Of Knightlow-hundred.

I Shall not need to enumerate the Towns and Villages which it now contains, the Map sav­ing me that labour.

The first mention I find in Record of it, is in Rot. P. 16. H. 2. 16. H. 2. where the Sheriffe accounts Cent. sol. pro placitis concelatis; and there it is called Sipesocha de Cnuchtelawa, those of Chin­ton, and Humeliford, having there the same title of Sipesocha. The word Lib. vo­cat. le quire de Douere in Scac. Socha, by Expositors, signifying a free Court,, where Pleas of Debt, Covenant, Trespasse, Detinue, &c. are held; but for the first sillable Sipe, I rather suppose it should be Sithe the Saxon letter [...] (which was in use long after the Conquest) being mistaken for p, and then if so (and that Mr. Lambert's exposition of the word Sithecundman to be Lega­lis homo, or Militaris homo, be right) it will not be improper to interpret Sithesocha, to be Curia libera legalium hominum: for the Hundred Court, we know, is Visus franc. pleg. as we com­monly terme it. And if it be taken in the sense of Militarium hominum, it agrees well enough with the nature of that meeting; for to this day in some Counties they are called Wapentac's from the touching of his speare who had the goverment of the Wapentac assigned to him by the principal sort of men that did associat with him; as Mr. Cambden (speaking of Wapentac's) observeth out of the Laws of St. Edward.

In K. Iohn's time I find it by the name of Lib. [...]ub. 233. b. Hun­red. de Chnitelowe to answer XL. Marc. de fir­ma.

In the account of William Luscy (Shiriffe of the Shires of Warw. and Leicest.) 21 H. 3. it is thus recorded.

• De firma de Knistelawe XL. M.
• De auxil. vicecom. ejusdem Hundredi XV. l.
  In baga de diversis Inquis. pe­nès Thes. & Camer. Scac.
• De franc. pleg. ejusdem Hundredi IIII. l. XL. d.
• De warth ejusdem Hundredi XIII s. IX. d.
• Summa XLVI l. Xs. V. d.

And amongst the Presentments made by the Hundreds before the Justices Itinerant 4. E. 1. there is one from this Hundred, the title whereof is, Hund. de Knyhtelawe.

In In baga de Ragman penès Thes. & Camer. Scac [...]. 11. E. 1. It was found by Inq. that [Page] [Page]

[Page] [Page 3] the Hundred of Knytelow (so then it was written) was yearly worth XXIX. l. XVII. s. saving to the Sheriff his two Turnes by year;The Hun­dred of Knight­low. and that Richard de Stretton, whilst he lived, paid yearly for the same XXIX. l. XVII. s. to the Kings Exchequer.

Upon Inquisition Ex ipso Rot. in scac. penès Re­mem. Re­g [...]s. taken 9. E. 2. by vertue of the Kings Precept, (amongst other things,) to certify how many and what Hundreds there were; what Cities, Boroughs, and Towns, &c. and who were owners of them; It is certified, that the Hun­dred o [...] Knythlawe was then in the Kings hand. And in 4. E. 3. the King by his Pat. Rot. Fin. 4. E. 3. m. 1. dated at Westm. 5. Ian. granted the Bayliwick of this Hundred dilecto valetto suo Edmundo de Shireford, to his well-beloved Esquire Edmund Shireford, to hold during life; paying by the hands of the Shiriff, for the time being, the antient ferm thereof, ac­cording to the Statute in that case made.

But, since that time, finding little thereof memo­rable, I shall here adde a List of those Towns, with­in the precincts of it, which do yet owe sute to this Court. Wolston, Lillington, Lemington-Ha­stang, Prince thorpe. Hopsford. Lodbroke. Bub­benhill. Burdingbury. Shilton. Barnacle. Napton. Stretton super-Dunsmore. Radford-Semeley. Bourton. Draycote. Bromcote. Church-Over. Walton in parocha de Monksbirby.

A word or two now of the place, whence it takes the name, which is a Tumulus, or little heap of earth, standing on the brow of the Hill upon the great road-way leading from Coventre to­wards London, as you enter upon Dunsmore-heath, commonly called Knightlow-hill, or Knight­low-crosse, the latter Syllable Lowe (as we now pronounce it,) but antiently and more truly Lawe, signifying a little Hill; and so Mr. Cambden, in his Remains observes, that the Scots who border nearest to England do use the word in that sense to this day.

That these Lowes, or artificially raised heaps of Earth, were antiently made to cover the Bodies of such as were slain in the field, in the time of the Romans, we have the testimony of Tacitus, where he makes mention of Varus Taciti Annal. lib. 1. cap. 62. his overthrow in Germany; and of Germanicus (who is there cal­led Caesar) his comming to the place of that slaugh­ter, and finding the carcasses unburied.Vide etiam Cambd. B. [...]t. in W [...]l [...]s. —igitur Romanus qui aderat, excercitus (saith he) sextum post cladis annum trium legionum os­sa, nullo noscente alienas reliquias an suorum hu­mo tegeret, omnes ut conjunctos, ut consanguineos, auctâ in hostem irâ, moesti simul & infensi con­debant. Primum extruendo tumulo cespitem Cae­sar posuit gratissimo munere in defunctos & prae­sentibus doloris socius. These last words imply­ing, that every Souldier brought his turf, or turfes to the raising of a Tumulus, according as his res­pect was to the defunct; and that Germanicus himself laid the first, as eminent persons have used to do the first stone in the foundation of some no­table building.

And that this course in covering the Bodies, not onely of such as were slain in the feild, but of o­thers, was also very antiently used by the Danes and other Northern Nations, I shall here exhibite the testimony of Olaus Wormius; who, now in our age hath brought to light the old Cymbrike antiquities; and, amongst other things, touching the antient Danish Burialls, hath these words —Ab [...]. p. 40. antiquis Epochas quasdam, à sepeliendi ritibus apud septentri [...]nales introduct as esse accepi; qui cum varii fuerint, illi quoque, eorum habit á ratione, subindè mutabantur. Sic enim membranâ mea M S. tres numerari solent hominum aetates, quae ab Inferiarum modò denominationem acce­perunt. Prima Roisold. Secunda Hoigold. Tertia Christendom's old. Primitùs enim defunctis justa soluturi, in campo plano juxta viam regiam, aut defuncti praedium sito, circum ratae magnitudiris lapidibus efformabant, oblongum tamen, vigint: quandoque orgyarum longitudine, latitudine tri­um: In hoc defuncti cadaver cremabant; cineres collectos urnis includebant, ac in circi meditull [...]o locatos grandioribus undique stipabant saxis, su­perinjecto saxo aliquo latiore quo caetera tegerent. Hinc totam aream lapidibus, arenâ, glebaque ter­restri replebant, ac in formam monticuli collem desuper attollebant, quem demùm cespitibus tege­bant, ut viriditate sua oculos praetereuntium recre­aret. Haec sepultura Roiser; & hunc sepeliendi ritum at Roise dixerunt. Regibus tantum hunc honorem habitum volunt; alios autem pompâ mi­nore tumulatos, &c. Addunt Ib. p. 43. alii Regios tu­mulos ad magnitudinem & figuram carinae ma­ximae navis Regiae descriptos. Secunda aetas, Hoi­gold dicta, ea fuit, quâ cadavera incremata at­que integra cum suis ornamentis, in circulo, ex grandioribus confecto Saxis, locabant, aliisqu [...] circumquaque tegebant, arenam & glebas terrae exaggerando usque dum in justam monticuli ex­urgeret altitudinem, qui cespitibus & aliis saxi [...] demùm exterius exornabatur. In praelio caesos in unum cumulum conjiciebant, quem Ualcoste vo­cabant, & supra eos terram exaggerabant, ut in monticuli speciem agger cresceret. Tertia [...] & ul­tima aetas Christendoms-old determinatur, ex quo nos Christiani demortuos jam tumulare sole­mus [...] &c.

VVhich learned Author, further to manifest this usage from other Pet. Lin­d [...]berg [...]us in suis re­rum memo­rab. com­m [...]nta. [...]i [...]. writers, thus goes on —Scien­dum autem quod Dani, cum propter defectum sa­xorum pyramides & obeliscos extrucre minime potuerint, olim in memoriam Regum & heroum suorum, ex terra coacervata ingentem molem, montis instar eminentem statuerint. —Dani, Ioh. Cy­praei An­nal. eccl. Sles [...]ic. lib [...] 1. cap. 2. cum pyramides (&c. ut supra) atque illis adeo in locis, ut plurimum, quo saepe homines commearent, aut it er haberent, ut in viis public is quo posteritati memoriam clarissimorum virorum consecrarent, & quodammodo immortalitati man­darent. citing also that of Virgil L [...]b. xi. Aeneid..

which the learned Gawyn Douglas, sometime Bi­shop of Dunkel in Scotland; thus translates.

The like expression hath also the said Poet, spea­king of the tomb of Cajeta, Aenejas his Nurse.

Nec Olaus worm. p. 3 [...] levi opera (saith he) aut sumptibus exiguis hi tumuli conficiebantur; Testatur enim historia [Page 4] Norvagica in Haraldo Harfagre, regulos duos in Naumedal, fratres uterinos, tribus integris annis, impensis magnis in unico tumulo fabricando la­borasse.

Now, forasmuch as it appears, by what hath bin said, that these heaps of earth were at first so raised to cover the Bodies of some one person of note, or else of many slain in the Field and brought together, I shall adventure upon the Ety­mologie of the word lowe or lawe (for they are indiffere [...]tly called.)

That it might have its originall from the old British word Llehau, id est, locare, vel collocare, as Dr. Iohn Davyes in his Dictionary expoun­deth it, and so by contraction be pronounced lawe, is not improbable; for so it expresseth the same that tumulus with the antients did. Nam & terrae congestio super ossa Tumulus dicitur, as we read in the most learned and antient Commenta­ry of Servius upon Virgil's iii. Aeneid. ver. 22. And we know well that the word Tumlus signi­fieth the same that Sepulchrum or monumentum doth; and yet not properly from the very nature of the word, but by a Metonymie. And that the British word Llehau might proceed from the La­tine locare, is also likely enough, forasmuch as it is apparent Tacit. in vita Ag [...]ic. cap. 21., that the Romans did, by kind and most insinuating praises, make the old Brittans overstudious of their language and customs.

Adde hereunto, that the Romans calling the places wherein they layd the bones of the bur­ned corpses loculos, as it is clear à locando, and that the British llogel is the same with loculus, and it will not seem unsutable, that they may have taken their word, whose custome of interring they imitated or expressed. And then, that the Saxons comming after, who frequently changed the vow­els, ind [...]fferently using the C for K, and the like, expressed the verb logian also, for collocare, or componere, as we see Marc. 1.19. It may very well be, that both Latine, B [...]itish, and Saxon are all derived from the same Greek Fountain, seeing [...], as it signified many things with the antient Greeks, so it was often used for cubare facio. [...] also doth often signify cubo, jacco; and from this acceptation of the verb commeth [...] and [...], lectus; our Dutch leggen or liggen, jacere leger, stratum, cubile; as also llehau, logian, lo­giis, &c.

But forasmuch as in things at this distance from us, by reason of their antiquity, we cannot go upon very absolute certainties, I will adven­ture upon another, and, in my opinion, more like­ly conjecture.

Bustum, as we find in Pompeius Festus, propriè dicitur locus in quo mortuus est combustus, & se­pultus; diciturque bustum, quasi benè ustum. Servius likewise, upon the 185. verse of Virgil his xi. Aeneid: maketh this distinction. Pyra est signorum congeries. Rogus, quum jam ardere coeperit, dicitur. Bustum jam exustum vocatur. It is therefore not unlikely that the Antients, in imitation of the word bustum (which signified the place where a man was burnd and buryed) made their word lowe from loge. For illustration there­fore of this Etymologie observe, that, not onely [...] or [...], but [...] also signified a flame, as it should seem from [...] or [...], flamma, the initiall [...] being here taken away, which sometimes is ad­ded; as when the English flanke is made out of the Teutonike lanke. I will not alleage here the British word llosg, incendium, ustio, and llosgi, U­rere; for they may seem too much different: but I do refer my self to the old Gothike Monuments, in the which, loge signifieth a flame.

Willeramus Abbas in his Paraphrasis also upon cap. 8. ver. 6. of the Canticles, useth loghon, and ling­hon instead of ardere, flammam emittere. Those likewise who, as yet in Frisland do entertain their antient Country language, call the flame lochene: yea almost all the other low-Dutch call a fired straw bunch to dry their vessels withall by the name of lochter. Of this [...] therefore, which antiently signified a flame, commeth lowe bustum, without doubt; even as the word law is corrupted out of the old Saxon [...], lex. and as the word maw is made of [...], stomachus. And that it was so, I am much the more confident, when I consider; that in the Northern parts of England, as also in Scotland, where the vestigia of our antient language, the Saxon, are most to be found, the flame of any fire is called lowe to this day; the common people usually saying, that the fire low's, when it blazeth or flameth: consonant whereunto is that of the before specified Bishop of Dunkel in the said translation Lib. 7. f. 164. b. of Virgil.

Now for the word Tumulus, it may very well be derived, either from cumulus, which signifies a heap, or from the verb tumeo, to swell; for it is taken promiscuously, not onely for a place of sepulture, but any rising ground, as in xii. Aeneid.

Nor is it unlike, but that these Tumuli have bin instead of Altars to Sacrifice unto the Ghosts of the dead, as the same Virgil bears witness,

We also observe, that there was Sacrifice offred to those Ghosts upon Tumuli which were plac't at a great distance from the party deceas't, as we find likewise in the before mentioned Authour,

And Andromache, although in a Graecian Citty, Sacrifices Hectoreum ad Tumulum. As for the fa­shion of these Tumuli in Homer's days (near 3000. years since) let himself speak, Iliad. lib. 3. v. 197. [...], &c.

And in the same place Achilles complains how small a Tumulus he had made for his beloved com­panion Patroclus; and intreats those that should survive him to raise it to a greater height. Ib. v. 189. [...], &c.

Of which desire, you shall find in the last Book [Page 5] of the Odysses, that the Graecians were not unmind­full, but built a Sepulcher for him and Patro­clus; a large one indeed, which served afterwards for a land-mark, as appeareth from the same Au­thor, in these words, Odyss. lib. ult. v. 80. [...], &c.

And this was the fashion of these Monuments in Homer's time, even for the most famous persons, which may be taken notice of in many other pla­ces; as that whereof he makes mention in the third Book Ver. 636. [...].

And a little after, another, [...]; which is there called a high Hill. As also in the 23. Book, wherein he seems to give notice, that that manner of Buriall was in fashion long before the Trojan wars: for Nestor calls that rising ground, of which he forewarn'd his Son Antilo­chus in his chariot-race, the monument of some man dead long before; which agrees to that au­thority, likewise which we find in the last Book of the Iliads in the Burial of Hector;

Now, it is agreed upon by the best of Authors, that not onely the Graecians, but most of the Ea­stern Nations borrowed their Philosophy, their ways of Sacrifice, and Buriall from the Aegypti­ans, and, very probably, this custom amongst the rest; especially having so noble a pattern as those much fam'd Pyramids were; which no man doubts to have bin the Monuments of some of their Kings. And that this fashion did continue till Virgil's time, his distich upon Balista will verify.

A word or two now, touching the burning of dead Bodies, in regard it hath bin observed by some judicious persons, who have dig'd to the bottom of divers heaps of earth which are called Lowes, especially on Engleby-heath in Derby-shire, that there have bin found burnt Bones and Charcole there. So also at Lilburne in Nor­thampton shire, as Mr. Cambden observeth; and in Anno 1653. the Isle of Man, severall Urnes with the like burnt Bones and Coal.

There is a remarkable place in Plinie, out of which we learn, that it was not an ordinary or usuall thing amongst the antient Romans to burn their dead Bodies: yea, that divers great families never did it; but, that it was most used about them, who dyed in an expedition of a remote War, amongst enemies thirsting after an inhumane and hostile revenge. The custom it self, and the reason thereof is set down by Plinie in the 54. Chap. of the VII. Book of his Naturall History. —Ipsum cremare apud Romanos non fuit veteris instituti: terrâ condebantur. At postquam long in­quis bellis obrutos erni cognovere, tunc institutum. Et tamen multae familiae priscos servavere ritus, si­cut in Corneliâ nemo ante Syllam Dictatorem traditur crematus. Idque voluisse, veritum talio­nem, eruto C. Marii cadavere. Varus Quinctilius his example, and many such like terrified them; —Ipsius quoque Consulis Corpus, saith Florus Lib. IV. Cap. 12. where he speaketh of Varus, quod militum pietas abdiderat effossum. Neither had they any reason to expect better usage of the Britans than of the Germans; seeing divers of their Generals (as Caractacus, Galcacus and o­thers) had sufficiently declared, how they took it, that the Romans came, in such away, to disturb the tranquillity of their Island, and studied to enslave them all. It seemeth therefore, that any Consul, or eminent warriour dying in such an ex­pedition, was, for that reason, burned upon the level near the via strata, or militaris; And having by this course deprived the exasperated e­nemies of their hope in ever being able to abuse the dead Body, they did moreover hinder them to scatter the very Bones in hast, when the whole Army congested upon them pure grassy turfes, cut from the surface of the ground; which is the rea­son why it doth not appear by any hollowness, whence the earth was taken that raised the Tu­mulus.

And thus much shall suffice for these Tumuli, The like was tha [...] of S [...]verus at Yorke mentioned by Camb­den. And that called Hublow in D [...]von: id est tumu­lus Hubba. Lel. col. vol. 1. p 234. or Lowes (of which kind there are many more in this County); a good part whereof I do ac­knowledge to have received from the learned Franc. Iunius, my worthy friend.

As for the first syllable Knight (this Tumulus being called Knightlow) it is a Saxon, word and hath divers significations; sometimes it is used for a Man-Child, sometimes for a Young Man, Servant, Batcheler, or unmarryed Man. In the Sa­xon Gospels the Disciples of our Saviour are cal­led [...]: but most commonly is that name of Knight attributed to a Souldier, or one that beareth Armes: for the antient manner of conferring the honour of Knighthood, was bal­theo militari decorare. We call them now in La­tine Milites; the Italians Cavallieri; the French Chivaliers, in regard they serve as Souldiers on Horse back: but I will not enlarge my self fur­ther on this subject, it being so fully handled by Camb. Brit. edit. Lond. anno 1637. p. 170. Sel­dens tit. of Honour p. 769. others; concluding that this Low was the Tu­mulus or monument (doubtless) of some eminent Souldier in the Romans time.

But the Cross sometime there, was of later erecti­on, as in most publick places of concourse the like hath bin, to put people in mind of the great be­nefit God hath vouchsafed for the Redemption of mankind by the passion of his Son; which, no doubt, to all pious Christians is of very good use, however, upon pretence that they were idolized, are now demolished in most pa [...]ts of this King­dom.

According to my proposed method, beginning with the River Avon, (which hath its head near Navesby in Northampton-shire,) I shall ob­serve that the original thereof is Brittish; Aufona or Avon, with them signifying the same as Fluuius in Latin: and that at its entrance into this Coun­ty, it meeteth the great Road called Watling-street, Watling street. whereof I hope it will not be thought in­congruous to take here some speciall notice.

That it was a work of the Romans is not to be doubted. Whilst Agricola (saith Tacitus Tacit. in vita Agric.) go­verned Britane, severall wayes were enjoyned, and far distant places (by the purveyours commande­ment) that the Countrey should carry from the nea­rest standing Camp, or wintering places, to those that were far of and out of the way; and the Bri­tans complained, (as the same Tacitus writeth), that the Romanes wore out and consumed their bo­dies and hands, in clearing of woods, and paving the Fens, with a thousand stripes and reproachfull indignities: And we read (saith Mr. Cambden) [Page 6] in antient Records. That in the days of Honorius and Arcadius, there were made in Britaine certain beaten wayes from Sea to Sea. And that this was the Romans work, Beda Beda Eccl. hist. cap. 11. testifyeth. The Romans (saith he) inhabited within the wall which Seve­rus had made overthwart the Island towards the Southern side, which the Citties, Churches and Street-wayes, there made, do witness at this day.

From this Way was that antient City Verola­mium (near St. Albans) called, in the Saxons time Wetlingaceaster M. Paris. in vit. Abb. p 240 34. p 241 37., as appeareth by K. Ethelreds Charter, whereby he granted lands to the mona­stery of St. Alban, in the year of Christ 996.

Great was the cost and labour, in carrying of Stones, Gravell and Sand, for the making those ways firm and lasting, as may yet be seen in di­vers parts, where the soyl it self, within many miles, yeildeth not such materials. Nay it hath bin ob­served, that near St. Albans, in digging the ground where Watlingstreet-way antiently went, Gra­vell and Sand hath bin found ten foot deep in the earth, and eighteen foot in breadth, with great flint stones in the bottom, such belike, saith mine Author, Lelandi Col. vo [...]. 3. p. 280. as were at first upon the top thereof. And, in what great account these wayes have an­tiently bin, may appear by the eminency of the persons, who were imployed as Officers for taking care in the oversight of them; Augustus Caesar himself not disdaining the task: And sometimes the Ediles took charge of them, as it appears by Caligula Sueton. in vespas. n. 5. his causing the Edile-vestment of Fla­vius Vespasianus, when he executed that place negligently, to be publickly dawbed over with dirt: and sometime that imployment was com­mitted Sutton in Claudio n. 24. Collegio Quaestorum.

