to God Fiftly that the Ecclesiastique Sacraments may be there administred whence the Church it self is called a Tabernacle quasi Taberna Dei wherein the divine Sacraments are contained and ministred It rests now in the fourth place to be spoken after what manner the Church is consecrated every person being put out and the Deacon onely shut in The Bishop standing before the Church door consecrateth Holy Water but not without salt in the mean time within xii Torches being lighted before xii Crosses painted on the walls of the Church the Bishop with the Clergy and people following him go thrice about the outside of the Church and with a branch of Hysope sprinkleth the Walls thereof with Holy Water at every time as he passeth by the Door smiting the threshold with his Pastorall staff and saying Tollitâ— portas c. and the Deacon within answereth Quis est iste Rex gloriae To whom the Bishop replyeth Dominus fortis c. But the third time the Door being unbolted he enters in with a few of his Officers the Clergy and people standing without and saith Pax huic Domui and rehearseth the Letanies Afterwards in the pavement of the Church he makes a Crosse with Ashes and Sand whereupon all the Alphabet is written both in Greek and Latin Letters And then again doth he consecrate other Holy Water with Salt Ashes and Wine and halloweth the Altar as also anoint the xii Crosses depicted on the Walls with Chrysme I shall here omit the reasons given by this learned Author for these particular Ceremonies they being many and large referring my Reader if he desire further information therein to the Book it self That such solemn Consecration of Churches was antiently practised we have an eminent example in that worthy Christian Emperour Constantine who having finished a House for the service of God at Hierusalem assembled the greatest part of the Bishops in Christendom for the consecration thereof which thing they did at his request each of them most willingly setting forth that Action to their power Some with Orations some with Sermons some with the sacrifice of Prayers unto God for the Peace of the world for the Churches safety for the Emperour 's and his Children's good The like is recorded by Athanasius concerning a Bishop of Alexandria in a work of the like devout magnificence Nor doth the solemn Dedication of Churches serve onely to make them publique as the reverend Hooker well observes but further also to surrender up that right which otherwise their Founders might have in them and to make God himself their owner For which cause at the erection and consecration aswell of the Tabernacle as the Temple saith he it pleased the Almighty to give a manifest signe that he took possession of both Besides it notifieth in solemn manner the holy and religious use whereunto it is intended such Houses should be put Which things the Wisedom of Solomon did not account superfluous for he knew how easily that which was meant should be holy and sacred might be drawn from the use whereunto it was first provided He knew how bold men are to take even from God himself how hardly that House would be kept from impious prophanation He knew and wisely therefore endeavoured by such solemnities to leave in the minds of men that impression which might somewhat restrain their boldnesse and nourish a reverend affection towards the House of God For which cause when the first House was destroyed and a new instead thereof erected by the Children of Israel after their return from Captivity they kept the Dedication even of this House also with joy The argument which our Saviour useth against prophaners of the Temple he taketh from the use whereunto it was solemnly consecrated And as the Prophet Ieremy forbiddeth the carrying of burthens on the Sabaoth because that was a sanctified day so because the Temple was a place sanctified our Lord would not suffer no not the carriage of a vessell through it These two Commandements are in the Law conjoyned Yee shall keep my Sabaoths and reverence my Sanctuary out of those the Apostles words Have yee not Houses to eat and drink albeit Temples such as now were not then erected for the exercise of Christian Religion It hath been neverthelesse not absurdly conceived that he teacheth what difference should be made between House and House what is fit for the dwelling place of God and what for man's habitation he sheweth requireth that Christian men at their own Houses take common food and in the House of the Lord none but that food which is heavenly he instructeth them that as in the one place they use to refresh their bodyes so they may in the other learn to seek the nourishment of their souls and as there they sustain temporall life so here they would learn to make provision for eternall Christ would not suffer that the Temple should serve for a place of Mart nor the Apostle of Christ that the Church should be made an Inne when therefore we sanctifie or hallow Churches that which we do is onley to testifie that we make them places of publique Resort that we invest God himself with them and that we sever them from Common uses Thus far M â— Hooker I come now to speak of the Altar which as my Author saith is to be consecrated for three respects First for the offering of a Sacrament there to God Genes cap. 8. Aedificavit Noe Altare Domino tollens de cunctis volucribus pecoribus mundis obtulit super Altare for this Sacrament is the Body and Blood of Christ which we offer in memory of his Passion according to that Precept Hoc facite in meam commemorationem Secondly for that the name of God is there to be called upon whereupon Genes 12. Aedificavit Abraham Altare Deo qui apparuit ei invocavit ibi nomen Domini And this invocation which is made upon the Altar is properly called the Masse Thirdly to sing there Eccles. 47. Dedit illi contra inimicos potentiam stare fecit contra Altare Cantores in sono eorum fecit dulces modulos After this manner and order is the Altar consecrated First the Bishop begins Deus in adjutorium meum intende Afterwards he halloweth Water then doth he make Crosses with Holy Water at each corner thereof which being done he goeth seven times about it and sprinkleth seven times also Holy Water upon it with a branch of Hysope Then doth he sprinkle the Church again putting the remainder of the Holy Water at the foot of the Altar All this being performed four Crosses are made with Chrysme at the four Angles of the Sepulcher wherein the Reliques ought to be deposited which Reliques are put into a Cabinet with three grains of Frankincense and so layd up in the Sepulcher and a tablet put over them with a Crosse made upon the midst thereof These
Knightlow-Hundred whereunto I shall adde that 't is probable it might proceed from the Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth the same with Collis the situation thereof upon a little hill savâ—uring this my conceipt But I now come to what I find memorable in relation to this place In 51 H. 3. Barthol de Suthleg being then Lord thereof had a Charter granted to him and his heirs for a Mercate to be kept every Friday weekly here and a Fair annually for three days viz. the Eve of S t Iames the Apostle and two days after And in 7 E. 1. Iohn de Suthley was certiâ—iâ—d to be Lord hereof where it is written Magna Dercet but said to be a member of Suthley as also to be held by him of the King in Câ—pâ—â—e with his Barony by the service of two Knights fees And that he had at that time here Liii servants holding xix yard land and a half paying severall Rents and performing divers servile labours with xxiv Freeholders holding 24. yard land and a half And moreover it there appears that the Chief Chanter of the Church of Lichfield held here at that time a fourth part of one yard land and the Canons of Erdbury two yard land one whereof the Church was endowed with As also that the Templars of Balshall then had xi Tenants here who held four yard land paying severall Rents and performing severall servile labours The Liberties and Priviledges which the said Iohn de Suthley then had in this Lordship were the Mercate and Faire whereof I have already toucht Free-warren Court-Leet Gallows Cuckstool and Pillory with Assize of Bread and Beer All which together with weyfs as also to be quit of Murther and suit to the Hundred and County Court he claimed partly by Prescription and partly by Charter but it being then found that for Murther he used to partake with the Hundred he was amerc't for that undue claim the rest of his Challenge being fully allowed Which Iohn de Sudley became a speciall Benefactor to the Monastery of Erdbury of his Ancestors foundation by the grant of lands and other advantages thereunto out of this place as I shall punctually shew when I come to speak of that Religious House I often find in Record that this town is called Cheping-Derset the reason whereof is because of the Mercate for Cheping with our Ancestors did signify the same that buying and selling doth with us whence it is that Cheping-Norton in Oxford-shire Chepinham in Wilt-shire and Chepstow in Monmouth-shire had their names But the last of the Sudleâ—'s that had to doe here was Sir Iâ—hn de Sudley Knight who dying without issue in 41 E. 3. left Thomas Boteler son of Ioan his eldest sister then dead and Margerie his younger sister his heirs whereby as also by the death of the said Margerie afterwards without issue the said Thomas became possest of this and all the rest of Sudley's lands which Thomas being afterwards a Knight dyed seized of this Mannour jointly with Alice his wife daughter to Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Powyk 21. Sept. 22 R. 2. then leaving Iohn his son and heir xiv years of age who in 8 H. 4. confirmed the estate for life therein which had been granted by certain Feoffees unto the said Alice she being at that time marryed to Sir Iohn Dalyngrugge Knight This Iohn and William his brother were sons to Sir Thomas Boteler by his first wife but both dyed without issue as it seems for upon the death of the abovespecified Alice in 21 H. 6. Sir Raph Boteler Knight was then found to be heir unto her and begotten by the said Sir Thomas being then xl years of age which Sir Raph became a man of great note in H. 6. time as it seems for I find that being Knight for the Body to the King â—e was made his Standard-bearer 28. Martii 17 H. 6. And by Letters Patent dated at Westminster x. Sept. 20 H. 6. created Lord Sudley with the grant of CC. marks per annum to himself and his heirs for the better maintenance of that dignity He was also constituted Lord Treasurer of England 7. Iulii 22 H. 6. which office he held about three years but in 13 E. 4. he departed this life leaving Sir Iohn Norbury Knight and William Belknap his heirs which Sir Iohn Norbury was son of Sir Henry Norbury Knight by Elizabeth and Will. Belknap son of Hamond Belknap by Ioan sisters to the said Raph for he left no issue male Sir Thomas Butler his only son dying in his life time which Sir Iohn Norbury and William Belknap in 16 E. 4. had livery of all the lands descended to them by the death of the abovespecified Sir Raph Boteler The partition whereof was made betwixt the said Sir Iohn and Edward Belknap Esquier son of Henry brother and heir to William Belknap aforesaid in 13 H. 7. whereby this Mannour inter alia became assigned to Belknap for in 2 R. 3. William dyed without issue leaving Henry Belknap his brother and heir 50. years of age which Henry by his Testament dated 25. Iunii anno 1488. 3 H. 7. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chapell of our Lady at Bekle in Sussex It seemes he lived there for by the same Testament he gave to the high Altar in that Church xx d. in lieu of his Tithes forgotten and not payd and departed this life 10 Iulii following leaving the said Sir Edward his son and heir xvii years of age who became a man of much publique action for in 2 H. 7. he was one of the Commanders in the Kings Army at the Battail of Stoke In 6. a Commissioner of Array in this County In 12. a Commander in the Battail of Blackheath in Kent against the Western Rebells In 17. he had the custody of Warwick-Castle committed to his charge being at that time Squier of the Body to the King And from 8 H. 7. for the most part during all that Kings raign was in Commission for the Peace in this County as appears upon the severall renewings thereof and sometimes for Gaol delivery In consideration of whose acceptable services the said King by a speciall Patent dated 14. Apr. 24. of his raign granted him immunity from being troubled or questioned for that Inclosure and depopulation which he had made in this Lordship contrary to the Statute in the third of his raign He was also Squier of the Body to King H. 8. being in the first of his raign again constituted Constable of Warwick-Castle for he resided at Weston subtus Wethele in this County as it seems by what I have there manifested And in 8. a Knight The Depopulation and Inclosure that he made within this Lordship scil in 14 H. 7. was of xii mess. and CCClx. acres
a very large exâ—ent yet antiently more spacious for Tanworth which is of itself a great one was heretofore a member thereof as â—n my discourse of that place is manifested the whole being certifyed by the Conq. Suâ—vey to contain 46. hides having woods of 3. miles in length and 2. in breadth All which then yeilded to the K. yearly Lv l wiâ—h xx horse loads of salt and then were in his own hands But before the Conquest it was part of the possessions belonging to Edwine Earl of Mercia Which part wherein the woods were so contained I conclude to be Tanworth whereof there is no expresse mention by name in the said general survey I am of opinion that it was given to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick by K. Will. the Conq. for clear it is that the said Earl possessed it It should seeme that in the grant thereof the number of hides which it contained were exprest and very likely the same that the general Survey before mentioned had recorded but that either the measure was too large or that K. Stephen had a mind to get some mony from Roger Earl of Warwick under that pretence for it appears that about the beginning of his reign he put him to CC marks fine for the overplus of the hides â—n this Mannour After which his posterity enjoy'd it till K. Henr. 7. in 3. of his reign got all the possâ—ssions belonging to that great Earldome as in Warwick I have manifested In 31. H. 3. upon the agreement betwixt Iohn de Plessets with Will. Mauduit and Alice his wife it was inter alia setled upon the said Iohn for life he having wedded Margery the daughter and heir to Thomas Earl of Warwick as in my story of the Earls hath been shewed which Iohn together with his said wife the next ensuing year obtained a Charter from the King for a Mercate here upon the Munday every weeke and a Fair to begâ—n on the Even of S â— George and to continue for the space of two dayes following After which viz. upon the death of Will. Mauduit Earl of Warwick in 52. H. 3. it was by agreement betwixt Alice his widow and Will. de Beauchamp the succeeding Earl assigned to her as part of her dower But in 7. E. 1. was in the possession of the said Will. who then held in demesn 3. carucates of land here as also a certain Park containing xxx acres with Warren and other liberties Which Earl had lx yard land here held of him by sundry Tenants under several rents and certain particular services whereof in regard that in those times the like was usual in most places I will here give instance in one viz. Adam Underwood who holding one yard land payd for the same 7 Bushells of Oats yearly and a Hen being to work for the Lord from the feast of S t Mich. th'arch-Angell till Lammas every other day except Saturday viz. at mowing as long as that time should last for which he was to have as much grasse as he could carry away with his Sithe at the end of Hay-harvest he the rest of his fellow Mowers to have the Lord 's best Mutton except one or xvid in money with the best Cheese saving one or vid in money and the Cheese-fat wherein the said Cheese was made full of salt As also that from the said Feast of Lammas till Michaelmas he was to work two dayes in the week and to come to the Lord's Reap with all his houshold except his wife and his Sheepherd and to mow down one land of Corneâ— being quit of all other work for that day That he should likewise carry two Cart loads and a half of the Lords hay with seven Cart load of stones for three days and gather Nuâ—ts for three dayes And in case that the Lord should keepe his Christmasse at this his Mannour of Brailes he to find three of his horses meat for three nights That he should plow thrice a year for the Lord viz. 6. selions and do the same tillage within xx miles And moreover to make 3. Quarters of Malt giving for every Hogg above a year old id and for every one under a half peny And lastly that he and the rest of the said Tenants here should give xii marks to the Lord at Michaelmasse yearly by way of Aid and not marry his daughter nec filium coronare id est nor make his son a Priest without license from the Lord. That being an usuall restraint of old in Villenage tenures to the end that the Lord might not loose one of his villeins by coming into holy Orders As for the Freeholders here I shall only mention some of them viz. Nich. de Segrave who held at that time viii yard land of the Earl by the service of the sixth paâ—t of a Knights fee Theobald de Nevill and Robert de Hastang viii yard land by the service of a pair of gilt spurs and Peter de Montfort xvi yard land by the 4 th part of a Knights fee. At that time the Nuns of Wroxhall had one yard land here which was given to them in pure Almes by Walleran Eâ—râ— of Warwick So also had the Canons of Kenilworth 4. yard land but that was in right of the Church as part of its glebe After this viz. in 13. E. 1. Will. de Beaucamp Earl of Warwick claim'd by prescription to have certain priviledges here viz. Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beer which were allowed For iâ— is a large and goodly Mannour the yearly value whereof in 9 E. 2. being rated at no lesse than 93 05 s 04 l ob q. There is little else memorable touching this Mannour so long as it continued to the Earls of Warwick But shortly after it came to the Crown as aforesaid it was leased to Richard Hungerford and Iohn Hopper for xl years and afterwards viz. in 21 H. 8. the site thereofâ— and all the demesn lands with the Mercate and Fair as also the water-Mill and Warren of Coneys to VVill. VVillington of Bercheston for xxi years which VVill. held it not out the whole terme for in 30 H. 8. there was another Lease made thereof to VVill Rainsford one of the Gentlemen huishers to the King for xxi years And in 30 Henry 8. the King past away the inheritance thereof to Thomas VVymbush Esq and the Lady Eliz. Talboys his wife and to the heirs of the said Elizabeth Which Thomas and Eliz. in 1 E. 6. sold it to VVill. Sheldon of Beoley in Com. VVigorn whose great grandchild VVilliam now enjoyes it The Church dedicated to S. George was given to the Canons of Kenilworth in King H. 1 time by Roger Earl of Warwick Simon then Bishop of Worc. confirming the grant whereupon in R 1 time ensued the endowment of the Vicaridge by Iohn de Constantiis Bishop of Worc. with all the Altarage and small tythes as
de Boyvile Cap. iii. Non. Aug. an 1330. Edw. R. Angl. ratione temporal Priorat de Wolfrichston in manu sua existen Ioh. de Weston accol pridie Non. Dec. an 1337. D. Rex hac vice Ioh. Grene Pbr. xv Kl. Dec. an 1357. D. Rex c. Will. de Swafeld Cler. iiii Febr. an 1383. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Penreth Cler. xxi Apr. an 1408. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Penreth accol vii Oct. an 1408. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Gregorius Neuport decret bacc 7. Sept. an 1416. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Rob. Helpe Pbr. xvi Oct. an 1421. Pr. Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus juxta Coventre Nich Bolton xxi Martii an 1425. Id. Pr. C. Ioh. Norton in decretis bacc x. Febr. an 1452. Id. Pr. C. D. Thomas Walker ix Apr. an 1508. Id. Pr. C. Mag. Rog Carleton .... an 1534. Ioh. Bradburne hac vice ratione concess Pr. Conv. Carthus juxta Coventre Mag. Rob. Baytt in sacra theol bacc iii. Ian. an 1546 Tho. Leigh miles Maior modernus Civitatis London Humfr. Bate in art baccal vi Febr. an 1559. Tho. Leigh miles VVill. Bolton Cler. x. Aug. an 1567. Chr. Hoddesden Gener. hac vice patronus ex concessione Will. Leigh militis Ioh. Sclater in art Mag. xviii Maii an 1612. Long-Lawford THis place as I have said is in the Parish of Church-Lawford In the Conq. time Geffrey VVirce of whom I am to speak in Monkskirby possest it and in the xii year of that Kings reign gave to the Monastery of St. Nicholas at Anglers in France amongst other things two parts of the Tâ—thes of Corn and Cattel and the whole Tyth of the Wool and Cheese arising within the Precincts thereof which were received by the Prior and Covent of Monkskirby before mentioned In that Grant it is written Lellevort but in the Conq. Survey where the same Geffrey is certified to hold five hydes here Lelleford The addition of the first Syllable Longe being of later times used to distinguish it from the other which we now call Church Lawford and doubtless was put thereto in respect that it lyes not so round together as many other towns do That Nigellus de Albany Progenitor to the family of Moubray became possest of all VVirce his lands is apparent whereof I shall speak more largely when I come to Monkskirby which Nigellus or Roger his Son who assumed the name of Moubray enfeoft Robert de Stutville thereof for I find that the said Robert about the beginning of H. 2. time passed it to Iohn de Stuteville his younger brother who for the health of his own soul and of the souls of his father and mother Robert his brother both their childrens souls as also the souls of K. Henry 2. and his Queen bestowed it on the Monks of Pipwell Within the Precinct of this Lordship was a certain Spynney called Black-thyrne whereupon those Monks built a Corn-Mill and a Fulling-Mill which graunts were in the beginning of H. 2. time for by the said Iohn de Stutevile's confirmation he ratified it unto the Monks by the name of Thyrne-Mill with the Floodgates and Damme to the same height and breadth as it was that year in which the said K. Henry returned from Tholose viz. the vi year of his reign All which were confirmed by William the son of the said Robert de Stotevile Iohn and Roger sons of the said Iohn and by Roger de Moubray chief Lord of the Fee as also by Roger Pantolfe nephew and heir to Roger de Stutevile betwixt which Roger and the Monkes of Pipwell there were two agreements concerning Common in the Moor of Long-Lawford digging of Turf for fewell and likewise about fishing in the River of Avon one of these bearing date in xi Ioh. and the other 3. H. 3. as are to be seen at large in the Leiger-Book of that Monastery In 11. E. 1. the Monks of Pipwell had Free warren inter alia granted to them in this Lalleford But there is little else of moment that I have met with concerning this place till after the dissolution of the Monasteries howbeit then viz. in 33 H. 8. did the K. Grant amongst other things to Edward Boughton Esq. and his heirs the graunge of Long-Lawford Thyrn-Mill and divers other lands there which were belonging to Pipwell-Abby And in 7 E. 6. the Mannour unto one Iohn Green of the City of Westminster and Raphe Hall of London Scrivener and their heirs which Iohn in 1 Mariae past away his right therein unto Elizabeth Boughton But I suppose that Hall's part came shortly after to one Thomas VVightman for in 4 Eliz. the said Thomas granted it by the name of the Manour of Lawford which belong'd to the Monks of Pipwell unto Sir Thomas Leigh Kt. and Dame Alice his wife which Sir Thomas dyed seized thereof and at this day Francis Lord Dunsmore his great grand-child by Sir VVilliam Leigh a younger son enjoys it viz. an 1640. I have now done with Long Lawford There is in this Parish of Church-Lawford a place called the Stude situate upon Dunsmore-heath where was antiently a Chappell which with divers Churches and other things became appropriate to the Priory of Coventre in the year of our Lord 1260. 44 H. 3. and as appears by the Grant of K. Philip and Mary an 1. 2. of their reign was an inclosed grove but stands from the town about a mile South-west Wolston FOllowing the stream of Avon the next place I come to is Wolston which is a large Parish and conteins sundry villages and hamlets viz. Merston Stretton upon Dunsmore and Prinsthorpe on the same side the River with Brandon and Bretford on the other In the Conq. days Earl Roger held it by Rainaldus his under-tenant it being then certified to contein five hydes and one virgate of land but in the generall Survey written is Uluricetone in one place and Uluestone in another all under the title of Terra Rogerii Comitis at which time there was a Church and had its appellation originally from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time Wulfricus being a name usuall in those days from whence it hath antiently been written Wulfricheston and Wolfrichston though by contraction it be now called Wolston This Rogerius Comes before mentioned is he who was surnamed de Montegomerico by our old Historians being one of the chief Councellours to VVilliam Duke of Normandy for his expedition into England and to second his advice adventured himself in the Battail against K. Harold in which the Duke was victor whereupon as a reward for his fidelity and service he had first the City of Chichester and Castle of Arundell and
but Magna est veritas praevalere debet Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes temp Instit. Procurator Abb. Conv. S. Petri sup Dinam Henricus de Leicestria Pbr. H. 3. Procurator Abb. Conv. S. Petri sup Dinam Ric. de Blaby Diac. ii Id. Oct. an 1300. Prior de Wolrichston Petrus Mallori xvi Kl. Dec. a. 1317. D. Rex ratione Priorat de Wolricheston in manu sua existent Nich de Stonelay Cap. ii Id. Martii a. 1357. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Chamber Cap. xxv Aug. an 1403. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Alex. Benet iii. Ian. an 1410. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre D. Ioh. Hill Cap. xx Iun. an 1412. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Prestwood Pbr. xvi Maii an 1421. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Ric. Tonsover xi Iulii an 1424. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Prestwode pen. Maii an 1432. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Ric. Habkyn Pbr. xiii Iun. an 1433. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Thomas Arkynden Pbr. xvi Iulii an 1438. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Killworth Pbr. iii. Oct. an 1447. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Thom. Forster Pbr. iii. Ian. a. 1493. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre D. Laur. Causey xx Sept. a. 1494. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre Will. Regelde xii Iulii a. 1500. Pr. Conv. S. Annae Carthus juxta Coventre D. Will. Clerke Pbr. xii Ian. a. 1512. Thom. Gregory de civitate Covent hac vice ratione concess Pr. Conv. S. Annae D. Thom. More Cap. xv Apr. a. 1546. 1 E. 6. Will. Wigston de Wolston miles D. Will. Harwar art Magr. ix Maii a. 1555. 2 3 Ph. M. Will. Wigston miles Ioh. Middleton Cler. iiii Martii a. 1559. 2 El. Roger. Wigston ar Edw. Lorde in art Magr. xii Oct. a. 1585. 27 El. Roger. Wigston de Wolston ar Hugo Clarke Cler. v. Ian. a. 1591. 34 Eliz. In the South I le of this Church are there two Arches in the Wall In one whereof there still lyeth a very antient Statue of a Woman in free-stone with a wimplet on her chin and her hands in a praying posture In the other was the Statue of a Man as I guess which is now removed and laid close to that of the Woman having his hands elevated in such sort as the Woman his head bare and hair somewhat long but no beard and his outer garment loose extending to his feet with a belt about his middle and a broad sword hanging thereat In the same I le are two fair Grave-stones of marble on each whereof hath been the pourtâ—aicture of Women in brass with plates at their feet wherein were these following Inscriptions taken notice of by Mr William Belcher many years since but now torn out Hic jacet Iohanna nuper uxor Ricardi Hotoft quondam uxor Ricardi Metley nuper domini de Wolston Merston que obiit anno domini MCCCClxxiii Hic jacet Margareta uxor Iohannis Hugford domini de Edmescote filia heres Nicholai Metley domini de Wolston Merston Wapenbury Ullesthorpe que obiit anno domini MCCCClxxiiii On the former is this Coat of Arms still remaining viz. a Cheveron betwixt 3 Eagles displayed empaling a Cheveron betwixt 3 Hunters horns brased And on the other the same Coats quartered In the Chancell adjoyning to the South wall is a Monument of free-stone about two foot in height with this Epitaph upon the verge thereof Here lyeth the body of the right worshipfull Sir William Wigston Knight who deceased the xxvii day of September in the year of our Lord MDlxxvii Merston juxta Wolston OF this Mannour being situate flat and low near the River where the soyl is naturally marish and giveth occasion of the name I shall not need to say much having already spoken thereof in Wolston It was antiently called Bretons-Mannour Guido Breton writing himself of this place in 5 and 6 H. 4. But how it past from that family I have not seen nor when the first mention which I afterwards find thereof being in 6 H. 5. where Richard Quatermaynes of London granted the moytie thereof with the appurtenances to Thomas VVodelow and Margaret his wife and to the heirs of Thomas and levyed a fine thereupon the same year Unto which Thomas and Margaret and the heirs of Thomas did Iohn Boteler of Wolvardington release all his right in the other moytie Whereupon the said Thomas being possest of the whole was in 10 H. 6. certified to hold it by the service of half a Knights fee. After which it was not long ere that it came to Nicholas Metley and so to Iohn Hugford in right of Margaret his wife daughter and heir to the said Nicholas as in Wolston I have shewed since which it hath past from hand to hand with Wolston and so continues to the owner of that Mannour till this day Stretton super Dunsmore THis Village takes its name from the situation upon that old Roman way called the Fosse which being by the common people termed the Street as all great waies and passages are thence hath the name of Stretton the addition super Dunsmore being to distinguish it from the rest of the Strettons in this County In the Conquerours time I find that same Rainaldus whom I mentioned in Wolston held also this place of Roger de Montgomerie E. of Arundell it being then rated for 5 hides and written Stratone Within the limits hereof is a very antient Mill written long since Purmulne but now Pirreymill given to the Monks of Combe by Robert de Chetwode and Sibilla his wife of whom I have already spoke in Wolston which Monks in consideration of xx marks past it to the Lady Albreda Marmiun who again assigned it unto them for the solemnizing the Anniversaries of her husband Sir VVilliam Camvill her self VVilliam her son and the rest of her sons and daughters There is no doubt I think but that this Mannour came with Wolston to Alanus filius Fladaldi for I find that the said Alan gave certain lands here to the Abby of Burton And from him likewise it is probable that Roger de Frevill had it for in 36 H. 3. Raph Strange who descended from one of the co-heirs to the said Roger as the descent in Wolston sheweth was certified to hold half a Knights fee here of Iohn Fitz-Alan descendant to the before specified Alanus but the next possessor thereof that I have seen any authority for was Thomas de Garshale temp E. 1. of whom in Bourton I have made mention who with Maud his wife sold it unto Robert de Heriz and his heirs to hold of
as that at Bretford and have that again in exchange This Geffrey de Clinton the second wedded Agnes the daughter of Roger Earl of Warwick and had with her in Frank marriage by the gift of her Father inter alia ten Knights Fees of those seventeen that were held by him of the said Earl de Veteri Feoffamento that is to say whereof he or his Father were enfeoffed in the time of K. H. 1. which ten by those covenants of marriage were to perform their military service in the custody of this Brandune whereby 't is plain that the Castle was then in being though it be hard to say whether Geffrey de Clinton the Father of Lescelina or her husband Norman de Verdune built it Bertramus de Verdon temp Conquestoris Normannus de Verdon Lescelina filia Gaufridi de Clintona Bertramus de Verdon Rohesia Tho. de Verdon Eustachia postea nupta Ric. de Camvil Nich de Verdon 7 R. 1. mortuus 16 H. 3. Theobaldus le Butiller Rohesia filia haeres 16 H. 3. Marg. filia Gilb. de Lacy haeres Walteri de Lacy avi sui uxor 1. Joh. de Verdon 31 H. 3. obiit 2 E. 1. Elianora uxor 2. Theobaldus de Verdon fil haeres 2 E. 1. obiit 3 E. 2. Joh. obiit in Hib. vita patris 25 E. 1. Eliz. filia Gilb. de Clare Com. Gloucestriae uxor 2. Theobald de Verdon obiit an 1316. 10. E. 2. Matildis fil Edm. de Mortimer de Wigmore 30 E. 1. ux 1. Isabella Johanna uxor Tho. filii heredis Tho. d. Furnivall Eliz. uxor Barthol Burghersh Margeria primò nupta Will. le Blount postea Marco Husee ult Joh. Crophull Matildis ux Ioh. Fitz-Alan Comit. Arundeliae 30 E. 1. In the line of which Norman it continued for divers ages as the descent here inserted sheweth their principal seat being at Alton-Castle in Staffordshire But little do I find memorable of it other than that in 7 R. 1. it was garrison'd by VVill. fil Ricardi a great man in this County as in Wroxhall shall be manifested who had then the custody thereof by reason of the minority of Bertram son and heir to the before specified Norman de Verdon To which Bertram succeeded Nicholas who in 11 H. 3. had a Charter of Free-warren granted to him and his heirs in all his demesn lands here And raised a Pool in this place to so great a height as that the Monks of Combe brought an Assize of Novel-disseisin against him for drowning their lands in Stretton thereby But it was not long afterwards ere that this Castle underwent the fate which is incident to such strong holds in time of hostility for it appears that the partakers with Simon Montfort E. of Leicester who in 39 H. 3. held Kenilworth Castle against the King taking notice that Iohn de Verdon Grandchild to the before specified Nicholas had Commission to raise Forces in Worcestershire against thâ—se Rebels issued out of of that place and pulled it down To which Iohn succeeded Theobald who abâ—ut the beginning of E. 1. time extended his Free warren here beyond the bounds of his Barony 〈…〉 lands oâ— the Prior of Coventre and Abboâ— of Combe and ingrossed the whole fishing oâ— Avon on the one side to himself viz. from Bretford to Mervines-mill which had wont to be common It seems he rebuilt the Castle for I find that it was then again in being though now nothing remain thereof but the moats and heaps of rubbish and had a Park thereto containing a mile in length As also that his Tenants were thus distinguisht viz. by Servants Cottagers and Free-holders Of the first sort there being xxv that held xii yard land and a half in servage that is to say besides payment of a certain Rent each of them to find one workman at the Lords disposal to labour from Monday next after the feast day of St. Peter and Paul untill the feast of St. Peter ad vincula which is the first of August in every week two daies and after that time till Michaelmass to find one man working two daies one week and three daies another by turns at such imployment as the Lord should appoint And the Cottagers to find each of them every week from the first of August till Michaelmass one labourer to work upon Monday onely as the Lord should appoint But the Free-holders which were onely three held by a certain Rent and homage and to do service to his Court every three weeks It was likewise then found that he had Free-warren here of the grant of K. H. 3. and how he had incroacht upon the Prior of Coventre and Abbot of Combe as also that he had a Court Leete Gallowes with assize of Bread and Beer for a Palfrey yearly payable to the K. Unto which Leet his Father being a powerfull man had drawn the Hamlets of Thurlaston and Ashoe without any justifiable authority but as to the rest of those priviledges being questioned in 13 E. 1. by what authority he claimed them he pleaded prescription which was allowed To which last mentioned Theobald succeeded Theobald his son and heir and to him his four daughters and heirs whereof Elizabeth the wife to Bartholmew de Burghersh had inter alia this Lordship in partition assigned unto her Whose son and heir viz. Sir Bartholmew shortly after past it unto Sir VValter Pavely Kt. and other feoffees who in 43 E. 3. conveyed it to Sir Iohn Delves a Staffordshire Kt. from whom it came to Sir Iohn Arundell Kt. who in 3 R. 2. dyed seized thereof and so descending to Sir Richard Arundell fell by partition in 16 H. 6. unto Elianore wife of Sir VVilliam St. George Kt. one of the two daughters and heirs to the said Sir Richard which Elianore departing this life without issue it divolved to Sir Robert VVilloughby of Eresby Kt. son and heir of Thomas VVilloughby Esq and Ioane the other sister and co-heir which Sir Robert VVilloughby dyed 5. E. 4. leaving Robert his son and heir within age but Sir VVilliam St. George had the possession thereof during his life as Tenant by the curtesy of England and dyed 11 E. 4. the reversion thereby coming to Christopher VVilloughby brother of the last mentioned Robert who was at that time 19 years of age From which Christopher by Thomas a third son one of the Justices of the Common Pleas in the later end of K. H. 8. reign descended Sir Percivall VVilloughby Kt. late of Middleton in this County as I shall further shew when I come to speak of that place who sold it to Sir Henry Yelverton Kt. Atturney General to K. Iames within our memory Bretforde THis was a member of Brandon as will appear by what I am now
are descended as I have already shewed Of which Sir Thomas in respect he had some publique employments of note in this County I shall say something leaving his posterity by Eliz. daughter of Richard Harecourt son of Sir Will. Harecourt Kt. whose cosin and next heire she was seated at Patshull in Staffordshire where they still continue Of which family viz. of Patshull was the famous Iohn de Astley who on the 29. of Aug. Anno 1438. 17. H. 6. maintaining a Duel on Horsback within the street called St. Antoine in Paris against one Peter de Masse a French-man in the presence of Charles the the vii K. of France pierc't the said Peter through the head and had as by the Articles betwixt them was conditioned the Helmet of the said Peter being so vanquish't to present unto his Lady And on the 30. of Ian. 20. H. 6. undertook another fight in Smyth-field within the City of London in the presence of the same K.H. 6. with Sir Philip Boyle an Arragonian Knight who having been in France by the K. his masters command to look out some such hardy person against whom he might try his skill in feats of Armes and missing there of his desires repaired hither After which combate ended being gallantly perform'd on foot with Battail-axes spears swords and daggers he was knighted by the K. and had an annuity of c. marks given him during his life Nay so famous did he grow for his valour that he was elected Knight of the Garter bearing for his Armes the Coats of Astley and Harcourt quarterly with a label of 3. points Ermine as by a very antient MS. book wherein the Ensignes of those Kts. of that honourable order are depicted appeareth But I return to the before specified Sir Will. de Astley eldest son to Thomas founder of the said Coll. Church He was in Commiss for the Peace upon the severall renuings thereof from 17. R. 2. till 6. H. 5. And in 3. H. 4. assigned to enquire concerning the disturbers of the Laws and framers of Lyes In 4. H. 4. for arraying of men In 6. to treat with the people for a loan of money to the K. and left issue one only daughter by whom the inheritance of this great House divolved to the Grey's of Ruthin But before I speak farther thereof I must add a word or two more of this family of the Astley's in reference to them as they were Barons which is that Thomas who was slain in the battail of Evesham is reputed by our Historians so to have been for before 49. H. 3. have we no particular summons to Parliament to distinguish the Barons from other great men But his son Andrew was summoned in 23 24 25 28 32 33 and 34. E. 1. Nicholas in 30. E. 1. as also in 2 and 3. E. 2. And Thomas who founded the Coll. Church in 16.22 and 23. E. 3. as appears by the Records of those times Howbeit William never had summons Which instances do shew that what is now claim'd as due by custome was not so esteem'd in those days To this William succeeded Ioan his daughter and heir first marryed to Thomas Raleigh of Farnborough in this County Which Thomas by his Testament bearing date here at Astley the Wednesday after the feast of St. Luke the Evang. 6. H. 4. bequeath'd his body to be buryed in the Quire of this Coll. Church and ten pounds for performance of his Obit and gave xx marks also to find a Priest to sing Mass for his Soul the space of 3. years He likewise bequeath'd a bowl of silver with a cover to the Lord Astley and to the Lady Ioan his wife a diamond with a silver bowl and cover To every Yeoman servant of that house vi s. viii d. and to every groom iii. s. iiii d. After whose death which hapned at that time as by the Probate of his will appeareth she marryed to Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin whose posterity by her possest this place for divers generations and were advanced to great honour as I shall shew anon for which respect it will not be amiss to take some notice of this Reginald their common ancestor and whence he sprung He was son of Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin son of Roger by Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn Lord Hastings of Bergavenny and Isabel his wife one of the daughters and heirs to Will. Valence Earl of Penbroke by means whereof he became heir to the last Iohn Hastings E. of Penbroke as I shall shew more fully when I come to Fillongley Which Rog. was first summoned to Parliament in 28. E. 1. by the name of Roger de Grey Chivalier but his son Reginald had in all his summons the addition of de Ruthin the Castle of Ruthin being his seat and granted by K. Edw. 1. to Reginald Lord Grey of Wilton his grandfather Betwixt this Reginald who had great possessions in Wales and Owen Glendowr there grew some difference about a Common lying betweeen the Lordship of Ruthin and the Lordship of Glendowr-duy whereof Owen was owner and took his sirname Which Owen during the reign of K. R. 2. was too hard for the Lord Grey being then a servitour in Court to K. Ric. with whom he was at the time of his taking by the D. of Lanc. in the Castle of Flint But after K. Richard's deposall the Lord Grey as better friended than Owen entred upon the Common Whereupon Owen having many friends and followers in his Countrey as those that be great with Princes commonly have put himself in Armes against the Lord Grey whom he meeting in the field overcame and took prisoner spoiling his Lordship of Ruthin so that many resorted to him from all parts of Wales not knowing but that he was in as great favour then as in K. Ric. days others also putting in his head that now the time was come that the Britons by his means might recover again the honour and liberties of their ancestors The Lord Grey therefore thus made priâ—oner was constrain'd to ransom himself at ten thousand marks the King consenting that the Lord Rosse and Willughby with other of his friends and allies should endeavour to raise the said Fine in regard as the Record expresses the King knew him to be a loyal and valiant Kight After which viz. in 9. H. 5. he was retein'd by Indenture to serve the K. in his warrs beyond Sea for half a year with six men at Armesâ— himself accounted one and 18. Archers mounted armed and arrayed according to their severall conditions taking per diem for himself 2. s. and for each of his men at Armes 12. d. with the accustomed reward and 6. d. a piece for his Archers As also to have the benefit of all prisoners they should take excepting Kings Princes or any of the Royall blood and especially Charles the Dauphin of Uiennois or any that murthered
