Coheirs to Thomas late Earl of Southampton but diâ—d without Issue 2. Iohn who Married Mary Daughter and Heir to Humphrey Browne of Greene-Castle in Com. Caermarthen Esq 3. Altham And six Daughters whereof Frances and Althamia are now living the rest died young To his third Wife the Lady Alice Daughter to Iohn late Earl of Bridgwater but by her hath no Issue Smith Lord Carington 19 Car. 1. THis Family do derive themselves from Sir Michael Carington Knight Standard-Bearer to King Riâ—hard the First in the Holy-land From whom descended Iohn Carington Which Iohn about the beginning of King Henry the Fourth's Reign having stoutly adhered to the then deposed King was constrain'd to quit the Realm and after some time of abode in Foreign parts to change his name to this of Smith From whom descended Iohn Smith Esq who being the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer in the Exchequer was in 31 H. 8. constituted the second Baron in that Court And by the Marriage of Anne Daughter and Hâ—ir to Iohn Harwell of Wotton in Com. Warr. Esq much increas'd his Estate From whom by lineal succession was Sir Charles Smith Knight Who manifested his Fidelity to the late King Charles the First in the times of his great distresses by divers conâ—iderable aids In consideration whereof he was by Letters Patents bearing date 31 Oct. in the nineteenth year of his Reign advanced to the degree of a Baron of this Realm by the Title of Lord Carington of â—oâ—ton and upon the fourth day of November following to the dignity of a Vicount by the Title of Vicount Carington of Barrefore within the Province of Connaght in Ireland This Charles Lord Carington took to Wife Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir Iohn Carrill of South Harting in Com. Suss. Knight and by her had Issue four Sons Francis Carrill Iohn and Charles and five Daughters 1. Mary Married to Sir George Wiâ—â—our of Huddington in Com. Wigorn. Knight 2. Lucie who died unmarried 3. Anne 4. Margaret the Wife of Sir Francis Hâ—â—gate of Huddleston in Com. Ebor. Baronet And 5. another Mary who died unmarried And having occasion to Travel into France lodging at Pontoise was there barbarously murthered by one of his own Servants upon the one and twentieth day of February an 1664. for lucre of such money and Jewels as he then had at that place and lâ—eth Interred in the Church there with a fair Tomb of Marble erected to his memory To whom succeeded Francis his Son and Heir Which Francis Married Iuliana the Daughter of Sir Thomas Wâ—lmesley of Dunkenhalgh in Com. Lanâ— Knight and by her hath had Issue Charles who died in his Infancy Lord Widdrington 19 Car. 1. AMongst other the true hearted Royalists which in the times of the late grand defection manifested their Loyalâ—y to our late Sovereign King Charles the Firâ—â— of blessed memory Sir William Widdrington of Widdrington-Castle in Com. Northumb. Knight and Baronet was not the least who being the principal branch of a most antient and worthy Family long flourishing in that Northern-Tract raised a considerable power for his Majesties Service under the Conduct of the Right Honourable William then Earl but afterwards Marquess and Duke of Newcastle wherewith he had his share in the honour of those Victories obtain'd by that great General at â—â—dcasâ—er Yarum Seacroâ—t â—ankerfley Leedes Halifax Rotheram 〈◊〉 Chesterfeild Gaynsborough and Lincoln but chiefly at Bradford in Com. Ebor. against those numerous forces which through the influence of certain predominant members of the late unhappy Long Parliament were then most rebelliously imployed against their Lawful Sovereign In consideration whereof he was â—y Letters Patent bearing date 10 Nov. 19 Car. 1. advanced to the dignity of a Baron of this Realm by the Title of Lord Widdrington of Blantâ—ey in Com. Linc. Continuing likewise in Arms till all was lost he suffered in the general ruine which thereupon befell all the Kings good Subjects And after that joining with the most noble Iames Earl of Derby in the month of Augâ—â—t an 1651. to make way for the safe passage of our present Sovereign King Charles the Second with â—is Army oâ—t of Scotland then marching towards Worcester being encountred by numerous Forces sent by Cromwell under the Command of Colonel Lilbâ—rne lost his life in a sharp Skirmish near Wiggaâ— in Lancashire leaving Issue by Mary his Wife Daughter and sole Heir to Sir Anthony Thorold of Blankney Knight seven Sons viz. William Henry Ephâ—aim Edward Raphe Anthony and Roger And two Daughters Mary Mâ—rried to ... Crane of Wood-Rysing in Com. Norâ—â— Esq and Iane to Sir Charles Stanley Knight of the Bath Son to Sir Robert Stanley Knight a younger Son to William late Eâ—rl of Derby To whom succeeded in his honour William his Son and Heir Which William Married Elizabeth the Daughter and Heir to Sir Peregrine Bertâ— of Eveden in Com. Linc. Knight a younger Son to Robert late Earl of Lindsey and by her hath Issue ... Prince Rupert Earl of Holderness and Duke of Cumberland 19 Car. 1. UPon that grand Defection which hapned here in an 1642. As the loyalty of many eminent Subjects was then most clearly put to the test no less were the cordial well-wishes to the late King Charles of blessed memory of his nearest kindred and chief Allies Amongst which none did more highly manifest their sense of his Sufferings than his two Royal Nephews Prince Rupert and Prince Mâ—urice younger Sons to the Illustrious Frederick late Count Palaâ—ine of the Rhene by that Excellent Princess Elizabeth his only Sister Who having from their youth been train'd up in military Exercises and therein by their eminent Services in the German-Wars deservedly gain'd the reputation of right valiant and expert Commanders most seasonably repaired to Him in order to his most necessary assistance and defence Prince Rupert being made General of his Horse and Prince Maurice Commander of some Forces in the West In which military imployments their courage and conduct became so conspicuous in sundry fierce encounters against that Rebellious generation then in Arms in most parts of this Realm as rendred them formidable to their greatest Enemies In consideration whereof and to the end that posterity might discern the sense which his Majesty then had of their known merits having first made choice of Prince Rupert into the Society of the most noble Order of the Garter he did by his Letters Patent bearing date at Oxford 19 Ianuarii in the nineteenth year of his Reign make him a free Denizen and upon the twenty fourth day of the same month advance him to the dignity of a Peer of this Realm by the title of Earl of Holdernesse and Duke of Cumberland After which this Heroick General advenâ—ured himself in many other bloody Battles till all was lost Whereupon being forced to retire into Foreign parts he most happily returned upon the joyfull Restoration of our present Soveraign King Charles
He was also Custos Rotulorum for the same County of Leicester and Steward of the Dutchy of Lancaster Moreover he was one of the Peers upon the Trial of the Earl and Countess of Somerset 15 Maii 1616. 14 Iac. for poysoning Sir Thomas Overbury He married Elizabeth third Daughter and Coheir to Ferdinandâ— Earl of Derby and departing this Life at Ashby de la Zouch 14 Nov. Anno 1643. 19 Car. 1. lieth buried there with his Ancestors leaving Issue two Sons Ferdinands and Henry and two Daughters viz. Alice married to Sir Gervase Clifton of Clifton in Com. Nott. Baronet and Elizabeth to Sir Hugh Calveley of Lea in Com. Cestr. Knight Which Henry the younger Son to Earl Henry being a Person of great Valour and Military Conduct as also the first that appeared in Arms on the behalf of King Charles the First of Blessed Memory in the time of the late Rebellion having conducted the Queen with safety out of the North where she Landed unto Oxford notwithstanding the Power of the Enemy at that time in sundry Places and planted divers Garrisons with his own Forces especially at Ashby de la Zouch the Noble Seat of his Ancestors since much demolished by those unhappy Troubles was by Letters Patents bearing date 23 Oct. 19 Car. 1. worthily advanced to the dignity of a Baron by the Title of Lord Loughborough And departing this Life at London ... was buried in the Collegiate Chappel-Royal of St. George within the Castle at Windsore in the Isle on the North-side the Quire not far from the Tomb of William Lord Hastings his Ancestor But I return to Ferdinand his elder Brother and Successor to the last Earl Henry his Father in his Honours This Ferdinand was born 〈◊〉 Ashby de la Zouch 18 Ian. Anno 1608. In 14 Car. 1. he was joyn'd in the Lieutenancy of the Counties of Leic. and Rutl. with his Father and 13 Nov. 16 Car. 1. summon'd to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm during the Life of his Father by the Title of Lord Hastings Having married Lucie Daughter and sole Heir to Sir Iohn Davies of Englefeild in Com. Berks Knight Primier Serjeant at Law to King Iames and King Charles the First as also Sollicitor and afterwards Attorney-General in Ireland by the Lady Elianore his Wife youngest Daughter to George Lord Audley Earl of Castle-Haven had Issue by her four Sons viz. Henry Ihon Ferdinand who all died unmarried and Theophilus Likewise six Daughters viz. Alice and Alianore who died young Elizabeth married to Sir Iames Langham of Coresbrâ—ke in Com. Northampt. Knight and Baronet Lucie died unmarried Mary and Christian now living He died 13 Febr. Anno 1655. and was buried with his Ancestors at Ashby de la Zouch leaving the said Theophilus his Successor in his Honours Who being born at â—enington-Park in Com. Leic. 10 Dec. Anno 1650. marriâ—d Elizabeth Daughter and Coheir to Sir Iohn Lewes of Lâ—dsâ—on in Com. Ebor. Knight 19 Febr. Anno 1671. Hastings Lord Welles ¶ OF this Family also was Richard Hastings ... who in 10 E. 4. by the Name of Richard Hastings Esq with Ioane his Wife Daughter and Heir to Sir Richard Welles Knight Lord Welles and Willughby Sister and Heir to Sir Robert Welles Knight Son of the said Sir Richard Welles had a special Livery of the â—astles Lordships Lands c. of the same Robert Lord Willughby and Ioane the Daughter of the same Robert Lord Willughby which by the death of the said Richard and Robert Lord Welles descended to her And in 15 E. 4. by the Name of Sir Richard Hastings of Welles Knight was made Surveyor of the Constable's Office of Notingham-Castle and Wardenship of all the Forests and Chases within the Counties of Notingham Derb. Leic. and Staff William Lord Hastings then Constable of that Castle and Warden of those Forests and Chases going at that time into France Moreover in 22 E. 4. and 1 R. 3. he was summon'd to Parliament by the Title of Lord Welles and by his Testament bearing date 18 Martii 18 H. 7. bequeath'd his Body to be buried in the Gray-Friers in London and died without any Issue then alive Ioane his Wife surviving by her Testament bearing date ... 20 H. 7. bequeath'd her Body to be buried in the Church of the Gray-Fryers within Newgate London in the Vault made for her Husband and her self By which Testament she gave to the four Orders of Fryers four Pounds to pray for her Soul as also to sing Placebo and Dirige and Mass of Requiem with a Trentall of Masses for her Soul and the Soul of her Lord and Husband and the Soul of Richard Pigot her other Husband Fitz-Swaine IN the time of King Henry the First Swein the Son of Aluric gave to the Monks of Pontfract in Com. Ebor. the Church of Silkeston and six Ox-gangs of Land He likewise gave to the Canons of Nostell one Caâ—ucate of Land in Crofton with the whole Mannor of Winterset Also the Churches of Felkeric and Adewic and moitie of the Church of Machesburg To him succeeded Adam his Son and Heir commonly called Adam Fitz-Swain who ratified his Father's Grants In 3 H. 2. this Adam gave C Marks of Silver for Livery of his Lands in Cumberland To the Abby of St. Maries at Yorke he gave the Hermitage of St. Andrew and to the Knights-Templars eight Ox-gangs of Land in Kelintone Moreover he founded the Priory of Monk-Bretton in Com. Ebor. and amply Endow'd it Leaving Issue two Daughters his Heirs viz. Maud the Wife of ... Montbegon and Annabil Espec IN the time of King Henry the First Walter Espec a Person of great Note as is evident by that memorable Character which Ailred then Abbot of Riebaulx gives of him viz. Quick-witted prudent in Counsel serious in Peace discrect in War a trusty Friend a loyal Subject of Stature more than ordinary large yet comely his Hair black his Beard long Forehead high great Eyes big Face but beautiful hrill Voyce in Speech elegant and of Nâ—ble Extraction wanting Issue â—f his Body gave the greatest part of his Estate to Pious Uses Founding and Endowing no less than three goodly Abbies the first of Canons Regular of St. Augustine's Order at Kirkham in Yorkshire the second at Riebaulx in the same County and the third at Wardon in Bedfordshire both of Cistertian Monks This Walter was Lord of Helmestey heretofore called Hamlake in Yorkshire but it should seem that Kirkham was one of his chief Mansions for there saith my Author Palacia sua thalamos suos cellaria sua in servorum Christi habitacula commutavit He converted that his pleasant Seat to a Religious House Of these his Devout Works I thought sit first to
should have it again within fifteen days and further signified to him That whatsoever was amiss in the Realm should forthwith be rectified assigning a certain day before which all should be so done viz the Sunday after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Trusting therefore to the King's performance of that Promise he delivered the Castle into his Hands Howbeit when those fifteen days were past and nothing therein done he grew so enraged that he laid Siege to it again and got it with little ado Whereof the King having Advertisement he forthwith caused his Bishops to excommunicate those who were in that Castle and sent his Precepts to all Parts of the Realm commanding every Man who held Lands of him by Military Service to repair to Gloucester on the Morrow ensuing the Feast of All Saints well accoutred with Horse and Arms to go against it as also to waste the Lands of this Earl both in Wales and all the Parts adjacent But he foreseeing this Storm like an expert Souldier caused all the Cattel and Provision of Victual to be taken thence Which being discern'd by the King he diverted his intended course and march'd to the Castle of Grosmunt Whereof the Earl having notice by his Scouts he presently sent out a strong Party of Horse in the Night which surprising all who lay abroad in Tents brought away above five hundred Horses with divers Waggons wherein the King's Money and Provision of Victual was carried and returned back with safety After which Success he came to Monmouth and took a special View of the Castle there on all parts purposing to gain it by Assault But Sir Baldwyn de Gysnes a Flemish Knight being Governour thereof expecting to gain some Honour issued out with a Party of Horse and assayed to take him Whereupon hapned a sharp Skirmish in which Sir Baldwin with twelve of his stoutest Men bent themselves fiercely towards the Earl but he so valiantly defended himself that none of them could touch him though they kill'd his Horse In this Exigent therefore he unhorst one of those his Assailants and leapt into his Saddle Which Sir Baldwin discerning he furiously made at him again and pull'd off his Helmet and then taking his Horse by the Bridle led him towards the Castle In this desperate condition laying about him courageously with his Sword and killing two of the Soldiers who guarded him one of his own Men discerning his Danger let fly at Sir Baldwin with an Arrow from a Cross-bow which pierc'd his Body through his Armour so that Sir Baldwin falling to the Ground the rest running to take him up he was there rescued by some of his own Men who came in at that instant After this lodging at the Abby of Margan a Frier-Minor of great Credit with the King came to him with intimation That if he would submit himself to Mercy he should have a large proportion of Herefordshire for to support him honourably Others also represented to him the like But after much Discourse and many Arguments on either side instancing the many Grievances for which he took up Arms he concluded That without the joynt Consent of those who stood engaged with him in that Quarrel he could make no Accord Continuing therefore thus in Hostility Iohn de Monemuth a great Baron in those Parts raised all the Power he could against him Whereof having notice he lodg'd himself with ceriain Forces in a Wood through which the Enemy was to pass so that when they came making a great Rout amongst them he slew and took many Iohn himself escaping with much difficulty And thereupon joyning with Leoline Prince of Wales march'd as far as Shrewsbury making great Devastation by Fire and Sword and entring that Town burnt a great part of it The Bishop of Winchester therefore who then bore the chief Sway at Court apprehending that many of the Poictovins had been slain in Wales and the