They had rules set down de muniendis & stru­endis viis, which they called Legem viariam, as appears by Celius Cicer E­pist. l. 8. E­pist. ad Fam. his Epist. to Cicero; and these they called Viccuri, for viarum cura­tores; yea they committed the tuition of the wayes to the Gods themselves, and called them Dii vii. Plautus in Mercatore Act. 5. Scen. 2. calls them Lares viales: And Apollo, by Pausanias is termed Viarum praeses. Likewise they used to sa­crifice Arnob. lib. 4. ad­versus gen­tes. Deae vibiliae, quae ab erroribus viarum mor­tales liberat; And there is extant an antique In­scription (the Copy whereof Lipsius upon Smetius hath mentioned) FORTUNAE REDUCI LARI VIALI ROMAE AETER­NAE. Q. AXIUS AELIAN.

Vide Hist. Angl. script. col. 2357. n. 30.Neither were these ways without great account by our Ancestours the Saxons, as may appear by the Laws of St. Edward, De pace quatuor Chimi­norum; that is Viarum, sub majori judicio; viz. touching the peace of the four road-ways, in some higher Court: And since that time the Statute 52. H. 3. cap. 15. of Marlebridge forbiddeth distresses to be taken in any of the Kings High-ways, or common streets; And the Statute called 9. F. 2. Articuli cleri comman­deth, that such as abjured, should not be molested while they be in the High ways.

M S. in bibl. Bodl. f. 10. b.But of those ways let us hear Rob. of Glouce­cester in his old ryme, though he be somewhat mistaken, aswell in the Tract of them, as in the Makers.

Clifton.

BUt I will forbear to enlarge my self any fur­ther on this subject, and take a view of Clif­ton, which standeth upon the top of an indifferent hill, on the South-side of Avon, having its name from the scituation; [...], and [...] with the Saxons, signifying not onely a rocky place, but any shelving ground.

In Doomesday-booke it is written Cliptone, the Norman Transcribers of the certificate made upon that Inquisition taken by the Countrey, mistaking (without doubt) the Saxon letter F. which is thus written [...], for a p.

In the time of K. Edward the Conf. this Town was possest by Alwine, who is commonly called Alwinus vicecomes; a great man in those days, and lineall ancestour to that worthy and long la­sting family of Arden, that hath flourished ever since in this County, as I shall shew when I come to Curdworth, in Hemlingford-Hundred.

Which Alwine gave Lib. Domes­day. it to the Priory of Co­ventre, for the health of his soul, by the consent of the said King Edward, and of his own sons: but after the Norman-Conquest Earl Alberi [...] (Progenitor to that noble family of Vere antient­ly, and yet, Earles of Oxford) unjustly seized upon it and outed the Monkes; as it is certified by the Conquerours Survey, in which it is found to contein five Hydes. There was then a Church, and two Mills, the value of the whole Lordship being rated at iiii. l.

I have not seen by any Record, how it came out of the line of this Albericus Comes; but certein it is, that it continued not long therein: for it is evident that Ernald de Bois, who lived in K. Ste­phens time, was owner thereof. And that it was given to him by Robert, surnamed Bossu, then Earl of Leicester is not to be doubted; for upon the grant Cart. 7. Ioh. n. 58. of the custody of his heir in the 7. year of K. Iohn, it is said to be de fedo Saiheri de Quinci, which Saierus married Rot. de Inquis. & tenuris pe­nès Thes. & Camer. Scacc. Margaret Sister and one of the coheires of Robert Fitz-Parnell Earl of Leicester, and had by her, in partition, the moiety of the Honour of Leicester.

[Page 7]Hoc stemma ex codice MS. Hen­rici comitis Stan­fordiae deductum est.

• Ernaldus de Bos­co, primus, Se­nesch. comitis Leic. ......soror
  Rot. Fin. 7. Ioh. m. 12.
  Rogeri de Basingham, relicta 7. Joh.
  • Ernaldus de Bos­co, secundus
    • Ernaldus de Bos­co tertius.
      • Ernaldus de Bosco, quartus
        • Johannes de Bosco filius & haeres, o­biit sine pro­le.
        • Magr. Will. de Bosco.
        • Isabella soror & haeres / Johan. Lo­vel miles.
          • Will. la zouche de Haringworth.-Matildis filia & haeres
      • Ex evi­dentiis. Ric. Cham­be [...]lein de A [...]tley, ar.
        Johanna uxor Thomae de Estleja

This Ernauld gave Regist. Abb. de Leic. in Bibl. Cot­ton. s. 34. b. to the Abby of Leicester (of the said Earls foundation, whose Steward he was) the perpetuall Patronage of the Church here at Clifton [...] with the Chapels of Waver (id est Browns-Over) Rokeby, and Newton.

To whom, after severall descents, succeded Iohn; who,Rot. de Quo Warr. in 13. E. 1. claimed by Prescription a Court-Leet here with other Priviledges: and Free-War­ren, granted by K. H. 3. to Arnold his father; all which were allowed. And to him William; who in 21. E. 1. setled Fin. le­ [...]at .xv. Mich. 21. [...]. 1. divers mannours, lying in the Counties of Warwike, Leic. and Nor­thampt. upon William la Zouch and Maud his Wife, and the Heirs of their two Bodies lawfully begotten: in which entayl, a Knights fee in this Lordship likewise passes, but no mention of the Mannour.

So that, 'tis like, it was granted away before; and, very probably, in the 13. of E. 1. before the making of the Statute of Quia emptores terrarum, in regard that Clifton is found afterwards to be held of the Zouches of Haringworth (who were Heirs of Boys) and not of the Honour of Leicester as formerly; which could not (I conceive) have bin, if it had bin after that Statute.

The next possessor of this Lordship was William Revell (of whom and his Family I have spoke in Newbold-Revell;) which William, in 27. E. 1. obteined a Charter Cart. 27. [...]. 1. n. 15. of free Warren in all his De­mesn Lands here; as also in Newbolt and Browns­waure in this County; And in 1. E. 2. entayled Fin. le­vat. O­ctab. Hill. 1 E. 2. War. it upon himself and the heirs of his body: but, for lack of such issue, on William Inge for life; and after his decease on Iohn the Son of William Revell and the Heirs of his Body; with divers remainders. In the Male line of which William, it continued not more then two descents after; but by an Heir fe­male divolved to Robert de Witteny of Witteny in Hereford-shire, as the Pedegree in Newbold-Revel sheweth: from whom Sir Robert Whitney of the same place and County Knight, now Lord of this Mannour, is descended.

The Church (dedicated to the Assumption of our Lady,) being antiently a Prebend Regist. Abb. de Leic. in Bibl. Cot­ton. fol. 7. a. of the Ca­stle at Leicester, but afterwards granted to the Abby there, was appropriated Ex v [...]tu­sio exem­plari p [...]nès Decan. & capitulum Lich. by Geffry Mus­champ Bishop of Cou. and Lich, in K. Iohn's time. And in Anno 1291. 19. E. 1. valued Ex am­plo codice M S. in Scac. penès Remem. [...]. at xxv. marks, the Vicaridge being then rated at v. This is commonly called Pope Nicholas his taxa­tion.

In the 26. of H. 8. the Vicaridge was valued Ex vete­ri codice M S. penès S. Archer mil. fol. 24. b. at viii. l. xx. d. the Procurations Ex Codi­ce cartacco M S. apud castell. de Eccleshale. anno 1637 antiently payd to the Bishop of Coventre and Lich. out of this Re­ctory being v. s. vi. d. The Originall ground of which payment arose by reason of the damage that the Bishop and his Successours were like to sustein after such appropriation made; because the Parson was to give Bowl. fol. 78. a. entertainment to the Bishop when he came to visit; forasmuch as the Bishop might visit ecclesiatim, that is every par­ticular Church, if he pleased: so that there was good cause, that he should, upon the appropria­tion, pro indempnitate sua & successorum suorum, reserve something to be paid, in regard they must travail at their own charge.

Now that the word procuratio imports matter of Dyet, I could shew many pregnant instances, but I will make short, and exhibite these for all.

Giff. fol. 326. b Anno 1290. Memorand. quod die Mercurii in festo S. Lucae Evang. Dominus Episcopus cae­pit procurationem suam in cibis & potibus apud Bordesleg, & pernoctavit ibidem.

Ex Regist. de kenilw. penès S. Clarke Ba [...]. anno 1640, p. 10. Gauf. de Clintona omnibus (&c.) Sciatis me concessisse in Elemosinam Ecclesiam S. Marie de Chening. & Canonicis ejusdem, terram de Wride­fen quam dederam Rad: sororio (&c.) Pro hac concessione debent ipsi Canonici eidem Rad. procura­tionem quamdiu vixerit, (&c.) So that here you see, that whereas the word procuratio doth simply signify procurement, which is for another to do that which the party himself ought; whereupon the word Procurator, in the Civill Law imports as much as an Attourney in the sense of the common Law: so is it in this case strained, by the same reason, to express Dyet or enterteinment, which another takes charge of to ease the party himself, on whose care it must otherwise rest.

Now for the term of Appropriation, Of this see more in Cowells Interp. ver­bo Appro­priation. because I would once for all make it clear to every ordinary capacity; it commeth from the French word approprier, id est aptare vel accommodare, and properly signifies in our Law (as Dr. Cowell in his Interpreter observes) a severing of a Benefice Ecclesiasticall,How they first began see Sir H. Spelmans larger work of Tithes, edit Lond. anno 1647. p. 151. and so forward. which originally and in nature is juris divini, & in patrimonio nullius, to the pro­per and perpetuall use of some Religious-House or the like: for Seldens Hist. of Tithes p. 142. without the consent of the Bi­shop, no Religious Orders could receive any Ap­propriations or Tithes, as by a decree in the La­teran-Councell Anno 1180. was ordeined. Ec­clesias & decimas (are the words) de manu laico­rum, sine consensu Episcoporum, tam illos (that is Templars and Hospitalars, against whom the Pro­vision was chiefly made) quam quoscunque alios Religiosos, recipere prohibemus; which was con­firmed in the Generall Councell of Lateran under Innocent the 3. Anno 1215.

Patroni vicariae

Incumbentes, & tempora instit.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Langt. fol. 39. b.

D. Nich. de Bredon Capell. xvi. kl. Nov. an. 1315.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Northb. f. 21. a.

Symon Prior Pbr. x. kl. Apr. an. 1327.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Ib. f. 57. b.

Ioh. de Oneley Pbr. xii. kl. Ian. an. 1353.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Stret. f. 20. b.

Ioh. Malesours, ix. Apr. an. 1372.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Ib. f. 22. b.

Ioh. de Addestoke Pbr. ii. non. Oct. an. 1375.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Sk. f. 7. b.

Will. Pynke, xxvi. Apr. an. 1392.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Burgh. f. 18. b.

Ioh. de Wendlyburgh cap. ult. Febr. an. 1406.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Bull. f. 2 [...] a.

Alex. Sherman cap. xxvii. Apr. an. 1416.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Ib. f. 7. b.

Rob. Dent. cap. ii. Martii an. 1418.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Heyw. f. 14. [...].

Will. Thurston Pbr. xix. Dec. an. 1424.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Ib. f. 37. a.

Ioh. Thornton Pbr. v. Sept. an. 1438.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Rad. Bradshaw Pbr. 1. Oct. an. 1446.

Ib. f. 44. b.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

Galfridus Clark Pbr. xxii. Aug. an. 1448.

Bo. f. 7. b.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

D. Wills Chaundeler.

Abbas & Conu: Leic.

D. Ric. Cowper cap. xv. Nov. an. 1536.

Sh. & P. f. 14. a.

Thomas Shuckbo­rough gen.

Edm. Pearce cleric. xix. Ian. an 1576.

Samps. f. 43 a.

Carolus Waterhouse Gen.

Ric. Tynney cleric. xxvi. Oct. an. 1576.

Ib. f. 47. a.

Elizabetha Re­gina.

Matheus Kyng, ii. Martii an. 1597.

Overton bundel. in­cert.

Will. Dilke Gen.

Petrus Eccarsall Cleric. 1. Apr. An. 1598.

Ib.

Here was a fair spire Steeple, as an eminent Land­mark, seen over all this part of the Countrey in regard of its height and situation of the place; which, in the year 1639. was pull'd down to save the costs of its repair.

Though Rugby was antiently (as I have al­ready shew'd) a member of Clifton, yet because it hath bin of long time, and now is, a Parish of it self, I shall leave it till anon; and, pursuing my designed method, go on with Browns-Over, Neu­ton, and Biggin, which are of this Parish of Clifton, on the North side of Avon. And first for Browns-Over.

Browns-Over.

IN the Conq. Survey this town is written Domes­day lib. Gau­ra, the Norman Clerks not being used to our English W. but instead thereof used a G, as Gualterus for Walterus, Guillelmus for Willel­mus, Garde for Warde, and many more as might be instanced.

This name of Waure (for so it is afterwards, of a long time, written, as well as the two other towns of the same name, of which I shall speak hereafter (viz. Church-waure, now Church-Over, and Thester-waure, now Cester-Over) hath its denomination from the eminent site thereof, being upon a Hill: But however it is thus written, the Countrey people call it Over, and not Waure, which signifies no less, (as we ex­perimentally know) then a high situation: for all towns named Overton, or Wauerton (as I shall have occasion afterwards to instance) do stand upon hilly-ground. Over importing as much as supra.

As for the addition of the first Syllable (Browns) it is to distinguish it from the other neighbouring towns of the same name, which was joyned there­with, as 'tis apparent, by reason that one Bruno Ib. had his seat here in the Conq. time, and held two hydes of land in this place of Geffrey Wirce (a man of great note in these parts, as I shall demonstrate when I come to Monkskirby.)

In this place Earl Alberic (of whom I have spoken already in Clifton) held, Ib. then also, two hydes and a half; And one Ib. Radulfus [...] (of whom I shall make mention in Holme and Neu­ton) half a hyde.

Upon the Aide Testa de Nevill in Scac. penès Remem. Regis. for mariage of the Kings Sister xx. H. 3. there is one mark for half a Knights fee in Brunsewaure of the fee of the Earl of Win­chester (in regard of that part of the Honour of Leicester which he held, as I have already shew'd in Clifton.) And in the 55. of H. 3. it appears, that Ernauld de Boys (of whom I have also spo­ken in Clifton) held four Knights fees in We­ston, Bulkinton, Clifton, Wauere (viz. this Wauere) and Wibtoft: so that it may (with­out doubt) be concluded, that the possession of this Mannour belonged as antiently to the family of Boys, as Clifton did. How or when they par­ted with it I know not; but in 8. E. 1. it (being then written Bruneswafre,) was granted, Fin. le­vat. Octab. Hill. 8. E. 1 by Robert Hovel, and Alianore his wife, to Theobald Malegal, and Nicholas Test, Merchants of Luke, to be held of the said Robert and Alianore and the heires of Alianore for ever, paying 1. d. at Easter yearly for all services; and for this they [Page 9] gave then C C. marks of Silver: so that, it seems to have been of the inheritance of Alianore. And yet in 13. E. 1. did Iohn de Bosco (of whom I have made mention in Clifton) claim Rot. de Quo War. a Court-leet here, and other liberties, used by his ance­stours time out of mind; As also Free-Warren, by the grant of K. H. 3. to Ernauld de Boys, his Father; exhibiting the Kings Charter for the same, which was allowed.

But from the before specified Theobald and Ni­cholas was it purchased F. levat. Octab. Trin. 20. E. 1. by William Revell in 20. E. 1. which William, in 27. of the same K. Reign, obteyned a Charter Cart. 27. E. 1. n. 15. for Free-warren in all his demesn Lands here: And in 35. E. 1. entayled Fin. le­vat. Octab. Hill. 35. E. 1. it with Clifton, as hath been there exprest.

When these Revells parted with it I find not; nor have I seen any thing more thereof till 11. E. 4. that Thomas Bellers Gentleman released to Claus. 11. E. 4. m. 4. Richard Boughton Esquire all his right there­in; which Richard was of Little-Lawford, and dyed Esc. 1. H. 7. seised thereof 3. R. 3. leaving William his Son and Heir, whose descendants, there continu­ing, have enjoyed it to this day.

The Chappel here, (dedicated to St. Michael) with tythes of Corn and Hay, as also one yard land and a messuage belonging to the mother Church of Clifton, were given Regist. Abb. de Leic. in bibl. Cotton. f. 21. b. by Ernald de Boys (viz. the first) to the Abby of Leicester. In which Chappel Regist. Abb. de Leic. n bibl. Bodl. f. 38. b. there is Christening and Bu­riall, by the speciall grant of the Abbot of Lei­cester in regard of the distance of this village from the Mother Church of Clifton, and the hin­drance of access thereto by the overflowing of A­von, oft times.

Armes in this Chappel, viz. in the East Win­dow.

Gules a cinquefoile ermine. Old Earl of Leic.

Newton.

ADjoyning to this Village is Newton, having its name from the first plantation there, which was then new (it seems) in comparison of the o­ther adjacent Towns.

In Domes­day. lib. the Conq. time Turchil de Warwic (Pro­genitor of the Ardens) held it, viz. by Tenants under him, the remembrance of whose names are not of consequence, it then conteining 3. hydes as is certified in the generall Survey.

A great part of this village belonged to the Pri­ory of Kenillworth; some whereof was given Reg. de Kenill. p. 5. & p. 116. Cart. 18. E. 2. n. 4. thereunto by Geffrey Clinton in H. 1. time, at the Buriall of Geffrey his Father, founder of that Monastery (as shall be shew'd in its proper place:) which grant Regist. de Kenil. p. 30 Henry de Arden, Grandchild of the above mentioned Turchill, confirmed. And the rest, viz. Ib. p. 36.two Hydes, Ernauld de Boys (of whom I have already spoken in Clifton) gave; which Land he the said Ernauld (as by his grant appears) had of Geffrey Clinton before specified. The residue in K. Steph. time did Hugh Bagot purchase, Regist. de Cumba in bibl. Cotton f. 105. a. (scit. Vitel. A. 1.) together, with Cotes (now Coton) of Raphe de Duuerne: And in consideration of xl. s. which In­geram Bagot his Brother gave him towards his ex­pedition beyond Sea with Otuerus de Sulley, gran­ted them both to the said Ingeram to be held of Rob. fil. Odonis, the chief Lord of the Fee. Which Ingeram had issue Simon, who sold Ib. f. 65. [...]. & f. 107. a. to the Monks of Combe three yard land here; Raph de Mora one of the Heirs to Robert fil. Odonis confirming Ib. f. 10 [...] a. the grant.

[But of these Bagots I purpose to speak, when I come to Preston Bagot, where I shall insert a scheme of their descent.]

Afterward; viz. in 8. Ioh. Robert de Cotes (now called Coton in the Parish of Church-O­ver,) obteyned by exchange Ib. f. 108. a. b. & 110. a. from the Abbot and Covent of Combe, all the Land that they had in Newton, for Lands which he gave them in Cotes. And in the Reg. de Cumba in bibl. Cotton. f. 2 [...]0. a. (sci. V [...]te [...]. D. 18.) 25. of H. 3. Nichola, the Widow of Simon Bagot of Preston (in this County) released to the Abbot and Covent of Combe and their successours, the whole right which she had by reason of her dowrie, in all those Lands of Cotes and Neuton. So that in Testa de Nevill. 36. H. 3. that which the Monkes of Combe had in Newton, answered for the sixth part of a Knights Fee, upon payment of the aid for the Kings transfretation into Gascoine; which, as it seemes, was viii. yard Land, or else they had more granted after that time to them; for, in Rot. de Presentat. per Hundr. coram Iu­stic. in baga de Ragman. penès Th [...]. & Cam [...]. Scac. 4. E. 1. they enjoyed so much. In the Rot. pen [...]s Sim. Cla [...]ke Bar. xx. of E. 3. it answered also for the sixth part of a Knights Fee.

But, in R. 2. time, by new gifts or smaller measure, that which the Abby of Combe had there, was rated at Rot. per­gam Pènes Ab. Boune. xi. yard Land and 1. Acre, accounting 48. Acres to a yard of Land.

Thus did this Monastery continue possessed of Newton till its dissolution. After which, viz. in 36. H. 8. the K. granted Pat. 36. H. 8. p. 22. away (with divers o­ther Lands) that which belonged to the Monks of Combe, to Thomas Broke, and Iohn Williams, and to the Heirs of Broke, by the name of the Mannour of Neuton. And yet, in the same year, I find a Licence Pat. de eodem an. p [...]o 15. to Mary Dutchess of Rich­mund to Alien the very same Mannour to Henry Leigh Esquire. And afterwards by Inquisition Esc. 4. E­liz. taken upon the death of the said Henry, is it found, that he dyed seized thereof 14. Apr. 3. Eliz. and that Edward his Son and Heir was xx. years of age. But what became of those Lands, which the Pr. of Kenylworth had here, I have not seen.

Below Newton, Eastwards, lyes Biggin so called of later time. Biggin signifying an habi­tation; in resemblance whereof we have the Saxon word [...] for inhabitants. As also in the Northern parts the name of Biggin for a fair House, or Gentlemans seat, but antiently this was called Holme, having been a Village in the Conq. time, though now there be scarce any thing left but a Mill: which name it took from the situation, lying in a nook betwixt the River Avon, and a small brook that comes from Shaw­ell in Leicestershire, as the Map will shew: for such grounds as are in whole, or for the most part, compassed with waters, are so called, as we may observe almost every where.

In the Conq. time Turchil de Warwick held Domes­day. lib. it, by his under-tenants.

From whom it came, with the rest of his Lands, (as it seemes) to the Earles of Warwick; for of their Fee it afterwards was: and thence, partly to Camvile and partly to others. That which Camvile had here, being granted to Reg. Abb. de Leic. in bibl. Cot­ton f. 7. a. Henry de Rokeby from Richard de Camvile, was by the Canons of Leicester obteined in H. 2. time, in Regist. Abb. de Leic. in bibl. Bodl. f. 62. b. consideration of the Chappel of Rugby, given by them to him and his Heirs: which Chappel [Page 10] was a member of Clifton, as hath already been manifested. But the Mill, yet standing [...] they had Reg. de Cumba (scil. Vite­lius A. 1.) f. 18. a. from Robert the Son of Fulco de Holme, who in xx. H. 3. was certified Testa de N [...]vill. to hold the x. part of a Knights fee here of the Earl of Warwick.