ibi jacent Iohannes Edmundus et Henricus filii domini Willielmi de Hastings filii D. Iohannis de Hastings Et Ioh. Huntingfeld filius Will. de Huntingfeld et D. Iohanna consortis suae That this Order of Friers was very much esteem'd and reverenced by all sorts of people is evident enough For whosoever shall take notice of such bequests as by the Testaments of most men and women were made in antient time may find that as they seldome neglected to give more or less to one or other Religious house of this Rule so if they were persons of quality they did frequently make choice of their sepulture in them as I shall have occasion to shew in some part of this work Neither was it the least pollicy of these Friers to obtain from great persons such a disposall of their bodies considering how they were imployed and trusted in making their Testaments as I have already shewed For where ever they sped in that kind they were sure to have a good Legacy from the Testator and not without hope by so fair an example to obtain no less advantage from his posterity So that Tho. de Walsingham speaking of the buriall of Q. Elianore's heart in the Church of the Friers-Minors at London did not without cause complain of them in these words Qui meaning the said Friers sicuti et cuncti fratres reliquorum Ordinum aliquid dâ— corporibus quorumcunque potentium morientium sibâ—met vendicabant more canum cadaveribus assistentium ubi quisque suam particulam avide consumendam expectat you see he writes somewhat passionatly of the poor Friers but consider that he was himself a Monk and the reason may easily be discerned Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very famous for the Pageants that were play'd therein upon Corpus-Christi-day which occasioning very great confluence of people thither from far and near was of no small benefit thereto which Pageants being acted with mighty state and reverence by the Friers of this House had Theaters for the severall Scenes very large and high placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent parts of the City for the better advantage of Spectators And contain'd the story of the New-Testament composed into old English Rithme as appeareth by an antient M S. intituled Ludus Corporis Christi or Ludus Coventriae I have been told by some old people who in their younger years were eye-witnesses of these Pageants so acted that the yearly confluence of people to see that shew was extraordinary great and yeilded no small advantagâ— to this City The next thing whereof I am to take notice in relation to this Friery is K. H. 8. Survey in 26. of his reign At which time it did apâ—pear that they had no lands or tenâ—â—ents nor other possessions spirituall or temporall but onely a liberty in the Countrey to receive the Charity of good people This being so I expect that some may demand why it was not dissolved in 27 H. 8. when the leâ—ser Houses went to wrack Whereunto I answer that the Act for that purpose extendeth onely unto Monks Channons and Nuns but if it be askt why these were then so sheltred from the first storm the reason I think is apparent viz. there was nothing to be got by their ruin forasmuch as they had no endowment of lands c. though God was as much dishonoured by the lewd lives of the Friers for want of good government as the preamble of that Act imports in case it say true as by any other whose Houses were certified to be of less value then C C. l. per an which favour we see gâ—ve these poor Friers liberty to breath here a while longer in expectation of their ruin viz. till 30 H. 8. that all the great Houses were dissolved they being then forc'd to subscribe an Instrument whereunto their Common-Seal is affixt and in which the error of that Regular câ—urse they had practised is confest whereby they surrendred this House into the said K. hands as the Copy thereof being not ordinary and therefore here inserted doth manifest For as moche as wee the Warden and Freers of the House of Saynt Frances in Coventre commonly callyd the Grey-Freers in Coventre in the County of Warwick doo profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian livinge dothe nott consist in dume Ceremonies werynge of a grey coot disgeasinge our selfe aftur straunge fassions do Kynge noddynge and beckyng in gurdyng our selves wythe a gurdle fulle of knotts and other like Papisticall Ceremonies wherein we hade ben mooste principally practised onâ— misâ—yd in tymes paste but the very tru waye to plese God and to live a tru Christian mon wythe out all ypocrisie and fayned diseimulation is sinceerly declared unto us by our Mr. Christe his Evangelists and Aposteles being myndyd hereaftur to followe the same conformynge our self unto the will and plesure of our Supreme hedde under Gode in erthe the Kynges Majestie and not to folowe henseforth the superstitius traditions of ony forinsecall potentate or peere wythe mutuall assent and consent doo submitt our selves unto the mercy of owre seide Soverayng Lord. And wythe like mutuall assent and consent do surrendre and yelde up into the hondes of the same all our seide House of Saynt Frances in the Cite of Coventre commonly callyd the Grey-Freers in Coventre wythe alle the londs tenements gardens medows waters poâ—diards fedings pastures comens Rents reversions and alle other our interest ryghtes or titles appertaining unto the same Mooste humbly beseechiuge his mooste noble Grace to dispose of us and of the same as beste shall stonde wythe his mooste gracious pleasure And further frely to graunte unto every on of us his license under wreiyng and Seealle to chaunge our habitts into secular fashion and to receve suche maner of livinges as other seculat Priests commonly be preferred unto And we all faithfully shall pray unto Almighty God long to preserve his mooste noble Grace wythe increse of moche felicite and honor And in witnes of alle and singuler the premisses wee the seide Warden and Covent of the Grey-Freeres in Coventre to thes presences have putte our Covent Seealle the fivithe day of Octobâ—â— in the thertythe yere of the raynge of our mooste Soveraynge Lord King Henry the eyghte Per me Iohannem Stafford Gardian Per me Thomam Maller Per me Thomam Sanderson Per me Iohannem Abell Per me Iohannem Woode Per me Rogerum Lilly Per me Thomam Aukock Per me Matheum Walker Per me Robartum Walker Per me Thomam Bangsit Per me Willielmum Gosnelle Which said House or site was in 34 H. 8. granted by the K. inter alia to the Mayor Bayliffs and Commmonalty of this City and their successors for ever NEar unto the ruins of this Friery is there an Hospitall now called the Gray-Frier-Hospitall in respect of its situation touching the Foundation whereof and its successive Benefactors I shall
of money to the King and in 9 H. 5. again joyned in Commission for the peace in this County being all that time Steward for the Mannour of Cheylesmore in Coventre But how this Lordship past from that family or at what time have I not seen nor any thing further thereof till 8 H. 4. that one VVill. Botener purchased it of Thomas Compworth and Eliz. his wife it being of the inheritance of the said Eliz. so that I suppose she was daughter and heir to Castell Which VVill. Botener was of Coventre some wealthy tradesman I presume but being setled here at Withibroke grew to be a man of some account in the world for the same year that he purchased this Lordship he was made a Justice of peace in Warwicksh So likewise in 1 H. 5. Of whom I further find that he gave a peice of ground containing Cxli foot in length and xâ—v foot and a half in bredth lying in Coventre to the Friers Carmelites there for the enlargement of their House in consideration that they should keep the Anniversary of Iohn Percy and Alice his wife deceased for ever And that in 12 H. 6. he is recorded amongst the other persons of chiefest quality in this County for making oath as to the observance of divers Articles ordained in the Parliament then held but from that time I have not seen any more mention of him After which viz. in 29 H. 6. this Mannour was setled by Fine upon Henry Everingham and Alice his wife and the heirs of Alice the other parties to the Fine being Thomas Wylkins and Rob. Bate And in 15 H. 7. Humfry Grey dyed seized of it leaving Edw. his son and heir 28 years of age So likewise did Tho. Grey in 2 Eliz. leaving Iohn his son and heir who accomplisht his full age 3 Dec. 4 Eliz. As for that which belong'd to the Monks of Combe within the precincts of this Lordship it was after the dissolution past away to Thomas Broke and Iohn Williams and to the heirs of Broke in 36 H. 8. by the name of a Mannour which I suppose was a good quantity for besides what I mentioned as given by Morevill there were divers petty parcels bestowed on those Monks by particular men of whom being persons but of mean quality I have omitted the mention This village was antiently of Monkskirby parish for upon confirmation made by Geffrey Muschamp B. of Coventre of what his predecessors had granted to the Priory of Kirby Widebroc is there mentioned to be a Chappel belonging thereto By an antient composition made betwixt the Monks of Combe and Kirby and the Incumbent of Withibroke I find that the Monks of Combe should receive all the tithes of those lands which they then held in Kirby Withibroke paying to the Prior and Covent of Kirby two marks of silver yearly at the Feast of S. Botâ—lph and for such lands which the said Monks of Combe should after that time obtain within the parishes of Kirby and Withibroke they to pay unto the Monastery of Kirby their xii th sheaf But the Priory of Monkskirby being granted to the House of Carthusians founded in the Isle of Axholme by Tho. Moubray D. of Norf. the said Carthusians obtained license in 22 R. 2. for the appropriation of this Church dedicated to All Saints to them and their successors for ever In ann 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at 8 marks and in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge at viii l. vi s. viii d. the Incumbent then receiving yearly just so much in money for his salary at the hands of the Prior of Axholme Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Pr. C. de Kirby-monach Will. de Leone Pbr. 13 Cal. Dec. 1313. Edw. Rex ratione temporal Pr. de Kirby in manu sua c. Ric. de Melburn Cler. 1339. Edw. Rex ratione temporal Pr. de Kirby in manu sua c. Ric. de Walton Pbr 6 Id. Martii 1341. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Tho. de Burton Cler. 17. Martii 1405. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Rob. Malore Cler. 20 Sept. 1407. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Ioh. White Cap. 16 Iulii 1408. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Ioh. Hycke Cap. 4 Iulii 1410. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Ioh. Gybon Pbr. 25 Maii 1443. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Will. atte Heth. 25 Febr. 1445. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Will. Hall 19 Aug. 1456. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Ric. Kere 5 Martii 1456. Pr. Conv. de Axholme Georgius Perci 3 Apr. 1501. Patroni Vicariae Pr. Conv. de Axholme Ioh. Dawby Cap. 29 Dec. 1534. Praeses Socii Coll. S. Trin. Cantab. Rob. Batson Cler. 16 Maii 1553. Iacobus Rex Ioh. Walton 23 Maii 1614. Magist. Sâ—cii Scolar Coll. S. Trin. Cantab. Ioh. Malyn in art Bacc. 9 Oct. 1617. Monumental Inscriptions in the body of the Church Upon a Plate of Brass fixt on a Marble Grave-stone this Inscription Pray for the sawlles of Richard Wright and Elsabeth his wife the purchesid the Lordship of Hoppisford which Richard dâ—sessid the first day of December in the year of our Lord MCCCCCI Of whose sawlles God have mercy Amen In the midst of the Chancel lyeth a fair Marble with Plates in Brass upon it whereon are the portraitures of a man and his wife with this following Inscription Of your charite pray for the saullis of Christofer Wren gentilman and Chrystian his wife the which Christofer deceasside the xxv day of November in the year of the Lord MCCCCCxliii On whose saullys and all Christian saullys Iesu have mercy Amen On the South-side of the Chancell is a raised Monument of Alabaster with the portraiture of a man and woman drawn thereon in black lines and this Epitaph on the verge thereof Here lyeth the body of Christopher Wright of Happisford in the County of Warwick Esquire who was one of the Iustices of peace in the County aforesaid to our most gracious sovereigne Lady Queene Elizabeth He deceased the sixt day of December in the yeer of our Lord 1602. Whose soule God rest Above it against the wall is an Arch within which is the Arms of Wright viz. sable a cheveron engrailed Or betwixt 3 flower de luces argent with mantle helme and crest empaling Purefey The Motto under his Coat RECTUM RECTE CHRISTO FERET And under hers PUREFOY MA JOY Erected by Iane the wife of Christopher Wright Hopsford THis is in the parish of Withibrook and now little better than a depopulated place there being no more left of the Mannour-house than the bare skeleton thereof not habitable and two mean Cottages In the Conq. time Geffrey Wirce of whom I have so often spoke possest it by whose Survey it was certified to contain 3 hydes and valued at xxx s. being there written Apleford through mistake of the s for an l and
and a Buck. As also a Court-Leet Gallows with Assize of bread and beer Whereunto K. E. 1. added power for them to to take weyfs and a Charter of Free-warren in 18 of his reign but they payd Tithes to the Monks of Coventre for all whether held in their own occupation or let to ferme except the meadowing of half a yard land which Tho. the son of Laurence de Stoke sometime enjoyed and of a croft which Geffrey Lord of Bilney heretofore held as also of the Mills For which meadow croft and Mills the Monks of Combe did pay yearly to those of Coventre half a mark on the Feast day of the Circumcision of our Lord by Composition But of the Tithes of a certain wast within the limits of Bilneje with the meadow adjoyning which being reduced to tillage by the Monks of Combe reacheth from the old field of Bilney almost to Ernesford the Priors of Coventre had released their right to the Monks of Combe reserving to their tenants Common of pasture therein All which lands c. being reputed Mannour were by that name granted to Iohn Dudley E. of Warwick together with the site of the Monastery of Combe and other lands belonging thereto in 1 E. 6. And coming again to the Crown by his attainder past with Combe to Rob. Keylway as I have there declared and from him to Harington as that did In this village also had the Hospitalars two Cottages held in 7 E. 1. by Freeholders of them but these were originally of that which the Monks of Coventre antiently had there for it was then certified that they were held by the said Hospitalars of Rob. de Mortimer which was as he was descended by heirs generall from that Osb. fil Ric. from whom the Monks of Coventre purchased that they had here in the Conq. time as I have already intimated Within the precincts of Bilney is there a place called Ernesford-grange sometime belonging to the Abby of Combe wherein the Monks in 7 E. 1. had 2 yard land in demesn and 1 Freeholder that held 2 yard land and 4 acres by the service of 2 s. and a half peny yearly homage and suit to their Court at Bilney twice a year out of all which the Prior of Coventre had Tithes whether the Monks held it in their own hands or not Which Grange was in 36 H. 8. granted by the K. to Tho. Brooke and Iohn Williams and to the heirs of Brook From whom it being soon after conveyed unto Christopher Waryn and his heirs to hold by the lx part of a Kts. fee and paying 4 s. yearly into the Court of Augmentation at the Feast of S. Michael descended to Will. Waryn his grandchild aged 5 years in 14 Eliz. Winnall SOw having left Binley passeth next by Winnall â— which though it lye in this Hundred of Knightlow is of the Parish of the Holy Trinity within the City of Coventre This though it be not particularly mentioned in the Charter of Earl Leofrick upon his foundation of the Priory was then a member of that half of Coventre by him given to the Monks but the first speciall mention that I find thereof is in 41 H. 3. at which time the K. inter alia granted to the said Monks Free-warren here and in divers other places where it is written Wylnhale Howbeit in the appropriation of all the Tithes in their severall Mannours which Rog. Meuland B. of Cov. and Lich. made to that Monastery an 1260. 44 H. 3 it is written Wylenhal and was first so called as I guess from the Wells or Springs in severall parts thereof Willas and Willon in our old English being so called In 7 E. 1. the Prior of Coventre had here in demesn half a yard land a fourth part with 4. acres and a half of meadow and 8. servants holding 3. yard land by the service of mowing making and carrying hay and the like with some Rent six Cottagers and two Freeholders the particulars which they held being exactly specified in the said Record As also an out-wood containing 8. acres but the said Priors tenants here used to repair to the Court Leet held at Sow as I have there observed After the dissolution of which Monastery it was granted out of the Crown as it seems unto Sir Ric. Lee Kt. for in 36 H. 8. the said Sir Ric. had license to alien it with the Tithes to Iohn Hales Gent. whose Nephew and heir viz. Iohn Hales now of Coventre Esq. Grandson to Christopher Brother to the said Iohn enjoys it Baginton SOw being gone beyond Winnall within less than a mile receiveth Shirburne and so hasting on its course leaveth Baginton on her Southern bank which before the Norman invasion was possest by one Archil but after the Conquest Turchil de Warwick had it and as tenant to him Alwin By the Survey then taken it is certified to contain 4. hides there being a Mill rated at x. s. viii d. per an but all valued at 50. s. and recorded by the name of Babechitone by mistake of the d. for a b. But whether the name had its originall from some antient possessor thereof or from the Brittish word Bechan which is the same with parva and so might signify a small village the later syllable tone importing with the Saxons as much as villa in the Latine I will not stand to argue The Lieger book of Stoneley says that before the Conquest it was a member of that Lordship which is doubtless true for upon the confirmation made of the Church of Stoneley to the Canons of Kenilworth in H. 2. days Bathkinton is there included as a Chapell belonging thereto And in K. Iohn's time when Stoneley became first appropriat to the Priory of Kenilworth xx s. Pension was granted to it yearly by the Bishop out of this Chapell That the posterity of Turchil de Warwik were not permitted to enjoy any thing as of their fathers inheritance I am sufficiently satisfied from the authority of the black Book in the Exchequer cited in my Introduction touching the Conquerors hard dealing with the native English and therefore that which the said book of Stoneley affirms viz. that K. H. 1. gave it with Ruyton to Sir Henry de Ardern Kt. is the more probable yet that the father of the same Henry viz. Siward de Ardern son to Turchil was suffered to hold it and that they esteemed it as their own in right the grant of the said Henry under his Seal doth manifest wherebyâ— with the consent of Oliva his wife and Will his son he grants Batchintune which Rog. de Wirenhale held of his father and himself to Filicia his sister to hold to her and her heirs by the service of a sore-Hauke yearly in consideration whereof she gave unto him a gold Ring Whether the same Filicia dyed issuless by which means this Mannour came
Castle then approaching he could not long hold it stole privatly away and got into France there endeavouring to obtain forces in aid of that rebellious remnant yet unsubdued in England leaving Henry de Hastings Governour hereof in his absence whom he encouraged to hold it out stoutly giving him assurance that within a certain time he should be relieved But when that assistance which the King expected was come to him amongst which was Osbert Geffard who brought the Posse Comitatus of Oxford-shire and Reginald fil Petri the like for this County he set forwards towards Kenilworth with Banners and Ensignes displayed and on the morrow after the feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist begirt this Castle on every side where taking care to have all fit supply of Victual for his Army he commanded the Shiriff of Norf. to cause 36 tuns of wine to be brought hither from Lenne which were bought for his use by Purveyours there but being desirous to avoyd the spilling of more blood he sent a gratious message to those that held it whose hopes were such either upon young Montfort's promises or dissidence so great knowing what mischiefs they had done that they did not onely slight the Kings offers but maimed the Messenger and with much resolution defended themselves against all the assaults that were made having Engins that cast forth stones of great bigness and making bold and frequent sallies did very much mischief neither could the Sentence of Ottobon the Popes Legate who was there in the Camp nor the K. power any whit daunt them The K. therefore that those whose estates were thus by the Parliament at Winchester utterly confiscate and given away as I have already said should not through desperation betake themselves to such wayes of revenge as might have imbrewed the Kingdome in universal streams of blood for a long time of his gratious disposition advising with his Councel and the said Legat caused a convention of the Clergy and Laity of the Land here at Kenilworth who elected xii persons of the most potent Nobility and prudent Prelates to whom power was given to make a certain determination touching the estates of those that were disherited they being accordingly sworn to what might be most convenient Whereupon the K. with the Clergy and People before mentioned did likewise swear that they would inviolably observe the said Decree The persons thus chosen being Walter Bronescombe B. of Exeter Walter Giffard B. of Bath and Wells Walt. Cantilupe B. of Worcester ..... ..... B. of S. Davids Gilb. de Clare E. of Glouc. Humfrey de Bohun E. of Hereford Philip Basset Iohn Baliol Rob. Walraund Alan la Zouch Rog. de Somery and Waryn de Bassingburne the Articles whereof I shall not need to insert in regard that they are publickly printed but the substance of them was to this effect That every person disherited might redeem his lands by a pecuniary Fine according to the nature of his offence which Fine should be paid unto those that then possest them so that the same were not above 5 years value at the most nor under 2 at the least except the wife and children of the E. of Leicester concerning whom the K. referr'd himself to the K. of France and excepting Rob. Ferrers E. of Derby who was to pay 7 years value of his lands and excepting Henry de Hastings and those that maimed the K. Messenger who were to be imprisoned 7 years or submit to the K. mercy This was that memorable Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth by all our Historians and Records for in the K. Camp at the siege of this Castle was it by Proclamation published Prid. Kal. Nov. an 1266. 51 H. 3. though the persons elected met at Coventre in respect of conveniency for lodging and otherwise that could not be had in the Army And on the morrow after being the Feast of All Saints it was confirmed by all the Prelates of England not onely by their corporal Oaths but under their Seals which they being specially convocated by the Legate before mentioned affixed unto it Which Legate made publick Declaration thereof in the Pulpit of the Collegiat Church in Warwick the very next Sunday following the K. and his Councel with a great auditory of all states and degrees being then present These things being performed the K. forthwith sent special Messengers to the besieged in this Castle and to those that had fled and possest themselves of the Isle of Ely amongst which young Simon Montfort was one tendring them mercy upon the Articles before specified but they all returned answer that they would not submit thereto first because they had no voyce in choosing any of those that were makers of the Decree and secondly for that they held the Decree it self intolerable At which the K. being much moved took a firm resolution to storm the Castle and for that purpose by his special Writ bearing date 20 Nov. commanded the Shiriff of this Shire to bring in all the Masons and other Labourers within his precinct which we now call Pioners with their Hatchets Pick-axes and other Tools to meet at Northampton upon the day of S. Lucia the Virgin viz. 11 Dec. next following to receive his further commands therein but so it fell out that in short space not onely their Victual within the Castle grew very scant but a pestilent disease raged so amongst them that many dyed insomuch as the K. by special providence sending again to them and offering that if they did render it he would receive them to mercy they proposed that in case he were content they might send beyond Sea to Sim Montfort and receive a certain answer whether he could come to releive them by a fixed day or not they were resolved if he did not come accordingly to yeild it up and that in the mean time all acts of hostility on either part should cease Whereunto the K. advising with his Councel assented And the same agreement being proclaimed through his Army Messengers were accordingly dispatcht to Simon but the Fiux and other grievous diseases increased so much amongst those in the Castle that they which were not tainted were loth to hazard the infection and so before the Messengers return delivered the Castle upon Articles to the King viz. that Henry de Hastings then Governour with all the rest that were therein should have 4 dayes time to carry out all their goods and go freely away with Horse Arms and all accoutrements throughout any part of the Kingdome The principal persons that so held it besides the said H. de Hastings were Sir Iohn Hastang Lord of Lemington Ric. Amundevile Lord of Berkswell Sir Iohn de Clinton Lord of Colshill all in this County Sir Iohn de la Ware and Iohn de Eston every of whom with the rest had the K. Letters of safe conduct dated
which did exceed the value of ten Franks And if he or they hapned to take any prisoners he should not permit them to be ransomed without the consent of the said Earl or his son And lastly that himself with his Men and Horses should be upon all occasions shipt to and fro at the charge of the said Earl In 3. H. 4. he was Receivour generall to the same Earl and the same year joyned in Commission with the Shiriff for levying and collectâ—ng the Aid in this County for marriage of Blâ—nch the Ks. eldest daughter In 5. H. 4. he served as one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then holden And in 9. H. 4. was Surveyour of all the said Earles lands In 19. H. 6. he was one of the Commissioners appointed to treat with the people for a loan to the King In 20. one of the Knights for this Shire in Parliament And upon renewing the Commissions for the peace in this County from 17. till 27. H. 6. still joyned therein He was also Constable and Governour of Warwick-Castle and Supervisor of all the fishings pools and Swans belonging to Henry Duke of Warwick in this County and Stafford-shire In consideration whereof he had an annuity granted to him by the said Duke's Letters Pat. dated 5. Iunii 24. H. 6. And in 28. H. 6. in Commission about levying the Subsidy then granted to the King in Parliament So likewise from 30. H. 6. till 9. E. 4. upon all renewings of the Commissions for the Peace made one As also Squier of the body to the K. E. 4. and to Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick Surveyor of his lands And as his publick imployments were very great so were Iohn Hugford his son's whom I find in 34. H. 6. Steward to Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick As also a Justice of peace in this County from 1 E. 4. during the whole reign of that K. and of his brother K. Richard 3. as appears by the Records of their times This Iohn having been Shiriff of the Countyes of Warwick and Leic. in 12. and 18. E. 4. in consideration of the acceptable services which the said King acknowledged he had done was constituted Constable of Warwick-Castle as also Steward of Warwick and all the Lordships in this Shire then in the King hands in respect of the minority of Edward son to George Duke of Clarence by reason of the Earledome of Warwick Which office together with the place of Surveyour of all the Parks and Chases in this County King Richard 3. by his Letters Pat. dated 15. Nov. granted also to the said Iohn and Humfrey Beaufo esq in regard of the minority of the aforesaid Edward He was also a great Benefactor to the Abby of Stoneley as appears by the large quantity of land given thereunto by him lying in Ashoe and other places And having much augmented his fortune by the marriage of Margaret daughter and heir to Nicholas Metley as in Wolston and Merston I have shewed departed this life on the feast day of S. Nicholas the B. 1 H. 7. leaving issue by the said Margaret three daughters which were his heirs viz. Ioan marryed to Humfrey Beaufo of Bereford-S Iohn in Oxford-shire esq Alice to Richard Cotes esq and Anne to Gerard Danet esq upon the partition of whose lands this with Milverton came to Iohn Beaufo son and heir to Humfrey Beaufo above mentioned and Ioan the eldest daughter of the said Iohn Hugford Which Iohn in 20. H. 7. had livery of his inheritance without proof of his age that is to say of all the lands descended to him from Humfrey Beaufo his father Ioan his mother and Gerard Danet which Gerard was tenant by the curtesy to such lands as belong'd to Anne his wife another of the daughters and heires to the said Iohn Hugford and departing this life on Michaelmass day Anno 1516. 8 H. 8. lyeth buried together with the severall Hugfords before specified in the South part of the Collegiate Church at Warwick as their Monuments which I have here exactly represented do manifest From whom is lineally descended Henry Beaufo esq Lord of this Mannour Anno scil 1640. Willoughby HEre at Emscote it is that Avon is enlarged by the confluence of Leame which having its head in Northampton-shire about Bramiston and Daventre entreth Warwick-shire betwixt Wolfhamcote and Willoughby Touching its name I mean the etymologie it may seem to be derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifyeth a pool or lake for our antient Saxon language is affirmed by very learned men in both to have its originall from the Greek Neither is this conjecture improbable for as much as this River is of a muddy disposition having some standing holes in the nature of lakes or ponds in sundry places thereof And we find at this day that divers of those artificiall Rivers in Cambridg-shire antiently cut to drayn the Fens do bear the name of Leame as Watersey-leame New leame Morton's-leame c. being all muddy channells through which the water hath a dull and slow passage But leaving the better interpretation thereof to those that have more skill I come to Willoughby The occasion of this Towns name is evident enough the last syllable scil Bye in the old English signifying a Village as we use it in some sense to this day calling those orders which are made in a Court-Baron Bye-Laws id est the Town-Laws and the first willough importing that divers of such trees did antiently grow there In the Conq. time most of it was in the possession of Turchill de Warwick and the rest of Hugh Grentemaisnill howbeit the proportion which each had doth not directly appear for as much as it is in the Record confounded with other places But it is there written wilebere wilebej and wilebec which last if it were the originall name must be interpreted the willough-brook for Bee in the Saxon signifieth a little stream How it came into the Kings hands I have not seen but it seemes that King H. 1. possest it and enfeoft one Wigan his servant of 12. yard land here in Sergeanty then valued at xii li. which Sergeanty as well included lands in Dunchurch Thurlaston and Hulle as this viz. to find at his proper costs a man in harness for the Kings service with two Horses in every Army of his within England and wales Which Wigan held this willoughby all his life From whom it descended to Raph his son and heir and from Raph to Will and from Will to Ivo Which Ivo dying without issue it resorted to Thurstane his uncle who granted the whole Mannour with the advouson of the Church to the Hospitall of S. Iohn without the East-gate in Oxford founded by King Henry 3. in 17. of his raign ut ibidem infirmi peregrini suae remedium
Clement it came to Iohn Dunheved in right of Christian his wife heir to the said William Which Iohn upon the death of the then Incumbent had a purpose to have entred upon the rights of the Church howbeit the Abbot of Pipwell being advertised thereof got a great number of men Horse and foot and kept possession of it by force whereupon the said Iohn forbore to prosecute his intention yet afterwards the Monks and he came to an Agreement so that with Christian his wife he did by a Fine in 31 H. 3. quit his right in the advouson thereof to the said Monks Within the precincts of this Lordship was the same Wâ—gan of whom I have spoke in Willoughby enfeof't by K. H. 2. with 8. yard land whose son Raph bestowed upon these Monks of Pipwell 7. yard land and a half thereof giving the residue to the Church of this place In consideration whereof the said Monks made him partaker of all the Prayers and benefits of their Order and covenanted to receive him to be a Monke in their Covent or else his brother in case either of them should be willing to live a regular life And besides all this gave unto him 27â— marks of silver to his mother 2. Cows with Calves to Thurstane his brother a Horse and to Wygan his other brother xii d. Which Monks having so large a portion did in 11 E. 1. inter alia obtain a Charter of Free-warren in all their demesn-lands here In 28 E. 1. two parts of this Mannour were setled by the before specified Iohn Dunheved upon himself and Eustachia his wife for their lives the remainder to Stephen their son Which Iohn in 29. E. 1. with divers other persons of note had summons to attend the K. with Horse and Armes at Barwick upon Twede on the feast day of the Nativity of S. Io. Bapt. to march against the Scots To this Iohn succeeded Iohn his younger son Stephen being dead as it seems who in 11 E. 2. entred into Covenants with Sir Iohn Peche Kt. Lord of Hampton in Arden to prosecute suit at the costs charges of the said Sir Iohn touching this and other Mannours as his right by inheritance against whomsoever should lay claym thereto and having cleared his title to enfeoff the said Sir Iohn Peche of them to the use of him the said Sir Iohn and his heirs In consideration whereof the same Sir Io. covenanted to find provide for the said Io. Dunheved during his life a Robe of the same suite that he gave his Esquiers and in time of peace to furnish him with a Horse a Groom in such sort as he allowed to the rest of his servants of that rank but in Warr with two Horses and Grooms and one Horse armed in like fashion as he did to others paying to him the said Iohn x li. per annum quarterly at Hampton in Arden before specified Which Agreement bears date the Sunday after S. Luke the Evangelist the year before mentioned After this viz. in 19 E. 2. I find that Edm. de Verdon and Agnes his wife did by their deed dated 16. Sept. grant to the said Sir Iohn Peche and Alianore his wife and the heirs of their bodyes lawfully begotten this Mannour of Dunchurch but how Verdon came to any title therein appears not And that in 4 E. 3. Iohn Dunheved levyed a Fine thereof to the uses of the said Sir Iohn Peche and Alianore and the heirs of their two bodyes and for default of such issue to Nich. Peche son to the said Sir Iohn for life but after his decease to the right heires of the same Sir Iohn In whose family it continued so long as the male line lasted and then by Margaret one of the daughters and heirs to the last Sir Iohn came to Sir William Montfort of Colshill Knight to whose posterity it remained till the attainded of Sir Simon Montfort in 10 H. 7. Of which families viz. Peche and Montfort I shall peak historically when I come to Hampton in Arden and Colshill in Hemlingford-Hundred But then eâ—cheating to the Crown was by King H. 7. given to Girald Earl of Kildare and Eliz. S. Iohn his wife and to the heirs male of their bodyes 25. Aug. 12 H. 7. And by another Patent dated 20. Iulii 18 H. 7. confirmed whereby also Free-warren was granted to them therein which King H. 8. likewise ratified By vertue of which entail it divolved to Sir Iames Fitz Gerald Knight one of his sons by the said Eliz. S. Iohn But by attainder of the said Sir Iames in 28 H. 8. again resorted to the Crown and in 32 H. 8. was granted to Sir Sir Iohn Fitz Williams Knight and his heirs From which Sir Iohn it came very suddainly to one Anthony Stringer of London to whom I find that King H. 8. in 35. of his reign granted in lieu thereof and other lands which he then had of him in exchange the site of the Priorâ— of S. Margarets near Marlborough in Wilt-shire After which it stayd in the Crown till Queâ—n Marie's time and then was passed in 1. â— of her raign to ...... Smyth and others who the same year aliened it to Sir Rouland Hill and Sir Tho. Leigh Aldermen of London And so being by partition betwixt the said Sir Rouland and Sir Thomas allotted inter alia to the said Sir Thomas was setled upon Sir William Leigh his younger son which Sir William had issue Sir Francis who in 18. Iac. obtained a speciall Pat. for a Court-Leet to be yearly held within this Lordshâ—â— Fâ—â—m whom it is descended to Francis Lord Dunsmore his son and heir now living An. scil 1640. That which the Monks of Pipwell had here came in time also to have the reputation of a Mannour and in 3. 4. Ph. Mar. was granted out of the Crown to the said Sir Rouland Hill and Sir Thomas Leigh and their heirs and so upon the same partition being assigned to Sir Tho. Leigh is enjoyed by the Lord Dunsmore as abovesaid The Church dedicated to S. Peter being given to the Monks of Pipwell as I have already shewed was appropriated to that Monastery by Ric. Peche B. of Cov. in H. 2. time and the Vicaridge endowed by Alex. Savensby his successor an 1220. 13 H. 3. at which time there was x li. per ann reserved to be payd out of the fruits of the Rectory to the Cathedrall of Lich. for ever In an 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xv marks per an over above the xv marks yearly Pension payable to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield the Vicaridge at lx s. But in 26 H. 8. at xiv li. xxii d. over above viii s. yearly allowed for Procurations and Synodals Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. Cov. Lich. Lambertus de Hale Cap. 8. Cal.
