advanced to the Title of Duke of Buckingham to hold to himself and the Heirs-male of his Body with the Fee of Forty pound per annum out of the Counties of Bedf. and Buâ—ks Moreover in Iune following he was again retained by Indenture to serve the King as Captain of the Castle of Calais during his life with twenty nine Men at Arms on foot and twenty Archers on foot taking two shillings per diem for himself and for his Men at Arms and Archers six pence And soon after that was sent Ambassador with the Archbishop of York and others to treat with the Ambassadors of Charles of France the Kings Uncle touching a perpetual Peace betwixt both Crowns But being thus created Duke of Buckingham ther soon hapned thereupon great animosities betwixt him and Henry Beaâ—chamâ— Duke of Warwick to whom the King had given precedence next before him For the appeasing whereof there was a special act made in Parliament viz. that they should have precedence by turns the one one year and the other the next and so alternately during their lives And the Survivor during his life to have precedence of the others Heir but afterwards such of the Heirs of each who should first happen to have Livery of his Lands to have precedence of the others Heir and the Duke of Warwick to take place the first year Which Duke of Warwick departing this life about two years after without Issue-male this Duke obtained a special Grant bearing date 22 May 25 Hen. 6. unto himself and his Heirs for precedence above all Dukes whatsoever whether in England or France excepting only such as were of the Blood Royal. Moreover in 28 Hen. 6. he was made Constable of Dover Castle as also of the Castle at Quinborongh and Warden of the Cinque-Ports And in 34 Hen. 6. after that fatal Battle of S. Albans where the Duke of York being victorious Humphrey Earl of Stafford his eldest Son lost his life seeing what specious pretences were made by that party to captivate the people he with the Duke of Sommerset got privately to Queen Margaret and gave her notice of the danger For which great adventures and inconsideration of his vast expences in attending the King in those turbulent times as well in Kent against his adversaries then in Arms as in other places in 38 Hen. 6. he obtained a grant of all those Finâ—s which Walter Devereux of Webley in Com. Heref. Esquire William Hastings of Birby in Com Leicest Esq and Walter Hopton of ... in Com Salop. Esq were to make to the King for their transgressions As to his works of piety all that I have seen is that in 24 Hen. 6. he setled an hundred marks per annum Lands and Rents upon the Dean and Canons of his Free-Chappel at Stafford for the perpetual maintenance of certain Priests there to celebrate Divine Service for the good estate of himself and of Margaret then Queen of England as also of Anne his own Wife during their lives here Likewise for the health of their Souls after their departure hence and for the Souls of all the faithful decâ—ased By his Testament bearing date at Marstoke Castle 16 Augâ—t anno 1460. 38 H. 6. he appointed that his Funeral should be solemnized without any sumptous costs or charge and that on the day of his Obit and Funeral two hundred Marks in Money should de distributed to poor people to pray for his Soul over and above all other costs that day in Meat Drink Cloathing of his Servants and Cloathing and Reward to poor men holding of Tapers Also that the Canons of Marstoke should before his decease have an hundred pounds in money to purchase Lands to the value of an hundred shillings per annum which if it were done in his life they should therewith augment that Covent with one Canon more for ever so that thenceforth there might be fourteen the Prior for the time being accompted for one Of which number one should sing daily and pray for his Soul and for the Souls of his ancestors as also the Souls of his Wife and Children at the Altar in the North Isle of the conventual Church at Marstoke abovesaid And moreover willed thereby his Colledge of Plecy in Essex of the Foundation of Sir Thomas of Wodstoke late Duke of Gloucester his Grandfather should be augmented with three Priests perpetually and six poor men to pray for his Soul and for the Souls of his ancestors his Wife and Children And that there should be purchased and lawfully amortized to the said Colledge by his Executors in case it were not done in his own life time for the augmentation and sustenance of the Master and Brethren of the said Colledge and of the said three Priests and poor men Lands and Tenements to the yearly value of an hundred Marks whereof every of the said seven poor men to have every week twelve pence for his sustenance and to find himself except Housing which he appointed to be built there for them by the advice of his Executors And that there should be builded on the North side of the Church of the said Colledge a Chappel to be hallowed in the worship of the Trinity and our Lady Moreover that there might be found and said in the said Chappel after that it should be so made and hallowed a Mass of our Lady whereunto the said seven poor men to come daily except they were letted by sickness to pray for the Souls abovesaid Of which Testament he ordained Executors his Wife as principal and his Brother of Canterbury But the date of this Will is certainly mistaken it should doubtless be 16 August ann 1459. which falls out to be in 37 Hen. 6. for on the 6 Kalend. of August which is 27 Iuly 38 H. 6. this Duke was slain in the Battle of Northampton fighting stoutly there on the Kings part and buryed as our Historians say in the Gray Friers at Northampton though others affirm that many of the slain were buried in that Monastry there called De lo pre and others in S Iohns Hospital By the Inquisition taken after the death of this Duke it is found that he died upon the tenth of Iuly in 38 Hen. 6. and that Henry Son of Humphrey his eldest Son who was slain in the Battle of S. Albans 22 Maii 33 Henr. 6. as hath been already observed was his next Heir and at that time somewhat more then five years of age Moreover that he then died seized of the Mannor ot Brustwyke with the Hamlets thereunto belonging commonly called the Dominion of Holderness in Com. Ebor. likewise of the Mannor of Desenyng with its members as also the Mannor of Hoverhull and Mannor of Cavenham called Shardlows in Com Suff. of the Mannor of Stratton-Audley in Com. Oxon. Ratcliffe upon Sore and Kneshall in Com. Notting Okeham Camerwell Blechynglegh with the Burrough Essyngham Chepsted