difficulty of suppressing this Earl by force fram'd a Letter to Maurice Fitz-Gerald at that time Justice of Ireland Walter de Lacy and other Great Men there who were his seeming Friends whereby representing to them That this Earl Richard was for manifest Treason banished the Realm of England his Houses and Lands wasted and he for ever disherited as also that being in this condition he still stood out most rebelliously against the King promising That if they would take him living or dead in case he should come over into Ireland the King would bestow all his Land in that Realm to be shared amongst them Which fair Assurance so encouraged those Irish Lords that they soon resolv'd to effect his desires Whereupon the Bishop of Winchester getting into his Hands the King 's Great Seal from the Bishop of Chichester then Chancellor framed a Patent importing as much and sent it to them Which was no sooner received but that to intice the Earl over thither they entred upon his Lands and Castles in that Realm with a Military Power Of which having intelligence he forthwith hasted thither with no more than fifteen Men in his Train Where being landed Richard de Marisco a Person of much Gravity and his Leige-man repaired to him but under-hand confederated with Fitz-Gerald and the rest of those to whom such large Promises had been made and treacherously advised him to raise all the Power he could and to subjugate that whole Realm to his Obedience engaging himself to be his Assistant therein At which the Earl somewhat pausing he said What do you fear Will you degenerate from your valiant Ancestors who never turn'd thier Backs to an Enemy Who then will believe that you are the Son of the Victorious William Mareschall See Conquest attends at your door Behold your Ancient Rights by Lineal Descent which your most Puissant Ancestors who tosk the Name of Strongbow most valiantly acquired Being therefore animated with these Expressions he rais'd what Power he could throughout all his Territories and having so done laid Siege to Lymeric which at the end of four days was yielded to him Moreover proceeding on he took divers Castles as well the King 's as other none daring to make head against him Those Great Men therefore perceiving they could not encounter him with any Strength they had fled to more remote Parts where finding some considerable Forces of Horse and Foot viz. Clx Horse and MM Foot well Armed they bestow'd large Gifts upon them with promise of greater Rewards if they could destroy this Earl And having thus done sent certain Knights-Templars to him to let him know That they could not suffer him thus to go on without being branded with the ignominy of Traytors to the King and therefore desir'd a Truce with him
Shrewsbury and in 42 H. 3. Constable of Dovor-Castle In 47 H. 3. Sheriff of Herefordshire and Governour of the Castle of Hereford In 48 H. 3. he had the Custody of all the Lands of Anker de Freschevill in the Counties of Nott. and Derb. And was then one of those Barons who undertook that the King should stand to the Determination of Lewes King of France for the decision of those Differences which were then betwixt him and some of the other then in Arms. And standing Loyal to the King when he had that sharp War with the Rebellious Barons after that signal Victory at Evesham about the beginning of August 49 H. 3. was made Sheriff for the Counties of Nott. and Derb. This Iohn died in 50 H. 3. leaving Reginald his Son and Heir and ... a Daughter married to Robert de Tatshall Which Reginald soon after in respect of his faithful Services to that King obtain'd the favour to have a special Livery of all his Father's Lands though he had not then done his Homage He was also the same year constituted Sheriff of the Counties of Nott. and Derb. and Governour of Notingham-Castle as his Father had been And the next year following had the like Trust for the Castle of Northampton So also in 53 H. 3. In 9 E. 1. he was made Justice of Chester which Office his Father had formerly held and merited so well for his manifold Services that he had part of the Honour of Monmouth give to him by the King in recompence thereof But the Welch charg'd him with the breach of those Articles of Peace which were made betwixt King Edward and them First By framing Accusations against the Men of Tegengl and Ros for Trespasses done in the time of King Henry the Third And secondly That notwithstanding the King had granted to all Land-holders within the four Cantreds That they should enjoy their ancient Liberties and Customs yet that he introduc'd many new Customs amongst them contrary to the Articles of Peace before-mention'd oppressing them in divers other Particulars the mention whereof for brevities sake I pass by And in farther remuneration of his Services obtain'd from that King the Castle of Ruthyn and Cantred of Deffryn-Cluit with all the Lands of Wenthlian de Lascy in the Cantred of Englefeild as by his Charter dated at Dynbey 23 Oct. in the tenth year of his Reign appeareth In the same-year being in the King's Army in Wales he had Scutage of his Tenants who held of him by Military Service This Reginald married Maude the Daughter and Heir of Henry de Longchamp a great Baron whose principal Seat was Wilton-Castle in Herefordshire And in 22 E. 1. receiv'd Command to be at Portsmouth 1 Sept. to attend the King into Gascoigne then in danger by the French In 25 E. 1. the King going into Flanders and committing the Government of this whole Realm in his absence unto Prince Edward joyn'd amongst others this Reginald as an Assistant to him The same year upon the King's Confirmation of those two memorable Charters called Magna Carta and Carta de Foresta which chiefly through the Potency of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford then Constable of England and Roger Bigot Earl of Norfolk Marshal were then obtained but not with the King 's free liking was one of those who upon that Accord then made betwixt the King and the other Barons that stood for their Rights and Liberties undertook on the King's behalf for the Indempnity of those two Earls In 31 E. 1. he was in the King's Army in Scotland This Reginald had a Daughter called Ioane who was the Wife of Raphe Lord Basset of Drayton and had in Frank-marriage by his Gift all his Lands in Olney in Com. Buck. As also a Brother called Iohn who in 34 E. 1. was in the King's Service in Scotland And departed this Life in 1 E. 2. being then seised of the Mannor of Shirland in Com. Derb. of the Mannor of Rishton in Com. Cestr. of the Castle of Ruthyn and the whole Cantred of Deffren-cloyd and likewise of Penbeden Maismanan and Blorent lying in the Cantred of Englefeild leaving Iohn his Son and Heir forty years of age whose Fealty the King as a special Grace and Favour appointed his Eschactor beyond Trent soon after to take and to make Livery to him of his Inheritance This Iohn was an active Man in the King's Service whilst his Father lived as it seems for in 35 E. 1. in consideration thereof that King acquitted Reginald his Father of Cli l. xix s. vi d. part of a Debt of CCCli l. xix s. vi d. and accepted of the remaining part viz. CC l. by x l. per annum In 4 E. 2. he receiv'd Command from the King to be at Rokesburgh upon the Feast-day of St. Peter ad Vincula well accoutred with Horse and Arms to march against the Scots then declar'd to be the King's Enemies In 7 E. 2. he was again in the Wars of Scotland And in 8 E. 2. receiv'd another Command from the King to be at Newcastle upon Tine on the Feast-day of the Assumption of our Lady well fitted with Horse and Arms to march into that Realm In 10 E. 2. he was Justice of North-Wales and Governour of the Castle of Caernarvon And in 11 E. 2. charg'd to provide CC able Foot-Soldiers out of his Territory of Deffreneloyt for the Wars of Scotland to be at Newcastle upon Tine on the morrow after the Feast of St. Laurence But in 17 E. 2. he departed this Life being seised of the Mannor of Eston-Grey in Com. Wiltes Kemplyng in Com. Glouc. of the Castle of Ruthyn and Cantred of Deffren-â—loyt in North-Wales as also of those Lands in Englefeld which were formerly belonging to Wenthlian de Lacy Likewise of the Mannor of Wiltâ—n upon Waye in Com. Heref. Towsland in Com. Hunt Depeden and Punlot in Com. Essex and Schirland in Com. Derb. leaving Henry his Son and Heir forty years of age Moreover it appeareth that he held for term of Life with Remainder to Roger his younger Son by a second Wife as some affirm and to the Heirs of his Body the Mannors of Harewold Podyngton la Leye Brokburwe and Wrest in Com. Bedf. Holewelle in Com. Hertf. Great Brickhill with the Advowson of the Church Walton Woleton Over-Bleâ—cheleye Snelleston Stoke Hamund and Seweneston with the Advowson of the Church of Walton in Com. Buck. Gylling and Hemyngford Turberviâ—l in Com. Hunt certain Lands in Depeden in Com. Essex and the Mannors of Swonton Flitte and Houghton in Com. Bedf. From which Henry the Family of the Lord Grays of Wilton and from Roger those of Ruthyn afterwards descended Touching those of Wilton being first to take notice I
London in the terme of the Epiphany next after the relaxation of the interdict to make their addresses to the King for their great offences and thence to the Kings Court at Northampton and so to their own homes He was also one of those twenty five Barons who swore to the observation of Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta Sealed by the King at Runnimede in the seventeenth year of his Reign and obliged themselves by Oath that they would compell the King in case he should recede He likewise had special Summons by Robert Fitz-Walter commonly called Mareschallus Dei Ecclesiae in that grand insurrection of the Barons to be at the Tournament at Hounslow-Heath which was adjourned thither from Stanford upon Munday next ensuing the feast of S. Peter and Paul But comming not accordingly he received divers other messages from those Barons whereby he had no little rebuke for his delay which so allarmed him that leaving his Castle of Belvoir well fortified victualled and in the custody of such in whom he faithfully confided he hasted to London and being there received with much joy by the rest of those Barons was by them made choice of as a person most valiant and expert in Armes to be Governor of Rochester Castle by the treachery of the then Archbishop of Canterbury delivered into the hands of the Kings Enemies Which when he entred and found neither Armes Ammunition nor Victual therein As also discerning that those who accompanied him thither had no minde to stay in it he told them how dishonorable it would be so to leave it and therefore suddenly got in all the provision of food that could be found in the Town But having not time to look out into the Countrey for more in regard the King came within three days upon them with his Army consisting most of Poictovins Gascoines with a great number out of Lovain Brabant and Flanders and begirt it with a straight seige they defended themselves with all valor imaginable making divers bold sallies with hope to have relief from the rest of the Barons of their party who then were at London Howbeit when they saw no likelyhood thereof and that the Kings forces had by undermining thrown down their outer Walls and made upon them a fierce assault such was their valor though wearied with long watchings and weakned by hunger that they courageously beat them off And at the last this hardy William and those other of the Nobles who were then with him accounting it most dishonorable to perish by Famine when they could not be vanquished by force all their food being spent came out of the Castle and submitted themselves to the King upon the feast day of S. Andrew the Apostle But the King by reason of the vast charge he had been at in that seige which continued little less then three Months and loss of many of his Souldiers that had been slain therein was so highly enraged that without any mercy he commanded that all the Noble men should be hanged Which severe sentence was so distasted by Savaricus de Malloleone a noble Poictovin then one of the chief commanders in the Kings Army that he boldly told the King that the Warr being not yet ended he ought well to consider the uncertain chance thereof adding that if he hanged these the Barons his adversaries might upon the like advantage deal as cruelly with those of his party which might occasion a totall desertion of him Whereupon the King well weighing the Danger forbore the execution of that his sharp sentence and instead thereof committed this our William de Albini William de Lancaster Thomas de Muleton Osbert Giffard and divers other Noble persons unto the Custody of Peter de Mauley who sent some of them to the Castle of Corff there to be kept under strict imprisonment and some to the Castle of Notingham It is observed by my Author that the King with some of his chief Commanders one day going about this Castle of Rochester to view the strength thereof was discerned by an excellent Bow-man who thereupon asked this William de Albini whether he should kill him with his Arrow that he had then in readiness and that he answered No. As also that the Bow-man replied He would not spare us if he had the like advantage To whom William retuned Gods will be done who will dispose and not he During the restraint of this William at Corff the King being then at Notingham marcht the morrow after Christmas day to the Town of Langar and there resting that night sent a solemne Summons to Belvoir Castle the next morning requiring the speedy delivery thereof and withall signifying to those that held it that if they insisted on any conditions the Lord thereof should never eat more Whereupon Nicholas de Albini one of his Sons who was a Clerk in Orders taking with him Sir Hugh Charnels Knight to presrve his Father from that miserable Death carried the Keys of this Castle to the King and delivered them to his hands upon condition that his Father should be mercifully dealt with and they with their Horse and Arms remain in peace Which being promised and the Castle so rendred the King marcht forthwith thither and committed it to the custody of Geffrey de Butville and Oliver his brother two Poictovins taking the oath of fidelity of all others he left therein Whilst he was thus prisoner at Corf his Mannor of Offington being seised on by the King was given to William Earl Warren for the better defence of his Castle of Stanford It is farther observable of this William de Albini that standing firmly with the other Barons in opposition to King Iohn he was one of those that Pope Innocent the third then excommunicated by name for so doing whose sentence bears date at Lateran 17 Kal. Iun. the same year But his stout heart being at length humbled he gave a fine of six thousand marks for his liberty which summe of money was raised by Agatha Trusbut his Wife out of his own Lands the King commanding that they should be delivered into her hands for that purpose with power to sell and mortgage of them what should be needfull sending likewise his special precept y to all his Tenants to give him effectual aid towards the Raising of that great Summe Having thus made fine to King Iohn for his redemption he thought it his safest way to be quiet and therefore submitted himself peaceably to King Henry the third But being not well to be trusted was constrained to yeild up his Wife Agâ—tha for an hostage and after in her stead his Son Nicholas the Priest Howbeit ere long he grew in such esteem with that King that he was made one of the cheif Commanders in his Army in that memorable Battle of Lincoln in the year 1217 being the first year of
