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The 


Manors  of  Suffolk 


Notes  on 


Their  History  and  Devolution 


The  Hundreds  of  Babergh  and  Blackbourn 

With  some  Illustrations  of  the  old  Manor  Houses 


BY 


W.  A.  COPINGER,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.,  F.R.S.A. 

Of  the  Middle  Temple,    Barrister-at-law.  Professor   and  Dean   of  the   Faculty  of  Law  in  the 

Victoria  University  of  Manchester.  Sometime  President  of  the  Bibliographical  Society.  Author  of 

"  County  of  Suffolk :  Its    History  as  Disclosed  by    Existing  Records,"  &c. 


LONDON 

T.    FISHER    UNWIN 
1905 


THIS     WORK 

IS 

DEDICATED 
TO 

ILorb   jfrancts   1berve& 

IN 

THANKFUL  RECOGNITION 

OF    THE    ENCOURAGEMENT    AND    ASSISTANCE 
WHICH  THE  AUTHOR  RECEIVED 

FROM 

HIS  LORDSHIP 

IN  THE  ISSUING  OF  THE 

RECORDS  OF  THE  COUNTY  OF  SUFFOLK. 


Hote. 

The  present  is  a  kind  of  trial  volume,  and  forms  the 
first  instalment  of  si<  like  volumes  already  written  on  the 
Manors  of  Suffolk.  Should  it  meet  with  acceptance,  the 
volumes  will  be  sent  to  press  so  soon  as  a  sufficient 


number  of  copies  have  been  subscribed  to  repay  the  cost  of 
printing.  No  doubt  more  might  have  been  said  respecting 
the  manors,  and  especially  the  manor  houses,  but  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  there  are  about  2,000  manors  in  Suffolk,  and  the 
•  of  restricting  the  work  to  seven  volumes,  little  more 


than  dry  facts  could  be  given  to  speak  for  themselves. 

For  most  of  the  statements  made  authority  is  quoted,  but 
where  the  author  has  found  no  authority  he  has  indicated 
the  fact,  and  drawn  the  best  inference  he  could.  And 
where  full  information  has  not  been  obtained,  he  has  almost 
invariably  given  the  information  he  had.  however  defective,  in 
the  hope  that  such  might  lead  to  the  supplying  by  others  of 
what  was  lacking.  For  the  sake  of  easy  reference,  citation  of 
fines  levied  prior  to  the  reign  of  Hen.  VII.,  a  calendar  of 
which  has  been  printed,  is  "Feet  of  Fines,"  while  of  those 
subsequently  of  which  no  printed  calendar  exists,  "  Fine  " 
only. 

The  Author  has  to  thank  the  Rev.  E.  Fairer,  Rector  of 
Huulcrclay,  for  his  kindness  in  perusing  the  proof  sheets,  and 
he  is  under  an  obligation  to  his  daughter  Katharine  for  the 
Index  Rerum,  and  to  his  daughter  Margaret  Sarsfield  for  the 
Indices  Nominum  and  Locorum. 

W.  A.  COPINGER. 

KERSAL  CELL, 

MANCHESTER. 


Jnttobuction. 

| HE  Hundred  division  is  now  practically  obsolete,  having 
been  superseded  by  Petty  Sessional  and  other  divisions,  but 
as  late  as  1869  there  was  a  High  Constable  for  each  Hundred 
of  the  County. 

The  division  of  the  County  into  Hundreds  has  been  vari- 
ously accounted  for.  It  probably  was  an  early  Saxon  device, 
recast  no  doubt  by  King  Alfred,  who  certainly  revised  the 
scheme  and  altered,  settled,  and  brought  the  divisions  into  greater  systema- 
tic order.1  The  three  divisions  of  Counties,  Hundreds,  and  Tithings  were 
dealt  with  by  the  King.  Each  had  its  own  Court.  The  tithing  was  com- 
posed of  ten  families  or  more  who  dwelt  together  and  were  bound  for  each 
other's  behaviour.  It  is  said  that  originally  each  tithing  ought  to  possess 
within  itself  a  church,  a  burial  ground,  divine  services,  and  the  sacraments. 
The  tithing  developed  into  Parishes,  and  of  these  the  Hundred  was  made 
up.  We  are  quite  aware  that  in  the  older  laws  of  the  Anglo-Saxons,  the 
word  tithing  is  not  used,  the  term  then  in  vogue  being  "  Gild  brethren," 
as,  for  instance,  in  the  Laws  27  and  28  of  Alfred. 

Edgar  seems  to  have  been  the  first  Saxon  King  to  estimate  aright  the 
value  of  the  Hundred  division,  and  to  give  it  a  name  and  place  in  the 
local  divisions  of  the  County.  It  was  by  his  ordinance  (959-975)  that  the 
Hundred  had  to  meet  every  four  weeks,  and  in  fact  by  him  the  functions 
of  the  Hundred  were  first  duly  prescribed.  This  king  also  provided  that 
every  man  should  be  under  "  borh  "  or  suretiship  both  within  the  enclosed 
places  and  without,  and  that  witnesses  should  be  appointed  to  every 
"  borh  "  and  to  every  Hundred. 

Ethelred's  laws  (978-1016)  followed  on  the  same  lines,  providing  of 
"  borhs  "  that  every  freeman  should  have  a  true  "  borh  "  or  surety,  and 
that  the  "  borh  "  might  present  him  to  every  justice,  if  he  should  be 
accused.  Knut's  laws  (1016-1035)  follow  on  the  same  lines,  every  freeman 
having  to  be  brought  into  a  Hundred  and  into  a  tithing.  He  had  to  be 
brought  into  a  "  borh,"  and  the  "  borh  "  had  to  hold  and  lead  him  to  every 
plea,  i.e.,  he  had  to  be  brought  in  so  as  to  be  under  pledge  with  a  surety 
who  should  be  answerable  for  his  appearance  in  any  suit.  The  regulation 
did  not  apply  to  those  who  by  rank,  family  connection,  or  commendation, 
were  exempted  from  the  provisions  of  this  and  similar  enactments. 

In  the  laws  of  Edward  the  Confessor  (1043-1066)  we  find  cap.  13  headed, 
'  The  Divisions  of  the  Shires  and  Hundreds,"  runs  thus  :  The  divisions  of 
the  shires  properly  form  part  of  the  King's  jurisdiction,  and  attached  to 
them  is  the  King's  highway.  The  divisions  of  the  Hundred  and  wapen- 
takes  belong  to  the  earls  and  the  viscounts  (the  sheriffs)  assisted  by  the 
County  Court. 

The  Hundred  was  an  important  division.  It  was  the  division  on 
which  was  primarily  based  the  assessment  for  geld  and  served  as  the  area 
for  rating  purposes,  besides  being  the  organisation  or  body  amenable  for 
damages  in  case  of  riot  or  destruction  of  property.  Mr.  Round  has  satis- 
factorily shown  that  the  Hundred  and  not  the  manor  nor  even  the  vill  was 
treated  as  the  fiscal  unit  for  the  collection  of  Danegeld. 

1  See  Statute  law  in  the  latter  part  of  this  king's  reign,  about  the  year  890. 


rf.  INTRODUCTION. 

The  butinm  of  the  Hundred  was  transacted  in  the  "  hundred  mote," 
in  which  in  later  times  the  townships  or  parishes  were  represented  by  the 
town  reeve  and  four  assessors.  The  Court  of  the  Hundred  exercised  both 
civfl  and  criminal  jun-<!i<  n..n,  and  litigant-,  were  bound  to  seek  justice 
in  this  Court  before  applying  to  a  higher  tribunal. 

As  the  king  was  entitled  to  a  fine  for  each  offence,  his  reeve  used  to 
attend  the  Court  twice  a  year  to  receive  these  fines.    It  was  on  these 
that  the  Court  exercised  the  duty  of  seeing  that  every  man  was 


enrolled  in  his  tithing,  a  practice  which  continued  long  after  the  Norman 
Conquest  as  the  sheriff's  turn,  or  leet  and  view  of  frankpledge.  It  was 
sometime  a  lower  Court  for  the  payment  of  small  debts  and  then  the 
bailiff  of  the  Hundred  presided. 

Hundreds  were  either  in  the  King's  hand  or  in  private  hands  by 
grant  from  the  Sovereign.  When  in  the  King's  hand  the  sheriff  usually 
let  them  at  farm  to  bailiffs.  The  bailiff  generally  presided  in  the  Court, 
and  after  paying  hi>  nut  under  the  tenancy  or  holding,  made  what  profit 
be  could  from  the  fees  and  amercements  or  other  -exactions  levied  on  the 
Miitors  and  men  of  the  Hundred. 

In  process  of  time,  the  greater  number  of  the  Hundreds,  certainly 
in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  had  been  granted  to  private  individuals,  and  in 
many  cases  the  lord  of  the  hundred  did  not  own  a  single  acre  in  it. 

MANORS. 

Some  have  supposed  the  word  "  manor  "  to  be  derived  from  the  old 
French  word  "  manoir,"  or  rather  perhaps  "  manior,"  or  chief  dwelling; 
but  others  from  the  French  "  mesuer,"  signifying  to  govern,  or  to  guide, 
because  the  lord  of  a  manor  has  the  guidance  and  direction  of  all  his  tenants 
within  the  limits  of  his  estate  ;  "  and  this,"  says  Lord  Coke,  "  I  hold  the 
most  probable  etymology,  and  most  agreeing  with  the  nature  of  a  manor ; 
for  a  manor  in  these  days  signifies  the  jurisdiction  and  royalty  incorporate 
rather  than  the  land  or  scite."1  True,  my  Lord,  but  is  this  not  deriving 
the  name  from  a  quality  not  inherent  in  the  manor  at  the  time  of  the 
original  user  of  the  name  ?  The  etymology,  no  doubt  accorded  with  the 

ire  of  the  thing  in  Lord  Coke's  day,  and  to  some  extent  in  our  own  time — 
but  this  hardly  seems  sufficient. 

Manors  have  been  usually  regarded  by  our  writers  on  English 
antiquities  as  of  Norman  introduction,  but  modern  investigation  tends  to 
disclose  a  much  earlier  origin.  They  are  no  doubt  as  ancient  as  the  Saxon 
constitution,  and  the  germ  from  which  they  sprung  has  been  traced  to 
Roman  times. 

The  elements  of  the  manor  are  discernible  during  a  somewhat  lengthy 
period  in  Anglo-Saxon  times ;  but  certainly  up  to  the  very  time  of  the  Norman 
Conquest  the  greater  part  of  the  estates  passing  under  the  name  of  manors 
bore  but  a  poor  resemblance  to  the  ordinary  manorial  estate  of  later  days. 

The  Roman  colonization  did  not  affect  the  institutions  of  this  country 

Mathemodc  in  which  they  were  affected  by  the  Anglo-Saxon  settlement. 

i!7ner  ^  not  mt?r'ere  .^h  existing  Celtic  institutions  further  than 

happened  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  Roman  occupation,  but  the 

•  Complete  Copyholder.  Ed.  1644. 


INTRODUCTION.  vii. 

latter  produced  changes  of  a  more  radical  character.  The  Teutonic  influence 
affected  every  existing  institution,  whether  of  Celtic  or  Roman  origin,  and 
operated  to  remodel  the  political  and  legal  aspects  of  society. 

The  principle  of  private  appropriation  and  property  in  land  no  doubt 
derived  its  origin  from  the  Romans,  but  that  is  all.  Later,  in  the  earlier 
period  of  the  Saxon  settlement,  the  lack  of  common  magisterial  jurisdiction 
led  to  the  government  of  the  manor  or  village  resting  to  a  certain  extent  on  its 
chief  owner,  and  though  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Thane  in  his  soc,  precinct, 
or  manor  has  been  asserted  to  have  been  inherent— an  original  jurisdiction 
arising  from  possession  of  land  and  men  (being  practically  the  same  juris- 
diction in  the  smaller  holdings  as  the  King  exercised  in  his  great  seignory, 
though  neither  of  them  absolute),  yet  this  seems  open  to  question.  It  is 
true  that  in  the  unsettled  state  of  the  country  and  the  difficulty  of  transit 
the  need  of  fixed  and  regular  tribunals  for  the  administration  of  justice  led  to 
the  Thane  determining  differences  between  his  men  in  their  civil  rights,  and 
also  as  a  matter  of  fact  we  find  him  with  the  advice  and  concurrence  of  his 
freemen  punishing  criminals  even  to  the  extent  of  life  and  death  in  the  Hall- 
Mote,  which  answered  in  those  days  to  what  the  Court  Baron  did  in  later 
times.  But  this  cannot  be  regarded  justly  as  an  inherent  jurisdiction.  It 
was  rather  an  assumed  jurisdiction  in  a  local  Court  for  lack  of  the  means 
of  obtaining  justice  from  the  proper  tribunals  or  from  the  King  himself. 
But  that  the  thane  did  exercise  the  extensive  rights  we  have  referred  to  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  King  Alfred  took  from  the  Thane's  Court  the 
power  of  punishing  criminals.  In  process  of  time,  however,  later  Saxon 
sovereigns  began  to  indulge  some  of  their  great  men  with  grants  em- 
powering them  to  try  criminals  in  their  local  court,  in  which  every  freemen 
of  twelve  years  of  age  had  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  the  particular 
precinct,  finding  sureties  for  good  behaviour,  as  before  he  had  had  to  do  in 
the  Court  of  Friburgh.  That  bishops,  earls,  and  some  of  the  thanes  had 
obtained  charters  empowering  them  to  punish  criminals  in  their  own 
Courts  before  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  is  clear  from  the  2ist  Law, 
entitled,  "  de  Baronibus  qui  suas  habent  curias  et  consuetudines."  These 
grants  rapidly  multiplied,  it  being  found  more  convenient  to  have  the 
view  of  tenants  within  the  manor.  That  the  tenants  regarded  it  as  advan- 
tageous to  themselves  is  rather  evidenced  by  their  assenting  to  make  an 
annual  payment  to  the  lord  in  consideration  of  the  charges  of  obtaining 
the  grant  of  leet  from  the  King,  an  annual  payment  which  at  least  in  some 
manors  was  called  the  Leet  Feu,  de  certo  Letoe. 

As  to  the  King's  tourn  belonged  fossa,  furca,  pillory,  tumbrel,  and 
cucking  stool,  so  to  the  lord's  leet  on  a  grant  of  leet  these  also  belonged,  and 
the  lord  was  bound  to  maintain  these  instruments  for  punishing  offenders, 
and  all  felonies  at  common  law  were  within  the  cognizance  of  the  leet  and 
there  punishable. 

The  Norman  Conquest,  however,  marked  the  period  of  the  rise  of 
manorial  influence,  and  fixed  the  manor  as  the  most  prominent  social 
institution  of  the  country  for  a  long  series  of  years.  It  then  received  a 
systematic  settlement  on  feudal  lines — developing,  however,  at  least  up 
to  the  reign  of  Edward  I. 

It  is  quite  true  that  we  find  manors  abundant  at  the  time  of  the  Norman 
invasion,  and  the  Domesday  Survey  is  most  particular  in  their  enumeration. 
There  is,  however,  no  evidence  to  show  that  these  so-called  manors  of 
Saxon  times  agreed  with  the  Norman  and  strictly  feudal  conception  of  a 


HI  INTRODUCTION. 

manor.  Many  of  these  manors  consisted  of  but  20  or  30  and  occasionally 
no  more  than  10  acres,  and  it  is  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  in  respect 
of  these  there  could  have  existed  manorial  rights  in  the  sense  of  later  days. 
There  can  be  littlr  dmibt  that  th<>  whole  aspect  of  the  Domesday  Survey 
shows  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  compilers  to  assimilate  as  far  as  possible, 
in  nomenclature  at  least,  the  older  or  old  English  forms  of  holdings  with  the 
new  introduction  of  thr  invaders,  and  the  gradual  introduction  of  Norman 
methods  and  ideas  during  the  reign  of  the  last  Saxon  King  would  facilitate 
fefa 

The  term  "  manor  "  is  not  always  adhered  to  in  the  Survey  itself. 
It  gives  place  to  the  term  villa  for  the  whole  manor,  and  mansio  for  the 
manor  house  in  the  Exon  Survey,  and  in  all  these  cases  what  is  meant 
is  the  estate  of  a  ruler  or  lord  with  a  village  community  in  villenage  upon  it. 
No  one  can  peruse  that  code  of  laws  known  as  the  Reditudines  singularum 
penomtrum  dating  from  the  eleventh  century  without  being  satisfied  as 
to  the  practical  existence  of  the  manor  in  this  aspect  in  those  times. 
Manors  then  were  evidently  of  complex  origin.  Mr.  Seebohm,  who  in  his 
work,  "  The  English  Village  Community,  has  closely  examined  and 
analysed  the  various  factors  in  operation  in  the  production  of  the  manorial 
system  in  this  country,  says:  "The  most  reasonable  hypothesis,  in  the 
absence  of  direct  evidence,  appears  to  be  that  the  manorial  system  grew 
up  in  Britain,  as  it  grew  up  in  Gaul  and  Germany,  as  the  compound  product 
of  barbarian  and  Roman  institutions  mixing  together  during  the  periods 
first  of  Roman  provincial  rule  and  secondly  of  German  conquest."1 
Professor  Vinogradoff  is  not  prepared  to  allow  so  much  to  Roman  influence. 
His  view  is  that  "  the  economic  development  of  medieval  rural  life  is  to  be 
accounted  for  by  the  formation  of  old  English  society  of  a  village  community 
of  shareholders  which  cultivated  the  land  on  the  open  field  system,  and 
treated  all  other  requisites  of  rural  life  as  appendant  to  it.  The  evolution 
of  individualistic  husbandry,  and  of  political  protection  produced  the 
growth  of  lordships  which  culminated  after  the  Conquest  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  manor,  a  complex  institution  partaking  of  the  character  of 
an  estate  and  of  a  unit  of  local  government.  The  influence  of  the  Con- 
quest and  of  the  subsequent  formation  of  common  law  was  decisive  in 
submitting  society  to  a  system  of  personal  rights  and  relations ;  but  under- 
neath this  system  ancient  principles  of  communal  action  and  communal 
responsibility  were  still  fully  alive."' 

There  seems  to  have  been  an  assumption  in  the  wording  of  the  writ 
ordering  the  Domesday  Inquest  that  the  villa  and  the  manor  were  identical, 
and  no  doubt  in  by  far  the  greater  number  of  cases  the  manor  was 
coterminous  with  or  was  contained  within  the  limit  of  the  vill ;  but  the 
returns  demonstrated  that  there  were  a  vast  number  of  exceptions.  Still 
there  does  seem  in  most  cases,  where  there  were  several  manors  in  a  town- 
ship, to  have  been  one— even  where  the  manor  did  not  stand  in  the  relation- 
ship of  manor  and  sub-manor,  of  which  the  lord  was  practically  the  lord  of 
the  township.  In  the  return  made  of  lords  of  townships  in  1316,  out  of 
453  in  Suffolk  not  more  than  42  townships  had  more  than  one  lord,  and 
there  were  lords  of  other  manors  in  the  township — but  by  no  means  were 
all  the  lords  of  manors  included  in  the  list.  Fifteen  townships  only  had 
morr  than  two  lords  specified,  and  in  the  Hundreds  of  Bosmere  and  Claydon, 
Half  Hundreds  of  Mutford  and  Lothingland,  Samford,  Cosford,  Risbridge, 

'  and  Ed.  p.  422.  •  Growth  of  the  Manor,  p.  365. 


INTRODUCTION.  ix. 

Thedwestry,  Plomesgate,  Carlford,  Wilford,  Colneis,  Loes,  Thredling 
(strangely  the  whole  of  the  Liberty  of  St.  Etheldred)  there  was  but  one  lord 
for  each  villa. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  later  feudal  idea  of  the  manor  involved 
the  administration  of  justice.  The  baron  who  led  his  tenants  in  the  field 
in  time  of  war,  administered  justice  to  them  assembled  in  his  hall  in  time 
of  peace.  The  Court  he  held  for  this  purpose  was  called  the  "  hall  mote," 
from  the  place  in  which  it  was  held,  or  the  Court  Baron  from  the  territory 
to  which  it  belonged. 

Lords  of  manors  were  in  former  days  important  individuals,  especially 
if  in  addition  to  the  right  to  hold  a  Court  Baron,  a  right  belonging  to  every 
lord,  he  had  the  right  to  hold  a  Court  Leet.  Lord  Coke,  referring  to  the 
Court  Baron,  says,  "  These  Courts  were  termed  Court  Barons  because  in 
ancient  time  such  personages  were  called  Barons,  and  came  to  the  Parliament 
and  sate  in  the  Upper  House  ;  but  when  time  had  wrought  such  an  altera- 
tion that  manors  fell  into  the  hands  of  meane  men,  and  such  as  were  farre 
unworthy  of  so  high  a  calling ;  then  it  grew  to  a  custome  that  none  but 
such  as  the  King  would,  should  come  to  the  Parliament,  such  as  the  King 
for  their  extraordinary  wisedome  or  quality  thought  good  to  call  by  writ, 
which  writ  ran  hac  vice  tantum.  Yet  though  Lords  of  Manors  lost  their 
names  of  Barons,  and  were  deprived  of  that  dignitie  which  was  inherent 
to  their  names,  yet  their  courts  retaine  still  the  name  of  Court  Barons, 
because  they  were  originally  erected  for  such  personages  as  were  Barons ; 
neither  hath  time  been  so  injurious  as  to  eradicate  the  whole  memory  of 
their  ancient  Dignitie ;  in  their  name  there  is  stamps  left  of  their  nobilitie, 
for  they  are  still  intituled  by  the  name  of  Lords.'" 

Not  only  was  the  Court  Baron  absolutely  incident  to  the  manor,  but 
it  was  of  its  essence  and  inseparable  from  it,  just  as  suit  of  court,  or  the 
obligation  of  attendance  was  inseparably  incident  to  the  feud.  The  triers 
in  the  Court  Baron  were  freemen,  for  the  suitors  were  such,  and  a  freeman 
could  only  be  tried  by  his  peers  or  equals.  From  this  it  followed  that 
if  the  lord  had  no  tenants,  by  reason  of  escheat  or  the  like,  the  right  to  hold 
the  Court  ceased.  And  if  he  had  but  one  tenant  his  (the  lord's)  position 
was  equally  unfortunate,  for  that  one  tenant  having  no  peer  could  not  be 
tried,  and  consequently  his  appeal  had  to  be  made  to  his  lord's  superior 
lord.  For  this  reason  we  find  it  laid  down  that  if  there  were  not  two  free 
tenants  or  frank  suitors,  as  they  are  sometimes  called,  at  the  least,  the 
Court  Baron  could  not  be  held,  and  consequently  the  manor  became  ex- 
tinct so  far  as  this  particular  jurisdiction  was  concerned,  the  lord  being 
thenceforth  merely  entitled  to  hold  a  Customary  Court  for  his  copyhold 
tenants.  It  has  been  thought  that  there  should  be  more  than  two  free 
tenants  holding  of  the  manor  to  enable  the  lord  to  hold  a  Court  Baron,  but  this 
is  not  correct.  The  reason  assigned  for  the  view  is  this — that  assuming 
there  were  only  two,  if  one  of  these  two  were  the  plaintiff  and  the  other 
the  defendant,  the  lord  would  be  under  some  difficulty  to  try  them  by  their 
peers,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  there  is  one  case  on  record  of  a  cause 
being  removed  out  of  a  Court  Baron  by  reason  of  there  not  being  four 
suitors  there.  But  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Court  Baron  is  not 
held  exclusively  for  the  trial  of  disputes  between  one  free  tenant  and  another, 
and  there  is  no  authority  for  asserting  that  a  Court  Baron  cannot  be  held 

1  "  Compleate  Copyholder,"  Ed.  1644,  pp.  63,  64. 


,  INTRODUCTION. 

so  lone  as  there  are  two  free  tenants.  Of  course,  the  legal  requisites  of  a 
manor  in  the  twentieth  century  cannot  be  taken  as  necessary  to  a  manor 
as  it  existed  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conauest  or  even  as  late  as  the 
fourteenth  century  It  would  be  absurd,  lor  instance,  to  insist  that 
every  manor  in  these  early  days  comprised  land  held  by  freehold  tenants 
and  land  held  1  omary  or  villein  tenants.  This  Professor  Maitland 

dearly  points  out  in  his  exhaustive  Introduction  to  "  Select  Pleas  in  Manorial 
and  other  Seignorial  Courts ' 

A  Customary  Court  is  also  incident  to  a  manor.  This  is  held  by  the 
lord  for  his  villeins,  or  those  who  hold  at  his  will  by  copy ;  for  the  suitors 
in  the  Court  Baron  could  not  notice  the  claims  of  the  villeins  or  copyholders, 
who  were  of  a  different  order  of  men.  In  this  Court  of  the  copyholders  or 
Customary  Court  all  matters  relating  to  the  tenements  held  by  copy  were 
tsacted ;  but  copyholders  not  being  originally  free  in  their  persons,  and 
holding  by  free  or  frank  tenure  were  not  entitled  to  be  tried  by  their 
».  The  lord  himself  or  his  steward  sitting  for  him  was  the  judge  of 
this  Court.  To  this  Court  the  copyholders  owed  suit  as  the  free  tenants 
did  to  the  Court  Baron,  and  like  the  latter  were  denominated  the  homage  ; 
not  indeed  that  the  copyholders  ever  did  homage  expressly  as  the  free 
tenants  did  on  acceding  to  the  tenancy ;  for  homage  could  only  be  done 
by  a  freeman.  The  copyholders  being  termed  the  homage  in  the  Customary 
Court  is  merely  by  way  of  analogy  to  the  homage  in  a  Court  Baron.  From 
a  copyholder  fealty  in  lieu  of  homage  was  due. 

A  manor  cannot  at  the  present  day  be  created  of  which  a  copyhold  can 
be  held,  except,  of  course,  by  the  transcendant  power  of  an  Act  of  Parliament 
of  which  one  or  two  instances  can  be  found  on  the  Rolls.*  By  the  statute 
Quia  emptores  terrantm  passed  18  Edw.  I.  (1290)  the  tenants  of  common  lords 
were  prohibited  from  granting  any  part  of  their  lands  in  fee  to  be  held  of 
themselves ;  but  whether  they  alienated  the  whole  or  part  (for  that  Act 
enabled  them  to  alienate  the  whole)  the  feoffee  was  to  hold  immediately  of  the 
lord  above.  We  may  mention  as  we  are  not  writing  for  the  legal  profession 
that  "  lord  above  "  does  not  mean  "  the  Lord  in  heaven,"  but  the  superior 
lord  of  the  feoffor  or  grantor.  Perhaps  the  explanation  is  unnecessary— 
if  so  the  writer  hopes  to  be  pardoned,  as  for  the  moment  he  had  overlooked 
the  Educational  Act  of  1870,  and  the  marvellous  information  of  the  present 
day. 

The  result  of  the  Statute  of  Edward  I.  above  referred  to  was  to  stay 
the  increase  of  manors,  and  even  the  King  himself  it  is  said,  is  incapable  of 
creating  a  manor  at  the  present  time.1 

DIVISION  OF  MANORS. 

Many  of  the  manors  of  which  we  have  treated  in  the  ensuing  work 
have  become  divided,  and  it  seems  therefore  advisable  to  say  a  word  or 
two  as  to  this.  It  is  clear  that  prior  to  the  Statute  Quia  emptores  terrarum, 
that  is  the  year  1290,  as  a  manor  might  have  been  created  so  it  might  have 
been  divided  and  sub-divided  and  the  number  of  manors  thus  increased. 
But  since  the  passing  of  this  Act  a  manor  could  not  be  divided  into  separate 

'  SeMeo  Society,  1889,  PP  «*«-.  *'• 

Heo  VIII  r   13;  »nd  37  Hen.  VIII.  c.  a. 
ite  Copyholder,"  Ed.  1644.  p.  57. 


INTRODUCTION.  xi. 

manors  by  the  tenant  of  a  common  lord,  as  such  division  would  be  a 
multiplication  in  effect.' 

A  distinction,  however,  must  be  drawn  between  a  division  arising  from 
act  of  the  party  and  by  operation  of  law.  The  division  by  operation  of 
law  would  be  when  the  manor  descended  to  several  coparceners  as  to 
daughters  being  coheirs,  and  they  made  partition.  Here  each  of  the  co- 
parceners would  have  a  manor  in  case  part  of  the  demesnes  and  services 
were  allotted  to  one  and  part  to  the  other.  So  a  tenant  in  dower  of  a  third 
part  of  a  manor  has  a  manor  and  may  hold  a  Court  and  grant  copies.1 

REPUTED  MANORS. 

A  manor  may  be  suspended  for  a  time  and  revive ;  as,  for  instance,  if 
it  descended  to  two  coparceners  and  on  a  partition  the  services  were  allotted 
to  one  and  the  demesne  lands  to  the  other,  and  the  one  died,  leaving  the 
services  or  demesne  lands,  as  the  case  might  be,  to  the  other,  the  manor 
would  revive,  as  it  was  merely  suspended  during  the  severance  of  the 
demesne  lands  from  the  services  and  not  destroyed.3 

Should,  however,  the  demesne  lands  and  the  services  become  absolutely 
separated,  so  as  to  be  incapable  of  uniting  again,  the  manor  no  longer 
continues  a  manor  in  reality,  though  it  may  continue  to  be  a  reputed  manor. 
It  would,  in  other  words,  cease  to  be  a  legal  manor,  for  the  support  of  which 
both  demesne  lands,  and  services  are  necessary,  though  it  might  still  be 
regarded  as  what  is  termed  a  seigniory  in  gross. 

If  the  lord  grant  all  the  demesne  lands  or  all  the  services  to  a  stranger, 
or  if  all  the  services  become  extinct,  the  manor  will  be  destroyed.  But 
though  all  the  free  tenancies  escheat,  or  become  forfeited,  or  are  purchased 
by  the  lord,  the  manor  is  properly  at  an  end ;  yet  in  contemplation  of  law 
it  may  continue  for  certain  purposes,  as  to  preserve  the  right  of  wrecks 
and  estrays  and  so  forth.  Thus  in  one  case  the  lord  of  a  manor  declared 
that  he  had  immemorially  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  appointing  a  sexton 
of  the  parish  wherein  the  manor  was  situate.  It  was  objected  and  proved 
that  the  manor  had  ceased  in  legal  existence  for  some  time  prior  to  the 
vacancy  in  question,  but  it  was  held  that  to  enable  the  lord  to  exercise  the 
right  he  claimed  it  was  not  necessary  to  prove  a  continuing  manor  for  all 
purposes.4 

Of  course,  if  there  be  but  one  free  tenant,  the  seigniory  as  to  him  remains 
with  respect  to  his  services,  &c.,  though  there  can  be  no  Court  Baron  held. 

Those  who  wish  for  further  details  of  the  manor  and  of  the  various 
Courts  may  consult  Scriven's  "Treatise  on  the  Law  of  Copyholds,  &c."  ;5 
Elton's  "Treatise  on  the  Law  of  Copyholds,  &c."  ;6  and  for  the  older 

1  We  are  aware  of  one  or  two  old  cases  to  the  contrary,  and  one  curious  on  the  subject 
may  consult  Brooke's  Abr.  Fines,  fol.  17  ;  Harris  t;.  Nicholls,  Cro.  Eliz.  19 ;  Morris  v. 
Paget,  Cro.  Eliz.  39,  Leon  26;  Smith  v.  Bonsai,  Golds.  117  fol.  15 ;  Bright  v.  Forth, 
Cro.  Eliz.  442  ;  Buccleugh's  case  6  Mod.  151 ;  Finch's  case  6  Rep.  64. 

J  Bragg's  case,  Godb.  135. 

3  2  Rolles,  Abr.  122  Manor  (F)  fol.  3,  and  (H) ;  Thetford's  case,  I  Leon  204. 

4  Soane  v.  Ireland,  10  East,  259.      A  power  to  appoint  a  gamekeeper  however,  is  not  a 

prescriptive  right  incident  to  merely  a  reputed  manor,     (i  Ch.  G.  L.  25). 

5  7th  Ed.  by  Brown. 

6  2nd  Ed.,  1893-8. 


INTRODUCTION. 

and  quainter  literature  of  the  subject,  "  Le  Courte  Leet  et  Court  Baron 
collect,  per  John  Kitihm.de  Graieslnne,  an  apprentice  in  Ley  (Lond.1598); 
Treatise  collected  out  of  the  Statutes.  &c.,  together  with  an  easier  and 
plan  method  for  the  keeping  of  a  Court  Leet,  Court  Baron,  and  Hundred 
Court,  Ac.,  by  John  Wilkinson,  of  Barnard's  Inne  Gent."  (Lond.  1620); 
••Pad*  Consult um.  Lv  Judge  Jenkins  (Lond.  1657);  Andrew  Hornes 
r  of  Justice,"  sec.  17  ;  "  On  Views  of  Frankpledge  "  (Lond.  1768) ; 
Kitson,  "On  Courts  Leet"  (Lond.  1794);  Nelson's  "Lex  Manenorum 
(Lond.  1657) ;  "  The  Compleate  Copyholder,  wherein  is  contained  a 
learned  Discourse  of  the  Antiquity  and  Nature  of  Manors  and  Copyholds, 
by  Sir  Edward  Cooke  "  (Lond.  1644, 1668) ;  "  Lord  Coke's  Second  Institute  " 
(Lond.  1804) ;  "  Comyn's  Digest  of  the  Laws  of  England"  (Lond.  1822) ; 
Title  "  Leet,"  &c. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  general  reader  we  may  give  the  following  explana- 
tion of  some  of  the  terms  used  in  the  quotations  from  the  Domesday  Survey, 
dividing  the  notes  into  two  parts— (i)  as  to  Persons  ;  (2)  as  to  Land. 

(i)  As  to  Persons.— Thane  was  at  least  originally  like  the  term  earl, 
not  so  much  a  title  of  dignity  as  of  service.  Those  who  served  the  King 
in  places  of  eminence,  either  in  Court  or  Commonwealth  were  called  Thani 
majores  and  Thani  Regis  ;  and  those  who  served  under  them  in  like  manner 
as  under  other  great  officers  of  the  kingdom  and  under  bishops,  abbots, 
and  the  greater  prelates  of  the  church  were  called  Thani  minores  or  the 
leaser  thanes.  Later  there  seem  to  have  been  three  classes  of  thanes— 
the  King's  thanes,  the  middle  thanes,  and  the  lesser  thanes,  who  really 
were  the  great  landowner's  of  the  realm  in  Saxon  times.  But  from  the 
xoth  century  to  the  Conquest,  as  the  authors  of  the  "  English  Law  to  Edw. 
I  "  point  out,  thaneship  is  not  an  office  unless  described  by  some  specific 
addition  showing  what  the  office  is.  It  was  a  social  condition  above  that 
ol  the  churl,  carrying  with  it  both  privileges  and  customary  duties.  '  We 
may  perhaps,"  say  the  writers  last  referred  to,  "  roughly  compare  the  thanes 
of  the  later  Anglo-Saxon  monarchy  to  the  county  gentlemen  of  modern 
times  who  are  in  the  commission  of  the  peace  and  serve  on  the  grand 
jury.  But  we  must  remember  that  the  thane  had  a  definite  legal  rank.'" 

This  seems  to  be  correct  so  far  as  the  lesser  thane  is  concerned,  but 
to  the  King's  thanes,  the  barons  of  Norman  days,  and  to  the  middle  thanes, 
the  county  knights  of  later  times  would  seem  more  nearly  to  correspond. 
Speaking  generally,  however,  the  thane  answered  to  the  lord  of  the  manor 
of  Norman  days. 

Libert  homines  or  freemen  was  a  term  of  considerable  latitude,  signifying 
sometimes  the  freemen  or  freeholders  of  a  manor,  at  other  times  any 


holding  by  military  tenure.  Many  of  these  were  tenants  in  chief 
of  the  King.  '  The  ordinary  freemen  before  the  Conquest,"  says  Kelham, 
"  and  at  tin-  time  of  compiling  Domesday  were  under  protection  of  great 
men  ;  but  what  their  quality  was,  further  than  that  their  persons  and  blood 
were  free,  that  is,  that  they  were  not  nativi  or  bondmen,  it  will  give  a 
knowing  man  trouble  to  discover  to  us."'  These  freemen,  under  protection, 
are  called  in  the  Survey  Libert  homines  commendati.  They  appear  to  have 
placed  themselves  by  voluntary  homage  under  this  protection,  their  lord 

'  Pollock  and  Maitland.  i.  p.  10. 

'  Domesday  Book  Illustrated,  p.  254. 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii. 

or  patron  undertaking  to  secure  their  estates  and  persons  ;  and  for  this 
protection  and  security  they  paid  him  an  annual  stipend  by  way  of  acknow- 
ledgment, or  performed  some  service  annually.  No  doubt  the  origin  of 
this  "  Commendatio  "  is  to  be  found  in  the  Roman  civil  law. 

The  Commendati  dimidii  were  persons  depending  on  two  several  lords 
and  paying  half  their  protection  fee  to  one  and  half  to  another  lord.  Sub 
Commendati  were  such  as,  like  under-tenants,  were  under  protection  of  those 
who  were  themselves  depending  for  protection  on  some  superior  lord. 
Sub- Commendati  dimidii  were  those  who  were  under  the  Commendati 
dimidii,  and  had  two  patrons  or  protectors  the  same  as  they  had. 

The  socmen  or  sochemanni  were  those  inferior  land  owners  who  had 
lands  in  the  Soc  or  franchise  of  a  great  baron  ;  privileged  villeins  who, 
though  their  tenures  were  absolutely  copyhold,  yet  had  an  interest  equal 
to  a  freehold.  Their  services  were  fixed  and  determined,  and  they  could 
not  be  compelled  to  relinquish  their  holdings  at  their  lord's  will,  nor  against 
their  own.  There  were,  however,  different  conditions  of  socmen,  some 
enjoying  the  usufruct  within  the  soc  freely,  others  performing  certain 
inferior  services  of  husbandry. 

Villeins  or  villani  were  of  various  classes.  Under  Saxon  rule  they 
were  in  a  condition  of  downright  servitude,  belonging  with  their  children 
and  goods  to  the  lord  of  the  soil  like  the  cattle  or  stock  on  the  land.  They 
derived  their  names  either  from  the  word  vilis,  or  else  as  Lord  Coke  says,  a 
villa,  because  they  lived  chiefly  in  villages  and  were  employed  in  rustic 
works  of  the  most  sordid  kind.  These  villeins  belonged  principally  to 
lords  of  manors,  and  were  either  villeins  regardant,  that  is,  annexed  to  the 
manor  or  land,  or  else  they  were  in  gross  or  at  large,  that  is,  annexed  to  the 
person  of  the  lord  and  transferable  by  deed  from  one  owner  to  another. 
Speaking  generally,  they  answered  to  the  Saxon  gebur,  whose  normal  holding 
in  early  Saxon  days  was  the  yard-land  or  a  bundle  of  normally  30  scattered 
acres  in  the  open  fields  held  in  villenage.' 

Bordars  or  bordarii.  Lord  Coke  calls  them  "  boors  holding  a  little 
house  with  some  land  of  husbandry,  bigger  than  a  cottage."  Some  have 
considered  them  as  cottagers  taking  their  name  from  living  at  the  borders 
of  a  village  or  manor.  Bishop  Kennett  says  "  they  were  those  who  had  a 
bord  or  cottage  with  a  small  parcel  of  land  allowed  them  on  condition  they 
supplied  the  lord  with  poultry  and  eggs  and  other  small  provisions  for  his 
board  and  entertainment."  They  were  distinct  from  the  servi  and  villani 
and  of  a  less  servile  condition,  performing  such  domestic  works  as  grinding, 
threshing,  drawing  water,  cutting  wood,  &c.  Speaking  generally  they 
answered  to  the  Saxon  cotsette. 

The  servi  and  villani  are  distinguished  in  Domesday,  though  the  dis- 
tinction is  difficult  to  determine  beyond  the  fact  that  the  former  were  a 
degree  lower  than  the  latter.  The  servi  or  bondmen  were  servants  at  the 
arbitrary  pleasure  of  the  lord  appointed  to  servile  works  and  received  their 
wages  and  maintenance  at  his  discretion. 

(2)  As  to  the  Land. — The  carucata  or  ploughland  was  as  much  arable 
land  as  could  be  managed  with  one  plough,  and  the  beasts  belonging  thereto 
in  a  year,  having  meadow,  pasture  and  houses  for  the  householders  and 

'  Seebohm,  "  The  English  Village  Community  "  2nd  Ed.,  p.  164. 


Vu  INTRODUCTION. 

>  K*Jn«yiiff  to  it .  The  quantity  was  necessarily  uncertain,  as  it  differed 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  the  custom  of  husbandry  in  each 
county.  Bishop  K«nm-tt.  riting  from  a  Deed  in  the  Monasticon,  informs 
us  that  a  canicate  in  tin-  n-ign  of  Richard  the  First  was  computed  at  60 
acres.  "  Yet,"  he  adds,  "  another  charter,  9  Rich.  I.  allots  a  hundred 
•ens  to  a  canicate.  And  Fleta  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  First  says,  if 
tend  lay  in  three  common  fields,  then  nine  score  acres  to  a  carucate,  60 
(or  winter  tillage,  60  for  spring  tillage,  and  60  for  fallow.  But  if  the 
land  lay  in  two  fields  then  eight  score  acres  to  a  carucate,  one  half  for 
tillage  and  the  other  for  fallow 

The  caruca  was  a  ploughteam  of  eight  oxen.  This  was  the  normal 
ploughteam,  but  the  number  varied  according  to  the  nature  of  the  soil, 
so  consequently  did  the  number  of  virgates  in  the  hide  or  carucata.1 

Sir  Henry  Ellis  in  his  well-known  Dissertations  on  Domesday,  points 
out  a  matter  which  has  occasioned  some  difficulty.  He  says,  "  In  abbre- 

mg  the  Domesday  returns  the  Norman  scribes  appear  occasionally, 

i  in  the  same  county,  to  have  used  the  contraction  car  or  car'  both  for 
cantta  and  carucata,  although  the  one  signifies  the  plough  and  team,  and 
the  other,  as  Dr.  Nash  expresses  it,  the  team's  tillage.  The  omission  to 
observe  this  has  led  many  of  the  translators  of  Domesday  into  error." 

The  Quarentena  was  the  fortylong  or  furlong,  from  the  French 
QtutrcnU,  forty,  a  measure  of  forty  perches  or  poles.  In  this  computation 
the  perch,  according  to  the  Monasticon  Anglicanum  (iii.  16)  consisted  of 
twenty  fet-t  "  Quaelibet  Virga  unde  Quarentenae  mensurabuntur,  erit 
viginti  pedum." 

Sac  was  the  power  or  privilege  of  hearing  and  determining  causes  and 
disputes,  levying  forfeitures  and  fines,  executing  laws,  and  administering 
justice  within  a  certain  precinct.  Soc  was  the  precinct  or  territory  in  which 
sac  and  other  privileges  were  exercised. 

PECULIAR  SERVICES. 

Not  many  manors  or  lands  in  Suffolk  were  held  under  peculiar  services. 
One  or  two  instances  of  grand  and  petty  serjeanties  are  mentioned  by 
Blunt  in  his  Fragmenta  Antiquitatis.  Nedging  and  Kettlebaston  were 
held  by  William  de  la  Pole  Marquess  of  Suffolk  under  a  grant  from  Hen.  VI. 
by  the  service  of  carrying  a  golden  sceptre  with  a  dove  on  the  head  of  it 
upon  the  Coronation  day  of  the  King,  his  heirs,  and  successors ;  as  also  a 
sceptre  of  ivory,  with  a  golden  dove  on  the  head  of  it,  upon  the  day  of 
Coronation  of  the  Queens  of  England. 

Rowland  le  Sarcere  held  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  in 
Hemingston  by  serjeanty;  for  which  on  Christmas  day  every  year  before 
the  King  he  had  to  perform  an  indecent  service3  which  was  subsequently 

'  Flcia  bb.  ii.  cap.  72  «.  4.  See  "  The  Ploughland  and  the  Plough  "  by  Canon  Taylor ; 
Dometday  Studies,  i.  143-186 ;  Round's  Feudal  Studies,  87. 

•  Mr.  Seebohm  after  examination  of  the  connection  between  the  oxen  and  the  holdings 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  hide  or  carucate  was  a  holding  corresponding  with 
Ibe  poanMion  of  a  full  ploughteam  of  8  oxen  ;  and  that  the  half  hide  corresponded 
with  the  fioaieaiion  of  one  of  the  2  rakes  of  4  abreast,  while  the  virgate  corresponded 
with  the  finneaiion  of  a  pair  of  oxen  and  the  half  virgate  or  bovate  with  the 
pOHtwiou  of  a  tingle  ox  ;  all  having  their  fixed  relations  to  the  full  manorial  plough- 
team  of  8  oxen.  ("  The  English  Village  Community,"  2nd  Ed.,  p.  65.) 


'  Sand  et  temel,  unum  sVltum  unum  Sufflum,  et  unum  Bombulum  (Pla.  Coron.  14  Edw.  I. 
Rot  6  Done  Sufi.). 


INTRODUCTION.  xv. 

commuted  at  xxvis.  viiid.  a  year  payable  at  the  King's  Exchequer.  One 
Baldwin  formerly  held  the  lands  by  the  same  services. 

John,  son  of  Bartholomew  de  Aveyleres  or  D'Avillers,  held  a  certain 
serjeanty  in  the  town  of  Shelfhanger  in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  and  Brome 
and  Erwarton  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  by  the  service  of  being  Marshal  of 
the  Foot  Soldiers  of  the  Counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  the  King's 
army  in  Wales,  when  the  King  should  happen  to  go  thither  with  his  army 
at  the  costs  of  the  counties  aforesaid.1 

Walter  Pychard  of  Wratting  held  one  hundred  acres  of  land  of  the 
King  in  chief  by  the  Serjeanty  of  finding  for  him  one  Footman  with 
a  Bow  and  four  Arrows,  as  often  as  the  King  went  into  Wales  with  his 
army,  for  forty  days,  at  his  own  cost.2 

Robert  Bardolf  held  a  certain  tenement  in  Haughley  in  chief  of  the 
King  by  the  Serjeanty  of  being  and  doing  the  office  of  Bailiff  of  the  Honour 
of  Haughley3 ;  and  Geoffrey  Frumbaud  held  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Wingfield 
by  the  service  of  paying  to  the  King  two  white  doves  yearly.4 


'  Pla.  Coron.  14  Edw.  I.  Rot.  3  Norf.  Rot.  6  in  dorso  Suff. 
'  Pla.  Coron.  14  Edw.  I.  Rot.  46. 
-  Pla.  Coron.  14  Edw.  I.  Rot.  9  Suff. 
4  Pla.  Coron.  4  Edw.  I.  Rot.  6  in  dorso. 


Xfst  of  Subscribers. 


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H.  H.  Smith. 
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Public  Library. 
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Haww,   R     11 

Henrty,    Lord    Francit    (two    copies). 
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Herrey,  Rev.  Sydeaham  H.  A. 
Hill.  Arthur  G.,   F.S.A. 
Hill.  Rev.   E. 

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of  Waiapt). 

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Olorenshaw,  Rev.  J.  R. 

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Poix,  Edmond  du. 

Preston,  Richard. 

Preston,  Theodore  J. 

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Read  &  Barrett. 

Reform  Club. 

Rivett-Carnac,  Col.  J.  H.,  F.S.A., A.D.K. 

Roby,  Arthur  G. 

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Rylands,  John,  Library. 

Sinclair,  Walter  M. 

Singh,  H.  H.  Prince  Frederick  Duleep. 

Stanford,  Thomas. 
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Suckling,  Mrs.  Florence  H. 

Suffolk  Institute. 

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Wild,  Rev.  E.  J. 

Wilson,  Arthur  Maitland. 

Wood,  J. 

Woolby,  The  Misses. 

Wyncoll,  Col.  C.  L. 


BABERCH    HUNDRED. 


8AXTON. 
1576. 


SPEED. 
1610. 


BOWEN, 
1777. 


THE 


MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


BABERGH    HUNDRED. 

(UFFOLK  at  a  period  prior  to  the  Norman  Conquest  was 
divided  into  three  parts— the  Liberty  of  St.  Etheldreda, 
the  Liberty  of  St.  Edmund,  and  the  Geldable.  The 
Hundreds  of  Babergh  and  Blackbourn  were  both  in  the 
Liberty  of  St.  Edmund. 

Queen  Emma  of  Normandy,  the  mother  of  Edward  the 
Confessor,  had  as  a  marriage  portion,  either  from  Ethelred  in 
1002,  or  from  her  second  husband  Knut  in  1017,  jurisdiction  in  eight 
Hundreds  and  a  half  adjoining  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund ;  ^Elfric  son 
of  Earl  Withgar  and  afterwards  Ordgar  having  custody  of  the  franchise. 

After  the  Coronation  of  the  Confessor  in  1043  he  took  into  his  own 
hands  the  possessions  of  his  mother,  to  whom  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  very  favourably  inclined,  and  on  the  petition  of  the  Monks  of  St. 
Edmund  bestowed  upon  them  the  eight  hundreds  and  a  half,  and  the 
gift  was  confirmed  to  the  Monks  by  William  the  Conqueror.1 

The  fee  continued  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  until  the  dissolution 
of  the  Monasteries,  when  it  passed  to  the  Crown,  where  it  has  since  con- 
tinued, the  government  being  in  the  Sheriff  and  his  officers. 

The  Hundred  of  Babergh  (Babburgh,  Babenberga,  Babenga,  Babrig, 
Baburgh,  Balberg)  lies  to  the  south-west  of  the  County.  The  river  Stour 
separates  its  western  and  southern  boundaries  from  Essex,  and  it  has  several 
rivulets  which  fall  into  the  Stour.  On  the  west  it  is  bounded  by  the  same 
stream  and  the  Hundred  of  Risbridge  ;  on  the  north  by  the  Hundreds  of 
Thingoe  and  Thedwestry ;  and  on  the  east  by  those  of  Cosford  and;  Samford. 
Nayland  on  the  Stour,  Lavenham,  and  Melford  are  its  principal  towns.  The 
Borough  of  Sudbury  is  also  within  its  borders,  though  the  main  part  of 
the  borough  is  in  Essex.  The  Churches  of  Lavenham,  Melford  and  Stoke 
are  larger  and  richer  than  most  others  in  the  County,  and  are  evidence  of 
the  comparative  wealth  of  this  part  of  the  County  in  former  days. 

Babergh  Hundred  contains  the  following  33  Parishes  and  118  Manors  : — 


Parishes. 

Manors. 

Parishes. 

Manors. 

(  Acton. 

Assington. 

Acton     

Clerbeck. 
Rokewodes. 

Assington  .  . 

Levenya,  Stratton, 
Shimplingford. 

Leys. 

Aveley  or  Alvingley. 

\  Talemach. 

Boxford. 

Boxford  .  .  . 

Pevton  Hall. 

Alpheton  .  . 

Alpheton. 

Coddenham  Hall. 

1  Regr.   Nigrum  de  Vestrario  Abb.  S.  Edmundi    MS.  Bibl.  Publ.    Cantab.    Mm.  4, 
19  fol.  93  v. 

A 


THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 


Box  ford  — 


Brent  Elrigh 


Bures. 


Cavendish . 


Chilton  . . . 


Cockfield   . 


Cornard 
Great . . . 


Cornard 
Little.. 


Manor*. 

^_^_^^_— i— - 

Boweshowse  al.  Born- 
house. 

Boxstead  Hall. 
Trokettso/.Trucketts 

Mores. 

Brent  Eleigh. 
Abbot's  Hall. 
Fen  Hall. 
Bures. 

Overhall  al.  Roper's. 
Netherhall  or  Silves- 
ters. 

Smallbridge. 
Cornerth    Hall    al. 

Cornhall    al.   Nor- 

thall. 
Tany's. 
Overhall. 
De  Grey's. 
Netherhall. 
Newhall. 
Houghton  Hall. 
Bulley  Hall. 
Impey  or  Impsey  o 

Quipsey  Hall. 
Kensings'or  Kessings 

Hall. 
Peyton's. 

Peche's  or  Pechy's. 
More  Hall. 
Collingham  Hall. 
Stansfield  Hall. 
Chilton  als.  Walding- 

field  Hall,Carbonels 

with  Chilton. 
Cockfield. 
Earl's  Hall. 
Butlers  al.  Jacobbies. 
Pepers    al.    Colches- 

toe's. 
Cornard     Magna     or 

Abbas  Hall. 
Grey's. 

Little  Cornard. 
Cawston  or  Caxton's. 
Peacock's  Hall. 
Series. 
Catcheleigh,  Appul- 

gary's,  Folybrok, 

Caneworth. 


Edwardston 


Glemsford . . 


Groton  . . 

Hartest 
Lavenham . . 
Lawshall 


Melford 
Long 


Milden   . . , 

Monk  Illeigh 
Nayland    , 


Newton 


Polstead    . 


Preston 


Manors. 


Edwardston. 
Lynnes  al.  Algood's. 
Tewes   or    Tues    al. 
Tendring. 

Glemsford. 
Methold's  and  Wim- 

bold's. 

Callis  al.  Tylnes. 
Glemsford       al . 

Peverells. 

Groton. 
Castelins. 

Hartest. 

Lavenham. 

Lawshall. 

Long  Melford. 
Monks      Melford     or 

Melford    Monacho- 

rum. 
Luton's. 
Woolhouse. 
Woodfoule,    and  also 

Blakes. 
Cranevyles  al.  Craina- 

viles. 

Kentwell  Hall. 
Melford  Rectory. 

Milden  al.  Wells  Hall. 
Bures  or  Bowers. 

Monk  Illeigh. 
Nayland. 

Newton  Hall. 
Sayham,      Siam      or 

Saxham  Hall. 
Botelers    al.    Butlers 

or  Buxtons. 

Polstead. 
Sprotts. 
Casteles. 

Newstead    or    New- 
stead  Hall. 

Preston       Hall       or 

Church  Hall. 
Swifts. 
Maisters. 
Mortimer's. 
(  Priory. 


BABERGH   HUNDRED. 


Parishes. 


Manors. 


Parishes. 


Manors. 


Shimpling . 

Somerton  . 
Stanstead  . 


Stoke  by 
Nayland 


Shimpling. 

Chadacre  or  Chadacre 
Hall,  Gifford  and 
Boxstead's. 

Rowheads  al.  Rous- 
hedges. 

Somerton. 

Hores. 

Stanstead  or  Overhall. 

Netherhall. 

Woodhouse. 

Tendring  Hall  al. 
Stoke  by  Nayland. 

Giffard's  Hall. 

Levenhey  al.  Nether- 
hall. 

Scotland  Hall. 

Withermarsh. 

Capel. 

Chamberlain's. 

Causer's,   Peachan's 
or  Shardelowe's. 

Stoke  Rectory. 


Sudbury    . . 


Waldingfield 
Great 


Waldingfield 
Little 


Wiston 


|  Wood  Hall. 
(  Place's. 

Carbonels  or  Butler's. 

Badley     al.     Peyton 
Hall. 

Brandeston  Hall. 

Moreves  al.  Moreyes 
al.   Saires,  with 
Storkenest. 

Sandesford's  al.  Stan- 
ford. 

Dowres  or  Dowayres. 

Woodhall     al.     Wal- 
dingfield Parva. 
Netherhall. 
Holbrook  Hall. 
Luns  Hall. 

Wiston    or    Wissing- 

ton. 
Wiston  Grange. 


From  the  Hundred  Rolls  we  learn  that  the  Countess  Cloverine  with- 
held certain  suit  for  two  years,  which  suit  James  de  Makerel  used  to  make 
to  this  Hundred1  ;  and  that  land  of  John  de  Buc  of  Sudbury  owed  suit 
which  was  withheld  for  6  years.2  In  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  Thomas 
Cavendish  in  1477,  land  in  this  Hundred  is  referred  to.3 

Amongst  the  MSS.  of  the  Earl  of  Ancaster  is  a  certificate  (1514-23) 
of  Sir  William  Waldeyn,  Sir  William  Clopton,  George  Mannok,  Robert 
Crane  and  Robert  Ford  the  Elder,  commissioners,  concerning  the 
musters  and  for  valuing  men's  substance  in  the  Hundred  of 
Babergh.  Among  the  proprietors  named  are  the  Queen,  the 
College  of  St.  Gregory  in  Sudbury,  Sir  Edward  Nevyll,  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  Lady  Peyton,  the  Guilds  of  St.  Peter, 
St.  John,  the  Trinity  and  St.  Christopher  in  Boxford,  the  Provost  of 
Cambridge,  the  Abbess  of  Dartford,  Sir  Richard  Fitzlawes,  Lady 
Salisbury  the  Abbess  of  Mailing,  the  Earl  of  Oxford  and  many  others. 

Amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  is  an  acknowledgment  of  delivery 
by  Robert  Crane  to  Thomas  Abbot  of  Bury  the  Collector  of  moneys  in 
Babergh  Hundred4 ;  and  amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  British 
Museum  are  several  Deeds  relating  to  the  same  Hundred,  1517  to  1792.* 

It  is  stated  in  the  Letter  Book  of  the  Deputy-Lieutenants  and  Justices 
of  the  Peace  of  Suffolk  1608-1640*  that  in  a  Rate  of  £1,500  for  the  whole 
County,  the  franchise  of  Bury  was  £500  ;  of  this  £100  was  payable  out  of 


1  H.R.  ii.  143. 

'  Ib. 

3  I.P.M.,  17  Edw.  IV.  4. 


'  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  135. 

'  Add.  Ch.  10542,  10554. 

'  13  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  434. 


4  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

Babergh  Hundred,  the  same  being  levied  upon  every  town  within  the  said 
Hundred  in  the  proportions  given. 

In  the  Great  Domesday  of  Ipswich,  compiled  in  1520,  the  taxes  paid 
by  every  town  in  Suffolk  to  the  King  are  specified.  Originally  the  amount 
paid  to  thr  King  was  uncertain,  being  levied  by  fresh  assessments  at  each 
grant  made  by  the  Commons ;  but  in  1334  new  taxations  were  made,  by 

ie  of  the  King's  Commission  which  fixed  the  tax  payable  in  each  case. 
This  is  given  in  Liber  Six  t  us  of  Richard  Percyhale's  Great  Domesday 
Book  and  the  portion  relating  to  the  Hundred  of  Babergh  will  be  found 
in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Suffolk  Institute  in  1885.  This  Hundred  contains 
71,813  acres  of  land. 


ACTON.  5 

ACTON. 

N  the  time  of  King  Edward  the  Confessor,  Seward  of  Maldon 
the  Thane  held  12  carucates  of  land  in  Acton  as  a  manor 
with  soc  and  sac.  There  were  23  villeins,  38  bordars,  17 
slaves,  8  ploughteams  in  demesne,  20  belonging  to  the  men, 
50  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  40  hogs,  2  mills,  8  horses  at  the 
Hall,  34  beasts,  200  hogs,  300  sheep,  9  hives  of  bees  and  a 
church  living  to  which  were  attached  30  acres  of  free  land — 
all  valued  at  20  pounds.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the  value 
had  increased  to  30  pounds,  and  there  had  been  various  other  changes. 
The  8  ploughteams  in  demesne  had  been  reduced  to  6,  and  those  belonging 
to  the  men  had  come  down  to  14,  one  mill  had  disappeared,  but  the  horses 
at  the  Hall  had  been  increased  to  n.  All  the  other  animals,  except  the 
sheep,  had  been  reduced  in  number,  the  34  beasts  were  then  31,  the  hogs 
160,  the  9  hives  of  bees  were  then  7,  but  the  sheep  from  300  had  increased 
to  423.  The  manor  was  then  held  by  Ranulph  Peverell,  and  was  excep- 
tionally large,  extending  into  Melford,  Sudbury  Great  and  Little  Walding- 
field,  Milding  and  Edwardston.  In  Acton,  besides  what  was  held  as  a 
manor  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey,  were  4  freemen  whom  Ranulf 
received  as  a  holding  of  50  acres.  Acton  was  a  league  long  and  a  league 
broad  and  paid  13^.  in  a  gelt.1  In  course  of  time  this  huge  manor  became 
divided  into  five — Acton  Hall,  Rokewodes,  Clerbeck,  Leys  and  Tale- 
mach,  the  last  four  being  named  after  families  who  held  the  same 
respectively  in  early  times. 

ACTON   MANOR. 

Gipps  says  that  the  Tollemaches  held  the  Manor  of  Acton  25  Edw.  I., 
but  their  holding  was,  as  we  shall  see,  one  of  the  Manors  in  Acton.  The 
Inquis.  quod  damnum  4  Edw.  II.  (59)  mentions  a  Bentley  or  "  Benetteley 
Manor  of  "  Acton  Manor,  of  which  at  this  time  Hugh  Talmache  was  seised, 
and  as  early  as  the  56  and  57  Henry  -III.  [1271-2]  Hugh  son  of  William 
Tallemache  had  a  third  of  what  is  said  to  be  the  Manor  of  Acton  claimed 
from  him  by  Peter  de  Ryngesale  and  Margaret  his  wife.2  Strangely  enough 
the  Tolemaches  did  at  this  time  hold  the  Manor  of  Bentley  near  Ipswich. 
This  Hugh  Tollemache  had  a  considerable  amount  of  land  undoubtedly  in 
Acton  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III. — in  fact,  half  a  fee  held  of  the  Honor  of 
Hatfield  Peverel3,  and  the  family  held  their  land  as  a  distinct  manor  known 
as  Talemach  to  which  we  will  shortly  refer.  The  several  manors  are 
indiscriminately  referred  to  in  the  various  documents  as  Acton  Manor. 

The  main  manor  belonged  in  the  time  of  Rich.  I.  to  the  Hodebovilles, 
and  in  that  King's  reign  was  held  by  Ralph  de  Hodeboville.  He  died  in 
1190,  and  Davy  says  (referring  to  another  manor  in  Acton)  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Hodeboville  who  died  in  1299,  but 
this  is  not  possible,  as  the  son  could  not  well  have  died  a  hundred  and  nine 
years  after  his  father.  Sir  John  de  Hodeboville  had  the  lordship  in  1196." 
Davy  makes  the  Hodebovile  holding  of  Balisden  Manor  only,  and  starts 
the  Manor  of  Acton  practically  with  Robert  de  Bures  in  1313.  He  labours 
under  a  delusion  on  this  point,  apparently  not  being  aware  of  the  Fine 

1  Dom.  ii.  417.  3  Red  Book  of  the  Exch.  cxxxv.  rider  c. ; 

*  Abbr.  of  Pleas,  56  and  57  Hen.  III.  8.  T.   de    Nevill,  291 ;  H.R.  ii.    142  ; 

Chart.   Rolls,    15   John   2,  3,   13 ; 

Testa  de  Nevill,  285. 
4  Abbr.  of  Pleas,  7  Rich.  I.  and  9  John  2. 


6  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

levied  in  the  5th  year  of  Edw  1 1  and  th<-  entry  on  the  Close  Rolls  6  Edw.  III.1 
which  show  that  Robert  dr  Hurt's  and  Hillaria  his  wife  in  1311  acquired 
their  interest  from  Rog«  r  «!••  Hodeboville.  The  Red  Book  of  the  Exchequer 
does  not  mention  the  manor,  but  states  that  Sir  John  de  Hodeboville  held 
one  fee  in  Acton  of  the  Honor  of  Peverell  in  1210-12.*  An  extent  of  the 
manor  as  held  by  John  de  Hodebovile,  a  son  or  grandson  of  the  former 
John  will  be  found  in  the  Inquis.  post  mortem  under  his  name  in  1301.' 
i  de  Hodeboville  and  Matilda  were  the  parents  of  John,  who  married 
Hillary,  and  they  held  2  parts  of  the  manor  of  the  gift  of  Peter  de  Debenham 
and  Roger  de  Hodebovyle.4  It  was  John  son  of  John  de  Hodebovill  who 
had  enfeoffed  Peter  de  Debenham  and  Roger  de  Hodebovill  of  the  manor.5 
The  other  part  of  the  manor  at  this  time  seems  to  have  belonged  to  Walter 
de  Hodeboville  in  right  of  his  wife  Elizabeth  de  Clerbeck.'  The  manor 
was  vested  in  Roger  de  Hodeboville  and  was  acquired  from  him  by  Robert 
de  Bores  and  Hilary  his  wife  in  1311',  and  between  that  time  and  1331 
we  meet  with  the  following  documents  in  connection  with  the  manor  : 
Licence  to  Robert  Bures  to  alienate,  no  doubt  by  way  of  settlement' ; 
Inquisition  and  Extent, Alicia  de  Hodeboville9;  Fine,  Robert  de  Bures 
and  Hillaria  his  wife  v.  James  de  Bures  and  John  de  Bures10 ;  Fine,  Robert 
de  Bures  and  Hillaria  his  wife  v.  Edmund  le  Boteller  1329."  Inquis.  1331 
Robert  de  Bures  and  Hillaria  his  wife."  On  the  north  side  of  the  Chancel 
of  Acton  Church  between  two  pillars  and  under  a  Gothic  arch  is  a  very  ancient 
altar  monument  formerly  adorned  with  a  cross  fleury,  but  now  robbed  of  all  its 
brasses  except  one  escutcheon  which  belongs  to  the  name  of  Buers.  And 
on  a  flat  stone  in  the  north  aisle  is  or  was  a  portrait  of  a  knight  (in  brass) 

6  feet  high,  completely  armed,  cross  legged,  at  his  feet  a  lion  ;  on  his  shield 
the  arms  of  Bures.    The  inscription  was  engraved  round  the  verge  of  the 
stone,  at  the  upper  end  of  which  at  the  right-hand  corner  '  Robert  de  Bures  ' 
is  still  legible.    Ancient  portraits  as  large  and  complete  as  this  are  very 
uncommon.    This  Robert  de  Bures  was  keeper  of  forfeited  lands  in  Suffolk.13 
The  manor  then  passed  to  Sir  Andrew  de  Bures  and  Alicia  his  wife  as  shown 
by  an  Inquis.  p.m.  in  1360. '4    Sir  Andrew  had  died  the  12  April,  1360. 
Gipps  says  Sir  Andrew  de  Bures  left  two  sons,  Sir  Robert  and  another. 
Sir    Robert    Bures   died    about    1393  (Blomefield    says    he    died    the 

7  Oct.,  1361),  and  left  Alice  his  sole  daughter  and  heir  married  to  Sir 
Guido  de  Bryan,  but    they  both  died  without   issue,  3  Hen.  V.     After 
them   the  second  son  of   Sir  Andrew  was   seated  at   Acton,   and    the 
family  flourished  again  for  many  descents  ;  but  at  length  Henry  de  Buers 
died  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth.     Page  agrees  that  this  branch  of  the 
family  terminated  in  the  male  line  upon  the  death  of  Henry  Buers  which,  he 


•  Pt.  il  16. 

•  132  B.  I52d..  cxxxv.  rider  c.  Testa  de 

Nevill,  271. 
'  29  Edw.  I.  28,  2  Edw.  II.  57. 

•  Calendar  of  Heirs  extracted   from  the 

Inquisition    I    and    2    Edw.     II. 
D.K.R.  32.  App.  i.  p.  254. 
'  Originialia  33  Edw.  I.,  Rj.  14,  I.P.M., 
Kdw.  I.  217,  Feet  of  Fines,  34 
Edw.  I.  22. 

•  Extent.    Elizabeth  Clerbeck  and  Walter 

Hodeboville  her  husband,  I. P.M., 
35  Edw.  I.  21,  Walter  in  right  of 
Diaheth  his  wife  I. P.M.  3  Edw.  II. 
31,  Hillary  wife  of  John  de  Hode- 


boville I.P.M.  3  Edw.  II.  12,  Close 
Rolls,  3  Edw.  II.  13. 
'  Feet  of  Fines  5  Edw.  II.  36,  Close  Rolls, 

6  Edw.  II.  pt.  ii.  16. 
I.Q.D.,  6  Edw.  II.  53. 
I.P.M.,  8  Edw.  II.  19. 
"  Feet  of  Fines,  n  Edw.  II.  17. 

Feet  of  Fines,  3  and  4  Edw.  II.  37. 
I.P.M.,  5  Edw.  III.  55. 
1   Close  Rolls,  17  Edw.  II.  36,  20,  15,  18 
Edw.    II.    20.    For    Pedigree    see 
Add.  MSS.  inBrit.Mus.  19121,  and 
for  brasses  of  de  Bures  see  Publica- 
tions of  Suffolk  Institute  vol.  i.  26. 
"  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  III.  60. 


ACTON.  7 

says,  was  in  1528  "  who  left  issue  by  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Wm. 
Waldegrave  of  Smallbridge  in  Bures,  three  daughters,  Joan,  Bridget  and 
Anne.  These  co-heirs  married  Sir  William,  Thomas  and  Edmund  Butts 
sons  of  Sir  William  Butts,  Knt.,  Physician  to  Hen.  VIII.  Joan  and  Bridget 
the  wives  of  Sir  William  and  Thomas  Butts  died  without  issue,  and  Anne 
the  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Edmund  Butts  and  Anne  his  wife  married 
Nicholas  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  Lord  Keeper  who  inherited 
the  manor  in  her  right,  and  it  continued  in  their  descendants  for  many 
generations.  In  1764  Sir  Richard  Bacon  Bart,  of  Colchester  held  the 
property.  It  now  belongs  to  Earl  Howe,  who  is  lord  of  the  manor  by 
purchase  from  the  Bacon  family."  This  statement,  however,  does  not 
seem  to  agree  with  the  facts.  In  the  first  place  Henry  Buers  had  four 
daughters,  not  three,1  and  the  fourth  daughter  Mary  married  Thomas 
Barrow  and  had  a  large  family,  5  sons  and  4  daughters,  viz.,  Thomas,  who 
died  without  issue,  William,  Henry,  Edward,  John,  Anne,  Bridget,  Elizabeth, 
and  Mary.  In  verification  of  our  statement  we  may  mention  that  the 
grant  of  wardship  of  the  four  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  "  Henry  son  of 
Robert  Bures  of  Acton  "  to  William  Buttes  is  still  in  existence,  and  is 
dated  the  gth  August,  I52Q.2  The  whole  statement  of  Page,  if  intended  to 
show  how  the  manor  descended,  is  an  entire  delusion,  and  but  demonstrates 
how  the  history  of  Suffolk  has  been  almost  invariably  treated.  Of  course, 
no  complete  history  has  yet  appeared,  and  with  the  exception  of  Suckling's 
four  Hundreds  and  the  Hundred  of  Thingoe  by  Gage,  Cullum's  Hawstead, 
and  Gage's  Hengrave,  nothing  worthy  of  the  name  of  history  has  appeared 
in  connection  with  th,e  County. 

Now  Sir  Guy  Bryan,  who  married  the  Buers  heiress,  did  not  die 
without  issue  as  stated  by  Gipps,  nor  did  the  manor  descend  as  inferred 
both  by  him  and  Page.  Sir  Guy  Bryan  and  Alice  his  wife  who  died  the 
nth  January,  J-4343 ,  left  a  daughter  Elizabeth  married  to  Robert  Lovell. 
Elizabeth  Lovell  died  about  1438,  and  the  manor  is  included  in  her  Inquisi- 
tion p.m.4  She  left  a  daughter  Matilda,  married  to  John  i^th  Earl  of 
Arundel,  who  died  the  i2th  June  1435,  and  they  had  a  son  Humphrey  i4th 
Earl  of  Arundel,  who  survived  his  father  3  years,  but  died  at  the  early 
age  of  9  on  the  24th  April,  1438,  and  the  manor  is  mentioned  in  his 
Inquisition  p.m.5  On  Elizabeth  Lovell's  death  about  1438  the  manor 
passed  to  her  grandson  Humphrey  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  on  his  death  the 
same  year  to  his  sister  Amicia,  who  was  married  to  James  Butler  Earl  of 
Ormond  and  Wiltshire,  and  died  in  1457  without  issue.6  On  the  Patent 
Rolls  appears  a  grant  of  the  manor  by  Edw.  IV.  to  Thomas  Cole  and  the 
heirs  male  of  his  body,  it  being  then  described  as  "  occupied  by  Thomas 
Roos  Knt.,  and  James,  late  Earl  of  Wilts  respectively  as  their  right  of 
inheritance."7  But  in  the  seventh  year  of  the  same  monarch  there  is  a 
grant  of  the  manor  by  him  to  Henry  Earl  of  Essex  and  his  wife  Isabel  and 
the  heirs  of  their  bodies.8  Henry  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex,  was  in  1447 
created  Viscount  Bourchier,9  and  in  1455  constituted  Lord  Treasurer  of 
England  ;  but  notwithstanding  the  favours  received  from  the  King  he 

'  I.P.M.,  of  Henry  Bures  20  Hen.  VIII.  87.  'Pat.   Rolls,    i   Edw.    IV.   pt.   iv.   14,   4 

'  13  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  406.  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  28. 

'  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  34.  8  Pat.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  16. 

4  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VI.  46.  »  For  full  account  of  his  lordship,  see  under 

5  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VI.  50.  Hopton      Manor     in     Blackbourn 
*  I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VI.  16.     See  account  of                    Hundred. 

him    under   Bures    Manor   in  this 
Hundred. 


