his Territory of Gowherland The Foundation of the Priory at Warwick begun by his Father he perfected and Founded the Collegiate Church of our Lady there as also the Hospital of S. Michael for Lepers together with the House of Templers beyond the Bridge To divers Monasteries he was also a Benefactor To the Canons of 〈◊〉 he gave the Church of Norboro with the Chappel of Huncote To the Knights Templers xi s. yearly Rent out of his Mill at â—reâ—ham in Com. Rutl. As also four Oxgangs of Land in that Lordship To the Monks of Bruere in Com. Oxon he gave his Lordship of 〈◊〉 and to the Monks of Pipwell in Com. Northampton the Lordship of Causton in Com. Warr. To the Canons of Renilworth he confirmed the Grants of the Lordships of 〈◊〉 and Newnham in Com. Warr. which were of his Fee and farther bestowed on them certain Lands in Warwick with the Churches of Brailes and Wellesburn in the same County To the Monks of Pâ—eaux in Normanâ—y he gave two Hides of Land in Walton in Com. Warr. To the Monks of Geroudon in Com. Leicest he gave the Town of Badsley Endsor in Com. Warr. which afterwards was rendred by them to William his Son and Successor To the Monks of Bordsley in Com. Wigorn. he confirmed the Grant of Suhanger id est Sunger near Claerdon in Com. Warr. which William Gifford had given to them and bestowed on them one Hide of Land in Oxshalve To the Monks of Thorney in Com. Cantabr he confirmed the moity of the Mannor of Wenge given to them by Robert de Montfort To the Monks of Canweâ—â— in Com. Staff he gave three yard Land lying in Hull id est Hilâ— within his Lordship of Suâ—ton-Colefield in Com. Warr. And to the Nuns of Wrokeshale he confirmed the Church of Shukborow with certain Lands in that Lordship as also in Burton and Radford given to them by several persons And having Wedded Gundred Daughter to William Earl Warren the Second and Sister by the Mothers side to Waleran Earl of Mellent he left issue by her three Sons viz. William Waleran and Henry and one Daughter called Agnes Which William and Waleran were both of them successively Earl of Warwick And Henry had Gowherland in Wales by his Fathers gift but by his death without issue it came to William his elder Brother and Agnes became the Wife of Geffrey de Clinton Chamberlain to the King Son to Geffrey the Founder of â—enilworth Castle and Priory which Geffrey had in Frank-marriage with her by the gift of her Father Ten Knights Fees of those Seventeen that he held of his Fee and for which he was to do service in the Castle of Brandon Moreover this Geffrey had thereupon a Grant of this County of Warwick id est the Sheriffalty thereof for so it appeareth from sundry Testimonies To hold to him and his heirs of this Earl and his heirs in such sort as it was held by the King This Earl Roger died xii Iunii An. 1153. 18 Steph. In which year Henry Duke of Normandy afterwards King by the name of Henry the Second coming into England with a mighty power had that great respect from Gundred then Countess of Warwick Widow of the deceased Earl that she outed King Stephens Soldiers and delivered Warwick Castle to him I now come to William eldest Son and Successor to the last Earl who in 12 Hen. 2. upon the Assessment of the Aid for marrying the Kings Daughter certified the number of his Knights Fees to be Cv and an half This Earl William Founded two Hospitals the one of S. Iohn the other of S. Thomas both in Warwick built a new Church for the Templers there and bestowed on them the Mannor of Shireburne and certain Lands in Morton both in the County of Warwick Moreover he ratified to the Monks of Combe one Hide of Land in Bilney granted to them by Thurbert de Bilney and confirmed to the Monks of Pipwell what his Father had given them in Causton for which respect they received him into their Fraternity as a Founder of that Abbey To the Canons of Kenilworth he ratified the Churches of Loxley Brailes and Wellesburne the one given to them by Robert Fitz-Odonis and the other two by Earl Roger his Father In consideration whereof they allowed him the perpetual presentation of one Canon in their House This Earl William married two Wives first Maud the eldest of the two Daughters and Coheirs of William Lord Percy and Margaret D'Eivile if Rous mistake not but I am of opinion that Maud was the later Wife For I find that by a special Charter she gave the Church of Tadcaster with the Chappel of Haselwood to the Monks of Salley in Com. Ebor. for the health of her Soul and the Soul of William Earl of Warwick her late Husband as also for the Souls of William de Percy her Father Adelidis de Tunebrigge her Mother Alan de Percy her Brother and Agnes her Sister Moreover that she bestowed on them on Carucate of Land in Caâ—â—hon the place of her Birth And in 31. Hen. 2. upon her Fathers death gave a fine to the King of Seven hundred marks for Livery of those Lands of her Fathers which by Inheritance belonged to her as also that she might have an Assignation of her Dowry and not be compelled to marry unto any but whom she should like But by neither of these Wives had this last mentioned Earl William any issue so that departing this life in the Holy Land 15 Nov. An. 1184. 30 Hen. 2. Waleran his Brother succeeded him in this Earldom Which Waleran in 7 Rich. 1. giving twenty marks fine to the King had Livery of the Tertium Denarium de placitis Comitatus And in 9 Rich. 1. stood charged with these following debts to the King viz. Forty two pound four shillings and eight pence for the Scutage levied upon the Kings Redemption likewise in One hundred pound for License to return into England and in One hundred marks more for leave to marry Alice the Daughter of Robert de Harecourt Widow of Iohn de Limesie He had also much ado a great part of his time touching his inheritance there starting up one who feigned himself to he his Brother Earl William deceased in the Holy Land which occasioned him no little trouble and vexation so that it is thought by some that the Grant which he made to Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury then Chancellor of England of the Advowson of all the Prebendaries belonging to the Collegiate Church in Warwick to hold during his life was to purchase his favor in that weighty business As to his Works of Piety all that I have seen
assenting and Hugh his Brother being a Witness thereto Which Oliver died in his Fathers life time as it seems for certain it is That this Walter gave unto one Walter a Priest and Canon of Thurgarton half a Carucate of Land lying in Braunceston with a Toft for the health of his Soul by reason that the said Oliver had redeemed him from imprisonment and death in the Battle of Lincoln So that Iohn his other Son succeeded him in the Inheritance for in 14 Hen. 2. I find that he gave a hundred marks for Livery thereof In 22 Hen. 2. this Iohn paid twenty marks in Nottinghamshire for trespassing in the Kings Forests Also ten marks in Northamptonshire for the like transgression there In 24 Hen. 1. and in 7 Rich. 1. gave fifty marks for Livery of his Wifes Lands which lay in Nottinghamshire and Derbishire In 2 Ioh. he gave eight marks to the King that he might not be compelled to go in that expedition then made beyond Sea And lastly to the Monks of Belvoir for the good estate of himself and his wife and the health of the Souls of Walter his Father and Oliver his Brother one Carucate of Land in Graneby This Iohn by Alice his Wife the Daughter of Ralph Murdack had issue three Sons viz. Oliver William and Nicholas Which Oliver in 1 Rich. 1. paid thirty five pounds for Scutage of those Knights Fees he held in regard he was not in the expedition of Galway in Ireland This Oliver in 6 Rich. 1. was in the Kings service in Normandy and confirmed that Grant made by Walter his Grandfather unto Walter the Priest abovementioned but with condition that if he could not warrant the same that then in lieu thereof he would give to the Canons of Thurgarton five shillings Rent of Assise out of his Lordship of Braunceton or else out of Graneby Bâ—ankney or Elmton Moreover with Maud Peeche or rather Becche his Wife he gave to those Canons of Thurgarton four Bovates of Land in Boilston and died in 3 Ioh. as it seems for then did Iohn Bishop of Norwich give a Fine of four hundred marks to the King for the Wardship of his Heir and was buried in the South part of the Church in Belvoâ—r Priory Which Heir likewise called Oliver was also in minority in 13 Ioh. for then did the same Bishop of Norwich upon levying the Aid for the Scutage of Scotland answer for thirty five Knights Fees of his Inheritance But in 17 Ioh. he was not only of age but one of those that joyned with the rest of the Rebellious Barons for it appears that the King then sent his Precept to all that held by Military service of his Barony and Fee that they should answer for their Tenures to Philip Mark unto whom he had disposed the same Which Grant to Philip Mark who was then an eminent Man in Nottinghamshire King Henry the Third in the first year of His Reign confirmed But notwithstanding this Grant upon payment of a Fine for that his transgression and one hundred pound for his Relief he had Livery of all his Lands before the end of that year In 13 Hen. 3. this Oliver accounted unto the Kings Exchequer for thirty five Knights Fees upon collection of the Scutage of Kery And married Nichola Niece to Nichola de Haya a great Woman in Lincolnshire having Lands in Dudington with her In 29 Hen. 3. upon payment of the Aid for Marrying of the Kings eldest Daughter he accounted thirty six pounds for thirty five Knights Fees To this Oliver succeeded Iohn his Son and Heir who upon the death of his Father in 30 Hen. 3. paying an hundred pounds for his Releif had Livery of his Inheritance And in 38 Hen. 3. accounted seventy pounds to the King for the thirty five Knights Fees he held upon levying the Aid for making the Kings eldest Son Knight But in 42 Hen. 3. he was dead for then did Edmund d'Eincourt his Son and Heir answer seventy pounds for twenty five Knights Fees upon levying the Scutage of Wales Which Edmund being in that expedition made into Wales in 10 Edw. 1. had then Scutage of his Tenants In 22 Edw. 1. he was in Gascoigne in the Kings service so also in 23 Edw. 1. and 25 Edw. 1. In 31 Edw. 1. he was in the Wars of Scotland So likewise in 4 Edw. 2. This Edmund having had issue one only Son called Edmund and he one only Daughter Isabel considering that his Name and Arms after his death descending to her would be utterly extinguished and being cordially desirous that both his Name and Arms should after his death remain to posterity did in consideration of his own laudable services performed to King Edward the First and Edward the Second obtain a special License from King Edward the Second in the Seveâ—th year of His Reign for power to Enfeoff what person soever he pleased in all his Lordships and Lands Knights Fees with Advowsons of Churches and Abbies to have and to hold to such person and his heirs for ever of the said King and his Heirs by the services antiently due and of right accustomed and upon Seisin made thereof that those Feoffees should have power to grant all the said Lordships Lands c. back again unto him the said Edmund to hold and enjoy for term of his life with Remainder to William d'Eincourt Son to Iohn d'Eincourt and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten and for lack of such issue to Iohn d'Eincourt Brother of the said William and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten with Remainder to the right Heirs of the said Edmund After which viz. in 8 Edw. 2. this Edmund had Summons to be at Newcastle upon Tine upon the Feast day of the Blessed Virgin well accoutred with Horse and Arms to march into Scotland And in 9 Edw. 2. obtained a Charter from the King for a weekly Market every Tuesday at his Mannor of Blankney in Com. Linâ— And a Fair every year on the Eve Day and Morrow after the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady Which Edmund being departed this life in 1 Edw. 3. William d'Eincourt in pursuance of that settlement before-mentioned had Livery of the Mannors of Blankney and Braunceston in Com. Linc. Graneby in Com. Nottingh c. excepting the Dowry of Ioane the Wife of Hammond de Masâ—y sometime Wife of Edmund the Son of Iohn d'Eincourt Cosin of the said Edmund d'Eincourt This William in 1 Edw. 3. was in that expedition then made into Scotland So likewise in 8 Edw. 3. being then of the Retinue to Eubulo le Strange as also in 9 Edw. 3. And in 12 Edw. 3. having been beyond Sea with the King and in
in Hantshire Nine in Middlesex Eight in Cambridgshire Eleven in Hertfordshire One in Glocestershire One in Worcestershire Two in Warwickshire Eleven in Staffordshire Thirty in Sussex Seventy seven besides the City of Chichester and Castle of Arundel and in Shropshire very near all that County besides the City of Shrewsbury As to his enterprises in Wales it is to be noted That after the Normans became thus Victorious as hath been observed they thought the whole Realm of England too little recompence for so great and hazardous an adventure and therefore observing that Robert Fitz-Hamon and those Knights who assisted him hath sped so well by their attempts in Glamorganshire desired King William to grant them what they could by power and force obtain from the Welsh Unto which request considering that by thus enlarging his Dominion his Soveraignty and Wealth would consequently be the greater he readily assented Whereupon he entred Powysland and won the Castle and Town of Baldwine which he fortified and called after his own name Montgomery So likewise Cardigan and did homage for them to the King There is this also farther memorable of him viz. That he built a strong Castle at Shrewsbury upon that neck of Land situate betwixt the stream of Severn on each side which River so admirably environeth all the rest of that Beautiful Town as that it is now well defended on every part And next that he was a person of extraordinary devotion to God for he not only Founded and most amply endowed that great Abbey of S. Peter and Paul in the Eastern Suburbs of Shrewsbury but also three other Religious Houses in Normandy One in the Suburb of the City of Sais the second at â—roarn upon the River Dive and the third at Almanacha for Nuns He was also a great Benefactor to that Abbey of S. Stephens at Caen in Normandy Founded by the most famous King William the Conqueror giving thereunto certain Lands in those parts So likewise to the Abbey of Vtica in Normandy as appears by his Grant of the Lordships of Melâ—eburne in Cambridgshire 〈◊〉 now called Dnne and Mercston in Staffordshire with one Hide of Land at Graphan Likewise of certain Lands at Chichester with the Tithes of Cheese and Wool of Pulton and Tithes of Senegay in Cambrdgshire Moreover to the Monks of S. Peter at Cluni in Burgundy by his Grant of Chelton And lastly by his Structure of the Church at Quadford near Bruggenorth in Shropshire the occasion whereof was as followeth Upon the first passage of Adeliza his second Wife out of Normandy into England there hapning so great a storm at Sea as nothing but Shipwrack was expected by the Mariners a certain Priest who was her Chaplain being much wearied with long watching fell very fast asleep in which sleep there appeared to him a comely Matron who said thus If your Lady would be preserved from the danger of this dreadful Tempest let her vow to God that she will build a Church to the honor of S. Mary Magdalen in the place where she shall first meet the Earl her Husband in England and specially where an hollow Oak groweth near an Hogstie All which when he awaked he told to his Lady who soon made her vow accordingly whereupon the Tempest ceased and she with her attendants came safe to shore At length after divers days journey towards her Husband she met him near Quatford in an Out-wood on Hunting at a certain place where such an Oak then grew and relating to him what had hapned moved him that he would fulfil her vow who forthwith assenting caused that Church in honor of S. Mary Magdalen to be built which he endowed with ample possessions and gave to his Collegiate Chappel in the Castle of â—rugge Norâ—â— He first took to Wife Mabel Daughter and Heir to William Talvace Son of William Son of Ivo de Belesme a person of great power and note in the time of Richard Duke of Normandy with whom he had a large inheritance in Belesme and elswhere Which Lady bearing much hatred to the Founders of the Abbey of Utica caused that House to be grievously burthened with quartering of Soldiers For which and other oppressions by her exercised towards divers of the Nobility she was afterwards murthered in her Bed and buried in the Abbey of Troarn before mentioned By this Mabel he had Issue five Sons and four Daughters viz. Robert de Belesme Hugh de Montgomery Roger of Poictou of which three I shall speak more largely Philip who applied himself to Literature and was a Priest as also Arnulph who having nothing of his Fathers Inheritance betook himself to Feats of Arms. And following his Fathers example in his Adventures in Wales won that part of Soâ—th Wales called Dyvet now Pembrâ—kâ—shire for which respect having the title of that Earldom he first began to build a Castle there which he afterwards fortified on the behalf of his Brother Robert in the time of that Rebellion against King Henry the First He also gave to the Abbey of S. Martin at Sais in Normandy so Founded by his Father as hath been said for the health of his Soul the Soul of Earl Roger his Father and of Earl Hugh his Brother who was slain that year the Church of S. Nicholas situate within his Castle of Pembroke with Twenty Carucates of Land besides Of his Daughters Emme the Eldest was Abbess at Almanisca Maud was Wife of Robert Earl of Moreton Half-Brother to the Conqueror Mabel of Hugh de Novâ— Casteko and Sibil of Robert Fitz-Hamon Lord of Corboil in Normandy His second Wife was Addeliza Daughter of Ebrard de Pusaic by whom he had Issue only one Son Ebrard who being a Clergiman was one of the Chaplains to Henry the First King of England And now as this great Earl having a venerable esteem of the Monastick Profession was Founder and Benefactor to so many Religious Houses as hath been said so at his departure out of this World he farther manifested his affections thereunto For by his last Will and Testament he bequeathed to the Monks of S. Ebrulf at Uitca Thirty shillings to be paid every year out of his Lands at â—lencion at the beginning of Lent for the maintaining of a Lamp to burn in the Church of that Abbey day and night before the Crucifix And having by the hands of Reginald then Prior of Shrewsbury obtained from the House of Cluâ—â— in Burgundy the Coat of S. Hugh sometime Abbot there for himself to put on caused himself to be shorne a Monk in the said Abbey of Shrewsbury with the consent of his Wife where it is observed of him That three days before his death he wholly applied himself to divine Conference and devout Prayers with the rest of that