took to Wife Elizabeth Daughter and Heir to Iohn le Strange of Blackmere which Elizabeth died 23 Aug. 7 Ric. 2. without issue And in 7 Ric. 2. together with the Earl of Northumberland and some of the Northern Barons he entred Scotland with a thousand Spears and six thousand Archers In 8 R. 2. he was retained by Indenture to serve the King in his Wars And in 9 R. 2. constituted Earl Marshal of England by reason of his descent from Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshall as hath been observed to hold the same Office for term of his Life In 10 R. 2. he went to Sea with Richard Earl of Arundell then constituted Admiral to oppose the incursion of the Kings publique Enemies and shared in the glory of that Victory then obtained in that Naval adventure against the French Flemings Normans and Spaniards as also of that valiant attempt upon the Castle of Brest in Britanny which was then taken by the English but such was the prevalency of the Duke of Ireland at that time and of those other parasites who had the Kings eare as that upon his return instead of an honorable reception for his good service he was not looked on with any fair countenance being one of those whose death was designed by that Duke and his complices This Thomas did not make proof of his age untill 12 Ric. 2. but then so doing and performing his Homage he had livery of all his Lands and thereupon constituted Governor of Barwick upon â—weed as also sent with a military power against the Scots who had invaded Northumberland and made great spoil in those parts but having not strength sufficient to give them Battle he retreated back without any attempt upon them After this scil in 14 R. 2. he wasmade Governor of the Castle of Merke in France as also Captain of Calais for the term of five years The next year following scil 15 R. 2. at the instance of this Earl it was that the King vouchsafed such favor to the Town of Calais that for the honor thereof the Mayor and his successors should thenceforth have a Sword born before them with the point upwards except at such time as the King himself or any of his Uncles or the Captain of Calais or his Lieutenant should be present and then to carry the point thereof downwards In 16 R. 2. he was constituted the Kings Liâ—â—tenant in Calais as also in the parts of Picardy Flanders and Artoys and likewise Governor of Calais and of the new Tower there And for his many good services done and to be done had a grant of two hundred Marks per annum for life to be paid out of the Exchequer untill such time as the King should better provide for him Moreover he stood in such favor that the King acknowledging his just and hereditary title to bear for his Crest a golden Leopard with a white Label which of right did belong to the Kings eldest Son in case he had any did by his Letters patents grant unto him and his heirs authority to bear the Golden Leopard for his Crest with a Coronet of Silver about his neck instead of the Labell And in the same year constituted him Justice of Chester and Flintshire for term of life with power to hold Pleas and Sessions there by himself or his sufficient Lieutenant as also Justice of North-Wales In 18 R. 2. he attended the King into Ireland Moreover in 19 R. 2. he was joyned in Commission with Edward Earl of Roteland Son of Edmund de Langley Duke of York and others to contract Marriage with Isabel eldest Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France and King Richard and again constituted Governor of the Castle of Calais Moreover the next ensuing year he obtained the Kings licence for founding that Monastry of Carthusian Monks at his Mannor of Eppe-Worth in the Isle of Axholm which he he thereupon established and most amply endowed As also the Kings Charter of confirmation of the Office of Earl Marshal of England to the Heirs Male of his body with an union of the Office of Marshal in the Courts of Kings Bench and Exchequer thereunto Likewise of the Office of Marshals-cryer before the Steward and Marshal of the Kings household And that he and his Heirs male by reason of this their Office of Earl Marshal should bear a Golden Truncheon enameled with black at each end having at the upper end of it the Kings Arms graven thereon and at the lower end his own Arms. How beit notwithstanding those his many services before remembred such was the prevalency of his old Enemies those Parasites by whom the King was governed that the year following viz. 21 R. 2. with divers other he was arrested and indicted of High Treason at Notingham and Witnesses suborned to accuse him in the ensuing Parliament But here the Scene soon changed for whether with the apprehension of his own danger or allured by those voluptuaries who bore such sway with the King he forthwith adhered to them in the destruction of that honorable person Richard Earl of Arundell whose Daughter he had Married and was one of the chief that guarded him to his Execution Nay it is said by some that he bound up his Eyes and beheaded him himself And soon after that had a principle hand in that execrable Murther of Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester the Kings Uncle causing him to be smothered with a Feather-bed at Calais Whereupon he became in such high favour at Court that the King bestowed upon him and the Heires Male of his Body the Castle Town and Lordship of Lewes the Mannors of Cokefield Clayton Dycheninge Methynge Peâ—cham Brightelmeston Rottingdene Houndedene Northese Rademeld Kymere Middilton Alington Worth Pycombe Sefford Iford Pedingho Kingston and Littleworth the Hundreds of Poninges Buttringhull Strete Beâ—come Swanbergh Holmestrowe Yonesmere Whalesbone the half Hundred of Fishergate the half Hundred of Wyndham and three hundred acres of marish called Wayfeldmerch with all other the Lands of Richard Earl of Arundel which by reason of the said Earles forfeiture came to the King together with all Knights Fees and advowsons of Churches in the Counties of Surry and Sussex the Castle and Town of Reygate with the Park Warren and Chases only excepted And besides all this the Castle and Town of Castleacre with its members and appurtenances in Norfolk which by the forfaiture of the said Earl came to the Crown Moreover the Castle and Mannor of Hanslape the Mannors of Olney Querndon and Shenley Mansel in the County of Buckingham the Mannors of Berghdon Greatham Preston and Uppingham in the County of Roteland the Mannors of Molton and Potters-pirie in the County of Northampton the Mannors of Brayles Toneworth Berkswill Lighthurne Morton and Mereshull
with a numerous Army he stoutly defended it against their whole power It is said by some of our Historians that upon King Edwards coming into France at that time with a puissant Army which occasioned the before specified Iohn to raise his siege and to march away in order to the conjunction of his Forces with the Army of Philip his Father this Ralph Lord Stafford â—allied out of Aguillon fell upon his Rear and cut off a great part thereof Moreover that being thus cleared from that siege he joyned his Forces with King Edwards and had an eminent command in the Van of the Army under the Black Prince in that famous Battle of Cressy which soon after ensued where the English obtained a glorious victory Likewise that after that victory being sent with Sir Reginald Cobham and three Heralds to view the slain they reported the number to be Eleven great Princes eighty Bannerets twelve hundred Knights and more than thirty thousand Common Soldiers And also that upon the render of Calais which hapned shortly after he was one of those who were then appointed to take possession of it for the King The next year following there being an accord made betwixt this Ralph and Margaret his Wife on the one part Sir Robert de Harley and Elizabeth his Wife on the second part and Sir Edward Cornwall on the third part as Cosins and Heirs to Peter the Son of Peter Corbet This Ralph claiming the Castle of Caus and other Lands as being descended from the eldest Aunt of the same Peter it being thereby concluded That he should thenceforth enjoy that Castle to him and his heirs he obtained Livery thereof doing his Fealty for the same And before the end of that year in farther consideration of his laudable services did also obtain another special Livery of all those Lands which Hugh de Audley Earl of Glocester then deceased held of the Inheritance of Margaret his Wife one of the Daughters and Heirs to Gilbert de Clare sometime Earl of Glocester which by the death of her the said Margaret did by descent belong to Margaret Wife to this Ralph as Daughter and Heir to them the said Hugh and Margaret his homage being respited in respect of his Military imployment For he was then sent again into France and had purveyance for himself his men and horses in the Counties of Sussex Surrey and Kent till he took shipping Sir Hugh Fitz-Simond Knight being at that time one of his Retinue as appears by an Indenture dated 16 Martii the same year whereby he covenanted to serve him in the Wars wheresoever he should have occasion with four Knights himself accounted and eight Esquires for the space of one whole year next ensuing Being thus again in France he was one of the Ambassadors sent to the Cardinals of Naples and Cleremont to treat of Peace betwixt King Edward and Philip de Valoys then assuming the title of King of France In 22 Edw. 3. which was the next ensuing year he obtained License to make Castles of his Mannor Houses at Stafford and Madeley as also a Grant from the King of 573 l. for his expences in his service beyond Sea And being then by Indenture retained to serve the King during his whole life with sixty Men at Arms had by reason thereof Six hundred marks per annum assigned unto him to be received out of the Ports of London and Boston Moreover having merited so well for his many and great services he was about this time elected to be one of the number of that honorable Society of the most Noble Order of the Garter then instituted by that martial and victorious Prince King Edward the Third Furthermore in 24. Edw. 3. he was joyned in Commission with the Bishop of Durham the Lord Percy and Lord Nevill to treat with the Nobles of Scotland at York for a firm and final Peace betwixt both Realms In which and all other his employments his deportment was such That the King in consideration thereof upon the fifth of March then next ensuing advanced him to the title of Earl of Stafford and for his better support of that dignity granted to him a thousand marks per annum in Fee until he should provide Lands of that value to settle on him and his heirs And being thus raised to these Honors and inriched with such large benefits he was shortly after viz. in 26 Edw. 3. constituted the Kings Lieutenant and Captain-General in his Dutchy of Aquitane with special Commission to treat with any persons of what Nation soever upon terms of Aid to the King and mutual assistance from him In which service viz. The Lieutenancy of Aquitaine he was then likewise retained by Indenture bearing date 3 Martii to continue with an hundred Men at Arms and an hundred Archers on Horsback of his own proper Retinue until Michaelmass next following And from that time forwards to have an additional number of One hundred Men at Arms more with good Captains and Two hundred Archers on Horsback provided at the Kings charge for the time of his stay there The King likewise indenting farther with him to send by way of more supply under the conduct of the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick or Huntingdon Three hundred Men at Arms and seven hundred Archers During the time of which stay there he constituted Sir Iames Pipe Knight then Seneschal of that Dutchy Governor of the Town and Castle of Blavy situate in the Enemies quarters And in regard of this his necessitated absence from England obtained a special Precept to the Judges of the Kings Bench that they should not in any of their Sessions within the County of Essex intermeddle with his Liberties For which expedition whilest he was preparing he had an Assignation of the Town of 〈◊〉 in Com. Middl. for the quartering of his Men and Horses Sixty Men with Lances being for that service then impressed out of his Lordships of Newport and Netherwent in the Marches of Wales In 27 Edw. 3. he attended Prince Edward in the company of the Earl of Warwick unto the City of Chester with a Military Power for the protecting of Sir Richard de Willoughby and Sir William de Shareshul Knights then sitting there as Justices Itinerant against the violence of the people whose Insurrection they feared And the same year had a special Dispensation from Pope Innocent the Sixth bearing date 15 Kal. Febr. That such Religious Persons as should be at his Table or in his House might eat Flesh. In 29 Edw. 3. he attended the King again into France whose purpose was to have given Battle to the King of France then at S. Omers had he not privily got away And in 33 Edw. 3. marching towards Reyns in Campaigne and quartered in
a Sword by the Kings own hands being the first of whom in any Charter that expression was used having likewise thereby a Grant of the third penny of all the Pleas impleaded before the Sheriff throughout that whole County whereof he was Earl to hold to him and his heirs in as ample manner as any of his Ancestors enjoyed the same And by another Charter dated 11 Iuly the same year had a Grant from the King to himself and his heirs in Fee-Farm of the Mannors of Wirkesworth and Esseburne vnlgò Ashburne together with the whole Wapentake paying yearly to the Exchequer Seventy pound sterling at Michaelmas and Easter by even portions And about the same time also in consideration of Two thousand marks obtained another Charter from the King of the Mannor of Hecâ—am now called 〈…〉 in Com. Northampt. with the Hundred and Park as also of the Mannors of Bliâ—eworth and Newâ—ottle in the same County which were part of the Lands of Wilâ—iam Peverel of Nottingham whose Daughter and Heir called Margaret was his Grandmother upon condition that he should release unto the King his whole Right and Claim in all other the Lands that did belong to the same William Peverel By which Charter the King doth rendâ—r grant and confirm unto him Hekham with one Hundred and an half as also the Park and likewise Newbottle and Bliseworth as his Inheritance by descent from William Peverel whose right heir he was To hold to him and his heirs for ever by the service of one Knights Fee Whereupon he quitted his title to all the rest of the Castles Forests and Lands of the same William Peverel In 2 Ioh. he had a Grant from the King of the service of William de Greseley and his heirs for his Lands at Drakelow to hold by the payment of a Bow with a Quiver and twelve Arrows yearly for all services Moreover in 5 Ioh. he obtained a Grant of the Inheritance of those Mannors of Wirkesworth and Esseburne with the Wapentake for which he gave five hundred marks And the same year procured the Kings special Mandate to Geffrey Fitz-Piers then Justice of England for Livery of those Lands in Stapleford in Com. Leic. which belonged to the Vidame of Chartres and were of his Fee Which Vidame died in a voyage to the Holy Land and was a Ferrers though he bore for his Arms a Bend betwixt six Martlets In 6 Ioh. he had a Grant of all the Lands in Leicestershire belonging to Walter de Tibetot which were of his Fee Tibetot then adhering to the Kings Enemies Which favors did so oblige him that in 14 Ioh. when the Pope had deposed King Iohn and that Pandulph the Legate came over to treat with him the French King being then upon the Seas with a powerful Army threatning an invasion so that the King became necessitated to yeild to what terms he could get This Earl manifested his affection to him so far as to give his solemn Oath for the Kings performance of those Articles whereunto he had submitted and was likewise one of the witnesses to that Charter whereby King Iohn gave up this Realm to the Pope Shortly after which viz. upon the seven and twentieth of Iune the same year the King gave him an House scituate in the Parish of S. Margaret within the City of London which did belong to Isaac a Iew of Norwich to hold of him and his heirs by the service that he the said Earl and his heirs should serve the King at Dinner upon all Festivals yearly without any Cap having a Garland thereon of the bredth of his little finger In this fifteenth year he attended the King into Poâ—ctou and in 16 Ioh. was constituted Governor of Harestan Castle in Com. Derb. In which year together with the King and divers of the Nobility he took upon him the Cross in order to a voyage unto the Holy Land but divers of the Barons soon after putting themselves in Arms hindred that journey Whereupon raising Forces for the King he took from those Rebels the Castles of Peck and Bolesover by assault of which the King then made him Governor And upon the death of King Iohn stood so firm to the young King Henry the Third as that with the rest of the Loyal Nobility he not only met at Glocester upon the Eve of the Apostles Simon and Iude in the presence of Walo the Popes Legate in order to the Coronation of that King but assisted thereat on Simon and Iudes day And immediately after Easter ensuing accompanied the famous William Marshall then Governor of the King and Kingdom the Earls of Chester Albemarle and many other great men in the Siege of Mountsorell Castle in Leicestershire then held by Henry de Braybroke and ten other stout Knights And the same year was also with those noble Persons at raising the Siege of Lincoln which the Rebellious Barons with Lewes King of France whom they brought into the Realm had made and having new Patents for the custody of those Castles of Peck and Bolesover held the Government of them for full six years But in the second year of that Kings Reign he underwent a journey to the Holy Land with Ranulph Earl of Chester and some others appointing his Steward viz. Ralph Fitz-Nicholas to transact all business concerning him which might relate to the Exchequer until his return And in 8 Hen. 3. was constituted Governor of the Castle and Honor of Lancaster In 9 Hen. 3. he executed the Sheriffs Office for the County of Lancaster for three parts of that year So likewise for the whole years of 10 11 Hen. 3. In the last of which years upon the death of Robert de Ferrers his younger Brother without issue being his next heir he had such favor from the King as that he compounded the remainder of those debts which were due by his Brother for marrying the Wife he then had at the rate of ten marks per annum But in this eleventh year of Henry the Third upon that dispute which hapned betwixt the King and Richard Earl of Cornwall his Brother by reason whereof the King gave away that Earls Castle of Berkhamstead he with some others more resenting the injury which he thought was thereby offered to the Earl of Cornwal than the Obligation of Loyalty to his Soveraign stuck not to put himself in Arms on that Earls part But the King prudently foreseeing that unavoidable mischeif might thereby have ensued the Nobility being then so potent attributed the fault to his Cheif Justice and fairly composed the difference Nay this was not all for they threatned that if he would not restore to them that Charter touching the Liberties of the Forest which he had lately cancelled at