comitatus and then those whose councel they used in war and peace were termed Comites c. In processe of time when the Empire of the Romans became rent into many pieces this title yet was retained and our English Saxons called them in English 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men as Ethelward writeth by which name somewhat mollified they are called of us at this day Earles And further to confirm that they had the name of Comites for such their attendance upon the K. Ioh. Sâ—risburiensis who wrote in H. 2. dayes testifieth Comites saith he à societatis participatione dâ—ci quisquis ignorat ignarus est literarum quas literalis institutio primas tradere consuevit And much to the same purpose is that expression of Bracton Comites quia à comitatu sive à societate nomen sumpserunt qui etiam dici possunt Consules à consulendo Reges enim tales sibi associant ad regendum populum Dei ordinantes eos in magno honore pâ—testate nomine quando accingunt eos gladiis id est ringis gladiorum c. Now for the Jurisdiction that they had I shall be bold to declare something thereof out of Mr. Selden's expressions Ealdormen or Earles had it seems saith he Iurisdiction in their Earldoms or the Territories that denominated them but so that if the whole Territory were the Ealderman's own as in the case of Ethelred Ealdorman of Mereland under K. Alfred and K. Edw. the elder then the Courts held and the profits of the Iurisdiction were to his own use and benefit but if he had not the Territory that denominated him but onely some particular revenew in it belonging to his dignity then it seems his Iurisdiction and Courts saving perhaps in those possessions which were his own were held by him to the K. use and benefit that is he commonly supplied the immediate office which the Sheriffs have regularly used to do in the Counties that are not Palatine c. And in K. Etheldred's Laws publish't by Mr. Lambert there is direct proof that the Ealderman or Earle was usually a temporal Judge immediate to the K. But for particular instances of their judicial power in probat of Wills Judgements in cases of title to Land and causes Criminal I shall refer my Reader to the relation of that learned person adding onely this notable testimony out of the Laws of King H. 1. sicut antiqua fuerat institutione formatum salutari Regis imperio vera nuper est recordatione firmatum generalia Comitum placita cert is locis vicibus diffinito tempore per singulas provincias Angliae conveniri debere nec ullis ultra sagitationibus fatigari nisi propria Regis necessitate vel commune regni commodum saepe adjiciat Intersint autem Episcopi Comites Vice Comites Vicarii Centenarii Aldermanni Praefecti Praepositi Barones Vavasâ—res Tungrevii caeteri terrarum domini diligenter intendentes ne malorum impunitas aut graviorum pravitas vel Iudicum subversio solitâ miseros laceratione conficiant Agantur itaque primò debita verae Christianitatis jura secundò Regis placita postremo causae singulorum dignis satisfactionibus expleantur But I will forbear to enlarge my self further on this subject and descend to our reputed Earles of the Saxon race whereof the first that my Author mentions is Rohand This man being a famous Warriour and inricht with great possessions lived in the dayes of K. Alfred and K. Edw. the elder and left issue one onely daughter named Felicia that married unto Guy son of Siward Baron of Wallingford who in her right became Earle of Warwick the memory of which Guy for his great valour hath ever since been and yet is so famous that the vulgar are of opinion he was a man of more then ordinary stature and the Welch taking notice of his brave exploits will needs have him to be descended from Brittish parentage but of his particular adventures least what I say shoâ—ud be suspected for fabulous I will onely instance that Combate betwixt him and the Danish Champion Colebrand whom some to magnifie our noble Guy the more report to have been a Giant The storie whereof however it may be thought fictitious by some forasmuch as there be those that make a question whether there was ever really such a man or if so whether all be not a dream which is reported of him in regard that the Monks have sounded out his praises so hyperbolically yet those that are more considerate will neither doubt the one nor the other inasmuch as it hath been so usual with our ancient Historians for the encouragement of after-ages unto bold attempts to set forth the exploits of worthy men with the highest encomiums imaginable And therefore should we for that cause be so conceited as to explode it all History of those times might as well be viliâ—ied And having said thus much to encounter with the prejudicate fancies of some and the wayward opinions of others I come to the story which from certain Authors of good credit is in substance as followeth In the third year of K. Athelstan which hapned in An. 926 the Danes having invaded England cruelly wasted the Countreys where they marcht so that there was scarce a Town or Castle that they had not burnt or destroyed almost as far as Winchester and hearing that the K. with his nobles then was in that Citie consulting about some timely means to prevent the utter losse of all they sent messengers to him proposing that either he would forthwith resign his Crown to the Danish Generals viz. Aulafe and Govelaph or submit to hold this Realm of them doing homage and fealty and paying tribute according to their appointment or lastly that the whole dispute for the Kingdom should be determined in a single Combat by two Champions for both sides this being added by Aulafe that if in that Duel K. Athelstan's Champion had the victory he would presently depart the land with his Army but otherwise without any more ado it should wholly belong to the Danes Of which proposals K. Athelstan accepted the last and calling together his Nobles offered that Province viz. Hantshire for a reward to him that should conquer the Danish Champion called Colbrand and to the end that God would direct him in the choice of one to undertake this Combate he enjoyned a Fast for 3. dayes in which with earnest prayers and abundant tears he besought his favour But in this choice the English were exceedingly astonisht forasmuch as one Heraud a most valiant hardy K nt of this Nation was then beyond Sea seeking after Reynburn the son of his Lord and master Earle Guy that had been stolen away by Merchants of a forreign Countrey in his infancy As also that Earle Rohand the most valiant of a thousand was dead and that the same Guy a man of extraordinary courage and skill in martiall feats shortly after his marriage
books of their own language invited him to his Palace and Royally feasting him presented him with three pretious stones of great value besides divers clothes of silk and gold given to his servants where this Baltredam told him privately that he faithfully believed as he did though he durst not discover himself and rehearsed the Articles of the Creed But on the morrow he feasted Sir Baltredams servants and gave them scarlet with other English Cloth which being shewed to Sir Baltredam he returned again to him and said he would wear his livery and be Marshall of his Hall whereupon he gave Sir Baltredam a Gown of black puke furred and had much discourse with him for he was skilfull in sundry languages From Hierusalem he came back to Uenice and was there nobly received Thence travailed he into Russia Lituania Poland Prussiaâ— Westphalia as also some Countreyes of Germany shewing great valour in divers Tourneaments whilst he was in those parts and no sooner returned into England but that he was by Indenture bearing date 2 Oct. 12 H. 4. retained with Henry Prince of Wales afterwards King by the name of H. 5. to serve him aswell in times of Peace as War both in this Realm upon and beyond the Seas for CCL marks per an to be payd out of the Prince his Exchequer at Kaermardyn at Easter and Michaelmass by even portions and whensoever he should be in the said Prince his Court to have 4. Esquiers and 6. Yeomen with him and dyet there for them all Provided that the said Prince in service of Warr should have the third part of what he got in battail and the third of the thirds of what his men at Armes should gain And in case he took any great Commander Fort or Castle the Prince likewise to have them giving him reasonable satisfaction Nay he stood in such high esteem with that heroik Prince that against his Coronation he was for his wisdom and industry as the words of the Charter import constituted high Steward of England for that solemnity And in the second year of his raign when the Sect of Lollards being much increased in all parts of the Realm through the doctrine of Wickliff and others had conspired to seize upon the K. and his brothers with divers other persons of quality and to murther them as my Author affirmeth as also to destroy the Monasteries and Prelates and to share their possessions he forthwith armed himself and gave great assistance to the subduing of them After which he was retained by Indenture bearing date 19. Iunii 3. H. 5. to serve the K. as Captain of Caleys from the 6. day of .......... in 2. H. 5. till Febr. 3. An. 1416. 4. H. 5. to have with him in the time of truce or peace for the safeguard thereof during the time before limited xxx men at Arms sc. Horsmen himself and 3. Knights accounted as part of the number xxx Archers on hors-back CC. foot Souldiers and CC. Archers all of his own retinue besides ten men at Arms and x. Archers on hors-back belonging to the Treasurer of Caleys all which were to be at his command in every thing touching the safe-guard of that place For which service he was himself to receive vi s. viii d. per diem for his Knights ii s. a piece for the rest of his horse xii d. for every Archer on horsback and foot Souldier viii d. and for every Archer on foot vi d. per diem for their wages In which Town there was also to be at the Kings charges xl Cross-bow-men xx Carpenters and v. Masons besides Bowyers with other Officers and Pensioners And in time of war was he to have Cxl. men at Arms on hors-back himself and ix Knights accounted part Cl. Archers on hors-back C. foot Souldiers Clxxxiiii Archers on foot and 4. Scouts on hors-back for his own retinue over and above xx men at Arms and x. Archers on hors-back as also x. Archers on foot belonging to the said Treasurer besides Balisters Carpenters c. Whereupon he soon hasted to Caleys and with the more speed because he heard the French were raising great forces against that place and there was recived with solemne Procession but when he understood that those forces bent another way he resolved to practise some new point of Chevalry causing three Shields to be made and in each of them a Lady painted The first harping at the end of a bedsted with a grate of Gold on her left slieve and her Knight called the green Knight with a black quarterâ— who was ready to just with any Knight of France xii courses having two Shields of purveyance and his Letter sealed with the Seal of his Arms the field silver a manch gules The second Pavice or Shield had a Lady sitting at a covered bord working Pearls and on her sheve a glove of plate â—acâ—ed her Knight being called Chivalier Vâ—rt having his Letter sealed with these Arms the field silver two bars of gules who was to Just xv courses and that should be Saddles of Chains The third Pavice had a Lady sitting in a Garden making a Chaplet and on her slieve a Poleyn with a rivet her Knight being called Chivaliâ—r attendant who with his fellow must run and course with sharp Spears his Letter being sealed with gold and gules quarterly and a border Vert which Letters were sent to the Kings Court of France where 3. French Knights received them and promised their fellows to meet at a day and place assigned whereof the first was a Knight called Sr. Gerard Herbaumes who called himself le Chivalier rouge the 2. a famous Knight named Sir Hugh Launey calling himself le Chivalier blank and the third a Knight named Sir Collard Fines twelf-Twelf-day in Christmasse being appointed for the time that they should meet in a Laund called the Park-hedge of Gynes On which day this Earle came into the field with his face covered a plume of ostrich feathers upon his Helm and his Horse trapt with the Lord Toney's Arms one of his Ancestors viz. Arg. a manch gules where first encountring with the Chivalier Rouge at the third course he unhorst him and so return'd with close vizor unknown to his Pavilion whence he sent to the said Knight a good Courset The next day also he came into the field with his Vizor close a Chaplet on his Helm and a Plume of Ostrich feathers aloft his Horse trapt with the Arms of Hanslap viz. silver 2. bars gules where he met with the blank Knight with whom he encountred smote of his Vizor thrice brake his Besagurs and other Harneys and returned victoriously to his Pavilion with all his own habiliments safe and as yet not known to any from whence he sent this blank Knight Sir H. Launey a good Courser But the morrow after viz. the last day of the Justs he came with his face open and his Helmet as the day before save
although it sufficed not to bear out any bad attempt of his own as my Author observeth yet was it of force to cross the evill purposes of others and therefore speeches were cast out that he caused himself to be proclaimed King in divers Counties and much more layd in charge against him by Northumberland's contrivance who when he came to his tryall was one of his Peers upon which Triall though they acquitted him of Treason yet did they find him guilty of Felony whereupon he had Judgment to be hang'd never remembring to crave the benefit of his Clergy which is by some observ'd to be a just Judgment of God upon him for having so much wronged the Church and all learning and had his head smitten off upon a scaffold on Tower-hill After this 't was not long ere infirmities seized upon the King from whom Northumb. was little absent to ordering the matter that whil'st he languish't Guilford Dudley his 4. son did marry with the Lady Iane Grey eldest daughter to Henry Duke of Suff. by Frances daughter to Mary second sister to King H. 8. and that a Patent was sealed for the said Lady Iane's succession to the Crown for drawing whereof in excâ—uding his two sisters with fair pretences the assistance of the Lord chief Justice Mountagu and Secretary Cecill was used which Letter 's were subscribed by alâ— the Privy Councell the greatest part both for number and power of the Nobility the Kings learned Councell and all the Judges at the Common Law except Sir Iames Hales one of the Justices of the Common Pleas some being guided with particular interest for that they were possest of so much Monastery and Chantry lands which if Religion should be altered through Qu. Maryes coming to the Crown they might be in danger to loose and others by fear of or obligation to the Duke of Northumberland then so potent and almost absolute in government of the State that 't was supposed he could make any title good either by his authority or his sword And having now thus designed to himself the power of a King for no less would he have had if the Lady Iane had been Queen he contrived to get the Lady Mary into his hands causing K. Edw. to write his Letters for her coming to him in his sickness but she being made sensible of the device when she was within half a days journey of London directed her course another way after which the King immediatly dyed whereupon Northumb. causes the Lady Iane to be proclaimed Queen but the tide of the peoples affections bending to Mary the Kings eldest sister she is likewise proclaimed first by the Citizens of Norwich and afterwards in Buck. and Northampton-shires neither was there want of numbers in severall parts that began to put themselves in Armes on her behalf So that 't was no sitting still now Northumberland therefore being Queen Iane's Champion with a Commission under the great Seal marcheth out with 600. Horse to suppress any power that should appear for Queen Mary having a promise from the Lords of more forces to be sent after him but such a change did he perceive in the affections of his own Souldiers whereof many forsook himâ— that to daub up the matter he returns to Cambridge and there without either Herauld or Trumpet accompanyed with the Maior and Marquess of Northampton proclaimes Queen Mary himself in the Market-place and in token of joy threw up his Cap. All which would not now secure him for the very next day the Earl of Arundell coming thithither from the Queen arrested him of Treason whence he was with his three sons Iohn Ambrose and Henry convey'd to the Tower of London and from that place ere long to his arraignment where being condemn'd for a Traitor he suffered death at Tower-hill the 22. of Aug. and was buried in the Tower Church by Iohn Cock then Lancaster-Herauld who having been his old servant was willing to shew some respect to him dead from whom living he had received so much favour and therefore begg'd his Head onely of the Queen that he might bury it in the Tower upon which suit he had his wholy body also granted Our Historians that write of his death do say that at his end he profest the Roman Religion and I have heard that for a witness of his Faith he vouch't Dr. Heath Archbishop of York afterwards Lord Chancelour yet was he so much blinded by ambition that apprehending the alteration of Religion to be the chief means whereby he might accomplish his worldly ends he told Sir Anthony Brown afterward Visc Mountacute when he moved him for restoring the Roman Religion â—hat albeit he knew the same Religion to be true yet seeing a new Religion was begun Run Dog run Devill he would go forwards One thing have I further to observe of him which is that being arrived to such a pitch of honour and greatness he was not content with those vast possessions that he had by the bounty of the K. and his own just acquisition but finding Iohn Lord Dudley grandfather to the last Baron to be a weak man whereby he had exposed himself to some wants and so became entangled within the Usurers bonds made those money-merchants his Instruments to work him out of Dudley-Castle which Usurers accordingly getting a mortgage of part of his lands let in such room for the Duke to put in a foot that he soon justled him out of his Castle and Barony so that the poor Lord being thus turn'd out of dore and left to the Charity of his friends for a subsistence spent the rest of his days in making visits amongst them with whom he usually stayed according as he found welcome being commonly called the Lord Quondam but so soon as Queen Mary had taken off the Dukes head she bestowed the Castle of Dudley and all the lands which belong'd to the quondam Lord upon Edward his son and heir who had wedded Katherine Bridges daughter to Sir Iohn Bridges Knight Lord Chandois one of her maids of Honour During the time that this our Earl of Warwick was so possest of Dudley-Castle it being a place that he thirsted after in regard of his name and for the honourableness of the House and seat from which he was desirous the world should believe he was descended for he had thrust into his titles Dux Northumbriae Comes Warwici Mareschallus Angliae Vâ—cecomes L'isle Baro de Somery Basset Tyase Dominus de Dudley praenobilis Ordinis Garterii miles Magnus Magister Seneschallus Hospitii regis he made great repairs there and built that stately fabrick within the walls thereof on the North part which was called the New work adorn'd the Gate-house tower with the Armes of Malpas Someri and the Lyon rampant by him assumed for Sutton's coat fairly cut in large shields of stone and fixt in the wall just over the Port cullice By Iane daughter and
send him in four Butsueins id est Mariners or 4 lib. in money That it was by the Conquerour granted to Henry de Newburgh upon his advancement to the Earldom of Warwick is manifest enough though the particular Charter if he had any whereby iâ— was so given appears not for I find that the same Henry conferred the tenth of the Toll thereof upon William one of his Priests as also that Earl Roger son to the said Henry for the health of his soul gave likewise iv li. x s. of his Rent out of it unto one Iohn a Priest And by the Inquis taken after the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick 9 E. 2. it appears that he held the same with the Suburbs and Castle of the King in Capite per servitium Comitatus which no doubt was the service whereby K. Will. granted it unto the before-specified Henry the first Earl of the Norman line In 16. H. 2. it answered v. marks for Pleas concealed In 31 H. 3. upon setling divers Mannours part of the Earldom of Warwick upon Iohn de Plessets for life who had married Margerie the sister and heir to Thomas the last Earl the Mannour for by that name it is termed was one Which Iohn de Plessets being Earl by his Charter bearing date the Friday next after the Feast of S. Mathew the Apostle in 45 H. 3. granted to the Burgesses of this place a Fair here for 3. days with immunity that all comers thereto should be quit of Toll for six years and if any man did commit an offence within the compass of the said Fair to be amerced by the said Earl's Bayliff and xii lawfull Burgesses And in case any stranger repairing thither at such time should set up a Stall of xii foot upon the bare ground to pay vi d. for the same howbeit the Inhabitants to erect Stalls at their pleasure In 4 E. 1. it was certified that there was a piece of ground lying in the Suburbs of this Borough held of the K. by the service of four Horshoos for the Ks. Courser when he came to his Mannour of Stoneley which piece of ground the Prior of Asheby then held And in 7 E. 1. it appears that Will. de Beauchamp then Earl of Warwick held the before specified Borough of the K. in Capite and that he had here a yearly Fair lasting 8. days before the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula and 8. days after as also a Mercate every week upon the Wednsday and .... valued at xxiiii li. per an And moreover a Pillory and Tumbrell with a Court upon the Munday every week wherein Duell for felony might be waged the profits of which Court were then valued at x. Marks Which Earl in 13 E. 1. being questioned by what authority he claimed to have a Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beere in this place pleaded Prescription whereupon the same was allowed And in 18 E. 1. obtained the Kings Charter bearing date 25. Aug. for himself and his heirs to have another Fair here yearly to last for xv days viz. the Even Day and Morrow after the Feast of the Apostles St. Peter Paul and xii days following About the later end of whose reign the Pavement of this town was first bâ—gun and so much of its Walls as now appear towards the support of which charge Guy de Beauchamp the then Earl procured a Patent for the receiving of a certain Toll upon all vendible commodities that should be brought hither to sell for the space of seaven years viz. for every quarter of corn a half peny for every Horse Mare Oxe and Cow a half-peny for every hide of Horse Mare Oxe or Cow tan'd or not tan'd a farthing and so of all other things more or less which for brevity I omit It seems that this work of Walling and Paving was not perfected according to their mindes within the compasse of that time so limited for I finde that in 8. E. 2. the same Earle had another Patent for receiving of certain proportions of Toll by the space of three years longer towards the same charge Neither did those three years accomplish what they had an intent to do for in 6. E. 3. Thom. de Beauchamp the then Earle got a third Pat. for taking of Toll to the like purposes by the space of 7. years which Thomas in 24. E. 3. had a Charter of Free-warren granted to him in all his demesne lands here Howbeit besides the Toll taken for sustaining the charges before specified the Earls it seems successively had another proportion upon certain vendible commodities which being apprehended over-burthensome by Merchants Tradesmen who brought their wares hither occasioned them to forsake the Mercate and carry their commodities to other places whereby the Inhabitants of this place had much prejudice the said Earle therefore bearing a great respect to their weal and advantage at the request of the Lady Katherine his Countesse and for the health of his Soul as also the Souls of his Ancestors by his special Charter bearing date on the Feast day of the Circumcision of our Lord 32. E. 3. freed them for the future from any manner of Toll Terrage or Stallage due to him either by long prescription or any grant from the Kings of this Realm unto him or his Ancestors The next thing that in order of time I finde memorable is that in 48. E. 3. the Inhabitants of this Town for the repair of the great Bridge here over Avon had a Pat. to take Custom of all vendible Commodities that should passe over it into Warwick for the space of 3. years viz. of every Hors-load of Corn a farthing of every Cart-load as much of every Horse Mare Oxe or Cow a farthing c. with a certain rate likewise upon all other things And at the end of the said three years had they another Patent for continuing the like imposition for three yeares more yet all this would not do for after those 3. years were ended they had the same renewed for three years longer After which viz. in 1. H. 5. the Fair at Michaelmasse being found inconvenient was by a new Charter changed to the Even Day and morrow after the Feast of St. Bartholmew the Apostle That this being an eminent Borough sent usually two Burgesses to the Parl. as anciently as any other did I am induced to believe in regard I find that in 28. E. 1. the Major and Bailiffs of Warwick for by that name it seems they were then called had command to allow unto Will. de Stodeley and Philip le Rous reasonable expences for their service in the Parl. held at Westm. that year Howbeit after that time scil 1. E. 3. the Ks. Mandates are to the Bayliffs for making such allowance of the Burgesses expences without any mention of Major But when it was that the principal
All Saints accordingly an sc. 1128. 29. H. 1. And united and annext the Churches above specified unto this Colledge of our Lady to be possest by the same Dean and Canons for their own proper behoof as also by Thomas Archb. of Canterbury commonly called St. Thomas by Pope Eugenius the 3. Adrian the 4. King H. 1. and other succeeding Bishops Canonicus Secularis Little can I say touching this sort of Canons for as much as they were no other than Priests and called Secular in regard they performed the Offices of such in serving the world by administring to lay people upon all occasions whereas those as lived Regularly did not so do Neither had they their diet or lodging in common like the Monks and Regular Canons but habitations apart and their maintenance several by distinct shares called Prebendaries assigned unto them as those in our Collegiate and Cathedral Churches even till these times used to have their habite not differing as by this here represented from an ancient Monumental Portraiture in brasse still remaining upon a Marble in the body of this Church may be seen Of which kinde were those that before King Edgar's time had got footing in divers of our Monasteries but through the advice of St. Dunstan â— and power of that devout Monarch were ejected and the Monks again restored consonant to the minde of their pious founders Much ado there was betwixt the Dean and Canons of this Church and the Prior of S. Sepulchers in Warwick the said Prior making claim to a right in this Parish but these differences were at length determined by Pope Adrian the 4. about the beginning of K.H. 2. reign and the right therein adjudg'd to the said Dean Canons all which was afterwards confirm'd by other Popes and Bishops In 8. E. 3. T. de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick out of the great respect he bore to this Collâ—dge of Priests gave them the perpetual advouson of the Church of Pillerton-Hercy in this County which was approriated thereto for augmentation of their maintenance in An. 1341. 15. E. 3. But such was the regardlesness of the rights belonging to this Church by those that had to do in the government thereof that in processe of time it received no small losse by the alienation of a great part of its possessions till Will. Wirleseâ— B. of Worcester afterwards Archb. of Canterbury moved thereto by the said Earle restored unto it the greatest part of those ancient rights which before it had howbeit by that Instrument it appears that whereas the Pâ—iory of S. Sepulchers in Warwick was founded where the Churches of S. Sepulchers and S. Helens stood and that the Church of Gretham in Rutland had been very anciently appropriated to the said Priory of S. Sepulchers in consideration whereof the Canons of that House perpetually found at their charge one Sub-Deacon to serve in the said Collegiate Church there was an impossibility of restoring them thereto As also whereas the Churches of S. Iohn S. Michaell S. Laurence S. Peter and S. Iames all standing within the Precincts of this Town whereof the most wanted Church-yards for Sepulture and the rest were grown ruinous there was no necessity at all of repairing them forasmuch as this Collegiate Church had capacity sufficient to receive all the inhabitants coming thereto and the Church-yard spacious enough for to bury their dead that from thenceforth they should constantly come to this Church there to make their Processions and hear Divine service as heretofore upon Sundays and Festivals in acknowledgement of subjection thereto it being the mother Church they had used to do and have sepulture in the Church-yard there in regard that by this Decree and Constitution all other places within the compasse of this Town except the Church Church-yard of S. Nicholas were thenceforth prohibited from having any Ecclesiastick burial in them Which Decree and Constitution whereby also several Pensions are assigned out of the revenews belonging to the Colledge for the Canons-resident differing in proportion from the non-resident bears date at Hertlebury 24. Dec. An. 1367. 41. E. 3. After this divers eminent persons became Benefactors thereto viz. Sir Will. Beauchamp Knight a younger son to the before specified Earle who in March 15. R. 2. gave the advouson of the Church of Spellesbury in Oxfordsh for augmentation of their maintenance to the intent that they should pray for the good estate of K. Ric. 2. Q. Anne his consort and for their Souls after their departure out of this world as also for the good estate of him the said Sir Will. and Dame Ioane his wife during this life and for their Souls afterwards together with the Souls of the said Kings Progenitors his own Ancestors and all the faithfull deceased which Church was appropriated thereto 18. Martii the same year And in April following Thomas B. then E. of Warw. elder brother to the said Sir Will. considering that this Coll. Church so founded by his noble Ancestors was not sufficiently endowed did for the good estate of the said K. and Q. of himself and the Lady Margaret his wife Sir Will. Beauchamp his brother and Dame Ioane his wife as also of all their children during this life and for their Souls after their departures out of this world together with the Souls of their Progenitors Ancestors and all the faithfull deceased bestow upon the said Dean and Canons and their Successors in further enlargement of their maintenance half an Acre of Land in Haselore with the perpetual patronage of that Church a quarter of an Acre of Land in Wolfhamcote with the advouson of the Church both in this County and a quarter of an Acre of Land in Wytlesford in Cambridgesh with the advouson of that Church which said Churches were appropriated accordingly viz. that of Wytlesford in Dec. following that of Haselore in Oct. 18. R. 2. and that of Wolfhamcote in Nov. 19. R. 2. And upon the Feast day of S. Michael 18. R. 2. did the before specified Sir Will. Beauchamp then stiled Lord Bergavenny give further to this Coll. Church half an Acre of Land in Chadsley-Corbet in Com. Wigorn. with the advouson of the Church to be appropriated thereunto to pray for the good estate of himself and Dame Ioane his wife Tho. E. of Warwick his brother Margaret his wife as also for their Children during this life and for their Souls after their departure hence which Church was accordingly appropriated in Octob. following And notwithstanding all this the said Earle thinking their endowment too slender by his Charter bearing date 20. Sept. 19. R. 2. gave thereunâ—o his Mannour of Haseloure in this County And not onely perfected the work of that stately Quire begun by his Father in the mid'st whereof his said fathers and mothers Monument doth stand but built anew the whole body of the
annos Sexcentosque dies Octobris bis quoque denos Cum lenti crebros morbi perpessa labores Ante diem periit summoque in flore puellis Elizabetha Annaque tenella prole relictis Quodque unum potuit supremum pignus amoris Hoc conjux dedit signavit carmine marmor 1591. On a plate of brasse fixt in the wall neer the Chapter-house dore upon which are also the portraictures of a man and his wife in gownes Of your charite give thanks for the soules of Thomas Oken and Ioane his wyff on whose soules Iesus hath mercy Iesus hath mercy Amen Remember the charyte for the pore for ever Anno Domini M. CCCCClxxiii And here before I proceed further with these Monumentall Inscriptions I must not omit to point at the particular pious works of the same Thomas Oken who having been born in this Borough of very mean parentage and exercising the trade of a Mercer by Gods blessing upon his industry purchased lands here as also in Badsley Beusale and Harbury in this County of good value which by his deed dated 1. Ian. 13 Eliz. he past unto certain Feoffees by whom they were so setled as that out of the profits thence arising there should be yearly payd towards the increase of the head School-masters wages xl Sol. and as much to the under School-master 4 li. to the poor of Warwick viz. at Christmass 40 s. and at Easter 40 s. For 4. Sermons every year 40 s. To six poor Almesfolk that he appointed to be placed in three of his Houses for ever 24. s. a piece with six black Gowns of Rugg or Cotton◠Appointing that the Collectors of the Rents issuing out of those lands should once every year give up their Accompts to the same Feoffees in the presence of the Bayliff and Burgesses of Warwick and a Sermon to be preach't upon that day for which the Preacher to have vi s. viii d. and the Bayliff with the rest xx s. for a dinner But besides all this by his last Will and Testament bearing date 24. Nov. the year abovesaid whereby he disposed his body to be buryed neer St. Anne's Altar within this Church and those portraitures in brass of himself and his wife with the Inscription before inserted to be made did he give xxx li. to be distributed to the poor by xii d. a piece Ten pounds to 30. poor maydens to their mariages viz. vi s. viii d. a piece 100 li. to the Town of Warwick to buy land to enlarge their Common wherewith they purchased a piece of ground called Michaell's piece And to the Bayliff and Burgesses severall pieces of plate which ever since have been transmitted from each Bayliff to his successour To the Bayliff and Aldermen of Stratford and their successours he also gave 40 li. to be set out to eight honest Tradesmen within that Town viz. 5 li. a man for three or four years together at eight pence in the pound whereof the one half to go to the poor the other to the same Bayliff and his brethren to pay 3 s. 4 d. unto a Minister that shall preach unto them a Sermon the rest they themselves to make merry with and at the end of their mirth give God thanks and say the Lords Prayer The like bequest made he to the town of Banbury and dyed 30. Iulii Anno 1573. 15 Eliz. Upon a Tablet at the upper end of the North Isle over the Chapter-house dore Nomine non natura Patri Fishero Generoso quondam hujus Burgi Senescallo prudentissimo Supervisori sagacissimo Auditori fidelissimo Gulielmus Spicerus cùm adoptione tùm affectione filius rude hoc Monumentum filialis pietatis documentum posuit non sine luctu Upon another Tablet hanging on the East side of the uppermost pillar in the North I le NICHOLAS IFFELER Borne at Ozenbrigge in the Province of Westphalia in Germany as a travailing Pilgrim upon earth did leave his native Countrey and made a free Denizen in England inhabited here within this Borough of Warwick where using the mistery of a Glasier painfully and walking in his vocation uprightly God so blessed the increase of his goods and good name that he was preferred to be one of the principall Burgesses of this Borough who for a short time enjoying that place shewing himself an example worthy of imitation in sincere Religion and charitable devotion did give order for the erection of an Hospitall for the necessary and continuall relief of eight poor persons and bestowed likewise another portion of his lands for the further benefit of this Borough And then departing out of this earthly tabernacle unto the celestiall Hierusalem bequeathed his soule to God through his mercy of him to be received his body to the earth here to be buried and his good name to posteritye continually to be remembred who lived and dyed the faithfull servant of Christ upon the 14. day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord God 1591. of his age 80. Via sine devio vita sine termino est mihi Christus In a plate of brass fixt on the pillar by the Pulpit Hic jacet Margareta Uxor Gulielmi Vyner quae certa spe in Christo resurgendi piè placidèque Deo animam reddidit 24. die Iulii anno Domini 1609. Upon the wall on the South side the Church Hic sepulta jacet Israel Uxor Iohannis Norton generosi quae xxix die Novembris Anno Domini 1615. spiritum emisit suum cujus juxta tam religiosam integramque in vitae totius suae erga omnes cursu semitam incessus cum fideli piaque emigratione sua certissimè testatus est quae cordi sunt obsignavit aeternam in per Iesum Christum super se esse pacem misericordiam ut super Israelem Dei. Vita qualis Finis talis Upon the same wall In obitum Iohannis Norton generosi hujus municipii nuper Senescalli deputati Recordatoris qui obiit Septembris 14. Anno Domini 1635. Sed non totus obit pars petiit coelica coelum Vivit in terris nescia fama mori Frater amans conjux fidus virtutis amator Et cultor Domini non simulatus erat Posuit moestissima conjux D.N. Upon the same wall QUIS HIC DORMIT WILHELMUS VINER Divers other persons of note doe lye here interred whose Monuments have been long since defaced as the severall Marbles yet remaining whereupon their Portraitures and Epitaphs in brass were fix◠doe manifest Of these as Leland testifieth were William Berkswell Dean of this Collegiate Church and one of the Executors to Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who saw the building of our Lady Chapell and the structure of those buildings at the East end of the Church-yard called the Colledge begun by the same Earl Richard finished As also Dean Alestre who translated the body of Earl Richard into that Chapell And Dean Haseley sometime School-master to King Henry the 7. And moreover our heretofore eminent
Pbr. 17. Oct. 1378. Baldw. de Bereford miles Ioh. Cook Pbr. penult Oct. 1386. Will. Lucie ar Will. Onne Cap. 17. Iunii 1431. Will. Lucie ar D. Thomas Buschebury Pbr. 2. Martii 1435. Will. Lucie ar D. Steph. Heyward Cap. 24. Nov. 1463. Will. Lucie ar D. Will. Smyth Cap. 26. Oct. 1475. Will. Lucie ar D. Tho. Suarte Cap. 12. Dec. 1483. Will. Lucie ar D. Will. Blamford Cap. 16. Febr. 1485. Minister Confratres de Thelesford Ioh. Wilson Confrater Domus de Thelesford 29. Iulii 1504. Minister Confratres de Thelesford Ioh. Brokeden Pbr. 23. Iun. 1515. Ric. Verney ar D. Eliz. Lucy ux ejus nuper ux Th. Lucy mil. defuncti D. Andreas Warburton Pbr. 24. Maii 1534. Tho. Lucie ar D. Nich. Smith Cler. 23. Iulii 1562. Tho. Lucy miles Ioh. Davies Cler. 21. Aug. 1577. Tho. Lucy miles Ric. Southam Cler. 25. Maii 1582. Thomas Lucy miles Mich. Wood Cler. 10. Aug. 1619. HERE ENTOMBED LYETH the Lady Ioyce Lucy wife of Sir Thomas Lucy of Cherlecote in the County of Warwick Knight daughter and heir of Thomas Acton of Sutton in the County of Worcester esquire who departed out of this wretched world to her heavenly kingdome the tenth day of February in the year of our Lord God 1595. and of her age lx and three All the time of her life a true and faithfull servant of her good God never detected of any crime or vice in religion most sound in love to her husband most faithfull and true in friendship most constant To what in trust was committed to her most secret In wisdome excelling in governing of her house and bringing up of youth in in the feare of God that did converse with her most rare and singular A great maintainer of hospitality greatly esteemed of her betters misliked of none unlesse of the envious When all is spoken that can be said a woman so furnished and garnished with vertue as not to be bettered and hardly to be equalled by any As she lived most vertuously so she dyed most godly Set down by him that best did know what hath been written to be true Thomas Lucy On grave stones of marble in the body of the Church Hic iacet Edmundus Wykham quondam filius Thome Wykham generost cuius anime propitietur Deus Hic facet Dominus Iohannes Marsker quondam Capellanus â—stius Ecclesâ—e cuius anime propitietur Dens Amen THOMAS LUCIE MILES AGRI VARVICENSIS DECUS ET DELICIAE antiquissimâ oriundus familiâ virtute nihil duxit antiquius quâ majoribus suis etiam perillustribus emicuit si fas dicere maâ—or illustrior Quantus extiterit in illum patria amor quanta illius in patriam pietas publica regni comitia quibus saepenumero popularis illum ardor inservit abundè perhibent Rei familiari splendidissimae nemo aut meliùs prospexit au minùs serviit promentibus indies liberalitate magnificentiâ quae frugalitas condiderat Patrem familias praestitit qualem perpauci Famulorum si quem morbus corripuerat ipse statim male habuit adhibuit medicum suis sumptibus restituit Qui pater in hero erga servos facile judices quid fuerit in patre erga suavissimam prolem in marito erga dilectissimam uxorem Mensae quae nunquam non opipera bonus quisque gratissimus accubuit praesertim si Theologiam sapuit musas imbibit quarum ipse sitientior dubium an scientior fuerit Musaeum cerâ—è animatum audiit Neque minus benigna pauperculis janua Cui samem omnibus eximenti qui vaâ—edixit etiam benedixit Multas operas praecipuè ne nihil agentes malè agerent quotidiè exercuit Multis opidulis etiam plaustra cibariorum quotannis transmisit Bellatorem equum qui apud illum plurimus et nusquam loci pluris nusquam generosior animi gratia saepiusculè pressit cui nisi callidiùs fuisset quam sibi moderatus nam equo intentior laesit intestina nondum ille quo fuimus foelices quo non alter fuit in terris foelicior fuisset in coelis foelicissimus Nobis autem occidit sibique exortus est Decembris viii anno Dom. M.DC. XXXX Aetatis suae Lvi ET ALICIA UXOR IPSIUS FILIA ET HAERES Thomae Spenser de Claverdon armigeri Cujus eximias virtutes prohibet hoc marmore quod nec illas capit nimia superstitis modestia Hoc solum patitur fuisse conjugis dum erat in vivis observantissimam posuisse mortuo hoc qualecunque monumentum factumque prae amore atque moerore uti cernis marmoreum A little below Cherlecote is Avon increased by the confluence of another Torrent which hath its rise from the Eastern side of this Hundred as the Map will shew But such is the hillynesse of that part wanting the like streames to water it which in most other places are to be seen as that the situation of the towns cannot be observed as elsewhere Taking notice therefore of them by those other eminent marks as may best demonstrate how 〈◊〉 wherein that mountanous tract called Edge-Hill will stand me in much stead I shall begin with Herdwick-Priors in which Parish are contained the Villages of Priors Merston and Shukborough-inferior Herdwick-Priors THis was one of those xxiv towns which Earl Leofrike gave to the Monks of Coventre in Eâ—ward the Confessors days when he founded that Monastery as in Coventre I have manifested and in the Conquerors Survey is certified to contain xv hides then valued at x li. In that Record it is written Herdwiche but touching the Etymologie of its name I need not here speak having already in Herdwick juxta Lemington delivered my opinion all places of the same denomination proceeding from the like cause There is not much to be said of this Lordship in regard that it continued to the Monks of Coventre so long as that Monastery stood which Monks had Free-warren granted to them in all their demesn lands here in 41 H. 3. viz 5. carucats as appears by that Inquis of 7 E. 1. the rest being held by Tenants whereof xxix were such as occupyed 17. yard land for which they payd certain particular Rents and performed divers servile duties Besides which Free-warren they had also at that time a Court-Leet and Gallows But after the dissolution of the Monasteries it was by the Ks. Letters Patent dated 25. Apr. 34 H. 8. granted unto Sir Edm. Knightley Kt. and to the heirs male of his body with remainder to Valentine Knightley his brother c. with Offchurch as I have there more fully shewed Which Sir Edm. dying 12. Sept. in the same 34. year of H. 8. without issue male his brother Valentine then a Knight became possest thereof who by a speciall Patent dated 4 5 Ph. M. had License to alien it unto Sir Iohn Spenser Knight and Edward Griffin Atturney generall to the Queen and their heirs
anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it was valued at xi marks And in 26 H. 8. at xv li. viii s. ii d. over and above viii s. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Amongst the Incumbents here 't is worth observation that Aimer brother to King H. 3. by the mothers side was presented to this Church by the Canons of Kenilworth and instituted Parson thereof being afterwards Bishop of Winchester and by Godwyn called Ethelmare Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Prior Conv. de Kenilw D. Aymer frater Regis uterinus s. dat Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Walt. de Wodehouse Cler. 8. Cal. Maii 1336. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. Trailly Pbr. 15. Cal. Apr. 1337. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. Darrell Cler. 8. Id. Oct. 1338. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Roger. de Saperton Pbr. 4. Cal. Nov. 1349. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Will. Lampe Cap. 4. Cal. Nov. 1350. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. Penâ—rich Pbr. 4. Oct. 1378 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Ioh. Lugger Cap. ult Oct. 1404 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Tho. Chesterfeild in Decret Bac. 27 Nov. 1425 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Rog. Walle Cler. 18 Sept. 1444 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Thom. Lye Cler. 26 Maii 1445 Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Ric. Bowier Pbr. ult Febr. 1448. Dominus Episc. Cov. Lich. Rob. Baguley Cap. 1 Febr. 1451. D. Rex ratione temporal Cov. Lich. Episc. c. Magr. Ioh. Iolyff Pbr. 7. Dec. 1452. D. Episcopus Ioh. Clone in Decr. Bac. tenere in Comendam 2 Ian. 1455. D. Episcopus Mr. Rolandus Lee Decret Dr. 1. Oct. 1526. D. Rex ratione temporal Cov. Lich. Episc. c. D. Iohn Hopkins Cler. ....... 1533. Edw. Littleton de Pilletnallin Com. Staff ar hac vice ratione concess Cov. Lich. Episc. Mr. Will. Dawson Cler. 28. Iunii 1547. Thomas Fysher Thomas Nicholson 8. Sept. 1575. Ric. Venor Edw. Morcot Rad. Wylding Cler. 16. Aug. 1617. Iac. Horsley gen Randolphus Hancock Cler. 25. Martii 1627. Monumentall inscriptions in the Church Upon a Marble whereon is the portraiture of a man in brasse Of your charite pray for the soul of Richard Willis gentleman lord of the Mannour of Fenny-Compton and one of the Kings Iustices of peace in the County of Warwick And Ione his wife Which Richard deceased the viii â—h day of February in the yeare of our Lord M. D. XXXi Of whose souls Iesu have mercy Amen This Ioane was the daughter to one of the Graunts of Snitterfeild On another Marble Here lyeth buried the body of Ambrose Willis of Fenny-Compton in the County of Warwick Gentleman the son of William Willis who lyeth buried at Priors-Marson which William was the son of Richard Willis Ioane his wife both lying buried under the stone adioyning Which Ambrose had by Amye his wife eight sonnes all deceased in their infancy but one sonne named Richard and one daughter named Anne yet living He deceased the tenth day of Iune Anno Domini Millesimo quingent esimo nonagesimo This Amye was the daughter of Richard Colles of Little-Preston in the County of Northampton Esquier On another Here lyeth buried the body of Richard Willis of Fenny-Compton in the County of Warwick gentilman son of Ambrose Willis deceased Which said Richard had by Hester his wife five children that is to say George William Richard Iudith and Mary all now living who deceased the tenth day of Iune 1597. This Hester was the daughter of George Chambre of Williamscote in the County of Oxford Esquier In the East window of the North I le these Armes Sable a Fesse engrailed betwixt three Helmets Argent Derset I Come next to Derset a parish somewhat â—patious but that part wherein the Church stands is commonly called Burton-Dasset the Hamlets belonging thereto being these viz. Great Dasset Hardwick Knightcote and Northend In the Conquerors time the Earl of Mellent had x. hides within the compasse of this place which was the Freehold of three Thanes before the Norman invasion and then esteemed to be worth x li. but at the generall Survey no more than viii li. and there written Derceto The residue was then certified to contain xv hides which Harold son to Raph Earl of Hereford held and so did in Edward the Confessors dayes at which time it was valued at xvi li. but by the Conquerors Survey at xx li. where it is written Dercetone In each of which parts there was at that time a Priest and in likelyhood some Chapell besides the mother Church yet I presume the Mother-Church then stood where it now doth scil in that part belonging to Harold From this Harold did paternally descend â—he line of Sudley taking their sirname from Sudley in Gloucestershire their principall seat of which family for that they were Founders of the Monastery of Erdbury within the precinct of Chilverscoton in this County I reserve what I have to say historically till I come to Griffe in that parish where they resided It seems that the same part of this town held by the E. of Mellent as abovesaid came also to the Sudley's for it appears by good authorities that they were possest of the whole and so continued till by an heir generall it descended to Boteler as I shall manifest in due place But when it was past from the said Earl of any of his posterity I have not seen neither can I guess at the direct time otherwise than to conclude it to have been somewhat antient and yet do I make a question whether it were before the xx â—h of H. 3. for upon collection of the Aid then levied it is certified that Robert Mauduit held one Knights fee and a half here of the Earl of Warwick unto whom most of the lands and fees which were tâ—e Eaâ—l of Mellent's in this County divolved At whâ—ch time it was aâ—so found that Raph de Suyle answered for a Knights fee in this place But by another Record not above xi years after it appears that Raph de Suthlâ—g accounted for two Knights fees here which proportion the heirs of the said Raph held in 36 H. 3. For the etymologie of the name considering how vaâ—ioâ—sly it hath been written in antient time viz. Derceto Dercetone Derceth and Dorcestre I shall oneâ—y deliver my fancy viz. that being a hilly place â—t was originally a receptacle for Beasts of Chase wherewith this land before it grew pâ—puâ—ous did much abound which kind we knowâ— do much delight in Mountaneus grounds as this is So that I supposeâ— it might by reason thereof at first be called Deorset with the Saxons which betokeneth a place where wild Beasts have their abode but I leave it as a conjecture As for that part of the town called Burton-Dasset it is by way of distinction fâ—om the other of which addition I have exprest my conceipt where I discourse of Burton-Hastings in
of land unto every of which messuages 24. acres belonged But by the Inquis then taken I find it certified that this decay of tillage was no prejudice but benefit to the publique for whereas before that time they were able to entertain but xx strangers upon occasion they could afterwards entertain Lx. as well And that the Church and ornaments were then in better condition than before having since cost the Parish CC li. That there were also xxi Ploughs maintained in the Parish And whereas before the Inclosure they had but one Priest then were there 2. and many Clerks performing divine service every Holy day by Note and divers times with Prick-song none such having been kept before by reason of the disability of the Parishioners That the Benefice was better and more of value to the Incumbent than when the lands did lye in tillage by iii li. or thereabouts That the Children of the Parish were better taught and better Houses kept and that there were then within the precincts of the same Parish Cxl. Communicants By his Testament bearing date 23. Martii anno 1520. 12. H. 8. he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Black-Friers near Ludgate in case he departed this life in London but if in Warwick-shire then to be buried in the Charterhouse neer Coventre And also appointed that Iohn Cotes with whom he had exchanged the Mannour of Whitchurch in this County for other lands should receive x. marks yearly to him and his heirs out of this Mannour till his Executors or his heirs had clearly discharged the said Iohn and his heirs of and for the Rent of xiii Quarters of Wheat and xiii Quarters of Barley and part Masselin against the Nuns of Pinley and their successors granted to their Predecessors by Sir Peter de Montfort sometime Lord of that Mannour And dyed by a pestilentiall aire in France 26. Martii the same year without issue being at that time a Captain in the English Army there leaving Anthony Coke son of Iohn Coke by Elizabeth his sister Mary wife of Gerard Danet Esquier and Alice the wife of William Shelley his two other sisters his heirs I have not as yet seen when or how the division was made betwixt these coheirs but I presume that Shelley's part came shortly after to Sir Edw. Wotton Knight son of Sir Rob. Wotton by Anne another sister to the said Sir Edw. Belknap for I find that the same Sir Edward was seized of the third part of this Mannour in 29 H. 8. From whom descended Edward created Lord Wotton 13. Maii 1. Iac. And that Gerard Danet being Squier of the Body to King H. 8. had issue Sir Iohn Danet Knight father of Leonard Danet that sold his interest here to Peter Temple Esquier in 2 Eliz. whose posterity do still enjoy it The Church dedicated to All Saints being given to the Canons of Erdbury by Raph de Sudley Founder of that Monastery was approriated thereunto by Geffrey Muschamp Bishop of Coventre in King Iohn's time and endowed with one carucate of land the Vicaridge being ordained in anno 1232. 16 H. 3. by Alex. de Savensby Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. the Rectory was valued at xxiv marks but the Vicaridge had another endowment in H. 7. time so that in 26 H. 8. upon the valuation then made it was rated at xiv li. Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles Rad. de Derset Pbr. die Purif 1301. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles D. Will. de Knistecote Pbr. 14. Cal. Dec. 1311. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles Rad. de Derset Pbr. 8. Iulii 1314. Prior Conv. de Erdbury Dominus Ioh. de Sudley miles Thomas de Willoughby Pbr. 16. Cal. Nov. 1323. Pr. C. de Erdbury D. Edm. de Bereford Hugo de Brok Pbr. 2. Non. Oct. 1332. Pr. C. de Erdbury D. Edm. de Bereford Ric. de Bereuhby Cap. 4. Non. Iulii 1349. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury Alianora de Sudley Hugo de Claâ—dâ—n Capâ— 14. Cal. Aug. 1358. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury Alianora de Sudley Will. Adams Pbr. 14. Cal. Ian. 1358. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury D. Alicia Boteler Domina de Sudley Ioh. Harris 14. Sept. 1421. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury D. Alicia Boteler Domina de Sudley Henr. Greene penuls Febr. 1425. Pr. Conv. de Erdbury D. Alicia Boteler Domina de Sudley Ric. Leventhorpe 12. Dec. 1439. Pr. C. de Erdbury D. Rad. Boteler miles D. de Sudley Thomas Conway Pbr. 16. Ian. 1448. D. Episc. per lapsum D. Ranulphus Goldsmyth Cap. 9. Nov. 1541. Anth. Cooke miles Ric. Powle Cler. 18. Aug. 1564. Edw. Dominus Wotton Iohn Tayler Cler. 27. Feb. 1607. Thom. Andrews de Derset gen ex cont Mariae Mynne de Hayes in Comit. Midd. vid. Thomas Freman in art Bac. 9. Apr. 1613. Thomas Temple miles Bar. Ioh. Reignolds Cler. 20. Iulii 1619. D. Thomas Wotton Baro de Marleigh Ioh. Craige Cler. 21. Ian. 1629. Monumentall inscriptions in the Church Upon a Marble where have been two portraitures in brasse Here under this stone lyeth the body of Peter Temple Esquier who departed out of this world at Stow in the County of Buckingham the xxviii â—h day of May Anno .......... whose soule God hath in his blessed keeping Fixt in the wall betwixt two Corinthian Pillars Here under lyeth the body of Iohn Temple of Stow in the County of Buck. Esquire one of the Lords of this Mannour And Susan his wife who was the daughter and heir of Thomas Spenser of Everton in the County of Northampton Esquire who had issue six sons and six daughters as here may appear The said Iohn Temple deceased the ninth day of May 1603. being of age Lxi. years and the said Susan decâ—ased the .... day of .... being of the age of ..... years Cur liberos hic plurimos 〈◊〉 hic amicos pluâ—imos 〈◊〉 plurimas pecunias 〈◊〉 scire câ—r reliquerâ—t Tâ—mpellus ad plures abâ—it In the East window of the Chancell these Armes Or two barrs gules Sudley I will now proceed with the Hamlets beginning with Herdwick for that which is called Great Dasset is involved with Burton-Dasset alias Cheping-Dasset whereof I have already spoke Herdwick THis being a member of Dercet is not particularly mentioned in Domesday book but was then reckoned in the number of hides which are there certified for that place In H. 2. â—â—me Raph de Sudley part of whose possessions it was as belonging to Dercet gave some quantity of what he had here to the Templars which in 31 H. 2. was valued at xl s. per annum And in 7 E. 1. rated
therewith After which viz. in 4 H. 8. Iohn Crofte and Eliz. his wife levied a Fine of the moytie of this Mannour to Simon Rice Citâ—zen and Mercer of London and others but to what uses I know not Neither can I say to what uses that Fine did inure which was levied of this Mannour in 10 H. 8. between Iohn Trevâ—then and others Plantiffs and Margaret Boleyn widow Deforc Howbeit for certain that Fine levied thereof 29 H. 8. betwixt Thomas Pope Eâ—q Pl. and Ricâ— Fermour and others Deforc. was to the use of the said Thomas Pope and his heirs for even to these very times his posterity do enjoy the same together with another Mannour here which appertained to the dissolved Monastery of Studley for by that name it past from the Crown in 31 H. 8. unto the same Thomas and the heirs male of his body he being then a Knight and Treasurer of the Court of Augmentation Touching the Church dedicated to S. Laurence I have already shewed that the advouson thereof was vested in Robert Wandard and his heirs by the Monks of Preaux in Normandy whereupon a Pension of x s. per annum became setled out of the fruits thereof to be payd to the Parson of Warmington and his successors In anno 1291. 19 E. 1. it being valued at viii marks was afterward granted to the Monastery of Lavenden in Com. Buck. about the beginning of E. 3. time as it should seeem by the Presentations thereto but not appropriated till 2 R. 2. and then Pope Urban the 6. by his Bull dated at Rome on the Ides of November granted unto the Canons of that House liberty to take the fruits thereof to their own peculiar use the same year Simon de Sudbury Archbishop of Cant. ordaining the Vicaridge which in 26 H. 8. was valued at Cxiii s. iv d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes Rob. de Wandak miles Rob. de Shâ—teswell Cler. ...... 1287. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. Steâ—e Clâ—r Id. Iunii 1349. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. de Kneton Pbr. 6. Cal. Ian. 1355. Abbas Conv. de Lavenden Ioh. de â—aâ—â—bury Pbr. 14. Cal. Oct. 1367. Patroni Vicariae Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas le Rowe Pbr. 22. Maii 1381. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas Ieâ—fus Pbr. 4. Martii 1394. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thomas Wotton Pbr. 26. Oct. 1438. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Thom. Wyllingham Canon de Lavenden 9. Apr. 1443. Abb. Conv. de Lavenden Will. â—urvey Canon de Lavenden ult Iulii 1451. D. Thomas Pope miles D. Ioh. Vernam Cler. 22. Iunii 1456. Will. Chancy de Edgcote in Com. Northampt ar ex concess T. Pope mil. D. Will. Rowse Cler. 20. Oct. 1554. Ioh. Pope ar Ric. Key Cler. 7. Feb. 1562. Edw. Grevill gen ex concess Ioh. Pope ar Will. Key Cler. 12. Oct. 1576. Will. Pope de Wroxton mil. de baln Bar. Rob. Petiver in Art Magr. 8. Febr. 1620. Will. Pope de Wroxton mil. de baln Bar. Ric. Hartwell Cler. in art Magr. 19. Maii 1627. Warmington MOre than a mile Northwards on the side of Edg-Hill stands Warmington which in the Conquerors time being possest by the Earl of Mellent contained xv hides and a half two whereof were held by a certain Knight of the said Earl and valued at xx s. and the residue rated at x li. all which had been the Freehold of one Azor before the Norman invasion In that Survey it is written Wermintone in one place and Warmintone in another but I presume that its denomination originally sprung from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time perhaps Weremundus for that appellation was then usuall This as most of the lands which the said Earl had in Warwick-shire came to Henry de Newburgh Earl of Warwick brother to the same E. of Mellent but by what Agreement appears not w ch Henry gave it wholy excepting the Hamlets belonging thereto to the Monks of Preaux in Normandy who built a Cell here and sent over part of their Covent to reside therein and to be subordinate to their House of Preaux of which Cell the said Earl Henry is reputed to have been Founder which Religious House stood about the midst of the town as the Inhabitants by tradition do affirm This grant so made to Preaux by Earl Henry was in Edw. 1. time confirmed by William de â—eauchamp then Earl of Warwick it being then found that there were xx Tenants here that held their lands by a servile tenure viz. each one providing a Labourer one day every week for the Lordâ—â— imployment or to give 1 d. ob for every day in the week which would amount to x d. and so in the year to xliii s. iv d. And that every one of them should plow for the Lord thrice in the year or give x s. per annum and mow his meadowing or give xl d. As also that every yard land should find two men for 3. days in Harvestâ— or give for every day in stede of a man ii d. which comes to xxx s. in the year That they should carry the Lords Hay or give xl d. That each man should perform one dayes carriage in Harvest or give xl d. That they should make the Lords Hay or give x d. Rake his corne or give x d. Harrow each of them one day with a single Horse or give x d. And lastly carry once in the year at Warwick or give xl d. Howbeit afterwards I find that this whole town payd only a marke per annum to the Earls of Warwick at two termes viz. Candlemass and Whitsontide for all services But this Mannour so belonging to Preaux grew afterwards reputed to be parcell of the possessions pertaining to the Priory of Toftes in Norfolk which Religious House was founded by those forraign Monks after they had the grant of the Mannour of Toftes by Rob. E. of Mellent before mentioned the Monks here being either recalled into Normandy or transmitted to Toftes And upon the seizure of those lands which the Priors-Alien had in England whereof in Wolston I have fully spoke was in 33 E. 3. committed to the custody of Iohn de Herdewyk Howbeit afterwards the King allowing some favour to the Monks of thoâ—e Cells the Prior of Toftes had permission to ferm it who whilst he was Tenant thereto made much wast here by falling CC. Ashes prized then at xx li. the yearly value thereof being about that time rated at xxix li. xi s. vi d. per annum Certain it is that the frequent seizures of such lands by reason of the Warrs with France made those forrain Monks willing enough to sell their interest in them during those troubles at least as may appear by the passing them away aswell to divers Lay persons as unto some Religious Houses in England about this
Armes in a South window of the Chancell Gules a Fesse betwixt 6. Crosse Croslets Or Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Gules a Cheveron betwixt 3. Cressants Arg. ...... Upon a gravestone in the body of the Church this Epitaph Of your charitie pray for the soule of Iohn Warner the which deceassed the xix day of October in the year of our Lord M.D.xx. On whose soule Iesu have mercy Upon the corner of Edg-Hill within this Parish is there a great Fortification of a quadrangular forme containing about twelve acres as I guesse near unto which in our memory was found a Sword of brasse and a Battaill-axe touching which kinde of weapons M Cambden in Cornwall maketh some mention Of such and other Fortifications made by the Romans as this doubtlesse was Polybius in his xvii book speaketh So also Caesar de Bello Civili Lib. 3. n. 13. Erat eo loco saith he fossa pedum xv vallus contra hostem in altitudinem pedum x tantundemque ejuâ— valli agger in latitudâ—nem patebat Ab eo intermisso spatio pedum DC alter converâ—us in contrariam partem erat vallus humiliore paulo munitione See also more of this subject in Caesar de â—ello Gallico Lib. 7. So likewise in Vegetius Lib. 4. cap. 28. Vpton THis was heretofore possest by the family of Arden being originally a member of Ratley â— and therefore is involved therewith in the Conquerors Survey though it be not particularly mentioned As for its name there is no question but that it proceded from the high situation of the place the syllable Up signifying as much as supra but the first mention that I find of it is in H. 2. time if not King Stephens where one Haraldus filius Gunfridâ— maketh sale to Godfrey de Arden a Monk of Coventre and son to Siward de Arden of certain lands lying here to the use of that Monastery After this viz. in R. 1. time as I guesse did Thomas de Ardern grant certain lands lying in this place to the Canons of S. Sepulchers in Warwick in which deed it is written Hoptone But there was antiently a family assuming their sirname from their residence here which held it of the Ardens whereby 't is evident that from one of that line they were enfeoft thereof Of these one is called Rich. de Upton and I have seen an antient Roll wherein it appeareth that Roger de Upton held it of Thomas de Arden by the service of the tenth part of a Kts. fee From which Roger I presume descended Iohn de Upton certified to be Lord thereof in 9 E. 2. Howbeit the services here due to the Ardens and their heir were granted away by Thomas who sold this Lordship unto Guy de Gyllebrok which Guy past them to Will. de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick so that afterwards it was held of the said Earl and his descendants But the next mention I find of this Mannour is in 30 H. 6. where Will. Verney Esquier son and heir to Robert Verney of great Wolford in this County by his Deed bearing date 12. Feb. 30 H. 6. sold it to Ric. Dalby of Brokhampton gent. for Lxxvii l. vi s. viii d. sterling which Richard enfeoft thereof one Morgan Kydwelly esq and others to certain uses who sold it to Will. Danvers afterwards Kt which Will. depopulated 1 mess. and inclosed xxviii acres of land and CC. acres of pasture in this place From whom is lineally descended Iohn Danvers Esq. now Lord thereof Radway THis place being situat on the skirt and neer the passage up to Edg-Hill had its name originally as I guesse from the red colour of the earth which sheweth it self at a good distance upon that road by reason of the ascending ground In the Conquerors time it contained six hides three whereof were then possest by the Monks of Coventre and valued at L s. two by Earl Alberic Progenitor to the Earl of Oxford rated at xx s. and one by Ricardus Forestarius of whom I have spoke in Chesterton valued at xxv s. in which Survey it is written Radwei and Rodeweie But upon some Agreement betwixt the said Monks of Cov and the Bishop that which they had here came to him it seems Two hides whereof did Roger de Clinton Bishop of Coventre give in frank Almes to the Monks of Radmore in K. Steph. time and the third coming to Gâ—â—ffrey de Clinton of Kenilworth was by him bestowed on the same Monks for the health of his soul and the souls of his father and mother and other his Ancestors in acknowledgment of which favour they gave him C s. and to Henry his son a Bisantine Touching that which Earl Alberic had it came to Hugh Bigot Earl of Norfolk in H. 2. time in marriage as I suppose with Iulian daughter to Alberic de Vere the Kings Chamberlain grandchild to the said Earl Alberic for in 9. Ioh. the Shiriff of this County received the Kings Precept to render the possession thereof to Roger Bigot Earl of Norfolk son to the said Hugh it having been seized into his hands upon wroug information as part of the possessions of Simon Montfort Earl of Leicester who was in rebellion about that time It seems that it was afterwards seized again for the King as an Eschaet for in 6 H. 3. the Shiriff of Warwick-shire had a command to make livery thereof to Hugh Bigot Earl of Norfolk son to the same Roger I find it antiently accounted for half a Kts. fee but the land it self as is evident being granted to sundry persons was partly given to the Monks of Stoneley or by those Monks purchast from the particular Freeholders which Monks were translated from Radmore thither as in Stoneley I have shewed And partly to the Canons of Erdbury for it appears that Raph de Sudley bestowed on that Religious House one whole hide lying here which in 7 E. 1. was rated at two yard land and then held by 5. Tenants who payd severall Rents and performed severall servile labours At which time the proportion that the Monks of Stoneley had here was esteemed at four carucates whereof two they then held in demesn the rest being in the hands of Tenants who payd somewhat in Rents and the rest in â—erviâ—e imployments for those Monks But the residue of this town being vii yard land and a half was then possest by Iohn de Morcote son of Alan de Morcote who held it of Richard de Loges This is that which in the Conquerors time was rated at one hide and held by Ric. Forestarius as I have already declared whose right therein lineally descended to the family of Loges as in Chesterton hath been shewed and by Hugh de Loges father to Richard above mentioned was aliened to the said Alan de Morcote In that part which the Monks of Stoneley had here they had Freewarren
written Berricestone in one place and Bericestune in another and was of so much note in those antient times that it gave name to one of the Hundreds then in being as I have eslwhere already observed Whether it were any of the descendants of the before recited Iohais that became first enfeoft thereof by the posterity of Corbuceon I cannot affirm but do conclude that he was common Ancestor to the family of Whitacre and thence had first his sirname as in Whitacre-superior I have manifested Of which family was also Simon who likewise assumed his sirname from hence and wrote himself Dominus de Berchestone as in sundry old Records I have seen To whom succeeded Rich. de Barchestone in 6. Ioh. and after him Simon Henry and Alexander Then Richard in E. 2. time whose name in 17. of that Kings raign is in the list amongst those Esquiers which were certified as men at Armes of this County and bore a Crosse engrailed And lastly Thomas and Alexander temp E. 3. all Lords of this Mannour Which Alexander in 26 E. 3. was in Commission with other persons of quality for the levying and collecting of a xv and tenth so also in 34 E. 3. and in 45 Ed. 3. for the assessing a Subsidy of 1061 li. 07. s. in this County But from him can I not clearly discover the successive Lords of this Mannour untill Iohn Durant became owner thereof in 8. H. 6. After which Iohn I find one Thomas Durant in E. 4. time then William in H. 7. but nothing memorable of them other than that they were gentlemen for so is Iohn recorded in 10 H. 6. and VVill. in 12 H. 7. Which VVill. had issue Henry Duâ—â—nt who by his Deed bearing date 14. Sept. 23 H. 7. sold this Mannour to VVilliam VVillington son to Iohn VVillington of Todnam in Gloucester-shire and he of VVilliam VVillington of the same place son of another Iohn descended as 't is probable from that Ralph de VVylinton who lived in E. 1. time of whom I have made mention in Chiriton Betlesworth and Wiginshill of which line I conceive that Iohn de VVylinton and Raph de VVylinton were who in the times of King Edward 3. and R. 2. had successively Summons to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm Of this VVill. VVillington I find that being a wealthy Merchant of the Staple and setling himself here at Bercheston he depopulated the town in 24 H. 7. making inclosure of 530. acres of land so that there was no more than 64. acres left for tillage which were used by him as belonging to his Mannour-house there and mannaged with one Plough And that he had a very fair estate in lands in this County as also in Oxford and Gloucester shires but having no issue male advanced his seven daugthers in marriage to divers good familyes viz. Margery to Thomas Holt of Aston juxta Bermingham Esquier and afterwards to Sir Ambrose Cave Knight Godith to Basill Fielding of Newnham Esquier Elizabeth to Edw. Boughton of Lawford Esquier Mary to VVill. Sheldon of Beoley Esquier Margaret to Edw. Grevill of Milcote Esquier Anne to Francis Mountfort of Kingshurst Esquier and Katherine first to Richard Kempe secondly to VVilliam Catesby of Lapworth Esquier and lastly to Anthony Throkmorton a younger son to Sir George Throkmorton Knight And that by his Will which bears date 25. Martii anno 1555. he disposed of his body to be buried here at Bercheston having a fair Monument in the Church as I shall shew by and by But upon the partition betwixt these coheirs this Mannour came to Sheldon as it seems for his posterity of whom I have made some mention in Weston juxta Chiriton doe enjoy it at this day The Church dedicated to S. Martin in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. was valued at xxviii marks but in 26 H. 8. at no more than xiii li. vi s. viii d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Heur de Bercheston Ric. de Bercheston Pbr. 3. Cal. Febr. 1281. Thomas de Bercheston Ioh. de Bercheston Subdiac 10. Cal. Ian. 1296. Thomas de Bercheston Gilb. de Swaleclive Pbr. 12. Cal. Dec. 1333. Alex. de Bercheston Rog. de Chastelion Cler. 20. Apr. 1345. Alex. de Bercheston Nich. de Todenham Pbr. 17. Nov. 1361. Thomas Comes VVarwici Ioh. Asple 7. Martii 1382. Ric. Bromley alii Feoffati de dominio de Bercheston advoc Eccl. VVill. Taylor 26. Apr. 1388. Ric. Bromley alii Feoffati de dominio de Bercheston advoc Eccl. D. Ioh. Stark 28. Dec. 1389. Thomas Erdington ar Sibilla ux ejus D. Ioh. Gunne 18. Nov. 1433. Thomas Erdington ar Sibilla ux ejus Magr. Thoma Oldbury 15. Ian. 1433. Rob. Ardern ar Magr. Thomas Stocton 7. Maii 1439. Rob. Ardern ar D. Thomas Pyjon 5. Maii 1449. Ioh. Hugford ar alii Feoffati Will. Durant D. Hugo Byker Cap. 23. Iulii 1481. Tho. Wellys Ioh. Wellys ex concess Will. Durant D. Ioh. VVellys Cap. 6. Sept. 1498. Rob. Throkmorton miles Magr. Hugo Humfrey 17. Aug. 1503. Georgius Throkmorton miles VVill. Buckmaster S. Theol. Professor 23. Apr. 1530. Georgius Throkmorton miles D. VVill. Lane Cler. 4. Feb. 1545. Rad. Sheldon de Beoley ar VVill. Bullwer Cleric 8. Oct. 1606. Willington IN this village did Robert de Stadford possesse one hide and a half at the time of the Conquerors generall Survey then valued at xx s. and held of him by one Luvein but had been the freehold of Dodo and Leuric before the Norman invasion The residue had Gislebertus de Gand a great man in Lincoln-shire which was all he possest in this County and extended to no more than one hide one virgate and a half and being held of him at that time by one Fulbric together with a Mill was valued at xx s. having been the inheritance of Aluuardus in Edward the Confessor's days In that Record it is written Ullavintone Howbeit after this till 36 H. 3. I do not find a syllable more thereof but then amongst the Fees of the Lord Stafford it is certified that Richard de Bartone payd xxx d. for Scutage here and in 56 H. 3. Robert de Hamme was Lord of it as appears by a Release made by him and Mabell his wife to the Nuns of Sewardslee in Com. Northampt. of such suit of Court as he claimed of them for the lands they held of him and his said wife within this village Which Robert in 7 E. 1. held of the King four yard land here in demesn by the service of the seventh part of a Knights Fee and suit twice a year to his Court at Long Compton for of that Mannour it seems it was then a member and in 15 E. 1. in the possession of Iohn de Hamme son to the
said Robert But in 9 E. 2. the whole village was reputed a Hamlet of Bercheston Which Iohn departed this life in 13 E. 2. leaving Robert his brother and heir then Parson of Kuriwent lx years of age who in 17 E. 2. sold the inheritance of this Mannour to Thomas de Hamme Which Thomas gave a Fine to the King of five marks for license to make that purchase it being held in Capite of the King by the service of the fourth part of a Knights Fee and no more belonging thereto than one mess. half a carucate of land and xi s. Rent of Assize per annum But after this do I find no more mention thereof for a long time other than amongst the Knights Fees held of the Lord Stafford where it is certified that Robert Holewey held half a Knights fee in this place written Wolyngton and that the depopulation here hath been very antient Honington THis is one of those towns that Earl Leofrik in the first year of King Edward the Confessors reign gave to the Monastery of Coventre at the Foundation thereof and in the Conquerors time was rated at five hides having four Mills yielding liv s. iv d. per annum but the whole value is by the Survey then made certified at x li. wherein it is written Hunitone From which time forwards till the generall dissolution of the Monasteries it did continue to that Religious house so that there is not much remarkable thereof other than that in 33 H. 3. the Monks demised it unto Raph de Leicestre Canon of Lichfield to hold during his life together with the advouson of the Church and that in 41 H. 3. they obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all their demesn lands here As also that the Tenants thereof besides their severall Rents performed sundry services every other day from the Feast of S. Iohn Baptist till Michaelmasse but if the Lord would imploy them in mowing before Midsummer day then to allow them for their work For which services they were to have one Mutton or viii d. with viii loaves of Bread and a Cheese as also iv d. in money they being to carry Hay out of the Lords meadow and to mow with one man a piece for a day and a half And moreover that each of them should come to the Lords Reap with all his family excepting his wife where he was to reap two lands and carry them but to perform no other service for that day And likewise plow four times in the year scil two felâ—ons a piece as also sow and harrow the same having seed found at the Lords barn And lastly to harrow two days a piece giving x. Eggs and 1 d. for every Alehouse and repair the Lords Pool as often as need should require All which said Tenants were to pay unto the Lord xvii s. iv d. for antient Aid and for carriage of Fish iii s. iv d. per annum As also vi s. viii d. for maintenance of his Corn-caâ—t and every two yard land to carry one load of wood from Packwood to this town in which week they should do no other work but none of them to sell his Horse-Colt without License of the Lord. The Cottiers being xvi in number did then also perform such like services every of them paying four Hens one Cock and five Eggs which they were to carry unto Coventre Of these Freeholders was Nicholas Trimenell the Chief who held seven yard land of the said Monks by the service of the tenth part of a Knights Fee All which before specified was with the Rectory and advouson of the Vicaridge in consideration of 786 li. -07 s. -06 d. past to Robert Gybbes of Honyngton gentleman and his heirs 28. Apr. 32 H. 8. to hold in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights Fee paying 04 li. 07 s. 04 d. ob yearly to the King his heirs and successors Which Robert dyed seized thereof 10 Aug. 5. 6. Ph. M. leaving issue Robert his son and heir 30. years of age who was the father of Sir Raph Gibbs Knight and he of Sir Henry Gibbs that now enjoys it The Church dedicated to All Saints was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xv marks the portion which the Monks of Coventre had out of the Tithes belonging thereto being then rated at iii. marks and appropriated to them by Iohn Thoresby Bishop of Worcester 25. Febr. anno 135â— 25 E. 3. whereupon ten marks per annum was reserved for maintenance of the Vicar and a Pension of x s. yearly to the said Bishop and his successors the same appropriation being confirm'd by the King five years following about which time the saâ—d Mâ—nks granted to the Prior and Covent of Worcester an yearly Pension of xiii s. iv d. to be payd on the Quinsieme of S. Mich. for ever in recompence of such damage as they should sustain by reason of the said Appropriation But it seems there was some alteration afterwards made in these Pensions for in 26 H. 8. that payd to the Bishop of Worcester was xxvi s. viii d. per annum that to the Monks of Worcester xx s. and that to the Archdeacon of Worcester iv s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Prior Conv. de Coventre Magr. Ioh. de Thoresby Pbr. 6. Cal. Feb. 1325. Prior Conv. de Coventre Rad. de Holbeche 16. Iulii 1335. Prior Conv. de Coventre Magr. Lucas de Herdeburgh Accol 12. Ian. 1344. Patroni Vicariae Edw. 3. Rex Angl. ratione vacat Priorat de Coventre Ioh. Pillerton Pbr. penult Aug. 1361. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ioh. de Boys Cap. 1. Iunii 1368. Prior Conv. de Coventre Will. Tybet Pbr. 1. Feb. 1405. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ioh. Hannyer Cap. 10. Nov. 1424. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ric. Longe Cap. 21. Iunii 1446. Prior Conv. de Coventre Magr. Will. Palden in decr Bacc. 24. Maii 1507. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Ric. Hays Pbr. 10. Martii 1510. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Thom. Copland Cap. 19. Dec. 1515. Prior Conv. de Coventre D. Arnaldus Ryle Pbr. 23. Oct. 1530. Eliz. Angl. Regina Will. Thornhill Cler. 4. Aug. 1578. Rob. Gibbs de Honington ar D. Ioh. Heynes Cler. 26. Oct. 1584. Rad. Gibbs ar Georgius Ball Cler. 9. Martii 1600. Rad. Gibbs miles Thomas Brownent Cler. 23. Ian. 1607. Bradmore THis place taking its name from the flat and low situation thereof is a member of Honington In 36 H. 3. for before that time I find no mention of it Will. de Timor and Iohn de Bradmore held the tenth part of a Knights Fee here of the Monks of Coventre Which Monks in 7 E. 1. had six Tenants here holding x yard land by the
demesn Free-warren Court-Leet Gallows and other priviledges together with xxxix Tenants holding 26. yard land by payment of severall Rents and performance of certain services as also viii Cottiers and iv Freeholders From whom descended Sir Iohn de Mountfort Knight who in E. 3. time wedded Ioan the daughter and heir to Sir Iohn de Clinton of Colshill as by the descent in Beldesert will appear And from him Sir Baldwin who in H. 6. time had great suits with Sir Edmund his brother by the Fathers side touching the title to this Lordship which the same Sir Edmund in disherison of Sir Baldwin endeavoured to hold the Story whereof I have set forth in Colshill in regard that Mannour was then in question upon the same title But the last of the Montforts that possest this Lordship was Sir Symon son and heir to the above specified Sir Baldwin who being attainted in 11 H. 7. as in Colshill I shall also shew the inheritance thereof inter alia eschaeting to the Crown was by the said King 1. Dec. 12 H. 7. bestowed on Sir Reginald Bray Knight a great favourite in those days who dying without issue Margerie the onely child of his brother Iohn wife to Sir William Sands Knight became his next heir Which Sir William afterwards Lord Sandes did his homage for the same in 31 H. 8. But it continued not long in the family of Sandes for Thomas Lord Sandes son and heir to William past it a way to Thomas Andrews Esquire since which time I have seen no more of it The Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin was in anno 1291. 19. E. 1. valued at xxx marks there being at that time a portion of 1. mark issuing out of it to the Monastery of Evesham but in 26 H. 8. at xxx li. out of which the Synodalls and Procurations payd amounted to x s. v d. ob and the yearly Pension to the said Monastery of Evesham vi s. viii d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Episc. per lapsum Hugo de Vienna 5. Id. Dec. 1270. D. Ioh. de Monteforti Will. de Monterforti 8. Cal. Apr. 1290. D. Ioh. de Monteforti Henr. de Astede Subdiac 12. Cal. Aug. 1295. D. Ioh. de Monteforti Petrus de Monteforti Cler. 18. Cal. Iulii 1312. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles D. Ioh. Anneys Cap. 3. Non. Oct. 1320. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles D. Ric le Archer Pbr. 8. Cal. Martii 1323. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles D. Ric. de Budeford Pbr. 5. Apr. 1357. D. Petrus de Monteforti miles Will. de Monteforti Cler. 13. Iunii 1368. D. Will. Mountfort miles D. Ioh. Hathewey Pbr. 26. Sept. 1431. D. Will. Mountfort miles Ric. de Mountfort Diac. 13. Oct. 1433. Simon Mountfort miles Ioh. Frysby S. Theol. D. 5. Oct. 1467. Simon Mountfort miles D. Oliverus Alwode ulâ— Martii 1474. Simon Mountfort miles D. Ioh. Menske Pbr. 19. Nov. 1492. Will. Sandys miles D. Margeria ux ejus Nich. Hall Cap. 7. Apr. 1528. Eliz. Angl. Regina Augustinus Walker Cler. 22. Nov. 1586. Compton-Scorfen THis as all other Comptons taking its name from the situation thereof in a deep narrow Valley as I have elswhere observed being possest by Robert de Stadford in the Conquerors time was then certified to contain six hides five whereof Warinus then held which were valued at C s. and the sixt Aluinus then rated at x s. In the generall Survey it is in one place written parva Contone and in the other Contone without any distinction at all Howbeit after this till 36 H. 3. I do not directly find who was owner of it but then did Robert de Haleford answer for half a Knights Fee which he held here of Roger le Poer and he of Ernald de Bois and he of the Lord Stafford in which Record it is called Hethin-Compton After this viz. in 7 E. 1. it had the name of Scorfen added thereto at which time Robertus filius Petri was Lord thereofâ— and held it of Thomas de Stoke Iordan Cathelewe and Felicia his wife by the service of half a Knights Fee de parvo feodo Stafford as the Record hath it having at that time three yard land in demesn and three Tenants holding certain lands by payment of sundry Rents and performance of severall base services I am of opinion that this Peter abovementioned father to the said Robert was sirnamed de Valle for clear it is that the Family of that name whose principall seat was at Lodinton neer Stratford were owners of this place from E. 1. time till 34 E. 3. and that Peter de Valle in this County temp H. 3. who preceded the same Robert had first to do here is also apparent which makes it the more likely Which Robert de Valle possest it in 9 E. 2. being afterwards a Knight and so was Robert his son and heir as in Lodinton is shewed Which Robert the younger having issue Iohn that died childlesse Iohn Burdet of Arrow and Iohn Norrys who were his sisters sons as the descent in Lodinton manifesteth became his heirs But the direct time when partition was made of the lands which descended to these coheirs I have not seen howbeit certain it is that this Mannour was allotted to Burdet for the Entail made by Thomas Burdet Esquier temp E. 4. doth shew that he was solely seized of it After whose attainder Margaret his widow had restitution thereof by force of that entail and so it descended and continued to his posterity till Robert Burdet of Bramcote in this County his great grandson by his Deed bearing date ult Sept. 37 H. 8. in consideration of 1300 li. sold it to William Sheldon of Weston in this County and Robert Palmer of Curton in Com. Glouc. Yeoman Foxcote THis having been antiently a member of Ilmindon and possest therewith by Peter de Montfort in 7 E. 1. before which time I have not seen it named in Record was then held by the same tenure all the Tenants which the said Peter had here being ix in number holding 8. yard land of him by certain Rents and severall base services doing their suit twice a year at the Court-Leet held for the Honour of Leicester In which Family it continued a great while for Sir William Montfort of Colshill possest it in 10 H. 6. but it hath been long depopulated Whitchurch THis containing the Hamlets of Crimscote Wimpston and Broghton was in the Conquerors time reputed for two Mannours and possest by the Earl of Mellent the extent thereof by the generall Survey then made being certified at seven hides where it is written Witecerce having â—wo Mills and a Church and the value of all rated at viii li. x s. That this was part of that which Henry de Newburgh the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line and