to render that his Fort called 〈◊〉 with all the Treasure he had therein being thenceforth for want of Food and by reason of other sufferings put to great misery Touching this Battle another Historian varies much in his Relation from what the Monk of Durhaâ— hath above expressed for inter alia reporting the Speech which Robert Consul Earl of 〈◊〉 made before the Battle unto Ranulph Earl of Chester after he had highly magnified him for his desires to lead the Van he goes on thus Against whom is it that we fight Here is Alan Earl of Britanny in Arms against us nay against God himself a wicked person and full of all manner of iniquity No man for malice to be compared with him being always disposed to mischeif thinking it a dishonor that any one should equal him for cruelty But before he had made an end of his Speech the Battle began the Van of those who fought for the Empress assaulting that part of the Kings Army wherein this our Earl together with the Earl of Mellent Hugh Bigot Earl Simon and the Earl of Warren were which was done with such courage that they were suddenly routed some slain some taken and the rest put to flight The Author of those Memorials intituled Gesta Regis Stephani representeth this Earl for a most deceitful person adding that whilst he was contriving his revenge against the Earl of Chester his adversaries prevailing he was taken and cast into prison where he continued until he submitted himself and delivered up his Castles unto him And that in the mean while he lost the Earldom of Cornwal which he had of the Kings gift This Earl Alan wrote himself Earl of Britanny â—ornwal and Richmund and gave unto the Monastery of S. Michael at the Mount in â—ornwal Ten shillings yearly Rent issuing out of the Fair at 〈◊〉 for the health of his Soul his Wife and Childrens Souls and for the Redemption of the Soul of Brientius â—ilius Comitis his Uncle from whom he did Hereditarily possess his Lands in Cornwal To the Monks of Iorevaulx he gave Common of Pasture throughout all his Forest of Wandesleydale and as much Mowing Ground in his Meadows there as they should need as also Timber in any part thereof for their Buildings and necessary uses He bestowed also on the Monks of Fountains all his Woods belonging to Marsc on that side the River Iore wherein Burton is situate for the Building of their Cell at Aldeburne and on the other side of the same River he gave unto them Rumore and Bramley When he died I have not certainly discovered but he was buried in the Abbey of Begar in Com. ... of the Cistercian Order whereunto he gave at his death certain Lands in the Soke of Gaytune for erecting a Grange thereon The name of his Wife was Bertra by whom he had issue Conan who succeeded him in his Honors and three other Sons viz. Robert Bryan and Reginald This Conan had the title of Duke of Britanny and Earl of Richmund and in 1 Hen. 2. went into Britanny where he was received by the most for their Duke ¶ In 10 H. 2. he was one of the Witnesses to that Recognition made by the King touching the Peoples Liberties And according to the example of his Ancestors bore an especial love to the Abbey of Iorvauix for discerning the place where it stood viz. At Fo rs not to be convenient he gave the Monks of that House leave to translate it unto a piece of Waste Ground in East Witton and bestowed on them a large Pasture in Wandesâ—esdaiâ— which Land lieth beyond 〈◊〉 and extendeth it self unto the Bounds betwixt 〈◊〉 and Massamshire As also all that several Pasture on the North of the River 〈◊〉 reserving only liberty for his Deer giving them leave to take Estovers and all other necessaries on the South of Iore and likewise Pasturage throughout his new Forest near Richmund for all their Cattle with power to keep Mastiff Dogs for chasing out Wolves out of those their Territories Moreover he Founded the Priory of Nuns at Roweny in Hartfordshire To the Cell of S. Martins near Richmund he gave the Tithes of his Mills at Richmund To the Monks of Kirstede he gave the Church of Kaiton with two Carucates and an hah of Land lying in the Fields of Kaiton as also a parcel of Ground called Kaiton-Rahage To the Abbey of Denney in Cambridgeshire he confirmed all that Robert his Chamberlain gave thereto And ratified the Grant of the Land called Wath which his Ancestors had bestowed on the Monks of S. Michael at the Mount in Cornwal He married Margaret Daughter to Henry Earl of Huntendon Sister to William King of Scots by whom he had only issue Constance a Daughter first married unto Geffrey Fourth Son to Henry the Second King of England which Geffrey was in her right Duke of Britanny Secondly to Ranulph Earl of Chester whom she forsook and thirdly to Guy de Tuarz Brother to the Vicount of Tuarz This Margaret surviving him became afterwards the Wife of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford It is reported That upon the death of Geffrey Earl of Anjou Father to Henry the Second King of England the City of Nantz in Britanny electing Geffrey second Son to the said Geffrey to be their Ruler sent for him and delivered unto him the Possession thereof as also of the adjacent Province but he dying soon after the Earl of Richmund id est this Conan having the rule of a great part of that Province of Britanny entered the City of Nantz Whereof the King id est Henry the Second being informed he forthwith commanded That the Earldom should be seised into his own hands and after wards discerning that this Conan who had the Dominion of the greatest part of Britanny died leaving only one Daughter and Heir by Margaret his Wife Sister unto William King of Scots he gave her in marriage she being then in Minority unto Geffrey his younger Son and took all her Inheritance into his own power And having so done then observing that the vulgar people of that Countrey being much opprest by some of their Superiors had addressed themselves to him for protection he presently subdued those great ones and thereupon reduced the whole Countrey of Britanny to his own Dominion This Conan dying in Britanny An. 1171. 17 Hen. 2. was buried at Begar whereupon the Honor of Richmund was retained in the Kings hands for a time For in 21 Hen. 2. Ranulph de Glanvil accounted for the ancient Ferme thereof which was 535 l. 14 s. 10 d. So also in 29 Hen. 2. ¶ Unto which Conan in right of Constanâ—e his sole Daughter and Heir Geffrey
Which Grant was ere long surrendred as it seems for it appears that the King afterwards gave the same unto Edward his eldest Son and that he during the minority of the said Heir in consideration of 1500 l. assigned the Castle and Barony of Skipton in Craven unto Alexander King of Scotland I now return to the same Isabel of whom I find that in 52 Hen. 3. she had Livery of the Castle of Carisbrook and Isle of Wight which were of her Inheritance and that she confirmed all the Donations made by her Noble Ancestors the Earls of Devon and Exeter unto the Abbey of Quarrera in that Isle which Monastery was of their Foundation In which grant she stiles her self Isabella de Fortibus Comitissa de Albemarle Devoniâ ac Domina Insulae she being then sole Heir to the Earldom of Devon by reason of the death of Baldwine the Fifth of that name Earl of Devon her Brother without issue So likewise all the Grants which were made unto the Monks of Bocland in Devonshire by the Lady Amicia Countess of Devon her Mother Foundress of that Abbey To the Cannons of Bolton near Skipton in Craven she gave the Lordships of Wygedone and Brandone one Messuage one Toft and two Carucates of Land in Wethetone and Halthwait one Messuage and nine Bovates of Land in Roudon as also Six Burgages in Harewood with the Mills of Harewood And to the Abbey of Montesburg in Normandy she confirmed the Mannors of Loderis in Dorsetshire which was made a Cell to that Foreign Abbey and likewise the Lordships of Axmue Wolveley Appledercumbe and Wyke which had been formerly granted to that Religious House by her Ancestors ¶ Having thus done with Isabel I shall now conclude with Aveline the sole Daughter and Heir remaining of this last Earl William de Fortibus and of her the said Isabel. Upon the sixth Ides of Iuly An. 1269. 53 Hen. 3. being Heir to this great Earldom and that of Devon as also to the Barony of Skipton and Soveraignty of the Isle of Wight as hath been observed Edmund second Son to King Henry the Third commonly called Crouchback and afterwards Earl of â—ancaster took her to Wife the King and Queen with almost all the Nobility of England being at the Wedding And in 1 Edw. 1. she becoming of age sufficient to possess her Lands her Husband Edmund doing his fealty had Livery of them But in 4 Edw. 1. the King having a mind to all her Castles and Lands came to an agreement with her for them viz. That she should by sufficient Assurance pass them unto him and his heirs as well the Isle of Wight as other with the Advowsons and Patronage of Churches and Religious Houses as also all the Knights Fees of her Inheritance excepting the Lordships of Sevenhampton Whit-Hechurch Harewood and Croâ—t And he to Enfeoff her of Lands and Tenements according to the full extent and worth of those Lands and Advowsons wherein she had only estate for term of life to hold to her and her heirs until she should have an exchange made to the full value and moreover to pay her in money the sum of Twenty thousand marks for the Grant and Confirmation of the Premisses which Grant was by her accordingly made Howbeit notwithstanding this Agreement is thus formally Recorded as I have here shewed it is said by some That what was done therein as to the Isle of Wight was not real but fraudulent For thus they report That King Edward the First much desiring that Isle and importuning Isabel de Fortibus her Mother frequently for it was still denied and by her answered That she would not wrong her heirs so much as to pass that part of her antient Inheritance from them And that thereupon the King taking notice that Sir ... de Stratton a Priest had much interest and power with her he set him on to work her to it and that he more for fear than otherwise promised him so to do But when he saw that he could by no means prevail with her therein to the end he might not frustrate the Kings expectation having promised to effect his desire he waited till her death and then forged a Grant thereof and put her Seal to it which Seal he had with other of her goods at that time in his power and that by this means the right heirs were shamefully defrauded thereof But after all this the better to fortifie his title to these Lands in the Sixth year of His Reign the King procured a Release from Iohn de Aston who pretended some right thereto by Descent from those Earls of all his Claim and Interest which he had or which could divolve unto him from them or any of them In consideration whereof the King gave him the Inheritance of One hundred pound per annum Lands in his Lordship of Thornton near Pickering in Com. Ebor. to hold by the Service of one Knights Fee After the death of Margaret de Riperiis Countess of Devon which hapned in 20 Edw. 1. she had Livery of the Mannors of Pisshoo Newham South-Lamheth Wrokeshale and. Cristechirch which were of her Dowry she the said Aveline being Sister and Heir to Baldwine Earl of Devon Husband to that Margaret And the year following granted the Inheritance of the same Mannor of Cristechirch unto the King but before the end of that year upon the Fourth Ides of November she departed this life at Stokewel near London and was buried in the Priory of Brommore in Wiltshire of the Foundation of Baldwine de Riperiis the First Earl of Devon of that name her Ancestor leaving no issue whereby this Earldom of Albemarle with that of Devon were in process of time transferred to other Families Earls of Hereford THe first Earl of this County after the Conquest was William Fitz-Osborne a Person not inferior in point of Merit unto any of those that came over into England with the Puissant Norman Duke nor much remote from him in Alliance For Herfastus his Grand-father was Brother to Gunnora Great Grand-mother to that victorious Hero and his Father Osberne de Crepon Steward of his Houshold and Sewer Of his generous exploits before he came first into England that whereof I have already made some mention in my discourse of Roger de Montgomery under the title of Arundel and Shrewsbury is not the least when he was sent with him by Duke William to discover the strength of Geffrey Martel Earl of Anjou who then came with all his power to raise the siege of Danfront Amongst the Counsellors of that Renowned Duke he is instanced for one and of his advisers to undertake that famous expedition into England which proved so successful the cheif and not only so but that he pressed him thereto with most earnest and
her Grand-father had in Normandy and which thenceforth were possest by the succeeding Earls of Leicester Which Raphe de Waer eldest son to this last mentioned Earl Raphe was adopted Heir unto his Uncle William de Britolio by reason that he had no Legitimate Issue of his Body but being rejected by the Normans he possessed nothing thereof Eustace his Illegitimate Son by their power having the same Yet afterwards through the favor of King Henry the First he obtained all the Honor of his Ancestors in those parts excepting Paceâ— which Eustace de Britolio an Illegitimate Son of William de Britolio held Earls of Warwick THe first who had the title of Earl here after the Norman Conquest was Henry de Newburgh a younger Son to Roger de Bellomont Earl of Mellent so called from the Castle of Newburgh in Normandy the place of his Birth As to the direct time of his advancement to this Earldom it doth not certainly appear but by Circumstances I guess it to have been towards the later end of King William the Conquerors Reign in regard there is no mention of him in the General Survey begun in the Fourteenth of that Kings time for my Author says That King William having begirt Warwick with a mighty Ditch for the Precinct of its Walls and erected the Gates at his own charge did then promote this Henry to the Earldom and annexed thereto the Royalty of the Borough which at that time belonged to the Crown That Earls thus antiently had no formal Charters of Creation is plain enough to those who have looked into Antiquities the manner of their Investiture into that Dignity being then By Girding with the Sword of the County as Matth. Paris and others do observe It cannot therefore be expected that I should say more as to the manner of his advancement thereto howbeit that it was the Conqueror who conferred this honor upon him is not only manifest from the testimony of Iohn Rous already vouched but the credit of divers other noted Historians It should seem that before the King raised him to this state of Earl he was trusted with the custody of Warwick Castle then newly built by the Conqueror or rather enlarged and more strengthned But though he had this honor by the Conquerors gift he was not during that King days possest of al those Lands whereof afterwards he died seised for it is evident that King William Rufus in the very beginning of His Reign bestowed on him the whole Inheritance of Turchil de Warwick who had large Possessions in this County and several others in the Conquerors time having the reputation of Earl though he was but in the nature of Deputy or Lieutenant here to the Earl of Mercia whereupon he laid claim to what the Monks of Abendon had in Little Chesterton and Hill both in Com. Warr. of Turhils gift in the days of Abbot Aldelme so that the succeeding Abbot for quiet enjoyment thereof came to a new Agreement with him and gave him a mark in Gold for confirmation of their Title That which I farther find most memorable of this Earl Henry is That he was one of those who in An. 1081. 14 W. Conq. by fair Perswasions qualified the anger of King William towards Robert Curthose his eldest Son so that a fair composure then ensued betwixt them Being formerly of great familiarity with Henry the Kings youngest Son he stuck closest to him upon the death of King William Rufus for his obtaining the Crown of this Realm and likewise ever afterwards Moreover amongst the Witnesses to that notable Charter of King Henry the First whereby he confirmed the Laws of King Edward the Confessor and granted many other savors both to the Clergy and Laity he is Recorded to have been one He also began the making of Wedgenock Park near his Castle at Warwick therein following the example of King Henry who made the first Park at Woodstock that ever was in England He likewise Founded the Priory at Warwick for Canons of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher and gave the Church of Compton Murdac to be a Prebend in the Church of our Lady at Warwick before it was made Collegiate To the Monks of Preaux in Normandy he gave the Lordship of Warmington in Com. Warr. which afterwards became a Cell to that Foreign Monastery And having wedded Margaret Daughter to Rotrode Earl of Perch left issue by heâ— five Sons viz. Roger his Successor in this Earldom of Warwick Henry Geffrey Rotrode Bishop of Eureux and Robert who inheriting his Fathers Lands in Normandy was Seneschal and Justice of that Dukedom as also a great Benefactor to the Abbey of Bec in which he was afterwards shorn a Monk and departing this life xiiii Kal. Sept. An. 1158. had Sepulture in the Chapter-house there He had issue likewise two Daughters but their names I find not nor whether they were married and dying xx Iunii An. 1123. 23 Hen. 1. lieth buried in the Abbey of Preaux Of Margaret his Countess who survived him above twenty years it appears that she was a special Benefactor to the Knights Templers For in the year 1156. 2 Hen. 2. she gave them the Town of Lammadok in Wales and to the Canons of Kennilworth quitted her interest in the moity of the Lordship of Salford in Com. Warr. by the consent of her Sons viz. Rotrode Bishop of Eureux Roger Earl of Warwick Robert de Newburgh Geffrey and Henry I now come to Roger the succeeding Earl This Roger amongst other the great Men of that time was a Witness to King Stephens Laws and though he little affected Military Imployments yet he was one of those who adhered to Maud the Empress against King Stephen being with the Earl of Glocester and divers other persons of note at the siege of Winchester in 6. Steph. at which time their Army being utterly routed by King Stephens Forces most of the Nobles who then stood for the Empress were taken prisoners But I do not find that this Earl Roger had much preâ—udice thereby in regard King Stephen who had been taken prisoner before in the Battle of Lincoln was then set at liberty upon condition that the Earl of Glocester taken then at Winchester should also stand in the same state of Freedom and likewise the rest of his party as he and they were before that overthrow This Earl is reputed to have been the Conqueror of Gowherland in Wales which his Posterity for a long time afterwards enjoyed wherein he Founded a small Priory at 〈◊〉 annexing it as a Cell to the Monastery of S. Taurines in Normandy and gave to the Abbey of Nerhe in 〈◊〉 certain Lands and Fishing lying in thaâ— County within
