ric. Archer obiit 11 E. 4. aetat 85. Margareta relicta Tho. Newport de Ercall ar ux 2. Alicia filia haeres Wil. Lea de Stotfold ux 3. Ioh. Archer obiit 3. E. 4. vivo patre Christiana sola filia haeres Rad. de Blacklow Civis Lond. relicta Hen. Sewall nupra 25 H. 6. Ioh. Archer obiit 4 Dec. 11. H. 8. Alicia filia Baldwini Mountfort de Colshill mil. nupta 7 E. 4. Ioh. Archer obiit 16 Apr. 12. H. 8. Margareta filia Humfridi Staftord de Blatherwick nupta 19 H. 7. obiit 21. H. 8. Edw. Archer obiit coelebs temp Iac. Regis Iohannes Robertus Ric. Archer ob 5. Oct. 36. H. 8. aet 39. Matilda filia cohaer Nich. De la mere de Hereford parva ob 23. Aug. 6 5. Ph. M. Edw. Fulco Miles Francisca Wimfrida Anna Humfr. Archer obiit 24 Oct. 4. Eliz. Anna filia Rob. Tounsend de Ludlow mil. Capit Iustic Walliae obiit 28 Nov. 5. Iac. Ioh. Archer duxit Elianoram fil haer Ric. Frewin de Handley in Com. Wigorn. Andreas Archer ob 23. Apr. An. 1629. Margar. filia Sim. Ralegh de Farnborough at obiit 16 Aug. 1614. Ric. Archer de Nethorp in Com. Oxon. duxit MariaÌ„ fil haer Roul Bull de Nethorp Simon Archer natus 21 Sept. 1581. factus eq aur per Regem Iac. 21 Aug. 1624. Anna filia Ioh. Ferrers de Tamworth castro eq aur
Staffordshire which Will. had issue by her Thomas and he Thomas and he Iohn Parker who dyed 18 H. 8. leaving issue Alice his daughter and heir wedded to Thomas Greswould second son to Ric. Greswould of Solihull in this County from whom the Greswoulds of Cobington who now enjoy this place are descended Packwood ALne having thus past that large Parish of Tanworth enters the Hundred of Barlichway wherein before it hath gone two miles the access of a petty stream called Silesburne which hath its beginning in the nook of Kineton Hundredâ— before mentioned about the edge of Packwood â— enlargeth its Chanell This place sc. Packwood lying in the utmost corner of Barlichway Hundred and bordering upon Hemlingford is reputed to be a member of Kineton Hundred and as it hath in all Taxes antiently payd therewith so doth it still the reason whereof I conceive to be because it was originally a member of Wasperton whereof I have already spoke though it lye at so great a distance from thence and so consequently belonging to the Monks of Coventre which was no strange thing consisidering what I have said in Tanworth relating to Brailes Yet the first mention that I do find in Record of it by name is in 7 R. 1. where Philip de Kingtone levied a Fine thereof to Roger de Cherlecote But it afterwards came again to those Monks it seems for in 41 H. 3. upon that grant of Freewarren which they had in divers of their Mannours this of Packwood is instanced for one and in 44 H. 3. upon the appropriation of all the Churches and Tithes which were within any of their lands it is there enumerated amongst the rest Howbeit that which chiefly shews it to have been a member of Wasperton and so consequently to have past therewith to the Monastery of Coventre upon the very Foundation thereof by Earl Leofrike is the Record of 7 E. 1. where it being certified that the Prior of Coventre was Lord of both for they are there joined together it is said thus Et tenet per Cartam Warrantum S. Edwardi Regis per confirmationes plurimorum Regum At which time viz. 7 E. 1. the Monks had here two Carucates of land in demesn and two tenants which held one yard land by performing divers servile labours being subject to what taxe and exaction the Prior was pleased to impose upon them As also six Freeholders who held two yard land and a half under severall Rents and suit of Court twice in the year and at the same time a certain Park inclosed with an Out-wood and not within the precincts of any Forest But to put it out of all doubt that it was a member of Wasperton I shall vouch one more authority viz. the taxation of the Temporalties belonging to the Religious houses in an 1291. 19 E. 1. where it is said thus Prior de Coventre habet apud Pacwode quod est membrum de Wasperton duas carucat asterrae valet Carucata x s. de redditu Assisa vii marc unum molendinum aquaticum quod valet vi s. viii d. de placitis perquisitis ii s. The metes and bounds of which Mannour are exactly set forth in the Leiger book of Coventre where divers other things relating thereto that for brevitie I omit are to be found As for the particular privileges that the Monks had here I shall not need to recounc them forasmuch as in Coventre it appeareth what they were throughout all their Mannours in 13 E. 1. In 26 H. 8. upon the Survey then taken the value of what the before specified Monks had in this place was thus certified viz. in Rent of Assise ix s. v. d. In lands tenements pastures and a Mill xiiii l. viii s. iiii d. and the ferm of the Mannour vii l. xiiii s. iiii d. Out of which was allowed to Thomas Hugyn then Bayliff an Annuity of xxvi s. viii d. But coming to the Crown at the generall dissolution in 30 H. 8. it was by the said King's Letters Pat. bearing date 8 Feb. 35. H. 8. past inter alia to Will. Willington then of Barcheston Esq. and Will. Sheldon of Beoley who had wedded one of his daughters and to the heirs of the said Will. Sheldon together with the advouson of the Church to be held in Capite Which W. Sheldon granted it to Rob. Burdet of Bramcote Esq. who died seised thereof 11 Ian. 2 E. 6. leaving Thomas his son and heir xvi years of age which Thomas had issue Robert who in consideration of two thousand pounds demised it to Thomas Spenser Esq. late of Claverdon for 2000 years by which means it came to Sir Will. Spenser of Yarnton in com Oxon. upon whom a great part of the said T. Spenser's estate was setled The Church dedicated to S. Giles antiently appropriated to the Monks of Coventre as I have already intimated was long after viz. in H. 6. time reputed but for a Chapell Wasperton doubtless being the mother Church and therefore not Presentative the Curate having then allowed unto him for his annuall Salary the small Tithes with the Altarage the Tithe Corn and all living Mortuaries being received by the said Monks All which Tithes and Oblations together with the Glebe being allowed to the Curate for his stipend were in 26 H. 8. valued at C s. per an In 30 Eliz. amongst divers other things there was a grant made by the Queen to one Ed. Wymerke of the Chapell here by the name of libera Capella de Pacwode cum pertinentiis but this as I conceive is of the same nature as those Patents were to Tipper and Daw apprehending it to be concealed land Lapworth THis being given to the Bishoprick of Worcester by Kenulph K. of Mercia in the time of Denebert the ix th Bishop of that See continued thereto till the days of K. Canutus the Dane but Brightegus the then Bishop being sent into Saxony to conduct Gunnilda the King's daughter wedded to Cono the Emperour having a speciall servant called Hearlewinus attending upon him in that journey as a reward for his pains and travail bestowed upon him this Village then reckoned for no more than half a hide reserving xiid. yearly to be payd at the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady in acknowledgement of the Church its right as the Register of Worcester manifests where it is written Lappawurthin so that after that time the Bishops had no more to do here In the Conquerours time Hugh de Grentemaisnill held it as appears by the generall Survey then made in which it is written Lapeforde and certified to contain 1 hide the woods extending to two miles in length and 1 in breadth the whole being valued at xx s. But immediatly before the Norman invasion it was the freehold of one Baldwinus who afterwards being glad to stoop as most others then
in generall of the lands belonging to these Priories Alien and the occasion thereof having spoke in Wolston I shall here only take notice of what concerns this place in relation thereto Of which the first mention I find is in 16 E. 3. where the K. by his special Precept directed to the Shiriff of this County reciting that whereas he had committed the custody of it to Iohn the then Prior for a certain ferme to be yearly payd into his Exchequer during his Warrs with France and that the said Prior had neglected payment of that Rent accordingly for which respect it was again seized into his hands he had neverthelesse at the humble request of the said Prior who desired no more than a competent allowance for himself and one Monk then resident with him commanded that the sum of iii s. by the week for himself and xviii d. for his fellow Monk might be duly payd unto him out of the issues thereof during the time that it should continue under that seizure But after this viz. in 48 E. 3. there was another seizure made thereof and the custody of it then committed to Hugh Earl Stafford Iohn Maubert the then Prior and Frier Michael Cheyne Procurator generall to the Abbot of Counches Which Prior Maubert in 3 R. 2. obtained a speciall grant thereof to himself with all the lands belonging to it to hold during the said warrs with France paying XL l. per annum into the Exchequer Perhaps he dyed soon after for within three years following the said ferme was granted to Robert Selby a Priest and Iohn de Burley junior to hold during the continuance of the Warrs before specified paying xlvi li. xiii s. iv d. yearly into the said Exchequer But in 22 R. 2. upon the augmentation made unto the House of Carthusians neer Coventre then newly founded with the grant of severall Priories Alien in sundry Counties of this Realm whereof I have there made mention this of Wootton was one of those that the said King gave thereto though of that grant those Carthusians took little benefit for shortly after K. H. 4. by the deposall of King R. 2. attained the Crown taking into consideration that these Priories-Alien were originally founded to the honour of God and that through the frequent seizures of them into the hands of his Progenitors by reason of the Warrs with France the Monks were driven away and the Houses so wasted that such divine service as had antiently been establish't therein was wholly withdrawn out of his pious care to rectifie the said abuse did by the assent of his Councell in Parliament in the first year of his raign make full restitution unto Iohn Seurayn then newly instituted and inducted Prior here of all the possessions belonging to this House granting it to him and his successors for the like Rent reserved to the Exchequer during the continuance of his Warrs with France as had antiently been paid to the House of Counches in times of Peace upon condition that the same Prior and his successors should thenceforth find and maintaine so many Monks secular Priests and other English Officers therein as by the first Foundation of it were ordained to be and paying all Tenths Fifâ—eens and other Subsidies whatsoever with the Clergie and Commonalty of this Realm as often as there should be occasion Howbeit after this viz. in 4 H. 4. there was a new consideration had in the Parliament then held touching these Priories-Alien viz. that all should be again seized into the King's hands excepting onely those that were Conventuall whereupon the Shiriff of this Countie had command to give warning unto this Prior of Wootton and the rest within his limits to appear in their proper persons at Westminster on the Octaves of S. Hillary and to bring with them all their Charters and Evidences whereby he himself and his Councell might be satisfied whether they had been Priories Conventuall time out of mind or not But notwithstanding this Act they rested not long for whereas the former seizures had been so made onely upon pretence that by transporting part of the revenues belonging to these English Cells to those Houses in France whereunto they were subordinate the King's adversaries at such times as he had Warrs with the French were assisted in the Parliament held at Leicester 2 H. 5. it being considered that though a finall peace should be afterwards made betwixt England and France yet the carrying over such summs of money yearly out of England to those foreingn Monasteries would be prejudiciall to this Kingdom and the people thereof there was an Act then made that all the possessions in England belonging to the said Priories Alien should thenceforth remain to the King and his heirs for ever excepting such whereof there was speciall declaration then made to the contrary al entent saith the Act que divines services en les lieux avant dictz purront plus duement estre fait per gentz Anglois en temps avenir qùe n'ount est é fait devant ces heures en icelles par gentz Francois c. But this Proviso was not very punctually observed for I find that Sir Rouland Lenthale Knight having obtained certain Letters Patent from K. H. 5. by colour of an information that this Priorie was not presentable instituible nor inductible thereupon entred into the possession of it and received the profits so that thenceforth no Divine service was there performed contrary to the purport of that Statute of 1 H. 4. before mentioned as also against the pious intent of the said Founders So that in 16 H. 6. the King a king into his consideration the premisses to the intent that Gods service and all works of Charitie should be there devoutly performed did for the good estate of himself and for the souls of his noble Progenitors his heirs likewise and successors at the humble supplication of Frere Iohn a Monk of the House of Conchis above specified present him the said Monk to the Bishop of Worcester to be instituted and inducted as Prior thereunto And shortly after to give satisfaction unto the said Sir Rouland Lenthale touching that matter granted an anannuity of xx li. to him and his heirs for ever to be received out of the issues and profits of the Countie of Hereford But this new Prior had no long enjoyment thereof for by Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster 12. Dec. in 22. of his reign did the same King bestow it upon the Provost and Scholars of his Royall Colledge in Cambridge then newly by him founded to have and to enjoy to themselves and their successors for ever Which Provost and Scholars about four years after obtained a formall Release from the said Prior by the name of Iohn Conches a Monk of the Order of S. Benet at Conches in Normandy and late Prior of the Priory of Wawens-Wootton in the County of Warwick
of all his right title and claim that he had or could challenge thereto dated 18 o Iunii 26 H. 6. And for the better securing of their title did the said Provost and Scholars in 1 E. 4. procure a speciall Patent from that King of Confirmation for this and other lands of that kâ—nd which by the munificence of their pious Founder had been granted to them the same Patent bearing date at Westminster 22 Febr. Patroni Priores de Wootton Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Rog. de Pavilliaco monach 12. Cal. Ian. 1285. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Frater Ioh. de Brocâ—a monach de Conchis 8. Cal. Iunii 1288. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Frater Will. de Laverceye monach de Conchis 8. Id. Nov. 1309. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Frater Ioh. le Tonnelier monach 26. Iulii 1328. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Frater Iohâ— de Silvaneto 2. Ian. 1340. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Frater Guillerinus Pinchart die Mart. post festum Dionysii martyris 1349. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Frater Ioh. Maubert monach de Conchis 7. Martii 1370. Abbas de Conchis in Normannia Ioh. Soverain monach de Conchis .... 1400. Henr. 6. Rex Angl. c. Ioh. de Conchis monachus 17. Iunii 1438. Aspley OF this place there is no mention in the Conqueror's Survey and therefore I do conclude that it was at that time involved with Wootton Neither have I seen any thing of it in Record till 5 H. 3. that Alan de Bercheston impleaded Robert de Chaucumbe for certain lands here wherein it is written Apsele That this Robert de Chaucumbe was then Lord of it will appear by what I have next to say viz. that in 15 H. 3. by a Fine levied betwixt Gilbert de Segrave Annabil his wife Plantiffs and the same Robert de Chaucumbe deforc the said Robert having given her the said Annabil his eldest daughter in marriage to the same Gilbert and Milisent the other to Raph Basset setled his lands lying in the Counties of Northampt. Warwick Leic. and Linc. so as if he should fortune to have any other heir besides them two the said Gilbert and Annabil and the heirs of Annabil to enjoy the moitie only of this Mannour of Aspele and the other moitie to go unto the said Raph Basset and Milisent and the heirs of Milisent for ever But plain it is that the said Robert de Chaucuâ—be had no other issue so that upon such partition as was afterwards made betwixt those coheirs this Mannour of Aspele came wholly to Anabill whereupon the before specified Gilbert de Segrave her husband in 36 H. 3. obiained a Charter of Freewarren in all his demesn lands here having an antient Mannour-house upon it as it should seem by the large moat with a Park yet did not her issue by the same Gilbert enjoy it For being afterwards married to Roger de Somery whom she survived in her full and lawfull widowhood she granted it unto Iohn de Somery her son by that husband and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten to be held of her and her heirs paying unto her and Nicholas de Segrave her son and heir and his heirs a pair of gilt Spurrs or six pence at the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist yearly for all services Which Iohn in 13 E. 1. claymed a Court Leet here with Assize of Bread and Beer therein by Prescription whereof he had then allowance But at length it returned to the line of Segrave and in 18 E. 3. was with divers other Mannours in severall Counties entailed by Sir Iohn de Segrave Knight upon the issue of his body by Margaret his wife and for default of such issue upon his right heirs Which Margaret had it inter alia in dower as appears by the Inquis taken after the death of Sir Walter Manney Knight her second husband By vertue of which entail it divolved through an heir female to the Family of Moubray being in 1 H. 4. committed with divers other Mannours in this County to Sir Thomas Rempston Kt. in respect that Thomas the son and heir to Thomas Moubray Duke of Norff. was then in minority and by Moubray's daughter and coheir to Berkley Thomas Lord Berkley dying seized of it in 26 H. 8. leaving Henry his son and heir who accomplisht his full age in 2 3 Ph. M. Forde Hall THis lying within the precincts of Aspele was about the beginning of E. 1. reign granted by Sir Iohn de Somery before mentioned to one Roger de la Forde of Aspele and Agatha his wife and their heirs the Rent of xii d. yearly payable at the Feast of S. Michael and the Annunciation of our Lady by equall portions being thereupon reserved as also forrein service and suit to the Court of him the said Iohn and his heirs Hence came it in succeeding times to be called Forde Hall and in 5 R. 2. past by the name of a Mannour from one Nicholas Prylle of Ludlow to Henry de Bonnebury and his heirs but at length came to Iohn Fullwode about H. 8. time in marriage with Ioan the daughter and heir to Baldwyn Heath Which Iohn being second son to Robert Fullwode of Cley Hall in Tanworth had issue Iohn and he a third Iohn who by marriage with Katherine daughter coheir to Thomas Dabridgcourt of Langdon Hall left issue six daughters his heirs scil Frances the wife of William Noell of Welsborough in Com. Leic. Esquire Elianor of Sir Edw. Hampden Knight Alice of Sir George Fullwode Kt. Christian of Iohn Hales Esquire Grace of Angell Grey of Kingston in Com. Dors. Esquire and Katherine which Grace upon the partition of that inheritance had inter alia this for her share Mockley I Am of opinion that this now bearing the name of Mockley was part of that land which Robert de Stafford granted to the Monks of Conchis whereof in Wootton I have spoke but of it I do not find any particular mention till about E. 1. time and that is also accidentally Gilbert de Monkelee and William de Monkelee with Roger then Vicar of Wootton being witnesses to a grant of certain lands in Buckele lying hard by made to the Monks of Wootton whence I conclude that having belong'd to those Monks it therefore had the name of Monkelee and that by shortnes of pronunciation it is now called Mockle As part of the possessions therefore of that Religious House was it in 7 H. 5. granted by the King with the Priory of Wootton to Sir Rouland Lenthale Knight and in 22 H. 6. past therewith likewise to the Provost and Scholars of King's Colledge in Cambridge by the name of the Mannour of Molkele and being confirmed to that Colledge by King E. 4. is enjoyed accordingly at this day Vllenhale THis place having been part
of the possessions of Waga of whom I have spoke in Wootton in Edw. the Confessors days was held by Robert de Stafford in the Conq. time and by the generall Survey then taken wherein it is written Holehale certified to contain one hide the woods being half a mile in length and one furlong in breadth all valued at iv li. From which Robert or his son Nicholas did Roger Earl of Warwick obtain it as it seemes and enfeoft thereof one Roger who residing here assumed the sirname of Ulehale from whom descended certain male branches which continued till Edw. 1. time at the least whereof one viz. Robert grandchild to the said Roger wrote himself Dominus de Holenhale and in 36 H. 3. was certified to hold a fourth part of a Knight's fee here of the Earl of Warwick I suppose by some circumstances that this Mannour first came to the family of Mountfort about King H. 3. time for I find that Peter de Mountfort did then confirm the grant of certain particular parcells of land lying here given by petty Freeholders to the Monks Wootton but the first positive proof that I have which manifesteth Montfort directly to have been Lord thereof is in 32 H. 6. where one Richard Hawnell who was enfeoft thereof by Sir William Mountfort of Colshill Kt. releases his right therein to Humphrey Duke of Buck. and others which Duke with the rest had likewise but an estate in trust thereof for it appears that it came to the Crown in 10 H. 7. by the attainder of Sir Simon Montfort Knight as in Colshill shall be shewed and was by the same King in 12. of his reign granted away with divers other Lordships in this Countie to Gerald Earl of Kildare and Elizabeth S. Iohn then his wife and the heirs male of their two bodyes K. H. 8. in 2. of his reign confirming the same From which Earl it descended to Sir Iames Fitz Gerald Knight one of his sons by the said Eliz. But by his attainder in 28 H. 8. as I have elsewhere shewed returned again to the Crown and in 1 Mariae was by that Queen granted unto Michael Throkmorton Esquire a younger son to Sir Robert Throkmorton of Coughton Knight who died seized thereof 1. Nov. 5 6 Ph. M. leaving Francis his son and heir seven years of age which Francis had issue Iohn Throkmorton of whom it was purchased in our time by Mr. Bolton a Citizen of London Here is a fair Chapell dedicated to the blessed Virgin wherein the Vicars of Wootton for the time being have of antient time used to find a Priest at their own proper charge to celebrate divine service The Epitaph belonging to the Monument represented on the next page Here lieth the body of Francis Throkmorton Esquire borne in the Citie of Mantua in Italy son and heir unto Michaell Throkmorton Esquire and of Agnes Hide of Southamptonshire which Michaell was borne at Coughton-Court in the Countie of Warwick and was youngest brother to Sir George Throkmorton of Coughton aforesaid Knight And after that the said Michaell had lived many years in Italy in good and great reputation with bountifull Hospitalitie entertaining most of the Noble-men and gentlemen of England that had occasion to come that way and did returne into the Realm of England in the very beginning of the reigne of Q. Mary and received of her gift the Maenours of Honiley Blackwell Packhurst Winderton Vllenhall in Ullenhall and others as appeareth by her Majesties Letters Patent bearing date in the first year of her reign And after went into Italy againe where he departed this life and lieth buried in S. Martin's Church in the said Citie of Mantua under a fair Tombe The said Michael married Iudith Tracie daughter of Richard Tracie of Stanway in the Countie of Gloucester Esquire and of Barbara Lucy of Charlecote in the aforesaid County of Warwick and sister to Sir Paul Tracie Baronet and had by her six Children whereof three that is to say Francis Michaell and Iudith are departed this life without issue and the other three are living that is to say Iohn Michaell and Iudith Anno Dom. 1617. anno decimo quinto domini nostri Iacobi Regis Angliae Mors mihi lucrum portus refugium Sic transit gloria Mundi Omnia vana vidi solo mea Christo repono Mors tua Mors Christi fraus Mundi gloria Coeli Et dolor inferni sunt meditanda tibi Botley THis being originally a member of Wootton is not taken notice of in the Conqueror's Survey but the name which is Saxon shews it to be of greater antiquity for Botle was the word which our Ancestors used in the same sense that we do Domus in Latine In H. 2. time Robert de Stadford possessor also of Wootton gave to the Canons of Kenilworth certain lands lying in this place with the homages and services of severall persons as also to Geffrey Malore and his heirs all those lands homages services which he likewise held of him here reserving the payment of a Sparhawk to himself and his heirs by the said Geffrey and his heirs which Geffrey was of those Malories that resided at Tachebroke in this Countie From whom descended Iohn Malore who in 9 E. 3. had Free warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here and at Tachebrooke before specified as also at Walton on the Woulds in Leicestershire and from him another Iohn who with Ankitell Malore his son and heir by their Deed bearing date the Thursday after the Feast of S. Michael th'arch-Angell 22 H. 6. aliened it to Richard Archer Esquire and his heirs whose posteritie have ever since enjoy'd it Sir Simon Archer of Tanworth Knight being the present owner thereof Whitley THis being in the Conqueror's time possest by Robert de Stadford with Wootton and then certified to contain three hides was held of him by one Drogo which name we now call Drew having then a Mill Woods extending to half a mile in length and two furlongs in breadth all which were valued at xl s. and before the Norman Invasion had been the inheritance of three brothers Some have affirmed that this Drogo was a Norman and servant to the said Robert de Stadford and that his posterity assumed the sirname of Whitley in regard of their residence here as also that from this Family of Whitley came the Offords and Fulwoods the one from Robert who seating himself at Offord whereof I shall speak anon left that name to his descendants and the other from Richard who planting at a place in the parish of Tanworth then called Fulwood but now Clea-Hall had also thence that denomination all which from antient evidences is likewise in some sort manifested Of this Family was one Thomas de Witele who had issue Robert which Robert in consideration of x. marks of silver past