Here also had the Canons of Roucester in com. Staff the Claus. 4. H. 4 m. 12. Esc. de co­dem an. sixth part of a Knights fee, held of the said Earles; but when or by whom granted I find not. The like 6. part Esc. 14. H. 6. n. 35. did the Lady Ioane Beu­champ of Bergavenny hold in 14. H. 6.

The greatest proportion, if not all, of which particulars, excepting what the Monkes of Combe had, came at length to William Leigh, and Eli­zabeth his Wife: for in 29. H. 8. were they sei­zed Pasch. R. 29. H. 8. Rot. 16.thereof by the name of the Mannour of New-Bigging, which divolved to Henry Leigh Es­quire, who had Esc. 3. E. it in 3. Eliz.

But the Mill, and what else belong'd to Combe was granted Pat. 36. H. 8. p. 22. out of the Crown in 36. H. 8. unto Thomas Brooke and Iohn Williams, and to the Heirs of Brook.

I have now done with the Parish of Clifton; towards the North-west part whereof the River Swift (that riseth above Lutterworth in Lei­cester-shire) which takes its name from the nim­ble course thereof (doubtless) falls into Avon. This River crossing Watlingstrete entreth War­wick-shire at a Bridge called now Benesford-bridge, Benesford Bridge. but antiently Brunesford bridge. But whether this Bridge had its name from that Co­lony of the Romans called Bennones, whose sta­tion was at High-cross, (not far distant from hence, where the Fosse meets with Watlingstrets,) as Mr. Cambden conceives, is hard to say. It may very well be, that if the right name thereof be Brunesford, as I find it antiently written, it might h [...]ve its originall from Bruno, who held Bruneswauere in the Conq. time (as I have al­ready shew'd:) for his seat was not far thence you see. But all that I have met with concerning this Bridge, is, that by a presentment Plac. co­ram Ioh. de Vallibus & aliis 12 E. 1. Leic. in Hund. de Guthlax­ton rot. 39. of the Jury before the Justices Itinerant at Leicester 12. E. 1. it was then found to have been broken; and that the Towns of Luterworth and Cotesbach, were to repair the one half thereof; viz. that side which is in Leicester-shire: and Wauere and Wauere, viz. Church-Over and Cester-Over (for that they lye on each side the water,) that towards Warwick-shire.

Church-Over.

I Have now only, on this side that River, the town of Church-Over to speak of; with Coton, an­tiently a village, though at present there be but one House in this Parish; and then I must step on the South side of Avon again.

In the time of Edward the Conf. one Waga (as the Book of Domesday calls him) was Lord of this place, of whom, when I come to speak of Wotton in Barlichway-hundred, I shall say more. But after the Norman invasion Robert de Stadford, Progenitor of that great family, I mean the Barons of Stafford, had it. In the Conquerours Survey this town is written Wara, and there cer­tified to contain 7. Hydes: yet we now pronounce it Over (for the reason I have shew'd in the Ety­mologizing of Browns Over) and call it Church-Over, for distinction from the other adjacent of same name.

Howbeit there is no mention in Domesday-Book, of any Church here in the Conq. time; nor, indeed, in most other places of this County: Nay we are not onely without all knowledge when our Chur­ches were first founded and endowed; but very much to seek as touching many of their presen­tations and Institutions within that compass of time, in which we are sure such there were. Mi­rum Plut. in Thes. non est in rebus antiquis Historiam non constare.

Let us therefore observe what we can find,Originall of Parishes in generall, aswell concerning the originall of Pa­rishes, as when they were so fixed, that the In­habitants, within that precinct, were restrained from paying Tithes to what Church they plea­sed; in which scrutiny I hope it will not be taken amiss, if here I make a short digression.

In the Decret. Dionys. PP. year of Christ 266. Peace being then restored under Galienus, Dionysius, the Pope or­deined Churches, Church-yards and Parishes, to Priests. This other Popes had done before, but Priests being driven from their charges, in Va­lerian's persecution, he again did it. But long af­ter those days the Church was in her infancy, as that approved Author venerable Bede, Eccl. hist. ven. Bedae lib. 2. cap. 14. will tell you: for he saith, that in the Province of Berni­cia From the River Tees, which di­vides York-shire from the Bisho­prick of Durham, to Edenbo­rough Frithe. and Deira, The East part of York-shire called Hol­derness. Paulinus, who first converted the people in those parts to the Christian faith, Baptized them in the River Swale; there being not, about that time, either Fonts or Churches: and this was about the year of Christ 627. How­be it in England Honorius Godwin de praesul. p. 59. (the fifth Arch-Bi­shop of Canterbury) about the year 636. was the first that ordeined Parishes; ut singulis mi­nistris singulos greges quos curarent posset at [...]ri­buere. That he might assign to every Priest the particular flock on which he should have charge. And our eminent Antiquary Hist. of Tythes p. 254. (Mr. Selden) spea­king of those antient times hath these words. In the Primitive times of the English-Saxon Church; viz. about the year 684. the Bishop and the whole Clergy of the Dioces, were as one body, living up­on their endowments (bestowed on the Bishoprick) and their treasure that came from the sundry pla­ces of Devotion, whither some one or other of them, at the Bishops appointment, was sent to Preach the word and Minister the Sacraments, every Clerke having his dividend for his maintenance. And Cutbert Godw. de praesul. p. 65. the xi. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, about the year 752. obteined of the Pope, that the Bodies of the dead should be buried in Church-yards, within the Cities; whereas before, the cu­stom was to carry them out of the walls to be in­terred.

But the first express mention of limitation of profits (other than of the endowing) to be given to this or that Church, is in those Laws of K. Ed­gar, made about the year 970. (as Mr. Selden Hist. of Tithes p. 262. saith) where a threefold division is of Churches. The first is called [...], that is Senior Ecclesia, which name antiently was given to Cathedralls. The second a Church that hath [...] or place for buriall, The third Church that hath no [...]; where it is ordeined, that every man, having not erected a Church of his own, shall pay his Tythes to the [...], that is, to the antientest Church or Monastery where he hears Gods service.

[Page 11]And in the Synod at London held by Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury An. 1102. it was ordained, Antiq. Brit. Eccl. p. 118. ut decimae non nisi Ecclesiis dentur; whereby it is plain, that Tythes were given, before that time, at liberty. Nay, such had been the use to pay Tythes where they pleased, that Pope Innocen­tii t [...]rti [...] Decret. E­pist. 6. lib. 2. p. 452. (edit. Co­loniae an. 1575.) Innocent the 3. in the year 1199. writes to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, ut Ecclesiis parochialibus justae decimae persolvantur.

The Epistle is worth observing, therefore have I quoted the place exactly where it is to be seen at large. And Mr. Selden Hist. of Tithes p. 289. sayes, It is most cer­tain, that before about the year 1200. after Christ, it was most commonly practised by the laytie, to make arbitrary consecrations of the Tithes of their possessions to what Monastery or Church they would; sometimes giving half, sometimes a third part, and at their pleasure, all in perpetuall right, or other­wise according to the nature of those consecrations in other Countries. And, 'tis sure enough, that many years after that, the people practised such arbitrary disposition of their Tithes: for in the Councell Tho. Wal­sing. Hist. Angl. p. 4.27. at Lyons, convocated in the year 1275. by Pope Gregory the x. it was ordained; Quod nulli hominum deinceps liceat decimas suas ad libitum, ut antea, vbi vellet assignare, sed ma­trici Ecclesiae omnes decimas persolverent.

It should seem, that antiently men payd their Tithes to that place where they had a mind to be buryed, which was the cause that they often wa­ved the payment to their proper Parish Church; for Hist. of Tithes p. 145. Mr. Selden observes, that in an old Coun­cell of Tribur in the year 895. it was decreed, ubi quis decimas persolvebat vivus, ibi sepeliatur & mortuus.

But I find that Tho. Wal­singh. p. 172. l. 28. Simon Islep Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, in the year 1362. did assign, and appoint that the stipend of a Priest should be but lxvi. sol. viii. d. a year, quod plures furari coegit, says the Historian.

A word now touching the first beginning of Institutions to Benefices by the Bishop.

In Hist. of Tithes p. 375. the Nationall Synod held at Westm. An. 1124. by Iohn de Crema the Popes Legate, it was constituted (saith the before specified learned per­son) quod Nullus Abbas, nullus Prior, nullus om­nino Monachus vel Clericus, Ecclesiam, sive de­cimam, seu quaelibet beneficia Ecclesiastica de dono laici, sine proprii Episcopi authoritate & assensu, suscipiat; quod si praesumptum fuerit, irrita [...]rit do­natio hujusmodi; and some allowance was given to the Canons by the King: yet it is most certain (saith he) that the practice was for divers years o­therwise; and that Churches with Tithes, were most commonly given by lay Patrons without the Bishops assent or institution; and that aswell by filling them with Incumbents, as appropriating them to Monasteries, Chapters, or otherwise.

I now return to Church-Over, whereof the first mention I find after the Conq. time, is, that the Monastery of Reg. de Cumba [scil. Vite­lius A. 1.] fol. 65. a. Ib. fol. 39. b. Combe had much land here by the gift of Robert de Wauere, fil Sewardi; and this is very antient; for K. H. 2. confirms it; whence I conclude, that either the same Robert, or Seward his Father, was first enfeoft of a great part, if not of all this Village, by the said Robert de Stadford, or some of his descendants.

Such was the affection of this Robert de Wauere to the Monastery of Combe, that amongst other his grants [...] heIb. fol. 112. a. b. gave thereunto 96. Acres of er­rable Land in this Lordship with his body there to be buryed; and that his Obit might be as so­lemnly kept, as if he had been a Monk of the house. Which grants Roger de VVauere, sonne of the said Robert, (in some called Rogerus de Church-wa­ver (confirms Ib. fo [...] 114. b. to the said Monastery. And after him Ernaldus filius Ernaldi de waver, gave Ib fol. 115. b. Lands in this town to the said Abby cum corpore suo, Radulphus filius Elenae, dictae de Church-waver ratifying the same. So that the Rot. per­gam penès A. B. quantity, which the Abbot of Combe had in this place in R. 2. time, was six messuages and three yard Land, containing in the whole 155. Acres and a half; with two Acres and five doles of Meadow.

But this town was then called Waver-Ro­ger, by way of distinction from Brunes-waver and Thester-waver; the reason whereof is plain, Roger de Wauere (son of Robert) being sometime Lord thereof.

How or when it past from these VVaver's I am yet to learn: nor have I seen any thing further of it till 20. E. 1. that Gefferey Stapleford and Ioan his Wise entayled F. levat. crast. Ioh. Bapt. 20. E 1. it upon the Heirs of their two Bodies. From hence therefore must I make a leap till 9. E. 2. at which time Iohn de Chireford and Geffrey de Morton were Nomi [...]a [...]illarum. certified to be Lords thereof: but it seems, that Morton's moytie came shortly afterwards to the Monastery of Kenyl­worth; for it appears, that the Abbot and Co­vent of that House obtayned licence Pat. 7. F. 3. p. 1. m. [...]. of the King in 7. E. 3. to purchase it from Roger de Boyvill, then Parson of Lalleford, and Iohn Lok Vicar of Lillington; who, as Feoffees in trust, had it in their hands to convey unto them accordingly: After which it is plain, that they presented to the Rectory, alternis vicibus, as it fell void; but what Lands or Rents they had here I find not, forasmuch as the Survey in 26. H. 8. mentions not any. Nor whither the Monks of Combe ob­tayned it, to augment what they had in this place, so given as abovesaid, can I say; but certain it is, that after the dissolution of that Monastery, what they had here past by the name of a Mannour, as appeareth by the Pat. 36. H. 8. p. [...]7. Licence unto Mary Dutchess of Richmund for aliening thereof unto William Dix­well and his Wife, in 36. H. 8. (whereby 'tis like that she had the first grant of it from the Crown.) Since which time the Dixwells of Coton (hard by) have been owners of it, as it seems.

As for Shirford's moytie, 'tis plain, that it divolved to the family of Purefey, by Marriage Ex col­lect. W. Burton de Lindley ar. of Margaret, Daughter and Heir of the before specified Iohn de Shireford, unto Philip Purefey of Munsterton in Leicester-shire; and continued in that line for divers ages, as by their presentments to the Rectory may be discerned.

In this Parish upon the old Roman way cal­led Watlingstrete, is to be seen a very great Tu­mulus, which is of that magnitude, that is puts passengers besides the usuall road. But of this kind I have spoken before in my discourse of Knightlow­hill, therefore I need not to enlarge my self further on that subject.

In an. 1291. 19. E. 1. the Church (dedicated to the Holy Trinity) was valued Ex am­plo cod. M S. in Scac. penès Remem. R. at vii. marks and a half; and in 26. H. S. at Ex vet. cod. M S. penes S. Ar­cher mil. 39. a. xv li. At which time the Procurations and Synodals, payd out thereof, were ix. sol. vi. d.

Patroni Ecclesiae

Incumbentes, & tempora Instit.

Ioh. de Schireford, paronus hac vice.

Langt. fol. 79. b.

Ioh. de Kent accolitus x. Kl. Iunii an. 1321.

Thom. le Irreys, & Alicia de Schire­ford.

North. f. 18. b.

Ioh. de Brochurst Pbr. vii. Id. Iunii an. 1323.

Philippus Purefey.

Ib. [...]. 47. b.

Petrus de Bilney Cap. v. Kl. Maii an. 1349.

Pr. & Conv. de Ke­nilworth.

Ib. f. 50. a.

Eustach. de Burneby Cler. Kl. Aug. an. 1349.

Philippus Purefey.

Stret. f. 16. a.

Nich. de Dranfeld Pbr. Kl. Aug. an. 1367.

Pr. & Conv. de Ke­nill.

Ib. f. 22. a.

Rog. de Wavere Pbr. xiii. Kl. Sept. an. 1374.

VVill. Purfray ar.

Burgh. f. 13 b.

Ioh. Grantham Cap. iiii. Ian. an. 1403.

Pr. & Conv. de Ke­nill.

Heyw. f. 30. b.

Will. Treberveth, iiii. Maii an. 1433.

VVill. Purfray ar. dom. de Church-waver.

Ib. f. 31. a.

Symon Moss, x. Kl. Aug. an. 1433.

Pr. & Conv. de Kenill.

Ib. f. 33. b.

Ric. Aystowe, xx. Maii an. 1435.

Mag. Thom. Pure­fay ar. hac vice, ex concess. Nich. Purefay ar.

Str. & P. f. 2. b.

Hugo Purefay Scolaris, xv. Iunii an. 1533.

Edw. North gen. hac vice, Patr. ra­tione concess. Pr. & Conv. de Kenil.

Ib. f. 13. a.

D. Thom. de Warmyngton cler. 6. Aug. an. 1535.

D. Episcopus.

Samps. & B. f. 42. b.

Rog. Eliot art. Mag. xvi. Ian. an. 1566.

VVill. Dixwell ge­ner. & concessi­one Ioh. Purefey ar.

Bentham bundell. F.

Will. Bentley Cleric. xxix. Iunii an. 1566.

Thom. Leigh de Stonley miles.

Ib.

Rob. Myddilmore Cler. vi. Aug. an. 1566.

VVill. Leigh miles.

Overton Bundell.

Rog. Vicars Cleric. v. Ian. an. 1596.

Coton juxta Church-over.

COton, [...]ntiently called Cotes, is in this Pa­rish (Cote and Cotan in the Saxon signifying a House of Habitation, as we know in our ordi­nary language,) but being a Member of Church-Over is not mentioned in the Conq. Survey. Nor afterwards, that I have seen, till Hugh Ba­got gave it, with Newton to Ingeram his Bro­ther (as in Newton I have observed;) which gift Roger Bagot, Son of the said Hugh, confirms, Reg. de Cumba [scil. vitel. a. 1.] f. 106 for Cotes onely: wherein is exprest, that William Trussell as chief Lord of the fee, ra­tified the same, being one of the Heirs of Rober­tus filius Odonis (as when I come to Loxley I, shall have occasion to shew;) and thereup­on Ib. b. received homage of the said Ingeram in the Hundred of Barlichway.

Here was Ib. f. 109. a. b. a family to whom this place an­tiently gave name, scil. de Cotes; who held that which they had of the abovementioned Bagots, and were Benefactors to Combe, as appears by some pett [...] grants of Land given to those Monks: one of which line had Buriall at Combe, as may seem by bequeathing his Body thither, with a Rent of iii. sol. per annum, to boot. But Simon Bagot, in H. 2. time, was he that gave Ib. f. 107. a. most Land here to that Monastery, besides the homage and service of Robert de Cotes and his Heirs for all that the said Robert held of him in Neuton; which William Trussell, before mentioned, confirmed. Ib. f. 109. a. So that what the Monkes of Combe had in Cotes, Regist. de Cumba (scil. Vite­lius D. 18.) f. 98. a. was T [...]sta de Nevill. half a Knights fee, which they Ib. held of William Trussell; and he of Raphe de Mora; and he of the Baron of Stafford in 36. H. 3. Wherein they Rot. de Quo War. Pa [...]. 20. E. 3. p. 3. m. 9. claimed a Court-Leet in 13. E. 1. with other Priviledges; calling it the Mannour of Cotes super le waus, (or super waldas, as it is recorded Praesen­tat. p [...]r Hund. 4. E. 1. 4. E. 1.) these Hilly parts being then, and after called Wouldes, as many other of that kind are to this day in other Counties; And in 18. of E. 1. they obteined a Charter Cart. 18. E. 1. n. 89. of Free-Warren to them and their successours, in all their demesn Lands here. The quantity Rot. per­gam. penès A. B. of their possessions in R. 2. time, being rated at ix. yard Land lxxxiiii. Acres and a half, accounting 48. Acres to a yard Land. But after the dissolu­tion of the Monasteries, this Mannour so belong­ing to the Monkes of Combe, then called Coton lay wood, was granted Pat. 5. E. 6. p. 7. out of the Crown (inter alia) to Edward Clinton in 5. E. 6. who as it seems, soon past his title therein unto Thomas Marrow; for in the same year I find, that the said Thomas had Licence Pat. 5. E. 6. p. 2.to alien it unto William Dixwell, Esquire, to whose descendants it still continues.

Hill-Morton.

REturning now to the South side of Avon, I find, below Clifton, a little rivulet falling in­to that Channell. This rising about Creek in Northampton-shire comes through Hill-Morton; which Town takes its name from the situation; Hill antiently written Hull, conteyning that part standing on the Bank, and Moreton where the Church is, that below in a moorish flat ground.

In the Conq. time it was in the possession of the Earl of Mellent, who had a large share in this County, as by the particulars, when they come in my way, I shall shew. Howbeit I do not find that this Earl of Mellent continued long owner of all those Lands in this County, bestow­ed upon him by the Conq. but that his Brother Henry de Neuburgh (advanced to the Earldom of Warwick towards the later end of the Conq. time,) possest the greatest part of them; and, a­mongst the rest, had this Hill-Morton (then cal­led Mortone, as appeares in Doomesday-Book:) For in 11. H. 2. when William Earl of Warwick certifies what Knights Fees he held de veteri Fe­offamento; that is, whereof they that so held them were enfeoffed of in the time of H. 1. the Record Lib. rub. in Scac. f. 104. says, that Philippus de Estlega held 3. Knights [Page 13] Fees: And though the names of the places where they did lye, be not there exprest, 'tis very evident by the subsequent testimonies, which I shall pro­duce, that Hill Morton was one: for the Testa de Nevill. Recei­vers of the aid for the Marriage of the Kings Sister to the Rom. Emperour 20. H. 3. do certify; for Astley and Milverton one Fee and a half; We­tington one Fee; and Mortone super Dunsmore (which is this Hill-Morton) half a Knights Fee; all which were then held of the Earl of Warwick by Walter de Estleg. (Grand-child of the above mentioned Philip,) and do make up three in num­ber, being the proportion the said Philip enjoyed; which Fees in Testa de Nevill. 36. H. 3. were held by Thomas de Astley, Son of Walter, of those Earls. But Astley is the place where I purpose to speak Hi­storically of this antient family; and therefore here shall onely trace down the succession to this, which went out with a younger branch; For the above mentioned Thomas de Astley, marrying a second Wife (as the descent herewith drawn doth shew) had issue, by her severall Sons. To Tho­mas the eldest of them he gave Autogr. penès Fr. Astley Eq. aur. Hill-Morton and the advouson of the Church; entayling it upon any Brother or Sister of the whole Blood, in case Thomas should dye without issue; which grant bears date in May 47. H. 3. But this Thomas the donee about the Rot. de Quo War. beginning of E. 1. time dyed without issue, leaving his Brother Raphe his Heir; from whom in a direct line did descend Sir Francis Astley of Melton-Constable in Norff. Knight, Lord of this Mannour, lately deceased.