his friends married Avice his younger Sister to Sir Iohn Grey of Rotherfield Knight upon condition that he the said Robert and 〈◊〉 his Mother enfeoffing them the said Iohn and Avice and the Heirs of their two bodies lawfully begotten of the reversion of all their Lands the issue of the said Sir Iohn Grey and Avice should bear the surname of Marmion as in my discourse of that Family of Grey is already observed Which Maud founded a Chantry at West-Tanfeld in Com. Ebor. consisting of a Master or Warden and three Priests to pray for her Soul as also for the Soul of her Husband and of Robert her Son and for the good estate of Avice de Grey and Sir Iohn Marmion her Son and Heir with Elizabeth his Wife and all their Ancestors Of these Marmions all that I have else to observe is that there were divers Tombs of them at West-Tanfield in Com. Ebor. where they had a Castle which by descent came to the Lord Fitz-Hugh Basset OF this name were several families but whether sprung from one stock I cannot say The first I meet with is Osmund Basset of whom this following mention is made by my Author viz. that in the first year that the Abby of St. Ebrulf at Utica in Normandy viz. Ann. 1050 was founded William and Robert the Sons of Geroi descended from the noble line of the Franks and Bretayns with divers of their kindred and Barons meeting there and having consultation for the good of that Monastery thus begun determined that each of them should dispose of himself and his personal estate thereunto and not to give or â—ell any thing belonging to the Church before the Monks of that Abby had the refusal of it Amongst which devout men parties to this agreement was this Osmund Basset The next is William sometime Abbot of St. Benedicts at Holme in Suffolk After him I come to Ralph Basset one of those of whom it is said by Ord. Vitalis that King Henry the first at the very beginning of his reign de Ignobili stirpe illustravit ac de Pulvere ut ita dicam extulit datâque multiplici facultate super Consules illustres oppidanos exaltavit raised from a very low condition and conferring on him an ample estate exalting him above Earles and other eminent men This is he that under the same King Henry had that high place and Office of Justice of England whose Authority was so great that he sate in what Court he pleased and where else he thought fit for the administration of Justice as from many instrances may be sufficiently seen But all that I have farther to say of him is that in 21 Hen. 1. he was a benefactor to the Abby of Eynsham in Oxfordshire by adding one more Monk to that Covent and giving one Carucate of Land in Chinolton in Com Notting and ten Oxon for his maintenance which Land was parcel of his Lordship of Coleâ—â—une now called Colston Basset near at hand Also that he had such a veneâ—ble respect to the Monks of Abendon in Berkshire that he determined to enter into a Monastick life there and in the same Abby to be buried Acoording to which resolution falling sick at Northampton he called for a Monks habit and being asked of what order replied as before he had resolved appointing that his body should be buried there Moreover disposing at that time of his personal estate he sent no small summe to Abendon giving likewise thereunto four Hides of of Land in Chedelesworth whereupon he was honorably buried in the Chapter-house there To this Ralph succeeded Richard Basset his Son and Heir who likewise had that great Office of Iustice of England in the later time of King Henry the first and all King Stephens reign and abounding in wealth built a strong Castle upon some part of his Inheritance lying at Moâ—terol in Normandy In 5 Steph. this Richard underwent the Sheriffs Office for Surrey Cambridge and Huntendonshire with Alberic de Vere So likewise for Essex Hertford Buckingham Bedford Norfolk Suffolk Northampton and Leicestershires Moreover he gave to the King at that time the summ of forty pounds for the Custody of the Lands of Geffrey Ridel as also two hundred marks and six light Horses for Livery of the Lands which his Brother Nicholas Basset held of the King in Capite And having wedded Maud the sole Daughter and Heir of the same Geffrey Ridel by Geva his Wife Daughter to Hugh Earl of Chester with her founded the Abby of Lande in Leicestershire for the health of the Soul of King William the Conqueror left issue Geffrey his eldest Son who from his Mother bore the name of Ridel and Ralph another Son who continuing the sirname of Basset was that Ralph as I ghess who underwent the Sheriffs Office for the Counties of Warwick and Leicester in 6 and 7 H. 2. And had Drayton near Tamworth in Staffordshire of his Mothers inheritance which Lordship Hugh Earl of Chester gave to Geffrey Ridel with Geva his Daughter in Frank-marriage To this Geffrey sirnamed Ridel succeeded Richard his Son which Richard reassuming the name of Basset seated himself at Weldon in Northamptonshire and left issue Ralph who in 2 Hen. 3. upon levying the first Scutage for the King paid thirty marks for fifteen Knights fees he then held Which Ralph had issue another Ralph who in 42 Hen. 3 had Livery of his Lands then doing his Homage and the same year accounted thirty pounds to the King for fifteen Knights Fees upon levying the Scutage of Wales To whom succeeded Richard who died in 4 Edw. 1. and left issue Ralph which Ralph had Livery of his Lands the same year performing his Homage and died in 23 Edw. 1. leaving Richard his Son and Heir who had then livery of his Lands In 34 Edw. 1 this Richard was in that expedition then made into Scotland being of the retinue to Adomare de Valence Earl of Pembroke But being again in Scotland was there slain in that great defeat which the English had in the â—â—ttle of Strivelyn leaving Ralph his Son and Heir in minority whose wardship was granted to Richard de Grey Which Ralph making proof of his age in 15 Edw. 2. had Livery of his Lands and in 15 Edw. 3. departed this life then seized of the Mannors of Weldon and Weston juxta Ashele in Com. Northamp held of the King in Capite by Barony as also of the Patronage of the Priory of Launde leaving issue by Ioane his Wife Daughter of Richard de la Pole Citizen of London Ralph his Son and Heir fifteen years of age who had Livery of his Lands the same