thereon which the Shiriff was commanded to value and according to the rate they should be prized at to deliver them unto him and from hence had it the addition of his name joyned thereto for distinction from the other Astons in this Counâ—y Here hath been antiently a Park and by the tradition of the Inhabitants a Castle also situate Southwards of the Church but the Moat and banks thereof are now so levelled that there is scarce any appearance of it At which Castle forasmuch as the before specified William and his descendants had without doubt their principal residence till by marriage with Eva the daughter and heir of Will. de Braose to Will. his grandson the Castle and Honour of Bergavenny came to this Familyâ— I have here thought fit to say something historically of them ..... de Cantilupe Will. de Cantilupe Senesch Regis obiit 23 H. 3. Matilda relictâ— 36 H. 3. Will. de Cantilupe ob 35 H. 3. Milisent filia Hug. de Gornai Will. de Cantilupe obiit 39 H. 3. Eva filia cohaer Will. de Braosa Georgius de Cantilupe obiit sine prole 1 E. 1. Iohanna Henricus de Hastings Ioh. de Hastings dominus de Bergavenny 11 E. 1. Milisent uxor Eudoniâ— de la Zouch 2 E. 1. Thomas de Cantilupe Episc. Herefordiae Iuliana uxor domini Roberti de Tregoz Walt. de Cantilupe Episc. Wigorn Ioh. de Cantilupe de Snitfield 20 H. 3. Nich. de Cantilupe 46 H. 3. Sibilla uxor Galfridi de Pancefote This Will. de Cantelu or Cantelupe for I find him both ways written was a person of great eminency and power in his time In 1 Ioh. he had a discharge for the Scuâ—age then due from him In 3 4 5 6 Ioh. he was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire and upon leaving that office constituted Governour of the Castles of Hereford Wilton and Purrebach Nay in those great differences betwixt the said King and Pope Innocent the 3. in 13 Ioh. he is taken notice of to have been one of that King 's Chief Councellors and directors and from the 12 th year to the end of his reign had again the custody of the before specified Counties In 15 Ioh. he obtained the King's special Precept to the Barons of his Exchequer to respite their demand of CCCC Marks debt due by him viz. CCC marks for a Fine which he was to have payd for the Wardship and custody of the land of Henry de Longcamp's heir and C. marks which the sand King had lent him upon his Voyage into Almaine In 16 Ioh. he had Scutage of his Tenants in satisfaction for those souldiers which were then maintained by him in Poictou for the King's service as also the same year was amongst others a witnesse to that notable Charter granted by the said King to the Archb. of Canterb. and other Bishops in behalf of all the Churches and Monasteries of England and in 17 Ioh. got a pardon for a debt of CClxii marks and xvid which was by his own agreement to have been payd as a fine for obtaining the Countesse of Eureux in marriage for his son And yet notwithstanding all these favours it appears that in that great defection of the Barons the same year he forsook the King and adhered to them but did not persist long in that error as it seems for shortly after I find that he had a grant of all the lands of Nich. de Verdon and so also of Thurstane de Mountfort great Actors in that Rebellion and was made Governour of the strong Castle of Kenilworth in this Countie being then Steward of the King's houshold Having thus shewed in what esteem he was with K. Iohn let us now take a view of his favour with K. H. 3. and of his eminency in those times In 1. of that K. reign he was in person with the royall Army at the siege of Mountfsorell Castle in Leicestersh and at raising the seige which the rebellious Barons had made against the Castle of Lincoln In 2 H. 3. again made Shiriff of this County and Leicestersh in which office he continued till the 8 th year of that King's reign In 5 H. 3. he had the K. special Letter authorizing him to receive of the several Kts. Fees held of him x s. in respect that he was in person with the K. at the seige of Bitham Castle in Lincolnsh In 6 H. 3. he had by the Ks. special command all the Castles that belonged to Reginald de Braose deceaâ—ed committed to his charge being then Steward to the K. as he had been to his father but it seems that his chief residence was then at Kenilw. Castle before specified for no lesse doth the Record appointing him timber for repair of the buildings for his habitation there import Howbeit the same year being made Governour of Hereford Castle he had in December 8 H. 3. a discharge of his Shiriffalty here and of the Custody of Kenilworth Castle which was thereupon delivered up to Iohn Russell unto whom also those Counties were then committed It should seem that about this time he adhered to the Earl of Chester and some other of the Barons who began to swell against the King and give out big words on the behalf of that Earl whose Castles the said King thought fit to sieze but seeing themselves not strong enough to go through with their designe were glad to submit For which offence I do not find that the Ks. displeasure stuck long upon him in regard that within 3 years after by his Pat bearing date 18 Aug. he confirmed unto him this Mannour of Eston which formerly did belong to Raph de Tankervile Chamberlain of Normandy with the Mannour of Middleston that pertained to Gilbert de Vilers to hold till such time as the said King should please to restore them unto the right heirs of the said Raph and Gilbert which Mannours he the said Will. had first received by the grant of K. Iohn as the same Record testifieth for confirmation whereof as also for a Mercate and Faire here he then gave the K. a Fine of xv marks And in 13 H. 3. received farther testimony of the King's favour by a Pardon of xl marks due from him to have been payd into the Exchequer for certain amerciaments laid upon him by the Justices Itinerant and an acceptance of x. marks per an till the C. marks lent unto him by King Iohn were satisfied which summe the said King delivered unto him when he went on his Embassie into Almaine as I have already intimated In 15 H. 3. he had another confirmation of this Lordship extending also to his heirs with a speciall Proviso that if the said King or his heirs should afterward restore it to the heirs of Tankervile he the said William and his heirs should have other lands of
to speak Arrow DEscending lower by the bank of Alne I come forthwith to its conjunction with Arrow which being the more eminent stream carrieth on that name till it meets with Avon The first place of note that presents it self to my view below this confluence is Arrow taking its name from the River on the West side whereof it is seated Before the Norman invasion this having been the freehold of one Leuuinus but by the Conqueror's disposall possest by Odo Bishop of Baieux half Brother to the K. whose under-tenant thereof was one Stefanus was by the Survey then taken found to contain 7. hides and a half having a Mill prized at vi s. viii d. with Woods belonging thereto that extended to a mile in length and two furlongs in breadth all which were valued at iiii l. That this Bishop adhered to Rob. Curthose eldest son to the Conqueror and for that respect was constrain'd to quit England in the time of K. Will. Rufus our Historians do shew at large so that the said King then seizing his lands gave this as 't is probable to Roger Marmion for it appears that the said Roger did possess it and that from him it descended to Robert his grandchild which Rob. past it away to Geffrey Marmion his uncle in consideration whereof the same Geffrey released unto him all his right that he had in the Fee of Manser Marmion aswell in England as in Wales according to the tenor of K. H. 2. Charter To which Geffrey succeeded Albreda his daughter and heir who granted this Lordship of Arewe to Will. de Camvill and his heirs for the service of half a Kts. Fee but afterwards became his wife as it seems The descendants of which Will. during the continuance of the male line made this their principall seat and after them the Burdets by marriage of the heir female of that Family Which Will. de Camvill being a younger son to Ric. de Camvill Founder of Combe Abby in this Countie and by the marriage of the said Albreda invested with Marmion's rightâ— obtained a Release from Raph Boteler of Oversley of all his claim in this Lordship touching which he had been impleaded by him the said Raph and left issue by the same Albreda Geffrey de Camvile his son and heir from whom the Camviles of Clifton in Staffordshire descended whose heir female called Isabell in E. 3. time was wedded to Sir Ric. Stafford Kt. William his second son who had this Mannour as also Sekindon and Thomas a Priest as the Descent sheweth Which last mentioned Will. in 18 Ioh. had a grant of the lands in Alencester belonging to Peter Fitz Herbert to hold during the King's pleasure But this Will incurring the King 's sore indignation for cutting down a Wood of his own here at Arewe it being within the precincts of Fekenham Forest had for that offence part of his lands seized on by the Shiriff howbeit in 12 H. 3. in consideration of L. marks Fine for payment wherof securitie was then given obtained restitution of them again and was received into favour and in 16 H. 3. the better to fortifie his title to this Lordship procured from Maurice le Boteler of Oversley son and heir to the before specified Raph a confirmation thereof for which he gave C s. sterling Bnt all that I further find of him is that in 19 H. 3. he was constituted one of the Justices for the Gaol delivery at Warwick and that about the 25 H. 3. he withdrew his suit for this Mannour from the Countie and Hundred Courts having got a discharge from Philip de Ascells the then Shiriff for his so doing in consideration of half a mark to be yearly payd to him the said Philip and his successors To this Will succeeded Thomas de Camvill betwixt whom and Geffrey de Camvile of Clifton there was some controversie touching the Customs and services which he the said Geffrey required of him for this Mannour whereupon they came to Agreement in 3 E. 1. by which it was concluded that for the time to come the said Thomas and his heirs should pay xx s. for Scutage levied after the rate of xl s. and for more or less according to that proportion as also Homage and Releif when cause required From which Thomas descended Sir Gerard de Camvile Kt. who in 19 E. 1. was imployed into Scotland for the King's service and so likewise in 29 E. 1. having then summons amongst sundry other persons of eminency to attend the K. at Barwick upon Twede well furnisht with Horse and Armes for to march into Scotland Of this Sir Gerard is that fair portraiture yet standing in a South window of the Church here at Arrow in his military habite of that time and a Surcoat of Armes who kneeling before St. George the Souldiers Saint implores his remembrance as the sâ—râ—ul proceeding from his lips viz. Qui fueram Miles recole me G. sancte sheweth which where I speak of the Church is lively exprest But after him I find mention of Henry de Camvill at this place for some few years about the beginning of E. 2. reign though by what title I am not able to say Perhaps that being of the name and a younger branch of this Family he had got Elizabeth daughter and heir to the said Gerard into his power with hopes to make her his wife and thereby gain that fair inheritance belonging to her for it appears that in 33 E. 1. she was under age and that in 6 E. 2. upon a complaint by him made to the King that Robert Burdet Gerard de Sekindon and others had forcibly taken away Elizabeth his wife residing here at Arwe together with his goods and Caâ—â—ell a Commission was issued out unto Henry Spigurnell Nich. de Langelond and Ric. de Châ—seldon to make enquiry thereof by the Oaths of honest and lawfull men and to certifie the truth therein so that it is not improbable that this Eliz. was the daughter and heir to the before specified Geraâ—d de Camvile whom the said Robert Burdet lawfully wedded and through whose right this Lordship and other lands came to his posterity Having thus shewed how the Burdets were first possest of this Mannour where they afterwards seated themselves for divers ages and findâ—ng that they had lands in this Countie long before I shall here take notice of what I have met with in an historicall way relating to them The first of this name of whom I have found mention is Robert Burdet one of the witnesses to that notable Charter made by Geffrey de Wirce to the Monastery of St. Nicholas at Angiers which beareth date at Monkskirby in this Countie in the twelfth year of K. Will. the Conqueror's reign Whether the said Robert was paternall ancestor to those of this Family whereof I am to speak I cannot certainly
sons Iohn and Roger died young so that the inheritance divolved to Thomas who by the death of Maâ—garet wife of Sir Roger de Clarindon Knight without issue came to possesse a fair part of the Barony of Tyllaghlarg in Ireland by righfull descent as the Pedegree before inserted sheweth Which Thomas had issue onely two daughters betwixt whom his lands were divided this Mannour falling to Elene the wife of Sir Edmund Ferrers of Chartley Knight and so descended unto William Lord Ferrers of Chartley her son and heir who died seâ—zed thereof in 28 H. 6. leaving Anne his daughter and heir then the wife of Walter Devereux Esquire which Walter in 2 E. 4. and so afterwards during that King's regn and in 1 R. 3. was summoned to Parliament amongst the Barons by the name of Walter Devereux de Ferrers Chevalier whose grandchild Walter Vicount Hereford setled it upon Edward his son by a second wife and his heires which Edward built a fair House of brick here wherein he resided and being created Baronet 25. Nov. 10â— Iac. departed this life 22. Sept. in 20â— of that King's reign leaving Sir Walter Devereux his son and heir now Lord of this Mannour Anno scil 1640. Park-Hall THis having been the chief seat of the Ardens for neer CCC years last past had in 38 E. 3. the name of Park-Hall being situate in haya de Bromwich the House as it should seem by an antient moat then standing at the top of the hill Southwards from the River But in 2 H. 5. it was called Manerium de Park-Hall As a member of Bromwich it did originally belong to the old Barons of Dudley for so the tenure thereof implies but when it came to the Ardens or was by them impark't I have not yet discovered In 2 H. 8. I find that the Park was enlarged with Cxl. acres of Wood and Pasture as also with x. acres of arable ground by Iohn Arden Esquire by which it seems that the extent of it before was not great And that afterwards scil in 32 H. 8. it was called Manerium de la Logge alias Park-Hall And here should I according to my accustomed methode speak historically of the Ardens but in regard that Curdworth and Minworth have been of their inheritance even from the Norman Conquest I have thought it more proper to refer what I have to say of that antient Family thither Water Orton THis little village hath its name from the situation standing neer the River and upon such an ascent Before 32 H. 6. I have not found it termed a Mannour but then by an Inquisition taken after the death of Raph de Arden it was so reputed coming to the same Raph by the marriage of Eliz. the daughter and heir of Richard de Clodshale to whose posteritie it still continues That it was originally as a member of Aston belonging to the old Barons of Dudley there is no cause to doubt considering that it hath so antiently been within the view of their Leet held at Bordsley for all the Hamlets in Aston parish and that it appears to have been held as Saltley was the grant whereof from Gervase Paganell I have already vouched But that the Ardens had some lands therein long before the match with Clodshale's heir is as evident There is besides this another Mannour at least in reputation within the precincts of this Hamlet concerning which there was a Fine levied betwixt Francis Morgan and others Plantiffs and Richard Tate and others deforc in 6 E. 6. before which time I have not seen any mention of it and whereof in 43 Eliz. Will. Tate son of Barth Tate was possest At which time I find it certified to be held of Ardens Mannour before mentioned The Inhabitants of this Village being within the parish of Aston did antiently use to hear divine Service in the Chapell of Bromwich but in 20 E. 3. having built one of their own they obtained License from Roger Northburgh then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield for a Priest to performe the like service therein for one year provided that they should not retain any thing of their dues from the Vicar of Aston which License bears date at Heywood 2 Aug. Anno 1346. For the antiquity of the Bridge here I cannot speak positively but in 37 H. 6. I find that Reginald Bowlers then Bishop of this Dioces taking into his consideration that it was out of repair granted a speciall Indulgence of xl days bearing date 24. Sept. to all the Inhabitants of Coventre-Archdeaconry who should within the space of three years next following charitably contribute to the amendment thereof But whether that Bridge was then of stone or not I am not sure for there is a tradition that Iohn Harman alias Vessy Bishop of Exeter in H. 8. time built it and Curdworth bridge at his own Charges causing the stone for that purpose to be brought from the old Mannour-House of Sutton of which Bishop I shall say more when I come to that place Witton THis was the freehold of one Staunchel before the Norman invasion but afterwards being disposed of with Aston to William Fitz Ausculfe the same Staunchel became Tenant to this new Lord as generally the native English were constrain'd to do so that at the time of the Conqueror's Survey it was certified with the rest of Fitz Ausculf's lands in this Countie and containing one hide was valued at xx s. in which Record it is written Witone But the next possessor thereof afterwards that I can yet discover was Andrew de Wicton who held it in 25 H. 3. being the first perhaps that became enfeoft thereof by one of the Batons of Dudley at which time there was some dispute betwixt the same Andrew and William de Pyrie touching the bounds betwixt this Lordship and that of Pyrie in Staffordshire whereupon the King directed his Precept to the Sheriff of this Countie to bring with him twelve discreet and lawfull Knights of Warwickshire having done the like to the Shiriff of Staffordshire so that upon Perambulation made there might be certain metes and bounds exactly set forth betwixt them which were to be certified to the King's Justices at the next Assize and there it is written Wicton which plainly shews that though it be vulgarly pronounced Witton the originall occasion of its name was from the situat on that it hath so near the bent of the River The next mention I find of it is in 19 E. 1. upon the death of Roger de Someri Lord of Dudley where it appears that Iohn the son of Will. Dyxele held it of the same Roger by the eighth part of a Knight's fee. Which Iohn had issue Iohn who wrote himself Dominus de Wicton in 18 E. 2. But in these Dixleys it continued not much longer for in 14 E. 3. did Sarra the widow of the said Iohn de Dixele and
Master Bermingham was to ride out from home which being accordingly done they so contrived their business that one of their plot should ride leisurely before so that they might soon keeping but an ordinary pace overtake him whereupon they watcht an opportunity to strike into Master Bermingham's company as Travailers with whom they soberly rode for a while but being come up to their confederate forthwith set upon him for his Purse so that the villain thus seemingly rob'd makes pursuit after them and likewise after Master Bermingham as one of the pack who being thereupon apprehended and prosecuted apparently saw his danger The business therefore now working according to Dudley's first design there were others imployed to Mr. Bermingham with overture how he might save his Life viz. to make the Vicount L'isle his friend in giving up this Lordship of Bermingham to him which that it might bear the better colour and be the more valid was performed by yeilding it to the King and ratified by a speciall Act of Parliament the tenor whereof was as followeth Where Edward Byrmingham late of Byrmingham in the Countie of Warwick Esquire otherwise callid Edward Byrmingham Esquire ys and standyth lawfully indettid to our sovereing Lord the Kynge in diverse grete summes of money Aud also standyth at the mercy of his Highness for that the same Edward ys at this present convicted of Felony our seide sovereign Lord the Kyng ys contentid and pleased that for and in recompence and satisfaction to his grace of the seyde summes of money to accept and take of the seyde Edwarde the Mannoâ—r and Lordship of Byrmingham otherwise callid Byrmincham with the appurtenances lying and being in the Countie of Warwick and all and singular other lands and tenements reversions Rents Services and hereditaments of the same Edward Byrmingham set lying and beyng in the Countie of Warwick afforeseyde Be yt therefore ordeyned and enacted by the authorite of this present Parliament that our saide sovereine Lord the Kynge shall have hold and enjoy to him his heirs and assignes for ever the seide Mannour and Lordship of Byrmingham c. In which Act there is a reservation of xl l. per an to the said Edward and Elizabeth his wife during their lives Howbeit after this it was no less than nine years ere the grant of it from the Crown to the said Vicount L'isle was made for it bears not date till December 21 37 H. 8. perhaps on purpose so deferred that the world might the less censure him for this hard dealing at which time the inheritance thereof together with the Burgh of Bermingham and patronage of the Rectorie late belonging unto the before specified Edward Bermingham were past unto him with other lands lying in the Counties of Salop Heref. and Worcester But how short a time he enjoy'd it my Story of him as Earl of Warwick will further shew for being attainted and losing his head in 1 M. whereby all that he had eschaâ—ted to the Crown the same Queen in 3. and 4. of her reign by her Letters Pat. dated 9 Apr. granted the inheritance thereof to Thomas Marrow Esq. whose posteritie seated at Berkswell in this Countie continue Lords of it till this day Other particulars memorable relating to this place are as followeth viz. in 35 H. 3. a grant that another Faire should be yearly kept here for three days sc. on the Eve of St. Iohn Bapt. and the two days next following the Shiriff of Worcestershire having then command to proclaim it accordingly throughout his Liberties And that in 12 E. 2. the Inhabitants at the instance of Aâ—domare de Valence Earl of Pembroke obtained a License to take Toll of all vendible commodities brought hither to be sold for the space of three years viz. for every Quarter of Corn a farthing c. towards paving the town But this work was not perfectly compleated within that time nor of xv years after for in 7 E. 3. I find that they had another Pat. to take Toll in like manner for the space of 3. years more The Hospitall of St. Thomas the Apostle THis was situate at that end of the town towards Wolverhampton and on the right hand the road almost opposite to the sign of the Bull but touching the originall Foundation thereof I have not seen any farâ—her testimony than that Certificate made by the Commissioners upon their Survey in 37 H. 8. where it is said they were informed that the Ancestors of the Berminghams Lords of Bermingham erected it for one Priest to sing Mass daylie therein for the souls of the Founders for ever as also that the late Lord of Bermingham viz. Edw. Bermingham Esq. did inter alia grant the patronage of it to one Iohn Prettye for XCIX years which said Iohn past away his title therein to Mr. Clem. Thrâ—kmorton Gentleman And the first mention of it that I find is in 13 E. 1. where it appeareth that Thomas de Maidenhache of whom I have spoke in Aston gave unto it ten acres of Heath in Aston Wiâ—â— de Bermingham x. acres likewise and Ranulph de Rokeby 3. acres of land in Saluteley About that time were divers Cottages and lands lying also in Bermingham and the adjacent Villages given to it by sundry others viz. xxii acres of land and half an acre of meadow by the same Will. de Bermingham and the rest by a number of ordinary persons for all which the Prior and Brethren thereof obtained the King's speciall pardon in 4 E. 2. in regard they had been given thereto after publication of the Statute of Mortmain made in 7 E. 1. In 24 E. 3. Foub de Bermingham and Ric. Spenser gave thereunto two Messuages and an 〈◊〉 â—crces of land lying in Aston and Bermyngham â—o find a Priest to celebrate divine servâ—c◠〈◊〉 at the Altar of our Blessed Lady in the Church of the same Hospitall for the souls of Will. le Mercer and Margerie his wife and of certain others The clear yearly value of all which lands and tenements belonging thereto over and above reprises were in 26 H. 8. certified to be viii l. v s. iii d. at which time Sir Edw. Tofte was Chantrie Priest there but in 37 H. 8. the value above reprises was rated at viii l. viii s. ix d. Patroni Custodes sive Guardiani ejusdem Hospitalis D. Episcopus Frater Rob. Marmion 16. Cal. Oct. 1326. D. Episcopus Ioh Nevill confrater Non. Nov. 1353. D. Fulco de Bermyncham miles Rob. Cappe Cap. 6. Cal. Iunii 1361. D. Fulco de Bermyncham miles Thomas Edmund Pbr. 2 Non. Aug. 1369. D. Ioh. de Clinton miles Ioh. Frotheward Pbr. 15. Nov. 1390. D. Ioh. de Clinton miles Ioh. Cheyne 5. Sept. 1393. Domina Eliz. de Clinton Henr. Bradley Pbr. 22 Oct. 1398. D. Ioh. Russell miles Tho. Salpyn 24 Sept. 1403. D. Eliz. Domina de Clinton Rob. Browe Cap. 7. Martii 1407. D.