• :..uxor prima - Thomas
  Ex au­tog. pe­nès e­undem F. Astley.
  de Este­leg miles 47. H. 3. -Editha
  Ex au­tog. pe­nès e­undem F. Astley.
  filia Petri Consta­ble de Melton in com. Norff..relicta 18. E. 1.
  • Andreas de Estleg.
  • 3
    Ex au­tog. pe­nès e­undem F. Astley.
    Steph. de Est-ley. 18. E. 1.
  • 12 Rad. de Astley hae­res fratris 13. E. 1.
    Rot. de Quo warr.
    28. E. 1.
    • Rot. de Nom. Vill. 9. E. 2.
      Thomas de Ast­ley 9. E. 2. -
      Ex Au­togr. penès eundem Fr. Astley.
      Margeria; relicta 26. E. 3.
      • Ex Au­togr. penès eundem Fr. Astley.
        Rad. de Astley miles 26. E. 3.
        • Northb. fol. 30. b.
          Thomas de Astley miles 7. R. 2. -
          Bullock f. [...]. b.
          Catherina relicta 14. R. 2.
  • 1
    Ex au­tog. pe­nès e­undem F. Astley.
    Thomas de Esteley 47. H. 3.
    Rot. Cart. 52. H. 3. m. 7.
    52. H. 3.
    Rot. de Quo warr.
    mortuus sine prole 13. E. 1.

Of Edith (Mother to Thomas,) to whom this Mannour was so given, I find, that she continu­ed many years a widow after her Husbands death. And in 18. of E. 1. granted Autogr. penès eun­dem F. Ast­ley. to her Son Stephen, all her Lands in Melton, Burgh b. Mariae, Lang­ham, Burmingham, Snitterley, Wineton, Glam­forde, Saxlingham, Scharnton, Est-Toding­ham, Hinmingland, Hindringham, Hyldolveston and Norwich in the County of Norff. which de­scended to her by inheritance after the death of Geffrey, the Son of Peter Constable of Melton, her Brother.

And if there be truth in tradition, (as there is likelyhood for antiquity,) that fair Monument of Free-stone, with the statue of a Woman, ex­cellently wrought, lying in the midst of the South Isle of Hill-Morton Church, was erected for this Edith, whereof the tabernacle, or cover over her head, is very like to that of Queen Elianor's (Wife to K. Edw. 1.) which is of brass in Westminster Abby.

This Thomas, to whom Hill-Morton was so given by his Father, obteined to himself and his Heirs in 49. H. 3. a Charter Ca [...]t. 49. H. 3. m. 7. for a weekly Mer­cate here upon the Saturday, and a Fair yearly, to begin on the even of St. Iohn Baptist, and to con­tinue for three dayes: which Grant being made at such time as the King was a Prisoner, the Barons excercising regall authority in his name, held not valid; and therefore in 52. of the same Kings reign, he procured a new Cart. 52 H. 3. m. 9. Charter, ratifying the Fair, but altering the Mercate to Wednesday. At which time he also had Free-warren granted Ibid. to him and his Heirs in all his demesn Lands here.

For this Thomas, who dyed before the 13. of E. 1. is there yet standing a very fair monument betwixt two Pillars in the Church of Hill-Mor­ton, opposite to that of his Mother Edith, where­on his statue of free-stone lyeth cross leg'd in Ar­mor of Male, as when I come to speak of the Church may be seen, whose Brother and Heir, viz. Raphe de Astley, in 13. E. 1. claymed Rot. de Quo war. a Court Leet, and other Priviledges in this Mannour by Prescription; and likewise exhibi­bited K. H. 3. Charter for the Mercate, Fair, and Free warren (last before mentioned) all which were allowed.

To whom succeeded Thomas, his Son and Heir, certified Nom. Vil. to be Lord of Hill-Moreton in 9. E. 2. who liking not the Wednesday Mercate there, procured a new Patent Pat. 8. E. 3. n. 24. in 8. E. 3, for to have it upon [...]he Tuesday; continuing the Fair as formerly, and renewing the Charter of Free war­ren: And in the same year obteyned Licence Esc. 8. F. 3. n. 76. Rot. fin. 8. E. 3. m. 7. in cedula. Pat. 8. E. 3. p. 1. m. [...]. for amortizing of certain Lands lying within this Lordship to maintain a Chantry-Priest to sing Mass for ever, in the Chappel of our Lady contiguous to the Parish Church of Hill-Morton, for the Souls of him the said Thomas and Marge­ry his wife; As also of Edith Astley, (before men­tioned) and of the Father and Mother of the said Thomas, their Heirs and Ancestours, and all Chri­stian Souls deceased.

This Thomas in 9. E. 3. had a speciall Patent, Pat. 9. E. 3. p. 2. m. 3. exempting him from Knighthood.

And in 17. E. 3. gave Pat. 17. E. 3. p. 2. m. 30. the perpetuall Patro­nage of the Church of Hill-Morton to the Dean and Canons of the Colledge of Astley (then newly founded by Thomas Lord Astley, the chief of that family) and dyed Northb. f. 122. a. before the 20. of E. 3.

But of his descendants, forasmuch as their re­sidence hath been in Norfolk I have here no more to say.

The Church Dedicoted to St. John Bapt.

IN An. 1291. 19. E. 1. the Rectory was va­lued Ex c [...] [...] M S. in Scac. at xviii. marks. And in 26. H. 8. The Vicaridge at Ex cod. M S. penès S. Archer eq. aur. f. 41. a. vi. l. x. sol. At which time the Pro­curations and Synodalls payd out thereof, were viii. sol. Out of which Rectory is there a Pension Staff. & Kempe f 338. b. of xiii. sol. iiii. d. yearly payable to the Bishop; originally reserued upon the appropriation there­of (as all others of that kind were) in recompence of the benefit, that he and his Successors might re­ceive [Page 14] out of the Church, in Regist. Vocat. the white Book pe­nès Decan. & Cap. Wigorn f. 177. b. case no such Appro­priation should have been made.

Patroni Ecclesiae

Incumbentes, & temp. Instit.

Thomas de Estleya miles.

Philippus de Estleya Cleric. frater ejusdem Thomae. Sans date.

Pr. & Conv. de Erdbury.

Ex ipso autog. pe­nès Dec. & Cap. Lich.

Thom. de Dunton diac. an. 1286.

Patroni Vicariae

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Northb. f. 4 [...] a.

Will. de Walton Pbr. 4. Non. Sept. An. 1343.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Ib. [...]ol. 52. b.

Galfr. de Lyllburne, xiii. Kl. Martii An. 1349.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Ib. f. 53. b.

Ioh. de Rokeby Pbr. iiii. Kl. Oct. An. 1350.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Stret. f. 11. b.

Ioh. Rolf. Pbr. vi. Id. Ian. an. 1362.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Sk. f. 2. a.

Will. Meeke Cap. viii. Kl. Dec. An. 1386.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Heyw. f. 22. a.

Ri [...]. Millford Pbr. xxvi. Aug. An. 1428.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Ib.

Cato Halys Cap. 1. Oct. An. 1428.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Ib. fol. 32. a.

Will. Nicholl. Cap. vi. Oct. An. 1433.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Heyw. f. 41. a.

Ioh. Coton Pbr. ii. Dec. an. 1442.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Bo. f. 1. a.

Ioh. Kempe Pbr. iii. Iunii an. 1447.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Bowl. f. 140. a.

Edw. Bate Pbr. xi. Oct. An. 1493.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Bl. f. 7. b.

D. Thom. Morres, ult. Apr. An. 1521.

Decan. & Cap. de Astley.

Ib. f. 11. b.

D. Ioh. Grendon Cap. xvii. Apr. An. 1525.

Henricus Dux Suffolciae.

Samps. & B. f. 1. a.

Edw. Hopkynson Cler. xxiiii. Iunii An. 1553.

Edw. Comes Hert­fordiae.

Ib. f. 42. a.

Rob. Wigston Cleric. xii. Apr. An. 1565.

Eliz. Regina.

Overton bundell. C.

Thom. Hodgkinson Cleric. viii. Apr. An. 1602.

But there is something else, which I must not pass by, before I leave this place, and that is the foundation of two Chanteryes here. The one of them by Northb. f. 122. a. Sir Edmund Trussel Knight, in the Chappell of our Lady adjoyning to the Parish Church, for the soul of Thomas Astley deceased, and the good estate of Margerie late Wife of the said Thomas; of their Children that were then living, and for the souls of their Children decea­sed: as also for the Souls of Iohn Primrose, and of the Lady Edith Astley; and for the good e­state of Sir Raphe Astley Knight, and Dame Ag­nes his VVife; Sir Edmund Trussel Knight, and Dame Margerie his VVife; and of Thomas Mei­lour Priest, and for their souls after their decease. The Patronage of which Chantry, by the Bishops Instrument for Ordination thereof, was reserved after the death of the same Sir Edmund Trussell, to be in the Heirs of the said Thomas Astley and Margery. And for the maintenance of a Priest, perpetually to sing Mass there, for the purposes a­bove mentioned, the King gave Licence to the said Sir Edmund to amortize four messuages, fifty acres of land, seaven acres of meadow, and xxvi. sol. Rent in Hill-Morton, as it may seem by the Ju­rors certificate Esc. 16. E. 3. n. 17. returned upon the Writ of Ad quod dampnum thereupon.

This Sir Edmund Trussell bore for his Armes a crosse formè fleuritè debruised with a bendlet, as appears by the impression of his Seal,Penès Dec. & Cap. Lich. which I have seen affixed to his first Instrument of Presen­tation to the said Chantery; And I suppose that he marryed Margery, the VVidow of the said Thomas Astley, though it be not directly exprest in the Ordination before specified.

It is very like that this Chantry swallowed up that whereof I made mention in 8. E. 3. viz. which Thomas Astley had Licence to found: for upon the Survey taken an. 37. H. 8. there was no other but this in that Chappell of our Lady, the lands belonging whereunto were by the Com­missioners in 37. H. 8. certified Ex cod. M S. de certific. va­lor. omnium Cantar. Colleg. &c. in com. War. 37. H. 8. penès S. Archer eq. au. f. 9. b. to be of the the yearly value, over and above all reprises, of iiii. l. xviii. sol. x. d. For the other Chantry was in a Chappel of St. Iames in Hull super Duns­more (as the Record expresses;) which is that part of the town, situate upon the Hill Westwards from the Church; and founded by Pat. 18. E. 3. p. 2. m. 18. Mag. Tho­mas de Morton in 18. E. 3.

The certificate in 37. H. 8. expresly says he was a Priest, and the word Mag. imports as much; yet in the Licence given to him to amor­tize lands thereunto; viz. one messuage, one yard land, and four acres; as also four acres and one rode of meadow in Hill Morton aforesaid; it is for a Priest to sing Mass for the good estate of him the said Thomas and Alice his Wife, and Mar­gerie their Daughter during their lives; and for their souls when they should depart this world; As also for the souls of Adam de Morton his fa­ther, and their ancestours, &c. But it seems, he was a marryed man, and a professour in some o­ther science.

The value thereof in 37. H. 8. was certified to M S. pe­nès S. Ar­cher eq. au. f. 9. a. to be xlvi. s. viii. d.

In this Lordship of Hill Morton there were also eight messuages, and one yard land and a quarter given Pat. 3. E. 3. p. 1. m. 15. by one William Poyntell, to the Hospitall of St. Iohn Baptist in Luterworth for the finding of a Chantry Priest, there to sing Mass for the souls of him the said William and his VVife (3. E. 3.)

[Page 15]

In the middle Ile of this Church are two grave­stones of marble, each of them having small portraictures in brass of a man and a wo­man, with divers children: on one of them is this Inscription.

On the other this

Rugby.

ON the South-VVest side of this little Rill, which comes from Hill Morton, lyes Rug­by, bounded with Avon towards the North; but in Doomesday-Book written Rocheberie; Beri [...] signifying with our ancestours a Court or habi­ [...]ation of note; And Roche a rock or quarry of stone; for such there is VVestwards from this town about half a mile; and 'tis very like that the ground, whereon the town stands, being high, is of the same condition, though that the quarry lye not very near the surface of the earth; so that then the nature of the soyl, may be the occasion of the name. Howbeit in all the elder times si­thence, it is written Rokeby with a K. instead of the Ch.

In the Conquerours time Turchil de Warwick, of whom I have already made mention, was ow­ner Domes­day lib. of it, one Eddulfus (for so he is called in the Conq. Survey) then holding it of him; it being then certified to contein two hydes and a half: the posterity of which Eddulfus continued possest thereof, holding Testa de Nevill. it by half a Knights Fee of the said Turchill's, Heirs, till it went away with a Daughter and Heir in Edw. the first his time, as the descent will shew.

• [Page 16]Eddulfus, tempore Conquestoris.
  • Thurbertus filius Hadewolfi.
    • Henricus de Rokeby.
      • Henricus de Rokeby Annabilla.
        • Ranulphus de Rokeby
          • Annabilla filia & haeres, uxor. Joh. Goband militis.

But Thurbert, the son of this Eddulfus, is some­times Reg. de Cumba (scilicet Vitel. A. 1) f. 39. a. called Thurbertus filius Hadelwolfi de Bil­neja; for it seems he had also a Seat at Bilney, (now called Binley) and sometimes Ex au­togr. penès S. Archer mil. Thurbertus de Rochebe; and was a notable benefactor to the Monks of Combe, giving Regist. de Cumba, f. 39. a. a large precinct of his land in Bilney, adjoyning to Smite, (within which Smite the monastery was founded) the lands being exprest by boundaryes after the an­tient manner; which grant was ratified Reg. de Cumba [scil. Vitel. a. 1.] f. 40. b. by Henry son to the same Thurbert, who calls him­self Henricus de Rokeby filius Thurberti de Bil­ney; adding to his fathers gift the Mill of Bilney, and some other land: for the better assurance whereof, Henry de Arderne, grandson to Turchill, confirms Ib. f. 41. a. the grant, though that, with a great part also of his inheritance, was taken away by the Conquerour, or King H. 1. and given to the Earl of Warwick (as I think) before that time, which was in the reign of K. Steph. Roger Earl of Warwick being a witness Ib. thereunto: for Earl William (son of Roger) adds his Charter Ib. [...]. 39. a. of con­firmation to them all, which needed not, had he not been possest of Arden's lands.

Here was a little Castle at Rokeby, which stood about a furlong from the Church Northwards; as is to be seen by the banks of earth, and part of the moat, yet remaining. I am of opinion, that this was one of those Castles which were built in King Stephens time; for fearing the coming of the Empress (as saith mine Io. Ti­nemutensis hist. aurea Ms in bibl. Bodl. lib. 19. c. 42. Author) concessit ut qui­libet procorum suorum munitionem, seu castrum, in proprio fundo facere posset; Almost all which were demolished R. Ho­ved: f. 281. b. n. 20. by the command of K. H. 2. about the third year of his reign. And besides the pro­bability thereof, the Inhabitants have it by tra­dition, that it was Sir Henry Rokebye's castle.

This Car. 19. H. 3. m. 6. Henry de Rokeby was a benefactor to the Abby of Pipwell in Northampton-shire, as ap­pears by what he gave in Regist. de Pipwell, f. 39. a. Rokeby, where the Monks of Pipwell had a grange. He also gave Reg. Ab. de Leic. in bibl: Ca [...] ­ [...]on: [...]. 7. a. all the land which he had in Holme, to the Ca­nons of Leicester (whereof I have already spoke) for the advouson of the Chappel of Rokeby, which was a member of Clifton, and belonging to that Abby: touching which Chappel there was a Plac. de T. Mich. 2 Ioh [...] rot. 26. in dor­so. sute betwixt the said Henry, and the Abbot of Lei­cester in the 2. year of K. Iohn; and Reg. de Cumba, [...]. 41. b. bequeath­ing his body to be buried at Combe, therewith gave the yearly rent of half a mark of silver, issuing out of the Mill of Aston (juxta Bermingham) in this County; which Henry had issue Reg. de Cumba, f. 40. b. Henry, who consumed all the grants to that Abby made by his grandfather and father, adding Ib. f. 46. b. something from himself in Bilney. But it seems that the dif­ference concerning the advouson of the Chappel of Rokeby ended not till this time: For by a Oct. Mich. 5. H. 3. fine levyed 5. H. 3. betwixt Henry Rokeby and the Abbot of Leicester, it was concluded, that the said Henry and his heirs, should exhibit a fit Clerk to the same Abbot and his successours, whom they might present to the Bishop; which Clerk should pay to them yearly, the antient and due pension, that the Abby of Leicester had wont to receive out of the said Chappel of Rokeby in right of their Church of Clifton: And to perfect this a­greement, the said Henry gave to that Abby for ever, a yard land in Holme.

This Henry was a Knight; for so by his grant Ex au­tog. in bibl. Hatton. under seal he is stiled; whereby, with the con­sent of Ranulph his son and heir, he gave a yard land in Rokeby to the Prior and Monks of Kirby. And in the 39 of H. 3. obtained for himself and his heirs a Cart: 39 H. 3 m. 3. Charter for a weekly Mercate here every Saturday, and for a Fair yearly, beginning on the Even of St. Laurence, to endure for three daies; with Free warren in all his demesn lands in Warwickshire. For the advantage of which Mercate, the Abbot of Combe earnestly moved Regist. de Pipwell, f, 148. b. the Monks of Pipwell for permission, that they might purchase, or erect a house in Rokeby to re­ceive those Monks of theirs, as they should have occasion to imploy thither. Howbeit in 13 E. 1. Annabilla, the Widow of the said Henry, hold­ing this Mannour in dower, and claiming Rot: de Quo war [...] Free warren with a Mercate and Faire here; for which she exhibited the Charter of K. H. 3. extended her claim further than that Charter warranted, as it seems: for it was then found, that she challenged liberty to punish the breakers of the Assize of Bread and Ale, whereof being not seized, the Shiriff entred upon the Mar­ket, Fair and Free warren for the King. To which last mentioned Henry succeeded Ranulph his son and heir, who dyed P: T. Hill: 20 E. 1. ro [...]: 64. before 20 E. 1. for in the Ex au­togr: in bibl: Hat­ton. 24 of that Kings reign, Raph Basset, son and heir of Simon Basset of Sapcote, granted the custody of Annabil his daughter and heir, with her marriage, to Peter de Leicester Clerk. Which Regist. de Pipwell, f. 39. a. Annabil was the wife of Sir Iohn Goband Kt. Howbeit Annabil her mother being married Ex au­togr: penès Dec: & cap: Lich: to ......... Mundevill, held Rokeby in dower. 3 E. 2.

In 1 E. 3. the before specified Iohn Goband, and Annabil his wife, had a Court Esc: 1 E. 3. n. 28. Leet and other priviledges granted to them in this their Mannour of Rokeby, after which it continued not long in that family; for in 23 E. 3. Iohn the son and heir of Sir Iohn Goband Kt. past Ex au­togr: penès Edw: Peto de Chester­ton ar. an. 1651. the inheritance thereof, with the advouson of the Church, to Raph Lord Stafford, and Sir Iohn Oddingsells Kt. and their heirs. In which grant he makes mention, that the same was setled upon Iohn Brown and Annabil his wife, and upon him the said Iohn Go­band, and his heirs, by Iohn Charnells Parson of the Church of Swepston in Leicestershire. I sup­pose that this Annabil married to her second hus­band the before mentioned Iohn Brown: for Ex evi­dentiis in Scac: quondam Roberti Catesby attincti. in 20 E. 3. Iohn Brown is said to be Lord of Rugby, which doubtless was in her right. After which, in 24 E. 3. Sir Thomas Charnells Kt. releast Autog: in bibl. Hatton to the said Raph Lord Stafford all his interest in this Mannour. And in Autog: in bibl. Hatton 7 R. 2. Nicholas Goband, Re­ctor of the Church of Cley, Autog: in bibl. Hatton did the like to Hugh Earl Stafford, son of the said Raph; in considera­tion whereof he received xl. l. sterling. Which [Page 17] Nicholas Goband sealed with three Crosses cros­slets fitchè upon the fesse, to difference him from the principall branch of that family, who bore a plain fesse, and 3. besants in chief.

The Release of Sir Iohn Odingsells to the said Baron of Stafford I have not seen, Howbeit, there is no question, but that such a thing there was: for in the same 23. year of E. 3. the Lord Staf­ford, as Patron of the Church, exhibited his Clerk to the Abbot of Leicester; according to the Agree­ment before exprest.

This Mannour continued Esc. 38. H. 6. in the Family of Stafford till the death of Humfrey Duke of Buck­ingham in 38. H. 6. but how much longer I have not yet seen: for the next mention I find thereof is, that Ric. 3. an. 1. of his Reign granted Pat. 1. R. 3. p. 3. m. 4. it to Iohn Lord Dudley, and to the Heirs of his body, in which Patent it appears, that it came to his hands by the death of Margaret Countess of Richmund (who was mother to K. Henry 7.) and that he so gave it to the Lord Dudley for his faithfull ser­vice in favouring his (usurped) title to the Crown. It should seem that Thomas Lord Stanley (who was Husband to the Countess of Richmund) held it during his life: for I have seen a Grant Autog. in Scac. inter evident. Rob. Ca­tesby. by the said Lord Dudley dated 1 Aug. 2. R. 3. whereby he makes dilectum consanguineum (for so he calls him) his beloved Kinsman Will. Catesby Esq. Steward thereof, whensoever it should come into his hands, or the possession of his Heirs; and to receive for his yearly Fee ten marks sterling; In which grant it is exprest, that the said Lord Stan­ley, then had it for that term.

But I perceive it came again to the house of Stafford, though I have not yet seen how nor when; for immediatly upon the attainder of Ed­ward Duke of Buckingham, Henry 8. granted Pat 14. H. 8. p. 1. it to Sir Gilbert Talboys Kt. and Elizabeth his Wife, and the Heirs of their two bodies; expres­sing, that it was Edward late Duke of Bucking­ham's attainted. Which Sir Gilbert and Eliza­beth, had issue Elizabeth their Daughter Inscrip. [...]umuli a­pud War­wick. and Heir wedded to Ambrose Dudley (afterwards Earl of Warwick;) who in 2 Eliz. sold Pat. 2. Eliz. p. 11. it together with the advowson of the Church to Iohn Wyrley and Dorothe his wife. Which Dorothe dyed Esc. 28. Eliz. seized thereof ult. Martii 28. Eliz. Francis her Son and Heir being then 40. years of age.