Prince Edward the King's Son and having been summoned to Parliament amongst other the Barons of this Realm in 6 and 12 Edw. 4. by his Testament bearing date 8 Iuly Anno 1474. 14 Edw. 4. bequeathed his Body to be buried at the Gray-Friers in London appointing the bones of his Son William to be taken out of the place where they lay and laid on the left side of his Tomb one Tomb to serve them both He likewise ordained that the Parish-Church and Chancel of our Lady at Aylewaston in Com. Derb. should be made up and finished compleatly out of his own proper goods and that a third Bell called a Tenour should be bought for the same Church Also that a convenient Tomb in that Church should be set over Elene his Wife Furthermore he directed that his Executors should purchase Lands to the yearly value of ten pounds and appropriate them to the Hospital of S. Leonard situate betwixt Alkemonton and Bentley to pray for the Souls of his Ancestors as also for his own Soul his Wives and Childrens Souls the Souls of Humphrey Duke of Buckingham Richard Earl Rivers Sir Iohn Wodvyle Knight and for the Souls of the Lords in old time of that Hospital Moreover he ordained that the Master of that Hospital for the time being should find continually seven poor men to be chosen by him out of such as had or thenceforth should be old Serving-men with the Lord and Patron of the Lordship of Barton and of the same Hospital of S. Leonard or else out of the old Tenants of all the Lordships of the said Lord and Patrons for the time being within the Counties of Derby and Stafford And that the Master for the time being should pay weekly unto those seven poor men ij s. iv d. Also that every of them at the time of his Election should be of the age of fifty and five years at the least and that those seven poor men should have seven Kine going within his Park at Barton and seven load of Wood yearly for thâ—ir fewel to be taken within his Lordships of Barton Alkmonton aud Bentley or other Lordships in Appultre-Hundred in Com. Derb. Likewise that the said Master should â—vâ—ry third year give unto each of those seven poor men a Gown and an Hood of White or Russet of one sute one time White and another time Russet the Gown to be marked with a Tayewe cross of Red and that none of those poor men should go a begging upon pain of removal from that Hospital Moreover that every of them should be obliged to say daily our Ladies Psalter twice within the Chapel of the same Hospital He likewise appointed that there should be a Mansion with a square Court built next to the same Chapel without any back door and that the roof of that Chapel should be raised the walls enhanced the windows made with strong iron-work with a Quire and Perclose and two Altars without the Quire Furthermore that the Master should wear neither Red nor Green but upon his Gown of other colour a Tayewe cross of Blew upon his left-side and have no other Benefice exâ—â—pt the Parsonage of Barton He likewise willed that a Chapel of S. Nicholas should be built at Alkmonton that the Master of the before-specified Hospital should say Mass there yearly on the Feast of S. Nicholas and at other times by his discretion And lastly that his Feoffees should bestow forty pounds in making a Chapel within the Abbey of Burton And departed this life 1 Aug. the next ensuing year being then seised of the Mannors of Allexton and Stretton in le Field in Com. Leic. Falde and Madleghe-Alseghe in Com. Staff the moity of the Mannor of Coderiche in Com. Wigorn. the Mannor of Brummore and Burrough of Lemington in Com. Sutht the Mannors of Barton Sutton Saperton Alkemontâ—n Bentely Hatton Langwesdon Brightrichfeld Tortingley Stretton in le Field Elwalston and Chalford in Com. Derb. and the Mannor and Burrough of Chulmelegh the Mannor of Holdeham and Huntebere the Burrough of Twykebere and Mannor of Cornewode in Com. Devon leaving Edward Blount his Grand-son and next heir viz. son of his son William who died in his life-time seven years of age and upwards and was buried in the same Church of the Gray-Friars within the Apostles Chapel being then Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter Which Edward departing this life 1 December 15 Edw. 4. then in minority Iohn his Uncle viz. Brother of William Father of the said Edward became Heir to the Estate and Honour being then thirty years of age Which Iohn in 15 Edw. 4. had a special Livery of all the Lands by Hereditary descent at that time devolved to him And in 20 Edw. 4. upon the death of Anne Dutchess of Buckingham Wife of Sir Walter Blount deceased had also Livery of all the Lands which she held in Dower after the death of the said Walter And on the sixth of October 1 Hen. 7. made his Testament whereby he bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chapel of the Friers-Minors in London where the body of his Father lay interred and gave to that house twenty pounds He also bequeathed to his son Rouland Blount his chain of Gold with a Lion Gold set with Diamonds Likewise to Constantine his daughter one hundred pounds for her Marriage and constituted Lora his Wife with Sir Iames Blount his Brother his Executors To whom succeeded William his son and heir who in 1 H. 7. being made choice of by that prudent Prince for one of his Privy Council was afterwards scil in 8 H. 7. a Commander in that Army then raised for suppressing the Insurrection of the Cornishmen In 15 Hen. 7. this William had a special Grant from the King of all the Preheminencies Dignities Honours Mannors c. which Iohn Lord Montjoy his Father formerly enjoyed and in 1 Hen. 8. was constituted Master of the Mint in the Tower of London as also throughout the whole Realm of England and Town of Calais In 15 Hen. 8. he was with Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk in that Expedition then made into France and in 21 Hen. 8. joyned with many other of the Lords in subscribing those Articles which were then exhibited to the King against Cardinal Wolsey as also in subscribing that Letter to Pope Clement the Seventh whereby it was signified to his Holiness that if he did not comply with the King in that cause of his Divorce from Queen Katherine he must not expect that his Supremacy here would long be owned And by his Testament bearing date 13 October Anno 1534. 26 Hen. 8. ordained That in case he should dye within the Counties of Derby or Stafford his Body should be conveyed to the Parish-Church of Barton in which Parish he was born there to be buried in an Arch on the South-side near the high Altar