and the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewes Duke of Savoy Sister to the French Queen and therein sped so well as that it was resolved the Earl of Dampmartin should speedily come over into England to confirm the match so it happened that King Edward hunting in Wychwood Forest chanced to fix his eyes upon Elizabeth the Widow of Sir Iohn Grey and was so captivated with her Beauty that he would not hearken to what this Earl had done for him in France It is said by some that after King Edward had obtained the Crown through the power of this Earl suspecting danger by his greatness he endeavored to diminish him all he could which being discerned he sought all occasions to work the Kings ruine The vulgar opinion of this breach betwixt them was that having used many arguments to diswade the King from marrying of Margaret his Sister to Charles the Son of Philip Duke of Burgundy whom he mortally hated he could not prevail But this was merely a shadow others believed that he grew thus incensed by reason he saw that the King had sleighted his Negotiations in France touching that match with the Daughter of the Duke of Savoy therefore what was the true cause is not easy to affirm howbeit that he did cordially maligne him and dissemble the same till he saw a fit opportunity to shew it is certain enough Nevertheless after this grudge thus harbored he was sent Ambassador in 4 Edw. 4. with the Lord Wenlok to treat with the Agents of the King of France concerning a Peace betwixt both Realms And in 5 Edw. 4 joyned in Commission with the same Lord Wenlok and others to treat with Philip Duke of Burgundy concerning a mutual trade betwixt the English Merchants and those of that Duke as also at the same time impowered to treat with the Duke of Britanny upon a League of Peace and Amity And likewise joyned Commissioner with the Lord Hastings then Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold to treat and conclude with Iames Luxenburgh Lord of Richbourgh the Kings Uncle touching a League of Amity betwixt Charles of Burgundy Earl of Charlois and King Edward In this fifth year of Edward the Fourth he was likewise constituted one of the Commissioners to treat with those from the King of Scotland upon several grievances from the Subjects of that Realm contrary to the Truce made betwixt both Kings And in 6 Edw. 4. imployed together with the Lord Hastings to confer with Charles Earl of Charlois or his Agents touching a marriage betwixt that Earl and Margaret the Kings Sister as also to treat of Peace with the French Kings Ambassadors But the first effects of his discontent were not publickly seen till 7 Edw. 4. that being in Warwickshire he sent for his two Brothers viz. George Nevill Archbishop of York and Iohn Marquess Mountague at which time he communicated his mind to them with divers Reasons for the Restoration of King Henry and soon won them to his bent And having so done he next allured to him George Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother taking advantage of some discontents he had harbored and to fix him the firmer to his side gave him Isabel his eldest Daughter in marriage in 8 Edw. 4. in our Lady Church at Calais with half the Lands of her Mothers Inheritance Hereupon he caused his two Brothers viz. the Archbishop of York and Marquess Mountague to raise a commotion in Yorkshire and having under colour thereof got into Arms the first skirmish they had was at Edgecote in Oxfordshire where the Royalists were beaten but the King himself being yet Northwards in the head of a good Army and resolving to find out his Enemies marched towards Warwick whereof this Earl being advertised he imployed several persons to treat with him for Peace Unto which overture the King too credulously hearkning rested as he thought secure in his Camp at Wolvey Which advantage being discerned by this Earl he there surprised him in the night and taking him from his Bed carried him prisoner to his Castle at Warwick and afterwards to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire where he left him in the custody of his Brother the Archbishop Howbeit not long after by the opportunity of Hunting in the Park which the Archbishop permitted him to do he made his escape and raised such a power in a short space that having vanquished Sir Robert Wells with his Forces in Lincolnshire this Earl and the D. of Clarence thought it safest to pack away and would have got to Calais of which Town he was Captain but that the Lord Vauclere a Gascoigne whom he had constituted his Lieutenant there opposed his entrance Whereupon he landed in Normandy and receiving much countenance from the French King applied himself to Queen Margaret wife of King Henry the Sixth then fled into those parts for safety and for the firmer twisting his and the Lancasterian interest together matched his other Daughter Anne to Edward Prince of Wales taking a solemn Oath to restore King Henry by means whereof he obtained no small assistance from the Queens Friends And in pursuit thereof landing shortly after in the West of England proclaimed King Henry Whereupon his power so increased that King Edward was forced to flee the Land So that then having no rub in his way he entred London in October delivered King Henry out of the Tower and set him again on his Throne Whereupon he was made Lord High Admiral of England But before the revolution of one year King Edward landed here again and increasing in strength very much so daunted the Duke of Clarence that he made his peace with him and offered to do the like for this Earl his Father-in-Law had not his stomach been too high so that then there being no way but by the Sword to determine the business it came to be decided on Easter day at Barnet-Field in which Battle this stout Earl lost his life with many persons of note and others to a great number After which his Corps being carried to London with that of the Marquess Mountague his Brother and there exposed to publick view in Pauls was thence convâ—yed to Bisham in Com. Berks. and interred in that Monastery with his Ancestors the Montacutes by whom it had been Founded Comines being sent to Calais to the Duke of Burgundy to treat with Vauclere the Deputy-Governor there to this great Man reports That he was so popular that every one wore his Badge no man esteeming himself gallant whose Head was not adorned with his Ragged-Staff nor no door frequented that had not his White-Cross painted thereon in so much as Vauclere himself wore a Jewel in his Hat wherein was a Black Ragged-Staff embroidered with Gold
Altar where the Lady Anne his first Wife lay interred and the other in the Chappel of our Blessed Lady of the Bridge in Sheffield every of them to have eight marks yearly during that time And departed this life at his Mannor of Wingfield in Com. Derb. 26 Iulii 33 Hen. 8. with this Charactar viz. That he was Vir nobilis sapiens ac in omnibus vitae partibus moderatus a Person noble prudent and moderate throughout the whole course of his life To whom succeeded Francis his Son and Heir born in Sheffield Castle Anno 1500. 16 Hen. 7. Which Francis was summoned to Parliament amongst the Barons 17 February 24 Hen. 8. his Father then living And the same year his Father died scil 33 Hen. 8. the greater Monasteries being then totally dissolved obtained from the King by exchange for the Mannor of Farnham Royal in Com. Buck. which he held by Grand Serjeanty to support the Kings Right-Arm during the time he holds the Scepter in his hand at the Coronation of the Kings of this Realm the Inheritance of the scite of the Priory of Worsop in Com. Nott. And certain Lands in Sheffield belonging to the Abby of Beaucheif in Com. Derb. As also the scite of the Priory of Kingsmead near the Town of Derby with certain Lands thereto belonging And likewise divers Lands belonging unto the dissolved Monastery of Roucester in Com. Staff In 34 Hen. 8. this Earl Francis was in that Army which then marched into Scotland by reason that the King of that Realm had entertained some of the Northern Rebels frustrated King Henry of the promised enterview and that his Subjects had invaded the Borders while a Treaty was on foot But in this expedition no great matter was performed So likewise in that of 36 Hen. 8. he then commanding the Rear of the English Army at which time they plundered Leith and made great spoil by burning and rapine in the City of Edenburgh and all the Country thereabouts The quarrel being upon pretence of a desired marriage betwixt Prince Edward and the young Queen of Scotland whereunto the Scots would not readily condiscend The same year he was also constituted the Kings Lieutenant of the North. And in 2 Edw. 6 sent again into Scotland with fifteen thousand Men against the French Almains and Scots then in Arms for the relief of Hadingâ—on at that time besieged Where after he had victualled and reinforced the Town he encamped near the Enemy but finding them not inclinable to fight though they had received great supplies returned unto his Camp and afterwards for England Moreover the same year he was constituted Justice of all the Forests beyond â—rent and in 1 Mariae made President of the Council in the North. In 1 Eliz. he was likewise made one of the Queens Privy Council as also one of the Commissioners for receiving Claims from those who were to perform certain services at the solemnity of her Coronation And in the Parliament of 2 Eliz. was the only person of the Peers besides the Viscount Mountacute who opposed the Bill for abolishing the Popes Supremacy and Reformation of Religion But upon the one and twentieth of September the same year he departed this life leaving issue by his first Wife viz. Mary Daughter to Thomas Lord Dacres of Gillesland George his only Son and Successor his younger Son Thomas dying before unmarried and one Daughter called Anne who was married to Iohn Lord Bray Which George being a young Man in the time of Queen Mary and his Father then General of the English Army against the Scots commanded under him three thousand Soldiers and relieved the Earl of Northumberland then in danger at Lovick After that he was a Colonel of five hundred Horse upon the Borders and in 11 Eliz. had the custody of the Queen of Scots committed to his charge Moreover in 15 Eliz. upon the Arraignment of the Duke of Norfolk he was for that present service made Lord High Steward of England Moreover after the death of that Duke which soon after ensued he was constituted Earl Marshal of England And in those ambiguous times so preserved himself against all outward machinations calumnies at Court and the mischievous practises of his second Wife for full fifteen years as that he thereby deserved no less honor for his â—idelity and Prudence then he did for his Fortitude and Valor as Mr. Camden hath very well observed By his Testament bearing date 24 Iunii An. 1590. 32 Eliz. this Noble Earl bequeathed his Body to be buried at Sheffield in Com. Ebor. thereby likewise appointing that the sum of two hundred pounds should be yearly imployed for ever unto the benefit of the poorest Artificers of the Town of Pontfract in Com. Ebor. for the increase of Trades and Occupations there that is to say That the Major of the said Town and his Brethren or the major part of them with the Major by the assent of the Earl of Shrewsbury for the time being shall upon Munday in Whitson week pay and lend unto every poor Artificer of the said Town so far as the said Money will extend the sum of five pounds for three years then next following putting in good and sufficient security for the repayment thereof And departing this life 18 Novemb. the same year was accordingly buried at Sheffield where in his life time he erected a Noble Monument for himself whereon is this Epitaph viz. Christo opt max. Posteritati Sacrum IN spem certam futurae resurrectionis illustris hic conditur heros Georgius Salopiae Comes sui nobilissimi generis longâ serie à Normannorum conquestu derivati nullaque unquam perfidiae labeculâ aspersi Comitum ordine sextus summus Regni Marescallus à Talbotto Furnivallo Verdun Lovetoft Extraneoque de Blackmere honoribus amplissimis dominus insuper Baro nâ—ncupatus Garteriani quoque equestris ordinis sanè praeclarissimi sodalis dignissimus Francisci comitis unicus qui supererat â—ilius successor omniumque virtutum ex asse haeres Qui quantum Pacis Bellique artibus omnibusque corporis atque animi dotibus eximiis unitis potuit id omne secundâ—m pietatem in Deum uni patriae ejusque principibus impendere solebat Vt qui Mariae Reginae temporibus in Northumbrensis Comitis succursum à patre tum superstite ac Belli duci primario cum tribus armatorum millibus ad Lowicum in Scotiam ire jussus strenuè summaque cum laude bellicam illam praefecâ—uram administrabat Parique cum laude non minori successu paulo post Berwicum hosti in occursum missus quingentorum cataphracâ—orum equitum cohortu stipatus fuit concomitantibus Barone Grayo strenuo equite Drurio aliisque militaris scientiae peritissimis Bellique principatum tum
of Sir Roger de Pedwardine Knight the other Sister of the same Norman were found to be his next Heirs Sir Philip de Limbury being then viz. in 24 E. 3. thirty years of age and Agnes fifty ¶ The Male-Line of this eldest Son thus failing I now come to Iohn a younger Brother to Philip Father of the last Norman This Iohn was a person of great action and eminency in his time In 25 Edw. 1. he was in that expedition then made into Scotland So likewise in 31 Edw. 1. and 34 Edw. 1. Also in 3 8 Edw. 2. In 10 Edw. 2. being called Iohn d'Arci le Cosyn he was made Governor of Norham Castle In 13 Edw. 2. Sheriff of the Counties of Nottingham and Derby and in 16 Edw. 2. Sheriff of Lancashire Moreover in 1 Edw. 3. Sheriff of Yorkshire and Governor of the Castle at York In 17 Edw. 2. he was constituted Justice of Ireland so likewise in 1 Edw. 3. and the same year being called Iohannes d'Arcile Frere obtained a Charter for Free-Warren throughout all his Demesn Lands in Coningsby Park Flixborough and Winterton in Comit. Linc. And in 2 Edw. 3. in those at Wrauby in the same County In this second year of Edward the Third being called Iohannes d'Arci le Neveu he had an Assignation of certain sums of Money due to him for his services in the Wars of Ireland the preceding year As also for his residence in Yorkshire in the Moneths of October November and December for the defence of those parts In the same year 21 August he was again made Justice of Ireland and Governor of that Countrey So also in 3 Edw. 3. and had that year for his many good services a Grant from the King of the Mannor of Werke in Tindale In 4 Edw. 3. he was sent by the King into Aquitane and the same year obtained a Charter for a Market every week upon the Saturday as also a Fair yearly on the Eve and Day of S. Barnabas the Apostle and four days following at his Mannor of Knaith in Com. Linc. And Free-Warren in all his Demesn Lands at Kestsby and Upton in the same County In 7 Edw. 3. being still Justice of Ireland he marched with a great Army into Ulster to revenge the death of William Earl of Ulster then killed by his own men But before he got thither the people of the Countrey having vindicated that muther he transported himself and his Army into Scotland and joyned his Forces to the Kings who was then there in person leaving Thomas Burk his Lieutenant in Ireland This being the time that the King was victorious there and advanced Edward Balioll to the Crown of that Realm And in 9 Edw. 3. being still Justice of Ireland he again sailed into Scotland with six and fifty Ships the cheif of the Irish Nobles accompanying him and having wasted the Isles of Aran and Bote returned For which memorable services King Edward the Third granted to him and to Ioane then his Wife and to the Heirs-male of their two Bodies lawfully begotten the Mannors of Rathwer and Kildalk lying in that Realm In 11 Edw. 3. being then Steward of the Kings Houshold he was sent Ambassador together with William de Bohun Earl of Northampton and Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolk into Scotland to treat of Peace with David de Brus who then assumed the title of King there The same year he was also sent Ambassador into France with those Earls to treat with Philip King of France or his Commissioners