and had Issue Rafe Leycester Son and Heir Philip another Son who married Elizabeth the Widow of James Grimsditch of Grimsditch in Nether-Whitley 27 Hen. 8. Lib. C. fol. 196. m. Geffrey Leycester another Son living 12 Hen. 1520. T. num 89. Jane a Daughter married Robert Langton of Lowe in Lancashire Esquire 14 Hen. 8. T. num 88. I find also mentioned in a Pedegree two other Sons Thomas and Richard but I cannot yet prove them so directly as the other This John Leycester died 2 Hen. 8. 1511. Elinour survived and was Widow 12 Hen. 8. 1520. T. num 89. and 14 Hen. 8. T. num 88. She was the ninth Daughter and Coheir and had Lands in Bricklesworth in Northamptonshire for Sir James had ten Daughters and Coheirs in all Lib. A. fol. 133. m.n. VI. Rafe Leycester of Toft Esquire Son and Heir of John married Ellen Daughter of Rafe Egerton of Ridley in Cheshire Esquire 4 Hen. 7. 1489. Lib. A. fol. 133. l. fol. 134. P. and had Issue Rafe Leycester Son and Heir This Rafe died 16 Hen. 8. 1525. aged 37 years Afterwards Ellen his Widow married Robert Honford of Chorley Lib. A. fol. 134. r. 135. T. Ellen survived both her Husbands and was living 20 Hen. 8. C. num 13. VII Sir Rafe Leycester of Toft Knight Son and Heir of Rafe was Knighted at Leith in Scotland the 11. day of May 36 Hen. 1. 1544. at which time the Earl of Hertford being then General Knighted some other Cheshire Gentlemen and several others also So Stow in his Annals of that Year Sir Rafe had two Wives the first was Ellen Daughter of Philip Legh of Boothes nigh Knotsford Esquire 13 Hen. 8. T. num 83. by whom he had Issue Rafe Leycester eldest Son who died young William Leycester second Son succeeded Heir F. num 4. Lawrence Leycester another Son married Jane Daughter of John Warburton of Bromfield and John who died without Issue Also Elizabeth married Sir Randle Manwaring of Over-Pever she was his second Wife but had no Issue by him afterwards she married Sir Edmond Trafford of Trafford nigh Manchester Anne another Daughter married Philip Manwaring Brother and after Heir to Sir Randle aforesaid Ellen died in her Infancy and Mary married Hugh Calveley of Lea nigh Eaton-boate in Cheshire Esq His second Wife was Jane the Widow of John Edwards of Chirk in Denbighshire Esquire and Daughter of Sir George Calveley of Lea but had no Issue by her William Davenport of Chorley Gent. granted to this Sir Rafe Leycester the Office of Seneschall or Stewardship of all his Lands in Chorley Werford and Fulshaw and the Conduction Governance and Service in time of War called The Mauraden as well of him the said William and his Heirs as of all his Tenants Dated 4. July 4 5 Phil. Ma C. num 25. Also the like Deed made to Sir Rafe by Henry Bradshaw of Bradshawbrooke in Allostock 1 2 Phil. Mar. Also another such Deed made to Sir Rafe by John Hiccock of Nether-Pever 1 2 Phil. Mar. H. num 25. H. num 28. the Originals are in Latin Hiccock's Land of Nether-Pever is now Powdrell's and others These I note for the rarity of the Deeds Sir Rafe also bought from William Bradshaw of Allostock two Messuages in Allostock Hulse and Bancroft by Fine Levied at Chester the 27. of May 1 2 Philip and Mary F. num 1. He was entrusted for receiving certain Sums of Money by way of Loan in Denbighshire and for delivering such Privy-Seals as were sent unto him as appears by the Queens Letter unto him Dated the 30. of December 5 Eliz. C. num 33. And I find that Gilbert Dethick alias Norroy Principal Herald and King of Arms of the North Parts of England from the River Trent Northward gave to this Sir Rafe Leycester the Arms and Crest in manner following to wit Sable on a Fess engrailed between three Falcons Silver volant becked and membred Gold a Lions Head Caboche Azure langued and eared between two Cups covered Gules upon his Helm On a Torse Silver and Sable a Roe-buck Party-Pale Gold and Gules Horned of the second holding in his Mouth an Acorn Branch stalked and leafed vert mantled Gules doubled Silver to hold for him and his Posterity to their Honors for evermore Dated the 15. of May Anno 2. Edw. 6. two fair Seals appendant in woodden Boxes the one being his own Arms and the other the Seal of his Office as Norroy T. num 55. at which I confess I wonder that he should seek for a Coat as being ignorant of one due to him and yet I have observed that among all the Deeds there is not any one to be found among the Deeds of Leycester of Toft hitherto which hath any Coat of Arms at all in an Escutcheon affixed to any of their Deeds or in any of their Seals appropriated to Leycester of Toft Howbeit the Heralds of Chester have Recorded for them Leycester of Tabley's Coat with a difference which indeed is most truly sutable This Sir Rafe Leycester sold away all his Purpart of the Manor of Brassingham in Norfolk and Advowson of the Church there to Francis Baldero and Edmund Wiseman Gentlemen Dated the first day of April 4 Eliz. A. num 1. Upon some Difference between Sir Rafe and Dame Jane Legh late Wife of Sir John Legh of Boothes deceased it was agreed between Sir William Sneyd Knight and the said Dame Jane Legh on the one part and Sir Rafe Leycster Knight on the other part by Deed dated the eighth of October Anno primo Elizabethae That Sir Rafe should not pursue any further Suit in the Court of Wards in consideration whereof the said Sir Rafe and Dame Ellen his Wife should peaceably enjoy those Lands Demised to them c. and Sir Rafe to kill one fat Buck in Summer and a Doe in Winter out of the Park at Boothes during the Minority of John Legh and to have the keeping of a Horse in the same yearly T. num 92. But Anno quinto Elizabethae Sir Rafe had a Grant from the Queen of certain parcels of Land late the Inheritance of Sir John Legh deceased and late the Joynture of the said Dame Jane during the Minority of the Ward C. num 32. Sir Rafe Leycester died 23. Februarii 14 Eliz. 1572. aged 53 years T. num 59. VIII William Leycester of Toft Esquire second Son and Heir of Sir Rafe married Katharine Daughter of John Edwards of Chirk in Denbighshire Esquire and by her had Issue Rafe Leycester eldest Son died without Issue George Leycester second Son succeeded Heir Jane a Daughter married Henry Davenport of Chorley Gent. 37 Eliz. C. num 28. Anne another Daughter Ellen another Daughter Parnell or Petronill another Daughter these three were never married and Mary another Daughter married Rowland Huntington after to David Middleton of Chester thirdly to George Calveley Bastard-Son to Sir George Calveley of Lea. C.
Scythians Celto Scythae ut habet Strabo omnes olìm ad occasum Populi dicti waxed strong in Ireland Orosius writes That in the time of Honorius and Arcadius Emperors Ireland was inhabited by the Scots about Anno Christi 400. These Scots came out of Spain into Ireland and part of them going again out of Ireland into the North of Brettain sub Duce Reudâ à quo Dal-Reudini vocantur Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 1. Seated themselves there and added a third Nation in Brettaine to the Picts and Brettans and afterwards from those Scots the whole North of Brettain was called Scotland even to this day And from those Scots inhabitng Ireland that Kingdom was by Isidore and Bede called Scotia Haec propriè Patria Scottorum est saith Bede of Ireland l. 1. de Hist Ang. c. 1. Anno Christi 684. Egfrid King of Northumberland wasted Ireland Bede ib. l. 4. c. 26. Anno Christi 838. the Norwegians under the Command of Turgesius for 30 Years miserably wasted Ireland but he being slain by Treachery the Inhabitants slew all the Norwegians Giraldus Topogram Hiberniae Distinct 3. cap. 37. These Norwegians without doubt were those Normans who as Rhegino saith in the Times of Charles the Great setting upon Ireland the Island of the Scots were put to flight by the Scots Afterwards the Oustmanni that is The Eastern Men came from the Sea-coast of Germany into Ireland under pretence of Merchandize and soon after raised a great War About the same time almost Edgar King of England overcame a great part of Ireland and subjected it under his Dominion Cambden's Britannia pag. 731. But besides these there arose great Dissention among the Irish themselves which made way to the conquering of Ireland for the King of England Hen. II. taking notice of these Jars Treated seriously with his Nobles of England about the Year 1155. concerning the conquering of Ireland for the use of his Brother William of Angeau but by the Advice of his Mother Maude the Empress the Matter was at that time deferred Not many Years after Dermot Mac Morrog King of Leinster being driven out of his Kingdom by Rodoric King of Connaught and Monarch of Ireland implores the Aid of Hen. II. who condescending thereunto Dermot prevailed with Richard de Clare Earl of Pembroke sirnamed Strongbow Son of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Pembroke which Gilbert was a younger Son of Gilbert Earl of Clare in Suffolk to raise Forces for his Assistance Covenanting to make Strongbow his Successor in the Kingdom of Leinster and to give unto him Eva his Daughter in Marriage Hereupon Strongbow gathers an Army of select Soldiers in Wales and England accompanied with Fitz-Gerald Fitz-Stephen and other Gentlemen and in few Years obtained so great a part of Ireland that Hen. II. fearing his Power sends out his Proclamation in Anno 1171. That Strongbow and other his Associates should return back out of Ireland by Easter next or else be utterly Disinherited for ever Strongbow returns into England the King is pacified with him Conditionally that he surrender Dublin to the King with the Cantreds adjoyning and also all the Maritime Towns and Castles the residue of his Conquest he must acknowledge to hold from the King of England and his Heirs So Giraldus CHAP. II. Of the chief Persons in the Conquest of Ireland I. RIchard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke a Man much in Debt had large Possessions but had much lesned his Estate by his profuseness and therefore more easily drawn in to the getting of new Territories Chron. Joh. Brompton pag. 1069. Vir plus nominis hactenùs habens quam hominis plus senii quà m ingenii Giraldus Hib. Expug li. 1. cap. 12. Of a ruddy Complexion Freckled great Eyes a womanly Face a small Voice a short Neck Bountiful and of a mild Nature being fixed in Battel was a Standard for his Forces to resort unto not puffed up with a Victory nor dejected with a Defeat Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 27. He was sirnamed Strongbow from the strong Bowe which he used to draw having Arms of an extraordinary length of whom it is reported that standing upright he could touch his own Knees with the Palms of his Hands Brooke in his Catalogue of Nobility Title Pembroke The King of England Hen. II. gave him what accrued unto him in Right of Eva his Wife and what he had got in War and gave him the Counties of Weshford Ossery Caterlogh and Kildare to hold of the Kings of England Cambd. Britan. pag. 731. Ireland He died An. Chr. 1176. and Dermot King of Leinster his Father-in-law died at Fernys about the Calends of May Anno 1171. full of Days Annales Hiberniae at the end of Camb. Britan. II. Hugh Lacy was also very instrumental in the Conquest of Ireland to whom Hen. II. gave all the Land of Meath in Ireland with the Apurtenances by Charter to hold of him and his Son John for the Service of 100 Knights Fees He gave him also in custody the City of Dublin with its Apurtenances and appointed these following to belong to the Service of Dublin all the Land of Offlan with its Apurtenances and Wilkechelon with its Apurtenances and the Service of Meath and the Service of four Knights Fees which Robert Poer ought to do for the Castle of Dunavet Hoveden pag. 528. 566. He was Descended of Walter Lacy a great Baron who Founded Lanthony-Abby in the Valley of Ewyas in the Borders of Monmouthshire to which Walter William Earl of Hereford gave great Possessions in those Parts Cambden in Monmouthshire This Hugh was of a black Complexion hollow Eyes the right side of his Face even to his Chin was disfigured by Burning which hapned in his Youth a short Neck a hairy Body strong Sinews of a little Stature and a deformed Shape firm to his Trust intent on his own Business and very vigilant in the Affairs of Government a good Soldier much trusted by his Prince who made him Lord Justice of Ireland 1172. Hoveden pag. 528. He Fortified Leinster and Meath with many Castles and had his Head chopt off with a Hatchet by an Irishman treacherously as he stooped down Anno 1186. at Dernath where he intended to have built a Castle Hoveden pag. 631. also Annales Hiberniae He left two Sons of great eminency in Ireland Walter de Lacy Lord of Meath and Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster afterwards III. Robert Fitz-Stephen was the first of Strong-bow's Forces who entred Ireland with three Ships containing about 130 Soldiers of his Friends and Allies Landing at Banvan about May Anno 1167. besides 60 other Horse and 300 Foot Archers among whom Hervey de Mont-Morice The Day after Maurice de Prendergest followed with two Ships of Soldiers more raised out of Cardiganshire or thereabouts De Rosensi Walliae Demetiae Provinciâ These with 500 Soldiers more sent by Dermot out of his own Countrey under the Command of his Bastard Son Donwald Assaulted Weshford but were beaten
it first given to him by the Conqueror who enjoying it but a little while is commonly omitted without any notice at all But this Hugh was the first Earl of Chester of the Norman Race since the Conquest The Description of Earl Hugh out of Ordericus Lib. 4. Eccles Histor pag. 522. Hic non Dapsilis sed prodigus c. He was not abundantly liberall but profusely prodigal and carried not so much a Family as an Army still along with him He took no account either of his Receipts or Disbursements He daily wasted his Estate and delighted more in Falconers and Huntsmen than in the Tillers of his Land or Heavens Orators the Ministers He was given much to his Belly whereby in time he grew so fat that he could scarce crawle He had many Bastard Sons and Bastard Daughters but they were almost all swept away by sundry Misfortunes Again Ordericus Lib. 6. pag. 598. Ex his Hugo Abrincatensis Richardi cognomento Goz filius inter caeteros Magnates effulsit Cui Postquà m Gherbodus Flandrensis ad suos recessit Rex Comitatum Cestrensem consilio Prudentum concessit Hic nimirùm Amator Saeculi Saeculariumque Pomparum fuit quas maximam beatitudinum putabat esse portionem humanarum erat enìm in militiâ Promptus in dando nimìs prodigus gaudens ludis luxibus mimis equis canibus aliisque hujusmodi vanitatibus Huic maxima semper adhaerebat Familia in quibus nobilium ignobiliumque puerorum numerosa perstrepebat Copia Cùm eodem Consule commorabantur viri honorabiles Clerici milites quos tà m laborum quà m divitiarum gratulabatur esse suarum Participes In Capellâ ejus Serviebat Abrincatensis Clericus nomine Geroldus religione honestate peritiâque literarum praeditus Azure a Wolves Head erased Ar. He had Land in twenty Counties in England for in the Catalogue of the Counties wherein certain Great Men held Lands in the twentieth Year of William the Conqueror as it is put in the Appendix to the ancient Norman Writers set out by Andrew du Chesne and Printed at Paris Ann. Dom. 1619. we read thus Comes Hugo Hampshire Berkshire Dorset Somerset Devonshire Buckingham Oxford Glocester Huntington Northampton Warwick Shropshire Derbyshire Cheshire Nottingham Rutland Yorkshire Lincoln Norfolk and Suffolk Concerning certain Lands in Oxfordshire which he gave to the Monastery of Abbington I find in an old Lieger Book of that Monastery remaining in Cotton 's Library noted Claudius C. 9. fol. 137. of the whole Book but lib. 2. fol. 35. of that particular part of the History of the Church of Abbington as followeth Viculus est Burgo Abendonensi contiguus Scipena dictus hunc de Abbatiâ tempore Edwardi Regis quidam ipsius constabulus nomine Eadnotus tenebat Cujus viri terrarum metas posteà Hugo Cestrensis Comes adeptus cùm didicisset praedictum viculum hujus Abbatiae Juri pertinere commonitu Rainoldi Abbatis Baronum suorum consultu tertio Regni Willielmi Junioris Regis anno pridiè Calendarum Aprilium ipse Comes in Sanctuario Ecclesiae istius consistens toto conventu Fratrum ibi praesidente quicquid in illo loco posse videbatur habere Deo Genetrici ejus id obtulit manu cultellum Altari supponendo ut in perpetuùm ratum constet verbis illud prosequendo Affuere illo cùm Comite Engenulphus Willielmus uterque nepos ipsius Godardus etià m de Boiavillâ cùm Engerardo alii plures Charta de Scipena DE hâc ut dictum est re determinatâ cùm primo apud eundem Comitem oriretur Sermo literas Abbati indè direxit Quarum hujusmodi extitit Textus Hugo Cestrensis Comes Rainoldo Venerando Abbati charissimo Amico suo Salutem Mando tibi quòd de terrâ quam ergà me petiisti locutus sum cùm uxore meâ cum meis Baronibus inveni in meo Consilio quòd concedam eam Deo Sanctae Ecclesiae de quâ Pastoralis Cura super te imposita est Tali Pacto quòd dones mihi XXX libras denariorum de tuâ Pecuniâ ut frater vester sim uxor mea pater meus mater mea in orationibus vestris ità ut simus scripti omnes in Libro commemorationum ut sit factum tale obsequium pro nobis quale debet fieri pro uno fratre de Ecclesiâ ubicunque moriamur Quicquid itaque pro illâ terrâ exactum est nil fieri relictum nam pecunia data caetera quaesita omninò impensa What Lands this Earl Hugh held in Demaine in Cheshire appears in the Record of Dooms-day Book Title Cestre-Scire where in the beginning of the same after the Laws of Chester it is said The Bishop of Chester holds of the King the Lands in Cheshire which belong to his Bishoprick and those Lands are immediately reckoned up and set down All the rest of the Lands of the County Earl Hugh held of the King cùm suis hominibus where cùm suis hominibus I conceive is not there meant that the Earl and his Tenants held their Lands of the King but that the Earl held all Cheshire of the King with his Tenants also that is and the Tenure and Services of all his Tenants in Cheshire he holdeth of the King also for every Person in Cheshire except the Bishop held what Lands he was possessed of immediately from the Earl and the Earl held all from the King The Names of such Towns in Cheshire as Earl Hugh held in Demaine at that time Anno Christi 1086. WEverham Kennardsly Doneham on the Hill Elton Trafford Manly Hellesbye Frodshum Alreton Alderly Inferior Done Edesbery nigh the Chamber in the Forest Eaton in Broxton Hundred Lay in Broxton Hundred Cotinton Lay. Rushton Upton juxta Rushton Little Budworth Olton Over Estham Trafford Edlave Macclesfield Adlington Gowesworth Merton Chelford Hungerweniton Henbury Capesthorne Henshall Tingtweezle Hollinworth Wernith Ramiley Laiton Alsacher Sanbach Clive Sutton nigh Middlewich VVimboldsly Weever Occleston Upton in Wirrall Stanney Anterbus in Overwhitley In all forty eight The Descent of Earl Hugh Ansfrid or Amfrid a Dane Umfrid de Telliolo Governor of Hastings in England 1068. Ordericus pag. 512. Son of Amfred the Dane Ordericus pag. 669. Married Adeliza Sister of Hugh de Grentemaisnill Governor of Leicester and had Issue Robert of Tothelent Castle in Wales also Ernald and Roger both Monks of Utica in Normandy and William Abbas Sanctae Euphemiae Ordericus pag. 671. Robert of Rothelent Son of Umfrid whom Ordericus pag. 670. calls Consobrinum Hugonis Comitis Cestriae Cosin to Earl Hugh He was slain Anno 1088. Of whom see more suprà pag. 24. Turstine sirnamed Goz Son of Amfrid sometime Governor of Oxima kept the Castle of Faloys in Normandy against Duke William being yet a Child But Rodulfus Waceiensis who Commanded the Forces for the young Duke besieged him therein Turstine not able to hold out long
to whom Hugh Cyveliok Earl of Chester her Father gave in libero maritagio servitium Willielmi Filii Rogeri scilicèt servitium trium militum faciendo sibi servitium duorum militum as the words of the original Deed do run now in the possession of Sir Thomas Manwaring of Over Pever Baronet Also another base Daughter as I conceive Married one Bacun and had Issue Richard Bacun Founder of the Priory of Roucester in Staffordshire about the Reign of King John for the safety of his Soul and the Soul of his Uncle Randle Earl of Chester Monasticon Part 2. pag. 267. And here I cannot but mislike the boldness and ignorance of that Herald who gave to Manwaring of Pever the Quartering of the Earl of Chester's Coat of Arms which Device was never done before the Reign of Queen Elizabeth in the time of Sir Randle Manwaring late of Pever the elder my Grandfather by the Mother for if he ought of right to Quarter that Coat then must he be Descended from a Coheir to the Earl of Chester but that he was not for the Coheirs of Earl Hugh as you see before were Married to four of the greatest Peers of the Kingdom the Earl of Huntington the Earl of Arundel the Earl of Derby and the Earl of Winchester's Son and Heir who lived not to be Earl Neither was Manwaring then an equal Competitor to have Married a Coheir to the Earl of Chester And it is plain ex placitis 18 Hen. 3. Rot. 14. in the Tower of London where the Coheirs Implead John the Scot Earl of Chester for their part there is no mention of Amice claiming any part or any from or under her in the Record Besides all ancient Authors of those Times as Polychronicon Matthew Paris Knighton Stowe and others would not have omitted her among the rest which they have set down had she been a Coheir which also she must needs have been had she been legitimate for Hugh Cyvelioc never had any other Wife but Bertred and she survived him And though Amice in the Deed before mentioned is stiled Filia Hugonis Comitis without the addition or note of Bastard it was very usual in those elder Ages so to do The like we find of Geva base Daughter of Hugh Lupus and several others V. Concerning this Bertred the Wife of Hugh Cyveliok I cannot omit the Falsities and Absurdities of some Authors as Powel on the Welsh History pag. 295. and Ferne in his Lacy's Nobility pag. 53. both of them calling this Bertred by the Name of Beatrix and saying she was the Daughter of Richard Lucy Chief Justice of England a most gross Falsity I am very certain that Hugh Cyvelioc's Wife was not Daughter of Lucy nor ever called Beatrix in any old Deed or Record though I find by good Authority that there was a Woman called Beatrix Lucy but never Wife of Earl Hugh The Death of Hugh Cyveliok Obiit 1181 THis Hugh Earl of Chester died at Leeke in Staffordshire and was buried at Chester Anno Domini 1181. 27 Hen. 2. Hoveden pag. 615. with whom Westminster Polychronicon and Cambden inter Comites Cestriae do all agree He was Earl of Chester 28 Years and gave the Church of Bettesford to the Prior and Canons of Trentham after the Death of William Barba who at the time of this Grant possessed the same a Copy of which Deed I received from Sir Simon Dewes Baronet Now because I find that some are displeased at my placing of Amice sometime the Wife of Raufe Manwaring Iudge of Chester among the base Issue of Hugh Cyveliok Earl of Chester and also that I am informed that three eminent Judges and four Heralds are of opinion that she was legitimate and not a base Daughter of Earl Hugh it is very necessary that I put down here my Reasons why I have so placed her protesting withal that I have not done it out of any prejudicate Opinion or Calumny intended in the least but onely for the Truths sake according to the best of my Judgment and that after a long and diligent scrutiny made herein for I must ever acknowledge my self to be Extracted out of the Loyns of this Amice by my own Mother but you know the old Saying of Aristotle Amicus Plato Amicus Socrates sed magis amica veritas Neither were Bastards in those elder Ages of such Disrepute as now in our Days Memini me alicubi legisse saith Spelman in his Glossary on the word Bastardus Priscos Septentrionales Populos etiam Spurios admisisse in successionem And where he farther tells us That King William the Conqueror began his Letter to Alan Earl of Little Britain as he did many other more in these words Ego Willielmus cognomento Bastardus of which Title it seems he was not ashamed otherwise he would never have used it himself And therefore the Question being no more than this Whether Amice was a base Daughter or no I will first answer those Reasons which seem to be the chief ground of those worthy Persons abovesaid who think Amice was no Bastard and then in order set down my own Reasons why I conceive her to be a Bastard submitting my self wholly to the Judgment of all Learned Persons herein The Reasons that she was no Bastard I. OUr Common Law alloweth not that any Lands can pass in libero maritagio with a Bastard Daughter Coke upon Littleton Fol. 21. b. and therefore Amice having Land given with her in libero maritagio by the Deed it must be presumed that she was no Bastard Answ To which I answer That it is true the Law is so taken at this day with us but that the Law was so taken in the elder Ages of Henry the Second when Hugh Cyveliok lived and upwards I very much doubt And if we mark well this Grant it is the Grant of Earl Hugh to Rafe Manwaring with Amice his Daughter in Frank-Marriage of the Service of Gilbert Son of Roger to wit the Service of three Knights Fees by doing the Service of two Knights Fees to the said Earl and his Heirs which is rather a Release of the Service of one Knights Fee than the Grant of any Land But to pass by this I say that the Common Law in sundry things is altered at this day from what it was in former Ages long after Henry II. Cook upon Littleton fol. 34. Sect. 39. Cook ibid. fol. 3. a. fol. 8. a. at the bottom of the Page and on the other side b at the bottom fol. 26. b. Sect. 29. and infinite other Particulars may be cited And that in this Particular also of Passing Land in libero maritagio with Bastards the Law seems clearly to be altered herein since the Reign of Henry the Second for the common Practice I take to be the Common Law and I shall give you here one Precedent made about the Reign of King Stephen and doubtless many others might be mustered up from those elder Ages if any