integram virgatam terrae de Bondagio solebant operari cum Domino in Autumpno per duos dies similiter omnes alii Custumarii ad quantitatem tenurae per rationabilem praemonitionem Praepositi pro quo solebant habere unum Multonem pingue iiii d. Panem album xii lagenas cervisiae Et si non venerint tunc solebant amerciari ad proximam Curiam sequentem Et dicunt quod omnes praedictae Consuetudines solebant fieri à tempore Regis Athelstanâ— tempore Regis Johannis ante Coronationem Henrici Regis Et praedecessores praedictorum Iuratorum ....... dicebant Et dicunt quod Waleranus quondam Comes VVarwici concessit quod omnes praedictae consuetudines omnes aliae antiquae consuetudines pro se haered suis durabunt imperpetuum The next things of note that I have observed concerning this Lordship are these viz. that in 9 E. 2. upon the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick it was valued at xxiiii l. iii d. ob q. per an as also the next ensuing year in respect of the minority of his heir committed to the custody of Iohn de Someri And that in 17 E. 2. there was a notable Robberie committed upon a certain Road thwarting that part of the Chase called Colfeild â— then and yet known by the name of Rugewey the partie rob'd being one Elias le Collier and the summe of money taken from him CCC l. about nine of the Clock in the morning whereupon he commenced his suit against the Inhabitants of this Hundred of Hemlingford and those of the Hundred of Offlow in Staffordshire according to the Statute of Winchester for not prosecuting the Felons in regard that the same Way as the Record saith divideth the Counties of Warwick and Stafford viz. leaving Sutton and Aston 〈◊〉 Bermingham on the one side of it of this Countie and Barre Alrewich with part of Shenston in Com. Staff on the other side and had Jâ—â—gment to recover the money accordingly wâ—ereupon Writts being directed to the Shiriffs of both Shires to levie the said summe return was made that the people were so much indebted to the King and impoverisht by Murrein of their Cattell dearth of Corn and other accidents that they were not able to pay it Nevertheless it seems that the Shiriff pressing hard upon them by virtue of severall Writts to him directed at the procurement of the partie rob'd levied xl marks of it Much ado there was about this Money the Bishop of Cov. and Lich. pleading for himself and his Tenants immunitie from such charges and the Countie still shifting the payment so that at length they procured a Supersedeas from the King to stop any farther proceeding therein Over part of this Chase there is another antient Way called Ykenild-street though not now much noted being one of those four eminent ones made by the Romans concerning which I have said something in my discourse of Watling-street the tract whereof is yet to be seen in divers places within this Countie especially here and over a corner of Sutton Park where going over low grounds it appeareth to be firm and high ridged up with Gravell This Way coming from Tinemouth in Northumberland through Yorkshire to Bolesover and thence by Chesterfeild through Scaresdale comes over Morley-moore to Little Chester near Derby and so over Egginton Heath câ—â—â—sseth the River Dove at Monks-bridge then over Burton-moore and passing Trent at Whichnour-bridge stretcheth through Alderwas-Hays thence to Street-hey and so to Wall antiently called Etocetum where it thwarts Watling-street thence over Radley-moore leaving Little Aston on the right hand entreth this Lordship of Sutton as the Map sheweth and so extendeth it self to Alcester in this Countie Thence over Bitford-Bridge leaving Cambden in Gloucestershire a liitle on the left hand to Stow on the Woulds where it crosseth the Fosse and from Stow to Burford and over Isis at Newbridge directly â—o Wallingford and so through Winchester to Southampton But I return Perhaps the Tuesday Mercate formerly granted as is before exprest grew to be discontinued for in 27 E. 3. Thomas de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick and Lord of this Mannour obtained another Charter for it upon the same day by which he had likewise a grant of two Faires to be yearly kept here sc. the one on the Eve of the Holy Trinitie and two days after the other on the Eve and day of St. Martin With the other lands belonging to these great Earls this Mannour at length came to Ric. Nevill in right of Anne his wife as in Warwick is shewed but towards the later end of H. 6. reign when this haughty spirited Earl sided with the House of York it was seized by the King and demised to Sir Edm. Mountfort Knight one of his Carvers for the terme of x. years and the Rangership of the Chase disposed of by the same King to Iohn Holt Esq. one of his Household servants to hold for terme of life with the Fees and profits thereof antiently due and payable How it was afterwards sc. in 14 E. 4. taken from the said Anne with the rest of the lands of her inheritance and setled by Act of Parliament upon Isabell and Anne her Daughters I have in UUarwick fully shewed as also how by a speciall grant and Act of Parl. likewise to strengthen the same it came to the Crown It now therefore remains to shew the course of it since in which disquisition I find that K. H. 7. in 5. of his reign assigned it to the before specified Anne to hold during her life After which ere long the Mercate being utterly forsaken the Town fell much to ruin and the Mannour place was totally pulled down by one Winâ—stâ—n who being imployed as an Officer there for the King made use of most of the timber for himself selling the intire fabrick of the Hall unto the Marq. Dorset which was set up at Bradgate in Leicestershire And in this dâ—cayed condition did Sutton continue till that Iohn Hâ—rman â—lias â—eâ—sy Bishop of Exeter â— bearing a gâ—eat affection thereto in respect it was the plâ—ce of his birth having obtained of the King in 19 H. 8. certain parcells of Inclosure here called More crofts and Hethe yards and more than xl acres of wast with Licence to inclose it the next year ensuing procured Letters Pat. dated 16 Dec. for the making it a Corporation by the name of a Warden and Societie to consist of xxiiii persons besides the Warden As also another yearly Faire on Simon and Iude's day with a weekly Mercate upon the Munday the Tuesday Mercate being discontinued together with a Commâ—n Hall or Monte Hall for their assemblies a Clerk of the Mercaâ—e and a Steward and one or two Sergeants at Mace the VVarden for the time being tâ— be Coroner within the same Corporation and that no Shiriff nor Bailiff shall medle within
Apelby Walt. de Bereford Osbertus de Bereford 2 E. 1. Will. de Bereford miles 16 E 1. Iohanna ux Gilb. de Elsfield D. Gilb. de Elsfield 25 E. 3. Guliel de Elsfield obiit 21 R. 2. Anna filia cohaeres ..... Iohanna Ioh. Hore de Childerley 8 H. 4. Gilbertus Hore ar 16 H. 6. Thomas Hore obiit 20 H. 6. Gilb. Hore obiit infra aetat Ioh. Hore Rowl fil Henr. Pudsey de Barford Bolton in Com. Ebor. filii haer Ioh. Pudsey mil. Editha consangu haeres Gilb. Hore aet 40 an 7 H. 8. Thomas Fulthorp de Castro Bernardi 19 H. 7. Will. Pudsey Robertus Pudsey Alianora filia Hug. Harman de Morehall Georgius Pudsey ar Margareta filia Will. Gibbons Georgius Pudsey an 1640. Matilda filia Humfr. Cotton de Bothe ux r. Ric. Pudsey obiit sine prole Mich. Pudsey Georgius Pudsey Iuliana uxor Thomae de Loundres Margar. ux Jac. de Audle Agnes ux Ioh. Matravers Edm. de Bereford obiit 28 E. 1. Iohâ— de Bereford nothus Alianora filia Ric. Comitis Arundeliae Baldw. de Bereford miles frater haeres defunctus sine prole 1 H. 6. Joh. de Bereford 6 E. 2. Rob. de Bereford Which Iohn wedded Alianore daughter to Ric. Earl of Arundell and after that another wife but dying in Gascoin 30 E. 3. left Baldwin his brother and heir xxiiii years of age This Baldwin was a Knight in 36 E. 3. and in 1 R. 2. constituted by Thomas de Holland half brother to the K. chief Guardian of all the Forests on this side Trent his Lievtenant in that Office In 4 R. 2. he had Free warren granted to him in all his demesn lands and Woods of Brightwell Chalgrave Newnham and Rufford in Com. Oxon. Stene and Fernyngho in Com. Northampt. Bykmersh Shotswell â— and Wyshaw in this County with Sutton and Meysham in Derbyshire And in the same year was made Keeper of the King's Park at Eltham for life with a Fee of iii d. per diem to be received out of the Rents of that Mannour He was a speciall favourite and a powerfull man with K. Ric. 2. For besides the discharge of an C li. due by him for the Wardship and Marriage of Iohn the son and heir of Iohn de Odingsells he is noted to be one of those who had the Character of an evill Counceller given him by that tumultuous Parliament held in 11 R. 2. and thereupon with the Lord Zouch and divers other great men expelled the Court. But the affection born towards him by the King was not without great cause I presume For he had been servant to his Father the Black Prince retained by Covenant for life as well in Peace as Warr having an Annuity of xl li. per an granted unto him out of the Lordship of Coventre which the said King not only confirmed after his Father's decease whilst hâ— was Prince of Wales but again in the first year of his reign This Sir Baldwin had a Bear for his Crest in regard it alluded so near to his name a course very frequent in those times And having no issue he setled a great part of his estate by Fine upon Iohn Hore and Ioane his wife which Ioane was grandchild by a coheir to Will. de Ellesfield and he grandchild of Gilb. de Ellesfield by Ioane eldest sister to Sir Edmund de Bereford before spoken of as the Dâ—scent doth shew This Iohn being of Childerley in Cambridgshire and likewise Gilbert his his son resied wholy there After which ere long viz. about the beginning of H. â— time their male line extinguished and this Lordship with other lands came to the Pudseys For Edith cosyn and heir to the last Gilbert Hore residing at her Mannour of Ellesfield near Oxford having a speciall liking to Rowland Pudsey a younger son to Henry Pudsey of Barford and Bolton in Yorkshire then a Student in that University and a Genâ—leman much accomplisht took him for her husband the posterity of which Rowâ—and and Edith have ever since enjoy'd it New-Hall THis being a member of Sutton was about the beginning of H. 3. time possest by one Will. de Sutton of Warwick which Wâ—ll or his predecessors had it doubtlesse from one of the Earls of Warwick and granted it to one Rob. de Sutton a Merchant of Coventre who past it in 13 E. 3. unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and Sir Iohn Lizours of Fledborough in Com. Nott. Knight to the behoof of the said Sir Iohn and his heirs as it seems for the next year following the said Earl released all his right therein accordingly in which Release it is termed one Messuage called New-Hall After this till 15 H. 6. I have seen no more of it but then did the Homage in a Court Baron held at Sutton present that Sir Ric. Stanhope Kt. died seized thereof by the name of the Mannour of New-Hall held of the Earl of Warw. by the serivce of x s. x d. per an a Heriot being then seized by the Bayliff Whereupon Iames Stanhope son and heir to Sir Richard exhibited a Deed whereby it appeared that his Father had in his life time enfeoft Sir Thomas Aston Knight Nich Goushall Esquier and others in this Mannour and other lands aswell in this County as elsewhere and therefore required a discharge from the Heriot But all that I have further seen thereof is that Katherine the widow of Will. Basset of Fledborough beforementioned demised it in 20 H. 6. unto Will. Deping of Sutton and Ric. Ley of Maney for 21 years by the name of Dominium Vocatum New-Hall Pedimore HEre is now no more remaining of an antient Mannour place that the Ardens had than a large double moat for after they setled in these parts having another House on the South side of Tame called Park Hall whereof I have already spoke they resided for the most part there and let this goe to ruine I do not conceive this to have been the inheritance of that antient Family so long as Curdworth and Minworth whereof I am next to discourse but am of opinion that they had it from one of the Earls of Warwick after Sutton within the territories whereof it lies came to their hands howbeit till 9 E. 1. I have not seen any mention of it at all no not so much as the name but then was it stiled the Mannour of Pedimore and passed by Thomas de Arden of Rotley unto Hugh de Vienna together with all his lands in Curdworth Minworth Moxhull c. Which grant was no other than a trust I suppose for very sâ—on after did the same Thomas convey the inheritance of it to Thomas de Arden of Hanwell and Roise his wife together with all his said lands in Crudeworthâ— Moxhull Minneworth Echenours and Overton as by his Deed whereunto Sir Richard de Mundevill
was of his Fee and given to them by Geffrey de Clinton Gave to the Canons of Leicester his Mannour of Berwood with an Hermitage there as also one Messuage one Mill two Carucates of land Lx. acres of meadow Lx. acres of pasture CCC acres of Wood and X s. Rent in this Curdworth with the advouson of the Church And confirm'd to the Monks of Canwell that grant made by Cecilie his sister of one yard land lying also in this Lordship with the meadow adjoyning thereto but it doth not appear that he left any issue for Henry his brother succeeded him in the estate Alwinus Vicecomes temp Regis Edw. Conf. Turkillus de Warwic .... ux prima Siwardus de Ardena temp H 1. Cecilia Cecilia Filicia Henr. de Ardena Oliva Leticia ux Galfr. Salvagii Herbertus de Arden Thomas de Arden fil haer 9 Joh. Thomas de Arden 7 H. 3. Eustachia soror Savarici de Malalâ—one Thomas de Arden mil. 35 H. 3. Will. de Arden de Rodburn Tho. de Arden de Draiton 6 Joh. Lucia 1 H. 3. Tho. de Arden de Hanwell miles 5 E. 1. Roisia fil Rad. Vernon Rad. de Arden 19 E. 1. Rad. de Arden 9 E. 2. Isabella filia Anleâ—â—â— de Bromwich 16 E. 2. Ioh. de Arden miles 34 E. 3. Roisia filia haer ux Thomae Pakeâ—on relicta 3 R. 2. Henr. de Arden miles 49 E. 3. Elena 2 H. 4. Rad. de Arden miles ob 8 H. 5. Sibilla 2 H. 5. Rob. de Arden attinctus 30 H. 6. Eliz. filia haeres Ric. Clodshale ar 32 H. 6. Walt. Ardern obiit 17 H. 7. Alianora filia Ioh. Hampden de Hampden in Com. Buck Ioh. Arden arm pro corp Regis H. 7. Alicia filia Ric. Bracebrâ—gg ar Thomas Arden ob 5 Eliz. Maria filia Tho. Andrews de Charwelton ar Will. Arden obiit 7 Iunii 36 H. 8. patre vivo Eliz. filia Edwardi Conway ar Edw Arden aet 30 an 5 Eliz. aâ—tinctus 26 Eliz. Maria filia Rob. Throkmorton de Coughton mil. Rob. Arden ar obiit 27 Febr. 1635. Eliz. filia Regin Corbetunius Iustic ad placita coram Rege obiit ... Martii an 1589. Henr. Arden natus ... Apr 1580 factus Eques aur per Regem Iac. obiit an 1616. Dorothea filia Bafilei Feilding de Newnham ar obiit an 1625. Rob. Arden ob caelebs Oxoniae 22 Aug. 1643. Eliz. ux Will. Pooley de Boxsted in com Suff. eq aur Goditha ux Herb. Price dapiferi M. Reginae Dorethea ux Hervei Bagot fil 2 Herv Bagot Bar. Anna ux Caroli Adderley de Lea. ar postea eq aur Catherina Margareta Muâ—â—el Eliz. Sim. Arden duxit Christianam relictam Thomae Bond de Wardend Margareta ux 1. Ambrosius Arden obiit an 1624. Humfr. de Arden Henr. Arden de Longcroft Hall juxta Yoxhall in Com. Staff Ricardus Edwardus Ioh. Arden 17 H. 8. Martinus Arden Eliz. ux Will. Rugeley de Easton in Com. Oxon. Thomas Rob. Henr. Will. Alicia Margareta Galfridus Will. de Arden Thomas de Arden Johanna ux Joh. Swinford Rob. de Arden de Draiton miles 15 E. 2. Nichola Egidius de Arden mil. 30 E. 3. Egid. de Arden 30 E. 3. Margareta filia haer uxor Ludovici Grevill ar Nichola ux Ric. fil Rad. Basser de Weldon mil. 5 E. 3. Will. de Arden 10 Joh. Avicia fil Rob. de Cestreton Will. de Arden de Rodburn Will. de Ardern sen. 23 E. 3. Will. de Arden jun. 23 E. 3. Galfr. monachu apud Coventre Hugo de Ardena Iosephus Râ—c Osbertus Petrus monachus apud Thorney Radulfus de Hamton Turkillus de Warwic Leverunia Osbertus de Ardena Petrus de Ardena Phillippus Osbertus de Ardena Adeliza ux Sim. de Harcurt ob s. p. Amabilis ux Rob. fil Walteri ob s. p. Amicia ux Petri de Bracebrigg Joh. de Bracebrigg de cujus Progenie vide in Kingsbury Guthmundus Which Henry in 12 H. 2. was certified to hold 5. Knights Fees of Will then Earl of Warwick as his brother Hugh did other five and a third part and gave to the Canons of Kenilworth a meadow in Bathkinton He likewise confirmed to them the Mannour of Pakinton and part of Newton As also to the Monks of Combe what they had in Bilney and to the Monks of Pipwell Causton all which were of his Fee and ratified his Father's grant to the Abby of Thorney adding thereto somwhat more in Riton of his own bounty To this Henry succeeded Thomas as son and heir who gave likewise to the Canons of Leicester certain parcells of land and Woods in Berwood and confirmed to the Monks of Stonley what they had in Rotley of his Uncles gift making some enlargement thereof So likewise to the Monks of Thorney of what his Father and grandfather had beâ—â—â—wed on them and moreover gave them all Salbrigge in this County This Thomas was onâ— of those who met at the Tourneament at Blithe in Notinghamshire contrary to the King's prohibition for which his lands were seized on but in 7 H. 3. he had restitution of them again and having wedded Eustachia the widow of Savaricus de Malaleone a Poictovin one of those Courtiers that much guided the K. and against whom the English Nobility took such high exception departed this life before 17 H. 3. For in that year Avicia de Arden wife to Will. de Arden of Rodburne having made a great complaint to the King that whereas her said husband was gone on Pilgrimage to Ierusalem and not returned and yet there being no certainty at all of his death the before specified Eustachia had not only seized upon those lands which the said Avicia had by her husband's assignation to maintain her self in his absence but taken away her son and heir whereupon the King issued out his Precept to the Shiriff â—f this County requiring him to put her in possession again and restore her son Which last mentioned Thomas had issue Thomas who ratified his Father's concessions to the Abby of Thorney and in 35 H. 3. was a Kt. In 48 H. 3. this Thomas had Summons together with many others of the most eminent men in England to appear at Oxford in Midlent there to adviâ—e with the King and attend him in an expedition designed against Lewellin ap Griâ—â—ith Prince of Wales and his complices then in Rebellion but what good affection he bore to the King may be seen by his after-actions for he presently took part with the rebellious Barons and the next year following participated of their fate being taken prisoner in the battell of Evesham Which unhappy enterprize notwithstanding the Dictum de Kenilworth had made him capable of redeeming his Lands by a tolerable fine was as I guesse the ruine of him For I find that in 9 E. 1. he past away all his lands here in Curdworth and divers other places unto
words of the grant omnibus pertinentiis suis in bosco in plano totam illam partem nemoris sui quae est inter filum aquae de Ebroc filum aquae de Tame cum Insula de Wychesholme usque ad divisas de Erdinton cum pannagio omnibus libertatibus c. Which grant was confirm'd by William and Waleran both Earls of Warwick it being of their Fee as all the rest of Arden's lands were Some small parcells lying also here in Berwood did Thomas de Arden nephew to the said Hugh give likewise to those Canons Here was antiently a Chapell of our Ladie belonging to the said Canons which long since went to decay for in the beginning of H. 4. time upon an extent of what they had in this place there was certified to be onely a Hall with Chambers Buttry Bakehouse and all other necessarie rooms Concerning which Chapell I further find that Sir William de Ardey Knight gave to Robert sometime Abbot of Leicester and his successâ—rs one Mess. one Mill and a large proportion of land lying in Curdworth to find two Canons to celebrate divine service therein for the health of his soul and of the souls of his predecessors and heirs But this together with the Mannour of Berwood as also the Rectory of Curdworth appropriated to the before specified Canons was after the dissolution of the Abbies purchased from the Crown by Thomas Arden of Park Hall and Simon his younger son for the sum of CCLxxii l. x s. and to be held of the King his heirs and successors by the xx th part of a Knight's fee paying the yearly Rent of xxx s. iiii d. into the Exchequer Whereupon the next year following by virtue of a speciall Feoffment made by the above-mentioned Thomas and Simon the inheritance thereof became vested in William Arden eldest son to the said Thomas and the heirs male of his body Dunton THat the high situation of this place did originally occasion its name is plain enough Dun in our antient English signifying a Hill But till 36 H. 3. that Hugh de Mancestre of whose Family I shall speak in Mancestre had a Charter of Free-warren in all his demesn lands here together with those at Mancestre and Drakenege in this Countie I have not found any mentâ—on of it in Record Which Hugh was then possest of certain lands therein but not of the Capitall Messuage for 't is apparent that Philip Luvell in 41 H. 3. had the like grant of Free-warren from whom the Lords of this Mannour do derive their title This Philip is he â—f I mistake not who was one of the King's Clerks in 34 H. 3. being brought into his service by Sir Iohn Mansell his chief Councellor but Math. Paris gives him the Character of a crafty and deceitfull man making particular mention of his corrupt doings for which he was removed from his imployment and in disgrace yet was it not long ere he got into favour again by the intercession of Alexander King of Scotland the King's son in Law whose speech in his behalf our Historian doth relate and was made the King's Tresurer in which Office he continued till for abusing the great favours he had received sc. by wasting the King's Deer in his Forrests he was outed Which disgrace went so near to his Heart that he retired to his Benefice at Hamestable for he was a Clergie man and there died of grief the next year following whereof so soon as the King had notice he commanded all his possessions to be seized on till satisfaction should be made to his own content To whom succeeded Henry Lovell Clerke in the possession of this Lordship who required suit unto his Court here from the Abbot of Leicester for a certain yard land named Monks-field As also an Oath of Fealtie and other services whereupon the Canons of that House whilst the difference was thus depending past away their title therein unto William the son of Ankitell de Bracebrigge of Kingsbury of whom the said Henry required the like service but at the intercession of friends they came to this Agreement viz. that the said William and his heirs should pay unto them xx d. yearly Rent without any suit of Court or other service to the Lords of Dunton for the same After this ere long it appears that Raph de Gorges became Lord of this Mannour though by what title I have not seen who together with Ioane his wife in 22 E. 1. commenced suit against the said William de Bracebrigge concerning those lands before mentioned as also against Iohn Lovell of Tichmersh whereby they required the said Iohn to discharge them of such services as Amice the widow of Hugh de Strelly challenged of them for their estate in Dunton To which Action the said Iohn Lovell appeared but after the Declaration read he departed in contempt of the Court whereupon the Shiriff had command to distrain him and to compell his appearance again To this Raph de Gorges succeeded Hugh his son who obtained License from Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick to inclose that place of Wood lying within this his Mannour of Dunton called Clapshaw and to make such a fence about it as that neither Hart Hinde Buck nor Doe no nor Goat might enter therein with this proviso that if it should not be sufficiently inclosed to keep out the Earls Deer belonging to the Chase of Sutton and that upon warning given by the Earls Bailiffs the same were not made good within xx days thereof that then it should be lawfull for the Earl to lay it open again And that if any of the said Earls Deer being driven by hunting did break into it that the said Earl or his Servants might pursue them into the said Park and there take and carry them away without doing wilfull hurt to any of the Deer belonging to the before specified Raufe And for the better finding of such hunted Deer that the Earls Hounds might likewise enter but no Bow to be brought in with them Which concession being about the 28 E. 1. as I guess for it hath no date was witnessed by Sir Bernard de Brus Sir Iohn de Clinton Sir Iohn de Beauchamp Sir Ric. de Whitacre and others But after this scil in 30 E. 1. the same Sir Raph de Gorges for it seemes he was then a Knight came to a farther Agreement with the said Earl both for cutting down his Woods in Dunton and making improvement of his Wast according to the Assize of the Chase viz. that he and his hâ—irs should have liberty to make a Ditch of three foot and a half large with a Hedge upon it not a foot and a half high in consideration whereof he and his heirs were yearly to pay to the said Earl his heirs or assigâ—eâ— at their Mannour House of Sutton a Soar Sparhawk or six