In an. 1291. 19. E. 1. the Church (dedicated to St. Andrew) was valued M S in Scac. penès Remem. R. at seaven marks and a half. And in 26. H. 8. at M S pe­nès Archer eq. aur. 40. b. xvii. li. xix. s. ii. d. over and above xx. sol. yearly Pension issu­ing out of it to the Abb. of Leicester; and ix. sol. vi. d. for Procurations and Synodalls.

Patroni Ecclesiae

Incumbentes, & temp. Instit.

Abb. de Leic. ad nominationē Hen­rici de Rokeby mi­lit. secundùm te­norem cyrographi inter ipsos.

Ex ipso au­tog. penès Dec. & Cap. Leich.

Alex. de Rokeby Cleric... an. 1253. (37. H. 3.)

Annabilla domina de Rokeby.

Ex autog. Ib.

Rog. Capellanus, ... an. 1291. (19. E. 1.)

D. Rad. Basset ra­tione custodiae hae­redis de Rokeby.

Ex autog. Ib.

......................

D. Petrus de Ley­cest.

Langt. f. 6. a.

Rob. de Halughton Pbr. iiii. Non. Iulii an. 1301.

Annabilla de Mū ­ [...]vile D. de Rokeby

Ib. [...]. 37. a.

Ric. de Toucestre accolitus, xii. Kl. Dec. an. 1313.

Ioh. Gobant.

Radulphus Gobant Cleric. ...an. 1313.

Autog. pe­nès D. [...]. & Cap. Leich.

Abb. & conv. Leic. ad nominationē Ioh. Goband. D. de Roke­by.

Ioh. Falconarius .... an. 1314.

Autog. Ib.

Abb. & C. de Leic. ad nominationem D. Ioh. Goband mil. D. de Rokeby.

Ric. de Walton Pbr. Non [...] Iunii an. 1332.

No [...]hb. f. 26. a.

Abb. & conv. Leic.

Will. de Lyons Pbr. vi. Id. Martii an. 1341.

Ib. f. 38. b.

Ioh. Goband.

Will. le Pyndere Capell,

Autog. pe­nès Dec. & Cap. Leich.

....an. 1349. 23. E. 3.

Abb. & C. de Leic. ad denominationem D. Baronis de Staf­ford.

Petrus de Bilney C [...]p. xii. Kl. Aug. an. 1349.

Northb. f. 49. a.

Abb. & C. de Leic.

Will. Parker Pbr. iii. Kl. Sept an. 1361.

Stret. f. 9. a.

Abb. & C. de Leic. ad nominationem D. Rad. Comitis Staff.

Rog. Geffen Pbr. xiii. Kl. Ian. an. 1361.

Ib. f. 10. b.

Abb. & C. de Leic.

Will. de Langton Cler. xi. Kl. Sept. an. 1375.

Ib. f. 22. b.

Abb. & C. de Leic. ad nominationē Co­mitis Staff.

Ioh. Baron Pbr. Id. Ian. an. 1376.

Ib. [...]. 23. b.

Abb. & C. de Leic. ad nominationē Co­mitis Staff.

Ric. de Hesell Pbr. iii. Apr. an. 1384.

Ib. f. 31. b.

Abb. & C. de Leic.

Thom. Thurston Cap. xix. Apr. an. 1416.

Bull. f. 2. b.

Abb. & C. de Leic.

Ioh. Stones Cap. iii. Aug. an. 1454.

Bowl. f. 20. b.

Abb. & C. de Leic.

Will. Melder Cap. penult. Aug. a [...] 1507.

Bl. f. 5. a.

Abb. & C. de Leic.

Ioh. Swalle. xxi. Martii an. 1527.

Ib. f. 12. b.

Rog. Martin civis & Alderm. Lond. & alii ratione concess. Ambr. Dudley mil. & D. Eliz. Talboys uxoris ejus filiae & haeredis Gilb. Tal­boys milit.

Anth. Blake Cler. vii. Iu­nii an. 1558. (4. & 5. Ph. & M.)

Samps. & B. f. 11. a.

Ioh. Wyrley sen. ar. Ioh. Wyrley jun. ge­ner. & Percivallus Angrome yoman.

Edw. Bolton Cleric. ix. Dec. an. 1570.

[...] Bund [...]ll incert.

Ioh. Cotta medicinae D.

Ionathan Grover Cleric. xii. Martii an. 1622.

Morton Bundell. incert.

Geo. Wilcockson de Wolvey in com. War. cleric. & Henr. Clerk de Rugby gen. ex concess. Humf. Bur­neby de Rugby ar.

VVill. Wilcockson Cleric. xxviii. Maii an. 1627.

Ib.

Bilton.

SOuthwards from Rugby stands Bilton, which was Domes­day lib. the freehold of one Uluuinus before the Norman invasion. And in the Conq. Survey Ibid. certified to contain five hydes; whereof all, ex­cept one virgate, were then possest by Roger de Montgomerie, Earl of Arundell and Shrews­bury (of which Earl I shall speak more largely when I come to Wolston) that virgate belong­ing to Turchill de VVarwick. In the certificate of what Earl Roger held, it is written Beltone; but in the other of Turchill's lands Bentone, mi­staking, as I suppose, the u. for an n. in regard it was there written Beutone, the l. being changed for the u. according to the ordinary pronuntiation of many words amongst the vulgar; as in Lalle­ford (the very next town) which is usually cal­led Lauford; and of latter times so written.

• Hingant, sive Ingald.
  • Walterus fil. Ingaldi tempore regis Steph. - Maria
    • Beatrix sepulta in cimiterio de Pipwell.

• Galfridus de Crafte.
  • Robertus de Crafte.
  • Rogerus de Crafte.

• Rogerus de Crafte. - Beatrix sepulta in cimiterio de Pipwell.
  • Rogerus de Crafte 1 H. 3. 25. H. 3.
    • Rogerus de Crafte.
    • Will.
      Rot. fin. 34. H. 3. in. 2.
      de Char­nells 34. H. 3. - Beatrix
      Rot. fin. 34. H. 3. in. 2.
      relicta 34. H. 3.
      • Nich. de Char­nells.
        • Georgius de Char­nells. - Lucia relicta 13. E. 2.
          • Nich. de Char­nells.
            • Thomas de Char­nells.
              • Laurentius Trussell. - Matildis filia & haeres.
                • Pl. apud Cest. 3. H. 4. m. 3. in dorso.
                  Gulielmus Trussell miles.
                  • Esc. 22. H 7. Sa­lop.
                    Tho. Trussel.
                    • Esc. 22. H 7. Sa­lop.
                      Will. Trussel miles.
                      • Esc. 22. H 7. Sa­lop.
                        Edwardus Trussel obiit x. Junii 14. H. 7.
                        • Esc. 22. H 7. Sa­lop.
                          Joh. Trussel obiit 20 Dec. 15. H. 7.
                        • Pat. 22. H. 7. p. 3.
                          Joh. Vere Comes Oxonii. - Eliz.
                          Esc. 22. H 7. Sa­lop.
                          soror & haeres, aetat 10. an. 22 H. 7.

In K. Steph. time Walterus Regist. de Pipwell. f. 54. a. fil. Hingan, or Ingaldi Cart. 19. H. 3. m. 6. per Inspex [...] being owner of this place, was a great benefactor to the monastery of Pipwell (in Nor­thampton-shire) for he gave Ib. them a large por­tion in Bilton; which in his graunt is set forth by boundaryes; viz. in breadth from the outmost limits of Dunchurch to the old Morewey (anti­ently leading from Hill-Morton towards War­wick) and in length from the end of that way to [...] little rill of water, called Reynesbroc, excep­ing onely the lands belonging to the Church of Bilton lying within that precinct: And because half the Lordship of Belton was the dowrie of Marie the wife of this Walter, she, for her confir­mation thereof, had a gold Ring and a palfrey gi­ven to her by the Abbot; which Walter left one onely daughter his Regist. de Pipw. f. 54. b. & 55. a. heir named, Beatrix, who brought this Lordship in marriage to Roger the son of Geffrey de Craft (owner of Crafte in Lei­cester-shire, whereof he took his name) and con­firmed Ib. the gift of his Father in Law, as he ac­knowledges he promised to do, the very day when he marryed the said Beatrix, standing before the dore of the monastery, in the presence of Geffrey his Father, Robert his Brother, and divers others: And afterwards, upon the buriall of the same Beatrix in the Church-yard at Pipwell, with Ro­ger his son and heir, gave also to those Monks for the health of her soul xi. selions of land, and a piece of meadow in Bilton: which Roger (the second) following the steps of his ancestours in bounty to that Abby, ratified Ib. f. 73. [...] all that his Grand­father, viz. Walterus fil. Hingan gave; and for the better assuring thereof levyed a fine Ib. f. 73. b. there­upon at Westm. on the Eve of St. Peter and Paul 7. R. 1. adding of his own gift common of pasture in Bilton for three hundred Ewes, twelve Kyne and a Bull, five Sows and a Boar with their Pigs, sixteen Oxen, and six young Beasts; and fewell in Bilton-moore, as much as should be ne­cessary for the expence of the Monks in their grange at Bilton: which grange hath been usu­ally called Ib. f. 39. b. Dunchurch grange, in regard that the lands belonging thereto, did lye in the fields of Dunchurch and Bilton; but it is Ib. scituate in part of Bilton.

This last Roger was in Armes against K. Iohn (towards the end of his reign) at that time, when M. Paris. p. 254.37. Robert Fitzwalter, (a great Baron,) was made Princeps militiae, id est, the Generall: for the bet­ter carrying on of which work, the people attribu­ted to him the title of Mareschallus excercitus Dei & Ecclesiae, but this enterprise not thriving, it was called a Rebellion, and those that had a hand therein were glad to seek for mercy; a­mongst which this Roger was one; who, by the favour of K. H. 3. (son of K. Iohn) upon retur­ning to his allegiance, had his lands that were sei­sed on for that insurrection, restoredPat. 1. H. 3. p. 1. m. 16. to him again; which Roger (for it might be he) was living in 20. and 25. H. 3. for I find him charged Testa de Ne­vill. in both those years for a Kts. see in Bilton. Howbeit, after that; viz. in Testa de Ne­vill. 36 H. 3. (upon collection of the Aide for the Kings transfretation into Gas­coigne) Roger de Crafte answered for a Kts. fee in this place: but I suppose that this was the third Roger; for 'tis not like that the other could then be alive.

It doth not appear to me, clearly, how Bilton went from this line of Crafte; but Charnels was the next that, I find, possest it, and if I may take my liberty to guesse, I shall suppose, that it was by a Daughter of Crafte.

About the beginning of Edw. 1. time, Nicho­las Charnels Kt. entayled Regist. Cart. S. Joh. Ihrlm. in bibl. Cot­ton. f. 137. b this and other Lord­ships in Leicester-shire on his son George and the heirs male of his body, and for default of such issue on Sir William Charnells Kt. brother of the said Sir Nicholas, with divers other remainders. In which family of Charnells it continued till the beginning of R. 2. time; and then by Maude, daughter and heir of Thomas Charnells, came to Trussell.

[Page 19]Of the before specified Nicholas, I find, that be­ing in that Rebellion with the Barons against K. H. 3. (so happily crusht in 49 of his reign) he was of the retinue Pat. 52. H. 3. m. 18. to Hamon Straunge (a great man towards the coast of Wales, and one of the most active Matth. Westm. in an. 1264, & 1265. of those Barons) but afterwards, through the Kings mercy, received his pardon Pat. 52. H. 3. m. 18. for that offence: And, in the beginning of E. 1. time, had the trust (amongst other men of note in this Coun­ty) to be constituted one of the Justices of Goal-delivery; for so I find him recorded in an. 2. Pat. 2. E. 2. in dorso. 3.Pat. 3. E. 2. m. 28.. 6. Pat. 6. E. 2. m. 13. [...] & 8.Pat. 8. E. 2. in dorso.. E. 1. Which Nicholas left issue George, who, amongst divers other men of valour in that time, had summons Claus. 29 E. 1. in dorso, m. 13 to be at Barwick upon Twede upon the feast day of the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist, 29 E. 1. sufficiently furnisht with Horse and Arms to attend the King in his ex­pedition against the Scots. Which George, by a fine levyed Octab: Trin: 2 E. 2. entailed this Man­nour, with the advouson of the Church, upon (his son) Nicholas Charnels and Ioan his wife, and the heirs of the same Nicholas by her the said Ioan; reserving unto himself first an estate for life therein: and was one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament of 6. E. 2. but after that time he lived not long: for in 13. E. 2. Lucia his widow held Ex au­tog: penès, D [...]: & Cap. Lichf. this Lordship in dower. To whom succeeded Nicholas his son, of whom I find, that in 18 E. 2. he was joyned Pat. 18. E. 2. p. 2. m. 38. with Roger la Zouch for the choosing of xxx Hobelers and lx Archers, in the Counties of Warr. and Le [...]c. for an expedition into Gascoine. In 13 E. 3. one Claus: 13 E. 3. p. 1. in dorso, m. 43. of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at West­minster. In Rot. Fr. 20 E. 3. in dorso, m. 14 20 E. 3. of the retinue to Thomas Hatfield then Bp. of Duresme in the French ex­pedition (which B. was the Godwin de praesul. p. 132, 133 Founder of Du­resme-Colledge in Oxford, and Duresme-House in London.) In 30 E. 3. Pat. 30. E. 3. parte 3. in dorso, m. 17. assigned one of the Ju­stices in this County for putting the statute of La­bourers in execution; And that he had issue Tho­mas, and he Claus: 1. R. 2. m. 19. Maud a daughter and heir, wedded to Laurence Trussell of Cublesdon in Stafford­shire, by which means this Lordship, with divers Mannours also in Leicestershire, divolved to that family: but was not enjoyed without great suits: for Ib. Iohn Charnells of Be [...]worth, in this County, (combining with one Iohn Marshall Parson of the Church of Swepston in Leicestershire, who had been a feoffee in trust for those lands) intruded himself into the possession of a large part thereof, obtaining a Charter Cart. 38. E. 3. n. 20. of Free-warren in this Mannour of Bilton to himself and his heirs: And, for the better effecting of his purpose, deduced his pretended title from the King; alledging, that Edw. Prince of Wales (Father to the King) dyed seized of it, having been enfeoffed thereof by the said Iohn Charnells: And, the better to carry on his design, caused an Inquisition Claus: 1. R. 2. m. 19. to be taken af­ter the death of the said Prince, whereby it was found accordingly: so that after much suit, in the latter end of E. 3. time, exhibiting a Petition in Parliament, 1 R. 2. the K. directed his Precept to the Judges of the Common Pleas to do her right therein; whereupon (it seems) she recover­ed it: for in Fin. le­vat. Oct. Trin. 9. R. [...]. 9 R. 2. she, with Laurence Trussell her husband, demised it to Sir Raph Ferrers Kt. to hold during his life, paying a Rose onely at the Feast of the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist yearly.

After which it continued in the line of Trussel, till the beginning of H. 8. time: (for though I finde in the Institutions of 10. and 14. H. 4. that Sir Robert Lytton Kt. as Lord of the Mannour, pre­sented to the Rectory, I conceive it to be an estate to him in trust onely; because, neither before nor after that time, is there any mention of him other­wise) and then by Eliz. daughter of Edward, but sister and heir to her brother Iohn, it came to the Earls of Oxford: for in 22 H. 7. the K. Pat. 22. H. 7. p. 3. m [...] [...] granted to Iohn E. of Oxford, and to Iohn Vere Nephew of the same Earl, the wardship and marriage of the said Eliz: to the intent (as the Record saith) that she should be married to the said Iohn Vere, who was then servant to the King, and next heir male to the abovesaid Earl.

Of which Trussells, whose seat was at Ayl­mesthorpe in Leicestershire (which they also had by Charnells heir) I have onely added the descent, that the succession of this Lordship may be the better illustrated; for in Warwickshire they had no imployment of note. But by Edward Earl of Oxford, towards the latter end of Qu. Eliz. reign, was it sold unto Iohn Shugborough Esq then one of the six Clerks in Chancery; which Iohn dyed Esc. 42, Eliz. seized thereof in 42 Eliz. leaving Henry his son and heir, of whom Edward Bough­ton of Lawford Esq (having those lands in Bil­ton sometime belonging to Pipwell-Abby, which after the dissolution were obtained by his Grand­father) purchased it about the beginning of King Iames his reign; and procured afterwards a Pat. 18. Iac. Charter of Free-warren to him and his heirs therein; which Edward disposed thereof to Tho­mas Boughton his second son, who now, scil. anno 1640. maketh his residence here.

The Church (dedicated to St. Mark) was in a. 1291. 19 E. 1. valued Cod. MS in Scac. at ix marks; but in Cod. MS penès S. Archer, mil. f. 40. b. 26 H. 8. at xvi l. xs. vi d. the Procurations and Synodals then Ib. being ix s. vi d.

Patroni Ecclesiae.

Incumbentes & temp. Instit.

Thomas de Leycestria rector eccl. de Beaulton. a. 1308. 7 E. 2.

Regist. de Pipwell, f. 8. b.

Nich. de Charnels.

Ioh. de Charnells,

Northb. f. 4. a.

filius D. Georgii de Charnells, 8. Kl. Iulii, a. 1322. (16. E. 2.)

D. Lucia quondam uxor D. Georgii de Charnells.

Ric. des Aspes,

Ib. f. 17. a.

xii. Kal. Iu­lii, a. 1322. (16. E. 2.)

Nich. de Charnels miles.

Gilb. de Sutton accolitus. iii. Non. Sept. a. 1349. (23. E. 3.)

Ib. f. 50. a.

Laur. Trussell ar. D. de Beaulton & Matildis ux. e­jus, patroni.

Ric. de Wodeman Pbr. xv. Mar­tii, a. 1390. (14. R. 2.)

Sk. f. 6. a.

D. Rob. Lytton miles D. de Beul­ton.

Ioh. Wyllye Cap. xx. Sept. an. 1409. (10. H. 4.)

Burgh. f. 23. b.

Rob. Lynton miles. D. de Bylton.

Ioh. Redyman Cap... Mar­tii,

Ib. f. 34. b.

a. 1413. (14. H. 4.)

D. Will. Trussell miles.

Thom. Rygby Diac. 14. Aug. a. 1429. (7. H. 6)

Heyw. f. 23. a.

D. Will. Trussell miles.

Ioh. Woburn Pbr. xxvi. Apr. a. 1444. (22. H. 6.)

Ib. f. 42. b.

D. Will. Trussell miles.

Ioh. Worsley Pbr. xix. Martii,

Ib. f. 44. a.

a. 1445. (24. H. 6.)

Ioh. Veer Co. Oxon. ratione marita­gii Eliz. filiae & heredis Ed­wardi Trussell.

Magr. Will. Base,

Bl. f. 13. b.

xxix. Iulii, a. 1527. (19. H. 8.)

Alicia Worcester

Rob. Dypsi [...] [...]l [...]r. 16. Ian. an.

Samps. [...]

[Page] de Bylton vidua ratione dimiss. Ioh. Co. Oxon.

B. f. 11. b.

1558. (1 Eliz.)

Alicia Worcester vidua ratione ut supra.

Ib. f. 12. b.

D. Thomas Shapman cler. 6. Apr. an. 1559. 1. Eliz.

Will. Randall fir­marius manerii de Bylton.

Ib. f. 44. a.

Edmundus Enos, x. Dec. an. 1570.

Will. Replingham de Harborow­magna genero­sus, ratione di­miss. Co. Oxon.

Morton. bundell. incert.

Ioh. Enewes in art. baccal. 18. Maii, an. 1621.

Church-Lawford.

WEstward from Bilton, and near the bank of Avon, stands Church-Lawford, (within which Parish is likewise the Village of Long-Lawford, lying somewhat higher upon the same River.) In the Conq. time it was rated Dooms­day lib. for 5 hydes, and then held by one Rainaldus of Ro­ger Earl of Arundell and Shrewsbury, but writ­ten Leileford. The lands of which Roger, in these parts, came afterwards to the family of D' Albany. But in H. 2. time, Roger Hayrun was Lord Reg. de Cumba, f. 59. b. & 65. a. of this place, in whose male line it continued till E. 2. time, held Testa de Nevill. of the heirs of the said Earl of Arundell: So that, 'tis without doubt, that this Roger Hayrun, or his Father, was first enfe [...]ffed thereof by one of those Earls. And it may be that William Hayrun, who lived in the beginning of K. Steph. time, was Rot. Pip. 5 Steph. Father of the same Roger.