8  THE   MANORS  r OF   SUFFOLK. 

fonook  his  Royal  master  and  espousing  the  interests  of  the  Earls  of  March 
and  Warwick  was  invested  with  the  Treasurership  of  England  by  the 
former,  and  on  his  accession  to  the  Throne  as  Edw.  IV.  was  created  Earl 
of  Essex  His  estates  were  greatly  swelled  by  the  confiscations  which 
befel  the  attainted  Earl  of  Wiltshire  and  the  Lord  Roos.  He  married 
Isabel  sister  of  Edw.  IV.,  and  by  her  had  issue  William  who  married  Anne 
daughter  of  Kuhanl  Widville  Karl  Rivers  and  sister  of  Elizabeth 
Owen  of  Edw.  IV.,  and  dird  in  his  father's  lifetime,  leaving  Henry 
&  CTCCT38QT  as  2nd  Earl  of  Essex.  Henry  Bourchier  first  Earl 
of  Essex  died  the  4th  April,  1483',  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow 
Isabel,  who  died  the  2nd  October  following.1  The  manor  did  ultimately 
come  back,  as  Page  states,  to  Robert  Bures  son  and  heir  of  William,  and 
he  died  seised  the  loth  July,  1524',  leaving  a  son  Henry  Bures  who  married 
Anne  daughter  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave  of  Smallbridge  in  Bures,  and 
died  the  oth  July,  1528,  leaving  four  daughters.  Dr.  William  Buttes  or 
Butt  us  serviens  ct  medicus  "  of  Hen.  VIII.  and  an  early 

member  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  obtained  from  the  Sovereign  the 
wardship  of  the  four  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Henry  Bures,  and  seems  to 
have  well  feathered  his  nest  by  the  acquisition.  Buttes  is  frequently 

red  to  in  the  State  Papers,  which  show  how  great  a  favourite  he  was 
with  tlx  King.  The  Bures  estates  consisted  of  the  Manors  of  Acton,  Rey- 
don.  and  Whersted,  and  other  lands  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  and  in  Essex. 

ve  bonds  still  extant  given  by  Buttes  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  King's 
Chamber  shew  that  this  wardship  was  far  from  being  a  free  gift.4  On  the 
loth  November,  1529,  Dr.  Buttes  had  a  grant  of  an  annuity  of  forty  marks 
out  of  his  wards'  estates  during  the  wardship  ;  and  subsequently  his  three 
sons  married  three  out  of  the  four  co-heiresses.  The  fourth  daughter 
was  married  to  Thomas  Barrowe,  and  William  Barrowe  his  son  and  heir 
seems  to  have  had  the  manor  in  1591,  or  a  share  in  it,  which  in  1599  had 
passed  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Knt.,  son  of  the  Lord  Keeper,  he  having 
married  at  Redgrave,  2  May,  1562,  Anne  only  daughter  and  heir  of  Edmund 
Butts,  and  Anne  his  wife5  third  daughter  of  Henry  Bures.  This  marriage  was 
a  scheme  of  his  father,  the  Lord  Keeper,  for  the  bridegroom  was  but  fourteen 
and  the  bride  but  12  at  the  time  of  their  marriage,  in  1562.  It  was  foreseen 
that  Anne  at  that  time  would  become  the  heiress  of  her  two  uncles,  and 
their  wives  as  well  as  of  her  mother,  for  they  were  all  parties  to  the 
marriage  settlement,6  and  to  the  seven  royal  licences  of  alienation  which 
were  necessary  to  give  legal  effect  to  the  assurances.  The  settlement  is 
dated  the  3  Oct.  3  Eliz.  [1561],  and  is  an  elaborate  document  dealing  with 
the  estates  of  Thomas  Buttes  as  well  as  those  of  his  wife.  Two  counter- 
parts exist  each  consisting  of  two  large  skins  of  vellum,  and  they  are  signed 
and  sealed  by  the  parties.  They  are  splendidly  engrossed  on  red  lines 
after  the  faslu'on  of  letters  patent  of  that  period.  Three  fines  were  limited 
pursuant  to  the  settlement  of  the  4th  part  in  the  manor  during  Hilary 
term  4  Eliz.  by  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  and  against  Sir  William  Buttes,  Anne 
Buttes,  widow,  and  Thomas  Buttes  respectively. 

1  I.P.M.,  i  Rich.  III.  31.  husband  60  years,    but     did   not 

'  I.P.M.,  2  Rich   III.  35.  re-marry.      She    had  a    moiety  of 

»  I.P.M.,16  Hon.  VIII.  35  where  the  manor  the  Manor  of    VVherstead,  William 

*  said  to  be  held  of  the  King  as  of  Barrowe,  second  son  of  Mary,  hav- 

Hat  field  Honor  valued  at  £20  p.  an.  ing  the  other  moiety. 
'  13  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  406.                            Articles  and  Agreements  3  Sept.   1561 

'  She  liwd  till  the  22  Dec.,  1609,  in  her  13  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  413. 
year.      She    survived     her 


ACTON.  9 

Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  was  knighted  in  1578,  and  was  the  first  baronet 
created  in  1611.  Besides  the  succession  of  inheritances  which  accrued  to 
him  from  his  marriage,  he  enjoyed  the  large  possessions  left  him  by  his 
father  in  1579.  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  died  the  I3th  Nov.  1624,'  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Edmund  Bacon,  who  died  the  loth  April, 
1649,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Sir  Robert  Bacon  who  died  the 
16  Dec.  1655.  Sir  Robert  Bacon  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Sir  Butts 
Bacon.  He  married  Dorothy  dau.  of  Sir  Henry  Warner  of  Parham  Kt., 
and  widow  of  William  2nd  son  of  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  Knt.,  and  died  in  1661, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Henry  Bacon  Bt.,  who  removed 
to  Herringfleet,  where  his  father  had  built  a  seat.  He  married  Barbara 
dau.  of  Wm.  Gooch  of  Mettingham.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Sir  Henry  Bacon  Bt.,  who  married  Sarah  dau.  of  Sir  John  Castleton  of 
Sturston,  Bart.,  and  died  in  1685-6,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  4th  Bart.,  who  married  first  Philippa  dau.  of  Sir 
Edmund  Bacon  of  Redgrave,  and  secondly  Mary  dau.  of  John  Castell  of  Raven- 
ingham,  and  dying  in  1721  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  by  his  first 
marriage  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  5th  Bart.,  who  married  Susan  dau.  of  Sir  Isaac 
Rebow  of  Colchester,  Essex,  and  dying  the  2  Oct.  1738  the  manor  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  6th  Bart.  He  died  unmarried  in  1750, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  uncle  Sir  Henry  Bacon  7th  Bart.,  who 
dying  in  1753  unmarried  it  went  to  his  brother  Sir  Richard  Bacon  8th  Bt. 
who  married  first  Bridget  Mahew,  and  second  Lucy  Gardiner,  and  dying  in 
1773  without  male  issue  surviving  the  manor  with  the  title  passed  to  his 
nephew  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  gth  Bt.,  the  eldest  son  of  Castell  Bacon  and  of 
Elizabeth  dau.  of  Richard  Dashwood  of  Cockley  Cley  in  Norf .,  his  wife,  the 
youngest  son  by  his  second  marriage  of  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  4th  Bart. 
Sir  Edmund  Bacon  gth  Bart,  married  Anne  daur.  of  Sir  Wm.  Beauchamp 
Proctor  Bart,  and  K.B.  The  manor  now  belongs  to  Earl  Howe/an  ancestor 
having  purchased  from  the  Bacon  family.  Court  Rolls  of  Acton  Manor 
for  18-19  Rich.  II.  and  Hen.  IV.  are  in  the  Public  Record  Office.3 

CLERBECK   MANOR. 

Another  manor  in  Acton  called  Clerbeck  was  long  held  by  a  family 
of  this  name.  We  learn  from  the  Red  Book  of  the  Exchequer  that  in  1210 
Sir  Henry  de  Clerebec  held  half  a  fee  and  Hamo  de  Clerebec  another  half 
fee  in  Oreton  of  the  Honor  of  Peverel4 ;  and  further,  somewhat  later,  that 
Hamo  son  and  heir  of  Henry  de  Clerebec  was  under  age,  and  ought  to  be 
in  the  custody  of  the  King,  who  had  the  Honor  of  Peverel.5  Also  from 
the  Hundred  Rolls  that  Robert  de  Clerbek  gave  3  acres  in  Acton  to  the 
religious  house  of  Hatfield  in  frankalmoin.6  Robert  de  Clerbeck  died  in 
1272,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  de  Clerbeck,  who  died  1285,  and  having 
had  an  only  son  Walter  who  died  in  his  father's  lifetime  was  succeeded  by 
his  3  sisters  Joan,  Isabella,  and  Alicia,  his  co-heirs,  who  in  1290  paid  their 
relief.  Henry  de  Clerbeck  is  the  next  Lord  we  meet  with,  and  an  extent 
of  this  manor  will  be  found  in  his  Inquisition  p.m.  in  I29&.7  Elizabeth  de 
Clerbeck,  probably  the  widow  of  Henry,  was  the  next  holder  of  the  manor, 
and  died  in  1303,  when  it  passed  to  her  son  Robert  de  Clerbeck,  who  died 
in  1329.  The  Originalia  Rolls  show  that  Joan  de  Clerbeck  in  1332  held 

1  I.P.M.,  7  Nov.  I  Car.  I.  *  I52d.  cxxxv.  rider  c. 

*  See   Rokewodes    Manor,  Acton,  in  this         5  Testa  de  Nevill,  300. 

Hundred.  6  H.R.  ii.  144. 

3  Portfolio  203,  i.  i  I.P.M.,  24  Edw.  I.  45. 


xo  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

lands  by  the  sen-ice  of  a  yd  part  of  a  knight's  fee,  and  the  King  took  homage 

of  Walt  -de  her  son  and  heir  of  all  lands  she  held  of  the  Honor 

of  Peverrll.'  e  years  later  this  Walter  de  Clerbek  had  licence  toenfeoff 

Robert  de  Rokwod  and  John  de  Fordham,  chaplain  of  a  messuage  80  acres 

of  land  4  of  meadow  2  of  pasture  10  of  wood  and  30$.  of  rent  in  Acton, 

h  was  probably  this  Clerbeck  Manor,  and  for  them  to  regrant   to  him, 

Alice  his  wife,  and  his  heirs.'     Walter  seems  to  have  died  the  next  year, 

leaving  John  his  son  and  heir.1     John  Clerbeck  died  in  1385,  and  the 

manor  then  seems  to  have  consisted  of  one  messuage  100  acres  of  land  5  of 

meadow  one  of  pasture  10  of  wood  and  305.  rent  in  Acton  and  Preston.4 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John,  and  he  by  his  widow  Hawsia 

for  life.    She  died  in  1426,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  Clerbeck  son  and 

.  who  died  in  1427,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Walter,  who 

died  in  1437.    The  manor  then  consisted  of  i  messuage  containing  4  acres 

called   Clerebeks  84    acres    of    land    10    of  wood  6   of  meadow   4    of 

pasture  and   145.    rent   in   Acton,  Kettlebaston,  Sudbury,   Melford   and 

Preston.'     Walter  Clerbeck  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas 

who  died  in  1482,*    and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Andrew 

who  died  in  1500,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas.     Thomas 

Clerbeck  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  who  died  in  1527 

without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  Aunt  Joan  wife  of  Wm.  Partrich, 

at  whose  death  in  1530  the  manor  passed  to  her  nephews  William   Lucy, 

Henry  Mack-William,  Edmund  Walgrave,  Roger  Martin,  Richard  Merton, 

Edward  Danyell,  Thomas  Ligate,  Thomas  Smerte,  clerk  and  John  Cordall. 

The  manor  was  sold  to  Thomas  Daniel  third  son  of  Edmund  Daniel  by 

Grace  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Richard  Baynard  Knt.  of  Messing  in  Essex 

which  Edmund  was  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Daniell  Knt.  created  Lord  of  Rathivire 

in    Ireland  by   King    Edward   IV.    and    Margaret    his    wife     daughter 

of  Sir  Robert  and  sister  of  Thomas  Howard  Duke  of  Norfolk.    Thomas 

Daniell  the  purchaser  married  ist  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Edmund  Lucy,  and 

2ndly  Frances  daughter  of  John  Butler  of  Coventry,  widow  of  Edward 

Felton  of  Pentlow  in  Essex.    His  will  is  dated  the  31  July  8  Eliz.  and  on  his 

death  in  1566  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  Daniell.     He 

married  Margaret  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edmund  West  of  Cornard,  and 

died  the  5  Oct.  1569.     His  will  is  dated  the  29  Aug.  n  Eliz.     His  eldest 

son  and  successor  John  Daniell  married  Margaret  d.  and  co-h.  of  Edmund 

Tyrrel,  but  died  in  1596  without  issue  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother 

Francis  Daniell;   after  which  it  descended  with  Rokwodes  Manor  next 

dealt  with. 

ROKEWODES. 

Another  manor  in  Acton  called  Rokewodes  was  held  by  the  Rokewood 
family,  also  as  of  the  Honor  of  Hatfield  Peverell  and  probably  originally 
formed  part  of  Clerbeck.  In  1302  Roger  de  Stoke  and  Joan  his  wife,  Alan 
de  Rokewode  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  Godfrey  de  Leyes  and  Alice 
his  wife' gave  the  King  for  relief  50  shillings  in  respect  of  half  a  fee  in  this 
This  Alan  de  Rokewode  left  issue  Sir  Robert  de  Rokewode,  who 
married  Margaret  daughter  of  Michael  de  Bures.  There  is  a  licence  on  the 
Patent  Rolls  for  this  Robert  to  enfeoff  John  de  Bures  and  Robert  Clerebek 

'  Original.*,  6  Edw.  III.  16.  >  I.P.M.,  15  Hen.  VI.  23. 

Pat.  Rolls,  ii  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  38.  «  I.P.M..  21  Edw.  IV.  13. 

n  I2  E<!w'  IH  "'  I5  Edw>  IIL  **•         '  (W11'011  J°an'  Elizabeth,  and  Alice  were 
'•  4.  App.  ii.  p.  136.  granddaughters  and  heirs  of  Henry 

I.P.M..  9  Rich.  II.  17.  de  Clerbeck.) 


ACTON.  ii 

of  a  messuage  140  acres  of  land,  7  of  meadow  6  of  pasture  28  of  wood  405. 
of  rent  and  a  third  part  of  a  messuage  and  of  a  mill  in  Acton  held  in  chief 
as  of  the  Honor  of  Peverell  and  for  the  feoffees  to  regrant  the  same  to  him  and 
Margaret  his  wife.1  He  died  in  1333,*  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son 
Sir  Robert  de  Rokewode  who  had  a  son  Sir  John  de  Rokewode  of  Stoke- 
by-Nayland.  On  Sir  John  de  Rokewood's  death  two  parts  of  the  manor 
passed  to  his  widow  Joan  who  died  in  I39i,3  and  was  succeeded  by  her  son 
John  de  Rokewood.  He  died  also  in  1391,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother  and  heir,  William  Rokewood  who  died  in  I422.4  Davy  says  he 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  William,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Thomas,  and  he  in  1422  by  his  son  and  heir  John ;  but  this  seems 
to  be  erroneous,  for  the  Inquisition  on  William  de  Rokewood  in  1422 
states  that  he  died  the  26  April,  leaving  John  Rokewood  his  son  and  heir 
aged  21  years.  By  an  Inquisition  recited  on  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1424  it 
was  found  that  William  Rokewod  had  conveyed  the  manor  to  Thomas 
Swynborne  and  others  in  fee.5  The  next  lord  was  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave, 
but  how  he  became  entitled  does  not  appear.  He  died  in  I434,6  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  and  he  by  his  eldest 
son  and  heir  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  who  died  without  issue  in  1439. 
The  manor  then  passed  to  Thomas  Daniel,  who  had  purchased  the  Manor  of 
Clerbeck.  Both  the  manors  being  vested  in  the  family  of  Daniels  they 
built  the  mansion  called  Acton  Place,  which  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
old  mansion  of  the  Clerbecks.  The  manor  devolved  with  the  Manor  of 
Clerbeck  to  Francis  Daniel,  who  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Roger 
Martyn  of  Long  Melford  and  left  a  son  John  Daniel,  who  inherited  the 
property  and  married  1st  Katharine  and  2ndly  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir 
Edward  Waldegrave  Knt.  of  Stansgate.  A  licence  for  this  John  Daniel  to 
alienate  (no  doubt  by  way  of  settlement)  the  manors  of  Rokwodes  and 
Clerbeck  in  1628  will  be  found  amongst  the  Sloane  MSS.  in  the  British 
Museum.7  John  Daniel  died  in  1638,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Charles  Daniel  who  married  Mary  daughter  of  Edward  Standish  of 
Standish,  and  was  buried  at  Acton  the  12  April  1658.  He  or  his  son  and 
heir  John  Daniell  who  had  no  issue  sold  the  manors  to  Robert  Jennens 
Aide-de-camp  to  the  great  Duke  of  Marlborough  and  grandson  of  Humphrey 
Jennens  of  Erdington  Hall  co.  Warwick,  who  had  amassed  an  enormous 
fortune  as  an  ironmaster  in  Birmingham.  Robert  Jennens  married  Anne 
daughter  and  heir  of  Carew  Guidott  a  lineal  descendant  of  Sir  Anthony 
Guidott  Knt.  a  noble  Florentine  employed  on  several  embassies  by  Edw.  VI. 
He  died  in  1725-6,  and  was  buried  in  Acton  Ch.  with  the  following 
inscription : — 

To   the    Memory   of 

Robert  Jennens  of  Acton  Place  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  Esqr.  fourth 
son  of  Humphrey  Jennens  Esqr.  of  Worwickshire  who  died  the  sth  of 
February  i?2f  in  the  54th  year  of  his  age  leaving  only  one  son  William 
Jennens  by  Anne  his  wife  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Carew  Guidott  of 
Hampshire  Esqr.  He  purchased  the  Estate  and  began  the  House.  This 
monument  was  erected  by  his  wife  who  also  built  this  Chapel.  She  died 
the  24th  December  1761  aged  85  and  is  deposited  in  the  family  vault  under 
the  Chancel  adjoining  to  this  Chapel  with  the  remains  of  her  said  husband. 

1  Pat.   Rolls,    10     Edw.    II.   pt.    ii.    26.  '  I.P.M.,  15  Rich.  II.  pt.  i.  56. 

Originalia,  10  Edw.  II.  15,  I.Q.D.,  '  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  V.  7. 

9  Edw.  II.  74.  5  Pat.  Rolls,  2  Hen.  VI.  pt.  i.  32. 

1  I.P.M.,  27  Edw.  III.  31,    160  acres  of  6  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  27. 

Honor  of  Peverell.  '  Slo.  xxxii.  59,  Add.  106. 


xt  THE    MANORS    OF    SUFFOLK. 

Robert  Jennens  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son  William  Jennens  for  whom 
William  III.  stood  sponsor,  and  who  was  in  his  youth  page  to  George  1. 
\\  ilham  Jcnnm-  In  <•<!  and  died  a  bachelor— being  reckoned  to  be  the  richest 
commoner  in  England.  He  was  the  last  annuitant  of  the  Exchequer  tontine  of 
£100  share  for  which  he  received  £3,000  a  year  for  a  lengthy  period.  In  his 
safe  were  found  at  his  death  £19,000,  and  at  his  bankers  he  kept  £50,000. 
s  funded  property  amounted  to  £796,554,  and  he  had  an  estate  bringing 
in  £8,000  a  year.  A  will  was  found  in  his  coat  pocket,  but  unsigned,  owing, 
as  his  servant  said,  t<>  hi-  having  forgotten  his  spectacles  at  home  when 
he  went  to  his  solicitor  for  the  purpose  of  executing  it.  He  died  at  Acton 
the  19  June  1798  at  the  ace  of  97. 

\Vm.  Jennens's  own  aunt  was  mother  to  William 

Hanmer  of  the  Fenns,  who  married  his  first  cousin  Miss  Jennens  of  Gopsal 
bv  whom  he  had  a  daughter  Hester  who  married  Assheton  Curzon  afterwards 
Viscount  Curzon  by  whom  she  had  a  son  the  Hon.  Penn  Assheton  Curzon,  who 
married  Sophia  Charlotte,  Baroness  Howe,  and  died  the  i  Sept.  1797,  leaving 
George  Augustus  W illiam  Curzon,  heir-at-law  to  all  the  real  estate  of  William 
Jennens.  He  died  the  6  Jan.  1805,  when  his  brother  Richard  William  Penn 
Curzon  inherited  these  manors.  He  married  ist  Harriett  Georgiana  Brude- 
nell,  2nd  daughter  of  Robert  6th  Earl  of  Cardigan,  and  had  issue  George 
Augustus  Frederick  Louis  and  Richard  William  Penn  and  other 
children.  The  eldest  son  succeeded  as  2nd  Earl  Howe  on  the  death  of 
hi-  fatlu-r  the  12  May  1870,  and  married  Harriet  Mary  daughter  of  Henry  C. 
Sturt,  and  had  a  daughter  Harriet  Alice.  The  2nd  Earl  Howe  died  in 
1876,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Richard  William  Penn  Curzon- 
HOWI-,  3rd  Earl  Howe,  who  married  in  1858  Isabella  Katherine  eldest 
daughter  of  Major-General  the  Hon.  George  Anson.  He  died  in  1903  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Richard  George  Penn  Curzon-Howe  4th 
Earl  Howe  and  the  present  holder  of  these  manors.  The  magnificent  house 
originally  designed  for  Acton  Place  was  never  completed. 

Anns  of  Daniel :  Arg.  a  pale  fusiles  sa.— of  Jennens  :  Arg.  a  chevron 
sable  between  3  plummets  of  the  second  rimmed  Or — Howe,  Quarterly,  ist 
and  4th  Or,  a  fesse  between  three  wolves'  heads,  erased,  sa.  for  Howe ;  2nd 
and  3rd  Arg.,  on  a  bend,  sa.,  three  popinjays,  or,  beaked  and  legged,  gu., 
for  Curson. 

LEYS   MANOR. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  I.  we  meet  with  a  small  manor  in  Acton 
called  Leys  (or  Leyes  called  after  a  family  here  in  the  time  of  Edw. 
II.),  which  by  the  time  of  Henry  VI.  became  joined  with  the  Manor 
of  Rokewodes.  In  1296  this  manor  belonged  to  Alice  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  Robert  de  Clerbeck,  who  married  Geoffrey  de  Leyes.  He  was  lord  in 
his  wife's  right,  and  on  his  death,  for  by  some  accounts  he  seems  to  have 
died  in  her  lifetime,  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow.  She  died  in  1312' 
and  was  succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir  Robert  de  Leyes.  On  Robert  de 
Leyes's  death  Anne  his  widow  succeeded  and  she  was  followed  by  her 
only  daughter  Beatrix,*  married  to  Stephen  Bacon.  The  manor  seems  in 
the  time  of  Hen.  VI.  to  have  belonged  to  Richard  Waldegrave,  and  was 
;bsequently  acquired  by  the  Rokewoods,  for  William  Rokewood  died 
seised  of  it  in  1422,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John.3  He  was 
followed  by  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  Knt.,  who  died  the  2  May  1434,* 

I  r  M..  5  Edw.  II.  59.  i. p.M.  10  Hen.  V.  7.  • 

•  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  a. .  «  I.P.M.  13  Hen.  VI.  27. 


ACTON.  13 

and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Waldegrave  and  he 
by  his  eldest  son  Sir  Richard  who  died  in  1439  without  issue.  The 
devolution  is  subsequently  identical  with  the  Manor  of  Rokewodes. 

TALEMACH   MANOR. 

The  Manor  of  Talemach  early  lost  its  identity,  for  we  learn  nothing  of 
it  after  1329,  though  as  a  "  place  called  Talmages  in  Acton  Manor  "  we 
meet  with  it  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Henry  Bures  in  20  Hen.  VIII.  There 
were  five  lords  practically  in  succession  of  the  name  of  Hugh  Talemach.  The 
first  was  lord  in  1213,  the  2nd  in  1220,  the  3rd  died  in  1297,'  the  4th  Hugh 
was  succeeded  by  his  widow  Illaria  who  died  in  1301,  and  the  5th  Hugh  was 
seised  with  his  wife  Katherine  and  died  in  1311, *  being  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  John.  The  successor  of  this  John  Talemach  was  another  Hugh  Tale- 
mach, but  it  does  not  appear  that  lie  was  seised  of  more  than  a  fourth  of 
the  manor.  An  action  was  brought  by  Peter  de  Ryngesale  and  Margaret 
his  wife  against  Hugh  son  of  William  Talemathie  claiming  a  third  part  of  this 
Manor  in  1272 .3 

A  "  Talmaghe  Manor  "  is  included  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  Robert 
Broughton,  who  died  the  17  Aug.  21  Hen.  VII.  [1505]  leaving  John  his 
son  and  heir4  and  a  "Talmages  Manor"  in  that  of  Robert  Drury  who  died 
the  2  March  26  Hen.  VIII.  [1534]  leaving  Sir  Wm.  Drury  his  son  and 
heir.5 


i 


v  ) 


ACTOK    PLACE. 


1  Extent.     I.P.M.  25  Edw.  I.  16. 

3  Benetteley  Manor,  I.Q.D.,  4  Edw.  II.  59. 

3  Abbr.  of  Pleas  56  and  57  Hen.  III.  8. 


«  I.P.M.  22  Hen.  VII.  I. 
s  I.P.M.  27  Hen.  VIII.  24. 


THE    MANORS    OF    SUFFOLK. 

ALPHETON   MANOR 

LONGED  in  the  time  of  King  John  to  Walter  de  Bernham 
who  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here.1  There  was  an  action 
as  to  the  title  to  the  ndvowson  between  this  Walter  de 
Bernham  and  the  Abbot  of  Albemarle  in  which  the  latter 
pleaded  a  grant  of  Count  Stephen  de  Albemarle  and  con- 
firmation of  Count  William  his  son  and  vouched  to 
warrant  Count  Baldwin  who  married  the  heiress  of  the 
said  Count.'  He  was  dead  before  1231,  for  we  find  from  the  Close 
Rolls  that  an  order  was  given  to  the  Sheriff  not  to  allow  Robert  de  Sancto 
Albano  to  distrain  on  this  manor,  he  having  in  his  custody  the  son  and  heir 
of  Walter  de  Bernham,  for  the  debt  of  a  certain  Jew.3  The  infant  was 
another  Walter,  as  we  learn  from  a  fine  in  which  Walter  de  Thurkelby  was 
plaintiff  and  Walter  de  Bernham  deforceant  respecting  the  manor  and 
advowson.4  This  Walter  was  still  holding  the  manor  in  1266,'  and  the 
following  entries  relating  to  the  manor  are  from  the  Feet  of  Fines  24  Edw. 
I.  23  [1296]  William  de  Mortuo  Mari  clerk  v.  John  de  Bernham  and  Mary 
his  wife  30  Edw.  I.  8  [1302]  Robert  de  St.  Quintino  v.  William  de  Mortuo 
Mari.  5  Edw.  II.  2  [1311]  John  de  Whelnitham  and  Alice  his  wife  v.  Geoffrey 
de  Ketlesberston  and  Nicholas  de  Whelnitham.  Davy  states  the  descent 
of  the  lordship  to  be  as  follows  : — 

9  Edw.  II.  [1316]  John  de  Whelnetham  living  1321.  William 
Inge  and  Isolda  his  wife  died  in  1321. 

15  Edw.  II.  [1322]  Joan  daughter  of  William  Inge  and  Margery 

his  wife  late  wife  of  Sir  Eudo  la  Zouch  Knt.  heir.  Sir  John 

de  Whelnetham  son  and  heir  of  John  died  in  1365.  Margaret 

daughter  and  heir  of  John  de  Whelnetham  died  in  1384. 
She  married  Sir  John  de  Brokesborn. 

John  de  Welnetham  had  free  warren  here  in  1318.'  It  would  appear 
that  on  the  death  of  John  Whelnetham  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir 
John,  and  on  his  death  passed  to  Margaret  his  daughter  and  heir  who  was 
married  to  Sir  John  de  Brokesbourn  Knt.  who  died  in  1383  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  de  Brokesbourn.  His 
only  daughter  and  heir  Eleanor  married  Sir  William  Raynforth 
and  carried  the  manor  into  that  family.7  Sir  William  Raynforth 
died  in  1434,  and  the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Lawrence  Raynforth  Knt. 
his  son  and  heir,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir 
John  Raynforth  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Raynforth  who 
died  without  issue.  The  next  lord  was  Edward  Latimer  of  Freston,  who 
died  the  20  May  1541,"  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Christopher 
Latimer,  against  whom  in  1563  a  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  by  Edmund 
Bookynge.9  On  the  death  of  Christopher  Latimer  the  manor  seems  to  have 
passed  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Anne.  Sir  Roger  Martin  Kt.  of  Long 
Melford  son  of  Richard  Martin  by  Eleanor  his  ist  wife  dau.  of  Francis 
Mannock  of  Giffard's  Hall  in  Stoke  by  Nayland  was  the  next  lord.  He  died 
in  1556  and  was  buried  at  Long  Melford  on  the  5th  Oct.  that  year  according 

1  See  Fine  i  John  14,  6  John  20  ~and        '  The  manor  is  mentioned  in  an  Inquis. 

Abbr.  of  Pleas  6  John.  p.m   of  Margeria  wife  of  Sir  John 

Abbr.  of  Pleas  de  Banco,  t.  John  in  dorso.  de  Sutton  in  1738.    I.P.M.  8  Rich. 

OOM  Rolls,  15  Hen.  III.  m.  9.  II.  33. 

Feet  of  Fines.  35  Hen.  III.  88.  "  I.P.M.  33  Hen.  VIII. 

H.K.  ii.  143,  153.  .  Fine  Easter  5  Eliz. 
Chart.  Rolls,  12  Edw.  II.  88, 


ALPHETON.  15 

to  the  Registers,  though  he  is  usually  stated  to  have  died  in  1657.  From 
this  time  to  the  time  of  Sir  Roger  Martin  created  a  baronet  the  19  Car.  II. 
the  manor  devolved  in  the  same  course  as  the  Manor  of  Stanstead  or  Over- 
hall  in  Stanstead  in  this  Hundred.  Sir  Roger  Martin  sold  the  manor 
to  Houblon  of  London  whose  daughter  married  John  Littell  or  Little. 
Mrs.  Little  was  lady  of  the  manor  in  1764,  and  was  succeeded  by  her  son 
and  heir  George  Saubridge  Littel  whose  daughter  and  heir  Elizabeth 
married  Sir  Robert  Clarke  of  Freckenham  Bart.  The  manor  was  devised 
after  their  death  and  the  death  of  their  son  to  Nathaniel  Barnardiston  of  the 
Ryes  Sudbury  only  son  of  John  Barnardiston  by  Anne  his  wife  dau.  of 
Edward  Leeds  of  Croxton  Park  co.  Cambridge  Serjeant-at-law. 
Sir  Robert  Clarke  died  in  1770,  and  his  lady  in  1797,  surviving  her  son 
Sir  John  Clarke  Bart,  who  had  died  in  1782.  Nathaniel  Barnar- 
diston married  in  1783  Elizabeth  Joanna  only  child  of  John  Styles  of 
Kingston,  Surrey,  and  dying  the  23  Dec.  1837  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  Nathaniel  Clarke  Barnardiston  who  married  the  i  March  1826  Sophia 
dau.  of  George  Robert  Eyres  of  Cavenham  House  co.  Norfolk  by  Louisa 
his  wife  dau.  of  Sir  Harry  Parker,  Bart.,  of  Melford,  and  on  his  death  in  1883 
passed  to  Col.  Nathaniel  Barnardiston  his  s.  and  h.  the  present  lord,  who 
in  Feb.  1858  married  Lady  Florence  Legge  dau.  of  Wm.  4th  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth. Nathaniel  Walter  Barnardiston  his  eldest  son  and  heir-apparent 
in  1892  married  Sarah  Hall  3rd  dau.  of  D.  R.  Floyd-Jones  of  Fort  Neck 
House,  Long  Island,  formerly  Lieut. -Governor  of  New  York. 

Arms  of  Martin  :    Argent,  a  Chevron  between   three   mascles    sable, 
within  a  bordure  engrailed  gu. 


Z6  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

ASSINGTON. 

the  time  of  the  Confessor  8  carucates  of  land  were  held 
here  as  a  manor  by  Seward  of  Maiden  the  Thane,  and  he 
had  soc  and  sac.  There  were  then  21  bordars,  14  slaves, 
7  ploughteams  in  demesne,  13  ploughteams  belonging  to 
the  men,  wood  for  30  hogs,  15  acres  of  meadow,  i  mill, 
6  horses  at  the  Hall,  24  beasts,  100  hogs,  210  sheep,  and  14 
hives  of  bees— and  there  was  a  church  living  with  30  acres  of 
free  land.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the  bordars  had  increased  to 
55,  but  the  slaves  had  diminished  by  two,  the  ploughteams  in  demesne  had 
come  down  one,  and  those  belonging  to  the  men  also  by  one.  There 
were  5  horses  at  the  Hall  in  lieu  of  6,  one  beast  less,  40  hogs  and  120  sheep 
less,  while  the  hives  of  bees  had  come  down  from  14  to  6.  There  were, 
however,  12  goats  additional.  The  manor  was  then  held  by  Ranulf 

Peverell.'' 

There  were  also  in  Assington  five  freemen  under  the  same  Seward  by 
commendation  and  soc,  but  they  could  sell  their  lands  provided  they 
remained  within  the  soc ;  and  among  them  they  had  30  acres  of  land, 
i  acre  of  meadow  and  I  ploughteam.  There  was  another  freeman  here, 
free  so  far  as  his  land  was  concerned,  but  not  belonging  to  the  manor,  of 
which  Ranulf  s  predecessor  in  title  had  commendation  and  soc.  He  held 
30  acres,  and  had  one  ploughteam  which  was  in  Saxon  times  valued  at 
10  pounds,  later  at  12,  but  by  Domesday  times  at  20  pounds.  The  Great 
Record,  however,  notes  that  it  could  not  render  within  100  shillings  of 
that  amount.  Of  the  20  pounds,  20  shillings  were  set  on  the  free  men. 
The  place  was  a  league  long  and  8  quarentines  broad  and  paid  yd.  in  a 
gelt.' 

ASSINGTON  MANOR. 

The  manor  belonged,  as  we  have  seen,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey  to  Ranulf  Peverell.  He  had  married  Maud,  a  Saxon,  daughter 
of  Ingelric  and  mother  of  William  Peverell  by  William  the  Conqueror. 
Dugdale  says  Ranulf  Peverell  was  the  reputed  progenitor  of  the  several 
families  of  the  name  of  Peverell.  Ranulf  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Matthew  Peverell,  who  married  Oliva  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  William  Peverell  who  held  the  manor  in  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  when  it 
passed  with  the  Honor  of  Peverell  into  the  King's  hands.5  He  gave  the 
manor  to  William  Lungespeye,  who  gave  the  same  to  Robert  de  Buiffuns  ; 
but  by  the  time  of  King  John  it  had  returned  to  that  monarch,  who  gave 
the  manor  to  Andrew  de  Bello  Campo,  whose  son  John  de  Bello  Campo 
held  the  same  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  There  is  an  order  on  the  Close 
Rolls  in  1225  to  take  into  the  hands  of  the  King  the  lands  which  John  de 
Bello  Campo  had  in  Assington  and  to  give  seisin  to  Roger  de  Clare.4  It 
appears,  however,  that  in  1275  the  manor  was  held  by  Arnold  de 
Boys  or  de  Bosco,5  who  on  his  death  in  1277*  was  succeeded  by  William 
de  Bosco.  In  1296  William  de  Bosco  enfeoffed  Millicent  de  Monto 
Alto  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  in  order  that  she  might  grant  the 
same  to  the  said  William  de  Bosco  for  life,  and  then  to  William  la 
Zusche  and  Matilda  his  wife  and  the  heirs  of  their  bodies  with  remainder 

Dom.  ii.  417.  5  n.R.  ii.  142,150.  He  had  free  warren  here. 

Dom.  ii.  417.  lb.  143. 

'  Madox,  Bar.  Angl.  p.  62.  •  I. P.M.  5  Edw.  I.  o. 
•  OOM  Rolls,  9  Hen.  III.  pt.  i.  12,  8. 


I 

55 

t/3 


ASSINGTON.  17 

to  the  right  heirs  of  Matilda.1  The  other  half  of  the  manor  was 
held  by  Roger  Corbet  of  Hadleigh,  who  had  married  Joan  daughter  of 
Arnold  and  sister  of  William  de  Bosco.2  He  had  acquired  this  moiety  of 
William  de  Bosco  without  licence  of  the  King,  for  which  act  he  subsequently 
received  a  pardon.3  Roger  Corbet  seems  ultimately  to  have  acquired 
the  whole,  and  on  his  death  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Corbet, 
on  whose  death  it  passed  in  dower  to  his  widow  Agnes,  who  dying  in  I3534 
it  passed  to  Sir  Robert  Corbet  Knt.  their  son  and  heir,  and  on  the  Origi- 
nalia  Rolls  will  be  found  an  order  to  accept  security  from  Robert  Corbet 
son  and  heir  of  John  Corbet  deceased  for  relief  in  respect  of  this  manor 
held  of  the  King  in  chief  as  of  the  Honor  of  Hatfield  Peverell.5  Sir  Robert 
Corbet  married  Beatrix  daur.  of  Sir  Richard  de  la  River  and  sister  and 
co-heir  of  Sir  Thomas  de  la  River.  He  died  in  1405,*  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  and  heir  Sir  Robert  Corbet  Knt.  then  aged  40.  He  bore  Two 
barrulets  and  on  a  canton  a  lion  passant.  He  died  in  1417'  when  a  portion 
of  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Joan,8  and  ultimately  the  whole  on  the 
death  of  Joan  in  1420,  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Sibilla  the  wife  of  John 
Grevell  who  dying  in  1426'  the  manor  passed  to  her  uncle  Guy  Corbet  the 
brother  of  the  last-named  Sir  Robert  Corbet.  A  fine  was  in  1433 
levied  of  the  manor  by  John  Creswell  clerk  and  Thomas  Isaak  against  Guy 
Corbet  and  Joan  his  wife  who  was  daughter  of  Sir  Edmund  Thorp  the 
elder  of  Ashwell  Thorp.10  Guy  Corbet  made  his  Will  in  1433  and  died 
the  same  year,  leaving  his  widow  Joan  and  a  son  afterwards  Sir  Robert 
Corbet.  The  widow  Joan  who  held  in  dower  died  in  1439"  when  Sir  Robert 
Corbet  succeeded.  He  married  Elizabeth  dau.  of  —  Dorward  of  Rocking 
in  Essex,  and  died  in  1478,"  being  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Robert 
Corbet.  He  married  Maud  daughter  of  Sir  John  Fortescue,  and  married 
also  (during  the  said  Maud  his  first  wife's  lifetime,  forsaking  her)  Lettice 
daughter  of  John  Shirewood  of  Coventry  and  left  issue  by  her  Robert  and 
Alice,  his  first  wife  Maud  surviving  him,  from  whom  he  never  was  divorced. 
Upon  the  death  of  Robert  Corbet,  his  brother  Roger  Corbet  2nd  son  of  Sir 
Robert  Corbet  made  an  entry  upon  the  lands  as  next  and  legal  heir  on 
the  ground  of  the  illegitimacy  of  his  brother's  children,  Lettice  the  2nd 
wife  having  married  -  -  Talboys  a  servant  to  Thomas  Rotherham,  Arch- 
bishop of  York  and  Chancellor  of  England,  Roger  sued  him  in  the  Spiritual 
Court  of  Canterbury,  and  Talboys  procuring  a  prohibition,  Roger  appealed 
to  Rome,  and  a  writ  was  directed  by  Rotherham  to  Roger  of  Ne  exeat  regnum; 
upon  which  Roger  was  laid  up  in  the  counter  two  years,  but  being  enlarged 
in  the  last  year  of  King  Edw.  IV.  died  shortly  afterwards.  It  appears 
that  Maud  retired  into  the  nunnery  of  Helleaston  in  Bedfordshire  and 
there  died.  The  son  Robert  Corbet  does  seem  ultimately  to  have  held 
the  manor,'3  and  to  have  been  succeeded  by  Richard  Corbet  who  died  the 
25  June,  1524'*  leaving  a  widow  Jane  who  held  the  manor  for  life  in  dower, 
and  a  son  and  heir  Richard  Corbet  who  succeeded.  The  Davy  MSS.  state 
that  this  Richard  Corbet  sold  to  William  Hunberstone  as  a  trustee  probably 
for  Robert  Gurdon  ;  while  Page  and  Muskett  both  state  that  Sir  Myles 

1  Pat.  Rolls  24  Edw.  1. 17.  "  I.P.M.  7  Hen.  V.  41,  8  Hen.  V.  44. 

*  I.Q.D.  6  Edw.  II.  9.  »  I.P.M.  4  Hen.  VI.  33. 

3  Originalia  6   Edw.    II.    16,  Pat.    Rolls         ">  Feet  of  Fines  ii  Hen.  VI.  32. 

6  Edw.  II.  pt.  ii.  10.  "  I.P.M.  17  Hen.  VI.  24. 

«    I.P.M.  30  Edw.  III.  15.  "  I.P.M.  18  Edw.  IV.  19. 

'   0.  30  Edw.  III.  4.  «  Inquis.  p.m.  I  and  2  Hen.  VIII.,  D.K.R 

6   I.P.M.  6  Hen.  IV.  6.  10,  App.  ii.  p.  lai. 

I.P.M.  5  Hen.  V.  34.  •<  I.P.M.  16  Hen.  VIII.  31,  33. 

c 


18  THE    MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Corbet  sold  to  Robert  Gurdon  son  of  John  Gurdon  of  Oldham,  Essex. 
There  are  fines  in  1555  and  1556,  the  first  by  William  Humberstone 
against  Richard  Corbett  and  others  and  the  second  by  John 
Gurdon  and  others  against  Sir  Richard  Corbett.1  There  is  a 
Chancery  action  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  between  Robert  Gurdon 
and  Sir  Richard  Corbet  and  another  as  to  this  manor  and  the  Manors 
of  Shimplingford  and  Series.'  In  1559  John  and  Robert  Gurdon  were 
called  upon  to  shew  title  to  the  manor.'  Robert  Gurdon  was  High  Sheriff 
of  Suffolk.  He  married  Rose  Sexton  6th  daughter  of  Robert  Sexton 
of  Lavenham  and  co-heir  of  her  brother  Thomas  Sexton  and  widow  of 
William  Appleton  of  Little  Waldingfield,  and  died  the  5  April  1578  in 
his  6yd  year.4  He  left  two  sons  John  and  Robert  and  one  dau.  Elizabeth 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Gurdon  who  was  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk 
in  1584  and  married  Amicia  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Brampton 
of  Letton  co.  Norfolk  and  died  the  20  Sept.  1623.'  John  Gurdon  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Brampton  Gurdon,  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  in  1628 
who  married  ist  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Edw.  Barret  of  Belhouse  in  the 
parish  of  Alvelev  co.  Essex  and  co-heir  of  her  mother  who  was  a  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Litton  Knt.  and  andly  Meriell  dau.  of  Martin 
Sedley  of  Morley  co.  Norf.6  Brampton  Gurdon's  Will  is  dated  1647.* 
He  had  by  his  wife  Elizabeth  6  sons,  John,  Robert,  Brampton,  William, 
Edward,  William,  and  3  daurs.  Elizabeth,  Amy  and  Judith. 
Robert  married  Joyce  dau.  of  James  Harvey  of  Essex  and  Amy  married 
Sir  Henry  Mildmay  of  Grace's  in  Essex,  Knt.  By  his  2nd  wife  Meriell  he 
had  four  sons  :  Brampton,  Thomas,  Edward,  Martin,  and  3  daurs.  Abigail, 
Meriell  and  Amye.  Brampton  married  Mary  dau.  of  Henry  Foisted 
Citizen  and  Mercer  of  London.  Abigail  married  Roger  Hill  of  Pounsford 
co.  Somerset,  and  Muriel  married  Richard  Saltonstall  son  of  Sir  Richard 
Saltonstall  of  Yorkshire,  Knt. 

Brampton  Gurdon  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Gurdon  who 
married  Ann  daughter  of  Sir  Calthorp  Parker  of  Erwarton,  Knt.  He 
was  M.P.  for  Suffolk  in  the  Long  Parliament.8  There  is  a  request 
among  the  State  papers  for  a  licence  for  the  Hall  by  this  John  Gurdon 
in  i&72.9  He  made  his  will  the  25  June  1677  and  died  in  1679 
at  the  age  of  84,  having  had  7  sons  and  5  daughters,10  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Robert  Gurdon  who  married  Elizabeth  daur.  of  Lord  Lysle ; 
but  dying  the  24  May  1683  aged  68  years  and  4  months,  without  issue, 
was  succeeded  by  his  brother  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Gurdon  D.D.,  Rector  of 
Chelmsford,  who  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Emanuel  Arundel 
of  Stoke  Beven  co.  Northampton,  and  dying  the  n  February  1696  in  the 
64  year  of  his  age,"  was  buried  in  Assington  Church  where  there  is  a 
mural  tablet  at  the  east  end  of  the  Chancel.  He  had  two  sons  and  four 
daughters  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Gurdon  M.P.  for 

•  Fine  Easter  2  Mary  i,  Mich.  3  Mary  i.  »  P.C.C.  68  Pembroke  the   19  Oct.  1647. 

•  C.P.  »er.  ii.  B.  Ixx.  14.  Proved  16  May  1650. 
'  i  Eliz.  Memoranda  Hil.  Rec.  Rot.  79.  •  D.N.B.  xxiii.  353. 

•  Will.  3  Apl.  1578,  P.C.C.  10  Bakon,  •  S.P.  1672  p.  410. 

I.P.M.  21  Eli*  .Will.     See  Muskett         ">  Will  P.C.C.   129    King.    Proved  the  4 

Manorial  Families  i.  278.  Oct.  1679. 

'  Will   P.C.C.   99  Swann  6    Dec.    1621.         "  Will  P.C.C.  72  Lort.    Proved  20  March 

Proved  10  Oct.  1623.  1698. 

'  Blomefield,  Norf.  2nd  Ed. vol.  ii.  479-482, 

x.  232.  See  Gent.  Mag.  Supplt.  Diet. 

1814, 


ASSINGTON.  19 

Sudbury  who  married  Letitia  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  William  Cooke 
of  Broom  Hall,  Norfolk,  Bart.,  and  died  the  2  Dec.  1758  in  his  86  year.1 
His  wife  had  died  the  7  Feb.  1710  in  her  37th  year.  John  Gurdon  had 
issue  ten  children  Jane,  Nathaniel,  John,  Elizabeth,  William,  Letitia,  Philip, 
Brampton,  Parker  and  Letitia  respecting  whom  a  mural  monument  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Ch.  of  Assington  briefly  records  "  Their  Bodies  are  buried 
in  Peace,  but  their  name  liveth  for  evermore." 

John  Gurdon  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Nathaniel  Gurdon 
who  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Sayer  of  Stowmarket.  He 
died  in  1767  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Gurdon 
who  died  unmarried  in  1777,*  when  the  manor  passed  to  the  Rev. 
Philip  Gurdon  his  first  cousin,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Gurdon 
4th  son  of  John  Gurdon  who  died  in  1758.  Philip  Gurdon  married 
Sarah  Richardson  and  died  in  1817,  when  the  manor  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  John  Gurdon  who  died  in  1869.  He  married 
ist  Bridget  Aurea  daughter  of  William  Lambarde  of  Beechmont,  Sevenoaks, 
and  2ndly  Anne  daughter  of  Colonel  Chas.  Powell  Leslie  of  Glaslough  co. 
Monogham  M.P.  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson  the  eldest  son  of 
his  eldest  son  John  Barrett  Gurdon  (who  d.  in  1863)  by  Sophia  Catherine 
dau.  of  Charles  Douglas  Halford  of  West  Lodge,  East  Bergholt.  Philip 
Gurdon  married  Edith  3rd  dau.  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Holland,  Rector  of  Pet- 
worth.  By  arrangement  made  in  1897  between  the  said  Philip  Gurdon 
and  his  seventh  cousin  Sir  William  Brampton  Gurdon  K.C.M.G.,  C.B.,  M.P., 
J.P.  of  Assington  Hall  younger  son  of  Brampton  Gurdon  M.P.  of  Letton 
Norf.  by  the  Hon.  Henrietta  Susannah  dau.  of  Nicholas  late  Lord  Colborne, 
the  manor  and  the  Assington  estates  of  the  Gurdons  were  acquired  by  the 
said  Sir  William  Brampton  Gurdon  who  is  the  present  lord.  In  1888  he 
married  Lady  Eveline  Camilla  2nd  dau.  of  the  5th  Earl  of  Portsmouth. 

Court  Rolls  of  the  Manor  31  Hen.  VI.  will  be  found  in  the  Record 
Office.1 

LEVENYA  STRATTONS  MANOR. 

Another  manor  of  Assington  known  as  Levenya  Strattons  was  held 
by  Godfrey  de  Bellomonte4  who  died  without  issue  in  1293  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother  Sir  John  de  Bellomonte  and  he  by  his  son  Richard 
de  Bellomonte.  In  1343  William  de  Criketot  was  lord  and  a  fine  was 
levied  in  1413  by  William  Loveney  and  Margaret  his  wife  against  Thomas 
Shopage,  Thomas  Maydeston  of  Isleworth,  John  Parleman  clerk,  Thomas 
Warner  of  Trimley  and  John  Bacheler  of  Heston.5  The  manor  subse- 
quently passed  to  the  Waldegraves.6  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  Knt.  died 
seised  the  2  May  1434,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William, 
and  he,  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  who  dying  without 
issue  in  1439  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  Sir  Thomas  who  died 
in  1500  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Waldegrave 
who  dying  the  30  January  1527  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  George 
Waldegrave  who  died  the  following  year.  Hugh  Waldegrave  seems  to 
have  died  seised  the  25  March  1543,  and  to  have  been  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  Edward  Waldegrave.7  In  1546  this  manor  belonged  to 

1    Will  P.C.C.    55    Arran    21  Feb.  1752.  *   Feet  of  Fines  i  Hen.  VI. 

Proved  1759.  6  As  to  the  full  descendants  of  the  Walde- 

'    Will  15  Sept.  1777,  465  Collier  P.C.C.  graves     and     their     marriages,     see 

3  Portfolio  203,  2.  Smallbridge  Manor,  Bures,     in    this 

4  See     further    Groton    Manor    in     this  Hundred. 

Hundred.  '    I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VIII.  174. 


ao  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Robert  Gurdon  by  virtue  of  a  fine  levied  this  year  by  him  against  Edward 
Weldon.1  Two  years  later  the  manor  passed  from  the  said  Robert  Gurdon 
to  Richard  Corbett.1  In  1552  a  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  by  Robert 
Spencer  against  Sir  Richard  Corbett,'  and  in  1555  by  John  Gurdon  against 
Robert  Gurdon  and  others,4  after  which  the  manor  devolved  as  shewn 
in  the  descent  of  Assington  Manor. 

SHIMPLINGFORD. 

A  third  manor  in  Assington  was  known  as  the  Manor  of  Shimplingford, 
no  doubt  so  called  after  its  holder  in  the  time  of  Edw.  III.  though  of  course 
as  a  separate  manor  it  no  doubt  existed  from  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  at  least. 
Ralph  Shimplingford  died  seised  in  1376  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
daughter  Margery  who  died  in  1416  when  it  passed  to  Margery's  heir  John 
son  of  John  Holland.  Later  this  manor  passed  to  the  Wiseman  family 
and  in  1518  a  fine  was  levied  of  it  by  Richard  Bp.  of  Norwich  against  Sir 
John  Wiseman  and  others.3  It  subsequently  became  vested  in  the  Corbets, 
and  Sir  Richard  Corbet  died  seised  of  it  the  25  June  1524  when  it  passed 
to  Richard  Corbet  his  son  and  heir  and  from  him  to  Robert  Gurdon  who 
died  in  1579,  after  which  the  devolution  is  the  same  as  that  already  shewn 
of  the  main  manor  of  Assington. 

AVELEY  OR  ALVINGLEY  MANOR. 

This  manor  in  Assington  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  day  by 
Brungar  a  freeman  under  Robert  by  commendation.  It  consisted  of  a 
carucate  of  land  with  soc.  There  was  one  villein  and  there  were  10  bor- 
dars,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  half  a  ploughteam  belonging  to  the 
men,  wood  for  6  hogs  and  4  acres  of  meadow,  i  mill,  i  horse  at  the  Hall, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  14  beasts,  49  hogs  and  87  sheep. 
The  value  had  increased  from  20  shillings  to  30.  The  Domesday  tenant 
in  chief  was  Suane  of  Essex  the  son  of  Robert  son  of  Wimare.  This  Robert 
had  commendation  only.  The  Abbot  of  Bury  had  soc  and  sac  in  King 
Edward's  time  and  the  Domesday  survey  mentions  a  case  of  horses  being 
stolen  and  found  in  the  house  of  this  Brungar  and  that  the  Abbot  who  had 
the  soc  and  sac  and  Robert  the  father  of  Suane  who  had  commendation 
over  Brungar  came  to  the  plea  respecting  the  theft.  The  Record  quaintly 
adds  as  the  result  of  the  trial,  "  They  went  away  on  terms  of  friendship 
without  a  verdict  so  far  as  the  Hundred  could  see." 6  Grants  of  the  manor 
will  be  found,  one  without  date,  amongst  the  Additional  Charters,  and  one 
dated  1298,  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum.7 

Sir  Godfrey  de  Bellomonte  seems  to  have  been  lord  in  the  time  of 
Edw.  I.  and  died  in  1293.  The  manor  is  mentioned  and  an  extent  given 
in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Cecilia  de  Ferariis  sometime  wife  of  Godfrey  de 
Bellomonte.*  Sir  John  de  Bellomonte  succeeded  his  brother  Sir  Godfrey 
as  lord  and  the  Davy  MSS.  make  a  Robert  Clopton  the  next  lord,  but  in 
what  right  is  not  stated.  The  next  lord  Davy  mentions  is  Thomas  la 
Zouch  who  died  in  1405  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  no  record  is  found  of  any 
intermediate  lord9  except  that  the  manor  is  the  subject  of  a  fine  in  1306 
between  William  Inge  and  William  Gernon  and  Isabella  his  wife.10  Thomas 

Fine  Easter  38  Hen.  VIII.  •  Dom.  ii.  4016. 

Fine  Easter  2  Edw.  VI.  »  Add.  Ch.  27334,  Harl.  45  I.  32,  33. 

Fine  Easter  6  Edw.  VI.  •  I. P.M.  21  Edw.  I.  49. 

Fine  Easter  2  Maryi.  •  I.P.M.  6  Hen.  IV.  17. 

Fine  Easter  10  Hen.  VIII.  "  Feet  of  Fines  34  Edw.  I.  2. 


ASSINGTON.  21 

la  Zouch  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  William,  and  in  1462  we  meet 
with  a  fine  of  the  manor  levied  by  Robert  Gardenere  and  Margaret  Dunham 
against  John  Chaworth  and  Margaret  his  wife.1  Elizabeth  wife  of  Sir 
William  Chaworth  Knt.  was  lady  of  the  manor  in  the  time  of  Hen.  VII. 
and  died  in  1503*  when  she  was  succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir  Sir  John 
Dunham  who  died  the  9  May  I524,3  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Sir  John  Dunham  Knt.  The  manor  was  then  valued  at  7  marks  p. a.  and  was 
held  of  the  Abbot  of  Bury.  In  1550  we  meet  with  a  fine  levied  of  the  manor 
by  Sir  Richard  Corbett  against  Thomas  Grantham  and  others 4 ;  in  1555  one 
levied  by  John  Wynterflood  against  Sir  Richard  Corbett5  and  others,  and  in 
1570  a  third  levied  by  John  Wynterflod  against  Sir  Edmund  Brudenell.6  In 
the  time  of  Elizabeth  we  meet  with  a  Chancery  suit  relating  to  this  manor 
between  the  said  Sir  Edmund  Brudenell  and  John  Winterfloyde.7  This 
John  Winterfloyde  or  Winterflood  in  1593  devised  to  the  poor  of  the  parish 
four  bushels  of  meslin  payable  out  of  the  Manor  of  Aveley  Hall  to  be 
distributed  in  bread  at  Christmas. 


Feet  of  Fines  2  Edw.  IV.  3.  *  Fine  Mich.  2  Mary  i< 

I.P.M.  18  Hen.  VII,  53.   "  '  Fine  Mich,  is  Eliz. 

I.P.M.  17  Hen.  VIII.  159.  ?  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  xxix.  I, 
Fine  Mich.  4  Edw.  VI. 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


BOXFORD  MANOR. 

OT  much  is  known  respecting  this  manor.  Godfrey  de 
Bellomonte  had  free  warren  here  in  1275,'  but  it  is  uncer- 
tain if  he  had  a  manor.  The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds 
presented  to  the  living  in  1316  and  not  unlikely  had  the 
manorial  rights.  The  manor  is  mentioned  in  the 
Inquisition  post  mortem  of  Sir  Richard  Corbet  who  died 
the  25  June  1524,  and  it  then  passed  to  Richard  Corbet  his 
son  and  heir.*  We  find,  however,  that  shortly  afterwards,  namely,  in 
1553,  it  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  William  Lord  Howard.  In  1764 
it  was  in  the  King. 

PEYTON  HALL. 

Peyton  Hall  belonged  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  to  William  Malet 
and  passed  to  his  younger  brother  Walter  lord  of  Sibton.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Reginald  Fitz  Walter  his  2nd  son,  who  was  living  in  1135  and  appears 


I  m  -•••'•• 


to  have  assumed  the  name  of  Peyton.  He  held  both  Peyton  Hall  in  Box- 
ford  and  Peyton  Hall  in  Ramsholt  of  Hugh  de  Bigod  and  was  server 
to  Hugh  Bigod  and  Roger  Bigod  Earl  of  Suffolk.  William  de  Peyton  his 
eldest  son  held  lands  in  Boxford,  and  King  Stephen  granted  to  John  de 
Peyton  brother  of  this  William  all  his  lands  in  Peyton  to  hold  as  his  ancestors 
before  held  the  same. 

John  de  Peyton  had  4  sons  John  the  elder,  Robert,  Peter  and  John 
the  younger.  Robert  was  Lord  Justice  of  Ireland  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III. 
and  being  Lord  of  Ufford  assumed  his  surname  from  that  place.  His  son 
Robert  de  Ufford  was  created  Earl  of  Suffolk  in  1336,  and  installed  a  Knight 
of  the  Garter.  One  of  the  brothers  of  the  Earl  was  the  unfortunate  John 
Ufford  of  whom  Weever  tells  us  he  was  brought  up  at  Cambridge  and 
made  doctor  of  law,  "  promoted  first  to  the  deanery  of  Lincoln,  then  to  the 
Chancellorship  of  England  and  lastly  to  the  Archbishopric  of  Canterbury 
which  he  never  enjoyed,  being  cut  off  by  the  plague  (which  consumed  nine 
parts  of  the  men  in  England)  before  he  received  either  his  pall  or  consecra- 


•  Chart.  Rolls  8  Edw.  1. 5, 10  Edw.  1. 33. 


I.P.M.  16  Hen.  VIII.  31. 


BOXFORD.  23 

tion  June  7,  1348  and  lieth  obscurely  buried  in  that  Cathedral  Church."1 
The  3rd  son  Peter  de  Peyton  succeeded  to  the  lordship  of  Peyton  Hall  in 
the  time  of  King  John  and  married  Helena  by  whom  he  had  issue  Robert 
de  Peyton  father  of  Sir  John  de  Peyton  Knt.  whose  male  issue  seems  to  have 
failed  in  the  time  of  Edw.  III.  The  4th  son  John  the  younger  sold  to  John 
his  eldest  brother  all  the  lands  which  he  had  in  Boxford  of  the  fee  of  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Edmund  and  Stoke  Nayland  which  their  father  John  or 
their  uncle  William  formerly  possessed.  Sir  John  the  eldest  son  succeeded 
and  was  lord  of  Peyton  Hall  and  also  possessed  lands  in  Stoke  Nayland. 
He  married  Matilda  de  Bueriis  (Buers)  sister  and  heir  of  Symond  de  Notelle 
and  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter  Agnes  mentioned  in  the  Will  of  her 
brother.  The  sons  were  Sir  John  de  Peyton  Knt.,  William  and  James. 
Sir  John  succeeded  to  the  lordship.  He  flourished  in  the  time  of 
Hen.  III.  and  married  after  having  two  wives  successively  of  the  name  of 
Agnes,  dementia  lady  of  Weyland  to  whom  and  to  himself  a  grant  of  land 
was  made  in  1242.  He  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in  1298  2  and  three 
years  later  served  in  Parliament  as  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire  for  Suffolk. 
This  John  de  Peyton  is  probably  the  man  who  with  Agnes  his  wife  levied 
a  fine  of  Peyton  Manor  in  1317  against  Henry  de  Wellington  and  Henry 
de  Norwich  parson  of  Colneye.3  He  was  buried  at  Stoke  Nayland  in  1318. 
His  Will  is  dated  in  Sept.  of  this  year,  and  it  was  proved  the  26  Jan.  1318. 
On  his  death  he  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Sir  Robert  Peyton.  A 
release  &c.  of  the  manor  in  1335  and  1346  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harl. 
Charters.4  Sir  Robert  de  Peyton  made  his  will  in  1348  and  died  in  1351 ,  when  he 
was  buried  near  his  father.  He  had  two  wives,  first  Christiana  de  Apleton  widow 
of  William  de  Apleton  who  died  in  1325  leaving  several  children  who  all  died 
without  issue  and  was  buried  at  Stoke  Nayland  with  great  pomp.  Her 
funeral  expenses  are  thus  set  down — 50  quarters  of  wheat  \l.  ios.,  one 
hogshead  of  wine  53/.  45.  4^.,  muttons  55.  8  barrow-hogs  245.  10  calves,  &c. 
His  second  wife  was  Joan  de  Marney  of  the  Marneys  of  Layer  Marney  in 
Essex  by  whom  he  had  issue  Sir  John  de  Peyton  and  William,  which  latter  lies 
buried  at  Wicken  in  Cambridge.  Sir  Robert  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  John  de  Peyton  who  married  Margaret  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
Sir  John  Gernon  Knt.  of  Lees  in  Essex,  descended  from  the  Barons  of 
Tregoze  and  Colvile,  in  whose  right  he  had  the  Manor  of  Wicken  and  in 
1393  jointly  with  her  held  part  of  the  Manor  of  Esthorpe  by  the  service 
of  one  knight's  fee ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  acquired  any  property 
in  Boxford  by  virtue  of  this  marriage,  as  stated  by  Gipps,  quoting  from 
Camden,  and  by  Kirby,  probably  copying  from  one  or  the  other.  Sir  John 
de  Peyton  died  in  1394  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  de 
Peyton  who  married  Joan  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Hamon  de  Sutton  of 
Wixoe  Knt.  by  which  marriage  this  place  came  to  the  Peytons.  He 
had  issue  by  his  wife  (afterwards  married  to  Sir  Roger  Drury  Knt.), 
Margery  wife  of  Thomas  Daubeny  of  Sharrington  co.  Norfolk  and  three 
sons  John,  Thomas  and  Robert.  John  Peyton  the  eldest  was  a  minor 
at  the  death  of  his  father  and  15  years  old  in  1407,  when  an  agreement 
was  made  between  Margaret  his  grandmother  and  Joan  his  mother  with 
John  Burgoyne  of  Drayton  in  Cambridgeshire,  for  his  marriage  with  Grace 
daughter  of  John  Burgoyne  ;  which  marriage  subsequently  was  solemnized. 
The  issue  of  the  marriage  were  2  sons  John  and  Thomas  and  a  daughter 
Anne  who  married  Jeffry  Lochton.  Their  father  died  the  6  Oct. 

1   Weever  Funeral  Monuments  p.  222.  3  Feet  of  Fines  n  Edw.  II.  18. 

'   Chart.  Rolls  26  Edw.  I.  5.  «   Harl.  54  H.  21,  22. 


24  THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 

1416'  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Peyton  aged  3$  years  who  died  in 
his  minority  the  29  Oct.  1432  whereupon  Thomas  Peyton  his  brother,  then 
aged  17,  succeeded.  He  was  High  Sheriff  of  the  counties  of  Cambridge 
and  Huntingdon  in  1443  and  1453.  In  1484  by  Deed  dated  the 
ao  May  Thomas  Peyton  who  held  the  manor,  then  said  to  be  worth 
I4/.,  and  held  of  the  Abbot  of  Bury  by  Will  directed  feoffees  to 
settle  the  manor.  He  died  the  30  July  the  same  year  and  was 
buried  at  Isleham  in  Cambridgeshire,  where  there  is  an  effigy  of  him  in 
brass.  He  married  ist  Margaret  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Bernard 
of  Isleham  Knt.  by  whom  Isleham  came  to  the  Peyton  family,  and  had 
issue  by  her,  Thomas,  Margaret  and  Grace.  His  second  wife  was  Margaret 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Hugh  Francis  of  Giffords  in  Wickhambrook 
and  widow  of  Thomas  Garneys  of  Kenton,  and  by  her  he  had  2  sons 
Christopher  Peyton  High  Sheriff  of  the  Counties  of  Cambridge  and  Hunting- 
don 12  Hen.  VI I.1  and  Francis.  Thomas  the  eldest  son  died  before  his 
father  and  by  his  wife  Joan  Calthorp  had  issue,  Thomas  Peyton  who 
succeeded  but  died  without  issue  the  ist  August  1490,'  Robert,  John  and 
Edward  with  six  daughters.  Sir  Robert  Peyton  the  brother  of  the  last 
Thomas  Peyton  succeeded.  He  was  sheriff  of  the  County  of  Huntingdon 
in  1498  and  died  the  27  March  1518,*  being  buried  in  Isleham  Church, 
where  there  is  an  altar  tomb  of  freestone  with  a  slab  of  speckled  marble 
from  the  middle  of  which  has  been  torn  a  plain  cross.  Under  an  arch  in 
the  wall  at  the  feet  are  the  matrices  of  a  man  and  woman,  three  boys  and 
three  girls  with  a  label  from  the  mouth  of  the  first  of  each  to  a  crucifix  and 
under  them  this  on  a  brass  plate  :— 

Of  yo'  charite  p'y  for  the  souls  of  S'  Ro'bt 

Peyton,  knyght,  which  de'pted  to 
God  the  xviii  day  of  m'che,  y*  yere  of  o'  lord  M" 
Dxviij.  and  for  the  soule  of  Dame  elizabeth 
Peyton  his  wyfe,  whiche  dep'tid  to  god  y  yer  of  o' 
lord  M°D    .     .    . 

The  date  has  never  been  filled  up,  the  plate  remaining  smooth.  Over 
this  a  fine  perk  ;  and  under  the  East  window  a  rich  fascia  of  vine  leaves 
and  grapes,  and  oak  foliage  above  over  the  space  formerly  occupied  by 
the  altar.  He  left  issue  by  his  wife  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Clere  of 
Ormsby  co.  Norfolk,  three  sons,  Sir  Robert  Peyton  to  whom  the  manor 
ultimately  passed,  John  who  married  Dorothy  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Tyndall 
of  Hockwould  co.  Norfolk  Knt.  from  whom  descend  the  Peytons  of 
Doddington  and  Edward  who  died  without  issue  and  also  2  daughters, 

•  I.P.M.,  4  Hen.  V.  42.  «  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  i,  in  which  the 

1  Inquis.  6  Hen.  VII.  740, 7  Hen.  VII.  62.  manor    is    stated    to    be    held  of 

the    Abbot    of    Bury    and    to  be 
worth  £24  per  annum. 

•  There  is  an  inscription  to  this  Christopher  on  the  wooden  cornice  of  the  roof  of  the 
Church  of  Isleham  as  follows : — 

Pray  for  the  good  prosperity  of 

Crystofer  Peyton  and  Elizabeth  hys 

wyf,  and  for  the  sowle  of  Thomas 

Peyton  Squyer  and  Margarett  hys  wyf 

fader  and  moder  of  the  seyd  crystofer 

peyton,  and  for  the  sowles  of  all  the 

awncestre  of  the  sayd  crystofer  peyton  qwich 

did  make  thys  rofe  in  the  yere  of  owr 

lord  MCCCCLXXXXV.  beynge  the  i 

Yere  of  kyng  henry  the  VII. 


BOXFORD.  25 

Margaret  and  Elizabeth .  Elizabeth  the  widow  of  Sir  Robert  Peyton  succeeded 
and  had  the  manor  in  jointure  until  her  death,  also  in  1518,  when  it  passed  to 
her  son  Sir  Robert  Peyton  who  was  High  Sheriff  of  the  two  counties  already 
named  in  1525  and  1535.  He  married  Frances  daughter  and  heir  of  Francis 
Haseldyne  of  Little  Chesterford  co.  Essex  and  of  Steeple-Marden  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, in  whose  right  he  became  possessed  of  these  places.  She 
founded  the  Hospital  at  Isleham  and  was  buried  in  the  Church  of  that  place 
in  1580.  They  had  6  sons,  Robert,  William,  Richard,  Christopher, 
Edward  and  John  and  2  daughters  Katharine  and  Elizabeth.  Richard  the 
3rd  son  lived  at  Chesterford  and  married  Mary  daur.  of  Lawrence  Hyde  of 
Hyde  Hall  Herts.,  and  died  in  1574  aged  40.  There  is  a  large  slab  in  Isle- 
ham  Church  bearing  the  brass  figure  of  a  man  in  a  coat  and  furred  gown 
and  hose  ;  his  right  hand  on  his  breast,  his  left  hanging  down  holding  a 
book,  his  lady  wears  a  coif  and  hood,  standing  cape,  pinkt  sleeves,  and 
short  ruffles,  her  apron  has  strings  and  is  laced.  Over  her,  quarterly — 

I  Peyton.  2  Three  piles  wavy.  Gernon.  3  A  chevron,  in  chief  three 
estoiles.  4  A  bear  rampant  muzzled.  Bernard.  5  A  cross  fleury. 
6  Three  battle  axes  erect.  7  A  lion  rampant  and  a  label  of  three. 
8  A  lion  rampant.  In  the  centre  of  all  a  mullet.  These  quarter- 
ings  also  impale,  a  saltire  engrailed  and  chief  Erm.  Hyde, 
which  last  coat  is  single  in  a  lozenge.  Below  is  the  first  coat  of 
eight  quarters  single,  and  impaling  Hyde  ;  and  between  them 
this  inscription  : — 

Here  under  lyeth  a  woorthy  squyer  that  Rycharde  Payton  kyght 

An  honest  Gentleman,  and  thyrde  sonne  to  Robert  Payton  knyght, 

In  Greys  Inne  student  of  the  lawe,  wheare  he  a  Reader  was. 

He  feared  God,  and  loved  his  woorde,  in  truth  his  lyfe  did  passe 

In  practysing  of  justice  lore  was  all  his  whole  delyght. 

He  never  wronged  ani  one  to  whom  he  myght  do  ryght. 

Whome  he  esteemed  an  honest  freend,  whom  he  might  stand  in  stede, 

He  never  left  to  do  hym  good  with  woorde,  with  purse,  and  deede. 

For  tenne  yeares  space  he  married  was  unto  a  faythfull  wyfe, 

By  parent  named  Marye  Hyde,  they  lived  devoyde  of  stryfe. 

The  earth  hym  bare  twyse  twentie  yeares,  and  virtuously  he  lyved 

A  godly  lyfe  he  dyd  embrace,  and  vertuosly  he  dyed. 

Below  in  a  lozenge, 


and  on  a  plate, 

The  thirteenth  daye  of  Apryll  yeares  seventy  and  foure 
A  thousand  fyve  hundred  being  put  to  yt  more. 

Sir  Robert  Peyton  died  the  I  August  1550,  and  was  buried  in  Isleham 
Church  where  there  is  a  plate  bearing  this  inscription  : — 

Pray  for  the  soule  of  Syr  Robert  Peyton  knyght  the 
sonne  of  Syr  Robert  Peyton,  knight,  whych  married 
Fraunceys  the  daughter  and  heyre  of  Fraunceys  Has- 
sylden,  Esquire,  decessyd,  which  syr  Robert  decessyd 
the  first  day  of  August  A"  d'ni  M°DL.  whose  soule  god  p'dn. 


26  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Sir  Robert  Peyton  knight  of  the  shire 
for  Cambridge  in  1557  and  High  Sheriff  of  the  Counties  of  Cambridge  and 
Huntingdon  in  1553  and  1567.  He  was  knighted  by  James  I.  at  Royston 
Nov.  1608.'  A  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  against  him  and  his  wife 
by  Richard  Peyton  in  1562* ;  and  another  fine  was  in  1582  levied  against 
him  and  others  by  Sir  John  Cotton  and  others.'  He  married  Lady  Elizabeth 
Rich  daughter  of  Richard,  Baron  Rich  of  Lees,  Lord  High  Chancellor  of 
England,  by  whom  he  had  issue  3  sons  Robert  who  died  unmarried 
in  his  father's  lifetime,  Sir  John  Peyton  and  Richard  Peyton 
who  died  without  issue,  and  3  daughters  Mary,  Frances  and  Winifred. 
On  his  death  he  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Sir  John  Peyton 
who  was  lord  of  Peyton  Hall,  Wicken  and  Wixho  and  Sheriff  of  the 
Counties  of  Cambridge  and  Huntingdon  in  1593,  Knight  of  the  Shire  of  the 
last  named  county  and  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1611.  By  his  wife  Alice 
daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Osborn,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1583 
and  progenitor  of  the  Duke  of  Leeds,  he  had  6  sons  and  6  daughters, 
one  of  which  Alice  was  married  to  Sir  John  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Peyton 
of  Doddington  Knt.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Sir  Edward  Peyton 
who  was  educated  first  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds  School  and  afterwards  at 
Cambridge.  He  was  knighted  the  4  Feb.  1610  and  served  in  Parliament  for 
the  County  of  Cambridge,  and  was  Custos  Rotulorum  thereof,  of  which  office 
he  was  deprived  by  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  subsequently  taking  part 
with  the  Presbyterians  in  the  time  of  the  great  rebellion  he  impoverished 
himself  and  his  family  and  sold  Isleham  and  other  estates.  He  had  a 
numerous  family  by  his  three  wives  and  dying  in  1557,  was  succeeded  by 
his  eldest  son  by  his  first  wife  Matilda  daughter  of  Robert  Livesay  of 
Tooting  in  Surrey, — Sir  John  Peyton  Bart.  Sir  John  Peyton  married  first 
a  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Bellingham  by  whom  he  left  no  issue  and  2ndly 
a  daughter  of  -  -  Hobart  by  whom  he  had  3  sons,  Edward  who  died  young, 
Sir  John  Peyton  his  successor  and  Thomas  a  Captain  in  the  Guards  who 
died  a  bachelor.  He  also  had  one  daughter.  He  died  in  1666  and  was 
buried  in  St.  Giles's  in  the  Fields,  London,  being  succeeded  by  his  only 
surviving  son  Sir  John  Peyton  Bart.  This  Sir  John  was  a  soldier  and 
occupied  several  military  offices,  serving  also  at  sea  in  the  Dutch  war.  He 
was  attainted  by  Act  of  Parliament  in  the  time  of  James  II.,  but  restored  by 
William  III.  He  was  made  governor  of  Ross  Castle  in  Kerry.  This  family  is 
remarkable  for  the  number  of  wives  each  had  the  privilege  of  marrying,  but  in 
this  instance,  though  Sir  John  had  three  wives  successively  he  died  the  23 
March  1721  without  issue.  Page  makes  out  that  the  manor  passed  after 
a  long  line  of  ancestry  to  Sir  Algernon  Peyton  Bart.,  second  son  of  Algernon 
Peyton,  D.D.,  rector  of  Doddington  in  Cambridgeshire  so  created  in  1666-7 
who  succeeded  to  the  estates  and  representation  of  his  family  on  the  decease 
without  issue  in  1660  (he  probably  means  1666)  of  his  elder  brother  Sir  John 
Peyton  Bart,  of  Doddington.  He  adds  that  Sir  Algernon  Peyton  appears 
to  have  resided  at  Peyton  Hall  and  his  only  son  and  heir  Sir  Sewster  Peyton 
succeeded  to  his  title  and  estates.  He  married  Anne  second  daughter  of 
George  Dashwood  of  London.  Algerina  his  sister  married  George  Dash- 
wood  a  Colonel  in  the  Army,  brother  to  the  wife  of  Sir  Sewster  Peyton, 
and  had  a  son  George  Dashwood  who  married  his  cousin  Margaret  daughter 
of  Sir  Sewster  Peyton  whose  son  Henry  Dashwood  upon  the  decease  of 
his  uncle  Sir  Thomas  Peyton  Bart,  in  1771  (he  probably  means  1772) 

•  ?  d.  1590.  >  Fine,  Easter  24  Eliz. 