touching the Right of King Edward to the Crown of that Realm And having been made Constable of the Tower of London before he began his journey into France upon his return had a special Assignation of such Wages as had been allowed for his support in both those services And moreover obtained the Kings Grant to himself and the heirs-male of his Body of the Mannors of Temple Newsome and Temple Hirst in Com. Ebor. As also of the Mannor of Torksey in Com. Linc. But for default of such issue to revert to the Crown In 12 Edw. ◠he was in in that expedition then made into Flanders In 14 Edw. 3. he was constituted Justice of Ireland for life And in 15 Edw. 3. though the King made a Revocation of his Grants of all Lands in Ireland yet in consideration of the good services of this Iohn then called Iohn d'Arci the elder by constant attendance on his person and employments commanded restitution of all such as had been granted to him In which year he was in that expedition then made into Scotland In 16 Edw. 3. continuing Steward of the Kings Houshold he was sent into Brittany together with the Earl of Northampton and other English Nobles where having besieged a certain Town and Castle taking notice of the French coming towards them with a great Army they retreated and entrenching themselves near unto a Wood made divers deep Ditches for their better defence By which means the Enemies Horse assailing them were utterly routed In 18 Edw. 3. being called Iohn d'Arci le Piere and made Constable of Nottingham Castle for life he obtained a Charter for Free-Warren in his Lordships of Temple Newsome and Temple Hyrst in Com. Ebor. Torksey in Com. Linc. Ekington in Com. Derb. and Kirkby in Ashfield in Com. Nott. And in 19 Edw. 3. another Charter for two Markets every week at Torksey viz. One on the Monday and the other on the Wednesday with a Fair yearly to begin on the Eve of the Translation of S. Thomas the Martyr and to continue for that day and six days following in which year he was in that expedition made into France So likewise in 20 Edw. 3. at which time the famous Battle of Cressy was fought In this year also being Constable of the Tower of London for life he had in consideration of his laudable services for many years as also for a thousand marks in Money then given to the King a Grant of the Marriage of Iames the Son and Heir to Iames le Botiller In 21 Edw. 3. he was again in France and had Summons to Parliament from 28 Edw. 1. unto the 16 Edw. 3. inclusive This Iohn had two Wives first Emeline the Daughter and Heir to Walter Heron and afterwards Ioane Daughter to Richard Burgh Earl of Ulster Widow of Thomas Earl of Kildare whom he married 3 Iuly An. 1329. 3 Ed. 3. at Maynoth in Ireland By which first Wife he had issue Iohn Eleanor and Roger and by the second William born in Ireland in An. 1330. 4 Edw. 3. He departed this life upon the thirtieth of May 21 Edw. 3. leaving
for so long time as they might send over into England to know whether the King would defend that Realm or not And if not then they would submit all unto him Whereupon assenting to a Conference with them in a certain Meadow appointed for that purpose Geffrey de Marisco hearing thereof seemed much to blame him for it and upbraided him with Cowardise Also at the same time no less than Lxxx of his Souldiers who were corrupted by the Enemy told him That in case he did resolve to fight they would all of them forsake him On the next morning therefore being come to that Meadow in order to the Treaty having no more than xv of his own Men who were faithful Maurice Fitz-Gerald and the rest of his Party with Cxl stout Men well Armed there met him and in the first place demanded the Truce before-mentioned telling him plainly That in case he would not yield thereto he must adventure Battel with them Being therefore thus put to it and urg'd by Geffrey de Marisco and some other treacherous Persons then present to refuse what was thus desired each Side prepared for Fight Which when Geffrey saw he then told him That he would advise him to grant their Desires for quoth he my Wife is Sister to Hugh de Lacy and therefore I cannot take your part against him Whereupon the Earl told him he then saw that he was betray'd saying That he would rather die with Honour than quit the Field And looking back upon his Brother Walter commanded some of his Servants to take him to his Castle near at hand that he might not perish with him whereby his whole Generation should be extinct And having put his Men in Order exhorted them to go on with Courage for the sake of Justice and the English Laws himself boldly charging into the midst of his Enemies But some of those in whom he most trusted perfidiously forsaking him and others delivering themselves Prisoners to the adverse Party he was almost left alone Nevertheless though opprest with Numbers on every side he slew many but at length his Horse being kill'd under him he was stabb'd into the back and carried Prisoner to his own Castle This hapned on Saturday the first of April And being thus wounded his Adversaries required from him the delivery up of his Castles and Lands in that Realm shewing him the King 's Grant of them which when he saw he grew so much afflicted that he minded not the healing of his Wounds Falling therefore into a high Fever by reason of the anguish of them holding up the Cross most devoutly in his Hands he departed this Life upon the xvi th Calends of May and according to his desire had Sepulture in the Oratorie of the Friers-Minors at Kilkenny Militiae flos temporum modernorum The Flower of Chivalry in that time saith Math. Paris where he had a noble Monument afterwards erected to his Memory But it with the Tombs of xviii Knights who came over at the Conquest of Ireland being in that Monastery of the Friers-Minors at Kilkenny were defaced at the general Suppression the Inhabitants turning them to their private Uses whereof some they made Swine-troughs But soon after this the King seeing his Error outed those Aliens from his Court and Council and receiving to Favour all those Noblemen who had been Adherents to this last-mentioned Earl restored to Gilbert Mareschall his Brother his whole Inheritance though he had taken part with him in that Insurrection giving command to the Sheriffs of Wiltes Devon Buck. Berks. Warr. Suthampt. Oxon. Ebor. Essex Northampt. Dorset Glouc. Bedf. Heref. Suss. and Cantabr for Livery thereof accordingly It is said by some That when the King heard of the death of this Earl Richard he caused much distribution of Alms to be made unto poor People for his Soul and commanded That his two Brothers Gilbert and Auselme with Hubert de Burgh and all others then Imprisoned should be brought to his Court. Also That they coming accordingly bare-footed bare-headed and Arms bare to their Elbows to crave his Mercy he wept bitterly being scarce able to stand on his Legs for sorrow so that he was supported by the Earl of Hereford and G. de Crawcumbe Moreover That he kissed them and caused Restitution to be made of all their Lands By others it is said That this Gilbert upon the Death of his Brother Earl Richard in Anno 1234. 18 H. 3. repaired to the King and desired Livery of his Lands offering his Homage and what else he otherwise ought to perform And that the King at the Intercession of the Archbishop of Canterbury receiving his Homage made Restitution thereof accordingly to him As also That at Whitsontide following he girt him with the Sword of Knighthood and delivered unto him the Rod of the Marshalsie of his Court according to custom in as ample a manner as his Ancestors had held it Being therefore thus receiv'd into Favour and restored to the Lands of his Inheritance both in England Wales and Ireland in manifestation of his future intended Fidelity he delivered his Castle of Strigul into the Hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Castle of Dumas in Ireland to the Archbishop of Dublin But the King had so great an Affiance in his Loyalty that he gave them back to him again expecting that this great Instance of his Favour should thenceforth oblige him to a perfect Amity with the rest of the Nobles both of England and Ireland betwixt whom and him there had been formerly very high Animosities Soon after which viz. in 19 H. 3. he obtain'd a Grant of all the Lands of Gilbert de Aquila with the Advowsons of the Churches as also of the Castle of Pevense with the Wards and Services thereto belonging to hold by the Service of two Knights Fees until the same should be restored unto the Right Heirs thereof either upon Peaceable Terms or by Favour He likewise obtain'd at the same time a Grant of the Towns and Castles of Caermerdin and Cardigan to hold to himself and his Heirs by the Service of one Knights Fee as also of the Custody of the Honour of Glamorgan and the Castles thereto belonging during the Minority of the Son and Heir of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester and Hertford The next year following he got by Treachery the Castle called Marchen belonging to Morgan ap Howell and Fortified it notably for fear of the Prince of Wales And the same year took the Cross with the Earl of Cornwall in order to a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land After which he came with an Army and Fortified the Castle of Averteivi But in Anno 1238. 22 H. 3. he was one of those
Anno 1322. 16 E. 2. In 1 E. 3. he was in another Expedition into Scotland and of the Retinue to Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Uncle In 5 E. 3. he had the Castle of Bergavenny committed to his Trust upon the death of Iohn de Hastings Lord thereof In 9 E. 3. there were certain Covenants sealed upon Munday next after the Feast of the Holy Trinity betwixt this Roger and Sir William de Montagâ— afterwards Earl of Salisbury That Iohn his Son and Heir apparent should marry Anne the Daughter of the said William before Whitâ—ontide then next ensuing and that he the said Roger should settle upon them Lands of C l. per annum value upon the receipt of a thousand Marks Sterling for her Portion In 17 E. 3. this Roger was charg'd to provide twenty Men at Arms and twenty Archers for the King's Service in France And in 26 E. 3. was constituted a Commissioner amongst others to Arm and Array all the Knights Esquires and other able Persons residing in the Counties of Bedf. and Buck. and to lead them against the King's Enemies an Invasion being then threatned from the French This Roger Wedded Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn Lord Hastings of Bergavenny and of Isabel his Wife one of the Daughters and Coheirs to William Valence Earl of Pembroke by means whereof his Posterity became Heirs to the last Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke as I have more fully shewed where I speak of that Noble Family And departed this Life upon the sixth day of March 27 E. 3. being then seised of the Mannor of Hemingford Grey in Com. Hunt Ashby Canons in Com. Northampt. Leghe Podyngtone Wraste and Brockeburgh in Com. Bedf. Snellestone Sewenestone the moytie of the Mannor of Waltone the Mannor of West Blechele Stoke and Great Brickhill in Com. Buck. the Castle of Ruthyn the Cantred of Deffren-cloyt and all the Lands which did formerly belong to Wentblyan de Lascy in the Cantred of Englefeild in the Marches of Wales leaving Reginald his Son and Hâ—ir twenty six years of age But before I proceed with my Discourse of this Reginald I am to take notice That Iohn his elder Brother was an active Man whilst he lived being joyn'd in Commission in 17 E. 3. with Henry Earl of Lancaster and divers other Great Men to go to Rome as Embassadors from King Edward with full Power to Treat in the presence of the Pope with Philip de Valoys or his Embassadors and amicably to conclude of Peace betwixt the King and him Likewise That in 20 E. 3. he was in the Wars of France And that for these and other his faithful Services in 22 E. 3. he obtain'd the Custody of the Lands of Sir Iohn Wake Knight deceased then in the King's hands by reason of the Minority of his Heir But this Iohn dying in his Father's Life-time Reginald his Brother came to Inherit as hath been already observed and had Livery of his Lands in 27 E. 3. then doing his Homage Which Reginald in 26 E. 3. was a Commissioner with his Father and others for arraying and arming the Knights Esquires and other able Men of Bedford and Buckinghamshires for the defence of the Realm against an Invasion then threatned by the French And in 29 E. 3. in that Expedition then made into Britanny of the Retinue with Henry Duke of Lancaster In 33 E. 3. he was again in the Wars of France So also in 34 and 43 E. 3. And from 27 E. 3. until 11 R. 2. inclusive had Summons to all the Parliaments of both those Kings He died upon the Tuesday next before the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula in 12 R. 2. seised of the Mannors of Hemyngford in Com. Hunt Canons-Ashby in Com. Northampt. Brickhill magna Stoke Hamund West-Blecheley the fourth part of the Mannor of Woketon the Mannors of Bragenham and Seveneston with the moytie of the Mannor of Walton in Com. Buck. of the Mannors of Harewolde Podington Leyghe Brockboroughe Northwode Wraste and Flyte in Com. Bedf. and of the Castle of Ruthyn with the Cantreds of Deffren-cloyt and Englefeld in the Marches of Wales leaving Reginald his Son and Heir xxvi years of age Which Reginald doing his Homage had the same year Livery of his Lands and the next year following upon the death of Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke was found to be his next Heir viz. Son of Reginald Son of Elizabeth Daughter of Iohn de Hastings and Isabell his Wife one of the Sisters and Heirs to Adomare de Valence at that time xxviii years of age And in 18 R. 2. was in Ireland upon the King's Service So also in 22 R. 2. then attending the King in Person thither and was then left there for the safeguard of that Country Betwixt this Reginald by reason of his large Possessions in Wales and Owen Glendowr there grew no little difference touching a Common lying between the Lordship of Ruthyn whereof Reginald was Owner and the Lordship of Glendowrdwy whereof Owen was Owner and had his Sirname Which Owen was an Esquire to the Earl of Arundell and during the Reign of King Richard the Second did over-power this Reginald being also a Servant in Court to the King with whom he was at the time of his being taken by Henry Duke of Lancaster afterwards King by the Name of Henry the Fourth in the Castle of Flynt But after King Richard's Deposal this Reginald as better Friended than Owen entred upon the Common which occasion'd Owen in 1 H. 4. to make his Complaint in Parliament against him for thus devesting him of his Right therein but had no redress Whereupon the Bishop of St. Asaph wish'd the Lords to take heed that by thus slighting his Complaint they did not irritate the Welch to an Insurrection To which it was answered by some That they did not at all fear those rascally bare-footed People Owen therefore seeing no other Remedy having many Friends and Followers put himself in Arms against Reginald and meeting him in the Field overcame and took him Prisoner spoiling his Lordship of Ruthyn so that many resorted to him from all Parts of Wales not knowing but that he was in as great Favour then as in King Richard's days Others putting in his Head that now the time was come that the Britons by his means might again recover the Honour and Liberties of their Ancestors Reginald therefore being thus kept Prisoner and strictly handled by Owen to terrifie him into a Compliance with him in his Rebellious Actings and not permitted to have his Liberty unless he would give Ten thousand Marks for his Ransom whereof Six thousand to be paid upon the Feast-day of St. Martin in 4 H. 4. and to give up