Of this family there were there 3 Rogers suc­cessively, all Benefactors Reg. de Cumba, f. 59. a. to the Monastery of Combe; whose grants Iohn Fitz-Alan, chief Lord of the Fee (by descent from D' Albany) confirmed Ib. 61. a.. The last whereof gave Reg. de Pipw. f. 11. a. & f. 39. a. a piece of wast ground called Bromehill, lying also within this Lordship, to the Abby of Pipwell, with a younger son, who was admitted Monk of that house, upon which those Monks built Ib. a sheep-cote, and planted trees, it being thenceforth called Marham. As also Ib. 39. a. his water-mill here, with the suit of the town, and their heirs, thereto, together with the seat of a wind-mill: and Reg. de Cumba, f. 59. b. bequeathed his body to be buryed in the Abby of Combe, thereupon giving to the Monks in pure and per­petual alms, certain lands of good value. After which, Agnes his widow, desiring also sepulture there, gave Ib. f. 61. a. all her goods, movable and unmova­ble, with her body, to that Religious House. But in 36 H. 3. Will. de Waver is stiled F [...]n. le­vat. 36 H. 3. Dominus de Lalleford (in right of Iuliana his wife, question­less; for she is called Reg. de Cumba. haeres Rogeri Hayrun) so also Autogr. in bibl. Hatton. in 3 E. 1. but how this comes to pass, Roger Hayrun having two sons, viz. William and Iohn (as the descent, and what I shall say besides, doth shew) I cannot well imagine: both which were Lords of this place successively, but dyed without issue (William being living Autogr. penès Will. Vicecom. Stafford. in 56 H. 3. and Iohn in Nom. vil­larum. 9. E. 2.) leaving two sisters: but Reg. de Pipwell, f. 11. a. because the inheritance should not be divided, and so diminished, Iohn gave Ib. the same to Robert, son to his sister Margerie. Which Robert was son of William de Newnham (by the said Margerie) upon whom the said Iohn, designing him to be his heir, did, by a fine levyed crast. Ioh. Bapt. 1. E. 2. settle this Mannour, entailing it upon him the said Robert and Eliz. his wife, daughter to one Thomas Boydin of Stretton, and to the heirs of the same Robert begotten on the said Elizabeth; and for default of such issue, to Nicholas brother to the said Robert, with divers other remainders: so that Robert coming thus to the estate, was there­upon called Robertus de Lalleford: howbeit when Iohn dyed, I (certainly) find not.

It seems that this Robert de Lalleford became a man of note in his time; for in 14 E. 3. he was one of the Claus. 14. E. 3. p. 1. in dorso. m. 26. Knights for this Shire in the Parlia­ment then held: but dyed before the 20 E. 3. for in Autog. penès W. V [...]c. Staff. that year Iohn his son and heir released to Iohn Whitwell all his right in this Mannour during VVhitwell's life. Which Iohn dyed without issue, so that Autog. penès W. V [...]c. Staff. VVilliam his brother became thereupon heir; who in 35 E. 3. granted Autog. penès W. V [...]c. Staff. it to VValter VVhythors and Isabell his wife, and to the heirs of VVal [...]er.

• Will. Hayrun. 5 Steph.
  • Rogerus Hayrun. temp. H. 2.
    • Rog. Hayrun. 1 Joh.
      • Rogerus Hayrun. 36 H. 3.
        • ... mo­nachus apud Pipwell.
        • ...filia.
        • Margeria uxor W. de Neunham.
          • Robertus dictus de Lalleford. 14 E. 2. 35 E. 3.
            • Joh. fil. & haeres, obiit sine prole.
            • Will. obiit sine prole.
        • Will. Hayrun, fil. & haeres 56 H. 3. obiit sine prole.
        • Joh. Hayr. 9. E. 2. obiit sine prole.

From whom descended Sir Raphe VVhythors Kt. who granted Ib. it to certain feoffees and their heirs; which feoffees passed their title therein to Henry Earl of Derby, Guy de M [...]ne Keeper of the Kings Privy Seal, Sir Henry Green Knight, Sir Iohn Bagot Kt, and others (all great men in those daies) and their heirs; their grant Ib. bearing date at Bathkynton, in this County, the monday af­ter the feast day of St. Dunstan. 19 R. 2.

What chopping there was with it for the space of xxvi years ensuing, appears not to me: but in 2 H. 6. I find, that Nicholas Parker of Thorn­bury (in Gloucestershire) a servant to Humfry Earl Stafford, passed it to the said Earl and his heirs: whence I ghess, that all these feoffments last mentioned were but in trust, in those turbulent times, for this family of Stafford: In which line it continued till the attainder of Edward Duke of Buck. (13 H. 8.) and by that means coming to the Crown, the K. by his Letters Patents, bearing date 29 Martii the same year, granted Pat. 13. H. 8. par­te 3 a. it to [Page 21] Thomas Marquess Dorset for life; and afterwards, by the like Letters Patents, bearing date 27. Iu­nii 15. of his reign to Pat. 15. H. 8. p. 1. the said Thomas and to the heirs male of his body.

But I suppose that it came to the Crown, 1. Ma­riae, by the attainder of Henry D. of Suffolk, Son to the same Thomas.

For in the next year the Qu. granted Licence Pat. 1.2 [...] Pb. & M. p. 7. to ... Baylye for aliening thereof unto Thomas Leigh Alderman of London, and his Heirs. (Of whom I shall speak more when I come to Ston­ley) After which, it was in xi. Eliz. setled Lib. 3. cedularum. by him on Alice his wife during her life, the remain­der to VVilliam Leigh his younger son, and the heirs male of his body; whose grand-child Fran­cis Lord Dunsmore, of whom I shall make fur­ther mention in Neunham-R [...]gis, doth now (scil. an. 1640.) enjoy it.

In an. 1291. 19. E. 1. the Church (dedicated to St.....) was valued Cod. M S. in Scac. at x. marks; and in 26. H. 8. at Cod M S. penes S.A. eq. aur. f. 41. a. xili.xv. sol. iiii. d. the procurations and Synodalls then issuing out of it being viii. sol.

The Patronage of this Church was antiently in the Abbot and Covent of St. Peters super Dinam in France, in respect of the Priory of Wolfrich­ston (now Wolston) in this County, (a Cell thereto belonging:) but afterwards in the Prior and Covent of Carthusians near Coventre, as by the Institutions may be seen; and as I shall have occasion, when I come to Wolston, more par­ticularly to manifest: yet never appropriated to either of those religious houses.

Patroni Ecclesiae.

Incumbentes & temp. Instit.

Procurator Abb. & Conv. S. Pe­tri super Dinam

Langt. f. 6. a [...]

D. Ioh. de Berevill Pbr. in Festo S. Barnab. Apostoli an. 1300.

Idem procurator.

Ib.

Thom. le Breton Cleric. ix. Kl. Ian. an. praed.

D. Rex. ratione temporal. Abb. S. Petr. super Dinam in manu sua existenti­um.

Nort [...]b. f. 20. a.

Petru [...] de Medburne accolitus, vi. Id. Dec. an. 1325.

Procurator Abb. & Conv. S. Pe­tri super Dinam

Ib. f. 21. a.

Rob. le Venour Capell, vi. Kl. Ian. an. 1326.

Procurator Abb. & Conv. S. Pe­tri super Dinam

Ib. f. 23. b.

Rog. de Boyvile Cap. iii. Non. Aug. an. 1330.

Edw. R. Angl. ratione tempo­ral. Priorat. de Wolfrichston in manu sua exi­sten.

Ib. sol. 32. a.

Ioh. de Weston accol. pridie Non. Dec. an. 1337.

D. Rex hac vice.

S [...]et. f. 22. b.

Ioh. Grene Pbr. xv. Kl. Dec. an. 1357.

D. Rex (&c.)

Ib. f. 31. a.

Will. de Swafeld Cler. iiii. Febr. an. 1383.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Burgh. f. 20. a.

Will. Penreth Cler. xxi. Apr. an. 1408.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Ib. f. 21. a.

Will. Penreth accol. vii. Oct. an. 1408.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Bull. f. 5. a.

Gregorius Neuport decret. bacc. 7. Sept. an. 1416.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Heyw. f. 6. b.

Rob. Helpe Pbr. xvi. Oct. an. 1421.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae ordinis Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Ib. f. 17. b.

Nich Bolton, xxi. Martii an. 1425.

Id. Pr. & C.

Ioh. Norton in decretis bacc. x. Febr. an. 1452.

[...]owl. [...]. 3. [...]

Id. Pr. & C.

D. Thomas Walker,

Bl. f. 5. a.

ix. Apr. an. 1508.

Id. Pr. & C.

Mag. Rog Carleton, .... an. 1534.

Cod. M S. penès S. Archer ca. au [...]. f. 41. a.

Ioh. Bradburne hac vice rati­one concess. Pr. & Conv. Car­thus. juxta Co­ventre.

Mag. Rob. Baytt in sacra theol. bacc. iii. Ian. an. 1546

Samps. f. 42. a.

Tho. Leigh miles, Maior moder­nus Civitatis London.

Humfr. Bate in art. baccal. vi. Febr. an. 1559.

Samps. & B. f. 12. b.

Tho. Leigh miles.

VVill. Bolton Cler. x. Aug. an. 1567.

Ib. f. 42. b.

Chr. Hoddesden Gener. hac vice patronus, ex concessione Will. Leigh militis.

Ioh. Sclater in art. Mag. xviii. Maii an. 1612.

Neale. Bundell. A.

Long-Lawford.

THis place (as I have said) is in the Parish of Church-Lawford.

In the Conq. time Geffrey VVirce (of whom I am to speak in Monkskirby) possest it; and, in the xii. year of that Kings reign gave Autogr. in bibl. Co­ton. to the Mo­nastery of St. Nicholas at Anglers in France, a­mongst other things, two parts of the T [...]thes of Corn and Cattel, and the whole Tyth of the Wool and Cheese, arising within the Precincts thereof, which were received by the Prior and Covent of Monkskirby before mentioned. In that Grant it is written Lellevort, but in the Conq. Survey, where the same Geffrey is certified to hold five hydes here, Lelleford; The addition of the first Syllable Longe, being of later times used to di­stinguish it from the other, which we now call Church Lawford; and doubtless, was put there­to in respect that it lyes not so round together as many other towns do.

That Nigellus de Albany, Progenitor to the family of Moubray, became possest of all VVirce his lands is apparent: (whereof I shall speak more largely, when I come to Monkskirby) which Nigellus, or Roger his Son (who assumed the name of Moubray) enfeoft Robert de Stutville thereof: for I find that the said Robert, about the beginning of H. 2. time, passed Autogr. in officio Arm [...]rum [...] it to Iohn de Stuteville his younger brother; who, for the health of his own soul, and of the souls of his father and mother, Robert his brother, both their childrens souls; as also the souls of K. Henry 2. and [Page 22] his Queen, bestowed Reg. de Pipw. f. 119. a. it on the Monks of Pipwell.

Within the Precinct of this Lordship was Ib. 37. a. a certain Spynney called Black-thyrne, whereupon those Monks built a Corn-Mill, and a Fulling-Mill; which graunts were Ib. f. 119. b. in the beginning of H. 2. time: for by the said Iohn de Stutevile's con­firmation, he ratified it unto the Monks, by the name of Thyrne-Mill, with the Floodgates and Damme to the same height and breadth, as it was that year in which the said K. Henry returned from Tholose, viz. the vi. year of his reign. All which were confirmed by William Ib. 121. a. the son of the said Robert de Stotevile, Ib. f. 120. a. Iohn and Ib. f. 121. a. Ro­ger sons of the said Iohn, and by Ib. f. 123. a. Roger de Mou­bray, chief Lord of the Fee; as also by Ib. f. 133. b. Roger Pantolfe nephew and heir to Roger de Stutevile; betwixt which Roger and the Monkes of Pip­well there were two agreements concerning Com­mon in the Moor of Long-Lawford, digging of Turf for fewell, and likewise about fishing in the River of Avon; one of these bearing date in Ib. f. 134. b. xi. Ioh. and the Ib. f. 134. b. other 3. H. 3. as are to be seen at large in the Leiger-Book of that Monastery.

In Cart. 11. E. 1. an. 33. 11. E. 1. the Monks of Pipwell had Free warren (inter alia) granted to them in this Lalleford. But there is little else of moment that I have met with concerning this place, till after the dissolution of the Monasteries; howbeit then, viz. inP [...]t. 33. H. 8. parte 6. 33 H. 8. did the K. Grant, (amongst o­ther things) to Edward Boughton Esq. and his heirs, the graunge of Long-Lawford, Thyrn-Mill, and divers other lands there, which were belonging to Pipwell-Abby. And in Pat. 7. E. 6. parte 10 7 E. 6. the Mannour unto one Iohn Green of the City of Westminster, and Raphe Hall of London Scrive­ner, and their heirs: which Iohn in 1 Mariae past Pat. 1 M. parte 14. away his right therein unto Elizabeth Boughton. But I suppose that Hall's part came shortly af­ter to one Thomas VVightman: for in 4 Eliz. the said Thomas granted Pat. 4. Eliz. p. 9. it, by the name of the Man­our of Lawford, which belong'd to the Monks of Pipwell, unto Sir Thomas Leigh Kt. and Dame Alice his wife: which Sir Thomas dyed Lib. 3. ce­dular. seized thereof; and at this day Francis Lord Dunsmore, his great grand-child, (by Sir VVilliam Leigh a younger son) enjoys it, viz. an. 1640.

I have now done with Long Lawford.

There is in this Parish of Church-Lawford a place called the Stude, situate upon Dunsmore­heath, where was antiently a Chappell: which, with divers Churches and other things, became appro­priate Rot. Rog. Meyland quondam Episc. Cov. & Lich. m. 4. to the Priory of Coventre in the year of our Lord 1260. (44 H. 3.) and as appears by the Grant Pat. de an. 1. & 2. Ph. & M. p. 1. of K. Philip and Mary an. 1. & 2. of their reign, was an inclosed grove; but stands from the town about a mile South-west.

Wolston.

FOllowing the stream of Avon, the next place I come to is Wolston, which is a large Parish, and conteins sundry villages and hamlets: viz. Merston, Stretton upon Dunsmore, and Prins­thorpe, on the same side the River; with Brandon and Bretford on the other.

In the Conq. days Earl Roger held it by Rai­naldus his under-tenant; it being then certified Domes­day lib. to contein five hydes and one virgate of land: but in the generall Survey written is Uluricetone in one place, and Uluestone in another, all un­der the title of Terra Rogerii Comitis (at which time there was a Church) and had its appellation originally from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time, Wulfricus being a name usuall in those days; from whence it hath antiently been written Wulfricheston and Wolfrichston, though by contraction it be now called Wolston.

This Rogerius Comes, before mentioned, is he who was surnamed de Montegomerico by our old Historians, being oneGesta. Will. ducis Norm. p. 197. A. of the chief Councellours to VVilliam Duke of Normandy for his expediti­on into England; and, to second his advice, ad­ventured W. Gemet. p. 311. C. himself in the Battail against K. Ha­rold, in which the Duke was victor; whereupon, as a reward for his fidelity and service, he Ord. Vi­tal. eccl. hist. p. 522, B. had, first the City of Chichester and Castle of Arun­dell; and afterwards the Earldome of Shrewsbury bestowed upon him by the Conq. And, by him, or one of his sons, do I conclude, that Alanus filius Fladaldi, (progenitor to that great family of Fitz Alan) became enf [...]oft of this Lordship: for; that he had to do here, I have seen good au­thority, Regist. de Burton fol. 18. a. besides the testimony that his descendants, Earls of Arundell, were Testa de Nevill. superior Lords of the fee.

From which Alan it divolved to Roger de Fred­vill in mariage with Sibilla his wife, whose daugh­ter, 'tis like she was. For I find, that the same Roger and Sibill Regist. Abb. de Burton f. 18. a. gave lands out of it to the Monks of Burton (super Trent) in an. 1132. (viz. 33. H. 1.) quas priùs obtulerat domina A­deliza mater Sibillae tempore Nigelli Abbatis, as the Leiger book of that house expresses; but who this domina Adeliza, her mother, was, I cannot yet discover.

Here was in Wolston a religious House, subor­dinate to the Abby of St. Peter super Dinam (in the Dioces of Sais in France) of which I shall say more anon: resolving now to take notice of the posterity of the said Roger de Frevill and Sibilla, with whom the inheritance of Wolston went, and what I find memorable of them: for the clearer un­derstanding whereof, I have inserted this descent.

• Domina Adeliza
  • Rogerus de Frevilla. 33. H. 1. - Sibilla 33. H. 1.
    • Hamo Ex­traneus 1. maritus- Agatha superstes 21. H. 3.
      • Rad. Ex­traneus - Agatha le Strange
        • Ric.
      • G. de Tur­vill archi­diac. Du­blin 21. H. 3.
    • Gaufrid. de Thor­ville. 2. maritus.
      • Hamun­dus de Thurvile 24. H. 3.
        • R. Tur­vile miles [...]9. E. 1. & 2. E. 2.
          • Iohan. Turvile 15. E. 2.28. E. 3
            • Tho. Thur. vile 19. E. 3. fil. & haeres
            • Wil.
            • Rob.
            • Galfr.
          • Rob. le Turvile 9. E. 2.18 E. 2.
    • Robert. de Chet­wode. - Sibilla.
      • Wil. de Chet­wode.
        • Agneta. - W. le Bret. de longa Ichindon 21. E. 1. & 3. E. 2.
          • Guil. le Bre­tun. 12. E. 2.20. E 3. - Avicia
            • W. Bretun. miles 45. E. 3.1. R. 2
              • Guido Bretun [...]. H. 4.
      • Rad. de Chet­wode.
    • Ric. de Frevil.

[Page 23]This Roger was a benefactor to the Cannons of Kenillworth, by the consent of Sibill his wife, giving Regist. de Kenillw. p. 56. & p. 70. them one hyde and one virgate of land here. And had issue Richard, Agatha, and Si­bill: which Richard became a benefactor to the monasteries of Pat. 8. H. 6. p. 1. m. 15. per Inspex. Alcester and Combe in this County; To the first whereof he granted the Church of Pebworth in Gloucester-shire, and to the other; his Mill Regist. de Cum­ba f. 53. b. at Merston in this Parish: but had no children,Regist. de Cum­ba f. 53. b. it seems, for his Sisters be­came his heirs: whereof Agatha marryed to Gef­frey Thorvile, and Sibill to Robert Chetwode; who both, with their husbands, did confirm the gift of Merston-Mill made to the Monks of Combe by their Brother Richard. But, forasmuch as the descent from the said Agatha is not so cleared by authority of Record or other evidence, as I could wish; I must, by that light, which I have, point out what I conceive hath most affinity with Truth, which in this and the like uncertainties, is exprest by prickt lines, as in the example may be discer­ned.

This Geffrey Turvill (for it may very well be he) gave Regist. [...]bb. de Le­ic. in bibl. Bodl. f. 131. the Chappel of Stockingforth, with certain lands there, to the Abby of Leicester. But the first husband to the said Agatha was Ha­mon Strange: which Hamon, by his wifes consent, confirmed Regist. de Kenill. p. 56. to the monastery of Kenillworth five virgates of land in Wulfricheston, that Roger Frevill and Sibill his wife had formerly given thereto; and had issue a daughter named Agatha, who gave Regist. de Cumba f. [...]2. a. to the Abby of Combe for the health of her soul, and the soul of Richard her son, and the rest of her children certein errable land lying in Wulricheston fields. In which grant she is called Agatha le Straunge filia Hamonis le Straunge; but what her husband was I find not.

In Claus. 24. H. 3. m. 10. 24 H. 3. amongst the Kts. fees which were assigned to Hawys the widow of Iohn Fitz-Alan, in this County, there is mention of one, held of the said Iohn, by Hamon Turvill, and another by the heirs of Raphe Straunge. Which Hamon (as I guesse) was the son of Geffrey Turvile and A­gatha; and gave Regist. de Cumba f. 54. a. lands in Merston within this Parish, to the Monks of Combe.

This Agatha de Turvill lived to a great age; for I find, that by the procurement of Geffrey Tur­vill, her son; who was Arch-Deacon of Dublin and the Kings Treasurer there, she had a Patent Pat. 21. H. 3 m. 2. Claus 22. H. 3. m. 23. whereby her self and her heirs were, during her life, free'd from suit to the County and Hundred Courts for Wuluerecheston, Merston, and Bret­ford in this Shire. Which Geffrey being elected Claus. 28. H. 3. m. 8. Bpp. of Ossorie in that Kingdom, had the roy­all assent for confirmation thereof. But the next of this line, that I meet withall, as Lord of Wol­ston, is Sir Ex autog. penès Dec. & Cap. Leic. Richard Turvile Kt. in 29. E. 1. then one of the Coroners in this County, an St [...]t Wes [...]m. Cap. 10. Of­fice, in those days of great accompt, and confer'd onely upon the wisest and discreetest Knights that might best attend thereon: for there is a writ in the Register Fol. 177. b. Nisi sit miles, whereby it appeareth, that there was a sufficient cause to remove a Coro­ner chosen, if he were not a Knight, and had not C. sol. Rent of Free-hold. But I find, that in re­gard of impotency,Claus. 8. E. 2. m. 28. he was discharged of that Of­fice, and dyed the same year, as 'tis like; for in 9 E. 2. was Robert de Turvile certified Nom. Vill. to be Lord of Wolfricheston, with the members there­to belonging. To which Robert succeeded Iohn de Turvile; who in 19. E. 2. levyed Octab. Hill. a Fine thereof; entayling it on himself and his chil­dren by Margaret his wife; but for default thereof, to Thomas Ferrers and his heirs: and left issue Autog. penès S. Archer mil. Thomas Turvile his son and heir, Wil­liam, Robert, and Geffrey. Howbeit, after the 34 E. 3. that this Thomas presented to the Chappel of Bretford, I find no more mention of these Turviles here.