certified to hold 88 Knights Fees a third and fourth part de Veteri Feoffamento and eleven Knights Fees and three parts de Novo For which upon leviyng of the Aid for Marrying of the Kings Daughter he answered sixty eight pounds sixteen shillings and four pence Howbeit in 20 Hen. 2. when young Henry whom the K. in his own lifetime had Crowned would have taken upon him the whole Dominion he adhered to him and in order to the advancing him to his Fathers Throne repaired his old ruinous Castle at Kinarfare in the Isle of Axholme and fortified all his other strong Holds but in this rebellious designe he prospered not at all for Henry then elect Bishop of Lincoln Bastard Son to the King raising the power of Lincolnshire soon beseiged that Castle in Axholme for releif whereof this Roger hastning towards Leicester was taken prisoner by the Countrey people at Clay Which Castle was thereupon demolished by that Bishop who likewise marched thence to his Castle of Malesard in Yorkshire and after a short Seige took it Discerning therefore his success to be no better he hasted to the King then at Northampton and rendred his Castle of Thresk which with that at Kirkby-Malesard the King soon after caused it to be pulled down In 23 Hen. 2. amongst divers other English Barons he was a witness to that determination made by King Henry betwixt Aldefonsus King of Castâ—le and Sanctius King of Navarre Having done with his secular actions I now come to his pious works which were many and great for at the instance of Gundrede his Mother he founded the Abby of Biland in Yorkshire for Cistercian Monks in anno 1143. 27 Hen. 1. And about two years after founded the Abby of Newburg in Yorkshire for Canons Regular of St. Augustine As also the Preceptory at Balshell in Com. War for Knights Templars And gave other Lands in the Isle of Axholme So likewise at Torp and Threste in Com. Ebor. to the Knights of that order Moreover to the same order of Knights Templars he was a farther Benefactor by the gift of the Mannor of Keleby in Com. Linc. and of the Mannor of Wetheley for which and other his munificent donations he was held in such high esteem by those Knights that by unanimus consent they granted to him and his heirs this special priviledge viz. that at what time soever he or they should hap to finde any of the Templars Fraternity under the sentence of publique Penance for any offence whatsoever it should be in his and their power to release them therefrom being sorry for their fault which priviledge the Knights Hospitalers unto whom the Lands of the Templars were afterwards given by their publique Instrument bearing date at London 20 Marcii an 1335. 10 E. 3. allowed and confirmed to Iohn Lord Moubray lineal heir to this Roger and to his heirs for ever Adding farther that when ever it might happen that he or they should come of Devotion unto any of their Covents beyond the Seas that they ought to he honorably received and served in all respects as those to whom they were most obliged for benefits near to the King himself To the Canons of Kemlworth in Com. War he gave the Churches of Smile and Hampton in Arden with certain Lands lying within his Lordships of Hampton and Baleshall in that County Besides this he was so great an honorer of of the Monastick profession that he gave all his Lands in Sulby and Welford to the Canons of Sulby in Com. Northamp And to the Monks of S. Maries in York the whole Isle of Santoft in Com. Linc. which thenceforth was made a Cell to that Abby To the Monks of Rievaulx he gave the Lordships of Welleburne and Hovetune To the Monks of Fountains the whole Lordship of Bramley all Birneham all Niderdale and all his Lands between Patley-gate and Iwdene To the Abby of Caen in Normandy he gave all his Lands in Granivill that his Daughter might be made a Nunne there Likewise to the Abby of Iorevaulx at its very foundation all his Lands lying in Masham which Lordship Stephen Earl of Britanny and Richmond gave to Nigel de Albini his Father to hold by the service of one Knights Fee To the Hospital of S. Leonards in York the ninth Sheaf of all his corn increasing throughout every of his Lordships in England To the Hospital of Burton-Lazers in Com. Leic. two Carucates of Land in Burton with one messuage and the seat of a Mill. And to the Canons of Bridimgton in Com. Ebor. one Carucate of Land in Freshingtorp and half a Carucate in Marton Nay so servent was his Devotion that he again took upon him the Cross and made another journey to the Holy-Land and stayed at Hierusalem in the service of God when divers other persons by reason that the Truce was prolonged betwixt Guy de Lezignan King of Hierusalem and Saladine King of Babâ—ion departed thence Which Saladine taking advantage of the differences betwixt the same Guy and the Earl of Tripolis they being at strife who should be King of Hierusalem entered the Holy-Land with a great multitude of Turks and utterly vanquished the Christians In which unhappy overthrow this Roger de Moubray with Guy King of Hierusalem was taken prisoner but redeemed by the Knights Templars And dying in those parts was buried at Sures as some say But others that wearied with those Warrs he returned into England and that in his journey finding a fierce Dragon fighting with a Lion in a certain valley called Sarranell he mortally wounded the Dragon whereby he so gained the the love of that King of Beasts that he followed him into England to his Castle at Hove As also that after this living fifteen years he died aged and was buried in the Abby of Biland within an Arch on the South side of the Chapter House near to the Lady Gundrede his Mother with the figure of a Sword upon his Tombe leaving issue by Alice de Gant his Wife two Sons viz. Nigel and Robert Which Nigel was one of the Witnesses to to that Recognition made by King Henry the Second 10 Hen. 2. touching the Customs and Liberties of the people But in 20 H. 2 joyned with his Father in that Rebellious Insurrection against King Henry the second on the behalf of young Henry And in ann 1181. 1 R. 1. attended at the solemn Coronation of that King Also the year next ensuing he answered forty four pounds two shillings and eight pence for the Knights Fees he then held upon levying the Scutage of Wales Moreover he confirmed the grants made by Geffrey de Wirce Nigel de Albini his Grandfather and of
took to Wife Elizabeth Daughter and Heir to Iohn le Strange of Blackmere which Elizabeth died 23 Aug. 7 Ric. 2. without issue And in 7 Ric. 2. together with the Earl of Northumberland and some of the Northern Barons he entred Scotland with a thousand Spears and six thousand Archers In 8 R. 2. he was retained by Indenture to serve the King in his Wars And in 9 R. 2. constituted Earl Marshal of England by reason of his descent from Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshall as hath been observed to hold the same Office for term of his Life In 10 R. 2. he went to Sea with Richard Earl of Arundell then constituted Admiral to oppose the incursion of the Kings publique Enemies and shared in the glory of that Victory then obtained in that Naval adventure against the French Flemings Normans and Spaniards as also of that valiant attempt upon the Castle of Brest in Britanny which was then taken by the English but such was the prevalency of the Duke of Ireland at that time and of those other parasites who had the Kings eare as that upon his return instead of an honorable reception for his good service he was not looked on with any fair countenance being one of those whose death was designed by that Duke and his complices This Thomas did not make proof of his age untill 12 Ric. 2. but then so doing and performing his Homage he had livery of all his Lands and thereupon constituted Governor of Barwick upon â—weed as also sent with a military power against the Scots who had invaded Northumberland and made great spoil in those parts but having not strength sufficient to give them Battle he retreated back without any attempt upon them After this scil in 14 R. 2. he wasmade Governor of the Castle of Merke in France as also Captain of Calais for the term of five years The next year following scil 15 R. 2. at the instance of this Earl it was that the King vouchsafed such favor to the Town of Calais that for the honor thereof the Mayor and his successors should thenceforth have a Sword born before them with the point upwards except at such time as the King himself or any of his Uncles or the Captain of Calais or his Lieutenant should be present and then to carry the point thereof downwards In 16 R. 2. he was constituted the Kings Liâ—â—tenant in Calais as also in the parts of Picardy Flanders and Artoys and likewise Governor of Calais and of the new Tower there And for his many good services done and to be done had a grant of two hundred Marks per annum for life to be paid out of the Exchequer untill such time as the King should better provide for him Moreover he stood in such favor that the King acknowledging his just and hereditary title to bear for his Crest a golden Leopard with a white Label which of right did belong to the Kings eldest Son in case he had any did by his Letters patents grant unto him and his heirs authority to bear the Golden Leopard for his Crest with a Coronet of Silver about his neck instead of the Labell And in the same year constituted him Justice of Chester and Flintshire for term of life with power to hold Pleas and Sessions there by himself or his sufficient Lieutenant as also Justice of North-Wales In 18 R. 2. he attended the King into Ireland Moreover in 19 R. 2. he was joyned in Commission with Edward Earl of Roteland Son of Edmund de Langley Duke of York and others to contract Marriage with Isabel eldest Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France and King Richard and again constituted Governor of the Castle of Calais Moreover the next ensuing year he obtained the Kings licence for founding that Monastry of Carthusian Monks at his Mannor of Eppe-Worth in the Isle of Axholm which he he thereupon established and most amply endowed As also the Kings Charter of confirmation of the Office of Earl Marshal of England to the Heirs Male of his body with an union of the Office of Marshal in the Courts of Kings Bench and Exchequer thereunto Likewise of the Office of Marshals-cryer before the Steward and Marshal of the Kings household And that he and his Heirs male by reason of this their Office of Earl Marshal should bear a Golden Truncheon enameled with black at each end having at the upper end of it the Kings Arms graven thereon and at the lower end his own Arms. How beit notwithstanding those his many services before remembred such was the prevalency of his old Enemies those Parasites by whom the King was governed that the year following viz. 21 R. 2. with divers other he was arrested and indicted of High Treason at Notingham and Witnesses suborned to accuse him in the ensuing Parliament But here the Scene soon changed for whether with the apprehension of his own danger or allured by those voluptuaries who bore such sway with the King he forthwith adhered to them in the destruction of that honorable person Richard Earl of Arundell whose Daughter he had Married and was one of the chief that guarded him to his Execution Nay it is said by some that he bound up his Eyes and beheaded him himself And soon after that had a principle hand in that execrable Murther of Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester the Kings Uncle causing him to be smothered with a Feather-bed at Calais Whereupon he became in such high favour at Court that the King bestowed upon him and the Heires Male of his Body the Castle Town and Lordship of Lewes the Mannors of Cokefield Clayton Dycheninge Methynge Peâ—cham Brightelmeston Rottingdene Houndedene Northese Rademeld Kymere Middilton Alington Worth Pycombe Sefford Iford Pedingho Kingston and Littleworth the Hundreds of Poninges Buttringhull Strete Beâ—come Swanbergh Holmestrowe Yonesmere Whalesbone the half Hundred of Fishergate the half Hundred of Wyndham and three hundred acres of marish called Wayfeldmerch with all other the Lands of Richard Earl of Arundel which by reason of the said Earles forfeiture came to the King together with all Knights Fees and advowsons of Churches in the Counties of Surry and Sussex the Castle and Town of Reygate with the Park Warren and Chases only excepted And besides all this the Castle and Town of Castleacre with its members and appurtenances in Norfolk which by the forfaiture of the said Earl came to the Crown Moreover the Castle and Mannor of Hanslape the Mannors of Olney Querndon and Shenley Mansel in the County of Buckingham the Mannors of Berghdon Greatham Preston and Uppingham in the County of Roteland the Mannors of Molton and Potters-pirie in the County of Northampton the Mannors of Brayles Toneworth Berkswill Lighthurne Morton and Mereshull
28 Iulii Anno 1562. 4 Eliz. bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Church of â—arles-Colne departing this life the same year To whom succeeded Edward his Son and Heir who in 29 Eliz. was one of the Peers by special Commission appointed to try Mary Queen of Scots then Prisoner in England for her life And in Anno 1588. 31 Eliz. one of the chief persons in the Queens Fleet imployed against the great Navy of Spaniards then threatning an Invasion which thereupon was dissipated and destroyed by the English Forces Which Earl Edward had two Wives viz. Anne Daughter to William Cecil Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer of England on whom he begat three Daughters viz. Elizabeth married to William Earl of Derby Bridget to Francis Lord Norris of Ricot afterwards created Earl of Berkshire and Susan to Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery And to his second Wife Elizabeth Daughter of Thomas Trentham of Rouceter in Com. Staff Esq one of the Maids of Honor to Q. Eliz. by whom he had issue one Son called Henâ—y This Edward being an intire friend to Thomas Duke of Norfolk when he discerned his Life in danger upon what was laid to his charge touching the Q. of Scots whereof our Historians of that time do give some account earnestly interceded with the Lord Treasurer Burghley his Wives Father and one of the chiefest States-men of that time for the preserving him from destruction but prevailing not grew so highly incensed against Burghley knowing it was in his power to save him that in great indignation he said he would do all he could to ruin his Daughter and accordingly not only forsook her Bed but sold and consumed that great Inheritance descended to him from his Ancestors leaving very little for Henry his Son and Successor And died 24 Iunii An. 1604. 2 Iac. Which Henry married Diana the second Daughter to William Cecill Earl of Exeter and died at the Seige of Breda in the Netherlands in ann 1625. without issue Whereupon Robert Vere Son and Heir of Hugh Son and Heir of Aubery by Margaret the Daughter of Iohn Spring of Lanham in Com. Suff. who was the second Son to Iohn the fifth of that name Earl of Oxfoâ—d after the death of this E. Henry was in the Parliament held at Westminster Ann. 2 Car. 1. restored to this title of Earl of Oxford Much dispute there was in that Parliament between this Robert and Robert then Lord Willoughby of Eresby touching this title of Earl as also touching the Titles of Lord Bulbeck Sanford and Badlesmere and Office of Lord Great Chamberlain of England this Robert making claim to them all as Heir male of the Family and Robert Lord Willoughby as Son and Heir to Mary the sole Heir female But at length after Councel on each part divers times heard and the Authority of Records and antient Evidences produced first the Title of Earl was Clearly adjudged to this Robert de Vere and the Titles of Lord Bulbeck Sanford and Badlesmere descending to the Heirs female to be in the Kings disposal by reason that Iohn the fourth E. of Oxfoâ—d having three Sisters his Heirs the Honor could not be divided But as to the Office of Lord Great Chamberlain it was referred to the Judges then attending in Parliament to consider thereof and make report upon these two points first whether that Robert E. of Oxford who made the entail thereof temp R. 2. upon the Heir male were at that time seised of it or not Secondly admitting that he was then whether such an Office might be conveyed by way of limiting of uses Upon which Reference there being only five Judges then attending in Parliament and the rest in their Circuits 3 of them viz. Justice Doderidge Yelverton and Baron Trevor declared their opinions for the Heir General and gave their Reasons for the same but the other two viz. the Lord cheif Justice Crew and Sir John Walter Lord Cheif Baron for the Heir male The major part therefore thus declaring the Lords voted accordingly whereupon Robert Lord Willoughby was admitted into the House 13 Apr. 2 Car. 1. with his Staff of that Office and took his place above all the Barons according to the Act of Parliament of 31 Hen. S. cap. 10. And Robert de Vere having received his Writ of Summons dated 14 April the same year came into the Parliament the day next following and had his place next to the Earl of Arundell This Robert took to Wife Beatrix van Hemmema of Freezland and was slain at the Seige of Maestricht ann ... By which Hemmema he had issue three Sons viz. Aubrey who succeeded him in his Honors as also Horace and Francis who died young And likewise three Daughters Mary Magdalen and Susan who all died young This last mentioned Aubrey took to Wife Anne one of the two Daughters and Coheirs of Paul Viscount Banning which Anne died without issue And shortly after the Restauration of our present Sovereign King Charles the second being elected one of the Knights of the most noble Order of the Garter was made Lord Lieutenant of the County of Essex and one of his Majesties most honorable Privy-Councel After which he married Diana Daughter to George Kirke one of the Grooms of the Bed-Chamber to King Charles the first of blessed memory Mandevill UPon the first arrival here of Duke William the Norman amongst other his Companions in that signal Expedition there was a famous Souldier called Geffrey de Magnavil assuming that surname from the Town of Magnavill which he then possessed This Geffrey fighting courageously in that Battle against King Harold where Duke William was victorious hewed down his Adversaries on every side for which great service he was aptly rewarded with divers fair Lordships by the Conquerors Gift as may appear from what he enjoyed at the time of the general Survey viz. in Berkshire four in Suffolk twenty six in Middlesex seven in Surrey one in Oxfordshire three in Cambridgshire nine in Hertfordshire nineteen in Northamptonshirâ— seven in Warwickshire two and in Essex forty whereof Waldene was one which afterwards became the cheif seat of his Descendants This Geffrey was by King William made Constable of the Tower of London which trust he held during all his time And for the Souls health of Athelaise his first Wife by whom he had his Children and good estate of himself and Leceline his second Wife with the consent of that King founded a Monastery for Benedictine Monks at Hurley in Berkshire whereunto he gave the whole Lordship of Hurley and the Woods adjoyning thereto as also the Church of Waltham and divers other Lands Osmund then Bishop of Salisbury dedicating the same Which House became a Cell to that great Abby of S. Peter at Westminster To this Geffrey succeeded