pretence of going against their Enemies the Welsh but really fearing that the King and his Brothers who were Poictovins would bring in strangers against them Moreover they caused Guards to be set upon all the Port-Towns pretending great danger from Aliens which might invade the Realm But being thus met and discerning their strenght they then boldly required the Kings Confirmation of that Charter of Liberties which had been granted by King Iohn and which he had frequently before that time allowed They likewise required such a Justice of England as might do equal right as they expressed to rich and poor To all which the King being well aware of their power assented though Iohn Earl Warren William de Valence and many others refused Having thus gotten head they caused the Sea-Ports to be more strictly kept as also the Gates of London to be shut up every night And continuing the sitting of that Parliament in the House of the Dominican Fryâ—rs at Oxford they there established certain Ordinances as they called them and concluded that those who were Aliens should have nothing to do in matter of Rule or Council Whereupon most of the places of strength being put into the hands of those Barons William de Valence refusing to deliver up his this Earl told him plainly that he should either give them up or lose his head Before the end of this year viz. An. 1258. 42 Hen. 3. there being a Parliament to be held at Cambray to treat of certain Matters betwixt the Kings of England France and Almaine this Earl Simon was with the Bishops of Worcester and Lincoln and Roger Bigod Marshal of England sent thither And the next ensuing year scil An. 1259. 43 Hen. 3. he was imployed with the Earl of Ciare and others by the advice of the Parliament then sitting to the Great Convention of the Estates of France met in Parliament there to treat of the most important affairs of both Realms Moreover in An. 1260. 44 Hen. 3. he came to Oxford with other the Barons of that party fully armed So likewise did William de Valence and the rest of the Poictovins who being then required to submit to those Ordinances called the Provisions of Oxford formerly framed by this Earl and his party and not strong enough to make head against them fled away by night But shortly after this the King having obtained from the Pope an Absolution from his Oath as to the observance of those Ordinances this Earl and his party foreseeing the consequence thereof put themselves forthwith in Arms and came to Winchester he being at that time their cheif Commander Notwithstanding which there then hapned no act of Hostility nor until the forty seventh of Henry the Third that having made choice of the King of France as a Judge of their differences he gave Sentence against them annulling those their Ordinances so made at Oxford as abovesaid But then they raised new Forces and in An. 1264. 48 Hen. 3. plundred all of the Kings party who were within their power especially those Aliens who had been brought into England by the Queen at which time this Earl laid siege to Glocester and took it in four days and so advancing to Worcester Bruges and Shrewsbury took them with little trouble and thence marching Southwards brought all those Countreys to their obedience Furthermore confederating with Leweline Prince of Wales he had the Castle of Windeshore delivered up into his hands But soon after that hapned the defeat at Northampton where the Kings Soldiers took divers of the Barons party prisoners The War being thus begun whereof this Earl was the cheif Ringleader to the end they might the more easily captivate the people the Earl of Clare joyning with him they sent Letters to the King professing their loyalty to him and that they did thus put themselves in Arms as well against his Enemies as their own Unto which the King returned that their intentions were soul though thus disguised with those specious pretences and therefore he set them at defiance in being then the twelfth of May and he at Lewes in Sussex Whereupon this Earl forthwith marched thitherward with all the power he could make the Londouers coming in to him with great numbers but sent Messengers before him for a peaceable accommodation with condition that the Ordinances of Oxford should punctually be observed To which receiving no satisfactory answer approaching near Lewes he quartered the greatest part of his Army in a Town called Fleruenge about six miles distant and preparing for Battle girt Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester his principal associate with the Sword of Knighthood And when he came within two miles of Lewes ascending the Hill he placed his Chariot in the midst of the Carriages with a strong guard about it and advanced his Standard thereon and having brought with him four Citizens of London who had conspired to betray him when he lodged in Southwark not long before he there set a guard upon them resolving in case of ill success to make his best advantage by them Then putting his Army into Battle Array he caused White Crosses to be fixed on the Brest and Back of every Soldier to the end they might be distinguished from those of the Kings party publickly professing that he fought for Justice The King therefore discerning this their preparation drew out his Army and divided it into three parts the Van to be led by Prince Edward the Battle by Richard King of Almaâ—ne and the Rear by Himself This Earl disposing of his Army into four parts the first commanded by his Son Henry and the Earl of Hereford the second by Gilbert de Clare the third wherein the Loâ—doners were by Nicholas de Segrave and the fourth by himself Upon the Alarm given Prince Edward fiercely charged the Loâ—doners and routing them utterly pursued the Chase many miles presuming that the other part of the Kings Army had succeeded as well But not returning timely the Barons prevailed so that after great slaughter the King himself his Horse being killed under him Iohn Earl Warren William de Valence and Guy de Liziniaâ— as also Richard King of Almaine with many other brave Men were taken prisoners Hereupon when the Prince returned and saw their unhappy condition he went to the Castle to inquire for the King his Father and thence to the Priory where he found him a prisoner And hearing that the Barons had in vain assaulted the Castle resolved by the help of those he had left therein and his own scattered men to adventure another encounter on the mâ—rrow
to the three Sons of the same Duke viz. Anne to Philip Earl of Arundel Mary to Thomas Lord Howard of Walden afterwards Earl of Suffolk and Elizabeth to the Lord William Howard a younger son to Thomas Duke of Norfolk amongst whom that great Inheritance was shared Which gave such discontent to Leonard Dacres the next heir-male of this Family viz. second son to the last mention'd William Lord Dacres that seeing he could not by course of Law make out any good Title thereto he privily confederated with the Earles of Northumberland and Westmorland then ready to break out into open Rebellion using his endeavour to rescue the Queen of Scots at that time in the custody of George Earl of Shrewsbury But when he unexpectedly heard that those Earles then in Armes were Proclaimed enemies to their Country being at Court he came to the Queen and offering to use all his power to suppress them was forthwith sent into the North for that purpose Nevertheless as it was afterwards found he held intelligence with them by secret Messengers in his journey with promise of Assistance from the Embassadors of some Forrein Princes And having in the Queeens name raised a power of Soldiers did design to murther the Bishop of Carlisle and the Lord Scrope then Warden of the West-Marches Which when he saw he could not effect he possest himself of the Castles of Greistoke and 〈◊〉 with other Houses of Dacres inheritance and fortified them in his own right having got together no less than three thousand of the Border-Robbers to his aide with many others who were Friends to his Family But finding himself too weak for those Forces which were coming towards him he fled into Scotland and in a short time after was attainted in Parliament with those two great Earles with whom he had thus conspired De la Warde 28 Edw. 1. IN 31 Edw. 1. Robert de la Ward was in the Wars of Scotland So likewise in 34 E. 1. being then Steward of the King's Houshold And had summons to Parliament amongst the Barons from 28 until 34 Edw. 1. inclusive To whom succeeded Simon Who in 15 E. 2. being Governonr of York upon that Insurrection of Thomas Earl of Lancaster brought considerable Forces to Burrough-brigg in ayde of the King's Party who pursued him and his adherents thither out of Staffordshire At which place after a sharp Skirmish some were slain and the Earl himself taken prisoner whence being carried to Pontfract he there lost his head In 19 Edw. 2. he was made Governor of Pontfract-Castle and had Summons to Parliament from 18 E. 2. till 8 Edw. 3. but not afterwards nor any of his posterity Rythre 28 Edw. 1. IN 25 Edw. 1. William de Rythre was in that Expedition then made into Gascoine and in 26 Edw. 1. in the Scotish-Wars So likewise in 29 31 and 32 Edw. 1. And summon'd to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm from 28 Edw. 1. till 1 Edw. 2. To whom succeeded Iohn de Rythre Governor of Skypton-Castle in 11 Edw. 2. Which Iohn in 17 Edw. 2. obtain'd a Charter for Free-warren in all his Demesn-lands at Haselwode and Adington in Com. Ebor. but never had summons to Parliament nor any of his Descendents Grendon 28 Edw. 1. OF this Family taking its appellation from a fair Lordship of that name in Warwickshire where they had anciently their chief residence and whereof there were several Knights before was Sir Rapâ—e de Grendon Knight who in 26 Edw. 1. receiv'd Command to be at Carlisle amongst divers other great men of that time upon Whitson-Eve well fitted with Horse and Armes to March against the Scots And in 29 Ed. 1. the like command to attend the King at Barwick upon Twede thence to advance into Scotland This Sir Raphe had Summons to Parliament in 28 32 and 33 Edw. 1. but never afterwards and departed this life in 5 Edw. 3. leaving Robert his son and heir and a daughter call'd Ioane Marryed to Iohn Rochford Which Robert being a Man of weak understanding Sir Roger and Sir Philip de Chetwind Knights with Iohn de Freford who had Marryed his Aunts alledging that A. de Clinton second Wife to old Sir Raph de Grendon Grandfather to this Robert and Mother to those three daughters had a joynt Estate with that her Husband in all his Lands thereupon challeng'd the whole Inheritance of them she being dead from this Robert in right of their Wives by virtue of an Entail made in 27 Ed. 1. and accordingly entred upon them Whereupon discerning that he was like to be overborn by the subtilty of his Adversaries he resorted to Henry Duke of Lancaster for refuge yielding unto him the whole Mannor of Shenston near Lichfeild in Com. Staff to hold for term of his life or the longer liver of them conditionally that he would protect him in the possession of Grendon and certain Lands in other places Whereupon Sir Roger de Chetwynd and Ioane his Wife Iohn de Freford and Margaret his Wife as also Alice the Widow of Sir Philip Chetwynd quitted their interest in the same But afterwards about the 22th of Edw. 〈◊〉 this Robert dying without issue the Inheritance of these Lands descended to his Nephew Sir Raphe Rochford Knight Son of Ioane so Marryed to Iohn Rochford as hath been observed Whereupon Sir Raphe Rochford entail'd them upon the issue of his own body by Ioane his Wife daughter of Sir Hugh Meinill Knight with Remainder to his three Sisters successively and then to Sir Richard Stafford Knight and his heires According to which Settlement the Possession continued for divers yeares until Sir Raphe Rochford's death that Ioane his VVife Marrying again to Hugh de Asheby made an accord with Sir William Chetwynd Knight son and heir to Sir Philip. VVhich Sir William having in 39 Edw. 3. compounded with Isabell the Widow of Iohn de Rochford for her Dower formerly granted to Sir Raphe Rochford her Son in Law became totally possess'd thereof From which Sir William Chetwynd Walter Chetwynd Esquire now owner of that Lordship of Grendon is lincally descended Morle 28 Edw. 1. IN 25 Edw. 1. William de Morle was in that Expedition then made into Scotland So likewise in 26 Edw. 1. And had summons to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm from 28 Edw. 1. to 34 Edw. 1. inclusive To this William succeeded Robert de Morle who having Marryed Hawise the daughter of William de Mareschall 〈◊〉 and heir to Iohn le Mareschall of Hengham in Com. Norff. had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance in 10 Edw. 2. VVhich Hawyse held the Office of Marshall of Ireland by descent In 1 Edw. 3.
Friends House where sitting at Supper he was seised on by the Country people and first carried to Chemelsford and thence to the Gate-House at Plessy there to be secured till they could convey him to a stronger place Of which the common sort having intelligence they came thither in great numbers and upon St. Maurice day about Sun-set brought him out and cut off his Head in that very place where the Duke of Gloucester had been taken away by King Richard At which time much bewailing himself he acknowledged how he had offended God and the King by being in that Conspirary with his Brother the Earl of Kent and the rest so Beheaded by the Inhabitants of Cirencester as I have elsewhere observed and that he did not advertise him thereof Some say that he was taken by the Countrey people in a Mill near Prittlewell in Com. Essex and in a very mean Habit and thence carried to Pleshy After which in the Parliament held the same year he was adjudged to loose his Honor with all his Castles Lands and other possessions But at the instance of Elizabeth his Wife the King sent his Precept to the Warden of the Church of Pleshy bearing date 20 Feb. to deliver his Head to such person as she should send for it to be Buryed with his Body and likewise commanded that he should have two Beds of Silk and one Coverlet furred with Minever with the whole Furniture belonging thereto as also a thousand Marks per annum to be paid out of the Petty-Customs in the Port of London for her present maintenance Being thus cut off the next following year in the Parliament held at UUestminster on the Octaves of St. Hillary he was attainted of Treason by the name of Iohn Holand late Earl of Huntingdon and all his Lands whereof he stood possessed 5 Ian. 1 H. 4. confiscated to the King By Elizabeth his Wife Daughter to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as hath been observed and Sister to the then King Henry the Fourth he had Issue Richard who died 3 Dec. 4. H. 5. un-married being then seised of the Mannor of Fildberdscort in East Hamney in Com. Berks. Body-Tracy North Lien Holdesmorth Langacre Barnstaple Combe-Martyâ— Fremington with the Hundred South Molton with the Hundred Deâ—tinton Blackbornboth and UUinkelee in Com. Dâ—von Of the Castle of Tremeton with the Mannors of Calstok Assheburghe and Tackbere in Com. Cornub. as also of the Mannors of Blakedon Ludford Staunden Haselbeare with the Hundreds of Stane and Caresshuh in Com. Somers leaving Iohn his Son and Heir as also Sir Edward Holand Knight and Constance a Daughter first Married to Thomas Moubray Duke of Norfolke and afterwards to Iohn Lord Grey of Ruthyn Which Iohn being the same year restored in blood as Heir to Iohn his Father and to the said Richard his Brother was constituted General of all those Men at Arms and Archers at that time imployed in the Kings Fleet at Sea against his Enemies being then reteyned to serve with three Bannerets nine Knights three hundred thirty seven Men at Arms and seven hundred Archers for the fourth part of that year And soon after that was again reteyned to serve the King in his Voyage Royal into France for one whole year with forty Men at Arms himself accounted and an hundred Archers whereof the third part to be footmen and to take Shipping at Southampton upon the first of May. In 5 H. 5. he was made General at Sea and assisted the King at his Siege of Caen in Normandy But made not proof of his age till 6 H. 5. at which time by the Witnesses then Sworn it was testified that the Abbot of Tavestoke in Com. Devon being one of his Godfathers immediately after his Baptisme gave him a Cup of Gold with a Circle about it framed after the fashion of a Lilley and ten pounds in Gold therein and to the Nurse twenty shillings Also that the Prior of Plimton was the other Godfather and gave him twenty pounds in Gold And that Ioane the Wife of Sir Iohn Pâ—meraie Knight carryed him to the Church to be Christened the same Sir Iohn her Husband and Sir Iohn Dynham Kt. conducting her by the Arms. Likewise that twenty four Men did proceed before them with twenty four Torches which Torches so soon as he was Baptized by that Name were kindled Soon after which the same year he was sent to view certain defensible places in those parts which in a short time he manfully reduced to the Kings obedience And being at the Siege of Roan lay before the Gate of the Castle called Beauvice After that viz. the next ensuing year upon the taking of Pontoise by the Capitan de la Bouche he intercepted those of that Garrison who endeavored to get to Paris and was in that great Fight against the French who came to raise the Siege of Freney made by the Earl of Salisâ—ury in which were slain near five thousand and six hundred taken Prisoners In 7 H. 5. being Governor of Pontoise he had special Commission to subdue all the Castles and strong holds in Normandy which held out against the King And in 8 H. 5. being with the King at the Siege of Melon which lasted fourteen weeks and four days upon its render was constituted Governor thereof and by reason of his other especial services made Constable of the Tower of London But in 9 H. 5. passing with Thomas Duke of â—larence Brother to the King over a Marish not far from the Castle of Beaufort where by disorder they fell into the Enemies hands he had the fate to be taken Prisoner and the Duke himself with many others slain After which scil in 1 H. 6. and 2 H. 6. he continued in those parts And in 4 H. 6. upon the death of Elizabeth his Mother who took to her second Husband Sir Iohn Cornwall Kt. and departed this life on the Eve of St. Katherine 4 H. 6. being then twenty eight years of age doing his Homage he had Livery of the Lands whereof she died seised and in 6 H. 6. in consideration of the ransome which he paid for his Redemption from Imprisonment and for his other good services obtained a Grant of one hundred twenty three pounds six shillings and eight pence per annum to be received out of the Exchequer In 8 H. 6. he Married Anne the Widdow of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March Daughter of Edmund Earl Stafford And being the same year retained to serve the King with three Knights threescore and sixteen Men at Arms and two hundred and forty Archers went thereupon into France taking shipping with the King at Dovor and landing at Calais whereupon he was sent by the