of the Erlys house and upon chrystymesse-day he himself or some other Knyght his Deputye shall go to the Oressour and shall sewe to his Lordys meese and then shall he kerve the same mett to hys sayd Lord And thys service shall be doo aswell at Souper as at Dynner and when hys Lord hath etyn the said Sir Philippe shall sit downe in the same place their hys Lorde satt and shalle be served att hys Table by the Steward of th'Erlys house And upon Seynt Stevyn-day when he haith dyned he shall take leve of hys Lorde and shall kysse hym and for hys service he shall nothing take ne nothing shall gyve And all thyes services tofore-rehersed the sayd Sir Philippe hath doo by the space of xlviii yeres and hys ancestors byfore hym to hys Lordys Erlys of Lancastre Item the said Sir Phelippe holdeth of his seid Lorde th'Erle his Manoirs of Tatenbull and Drycotte en parcenerye by thies services that the said Sir Phelippe or his Atturney for hym shall come to the Castell of Tutburye upon Seynt Petyr day in August which is called Lammesse and shall them the Steward or Receiver that he is come thither to hunt and catch his Lord's Greese at the costages of hys Lorde Whereupon the Steward or the Receiver shall cause a horse and Sadylle to be deliveryd to the sayd Sir Phelippe the price Fifty shillings or Fifty shillings in money and one Hound and shall pay to the said Sir Phelippe everyche day fro the said day of 〈◊〉 Peter to Holdy Roode-day for hymself Two shillings sir pence a day and everyche day for his servant and his Bercelett during the sayd time twelve pence And all the wood-Wood-masters of the Forest of Nedewode and Duffelde withe alle the Parkers and Foresters shall be commandyd to awatte and attend upon the sayd Sir Phelipee while they re Lord's Greese be takyn in all places of the sayde Forestys as upon their Master during the said tymeâ— And the said Sir Phelippe or his Attorney shall deliver to the said Parkers or Foresters that shall belonge to their Lordys Lardere commandyng them to convey itt to the Erlys Lardyner abyding at Tutbury and with the remenant the sayd Sir Phelipee shall do hys plesoâ—â—e And upon Holy-Rood-day the sayd Sir Phelippe shall returne to the Castell of Tutbury upon the said Horse with his Bercelet and shall dyne with the Steward or Receyver and after Dynner he shall delyver the Horse Sadylle and Bercelett to the Steward or Receyvour and shall kysse 〈◊〉 â—orter and depart This Sir Philip Somervile gave the Church of Mikel Benton in Com. Northumb. with certain Lands in that Parish to Balioll-Colledge in Oxford for the perpetual maintenance six Scholars there to be elected out of the Towns neighbouring thereto But farther than what is here expressed I have not seen any thing memorable of him but his death which hapned 23 Ian. 29 E. 3. he being then seised of the Mannor of Burton Anneise in Com. Ebor. Stockton in Com. Warr. Whichenovre Briddeshale Tunstall Alâ—ewas and Neubold in Com. Staff As also of the Mannor of Tatenhull in the same County in right of Margaret his Wife Likewise of the Mannors of Tranewell Plessys Shotton Benton Magna and the moiety of the Town of Stanyngton in Com. Northumb. And of the moiety of the Mannor of Orreby in Com. Linc. leaving Ioane the Wife of Sir Rhese ap Gryffith Knight one of his daughters and Maud the daughter of Iohn Stafford by â—lizabeth his Wife the other daughter then Married to Edmund the son of Iohn Vernon his next heires D'auney 1 Edw. 3. IN 8 E. 2. Nicholas D'auney obtain'd the King's Charter for two Markets every week at his Mannor of Shunok in Croâ—â—â—lberwe in Com. Cornub. one on the Wednesday the other on the Friday as also for a Faire every year on the Eve Day and Morrow of St. Iames the Apostle And had summons to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm in 1 Edw. 3. but never afterwards Bermingham 1 Edw. 3. THough none of this antient Family were reputed Barons till the beginning of Edw. 3. Reign yet were they persons of great note long before for in 12 H. 2. Peter de Bermingham of Bermingham in Com. Warr. Steward to Gervase Paganell Baron of Dudley held of him at that time no less than nine Knight's Fees de veteri feoffamento of which William his father had been enfeoffed in King Henry the First 's time Which Peter had issue William who having married Issabel the daughter of Thomas de Estlegh one of the Barons of that age and been in Armes with him against the King in that great Rebellion of those dayes lost his life in the Battel of Evesham in 49 H. 3. To whom succeeded William his son and heir Which William in 22 E. 1. was in that Expedition then made into Gascoigne So likewise in 25. at which time he accompanied the Earl of Lincolne and Sir Iohn de St. Iohn to the Relief of Bellagard then besieged by the Earl of Arras But the English Army dividing into two parts whereof the one wherein he was being led by St. Iohn passing through a Wood was encountred by the Earl of Arras and his whole Army with which not being able to deale many of his men were slain and amongst the Prisoners he himself was one To whom succeeded William his son and to him another William which last mention'd William having been in many eminent imployments whilst King Edward the Second Reign'd in 1 E. 3. had summons to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm but not afterwards so that I shall not pursue the Story of him nor of his Descendents any farther than to observe that his Grandson Sir Thomas de Bermingham Knight left issue one sole daughter and heir called Elizabeth married to Thomas de la Roche But the collateral male-line continued much longer and possessed that fair Lordship of Bermingham until towards the end of King Henry the Eighths time that Edward Bermingham the last of them was odly wrested out of it by Iohn Dudley a person of no small interest in that time afterwards Visc. L'isle Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland as I have elsewhere shewed ¶ Of this Family there is no doubt but that those in Ireland are lineally descended and that they first came thither in the time of King Hen. 2. upon the Conquest there made by the famous Richard Strongbow For about the beginning of King Henry the Third's Reign I find mention of them there And afterwards that in 12 E. 2. when Edward de Brus caused himself to be Crowned King of that Realm Iohn de Bermingham being the chief Commander of those Forces then raised against him slew him in Battel with many of his party In recompence for which service he was advanc'd