Nor further of this place till x. R. 2. that Sir William Wauton Kt. and Dame Ismania his wife, levyed a Fine Mense Pasch. 1. R. 2. thereof to the use of Sir William Bagot Kt. and William Glym, and the heirs of the said Sir William Bagot for ever: by which Fine it appears that there was special warranty against her the said Ismania; whence I guess, that she was Turviles daughter and heir. Which Sir Wil­liam Bagot left issue Isabell Ex au­tog. pe­nès Wil. Brom­ley de Ba­ginton ar. his daughter and heir, wife Ex au­tog. pe­nès Wil. Brom­ley de Ba­ginton ar. to Thomas Stafford; who in H. 5. time, past Rot. fin. 6. H. 6. m. 8. it to the Canons of Kenilworth with­out licence; whereupon, it being seized Rot. fin. 6. H. 6. m. 8. into the Kings hands, was in 6 H. 6. granted Rot. fin. 6. H. 6. m. 8. to Iohn Verney Clerk, and Iohn Throgmorton, to hold for twelve years: but in 10 H. 6. Iohn Weston of Weston, Sergeant at Law, Iohn Beauchampe of Kenilworth Priest, and Iohn Stokes of the same Kenilworth Yeoman, were Rot. pe­nès Remem. Regis in Scac. certified to hold it, with Merston, by the fourth part of a Knights fee. How they had it, or how they parted with it I find not; but certein it is, that Nicholas Met­ley a Lawyer, soon after obteined it, and by his last will Ex au­tog. penès Edw. Fer­res de Bad­sley ar. and Testament, dated 12 Nov. 16. H. 6. appointed, that his Feoffees thereof should hold it to the use of Ioane his wife during her life, and afterwards to the behoof of Margaret his Daugh­ter by the said Ioane, and her heirs for ever: which Ioane took Placit [...] de T. Hil. 30. H. 6. Rot. 322. to her second husband one Richard Hotoft, who was constrained to Placit [...] de T. Hil. 30. H. 6. Rot. 322. defend his wifes right therein against Thomas Throgmor­ton, and one Iohn Brokesby in 30. H. 6. they then laying claim thereto: but of this suit the Plan­tiffes had little benefit as it seems; for after the decease of the said Ioane, Iohn Hugford of Ems­cote possest Ex au­tog. penès S. Archer mil. it in right of Margaret his wife, daughter to the before specified Nicholas Metley, and dyed Esc. 1. H. 7. seized thereof 1. H. 7. leaving Iohn Beaufoe son and heir of Ioane his daughter, Mar­garet, Alice, Esc. 1. H. 7. and Anne daughters to him the said Iohn and Margaret Metley abovesaid his next heirs, as when I come to Emscote shall more plainly be shewed; whereupon in 4. H. 8. scil. 12. Aug. partitionClaus. 4. H. 8. in dorso, m. 24. & 25. being made of Hugford's lands, Iohn Cotes (of Honingham) in right of Alice his mother, had these mannours of Wolston and Mer­ston; which Iohn by his deed,Autog. penès G. Warner ar. 1640. bearing date xx. Aug. the same year, past them in exchange to Ed­ward Belknap Esq. and his heirs, as in Dercet I shall more fully shew.

This Edward Belknap was afterwards a Kt. and by his TestamentManwa­ring Qu. 17. gave Wolston with the mannour of Marston to his brother in Law, VVil­liam Shelley Esq and Alice his wife, sister of the said Sir Edward, and to the heirs of the said Alice, reserving first an estate for life in them to his wife: which VVilliam Shelley, by the said Alice, had issue Esc. 4. E. 6. Iohn Shelley his son and heir, who dyed Esc. 4. E. 6. seized of them 16. Dec. 4. E. 6. lea­ving William his son and heir 12. years old; who being attainted Ex evi­dentiis Ge­orgii War­ner ar. for treason committed xv. Dec, 25. Eliz. forfeited all the estate he had here, (which was no more than for life,Fin. le­vat. T. Hill. 23. Eliz. by reason of an entayl made 16. Ian. 23. Eliz.) so that dy­ing [Page 24] without issue, 15 Apr. 39 Eliz. these Man­nours, by vertue of the said entail, came to Sir Iohn Shelley Kt. and Bt. son and heir to Iohn Shelley brother of the said William: which Sir Iohn, by his deed Autogr. penès Geo. Warner de Wolsten, praed. of bargain and sale bearing date 19 Oct. 10 Iac. conveyed the same to George Warner Gent. and his heirs, the present Owner thereof, an. 1640.

I now return to the descendants from Robert de Chetwode, by Sibilla the other daughter and co­heir of Roger de Frevill (before mentioned.)

This Robert had issue Raph de Chetwode, and William; which Raph confirmed Regist. de Cumba, f. 53. b. his Uncle Ri­chard Frevill's grant of Merston-mill to the Abby of Combe: but left no issue, as it seems: for VVilliam his brother inherited the estate; and having given Ib. fol. 52. a. to those Monks certain errable lands in Wolston-field, left one onely daughter Ib. and heir married to VVilliam le Bretun of Long-Ichington, betwixt whom they had issue Guy le Bretun. Which Guy in 15 E. 2. (with other Com­missioners) was appointed Claus. 15 E. 2. in dorso, m. 12 to assess the sum of ccl. imposed upon those Knights, Esquires, and other men at Arms in this County, who being summoned to attend the King in person against the Rebels here in England (viz. Thomas E. of Lancaster, and his complices) desired to be ex­empted from that service.

In 2 E. 3. he was Claus. 2. E. 3. in dorso, m. 32 one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament held at York. And in 9 E. 3. one Pat. 9 E. 3. p. 1. m. 2. of the Commissioners assigned to assess and collect the sum of 120 l. in this County for the discharge of lx Hobelers and cc Archers, which were to be chosen and armed, as also conducted to Newcastle upon Tine.

In Claus. 14 E. 3. p. 1. m. 3. 14 & 15 Pat. 15. E. 3. m. 31. E. 3. he was assigned, with o­thers, to make sale of the Ninth of Sheafes, Flee­ces, and Lambs in this County granted to the K. in Parliament; as also to levy Pat. 14. E. 3. p. m. 47. and collect a Tenth granted in the same Parliament; and founded Autogr. penès Will. D. Craven. a Chantry in the Abby of Combe for one Monk to sing Mass daily there at the Altar of St. Edmund the Archb. for the soules of William le Breton his father, and of Avice his wife, and their ancestours; which Avicia was a Benefactress in the enlarging and beautifying the Church of Wolston, as her picture in a North window thereof doth manifest.

This Guy had issue Sir William Bretun Kt. Lord also of Wolverton in this County, and one of the Claus. 45 E. 3. in dorso, m. 34 Knights for this Shire in the Parliament held at Westminster, 45 Edw. 3. who being con­stituted Rot. fin. 49 E. 3. m. 20. Shiriff of the Counties of Warwick and Leicester, 49 E. 3. in Claus. 1. R. 2. in dor­so, m. 22. 1. R. 2. served again as one of the Knights for this Shire in the Parliament then held at Westminster; and left issue Esc. 5 H. 4. n. 19. Guy; of whom I find nothing memorable, neither can I trace down this descent any further.

I now come to the Monastery sometime here situate; which being a Cell, as I have said, to St. Peters sup Dinam in France [...] was one of those we commonly call Pryories-alien. But of these Cels have I not seen many formal foundations; the course being, for the most part, barely to grant the Land and Tithes (as by a multitude of instan­ces might be manifested:) After which the Monks beyond Sea, partly to propagate more of their own Rule, and partly to have faithfull Stewards to transmit unto them a good proportion of the pro­fits arising out of such their new acquired possessi­ons at so great a distance, built competent places for the reception of a small Covent, and then sent over such a number as they thought fit, constituting Priors over them successively, as occasion required: which grants were all very antient, I mean shortly after the Conquest; being commonly made by such, who had themselves been Founders of some Religious House, or at least their Ancestours, or near Allyes. And that the grant of this at Wol­ston was about that time I have intimated, these circumstances do much satisfie me; (for in our publick Records can I find nothing thereof) First, that the Fabrick of the Tower Steeple hath the apparent form of those Buildings which were in use soon after the Normans entrance: And next, that Roger de Montgomeri, the Possessour of this place in the Conquerours time, stood in a near re­lation of kindred W. Gem [...] ­t [...]c. p. 278. C. to Robert Earl of Ewe, who with his Brother Hugh, Bp of Liseux, assisted Ib. their Mother Lescelina Ord. vi­tal. p. 544. D. in the foundation of St. Peters super Dinam before specified, as the descent herewith drawn will shew; and so con­sequently was the more like to be a Benefactor to that Monastery.

• Quidam potens de nobili genere Danorum.
  • Richardus 1. dux Normanniae. - Gunnora.
    • Guillelmus. - Lescelina.
      • Hugo episcopus Lexovii.
      • Rob. Aucen­sis Comes.
  • Osbertus de Bolebec. - Wevia.
    • Hugo de Monte­gomerico. - [...]oscelina.
      • Rogerius de Monte­gomerico.

But whether there was any grant thereof at all otherwise than verbal, is somewhat disputable: for in those elder times, concessions by Charter were not very common I am sure, as may appear by this instance to the Monastery of Daventre in North­hamptonshire, viz. by Stephan de VVelton, of the Church of Staverton in that County, bearing date in the year 1161. 7 H. 2. In which Charter there is this expression, Regist. priorat. de Daventre, f. 68. a. Hanc eandem ecclesiam de Staverton ad jus ecclesiae Daventrensis pertinen­tem, & membrum ejus, pluribus annis ante hanc d [...]nationem sancto Augustino & suis, patre meo an­nuente, reddideram; sed nullam chartae vel sigilli defensionem contra posterorum cautelam & vexa­tivam pulsationem dederam, & actionem meam im­munitam reliqueram: ut ergo jam ex h [...]c nunc in seculum rata sit & stabilis, mea quae praecessit red­ditio, & quae sequuntur adjuncta est donatio; nec­non & ipsa praefatae libertatis concessio, Scripti & Sigilli mei testimonio eas pariter munimine con­ [...]irmo.

Leaving therefore the original of this small Mo­nastery thus uncertain, I will now descend to what our Records, or other evidences, which I have seen, do shew thereof.

It appeareth by a publick Instrument Autogr. penès Pet. Went­worth mil. de Balneo. of the Prior and Covent of Tutbury, bearing date the day of the translation of St. Benedict, an. 1226. (10 H. 3.) that the Abbot and Covent of St. Pe­ters super Dinam, had granted to the said Prior and Covent of Tutbury the Church Id est, the Priory. of Wlfri­cheston, with all the appurtenances, in considera­tion of ten pounds sterling to be yearly paid to them and their successours by the said Prior and Covent of Tutbury; excepting the right of pre­sentation to such Churches, which were of their advouson, as they should fall voyd.

But these Prioryes-alien were seized into the [Page 25] Kings hands, in respect of the wars he had with France, the Rents and Profits, which issued out of them to those forreign Monasteries, in case they had received them as formerly, being conceived Vide Rot. Parl. 50 E. 3. n. 128. of advantage unto the Kings enemies; for such were the French then esteemed to be, as this Record doth fully manifest. Ibid, Que à les maisons en En­gleterre sont mandez moignes Franceys de par de la, pur convenient d'eux (id est, of those Houses in France to which they were subject) les quels n'ount conisance de gentz, ne scavent le language, ne la manere de la terre. Et outre ceo plusours d'eux avenont de notoirement feble vie, soeffrent lour mai­sons de eschoir, divine service amenuser, & dega­stent les biens de lour maison, come la chose se mon­stre en fait, & ount grant indignation qe ul Engleis soit avance entre eux si soit il mi si able persone; Et qe plus est a douter come homme suppose com­munement par eux lour cousins & allies, & autres Franceys qe demourront oves (que) eux, le Conseil de la terre est descovert, & les bienz emportez a les oeps des enemies dont supplient, &c.

But the first publick seizure made in that kind, (for which I have seen any authority) was in 23 E. 1. as appeareth by the Roul Rot. fin. 23 E. 1. m. 1. of that year, wherein the particular persons in each County, to whom the custody of these Religious Houses was committed, are recorded. Which persons were to retain them in their hands during the Kings plea­sure, answering to his Exchequer the profits there­out issuing, according to the tenor of the Ordinance therein made by the King and his Councel: whereupon those in this County, and in Lei­cestershire, were committed to the custody of Iohn de Shelton (as the same Record sheweth) all Free­holders and other tenants of those lands being com­manded to be observant to the said Iohn accor­dingly.

It seems that K. Edw. 2. in Claus. 1. E. 3. m. 22. consideration of a certain Rent to be yearly paid into his Ex­chequer, did commit this Cell, with what belong­ed thereto, unto the Prior thereof, to hold during the Kings pleasure: for so in 1 E. 3. the same Prior by his Petition exhibited to the K. and his Councel then in Parliament, doth set forth, whereby he craveth restitution of the lands, goods, and chattels, with the advouson of Churches be­longing to that house; and pardon for such ar­rearages of Rent, which were due upon the above mentioned grant of K. Edw. 2. whereunto the King was gratiously pleased to condescend.

After this, K. Edw. 3. seized it again, and com­mitted Claus. 16 E. 3. p. 2. m. 17. it to the Prior thereof, for a certain Rent to be paid into the Exchequer yearly; whereof default being made, and the same resumed upon the Petition of the said Prior, he allowed him iii sol. a week for his maintenance; command being gi­ven to Roger de Gray and Henry Arderne to make payment thereof unto him accordingly: but I do not perceive that there was any one Monk there at that time to bear the Prior company.

In Pat. 31 E. 3. p. 1. m. 27. 31 E. 3. it appears, that the Prior of this Monastery, having made an agreement to pay xx l. yearly into the Exchequer, as a ferm for this Cell; and being not able to perform it, the King was pleased to pardon ten marks a year thereof for the three next ensuing years. After which, by an extent Rot. penès Remem: Regis in Scac. of these Prioryes-alien in the 1, 2, and 3. years of K. R. 2. I find, that the possessions hereof were rated at xxviii l. ix sol. per annum; and that shortly after it was committed Rot. Fin. 8. R. 2. m. 2. to Wa­rine Waldgrave, paying xx l. yearly into the Ex­chequer, as Iohn Chater Prior of that House had wont to do. Which frequent seizures, giving the Monks beyond Sea little hope to have any con­siderable profit from their English Cells for the fu­ture, occasioned the Abbot and Covent of St. Pe­ters super Dinam, to think of making their best thereof. Whereupon, by their publick Instrument, Sk. fol. 137. a. bearing date 10 Dec. an. 1394. (18 R. 2.) ex­pressing, that, by reason of the wars, and distance of place, they had not received any benefit at all from thence of 50 years, their charges in sending over all waies exceeding the profit; and that, were there perfect peace concluded betwixt the Kings of England and France, the benefit would be so small to them, as that it would suffice for the main­tenance but of one religious person to be sent from their Monastery thither: And therefore, consider­ing that it might be of advantage and profit to the Prior and Covent of Carthusians near Coventre, then lately founded by K. R. 2. and withall that the said Prior and Covent had given them two thousand four hundred Francks, in good gold of French coyn, to be imployed in purchasing Rents and Possessions lying nearer, and more profitably to them; did they, by their said publick Instru­ment, grant and confirm to the same Prior and Covent of Carthusians this Cell at Wolfricheston, with the advousons of the Churches of Wolfri­cheston, and Church-Lauford in the County of Warr. Potters-pirie in the County of Northam­pton, Homton-Ozehell in the County of Leic. with all other profits and advantages, to the said Priory of Wolfrichston any waies belonging; to have, hold and possess to them, the said Prior and Covent of Carthusians and their successours for ever.

All which was confirmed by the K. Letters Pat. 20. R. 2. p. 1. m. 32.Patents bearing date 5 Iulii, 20 of his reign, (upon the return of a WritEsc. 19. R. 2. n. 73. of Ad quod dampnum thereupon) and thenceforth continued to the said Carthusians till the general dissolution of all the Monasteries by K. H. 8. After which it came to the hands of Roger Wigston, descended from a family of the Wigstons in Leicester, divers where­of were Merchants of the Staple. Which Roger (being a Lawyer, I suppose, for he was Steward Ex Cod. MS penès S. Archer mil. de va­lore eccl. f. 10. b. to the Monastery of Pinley in this County) by his WillSpert. Qu. 15. dated 34 H. 8. bequeath'd his body to be buried in the Church of Wolston; having been Shiriff Rot. Pip. 33 H. 8. Warr. of this County and Leicestershire in 33 H. 8. and in commission of the peace for divers years. And left issue Spert. Qu. 15. William VVigston, a Justice of Peace likewise in this County, and Eschaetor, Esc. 36, & 37 H. 8. towards the latter end of K. H. 8. reign; as also Shiriff in 5 E. 6. but Knighted Pat. de iisdem ann. in dorso. in 2 & 3 Ph. & M. who dyed 27 Sept. 19 Eliz. and lyeth buryed in the Chancell at Wolston, Esc. 19. Eliz. Roger his son and heir being then xl Esc. 19. Eliz. years of age: which Roger having no issue male, left the inheritance of his lands to his two daughters; whereof Susanne was the wife of Nicholas VVent­worth Esq who in her right became Lord of this Mannour (for so it is now reputed to be) and left it to Sir Peter VVentworth Knight of the Bath, his son and heir, the now owner thereof.

The Church dedicated to St. Margaret.

IN Cod. MS in Scac. an. 1291. (19 E. 1.) the value of the Re­ctory here was certified at xxxiii marks: out [Page 26] of which, besides the Stafford & K [...]mpe, [...]. 3 [...]9. a. sum of xiii sol. iiii d. due to the Bp of Coventre and Lichfeild, for the time being, as a pension, there was Cod. MS penès S. Archer, [...]q. aur. f. 29. b. liii sol. iiii d. year­ly to be paid to the poor there, as the composition manifesteth.

The Vicaridge in Ib. fol. 40. b. 26 H. 8. was valued at xv l. x sol. over and above viii l. yearly allowed for the stipend of two Priests serving in two Chappels within this Church, and ii sol. per annum for Ib. fol. 40. b. Synodals.

The appropriation of the Fruits of this Church to the Monastery of St. Peter sup. Dinam, was an­tient: for I have seen a very old Copy Penès Pet [...]um Went­worth mil. de Balneo. of the ordination of the Vicaridge (commonly called the Composition) made by Alexander de Savensby, Bp of Cov. and Litch. about the beginning of H. 3. time; who at his institution of Henry de Leicester Priest, upon the presentation of the Prior of Tutbury, Procurator general to the above men­tioned Abbot and Covent, makes this appoint­ment in the behalf of the said Vicar and his suc­cessors, viz. that they shall have all the Obven­tions of the Altar, as well of the Mother Church as of the Chappels, with a Messuage and a croft which one Alanus then held; the Vicar out of these being to pay Synodals, and to see that the Chappels were served by honest and able per­sons.

But by another Instrument Ab exem­plari per­ [...]tu [...]o pe­nès [...]un­dem P. Went­worth. of the said Bp. it appears, that by the consent of the before men­tioned Prior of Tutbury, there was an assignation made of four marks yearly to be paid to the Vicar for the time being, out of the profits of the Re­ctory, by the hands of the Procurator of the said Abbot and Covent, whoever he should be, at Wolfricheston at two terms in the year, viz. two marks at the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, and two marks on the day of her Purifi­cation; out of which the Vicar was to give yearly xiii coats, each containing three ells, and xiii pair of shoes to the poor of the parish, by the oversight of the Archdeacon of the place, or his Official; and whatsoever was remaining, himself to have towards the maintenance of one Priest, there, as­sisting him.

There is one thing more, that I am not willing to pass by, touching this Vicaridge; viz. a Commission Bowl. f. 66. a. which I find granted by the Bp. of Cov. and Lichf. bearing date 1 Dec. an. 1454. (33 H. 6.) to certain persons there named, and entrusted by him, to enquire of the Ordination thereof; forasmuch as the present Incumbent had signified to the said B. that the same was so slen­derly endowed, that, having there the cure of souls, he could not maintain himself in that fit manner as he ought out of the profits thereof, nor well undergo what was incident to him as Vicar; and thereupon humbly crave [...] remedy from the B. By which Commission the B. gives power to the per­sons therein mentioned, to call before them the Prior and Covent of Carthusians near Coventre, to whom the Rectory was appropriate; appoint­ing, that this enquiry should be made by persons of credit both of the Clergy and Laity, and upon oath; as also thereupon to proceed in augmenta­tion thereof as there should be cause, with power of Canonical c [...]ē [...]cion.

By which it appears, that though the Vicaridge were formerly endowed, yet, if in the discretion of the B. or his successours, at any time after, the fruit issuing out thereof to the present Incumbent, were not esteemed sufficient to maintain him in a fit manner, there might be an enlargement made out of the profits of the Rectory.

And that the B. may lawfully do this, I could manifest by very good authorities, as well as un­deniable reason: but, in regard this Argument be­longs to men of another profession, and that there is already a very handsome Discourse written upon this subject by Dr Ryves, a learned Civilian, en­tituled, Impr. Lond. an. 1620. The poor Vicars plea, I will spare that which otherwise I could have said therein. Adding this onely, that if respect be to be had, that the Vicar is to have that competent and laudable sup­port as is sutable to his degree and quality; for work he may not by the Laws, being to follow his study, maintain hospitality, releive the poor, pay Procurations, and defray all other charges incident to his Benefice; and that the Laws do allow him to marry, whereby the charge of a single person, as antiently they were, is by wife and children much, in all probability, increased; then no doubt many hundreds in England ought to be in this case regarded. Neither can the Impropriator, justly say, he hath wrong, though he purchased the Rectory at a dear rate; for he must needs know, that it is divolved to him with no more priviledge than the Monks had it, who were alwaies subject to coertion for the like augmentation, as cause required; it being not originally intended, that they who lived plentifully in their Cloyster should sweep away the chief fruits of the Church, the Parish which paid duely their Tithes having little advantage from them; and that the Vicar, who daily served at the Altar, should snap on short commons; but if there were sufficiency for both, each to have share; otherwise, if one must want, it should not be he that did undergo the work.

I know this will sound harshly in Impropria­tors ears, but Magna est veritas, & praevalere debet.

Patroni Vicariae.

Incumbentes & temp. Instit.

Procurator Abb. & Conv. S. Petri sup. Dinam.

Henricus de Leicestria, Pbr. H. 3.

Procurator Abb. & Conv. S. Petri sup. Dinam.

Ric. de Blaby Diac. ii. Id. Oct. an. 1300.