•  Fine  Mich.  4  Eliz. 


BOXFORD. 


27 


without  issue,  inherited  the  property  and  assumed  in  consequence  the 
surname  and  arms  of  Peyton.  Finally,  Page  says  the  Peyton  Hall  Estate 
probably  passed  to  George  Dashwood  upon  his  marriage  with  Algerina 
daughter  of  Sir  Algernon  Peyton  Bart,  and  their  son  George  Dashwood 
is  the  person  whom  Mr.  Kirby  says  held  this  property  in  1764  and  had  a 
residence  in  or  near  Sudbury  called  Wood  Hall.  Much  of  this  account 
of  Page  is  guesswork.  He  knew  that  George  Dashwood  took  in  some 
way  and  this  is  his  mode  of  accounting  for  the  fact ;  but  Davy  has  nothing 
about  the  connection  of  the  Peytons  of  Doddington  with  this  manor, 
further  than  that  the  Dash  woods  represented  them.  He  makes  Sir  John 
Peyton  who  died  without  issue  in  1721  to  have  been  lord  and  then  merely 
says  it  passed  to  George  Dashwood.  It  is,  however,  possible  that  when 
Sir  Edward  practically  ruined  the  family  and  sold  Isleham  in  the  time  of 
Charles  I.  he  may  have  disposed  of  this  manor  to  the  Doddington  branch 
of  the  family,  his  sister  Alice  having  married  the  representative  of  this  branch, 
Sir  John  Peyton.  George  Dashwood  the  son  of  George  Dashwood  by 
Algerina  his  wife  2nd  daughter  of  Sir  Algernon  Peyton  Bart,  of  Doddington, 
was  unquestionably  lord  of  this  manor  and  died  in  March  1762.  He 
married  Margaret  2nd  daughter  of  Sir  Sewster  Peyton  and  had  2  sons 
Henry  and  James  and  2  daughters  Margaret  and  Penelope.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Henry  who  in  compliance  with  the  will  of  his 
uncle  Sir  Thomas  Peyton  Bart.,  obtained  an  Act  of  Parliament  enabling 
him  to  take  the  name  of  Peyton  and  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1776. 
In  1771  he  married  Frances  elder  daughter  of  Sir  John  Rous  of 
Herham  Hall  Bart,  and  sister  of  John  ist  Earl  of  Stradbroke.  He  was 
member  of  Parliament  for  the  County  of  Cambridge  in  1782  and  was 
re-elected  in  1784.  He  left  2  sons  Sir  Henry  and  Algernon  and  4  daughters 
Frances,  Louisa,  Charlotte  and  Harriet.  Sir  Henry  Peyton  died  in  1789 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Sir  Henry  Peyton  who  married  Hariet 
widow  of  James  Bradshaw  and  daughter  of  Thomas  Fitzhugh  by  whom 
he  had  issue  Henry  Peyton  2nd  Bart,  who  was  M.P.  for  the  County  of 
Cambridge  in  1802.  He  died  in  1854  and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son 
Sir  Henry  Peyton1  who  married  Georgiana  Codrington  of  Dodinton  co. 
Gloucester  and  had  issue,  Henry  who  died  a  minor  in  his  father's  lifetime 
and  Sir  Algernon  William.  Sir  Henry  Peyton  died  the  18  Feb.  1866  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  only  surviving  son  Sir  Algernon  William  Peyton 
4th  Baronet.  He  married  Sarah  youngest  daughter  of  Daniel  Hoik  Webb 
of  Wykham  Park  and  on  his  death  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Thomas 
Peyton  5th  Baronet.  He  married  Lucy  daughter  of  William  Watts  and 
died  in  1888,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Algernon  Francis 
Peyton  6th  Baronet.  The  manor  is  now  vested  in  Sir  Joshua  Thellusson 
Rowley  Bart,  of  Tendring  Hall. 

Extract  from  Court  Rolls  of  the  Manor  (one  of  that  in  Ramsholt) 


Peyton  Hall,  with  the  farm  and  318  acres, 
was  offered  for  sale  by  public  auction  in 
London  at  the  Auction  Mart  opposite 
the  Bank  of  England  the  i8th  July, 
1859.  In  the  Particulars  Peyton  Hall  is 
described  as  raised  on  a  natural  knoll, 
sheltered  and  ornamented  with  timber 
and  shrubberies  and  it  is  further  stated 
that  its  gardens,  grounds  and  approach 
give  it  a  character  never  found  in  mere 
farm  houses  or  modern  erections.  The 


house  is  stated  to  have  been  then  built 
many  generations  ago  and  to  have  much 
of  the  style  of  the  Elizabethan  period, 
the  front  presenting  somewhat  of  a 
uniform  elevation,  the  centre  being  a 
little  set  back  with  a  verandah,  and  the 
roofs  of  the  wings  having  pointed  gables. 
The  Manor  of  Peyton  Hall  which 
belonged  to  the  Vendors  at  the  time 
was  not  offered  for  sale. 


28  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

13  Rich.  II.  will  be  found  amongst  the  Bodleian  Suff.  Charities  [1368]; 
and  two  deeds  of  Sir  Robert  Crane  found  amongst  deeds  relating  to  this 
manor  are  in  the  Harlcian  Collection.' 

Arms  of  Peyton  :    Sa.,  a  cross,  engrailled,  or. 

CODDENHAM   HALL   MANOR. 

This  place  appears  as  Kodenham  in  Domesday  but  not  then  seemingly 
held  as  a  manor.  Walter  de  Saint  Valery's  predecessor  in  title  had  held 
by  commendation  only  2  freemen,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey 
Roger  de  Rheims  held  them,  though  by  what  title  the  Hundred  did  not 
know,  nor  could  anyone  say  on  Roger's  behalf  how  he  had  acquired  title, 
and  consequently  the  holding  is  classed  as  an  encroachment  upon  the 
King.  The  freemen  had  only  20  acres  of  land  valued  at  10  shillings  in 
former  days,  but  at  that  time  said  to  be  worth  nothing.1  In  the  time  of 
Hen.  I.  Thomas  de  Codeham  held  lands  here,  and  in  1188  they  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  Robert  de  Codeham  who  had  also  a  moiety  of  the  advowson. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  de  Codeham.  The  manor 
appears  in  1316  to  nave  been  vested  in  Thomas  Fitz  Eustace  and  Amicia 
his  wife,  for  by  a  fine  levied  this  year  we  learn  that  they  had  settled  this 
manor  and  the  Manor  of  Halstead  upon  Robert  the  son  of  the  said  Thomas.3 
However,  later,  in  1339  Amicia,  described  as  late  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Fitz- 
Eustace,  released  to  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  her  father  and  Alicia  her  mother 
her  life  interest  in  the  manor.  The  deed  is  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters 
in  the  British  Museum,  and  is  dated  at  Cavendish  "  die  Jovis  in  Virg. 
S.  Laur.  Mart.  13  Edw.  III.  [1339].*  In  1361  Sir  Thomas  de  Mont- 
chensy  by  a  deed  dated  35  Edw.  III.  [1361]  released  to  John  de  Multone 
parson  of  Stanstead  co.  Kent,  John  de  Bradefeld  parson  of  Hausted  co. 
Kent,  John  deTonevolle  clerks  and  others  this  manor  which  he  claimed  by 
descent  in  fee  simple  from  William  de  Montchensy  Knt.  his  grandfather,5 
and  3  years  later  Sir  William  de  Clopton  and  others  alienated  to  Sir  Thomas 
de  Fitton  and  others  all  right  in  the  manor.  In  1403  [the  29  Sept.  5  Hen. 
IV.]  John  de  Boys,  Clement  Spycer  and  John  Esthorpe  conveyed  to  John 
Allyn  and  Alice  his  wife.6  The  daughter  of  John  Aleyn  married  Robert 
Clopton  and  the  manor  passed  to  him.  He  by  Deed  the  18  Oct.  17  Hen.  VI. 
[1438]  conveyed  the  manor  to  Geoffrey  Clopton,  John  Clopton  his  son 
and  heir,  William  Bullok  and  Thos.  Odyham/  We  next  find  John  Clopton 
son  and  heir  of  Geoffrey,  Wm.  Bullok  and  Thos.  Odyham  as  lords,  but 
they  were  probably  trustees.  It  is  possible  that  the  fine  levied  in  1465 
of  "  Codnamhall  Manor  "  by  John  Porter,  Thomas  Pynk,  John  Lovell 
clerk,  John  Lamborne  and  Wm.  Phelip  pet.  against  Henry  Chicheley  and 
Alice  his  wife  and  Wm.  Grygge  and  Hugh  Vaugham  deforciants8  may  have 
reference  to  this  manor.  However  this  may  be  it  is  clear  that  in  1504  the 
manor  had  become  vested  in  Wm.  Forth  of  Hadleigh  for  he  died  seised  of 
it  on  the  6th  of  August  this  year.9  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Robert  Forth  who  died  the  27  July  1540, lo  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  William  Forth.  The  next  lord  was  William  Risbie  of  Lavenham 
who  died  seised  the  23  Sept.  1552,"  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  Risbie  his 


•  Harl.  639. 

•  Dom.  ii.  449,  4496. 

»  Feet  of  Fine*  10  Edw.  II.  19. 

•  Harl.  Ch.  50  A.  35- 

•  Cott.  MSS.  xxvii.  131. 

•  Harl.  47  A.  29. 


'  Harl.  48  D.  18. 

•  Feet  of  Fines  5  Edw.  IV.  10. 

•  I.P.M.,  20  Hen.  VII.  2. 


it 


I.P.M.,  32  Hen.  VIII.  4. 
I.P.M.,  6  Edw.  VI.  65. 


BOXFORD. 


29 


son  and  heir.  In  1563  a  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  by  Edward  Clere 
against  George  Risbie,1  and  in  1571  by  Robert  Peyton  against  William 
Humberstone.a  The  manor  passed  to  the  Bronds  or  Brands  of  Edwardston 
and  Wm.  Jos.  Brand  was  lord  in  1655.  It  afterwards  passed  to  the  Bennetts 
and  Thomas  Bennet  was  lord  in  1764.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  two 
daughters  and  co-heirs  Elizabeth  and  Anne  ;  the  former  died  in  1768  and  the 
latter  in  1786,  both  unmarried,  and  in  1847  the  manor  belonged  to  William 
Green  who  resided  there.  In  1855  William  Green's  executors  held,  but 
before  1885  the  manor  had  passed  to  and  was  held  by  George  Leech,  a 
farmer  here  and  at  Little  Waldringfield ;  and  it  has  since  passed  to, 
and  is  now  vested  in  Charles  J.  Grimwade  of  Hadleigh. 

Coddenham  Hall  is  now  converted  into  a  farm  house. 

BOWESHOWSE   al.    BORNHOUSE   MANOR. 

There  were  4  other  small  manors  in  Boxford  of  which  very  little  is 
known.  Boweshouse  al.  Bornhouse  seems  to  have  been  held  in  1316  by 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds,  but  in  1349  it  was  leased  by  Michael  de  Bures 
to  the  Friars  of  Clare.  In  1553  William  Lord  Howard  had  licence  to  alien 
it  to  Robert  Richers  who  had  a  licence  to  alien  to  Sir  John  Huddlestone. 
From  Sir  John  Huddlestone  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William 
Huddlestone,  who  died  in  1563  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  and  heir 
Edmund  Huddlestone3  who  had  licence  to  alien  a  third  part  of  the  manor. 
In  1568  Alice  Lovell  sister  of  Edmund  Huddlestone  and  wife  of  Sir  Thomas 
Lovell  was  lady,  and  in  1570  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  and  others  levied  a  fine  of 
the  manor  against  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk.4  The  following  year  a  fine 
was  levied  against  the  said  Thomas  Lovell  and  others  by  Thomas  Gale.' 
This  manor  subsequently  passed  to  the  Waldegraves  of  Smallbridge  in 
Bures  and  Sir  William  Waldegrave  held  the  manor  in  1585.  Two  years 
later  he  and  his  son  and  heir  apparent  William  Waldegrave  sold  the  manor 
for  £900  to  John  Bronde  of  Boxford  clothier  and  his  son  Benjamin  Bronde. 
The  Conveyance  is  dated  the  28  April  30  Eliz.  and  was  made  to  John  Bronde 
and  Benjamin  as  joint  tenants  in  fee  simple.  A  fine  was  in  1591  levied 
of  the  manor  by  the  said  John  Brond  against  William  Waldegrave.6 
By  Indenture  dated  the  22  Jan.  1608  John  Brond  and  Benjamin  then 
described  as  of  Edwardston  conveyed  the  manor  to  Matthew  Smyth  and 
Henry  Sokes  as  trustees  to  the  use  of  John  Brond  for  life  with  remainder 
in  fee  to  James  Brond  another  son  of  the  above  John  Brond.  This  Settle- 
ment does  not  appear  to  have  had  any  operation,  for  we  find  that  by  a  deed 
dated  the  20th  March  1627  Benjamin  Brond,  no  doubt  as  the  survivor 
under  the  joint  tenancy  created  by  the  Conveyance  from  the  Waldegraves 
30  Eliz.,  sold  the  manor  for  £1150  to  Joan  Cutler  of  Polstead  widow.  This 
Joan  Cutler  was  a  connection  of  the  Bronds  and  by  an  Indenture  dated  the 
21  May  16  Charles  I.  [1640]  she  made  a  Settlement  on  her  grandchildren 
the  Bronds,  settling  the  manor  to  the  use  of  herself  for  life  with  remainder 
to  the  use  of  her  grandson  William  Brond  in  tail  with  remainder  to  the 
use  of  John  Brond  in  tail  with  remainder  to  the  use  of  Anne  Brond 
and  Elizabeth  Beresse  in  fee  simple.  Mrs.  Cutler  by  an  Indenture  dated 
the  27  May  1648  conveyed  her  life  interest  in  the  manor  under  the  Settle- 
ment to  her  grandson  William  Brond.  For  many  years  prior  to  this  date 

1    Fine  Easter  5  Eliz.  *   Fine  Hil.  12  Eliz.  ;  Easter  13  Elia. 

*   Fine  Hil.  13  Eliz.  '    Fine  Mich.  13  Eliz. 

»   Fine  5  July  10  Elia.  46.  •   Fine  Hil.  33  Eliz. 


30  THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 

and  at  this  time  the  lands  of  the  manor  which  extended  into  Polstead  were 
in  the  occupation  of  Martin  Cobbould.  In  the  middle  of  the  i8th  century, 
Jacob  Brond  or  Brand  was  lord.  He  died  in  1755  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  and  heir  William  Beall  Brand  who  died  in  1799  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  widow  Ann  M.  H.  Brand  who  died  in  1814  being  succeeded  by 
Thomas  William  Cooke  grand-nephew  of  Wm.  B.  Brand  who  died  in  1825 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  widow  who  was  later  married  to  Charles  Tyrell. 

CALTHORPE  HALL  MANOR. 

The  second  of  these  small  manors  was  known  as  Calthorpe  Hall  and 
was  held  by  Thomas  Peyton  who  died  seised  in  1491  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother  and  heir  Robert  Peyton  who  died  the  27  March  1518  when 
it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Peyton.1 

BADLEY'S  OR  BADLEY  HALL  MANOR. 

The  third  of  these  manors  was  Badley's  and  it  is  mentioned  in  an 
Inquis.  in  1492*  as  held  of  Peyton  Hall  Manor  and  to  be  worth  4^.  It  is 
included  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  Robert  Peyton  who  died  the  27  March 
1518  and  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  then  aged  20  years  and  up- 
wards' and  is  also  the  subject  of  a  fine  levied  in  1556  by  John  Ely  junior 
and  others  against  the  last-mentioned  Robert  Peyton  and  others.4 

GEORGES  MANOR. 

The  first  mention  we  find  of  this  manor  is  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  John 
Straunge  in  1468,'  when  the  manor  is  stated  to  be  held  as  of  the  Duchy 
of  Lancaster.  We  next  find  it  mentioned  in  an  Inquis.  in  1491*  as  a  manor 
and  a  tenement  called  '  Callys '  with  30  acres  of  land  and  8  of  meadow 
worth  405.  held  of  the  Abbot  of  Bury  and  as  having  been  settled  by  Thomas 
Peyton  by  Deed  i  Rich.  III.  and  by  his  Will.  The  inquisition  finds  that 
Thomas  Peyton  died  seised  the  i  Aug.  5  Hen.  VII.  and  that  Robert  Peyton 
aged  22,  his  brother,  was  his  heir.  In  the  same  inquisition  the  Manor  of 
Sayham  Hall  worth  5/.  is  mentioned  as  held  of  this  Manor  of  Georges  in 
Boxford  and  under  a  like  title. 


I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  i.  *   Fine  Mich.  4  Mary. 

Hen.  VII.  740.  *  I.P.M.,  7  Edw.  IV.  34. 

•   |J>.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  i.  •   6  Hen.  VII.  740. 


BOXSTEAD. 


BOXSTEAD. 


MANOR  here  is  merely  by  inference  mentioned  in  Domesday. 
It  was  in  fact  all  the  land  in  Boxstead  which  was  included 
in  the  possession  of  Roger  de  Poictou  and  had  been  in  four 
different  holdings. 

In  the  Confessor's  time  Boxtead  had  been  held  by  Ulric 
King  Edward's  thane  as  2  carucates  of  land.  There  were 
2  villeins,  u  bordars,  4  slaves,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne  and 
half  a  one  belonging  to  the  men,  15  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  5  hogs,  3  horses, 
5  beasts,  24  hogs  and  30  sheep.  By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  one 
villein  and  one  slave  had  gone,  there  was  one  ploughteam  less  in  demesne, 
the  beasts  were  reduced  by  i  and  the  hogs  by  9,  but  the  sheep  had 
increased  to  71.  As  to  the  horses  it  seems  that  these  had  disappeared. 
The  great  record  says  "  When  Ralph  left  there  were  two  " — one  had  there- 
fore then  gone — "  and  now  none." 

There  were  also  in  Boxtead  5  freemen  under  Wisgar  by  commendation 
and  soc,  with  2  carucates  of  land  and  they  could  sell,  but  the  King  gave 
them  to  Norman,  son  of  Tancred.  There  was  also  a  freeman  under  com- 
mendation to  the  said  Ulric  with  45  acres,  of  which  30  were  in  the  soc  of 
St.  Etheldreda  and  15  in  the  soc  of  Norman  the  predecessor  in  title  of 
Ralph  de  Limesey  in  Cavendish  ;  and  under  them  were  3  bordars.  Among 
them  they  formerly  had  4  ploughteams,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Survey 
2  only.  In  the  same  manor  was  half  a  carucate  of  land  under  the  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund  which  the  tenants  could  not  sell  without  licence  of  the 
Abbot — but  the  King  gave  it  to  Norman  son  of  Tancred.  On  this  land 
was  I  slave  and  formerly  there  had  been  i  ploughteam.  The  value  of 
the  manor  in  Saxon  times  was  8  pounds  later  7  and  at  the  time  of  the 
Survey  100  shillings,  and  the  freemen  were  set  to  farm  at  52  shillings. 
The  value  of  the  manor  and  the  freemen  taken  together  was  put  at  6  pounds. 
It  was  a  league  long  and  five  quarantenes  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  yd.1 


BOXSTEAD  HALL. 

BOXSTEAD  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  forfeited  in  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  by  Roger  Poictou  and 
was    held    by    William    Hervey    in    the    time    of    Rich.   I.       He   was 

•  Dom.  ii.  3496,  350. 


33  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

succeeded  by  his  son  Theobald  Walter  le  Botiller  who  married  Matilda 
Vavasour  and  died  in  1206,  being  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Theobald 
Walter  who  married  Joan  daughter  of  John  de  Marisco  and  died  in  1248, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  nephew  William  Fitz  Hervey  who  was  Sheriff 
of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  from  32  Hen.  II.  to  2nd  Rich.  I.  In  the  6th  Rich.  I. 
Theobald  Walter  was  plaintiff  in  a  fine  against  William  Hervie  of  the 
3rd  part  of  a  knight's  fee  here  conveyed  to  Theobald  who  re-conveyed 
to  William  and  his  heirs  and  the  said  William  released  his  right  in  all  the 
lands  which  were  Hervey  Walter's,  grandfather  of  Theobald.  This  is  no 
doubt  the  half  a  fee  held  of  the  Honor  of  Lancaster  said  to  be  held  by 
Sir  William  Hervey,  1210-12  in  the  Red  Book  of  the  Exchequer' 
and  by  "  William  son  of  Hervici "  in  the  Testa  de  Nevill  (291). 
William  Fitz  Hervey  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  William  Hervey 
who  held  the  manor  at  his  death  in  1255.*  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
William  Hervey  who  held  the  manor  of  Edmund  the  King's  brother  by 
render  of  half  a  knight's  fee,  with  the  advowson  of  the  Church.  He 
died  in  1297,'  and  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter  and  heir  Amy  who 
married  Robert  Leyes  or  de  Lyes.  Page,  no  doubt  copying  from  the 
author  of  the  Magna  Britannia,  informs  us  that  the  lordship  was  vested  in 
the  Abbot  of  Bury  9  Edw.  I.  [1281]  but  this  is  a  delusion.  Robert  de 
Leyes  and  Amy  had  an  only  daughter  Beatrix  who  married  William  de 
la  Lee  who  died  in  1281  leaving  an  only  daughter  Beatrix  married  to  Thomas 
de  Badwell.  According,  however,  to  Sir  Symonds  d'Ewes,  Thomas  de 
Badwell's  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Robert  de  Lyes  and  Amy  Hervey. 
This  Thomas  Badwell  left  a  son  W.  Badwell,  who  died  without  issue  and  a 
daughter  Anne,  who  married  Thomas  Poley  in  the  time  of  Rich.  II.  and 
were  ancestors  of  the  Poleys  who  subsequently  had  this  Boxstead  Hall 
Manor.  Beatrix  the  wife  of  Thomas  Badwell,  died  about  1326*  and  the 
manor  passed  to  William  de  la  Gosefeld3  and  Isabel  his  wife,  but  in  1330 
Beatrix  widow  of  William  de  Ferrers  appears  as  lady  and  she  conveyed 
in  1331  to  Sir  Robert  de  Bures  and  Michael  his  son.6  According  to  Davy 
the  next  lord  was  Sir  Wm.  Giffard  Knt.  in  1339,  and  we  find  that  in  1333 
a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Sir  William  Giffard  and  Isabel  his  wife7 
against  William  Hervey.8  Sir  William  Giffard  seems  to  have  had  a 
daughter  Cecilia,  for  we  find  from  a  Charter  in  the  Bodleian  dated  1362 
a  person  answering  her  description  coming  into  court  in  Boxstead  on 
Wednesday  next  after  the  octave  of  the  Holy  Trinity  and  enrolling  a 
charter  by  which  she  quits  claim  to  Stephen  Bacun  and  Beatrice  his  wife 
all  her  right  in  the  manor  with  the  advowson  of  the  Church.9 

Davy  makes  Lord  Scroope  of  Masham  lord  in  1456,  but  this  seems 
to  be  a  mistake.  He  was  probably  misled  by  finding  Boxstead  in  the 
Inquisition  p.m.  of  this  date  of  Sir  John  Le  Scrope.  The  land  was  in 
Boxstead,  but  it  was  50  acres  of  pasture  called  "  Palmeres  "  held  as  of 
Honor  of  Boulogne.10  Of  this  same  land  Sir  Thomas  Scrope  de  Masham 
died  seised  in  1475."  Davy  makes  Anne  Badwell  daughter  and  heir  of  Thomas 
Badwell  married  to  Thomas  Poley  lady  of  the  manor  and  from  them  deduces 

132  B.  I4&J,  I52d.  «  Harl.  49  I.  44. 

.P.M.,  40  Hen.  III.  '  See   Gyffords    and    Hallymote    Manor, 
I.P.M..  25  Edw.  II.  51.  Wattisfield  in  Blackbourn  Hundred. 

I.P.M..  i  Edw.  III.  88.  •  Feet  of  Fines,  7  Edw.  III.  17. 

See  Feet  of  Fines,  rz  Edw.  II.  42,  19  '  36  Edw.  III.,  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  361. 

Edw.  II.   9.      Originalia,  19  Edw.  '°  I.P.M.,  34  Hen.  VI.  14. 

II.  ii.     I.Q.D.,  17  Edw.  II.  104.  "  I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  IV.  41. 


BOXSTEAD.  33 

the  Poley  holding  of  the  manor.  On  the  other  hand  Page  informs  us  that 
the  manor  was  held  by  Robert  Harleston  who  was  attainted  for  his  adherence 
to  the  house  of  Lancaster  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Edw.  IV.  This 
Monarch  granted  the  manor  to  his  brother  Richard  Plantagenet,  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  afterwards  Rich.  III.  It  is  quite  true  that  the  Manor  of 
Boxstead  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  Robert  Harleston  in 
1475'  but  so  is  it  also  in  that  of  Joan  wife  of  Sir  William  Parre  the  same 
year.2  The  one  matter  which  is  clear  is  that  the  manor  was  vested  in 
Thomas  Poley,  who  died  in  1461,  he  being  the  son  of  the  Thomas 
Poley  whom  Davy  refers  to  as  having  acquired  the  manor  by 
marriage  with  Anne  daughter  and  heir  of  Thomas  Badwell  of  Boxstead 
and  sister  and  heir  of  John  Badwell  of  Boxstead.  In  1445  we  find  a  fine 
levied  of  the  manor  between  Robert  Purfy  clerk,  against  John  Baily  and 
Thomas  Poley,3  which  is  almost  conclusive  of  the  correctness  of  Davy's 
statement.  This  Thomas  Poley  who  died  in  1461  married  Alice  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  Geffrey  Rookehill  or  Rockhill  of  Wormingford  co.  Essex 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Poley  man-at-arms  in  the  retinue  of 
Lord  Hastings  in  1480  who  died  in  1487  leaving  by  Agnes  his  wife  daughter 
of  Sir  Richard  Whetley  or  Whethill  Knt.  of  Calais,  a  son  Richard  Poley 
who  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Wm.  Clopton  Knt.  of  Liston  Hall  co. 
Essex  and  of  Kentwell  Hall  Melford  and  died  the  igth  February  1543 
to  whose  memory  there  is  a  strip  of  brass  on  the  North  side  of  the  Altar  in 
Boxstead  Church.  He  left  with  other  issue  a  son  John  Poly  who  married 
Margery  daughter  of  John  Blyant  of  Ringshall  and  heir  to  Richard  her  brother 
and  succeeded  to  the  Lordship.  He  died  in  1580  and  there  is  an  inscrip- 
tion to  his  memory  on  the  South  side  of  the  Altar  in  Boxstead  Church.  The 
manor  passed  to  his  son  [John  Poley  (afterwards  knighted)  aged  30  at 
his  father's  death.  He  died  apparently  without  issue  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  brother]  William  Poley  who  married  Alice  daughter  and 
heir  of  Edmund  Shaa  of  Horndon-on-the-Hill,  Essex,  and  grand  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Shaa  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1500.  He  died  the 
17  Dec.  1587  and  in  Boxstead  Ch.  is  an  altar  monument  on  which  lie  large 
as  life  two  portraits  of  him  and  his  wife.  They  are  of  oak  painted  black 
and  are  perfectly  sound  and  entire.  They  are  most  peculiar  and  unlike 
any  other  in  Suffolk.  On  her  pillow  is  this, 


and  on  her  Prayer  Book  an  escutcheon  with  the  arms  of  Poley  impaling 
those  of  Shaa,  or  Shaw.  William  Poley  left  with  several  daughters, 
2  sons  Sir  John  Poley  Knt.  his  eldest,  who  died  without  issue  in 
Flanders,  and  Sir  William  Poley  Knt.  who  ultimately  succeeded.  He 
married  Anne  2nd  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  Knt.  of  Rushbrooke 
and  was  buried  in  Boxstead  Ch.  August  6,  1629,  his  widow 
surviving  until  1658.  He  had  with  3  daughters,  Robert,  killed  at  the 
Isle  of  Rhe'  without  issue  and  Sir  William  who  succeeded  him.  Sir  William 
Poleymarried  first  Elizabeth  daughter  andco-heirof  Sir  Henry Arden  Knt.  of 
Warwickshire  maid  of  honour  to  Henrietta  Queen  of  England  and  secondly 

'    I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  IV.  49.  3    Feet  of  Fines,  23  Hen.  VI.  12. 

•   I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  IV.  34. 


34  THE   MANORS  OF    SUFFOLK. 

Elizabeth  5th  daughter  of  Paul  D'Ewes  of  Stowlangtoft.    He  was  buried  at 
Boxstead  18  May  1664,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  John  Poley  Knt. 

Sir  Richard  Gipps  says  of  him,  he  was  a  Gentleman  of  sound  under- 
standing, a  sincere  heart,  and  a  plain,  primitive  and  open  behaviour, 
a  loyal  subject  and  a  true  lover  of  his  country.  He  was  chosen  Burgess 
of  Sudbury  without  his  knowledge  and  sat  in  the  Convention  against 
his  inclination,  where,  in  that  memorable  Debate  Jan.  28,  1688,  whether 
the  Throne  was  vacant,  he  made  the  following  Speech :  '  Mr.  Speaker,  I 
am  sent  hither  to  do  the  Church  and  Caesar  Right,  to  vindicate  the  Doctrines 
of  one,  and  preserve  the  Majesty  of  the  other ;  both  which  are  in  Danger 
from  Gentlemen's  Arguments  in  the  Debate  of  this  Day.  Mr.  Speaker, 
here  is  an  Affair  of  the  greatest  Weight  before  us,  both  as  we  are  Christians 
and  Englishmen  ;  no  less  than  the  deposing  a  King  whom  we  have  sworn 
Allegiance  to.  Will  our  Religion  or  our  Laws  justify  such  a  Proceeding  ? 
I  know  they  will  not.  Gentlemen  indeed  have  laid  a  mighty  Stress  upon 
the  Original  Contract ;  and  urg'd  the  Vacancy  of  the  Throne  from  his 
Majesty  s  Breach  of  that.  But,  I  hope,  we  shall  not  proceed  rashly  in  a 
matter  of  such  Consequence  to  us  and  our  Posterity.  And  therefore  I 
move  that  this  Debate  be  adjourn'd  till  the  Original  Contract  be  produc'd, 
and  laid  upon  the  Table  for  the  Members  to  peruse,  that  we  may  see 
whether  his  Majesty  has  broke  it,  or  no."  After  this  he  retired  into  private 
life  and  lived  and  died  respected  by  all  his  countrymen  and  neighbours 
at  his  seat  at  Boxstead  Hall  the  I3th  September  1705.  He  had  married 
ist  Elizabeth  dau.  of  George  Walton  of  Little  Bursted  in  Essex  who  died 
the  25  Jan.  1677,  2ndly  Bridget  Sams  the  youngest  daughter  of  Richard 
Sams  of  Little  Totham  nr.  Maldon  in  Essex  buried  the  23  Dec.  1689,  and 
3rdly  Dorothy  3rd  dau.  of  Sir  Henry  Felton  of  Playford  Bart,  but  left  no 
issue.1  Sir  John  Poley  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Thomas  Poley. 
He  married  Frances  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Head  Bart,  of  Rochester  and 
had  issue  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  Richard  who  married  Elizabeth 
Walford  and  died  in  1701  without  issue,  William  who  also  died  without 
issue,  Bridget,  and  Elizabeth  Poley  who  married  Robert  Weller2  of  Ton- 
bridge,  and  carried  the  Boxstead  Manor  which  has  been  for  so  many 
generations  in  the  ancient  family  of  Poley  to  the  Wellers.  In  the  Dormitory 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Chancel  of  Boxstead  Ch.  is  a  fair  mural  marble 
pointing  to  a  lesson  to  be  derived  from  the  lives  of  the  Poleys  :— 

I  stand  not  here  to  compliment  the  dead, 
Or  make  the  living  blush,  the  Family 
Which  lies  interr'd  within  this  narrow  vault, 
Could  boast  themselves  to  be  no  more  than  men. 
Though  all  for  private  Virtue's  loss  should  grieve, 
And  acts  of  goodness  merit  our  applause  ; 
Though  Custom's  self  commands  the  contrary  ; 
I'm  not  permitted  to  say  more  than  this  : 
Whatever  blemishes  their  Lives  disclose, 
They  beg  in  Charity  may  be  conceal'd  : 
And  if  some  Virtues  shine  through  Envy's  vail ; 
Those  imitate,  and  spare  thy  generous  Praise. 

1   According  to  a    MS.    pedigree    in    the        •  This  Robert  Weller  was  a  son  of  Thomas 

writer's    possession,    which     came  Weller  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  which 

from  the  late  Dr  Howard,  Sir  John  Thomas  was  son  of  Thomas  Weller 

Poley   is   assigned    three  children,  and     Elizabeth      Barton,     which 

William  Poley,  buried  the  25  Apl.,  Thomas  was  son  of  Richard   and 

1698,  Elizabeth  Poley,  died  the  n  Agnes  Thomas    his    wife,    which 

Oct.,    1726,   and    John     Poley  of  Richard   was    son    of    Alexander 

Boxsted  Hall,   born  the  24  June,  Weller   who    died    in    1596    and 

1676,  and  died  the  13  SepL,  1757.  Elizabeth  Deuce  his  wife. 


BOXSTEAD. 


35 


Elizabeth  Weller  died  in  1761  having  had  by  Robert  her  husband  who  had 
died  in  1751,  an  only  son  George  Weller  who  assumed  the  name  of  Poley. 
He  married  Frances  daughter  of  Thomas  Hussey  of  Burwash  co.  Sussex 
and  by  her  who  died  in  1796  left  at  his  decease  the  2gth  December  1778 
aged  69  a  son  George  who  died  unmarried  the  10  April  1780  and  the  Rev. 
John  Weller  Poley,  Rector  of  Hartest  and  Boxford  his  successor.  He 
married  Jane  daughter  of  John  Blanch  Whaley  of  Colchester  and  by  her 
who  died  the  20  Dec.  1832  left  at  his  decease  the  10  May  1799  an  only  son 
George  Weller  Poley  who  married  Helen  Sophia  daughter  of  James  Fisher 
of  Browston  Hall,  and  by  her  who  died  the  20  Oct.  1860  left  a  son  John  George 
Weller  Poley  who  was  successor  to  his  father  on  his  death  the  5  Nov.  1849. 
He  was  High  Sheriff  for  the  County  in  1857  and  married  the  28  Oct.  1847 
Diana  youngest  daughter  of  Thomas  Halifax  of  Chadacre  Hall  Shimpling 
and  dying  the  5  Sept.  1869,  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  John  George 
H.  Weller-Poley  of  Boxsted  Hall,  the  present  lord  of  the  manor,  who  was 
High  Sheriff  of  the  County  in  1883. 

Extracts  from  the  deeds  of  William  Poley  in  1643  will  be  found  in 
the  Bodleian,1  and  a  Court  Roll  of  the  manor  is  mentioned  in  the 
loth  Report  of  the  Historical  MSS.  Commissioners.4  Boxsted  Hall  is 
an  ancient  mansion  surrounded  by  a  moat  and  situated  in  a  park  of  about 
90  acres  in  extent.  A  few  years  ago  the  Hall  was  repaired  and  its  carvings 
restored.  It  is  the  seat  of  its  owner  the  present  lord.  An  account  of 
Boxted  Hall  will  be  found  in  the  Publications  of  the  Suff .  Institute,3  and  of 
the  Poley  Family  in  Burke's  Landed  Gentry,4  Notes  and  Queries  3rd  Ser.  ii. 
417,  546,  8th  Ser.  xii.  508.  Amongst  the  Early  Chancery  Proceedings 
may  be  seen  a  suit  respecting  a  forged  bond  concerning  lands  enfeoffed  by 
Elizabeth  Lady  Clopton  in  this  manor.3 

There  are  two  other  small  manors  in  Boxstead — one  known  as  Troketts 
or  Truckets  Manor — the  other  as  More's  manor. 

TROKETTS  al.  TRUCKETS  MANOR. 

This  was  the  lordship  of  William  Felton,  who  died  the  23  Dec.  9  Hen. 
VII.6  In  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  this  William  Felton  the  manor  is  referred 
to  as  a  manor  called  '  Trokettes '  with  tenement  called  '  Bekkes '  in 
Boxsted  worth  12s.  held  of  the  Abbot  of  Bury.  On  William  Felton's 
death  the  manor  passed  to  his  heir  Edmund  Felton  of  Pentlow.  He 
died  the  I3th  May  1519,'  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Edmund  Felton  who  died  the  10  Dec.  1542  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  George  Felton8  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Edmund  Felton.9  In  1553  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Edmund 
Felton  and  others  against  George  Felton  and  others10  and  in  1570  by  George 
Tyrrell  and  others  against  Margaret  Felton  widow  and  others."  The  manor 
passed  to  John  Felton  and  fines  were  levied  against  him  in  1572  by  William 
Aylof  and  others12  and  in  1574  by  Richard  Elyott.13  Amongst  the  Exchequer 
depositions  are  the  particulars  of  a  suit  by  Thomas  Cronshaye  clerk  against 
Thomas  French  and  others  in  1587  as  to  parcel  of  land  at  Boxstead  with 

1  4180.  "  I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VIII.  223. 

'  Pt.  ii.  63.  '  See    Glemsford    al.    Peverells     Manor, 

3  Vol.  I.  iii.  358-373.  Glemsford,  in  this  Hundred. 

4  i.  1280.  "  Fine,  Mich.  I  Mary. 

5  E.C.P.,  i  Hen.  V.— 4  Hen.  VI.  6,  156.  "  Fine,  Easter  12  Eliz. 

6  Inq.  10  Hen.  VII.  1014.  "  Fine,  Trin.  14  EUz. 

'  I.P.M.,  ii  Hen.  VIII.  27.  "  Fine,  Mich.  16  and  17  Eliz. 


36  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

wood,  and  the  meets  and  bounds  of  this  manor  are  involved.      George 
Felton  is  referred  to  as  late  owner  of  the  Manor  of  Trucketts  in  Boxstead. 

In  the  time  of  Charles  I.  this  manor  belonged  to  Frederick  Scott  and 
later  to  Sir  Robert  Dicer  Bart.  In  1827  it  was  owned  by  Asgood  Pec. 

MORES  MANOR. 

The  other  manor,  Mores,  was  the  lordship  of  William  Cressener  in 
the  isth  century.  He  died  in  1454  and  was  succeeded  by  his  third  son 
Ralph  Cressener  and  he  by  Robert  Cressener  and  he  by  Alexander  Cressener 
the  prother  of  Ralph.  Alexander  Cressener  died  in  1497  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  John  Cressener,  who  in  1542  sold  the  manor  to  Richard 
Poley.1  In  1588  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  and  that  of  Somerton  Hall 
by  Edmund  Saunders  and  others  against  Philip  Coningsby  and  others.* 
In  1798  the  manor  was  vested  in  Lady  Blundell.  In  1827  it  was  vested 
in  the  Marchioness  of  Devonshire. 


Fine,  Mich.  34  Hen.  VIII.  .  Fine,  Easter  30  Eliz. 


BRENT  ELEIGH. 


BRENT  ELEIGH. 


37 


HIS  place  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  time  by 
Ulward  a  freeman  under  Archbp.  Stigand  and  consisted  of 
3  carucates  of  land,  5  bordars,  2  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in 
demesne,  3  acres  of  meadow,  i  mill,  2  horses  at  the  Hall, 
6  beasts,  20  hogs  and  100  sheep,  then  valued  at  40 
shillings,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  at  80 
shillings.  It  was  half  a  league  long  and  4  quarantenes  broad 
and  paid  in  a  gelt  3%d. 

The  Domesday  tenant  was  Tehell  de  Herion  or  Helyon.1  There 
were  one  or  two  other  small  holdings  in  Illegh  or  Eleigh  entered  in  the  Survey 
—one  that  of  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert  who  had  7  men  here  under 
Wisgar  by  commendation  and  soc  and  sac  holding  60  acres  of  land,  i 
ploughteam  and  i  mill  valued  at  10  shillings2  and  the  Bishop  of  Bayeux 
who  had  3  freemen  under  soc  and  commendation  of  Earl  Algar  (but  then 
Tehell  de  Herion  held  them  of  the  Bishop)  with  30  acres,  formerly  i  plough- 
team,  then  but  half  a  team,  and  half  an  acre  of  meadow,  valued  at  5 
shillings.3  There  was  also  another  holding  probably  in  Brent  Eleigh 
under  the  head  Lelegay  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  and  this  was  the  holding 
of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  who  had  5  freemen  in  the  tenancy  of  Arnulf 
with  3  carucates  and  a  half,  5  bordars,  3  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  2  hogs 
and  i  slave.  They  ploughed  with  4  teams  and  could  give  or  sell  their 
land,  but  the  soc  and  sac  and  commendation  and  the  custom  remained 
with  the  Abbot.  The  value  in  Saxon  times  was  placed  at  3  pounds,  but 
by  the  period  of  the  Great  Survey  this  had  risen  to  4  pounds.  The  extent 
was  4  quarantenes  in  length  and  6  in  breadth  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  3j^.4 

BRENT  ELEIGH  MANOR. 

The  lordship  was  very  early  vested  in  the  family  of  Illeigh  or  Ely 
from  whom  it  passed  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  to  that  of  Shelton  by  the 
marriage  of  Ralph  de  Shelton  with  Catherine  daughter  and  heir  of  Henry 
de  Illegh.  The  estate  of  Catherine  was  extensive,  for  Ralph  her  husband 
gave  18  marks  to  Hen.  III.  and  did  homage  to  that  King  for  three  whole 
fees  held  of  the  Honor  of  Will,  de  Helyun. 

In  1244  Ralph  Shelton  was  dead  and  Henry  his  son  and  successor 
held  the  3  fees,  said  to  be  in  chief  of  the  King.5  Nicholas  de  Shelton  was 
lord  in  1257,  and  in  that  year  gave  lands  there  to  the  Abbot  and  Convent 
of  St.  Osyth  in  Essex  ;  in  1270  Henry  de  Shelton,  who  seems  to  have  been 
the  son  of  Nicholas,  held  divers  lands  of  his  father  with  the  manors  of  Arsa 
(or  Illeye)  Combusta  Brent  (or  Burnt)  Ellye  and  died  in  1271.  Robert 
his  son  and  heir  had  livery  at  his  father's  decease  and  in  1286  had  liberty 
of  free  warren  therein.6  He  settled  land  here  to  maintain  lights  in  this 
parish  church,  and  in  1305  he  and  Isabel  his  wife  held  the  manor  for  life, 
John  de  Shelton  being  their  son  and  heir  and  of  full  age,  with  remainder 
to  Thomas  and  Henry  their  other  sons.  Sir  Robert  died  this  year, 
being  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Shelton.  John  de  Shelter 
died  seised  in  1332 8  leaving  Ralph  de  Shelton  his  son  and  successor 

Dom.  ii.  4276.  6  Hund.  Rolls,  ii.  142,  150,  153. 

Dom.  ii.  3926.  '  Inquis.  p.m.   Robert  de   Schelton  and 

Dom.  ii.  3736.  Isabela  his  wife,  33  Edw.  I.  43. 

Dom.  ii.  3596.  '  I.P.M.,  7  Edw.  III.  2. 

T.  de  Nevil,  291. 


38  THE    MANORS    OF    SUFFOLK. 

then  aged  17.  Blomfield  says,  "  In  1330  it  was  found  that  Sir  Ralph 
de  Shelton  sen.  son  and  heir  of  John  held  the  estate  jointly  with  his  wife 
Joan  and  that  he  died  Oct.  16  in  the  same  year  [of  course,  he  did  nothing 
of  the  kind]  leaving  only  three  daughters  Joan  aged  12,  Margaret  5  years 
and  Isabel  naif  a  year  old."  It  is  difficult  to  see  how  this  could  be — for 
John  de  Shelton  died  seised  in  1332  leaving  a  son  Ralph  de  Shelton  after- 
wards Sir  Ralph.  It  seems  that  Margaret  the  wife  of  John  de  Shelton 
deceased  having  long  before  his  death  separated  herself  from  him  of  her 
own  accord  and  "  lived  with  her  gallant  "  lost  her  dower  in  this  manor 
for  so  doing,  so  that  Sir  Ralph  had  it  wholly  from  his  father's  death. 

On  the  Close  Rolls  in  1333  is  an  order  to  Wm.  Bishop  of  Norwich  to 
pay  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Mary's  York  the  £40  by  which  the  Bishop  made  a 
fine  with  the  King  for  the  custody  of  all  lands  which  belonged  to  John  de 
Shelton  tenant  in  chief  in  Brent  Eleigh,  during  the  minority,  of  Ralph  son 
of  the  said  John.1  The  grant  to  the  Bishop  of  Norwich  of  the  custody 
of  the  lands  is  on  the  Originalia  Rolls  of  1333.'  The  complaint  of  T.  de 
Walpole  as  to  this  wardship  in  1334  will  be  found  on  the  Rolls  of  Parlia- 
ment.1 

There  is  a  fine  as  to  the  third  part  of  the  manor  in  1346  which  is  some- 
what strange.  Thus  "  Thomas  Kenyng  and  Margaret  his  wife  v.  Ralph 
de  Shelton  and  Johanna  his  wife  of  a  3rd  part  of  Manor  of  Brendholleye."  4 
Possibly  this  Margaret  may  have  been  the  wife  of  John  de  Shelton  married 
to  one  Thomas  Kenyng  after  her  husband's  death  and  this  fine  might 
have  been  in  respect  of  the  dower  not  lost.  However  by  1346  Sir  Ralph 
de  Shelton  was  lord  of  the  whole.  He  was  in  the  King's  Company  at 
Cressy  and  there  received  the  order  of  knighthood,  the  King  then  pardoning 
him  the  contempt  and  penalty  which  he  had  incurred  in  not  taking  that 
order  upon  him  before,  when  his  Majesty  directed  in  his  proclamation  that 
all  these  who  had  40  pounds  a  year  in  land  should  take  the  order  upon 
them.5  He  married  Joan  daughter  of  Sir  John  de  Playz  of  Wetyng,  Knt. 
Sir  Robert  was  a  warlike  personage  and  at  the  battle  of  Poictiers  took 
John  Rocourt  prisoner  for  whom  he  obtained  a  safe  conduct  in  1356.  Sir 
Ralph  de  Shelton  by  his  Will  dated  in  1373  and  proved  in  1375  under  the 
name  of  Sir  Ralf  Shelton  senior  Knt.  ordered  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  St.  Mary's  Church  at  Shelton  in  Norfolk  and  there  according  to 
Blomefield  he  was  interred  having  died  on  the  17  Nov.  1373  "  and  his 
gravestone  lieth  in  the  midst  of  it,  with  his  effigies  in  complete  armour 
and  a  Saracen's  head  cooped  for  his  crest."6  He  left  Sir  Ralph  Shelton 
jun.,  knt.,  his  son  and  heir,  who  was  then  married  to  Alice  daughter  of 
Sir  Thos.  Uvedale  of  Tacolneston  Knt.  In  1385  he  attended  John  Duke 
of  Lancaster  in  his  great  expedition  into  Spain  and  was  at  the  famous 
battle  of  Nazaret.  He  succeeded  to  the  manor  on  the  death  of  Joan 
widow  of  Sir  Ralph  the  Elder  the  4  January  1405,  when  it  was  found  that 
she  having  died  without  any  heirs  by  Sir  Ralph  the  Elder,  the  manor 
reverted  to  Sir  Ralph  son  of  Sir  Ralph  who  was  then  58  years  of  age.7 
We  do  not  attempt  to  explain  this.  Blomefield  most  distinctly  makes 
Sir  Ralph  Shelton  jun.  Knt.  son  of  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  sen.  Knt.  and 
loan  widow  of  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  sen.  to  die  "  having  no  heirs 
by  Sir  Ralph  "  when  he  makes  the  manor  "  revert  to  Sir  Ralph  son  of 

•  Close  Rolls,  7  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  16.  *  Rymer  v.  561. 

•  O.,  7  Edw.  III.  5.  •  I.P.M.,  50  Edw.  III.  56. 
'  Vol.  ii.  75.  »  I.P.M.,  7  Hen.  IV.  8. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  ao  Edw.  III.  23. 


BRENT    ELEIGH.  39 

Sir  Ralf."1  Perhaps  Blomefield's  excuse  is  to  be  found  in  a  note  on  page 
266  where  he  says,  speaking  of  the  Sheltons,  "This  family  was  so  numerous 
from  their  original,  that  an  exact  account  of  them  in  a  regular  pedigree 
cannot  be  fixed."  We  may  however  be  thankful  at  having  arrived  at  a 
period  where  the  descent  of  the  manor  seems  less  involved  in  mystery. 
This  last  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  according  to  both  Blomefield  and  Davy  died 
the  25th  April  1424  "  as  the  inscription  on  his  tomb  in  Great  Snoryng 
church  saith."  Neither  give  the  inscription,  so  we  venture  to  think  his 
death  was  in  1414  and  not  1424."  His  successor  was  Wm.  Shelton  the 
brother  of  Sir  Ralph  jun.  He  married  Katherine  daughter  of  Simon 
Barett  and  died  in  I42I.3  John  Shelton  son  and  heir  of  Wm.  was  the  next 
lord,  he  having  livery  of  his  lands  in  1427.  He  died  in  1430"  leaving  his 
widow  Margaret  surviving.  She  remarried  Robert  Alyngton  and  died 
about  1479,'  when  John's  son  and  heir  Sir  Ralph  Shelton,  succeeded. 
Ralph  Shelton  was  High  Sheriff  of  Norf.  and  Suff.  in  1487  and  married 
Margaret  daughter  of  Robert  Clere  of  Ormesby  and  of  Elizabeth  his  wife 
daughter  of  Sir  Thos.  Uvedale  by  whom  he  had  John  his  son  and  heir, 
Ralph,  Richard,  Elizabeth  and  Alice  married  to  John  Heveningham. 
Sir  Ralph  Shelton  was  living  in  1492  but  died  before  1500,  for  then  Margaret 
Shelton  of  Shelton  "  late  the  wife  of  Sir  Rafe  Shelton  Knt."  desired  by  her 
will  to  be  buried  in  Shelton  chancel  by  her  husband  "in  a  tumbe  which  is 
ordeyned  to  that  intent."  Their  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Shelton  was  High 
Sheriff  of  Norfolk  in  1504  and  was  made  Knight  of  the  Bath  at  the  corona- 
tion of  Hen.  VIII.  Sir  John  Shelton  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  William 
Boleyn  of  Blickling  in  Norfolk  Knt.  and  died  21  Dec.  1539  in  the  62nd 
year  of  his  age,  being  buried  in  Shelton  chancel  with  this  inscription,  "  Hie 
sum  sepultus  Johannes  de  Shelton  miles."  The  inscription  about  the  tomb 
on  brass  is  : — 

Johannes  Shelton  miles  quondam  istius  pagi  Dominus 

Si  Fortunam,  si  Vitam,  si  Felicitatem,  scire  cupis, 

Hec  Carmina  tibi  dicent. 

Lege,  Vive  et  Vale. 

Morborum  vicia,  et  Vite  Mala  maxima  fugit, 
Nunc  careo  pacis,  pace  fruor  placida. 
Vixit  Annos  62  A".  1539. 
Bene  merenti  Uxor  posuit. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  tomb  are  these  arms :  A  quartered  coat, 
I  Shelton,  2  Illegh,  3  Burgullion,  4  Cockfield,  Shelton,  and  Boleyn 
impaled.  On  the  north  side,  Shelton  and  Boleyn  impaled,  Boleyn  and 
Butler  Earl  of  Ormond  quartered6  and  Shelton  and  Boleyn  impaled  again. 
Sir  John's  own  effigies  in  a  praying  posture  with  his  arms  on  his  surcoat  and 
that  of  his  wife  with  Boleyn' s  arms  are  in  the  east  window  of  the  chancel. 
Sir  John,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Shelton  Knt.  called  the  younger,  was 
High  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  in  1522  and  again  in  1525  and  had  livery  of  this 
manor  and  Milden.  In  1551  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Robert 
Gufdon  against  the  said  Sir  John  Shelton,  no  doubt  on  some  settlement 
of  the  estate.7  He  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Parker  Knt. 

'  Norf.  v.  265.  having  been  the  sister  and  co-heir  of 

*  I.P.M.,  2  Hen.  V.  2.  Thomas  Boleyn  Earl  of  Wilts  and 

3  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  V.  50.  Ormond  son  of  Sir  William  Boleyn 

«  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VI.  43.  Knt.    of    Blickling    by    Margaret 

5  I.P.M.,  19  Edw.  IV.  7.  daughter  and   co-heir  of  Thomas 

6  These    arms  were  quartered  in  conse-                     Botiler  or  Butler  Duke  of  Ormond. 

quence  of  Anna,  Sir   John's  wife        '  Fine,  Easter  5  Edw.  VI. 


40  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

son  and  heir  of  Henry  Lord  Morley  and  was  one  of  those  who  joined  Queen 
Mary  at  Kt  nninghall  in  order  to  advance  her  to  the  throne.  He  is 
un.lrr  an  altar  monument  in  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of  Shelton 


with  this  iiiM  ription  :  — 

Sir  John  Shelton  marryed  Margaret  the  doughter  of  the  Lord 

Morly  and  had  issue  Ralphe,  Anne  Alys  and  Marie  and  died 

the  ......  day  of  November  Anno  Dm.  1558.' 

Ralphe  married  [Mary]  the  daughter  of  Sir  William  Woodhouse 

Anne  married  the  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Godsalve 

Alys  married  the  sonn  and  Heir  of  Sir  Thos.  Josselyn 

Mary*  now  Ladye  Scudamore. 

Arms  of  Shelton    and    quarterings:    Shelton  impaling  Morley,  Shelton 
and  Woodhouse,  &c. 

Sir  Ralph  Shelton  the  eldest  son  succeeded  and  married,  as  stated  in 
the  above  inscription,  ist  Mary  daughter  of  Sir  Wm.  Woodhouse  of  Wax- 
ham  Knt.  and  2ndly  Anne  daughter  of  Thos.  Barrow  of  Barningham  who 
afterwards  married  Sir  Charles  Cornwallis.  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  is  buried 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Altar  with  the  following  inscription  :  "  Ralphe 
Shelton  maryed  Mary  the  Doughter  of  Sir  William  Woodhouse  the  i3th 
Daye  of  Septembre,  Anno  Dom.  1551  by  whom  he  had  issue  Tho.  John 
Raphe  Edward  Margaret  and  Audrey  and  dyed  the  15  June  1568." 
On  the  side  of  the  tomb  the  dates  of  the  children's  births.  Arms  :  Shelton, 
Illeye,  Burgullion,  and  Cockfield,  quartered,  impaling  Woodhouse  of 
Waxham.  Thomas  Shelton,  Sir  Ralph's  eldest  son  is  said  to  have  succeeded. 
He  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Edward  Flowerdew  Baron  of  the 
Exchequer  and  was  gentleman  porter  of  the  Tower.  He  died  in  1595 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Sir  Ralph  who  married  Dorothy  daughter 
of  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  of  Rushbrooke  Knt.  and  was  killed  at  the  Isle  of 
Rh6  in  France.  Dying  without  issue  he  was  succeeded  by  his  half  brother 
Henry  only  surviving  son  of  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  by  Anne  Barrow  his  second 
wife.  Henry  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Thomas  Jermyn  of  Depden 
and  dying  the  18  Oct.  1634  at  Barningham  was  buried  there.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Maurice  Shelton  of  Shelton  in  Norfolk,  and 
Barningham  in  Suffolk,  which  latter  he  had  as  heir  to  Maurice  Barrow  son  of 
William  Barrow  of  Westhorp  brother  of  Anne  Barrow  aforesaid  his  grand- 
mother. From  the  time  of  Maurice  Shelton  to  the  death  of  Henry  Shelton 
the  24  May  1690  the  manor  passed  in  the  same  course  as  the  Manor  of 
Barningham  in  Blackbourn  Hundred. 

The  Davy  MSS.  suggest  a  doubt  as  to  this  descent  saying  or  in  the 
time  of  Philip  and  Mary  the  manor  passed  to  Richard  Thorpe,  who  sold  it  to 
Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn  who  sold  it  to  Samuel  Colman  who  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  and  heir,  when  the  manor  probably  became  united  with  Abbot's 
Hall  another  manor  in  the  parish  of  Brent  Eleigh  and  descended  accordingly. 
We  do  find  in  1558  a  fine  levied  of  this  manor  and  that  of  Welleshall  al. 
Milden  by  Robert  Thorpe  against  Ralph  Shelton*  and  the  manor 
no  doubt  did  then  pass  to  Thorpe,  for  on  the  Memoranda  Rolls  in  1560  is 
an  order  for  removal  of  process  from  the  site,  &c.,  of  the  Manor  of  Brent 
Eleigh  and  discharge  of  a  Robert  Thorpe.' 

In  1844  the  manor  belonged  to  Thomas  Brown  M.D.  ;  in  1855  to 
Mrs.  S.  A.  Brown;  later  it  vested  in  Walter  Thomas  Brown,  D.L.,  J.P., 

1  A  Fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  this  year        •  Fine,  Mich.  5  Mary  r. 

between  Robert  Thorpe  and  Ralph         :  Memoranda  2  Eliz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  138 
Shelton  and  others.    (Fine,  Mich.  5 
Mary  i). 


BRENT   ELEIGH.  41 

of  Brent  Eleigh,  who  died  in  1905,  and  it  is  now  vested  in  the  executors 
of  his  will. 

Particulars  of  the  services  and  customs  of  the  manor  will  be  found  in 
the  British  Museum  Collection  of  MSS.1  The  Court  Rolls  1464  to  1501 
are  in  the  Brit.  Mus.*  Admittances  of  tenants  to  lands  called  Melkys 
al.  Veyses,  1497-1608  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters.3 
Conveyances,  &c.,  of  the  site  of  the  manor  in  1551,  1601,  and  1607  will 
also  be  found  amongst  these  same  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.4  A  fine  was 
levied  of  a  manor  of  Brent  Eleigh  in  1589  by  William  Webbe  against 
William  Massye  and  others.5 

Arms  of  Shelton  :  Azure,  a  cross  or.  and  for  Crest  Saracen's  head 
couped  the  shoulders  ppr. 

ABBOTS  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  constituted  in  the  gift  in  1257  °f  Nicholas  de  Shelton 
to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Osyth,  Essex,  and  at  the  Dissolution  it  was  granted 
by  the  Crown  to  Robert  Goodwin  in  1542. 6  The  following  year  we  find 
the  manor  vested  in  John  Spring,  and  in  1574  in  William  Spring7  who 
this  year  sold  it  to  John  Ho  veil  al.  Smith8  who  with  Helen  his  wife  had 
licence  to  alien  in  1593  and  conveyed  in  1594'  to  Edward  Colman  who  died 
in  1599  and  was  succeeded  by  William  Colman  his  son  and  heir.  The  manor  in 
the  last-mentioned  fine  effecting  the  passing  of  the  property  is  called  "Manor 
of  Illegh  Combusta  alias  Brent  Illeyghe  alias  Abbott's  Hall."10  William 
Colman  died  in  1606  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  John  Colman  who  sold  it 
to  Paul  D'Ewes"  from  whom  it  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes12  who 
sold  it  by  Conveyance  the  i  Oct.  1649  t°  Robert  Canham  of  Milden  Hall 
clothier,  for  £1,400. '3  The  statement  of  Davy  seems  somewhat  confused. 
The  facts  seem  to  be  that  Paul  D'Ewes  was  originally  a  mortgagee  of  the 
Estate  and  subsequently  became  the  purchaser.  Amongst  the  Harleian 
Charters'4  is  a  recognizance  by  which  for  £240  John  Colman  and  Maria  his 
wife  acknowledge  the  manor  to  belong  to  Paul  D'Ewes.  It  is  dated  in  1625. 
There  is  also  amongst  the  Harl.  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  a  copy  of  the 
recognizance  of  John  Colman  in  £1,000  made  in  chancery  for  performance 
of  his  covenants  with  Paul  D'Ewes  who  had  bought  the  manor  of  "  Brunt 
Illeigh  alias  Abbots  Manor  "  of  him.  The  date  is  the  22  May  i62615  and 
the  document  is  clearly  one  given  on  a  sale  by  John  Colman  to  Paul 
D'Ewes  and  not  as  Davy  seems  to  put  it  on  a  sale  by  Paul  D'Ewes  or 
rather  his  son  Sir  Symonds  to  John  Colman.  However,  the  manor  does  seem 
to  have  returned  to  the  Colemans  or  Colmansand  John  Coleman  appears  to 
have  been  succeeded  by  his  cousin  Edward  Colman  who  died  the  27  January 
1651  aged  58  and  was  succeeded  by  his  youngest  son  Edward  who  died 
in  1698  aged  62  and  was  succeeded  by  Edward  Coleman  who  gave  this  manor 
to  Edward Goate in  1739.  On  the  north  side  of  the  Chancel  of  the  Ch.  of  Brent 

1  Add.  MSS.  6156,  6160,  Harl.  1006.  I0  Fine,  Easter  36  Eliz. 

•  Harl.  Rolls  I.  22.  "  Harl.  51  H.    33    is  a  licence  of  King 

3  Harl.  55  H.  30-37.  James  I.  authorizing  the  alienation 

4  Harl.  57  H.  8,  55  G.  40,  112  E.  41.  by  Isaac  Wincoll    and    Mary    his 

5  Fine,  Mich.  31,  32  Eliz.  wife     to    Paul    D'Ewes   of    their 

•  Particulars  for  the  grant  34  Hen.  VIII.  parcel  of  this  manor. 

will     be     found    in    the    Record  "  See     Stowlangtoft    Manor     in     Black- 
Office  D.K.R.  9,  App.  ii.  p.  213.  bourn  Hundred. 

'  See    Netherhall    Manor,    Little   Wald-  "Harl.  85  H.  41. 

ingfield  in  this  Hundred.  '4  Harl.  49  E.  15. 

•  Fine,  Mich.  16  and  17  Eliz.  *  Harl.  98,  67. 
»  Fine,  36  Eliz.  East.  Term. 


42  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

Eleigh  is  a  handsome  marble  monument.  Beneath  this  is  a  portrait  large  as 
life  with  the  following  inscription:  "Near  this  marble  lieth  the  Body 

ir.  Kdward  Colman  ;  the  last  of  an  ancient  and  worthy  Family,  of 
which  he  was  an  Ornament  and  Support :  whose  great  Virtues  need  no 
Recital  in  this  Place  especially  where  he  has  left  so  many  monuments  of 
Piety  to  God,  and  good  will  towards  men.  He  died  the  27  of  February  A.D. 
1739  jEtat.  72." 

In  the  Life  of  Dr.  Balbie,  the  celebrated  and  eminent  Physician  who 
died  in  London  in  June  1776  aged  72,  it  is  said  that  his  relations  the  Cole- 
mans  of  Brent  Eleigh  notwithstanding  the  great  political  antipathy  they  had 
to  his  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Barnham  Goode  the  under-master 
of  Kton  School,  behaved  to  the  wife  with  the  utmost  civility,  and  left  Balbie 
thirty  thousand  pounds. 

Edward  Goate  married  Mary  dau.  of  Thomas  Barnardiston  of  Wy ver- 
sion Hall  by  Mary  dau .  of  Sir  George  Downing  Bart .  of  Cambridgeshire  and  died 
the  21  Dec.  1747  aged  53.  He  is  interred  with  his  wife  in  Brent  Illeigh  Ch. 
where  there  is  a  monument  to  their  memory.  It  seems  the  wife  died  the  i7th 
Feb.  1804,  having  attained  the  great  age  of  95  and  as  the  inscription  says 
"  might  have  been  accounted  a  rare  instance  of  happy  longevity  but  that 
in  the  last  year  of  her  life  she  had  the  misfortune  to  survive  her  tenderly 
affectionate  youngest  daughter  and  her  only  and  best  of  sons  which  brought 
her  with  sorrow  to  the  grave."  The  marble  was  inscribed  as  a  tribute  of 
filial  respect  for  her  parents  by  Mary  Ranby  her  only  remaining  child. 

Edward  Goate  was  succeeded  in  the  lordship  by  his  son  and  heir  Edward 
Goate  who  served  ten  years  in  the  first  Regiment  of  Foot  Guards  and  was 
afterwards  Colonel  of  the  East  Suffolk  Regiment  of  Militia.  He  died  May 
25th,  1803,  at  the  age  of  63  years,  and  on  a  marble  to  his  memory  in  Brent 
Eleigh  Church  it  is  stated  that  he  "  enjoined  his  family  not  to  raise  any 
monument  to  his  memory  but  to  have  written  on  his  stone  that  in  the  vault 
beneath  lie  his  remains."  The  statement  however  is  made  as  to  his  serving 
in  the  Army  and  Militia  and  then  follow  the  words  :  "  The  space  above 
allowed  not  room  to  enumerate  his  merits 

but  they  are  deeply  engraved 
on  the  hearts  of  his  family, 
his  friends,  his  dependants, 
and  his  neighbours." 

On  Edward  Goate's  death  the  manor  passed  under  his  will  to  his 
daughter  Sarah  Dionesse  who  married  Thomas  Brown  M.D.  of  Lostock 
Place.  He  died  the  9  Sept.  1852  aged  77,  and  his  widow  the  nth  Aug. 
1866  aged  79,  when  it  passed  as  the  main  manor. 

Admissions  of  tenants  of  this  manor  in  1534  and  1556  will  be  found 
amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum.1 

FEN  HALL  MANOR. 

The  first  lord  of  this  manor  we  meet  with  is  Peter  de  Denarston  who 
had  free  warren  here  in  1312.* 

In  1327  we  find  from  the  Patent  Rolls  that  a  commission  was  issued 
on  complaint  of  this  Peter  de  Denarston  that  Edmund  de  Sancto  Mauro, 
Sir  William  Cockerel  and  others  broke  his  houses  at  Brent  Eleigh  and 
Milden,  felled  his  trees  and  carried  them  away.3  The  manor  belonged 

•  Harl.  58  E.  2,  58  E.  3.  >  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  28*. 

•  Chart.  Rolls,  5  Edw.  II.  2. 


BRENT    ELEIGH. 


43 


to  Robert  Thorpe  in  1560.'  From  him  it  seems  to  have  passed  to  William 
Humberston  under  a  fine  levied  in  1566'  and  then  on  to  William  Spring, 
who  in  1574  sold  it  to  John  Hovell  al.  Smith3  who  in  1585  leased  it  to 
Isaac  Wyncol.4  The  licence  for  its  sale  is  dated  the  2  Sept.  1593,  and  it 
was  then  held  of  the  Crown  in  chief.5 

It  is  said  that  the  manor  and  advowson  of  the  Vicarage  were  granted 
in  1542  to  Robert  Goodwin  as  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  St.  Osyth's  Abbey  in 
Essex,  but  this  must  refer  to  the  estate  which  Nicholas  Shelton  gave  to  the 
Abbey  in  1257.  Amongst  the  Conventual  leases  in  the  Augmentation  Office 
is  a  lease  dated  the  loth  Nov.  29  Hen.  VIII.  [1537]  from  John  Colchester, 
Abbot  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Osyth's  to  Thomas  Myryell  of  Assington 
Gent,  of  "  All  that  the  Manor  of  Brendeillegh  with  the  appurtenances  in 
the  County  of  Suffolk,  the  parsonage  of  the  said  Toun  and  all  manner  of 
Tyths  to  the  same  and  all  other  their  lands  tenements  rents  farms  and 
hereditaments  with  their  appurtenances  in  Brendeillegh  and  other  towns 
thereunto  adjoining  with  the  perquisites  of  Courts  thereto  belonging  and 
all  other  their  appurtenances  except  reliefs,  wards,  marriages,  escheats 
and  the  presentation  of  the  vicarage  there  "  for  the  term  of  68  years  from 
Michaelmas  then  last  past  under  the  yearly  rent  of  £7  with  power  to  the 
said  Thomas  Myryell  to  retain  thereout  205.  by  the  year  for  the  payment 
of  the  rents  resolute  going  out  of  the  premises  the  said  Thomas  and  his 
executors  paying  all  out-rents  yearly  going  out  of  the  said  manor  and 
other  the  premises  to  all  manner  of  persons,  and  the  costs  and  charges  of 
the  Channon  Bailiff,  the  Steward,  and  other  the  Lord's  officers  and  servants 
as  often  as  they  shall  repair  unto  the  said  farm  by  the  Abbot's  assignment 
to  keep  courts  there  and  also  discharging  the  Abbot  and  Convent  against 
the  Vicar  of  Brendeillegh  and  his  successors  of  one  yearly  pension  of  8 
marks  going  out  of  the  said  Monastery  to  the  said  Vicar. 

According  to  an  entry  in  theHarl.  MSS.  John  Colman  sold  the  manor  to 
Paul  D'Ewes  in  1626.'  Dr.  Colman,  fellow  of  Trinity  College  Cambridge  about 
1700,  built  a  fine  parochial  library  at  the  end  of  the  chancel  of  the  Church 
and  well  furnished  it  with  books — subsequently  Edward  Colman  built  some 
almshouses  for  6  poor  people  and  in  1736  liberally  endowed  them.  The 
last  of  the  family,  Edward  Colman,  gave  the  estate  to  his  kinsman  Edward 
Goate  whose  son  Edward  in  1747  inherited  the  same. 


1  2   Eliz.    Memoranda    Mich.    Rec.    Rot.         4  Harl.  56  C.  39. 

138.  *  Pat.  Rolls  35  Eliz.  pt.  i.  i. 

1  Fine,  Trin.  8  Eliz.  6  Harl.  MSS.  98. 

»  Fine  Mich.   16  and   17  Eliz.,  Originalia 

16  Eliz. 


44  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

BURES. 

the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  there  were  certainly  two 
manors  here  though  one  only  is  named  as  such.  The  first 
was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  day  by  Witgar  who 
had  18  freemen  by  commendation  and  soc  and  sac.  These 
freemen  could  sefi  their  land  without  licence,  but  there 
were  4  socmen  who  could  not  sell.  The  18  freemen  had 
i  carucate  of  land  and  a  half,  and  3  socmen  who  had  a 
like  quantity,  had  under  them  i  villein  7  bprdars  3  ploughteams  and 
4  acres  of  land,  wood  for  6  hogs  and  one  mill  valued  at  20  shillings. 

Bures  was  a  league  long  and  half  a  league  broad  and  paid  24^.  in  a 
gdt — others  held  land  here,  and  there  was  a  church  benefice  with  18 
acres  of  land.  The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  of  this  manor  was  Richard 
son  of  Earl  Gislebert.' 

The  other  manor  was  held  in  Saxon  times  by  Uluric  son  of  Brictric 
who  had  2  carucates  of  land  and  there  were  7  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in 
demesne,  wood  for  40  hogs,  4  acres  of  meadow,  2  beasts,  60  sheep,  and  40 
hogs  valued  at  60  shillings,  which  at  the  Norman  Survey  had  come  down 
to  40  shillings.  The  slaves  had  come  down  to  4  and  the  hogs  to  20  ; 
but  there  were  in  addition  2  bordars,  i  mill,  2  horses,  140  sheep  in  lieu  of 
60  and  35  goats.  Another  carucate  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's 
time  by  Tosti  a  freeman  with  i  villein,  i  slave,  i  ploughteam,  wood  for 
10  hogs,  2  acres  of  meadow,  40  hogs,  20  sheep  which  particulars  by  the 
time  of  the  Norman  Survey  had  somewhat  varied.  The  villein  had  gone, 
but  there  were  two  bordars  ;  20  of  the  hogs  had  disappeared,  but  there  were 
15  goats.  The  value  was  20  shillings.  Besides  there  were  2  freemen 
under  Harold  who  had  60  acres  which  they  could  sell  and  i  ploughteam 
valued  at  5  shillings  and  the  freemen  were  delivered  up  to  make  up  the 
manor.  John  son  of  Waleran  was  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief.2 

Two  other  holdings  only  are  mentioned  in  Domesday  Survey.  One  was 
that  of  the  Abbot  of  Bury  holding  3  socmen  with  8  acres  of  land  and  one 
acre  of  meadow  valued  at  i6d.  These  socmen  could  give  or  sell  their  land, 
but  by  soc  and  all  customs  they  would  continue  under  the  Abbot.'  The 
other  holding — that  of  Roger  de  Rheims — was  more  extensive.  He  held 
a  carucate  of  land  which  had  belonged  to  Earl  Algar.  There  was  one  villein, 
and  one  slave  one  ploughteam  in  demesne  and  another  belonging  to  the 
men.  There  were  also  2  bordars,  2  acres  of  meadow  and  there  had  been  for- 
merly half  a  mill  (but  this  half  interest  had  gone  by  the  time  of  the  Norman 
Survey)  one  horse,  30  hogs  and  100  sheep,  the  whole  being  valued  at  20 
shillings.4  This  Roger  de  Rheims  or  Reymes  had  come  over  with  the 
Conqueror  and  had  received  for  his  services  the  Honor  of  Raimes  consisting  of 
10  knights'  fees  in  Essex.  From  him  descended  Richer  de  Reymes  who 
flourished  in  the  reign  of  King  Stephen.  Richer  was  the  father  of  Roger, 
the  father  of  Ralph,  the  father  of  William  who  left  two  daughters  only, 
Agnes  married  to  Adam  de  Rattlesden  and  Maud  who  died  without  issue. 