Advowson of the Church of Wickwane in Gloucestershire How far farther he was a Benefactor to that Monastry I cannot say but 't is very like that he gave somewhat more for it appears that these Monks by their publique Instrument in full chapter granted to him and his heirs by the attribute of Dilecto speciali amico their beloved and singular friend power to present two Monks successively in their Covent who should daily sing Mass in the Church of that Monastry for the health of his Soul as also for the Souls of Earl William his Father Maud his Mother and their Ancestors for ever And besides this he was the first Founder of that Chantrey or Colledge of Priests at Elmeley in Worcestershire I come now to his Testament which bears date at Warwick Castle on Munday next after the Feast of S. Iames the Apostle An. 1315. 9 Edw. 2. by which he bequeathed his Body to sepulture in that Abbey of Bordfley but willed that his Funeral Rites should be performed without any great pomp To Alice his Wife he devised a proportion of his Plate with a Chrystal Cup and half his Bedding as also all the Vestments and Books pertaining to his Chappel the other moity of his Beds Rings and Jewels to his two Daughters to Maud his Daughter a Chrystal Cup to Elizabeth his Daughter he gave the marriage of Astleys heir whom she took to Husband to Thomas his Son his best Coat of Mail Helmet and Suit of Harness with all that belonged thereto to his Son Iohn his second Coat of Mail Helmet and Harness and appointed that all the rest of his Armor Bows and other warlike provisions should remain in Warwick Castle for his Heir And departing this life at his said Castle of Warwick upon the Twelfth of August next following by poyson as some thought was buried in the Abbey of Bordsley before mentioned This Earl Guy before his death obtained a Grant from the King that his Executors when it should fortune him to depart this life might have the custody of his Lands during the minority of his Heir being answerable for the value of them to the Exchequer at Michaelmass and Easter every year Provided that his Castles of Elmley and Warwick should not be disposed of to any without the Kings special License But notwithstanding this Grant and a confirmation thereof after his death to Iohn Hamelyn and the rest of his Execâ—tors in December next following his death so much was the King wrought upon by those persons whose miscarrriages ere long gave the discontented Nobles opportunity to work his own Ruine that about two years after he passed the custody of those Castles and Lands by a new Patent unto Hugh le Despencer the elder in satisfaction of a debt of 6770 l. due to him from the King as it was pretended A word now of Alice the Wife of this great Earl She was the Daughter of Ralph de Tony of Flamsted in Hertfordshire Widow of Thomas de Leybourne and at length Heir to Robert her Brother In November following the death of her Husband she had assigned to her in Dowry the Mannors of Hanslape in Com. Buck. Lyghthorne Beausale Haseleye Claverdon Berkswell with the third part of the Templars Mannor in Warwick and Shirbourne and divers Knights fees in Warwickshire And the next year following gave a fine of five hundred Marks for licence to marry with William la Zouche of Ashoy in Com. Leicest to whom she was accordingly wedded and died in 18 Edw. 2. By this Alice he had issue two Sons viz. Thomas who succeeded him in this Earldom and Iohn a Martial Knight as also five Daughters Maud married to Geffrey Lord Say Emme to Rouland Odingsells Isabel to ... Clinton Elizabeth to Thomas Lord Astley and Lucia to Robert de Napton But before I proceed with my discourse of Thomas his Son and Successor I shall take leave to say something of Iohn his younger Brother Iohn a younger Son to Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick THis Iohn became a person of singular note in his time In 12 Edw. 3. he was in that expedition then made into Flanders and in 13 Edw. 3. was an eminent commander in the third Batalia of the Kings Army drawn out at Uyronâ—osse against the French In 14 Edw. 3. he was in that great Naval fight betwixt the King of England's Fleet and the French before Sluice in Flanders In 16 Edw. 3. being possessed of the Lordships of Beoley and Yardley in Worcestershire he obtained a Charter for Free-Warren in all his Demesne Lands there In 17 Edw. 3. he recieved the order of Knighthood with twenty pounds per annum for his better support in the Kings service In 20 E. 3. he attended the King into Normandy and carried the Standard-royal in that great Battle of Cressey In 22 Edw. 3. he was at that Famous Tourneament at Canterbury accountred with a surcote of fine silk adorned with the Arms of Sir Stephen Cosyngton Knight and for his singular demerits made a Banneret having one hundred and forty pounds per annum granted to him out of the Exchequer for his better support of that dignity He was likewise the same year made Captain of Calais and in 23 E. 3. constituted Admiral of all the K. Fleet from the mouth of Thames to the Westwards In 25 Ed. 3. being still Captain of Calais he issued out with three hundred men at Armes and two hundred Archers and plundered the Countrey for ten miles and in his return meeting with the Lord of Bealreu and two thousand men at Arms had a sharp Skirmish with them wherein that Lord was slain In 26 Edw. 3. Iohn Darcy of â—nayth to whom the King had granted the Constableship of the Tower of London for life for the great affection he bore to this Iohn de Beauchamp passed over his interest in that Command to him which the King ratified howbeit within two years after through sinister suggestions the King displaced him and constituted Bartholmew de Burgâ—ersh in his stead and after him Robert de Morley but it appearing at length that those suggestions were false he was received again into favor and in 29 Ed. 3. again made Captain of Calais together with the Castle of â—uynes and Forts of Merk Colne Eye and Sandgate as also Admiral And for his better support in those services obtained the Lordships of Ewell Ebesham and Kingswode to be assigned unto him for his Livery In 30 Edw. 3. he was again in the Warrs of France and in 31 Edw. 3. had his Commission for Captain of Calaâ—s and those other Forts renewed In 33 Edw. 3. he was again in France and in 34 Edw. 3. made once more Constable of the Tower of London And
death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick his Kinsman he had the custody of all the Lands belonging to Warwick Castle together with that Castle during the minority of his heir And the same year went again into Scotland In 12 13 Edw. 2. he was likewise in those Scotish Wars and in 19 Edw. 2. was sent into Gascoign to make provision against the Kings coming thither In 1 Edw. 3. he was again in Scotland and the same year had a special Commission to execute the Office of Constable of England in a particular case but died in 2 Edw. 3. leaving William his Brother and Heir then forty years of age Which William had also been a Military Man for many years For in 25 Edw. 1. he was in that expedition made into Flanders and in 26 Edw. 1. in Scotland Likewise in 34 Edw. 1. and 7 Edw. 2. And in 10 Edw. 2. had the Sheriffalty of Worcestershire granted to him during the minority of the Heir of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick In 13 Edw. 2. he procured a Charter from the King for another Fair to be kept yearly at Alcester for eight days beginning on the Eve of S. Bernabas the Apostle In 14 Edw. 2. he was made Governor of S. Briavels Castle in Com. Gloc. and of the Forest of Deane and in 15 Edw. 2. constituted one of the Kings Commissioners for the safe custody of the City of Worcester In 1 Edw. 3. he was again in Scotland but farther I find not of him To this William succeeded Giles his younger Brother who in 15 Edw. 2. was made Sheriff of Carnarvonshire and Governor of the Castle of Beaumaris and in 12 Edw. 3. was in that expedition then made into Flanders In 13 Edw. 3. being in the Kings service beyond Sea at his great expences he had a special discharge for providing of those six Soldiers in the Isle of Wight for his Lands there unto which otherwise he had been liable In 14 Edw. 3. he obtained License to fortifie his Mannor-house at â—â—cester called Beauchamps Court with a Wall of Lime and Stone and to embattle it And in 16 Edw. 3. had the like License to fortifie his house at Freskwater in the Isle of Wightâ— and to embattle the Walls thereof having divers other priviledges granted to him for that Lordship This Giles left issue Iohn his â—on and Heir of whom I have seen little else saving his Foundation of a Chantry in the Parish Church at Alcester in 36 Edw. 3. for one Priest to celebrate Divine Service daily at the Altar of All-Saints for whose maintenance he gave eleven Messuages one Shop eleven Acres of Land and four Acres of Meadow lying in Alcester and that in 3 Rich. 2. he was in that expedition then made into France Which Iohn had issue Sir William de Beauchamp Knight as also Sir Walter de Beauchamp a younger Son from whom the Beauchamps Barons S. Amand did descend Which Sir William in 16 Rich. 2. was made Constable of the Castle of Glocester in 3 Hen. 4. Sheriff of Worcestershire and in 1 Hen. 5. of Glocestershire and having married Catherine one of the Daughters to Gerard de Vsflete left issue Sir Iohn Beauchamp Knight who in 17 Hen. 6. upon the death of Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was constituted one of the Commissioners for the Guardianship of all his Castles and Lands during the minority of Henry his Son and Heir Moreover having purchased from Thomas de Botreax the other moity of the Mannor of Alcester which had continued in that family for divers descents did in 25 Hen. 6. in consideration of the many good and acceptable services performed by him to that King and to King Henry the Fifth his Father obtain a special Charter for divers ample Immunities and Priviledges with another Fair yearly to begin on the Eve of S. Dunstan and to continue for two days following Furrhermore in the same five and twentieth year of King Henry the Sixth for the like consideration as above is expressed he was upon the second of May advanced to the title and dignity of Lord Beauchamp of Powyke and had an Annuity of Sixty pound per annum out of the Fee-Farm of the City of Glocester granted to him and his heirs for their better support of that Honor being at the same time constituted Justice of South Wales with power to exercise that Office by himself or his sufficient Deputy After which ere long viz. in 28 Hen. 6. he was made Lord Treasurer of England but in that Office he continued not full two years This Iohn by his Testament bearing date 9 April Ann. 1475. 15 Edw. 4. bequeathed his Body to Sepulture in the Church of the Dominican Friers at Worcester in a new Chappel to be made on the North side the Quire to which house of Friers for his burial there he gave twenty marks to be bestowed in Vestments and Stuff beside an Organ of his own and appointed that a Priest of that Friery should dayly say Mass at the Altar within that Chappel before his Tomb after the order of a Trental for his Soul as also for the Souls of his Father and Mother Brethren and Sisters his Childrens and Ancestors Souls and especially for the Soul of Sir Iohn Fastolf Knight William Botreaux and all Christian Souls taking by the week for that Mass so daily to be said eightpence for evermore Which Chappel and Tombe with his Effigies thereon in Alablaster he did by this his Testament ordain that his Executors should cause to be made and departed this life the same year leaving Margaret his Wife surviving and Sir Richard Beauchamp Kt. his Son and Heir then forty years of age which Margaret by her Testament dated the Wednesday next after the Nativity of our Lord Anno 1477. 2 Hen. 7. bequeathed her body to be buried in the Church of the Dominican Friers commonly called the Friers Preachers at Worcester with her Lord and Husband and thereby ordained that a Priest should sing for her Soul during the terme of one whole year next after her decease within the said House of Friers receiving for his pains an hundred shillings She also willed that a Tablet of Alablaster should be made of the Birth of our Lord and the three Kings of Coâ—eyn to be set on the Wall over her Body when it should be buried Likewise an Image of Alablaster of St. Iohn the Evangelist containing three quarters of a yard in length with the Chalice in his hand to be set over her in likewise Also a Candlestick of white Iron with three branches to set on the Tapers of Wax of four pound to burn before that Image every Sunday as long as they should endure Moreover on the day of her
Which William had the Mannor of Uppingham in Rutland of his Fathers gift and Robert other Lands in that County who notwithstanding his former activeness on the Barons part with his Father was afterwards received into favorwith the King Having thus finished my discourse of this Peter I shall observe that in him this family was in the Meridian of its glory which thenceforth daily faded For being the fourth in Descent from Thurstan who had been first inriched with such fair Possessions by his Kinsman the Earl of Warwicks gift as before is noted and honored with divers imployments of special trust through the favor of his Soveraign being puffed up with ambition which prompted him to a Confederacy with the Rebelliâ—us Barons of that age he became at length partaker of that deserved destruction which then befel them And that thenceforth the luster of his Descendants though no whit abridged of their ancient Patrimony in regard of that indulgent Decree called Dictum de Kenilworth which admitted them to Grace upon favorable terms began daily to diminish till in the like fourth Descent his Male-line was in a manner extinct much of the ancient Inheritance with the Castle of Beldesert their principal Seat then divolving by Females to other Families and the memory of his name preserved only in an Illegitimate Off-spring I now come to Peter his eldest Son This Peter fiding with his Father in those his Rebellious Actings before specified was with him taken prisoner at Northampton in 48 Hen. 3. being as it seems the Commander in cheif of the Forces then there met for no less saith an Author of that time Horum erat praecipuus Petrus de Monteforti junioâ— qui ad castrum confugerat sed in crastino reddidit se. But the next mention I find of him is That he was wounded and taken prisoner in the Battle of Evesham where his Father lost his life and thereupon committed to Thomas de Clare unto whom his forfeited Lands were granted and whereof he received the benefit according to the Dictum de Kenilworth But shortly after was not only admitted to grace and favor to the reinjoying his paternal Inheritance but had restitution of an Annuity of fifty five pounds per annum to be received out of the Exchequer by himself and his Heirs which had been formerly granted to his Father in lieu of certain Woods lying in the Forest of Rutland wherein he had quitted his title to that King After which resolving on a Pilgrimage to S. Iames in Gallicia he constituted Humphrey de Hasting and Richard de Wrenbull or one of them his Attorney to transact his affairs in the mean time But whether he went the same year or not I make a question viz. 56 Hen. 3. For in 3 Edw. 1. he had another License to that purpose and within a short space grew in such esteem with King Edward that being imployed in his service in those Wars then had against the Welsh in 5 Edw. 1. he obtained in the eighth of that Kings Reign a Grant unto Queen Eleanor of the marriage of Iohn his Son and Heir with power that she should dispose of him in that kind to whom she pleased And in 11 Edw. 1. attended the King in that expedition then made into Wales those parts being then totally reduced to obedience for which service he was acquitted of fifty pound debt due by him to have been paid into the Exchequer After which scil in 15 Edw. 1. he departed this life leaving issue Iohn his Son and Heir and Elizabeth a Daughter afterwards married to William the Son and Heir of Simon de Montacute for which Lady there is yet standing a very noble Monument of Marble with her Effigies cut to the life in the Chappel on the North side of the Quire at Christ Church in Oxford heretofore the Conventual Church of S. Frideswide where there was afterwards a Chantry of two Secular Priests founded to celebrate Divine Service daily for her Soul and for the Soul of the same William de Montacute as also for the Souls of Iohn Bokingham Bishop of Lincoln Sir Peter de Montfort her Father the Lady Maud her Mother and of Iohn de Montacute William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury Simon de Montacute Bishop of Ely Edward de Montacute Alice de Aubeny the Lady Mary Cogan Elizabeth Prioress of Haliwell the Lady Hawise Bavent the Lady Maud Abbess of Berking the Lady Isabel a Nun at Berking Children of him the said Sir William de Montacute and her And moreover for the Souls of Sir Thomas de Furnivall her second Husband Sir Peter de Limesey her Kinsman Simon Islip and for the Souls of all her Parents and Friends I come now to Iohn de Montfort Son and Heir to the last mentioned Peter This Iohn was a Servant in Court to King Edward the First and in the twentieth of Edward the First obtained from Queen Eleanor a Grant of the marriage of William the Son and Heir to Simon de Montacute before mentioned to marry Elizabeth his Sister In 22 Edw. 1. he was in the Wars of Gascoigne and having been summoned to Parliament the next ensuing year amongst the Barons of this Realm departed this life in 24 Edw. 1. being then seised of the Mannor of Preston in Com. Butl. Acstead in Com. Surr. As also of the Castle and Mannor of Beldesert with the Mannors of Wytechirche Wellesborne and Ilmindon in Comit. Warr. leaving issue by Alice the Daughter of William de la Plaunch two Sons viz. Iohn his Son and Heir at that time five years of age and Peter as also two Daughters Elizabeth and Maud the one married to Frevil the other to Sudley whose posterity afterwards came to possess a great part of the Inheritance belonging to this Family For Iohn their elder Brother who had been summoned to Parliament to sit with the rest of the Barons of this Realm in 7 Edw. 2. and the same year received his pardon for the murther of Piers de Gaveston wherein he had a hand then marched with our English Army into Scotland and there lost his life in the Battle of Strivelin without issue Peter his Brother having none legitimate Which Peter was first in Holy Orders but after his Brothers death enjoying the Inheritance was notwithstanding his sacred Function so dispensed with that he betook himself to the World and became a Knight and standing loyal to King Edward the Second in the time of that great defection when many adhered to Thomas Earl of Lancaster was joyned in Commission with William de Beauchamp and Roger de Ailesbury for the safe custody of the City of Worcester in 15 Edw. 2. And in the twentieth of that Kings Reign was constituted Governor of