Earl of of Mellent contained 3 hides and was valued at iiii li. the woods whereof were a mile in extent but in Edw. the Confessors dayes it was the Freehold of one Bovi From which Earl as most of the lands which he had in this County did it came to the hands of Henry de Newburgh his brother the first Earl of Warwick of the Norman line as is evident enough And in 9 Ioh. was inter alia assigned for the dower of Alice the widow of Waleran Earl of Warwick so also in 26 H. 3. to Ela the widow of Thomas Earl of Warwick which Ela in 36 H. 3. obtained a Charter of Free-warren in all her demesn lands here and purchased certain other lands in this place of Sir Henry de Lodbroke Kt. which she gave to the Priory at Warwick After this viz. in 13 E. 1. Will. de Beauchamp claimed a Gallows with Assize of Bread and Beer in this Mannour by Prescription which were allowed And in 9 E. 2. was it assigned inter alia as part of the dowry of Alice widdow unto Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick To the posterity of which Earls it continued till 3 H. 7. but then coming to the Crown with all the rest of the possessions belonging to that Earldome was by K. H. 8. in 26 of his reign leased to Rog. Walford for xxi years But King Edw. 6. 22 Dec. 1. of his reign granted the inheritance thereof together with the Castle of Warwick c. unto Iohn Dudley Earl of Warwick After whose attainder in 1 Mariae the said Q. made a Lease thereof for xl years at the Rent of xxvii li. iiii s. i d. ob to Clem Throgmorton of Haseloy Esquier But in 4 Eliz. did Ambrose Dudley then Earl of Warwick obtaine a Pat. thereof together with the Castle of Warwick c. to himselfe and the heirs male of his body who dying without issue it returned to the Crown and was afterwards purchased by Thomas Spencer Esquier a younger son to Sir Iohn Spencer of Althorpe in com Northampt. Knight Which Thomas having likewise obtained a Lease from the Dean and Chapter of Worcester of certain lands in this place built a very fair House thereupon and for the great Hospitality which he kept thereat was the mirrour of this County But having no issue male setled this Mannour inter alia upon Sir Will. Spenser Baronet son and heir of Sir Thomas and he of Sir Will. sometime of Yarnton in Oxfordshire his third brother Touching the Church dedicated to S. Michael it appeareth that Roger Earl of Warwick in 23 H. 1. gave to his Collegiate Church of Warwick then newly founded two parts of the Tithes issuing out of the Inclosures in this parish and likewise of the paunage of all the woods belonging thereto And that in an 1291 19 E. 1 it was valued at xv marks and a half the Vicars portion being then six marks and a half Which Vicaridge in 26 H. 8. was rated at vi li. the Procurations and Synodalls issuing out of it being viii li. Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Archidiaconus Wigornia Ioh. de Berninton Cap. 2 Cal. Iunii 1269. Archidiaconus Wigornia Galf. de Wykwau Pbr. 5 Cal. Sept. 1283. Archidiaconus Wigornia Ric. de Stockton Pbr. 6 Non. Martii 1304. Archidiaconus Wigornia Rob. de Buynton Cap. 11 Cal. Apr. 1307. Archidiaconus Wigornia D. Ioh. de Clone Pbr. 19 Cal. Sept. 1327. Archidiaconus Wigornia Thomas Person Cap. 14 Maii 1359. Archidiaconus Wigornia Ioh. de Stone Pbr. penult Aug. 1361. Archidiaconus Wigornia Will. de Blaklow Pbr. 8 Oct. 1361. Archidiaconus Wigornia Ioh. Curteys Pbr. 19 Feb. 1373. Archidiaconus Wigornia D. Ioh. de Westbury alias Brakley 4 Oct. 1413. Archidiaconus Wigornia Henr. Andrew Cap. 3 Ian. 1423. Archidiaconus Wigornia Ioh. Fletcher Cap. 9 Apr. 1432. Archidiaconus Wigornia Ioh. Hamond Pbr. 8 Iulii 1436. Archidiaconus Wigornia D. Ioh. Reve Cap. 5 Ian. 1473. Archidiaconus Wigornia Will. Pecock art Magr. 17 Apr. 1535. D. Episc. hac vice Andr. Bassam S. Theol. Bac. 4 Maii 1536. Archidiac Wigorn. D. Ric. Todde Pbr. 3 Iulii 1543. Archidiac Wigorn. Edw. Millard Cler. 29 Iulii 1574. Archidiac Wigorn. Rob. Fynche Cler. 8 Feb. 1586. Kington THis is that place as I conceive which I find written Cinton in the Conquerors Survey and there certified to have been at that time possest by the Earl of Mellent and to contain one hide and a half which was then wast and valued at no more than v s. But the extent of the woods is not there recorded howbeit the valuation of them is put at x s. which with the rest had been the freehold of Britnod before the Norman invasion All that I have further seen of this place is that the Abbot of Bordsley had very antiently two carucates of land here for which in 4 E. 1. he was presented to have withdrawn his suit xx years before that time but by whom or when it was given I am not very sure And that after the dissolution of the said Monastery the same land by the name of the Grange Mannour or Ferme of Kington c. was granted to Clem. Throkmorton Esq and Alex. Avenon and their heirs in 37 H. 8. Which Clem. dyed seized thereof by the name of Kinton-Ferm or Grange in 16 Eliz. Langley IN the Conquerors time this being possest by Rob. de Stadford was of him held by one Iudichel and by the Survey then taken certifyed to contain 1. hide and a half having woods belonging thereto of one mile in length and half a mile in breadth all which were valued at xl s. and had been the freehold of Ernvi in Edw. the Confessors dayes Howbeit after this till 13 Ioh. I find no more mention of it and then it with Norton being part of the Honour of Hervie de Stafford in this County answered for two Knights Fees But it seems that one of the Gurleys Lords of Norton Curley was enfeoft thereof by some of the posterity of the before specifyed Robert de Stadford for in 23 H. 3. Will. de Curley confirm'd to the Monks of Bordsley all the lands which had been granted to them within the Territories of Langle of his Fee And in 36 H. 3. held one Knights Fee here and in Norton of Robert de Stafford To deduce the succession of its possessors exactly I cannot therefore what I have disjointedly found thereof must satisfy In 17 Edw. 2. Sir Henry de Lodbroke Knight wrote himself Dominus de Langele and within two years after Will. Vauhan had the same title as by his deed with his seal of Armes thereto annext viz. a Cross within a border both engrailed doth testifie And in 39 Edw. 3. was there a Fine levyed of this Mannour between Sir Baldwin Frevill
of them to himself and his successors xii d. for all services at four times in the year viz. at the Feast of S. Michael iii d. the Nativity of our Lord iii d. at Easter iii d. and at the Feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist iii d. to every of which Burgages he thereby allowed three perches and a half in breadth and twelve perches in length and that they should be free of Toll for ever according to the custome of Bristoll excommunicating all persons that should presume to make violation of those their priviledges All which Maâ—gerius the next Bishop confirmed Next unto whom succeeded Walter Grey who towards the later end of King Iohn's reign obtained a grant for an yearly Faire here beginning on the Even of the holy Trinity and to continue for the two next days ensuing which Charter bears date 29 Oct. 16. Ioh. Touching the originall occasion of which meetings called Faires let us hear what the learned Spelman hath observed Cum autem Christiani ad insignes aliquas celebritates praesertim encoenia dedicationes Ecclesiarum Festa annua peragenda convenirent adesse utique Mercatores solebant sua mercimonia sub ipsis Ecclesiis atque in coemiteriis distracturi And a little below he thus goes on Pariter verò convenisse tum ad merces vendendas tum ad emendas Mercatores quamplurimos atque ita Festum cum Nundinis Nundinas eum Festo miscuisse Tunc enim non solùm advolant ipsi parochiani saith he sed vicini plurimi majorque semper frequentia pro Ecclesiae villae dignitate And further he takes notice that this ill custome in the succeeding ages increast much not onely by the concourse which the Parishioners themselves had thither at that time but even multitudes from the neighbouring Towns and that the meeting was always the greater as the dignitie of the Church and Town became more eminent than ordinary as of S. Peters at Westminster S. Bartholomew's in Smithfield S. Cutberts at Duresme c. Neither saith he is it a hard matter to guesse by the Faire day in case it have been antient to what Saint the Church is dedicated And that this is so we have also an evident testimony here the Church of Stratford being dedicated to the Holy Trinity For the authority usually given by speciall Charter to keep such Faires or meetings he also gives a very good reason Cum verò ex tanta hominum frequentia saith he periculosi saepè tumultus orirentur tenendarum Feriarum praerogativa solius Principis diplomatibus est indulta As for the antiquitie of the word Faire which shews of what great continuance the thing it self hath been it is no lesse then from the Britans Faire in their language which Doctor Iohn Davies in his Britannico-Lat Vocabularie derives from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being the same with merces in Latin signifying as much as Nundinae Forum and Mercatum doth And that such Faires were frequently kept upon the Sunday in former times as this here had used to be is evident by this instance which I shall give In the year of our Lord 1200 being the second of King Iohn's raign the Abbot of Flay a man both devout and learned came into England saith my Author and preaching very zealously in sundry parts amongst other of his pious doctrines he prohibited the keeping of Faires and Mercates on the Lords day Nundinas verò Mercata Dominicae diei adeo interdixit quod omnia ferè quae diebus Dominicis per Angliam fieri consueverant constituerentur in una hebdomada sequentium feriarum Sicque Dominicis diebus fidelis populus divinis solummodo vacans obsequiis omne opus servile penitus abdicavit veruntamen tempore procedente plerique ut canes ad vomitum sunt reversi You see after a while his preaching was quite forgot as appears plainly here for this Charter for a Faire to be kept on Trinity Sunday was about xiv years after those good documents of that holy Abbot Nor indeed do I see that this prophane usage was left till by a Statute law made a long time afterâ— scil 27 H. 6. all such goods or merchandize which should be exposed to sale upon Good-Friday Corpus Christi day Ascension day All Saints day the day of the Assumption of our Lady Whitsunday Trinity Sunday or other Sunday the four Sundays in Harvest excepted were to be forfeited to the Lord of the Libertie or Franchise where such Faire should happen to be kept But the restraint for keeping them in the Church-yards antiently usuall was much elder viz. by the Statute of Winchester 13 E. 1. cap. 6. Having spoken thus much as to the first occasion of Faires viz. the concourse of people to keep the Festivall of the Churches Dedication it will not be amisse I think to say something of the Feast of Dedication it self now vulgarly called the Wake That these Feasts were antient we have the testimony of holy Scripture Facta sunt encoenia id est festa dedicationis in Hierosolimis saith S. John Jesus ambulabat in templo in porticu Solomonis ad confirmationem illius festivitatis And S. Angustin in his Homily upon that Text saith Illum diem quo Templum dedicatum est Iudaei solenniter celebrabant That they were originally kept on the same Saints day annually unto whose memory the Church was dedicated there is no scruple to be made which dutie so performed by Christians was by S. Basil termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and with all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est a worship of God and a reverence to the Martyrs Neither can we judge lesse than that the pious and devout munificence of him that was the Founder and endower of the Church was likewise then gratefully remembred Of the service used in that solemnity I shall not make rehearsall referring my Reader to Durandus where it is particularly described but to the end it may appear how it came to passe that the yearly celebration of that Festivall was and yet is called the Wake I shall briefly make some discovery Antiquitùs in praecipuis festivitatibus saith the same Author duo nocturnalia agebantur officia populus qui ad festa venerat tota nocte in Dei laudibus in Ecclesia vigilabat quod adhuc Romae in plerisque locis in magnis festivitatibus praesertim Sanctorum patronorum Ecclesiarum observatur And in another place he says Et vocabatur Vigilia quia habuit initium à Pastoribus vigilias noctis super greges suas servantibus And he goes on Sed quia lusores Cantores conveniebant turpibus Cantilenis saltationibus commensationibus potationibus fornicationibus intendere ceperunt propter haec multa alia inconvenientia quae fiebant hujusmodi Vigiliae sunt interdictae institutum ut loco earum fiant Jejunia quae
Jejunia adhuc retinent nomen officii nam communiter Vigiliae non Jejunia nuncupantur The substance of this I have found Englished in an old Manuscript Legend of S. Iohn Baptist as followeth And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were first found in old time In the beginning of holl Chirche it was so that the pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold Wake and coome with light toward night to the Chirche in their devocions and aftir they fell to lecherte and songs daunses harping pipingâ— and also to glotony and sinne and so tourned the holinesse to cursydnes wherefore holy faders ordeined the pepull to leve that Waking and to fast the Evyn But hit is callyd Vigilia that is Waking in English and it is callyd the Evyn for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche Howbeit the direct time when this prohibition for coming so to Church in the Evening was made hath not as yet appeared to me but I do conclude it to have been very antient for though Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1362. 36 E. 3. by vertue of that appointment made by Pope Gregory the ninth for observation of some speciall Holy days and leaving the rest thus quas singuli Episcopi in suis Diocaesibus cum Clero Populo duxerint solenniter venerandas comanded that Solennitas Dedicationum Ecclesiarum Parochialium Sanctorum in quorum honore Ecclesiae parochiales dedicantur according to the Canon Law Dist. 1. cap. 16.17 Dist. 3. cap. 1. yet there is no doubt to be made considering what is before exprest but that such solemnities of the Churches Dedication were no lesse antient than the primitive times of Christianity and annually kept for many ages upon the same Saints day to whose memory such dedication was made but in processe of time certain inconveniencies being found in the observance of those very dayes especially such as hapned in Harvest when a little neglect may occasion much losse many of them were by speciall authority from the Bishop for that very reason altered and the solemnity transferred to the next Sunday following or some other Sunday as I have seen for instance of Tadcaster and Bishop-Wilton in Yorkshire where the Churches Festivall of the one being on the 28 of August was in the year MCCC xiv assigned to be kept on the Sunday next ensuing the Feast of the Decollation of S. Iohn Baptist and of the other which fell out on the fifteenth of September to be observed the Sunday ensuing Which alteration forasmuch as it broke the antient course and order perhaps occasioned for uniformities sake that Injunction of King Henry made in the year 1536. 28. of his raign whereby with the common assent and consent of the Prelates and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation lawfully assâ—mbled amongst other things he decreed ordained and established that the Feast of Dedication of Churches should in all places throughout this Realm be thenceforth celebrated and kept on the first Sunday of the month of October for ever and upon none other day Since which time that Rule hath been observed in divers places as I have particularly taken notice especially where the Saints day unto whom the Church was dedicated hapneth in the Winter time but where it falls out in that time of the year that the weather is warm and proper for merry meetings it is generally seen that the said Festivall is yearly kept on the Sunday next following such day though not by commemoration of the Saint in any particular Church service but by holding up the Custome of Feasting amongst friends and good neighbours with the exercise of dancing and other sports which time is now usually called the Wake through most parts of this Kingdom But returning to Stratford and the successive Bishops that were Lords thereof I find that William de Bleys then being Bishop procured a Charter for another Faire to be kept here on the Eve of S. Augustin and on the day morrow after which Festivall falls yearly on the seventh Cal. of Iune being the 26. of May And within xvi years after Walter de Cantilupe obtained another to be yearly kept on the Eve of the Exaltation of the Holy Crosse the day and two days following viz. 14. Oct. which Charter bears date at Winchester 23. Dec. 24 H. 3. This indeed hath continued till the present times frequented by multitudes that come from far and neer unto it the Toll whereof was very antiently leased for ix s. iv d. and the Toll of the Mercate at xvi s. per annum which Walter sate Bishop for divers years in 39 H. 3. obtained a Charter of Free-warren for himself and his successors in all their demesn lands here bearing date at Merton 2. Apr. Another Faire likewise did Godfrey Giffard when he was Bishop procure in 53 H. 3. to be held for three days viz. the Eve of the Ascension of our Lord commonly called Holy Thursday and upon the day and morow after And moreover the next year following got a new Charter for renewing the Faire again on the Eve of Trinity Sunday so granted by King Iohn as aforesaid and to continue for three days after Touching the revenue which the said Bishop had here in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. I find that it was in Rent of Assize xx li. two carucates of land rated at xx s. one Mill yeilding C s. the pleas and perquisites lx s. and the profits of the store xx s. But it should seem that the said Thursday Mercate grew in time to be neglected for it appears that Walter de Maydenstane made Bishop of Worcester in 2 E. 2. did in the very first year of his consecration obtain a new Charter for one to be kept upon the same day every week and added also another Fair thereto to begin yearly on the Eve of S. Peter and Paul being at the later end of Iune and to hold for xv days Which Charter bears date at Westminstr 4. Martii 2 E. 2. And now that the Mercate became thus setled it was not long ere that the Paving of the town began for in 5 E. 3. did one Robert de Stratford then Parson of the Church of Stratford but afterwards highly advanced as I shall shew by and by procure a Patent for taking Toll for the space of four years upon sundry vendible commodities that should be thither brought for sale towards defraying the charge thereof which Patent being directed Ballivis probis hominibus villae de Stratford super Avone expresseth that it was obtained ad requisitionem dilecti Clerici nostri Roberti de Stratford And was afterwards twice renewed at the request of the said Robert viz. in 8 E. 3. for four years longer and in 10 E. 3. for two years more This Robert de Stratford was afterwards Archdeacon of Canterbury
certain things to be performed by Iohn Copley his nephew gave it to him the said Iohn and the heirs male of his body Marclive THis place taking its name from the Marly-Cliff or descent which we see on the Southern side of Avon was at first a member of Bidford and therewith past from Baldwin Wake and the before specified Hawisia to Rob. Burnell Bishop of Bathe and Wells in 8 E. 1. but then was it written only Clive and in 9 E. 2. as a Hamlet of Bidford was held by Aliva Burnell in dower It seems that much of it was sold long since by the Burnells to ordinary persons which may well be the cause that there is so little notice taken thereof in Record for I find that in 29 E. 3. Walt. Lenche father of Ioh. Lenche then living had purchased two messuages 1 yard land 1 acre of meadow and xxv s. yearly Rent lying in this place of Alice the widow of Edward Burnell and Nich. Burnell her husband's nephew of some part whereof Iohn Rous of Ragley dyed seized in 20 R. 2. But in 16 H. 7 Will. Harewell of Wotton-Wawen dyed seized of the whole Mannour Bickmersh THis Village is in the Parish of Welford in Gloucestershire but by antient depopulation much shrunk from what it heretofore was Part hereof did K. Edgar in the year of Christ 967 grant to Brithnothus his servant for life which Brithnothus transmitted his right therein to the Monastery of Worcester with his son whom he thither sent to live a religious life In that grant of King Edgar it is written Bicamnersce but it seems that afterwards the Church of Worcester became possest of the whole Village for it appears that Edwin brother to Earl Leofrick in Edw. the Confessor's time unjustly seized upon it yet did not long enjoy the fruits of his rapine being ignominiously slain by Griffin King of the Britans whereupon Wulstan the then Prior hoping to regain it went to Alritune and required the lands belonging to his Monastery but all that he could get was only the meadow lying at Marclive the rest being never restored In the Conquerors Survey it is recorded under the title of Elemosinae Regis and written Bichemerse being there certified to contain 5 hides which were then valued at C s. and held of the K. by one Eddid a woman who was also owner thereof in Edward the Confessors dayes After which till the beginning of King Iohn's time I have not seen any further mention of this place but then doth it appear that Robert Foliot was Lord of it and in minority who in 14 H. 3. had a suit with the Parson of Welneford for the Advouson of the Chapell here at Bikemers-Foliot for so it is written claimed by the said Parson as a Chapell belonging to Welneford in which pleading the Composition under the seal of the said Robert was produced manifesting that the Tithes with the parochiall rights of the Court id est the Mannour house did belong to the said mother-Church of Welneford In 20 H. 3. upon collection of the Aid for marriage of the King's sister to the Rom. Emperour it answered for one Knights Fee being there certified under the Fees of Hugh de Albini and expressed to be held of him by Corbeth But in â—6 H. 3. it is recorded to be of the Earl of Gloucester his Fee and then held by Rob. Foliot What right it was that Corbet had here I know not but it seems that he did not quietly enjoy it for first I find that in 32 H. 3. Roesia Foliot brought an Assize of Novell disseisin against Will. Corbet for lands here and in 45 H. 3. Ioan Foliot an Assize of Mort d'ancester against him for this Mannour which Will. Corbet was of Chadsley-Corbet in Worcestersh I am of opinion that this Ioane Foliot was daughter and heire to the before specified Robert and married to Ric. de Williamescote for by a pleading in 52 H. 3. I find that the said Richard and Ioan his wife had to do here and in 4 E. 1. the said Ric. was presented for withdrawing his suit due to the Hundred Court for this Village To which Richard succeeded Henry de Willemscote that sold this Mannour to Iohn de Bloxam in 35 E. 1. Who in 18 E. 2. past it away to Will. de Bereford which Will. died seized of it in 20 E. 2. Whereupon it was inter alia assigned to Margaret his widow in dower In the family of Bereford whereof I shall speak in Langley it continued for some descents S r Baldw. de Bereford Knight grandchild to the beforespecified Will. having Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here But it seems that this S r Baldw. having no issue male of his body the reversion thereof after the decease of Eliz. his wife was setled upon Thomas the son of Philip St. Clere for upon her death in 1 H. 6. the said Thomas was found to be next heir thereto though what relation he had to him in blood I am not very certain which Thomas in 13 H. 6. dyed seized of it leaving Eliz. Alianore and Edith his daughters and heirs Eliz. being afterwards married to Will. Lovell Alianore to Iohn Gage and Edith to Ric. Harecourt Esquiers But farther as to its succession can I say no more than that it was about the beginning of Q. Eliz. time purchased by the Lady S. Iohn widow to S r Edw. Griffin of Dingley Atturney Generall to Q. Eliz. for S r Ries Griffin her son by the said Sir Edward which Sir Ries left issue Edward his son and heir now owner thereof It should seem that a good proportion of this Hamlet was antiently belonging to the family of Morehall of Morehall juxta Wicksford for in 20 E. 3. Amicia de Morehall with VVill. de Audley were certified to answer for one Knights Fee here held of VVill. Corbet and by him of the Honour of Gloucester â— and so divolving to Clopton as the Mannour of Morehall did was past therewith by S r VVill. Clopton Kt. to Thomas Crewe Esq for life After which Sir Iohn Burgh Kt. held it for life as Tenant by the Curtesie of England being of the inheritance of Ioane his wife daughter and coheir to the said VVill. Clopton which Ioane had likewise severall daughters and heirs as in Morehall is shewed amongst whom this with the rest of her lands wâ—re divided The Chapell here is very antient having been founded by Will. Foliot in H. 2. dayes to whom succeeded Robert before mentioned About the beginning of K. Iohn's time there was one R. Foliot Parson here betwixt whom and the Monks of Tewksbury there growing some dispute as to the right of the Tithes g arising out of the Court or Mannour House an Agreement was made and confirmed by Malgerius then Bishop of
a special exemption from that voyage In 20 E. 3. he was again appointed one of the Commissioners in this County for arraying of Clx. Archers for the Wars of France as also assigned one of the Collectors of a xv th and x th then granted in Parliament for the Kings service and bore for his Armes Sable a Cheveron betwixt 3. Leopards heads jesant flower de luces Argent which coat was assumed by him or his Ancestors for their relation to Cantilupe in the tenure of this Mannour without doubt To this Sir Iohn Hubaud succeeded Iohn his son and heir of whom all that I find memorable is that in 29 E. 3. he was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster And to him Thomas a Commissioner in 2 R. 2. for assessing and collecting of a Subsidy in this County then granted to the King in Parliament which Thomas had issue Richard Hubaud Esquier who is ranked amongst those persons of chief note in this Shire that in 12 H. 6. Made Oath for observance of certain Articles concluded on in the Parliament then holden and bore for his Armes the three Leopards heads without a Cheveron with a labell of 3. points in cheif But after him I have not seen any thing very memorable of this family relating to their publique imployments untill Queen Eliz. time that Iohn Hubaud Esquier a person highly favoured by Robert Earl of Leicester who bore so mighty a sway in those days was by him in 14. of the said Queens reign pro bono consilio favore fideli amicitia multipliciter impenso impendendo as are the words of his Charter constituted Constable of Kenilworth Castle and cheif Steward of all his Mannours and lands lying in this Countie as also in the Counties of Salop Worcester and Montgomerie and cheif Ranger of all his Forests Parks and Chases within those Lordships having the Fee of x li. per annum granted unto him during life for that service The Church dedicated to S. Peter was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at xii marks so also in 14 E. 3. but in 26 H. 8. at xii li. at which time the Procurations and Synodalls were ix s. v d. ob Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Dominus Ioh. Hubaud miles Ioh. Geraud Cler. 14. Apr. 1344. ........... Leonardus .............. 1348. Thomas Hebald Dominus de Ippesley Gralanus le Wolf Cler. .... Ian. 1386. Ric. Hubaude ar Thomas Chaturley Cap. 16. Ian. 1410. Ric. Hubaude ar D. Ric. Swyfte Cap. 5. Iunii 1420. Thomas Hubaude ar D. Will. Halford Cap. 28 Martii 1480. Ric. Hubaudar Magr. Hugo Livesay in jure Canon Bac. 2. Nov. 1482. Ric. Hubaudar D. Nich. Hubaud Cap. 21. Maii 1493. Ioh. Hubaud ar Will. Hubaud Accol 19. Maii 1529. Ioh. Hubaud ar Ric. Sherwyne Pbr. 20. Dec. 1558. Ioh. Hubaud miles Will. Bourne Cler. 2. Dec. 1572. Rad. Hubaud ar Clem. Lewes Cler. 22. Feb. 1583. Eliz. Angl. Regina per lapsum Henr. Daniell Cler. 13. Aug. 1588. Rad. Hubaud art Gabrael Cliff Cler. 11. Martii 1588. Anna Hubaud Vidua Ioh. Warmstry Cler. in art Magr. 26. Aug. 1615. In the body of the Church towards the North side is there a raised Monument but of a much meaner structure than either of those in the Chancell which are represented on the last page for it is onely of plaine stone-work with an Alabaster cover whereon is the portraiture of a man and woman graved and this Epitaph on the Verge Here lyeth the bodies of Nicholas Hubaud esquier and Dorothye his Wife the which Nicholas deceassed the second day of May in the yere of our Lord M Dliii and the said Dorothy deceassed the xvi â— day of May in the yeare of our Lord M Dlviii Upon whose soules God have mercy Amen In the East window of the North I le Sable 3. Leopards heads jesant flowers de lis Argent Hubaud Gules a Lyon rampant Argent crowned Or. Musard In the North window of the Chancell this coat Sable a Cheveron betwixt three Leopards heads jesant flowers de lis Argent Hubaud Studley DEscending lower on the same side of Arrow I come to Studley within which Parish these places of note are situate scil Mapleborow Skilts Holt and Padhougre In the Conquerors time the greatest part thereof viz. four hides in which also stood the Church and a Mill was possest by Will. fil Corbucionis whereunto belonged a Furnace yeilding annually xix Horse-loads of Salt and woods extending to one mile in length and half as much in breadth All which were then estimated at C s. having been the freehold of Swain before the Norman Invasion But the other part which in Edward the Confessors days belong'd to Godric and at that time to Will. Buenvasleth containing onely one hide besides the woods that were three furlongs in length and two in breadth and valued therewith at x s. was held of him by one William Of the before specified Will. fil Corbucion I find that he was a man of eminent note in this County having lands in Ilmindon Kineton Sekindon Wishaw Hodenhull Honingham Weston Coundon Barcheston Mapleborough Eccleshall Grafton Binton Bereford Wolverton Bearley and here at Studley where he or some of his descendants had a Castle as by the ruines thereof is evident and thereat their principall seat though they had likewise fair possessions in Berks. and Staffordshire I am of opinion that this William was Shiriff of this County for some part of William the Conquerors reign for upon that confirmation to the Monks of Worcester of Alveston in this County and the Mâ—ll at Salewarp in Worcestershire originally given to them by S. Wolstan the said King directed his speciall Precept unto Henry Earl of Warwick Vrso de Abetot and this Will. sil Câ—rbucion for their quiet enjoyment of those places which Urso was then Shiriff of Worcestershire as elswhere I have manifested To the said William succeeded Robert Corbusceon who in H. 1. time upon the Dedication of the Church of Eccleshale gave certain Glebe thereto And next unto him Peter his brother as I guesse who in some authorities is written Petrus filius Willielmi and in others Pâ—trus Corbezon as also Petrus de Stodley which Peter was a witness to severall Charters of Margaret Countesse of Warwick and of Earl Roger her son and in 12 H. 2. held ten Knights fees and a fourth part of William Earl of Warwick de veterifcoffamento whence I conclude that whatsoever William his grandfather did possesse in the Conquerors time upon erection of Henry de Novo-Burgo to the Earldom of Warwick the same was given to that Earl and that he newly enfeoft the said Peter thereof but it seems he kept them not long for I find that he passed them back to Earl Waleran brother to the said
double Festivalls Which poor men so to be placed in the said Almeshouse to be chosen out of those that had been his Tenants or serving men at the discretion of his son and heir and heirs successively Advertising his son and heir that if he should so amortize this land for those uses it would be a meritorious deed and for which he should have Gods blessing and his and adjuring that none should break this his Will under pain of the Churches Curse Whereunto when he was upon his Pilgrimage to the Holy Land as I have said he added that Anthony his son should have his best ambling Horse to offer at S. Thomas Hospitall in Rome for a Morâ—uary his son Michael his next best Horse and that his goods which he had sent before to Florence should be divided betwixt the said Anthony and Michael Which Will was dated 10. Aug. anno 1518. and proved 9. Nov. anno 1520. To this Sir Robert succeeded George his son and heir who being a Knight in 17 H. 8. was one of those that attended in Court at that solemn Coronation of Queen Anne in 25 H. 8. and in 18. and 35 H. 8. executed the office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestershire This Sir George built that stately Castle-like Gatehouse of free-stone here at Coughton intending as it should seem to have made the rest of his House sutable thereto and having erected a fair Monument for himself and the Lady Catherine his wife standing towards the North-side of the Chancell as I shall shew by and by bequeathing his body to be buried under the same departed this life in 1. Mariae as may seem by the Probate of his Testament leaving issue a fair ofspring Of which I find that Robert the eldest was Shiriff of this County and Leicestershire in 1. M. being then a Knight That Clement the third son was of Haseley in this County of whom and his descendants I have there spoke That Nicholas the fourth was a Knight and in 1 Eliz. imployed as Embassador to Francis the second King of France and Mary Queen of Scots his consort to expostulate the matter with them for assuming the Armes of England in their quarterings and afterwards scil in anno 1567. 9 Eliz. into Scotland at which time the said Queen was most barbarously kept in prison by her rebellious subjects where and when they extorted a resignation of the Regall power from her unto which he having perswaded her to subscribe signified to Queen Eliz. that it was of no validity forasmuch as she had been constrained thereto by the terror of a base imprisonment His other negotiations I shall not stand to particularize referring my Reader to M r Cambden's Annals of Queen Eliz. raign Anno scil 1570. where he speaks of his death and unto Stow's Survey of London for his Epitaph on a fair Monument of Alabaster wherein his statue in armour is cut situate on the south side of the Chancell in S t Catherine Creechurch near Algate within that City But touching the other sons of the said Sir George I find not much memorable except it be of Sir Iohn his seventh son Knighted by Queen Eliz. in the first year of her reign whose Epitaph upon his Monument in the Chancell here at Coughton doth sufficiently declare his eminency and worth Which Sir Iohn had issue Francis attainted in 26 Eliz. for Treason layd to his charge as having conspired God knows what in behalf of the Queen of Scots To the before specified Sir Robert eldest son of Sir George succeeded Thomas and to him Iohn and to him Sir Robert Throkmorton Baronet erected to that dignity by Letters Patent bearing date at Nottingham 1. Sept. 19. Caroli and to him Sir Francis now living whose severall marriages the Pedegree before inserted sheweth The Epitaph upon Sir Robert Throkmorton's Monument represented at the bottome of pag 562. Here lyeth buried Sir Robert Throkmorton Knight son ad heir of Sir George Throkmorton Knight which Sir Robert was twice wedded in the fear of God first to Merell Barkley one of the daughters of the Lord Barkley and did beget on her bodie 3. sons and 4. daughters second to the Lady Elizabeth Hungerford sometime wife of the Lord Hungerford and one of the daughters of the Lord Hussie by whom he did beget two sons and five daughters who departed this life for happier estate the day of Anno Domini 15 .... On the other side of this Monument are these verses Conditur hoc tumulo generosae gloria plebis Luget ut amissum patria chara patrem Nam plebs patronum clari sensere parentem Fautor erat miseris pauperibusque pius Religiosus amans observantissimus aequi Sincerus cultor principis atque Dei. Armatum sensere hostes sensere togatum Pacificum cives clarus utroque fuit Auxerunt famam neptes clarique nepotes Undique multiplici prole beatus erat Erudienda bonos virtutis semina liquet In cinerem rediit qui fuit ante cinis Vita dedit mortem letam mors ultima vita Vita fugax obiit vita perennis adest Magne Roberte vale divae virtutis alumnae Namque tenes superas non rediture domos Circumscribed on the freeze of this Monument O miser respice finem qualis sum in brevi eris vigila ergo quia nescis diem neque horam Upon a plate of brasse fix't on the North wall of the Chancell is this Inscription Of your charite pray for the soul of dame Elizabeth Throkmerton the last Abbas of Denye and Aunt to Sir George Throkmerton Knight who deceassed the xiii day of Ianuarye in the yere of our Lord God a. MCCCCCxlvii who lieth here tumilate in this tumbe on whoze soule and all Christen soules Iesu have mercy Amen Vivit post funera virtus Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Prior Conventus de Stodley Ioh. Grenhull Pbr. 29. Maii 1339. Prior Conventus de Stodley Ioh. de Somburne Pbr. 23. Apr. 1378. Prior Conventus de Stodley Thomas de Balle Cap. 1. Oct. 1434. Prior Conventus de Stodley Rob. Cowper Cap. 20. Sept. 1440. Prior Conventus de Stodley D. Hugo Lynesay Pbr. ult Apr. 1471. D. Henr. 8. Rex Angliae D. Henr. Shelmerdyne Cler. 23. Apr. 1541. Thomas Throkmorton generosus Thomas Ireland Cler. 6. Apr. 1593. Ric. Berkley de Lancombe in Com. Gloucest ar Will Norwood de Lech-Hampton in dicto Com. ar Leonardus Digby Cler. 10. Dec. 1624 The Armes which were lately standing in the windows being onely such as had been set up at the new glasing of them in Sir George Throkmorton's time I have purposely omitted in regard they were no other than such as be in the windows of the Mannour-house whereof I have taken notice Samburne OF this place having its originall denomination from that little Sandy brook nigh unto which it stands I find very antient mention
elsewhere within the King's dominions And lastly that he and his heirs should have another Faire yearly within this Town beginning on the Even of S. Dunstan and continuing for two dayes following Which ample Charter bears date at Westminster xviii Nov. in the year before specified After which ere long viz. in 28 H. 6. was he made Lord Treasurer of England but in that Office he continued not long as also a Commissioner for conservation of the Peace and assessing of Subsidies in this County but in these I presume he acted little in respect of his other great imployments being a Baron of this Realm and summoned to severall Parliaments in the said King's time By his Testament bearing date ix Apr. An. 1475. 15 E. 4. he bequeathed his body to sepulture in the Church of the Dominican Friers at Worcester in a new Chapell to be made on the North side of the Quire To which House of Friers for his buriall there he bequeathed the value of xx marks to be had in vestments and stuff besides a pair of Organs of his own residing at that time at Chelchith in the County of Midlesex Appointing that a Priest of that Friery should daily say Masse at the Altar within the said Chapell before his Tombe after the Order of a Trentall for his soul and the souls of his Father and Mother Brethren and Sisters his Children and Ancestors souls and especially for the souls of Sir Iohn Fastolf Knight Will. Botreaux and all Christen souls taking by the week for the said Masse so daily to be said viii d. for evermore Which Chapell and Tombe with his statue thereon in Alabaster he did by the said Testament ordein that his Executor should cause to be made and departed this life the same year leaving Sir Ric. Beauchamp Knight his son and heir then 40. years of age who in the private Chapell of this Mannour-house here called by the name of Beauchamps-Court having speciall License from the Bishop of Worcester wedded Eliz. the daughter of Sir Humfrey Stafford Knight by whom he had issue three daughters that were his heirs viz. Eliz. married to Sir Robert Willoughby Lord Brook first summoned to Parl. by that title in 7 H. 7. Anne to Ric. Ligon and Margaret to Will. Rede which Sir Robert had in her right this Mannour of Alcester in partition and dyed seized thereof 10 Nov. 13 H. 8. leaving Eliz. Anne and Blanch his cosins next heirs viz. daughters of Edw. Willoughby his son by the before specified Elizabeth Of which daughters so in minority Eliz. the eldest was committed to the tuition of Sir Edward Grevill of Milcote Knight who obtained her wardship as I have by tradition been informed with purpose to marry her unto Iohn his son and heir but she better affecting Fòuke the younger became his wife to whom she brought this Mannour of Alcester with other lands which Fouke much enlarged his Mannour-house at Beauchamps-Court taking stone and timber from the then newly dissolved Priory at Alcester for that purpose as also his Park with part of the wast belonging to this Lordship and bore the Office of Shiriff for this County and Leicestershire in 34 H. 8. being then a Knight so also in 1 E. 6. and departed this life 10. Nov. Anno 1559. 1 Eliz. leaving issue Fouke his son and heir and Robert a younger son which Fouke was Knighted in 7 Eliz. being then 29 years of age In 12 Eliz. he came first into Commission for conservation of the Peace in this Shire and departing this life in an 1606 4 Iac. left issu by Anne his wife daughter to Raph Nevill E. of Westmerland Fouk his son and heir Which last recited Fouk having been a servant in Court to Q. Eliz. made Under-Treasurer and Chancelour of the Exchequer by K. Iames as also one of the privy Councell and a Gentleman of his Bedchamber in 15. of that King's reign obtained a speciall Charter confirming all such liberties as had been granted to any of his Ancestors in the behalf of this Town upon a new Rent of x s. per annum then reserved to the said K. his heires successors and was created Lord Brook of Beauchamps-Court before mentioned 9. Ian. 18. Iac. with limitation of that Honour for lack of issue male of his own body unto Robert Grevill son of Fouk son of Robert before specified a younger son to the first Sir Fouk This Fouk Lord Brook obtaining the Castle of Warwick from King Iames when it was in a very ruinous condition bestowed so much cost in the repairs thereof beautifying it with most pleasant Gardens and Walks and adorning it with rich furniture that considering its situation no place in this part of England doth compare with it for statelinesse and delight But delaying to reward one Hayward an antient servant that had spent the most of his time in attendance upon him being expostulated with for so doing received a mortall stab on the back by the same man then private with him in his Bed-chamber at Brook-house in London 30. Sept. Anno 1628 5 Car. who to consummate the Tragedy went into another roome and having lock't the dore pierced his own bowells with a sword After which viz. 27. Oct. the said Lord Brook's body being wrapt in Lead brought to Warwick was there solemnly interred in a vault on the North side the Quire of S. Maries Church under that beautifull Monument erected by himself whereof I have there taken notice To whom succeeded in this his Lordship of Alcester and divers other lands of great value the before specified Robert Grevill Lord Brooke by vertue of a speciall grant whereby they were so setled I now come to speak of that Family of Botreaux which possest the other half of this Mannour till 22 H. 6. as I have intimated Robertus Corbet ..... Reginaldus Comes Cornub Regis Henrici primi nothus Henricus Filia cohaeres Henricus fil Herberti Petrus fil Herberti 6. Joh. Herbertus fil Petri 33 H. 3. Regin fil Petri 56 H. 3. Johannes Herbertus Alicia altera filiarum cohaeredum Will. Boterell Will. Boterell 6. Joh. ob s. prole Albreda fil Walteri Waleran Reginaldus de Boterell frater haeres Will. de Botereus 2 E. 1. Will. de Botereus 9 E. 2. Regin de Botereus 4 E. 3. Walt. de Botereaux obiit 41 E. 3. Joh. Botereaux aetat 6. an 41 E. 3. Margeria filia Will. Dunfrell Joh. Botreaux de Wetheley in Com. Warw. gen 10 H. 6. Thomas Botreaux 22 H. 6. Of Will. de Botreaux who married Alice one of the daughters and coheirs to Rob. Corbet I find that he confirmed to the Monks of Alcester all that they there held of his Fee and that he left issue Will. and Reginald which second Will. in 6. Ioh. gave two Horses for the great saddle