In  later  times  the  two  manors  of  Domesday  became  divided  into  six: 
Bures  St.  Mary  or  Bures  Magna  Manor,  Netherhall  or  Sylvesters  Hall, 
Overhall  or  Ropers',  Cornertn  Hall,  Smallbridge  Manor  and  Parry's 
Manor. 

1  Dom.  ii.  435*.  »  Dom.  ii.  360. 

•  Dom.  ii.  393.  «  Dom.  ii.  4216. 


BURES.  45 

BURES  MANOR. 

This  was  the  portion  of  Witgar  and  of  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert  as 
the  Domesday  tenant.  This  Richard  was  the  progenitor  of  the  illustrious 
house  of  Clare,  of  the  Barons  of  Fitzwalter  and  the  Earls  of  Gloucester 
and  Hertford.  He  was  the  son  of  Gilbert,  surnamed  Crispin  Comte  d' 
Eu,  and  Brionne  grandson  of  Richard  I.  Duke  of  Normandy.  He  had 
at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  188  manors  and  burgages,  thirty  five 
being  in  Essex  and  ninety-five  in  Suffolk.  Planche  in  his  Account  of  the 
Conqueror  and  his  Companions  cites  an  amusing  incident  recorded  by  the 
Continuator  of  Guillaume  de  Jumieges  of  how  on  the  exchange  Richard 
fitz  Gilbert  effected  with  the  Archbp.  of  Canterbury  of  the  Castle  and  estate 
of  Brionne  for  Tunbridge  in  Kent  equal  value  was  ascertained.  A  league 
was  measured  with  a  rope  round  the  Castle  of  Brionne,  and  the  same  rope 
being  brought  over  to  England,  was  employed  in  meting  out  a  league  round 
Tunbridge,  so  that  exactly  the  same  number  of  miles  was  allotted  to  the 
latter  estate  as  the  former  had  been  found  to  contain.  In  1073  he  was 
joined  under  the  designation  of  Richardus  de  Benefacta  with  William 
de  Warren  in  the  office  of  Justiciary  of  England.  A  few  years  later  he 
was  in  arms  against  the  rebellious  lords,  Robert  de  Britolio,  Earl  of  Here- 
ford and  Ralph  Waher  or  Guader  Earl  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  and  greatly 
distinguished  himself. 

Dugdale  and  others  have  confounded  him  with  his  grandson  and 
namesake,  and,  as  Mr.  Planche  has  pointed  out,  have  "reversed  the  order  of 
events,  but  ascribed  the  same  acts  to  both  father  and  son  and  recorded 
the  same  fate  to  Richard  and  his  grandson."  Richard  the  Domesday 
tenant  married  Rohesia  only  daughter  of  Walter  Giffard  the  ist  Earl  of 
Buckingham  and  had  by  her  six  sons  and  three  daughters — Gilbert  his 
successor,  Godfrey,  Roger  an  eminent  soldier  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  and 
died  without  issue,  Walter  who  made  some  conquests  in  Wales  and  died 
also  without  issue,  Richard  a  monk  of  Bee  in  Normandy  and  afterwards 
Abbot  of  Ely,  Robert,  steward  to  Hen.  I.  from  whom  the  Barons  Fitz  Walter 
descend.  His  three  daughters  were  Rohesia  married  to  Eudo  Dapifer, 
Adelaide  married  to  Walter  Tirel  and  father  of  Hugh  Tirel  the  Crusader,  and 
a  third  daughter  married  to  Ralph  de  Telgers.  On  Richard's  death  the 
manor  passed  with  his  lands  in  England  to  his  son  Gilbert  known  as  Lord 
of  Tonbridge.  He  joined  in  the  rebellion  of  Odo  Bishop  of  Bayeux  in 
1088  but  subsequently  received  a  pardon.  He  married  Adeliza  daughter 
of  the  Earl  of  Cleremont  and  had  4  sons  and  3  daughters — Richard  his 
successor,  Gilbert,  created  Earl  of  Pembroke  in  1138  and  father  of  Richard 
surnamed  Strongbow  so  celebrated  in  connection  with  Ireland,  Walter 
who  died  without  issue,  Baldwin,  Adelaide  married  to  William  de  Percy 
whose  daughter  Maud  married  William  Earl  of  Warwick  and  whose 
daughter  Agnes  was  the  ancestress  of  the  later  Percies,  Rohese  married 
to  Baduon  de  Monmouth  and  Margaret  married  to  William  de  Montfichet. 
Gilbert  Lord  of  Tonbridge  died  about  1091  and  the  manor  passed  with  most 
of  the  estates  to  Richard  who  was  taken  prisoner  by  Robert  de  Beleswe 
at  the  siege  of  Courci  in  1091  and  is  erroneously  stated  to  have  died  from  the 
effects  of  his  incarceration  which  was  the  result.  He  was  the  first  of  the 
family  who  bore  the  title  of  Earl  of  Hertford.  He  acquired  vast  possessions 
in  Wales  as  the  result  of  a  long  continued  warfare  which  he  waged  some- 
what on  his  own  account  there.  He  was  in  1136  killed  in  a  combat  with 
the  Welsh  chieftains  Joworth  and  his  brother  Morgan-ap-Owen  in  a  woody 
tract  called  "  the  ill-way  of  Coed  Grano,"  near  the  Abbey  of  Lanthony. 


46  THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

He  married  Alice  sister  of  Ranulph  2nd  Earl  of  Chester  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son  Gilbert  who  following  his  father's  example  called  himself 
after  his  principal  Barony  "  de  Clare  '  as  2nd  Earl  of  Hertford.' 

In  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  the  manor  was  held  by  William  de  Aguilon.  He 
married  a  granddaughter  of  Henry  Fitz  Aylwin  first  Mayor  of  London.  In  the 
time  of  King  John  he  made  fine  with  the  King  for  the  custody  and  marriage  of 
Joan  the  granddaughter  and  heir  of  this  Henry  Fitz  Aylwin  then  the  widow 
of  Ralph  Le  Parmentier  who  after  the  death  of  her  husband  had  been  placed 
in  the  custody  of  William  de  Harcourt  Seneschal  of  William  Marshal  Earl 
of  Pembroke.'  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  eldest  son  of  Henry 
Fitz  Aylwin.  On  the  Roll  of  Fines  of  the  isth  year  of  the  reign  of  John, 
1214  is  a  mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer  as  to  moneys  payable 
by  this  Wm.  Aguilon,  and  on  the  Close  Rolls  the  next  year  we  find  the 
following  letter  to  Peter  des  Roches  Bishop  of  Winchester  one  of  the  King's 
vicegerents  during  his  absence  across  the  channel :  "  Rex  domino  P.  Win- 
toniensi  Episcopo,  etc.  Mandamus  vobis  quod  secundum  recordum 
fidelium  nostrorum.  W.  comitis  Arundellie  et  W.  Briwerre  quod  ab  eis 
factum  fuit  de  convencione  facta  inter  nos  et  Willelmum  Aguillun  de  filia 
et  herede  Petri  filii  Henrici  filii  Eilwini  Majoris  Londom'arum  et  de  terris 
et  redditibus  que  fuerunt  ejusdem  Henrici,  Majoris  Londoniarum,  eidem 
Willelmo  sine  dilatione  plenariam  saisinam  habere  faciatis  de  predictis 
terris,  redditibus,  et  aliis  que  fuerunt  predicti  Henrici  filii  Eilwini  tarn 
infra  civitatem  Londoniarum  quam  extra.  T.  meipso  apud  Partenai  ij 
die  Septembris." 

William  Aquilon  was  one  of  those  who  swore  to  obey  the  mandate 
of  the  twenty-five  Barons  chosen  to  be  conservators  of  Magna  Charta  at 
Runnimede  in  1215  and  was  one  of  the  party  of  the  Barons  on  the  accession 
of  Henry  the  Third.  In  right  of  his  wife  he  also  held  land  in  Addington 
in  Surrey  by  the  Serjeanty  of  making  a  dainty  dish  called  "  Malpigernoun  " 
or  Dillegrout  in  the  King's  kitchen  on  the  coronation  day  and  serving  up 
the  same  to  the  King's  table.  In  the  Testa  de  Nevill  the  tenure  is  thus 
noted :  "  Willelmus  Aguillon  tenet  quandam  terram  in  villa  de  Adinton 
per  serjantiam  faciendi  hastias  in  coquina  domini  Regis  die  coronacionis 
sue  vel  aliquis  pro  co  debet  facere  ferculum  quoddam  quod  vocatur 
Girunt,  et  si  apponatur  sagina  tune  vocatur  Malpigernoun."  In  a  later 
inquisition  taken  after  the  decease  of  Hugh  Lord  Bardolf  the  details  of 
the  tenure  are  somewhat  more  exact  and  are  thus  expressed :  "per  servicium 
ad  inveniendum  unum  cocum  ad  coronamentum  domini  Regis  ad  facien- 
dum unum  ferculum  pro  domino  Rege,  quod  vocatur  Mees  de  Geroun, 
sumptibus  domini  Regis  in  una  olla  lutea."  The  manor  of  Adington  had 
been  granted  by  William  the  Conqueror  to  his  cook,  Tezelinus,  and  no  doubt 
this  was  the  original  of  the  tenure.  The  service,  according  to  Banks' 
Extinct  Peerage  has  been  regularly  claimed  by  the  lords  of  this  manor  and 
allowed  at  each  coronation  of  the  Sovereigns. 

William  Aguilon  died  before  the  3rd  Oct.  1244  as  we  learn  from  an 
entry  on  the  Fine  Rolls  of  the  28th  year  of  Hen.  III.,  leaving  his  son  Robert 
Aguilon  his  successor  and  heir.  Dugdale  is  in  error  when  he  states  that 
William  Aguilon  was  succeeded  by  a  son  of  a  like  Christian  name.  He 
cites  as  his  authority  Claus.  42  Hen.  III.  in  dorso,  m.  n,  but  the  entry 
is  really  Close  Rolls  44  Hen.  III.  m.  n  in  dorso,  where  the  name  is  Robert 
and  not  William.  Dugdale  also  confuses  between  this  Robert  and  another 

1  See  Sodbury  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  '  Pat.  Rolls,  14  John. 


BURES.  47 

Robert  Aguilon  also  son  of  William  living  about  the  same  time.  This  latter 
Robert  married  Agatha  one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Falk  de  Beaufou, 
Lord  of  Hokewold  and  East  Herling  co.  Norf.  and  of  Debenham  co.  Suffolk. 
He  died  in  1286  leaving  four  daurs.  Agatha,  Isabella,  Johanna  and 
Margeria  of  whom  Adam  de  Kokefield,  Lucas  de  Poynings,  Ralph  Fitz 
Bernard  and  Andrew  de  Sakevill  were  respectively  the  heirs  as  appears 
by  a  pleading  of  "  Quare  Impedit,"  for  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of 
Hokewold  in  Hillary  Term  7  Edw.  III.  1334. 

Our  Robert  Aguilon  about  the  year  1257  married  Joan  de  Mohun  one 
of  the  seven  daughters  of  William  de  Ferrers  Earl  of  Derby.  He  was  a 
devoted  loyalist  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  of  the  49 th  year  of  Hen.  III. 
when  the  battle  of  Lewes  had  ended  in  the  capture  of  the  Sovereign  by  the 
rebel  Simon  de  Montfort  Earl  of  Leicester  are  inserted  under  the  heading 
"  De  securitate  recipienda  a  Roberto  Aguilun,  inimico  Simonis  de  Monte- 
forti,"  four  letters  with  the  King's  teste  at  Northampton  nth  Apl.  1265 
severally  addressed  to  Thomas  Fitz  Thomas  Mayor  of  London,  Robert 
Aguilon  and  Master  Thomas  de  Piweleden  from  which  we  learn  that  he 
had  deferred  taking  the  oath  which  had  been  required  by  the  rebels  of 
those  who  were  suspected  of  adherence  to  their  opponents.  Robert 
Aguilon  resided  in  the  City  of  London  in  the  mansion  which  had  descended 
from  his  ancestors  Henry  Fitz  Aylwin  on  the  north  side  of  the  church  and 
cemetery  of  St.  Swithin  in  Candlewick  Street  over  against  London  stone. 

Robert  Aguilon  married  for  a  second  wife  Margaret  Countess  of  Devon 
and  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Comte  de  Savoy  and  sister 
of  Beatrix  wife  of  Raymond-Berenger  Comte  de  Provence  mother  of 
Eleanor  wife  of  King  Henry  III.  She  had  been  previously  married  in 
1218  to  Herman  Comte  de  Ribourg  and  in  1257  to  Baldwin  Earl  of  Devon 
and  of  the  Isle  the  last  male  of  the  illustrious  family  of  de  Reviers  who 
in  July  1262  died  by  poison  eaten  at  the  table  of  Peter  de  Savoy  his  wife's 
brother.  Robert  Aguilon  was  Sheriff  for  the  Counties  of  Sussex  and  Surrey 
in  1267  and  a  member  of  the  King's  Privy  Council  for  the  50  years  of  his 
reign,  and  on  the  morrow  of  his  decease  17  Nov.  1272  John  de  Kirkeby 
delivered  the  King's  seal  under  his  (Kirkeby's)  own  seal  and  that  of  Peter  of 
Winchester,  Keeper  of  the  Wardrobe  to  Lord  Walter,  Archbishop  of  York, 
Robert  Aguilon  and  the  rest  of  the  King's  councillors  in  presence  of  the 
same  councillors.  He  had  licence  to  castellate  his  two  mansions  of 
Perching  co.  Sussex  and  Adington  co.  Surrey  in  the  48th  and  54th  years  of 
Hen.  III.  After  the  decease  of  John  Fitz  Alan  Earl  of  Arundel  18  March 
1272  Robert  Aguilon  was  made  custodian  of  the  castle  of  Arundel  and  of 
the  lands  of  the  Honor. 

On  the  Charter  Rolls  is  a  grant  I3th  June  1271  to  Robert  Aguilon  of 
free  warren,  and  a  weekly  market  on  Thursday  and  a  fair  on  the  vigil,  the 
day  and  the  morrow  of  St.  Michael,  at  his  manor  of  Bures.  The  grant  is 
as  follows1  :  "  Pro  Roberto  Aguillon.  Rex  Archiepiscopis,  Episcopis,  etc., 
salutem.  Sciatis  nos  concessisse  et  hac  carta  nostra  confirmasse  dilecto 
et  fideli  nostro  Roberto  Aguillon  quod  ipse  et  heredes  sui  imperpetuum 
habeant  liberam  warrennam  in  omnibus  dominicis  terris  suis  de  Bures  in 
comitatu  Suffolcie,  dum  tamen  terre  ille  non  sunt  infra  metas  foreste  nostre, 
ita  quod  nullus  intret  terras  illas  ad  fugandum  in  eis  vel  ad  aliquid  capien- 
dum  quod  ad  Warrennam  pertineat  sine  licencia  et  voluntate  ipsius  Roberti 
et  heredum  suorum  super  forisfacturam  nostram  x  librarum.  Concessimus 

1  Legibas,  De  Antiquis  liber.  Camden  Soc.  1846  p.  xliii. 


48  THE    MANORS    OF    SUFFOLK. 

etiam  oidem  Roberto  quod  ipse  et  heredes  sui  imperpetuum  habeant 
unum  mercatum  apud  predictum  manerium  suum  de  Bures  singulis 
septimanis  per  diem  Jovis  et  unam  feriam  ibidem  singulis  annis  per  tres 
dies  duraturam,  videlicet,  in  vigilia  et  in  die  et  in  crastino  sancti 
Michaelis,  nisi  mercatum  illud  et  feria  etc.  Quare  etc.  Hiis  testibus 
venerabile  patre  W  (altero)  Eboracensi  archiepiscopo  Anglie  primate, 
G  (odfrido)  Wvgorniensi  et  R  (ogero)  Lichfeldensi  et  Coventrensi  episcopis, 
Gilberto  de  Clare  comite  Gloucestrie  et  Hertfordie  ;  Jphanne  de  Warrenna 
comite  Surreie,  Humfrido  de  Bohun  comite  Herefordie  et  Essexie,  Rogero 
de  Mortuomari,  Rogero  de  Leyburn,  Willelmo  de  Wyntreshull,  Willelmo 
Belet,  Petro  de  Chaumpvent,  Rogero  de  Wauton,  Gilberto  filio  Hugonis  et 
aliis.  Datum  permanumnostram  apud  Westmonasteriumxiii.  die  Jurm(i27i).M 
It  is  believed  that  the  fair  is  still  kept  up  but  the  day  has  been  altered 
to  Holy  Thursday.  On  the  Hundred  Rolls  1275  we  find  an  entry  that 
the  jurors  say  that  Stephen  de  Langton  had  held  half  a  knight's  fee  in 
Bures,  and  Mabilia  his  wife  now  holds  the  aforesaid  half  fee  for  the  term 
of  her  life  of  Sir  Robert  Aguilon,  and  the  said  Robert  holds  the  same  of 
the  King  in  chief.  Robert  Aguilon  had  much  contention  in  1279  with 
John  de  Warren  Earl  of  Surrey  and  the  Bishop  of  Chichester  in  respect 
of  sporting  rights  in  the  County  of  Sussex  and  his  men  and  their  dogs  were 
captured  and  imprisoned  in  Lewes  Castle  until  set  free  by  the  King's  writ. 
Sir  Robert  Aguilon  died  the  15  January  1286  leaving  a  daughter  only  by  his 
first  wife  Isabella  then  the  wife  of  Sir  Hugh  Bardolf.  Her  age  at  the  time 
of  the  death  of  her  father  was  28  years,  having  been  born  on  the  25  March 
1258.  Sir  Robert  died  seised  of  lands  in  the  counties  of  Sussex,  Surrey, 
Kent,  Hertford,  Buckingham,  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  The  Inquisition  takeli 
in  respect  of  the  dower  of  the  widow  as  to  the  Manor  of  Bures  is  as  follows  :' 
"  Inquisitio  facta  apud  Bures  vii°  die  Julii  anno  regni  Regis  Edwardi 
xx°  de  terns  et  tenementis  que  fuerunt  Margarete  quondam  uxoris  Roberti 
de  Aguilon  per  xii.  juratos,  &c.  Qui  dicunt  super  sacramentum  suum 
quod  dicta  Margareta  nichil  tenuit  de  domino  Rege  in  capite  die  quo  obiit 
in  comitatu  Suffolcie,  sed  tenuit  manerium  suum  de  Bures  Tany  de  Ysabella 
filia  Roberti  de  Aguylon,  ad  terminum  vite  sue  nomine  dotis  per  mortem 
Roberti  Aguillon  per  servicium  duorum  denariorum  annui  redditus.  Item 
dicunt  quod  dictum  manerium  debet  revertere  Ysabelle,  uxori  domini 
Hugonis  Bardolfi,  tanquam  filie  et  heredi  Roberti  Aguilon  patris  sui. 
Summa  totalis  extente  xl/i.  ixs.  viiid.  ob.  de  quibus  debent  resolvi  per 
annum  Abbati  de  Sancto  Edmundo  iis.  et  iid.  et  ob.  pro  warpany.  Et 
sic  remanet  de  claro  xi/t.  viis.  et  vid." 

Hugh  Bardolf  was  the  eldest  son  of  William  Bardolf  by  his  wife  Juliana 
only  dau.  and  heir  of  Hugh  de  Gournay  and  he  was  born  29  Sept.  1259.  Upon 
his  marriage  with  Isabella  his  father  settled  on  him  and  his  bride  the  Manor 
of  Plumpton  co.  Sussex  to  hold  to  the  said  Hugh  and  Isabella  conjointly 
for  life  with  remainder  to  the  heirs  of  the  said  Hugh ;  and  Sir  Robert  de 
Aguilon  settled  on  the  young  couple  his  capital  messuage  and  Manor  of 
Watton-at-Stone  where  Thomas  their  eldest  son  and  heir  was  born  on  the 
feast  of  St.  Francis  4th  October  1282.'  Of  this  Hugh  Bardolf  Baron  of 
Wormegay  co.  Norf.  we  have  this  description  in  the  Roll  of  Caerlaverock 
among  those  of  the  squadron  of  Henry  de  Lacy,  Earl  of  Lincoln. 

Hue  Bardoulf  de  grant  maniere, 

Riches  horns,  preus  e  courtois, 

En  asure  quint  fuelles  trois, 

Portoit  de  fin  or  esmere". 
1  Ib.  p.  Ixxxii.  •  I.P.M.,  33  Edw.  I. 


BURES.  49 

Which  may  be  rendered  :  "  Hugh  Bardolf,  a  man  of  mighty  deeds,  rich, 
gallant  and  courteous,  bore  upon  azure  three  cinquefoils  of  pure  gold 
beautifully  wrought." 

He  was  summoned  as  a  baron  to  Parliament  from  8  March  27  Edw.  I. 
1299  t°  29  Sept.  30  Edw.  I.  1302,  and  was  the  twenty-second  peer  who 
subscribed  the  letter  to  the  pope  at  Lincoln  12  Feb.  1300  29  Edw.  I.  by 
the  style  and  title  of  Dominus  de  Wirmegeye.  He  died  in  the  month  of 
September  1304  leaving  Thomas  Bardolf  his  son  and  heir  then  of  the  age 
of  22  years  and  upwards.1 

There  is  a  fine  of  the  manor  in  1308  as  follows  :  John  son  of  Thomas 
de  Bassyngburne  v.  Isabel  daughter  of  Robert  Aguylun  (Thos.  son  of 
Hugh  Bardolf  and  Thos.  de  Grey  appon.  clam).a 

In  1312  Isabella  Lady  Bardolf  released  to  Sir  Michael  de  Poynings 
knight  and  Margaret  his  wife  all  her  right  in  the  Manor  of  Bures  by  deed 
dated  at  Barcomb  in  Sussex  on  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  25  March  1312.  The  seal  attached  to  it  was  of  red  wax,  the  impress 
a  cinquefoil,  each  leaf  of  it  charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis,  the  cinquefoils 
being  her  husband's  arms,  and  gules,  a  fleur-de-lis  argent,  her  paternal  arms. 

Sir  Michael  de  Poynings  was  called  to  the  King's  counsel  to  advise 
on  the  affairs  of  the  realm  and  was  actively  employed  in  the  French  and 
Scottish  Wars  both  in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  and  Edw.  II.  He  died  before 
9  Edw.  II.  1316  as  at  this  date  we  find  Margaret  his  widow  returned  as 
lady  of  the  manor.  On  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  Thomas 
de  Poynings  who  was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  a  Baron  on  the  23rd 
April  1337.  In  1328  he  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here.3  He  married 
Agnes  one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  John  son  of  Bartholomew  de 
Cryol  and  was  slain  in  the  great  sea  fight  with  the  French  at  Sluse  in  1339 
being  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Michael  de  Poynings  2nd  Baron 
summoned  to  Parliament  from  the  25  Feb.  1342  to  24  Feb.  1368.  On 
account  of  the  valiant  conduct  of  his  father  the  King  received  the  son's 
homage,  though  under  age,  and  granted  him  livery  of  his  lands  arid  full 
benefit  of  his  marriage  taking  security  for  the  payment  of  the  relief.  He 
gave  a  thousand  marks  to  Queen  Philippa  in  1366  for  the  wardship  and 
marriage  of  William  son  and  heir  of  John  Lord  Bardolf  to  the  end  that  he 
might  take  Agnes  his  daughter  to  wife,  who  by  the  name  of  "Agnes  Bardolf  " 
is  mentioned  as  a  legatee  in  the  will  of  her  mother  Joane  Lady  Poynings 
dated  12  May  1369  and  by  that  of  "  Lady  Bardolf  my  sister  "  in  the  will 
of  Thomas  Lord  Poynings  28th  Oct.  1374.  He  was  present  at  Cressy 
and  married  Joane  widow  of  Sir  John  de  Molyns  Knt.  and  died  in  1369, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  de  Poynings  3rd  Baron.  He 
married  Blanch  de  Moubray  but  died  in  1375  without  issue  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother  Richard  Poynings  4th  Baron  who  was  then  17 
years  of  age. 

Davy  has  only  3  lords  of  this  manor  after  this — 1385  Rich,  de  Walde- 
grave,  1467  Wm.  Bourchier  son  and  heir  apparent  of  Henry  Earl  of  Essex, 
and  1848  Osgood  Hanbury.  The  two  former,  however,  do  not  appear 
to  be  correct  and  in  any  case  there  is  a  wide  gap,  which  unfortunately 
cannot  be  filled  with  certainty  except  in  the  particular  that  Sir  Richard 
Corbett  died  seised  of  the  manor  the  25  June  1524  and  it  then  passed  to 
Richard  Corbett  his  son  and  heir.4 

1  I.P.M.,  32  Edw.  I.  14.  3  Chart.  Rolls,  2  Edw.  III.  84. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  2  Edw.  II.  2.  4  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  31. 


50  THE    MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 

OVERHALL  <i/.  ROPER'S  MANOR. 

In  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  the  manor  was  vested  in  Robert  de  Bures  who 
had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in  1313.'  He  married  Hillaria  and  died 
seised  of  the  manor  about  1331.*  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Sir  Andrew  de  Bures  who  also  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in  I335-3 
By  Alicia  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  John  de  Roydon  he  left  two 
sons  Robert  and  Andrew.  He  died  the  22  April  1360*  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Robert  de  Bures  who  however  died  the  following  year  on  the 
7th  of  October  leaving  his  only  daughter  Alice  married  to  Sir  Guy  de 
Bryan,  and  on  her  death  the  n  January  1434'  the  manor  devolved  in 
the  same  course  as  Netherhall  Manor  next  dealt  with.  The  manor  is 
included  by  name  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave  who 
died  the  30  Jan.  1527,*  of  Sir  George  Waldegrave  who  died  8  July  1528,' 
and  of  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  who  died  the  7  Nov.  I554-8 

NETHERHALL  OR  SILVESTERS  MANOR. 

Davy  mentions  as  the  first  lords,  Peter  de  Silvester  and  Sir  Roger  de 
Silvester,  but  assigns  no  date.  Succeeding  them  he  has  Joan  (daughter 
of  Silvester  ?)  widow  of  Robert  de  Bures  whom  he  makes  in  1365  marry 
Sir  Richard  Waldegrave,  and  die  in  1410.  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave, 
however,  died  in  1400  according  to  Weever,  but  probably  in  1410  and  Joan 
in  1406,  when  they  were  succeeded  in  this  manor  according  to  Davy,  by 
their  son  Sir  Richard  Walgrave  Knt.  who  was  styled  Lord  of  Buers  and 
Silvesters.  He  was  a  valiant  soldier  and  with  Lord  Clinton,  Sir  John 
Howard  and  Lord  Falconbridge  was  appointed  in  1402  to  keep  the  seas, 
and  landing  20,000  men  in  Brittany  won  the  town  of  Conquet  and  the 
Isle  of  Rhe\  He  married  Jane  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir  Thomas 
Montchensy  of  Edwardstone  Knt.  and  died  in  1434.  He  does  not  seem  to 
have  retained  this  manor  till  his  death,  for  we  find  Alice  daughter  and  heir 
of  Robert  de  Bures,  who  married  Sir  Guy  de  Bryan,  holding  at  her  death 
the  II  January  1434.'  Their  daughter  Elizabeth  followed  as  lady  of  this 
manor  and  married  Robert  Lovell.  Their  daughter  Matilda  married  John 
Fitz  Alan  I3th  Earl  of  Arundel  who  died  the  12  June  1435  leaving  a  son 
Humphrey  son  and  heir  Duke  of  Touraine  and  I4th  Earl  of  Arundel  but  6 
years  old  at  his  father's  death.  Humphrey  Fitz  Alan  i4th  Earl  of  Arundel 
succeeded  his  grandmother  Elizabeth  Lovell  on  her  death  abt.  1438,  but 
himself  died  on  the  24  April  this  same  year  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
sister  and  heir  Amicia  married  to  James  Butler  Earl  of  Ormond  and  Wiltshire. 
The  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  inquisition  post  mortem  of  Elizabeth  Lovell.10 
Amicia  Countess  of  Ormond  and  Wiltshire  died  without  issue  in  1457."  Her 
husband,  who  was  a  staunch  adherent  of  the  House  of  Lancaster,  and  lord 
lieutenant  of  Ireland  in  1451-2  and  Lord  Treasurer  of  England  three  years 
later,  participated  in  the  triumph  over  the  Duke  of  York  at  Wakefield, 
but  being  in  the  Battle  of  Mortimer's  Cross  where  the  Lancastrians  were 
defeated  he  fled  and  being  taken  prisoner  was  beheaded  at  Newcastle  on 

1  Chart.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  II.  10.  "  I.P.M.,  19  Hen.  VIII.  44. 

•  I.P.M.,  5  Edw.  III.  55.  »  I.P.M.,  20  Hen.  VIII.  18. 

'  Chart.  Rolls,  9  Edw.  III.  37.  •  I.P.M.,  i  and  2  P.  and  M.  92. 

«  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  III.  60.  »  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  34. 

«  Nethirhall  Manor  and  Overhall   Manor  I. P.M.,  16  Hen.  VI.  50. 

as   of    Honor  of  Clare,  Alice  wife  "  I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VI.  16. 

of  Sir  Guy  Bryan.     I. P.M.,  13  Hen. 

VI.  34- 


BURES.  51 

the  ist  May  1461.  He  was  attainted  by  Parliament  in  the  November 
following  his  execution.'  This  manor  with  Overhall  was  granted  forthwith 
by  Edw.  IV.  to  Sir  Thomas  Waldegrave,  but  there  is  a  grant  on  the  Patent 
Rolls  in  1467  by  the  Crown  to  Henry  Bourchier  created  Earl  of  Essex  the 
30  June  1461*  and  to  his  wife  Isabel  and  the  heirs  of  their  bodies  of  "  the 
manor  called  '  Silvestres  Halle '  in  Sayntmaryburys  with  the  mills  there 
and  all  the  lands,  rents,  reversions  and  services  in  Saynt  mary  burys," 
&c.,3  and  in  1479  we  nn^  yet  another  grant  by  Edward  IV.  of  this  manor 
with  that  of  Overhall  and  a  tenement  called  "  Ropers  "  in  Bures  and  a 
water  mill  to  Anne  daur.  of  Richard  Wodvill  Earl  Rivers  and  sister  of 
Elizabeth  Queen  of  Edw.  IV.  who  had  married  Sir  William  Bourchier  the 
son  of  the  above  Henry  Earl  of  Essex.4  The  Grant  will  be  found  amongst 
the  Cotton  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  It  is  dated  at  Westminster  Feb.  14, 
I479-5  The  next  lord  was  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  who  died  the  soth  Jan. 
1527  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  s.  and  h.  George6  and  the  subsequent 
devolution  of  this  manor  is  the  same  as  Smallbridge  Manor. 

Court  Rolls  of  this  manor  3,  4,  8  to  14  Hen.  IV.  and  i  Hen.  V.  will  be 
found  in  the  Public  Record  Office.7 

SMALLBRIDGE. 

This  manor  was  probably  carved  out  of  the  main  manor  in  the  time 
of  Henry  III.  Sir  Robert  de  Aguillon  was  lord  and  having  two  daurs.  Isabel 
and  Margaret  the  main  manor  became  divided  between  them.  One  married 
Sir  Michael  de  Poynings  and  became  lord  of  Smallbridge  Manor. 


SHALLBRIDGI. 


A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1310  between  Michael  de  Poyning  and 
Margaret  his  wife  against  Thomas  de  Poynings.8  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  I4th  century  the  manor  belonged  to  William  Brande  who  died  in  1375 
seised  of  it  without  issue.  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  Knt.  was  the  next 
lord  with  whom  we  meet  ;  he  was  the  great  grandson  of  John  de  Walgrave 
Sheriff  of  London  in  1205,  being  the  son  of  Sir  Richard  de  Walgrave  by 

•    I.P.M.,  i  Edw.  IV.  29.  5  Cotton.  Titus,  C.  10,  i. 

'   See  under  Hopton  Manor  in  Blackbourn  '  I.P.M.,  19  Hen.  VIII.  44. 

Hundred.  7  Portfolio,  203,  10. 

3  Pat.  Rolls,  7  Kdw.  iv.  pt.  ii.i6.  !  Feet  of  Fines,  4  Edw.  II.  20. 

4  Pat.  Rolls,  19  Edw.  IV.  4. 


52  THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 

Agnes  Daubenny  his  wife,  which  Sir  Richard  was  son  of  Walter  and  Elizabeth 
his  \vift-.  daughter  of  Sir  James  Nevil,  which  Walter  was  son  of  John  de 
Walgrave  and  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Hastings,  which  John  was 
son  of  Gwaryne  de  Walgrave  and  his  wife  daur.  of  Riston.  Weever  in 
his  Funeral  Monuments  states  that  the  following  story  having  reference  to 
the  Waldegrave  family  was  collected  by  John  Raven,  Richmond  Herald, 
out  of  the  pedigree  of  the  Waldegraves : — 

"  On  a  time  a  gentleman  of  Northampton  being  at  the  sign  of  the 
Crown  in  Sudbury,  and  having  conference  with  Master  Edward  Wald- 
grave  of  Bilston  in  Com.  Sufi*.  Esq.,  did  make  with  him  a  very  credible 
report  of  one  Waldgrave  in  Northamptonshire,  affirming  that  he  heard 
it  reported  of  old  time  that  these  Waldgraves  were  of  very  ancient 
antiquity,  before  William  the  Conqueror's  reign,  and  that  his  name  should 
be  John ;  who  having  one  only  daughter,  and  meeting  with  one  Wald- 
grave which  came  out  of  Germany,  and  was  employed  in  the  Conqueror's 
services,  the  said  German  Waldgrave  related  with  Waldgrave  of  Northamp- 
tonshire concerning  the  marriage  of  his  said  daughter ;  and  told  him  that 
he  would  give  his  consent  that  he  might  have  his  daughter  in  marriage, 
that  then  he  would  procure  him  a  pardon  from  the  Conqueror,  for  the 
quiet  enjoying  of  his  lands  and  livings.  By  which  means  he  obtained 
the  Conqueror's  grant,  with  his  own  hand  and  seal  for  confirmation  of 
all  his  lands  unto  him  and  his  posterity.  The  which  pardon  and  grant 
remaineth  to  be  seen  at  this  day,  1612,  in  the  French  tongue  and  is  in  the 
possession  of  the  Lords  of  that  Manor." 

Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  lived  at  Smallbridge  and  represented  Suffolk 
in  Parliament  in  the  reigns  of  Edw.  III.  and  Rich.  II.  and  was  chosen 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons  in  the  latter  reign.  In  1383  he  obtained 
a  licence  to  crenelate  his  manor  house.1  He  also  had  this  same  year  a 
grant  of  free  warren  in  Bures.*  He  married  Joan  daughter  and  heir  of 
Silvester  of  Bures  and  according  to  Weever's  copy  of  the  inscription  on 
his  tomb,  died  in  1400,  but  this  inscription  states  that  his  wife  Joan  died 
in  1406,  vet  in  Sir  Richard's  Will  dated  the  22  April  1401  he  directs  his 
body  to  be  buried  on  the  north  side  of  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary  of 
Buers  near  Joan  his  wife.  Joan  died  the  loth  July  1397  and  Sir  Richard 
the  2nd  May  1401.  The  inscription  as  given  by  Weever  is  this  : — 

Hie  jacet  Richardus  Waldegrave  miles  qui  obijt  2  die  Maij. 
Anno  Dom.  1400  et  Joanna  uxor  ejus  que  obijt  10  Junij 
1406  Quorum  animabus  propitietur  Deus.    Amen. 
Qui  pro  alijs  orat,  pro  se  laborat. 

By  his  Will  Sir  Richard  gives  205.  to  the  high  Altar,  35.  4^.  to  the  Chapel 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  35.  4^.  to  the  Chantry  and  I2d.  to  every  priest 
praying  for  his  soul  on  the  day  of  his  burial ;  to  his  son  Richard  he  gave  a 
missal  with  a  vestment  and  chalice ;  to  the  parish  church  of  Walgrave  a  cope, 
to  the  Chapel  of  St.  Stephen  in  the  parish  of  Buers,  a  missal,  then  in  London 
Chantry  of  Polstede  a  vestment  and  to  the  Friars  of  the  Convent  of 
Sudbury  cs.  to  pray  for  his  soul  and  the  soul  of  Joan  his  wife  and  the  souls 
of  his  benefactors,  and  he  appointed  Master  William  Candysh  Rector  of 

Ji.  of  Bulmere  and  Nicholas  Blundel  his  executors.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  who  is  styled  Lord  of  Bures 
and  Silvesters.  In  1420  he  granted  to  Sir  William  Bardwell,  Sir  John 
Hevenyngham  and  others  his  manors  of  Smallbridge  and  Bures,  and  also 

Pat.  Rolls,  7  Rich.  II.  pt.  ii.  6.  •   Chart.  Rolls,  7  and  8  Rich.  II.  15. 


BURES. 


53 


his  Manor  of  Gaynshall  in  Wickambrook  by  way  of  Settlement.  Sir 
Richard  married  Jane  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Montchensey  of 
Edwardston,  Knt.,  and  died  the  2  May  1434,'  but  Jane  his  wife  survived 
till  1450.  They  were  both  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Bures.  Their 
son  Sir  William  Waldegrave  married  Joan  daughter  of  William  Doreward 
or  Durward  of  Booking  and  was  succeeded  by  their  eldest  son  Sir  Richard 
who  died  without  issue  in  1439  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  Sir 
Thomas  Waldegrave  who  married  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir 
of  Sir  John  Fray  knt.  Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer.  He  died  in  1500, 
and  was  buried  at  Bures,  being  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  William  Walde- 
grave. He  was  nominated  in  1513  as  one  of  the  most  discreet  persons  for 
assessing  and  collecting  the  subsidy.  He  was  knighted  in  1501  at  the 
marriage  of  Prince  Arthur.  A  copy  of  a  charter  by  Sir  William  Walde- 
grave founding  a  Chantry  in  Bures  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional 
MSS.  of  the  British  Museum.2  By  his  will  dated  the  26  Jan.  152!  16  Hen. 
VIII.J  he  appointed  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary 
of  Buer  in  the  tomb  he  had  caused  to  be  made  under  the  arch  between 
the  high  altar  and  the  chapel  of  Jesu,  and  that  he  be  buried  within  24 
hours  after  his  decease.  To  Dame  Margery  his  wife  he  gave  all  his  jewels, 
his  manors  and  lands  in  the  counties  of  Suffolk,  Essex  and  Northampton ; 
and  he  adds :  "Above  all  things  I  desire  my  Executors  to  pay  my  debts, 
and  if  I  have  wronged  any  man,  to  satisfy  him ;  my  wife  has  the  Manor  of 
Edwardstone.  I  constitute  Margery  my  wife,  and  my  sons  George  and 
William  my  Executors."  He  was  seised  of  the  Manors  of  Roydon  and 
Whersted,  both  of  which  he  purchased  of  Robert  Buers,  and  was  seised  also 
of  divers  manors  in  Northamptonshire.  The  Chapel  of  Jesu  mentioned 
in  the  will  is  now  used  as  the  Vestry.  He  married  Margery  daughter  of 
Sir  Henry  Wentworth  of  Coldham  Hall  Wethersfield,  Essex,  and  dying 
the  3oth  January  152$*  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  George  Walde- 
grave who  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Drury  of  Hawsted  Knt. 
who  married  subsequently  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook.  George 
Waldegrave  by  his  will  dated  July  6,  1528,  and  proved  Aug.  25th  following 
directed  his  body  to  be  buried  near  the  tomb  of  his  father.  To  Ann  his 
wife  he  devised  his  Manors  of  Smallbridge,  Silvester's  al.  Netherhall,  Over- 
hall  and  Frieps  in  Buers  together  with  a  manor  in  Essex  during  the  minority 
of  William  his  son  and  heir,  but  if  it  so  happen  that  the  said  William 
died  within  age,  then  he  willed  that  she  should  hold  them  until  George 
his  second  son  came  to  the  age  of  21  years,  and  if  he  died  within  age  then 
that  she  should  hold  them  in  like  manner  until  his  (testator's)  third  son 
Edward  came  to  the  age  of  21,  and  if  he  died  within  age  then  that  she 
hold  them  until  Richard  his  fourth  son  came  to  the  age  of  21.  And  the 
testator  constituted  Ann  his  said  wife  his  sole  Executrix.5  At  Depden 
two  figures  of  Lady  Ann  are  found  upon  the  same  brass  ;  she  is  represented 
with  each  of  her  husbands. 

George  Waldegrave  died  the  8  July  1528,  seised  of  the  Manors  of  Small- 
bridge,  Silvesters  otherwise  Nether-hall,  Overhall  and  Freps  or  Schrepps  in 
Bures,6  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heii  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  who  took 
an  active  part  in  raising  the  standard  of  Mary.  He  was  knighted  about 
1543  and  was  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1549.  He  married  Julian 

'  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  27.  *  Testamenta  Vetusta,  by  Nicholas  Harris 

•  Add.  34651.  Nicolas  ii.  629. 

'  Proved  the  6  March  1527.  6  I.P.M.,  20  Hen.  VIII.  18. 

«  I.P.M.,  19  Hen.  VIII.  44. 


54  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

sole  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Raynsford  Knt.  and  died  the  12  December 
1554'  and  was  buried  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  Calais,  the  following  inscription 
on  brass  being  set  up  in  Bures  Ch. :— 

Of  your  charity  pray  for  the  soul  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  Knight, 
of  Bures  St.  Mary  in  com.  Suff.,  who  died  xii.  December  1554  and  left 
behynd  one  son  and  four  daughters,  on  whose  souls  Jesu  have  mercy.  The 
•aid  Sir  William  Waldegrave  died  at  Callys  in  France,  where  his  body  is 
buried  in  St.  Marie's  Church  there. 

Sir  William  \Yaldegrave  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William  Waldegrave 
who  was  knighted  in  1576  and  married  ist  Elizabeth  sister  of  Sir  Thomas 
Mildmay,  whose  arms  are  still  to  be  seen  in  a  window  at  Smallbridge. 
Quarterly  of  ten :  i,  Per  pale  arg.  and  gu.,  Waldegrave ;  2,  Barry,  of  ten  arg. 
andaz.,  Montchensey ;  3,  Gu.  an  eagle  displayed  arg.,  Vauncey ;  4,  Or.  a  fesse 
vair,  Creake  or  Creke ;  5,  Arg.  2  bars  sa. ;  and  in  chief  3  pierced  mullets  of  the 
last,  Mawgan  or  Moigne ;  6,  Erm.  a  fesse  sa.  betw.  3  fig.  frays  or.,  Fraye ; 
7,  Gu.  a  chevron  engrailed  betw.  3  fleur-de-lis  arg. ;  8,  Gu.  6  eagles  displayed, 
3,  2,  and  i  or.  (Lymsey  ?) ;  9,  Arg.  on  a  fesse  sa.  3  bezants  ;  10,  Gu.  a  cross 
flory  arg.,  Mannock ;  Impaling  for  Mildmay,  Per  fesse  nebulfc  arg.  and 
sa,  3  greyhounds'  heads  crazed  counter-charged  collared  or.  The  usual 
arms  assigned  to  Mildmay  are  Arg.  3  lions  ramp.  az.  armed  and  langued  gu.2 

Sir  William  was  elected  to  represent  the  County  in  Parliament  in  1559, 
1563,  and  1597.  On  the  occasion  of  the  threatened  invasion  of  England 
by  the  Spanish  Armada,  the  County  of  Suffolk  rose  to  the  occasion  and 
sent  a  considerable  number  of  Knights  and  soldiers  to  augment  the  army 
speedily  called  together  at  Tilbury  Fort.  They  were,  we  are  told,  "  All 
choice  men,  well  disciplined,  and  singularly  furnished.  Amongst  them 
Sir  William  Walgrave,  Knight,  who  had  500  men  in  his  band."  Sir  William 
Waldegrave  entertained  Queen  Elizabeth  at  the  Hall  in  1561  and  1579 
and  died  the  17  August  1613  and  he  and  his  first  wife  were  both  buried 
at  Buers  with  the  following  inscription  : — 

Here  liethe  buriede  Sir  William  Waldegrave  Knight,  and  Dame 
Elizabeth  his  wife  who  lived  together  in  godlie  marriage  21  yeare  and  had 
issue  6  sonnes  and  4  daughters.  The  said  Elizabeth  departed  this  life  the 
10  daye  of  may  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  1581  and  the  said  Sir  William 
deceased  the  i  daye  of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  1613. 

Sir  William  Waldegrave  had  a  second  wife  who  died  the  2ist  July  1600, 
Grisild  relict  of  Sir  Thomas  Rivett  and  youngest  daughter  of  Lord  William 
Paget  of  Beaudesert  in  the  County  of  Stafford  whose  only  daughter  by  her 
first  husband  Sir  Thomas  Rivett  was  married  to  Henry  Lord  Windsor, 
of  Bradnam  in  the  County  of  Buckingham.  She  was  buried  at  Stoke  by 
Nayland  where  her  monument  is  still  standing. 

This  Sir  William's  daughter  Mary  married  Thomas  Clopton  of  Kentwell, 
who  died  in  1597  and  whose  son,  Sir  Wm.  Clopton  Knt.  had  by  his  first 
wife  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Barnardiston  Knt.  a  daughter  and  heir, 
Anne  married  to  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  the  great  Suffolk  antiquary. 

Sir  William  Waldegrave  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William 
who  died  about  3  months  after  his  father,  namely  on  the  25th  November 
1613,  leaving  a  son  by  his  second  wife  Jemima  daughter  of  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon,  Knt.,  William  who  married  Frances  (afterwards  married  to  Pere- 
grine Clerke)  and  had  by  her  a  son  Thomas  who  on  his  father's  death  in 
1648  succeeded  him.  He  married  Mary  who  was  afterwards  married  to 
Philip  Cotton  and  dying  the  19  April  1677  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 

1  I.P.M.,  i  and  a  P.  and  M.  92.  •  Suff.  Inst.  iv.  362. 


BURES. 


55 


heir  Thomas  Waldegrave.  He  was  High  Sheriff  and  a  Deputy  Lieutenant 
of  the  county  and  had  two  sermons  dedicated  to  him  by  Nath.  Bisbie  D.D. 
of  Long  Melford  in  1684.  He  married  Isabella  and  died  in  1692. 

The  Smallbridge  estate  passed  from  the  Waldegraves  at  the  end  of 
the  iyth  Century,  for  John  Currant  or  Currance,  the  purchaser,  held  his 
first  Court  for  the  manor  in  March  1702. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  the  manors  of  Smallbridge,  Sil- 
vester, Netherhall  and  Overhall  with  the  Parsonage  passed  into  the 
possession  of  the  Hanburys  of  Holfield  Grange  co.  Essex  and  in  1847  was 
held  by  Osgood  Hanbury  who  the  19  Aug.  1789  married  Susannah  Willett 
dau.  of  John  Barclay  banker  in  London  and  on  his  death  the  n  Feb.  1852 
passed  to  his  son  Osgood  Hanbury  who  the  21  July  1816  married  Eleanor 
Willet  dau.  of  W.  Hall  and  on  his  death  passed  to  his  son  Osgood  Hanbury. 
The  manor  subsequently  vested  in  Mrs.  Reginald  Hill  of  Coggeshall,  Essex, 
but  is  now  vested  in  Mrs.  Frederick  Hervey  of  Ickworth. 

CORNERTH  HALL  al.  CORNHALL  al.  NORTHALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  seems  to  have  been  held  by  Richard  de  Cometh  or  Cornerd 
in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.,  and  he  claimed  free  warren  here  in  1275.  He  is  a 
witness  to  a  deed  as  "  Richard  Cornherthe  Knight  "  in  1318,  conveying 
land  in  Bures.1  Upon  a  tomb  on  the  north  side  of  the  Church  of  St.  Mary 
Bures  lies  the  cross-legged  figure  of  a  knight  admirably  carved  in  wood, 
in  good  preservation  and  supposed  to  represent  this  Sir  Richard  who  is  said 
to  have  sold  the  Hall  for  fourpence. 

According  to  a  deed  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  dated  the  Feast  of  St. 
George  23  Apl.  6  Hen.  IV.  [1405]  Joyce  Vyne  daughter  of  John  Vyne  released 
to  Sir  Thomas  Culpeper  and  Joyce  his  wife  mother  of  the  said  Joyce  Vyne  and 
to  his  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  said  Joyce  Culpeper  this  manor,2  and  Sir 
Thomas  Culpeper  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas.  Amongst  the 
Harleian  Charters  we  meet  with  a  release  of  this  manor  in  1428  from 
"Joyeuse"  dau.  of  John  Vyne  to  his  mother  Joyeuse  daugh.  of  Thomas 
Cornnerde  and  to  the  right  heirs  of  the  said  Thomas  Cornerde.3  A  Mr.  Harper 
was  the  next  lord,  and  his  son  and  heir  George  Harper  sold  the  manor  in 
1548  to  Sir  Thomas  Barnardiston.  Sir  Thomas  died  in  1557  and  we 
find  Thomas  Clopton  and  Anne  his  wife  late  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Barnar- 
diston holding  the  manor  and  on  Anne's  death  it  passed  to  Sir  Thomas 
Barnardiston  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas.  Amongst  the  Chancery  Pro- 
ceedings in  the  time  of  Q.  Eliz.  is  an  Action  respecting  this  manor  (called 
Cornethall  Manor),  Thomas  Barnardiston  v.  Richard  Golding.4 

The  next  lord  we  meet  with  is  Sir  Stephen  Soame  in  1609.  He  was 
the  second  son  of  Thomas  Soame  of  Botley  or  Betley  in  Norfolk  (by  Anne 
his  wife  daughter  and  heir  of  Francis  Knighton  of  Little  Bradley  and 
widow  of  Richard  Le  Hunt  of  Hunt's  Hall  in  Bradley)  and  grandson  of 
Thomas  Soame.  He  was  Sheriff  of  the  City  of  London  in  1589  and  Lord 
Mayor  in  1598.  He  purchased  the  Manor  of  Brickendon  in  the  County  of 
Hertford  and  this  manor  and  other  estates,  and  married  Anne  daughter 
of  William  Stone  of  Segenhoe  in  the  County  of  Bedford  (sister  of  Serjeant 
Stone)  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  five  daughters — Sir  William  Soame 
who  was  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  8  Car.  I. ;  Sir  Stephen  Soame  of  Hey  don  in  Essex 
who  was  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  19  Jac.  I. ;  Sir  Thomas  Soame  of 

1  Ancient  Deeds,  12  Edw.  II.  C.  2197.  '  Harl.  78  D.  12. 

*  Harl.  80  H.  27.  "  C.P.,  ser.  ii.  B.  xxvi.  3. 


56  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Throcking  in  Hertfordshire  Knt.  who  was  Sheriff  of  London  1635  and  in 
1640  Alderman  of  that  City  and  later  M.P.  for  the  City ;  Nicholas,  John, 
and  Matthew.  Sir  Stephen  Soame  died  May  23,  1619,  aged  75,  and  by 
the  inquisition  taken  after  his  death  he  was  found  to  have  died  seised  of  the 
rectory  and  church  of  Hundon  and  advowson  of  the  vicarage,  the  Manor 
and  advowson  of  Herringswell,  Manor  or  farm  of  Little  Thurlow,  Pudbroks, 
Temples  and  advowson  of  Little  Thurlow,  Manor  of  Wetheringset,  Manor 
of  Thorneylees,  alias  Thorney  Campsey,  Earl  Stonham  Manor  and  advowson, 
Freckenham  Manor  and  advowson,  and  other  places  in  Suffolk.  He  was 
buried  in  Little  Thurlow  Church  with  this  inscription  : — 

Consecrated 
to  the  Memory 

of  the  Right  Worshipfull  Sr.  Stephen 
Soame  Kt.  Lord  Mayer  of  the  Citie  of 
London  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1593  (?  8),  and  Mayor 

of  the  Staple  there,  almost  20  yeares,  who  was  the 

Second  Son  of  Thomas  Soame  of  Botely,  alias  Betely 

in  the  County  of  Norfolcke,  Gentleman,  and  Anne  his  Wife, 

Daughter  and  Heir  of  Francis  Knighton,  of  Little  Badley 

in  the  County  of  Suffolcke,  Esquyer,  and  the  Widowe  of  Richard 

Lehunt  of  the  said  Towne,  and  County,  Gentleman.      The  said  Sir  Stephen 

in  his  life  time  re-edified  and  newly  glazed  the  great  North  Window  of 

the  Cathedrall  Church  of  St.  Paul,  in  London.    Newly  settled  and 

adorned  at 

his  own  charge,  the  roof  of  Grocers  Hall  in  that  city,  gave  to  the 
same  Company  i6A  to  be  bestowed  weekely  in  Bread  upon  the  poor  pri- 
soners of  the  Counter  in  the  Poultry  of  London  for  ever.      In  this  Towne  of 
Little  Thurlow,  erected  and  buylt  a  Free-School  with  2ol.  maintenance 

for  a  Master  and  io/.  for  the  Usher  there  yearly  for  ever,  where  he 
erected  and  endowed  an  Alms  house  besides  for  9  poor  People  with  main- 
tenance for  ever,  the  maintenance  of  both  places  to  be  paid  by  annuity 
forth  of  the  Mannour  of  Carleton  in  Cambridgeshire.      He  departed  this 
life  May  23  being  Trinity  Sunday  1619  at  the  age  of  three  score  and  fif- 
teene  yeares,  at  his  Mansion  house,  by  him  formerly  buylt  in  this 
Parish  of  Little  Therlowe. 

There  is  a  monument  also  in  the  same  church  erected  to  his  wife  Anne 
who  died  the  20  August  1622.  On  Sir  Stephen  Soame's  death  this  manor 
passed  to  his  second  son  Sir  Stephen  who  had  it  with  the  Manor  of  Berkes- 
don  of  the  gift  of  his  father.  He  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Playters  of  Sotterley  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  several  daughters, 
Sir  Peter  Soame  Bart.,  John  Soame  and  Stephen  Soame  who  both  died 
without  issue.  Of  the  daughters  Anne  the  eldest  married  Sir  Gabriel 
How  of  Wotton  under  Edge  in  Gloucestershire,  Knt.,  Jane  the  second 
was  wife  to  Sir  John  Hoskins,  Mary  married  Edward  Fettiplace  of  Kingston 
in  Berks,  and  Jane  married  Sir  Edward  Nicholl  of  Faxton  in  the  county  of 
Northampton  Knt.  Sir  Stephen  Soame  the  son  died  in  1639.' 

Release  and  Leases  of  Cornerd  or  Cornhall  Manor  will  be  found  for 
I534»  J536  and  1543  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum.2 

TANY'S  MANOR. 

The  last  of  the  many  manors  of  Bures  is  Tany's  which  was  vested  in 
the  time  of  Edw.  I.  in  Robert  Aguillon  and  on  his  death  passed  to  his 
daughter  Isabel  married  to  Hugh  Lord  Bardolf,  from  whom  it  passed  like 
the  main  manor  to  the  Poynings  and  was  granted  by  Sir  Michael  de  Poyn- 

1  See  Overhall   Manor,  Cavendish  in  this         *  Harl.  80  H.  27,  Harl.  76  H.  21,  24,  41. 
Hundred. 


BURES.  57 

ings  in  1362  to  Sir  William  Band.  He  died  in  1375  without  issue.  The 
manor  subsequently  became  vested  in  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  who  died 
in  1435,  after  which  the  devolution  of  this  manor  is  identical  with  that 
of  Smallbridge  Manor  already  given. 


58  THE    MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

CAVENDISH. 

the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  Cavendish  was  held  by 
one  Norman  with  soc  and  sac  under  the  King  as  a  manor 
with  two  carucates  of  land.  There  was  a  church  living  with 
3  acres  of  free  land;  also  belonging  to  the  manor  were  5 
villeins,  8  bordars,  7  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne, 
3  belonging  to  the  men,  i  mill,  10  acres  of  meadow,  3 
beasts,  40  sheep  and  30  hogs.  By  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey,  there  were  two  more  ploughteams  in  demesne,  24  beasts  in  lieu  of  3, 
no  sheep  in  lieu  of  40,  50  hogs  in  place  of  30.  To  the  manor  belonged 
Rodenham,  a  hamlet  with  2  carucates  of  land.  There  were  there  5  villeins, 
4  bordars,  2  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  i£  belonging  to  the  men, 
half  a  mill  and  a  church  living  with  20  acres  of  free  land.  The  value  was 
100  shillings,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  the  condition  was 
somewhat  different ;  the  villeins  were  reduced  by  two,  the  slaves  by  one 
and  the  ploughteams  in  demesne  had  come  down  to  one,  while  the  mill 
had  gone  altogether.  The  number  of  bordars  had  increased  to  13  and  the 
value  to  10  pounds.  Cavendish  was  half  a  league  long  and  4  quarentenes 
broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  lod.  The  manor  was  held  by  Ralph  de  Limesi 
as  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief.'  The  rest  of  the  lands  specified  in 
the  Domesday  Survey  (though  not  at  the  time  forming  manors  but  sub- 
sequently composing  the  many  manors  of  Cavendish)  were  as  follows  : 
(a)  The  lands  of  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert  who  had  9  freemen  under 
Wisgar  by  commendation  and  soc  and  sac  holding  3  carucates  of  land,  5 
bordars,  I  slave,  3  ploughteams,  14  acres  of  meadow,  4  beasts,  i  horse, 
15  hogs  and  46  sheep  valued  at  3  pounds.  All  were  held  by  Roger  de  St. 
Germains  under  Richard." 

(6)  Four  several  encroachments  upon  the  King : — ist  Aluric  brother 
of  Edric  and  Wisgar' s  man  encroached  on  half  of  his  brother's  land,  namely 
60  acres.  At  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  Roger  de  Saint  Germain 
held  this  as  of  Richard's  fee,  but  the  record  states  that  it  never  belonged 
to  that  fee  by  commendation  or  soc.  There  were  here  a  villein,  a  bordar, 
and  an  acre  of  meadow.  2nd  Alwold  had  a  freeman  under  Harold's  com- 
mendation and  in  the  Confessor's  time  soc  and  sac  and  even  after  the 
Conquest;  but  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  Richard  had  encroached. 
The  freemen  here  had  one  carucate  of  land,  i  ploughteam  and  a  half 
and  2  acres  of  meadow  valued  at  20  shillings.  3rd  Richard  of  Clare  had 
encroached  upon  a  freeman  formerly  under  the  Confessor  but  his  pre- 
decessor in  title  had  no  interest  whatever  in  him.  This  freeman  had  i 
carucate  of  land  and  formerly  4  villeins  but  then  but  2,  7  bordars,  formerly 
2  ploughteams  then  i  only,  and  i  belonging  to  the  men,  wood  for  10  hogs 
and  then  a  mill  all  valued  at  20  shillings.3  4th  Ralph  de  Limesi  held  a 
freeman  formerly  under  Harold  with  land  which  Edric  the  deacon  who  died 
with  him  in  the  battle  of  Hastings  held  and  it  was  delivered  to  Baynard 
as  a  land  holding.  This  Edgar  added  to  Cavendish  after  Baynard  lost  it. 
At  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  Ralph  de  Limesi  held  it  in  the 
Hall  demesne.4 

OVERHALL  MANOR. 

This  was  the  land  held  prior  to  the  Conquest  by  Norman  and  at  the 
time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  by  Ralph  de  Limesi5  who  married  Christina, 

1  Dom.  ii.  428,  4286.  «  Dom.  ii.  449. 

•  Dom.  ii.  3976.  5  See    Sayham  Hall    Manor,  Newton    in 

'  Dom.  4476,  448.  this  Hundred. 


CAVENDISH. 


59 


one  of  the  sisters  of  Prince  Edgar  Atheling  grandson  of  King  Edmund 
Ironside  who  was  brother  of  Edward  the  Confessor.  He  died  in  1093 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Ralph  who  married  Halewise  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Alan  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  Gerard. 
Gerard  de  Limesi  married  Amy  dau.  of  Trian  de  Hornelade  of  Bidun- 
Limesi,  and  had  issue  John  de  Limesi  who  married  Alice  dau.  of  Robert 
de  Harcourt  afterwards  wife  of  Walleran  E.  of  Warwick  and  died  in  1198 
leaving  a  son  Hugh  who  died  in  1223  without  issue.  Gerard  also  had  two 
daus.  Basilia  married  to  Sir  Hugh  de  Odingsells  who  died  in  1238  leaving 
3  sons  Hugh,  Gerard  and  Sir  William  de  Odingsells  of  Warwickshire.  Hugh 
the  eldest  son  succeeded'  and  died  without  issue.  Gerard  the  2nd  son 
succeeded  and  apparently  on  his  death  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
the  3rd  son  Sir  William  de  Odingsells  who  married  Joan  and  had 
a  son  Sir  William  de  Odingsells  who  inherited  the  one  moiety  of  the  manor 
which  came  from  his  grandfather  Sir  Hugh  de  Odingsells.  His  arms  were  : 
Ar.  a  fesse  gu. ;  in  chief  two  mullets  of  the  last. 

Gerard  de  Limesi's  second  dau.  Alianore  married  David  de  Lindsay 
a  Scot  and  the  Barony  of  Limesi  of  which  the  lordship  of  this  parish  was  a 
part  became  divided  between  Sir  Hugh  de  Odyngseles  and  David  de 
Lindsey.  Daniel  had  by  Alianore  several  children  and  David  their  eldest 
son  was  lord  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  III.  In  1219 
the  King  had  the  lands  of  David  de  Lindsey  in  his  custody  and  on  the 
Patent  Rolls  are  letters  concerning  the  presentation  to  a  moiety  of  Caven- 
dish Church  in  consequence  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  being  in  the  King's 
hands ;'  while  in  1223  a  precept  was  directed  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  County 
to  deliver  to  this  David  then  in  custody  of  the  King  of  Scotland,  seisin  of 
all  David's  lands  in  his  bailiwick  which  were  detained  because  he  had  not  done 
service  to  the  King  in  his  Welsh  expedition.  This  David  and  his  brothers 
all  dying  without  issue  his  moiety  in  the  lordship  passed  to  Sir  Henry  de 
Pinkenny  Knt,  in  consequence  of  his  marriage  with  Alice  sister  and  heir 
of  David  de  Lindsey,  and  their  son  Sir  Henry  Pinkenny  granted  the  same 
by  deed  to  Sir  William  de  Odyngselles'lord  of  the  other  moiety,  the  grand- 
son of  the  above  Sir  Hugh  de  Odyngselles  who  then  became  possessed  of 
the  entire  manor.  Sir  William  de  Odyngeseles  married  Ela  daughter  of 
William  Longspee  Earl  of  Salisbury  by  whom  he  had  issue  Edmund  who 
died  without  issue  and  4  daughters  his  co-heirs  amongst  whom  this  lord- 
ship again  became  divided.  Ida  one  dau.  married  John  de  Clinton, 
Margaret  another  married  Sir  John  de  Grey,  Alice  another  married  ist 
Maurice  Caunton  and  2ndly  Ralph  de  Parham,  Ela  the  4th  dau.  married 
ist  Sir  Peter  de  Birningham  knt.  and  2ndly  Sir  Eustace  le  Poer  Knt.  This 
is  the  descent  of  the  manor  practically  as  given  by  Page  who  has  clearly  taken 
his  account  from  what  Blomefield  says  of  the  descent  of  the  Manor  of  Oxburgh 
in  Norfolk.  Page  has  a  little  paragraph,  however,  on  his  own  account, 
and  it  is  this—  "  the  advowson  and  other  lands  in  this  parish  passed  in 
1370  to  Sir  John  Cavendish  who  had  previously  in  1359  obtained  the  manor 
of  Overhall  in  Cavendish  by  his  marriage  with  Alice  dau.  and  heiress  of 
John  de  Odyngseles."  He  seems  to  forget  that  he  has  never  mentioned 
any  John  de  Odyngseles  in  his  previous  account  nor,  indeed,  is  there  such 
a  person  in  the  pedigree  given  by  Blomefield.  Davy  has  a  most  confused 
list  of  lords,  some  with  ridiculous  dates,  others  without  any  at  all,  and  he 
is  apparently  in  hopeless  confusion  over  the  later  descents  of  the  Odyngseles 

1  H.R.  ii.  142,  150.  •  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Hen.  III.  5. 


60  THE   MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

family.    The  manor  seems  to  have  passed  from  Hugh  de  Odyngseles  who 

in  1239  to  his  son  William  living  in  1263,  and  from  him  to  his  son 
Willi.iin  living  in  1286,  and  gone  to  his  son  Edmund  who  died  without 
ie. 

Hugh  de  Odyngseles  was  the  next  lord  and  died  in  1305,'  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  John  Odingseles  who  in  1315  had  licence  to  enfeoff  Thomas 
de  Wassingle  of  the  manor  held  in  chief  and  the  latter  was  empowered  to 
regrant  to  him  and  Emma  his  wife,  and  his  heirs.*  John  Odingseles  had  a  dau. 
Alice  who  married  Sir  John  Cavendish.  John  Odingseles  died  in  i353,J 
\vlu-n  apparently  Sir  John  Cavendish  became  lord  of  the  manor  in  right 
of  his  wife.  Davy  says  that  Alice  who  married  Sir  John  Cavendish  was 
dau.  and  co-heir  of  Sir  William Odyngseles  and  sister  and  co-heir  of  Edmund, 
but  as  he  apparently  makes  this  Sir  Wm.  to  be  the  same  Sir  William  who 
was  living  47  Hen.  III.  one  can  hardly  adopt  the  suggestion. 

There  is  a  licence  on  the  Originalia  Rolls  in  1358,'  to  John 
Wyngefeld  and  others  to  acquire  "Overhall  Manor  in  Cavendish,"  and  this  was 
carried  out  by  a  fine  in  the  same  year  levied  between  John  de  Wynggefeld, 
Gilbert  de  Debenham  and  John  de  Cavendish  and  Alice  his  wife  against 
John  son  of  John  de  Odingseles.5  It  is  quite  possible  that  this  was  in 
contemplation  of  some  settlement  of  the  manor  effected  by  John 
Cavendish  and  his  wife  by  conveyance  to  trustees. 

Sir  John  Cavendish  was  a  native  of  the  parish  and  descended  from  a 
junior  branch  of  the  Gernon  family  who  settling  here  assumed  the  name 
of  the  place.  From  the  Close  Rolls  of  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  we  learn  that  a 
Robert  son  of  Simon  de  Cavendish  was  then  engaged  in  a  law  suit  respect- 
ing 6  acres  of  land  in  this  place.6 

Sir  John  Cavendish  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench, 
and  in  1370  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  advowson  and  sundry  lands  in  Caven- 
dish against  Sir  John  de  Clinton  Knt.  Sir  John  Cavendish  and  Alice  his  wife. 
In  1380  Sir  John  Cavendish  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge and  the  next  year  he  was  commissioned  to  suppress  the  insurrection 
against  the  King.  The  great  mover  in  the  rebellion  was  Wat  Tyler  who 
marched  at  the  head  of  his  followers  to  London,  where  they  broke  into  the 
Tower  and  murdered  Simon  of  Sudbury,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
Whilst  the  insurrection  was  raging  in  London  many  parts  of  the  provinces 
were  similarly  disturbed.  The  populace  in  Suffolk  were  being  led  by  one 
John  Raw,  a  priest.  The  Chief  Justice  had  been  commissioned  to  suppress 
the  insurrection  in  the  City  of  York,  but  happening  at  this  time  to  be  in 
Suffolk  he  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rabble  then 
exasperated  by  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  their  chief  at  the  hands  of 
Sir  John's  younger  son  John.  He  was  dragged  to  Bury  and  there  his 
head  being  struck  off  it  was  set  upon  the  pillory  of  the  market  cross  in 
the  month  of  June  1381."  His  will  is  dated  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds  on 
Monday  after  the  Feast  of  Palm  the  previous  year.  By  it  he  directed  his 
body  to  be  buried  in  the  Church  of  Cavendish,  near  the  body  of  Alice  his 
late  wife.  He  devised  to  Andrew  Cavendish  his  son  and  heir  his  manors 
and  lands  in  Cavendish,  Pentlowe,  Fakenham  Aspes  and  Saxham.  He 
left  legacies  to  Rose  the  wife  of  his  said  son  Andrew,  to  Margaret  daughter 

1  Extent,  I.P.M.,  33  Edw.  I.  74.  «  O.,  32  Edw.  III.  24. 

•  Pat.    Rolls,   9   Edw.    II.    pt.    ii.   21 ;  »  Feet  of  Fines,  31  and  32  Edw.  III.  8. 

I.Q.D.,  9  Edw.  II.  90,  ii  Edw.  II.  •  Close  Rolls,  n  Hen.  III.  3.     In  dorso. 

74-  '  I.P.M.,  5  Rich.  II.  ii,  14. 
»  I.P.M..  27  Edw.  III.  60. 


CAVENDISH.  61 

to  Andrew  his  said  son,  and  appointed  Robert  de  Swynbourne  and  John 
Rookswood  sen.  his  executors.  The  will  was  proved  the  26  August  1381. 
The  son  John  referred  to  was  one  of  the  esquires  to  the  body  of  Rich.  II. 
and  the  incident  of  his  dispatch  of  Wat  Tyler  in  Smithfield  after  he  had 
been  stabbed  by  Sir  William  Wai  worth  is  well  known.  For  his  zeal  in 
this  matter  John  Cavendish  was  knighted  on  the  spot  by  the  King  and 
had  settled  upon  him  in  perpetuity  a  pension  of  £40.  The  Chief  Justice 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Andrew  Cavendish.  He  represented 
the  County  of  Suffolk  in  Parliament  in  1371  and  received  for  41  days 
attendance  the  sum  of  £8.  43.  In  1386  he  was  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  and 
Norfolk,  and  died  in  1395,'  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Rose  in 
dower,  and  William  Cavendish  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Andrew  conveyed  the 
reversion  by  fine  to  his  uncle  William  Cavendish  and  son  and  heir  of  John 
Cavendish  the  2nd  son  of  the  Chief  Justice.  The  two  fines  are  thus 
entered  :  "  William  Cavendyssh  of  London  v.  William  Cavendyssh  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  Andrew  Cavendyssh  of  Cavendish  Manor  called  Overhalle  with 
appurtenances  which  Robert  Chichesley,  William  Olyver,  John  Shawe, 
and  Thomas  Haryngton  held  for  the  life  of  Rose  wife  of  Andrew  Cavendyssh," 
and  "  Robert  Cavendyssh  v.  William  Cavendyssh  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Andrew 
Cavendyssh  of  Cavendish  Manor  called  Overhalle  with  appurtenances  which 
Rosa  wife  of  Andrew  Cavendyssh  held  as  her  dowry."8 

William  Cavendish  died  in  1433  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
Robert  Cavendish  Serjeant  at  law.  He  died  in  1438,  without  issue,3  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  nephew  Thomas  Cavendish  son  of  William  the  brother 
of  Robert.  A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1439  by  William  Norwold 
clerk,  John  Olney,  Thomas  Chalton,  Thomas  Batayle,  William  Flete, 
Mathew  Fowecher,  William  Barthelmewe  clerk  and  William  Berneway  v. 
William  Nell  and  Alice  his  wife.4 

Thomas  Cavendish  mortgaged  the  manor  to  John  Smyth  the  elder 
and  John  Smyth  the  younger,  as  we  learn  from  the  early  Chancery  Proceed- 
ings in  which  are  recorded  an  action  by  Thomas  Cavendish  and  Catherine 
his  wife  against  the  Smyths.5 

Thomas  Cavendish  died  in  1477,*  leaving  an  infant  heir  Thomas  and 
the  King  took  into  his  custody  this  manor.  There  is  a  grant  by  the  King 
in  1483  on  the  Patent  Rolls  to  Nicholas  Lathell  and  Richard  Williams  of 
the  custody  rending  to  the  King  10  marks  yearly.7  Thomas  Cavendish 
the  infant  became  Clerk  of  the  Pipe  in  the  Exchequer  and  married  Alice 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Smith  of  Podbrook  Hall  in  Cavendish.  He  died 
in  1524  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  and  heir  George  Cavendish.  In 
1543  a  fine  was  levied  by  John  Coxe  and  others  against  this  George  Caven- 
dish most  likely  on  the  occasion  of  some  settlement  of  the  manor.8  The 
fine  included  Netherhall  Manor  as  well  as  Overhall.  This  is  the  well-known 
Gentleman  Usher  of  Cardinal  Wolsey  and  his  faithful  friend  and  historian. 
He  died  about  1561  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William 
Cavendish  who  died  the  following  year.  The  manor  was  in  1565  released 
to  William  Cavendish  of  London,  mercer.  It  must  have  been  during  his 

'  I.P.M.,  18  Rich.  II.,  ii  Hen.  IV.  5.  6  I.P.M.,  17  Edw.  IV.  4;  2oEdw.  IV.  i. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  13  Hen.  IV.  30,  31.  'Pat.    Rolls,  i    Rich.    III.    pt.   v.  i,  8; 

3  I.P.M..  17  Hen.  VI.  16.  Harl.  433. 

«  Feet  of  Fines,  18  Hen.  VI.  16.  8  Fine,  Trin.  35  Hen.  VIII. 