Johannis apud Westmonasterium die Lunae proximè post Quindenam Paschae Anno Regni ipsius Henrici vicesimo tertio recognovi concessi quietum clamavi de me Haeredibus meis dilecto Fratri meo Simoni de Monteforti Comiti Leycestriae totam partem Honoris Leycestriae cùm omnibus pertinentiis in Regno Angliae adeò plenè integrè sicut Comes Simon Pater noster vel Robertus Comes Leycestrensis illam unquà m meliùs pleniùs liberiùs tenuerunt Habendum tenendum eidem Simoni Fratri meo Haredibus suit de Corpore suo procreatis de praedicto Domino Henrico Rege Haeredibus suis in perpetuùm c. Actum apud Westmonasterium Anno Die praenominatis 1239. Which the King at that very instant confirmed unto him But this was after the death of Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln Howbeit this Simon lost the same again by his Rebellion and was slain at the Battel of Evesham 4 Augusti 49 Hen. 3. 1265. Randle sirnamed Blundevill was Earl of Chester 51 Years These followidg Notes I received from Mr. Dugdale This Earl of Perch was slain at the Battel of Lincoln 1217. Mat. Paris pag. 296. of the Edition put out by Wats A. Dom. 1640. THis Earl Randle was but of low stature as we may observe by the Earl of Perch his words to him at Lincoln What said he have we staid all this while for such a Little Man such a Dwarfe To whom Earl Randle replied I vow to God and our Lady whose Church this is that before to Morrow Evening I will seem to thee to be higher than that Steeple So Walter de Wittlesey a Monk of Peterborough a Manuscript now in possession of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough King John gave to this Randle Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire to hold by the Service of one Knights Fee Chart. 17 Johannis num 25. and also the Custody of all Simon Montfort's Lands with the Forests to the use of the said Simon Ibidem Membrane 19. Pat. 1 Hen. 3. mem 4 mem 7. Pat. 2 Hen. 3. mem 10. 1 Hen. 3. the King gave to this Randle the Custody of the Honour of Lancaster and the Castle of Montsorrel which Randle demolished 2 Hen. 3. the King gave him the Custody of the Honour of Brittany in the Counties of Cambridge Norfolk and Suffolk And he executed the Office of Sheriff by his Deputies in the Counties of Salop and Stafford 2 3 4 5 7 Hen. 3. and in the County of Lancaster 3 4 5 6 7 Hen. 3. as by the Pipe-Rolls of those Years appeareth Pat. 11. H. 3. mem 6. 11 Hen. 3. the King gave him all that part of the Honour of Richmond which he formerly had of the Grant of King John to hold for Randle's Life upon condition that he should make no Agreement with the Earl of Brittany to surrender the same up to him unless the Earl of Brittany could obtain those Lands in Normandy which the Earl of Chester had lost in the Service of King John CHAP. VII Of John sirnamed The Scot Earl of Chester Or three Piles Gules His Father David Brother of William King of Scotland was Knighted by King Henry the Second 1170. Hoveden pag. 518. and made Earl of Huntington 1184. Hoveden pag. 622. and David died about Anno 1219. So that John Scot was Earl of Chester and Huntington Take here the Charte remaining among the Evidences of St. Werburge Church in Chester as followeth OMnibus Christi fidelibus praesens scriptum visuris vel audituris Johannes de Scotia Comes Cestriae Huntindoniae salutem in Domino Sciatis me concessisse confirmasse Deo Domni Sanctae Werburgae de Cestria Abbati Monachis ibidem Deo servientibus in puram perpetuam Elemosynam pro salute meâ Comitissae meae pro Animâ Comitis Davidis Patris mei Comitissae Matildae Matris meae pro Animâ Ranulfi Comitis Avunculi mei pro Animabus omnium Antecessorum meorum omnes Donationes Dignitates Libertates quas Comites Antecessores mei Barones eis dederunt Insupèr ego ipse do concedo praesenti scripto confirmo praedictis Abbati Monachis quietantiam de tribus Panibus quos aliquando solebant dare diurnè ad Turrim Castelli mei de Cestria quietantiam de Putura servientium in Villis suis scilicèt Huntington Cheveley Idinchale Wyrvin tempore Pacis Prestbury Gostrey in perpetuùm c. Testibus Domino Ricardo Phiton tùnc Justiciario Cestriae Domino Warino de Vernon Willielmo de Venables Hamone de Massy Hamone de Phitton Willielmo de Malo-passu Willielmo de Boydell Ricardo de Sonbach Ricardo de Wibinberie tùnc Vice-Comite Cestershiriae aliis This was made about 18 Hen. 3. 1233. II. This John Earl of Chester and Huntington conceiving that an Earl might not lawfully be Summoned in any other County than that whereof he was Earl did except against the Summons in Northamptonshire upon a Writ De rationabili parte brought against him there by the other Co-heirs to Randle Blundevill but was ordered to answer The Record I have here transcribed as it is cited by Selden in his Titles of Honour pag. 643. ex Fragmentis tempore Hen. 3. quae in Archivis Arcis Londinensis servantur Orta est ista lis in 18 Hen. 3. quod satìs constat ex placitis 18 Hen. 3. Rot. 14. NOrthampton Johannes Comes Cestriae Huntingdoaiae summonitus fuit ad respondendum Hugoni de Albiniaco Willielmo Comiti de Ferrariis Agneti Uxori ejus Hawisiae Comitissae Lincolniae quarè deforciat eis rationabilem partem suam quae eos contingit de Haereditate Ranulfi quondà m Comitis Cestriae undè ipse obiit Seisitus in Comitatu Cestriae computâ cùm eisdem Hugone Willielmo Agnete Hawisia parte suâ rationabili de Terrâ quam nùnc tenet alibì de eâdem Haereditate Et Comes aliàs respondit quòd noluit respondere ad hoc Breve nisì Curia consideraverit consideratione Parium suorum per summonitionem factam in Comitatu Northamptoniae de Terris Tenementis in Comitatu Cestriae ubi Brevia Domini Regis non currunt Et quià usitatum est hùc usquè quòd Pares sui alii qui libertates habent consimiles sicùt Episcopus Dunelmensis Comes Mareschallus respondent de Terris Tenementis infrà libertates suas per summonitionem factam ad Terras Tenementa extrà libertates suas Ideò consideratum est quòd respondeat III. This John Scot Earl of Chester carried the Sword before King Henry the Third at the Marriage of Queen Elianour Anno Domini 1236. 20 Hen. 3. at which time all the Great Men of this Kingdom used those Offices and Places which had of ancient Right belonged to their Ancestors at the Coronation of the Kings and is mentioned by Matthew Paris in these words
milites de Anglia VVardam suam facient ad opus de eis non fuerit Salvis mihi Servitiis suis quae facere debent Concedo etià m eis quòd in tempore Pacis tantùm duodecem Servientes itinerantes habeant in terrâ meâ cùm uno equo qui sit Magistri Servientis qui etià m Prebendam non habeat à Pascha usquè ad Festum Sancti Michaelis nisi per gratum Et ut ipsi Servientes Comedant Cibum qualem in Domibus Hominum invenerint sinè emptione alterius Cibi ad opus eorum nèc in aliquibus Dominicis Baronum Comedant Et tempore Guerrae pèr Consilium meum aut Justiciarii mei ipsorum Ponantur Servientes sufficientes ad terram meam Custodiendam prout opus fuerit Et sciendum est quòd praedicti Barones Petitiones Subscriptas quas à me requirebant omninò mihi haeredibus meis de se haeredibus suis remiserunt ità quòd nihil de eis de caetero clamare poterint nisi per Gratiam Misericordiam meam Scilicèt Seneschallus Petitionem de Wrec de Pisce in terram suam per mare dejecto de Bersare in Forestâ meâ ad tres Arcus de percursu Canium suorum Et alii Petitionem de Agistamento Porcorum in Forestâ meâ de Bershare ad tres Arcus in Forestâ meâ vel ad cursus Leporariorum suorum in Forestâ in eundo versùs Cestriam per Summonitionem vel in redeundo Petitionem de Misericordiâ Judicum de Wich triginta Bullionibus Salis sed erunt Misericordia Leges in Wich tales quales prius fuerint Concedo igitùr praesenti Chartâ meâ confirmo de me haeredibus meis Communibus Militibus omnibus liberè Tenentibus totius Cestershire eorum haeredibus omnes praedictas libertates habendas tenendas de Baronibus meis de caeteris Dominis suis quicunque sint sicut ipsi Barones Milites caeteri liberè Tenentes eas de me tenent Hiis Testibus Hugone Abbate Sanctae Werburgae Cestriae Philippo Orreby tùnc temporis Justiciario Cestriae Henrico de Aldithley Waltero Deyvell Hugone Dispensario Thoma Dispensario Willielmo Pincerna Waltero de Coventrey Ricardo Phitton Roberto de Cowdrey Ivone de Caletoft Roberto de Say Normanno le Painter Roberto Dispensario Roberto Deyvell Mattheo de Vernon Hamone de Venables Roberto de Massy Alano de Waley Hugone de Columbe Roberto de Pulford Petro Clerico Hugone de Pasey Joceralino de Hellesby Ricardo de Bresby Ricardo de Kingsley Philippo de Terven Liulfo de Twamlowe Ricardo de Perpoint toto Comitatu Cestriae This Charter I have here for the satifaction of some translated also into English as followeth with the exposition of the hardest words RANDLE Earl of Chester To his Constable Steward Judge Sheriff Barons Bailiffs and to all his Tenants and Friends present and to come that shall see or hear this Charter Sendeth Greeting Know ye that I being Signed with the Cross * * Those were said to be Signed with the Cross in these Ages who had undertaken a Voyage to Jerusalem in defence of the Holy Land and as a Badge of their Warfare they wore a Cross on their right Shoulder So Spelman for the love of God and at the Request of my Barons of Cheshire have granted to them and their Heirs from me and my Heirs all the Liberties in this present Charter underwritten to have and to hold for ever to wit That every one of them may have his own Court free from all Pleas and Plaints moved in my Court except such Pleas as belong to my Sword ††The Pleas of the Sword were the Pleas of the Dignity of the Earl of Chester who held that Earldom as freely to the Sword as the King held England to the Crown And if any of their Tenants shall be taken for any Offence within their Fee or Lordship he shall be Replevied without any Ransom so as his Lord bring him to three County Courts and then he may carry him back as acquit unless * * Sakerboth Sakber and Sacraber is as much as a Pledge to Sue one that puts in Surety to Prosecute another Spelman Sakerborh do follow him And if any Stranger who is faithful shall come upon their Land and desires to dwell there it shall be lawful for the Baron of that Fee to have and retain him saving to me the Advowries who shall come to me on their own accord and others who for any Trespass elsewhere shall come unto my Dignity and not to them And every one of my Barons when need requireth shall in time of War do the full Service of so many Knights Fees as he holdeth And their Knights and Freeholders shall have their Coats of Mayle and Haubergeons and may defend their own Land by their Bodies although they be not Knights And if any of them be such a one that he cannot defend his own Land by his Body he may put another sufficient Person in his Place Neither will I compell their Villanes to take Arms but I do hereby acquit their Villanes which by Randle of Davenham shall come to my Protection and other their Villanes whom they can reasonably shew to be their own And if my Sheriff or any Officer shall Implead any of their Tenants in my Court he may defend himself by Thirtnic * * Thiertnic or Thirdnicht is Trium Noctium hospes Hoveden pag. 606. Here it seemeth to signifie three Nights Charges for the Sheriffs-Tooth Sheriffs-Tooth was a common Tax Levied for the Sheriffs Diet. for the Sheriffs-Tooth which they do pay unless fresh Suit do follow him I do also grant unto them acquittance from the Corn and Oblations which my Serjeants and Bedells were wont to require and that if any Judger ††It is in the Deed Judex which is sometimes taken for a Judge sometimes for a Jury-man or Freeholder which Freeholders are by Law the Judges of a Court-Baron or Suitor of the Hundred or County-Court shall be Amerced in my Court the Judger shall be quit from his Amercement for Two shillings and the Suitor for Twelve pence I do also grant unto them liberty of Inclosing their Lands within the Boundaries of their Tillage in the Forrest And if there shall be a Land or parcel of Ground within the Boundary of their Township which hath been formerly Manured where no Wood groweth it shall be lawful to Till the same without Graizing And they may also take Housebote and Haybote in their VVoods of all manner of VVood without the view of my Forester and may give or sell their dead VVood to whom they please and their Tenants shall not be Impleaded for the same in the Forest Court unless they be found in the manner or very act And every one of my Barons may defend all his Mannors and Lordships in the County or Hundred
Court by having a Steward present I do also grant That the Wife upon the Death of her Husband shall remain peaceably in her House forty Days And the Heir if he be at Age shall have his Heritage for reasonable Relief to wit Five Pounds for a Knights Fee Nor shall the VVidow nor the Heir be Married where they may be disparaged but shall be Married by the free assent of their Kindred None of them shall lose his Villane by reason of his coming into the City of Chester unless the same hath remained there a Year and a Day without claim And in regard of the great Service which my Barons do me in Cheshire none of them shall do me Service beyond the Lime * * That is out of the Limits of the County as I conceive Lima being an old word for Limes but at their own free will and at my Cost And if my Knights from England shall be Summoned which ought to VVard at Chester and are come to keep their VVard and that there be no Army of my Enemies at present from some other Place and that there be no need then my Barons may in the mean time return unto their own Houses and take their ease And if an Army of my Enemies be ready to come into my Land in Cheshire or if the Castle be Besieged the aforesaid Barons upon my Summons shall immediately come with all their Army to remove the Enemy according to their Power And when that Army of the Enemy shall retreat out of my Land the said Barons may return to their own Homes and Rest while my Knights from England keep the Guard and that there shall be no need of my Barons saving unto me the Services which the Barons ought to do I do also grant unto them that in time of Peace they may have onely twelve Sergeants itinerant in my Land with one Horse of the Master Sergeant which shall have no Provend from Easter to Michaelmas but by curtesie And that the Sergeants eat such Meat as they shall find in Mens Houses without buying any other Provision for their use Nor shall they eat in any Mannor-Houses of the Barons And in the time of War shall be appointed Sergeants sufficient for the keeping of my Land by my Advice and by the Advice of my Judge and Barons as need shall require And you are to know that my Barons aforesaid have for them and their Heirs released to me and my Heirs the Petitions under written which they desired from me so that they can challenge nothing hereafter of them but by my free Favour and Mercy To wit my Steward hath released his Petition of Wrec and of Fish cast upon his Land by the Sea and liberty of shooting Deer in my Forrest for three Shoots * * The Deed runs thus Et de Bershare in Foresta mea ad tres Arcus Birsare i. e. Telo configere a Germ. Birsen So Spelman To shoot an Arrow or Dart and for the running of his Dogs Others their Petition for Lay of their Swine in my Forrest and shooting at Deer for three Shoots and for running their Greyhounds in the Forrest going to Chester upon Summons or in returning and also the Petition of the Amercement of the Judgers of the Wich of thirty Walms of Salt But the Amercements and Laws of the Wich shall be such as they were before I do therefore grant and by this present Deed confirm from me and my Heirs to all my common Knights and Gentlemen of Cheshire and their Heirs all the aforesaid Liberties to have and to hold of my Barons and of other their Lords whosoever they be as the same Barons and Knights and other Gentlemen hold the same of me These being Witnesses Hugh Abbot of St. Werburge of Chester Philip Orreby then Judge of Chester c. Prince Edward Son of King Henry the Third confirmed the aforesaid Liberties in these words EDWARDUS Illustris Regis Angliae Primogenitus Omnibus Salutem Sciatis quod concessum est pro nobis haeredibus nostris Baronibus Militibus liberè Tenentibus aliis ac toti Communitati Cestershiriae quòd ipsi in perpetuùm habeant gaudeant omnibus Libertatibus Consuetudinibus eisdem Progenitoribus suis dudùm concessis à Domino Ranulpho quondà m Comite Cestriae per Chartam suam prout in eâdem Chartâ pleniùs continetur Concessimus autèm eisdem quòd si aliquis tenens Terram in Comitatu Cestriae de quâcunque Feloniâ convictus fuerit ubicunquè locorum fuerit Dominus Feodi Feodum suum habeat recipiat post Annum Diem sinè contradictione alicujus Volumus etià m quòd Servitia quae praedicti haeredes Cestershiriae nobis ad opus rogatum nostrum extrà Comitatum praedictum fecerunt in posterùm non trahentur in Consuetudinem Et ut omnia haec rata firma in perpetuum remaneant praesentibus Literis Sigillum nostrum duximus apponi Datum Cestriae 27 die Augusti Anno Regni Domini Regis Patris nostri 49. 49 Hen. 3. Which afterwards he confirmed also when he was King Dated March 30. 28 Ed. 1. as appears by the Exemplifications of all these Charters in Rotulo Recognitionum 3 Edw. 4. CHAP. II. Of the Bishops of Chester I Find no mention of a Bishop at Chester before the Norman Conquest onely we read that Dwina a Scotchman was made Bishop of Mercia by King Oswy whereof Cheshire was a small Parcel and that he had his Seat at Lichfield Anno Christi 656. from which time there remained a Succession of Bishops in that See until by doom of Canon Law all Bishops were to remove to the greatest Cities in their Diocese Polychronicon lib. 1. cap. 52. And thereupon Peter Bishop of Lichfield Anno Domini 1075. removed his Seat from Lichfield to Chester and was then commonly stiled Bishop of Chester But Robert de Limsey next Successor to Peter leaving Chester fixed his Seat at Coventrey Anno 1095. which was brought back to Lichfield by Roger Clinton in the Reign of Henry the First but so as his Title was Bishop of Lichfield and Coventrey From which time downwards the Bishops here were sometimes stiled of Chester sometimes of Lichfield and sometimes of Coventrey from the Place where they fixed their Residence having then three Sees one at Lichfield another at Coventrey and a third at Chester yet all one and the same Bishoprick At last King Henry the Eighth made Chester an entire Episcopal Dignity Anno Regni sui 33. turning the Monastery of St. VVerburge in Chester into the Bishop's Palace unto which Jurisdiction was allotted Cheshire Lancashire Richmondshire and part of Cumberland and was appointed to be within the Province of York See Stat. 33 Hen. 8. cap. 31. A Catalogue of the Bishops of Chester since 33 Hen. 8. 1541. which Bishoprick was erected upon the dissolution of the Abbeys I. JOhn Bird Doctor of Divinity of the University of Oxford having been formerly