a special Indulgence for remitting forty days enjoyned pennance to all such as with a devout mind should say a Pater Noster and an Ave for the health of her Soul and the Souls of all the faithful deceased In 15 Edw. 1. this last mentioned Iohn de Sudley obtained the Kings special License to travel beyond Sea And in 22 Edw. 1. attended the King into Gascoigne so likewise in 25 Edw. 1. In 26 Edw. 1. he received Summons amongst other the great Men of England to be at Carlisle on Whitson-Eve well fitted with Horse and Arms to march into Scotland In 32 Edw. 1. he was in that expedition then made into Scotland And in 33 Edw. 1. in consideration of his good services had pardon for all the debts he then owed to the King In 34 Edw. 1. he was again in the Scottish Wars being at that time Lord Chamberlain to the King and in 8 Edw. 2. received command to be at Newcastle upon Tine upon the Feast day of the Blessed Virgin well accountred with Horse and Arms to oppose the Incursion of the Scots This Iohn had Summons to Parliament from 28 Edw. 1. until 13 Edw. 2. inclusive But more I have not seen of him then that he married ... Daughter of ... Lord Say and that he was a libeâ—al Benefactor to the Canons of Erdbury by granting to them certain Lands and Pasturage for Cattle in Derset Radway and Chelverscore in Com. War And dying without issue in 10 Edw. 3. left Iohn the Son of Bartâ—olomew de Sudley his next Heir then thirty years of age who married Eleanor the Daughter of Robert Lord Scales And departing this life in 14 Edw. 3. left issue Iohn his Son and Heir then one year old and two Daughters viz. Ioane who became the Wife of William le Boteler of Wemme in Com. Salop And Margery of Sir Robert Massey Knight Which last mentioned Iohn being in the Kings service in Ireland in 35 Edw. 3. had respite for doing his homage and in 40 Edw. 3. attended Prince Edward in that expedition then by him made into Gascoigne but died the next ensuing year without issue Whereupon Thomas Boteler Son of the said William Boteler and Ioane his elder Sister and Margery the other Sister became his Heirs Betwixt whom partition of all the Lands whereof he was seised being made in 42 Edw. 3. the said Thomas had the Mannor of Sudley in Com. Gloc. and the moity of the Mannor of Sheriff-Lench in Com. Wigorn. Together with the Advowsons and Knights Fees to those Lordships appertaining assigned for his Purparty And she the said Margery the Mannors of Cheping-Derset and Grive in Com. Warr. with the other moity of the Mannor of Sheriff-Lench for her Purparty Ewyas I Now come to Robert the younger Son of Harold called de Ewyas by reason of his Seat at the Castle of Ewyas in Herefordshire This Robert had a far greater Estate then Iohn his elder Brother for in 12 Hen. 2. upon levying the Aid for marrying of the Kings Daughter he certified his Knights Fees De Veteri Feoffamento to be no less then nineteen and those De Nove three In 13 Hen. 3. he was owner of Lidiard in Com. Wilts In 14 Hen. 2. upon collection of the Aid beforementioned he answered thirty marks And in 20 Hen. 2. upon Assessment of the Scutage of those who neither were in the expedition made about that time into Ireland nor sent Soldiers or Money he paid nineteen pounds for his nineteen Knights Fees De Veteri Feoffamento and sixty shillings for those three which were De Novo In 22 Hen. 2. he answered one hundred marks for trespassing in the Kings Forests in Wiltshire and in 33 Hen. 2. nineteen pounds for Scutage because he was not in the expedition of Galewey as also one hundred shillings in 6 Rich. 1. to be exempted from his service in the Kings Army then in Normandy This Robert Founded the Abby of Dore in Herefordshire and gave to the Canons of Bradenstoke in Comitat. Wilts the homage and service of Robert the Son of Ever in Horningesham Moreover he granted that what Church soever of his Fee should first be void the Parson therein instituted should pay six marks yearly pension to those Canons He likewise gave to the Knight-Templars one hide of Land in Roeley and left issue Sybill his Daughter and Heir Which Sybill bestowed on the Canons of Acornbury the tenth of the Toll of her Mill at Eaton And having been first married to Robert de Tregoz she survived him and in 2 Hen. 3. gave nine hundred marks fine to the Kings that she might enjoy her Dowry of her said Husbands Lands and not be compelled to marry but to have the benefit of her marriage to her own behoof Whereupon she took Roger de Clifford for her second Husband but died in 20 Hen. 3. or before leaving Robert de Tregoz her Son and Heir who then paying one hundred pounds for his relief had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance Gurnay IN that notable fight which hapned betwixt the Forces of William Duke of Normandy afterwards King by the name of William the Conqueror and those of Henry then King of France in that part called Gallia Belgica lying betwixt the Rivers of Rhene and Sene where the French were totally routed mention is made of the valor of Hugh de Gurnay Which Hugh after that Duke was advanced to the Throne of this Realm was a witness to his Foundation of the Abby of S. Stephens at Caen and gave to the Monks of Bec the Tithes of his Provostship and Portion in Estoche in that Dukedom Moreover by the consent of Girard and Hugh his Sons he Founded the Abby of Goisla-Fontane near Alney Furthermore at the time of the General Survey he possessed these Lordships lying in Essex within this Realm viz Listune Erley and Forham and afterwards became a Monk in the Abby of Bec. To this Hugh succeeded Girard de Gurnay his Son and Heir Which Girard being a person of great power in An. 1089. 2 Will. Rufi stoutly adhered to King William Rufus against Robert Curthose Duke of Normandy his elder Brother giving up his Castle of Gurnay and other strong holds into his hands and endeavoring to reduce all the adjacent parts to his obedience Howbeit after this scil in An. 1096. Duke Robert for ten thousand marks of Silver delivering up Normandy unto Rufus and thereupon travelling to the Holy Land this Girard with Edith his Wife Sister to William Earl Warren and many other eminent persons accompanied him But in this journey he died his Wife surviving him who afterwards married
in 12 Ioh. gave eleven hundred marks for the same Wardship The name of this Heir was also Richard who arriving to his full age towards the later end of that Kings Reign confederated with the Rebellious Barons of that time and became so active in those troubles that having got power into their hands they constituted him one of those twenty five of whom they made choice to govern the Realm And in An. 1216. 18 Ioh. with Robert Fitz-Walter went over into France for more aid Nor returned he to his due obedience upon the death of King Iohn as many other did but continuing still in Arms with the fiercest was taken prisoner in the Battle of Lincoln 14 Cal. Iulii 1. Hen. 3. Moreover after this being a person of an haughty spirit he was in the Tourneament at 〈◊〉 in 7 Hen. 3. contrary to the Kings prohibition for which his Lands were seised But afterwards he became of a better temper For in 21 Hen. 3. he was constituted Justice of the Kings Forests in Northumbr Rotel Cantabr Hunt Buck. Oxon. Essex Surr. Berks. Southampt Wilts Somers Dors. Devon Gloc. Heref. Staff Salop. Wigorn. And in 26 Hen. 3. made Sheriff of the County of Essex and Governor of the Castle of Hertford for the last half of that year in which Office he continued so until the end of the first half of the thirtieth year And in 42 Hen. 3. had Summons to attend the King at Chester on Munday preceding the Feast of S. Iohn Baptist to oppose the hostilities of the Welsh Of this Richard it appears That he held the Lordships of Langele and Wardsbury in capite of the King as appertaining to his Barony of Stanstead in Essex and that he died without issue shortly after So that his Lands came to be shared amongst the issue of his three Sisters as his next Heirs Of which Sisters Margery the eldest was married to Hugh de Bolebeck Aveline the second to William de Forz Earl of Albemarle and Philippa the third to Hugh de Playz Tatshall AT the time of the Norman Conquest Eudo who together with one Pinco his sworn Brother in War though otherwise not allied came into England with Duke William merited so well from him in that service as that for recompence thereof they obtained of his gift the Lordship of Catshall with the Hamlet of Thorpe and Town of Kirkeby in Com. Linc. to be equally shared betwixt them Eudo to hold his proportion immediately of the King and Pinco his of Saint Cuthbert of Durham Being thus possessed of these Lands Eudo seated himself at Tatshall and left issue Hugh his Son and Heir called Hugh Fitz-Eudo who was born in Britanny and being a very devout Man Founded the Abby of Kirkstead in Com. Linc. for Cistertian Monks in An. 1139. 4 Steph. This Hugh had issue Robert his Son and Heir and two others viz. William sirnamed Fitz-Hugh and William de Dentune Which Robert in 12 Hen. 2. upon Assessment of the Aid for marrying the Kings Daughter certified his Knights Fees to be twenty five in number whereof all except one and an half were De Veteri Feoffamento and for which in 14 Hen. 2. he answered sixteen pounds thirteen shillings four pence to the Kings Exchequer And by a formal Charter whereby he calls himself Robertus filius Hugonis filii Eudonis de Tatshall gave License to the Monks of Kirkstea◠to translate the Seat of their Abby to another place more convenient for habitation and granted them Common of Pasture throughout all the Lands in Tatshall Thorpe and Kirkby of his Fee for all manner of Cattle To which Charter whereunto his Seal with Arms viz. Chequy and a cheif Ermine is affixed are Witnesses William Fitz-Hugh and William de Dentune his Brothers This Robert took to Wife ... the Neice of Gilbert de Gant Earl of Lincoln and left issue Philip commonly called Philip Fitz-Robert Fitz-Hugh Which Philip in 1 R. 1. paid twenty five pounds for the Scutage of those Knights Fees he then held in regard he was not with the King in his expedition of Galwey but in 6 Rich. 1. he attended him into Normandy In 7 Rich. 1. this Philip was Sheriff of Berkshire so also in 8 9 Ric. 1. and in 10 R. 1. executed the same office for Lincolnshire But in 1 Ioh. he was dead for then did Robert de Tatshall his Son pay an hundred pounds sterling for his releif and Livery of his Lands in Raddun and ten marks more for Livery of Lands of seven pounds per annum value which he had of the gift of Roger his Uncle if it were found that Robert de Gant did sue for those Lands together with other which Earl Simon had given him of the Inheritance of Alice de Gant unto whom this Robert was Heir In 3 Ioh. he gave the King a fair and well-manned Goshawk to have a Market every week upon the Thursday at Tatshall And in 4 Ioh. a Goshawk of Norway for License to come into England In 7 Ioh. he executed the Office of Sheriff for the Counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon and gave the King an hundred pounds for the custody of the Lands of Iohn de Ingeham and the Wardship and Marriage of his Heir they being of his Fee In 13 Ioh. upon collecting the Scutage of Scotland he had a special discharge for the twenty five Knights Fees he held and gave to the Canons of Bukenham in Norfolk half an Acre of Land lying in Gunneby called Munkwell for to find them an yearly pittance together with the Advowson of the Church but died about the fifteenth year of King Iohn leaving issue by Isold Pantulf his Wife Robert his Son and Heir whose Wardship with the custody of his Lands William Earl of Arundel for a Fine of seven hundred marks obtained paying his Debts due to the King Which Robert commonly called Robert the third gave to the Canons of Bukenham before mentioned Faldage for two hundred Sheep in Atheburgh with free Pasturage c. As also fifty three Acres of errable Land in Bukenham and in 7 Hen. 3. was in the Kings service with Horse and Arms for which respect he had Livery of those Lands of Isold Pantulf his Mother which had been seised into the Kings hands for certain debts due to the Crown In 8 Hen. 3. the King remitted to him six marks of the debt which he owed for the Scutage of Montgomery In 10 Hen. 3. he had the custody of Bolesover Castle so likewise of Lincoln Castle in 11 Hen. 3. committed to his trust And in 15 Hen. 3. had License to build a Castle at his own
as Heirs to William de Curtenai and the same year had summons amongst divers other great men to attend the King well appointed with Horse and Armes in his Expedition into France but departed this life in 33 Hen. 3. at that time seized inter alia of part of the Lordships of Laxton and Picheâ—â—e in Comit. Northamp held by Petit-Sâ—rjeanty viz. to hunt the Wolf whensoever the King should command He likewise died seized of the Mannors of Worthe and Upâ—â—â—stre and the one half of the Mannor of Badmâ—ndesfelde before-mentioned with divers Lands in other places leaving issue by Roesâ— his Wife one of the three Sisters and Coheirs of the Honor of Montgomerie in Wales Henry his Son and Heir then thirty years of age Upon occasion of which Marriage he changed his Armes and composed them partly of the Earl Warren's of whom that Honor was held and partly of his own Which Henry doing his Homage obâ—ained livery of his Lands before the end of â—hat year and in 42 H. 3. had Summons amongst divers other great men to attend the King at Chester upon the Munday next preceding the Feast of St. Iohn Baptist well fitted with Horse and Armes to restrain the hostile Incursions of the Welsh But after this he took part with the rebellious Barons and bearing Armes against the King in that memorable Battle of Eâ—esham wherein all their forces were utterly destroyed his Lands were seized into the Kings Hands Which seizure lasted not long for there being a full composure of those forfeitures by that notable decree called Dictum de Kenilworth he repossessed his Estate After which he gave to the Canons of Wospring in Com. Somers the moity of his Mannor of Worle and departed this life in 56 Hen. 3. having never been married and then seized of the Mannors of Laxton Bolewike Blatherwike and Pichesle in Com. Northamp as also of the Mannor of Cotes in Com. Hunt leaving Iohn de Engaine his Brother and Heir at that time of full age Which Iohn in 7 E. 1. contracted with William de Huntingfeld for a marriage to be solemnized betwixt Roger de Huntingfeld Son and Heir to the same William and Ioyce his eldest Daughter And in 12 E. 1. obtained a special Charter from the King for a weekly Market every Thursday at his Mannor of Halueton in Comit. Leic. and two Fairs the one on the Eve Day and Morrow after the Feast of the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist and two days following and the other on the Eve Day and Morrow after the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Iude and two days after In 22 E. 1. this Iohn was in that expedition then made into Gascoigne but in 25 Edw. 1. departed this life being then seized inter alia of certain Lands in Pytesâ—e in Comit. Northampt. found to be held of the King by the service of hunting the Wolf Fox and Badger As also of the Mannors of Blâ—therwike and Bolewyke in the same County â—yllington in Com. Hunt High-Notele in Com. Essex and Honesdone in Comit. Hertf. And likewise of the Mannor of Great Gidding in Com. Hunt held by the service of catching the Hare Fox Cat and Wolf within the Counties of Huntendon Northamptoâ— Buckingham Oxford and Roteland leaving issue by Ioane his Wife Daughter and Heir of Henry Gray Iohn his Son and Heir then thirty years of age Which Iohn in 28 Edw. 1. was in that expedition then made into Scotland So likewise in 31 Edw. 1. In 8 Ed. 2. he received the Kings Precept amongst others to be at Nemcastle upon Tine on the Festival of our Lady well furnished with Horse and Armes to march against the Scots And was summoned to Parliament from 25 Edw. 1. untill 14 E. 2. inclusive After which ere long viz. in 16 E. 2. he departed â—his life leaving no issue so that Iohn the Son of his Brother Nicholas by Amicia the Daughter of Walter de Fauconberge was found his next Heir who making proof of his age and performing his Homage had livery of his Lands And in 19 Edw. 3. had summons amongst others to fit himself with Horse and Armes and all the power he could make to attend the King into France being then a Banneret and residing in Huntendonshire In 26 Edw. 3 he was joyned in Commission with Constantine de Mortimer the Son to array and arm all the Knights Esquires and other able men of that County for defence of this Realm against the French then threatning an invasion He was also summoned to Parliament from 16 Edw. 3. untill 31 Edw. 3. inclusive and upon Friday the Feast-day of St. Valentine in 32 Edw. 3. departed this life then residing at Dilingâ—on in Com. Hunt being at that time seized at the Mannor of Halghton in Com. Leic. Notele in Comit. Essex Honsdon in Com. Hertf. Saundey in Comit. Bedf. Gidding and Dilington in Com. Hunt and Laxton in Com. Northamp leaving issue by Ioane his Wife Daughter of Sir Robert Peverell Thomas his Son and Heir twenty two years of age and three Dâ—ughters viz. Ioyce Elizabeth and Mary Which Thomas took to Wife the Lady Katherine Daughter to the Earl of Devon but died without issue upon the Feast day of the Apostles Peter and Paul in 41 Edw. 3. being then seized of the Mannors of Cotes in Com. Cantabr with the Advouson of the Church Sandy in Com. Bedf. Gidding Groffham and Dilington in Comit. Hunting Halughton in com Leic. Colne Engaine Upminstre and High Nottele in Com. Essex Hunsdone in Com. Hertf. Blatherwyk and Laxton in Comit. Northamp as also of fourteen Yard-land and Meadow and fourteen shillings four pence Rent in Pightesle in Com. Northamp held by the service of finding at his own proper costs certain Dogs for the destruction of Wolves Foxes Martrons Cats and other Vermine within the Counties of Northampton Roteland Oxford Essex and Buckingham Whereupon his Sisters before-mentioned viz. Ioyce the Wife of Iohn de Goldington Elizabeth of Sir Lawrence Pabenham Knight and Mary of Sir William Bernak Knight became his next Heirs and shared his Lands the Lady Katherine his Wife ther 's surviving who lived untill the first year of K. Hen. 4. Abrincis sive Averenches THe first mention I find of this name is of William de Abrincis Son of Witmund who died in Normandy the self same year that the famous King William the Conqueror departed this life The next is of Rualo de Abrincis Son to William I presume whom King Henry the first in Ann. 1119. 20 Hen. 1. upon the return of the French Forces into Normandy sent to the â—id of his Son Richard Which Rualo being a valiant and
their Chapels of his Fee viz. Eglosbrek Connarton Eglâ—â—â—eil Eglessant Egâ—oseraweyn with the Chapel of Bonnarton the Church of Melidan and Chapel of â—â—rmoch Also the Church of Esâ—removille in Normandy with its Appurtenances and acquitted the Monks of S. Peters at Gloucester of Toll in Bristoll â—â—erdiff Newport and all other his Lands and likewise the Church of S. â—â—thlake at Hereford from Toll throughout all his Lands in Wales as also the Monks of Goldcliff from Toll throughout all his Lands in England and Wales viz. Bristoll Caerdiff Newport Caerleon and Chepstow This Earl married Hawyse the Daughter of Robert sirnamed Bossu Earl of Leicester and had Issue by her a Son called Robert who died in his life-time and was buried in the Monastery of Chaynsham which he founded in memory of him as also three Daughters viz. Mabell married to ... Earl of Evereux in Normandy Amice to Richard de Clare Earl of Hertford and Isabell And to the end his Inheritance should not be divided amongst Females he constituted Iohn a younger Son to King Henry the Second his Heir After which viz. upon S. Clement's night Anno 1173. 20 Hen. 2. departing this life he was buried at Chaynesham before-specified But being thus dead King Henry the Second retained this Earldom in his own hands for six years and in the last year of his Reign giving Isabell the youngest of those three Daughters above-mentioned in Marriage to his Son Iohn bestowed it on him which he accordingly held all the space of his Brother King Richard the First 's Reign within which time he built the long Bridge at Tewksbury and gave the whole Toll of his Market there for the repair thereof Howbeit for this Marriage in regard they were of kin viz. in the third degree of consanguinity Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury put all his Lands under an Interdict for which Iohn complained to the Pope's Legate and Bishops by reason the Archbishop had so done after an Appeal to the Apostolick See whereupon the Legate ratified the Appeal and released the Interdict but having no Children by her after he came to the Crown he procured a Divorce from her yet held the Honour of Gloucester still with the Castle Borough Berton and Hundred of Bristoll Whereupon Geffrey de Mandevill Earl of Essex took her to Wife and after his death Hubert de Burgh Justice of England neither of them having Issue by her When she was dead Almaric Son to the Earl of Evereux by Mabell the eldest Daughter of Earl William had this Earldom of Gloucester for a short space Which Almaric in Anno 1200. 2 Iohn by the command of King Iohn quitted all his right in Evereux and the City of Evereux to Philip King of France in the presence of both Kings in lieu whereof King Iohn gave him an equivalent exchange and wedded the Daughter of Hugh de Gornai having with her in Frank-marriage by the gift of her Father the Mannor of Horstan but dying also without Issue by her the Inheritance of this great Honour totally devolved to Amice the Wife of Richard de Clare by reason whereof her Posterity afterwards enjoyed the title of Earls of Gloucester as I have in due place fully shewed Earls of Hereford OF this County the first who had the title of Earl after the Conquest was Milo commonly called Miles by Parentage Son to Walter Constable of England and Emme his Wife one of the Daughters of Dru de Baladon Sister to Hameline de Balun a person of great note in that time Which Hameline with his two Brothers Gwynok and Winebald came into England with King William the Conqueror and being the first Lord of Over-went in Com. Monmouth founded the Castle of Bergavenny in that place where a certain Giant called Agros had sometime built a Fortress but dying without Issue left that Territory unto his Nephew Brien Son to the Earl of the Isle commonly called Brien Fitz-Count or Brien de Walingford by Lucia his Sister Which Brien held it all the time of King William Rufus and leaving two Sons who were both Lepers put them into the Priory of Bergavenny giving for their maintenance divers Lands Churches and Tithes belonging to that great Lordship and afterwards taking upon him the Cross and going to Hierusalem left the same to the before-mentioned Walter his Nephew then Constable of England Touching which office of Constable as it then stood I take it to have been the same as Captain of the Guard in after-times for he was then called Princeps militiae domûs Regiae Moreover it is farther observable of this Walter that he founded the Castle of Gloucester upon his own Demesn Lands also that he built the Castles of Bristoll Rochester and Tower of London Likewise that he had the custody of that at Gloucester and also of the Castle of Hereford Furthermore that he gave the moity of his Lordship of Bernytone to the Canons of Lanthony in Wales and that in his age taking upon him the habit of a Canon-regular at Lanthony he died in that Monastery and was buried in the Chapter-house there Having said thus much of his Ancestors I proceed To this Milo being a Servant in Court to King Henry the First and one of his chief Counsellors as also an expert Souldier that King gave in marriage Sibyll the eldest Daughter to Bernard de Newmach Lord of Brecknock begotten on Nesta the Daughter of Griffin ap Leweline together with the Honour of Brecknock So likewise all his Fathers Lands held in Capite with the office of Constable of his Court as by his Charter dated at Roan appeareth It is said of this Milo that upon the death of King Henry the First expecting through the interest he had with Maud his sole Daughter and Heir to attain to the Earldom of Hereford he subtilly used all his power on her behalf and went with some strength to his Castle at Gloucester where she then was and fetcht her with honour thence But King Stephen notwithstanding this carried himself obsequiously towards him as it seems for it is most manifest that from him he obtained a restitution in Fee of the whole Honour of Gloucester with the custody of the Tower and Castle there which he had held as his Patrimony in the time of King Henry the First and likewise the Barony of Brecknock with all those Offices and Lands whereof he was possessed in the time of that King But notwithstanding this in 4 Steph. Maud the Empress landing in this Realm he fell off from the King and repairing to her at Bristoll