*  E.C.P.,  5  Edw.    IV. ,  49  Hen.  VI.  31, 

255,    33,    49:    Ib.    38  Hen.  VI.- 

5  Edw.  IV.  27,  142. 


62  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

holding  of  the  lordship  that  a  claim  was  made  by  Rafe  Cavendyshe  against 
Thomas  Griggs  and  others  as  to  lands  in  Cavendish  held  of  the  Manor  of 
"  Overhall  Cavendyshe  "  of  which  manor  William  Cavendyshe  plaintiff's 
father  is  said  to  have  been  lord  "  and  devised  to  plaintiff  by  Thomas 
Fowler." 

This  is  amongst  the  Early  Chancery  Proceedings.1  In  1569  the  manor 
was  sold  by  William  Cavendish  to  Robert  Downes  of  London  *  who  in  1573 
sold  it  to  John  Felton  of  Overchrysal  co.  Essex.1 

In  the  following  year  John  Felton  sold  the  manor  to  George  Howe  of 
Sudbury,  clothier,4  and  in  1601  the  manor  passed  to  Bridget  Cracherode 
daughter  of  Mathew  Cracherode  of  Cavendish.  Matthew  Cracherode  son 
and  heir  succeeded  in  1615  and  in  1622  the  manor  became  the  property  by 
purchase  of  Sir  Stephen  Soame  of  Heyden  co.  Essex.5  He  died  in  1639 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Peter  Soame.  Sir  Peter 
succeeded  to  the  Baronetcy  of  his  relative  Sir  William  Soame  of  Little 
Thurlow  on  his  death  without  issue,  and  at  the  coronation  of  King  James  II. 
put  in  a  claim  ad  manutergium  tenendum  allocutur  (sic),  sed  constitutio 
deputati  refertur  beneplacito  Regis.  Quoad  residuum  clamei  non  allocutur, 
et  post  Rex  constituit  Anthonium  comitum  Kent,  ad  exequendum  officium 
in  jure  Petri.  This  claim  appears  in  a  petition  to  Francis  lord  Guild- 
ford  and  others,  commissioners  for  receiving  claims,  to  hold  the  basin  and 
ewer  for  a  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Heydon  and  the  towel  for  the  other 
moiety,  and  that  he  might  be  admitted  in  person,  or  by  a  proper  deputy 
to  perform  the  office,  and  to  have  all  the  profits  belonging  to  that  service. 
He  married  Susanna  youngest  daughter  of  Ralph  Freeman  of  Aspeden 
Hall  in  Hertfordshire  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  Sir  Peter  Soame  his 
successor  in  the  Baronetage,  and  Freeman  Soame  ;  and  two  daughters 
Susan  married  to  Sir  Cane  James  of  Creshall  in  Essex  Bart,  and  Elizabeth. 
The  arms  of  the  Soame  family  are  :  Gules,  a  chevron,  between  three  mallets, 
or.  Sir  Peter  Soame  the  father  did  not  transmit  this  manor  to  his  son, 
for  in  1679  he  sold  it  to  Isaac  Fuller  of  Cavendish  grocer  who  in  1701  sold 
the  same  to  William  Basset  of  Long  Melford  clothier.  In  1730  it  was 
purchased  by  Samuel  Thomas  of  Lavenham  and  was  sold  by  his  heir  in 
1791  to  Thomas  Ruggles  a  bencher  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  who  dying  in  1813 
left  by  his  wife  Jane  Anne  daughter  of  John  Freeland  of  Cobham  co.  Surrey 
a  son  John  Ruggles  of  Spains  Hall,  Essex,  who  was  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk 
in  1829.  In  1827  he  took  the  name  of  Brise  and  married  Catherine  daughter 
of  John  Haynes  Harrison  of  Copford  Hall  Colchester  by  whom  he  had 
issue  with  two  daughters  a  son  Samuel  Brise  Ruggles  Brise  who  on  the 
death  of  his  father  in  Sept.  1852  succeeded  to  the  lordship.  He  married 
Marianne  Weyland  4th  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Bowyer  Smyth  Bart. 
John  Yelloly  M.D.  physician  to  George  IV.  and  son  of  John  a  merchant 
of  Alnwick  by  Jane  daughter  of  George  Dawson  of  Little  Mill  purchased 
Cavendish  Hall  about  i^o-i,  but  apparently  did  not  at  the  time  acquire 
the  manor,  as  this  is  stated  to  have  been  vested  in  1844  in  J.  R.  Brise  and 
as  late  as  1855  m  Colonel  S.  B.  Ruggles  Brise.  It  is  true  the  statement 
vaguely  is  that  they  were  lords  of  the  "  Manor  of  Cavendish,"  and  in  1855 
in  the  same  work  containing  the  statement  as  to  Col.  Brise  being  lord  of 
Cavendish  we  find  it  stated  that  the  manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall 

1  C.P.  i.  210.  «  Fine,  Easter  16  Eliz. 

•  Fine,  Mich.  7  Eliz.  5  See    Smallbridge     Manor,     Bures,     in 

'  Fine,  Mich.  15  Eliz.  this  Hundred. 


CAVENDISH.  63 

were  owned  by  Samuel  Tyssen  Yelloly  who  was  the  second  son  of  Dr.  John 
Yelloly  (who  had  died  at  Cavendish  Hall  the  31  Jan.  1842)  by  Sarah  his 
wife  daughter  of  Samuel  Tyssen  of  Narborough  Hall,  Norfolk.  Samuel 
Tyssen  Yelloly  married  Mary  Ellis  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Bull  6th  son 
of  John  Bull  of  Pentlow,  Essex  by  Margaret  Toundron  his  wife  and  died 
at  Cavendish  Hall  in  1860  when  the  manor  or  some  interest  therein 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  S.  De  Beauvoir  Yelloly  R.N.  for  he  and  Miss 
E.  S.  R.  Yelloly  are  stated  to  have  owned  the  Manors  of  Overhall  and 
Netherhall  in  1885  and  the  same  are  now  stated  to  be  in  John  Yelloly. 

DE  GREY'S  MANOR. 

On  the  marriage  of  Sir  John  de  Grey  of  Rotherfield  with  Margaret 
one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Sir  William  Odingsels  as  mentioned 
under  the  account  of  the  Manor  of  Overhall,  or  rather  upon  Sir  William's 
death  a  portion  of  the  land  which  belonged  to  him  seems  to  have  passed 
to  Sir  John  De  Grey  in  right  of  his  wife  and  to  have  been  thenceforth  held 
as  a  separate  manor,  or  possibly  the  holding  of  Sir  John  was  only  increased, 
for  it  must  be  remembered  that  his  father  William  de  Grey  had  already 
a  considerable  estate  in  Cavendish  in  respect  of  which  he  had  a  grant  of 
free  warren  in  1285.'  The  Greys  are  usually  supposed  to  be  descendants 
of  Arnulph  lord  of  Gray  in  Normandy  who  vr&s  living  about  970,  but  some 
have  derived  them  from  the  Picard  family  of  Croy.  They  no  doubt  had 
an  ancestor  Auschetil  de  Grai  who  came  over  with  the  Conqueror. 

Sir  John  de  Grey  was  the  son  and  heir  of  William  de  Grey  the  3rd  son 
of  Henry  de  Grey  a  great  favourite  with  Richard  I.  and  also  of  his  successors 
John  and  Hen.  III.  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  the  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  and 
Margaret  married  Alice  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  Sir  Richard  de  Corn- 
herd  Knt.2  It  is  said  that  on  this  match  Sir  Thomas  finding  so  many  bearing 
his  own  paternal  arms  assumed  those  of  Cornherd  which  he  and  his  descen- 
dants continued  to  bear  as  their  arms,  viz. :  Az.  a  fesse  between  two  chevrons 
or.,  which  arms  it  is  further  said  the  Cornherds  had  in  imitation  of  the 
Bainard's  their  superior  lords,  the  field  and  chevrons  only  differing  in 
colour. 

In  1302  Thomas  de  Grey  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  respect  of  his 
Cavendish  estate,3  and  in  1321  he  and  Alice  his  wife  held  divers  lands  in 
Great  Cornard  of  Richard  Cornerd  the  wife's  father  and  also  this  manor 
called  "  Cavendish  Manor  "  worth  £10.  13.  4.  at  one  fee,  and  also  of  William 
de  Butevyler  one  messuage,  one  carucate  and  60  acres  of  land,  one  acre 
of  meadow  and  IDS.  rent  in  Little  Cornard,  Bures,  Newton,  Walding- 
field,  Illegh,  Preston,  Thorpe  and  Lillesey  worth  £3  per  annum,  at  the  4th 
part  of  a  fee,  and  they  also  held  more  of  the  inheritance  of  the  said  Alice — a 
messuage  and  one  carucate  of  land  in  Barnardeston  of  Arnold  de  Mounteney 
by  the  service  of  one  halfpenny  tithe  scutage  when  laid  which  house  and 
carucate  was  worth  £6.  13.  4.  per  annum.  Thomas  de  Grey  died  in  I32i4 
leaving  Alice  his  wife  surviving,  and  in  1322  she  settled  lands  on  her  sons 
Roger  and  John.  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  Knt.  their  eldest  son  and  heir 
succeeded  and  married  ist  Isabel  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Fulk 
Baynard  of  Merton  and  settled  at  Merton  in  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Bay- 
nards.  He  married  2ndly  Alice  who  survived  him.  Sir  Roger  de  Grey 

1  Chart.  Rolls,  13  Edw.  I.  120.  3  Chart.  Rolls,  30  Edw.  I.  33. 

•  See  Cawston  or  Caxton's  Manor,  Little         '  I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  II.  22. 
Cornard  in  this  Hundred. 


64  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

the  son  of  Sir  Thomas  succeeded  and  by  will  proved  in  1371  he  declared 
that  he  had  enfeoffcd  Sir  William  Bawde  Priest  and  others  of  his  Manors  of 
Cav«'ndi-li.  I.ittlc  l  oriKTth  and  Preston.  The  will  is  dated  at  Dover,  and 
i^  in  In  mil  IK-  dinrts  his  father  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey's  debts  to  be 
paid  and  that  Alice  his  wife  should  have  an  annuity  of  20  marks  per  annum 
and  Sir  Thomas  Grey  his  brother  another  of  the  same  sum.  On  Sir  Roger 
de  Grey's  death  which  occurred  in  1371'  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
lu -ir  Thomas  who  died  a  minor  in  1383'  having  had  two  sisters  Margaret 
married  to  Sir  Thomas  Shardelowe  but  had  died  the  year  before  her  brother 
without  issue,  and  Joan  married  to  Thomas  Pynckbeke  who  had  a  son 
Richard  who  died  without  issue.  On  the  15  May  21  Rich.  II.  [1398]  a  writ 
was  issued  to  enquire  of  whom  the  manor  of  Greys  in  Cavendish  was  held 
the  reversion  of  which  Thomas  late  Duke  of  Gloucester  acquired  in  fee 
simple  of  Master  Thomas  Grey  clerk  and  which  reversion  by  reason  of  the 
said  Duke's  forfeiture  pertained  to  the  King.3  The  manor  then  passed  to 
Agnes  Lady  Bardolph  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Mortimer  eldest  daughter  of  Sir 
Michael  Poynings  and  was  sold  by  her  to  Robert  Lord  Poynings  and  others 
in  1402.  It  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Sir  John  Pelham  in  1404,  but 
appears  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  VI.  to  be  again  in  the  Crown  and,  indeed,  in 
that  reign  to  have  been  regarded  as  part  of  the  possessions  of  the  Duchy 
of  Lancaster,  for  Ministers'  accounts  of  the  manor  "  land  of  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster,"  30  to  31  Hen.  VI.  [1452-3]  will  be  found  in  the  Public  Record 
Office.4 

In  1461  there  is  a  grant  on  the  Patent  Rolls  to  Thomas  Montgomery 
King's  Knt.  by  mainprise  of  John  Clopton  and  Thomas  Grene  of  the  custody 
of  the  King's  Manor  of  Greyes  in  Cavendish  with  courts  leet,  etc.,  for  12 
years  rending  to  the  King  £23.  6.  8.  yearly  and  supporting  all  charges,5 
and  also  from  the  same  Rolls  for  the  same  year,  we  learn  that  a  Com- 
mission was  issued  to  enquire  into  a  complaint  made  by  Henry  Earl  of 
Essex  and  others  that  whereas  they  were  lately  seised  of  the  Manor  of 
Greys  in  their  demesne  as  of  fee  in  time  of  peace  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  VI. 
and  received  esplees  thereby,  they  were  unjustly  disseised  by  Richard 
late  Duke  of  York.6 

We  do  find  land  in  Cavendish  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  post 
mortem  of  Richard  Duke  of  York,  father  of  the  King  in  1463 .'  It  included 
Chelfordes  in  Cavendish  and  Paddokes  mill,  a  water  mill  there  and  other 
land  but  not  this  manor  apparently,  though  Davy  makes  this  Richard  Duke 
of  York  lord  of  the  manor  in  1463,  doubtfully  however  making  the  statement. 
Certainly  the  following  year  we  find  the  manor  vested  in,  and  Grey's  Hall 
occupied  by,  Thomas  son  of  Thomas  Colt  of  Carlisle  from  whom  the  manor 
acquired  the  name  of  Colt's  Hall  under  which  designation  it  is  still  known. 
A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1464  by  Sir  John  Markham,  Henry  Sote- 
hill  and  John  Otre  against  Thomas  Colt  and  Joan  his  wife.8  Thomas  Colt 
the  purchaser  was  a  great  favourite  of  Edward  IV.  He  was  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer  and  one  of  the  Privy  Council  and  married  Joan  daughter 
and  heir  of  John  Trusbutt  of  Holm  in  Norf.9  He  died  the  loth  Aug.  1474, 

•  I.P.M.,  45  Edw.  III.  27.  J  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Edw.  IV.  pt.  iii.  19. 

•  I.P.M.,  46  Edw.  III.  2nd  nos.  17 ;  7  Rich.         '  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Edw.  IV.  pt.  iv.  cjd. 

I1-4I-  '  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  IV.  14. 

•  Extent.     Thomas   Duke  of  Gloucester         '  Feet  of  Fines,  4  Edw.  IV.  6. 

for  Master  Thomas  Grey.    I.P.M.,         »  See  Pedigree  of  Trussbutts,  Blomefield's, 
22  Rich.  II.  79.  Norf.  8vo.  Ed.  vii.  405. 

•  Bundle  430,  No.  6905,  6907. 


CAVENDISH.  65 

and  was  buried  at  Roydon  in  Essex,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow 
Joan.  She  remarried  Sir  William  Parr  and  died  on  Monday  before  the 
feast  of  St.  Lawrence  Anno  13  Edw.  IV.1  when  the  manor  passed  to  her 
son  and  heir  John  Colt  of  New  Hall  Essex  and  Colt's  Hall  in  Cavendish. 
He  was  the  ward  of  Sir  William  Parr  in  the  ist  Hen.  VII.  and  married 
ist  Jane  dau.  of  Sir  John  Ellington  of  Middlesex  and  andly  Mary  dau.  of  Sir 
John  Alne.  He  died  the  22nd  Oct.  1521  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  George  Colt  of  Long  Melford  who  took  to  wife  Elizabeth  dau.  of  Henry 
Mac  William  of  Stambourn  in  Essex  and  dying  the  n  March  1578  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Henry  who  married  ist  Elizabeth  dau.  of  John 
Coninsby  of  North  Mimms  in  Hertfordshire  and  2ndly  Margaret  dau. 
of  John  Heath  of  Netherhall  in  Essex.  By  his  first  wife  he  was 
father  of  Sir  George  Colt 2  who  married  Mary  daughter  of  William  Poley 
of  Boxstead  and  dying  the  6th  Jan.  1616  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest 
son  and  heir  Sir  Henry  Colt.  Sir  Henry  married  Bridget  dau.  of 
Sir  William  Kingsmill  of  Sidmanton  co.  Hants  and  died  abroad  the 
27  March  1635  seised  of  the  manor  of  "  Greys  alias  Colts  Hall  in  Caven- 
dish "  and  Poslingford  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  George  Colt. 
He  married  Elizabeth  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Button  of  Sher- 
borne  in  Gloucestershire.  George  Colt  devoted  his  fortune  to  the  service 
of  Chas.  I.  and  Chas.  II.  and  Page  says  sold  his  property  in  Cavendish  and 
several  other  good  estates.  He  was  drowned  at  sea  from  off  a  Dutch 
vessel  January  20,  1658,  and,  according  to  Davy,  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  John  Dutton  Colt  M.P.  for  Leominster  who  married  ist  Mary 
d.  and  h.  of  John  Booth  of  Letton  co.  Hereford  and  2ndly  Margaret  relict 
of  John  Arnold  of  Monmouth.  John  Dutton  Colt  sold  the  manor.  The 
Colt  arms  were  :  Argent,  a  fesse  between  three  colts  in  full  speed,  sable. 

The  manor  seems  to  have  passed  to  the  Jennens  of  Acton  Place  and 
upon  the  death  of  William  Jennens  in  1798  descended  to  his  heir  at  law 
and  is  now  vested  in  Richard  George  Penn  Curzon-Howe,  4th  Earl  Howe. 
For  the  devolution,  see  Rokewood  Manor,  Acton  in  this  Hundred. 

NETHERHALL  MANOR. 

In  1275  Margaret  wife  of  Roger  de  Tryanton  or  Trehaupton  held  lands 
here  in  chief  of  the  King  at  half  a  Knight's  fee.3  There  is  an  action  by 
Nicholas  Rann  against  an  Adam  (or  Ada)  de  Trehaupton  as  to  a  messuage 
in  Cavendish  in  1281.* 

It  seems,  however,  that  this  particular  manor  or  at  least  2  messuages 
a  carucate  of  land  ro  acres  of  meadow,  14  acres  of  pasture  and  32  acres  of 
wood  were  held  by  Henry  de  Pynkeneye  in  chief  of  Hen.  III.  and  he  sold 
the  same  without  licence  to  William  de  Culworth  and  Margery  his  wife 
from  whom  the  same  passed  to  Adam  de  Trehaupton  the  son  and  heir  of 
Margery  and  then  on  to  John  de  Trehaupton  son  and  heir  of  Adam.  In 
1343  the  trespass  committed  by  entering  without  licence  was  pardoned 
and  John  permitted  to  retain.5 

1  Inquisition    p.m.    is  of    Joan    wife    of         3  H.R.  ii.  142,  150. 

Sir   William   Parre,    15    Edw.  IV.         "  Pat.  Rolls,  9  Edw.  I.  2$d. 

34.  5  Pat.  Rolls,  17  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii,  5. 

*  A  Fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  in  1601 

by  John  Helham  and  others  against 

this  Sir    George   Colt    and    others 

(Fine,  Easter,  43  Elk.). 


66  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

John  de  Trehaupton  granted  the  manor,  then  stated  to  consist  of  51 
acres  of  land,  ij  acres  of  pasture  and  2\  acres  of  wood  to  William  de 
Genevyll  and  died  in  1350.' 

William  de  Genevyll  died  before  1364  leaving  two  daughters  and 
co-heirs  Beatrice  wife  of  John  Wegge  of  Clare  and  Elizabeth  wife  of  William 
Andrew  of  Sproughton,  for  in  that  year  there  is  an  order  on  the  Originalia 
Rolls  to  take  fealty  of  Beatrice  and  Wm.  Andrew  as  to  the  land  above 
held  of  the  King  in  chief  of  the  grant  of  John  de  Trehaupton.'  Davy 
makes  the  singular  mistake  of  treating  Beatrice  and  Elizabeth  the  daughters 
of  Genevyll  as  daughters  of  John  de  Trehaupton. 

Thomas  Andrew  son  and  heir  of  Elizabeth  wife  of  William  Andrew 
died  seised  (apparently  then  of  130  acres  of  land)  in  I437-3  It  seems  he 
had  but  a  moiety  of  the  manor,  in  fact  a  few  years  later  in  1443,'  a  moiety 
of  the  manor  is  included  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  Richard  Wegge 
(probably  the  son  of  the  above  John  Wegge)  and  Isabel  his  wife. 

In  1438  Margaret  Andrew  had  licence  to  enfeoff  John  Jenney  of  a  4th 
part  of  the  manor.  On  Richard  Wegge's  death  in  1443  a  moiety  of  the  manor 
passed  to  Margaret  his  daughter  and  heir  who  had  married  Richard 
Clavering  and  the  following  year  Richard  Clavering  had  a  moiety  by  grant 
from  the  Crown.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Clavering. 
In  1452  we  meet  with  a  fine  levied  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  by  John  Smyth, 
John  Clopton,  John  Denston,  William  Chapman  and  Roger  Moryell  against 
Richard  Clavering  of  London  and  John  Clavering  son  and  heir  of  Richard 
Clavering.5  In  1543  this  manor  was  included  in  the  fine  already  referred 
to  in  the  account  of  Overhall  Manor  levied  by  John  Coxe  and  others  against 
George  Cavendish.6 

The  next  lord  was  Sir  John  Went  worth  of  Codham,  but  by 
what  title  does  not  appear.  In  1571  the  manor  was  vested  in  Anne 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  John  Wentworth  and  wife  of  Henry 
Howard  Lord  Maltravers  and  afterwards  of  Sir  William  Dean  who 
died  in  1580.  In  1588  George  Baxter  and  others  had  licence  to  alien  a 
moiety  of  this  manor  to  Matthew  Cracherode  and  Mary  his  wife  daughter 
of  John  Smith  of  Cavendish,  and  Matthew  Cracherode  held  in  1609.  Amongst 
the  Exchequer  Deposition  in  1595  we  see  there  was  an  action  as  to  the 
Manor  of  Netherhall  and  lands  called  '  The  Rushe  Pasture '  in  Burrefelde 
and  Padbrook  St.  and  as  to  lands  given  to  maintain  a  chantry  priest  or 
priests  in  Cavendish  Church.  The  action  was  between  William  Typpes 
and  others  and  George  Colt  and  others.7 

Matthew  Cracherode  died  in  1615  and  his  son  apparently  sold 
the  manor  to  Sir  Stephen  Soame  who  dying  in  1639  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Peter  Soame.  In  1706  the  manor  belonged 
to  Sir  Thomas  Robinson  and  he  sold  it  to  John  Moore  who  dying  in  1753 
it  passed  to  his  son  Henry  Moore  who  died  unmarried  in  1769  when  it 
passed  to  his  brother  Richard  Moore  who  died  in  1782  and  was  succeeded 
by  Richard  Moore  his  son  and  heir  who  sold  the  manor  and  died  in  1826. 

In  1855  the  manor  belonged  to  Samuel  Tyssen  Yelloby  who  died  in 
1860  and  has  since  passed  in  the  same  course  as  the  manor  of  Overhall, 
being  now  vested  in  John  Yelloby. 

'  I.P.M.,  24  Edw.  III.  62.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  30  Hen.  VI.  34. 

•  O.,  38  Edw.  III.  5.  «  Fine,  Trin.  35  Hen.  VIII. 

'  I.P.M.,  15  Hen.  VI.  38.  '  Exch.  dep.  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  38  Eliz. 

«  I.P.M.,  21  Hen.  VI.  24. 


CAVENDISH.  67 

NEWHALL  MANOR. 

In  1463  Richard  Duke  of  York  seems  to  have  held  a  third  part  of  this 
manor,1  and  in  1475  Thomas  Colt  lord  of  the  Manor  of  Greys  died  seised 
of  it.  The  subsequent  devolution  is  identical  with  that  of  Grey's  al. 
Colt's  Hall  Manor. 

HOUGHTON  HALL  MANOR. 

In  1548  Sir  John  Wentworth  of  Codham  was  lord,  and  the  manor  passed 
to  his  daughter  and  heir  Anne,  and  from  her,  as  mentioned  in  the  next  manor 
dealt  with,  down  to  William  Villiers  Lord  Grandison  who  died  in  1643. 
Anthony  Deane  was  lord  in  1669,  and  by  1706  the  manor  was  vested  in 
Sir  Thomas  Robinson.2  He  in  that  year  sold  it  to  John  Moore  of  Kent- 
well  Hall.  Amongst  the  Exchequer  Deposition  is  one  in  a  suit  in  1710 
between  Henry  James,  D.D.,  and  Henry  Grey  respecting  the  rectory  and 
parish  church  of  Cavendish,  and  the  farm  or  estates  called  Overhall,  Impey- 
hall  and  Houghton  Hall,  and  as  to  Tithes.3  John  Moore  died  in  1714 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  nephew  John  Moore  who  died  in 
1753,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Richard  Moore  who 
died  in  1782,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Richard  Moore 
who  sold  the  manor  and  died  in  1826.  In  1847  the  manor  was  vested  in 
Charles  Heigham  and  in  1885  belonged  with  the  manors  of  Bulley  Hall 
and  Impey  to  George  H.  Goodchild. 

BULLEY  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  vested  in  Gilbert  de  Clare  Earl  of  Gloucester  and  Hert- 
ford who  died  in  1314."  It  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  John  Botiller 
in  I40Q.5  From  the  Botelers  the  manor  passed  to  the  Cavendishs  and 
there  are  two  fines  probably  connected  with  the  transfer,  one  in  1435  and 
the  other  in  1438.  Robert  Cavendysh  and  John  Cauvendysh  and  others 
v.  John  Botelere6  and  Robert  Cavendish  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  v.  John 
Botelere  of  the  manor  and  other  hereditaments  which  Robert  Cavendish, 
William  Clopton  and  others  held  for  life  of  the  said  Robert.7  Later  the  manor 
belonged  to  Henry  Wentworth  of  Codham  who  died  in  1482  8  when  it  passed 
to  his  son  and  heir  Roger  at  whose  death  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir 
John  Wentworth  who  died  leaving  a  daughter  Anne  married  rst  to  Sir 
Hugh  Rich,  son  and  heir  of  Richard  Lord  Rich,  2ndly  to  Henry  Howard  Lord 
Maltravers  son  and  heir  of  Henry  Fitz  Alan  Earl  of  Arundel  and  3rdly  to 
Sir  William  Dean  of  Deans  Hall  in  Great  Maplestead  in  Essex.  This 
heiress  of  Sir  John  Wentworth  had  a  great  inheritance — the  Manors  of 
Wiston,  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall  in  Poslingford,  and  Cavendish, 
Impeys,  and  Bulley  Hall.  In  19  Eliz.  by  Indenture  September  24,  she 
demised  this  manor  and  others  to  Trustees  for  200  years  next  after  her 
death.  She  died  and  was  buried  at  Gosfield  in  Essex  January  roth  1580, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Edward  Villiers  who  married  Barbara  eldest 

'  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  IV.  14.  »  I.P.M.,  19  Hen.  IV.  4. 

•  See  Cockfield  Hall    Manor    and  Monks  6  peet  oj  Fines>  ^  Hen.  VI.  20. 
Melford  Manor.    Melford,    in    this  ,-  Tr       T,T 

Hundred.  '  Feet  of  Fmes>  l6  Hen"  VL  2t 

3  At  Newmarket  1710.    Exch.  dep.  '  I.P.M.,  22  Edw.  IV.  u. 

4  I.P.M.,  8  Edw.  II.  68,  see  Inquis.  p.m. 

on    Richard    de     Clare     Earl    of 
Gloucester.  I.P.M.,  47  Hen.  III.  34. 


68  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

daughter  of  Sir  John  St.  John  of  Lidiard  Tregoze  co.  Wilts.  He  was 
president  of  Munster  in  Ireland  on  the  decease  of  the  Earl  of  Thomond.  He 
died  the  7th  Sept.  1626  lamented  more  deeply,  it  is  said,  "  than  any  governor 
who  had  previously  ruled  the  province  "  and  was  interred  in  the  Earl  of  Cork's 
Chapel  in  Youghal.  By  an  inquisition  post  mortem  January  14,  7  Charles  I. 
taken  at  Ipswich  it  was  found  that  Sir  Edward  Villiers  Knt.  had  died  seised  of 
t  he  Manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall  in  Poslingford  and  the  Manors  of  Impeys 
and  Bulley  Hall,  &c.,  and  that  by  Barbara  his  wife  daughter  of  Sir  John 
St.  John  he  had  left  a  son  and  heir  William  Villiers  aged  20  in  1625.  The 
will  of  Sir  Edward  Villiers  bears  date  the  3rd  August  1625.  The  son 
William  Villiers  became  Lord  Grandison  in  1630  on  the  death  of  his 
uncle.  Actively  espousing  the  Royal  cause  he  received  a  wound  at  the 
seige  of  Bristol  the  26  July  1643  of  which  he  died  in  the  following  month 
at  Oxford,  leaving  by  Mary  daughter  of  Paul  Viscount  Bayning  an  only 
daughter  Barbara  wife  of  Roger  Palmer  Earl  of  Castlemame  in  Ireland 
and  afterwards  Duchess  of  Cleveland  and  mistress  of  Charles  II. 

The  manor  does  not  seem  to  have  come  down  to  Barbara  but  to  have 
passed  to  Sir  Thomas  Robinson  who  died  seised  in  1683  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Lumley  Robinson  of  Kentwell  Hall  who  died  the 
following  year  and  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Thomas,  who  sold  the  manor  to 
John  Moore  who  died  in  1753  after  which  the  devolution  is  identical  with 
that  of  Netherhall. 

IMPEY  OR  IMPSEY  HALL  OR  QUIPSEY  HALL. 

This  manor  also  belonged  to  Sir  John  Cavendish  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
who  was  murdered  in  1381  and  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Andrew  Cavendish 
who  died  in  1395  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William.  It  is 
specifically  mentioned  as  "  Impeye  "  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  Andrew 
Cavendish1  and  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1433  by  William  Clopton, 
Robert  Cavendysh,  John  Harleston,  Clement  Deneston  clerk,  Thomas 
Milde,  Thomas  Hegham,  Richard  Alrede  and  John  Smyth  clerk  against 
Joan  Cavendyssh  who  was  wife  of  John  Wylden.1  Later  it  passed  to  Sir 
John  Wentworth  and  from  him  descended  as  mentioned  in  the  account 
of  the  last  manor  to  Wm.  Villiers  son  of  Sir  Edward  Villiers  who  died  in 
1626  after  which  the  devolution  is  identical  with  the  Manor  of  Houghton 
Hall. 

KENSINGS  OR  KESSINGS  HALL  MANOR. 

This  belonged  to  Sir  John  Cavendish  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  who  was 
murdered  in  1381  and  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Andrew  who  died  in  1394  and 
subsequently  to  his  son  and  heir  William  Cavendish.  The  manor  is 
specifically  mentioned  as  "  Kemsynge  "  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  Andrew 
Cavendish.'  The  next  lord  we  meet  with  is  Richard  de  Cornhearth  (Corn- 
hith)  in  1398,*  and  the  next  another  Richard  de  Cornerth  (Croniworthe) 
in  1425.' 

In  1548  this  manor  was  vested  in  John  Smyth.  Amongst  the  State 
Papers  of  Henry  VIII.  is  a  grant  to  John  Smyth  of  livery  of  lands  in  Caven- 
dish as  son  and  heir  of  John  Smyth.6  It  passed  to  John  Colt  who  died 
seised  in  1599  when  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Colt.  In  1609  the 
manor  was  vested  in  John  Seath  or  Death. 

•  I.P.M.,  18  Rich.  II.  ii ;  H  Hen.  IV.  5.  «  I.P.M.,  22  Rich.  II.  34. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  n  Hen.  VI.  33.  '  I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  VI.  32. 

>  I.P.M.,  18  Rich.  II.  ii ;  H  Hen.  IV.  5.  •  State  Papers,  1542,  443  (51). 


CAVENDISH.  69 

PEYTON'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  in  1298  was  held  by  John  de  Peyton  who  also  had  a  grant 
of  free  warren.1  It  subsequently  devolved  on  Thomas  Colt  who  died  seised 
in  1475,  and  henceforth  it  devolved  together  with  Grey's  or  Colt's  Hall 
Manor. 

PECHE'S  OR  PECHY'S  MANOR. 

This  was  held  by  John  Peche  son  of  John  Peche  who  conveyed  lands 
here  to  Sir  John  de  Peyton.  It  subsequently  passed  to  Richard  Duke 
of  York  who  died  seised  of  it  in  1463,*  and  later  vested  in  Thomas  Colt  who 
died  in  1475,  and  then  devolved  in  a  like  manner  as  Grey's  or  Colt's  Hall 
Manor. 

MORE  HALL  MANOR. 

Edward  Copley  died  seised  in  1609  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Edward  Copley  who  had  livery  of  his  estates  in  1622.  We  learn  nothing 
further  respecting  this  manor. 

COLLINGHAM  HALL  MANOR. 

This  was  the  inheritance  of  Sir  John  Cavendish  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
so  brutally  murdered  in  1381.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Andrew 
Cavendish  and  he  by  his  son  William  Cavendish  in  1394.  It  is  specifically 
mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  post  morten  of  Sir  Andrew  Cavendish.3 

It  was  in  1484  granted  as  part  of  the  endowment  of  a  chantry  in  St. 
Bartholomew  the  Less  in  London  known  as  the  Fry  Chantry4  and  on  the 
suppression  of  the  religious  houses  came  to  the  Crown. 

Edward  Copley  upon  founding  a  school  endowed  it  with  this  manor, 
it  is  said,  and  in  1609  it  passed  to  the  Governors  of  the  Free  School  at  Bury. 

STANSFIELD  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  we  find  mentioned  in  a  Fine  in  1637  levied  by  Matthew 
Abbott  and  it  appears  to  have  previously  belonged  to  his  father  Richard 
Abbott.5 

A  "Cavendish  Manor  "  was  the  subject  of  a  Fine  levied  in  1395  by  Sir 
Richard  Waldegrave,  Sir  Robert  Carbonell,  Thomas  Foryby  clerk  and  Wm. 
Skrene  against  Sir  William  Papworth  and  Alice  his  wife.6 

A  paper  on  Grey's  Hall  in  Cavendish  will  be  found  in  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Suffolk  Institute  vol.  vi.  23  and  on  the  Old  House  of  Overhall  in 
Cavendish  (read  on  a  visit  of  the  Institute  in  1893)  in  vol.  viii.  p.  261.  Also 
notices  of  the  Cavendish  Family  while  possessed  of  the  manor  by  Thomas 
Ruggles  in  Archaeologia  vol.  xi.  p.  50.  Notes  of  the  Family  also  will  be 
found  in  vol.  i.  of  the  Suffolk  Institute  p.  225  and  Memoirs  of  the  family 
by  Dr.  Kennett  1703,  8vo. 


'  Chart.  Rolls,  26  Edw.  I.  5.  *  Harl.  55  H.  25. 

•  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  IV.  14.  5  14  Nov.  13  Car.  I.  pt.  iii.  34. 

>  I.P.M.,  18  Rich.  II.  n ;  n  Hen.  IV.  5.  6  Feet  of  Fines,  19  Rich.  II.  28. 


70  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


CHILTON. 

N  Saxon  times  Godwin,  Alfer's  son,  held  with  soc  2  carucates 
of  land  as  a  manor.  There  was  a  church  living  with  5  acres 
of  free  land  and  i  villein,  3  bordars,  4  slaves,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne  and  among  the  men,  5  acres  of  meadow, 
3  hogs  and  80  sheep.  This  manor  was  at  the  time  of  the 
Domesday  Survey  held  by  Walter  son  of  Aubrey  of  Robert 
Malet  with  very  slight  difference  of  detail ;  3  of  the  slaves 
had  disappeared  and  there  were  but  half  the  number  of  sheep. 

Three  freemen  held  in  the  time  of  the  Confessor,  under  Godwin,  by 
commendation  and  soc,  40  acres  of  land  and  i  acre  of  meadow  with  one 
ploughteam  amongst  the  lot ;  and  these  freemen  were  valued  at  12  shillings, 
but  their  value  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  had  come  down  to  7 
shillings.  At  the  same  time  the  manor  itself  which  was  formerly  valued 
at  20  shillings  had  gone  up  to  40  shillings. 

It  was  4  quarentenes  long  and  3  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  $d.  whoever 
held  the  same.' 

The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was  the  son  of  William  Malet  one  of 
the  Conqueror's  companions  to  whom  the  body  of  Harold  was  committed 
for  burial  after  the  battle  of  Hastings.  William  was  appointed  governor 
of  York  Castle  built  by  William  the  ist  in  1068.  Robert  Malet  was  the 
son  of  this  William  by  Heselia  his  wife  and  was  also  present  at  the  battle 
of  Hastings  and  he  is  depicted  in  the  Bayeux  Tapestry  seated  on  one  side 
of  Duke  William  who  has  his  brother  Odo  the  bishop  on  the  other.  He 
was  the  founder  of  the  Benedictine  priory  at  Eye,  and  Blomefield  says 
"this  Robert  was  Great  Chamberlain  of  England  under  King  Henry  I.  ; 
but  in  the  second  year  of  that  King  was  banished  and  deprived  of  his 
possessions  for  adhering  to  Robert  Curtois,  that  King's  eldest  brother 
Duke  of  Normandy."* 

CHILTON  MANOR  als.  WALDINGFIELD  HALL. 
CARBONELS  WITH  CHILTON  MANOR. 

Chilton  has  been  generally  considered  a  hamlet  of  Great  Waldingfield 
and  the  rector  of  that  parish  received  a  certain  portion  of  the  tithes  of 
Chilton,  but  it  is  now  a  separate  parish  in  Sudbury  union.  The  lordship 
of  Chilton  in  the  time  of  Hen.  II.  belonged  to  William  Carbonel  who  died 
leaving  an  infant  heir  and  a  widow  Alice  who  remarried  Richard  Aguilon. 
There  is  a  deed  still  in  existence  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  being  a  grant 
by  William  de  Huntingfield  to  this  Richard  Aguilon  or  Agelliun  and  Alice  his 
wife  of  the  custody  of  the  lands  and  heir  of  William  Carbunel  "  formerly 
husband  of  the  said  Alice,"  also  of  the  Manor  of  Chilton  in  dower  for  the 
term  of  the  life  of  the  said  Alice.5 

There  is  in  the  same  collection  a  charter  of  earlier  date,  c.  1180  (but  ?) 
being  a  grant  by  Roger  son  of  William  de  Huntingfield  to  Gilbert  Carbonel 
of  land  in  Chilton,  Bures  and  Wendeshalam.4 

At  the  end  of  the  i2th  century  we  meet  with  a  grant  by  this  Gilbert 
'  Karbunel '  to  Geoffrey  his  son  of  the  whole  of  his  land  in  Chilton  with 
two  men  of  Middletune  pertaining  to  the  same  land  for  his  service  and 

•  Dorc.  ii.  304.  «  c.  1210-20  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  268. 

•  8w>  Ed.  vol.  viii.  341.  «  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  267. 


CHILTON.  7I 

homage  and  his  money,  viz.,  gold  and  silver,  which  he  gave  to  them  with 
covenants  for  an  exchange  under  certain  conditions.1 

And  we  find  a  grant  made  about  the  same  time  or  a  little  later  by 
Sampson  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  to  William  Carbonel  of  a  certain  liberty 
which  was  called  Infangenethef  in  Chilton  which  was  of  the  liberty  of  Eye 
at  an  annual  rent  of  lib.  of  white  incense.2  In  1244  Sir  Geoffrey  Carbonel 
held  a  knight's  fee  here,  and  in  1276  Robert  Carbunel  brought  an  action 
against  Nicholas  le  Ram  and  others  touching  a  fosse  destroyed  here,3  and 
the  following  year  Richard  Carbonel  had  a  grant  of  free  warren.4  John  de 
Carbonel  was  lord  about  1278  and  died  in  1303  being  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Thomas  who  died  in  1312  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow 
Elizabeth  who  lived  till  1325.  John  de  Carbonel  son  of  Thomas  succeeded 
and  died  in  I3335  leaving  a  daughter  Alice  married  to  Ralph  Boteler  or 
Butler  who  left  a  daughter  Margaret  married  to  Thomas  Boteler. 

Margaret  Boteler  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  I3936  and  had  a  son 
Sir  Andrew  Boteler  who  had  seisin  in  1413.  His  will  is  dated  1429  and  he 
died  the  following  year  leaving  his  widow  Katherine  who  was  a  dau.  of 
Sir  William  Philip  surviving.  Margery  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Andrew 
Boteler  married  William  Crane  of  Stonham  and  thus  carried  this  manor 
into  that  ancient  and  knightly  family.  William  Crane  took  for  his  2nd 
wife  Anne  d.  of  William  Forrecy  (Ferrers)  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Robert  Crane  of  Chilton  and  Stonham.  The  feoffment  of  the 
manor  to  Robert  Crane  was  from  John  Clopton  and  others  in  1439  and  will 
be  found  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters.7  He  married  ist  Agnes  d.  of 
Thomas  Singleton  of  Stonham  Jernegan  and  2ndly  Agnes  d.  of  Tho.  Greene 
of  Creting.  On  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  s.  and  h.  Robert 
Crane  who  married  ist  Isabell  d.  of  Robert  Darcy  of  Maiden  Essex. 

Amongst  the  Bodleian  Rolls  will  be  found  the  record  of  a  suit  in  1470 
between  this  Robert  Crane  and  Isabell  his  wife  against  Ralph  West  and 
Katherine  his  wife  concerning  a  toft  and  7  acres  of  land  in  Chilton.8  Robert 
Crane  married  2ndly  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Andrew  Egard  or  Ogard  of  Buck- 
enham  Knt.  and  died  the  23rd  or  24th  Oct.  1500,'  and  there  is  or  was  a  monu- 
ment in  the  Chilton  Church  to  the  two,  and  also  to  George  Crane  their  son  who 
died  without  issue  in  1491 .  The  arms  of  the  Cranes  were  :  Ar.  a  fesse  between 
three  crosses  bottonee  fitchee,  gu.  Robert  Crane  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother  and  heir  John  Crane  who  married  Agnes  d.  of  Sir  John  Calthorp 
Knt.  and  died  in  1505  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Robert. 
There  is  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  an  Indenture  made  the  14  April 
24  Hen.  VII.  [1509]  by  which  this  Robert  Crane  demised  to  John  Coole 
of  Sudbury,  mercer,  a  croft  of  arable  land,  &c.,  in  Chilton  for  20  years  at 
an  annual  rent  of  2os.  gd.'°  There  is  also  in  the  same  collection  a  grant  in 
1526  by  Isabella  widow  of  Robert  Siday  of  Great  Waldingfield  and  Ralph 
Parcar  to  this  Robert  Crane  and  others  of  a  tenement  with  a  croft  of  land 
in  Chilton,"  and  a  lease  by  him  dated  the  4  Sept.  19  Hen.  VIII.  to  William 
Jervis  of  Sudbury  of  a  close  containing  7  acres  in  Chilton  for  30  years  at  an 
annual  rent  of  IDS."  also  a  lease  the  4  March  24  Hen.  VIII.  [1532]  by  this 

•  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  266  c.  1180.  «  Bodl.  Suff.  Rolls  7. 

•  c.  1182  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  6.  '  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VII. 

3  Pat.  Rolls,  4  Edw.  I.  24.  '°  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  281. 

4  Chart.  Rolls,  5  Edw.  I.  "  20  Jan.  18  Hen.  VIII.  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch. 

*  I.P.M.,  7  Edw.  III.  4.  282. 

*  Chart.  Rolls,     17  Ric.  II.  pt.  ii.  29.  "  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  283. 
7  17  Hen.  VI.  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  270. 


72  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

Robert  Crane  to  John  Coole  of  a  field  of  14  acres  lying  in  Chilton  for  20 
years  at  a  rent  of  205.'  In  1534  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  William 
Wytouse  and  others  against  the  said  Robert  Crane,1  and  in  1542  against 
him  by  John  Branston  and  others.1 

Robert  Crane  married  ist  Elizabeth  d.  of  Richard  Southwell  of  Wood 
Rising  in  Norf.  and  2ndly  Jane  d.  of  Edward  White  of  Essex  and  his  will 
is  dated  the  27  Feb.  1551.  He  died  shortly  afterwards 4  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Crane  who  married  3  times,  ist  Ursula,  2nd 
Elizabeth  and  3rd  Bridget  d.  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  Knt.  of  Rushbrooke. 
His  will  is  dated  7th  Oct.  1589.  He  died  in  1591.  Amongst  the  Chancery 
Proceedings  of  Q.  Elizabeth  we  find  an  action  by  Dudley  Fortescue, 
Executor  of  Robert  Crane  against  Thomas  Appleton  to  protect  plaintiff  in 
execution  of  his  trust  respecting  the  manor  and  the  advowson  of  the  Church, 
the  free  warren  there  and  the  view  of  frankpledge  and  other  lands  in  Chilton 
and  elsewhere  late  the  estate  of  Robert  Crane  and  devised  by  his  will.5 

Robert  Crane  had  with  other  issue  a  son  Henry  Crane  who  married 
ist  Anne  d.  of  Thomas  Goodwin  from  whom  he  was  divorced,  and  2ndly 
Catherine  d.  of  John  Jernegan  of  Somerley  by  Catherine  his  wife  d.  of  George 
Brook  Lord  Cobham.  He  died  the  ist  Aug.  1586  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father 
on  whose  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  grandson  (son  of  the  said  Henry)  Sir 
Robert  Crane,  who  the  12  May  1625  was  appointed  by  Thomas  Earl  of  Suffolk 
then  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Suffolk  and  Cambridge  a  Deputy  Lieutenant  of 
the  County  of  Suffolk 6  and  was  created  a  Baronet  the  n  May  1627.  He 
became  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  in  1632  and  was  elected  Knight  of  the 
Shire  in  several  Parliaments.  By  his  first  wife  Dorothy  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
Hobart  Bart.  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  who  was 
buried  at  Chilton  the  13  April  1624,  he  had  no  issue.  She  is  buried  in  Chilton 
Church  with  the  following  inscription  : — 

D.O.M.S. 

Here  lieth  the  Bodie  of  Dorothy  first  wife  of  Sir  Robert  Crane 
of  Chilton,  Kt.,  daughter  of  S'  Henry  Hobart  of  Blyckling  in  the 

County  of  Norff.,  Kt.  and  Baronet,  sometyme  Lord  Cheefe 

Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  who  lived  with  her  said  Husband 

in  great  Love  and  Amity  17  yeares,  and  willingly  yeelded  up  this  Life  in  expectation  of  a 

better  the  nth  day  of  Aprill,  1624. 

Reader,  listen  and  give  eare  :  Wonder  not  at  what  I  say  : 

Vertue  lies  interred  here  Rather  weepe  and  hast  away, 

Under  me  :      I  hide  it    Then  Least  that  thou  a  statue  be 

Seek  it  nowhere  amongst  men  :  With  amazement,  like  to  me. 

From  the  Female  it  is  gone,  If  thou  readest  with  eies  dry, 

Now  that  all  are  dead  in  one.  Thou  a  marble  art,  not  I. 

The  monument  is  mural.  Sir  Robert  is  kneeling  between  his  two 
wives ;  the  above  inscription  is  underneath  the  first.  The  tablets  between 
himself  and  second  lady  are  blanks.  The  three  escutcheons  which 
have  many  quarterings  have  been  much  abused.  The  arms  quartered  are  : 
i  Crane,  2  Mollington,  3  Boteler,  4  Carbonel,  5  Phelips,  6  Erpingham,  7 
Jernegan,  8  Harling,  9  Ingoldsthorp,  10  Fitz  Osborn,  11  Fitz  Rafe,  12 
Mortimer,  13  Gonvyle,  14  Kelvedon,  15  Clifton.  Sir  Robert  Crane  by 
his  second  wife  Susan  daughter  of  Sir  Giles  Alington  Knt.  of  Horseheath 
co.  Cambridge  (whom  he  married  on  the  2ist  Sept.  1624  and  who  remarried 
Isaac  Appleton  of  Holbrook  Hall  in  Waldingfield)  had  five  daughters  and 

•  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  286,  287.  «  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  VI.  84. 

•  Fine,  Mich.  26  Hen.  VIII.  »  C.P.  i.  300. 

«  Fine,  Mich.  34  Hen.  VIII.  '  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  289. 


CHILTON.  73 

co-heirs,  namely,  Mary  married  to  Sir  Ralph  Hare  Bart,  of  Stow  Bardolph 
Norf.,  Anne  married  first  to  Sir  William  Airmine  Bart,  of  Osgodby  co. 
Lincoln,  and  secondly  to  John  Lord  Belasyse,  Susan  married  to  Sir 
Edward  Walpole  K.B.  of  Houghton  co.  Norf.  by  whom  he  was  grandfather 
to  the  famous  Sir  Robert  Walpole  K.B.,  Elizabeth  married  to  Sir  Edmund 
Bacon  of  Redgrave  4th  Bart,  grandson  of  Sir  Robert  Bacon  Bart.,  and 
Sarah  who  seems  to  have  died  early  though  mentioned  in  her  father's  will 
which  is  dated  the  13  Feb.  1642.  Sir  Robert  Crane  made  his  will  dated 
7  Oct.  32  Eliz.  and  died  the  I7th  Febr.  1642-3  when  the  Baronetcy  expired 
and  his  estates  became  divisible  between  his  four  daughters  and  co-heirs 
and  Chilton  appears  to  have  been  apportioned  to  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  Bart. 
The  Agreement  for  Partition  which  was  made  between  the  Hon.  Sir 
William  Armine  of  the  1st  part  the  Hon.  Sir  Ralph  Hare  of  the  2nd  part, 
Edmund  Bacon  of  Redgrave  of  the  3rd  part,  and  Edward  Walpole  of  the 
4th  part  is  dated  the  i5th  Dec.  1652.'  Sir  Edmund  had  6  sons  and  ten 
daughters  all  of  whom  save  4  daughters  died  before  him  and  this  manor 
appears  to  have  passed  in  1685  with  the  Baronetcy  to  his  cousin  Sir  Robert 
Bacon  of  Redgrave,  but  of  this  the  writer  has  no  evidence. 

Sir  Robert  Bacon  died  in  1704  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son 
Sir  Edmund  Bacon  M.P.  for  Norfolk  who  married  Mary  daughter  of  Sir 
Robert  Kemp  Bart,  by  whom  he  had  four  daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom 
Letitia  married  Sir  Armine  Wodehouse  Bart,  and  died  in  1759.  The 
manor  was  then  sold  to  William  Wyndham  of  Felbrigg. 

On  his  death  William  Wyndham  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir, 
the  Right  Hon.  William  Wyndham  who  died  in  1824,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  nephew  and  heir  William  Lukin  who  took  the  name  of  Wyndham. 
He  died  in  1833  and  was  succeded  by  his  son  and  heir  William  Howe  Wynd- 
ham and  in  July  1861  the  manor  was  purchased  for  £660  by  Richard  New- 
man of  Hadleigh  the  present  lord. 

Chilton  Hall  was  formerly  an  extensive  moated  building,  but  it  has 
now  degenerated  into  a  farm  house.  It  was  visited  by  the  Suffolk  Institute 
in  1886.' 

There  are  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  in  the  Public  Record  Office  as 
follows  :  Courts  and  Halmote  2,  3,  6,  7,  12  to  14,  17  to  20  Edw.  II.  Court 
Rolls,  20  Edw.  II.  i  [4],  8  Edw.  III.  9  to  n  Edw.  III.,  12  to  14  Edw.  III., 
17  to  19  Edw.  III.,  22,  23,  29  to  30,  32,  33,  35  to  37  Edw.  III.,  45  to  48, 
50,  51  Edw.  III.,  i  Rich.  II.,  6  to  8,  n,  12,  14  to  18,  20  to  22  Rich.  II., 
22,  23  Rich.  II.,  4,  5,  14  Hen.  IV.,  i  to  5,  7,  8  Hen.  V.,  i,  10,  18,  21,  29 
Hen.  VI.3 ;  and  amongst  the  Rolls  of  the  British  Museum  1342  to  1378 .4 
Suitors  of  Court  22  Rich.  II.  will  also  be  found  in  the  Public  Record  Office.5 
And  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  will  be  found 
a  power  to  give  seisin  of  the  manor  and  Church  in  1413  and  1431. 6  Extract 
from  deeds  relating  to  the  manor  when  in  the  possession  of  Sir  Robert 
Crane  will  be  found  in  the  Bodleian  [4180!  and  also  amongst  the  Harleian 
MSS.» 

Arms  of  Wyndham  :  Az.  a  chevron  between  3  lions'  heads  erased  Or. 


Stow  Bardolph  Muniments.  5  Court  Rolls,  Addenda.       Portfolio  227- 

S.I.  vi.  (xxxix.).  92. 

Portfolio,  203,  23-35,  38.  6  Harl.  49  D.  37,  52  A.  2. 

Add.  Rolls,  1265-1273.  ?  Harl.  639 


74  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 


COCKFIELD. 

|N  the  time  of  the  Confessor  the  Abbot  of  Bury  held  4 
carucates  and  a  half  of  land  as  a  manor.  There  were 
14  villeins,  16  bordars,  2  plought earns  in  demesne  and  12 
belonging  to  the  men,  4  slaves,  8  acres  of  meadow,  a  winter 
mill,  12  beasts,  37  hogs,  and  98  sheep.  The  value  of  the 
manor  was  6  pounds  but  by  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey  it  had  risen  to  8. 
The  bordars  had  then  increased  to  22  and  the  ploughteams  in  demesne 
had  increased  by  one,  but  those  of  the  men  had  come  down  to  6.  There 
were  in  addition  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  3  rounceys  and  12 
hives  of  bees.  In  Cockfield  there  were  also  21  freemen  with  5  carucates 
of  land  which  4  men  held  of  the  Abbot — Berard  3  carucates,  James  i 
and  Coleman  i.  13  bordars  and  4  slaves.  Amongst  these  there  were  8 
ploughteams,  subsequently  reduced  to  7,  16  acres  of  meadow  and  wood 
for  6  hogs.  These  men  could  all  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  by  soc  and 
commendation  they  were  under  the  Abbot,  except  one  man  over  whom 
he  only  had  soc.  In  Saxon  days  they  were  valued  at  3  pounds,  in  Norman 
times  at  4.  The  township  was  13  quarantenes  long  and  i  league  broad 
and  paid  in  a  gelt  23^.'  In  Domesday  Survey  a  holding  in  Coresfella  is 
mentioned  and  this  no  doubt  is  Cockfield.  This  was  land  held  in  the 
Confessor's  day  by  7  freemen  holding  land  under  Witgar  or  Wisgar  by 
commendation  and  soc  and  sac  consisting  of  3  carucates  and  a  half,  25 
acres  and  10  bordars,  3  ploughteams  and  13  acres  of  meadow  valued  at  3 
pounds.  Of  this  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert*  was  tenant  in  chief  of 
King  William.3 

COCKFIELD  MANOR. 

The  manor  first  mentioned  had  been  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's 
by  the  gift  of  Earl  Alfar  to  take  effect  after  the  decease  of  Ethelfled  his 
daughter,  and  then  King  Edgar  gave  to  the  said  Ethelfled  Chelsworth 
Manor  which  she  gave  together  with  Cockfield  to  the  Abbey  according  to 
her  father  the  Earl's  will.  We  learn  from  the  Hundred  Rolls  that 
the  Abbot  of  Bury  held  3  knights'  fees  in  chief  of  the  King  pertaining  to 
Cockfield  of  which  Henry  de  Cokefield  held  one  of  the  said  Abbot,  Thomas 
Weylond  held  another,  John  de  Falsam  held  J  a  knight's  fee  and  Robert 
de  Lyndholt  held  a  4th  of  a  knight's  fee  all  of  the  said  Abbot.4  Ministers' 
accounts  of  land  in  this  place  4  and  5  Edw.  I.  and  also  for  I  to  3  Edw.  III. 
and  26  to  27  Edw.  III.'  will  be  found  in  the  Public  Record  Office.6 

The  Manor  of  Cockfield  Hall  remained  in  the  Abbey  until  the  dissolu- 
tion. An  extent  of  the  manor  in  1271  will  be  found  amongst  the  Inquis. 
quod  damnum.7  In  1275  the  Prior  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  held.8  In  the 
time  of  King  Hen.  VIII.  the  manor  was  vested  in  the  Drury  family  and 
in  1527  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Sir  Robert  Drury  and  others 
against  William  Drury  and  others'  and  in  1538  another  by  Robert  Drury 

Dom.  ii.  359.  »  I.Q.D.,  55  Hen.  III.  38. 

See  Bures  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  '  See  confirmation  of  grant,  etc.,  made 

Dom.  ii.  392b.  by    Simon    Abbot    of    Bury    on 

H.R.  ii.  142.  payment    of    a    fine,    Originalia, 

Bundle  1109,  No.  14.  3  Edw.  1. 17,  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Edw.  I. 

Bundle    1109,    No.    23,  Bundle    mo,                    9,  4  Edw.  I.  29. 

No.  28  •  Fine,  Easter  19  Hen.  VIII. 


COCKFIELD. 


75 


against  Robert  Drury  of  Bes thorp  in  Norfolk.  The  manor  and  advowson 
were  in  1545  granted  to  Sir  John  Spryng  and  Dorothea  his  wife/  but 
later  it  was  supposed  to  be  escheat  on  account  of  defective  title.2  Sir 
John  Spring  died  the  7  Feb.  15473  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  William 
Spring  knt.  of  Pakenham4  who  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Kytson  knt.  and  died  seised  in  1600.  John  Spring  his  eldest  son  suc- 
ceeded and  married  Mary  daughter  of  Sir  John  Trelawny  knt.  of  Trelawny 
in  Cornwall.  He  died  in  1601  leaving  his  eldest  son  Sir  William  Spring  who 
was  knighted  by  James  I.  and  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  William 
Smith  of  High  Mount  Hall  in  Essex.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  William  Spring  knighted  by  Chas.  I.  and  created  a  Baronet  in 
1641.  By  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Hamon  L'Estrange 
knt.  he  had  a  son  Sir  William  Spring  who  succeeded  on  his  father's  death 
the  17  Dec.  1654. 

The  manor  passed  before  Sir  William's  death  in  1684  to  Sir  Thomas 
Robinson  of  Kentwell  Hall5  who  died  in  1683  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  Sir  Lumley  Robinson.  He  died  the  following  year  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thomas  Robinson6  from  whom  the  manor 
passed  by  purchase  to  John  Moore  whose  will  is  dated  the  26th  Dec.  1713 
and  proved  in  the  Prerogative  Court  26  Jan.  1713.  From  John  it  passed  to 
his  nephew  John  Moore  who  died  in  1753  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Richard  Moore  who  died  in  1782.  His  will  is  dated  7  July  1781 
and  was  proved  in  the  Prerogative  Court  27  Nov.  1782.  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Richard  Moore  who  was  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  in 
1812  and  died  in  1826  lord  of  the  manor. 

Cockfield  Hall  and  farm  were  subsequently  purchased  by  Samuel 
Buck  of  Hawstead  who  gave  the  land  on  which  the  School  now 
stands  and  after  coming  into  the  hands  of  his  brother  Robert 
Buck  and  his  nephew  Mr.  Corsbie  were  purchased  in  1865  by  T.  Jennings 
of  Newmarket  whose  son  F.  Jennings  recently  resided  at  the  Hall 
or  Manor  House.7  The  Cockfield  Hall  Farm  in  1829  consisted  of  340 
acres.  By  Indentures  of  Lease  and  Release  dated  the  13  and  14  March 
1834  the  latter  made  between  Edward  Wenman  Martin,  Samuel  Bignold, 
William  Montrion,  Francis  Noverre  and  Richard  Morgan,  Wllloughby  Moore, 
John  Wright  and  Thomas  Bignold  the  younger  Cockfield  Hall  Manor  with 
Earl's  Hall  Manor  also  in  Cockfield  were  vested  in  John  Wright  of  Henrietta 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  who  in  1839  ^Y  Indentures  of  Lease  and  Release 
dated  the  8th  and  gth  August  that  year  conveyed  the  same  to  James  Cuddon 
the  elder  of  Norwich.  He  by  his  will  dated  the  26th  Nov.  1850  appointed 
his  sons  James  and  Francis  Thomas  Executors  and  devised  to  them  his 
manors  upon  trust  for  sale.  James  Cuddon  died  on  the  gth  March  1851 
and  his  will  with  five  codicils  was  proved  the  17  June  1851  in  the  Preroga- 
tive Court  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  By  an  Indenture  dated  the 
15th  April  1853  James  Cuddon  and  Francis  Thomas  Cuddon  conveyed 

'  Particulars  for  grant  37  Hen.  VIII.  «  See  12  Will.  III.  "An  Act  for  charg- 

D.K.R.  10,  App.  ii.  p.  276.  ing  the  estate  of  Sir  Thomas 

'  ii  Jac.  I.  Exch.  Spec.  Com.  D.K.R.  38,  Robinson  with  £700  for  the  portion 

App.  p.  94.  of  Anne  his  sister  and  for  settling 

3  I. P.M.,  3  Edw.  VI.  65.  her  estate  upon  the  said  Sir  Thomas 

4  See   Netherhall    Manor,    Little    Wald-  Robinson  in  lieu  thereof ." 

ingfield,  in  this  Hundred.  7  S.I.  v.  239, 

5  See    Monks    Melford    Manor,    Melford, 

in  this  Hundred. 


76  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

both  the  manors  of  Cockfield  alias  Cockfield  Hall  and  the  Manor  of  Earl's 
Hall  in  Cockfield  to  Clarissa  Beach  Manning,  Rose  Frances  Manning, 
Elizabeth  Adelaide  Manning  and  Louisa  Manning  all  of  Upper  Southwick 
Street,  Hyde  Park,  spinsters  as  joint  tenants.  Rose  Frances  Manning 
died  on  the  5th  Feb.  1859  and  by  an  Indenture  dated  the  23rd  Nov.  1869 
Louisa  Manning  then  residing  at  Florence  upon  her  marriage  with  Achelle 
Tanfani  of  Florence  settled  her  third  share  in  the  manors  by  a  conveyance 
to  Trustees  upon  trust  for  sale.  The  Misses  Manning  and  their  Trustees 
subsequently  sold  to  Charsley  whose  Executors  in  1899  sold  the  manor  to 
George  Frederick  Beaumont  F.S.A.  of  the  Lawn  Coggeshall  Essex  in  whom 
the  lordship  is  now  vested. 

Extracts  from  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  will  be  found  referred  to  in 
the  loth  Report  of  the  Historical  MSS.  Commissioners.1 

EARL'S  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  so  designated  from  the  Veres  Earls  of  Oxford  who  for 
many  generations  were  its  lords.  Like  the  main  Manor  of  Cockfield  Hall 
it  was  held  by  the  Abbot  of  Bury  and  from  the  Abbot,  Roger  brother  of 
Aubrey  de  Vere  ist  Earl  of  Oxford  received  a  grant  of  the  manor.  Aubrey 
the  brother  succeeded.2  He  was  a  distinguished  character  and  was  made 
Lord  Chamberlain.  He  received  many  important  grants  of  land  from  the 
Crown  and  also  the  Earldom  of  Cambridge,  provided  that  dignity  was  not 
vested  in  the  King  of  the  Scots,  but  if  it  were,  then  his  lordship  was  to 
have  his  choice  of  the  Earldoms  of  Oxford,  Berkshire,  Wiltshire  or  Dorset- 
shire all  which  grants  were  ratified  by  Hen.  II.  his  lordship  being  created 
Earl  of  Oxford  with  the  usual  grant  to  Earls  of  the  third  penny  of  the 
pleas  of  the  county.  His  knights'  fees  were  28,  for  which  he,  in  respect  of 
the  aid  in  the  12  year  of  Hen.  II.,  paid  £20.  He  married  first  Euphemia 
daughter  of  Sir  William  de  Cantilupe  knt.  by  whom  he  had  no  issue,  and 
secondly  Lucia  daughter  and  heir  of  Henry  de  Essex  by  whom  he  had 
several  sons  two  of  whom  Aubrey  and  Robert  were  successively  Earls  of 
Oxford  and  lords  of  this  manor.  The  eldest  Aubrey  2nd  Earl  and  Lord 
Great  Chamberlain  died  in  1214  leaving  no  issue,  though  he  married  Adelizia 
daughter  of  Roger  Bigod  2nd  Earl  of  Norfolk.  Robert  his  brother,  3rd 
Earl,  succeeded.  He  was  one  of  the  25  influential  barons  appointed  to 
enforce  the  observance  of  Magna  Charta,  and  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
Court  of  King's  Bench  in  1220.  He  married  Isabel  daughter  of  Hugh  and 
sister  and  heir  of  Walter  3rd  Baron  de  Bolebic  and  dying  in  1221  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Hugh  4th  Earl  of  Oxford  and  5th  Lord  Great  Chamberlain. 
Hugh  de  Vere  was  one  of  the  subscribing  barons  to  the  letter  transmitted 
to  the  Pope  complaining  of  the  exactions  of  his  Holiness  upon  this  realm, 
and  sat  in  the  Parliament  32  Hen.  III.  [1248]  wherein  the  King  was 
upbraided  for  his  extravagant  expenditure.  He  married  Hawise  daughter 
of  Saier  de  Quincy  Earl  of  Winchester  and  died  in  1263,'  being  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Robert  de  Vere  5th  Earl  of  Oxford  and  6th  Lord  Great 
Chamberlain. 

This  nobleman  joined  the  banner  of  Montfort  Earl  of  Leicester  and 
was  with  young  Hugh  de  Montfort  surprised  and  taken  prisoner  a  few  days 
before  the  battle  of  Evesham,  but  made  his  peace  with  the  Sovereign  soon 
afterwards  under  the  "  Dictum  of  Kenil worth  "  and  was  employed  by 

•  Pt.  iv.  61.  3  I.P.M.,  48  Hen.  III.  26. 

•  See  Lavcnham  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


COCKFIELD. 


77 


Edw.  I.  against  the  Welsh.  He  married  Alice  daughter  and  heir  of 
Gilbert  Lord  Samford  to  whom  on  her  husband's  death  in  1296'  the  manor 
passed  in  dower. 

She  died  in  1317  and  was  succeeded  by  her  son  Robert  de  Vere  6th 
Earl  of  Oxford  and  7th  Lord  Great  Chamberlain  who  distinguished  himself 
in  the  wars  in  Scotland  in  the  24  and  27  years  of  Edw.  I.  [1296-1299]. 
He  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Roger  Mortimer  Earl  of  March  and  had 
a  grant  of  free  warren  in  Cockfield  in  1330'  but  dying  in  April  I33I3  without 
issue  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew  John  de  Vere  the  7th  Earl  and  8th  Lord 
Great  Chamberlain.  A  Fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1336  by  the  Earl 
and  Matilda  his  wife  v.  Sir  William  Crocheman  and  Richard  de  Stoke4 
and  also  in  1342  by  the  Earl  and  Matilda  his  wife  v.  Richard  de 
Stoke  clerk  and  John  Fermer.5 

This  nobleman  was  a  warrior  of  great  renown  and  shared  in  all  the 
glories  of  Edward  the  Third's  martial  reign.  He  was  present  at  both  Crecy 
and  Poictiers  and  lost  his  life  from  fatigue  in  the  English  army  before  the 
walls  of  Rheims.  He  married  Maud  sister  and  heir  of  Giles  Lord 
Badlesmere  and  widow  of  Robert  Fitz  Payn  to  whom  the  manor  passed  in 
dower  after  the  Earl's  decease  24  Jan.  i36o.6  She  died  6  years  later7  and 
was  succeeded  by  her  eldest  son  Sir  Thomas  de  Vere  8th  Earl  and  gth  Lord 
Chamberlain  who  married  Maud  daughter  of  Sir  Ralph  de  Ufford.  He 
made  his  will  at  Bentley,  Friday  August  I  1371  and  directed  his  body  to 
be  buried  in  the  Priory  of  Colne  on  the  north  side  in  the  Chapel  of  St. 
Peter  and  for  his  funeral  expenses  left  £133.  6s.  8^.  To  Maud  his  wife  he  left 
all  his  reliques  then  in  his  own  keeping,  and  a  cross  "  made  of  the  very 
wood  of  Christ's  cross  "  and  also  all  the  furniture  of  his  chapel.  To  Robert 
his  son  he  left  two  basins  of  silver ;  to  Sir  Alberic  de  Vere  his  brother  a 
coat  of  mail  which  Sir  William  de  Wingfield  had  given  him  ;  also  a  new 
helmet  and  a  pair  of  gauntlets.  To  Dame  Joane  de  Wingfield,  to  Sir  John 
Pelham,  to  John  de  Haukwood  twenty  marks,  and  he  appointed  the  before- 
named  persons  his  executors.  He  died  shortly  after  making  his  will 8 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son  Robert  gth  Earl  and  loth  Lord  Chamber- 
lain who  being  under  age  at  his  father's  decease  the  King  committed  the 
custody  of  the  manor  to  Thomas  Tyrell,  John  de  Estbury  and  John  James 
during  his  minority.9  Robert  had  livery  of  his  lands  on  his  coming  of  age 
in  the  6th  year  of  Rich.  III. 

He  was  created  Marquess  of  Dublin  Nov.  n,  1385  and  on  13  Oct.  in 
the  following  year,  Duke  of  Ireland.  The  jealousy  of  the  nobles  was  excited 
by  the  favours  lavished  upon  this  gth  Earl  by  his  weak  Sovereign  and  his 
lordship  had  to  fly  the  country,  but  subsequently  returning  placed  himself 
at  the  head  of  4000  or  5000  men  and  marching  into  Oxfordshire  was  met  at 
Radcot  Bridge  on  the  River  Isis  by  the  Earl  of  Derby  and  Duke  of 
Gloucester  where  however  he  again  had  to  fly  for  safety.  He  was  shortly 
afterwards  sentenced  to  banishment  by  Parliament  and  at  the  same  time 
outlawed  and  attainted.  He  died  from  a  hurt  received  in  hunting  a  wild 
boar  at  Louvain  in  1393. 

He  married  first  Lady  Philippa  de  Courcy  daughter  and  co-heir  of 
Ingelram  Earl  of  Bedford  by  his  wife  the  Princess  Isabel  daughter  of  Edward 


1  I.P.M.,  24  Edw.  I.  62. 

"  Chart.  Rolls,  4  Edw.  III.  37. 

3  I.P.M.,  5  Edw.  III.  71. 

4  Feet  of  Fines,  10  Edw.  III.  44. 

5  Feet  of  Fines,  16  Edw.  III.  34. 


6  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  III.  84. 
'  I.P.M.,  40  Edw.  III.  38. 
8  I.P.M.,  45  Edw.  III.  45- 
»  Originalia,  45  Edw.  III.  22. 


78  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

III.  but  repudiating  her  he  married  a  joiner's  daughter  who  came  out  of 
Bohemia  with  Anne  Queen  consort  of  Rich.  II.  but  had  no  issue  by  either 
marriage.  In  the  i6th  Rich.  II.  [1392-3]  theDe  Vere  estates  were  restored 
to  the  last  Earl's  uncle  Aubrey  who  became  loth  Earl  and  though  he  became 
Chamberlain  of  the  Household,  Privy  Councillor,  and  held  many  other 
important  offices,  the  office  of  Lord  High  Chamberlain,  so  long  in  his  family, 
was  bestowed  on  another. 

In  the  21  Rich.  II.  [1397-8]  the  judgment  passed  on  his  nephew  was 
revoked  and  annulled  by  Parliament.  Aubrey  de  Vere  the  loth  Earl 
married  Alice  daughter  of  John  7th  Lord  Fitz  Walter  and  dying  the  23 
Apr.  1400'  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Richard  de  Vere  nth  Earl  of 
Oxford  who  was  but  14  years  of  age  at  his  father's  decease.  In  1407  he 
assented  to  Philippa  Duchess  of  Ireland  widow  of  the  attainted  Duke 
enjoying  her  dower  out  of  the  entailed  lands  and  he  obtained  a  grant  from 
the  King  by  way  of  compensation  of  lands  which  had  come  to  the  Crown  on 
the  forfeiture  of  Duke  Robert.  It  seems  that  Maud  the  widow  of  the 
8th  Earl  and  mother  of  the  gth  Earl  was  still  living,  and  Dugdale  gives  an 
account  of  how  on  her  giving  out  that  Richard  II.  was  still  living  and 
about  to  come  in  with  an  army  of  French  and  Scots  she  was  committed 
to  prison  and  her  goods  confiscated.  She  died  in  1422  leaving  her  cousin 
Robert  de  Willoughby  her  next  heir.  The  nth  Earl  died  Feb.  15, 
1417'  leaving  by  Alice  his  wife  daughter  of  Sir  John  Sergean  knt. 
and  widow  of  Grey  St.  Aubyn,  two  sons — John  his  successor  and 
Robert  who  married  Joane  daughter  of  Sir  Hugh  Courteney  and  was  father 
of  John  who  married  Alice,  daughter  of  Walter  Kelrington  and  was  father 
of  John  who  ultimately  succeeded  as  isth  Earl  of  Oxford. 

John  de  Vere  the  I2th  Earl  was  knighted  on  the  19  May  1426  by  Hen. 
VI.  when  the  King  himself  received  a  similar  honour  from  his  uncle  the 
Duke  of  Bedford.  In  1429  being  still  under  age  he  had  to  pay  a  fine  of 
£2000  for  marrying  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Howard  knt.  the  younger 
without  licence,  but  before  the  close  of  that  year  having  attained  majority, 
he  had  livery  of  his  lands.  He  was  a  staunch  Lancastrian  and  performed 
eminent  services  for  his  sovereign  the  6th  Henry,  but  on  the  accession  of 
Edw.  IV.  he  shared  the  misfortunes  of  his  party  and  was  attainted  with  his 
eldest  son  Aubrey  and  both  were  beheaded  on  Tower  Hill  Feb.  26,  I462.3 
The  Warkworth  Chronicle  thus  concisely  specifies  the  misfortunes  :  "  And 
in  the  Vth  yere  of  Kynge  Edwarde,  the  Erie  of  Oxenforde,  the  Lord  Abrey, 
his  sonne,  and  Sere  Thomas  Todenam  knyght  were  taken,  and  brought 
into  the  Toure  of  Londone,  and  there  was  leyde  to  them  hye  tresone  ; 
and  aftyrwarde  thei  were  brought  before  the  Erie  of  Worscetre,  and  juged 
by  lawe  padowe  that  thei  schuld  be  hade  to  the  Toure  Hylle,  where  was 
made  a  scaffolde  of  viij.  fote  hyzt,  and  ther  was  there  hedes  smyten  of, 
that  alle  menne  myght  see  ;  whereof  the  moste  peple  were  sory." 