which he gave to his Brother Patrick during his Life which Moiety was confirmed to John Son and Heir of Augustine by Sir Richard Aldford and also by Randle Earl of Chester sirnamed Blundevill about the Reign of King John as appears by the Enrollment aforesaid whose Posterity enjoyed the said Moyety until Sir Raufe Mobberley having no Lawful Issue of his Body Estated all his Lands by Chaplains entrusted according to the manner of those Times on John Leycester of Tabley his Nephew with the Advowson of the Church of Mobberley also 1359. 34 Edw. 3. For Sir Raufe had often protested That he would not have his Lands mangled among his Sisters but that his Nephew John Leycester should have them wholly as appears by the Certificate of Sir John Winkfield Dated at London the eleventh day of June 35 Edw. 3. 1361. Lib. A. fol. 129. ff gg hh Afterwards upon some Composition John Leycester releaseth all his Right in Mobberley's Lands and in the Advowson of the said Church unto John Dumbill of Mobberley and to Cicely his Wife 1 Rich. 2. 1378. yet so as John Dumbill and Cicely should settle 15 Messuages 316 Acres of Land 16 Acres of Wood 8 Acres of Moss the third part of a Watermill and the third part of all the Wastes in Mobberley unmeasured to be understood of Mobberley's Moiety after the death of John Dumbill and Cicely to descend to Raufe Leycester younger Brother of the said John Leycester and to his Heirs for ever which by Chaplains entrusted was settled accordingly 30 die Maii 2 Rich. 2. 1397. Lib. A. fol. 130. mm. which was either Conditioned in the Agreement of John Leycester or the Reversion thereof bought by the said Raufe Leycester from which Raufe are descended the Leycesters of Toft who do now enjoy these Lands Anno Domini 1666. about one third part of the Moiety of Mobberley The other two Parts of this Moiety of Mobberley which John Dumbill had descended to Sir Hugh Hulse in Marriage with Margery Daughter and Heir of the said John Dumbill and Cicely And afterwards Margery Daughter and Heir of Thomas Hulse married John Troutback Esquire which Margery died 35 Hen. 6. and had Issue William Troutback whose Son Sir William dying without Issue Adam Troutback Brother of Sir William had Issue Margaret Daughter and Heir married to John Talbot Lord of Albrighton in Shropshire from whom the Talbots of Grafton in Worcestershire whose Posterity afterwards came to be Earls of Shrewsbury The other Moiety of Mobberley Sir John Arderne of Aldford granted to John Legh of Booths with Wardships and Freedom from Appearance at his Court of Nether-Alderley Rendring eight Pounds yearly for his Life And after the death of John Legh then to remain to John Legh Son and Heir of the other John Legh aforesaid and to Maud Daughter of the said Sir John Arderne and to their Heirs for ever Rendring a Rose at Midsommer for all Service And if John Legh Son of John died before he married Maud then William Brother to John Legh Son of John was to marry her Witnesses of this Deed were Sir John Orreby and Sir Richard Massy Knights Robert de Pulford Philip de Egerton Richard de Fowleshurst Thomas de Legh William de Mobberley Roger de Leycester William de Mere Adam de Tabley William Danyers Master Roger of Alderley Hugh Clerke and others Lib. A. fol. 122. a. The Original remaining among the Evidences of Mr. Robinson of Mobberley 1664. This Deed was made about 1303. 31 Edw. 1. Richard Ratcliffe of Urdeshall in Lancashire married Maud Daughter and Heir of John Legh Son and Heir of Sir John Legh by Maud Arderne and had these Lands of her Grandmothers to wit the Moiety of Mobberley whose Heirs enjoyed the same till they sold out certain of their Tenements in Mobberley to their Tenants there And what remained together with the Services of such Tenants as were formerly sold out of this Moiety Sir John Ratcliffe of Urdeshall sold unto Mr. Robert Robinson of Mobberley about the beginning of King James's Reign over England Lib. A. fol. 122. b. c. Now followeth the Descent of Mobberley of Mobberley Argent two Cheverons Gules in a Canton of the second a Cross Croslet Fitchée Or. John Son and Heir of Augustine Lord of the Moiety of Mobberley lived in the Reign of King John Lib. A. fol. 124. a. Raufe Mobberley of Mobberley Lord of the Moiety of Mobberley lived in the Reign of Henry the Third but I cannot prove him Son of John William Mobberley of Mobberley Son of Raufe was Lord of the Moiety of Mobberley and Patron of Mobberley-Church He bought the Moiety of Nether-Pever from Richard Bonstable Anno Domini 1281. G. num 21. The Original in my possession This William had Issue William Mobberley John Mobberley to whom his Father gave all his Lands in Nether-Pever and Tatton 31 Edw. 1. 1303. G. num 65. But John dying without Issue those Lands reverted to William his Brother Richard Mobberley another Son made Parson of Mobberley by his Father 1306. slain by Richard Son of Richard de Mobberley 1320. 14 Edw. 2. Lib. A. fol. 124. w. 131. Alice a Daughter married William de Tabley Lord of Over-Tabley and Knotsford She was Widow 27 Edw. 1. 1300. This William died about the beginning of Edw. 2. William Mobberley of Mobberley Son and Heir of William married Maud Daughter and Heir of Robert Downes of Chorley juxtà Werford unto which Robert Edmund Fitton gave all his Lands in Chorley in Free Marriage with Margery his Sister Lib. A. fol. 127. t. v. This William was Sheriff of Cheshire 13 Edw. 2. 1319. and had Issue Raufe Mobberley Cicely married John Dumbill of Mobberley Son and Heir of John Dumbill of Oxton in Wirrall Elizabeth married Sir Hugh Venables of Kinderton Margery married Richard Bold of Bold in Lancashire Emme married Robert Grosvenour of Houlme in Allostock who purchased the Moiety of Nether-Pever from this William de Mobberley Mary another Daughter married Nicolas Leycester Son and Heir of Roger Leycester of Tabley Joan married William Athurton of Athurton in Lancashire Ellen married Richard Bromhale of Bromhale in Cheshire and Agnes never married Lib. A. fol. 127. w. x. y. z. a. fol. 128. cc. fol. 129. kk This William Sealed usually with his Coat of Arms to wit Two Cheverons and in a Canton a Cross-Croslet Fitchée Lib. A. fol. 124. y. z. as is before expressed in the beginning of this Descent He died 1 Edw. 3. 1327. Lib. C. fol. 103. num 9. Maud his Widow afterwards married John Dumbill senior Lib. A. fol. 128. ff Sir Raufe Mobberley of Mobberley Knight Son and Heir of William was Ward to Sir John Arderne of Aldford 3 Edw. 3. Lib. A. fol. 128. cc. who gave the Marriage of this Raufe unto John Pulford of Pulford Son of Sir Robert Pulford sinè disparagatione 1329. This Sir Raufe married Vincentia Daughter of John Pulford Lib. A. fol. 128. bb and
died in France 35 Edw. 3. 1361. without any Lawful Issue of his Body Sir Raufe had by Alice Rode his Concubine a Daughter called Margaret married to Thomas Toft younger Brother to Hugh Toft of Toft to whom Sir Raufe Mobberley gave his Mannor in Plumley 1357. Afterwards Margaret married Hugh Chaderton living 1360. Lib. C. fol. 226. v. Lib. A. fol. 129. hh These Lands in Plumley descended to the two Daughters and Co-heirs of Margaret by Thomas Toft to wit Ellen who married John Bodon of Plumley and Sybill who married Thomas Haslington of the Ermitage nigh Holmes-Chappel John Bodon Son of John Bodon aforesaid sold his Moiety of these Lands in Plumley to John Leycester of Tabley the elder Esquire 25 Hen. 6. 1446. whose Heirs enjoy the same at this day S. num 2 3 5 6 9. The other Moiety of those Lands in Plumley descended unto Cicely Daughter and Heir of Sybill aforesaid which Cicely married Hugh Winnington of Northwich 1444. and ever since continued to the VVinningtons of Ermitage until Mr. Bradshaw of Marple in Cheshire bought those Lands from VVinnington in the Reign of King CHARLES the First Thomas Buckley of Plumley being now Tenant thereof 1666. The Sisters of Sir Raufe Mobberley shared their Mothers Land in Chorley but Emme Grosvenour purchased most of the other Sisters Parts Lib. A. fol. 127. w. x. y. aa So ended the Line of Mobberley of Mobberley The Mannor-House of Mobberley of Mobberley and which at last came to the Talbots of Grafton in VVorcestershire stood close by Mobberly-Church where now 1672. the House of Mr. Mallory of Mobberley standeth But the ancient Fabrick which was more spacious and very ruinous was not long since taken down Which Old House with the Demain thereof together with the Advowson of Mobberley-Church and Mobberley-Mill was bought by Andrew Carrington of Mobberley Gentleman from George Talbot of Grafton Esquire about 14 Jacobi Part of which Demain was sold soon after by Carrington to Robert Robinson of Mobberley Gentleman The Advowson of the Church was sold by Andrew Carrington aforesaid and John his Son and Heir unto Thomas Mallory Dean of Chester by Deed dated the eleventh day oâ— October 17 Jacobi 1619. whose Heir Thomas Mallory now under Age is Patron of Mobberley-Church 1672. Son of Thomas Son of Richard Mallory Son and Heir of Dean Mallory aforesaid The Mannor-House aforesaid with what remained of the Demain unbought by Mr. Robinson was sold by Andrew Carrington aforesaid and John his Son and Heir unto Dean Mallory the eighth of May Anno primo Caroli Primi 1625. Dean Mallory also Purchased the Royalty of Talbot's Part of Mobberley from John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury Dated the twentieth day of March 7 Car. 1. 1631. The Mill Carrington sold to Legh of Booths There is Engraven in the Stone under the Ledge or Border on the West-end of Mobberley-Steeple and on the South-west-corner as followeth ORATE PRO BONO STATU DOMINI JOHANNIS TALBOT MILITIS ET DOMINAE MARGARETAE UXORIS SUAE And then beginning again just over the said Border in the very Corner of the Steeple aforesaid PATRONAE ECCLESIAE And so passing along to the South-side of the Steeple ANNO DOMINI MILESIMO QUINGENTESIMO TRICESIMO TERTIO RICHARD PLAT MASTER-MASON Over which on the said South-side above near to the Little Window under the Bells is Ratcliff's Coat of Arms Quartered with another Coat engraven in a Stone So that Mobberley-Steeple seems to have been built with Free-stone and the Church repaired Anno 1533. 24 Hen. 8. The Names of all such Persons who now stand possessed of any Free-hold Lands of Inheritance in Mobberley Anno Domini 1672. 1. Raufe Leycester of Toft Esquire Lord of a third Part of one Moiety of Mobberley This came originally to his Ancestor as is before declared 2 Rich. 2. 1379. And he hath at this day a Demain-House there re-built this Year 1672. and also sixteen Tenenements and twelve Cottages in Lease to his Tenants 2. The other two third Parts of this Moiety together with the Advowson of Mobberley-Church lately belonged to the Talbots of Grafton in Worcestershire whose Posterity afterwards came to be Earls of Shrewsbury and were lately sold away by Talbot to his Tenants here in Mobberley in the Reign of King James Talbot's Lands as they now stand Possessed 1672. or more briefly the Freeholders of Mobberley in Talbot's Part since their several Purchases from Talbot as they now stand 1672. Edward Alcock Charles Bradbury of the Wood-end Randle Barlow Robert Barlow late Griffin's House Thomas Booth Hugh Brook late Wilkinson's John Hough William Barnes John Davenport for Mosse's House by the Mill A small Cottage Richard Strethull's Cottage formerly Hobson's House by the Mill. Hugh Strethull of Brown-Edge James Stewart of Brown-Edge Schoolmaster Raufe Wrenshaw of Brown-Edge Francis Newton of Knowl-Green late John Baggiley Hugh Strethull of Salterley in Mobberley Edward Davenport Roger Symcock late Stretche's House Hugh Strethull of Reyley-Wood Richard Wright part of Worseley's Tenement John Hawkinson late Bolton's Tenement John Hewet John Oakes Richard Parker late Edward Hewet's Roger Worthington of Hield-Mill in Mobberley and also for Hill-house John Burges of Wood-end Susan Grange Widow Henry Stewart formerly Berry's Tenement John Fletcher formerly Berry's Tenement John Holland of the Dam-head in Mobberley George Talbot of Grafton Esq sells the Tenement of John Strettle of the Dam-head to one Perine of Manchester 1 Junii 14 Jacobi Perine Mortgageth it to Francis West of London 16 Aug. 14 Jacobi West and Perine after joyn in the Sale of it to William Holland 1650. Peter Bredbury of Lea-House William Nuthall now Richard Yarwood Widow Tipping of Bowdon hath a Tenement in Mobberley now in possession of Richard Cragg of Baggiley-Green in Mobberley Peter Legh of Booths Esq hath Mobberley-Mill and three Tenements now in Possession of Loundes Barrow and Symcock and also Graisty's Cottage These were anciently Talbot's The Heir of Nathaniel Robinson Gentleman hath part of the Demain which belonged to the old Mobberley-House formerly belonging to Talbot Thomas Mallory of Mobberley Gentleman now under Age. This was the old Mobberley House And he hath also the Royalty of all Talbot's Part of Mobberley and the Advowson of the Church 3. The other Moiety of Mobberley lately belonging to the Radcliffs of Ordsall in Lancashire nigh Manchester was sold away by Sir John Radcliff about the beginning of King James's Reign over England to his Tenants there The Names of the Free-holders in Radcliff's Part since the several Purchases from Radcliffe as they now stand 1672. The Heir of Nathaniel Robinson late of Mobberley Gentleman hath now seven Messuages and eleven Cottages in Mobberley besides a Demain-House here built first by Robert Robinson about 1612. who Purchased these Lands by the Name of Robert Robinson of Manchester Clothier from Sir John Radcliff of Ordsall Knight together with the Royalty of all Radcliffs Lands in Mobberley formerly sold by Radcliff to his Tenants here and
this Priory dedicated to St. Mary But this Church of Norton was pulled down after the Dissolution of Abbies The Place of this Priory is now the Seat of Brook of Norton who enjoyeth the whole Town of Norton entirely by himself and his Lessees wherein is no Charterer at all Now followeth the Descent of Brook of Norton since the Purchase This Family is descended from the Brookes of Leighton in Nantwich-Hundred of which Family I find one Adam Dominus de Leighton sub Henrico Tertio whose Son was stiled William de la Brook de Leighton and his Son Richard stiled Ricardus de Doito in an old Deed 5 Edw. 1. that is Of the Brook for Do et in French is A Brook in English and under the said Manour-House in Leighton a Brook runneth from whence their Posterity assumed the Sir-name del Brook Thomas Brook of Leighton Gentleman the last of that Family in the Direct Line died about 1652. very aged having Issue four Daughters but he sold away the Reversion of his Lands to the Lady Mary Cholmondley 6 Jacobi 1608. which afterwards came to Francis Cholmondley third Son of Thomas Cholmondley of Vale-Royal Esquire who now enjoyeth the same 1666. He married Christian Daughter of John Carew of Haccomb in Devonshire and had Issue Thomas Brook Christian married Richard Grosvenour of Eaton-Boat in Cheshire Esquire and Martha married Hugh Starky of Moore younger Son of Starkey of Darley This Richard died 11 Eliz. 1569. Christian his Widow afterwards married Richard Done This Richard Brook was Sheriff 1563. 5 Eliz. II. Thomas Brook of Norton Esquire Son and Heir of Richard had three Wives The first was Anne Daughter of Henry Lord Audley by whom he had Issue Richard Brook Son and Heir George drowned in Warrington-Water Christian married Richard Starky of Stretton in Cheshire Esquire Elinour married John Brook of Blacklands in Staffordshire and Margaret married one Warburton His second Wife was Elizabeth Sister of Thomas Merbury of Merbury nigh Comberbach Esquire by whom he had Issue William Brook Thomas Brook and Valentine Brook also Townesend married Thomas Legh de East-Hall in High-Legh Esquire Elizabeth married George Spurstow of Spurstow in Cheshire Esquire Dorothy married William Barneston of Churton in Cheshire Frances married George Legh of Barton in Lancashire Esquire Anne married Richard Merbury of Walton in Cheshire and Clare Wife of Theophilus Legh of Grange in the File of Lancashire His third Wife was Elinour Gerard by whom he had Issue Andrew who died young and Peter Brook who Purchased the Mannor of Mere nigh Over-Tabley 1652. and was Knighted 1660. of whom see more in Mere Also Alice a Daughter married Thomas Birch of Birch in Lancashire Elinour married William Ashton Rector of Middleton in Lancashire and younger Son of Ashton of Middleton which William purchased the Lands of Booth of Cogshull in Cheshire juxtà Over-Whitley Elinour was Widow 1660. And Rachel Wife of Henry Slater of Light-Okes in Bedford in Lancashire afterwards Sir Henry Slater This Thomas Brook of Norton was twice Sheriff of Cheshire 1578. and 1592. and died Anno Domini 1622. III. Sir Richard Brook of Norton Knight Son and Heir of Thomas was Knighted in Ireland and married Jane Daughter and Heir of William Chaderton Bishop of Chester by whom he had a Daughter married to one Joseline of Cambridgeshire who had all her Mothers Lands But through some dislike after Marriage Sir Richard and Jane his Wife lived asunder Afterwards Sir Richard married to his second Wife Katharine Daughter of Sir Henry Nevill of Billingsbere in Berkshire by whom he had Issue Henry Brook Son and Heir Thomas Brook second Son who married Jane Daughter of one Weston of Sutton nigh Frodsham Tenant to Warburton of Arley by whom he had Issue Richard Brook and Catharine a Daughter both living 1666. Richard Brook third Son of Sir Richard Professor of Physick died at Boughton nigh Chester without Issue Anno Domini 1667. George fourth Son and John fifth Son Mary married Thomas Merebury Half-Brother and afterwards Heir to William Merebury of Merebury nigh Comberbach Esquire Anne married Edward Hyde of Norbury juxtà Pointon Esquire Dorothy married Lawrence Hyde younger Brother of the said Edward Sir Richard Brook died Anno Domini 1632. IV. Henry Brook of Norton Son and Heir of Sir Richard was Created Baronet 1662. He married Mary Daughter of Timothy Pusey of Nottinghamshire by whom he had Issue Richard Son and Heir Henry second Son married Mary Daughter and Heir of Philip Prichard of Bostock-Green in Davenham-Parish and Pusey Brook third Son all living 1666. This Henry Brook was Sheriff four Years together beginning 1644. appointed by the Parliament without the King in the time of the late Rebellion Richard Grosvenour of Eaton-Boat Esquire Son and Heir to Sir Richard Grosvenour of Eaton Baronet then also living being made Sheriff by the King in the same Year 1644. The other being extrajudicial against the Law and Prerogative of the King Sir Henry Brook Baronet died Anno Domini 1664. V. Sir Richard Brook of Norton Baronet Son and Heir of Sir Henry married Francisca-Posthuma so called because she was born after the death of her Father Sister to Richard Legh of Lyme in Cheshire Esquire and hath Issue This Sir Richard was Sheriff of Cheshire 1667. Owlarton IN the Reign of William the Conqueror Hamon Baron of Dunham-Massy held one Moiety of Owlarton and Ranulphus the supposed Ancestor of the Manwarings held the other Moiety This Township was afterwards scattered into several Parcels but Sir Richard Massy of Tatton by Purchase got into his Hands most part of this Township and was Lord of the Mannor of Owlarton in the Reign of Edward the First as may appear by these following Notes extracted out of the Earl of Bridgewater's Deeds 1667. by John Halsey of Lincolns-Inn Esquire Nicolas Lord Audley gave all his Lands in Owlarton and Tatton to Richard Massy and Isabell his Wife about 1286. Sir John Arderne of Aldford gave to Sir Richard Massy and Isabell his Wife omnes Terras suas Tenementa in Owlarton Habendum cùm Homagiis Servitiis Wardis Releviis Redditibus Escaetis c. Reddendo quatuordecem Denarios per Annum pro omni Servitio Sectâ Curiarum c. This was about 27 Edw. 1. Richard Dunne of Owlarton gave certain Lands in Owlarton and two Parts of a Mill with the Pool in exchange with Sir Richard Massy for other Lands in that Township Robert Massy of Sale gave to Robert Massy of Tatton Lands in Owlarton in exchange for Lands in Sale under Edward the Second Anno 1 Hen. 6. there was a Survey of the Mannors and Lands of Sir Geffrey Massy of Tatton by a Jury it was there found That Sir Geffrey was Lord of the Mannor of Owlarton and divers Free Tenants there among whom Ranulphus Manwaring qui reddit pro le Bronteles-Place 5 s. 0 d. Johannes Legh del Booths pro certis Terris vocatis Babrinchull reddendo per Annum 2
Rosthorne to wit quartam partem Villae quam Petrus Chanu Avunculus meus tenuit For which was a Suit per Breve de morte Antecessoris between the said William Chanu Demandant and William de Massy and Margery his Wife Tenants Testibus Philippo de Orreby tunc Justiciario Cestriae Willielmo Venables Hamone de Massy c. Sub initio Hen. 3. Ego Ricardus de Rotherston Filius Ricardi Clerici de Rothesthorne dedi Margeriae Filiae Homfridi de Rothesthorne Clerici unam Bovatam Terrae in Rothesthorne quam Petrus Chanu tenuit scilicet quartam partem Villae Pro qua Margeria dedit quatuor Marcas Argenti And so released to Richard all Covenants which had been between Richard and his Father and Wimar his Sister on the one Part and the said Margery and William her Son and Amabilia her Daughter on the other Part Testibus Philippo de Orreby tunc Justiciario Cestriae c. SCiant praesentes futuri Quod ego Rogerus de Hale Carpentarius dedi Thomae de Massy Filio Domini Willielmi de Massy totam Terram meam Tenementum meum tam in Molendinis quam in Terris quod habui in Villa de Rosthorne Faciendo inde Servitium Dominis illius Villae quod continetur in Charta Originali quam sibi deliberavi quando istam Chartam sibi feci c. Testibus Ricardo de Wilbraham tunc Vicecomite Cestershiriae Ricardo de Vernon Willielmo de Massy Willielmo de Carrington tunc Ballivo de Doneham c. This Deed was made 1270. OMnibus Christi fidelibus Willielmus Filius Willielmi Filii Gilberti de Tabley salutem Noveritis me remisisse Roberto de Massy Domino de Tatton totum jus meum in omnibus Terris quae fuerunt Margeriae Proaviae meae in Villa de Rosthorne c. Sub. Edw. 2. Richard Bruncroft gives to Richard Massy Son of Sir William Massy Knight certain Lands in Rosthorne in exchange for Lands in Quiter-hall towards the Bounds of Norshagh in Tatton Testibus Willielmo de Venables c. The Prior and Convent of Norton give to Sir Richard Massy Knight the Homage and the Service of the Lands of Henry the Hunter in Rosthorne Testibus Hamone de Massy Roberto le Grosvenour tunc Vicecomite Cestershiriae c. This was made in Anno 1286. or thereabout Robert Massy Lord of Tatton and John Legh of Booths make an Agreement and Partition to each a Moiety of Rosthorne-Mill and to each the Mulcture of their own Tenants They exchange Land and release Rent to each other and Legh is to hold a fourth Part of Rosthorne of Robert Massy in Fee by the yearly Rent of Twelve pence Testibus Hugh de Heelegh Chief-Justice of Chester * This was Hugh de Audley of Heeley-Castle in Staffordshire c. 1315. So far out of Mr. Halsey's Notes Inter les Fines Cestriae 18 Edw. 3. Finalis Concordia coram Henrice de Ferrars Justiciario Cestriae Johanne de Arderne Radulfo de Vernon Petro de Thorneton Willielmo Boydell Militibus Johanne de Wetenhale Willielmo de Praers Thoma Danyers Inter Ricardum Filium Hugonis Massy de Tatton Aliciam Uxorem ejus quaerentes Hugonem Filium Willielmi Massy de Tatton deforciantem de Mannerio de Rosthorne cum pertinentiis c. So that Massy of Tatton was Lord of the other Moity of Rosthorne ever since the Reign of Edward the First if not the Royalty of the whole How these Lands descended to the Earl of Bridgewater see the Pedegree in Tatton Charterers in Rosthorne 1666. 1. George Massy of Denfield whose Ancestors descended out of the Massies of Tatton under Edward the Third 2. Edward Allen of Rosthorne Runcorn Superior Inferior THese two Townships now distinguish'd into Over-Runcorn and Nether-Runcorn are Mized together in our Common Mize-book and are very hard Mized Here at Runcorn that Magnanimous Virago Elflede Countess of Mercia and Widow to Ethelred the Chief Governor of Mercia and Sister to King Edward the Elder did build a Town Anno Domini 916. as Florentius Huntington and other our Historians do affirm A Town and Castle saith Stow pag. 81. Probably it was then in a more flourishing condition than now it is For now it is a very poor Village and seems to be Waste in the Conqueror's Time for it is not mentioned in Doomsday-book Both these Townships comprehend not fully 300 Cheshire Acres upon a Survey of the Assessors made by estimation in the Time of our late War These little Villages are both of the Fee of the ancient Barony of Halton and were formerly Copy-hold Land to the Manor of Halton until the several Owners bought out their Lands in Fee-farm to hold in Free and Common Soccage of the Mannor of Enfield in Middlesex the King 's Grant bearing date the ninth day of September 4 Car. 1. 1628. as you may see also above in Moore Some Lands in these Townships are ancient Free-hold Land For Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton by Office taken at Frodsham 22 Edw. 1. 1294. was found to hold seven Bovates of Land in Runcorn with other Lands of the Honor of Halton which are termed The third Part of Over-Runcorn in the Feodary of Halton Vide supra at the end of Halton But these Lands were sold lately by Gilbert Lord Gerard unto Savage of Rock-Savage in the Reign of King James Here is seated on the Bank by the Riverside an ancient Parish-Church Alhallowes of Nether-Runcorn Dedicated to All-Saints William Son of Nigell Baron of Halton founded here a House of Canons Regular Anno Domini 1133. And afterwards William Constable of Cheshire the younger Son of William Son of Nigell removed their Habitation unto Norton about the Reign of King Stephen All which Donations of William Constable of Cheshire the younger and of the Churches of Runcorn and Great-Budworth and many other things Henry the Second confirms to the Canons of Runcorn as you may see the Charter in Monasticon Vol. 2. pag. 186. Ratified also by the Charter of Edward the Third wherein he Confirms Donationem quam Hugo de Duttona Filius Hugonis de Duttona fecit per Chartam suam praedictis Canonicis de duobus Solidis octo Denariis de redditu de Pulseya ac de Terra de Frodsham cum pertinentiis de Terra de Pulles-eya cum Capella tota Terra Assartata Pastura ad sexaginta animalia ibidem ante Publicationem Statuti praedicti de Terris ad manum mortuam non ponendis editi Datum apud Glocester 30 die Augusti 3 Edw. 3. See more of the Priory of Norton of the Order of St. Augustine supra in Norton The Church of Runcorn seems to be before the Norman Conquest For we read in the ancient Roll That Nigell Baron of Halton gave the Church of Runcorn to Wolfaith a Priest his Brother in the Reign of the Conqueror This Church hath now for its Patron Christ-Church College in Oxford For after the Statute of Dissolution