Isabell his Wife nine Knights Feesâ— an half and fourth part in Kyngesdone Tonge Hamme Pysinge Botreshangre Merstone and Bykenore and to the Heirs of their two Bodies and in 33 E. 3. was in the Wars of France Moreover in 36 E. 3. upon the death of Margaret de St. Iohn Mother to Isabell his Wife he had an assignation of the Mannors of Basing and Shireburne as also of the Advouson of the Priory of Shireburne and Chapel of Basing with the Bayliwick of the Forest of Pambere which she the said Margaret held in Dower And in 43 E. 3. was again in the Wars of France Of his death I have not seen any thing but that he had Summons to Parliament from 42 E. 3. till 9 R. 2. inclusive Likewise that Isabell his wife surviving him died on Saturday 16 Oct. 17 R. 2. being then seised of the Mannor of Shirebune and Advouson of the Priory there also of the Mannors of Basing Bromiegh UUarneford Abboteston and Lhudeshuâ—e in Com. Southampt and of the Mannors of Bernham Middelton and Wodecote in Com. Suss. leaving Sir Thomas de Poynings Knight her son and heir Thirty six years of age Which Sir Thomas soon after doing his Homage had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance And in 2 H. 4. by the Title of Thomas Lord St. Iohn obtained License to go on Pilgrimage to Hierusalem having nine persons of his retinue viz. four Esquires four Ycomen one Groom with twelve Horses and their Furniture and to be absent for three years This Thomas in 1 H. 6. was with the Earl of Salisbury at the siege of Pont-Meulan And in 2 H. 6. associated with Robert de Wilughby to conduct and command Four hundred Men at Armes and Twelve hundred Archers into France for the King's service unto Iohn Duke of Bedford then Regent there And by his Testament bearing date at his said Mannor of Halâ—â—aked upon the Eve of St. Thomas the Apostle An. 1428. 7 H. 6. bequeath'd his body to be buried within the Quire of the Priory of Borgrade in Susser on the North-part of the Tombe of the Lady Philippa sometime Countess of Arundel and Pembroke his wife daughter to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March appointing that a Marble stone should be laid over his Grave and twelve Torches price six shillings eight pence to burn at the Mass upon his Funeral day and after Mass ended at his Burial Likewise that five Tapers weighing Forty pound of Wax should burn about his Body at his said Funeral and twelve poor people bearing the before-specified Torches each of them to have a Gown of black cloth and twelve pence in money To Isabell his daughter he bequeathed one dozen of silver Vessels garnished and constituted Maud his wife with Sir Iohn de Bohun Kâ—â—ght his Executors After which upon the seventh of March he departed this life being then seised of the Mannors of Basing Bromley Warneford Ludshuttr Likewise of the Advouson of the Priorie of Shâ—reburne and Bayliwick of the Forest of Pambere with the Mannors of Abboteston and Chaunton in Com. Southampt leaving Constance the wife of Iohn Paulet Alice the wise of Iohn Orrell and Iohn Bonevile his Cosins and next heirs viz. the said Constance and Alice the daughters of Hugh his son who died in his life-time and Iohn Bonevile son of Ioane the third daughter the said Constance being at that time Twenty years of age Alice Nineteen and Iohn Bonevile Sixteen Which Iohn and Constance with Iohn Orrel and Alice his wife and Thomas Bonevile Esquire Guardian of Iohn Bonevile son of the before-specified Iohn then under age doing their Homage had Livery of the Lands of their Inheritance Maud the Widow of the before-specified Thomas Poynings Lord St. Iohn having also an Assignation of her Dower Which Maud died in 31 H. 6. Bradestan 16 Edw. 3. THe first and chief person of this Family of whom I have seen any thing much memorable is Thomas de Bradestan of Bradestan within the Parish of Berkley in Com. Gloc. the antient seat of his Predecessors all of them Homagers to the Castle of Berkley for their Mannors of Bradestan and Stinchcombe holden by Knight's service This Thomas in 10 E. 2. was in the Scotish wars So likewise in 13 E. 2. But in 15 â— 2. adhering to Thomas Lord Berkley against the two Spensers those great Mynious to that King his Lands were seised Howbeit the next ensuing year in consideration of One hundred Marks Fine and giving Oath for his future good abearing he obtain'd his pardon the Judgment against him and the rest of those who flood up at that time being annull'd in Parliament After which in 19 E. 2. he obtain'd a Grant of the custody of Kingswood-Chase near Bristoll with other advantages And being a person in whom that unhappy King reposed much confidence the next year following received a special Commission to raise so many men at Armes with Archers and other Soldiers as he could get together for the defence and safe custody of Berkley-Castle as also to conduct them if need should be to March against those his Enemies and Strangers who had at that time entred the Realme And by another Commission dated 15 Octob. was made Governor of that Castle But so it hapned that at the very same time when these Commissions were coming towards him at Bradestan about two Miles from Berkley the Scene so changed that the King was almost totally forsaken so that those Soldiers thus raised by him serv'd in part to defend that Castle on the behalf of the Lord Berkley and the rest to go along with this Thomas to pursue the King In recompence therefore of this service upon the Deposal of King Edward the Second which soon after ensued and advancing young Edward his son to the Royal Throne he was made one of the Gentlemen of the King's Privy-Chamber Moreover through the favour of Queen Isabell he obtained a Grant of no less than three considerable Wardships And in 4 E. 3. was honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Bathing c. having Robes and all other things appertaining to that Solemnity allow'd him out of the King's Wardrobe as for a Banneret Being therefore thus acceptable to that King and diligently attending on his Person in 5 E. 3. he was constituted Provost of that part of Aquitame which lieth betwixt the two Seas And the same year obtain'd the King's Confirmation of that Grant which Queen Isabell had made to him the preceding year of the Castle Berton and Tyne of Glocester for terme of his life paying One hundred and ten pounds yearly to the Exchequer In 7 E 3. being in that Expedition then made into Scotland in consideration of his good services he had by the consent of the Lords in Parliament a Grant
the Gallies in that Fight with the French near Conquet in Britanny And in 15 H. 8. in that Expedition into France then made by Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk with design to make War with the French Also in 17 H. 8. constituted Justice of South Wales being then Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter In 36 H. 8. he was with King Henry at his taking of Boâ—ome And in 4 E. 6 2 Febr. advanced to the dignity of Viscount Hereford and to the heirs male of his body This Walter had two Wives first Mary daughter of Thomas Marquess Dorieâ— secondly Margaret daughter of Robert Garnish of Kenton in Com. Suff. Esquire afterwards married to William Lord Wilioughby of Parham By the first of them he had issue two sons and one daughter viz. Sir Richard Devereux Knight who married Dorâ—thy daughter to George Earl of Huntington and dying in his life time was buried in the Chapel of our Lady at Berkyng near the Tower of London Secondly Sir William Devereâ—x Knight Which Sir William married Iane daughter to Iohn Scudamâ—re of Home Lacy in Com. Heref Esquire and by her had issue two daughters his heirs viz. Barbara first married to Edward Cave Esquire afterwards to Sir Edward Hastings Knight a younger son of Francis Earl of Huntingdon Secondly Margaret the Wife of Sir Edward Littleton of Pillaton in Com. Staff Knight His daughters name was Catherine wedded to Sir Iames Baskervile Knight By Margaret the second wife this Vicount Hereford had issue one only son viz. Sir Edward Devereux of Castle Bromwich in Com. War Baronet of whose posterity I shall speak by and by And by his Testament bearing date 3 Aug. An. 1558. 5 6 Ph. M. bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Parish-Church of Stow near Chartley in Com. Staff and dying shortly after was there interred under a fair Monument erected in his life-time To whom succeeded Walter his Grandchild and heir viz. son of Richard Devereux Knight who died in his life time Which Walter upon that Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland in 12 Eliz. was Field-Marshal of those Forces then sent against them And by reason of his descent from Cecilie the sister and heir to Henry Bourchier Earl of Essex being created Earl of Essex 4 Maii 14 Eliz. was one of the Peers upon the Trial of the Duke of Norffolk in An. 1572. 15 Eliz. And the same year upon that Insurrection of Brian Mac-Phelimon commonly called The great Oneale who had possess'd himself of a large proportion of the Country of Clandeboi in Ireland was by the advice of those who desired his absence here under colour of doing him honor imployed thither to the end that he might be exposed to danger Whereupon being a person of an active disposition and affecting Military imployments he undertook the service little suspecting what those who had a mind to have him gone did aime at and therefore moved That in case he should prevaile against those Rebels he might have part of that Countrey to himself and his fellow-soldiers obliging himself that for the defence thereof he would maintain Two hundred Horse and Four hundred Foot there And accordingly took up Ten thousand pounds of the Queen to make his provisions in order thereto Mortgaging his Lands in Essex for the same And though Sir William Fitz. Williams then Deputy of Ireland fearing lest the lustre of so eminent a person might eclipse him in that Realm advised the Queen to keep him at home representing to her the danger of a total defection of the Irish throughout the whole Province of Ulster nevertheless he was sent and with special command that the Deputy should make him Governor of Ulster Hereupon he embarqued at Leverpole 16 Aug. and landed at Knoc-Fergus 6 Sept. following But after a while some of the chief persons who accompanied him being weary of the Country came back Whereupon he complained by his Letters thereof to the Queen and to his own Friends Adding that some of his Soldiers fell off to the Enemy as also of other wants and defects and that he had not received his Commission of Ulster from the Deputy Moreover he sollicited the Earls of Sussex and Leicester and the Lord Burghley all powerful men in that time that they would mediate with the Queen for One hundred Horse and Six hundred Foot to be sent him and that she would give him the Peninsula of Maia But the Queen being advertised of the tumultuousness of Munster intended to have recalled him had not the Earl of Leicester and some others advised the contrary At length having got his Commission he marcht against Turlogh yet did little considerable that year After which I find no more mention of him until 18 Eliz. In which year being in great distresses and hearing that he was to be sent for back he silently deplored his condition bewailing the state of that Realm which in his opinion he could have setled in peace with Two thousand soldiers and again and again petitioned that for his own honor he might accommodate the business with Turlogh Nevertheless notwithstanding all this and that he had delivered up his trust in Ulster to the Lord Deputy because he had so slender a force assigned him for the defence thereof he was commanded to reassume it Which he had no sooner done and marcht against Turlogh than Letters came to prohibit his prosecution of the War any farther commanding him to make as honourable a Peace as he could And though he had beaten the Hebridian-Scots which had possessed themselves of Clandeboy and forced them to flee into their holes and by the help of Norris entred the Isle of Rachlin slain Four hundred of the Inhabitants taken the Castle and put a Garrison into it Yet in the very midst of this good success he was required to desist and lay down his power being made Captain only of Three hundred men no Artifice at Court being omitted which might add to his affliction Whereupon with great diminution of his Estate he returned into England But by the contrivance of the Earl of Leicester was again sent into Ireland with the airie title of Earl-Marshal of that Realm where with great grief of mind he died of a Flux 22 Sept. An. 1576. 18 Eliz. but not without suspition of Poison and was buried at Caermarthin in South-Wales Which suspition did the more augment by reason that the Earl of Leicester then forsook the Lady Douglas Sheffeild his Wife as 't was beleived by many by whom he had a Son and more openly shewed his Love to the Lady Lettice the Widow of this deceased Earl Whom though as 't was said he had privately Married her Father Sir Francis Knolles who well took notice of Leicester's wandring
Northumberland and upon his Rebellion about six years after granted it to Iohn Stanley for life Northumberland not then being by Parliament attainted nor his possessions adjudg'd to be confiscate As also for that about a month after Stanley and the King agreed that those Letters Patents to him for life should be surrendred and cancell'd and that he should have an estate thereof in Fee So that considering the grant for life was before such time as the King was legally intitled thereto by Northumberland's attainder they pronounced that the King could not pass unto him any estate for life as also that the other grant which had its foundation from the surrender of the estate for life could not be of any validity Whereupon the Queen referring them to the Law this Earl came to an Agreement with those Heirs Female Daughters to Ferdinando Earl of Derby before-mention'd paying them divers sums of money to quit their claim thereto as also with Thomas Lord Ellesmere then Lord Chancellour of England and Alice his Wife widdow of the same Earl Ferdinando And as to the Kings title obtained a grant from him of the said Isle with all the Regalities belonging to it unto himself and to the Lady Elizabeth his Wife for life as also to the survivor of them And after that unto Iames Lord Stanley for so he is call'd his Son and Heir and to the Heirs Male of his Body the remainder to Robert Stanley younger Brother to the said Iames and the Heirs Male of his Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs Male of the Body of the said Earl Which grant bears date 7 Iulii 7 Iac. and was ratified together with that agreement with the coheirs before mention'd by a special act in the Parliament begun at Westminster 19 Martii 1 Iac. and held by Prorogation until the ninth of February 7 Iac. as by the Record thereof return'd into the Chancery by Writ of Certiorare bearing date 30 Iulii 8 Iac. appeareth but I return This William was made Knight of the most noble order of the Garter in the time of that Queen and married Elizabeth eldest Daughter to Edward Earl of Oxford by whom he had Issue two Sons Iames who succeeded him in his Honours and Sir Robert Stanley Knight As also three Daughters Elizabeth who died young Anne first married to Sir Henry Portman of Orchard in Com. Somers Baronet afterwards to Sir Robert Carr Knight Earl of Ancrum in Scotland and another Elizabeth who died young And departing this life upon the 29 September An. 1642. was buried with his Ancestors at Ormeskirk To whom succeeded Iames his Son and Heir a person highly accomplisht with learning prudence loyalty and true valour Whereof none to whom he was well known are ignorant and as by this brief ensuing Narrative of the last and tragick part of his life may abundantly appear To pass by the great state wherein he lived whilst this Realm continued in peace and his wonderful Hospitality He was one of the first that repaired to the late King Charles of Blessed Memory at York when by reason of the dangerous Tumults at Westminster in the beginning of the year 1642. his Majesty became necessitated to retire thither Whence being ordered back into Lancashire to prepare for that Kings reception upon a resolution taken for setting up the Standard Royal at Warington he forthwith mustred that