all his lands in this Wishawe Langley Sutton and elsewhere upon Will. de Bereford his Brother It shâ—uld seem that these Berefords had that here in Wishawe â— which belong'd to the Templars for in 20 E. 2. which was after the accession of the Templars lands to the Hospitalars as in Balshall shall be shewed it was found that Will. de Bereford beforenamed held a Mannour here of the said Hospitalars by the service of xvii d. to be paid at Michaelmas and the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady by even portions for all services Touching the Descendants of which Will. de Bereford having spoke in Langley their principall seat in this Countie I have â—ere no more to say of them than that in 19 E. 3. Edmund de Bereford had a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here From which Family it came to Hore and from Hore to Pudseâ— both by heirs femaleâ— as the Descent in Langley sheweth and therefore 't is needlesse here to gâ—ve farther instance thereof In An. 1291 19 E. 1 the Church dedicated to S. Chad was valued at v. marks and in 19 E 2. the advouâ—on thereof granted by Will. de Castell to Will. de Bereford but in 26 H. 8. the value was certified at Cv s. over and above ix s. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Will. de Castello mil. Nich. de Castello 5 Id. Dec. 1306. Georgius de Castello miles Will. de Laberton Accol 10 Cal. Feb. 1310. D. Edm. de Bereford miles Ioh. Stene Cler. 7 Id. Sept. 1342. D. Edm. de Bereford miles Nich. de Lichfeld Cler 14 Cal. Aug. 1349. D. Edm. de Bereford miles Ioh. Grant Cap. 2 Cal. Iulii 1350. Baldw. de Whitenay Decan Eccl. Coll. de Tamworth Tho. de Morehall hac vice Ric. de Geytingdon Cap. 12 Cal. Sept. 1361. Baldw. de Whitenay Decan Eccl. Coll. de Tamworth Tho. de Morehall hac vice Will. de Osmundeston Pbr. 5 Cal. Dec. 1361. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Steph. de Carleton Pbr. Id. Nov. 1367. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Thomas Frome Pbr. 3 Non. Sept. 1375. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Ioh. de Eton Pbr. 12 Cal. Apr. 1376. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Thomas Haddon Pbr. 11 Cal. Dec. 1377. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Henr. Eaytewayte Pbr. 18 Nov. 1383. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Ric. Brewes Pbr. 14 Martii 1396. D. Baldw. de Bereford miles Ioh. Romay 15 Aug. 1405. Eliz. relicta Baldw. de Bereford militis Ioh. Wermote Cap. 2 Oct 1412. Eliz. relicta Baldw. de Bereford militis Nich. Braddeley 7 Iulii 1413. Custos Coll. liberae Capellae Reg. de Windsore Ioh. Rolf Cap. 27 Aug. 1414. Eliz. relicta Balw de Bereford mil. Will. Clerke Cap. 23 Iulii 1416. Ioh. Hore dominus de Wishaw arm Thomas Hemyngburgh 8 Oct. 1425. Ioh. Hore dominus de Wishaw arm Ioh. Harman Pbr. 9 Oct. 1431. Ioh. Hore dominus de Wishaw arm Rob. Yerburgh Pbr. 19 Martii 1431. Ioh. Hore dominus de Wishaw arm Rad. Horleston Pbr. 18 Nov. 1433. Hilb. Hore de Childerley ar Thomas Spenser Pbr. 8 Aug. 1436. Hilb. Hore de Childerley ar Ioh. Gallard 3 Sept 1439. Hilb. Hore de Childerley ar Ric. Sturges ult Apr. 1441. Hilb. Hore de Childerley ar Ioh. Tamworth Canon regul S. Aug. 7 Dec. 1444. Thomas Hore ar Will. Beket Cap. 15 Ian. 1456. Rob. Perham ratione minoris aet Gilb. fil haer Tho. Hore Thomas Dene Cap. 19 Iunii 1494. Rob. Perham ratione minoris aet Gilb. fil haer Tho. Hore Will. Clayton art Magr. 21 Ian. 1494. Tho. Fulthorp Editha ux sua â—ilia haer Ioh. Hore Magr. Will. Burgh in leg Bac. penult Martii 1504. Tho. Fulthorp Editha ux sua â—ilia haer Ioh. Hore D. Will. Smith Cap. ult Maii 1538. Rob. Pudsey gen D. Will. Bowes alias Vicars 5 Aug. 1552. Ioh. L'isley ar ex concess Georgii Pudsey ar Edw. Warde in art Bac. 21 Ian. 1584. Geo. Pudsey ar Ioh. Wilston Cler. 10 Feb. 1602. Geo. Pudsey de Langley gen Mich. Walford Cler. in art Magr. 7 Oct. 1629. Moxhull THis though it be in the Parish of Wishaw seemeth to have been originally a member of Curdworth for 't is evident that the Ardens held it immediately of the Earls of Warwick But the Ancestors of that Family which doth still enjoy it have possest it for more than four hundred years and had it first from one of the Ardens lord of Curdworth as is cleer enough by the Tenure for by severall Inquisitions and other authorities it appeareth to be held of their posterity The first mention that I have met with thereof in any Record is in 36 H. 3. Where it is written Mukeshull Walt. de Bereford having brought an Assize of Novell desseisin against Nich. de L'ile and others for Common of pasture there which Nicholas was the son of William and he of Henry as I think for I have seen antient evidences which do import as much so that 't is like that Henry was he that seated himself here and probable enough it is that Herbert del Yle for so is his name written might be Father to Henry for I find him a witnesse to severall Charters of Geffrey de Clinton son to Geffrey the Founder of Kenilworth Castle and and Priory about the beginning of H. 2. time This William father of Nich. was a person of the superior rank amongst the gentry in this Shire as may seem by a specialll Commission constituting him one of the Justices for the Gaol-delivery at Warwick and Kenilworth but all that I have farther seen of him is that he was a Witnesse to the grant of certain assarted lands in Pedimore which Henry Earl of Warwick made to Thomas de Arden Neither after 10 E. 1. have I found any mention of the before specified Nicholas he being then exempted from serving on Juries by the Kings Letters Pat. To which Nich. succeeded Anketil de L'ile who wedded Iulian the daughter and heir to Rob. de Blaggreve of Midleton and did his Homage to Philip Marmion Lord of Tamworth Castle for the lands he had with her in frank marriage of his Fee Which Ankâ—tel had suits with Raph de Gorgesâ— of Dunton concerning certain lands here in Moxhull about 22 E. 1. and left issue Henry who was a Servant in much trust and esteem unto Raph Lord Basset of Draiton a great man in these parts For in the Commission he had from that Baron to treat with Sir Rob. Marmion concerning the Mannours of Netherwhitacre Halughton Pericroft and Glascote all in this County in 14 E. 2. the Lord Basset calls him nostre chiere bien ame Vadlet his dear and welbeloved
over In 34 H. 3. he had a Charter of Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here In 44 H. 3. he had Summons with divers other great men to be at Shrewsbury â— upon the Feast day of the blessed Virgins Nativity â—well furnisht with Horse and Armes to march against Lewellin Prince of Wales and his Complices and the next ensuing year he had the like command to be at London the morrow after the Feast of Simon and Iude. In 45 H. 3. he had an Annuity of xxx marks per an granted to him by the King out of the Exchequer untill better provision should be made for him In 47 H. 3. he had again Summons to be at Worcester on the Feast of Saint Peter ad Vincula with Horse and Armes to resist Lewelin ap Griffith above specified with the power of the Welch as also the like command to be at Oxford about Midlent the nex ensuing year And was a Benefactor to the Friers of Thelesford in this County by the grant of certain lands lying here in Solihull at a place called Hundeshale This William bore for his Armes Argent a Fesse with two Mullets in chief Gules and left issue William and Nicholas Which William in 47 H. 3. had Summons to be at Hereford upon the Munday next after the Feast of the Purification of our Lady with Horse and Armes to resist the power of the before mentioned Lâ—welin ap Griffith and in 5 E. 1. was again imployed into Wales for the King's service In 11 E. 1. he was a Kt. In 13 E. 1. he claimed a Court Leet Gallows Tumbrell with Assize of Bread and Beer in this Lordship by prescription together with a Mercate and Faire as also Toll for which he produced K. H. 3. Charter and had allowance of them accordingly In 16 E. 1. he was imployed into Ireland upon the K's service and having founded a Chantrie here at Solihull in the Chapell of S. Alphage as I shall further shew anon departed this life in 23 E. 1. leaving Edm. his son and heir and four daughters which Edm. dyed within a few months after so that those his 4 sisters became his heirs to this Inheritance whereof Ida the eldest married to Ioh. de Clinton a branch of the â—lintons of Colshill Alice fiâ—st to Maurice de Caunton who was slain in Ireland taking part with the Rebells there and afterwards to Raph de Perham Ela first to Sir Peter de Bermingham Kt. and next to Sir â—â—stacâ— le Poer and Marg. to Iohn de Grey of Rotherfield In a private grant of some land lying within Hugo de Odingsells 15 Joh. Basilia soror haeres Joh. de Limesi Will. de Odingsells 26 H. 3. Iohanna 14 E. 1. Nich. de Odingsells de Foshaw 24 E. 1. Will. de Odingsells 6 E. 2. Agnes fil haeres ... de Insula ......... Nich. de Odingsells 10 R. 2. Ioana Margareta fil haeres Iohannes Waldelf Alicia ux Ioh. Boteler Anna ux Tho. Burdet Will. de Odingsells miles ob 23 E. 1. Ela â—ilia Will. Longspe secundi Comitis Sarum Margareta 5 E. 2. Ioh. de Grey de Rother feld defunctus 5 E. 2. Ioh. de Grey obiit 33 E. 3. Ioh. de Grey aet 30 an 33 E 3. Ric. Grey miles 1 H. 4. Rob. Grey defunctus 12 R. 2. Eliz. filia una haer Will. de la Planch relicta Ioh. de Bermingh mil. Iohanna propinq haeres Ric. Grey mil. aet 13. 1 H. 4. Ioh. Deincourt miles 1 H. 4. Alicia filia cohaer ux Will. domini Lovel de Holand 2 H. 6. Margareta ux Rad. Cromwell domini de Tatshal 2 H. 6. Ela secundò nupta Eustachio le Poer D. Petrus de Bermingham Ioh. de Bermingham Co. de Loveth Alicia ux Mauâ—itii de Caunton Rad. de Perham maritus secundus David de Caunton Ida primogenita filiarum cohaer 5. E. 2. Ioh. de Clinton defunctus 5 E. 2. Ioh. de Clinton Will. de Clinton Comes Huntendoniâ— ob s. p. Edm. de Odingsells ob s. p. Rad. de Limesi 14 E. 1. Gerardus de Odingsells de Ichinton defunctus 50 H. 3. this Town dated 34 E. 1. it is said to be infâ—a Burgum de Solihull but this Title of Burgus attributed thereto signifies no more than that it was Villa insignior a Countrey town of more than ordinary note and not fortified as the word Burgus doth commonly import In 7 E. 2. upon an Agreement betwixt Ela the widow of Sir Peter de Bermingham and Raph de Perham two parts of this town were setled upon the said Raph for his life but afterwards to remain to the said Ela and her heirs which Peter and Raph were in 9 E. 2. certified to be Lords thereof But I suppose it should have been Ela the widow of Peter de Bermingham with Raphe de Perham because Peter was dead before This Peter being a younger son as I guess to Will. de Bermingham as when I come to that place shall be shewed had issue by the same Ela Iohn de Bermingham as it should seem who immediatly upon his advancement to the Earldome of Loveth in Ireland past away this Lordship with the advouson of the Church unto Iohn Hâ—thum Bishop of Ely and his heirs unto which Bishop the next year following did Philip Purcel and Ela his wife likewise grant their estate herein the same Ela being a daughter to Ela de Bermingham by one of her husbands as I think whereupon the said Bishop obtained a Charter from the K. bearing date at Westm. 23 Febr. 13 E. 2. for a weekly Mercate here upon the Wednsday and a Fair once every year for 3. days beginning upon the Eve of S. Peter ad Vincula commonly called Lammas Which makes me guess that the Mercate upon the same day and the Fair at the Feast of S. Alphage granted to Will. de Odingsells in H. 3. time as I have shewed were by discontinuance either come to nothing or else that the time for keeping of that Fair viz. 19 Apr. was found somewhat inconvient And in 1 E. 3. obtained a Charter for Free warren in all his demesn lands here as also a Thorpe Constantine in Staffordsh Afterwards within a short time I find that the Inhabitants of this Lordship joyning with the Inhabitants of Kings-Norton and Yerdly in com Wigorn. for throwing down a certain Ditch which Roger de Mortimer Earl of March had made in Kings-Norton Wood wherein those towns had Common of pasture for all manner of Cattell throughout the whole year were prosecuted sharply by the said Earl who brought a Triall against them by Nisi prius at Bromesgrave before Henry de Hambury then one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas Which said Inhabitants fearing the Earls
Iesu have mercy Amen On an Alabaster gravestone in the Chancell Willielmus Plasted soror ejus Elizabetha Plasted alter natus annos sex menses duos altera nata annos octo menses decem uterque optimae spei adolescentes uno eodem morbo vitam finierunt consepulti 7 Sept. An. 1591. The Chantrie There was a Chantry founded in E. 1. time by Sir Will. de Odingsells Kt. for one Priest to celebrate Divine service for ever in this Church for the health of the souls of Will. de Odingsells and Ioane his wife father and mother to the said Sir Will. as also for his own soul with the souls of his progenitors Children and all the faithfull deceased for maintenance of which Priest he gave with the consent of Ioan his mother and Raph de Limesi then her husband certain Houses and land situate near to St. Alphag's Well within this Lordship and iii li. yearly Rent payable by severall of his Tenants here whose names are exprest in the grant Which Priest was successively to be presented by the said Sir Will. and his heirs to the Bishop of Coventre and Lich. for the time being and by him to be instituted to the said Chantry In augmentation of whose maintenance the said Raph de Limesi and Ioane his wife gave five marks yearly Rent issuing out of certain lands lying in Cotes now called Coton and Merston juxta Kingsbury in 5 E. 1. To this Chantry in H. 4. time did likewise Will. Hawe and others give one Messuage and xl acres of land lying also here in Solihull called Caldeford's Tenement to the end that the Chantry-Priest for the time being should celebrate Divine Service for the soules of Hugh le De-Spenser and Sibill his wife before specified but the grant being made without License obtained from the K. the said lands became forfeited and were in 14 H. 4. bestowed upon Iohn Birkyn one of the yeomen of the Larder to the K. to hold during life How the means belonging hereunto came to be so diminished appears not but in 16 H. 6. upon the addition of Lx s. more yearly Rent by one Thomas Greswould it appears that the maintenance was so slender that no Priest did then serve therein which Annuity he the said Thomas gave that the Priest officiating there should sing Masse every day for the good estate of the said K. H. 6. and of the same Thomas Greswould and for their souls after their departure hence as also for the souls of the Father and mother of the said Thomas and all the Benefactors thereunto So that in 26 H. 8. the value thereof was found to be Cxiiii s. per an over and above xviii s. yearly Rent payd out of it to severall persons and in 37 H. 8. vi l. xvi s. vi d. per an over and above all Reprizes at which time the Chantrie Priest serving here did upon occasion assist the Parson in ministring the Sacraments in regard that the Parish was spacious and contained 700 Communicants This Chantrie was called the Chantrie of Haliwell the reason whereof I conceive to be because the Houses given thereto by Sir Will. de Odingsells at the first Foundation thereof did stand near S. Alphage his Well but it was in a Chapell on the North side of the Church of Solihull called libera Capella S. Alphegi One thing more I shall observe before I passe from this Church viz. that in 13 E. 3. one Will. de Stow a Priest and Parson of Solihull gave xii acres of land and six acres of meadow to the succeeding Rectors here for the finding of two wax Candles burning therein every day at the celebration of Masse and two Torches alwayes at the elevation of the Host. Olton THis through the corrupt pronunciation of the vulgar is now called Oken end but that it had its name after the plantation at Solihull is apparent enough from what I have formerly said that of Wolverle being waâ—ved and thereupon called the Old-town But by this new name of Olton I find no mention of it till 19 E. 1. upon the extent of the lands belonging to Roger de Someri Baron of Dudley who was then certified to have one meadow and a pasture here at that time and in 23 E. 1. it appears that Ela de Odingsels was jointly enfeoft thereof with William de Odingsells her husband in which Record it is called Manerium de Dulton After which upon the partition of Odingsels lands betwixt the daughters and coheirs it came to Grey of Rotherfeld who wedded Margaret as the Descent sheweth for in 2 H. 4. after the death of Sir Robert Grey of Rotherfeld Knight Ioane his daughter and heir then the wife of Sir Iohn Deincourt Knight had liverie thereof From whom it descended to Alice one of the daughters and coheirs of the said Sir Iohn Deincourt and Ioan the wife of Sir Will. Lovell Knight who in her right died seized of it in 33 H. 6. leaving Sir Iohn Lovell Knight his son and heir 22. years of age which Alice afterwards married to Sir Raphe Boteler Knight who by a Fine levied in 6 E. 4. entailed it upon the issue of his body by her the said Alice with remainder to Anne the wife of Sir Remfride Arundell Knight and the heirs of her body and for want of such issue to the right heirs of Alice Of this Lady Arundell I find that she married afterwards to Robert Crane Esquire and that in 5 H. 8. she demised it â—o Catherine Boteler widow for xx years But in 33 H. 8. Henry Ogard Esq. was Lord thereof and since that as I have heard one M r Oliver Briggs a Shropshire man who sold it to M r Midlemore of Eggebaston Foshaw THis being within the territories of Solihull and antiently a member thereof was towards the later end of H. 3. or beginning of E. 1. time given by William de Odingsells unto Nicholas his younger son and his heirs and is in that grant bounded with Tanworth on the one side Kings-Norton on the other Beoley on a thâ—rd and a great road-way leading from Wihtewrthemilne towards the Earl of Warwick's wood in Tanworth reserving to the said William and his heirs one peny to be yearly payd at the Feast of S t Michaâ—ll the Archangell for all services and demands whatsoever By which deed was there also granted unto the same Nicholas and his heirs a Court-Leet of all the said William's Tenants inhabiting within those precincts paying yearly to hâ—m and his heirs for the same a pound of Cummin seed at the next Court after Michaelmasse to be held at Solihull From whom descended another Nicholas Lord thereof in 10 R. 2. who bore for his Armes the antient coat of Odingsells of Solihull viz. Arg. a Fesse gules with two Mullets of the second in cheif and the addition of three Escalops upon the Fesse in
inheritance appertaining to Amicia the wife of Iohn le Lou one of the coheirs being past away unto Queen Alianore then wife of Edward 1. King of England as in Hampton hath likewise been intimated it was totally possest by that Queen and after her death in 20 E. 1. given together with the Mannours of Ardens-Grafton and Langdon and certain lands lying in Alspath Buleye Hulverleye Witlakesfeldâ— Kinwaldesheye Nuthurst and Didington all in this Countie as also with the Mannours of Briddebrok in Essex Westerham and Edulnebrugge in Kent and Turveston in Buckinghamshire to the Monks of Westminster upon condition that the Abbot Prior and Covent of that House or the Prior and Covent if the Abbot should be out of the way upon the Eve of S. Andrew the Apostle on which day the said Queen's Anniversary had used to be kept being solemnly revested in the Quire of that Monasterie should sing a Placebo and Dirige with nine Lessons C. wax Candles weighing xii li. a piece being then burning about her Tombe and every year new ones made for that purpose And furthermore that those Wax-Candles should be lighted at the Placebo and Dirige on the Eve of the same Anniversarie and burn on the day thereof till high Masse were ended And that all the Bells both great and small then ringing they should sing solemnly for her souls health And moreover that on the day of her said Anniversary the Abbot himself in case he were present or the Prior in his stead if he could not procure a more eminent Prelate should sing Masse at the high Altar the Candles then burning and Bells ringing and every single Monk of that Abby a private Masse the inferior Monks their whole Psalter and the Friers Converts of that House the Lords Prayer Creed and Aves as many as the Abbot and Covent should appoint for her soul and the souls of all the faithfull deceased And that likewise the said Prior and Covent and their successors on the same day to distribute unto every poor Body repairing to that Monasterie one penny sterling or money to that value staying till three of the clock expecting their coming before they should begin the Dole which was to be unto seven-score poor people And that of the Waxen Tapers before specified xxx to remain all the year long about the said Queens Tombe till the renewing of them on the day of her Anniversary all which to be lighted upon the great Festivall days and upon the coming of any Noble men thither and as often else as they should see fit And moreover that the said Abbot Prior and Covent and their successors should find two waxen Lights each of them weighing two pounds of wax to burn continually at the Tombe of the said Queen All which being performed the surplusage of the revenue issuing out of these lands to remain for their Pâ—ttances to be provided according as themselves should best like And for the more strict observance hereof every Abbot successively before the restitution of his temporalties to take a solemn Oath for observance of the premisses And that every year upon S â— Andrew's Eve the said King's Charter to be publiquely read in the Chapter-House in the presence of the whole Covent which Charter bears date at Barwick upon Twedâ— 20 Oct. 20 E. 1. The Monks of Westminster being thus possest thereof leased it for life in 34 E. 1. to Raph de Perham but after that time retained it in their own hands for ought I have seen to the contrary untill the generall dissolution of the Religious Hâ—uses by Kâ—ng H. 8. and then Westminster being made a Bishoprick as is very well known this Mannour inter alia became annext unto it but long it continued not so for in 4 E. 6. it was converted to a Deanrieâ— with secular Canons and the jurisdiction of the Bishop united to London Nicholas Ridley being then Bishop unto whom and his successors the same King Edw. 6. by his Patent dated 12. Apr. that very year gave and confirmed this Mannour which grant was afterwards ratified by Queen Mary But in 2 Eliz. there being a Commission for the reassumption of divers lands from the said Bishoprick at which time this Lorship came to the Queens hands it was in 15. Eliz. granted to Robert Earl of Leicester and his heirs which Earl in 23 Eliz. past it a way again in exchange for other lands unto the same Queen so that being thus in the Crown Sir Fulk Grevill Knâ—ght Lord Brook in consideration of his service as the Patent expresseth obtained it in Fee form of King Iames in 20. of his reign to be held of the Mannour of East-Greenwich for the Rent of Lxvii li. xvi s. viii d. per annum The Colledge ABout the later end of Ric. 2. time Walter Cook a Canon of Lincolne bearing a speciall affection to this place considering that it stood distant above a mile from the parish-Church did for the health of his own and his parents souls at his proper costs erect a fair Chapell here with a Tower-Steeple and Bells all in his Fathers own land to the honour of S. Iohn Baptist S. Laurence the Martyr and S. Anne adding also a Church-yard thereto purposing to endow the same Chapell with maintenance sufficient for one secular Priest to celebrate divine service therein so as that there should thenceforth be a Font for Baptizing of all Infants to be born within this Hamlet of Knolle and all persons there deceasing to be buried in that Church-yard For performance whereof he obtained a speciall Bull from Pope Boniface the ixth wherein was contained an Indulgence for seven days of their enjoyned Penance to all such as having made a true confession and were heartily sorâ—y for their sins and repairing yearly out of devotion thither on the Festivalls of our Saviour's Nativity Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection and Ascension Corpus Christi day and Pentecost As also on the Nativity Annunciation Purification and Assumption of the blessed Virgin Nâ—tivity of S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter and Paul S. Anne and S. Laurence and on the Feast day of the said Chapells Dedication and All Hallown day or on the Octaves of those Feasts and for six days immediatly ensuing the said Feast of Pentecost should confer something towards the repair of the same upon every of those Holy days for the space of seven years which Indulgence bears date at S. Peâ—â—râ— in Rome â—viii Cal. Dec. in the ninth year of his Papacie scil 21 R 2. To second which Bâ—ll was there a speciall License granted to the Inhabitants here residing by Iohn Burghill Bishop oâ— Coventry and Lichfield in 1 H. 4. â—â—nchâ—ng the celebration of Dâ—vine Service therein by any sitting Prâ—ests For confirmation oâ— whith Chapell so built together with the Churchyard before specified there being a speciall Patent made by King H. 4. dated 18. Nov. in the fourth year of his reign License was
Eliz. filia Will. Deincourt militis Wâ—ll de Clinton miles dominus de Clinton de Say Anna filia .... domâ—ni Bâ—treaux relâ—cta Fulâ—onis Fitz Warm militis Iohannes dominus Clinton de Say 10 H. 6. Ric. Clinton ar Thom. Clinton de Amington miles duxit Iohannam fil cohaer ..... Meignill Will. de Clinton Co. Huntend duxit Julianam filiam Thomae de Leyburn mil. relictam Ioh. de Hastings obiit sinc prole 28. E. 3. Which Iohn in 17 Edw. 2. was a Knight and in 3 Edw. 3. constituted one of the Conservators of the Peace in this Countie howbeit shortly after he arrived to far greater advancement by his Brother's means as I guess for in 6 7. 8 E. 3. he was summoned to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm but little have I farther seen in relation to him though he lived till the twentieth year of this King 's reign at least other than that he bore for his Armes Argent upon a cheif Azure two Mullets of 6. points Or peirced gules and that he wedded Margerie the daughter to Sir William Corbet of Chadsley in Worcestershire in 18 Edw. 2. by whom he had issue Sir Iohn de Clinton Knight his son and heir but his story I shall respite for a while till I have spoke of William his noble Uncle whose great actions and eminent imployments made no small splendor amongst our English Worthies of that age This William being a Knight in 17 Edw. 2. wedded Iulian the daughter and heir unto Sir Thomas de Leybourn widow of Iohn Lord Hastings of Bergavenny in 3 Edw. 3. Which match was as I guess a great step to his farther advancement For the next year following he was constituted Justice of Chester scil 23. Oct. and within lesse than two months after Constable of Dovor Castle as also Warden of the Cinq-Ports in which high places his prudence grew so conspâ—cuous that he was thought worthy to be rankt amongst the superiour Nobiâ—ity and thereupon had summons to the Parliament held at Westminster in 5 Edw. 3. which advancement to Honour did rather increase his pietie than â—late his minde Fâ—r having that very year obtained License to amorize xx li. per annum Lands and Rents lying here in Maxstoke together with the advowson of the Church for the maintenance of certain Chantry-Priests to celebrate divine Service daily there for the soul of King Edward the third after his departure out of this life and for the souls of his Ancestors as also for his own soul and the soul of Iulian his wife about five months following he setled the number of five Priests for the purposes aforesaid In 7 E. 3. he was constituted Admirall of the Seas on the Western coast of England In 10 Edw. 3. he began the Foundation of a goodly Monastery for Canons Regular of S. Augustin on the South part of this Lordship which he amply endowed as I shall shew by and by And standing high in the King's favour became forthwith advanc't to the Earldome of Huntendon as by his Charter of Creation dated 16. Martii 11 Edw. 3. appeareth having not onely xx li. given him out of the issues of that Countie to be payd by the Shiriff at the Feasts of Easter and Michaelmasse yearly but for his better support of that Honour in consideration of his former acceptable services a grant of a thousand marks per an lands to himself and the heirs male of his bodie for ever And moreover a speciall Precept directed to Rich. de Fâ—riby late Master of the Wardrobe to account and make satisfaction unto him for his Fee and Robes due from the time that he had been retained to serve the said King as a Baneret In 12 Edw. 3. he had another Patent constituting him Constable of Dovor-Castle again So likewise in 15 E. 3. for being Admirall of the Western Seas and in 17 E. 3. for the custodie of all the King's Forests from Trent Southwards Being therefore thus honoured and muchâ— and also advanc't to such places of power and trust in 19 E. 3. he began the Foundation of a fair and strong Castle here in a quadrangular forme for the behoof of his nephew Iohn de Clinton and his heirs having no issue of his own body the Prospect whereof is represented on the next page making a Park of the Out-wood And the next year following he received the summe of 82â— li. 12 s. 04 d. of the King's gift as a remuneration of his services in the Warrs beyond Seas This noble Earl bore for his Armes Argent Crusulè fichè sable upon a Cheif Azure two Mullets Or pierced Gules which Coat differs from that of his elder brothers onely in the Crosslets having not been born by any other of this Family till of late time By his Testament bearing date 23. Aug. 1354. 28 Edw. 1. he bequeathed his body to sâ—pulture in the Priorie-Church here at Maxstoke and departed this life 25. Aug. the same year leaving Sir Iohn de Clinton Knight his brother's son his next heir then 28. years of age Which Sir Iohn from 31 Edw. 3. during all the same King's reign as also of K. Ric. 2. till his death having summons to every Parliament with the rest of the English Barons was likewise imployed in sundry affairs of trust in this County viz. in 41 E. 3. and 15 R. 2. for arraying of men in 3 5 and 6 Ric. 2. for pursuing of the Rebells and in 20 R. 2. upon the attainder and banishment of Tho. de Beauchamp E. Warwick had the Castle of Warwick with all the lands and Mannours thereto belonging committed to his custody By Idonea his first wife one of the sisters and at length coheirs unto William Lord Say he left issue Sir William and Sir Thomas de Clinton both K t s and Edward a younger son Of which Sir Thomas I shall take farther notice when I come to Aminton but Sir William the eldest died before him in 7 R. 2. His second wife was Elizabeth one of the daughters heirs to Will. de la Plaunch of Haversham in Com. Buck. having been first married to Robert Lord Grey of Rotherfâ—eld secondly to Sir Iohn de Bermingham of Bermingham in this Countie thirdly to him and lastly to Sir Iohn Russell Knight But by her having no issue he departed this life in 20 R. 2. leaving William his grandson his next heir and of full age which Lady Elizabeth held this Castle with other lands setled upon her at marriage during her life and having been a great Benefactress to the foundation of the Collegiate-Church at Knoll in 4 H. 5. at length became one of the coheirs to Sir Roger Hillarie Knight as apeareth by her Deed whereunto her Seal of