991. died Cadwalhon the onely Son of Meredyth Anno 992. the Welshmen chose Edwal Son of Meric the right Heir of Northwales for their Prince At Langwm in a Battel between Edwal and Meredyth was slain Theodor or Tudor Mawr the Nephew of Meredyth who lost two Sons Rees and Rytherch and Elen a Daughter Anno 998. died Meredyth ap Owen Prince of Wales leaving one onely Daughter called Angharad Married to Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht and after his Death she Married Conuyn Herdref or as others think Conuyn ap Gweristan 12. Edwal ap Meyric the Son of Meredith Anno Chr. 992. being now in possession of the Principality of Northwales endeavored to keep it but soon after Swane the Son of Harold destroyed the Isle of Man and entring into Northwales slew Edwall the Prince thereof which Edwall left behind him a Son called Jago 13. Aedan the Son of Blegored usurped Northwales and killed Conan Son of Howel one that then aspired to the Government Anno 1003. in open Field He was slain with his four Sons by Lewelin in Battel Anno 1015. 14. Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht Prince of Wales He was slain by Howel and Meredith the Sons of Edwin Anno 1021. leaving a Son called Griffith ap Lhewelyn 15. Jago or James ap Edwal ap Meyric ap Edwal Voel took upon him the Government of Northwales as right Heir Rytherch Son of Jestyn usurped Southwales Jago was slain by Griffith ap Lhewelyn 1037. 16. Griffith ap Lhewelin ap Sitsylht and Angharat This Griffith was King of all Wales and chased Howel and Edwin out of Southwales This Griffith Married Edgith * This Edgith after the Death of Griffith Married Harold King of England or Aldith Daughter of Algar Earl of Mercia in England by whom he had Issue Blethyn Successor of his Dominion and Nest a Daughter Odericus Vitalis lib. 3. pag. 492. lib. 4. pag. 511. also Will. Gemeticensis lib. 7. cap. 31. He was a valiant Prince and wasted a great part of Herefordshire 1052. Sim. Dunelmensis Algar being banished Anno 1055. he went into Ireland where having got 18 Pyrate Ships he came into Wales to King Griffith who joyning Forces routed the English about two Miles from Hereford Nono Calendas Novembris Sim. Dunelmensis Afterwards were both reconciled to the King of England Griffith was slain by his own Men Nonas Augusti 1064. and his Head being cut off was sent to Edward sirnamed The Confessor King of England See also Ingulphus pag. 899. Anno 1070 William Fitz-Osborne Earl of Hereford with Walter Lacy and other stout Champions were placed as a Curb to the Welsh by William the Conqueror These first Invaded the People of Brecknock and slew three Welsh Kings or Princes Rees Cadogan and Merydeth and many other of the Welsh Ordericus pag. 521. 522. ⚜ This King Griffith had two Brothers Blethyn and Ruthyn to whom Edward the Confessor Anno 1065 gave Wales to be held of the King of England Pro servitio debito juratâ Fidelitate Ingulphus pag. 899. 17. Blethyn in Latine Blidenus Son of Griffith saith Ordericus but the Welsh History put out by Powel pag. 103 calleth him Blethin Son of Conwin He was King of Northwales at least Meredyth ap Owen ap Edwyn was Prince of Southwales But this Meredith was slain by Caradoc ap Griffith ap Rytherch ap Jestin upon the River Rympyn Anno Dom. 1068. ⚜ Blethyn was traiterously murthered by Rees ap Owen ap Edwyn Anno Domini 1073. He joyned with Edwyn and Morcar his Uncles by the Mother against the Conqueror Anno 1068. Ordericus pag. 511. and in Anno 1069. the Welsh and Cheshiremen Besieged the Conqueror's Garrison of Shrewsbury See Ordericus pag. 515. 18. Trahaern ap Caradoc after the death of Blethyn Prince of Northwales He was Cosen-german to Blethyn and Rees ap Owen was Prince of Southwales which Rees was slain and outed by Trahaern ap Caradoc about 1076. Anno 1077. Rees ap Theodor ap Eneon ap Owen ap Howel Dha as right Inheritor to Southwales claimed the same and was received Anno Chr. 1078. 19. Griffith up Conan Prince of North-Wales Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-Wales These joyning their Forces slew Traherne and all his Cosins in Battel 1078. Anno 1079. William the Conqueror of England entred Wales with an Army as far as St. Davids and took Homage of the Princes of Wales Anno 1088. Griffith ap Conan King of Wales enters the Borders of England about Rothelent with an Army and made great destruction where Robert of Rothelent a Norman Governor of Rothelent Castle under William the Conqueror was slain in a Skirmish whose Head was cut off and carried away with King Griffith who caused it to be hanged upon the Mast of his Ship Ordericus pag. 670. This Robert of Rothelent and Robert de Malpas two of the Earl of Chester's Barons and other cruel Potentates spilt much of the Welshmens Blood Ordericus pag. 522. Anno 1090. Robert Fitz-Hamon with 12 other Knights invade Glamorganshire with an Army of Normans and spoiled the Lands of Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-Wales where Rees was slain in Battel near Brecknock with whom fell and decayed the Kingdom of South-Wales Those also slew Jestyn ap Gurgant Lord of Glamorganshire with a great number of his Men whereby Robert Fitz-Hamon got possession of Glamorganshire and gave certain Castles and Manors there to his 12 Knights and to other Gentlemen who were the first Strangers that inhabited Wales Powel on the Welsh History pag. 119 124. Cambden's Britannia in Glamorganshire pag. 494. Anno 1092. Roger de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury entred into Powys-land and did win the Castle and Town of Baldwine which he fortified and called it Montgomery after his own Name Welsh History put out by Powel pag. 152. Anno 1094. William Rufus entred Wales at Montgomery which Castle being lately demolished by the Welshmen he re-edified it again But the Welsh keeping the Straits of the Mountains with the Woods and the Rivers King William lost his Labor and a number of his Men and so returned Welsh History pag. 153. Matt. Paris pag. 18. Anno 1098. Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury called Hugh Gogh by the Welsh that is Red Hugh because of his Red Head and Hugh Earl of Chester called Hugh Dirgane by the Welsh that is Gross Hugh because of his Fat Corpulent Body enter Wales with an Army of Cheshire and Shropshire Men but Griffith ap Conan the Prince of North-VVales and Cadogan ap Blethyn fled into the Mountains Then the Earls entred the Isle of Anglesey and by the way they built the Castle of Abberlhiennawe over against it They slew many of the VVelsh therein but Griffith and Cadogan fled into Ireland Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury was slain with an Arrow by Magnus Son of Olave King of Norwey Ordericus pag. 768. Roger Hoveden pag. 467. also the VVelsh History pag. 155. which puts this in Anno 1096. for 1098. Anno
ancient word for a Hill and that upon the Sea between Ireland and Scotland the Shore of Scotland seems to rise up into Mountains and so gained the Name of Albin Hist Scot. lib. 1. pag. 12 13. But when the Scots came unto the Picts in Brettaine though they ever and anon did make War and Excursions upon the Brettans yet did they not advance very soon but lived in that Angle where they first arrived They continually warred against the Kings of Northumberland for the space of 127 Years till Edan King of the Scots and his Army were totally routed by Ethelfrid King of Northumberland Anno Domini 603. Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 34. And when the Picts were almost rooted out and the Kingdom of the Northumbrians through Civil Discords and Incursions of the Danes About the Year 800. fell to decay then was all the North part of Brettaine called Scotland from Cluyd and Edenborough-Frith And on this side Cluyd and Edenborough-Frith was part of the Kingdom of Northumberland and possessed by the Saxons as every man knows But at this day Scotland is divided from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway And hence it is that all those who possess the East part of Scotland and are called Lowland-men are descended of the English Saxons and speak the English Tongue and those that inhabit the Western Coast of Scotland called Highlanders be descended from the Scots and speak Irish and are maliciously bent towards the Lowland-men who speak English II. The People of the Scots have been noted of their best Writers for some barbarous Customs one whereof was If any two were displeased they expected no Law but banged it out bravely one and his Kindred against the other and his Kindred This Fighting they called their Feids These deadly Feids King James the Sixth in his Basilicon Doron adviseth his Son to redress with all care possible But it pleased God to give this King so long a Life as to see it remedied in his own days An Act indeed truly Royal and worthy himself Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography pag. 331. Another Custom they had of a strange nature never was the like heard of among the Heathens That the Kings of Scotland should have the Maidenhead or first Nights Lodging with every Woman who was to be married to a Husband that held Land immediately from the Crown and the Lords and Gentlemen should have the like of all those whose Husbands were their Tenants or Homagers And this was by a Law made by Eugenius a lascivious Prince of Scotland But this Custom in the time of Malcolme the Third sirnamed Cammoir was made redeemable for half a Mark of Silver about the Year 1070. which Pension the Scots at this day call The Marchet of the Women Buchanan lib. 7. pag. 214. The reason of the Name Skene in his Interpretation of Old Words thinks to come from March which in the Ancient Scotch Language signifies A Horse and so metaphorically denotes a Pension for the Leaping of a Woman ascendere Mulierem Spelman in his Glossary saith That Merch in the ancient Language of the Brettans signifies a Daughter or Woman-Sex and so denotes a Pension for a Woman's Marriage to the Lord or King CHAP. III. Of the Picts in Scotland THe Name of Pict was first introduced by the Romans saith Buchanan in his History of Scotland lib. 2. pag. 54. because these People painted their Bodies with the Pictures of all manner of Living Creatures It was not their ancient Native Name Herodian saith Neque vestis usum cognôrunt sed ventrem cervicem ferro cingunt Ornamentum id esse ac divitiarum argumentum existimârunt perindè ut aurum caeteri Barbari They put Iron Plates about their Bellies and Necks which they reputed an Ornament and an Argument of Riches as other Foreign Nations esteemed Gold and painted their Bodies with the Forms of all manner of Living Creatures Wherefore they put on no Clothes that they might not hide their Bodies so carved and painted Buchanan supposeth them to be originally Scythians or Getes pag. 55. Hergust their King dying about the time of Victorinus Lord Deputy of Brettaine under Honorius the Emperor who reduced the Picts to the Roman Province about the Year of Christ 412. forbad them to make any new King but what should be given them by the Romans and that it was prophesied of old That the Picts should be rooted out by the Scots Buchanan ibid. pag. 129. And at last Brudus King of the Picts not able to compose the Differences already begun between the Picts and the Scots died for grief and Drusken his Brother who was the last King of the Picts was overthrown in Battel Buchanan li. 5. p. â—65 166. about the Year of Christ 838. by Kenneth the Second King of the Scots and the Picts utterly subdued Since which time the Kings of the Scots have been Lords of all Scotland who before had onely a Part of Scotland It is said That the Nation of the Picts came first out of Scythia into Ireland and from thence into the North Parts of our Brettaine So Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 1. And this as many will have it about Anno Christi 78. Judicious Cambden thinks they were very Brettans who before the coming of the Romans were seated in the North part of our Island with such other Brettans who fled unto them as unwilling to submit to the Roman Servitude In his Britannia pag. 82. For my part I think the Brettans and the Picts do signifie the same thing one being a Greek Name and the other Latin This of Latin being given by the Romans in later Times in distinction from our Brettans of England who submitted to the Roman Government and were stiled as formerly and perhaps more civilized by the Romans Those other more rude and flying into Scotland and continually opposing the Romans were by them called Picti which Name continued afterwards I find not the Name of Picti in any Author mentioned till 300 Years after Christ and more And that as well the Brettans as the Picts were Peopled from the ancient Galles and those originally descended from the Scythians and Getes as Sheringham de Anglorum Gentis Origine doth probably demonstrate There were also two other sorts of People among the Picts in Scotland in the time of the Romans the Maiatae and the Attacotti as they were stiled by the Romans Of whom see Buchanan lib. 2. pag. 57. and also Cambden's Britannia pag. 655. pag. 91. These inhabited the Borders of Scotland CHAP. IV. Of the Kings of Scotland âšœ THe Kingdom of Scotland was never totally Conquered either by the Romans or Saxons for which they may thank their great Barren Mountains whether they fled from the Enemy as a Shelter It consisted as you have already heard of two sorts of People Picts and Scots It remains that I set down the Catalogue of their Kings as far as truth of History will bear For the
confidence of your Valour and the King's Injustice I doubt not to dissipate his Forces and with my Sword to make way through the midst of my Enemies Methinks I see them run already Then Robert Earl of Glocester who Commanded in Chief encouraged his Soldiers and told the Bassians and others who were Disinherited That now they should have one Bout for the recovery of their Right and Inheritance King Stephen on the other part alights from his Horse and Fought on foot very stoutly both for his Life and Kingdom but having no audible Voice commanded Baldwin de Clare a Man of great Honour and Prowess to make known his mind to the Army Henry Huntington li. 8. who made an Oration to encourage the Soldiers Impeaching the Earl of Chester as a Man audacious but without Judgment heady to plot a Treason but still wavering in the pursuit of it ready to run into Battel but uncircumspect of any danger aiming beyond his reach and conceiting things meerly impossible and therefore hath but few with him that know him leading onely a Rout of vagrant and tumultuous Pesants So there is nothing in him to be feared for whatsoever he begins like a Man he ends like a Woman unfortunate in all his Undertakings In his Encounters he hath either been vanquished or if by chance he rarely a obtain Victory it is with greater loss on his part then the Conquered But as soon as he had ended his Oration the Fight began which was very fierce and terrible many slain on both parts In the Head of the King's Army were very stout Soldiers but his Enemies outvying him in number prevailed William de Ipro with the Flemmings and Alan with the Britons first turn their Backs * Huntington and Hoveden say they beat the Welsh but the Earl of Chester coming up with his Forces quite routed them which much discouraged the King's Friends but encouraged the Enemy The King was ill betrayed for some of his Nobles accompanied him in Person whiles they sent whole Troops to the other side Waleran Earl of Mellent and William de Warren his Brother Gilbert de Clare and other famous Knights both of England and Normandy ran away as soon as they saw their own side shrink But Baldwin de Clare and Richard Son of Ursi Engelram de Say and Ildebert Lacy stuck stoutly to the King and Fought it to the last Man Stephen himself like a noble Branch of an heroick Family Fought so gallantly that when his Sword was broken taking a Battel-Axe from a young Gentleman which stood near him he ceased not to Encounter with his over-powerful Enemies but at last was constrained to yield himself Prisoner to Robert Earl of Glocester his Cosin who sent him to Maude the Empress at Bristow where he was imprisoned Baldwine de Clare likewise and other excellent Champions on the King's part were taken Prisoners Thus by the voluble Wheel of Fortune was King Stephen taken Prisoner at the Battel of Lincoln on Candlemas-day Anno Domini 1141. according to Ordericus who lived in that very Age which was principally occasioned by the Valour and Assistance of Randle Earl of Chester III. Alan Earl of Brettaine a treacherous and cruel Man Gesta Steph. pag. 953. lying in Ambush for the Earl of Chester to revenge the Dishonor of taking his Lord and King Prisoner was himself taken and imprisoned till he did Homage to Randle Earl of Chester and had delivered up his Castles unto him Others say Alan Earl of Richmond and Little-Britain was sent for by Randle to speak with him and so was Apprehended by him Anno 1141. John Hagustaldensis pag. 269. Not long after this Robert Earl of Glocester was taken Prisoner in another Battel by some others of Stephen's Party and so immediately King Stephen and Earl Robert were exchanged each for other Anno 1143. Stephen being released out of Prison Besieged Lincoln and would have built a Fort over against the Castle which Randle Earl of Chester kept but the Earl killed almost eighty of his Workmen and so he was forced to give it off Mat. Paris and Hen. Huntington But Hoveden placeth this 1144. 9 Stephani Anno Domini 1145. King Stephen gathering a great Army built a strong Castle over against Wallingford whither Randle Earl of Chester accompanied him with great Forces and was restored unto his Favour But afterwards the Earl coming to the King's Court at Northampton was surprized little dreaming of any such matter and cast into Prison untill he restored the Castle of Lincoln which he had fraudulently taken and all other Castles which he injuriously had taken from the King Chronica Normanniae put out by Du Chesne with other Histories pag. 982. Also Polychronicon addeth That the Welshmen then wasted Cheshire but were intercepted at Nantwich ⚜ lib. 7. cap. 19. Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 890. But for the Reconcilement of Stephen and Randle it is more fully set down in Gesta Stephani pag 968. thus The Earl of Chester who had got almost a third part of the Kingdom by his Sword comes to the King and desires Pardon for his Rebellion at Lincoln and for the seizing of his Soveraign's Possessions and thereupon was received into Favour And in farther testimony of his Obedience he helped the King's Forces and gallantly Assaulted the Town of Bedford which had much weakned and shattered the King's Army and having taken it delivers it into Stephen's Hands After this he accompanied King Stephen to Wallingford attended with three hundred gallant Horse till the King had erected a stately Castle in prospect thereof to stop the Incursions of the Enemy which were wont to issue out of Wallingford and prey upon the Countrey But for all this Friendship Randle was suspected of Stephen because he surrendred not the Castles and Rents which he had violently taken from him and because of the Earls wavering and unstable Mind not having put in Pledges of his Fidelity so that neither the King nor his prime Councellors durst rely upon him unless he would surrender all the King's Possessions and if he refused this then the King ought to clap him up at his best opportunity Ibidem pag. 970 971. Randle Earl of Chester seeing he was thus suspected turns himself to his wonted course of Treason plotting how he might more easily without Infamy deliver the King into the Hands of his Enemies and coming to the Court with some Attendance whereby he might be the freer from suspicion he complained how he was beset with a barbarous multitude of Welsh who made great spoil and waste of his Lands so that he and all his Tenants bordering on the Confines of his County would be quite extirpated unless the King gave him speedy Assistance telling him that his Presence would do more by the very Name of a King than many thousands of Soldiers without him The King cheerfully promiseth his Assistance but the Councel about his Royal Person would not suffer it for they wished