Body begotten they ought to descend to Iames de Berkley then living as Cosin and next Heir-male to Thomas the Son of Maurice And that the said Iames Cosin and Heir-male to Thomas as above is expressed being then of full age had Livery of the Premisses c. his homage being respited By what therefore hath been already observed it is apparent that to Elizabeth the only Daughter of the said Thomas the Fourth all the Lands which came by her Mother as also all those whereof her Father died seised in Fee-simple or Fee-tail General which were about thirty Lordships in the Counties of Glocester Somerset Bucks Wilts Northampton Devon Cornwal Oxon Berks the City of London Bristoll and other places besides Advowsons of Churches c. descended As also that the said Iames his Cosin and next Heir-male was by vertue of the before specified Entail to enjoy the Castle and Barony with all those other Lordships contained in the said Fine But before I come to speak of this Iames I think it expedient to take some notice of Iames his Father who so died in the life time of his elder Brother in regard that by him the Male-line of this Noble and Antient Family became thus preserved This Iames the Father was a Knight and married Elizabeth sometimes written Isabel the Daughter and Heir of Sir Iohn Bloet Knight and of the Lady Catherine Wogan his Wife by whom he had the Mannors of Raglan Talgarth Tore Edishall Straddewy and others as also the Mannor of Daglingworth in Com. Gloc. To this Sir Iames and Elizabeth King Henry the Fourth in the first year of His Reign confirmed the Town and Castle of Raglan in Com. Monmouth which Earl Richard Son to Earl Gilbert had given to Walter Bloet his Ancestor and his Heirs temp H 2. In 4 Hen. 4. he was made Governor of the Castle of Tretour in Wales and required to fortifie it against the great Rebel Owen Glendowr By his Testament bearing date at Bristoll on the morrow after the Feast of S. Dunstan An. 1404. 5 Hen. 4. he bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Abby of S. Augustines near Bristoll in his Fathers Tomb and gave six marks to find â— Priest to celebrate Divine Service there for the health of his Soul To Iames his Son he gave all his Habiliments pertaining to War constituting Isabel his Wife and him the said Iames his Son his Executors and departed this life 13 Iunii 6 Hen. 4. leaving issue Iames his said Son his Heir and Maurice a younger Son who died without issue ¶ Which Iames then aged twenty three years and upwards had likewise from his Father and Mother divers other Lordships and Lands than what descended to him by the Entail beforementioned viz. The Mannors of Ragland Talgarth Tore Edishall Stradway with some other in Wales and Dalingworth in Com. Gloc. As also by other means the Mannors of Sages Little Marshfield and Arlingham in that County But the Earl of Warwick and his Wife being at Wotton or Berkley Castle at the time of the death of Thomas the fourth and having thereby advantage to take away what of the Evidences they pleased possessed themselves of Berkley Castle and all other the Lands and Lordships so Intailed on the Heir-male as hath been observed And having so done procured a Grant from the King of the custody of all those Lands as long as they should remain in the Crown under such a value as they should be rated at in the Offices to be thereupon found And not only so but the next ensuing year obtained as absolute discharge of that Rent Whereupon he kept Courts in the name of himself and his Wife without any respect at all had to the Kings Grant she pretending a clear right to them all as also to the Barony And notwithstanding that this Iames upon a Writ of Diem clusit extremum by him sued out after much opposition by the Earl of Warwick was found Heir and Rightful Inheritor to the Castle of Berkley and all those twelve Lordships mentioned in that Fine of the Three and twentieth of Edward the third and had Livery accordingly Awarded Yet did that Earl and his Wife retain the said Castle Lordship and Mannors until upon a Remonstrance of his Right King Henry the Fifth commanded possession to be given unto him But after the death of that King the Earl of Warwick entred again upon the Mannor of Wotton and other Lordships and laid siege to the Castle of Berkley in which siege many were hurt and slain Whereupon by mediation of Friends there being a Reference to Philip Morgan then Bishop of Worcester and Sir Iohn Iuyn afterward Lord Cheif Justice of the Court of Kings Bench they Awarded that the said Earl should during his natural life retain the Mannors of Wotton Cowley and Simondshale and that the rest comprised in the before specified Fine should be to the said Iames and the Heirs-male of his Body But notwithstanding all this through the potency of that Earl this Iames could not according to the course of Law obtain Livery of those Lands out of the Kings hands Nor could it be any wonder considering how powerful a Man the Earl of Warwick was in those days and that many of the Servants to the late Lord Thomas were so obsequious to him exercising all their skill to give him countenance in this business One of them viz. Lionel Sea-brooke sometime Steward of the House to the said Lord Thomas in 6 Hen. 5. deposing before the Major of Southampton that his Lord and Master deceased the year before his death shewed him an old Deed of Entail of the Castle and Lordship of Berkley made by Robert Fitz-Harding which he then read and that his Lord snatched it from him saying He knew the Contents thereof And another about the same viz. Iohn Bone Vicar of Berkley and one of the Executors of the same Lord Thomas made Oath before the Major of Bristoll that the said Lord Thomas about the time of his passage into Britanny to conduct the Queen into England Enfeoffed him and others of the Castle Lordship and Hundred of Berkley and all his Lands in Glocestershire as also of the Hundred of Portbury the third part of the Mannor of Portesheved the Mannors of Walton and Bedminster with the Hundreds of Bedminster and Harclive to hold in Fee without any condition likewise that Livery and Seism was executed thereupon and Courts hâ—ld by those Feoffees accordingly By means of which Affidavits the Earl of Warwick took such encouragement and confidence that in 6 Hen. 5. he procured a Confirmation of those antient Charters made by King Iohn touching the Mannor and Barony of Berkley and all Berkley-Hernesse and thereupon with the assistance of divers servants of the said deceased Lord Thomas besieged Berkley Castle But by