to him Whence making a triumphant Return he left this Iohn de Segrave behind him as Lieutenant there In 33 E. 3. he obtain'd Licence to Fortifie his Mannor-house at Caludon in Com. Warr. with a Moat and an Embattelled Wall And in 34 E. 1. had further Summons to attend the King at Carlisle well fitted with Horse and Arms thence to march with him into Scotland against Robert Brus then in Arms and assuming the Title of King in that Realm And as his Employments of Power and Trust under King Edward the First were thus great and remarkable so were they no less eminent and honourable in the time of his Son and Successor King Edward the Second For in the first year of his Reign he was constituted Justice of all the Forests from Trent Northwards as also Governour of Notingham-Castle and in 2 E. 2. again made Warden of all Scotland In 3 E. 2. he had a Grant of the Justiceship of the Forests beyond Trent and Government of Notingham-Castle for Life And in 4 E. 2. was again in the Scottish Wars But in 6 E. 2. attending the King into that Realm was taken Prisoner in that unfortunate Battel of Bannocksburne where the English lost the day for whose Redemption above a Twelve-month after one Thomas de Moram a Scot then Prisoner in the Tower of London and divers other of that Nation detain'd in sundry parts of this Realm were delivered to Stephen de Segrave Son and Heir of this Iohn by the King's appointment to be given in exchange for him In 8 E. 2. he had another Summons to fit himself with Horse and Arms and to be at Newcastle upon Tine thence to march into Scotland And in 9 E. 2. obtain'd Licence for a Market every Week upon the Thursday at his Mannor of Fenny Stanton in Com. Hunt as also for one Fair every year on the Eve and Day of the Apostles Peter and Paul and six days following In 10 E. 2. in consideration of his great Services and in recompence of his Imprisonment in Scotland he obtain'd the Grant of a thousand Pounds And in 12 E. 2. had Licence for a Market every Week upon the Tuesday at Alspath in Com. Warr. and a Fair yearly upon the Eve and Day of St. Lawrence and six days following In 18 E. 2. the King having conceived some displeasure towards him for the escape of Roger Lord Mortimer out of the Tower of London sent him together with Edmund Earl of Kent and some others into Gascoine under colour of defending those Parts Where being a great Mortality he departed this Life leaving Iohn his Grandchild his Cousin and next Heir Stephen his eldest Son dying a little time before him having had Summons to Parliament from 24 E. 1. to that Year But of this Iohn I shall respite what I have to say for a while and take notice of that which is memorable of Nicholas de Segrave Brother to the before-specified Iohn as also of the said Stephen In 22 E. 1. this Nicholas was in the King's Service in Gascoine And in 25 E. 1. had Summons to attend Prince Edward at Newcastle upon Tine to march against the Scots as also the next ensuing year to be at Carlisle well appointed with Horse and Arms in order to another Expedition design'd for Scotland at which time he was in the Battel of Faukirke where the English were Victorious In 33 E. 1. this Nicholas whom my Author calls Vnus de praestantioribus Militibus de Regno One of the most Worthy Knights in this Realm being charg'd with Treason by Sir Iohn de Crombwell Knight in defence of his Innocency challeng'd Crombwell to a Duel But that being not permitted he went beyond-Sea without Licence to pursue him At which the King took such offence that he commanded Justice should be done against him Whereupon after three days consultation the Judges declared That he deserved death and that all his Goods should be confiscate yet added That in regard of his Noble Descent as also in respect that he went not out of England in any affront to the King but to be reveng'd on his Accuser he might do well to pardon him To whom the King answered It is in my power to extend Mercy as I please Who hath submitted to my Clemency and suffered for it Let your Sentence be recorded in Writing and it shall stand for Law Hereupon he was committed to Prison for a terror to other Offenders in the like kind but after few days divers of the Nobility interceding for him thirty of his Peers also girt with Swords offering to be bound Body and Goods that he should be forth-coming whensoever the King should require he was set at liberty and restor'd to his Possessions Upon this his Flight to go beyond-Sea with purpose to fight with Crombwell in the Court of France endeavouring to take Shipping at Dobor and being there withstood by the Constable of that Castle he got to another Haven and sailed over for which upon his return he was seiz'd on at Dobor and brought to his Trial as before is observed But after this scil in 34 E. 1. he had another Summons to be at Carlisle in the xv â—s of St. Iohn Baptist's Nativity then to attend the King in his Expedition against Robert Brus. And in 1 E. 2. was constituted Governour of the Castle at Northampton and Marshall of England In 4 E. 2. he obtain'd Licence to make a Castle of his Mannor-house at Barton Segrave in Com. Northampt. and was the same year again in the Scottish Wars Upon this Grant of the Marshalship to him William le Mareschall much stomaching the matter both of them by their Friends and Allies raised strong Parties and resolv'd to come with them in that sort attended to the Parliament which was to begin at London upon Sunday next after the Feast of St. Laurence in 5 E. 2. But the King being advertised thereof prohibited them so to do upon pain of forfeiture of all they had commanding them by his special Precepts that they should not dare to come with Weapons or in any other sort than had been usual in the time of King Edward his Father This is all I have to say of this Nicholas de Segrave other than that he had Summons to Parliament amongst the Barons from 30 E. 1. until 14 E. 2. inclusive and that he departed this Life in 15 E. 2. being then seised of the Mannor of Pesâ—nhale in Com. Suff. Heydon in Com. Essex of the Site of the Castle of Barton in Com. Northt which he had by the Gift of Nicholas his Father as also of the Mannor of Weston in that County leaving Issue Maud
her Husband Roger her Son and Heir and Auger his Brother the Inheritance of all their Land at Ilesham and all that Right therein which they held of him by the Service of half a Knights Fee Which Purchase was made in the open County-Court of Devon and afterward scil on Thursday next following the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist recorded in the Exchequer at Westminster in the presence of Richard Bishop of Winchester Geffrey Bishop of Ely Iohn Bishop of Norwich Ranulph de Glanvill Richard the Treasurer William Basset Alan de Furnels Robert Mantell and other Barons then there sitting In which year being constituted Sheriff of Devon he continued so till the end of that King's Reign To this William and his Heirs King Henry the Second confirm'd all the Lands whereof he was then possess'd to hold as freely as he did in the time of King Henry the First As also the Forestership of the Forest of De la Bere with Power to take any Person transgressing therein betwixt the Bars of Hampton and the Gates of Winchester and likewise betwixt the River of Romesey and River of Winchester to the Sea in as ample manner as the Father of this William held the same in the times of King William and of King Henry the First Moreover after the death of King Henry the Second he stood in such high esteem with Richard the First That upon the going of that King into the Holy Land in the first year of his Reign he and Hugh Bardulf were associated to the Bishops of Durham and Ely in the Government of the Realm And soon after when King Richard was on his Journey procur'd from him a special Charter dated at Chinun upon the twenty fourth of June the same year for the Mannor of Sumburne in Com. Suthampt. and to have a Market once every Week there in a place called the Strait with an yearly Rent of xl s. payable out of the Forest of Bere Furthermore in 3 R. 1. the King being then in the Holy Land and doubting that the Bishop of Ely might not perform his Trust as he expected this William was one of the three to whom the King by his special Letters gave command That they should assume the Government into their Hands For which he grew so malign'd by the Bishop as many other then were who favouring Iohn Earl of Moreton the King's Brother had not complied with him that he procur'd him amongst others to be Excommunicated by the Pope But notwithstanding the Bishop thus frown'd upon him in 5 R. 1. when King Richard was brought to Wâ—rmes in Germany being made Prisoner by the Emperour as he return'd through his Country he came thither to him and was one of the principal Persons in that Treaty held there with the Emperour whereupon for a large Ransom the King was set at liberty and forthwith sent thence with some other Persons of Note to make a League with the King of France which was thereupon effected Likewise soon after this viz. in 6 R. 1. upon the Kings Return into England he together with Earl Roger Bigot William de Warren and some others was sent to Yorke to compose that Difference then depending betwixt the Archbishop there and the Canons of that Church As also constituted one of the Justices-Itinerant then sent into sundry parts of the Realm for redress of what was at that time amiss And in 10 R. 1. obtain'd from that King the Inheritance of two Rifflets one in his Common of Pasture betwixt Sunburne and Hakelegh in which were contain'd CC Acres and the other called the Rigge lying betwixt the Lands of William de Burbach and Wiâ—hall to be essarted and reduc'd to Culture and to be held for the same Service of two Knights Fees by which he held the Mannor of Sumburne with Licence to enclose two Woods which lay out of the Regard of the Forest the one situate betwixt Sumburne and Estochrigg and the other called Howde And besides all this underwent the Sheriffalty for the County of Devon which he held for divers years of King Henry the Second's Reign as is before observed in 1 Riâ— 1. Also that of Oxon. and Berks. from 3 to 6 R. 1. inclusive and likewise for Notingham and Derb. from 6 till 9 R. 1. inclusive Thus much for the Trusts and Favours which he receiv'd from King Richard the First Nor were they less from King Iohn after he assumed the Crown for in the first year of his Reign he bestow'd on him the Wardship and Marriage of Roger the Son and Heir of William Bertram a great Baron in the North and the like of the Heirs of Henry de Perci and Geffrey Chamberlain as also of the Daughters and Heirs of Raphe Murdac with their whole Inheritance Moreover he confirm'd â—nto him the Inheritance of the Mannor of Foston granted to him by Gilbert de Albamarle and Braworth which he acquir'd from Henry de Pomerie with the Advowsons of those Churches and Knights Fees Likewise the Mannor of Donkewell granted to him by the said Henry with the Knights Fees Also the Mannor of Bruggewalter which he obtain'd from Fulke Painell with the Advowson of the Church and Knights Fees and likewise the Mannors of Lamton and Little Cadeley with a Rent of x l. yearly out of the Mannor of Renham Also Licence to inclose his Woods at Toare Cadelegh Raddon Ailesberie and Burghâ— walter with free liberty to hunt the Hare Fox Cat and Wolf throughout all Devonshire and likewise the Goat out of the Regard of the Forest and to have Free-warren throughout all his own Lands for Hares Pheasants and Partridges And in 2 of his Reign granted to him an ample Charter for his Lordship of Bruggewalter viz. That it should thenceforth be a Free Borough and to have a Free Market there every Week with a Fair once a year and the Benefit of Toll and Passage and that the Burgesses thereof should be free of Toll and enjoy divers other Privileges Giving him also Licence for building of three Castles viz. one in Hantshire at Eslege or Stâ—ke another at Bruggewater in Com. Somerset and a third in Com. Devon wheresoever he should think fit upon any of his own Lands And that those Lx Acres of Land at Blitheâ—â—rth which were essarted in King Henry the Second's time should thenceforth be discharged from all Exactions of the Forest. In this second year of King Iohn he purchased from Walter Croc the moytie of that Barony which Walter Briton formerly had to the end that his Son Richard Briwere and his Heirs might thenceforth enjoy it And in 3 Ioh. in consideration of Five hundred Marks obtain'd from the King the Wardship of ... the Daughter of Hugh de Morevill with her whole Inheritance whereof her Father died seised that
mention whereof for brevity I omitt And having this Confirmation he then obtained the Kings Charter for a weekly Market upon the Thursday at his Mannor of Bettilyh with a Fair every year upon the Eve Day and Morrow after the Feast of St. Margaret And within two moneths after a Grant from the King of the Lordships of Egmundon and Newport in Shropshire for the yearly Rent of a Mued Sparhawk to be delivered into the Kings Exchequer every year at the Feast of St. Michael In 14 Hen. 3. the King gave him the Mannor of Forde in Comitat. Salop. in Fee-ferme to be held by the rent of twelve pounds per Annum Yet notwithstanding all this when Richard Mareschal Earl of Pembroke being discontented at the King for taking strangers into his Council and preferring them to places of power and trust and thereupon made an insurrection in Wales the King thought it fit to secure the fidelity of this Henry as of all other the Barons-Marchers and coming to Worcester did there take Hostages of them all Ranulph the Son of this our Henry being then given up for his Pledge But afterwards he was constituted Governor of Shrewsbury in stead of Iohn de Laci Earl of Lincolne And in 21 Hen 3. the King inclining to make peace with David his Nephew Son to Lewelin Prince of Wales and to that end appointing this Henry to conduct him and his Retinue unto Worcester when he had information that Iohn Earl of Chester was dead he commanded his stay in Cheshire for defence of those parts For the better performance whereof he constituted him Governor of the Castle at Chester as also of that at Beeston then called the Castle on the Rock And soon after made him Governor of Newcastle under Lyme in Staffordshire This Henry was he who founded the Abby of Hilton in Staffordshire for Cistercian Monks near to his Castle at Heleigh in Ann. 1223. 7 Hen. 3. and amply endowed it And having married Bertred Daughter of Ralph de Meisnilwarin an eminent person in Cheshire left issue Iames his Son and Heir and Emme a Daughter Wife of Griffin Son of Madoc Lord of Bromefield and all the territory of Mailour-Saesneg a person of great power in Wales Which Iames doing his Homage in 31 Hen. 3. had livery of his Lands and in 35 Hen. 3. was constituted Constable of Newcastle under Lyme as his Father had been In which Lands he obtained the Kings Charter of Free-Warren dated 37 Hen. 3. viz. the Mannors of Alditheleg Bettileg Cestretone Bradewelle Bikenhou Talke Chaderleg Tunstall Burwaedslime Chelle Thurisfeld Wytefeld Bemereâ—leg Enedone Hortone Grettone Longesdone Alstonesfeld and Norton in Comit. Staff Red-Castle Marchumleg Westone Wynekeshull Neuport Egmundon Astone and Fordes in Shropshire New-Hall Astone Smalewode and Chakkeleg in Cheshire Strattone and Whertwyke in Orfordshire Horsey in Cambridgshire Halewyke in Middleser and â—ynardeleye and Ejardeley in the Marches of Wales This Iames being in great favour with Richard Earl of Cornwall and with him at Aquisgrane on Ascension day Ann. 1257. 41 H. 3. when he was crowned King of Almaine about Michaelmass following returned into England with Henry Son to the same King of Almaine and divers other of the Nobles of this Realm who were great honorers of that King And having intelligence that the Welsh in his absence had made divers incursions upon his Lands lying upon the confines of Wales and exercised much cruelty there by Fire and Sword he hasted thither and entring their territories retalliated the like to them having brought from beyond-Sea with him certain Troops of Almain-Horse which routed the Welsh at the first encounter The next year following he was one of those who had command to attend the King at Chester upon Munday next preceding the Feast of St. Iohn Eaptist well fitted with Horse and Armes to oppose the insolencies of the Welsh And in 44 H. 3. upon the breach of that Truce by Lewline Prince of Wales which had been made betwixt K. Henry and him this Henry being one of the Lord-Marchers was commanded to haste into those parts with all the power he could raise for preventing farther mischief from those ill Neighbours In that year he was again constituted Governor of the Castles of Salop and Bruges and executed the Office of Sheriff for the Counties of Salop and Stafford for the last half of the 45 year of Henry the third In which 45 year he was sent by the King together with Roger de Mortimer unto the Forde of Montgomeri upon the Morrow after the Feast of St Hillary there to ratifie the Truce made by certain persons whom the King had appointed to treat with Lewelin Prince of Wales for that purpose In 46 Hen. 3. he received a special Precept from the King intimating the danger of more mischief from the Welsh by reason that Richard E. of Gloucester was then departed out of this life requiring him to be in readiness upon the return of Prince Edward into England to attend him into those parts and moreover commanding him and divers other named in that Precept that they should forbear to go to any Turncament or otherwise appear in Armes during the Kings abode beyond Sea In this 46 year of Hen. 3. he was again made Sheriff of the Counties of Salop and Stafford and Governor of the Castles of Salop and Bruges In 47 Hen. 3. the King upon his return into England being advertised that Lewelin Prince of Wales had violated the late Truce made betwixt them and possessed himself of divers Castles scituate upon the Marches sent his Precept to this Iames and divers other great men requiring them to meet at Hereford three days after the Fâ—ast of the Epiphany well fitted with Horse and Armes for vindicating those outrages of the Welsh And after that to meet at Ludlow within the Octaves of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin for the like purpose In all which imployments he was both active and faithful and stood so firm to the King in those troubles which broke out through that power which the Rebellious Barons raised the next ensuing year that his Castles and Lands in the Counties of Salop and Stafford were by them seized on In this 47 of Hen. 3. he was constituted Justice of Ireland And having married Ioan his Daughter unto Iohn the Son of Robert de Beauchamp of ... he had for his faithful services to the King a grant of the wardship of that Iohns Heir when it should be born the said Iohn being dead and his Lady near her time of delivery And the same year upon that agreement made by the King with the Barons that the King should submit to the Arbitrement of the King of France touching those Ordinances made by the Barons called