came in Person to Assault it Anno 1216. after the Death of King John on the Feast-day of Simon and Jude the Apostles the twenty eighth day of October Henry the Third being then but nine Years old eldest Son of King John was Crowned at Glocester principally by the Power of Walo the Pope's Legat Peter Bishop of Winchester Randle Earl of Chester and William Marshall Earl of Pembroke and some others Paris and Polychronicon Anno Domini 1217. after Easter Randle Earl of Chester with many others met about the besieging of the Castle of Mountsorell by the procurement of William Marshall Regent of England for the young King which they fiercely assaulted But Lewis King of France and the Barons of England sent Forces from London in the very beginning of May to raise the Siege Randle Earl of Chester hearing thereof with others came to Nottingham The Barons march on and Besiege Lincoln Castle In the interim William Marshall Guardian of the young King and Kingdom Commanded all the Forces out of his several Garrisons to meet at Newark on Tuesday in Whitsun-week for the raising of the Siege at Lincoln among whom Randle Earl of Chester was the Prime Commander and in the beginning of the Week following they routed the Barons at Lincoln Mat. Paris pag. 294 295. And the Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon saith That Randle Earl of Chester slew many of the French so that Lewis the French King seeing his Party much weakned for a Sum of Money surrenders up all his Garrisons and returns to France Anno 1158. the Abbey of Pulton in Cheshire was Founded Anno 1214. that Convent was removed to Deulacresse in Staffordshire 10 Calendas Maii by this Earl Randis Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 891. Anno 1218. 2 Hen. 3. Randle Earl of Chester after he was accorded with Lhewellin Prince of Northwales took a Voyage to Jerusalem In which Year Damieta was taken by the Christians Mat Paris pag. 303. Anno 1220. 4 Hen. 3. Randle returning out of the Holy Land built Beeston Castle in Cheshire and Chartley Castle in Staffordshire and the Abbey of Delacresse near Leeke in Staffordshire of the Order of white Monks * De ordine Cisterciensi To which Abbey he gave Leeke and Rudeyard in Staffordshire Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 891 892. Bivelegh vulgo Byley near to Middlewich in Cheshire was a Grange belonging to the Monks of Delacresse Monasticon Vol. 2. pag. 919. Towards the Charge of the Castles he Levied a Tax through all his Lands and Tenants Polychronicon Also Knighton pag. 24. 30. Nor can I here pass by the Mistake of Bale de Scriptoribus Britanniae Cent. 3. num 93. where he writes thus Ranulfus de Glaunvyle Cestriae Comes vir nobilissimi Generis in utroque jure eruditus in Albo illustrium virorum à me meritò ponendus venit ità probè omnes adolescentiae suae annos Legibus tùm humanis tùm divinis consecravit ut non priùs in hominem per aetatem evaserit quà m nomen decusque ab insigni eruditione sibi comparaverit Cùm Profecti essent Francorum heroes Ptolemaidem inito cùm Johanne Brenno Hierosolymorum Rege concilio Damiatam Egypti urbem obsidendam constituebant Anno Salutis humanae 1218. misit illùc Henricus Rex ab Honorio tertio Romanorum Pontifice Rogatus cùm magnâ Armatorum manu Ranulfum ad rem Christianam juvandam Cujus virtus Polydoro teste in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit Quo confecto negotio Ranulfus in patriam reversus scripsit unum librum de Legibus Angliae Fertur praetereà alia quaedam scripsisse sed tempus Edax rerum ea nobis abstulit Anno 1230. claruit confectus Senio dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi Tyrannide in Angliâ regnaret So Bale and from him Pitseus thus Ranulfus Glanvillus ex Splendissimâ familiâ Cestriae Comitum in Angliâ natus c. in his Book De illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus These are both mistaken in the Name confounding Randle Blundevill and Randle Glaunvill together Randle Glaunvill indeed was Chief Justice of England under Henry II. and writ a Book De Legibus Angliae yet extant amongst us He died at the Siege of Accon Anno Christi 1190. Hoveden pag. 685. But this Randle Blundevill Earl of Chester is of later time a little and died Anno Christi 1232. This Earl was at the Siege of Damiata but writ no Book De Legibus Glaunvill writ the Book but was neither Earl of Chester nor of the Race of the Earls of Chester So much of Bale See Spelman's Glossary pag. 338. b. Anno 1224. Randle Earl of Chester John Constable of Cheshire and others of the Nobility were much displeased with Hubert de Burgo Chief Justice of England alledging that he did exasperate the King against them and did not well Execute the Laws insomuch that the Earl of Chester with his Complices at Leycester in stead of surrendring up the Castles which the King demanded from him as belonging to the Crown had thought to have sent threatning Messages both against the King and his Chief Justice but upon more deliberate Advice surrendred them Paris pag. 318 319 320. Anno 1229. the King having gathered a great Army together at Portsmouth thought to Transport them beyond Sea to recover those Lands which his Father had lost but not finding sufficient Shipping for half his Army he imputed the fault to the Treachery of Hubert de Burgo that he should have been Bribed thereunto by the Queen of France and drawing his Sword to have killed Hubert Randle Earl of Chester interposed and saved him that he got out of the King's sight till his fury was past Paris pag. 363. And in the same Year Randle Earl of Chester refuseth to pay Tythes to the Pope Paris ibidem Anno 1230. Randle Earl of Chester marched through Anjou and took certain Castles and so returned into Little Britain where the King had made him Commander in Chief of his Forces together with William Marshall and William Albemarle Paris pag. 367. Anno 1232. in the Parliament assembled at London the King demanded Money for the Discharge of his Debts occasioned by the Wars The Earl of Chester answering for the Nobility of the Kingdom told him That the Earls Barons and Knights which hold of him in Capite were personally with him in the Service and had exhausted their own Money in that Service and therefore ought not to pay any thing and so nothing was Granted Paris pag. 372. In this Year Randle Earl of Chester did a second time save the Life of Hubert de Burgo when the King being exasperated with Hubert sent to the Mayor of London to send away all the Armed he could raise immediately to put him to Death who in one Nights space were encreased to 20000. willing of the occasion But the King by the perswasion of Randle Earl of Chester telling how dangerous it might be to raise
Ashton tertiam partem Villae de Partington faciendo liberum Servitium pro duabus partibus Feodi Militis ut per Chartam Antecessoribus dicti Georgii per Hamonem Massy Militem factam reddendo per annum de Stothe alià s dictum Sheriffs-Tooth septem Denarios Et ipse faciet Sectam Curiae quae vocatur Judger de quindenâ in quindenam ità quòd pro quâlibet defaltâ dabit per viam amerciamenti duos solidos pro certo ipse quatuor Tenentium suorum de villatâ de Carington venient ad visum Franci-Plegii In the Notes collected by Will. Vernon I read Post mortem Willielmi Boydell 23 Edw. 3. intèr Feoda dicti Willielmi inter alia Robertus Ashton Ricardus Dikenson Johannes Deane tenent medietatem Maneriorum de Sale Ashton per Servitium unius Feodi Militis quilibet eorum tertio anno tres Denarios This Robert Ashton was Rector Ecclesiae de Ashton 23 Edw. 3. These were Feoffees in Trust so that one Moiety of Ashton seems to be of the Fee of Boydell of Dodleston and the other Moiety of the Fee of the Barons of Dunham Massy It is plain the Parish Church here was a Rectory in the beginning of Edward the Third's Reign which now hath Brereton of Honford for its Patron 1666. and was invested in Sir Vrian Brereton younger Son of Randle Brereton of Malpas in the Right of Margaret his Wife Daughter and Heir of William Honford of Honford Esquire and Widow of Sir John Stanley which Sir Vrian was living 1566. The Church here comprehendeth within its Parish  l. s. d. Sale 00 10 09 Ashton one half 00 07 00  00 17 09 The greatest part of Ashton super Mersey at this day 1666. belongs to Brereton of Honford The Lord Delamere of Dunham-Massy hath about an eighth part thereof Aston juxta Sutton THis Town of Aston gave Name to the Family of the Astons who have been Seated here for a long time In the Record of Dooms-day Book we find that Odard held this Town undâ—r William Fitz Nigell Baron of Halton sub Anno Christi 1086. where we find onely one Aston named for Aston juxtà Sutton and Aston-Grange as now they be severed and distinguished I conceive were then but one Town The same Odard held part of Dutton also from Hugh Lupus Earl of Chester as appears by the same Record which Odard was the undoubted Ancestor to the Duttons of Dutton as appears by several Deeds of great antiquity among the Evidences of Dutton of Dutton which I have seen About the Reign of Henry the Second I find one Gilbert de Aston certainly possessed of this Town of Aston juxta Sutton In which Line and Family it hath continued ever since to this day Sir Willoughby Aston of Aston Baronet being now Owner of the same who hath built a sumptuous House here a little distance from the old one Anno Christi 1668. Whether that Gilbert de Aston be Descended from Odard let the more curious make strict enquiry I am sure I never yet saw any thing to prove it âšœ In this Town is now onely one Charterer 1666. which small Freehold Richard Morris of Aston is now possessed of It belonged to one Higginson whose Daughter and Heir Married the said Rich. Morris and was formerly bought by one J. Higginson the Lessee of this Land from Thomas Paver of Lostock John Thomason of Harpesford and Richard Taylor joynt Tenants thereof 25 Hen. 8. This I conceive was part of that Oxgange of Land which Richard de Aston gave away to Raufe Son of Richard de Kingsley in the Reign of Henry the Third In this Aston lieth a certain parcel of Land called Middleton-Grange as the same stands Mized by it self in our common Mize-Book of Cheshire and now belongeth to Sir Willoughby Aston Lord of this Town I conceive it is the same with that called Mid-Eston in Doomesday-Book which then belonged to the Church of St. Werburge in Chester and was held by William Fit-Nigell Baron of Halton as Tenant to St. Werburge So called as it were Middle of Aston when the Town was yet undivided and lieth between Aston-Grange and Aston juxtà Sutton howbeit it is now wholly taken to lie in Aston juxtà Sutton This Middle-Eston was confirmed to the Priory of Norton by John Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Baron of Halton about the twentieth Year of Henry the Third Anno Domini 1236. as I find the Deed transcribed in a long I archment Roll among the Evidences of Dutton of Dutton at Dutton wherein sundry other Deeds belonging to the Priory of Norton are also transcribed by the name of Middel-Estonam cùm omnibus pertinentiis quam habent ex Dono Dominae Matildae quondà m Uxoris Domini Collini de Loches And also the Earl quits the same from Wardship and Relief for him and his Heirs which was due for that Land This Middleton-Grange called also sometimes Middle-Aston-Grange was purchased from the King after the Dissolution of Abbeys by Thomas Aston of Aston Esquire 37 Hen. 8. for the Sum of 270 l. 11 s. 5 d. paying the yearly Rent of 1 l. 1 s. 9 d. So I find in the Chartulary of Aston-Deeds pag. 66. num 537. Here was anciently a Chappel called Middleton-Chappel where the Prior and Convent of Norton were bound to find a Priest in former Ages to say Mass on Sundays Wednesdays and Fridays Weekly for ever Which Chappel being out of Repair and Service said there onely on Sundays for forty Years then last past it was complained of by Richard Aston Son of Sir Robert Aston at a Visitation 3 Hen. 6. 1425. and an Order was made by Richard Stanley then Arch-Deacon of Chester the twentieth of August 3 Hen. 6. That whereas the Prior and Convent of Norton long before the same was an Abbey did Covenant with the Abbot of Vale-Royal to find at their own proper Cost a fit Chaplain to Officiate here three days a week as aforesaid It was ordered That the said Agreement should be kept and observed But these Variances concerning Middleton-Chappel between Robert Abbot of the Monastery of St. Mary of Norton and Richard Aston of Aston Esquire were composed by the mediation of Thomas Dutton Esquire and Anne his Wife Dame Isabel late Wife of Sir John Carrington and Jenkin of Leycester Dated the tenth of November 32 Hen. 6. The same Chartulary pag. 23. num 501. pag. 21. num 503. pag. 216. num 504. But after that Middleton-Chappel fell into decay another Chappel was erected in later Ages somewhat nearer to the Hall of Aston called Aston-Chappel situate within the Parish of Runcorne and in lieu of finding a Priest to Officiate here by the Abbot of Norton the King after those Lands came into his Hands gave five Pounds yearly Rent to the Maintenance of a Minister here at Aston-Chappel issuing out of the Lands late belonging to Norton-Abby by a Decree in the Court of Augmentations at London
and Nether-Tabley I believe this Town was Waste in the Conqueror's time Ex Chartulis Daniell of Over-Tabley I find little mention thereof before Henry the Third about that time Robert de Bexton seems to be possessed of a moiety thereof at least for he and Sibill his Wife by the consent of Matthew de Bexton their Son and Heir do give to Randle Son of Thomas de Picmere with Margery their Daughter totam quartam partem medietatis totius Villae de Bexton Reddendo annuatìm unum Denarium Argenti ad Nativitatem Beati Johannis Baptistae Lib. C. fol. 240. e. John Son of Matthew de Bexton releaseth to Adam de Tabley and Beatrix his Wife all the Lands which Maude Mother of the said John held in Dower in Bexton under Edward the Second Whereunto another John de Bexton is Witness Lib. C. fol. 241. f. Adam de Tabley was Lord of half of Bexton 1304. as appears by the Agreement made inter Johannem de Lostocke Dominum medietatis Villae de Bexton ex unâ parte Adamum de Tabley Dominum medietatis ejusdem Villae ex alterâ supèr Clausturas bladorum suorum de Bexton Datum apud Knotsford Anno Domini 1304. Lib. C. fol. 241. h. And then Adam de Tabley Son of the other Adam settles his Dominium Parcenarium de Bexton after his death on Thomas Son of Thomas Daniell 35 Edw. 3. 1361. Lib. C. fol. 241. k. Since which time the moiety of Bexton hath belonged to the Daniels of Over-Tabley even to this present 1666. Concerning this Adam de Tabley see more in Over-Tabley In a loose Paper among the Evidences of Daniell of Over-Tabley I find a Copy of a Deed wherein John de Bexton gives Ricardo filio Johannis de Croxton Margeriae Uxori ejus filiae meae tertiam partem totius medietatis Villae de Bexton excepto Capitali Messuagio Habendum sibi Haeredibus inter eos Remanere Hawisiae Elianorae Filiis meis remanere rectis Haeredibus meis Testibus Willielmo de Massy Johanne de Legh Militibus Rogero de Leycester c. Sub Edw. 3. Memorandum Quòd praedicta Hawisia nupta fuit Willielmo de Moulton Et Elinora nupta fuit Willielmo Filio Roberti de Winnington This Memorandum was writ in the bottom of the Paper Lib. C. fol. 244. p. This John Bexton I take to be the same with John Lostock above-named and called Bexton from the Place of his Residence I find also John de Bexton gave to William Son of Robert de Winnington and to Elianour his Wife totam tertiam partem totius medietatis Villae de Bexton tempore Edw. 2. John Booth's Book Lib. H. pag. 117. h. The Original penès Leycester of Toft And Hugh Toft of Toft grants to Sir Hugh Venables of Kinderton all his Land in Kinderton apud Rushford and a place of Land in Sproston in exchange pro sextâ parte Manerii de Bexton 24 Edw. 3. 1350. Lib. C. fol. 226. l. Penès Leycester of Toft In an ancient Feodary of Halton we read Johannes de Bexton tenet medietatem Villae de Bexton pro vicesimâ parte unius Feodi Militis And over the head of John de Bexton are writ Thomas Daniel Raufe Hulse and Thomas Croxton These last as I conceive as the Present Tenants about Henry the Sixth's time when that Rental was renewed the other as he stood in former Records of Edw. 1. or Edw. 2. Lib. C. fol. 86. Thomas Holford of Holford held Land in Bexton of the Baron of Halton in Knight-Service as appears by his Office 12 Eliz. a small Parcel So Robert Bromfield of Witton died seised of Land in Bexton held of the Barony of Halton in Knight-Service by Office taken 12 Eliz. but this Land was sold afterwards by Bromfield to the Lady Mary Cholmondley of Holford who gave it to Hugh Cholmondley her younger Son Sir Randle Manwaring of Over-Pever had Land in Bexton and Baggiley found by Office Anno 5 6 Phil. Mar. to be held of Edward Legh of Baggiley by Fealty and rendring a Red Rose yearly Sir Raufe Leycester of Toft had Land in Bexton and Plumley found by Office 14 Eliz. to be held of the Honour of Halton Paver of Northwich had a Messuage in Bexton found by Office 5 Eliz. to be held of the Barony of Halton and so Anne Pavers Office 40 Eliz. Thomas Winnington of Ermitage nigh Holmes-Chappel had Land in Bexton found to be held of John Croxton by Office 34 Eliz. a small Parcel William Croxton of Ravenscroft died seised of the third part of the Mannor of Bexton found to be held of Halton by the third part of the twentieth part of a Knights Fee by Office taken 32 Eliz. and John Croxton's Office 41 Eliz. tenuit medietatem totius Villae de Bexton But Croxton's Land in Bexton was sold to the Lady Mary Cholmondley of Holford aforesaid who gave those purchased Lands in Bexton to her younger Son Hugh Cholmondley whose Son and Heir Robert afterwards became Heir to all Cholmondley-Lands and is now Lord Viscount Kelles in the County of Meth in Ireland and living 1666. So that now Anno Domini 1666. the Town of Bexton is possessed by these Persons following 1. Robert Lord Cholmondley Lord of the moiety of Bexton He hath about 70 Cheshire Acres in possession of his Tenants there who pay one Shilling Chief to Halton yearly 2. Thomas Daniell of Over-Tabley Esquire Lord of the other moiety of Bexton He hath about 65 Acres in possession of him and his Tenants there 3. George Leycester of Toft one Tenement in Bexton in possession of William Highfield about 20 Acres 4. Thomas Deane of Nether-Pever one Tenement in possession of George Swinton about 30 Acres This formerly belonged to one Hulse of Middle-wich * Of Clyve near to Middle-wich and payeth a Chief to Cholmondley and also to Halton 5. Thomas Cholmondeley of Holford Esquire a small Cottage about four Acres in possession of Hugh Woodward his Tenant This anciently belonged to Holford before the Lady Mary Cholmondley purchased any Lands in Bexton Bollinton THis Town hath its Name from the River of Bollin which runneth along after the side thereof It is not mentioned in the Record of Doomsday-book so that it seems to be Waste in the time of the Conqueror Hamon de Massy Baron of Dunham-Massy gave unto Geffrey Dutton Son of Geffrey Dutton all his Land in Bolinton to wit all the moiety of Bolinton with Agnes his Daughter in Free-marriage Rendring yearly a Pair of Gilded Spurs at the Nativity of St. John Baptist About the beginning of Henry the Third Lib. C. fol. 150. a. The same Agnes in her Widowhood by the name of Agnes de Nechel perhaps meant for Etchells late Wife of Sir Geffrey de Chedle gave unto her eldest Son Geffrey de Chedle all that Land of Bolinton which she had of the Gift of Hamon Massy her Father Lib. C. fol. 150. b. William
Feodi Militis ut per Chartam Antecessoribus dicti Georgii per Hamonem Massy Militem factam reddendo per Annum de Stuthe aliàs dictum Sheriff-Tooth 7 den The Family of the Caringtons of Carington flourished here for a long space near 400 Years until Sir George Booth of Dunham-Massy married Jane sole Daughter and Heir of John Carington of Carington Esquire towards the end of Queen Elizabeths Reign but had no Issue by her yet enjoyed Carington's Lands which after her death he recovered by a tedious Suit Whose Grandson George Booth Lord Delamere is now possest of the whole Township of Carington entirely 1666. there being no Charterer at all therein Clifton THis Town or Place for here is onely a Mannor-House with the Demain-Lands thereof hath its name from the Cliffs or broken Rocks therein It is now at this day commonly called Rock-Savage since the structure of that sumptuous Building erected there by Sir John Savage Anno Domini 1565. 7 Elizabethae The old Hall stood a little distance thence the Remains whereof are now turned into a Granary Stable and other Houses of Office among the Out-houses and by the Servants at this day called by the name of The Old Hall John Constable of Cheshire and Baron of Halton gave unto Galfrid or Geffrey de Dutton scilicèt de Uxore desponsatâ pro Homagio Servitio suo totam Villam de Clifton Faciendo Servitium dimidii Feodi Militis ad Castellum meum de Halton nullam Wardam faciet ad Castrum Cestriae nisi supèr Sumptum meum Haeredum meorum Lib. C. fol. 150. c. This was in the Reign of Henry the Second This Geffrey Dutton was younger Son of Hugh Dutton of Dutton the Posterity of which Geffrey were also Lords of Chedle who for their Residence there were sir-named de Chedle as the manner of those Ages was At last the two Daughters and Co-heirs of Sir Roger de Chedle divided the whole Inheritance 1 Edw. 3. 1327. Clemence the elder Daughter married William Son of Raufe Baggiley she had Clifton and divers Lands in Chedle and Hulme Agnes the younger Daughter married Richard Son of Robert de Buckley she had the Capital Messuage of Chedill and the Advowson of the Church of Chedill and divers Homages Rents and Services Lib. C. fol. 150. l. Isabel the Daughter and Heir of Clemence married Thomas Daniell of Bradley in Appleton junior afterwards Sir Thomas Daniell Knight by whom he had onely one Daughter and Heir called Margaret married to John Savage about 49 Edw. 3. from whom the Savages of Clifton continuing at this day 1666. This Margaret carried away all her Mothers Lands but her Fathers Lands went to the next Heir Male of the Daniells in Old Deeds frequently written Danyers and from whom the Daniels of Over-Tabley See more of this in Over-Tabley Now followeth the Descent of the Savages of Clifton This Margaret Daniell as I have told you before had all her Mothers Lands but her Fathers Lands were setled on the Heirs Males of the Daniels She had three Husbands The first was John Ratcliffe 42 Edw. 3. who died without Issue by her not long after Lib. C. fol. 229. v. The second Husband of Margaret Daneil was this John Savage descended of the Savages of Steinesbie in Darbyshire * See Lib D. pag. 176. T. Omnibus Johannes le Savage de Sarcliffe Salutem Noveritis me dedisse Stephano le Eyr de Cesterfeld totum jus meum in Tenemento in Halywel gate Datum apud Cesterfield die Mercurii in Festo Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptistae 3 Edw. 2. 1310. Lib. D. pag. 180. n The Original among the Evidences at Rock-Savage Anno Domini 1669. So that this John Savage who writ himself of Sarcliffe in Darbyshire I conceive was Ancestor to the first John Savage of Clifton whom he married about 49 Edw. 3. and had Issue by her John Savage Son and Heir Elizabeth and Blanch all living 4 Hen. 4. Lib. C. fol. 290. d. But Margaret survived all her Husbands and in her Widowhood she gave the moiety of Gropenhall to her Son Piers Legh 4 Hen. 4. Lib. C. fol. 290. d. And to John Savage her Son and to his Heirs she gave Liberty of Bearing her Coat of Arms which descended to her after the death of her Father as I have seen the Copy of the Deed in French dated 3 Hen. 5. the Original whereof is now among the Evidences of Thomas Earl Rivers at Rock-Savage 1669. Vide Lib. D. pag. 175. q. And the Posterity of Savage bore Daniells Coat and Crest accordingly to wit Argent a Pale Fusile Sable the Crest A Unicorns Head Couped Argent until Sir John Savage of Clifton in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth took up Six Lions Sable for his own Proper Coat and the Lions Paw Sable erected for his Crest This Margaret Daniell died 6 Hen. 6. 1427. II. Sir John Savage of Clifton Knight 6 Hen. 5. Son and Heir of John married Maude Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert Swinnarton by whom he had the Mannor of Barrow and had Issue John Savage Son and Heir William Arnold George and Roger also Margaret married John Dutton second Son of Sir Piers Dutton of Dutton 6 Hen. 5. afterwards Heir to Sir Piers his Father Lib. C. fol. 160. w. x. Maude married Sir Thomas Booth of Barton in Lancashire He married Maude Swinnarton about the beginning of the Reign of Henry the Fourth For in Annn 1409. 10 Hen. 4. I find them married Lib. D. pag. 170. d. Whose Ancestor Sir Roger Swinnerton was made a Banneret by Edward the Third to whom the King in part of three hundred Pounds worth of Land for the supporting of the State of a Banneret for his Life had given all the Lands which belonged to Hugh le Dispenser Earl of Winchester in the Counties of Stafford and Chester ⚜ Anno 5 Hen. 6. Johannes le Vernay and other Feoffees dederunt Johanni Savage Militi Ellenae Vxori ejus Maneria de Picton Shibrok Advocationem Ecclesiae de Davenham c. quae Margareta quae fuit Vxor Radulfi Vernon Militis tenet in dotem Remanere post decessum Margaretae praefatis Johanni Savage Ellenae Haeredibus ipsius Johannis Savage in perpetuum Lib. D. pag. 174. I. So that Ellen the Daughter and Heir of Sir Raufe Vernon seems to be the second Wife of this Sir John Savage and after by his Charter dated at Nottingham 16 Julii 8 Edw. 3. 1334. Consideratione Praemissorum à c obtentu laudabilis obsequii quod idem Rogerus nobis indiès impendit Concedimus quòd ipse habeat retineat sibi Haeredibus suis Mannerium de Magnâ Barow in Comitatu Cestriae cùm pertinentiis ac omnes terras in Villis de Rushton Corneford Austanfield in Comitatu Staffordiae quae fuerunt praefati Hugonis le Dispenser He gave also Little Barrow to him and his Heirs by another Charter dated at Westminster 25 Septembris 8 Edw.