Langt. f. 6. a.

Prior de Wolrich­ston.

Petrus Mallori, xvi. Kl. Dec. a. 1317.

Ib. f. 78. a.

D. Rex ratione Prio­rat: de Wolriche­ston in manu sua existent.

Nich de Stonelay Cap. ii. Id. Martii, a. 1357.

Northb. f. 61. b.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Will. Chamber, Cap. xxv. Aug. an. 1403.

Burgh. f. 12. a.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Alex. Benet, iii. Ian. an. 1410.

Ib. f. 27. a.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

D. Ioh. Hill, Cap. xx. Iun. an. 1412.

Ib. f. 30. b.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Will. Prestwood, Pbr. xvi. Maii, an. 1421.

Heyw. f. 5. a

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Ric. Tonsover, xi. Iulii, an. 1424.

Ib. f. 13. a.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Will. Prestwode, pen. Maii, an. 1432.

Heyw. f. 27. b.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Ric. Habkyn Pbr. xiii. Iun. an. 1433.

Ib. f. 31. a.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Thomas Arkynden, Pbr. xvi. Iulii, an. 1438.

Ib. f. 37. a.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Will. Killworth, Pbr. iii. Oct. an. 1447.

Bo. f. 7. a.

[Page 27] Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Bowl. f. 140. b.

Thom. Forster, Pbr. iii. Ian. a. 1493.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Ib. f. 141. a.

D. Laur. Causey, xx. Sept. a. 1494.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Ib. f. 204. a.

Will. Regelde, xii. Iulii, a. 1500.

Pr. & Conv. S. Annae Carthus. juxta Coventre.

Bl. f. 6. a.

D. Will. Clerke, Pbr. xii. Ian. a. 1512.

Thom. Gregory de civitate Covent. hac vice ratione concess: Pr. & Conv. S. Annae.

Samp. f. 41. b.

D. Thom. More, Cap. xv. Apr. a. 1546. (1 E. 6.)

Will. Wigston de Wolston, miles.

Samps. & [...]. f. 9. a.

D. Will. Harwar, art. Magr. ix. Maii, a. 1555. (2 & 3 Ph. & M.)

Will. Wigston, miles.

Ib. f. 12. b.

Ioh. Middleton, Cler. iiii. Martii, a. 1559. (2 El.)

Roger. Wigston. ar.

Overton bundell. B.

Edw. Lorde, in art. Magr. xii. Oct. a. 1585. (27 El.)

Roger. Wigston de Wolston, ar.

Overton bundell. E.

Hugo Clarke, Cler. v. Ian. a. 1591. (34 Eliz.)

In the South Ile of this Church are there two Arches in the Wall: In one whereof there still lyeth a very antient Statue of a Woman in free­stone, with a wimplet on her chin, and her hands in a praying posture. In the other was the Statue of a Man, as I guess, which is now removed and laid close to that of the Woman, having his hands elevated in such sort as the Woman, his head bare, and hair somewhat long, but no beard; and his outer garment loose, extending to his feet, with a belt about his middle, and a broad sword hanging thereat.

In the same Ile are two fair Grave-stones of marble, on each whereof hath been the pourt [...]ai­cture of Women in brass, with plates at their feet, wherein were these following Inscriptions, taken notice of by Mr William Belcher many years since, but now torn out.

On the former is this Coat of Arms still re­maining, viz. a Cheveron betwixt 3 Eagles dis­played, empaling a Cheveron betwixt 3 Hunters horns, brased. And on the other the same Coats quartered.

In the Chancell, adjoyning to the South wall, is a Monument of free-stone, about two foot in height, with this Epitaph upon the verge thereof.

Merston juxta Wolston.

OF this Mannour, being situate flat and low near the River, where the soyl is naturally marish, and giveth occasion of the name, I shall not need to say much, having already spoken thereof in Wolston. It was antiently called Bre­tons-Mannour, Guido Breton writing Autogr. penès S. Archer milit. himself of this place in 5 and 6 H. 4. But how it past from that family, I have not seen, nor when; the first Claus. 6. H. 5. in dorso, m. 6. mention which I afterwards find thereof being in 6 H. 5. where Richard Quatermaynes of Lon­don, granted the moytie thereof, with the appur­tenances, to Thomas VVodelow and Margaret his wife, and to the heirs of Thomas; and levyed a fine Crastin. puris. thereupon the same year: Unto which Tho­mas and Margaret, and the heirs of Thomas, did Iohn Boteler of Wolvardington release Claus. 7. H. 5. in dorso, m. 6. all his right in the other moytie. Whereupon the said Thomas, being possest of the whole, was in 10 H. 6. certified Rot. penès Remem: Regis in Scac. to hold it by the service of half a Knights fee. After which it was not long ere that it came to Nicholas Metley, and so to Iohn Hug­ford, in right of Margaret his wife, daughter and heir to the said Nicholas, as in Wolston I have shewed: since which it hath past from hand to hand with Wolston, and so continues to the owner of that Mannour till this day.

Stretton super Dunsmore

THis Village takes its name from the situation upon that old Roman way called the Fosse; which, being by the common people termed the Street, as all great waies and pas­sages are, thence hath the name of Stretton: the addition, super Dunsmore, being to distinguish it from the rest of the Strettons in this County.

In the Conquerours time I find that same Rai­naldus, whom I mentioned in Wolston, held Domes­day lib. also this place of Roger de Montgomerie E. of Arun­dell; it being then rated for 5 hides, and written Stratone.

Within the limits hereof is a very antient Mill (written long since Purmulne, but now Pirrey­mill) given Regist. de Cumba, f. 51. b. to the Monks of Combe by Robert de Chetwode and Sibilla his wife (of whom I have already spoke in Wolston;) which Monks, in con­sideration of xx marks, past Ib. f. 51. a. it to the Lady Al­breda Marmiun; who again assigned it unto them for the solemnizing the Anniversaries of her hus­band Sir VVilliam Camvill, her self, VVilliam her son, and the rest of her sons and daughters.

There is no doubt, I think, but that this Man­nour came, with Wolston, to Alanus filius Fla­daldi; for I find, that the said Alan gave Ex Regist. de Burton, fol. 18. a. certain lands here to the Abby of Burton. And from him likewise it is probable that Roger de Frevill had it: for in 36 H. 3. Raph Strange, who descended from one of the co-heirs to the said Roger (as the descent in Wolston sheweth) was certified to Testa de Nevill. hold half a Knights fee here of Iohn Fitz-Alan, descendant to the before specified Alanus: but the next possessor thereof, that I have seen any autho­rity for, was Thomas de Garshale, temp. E. 1. (of whom in Bourton I have made mention) who, with Maud his wife, sold Ex autog. penès Edw. Taylor de Binley. it unto Robert de He­riz and his heirs, to hold of them the said Thomas and Maud, and their heirs, by the service of 1 d. to be paid yearly at Easter. Which Robert, in consideration of xxx marks of silver, soon after granted Ibid. the inheritance thereof unto Henry de Hastings, son and Heir of Sir Henry de Hastings Kt. to hold of him the said Robert and his heirs by the service of a pair of white Gloves, or 1 d. yearly at Easter. But this Henry kept it not long; for I find, that Sir Thomas de Bray purchased Ibid. it of him within a short time after; to whose po­sterity, residing here, it continued for divers de­scents: and at length (as it should seem) by Elene Ibid. one of the daughters and co-heirs of Richard Bray, wife of Edmund Starky Gent. in H. 6. time, divolved to that family; in which it rested till 4 Eliz. that William Starky soldIbid. it, by the name of the capital messuage, and certain lands, &c. in Stretton to the Lady Longvile; upon whose death it descended to Bartholmew her son and heir, by Bartholmew Tate of de la Pre juxta North­hampton, her first husband: which Bartholmew in 23 Eliz. conveyed Ibid. it to Anthony Tate his younger brother, who left issue George Tate of Sutton-Bonington in Com. Nott. that, by his deed Ibid., dated 6 Iulii, an. 1620. sold them to Ric. Taylor of Binley in this County, to whose po­sterity they still continue.

There is within this Village a Chappel of All Saints, which had a Chantry Ex autog. penès Dec. & Cap. Lich. Esc. 19. E. 3. n. 8. therein, founded by Thomas de Wolvardynton, Parson of the Church of Lobenham (in Leicestershire) for two Priests to sing Mass daily at the Altar of St. Thomas the Martyr, for the good estates of the said Thomas, William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon, Richard Earl of Arundell, Iohn Peyto the younger; as also of Alice and Margaret, sisters to the said Thomas the Founder, during their lives; and of the re­verend Father in God Roger Northburgh, then B. of Cov. and Lich. and for all their souls after their departure out of this life: as also for the souls of Sir Peter de Wolvardington Kt. and the Lady Aliva his Wife, Father and Mother of the said Thomas: and of the souls of Iohn de Wolvardynton, William, and Peter, brethren of the said Thomas deceased; and of all faithfull people departed. For the maintenance of which two Priests, King E. 3. in 19 of his reign, granted Rot. fin. 19. E. 3. m. 2. Pat. 19. E. 3. parte 2. m. 19. li­cence to the said Thomas de Wolvardynton, to a­mortize three messuages, three yard land, four acres of meadow, three acres of wood, and xx sol. rent, with the appurtenances in Stretton afore­said. After this, viz. in 2 R. 2. licence was also granted Pat. 2. R. 2. parte 1. m. 33. to Robert de Stretton, then B. of Cov. and Lich. to amortize four messuages, and eight yard land, with the appurtenances, lying in this Village of Stretton, for the maintenance of a Priest to sing Mass daily in the abovesaid Chappel, for the good estate of the said King whil'st he li­ved; and for the health of his soul, when he should depart this life; as also for the souls of the Kings Father and Grandfather, and all the faithfull de­ceased. Whence I conclude, that this B. was born here, and took his name of the place, having been first a Canon Godwin de praesuli­bus, of Litchfeild, and Chaplain to the Black Prince (K. Richard the 2. Father:) but an illiterate man he was (saith Godwin) in so much as he found it a very difficult matter to ob­tain Consecration; which nevertheless, through the Kings power, at length he got. in 35 E. 3.

The lands of the Chantry here, founded by [Page 29] Thomas de VVolvardynton, were in 26 H. 8. va­lued Cod. MS penès S. Archer mil. f. 41. a. at iiii l. xiiii sol. per annum; but upon the survey Cod. alter MS penès eundem S. A. taken 37 H. 8. at iiii l. xvii s. per annum.

Prinsthorpe.

OF this place, lying in the Parish of Wol­ston, but Southwards from it about two miles, do not I find any mention, till Inq. per Hundr. 4. E. 1. at which time it was written Prenesthorpe.

As for the name, it proceeds, doubtless, from some antient possessor thereof, the latter sillable, viz. Thorpe, signifying a Village or Hamlet, for so in the Saxons time they were called; the Dutch to this day (whose Language hath a great affinity with our old English) calling such Villages Dorpes, pronouncing d instead of th.

In xx E. 3. it answered with Stretton upon the Aid Rot. penès Sim. Clarke, Bar. then collected. And in 31 E. 3. there was a Fine Quind. Hill. levyed thereof betwixt William de Peeke, Parson of the Church of Wapenbury pl. and Nicholas de Stoneley and Hugh de Geydon Priests, Deforciants, whereby it was setled upon the said William de Peeke for life, the remainder to Sir Richard Trewlow Kt. and the heirs of his body; and for lack of such issue, to Iohn Hockele and Cecelie his wife, and the heirs of their two bodies; and for default thereof, to Nicholas le Eyr, and his heirs.

After which I have seen little considerable of it, till it Exaut. penès Fr. Ne­thersole eq. aur. came to the Hugfords of Emscote in H. 6. time; but whether by Metley's heir, or not, I am yet to learn. In which family it continued till 9 H. 8. that Iohn Hugford sold Exaut. penès Fr. Ne­thersole eq. aur. it to Sir William Compton Kt. whose great Grand-child, Sir Henry Compton Knight of the Bath (and brother to Wil­liam late Earl of Northampton) now enjoyes it, an. 1640.

Brandon.

THis being a part of Wolston Parish lying on the other side of Avon, and situate at the foot of a Hill, the soyl whereof is sandy and dry, makes me conjecture, that it might originally have its name from the effect that the Sun by heat doth oft-times produce upon such high ground; or o­therwise, because, being antiently woody, it was first made fit for tillage by burning the thickets that naturally grew thereon.

In the Conquerours dayes Turchill de Warwick was possest thereof, Wlsi then holding it of him. By the general Survey Domes­day lib. then taken (where it is written Brandune) the extent of it is certified at half a hide, the woods containing four furlongs in length, and two in bredth, and the whole esteemed at xxv sol. there being then a Mill rated at xxvi d.

But Turchill's lands being by the Conquerour, for the most part, disposed of to others (as I shall have occasion in due place to shew) this was (it seems) given to Geffrey de Clinton Chamberlain and Treasurer to K. H. 1. and Founder of the Castle and Priory of Kenillworth (of whose advance­ment, and what else is memorable, I am to speak in Kenillworth) whose daughter Lescelina, being married Pl. de T. Mich. 9. Ioh. rot. 4. Oxon. to Norman de Verdune, brought it, with other lands, to that noble family: but Geffrey her brother had a hope to regain it: for having given Regist. de Kenill. p. 138. lands in Bretford, near adjoyning, to found there a small Cell for Nuns (as in Bretford I purpose to declare) which lands were, by those Nuns, very soon after, granted Ib. p. 7. to the Monastery of Kenill­worth, and confirm'd Ib. by him; covenanted Ib. p. 139 wich the Canons of Kenillworth, that, if he recovered Brandone, he would give them as much land in value as that at Bretford, and have that again in exchange.

This Geffrey de Clinton, the second, wedded Agnes the daughter of Roger Earl of Warwick; and had with her in Frank marriage by the gift Ex Car­tulario Warwici Comitum penès Dud­leium Ba­ronem North. an. 1641. f. 54. a. of her Father (inter alia) ten Knights Fees of those seventeen that were held by him of the said Earl, de Veteri Feoffamento; that is to say, whereof he or his Father were enfeoffed in the time of K. H. 1. which ten, by those covenants of marriage, were to perform their (military) service in the custody of this Brandune: whereby 'tis plain, that the Castle was then in being, though it be hard to say whether Geffrey de Clinton the Father of Lescelina, or her husband Norman de Verdune built it.

• Domes­day lib.
  Bertramus de Verdon temp. Conquestoris.
  • Cart. ant. R. n. 26.
    Normannus de Verdon. -
    Fin. 7 R. 1
    Lescelina filia Gaufridi de Clintona.
    • Regist. de Kenill. p. 119.
      Bertramus de Verdon. -
      Chart. fui. dac. Abb. de Croxden.
      Rohesia.
      • Plac: de T. Mich. 9 Ioh. rot. 4. Oxon.
        Tho. de Verdon. -
        Plac: de T. Mich. 9 Ioh. rot. 4. Oxon.
        Eustachia, postea nupta Ric. de Camvil.
      • Plac: de T. Mich. 9 Ioh. rot. 4. Oxon.
        Nich de Verdon; 7 R. 1. mortuus 16 H. 3.
        • Claus. 9. H. 3. m. 4.
          Theobaldus le Butiller. -
          Rot. Pip. 16 H. 3. Warr.
          Rohesia filia & haeres. 16 H. 3.
          • Plac. de banco 26. H. 3. term. Mich. rot. 12.
            Marg. filia Gilb. de Lacy, & haeres Walteri de Lacy avi sui, uxor 1. -
            Rob. Fin. 31. H. 3. m. 7.
            Joh. de Ver­don. 31 H. 3. obiit 2 E. 1. -
            Claus. 4. E. 1. in dor­so, m. 18.
            Elianora uxor 2.
            • Esc. 2. E. 1.
              Theobaldus de Verdon, fil. & haeres, 2 E. 1. obiit 3 E. 2.
              • Rot. Fin. de an. 25. E. 1. m. 16.
                Joh. obiit in Hib. vita pa­tris, 25 E. 1.
              • Regist. de Croxden.
                Eliz. filia Gilb. de Clare, Com. Gloucestriae, uxor 2.-
                Ib.
                Theobald. de Verdon obiit an. 1316. 10. E. 2. -
                Ib.
                Matildis fil. Edm. de Mortimer de Wigmore 30 E. 1. ux. 1.
                • Claus. 18 E. 3. parte 1. m. 27.
                  Isabella.
                • Rot. Fin. 3. E. 3. m [...] 6.
                  Johanna uxor Tho. filii & he­redis Tho. d. Furnivall.
                • Ib.
                  Eliz. uxor Barthol. Burghersh.
                • Ib.
                  Margeria primò nupta Will. le Blount, postea Marco Husee, ult. Joh. Crop­hull.
          • Esc. 30. E. 1. n. 30.
            Matildis ux. Ioh. Fitz-A­lan, Comit. Arundeliae, 30 E. 1.

[Page 30]In the line of which Norman it continued for divers ages, as the descent here inserted sheweth. (their principal seat being at Alton-Castle in Staffordshire.) But little do I find memorable of it, other than, that, in 7 R. 1. it was garrison'd Rot. Pip. 7 R. 1. by VVill. fil. Ricardi (a great man in this Coun­ty, as in Wroxhall shall be manifested) who had then the custody Ib. thereof, by reason of the mi­nority of Bertram, son and heir to the before spe­cified Norman de Verdon. To which Bertram suc­ceeded Nicholas; who in 11 H. 3. had a Char­ter Car [...]. 11. H. 3. m. 4. of Free-warren granted to him and his heirs in all his demesn lands here. And raised a Pool in this place to so great a height, as that the Monks of Combe brought Pat. 11. H. 3. in dorso. an Assize of Novel-disseisin against him for drowning their lands in Stretton thereby. But it was not long afterwards ere that this Castle underwent the fate, which is incident to such strong holds in time of hostility: for it ap­pears, that the partakers with Simon Montfort E. of Leicester, who in 39 H. 3. held Kenil­worth Castle against the King, taking notice, that Iohn de Verdon, Grandchild to the before specified Nicholas, had Commission to raise Forces in Worcestershire against th [...]se Rebels, issued out of of that place, and pulled Regist. de Stoneley. it down.

To which Iohn succeeded Theobald; who, a­b [...]ut the beginning of E. 1. time, extended Inq. p [...]r Hund. 7 E. 1. per H. N [...]. &c. his Free warren here beyond the bounds of his Ba­rony, [...] lands o [...] the Prior of Coventre and Abbo [...] of Combe; and ingrossed the whole fish­ing o [...] Avon, on the one side, to himself; viz. from Bretford to Mervines-mill, which had wont to be common. It seems he rebuilt the Castle: for I find, Ib. f. 10. b. that it was then again in being (though now nothing remain thereof but the moats and heaps of rubbish) and had a Park thereto, con­taining a mile in length. As also, that Ib. f. 10. b. his Te­nants were thus distinguisht, viz. by Servants, Cottagers, and Free-holders. Of the first sort there being xxv that held xii yard land and a half in servage; that is to say, besides payment of a cer­tain Rent, each of them to find one workman, at the Lords disposal, to labour from Monday next after the feast day of St. Peter and Paul, untill the feast of St. Peter ad vincula (which is the first of August) in every week two daies; and after that time, till Michaelmass, to find one man working two daies one week, and three daies another by turns, at such imployment as the Lord should ap­point. And the Cottagers to find, each of them every week, from the first of August till Michael­mass, one labourer, to work upon Monday onely, as the Lord should appoint. But the Free-holders, which were onely three, held by a certain Rent and homage, and to do service to his Court every three weeks. It was likewise then found, that he had Free-warren here of the grant of K. H. 3. and how he had incroacht upon the Prior of Co­ventre and Abbot of Combe; as also that he had a Court Leete, Gallowes, with assize of Bread and Beer, for a Palfrey yearly payable to the K. Unto which Leet his Father, being a powerfull man, had Rot. de Quo Warr. penès Thes. & Camer. Scac. drawn the Hamlets of Thurlaston and Ashoe, without any justifiable authority: but as to the rest of those priviledges, being questioned in 13 E. 1. by what authority he claimed them, he pleaded Ib. prescription, which was allowed. To which last mentioned Theobald, succeeded Theo­bald his son and heir; and to him his four daugh­ters and heirs; whereof Elizabeth the wife to Bartholmew de Burghersh had (inter alia) this Lordship in partition assigned unto her: Whose son and heir, viz. Sir Bartholmew, shortly after, past Ex evi­denc: Ro [...]. Catesby attincti. it unto Sir VValter Pavely Kt. and other feoffees; who in 43 E. 3. conveyed Claus. 43. E. 3. in dorso, m. 30 it to Sir Iohn Delves a Staffordshire Kt. from whom it came to Sir Iohn Arundell Kt. who in 3 R. 2. dyed Esc. 3. R. 2. n. 1. sei­zed thereof: and so descending to Sir Richard Arundell, fell by partition Esc. 5 E. 4. n. 35. in 16 H. 6. unto Elianore wife of Sir VVilliam St. George Kt. one of the two daughters and heirs to the said Sir Ri­chard: which Elianore departing Ibid. this life with­out issue, it divolved Ibid. to Sir Robert VVilloughby of Eresby Kt. son and heir of Thomas VVillough­by Esq and Ioane, the other sister and co-heir; which Sir Robert VVilloughby dyed Ibid. 5. E. 4. leaving Robert his son and heir within age: but Esc. 11. E. 4. n. 50. Sir VVilliam St. George had the possession thereof during his life, as Tenant by the curtesy of En­gland, and dyed 11 E. 4. the reversion thereby coming to Rot. fin. 12 E. 4. m. 6. Christopher VVilloughby, brother Esc. 11. E. 4. n. 50. of the last mentioned Robert, who was at that time 19 years of age.