Army whereby the King being set at liberty was again restored to the exercise of his Regal power After which scil in 50 Hen. 3. this William obtained a Grant of the Castle of Haverford which in the time of the troubles he had besieged and took from Humphrey de Bohun the younger then in Arms against the King to hold until the full age of the Heirs of him the said Humphrey and Ioane his Wife As also of the Lands of William de Munchensi his Wives Brother one of the Rebellious Barons then forfeited viz. The one half of them in recompence of his services and the other half for the arrears of his Pension But in 52 Hen. 3. making a full restitution of them to the said William de Munchensi by the Kings assent he had in lieu thereof an Assignation of his Pension out of the Exchequer to be paid as formerly Moreover in 56 Hen. 3. he obtained a Grant of what belonged to the King of the marriage of Agnes his Daughter then Widow of Hugh de Baillol in case she should marry again without his liking And in 3 Edw. 1. of the Castle of Kilgaran then in the Kings hands by the death of George de Cantilupe After which viz. in 10 Edw. 1. he was in that expedition then made into Wales and in 11 Edw. 1. took the Castle of Bere belonging to Prince Lâ—welin at which time the King having a great Army in those parts subdued that whole Countrey to his absolute power In 18 Edw. 1. this William and Ioane his Wife by their Petition in Parliament setting forth That whereas upon the death of William de Munchensi Brother to her the said Ioane they had obtained a Bull from the Pope directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury touching the Inheritance of the Lands of the said William de Munchensi thereby desiring That the King would please to commit the tuition of Dionysia the Daughter of the said William then in Ward to the King as next Heir to the said William unto some person who might appear before the same Archbishop and such other Judges as were named in the Bull Was answered That the Admission of that Bull would tend to the Diminution of the Kings Authority and Power by reason That such Cases of Hereditary Succession ought not to be determined but in his Courts and that they ought first to commence by vertue of the Kings special Writ and thence to be transmitted to the Ecclesiastical Court if need require Wherefore for as much as it did appear that the aim of this William and Ioane his Wife was to invalidate the sentence of the Bishop of Worcester which had declared the said Dionysia to be legitimate and that their design was to make her a Bastard to the end they might enjoy the Estate they were inhibited to prosecute their Appeal any farther After which in the same Parliament he renewed his Claim to those Lands still pretending that the said Dionysia was a Bastard but after much dispute thereupon it being made manifest That the said William de Munchensi whilest he lived did own her as his lawful Daughter upon several occasions and caused it to be so divulged and because the Bishop of Worcester in whose Diocess she was born had given sentence therein accordingly she was allowed to be legitimate In 21 Edw. 1. this Earl William obtained a Grant from the King to himself and the before specified Ioane his Wife and to his own Heirs of the Commot of Cistrelaw in the Marches of Wales doing sute by the Bailiff of that Commot to the Kings Court at Kaermerdin And departing this life on the Ides of Iune An. 1296. 23 Edw. 1. slain by the French at Bayon as some say was buried in S. Edmunds Chappel within the Abby Church at Westminster upon the Calends of Iune next ensuing where a Noble Monument yet remaining was afterwards erected to his memory Ioane his Wife surviving who had for her Dowry an Assignation of the Mannors of Moreton and Watdon in Com. Gloc. Cherdisle and Policote in Com. Buck. Compton in Com. Dors. with the Advowson of the Church and the Advowson of the Church of Wridelington in Com. Suff. The Mannors of Sopworth Colingburne and Swindon in Com. Wiltes As also of all the Lands and Rents which he the said Earl had purchased in the Mannors of Sutton and Brabourne in Com. Cantii Intebergh and Bereford in Com. Wiltes Likewise in the Mannor of Castle Goderich and fourteen pounds five shillings four pence Lands and Rents in the County of Pembroke He had issue three Sons viz. Iohn who died young William and Aymer Which William was Lord of Montygnac and Bellac And in 7 Edw. 1. did oblige himself on the behalf of Iohn Lord Vesci who had married Mary the Sister of Hugh de Lezinian Earl of March for the repayment of two thousand five hundred pounds Tournois to that Earl in case she should die without issue After which being with Gilbert Earl of Glocester in a skirmish which he had with the Welsh near Lantilowhir was there slain his Father still living So that Aymer the third Son succeeded in this Earldom of Pembroke He had also three Daughters viz. Anne first married to Maurice Fitz-Gerald next to Hugh de Baillol and lastly to Iohn de Avennes Isabel Wife to Iohn de Hastings of Bergabvenny and Ioane wedded to Iohn Comyn of Badenagh This Earl Audomare or Aymer in 25 Edw. 1. was in that expedition with the King then made into Flanders and the same year assigned one of the Commissioners to ratiâ—ie the Agreement betwixt the King and Florence Earl of Holland touching those Auxiliaries which he was to have from that Earl in his present Wars as also one of the Ambassadors sent to treat of Truce betwixt King Edward and the King of France In 26 Edw. 1. he was in the Wars of Scotland so likewise in 27 Ed. 1. And in 29 Ed. 1. again sent Ambassador to treat with those from the King of France touching a Peace with the Scots In 31 Edw. 1. he was again in the Scotish Wars and the same year had License to go beyond Sea on his own occasions In 33 Edw. l. he obtained a Grant from the King of the Castles of Selkirke and Tresquair in Scotland also of the Borough of Pebbles to hold by the service of one Knights Fees likewise of the whole Forest of Selkirke in Fee-Ferme paying an hundred thirty pounds per annum and to be Sheriff there with authority to build Towns Churches Castles and other Fortifications as also for Free-Warren and power to Deafforest and make Parks therein at his own pleasure Shortly after which he made a Pile at Selkirke and put a Garrison in it In 34 Edw. 1. he was sent as Guardian of the
he sent to the Earl of Murref then Guardian of that Kingdom by reason of the Minoritie of King David on their behalf but this Message taking no effect the English Lords whereof this Henry then bearing likewise the Title of Earl of Boghan was the chief took shipping at Ravenspurre and landed at Kingcorn in Scotland not far from Dunfermeline and worthily shared in the Honor of that Victory then obtain'd against the Scots near Gledismore being the only person who encouraged the English to pass the River of Earne over night and to fall upon the Scots very early next morning Which they accordingly did with such great success But this being done without the leave of King Edward who would not permit them to enter that Realm by land in regard that David the son of Robert de Brus the other Competitor with Edward de Baillol for the Crown of that Realme had Marryed his sister he became so displeased as that through the advice of some of his Counsel he caused all the Castles Mannors and Lands belonging to this Henry lying in the Counties of Warwick Leicester Nottingham and Derby to be seised on Nevertheless soon afterwards upon farther examination of what was laid to his charge in the Parliament then sitting at Westminster by the assent of the Prelates and Peeres there met he had restitution of them again And the same year obtain'd Letters from King Edward to David de Brus representing to him that upon the Treaty of Peace and Accord thereupon made betwixt Robert de Brus late King of Scotland his Father and King Edward the Second it was agreed inter alia that this Henry Earl of Boghan Henry Lord Perci and Thomas Lord Wake of Lidel should have restitution of their Lands in Scotland whereof they had been dispossessed by reason of the Wars Also that though the Lord Perci had Livery of his this Henry and the Lord Wake were still kept from theirs and therefore desired that they might have the like favour which accordingly was granted In 7 Edw. 3. in consideration of his Services in that Realme he obtained respite for the payment of a Thousand Marks then due from him to the King for the Wardship and Marriage of David the son and heir to David de Strabolgi Earl of Athol In An. 1134. 8 Edw. 3. being besieg'd in a Castle in Scotland it is said by some that King Edward hearing thereof entred that Realm with a great Power and reliev'd him Others say that this being the Castle of Dungarg in Boghan of his Wives inheritance which he had newly fortified he surrendred it upon condition he might return safe into England About this time King Edward being at York wroâ—e his Letters to this Henry giving him to understand that whereas Edward Baillol King of Scotland upon the forfeiture of Malisius Earl of Strathern had by the consent of his Nobles given that Earldome unto Iohn Earl Warren in recompence of his vast expences in the Wars of that Realm and that afterwards by the sollicitation of some friends of Malisius great endeavors had been used for revocation of that Judgment and forfeiture as also that he had written to that King desiring him that the business might be publickly discussed by his Nobles and faithful Peeres of the Realm and not by such whose fidelity was doubted He therefore required this Henry that he should use all his interest for preventing any sudden determination in that business considering of what ill example it would be as also peril to himself and others in the like case About this time upon the death of Isabel de Vesci his sister without issue he was found to be her heir and fifty yeares of age Whereupon the Mannors of Barton Staynton Thoresway Lyndewode and Welleburne in Com. Linc. descended to him whereof he had Livery shortly after doing his homage In 9 Edw. 3. he still continued in the Wars of Scotland At which time King Edward being at St. Iohnstons in consideration thereof and of his great expences in that service by the consent of his Nobles there attending him acquitted him of all such debts as were due from him unto the Exchequer and especially of Four hundred Marks lent unto him at York towards the payment of his Ransome upon his Imprisonment in Scotland In 10 Edw. 3. being then Constable of the King's Army he was sent into Scotland for the defence of that Realme And in 11 Edw. 3. had a Charter for Free-warren in all his Demesn-Lands at Bolton-perci in Com. Ebor. as also at Selkeworthe and Talkley in Com. Oxon. In this year also he obtain'd an Assignation out of the Exchequer of One hundred forty eight pounds nine shillings then in arreare and due unto him for the Wages of himself and his Men at Armes in 9 10 Edw. 3. And in 12 Edw. 3. attending the King in his Expedition then made into Flanders obtain'd his Precept to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to permit his Wife and Children to reside in the Tower at Yorke without and near to the Castle during his absence In this 12 th year he was made Justice of Scotland And having been summon'd to Parliament from 2 Edw. 2. until 6 Edw. 3. inclusive departed this life in 14 Edw. 3. being then seised of the Castle and Mannor of Folkyngham the Mannors of Hekynton Styveton Lyndewode Thoreswaye Barton and the Advouson of the Church of Kaillesthorpe in Com. Linc. And of the Mannors of Whytewyke with its members viz. Shepesheved Herkefeld Wydington Roteby Newton and Bocharston as also of the Mannor of Loughborough with its Members scilicet Beaumanour Burton Huclescote Watton Ernesby Barow Cosyngton Raveston Querndon Mountsorel Wodesthorpe and Kyntesthorpe all in Com. Leic. of the Mannor of Chelleton and the third part of one Knights-Fee in Disheburne c. in Com. Northumb. And joyntly with Alice his Wife the remainder to Thomas their son of the Mannor of Bolton Perci in Com. Ebor. Likewise of the Advousons of the Abby of Uaudei and Priorie of Sempringham in Com. Linc. and of Sixty three Knights Fees and a third part all in that County sometime belonging to the Barony of Gant leaving Iohn his son and heir Twenty two years of age and a daughter called Elizabeth Married to Nicholas de Audley son and heir to Iames Lord Audley of Heley ¶ But here before I proceed farther I shall take leave to say something of Isabell de Beaumont sister to this deceased Henry she being a Woman of great note in her time In 8 Edw. 1. being then the Wife of Iohn de Vesci of Alnwike in Com. Northumb. one of the greatest Barons in the North and called Kinswoman to Queen Aâ—â—anore he covenanted that if he should depart this life without issue of his
Trust for the Captainship of Calais and the Marches thereof Nevertheless after this they complyed with him again for in 34 H. 6. upon a Parliament then called 11 Nov. he had power given him to hold it in the Kings name and in 35 H. 6. 6 Martii was made Lieutenant of Ireland But the Queen being not a little sensible of the danger which might ensue through his Power and Friends and well knowing what Interest he had with the Londoners took the King thence into Warwickshire under colour of a Progress for his health And being at Coventre sent Letters for him as also for his chief Adherents Salisbury and Warwick Who fearing some mischief fled several ways this Duke to Wigmore in the Marches of Wales Salisbury to Middleham in the North and Warwick to Calais Hereupon the King after some time perceiving all quiet reâ—urned to London and calling a great Council there sent for him promising to receive him and his friends cheerfully and that all old grudges should be forgotten Which fair assurance encouraging him he came attended with four hundred Men and was lodged at Baynards-Castle the rest of his friends coming also with numerous Retinues Hence through the mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury ensued a meeting by the King and him and likewise a fair reconciliation as to all outward appearance as also in testimony thereof a formal Accord drawn up in Writing dated at Westminster upon the 23 of March in 36 H. 6. Which occasioning great joy on all parts a solemn Procession was made to St. Pauls by the King himself in his Royal Robes and Crown on his Head the Lords proceeding thither also by two and two together a Yorkist and Lancastrian hand in hand viz. the Duke of Somerset and Earl of Salisbury the Duke of Exeter and Earl of Warwick c. and next behind the King the Queen with this great Duke hand in hand Which was all but an outward shew there being no hearty reconciliation betwixt them Insomuch as the Queen shortly after through the advice and assistance of Somerset and Buckingham caused the Lord Audley to raise certain Forces to intercept the Earl of Salisbury upon his way from Middleham towards London he being to pass through the Counties of Staff and War To which purpose Audley having got together a great power in Cheshire and Shropshire where his Interest most lay meeting with Salisbury at Blore-Heath near Drayton in Com. Salop. after a sharp Skirmish was himself slain on the place This Duke therefore discerning unto what he was like to trust joyned with Salisbury and raised a new Army But upon the publishing of a Proclamation from the King that all who would lay down Arms and submit should have pardon many of their Men fled to the Kings side which put him into such a fright that with his Son Edmund Earl of Rutland he fled privily into Wales and thence into Ireland but afterwards returning came to Ludlow unto which place the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick his chiefest confidents also resorted with Andrew Trollop an expert Souldier Whence they sent an excusatory Letter to the King full of high expressions of all Obedience and Loyalty bearing date 10 Oct. But the King being then somewhat over-confident of his own strength caused a Parliament to meet at Coventree and therein attainted him as also his son Edward Earl of March and all their adherents Whereof the Earl of Salisbury and Warwick having notice they presently got to Calais and thence sent over to the King certain Articles of overture for a new accord After which the tide soon turned so that the King 's whole Fleet falling from him the Kentish Men offered to joyn with this Duke Hereupon Salisbury and Warwick landed at Sandwich and Marcht to London where they were joyfully receiv'd by the Mayor and Citizens The King therefore having advertisement of the danger raised what power he could and Marcht up to Northampton Where those Lords giving him battel upon the 9 th of Iuly put him to the worst so that divers of his chief Friends were there slain And taking advantage of this victory forthwith returned to London Whereupon the Earl of March son to this Duke had the Tower delivered up to him All this being done whilst this Duke was in Ireland who hearing thereof return'd and came to London on Friday next preceding the Festival of St. Edward the Confessor Where having a naked Sword borne before him Trumpets sounding and attended with a multitude of Armed Men he was received with general applause and so went strait to the House of Parliament and there ascending the Throne-Royal openly challenged that Seat as his right After great consultation therefore had by the Peers and Prelates then met conducing to Peace it was at length inter alia agreed that K. Henry having reigned Thirty eight years and more should continue the Title of King during his life But in case of Death Resignation or breach of this Accord that the Government should immediately divolve to this Duke if then living if not to his next heir and he to be thenceforth Protector and Regent of the whole Realme as by the Articles more fully appeareth Whereupon he took a solemn Oath that he would not attempt any thing directly nor indirectly against the life of the King or in diminution of his Dignity Royal both his Sons doing the like which being perform'd he was Proclaimed heir apparent to the Crown by sound of Trumpet But hearing that the Queen was raising all the Power she could in opposition to him assigning the Duke of Norffolk and Earl of Warwick to be about the King he Marcht from London Northwards upon the second of December appointing his son the Earl of March to follow him with all his Power and came to his Castle of Sandale near Wakefeild in Yorkshire on Christmass Eve Whereof the Queen being then in those parts having intelligence she followed him with all speed with hopes to fall upon him before he had got together any considerable strength having in her company the Prince her son the Dukes of Exeter and Somerset as also divers other brave men of the Lancastrian party and came near to his Castle Gates soon after Whereupon though much inferior in number of men and strength he drew out towards Wakefeild but being over-powered his little Army became soon routed and he himself slain Which fatal blow was then attributed to have been as a just Judgment upon him for violating his solemn Oaths so made to King Henry as hath been observed Being thus slain his Corps was first interred at