paticular name certain Knights from the several Counties and Burgesses for the Burroughs to appear the Fryday next before the Feast of St. Michael with whom the said King resolved to have personall Treaty amongst these was our Roger de Aylesbury with Ric. de VVhitacre and Iohn Revell for this County but it seems that Ric. de VVhitacre appeared not for upon assignation of their expences for xv dayes being the time it lasted the appointment to the Shiriff is only for payment of this Roger and Iohn Revell this being the year preceding the said King 's assuming the title of King of France and quartering the Armes of that Realm with England whereupon he took into his royal consideration that the same might occasion him a War with the French and proposed the borrowing of money from the Clergy and people of England for avoiding thereof constituting Commissioners through the several Counties to declare that to be the reason of the said loan And the next year following being resolved of an expedition beyond Sea for effecting his designes in France summoned the like Councell of his Subjects to be held at Westminster the morrow following the Clause of Easter whereunto were again appointed to come in the behalf of this County the said Roger de Aylesbury Ric. de VVhitacre and Iohn Revell there to consult about the conservation of this Realm in peace and safety during the King's absence In 13 E. 3. he served in the Parl. then likewise held at Westminster as one of the Knights for this Shire but after this I find no more of him that is memorable other than that he was a Kt. and left issue Philip his son and heir who bore for his Armes a Bend gules over his Azure Crosse and married Agnes the daughter and coheir of Hugh de Brandeston Lord of the Mannour of Lapworth by whom he had issue Roger. Which Roger had very little to do in the affairs of the publique other than as a Commissioner in 6 H. 4. for collection of a Subsidy in this Connty Neither had Iohn his son any more than in the Office of Eschaetor for this County and Leicestershire in 23 30. H. 6. And Iohn the son and heir of him none at all the Family being declined so much that notwithstanding his descent as heir to Roger before spoken of who was a Knight he wrote himself no other than Gentilman Which Iohn being the last male branch of this house here at Edston left issue Ioane a daughter and heir wedded unto Thomas Somervile of Somervile-Aston in com Glouc. Esquier whereby this Mannour with the rest of his lands came to that Family in which it still continues having been since that time their principal Seat as appears by many authorities But touching the ancestors of this Thomas Somervile I shall say little in regard that having their estate and residence in Gloucestershire they are out of my limits only of this I conceive fit to take notice that they have been of a very antient continuance there and no lesse eminent as it seemâ—â— for one of them was a Knight in 45 H. 3. being stiled Iohannes miles de Aston Somervile and bore for his Armes ...... upon a border ...... 6 Leopards heads ...... as by his Seal appeareth whereunto his great granchild Sir VVill. Somervile Knight in the beginning of Edw. 3. time added one more Leopards head upon the border and Sir Iohn Somervile Knight his son and heir altered it more bearing Argent upon a fâ—sse gules 3 Leopards heads Or betwixt 3 Annulets of the second which coat hath been continued by his posterity to these very times From whom descended Iohn Somervile Esq who in 25 Eliz. being a hot spirited Gentleman and about 23 years of age but a Roman Catholique by profession is said to have been so far transported with zeale for the restoring that Religion by the instigation of one Hall a Priest that he resolved to kill the Queen and to that purpose made a journey to London and that upon his apprehension he confest his intent but being arraigned condemn'd and committed to Newgate within three days after he was found strangled in his lodging How far forth he was guilty of this God knows for with what a high hand things were then borne through the power of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester is not unknown to most men which Earl had a particular spleen against M r Arden of Parkhall father in Law to this Gentleman as by sundery aged persons of credit I have often heard Bearley THis being written Burlei in the Conqueror's Survey was then held of Rob. de Stadford by one Ailric whose freehold it had been before the Norman invasion but the extent of it by that Record is certified to be no more than 1. hide valued at x s. which was but the one half of what it had been rated at in Edw. the Confessor's days By one of whose descendants sc. of Stafford was Cumin antiently Lord of Snitfield as I conceive first enfeoft hereof and by Cumin Nicholas that assumed his sirname from hence without doubt for in H. 2. time I find that such a man there was and that he with Will. de Burlei his son gave to the Monks of Bordsley xx acres of land lying within the precincts o Claverdon and held of Walter Cumin who coâ—â—â—mâ—d â—â—e grant As also that to the Church of Wootton and the Monks of Conchis they likewise gave in 1 R. 1. all their interest in the Chapell here addâ—ng the grant of one yard land with a Croft and Messuage To which William succeeded Iohn his son and heir who quitted his total interest and claim in the said Chapell unto those Monks and for its better confirmation levied a Fâ—ne thereupon in 5 H. 3. This Iohn had issue Will. de Burle a further Benefactor also to the Monks of Bordsley by granting to them certain lands in Claverdon which he had recovered by a suit in Law in the Kâ— Court at Westminster and bore for his Armes three Garb with 3 flower de lices in Chief which shews what relation he had to Cumin and Cantilupe Lords of Snitfield successively To whom succeeded Hugh his son and heir who gave likewise to those Monks of Bordsley one yard land lying here in Burley but within the Fee of Snitfield and therefore confirm'd by Margery de Cantilupe and Iohn her son Which Iohn about the beginning of Edw. 1. time withdrew the suit that the Inbabitants of this place had usually done to the Hundred Court unto his own Court held a Snitfield So that I think there needs no question to be made but that Cumin was first enfeoft hereof by Stafford to fortifie which my conjecture the more I find that Iohn de Cantilupe son to the last mentioned Iohn was in 9 E. 2. certified
as good value in recompence thereof that Charter of confirmation bearing date at Wenloc 26 Maii. Of which noble person I further find that he obtained the Advouson and patronage of the Priory of Studley near this place as I have there shewed from Peter de Corbucon heir to the Founder whereunto he gave a fair portion of lands lying in Shotswell That he also built an Hospitall at the Gates of that Monastery That he bore for his Armes Gules 3 flower de lices Or as by his Seal appeareth within the compasse whereof scil towards the lower part of the Shield there is a Star with a Cressant which is a Badge as hath been observed by judicious Antiquaries of his service in the Holy warrs And that he departed this life 7 Id. Apr. 23 H. 3. being then very aged leaving issue several sons viz. William his son and heir Walter a Priest and imployed by King H. 3. as his Agent to the Court of Rome afterwards elected Bâ—shop of Worcester â— whose story I refer to Godwyn Iohn Lord of Snitfield in this Countie and Nicholas of whom I find no more than the bare mention Which Will. being a martial man as well as his father and accompanying him at raising the seige of Lincolne Castle in 1 H. 3. had in 15 H. 3. much of his father's estate past over to him for which he then did his homage to the King And in 24 H. 3. obtained a special Charter for exempting him from any suit to the County or Hundred Courts Leet Aid to the Shiriff and Hidage for all his lands in England After which viz. in 26 H. 3. he attended the King in that his French expedition which was so unprosperous and having been in 28 H. 3. sent with other of the great Nobilitie to solicite the Prelates for an Aid of money according to the Popes Letters on the King's behalf was the next ensuing year one of those that went Embassiador to the general Councell then held at Lions there to complain of the grievous exactions used here in England by the Court of Rome as well from the Clergie as Laitie and to crave remedie for the same Which William bearing a devout affection to the Canons of Studley before specified gave to the Hospital of his Father's building there lands to the value of x li. per an lying within this Lordship as also certain Rent and pasturage for Cattell in Southernkeston with the Church of Hemeston in Devonshire And having besides all this obtained a special Charter for exempting their Woods situate within the Forest of Fekenham from any view of the King's Foresters and Verderers and been Steward to the King as his Father was as also a most faithfull Councellor left issue by Milisent the daughter of Hugh de Gornay Will. his son and heir Thomas Bishop of Hereford who in 34 E. 1. was canonized for a Saint and Iulian the wife of Sir Rob. de Tregoz and departed this life in 35 H. 3. immediatly whereupon William his eldest son performing his homage and giving security for payment of his Relief which was C li. had livery of his lands Which William in 37 H. 3. obtained a pardon from the King for pulling down the Castle of Penros in Wales belonging to Iohn de Monemuth as also for five marks at which this his Mannour of Aston was amerced for protecting one Rob. de Shelfhill who had been indicted for certain misdemeanors and in 38 H. 3. was constituted Governor of Bovelt Castle in Brecknockshire To the before specified Hospitall built at the Gate of the Priory of Studley he gave the advouson of the Church here at Aston and having wedded Eva one of the daughters aad coheirs to Will. de Braose of Brecknock with whom he had the territory of Upper Went and other lands in England and Wales departed this life in the flower of his youth to the great grief of many leaving issue by her the said Eva George his son and heir and two daughters Of which George being scarce 3. years old at that time I have found very little that is memorableâ— his death hapning before he arrived to years whereby he could be qualified for any great action viz. in 1 Edw. 1. Therefore whether the marriage betwixt him and Margaret the daughter of Edmund de Lacy was ever consummated as their parents had designed when he was scarce two years old I cannot tell but sure I am that he had no issue for Iohn the son of Henry de Hastings and Milicent then the wife of Eudo or Yvo la Zouche were found to be his sisters and heirs Which Henry being in minority in 36 H. 3. and in Ward to Guy de Luzignian the King 's half brother had the benefit of his marriage then disposed of by the said Guy unto Will. de Cantilupe before specified who gave his daughter Ioane thus in wedlock to him Whereupon by partition made betwixt those coheirs the said Milisent had for her share the Castle of Totenesse in Com. Devon the Mannours of Eyton â—n com Bedf. and Haringworth in Northamptonshire â— with other fair possessions in England and Wales as also the advouson of the Priory of Studley in this County And Iohn de Hastings the son of Ioane beforementioned had Bergavenny with the Castle and Honour which were of the inheritance of Eva de Breause his grandmother together with the Castle of Kilgaran in Com. Pembr and amongst other large territories in England and Wales this Mannour of Aston then valued at Lix li. iiii s. i d. per an all which were in the King's hands at the time of the said Partition made by reason of his minority But touching the Family of Hastings I shall speak historically in Fillongley and therefore purpose to make no other mention of them here than what particularly relates to this place In 13 E. 1. this Iohn de Hastings claimed a Court-Leet with Assize of Bread and Beer Weifs Gallows and Free warren within this Mannour by Prescription all which were allowed From which time this Mannour was for divers descents enjoy'd by the posterity of the said Iohn as I could sufficiently demonstrate if need were except for so long as Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon held two parts of it in right of Iulian his wife widow to Iohn de Hastings father of Laurence Earl of Pembroke After the death of which Laurence it appears that it was held of the King in Capite by the service of one Foot souldier in the Warrs of Wales with a Bow without a string and a Helmet for his head by the space of xl dayes at his own proper costs as often as there should be any hostility in Wales From which Family of Hastings it descended not to the Lord Grey of Ruthin
held of Hugh de Albinie but in 36 H. 3. being possest by one Rob. de Haselovere is recorded to be held by hâ—m of the said Will de Hastings I am of opinion that this Rob. de Haselovere is the same man who is elswhere called Rob. Lyvet for certain it is that Rob. Lyvet was Lord of this town about that time and it was not unusuall in those dayes for men totally to relinquish their paternall name and assume that of their residence insted thereof or indifferently to use either Which Robert died seized of this Mannour in 9 E. 2. then held as the Record expresses of Will. de Hastings of Thormarton by the service of a pair of white Spurs price ii d. leaving Iohn Lyvet his son and heir of full age It seems that one Iohn de Chiltenham came afterwards to have some interest here perhaps in right of Alianore his wife for I find that in 3 E. 3. the same Iohn and Alianore aliened a third part thereof with the advouson of the Church to Iohn de Trillow and Katherine his wife and the heirs of the said Katherine After which viz. in 7 E. 3. Rob. de Stratford parson of the Church of Stratford purchased the whole from Henry the son of Rob. Lâ—vet and in 10 E. 3. being then Archdeacon of Canterb. obtained all the interest that the before specified Iohn de Chilâ—enham and Alianore his wife had therein together with the advouson of the Church which he kept but a while as it seems for in 20 E. 3. Will. de Meldon accounted for the half Kts. fee by which it was held as hath been said and presented to the Church as Patron about that time But the next possessor thereof concerning whom I have seen any authoritie was Sir Almaric de S. Amand Kt. who to fortifie his title got a Release from Iohn de Perto the elder of all his right therein which bears date at London on Wednesday next after the Feast of the Purification of our Lady 39 E. 3. and within 3. years after a grant or rather confirmation as I thinkâ— from Nich. de Dounamney likewise of what title he had thereto From which Sir Almaric it was conveyed to Will. de Stoke and Thomas de Sekindon Priests who by their deeds dated on the Feast day of St. Clement the Pope 8 R. 2. past it away unto Thomas de Beauchamp then E. of Warwick and others which Earl having the same year obtained the King's License for that purpose by his speciall Charter dated at Warwick 20 Sept. 19 R. 2. bestowed it upon the Canons of his Collegiate Church in Warwick and their successors for ever Notwithstanding which pious gift King R. 2. taking advantage of the attainder shortly after befalling that Earl as in my story of him in Warw. appeareth violated this his grant to those Canons and gave it to Robert Gowsell Esq. to hold during life But the deposall of that K. which followed soon after reverst that gift of his to Gowsell wherby both the Earl himself became restored to aâ—l his possessions and the said Canons to this Mannour which in 26 H. 8. was valued at xix l. vii s. vii d. and in 4 E. 6. after the dissolution of that Colledge passed out of the Crown inter alia to Sir Raph Sadler Kt. then Master of the Wardrobe and Laurence Wenington Gent. and to the heirs of the said Sir Raph. to be held of the Mannour of Est Greenwich in Socage The Church here with the Church-yard was founded by King ..... to the honour of Christ the blessed Virgin St. Laurence and All Saints and originally endowed with a House for the Parson and two yard land lying in the fields of Haselore and UUalcote as also certain pasture grounds to the same belonging with a certain place and croft lying opposite thereunto And afterwards in King H. 2. time augmented with an ample addition which Nich. de Pole one of the King's Justices and then Lord of this Mannour by the consent of Maud his wife with Robert and Raph his sons both Knights gave thereunto in pure Almes viz. xi acres of his woods called UUidecombe Middelgrove and Rowheye with the land adjoyning and Common of pasture for viiâ— Oxen in his pasture called Speries as also for four Kine and a Bullock in the pasture on the Heath for the Summer time Besides which he gave thereunto out of divers yard lands of his demesn vi Bushells of Oats and of an halfyard land 3. Bushels as also a certain number of Cocks and Hens to be delivered on St. Martin's day yearly by the Tenants holding the same lands together with Law-grist of his Mill with the Tithe thereof Toll free and libertie of Fishing on the banks of his water upon Fasting dayes with Shuf-net and Ese and other Engines except draught Nets in liew of the Tithe of the water being in the Lords hands but if it should happen to be let to ferme then the Parson to have Tithe of all the great Fishes taken therein In an 1201. 19 E. 1. this Rectorie was valued at xv marks and in 15 R. 2. the advouson thereof granted by Thomas Beauchamp E. of Warwick to the Dean and Canons of his Collegiate Church in Warwick and their successors and appropriated thereunto by the Abbot of Evesham deputed by Pope Boniface the ix th 22. Oct. 1394. whereupon the Vicaridge was endowed In 26 H. 8. the said Rectory so appropriated was valued at xxi l. per an the Vicar then having an yearly Pension onely of vi l. xiii s. iiii d. payable by the said Canons of Warwick Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. .......... Nich. â—e Buvynton Cap. 5. Cal. Dec. 1282. Rob. Lyvet Nich. Lyvet Cler. 4. Non. Oct. 1297. Will. de Meldon de Langeford Ioh. Guldune Cler ...... 1339 Will. de Meldon de Langeford Will. de Southam Pbr. 19 Apr. 1345. VVill. de Meldon miles Rob. de Overton Pbr. 6. Oct. 1349. Patroni Vicariae Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. Will. Elys Cap. 16. Martii 1464. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. Ioh. Betley 7 Ian. 1423. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. D. Thom. Grene Cap. 13. Iulii 1472. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. D. Edm. Par. alias Kellet 17 Martii 1500. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. Rog. Palmer Pbr. 9 Iunii 1523. Decan Capit. Eccl. Coll. beatae Mariae Warw. D. Ric. Brugges Cup .... 1530. Thom. King de Aston Cantlow Cler. Mart. Barker ratione concess D. Cap. Warw. D. Thomas Tayler Pbr. 13. Oct. 1545. Eliz. Angl. Regina Regin Broke Cler. 15 Dec. 1576. Iac. Rex Angl. c. Thomas Honthye Cler. 9. Iunii 1609. Walcote OF this small Hamlet being a
prec xl d. Another Auter cloth steynet prec xvi d. Three Twayles prec xviii d. Four other Auter cloths without fronts one prâ—c xx d. a piece Another prec xii d. the third prec vi d. the 〈◊〉 prec iiii d. Two Cruets prec vi d. Two Paxbâ—eâ—es prec iiii d. Three pieces of old silk for the images prec xl d. A Cofer in the Chapel prec v s. Another Cofer in Sir Thomas Bromley's Chamber prec ii â— A folet of thrid also a gret portvos prec C s. A vestment of the Cheyspel of purple silk prec xxxiii s. iiii d. A Chalice with patyn and Spoâ—e prec xxvi s. viii d. and this Boke vestment and Chalice were yeâ—ven by Sire Henry Wastneys Priest And also a new Missale prec ix marks yeven by Sire Roger Bugge Priest In 26 H. 8. the value of the lands and tenements belonging thereto was esteemed at Ci s. Sir Thomas Allen and Sir Iohn Grene Priests being then Wardens thereof But in 37 H. 8. the value of these Chantries was divided that of the first by the name of Prima Cantaria beatae Mariae in parochia S. Martini rated at Cxv s. xi d. ob over and above all reprises and the other by the name of Secunda Cantaria in praedicta parochia at vi li. iiii d. ob And after the dissolution of them by the Statute of 1 E. 6. the lands belonging to the later were in 4 E. 6. granted out of the Crown to Will. Morice of Cheping-Angre in Essex Esquire and Edw. Isaak of Welle in Kent and their heirs And in 7 E. 6. those appertaining to the other sold to Kenelm and Iohn Throkmorton Esquires Sutton HAving now done with Bermingham and tracing Rhea through the Parish of Aston I come to its confluence with Tame following which River about two miles lower I find the accession of a pretty torrent from the North west at the head whereof stands Sutton being a large Parish but a barren soil and containeth divers Hamlets and places of note viz. Wigginshill Maney Hillâ— Little Sutton Warmley Langley Newhall and Pedimore of all which in their order That this Sutton was originally so called from â—ts situation there is no doubt and therefore as it stands South to Lichfield I am inclin'd to believe that the name at first arose In Edw. the Confesâ—or's days Edwine Earl of Mercia was owner of it but after the Norman invasion the Conqueror held it in his own hands as appeareth by the generall Survey shortly after made wherein it is rated at viii hides the Woods extending to two miles in length and one in breadth and all valued at 4 l. But it continued not long in the Crown for I find that K. H. 1. past it away in exchange unto Roger Earl oâ— Warwick for the Mannours of Hocham and Langham in Rutland Habendum tenendum dicium Manerium de Sutton saith my authoritie dicto Rogero Comiti haeredibus ejus cum omni libertate regalitate sine sectis ad Hundredum sine solutione Scutagii vel alicuius forinseci servitii cum libero Chaceo inter Thame Bourne quae dividunt libertatem dicti Manerii ab aliis Et habeat dictus Rogerus haeredes sui unum Parcum unam liberam Hayam in defensione Et habeant liberam Curiam suam ad voluntatem in omnibus liberis consuetudinibus cum visu Franci plegii Item habeant boscum forinsecum communem libere tenentibus sine Ripario Item habeant in dominico duas Carucatas terrae â—num molendinum aquaticum cum sectis Item habeant Octodecem Cervos non nobiles But it doth not appear by this that any yearly Rent was reserved to the King his heirs and successors upon the said Exchange therefore 't is probable that by some other Agreement with that King or King H. 2. it might be For in the Shiriffs Accompt of 23.24 and 25 H. 2. there is xxxix s. per an answered to the King de Firma de Sutton In 26 H. 2. xvii s. x d. de porquisitis In 30 H. 2. xxxix s. de Firma In 31 H. 2. Lii s. de Firma and in 1 R. 1. iiii l. de Firma howbeit in these two last 't is like some arrears are accounted in regard that xxxix s. was the standing Rent or Ferm formerly due The next thing in order to be spoke of is the Chase whereof the bounds extended as by the before recited authoritie is evident to the banks of Thame and Bourne which Rivers are described by the Map and so consequently out of the bounds of this Countie aswell as into other Lordships within it that are no members of Sutton To give some reason therefore for this I have look't further into the antiquitie thereof and do find that whilst this Lordship continued in the King's hand that which afterwards bore the name of the Chase was then a Forest and this appears by a speciall Inquisition taken in 3 E. 2. where the Jury say upon their Oaths that they had heard their Ancestors affirm the same For that the antient King 's of England before they limited themselves by Carta de Foresta in 9 H. 3. might and did make Forests where they pleased Manwood in his treatise of Forest Laws whereunto I refer my Reader doth sufficiently declare And here before I proceed further I have thought fit to insert a Copie of the bounds of this Chase as by the before-specified Inquisition they are set down Sez sount lez boundes trovez de la Chace de Sottone en Colfelde se commencez à la teste de Bourne dekes à la Boltestile dekes tank à la Tindit hoc dekes tank à Mosewall dekes tank à le Holebrok dekes tank a le Thame dekes tank a Wolford brugge dekes tank a Schrafford brugge dekes tank a Wyford dekes tank a la teste de Bourne Most of which places if not all are I am sure very well known at this day That the Earl of Warwick so held it with all privileges thereto antiently belonging may appear by sundry testimonies some of which I shall here point at About the beginning of K. Iohn's time the Lord Basset of Draiton a great Baron in these parts erected a Park at Draiton-Basset which being within the precincts of this Chase and questioned by Waleran then Earl of Warwick necessitated the said Lord Basset rather than he would pull down his pales again to come to an Agreement with the Earl which accord was in 3 Iâ—â— and because 't is very memorable I will here recite it Haec est finalis concordia inter Comitem Waleranum de Warewic querentem Radulfum Basset tenentem de una sepe in Draiton quam idem Comes dixit fuisse levatam ad nocumentum Forestae suae de Colmesfeld unde placitum conventionis summonitum est inter eos coram Iusticiariis
H. 6. that the price of 〈◊〉 Fish in thâ—se days compared with other thâ—ng may the bâ—tter appear Item John Buâ—bage and Will Lâ—mpe â—â—r â—â—â—hing on Wensday nexte bâ—â—â—r the Exaltacion of the â—ros and dyde â—â—ke it Brews and were lade to my Lorde to Lychefelde be Will. Alyn And to the seyde Fycâ—ers â—yre and fâ—r her 〈…〉 meâ—e and horsmete iii s. x d. Item the same Fychers were send for again on Thursday nexte afâ—â—r the Exaltacion and was theâ— Thursday Frydaie and Setyrday and 〈…〉 Brenis ther hyre and ther costs iiii s. viii d. Iâ—â—m the â—osts of bâ—kyng the seyde iiii 〈…〉 xii d. Item in Spâ—e Pepâ—r Safâ—â—rm Ciâ—â—â— and Synamum vi d. Iâ—em the costs of carynâ— the seyd iiii Breâ—â—s to Mydlam to my Lord in the North Câ—ntrey be Thomas Harys of Suttun x s. Item for the Swans fâ—ur quarter â—teâ— and a bushell two quarter of hem a 〈…〉 quarter and a bushell a streke iii d. vii â— x â— The Church dedicated to the H ◠〈◊〉 was in an 1291. 19 E. 1. valâ—â—d aâ— xx 〈◊〉 and in 26 H. 8. at xxxiii l. ix s. over and abâ—vt xii s. yearly allowed for Procuratâ—â—es and Synodalls Here was in this Church a certain 〈◊〉 fâ—unded by one Thomas Broad 〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 when appears not for one 〈…〉 anâ— to pray for the soul of the said 〈◊〉 Parents the value of the Lands and 〈◊〉 belonging thereto being in 26 H. 8. 〈◊〉 at Cvi s. viii d. and in 37 H. 8. at Câ—â— Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbenâ—eâ— c. Edwardus Rex Anglâ—â— hac vicâ— Patronus Râ—â— â—illari 7 Id. Maii 1317. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Ioh. de Bukâ—ingham Accol 4 Nor. Ian. 1345. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Will. de Sharneburne Cap. 2 Id. â—an 1348. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Sim. Basset de Sapcote Cler. 3. Cal. Sept. 1349. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Will. de Barton Cler 15 Cal. Aug. 1361. Thomas de Bello-campo Comes Warwici Rad. de Friseby Pbr. 12 Cal. Sept. 1361. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Rog. de Tangley Pbr. 3 Sept. 1382. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Nich. Stokes 5 Iunii 1389. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Rad. Bromley Cler. 13 Sept. 1391. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Thomas Henster Pbr. penuli Ian. 1391. Thomas de Bello-campo Co. Warw. Ric. Penne 16 Apr. 1397. Thom. Dux Surr. Co. Cantii Ioh. de Malverne Pbr. 4 Ian. 1397. Henr. Rex Angl. ratione minoris aet Ric. Comitis VVarw. Ric Penne Cap. .... 1401. â—ic de Bellocampo Co. VVarw. Ludov. Beelte 15 Maii 1412. Ioh. Verney alai Ric. Comite Ioh. Arundell 8 Apr. 1431. VVarw. in part transmar existente Ric. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Ioh. Adams Pbr. 2 Martii 1433. Ric. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Thomas Hill Cler. 12 Dec. 1436. Henr. 7 Rex Angl. Edw. Scot Legum Dr. 24 Apr. 1499. Henr. 7 Rex Angl. Magr. Ioh. Taylour Decret Dr. 4 Feb. 1504. Henr. 8 Rex Angl. D. Georgius Henege 15 Ian. 1516. Henr. 8 Rex Angl. Ioh. â—urges S. Theol. Bac. 27 Maii 1521. Henr. 8 Rex Angl. Rad Wendon 29 Martii 1527. Thomas Gybbons ar Iâ—h Fâ—don Cler. 2 Nov. 1563. Eliz. Angl. Regina Petrus Sankeâ—â—â— in Art Magr. 28 Nov. 1583. â—liz Eâ—yot vidua Râ—ges Eâ—â—et Cler. 5 Oct. 15â—5 Rob. Shâ—lton Gen. Ioâ— â—urges in Art Magr. Medâ—ciâ—ae Dr. 14 Iâ—lii 16â—7 Monumentall Inscriptions in the North I le Hic iacet Agnes Filia junior Willielmi Harman domini de Morehall nupta Willielmo Gibons per quem habuit duos Filios Iohannem clericum Thomam tres Filias seniorem nuptam Thome Keene tertiaâ—â— nuptam Edwardo East que Agnes mater obiit 5. die Februarii an MD xx Orate pro animabus Iohannis Leveson Amicie uroris sue qui habuerunt exitum Willielmum Cancellarium ecclesie cathedralis Exon. Eliz. nuptam Thome Yard armigero comitatus Devonie ac Annam nuptam Georgio Robinson Mercatori Londinensi The Grammar School here founded by the before mentioned Bishop of Exeter after this sort FIrst whereas the annuall Rent of vii l. formerly by virtue of a certain Feoffment had been received to the disposall of the same Bâ—shop either for the maintenance of a Priest to celebrate divine Service â—â—â—ce every week in the Parish Church of Sutton or else of an hâ—â—est Lâ—y-man â—uffiâ—enâ—â—y learned and skilfuâ—l to teach Grammar and Rhetorâ—que within the â—aid town was by him appointed to be allowed and payd for the 〈◊〉 of a fiâ—man to teach â—rammar and Rhetoâ—ique as abovesaid and that together with his Scholars should daylie say the Psalm of De profundis for their Benefactâ—rs And in 〈◊〉 a meet person should not be found then to be imployed in the providing of certain Lay-Artificers to teach their trades within this 〈◊〉 of Sutton there living well and honesâ—ly or else to other piâ—uâ— uses ordained and declarâ—d by the saâ—d Bishâ—p And wheras for perfâ—rmance the 〈◊〉 be appoinâ—edâ— that whensoever it hapned â—hat ix of the xxi Feoâ—fees by him constituted shâ—uld be departed this life that then the xii â—urviving ought within one month after to 〈◊〉 otâ—â—r 〈◊〉 of the most substantiall Inhabitants from time to time for ever And whereas by the saâ—d Fâ—â—ffees not performance of what was so ordainedâ— and for certain â—â—ther causes the said settlement therâ—â—f became void in Law he being in full power to dâ—â—pose otherwise of the same out of his wonted pious regâ—rd to the publick benefit of the Common-wealth and this his native Countrey made a Feâ—ffment of divers lands lying withâ—n the precincts â—f this Parish unto the Warden and Fellowship of Sutton bearing date the first day of October in 35 H. 8. to the intent that the said Warden and Fâ—llowship and their successors with the profits thence arising should find a certain learned Lay-man fit and skilfull to teach Grammar and â—hetorique within the same Parish who togâ—ther with 〈◊〉 Scholars ought daily to say the Psalm of De Profundis for the souls of their Bâ—nefactâ—rs and â— such person could not be found thâ—n to â—â—â—vide certaine skilfull Artificeâ—s to teach 〈◊〉 trades as abovesaid or to distribute the Reâ—â—â— and profits of those Lands for the discharge of Tallage Taxes or other impâ—siâ—iâ—ns made by the King's authoritie upon the pâ—or people of the Parish or else to be imployed for the marriage of poor Maidens or Orphans or to some other charitable secular use within this Lordship of Sutton Whereupon the said Warden and Fellowshâ—p by their publick Instrument dated 6 Apr. the year ensuing constituted one Iohn Savage Schoolmaster there for life granting him an Annuitie of x l. per an issuing out of those lands And on the first of October in 38 H. 8. conferred the same again upon Laurence Noel in like
of Anne the wife of Sir Edward Boteler Kt. brought a Writ of Scire facias against the said Earl of Pembroke traversing that Inquisâ— whereby it was found that Thomas le Despenser had an estate in reversion therein after the death of Sibill the widow of the said Sir Hugh le Despenser but I do not find that he got any thing thereby I suppose that K. E. 4. upon the attainder of the said Iasper in the first year of his reign and for that disaffection that he bore unto young Henry Earl of Richmund son to the before specified Edmund who afterwards fled the Realme seized those Mannours into his hands for about seaven years after he gave them unto Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick after whose attainder whereof in Warwick I have spoke this Mannour was granted viz. 25 Martii 12 E. 4. to George Duke of Clarence for life without rendring any thing for the â—ame and afterwards scil 28 Iulii 14 E. 4. to him the said George and the heirs male of his body But within a short time it eschaeted again to the Crown by reason of his the said Duke's forfaiture so that in 18 E. 4. the King granted the Bailiwick of it to Thomas Boteler one of the Grooms of his Chamber Neither do I find that it was out of the said King's hands nor his successors till 5 H. 8. that Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey for that signall service done against the Scots at Flodden field obtained a Patent dated 1 Febr. whereby he had not only an advancement to the Dukedome of Norfolk but the inheritance of this Lordship with the advouson of the Church and divers more in sundry other Counties bestowed on him with a limitation to the heirs male of his body as also a speciall Augmentation to his Armes To which Duke succeeded Thomas Duke of Norff. his son and heir who by his Deed bearing date ult Nov. 20 H. 8. past a way the inheritance thereof together with Sheldon before mentioned unto Edm. Knightley Esq. and Eustace Kitteley Gent. to the use of Sir George Throkmorton Knight and his heirs From which Sir George it descended to Thomas his grandchild who by his Deed bearing date 16 Maii 2 Iac. in consideration of 1080 l. sold it to Edm. Hawes of Solihull Gent. and Humfrey Coles of the Middle Temple from whom it was purchased by Sam. Marrow of Berkswell Esq. who past it to Sir Ric. Greves of Moseley in Com. Wigorn Kt. Which Sir Richard sold it to Sir Sim. Archer of Tanworth Knight the present owner thereof The Church dedicated to S. Alphage was in an 1291 19 E. 1. valued at xxx marks over and above two marks which were yearly payd out of it to the Priory of Hertford of Limsie's Foundation as I have already shewed But in 26 H. 8. the value thereof over and above the said Pension of two marks per an to the Prior of Hertford xxii d. yearly Rent to the Chantrey here at Solihull and xi s. xd. paid annually to the Bishop and Archdeacon for Synodalls and Procurations was certified to be xxiiii l. xviiâ— s. iâ—ii d. Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Rad. de Limesi Iohanna de Odingsels ux ejus ratione dotis ejusdem Iohannae Regin de Tykeham an 1286. D. Eustach le Poer Ela de Ordingsels ux ejus ................... D. Ioh. de Grey miles D. Rad. de Hengham Cler. an 1303. Quatuor fil heredes D. Ioh. de Odingsells D. Ioh. de Stanstede Pbr. an 1310. Will. de Bromwich Procurator D. Eust. le Poer Ioh. de Everdon Cler. an 1310. D. Alicia de Caunton domina de Pyriton Ioh. de Sandale subdiac 4 Cal. Nov. 1311. Ioh. de Hothum Elien Episc. Rob. de Beverlaco Pbr. 3 Non. Sept. 1319. Ioh. de Hothum Elien Episc. Will. de Stow Pbr. 5 Cal. Ian. 1329. Ioh. de Hothum fil Ioh. de Hothum mil. Tho. de Glaston Pbr. 10 Cal. Apr. 1336. Ioh. de Hothum fil Ioh. de Hothum mil. Galfr. Scroope Cler. 17 Cal. Dec. 1342. D. Anna le Despenser Ioh. Digg Pbr. 8 Id. Dec. 1362. D. Rad. de Ferrers D. Hug. le Spenser milites Ric. Birches Pbr. 5 Cal. Apr. 1371. Ioh. Trussell Dominus de Solihull jure Aliciae de Hothum ux suae Will. de Newhagh Cler. 6 Dec. 1375. Ioh. Trussell Dominus de Solihull jure Aliciae de Hothum ux suae D. Thom. de Baddeby 4 Febr. 1378. Ioh. Trussell Dominus de Solihull jure Aliciae de Hothum ux suae D. Will. de Newnham Pbr 21 Maii 1379. D. Hugo le Despenser miles Ioh. de Salford Pbr. ult Dec. 1384. D. Hugo le Despenser miles Ioh. Everingham Pbr. 5 Ian. 1394. D. Hugo le Despenser miles Tho. de Collum Cler. 20 Sept. 1399. D. Iac. Fenys Dominus de Say Sele miles Ric. Donyngton Pbr. 28 Martii 1449. Iasper Dux Bedf. Rob. Bryan Decr. Dr. 5 Nov. 1492. Dominus Rex Walter Walmer Clâ—r .... an 1508. Thomas Bleverhayset miles Thomas Bleverhayset 1 Maii 1527. D. Georgius Throkmorton miles Mr. Ioh. Fekenham alias Howman in S. theol Bac. 17 Martii 1544. Rob. Throkmorton de Coughton miles D. Thomas Barnes ult Aug. 1554. Rob. Throkmorton de Coughton miles Will. Hubawd Cler. 16 Iunii 1557. Rob. Throkmorton de Coughton miles Will. Barnes 15 Ian. 1558. Rob. Throkmorton de Coughton miles Magr. Ioh. Bavand Cler. 12 Sept 1560. Will. Bavand ex concess Rob. Throkmorton mil. Henr. Smyth 9 Iunii 1570. Monumentall Inscriptions in the Church Upon a plate of brasse fixt on a marble gravestone lying in the North I le Hic humatur cum parentibus Iohannes botiler olim causidicus Nonis Februarii mundo ademptus Cujus animam suscipiat alti thronus Anno domini MCCCCCxii Amen On an Alabaster stone whereon is the portraiture of a man in his gowne Here lieth the body of Henry Huggeford of Solihull gent. deceased the xiii th of November in the year of our Lork God 1592. To whom the Lord grant a joyfull resurrection Amen Upon a tablet fixed in the North wall of the Church are the portraitures of a man and his wife with 4 sons and 4 daughters and this Inscription 1610. William Hawes aet 80. Ursula Coles aet 76. Here William Hawes and Ursula his wife Their bodyes lye their soules with Christ in life Whose holy Spirit did so direct their wayes That in his Fear they lived to aged dayes In endlesse joy with Christ they now remain By whose blood all salvation do obtain Upon a marble tombe-stone in the body of the Church whereon are portraitures in brasse Of your charity pray for the soules of William Hill gent. and for Isabell and Agnes his wifes Which William deceased the vi day of December in the year of our Lord God MCCCCCxlix On whose soules
and heir of Sir Henry Ferrers and Margaret Hekstall his wife of East Peckham in the County of Kent Knight He died th xxix th day of August 1535. leaving issue Henry Edward George and Nicholas Here also lieth Dame Constance his wife daughter heir to Nicholas Brome Esquire of this Mannour of Badsley-Clinton who died the xxx th day of September 1551. Here also lieth Henry Ferrers their eldest son and heir who married Catherine one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir John Hampden of Hampden in the Countie of Buck. Knight He died Anno D. 1526. leaving issue Edward Ferrers married to Briget daughter to William Lord Windsor of Bradenham 1548 and died Anno Dom. 1564. Ecce hic in pulvere dormimus Hic nostrae residet gloria carnis Disce mori mundo Vivere disce Deo Hodiae nobis Other Monumentall Inscriptions Upon a stone in the midst of the Chancell Here lieth Henry Ferrers Esquire son and heir of Edward Ferrers and Briget Windsor his wife who was sometime Lord of this Mannour and married Jane one of the daughters and coheirs of Henry White son and heir of Sir Thomas White of South-Warnborn He died the x th day of October Anno Dom. 1633. of his age the 84 th leaving issue Edward Ferrers Upon another near the former Here lieth the body of Edward Ferrers Esquire son and heir of Henry Ferrers and Jane White his wife sometimes Lord of this Mannour who married Anne the eldest daughter of William Peto of Chesterton Esquire and Elianor Aston his wife who died March the xx â—h aged 65. Anno à pariente Virgine 1650. leaving issue onely Henry Ferrers Haec mihi lapidea marmorea posita est immo tibi qui hoc legis quisquis es vigila dum vigilas in rem tuam maturè propera horam scit nemo Vale. In the body of the Church Here lieth Anne the eldest daughter of William Peto of Chesterton Esquire and Elianor Aston his wife who was married to Edward Ferrers Esquire Lord of this Mannour of Badsley the xii th day of February Anno Dom. 1611. and died in child-birth the xii th day of September Anno 1618. aetatis suae 33. leaving issue onely Henry Ferrers Inscribed on the South side of the Chancell in stone Edward Ferrers Esquire son and heir of Henry Ferrers and Jane White his wife did new build and reediâ—ie this Chancell at his own proper costs and charges Anno Dom. 1634. Monuments and Monumentall Inscriptions now defaced which were taken notice of by Mr. Henry Ferrers in Queen Elizabeth's time In the Chancell upon a raised Monument Hic jacet Beatrix Brome vidua filia Radulfi Shirley militis quondam uxor Iohannis Brome de Badsley-Clintoâ— armigeri que obiit â— die mensis Iulit anno Domini MCCCClxxxiii cujus anime propitietur Deus Amen Vpon a Marble there whereon was a large Portraiture in Brasse of a man in armour Hic jacet Philippus Purefey armiger filius heres Willielmi Purefey de Shirford in Com. War armigeri qui obiit xviâ— die mensis Septembris anno Domini MCCCClxviâ— cujus anime propitietur Deus In this Chancell there is a large grave-stone whereon is a plaine Cross but no Inscription under it lyeth buried Dorothy sole daughter and heir of Thomas Marrow Sergeant at Law who was first married to Francis Cokeyne of Pooley in this County Esquire and afterwards to Sir Humfrey Ferrers of Tamworth-Castle Under a large marble lying within the Church dore at the very entrance whereupon hath been a faire portraiture in brasse of a man in armour lyeth buried Nicholas Brome sometime Lord of this Mannour And under the next stone lyeth Elizabeth one of his daughters wife to Thomas Hawe of Solihull Under another neare thereto lyeth Edward Brome son of the said Nicholas by Katherine Lampeck his second wife which Edward married Margery the daughter to Iohn Bâ—aufo of Emscote in this County Eâ—quire and dyed Anno 1531. 23 H. 8. Church-Bikenhill REturning now to the stream of Blithe I come next to Church-Bikenhill This containeth four other petty Hamlets viz. Hill-Bikenhill Midle-Bikenhill Kingsford Wavers-Merston Merston-Culy and Lindon of all which Turchill de Warwick was possest in the Conqueror's time but then they were reputed for no more than two Villages the one certified to contain two hides with Woods of four furlongs in length and as much in breadth having been the freehold of Aluuardus before the Norman invasion And the other likewise two hides the Woods belonging thereto being xii furlongs in length and six in breadth all which one Aluric enjoyed in Edw. the Confessor's days In Domesday-book they are both written Bichehelle but afterwards Bychenhulle and Bigenhull wherefore considering therewith the present manner of pronouncing the word I do conâ—clude that the name originally grew from the old English word Biggen which signifieth a Hall on Mannour-House the later syllable shewing that it stood upon an ascent as we see this town doth It should seem that a younger branch of Arden's Familie whereof the said Turchill was the root had that which is now called Church-Bikenhill assigned for his patrimonie for in the Deed made by Henry de Arderne Turchil's grandson and heir of certain lands for the dowrie of Leticia his wife he likewise grants unto her servitium Eustachii de Arderne de Bychenhulla which it appears that he held of him But I am of opinion that the descendants of this Eustace forsook the name of Ardern and in respect of their residence here assumed the name of Bikenhull for in 33 H. 2. and afterwards I find mention of Thomas de Bikenhulle with relation to this place and about the beginning of H. 3. time Alexander de Bykenhull which Alexander bound himself in the summe of â—v marks of silver unto Sir Hugh de Arden of Hampton Knight that he would neither sell or pawn any part of his lands without the consent of the said Sir Hugh and in 19 H. 3. was one of the Justices of Assize in this Countie After which scil in 23 E. 1. Alice de Langley of whom in Wolfhamcote I have spoke wrote her self Domina de Bygenhull perhaps she was widow unto the said Alexander and yet the same year did Thomas whom I conceive to be his son stile himself so likewise But the next possessor of it though how I find not was Walter Parles about the later end of E. 2. time To whom succeeded William Parles who in 1 E. 3. past away his title therein unto Sir Iohn Peche of Hampton in Arden Knight whose grandchild Sir Iohn Peche in 28 E. 3. obtained a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here From which time for want of light I have not discovered any more thereof The Church dedicated to S. Peter though at the first Foundation of the Monasterie of Henwood it was united thereto continued not 〈◊〉 â—o thâ—se Nunns but was transmitted
leaving Iohn Baker his brother and heir L. years of age Which Iohn together with Humphrey Baker then residing at the Charter-House neer Coventre by their Deed bearing date 29 Ian. 33 Eliz. aliened it unto Robert Brudnell of Duddington in Com. Hunt Esquire whose son and heir Thomas now Lord Brudnell past it away together with that other Mannour formerly Boyvile's and by the same Deed unto Sir Edward Brabazon by which means it came to Sir Anthony his younger son before specified There was antiently an Hermitage within the precincts of this Lordship situate neer to the borders of Maxstoke the place bearing that name to this day built by one Hemeric Parson of this Parish in the time of Robert de Ceraso Lord of the Mannour before spoken of and together with the Church of Pakinton given by Gislebert Picot to the Monks of Worcester for the health of his soul as also of his Ancestors and successors in pure Almes which gift William Picot his son confirmed with addition of a large proportion of land lying neer thereto exprest by metes and bounds over and above what his Father before him had granted with it In consideration whereof he received from the said Monks four marks of silver and two bâ—sants of Gold which gâ—ants were confirm'd by Pope Innocent the third 4. Id. Febr. in the 4 th year of Kâ—ng Iâ—hn's reign Some other concessions there were to this Heremitage by ordinarie persons but for brevity I omit them All which lands upon the dissolution of the Monasteries by King H. 8. were in 33. of his reign granted inter alia to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester unto whom they still continue Anno scil 1640. But after the Church was so given to the Monks of Worcester by the said Sir Gilbert Picot and confirm'd by Walter Durdent Bishop of Coventre there grew a dfference betwixt those Monks and the said Gilbert concerning the rights due thereto in so much as they went to suit with him about it howbeit at length they came to a friendly agreement whereupon the same Gilbert was for himself and all his Tenants to pay Tithe Hay and to allow them xii loads of Wood yearly by the oversight of his Woodward as also an habitation for the Priest there officiating and timber with six forâ—s for the building of it and likewise for sustainâ—ng it always in repair together with half an acre of Land and trouse out of his Woods for the continuall fencing thereof In Anno 1291. 19 E. 1. the value of this Church was certified at one Mark but in 26 H. 8. at iii li. over and above iii s. x d. allowed for payment of Procuratioâ—s and Synodals having at that time an annuall Pension of x s. payable by the Prior of Maxstoke Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. Prior Capitulum Eccl. Cath. Wigorn. Ioh. de Albodesle 15. Cal. Dec. 1339. Prior Capitulum Eccl. Cath. Wigorn. Thomas Wray Cler. 3. Id. Nov. 1349. Prior Capitulum Eccl. Cath. Wigorn. Ioh. de Pakinton Cap. 13. Cal. Martii 1351. Prior Capitulum Eccl. Cath. Wigorn. Ioh. Clerk in prima tonsura constitutus 25. Febr. 1397. D. Episc. per lapsum Rad. Worston Pbr. 22. Oct. 1433. Prior Cap. Wigorn Ioh. Rogers Pbr. 6. Decemb. 1442. D. Episc. per lapsum Ioh. Ansteley Pbr. 18. Aug. 1447. Prior Cap. Wigorn Ioh. Wykkyns Pbr. 4. Apr. 1493. Prior Cap. Wigorn D. Râ—c Iorden Cap. 24. Maii 1537. Prior Cap. Wigorn D. Leonardus West Cap. .... 1538. Decan Cap. Wigorn Will. Clarke Cler. 22. Iunii 1566. Decan Cap. Wigorn Georgius Field Cler. 28. Martii 1573. Eliz. Regina per lapsum Ioh. White Cler. 22. Maii 1596. Decan Cap. Wigorn Rob. Greeneough in Aâ—t Magr. 16. Martii 1618. Decan Cap. Wigorn Henr Banks Leg. Bac. 5. Martii 1628. Berkswell THis lying on the other side of Blithe containeth Barston and Morecote-Hall within its parish Before the Norman invasiâ—n one Levenet was owner thereof but upon the Conquest by Duke William it with other vast possessions were conferred upon Robert Earl of Mellent in whose hands they continued till after the generall Survey in which this was rated but for one hide and valued at no more than v s. the reason whereof I conceive to be because the substance of it was then involved with Barston In Domesday book it is written Berchewelle having first had that denomination as I guess from the large Spring which boâ—leth up on the South side of the Church-yard Of those lands belonging to the Earl of Mellent which Henry de Newburgh his brother who obâ—â—ineâ— the Earldome of Warwick had this of Berkswell being part was by him given to Ranulf de Manâ—eville in King H. 1. time as may easily â—e gathered from what I have observed in Lighthorne To which Ranulf succeeded Nigel de Amundevile who in 12 H. 2. was certâ—fied to hold one Knight's fee of the Earl of Warwick de veteri feoffamento which Knight's fee is after manifested to â—ye here and in Lighthorne This Nigel had his â—eat here as I guess for it appears that he had then a Park at this place and that Oliva his wife had the whole Lordship in dower but all that I have observed of him worthy the recitall is that he gave to the Canons of Kenilworth for their fâ—well as much dead wood in his Woods here at Berkswell excepting onely his Park and that called Bernet as two Carts throughout the year Winter and Summer could carry and that because it was his wives dowâ—ie as I have said she had a Palfrey and xl s. in money for her consent To this Nigell succeeded Richard de Mundevill who in 13 H. 3. was suretie for the payment of xx li. for Thomas Earl of Warwick being part of C li. due to the King for his Relief After which he had many publique and eminent imployments in this Countie for in 21 H. 3. I find him one of the Commissioners for assessing a xxxth part of all mens goods for the King's behoof In 20 21. and 22 H. 3. a Justice of Assize In 26 H. 3. in Commission with the Shiriff and Iohn Durvassall for assessing of Armes and conservation of the Peace From 27. till 34 H. 3. a Commissioner for the Gaol-deliverie at Warwick and in 34 H. 3. a Knight After which viz. in 37 H. 3. he had a Charter of Free warren extending to all his demesn lands both here and in Lithtehirne and the same year received an exemption for serving on Juries whence I conclude that he was then grown old And therefore because his son and heir was also called Richard I will now begin to speak of him whose publique Actions were no lesse eminent than his Fathers had been In 41 H. 3. he attended Richard