in Normandy 30 Oct. In which Grant he is called his Beloved Esquire And of the same date in consideration of the Surrender of two Annuities another Grant of the Mannor of Cotingham in Com. Ebor. for life paying xv s. yearly Rent In which Grant that Duke terms him his Beloved Counsellor By his last Will bearing date 8 Oct. Anno MCCCCLV 34 H. 6. this Leonard being then a Knight declar'd That whereas he had Enfeoffed the Right High and Mighty Prince his gracious and special Lord for so he calls him Richard Duke of York Henry Grey and others of and in the Mannors of Wystewe Flekney and Newton Harcourt with the Appurtenances in the Shire of Leicester and all other his Lands lying in the Counties of Leic. Warw. Northampt and Yorke he did in most humble wise beseech his said Lord and pray and require the said Henry Grey and the rest to make an Estate after his Decease of all those Lands situate in Burton Hastings in Com. Warw. to Alice Hastings his Wife for term of her Life the Remainder to his Right Heirs Also to his Son Richard of his Lands in Brantingthorp and Appulby with the Advowson of the Church of Brantyngthorp for term of his Life the Remainder to his Right Heirs Likewise to his Son Raphe of the Lands in Wald-Neuton in Com. Ebor. for Life with Remainder to his Right Heirs And to his Son Thomas of his Lands in Little Ashby in Com. Leic. and Drakenage in Com. Warr. for term of Life c. But all that I have else seen of him is That he left Issue by the said Alice his Wife Daughter of the Lord Camoys William his Son and Heir and Anne a Daughter married to Thomas Ferrers of Tamworth Castle in Com. Warr. Esq Which William became a Person of extraordinary Note in his days as by his eminent Imployments and singular Trusts will appear of which I shall make some brief mention in order of time In 34 H. 6. being Sheriff of the Counties of Warw. and Leic. he was made Ranger of the Chase of Were in Com. Salop. by Richard Duke of York as his Father had been And the next year following obtain'd from that great Duke in consideration of his good and faithful Service done and to be done the Grant of an Annuity of Ten pounds per Annum to the end he should serve him before all others and attend him at all times required his Allegiance to the King excepted In which Grant bearing date at the Castle of Fodringhey 23 Apr. that Duke calls him his Beloved Servant William Hastings Esq But after this erâ— long upon the death of Robert Pierpont Brother of Henry Pierpont Esq which Robert had been slain by Thomas Hastings Brother of this William and Henry Ferrers whereupon the said Thomas Henry Ferrers were question'd by the said Henry Pierpont and other of the Kindred of the same Robert this William became one of the Parties for a Reference of that Controversie to the Arbitrement of Richard Duke of York Which Duke by his Award bearing date 17 Oct. 37 H. 6. did thereupon Order and Decree That thenceforth all the Parties should keep the Peace to each other and That this William de Hastings or his Executors should pay to the said Henry Pierpont his Heirs or Executors in the Church of St. Thomas of Acres in London within one Month next after the Feast of the Nativity of our Lady next ensuing Six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence as also other Six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence in the same Church within one Month after the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist and That therewith the said Henry Pierpont should find a Priest to sing Divine Service for the Soul of the said Robert Pierpont by the space of two years next following the Feast of the Purification of our Lady next coming and likewise pay to the said Henry Pierpont his Heirs or Executors in the said Church Ten pounds on the Feast of St. Michael th' Archangel Anno 1460. or within a Month after and other Ten pounds on the Feast of St. Michael then next following Also Six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence more in the Feast of St. Michael th' Archangel Anno 1462. or within a Month following in recompence of all manner of Offences and Trespasses done by them the said William Thomas and Henry Ferrers to the said Henry Pierpont his Uncle and Brethren As this William had been a trusty Servant to that Duke he approved himself no less to Edward his Son and Heir afterwards King by the Name of Edward the Fourth in whose Esteem he stood so high that in the first year of his Reign sundry Persons of Honour taking notice thereof bestow'd their Favours on him Amongst which Iohn Moubray Duke of Norfolk gave him the Stewardship of his Mannors of Melton Moubray Segrave and other in Com. Leic. with the Fee of x l. per Annum during his Life Anne Dutchess of Buckingham the Stewardship of the Mannor of Okeham in Com. Rutl. and Constablewick of the Castle there for Life Iohn Lord Lovell the Stewardship of the Mannors of Bagworth and Thornton in Com. Leic. with the yearly Fee of x l. for Life Sir Henry Stafford Knight Son and Heir to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham an Annuity of xx l. per Annum out of his Mannor of Billing in Com. Northampt. for Life Richard Widvill Lord Rivers and Iaquet of Luxemburgh Dutchess of Bedford an Annuity of xxvi l. xiii s. iv d. to be paid out of the Issues and Customs due to the said Lady Iaquet out of the Dutchy of Cornwall to continue so long as this William should be Receiver of the Revenues of that Dutchy for the King And of the King 's peculiar Munificence the same year he had first a Grant of the Office of Master of his Mint in the Tower of London and Town of Calais for twelve years Next of the Stewardship of the Honour of Leicester as also of the Mannor and Castle of Donington in Com. Leic. of the Mannors of Higham Ferrers and Daventre in Com. Northampt. and of all other Mannors within the Counties of Warw. Leic. Nott. Northampt. and Hunt parcel of the Dutchy of Lancaster Likewise of the Constableship of the Castles at Leicester Higham Ferrers and Donington and of the chief Rangership of Leicester Forest with the Parks called Leycester-Fryth Barrow-Park Tooley-Park and those adjoyning for Life Furthermore being then made Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold to that King as also Chamberlain of North-Wales in consideration of his signal Adventures in divers Battels against King Henry the Sixth and his Party as also against Iasper Earl of Pembroke Iames Earl of Wiltshire and others who had been stout Asserters of the Lancastrian Interest he was the same year advanc'd to the Degree and Dignity of a Baron of this