3. Lib. D. pag. 169. b. And these were confirmed to Robert de Swynerton Consanguineo Haeredi praedicti Rogeri 13 Decembris 2 Rich. 2. 1378. Which Sir Robert Swynerton Banneret died 12 Edw. 3. after whose death Robert Swynerton Clerk possessed the same as Son and Heir which Robert died Mense Junii 23 Edw. 3. after whose death Sir Thomas Swynerton Knight as Brother and Heir of Robert possessed the same Lands which Sir Thomas died Mense Decembris 35 Edw. 3. after whose death Sir Robert Swynerton his Son and Heir enjoyed them and left them to this Maude his Daughter and Heir Lib. D. pag. 178. d. ⚜ This Sir John Savage I find stiled Knight Obiit 1450 4 Hen. 5. and he died primo die Augusti 28 Hen. 6. 1450. Lib. D. pag. 169. c. Probably he was Knighted at the Battel of Agincourt in France 3 Hen. 5. III. John Savage of Clifton Esquire Son and Heir of Sir John married _____ and had Issue John Savage Son and Heir also Margery a Daughter married Edmund Legh of Baggiley in Cheshire Esquire 1442. 21 Hen. 6. which Edmund dying about 15 Edw. 4. she afterwards married Thomas Leycester of Nether-Tabley Esquire 17 Edw. 4. 1477. Lib. C. fol. 271. d. e. to wit the second Wife of Thomas Margaret another Daughter married John Maxfeld afterwards she married Randle Manwaring of Carincham third Son of Randle Manwaring of Over-Pever Esquire Obiit iste Johannes Savage 29 die Junii Obiit 1463 3 Edw. 4. 1463. Aetate 53 annorum Lib. D. pag. 169. c. IV. Sir John Savage of Clifton senior Knight Vnus militum pro Corpore Henrici Septimi 1494. 9 Hen. 7. Lib. C. fol. 186. ◠17 Edw. 4. 1477. Lib. C. fol. 271. d. He married Catharine Daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley after Lord Stanley and Sister to Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby by whom he had Issue Iohn Savage Son and Heir Thomas Savage Bishop of Rochester 1492. thence translated to London 1497. thence to the Archbishoprick of York 1501. and died 1508. his Body being buried at York and his Heart at Maxfield in Cheshire See Stow's Annals sub Anno 23 H. 7. where he built a Chappel at the side of Maxfield Church and intended to have made a College there Sir Homfrey Savage another Son Lawrence Savage another Son James Savage another Son Sir Edmund Savage another Son Knighted at Leith in Scotland 36 Hen. 8. 1544. 11 die Maii by the Earl of Hertford then General so Stow Which Edmund married Mary the Widow of Roger Legh del Ridge nigh Maxfield and Daughter and Heir of William Sparke of Surrey 30 Hen. 8. 1538. Christopher Savage another Son William Savage another Son George another Son and Richard another Son Also Ellen Savage a Daughter married Peter Legh of Lyme in Cheshire Anno Domini 1467. as appears by the Licence of Philip Sancti Laurentii in Lucina Presbyter Cardinalis for their Marriage datum Romae 2 Idus Januarii Anno quarto Papae Pauli Secundi Lib. D. pag. 172. c. The Original now among the Evidences at Rock-Savage 1669. Katharine another Daughter married Thomas Legh of Adlington in Cheshire Esq Anno Dom. 1479. as appears by the Licence of John Giglis utriúsque Juris Doctor Collector of the Popes Rents in England dated at London 4 die Novembris 1479. in the ninth Year of Pope Sixtus the Fourth Lib. D. pag. 177. x. The Original among the Evidences at Rock-Savage also Anno Domini 1669. Margaret married Edmund Trafford of Trafford in Lancashire Alice married Roger de Pilkington of Lancashire and Elizabeth married John Son of William Leeke of Langford in Darbyshire Obiit 1495 Aetat 73. This Sir John Savage died 22 Novembris 11 Hen. 7. 1495. quòd Johannes Savage Armiger Filius Haeres Johannis Savage junioris Militis est Consanguineus ejus Haeres propinquior Lib. D. pag. 179. k. Sir John Savage of Clifton junior Knight Son and Heir of Sir John Savage senior had the Charge of the Left Wing at the Battel of Bosworth-field in Lecestershire 3 Rich. 3. 22 die Augusti 1485. in which Battel Richard the Third was slain So Stow and other Historians inform us He was very instrumental together with Thomas Lord Stanley his Uncle afterwards made Earl of Darby in the promoting of Henry the Seventh to the Crown and in obtaining the Victory of Bosworth-field for which Service Henry the Seventh per Literas suas Patentes datas 7 die Martii 1 Hen. 7. 1485. Memoriâ reducens diutina laudabilia Servitia nec non probitatem actúsque strenuos intimi dilecti Militis nostri Johannis Savage junioris quem tà m in Armis quà m in Moribus Consilio florere dinoscebatur qualitérque idem Johannes cùm multitudine Copiosâ suorum Fratrum Consanguineorum Servientium Amicorum benevolorum ad sua Grandia Costus Onera Personaeque suae pericula Multimoda in Servitio nostro in Conflictu praelio contrà magnum Adversarium nostrum Ricardum tertium tùnc nupèr Regem Angliae praetensum caeterósque suos Complices Fautores qà m contrà alios Rebelles Proditores nostros contrà nos hostilitèr Guerram levantes c. Concessimus eidem Johanni Castrum Manerium de Gresley Kimbley in Comitatu Nottinghamiae Ekleston in Comitatu Derbiae ac Mineram Carbonum c. quae fuerunt Johannis Domini Zouche Ac etià m Maneria Elineton-Holmesfield in Comitatu Derbiae Maneria de Granby Sutton in Comitatu Nottinghamiae Manerium de Shepeshed in Comitatu Leycestriae ac Maneria de Sutton-Hubybunderell alias dictum Hobbadler Watton alias Wotton Croston Eudeburne in Comitatu Salopiae quae fuerunt Francisci Lovell Militis nuper Vice-Comitis Lovell Habenda praedicto Johanni Savage Haeredibus Masculis de Corpore Lib. D. pag. 171. v. The Original among the Evidences at Rock-Savage Anno Domini 1669. 2 Ricardi 3. 1484. this Sir John Savage junior and eight of his Brethren were made Freemen of Chester Sir John Savage the Elder being then Mayor Vale-Royal of England pag. 188. The Brethren are there ranked in this order 1. Sir John Savage junior 2. James Savage 3. Lawrence Savage 4. Edward for Edmund 5. Christopher 6. George 7. William 8. Richard 9. Homfrey Sir John Savage junior married _____ and had Issue John Savage Son and Heir Alice married Sir William Brereton of Brereton in Cheshire Felicia married Robert Milward of Eaton in Derbyshire Esquire Ellen married John Hawarden Maude married Sir Robert Nedham of Shenton in Shropshire This Sir John Savage was slain at the Siege of Boloigne in France Obiit 1492 8 Hen. 7. 1492. in the Life-time of his Father See Stow in eadem Anno. He was a Valiant Man and an expert Soldier and made Knight of the Garter by Henry the Seventh He had a Bastard-son called George Savage Parson of Davenham in Cheshire This George had several Bastards to wit George Savage Priest Chancellor of Chester John Wimslow
William de Mere in Staffordshire Lib. C. fol. 156. w. Margaret a Daughter married William Venables Son and Heir of Roger Venables of Kinderton 38 Hen. 3. 1253. Lib. H. num 40. And Katharine married John Son of Vrian de Sancto Petro. So I find it in an old Pedegree This Sir Thomas was Sheriff of Cheshire 1268. 53 Hen. 3. Lib. A. fol. 143. o. He died in the beginning of the Reign of Edward the First Philippa was living a Widow 1290 1294. Lib. C. fol. 156. x. bb VIII Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of Sir Thomas bound himself to the Abbot of Vale-Royal to make a Foot-Bridge at Acton and to find a Boat and Ferry-man at Acton-Ford about 1286 Lib. C. fol. 156. aa The same is now made a County-Bridge He also was bound to William Gerard his Squire in unâ Robâ Armigerorum annuatìm ad totam vitam suam ad Festum Natalis Domini 13 Edw. 1. 1285. Lib. C. fol. 156. z. He Purchased Barterton and married Joan Daughter of Sir Vrian de Sancto Petro vulgò Sampier I have no Authority for this but an old Pedegree And had Issue Hugh Dutton Son and Heir and William Dutton who married Maud Daughter and Co-heir to Sir Richard Stockport of Stockport 1305. Lib. C. fol. 146. k. Which William with others was Indicted 35 Edw. 1. for taking away the said Maud by force from Dunham-Massy being then in the Custody of Haemon Massy whom they took out of her Chamber into the Court stripping her of all her Clothes save her Smock saith the Record Lib. C. fol. 215. a. Robert Dutton Parson of Eccleston 1320. Lib. C. fol. 157. II. Also Margaret a Daughter Lib. C. fol. 255. d. Obiit 1294 This Sir Hugh died 22 Edw. 1. 1294. Lib. C. fol. 156. bb Joan his Lady survived she was living 1298. Lib. C. fol. 157. cc. IX Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of Sir Hugh born the eighth day of December 5 Edw. 1. 1276. at Dutton and Baptized at Great Budworth the day following Lib. C. fol. 139. y. He sued the Prior of Norton before Adam Burum and Nicolas Gruchundelée Commissaries of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry at the Visitation of the Arch-Deanery of Chester Anno Domini 1315. for not finding a Chaplain and Lamp at Poosey Chappel according to the Original Grant which he there produced And John Olton then Prior confessed the same and was ordered to find them Lib. C. fol. 146. m. This Priory was of the Order of St. Augustine He married Joan Daughter of Sir Robert Holland of Holland in Lancashire and had Issue Thomas Dutton Son and Heir William Parson of Thornton 22 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 157. ee fol. 180. l. Geffrey Dutton another Son Robert Dutton another Son Lib. C. fol. 157. ee kk 11 Edw. 3. Obiit 1326 This Sir Hugh was made Steward of Halton 24 Decembris 20 Edw. 2. Lib. C. fol. 180 m. and died 1 Edw. 3. 1326. at the Age of fifty Years Joan his Widow afterwards married Edmund Talbot of Bashall and after to Sir John Ratcliff of Urdeshall in Lancashire living 11 Edw. 3. 20 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 157. hh kk fol. 157. f. g. X. Sir Thomas Dutton of Dutton Knight Son and Heir of Sir Hugh and Joan was fifteen years old on Whitsunday 1329. 3 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 161. oo He Purchased those Lands in Dutton which formerly belonged to Halton-Fee and also those Lands in Dutton which formerly belonged to Boydell of Dodleston and so made the Township of Dutton entirely his own Lib. C. fol. 158. b. c. as I have more particularly shewed before This Thomas was made Seneschal Governor and Receiver of the Castle and Honour of Halton in Cheshire by William Clinton Earl of Huntington and also of all his Lands and Mannors in Cheshire and Lancashire quamdiù benè se gesserit which the Earl Farmed unto him for 440 Marks yearly Dated at Maxstock 19 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 145. d. It seems he was Indicted for that he and others came with Armed Power when King Edward the Third was out of England within the Verge of the Lodgings of Lionell the King's Son Protector of England and assaulted the Mannor of Geaumes nigh Reading in Wiltshire and there slew Michael Poynings the Uncle and Thomas le Clerke of Shipton and others and committed a Rape on Margery the Wife of one Nicolas de la Beche for which the King pardoned him and he found Sir Bernard Brocas Sir Hugh Berewyk Philip Durdanyt and John Haydoke his Sureties in the Chancery for his good abearing 26 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 153. d. He was by several Commissions employed for the apprehending of certain Malefactors Robbers and Disturbers of the Peace in this County One is directed unto him by the name of Thomas Dutton Equitator in Forestâ de Marâ and to Richard Done Forester of the same Forest 14 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 181. v. fol. 164. e. Anno Domini 1379. 3 Rich. 2. William Eltonhed Prior of the Hermit-Fryars of the Order of St. Augustine at Warrington in Lancashire and the Convent there grant to Sir Thomas Dutton Knight a perpetual Chantry to wit That a sufficient Fryar of the Convent of Warrington shall be especially elected to pray for the Salvation of Sir Thomas his Children and of Philippa his Wife and her Parents and for the Soul of Dame Ellen late Wife of the said Sir Thomas their Children and Parents when they shall die at the Great Altar of their Church yearly for ever and that their Names be written down in their Martyrology Whereunto the Prior and Convent were bound under a Penalty of 3 s. 4 d. to be levied by the Provincial Prior upon omission of such Form of Service and if for a Week or a Fortnight it were omitted then must they double the time omitted in manner aforesaid If neglected for six Months then upon pain of Suspension If for a Year then upon Excommunication until the time omitted be made up Whereunto are Witnesses Thomas Abbot of St. Werburge of Chester Stephen Abbot of Vale-Royal Richard Prior of Norton and Roger Prior of Berkenhed This was confirmed by Henry de Towesdale Provincial Prior of the Hermit-Fryars of the Order of St. Augustine in England with a special Injunction That the said Persons be yearly twice Commemorated before the whole Convent once at the first entrance of the Prior of Warrington into the Convocation-house yearly the other time on the Election-day of a Fellow-Prior for a Provincial Convocation Dated at Warrington on Sunday next after the Feast of St. Martin Anno supradicto Lib. C. fol. 167. a. This Sir Thomas Sealed usually with his Coat of Arms and Crest to wit Quarterly a Fret in the second and third over which upon the Dexter-Angle of the Escocheon a Helmet and thereon a Plume of Feathers Anno Domini 1344. Robert Monning of Tatenhale grants to Thomas de
Militis Ut autèm haec nostra confirmatio futuris temporibus rata inconcussa permaneat eam Sigilli mei impressione corà m hiis Testibus confirmavi Ricardo de Vernon Matthaeo de Filio suo Gilberto de Bostock Willielmo Filio suo Hugone de Tiwâ Hamone Briton Matthaeo de Muneshull Ricardo Fratre suo Radulfo Filio Rogeri Dispensatoris Willielmo Fratre suo Willielmo Capellano de Shibbrok aliis multis A very fair Seal In a Rondlet a Lion Rampant written about thus SIGILL WARINI DE VERNUN The Original hereof remaining among the Evidences at Merbury 1666. From hence had this Family the Sir-name of Merbury and seems to be originally a Vernon Nothing more usual than in those Elder Ages to be stiled from the Places of their Habitation which After-ages retained as Sir-names This Family hath continued in this Seat ever since by the Name of the Merburies and Thomas Merbury of Merbury Esq is now Owner thereof 1666. Out of this Family branched Randle Merbury in the Reign of Edward the First whose Son Simon married Idonea Daughter and Heir of Thomas de Walton from whom the Marburies of Walton in this Hundred were propagated See more hereof in Walton Marston THis Township of Marston is not in Doomsday-book and seemeth to have its Name from the two Meres whereto it adjoineth to wit Budworth-Mere and Pickmere-Mere as it were Meres-Town or The Town abutting on the Meres It hath very anciently belonged to the Barons of Kinderton Andrew Prior of Norton and the Convent there granted unto Sir William Venables Charissimo Amico nostro to find him the Celebration of Divine Service in his Chappel at Marston during his Life-time when either he or his Wife shall be there and do also Lease to Robert his Son Clerk their Tythe of the Mill and of the Fishings there about the beginning of Henry the Third Lib. H. num 21. It seems Hugh Son of Alfred of Marston had some Parcel of Land here tempore Edw. 3. For Richard Venables releaseth to Hamon de Venables all his Right de Pueris Hugonis de Marston Ibidèm num 7. Peter Venables Esquire now Baron of Kinderton 1666. hath an old Mannor-House in Marston with ancient demain-Demain-Lands thereunto belonging and hath also all the rest of Marston Township in possession of his Tenants there except onely 1. Richard Symcock's Tenement in Marston now belonging to Sir Peter Leycester of Nether-Tabley which Tenement was sold by Sir Thomas Venables of Kinderton and Thomas his Son and Heir to Peter Leycester of Tabley Esquire 6 Elizabethae 1564. and adjoyneth to Nether-Tabley B. num 2. 2. Bromfield's Lands in Marston which anciently belonged to Bromfield of Witton but now Richard Wilcocson hath bought Part hereof and the other Part called Sim-fields Peter Kennardy of Aston juxtà Pickmere hath bought Marthall IN the Conqueror's Time in Doomsday-book I find no mention of Marthall But this Town anciently belonged to the Wynningtons of Wynnington nigh Northwich in whose Offices they are found to hold it of the Heirs of Manwaring of Warmincham in Soccage by the yearly Rent of one Penny Of which Family Richard Wynnington of Wynnington Esquire married Katharine the fifth Daughter and Co-heir to Robert Grosvenour of Houlme in Allostock Esquire by whom he had the Mannor of Pulford beyond Chester by Partition Anno 1465. and a fifth part of Allostock as Heir to her Sister Margery Grosvenour by Partition Anno 1474. and had Issue three Sons Richard Wynnington Peter and George and two Daughters Jane and Elizabeth all living 5 Hen. 7. Lib. C. fol. 125. F. 161. O. Richard Wynnington Son and Heir of Richard and Katharine married Joan Smith and had Issue two Daughters Katharine who died without Issue 23 Hen. 7. as appears by her Office taken 6 Hen. 8. and Elizabeth married Sir Piers Warburton of Arley 2 Hen. 8. being then sole Daughter and Heir For Richard Wynnington died 19 Hen. 7. Joan his Wife died 24 Hen. 7. and Sir Piers Warburton died 4 Edw. 6. and Elizabeth his Wife Daughter and Heir of Richard Wynnington of Wynnington Esquire died Anno sexto Mariae So that Warburton of Arley had by this Match all the Lands then belonging to Wynnington of Wynnington as well as the Part of Grosvenour's Lands before-mentioned which descended also whose Heir at this day 1666. is possessed of the Town of Marthall entirely there being no Free-holder or Charterer in this Township at all Mere. THis Town undoubtedly took its Name from the Mere therein and was held by Gilbert Venables Baron of Kinderton in the Time of William the Conqueror which one Ulviet held before Not many Ages after it became the Seat of the Family of the Meres who took their Sir-name from hence among whom Robert de Mere senior lived about the Reign of King John whether originally a Venables I cannot positively affirm Ex Bundello Escaetarum in Turri Londinensi 8 Rich. 2. Willielmus de Mere tenuit Villam de Mere cùm medietate Manerii de Bollinton de Hugone de Venables which Hugh was Lord of Kinderton Certain it is this Family of Mere of Mere continued in this Seat a long time together until in our days John Mere of Mere Esquire and William his Son sold this Mannor of Mere unto Peter Brooks younger Son of Thomas Brooks of Norton Esquire Anno Domini 1652. Which Peter also bought the Estate of Thomas Merbury of Walton and was after Sir Peter Brooks Knighted Anno Domini 1660. and Sheriff of Cheshire 1669. He hath Beautified and Built anew the Hall of Mere very handsomly and had three Wives The first was Alice Hulse Daughter and Heir of Richard Hulse of Killingworth in Warwickshire by whom he had Issue Thomas Brooks eldest Son who married Margaret Daughter and Heir of Henry Brereton of Eccleston in Cheshire Gentleman 1663. Richard Brooks second Son who married Margaret Daughter and Heir of Robert Charnock of Charnock in Lancashire 1666. The second Wife of Sir Peter Brooks was Frances the Widow of William Merbury of Merbury nigh Comberbach in Cheshire Esquire and Daughter of Sir Nicholas Trot of Quickshot in Hartfordshire but had no Issue by her The third Wife of Sir Peter Brooks of Mere was Mabill the Widow of Richard Clayton of Crooke in Lancashire Esquire and Daughter of William Farrington of Werden in Lancashire Esquire who with Sir Peter her Husband are now living 1669. but hath no Issue by her Charterers in Mere 1666. 1. Henry Legh de East-Hall in High-Legh Esquire pro Strethull-Farm not long since Purchased from Hugh Cocker of Pickmere 2. One Messuage in Possession of Robert Simmons given to the use of the Poor of the Parish whereof Massy of Mosse-house is a Feoffee 3. George Venables of Agden Esquire one small Tenement in Mere. 4. John Spinke of Howes-Heath in Mere. 5. William Pownall of Barnton for Granthams Lands 6. Peter Fernhead of Mere for Granthams Lands 7. John Bradburne of Mere.
seised of this Moiety whose Son Hugh had three Daughters Isabel Alice and Margaret 1343. Lib. B. pag. 52. num 6. And in Anno 1356. he settles his Mannor of Picmere for want of Heirs-Males of his Body on Hugh Bruyn of Stapleford and Margaret his Wife Daughter of the said Hugh Picmere Lib. B. pag. 53. num 12. Margaret the Widow of Hugh Bruyn of Picmere grants to Hugh Hulse of Picmere all her Lands of Picmere 42 Edw. 3. Lib. B. pag. 52. num 10. This Hugh Hulse was Lieutenant-Justice of Chester 20 Rich. 2. to Thomas Earl of Nottingham and married Ellen Daughter and Heir of Hugh Bruyn and Margaret 36 Edw. 3. The Marriage and Wardship of Ellen was granted by Margaret her Mother to David Hulse Vicar of Great-Budworth to marry Hugh Son of Sybill Daughter of William Son of Hugh de Norbery 36 Edw. 3. Lib. B. pag. 52. num 11. pag. 54. num 21. This Sir Hugh Hulse dying 3 Hen. 5. or thereabout it was found by Inquisition That he died seised of seven Messuages in Picmere 200 Acres of Land and 20 Acres of Wood ibidem quae tenentur de Willielmo Leycester ut de Manerio suo de Wethale sed per quod Servitium ignoratur Inter Recognitiones Scaccarii Cestriae Bundle 3 Hen. 5. Afterwards John Troutback Esquire married Margery Daughter and Heir of Thomas Hulse in the Reign of Henry the Sixth Lib. B. pag. 53. num 17. And Margaret Daughter and Heir of Adam Troutback married John Talbot of Albrighton in Shropshire from whom the Talbots of Grafton in Worcestershire descended whose Posterity at last came to be Earls of Shrewsbury And George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury sells all his Lands in Picmere to wit the Moiety of Picmere unto his Tenants there Anno 1620. every Tenant buying his own and so are become particular Free-holders at this day Thomas Starkey's Lands now in Picmere were Purchased from Raufe Bostock of Moulton by John Starkey his Father 14 Aprilis 7 Jacobi 1609. and was originally given by Henry de Picmere unto Richard his younger Son 1192. A Parcel thereof was given to the said Richard by Hugh Picmere his Elder Brother 1308. Lib. B. pag. 58. a. b. c. Plumley ROger Manwaring gave Plumley to the Abby of St. Werburge in Chester when he made his Son Wido a Monk there William and Randle his Sons being Witnesses Which Grant with many others Richard Earl of Chester confirmed 1119. 19 Hen. 1. In the Feodary of Halton about Edw. 2. we read Thomas de Vernon tenet Villam de Lostock cùm Parvâ-Lostock medietatem de Plumley pro medietate unius Feodi Militis This Thomas de Vernon was second Husband of Joan de Lostock in whose Right he held these Lands Her former Husband was William de Toft younger Son of Roger Toft of Toft The Posterity of which William assumed the Sir-name of Holford from the Place of their Residence at Holford according to the Custom of those Ages This Place or Hamlet called Holford lieth Part in Plumley and Part in Lostock-Gralam and hath its Name from the Ford which runneth under the Mannor-Hall which because it is situate in a Derne Hole was therefore called Holford as if you should say A Ford in a Hole Or else from the old Word Hale which we now call Hall and so denotes as much as A Ford under the Hall Or possibly from the old Word Holt A Wood quasi Holt-Ford for that the Ford anciently was environed with a Wood round about All the Tenants of Plumley at this day do Suit of Court to the Mannor of Barnshaw which formerly belonged to the Abby of St. Werburge in Chester but was bought by Manwaring of Carincham since the Dissolution of Abbies in England Agnes the Daughter of Walthef de Plumley by Henry her Son Attornatum positum ad lucrandum perdendum by Fine at Chester 2 Edw. 1. 1274. passeth the eighth Part of Plumley unto Thomas the Smith of Plumley and to William his Son This William in his Seal calls himself Willielmus Filius Ceciliae de Plumley And by another Fine 2 Edw. 1. the same Agnes passeth over one other eighth Part of Plumley unto Richard Sladehurst of Plumley and Lettice his-Wife which Lettice in her Seal calls her self the Daughter of William de Plumley Lib. A. fol. 157. h. k. The Originals Penès Manwaring of Carincham 1666. I find also that William Mobberley of Mobberley had certain Lands in Plumley about Edward the Second Lib. A. fol. 124. y. which were held of the Baron of Halton by the yearly Rent of a Pair of White Spurs or Six Pence See suprà in Halton And Sir Raufe Mobberley of Mobberley gave his Mannor in Plumley unto Thomas Toft and Margaret his Wife and their Heirs 1357. 32 Edw. 3. Lib. A. fol. 129. II. One half of these Lands now belong to Leycester of Tabley and the other half to Bradshaw of Marple as you may see more at large in Mobberley So that now Anno Domini 1666. the whole Township of Plumley is enjoyed by these Persons following âšœ Thomas Cholmondley of Holford Esquire and James Holford of Newborough in Dutton have one Moiety of Plumley between them The other Moiety is enjoyed by these Persons following 1. Sir Peter Leycester of Nether-Tabley Baronet hath five Tenements here now in Possession of Robert Massy Geffrey Wright William Ridgeway Thomas Wright and Thomas Hough 2. Mr. Bradshaw of Marple a good Farm in Possession of Thomas Buckley 3. The Land late Litler's of Wallers-cote nigh Northwich three Tenements in Possession of Hugh Yanes Homfrey Mere and Widow Bebington 4. George Leycester of Toft Esquire one Tenement in Possession of William Highfield 5. Robert Venables of Anterbus in Over-Whitley hath three Closes in Plumley in Possession of Raufe Henshaw 6. Reynolds of Middlewich late belonging to Bostock of Moulton one Tenement in Possession of Raufe Newhall at the end of Plumley-Moore 7. John Hall of Norley one Tenement in Plumley in Possession of John Kirkman 8. Manwaring of Pever's Land sold to Holford of Holford one Tenement at the side of Plumley-Moore in Possession of Richard Eaton 9. Earl of Bridgewater a small Parcel about four Cheshire Acres Now followeth the Descent of Holford of Holford Argent a Greyhound Passant Sable Hugh de Runchamp Lord of Lostock Lib. C. fol. 126. ll Ricardus de Runchamp Gralanus Filius Ricardi de Runchamp in memory of whom the Town was called Lostock-Gralam for distinction He gave the Town of Lees unto Lidulf of Twamlow about the Reign of King John Lib. C. fol. 227. z. This Gralam also sold Houlme juxtà Nether-Pever to Richard Son of Randle * Ranulfi con Radulfi Grosvenour 1234. Lib. C. fol. 120. a. Gralam de Lostock Letitia Uxor ejus Tempore Hen. 3. Galfridus de Lostock â—ui Frater dedit medietatem de Rode Gralam de Morton Robert de Lostock Lib. C. fol. 182. b. Richard Son of Gralam de Lostock married
of Ease within the Parish of Great-Budworth called Stretton-Chappel but it is now very ruinous and in decay 1666. Sutton juxta Frodsham SUtton nigh Frodsham is not mentioned in Doomsday-book It is of the Fee of Halton Adam de Dutton younger Son of Hugh Dutton of Dutton and And Ancestor to Warburton of Arley was possessed of this Township in the Reign of Richard the First whose Heirs enjoy the same at this day 1666. This Adam dedit Deo ad Constructionem Ecclesiae Beatae Mariae de Norton Canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus three Shillings yearly Rent issuing out of his Mill in Sutton juxta Halton and after his own Life the Mill of Sutton entirely To which Deed Roger Constable of Cheshire is Witness who died 1211. 13 Johannis Regis This Deed with many others which belonged to the Priory of Norton I found Copied out in an old long Parchment Roll among the Evidences of Dutton of Dutton 1665. of an ancient Character In the Feodary of Halton under Edw. 2. Galfridus de Warburton tenet Villam de Sutton pro quinta parte unius Feodi Militis But others read Pro quarta parte Die Martis proxime ante Festum Ascensionis Domini 4 Edw. 2. coram Pagano Tybotot Justiciario Cestriae Inter Galfridum Filium Petri de Dutton querentem Petrum de Dutton deforciantem de Manerio de Sutton cum pertinentiis Habendum dicto Galfrido Haeredibus Masculis de Corpore suo c. In this Township there is no Charterer at all 1666. Nether-Tabley THis Village of Nether-Tabley sometimes in old Deeds stiled Little-Tabley and in the Record of Doomsday-book written Stabley is bounded on the North-side with Over-Tabley and on the South-side thereof is severed from Plumley with a little Brook called Benstall-Brook which at last falleth in with Waterles-River before it be run quite past Nether-Tabley and so passeth on towards Winsham In the Reign of William the Conqueror one Gozeline held this Township under Hugh Earl of Chester sirnamed Lupus which one Ostebrand held before liber homo fuit ibi duae Bovatae Terrae Geldabiles Terra est dimidia Caruca Wasta fuit est So run the Words of Doomsday-book Afterwards Adam de Dutton seems to be possessed hereof towards the end of Henry the Second's Reign Nether-Tabley of the Fee of St. John of Hierusalem to hold of the Prior of St. John of Hierusalem in England by the yearly Rent of Sixpence at the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel for all Service Which Tenure is found in all the Offices of my Ancestors which I have hitherto seen and the Rent of Six Pence is yet at this day paid to the King by virtue of the Statute of the Dissolution of that Priory 32 Hen. 8. cap. 24. This Adam de Dutton was younger Son of Hugh Dutton of Dutton in Cheshire and lineal Ancestor to Warburton of Arley whose Posterity living at Warburton in the Reign of Edward the Second were sirnamed de Warburton from the Place of their Residence according to the manner of those Ages which Sir-name they have ever since retained Geffrey Dutton Son of Geffrey Son of Adam Dutton aforesaid gave this Township to Margaret his Daughter and to her Heirs about the very end of the Reign of Henry the Third in these Words I. num 1. SCiant praesentes futuri quod ego Galfridus de Dutton dedi concessi hac praesenti Charta mea confirmavi Margaretae Filiae meae pro Homagio Servitio suo totam Villam meam quae vocatur Parva-Tabley sine ullo retenemento cum Homagiis Servitiis cum Villenagiis cum Boscis cum Planis cum Pratis Pascuis cum Moris Marciscis cum Aquis Molendinis cum Viis Semitis cum omnibus locis praedictae Villae pertinentibus Tenendam habendam sibi Margaretae Haeredibus suis de me Galfrido Haeredibus meis liberè quietè pacificè cum omnibus libertatibus Aysiamentis praedictae Villae pertinentibus Faciendo inde mihi forinsecum Servitium quantum pertinet ad duas Bovatas Terrae unde triginta Bovatae Terrae faciunt Feodum unius Militis faciendo Servitium de Hauthoner * * Hauthoner id est Homo Loricatus quantum pertinet ad praedictam Villam pro omni seculari servitio consuetudine demanda mihi Haeredibus meis pertinente Et ego Galfridus Haeredes mei praedictam Villam ut praedictum est praedictae Margaretae Haeredibus suis contra omnes homines foeminas in perpetuum Warrantizabimus Et ad majorem hujus rei securitatem huic praesenti scripto Sigillum apposui meum Hiis Testibus Domino Thoma de Dutton Domino Galfrido de Dutton Hugone de Limme Thoma Fratre ejus Ricardo de Aston Rogero de Toft Willielmo de Waleton multis aliis The Seal is A Mans Arm in a Maunch or Loose Sleeve with a Flower de Luce in his Hand written about SIGILLUM GALFRIDI DE DUTTON in a Roundlet not in an Escocheon This Margaret Dutton first married Robert de Denbigh but had no Issue by him After she married Nicolas de Leycester about 1276. by whom she had Issue and to whose succeeding Progeny the Manor of Nether-Tabley still belongeth at this day 1666. This Nicolas Leycester had also by Margaret the Manors of Wethale and Hield both situate in Aston nigh Great-Budworth which his Heirs also enjoy at this present R. num 3. I. num 91. He was afterwards Sir Nicolas Leycester Knight so stiled 1292. 20 Edw. 1. I. num 98. In this Township is not any Charterer at all For the Free-hold of Heart of Nether-Tabley and some others were all bought out in the Reign of Edward the Third by Roger Leycester Son of Sir Nicolas and Margaret and so made this Township entirely his own since which time it hath so continued and is now entire without any Charterer at all 1666. Now followeth the Genealogie of the Leycesters of Tabley exactly proved out of the Evidences of this Family and the Originals quoted all along as they now stand marked I. Sir Nicolas Leycester Knight was sometime Seneschal to Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Cheshire G. num 24. He married Margaret the Widow of Robert de Denbigh and Daughter of Geffrey Dutton Ancestor to Warburton of Arley about the Year of Christ 1276. 5 Edw. 1. by whom he had Issue Roger Leycester Son and Heir and John Leycester Vicar of Walleysey in Wirrall 1312. 6 Edw. 2. F. num 101. I. num 2 3. He had by this Margaret his Wife the Township of Nether-Tabley and the Manors of Wethale and Hield in Aston nigh Great-Budworth I. num 1. R. num 3. I. num 91. Anno 1292. 20 Edw. 1. I find him stiled Knight I. num 98. And he had Lands in Adwick near Doncaster in Yorkshire I. num 95 96 97. and also in Wath near Adwick 22 Edw. 1.