hac vice patronus Ric. de Somerdby 3. Cal. Dec. 1317. Tho. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Rog. de Ledbury Cap. 3. Non. Apr. 1345. Tho. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Ioh. de Harewode Pbr. 3. Non. Apr. 1362. Tho. de Bellocampo Comes Warw. Ioh. Midleton 1. Septemb. 1369. Thomas de B. Comes Warw. Will. de Brugg primam habens tonsuram Cleric 5. Maii 1382. Henr. Rex ratione custodiae fil haer T. Comitis Warw. VVill. Belle 17. Apr. 1402. Ric. Comes Warw. Thom. Caudray Cler. 9. Maii 1421. Ioh. Verney alii Attornati Ric. Comitis Warw. in partibus transmar exist VVill. Garwardby Pbr. 10. Nov. 1431. Ric. Comes Warw. Ric. Fisher Cap. 17. Iulii 1457. Thomas Marow Ric. Walker Cler. 11. Oct. 1557. Sim. Marow ar VVill. Bolton 3. Febr. 1570. Sim. Marow ar VVill. Stopton Cler. 16. Maii 1573. Humfr. Perrot gen per assign Edw. Marow eq aur VVill. VVincote Cler. 15. Aug. 1623. Iacobus Rex Ric. Gardiner S. Theol. Bac. 16. Febr. 1624. Rob. Lee de Bilsley miles Franc. Foliot in Art Magr. 5. Martii 1626. Upon a Marble whereon are the portraitures in brass of two persons in their Winding sheets under the man 5. Childrenâ— and under the woman two is this Epitaph Of your charity pray for the soules of George Mathew and of Alice his wife son and heir of Iohn Mathew sometime Skinner and Shirive of Coventre of them Iesu have mercy Amen This was made by me George Mathew Anno Domini 1538. Barston THis though it lye on the other side the River is in the Parish of Berkswell and was antiently a place of far greater note for by the Conqueror's Survey it is rated at x. hides mention being there made of it in two places scil under the title of the lands belonging unto Turchil de VVarwick and those appertaining to Robert Despenser the reason thereof as it appeareth by the Record being because Robert Despenser who in one place is called R. de Olgi had it in mortgage of the before specified Turchill unto which Turchil it came by descent from Alwine his Father who purchased it of one Ailmarus by the consent of King VVilliam the Conqueror At the time of the said Survey the Woods here were reputed to be half a mile in length and three furlongs in breadth and the whole together with a Mill of iv s. rated at C s. Besides these x. hides doth the same Record manifest that one Robert then held here of the King half a hide with a Mill esteemed at xx d. and both together valued at xx s. All which were of the said Turchill's inheritance But the name hereof is variously written viz. Bertanestone and Bercestone and doubtless originally grew from some antient owner of it in the Saxons time I am of opinion that it then extended into Berkswell and that almost all Berkswell was at that time included under the name of this place forasmuch as that which is certified by the said generall Survey to be in Bercheswell is so little and this so much but the extent of this Hamlet I mean so much thereof as bore the name of Berstanestone now Barston was antiently given partly to the Knights Templars and partly to the Hospitalars for in that Accompt of 31 H. 2. whereof I have spoke in Balshall the yearly value of what the Templars had here amounted unto iv li. vii d. and is said to be de feodo Roberti Marmionis the Donors name being not exprest But that which the Hospitalars had is recorded to be the one half of the village and was bestowed on them by Alan de Faleis as appears by King Iohn's Charter who in 1. of his reign confirm'd it to them together with the Park and Wood thereto appertaining Aâ—l which together with what belong'd to the Templars and came to the said Hospitalars with Balshall as I have there declared at the generall dissolution temp H. 8. being given to the King was granted out of the Crown in 4 Eliz. to Iohn Fisher and others The Custome for what belong'd to the Templars here was that their Tenants should mow three days in the year one at the cost of the House scil as to Diet and plow one day at the like charge reap two days one at their own finding but on the other to have half a Ramme or iv d. half a Cheese xii loaves and half a pail of Drink As also that they might not marry their daughters without the License of the Lord nor sell their Horse-Colts foaled upon the land without the like Lâ—cense The Chapell here dedicated to S. Swythin hâ—ving been long since annexed to the Church of Berkswell is provided of a Curate by the Parson oâ— that Parish Monumentall Inscriptions in this Chapell Here lieth Rafe Alesbury â—entleman and Alis his wife which Rafe died Anno 1523. Here lieth Baldwin Porter son and heir of Thomas Porter Esquire and Anne his wife eldest sister of Thomas Litleton of Frankley Knight and Iustice of the Common-Pleas temp â—dw quarti which Baldwin died ..... Anno 1499. and Anno ..... Anno 15â—6 Morcote-Hall THis place had its name originally from the situation thereof which is in a black mooâ—ish â—oil and for antiquitie may be rankt with many that are of greater note for it had a being in King Henry the second 's time and perhaps before as appears by Nâ—â—el de Amundevill's grant to the Canons of Kenilworth whereof I have spoke in Berkswell whereunto was witness Hamon de Moâ—cote To which Hamon succeeded Alan de Morcote of whom I find mention in 4 H. 3. whose son and heir Iohn is sometimes stiled Iâ—hannes de Warwick and at other Iohannes dâ— Morcote being owner also of a thâ—rd part oâ— Radway in this Countie After which Iohn there was one Walter de Morcote one of the four Coroners in this Shire in 1 Edw. 3. I am of opinion that Margaret the wife to William Warde of Charweltou in Com. Northampt. was daughter and heir to the same Walter for it appears that upon the â—aâ—e of this place called the Mannour of Morcote with the appurtenances in Berkswell by the said William and Margaret in 7 R. 2. unto one Thomas del Boâ—râ—e there is speciall warrantie against her heirs which shews that it was of her inheritance This Thomas being also one of the Coroners at that time died the year following in whose line it continued till about the later end of K. Edw. 4 reign but then did Iohn Mathew a Skâ—nner of Coventre marry the daughter and heir of that Family and dying in 13 H. 7. left issue George Mathew his son and heir 12. years of age whose great grandchild Henry now enjoys it ann scil 1640. and beareth for his Armes Sable a Lion rampant Argent deriving his Descent from George Mathew a Welchman father
of the Churches of the same Manors with their appurtenances parcells members nor any of them nor any parcell of them nor the right title or possession of eny persone or persones having joynt estate in the said Manors or eny of them with the seide Simond nor the right title nor possession of any persone or persones having estate in the seid Manors or any of them to the use of Baldewyn Mountfort Knight fader of the seide Simond nor eny of them nor their heirs nor assignes nor eny of the heires of the seide Baldewin or Simond which Manors bin entailled on the heirs of the body of the seide Baldewyn begotten as openly appeareth by evidens thereof redy to be shewed for the disheryting of which Baldewyn and Symond of the seide Manors Edmond Montfort Kt. Karver to Henry the vi th late K. of England in dede and not of right by the favour and might of the seide late soo King Humfrey late D. of Buck. and James late Earl of Wilteshire be full unconsciously moynes long time laboured as opunly is known to many of the estates and worshipfull peopul of this Royalme to the utterst empoverishing of the same Baldewyn and Simond Which said Sir Baldewyn the better to manifest what unjust and ill dealing had been excercised by the before specified D. of Buck. for the utter disheriting of him and his son made publication thereof to posteritie by a particular Instrument whereunto he set his hand and Seal which for that it discovers so much of the high oppression therein excercised I have here thought sit to transcribe To all true Cristen pepull to whom this present writinge shall come Baldewyn Mountfort Kt. and Prest sendeth greting c. Know ye me the forseyd Baldewyn being in my good heele and good mynd the day of the making hereof at Hampton in Arderne to say testifye and report for trouthe there being present the Priour of Maxstokeâ— with many other that all such Obligations Recoveres Relees or other writings which y made to Humfrey late D. of Buck. Humfrey late Lord of Stafford and James late Erle of Wiltes or to Sir Edm. Mountfort my brother or eny of them for or of the Manours of Coleshull Ilmyndon Rampnam or eny other parcell of my livelode which was late Sir Will. Mountforts my faders hit was done by compulcion of the seid Duke and for fere of my deth and of my son Sir Simond's For in trouth the seid Duke keped me in Coventre xiiii deyes and aftir had me to the Castel of Maxstoke and there kept meâ— And my son Sir Symond was 〈◊〉 in the Castell of Gloucester and we coude never be delivered out till we agreed to certain Articles written in a â—ill anexid to this my writinge which Articles were send bi the seid Duke and Edmond under the Seale of the said Edmond to my seid 〈◊〉 when he was in prison in the seid Castel of Gloucester rehersyng that we should suffer Recâ—verâ—s to be had ayeyne us such as the late Duke 〈◊〉 Stafford and Earl of Wiltshire or Eâ—m Mâ—unâ—fort by the advice of their Councell cowde or would devise for ther pâ—ofet and also to relece all our right which we had in the seid Mannors to the same Duke and other above rehersed and to do other things as but aâ—pâ—reâ—h more plainly in the seid Bill or els 〈◊〉 seid son should never have comen out of Prison nor y should not have abidden in my Cuntry but to have had and to have stonden in the indignacion of the Lordship of the seid Duke and other Lords above rehirsed which in thoo deys had byn too hevy and too importable for me or my seid son to have boren By the which â—ecoveres Relâ—ce and Obligations so had and made by compulcion the said Edmund my brother would disherit me and mine yssue for ever contrarie to right and consciens God knoweth For in trouth where the seid Duke seid that and if eny man would sey and prove that eny of the seid Manors were entailled to me the seid Sir Baldwyn eyther by Dede or by Fyne he wold not be about to disherit me nor myne heires for M l. and my Lady of Buckingham affirmed and seys the same since tho deth of my seid Lord late her husband all that notwithstanding the seid Edmond my brother at the time of the seid Releces or Obligacions made or eny Recoveres had ayeyne me of the seid Manors had in his kepinge all the evidences concerning the seid Manors and he sware himself and caused me to swere and my brother the Parson and Robert before the seid Duke that we saw never Dede of yntaile of the said Manors nor Fyne whereby they should be entayled where that indeed the seid Sir Edmund was forsworn and caused me and my Brether to be forsworn for he had at that time divers Dedes and Fynes in his â—epyng whereby the seid Manors were and are yntailled which byn now redy to shew Wherefore I the seid Sir Baudwyn in my last deyes requier and charge yow that he presente at the making hereof that ye informe in that ye may my seid Lady of Buckingham and my yonge Lord of Buck. and all other Gentilmen and good men of this Countrey that the seid Manors bin entaylled to me both by Dede and by Fyne which Dedes and Fynes I shew you here at this time to the intent that my Children may have their livelode according to the taille and as right and good consciens will so that they be not disherit by the hiding of the seid Dedes and Fynes and the colour and craft of my seid Brother Sir Edmond being about to hurt not onely his own soul but the soules of the seid good Lord late D. of Buck. and H. late Lord of Stafford his son and James late Earle of Wiltes with many other good and well disposid persons labourers in the same mater not understanding what they did God knoweth In witnes c. I have set my Seale and signe manuell at Hampton aboveseid the Thursday next before S. Hillarie's dey xlix th H. 6. and of the taking ayene of his royall power the first yeere This Sir Baldwyn being at length a widower betook himself to a religious course of life and entring into holy Orders in 39 H. 6. demised unto Simon his son and heir the Mannour of Hampton in Arden â— reserving onely for himself another Priest and six Children celebrating divine Service there with a competencie of meat and drink and other necessaries during his life according to their severall degrees stiling himself Knight and Pâ—iest and died in 14 E. 4. leaving the before specified Simon his son and heir who in K. H. 5. time being a servant in Court to Q. Catherine and in 35 H. 6. retained of Councell to Ric. Nevill Earl of Warwick was in 1 E. 4. a Kt. and in 4. had a Release from that King of all his right
xviii s. vi d. over and above ix s. vi d. per an allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Of the Vicars here I find that they have antiently been the Rurall-Deanes for this part of the Countrie I mean the Deanrie of Arden containing the Hundred of Hemlingford wherein my present discourse lies Which order of Rurall-Deans was constituted by the Bishop or Arch-Bishop as the learned Spelman observes for the better regulating of Ecclesiasticall affairs concerning whom in a Councell held at London an 1237 21 H. 3. by Otho the Pope's Legate there is this Canon Quod in quodam Concilio statutum invenimus approbantes statuimus ut per quoslibet Decanatus prudentes viri fideles constituantur per Episcopum Confessores quibus Personae minores Clerici confiteri valeant qui Decanis erubescunt confiteri forsitan verentur In Ecclesiis verò Cathedralibus Confessores institui praecipimus generales All that I have farther to observe of this place is that in 4 E. 6. the tall and beautifull Steeple here suffered much hurt by Lightning and Thunder which crackt the West side of the Tower and shattered the upper-part of the Spire for repairing whereof though the Inhabitants sold one of their Bells yet did they shorten it xv foot at the least Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes c. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Henr. de Waleshale Cap. an 1285. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Alanus de Pollesworth Pb. die Lune post fest transl S. Th. Mart. 1300 Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate D. Galsr. de Neunham Pb. 7 Cal. Nov. 1320. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Adam de Whitington Pb. 3 Non. Aug. 1350. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Will. de Attleberwe Non. Dec. 1353. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Hugo de Lyndon Pbr. 4. Cal. Aug. 1377. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate D. Rob. Cheyne Pbr. 19. Dec. 1396. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Ioh. Wellysed Pbr. 6. Sept. 1441. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Will. Wodehouse Pbr. 4. Aug. 1447. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Will. Abell Cap. 18. Oct. 1455. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Ric. Eliot 15 Iulii 1500. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate Mr. Tho. Barker in Decr. bac 6. Apr. 1504. Priorissa Conv. S. Trin. de Bosco juxta Merkyate D. Thomas Mathew Cap. 18 Dec. 1515. Thom. Pye ex consess Pr. C. de Bosco Humfr. Ryddyll D. Ioh. Fenton Cap. 6. Nov. 1538. Thom. Pye ex consess Pr. C. de Bosco Humfr. Ryddyll Simon Digby postea deprivatus 4. Sept. 1566. Ioh. Nevill Rad. Foxe Cler. 23. Iunii 1574. Episc. Cov. Lich. ratione lapsus Rob. Petipher in art Magr. 5 Iulii 1627. Monumentall Inscriptions in the Chancell Hic jacet Dominus Willielmus Abel quondam vicarius istius Ecclesie qui quidem Dominus Willielmus obiit xviii die mensis Maii anno Domini MD. Cujus anime propitietur Deus Amen Here lyeth the body of Sir Iohn Fenton Prest Bachelour of Law sometime Uicar of this Church and Officiall of Coventre who decessed the xvii day of May 1566. Whose soule Ihesus pardon Amen Monumentall Inscriptions in the Church Of your charite pray for the soullis of Grace Strelly aud Iohn hyr sonne Whych Iohn discessyde the xx day of Iune in the year of our Lord MDxi on whos soullys Iesu have mercy Prey for the sol ✚ of Simond Digbe Of your charite pray for the soules of Homfrey Grevill Gentilman and Katherine his wiffe the whiche decessed the day .... of Ianuary the yeare of our Lord MCCCCCxxxiii Here lyeth Isabell Ryddel late the Wife of Humfrey Ryddel Baylie of Colshil the only daughter of Edmund Parker of Hartshill Which Isabel dyed the xxixth day of October the yere of our Lord God MCCCCClxvi whose soul Iesu pardon Amen Here lyeth the bodyes of William Riddel of Blythâ— hall and Ione hys Wife the which William departed this life the last day of August in the yeare of our Lord God MDlviii And the said Ione dyed the xix of August in the yeare of our Lord God MDlvi whose soules Iesu pardon 14. Novembris A. D. 1629 aetatis suae 42. Here resteth the body of Iane late wife of Simon Blyth Gent. who had issue one sonne and 4. daughters whose soule rejoyceth with the Lord. Quam conjux suus amantissimus sic piè deflevit Te faustum non me miserum fleo proh mihi natis Absis Chara conjux religiosa parens Kingshurst THis place did antiently belong to the Mountforts before they were Lords of Colshill for it appears that Peter de Mountfort of Beldesert had it in Edw. 3. time and in 41 of that K's reign by his Testament bequeathed unto Richard his younger son all his goods both moveable and unmoveable there which Richard dwelt here and after his death Roese his widow enfeoft Iohn de Catesby therein who wedded her grandchild as in Lapworth is manifested But Sir Baldw. Mountfort grandchild to the said Peter by Iohn his eldest son getting into possession resided long upon it and so did Sir Will. son and heir to Sir Baldwin as may seem by the License he obtaiin 14 R. 2. from Ric. Scroope Bishop of Cov. and Lich. to have divine Service celebrated in his Chapell here yet at length Iohn de Catesby before-specified brought an Assize of Novel disseisin against the said Sir William but upon the triall lost it So that the said Sir William having thus establisht his title inclosed it laying much of his demesn lands parcell of the Mannour of Colshill thereunto and afterwards gave it unto Sir Edm. Mountfort Kt. his son by a second wife which Sir Edmund made the Parke in 26 H. 6. and resided much here But after him Sir Sim. Mountfort his nephew died seized thereof whose grandchild Simon also dwelt upon it and so did Francis his son betwixt whom and George Digby of Colshull Esq. afterwards Kt. there were great suits for it Which George layd claim thereâ—o as a member of Colshill and so consequently his right by virtue of K. H. 7. grant made to his Ancestor of that Mannour â—s hath been already said So that after much expence of money therein the said Francis was glad to come to an Agreement with him in respect that part of the lands belonging theâ—eto and lying without the Park did not so clearly appear to be parcell of Kingshurst as the other did and gave him a thousand pounds to quit his title and afterwards Sir Edw. Mountfort Kt. grandchild to the said Francis for further confirmation thereof
the Justs of Peace which belong'd to War To Ioane and Elizabeth his daughters a thousand marks a piece to their marriage And constituting Thomas Arundell Archb. of Canterbury Thomas Earl of Arundell Ioane his wife c. his Executors departed this life in 12 H. 4. leaving issue by the same Ioane who was one of the daughters and coheirs to Ric. Earl of Arundell Richard Beauchamp his son and heir Of this deceased Lord I have the rather taken occasion to speak in regard that he made his residence at some times in this Countie as I presume his Lady also did in her widdowhood for I find that she was at severall times in Commission for treating with the people about Loanes to the King within this Shire surviving him many years her death hapning not till 14 H. 6. Of whose Testament forasmuch as by it that greatness and state wherein the English Nobilitie in those days lived may in some sort be seen as also the pomp of their Funeralls I have here transcribed the greatest part In the name of the blessed Trynyte Fader sonn and Holy Ghoast the xth day of Ianyver in the yeer of our Lord MCCCCxxxiiii I Johanne Beuchamp Lady of Bergavenny as a meke daughter of holi Chirche full in the Christen fayth and belive hool in minde and body blessed be God considering that the freel condicion of this wrechid and unstable lief ys ful of perels and the yend and conclusion thereof is not elles but Deth fro the which no persone of none astate schall escape and therfore purposyng with the love of God to dyspose such goods as of his grace he hath lent me in such use as aryght be most to hys plesauns and profit to my soule and all theirs that I am bounden to I have ordeyned and make my Testament and last Will in this forme First I bequethe my soule to the mercy of my blessed Saviour and maker Ihesu Chryst through the besechyng of his blessed Moder Mary and alle holy companye in Hevene and my symple and wreched body to be buried in the Queer of the Frere-Prechours of Hereford in a new Tumbe by my worthi Lord and somtime husband Sir Will. Beuchamp on whoo 's soule God have merci But I wâ—l that my Bodi be kept unburied in the place where hit hapneth me to die unto the time my maigne be clethed in black my Hers my Chare and other covenable purviance made and then to be carried unto the place of my buryeng before rehersed with alle the worship that ought to be done unto a woman of myne astate which God knoweth wele procedeth not of no pompe or vayn glorie that I am set in for my Bodi but for a memorial and a remembrance of my soule to my kyn friends servants and alle other And I wol that every Parish Chirch that my seid Bodi resteth ynne a night after hit passeth fro the place of my dying be offred two Clothes of Gold and if hit rest ynne any College or Conventuall Chirche three Clothes of gold Also I devyse that in every Cathedrall Chirche or Conventuall where my Bodi restes a nyght toward the place where my Bodi shall be buried that the Dean Abbot or Prior have vi s. viii d. and everi Chanon Monk Vicar Preste or Clerke that ys at the Dirige at the Mass in the morning shall have xii d. Also I ordeyn that anon aftur my burying there be done for my soule five thousand Masses in alle the hast that they may goodly And I bequethe unto the House of the seid Freres at Hereford in generall CCC marks for to fynd two Prostes perpetuall for to syng for my Lord my Husbond my Lord my Fader my Lady my Moder and me and Sir Hugh Burnell Kt. and alle my good doers and alle Crysten soules the one Prest to syng the fyrst Mass in the mornyng in the same House and the other the last Mass that ys done in the day yn the same House so that it be sene that there be sure ordinauns made therefore to be kept perpetually as Law wolle And I bequethe ech Frere of the same House in speciall the day of my burying to pray for my soule iii s. iiii d. And I wool that the forseyd Freres have a hool sute of black that ys to sey a Chesepyl two Tunycles three Coopes with my best pair of Candelsticks of sylver wrethen and my best sute of vestments of Clothe of gold with Pecocks with Autere-clothes and Aubes and alle that longeth thereto for a memoriall perpetualle to use hem euerie yere at the Anniversarie of my Lord my Husbond and of me And for the costes of myne enterement upon my deth and burying I ordain and devyse a thousand Marks And I devyse C. marks to be dalt peny mele or more after the discretion of myne Executors among poer men and women that come to myne eâ—teremenâ— the day of my burying And I ordain and devise to have five Prestes for to syng for me xx wynters for my Lord my Fader my Lady my Moder my Lord my Husband my son Richard Earl of Worcestre Sir Hugh Burnell Kt. and alle my good doers and alle Crysten soules and that of the most honest persones and good conversacions that mow be founden of which â—ive Prestes I ordeyn and devyse two to syng in the parish of Rocheforde and other three in Kirkeby-Belers in the Counte of Lecestre duryng the terme aforeseyd Moreover I devyse CC. marks to be departed among my poer Tenants in England in such place as moost nede ys aftur the discrecion of myne Executors Also I devise C l. to be dysposed in clothyng Bedding Hors Oxen and other bestial and necessaries within halve a yere aftur my deth to be yeven dalt among Bed-red men and other poer people dwellyng in the Lordships that I have And also I devyse that Bartholmew Brokesby and Wauter Kebyll be everi yere at Hereford the day of my Anniversarie seing that my Obite with the remnant of my obsequies be done in due wise to the most profit of my soule spendying about the execution thereof at every time x l. after here discrecion Moreover I devise to the marriage of poer Maydens dwellyng withyn my Lordships C l. And to the makyng and emendyng of febull Brugges and foul weyes C l. And to the fynding and deliverans of poer Prisoners that have ben well condicioned xl l. Also I bequethe to Sir James son and eyre of the Erle of Ormond Five hundred pounds to be dispent by myne Executors about the defence of the lands that I give and assigne him by the Will of my Landes in caas they be chalenged or ympugned wrongfully within his age or elles to have the same money or elles so much thereof as ys unspend at hys ful age to the same intent and a payr of Baysins of silver gylt and covered with my Armes And I devyse and bequethe to
not for taking part with Thomas Earl of Lancaster in 15 E. 2. he was beheaded at Yorke after which it became soon disposed of by the King together with Creke in Com. Northampt. unto Elianore the wife of Hugh le Despenser the younger to hold during her life to the use and behoof of Gilbert le Despenser son to the said Hugh which I suppose she held accordingly during the remainder of the said King's reign and no longer as may seem by an Inquis then taken and a confirmation made the year following by Iohn de Moubray son and heir to the last mentioned Iohn unto Sir Richard Pesehale Knight of the third part thereof together with the advouson of the Church which Aliva de Moubray mother of the said Iohn of whose dowrie it was had granted to him the said Richard to hold during life But besides this third part it seems that the said Sir Richard obtained an estate in the rest to hold likewise during his own life for in 16 E. 3. when William de Clinton then Earl of Huntendon had began the Foundation of Maxstoke Priorie having a minde to endow it with lands and possessions situate convenient thereto it appears that after he had agreed with the Lord Moubray to have this Lordship in Exchange for the Mannour of Hinton in Cambridgeshire he gave unto the said Sir Richard in lieu of his terme in this the inheritance of the Mannour of Gudlesdon juxta Colshill with leave to take down a new House which he had built here at Shustoke and to remove it whither he should think fit as also all such timber as was then fallen by the said Richard in the Park here at Shustoke and libertie to cut down in the said Park six more Oaks for Timber and six for Fewell the same grant bearing date 5 Ian. 16. E. 3. After which scil the morrow following Ascension day the said Lord Moubray granted the same with the advouson of the Church unto that Earl and his heirs for ever Whereupon he accordingly by his Deed dated the Saturday before the Translation of S t Thomas the Martyr setled it upon the Canons of Maxstoke and their successors who the next year following for their better conveniencie past it away unto Iohn de Clinton nephew to the before specified Earl in exchange for that part of Maxstoke which was afterwards and still is called the Priorie-Lordship Aâ—l which being thus performed the same Iohn de Clinton immediately granted it unto the said Earl his uncle to hold during life who being so seized thereof procured a Charter bearing date 20. Ian. the year ensuing that himself for his life and his said nephew and his heirs for ever should have a Court Leet within this Mannour extending likewise into the Hamlets of Bentley and Blithe within the same Parish together with Assize of Bread and Beer Pillorie Tumbrell as also the Liberties of Infangthef and Outfangthef Gallows and Weyfs rendring for the same to the said King his Heirs and Successors xviii d. yearly by the hands of the Shiriff in augmentation of the ferme of the Countie By which Charter there was farther granted to the said Earl as also to his nephew and his heirs Free warren in all his demesn lands within the precincts aforesaid Upon whose death in 28 E. 3. his said nephew Sir Iohn de Clinton had liverie thereof From whom descended Iohn Lord Clinton and Say whose lands were seized on in 38 H. 6. for adhering to the House of Yorke at which time this Lordship inter alia was given by the King to Sir Edmund Mountfort Knight one of his Kervers in consideration of his faithfull service against the said King's enemies but the deposall and ruine of King Henry hapned so soon after as that the Lord Clinton was not long out of possession thereof in whose line it continued till 31 H. 8. that Edward Lord Clinton and Say sold it unto Iames Leveson of Wolverhampton Esquire a rich Merchant of the Staple as by his Deed bearing date 6. Febr. the same year appeareth Which Iames gave it in marriage in 36 H. 8. unto Walter the son and heir of Sir Edward Aston of Ticksall in Com. Staff Knight whose grandson Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Bathe being plunged into vast debts by supporting himself in that Embassie of Spaine towards the later end of King Iames his time first sold the greatest part of the Fermes to the severall Tenants and soon after the Mannour it self unto Sir George Devereux of Sheldon Knight the now owner thereof The Church dedicated to S. Cuthbert was in anno 1291. 19 E. 1. valued at x. marks and the advouson thereof in 17 E. 3. given by William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon together with the Mannour unto the Priorie of Maxstoke then newly by him founded whereupon soon ensued its appropriation scil 4. Id. Iulii the same year And in 26 H. 8. the Vicaridge was valued at Cvii s. over and above ix s. vi d. allowed for Procurations and Synodalls Patroni Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. D. Rad. fil Nicholai ex conces D. Regis ratione custodiae haeredis D. Will. de Eseby Rad. le Breton Cler. post mortem Gilb. de Camvile ult Rectoris an 1250. D. Ioh. de Moubray miles Ioh. de Acom Pbr. 3. Id. Oct. 1336. post mortem Ric. de Colshull ult Rectoris Patroni Vicariae Incumbentes Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Will. Edithe Cap. Cal. Martii 1343. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Rob. le Spicer Cap. 4. Cal. Martii 1349. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Will. Edithe Cap. 12. Cal. Aug. 1353. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. de Linley Pbr. 7. Id. Martii 1365. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. Kytewyld Pbr. 21. Dec. 1390. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. Bishop Pbr. 24. Aug. 1398. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. Pryce Diac. 21. Sept. 1425. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Will. Orme Pbr. 5. Martii 1456. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ric. Eliot Cap. 18. Iunii 1494. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Thomas Perkins Pbr. 20. Oct. 1500. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Henr. Sutton Cap. penult Iulii 1501. Prior Conv. de Maxstoke D. Ioh. Robynson Cap. 7. Apr. 1536. D. Edw. 6. Rex Angliae D. Rad. Pykering 13. Febr. 1547. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Nich. Haighe Cler. 9. Maii 1562. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Georgius Mutley Cler. 2. Oct. 1576. D. Eliz. Angl. Regina Ric. Warde Cler. 29. Oct. 1594. Iac. Rex Angl. c. Iosepâ—â—s Harison Cler. ..... 1605. Carolus Rex Angl. c. Ioh. Warde in art Magr. 18. Maii 1632. The present fabrick of this Church was erected in King Edw. 2. time as is evident by the picture of Richard de Coâ—â—ull the last Rector which stood within these few years in a South
the same for that purpose By the Survey made in 26 H. 8. I find that the Priest weekly celebrating divine Service here had a stipend of Liii s. iv d. per annum payd by the Canons of Maxstoke but this was in lieu of the Mill in Shustoke which they had for of the Tenement and half yard land lying in Bentley it doth not appear by that Survey that they were possest Patroni Incumbentes Rad. fil Nicholai ratione custodiae terrae haeredis VVill. de Asseby VValt de Stretton temp H. 3. Nich. de Astley miles Rob. Morlanges ..... 1311. D. Ioh. de Moubray D. Rob. Ireland Cap. 3. Id. Febr. 1331. post mortem Rad. de Oulmor Prior Conv. de Maxstoke Ioh. VVillie Cler. 10. Cal. Ian. 1347. Arms in the East window of this Chapell Azure a Cinquefoile Ermine Astley Argent three Eaglets gâ—les L'isle of Moxhull Blithe THis being originally a member of Shustoke and involved therewith in the Conqueror's Survey came to Nigel de Albani out of doubt with Shustoke and by the said Nigel as I guess was disposed of in H. 1. time unto the Ancestor of that Family whose seat being at Th'ester-waver now called Cester-Over assumed that place viz. VVaver for his sirname and to fortifie this conjecture I have these evincing circumstamces whereof wanting better light at so great a distance I presume to make use scil the Tenure thereof from the descendants of the before specified Nigel who took the name of Moubray and that VVilliam a younger son of VVilliam de VVaver seding here in King Iohn's time had his sirname from hence his posteritie bearing the same Coat as VVaver did viz. Argent on a Fesse sable three Escalops Or as by a Pedegree drawn about the beginning of King H. 7. time appeareth Rog. de Blithe 50 H. 3. Will. de Blithe 30 E. 1. Rog. de Blithe 16 E. 3. Will. de Blithe 28 E. 3. Thomas de Blithe Escaetor D. Regis infra Com. Warw. 9 R. 2. Thomas de Blithe 2 H. 4. Margareta una filiarum cohaer ux Will. Bishbury de Bishbury in Com. Staff ar 4 H. 6. Ric. Bishbury Roesia filia haeres ux Ioh. Cleyton de Harwood parva in Com. Lanc. gen relicta 36 H. 8. Roesia filia cohaeres ux Ioh. Grosvenour de Tetnall in Com. Staff .... ux Will Leveson Ioh. Leveson de Bishbury gen 4 Eliz. Alicia altera filiarum cohaer ux Gerardi Râ—ngley de Tubington in Com. Staff Edm. Ringley Barbara filia haeres ux Ric. Lawley 37 H. 8. To which VVilliam de Blithe succeeded Roger who in 50 H. 3. was amongst other persons of good note of the Jury for extending the lands of those in this Hundred that had taken part with the rebellious Barons then newly vanquisht in the battail of Evesham From which Roger I have here drawn the Descent of this Familie so long as the male line that continued possessors hereof lasted and through the heire female till they past away their interest here to the end that its successive owners may the more perspicuously be discoveredâ— By which it appeareth that by the coheirs of Thomas de Blithe in H. 6. time it came to Bishbury and Ringley who making no division of it their posterity became Tenants in common thereto But long they kept it not for in 37 H. 8. did Reginald Bellers purchase that moitie belonging to Richard Lawley and Barbara his wife and in 13 Eliz. the other moytie from Iohn Leveson of Bishbury cosin and heir to Rose the Widow of Iohn de Cleyton as the Pedegree sheweth So that then being possest of the whole by his Deed bearing date 6. Iulii 21 Eliz. he conferred the inheritance thereof upon William his second son which William reserving an estate therein for himself and his wife during their lives sold the reversion to Sir Edward Aston of Tixhall in Com. Staff Knight who by his lâ—st Wilâ— and Testament disposed thereof unto Henry Skipwith of Tugby in Com. Leic. Gent. and Iane his wife and the heirs of their two bodies the said Iane having been his Concubine But of them did Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Bath son and heir to the said Sir Edward purchase it again in 5 Iac. Which Sir Walter afterwards Lord Aston of Forfare in Scotland by his Deed of bargain and sale dated 14. Nov. 1 Car. conveyed it unto the William Dugdale it being the place of my residence and where I compiled this present Work Ousthirne ON the skirts of Shustoke-parish is the confluence of severall Rivers viz. Blithe and Cole Tame and Blithe as also of Tame and Bourne as the Map sheweth in pursuance therefore of my methode I must passe over to the Western bank of Tame whereâ—â— first behold Ousthirne sometime a Grange belonging to Merevale Abby and for that respect still reputed a member thereof but originally the greatest part of it did belong to Shustoke being first given to the Monks of Merevale as I guess by Walter de Camvile in H. 2. timeâ— for at that time was the said Walter Lord of Shustoke as I have shewed and that he gave lanes to that Monasterie King H. the second 's confirmation doth manifest though the particular names thereof are not there exprest But upon the dissolution of Merevale this Grange coming to the Crown was granted with the site of that Monasterie unto Sir Walter Devereux Knight Lord Ferrers of Chartley and by him given as it seems to Sir Edward Devereux Knight and Baronet his son by a second wife whose son and heir Sir Walter hath within these few years sold the site thereof and most of the lands thereto belonging unto Charles Adderley Esquire now Knight Lord of Lea hard by Lea. OF this place there is no mention in the Conqueror's Survey it being then involved with Whitacre of which Constablerie it is till this day and so consequently possest therewith by the Marmions Lords of Tamworth-Castle From one of those Marmions as it seems was the Ancestor of Iames de la Launde enfeoft thereof which Iames lived in H. 3. time and in 37. of that King's reign had a Charter of Free warren in all his demesn lands here From this Iames descended Iohn de la Launde as the Pedegree in Langdon sheweth who manifesting that his Ancestors had enjoyed a Court-Leet here with Assize of Bread and Beere and other Liberties thereto belonging in 3 E. 3. obtained a Charter from the King for confirmation thereof to himself and his heirs with Infangthef Tumbrell and Pillorie and bore for his Armes a Rend Cotized as by his Seal appears To whom succeeded Iames his son and heir the last of this Family that had to do here for in 41 E. 3. he quitted all the interest he had in this Mannour to Alianore his mother which Alianore by her
to S. Peter was given to the Nunns of Mergate in Bedfordshire by the first Orbert de Arden about the beginning of King Stephen's time Howbeit till 36 Hen. 3. they did not quietly enjoy it as by what I have observed in my discourse of Sir Raphe â—racâ—brigge and Iohn his son appeareth but the moytie thereof was antiently appropriated to them though the direct time when I have not found In anno 1291. 19 Edw. 1. the said appropriated moytie was valued at xiii marks and the other at xv Which other moytie became afterwards also appropriated to them viz. in 12 Rich. 2. whereupon in a short time scil in anno 1397. 21 Rich. 2. ensued the Ordination of the Vicaridge vi s. viii d. yearly Pension being then reserved to the Bishop and his successors and ii s. to the Arch-Deacon Which Vicaridge in 26 Hen. 8. was valued at viii li. ix s. x d. over and above iii. s. per annum deducted for Synodalls Patroni Medictatis Ecclesiae Incumbentes c. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Will. de Staâ—ford 〈◊〉 1248. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 D. Thomas de 〈◊〉 Pbr. an 1250. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Nigellus â—â—us Remundi an 1256. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Gilebertus de 〈◊〉 Pbr. â—â—l Iâ—â—ii 1300. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Will. de Muneworth Accol 16. â—al Dec. 1310. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Thomas de la Grave Pbr. 8. Id. Febr. 1313. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Thom. â—aâ—lâ—â—ap 2. Non. Aug. 1349. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Râ—c de â—â—ile Cler. 13. Cal. Apr. 1360. 〈◊〉 Conv. S. Trin. de 〈◊〉 D. Ioâ— Clerk Pbr. 5. Febr. 1390. Patroniae Vicariae Huâ—â— Frâ—mâ—â— de Tamworth 〈◊〉 vicc Rad. Heâ—laston Cap. 18. Oct. 1410. Pr. C. E. Trin. de 〈◊〉 Arâ—â—â—â—â—us Thorpe 4. Febr. 1410. Pr. C. â— Trin. de 〈◊〉 Ioh. Freman Cap. 9. Dec. 1411. Pr. C. â— Trin. de 〈◊〉 D. Will. atte Mille 6. Dec. 1421. Pr. C. â— Trin. de 〈◊〉 Ioh. Smyth 8. Apr. 1438. Pr. C. â— Trin. de 〈◊〉 Rob. Trulufe 17. Sept. 1439. Pr. C. S. Trin. de Bosco Thomas Lancashire Pbr. ...... 1439. Pr. C. S. Trin. de Bosco Thomas Wenloke in Decr. Bac 26. Sept. 1499. Pr. C. S. Trin. de Bosco D. Ric. Hutton in Leg. Bac. 3. Martii 1521. D. Regina Magr. Will. Smyth Suceâ—tor Eccl. Cath. Lich. 25. Meii 1554. D. Eliz. Regina Henr. Fletcher Cler. 15. Febr. 1584. D. Eliz. Regina Nich. Rushall Cler. 25. Oct. 1587. D. Eliz. Regina Ioh. Foxe Cler. 1. Martii 1587. Monumentall Inscriptions In the body of the Church Here lyeth the body of Hugh Beresford sometime of Slateley and Elizabeth his wife which Hugh died the xxv th of Iune Anno 1610. In the midst of the Chancell Here lieth the Body of Francis Benet sometime of Dosthill who died the xi th day of Iune anno Dom. 1634. Kimberley-Hall HEere was antiently a Chapell of S. Edmund and in it a Chantrie founded by one of the Bâ—acebriggs of Kingsburie about the beginning of King Edw. 2. time as may seem by the Presentations thereto and called Cantaria de Kynebaldesley By the Survey of 26 H. 8. this Chanâ—â—e is said to be in the Church of Kingsburie which if so then was it not long before removed 〈◊〉 and the value thereof over and above reâ—â—â—s cerâ—â—fied at Cvi s. viii d. But I rather drink that to be a mistake for in 37 H. 8. it is called Cantaria de Hurley forasmuch as 't is situate within the precincts of that Hamlet and then valued at Cxiii s. x d. Hurley OF this place there is no mention in the Conqueror's Survey by reason it was then involved with Kingsburie but I have seen it very antiently written Hurnlei which apparently shews that the name at first grew from its situation hurne or hyrne in the Saxon or old English signifying a nook or corner which rightly agreeth with the position thereof it lying in the utmost corner of Kingsburie Lordship Eastwards As it was a part of Kingsburie heretofore so were the Bracebriggs in those days Lords thereof as appears by a grant of it from Raphe de Bracebrigge about the 25. of H. 3. unto Amicia his mother in name of her dowrie where it is called Manerium de Horleye yet by some other authorities of later time it appears to have been only a member of Kingsburie So also by the Inquisition after the death of Thomas Bracebrigge Esquire in 19 Eliz. But notwithstanding that there is a Mannour within it at least in reputation whereof one Iohn VValdiff Esquire dyed seized in 31 H. 8. which descended to Ioane the sole daughter of Nicholas Nightingale by Ioyce sister and heir to the said Iohn which Ioan was then the wife of Thomas VVillington cosin of VVilliam VVillington Esquire of whom in Barcheston I have spoken the posteritie of which Thomas do still enjoy it It seems that the VValdyve have lived antiently in this place for in 36 H. 6. was Ioane the daughter of VVilliam VValdyve of Hurley marryed unto Robert VVillenhale of Greneburgh in the Chapell here by speciall License from the Bishop directed to the then Vicar of Kingsburie for that purpose Which VVilliam VValdyve was son to Richard a branch of the VValdyves of Alspath Plumpton THis place is now known onely by certain grounds lying on the East side of Kingsburie Parish so called whereof one VValter de Plompton was possest in H. 3. time who held them by a certain weapon called a Danish Axe which being the very Charter whereby the said land was given unto one of his Ancestors hung up for a long time in the Hall of the capitall messuage belonging thereto in testimony of the said tenure untill that the said House was seized upon by Sir Iohn Bracebrigge Knight Lord of Kingsburie in E. 3. time and pulled to the ground After which it remained a great while in the Hall of the mansion belonging to VVilliam de Plompton in Hardreshull about two miles distant being commonly reputed and called the Charter of Plomton What title the said Sir Iohn Bracebrigge had to it I know not but by severall authorities it appears that his posteritie were seized of it by the name of the Mannour of Plomton And in 12 H. 4. did Sir Raphe Bracebrigge Knight â—ell the same the content thereof being C. acres of Land vl acres of Wood and xl acres of Moore then called Plumton fields unto Robert VVaterton Esquire and his heirs All which came afterwards to the hands of one Roger Horton â— who died seized of them â—li H. 5. leaving VVilliam his son and heir xviii years of age But upon the death of