Edward  IV.  granted  the  manor  the  same  year  to  Richard  Duke  of 
Gloucester. 

The  I2th  Earl's  second  son  John  de  Vere  was  restored  as  I3th  Earl 
during  the  temporary  triumph  of  the  House  of  Lancaster  in  1470  and  sat 
as  Lord  High  Steward  at  the  trial  of  the  Earl  of  Worcester,  the  nobleman 
who  had  presided  at  the  trial  and  condemnation  of  John  Earl  de  Vere's 
father  and  brother.  As  the  Warkworth  Chronicle  quaintly  puts  it,  "  And 

•  I.P.M.,  i  Hen.  IV.  52.  >  See  Rolls  of  Parliament,  vi.  128,  228. 

•  I.P.M.,  4  Hen.  V.  53. 


COCKFIELD.  79 

thenne  was  takene  the  Erie  of  Worcetre,  whiche  was  arested  and  areynede 
befor  Sere  Jhon  Veere,  the  Erie  of  Oxenforde,  sonne  and  heyre  to  the  forseide 
Erie  of  Oxenforde  whiche  was  behedede  at  the  Toure  Hille  as  before  wry tene ; 
and  so  the  Erie  of  Worcetre  was  juged  be  suche  lawe  as  he  dyde  to  other 
menne  ;  and,  whenne  he  was  dede,  his  body  and  his  hede  was  buryede 
togedyr  at  the  Blacke  Frerys  in  Londone,  with  alle  the  honoure  and 
worschyppe  that  his  frendes  coude  do."  This  Earl  was  unfortunate  at 
the  Battle  of  Barnet,  the  mist  on  Easter  morning  being  so  great  as  to  render 
it  difficult  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe.  The  Chronicle  from  which  we 
have  quoted  above,  relates  that  "  there  was  suche  a  grete  myste,  that  nether 
of  them  myght  see  othere  perfitely."  The  opposing  parties  fought  from 
4  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  nearly  noon  and  the  victory  hung  in  the 
balance.  The  probable  cause  of  the  Lancasterians  losing  was  the  Earl  of 
Warwick  and  his  men  mistaking  the  Earl  of  Oxford  and  his  followers  for 
the  enemy.  The  Earl  of  Oxford  commanded  the  van  of  Warwick's  forces 
and  broke  that  of  the  enemy,  but  wheeling  about  with  a  body  of  800  horse 
to  attack  the  enemy  on  the  main  flank  the  unfortunate  mistake  arose. 
The  old  chronicler  Dr.  John  Warkworth  thus  narrates  the  incident :  "  It 
hapenede  so,  that  the  Erie  of  Oxenfordes  men  hade  uppon  them  ther 
lordes  lyvery,  bothe  before  and  behynde,  which  was  a  sterre  withe  stremys, 
wiche  [was]  myche  lyke  Kynge  Edwardes  lyvery,  the  sunne  with  stremys  ; 
and  the  myste  was  so  thy  eke  that  amanne  myghte  not  profytely  juge  one 
thynge  from  anothere  ;  so  the  Erie  of  Warwikes  menne  schott  and  faughte 
ayens  the  Erie  of  Oxenfordes  menne,  wetynge  and  supposynge  that  thei 
hade  bene  Kynge  Edwardes  menne  ;  and  anone  the  Erie  of  Oxenforde  and 
his  menne  cryed  '  treasoune  !  treasoune  !  '  and  fledde  awaye  from  the 
felde  withe  viij.  c.  menne  ....  and  whenne  the  Erie  of  Warwyke 
sawe  his  brothere  dede,  and  the  Erie  of  Oxenforde  fledde,  he  lepte  one 
horse-backe,  and  flede  to  a  wode  by  the  felde  of  Barnett,  where  was  no 
waye  forthe  ;  and  one  of  Kynge  Edwardes  menne  had  espyede  hyme,  and 
one  came  uppone  hym,  and  kylled  hym,  and  dispolede  hyme  nakede. 
And  so  Kynge  Edwarde  gate  that  felde." 

The  Earl  of  Oxford  fled  to  Scotland  and  from  thence  passed  over  to 
France  where  he  was  particularly  well  received.  The  Warkworth  Chronicle 
ends  abruptly  with  an  interesting  account  of  the  Earl's  descent  on  St. 
Michael's  Mount  Cornwall,  and  of  his  being  ultimately  taken  prisoner  to 
London.  "  And  in  the  same  yere  he  was  in  the  see  withe  certeyne  schippes 
and  gate  grete  good  and  rychesse  and  afterewarde  came  into  westecountre, 
and,  with  a  sotule  poynte  of  we"rre,  gate  and  enteryd  Seynt  Michaels  Mount 
in  Cornwayle,  a  stronge  place  and  a  mygty,  and  can  nozt  be  geett  yf  it  be 
wele  vytaled  withe  a  fewe  menne  to  kepe  hit ;  for  xxti  menne  may  kepe 
it  ageyne  alle  the  world.  So  the  seyd  Erie,  withe  xxti  score  menne  save 
iij,  the  last  day  of  Septembre  the  yere  afore  seyd1  enteryd  fyrst  into  [the] 
seyd  mount,  and  he  and  his  menne  came  doune  into  cuntre  of  Cornwale, 
and  hade  righte  good  chere  of  the  comons,  &c.  The  Kynge  and  his 
counselle  sawe  that  therof  myche  harme  myght  growe,  &c.  ;  comawndyd 
Bodrygan,  scheff  reulere  of  Cornwayle,  to  besege  the  seid  mount.  And  so 
he  dyd ;  and  every  day  the  Erie  of  Oxenfordes  menne  came  doune  undere 
trewis,  spake  with  Bodryngham  and  his  menne  ;  and  at  the  laste  the  seid 
Erie  lacked  vytayle,  and  the  seyde  Bodrygan  suffryd  hyme  to  be  vytailed  ; 
and  anone  the  Kynge  was  put  in  knowlache  therof ;  wherefor  the  seide 

•  13  Edw.  IV. 


8o  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

Bodrygan  was  discharged,  and  Richard  Fortescu,  squyere  for  the  body, 
by  auchoryte  of  the  Kynge,  toke  uppone  honde  to  lay  sege  to  the  forseide 
mount,  &c.  And  so  gret  dyversione  roose  betwyx  Bodrygan  and  Fortescu, 
whiche  Fortescu  was  schreve  of  Cornwayle,  &c. ;  and  the  seide  Fortescu 
leyed  sege,  &c.,  the  xx.  xiijti.  day  of  Decembre  the  yere  aforseide  ;  and 
for  the  most  party  every  day  eche  of  theme  faughte  withe  othere,  and  the 
seide  Erles  menne  kylled  dyverse  of  Fortescu  menne ;  and  som  tyme 
whennc  thei  hade  welle  y-foughte,  thei  wulde  take  a  trewis  for  one  day 
and  a  night,  and  some  tyme  for  two  or  thre  dayes,  &c.  In  the  whiche 
trewes  eche  one  of  them  spake  and  comaunde  with  other.  The  Kynge 
and  his  counselle  sent  unto  dyverse  that  were  with  the  Erie  of  Oxenforde 
prevely  there  pardones,  and  promysede  to  them  grete  yeftes  and  landes  and 
goodes,  by  the  whiche  dyverse  of  them  were  turned  to  the  Kynge  ayens 
the  Erie  ;  and  so  in  conclusione  the  Erie  hade  nozt  passynge  ane  viij .  or 
ix.  menne  that  wolde  holde  withe  hym  ;  the  whiche  was  the  undoynge  of 
the  Erie.  For  ther  is  proverbe  and  a  seyenge,  that  a  castelle  that  spekythe, 
and  a  womane  that  wille  here,  thei  wille  be  gotene  bothe  ;  for  menne  that  bene 
in  a  castelle  of  warr,  that  wille  speke  and  entrete  withe  ther  enemyes,  the 
conclusione  therof  [is]  the  losynge  of  the  castelle ;  and  a  womanne  that  wille 
here  foly  spokyne  unto  hyre,  if  sche  assent  nozt  at  one  tyme,  sche  wille 
at  another.  And  so  this  proverbe  was  provede  trewe  by  the  seide  Erie  of 
Oxenforde,  whiche  was  fayne  to  yelde  up  the  seyde  mount,  and  put  hyme 
in  the  Kynges  grace  ;  if  he  hade  nozt  do  so,  his  owne  menne  wulde  have 
brought  hym  oute.  And  so  Fortescu  enterd  into  the  seyd  mount,  the  xv. 
day  of  Februarij,  the  yere  afore  sayde,  in  the  whiche  was  vytayle  enogh 
tylle  midsomere  aftere.  And  so  was  the  Erie  aforseyd,  the  Lorde  Bemonde, 
two  brotheres  of  the  seide  Erles,  and  Thomas  Clyfforde,  brought  as  a 
prisonere  to  the  Kynge  ;  and  alle  was  donne  by  ther  oune  foly,  &c.'" 

This  account  is  correct  as  far  as  it  goes  and  is  supported  by  existing 
records.  It  was  when  the  King  saw  clearly  that  Bodrugan  would  not  take 
the  Earl  that  he  by  Letters  Patent  7th  Dec.  1473,  "  Pro  eo  quod  notorius 
rebellis  et  proditor  noster  Johannes,  nuper  comes  Oxonie,  aggregatis  sibi 
quampluribus  malefactoribus  et  pacis  nostre  perturbatoribus  nobis 
rebelhbus,  Montem  Sancti  Michaelis  in  comitatu  Cornubie  ingressi  sunt," 
gave  power  and  authority  to  John  Fortescue,  Sir  John  Crokker  knt.  and 
Henry  Bodrugan  to  reduce  the  Mount  to  his  obedience,  adding  this  clause  : 
"  Damus  etiam  eisdem  Johanni,  Johanni  et  Henrico  et  eorum  cuilibet 
committimus  plenam  potentiam  et  auctoritatem  ad  quascunque  personas 
nobis  in  Monte  predicto  rebelles  et  inobedientes,  prefato  nuper  comite, 
Willelmo  Beaumond  nuper  domino  Bardolf  milite,  Georgio  Veer,  Thoma 
Veer,  Ricardo  Veer,  fratribus  predicti  nuper  comitis,  exceptis,  gratie  nostre 
se  submittentes  et  juramentum  fidelitatis  sue  nobis  facere  volentes,  juxta 
discretiones  suas  ad  gratiam  nostram  admittendi." 

The  offer  of  pardon  to  the  men  of  the  Earl  produced,  as  the  chronicler 
states,  the  desired  effect. 

The  Earl  of  Oxford  and  his  brothers  George  and  Thomas  obtained 
from  the  King  letters  patent  of  pardon  in  1474  as  to  their  lives  only.  The 
Earl  was  sent  a  prisoner  to  Hames  Castle  where  he  was  kept  prisoner  for 
ten  years.  In  1484  he  contrived  to  escape  by  the  connivance  of  James 
Blunt  the  Captain  of  the  Castle  and  joined  Henry  Earl  of  Richmond 
who  had  just  sought  refuge  in  France  prior  to  preparing  for  his  descent  on 

1  Warkworth  Chronicle,  Camden  Soc.  1839.  Pa§e  27- 


COCKFIELD.  81 

England.  The  joy  of  the  Earl  of  Richmond  on  being  thus  supported  is 
described  by  Poly dore  Vergil  in  graphic  terms  :  "  Whan  Henry  saw  therle 
he  was  ravisshyd  with  joy  incredible  that  a  man  of  so  great  nobilytie  and 
knowledge  in  the  warres,  and  of  most  perfyte  and  sownd  fydelytie,  most 
earnestly  bent  to  his  syde,  was  at  the  last  by  God's  assistance  delyveryd 
owt  of  ward,  and  in  so  fyt  tyme  coommyd  to  help  him,  in  whome  he  might 
repose  his  hope,  and  settle  himself  more  safely  than  in  any  other ;  for  he 
was  not  ignorant  that  others  who  had  holden  on  King  Edward  syde  yealdid 
unto  him  by  reason  of  the  evell  state  of  time,  but  this  man  who  had  so  oft 
foughte  for  King  Henry  was  he  thowght  delyveryd  from  that  ward  by  the 
hevenly  help,  that  he  might  have  one  of  his  owne  faction  to  whom  he  might 
safely  commyt  all  thinges  ;  and  therfor  rejoysing  above  all  measure  for 
therle  of  Oxfoorth  is  cooming,  he  began  to  hope  better  of  his  affaires." 
John  Earl  of  Oxford  had  an  important  command  at  the  celebrated  Battle 
of  Bosworth.  On  the  accession  of  the  Earl  of  Richmond  to  the  throne  as 
Hen.  VII.  he  was  richly  rewarded  for  his  fidelity  to  that  sovereign's  house. 
He  was  made  Admiral  of  England,  Constable  of  the  Tower  in  Sept.  1485, 
and  in  Oct.  of  the  same  year  he  had  the  ancient  office  of  his  house  restored 
to  him,  that  of  Lord  Great  Chamberlain. 

John  de  Vere  married  first  Lady  Margaret  Neville  6th  daughter  of 
Richard  Earl  of  Salisbury  by  whom  he  had  a  son  John  who  died  young  in 
the  Tower  of  London  during  his  father's  exile,  and  andly  Elizabeth  daughter 
of  Sir  Richard  Scrope  knt.  and  widow  of  William  Viscount  Beaumont  but 
had  no  issue.  He  died  xoth  March  1513  and  was  interred  in  the  Priory 
of  Colne  under  a  tomb  which  he  had  prepared  for  himself  and  Margaret 
his  first  wife,  there  already  buried.  His  widow  survived  until  1537.  By 
her  will  dated  the  30  May  29  Hen.  VIII.  1537  proved  the  6th  Nov.  following 
she  bequeathed  her  body  to  be  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Wyvenhoe 
by  the  corpse  of  William  Viscount  Beaumont,  her  first  husband.  Her 
effigy  in  brass  still  remains,  with  the  inscription  :  "Of  your  charitie  pray 
for  the  Soule  of  the  high  and  noble  Lady  Elizabeth  Scroope  first  married 
to  the  noble  lord,  William,  late  Vycount  Beaumont,  Lord  Comyn,  Bardolphe, 
Phelipp  and  Erpingham  ;  and  after  Wife  unto  the  high  and  noble  Lorde 
John  sumtyme  Earl  of  Oxford,  High  Chamberlain  of  England  and  Admiral 
of  the  same,  Vycount  Bulbeck,  Lord  Scales,  Councelor  to  our  Soverayne 
lorde  the  Kyng,  and  knyght  of  the  most  noble  Order  of  the  Garter.  The 
which  Lady  Elizabeth,  departed  to  God,  the  26th  Day  of  June  1537,  on 
whose  Soule,  and  Christen  Souls,  Jesu  have  Mercy."  Her  mantle  is  em- 
blazoned on  each  side  with  the  arms  of  her  family.  An  abstract  of  her 
will  is  in  Dugdale  and  in  the  Testamenta  Vetusta  of  Sir  Nicholas  Harris 
Nicolas  where  a  pedigree  is  appended,  in  which  she  is  erroneously  described 
as  wife  of  John  de  Vere  fourteenth  Earl  of  Oxford  (nephew  of  her  husband) 
whose  wife  was  Anne  or  Agnes  dau.  of  Thomas  Howard  2nd  Duke  of  Nor- 
folk and  who  was  not  a  knight  of  the  Garter.  A  correct  pedigree  of  her 
paternal  relations  is  inserted  in  the  Scrope  and  Grosvenor  Controversy 
where  she  is  described  to  have  had  a  sister  Frances  but  omitting  the  name 
of  her  husband  Sir  John  St.  Clere  knt.  by  whom  she  had  issue  John,  Giles 
and  Elizabeth.  The  next  and  I4th  Earl  of  Oxford  John  de  Vere  nephew 
of  the  deceased  Earl  eldest  surviving  son  of  Sir  George  Vere  knight  the  deceased 
Earl's  brother  succeeded,  and  was  known  as  "  Little  John  of  Campes."  He 
married  Lady  Anne  Howard  3rd  daughter  of  Thomas  2nd  Duke  of  Norfolk 
but  had  no  issue.  He  died  July  14  1526  in  the  lifetime  of  the  Countess  of 
Oxford  when  his  cousin  John  de  Vere  succeeded  as  I5th  Earl.  He  was 

K 


82  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

son  and  heir  of  John  son  and  heir  of  Robert  uncle  of  the  ijth  Earl,  and  became 
a  1'nvv  CoondDor  and  K.(i.  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  VIII.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  signed  the  articles  against  Cardinal  Wolsey  and  joined  with  the 
King  against  the  Pope  in  the  matter  of  the  divorce  from  Queen  Katherine. 
IK-  married  Elizabeth  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Edward  Trussell  knt. 
Banneret  of  Cublesdon  co.  Stafford,  and  with  an  eldest  son  John  who  suc- 
ceeded as  i6th  Earl  had  a  son  Aubrey  (married  to  Margaret  daughter  of 
John  Spring  of  Lavenham)  grandfather  of  Robert  who  ultimately 
succeeded  as  igth  Earl  of  Oxford. 

The  1 5th  Earl  died  the  21  March  1540  and  was  succeeded  by  John 
i6th  Earl.  Davy  makes  Edward  de  Vere  lyth  Earl  the  next  lord  of  the 
manor,  and  Page  goes  even  further  and  states  that  Earl's  Hall  remained 
in  the  De  Vere  family  until  the  extinction  of  the  title  in  that  house  by  the 
decease  of  Aubrey  de  Vere  aoth  Earl  of  Oxford  without  issue  March  I2th 
1702.  Both  Davy's  suggestion  and  Page's  statement  appear  to  be 
inaccurate,  for  the  manor  seems  to  have  passed  in  1548  to  Edward  Duke 
of  Somerset,'  and  about  1554  to  Sir  Wm.  Spring  of  Pakenham  the  son  of 
Sir  John  Spring  of  Cockfield.  It  is  quite  possible  the  estate  was  merely 
vested  in  Spring  by  way  of  mortgage,  but  it  did  no  doubt  ultimately  vest 
in  Sir  William  Spring  as  absolute  owner.  Probably  the  transfer  was  effected 
in  1583  when  we  meet  with  a  fine  levied  of  the  manor  by  Sir  William  Spring 
against  Edward  Earl  of  Oxford.2  Sir  William  Spring  died  in  1599,  when 
the  manor  passed  in  the  same  course  as  the  main  manor  of  Cockfield  to 
this  Sir  William's  grandson  Sir  William  Spring.  In  1609  Sir  Thomas 
Skinner  was  lord  and  he  sold  the  manor  to  Isaac  Wooder.  Davy  informs 
us  that  in  1609  John  Strutt  held  a  part,  and  in  1668  Dame  Elizabeth  Spring 
of  Pakenham  lady  of  the  manor  granted  a  lease  of  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Robinson 
of  Kentwell  Hall.  Sir  Thomas  Robinson  subsequently  acquired  the  fee, 
after  which  the  devolution  is  identical  with  that  of  Cockfield  Hall  Manor 
down  to  James  Cuddon  who  purchased  in  1829.  The  Misses  Manning 
purchased  from  the  executors  of  James  Cuddon  in  1853  this  manor,  but 
Earl's  Hall  farm  containing  333  acres  was  purchased  by  Robert  Martin 
Carss  of  Little  Welnetham  who  sold  it  in  1861  to  William  Baker  Hustler 
who  resided  there  in  1885.  The  devolution  of  the  manor  from  James 
Cuddon  is  identical  with  Cockfield  Hall,  and  it  is  now  vested  like  that 
manor  in  George  Frederick  Beaumont. 

BUTLERS  al.  JACOBBIES  MANOR. 

We  do  not  find  any  further  mention  of  this  manor  than  in  the  hands 
of  the  Spring  family.  Thomas  Spring  died  seised  of  it  the  29  June  1523,' 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  John  Spring  who  died  the  12  Feb.  1548, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  William  who  died  the  3  Feb.  1599  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Spring  of  Pakenham.  Mr. 
Churchill  Babington  in  a  paper  in  the  Suffolk  Institute  in  1880  Vol.  V.  p. 
242  says  of  this  manor,  "  I  have  been  unable  to  discover  anything  more 
of  this  Butler's  Manor,  but  am  inclined  to  suspect  that  the  Green  now  called 
Button's  Green  is  a  corruption  of  Butler's  Green.  The  house  thereon 
belonging  to  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Langdale,  occupied  by  Mr.  Simkin,  and  also 
the  house  not  far  distant,  known  as  Knight's  Hill,  belonging  to  Mr.  Barne- 
well,  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Edgar,  are  certainly  not  very  modern  and  may 

1  Fine,  Easter,  2  Edw.  VI.  >  I.P.M.,  15  Hen.  VIII.  17. 

•  Fine,  Easter,  25  Eliz. 


COCKFIELD.  83 

probably  be  of  the  seventeenth  century,  but  there  was  a  house  between  the 
two  known  as  the  Old  House  of  which  no  vestige  now  remains,  though  a 
barn  belonging  to  it  was  taken  down  about  twenty  years  ago.  This  I  sus- 
pect may  have  been  the  Manor  House." 

PEPERS  al.  COLCHESTER'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  held  originally  by  the  Cockfields.  Lemmerus  de 
Cokefeud  is  the  first  lord  of  whom  we  have  any  note.  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Adam  de  Cockfield,  and  we  find  that  Anselm  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund's  granted  to  this  Adam  and  his  heirs  by  the  service  of  one 
knight,  the  land  in  Cokefeld  and  Lilesey  which  his  father  Lemmerus  held 
in  his  lifetime,  as  the  men  of  St.  Edmund's  swore  and  testified,  in  the 
presence  of  Talbot  the  Prior  and  others. 

Anselmus,  Dei  gratia  Abbas  ecclesiae  Sancti  Edmundi,  omnibus 
suis  successoribus  et  omnibus  hominibus  ejusdem  ecclesiae  Francis  et 
Anglis  prsesentibus  et  succedentibus,  Salutem.  Notifico  vobis  me, 
concessu  totius  conventus,  concessisse  Adae  et  heredibus  suis,  ut 
amodo  teneat  jure  haereditario,  per  servicium  unius  militis,  terram  de 
Kochfeld  et  de  Leleseie  cum  hiis  quae  pertinent,  scilicet,  terram  quam 
pater  suus  tenuit  die  qua  vivus  et  mortuus  fuerat,  et  sicut  juraverunt 
et  testificati  fuerunt  homines  Sancti  Edmundi  Lemmerum  patrem 
illius  habuisse  die  qua  fuerat  vivus  et  mortuus,  in  praesentia  Domini 
Taleboti  prioris,  assistentibus  monachis  Eadnotho  et  Siredo  et 
Wulfrico  et  Ordingo  et  Gotcellino  et  Wlwardo  clerico  et  Rogerio 
Debili  et  Osberno  et  Mellet  et  Egelmero  de  Wheterfeld.  Et 
ut  melius  possit  facere  de  predictis  terns  servitium  unius  militis,  dedi 
ei,  per  concessum  praedicti  conventus  ad  acramentum,  v  solidatas 
terrae  et  iiij.  denariatas  terrae,  scilicet  servitium  de  terra  Aistani  de 
Leleseia  et  servitium  avi  sui  Wlfrici  de  Grotene.  Et  volo  et  precipio, 
ut  ille  et  suus  haeres  ita  teneat  bene  et  in  pace  et  honorifice  sicuti 
sui  pares,  videlicet,  milites  Abbatiae  tenent.  Et  hi  sunt  testes  : 
Wlwardus  dapifer,  Willelmus  filius  Ageh,  Salomon  clericus,  Wlfricus 
presbiter,  Willelmus  presbiter  de  Pachenham,  Herebertus  clericus, 
et  alii.' 

Adam  de  Cokefield  described  in  one  place  as  "  de  Castello  de  Lilesey 
in  Suff."  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert  the  issue  of  Adam's  wife  Adeliza. 
Robert  de  Cokefield  died  in  1191  leaving  a  son  Adam  de  Cokefield  who 
succeeded  him  and  three  daurs. :  Alicia  married  to  Bartholomew  Creke  of 
North  Creke  co.  Norf .,  Beatrix  married  to  Sir  William  de  Berners  knt.  and 
Gunnora  married  to  William  Drayton  of  Drayton  co.  Norf.  Adam  de 
Cokefield  married  one  Rohais  subsequently  the  wife  of  Thomas  Erdinton 
of  Erdinton  co.  Warwick  and  died  before  1209  leaving  an  only  dau.  Nesta 
whose  wardship  and  marriage  was  given  by  her  father  to  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund.  He  granted  the  wardship  to  Herbert  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
who  gave  it  to  Thomas  de  Burgh  brother  of  Sir  Hubert  de  Burgh  the 
Chamberlain  and  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  III.  Justiciary  of  England  and  Earl 
of  Kent.1 

An  award  of  seisin  of  the  manor  (described  as  usual  as  Cockfield  Manor) 
was  in  1209  made  to  "  Margaret  de  Kokefield  "  probably  a  mistake  for 
Nesta  on  the  ground  that  her  father  Adam  had  died  seised.3  Thomas 
de  Burgh  seems  to  have  married  his  ward  Nesta,  and  in  the  3rd  Hen.  III. 
Rohais  widow  of  Adam  de  Cokefield  released  to  Thomas  de  Burgh  and 
Nesta  his  wife  her  dower  in  the  lands  of  her  late  husband  in  Cokefeld, 

1  Liber     Celerarii    Camb.      Univ.     Libr.         •  Chron.  Jocel.  de  Brakelonda  (Camd.  Soc; 
G.g.    4,    4,    fol.  396.      Harl.  230  1840  pp.  72  and  91.) 

fol.  loi.  3  Abbr.  of  PI.  n  John.  14. 


84  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

Semere  and  Groton,  other  lands  being  assigned  to  her.  Thomas  de 
Burgh  and  Nesta  his  wife  were  benefactors  to  the  priory  of  St.  Anthony 
of  Kersey,'  which  priory  was  founded  probably  by  her  ancestors  abt.  1184, 
the  "  Parvum  Monastenum  de  Kersey  "  being  then  accounted  in  the  Liber 
de  Consuetudinibus  S.  Edmundi  as  half  a  leet  to  the  hundred  of  Cosford. 
It  seems  first  to  have  been  a  hospital  or  free  chapel  but  Nesta  de  Cokefield 
converted  it  into  a  Priory  of  Canons  of  the  order  of  St.  Austin.  Nesta  after 
the  death  of  Thomas  de  Burgh,  increased  her  gifts  to  the  priory,  bestowing 
upon  it  among  other  hereditaments  the  Churches  of  Kersey  and  Lellesley, 
the  former  of  which  was  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  canons  by  Thomas 
de  Blunderville  7th  Bp.  of  Norwich  in  1227.  The  grant  of  Nesta  de  Coke- 
field  specifies  the  messuage  late  the  hospital  and  30  acres  of  land  adjoining 
and  the  tithes  of  the  mills  of  Cockfield,  Semere,  Lelesey  and  Kersey  to  sus- 
tain the  lights  in  the  Church  of  St.  Anthony.  The  portion  added  by  Thomas 
de  Burgh  consisted  of  3  acres.  In  the  Mon.  Angl.  vol.  i.  533  is  an  engraving 
of  the  seal  of  Nesta  de  Cokefeld  attached  to  her  grant  to  the  priors  ;  the 
original  is  amongst  the  evidences  of  King's  College  Cambridge.  It  is  an  oval 
seal,  representing  a  cock,  and  this  inscription  round  it  :— 

+  SIGIL  :  NESTE  :  DE  :  COCFELD  + 

Nesta  next  became  the  wife  of  John  de  Beauchamp  and  in  1240  they 
added  to  the  donations  made  to  the  priory.  John  de  Beauchamp  died  in 
1240  and  Nesta  married  for  a  3rd  husband  Matthew  de  Leyham,  whose 
family  were  seated  at  Leyham  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lilesey.  It  was 
probably  on  the  occasion  of  this  marriage  that  Matthew  de  Leyham  with 
others  carried  away  the  goods  of  Rohais  the  mother  who  was  still  alive  and 
for  which  transgression  they  stood  amerced  in  1242.'  This  same  year  Nesta 
and  her  husband  Matthew  de  Leyham3  sold  this  manor  with  5  carucates  of  land 
in  Cockfield  to  the  Abbot  of  Bury,  the  Abbot  releasing  all  claim  to  the  lands 
belonging  to  them  in  Lilesey,  Groton,  Semere  and  Rougham.'  Subsequently 
Henry  de  Cokefeld  held  one  knight's  fee  of  the  Abbot.5  In  1249  we  meet 
with  a  Final  Concord  between  Nicholas  de  Cokfeld  and  others  by  which  the 
right  is  acknowledged  of  Nicholas  to  10  acres  of  land  in  Cockfield,6  and  in 
the  next  reign  we  find  John  de  la  Garderobe  seeking  to  replevy  John  de  Coke- 
feld the  latter's  land  in  Cockfield  against  Alice  late  wife  of  Philip  Spark.7 

But  the  manor  prior  to  this,  namely  in  1315,  belonged  to  Adam  de 
Colchestre,  and  Davy  makes  a  Joan  Peper  widow  to  hold  after  this  but 
without  assigning  a  date.  It  is  clear,  however,  that  an  Adam  de  Colceestre 
died  seised  in  1398  he  then  holding  \  a  fee  of  Roger  de  Mortuo  Mari  Earl  of 
March"  and  another  Adam  Colcestre  died  seised  in  1425  holding  in  like 
manner.9  The  lordship  subsequently  vested  in  Thomas  Spring  who  died 
the  29  June  1523'°  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Spring  who 
died  in  1548,  when  it  passed  to  his  widow  Dorothy  and  later  to  Sir  William 
Spring.  In  1588  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  John  Sprynge  s.  and  h. 
of  Sir  William  Springe  against  Sir  W.  Spring."  Sir  Wm.  died  seised  in 
1599  being  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Spring.  Amongst  the 

1  Charts  v.  vi.  Dugdale  Mon.  vi.  593.  «  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  290. 

•  Fine,  26  Hen.  III.  2,  5.  r  Close  Rolls,  18  Edw.  II.  5<f. 

•  See  further  as   to    Nesta    de  Cokefield         •  I.P.M.,  22  Rich.  II.  34. 

under     Groton      Manor  in     this         '  I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  VI.  32. 
Hundred.  -  I.P.M.,  15  Hen.  VIII.  17. 

Fine,  26  Hen.  III.  174.  ••  Fine,  Mich.  30,  31  Eliz. 

'  H.R.  ii.  142,  151. 


COCKFIELD.  85 

Duchy  of  Lancaster  Pleadings  will  be  found  particulars  of  a  suit  as  to  relief 
for  a  tenement  in  "  Pipers  "  Manor  in  Cockfield,  Lay  ton  v.  Reynolds, ' 
and  amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Q.  Elizabeth  pre- 
served in  the  Record  Office  will  be  found  a  Bill  by  Henry  Collyn  the  elder 
against  Anne  Spring  widow  for  payment  of  money  charged  on  the 
"  Manor  of  Peppers  "  and  a  capital  mansion  house  called  "  Palmer's  " 
and  land  in  Cockfield  conveyed  by  John  Spring  deceased  to  defendant 
his  widow.2  To  John's  widow  Anne  succeeded  Sir  William  Spring. 
Mr.  Churchill  Babington  in  his  Materials  for  a  Hist,  of  Cockfield 
has  the  following  note  as  to  the  devolution  of  this  manor,  the  substance  of 
which  he  states  is  derived  from  Katherine  Jermyn's  "  Insignia  of  Suffolk 
Families  "  in  MSS.  in  the  Library  of  the  Suffolk  Institute  and  from  the 
title-deeds  of  Pepper's  Hall.  "  The  Harveys  appear  to  have  succeeded 
the  Springs  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  both  to  the  Hall 
and  to  the  manor.  Francis  Harvey  who  died  in  1691  was  succeeded  by 
James  Harvey,  the  Recorder  of  Colchester.  His  widow  Elizabeth  Harvey 
devised  them  to  the  Rev.  Harvey  Aspin  and  his  heirs.  He  belonged  to  a 
Hampshire  family,  and  took  the  degree  of  LL.B.  in  1740  being  a  member  of 
Corpus  Christi  College  Cambridge.  He  was  related  to  the  Harvey  and 
Calthorpe  family,  and  married  Isabella  Lestrange  of  Bury  St.  Edmund's, 
a  member  of  the  Hunstanton  family  of  that  name.  He  succeeded  to  the 
Harvey  estate  in  1767  and  left  it  to  his  sister  Dorothy  who  in  1761  married 
Nat.  Acton  of  Bramford  [died  1795]  whose  family  was  anciently  seated  at 
Ipswich.  Thus  on  the  death  of  Harvey  Aspin  in  1791,  the  Actons  succeeded, 
and  in  1814  William  Baldwin  of  Sparrow's  Nest,  Ipswich,  formerly  of  Thorpe 
Morieux,  purchased  the  estate  of  Caroline  Acton.  About  this  time  the 
manor  fell  into  disuse,  the  manor-house  was  turned  into  a  farmhouse,  and  the 
estate  was  enfranchised  by  the  Honor  of  Clare.  Mr.  William  Baldwin 
son  of  the  preceding  succeeded  his  father  in  1830.  The  farm  is  now  [1880] 
in  the  possession  (by  purchase)  of  Mr.  J.  T.  Cousens  son-in-law  of  Mr. 
Baldwin." 


1  Duchy  of   Lancaster.    Cal.  to  Pleadings.         '  C.P.  i.  181. 
[43]  Eliz.  2. 


86 


THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 


CORNARD  (GREAT). 

|N  King  Edward's  time  the  mother  of  Karl  Morchar  held  3 
irucates  as  a  manor.  There  were  8  villeins,  9  bordars,  8 
slaves,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  8  belonging  to  the 
men,  a  mill,  14  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  10  hogs,  and  a 
church  li\  ingwithout  land.  There  were  also  4  horses  at  the 
Hall,  18  beasts,  80  hogs  and  363  sheep.  By  the  time  of  the 
Norman  Surveylthere  were  10  villeins,  25  bordars,  9  slaves,  but 
only  i  ploughteam  in  demesne.  The  ploughteams,  however,  of  the  men 
had  risen  to  10. 

The  custody  of  this  manor  was  committed  by  King  William  to  William 
the  Chamberlain  and  Otho  the  Goldsmith  for  the  Crown.1  In  this  place 
the  Abbot  of  Bury  held  2  freemen  with  50  acres  and  i  of  meadow  of  which 
the  value  was  6  ores  both  in  Saxon  and  Norman  times.  These  freemen 
could  sell  or  give  their  lands  but  the  soc  and  all  customs  belonged  to  the 
Abbot.'  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert3  also  held  7  freemen  who  in  the 
Confessor's  time  had  held  under  Wisgar  or  Witgar  by  commendation  and 
soc  and  sac  2  carucates  of  land  and  I  bordar ;  also  5  acres  of  meadow. 
There  had  been  3  ploughteams,  but  in  Norman  days  there  were  only  two. 
The  value  of  Richard's  holding  was  26  shillings  and  8d*  Another  holding 
was  that  of  Ralph  de  Limesi5  namely  a  freeman  (under  Wisgar  by  com- 
mendation only  and  soc)  having  one  carucate  of  land.  There  were  5 
bordars,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne  and  6  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs, 
and  5  beasts.  There  were  then  20  hogs  where  formerly  there  had  been  10 
only,  and  60  sheep  where  formerly  there  had  been  half  that  number,  and 
the  value  of  the  holding  was  20  shillings.6  The  Great  Survey  after  this 
entry  says,  "  It  is  half  a  league  long  and  half  a  league  broad  and  paid  3^ 
in  a  gelt."  What  the  "  it  "  refers  to  is  not  clear.  There  is  no  certain 
evidence  that  all  the  above  entries  are  of  land  in  Great  Cornard,  but  this 
is  the  presumption.  Great  Cornard  and  Little  Cornard  are  not  distinguished 
in  Domesday  Book. 

CORNARD  MAGNA  OR  ABBAS  HALL  MANOR. 

The  manor  became  very  early  vested  in  a  family  who  assumed  the 
name  of  the  parish.  The  first  member  of  the  family  we  meet  with  is  Serlo 
de  Cornerthe  of  Assington  who  was  followed  by  his  son  and  heir  Richard 
de  Cornerd  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  John  who  was  High  Sheriff  in  the 
time  of  Kings  Richard  and  John.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Richard  de  Cornerthe  of  Cavendish  and  he  by  his  son  another  Richard  and 
his  son  and  heir  was  Sir  Richard  de  Cornerd  knt.  Sir  Richard  left  an  only 
daughter  Alice  who  married  Thomas  de  Grey  of  Grey's  Hall  in  Cavendish 
about  the  year  1304.  This  Sir  Richard  de  Cornerd  is  said  to  have  sold  the 
manor  to  the  Convent  of  Mailing  in  Kent,  about  1317  according  to  Page, 
and  about  1318  according  to  Davy,  but  it  could  hardly  have  been  so  early 
as  this,  for  in  a  rental  of  the  date  of  1362  in  the  muniment  room  at  Merton 
Hall,  Norfolk,  cited  by  the  Rev.  Geo.  Crabbe  in  a  paper  in  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Suffolk  Institute/  Roger  de  Grey  is  said  to  be  the  owner.  Probably 


'  Dom.  ii.  2866. 

•  Dom.  ii.  360. 

'  See  Bures  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

•  Dom.  ii.  392. 


5  See    Overhall    Manor,    Cavendish, 

this  Hundred. 
'  Dom.  ii.  4286. 
'  Vol.  vi.  p.  13. 


in 


CORNARD    (GREAT).  87 

some  confusion  has  arisen  as  to  the  identity  of  the  lands,  for  in  the  eleventh 
year  of  Edw.  II.  [1317-18]  there  was  an  exchange  of  divers  lands  in 
Cornard  Magna,  &c.,  between  the  Abbess  of  Mailing  and  Thomas  de  Grey  ;' 
and  further  we  may  gather  from  a  fine  in  1390  that  the  manor  had  not  at 
that  date  even  left  the  Grey  family.  It  is  between  Thomas  Archbishop  of 
York,  Robert  Bishop  of  London,  Thomas  Earl  of  Gloucester,  Thomas 
Earl  of  Arundell,  Thomas  Earl  of  Warwick  and  Sir  Richard  le  Scrope  against 
Thomas  Grey  parson  of  the  Church  of  Wethersfield  and  relates  to  this  manor.2 
The  manor,  too,  is  included  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  John  de  Monte  Acuto 
Earl  of  Salisbury  as  late  as  I4OO.3 

It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  in  the  returns  of  lords  of  manors 
in  1316,  the  Abbess  of  Mailing  is  said  to  be  lord  of  Great  Cornerd  even  at 
that  date,  a  date  earlier  than  any  alleged  sale  to  her  by  Thomas  de  Grey. 

In  any  case  the  manor  did  at  some  time  pass,  as  did  also  the  advow- 
son,  to  the  Convent  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  West  Mailing,  with  which  religious 
community  they  continued  until  the  dissolution.  Court  Rolls  are  still  in 
existence  of  Courts  held  for  the  manor  by  the  Abbess  of  Mailing  5,  6,  8,  9, 
10,  ii  and  12  Hen.  VIII.  and  the  Rolls  of  the  Courts  held  the  17,  18,  19, 
20,  21,  24,  27  and  28  Hen.  VIII.  actually  bear  the  name  of  Elizabeth  Rede 
the  Abbess.  Of  course  the  manor  passed  to  the  Crown  on  the  dissolution 
of  the  religious  houses  and  it  is  usually  stated  that  in  1540  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury  obtained  a  grant  of  both  manor  and  advowson  in  exchange 
for  other  property.  We  venture  to  doubt  this,  as  the  Courts  of  the  manor 
held  in  31, 33,  35  and  36  Hen.  VIII.  were  held  by  Thomas  Danyell  who  at  the 
head  of  each  of  the  Rolls  of  these  Courts  is  stated  to  be  then  lord.  The  grant 
to  whoever  made  was  apparently  resumed  by  the  Crown  in  Elizabeth's 
reign.  In  1612  William  Whitmore  and  John  Verdon  are  said  to  have  had 
a  grant  of  the  manor.  In  1624,  however,  the  manor  was  vested  in  John 
Brand  who  held  Courts  for  it  on  the  following  dates  :  6  Oct.  22  Jac.,  3 
April  3  Car.  I.,  16  June  4  Car.  I.,  30  July  4  Car.  I.,  8  Oct.  5  Car.  I.,  29  Oct. 
5  Car.  I.,  10  Dec.  5  Car.  I.,  4  Aug.  7  Car.  I.,  5  Oct.  7  Car.  I.,  31  Oct.  7 
Car.  I.,  ii  Oct.  10  Car.  I.,  i  Oct.  11  Car.  I.,  20  Oct.  12  Car.  I.,  11  Oct. 
13  Car.  I.,  24  Oct.  14  Car.  I.,  2  May  15  Car.  I.,  30  Oct.  15  Car.  I.,  20  April 
16  Car.  I.,  7  Oct.  16  Car.  I.,  22  June  17  Car.  I.,  4  Aug.  17  Car.  I.,  5  Oct. 
18  Car.  I.  The  Courts  held  7  Nov.  19  Car.  I.  and  26  Sept.  20  Car.  I. 
were  held  by  John  Eldred.  No  name  is  given  as  lord  in  the  Roll  of  the 
Court  held  10  Dec.  21  Car.  I.,  but  Thomas  Mott  and  John  Brand  held 
their  first  Court  the  24  Sept.  22  Car.  I.  and  further  Courts  the  28  March 
24  Car.  I.,  5  Oct.  21  Car.  I.,  3  Oct.  1650,  3  Oct.  1651,  16  Dec.  1652,  20 
Oct.  1653,  22  Dec.  1653,  after  which  they  disappear,  and  John  Eldred  holds 
his  first  Court  the  12  Oct.  1654  and  subsequent  Courts  the  loth  April 
1656,  6  April  1657,  J5  Oct-  I65§.  Another  John  Eldred  styled  the  younger 
then  holds  the  following  Courts  :  31  March  1659,  26  March  1660,  21  June 
12  Car.  II.,  26  March  Car.  II.,  4  April  1662,  31-  March  15  Car.  II.,  28  Mar. 
16  Car.  II.,  22  April  17  Car.  II.,  27  May  17  Car.  II.,  27  March  1665,  i 
April  1667,  27  March  1668,  27  Sept.  1669,  19  Oct.  1669,  20  Apl.  22  Car. 
II.,  31  March  23  Car.  II.,  31  March  24  Car.  II.,  18  April  25  Car.  II.,  23 
Apl.  26  Car.  II.,  22  July  26  Car.  II.,  i  April  27  Car.  II.,  24  May  27  Car.  II., 
23  July  27  Car.  II.,  30  Mar.  28  Car.  II.,  26  Mar.  1678,  28  March  1679, 
28  March  1681,  28  March  1682,  26  March  1684,  6  April  1686,  31  March 

1  Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MSS.  19077  p.  259,  "  Feet  of  Fines,  14  Rich.  II.  24. 

et  seq.  3  I.P.M.,  i  Hen.  IV.  n. 


88  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

1687,  i  Apl.  1690,  -  -  1693,  3  April  1694.  Another  John  Eldred  then 
succeeds  as  lord  and  is  styled  in  the  Rolls  John  Eldred  jun.  He  held  his 
first  Court  the  28  June  1703,  and  subsequent  Courts  on  the  28  July  1703, 
26  Oct.  1703,  10  May  1704,  25  Sept.  1704,  9  Oct.  1705,  22  April  1706, 
21  April  1707,  12  May  1708,  18  April  1709,  5  April  1710,  26  April  1710, 
18  April  1711,  5  May  1712,  27  May  1713,  5  June  1716,  20  May  1718,  26 
May  1720,  7  Sept.  1720,  4  Oct.  1720,  9  May  1721,  24  April  1722,  28 
June  1722,  27  June  1723,  4  June  1724,  27  May  1726,  27  Oct.  1727,  21 
Aug.  1728,  15  Sept.  1729,  14  Oct.  1729,  I  Oct.  1730,  16  May  1732,  9  June 
1732,  14  July  1732.  Mary  Eldred  the  last  lord's  widow  held  Courts  on 
the  12  Feb.  1733,  29  May  1735,  24  June  1735,  12  Aug.  1735,  21  Sept.  1736, 
20  Dec.  1737.  One  Court  was  held  by  Anne  Eldred  spinster,  namely  on 
the  15  Nov.  1738  and  then  the  manor  was  evidently  sold  to  John  Wall 
the  yr.  who  held  his  first  Court  on  the  3  Oct.  1739,  and  subsequent  Courts 
on  the  21  April  1742,  18  May  1742,  21  June  1742,  6  July  1743,  16  Dec. 
1743,  22  Nov.  1749,  8  March  1749,  5  April  1750  and  13  May  1751- ;  and 
Courts  on  the  21  Nov.  1751,  19  Feb.  1752,  20  Oct.  1752,  19  April  1754  and 
I  Aug.  1755  were  held  by  the  said  John  Wall  and  Anne  his  wife. — John 
Wall  died  before  1761  for  Anne  his  widow  held  the  Courts  on  the  29  July 
1761,  25  Aug.  1761,  13  Oct.  1761,  ii  Oct.  1762,  ii  April  1763,  24  Sept. 
1764,  4  Sept.  1765,  18  Nov.  1765,  26  May  1766,  25  Aug.  1766,  23  Sept. 
1766,  19  January  1767,  25  June  1767,  21  May  1768,  18  Aug.  1768,  23  May 
1769,  and  the  8  January  1770.  The  manor  then  passed  to  James  Sparrow 
and  Margaret  his  wife  dau.  and  co-heir  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Bernard,  Rector 
of  Little  Barfield,  the  Rev.  John  Harrison  and  Ann  his  wife,  John  Goodeal 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife  and  Bridget  Bernard  spinster  who  held  their  ist 
Court  the  26  April  1770  and  their  second  Court  the  24  May  1771.  Subsequent 
Courts  on  the  22  April  1772  and  the  14  April  1773  were  held  by  James 
Sparrow  and  the  Rev.  John  Harrison.  James  Sparrow  died  the  2gth  Oct. 
1777  and  his  eldest  son  the  Rev.  John  Sparrow  having  died  in  1786  and 
his  2nd  son  Thomas  Bernard  in  1793  the  manor  seems  to  have  vested  in 
the  3rd  son — James  Goodeve  Sparrow.  He  married  ist  in  1799  Anne 
youngest  dau.  and  co-heir  of  James  Crowe  of  Lakenham,  Norwich,  and  2ndly 
m  1817  Dorothy  dau.  of  the  Rev.  Basil-Bury  Beridge  of  Algakirk  co. 
Lincoln  and  dying  the  2  Oct.  1838  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Henry  Weare  Sparrow  and  on  his  death  to  his  brother  Basil  Sparrow  who 
in  1846  married  Julia  dau.  of  James  Scratton  of  Prittewell  Priory,  Essex 
and  on  his  death  in  1880  vested  in  his  son  and  heir  the  Rev.  Basil  James 
Harrold  Sparrow-Beridge  of  Gosfield  Place  Halstead  Essex,  eldest  son  of  Basil 
Sparrow  of  Gosfield  by  Julia  his  wife  dau.  of  John  Scratton  of  Prittlewell 
Essex.  He  in  1882  married  Margaret  Lousia  dau.  of  Henry  Capel  Elliott 
and  in  1883  by  royal  licence  assumed  the  name  of  Beridge. 

Amongst  the  early  Chancery  Proceedings  is  a  suit  concerning  rents  of 
lands  held  of  Cornard  Manor :  John  Cruche  bailiff  v.  Thomas  West.1  And 
amongst  the  State  Papers  is  a  licence  in  1538  to  sell  the  manor  then 
stated  to  be  of  the  yearly  rent  of  £40.*  Oliver  St.  John  and  wife  were  in 
1554  called  upon  to  shew  title  to  the  manor.3 

Court  Rolls  of  Abbas  Hall  Manor  for  1559,  1562,  1567,  1569,  1570, 
1572, 1574, 1576, 1577, 1585, 1593-6, 1598-1600,  and  1602  will  be  found  in  the 

1  E.C.P.,  14  Hen.  VI.  17,  139.  3  Memoranda,  Rolls  i  and    2  Phil,   and 

•  State  Papers,  1538,  ii.  716.  Mar.  Hil.  Rec.  Rot.  35. 


CORNARD    (GREAT).  89 

British  Museum.1    Also  extracts  from  the  Rolls  for  1674-5,  1698,  and 
1711  will  be  found  in  the  same  Collection.2 

GREY'S   MANOR. 

This  manor  at  an  early  date  belonged  also  to  the  Cornards.  It  seems 
to  have  been  held  by  Domina  de  Cornard  in  I3i6,3  but  we  have  no  definite 
particulars  till  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Edw.  II.  when  the  manor 
was  vested  in  Thomas  de  Grey  and  Alice  his  wife  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir 
Richard  Cornerd  knt.  Thomas  de  Grey  died  in  I32I4  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey.  The  manor  then  passed  to  William 
West  of  Cornard  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  West 
who  died  in  I5o8.5  In  his  Inquisition  p.m.  the  manor  is  stated  to  consist 
of  105  acres  of  land  90  acres  of  pasture  30  acres  of  wood,  10  acres  of  marsh 
and  3^.  rent,  and  to  be  held  of  the  King  as  of  the  Honor  of  Clare  at  the 
4th  part  of  a  knight's  fee  and  to  be  of  the  annual  value  of  £23.  6s.  Thomas 
West  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  West  one  of  whose 
daughters  and  co-heirs  Margaret  married  Edmund  Daniell  of  Acton  and 
the  other,  Elizabeth,  married  John  Bokenham  who  died  in  1566.  Three 
fines  were  levied  in  the  reign  of  Edw.  VI.  one  of  the  whole  manor  and  the 
other  two  of  a  moiety.  The  first  was  in  1547  by  John  Bokenham  and  others 
against  Robert  Doundes  and  others  f  the  second  in  1549  by  James 
Dounes  and  others  against  the  said  John  Bokenham  ;7  and  the  third 
in  1550  by  George  Felton  against  Edmund  Danyell  and  others.8  A 
fourth  fine  was  in  1592  levied  by  William  Tyffyn  against  John  Daniell. 9 
In  1599  Edmund  Bokenham  of  Great  Thornham  son  and  heir  of  John 
succeeded  his  father,  and  in  1602  sold  the  manor  to  John  Brond  sen.10 
In  1844,  1855,  and  1885  a  Thomas  Fitch  was  owner  of  this  manor. 

In  a  paper  by  the  Rev.  George  Crabbe  on  the  De  Greys  of  Little  Cor- 
nard printed  in  vol.  vi.  p.  38  of  the  Publications  of  the  Suffolk  Institute 
we  find  some  notes  relative  to  the  Cornard  property.  One  note  is  to  the 
effect  that  Thomas  de  Grey  sold  his  Cornard  property  to  his  brother  William 
de  Grey  Esq.  in  1770  for  £5,785 ;  and  in  a  paper  in  the  handwriting  of  Thomas 
2nd  Lord  Walsingham  it  is  stated  that  his  father  the  Chief  Justice  bought  in 
the  year  of  the  general  election,  Grey's  Hall  in  Suff .  for  £5,700.  Also  an  extract 
from  the  Ipswich  Journal  Aug.  2,  1788,  i.e.,  7  years  after  the  death  of  the 
Chief  Justice  whose  estates  passed  to  his  only  son  :  "To  be  sold  by  auction 
at  Garroway's  coffee  house  on  the  2ist  August  a  valuable  freehold  estate 
situate  in  the  parishes  of  Little  Cornerd,  Newton,  and  Assington  comprising 
the  Manor  of  Grey's." 

The  writer  from  the  above  notes  observes  that  it  seems  as  if  a  Manor 
of  Grey's  in  Cornard  had  been  in  the  de  Grey  family  till  1788. 


1  Add.  Ch.  24720-24740.  6  Fine,  Hil.  i  Edw.  VI. 

*  Add.  Ch.  14359-14362.  '  Fine,  Easter  3  Edw.  VI. 

3  Brit.    Mus.    Add.    MSS.  19077    p.  259,          8  Fine,  Mich.  4  Edw.  VI. 

et  seq.  »  Fine,  Hil.  35  Eliz. 

4  I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  II.  22.  I0  Fine,  Mich.  44  and  45  Eliz. 

5  I.P.M.,  24   Hen.    VII.    77,   Add.    MSS. 

19077  p.  272. 


90  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

CORNARD    (LITTLE). 

| HE  entry  in  Domesday  which  probably  comprised  the  land 
forming  subsequently  the  manors  of  this  place  is  that  of 
the  Encroachments  upon  the  King. 

In  the  Confessor  s  time  Aluric  Campo  held  2  freemen 
under  commendation  only,  in  the  Abbot  of  Bury's  soc,  but 
after  the  Conquest  Wisgar  encroached  thereon  before 
the  agreement  with  Richard  son  of  Gislebert  was  made 
under  which  the  latter  then  held.  These  freemen  had  2  carucates 
of  land  and  40  acres,  4  bordars,  5  slaves,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne,  wood 
for  30  hogs,  8  acres  of  meadow,  3  horses,  also  a  church  living  with  15  acres 
of  free  land,  the  whole  valued  at  20  shillings.  By  the  time  of  the  Great 
Survey  the  number  of  bordars  had  increased  to  u,  but  the  slaves  were  one 
less,  the  3  ploughteams  in  demesne  were  then  between  the  lord  of  the 
demesne  and  his  men ;  the  horses  seem  to  have  disappeared,  but  in  their 
place  we  find  4  beasts,  30  hogs  and  no  sheep  and  the  value  had  been  raised 
to  6  pounds.  It  (which  we  presume  to  mean  Little  Cornard)  was  8  quaran- 
tenes  long  and  4  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt,  whoever  held,  24^.' 

MANOR  OF  LITTLE  CORNARD. 

This  manor  was  held  in  1333  by  John  Somersham  of  Weld  co.  Herts 
who  also  held  the  Manor  of  Peacocks  in  Little  Cornard.  It  is  stated  in 
the  able  paper  of  Mr.  Crabbe,  to  which  we  have  already  referred,  that  the 
Manor  of  Little  Cornard  must  soon  after  have  passed  to  the  De  Greys  and 
he  bases  this  on  the  statement  in  Sir  Roger  de  Grey's  will  of  the  22  Dec. 
1371  that  he  "  eit  enfeoffe  Monsieur  William  Baude  [and  others]  en  les 
Manores  de  Cavendysshe  peti  Cornerthe,"  &c.,  but  we  venture  to  doubt 
whether  this  was  the  case.  The  manor  referred  to  in  Sir  Roger's  will  was 
more  probably  that  of  Cawstons  or  Caxtons  in  Little  Cornard  of  which  he 
undoubtedly  was  seised  at  the  time  of  making  the  feoffment  referred  to. 
The  Manor  of  Little  Cornard  probably  passed  to  John  Somersham's 
daughter  and  co-heir  Margery  who  married  William  Ashe  of  Weld  whose 
will  was  proved  the  5  July  1411.  They  had  a  son  John  Somersham  who 
was  living  in  1411  but  died  without  issue,  and  a  daughter  Elizabeth  whose 
will  is  dated  the  29  Apr.  1455.  She  married  Thomas  de  Frowyke  whose 
will  was  proved  the  17  May  1448.  Their  son  Henry  Frowyke  was  lord  of 
this  manor  and  Peacocks  and  probably  sold  the  same  to  his  cousin  Sir 
Thomas  de  Frowyke  of  Gunnersbury  who  was  the  son  of  Sir  Henry  de 
Frowyke  brother  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Frowyke  who  married  the  granddaughter 
of  John  Somersham. 

Sir  Thomas  de  Frowyke  married  Joan  daughter  and  heir  of  Richard 
Sturgeon  and  by  his  will  proved  the  10  November  1485  he  settled  this 
manor  upon  his  wife  for  life  with  remainder  to  his  younger  son  Thomas 
in  tail  with  an  ultimate  remainder  to  his  eldest  son  Henry  in  tail.  Sir 
Thomas  Frowyke  the  son  succeeded  on  the  death  of  his  mother 
in  1500.  He  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  and  died  without 
issue  the  17  Oct.  1506  when  the  manor  under  the  entail  created  by  his 
father's  will  passed  to  his  nephew  Thomas  Frowyke  son  of  his  brother 
Sir  Henry  Frowyke  of  Gunnersbury  who  had  died  in  his  younger  brother's 
lifetime  on  the  3  Oct.  1504  and  whose  will  was  proved  the  15  Nov.  1505. 

1  Dom.  ii.  448. 


CORNARD     VLITTLE).  9I 

In  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  this  Sir  Henry  Frowyke  it  is  stated  that  he  held  the 
Manor  of  Little  Cornard  and  the  advowson  (it  must  then  have  been  in 
remainder  only)  of  the  King  as  of  the  Manor  of  Clare  by  an  unknown 
service  and  the  value  was  £20  a  year  and  that  Thomas  was  his  son  and 
heir.1  The  manor  seems  to  have  actually  passed  to  his  2nd  son  Henry 
(the  eldest  Thomas  being  probably  a  Priest  and  taking  the  Manor  of  Peacock) 
whose  will  is  dated  the  5  Feb.  1520.  He  died  apparently  without  issue 
and  the  manor  passed  to  his  sister  Elizabeth  married  to  Sir  John  Spelman* 
and  then  to  their  son  and  heir  Henry  Spelman.  Before  1596  the  manor  had 
passed  from  the  Spelmans  to  the  White  family,  for  in  that  year  Peter  and 
John  White  conveyed  it  to  Edward  Curtis  and  John  Chayce.  In  1637 
it  was  held  by  Sir  Robert  Crane  of  Chilton  and  passed  in  that  year  to  the 
Newman  family  after  which  it  seems  to  have  passed  out  of  existence,  but 
it  may  be  the  manor  is  now  vested  in  William  Prigg  of  Great  Cornard. 

Releases  and  acquittances  for  homage,  &c.,  in  this  manor  in  1298  and 
1299  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum.3 

MANOR  OF  CAWSTON  OR  CAXTON'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  belonged  to  the  Caxton  family  before  it  came  to  the  De 
Greys,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  held  in  the  time  of  King  John  by  Sir 
Peter  Braunch  in  right  of  his  wife  Joan.  Richard  Caketon  had  free  warren 
in  Little  Cornard  and  Bures  in  1296-70.*  From  the  Caxtons  the  manor 
appears  to  have  passed  to  Sir  Richard  Cornerd  and  on  the  marriage  of  his 
daughter  Alice  to  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  son  of  John  de  Grey  of  Cavendish 
to  have  passed  into  the  De  Grey  family.5 

Alice  survived  Sir  Thomas,  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  will  be  seen  a  com- 
mission on  complaint  of  this  Alice,  described  as  late  wife  of  Thomas  de 
Grey,  that  William  Botevellyn  and  others  entered  the  Manor  of  Cornerthe, 
meaning  no  doubt  this  Caxton's  Manor,  broke  the  doors  and  windows  of 
her  houses  and  drove  away  n  horses,  16  oxen,  a  bull,  12  cows,  and  160  sheep 
worth  £50  and  carried  away  other  goods.6  On  the  same  Rolls  and  the  same 
year  there  is  a  commission  issued  no  doubt  on  what  was  a  kind  of  counter- 
charge by  William  Boteryleyn.  He  complains  that  Alice  late  wife  of  Thomas 
de  Grey,  Thomas  her  son  and  others  drove  away  10  horses,  12  colts,  8  oxen, 
a  bull,  20  cows  and  120  sheep  worth  £100  at  Little  Cornard  and  carried  away 
other  goods.7  William  was  not  nearly  so  moderate  in  his  estimate  of  value 
as  his  fair  adversary  Alice. 

There  is  an  early  rental — "  Caxton.  Rental  d'ni  Thorn,  de  Grey 
milit  de  ten'tibus  suis  que  q'nd'  fuer'  Ric'i  de  Caxston  p'tinent  '  ad 
man '  s'm  in  Cometh  p'ua."  It  seems  a  somewhat  moot  point  whether 
the  manor  passed  direct  from  Richard  Caxton  to  Sir  Thomas  Grey  or 
through  Sir  Richard  Cornerd  and  his  daughter.  The  above  extract  does 
not  seem  inconsistent  with  either  supposition.  From  another  rental  of 
the  lands  of  John  Pecok  in  Cornerth  Parva  dated  the  28  Edw.  III.  [1354] 
"  Thomas  de  Grey  Miles  holds  lands  lately  acquired,  which  were  those  of 
Walter  Caxton."  This  is,  of  course,  an  entry  relating  to  Sir  Thomas  the 
son  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  and  does  not  of  necessity,  nor  indeed  probably, 

'  I.P.M.,    21   Hen.  VII.  97;    Brit.    Mus.         <  Chart.  Rolls,   54  Hen.  III.  i ;    H.R.  ii. 

Add.  MSS.  19077  p.  276.  153,  195. 

'  Her  will  was  proved  the  10  Feb.  1556-7,         s  See  De  Grey's  Manor,  Cavendish,  in  this 

and  his  the  3  Feb.  1545.  Hundred. 

3  Harl.  54  A.  29,  Harl.  45  F.  i.  6  Pat.  Rolls,  4  Edw.  III.  pt.  i. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  4  Edw.  III.  pt.  i. 


92  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

relate  to  the  manor.  The  last  mentioned  Sir  Thomas  de  Grey  married 
Isabel  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Fulk  Baynard  of  Merton  and  had 
Mi-rton  Manor  in  Norfolk  and  other  places  for  her  share  in  her  father's 
estate.  At  Sir  Thomas  Grey's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son 
Sir  Roger  Grey,  who  held  his  ist  Court  for  the  Manor  of  Caxton  37  Edw.  III. 
[1363]  and  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  Roger  Clifton  and  brother  of 
Sir  Adam.  Sir  Roger  Grey  by  his  will  proved  in  1371  declares  that  he  had 
enfeoffed  Sir  William  Bawde  Priest  and  others  of  his  Manor  of  Little  Cor- 
nerth  (more  accurately  Caxton  Manor  in  Little  Cornard)  and  ordered 
his  father  Sir  Thomas  Grey's  debt  to  be  paid  and  that  Alice  his  wife  should 
have  an  annuity  of  20  marks  per  annum  and  Mr.  Thomas  Grey  his  brother 
another  of  the  same  sum,  and  the  manor  of  Little  Heneye  with  lol.  per 
annum  to  go  to  two  Priests  yearly ;  the  profit  of  his  Manor  of  Hadeston 
or  Bernwell  to  raise  portions  for  his  two  daughters,  and  if  Thomas  his  son 
should  die  before  either  of  his  daughters'  marriages  then  their  fortunes  to 
be  at  the  disposition  of  Sir  William  Bawde.  The  will  is  dated  at  Dover 
and  is  in  French. 

The  following  year  1372  an  assignation  of  dower  was  made  out  of 
Caxton's  Manor  to  Margaret  the  widow  of  Sir  Roger.  The  document 
contains  a  description  of  the  portion  of  the  manor  house  assigned  to  her 
and  is  given  by  Mr.  Crabbe  in  his  account  of  the  De  Greys  already  referred 
to.  It  is  interesting  as  showing  the  kind  of  accommodation  at  the  time 
which  the  manor  afforded. 

"  Caxton.  To  wit.  Assignment  of  the  dower  of  the  wife  of  Dominus 
Roger  de  Grey,  knight,  anno  46. — First,  there  are  delivered  to  her,  within 
the  site  of  the  manor,  one  grange  next  the  gate  ;  one  chamber  next  Strau- 
hous  ;  one  cattle  shed  on  the  north  part,  with  one  chamber  next  the  under 
solar ;  Item,  one  other  chamber  in  the  dairy  ("  Deieria  ")  (?)  on  the  north 
part ;  Item,  one  parcel  of  the  cart  house  on  the  south  part,  and  a  dove  cote 
in  common.  Item,  there  is  delivered  to  her  that  part  of  the  garden  which 
lies  on  the  west  part,  as  it  is  divided  by  the  other  boundaries  ;  excepting 
the  lord  shall  water  his  beasts  there,  and  shall  have,  if  he  wishes  it,  water 
for  his  expense  there.  Item,  there  is  delivered  to  her  common  rights 
('  communia ')  in  the  court  of  the  said  manor,  to  administer  her  goods 
and  chattels  there,  with  free  ingress  and  egress.  Sum  of  the  value  per 
annum  beyond  the  reprises — nothing." 

Then  follows  the  description  and  value  of  the  lands  assigned  as  the 
dower  which  is  valued  in  the  whole  at  xili.  ixs.  vid.  called  also  the  third 
part  of  the  Manor  of  Caxtones.  Mr.  Crabbe  adds,  "  From  the  above  we 
can  picture  to  ourselves  the  manor  house  which  no  doubt  was  surrounded 
by  yards,  gardens,  orchards  and  farm  buildings.  A  gate  [house]  with  a 
granary  next  it  leads  to  the  Court.  [The  lady  has,  in  common  with  the 
lord's  family,  when  they  reside  at  the  manor,  the  use  of  the  hall,  the  chapel, 
the  kitchens  and  offices.]  For  her  private  use  she  has  a  chamber  next  the 
lord's  parlour  or  solar  and  for  her  servants  a  chamber  next  the  straw- 
house,  and  a  chamber  next  the  dairy.  For  the  farming  of  her  share  of 
the  demesne  she  has  a  cattle  shed,  a  barn  and  part  of  the  cart-house.  A 
specified  part  of  the  garden  is  assigned  her ;  it  has  a  pond  or  moat  where 
the  lord  may  water  his  cattle." 

Thomas  the  son  and  heir  died  a  minor  without  issue.1  He  had  two 
sisters — Margaret  married  to  Sir  Thomas  Shardelowe  and  Joan  married  to 
Thomas  Pynchbek.  Margaret  had  died  in  1382  the  year  before  her  brother 

•  I.P.M.,  7  Rich.  II.  41. 


CORNARD   (LITTLE).  93 

without  issue  and  Joan  died  subsequently  leaving  a  son  Richard  who  died 
under  age  and  the  manor  passed  to  Thomas  de  Grey  the  brother  of  Sir 
Roger  who  died  seised  before  1404,  for  in  that  year  Fulk  de  Grey  son  of 
Fulk  de  Grey  and  of  Margaret  his  wife  and  nephew  and  heir  to  Thomas  de 
Grey  had  livery.  He  married  Eleanor  Barnardeston. 

In  the  eighth  year  of  King  Hen.  VI.  [1429-30]  the  Court  of  the  manor 
was  held  by  Sir  Robert  Clyfton  and  Alice  his  wife  probably  as  guardians 
of  William  de  Grey  the  infant  heir  of  Fulk  de  Grey.  Fulk  de  Grey  the  son 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  William  de  Grey  who  married  Christina  daughter 
and  co-heir  of  John  Manning  of  Great  Elingham.  By  his  will  the  3  Nov. 
1474  he  ordered  his  body  to  be  buried  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  Merton  by 
the  side  of  Christina  his  wife.  The  stone  is  in  the  middle  aisle  and  has 
5  escutcheons,  the  first  with  the  arms  of  Grey,  the  second  Grey  quartering 
Baynard,  the  third  Grey  again,  the  fourth  is  Manning,  and  the  fifth  Grey 
impaling  Manning,  and  an  inscription  which  is  given  by  Blomefield.1  His  son 
William  de  Grey  succeeded.  He  was  married  twice,  first  to  Mary  daughter 
of  Sir  Henry  Bedingfield  of  Oxburgh  co.  Norf.  and  2ndly  to  Grace  daughter 
of  Thomas  Teye  widow  of  Francis  Hethe  of  Worlington  to  whose  two 
daughters  he  was  guardian.  He  died  the  12  Feb.  10  Hen.  VII.  leaving 
his  son  and  heir  Thomas  aged  15. 2  Against  the  north  wall  of  the 
Church  of  Merton  is  a  monument  to  this  William  de  Grey  and  his  two 
wives,  his  effigies  in  armour  with  the  arms  of  Grey  and  Baynard  quartered. 
He  is  in  a  kneeling  posture,  having  his  helmet  lying  by  him,  a  scrowl  and 
Grey's  arms  quartering  Baynard,  over  his  head  behind  him  are  his  5 
sons  in  loose  gowns  with  a  disrobed  scrowl  over  their  heads.  Opposite 
to  him  is  Mary  Bedingfield,  his  first  wife,  kneeling  with  her  three  daughters 
behind  her.  Over  her  head  is  another  imperfect  scrowl  and  the  arms  of 
Grey,  quartering  Baynard,  impaling  Bedingfield,  quartering  Tudenham. 
Behind  them  is  Grace  Teye,  his  second  wife,  and  behind  her  their  two 
daughters  with  dishevelled  hair.  Over  her  has  been  a  scrowl  besides  the 
arms  of  Grey  quartering  Baynard  impaling  Teye  of  Essex.  A  fesse  in  chief 
between  three  martlets  and  in  base  a  chevron.  Thomas  de  Grey,  eldest  son  of 
William  by  his  first  wife  succeeded  as  lord  on  his  father's  death,  and  held 
Courts  for  this  manor  to  the  time  of  his  death,  his  last  Court  being  held  the  21 
Nov.  2  and  3  Phil,  and  Mary  [1555].  He  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of 
Sir  Richard  Fitz-Lewes  knt.  but  had  no  children,  according  to  Blomefield. 
After  his  wife's  death  he  was  ordained  Priest  and  lived  till  1556,  being 
ultimately  buried  with  his  wife  in  the  south  aisle  of  Merton  Church  where 
against  the  wall  is  an  inscription  on  a  brass  plate  as  follows  :— 

In  this  He  lyeth  buried  under  one  stone 
Thomas  de  Grey  Esquire  and  Elizabeth  his 
Wife,  Dawghter  of  Sir  Rycharde  Fitz-Lewes 
Knight  and  after  her  desease  made  himselfe 
Preast  and  so  lived  xli.  yeares  and  departed 
Out  of  this  Lyfe  the  first  of  Septembre  1556. 

Arms  :  De  Grey  quartering  Baynard,  impaling  Fitz-Lewes,  A  chev. 
between  3  trefoils. 

William  Grey  a  member  of  a  branch  of  the  family  living  at  or  near 
Cornard  was  lord  in  1556,  in  fact  succeeded  on  the  death  of  Thomas  de  Grey 
the  Priest,  and  in  the  sixth  year  of  Queen  Eliz.  was  still  lord.  On  his  death, 

'  Hist,  of  Norf.  i.  579,  fol.  ed.     Illustrated         5  Inquis.  u  Hen.  VII.  1204. 
in  Church  Heraldry  of  Norfolk,  vol.  ii., 
141. 


94  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK 

probably  in  1572,  the  manor  reverted  to  Robert  de  Grey  of  Merton  the  son 
of  Edmund  de  Grey  who  was  according  to  Mr.  Crabbe  the  son  of  Thomas 
de  Grey  the  priest  but  according  to  Blomefield,  his  brother.  Amongst 
the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  we  meet  with  a  claim 
by  Thomas  Graye  under  a  settlement  to  an  annuity  granted  by  Robert 
Gray  out  of  his  manor  of  Caxstone  to  plaintiff  and  the  heirs  male  of  his 
body.1 

We  find  in  1586  that  the  heading  of  the  Court  is  "  Curia  Joh'  is  ffortes- 
cewe  Armig'i  firmarij  Rob'ti  de  Graye  Armig'i—  Mr.  Crabbe  suggests, 

and  no  doubt  the  surmise  is  correct,  that  John  Fortescue  got  a  lease  of  the 
manor  in  the  interest  of  Robert  de  Grey  and  to  prevent  it  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Government,  for  Robert  de  Grey  on  account  of  his  recusancy, 
besides  enormous  fines  forfeited  by  law  all  the  goods  and  chattels  and 
two-thirds  of  the  profits  of  his  estates.  By  1597-8  the  manor  had  come 
back  to  Robert  de  Grey,  for  he  is  called  lord,  and  the  Court  is  held  in  his 
name.  He  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  of  Harling,  knt. 
and  died  the  28  Feb.  1600,  being  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Merton  Church.  By 
his  will  in  1600  he  leaves  his  manors,  of  which  "  Cackstones  "  is  one,  in  trust 
for  his  son  William.  But  "  if  William  fortune  to  dye  before  he  comyth 
to  the  age  of  one  and  twenty  yeares  "  then  the  said  manors  are  to  go  to 
"  Thomas  de  Grey  the  sonne  of  WiU'um  de  Grey  late  of  Lytle  Cornard  and 
to  his  heirs  male."  On  the  yth  Aug.  1601  the  Queen  "  did  demyse  and 
graunte  unto  Danyell  Curtis  gent,  for  21  years  the  manor  and  woods  of 
Caxtons  in  Cornerd,  p'cell  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  Rob'te  de  Grey 
of  Marten  Esquier,  recusant  deceased  "  for  payment  and  satisfaction  of 
the  fines  due  to  the  Crown  for  his  recusancy,  the  manor  then  being  in  the 
tenure  and  occupation  of  Danyel  Curtis  gent,  and  two  others.  However, 
in  1604  James  I.  discharged  William  de  Grey  from  all  the  fines  due  by  his 
father,  and  on  the  26  May  3  James  I.  [1605]  we  find  "  Sir  William  de  Graye 
knt.  son  and  heir  of  Robert  de  Graye  Arm."  holding  a  court  for  the  Manor 
of  Caxton's. 