required to do his Homage for the Mannours of Little Hoyland and Tolleshunt in Com. Essex to this Ingelram as he had formerly done to Robert In 37 H. 3. this Ingelram had command to send Baldwin de Fienles his Brother well fitted with Horse and Arms into Gascoine there to stay in the Kings service as also William his own Son to be educated with Prince Edward And furthermore to provide lxxx sufficient Men at Arms besides those xl for whom the King had formerly written And the next year following was himself in his service beyond Sea In which year upon collection of the aid for making the Kings eldest Son Knight he paid xii l. for those six Knights fees he then held And in 47 H. 3. in consideration of his long continued and laudable services obtained the custody of the lands of William de Beauchamp of Bedford then deceased to hold untill the Heir should accomplish his full age Moreover in consideration of his great fidelity and constancy to the Royal interest in the time of the Barons Wars so soon as the King recovered his liberty and rightful power by that happy Victory at Evesham in 49 of his Reign he obtain'd his precept that all those his lands whereof he had been dispossessed in the time of those troubles should forthwith be restored to Robert de Amnese his Bayliff To this Ingelram de Fienles succeeded another William who in 54 H. 3. preparing for his journey to the Holy-land constituted William de Amnese his Attorney to transact all businesses for him in his absence giving power also to Reginald de Fenes his Brother to constitute any other Attorney for him during the space of five years In 10 E. 1. this William was in that expedition then made into Wales and in 21 E. 1. possessed the Honour of Chokes in Com. Northt In 22 E. 1. he had command to fit himself with Horse and Arms and to attend the King at Portsmouth upon the first of September thence to sail with him into Gascoine It seems that upon the differences which were about that time betwixt King Edward and the King of France he favoured the French and that his lands in England were thereupon seized But in 27 E. 1. making his peace command was given for the restoring them again After which ere long viz. in 30 E. 1. he departed this life being then seised of the Mannour of Clopham in Com. Surr. and xx Marks yearly rent issuing out of the Mannour of 〈◊〉 in the same County As also of the Mannour of Wendovre in Com. Buck c. and Mertock in Com. Somerset leaving Iohn his Son and Heir xxiv years of age as saith the Inquisition But by another Record it appeareth that proof could not be made of his age according to the custome of England in regard he was born beyond-sea Nevertheless by reason that William his Father had done his Homage to the King and died a Loyal Subject his Homage was also accepted and Livery made to him of all his lands In 10 E. 2. this Iohn de Fienles having lands in Flanders wherein much damage had been done by the Inhabitants of St. Omers he obtain'd the Kings Letter to the Mayor and commonalty of that Town for satisfaction therein in which Letter King Edward calls him his Kinsman And in 18. E. 2. his lands in England having been seised in respect of his residence within the power of France upon security given for his fidelity restitution was made of them until farther Order should be given therein Contemporary with this Iohn was Robert de Fienles who in 5 E. 2. had a Charter for Free-Warren at Wendovre in Com. Buck. And in 7 E. 2. in consideration of his good service done and to be done obtain'd an Annuity of Cx. marks per annum out of the Issues of that County Moreover in 10 E. 2. he had Livery of that Mannor of Wendovre which had been by him demised to the King for a certain time but being afterwards attainted for adhering to the French he lost all A descendent of this Family was Sir William de Fenys Knight viz. Son of William Son of Iohn and Ioane his Wife third Sister and Coheir to William de Say Which Sir William Fenys was made Sheriff of Surr. and Suss. in 20 R. 2. As also in 1 H. 4. and left Issue two Sons Roger and Iames. Which Roger doing his Homage in 6 H. 4. had Livery of his Lands though then within age And in 1 H. 6. being a Knight was made Sheriff of Surr. and Suss. as his father had been This Roger in 19 H. 6. obtained Licence to make a Castle of his Mannor House at Herst Monceaux in Sussex which Lordship first came to this Family by the Marriage of Iohn his great Grandfather with the Heir Female of Monceaux As also to enlarge his Park there with six hundred Acres of Land and left Issue Richard Who being afterwards a Knight and Chamberlain to King Edward the Fourth Married Ioane the Daughter and sole Heir of Thomas Son and Heir to Thomas Lord Dacre by reason whereof in 37 H. 6. he was by Letters Patents bearing date 7 Nov. accepted and declared Lord Dacre and to be a Baron of this Realm And in 1 E. 4. obtain'd a grant from the King to himself and the said Ioane his Wife and to the Heirs of the Body of her the said Ioan of the Mannors of Irthyngton Dacre Kyrk-Oswald Black-hall Farlam Brankanwapt Lasyngby Brampton Burgh upon the Sand Ayketon â—ouclyff and Glassenby and of CCC Acres of Land CC. Acres of Pasture xl Acres of Wood xl s. yearly Rent in Newbigging Mosdale Stafhull and Glossenby and moity of the Mannor of Castell-Kariott in Com. Cumbr. the Mannors of Barton and Hoff in Com. Westmorl Holbeche in Com. Linc. Halton Fishwyke Kelette and Eccleston in Com. Lanc. As also of all other the Lands of the said Sir Thomas Dacre which came to the Crown by Act of Parliament begun at Westminster 4 Nov. in the same first year of that King's Reign After which in 13 E. 4. he was made Constable of the Tower of London and in 15 E. 4. one of the King's Council having a grant of C. marks per annum issuing out of the Customs in the Port of London for his attendance on that service And having been summon'd to Parliament by the Title of Lord Dacre from 38 H. 6. till 22 E. 4. inclusive departed this Life in 2 R. 3. being seised of the Mannors of Herst Monceaux Batisâ—ord and Strete in Com. Suss. leaving Thomas his Grandson his next Heir viz. Son of sir Iohn Fenys Knight his eldest Son who died in his life time twelve years
his stead Unto which Instrument her Seal of Arms is affixed viz. Stafford and Basset quartered and that he dying in 2 Ed. 2. was buried in the Fryers Minors at Stafford leaving issue two Sons viz. Ralph his Son and Heir then nine years of age and Sir Richard Stafford Knight his younger Son who in 30 33 Ed. 3. was in the Wars of France So likewise in 34 Edw. 3. and in 35 Edw. 3. being made Seneschal of Gascoigne continued there the next ensuing year being then called Sir Richard Stafford of Clifton Knight which Lordship he then possessed by reason of his marriage with Maud the Daughter and Heir to Richard de Camvile of that place Which Sir Richard Stafford had issue Richard who in 36 Edw. 3. was in that expedition with his Father then made into Gascoigne and in 40 Edw. 3. went again to those Wars Moreover this Richard had Summons to Parliament amongst the Barons from 44 Edw. 3. until 4 Rich. 2. inclusive and then viz. upon the Thirteenth of August departed this life being seised of the Mannors of Childecote in Com. Derb. Norton in Hales in Com. Salop. Clifton Camvile Pipe and Bruggeford in Com. Staff The moity of the Mannor of Campeden and the Mannors of Aston under Egge Charingworth and Winton in Com. Gloc. As also of the Mannor of Sibbertoft in Com. North. leaving Edmund his Son and Heir then a Priest Thirty six years of age Which Edmund being afterwards Bishop of Exeter and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Sir Thomas Stafford Knight his Brother came to possess the Estate who having issue Thomas that died without issue the Inheritance thereof descended to Catherine his Sister married to Sir Iohn Ardern Knight But I return to Ralph Son and Heir of Edmund This Ralph coming of full age in 17 Ed. 2. and then doing his homage had Livery of his Fathers Lands and the next ensuing year being made a Knight by Bathing and other Sacred Ceremonies had Robes with all other accoutrements as a Banneret allowed him out of the Kings Wardrobe for that solemnity After which he soon grew an active person in the Wars of that heroick Prince King Edward the Third For it appears that in 1 Edw. 3. he was in that expedition then made into Scotland and in 4 Edw. 3. one of those Lords who stoutly pursued that then potent Man Roger de Mortimer Earl of March and took him in the Castle of Nottingham Moreover in 8 9 Edw. 3. he was again in the Scotish Wars as also in 10 Edw. 3. Margaret his Wife being then with him So likewise in 11 Edw. 3. and in 13 Edw. 3. in that expedition then made into Flanders Furthermore in 14 Edw. 3. King Edward having entred the North parts of France with a powerful Army in order to the recovery of that Realm as his Hereditary Right and discerning how he was illuded by Iohn Stratford then Archbishop of Canterbury whom he trusted in his absence in not helping him to that supply of Money from England whereon he depended for support of these Wars so that he was then necessitated to return from that hopeful adventure without success he sent this Ralph Lord Stafford then Steward of his Houshold unto that Archbishop to offer him safe conduct in coming to him to the end he might understand what defence he could make for that his neglect In 15 Edw. 3. he was again in the Wars of Scotland and the same year obtained the Kings Charter for a Market every week upon the Tuesday at his Mannor of Madley under Lyme in Com. Staff as also two Fairs yearly the one on the Eve and Day of S. George the Martyr and two days following and the other on the Eve and Day of S. Leonard and two days after And likewise a weekly Market at his Mannor of Tisho in Com. War on the Wednesday with a Fair every year upon the Eve and Day of S. Peter ad Vincula commonly called Lammas as also view of Frank-Pledge and divers other Priviledges viz. For Tryal and Execution of Malefactors c. In 16 Edw. 3. being sent into Britanny with divers other eminent persons he had of his Retinue fifty Men at Arms and fifty Archers all on Horsback whereof himself and two other were then Bannerets sixteen Knights and thirty one Esquires having for his and their support in that service fifty seven Sacks of the Kings Wools. Moreover being then in the City of Uannes at that time besieged by the French he escaped by a Postern but afterwards was taken prisoner before Nants then besieged by the English and exchanged for the Lord Clysson In 17 Edw. 3. he was joyned with the Earls of Lancaster Glocester Warwick Northampton and others in another expedition for Scotland to raise that Siege which the Scots had laid to the Castle of Lough Mabar whereof the Earl of Northampton viz. William de Bohun had then the custody And shortly after this was imployed again with Henry de Lancaster Earl of Deâ—by and some other grave persons to the Court of Rome there to treat with the Pope not as a Judge but as a private Person and Friend touching the right of King Edward to the Crown of France He was likewise the principal person then sent in Commission with Sir William Trussel Knight and some others to the Governors and Burger-Masters of divers good Towns in Flanders to treat touching the well regulating of that Countrey as to the Staple of Wools and Sheep Skins as also to treat and conclude touching the Coynage of good Money Gold and Silver to be current as well in England as in Flanders and by another Commission impowred to treat with the Princes and others of Almaine touching a League of Friendship betwixt King Edward and them and to obtain their assistance to him upon occasion Moreover in 18 Edw. 3. being sent into Gascoigne with Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby upon the assault of Bergerath by that Earl on the Land part this Ralph commanded the Fleet to attack it by Sea and was with him likewise at the siege of Auberoche In 19 Edw. 3. he had that great office of Seneschal of Aquitane conferred upon him and continuing thereupon in those parts command was given to the Sheriff of Glocestershire to send thither to him One hundred Bows and six hundred Arrows for the Kings service there In 20 Edw. 3. he went again into Gascoigne and being then in Aguillon when Iohn Son and Heir to Philip King of France came to besiege it he placed empty Wine Hogsheads upon that part of the Town which was not Walled putting Stones into them and though he was besieged
with a numerous Army he stoutly defended it against their whole power It is said by some of our Historians that upon King Edwards coming into France at that time with a puissant Army which occasioned the before specified Iohn to raise his siege and to march away in order to the conjunction of his Forces with the Army of Philip his Father this Ralph Lord Stafford â—allied out of Aguillon fell upon his Rear and cut off a great part thereof Moreover that being thus cleared from that siege he joyned his Forces with King Edwards and had an eminent command in the Van of the Army under the Black Prince in that famous Battle of Cressy which soon after ensued where the English obtained a glorious victory Likewise that after that victory being sent with Sir Reginald Cobham and three Heralds to view the slain they reported the number to be Eleven great Princes eighty Bannerets twelve hundred Knights and more than thirty thousand Common Soldiers And also that upon the render of Calais which hapned shortly after he was one of those who were then appointed to take possession of it for the King The next year following there being an accord made betwixt this Ralph and Margaret his Wife on the one part Sir Robert de Harley and Elizabeth his Wife on the second part and Sir Edward Cornwall on the third part as Cosins and Heirs to Peter the Son of Peter Corbet This Ralph claiming the Castle of Caus and other Lands as being descended from the eldest Aunt of the same Peter it being thereby concluded That he should thenceforth enjoy that Castle to him and his heirs he obtained Livery thereof doing his Fealty for the same And before the end of that year in farther consideration of his laudable services did also obtain another special Livery of all those Lands which Hugh de Audley Earl of Glocester then deceased held of the Inheritance of Margaret his Wife one of the Daughters and Heirs to Gilbert de Clare sometime Earl of Glocester which by the death of her the said Margaret did by descent belong to Margaret Wife to this Ralph as Daughter and Heir to them the said Hugh and Margaret his homage being respited in respect of his Military imployment For he was then sent again into France and had purveyance for himself his men and horses in the Counties of Sussex Surrey and Kent till he took shipping Sir Hugh Fitz-Simond Knight being at that time one of his Retinue as appears by an Indenture dated 16 Martii the same year whereby he covenanted to serve him in the Wars wheresoever he should have occasion with four Knights himself accounted and eight Esquires for the space of one whole year next ensuing Being thus again in France he was one of the Ambassadors sent to the Cardinals of Naples and Cleremont to treat of Peace betwixt King Edward and Philip de Valoys then assuming the title of King of France In 22 Edw. 3. which was the next ensuing year he obtained License to make Castles of his Mannor Houses at Stafford and Madeley as also a Grant from the King of 573 l. for his expences in his service beyond Sea And being then by Indenture retained to serve the King during his whole life with sixty Men at Arms had by reason thereof Six hundred marks per annum assigned unto him to be received out of the Ports of London and Boston Moreover having merited so well for his many and great services he was about this time elected to be one of the number of that honorable Society of the most Noble Order of the Garter then instituted by that martial and victorious Prince King Edward the Third Furthermore in 24. Edw. 3. he was joyned in Commission with the Bishop of Durham the Lord Percy and Lord Nevill to treat with the Nobles of Scotland at York for a firm and final Peace betwixt both Realms In which and all other his employments his deportment was such That the King in consideration thereof upon the fifth of March then next ensuing advanced him to the title of Earl of Stafford and for his better support of that dignity granted to him a thousand marks per annum in Fee until he should provide Lands of that value to settle on him and his heirs And being thus raised to these Honors and inriched with such large benefits he was shortly after viz. in 26 Edw. 3. constituted the Kings Lieutenant and Captain-General in his Dutchy of Aquitane with special Commission to treat with any persons of what Nation soever upon terms of Aid to the King and mutual assistance from him In which service viz. The Lieutenancy of Aquitaine he was then likewise retained by Indenture bearing date 3 Martii to continue with an hundred Men at Arms and an hundred Archers on Horsback of his own proper Retinue until Michaelmass next following And from that time forwards to have an additional number of One hundred Men at Arms more with good Captains and Two hundred Archers on Horsback provided at the Kings charge for the time of his stay there The King likewise indenting farther with him to send by way of more supply under the conduct of the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick or Huntingdon Three hundred Men at Arms and seven hundred Archers During the time of which stay there he constituted Sir Iames Pipe Knight then Seneschal of that Dutchy Governor of the Town and Castle of Blavy situate in the Enemies quarters And in regard of this his necessitated absence from England obtained a special Precept to the Judges of the Kings Bench that they should not in any of their Sessions within the County of Essex intermeddle with his Liberties For which expedition whilest he was preparing he had an Assignation of the Town of 〈◊〉 in Com. Middl. for the quartering of his Men and Horses Sixty Men with Lances being for that service then impressed out of his Lordships of Newport and Netherwent in the Marches of Wales In 27 Edw. 3. he attended Prince Edward in the company of the Earl of Warwick unto the City of Chester with a Military Power for the protecting of Sir Richard de Willoughby and Sir William de Shareshul Knights then sitting there as Justices Itinerant against the violence of the people whose Insurrection they feared And the same year had a special Dispensation from Pope Innocent the Sixth bearing date 15 Kal. Febr. That such Religious Persons as should be at his Table or in his House might eat Flesh. In 29 Edw. 3. he attended the King again into France whose purpose was to have given Battle to the King of France then at S. Omers had he not privily got away And in 33 Edw. 3. marching towards Reyns in Campaigne and quartered in