to celebrate Divine service for the good estate of him the said Iohn during his life in this world and after his death for the health of his Soul as also for the health of the Souls of his Parents Benefactors and all the faithfull deceased but of this there is no remembrance in the Survey of 37 H. 8. so that when it was dissolved I know not The Free-Schoole THis was founded in 6 E. 6. by the Inhabitants of this town unto whom the King gave for that purpose three Closes of ground lying within the Liberties of Coventre which sometime belonged to the Trinitie-Gild there and were then valued at x li. xv s. viii d. to be held of the Mannour of East-Grenewich in Socage Horeston-Grange THis was originally part of the Lordship of Nun-Eaton but thereof I have not seen any particular mention till 19 E. 1. where it is called the Grange of Horeston belonging then to the Nunns and certified to contain six Carucates of land which by the Survey in 26 H. 8. were valued at xv li. ix s. viii d. and past with the Monasterie unto Sir Marmaduke Constable Knight in 32 H. 8. Which Sir Marmaduke sold the Grange it self with certain lands thereto belonging unto one Iasper Fisher Esquire who died seized thereof in 21 Eliz. leaving Katherine Norwood widow and Anne the wife of Richard Wolriche his cosins and heirs But the grounds called Horeston-fields together with Horeston-Wood were aliened in 4 Eliz. by Robert Constable son and heir to Sir Marmaduke unto Stephen Hales Esquire Attilborough THis being part of the Lordship of Nun-Eaton was at length totally possest by the Nunns as may seem by the Survey taken in 26 Hen. 8. But had a Chapell for the benefit of the Inhabitants whereunto for maintenance of a Priest there serving was antiently the summe of C s. allowed but with the dissolved Monasterie it passed out of the Crown in 32 H. 8. to Sir Marmaduke Constable Since which they have not been severed Stockingford THis was originally a member of Eaton and involved therewith in the Conqueror's Survey but afterwards by the Earl of Leicester scil Robert Bossu granted in exchange to William de Newmarch for Wittewike in Leicestershire which William gave it to the Canons of Leicester About that time also had those Canons the Chapell here by the grant of Geffrey de Turvill and certain lands bordering on Hardreshull which Geffrey the Herâ—mite bestowed on them Within the precincts of this place the Nunns of Eaton had likewise a Grange containing three Carucates of land as is certified by the valuation thereof in 19 E. 1. At which time all that the Canons of Leicester had here was rated but at one Carucate so that what the said Nunns were then possest of was it seems formerly granted to them by those Canons But afterwards it came into Lay hands though how I find not for it appears by a Fine levied in 10 E. 3. betwixt Roger Iabet Plantiff and William Iabet and Maud his wife Deforc. that it was entailed upon William Iabet son of the said William after his Father's decease and upon the heirs of the said William the younger by Elene his wife but for default of such issue on the right heirs of the before specified Maud From which time till 14 H. 4. I have seen no more of it but then did the reversion of it belong unto Hugh Lilburne Iohn the son of Thomas Boteler of Exhale holding it for the life of the same Hugh wâ—â—ch reversion in 1 H. 5. was granted by Will. Boteler and William Babington to the Canons of Erdburie in this Countie the Canons of Leicester of whom it was held giving License for the same reserving to themselves Fealtie and securitie for Lxiii s. iv d. to be payd to them in the name of a Relief which summe by the Survey of 26 H. 8. appears to have been an yearly Rent So that upon the dissolution of the Priorie at Erdburie it was therewith granted unto Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk in 30 H. 8. Which Duke inter alia past it unto Sir Edward Wootton Knight Iohn Danet and Anthony Cooke Esquires betwixt whom being as it seems divided Marie Danet in 35 H. 8. conveyed a third part thereof unto George Medley to certain uses Of the other two parts Sir Anthony dying seized in 18 Eliz. left Richard his son and heir of full age But that which belonged to Nun-Eaton was with that Lordship granted out of the Crown of Sir Marmaduke Constable Knight and hath been possest by the owners thereof ever since Chilverscoton IN the Conqueror's Survey this is written Celverdestoche which shews that it was at first so called from him that possest it in the Saxons time whom I suppose to have been one Ceolfredus that being a name then in use It is there rated at viii hides the Woods containing a mile and a half in length and a mile in breadth the whole being valued at L s. and held by Haroldus fil Radulfi which Raphe was Earl of Hereâ—ord and owner thereof in Edward the Confessor's days In the line of this Haroldus Lords also of Sudley in Com. Glouc. whence they assumed that â—â—rname it continued for divers generations and at length by an heir female divolved to the Butlers as by the Descent in Griffe is manifested But there is little to be said of this place in particular other than that Bartholmew de Sudley in 51 H. 3. ha Free warren inter alia granted to him in all his demesn lands here it having attended the succession of Griffe ever since as a member of that Mannour Within the precinct of this Parish had the Knights Templars certain lands given to them which the Record of 31 Hen. 2. says were de feodo Radulfi de Suthlega being probably of his or his Father's gift and afterwards reputed for a Mannour for by that name had those Templars Free-warren granted to them and their successors therein in 32 H. 3. Which Mannour coming to the Crown in 30 Hen. 8. with all other the possessions belonging to the Religious Houses was in 4 Eliz. sold unto Iohn Fisher and Thomas Dabridgcourt Which Thomas Dabridgcourt having obtained a Release from Fisher of all his right therein by his last Will and Testament in 44 Eliz. gave it to Christian one of his daughter who became the wife of William Belcher of Gilsborough in Com. Northampt. From whom it was purchased by Walter Giffard of Chillington in Com. Staff Esquire and since that of him or his son by Richard Chamberlain Esquire Register of the Court of Wards The Church was given to the Canons of Erdburie together with two yard land by Raphe de Sudley Founder of that Monasterie and in anno 1291. 19 Edw. 1. valued at viii marks being then appropriated to that Religious House and
filia .... domini Say Barth de Sudley defunctus 20 E. 2. Matilda filia Ioh. de Monteforti Ioh. de Sudley defunctus 14 E. 3. Alâ—anora filia Rob. domini de Seales Ioh. de Sudley defunctus â— p. 41 E. 3. Iohanna ux Will. le Boteler mil. defuncta 41 E. 3. Iohanna filia Ioh. Beauchamp de Powyk mil. Thomas Boteler consangu haeres Ioh. de Sudley 41 E. 3. Alicia ux secunda postea nupta Joh. Dalingrugge mil. Ioh. Boteler deâ—unctus s. p. 5 H. 5. Will Boteler 5 H. 5. Rad Boteler miles Thesaur Angl. duxit Aliciam fil haer Will. Deincourt mil obiit 13 E. 4. Thomas Boteler miles duxit Alianorâ—m sororem Joh. Talbot mil. domini L'isle obiit vivo patre Eliz. ux ..... Norburie Henr. Norburie miles Joh. Norburie miles unuâ— consangu haered Rad. Boteler de Sudley mil. 13 E. 4. Anna filia haeres Ric. Haliwell Iana consangu haer Joh. Norburie mil. 15 H. 8. Edmundus Bray miles 15 H. 8. Anna ux ... Coâ—ham Eliz. 1. nupta Ric. Catesby mil. postea Wil. Clerke ar Fridiswida ux Percevalli Hart. mil. Maria ux Rob. Peckham mil Dorothea ux Edw. Domini Chaundos Francisca ux Tho. Lifeild Iohanna ux ..... Belknap Will. Belknap ar ob s. p. 2 R. 3. Henricus Belknap Edw. Belknap miles obiit 12 H. 8. Margeria ux Rob. Massy mil. defuncta â— prole 3 R. 2. pasturage for Cattell in Derset Radway and Chelverscote But after 20 E. 2. I have not found any more mention of him neither of Iohn his grandchild scil son of Bartholmew is there much to be sayd who died in 14 E. 3. leaving Iohn his son and heir little more than a twelve month old which last Iohn departed this world without issue in 41 E. 3. whereupon Thomas Boteler son of Sir Will. Boteler of Wemme by Ioane eldest daughter to the last Bartholmew and Margerie her sister afterwards married to Sir Robert Massy Kt. became his Cosins and next t heirs This Thomas Boteler was a Kt. in 9 R. 2. To whom succeeded as heir to his Mother Sir Raphe Boteler Kt. a man eminently imployed and highly advanced as I shall forthwith shew For having in 8 H. 6. served the King with xx men at Armes and Lx. Archers in his personall expedition for France he was in 20 H. 6. created Baron of Sudley with an Annuitie of CC. marks per an to himself and his heirs for the better support of that dignitie and became soon after Lord Tresurer of England But in that Office he continued not long for in 28 H. 6. he was retained by Indenture to serve the King for five years as Governour of the Cittadell at Calais with .... men at Armes on Horseback xxix men at Armes on foot and xx Archers all able men of war taking for himself ii s. per diem for his men at Arms on foot viii d. and for his Archers vi d. besides the speciall Fee of C s. the quarter for himself And immediatly thereupon being made the King's Lieutenant of that Town covenanted for the defence and saâ—eguard thereof and the Marches adjoyning to keep C. men at Arms over and above the number before specified and DCCCC Archers for a quarter of a year taking for his men at Arms xii d. a man and his Archers vi d. besides the reward accustomed And was in so great esteem with the Canons of Erdburie for his munifence to them in sundry wiâ—e but specially in procuring for them the Appropriation of the Church at Leyth in Lancashire dated 15 Ian. 28 H. 6. that in consideration thereof they did by their publick Instrument ordeign that two of their Covent should every day celebrate divine service in that Monasterie for the health of his soul appointing parâ—icular Masses for each day of the week binding themâ—elves and their successors to observe his Anniversarie after his decease with Placebo Dirige and Masse of Requiem and to spend vi s. viii d. yearly on the day of his said Anniversarie in their Covent by way of Pittance over and above their usuall allowance After which viz. in 30 H. 6. he had a speciall Pardon granted to him for all offences whereby any advantage mâ—ght be taken against him in respect of his great and generall imployments in which pardon his partâ—cular services to King H. 5. aswell as to the said K H. 6. in France and in the Dutchie of Normandieâ— even from his very youth are gâ—atefully â—cknowledg'd For he had been Lord Tresurer and Chamberlain to K. H. 6. and Standard-beaâ—er and chief Butler of England as also Knight of the Garter and Steward of his Household But after this I find no more of him till his death which hapned 2 Maii 13 E. 4. where it appears that Iohn Norburie and Will. Belknap were his câ—sins and heirs for Sir Thomas Boteler his son died before him without issue So that this Mannour came at length inter alia by Partition made 15 Maii 11 H. 7. to Sir Iohn Norburie and so by Iane his grandchild and heir to Sir Edmund Bray which Iane died seized thereof 24 Aug. in the last year of Q. Maries reign leaving severall daughters and heirs as the Descent before inserted sheweth whereof Frances married to Thomas Lifeild who by the name of Thomas Lifeild of Stoke-Dabernon in com Sur. Esq. together with the said Frances his wife did by his Deed of bargain and sale Dated 7 Maii 3 Eliz. in consideration of 1050 l. sell and convey it unto Iohn Giffard of Chillington in com Staff Esq. whose grandchild sc. Peter son of Walter Giffard in our memorie passed the Mannour consisting of a Royaltie and certain chief Rents to Sir Iohn Newdigate of Erdburie Kt. and the Demesns to certain persons in trust for the use of Thomas Lord Coventre late Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England So that at this day the said Mannour is now enjoyed by Ric. Newdigate Sergeant at Law son to the same Sir Iohn and the demesns by the Lord Coventre son and heir to the said Lord Keeper The Priorie of Erdburie WIthin the precincts of Chilverscoton Parish stood the Monasterie of Erdburie built in K. Henry 2. time by Raphe de Sudley for Canons Regular of St. Augustine the Foundation Charter whereof I never saw but do conceive that the substance wherewith he at first endowed it was as followeth viz. the Church of Chelverdescote with two yard land belonging thereto as also six yard land and a Wood there reputed for half a hide ten Acres of land lying in Broadmedow and a place called the Breche at Whitemore with certain messuages and half a VVood called the Hudells And besides this with some lands and a meadow at Sulingfen together with the Church of Dercet and CC. acres of land lying in one of Dercet fields As also ten
and his heirs in 17 E. 3. and so likewise did Iohn de Freford and Margaret his wife as also Alice the widow of Sir Philip Chetwynd in 19. E. 3. But afterwards sc. about the 22 th of E. 3. the said Robert died without issue so that the inheritance of these lands thereby descending to his nephew Sir Raph Rochford Knight son of Ioane the wife of Iohn Rochford before specified he the said Sir Raph entailed them upon the issue of his body by Ioane the daughter of Sir Hugh Menill Knight with remainder to his three sisters successively and then to Sir Richard Stafford and his heirs According to which entail the possession thereof continued for divers years untill at length Sir Raph Rochford being dead the said Ioane his wife married again to one Hugh de Asheby with whom Sir William Chetwyn Knight son and heir to the before mentioned Sir Phiplip making an accord became totally possest thereof having in 39 E. 3. compounded with Isabell the widow of Iohn de Rochford for her title of dower therein formerly granted to her by Sir Raph Rochford her son in Law After which he seated himself here and in 16 R. 2. obtained a License from the Bishop of Cov. and Lich. to have divine Service within a private Chapell for his House But before I descend to speak farther of the said Sir William and his posteritie I shall observe that this Family hath been of great antiquity in Shropshire scil of Chetwynd whence this their sirname was first assumed as also that Iohn de Chetwynd son of Adam had a Charter of Free-warren in 37 H. 3. throughout all his demesn lands in the Counties of Salop. Staff and Warwick for he was possest of Baxterley in this Shire at that time having likewise Ingestre Salt and Gretwich in Staffordshire by Isabell the daughter and heir to Philip de Mutton as it seems But I return to the before specified Sir William great-grandchild to the said Iohn in regard he was the first of this line that had to do here Towards the later end of King Edw. 3. reign he was by Indenture reteined with Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lanc. to serve him aswell in times of Peace as War for ten marks per an Which Indenture being lost was again renewed by the said Duke in 50 E. 3. whereby he increased his Fee to ten pounds per an And afterwards sc. in 10 R. 2. recounting his faithfull services gave the sum of ten pounds more per an to be received out of the issues of his Honour of Tutburie I am of opinion that a great part of the Church here at Grendon was new built by the before-specified Sir William for it is evident that the pictures in glass of many of this Family in their surcoats of Arms were set up there about that time This Sir William had issue Richard of whom I find little memorable and Iohn Which Iohn residing at Alspath now called Mereden was one of the chief persons in this Countie that subscribed the Articles concluded of in the Parliament of 12 H. 6. and in 15 H. 6. served in Parliament as one of the Knights for this Shire being from 17 till 20 H. 6. inclusive in Commission for conservation of the Peace But to the said Richard succeeded Philip his son and heir a person not a little eminent in his time for in 7 H. 6. he had the Shiriffaltie of Staffordshire so also in 15 H. 6. being then a Knight In 17 H. 6. he was imployed into the Dutchy of Guien for the King's service and in 20 H. 6. constituted Governour of the Citie of Eaion in Normandie being allowed 940 marks to retein as many Archers for the safeguard thereof as might be therewith hired for a quarter of a year In 22 H. 6. he was reteined with Humphrey Earl of Buckingham to do him service during life according to his degree aswell in times of Peace as War sc. in times of Peace with as many men and Horses as he the said Earl should appoint out of the said Earl's Lordship of Holdernesse in Yorkshire as also taking bouche of Court and livery for them in his Houshold during such his continuance with him and allowance of reasonable costs for his coming and returning and in case the said Earl might be commanded in any service of War on this side or beyond the Sea upon reasonable warning to attend him with such number of men at Arms and Archers well and sufficiently armed horsed and arrayed after the manner of war as he should assign and receive the like wages and reward as the said Earl did take of the King or of any other his Captains in such expedition with Skippeson and reskippeson reasonable for himself his men and Horses but the said Earl to have the thirds of all manner of Prisoners and prizes to be taken by him the said Sir Philip through fortune of War and the third of the thirds of all Prisoners prizes c. taken by any of his men the Indenture of that his Retainer bearing date at London 13 Februarii the year abovesaid Nay it farther appears that upon the same day he was also retained with that Earl by another Indenture wherein he is stiled the right mighty Prince Humphrey Earl of Buckingham Hereford Stafford Northampton and Perche Lord of Brecknock and of Holdernesse then Captain of the Town and Castle of Calais as his Lieutenant of that Castle for one whole year with xxix men at Armes on Foot and xx Archers whereof two men at Armes on Foot and four Archers to be of the said Sir Philip's own retinue taking for himself xvi d. per diem for his said men at Arms vii d. and his Archers vi d. at the hands of the Treasurer at War to the same Earl And moreover for himself his Lady and a Gentlewoman with her and a Gentleman and two Yeomen of his own retinue bouche of Court and xx l. per an of speciall reward or else allowance for their bouch of Court according as other souldiers of their degree used to have as also for their skippeson and reskippeson And of this Sir Philip I farther find which is not the least observable that having wedded Elene the widow to Edmund Lord Ferrers of Chartley daughter and heir to Thomas de la Roche as also Cosin and heir to Iohn de Bermingham as in Bromwich appeareth he empaled her Armes on the dexter part of his own which as I conceive was for the dignitie of her person she being a Baronesse and so great an heir and that he departed this life in 24 H. 6. leaving William his grandchild his Cosin and heir Which William afterwards one of the Gentlemen-Huishers of the Chamber to King H. 7. became so much envied by Sir Humphrey Stanley then of Pipe in Com. Staff one of
Paramour a Londoner After which it was not long ere that Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester coveting that fair Lordship obtained Paramour's title and so justling out Robinson past this with Shuttenton unto Queen Elizabeth in exchange for other lands so that ever since it hath been in the Crown Tamworth FOllowing the stream of Anker a little lower I come to its confluence with Tame that gives denomination to Tameworth the most eminent Town for situation and antiquitie on this side the Countie of which but the one half including the Castle is in this Shire the Villages of Bole-Hall Glascote Stretford Wilnicote Stanidelf and Amington lying Southwards of the River and Pericroft on the North being members thereof A place this is participating chiefly of the commodities which the Wood-land affordeth being almost inviron'd by it and watered with delightfull Rivers whereby the bordering Meadows are plentifully inricht yet not wanting a spacious Champaine near at hand for farther profit and pleasure so that divers of the Mercian Kings invited doubtless by these advantages had here a Pallace-royall as their severall Charters do manifest Of which Kings the first that I find mentioned was Offa who granting lands in Sapie to the Monks of Worcester concludeth thus Hanc autem praescriptam vicissitudinem terrarum meae donationis pro Domino libertatem ego Offa Rex sedens in regali Palacio in Tamoworthige secundo die Nativitatis Domini in die Festivitatis beati Stephani Martyris concedens donavi Anno ab Incarnatione Christi DCCLXXXI Indictione quarta The next was Coenulf whose Charter thus ends Actae est haec donatio anno DCCCXIV Indict septima in vico celeberimo qui vocatur Tomoworthig c. After him Berthuulf in the year DCCCXLI and lastly Burtherd in the year DCCCLIV And as these authorities do shew that it was by those Kings thus honoured so is there not want of other to manifest the large extent and strength thereof witnesse that vast Ditch to this day called King's Ditch which stretching forth in a streight line from the River Anker somewhat below Bowl-Bridg then making a right angle keepeth on its course paralell to the River for the space of neer four hundred paces and so returning by another right angle runs into Tame below Lady-Bridg whereby the ground within the precincts thereof is of a quandrangular forme Which Ditch though much filled up in most places appears to have been at least xlv foot broad as by measure I have observed But such mischief shortly after did the Danes make by their severall invasions that this place was wasted and continued desolate till that renowned Ladie of the Mercians Ethelfleda daughter to King Alfred and Sister to King Edward the elder after her husband's death scil in the year of Christ DCCCCXIV restored it to its antient strength and splendor raysing a strong Tower upon an artificiall Mount of Earth called the Dungeon for defence against any violent assault thereof upon which Mount that building now called the Castle hath of later times been erected for the body of the old Castle stood below towards the Mercate-place and where the Stables at present are And here it was that the said famous Ethelflede departed this life xix Cal. Iulii anno DCCCCXVIII viz. five years before the death of King Edward her Brother but in the Abbie-Church of S. Peter at Gloucester of hers and her husband's Foundation she had sepulture The next observable thing which in course of time I have met with that concerns this place is that there was a Monasterie here for by the Testament of Wulfric Spot Founder of Burton-Abble in Com. Staff about the year of Christ DCCCCXLIX it appears that he gave thereunto certain lands in Langandune scil Langdon in Com. Staff But whether it was of Monks or Nunns or by whom founded I never could as yet see good testimonie From these antient times therefore whereof so little light by Historie is to be found I shall now descend to those after the Norman Conquest and for my more methodicall discoverie of such things as are most memorable purpose first to speak of the Burrough by it self for by that name it was heretofore called and then of the Castle and its possessors Of the Burrough there is not any particular extent in the Conqueror's Survey nor farther mention of it than that ten Houses therein were at that time belonging to the Mannour of Colshill in this Hundred which was in those days part of the King 's demesn neither can I discover any thing of note for a long time after relating thereto besides the Aid and other advantages which upon sundry occasions it yielded to the King from the beginning of King Stephen's reign that part which is in this Countie answering two marks for an Aide in 15 H. 2. and in 21 H. 3. iv li. xvi s. for the Ferm thereof yet was it antient demesn of the Crown id est belonging thereto in the days of King Edward the Confessor or King William the Conqueror And till about the later end of King H. 3. reign continued in the King 's immediate hand but then was it let to Philip Marmion Lord of the Castle for life at the Rent of xxxiv li. vi s. ix d. per annum Howbeit afterwards the King had it again Whereupon in 11 E. 2. it was granted to Baldwin Frevile during pleasure reserving the old accustomed Ferme viz. iv li. xvi s. Which Lease to Frevile soon determined For the King having the same year given to the Inhabitants thereof License to take Toll of all vendible commodities to be brought thither for the space of three years scil for every Quarter of Corn a half penny c. towards the charge of Paving the Town the next year following made a new grant thereof I mean all this while of that moytie in Warwick-shire unto the Inhabitants of the Burrough their heirs and successors reserving to the Crown the antient Ferme as above is exprest and xx s. yearly increase payable to his Exchequer at the days and termes when the other used to be received as also excepting all Tallages Aids and Customes as had formerly been payd out of it in the times of his Progenitors And in 14. of his reign the time being expired for taking Toll towards the Pavement of the Town by the former Patent renewed it for three years more yet this did not compleat the Pavement as appeares by the sundry other Patents granted to them afterwards aswell by King Edward 3. as this King E. 2. for the same purpose which in the margent I have cited But besides this for Paving did the same Inhabitants obtain a Charter from the King in 10 E. 3. for two yearly Faires here the one upon S. George's day viz. April 23. and three days after the other on the Feast-day of S. Edward and
to the before spefied Sir Iohn Botetourt through which means part of that fair inheritance came to this Familie of Ferrers By whom he had issue Baldwin xix years of age at his Fathers death which happened in 11 R. 2. But of this Baldwin I find nothing memorable excepting his marriage in 12 R. 2. with Ioane the daughter of Sir Thomas Greene Knight and his death which happened in 2 H. 4. To whom succeeded Baldwin his son and heir then but two years of age who departing this life in his minoritie scil 6 H. 5 leaving three Sisters and heirs the inheritance came afterwards to be thus divided in 31 H. 6. viz. to Thomas Ferrers then Tenant by the curtesie Elizabeth the eldest of those coheirs being dead and to Thomas son and heir of the same Thomas and Eliz. this Castle and Mannour of Tamworth the Mannours of Lee juxta Merston Stretford juxta Tamworth and Haverburgh in this Countie as also the Mannour of Stichall juxta Coventre the Mannour Tadington in Com. Heref. with lands and Rents in Waverton Allesley and Mereden in this Countie as also in Wiginton in Com. Staff To Robert Aston Esquire son of Ioice one other of the said Sisters and coheirs the Mannours of Ashsteds and Newdigate in Surrey Becknore in Com. Wigorn. Yatesburie in Com. Wilts Pinley within the Liberties of Coventre and the moâ—tie of the Mannour of Henley in Arden in this Countie with the advouson of the Church of Preston juxta Henley And to Sir Richard Bâ—ngham Knight then one of the Justices of the King's Bench and Margaret his wife formerly the wife of Sir Hugh Willoughby of Wollaton in Com. Nott. Knight the Mannours of Midleton and Whitnash with lands in Wilmecote in this Shire The Mannour of Wikin juxta Coventre with certain other lands and Rents lying within the Countie of that Citie as also the Mannours of Gunthorpe and Loudham in Com. Nott. with Bradford Ferne and Mawne in Com. Heref. Which Partition bears date 5. Oct. the year abovesaid This Thomas Ferrers was second son to William Lord Ferrers of Groby and underwent the Office of Shiriff for the Countie of Staff in 26 H. 6. but departed this life in 37 H. 6. being then the principall male branch of this line of Groby as the Descent in Merevale sheweth in token whereof he bore his Armes with a Labell of three points Azure To which Thomas succeeded as Lord of this Castle Thomas his son and heir then xxxvi years of age who was constituted Shiriff of this Countie and Leicester-shire in 39 H. 6. so also in 1 E. 4. Which Thomas having been a faithfull adherer to the House of Yorke and taken Prisoner in the battail of Wakefeild where he was put to CCC marks Fine obtained a speciall Precept from King Edward 4 th to the Barons of the Exchequer wherein is acknowledged his signall fidelitie to Richard Duke of Yorke Father to the said King and slain in that Battail commanding them to remit unto him CC. marks of the summe for which he was then accomptable to them by reason of his Receipts whilst he underwent that Office in which Precept it further appeareth that the said Thomas was then a Knight being so made as it seems by the same King Edw. in the first year of his reign Nay I find that after this he became a Knight of the Bath at the Creation of the Duke of Yorke 14 E. 4. and from 4 E. 4. till his deathâ— was in Commission for conservation of the Peace in this Shire as also in 8 E. 4. again Shiriff of this Countie and Leicester-shire and that by his Testament bearing date 10. Febr. 12 H. 7. he bequeathed his body to be buried on the North side of the Quire within the Collegiate Church here at Tamworth by Anne his wife appointing a marble to be laid over them with their portraitures and Armes in brasse and such Inscription as his Executors should devise departing this life 22. Aug. 14 H. 7. To whom succeeded Sir Iohn Ferrers Knight his grandchild and heir For Sir Iohn his son who in 15 E. 4. was in the King's service in Normandie died in his life time Of which Sir Iohn I find little memorable other than that he was one of the Knights for the body to King H. 7. and in Commission for the Peace from 18. of that King's reign till his death which happened in 1 H. 8. as appears by the Probate of his Will whereby he bequeathed his body to sepulture within th Chancell here at Tamworth before the Image of S. Edith Of whose descendants I shall say no more than that some of them have been Knights and in many publick imployments as by divers Comissions appeareth Iohn son and heir to the last Sir Humphrey being now owner of this Castle referring my Reader to the Pedegree before inserted which manifesteth their matches with sundry good antient Families Upon an Alabaster Tombe-stone lying in the midst of the Chancell at Tamworth under which is buried the body of Sir Iohn Ferrers Knight is this Epitaph If thou hast a minde to know Whose Corps interred lye below Lest thou thinke these words in stone Are all that 's left of him being gone Give eare unto the upright tongue Of whosoere he liv'd among Then free'd from doubt thou wilt consent He left a choicer Monument 1633. Upon another lying neer thereto Here lieth Sir Humfrey Ferrers Knight who married Anne one of the daughters of Sir Iohn Packington of Hampton-Lovet in the Countie of Worcester Knight By whom he had issue three daughters and one son His age was thirty and three years when he departed this life and he was here interred on the second day of November in the year of our Lord 1633. Bole-Hall I Now come to the particular Villages before mentioned which are within this Countie and in the Parish of Tamworth though the Church be in Staffordshire and first of Bole-Hall Of this place I have not seen any thing in Record till 13 R. 2. where with severall other Mannours Sir Iohn de Clinton of Maxstoke Knight entailed it upon the issue of his body by Elizabeth then his wife but from severall circumstances I am satisfied that it was originally a member of Amington which adjoyns thereto and whereof the same Sir Iohn was then possest From whom descended Iohn Lord Clinton who about the beginning of H. 7. time decayed the capitall Messuage here And from him Edward Lord Clinton and Say that sold it in 29 H. 8. unto Iames Leveson Merchant of the Staple which Iames gave it in marriage inter alia with Elizabeth his daughter unto Walter Aston son and heir to Sir Edward Aston of Tixhall Knight whose grandson Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Bath and Baronet sold it unto William Anson of Lincolns-Iâ—ne in Com. Midd. Esquire Of whom
of age but was attended with very ill success in that expedition for no sooner did he arrive with his Army at the Port of Rochel but that the Spanish Navie fell suddainly upon them before they could put themselve in order to fight so that few of them escaped death wounds or imprisonment and yet without any considerable loss to the Enemy who forthwith set fire on all the English Ships carrying away the Earle and many gallant Gentlemen as also no less than twenty thousand marks in money sent over by the K. of England to continue the war which unhappy accident fell out on the Eve of St. Iohn Baptist's Nativitie being the Festivall of St. Aetheldred the Virgin and therefore was it censured by many as my Author observeth that God's judgement so followed him as a punishment for the injurie he had done to the Church of that holy Virgin sc. Ely in a cause betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and it before his departure out of England and that the money so lost had no better luck forasmuch as it had been got from the Religious Houses and Clergy But others attributed it to his living an adulterous life being a married man that he also had attempted in Parliament an infringement of the Church its Liberties and that he perswaded the King to lay greater Taxes upon the Clergie than Laitie for support of his wars which practises of pilling and poling the Church however the temporall Lords saith the same Author were pleased yet what success they had not onely England but the whole world hath sufficiently found I now come to speak of his death the circumstances whereof were as followeth viz. that having undergone four years imprisonment in Spain with most inhumane usage he sent to Bertrand Clerkin Constable of France desiring that he would use some means for his enlargement who thereupon interceded for him to the Bastard of Spain that called himself King and obtained his libertie in consideration of part of that money due to himself whereupon he was brought to Paris and a sum of money assigned which he must pay for his redemption but after his coming thâ—ther it was not long ere that he fell mortally sick of Poison as 't was thought given to him by the Spaniards who were reputed to have such a speciall facultie in that Art as that the potion should kill at what distance of time they pleased The French therefore seeing death approaching him being eager to get his ransome money before he died made haste to remove him unto Calais but on his jâ—urney thither he departed this world upon the very day of St. Aetheldred the Virgin which Saint he had so much offended before his coming out of England as hath been said though the Inquis after his death expresseth it to have been the xvi th of Aprill his son and heir Iohn being at that time but two years old and a half and was buried in the Quire of the Friers Preachers at Hereford as by his Testament and what I shall hereafter say may seem But here before I proceed farther I must observe that this Iohn in 43 E. 3. obtaining License for that purpose from the King made a Feoffment unto Walter Amyas and others of all his Castles Lordships Mannours c in England and Wales to certain uses which Feoftment being left sealed up in the hands of the Feoffees to be kept till his return from beyond Seas was upon his death delivered to the King's Councell at Westminster who opening it found that in case he died without issue of his body the town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his heirs and successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and all other his lands in England and Wales in Fee to his Cosin Will. de Beauchamp viz. his Mother's sisters son provided that he should bear his Armes and endeavour to obtain his title of Earl and in case he neglected so to do that then his Kinsman Will. de Clinton to have them upon the same conditions But I return to his said son and heir of whom I find that at the Coronation of K. Ric. 2. he claimed to carry the great gold Spurs and that though he shewed sufficient evidence for his right so to do yet being under age it was adjudged that the King might appoint another for that time whereupon Edmund Mortimer Earl of March was assigned thereto And moreover that he took to wife whilst he was very young Philippa daughter to the said Edmund Earl of March â— but had no issue by her for being at Wodstoke where the King kept his Christmass in 13 of his reign he tilted with Sir Iohn St. Iohn and by an unfortunate slip was run into the bottome of his Belly so that his bowells breaking out he suddainly died to the great lamentation of many in regard he was a person of so noble a disposition that in bountie and curtesie he exceeded most of his degree So that it is observed that from Aymerie de Valence Earl of Pembroke his lineall ancestor who was one that gave Judgement of death upon Thomas Earl of Lancaster in â— 2. time even unto this Iohn the last Earl of the line none of them ever saw his Father nor any Father of them took delight in the seeing his Child so young were they at their Fathers deaths His body was interred in the Church of the Gray Friers near New-gate in London now called Christ's-Church where he had a fair Monument since with all the rest defaced Dying thus without issue Râ—ginald Lord Grey of Ruthin was by some Inquis found his next heir of the whole blood as descended from Elizabeth sister to Iohn great-grandfather to the said Earl so slain in tilting as hath been said and by other y Inquis Hugh de Hastings son of Hugh son of Hugh son of a second Iohn by Isabell the daughter of Hugh le Despenser as the Pedegree here placed sheweth But so little did Iohn Earl of Will. de Valencia Comes Pembr Andomarus ob â— p. Joanna Isabella Henr de Hastings Joanna de Cantilupe Iohannes de Hastings primus Râ—â—erus de Grey Elizabetha Râ—ginaldus de Grey de Ruthin Reginaldus de Grey Joh. de Hastings secundus Isabella filia Hug. le Despenser Com. Wint. Johannes de Hastings tertius Laurentius de Hastings erectus in Com. Pembr Ioh. Comes Pembr mari captus Ioh. Comes Pembr caesus in hastiludio apud Wodstoke Hugo de Hastings Hugo de Hastings Hugo de Hastings ob s. p. Edwardus de Hastings Pembroke Father to the last Iohn regard his next heir male as it seems and so much hate Reginald Grey father to the last Reginald that he entailed the greatest part of his lands as hath been said on Will. de Beauchamp before mentioned Notwithstanding which settlement 't is observeable that the right of bearing Armes was in those days of such esteem as
that the contest for those of the Earls of Pembroke sc. Or a Manche gules betwixt Reginald Lord Grey son to the before mentioned Reginald and Edw. Hastings brother and heir to the last mentioned Hugh lasted little less than twenty years in the Court Militarie before the Constable and Marshall of England wherein after much money spent the said Edw. Hastings who chalenged them as heir male of the Familie was not onely condemned in 970 l. 17 s. 10 ob q. costs â—rey swearing that he had spent a thousand Marks more and the Armes adjudged to Grey but imprisoned xvi years for disobeying that Sentence The particular proceedings in which business with the hard measure which the said Edward had for brevities sake I pass by referring my Reader to that learned Comment upon Sir Henry Spelman's discourse of Armes lately published by my worthy friend Edw. Byske Esq. where they are compendiously set forth and return to the before specified Wil. Beauchamp Which William possessing this Lordship of Fillongley â— and the greatest part of the said Earl of Pembroke's lands by virtue of that entail was impleaded for the same by the above mentioned Edw. Hastings and having invited his learned Counsell to his House in Pater Noster Row within the Citie of London amongst whom were Rob. Charlton then a Judge Will. Pinchbeck Will. Brenchesley and Iohn Catesby all learned Lawyers after Dinner went into his Chapell and at his coming out in an angry fashion threw to each of them a piece of Gold saying Sirs I desire you forthwith to tell me whether I have any right and title to Hasting's Lordships and Lands whereupon Pinchbeck stood up the rest being silent fearing that he suspected them and said No man here nor in England dare say that you have any right in them except Hastings do quit his claim therein and should he do it being now under age it would be of no validitie Perhaps there had been some former entail to settle them upon the heir male of the Familie which preceded that before spoken of but what ever it was sure we are that Hastings apprehended the injury done to himself so great as that with extream anguish of mind at his later end he left God's curse and his own upon his Descendants if they should not attempt the vindication thereof Of this Will. de Beauchamp who was a younger son unto Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick by Catherine Mortimer sister of Agnes mother unto Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke before specified I find that he was in 4 R. 2. retained by Indenture to serve the King in his wars with CCL men at Armes and CCL Archers for a quarter of a year under the command of Edmund de Langley Earl of Cambridge the King's Uncle in the parts of Portugall and Spain in which expedition the said Earl was Generall So also in 6 R. 2. with that warlike Bishop of Norwich sc. Henr. Spenser who was so victorious in the parts of Flanders about that time and should have had 500. marks for the service of himself in particular of which he received part but because he had it not all before-hand he refused to stir from home After which viz. in 7 R. 2. he was constituted Governour of Calais and retained by Indenture for the safe custodie thereof with CXL men at Armes on Horseback whereof himself with nine other Kts. to be part CL. Archers on Horseback C. men at Armes and CLxxxiii Archers on foot and four Esquires on Horseback with condition that xx men at Armes and ten Archers on Horseback as also ten Archers on foot belonging to the Treasurer of Calais should be under his command in relation to that service and in consideration thereof to receive four shillings per diem for his own wages for the rest of the Knights ii s. and men at Armes serving on Horseback xii d. Which retainer was for two years but the next year ensuing the like Covenants were renewed for the terme of three years more and in 11 and 12 R. 2. for each of those years singly In 10 R. 2 he was made Governour of the Castles of Pembroke and Kilgaran In 16 R. 2. first summoned to Parliament with the Barons by the name of Will. Beauchamp de Bergavenny chivalier and made Knight of the Garter being then possest of the Castle of Bergavenny with the other lands which the befâ—re specified Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke had so entailed upon him as hath been said In 1 H. 4. made Justice of South-Wales and frâ—m 2 H. 4. till 8. inclusive was in Commâ—ssion for conservation of the Peace in this Countie But farther of his Militarie or Civill imployments I have not seen nor can I say more of him than that he gave to the Collegiate Church of Warwick for the good estate of K. Ric. 2. and Q. Anne his Câ—nsort as also of himself and Ioan his wife during their lives in this world and for the health of all their souls afterwards the advouson of the Churches of Spellesbury and Chadsley-Corbet in Worcester'shire and that he was in some sort a Benefactor to the Gild of the Holy Trinitie our Ladie and S. Iohn Baptist in Coventre as may seem by his portraiture set up in glass on the East side of St. Mary Hall together with his Ladie in robes of great state which in my discourse of that place are most exactly represented And lâ—stly that by his Testament bearing date at Bergavenny 25 Apr. an 1408. 9 H. 4. he bequeatned hâ—s body to be buried in the Church of the Friers Preachers at Hereford next and beneath the Tombe of the before specified Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke appointing that five Tapers should be hung about his Bodie as soon as mâ—ght be after his death as also that xxiiii men should be cloathed in black each of them hâ—lding a Torch in his hand and to have ii d. a piâ—ce for the same To which place of his burâ—all he bequeathed xx marks or more as his Executors should think fit and over and above what hath been already exprest C l. for the charges of his Funerall directing that ten thousand Masses should be sung for his soul in all the hast that might be after his death by the most honest Priests that could be got as also that four good Priests be found by the space of ten years singing for his soul and for the soul of his Lord Sir Iohn Hastings Earl of Pembroke and for all the souls unto whom he had obligation And moreover to his poor Tenants withâ—n his Lordships C l. To Ioane his wife a pair of Basyns covered and overgylt having the Armes of Warwick and Arundell empaled upon them To Richard his son his best Sword and Harneis to be armed withall aswell for War as Peace as also all his other Harneis for