after his Father's death as my authoritie saith he then made a new grant of the premisses to the same Lord Clinton during the minority of the heir then his Ward whereupon the said Lord Clinton in consideration of Lxx li. sterling made an assignation of the said Custodie c. unto Iohn Hales Gentleman at that time Clerk of the Hamper and a very active man in the world as in Coventre I have shewed To the posterity of which Sir Will. Compton it continued till that Will. Lord Compton his great grandchild by his Deed bearing date 3. Febr. 39 Eliz. sold it unto Sir Thomas Egerton Kt. then Lord Keeper of the great Seal from whom Thomas Dilke Esquire afterwards Knight purchased it scil 21. Iunii 41 Eliz. whose grandson William now enjoys it The Church dedicated to S. Michael was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at viii marks In 5 E. 3. Sir William de Clinton Knight purposing to found a Chantrie therein obtained License to bestow the advouson thereof inter alia upon the same with Lands and Rents to the value of xx li. per annum In pursuance whereof he gave to Iohn Lynie Priest Warden of the said Chantrie and his successors a certain piece of land lying then betwixt the road-way leading from Filongley towards Colshill on the one side and the Church-yard of Maxstoke on the other and extending in length from the Lord of Maxstoke's Quarrie to the Pale of his Park together with the advouson of the Church as by his Charter bearing date at Maxstoke on the Feast day of the Annunciation of our Lady 6 E. 3. appeareth And moreover by the same Charter granted unto the said Warden and his successors 8. Messuages six yard land lying in Long-Ichinton as also the Bodies of viii Natives dwelling there with all their Chattells and Off-spring And besides this xx s. yearly Rent payable by one William Snede and Iohn his son out of a Messuage lying in Long-Ichinton aforesaid with the reversion of the same Messuage and one yard land after their deceases and lastly 4. Acres of land lying in the said town of Ichinton together with the advouson of the Church Which endowment being so made he forthwith by the consent of Roger de Northburgh at that time Bishop of this Dioces Iohn Lynie the then Parson whom he constituted Warden as abovesaid Sir Iohn de Clinton Lord of Maxstoke his brother and Parishioner there as also all the other Parishioners of Maxstoke ordained that the said five Priests should thenceforth celebrate divine Servâ—ce daily in the same Church where the Bodies of his Ancestors lay interred for the good estate of him the said Sir William de Clinton Iulian his wife Sir Iohn de Clinton his brother Alice his wife and for the souls of Sir Iohn de Clinton his Father the Lady Ida his Mother as also for the good estate of Edward the third then Kâ—ng of England Laurence de Hastings and for aâ—l the Lords Hastings in time to come And moreover of the said Roger then Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield Henry Prior of Coventre and â—heir succâ—ssors and for the souls of all the Kâ—ngs oâ— England Lords Hastings Bishops of Coventre â—nd Lichfield Priors of Coventre Brethren and sisters Parents and benefactors and all the faithâ—uâ—l deceased Appointing that the said Warden and his successors as aâ—so the Subwarden and his should be always Priests in Orders admitted and instituted by the Bishop or Coventre and Lichfield for the time being and after the decease of him the said Sir William always presented by the said Sâ—r Iohn de Clinton his brother and his heirs having a House convenient for themselves and the other three adjoyning to the Churchyard of Maxstoke afâ—resaid there to inhabâ—te and lodge together And that the said Warden and his succâ—ssâ—rs shâ—uld pâ—â—vâ—de from time to timeâ— Bâ—â—â—ks Vâ—â—â—ments Lâ—ghts as also two Clerks fâ—r the use of himself 〈◊〉 Sub-warden and the other Priests aswell in the Church as in the Houseâ— viz. their Hall and Chamberâ— nâ—ght and day And mâ—reover that he and his said Sub-warden and thâ— othâ—r Priestsâ— shâ—â—â—d wear white Surpliceâ— with black Copes and Sâ—â—les after the manner of the Vicars-Chorall in the Caâ—hedrall of Lichfield whil'st they were about divine Service both in the Church and Quire And that the charge of the Books and Ornaments shâ—uld belong to the Sub-warden whose Office was to direct câ—ncerning the celebration of Masses viz. of whâ—m what howers and in what order by himself and the other Priests they were to be performed And that Bread Wine Water and Lights should be ready for the said Masses and divine exercises but at the charge of the Warden to be provided And further that aswell the Warden when he could fitly be at leisure and Sub-warden as all the Priests except some great occasion did hinder every day after dinner and before Vâ—â—pers should together in the said Church sing the full Office of the Dead viz. Placebo and Dâ—riâ—e except on double Fâ—â—tivalls and the time of Easter in whâ—ch theâ— ought to observe the custome of the Church of Salisbury in saâ—â—ing the said Office Aâ— also 〈…〉 and Canonicall howers with Note â— in the Qâ—â—re of the Church aforesaid admitting the Chaplains and Clerks of the same Church to sing with them if they pleased And likewise that after the Compline they should say the Commenâ—â—â—tion of the Dead â— in â—he said Quire according â—o the course above described And every Holy day in the Quire together the seven Penitentiall Psalmes and the â—v â—radualls with the Letanie and accustomed Prayers unless there were cause exprest by the Warden that they should say them out of the Quâ—re And that both the Warden and Sub-warden all the other Priests should every day celebrate their particular Masses in the said Church or Quire according to appointment except there were a lawfull impediment so that upon every Sunday the Masse of the B. Virgin should be celebrated with Note and the Mass of the day in such sort as was fit And upon every Munday one of them whom the Sub-warden should appoint to celebrate the said Mass of our Lady by Note with the Office for the Dead for the souls of the persons before recited and all the faithfull deceased And after the death of the said Sir William de Clinton and Sir Iohn his brother for their souls also And that another of the said Priests should celebrate the same day the high Mass of S. Michaell th'arch Angell Patron of that Church and of all the holy Angells with Note and the rest throughout the week thus Upon every Tuesday the Mass of S. Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury by Note besides the high Mass of the day by Note also On Wednsday the first Mass of our blessed Ladie by Note and the high Mass of the said day with Note as also a memoriall of S. Katherine the Virgin On
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
daughters and heirs scil Adeliza the wife of Simon de Harecurt and Amabil of Robâ—rt Fitz-Walter as the Descent in Curdworth sheweth Which Amabil gave with her body for sepulture to the Nuns of Polesworth the Mill here at Kingsburie with some grounds thereto belonging her sister Alice confirming the granâ— and adding the Mill at Hurley for the health of her soul. But these sisters having no Children this Lordship descended to Amicia their Aunt and heir wife to Peter de Bracebrigge so called from a place of that name neer Lincolne whereof he was possest The Descendants of which Peter and Amicia had their principall seat here till about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign divers of them being Knights as the Pedegree in the foregoing page sheweth This Peter de Bracebrigge was a militarie man as it seems for I find that he gave unto William the son of Fundui and his heirs certain lands lying within the precinct of this Lordship in a place called Esbroc to the intent that the said William shâ—uld upon lawfull warning carry hither to Kingsbury such painted Lances from London or Northampton at the charges of him the said Peter as he might have occasion to use in any Tourneament there and that whensoever the said Peter should take a journey beyond Sea for performance of such martiall exploits he the said Will. to attend him and to bring back his Lances To which Peter succeeded Iohn his son and heir who had much adoe in defending this his inheritance for in 7 Ioh. did Thomas de Arden begin his claim and gave five marks to the said King for a Writ of Right to trye his title thereto which in 9 Ioh. he did set forth as lineall heir to Turchil de Warwic who was seized of it in King H. 1. time and offred to decide his right to it by Duell naming one William de Kopland his Champion which William receiving comand from Ulfkill his Father as being Tenant to the said Iohn assented to undertake the Combate Whereupon Iohn de Bracebrigge answered that he denied not the said Turchil's seisin but tendred triall by the great Assize as to the time and right thereof Unto which the said Thomas replied that the great Assize ought not to be in this case because they were both descended from one stock viz. from Turchil of whose inheritance it was Howbeit Iohn answered that though he acknowledged their descent from Turchil yet he claimed nothing thereby because the said Turchil had two wives and that it was from the first that the said Thomas descended but that this land being the inheritance of Leverunia his second wife who held it all her life and after her decease Osbert her son and after him another Osbert that had severall daughters which died without issue it came to Amicia their Aunt mother to him the said Iohn tendring to put himself upon the great Assize to determine whether he had not more right thereto from the before specified Laverunia than the said Thomas from Turchil and whether the same Turchil were so seized of it the day and year that the said King Henry dyed And lastly because the said land did lye bordering on two Counties scil Warwick and Stafford he offered xx marks to have Knights of both Counties for triall thereof the said Thomas offring xx marks and a Palfrey whereupon it was concluded that the cause should be so decided and so I suppose it was or by some friendly Agreement for I find that the next year following the same Thomas de Arden quitted all his right and title therein to the said Iohn And yet it seems that they were not quiet for in 11 Ioh. the said Thomas de Arden gave a Palfrey that the determination thereof might be before the King and the next year after Iohn de Bracebrigge payd xl s. for to have another Jury but other particulars I have not seen This Iohn de Bracebrigge confirmed the grant of Kingsburie-Millâ— c. and Hurley-Mill made to the Nunns of Polesworth as hath been observed and died without issue in 2 H. 3. leaving William his Brother and heir Which VVilliam in 19 H. 3. was a Justice of Assize at Warwick and afterwards confirm'd to the Monks of Merevale â— the grant of a yard land in Holt made to them by Iohn his Brother and whatsoever else he the said Iohn had given to that Monasterie But to William succeeded Raph his son and heir who questioned the title that the Nuns of Polesworth had to Kingsburie-Mill and Hurley-Mill whereupon they came to a Composition with him giving six marks of silver This Raphe was at that time a Knight and shortly after commenced suit against the Nuns of Mergate for the advouson of Kingsburie-Church but to this they pleaded the grant of Osbert de Arden and exhibited the Charter of Peter de Bracebrigge before specified with the consent of Amicia his wife confirming the same whereupon he had no more to say To which Raphe succeeded Iohn de Bracebrigge betwixt whom and the Prioresse of Mergate there was a Fine levied in 36 H. 3. for certain lands lying within this Lordship of Kingsburie that were setled upon the said Iohn and his heirs paying iii s. yearly Rent to the Nuns In 40 H. 3 this Iohn gave a Fine to the King of two marks in gold that his Knighthood might be respited for three years longer wiâ—hin the compasse of which time being amerced at a mark by the Justices Itinerant in Lincolnshire because he was not a Knight he had a speciall Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer for acquitting him of that summe But adhering to the rebellious Barons who in 48 H. 3. did put themselves in Armes as in Kenilworth hath been shewed was on the fift of April the same year taken Prisoner in Northampton at the surprisall thereof by the King's Army being at that time a Knight for which this Lordship was seized and given by the King to Roger de Clifford and imprisoned at Shrewsbury as appears by the King's Precept for his deliverie directed to the Bayliffs of that town and dated 9. Ian. 49. H. 3. But the Inquisition upon the extent of his lands says that Hugh de Turberville had the charge of him till he had got his redemâ—ption yet after this he fled into the Isle of Axholme with young Simon Montfort and others where he continued till he saw all his partie totally vanquishtâ— and then submitted to the Diâ—ctum de Kenilworth Iames de Audele undertaking on his behalf It seems that his composition did cast him into some distress for in 53 H. 3. he mâ—d a Lâ—ase of this whole Lordship excepting a yard land that one Walter le Plummer sometime held unto Robert de Typetot and Eva his wife during their lives for which he received of them 500 li.
the said Roger were they taken into the King's hand and continued in the Crown till 13 H. 6. that VVilliam VValdeff and Thomas VVylcok obtained a grant of them for the space of ten years Which VVilliam in 26 H. 6. being cosin and heir to Ioyce Plumpton of Notingham one of the daughters and heirs of Roger Plumpton and sister and heir to Phipippa the other daughter and heir to the said Roger as he stiled himself of whose inheritance they were granted them to Thomas VValdeyve his son From which Thomas by an heir female the Willingtons of Hurley do derive themselves and are still owners of all or a great part of these lands Flanders-Hall THis place was antiently so denominated from one Hugh a younger brother to William de Odingsells of which Family I have spoke in Ichington Solihull and Maxstoke as Mr. Burton in his Description of Leicestershire affirmes in regard that his Ancestors came out of Flanders whose descendants assumed it for their sirname but upon the death of Iohn de Flanders the last male branch of this line it was allotted by partition in 13 H. 6. to Elianore the wife of Sampson Erdswike one of his three daughters and heirs by which means it descended to the issue of Iohn Herdwick of Lindley in Leicestershire her first husband and so came to the Purefeys of Caldecote in marriage as I have heard with Ioyce one of the daughters and coheirs to the last Iohn Herdwyck wife to Michael Purefey From which Michael descended William Purefey Esquire who in our time sold it unto Sir Robert Fisher of Packington Knight and Baronet Hallaton OF this place I have not seen any mention till 17 H. 3. at which time it was reputed a member of Coshill and part of the dowry of Elisant the widow unto Osbert de Clinton But after this it came to be possest by the same Robert Marmion of whom I have spoke in Nether-Whitacre and by those authorities which I have there voucht seemeth to have gone with that Mannour till Q. Eliz. time for it appeareth that Walt. Devereux Visc. Hereford in 12 Eliz. sold it with Nether-Whisacre unto Edmund Skerning then of Erdbury Esquire Drakenedge THis was originally a member of Nether-Whitacre as I conceive and so consequently possest by the Marmions of Tamworth-Castle and from one of them granted therewith to Nicholas Fitz Raphe or his Ancestour for it is evident that the Familie of Mancestre who for a good while enjoyed it held it of the heirs of Nicholas Fitz Raphe Lords of Nether-Whitacre by the service of a pair of gilt Spurâ—s and that they held it over of those Marmions Of which Mancestres I find that Hugh in 36 Hen. 3. had a Charter of Free warren extending to all his demesn lands here and that from him it descended to Guy de Mancestre his grandchild who in King Edw. 3. time past it to Robert de Herle and his heirs by the name of a Mannour Which Robert dying without issue of his body it divolved to Sir Raph de Hastings Knight his cosin and heir viz. son of his sister Margaret and from him through divers descents to William Lord Hastings Chamberlain to King Edward the fourth who died seized thereof in 1 Ric. 3. leaving Sir Edward Hastings Knight his son and heir xvii years of age But farther hereof I have not seen than that Richard Hastings in 9 H. 8. was presented for depopulating the Capitall Messuage and CC. acres of arable land lying thereto Whateley IN this place which was originally a member oâ— Kingsburie â— are there certain lands that were antiently given to the Canons of Studley all which after the dissolution of the Monasteries were inter alia granted out of the Crown in 36 H. 8. unto Iohn Beaumont Esquire by the name of the Mannour or Lordship of Whateley who past them away the same year unto Nicholas Wilson and ..... his wife by whom they were sold to Thomas Overton who died seised of them in 32 Eliz. leaving Nicholas his son and heir fifty years of age Slateley THis is a petty Hamlet and parcell of the Mannour of Kingsburie as by severall Records is evident so that there needs no more to be said thereof Holt. IN this which is also parcell of the Mannour of Kingsburie had the Monks of Merevale a yard land given unto them by the first Iohn de Bracebrigge whose grant thereof William de Bracebrigge his brother and heir confirmed But the Village was in part depopulated by Iohn Bracebrigge Esquire who in 19 H. 7. decayed three Messuages upon the Inclosure thereof of which lands Thomas Bracebrigge was possest in 3 Edw. 6. Cliffe THis hath its name from the situation thereof near to the descending ground towards the bank of Tame but of it I have not seen other mention than that Thomas Herthill was presented in 10 H. 8. for depopulating two Messuages and inclosing xl acres of land here Dosthill I Am not sure whether this place be particularly taken notice of in the Conqueror's Survey if it be that which is there written Dercelai â—s intended for it which R. de Oâ—lgi had at that time in pawn from Turchill de Warwick and is said to contain two hides having a Mill of xxxii d. yearly value and Woods extending to two furlongs in length and as much in breadth the whole being valued at xl s. But in 12 H. 2. certain it is that Hugo fil Ricardi of whom in Hatton I have spoke was possest of it as appears by that Certificate which William Earl of Warwick then made whose Father or Grandfather had enfeoffed the said Hugh thereof with other lands of a great extent in King Henry the first 's time it being then written Derteulla By this Hugh was it doubtlesse granted to Thomas fil Thurstani for it is manifest that Robert de la Launde son to the same Thomas gave to Richard Fitz Raphe in marriage with Amicia his daughter the Mill here it being then written Derchethull From which Robert it descended to Iames as the Pedegree in Langdon sheweth who was certified to hold it of the Earl of Warwick in 20 H. 3. But it appears that Albrena Marmion of whom I have made mention in Arrow granted the service of the same Iames de la Laund for this place unto William de Camvile her son whereby it should seem that the immediate grant which the Ancestour to the said Iames had of this place was not from the Earl of Warwick but from one of the Marmions who obtained it from some of those Earls This Iames in 31 H. 3. past unto Robert de Grendon and his heirs all the interest he had here by the name of the Mannour of Dersthull then amounting to half a Knight's Fee Which Robert in 40 H. 3. granted
the same unto one Robert de Wycheford and his heirs reserving the Rent of a pair of gilt Spurs to be yearly paid to himself and his heirs at Easter and performing the service of half a Knight's Fee which service the said Robert de Wycheford at the request of the above specified Robert de Grendon then granted unto Walter de Mancestre and Erneburga his wife and the heirs of their two bodies lawfully begotton but for want of such issueâ— to return to the said Robert de Wicheford and his heirs So that after this the possession thereof continued to the heirs of the said Walter de Mancestre together with Mancestre as by severall authorities appeareth at length being divided by the coheirs was broken into such small parts as is evident by what came to the Fildings which was Prilley's and to Lewes which was Rowley's and Arblaster's that it is not worth while to trace the succession thereof any farther Nun-Eaton FOllowing Tame further I observe no place if â—ote bordeâ—â—ng on it before I come to Tameworth where Anker ioyns therewith I must now therefore ascend to the entrance of Anker into this Hundred which is in Nun-Eaton-Parish This place hath its name from the Rivulet nigh whâ—ch it stands Ea in our old English signifying Waâ—er Before the Norman invasion one Harding possest it but after the Conquest it was disposed of to Earl Alberic Progenitor of the Veres Earls of Oxford which Earl deceased before the generall Survey made by that King so that afterwards it with the rest being seised into the King's hands was committed to the custodie of â—effrey de Wirce of whom in Monks-Kirby I have spoken Howbeit the number of hides that it contained are omitted in the Record but 't is saâ—d thereby that there were xxvi carucates of land one Mill of xxxii d. xx acres of Meadow and Woods of two miles in length and a mile and half in breadth the whole being valued at C s. By the said generall Survey I find also that R. de Olgi held three hides of land in this place with Woods of a mile in length and as much in breadth which were the inheritance of Alwine in Edward the Confessor's days and valued by the before specified Survey at iv li. But the direct time when this Lordship was given to Robert Earl of Mellent and Leicester is hard I think to be found yet certain it is that he had it before the death of King Henry the first which Robert had issue Robert sirnamed Bossu Earl of Leicester who in King Stephen's time founded a goodly Monasterie here for Nunns of the Order of those at Font Ebraud in Normandie id est Benedictines wherein Amice his Countess became one and was buried Which Monasterie he plentifully endowed with lands whereof this whole Lordship of Eaton was part excepting what the Canons of Leceister then had in Stockingford and that which the Nunns of Casa Dei in France held in Atleberge and in this town As a do certain lands in Kenetberie in Com. â—erks to the then value of xxv li. per annum And with all his Lands Rents and Fishing in Welle excepting the â—ithe of the Eeles whâ—ch the said Robert Earl of Mellent his Fatherâ— had formerly given to the said Canons of Leicester Confirming the grants of what others at that time had made thereto viz. of two Carucates of land in Waltham Com. Leic. with pasturage there for CCC Sheep by Isabell his daughter and Simon Earl of Northampton her son Of two yard land and a hâ—lf lying in Swinford Com. Leic. by Ric. Mallore and in Leicester ii s. Rent out of a House which one Guy Breadleas then held of the said Richard as also of all the lands lying within this Lordship whereof the said Richard was possest And of what Robert Fitz Iocelin had bestowed thereon scil all his lands lying here in Eaton betwixt the Water and the Wood and beyond the Water two yard land and vi s. Rent which William de Neumarch held of Iocelin his Father with all his Woods Hereunto did King Hen. 2. adde his Confirmation and besides that of his own gift conferred upon these Nunns the Church of Chauton in Hantshire ratifying the grants of sundry other persons which I shall briefly here enumerate viz. the Mill of Ingepenne in Berkshire with the Meadows and Croâ—ts hereto belonging given by Gervase Paganell The Village of great Hodenhull by Richard de â—â—â—toke the Church of Merton by Robert de Craftâ—â— both in this Countie Certain lands here in Eaton by Geffrey de Turvill Twentie shillings yearly Rent issuing out of the Mill at Haringworth in Northamptonshire by Ada mother to the King of Scotland Half the town of Burton now called Burton-Hastings in this County with the advouson of the Church and Chapell of Stretton id est Stretton-Baskervill thereto belonging by Geffrey l' Abbe and Emme his wife whose inheritance it was The Church of Maple-Derham in Hantshire by William Earl of Gloucester and Hawise the Countess his wife as also Nutfort Mill and divers lands lying within the Lordship of Pimpre by the said Hawise One yard land at Calcote by Robert Archer and Margaret his wife and besides all this gave them sundry ample Liberties and Priviledges which for brevities sake I forbear to recite Whereunto Pope Boniface the eight added the Appropriation of the Churches of Burtlei in Rutland and Cleybrooke in Leicestershire with a speciall Indulgence from payment of Tithes for any of their lands which they should till or stock with Cattell at their own charge Having now therefore so plentifull an endowment they obtained a grant of a weekly Mercate here upon the Tuesday in 10 H. 3. to endure till the King should be of age but this Mercate in 17 H. 3. was altered to the Satturday After which within a short space they rebuilt their Church towards the Fabrick whereof the King gave them ten Oaks out of Kenilworth-Woods and xv more within a year following out of Cank-Forest And in 23. of his reign granted unto them a Charter for an yearley Faire here for four days beginning on the day of the Invention of the Holy Cross scil 3. Maii. Other grants of most note from severall persons in succeeding times for which I have seen any authorities were these viz. two yard land lying in Hodenhull and Estanescote now called Ascote by Nicholas de Muton In Wibtoft one Messuage and Cxx. acres of land by Gâ—lb de Houby The advouson of the Church of Cleybrooke in com Leic. by Iohn the son of Ernald de Boys The third part of the Mannour of Skendelby by Iulian de Gaunt for maintenance of a Priest to celebrate divine Service in the Church of this Monasterie for the health of her soul and the souls of her Ancestors One Messuage here in Nun-Eaton by Robert