I. num 5. Sir Nicolas Leycester died 23 Edw. 1. 1295. He bought out all the Freeholders or Charterers in Nether-Tabley the principal whereof was that of William Heart of Nether-Tabley and so made that Township entirely his own I. num 38. num 60. num 43. Anno Christi 1296. he had the third part of Over-Tabley cum Sudlow by the Grant of Sir John Grey Son of Sir Reginald Grey and which Sir John Grey had of the Grant of William de Tabley Lord of Over-Tabley and Knotsford F. num 1. This Roger married Isabel Daughter of _____ and had Issue Nicolas Leycester Son and Heir Roger Leycester and Margaret married to Adam de Moldesworth 17 Edw. 2. 1323. Which Adam was Sheriff of Flint 5 Edw. 3. I. num 60. num 83. Lib. C. fol. 206. c. fol. 207. i. His Seal of Arms was A Fesse between three Flower de Luces inscribed about thus SIGILLUM SECRETUM I. num 26. and many others Sub Anno Domini 1325. Roger Leycester died about 1349. and survived his Father fifty three years III. Nicolas Leycester Son and Heir of Roger had to Wife Mary Daughter of William Mobberley de Mobberley and one of the Sisters and Co-heirs to Sir Raufe Mobberley married about 15 Edw. 2. 1322. R. num 23. and had Issue John Leycester Son and Heir Raufe Leycester younger Son from whom the Leycesters of Toft in this Hundred of Bucklow and Elizabeth the second Wife of William Manwaring of Over-Pever the Elder from whom are descended the Manwarings of Over-Pever She was Widow 38 Edw. 3. 1364. and was living 6 Hen. 4. 1404. S. num 2. I. num 68. Lib. C. fol. 126. KK II. Lib. B. pag. 9. h. Nicolas Leycester died 1349. 23 Edw. 3. Lib. A. fol. 127. y. For he survived his Father very little if he died not before him IV. John Leycester of Nether-Tabley Son and Heir of Nicolas and Mary served in the Wars of France under John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster 1373. 47 Edw. 3. of whose Puissant Army our Histories do make mention Walsingham tells us That when he enter'd France at Calice triginta amplius millia Equorum in Comitatu habuerat But of these thirty thousand Horse very few were brought alive to Burdeaux being starved for want of Victuals so that this Voyage proved unsuccessful It appears by the Account of this John Leycester before John Tilly Clerk and other Auditors of Sir Thomas Felton who was at that time Judge of Chester dated at Southampton on the Eve of St. John 49 Edw. 3. 1375. where he accounted for 266 l. 13 s. 4 d. allowed unto him for the Payment of Jenkyn Mobberley Esquire and other Soldiers who served under the said John Leycester and also for his own Pay that he had allowed for himself for 210 days Pay beginning on St. Michael's day 47 Edw. 3. to the first of May then next following at 3 s. per diem 31 l. 10 s. 00 d. And there was also pardoned unto him remaining of his Account the Sum of 38 l. 10 s. 00 d. which I conceive was for a Reward or Gratuity Whereupon he gave to the Lady Felton a White ambling Palâ—rey I. num 85. Sir Raufe Mobberley his Uncle setled on him by Feoffment of Chaplains entrusted as was the manner of those Times all his Lands in Mobberley with the Advowson of the Church of Mobberley and other Lands Dated at Mobberley 1359. 33 Edw. 3. For Sir Raufe often protested having no Lawful Issue but eight Sisters expecting to share his Inheritance that all his Lands should descend to his Nephew John Leycester and that his Estate should not be shattered and divided as appears by the Certificate of Sir John Wynkfeld Knight dated at London 1360. 35 Edw. 3. A. fol. 128. ff fol. 129. hh Yet did John Leycester after release all his Right in these Lands unto John Dumbill of Mobberley and Cicely his Wife and also to the Advowson of the Church of Mobberley Dated at Chester 1 Rich. 2. 1378. Which Cicely was one of the Sisters of Sir Raufe Mobberley aforesaid Lib. A. fol. 129. kk But so conditioned and agreed between them That Dumbill and Cicely should settle 15 Messuages 316 Acres of Land 16 Acres of Wood 8 Acres of Mossing the third part of a Water-mill and the third part of all the Wastes not measured to be understood of that Moiety of Mobberley belonging to Sir Raufe Mobberley to descend after the death of John Dumbill and Cicely his Wife unto Raufe Leycester younger Brother of the said John Leycester and to his Heirs for ever Which was so setled accordingly 2 Rich. 2. 1379. Lib. A. fol. 130. ll.mm. and are at this day 1666. enjoyed by Leycester of Toft as Heirs of the said Raufe about a third part of Mobberley's Moiety of Mobberley This John Leycester also sold away his Mannor of Hield in Aston to William del Hield and Goditha his Wife in Fee-farm 1355. 29 Edw. 3. which Manor reverted back again to Leycester of Tabley to wit one Moiety purchased 1500. and the other Moiety purchaâ—ed again 1601. as shall be observed in their due places M. num 13 14. This John built the Manor-Hall of Nether-Tabley within the Pool in that place where it now standeth about Anno Domini 1380. 4 Rich. 2. before which time it stood a little higher out of the Compass of the Pool in a certain place adjoining to the Saffron-yards where there is yet a Trench to be seen which environed the Old Hall about with Water which Old Hall I conjecture was the Seat of the Hearts of Nether-Tabley whose Free-hold was bought out by Roger Leycester as I have told you before The Colours of the Coat at this day received are Azure a Fesse Gules between three Flower-de-Luces Or The Crest A Swans Head Couped Proper with little Drops upon the Neck Gules He married Joan Daughter of Robert Touchet of Nether-Whitley 5 Rich. 2. A. num 2. and had Issue William Leycester Son and Heir Raufe Leycester another Son living 14 Rich. 2. I. num 74. 6 Novembris 1387. Concessa fuit Licentia Johanni Leycester pro Oratorio suo apud Tabley per unum Annum Regist Ricardi Scroope apud Lichfield fol. 123. b. This is Mr. Dugdale's Note This John Leycester died 1398. 22 Rich. 2. about the Age of 58 Years and survived his Father 49 Years He was one of the Justices of Peace of Bucklow-Hundred in the Reign of Henry the Fifth and Sealed with a Seal of his Coat of Arms and Crest in all points like that of his Fathers save onely the Form of the Mantle was a little different R. num 10. and many others Lib. B. pag. 115. He had two Wives The first was Agnes Dutton Sister to Sir Piers Dutton of Dutton and Daughter of Edmund Dutton whom he married Anno Domini 1398. 22 Rich. 2. A. num 5. By her he had Issue John Leycester Lawrence Leycester Geffrey Leycester living 5 Hen.
Elizabeth second Daughter born at Nether-Tabley on Wednesday the sixteenth day of June 1647. married Samuel Birch younger Son of John Birch of Whitborn in Herefordshire 1666. She miscarried of a Female-Child in November 1667. and soon after died of the Small-Pox on Saturday the last of November at Whitborn aforesaid Anno Domini 1667. and was buried at Whitborn-Church Byron Leycester third Daughter born at Nether-Tabley on Saturday the sixth day of October 1655. and is yet living 1669. Sir Peter Leycester and Elizabeth his Lady are both yet living 1669. He was Created Baronet the tenth day of August 1660. 12 Car. 2. XV. Robert Leycester of Nether-Tabley Esquire eldest Son of Sir Peter and Elizabeth married Meriel Daughter and Heir of Francis Watson late of Church-Aston nigh Newport in Shropshire Esquire 6 die Junii 1667. and hath Issue Robert a Son born at Marcham in Berkshire on Friday the sixteenth day of April Anno Domini 1669. Over-Tabley THe Township of Over-Tabley was held by William Fitz-Nigell Baron of Halton in the Time of William the Conqueror We read in Doomsday-book thus Isdem Willielmus tenet Stabelei Lewinus tenuit liber Homo fuit ibi tertia pars unius Hidae Geldabilis Terra est una Caruca Wasta fuit est Silva ibi dimidia Leuva longa XL Perticis lata valuit X solidos Isdem Willielmus tenet in ipsa Villa unam Bovatam Terrae tertiam partem unius Hidae Geldabilem Segrid Ulsi tenuerunt pro duobus Maneriis liberi fuerunt Terra est una Caruca Wasta fuit est Tempore Regis Edwardi valebat septem solidos But not long after certain it is that this Township was of three distinct Fees One third Part of Over-Tabley Roger de Manwaring gave to the Monastery of Saint Werburge in Chester in the Reign of Henry the Second Lib. B. in principio This third Part came afterwards to William de Tabley * This William de Tabley writ himself Dominus de Tabley that is de Over-Tabley sometimes Dominus de Knotsford tempore Edw. 1. who gave the same to Sir John Grey Son of Sir Reginald Grey and Sir John granted it to Roger Leycester Lord of Nether-Tabley Anno Domini 1296. F. num 1. Which in all the Offices of Leycester of Tabley is found to be held of the Abby of St. Werburge And Leycester of Tabley is now possessed of this third Part at this day 1666. One other third Part was possessed by Adam de Tabley in the Reign of Edward the Third Sir William Boydell being Chief Lord thereof For William Son of John Boydell of Dodleston releaseth unto Adam de Tabley all Services due for his third Part of Over-Tabley for one Penny onely to be paid at the Nativity of St. John Baptist yearly for all Service Dated at Dodleston 17 Edw. 3. 1342. F. num 3. This Adam de Tabley I conceive was originally a Massy for he Sealed with Massy's Coat of Arms. This third Part came afterwards to Thomas Daniell younger Son of Thomas Daniell of Bradley in Appleton the Elder by Joan Norreys a second Wife in Marriage with Katharine Daughter and Heir of William Son of Adam de Tabley 27 Edw. 3. 1353. Lib. C. fol. 241. l. for which Marriage Thomas Daniell the Father gave to Adam de Tabley 46 l. 13 s. 4 d. By Katharine came also the Moiety of Bexton to Thomas Daniell the Son her Husband who was afterwards Sir Thomas Daniell of Over-Tabley 6 Rich. 2. 1382. whose Heirs are possessed of this third Part at this present 1666. One other third part remaining was possessed anciently by another Family of the Tableys called The Hall of the Wood in Over-Tabley until Matthew de Tabley was Attainted of Felony 22 Edw. 4. 1483. whose Lands by the Office taken 1 Hen. 7. were found to be held of the Honour of Halton and so were seized into the King's Hands And I find John Leycester of Nether-Tabley Esq excepting against that Office of 1 Hen. 7. and complaining to the Judges and Chamberlain of Chester and alledging That these Lands were held of him by Homage and Fealty and Twelve Pence * This 12 d. Rent is at this day paid to Leycester by Th Warburton of Tabley-Hill which Tenement is Parcel of the Hall of Wood lands yearly Rent and praying that he may be restored to these Lands as Chief Lord of the Fee C. num 31. But he had too Potent a Person to deal with And King Henry the Seventh granted these Lands to Sir William Stanley of Holt-Castle Lord Chamberlain But he being beheaded for Treason 1495. these Lands Escheated again to the King And Henry the Eighth Leased them to Randle Brereton for his Life 2 Hen. 8. And after Roger Brereton his Son had them for his Life Afterwards these Lands continuing in the King's Hands Robert Chornock and Roger Chornock of London purchased the same and sold them to Piers Leycester of Nether-Tabley Esquire for 240 l. whereof one Moiety was paid in Hand and the other he gave Bond for But Peter Daniell of Over-Tabley Esquire purchasing these Lands at 9 l. per Annum in the King's Books the Chornocks purchased them after the Rate of 18 d. in the King's Books and cheated the said Piers Leycester by a fraudulent Conveyance so that he could not enjoy these Lands It was Decreed in the Court of Requests 4 Maii 1 Eliz. 1559. That the Chornocks should restore the Money which they had received and deliver up the Bond Obligatory to be Cancelled And so Daniell had the Lands which his Posterity now enjoyeth 1666. C. num 13. Charterers in Over-Tabley 1666. 1. Edward Hewet of Mobberley hath one Tenement in Over-Tabley now in Possession of his Tenant John Kell which is within Mr. Daniell's Part. 2. There is also one other in Leycester's third Part to wit the Tenement in Possession late of Richard Duncalfe of Tabley-Hill whereunto formerly Coithurst-Meadows now part of Mr. Daniell's Demain did belong This payeth 12 d. of Chief-rent yearly to Leycester now paid by William Legh of Tabley-Hill This Free-hold was Purchased by George le Criour from Thomas Monkys 5 Ed. 4. Afterwards this Land was purchased by John Duncalfe of Mere 30 Hen. 8. After it came to Peter Hulse of Over-Tabley Hulse sells it to Whitmore of Sudlow 1604. Whitmore sold it to Peter Daniell Esquire 1611. In this Township there is an Ancient Chappel called Over-Tabley-Chappel or more generally known by the name of The Chappel in the Street for it is situate in the High-street An old pitiful Structure ill seated and now in decay This Chappel of Ease being within the Parish of Rosthorn was built about the Reign of Henry the Sixth by the Ancestors of Leycester of Nether-Tabley and Daniell of Over-Tabley for the Ease and Convenience of these two Families and of all their Tenants in Over-Tabley and Nether-Tabley Probably after the Match of Thomas Daniell and Maud Leycester which
was in Anno Dimini 1440. 18 Hen. 6. It seems to be erected not long after for Convenience of both Families and placed in the middle-way between the two Houses one half of the said Chappel belonging to Leycester and his Tenants and the other half to Daniell and his Tenants and so hath been enjoyed ever since accordingly Before this Chappel was erected here in Over-Tabley there was anciently a Chappel situate in Nether-Tabley within the Parish of Great-Budworth in a certain Field called at this day The Chappel-Field Parcel of the Demain-Land of Nether-Tabley where within our Memory Servants in Ploughing have discovered Great Stones which were the Foundation-Stones of that Chappel seated in the very uppermost Corner of the Great-Rye-Field-Hedge adjoining to the Chappel-Field But this Chappel I conceive was neglected or taken down upon the erecting of the other in Over-Tabley and was much better Seated Now followeth the Descent of the Daniels of Over-Tabley I. William Danyers senior Purchased Lands in Daresbery from Henry le Norreys Anno Domini 1291. 19 Edw. 1. Lib. C. fol. 184. d. and had to Wife Agnes de Legh Daughter of Thomas de Legh of High-Legh of the West-Hall by whom he had Issue Margery married to Henry Horsale of Limme Lib. C. fol. 233. a. 243. b. c. Agnes another Daughter married Alexander Son of Richard Son of Alexander de Waleton nigh Daresbury 30 Edw. 1. Lib. B. pag. 204. num 12. He had also two Sons Thomas Daniers of Bradley in Appleton eldest Son and William Daniers of Daresbery junior second Son and if I mistake not John a third Son Lib. C. fol. 243. a. unless that John Son of William Daniers 23 Edw. 3. be meant of William Daniers junior William Daniers junior second Son had his Father's Land in Daresbery and had a Wife called Agnes and had Issue John Danyers Son and Heir Lib. C. fol. 185. m. acd three Daughters Cicely Agnes and Magot and another Son called Henry all living at the time of their Father's death 1306. who was buried at Limme Lib. C. fol. 187. v. Cicely married Robert Stathum of Stathum in Limme living 20 Edw. 3. I conceive William Danyers junior was he who died 1306. Sir John Danyers of Daresbery Son and Heir of William Danyers junior had Issue William Son and Heir who married Clemence Daughter and Heir of Alan de Norreys 1344. by whom he had the Manor of Daresbery and Royalty of Over-Walton in Cheshire and the Lands of Sutton Eccleston Raynull in Lancashire Lib. C. fol. 185. e.h.m. from whom the Daniells of Daresbery in Cheshire are descended a Family continuing at this day 1666. I find Sir John Danyers of Daresbery stiled Knight 1344. 18 Edw. 3. II. Thomas Danyers of Bradley senior 17 Edw. 2. Son and Heir of William Danyers senior had Land in Limme by the Grant of William Danyers his Father Lib. C. fol. 186. q. He Purchased Bradley from Peter Dutton Lord of Warburton 1301. Lib. C. fol. 242. z. He married Margaret Daughter of Adam de Tabley Lib. C. fol. 221. g. and had Issue Thomas Danyers junior eldest Son Lib. C. fol. 186. q. Sir John Danyers of Gropenhale second Son Augustine who had Lands in Sworton in High-Legh 11 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 275. num 30. Alice a Daughter married Matthew Son of William Mere of Mere nigh Over-Tabley 13 Edw. 2. 1319. Lib. C. fol. 208. s. Margaret another Daughter married John Son of Vivian de Derewallshaw id est Thelwallshaw 1335. Lib. C. fol. 245. a. Joan another Daughter Also three Bastard-sons William Roger and Robert Lib. C. fol. 233. K. 1349. Thomas Danyers senior had to his second Wife Joan Norreys by whom he had Issue Thomas Danyers afterwards Sir Thomas Danyers of Over-Tabley Lib. C. fol. 244. E. Henry another Son to whom his Father gave the Marriage of the Heir of William Clerke of Over-Tabley 28 Edw. 3. Ibid. fol. 235. P. And Richard another Son living 6 Rich. 2. Ibid. fol. 241. m. Thomas Danyers made his Will 28 Edw. 3. 1354. and was buried at Limme Joan Norreys his Widow maried after William Bostock of Bostock Lib. C. fol. 244. M. 9. This Thomas Danyers was Sheriff of Cheshire 25 27 Edw. 3. III. Sir Thomas Danyers of Bradley Knight Son and Heir of Thomas Danyers senior married Isabel Daughter and Heir of William Baggiley by Clemence his Wife Daughter and Co-heir to Sir Roger Chedle alias Sir Roger Dutton of Chedle in Cheshire which William was Son of Rafe Baggiley Lib. C. fol. 245. b. 150. l. This Thomas Danyers died before his Father to wit 26 Edw. 3. leaving onely one Daughter and Heir called Margaret who had three Husbands She carried away all her Mothers Lands and had Clifton and other Lands in Chedle of whom you may see more in Clifton But his own Lands were setled on the Heirs-Males of the Danyers IV. Sir John Danyers of Gropenhale in Right of his Wife next Heir-Male to Sir Thomas his elder Brother had two Wives The first was Joan Daughter of Sir William Boydell and Sister and Co-heir to William Boydell of Dodleston in Cheshire and had Issue Margaret a Daughter living 28 Edw. 3. whom I conceive was she that was Affianced young to Sir Robert Grosvenour of Houlm in Allostock but she lived not to enjoy him or have any Issue Lib. C. fol. 235. P. 126. II.KK. Nicolaa another Daughter Heir to the Lands of her Mother married _____ and had Issue Margaret Daughter and Heir the Wife of Alan de Rixton in Lancashire by Hollin-Ferry which Margaret died without Issue 6 Rich. 2. Lib. C. fol. 290. a.c. The second Wife of Sir John was Alice Daughter of _____ but had no Issue by her This Sir John usually Sealed with his Coat and Crest to wit A Pale Fusile on a Helmet a Unicorns Head Coupcd The Colours at this day received are Argent a Pale Fusile Sable Sir John Danyers died 47 Edw. 3. and Alice his Widow afterwards married Sir Edward Benestede living 14 Rich. 2. Lib. C. fol. 242. s.t.w.x. It seems Sir John had a Son called Robert 43 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 233. h. but he died without Issue After the death of Sir John Thomas Danyers Son of Thomas Danyers of Bradley senior by Joan Norreys his later Wife succeeded as next Heir-male He was Half-brother to Sir John and was afterwards Sir Thomas Danyers of Over-Tabley He gave 20 s. Annuity for his Life unto Hugh Hulse of Picmere to be on Counsel with him 48 Edw. 3. Lib. 3. fol. 243. f. Whose Descent followeth Roger of Over-Tabley Adam de Tabley Son of Roger married Beatrix Daughter of _____ and had Issue Adam Hugh de Tabley This Hugh died 1346. Lib. C. fol. 241. g. who married Margery Daughter of Hugh de Picmere Lib. B. pag. 53. num 18. but left no Issue William another Son Thomas a Chaplain Lib. C. fol. 241. g. l. Also Margaret a Daughter Wife of Thomas Daniers of