and the Leâ—ffetenant of the Tower came to the seid Erle and proferred to hym the Keyes to goo out at hys plesure And he answered hym ageyn that he wolde not deperte thens unto suche tyme as he that commaunded hym thether shuld commaunde hym out ageyn whiche was Kynge Henry the Seventh but charged the Leffetenant upon hys alligeaunce yf the Kynge war on lyve to bryng hym ther as the Kynge was to the entente he myght do his Grace servyce And after that for the true and feithfull servyce that the seid Kynge Henry herd of hym doon to hys other Prynce and also that he sawe hymselfe he dide on Bosworth feld and for the grete prayse and truth that he herd of hym whills he was prisoner and that he wolde nat thoughe he had liberty come out of the Tower at the Erle of Lyncolnes feld he toke hym out to hys presence and to be aboute hys own person And wythin ten wekes after hys comyng out of the Towre ther was an Insurrection in the Northe by whom the Erle of Northombrelond was sleyn in the feld and also the Citee of York wonne with asawte by force and for the subduyng of those Rebells the Kynge assembled a grete Hoste of hys subgettis and toke his journey towards them from the Castell of Hereford and the seid Erle of Surrey made chief Captain of his Voward and apoynted under hym in the seid Voward the Erle of Shrewesbury the Lord Hastyngs Sir William Stanley then being the Kyng's Chambrelayn Sir Rice ap Thomas Sir Thomas Bowser Sir John Savage Sir John Rysely and divers other And when this Jorney was doon the Capiteynes of these Rebelles and many other of them were put to execution And for the syngular truste that the Kynge had to the seid Erle and the activyte that he saw in hym he left hym in the Northe and made hym hys Lyvetenant-generall from Trent Northward and Warden of the Est and Middle marches of Englâ—nd ageynst Scotlond and Iustice of the Forests from Trent Northwards And there he contynued ten yeres and kepte the Country in Peace wyth Policy and many paynes-takyng wythoute whyche it wold nat have been for that the Countrey had been so lately ponyshed and nat wythoute desert And thus he dide the whole time of ten yere savâ—ng in the second yere of hys beyng there was an Insurrection in the West part of the Country with whom the seid Erle wythe the helpe of the Kyngs true Subgetts fought in the felde and subdued them at Akworth besides Pomâ—rett And besydes divers of them that were slayne in the Felde he take the Capytaynes and put them to execution and the residue he sued to the Kynges Hyghnes for ther Pardones whiche he obteyned and wan therby the favour of the Countrey And in the same yere the Kyng went over the See and layd seege to Bolayn the seid Erle then remaynyng ther notwythstanding that he was apoynted to have gon myth the Kynge and had gone but for the lightnes of the pepule ther. Wherfor he was left behynd both for the saveguard of the Countrey and for defendyng of the Realme for the singular truste that he had unto hym And sone after ther was Warre wyth the Scotts and for that the seid Erle wolde be in a redynes to defende them he went to Aunwike and ther laye to the defence of the Borders and in his own persone made a Wynter-roode into Tyvydale and ther brent ther Howsses and ther Corâ—â—e to the greatest losse and empoveryshment of the Countrey that was doon ther in an hundreth yere before And after that the Kyng of Scottis in his owne person and one Parkyn wyth hym invaded this Realme of Englond wythe greatte power and layd seege to Northam-Castell and as sone as he herde that the seid Erle was comyng towards hym he departed and fled into Scotland wythe alle the spede he myght And in the same Somer after the seid Erle made another road into Scotland and layd seige to the Castell of Heyton and dide race and pull downe the seid Castell the Kyng of Scottis with the puyssance of hys Realme lokyng upon yt and the Erle had nâ—t then past eight or nyne thousand men wyth hym And then the Kyng of Scottis sent to the seid Erle Lyon his Herrold for to requyre Batayle which was granted by the sayd Erle saying unto the sayd Herrold that forasmuch as he was an officer of Armes sent from the Kyng his Master to require Batayle and he Livetenant to the Kyng his Master granted thereunto and seid it was a contraâ—t and a full bargayn which cowde nâ—t be brokyn but in the defawte of one of them and promysed by the fayth that he bare to God and to Seynt George and to the Kyng his Master he wolde fulfill his promesse And yf the Kyng hys Master brake yt should be asmoche to hys dishonor and reproche as ever had Prynce And when the Harrold had herd his answere and sâ—we weall the seid Erle was cleerely determined to fight he seyd unto him Sir the King my Master sendeth you worde that for eschewyng the effâ—syon of Crysten blode he wil be contented to fight wyth you hande to hande for the Towne of Berwyke and the fishegarthis on the West marches and yf he wynne you in Bataile and yf ye wynne hym in Batayle you to have a Kyngis Raunsom Whereunto the said Erle made answere that he thankyd his Grace that he wolde put hym to so moche honour that he being a Kyng anoynted wolde fight hande to hande wyth â—o pore a man as he Howbeyt he seid he wolde not dysâ—â—yve his Grace for he seid though he wanne hym in Bataile he was never the nerer for Berwike nor of Fishegarthys for he had no suche Commission so to do hys Commission was to do the Kyng of Scottis his Master all the harme he coude and so he had done and wold do And had hym shewe unto the Kyng his Master that when the journey was don he wold fyght wyth hym on Horsback or on fote at hys plesur at any place he wold indifferently appoynt yf the Kyng hys Master wold gyff hym leve And when the Warre was doon and eended wyth the Scottis and the North-part of Englond in good reste and peace then the Kyng's Highnes sent for the seid Erle to be agayn about his parson and made hym Tresoâ—rar of Englode and of his Privye Counsayll And after that the Kyng sent hym into Scotland as chief Commyssyoner wyth the Lady Margaret hys Daughter to be maryed to the foreseid Kyng of Scottis Whiche Kynge at the tyme of the seid Erlys being ther entreteyned hym as thankfully and favourably as coude be thought notwythstanding anye dyspleasures doon to hym by the seid Erle in the Warâ—es before And also the seyd Kyng sayd than unto hym that he loved hym the better for suche service as â—e had doon before to the Kyng hys Father Kyng of Englond though the hurt