This  Sir  William  Grey  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  James  Calthorp  of 
Cockthorp  knt.  and  died  Oct.  19, 1632  seised  of  the  manor  and  lies  buried  in 
the  Chancel  of  Merton  Church  by  his  father's  side.  By  an  Inquisition  p.m. 
taken  at  Norwich  the  4  Jan.  8  Car.  [1632]  Sir  William  Grey  was  found  to 
have  died  seised  of  this  manor  valued  at  £3.  6s.  Sd.  Amongst  the  papers  in 
the  muniment  room  at  Merton  is  a  paper  in  this  Sir  William  de  Grey's 
handwriting  stating  that  the  value  of  "  the  ffarms  and  rentes  of  the  Manor 
of  Caxtons  "  was  in  1624  £163.  75.  gd. 

Sir  Robert  Grey  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  was  20  years  of  age  at 
his  father's  death  and  was  knighted  with  Christopher  Athoe  of  Bichamwell 
by  Charles  the  First  June  23,  1641.  He  married  Elizabeth  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  William  Bridon  of  Ipswich  and  died  the  20  Oct.  1644  having 
had  issue  one  son,  William,  who  died  a  minor,  and  two  daughters  Barbara 
and  Anne.  Sir  Robert  Grey  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  James  Grey 
who  married  Eliz.  daughter  of  Sir  Martin  Stutevile  of  Dalham  knt.  They 
are  buried  under  a  black  marble  in  the  Chancel  of  the  Church  of  Merton 
with  the  following  inscriptions  :— 

Quarterly  of  six  :  i,  Grey,  viz.,  Barry  of  6  with  an  amulet ;  2, 
Cornerd  ;  3,  Baynard  ;  4,  A  Bend  ;  5,  Barnardiston ;  6,  Manning,  impaling 
Stuteville,  a  Saltire  engrailed  ermine,  surmounted  by  the  crest  of  Grey. 

•  C.P.  i.  341. 


CORNARD   (LITTLE).  95 

Exuviae. 

Viri  Honorabilis  Jacobi  de  Grey  Armigeri,  Filij 
Secundi  Gulielmi  de  Grey  militis,  et  Dominae 
Annae  Uxoris  suae,  qui  ex  Elizabetha,  Filia 

Martini  Stutfield  de  Dalham  in  Agro 

Suffolciensi  militis,  charissima  Sponsa  prolem 

Reliquit,  Gulielmum  de  Grey  Armigerum,  Filium 

Unicum,  Elizabethan!,  Susannam  et  Annam 
Filias  ;  et  tertio  Die  mensis  Junij  Anno  Dni :  M.DCLXV.  Spiritual  Deo  reddidit  et  in 

Pace  hie  requiescit,  Carnis  Resurrectionem 
Expectans  Gloriosam,  in  Adventu  Salvatoris 

Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi. 

In  memoriam  Conjugis  clarissimi 

Et  merentissimi 

Marmor  hoc 
Reponendum  curavit. 

Also  under  this  stone  lieth  the  body  of  Elizabeth  de  Grey  Daughter 
of  Sir  Martin  Stutevile  of  Dalham  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  knt. 
She  departed  this  Life  upon  the  I5th  day  of  September  1696  in  the 
Both  year  of  her  age,  her  whole  Life  having  bene  a  continued 
Example  of  great  Vertu  and  Prudence. 

William  de  Grey  their  only  son  succeeded  and  held  his  first  Court  for 
this  manor  the  16  May  1677.  There  is  a  note  of  his  at  Merton  as  follows  : 
"  Quitt  Rent  Caxton's  Manor.  Md.  The  settled  Rents  of  my  Rentall,  which 
are  payable  every  Mich,  come  to  yeerly  £3.  135.  2%d."  He  was  a  Burgess 
in  Parliament  for  Thetford  in  1685,  and  married  Elizabeth  sister  and  co- 
heir of  Thomas  Bedingfield  of  Darsham.  He  died  in  1687,  being  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  de  Grey  who  was  member  of  Parliament  for  Thet- 
ford in  1705  and  again  in  1708.  He  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  William 
Wyndham  of  Felbrigge  in  Norfolk,  and  had  besides  other  issue,  a  son  and 
heir,  Thomas  de  Grey,  educated  at  Christ  College,  Cambridge,  and  after- 
wards in  the  Secretary  of  State's  office.  He  represented  the  county  of 
Norfolk  in  1768,  and  on  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother, 
Sir  William  de  Grey.  Mr.  Crabb  states  that  in  1769  the  annual  value  of 
Caxton's,  then  the  property  of  Thomas  de  Grey,  and  being  in  extent  269  acres, 
was  £115. 

Sir  William  Grey  was  a  lawyer  of  some  eminence — Chief  Justice  of 
the  Common  Pleas  in  1771  and  advanced  to  the  Peerage  as  Baron  Walsing- 
ham  of  Walsingham  co.  Norfolk  the  17  Oct.  1780.  He  married  Mary 
daughter  of  William  Cowper  of  The  Park  co.  Hertford  and  dying  in  1781 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  2nd  Baron  Walsingham  who  married 
Augusta  Georgiana  Elizabeth  only  daughter  of  Sir  William  Irby  ist  Lord 
Boston.  The  2nd  Baron  Walsingham  occupied  for  20  years  the  office  of 
Chairman  of  the  Committees  of  the  House  of  Lords,  and  was  granted  by 
the  Prince  Regent  upon  retiring  in  1814,  a  pension  of  £2,000  a  year  for  life. 
He  died  the  i6th  Jan.  1818  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  George  3rd  Baron 
who  married  Matilda  eldest  daughter  of  Paul  Cobb  Methuen  of  Corsham, 
but  had  no  issue.  He  was  burnt  to  death,  together  with  his  wife,  at  their 
house  in  Harley  Street  the  26  Apr.  1831,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
Thomas  4th  Baron,  in  holy  orders,  Archdeacon  of  Surrey,  prebendary  of  Win- 
chester and  Rector  of  Fawley  Hants,  and  of  Merton,  Norfolk.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  youngest  daughter  of  the  Hon.  and  Right  Rev.  Brownlow 
North,  Bishop  of  Winchester  and  dying  the  7th  Sept.  1839  was  succeeded 
by  Thomas  5th  Baron  Walsingham,  who  married  Augusta  Louisa  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Frankland  Russell  Bart.,  and  had  by  her  a  son 
Thomas  who  on  the  death  of  his  father  in  1870  succeeded  to  the  lordship 


96  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

of  Caxton's  Manor  as  6th  Baron  Walsingham  and  the  same  is  now  held  by 
him. 

The  Court  Rolls  of  this  manor  are  preserved  at  Merton.  They  begin 
1277  and  end  1619  and  are  as  follows  :  5,  10  and  13  Edw.  I.,  ist,  i2th, 
i8th  Edw.  II.,  38,  39,  51  Edw.  III.,  4th  to  19  and  23  to  50  Edw.  III., 
ist  to  18  Rich.  II.,  7th,  gth,  i$th  Hen.  IV.,  2nd,  3rd,  6th,  7th  Hen.  V., 
8  to  38th  Hen.  VI.,  4th  and  I2th  Edw.  IV.,  2nd  and  7th  Hen.  VII.,  10,  19, 
27,  3ist,  35th  Hen.  VIII.,  2nd  and  3rd  and  3rd  and  4th  Phil,  and  Mary, 
6th,  28th,  4Oth  Elizabeth,  3rd  to  i6th  James.  Notes  of  certain  Courts 
3rd  James  to  1720,  as  also  Rentals  of  this  manor  in  1475,  c.  1480,  1486-7, 
1515-16,  2  and  3  Phil,  and  Mary,  3rd,  I3th,  i6th  James  I.,  1626,  29,  33, 
77,  78,  81,  87,  91  are  likewise  at  Merton. 

PEACOCK'S  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  together  with  the  advowson  seems  to  have  been  held  in 
the  I3th  century  by  the  Weylands.  A  fine  was  levied  respecting  these 
in  1287  by  Richard  de  Weyland  against  Thomas  de  Weyland.1  In 
1320  we  meet  with  another  fine,  John  le  Tornour  of  Redbourne  chaplain 
v.  John  son  of  Robert  Pecok  of  Redbourne  senior  and  Matilda  his  wife  of  the 
advowson  and  part  of  the  manor  (Robert  son  of  Herbert  Weyland,  William 
de  Symplyngford  and  Joan  his  wife,  Olivia  de  Stratton  and  Clementina 
his  wife  appon  clam).1  Thirteen  years  later  manor  and  advowson  were 
vested  in  John  Somersham  of  Asham  lord  of  Cornard. 

The  advowson  of  Little  Cornard  seems  always  to  have  pertained  to  this 
manor  and  continued  to  do  so  at  least  until  1792  ;  consequently  the  presenta- 
tions thereto  may  be  of  some  help  in  determining  the  Lords.  William  Ashe 
married  Margaret  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John  Somersham,  but  in  1368 
John  Pecok  was  Patron  and  certainly  presented  to  the  living  in  1371  and 
John  Swanburne  in  1392. 

William  Ashe's  daughter  Elizabeth  married  Thomas  Frowyke  and  he 
presented  in  1426.  His  will  was  proved  the  17  Mar.  1448  and  he  was 
buried  at  St.  Mimms.  In  1449  Elizabeth  Frowyke  presented.  Her  will 
is  dated  the  29  April  1455.  Her  son  and  heir  Henry  Frowyke  appears  as 
lord  in  1461,  no  doubt  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  and  probably  sold  this 
manor  and  advowson  in  1471  to  his  cousin  Thomas  Frowyke  the  son  of  Sir 
Henry  brother  of  Thomas  Frowyke  who  had  married  Elizabeth  Ashe.  The 
assurance  seems  to  have  been  effected  by  a  fine  levied  by  Thomas  Frowyke 
of  London  and  Joan  his  wife,  John  Warde  citizen  and  alderman  of  London, 
Thomas  Bledlowe  of  London,  John  Ward  of  London,  and  Reginald  Asshe 
of  London  v.  Henry  Frowyke  and  Joan  his  wife.3  Sir  Thomas  was  of  Gunners- 
bury  and  his  will  was  proved  the  10  Nov.  1485.  He  married  Joan  daughter 
and  heir  of  Richard  Sturgeon.  Davy  seems  to  think  that  Henry  Frowyke 
did  not  sell  this  manor  but  that  it  descended  to  his  son  Thomas  of  Old 
Fold  in  1475,  but  as  Dame  Joan  the  widow  of  Henry's  cousin  Sir  Thomas 
presented  in  1490  the  above  statement  is  probably  correct.  The  manor 
on  Sir  Thomas  Frowyke's  death  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Thomas  Frowyke 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  who  died  the  17  Oct.  1506  when  the 
manor  passed  to  his  nephew  Thomas  Frowyke  who  was  probably  a  Priest. 
This  Thomas  was  the  son  of  Sir  Henry  Frowyke  whose  will  was  proved 
15  Nov.  1505  by  his  second  wife  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  Ralph  Leigh 
and  widow  of  Walter  Ford,  and  on  Thomas  Frowyke's  decease  the  manor 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  15  Edw.  I.  61,  >  Feet  of  Fines,  n  Edw.  IV.  25. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  14  Edw.  II.  42. 


CORNARD     (LITTLE).  97 

passed  to  Sir  Michael  Fisher  knt.  of  Elstow  co.  Beds.,  who  had  married 
Margaret  the  only  child  of  Sir  Henry  Frowyke  by  his  first  wife  Joan  daughter 
of  John  Danvers,  the  husband  therefore  of  Thomas's  half  sister.  A  fine 
was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1530  by  William  Marten  and  others  against 
this  Sir  Michael  Fisher  and  others.1  On  Sir  Michael  Fisher's  death  his 
widow  held  for  life,  and  on  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  grandchild 
Agnes  the  daughter  of  her  son  Sir  John  Fisher  knt.  by  Anne  daughter  of 
John  ist  Lord  Mordaunt.  Agnes  Fisher  married  Oliver  St.  John  created 
Lord  St.  John  of  Bletshoe.  On  the  Memoranda  Rolls  i  and  2  Phil,  and 
Mary  is  an  order  that  Oliver  St.  John  and  his  wife  shew  title  to  the  Manor 
of  Cornard  (Peacock's  no  doubt)2  and  in  1565  they  were  deforciants  in  a 
fine  levied  of  the  manor  by  Edmund  Felton3  who  had  purchased  the 
property.  By  1583  the  manor  had  passed  to  Thomas  Felton.  Mr.  Crabbe 
cites  a  document  at  Merton  Hall  written  in  the  time  of  James  I.  which 
certainly  demonstrates  this.  It  states  that  "  Mr.  ffelton  about  the  xxvth 
yere  of  the  late  Queen  [Elizabeth]  was  desirous  or  rather  importunate  to 
hyer  the  manno'  of  Cawsones  in  Suff.  belonging  to  one  Robert  de  Gray,  a 
recusant,  the  same  adioyning  to  a  manno  of  ffelton's  called  Peacock  Hall 
since  solde  awaie  by  him."  A  fine  of  the  manor  in  1584  was  levied  of  the 
manor  by  Nicholas  Grymshawe  (probably  as  a  trustee)  against  the  said 
Thomas  Felton4  for  9  years  later  the  said  Thomas  Felton  sold  the  manor 
to  Peter  White5  who  four  years  later  sold  the  same  to  Edward  Curtis.6 

There  is  a  fine  in  1588  of  the  "  Cornard  Manor  "  levied  by  William 
Tyffen  and  others  against  John  Fortescue  and  others.7 

Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
will  be  found  an  action  by  this  Edward  Curtis  and  John  Chase  against 
Thomas  Felton  Eleanor  his  wife  and  others  as  to  deeds  in  connection  with 
the  Manor  of  Cornard  otherwise  Peacock's  Hall  and  lands  in  Great  and 
Little  Cornard  formerly  the  estate  of  Edward  Felton.8 

Daniel  Curtis  was  apparently  lord  in  1607  for  he  then  presented  to 
the  living.  In  1633  Thomas  Blyth  presented  and  in  1637-8  the  manor 
belonged  to  Sir  Robert  Crane  of  Chilton  knt.  who  in  that  year  conveyed  it 
for  £2,320  to  Thomas  Newman  of  Little  Cornard  and  Margaret  his  wife.  The 
latter  died  the  27  May  1664  and  the  former  was  buried  16  August  1680. 
Thomas  Newman  succeeded  and  presented  in  1681 .  The  next  presentation  to 
the  living  in  1714  was  made  by  Laurence  Gibbon.  Later  Katharine  Gibbon, 
Thomas  Newman,  Mary  Newman  and  Elizabeth  Grossman  presented,  and 
in  1792  Edward  Green  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  and  John  Newman.  One 
of  the  Newmans,  Ann,  in  1749  married  Robert  Sparrow  and  Newman 
Sparrow  their  son  built  the  present  Peacock  Hall  in  1798  and  was  living 
there  in  1800. 

Two  generations  of  Sparrows  succeeded  and  the  manor  and  property 
passed  by  purchase  in  1875  to  George  Munford.  It  next  vested  in  Durrante 
Cardinal  and  was  then  acquired  by  George  Coote  who  held  the  same  in 
1896  and  from  him  it  passed  to  and  is  now  vested  in  William  Prigg  of  Great 
Cornard. 

SERLES  MANOR. 

Guy  Corbet  brother  of  Sir  Robert  Corbet  seems  to  have  had  the  lord- 
ship in  1426.  Guy  Corbet  made  his  will  in  1433  and  died  the  same  year 

1  Fine,  Mich.  22  Hen.  VIII.  5  Fine    Trin.  35  Eliz. 

'  Memoranda,  i    and   2    P.  and  M. ;  Hil.  6  Fine,  HiL,  39  Eliz. 

Rec.  Rot.  35.  '  Fine,  Hil.  30  Eliz. 

3  Fine,  Easter,  7  Eliz.  8  C.P.  i.  212. 

4  Fine,  Trin.  26  Eliz. 


98  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

leaving  his  widow  Joan  and  a  son  afterwards  Sir  Robert  Corbet.  The 
widow,  who  held  in  dower,  died  in  1439,  and  the  Inquisition  p.m.  then 
taken  included  80  acres  of  land,  5  of  meadow,  2  of  wood  and  525.  i$d.  of 
rent  in  Little  Cornard  and  Bures  held  as  of  the  Honor  of  Hatfield  Peverell. ' 
Sir  Robert  Corbet  succeeded  and  died  in  1478*  when  the  manor  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  Robert  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Robert 
Corbet.'  Robert  Corbet  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Richard  Corbet  who  died 
25  June  1524*  leaving  a  son  Richard  who  died  in  1544  when  the  manor 
apparently  went  to  another  Richard  Corbet,  for  in  1555  a  fine  of  it  was 
levied  by  William  Humberton  and  others  against  him.  Later  the 
manor  was  purchased  by  Robert  Gurdon.  The  devolution  subsequently 
is  identical  with  Assington  Manor  and  is  not  therefore  here  given. 

CATCHELEIGH,  APPULGARYS,  FOLYBROK  and  CANEWORTH  MANORS. 

These  appear  to  have  been  subsidiary  manors  to  Caxton's  and  to  have 
become  merged  in  it.  We  meet  with  Caneworth  Manor  under  the  name 
"  Cannewykes  Manor  "  in  a  fine  levied  in  1307  by  Richard  son  of  Henry 
son  of  Nicholas  de  St.  Edmund's  and  Isabella  his  wife  against  John 
de  Lincoln  and  Edmund  de  Neketon.5  In  the  muniment  room  at 
Merton  there  are  records  of  the  Courts  of  "  ffulybrok  "  held  1328-9  and  a 
Rental  of  1475  states  that  "  ffolybrok  "  is  situated  in  Bures,  though  it  is 
part  of  Caxton's.  Robertus  Lay  de  ffulybrok  is  mentioned  in  a  Court  of 
4  Edw.  IV. 

There  are  records  of  the  Courts  of  Appylgare  held  21  and  23  Rich.  II. 
and  in  a  Rental  about  1354  Dominus  Willielmus  Appilgare  is  mentioned, 
a  member  of  the  family,  no  doubt,  from  which  the  manor  derived  its  name. 
The  Court  Rolls  of  Caneworth,  4  and  5  Edw.  III.,  are  also  preserved  at 
Merton.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  separate  Court  of  any  of  these  small 
manors  was  held  after  the  time  of  Rich.  II.,  and  a  Rental  of  Caxton's  Manor 
about  1480  is  headed  "Caxtones  in  Cornerth  p'va  cum  Catcheleigh  appul- 
garys  et  ffolybrok."  An  earlier  Rental  in  1443  had  the  heading  "  Caxton 
in  Cateheleigh  Appulgares  Holybrok."6 


I.P.M.,   Joan  wife  of  Guy  Corbet,  17         5  Feet  of  Fines,  i  Edw.  II.  34. 

Hen.  VI.  24.  "  The  de  Greys  of  Little  Cornard,  by  the 

I.P.M.,  18  Edw.  IV.  19.  Rev.   Geo.  Crabbe,  Suff.   Inst.  vi. 

I.P.M.,  i  and  2  Hen.  VIII.  30,  31. 
I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  33. 


EDWARDSTONE. 


EDWARDSTONE. 


99 


|N  the  Confessor's  time  Godwin  son  of  Alfer  held  under  the 
King  4  carucates  of  land  as  a  manor  with  soc.  There  was 
a  church  living  with  30  acres  of  free  land.  The  details 
of  the  holding  were  as  follows  :  10  villeins,  7  bordars,  6 
slaves,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne,  6  belonging  to  the  men, 
8  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  10  hogs,  a  winter  mill,  2 
horses  at  the  Hall,  17  beasts,  60  hogs,  80  sheep,  all  valued  at 
100  shillings. 

At  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  the  value  had  risen  considerably, 
for  it  was  placed  at  7  pounds,  the  manor  being  then  held  by  Hubert  of 
Robert  Malet  the  tenant  in  chief.  The  villeins  had  by  degrees  come  down 
first  to  9  and  then  to  6,  but  the  bordars  had  increased  by  6.  There  were 
2  fewer  slaves  and  the  ploughteams  in  demesne  were  only  two  and  those 
of  the  men  but  3,  while  there  was  but  one  horse  at  the  Hall. 

One  looks  in  vain  for  any  evidence  of  actual  rise  in  value  in  these 
figures,  and  besides  there  were  but  n  beasts  in  place  of  17,  37  hogs  in  place 
of  60  and  22  sheep  in  lieu  of  80. 

In  this  place  there  were  also  9  socmen  having  half  a  carucate  of  land, 
with  formerly  a  whole  ploughteam  but  then  but  half  a  team,  all  included 
in  the  above  valuation.  The  manor  was  6  quanxntenes  in  length  and  6  in 
breadth  and  paid  in  a  gelt  lod.  whoever  the  tenant  might  be.' 

EDWARDSTONE  MANOR. 

The  Hubert  who  held  the  manor  of  Robert  Malet  in  the  time  of  William 
the  Conqueror  was  no  doubt  Hubert  de  Munchensi  or  Montchensey.  The 
family  came  into  England  at  the  Conquest  and  we  find  the  name  on  the  Roll  of 
Battle  Abbey.  Hubert  gave  about  the  year  1114  the  Church  of  Edwardstone 
and  all  its  appurtenances  lands  and  tithes  in  the  same  town,  2  acres  of 
land  near  the  church  and  divers  properties  in  other  parishes  to  the  Monastery 
of  Abingdon  in  Berkshire.  He  also  made  various  grants  of  lands 
to  the  monks  of  Eye  andThetford.  "  It  is  said  that  this  Hubert,"  observes 
Dugdale,  "  had  issue  Warine  de  Munchensi,  and  he  another  Hubert  which 
is  likely  enough  to  be  true  ;  for  in  1187  it  appears  that  Hubert  de  Mun- 
chensi was  in  ward  to  the  Bishop  of  Ely  with  his  land  at  Stretford,  part  of 
the  Honor  of  Henry  de  Essex.  At  the  same  time  also  Agnes  de  Munchensi 
(widow  of  Warine  as  I  guess)  daughter  of  Payne  Fitz-John  then  sixty  years 
of  age  had  three  sons,  viz.,  Ralph  and  William  both  knights  and  Hubert  a 
clerk  ;  as  also  two  daughters,  the  one  married  to  Stephen  de  Glanville 
and  the  other  to  William  Painell,  her  lands  at  Holkam  in  Norfolk  being 
then  valued  at  eleven  pounds  per  annum." 

The  Hubert  entered  on  the  Domesday  Survey  seems  to  have  had  a 
grandson  Hubert  and  this  is  the  man  often  mistaken  for  his  grandfather. 
Davy  who  probably  followed  Gipps  and  Blomefield  makes  Warin  to  be 
the  son  of  the  Domesday  Hubert,  while  Page  makes  Hubert,  the  son  of  the 
Domesday  Hubert  to  have  this  manor.  Of  course  the  difficulty  might 
be  met  by  supposing  the  second  Hubert  to  be  the  brother  of  Warin. 

We  find  that  Hubert  the  grandson  was  a  benefactor  about  the  year  1160 

1  Dom.  ii.  304. 


ioo  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

to  the  Abbey  of  Colne  in  Essex,  the  Convent  of  which  appointed  two  monks 
to  pray  for  his  father's  soul  in  their  church  of  Edwardstone,  and  afterwards 
to  pray  for  Hubert's  soul  and  those  of  his  heirs  in  the  church  of  Colne. 
The  monks  who  had  been  placed  by  Hubert  the  elder  at  Edwardstone  were 
removed  by  Abbot  Wakelin  to  Colne  in  Essex  which  was  also  a  cell  to 
Abingdon  and  in  their  stead  two  secular  priests  continued  to  pray  in  the 
Church  of  Edwardstone  according  to  the  will  of  Hubert  the  younger.  The 
impropriation  of  the  great  tithes  of  the  parish  was  given  to  Colne  by  Hubert 
and  so  remained  until  the  dissolution.  "  It  is  probable,"  says  Page,  "  here 
was  no  more  than  a  residence  for  the  officiating  monks  ;  and  the  endow- 
ments of  this  cell  were  annexed  in  1559  to  the  see  of  Ely  in  exchange  with 
the  Crown  for  some  valuable  manorial  property.  The  Bishop  of  Ely 
pays  to  the  Vicar  of  this  church  after  the  rate  of  twelve  pence  a  day,  or 
£18.  55.  per  annum."1  The  second  Hubert  married  according  to  Gipps, 
Muriell  daughter  of  Peter  de  Valoignes  and  had  issue  by  her  William 
de  Munchensi  who  was  a  great  soldier  and  in  high  esteem  with  Edw.  I.  and 
the  whole  Kingdom ;  but  according  to  Morant  and  the  Davy  MSS.  this 
Hubert  had  a  son  and  heir  William  and  he  a  son  and  heir  Warin 
de  Munchensi  who  was  the  great  soldier  in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  In  fact,  Davy 
introduces  another  generation.  The  Warin  who  was  son  of  the  Domesday 
tenant  in  chief  according  to  Dugdale  married  Agnes  daughter  of  Payn 
Fitz-John  and  brother  of  Ralph  and  had  issue  not  only  Hubert  but 
also  a  son  Sir  William  de  Munchensi  to  whom  Hen.  II.  at  the  end  of  his 
reign  made  various  grants  of  land  in  Norfolk.  He  was  the  father  of  Warin 
and  William.  Warm  had  lands  in  Suffolk,  for  in  1250  the  King  enfeoffed 
to  him  all  the  liberties  belonging  to  the  lands  of  Ralph  de  Munchensi 
his  uncle  whose  heir  he  was,  all  which  were  first  granted  by  Hen.  II., 
amongst  which  the  tenants  in  Winfarthing  co.  Norfolk  were  excused  from 
the  Sheriff's  turn  and  from  toll  and  from  serving  upon  any  juries  out  of 
their  manor,  and  he  had  assize  of  bread,  ale  and  wine  with  combleet 
allowed  him,  and  this  further  privilege  that  the  King's  bailiffs  should 
not  enter  his  baliwick  of  Winfarthing  to  take  any  distress  but  the  bailiff 
of  that  baliwick  should  do  it.  This  Sir  Warin  de  Munchensi  died  in  1255 
being  then  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  most  noble,  prudent  and  wealthy  men 
in  all  the  realm  ;  his  inventory  amounted  to  2,000  marks,  a  prodigious 
sum  for  that  time.  The  younger  son  William  de  Munchensi  had 
Edwardstone  Manor. 

It  is  clear  that  a  William  de  Montchensi  had  the  lordship  of  this  manor 
in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  The  descents  from  this  man  vary  according  to 
various  writers.  Gipps's  account  is  absurd  on  the  face  of  it,  but  it 
will  be  better  to  give  this  and  point  out  the  inaccuracies.  Gipps  says 
speaking  of  this  William  he  "  was  a  great  soldier  and  in  high  esteem  with 
Edw.  I.  and  the  whole  Kingdom  as  appears  from  a  MS.  in  Sir  Symonds 
Dews's  Library,  which  gives  this  account  of  his  death :  '  Ds  Will  de 
Montchansey  obsidebat  quoddam  Castrum  in  Wallia,  et  dum  ipse  et 
Familia  sua  quendam  Murum  effodebant,  ut  in  dictum  Castrum  pateretur 
Ingressus,  cecidit  Murus  super  ipsum  et  Familiam  suam,  et  ita  in  Amari- 
tudine  Cordis,  tamen  Vultu  incomposito,  Tributum  Mortis  persolvebat. 
In  cujus  Casu  tota  Gens  Anglicana  condoluit,  quia  Miles  strenuus  et  fortis, 
et  in  Bello  circumspectus  ab  omnibus  habebatur. — Collect.  Hist.  D.  Sym. 
Dews  1126.'  This  William  de  Montchansey  marry 'd  .  .  .  the  daughter 

1  Page,  Hist,  of  Sufi.  937. 


EDWARDSTONE.  101 

of  Dalbany  Earl  of  Arundel  by  whom  he  had  issue  2  sons  Waryne,1  the  eldest, 
who  died  without  issue,  and  Willm  who  marry'd  Beatrix  the  daughter  of 
Willm.  Beauchamp  and  relict  of  Tho.  Fitz-oates  by  whom  he  had  issue  one 
son  Tho.  born  32  Edw.  3  who  was  the  father  of  Sr.  Tho.  de  Montchansey 
who  marry'd  Beatrix  the  daughter  of  Sir  Edmd.  Vauncey  and  by  her  had 
Jane  his  sole  daughter  and  heir  marry'd  to  Sir  Richd.  Waldegrave.  Sr. 
Tho.  dy'd  29  Hen.  6.  Now  this  William  de  Montchensi  who  lived  in  the 
time  of  Edw.  I.  had  in  the  early  part  of  that  monarch's  reign  a  grant  of 
free  warren  in  Edwardstone2  and  died  in  I2863  being  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  William.  This  last  William  is  probably  the  William  de 
Montecaniso  of  Edwardstone  mentioned  during  the  lifetime  of  his  father 
in  the  Close  Rolls  in  I2754  and  with  his  wife  Beatrice  in  I2785  and 
together  with  others  mentioned  as  heirs  of  William  de  Bello  Campo  of 
Bedeford  and  of  Amicia  his  wife.6  He  is  also  probably  the  person  stated 
in  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1286  to  have  received  a  pardon  for  trespass.7 

Notwithstanding  the  pardon  he  seems  to  have  continued  in  prison 
for  4  years.  On  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1290  there  is  a  grant  to  Eleanor  the 
King's  Consort  of  the  lands  of  William  de  Monte  Caniso  of  Edwardston 
in  prison  for  trespasses.8  The  following  year,  however,  he  is  released,  for 
on  the  same  Rolls  we  find  a  mandate  from  the  King  to  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmunds  to  restore  him  the  arms,  vessels,  robes,  jewels  and  debts  owing 
to  him  and  taken  into  the  Abbot's  hands  by  reason  of  his  late  trespasses 
because  William  de  Monte  Caniso  is  about  to  go  to  Acre  in  the  service  of 
God.9  Ministers'  accounts  of  William's  lands  here10  will  be  found  in  the 
Public  Record  Office." 

William  died  about  1302"  ?  leaving  (it  is  apprehended)  not  a  son 
Thomas  as  stated  by  Gipps  but  a  son  William  who  died  in  i3ig13 
seised  of  the  manor  stated  in  the  Close  Rolls  of  that  year  to  be  held 
in  chief  as  of  the  Honor  of  Eye14  and  in  his  Inquisition  post  mortem  will 
actually  be  found  an  extent  of  the  manor.  He  left  a  son  William  who  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  decease  was  an  infant,  and  the  custody  of  the  manor 
seems  to  have  been  committed  to  Queen  Isabella  who  granted  the  manor 
during  the  minority  of  the  heir  to  John  de  Hothum  bishop  of  Ely. 

The  Bishop  of  Ely  in  1322  by  deed  16  September  demised  to  Sir  Robert 
de  Bures  and  Andrew  his  son  the  wardship  of  the  manor  "  held  during  the 
minority  of  Sir  William  de  Mountchenesey.'"5  William  attained  21  and 
died  in  1337  leaving  Thomas  his  son  or  brother  his  successor.16 

On  the  Close  Rolls  of  this  year  will  be  found  an  order  to  the  Escheator 
to  give  full  seisin  to  this  Thomas  de  Montecaniso  son  of  William  of  the 
Manor  of  Edwardstone  as  William  held  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  the 
King  as  of  the  Honor  of  Eye  which  being  then  in  the  hands  of  Queen  Isabella 
she  committed  the  manor  (in  her  hands  by  reason  of  the  minority  of  William's 
heir)  to  John  de  Hothum  bishop  of  Ely  to  hold  until  the  heir  should  come 

1  This  was  the  man  who  was  so  wealthy         '  Pat.  Rolls,  19  Edw.  I.  18. 

that   he  was    called    the  English         °  24  to  25  Edw.  I. 

Croesus   and  died   worth  upwards         '  Bundle  1090,  No.  4. 

of  200,000  marks.  3  I.P.M.,  30  Edw.  I.  38. 

=  H.R.  ii.  143,  153.  3  I. P.M.,  13  Edw.  II.  26 ;  I.Q.D.,  10  Edw. 

3  I.P.M.,  14  Edw.  I.  27.  II.  54. 

'Close  Rolls,  3  Edw.  II.  5^.  «  Close  Rolls,  13  Edw.  II.  6. 

5  Close  Rolls,  6  Edw.  I.  7.  5  Ancient  Deeds  in  Public  Record  Office 

6  Ib.  5-  C.  1755- 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  14  Edw.  I.  9.  "  I.P.M.,  n  Edw.  III.  18. 

8  Pat.  Rolls,  18  Edw.  1. 2 ;  19  Edw.  I.  21. 


102  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

of  age.    The  honor  had  come  into  the  King's  hands  on  the  death  of  John 
Earl  of  Cornwall.    Thomas,  William's  son  was  next  heir  and  of  full  age.1 

There  is  evidently  something  wrong  here  if  William  de  Montchensy 
last  mentioned  is  intended,  for  he  was  a  minor  in  1322,  it  is  not  easy  to 
see  how  his  son  could  have  been  of  full  age  in  1337.  Assuming  the  father 
to  have  come  of  age  in  1323,  which  is  the  very  earliest  possible  date  con- 
sistently with  the  demise  of  the  Bishop  of  Ely  in  1322,  the  son  must  have 
been  born  to  his  father  at  the  somewhat  early  age  of  7  ! 

Thomas  de  Montchensy  probably  settled  the  manor  and  advowson 
in  1360,  for  we  meet  with  the  following  fine  that  year  :  Sir  Ralph  de  Hemen- 
hale,  John  Edmund  and  Roger  Aubrey  v.  Sir  Thomas  de  Mountchensy.  * 
He  died  shortly  after  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  and  he  by 
his  son  Sir  Thomas  who  married  Beatrix  the  daughter  of  Sir  Edmund 
Vauncey  and  died  according  to  Gipps  29  Hen.  VI.  [1451]. 

If  Sir  Thomas  Montchensy  died  as  late  as  stated  by  Gipps  he  must  have 
parted  with  the  manor  in  his  lifetime,  for  his  daughter  and  heir  married 
Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  Lord  of  Bures  and  Silvesters,  and  according  to  the 
Davy  MSS.  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  granted  the  manor  to  Michael  Blundell 
in  1420,  with  what  object  is  not  stated,  but  probably  by  way  of  Settle- 
ment. The  manor  is  contained  in  the  Inquisition  post  mortem  (and  an 
extent  given)  of  Sir  Richard  Waldegrave  who  died  the  2  May  I434-3  Jane, 
Sir  Richard's  wife,  survived  and  held  the  manor  till  her  death  in  1450 4 
when  she  was  succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Waldegrave,  and 
the  manor  continued  in  the  family  till  the  time  of  the  Sir  William  Walde- 
grave who  died  in  1613  by  whom  it  was  sold  in  1598  to  John  Brand  of 
Boxford  a  wealthy  clothier.5  Robert  Brand  Prior  of  Norwich  who  died 
in  1542  first  advanced  the  Brands  and  so  became  founder  as  it  were  of 
the  Brands  of  Edwardstone.  The  intermediate  descents  of  the  manor 
between  the  last  two  mentioned  Sir  William  Waldegraves  will  be 
found  under  Smallbridge  Manor  in  Bures  and  are  not  therefore 
here  repeated ;  but  we  may  mention  that  this  manor  is  specifically 
included  in  the  Inquisition  post  mortem  of  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  who  died 
the  30  Jan.  1527*  of  Sir  George  who  died  the  8  July  1528'  and  of  Sir  William 
who  died  the  7  November  1554,*  and  is  the  subject  of  a  fine  levied  in  1601 
by  Thomas  Walton  against  the  above  named  John  Brand.9  John  Brand 
did  not  long  enjoy  the  estate  for  he  died  in  1610  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  Benjamin  Brand  who  died  before  1619.  On  the  flat  stone 
in  the  north  aisle  of  Edwardstone  Church  is  the  following  inscription  : — 

To  the  precious  memory  of  Benjamin  Brand  of  Edwardstone 
Hall  Esqr.  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  ;  whom,  when  Providence  after  35 
years  conjunction  divided,  death  after  12  days  divorcement  reunited  : 
who,  leaving  their  rare  examples  to  6  Sons  and  6  Daughters  (all  nursed 
with  her  unborrowed  milk)  blest  with  poor  mens  prayers,  embaulmed 
with  numerous  tears,  lye  here  reposed. 

Benjamin  Brand  was  succeeded  by  his  cousin  and  heir  John  Brand 
who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Brand  who  died  in  1674  leaving 
an  only  child  Elizabeth  who  married  Sir  Robert  Kemp  Bart,  who  sold  the 
manor  in  1714  to  William  French  citizen  and  draper  of  London  who  was  lord 

•  Close  Rolls,  ii  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  23.               •  I.P.M.,  19  Hen.  VIII.  44. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  34  Edw.  III.  19.  '  I.P.M.,  20  Hen.  VIII.  18. 

•  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  27.  •  I.P.M.,  i  and  2  P.  and  M.  92. 

•  I.P.M.,  2i  Edw.  IV.  53.  '  Fine,  Mich.  43,  44  Eliz. 
:  Fine,  Mich.  40,  41  Eliz. 


EDWARDSTONE.  103 

and  patron  here.1  William  French  by  his  will,  which  was  proved  in  London 
on  the  i2th  Jan.  1738,  devised  the  manor  with  the  rest  of  his  landed  estate 
to  William  Sheldon  the  son  of  his  niece  Ann  Sheldon  and  he  or  probably  his 
son  (for  the  Vendor  was  Wm.  Sheldon  jun.)  in  1794  sold  the  manor  together 
with  the  advowson  and  estate  to  Thomas  Dawson  of  the  family  of  Dawson 
of  Easington  co.  Durham.  He  was  born  in  1747  and  his  mother  was  one 
of  the  Forsters  of  Rothbury,  co.  Northumberland.  He  married  Anne  dau. 
of  Thomas  Manning,  and  on  his  death  in  1807  was  succeeded  by  his  s.  and  h. 
Charles  Dawson  born  in  1777.  He  died  in  1853  and  by  his  will  the  manor 
was  devised  to  his  sister  the  widow  of  William  Shepherd  of  Bradbourne 
co.  Kent,  on  whose  death  in  1864  the  manor  passed  to  her  grandson. 

An  abstract  of  a  survey  of  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst  the  MSS. 
of  the  Brit.  Mus.2  as  will  also  an  extent  of  the  lands  held  of  this  manor  by 
Sibton  Abbey3  and  a  Rental  of  the  manor  in  i68o.4 

Arms  of  Montchensy  :  Or,  three  escutcheons  barry  of  six  varee  and 
gules  : — of  Brand,  eyther  vert  a  griffin  passant,  and  a  chef  or ;  or,  Azure, 
two  swords  in  saltire  argent,  hilted  in  base  or,  a  bordure  engrailed  of  the 
last. 

LYNNES  MANOR  al.  ALGOOD'S. 

This  small  manor  was  probably  called  after  a  family  holding  in  the 
time  of  Henry  V.  There  is  preserved  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  a 
grant  by  Elizabeth  relict  of  John  Lynne  of  Edwardston  to  John 
Chilton  of  Colchester  and  John  Lynne  of  Edwardston  of  certain 
lands  in  Edwardston  and  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield.5  And 
certain  grants  in  the  same  collection  explain  the  origin  of  the 
title  Algoods  and  practically  indicate  the  period  from  which  the  manor 
was  so  called.  The  ist  is  dated  the  26  Jan.  9  Hen.  V.  [1421]  and  is  a  con- 
firmation by  John  Chilton  of  Colchester  and  John  Lynne  of  Edwardston 
to  John  Algood  of  Colchester  and  others  of  all  their  lands  and  tenements 
in  Edwardston,  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield,  Groton  and  Meldynge.6 
The  2nd  is  dated  the  7th  March  14  Hen.  VI.  [1435-6]  and  is  a  grant  by 
Geoffrey  Hervy  de  Fornham  All  Saints  and  Peter  Gervays  of  Sudbury  to 
John  Algood  of  Colchester  and  others  of  their  whole  right  and  claim  in 
lands,  rents,  &c.,  formerly  of  John  Adam  and  afterwards  of  John  Lynne 
in  Edwardston,  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield  and  Meldyng.7  The  3rd  is 
dated  the  29  June  28  Hen.  VI.  [1449-50]  and  is  a  lease  of  John  Algood  of 
Colchester,  Ellen  his  wife  and  Peter  Creke,  clerk  to  Sir  Robert  Corbet  knt., 
Thomas  Wode  and  others  of  all  their  lands,  rents,  &c.,  which  they  acquired 
by  the  gift  and  feoffment  of  John  Chilton  of  Colchester  and  John  Lynne  of 
Edwardston  situated  in  Edwardston,  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield,  Groton 
and  Meldynge.8  A  Rental  of  John  Algood  jun.  for  lands,  &c.,  in  Edwardston, 
Great  and  Little  Waldingfield  the  9  April  4  Edw.  IV.  [1464]  and  29  Hen. 
VIII.  [1537]  will  be  found  amongst  the  Rolls  in  the  Bodleian.9 

In  the  time  of  Elizabeth  the  manor  belonged  to  Thomas  Apleton, 
Appleton  or  Apulton  of  Waldingfield  the  son  of  William  Apleton  and  Rose  his 
wife  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Robert  Sexton  of  Lavenham  by  Agnes  sister  of 

1  He  is  supposed  to  have  left  a  yearly  rent  4  Add.  MSS.  19198. 

charge  of  £2   out   of   Edwardston  s  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  197. 

Hall  for  the  poor  of  the  parish,  and  6  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  296. 

the   amount   is  still  distributed  in  7  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  299. 

bread  on  Easter  Monday.  8  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  303. 

*  Add.  MSS.  19197.  '  Bodl.  Suff.  Rolls  10,  n. 
»  Add.  MSS.  34560. 


104  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

Sir  Thos.  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook.  Thomas  Apleton  married  Mary  2nd 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edward  Isaacke  of  West  Court,  Kent.  The 
A  pultons  had  held  land  in  Edwardston  many  generations  earlier  than  this, 
for  we  find  that  Thomas's  great  grandfather  and  namesake  had  by  Deed 
the  I  Oct.  13  Hen.  VII.  [1497]  confirmed  to  John  Smith  and  others  two 
messuages  and  the  crofts  adjacent  and  one  piece  of  meadow  in  Edwardston.1 
Two  years  later  the  20  May  15  Hen.  VII.  [1500]  we  find  a  lease  by  this 
Thomas  Apulton  and  others  to  John  Colman  and  others  of  certain  crofts 
and  lands  in  Edwardston  and  Great  Waldingfield.1 

On  the  death  of  Thomas  Apulton  in  1603'  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  Sir  Isaac  Apulton  knt.  The  descent  of  this  Sir  Isaac 
Apulton  from  John  Apelton  of  Great  Waldingfield  1416  is  given  in  the 
Additional  Suffolk  Pedigrees  to  the  edition  of  the  "Visitations  of  Suffolk  " 
by  Walter  C.  Metcalfe  1882,  pp.  180,  181,  and  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Muskett  in 
his  exceptionally  valuable  account  of  the  "  Manorial  Families  of  Suffolk," 
vol.  I,  p.  329.  Sir  Isaac  Apulton  married  Mary  daughter  of  the  unfortunate 
Anthony  Cage  of  Long  Stow  co.  Cambridge  and  died  in  1608*  being 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Isaac  Apulton  who  married  Dame  Susan 
relict  of  Sir  Robert  Crane  of  Chilton  Bart,  and  dau.  of  Sir  Giles  Allington 
of  Horseheath,  and  died  without  issue  leaving  his  three  sisters  his  co-heirs. 5 

A  fine  was  in  1549  levied  of  the  manor  by  William  Cordell  and  others 
against  Nicholas  Rokewood.6 

TEWES  OR  TUES  MANOR  al.  TENDRING. 

This  small  manor  belonged  to  the  Tendrings  and  passed  to  the 
Apultons.  Thomas  de  Tendring  and  Emma  his  wife  had  lands,  tenements 
and  services  here  in  1339'  and  in  1467  John  Tendring  represented  the 
family.  In  the  following  century  it  passed  to  Thomas  Apulton  of  Walding- 
field and  to  his  son  and  grandson  as  just  mentioned  in  relation  to  the  Manor 
of  Lynnes. 

1°  J537  a  fine  was  levied  of  this  manor  by  William  Page  against  Richard 
Yaxle  and  others8  under  which  the  manor  vested  in  the  said  William  Page 
who  in  1554  sold  the  same  to  Edward  Apulton.  Edward  Apulton  was 
a  younger  brother  of  William  Apulton  of  Little  Waldingfield  and  married 
Alice  dau.  of  Firmyn  Rokewood  of  Euston.  He  made  his  will  dated  the 
31  Aug.  1580'  and  died  without  issue  when  this  manor  apparently  passed 
to  his  nephew  Thomas  Apulton  or  Appleton  lord  of  the  Manor  of  Lynnes. 


1  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  302.  s  For   the  Appleton   family,  see   further 

'  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  301.  account    under    Holbrook    Manor, 

'Will   P.C.C.    32  Bolein    I  March   1603,  Little  Waldingfield,  in  this  Hundred. 

proved  i6May  following.— Muskett.         6  Fine,  Hil.  3  Edw.  VI. 
«  Will  8  Sept.  1608,  proved  the  12  July         '  Close  Rolls,  14  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  (yd). 
1609.    P.C.C.  70  Dorset*..— Muskett.         '  Fine,  Mich.  29  Hen.  VIII. 

'  Proved  icNov.  1580.    P.C.C.  41  ArundelJ. 
— Muskett, 


GLEMSFORD.  105 


GLEMSFORD. 

N  Saxon  times  the  main  manor  was  given  by  Leofsin  to  the 
Abbot  of  Ely  with  8  carucates  of  land.  There  were  16 
villeins,  18  bordars,  and  5  slaves,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne 
and  7  belonging  to  the  men,  12  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for 
5  hogs,  i  mill,  3  horses  at  the  Hall  and  8  beasts.  Also  a 
Church  living  with  30  acres  of  free  land.  By  the  time  of  the 
Domesday  Survey  there  had  merely  been  added  to  the  manor 
200  sheep  and  32  hogs.  There  was  also  one  socman  with  8  acres.  The  whole 
had  been  formerly  valued  at  10  pounds  but  then  the  value  was  increased 
to  16.  The  manor  was  i  league  long  and  8  quarantenes  broad  and  it  paid 
in  a  gelt  15^.'  The  only  other  manor  in  Saxon  and  Norman  times  was 
that  held  in  the  Confessor's  days  by  Blackwin  under  Siward's  commenda- 
tion with  30  acres  valued  at  6  shillings.  At  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey 
this  was  held  by  Garius  of  Ranulf  Peverell  the  tenant  in  chief,  but  the 
soc  was  in  St.  Etheldreda.* 

GLEMSFORD  MANOR. 

Page  in  his  History  of  Suffolk,  following  Kirby,  says  the  lordship  of 
this  parish  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  Survey  was  vested  in  Odo  de  Cam- 
pania a  near  relative  of  King  William,  who  was  by  him  created  Earl  of 
Albemarle  and  Holderness  and  his  large  inheritance  passed  to  Stephen 
his  son  and  heir.  Where  Kirby  acquired  his  information  does  not  appear, 
as  he  cites  no  authority ;  but  whatever  the  source  it  may  be  confidently 
asserted  that  the  whole  statement  is  a  delusion. 

Odo  de  Campania  never  had  anything  to  do  with  the  Manor  of  Glems- 
ford,  nor  indeed  with  any  land  whatsoever  in  the  parish  of  Glemsford. 
Page  next  informs  us,  and  this  time  fortunately  he  is  correct,  that  in  the 
reign  of  Edw.  I.  it  (the  manor)  was  appropriated  to  the  Church  of  Ely 
and  some  rents  are  still  paid  to  the  Bishop  of  that  See  who  has  the 
patronage  of  the  Church  of  St.  Mary  in  Glemsford.  From  the  Hundred 
Rolls  we  learn  that  both  Glemsford  and  Hartest  Manors  were  held  by  the 
Bishop  of  Ely  in  chief  of  the  King  and  pertained  to  the  Barony  of  Ely 
at  that  time,  they  having  been  given  in  f rankalmoign  ;3  also  that  the 
Bishop  held  pleas  in  these  manors.4 

The  Bishop  of  Ely  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  respect  of  the  Manor 
of  Glemsford  in  1361.  In  1600  Martin  Heton  Bishop  of  Ely  alienated  the 
manor  to  the  Queen  and  10  years  later  it  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to 
Prince  Henry,  but  in  1617  it  reverted  to  the  King.  It  was  in  the  i8th 
century  purchased  by  John  Moore  who  died  in  1753'  leaving  a  son  and 
heir  Henry  Moore  who  died  unmarried  in  1769  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother  and  heir  Richard  Moore  who  died  in  1782  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  and  heir  Richard  Moore.6  He  died  the  23rd  November,  1826, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Willoughby  Moore,  by  whom  and  his 
mortgagees  the  manor  was  sold  in  1834  to  John  Wright,  from  whom  five 
years  later  it  was  acquired  by  Edmund  Stedman.  It  belonged  sub- 
sequently to  Robert  Frost  Stedman,  Sidney  Pattinson  (1875),  Henry 

'  Dom.  ii.  382.  s  The  Courts  were  held  by  Mary  Moore, 
*  Dom.  ii.  4166.  widow,  from  1763  to  1762. 

3  H.R.  ii.  142,  150.  6  See  Netherhall  Manor,  Cavendish,  in  this 

4  H.R.  ii.  143.    '  Hundred. 

N 


106  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

William  Eaton  afterwards  Lord  Cheylesmore  (1876-1888),  Joseph 
Beaumont  (r888),  on  whose  death  in  1889  it  came  to  his  son  George 
Frederick  Beaumont  F.S.A.  of  The  Lawn,  Coggeshall  in  Essex,  to  whom  It 
still  belongs. 

Ministers'  account  of  the  Bishop  of  Ely's  temporalities  in  Glemsford 
14  Edw.  I.  [1286]  and  26  to  28  Edw.  I.,1  17  to  18  Edw.  I.  or  III.,'  will  be 
found  in  the  Public  Record  Office'  and  an  inquisition  of  lands  of  the  Bishop 
in  Glemsford  in  1356  amongst  the  MSS.  of  the  British  Museum.4 

Extracts  from  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  passing  land  from  the  lord 
to  John  Tebbe  and  his  heirs  according  to  the  custom  in  the  2Oth  year  of 
Hen.  VII.  will  be  found  in  the  Bodleian5;  and  amongst  the  Proceedings  in 
Chancery  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  is  an  action  for  discovery  of  the 
terms  for  a  lease  by  Eustace  Strutt  to  Henry  Frost  of  a  customary  tene- 
ment called  Patches,  part  of  this  manor6 ;  also  in  the  Bodleian,  Abstracts 
of  Fines  and  Amercements  20  Car.  I.  and  27  Car.  I.'  Surveys  of  the  manor 
will  be  found  in  the  Cambridge  University  Library.8 

METHOLD'S  AND  WIMBOLD'S  MANOR. 

The  Methwolds  held  about  the  time  of  Hen.  VII.  this  manor,  and 
amongst  the  Suffolk  Charters  in  the  Bodleian  will  be  found  a  note  of  a 
grant  at  a  Court  of  this  manor  :  "  Methwolds  and  Wymbolds  held  the 
Tuesday  on  the  feast  of  St.  Dionisius  7  Hen.  VIII.  [1515]  by  William  Mede- 
wold  Esq.,  granted  to  Margery  Jakis  widow  one  tenement  called  '  Cul- 
stone  '  with  a  garden,  &c.,  by  the  service  of  6s.  8d.  annually  and  one  capon."9 

William  Methwold  was  lord  in  1515,  for  we  find  a  Surrender  of  a  little 
meadow  made  by  John  Hall  at  a  Court  held  "by  William  Medewold  Esq." 
to  the  use  of  one  Walter  Berdfeld.10 

William  Methwold  by  deed  dated  34  Hen.  VIII.  [1542]  sold  all  his 
lands  and  tenements  in  this  parish  called  Methwold's  and  Wymbold's  to 
John  Smith  then  of  Cavendish,  but  a  member  of  the  family  of  that  name 
seated  at  Langford  in  Norfolk.  The  manor  passed  from  John  Smith  to  his 
son  and  heir  John  Smith.  From  this  John  Smith  the  manor  passed  to  George 
Smith  who  in  1569  sold  it  with  that  of  Callis  to  John  Allen,"  who  held 
his  first  Court  for  this  manor  and  the  Manor  of  Callis  al.  Tylnes  on  the  28 
July  n  Eliz."  A  Bond  of  this  John  Allen  to  John  Jermyn  of  Debden  31 
Eliz.  for  £70  will  be  found  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters.'3  Exchequer 
Depositions  were  taken  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds  in  1590  in  an  action  by  Henry 
Rowning  and  others  against  John  Alen  or  Allen  respecting  the  customs  of 
this  manor  and  that  of  Callys  and  as  to  encroachments  on  waste.  John 
Allen  evidently  was  in  difficulties  and  he  mortgaged  this  manor  and  that 
of  Callis  or  Tylnes  to  Thomas  Appleton  who  ultimately  entered  into 
possession  and  held  Courts  ;  for  we  find  amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings 
of  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  an  action  by  Thomas  Twyne  against  Thomas 
Appleton  to  redeem  and  to  refrain  Appleton  from  holding  Courts,  &c.,  of 
these  manors  and  as  to  a  customary  messuage  called  '  The  Coate '  mort- 
gaged by  John  Alen  dec.  to  defendant  and  left  by  will  to  the  plaintiff.'4 

Bundle  1132,  No.  9.  •  Dd.  viii.  24. 

Ib.  »  Bodl.  Sufi.  Ch.  338. 

Ib.  1135,  No.  6.  I0  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  339. 

30  Edw.  III.  Add.  MSS.  6165.                         "  Fine,  Trin.  n  Eliz. 

Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  332.  "  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  345. 

C.P.  iii.  2.  •»  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  346. 

Bodleian  Suff.  Rolls,  15  Chart.  349.               "  C.P.  iii.  154. 


GLEMSFORD.  107 

These  proceedings  disclose  the  fact  that  by  the  date  of  the  action  John 
Alen  had  died  and  by  his  will  had  devised  the  manors  to  Thomas  Twyne,  of 
course  subject  to  the  mortgage  to  Thomas  Appleton.  It  appears,  however, 
from  some  Exchequer  Depositions  taken  at  Melford  in  1621  in  an  action 
by  Mary  Appleton  against  Walter  Chamberleyne  that  there  had  been  a  sale 
of  lands  in  Glemsford  by  Allen  to  Appleton.  By  the  date  of  this  action,  1611, 
Thomas  Appleton  had  died  and  the  proceedings  were  by  his  widow  Mary. 

We  find  that  Sir  Isaac  Appleton  in  1598  obtained  this  manor  from 
Thomas1  and  died  seised  in  1608  (but  whether  then  as  mortgagee  or  as 
absolute  owner  is  not  quite  clear)  leaving  a  son  Isaac  Appleton  his  heir 
who  died  without  issue. 

CALLIS  al.  TYLNES  MANOR. 

Little  is  known  respecting  this  small  manor.  It  was  no  doubt  called 
after  the  Caleys  family  who  for  many  generations  held  land  in  Glemsford. 
The  will  of  Thomas  Caleys  1439  is  amongst  the  Suffolk  Charters2  as  is  also 
the  Decree  of  the  Dean  of  Arches  concerning  this  will.3  In  1450  we  find  a 
quit  claim  by  Walter  Whytebred  to  John  Dalton  and  others  of  all  right  in 
this  manor  and  lands  in  Glemsford,  Cavendish,  Boxstead  and  Stanstead, 4 
and  in  1507  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  is  a  grant  by  Walter  Caleys 
al.  Imworth  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Caleys  to  Walter  Cotton  and  others 
of  lands  in  Glemsford,  Cavendish,  Boxstead  and  Stanstead  but  not 
apparently  of  the  manor.  In  1509  there  is  amongst  the  Bodleian  Suff. 
Charters  a  note  of  a  grant  from  the  Manor  of  "  Calais  "  in  Glemsford  to 
Walter  Toppyng  of  land  opposite  "  Mille  strete  "  in  Glemsford,  24  Hen.  VII. 5 
In  1569  John  Allen  by  fine6  obtained  the  manor  from  George  Smith  at  the 
same  time  he  acquired  the  Manor  of  Methold's  and  Wimbold's  and  on  the 
28  July  ii  Eliz.  held  his  first  Court  for  these  manors.7  Allen  mortgaged  to 
Thomas  Appleton  or  sold  and  in  any  case  Thomas  Appleton  had  possession  in 
1598  when  a  fine  was  levied  against  him  by  Isaac  Appleton.8  This  Isaac  was 
the  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  and  died  seised,  when  he  was  in  1609  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Isaac  Appleton  who  died  without  issue. 

There  is  notice  of  an  action — Thomas  Twyne  and  J as.  Ellis  and  others 
on  the  Exchequer  Depositions  taken  at  Glemsford  in  1624  respecting  a 
right  of  way  from  "  Tilneis  Wood  "  through  a  yard  then  belonging  to  the 
defendant  James  by  "  Turrell's  Hall  "  into  Brook  Street.  The  plaintiff 
Thomas  Twyne  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Twyne  (whose  will  is  referred  to 
in  the  action)  who  was  the  devisee  under  the  will  of  John  Allen  the  former 
lord  of  this  manor.  In  1837  the  manor  belonged  to  James  Sparke  of  Bury, 
Timothy  Holnies  of  Bury  and  John  Jackson. 

GLEMSFORD  al.  PEVERELLS  MANOR. 

In  1356  Richard  de  Muneworth  and  Joan  his  wife  recovered  a  manor 
and  lands  here  from  John  de  Gefford  and  Thomas  Glemesford.  We  find 
later  Hugh  de  Glemsford  lord,  and  in  1428  that  John  de  Glemsford  held  a 
4th  of  a  fee  from  Hugh  de  Glemsford.  He  died  in  1437,  and  in  1497  William 
Felton  of  Sudbury  died  seised  of  the  manor.  In  the  Inquisition  p.m. 
of  this  William  the  manor  is  said  to  be  worth  £5,  and  to  be  held  of  John 
Colthe  as  of  the  Manor  of  Greys  in  Cavendish.  It  is  found  that  William 

1  Fine,  Easter,  40  Eliz.  5  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  335. 

*  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  311.  6  Fine,  Trin.  n  Eliz. 

'  Ib.  312.  '  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  345. 

4  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  319.  8  Fine,  Easter,  40  Eliz. 


io8  THE   MANORS   OF    SUFFOLK. 

Felton  died  seised  the  23rd  Dec.  9  Hen.  VII.  and  that  Edmund  Felton 
aged  32  is  his  son  and  heir.1  Edmund  Felton  died  seised  the  13  May  1519  * 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  Felton  of  Pentlow  who 
died  the  10  Dec.  1542  when  George  son  and  heir  of  Edmund  succeeded.  On 
the  death  of  George  Felton,  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  succeeded.3 

Collections  for  the  history  of  Glemsford  will  be  found  amongst  the 
MSS.  of  the  British  Museum4  and  Deeds  relating  to  the  place  amongst 
the  Charters  of  the  British  Museum.5  Ministers'  accounts  of  land  here  in 
the  time  of  Edw.  I.  are  in  the  Public  Record  Office6  as  are  also  Ministers' 
accounts  of  lands  in  the  time  of  Edw.  II.7 


1  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VII.  1014.  5  Add.     Ch.     27226,     27229,     27231-5, 
*  I. P.M.,  ii  Hen.  VIII.  27237,  27239,  27241,  27244. 

1  SeeTrobetts  or  Trucketts  Manor  in  Box-  *  Bundle  1124,  No.  8. 

stead  in  this  Hundred.  '  Bundle  995,  No.  14. 
«  Add.  MSS.  5847,  6165. 


GROTON. 


109 


GROTON. 

HERE  was  here  but  one  manor,  though  100  acres  in  Groton 
were  held  as  belonging  to  the  Manor  of  Cornard  in  early 
times.  The  main  manor  was  held  in  Saxon  times  by  the 
Abbot  of  Bury,  and  he  was  not  disturbed  at  the  Conquest. 
The  holding  consisted  of  i  carucate  and  a  half  as  a  manor, 
8  villeins,  5  bordars,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne,  2  belonging 
to  the  men,  i  acre  of  meadow,  wood  for  10  hogs,  a  winter 
mill,  i  rouncey,  6  beasts,  16  hogs  and  30  sheep.  There  were  also  2 
freemen  with  half  an  acre  of  land  which  they  could  give  away  or  sell,  6 
bordars,  i  ploughteam  and  i  acre  of  meadow. 

Formerly  the  value  was  30  shillings,  but  in  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey  40.  It  was  7  quarantenes  long  and  4  broad.  There  were  also  12 
freemen  who  could  give  or  sell  their  lands  which  consisted  of  i  carucate 
in  the  Confessor's  days.  The  value  was  20  shillings,  and  the  Abbot  had 
soc,  commendation  and  service  and  the  payment  in  a  gelt  was  8^.' 

The  holding  in  Groton  which  belonged  to  Cornard  Manor  was  4  socmen 
with  100  acres  and  3  bordars.  Among  these  was  a  ploughteam.  The 
whole  had  in  Saxon  times  been  valued  at  10  pounds,  but  later  in  Norman  days 
at  26  shillings  and  8^.  by  tale.  It  was  six  quarantenes  and  3  perches  long 
and  4^  quarantenes  and  4  perches  broad  and  paid  io^d.  in  a  gelt.  The  soc 
was  in  the  township  and  the  holding  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey 
was  that  of  Earl  Morchar's  mother  which  William  the  Chamberlain  and 
Otho  the  Goldsmith  kept  in  hand  for  the  King.2  Richard  son  of  Earl 
Gislebert3  had  here  a  freeman  by  commendation  and  soc  and  sac  who 
had  10  acres  of  land  valued  at  2od.4  and  the  only  other  holdings  were 
encroachments  upon  the  King.  Thus  this  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert 
held  a  freeman  formerly  under  Robert  son  of  Wimarc  by  commendation  only 
with  60  acres  of  land,  formerly  4  bordars  then  one,  formerly  i  ploughteam 
then  none,  and  i  acre  of  land,  all  formerly  valued  at  10  shillings  and  then 
at  18.  On  this  land  Roger  de  Orbec  encroached,  and  held  it  under  Richard 
son  of  Gislebert,  and  Richard's  men  claimed  it  as  belonging  to  the  fee  of 
Wisgar  predecessor  in  title ;  but  according  to  the  testimony  of  the  Hundred, 
it  never  had  belonged  to  that  fee  either  by  commendation  or  by  soc.5 

GROTON  MANOR. 

The  Abbot  of  Bury  leased  this  manor  to  Robert  de  Cokefeld 
son  of  Adam  son  of  Lemmerus6  for  life,  and  on  his  death  Abbot  Sampson 
3rd  of  Rich.  I.  granted  a  fresh  lease  to  Robert's  son  Adam  de  Cokefield  for 
life.  Adam  married  Rohais  and  had  issue  an  only  child  Nesta  who 
married  ist  Thomas  de  Burgh.  Adam  de  Cokefield  having  died  about 
1209  Rohais  his  widow  released  to  the  said  Thomas  de  Burgh  and  Nesta 
his  wife  her  dower  in  the  lands  of  her  late  husband  in  this  parish,  Cockfield 
and  Semere  other  lands  being  assigned  to  her  in  lieu  thereof.  After  the 
death  of  Thomas  de  Burgh  this  Nesta  married  John  de  Beauchamp  and 
finally,  Matthew  de  Leyham.  In  the  26th  Hen.  III.  this  Matthew  de 
Leyham  and  Nesta  his  wife  granted  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  five 


'  Dom.  ii.  3596. 

*  Dom.  ii.  287. 

3  See  Bures  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

'  Dom.  ii.  3726. 


^  Dom.  ii.  4476. 
6  See  Peper's  Manor, 
Hundred. 


Cockfield,    in  this 


no  THE   MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

carucates  of  land  in  Cockfield  the  Abbot  releasing  to  them  all  claim  to  the 
lands  belonging  to  his  monastery  in  this  parish,  Lindsey,  Rougham  and 
Semere. 

Nesta  de  Leyham  died  without  issue  by  any  of  her  husbands,  about 
the  year  1248,  when  the  King  commanded  Edmund,  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds 
to  restore  to  Bartholomew  de  Creke,  Ralph  de  Berners  and  William  de 
Bellomonte  the  Manors  of  Groton  and  Semere  to  which  the  Abbot  had  no 
title  except  through  Henry,  late  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  who  had  intruded 
whilst  Nesta  [to  whom  the  said  Bartholomew,  Ralph  and  William  were 
cousins  and  heirs]  was  in  extremis,  by  reason  of  a  lease  granted  by  Matthew 
de  Leyham  her  husband,  against  her  will,  to  John  de  Cramaville.1 

The  Abbot  continued  in  possession,  for  in  1286  a  writ  of  right  was 
brought  for  the  recovery  of  the  lands  by  John  de  Creke,  Ralph  Berners  and 
Godfrey  de  Bellomonte  the  then  heirs  of  Nesta,  descended  from  her  three 
aunts  Alicia,  Beatrix  and  Gunnora  and  it  would  seem  to  have  been  decided 
by  duel  in  their  favour  for  the  Abbot's  champion  was  overcome.  The 
descent  of  the  inheritance  from  Nesta  to  the  claimants  is  set  forth  in  these 
words  : — 

"  Et  de  ipsa  Nesta  quia  obiit  sine  haerede  de  se  resortiebatur  jus,  &c., 
quibusdam  Aliciae,  Beatrici  et  Gunnorae,  ut  amitis  et  haeredibus.  Et  de 
praedicta  Alicia  descendit  jus  perpartis  suae  cuidam  Roberto  ut  filio  et 
haeredi  :  et  de  ipso  Roberto  cuidam  Bartholomaeo  ut  filio  et  haeredi :  et 
de  ipso  Bartholomaeo  cuidam  Roberto  ut  filio  et  haeredi :  et  de  ipso  Roberto, 
quia  obiit  sine  haerede  de  se,  descendit  jus  &c.,  cuidam  Galfrido  ut  fratri 
et  haeredi :  et  de  ipso  Galfrido,  quia  obiit  sine  haerede  de  se,  isti  Johanni 
qui  nunc  petit,  ut  fratri  et  haeredi. 

"  Et  de  praedicta  Beatrice  descendit  jus  perpartis  suae  cuidam 
Radulfo  ut  filio  de  haeredi :  et  de  isto  Radulfo  cuidam  Willielmo  ut  filio 
et  haeredi :  et  de  ipso  Willielmo  quia  obiit  sine  haerede  de  se,  descendit 
jus  &c., cuidam  Radulfo  ut  fratri  et  haeredi :  et  deipso  Radulfo,  isti  Radulfo 
qui  nunc  petit,  ut  filio  et  haeredi. 

"  Et  de  praedicta  Gunnora  descendit  jus  perpartis  suae  quibusdam 
Aliciae  et  Agneti  ut  filiabus  et  haeredibus  :  et  de  predicae  Agnete,  quia 
obiit  sine  haerede  de  se,  descendit  jus  perpartis  suae  predictae  Aliciae  ut 
sorori  et  hoeredi :  et  de  ipsa  Alicia  descendit  jus  &c.,  cuidam  Willielmo  ut 
filio  et  haeredi  :  et  de  ipso  Willielmo,  isti  Godefrido  qui  nunc  petit  similiter 
&c.,  ut  filio  et  haeredi." 

The  Table  on  the  opposite  page  will  perhaps  best  illustrate  the 
descents : — 


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H2  THE    MANORS  OF    SUFFOLK. 

In  1292  Geoffrey  de  Bellomonte  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here1 
and  died  the  following  year  without  issue,  lord  of  a  third  part  of  Groton 
and  Semere  leaving  a  widow  Cecilia  and  Sir  John  de  Bellomonte  his  brother 
and  heir.1 

Sir  John  died  about  1297  when  Alice  his  widow  claimed  half  the 
moiety  in  dower,  and  subject  to  her  right  the  interest  passed  to  Richard  de 
Bellomonte  son  and  heir  who  held  the  same  in  1299.  From  1297  to  1316 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  seems  to  have  held  the  portion  not  held  by 
Richard  de  Bellomonte  and  about  the  latter  date  seems  to  have  acquired 
the  whole.  On  the  dissolution,  this  manor  passed  to  the  Crown  and  in 
1544  was  granted  to  Adam  Winthorp3  son  of  Adam  Winthorp  of  Lavenham 
and  Joane  Burton  his  wife.  The  purchaser  was  a  citizen  and  clothworker 
of  London  and  Master  of  this  company  in  1551.  He  married  first  Alice 
daughter  of  —  Henny  who  died  in  1533,  when  the  following  year  he  married 
Agnes  daughter  of  Robert  Sharpe  of  Islington  co.  Middlesex,  and  in  1557 
executed  a  settlement  of  the  manor  giving  life  estates  to  himself  and  Agnes 
his  wife  and  entailing  the  same  on  his  second  son  John.4  He  made  his 
will  the  20  Sept.  1562  which  contains  the  following  clause  as  to  this  manor : 
"  Item.  I  do  give  unto  Alice  my  wife  all  that  my  Manor  of  Groton  with 
the  advowson  of  the  benefice  there  with  all  and  singular  woods,  lands  and 
tenements  courts  and  profits  of  courts  rents  and  services  with  all  and 
singular  the  appurtenances  and  commodities  whatsoever  they  be  to  the 
said  manor  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining  during  her  natural  life. 
And  after  the  decease  of  the  said  Agnes,  I  will  and  give  all  that  my  foresaid 
manor  with  the  advowson  of  the  benefice  with  the  appurtenances  as  is 
aforesaid  unto  John  Wyntropp  my  son  and  to  his  heirs  male  of  his  body 
lawfully  begotten  and  for  lack  of  such  issue  male  of  the  said  John  lawfully 
begotten  I  will  the  said  manor  and  the  advowson  of  the  benefice  with  their 
appurtenances  shall  be  and  remain  with  Adam  Wyntrop  my  son  and  to  the 
heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such 
issue  of  the  said  Adam  I  will  all  and  singular  the  premises  with  their  appur- 
tenances to  remain  unto  William  Wyntropp  my  son  and  the  heirs  male 
of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  lack  of  such  issue  of  the  said  William 
I  will  and  give  all  the  said  premises  with  their  appurtenances  before 
rehearsed  unto  my  four  daughters,  that  is  to  say,  Alice,  Bridget,  Mary  and 
Susan  and  to  their  heirs  then  living  and  when  the  said  manor  shall  so  descend 
and  come."  The  Testator  died  gth  Nov.  1562  and  his  will  was  proved 
the  15  of  January  following.5  He  was  buried  in  Groton  Church  with  the 
following  inscription  in  brass  :  "  Here  lyeth  Mr.  Adam  Winthorp  Lorde 
and  patron  of  Groton  whiche  Departed  owt  of  this  Worlde  this  ix.  day  of 
November  in  the  yere  of  cure  Lorde  God  MCCCCCLXIJ."  It  seems 
the  plate  was  removed,  but  was  restored  in  1878  by  the  Hon.  Robert  C. 
Winthorp  of  Boston  in  New  England,  Adam's  descendant  in  the  eighth 

1  Chart.  Rolls,  20  Edw.  I.  33.  «  Pat.  Rolls,  4  and  5  P.  &  M.  pt.  xi.  18.    A 

•  Extent.     Moiety.    Cecilia    de    Ferariis  COPV,  of  this  settlement  is  given  in 

sometime    wife     of     Godfrey    de  Musketts     Manorial    Families    of 

Bellomonte  (I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  I.  49.) 

•  Particulars    for    grant   35    Hen.    VIII.         !  Will.     Prerogative  Court,  Canterbury  2. 

loth  Report  of  the  D.K.,  App.  ii.  Cneyre. 

p.  305;  Pat.  Rolls,  35  Hen.  VIII. 
pt.  xiv.  5.  See  copy  grant 
Musket t's  Manorial  Families  of 
Suff.  i.  15. 


GROTON.  113 

generation.      On  an  altar  monument  contiguous  to  the  South  wall  of  the 
Chancel  in  the  Churchyard  is  the  following  inscription  : — 

Ccelum  Patria  Christus  Via. 
Hie  jacet  Corpus  Adami  Winthrop  Armigeri  filij. 
Adami  Winthorp  Armigeri  qui  hujus  Ecclesiae 

Patroni  fuerunt  et  Dni.  Manerij  de  Groton. 

Praedictus  Adamus  Films  uxorem  duxit  Annam 

Filiam  Henrici  Browne  de  Edwarduston,  per 

Quam  habuit  unum  Filium  et  quatuor  Filias. 

Hanc  vitam  transmigravit  Anno  Dni.  1623. 

^Etatis  suae  70  Anna  vero  uxor  ejus  obijt 

1628,  Hie  quoque  consepulta  est. 

John  Winthorp  the  2nd  son,  but  the  eldest  son  by  Adam's  2nd  marriage, 
succeeded  accordingly,  barred  the  entail  in  1594'  and  sold  the  manor  to 
his  brother  Adam  Winthorp,  and  his  son  John  in  1609  when  he  engaged 
in  a  plantation  in  the  South  of  Ireland.  Adam  was  a  lawyer  and  county 
magistrate  and  the  writer  of  the  Diary  to  be  seen  in  "  Life  and  Letters  of 
John  Winthorp."  He  had  no  issue  by  his  first  wife  Alice  daughter  of 
William  Still  of  Grantham  co.  Lincoln  and  sister  of  Dr.  John  Bull,  Bishop 
of  Bath  and  Wells,  but  had  4  children  by  his  2nd  wife,  Anne  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  Henry  Browne  of  Edwardstone,  and  dying  in  1623  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son  John  Winthorp  who  removed  from  Groton  to  Boston  in 
New  England  and  became  Governor  of  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony.*  In 
1631  he  sold  the  manor  to  Thomas  Waring.  Thomas  Waring  was  succeeded 
by  Richard  Waring  ;  and  Thomas,  (who  was  probably  the  son  of  the  second 
son  and  heir  of  Richard  Waring),  died  about  the  year  1769  aged  84  or 
thereabouts.  He  devised  the  manor  to  his  cousin  Walter  Waring  M.P. 
for  Coventry  who  died  about  1781  leaving  an  only  son  who  died  without 
issue.  About  1780  the  manor  was  acquired  by  the  Rev.  Seymour  Leeke, 
who  held  it  for  some  eight  or  nine  years.  In  1804  the  manor  was  pur- 
chased by  Sir  William  Rowley  Bart,  of  Tendring  Hall,  Stoke  by  Nayland, 
after  which  the  devolution  is  identical  with  Nayland  Manor  in  this 
Hundred. 