the Priory of St. John's of Hierusalem or whether onely a Moiety thereof or the whole Township be so held I find not yet to affirm positively Certain it is that Sir Richard Massy was possessed of all or most part of Tatton in the Reign of King Edward the First by Purchases of several Parcels whose Heirs are now possessed of the whole Manor 1667. which the following Pedegree will more clearly manifest Charterers in Tatton 1662. 1. John Brown of Tatton His Free-hold Land in Tatton was lately bought from John Bentley of The Hole in Mere. 2. Edward Hewet of Mobberley hath Free-hold Lands in Tatton But now 1667. Richard Parker hath this Land in Right of Jane his Wife Daughter of the said Edward Hewet to his other Daughters he gave Portions 3. Edward Allen of Rosthorn hath also certain Free-hold Land in Tatton The Descent of the Massies of Tatton I. William Massy younger Brother to Hamon Massy Baron of Dunham-Massy II. William Massy Son of William to whom Alan He married Margery Domina de Rosthorn I guess she may be Daughter to Robert de Manwaring and Sister and Heir to Hugh Manwaring Lord of Rosthorn or Lord of one Moiety at least and Lord of the Moiety of Norshagh in Tatton Lib. C. fol. 105. num 40 41. He was stiled Sir William Massy 1270. and had Issue Richard Son and Heir Robert Massy of Rosthorn second Son afterwards Heir to his Brother Thomas another Son living 1270. Lib. C. fol. 104. num 25. b. And Hawise a Daughter married Richard de Ferneley Lib. A. fol. 140. o. This William Massy died about the beginning of Edw. 1. III. Sir Richard Massy of Tatton Knight Son and Heir of Sir William married Isabel Daughter of He Purchased out most of the Lands remaining in Tatton 1286. He was Sheriff of Cheshire 6 Edw. 1. 1278. and Judge of Chester 28 Edw. 1. 1300. He was Knighted about 14 Edw. 1. for then I first find him so stiled unto whom was granted liberty of Free-Warren in all his Demain-Lands of Rosthorn Tatton Owlarton Legh Timperley and Hale in Cheshire Dated at Westminster 4 die Decembris 22 Edw. 1. 1294. Sir Richard died without Issue on Tuesday in the Easter-week Anno Domini 1305. 33 Edw. 1. leaving Robert Massy his Brother to succeed in his Inheritance Isabel his Widow survived him IV. Robert Massy of Tatton Brother and Heir to Sir Richard married _____ and had Issue William Massy eldest Son Hamon Massy another Son Escheator of Cheshire 6 Edw. 3. 1332. O. num 1. and he married Katharine Daughter and Heir of Alan Rixton of Rixton in Lancashire 6 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 292. num 1 3 11. stiled afterwards Sir Hamon Massy 1347. 21 Edw. 3. from whom the Massies of Rixton in Lancashire Adam Massy another Son to whom his Father gave the Custody of the Lands of Norshagh in Tatton belonging to Raufe Son of William de Mobberley till Raufe came to Age Dated 1 Edw. 3. 1327. Lib. C. fol. 103. num 9. Robert Massy another Son 15 Edw. 3. Robert Massy of Tatton died about 1328. 2 Edw. 3. V. Sir William Massy of Tatton Knight 1335. Son and Heir of Robert married Margery Daughter of Thomas Legh of High-Legh de West-Hall Lib. C. fol. 267. num 12. This was about 1307. And had Issue Hugh Massy Son and Heir Oliver Massy of Denfield in Rosthorn another Son from whom the Massies of Denfield Richard Massy of Dich-house in Rosthorn another Son Ellen a Daughter married Gilbert Hassall of Hassall in Lancashire afterwards to Sir William Brereton of Brereton in Cheshire Sir William Massy died the second of May 1338. 12 Edw. 3. VI. Hugh Massy of Tatton Son and Heir of Sir William had to Wife Alice Daughter of _____ and had Issue Richard Massy Son and Heir who married Alice Daughter of Gibert de Haydok in Lancashire 16 Edw. 3. 1342. but died without Issue 3 die Septembris 1370. 44 Edw. 3. And John Massy another Son who succeeded Heir to his Father This Hugh Massy died before 49 Edw. 3. about 45 Edw. 3. 1371. VII Sir John Massy of Tatton Knight Son and Heir of Hugh married Alice Sister and Heir to Sir Geffrey Worseley of Worseley in Lancashire about 46 Edw. 3. and had Issue Thomas eldest Son who married Margaret Daughter of _____ but died without Issue on St. Bartholomew's day 1420. 8 Hen. 5. afterwards Margaret married Sir John Gresley Geffrey Massy second Son succeeded Heir to his Brother Thomas Richard Massy third Son These are warranted by Deeds But I find mention in an old Pedegree of three other Sons Hugh John and Lawrence also Joan married first to Sir William Venables of Bollin-Fee in Maxfield-Hundred and after to Sir Oliver Stanley Margery married Sir John Bromley of Badington in Cheshire Sir Geffrey Worseley before-mentioned married Mary Daughter of Sir Thomas Felton which Mary being divorced entred into a Nunnery Then he took to Wife Isabel Stanley by whom he had Issue Elizabeth After the death of Sir Geffrey VVorseley Mary came out and proved she entred for fear and that she was divorced upon a fained ground and proved Elizabeth to be Illegitimate And the Pope confirms her Return into Secularity Sir John Massy of Tatton was Sheriff of Cheshire 11 Rich. 2. 1387. and also 13 Rich. 2. 1390. He and Thomas his eldest Son were attainted 1 Hen. 4. Sir John died 1403. 22 July 4 Hen. 4. Probably he was slain at the Battel of Shrewsbury taking Part with Henry Percy against Henry the Fourth for that Battel was sought the Eve before Mary Magdalen's day Alice the Widow of Sir John Massy died 6 Hen. 6. in the beginning of October 1427. VIII Sir Geffrey Massy of Tatton Knight Son to Sir John and Heir to his Brother Thomas married Margery Daughter of John Hilton of Farnworth in Lancashire This Sir Geffrey died 4 die Octobris 1457. 36 Hen. 6. aged 70 Years without any lawful Issue surviving I find he had a Bastard-son called John Massy living 31 Hen. 6. IX William Massy of Tatton Esquire Son and Heir of Richard Massy Brother to Sir Gâ—offrey married _____ and had Issue Geffrey Massy Son and Heir Thomas second Son and Richard third Son This William Massy died in Festo Epiphaniae 1467. 7 Edw. 4. and had a Brother called Geffrey Massy as well as a Son of that Name X. Sir Geffrey Massy of Tatton Knight Son and Heir of William married Isabel Daughter of Sir John Butler of Bewsy nigh Warrington in Lancashire 31 Hen. 6. 1453. and had Issue onely one Daughter and Heir called Joan. Sir Geffrey was living 15 Edw. 4. 1475. Q. num 7. XI William Stanley of Tatton Esquire in Right of Joan his Wife Daughter and Heir of Sir Geffrey Massy was Son and Heir of Sir William Stanley of Holt-Castle in Denbigh-shire and had Issue onely one Daughter and Heir called also Joan in Latin she is stiled Johanna Joan and Jane in 32 Eliz. were agreed to be
num 31. Katharine the Wife of William Leycester died Anno Domini 1572. 14 Eliz. C. num 31. Afterwards William Leycester married Elizabeth Daughter of Robert Worsley of Boothes in Lancashire This William sold away all his part of Bricklesworth in Northamptonshire unto Thomas Barham of Teston in Kent Gent. for 300 l. by Deed dated the 29. of April 20 Eliz. A. num 2. William Leycester of Toft died Novemb. 18. 32 Eliz. 1589. and was buried at Mobberley the 25. of November following aged 48 years T. num 60. IX Sir George Leycester of Toft Knight second Son and Heir of William married Alice eldest Daughter of Peter Leycester of Tabley Esq and Coheir to the Lands of Colwich nigh Owseley-Bridge in Staffordshire 22 Eliz. F. num 9. which Lands descended in Right of their Mother Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Colwich of Colwich Esquire Robert Earl of Leycester Baron of Denbigh c. her Majesties Lieutenant and Captain-General of all her Army and Forces in these Parts and Governor-General of all the Provinces and Cities united and their Associates in the Low-Countreys for the good opinion we have of the fidelity of this Gentleman George Leycester our Servant we have appointed him Captain of 150 Foot-men and Hugh Starkey his Lieutenant now Servant to Sir Christopher Hatton c. Given under my Hand and Seal at Amersford the 15. of May 1586. T. num 58. Sir George was Knighted about 44 Eliz. and was made Sheriff of Cheshire by Patent dated Decemb. 29. 45 Eliz. but the Queen dying in March following he had another Patent for the same durante beneplacito Dated Apr. 3. 1 Jac. 1603. T. num 63. He had Issue William Leycester who died at the Age of three years George second Son who died at the Age of seven years Rafe third Son succeeded Heir also Elizabeth eldest Daughter died in her Infancy Katharine married William Tatton of Withenshaw in Cheshire Esq F. num 12. afterwards she married Doctor Nichols Parson of Chedle Mary another Daughter married James Massy of Sale Esq 9 Jac. 1611. whose Wardship Sir George had F. num 33. Alice another Daughter married John Bradshaw of Bradshaw in Lancashire Esq Sir George was buried at Mobberley Apr. 4. 1612. so the Register of that Church hath it He was then aged about 45 years a Person who had been very serviceable to his Countrey He bought certain parcels of Land in Toft from Randle Mainwaring of Over-Pever Esquire 33 Eliz. T. num 61. X. Rafe Leycester of Toft Esq third Son and Heir of Sir George married Mary Daughter of Anthony Woodhull of Mollington in Oxfordshire Esq and had Issue George Leycester Son and Heir Rafe second Son died without Issue Anthony third Son died without Issue Mary eldest Daughter married Culvert Chambers of Oxfordshire who bought the Castle of Carnow and other Lands in Ireland after whose Death she married Job Ward and lastly to Colonel William Ayre lately Imprisoned in Ireland Jane second Daughter married Captain Conney after to Thomas Hart of the Hart in Fetter-Lane in London Townesend third Daughter married George Brown of Radbrooke in Over-Pever Gent. and had Issue George Thomas and other Children but they all died before they came to maturity F. num 25 26. F. num 13 14. This Rafe sold his part of the Lands of Colwich and the Advowson of that Church and was buried at Mobberley the 17. of June 1640. Mary his Wife was buried also at Mobberley the 21. of September 1653. XI George Leycester of Toft Esq Son and Heir of Rafe married Dorothy Daughter of John Clayton and Sister and Coheir of Richard Clayton of Crooke in Lancashire Esq 14 Car. 1. 1639. F. num 22. and hath Issue Rafe Leycester eldest Son George Leycester second Son Philip Leycester third Son who married Anne Daughter and Coheir to Mr. Furnivall of Old-Withington deceased Anno 1671. John fourth Son died without Issue 1666. William another Son and Richard another Son Mary eldest Daughter married George Hocknell of Prenton in Wirrall Com. Cestr 1668. Anne second Daughter and Elizabeth third Daughter living 1672. and six Children more died in their Infancy Richard Anthony Richard Joan Dorothy and Joan. This George was buried at Mobberley the 19. of June 1671. Dorothy survived by whom came the Lands in Lincolnshire and Crooke XII Rafe Leycester of Toft Esq Son and Heir of George married Eleanour eldest Daughter of Sir Peter Leycester of Nether-Tabley Baronet 29 Augusti 1665. and hath Issue Eleanour Elizabeth Dorothy Frances and Anne born at Mobberly August 24. 1672. being Saturday Over-Walton Ex Chartulis Petri Brooke de Mere Militis 1665. IT seems that Over-Walton was held immediately from the Lord of Daresbery for Margeria Domina de Daresbery Daughter and Heir of William Daresbery of Daresbery and Widow of Henry le Norreys gave to Alan le Norreys her Son and to Mabill his Wife Daughter of Randle de Merton the Manor of Daresbery una cum Dominio Villae de Over-Walton 7 Edw. 2. 1314. Lib. C. fol. 185. e. The Original in possession of Daniell of Daresbery 1649. Howbeit originally it is held of the Baron of Halton where in the Feodary thereof under Edward the Second it is said Alanus le Norreys tenet Villam de Daresbery Villam de Walton Superiori pro medietate unius Feodi Militis And among the Evidences of Sir Peter Brooke of Mere thus Sciant omnes Ego Alanus Dominus de Daresbery dedi Thomae filio meo totam terram quam Adam de Stockton quondam tenuit de Willielmo de Walton in Walton Item dictus Alanus obligavit se sub pena 20. marcarum Domino Comiti Lincolniae solvendarum quod totam terram quam habebit vel habere poterit in Villa de Walton superiore dicto Thomae haeredibus suis integre dimittet Et si contingat quod Uxor Thomae scilicet Helewisa sine haerede de Corpore discedat tunc mihi praefato Alano integre remaneant Reddendo unum Par albarum Cheirothecarum ad Festum Sancti Martini Testibus Ricardo de Aston Ada de Hatton c. made about the very beginning of Edward the Second Lib. B. pag. 203. num 3. So that William de Walton Son of Herbert de Walton was before possessed of Over-Walton Afterwards I find Simon de Merbury Son of Randle de Merbury together with Idonea his Wife passing away unto Hugh Standish and his Heirs Medietatem totius Villae nostrae de Over-Walton excepto Capitali Messuagio Piscaria nostra de Mersey whereupon a Fine was Levied at Chester 3 Edw. 2. Lib. B. pag. 203. num 5. This Idonea was Daughter and Heir of Thomas de Walton Lib. C. fol. 215. e. by whom Simon had Issue Randle de Merbury Son and Heir from whom the Merburies of Walton also Thomas and John both dead without Issue before 41 Edw. 3. Lib. B. pag. 205. num 19. pag. 206. num 2. Hugh Standish aforesaid by Fine
Co-heirs for then he would have had another Sir-name and have been subscribed before the other two Witnesses Wherefore it seems that he had a Sister illegitimate married to Estbury who was Mother to this Randle of Estbury and so was Nephew to Earl Randle or else a base Brother sirnamed de Estbury who was Father to this Randle of Estbury Nephew to the Earl of Chester And therefore Hugh Cyveliok Earl of Chester had either another Base Daughter omitted in the place aforesaid or else another Base Son Place these two Sheets after Fol. 392. being the End of the Fourth Part. Addenda in Mobberley Part IV. Concerning the Descent of Mobberley of Mobberley Pag. 320. I find William de Mobberley Witness to a Deed of Gervase Son of Hugh de Mobberley about 1230. Lib. C. fol. 296. T. num 1. which seems to me very probable that he was Father of Rafe Mobberley I mean that William I. Rafe Mobberley was Lord of the Moyety of Mobberley in the Reign of Henry the Third This is certain by good proof and had Issue William Mobberley and Henry de Mobberley who gave Lands in Mobberley to Mary Daughter of William Mobberley the younger about 1324. Lib. C. fol. 14. M. num 1. II. William Son of Rafe de Mobberley was Lord of the Moiety of Mobberley and purchased the Moiety of Nether-Pever from Richard Bonetable 1281. and had Issue as is mentioned before in the Book This William died about the beginning of Edward the Second He had a Wife called Maud who after the death of her Husband married John Boydell of Limme living 1359. Lib. C. fol. 17. M. num 32. III. William of Mobberley Son and Heir of William had a former Wife as I conceive by whom he had Issue Sir Rafe Mobberley and Cicely a Daughter who married John Domvill of Mobberley the younger as by and by will better appear both under Age 3 Edw. 3. 1329. Lib. A. fol. 128. cc. His other Wife was Maud Daughter and Heir of Robert Downes of Chorley by whom he had those other Daughters and Co-heirs to their Mothers Lands in Chorley as is mentioned in the Book before This William dying 1 Edw. 3. 1327. Maud his Widow afterwards married John Domvill the elder Father of John Domvill the younger who married Cicely And this Maud survived both her Husbands and lived 1 Rich. 2. 1378. Lib. A. fol. 130. kk IV. Sir Raufe Mobberley of Mobberley Knight Son and Heir of William had a Wife called Vincentia by whom he had a Daughterr called Margaret whom he held not to be his Daughter and therefore estated all his Lands on John Leycester his Nephew as appears by the Certificate of Sir John Wynkfield 35 Edw. 3. M. num 33. which hereafter followeth and is transcribed at large He had a Concubine called Alice Rode by whom it may seem that he had a Son called Jenkin of Mobberley Esquire who served under John Leycester of Tabley in the Wars of France 47 Edw. 3. 1373. as appears by John Leycester's Account in my possession dated at Southampton on the Eve of St. John 49 Edw. 3. 1375. But this Jenkin died without Issue Nor is he there stiled Son of Sir Rafe but I conjecture him to be so Margaret the Daughter of Sir Rafe married Thomas Toft both living 1357. Afterwards she married Hugh de Chaderton living 1361. And therefore Page 320. the last Line but one these words without any Lawful Issue of his Body are to be expunged and in the very next Line these words by Alice Rode his Concubine are also to be expunged The Deed wherein John Spendelow and William Geffeson two Chaplains entrusted do settle all Sir Rafe Mobberley's Lands on John Leycester of Nether-Tabley 1359. The Original remaining among the Evidences of Leycester of Toft 1672. M. num 32 SCiant praesentes futuri M. num 32. Quòd nos Johannes Spendelow Willielmus Geffeson de Modburlegh Capellani dedimus concessimus hâc praesenti Chartâ nostrâ confirmavimus Johanni de Leycester Haeredibus suis duas partes Manerii de Modburlegh Advocationem Ecclesiae ejusdem Manerii cum omnibus suis pertinentiis quas priùs habuimus de dono concessione Radulphi de Modburlegh militis in eodem Dedimus etià m concessimus praedicto Johanni de Leycester Haeredibus suis omnes terras tenementa nostra in Norshagh Fernilegh Holey cùm omnibus suis pertinentiis Concessimus etià m quod tertia pars praedicti Manerii de Modburlegh omnes terrae tenementa in Norshagh Fernilegh Holey cùm suis pertinentiis quae Johannes Domvill senior Matilda uxor ejus tenent in dotem ipsius Matildae de Haereditate nostrâ quae post mortem ejusdem Matildae ad nos Haeredes nostros reverti deberent integrè remaneant praefato Johanni de Leycester Haeredibus suis in perpetuùm Volumus insupèr concessimus quòd omnes terrae tenementa cùm suis pertinentiis quae Johannes Boydell de Limme Matilda Uxor ejus tenent in dotem ipsius Matildae in Holey de Haereditate nostrâ quae post mortem ejusdem Matildae nobis haeredibus nostris reverti deberent integrè remaneant praedicto Johanni de Leycester Haeredibus suis in perpetuùm Habendum tenendum duas partes Manerii praedicti Advocationem Ecclesiae praedictae omnes terras tenementa praedicta Reversiones Dotum praedictarum cùm acciderint praedicto Johanni de Leycester haeredibus suis suis Assignatis in Dominicis Wardis Releviis Escaetis Terris Pratis Boscis molendinis Aquis Stagnis Turbariis Redditibus Servitiis liberorum Tenentium nostrorum scilicèt Mariae de Leycester Thomae de Toft Margaretae Uxoris ejus extùnc de Plumlegh Johannis Laurensson de Modburlegh Willielmi Dawson cùm omnibus aliis libertatibus commoditatibus approviamentis proficuis communis aysiamentis praedictis Manerio Advocationi Ecclesiae praedictae Terris Tenementis Redditibus Servitiis ubiquè adjacentibus liberè quietè integro jure haereditario in perpetuùm De Capitalibus Dominis feodorum illorum per Servitia indè debita de jure consueta Et nos verò pradicti Johannes Spendelow Willielmus Geffeson Capellani haeredes nostri dictas duas partes Manerii praedicti Advocationem Ecclesiae praedictae omnes terras tenementa praedicta tà m de Dotibus quà m de aliis unâ cùm redditibus servitiis praedictis cùm omnibus suis pertinentiis praefato Johanni de Leycester haeredibus suis suis Assignatis contrà omnes homines Warrantizabimus defendemus in perpetuùm In cujus rei Testimonium huic praesenti Chartae nostrae Sigilla nostra apposuimus Hiis testibus Willielmo de Maynwaringe Thomâ de Davenport Hugone de Mascy de Tatton Hugone de Toft Adâ de Tablegh aliis Datum apud Modburlegh die Veneris proximè antè Festum Sancti Ceddae
Episcopi Anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo quinquagesimo nono Two Seals of Red Wax appendant The Certificate of Sir John Wynkfeld rendred into English the Original whereof is in French remaining among the Evidences of Leycester of Toft 1672. M. num 33. TO all those who shall see or hear these Letters John de Wynkfeld Knight sendeth greeting M. num 33. Whereas Plea and Debate is moved between John de Leycester on the one part and Hugh de Chaderton and Margaret his Wife who saith she is Daughter and Heir of Sir Rafe de Mobberley Knight deceased on the other part concerning the Manor of Mobberley with its Appurtenances and other Lands and Tenements in the County of Chester which belonged to the said Sir Rafe The Work of this Chart is to testifie and publish the Truth so as the Knights and Sergeants who are to try the Right thereof upon the Plea aforesaid and all others who are not to meddle therewith may be instructed to which of the Parties aforesaid the Right doth appertain and that they be not inveagled by concealment of the Truth to disinherit him that hath Right thereunto to the Peril of their Souls These give you to understand That the said Sir Rafe in the beginning of his Sickness whereof he died came unto me before Reynes and said unto me That before he went into Gascoigne he had enfeoffed certain Chaplains that is to say John Spendelow and others of the said Manour and of all the other Lands aforesaid on certain Conditions comprised in certain Indentures made between them and reckoned up the Conditions to me and said the Conditions were yet depending on his Will and Ordinance And there he said in my presence That his Heritage should not be divided nor dismembred by no means but ordained then and there before me That if he died in this Voyage the said Chaplains should enfeoff John de Leycester his Nephew of all his said Heritage to him and to his Heirs as entirely as the said Chaplains were enfeoffed thereof by him And prayed me in the Work of Charity that I would Record Witness and openly declare his said Ordinance and Will to all that it might concern and to all the Deeds which he had made when time required And that in the mean time this was to be kept private because of his Wife for he said he had a Daughter which he held not to be his Daughter who should never inherit any of his Heritage nor any other save onely the said John de Leycester And afterwards a little before he died I sent a certain Messenger whom I firmly trusted to the said Sir Rafe to move him on the behalf of his Daughter to see whether he was in the same mind as formerly towards the said John de Leycester and as he was at our last Conference abovesaid By which Messenger he certified me That he had fully granted and assigned to the said John de Leycester all his Heritage in manner as before me he had ordained and is above-mentioned and that neither his Daughter nor his Wife nor any other save the said John de Leycester should ever have any of his Heritage And prayed me for the Love of God that I would see his said Ordinance towards his said Nephew might be performed in manner aforesaid as it was made before me Which Will and Ordinance was spoken before me by the said Sir Rafe as is above-mentioned And as I desire to answer it before God I have witnessed and published the same before our thrice honourable Lord the Prince and before many other Grave and Wise Men as well Judges and Men of Holy Church as before other Knights that they hold the said Ordinance good and sufficient and this my said Testimony to be true Wherefore may it please you to give faith and credence to this my Testimony which before God on peril of a Curse I avow to be faithful And in case that there may not be any who may doubt of this my Testimony made in this my Letter because I am so much employed in the Affairs of my said Lord the Prince that I cannot come speedily into those Parts if he please to travel so far as to come where I am I shall be ready to make good my said Testimony by all reasonable ways which a Man of Worth shall desire me For to do this I am bound by my own Grant made to the said Sir Rafe at the time when he shewed me his said Will and Ordinance in manner abovesaid In Testimony whereof because I cannot be present at all times to certifie and publish the things abovesaid by word of mouth I have hereunto put my Seal Given at London the eleventh day of June 11 Junii 35 Edw. 3. 1361. in the Thirty fifth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Third after the Conquest So that by this Certificate it appears a Suit was then depending between John Leycester and Hugh Chaderton and Margaret his Wife concerning Sir Rafe Mobberley 's Lands which Margaret challenged as Daughter and Heir of Sir Rafe But this Suit ended by the determination of Nicolas Aston Fryar William Jorden Friar Thomas Garlond and Fryar John de Byninton Professors of the Holy Scriptures who were requested to hear the Cause And they say That if Sir Rafe Mobberley might lawfully give sell or alienate his Lands that in case he hath given the same to Sir John Spendelow Priest and others by his Deed in Fee-simple and afterwards being in Remote Parts beyond Sea did manifestly shew that his last Will was That the aforesaid Sir John Spendelow and others should settle and give the said Lands to John Leycester his Nephew and he the said Sir John Spendelow and others understanding the last Will of Sir Rafe Mobberley to be such have given the said Lands to John Leycester aforesaid We say according to our Conscience and the Law That the said John Leycester hath clear Right to the Lands aforesaid And this we firmly hold and declare by these Presents In Testimony whereof we have hereunto put our Seals Dated on the Eve of St. Bernard the Abbot 20 Aug. 35. Edw. 3. 1361. Anno Domini 1361. Lib. C. fol. 298. The Original being in Latin and now remaining among the Evidences of Leycester of Toft 1672. T. num 31. Afterwards about the Year of our Lord 1377. another Contest fell between John Domvill of Mobberley and Cicely his Wife on the one part and John Leycester aforesaid on the other part concerning these Lands of Sir Rafe Mobberley of Mobberley which John Domvill challenged in Right of Cicely his Wife as sole Heir and Sister of the Whole Blood to Sir Rafe her Brother Whereupon the same John Leycester John Domvill and Cicely were sworn at Knotsford before Sir John Massy Parson of Stopport Thomas Fitton of Gawesworth Thomas de Whyllok John de Hatton John de Damport and many others sur la Corps de Jhesu Christ sacred