Acres of Meadow half a yard land there then held by one Fulk and a Messuage for barning And at Radway with one hide of land as by his grant appeareth Giving thereby likewise to these his Canons sufficient timber for their buildings and fuel for fire to be taken upon all occasions throughout his demesn Woods and libertie for their Hoggs therein without any thing to be rendred for paunage All which he confirmed to them for the health of his soul and for the soul of Emmâ— his wife Otwell his son and heir and other his Children his Father's soul also and all his Ancestors Besides this they had antiently the Church of Weston subtus Wethele given to them but by whom I have not seen yet so it hapned that for want of good government they at length totally in a manner deserted their Rule insomuch as Alex. de Savensby Bishop of this Diocess shortly after the beginning of H. 3. reign wrote an earnest Leâ—â—er to the Abbot of Derley in Derbyshire desiring that he would send some of his Covent thither for a time for the better instructing and guiding them therein The substance of what they had from other Benefactors was as followeth One yard land in Shireford granted by Robert de Chartres and confirmed by Raphe his son who added ten acres more thereto of his own gift In Dercet a certain meadow called Radwey-brok with the amerciaments of all their Tenants as also Common of pasture for eight Oxen within that Lordship given by Iohn de Sudley son and heir to Sir Bartholmew about the 31 th of E. 1. Which Iohn in 11 E. 2. added two Messuages one toft eight acres of land seven acres of meadow and vii s. viii d. yearly Rent lying within the said Lordship of Dercet and Chelverscote After which viz. in 15 E. 3. they obtained â— Messuage and xxxvi acres of land in Wolvey of Sir Thomas de Astley Kt. towards the support of one Canon to celebrate divine Service daily in this Priorie for the good estate of him the said Sir Thomas and Eliz. his wife Alice de Wolvey and Andrew de Astley during this life and for their souls afterwards And in 1 H. 5. did they purchase of Will. Boteler and Will. Babington xx Messuages and one toft four yard land a fourth part and six acres with ii s. i d. ob Rent lying in Nun Eaton Attilborough Wyken Sow Coventre Hide and Chilverscote as also the reversion of the Mannour of Stockingford â— from the Canons of Leicester after the death of Hugh de Lilburne And being then grown wealthy by so fair an enlargement of their possessions in 23 H. 6. they procured License from Raphe Boteler then Lord Sudley of whose patronage the said Priorie was to buy other lands of C. marks per an value whereupon the year next ensuing they acquired the Advouson of the Rectorie of Westlegh in Lancashire from Will Lord Lovell so that by the Survey taken in 26 H. 8. the whole yearly revenue then belonging to this Religious House was esteemed at Cxxii l. viii s. viii d. Out of which xvi s. viii d. being deductâ—d for keeping the Anniversarie of the Loâ—d Sudâ—ey the Founder xl s. for the Obâ—t and Anniâ—â—â—â—aâ—ie of the Lord Lovell xlvi s. viii d. fâ—r the Fâ—e of Iohn Dabridgcourt High Steward of theâ—r lands Liii s. iiii d. to Will. Wigston Receiver generall and other disbursements which in the totall with these now mentioned came to xxviii â— â—â— s. â— d. per an the cleer remainder amâ—â—nted to 〈◊〉 l. vi s. i d. by reason whereof it was expâ—sed to dâ—ssolution with the other small Houses in 27 H. 8. William Clement being then Prior who had an Annuitie of xx marks per an by Patent allowed him during life But in the Crown it continued not long for in 30 H. 8. did Charles Brandon Duke of Suff. obtain it together with a multitude more of Monasterie lands by which means the site thereof with some part of the demesn lands thereto belonging came in partition to Margaret wife of Iohn Kersey one of the coheirs to the said D. of Suff. Which Iohn sâ—ld the same to Sir Edm. Anderson Kt. chief â—ustice of the Common Pleas in Q. Eliz. time who totally demolishing the old â—abrick of the Hâ—use and Câ—uâ—ch buâ—lt out of their ruins a very fair structure in a quadrangular form and having so done in 28 Eliz past it away unto Iohn Newdigate of Herfeild in Com. Midd. Esq. great grandchild to Iohn Newdigate Sergeant at Law in K. H. 8. time descended by a younger branch from the antient Family of Newdigate of Newdigate in Surrey in exchange for his said Mannour of Herfeild Which Iohn by Martha daughter and coheir to Anthony Cave Esq. had issue Sâ—r. Iohn Newdigate Kt. who by Anne one of the daâ—ghters to Sâ—r Edw. Fitton of Gosworth in Cheshire left issue two sons viz. Iohn and Richard which â—ichard now Sergeant at Law as heir to his Brother is the present owner hereof Priores de Erdburie Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Frater will de â—loxham 6 Cal. Apr. 1315. Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Rob. de Merston Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Will. de Hulls 17 Cal. Nov. 1380. Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Frater Will. Catton Canon Priorat de Gresley 8 Oct. 1439. Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Will. Woodcock Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Ioh. Bromley Canon 5 Sept. 1456. Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Frater Thomas Dawkyn Prior de Calwich penult Apr. 1507. Constituti per Episc Cov. Lich. Frater Will. Clement 23 Oct. 1512. Manceter DEscending lower on this side the River Anker I come next to Manceter heretofore a Romane station as the forme of that entrenchment through which the great Way called Watling street passeth doth manifest where divers coynes of silver and brass have been by digging and plowing frequently brought to light but now it is no more than an ordinary Countrey-Village containing Hartshill Oldburie and Atherston within its parish That the name originally proceeded from the condition of the place which was fortified the later syallable doth sufficiently manifest Cestre but antiently Ceastre importing the same in our old English as Castrum doth but perhaps the first syllable Man may be Brittish in which language it signifieth exiguum or parvum as 't is like this Fortification was In the Conqâ— Survey there is no mention at all thereof it being involved with Atherston but as the rest of those lands whereof the Countess Godeva of whom in Coventre I have spoke was possest in Edw. the Confâ—â— days came to the first Hugh Earl of Chester so doubtless did this by whom or his Kinsman and successor Ranulph theâ—e is no question but that Walt. de Hastings of whom I have made
mention in Fillongley was enfeoâ—t and that from him Walkâ—line who assumed it for his sirname in respect of his residence here originally had it For though we have little light to discover the passages of these elder times the grant of lands being then not frequently by Charter as I have elsewhere observed yet from what is manifested by divers Records in reference to the tenure no less than what I have sayd may cleerly be inferred The male descendants of which VValkeline till E. 3. time continued Lords thereof but then by heirs Female other Families enjoy'd it as I shall forthwith shew But of this VValkeline de Mancestre I have seen no more than that he was witness to a Charter by which Rob. Marmion gave to the Nuns of Polesworth the Church of Quinton in com Glouc. about the beginning of K. H. 2. time and that he confirmed Oldbury to the said Nuns of Polesworth which VValter de Hastings originally gave to them To which Nuns was Hugh de Mancestre grandchild to the said VValkeline also a Benefactor by granting unto them some speciall favours concerning their Mill at Oldburie To whom succeeded Hugh his son and heir who in 29.30.31 and 32 H. 3. was one of the Justices for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick and in 36 H. 3. obtained a speciall Charter of Free-Warren in all his demesn lands here for which he gave xi marks At which time he was one of the Coroners for this Countie and the next year after being made Eschaetor Walkelinus de Mancestre temp Regis Steph. Walt. de Mancestre 7 R. 1. Hugo de Mancestre 7 H. 3. Emma secundò nupta Gilb. de Croc. Hugo de Mancestre obiit 37 H. 3. Siâ— dâ— Mancestre 34 H. 3. Sim. de Mancestre miles 6 E. 2. Henr. de Mancestre 17 E. 1. Walt. de Mancestre 40 H. 3. Erneburga postea ux Joh. de Grendon Joh. de Mancestre miles 13 E. 1. Guido de Mancestre miles 14 E. 2. Cecilia 14 E. 2. Edm. de Mancestre miles obiit s. prole Margareta Roisia ux Leonardi Worthin 20 R. 2. Iohanna ux ..... Brokshole Galfr. Brokushole miles 20 R. 2. Johanna ux Thom. Aspal 8 H. 5. Margeria ux Ioh. Sumpter 8 H. 5. Lucia ux Petri Prilley Hugo Prilley ob s. prole Will. Prilley frater haeres 48. E. 3. departed this life leaving issue Walter and Simon which Simon setled himself within the Lordship of Tanworth where a certain large moated place though the buildings be gone beareth yet the name of his habitation and had issue Sir Simon de Mancestre Kt. who in 6 E. 2. was one of the Knights for this Countie in the Parl. then held at Westminster and gave for distinction in his Armes from those of the elder House three Lions upon the Bend. Of which Walter I find little memorable But to him â—ucceeded Sir Iohn de Mancestre Kt. who in 13 E. 1. covenanted to discharge the Nuns of Polesworth from any Scutage in respect of their lands situate here in Manceter and Oldburie and about that time claimed a Court Leet by Prescription within this Mannour as also Free-warren by virtue of K. Henrye's grant made to Hugh his grandfather both which were allowed In 16 E. 1. he was with the King's Armie in that Welch expedition under the conduct of Edmund Earl of Cornwall bearing for his Armes varrè Arg. and Sable with a Bend gules and left issue Sir Guy de Mancestre Kt. and he Sir Edmund who altered his Armes engrailing the Bend but dying without issue left the inheritance of this Lordship to the Children of his three sisters by which means it came to be divided and scattered For having issue Rose the eldest wife of Leonard VVorthyn from whom descended Sir Thomas Holt of Gristeburge in Com. Lanc. Kt. the said Sir Thomas sold his third part to one Robert Greene of Atherston of which Robert it was purchased by Thomas Ludford of Ansley Gent. whose posteritie enjoy it as I think at this day To Geffrey Brokâ—shole son of Geffrey who wedded the second succeeded Ioane the wife of Thomas Aspall and Margerie the wife of Iohn Sumpter as daughters and heirs whose third part came ere long to VVill. Harper Nich. Rouley both of this place and Thomas Arblastâ—r of Longdon in Com. Staff Esq. for in 10 H. 6. they were joyntly possest of it but made partition thereof as it seems for Thomas Harper the last of that name that had to do here sold his share to Iohn Glover of Baxterley in whose liâ—e it still continues the Mannour house being part of it But Rouley's and Arblaster's came to Thomas Lewes Gent. in Edw. 6. time of whose great-grandchild George did VVill. Cumberford of Cumberford in Com. Staff Esq. of late time purchase it And Prilley's by Aâ—â—e the daughter and heir of Edm. Prilley in H. 6. time to .... VVaver in marriage whose grandson Ric. VVaver in 7 H. 7. sold it to Ric. Cave of Stanford in Com. Nâ—rthampt Which Richard by his Deed bearing date 20 Iulii 9 H. 8. past it with certain lands in Dorstell Kingsburie and Nun-Eaton in this Countie as also in Swinford and Forton in Com. Leic. unto VVill. Filding of Newnham Esq. in exchange for divers lands is Stormysworth in the said Countie of Leic. Of whose great grandchild viz. Basill Filding Esq. did Alice Lady Dudley wife to Sir Robert Dudley Kt. about the twentith year of K. Iames his reign purchase it causing conveiance to be made thereof to the said King and to be enrolled in the Chancerie to the intent that his Majâ—stie should regrant the same to the then Incumbents of Manceter Leke-Wootton Ashow Kenilworth Monkskirby and Stonley for the augmentation of those small Vicaridges xx l. per an a piece which was accordingly done with proviso that the Patentees and their successors should preach one Sermon every Sunday throughout the year and upon every Whitsunday a speciall Sermon in commemoration of the said Ladie Dudley and Aleezia her daughter then deceased who by her last Will and Testament bequâ—athed most of her estate unto her said Mother to be imployed to such uses as she should think fit To each of which Churches this pious Ladie also gave a fair proportion of plate to be used at the Communion The Church was in an 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xxii marks the advouson whereof in 28 H. 6. did the Monks of Merevale purchase from the then Lords of this Mannour sc. Thomas Arblaster the elder and Alice his wife Anne the widow of Thomas Porter Rob. Armeburgh Esq. Reginald Armâ—burgh Clem. Draper Ioan the Widow of VVill. Harper and Raphe Holt and Elene his wife whereupon the Appropriation of it soon ensued by VVill. Booth then Bishop of Cov. and Lich. the
eundem lecum debent munire protegere contra omnes importunitates ut suam elemosynam c. And that of Walcheline de Mancestre who having the first grant of Mancestre within the territories whereof this place lyeth from the said Walt. de Hastings in his Charter to the said Nuns which could be no other than for corroboration hath the words Concessi confirmavi expressing all the lands with the bounds as abovesaid Other particulars wherewith I have met which specially relate to this place were briefly these That the Nuns here residing had two yard land in Waverton given to them by Raphe Boteler of Tamworth with his Daughter whom he there placed to be a Votresse As also that a speciall Indulgence for release of Xv. dayes Penance was granted by Robert Bishop of Hereford to all such as should contribute to these Nuns towards their buildings here And lastly that after much controversie betwixt the Nuns of Polesworth and the Parson of Manceter about the beginning of E. 1. time for the right to all Oblations made in the Chapell of St. Laurence at this place and the Tithe Corn of two pieces of inclosed ground one lying on the South part of the House and the other on the North they grew at length to this conclusion for themselves and their successors viz. that the said Nuns should totally have the benefit of them in consideration whereof they were yearly every Michaelmass day to bring to the Church of Manceter three pounds of Wax and there before Noon deliver the same to the Parson for the time being upon the High Altar Provided nevertheless if it did happen in time to come that God should work any strange Miracles here by reason whereof there might be a more than ordinary confluence of people to this Chapell and so consequently a multitude of Offrings that then all such extraordinary offrings to be divided equally betwixt the said Nuns and the Parson And also provided that the Priest so celebrating Dâ—vine Service here should not admit any of the Parishioners of Manceter thither on Sundays or Holy-days either to the Sacrament or Divine Service without the express License of the said Parson or his Deputie Which Agreement bears date on the Eve of the Feast of St. Philip and Iames the Apostles an 1284. 12 E. 1. Which lands lying here in Oldburie so belonging to those Nuns were in 26 H. 8. valued at vi l. x d. and coming to the Crown together with the said Monasterie of Polesworth in 30 H. 8. were in 33. of the said King's reign granted to Charles Brandon D. of Suff. and his heirs by the name of Dominium Manerium de Oldburie ac Capitalâ— Messuagium de Oldburie c. Monasterio de Polesworth spectans Which Duke immediatly thereupon past the same unto one Robert Green who in 3 Eliz. sold it to Iohn Symings Doctor of Physick Neither did he keep it long for in 21 Eliz. Iasper Fyâ—â—er Esq. died seised of it leaving Cath. Norwood widow and Anne the wife of Richard Wolriche his cosins and heirs But after this it came again to the Crown for in 3 Iac. Sir Edw. Stanhope Knight and Edw. Litleworth Gent. had a grant of it in Fee From whom it is since come to Master Richard Whitehall the present owner thereof Atherston OF this place was the Countess Godeva of whom in Coventre I have spoke possest before the Norman invasion but after the Conquest King William ferm'd it out with all the rest of those lands formerly belonging to that noble Ladie By the generall Survey made towards the later end of the Conqueror's reign it was rated at three hides the Woods then belonging thereto being esteemed at two miles in length and as much in breadth which with the rest were valued at Lx s. but herein were Manceter and Oldburie without question involved In that Record it is written Aderestone and in some others of great antiquitie Edredestone and Aldredestone so that 't is apparent that the name at first arose from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time both Edredus and Aldredus being appellations then in use But as the rest of the lands belonging to that Countess came to those Earls of Chester of the Norman line so dâ—d this place and was by the fiâ—st Hugh given to the Monks of Bec in Normandie which Monks in 30 H. 3. obtained an yearly Faire here to last three days beginning on the Eve of the blessed Virgins Nativitie sc. 7. Septembris And the next year ensuing a Mercate weekly on the Tuesday for which they having a speciall Charter with a confirmation of the said Faire gave a Fine of C s. to the King What it was that Robert Earl Ferrers whose Ancestour founded Merevale Abby hard by had to do within the precinct of this Lordship I know not which occasioned him to release to those Monks of Bec in H. 3. time all his right therein but about the beginning of E. 1. time Raphe de Culy layd claim to this Mannour pretending that his Ancestour was possest of it whereupon there grew a great suit betwixt him and those Monks howbeit in 3 E. 1. the Monks recovered it and in 13 E. 1. challenged divers Liberties and priviledges here viz. Gallowsâ— Pillorie Thewe Assize of Bread and Beer Mercate Fair and Toll exhibiting King H. 3. Charter for the same proving that they had enjoyed them accordingly without interruption all which were allowed But after this ere long it came to be reputed as a member of the Priorie of Okeburne in Com. Wilts for so doth that taxation of the temporalties belonging to the Religious Houses in 19 E. 1. speak it to be as also the Record called Nomina Villarum in 9 E. 2. but this was no other than as the Priorie of Okeburne was a Cell to Bec before specified As the Mercate in time growing very much to be frequented by reason it stands so opertunely both to the Woodland and Feildon brought no small advantage to the Inhabitants here so did it by such concourse of people make the town very foul and dirtie in Winter time for remedy whereof they procured a Patent from the King in 12 E. 2. for License to take Toll of all vendible commodities coming hither for the space of four years towards defraying the charge in paving thereof viz. for every Quarter of Corn a farthing c. but this not performing the work they obtained another Patent in 17 E. 3. to take Toll for five years more to that purpose scil of every Hors-load of Corn a half peny c. About this time the Monks of Bâ—c being very weary of the frequent seizures which were made of their lands in this Realm into the King's hands by reason of his wars with France began to think of quitting their interest for some certain advantage and therefore
outrages in England returned at whose entrance his good Subjects took courage and prevailed over the Rebells in every place against whom Rhese Prince of Wales came also with a great power and besieged Tutburie-Castle whereupon this Robert Earl Ferrers apprehending what danger he was in hastned to the King then at Northampton and to obtain his favour rendred the said Castles of Tutburie and Duffeild giving securitie for his future fidelitie but so little did the King trust him that though he received him to outward favour he caused those Castles to be demolished This Robert was a Benefactor to the Abby of Dore in Herefordshire and by Sibilla his wife daughter to William de Braose left issue another William Earl Ferrers who not onely confirmed to the Monks of Geroldon the inclosed ground at Hethcote and pasture for C. Sheep there which his Father had given to them but added another piece of Inclosure adjoyning thereto with pasturage for CC. sheep more at six score to the Hundred five Kine and a Bull and six Oxen. And in 1 Richard 1. gave to the Monks of St. Denis in France for the health of his soul and the soul of Sibill his wife one Wax Taper yearly price xiii d. as also a Stag and a Boar in their proper seasons to be sent thither annually at the Feast of St. Dennis by the Messengers of him the said Earl and his heirs And likewise to the Monks of Lenton all his right to the Church of Woodham in Essex specially for the health of the souls of those that were with him at the burning of Nottingham which belike was the time that his Father made such spoil there as I have before exprest But this William was outed of his Earldomes of Nottingham and Derby by King Richard 1. in the first year of his reign as it seems for upon the said King's first arrivall in England after his Father's death I find that he bestowed them with divers other upon Iohn Earl of Moreton his brother yet I hardly think that the said William continued long so dispossest of them for it appears that the same year he attended King Richard in the Holy Voiage and died at the siege of Acon an scil 1190 2 R. 1. leaving issue William his son and heir Of the great misfortunes that befell that King in his journey by being taken Prisoner I shall not here stand to tell forasmuch as our Historians speak so fully thereof nor of the advantage which Iohn Earl of Moreton before specified made upon it in seizing divers Castles here into his hands reporting that his Brother was dead whereupon he layd claim to the Crown But shall observe that upon the King's enlargement and return order was given for the siege of those Castles whereupon our William Earl Ferrers joyned with the Earl of Chester in besieging of Nottingham Castle which after a while was rendred and for his fidelity was made choice of by the same King to sit with the rest of the Peers in that great Councell held there on the 30 th of March next ensuing At the second Coronation of which King he was one of the four that carried the rich silken Canopie over his head With the Earls of Clare Chester and others of the great Nobilitie he swore Fealtie to King Iohn in the first year of his reign but conditionally that he should render to each of them his own At the Coronation of that King in the Church of St. Peter at Westminister on Ascension day he was also present and one the seventh of Iune following being solemnly invested Earl of Derby by a speciall Charter then dated at Northampton was girt with the Sword by the said King 's own hands having a grant likewise of the Tertium Denarium de omnibus Placitis confirm'd to him and his heirs In 5 Ioh. he obtained a speciall Mandate to Geffâ—ey Fitz-Piers then Iusticiarius Angliae for livery of those lands in Stapleford in Com. Leic. that belong'd to the Vidame of Chartres and were of his Fee which Vidame died in a voyage to the Holy land and was a Ferrers though he bore for his Armes a Bend betwixt six Martlets This Earl was very loyall to King Iohn even in his greatest distresses for in 14 of his reign when that the Pope had deposed him of his Kingdome and that Pandulfus his Legate came over to treat with him the French King being then upon the Seas with a powerfull Navie threatning an Invasion so that King Iohn's condition was so desperate as that he became necessitated to yeild to what termes he could get he manifested his great affection to him in becomming one of the four that gave his solemn Oath for the King's performance of those Articles whereunto he had submitted which Agreement was made 13 Maii the same year as also a witness to the Charter of K. Iohn dated within two days following whereby he gave up his Realm to the Pope Of whose favour to him I cannot omit to take notice of this singular instance viz. that on the 27 th of Iune following he had a speciall grant to himself and his heirs sitting at Dinner upon all Festivalls in the year when they should solemnly celebrate those days with his Head uncovered and without any Cap having a Garland thereon of the breadth of the said Kâ—ng's little Finger In 16 Ioh. he had the Castle of Hareston in Com. Derb. committed to his charge and the next year following when the Barons put themselves in Armes and seized divers Castles having raised Forces on the said King's behalf he took from them by assault the Castles of Bolesover and Pec in Derbyshire whereupon he had a speciall Patent constituting him Governour of them And upon the death of King Iohn stood so firm to the young King Henry the third as that with the rest of the loyall Nobilitie he not onely assisted at his Coronation on Simon and Iude's day but immediatly after Easter accompanied the famous William Maâ—shall then Governour of the King and Kingdome the Earls of Chester Albamarle and many other gâ—eat men to the siege of Mountsorell Castle in Lecestershire then held out by Henry de Braibâ—oke and ten other stout Knights The same year he was also with those noble persons at raising the siege of Lincoln which the Rebellious Barons with Lewes K. of France whom they brought into the Realm had madâ—â— And having new Patents from the King for the custody of those Castles held the government of them for full six years But in the second year of this King's reign he made a jâ—urney to the Holy Land with Ranulph Earl of Chester and some others appointing his Steward viz. Raphe Fitz-Nicholas to transact aâ—l businesses concerning him which should relate to the Exchequer till his return from