whole County on the three Heaths near Berry Ormskirk and Preston where he had an appearance of at least twenty thousand men at each place intending the like course in Cheshire and North-Wales by virtue of his Commission as Lord Lieutenant in those parts But in this interim the place resolv'd on for erecting the Standard being chang'd to the great disappointment of the Kings faithful Subjects in those parts and the no less encouragement of his enemies it was set up at Notingham where the Countries not coming in so freely as was expected the King by special Letters desired his Lordship to raise what men be could and to hasten to him Whose answer was that he would do his best but that the Case was then much altered a great part of the Country resolving to stand Neuters and that many others had already joined with the Rebels and seised upon Manchester All this notwithstanding amongst his own Tenants dependants and private friends he raised three Regiments of Foot and three Troops of Horse which he cloath'd and arm'd at his own charge and then posted to the King at Shrewsbury for orders how to dispose of them Whereupon his Majesty commanding him to return and forthwith to make trial of one smart assault upon Manchester and then whether he mastered that Town or not to march up to the general Camp he repaired to those his Forces drew up before that Town and upon his Summons thereof it refusing any Treaty directed an assault at four of the clock the next morning with hopes to carry it But that very night receiving commands from the King to haste to him in two days space he brought up his Regiments and Troops to his Majesty Which being disposed of under the command of other Officers he was desired to return back and take what care he could of the Country Hereupon the predominant party in that unhappy Parliament then sitting at Westminster made offer to him of the largest terms imaginable in case he would come in to them or quit the Kings service but to this he answered When I turn Traytor I may hearken to these propositions but till then let me have no more of these Papers at the peril of him that brings them this being the second time they had in that kind attempted him By this time the enemy having Garrison'd the Towns of Lancaster and Preston and in a manner brought the whole County under their power his Lordship set himself to fortifie his own House at Lathom and though his Arms and Magazine were gone made shift with the assistance of his Friends to cut off three Companies of the Enemy on Houghton Common as also to take Lancaster and Preston by storm in the former leading on his men himself with a half Pike in his hand after one repulse to the second assault which did the business Manchester having in all probability follow'd had not his Auxiliaries and his own Forces been call'd away in that very nick of time when he was ready for the attempt Soon after this upon information that the enemy had a design upon the Isle of Man he was ordered thither for the security of that place And went accordingly having first made some necessary provisioâ—s of Men Moneys and Ammunition for the protection and defence of his incomparable Lady at Lathom to whose charge he committed his Children House and other his English concerns She being therefore thus left in that House the Enemy lookt upon it as their own little expecting from a Woman being a stranger and that a place so unprovided as they
Stop-ford bridge but that he rais'd his Siege upon the 27th of May an 1644. and marcht to Bolton a strong Garrison of the Enemy Where with the addition of other Forces to two thousand of his own he made up a Body of two thousand five hundred Foot and five hundred Horse Upon notice whereof to the Prince he marcht directly thither and gave Order for an assault Which though gallantly attempted succeeded not at the first he therein losing two hundred men the Enemy killing all they took upon the Walls in cold blood in his sight Whereupon a second affault being resolv'd this Earl desired to have the Command of two Companies of his own old Foot and the honour of the forlorn Which at his importunity being granted and all things ready the Town was entred in the space of half an hour on every side he himself being the first man that set foot into it upon the 28th of May. Whereupon Rigby made his escape leaving two thousand of his men behind amongst which there was one Bootle a Captain formerly a Porter in Lathom and upon his leaving that House voluntarily swore that he would never bear Arms against the King who being in the heat of the storm encompassed with Souldiers beg'd Quarter of this Earl who answered him thus I will not kill thee my self but I cannot save thee from others Nor did he Nevertheless his death was afterwards most falsly laid to his charge Upon the taking of this rebellious Town Prince Rupert sent all the Colours to the Countess at Lathom And so marcht to Leverpole for reducing that Thence to Lathom where he staid four or five days but before his departure gave directions for repairing and fortifying the House and at the request of the Countess disposed the Governorship thereof to Captain Edward Rawsthorne whom he made Colonel of a Foot Regiment and two Troops of Horse for its defence by which Captain it was stoutly defended for full two years more in a second Siege but at last by his Majesties Order delivered up having cost the Enemy no less than six thousand men and the Garrison about four hundred it being one of the last places in this Realm that held out for the King After all these great things done by this noble Earl and his incomparable Lady who were then gone into the Isle of Man their Children perfidiously seized and made close Prisoners and he himself tempted with the promise of a peaceable enjoyment of his whole Estate in Case he would deliver up that Isle he stoutly refused even when the Cause was given by all for lost saying be would never redeem his Children by his disloyalty In which Isle he continued until the year 1651. that upon the advancing of our present Sovereign King Charles the Second out of Scotland towards Worcester he receiv'd Command to attend him upon assurance that the Presbyterians would cordially join with the Royalists in Order to his Restauration At which time when he discern'd that their Ministers did obstinately refuse any Conjunction unless he would take the Covenant he said If I perish I perish but if my Master perish the Blood of another Prince and all the ensuing miseries of this Nation will lie at your doors His next misfortune was at that time the Engagement he had with a party which endeavoured to hinder the King in this his march with whom he met in Wigan lane Where with six hundred Horse he maintain'd a Fight for two hours against three thousand Horse and Foot Commanded by Colonel Lilburne in a place of much disadvantage In which encounter he received seven shot on his Breast-plate thirteen Cuts on his Bever over a Steel-Cap and five or six wounds upon his Arms and Shoulders having two Horses kill'd under him nevertheless through all these difficulties he made his way to the King at Worcester Whence upon the loss of the day there 3 Sept. an 1651. he fled with him into Staffordshire Where having seen him hopefully secured in such a place and with such trusty persons by whose means he most happily escaped the cruel Hands of those blood-thirsty Wretches that then sought his Life shifting for himself he had the hard hap to be taken in Cheshire by one Major Edge but upon condition of Quarter Nevertheless against the Law of Arms was most barbarously sentenced to Death by a certain number of faithless men who calling themselves a Court-Marshal sate at Chester viz. Colonel Humphrey Mackworth Major Mitton Colonel Robert Duckenfeild Henry Bradshaw Thomas Croxton George Twisleton Lieu. Col. Henry Birkinhead Simon Finch Alexander Newton Captain Iames Stepford Sam. Smith Iohn Downes Iohn Delves Iohn Griffith Thomas Portington Edward Alcock Ralph Pownall Richard Grantham Edward Stelfax Vincent Corbet Where having voted him guilty of the breach of the Act of 12 Aug. 1651. Intituled An Act for prohibiting correspondency with Charles Stuart or his Party and Sentenced him to be put to Death at Bolton in Lancashire upon the fifteenth of October he there suffered most Christianly and was buried with his Ancestors at Ormeskirk to the no little sorrow of all loyal people unto whom he was known After which his Lady continued in the Isle of Man until it was betray'd by one who had been her own Servant who having corrupted the Inhabitants seised upon her and her Children and kept them Prisoners without any other relief than what she obtained from the Charity of her impoverished Friends until his Majesties most happy Restauration This Noble Earl married the Lady Charlote Daughter to Claude Duke of Tremoüille in France by the Lady Charlote his Wife Daughter to the Renowned Count William of Nassau Prince of Orange and Charlote de Bourbon his Wife by reason whereof the Dukes of Tremüille stand allied to the Kings of France as also to the Houses of Bourbon Monpensier Bourbon Conde Dukes of Anjou Kings of Naples and Sicilie Arch-Dukes of Austria Kings of Spain Earls and Dukes of Savoy Dukes of Millian and divers other Soveraign Princes By which Lady Charlote he had Issue three Sons Charles who succeeded him in his Honours Edward and William who both died unmarried As also three Daughters the Lady Mary married to William Earl of Strafford the Lady Catherine to Henry Marquess of Dorchester and the Lady Emilia to Iohn Earl of Athol in Scotland Which Charles so succeeding him married Dorothy Helen Rupa Daughter to the Baron Rupa a German by whom he had issue which survived him four Sons William Robert Iames and Charles and two Daughters viz. Charlote now married to Thomas eldest Son to Thomas Earl Rivers and Mary who died unmarried And departing this life upon the xxi day of December An. 1672. was buried at Ormeskirk Which William his eldest Son and successor hath married Elizabeth Daughter to Thomas Earl of Ossery eldest Son to Iames Duke of Ormund Sir William Stanley Knight HAving thus done with the principal branch of this most Noble Family I come to the collaterals
Throgmorton Iermyn Earl of St. Albans 19 Car. 1. IT cannot I persume be easily forgot that the distresses into which our late Sovereign King Charles the First was miserably cast by that grand defection of his Subjects in the year 1642. were such as that the â—idelity of those who in those turbulent times stood firm and stedfast to him rendred it self the more estimable Of which number Henry Iermyn second Son to Sir Thomas Iermyn of Rushbroke in Com. Suff. Knight and Treasurer of the Houshold to that King of blessed memory was not the least who being then Master of the Horse to the Queen spared neither pains nor charge in obtaining Arms and Ammunition from Foreign parts in order to his service besides the exposal of himself to no little hazard in attending on her royal person into England landing her at Burlington in Yorkshire and thence with all the power he could there raise in conducting her safe through the Enemies Quarters unto his Majesty at Oxford For which respect he was by Letters-Patent bearing date at Oxford 8 Sept. in the nineteenth year of his Reign advanced to the dignity of a Baron of this Realm by the Title of Lord Iermyn of St. Edmundsbury in Com. Suff. with limitation of that Honour for lack of Issue Male of his own Body lawfully begotten unto Thomas his elder Brother and the Heirs Male of his Body As also since that time attending her again out of England and with great fidelity and prudence governing her small Family in those woful times for full sixteen years Being likewise one of the Privy-Council to our present Soverign King Charles the Second in Foreign parts where he was imploy'd in sundry Embassies to the King of France which he perform'd with great diligence wisdom and fidelity in consideration thereof he was by other Letters-Patent bearing date at Breda in Brabant 27 Apr. an 1660. in the twelfth year of his Reign and but few weeks preceding his happy Restoration Created Earl of St. Albans in Com. Hertf. and afterwards constituted Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold Lord Byron 19 Car. 1. TOuching the Ancestors of this worthy Family who many Ages past were Barons of this Realm by Tenure having in the first Volume of this work already spoke I now come to the principal remaining branch thereof viz. Sir Iohn Byron of Newsted in Com. Notingh made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of our late Sovereign King Charles the First Who being a person of most loyal principles manifested his fidelity to that King in an eminent measure putting himself in Arms on his behalf with what Forces he could â—aise upon that grand Defection in an 1642. which under divers specious pretences tended to no less than the utter ruine of Monarchy and terminated in the barbarous murther of that excellent King of blessed memory In which turbulent times being made Field-Marshal of all his Majesties Forces in the Counties of Worcester Salop. Chester and North-Wales he acted his part against those powerful Fanaticks with notable valour in divers sharp encounters at Worcester Kineton Brainford Roundway-Downe and Newberie of which posterity will I presume have in due time a more full account from our Annals his six valiant Brothers also at that time following this his loyal example In consideration whereof he was by Letters Patents bearing date at Oxford 24 Oct. 19 Car. 1. advanced to the degree and dignity of a Baron of this Realm by the Title of Lord Byron of Rochdale in Com. Lanc. with limitation of that Honour for lack of Issue Male of his own Body lawfully begotten to every of his Brothers and the Issue Male of their respective Bodies viz. Richard William Thomas Robert Gilbert and Philip. This Iohn Lord Byron First took to Wife Cecilie Dâ—ughter of Thomas Lord la Warre and afterwards Eleanore Daughter of Robert Vicount Kilmurrey in Ireland but departed this life at ... in France ... an 1652. without Issue To whom succeeded Richard his Brother and next Heir who Married twice First Elizabeth Daughter of George Rosel of Ratcliffe upon â—rent in Com. Nott. Esq Widdow of Nicholas Strelley Esq by whom he hath Issue William his Son and Heir and Catherine a Daughter yet unmarried His second Wife is Elizabeth the youngest Daughter to Sir George Booth of Dunham Mâ—ssy in Com. Cestr. Baronet Which William by Elizabeth his Wife Daughter to Iohn Vicount Châ—worth of Armagh in Ireland hath Issue one Son called William and four Daughtâ—rs Elizabeth Catherine Mary and Anne Lord Vaughan 19 Car. 1. IN the eighteenâ—h year of King Iames Iohn Vaughan Son and Heir to Walter Vaughan of Golâ—en-â—roâ—e in Com. Caermâ—rthen Esq being a person of an antient Family and ample fortune did in respect of his services in Ireland towards the end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign there râ—ceive the Honour of Knâ—ghthood at the hands of Robert Eâ—rl of Eâ—sex then Lord Lieutâ—nant of thâ—t Kingdom and after that by reason of his faâ—ther meâ—its being made Compâ—roller of the Houshold to Prince Charles was in 18 Iac. raised to the degree oâ— a Baron in that Realm by the Title of Lord Vaughan of â—olingâ—r as also by King Charles the â—irst to the dignity of Earl of Carbery This Iohn Married two Wiveâ— First Margaret Daughter of Sir Gilly Mâ—rick Knight by whom he had Issue three Sons Walter who died young Richard who 〈◊〉 him in his Lands and Honours and Iohn who also died young Likewise Mary a Daughter Married to Sir Francis Llhoyd of â—asâ—veiyn in Com. Cardigan Knight And to his second Wife Iane Daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer Knight but by her had no Issue Which Richard was made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of his Majesty King Charles the First and standing firm in his loyalty to the same King of blessed memory in the time of that grand defection in this Realm which hapned in the year 1642. through the Interest he had in South-Wales there raised what power he could for the better security of those parts In consideration where of being made Lieutenant-General for the Counties of Caermarthen Pembroke and Cardigan and acting vigorously in that trust he was for his farther encouragement in that service advanced to the dignity of a Baron of this Realm by the Title of Lord Vaughan of Emlyn by Letters Paâ—ents beaâ—ing date at Oxford 25 Oct. 19 Car. 1. And shortly after the happy Restauration of his Majesty King Charles the Second constituted Lord President of the whole Principality of Wales and Marches thereof as also one of his Privy-Council This Richard Married thrice First Bridget Daughter and Heir to Thomas Llhoyd of Llanlleer in the County of Cardigan Esq by whom he had Issue four Sons who died in their Infancies Secondly Frances one of the Daughters and Coheirs to Sir Iohn Altham of Oxhey in Com. Hertf. Knight by whom he hath had Issue three Sons viz. Francis who Married the Lady Rachel one of the Daughters and