Your Grace which God Knowyth were never malycious and wylfull and that I never thought Treason to Your Highness Your Realme or Posteritye so God helpe me either in word or dede Nevertheles prostrate at Your Magesties feet in what thyng soever I have offendyd I appel to Your Highnes for Mercy Grace and Pardon in such wyse as shall be Your pleasure beseâ—hyng the Almyghty Maker and Redeemer of the World to send Your Magestye continual and long helthe welthe and prosperitye with Nestor's yeares to Reigne and Your dere Son the Princes Grace to prosper reigne and continue long after You. And they that wolde contrary short liffe shame and confusion Wryten with the quaking hand and most sorrowfull Heart of Your most sorrowfull Subject and most hâ—mble Servant and Prysonâ—r this Saturday at Your Tower of London Thomas Cromwelle But notwithstanding all this he was Condâ—mn'd unheard and almost unpittyed whilâ—st he was thus in the Tower and upon the 24 th of Iuly An. 1540. 32 H. 8. being four days after the dissolution of the Parliament which began the 12 th Apr. preceding was brought forth to the Tower-Hill where after his Profession publickly made that he was neither guilty of Treason nor Heresy and that he was no Sacramentary but that he would die in the Catholick Faith his head was cut off Sir Edward Coke in his Iurisdiction of Courts fol. 37. saith That Sir Thomas Gaudy then a grave Judge of the King's Bench after told him That Cromwell was commanded to attend the Chief Justices to know whether a man that was forth-coming as being in prison might be attâ—inted of High Treason by Parliament and not called to answer The Judges answered It was a dâ—ngerous question and that they thought a Parliâ—ment would never do it But being by the express commandement of the King and they pressâ—d by Cromwell to answer directly said That if he was attainted by Parliament it could not be questioned whether the party was called to answer or not But the party against whom this was intended said he was never questioned and the first mâ—n that suffered by that proceeding was the said Cromwell himself Suffering thus I shall take leave to add what is obsâ—rv'd by some for his credit viz. That after the fall of Cardinal Wolsey being chosen a Burgâ—ss for the Parliament he manifested his affâ—ction and gratitude to his old Master by doing him all the good service he could in that Convention and that by his witty Arguments he 〈◊〉 that Bill which was there brought in to atâ—aint him of High Treason answering whatsoever was there at any time laid to his charge or objected against him It is also farther observed of him that in the exercise of his places of his places of Judicature he used much moderation and in his greatest pomp took notice and was thankful to mean persons of his old acquaintance I have seen a Pedegree wherein 't is express'd thâ—t he mâ—rriâ—d a daughter of one William a 〈◊〉 but I suppose it a mistake and that 〈◊〉 married his sister for certain it is that Sir Richard Williams is said to have been his Nephew who being by him preferr'd to the service of King Henry afterwards affâ—â—m'd the Name of Cromwell and about the beginning of May An. 1540. 32 H. 8. upon a great Justing at Westâ—miâ—ster which had been Proclaim'd in France Flanders Scotland and Spain being one of the Challengers was there Knighted and on the fifth day of the same moneth overthrew Mr. Culpeper in the Field Shortly after which he grew in such favour as that in 34 H. 8. he was made one of the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber to that King Also in 35 H. 8. constable of Berkley-Castle and Captain of those Horsemen which were then with other Forces sent into France under the command of Sir Iohn Wallop It is very well known that this Sir Richard Cromwell upon the dissolution of the Monasteries obtained all those Lands in Huntingtonshire which did belong to any of them in that County and left issue Sir Henry Cromwell Knight his son and heir who made his chief seat upon the ruines of that at Hinchinbroke which had been a House of Nuns and left issue divers sons of which Sir Oliver Cromwell made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Iames was the eldest and Robert another Which Robert was Father of another Oliver the haughtiness of whose spirit exeeding the bounds of his estate exposed him to such wants as that being not well able to support himself here in such a garb as he desired he resolv'd to go for New England and to that end went to Cambridge where being seated he sorted himself with the Nonconformists of those parts expecting by that meanes to receive some advantage amongst those Phanatiques wherewith New England was for the most part peopled But the Troubles here taking their rise before he could well fit himself for that Journey being a person of a subtile and active spirit and in no small esteem with the Puritans he was chosen a Burgess for that Corporation in the late Long-Parliament In which unhappy Convention he play'd his game so well as that upon the raising of several Armies by the predominant party there under colour of afferting the Establisht Religion and Laws he put himself in Armes and in short time grew so famous for his valor and military skill as that through the excellent faculty he had in humouring the Phanatiques both in Camp and elsewhere and his success by their bold attempts at length he arrived to be the chief of the Independent-party amongst the Soldiers which soon topt the Presbyterean and gaining farther strength became the Principal Agent in Contriving the Destruction of the late King Charles of Blessed Memory in order to the utter ruine of Monarchy in this Realme Whereupon he advanced himself to the Supreme Power in Government by the Title of Lord Protector But the exact memorial of his Life and Actions being no part of the Subject I now treat of I refer to our publick Historians and come next to the Descendentâ— of the before-specified Thomas Earl of Essex Of these the first in order was Gregorie Cromwell his son and heir Which Gregorie upon the 18 th of December in 32 H. 8. about five moneths after his Father's death being then â—ervant to the King was created a Baron of this Realm by the Title of Lord Cromwell but not distinguisht by any place And having married Elizabeth daughter to Sir Iohn Seameur of Wolf-Hall in Com. Wilts Knight sister to Edward Duke of Somerset and Widow of Sir Anthonie Oughtred Knight died in 5 E. 6. leaving issue by her three sons Henrie Edward and Thomas and two daughters Frances married to Edward Stroude of ... in Com. Devon Esquire and Catherine to Iohn Stroude of ... in Com. Dorset Esquire Which Henrie took to wife Marie