by his speciall Pat. then bearing date appeareth Howbeit sub tali pacto fuit restitutus ut si fortè quoquo tempore residaveret sine spe restitutionis foret exhere dandus saith my Authoritie Et ad hoc tenendum tam per Sacramentum prestitum corporale quam per Cartam suam se Domino Regi gratis obligaverit But of that pardon he had no benefit partly for that the said sum was not accordingly payd and partly by reason of his second defection For the next Spring after he made head again in the Northern parts of Derbyshire contra Sacramentum suum cum copioso Excercitu unto which the King's forces under the conduct of Henry eldest son to the King of Almain shortly advanc'd and at Chesterfield on Whitson-Eve routed all his power whereof many were slain and of those that escap'd by flight he himself being one was hid in a Church but by the trecherie of a woman discovered and brought up Prisoner to London by the said Henry The authorities whereof I have been necessitated to make use for the better illustration of this Storie do I confess somewhat differ in point of time to reconcile them therefore I have followed those which have most agreed with our publick Records Hereupon in the Parliament held the same year at Westminster he was disherited according to the tenor of his obligation before specified and Edmund the King's son invested with his Earldome of Derby as my said Authoritie expresseth and as those that have written touching the succession of our English Earls do affirm but that he really was so though he had the greatest part of his lands and excercised perhaps the power of Earl in that Countie I am not satisfied forasmuch as I cannot find that the said Edmund had any Patent of Creation unto that Honour as he had to those of Leicester and Lancaster nor any other till Henry of Monmouth his grand-son who was afterwards made D. of Lancaster Which Edmund soon after viz. 28 Iunii next ensuing had a grant from the King of all the goods and Chattells whereof the said Robert Earl of Derby was possest upon the day of the skirmish at Chesterfield before mentioned and on the fift of August following of all the Castles and lands belonging to the same Earl to hold during pleasure It seems that this Robert continued a Prisoner for the space of three years or thereabouts for of his enlargement I find no mention till the beginning of May 53 H. 3. but then there was such mediation made for him that the King accepted of securitie whereby he might receive satisfaction for his misdemeanours committed in the turbulent times before spoken of and commanded the said Edmund to make restitution to him of his lands Hereupon as I guess was that agreement made betwixt them viz. that to quit all his interest in those Castles and lands so granted to him he should receive fifty thousand pounds all upon one day for payment whereof the said Earl procured Henry son to the King of Romans William Valence Earl of Pembroke Iohn Earl of Warren and Surrey William de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Roger de Someri Thomas de Clare Rob. Walraund Rog. Clifford Hamon le Straunge Bartholmew Sudley and Robert Bruse all great Barons to be bound unto whom he passed by way of counter-securitie all his Castles and lands excepting Chartley in Staffordshire and Holbroke in Derbyshire which sum being not accordingly payd those his sureties past over their title therein unto the said Edmund and his heirs But hereupon there arose great suits in Law betwixt them about the beginning of King Edward the first 's time the Earl pleading that according to the Dictum de Kenilworth he was capable of redeeming his lands lying in the Counties of Stafford Derby Leic. and Lancaster excepting Chartley in Com. Staff and Holbroke in Com. Derb. for the sum of fifty thousand pounds and that they were both formerly so agreed In answer whereunto the said Edmund exhibited a certain writing made and enrouled in the Chancerie by which it appeared that he was to hold those lands untill the Earl did pay that sum at one intire payment Unto which the Earl replied that the said Writing ought not to oblige him forasmuch as it was made per dures but upon full hearing of the cause Judgement was given against him whereupon he lost Tutburie Castle and other vast possessions which came thereby to the said Edmund then Earl of Leicester and Lancaster as hath been shewed But this was not all for he lost his Earldome likewise All that I have seen farther memorable of the before specified Robert Earl Ferrers is that by his Letters Patent bearing date at Yoxhall on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Fabian and Sebastian in 46 H. 3. he gave libertie unto Sir Walter de Raleg and his heirs inhabiting at Uttoxater in Staffordshire to hunt and course the Fox and Hare within the precincts of his Forrest of Needwood in that Countie with eight Braches and four Greyhounds To which grant his Seal of Armes is affixed wherein it appears that upon his Shield and the Caparisons of his Horse waiving the border of Horse-shoos used by his Father he bore onely Varrè Or and Gules which Armes were afterwards continued by his posteritie the Lords Ferrers of Chartley so long as that line lasted and since according to the usage of later times by the principall male branch now remayning of this great and noble Family seated at Tamworth-Castle in this Countie As for the time of his death I cannot directly point it out but in sted thereof shall close up his story with the words of the M S. before cited viz. Robertus Comes de Ferrariis Christum dominum Regem viz. suum dominum Henriâ—um infestavit sine causa non tantum semel sed sepins precipuè cum esset Pax domini Regis per Regnum proclamata Ipse verò Robertus pauper obiit nichil praeter podagram possidens haereditatis sc. his Father's and Grandfather's infirmitie Two wives he had Mary the first neice to King Henry the third sc. daughter to Hugh le Brun Earl of Angolesm his brother by the mothers side being married very young he at nine and she at eight years of age And Alianore though whose daughter I cannot prove For the health of whose souls and his own he gave to the Canons of St. Thomas juxta Stafford two Messuages in Chartley before mentioned as also xvii acres of land and the advouson of the Church of Stow juxta Chartley appointing his body to be buried in the Priorie of St. Thomas whensoever he should depart this life To this Earl succeeded Iâ—hn his son and heir within age in 9 E. 1. but somewhat of his Father's spirit it seems For in
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
the Knights for the Body to same King and Shiriff of that Countie in 9 H. 7. as that by means of a counterfeit Letter in the name of Randolf Brereton Esquire delivered on Friday night before the Feast of St. Iohn Baptist's Nativity requesting his meeting with him at Stafford the next morning by five of the Clock being allured out of his House at Ingestrie and passing thitherwards accordingly with no more attendance than his own son and two servants he was way-layed upon Tixhall-Heath by no less than xx persons whereof seven were of the said Sir Humphrey's own Familie some with Bows and other with Spears all armed with Bregandines and Coats of Male who issuing out of a Sheep-coat and a deep dry Pit furiously assaulted him saying that he should die and accordingly killed him the said Sir Humphrey at that time passing by with at least xxiiii persons on Horseback upon pretence of hunting a Deer All which the Petition to the King made by Alice his widow wherein she craves that the same Sir Humphrey and his said servants might answer for it doth manifest But what was done therein I have not seen neither any farther of his Descendants forasmuch as their residence hath been for the most part in that Countie other than what the Pedegree before inserted sheweth The Church dedicated to All Saints was originally but a Chapell and belonging to Overton subt Arden in Com. Leic. now called Orton on the Hill and therewith confirmed to the Monks of Merevale in King H. 2. time by Pope Lucius the third but I do not find that it was ever appropriated to them or that they continued long Patrons thereof the Advouson having been for many ages in the Lords of the Mannour In an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was rated at xvi marks over and above half a mark which the Parson of Overton before specified did receive out of it and in 26 H. 8. at xx l. iii s. iiii d. besides ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Rob. de Grendon miles Henr. de Grendon Cler. an 1253. Rad. de Grendon miles Will. de Edrichesley Cler. 10 Cal. Apr. 1300. Rad. de Grendon miles Will. de Edrichesley Cler. 10 Cal. Apr. 1300. Rad. de Grendon miles Will. de Clinton Pbr. 7. Apr. 1330. Rad. de Rocheford Nich. de Ivynho Accol 2 ld Dec. 1349. D. Henr. Dux Lanc. VVill. de Slattebourn Cap. 12 Cal. Dec. 1360. D. Will. Beeke miles Will Chetwynd miles Thomas de Hampton Pbr. 14 Cal. Iunii 1369. Ioh. Dux Lanc. Rob. Attemore Pbr. 7 Cal. Iunii 1369. D. Will. Chetwynd de Iagestre miles Ioh. de Bynbroke Pbr. 26 Apr. 1382. D. Alicia de Chetwynd VValt Bullok 3 Ian. 1401. D. Alicia de Chetwynd Ioh. Abyndon 15 Ian. 1401. Ric. Chetwynd fil haer D Will. Chetwind mil. Ioh. Pulford Cap. 18 Febr. 1404. Mag. Ioh. Stafford Legum Dr. Thes. Angl. Sim. Melburn ult Iulii 1423. Thomas Littilton Iohanna ux ejus VVill. VVore 19 Martii 1447. Thomas Littilton Iohanna ux ejus Ric. Cokket Pbr. 4 Aug. 1449. Thomas Littilton Iohanna ux ejus Rog. VVall. in Decr. Bac. Pbr. 26 Ian. 1449. D. Phil. Draicot miles ex concess Will. Chetwyn ar D. Edm. VVondefende 1 Iulii 1538. Ioh. Chetwyn de Ingestre ar D. VVill. Rowley Cler. 17. Oct. 1558. Ioh. Chetwin Will fil haeres ejus Ioh. Sprotte Cler. 3. Dec. 1578. Will. Chetwyn ar Thomas VValker Cler. 10 Oct. 1579. Will. Chetwyn miles Georgius Kent Cler. 26 Iunii 1607. Whittington THat this petty Village was originally a member of Grendon within which Parish it lyes and therewith involved in the Conqueror's Survey I am fully satisfied for part of it was given to the Monks of Merevale by Robert Earl Ferrers upon his Foundation of that Monasterie but the residue did the Family of Grendon owners of Grendon possesse as a branch of that Lordship which in process of time being granted away by some of the Lords of Grendon came to be reputed a Mannour one Margerie Ribbif in 6 R. 2. holding it for life by that name the inheritance being in Sir Geffrey Fuljambe Knight Which Sir Geffrey left issue Alice his daughter and heir about a year old in 12 R. 2. Howbeit after this I do not find it termed a Mannour for upon the grant thereof from Iohn Heklyng of Lyndeby Esquire and Ioan his wife unto William Repington of Amington in this Countie Esquire in 13 H. 6. it passed by the name of ten Messuages CCCC acres of land xxx acres of meadow and xl acres of pasture from whom is descended Sir Iohn Repington now of Amington Knight the present owner thereof That which the Monks of Merevale had here yeilded Liiii s. yearly Rent of Assize in 26 H. 8. but coming to the Crown by the dissolution of that Abby was in 32 H. 8. granted with the site thereof and a multitude of other lands unto Sir Wâ—lter Devereux Knight Lord Ferrers of Chartley and so consequently divolved to Robert Earl of Essex the present owner thereof an scil 1640. Polesworth NExt below Grendon-Parish is Polesworth situate which containeth within its precincts divers Villages and places of note scil Badsley-Endsor Dordon Freseley Hall-end Dodenhale and Pooley on the South side of the River with Stipershill Waverton and Bramcote on the North. Of this place though there be no particular mention in the Conquerour's Survey as of divers the most antient Towns and Burroughs is not yet for antiquitie and venerable esteem needs it not give precedence to any in this Countie being honoured with the plantation of the first Religious-House therein that was in all these parts founded by King Egbert our first English Monarch But before I farther proceed to speak thereof I resolve here to take notice of what I have seen most considerable touching the antiquitie of a Monastick life practised by women as I have done in Coventre for men wherein I cannot discern till towards the fourth Centurie any thing thereof For though a learned person observeth that Non solùm viri sed Mulieres etiam Apostolorum Christi tempore ministerio Ecclesiae addicebantur yet he saith Verum procedente tempore instituta sunt Collegia seu Monasteria Virginum Deo consecratarum solennibus votis obstrictarum And that Marcella was the first who began it in the Western Church we have the testimonie of St. Hierom Marcella saith he in Occidente circa an CCCXL Virginum Viduarum didicit disciplinam which kind of life was taught her by Athanasius as Baronius affirms But that they excercised it so soon in that solemn manner as in after times hath been used viz. under the threefold Vow of Povertie Obedience and Chastitie cannot be made good For cleer it is from the testimonie
then Bishop of Coventre Lichfield reserving the Rent of a pair of Gloves or a Peny at Easter to Sir Raph de Grendon and his heirs for all service suit of Court and demand whatsoever After which it was not long ere it came to the hands of the Lords of Grendon again for I perceive that in 22 E. 1. Raph de Grendon son to the before specified Sir Raph had it From whom the greatest part of it is divolved with Grendon to the Familie of Chetwin and enjoyed by them at this day But the Inhabitants thereof are within the Leet of Polesworth Freseley THis was also very antiently belonging to the Marmions being originally a member of Polesworth as I guess by one of which Familie I conclude that Robert de Kaily or his Ancestor became at first enfeoft of it for it appears that Robert Marmion who lived in H. 2. time calls that Robert his Knight in respect he held of him by militarie service and confirmed the grant of Freseley Mill which the said Robert had made to the Nunns of Polesworth This Robert de Kaily gave and sold to the Canons of Lilshull in Com. Salop. full two parts of this Village disposing his body to sepulture in that Monasterie and having no issue left the inheritance of the rest to his Sisters whereof one was married to Simon de Whitacre of Whitacre-superior in this Countie and the other to one Richard de Pakington who ratified her Brother's grant But wanting the like Confirmation from the former there grew suits betwixt Sir Simon de Whitacre Knight grandchild to the said Simon and the Canons of Lilshull for part of that land which suits being accorded in 25 H. 3. he released unto them all his title claim thereto Notwithstanding which Release Iordan de Whitacre son and heir to the said Simon after his Father's death taking advantage of those turbulent times scil the Barons Warrs entred upon the same lands again and dyed possest of them in so much as Philippa his widow who shortly after became the wife of Iames de Astley retained them in her hands till another Agreement being made betwixt the said Canons and her unto which Richard de Whitacre her son and heir assented they had quitted their right thereto And yet did not this binde the said Richard de Whitacre but that he began a new suit for those lands whereupon a Jury was returned for triall thereof yet before it came to be so decided they grew to a finall accord which being made in 21 E. 1. he released once more all his right and interest to those lands So that afterwards they enjoy'd them till the generall dissolution by King Henry the viiith but then coming to the Crown they were granted out in 35 H. 8. by the name of the Mannour of Fresely unto Iames Leveson Merchant of the Staple to be held in Capite by the xxth part of a Knight's Fee which Iames the same year aliened part of them to one Iohn Beck That which remained to the Whitacres as hath been said into which the Free warren granted to Simon de Whitacre in 41 H. 3. extended came at length to Alan Waldeiffe by an heir female of that Family as the Descent in Whitacre sheweth and afterwards to Poultney as it seems but it being so small a proportion I have not farther taken notice of it Hall-End OF this place I have not seen any thing till K. Ric. 3. times that it came by a daughter and heir of Sturmie to the Family of Corbin whose antient seat is at Corbins-Hall within Swinford-Parish in Com. Staff where most of them have had their residence but their Descent since they had to do here I have added Nich. Corbin 1 R. 3. Johanna filia haeres Joh. Sturmie Ric. Corbin 20. H. 8. Anna filia haeres Thomae Ramsey de Hitcham in Com. Buck. Thomas Corbin obiit an 1584. Anna filia Will. Repington de Amington ar nupta 31 H. 8. Georgius Corbin ob 25. Sept. 1636. Maria filia Will. Faunt de Foston in Com. Leic. ar Thomas Corbin obiit .... Iunii 1637. Winifreda filia Gawini Grosvenor de Sutton-Colfield Henricus Georgius Thomas Corbin natus .... Apr. 1624. Leticia Dodenhale THis is a depopulated place and did totally belong to the Nunns of Polesworth part thereof being given to them about H. 3. time by William Sauvage sometime Lord of Pooley and the rest by Richard Dodenhale Merchant of Coventre in 21 R. 2. In consideration whereof the said Nunns by their publique Instrument dated 12. Apr. 1. H. 4. granted that there should be every day and night a speciall Collect said for the same Richard in their Chapter-House in such sort as they used to do for their other Benefactors and at his death his name registred in their Martyrologe as also his Anniversarie kept with Placebo and Dirige and solemn Masse celebrated for the soul of Henry Dodenhale sometime Merchant and for the said Richard with Beatrice and Alice his wives their Parents Benefactors and all the faithfull deceased over and besides the night of S. Thomas the Martyr and likewise one Collect once a year for the said Henry Richard Beatrice and Alice their Parents and Benefactors for ever And lastly that at the celebration of the Anniversarie of the said Henry Richard Beatrice and Alice on the Feast-day of S. Thomas the Martyr's translation all the Nunns present thereat to have xii Eggs in the name of a Corrodie for their faithfull performance of that Office Pooley THis as a member of Polesworth did antiently belong to the Marmions of Tamworth-Castle and being originally given by Marmion to Burdet in Fee-Ferme for the Rent of xâ— s. yearly was soon after granted from Burdet to Sauvage as appears by a Confirmation made from Geffrey Sauvage to William Burdet in 10 H. 3. Which passages from Marmion to Burdet and Burdet to Sauvage were about King Stephen's time for Osanna then Abbesse of Polesworth with the consent of her fellow Nunns granted to Helias the son of Geffrey Sauvage a Chapell here but without Service as also a Chapell-yard in consideration whereof he gave to that Covent the inheritance of four Acres of the best Meadow-ground in this Village promising to pay yearly during his life xii d. upon S. Edith's Altar on the day of her Festivall and bequeathed his body wheresoever he should depart this life to be buried in the Church of Polesworth Which Agreement was so made in the presence of Roger de Clinton then Bishop of this Dioces But this tenure in Fee-Ferm did not long continue for it is evident that Robert Marmion whom I take to be the man that first granted it to Burdeâ— did in consideration of x. marks in the nature of a Fine and the yearly payment of a Sore-Spaâ—hawk to himself and his
Cal. Nov. 1311. Ioh. Burdeth miles Ioh. de Thurstynton 18. Cal. Maii 1333. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Ric. Colet Accol 12. Cal. Oct. 1349. Thom. de Bellocampo Com. Warw. Henr. de Wirley Pbr. 10. Cal. Dec. 1361. D. Thomas Burdet miles Rog. Newbrugg Pbr. penult Sept. 1387. Thom. Mottelow persona Eccl. de Arrow alii Alanus de Thame Cap. 3. Ian. 1410. Thom. Mottelow persona Eccl. de Arrow alii Will. de Erdington 28. Apr. 1411. Thom. Mottelow persona Eccl. de Arrow alii Rob. Evynton Pbr. 13. Martii 1421. D. Thomas Burdet de Arrow miles Nich. Cowper Pbr. 28. Apr. 1439. Thomas Burdet ar Rob. Burton Canon Regularis 10. Martii 1445. Ioh. Burdet ar Ioh. Baker Cap. 13. Febr. 1491. Ioh. Burdet miles D. Thomas Chare 6. Iulii 1521. Thomas Burdet ar D. Will. Lawnslyn 8. Iulii 1530. Thomas Burdet ar Will. Heys Pbr. 5. Aug. 1560. Thomas Burdet ar Ioh. Barwell Cler. 13. Febr. 1577. Tho. Burdet de Bramcote arm Henr. Cowper Cler. 20. Febr. 1617. Thomas Burdet Baronettus Sam. Wollaston ult Iulii 1629. The Church in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. was valued at ...... but in 26 H. 8. at Cxvi s. over and above ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodals Shuttenton OF this place there is no particular mention in the Conqueror's Survey it being then involved with Sekindon and of that part as I guesse which the Earl of Mellent then possest from whom or his son Robert sirnamed Bossu Earl of Leicester was William Burdet enfeoft thereof who upon his Foundation of the Monasterie at Aucote on the other side the River gave it wholy thereunto excepting those lands called Coppenhull which he had disposed of to the Nuns of Polesworth At that time it was written Schetynton and continued a pretty Village till about the beginning of King H. 8. time that the Monks of Aucote depopulated six Messuages and two Cotages therein which I take to be a third part thereof After the dissolution of which Monasterie it continued in the Crown till 34 H. 8. but then did the King passe it away unto Thomas Lord Audley Chancelour of England inter alia in exchange for other lands who the next year following sold it together with the site of the said Priorie of Aucote unto Ioane Robinson the widow of George Robinson of London Mercer Since which time it hath past with Aucote to such particular persons as I have there manifested The Church was very antiently appropriated to the Monks of Aucote and in 26 H. 8. valued at Xl s. But upon the grant of the Rectorie together with the site of the Priorie of Aucote unto Thomas Lord Audley in 34 H. 8. there was vi li. per annum reserved for a Curate to serve therein I cannot find that there hath ever been any more than one Presentation to this Church that was by the Prior of great Malvern in anno 1341. Aucote being a Cell subordinate to that Monasterie Which Prior of Malverne presented one Richard then Prior of Aucote thereto who was instituted 14 Cal. Aug. in the year abovesaid Aucote-Priorie THis place being originally a member of Sekindon and with Shuttenton obtained from the Earl of Leicester by William Burdet was in anno 1151. scil 5 H. 2. granted therewith to the Monks of great Malvern in Com. Wigorn. upon condition that they should send two of their Covent to serve in the Church here from the Feast of S. Michaell till that time twelve-month and the next year following to adde unto them two more And moreover that afterwards so soon as the building of the Monasterie here couâ—d be compleated according to the capacitie thereof more Monks to be received therein by the advice of the Abbot of Westminster and other Religious Persons of these parts and the Prior to be constituted always by the Prior of Malverne before specified Unto which agreement so made betwixt the said William Burdet and Roger then Prior of Malverne in the presence of the before mentioned Abbot of Westminster as also the Abbots of S. Albans and Malmesburie Robert Earl of Leicester amongst others was a witness The occasion whereupon this little Monasterie was founded is said to be this viz. that the said William Burdet being both a valiant and devout man made a journey to the Holy Land for subduing of the Infidells in those parts and that his Steward whil'st he was thus absent solicited the Chastitie of his Ladie who resisted those his uncivill attempts with much scorn whereupon he grew so full of envie towards her that so soon as he had advertisement of his Master's arrivall again in England he went to meet him and to shadow his own foul crime complained to him of her loosness with others Which false accusation so enraged her husband that when he came home and that she approacht to receive him with joyfull embraces he forthwith mortally stab'd her and that to expiate the same unhappy Act after he understood the truth he built this Monastery Of this storie though I have nothing but by tradition yet that he was the Founder hereof is most certain from what I have before exprest and doubtless that Monument situate in an Arch of the wall on the North side of the Church here at Aucote is for him which is only a plain Free-stone covering the Coffin wherein his Body resteth curiously embossed with the sculpture of a large Crosse. The Benefactors that this Priorie had were but few that I finde viz. Robert de Bramcote who gave a Meadow called Bramcote-Meadow and William Burdet grandchild to the Founder who having conferred thereunto the Rent of xii d. issuing out of a certain tenement in Aucote for the maintenance of a Lampe to burne before the Altar of our Lady in the Church here of S. Blase when he lay upon his death-bed added the grant of half a yard land and a Water-Mill lying in Radelive in Com. Leic. So that all the revenues belonging thereto were by the Survey made in 26 H. 8. valued at no more than xxxiv li. viii s. Out of which Lx s. being yearly payd to the Priorie of Malverne whereunto it was a Cell xx s. to Sir Humphrey Ferrers Knight then high Steward thereof and other Reprizes which in the whole amounted to vi li. ii s. x d. left the clear yearly value but xxviii li. vi s. ii d. In so much as it being exposed to dissolution by the Statute of 27 H. 8. and so coming to the Crown was granted out in 34 H. 8. together with Shuttenton unto Thomas Lord Audley Lord Chancelour of England and by him to Ioane Robinson widow who died seized thereof in 1 Eliz. leaving William her son and heir Which William had issue Thomas who mortgaged it with Draiton-Basset in Com. Staff to one William
thereof jointly with his said wife in 2 E. 3. leaving Baldwin his son and heir xxxvi years of age who after the decease of his mother in 14 E. 3. doing his homage to the King had full possession thereof Which last mentioned Baldwin died in 17 E. 3. leaving Baldwin his son and heir 26. years of age who the next year following did his Homage to the King and had thereupon Liverie of all the lands of his inheritance lying in this Shire as also in the Counties of Hereford Salop. Staff Wigorn. Wiltf Norf. and Suff. In 26 E. 3. he was a Knight and bore for his Armes Or a Crosse fleurè gules and for his Crest upon a Chapeu the Leggs of a man booted spurred and reverst as appeareth by his Seale but not long after this he altered it and bore a Plume of Fethers in stede of the other Of this Sir Baldwin I further find that he was in great esteem with Edward Prince of Wales commonly called the Black-Prince being for his approved fidelitie and service in 38 E. 3. made by him his Steward of Xantoigne in France for life and in 46 E. 3. retained with the same martiall Prince by Indenture to serve Rob. Marmion temp Regis Will. Conq. Robertus Marmion temp H. 1. Milisear Robertus Marmion 12 H. 2. obiit 2 H. 3. Rob. Marmion senior ob 25 H. 3. Maria ux 2. Iohanna primò nupta Thomae Ludlow mil. secundò Henrico Hillarie Philippus Marmion ob 20 E. 1. Iohanna filia cohaer Hug. de Kilpeck 27 H. 3. Iohanna ob 23 E. 1. sine prole Mazera ux Rad. Cromwell Iohanna consangu una haeredum Philippi Marmion 20 E. 1. Alex. Frevile 20 E. 1. Baldw. Frevile obiit 17 E. 3. Elizabetha 3 E. 3. Eliz. soror cohaerâ— Ioh. de Monteforti mil. ux 1. Baldw. Frevile mil. ob 49 E. 3. Iohanna filia â—â—â— Domini Strange 46 â— 3. Baldw. Frevile mil. ob 11 R. 2. Iocosa filia Joh. Botetourt mil. 11 R. 2. Baldw. Frevile miles obiit 2 H. 4. Iohanna filia Thomae Greene mil. 11 R. 2. Baldw. Frevile mil. ob s. prole 7 H. 5. Elizabetha 7 H. 5. Thom. Ferrers filius secundogeniâ—us Will. D. Ferrers de Groby Thomas Ferrers miles obiit 22. Aug. 14 H. 7. Anna filia Leonardi Hastings de Kirby soror Will. Domini Hastings Ioh. Ferrers miles obiit vivente patre Matilda filia Ioh. Stanley de Elford mil. Ioh. Ferrers miles consanguâ— haeres Thomae Ferrers militis 14 H. 7. Dorothea filia Will. Harper de Rushall in Com. Staff ar Margareta filia Thomae Picot servientis ad legem ux 1. Humfr. Ferrers miles obiit 13 Sept. 1. 2. Ph. M. Ioh. Ferrers arm Humfr. Ferrers miles obiit 13 Sept. 1. 2. Ph. M. Dorothea filia cohaer Thomae Marrow serv. ad legem nupta 32 H. 8. Barbara nupta 31 H. 8. Dorothea ux Edw. Holt ar Humfridus Ferrers miles obiit 5 Iac. Anna filia Humfr. Bradburne de Lee in Com. Derb. nupta 5 Eliz. Walt. Thomas Edw. Ioh Ferrers miles obiit .... 1633. Dorothea filia Ioh. Puckering militis Custodis magni Sigilli Angliae Humfr. Ferrers miles obiit ..... Sept. 1633. Anna filia Ioh. Pakington de Ayles borough in Com. Wigorn. equ aur secundo nupta Philippo Comiti de Chesterfield Ioh. Ferrers natus .... anno 1629. Francisca ux Ioh. Pakington eq aur Anna ux Sim. Archer eq aur Iana ux Thom. Rous Bar. Elizabethaâ— Catherina Brigita Susanna Edw. Henr. Thomas Georgius Dorothea filia cohaer Thomae Marrow serv. ad legem nupta 32 H. 8. Franciscus Cokain primus maritus Leonardus Ferrers 12 H. 7. Rad. Ferrers Decanus Eccl. Coll. de Tamworth 12 H. 7. Margareta primò nupta Hug. Willoughby mil. secundò Ric. Bingham mil. Eliz. filia Joh. de Botetourt de Weoley mil. nupta 27 E. 3. ux 1. Iecosa ux Rogeri Aston Ida filia .... Clinton 35 E. 3. Matilda ux Rad. le Boteler 20 E. 1. Robertus Marmion 12 H. 2. obiit 2 H. 3. Philippa 5 H. 3. Rob. Marmion jun. 2 H. 3. Will. Marmion 43 H. 3. Will. Marmion 2 H. 3. Will. Marmion 43 H. 3. him in the warrs of France with six men at Arms viz. three Knights and three Esquires taking xx li. per annum Fee for the Knights and x. marks for the Eâ—quires As also that he had three wives viz. Elizabeth sister and coheir to Sir Iohn Montfoâ—t Kt. of which Family I have spoke in Beldesert Secondly Ida daughter to ..... Clinton a Ladie of Honour to Queen Philippa and thirdly Ioane daughter to the Lord Strange and that he departed this life in 49 E. 3. leaving by the said Elizabeth Baldwin his son and heir xxiv years of age Which Baldwin being a Knight in 1 Ric. 2. exhibited his claim to be the King's Champion on the day of his Coronation and to do the service appertaining to that Office by reason of the tenure of this Castle viz. to ride compleatly armed upon a barb'd Horse into Westminster Hall and there to challenge the Combate with whomsoever that should dare to oppose the King's title to the Crown which service the Marmions antiently Lords thereof had heretofore performed But Sir Iohn Dimock being then his Competitor carryed it from him by Judgment of the Constable and Marshall of England in regard he was possest of the Lordship of Scrivelby in Lincolnshire which by better authorities than Frevile could produce appeared to have been held for divers ages by that service and that the Marmions had the said office as owners thereof and not in right of this Castle it being descended to Dimock with Scrivelby from an heir female of Sir Thomas Ludlow Knight husband of Ioane the yongest daughter to Sir Philip Marmion before spoken of Which Sir Baldwin in 3 R. 2. was also one of the Commissioners for arraying of men in this Shire and in 9 R. 2. upon partition made betwixt him and Sir Thomas Boteler Knight of Mountfort's lands whereunto they were heirs had the Mannour of Ashstede in Com. Surr. with Gunthorpe and Loudham in Com. Nott. assigned to him as also the reversion of the Mannours of Henley Beudesert and Haselholt in this Countie after the decease of William de Beauchamp Lord Bergavenny in whose hands they then were And had two wives both daughters unto Sir Iohn Botetourt of Weoley-Castle in Com. Wigorn. whereof Elizabeth the first was married to him in 27 E. 3. but I suppose she was then very young and died before they lived together in regard it is plain that he afterwards married Ioyce her sister who overlived him and took to her second husband Sir Adam Peshale Knight which Joyce at length became one of the coheirs to Ioyce her Neece daughter and heir to Iohn son
make choice of and to receive and instruct any such women who having devoted their lives to Gods service would be content to do the like But after they had found what molestation they had by the Foresters who riding frequently that way much disturb'd their devotions they humbly besought the said Empress that she would vouchsafe to change their seat Whereupon bearing a great affection to the Cistercian-Order she told them if they would undergoe that Rule she would grant their request To which proposall of hers they after some deliberation assenting the same place of Radmore was made an Abby one William the principall of those religious persons being elected the first Abbot there unto whom Henry D. of Normandy son to the said Empress by his Charter granted and confirmed not only the same Radmore with the appurtenances viz. Melesho and Wirley for tillage and pasture as also Hedenesford for pasture and paunage with liberty to build a Church and such houses as might be fit for their habitation but gave them the Town of Canok with the appurtenances and the Mill at Wirley with all things belonging thereto Which good work so begun wanted not the bounty of divers other pious men to carry it on Osbert de Arden of whom I shall speak in Kingsbury giving them his Lordship of Merston Will. Croc of whom I am to speak in Chesterton all the right he had in Wirley to the intent that they would receive him into their fraternity and vouchsafe his body buriall there Geffrey de Clinton three yard land at Werlavescote and one hide in Radway And Roger de Clinton B. of Chester before mentioned two hides more in the said Town of Radway Shortly after which this new Abbot and his Monks not yet well instructed in the Cistercian discipline requested Hamon the second Abbot of Bordesley in Worcester-shire to send two of his Covent to inform them therein Which being accordingly done there grew great friendship betwixt these two Monasteries the Monks of Bordfley always giving courteous entertainment to those of Radmore whensoever they had occasion to visit their Grange at Radway Howbeit at Radmore they continued no more then xiii years For finding the Foresters not only troublesome but by their frequent visits somewhat burthensome also they became Petitioners to K. H. 2. on the 14. Cal. of Ian. in the very first year of his raign making use of his mother the Empress their Patroness to mediate that he would be pleased to translate them to his Mannour of Stoneley in Warwick-shire and accept of what they had at Radmore in exchange for that place Whereunto the King gratiously yielding they came from Radmore and first seated themselves where the Grange of Crysteld now stands the inhabitants thereof then removing to Hurst but finding inconvenience there in regard it was so neere the publique road way they made choyce of another place a little below the confluence of Sow and Avon almost inviron'd with the river having that thick wood called Echels on the North and there began the foundation of their Church whereof the first stone being laid Id. Apr. Anno 1154. scil 1. H. 2. the Church-yard was consecrated by Walter Durdent Bishop of Coventre with the assent of the Prior and Canons of Kenilworth to whom the Parish Church of Stoneley appertained upon condition that the said Monks should no way diminish the rights due to the said Church of Stoneley but make just payment of all Tithes to the same for such grounds as they should till within that Parish all which the said King Henry by his Charter confirmed And to the end that these Monks should have Stoneley intire the said King gave command by his precept to the Shiriff of this County to assigne the Freeholders there as much land in value in other places by way of exchange for that they had here But there being a Custom amongst the Cistercian Monks that no new Monastery of the same Rule should without license of the next adjacent Abby of that Order be erected these upon their translation hither were constrayned to come to an Agreement with the Monks of Combe who conditioned with them upon yielding such their license that if they had a minde to erect any Granges or remove the site of their Abby the Monks of Stoneley should not hinder them Which Agreement was made in the presence of the Abbots of Waverle Bordesle and Merevale in Anno 1155. 1 H. 2. At the time when this Monastery was so founded there were in the Mannour of Stoneley 68. villains 4. Bordarii id est Free-holders and two Priests all which held xxx Carucats of land as is exprest in Domesday-book As also 4. Bondmen or servants whereof each held 1. mess. and one quartrone of land by the services of making the Gallows and hanging of Theeves every one of which Bondmen was to wear a red clout betwixt his shoulders upon his upper garment to plow twice a year to reap as oft that is to say at the two Bederipes to give aid to the Lord at the Feast of S. Michael to make the Lords malt and do other servile work As for the particulars that the Monks held in demesn and otherwise in 7. E. 1. I refer my Reader to the Record not accounting it necessary to insert it here having spoken so fully already of their possessions But it seemes that the King did not quit his totall interest in Stonely to the Monks upon the foundation of this Abby for I find that the Shiriff of Warwick-shire in 15. H. 2. accounted 29 s. 9 d. for paunage of the Woods and in 19. H. 2. received 40 s. from those men which held the assarts As also in 27. H. 2. 55 s. for perquisits here Nay his Officers and Foresters in the beginning of King Iohn's time did so insult as that they alledg'd all was his notwithstanding what King Henry his grandfather had given them by his Charter before specified And so far were the priviledges which belong'd to the Monks within this their Mannour of Stoneley slighted that upon any suite betwixt the Tenants or against the Abbot all Writts were directed to the Ks. Baylâ—ffs so that Will. de Tyso the then Abbot considering these grievances and the further dangers to them which were imminent enough repaired to the King and for 200. Marks and two white Palfreys got a confirmation of his fathers Charter with a grant of the Woods of Wethele and the essarts at Hurst for which there had wont to be payd yearly into the Exchequer 29 s. which Charter beares date 12. Maii 5. Ioh. And yet thought they not themselves sure for in 11. H. 3. they gave the King xv Marks for to confirm his fathers grant But I come now to the chief of their other Benefactors resolving to speak more fully of them and of what they gave in the
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
a very large exâ—ent yet antiently more spacious for Tanworth which is of itself a great one was heretofore a member thereof as â—n my discourse of that place is manifested the whole being certifyed by the Conq. Suâ—vey to contain 46. hides having woods of 3. miles in length and 2. in breadth All which then yeilded to the K. yearly Lv l wiâ—h xx horse loads of salt and then were in his own hands But before the Conquest it was part of the possessions belonging to Edwine Earl of Mercia Which part wherein the woods were so contained I conclude to be Tanworth whereof there is no expresse mention by name in the said general survey I am of opinion that it was given to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick by K. Will. the Conq. for clear it is that the said Earl possessed it It should seeme that in the grant thereof the number of hides which it contained were exprest and very likely the same that the general Survey before mentioned had recorded but that either the measure was too large or that K. Stephen had a mind to get some mony from Roger Earl of Warwick under that pretence for it appears that about the beginning of his reign he put him to CC marks fine for the overplus of the hides â—n this Mannour After which his posterity enjoy'd it till K. Henr. 7. in 3. of his reign got all the possâ—ssions belonging to that great Earldome as in Warwick I have manifested In 31. H. 3. upon the agreement betwixt Iohn de Plessets with Will. Mauduit and Alice his wife it was inter alia setled upon the said Iohn for life he having wedded Margery the daughter and heir to Thomas Earl of Warwick as in my story of the Earls hath been shewed which Iohn together with his said wife the next ensuing year obtained a Charter from the King for a Mercate here upon the Munday every weeke and a Fair to begâ—n on the Even of S â— George and to continue for the space of two dayes following After which viz. upon the death of Will. Mauduit Earl of Warwick in 52. H. 3. it was by agreement betwixt Alice his widow and Will. de Beauchamp the succeeding Earl assigned to her as part of her dower But in 7. E. 1. was in the possession of the said Will. who then held in demesn 3. carucates of land here as also a certain Park containing xxx acres with Warren and other liberties Which Earl had lx yard land here held of him by sundry Tenants under several rents and certain particular services whereof in regard that in those times the like was usual in most places I will here give instance in one viz. Adam Underwood who holding one yard land payd for the same 7 Bushells of Oats yearly and a Hen being to work for the Lord from the feast of S t Mich. th'arch-Angell till Lammas every other day except Saturday viz. at mowing as long as that time should last for which he was to have as much grasse as he could carry away with his Sithe at the end of Hay-harvest he the rest of his fellow Mowers to have the Lord 's best Mutton except one or xvid in money with the best Cheese saving one or vid in money and the Cheese-fat wherein the said Cheese was made full of salt As also that from the said Feast of Lammas till Michaelmas he was to work two dayes in the week and to come to the Lord's Reap with all his houshold except his wife and his Sheepherd and to mow down one land of Corneâ— being quit of all other work for that day That he should likewise carry two Cart loads and a half of the Lords hay with seven Cart load of stones for three days and gather Nuâ—ts for three dayes And in case that the Lord should keepe his Christmasse at this his Mannour of Brailes he to find three of his horses meat for three nights That he should plow thrice a year for the Lord viz. 6. selions and do the same tillage within xx miles And moreover to make 3. Quarters of Malt giving for every Hogg above a year old id and for every one under a half peny And lastly that he and the rest of the said Tenants here should give xii marks to the Lord at Michaelmasse yearly by way of Aid and not marry his daughter nec filium coronare id est nor make his son a Priest without license from the Lord. That being an usuall restraint of old in Villenage tenures to the end that the Lord might not loose one of his villeins by coming into holy Orders As for the Freeholders here I shall only mention some of them viz. Nich. de Segrave who held at that time viii yard land of the Earl by the service of the sixth paâ—t of a Knights fee Theobald de Nevill and Robert de Hastang viii yard land by the service of a pair of gilt spurs and Peter de Montfort xvi yard land by the 4 th part of a Knights fee. At that time the Nuns of Wroxhall had one yard land here which was given to them in pure Almes by Walleran Eâ—râ— of Warwick So also had the Canons of Kenilworth 4. yard land but that was in right of the Church as part of its glebe After this viz. in 13. E. 1. Will. de Beaucamp Earl of Warwick claim'd by prescription to have certain priviledges here viz. Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beer which were allowed For iâ— is a large and goodly Mannour the yearly value whereof in 9 E. 2. being rated at no lesse than 93 05 s 04 l ob q. There is little else memorable touching this Mannour so long as it continued to the Earls of Warwick But shortly after it came to the Crown as aforesaid it was leased to Richard Hungerford and Iohn Hopper for xl years and afterwards viz. in 21 H. 8. the site thereofâ— and all the demesn lands with the Mercate and Fair as also the water-Mill and Warren of Coneys to VVill. VVillington of Bercheston for xxi years which VVill. held it not out the whole terme for in 30 H. 8. there was another Lease made thereof to VVill Rainsford one of the Gentlemen huishers to the King for xxi years And in 30 Henry 8. the King past away the inheritance thereof to Thomas VVymbush Esq and the Lady Eliz. Talboys his wife and to the heirs of the said Elizabeth Which Thomas and Eliz. in 1 E. 6. sold it to VVill. Sheldon of Beoley in Com. VVigorn whose great grandchild VVilliam now enjoyes it The Church dedicated to S. George was given to the Canons of Kenilworth in King H. 1 time by Roger Earl of Warwick Simon then Bishop of Worc. confirming the grant whereupon in R 1 time ensued the endowment of the Vicaridge by Iohn de Constantiis Bishop of Worc. with all the Altarage and small tythes as
well of the demesns as of the lands held in bond service together with the third sheaf As also one yard land with the housing and orchard belonging to it After which viz in an 1291 19 E. 1 the profits belonging to the Rectory were estimated at xx marks and a half and the Vicars portion at xviii marks but in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was rated at xxli Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Magr. Richardus temp R. 1. Prior Conv. de Kenilworth Magr. Alex. de Manestoke an 1211. D. Rex ratione Vacationis Priorat de Kenilw. Magr. Hillarius Cler. 6. Ioh. D. Rex ratione Vacationis Priorat de Kenilw. Ric. de Tirinton 9. Ioh. Pr. Conv. de K. D. Hugo de Kenilworth Pbr. 14. Cal. Nov. 1300. Pr. Conv. de K. Gilb. de Wythibroke Pbr. Id. Sept. 1313. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Magr. Ioh. de Chelmundescote Diac. 6. Cal. Apr. 1325. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Rog. White Pbr. 5. Martii 1353. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Rob. Mile 16. Sept. 1360. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Will. de Bradway Pbr. 13. Dec. 1361. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth D. Rob. Scharborleyn 22. Feb. 1398. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Io. Bentham cap. 7. Dec. 1419. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth D. Rob. Bandy 2. Apr. 1433. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Magr. Thom. Taylard penult Feb. 1455. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth D. Ioh. Mud Cap. ult Martii 1467. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Thom. Yardley Cap. 10. Aug. 1479. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth Magr. Hugo Chysenall art Magr. 20. Sept. 1458. Idem Pr. C. de Kenilworth D. Ioh. Hill Cap. 3. Iulii 1489 Wil. Gower de Woodall in com Wig. ar ratione concess Pr. C. de Kenilw. Ric. Bishop Cler. 12. Martii 1540. Phil. M. Rex Regina Magr. Thomas Bastard S. Theol. Bacc. 14. Dec. 1556. Ioh. Tonly de Burmington Ioh. Bishop de Brailes gen Will. Tovye Cler. art Magr. 20. Iunii 1584. Walt. Savage de Broadway Will. Sheldon Will Sheldon Andr. Dakers Cler. 26. Apr. 158. Barnabas Bishop Iac. Pallawyne Cler. S. Theol. Bacc. .... Feb. 1611. Cancellarius Magistri Scolar Univers Oxon. virtute Actus Parl. Gerardus Verrier Cler. art Magr. 4. Aug. 1624. Monumentall Inscriptions in the Church HERE LIETH the body of John Davis Gentleman a faithfull lover of Gods VVord who departed this life the seventh day of March A o domini 1609. HERE LIETH the body of Helen Davis the wife of Thomas Davis who was buried the 4 th day of Aprill A o domini 1621. JOHN BISHOP gentleman son of Barnabas Bishop who dyed the fift of October 1627. HERE LYETH buried the body of Helen Bishop the wife of John Bishop of Brayles gent. which Helen deceased the xxx th of December A o domini 1588. JOHN BISHOP Patron of this Church who lived 92 years in good credit and made an happy end the third day of Aprill 1601. God grant him a glorious resurrection Amen HERE LYETH the body of Robert Davis gentâ— eldest sonne of Richard Davis who by an happy exchange forsooke the earth to enjoy heaven the first of Novembr 1625. Epitaphium Reader should I bost my prize I might too much wrong thine eyesâ— And reduce thee to that state VVhich was Niobies sad â—ate Let this suffice then here doth lye Stout Mars and witty Mercury HERE LYETH the body of Elizabeth the daughter of Richard Davis gent. whos 's virtuous life is now her best and surviving monument and plainly declareth her unto all that she changed this life for a better the fifth of August 1623. EPITAPHIUM WHAT FEMALE Sexe doth often sever This Phoenix hath conjoyn'd together Virtue and beauty seldome greeting In her congratulate their meeting Loe then interr'd within this place The Virgins glory and the Maydens grace In this Church of Brailes there was a Gild founded by Ric. Nevill Earl of Warwick by the name of a Wardenâ— Brethren and Sisters with two Priests to celebrate divine service every day and to pray for the souls of the said Founders the revenew whereof in 37 H. 8. was certified to be xviii l xiii s ii d ob out of which a Grammar School was then here maintained There was also here a Chantry of two Priests of a much elder foundation but because it relates most to Chelmescote I purpose there to speak of it Chelmescote OF this place I doe not find any mention till H. 3. time it having been originally a member of Brailes and possest therewith by the old Earles of Warwick but in 20. of that Kings reign Roger de Crafâ—e and Sim. de Turvill were certified to hold halfe a Knights fee here of the Earl of Warwick and in 36 H. 3. Rog. de Crafte and Iohn Mace In that Record it is written Chelmundescote whereby 't is apparent that it had at first its appellation from one Ceolmunde an usual name in the Saxons time Howbeit afterwards was the family of Hubaud whereof I shall discourse in Ipsley possest thereof it being seized into the Kings hands in 50 H. 3. for the rebellion of Henry Hubaud then in Kenilworth Castle against the King But things being composed by the Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth the same Henry enjoyed it again and in 7. E. 1. was certified to hold it of the Earl of Warwick by the service of the fourth part of a Knights fee at which time he had five yard land here in demesn and four held by several Tenants of him in villenage All which did his son Iohn Hubaud possesse in 9 E. 2. But after that time till about Lxx. years I have seen no more of it than that Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin in 1 H. 4. conveyed it unto one Iohn Lee which Iohn by certain Feoffees past it to Baldwin Boteler in 10 H. 6. whose daughter and heir Elizabeth brought it in marriage unto Eustace de Grenevil about the 38 of H. 6. Since which time the descendants of the said Eustace have enjoyed it till of late years I am of opinion that the said Eustace de Grenevill began the depopulation thereof for our countryman Rous who lived in that time complains of it After wich others followed his example for by the Inquis taken in 9 H. 8. it appears that Henry Grenefeild gentâ— depopulated 3. mess. and 1. Cottage inclosing Cxx. acres of land the Master and Brethren of the Trinity and S. George his Gild in Warwick 1. mess. with a carucate of land and a halfe containing lx acres and the Chantry Priest here at Chelmescote 1â— mess. and 50 acres of land From which Henry Grenefield descended Richard that dâ—ed seized of this Mannour in
Will. de Odingsells Iohn de Clinton Thomas de Hasele and Ric. de Whitacre Kts. Hugh de Bereford Anketyl de L'ile and others were witnesses appeareth Who being thus in possession of it began to exercise the like Liberty here as he did in his other lands not considering that it was within the compasse of Sutton Chase where the Earl of Warwick had so much priviledge relating both to Vert and Venison as already hath been said so that the Earl having begun suit against him he was glad to seek his favour and submit to a peaceable Agreement by which it appears that the said Earl sc. Will. de Beauchamp condiscended to grant unto them the said Thomas and Roese and the heirs of Thomas liberty to fish in that little stream called Ebroke at his coming to Pedimore and during his stay there so for as his lands lay adjacent thereto As also that they might have liberty to agist Hoggs within their Woods of Curdworth and Pedimore take benefit of the paunage and beat down Acorns for their Swine and likewise gather such Nutts as should be there growing And moreover to cut down wood for their Fewell and Hedges without any assignation of the said Earl's Forester and to make sale of twenty pounds-worth thereof so that it were by the oversight of the said Forester to the end that the Chase might have least prejudice thereby as also timber to repair the buildings within his said Mannour of Curdworth and Pedimore by the like oversight of the Forester upon warning or at least one of the Earl's Bailiffs at Sutton or in those Woods in the presence of two neighbours And if upon such warning given the Forester should absent himself that then the said Thomas and his heirs might by the view of two neighbours enter those Woods and cut down and carry away so much as should be necessary but after the death of the said Thomas and Rose neither his heirs nor assignes to take Estovers for their Fewell and Hedges nor Timber but by assignation of the said Earl's Foresters And that their Woodward should be sworn to the said Earl and his heirs as touching his Vâ—nison carrying only a Hatche or Forest-Bill without Bow and Arrows And further the said Earl did likewise grant for himself his heirs that the same Thomas and Rose and the heirs and assignes of Thomas should have liberty to make improvement of their Wast within the said Mannours according to the Sutton measure to the extent of xx acres only aâ—d to inclose them according to the Custome of the Chase so that Does with their Fawns might leap over the Hedges and that they might reduce the same land to Tillage as they should think fit in severall places to the least damage of the Chase and most advantage of the said Thomas his heirs and assignes Saving to the Commoners their Common of pasture when the Corn is off And lastly that the said Thomas and Rose as also the heirs and assignes of Thomas might peacebly hold in and enâ—oy four Acres and an half of the said Wast whereof they had received the crop before the date hereof which was at Minworth the Sunday next after the Feast of the blessed Viâ—gâ—ns Nativity in 16 Edw. 1. In this Mannour House at Pedimore was antiently a Chapell for I find that Sir Iohn de Arden Knight in 34 E. 3. had License from Rob. de Stretâ—on then Bishop of this Dioces to have a Priest for celebration of Divine Service thereinâ— But now all is levell with the Earth the site thereof with the lands thereto belonging continuing to the posterity of the said Sir Iohn of whom in Curdworth I am to speak till this day Curdworth THis lying on the North-west side of Tame and including Minworth Berwode and Dunton in its Parish was in the Conqueror's dayes possest by Turchill de Warwick and by the general Survey then taken certified to contain 4 hides the Woods being half a mile in length with as much in breadth and all valued at L s. In that Record it is written Credeworde which makes me guess that the name originally arose from some antient owner of it in the Saxons time perhaps Crida for that was then a frequent appellation but before the Norman invasion one Vluvinus had it In this place I have made choise to speak historically of that most antient and worthy Family whose sirname was first assumed from their residence in this part of the County then and yet called Arden by reason of its woodinesse the old Britans and Gauls using the word in that sense as Master Cambden hath observed Not for that the same Turchill or his descendants lived here for their principall seats were in other places viz Kingsbury and Hampton in Arden on this side the Shire as also Rotley and Rodburne on the other whilst some male branches lasted but because this is the chief place which continued longest in the Family even till of late time as I shall shew anon and was near to that where for the greatest part of these last 300 years they have had their residence Having therefore spoken so fully of the before mentioned Turchill in Warwick I shall now passe him by with this only observation that he was one of the first here in England â— that in imitation of the Normans assumed a sirname for so it appears that he did and wrote himself Turchillus de Eardene in the days of K. Will. Rufus This Turchill left issue Siward his eldest son by the first wife as also Peter a Monk in the Abby of Thorney â— and I think Raph of whom and his descendants I shall speak in Hampton in Arden and by a second wife Osbert as in Kingsbury shall be further shewed Which Siward was not permitted to enjoy any large proportion of his Father's lands the Earl of Warwick having the greatest part assigned unto him by K. Will. Rufus about the beginning of his reign in Comitatus supplimentum for augmentation of his Earldome but what he had leave to retain was by him and his posterity held by Military service of those Earlsâ— Some say that he became Sewer to Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of the Norman race but all that I have seen further memorable of him is that he was a witnesse to some principall Grants made by Geffrey de Clinton Founder of Kenilworth Priory in H. 1. time upon his endowment thereof and to certain confirmations of Roger Earl of Warwick and others as also a speciall Benefactor to the Monks of Thorney in Cambridgshire by bestowing on them his Mill at Riton and certain lands in Flekenho within this County And that he left issue Hugh and Henry Which Hugh being a very pious and devout man gave a large proportion of lands out of his Mannour of Rotley unto the Monks of Stoneley confirm'd to the Canons of Kenilworth the grant of Pakinton which