CASTELINS  OR  CASTELYNS  MANOR. 

This  was  the  lordship  of  Sir  Gilbert  Chastelym  who  died  seised  22 
Edw.  I.  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  de  Chastelyn  who  died 
about  1331  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William  and  he  by  his  son  John 
who  died  in  1375  leaving  a  daughter  and  heir  Joan  married  to  Robert 
Knyvet  to  whom  this  manor  was  released  by  trustees  in  the  5th  year  of 
Rich.  II.  Joan  died  also  in  1375,  but  Robert  Knyvet  survived  till  abt.  I42O.3 
Probably  he  married  after  the  death  of  Joan  for  amongst  the  Early  Chancery 
Proceedings  we  find  a  suit  by  Ellen  late  wife  of  Robert  Knyvet  aga'nst 
Thomas  Knyvet.4  Robert  Knyvet  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
John  Knyvet5  who  died  without  issue  in  1451,  when  the  manor  passed  to 
his  brother  and  heir  Thomas  Knyvet  of  Stanway.  Davy  makes  this 
Thomas  Knyvet  die  in  1486  and  to  be  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Edward, 
but  this  is  absurd,  for  as  he  makes  both  John  and  Thomas  to  be  sons  of  Joan 

1  Pat.  Rolls,  36  Eliz.pt.  xiii.  31;  Fine,  Mich.         3  I.P.M.,  Robert  Knyvett,  7  Hen.  V.  26, 
36, 37  Eliz.  tenement     called     Castelaines     in 

•  See  his  "  Life  and  Letters,"  1587-1649,  Groton. 

2  vols.  '  E.C.P.,  6  Hen.  IV. ;  2  Hen.  VI.  5,  7. 

5  See  Sanderford's  in  Great  Waldinfield  in 
this  Hundred. 

o 


THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 

who  married  Robert  Knyvet  and  died  in  1375,  Thomas  the  son  must  have 
died  in  years  after  his  mother.    Davy  missed  out  a  generation. 

Thomas  Knyvet  the  son  of  Robert  died  in  1459.  His  will  is  dated  the 
4th  Oct.  1458  and  in  it  he  directs  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  Chancel  of 
the  Church  of  All  Saints  at  "  Staneweye  "  between  his  wives.  To  John 
Knyvet  his  son  and  heir  he  devises  his  Manors  of  Grotene  in  Suffolk,  Dun- 
hall  and  Staneweye  in  Essex  and  Ramsdenbelehouse  with  the  advowson  of 
the  Church.  He  mentions  his  daughter  Margaret  wife  of  Robert  Baynard 
and  constitutes  his  sons  Nicholas  and  Robert  and  John  Wright  his 
executors.  The  will  was  proved  the  2ist  July  1459.  There  is  an  Inquisi- 
tion p.m.  this  year  respecting  i  tenement,  60  acres  of  land,  40  of  pasture, 
10  of  wood,  and  underwood  and  i8s.  rent  in  Groton  held  as  of  Kersey 
Priory  and  this  is  probably  the  Manor  of  Castleyn.'  He  was  followed  by 
his  son  and  heir  John  Knyvet  aged  37  at  his  father's  death  and  we  find  an 
Inquisition  p.m.  of  him  in  1481  in  which  the  manor  is  included  by  name, 
"  Castelyn  in  Groton  Manor  as  of  Kersey  Priory,"  practically  identifying 
this  Castelyn  with  the  property  described  in  the  Inquisition  of  Thomas 
Knyvett  already  referred  to.2  John  Knyvet  died  in  I48o.3  His  will  is 
dated  1476  and  it  was  proved  in  1486.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson 
Edward  Knyvet  the  son  of  John's  eldest  son  Thomas  Knyvet  who  had  died 
in  his  father's  lifetime.  Davy  states  that  in  1486  Edward  Knyvet  and 
Anne  his  wife  had  a  release  made  to  them  of  the  manor  by  trustees.  The 
release  referred  to  is  dated  the  6  Sept.  4  Hen.  VII.  [1488]  and  is  by  William 
Clopton,  Thomas  Rokewode,  Edmund  Fetone  and  William  Eyr  to  Edward 
Knevitt  and  Anna  his  wife,  William  Pykenham  clerk,  Henry  Wentworth, 
George  Hopton,  and  Reginald  Touneshend  knights  and  Philip  Calthorp 
and  Henry  Tey.4 

The  manor  passed  to  Elizabeth  daughter  and  heir  of  Edward  Knyvet 
on  his  death  the  4  Feb.  1500.  She  was  married  to  John  Rainsforth  and 
died  the  4  Feb.  1508,'  when  the  manor  passed  to  the  next  heirs,  Thomasine 
wife  of  Sir  William  Clopton,  Elizabeth  wife  of  John  Clopton,  and  Katherine 
Roydon.6  In  1536  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Francis  Clopton 
against  John  Clopton,  the  fine  including  the  Manor  of  Saundeford 
in  Waldingfield  and  tenements  in  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield,  Groton, 
Boxford,  Acton  and  Edwardstone.7  In  1548  Francis  Clopton  son  and  heir 
of  Sir  William  Clopton  succeeded  to  Thomasine's  share  and  his  will  is  dated 
1558.*  In  1575  William  Clopton  nephew  of  Francis,  then  described  as  of 
London,  granted  to  the  Queen  all  his  right  and  interest  in  this  manor  and 
other  manors,9  but  the  grant  was  not  to  take  effect  so  long  as  the  said 
William  paid  405.  yearly  to  the  Exchequer.  The  deed  is  dated  the  15  Feb. 
1575.  William  Clopton  of  Groton  a  younger  son  of  Richard  Clopton  of 
Melford  by  Margery  Playter  was  the  first  of  the  family  who  built  and  lived 


•  I.P.M.,  37  Hen.  VI.  18. 

•  I.P.M.,  20  Edw.  IV.  90. 
1  I.P.M.,  20  Edw.  IV.  90. 

4  Harl.  480.  49. 

5  We  have  followed  the  Davy  MSS.  here ; 

but  it  should  be  mentioned  that  the 
manor  is  included  in  the  Inquis. 
p.m.  of  Richard  Lewkener  who 
died  the  13  Feb.  1502  (I.P.M.,  18 
Hen.  VII.) 

•  I.P.M.,  24  Hen.  VIII. 

'  Fine,  Trin.  28  Hen.  VIII. 


*  There  is  a  fine  of  the  manor  levied  in 
1550  between  John  Holyer  and 
William  Clopton  (Fine,  Easter,  4 
Edw.  VI.)  and  another  the  follow- 
ing year  between  the  said  John 
Holyer  and  Robert  Wythersby  and 
others  (Fine,  Mich.  5  Edw.  VI.). 
There  is  a  third  fine  levied  in  1565 
by  Edward  Colman  against  John 
Hollyer  and  hi?  wife.  Fine,  Easter, 
7  Eliz. 

»  Harl.  48  D.  27. 


GROTON.  115 

at  Castleyns.     He  spent  his  patrimony,  and  married  Mary  eldest  daughter 
of  Edward  Walgrave  of  Lawford  in  Essex. 

The  Rev.  C.  Grove,  Rector  of  Hemingston  is  the  next  person  we  meet 
with  as  lord.  He  died  in  1769  having  devised  the  manor  to  his  nephew 
John  Spurgeon.  He  was  succeeded  by  Sarah  his  widow  who  died  in  1812 
when  the  Rev.  John  Grove  Spurgeon  her  eldest  son  succeeded.  He  died  in 
1829  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Farrer  Grove  Spurgeon  who  assumed 
the  name  of  Farrer  and  sold  the  manor  to  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Dawson,  rector 
of  Edwardstone.  He  married  Louisa  Pilkington,  and  died  in  1848,  when 
it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir,  Thomas  Pilkington  Dawson,  who  married 
Emma  King  King,  and  died  in  1867,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir, 
Cuthbert  Pilkington  Dawson,  who  married  Edith  Martin,  and  sold  the 
manor  in  1897  to  Thomas  Benjamin  Worters,  the  present  owner. 


Ii6  THE   MANORS   OF    SUFFOLK. 


HARTEST. 

HE  great  holding  in  Hartest  in  Saxon  days  was  that  of 
the  Monastery  of  Ely,  the  lordship  having  been  given  to 
this  house  by  the  parents  of  Leofson  on  his  entering  the 
monastery.  The  holding  consisted  of  5  carucates  of  land  as 
a  manor.  There  were  12  villeins,  14  bordars  and  4  slaves, 
2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  5  belonging  to  the  men, 
10  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  6  hogs,  4  horses  at  the 
Hall,  20  beasts,  25  hogs  and  60  sheep.  Also  a  church  living  with 
80  acres  of  free  land.  The  value  of  the  whole  was  6  pounds,  but  by 
the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the  value  was  placed  at  n,  though 
the  only  alteration  in  the  details  given  was  an  increase  by  one  of  the 
ploughteams  belonging  to  the  men.  It  was  one  league  long  and  halt  a  league 
broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  lod.  There  were  also  here  4  socmen  with  30 
acres  of  land,  and  half  a  ploughteam  valued  at  5  shillings  ;  and  a  socman 
with  a  carucate  of  land  and  i  ploughteam  valued  at  20  shillings  which 
was  let  by  the  Abbot  to  Berners  the  Engineer.1  The  only  other  holding 
mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey  was  that  of  Richard  son  of  Earl 
Gislebert  who  had  2  freemen  under  Wisgar  by  commendation  and  soc  and 
sac,  with  2  carucates  of  land,  and  3  bordars,  2  ploughteams  and  8 
acres  of  meadow,  valued  at  2  pounds.* 

HARTEST   MANOR. 

The  Manor  of  Hartest  remained  with  the  Monastery  of  Ely  until 
the  dissolution,  when  it  became  appropriated  to  the  Bishopric  of  Ely, 
from  whom  it  was  alienated  in  1561,  being  taken  by  the  Queen  in  exchange 
for  certain  impropriations.  From  the  Hundred  Rolls  we  learn  that  the 
Bishop  of  Ely  had  free  warren  here  and  claimed  gallows  and  other  rights 
in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.3  The  manor  is  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1569  by 
William  Waldegrave,  John  Heigham  and  others  against  Elizabeth  Drury 
widow  and  others.4 

Ministers'  accounts  of  the  Bishop's  temporalities  in  Hartest  14  Edw.  I. 
and  26  to  28  Edw.  I.  will  be  found  in  the  Public  Record  Office5 ;  and  an 
Inquisition  of  the  Bishop's  lands  here,  30  Edw.  III.,  amongst  the 
Additional  MSS.  of  the  British  Museum.6  In  the  Exchequer  Special 
Commissions  particulars  will  be  found  of  the  Sovereign's  woods  in  Hartest 
Manor  30  Eliz.,  44  Eliz.,  2  Jac.I.,and  Spoils  of  woods  in  the  manor,  3  Jac.  I.7 
Amongst  the  Exchequer  Depositions  taken  at  Hartest  in  1608  will  be 
found  particulars  of  a  suit  by  William  Wright  against  Thomas  Cole  and 
others  touching  the  surrender  of  lands  called  Lydwalles  and  brickhouse 
parcel  of  the  manor. 

In  1609  the  manor  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  George  Salter 
and  John  William  Salter.  In  1844  it  was  vested  in  George  Weller  Poley 
of  fipxstead  Hall,  and  for  the  descent  from  that  gentleman  to  the  present 
time  see  Boxstead  Hall  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


1  Dom.  ii.  382.  s  Bundle  1132,  No.  9,  10. 

•  Dom.  ii.  392*     '  '  Add.  MSS.  6165. 

•  H.R.  ii.  143,  153.  <•  '  D.K.R.  38  App.  p.  40,  68,  74,  76. 
4  Fine,  Easter,  ii  El/*- 


LAVENHAM. 


117 


LAVENHAM. 

|N  the  time  of  the  Confessor  there  were  two  considerable 
manors  in  Lavenham.  One  was  held  by  Ulwin,  King 
Edward's  thane,  who  had  6  carucates  of  land  with  soc  and 
sac.  There  were  n  villeins,  24  bordars,  6  slaves,  4 
ploughteams  in  demesne,  9  belonging  to  the  men,  10  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  for  100  hogs,  5  horses  at  the  Hall,  24  beasts, 
1 60  hogs,  200  sheep,  60  goats,  5  hives  of  bees  and  i  arpent 
of  vineyard.  There  was  also  a  socman  who  could  not  give  nor  sell  with 
i  carucate  of  land  and  5  bordars,  2  ploughteams  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 
The  whole  was  valued  at  10  pounds,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey 
the  value  had  risen  to  15  pounds.  There  were  then  7  villeins  only,  but  the 
bordars  had  risen  to  38.  Two  of  the  ploughteams  of  the  men  had  disappeared, 
as  had  4  of  the  horses  at  the  Hall,  and  the  hogs  were  fewer  by  95,  but  in 
some  respects  there  was  growth.  For  instance  one  more  beast,  20  more 
goats  and  i  additional  hive  of  bees.  The  socman  had  a  mill.  The  manor 
was  a  league  long  and  half  a  league  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  J^d.1 

The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was  Aubrey  de  Vere.  This  Aubrey 
also  held  by  encroachment  on  the  King  3  freemen  under  Ulwin,  Aubrey's 
predecessor  in  title,  by  commendation  only  in  the  soc  of  St.  Edmund,  and 
they  had  60  acres  and  formerly  had  2  ploughteams  but  then  only  one. 
This  holding  was  valued  at  6  shillings.2 

The  other  manor  here  was  that  of  Frodo  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's 
brother.  It  had  been  held  in  the  Confessor's  time  by  Alvey  under  the 
Abbot  with  soc  and  consisted  of  2  carucates  of  land.  This  Alvey 
could  not  sell  without  the  licence  of  the  Abbot.  Frodo  held  it, 
the  Conqueror  claiming  it  as  appertaining  to  his  fee,  saying  that  it 
had  been  delivered  to  him.  There  were  in  this  manor  5  bordars, 
i  slave,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  2  belonging  to  the  men, 
3  acres  of  meadow,  2  horses  at  the  Hall,  12  hogs,  40  sheep,  valued 
at  40  shillings.  By  Norman  supervision  the  value  had  increased  to  4 
pounds  in  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey,  and  there  were  then  12  beasts 
additional  and  102  sheep  as  against  40,  but  the  hogs  had  dropped  from 
12  to  4.  This  manor  was  half  a  league  long  and  4  quarantenes  broad  and 
paid  in  a  gelt  i%d.3 

LAVENHAM  MANOR. 

Mr.  Kirby  has  much  to  answer  for.  He  has  supplied  material  for  all 
the  local  guide  books  and  scrappy  histories  of  particular  places  which  have 
appeared,  and  few  have  even  ventured  to  depart  from  his  words  which  have 
been  accepted  as  of  equal  weight  with  a  regular  record.  His  statement  is 
that  Lavenham  was  one  of  the  221  lordships  in  Suffolk  given  by  King  William 
the  Conqueror  to  Robert  Malet  but  he  forfeited  by  joining  Robert 
eldest  son  of  the  Conqueror  in  the  2nd  year  of  Hen.  I.  when  the  King  gave 
it  to  Aubrey  de  Vere. 

The  error  has  been  perpetuated  and  appears  in  that  useful  Gazetteer 
of  White  published  in  1885.  Lavenham  having  formed  one  of  the  lord- 
ships of  Malet  is  an  entire  delusion.  Shortly  after  the  Battle  of  Hastings 
William  the  Conqueror  rewarded  his  brother-in-law  Aubrey  de  Vere  with 

1  Dom.  ii.  418.  '  Dom.  ii.  355. 

•  Dom.  ii.  449. 


n8  THE  MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

the  grant  of  this  and  other  manors.  This  Aubrey  de  Vere  lies  buried  in 
the  Priory  of  Colne  in  Essex  which  he  and  his  wife  founded,  as  appears  by 
the  following  inscription  given  by  Weever  :  "  Here  lyeth  A  ul  faery  the 
first  Earl  of  Guines  sonne  of  Alphonnes  de  Vere,  the  whyche  Aulbery  was 
the  founder  of  this  place  and  Bettrys  hys  wyf  syster  of  kyng  William  the 
Conquerour." 

The  manor  remained  in  the  De  Veres  Earls  of  Oxford1  from  the  time  of 
the  Norman  Conquest  to  the  death  of  Edward  the  i7th  Earl  of  Oxford 
in  1604  when  it  was  sold,  not  to  Paul  D'Ewes  as  Page  states  but  to  Sir 
Thomas  Skinner.  This  last  de  Vere  who  was  lord  of  Lavenham  was  a 
noted  spendthrift  and  his  extravagance  seems  to  have  brought  about 


LAVEHHAH  HALL. 


the  sale  of  the  manor.  Stow  relates  that  "  he  rode  to  his  house  in  London 
with  80  gentlemen  in  liveries  of  Reading  tawney  and  chains  of  gold  about 
their  neck  ;  and  with  100  tall  yeomen  in  like  livery  without  chains  but 
having  a  blue  boar  embroidered  on  the  left  shoulder." 

The  Earls  of  Oxford  held  Lavenham  Manor  in  chief  of  the  King  as 
appertaining  to  their  Barony2  and  had  gallows  and  free  warren,  &c.,  here 
in  early  days.3 

Robert  de  Vere,  5th  Earl,  had  in  1290  a  charter  for  a  fair  once  every 
year  upon  the  eve,  day  and  morrow  of  Whitsuntide  or  Pentecost,  but  it 
was  early  discontinued  and  another  held  on  Michaelmas  Day,  which  last 
fair  was  at  one  time  in  great  repute  for  butter  and  cheese  in  very  large 
quantities4;  and  an  extent  of  the  manor  will  be  found  in  his  Inquisition  p.m.  in 
1296.'  His  widow  Alice  dau.  and  heir  of  Gilbert,  Lord  Saundford  had 
the  manor  assigned  to  her  in  dower,  and  Robert  the  son  6th  Earl  of  Oxford 
in  1329  had  a  charter  from  the  King  for  his  tenants  of  Lavenham  to  pass 
toll  free  throughout  all  England.6  Amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  will 
be  found  a  writ  of  Edw.  III.  to  the  bailiff  of  St.  Edmund  reciting  a  grant 
to  Robert  de  Vere  Earl  of  Oxford  releasing  his  tenants,  &c.,  of  the  Manor 
of  Lavenham  from  paying  toll  throughout  the  kingdom  and  commanding 
the  bailiff  not  to  molest  or  distrain  for  toll  when  the  said  tenants  come  to 

1  See  Earl's  Hall  Manor,  Cockfield,  in  this  Hundred.         4  Chart.  Rolls,  18  Edw.  I.  18. 

•  H.R.  ii.  142,  150.  «  I.P.M.,  24  Edw.  I.  62. 

1  H.R.  ii.  143,  152, 153,  Chart.  Rolls.  4  Edw.  III.  37.         *  Chart.  Rolls,  3  Edw.  III.  32. 


LAVENHAM. 


119 


St.  Edmunds.1  This  charter  was  confirmed  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  the 
year  of  her  reign.  Robert  de  Vere  the  6th  Earl  died  in  1331'  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  nephew  JohndeVere  7th  Earl  of  whom  the  King  took  homage 
for  the  Manors  of  "  Laueham  Overhall  and  Laueham  Netherhall "  in  Laven- 
ham  this  same  year.3 

In  1336  John  de  Vere  enfeoffed  Sir  William  Crocheman  and  Richard  de 
Stoke  of  Lavenham  Overhall,  Lavenham  Netherhall  and  Aldham  Manors  said 
to  be  held  in  chief,  and  they  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  grant  regranted 
to  him  John  de  Vere,  Matilda  his  wife  and  his  heirs.  The  licence  to  make 
the  alienation  will  be  found  on  the  Patent  Rolls.4  In  1341  John  enfeoffed 
Richard  de  Stoke  and  John  Fermer  of  the  same  manors  in  order  that  they 
might  regrant  them  to  him  and  Matilda  his  wife  in  tail,5  and  the  fol' owing 
year  a  fine  was  levied  accordingly  by  John  de  Vere  7th  Earl  of  Oxford 
and  Matilda  his  wife  v.  Richard  de  Stoke  clerk  and  John  Fermer.6 

In  1342  a  commission  was  issued  on  complaint  of  John  de  Vere  7th 
Earl  of  Oxford  that  Ralph  de  Mendham  parson  of  the  Church  of  Argham 
and  others  carried  away  his  goods  at  Lavenham  and  assaulted  his  servants 
John  Taillour  and  John  Ferour  there.7  In  1360  Netherhall  and  Overhall 
are  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  post  mortem  of  John  de  Vere  7th  Earl  of 
Oxford*  and  a  grant  of  the  custody  of  the  Hall  and  Park,  &c.,  this  year  will 
be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters.9  In  1371  the  King  assigned  to 
Matilda  widow  of  Thomas  de  Vere  8th  Earl  of  Oxford  the  Manor  of  Over- 
hall  as  to  2$li.  145.  3%d.  and  the  Manor  of  Netherhall  as  to  ^li.  35.  2d. 
in  dower.10  In  1384  there  is  on  the  Patent  Rolls  a  licence  to  enfeoff  William 
Bishop  of  Winchester  and  others  of  Lavenham  Manor,"  but  we  find  both 
Manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  post 
mortem  of  Matilda  widow  of  Thomas  de  Vere  8th  Earl  of  Oxford  in  1412," 
also  in  1417  in  that  of  Richard  de  Vere  nth  Earl  of  Oxford'3 ;  and  in  1442 
John  i2th  Earl  of  Oxford  received  a  grant  of  a  market  and  fair  in  Lavenham.14 
Again  in  1452  the  Manors  of  Netherhall  and  Overhall  were  mentioned 
in  the  Inquisition  post  mortem  of  Alice  late  Countess  of  Oxford.15  The 
two  manors  are  named  on  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1462  as  forfeited,  and  the 
Crown  appointed  during  pleasure  John  Wykes  as  receiver  and  approver 
of  Lavenham  Manor  and  Park  he  receiving  the  accustomed  fees  from  the 
issues  of  the  same.'6  The  same  year  King  Edward  IV.  granted  the  manor 
to  his  brother  Richard  Duke  of  Gloucester'7  afterwards  King  Richard  III. 
The  grant  to  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  is  made  to  him  and  his  heirs  male,  and 
appears  on  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1471. l8  The  Duke  soon  after  settled  the 
manor  in  special  tail  by  which  means  it  passed  to  the  Crown.  On  the 
Duke  coming  to  the  Throne  he  gave  the  Manor  of  Lavenham  with  many 
other  estates  in  special  tail  to  Sir  John  Howard  knt.,  who  having  continued 


1  22  Feb.  4  Edw.  III.  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  352. 
*  I.P.M.,  5  Edw.  III.  7.    See  Earl's  Hall 
Manor  in  Cockfield  in  this  Hundred. 

3  Originalia,  5  Edw.  III.  40. 

4  Pat.  Rolls,  10  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  36. 

5  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  28. 

6  Feet  of  Fines,  16  Edw.  III.  30. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  16  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  i6rf. 

'  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  III.  84. 

'  Harl.  57  C.  n. 

10  Originalia,  45  Edw.  III.  26.    See  I.P.M. 

Thomas  Earl  of  Oxford,  45  Edw.  III. 

45.     The  Manors  of  Lavenham  and 


Netherhall  are  mentioned  in  1366 
in  the  inquisition  post  mortem  of 
Matilda  wife  of  John  de  Vere  yth 
Earl  (I.P.M.,  40  Edw.  III.  38). 

"  Pat.  Rolls,  8  Rich.  II.  pt.  ii.  16. 

"  I.P.M.,  14  Hen.  IV.  17. 

"  I.P.M.,  4  Hen.  V.  53. 

14  Chart.  Rolls,  20  Hen.  VI. 

'5  I.P.M.,  3o  Hen.  VI.  14. 

16  Pat.  Rolls,  2  Edw.  IV.  pt.  i.  21. 

17  Rolls  of  Parliament  vi.  228. 
Pat.  Rolls,  20  Hen.  VI. 

18  Pat. .Rolls,  ii  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  22. 


120  THE    MANORS    OF  SUFFOLK. 

faithful  to  the  House  of  York  during  the  reigns  of  Hen.  VI.  and  his  brother 
Edw.  IV.  was  at  the  same  time  made  by  Rich.  III.  Earl  Marshall  of 
England  and  Duke  of  Norfolk.' 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  we  find  a  deed  dated  the  i  July  6 
Edw.  IV.  [1466]  by  which  John  de  Vere  afterwards  i3th  Earl  of  Oxford 
grants  the  manor  to  James  Arblaster  and  John  Power.1 

In  1475  there  is  on  the  Patent  Rolls  a  grant  to  Elizabeth  Queen  of 
England,  Richard  Bishop  of  Salisbury  and  William  Dudley  dean  of  the 
Chapel  of  the  Household  and  their  assigns  of  the  lordship  of  Lavenham 
Manor  late  of  John  I2th  Earl  of  Oxford  in  the  King's  hands  by  reason  of 
John's  forfeiture.5  Of  course  on  the  accession  of  Hen.  VII.  John  de  Vere 
who  had  commanded  the  archers  of  the  vanguard  at  Bosworth  and  there 
materially  contributed  by  his  valour  and  skill  to  the  great  victory  of  the 
House  of  Lancaster,  was  reinstated  as  I3th  Earl  of  Oxford  and  had  restored 
to  him  all  his  family  estates.  He  had  ignored  the  forfeiture,  for,  as  we 
have  said,  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  is  a  conveyance  by  him  to 
James  Abblaster  and  John  Power,  no  doubt  as  trustees,  of  this  manor 
and  that  of  Preston.4  In  1548  a  fine  was  levied  of  this  and  other  manors 
by  Edward  Duke  of  Somerset  and  others,  (no  doubt  as  trustees),  against 
John  Earl  of  Oxford.5 

Of  Edward  de  Vere  iyth  Earl  of  Oxford  a  tale  is  told  by  facetious  Fuller 
of  how  he  endeavoured  to  free  his  Manor  and  Park  of  Lavenham  by  an 
unrighteous  bargain  with  the  church.  He  was  a  noted  character  in  the  time 
of  Elizabeth,  and  had  for  a  wife  Anne  daughter  of  William  Cecil  the  celebrated 
Lord  Treasurer  Burghley.  He  was  said  to  have  been  the  first  person  to 
introduce  perfumes  and  embroidered  gloves  into  England  and  presenting 
a  pair  of  the  latter  to  Queen  Elizabeth  her  majesty  was  so  delighted  with 
the  novelties  that  she  had  her  own  picture  painted  with  these  gloves  on. 
It  must  not  be  supposed  from  this  that  he  was  by  any  means  an  effeminate 
character.  At  least  he  showed  no  signs  of  such  when  he  sat  in  judgment 
on  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  in  1586  nor  when  he  commanded  in  the  fleet 
equipped  to  oppose  the  Armada  in  1588.  He  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the 
wits  of  the  period  in  which  he  lived  and  to  have  been  distinguished  alike  by 
his  patriotism  and  chivalrous  spirit.  In  the  tournaments  of  Elizabeth's 
reign  he  was  pre-eminently  conspicuous,  and  upon  two  occasions  was 
honoured  with  a  prize  from  the  hand  of  the  Queen,  being  conducted  armed 
by  ladies  into  the  presence  chamber  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  high 
reward.  Walpole  says  that  he  attained  reputation  as  a  poet  and  was 
esteemed  the  first  writer  of  comedy  in  his  time. 

We  have  been  somewhat  particular  because  the  story  told  by  Fuller 
seems  rather  inconsistent  with  the  general  character  of  the  I7th  Earl  as 
usually  entertained.  Fuller,  of  course,  was  prejudiced  in  all  matters  relating 
to  the  church,  and  may  have  somewhat  exaggerated  and  the  new  rector  have 
mistaken  the  Earl's  meaning.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  at  the  time  of 
the  presentation  referred  to,  the  Earl  would  not  have  been  more  than  about 
28  years  of  age.  When  he  was  but  23  Gilbert  Talbot  thus  writes  of  him 
to  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury :'  "  My  lord  of  Oxforth  is  lately  growne  into 
great  credite  for  the  Q.  Majestie  delitithe  more  in  his  parsonage  and  his 

1  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Rich.  III.  pt.  i.  18 ;  D.K.R.         '  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  10. 

o.    App.  ii.  p.  113  ;   Pat.  Rolls,  2         4  i  July,  6  Edw.  IV.  Harl.  57  C.  14. 

Rich.  III.  pt.  ii.  22.  5  Fine,  Easter,  2  Edw.  VI. 

1  Harl.  57  C.  14.  *  May  nth  1573,  Illustrations  of  British 

History  ii.  p.  100, 


LAVENHAM.  121 

daunting  and  valientnes  than  any  other  .  .  .  if  it  were  not  for  his 
fyckle  head  he  would  passe  any  of  them  shortly."  The  character  given  of 
him  in  one  of  the  Harleian  MSS.  is :  "He  was  a  man  in  minde  andbodey, 
absolutely  accomplished  with  honourable  endowments."1  Fuller's  tale 
is  this  :  When  Lavenham  living  fell  void  "  which  deserved  a  good  Minister 
being  a  rich  Parsonage  and  needed  one,  it  being  more  than  suspicious  that 
Dr.  Reinolds  late  incumbent  (who  ran  away  to  Rome)  had  left  some  super- 
stitious leaven  behind  him,  the  Earl  of  Oxford  being  Patrone  presents 
Mr.  Copinger3  to  it,  but  adding  withal,  that  he  would  pay  no  tithes  of  his 
Park,  being  almost  half  the  land  of  the  Parish.  Copinger  desired  to  resign 
it  again  to  his  Lordship  rather  than  by  such  sinful  ingratitude  to  betray  the 
rights  of  the  Church.  Well !  if  you  be  of  that  minde,  then  take  the  tithes 
(saith  the  Earl) ;  I  scorn  that  my  estate  should  swell  with  Church  goods. 
However  it  afterwards  cost  Master  Copinger  sixteen  hundred  pounds  in 
keeping  his  questioned  and  recovering  his  detained  rights  in  suit  with  the 
Agent  for  the  next  (minor)  Earl  of  Oxford  and  others  all  which  he  left  to 
his  Churches  quiet  possession  being  zealous  in  God's  cause,  but  remise  in 
his  own.  He  lived  forty-five  years  the  painfull  Parson  of  Laueham  in 
which  Market  Toune  there  were  about  nine  hundred  communicants  amongst 
whom  all  his  time  no  difference  did  arise  which  he  did  not  compound." 
This  Edward  Earl  of  Oxford  made  a  settlement  dated  the  30  January 
1575  which  is  still  extant.  It  was  made  to  Thomas  Earl  of  Sussex,  Robert 
Earl  of  Leicester,  Thomas  Cecill  esq.  Sir  William  Cordell  knt.,  and  Thomas 
Bromley  esq.  Solicitor  General,  as  trustees,  and  included  divers  manors  and 
estates.  It  recites  that  the  Earl  intends  by  the  Queen's  licence  to  travel 
beyond  the  seas ;  that  he  has,  as  yet,  no  issue  and  that  should  he  die  his 
whole  possessions  would  pass  to  his  sister  Lady  Mary  '  Veer,'  saving  the 
life  interest  of  his  Countess,  and  those  estates  specially  entailed  on  his 
grandfather's  heirs  male.  To  avert  this  impoverishment  of  "  that  auncient 
Erldome  house  and  famylie  of  Oxenforde,"  the  Earl  "  remembrynge  and 
considerynge  the  longe  contynaunce  of  his  saide  house  and  famylie  in  the 
name  of  the  Veers,  whereof  he  is  lyneallye  discended,  in  the  grace  and  favour 
of  the  kings  and  princes  in  whose  tymes  they  have  lived,  and  in  alliance 
and  kindred  with  moste  of  the  ancient  nobilitie  of  this  realme,  and  in  the 
good  will  and  good  lykinge  of  the  Cominaltie  of  the  same  realme  ;  and  having 
therefore  a  speciall  desire  and  reason  to  preserve  contynue  and  leave  all 
or  the  most  parte  of  his  possessions  "  to  such  person  as  in  his  opinion  is 
most  likely  to  continue  the  line  "  most  like  to  his  noble  auncestors  "  he 
entails,  subject  to  the  payment  of  his  debts,  of  a  marriage  portion  of  £3000 
to  each  daughter  he  may  have  (failing  male  issue)  and  of  his  sister's  portion 
under  his  father's  will,  the  whole  estate  specified  on  his  cousins  in  tail 
male,  viz.,  Hugh  son  and  heir  apparent  of  Aubrey  Vere,  John  of  Robert 
Vere,  John,  Francis,  Robert  and  Horatius  sons  of  Geoffrey  Vere. 

Annexed  is  a  long  schedule  of  the  Earl's  debts  headed  by  £3457  "  to 
the  Quene's  maiestie."  Among  the  creditors  are  goldsmiths,  jewellers, 
mercers,  upholders,  embroiderers,  haberdashers,  armourers,  drapers,  tailors 
and  shoemakers.  Burghley,  the  Earl's  father-in-law,  is  authorized  to  pay 
any  debts  omitted  from  the  list.3 

There  are  two  actions  in  the  Star  Chamber  in  the  time  of  Hen.  VIII. 

•  Harl.  4189.  Henry  Copinger,  of  Buxhall,  by  Agnes 

•  i  He  was  Henry  Copinger,  Prebendary  of  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn. 

York,  and  elected  Master  of  Mag-         3  14  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  ix.  277,  amongst 
dalen  College,'  Cambridge,   son   of  the  Round  MSS. 

p 


122  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

by  Anne  Dowager  Countess  of  Oxford,  widow  of  John  the  I4th  Earl,  one 
against  Robert  Rochewode  and  the  other  against  John  Cooppyng  and 
others  as  to  killing  of  game  and  assault  in  Lavenham  Park.1  It  does  not 
appear  at  what  date  the  manor  passed  to  the  Skinners  though  it  is  usually 
said  to  be  about  1608,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  in  reality  much  earlier,  for 
we  find  that  an  annual  sum  of  2  shillings  and  9  pence  (amongst  other  quit 
rents)  given  by  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  out  of  the  Manor  of  Lavenham  to 
Emmanuel  College  Cambridge  March  2,  30  Eliz.  1587,  three  years  after 
the  founding  of  tne  College.  Edmund  de  Vere  17  Earl  of  Oxford  mortgaged 
the  Manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall,  Lavenham,  for  £4300  by  deed  dated 
May  1583  the  description  being  "  All  those  the  Manors  of  Overhall  and 
Netherhall  with  the  appurtenances  in  Lavenham,  Thorpe  Morieux,  Ash- 
field,  Preston,  Brent  Eleigh,  Acton,  Melford,  Shimpling  and  Alpheton." 
The  mortgage  was  to  Richard  Peacocke  and  Rowland  Martyn,  leather 
sellers,  and  pursuant  to  it  a  fine  was  duly  levied  in  Trinity  Term  25  Eliz. 

About  1608  Sir  Thomas  Skinner,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  held  the 
manor ;  indeed  this  year  he  had  licence  to  alienate  it  to  Isaac  Woder,  and 
by  a  deed  dated  the  15  Nov.  6  Jac.  [1608]  he  conveyed  the  "  Mannours  of 
Overhall,  Netherhall,  Lavenham  and  Lanam  "  to  Isaac  Woder  of  Gray's 
Inn  Esquire  for  £2400.*  Isaac  Woder  by  Deed  dated  the  3  January  9 
Jac.  I.  [1611]  conveyed  the  same  to  Paul  D'Ewes  for  £2500.  The  grant  is 
of  "  all  the  manors  of  Overhall,  Netherhall  and  Lavenham  al.  Lanham  al. 
Lanam  and  the  advowson  of  Lavenham  (except  land  called  '  Lavenham 
Parke  ')  containing  by  estimation  20  acres  and  also  lands  which  were  long 
since  conveyed  by  and  from  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  knt.  and  the  said  Isaac 
to  Doctor  Langworth.'  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  seems  to  have  appointed  one 
Christopher  Goodwyn,  a  messenger  of  the  Court  of  Wards  and  Liveries,  to  be 
steward  of  the  manor,  for  we  find  amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  in 
the  time  of  Elizabeth  that  this  Christopher  Goodwyn  brings  an  action  against 
Thomas  Skynner  and  Edward  Baker  to  be  quieted  in  the  possession  of 
the  stewardship  or  keeping  of  the  Courts  of  Lavenham  said  to  have  been 
granted  to  plaintiff  by  Thomas  Skynner  late  Lord  Mayor  of  London  deceased 
father  of  the  defendant  Skynner  lord  of  the  said  manor.4 

There  is  the  record  of  an  action  between  Thomas  Skinner  and  Sir 
Thomas  Skinner,  knt.  his  son  and  Henry  Copinger  clerk  then  Parson  of 
Lavenham  in  which  the  Court  of  Chancery  ordered  that  Thomas  Skinner 
and  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  the  trustees  should  tender  and  pay  yearly  to  the 
said  Henry  Copinger  and  his  successors  £40  a  year  in  lieu  of  all  tithes, 
growing  &c.  upon  Lavenham  Park  to  be  paid  quarterly,  and  if  a  whole 
year  became  due  and  remained  unpaid,  the  said  rate  should  cease,  and 
tithes  in  kind  become  payable.  From  this  it  would  appear  as  if  a  Thomas 
Skinner  father  of  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  had  the  manor  prior  to  1608,  but  as 
Thomas  Skinner  is  described  in  the  action  as  an  alderman  of  the  City  of 
London  he  is  probably  the  same  as  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  the  Lord  Mayor. 

Paul  D'Ewes  the  purchaser  was  a  member  of  the  ancient  houses  of 
Cleve  and  Home  in  Gelderland  sometime  lords  of  Kessell  in  that  Duchy. 
Adrian  des  Ewes  2nd  son  of  Gerard  des  Ewes  the  last  lord  of  Kessell  became 
heir  of  the  family,  his  eldest  brother  dying  young.  He  came  to  England 
in  the  time  of  Hen.  VIII.  and  died  of  the  sweating  sickness  which  swept 
over  London  in  1551.  He  married  Mary  the  daughter  of  John  van  Loe 

•  StarC.P.Hen.VIII.Bundlc27,ii3.28,2.         •  Karl,  in  H.  38. 

•  Karl.  85  H.  33.  «  C.P.  i.  344. 


LAVENHAM.  123 

of  Antwerp  and  left  one  son  Gerard  who  settled  in  Essex  and  became  lord  of 
the  Manor  of  Gaynes  there.  He  married  Grace  the  daughter  of  John  Hind 
of  Cambridgeshire,  by  whom  he  had  3  sons,  Paul  and  John  who  both  died 
young,  and  a  second  Paul,  who  was  his  heir.  This  Paul  was  one  of  the  six 
clerks  in  Chancery  and  married  Cicilia  the  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  Richard 
Symonds  of  Croxfield  in  Dorsetshire,  by  whom  he  left  one  son,  the  celebrated 
antiquary,  Symonds  D'Ewes,  who  was  knighted  at  Whitehall  Dec.  6, 1626, 
and  created  a  Baronet  July  5, 1627.  When  Paul  D'Ewes  made  his  purchase 
of  Lavenham  Manor,  Mary  the  widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  was  still  living 
and  was  in  fact  in  occupation  of  Lavenham  Hall,  which  she  had  as  part 
of  her  jointure,  consequently  the  sale  had  to  be  made  expectant  on  her 
interest.1  Articles  of  Agreement  between  Paul  D'Ewes  and  Edmund 
Browne  as  to  reparations,  &c.,  at  Lavenham  in  1623,  will  be  found  amongst 
the  Harleian  MSS.2  and  in  the  same  Collection  will  be  found  particulars  of 
an  arbitration  between  him  and  William  Playne  as  to  a  fine  for  lands  in 
Lavenham3  and  old  papers  relating  to  a  suit  between  him  and  tenants  of 
Lavenham  as  to  pulling  down  all  the  houses  of  the  borough.4 

There  is  also  amongst  the  same  MSS.  an  agreement  in  Chancery 
between  Paul  D'Ewes  as  lord  of  the  manor  and  the  inhabitants  of  Lavenham 
as  to  the  custom  of  the  town  as  tenants  to  be  dispunishable  for  waste. 5 
In  1615  a  claim  was  made  by  the  Crown  on  Paul  for  forfeiture  of  the  manor, 6 
but  without  any  disturbing  result,  as  the  following  year  he  settled  and 
entailed  the  lordship.7  Acquittances  for  homage  of  Manors  in  Lavenham 
in  1621,  1624,  1628,  1632,  1633,  1634  and  1635  will  be  found  amongst  the 
Harleian  Charters,8  and  an  account  of  the  fines  collected  at  a  Court  Baron 
for  Paul  D'Ewes  in  1622  are  amongst  the  MSS.  in  the  same  Collection.9 

Paul  D'Ewes  died  in  1630  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Symonds 
D'Ewes  one  of  the  most  industrious  literary  activities  of  his  age.  Sir 
Symonds's  work  has  not  received  that  attention  which  it  deserves.  Only 
those  who  have  carefully  gone  through  his  numerous  abstracts  of  docu- 
ments and  papers  of  every  conceivable  character  still  preserved  amongst 
the  Harleian  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum,  can  form  any  true  estimate 
of  the  value  of  his  labours.  His  abstracts  of  the  wills  supposed  to  be 
preserved  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds  alone  are  of  great  worth,  as  many  of  the 
originals  have  long  since  disappeared. 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  added  to  the  Lavenham  property,  inherited  from 
his  father,  by  the  purchase  of  148  acres  further  part  of  Lavenham  Park 
from  Thomas  Skynner.  A  receipt  for  the  purchase  money  which  was  £1500 
will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.10  An  examination  of  this  Thomas 
described  as  the  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Skinner  of  "  Lannun  Park  "  is  mentioned 
in  the  State  Papers."  Charles  Skinner  seems  to  have  had  an  annuity  out 
of  the  Park,  and  there  is  an  acquittance  by  him  in  1649  also  in  the 
Harleian  Collection."  A  Deed  of  Covenants  between  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes 
and  John  Scott  on  a  demise  of  the  Hall  and  part  of  the  Park  in  1636-7,  and 
a  petition  of  Sir  Symonds  to  Lord  Coventry  Lord  Keeper  concerning  the 
tithes  of  Lavenham  Park,  will  also  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.'3 

1  Harl.  MSS.  362  fol.  41.  "  Harl.  49  E.  13,  14  E.  19,  E.  32,  35,  E.  22, 

*  Harl.  98.  E.  43. 

3  Harl.  98.  »  Harl.  99. 

4  Harl.  597.  'o  Harl.  97. 

5  Harl.  99.  »  j6i6  p.  351. 

*  13  Jac.  I.  Memoranda  Rolls,  Hil.  Rec.        "  Harl.  97. 

Rot.  226.  -3  Harl.  97,  98. 

'  Harl.  i ii  F.  35. 


124  THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes1  married  first  Ann,  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir 
William  Clopton  of  Kent  well  Hall  in  Long  Melford  by  whom  he  had  a  son 
Clopton  who  died  an  infant  in  1631  and  a  daughter  Cecilia  who  was  heir 
to  her  mother's  estate  and  married  Thomas  Darcy  by  which  marriage  the 
Darcys  came  to  Kentwell  Hall.  His  2nd  wife  was  Elizabeth  daughter  of 
Sir  Henry  Willoughby  of  Risby  co.  Derby,  Bart,  (who  afterwards  married 
Sir  John  Wray  of  Glentworth  co.  Lincoln,  Bart.),  by  whom  he  had  issue 
Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes  2nd  Bart.  Sir  Symonds  after  the  death  of  his  father 
Paul  moved  to  Stowlangtoft  and  died  in  1650.  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  appears 
to  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  borrowing  money  from  Arthur  Barnar- 
diston  and  there  are  a  series  of  deeds  charging  in  effect  the  Manor  of 
Lavenham  to  the  amount  of  £1100  in  his  favour.  These  deeds  are  amongst 
the  Harleian  Charters.  The  first  is  a  lease  dated  3  June  17  Charles  I.  [1641] 
between  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  of  the  one  part  and  Arthur  Barnardiston 
of  the  Inner  Temple  esquire  of  the  other  part.  In  consideration  of  £600  Sir 
Symonds  leases  the  Manor  of  Stowlangtoft  and  also  the  Manors  of  Lavenham, 
Overhall,  and  Netherhall  for  21  years  at  a  peppercorn  rent,  determinable  : 
"  If  said  Arthur  Barnardiston  and  Arthur  Barnardiston,  Thomas 
Barnardiston,  Anne  Barnardiston  and  Mary  Barnardiston,  being  all  four 
the  children  of  the  said  Arthur  Barnardiston  and  Thomas  Bradshaw  they 
or  any  of  them  [?  shall  so  long  live]  or  (if  it  shall  happen  that  the 
said  Arthur  Barnardiston  the  elder  shall  marry  agayne  and  have  any 
child  or  children  by  any  future  wife  or  wives.)  If  in  such  case  also  any 
such  wife  of  the  said  Arthur  Barnardiston  the  father,  or  any  child  or  chil- 
dren which  he  the  said  Arthur  the  elder  shall  hereafter  begett  or  any  one  of 
them  or  of  any  other  the  forementioned  persons  shall  remayne  and  be 
liveing  att  the  ennd  and  expiration  of  Seaven  yeares  of  the  foresaid  tearme 
of  one  and  twenty  yeares  (the  said  seaven  yeares  to  bee  accompted  and 
take  theyre  inception  from  the  foresaid  feast  day  of  the  Annunciation  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  commonly  called  Lady  day  last  past  before  the 
date  of  these  presents)."  The  terms  of  the  deed  are  extremely  vague. 

Another  deed  dated  the  4  June  17  Car.  I.  [1641]  between  Arthur 
Barnardiston  and  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  recites  the  last  lease  for  21  years 
and  contains  a  grant  by  Arthur  Barnardiston  to  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes 
(for  divers  good  considerations)  of  the  said  manors  for  7  years  part  of  the 
21  years  at  a  peppercorn  rent.  The  effect  of  the  two  deeds  was  to  give 
Arthur  Barnardiston  a  charge  on  the  manors  for  securing  £1100. 

Another  deed  dated  the  16  May  24  Charles  I.  (1648)  between  Arthur 
Barnardiston  described  as  of  Hedingham  ad  Castrum  al.  Castle  Heding- 
ham  co.  Essex  and  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  after  reciting  the  Lease  of  3  June 
17  Car.  I.  recites — "  And  whereas  he  the  said  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  doth 
by  these  presents  acknowledge  that  by  reason  of  some  extraordinary 
occasions  and  through  the  troublesomeness  of  the  times  he  could  not  well 
pay  unto  the  said  Arthur  Barnardiston  the  elder  (notwithstanding  that 
the  said  Arthur  and  his  fouresaid  children  are  at  present  in  life)  the  four- 
said  summe  of  eleaven  hundred  pounds  at  the  time  and  place  before  men- 
tioned and  according  to  the  purport  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  foure- 
said last  recited  Indenture  without  much  prejudice  to  him  the  said  Sir 
Symonds  in  his  outward  estate  and  that  thereupon  he  the  said  Sir  Symonds 
hath  neglected  to  pay  the  said  summe  of  Eleaven  hundred  pounds,"  Sir 
Symonds  is  allowed  to  rent  the  premises  for  7  years  more  and  if  after  the 

1  See  Stowlangtoft  Manor  in  Blackbourn  Hund. 


LAVENHAM.  125 

expiration  of  this  period  he  should  pay  to  Arthur  Barnardiston  and  his 
heirs  or  to  Thomas  Bradshaw  and  his  heirs  £1100  then  the  lease  from  Sir 
Symonds  should  be  void. 

Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes  was  an  infant  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death 
and  his  mother  was  his  guardian.1  He  married  Priscilla  eldest  daughter  of 
Francis  Clinton  als.  Fines  of  Stourton  co.  Lincoln  and  died  in  1685  leaving  a 
son  and  heir  Sir  Symonds  3rd  Bart,  who  married  Delariviere  one  of  the 
daughters  and  coheirs  of  Thomas  2nd  Lord  Jermyn  by  whom  he  had  issue 
two  sons  Jermyn  and  Willoughby  and  4  daughters — Delariviere  married  to 
Thomas  Gage  eldest  son  of  Sir  William  Gage  of  Hengrave  Bart.,  Mary  to 
George  Tasburgh  of  Norfolk  and  Harriet  and  Merriell.  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes 
the  3rd  Bart,  died  in  1722  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Jermyn  as  4th 
Bart,  who  died  unmarried  in  1731 .  The  manor  was  then  purchased  by  John 
Moore  of  Long  Melford  who  died  in  1753  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Richard  Moore  who  died  in  1782,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Mary. 
Davy  says  that  on  her  death  in  1814  she  was  succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir 
Richard  Moore  whose  Trustees  sold  the  manor  to  the  Rev.  Geo.  Richard 
Pye  who  was  lord  in  1841.  But  Kirby  says  that  in  1764  Henry  Moore 
was  lord,  and  in  1829  and  1835  makes  the  Rev.  James  Pye  to  be  lord,  as 
does  Page  in  1847.  White  in  1855  makes  Geo.  Richard  Pye  lord.  The 
manor  now  belongs  to  Frederick  James  Underwood  of  the  Common, 
Sevenoaks,  Kent. 

Conveyances,  &c.,  of  the  Manors  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall  with  the 
advowson  in  1583, 1608,  1612, 1632, 1641  and  1648  are  amongst  the  Harleian 
Charters.2  Accounts  of  Edward  Porter  bailiff  of  Lavenham  Manor  will  be 
found  in  the  Harleian  MSS.3  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  for  1475  will  be  found 
a  grant  for  life  to  Sir  John  Howard  knt.  of  the  office  of  steward  of  Lavenham 
Manor  and  £10  yearly  for  the  said  office  from  the  manor,4  and  the  same  year 
a  grant  for  life  to  John  Rysby  of  the  office  of  bailiff  of  the  manor  reserving 
the  accustomed  fees  to  the  King's  receiver  there ; 5  also  the  same  year  a 
grant  for  life  to  Thomas  Camellor  of  the  office  of  receiver  of  the  manor  in 
the  King's  hand  in  consequence  of  the  forfeiture  of  John  Earl  of  Oxford 
receiving  10  marks  yearly  from  the  issues  and  profits.6  A  compotus  of 
the  manor  1511-12  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls  in  the  Brit. 
Mus.7 

A  Book  of  Court  Rolls  1631  is  in  the  Harleian  Collection8  and  the 
Court  Rolls  themselves  from  1635  to  1650  and  1660  to  1667  are  amongst 
the  Rolls  of  the  same  Collection9  with  extracts  from  Court  Rolls  1497  to 
1608.'° 

The  manor  court  elected  the  Headborough  of  the  town  of  Lavenham 
and  the  capital  Burgess  paid  to  the  lord  of  the  manor  a  common  fine  by 
ancient  custom  of  eight  shillings  and  four  pence.  From  "  time  to  the 
contrary  of  which  the  memory  of  man  is  not  "  there  have  been  6  capital 
Burgesses  and  the  custom  was  that  as  often  as  any  of  them  by  death  or 
any  other  deprivation  were  removed  those  capital  Burgesses  who  survived 
chose  fit  inhabitants  and  tenants  within  the  borough  successors  in  the 
room  of  those  deceased  or  removed.  An  extract  from  a  Court 

1  State  Papers  1684,  Cal.  of  Comp.  1962.  *  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Edw.  IV.  pt.  iii.  16. 

'  Harl.  57  H.  18,  85  H.  23,  in  H.  38,  57  7  Harl.  Roll,  A.  15. 

H.  37,  in  H.  16,  28,  in  H.  17.  "  Harl.  362. 

•Harl.  6709.  '  Harl.  Rolls,  H.  16-19. 

«  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  8,  4.  '°  Harl.  55  H.  30,  37. 
*  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  19. 


ia6  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

held  for  the  Manor  of  Lavenham  by  Richard  Moore  the  26  April 
1775  before  John  Mudd  Deputy  Steward  of  Isaac  Paske  Gent. 
Steward  which  is  given  by  McKeon  in  his  "  Inquiry  as  to  the  Charities  of 
Lavenham "  shows  how  the  election  was  usually  made  and  how 
practically  the  Court  of  the  Manor  was  the  centre  from  which  the  govern- 
ment of  the  town  was  derived.  The  election  of  the  Burgesses  was  actually 
made  in  Court.  In  the  Record  of  the  Court  referred  to,  after  reciting  the 
mode  of  government  by  Burgesses  as  mentioned  above,  it  proceeds  "  and 
because  all  the  said  capital  Burgesses  are  dead  except  the  said  Brooke 
Branwhite,  Edward  Coldham,  and  Charles  Squire,  And  the  said  Edward 
Coldham  and  Charles  Squire  are  removed  out  of  the  said  Borough  of  Laven- 
ham, Therefore  the  said  Edward  Coldham  and  Charles  Squire  are  at  this 
Court  removed  from  their  said  office  of  capital  Burgess.  And  the  said 
Brooke  Branwhite  hath  chosen  Samuel  Coote,  Thomas  Watts,  Philip 
Sturgeon,  Thomas  Kitbourn  and  John  Studd  capital  Burgesses  in  the  room 
of  those  deceased  and  amoved,  which  said  Samuel  Coote,  Thomas  Watts, 
Philip  Sturgeon,  Thomas  Kitbourn  and  John  Studd  are  sworn  in  open 
Oourt  to  do  all  those  things  which  on  this  behalf  belong  to  them  and  most 
conducive  to  the  public  good  of  this  Manor  and  Burgh." 

The  tenants  of  the  manor  have  various  privileges  as  is  not  surprising 
considering  what  a  powerful  family  so  long  occupied  the  position  of  lord. 
They  and  it  seems  also  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  have  always  been 
exempt  from  serving  any  Court  held  for  the  Hundred  of  Babergh,  and 
though  they  have  been  oftentimes  summoned  to  serve,  "  the  Earl  of  Oxford 
and  their  own  officers  (as  the  author  of  the  "  Magna  Britannia  "  states) 
have  always  commanded  the  contrary,  so  they  took  themselves  exempt." 
It  seems  that  no  exemption  has  been  claimed  in  modern  times.  The 
custom  of  the  manor  is  Borough-English,  that  is  that  the  younger  sons 
inherit  the  lands  and  tenements  of  which  their  fathers  died  seised  in  the 
event  of  their  dying  intestate.  "  This  custom  called  '  Burrough-English  ' 
is,"  says  Hawes  in  his  "  History  of  Framlingham  '"  "  contrary  to  the 
positive  laws  of  God1  and  inverts  the  very  order  of  nature  ;  it  was  originally 
introduced  into  this  kingdom  by  a  wicked  and  adulterous  practice  amongst 
the  barbarous  Saxons  ;  for  the  lords  of  certain  lands  which  held  of  them  in 
Villenage  did  usually  in  those  pagan  and  barbarous  times  lye  with  their 
tenants'  wives  the  first  night  after  marriage.3  And  this  usage  was  continued 
after  those  very  lands  were  purchased  by  freemen  who  in  time  obtained 
this  custom  on  purpose  that  their  eldest  sons  (who  might  be  their  lord's 
bastards)  should  be  incapable  to  inherit  their  estates."  Modern  research 
has  rather  blown  on  the  fanciful  idea  as  to  the  existence  of  the  lord's  right 
referred  to,  and  as  to  the  origin  of  the  custom  of  Borough-English. 

The  original  manor  house  is  supposed  to  have  stood  close  to  what  is  now 
called  Lavenham  Hall,  and  some  few  years  ago  its  extensive  ruins  were  still 
visible  and  the  piece  of  land  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Saffron 
Pans  or  Panes  was  the  garden  attached  to  the  original  mansion  house. 
Particulars  of  a  case  between  one  Baxton  and  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  as  to 
this  piece  of  land  about  1644  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harl.  MSS.4  A 
large  park  which  occupied  nearly  half  the  parish  was  attached,  and  the 
manor  house  was  occasionally  the  residence  of  the  Earls  of  Oxford  from 

'  P-  389,  390-  '  Pref.  Mod.  Rep.  vol.  3. 

•  Deut.  xxi.  15,  16,  17,  Gen.  xxix.  26,  i         •  Harl.  99. 
Kings  xi.  22,  I  Chron.  v.  I. 


LAVENHAM.  127 


the  very  earliest  times  to  the  opening  of  the  lyth  century.  The  hall  was 
at  one  time  the  centre  of  an  important  industrial  place,  for  Lavenham  was 
famous  for  the  manufacture  of  blue  cloth,  though  even  more  so  for  the 
making  of  yarn  from  wool  and  says  and  calimancoes  till  the  fashion  arose 
among  the  ladies  for  wearing  Spanish  leather  for  their  shoes. 


128  THE  MANORS    OF  SUFFOLK. 


LAWSHALL  MANOR. 

| HE  lordship  and  advowson  anciently  belonged  to  the  Abbot 
and  Convent  of  Ramsay  in  Huntingdonshire,  by  virtue  of  a 
grant  made  by  Alfwinus  the  son  of  Bricius  in  the  year  1022. 
It  was  held  with  8  carucates  of  land  as  a  manor  with  soc. 
In  the  Confessor's  time  there  were  14  villeins,  12  bordars, 
4  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  10  belonging  to  the 
men,  8  acres  of  meadow  and  i  rouncey.  There  was  a  church 
living  with  30  acres  of  free  land,  and  the  whole  was  valued  at  8  pounds. 
By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  the  value  was  placed  at  12  pounds,  and 
there  were  2  more  villeins,  and  one  more  slave  but  2  bordars  less.  We 
find  also  an  additional  ploughteam  in  demesne  and  10  beasts,  30  hogs, 
100  sheep,  and  12  goats.  The  manor  was  a  league  long  and  half  a  league 
broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  15^.' 

The  manor  continued  in  the  holding  of  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of 
Ramsey  until  the  dissolution  being  held  of  the  King  in  chief  and  as  per- 
taining to  the  barony  of  Ramsey.1  The  Abbot  claimed  to  have  gallows 
and  free  warren  here,  as  we  learn  from  the  Hundred  Rolls3  and  Charters 
relating  to  these  lands  of  the  Abbey  here  in  1254-1353  will  be  found  in  the 
Brit.  Museum4  and  the  Accounts  of  the  Reeve  bailiff  and  collector  of  these 
lands  7  Edw.  I.  to  2  Hen.  V.  will  be  found  in  the  Public  Record  Office.3 
Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  while  in  the  possession  of  the  Abbey  of  Ramsey 
will  also  be  found  in  the  Record  Office  for  the  following  years — 38,  40,  41 
Edw.  III.  2  Rich.  II.  i  to  4,  14  Hen.  VII.  6  to  9,  n,  12,  25  and  26  Hen. 
VIII.6  and  a  Court  Roll  for  1466  is  in  the  British  Museum.7 

There  is  preserved  amongst  the  ancient  deeds  in  the  Record  Office  a 
direction  by  Hen.  II.  to  the  Sheriff  and  ministers  of  Suffolk  ordering  them 
to  allow  Lawshall  a  town  of  St.  Benedict  Ramsey  and  all  its  men  to  be 
quit  of  shire  and  hundred  Courts  and  pleas,  and  all  other  suits  except 
murders  and  theft  and  that  it  shall  have  soc  and  sac,  toll  and  team  and 
infangtheif  and  all  other  customs  as  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  his  grand- 
father.8 The  date  is  about  1155. 

Also  amongst  these  deeds  is  a  Bond  dated  in  1269  in  20  marks  by 
William  Herberd  of  Lawshall  Manor  to  the  Abbot  of  Ramsey  to  maintain 
the  sons  and  messuage  of  late  Alexander  Hemning  in  as  good  or  better 
state  than  when  he  first  had  access  to  the  wife  of  the  said  Alexander.  For 
this  and  other  things,  the  said  abbot  and  convent  have  granted  him  the 
custody  of  the  boys  and  tenement  until  any  of  the  said  boys  come  to  the 
age  at  which  by  the  custom  of  Lawshall  Manor  he  can  hold  land,  and  then 
he  shall  have  half  the  land  and  messuage  and  the  other  half  shall  remain 
to  the  said  William  and  his  wife  for  her  life  and  after  her  decease  the  said 
William  shall  have  nothing  further  therein.9 

Amongst  the  fines  we  meet  with  one  of  Lawshall  Manor  in  1318  levied 
by  Thomas  de  Hanningfeld  and  Isabella  his  wife  against  Thomas  Maun- 
devill.10 

Dom.  ii.  3786.  *  Portfolio  203,  97. 

H.R.  ii.  142,  153.  '  Add.  Roll  34933. 

ii.  143,  153,  195.  •  A.  6288. 

Add.  Ch.  34259-34264.  •  53  Hen.  III.  A.  7487. 

Bundle  1001,  Nfo.7-i7;  Bundle  1002.  No.  "  Feet  of  Fines,  12  Edw.  II.  17. 
1-7- 


LAWSHALL  MANOR.  129 

At  the  dissolution  the  manor  was,  together  with  the  advowson,  granted 
by  the  Crown  to  John  Either.  Particulars  for  the  grant  are  in  existence,  and 
referred  to  in  the  Deputy  Keeper's  loth  Report.1  The  disgusting  bribery 
and  the  grabbing  after  the  monastic  property  is  well  shown  up  in  a  letter 
by  one  William  Woode  to  Cromwell,  asking  to  have  by  gift  or  purchase  a 
farm  of  £8  a  year  at  Lawshall,  which  he  had  of  the  Abbey  of  Ramsey. 
He  promises  to  bequeath  to  Cromwell  all  he  gets  through  him.2 

The  manor  does  not  seem  to  have  remained  long  with  Rither,  for  in 
1547  ne  s°ld  it  together  with  the  advowson  to  Sir  William  Drury 3 
and  on  the  Memoranda  Rolls  for  1571  is  a  claim  by  the  Crown  on  Elizabeth 
Drury  widow,  and  Henry  her  son  for  forfeiture  of  the  manor.4 

Near  the  Church  was  an  old  brick  house  formerly  belonging  to  the 
Drurys  with  their  arms  in  brick  over  one  of  the  doors  and  the  date  1557. 
There  is  an  entry  in  the  Parish  Register  of  this  place  under  the  year  1578 
as  follows  :  "  It  is  to  be  remembred  that  the  Queens  highnesse  in  her 
progresse  riding  from  Melford  to  Bury  5°  Aug.  Reg.  R.  20  an.  Dni. 
1578  dined  at  Lawshall  Hall  to  the  great  rejoycing  of  ye  said  Parish  and 
the  Country  thereabouts." 

The  name  "  Elizabeth  Drewry  "  of  Lawshall  appears  in  the  list  of 
Papist  Recusants  in  1595.  "  She  hath  byn  prisoner  to  Sir  John  Heygham 
knt."  She  must  have  been  wife  of  Robert  Drury  of  Lawshall  2nd  son  of 
Sir  William  Drury  of  Hawstead.  We  meet  with  a  fine  levied  in  1581  in 
respect  of  rent  from  the  manor  between  Henry  Drury  and  Sir  Wm.  Drury,5 
and  in  1588  Henry  Drury  apparently  disposed  of  the  manor  to  Thomas 
Lovell.6  In  1598  we  meet  with  a  fine  of  "  Lawcell  Manor,"  which  is  not 
unlikely  this  manor.  It  was  levied  between  Robert  Lee  and  Robert 
Gouldinge  and  others.7 

In  1734  both  manor  and  advowson  were  vested  in  Thomas  Lee,  to 
whom  succeeded  Baptist  Lee  of  Livermere  Parva  who  died  the  23  March 
1768  and  devised  the  same  to  his  nephew  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton.  He 
married  ist  Susanna  Miller  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Miller  of  Chi- 
chester  Bart,  who  died  without  issue  the  5  April  1789  ;  and  2ndly  Penelope 
eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Rycroft  of  Penshurst  Bart,  who  died 
without  issue  the  5  November  1819.  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton  survived  until 
1836,  when  dying  seised  of  the  manor  and  advowson  they  passed  to  his 
eldest  sister  and  heir,  who  survived  but  a  few  months  and  then  passed  to 
his  next  sister  Harriot,  Lady  Middleton  widow  of  Sir  William  Fowle  Middle- 
ton  Bart,  of  Shrubland  Park,  who  was  succeeded  by  her  son  Sir  William 
Fowle  Middleton  2nd  Bart,  who  married  the  Hon.  Anne  Cust,  youngest 
sister  of  Earl  Brownlow  and  died  in  1860  without  issue,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  Sir  George  Nathaniel  Broke  Middleton  the  son  of  Sir  Philip  Bowes 
Vere  Broke  Bart,  of  Broke  Hall  by  Sarah  Louisa  his  wife  daughter  of  Sir 
Wm.  Fowle  Middleton  ist  Bart,  he  inheriting  under  the  will  of  his  maternal 
grandfather  the  said  Sir  William  Fowle  Middleton.  By  royal  licence  the  17 
July  1860  he  assumed  the  surname  of  Middleton  after  that  of  Broke.  He  was 
made  C.B.  and  a  knight  of  the  Medjedie  for  his  services  in  command  of 
the  "  Gladiator  "  during  the  war  with  Russia,  and  married  Albinia-Maria 
2nd  daughter  of  Thomas  Evans  of  Lyminster  but  died  in  1887  without 

App.  ii.  p.  262,  37  Hen.  VIII.  s  Fine,  Easter,  23  Eliz. 

'  State  Papers,  1539,  566.  6  Fine,  Hil.  30  Eliz. 

3  Fine,  Trin.  i  Edw.  VI.  7  Fine,  Trin.  40  Eliz. 
'  M.  13  Eliz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  81. 


130  THE    MANORS   OF    SUFFOLK. 

ue,  when  the  manor  passed  to  hi*  niece  Jane  Anna,  the  eldest  daughter 
of  his  brother  Charles  Acton  Vere  Broke  [who  had  married  Anna  Maria 
3rd  daughter  of  John  Hamilton  of  Sundrum,  Aryshire,  and  died  in  1855]. 
She  married  James  St.  Vincent  Sumarez  4th  Baron  Do  Sumarez,  who 
is  the  present  lord  of  the  manor  and  patron  of  the  living  and  resides  at 
Shmbland  Park. 

Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Eliz.  is  a  claim 
by  John  Elye  and  Mary  his  wife  against  George  Barrell  to  lands  held  of 
Lawshall  Manor  late  the  estate  of  Alice  Anderwood,  mother  of  the  plaintiff 
Mary  ;'  and  an  action  by  Margaret  Golding  widow  against  William  Bradley 
and  others  as  to  a  messuage  and  lands  also  held  of  the  manor  of  which 
defendant  Edward  Rookwood  was  lord.* 

Lawshall  Hall  is  an  interesting  old  brick  edifice  standing  close  to  the 
church.  The  walls  are  in  some  places  6  feet  thick  and  many  of  the  original 
features  of  the  old  place  have  been  retained.  There  are  some  curious 
underground  passages  which  tradition,  as  usual,  declares  to  be  of  most 
extensive  character,  connecting  the  place  with  Coldham  Hall  about  a  mile 
distant.  The  most  interesting  portion  of  the  Hall  is  what  was  probably 
the  Chapel.  It  is  pleasing  to  find  that  this  interesting  old  mansion  is  well 
preserved  and  is  in  such  good  hands  as  Mr.  Baker  and  his  niece  Miss  Harvey. 


1  C.P.  i.  272.  '  C.P.  i.  354- 


MELFORD  (LONG).  I3I 


LONG  MELFORD. 

pNG  MELFORD  is  the  largest  village  in  extent  and 
population  in  Suffolk,  and  acquired  the  affix  Long  by 
reason  of  it  consisting  mainly  of  one  street  almost  a  mile 
long.  The  name  Melford  was  derived  from  the  Mill  ford, 
the  site  of  which  was  where  the  main  bridge  now  stands, 
the  mill  being  one  of  the  water-mills  mentioned  in  the 
survey  of  the  parish  in  Domesday  Book. 
Melford  in  Saxon  times  formed  part  of  the  great  possession  of  Earl 
Alfric,  the  son  of  Withgar  or  Wisgar  as  the  name  appears  in  the  Great 
Survey,  or  Widgar  as  it  appears  in  the  Abbot's  Chartulary.  This  Thane, 
who  was  styled  the  "  famous  Earl,"  had  the  custody  for  Queen  Emma, 
mother  of  the  Confessor,  of  the  franchise  of  the  eight  hundreds  and  a  half 
later  known  as  the  Liberty  of  St.  Edmund.  The  Manor  of  Melford  was 
given  by  Earl  Alfric  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund  in  the  time 
of  Leofstan,  who  was  the  Abbot  of  that  monastery  from  1044  to  1065. 
The  Chartulary  of  Abbot  John  de  Norwold  made  in  1287  recites  this  grant 
as  follows  : — 

"  Earl  Alfric,  son  of  Widgar,  presented  Melford  to  St.  Edmunds  as 
stated  in  the  Register  S.P.  fol.  32  in  these  words  :  '  In  the  time  of  St. 
Edmund  King  and  Confessor,  and  of  Leofstam  the  Abbot,  Alfric  the  son 
of  Witgar  the  famous  Earl  gave  Melford  to  St.  Edmund  and  gave  a  manor 
to  this  church  and  to  St.  Edmund,  and  to  Leofstan  the  Abbot  :  and  he 
conveyed  to  them  the  induction  of  this  church  in  perpetuity  and  bound 
his  son  Withgar  to  the  same,  so  that  their  charter  then  came  into  the  hands 
of  the  monks.'  '  This  Alfric  the  Thane  was  an  important  character  in  the 
time  of  the  Confessor.  He  was  the  kinsman  of  Alfar  and  of  Leofgion,  a  noble 
lady,  as  appears  by  her  Testament  written  in  Anglo-Saxon.  The  Collegiate 
Church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  at  Clare,  afterwards  removed  to  Stoke  by 
Clare,  was  founded  by  him  with  the  consent  of  his  son  Withgar.  The 
Honor  of  Clare  was  composed  chiefly  of  the  great  possessions  of  this  Thane 
in  Suffolk  and  Essex. 

In  Saxon  times  the  lordship  was  held  by  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds 
with  12  carucates  of  land. 

In  the  Confessor's  time  40  acres  of  this  land  were  held  by  Walter  of 
the  Abbot,  and  there  were  37  villeins,  25  bordars,  8  ploughteams  in 
demesne,  20  belonging  to  the  men,  16  slaves,  50  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for 
60  hogs,  2  mills,  30  beasts,  140  hogs,  and  2  socmen  with  80  acres  of  land. 
By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  there  were  but  10  bordars  and  2  of  the 
ploughteams  in  demesne,  and  7  of  those  belonging  to  the  men  had  disappeared; 
but  on  the  other  hand  there  were  3  rounceys,  300  sheep,  12  hives  of  bees  and 
40  forest  mares  additional.  The  above  Walter  also  held  of  the  Abbot 
one  (sic)  with  40  acres  and  2  ploughteams.  Over  them  the  Abbot  had  com- 
mendation and  sac  and  soc  and  all  customs,  nor  could  they  ever  give  or 
sell  these  lands  without  the  Abbot's  consent.  There  was  also  a  church 
living  with  2  carucates  of  land,  4  villeins,  9  bordars,  2  ploughteams 
belonging  to  the  Church  and  2  to  the  men. 

In  Saxon  times  this  manor  was  valued  at  20  pounds,  but  at  the  time 
of  the  Domesday  Survey  at  30.  It  was  18  quarantenes  long  and  I  league 
broad,  and  paid  in  a  gelt,  whoever  might  be  the  holder,  20^.'  In  a  survey 

'  Dom.  ii.  359. 


132  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

made  of  the  Melford  Manor  as  held  by  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  in  1287 
compiled  from  the  report  of  Salomon  of  Rochester,  Thomas  de  Sudington, 
Richard  de  Boiland  and  Walter  de  Hopton,  the  King's  justiciaries  itinerant 
the  particulars  are  given  as  follows  : — "  The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  as  Lord 
of  Melford  holds  a  manor  in  this  vill  from  the  King  in  chief,  by  a  free  grant  in 
perpetuity,  as  well  by  the  right  of  his  lordship  of  St.  Edmund.  And  there 
are  in  the  same  800  acres  of  arable  land  243.  of  mowing  meadow,  53  acres 
of  separable  pasture  and  360  acres  of  wood.  And  he  has  rights  over  this 
manor  of  Furca'  and  Trimberell  ;*  also  of  Bussellus,5  Lagen,4  and  other 
measures ;  and  to  hold  in  frank  pledge  and  to  impound  all  trespassers  ; 
and  he  has  rights  of  Barony  :  and  ne  has  also  the  right  of  use  of  his  vassals' 
working  cattle  :  and  he  has  Infrangtheif5,  free  warren  over  his  lordship, 
two  water-mills,  and  free  right  of  Boar  and  Bull.6 

"  The  advowson  and  gift  of  the  Church  of  Melford  also  belongs  to 
the  Abbot ;  and  this  church  is  endowed  with  236  acres  of  land,  10^  acres 
of  meadow,  n  acres  of  pasture  and  4  acres  of  woodland  from  the  gift  of 
Alfric,  son  of  Widgar  formerly  the  lord  of  the  said  barony.  The  said  Abbot 
also  possesses  in  this  township  in  the  said  lordship  600  acres  of  arable  land 
which  his  villeins  hold  of  him  with  their  messuages ;  he  also  has  four  acres 
of  land,  which  his  cottars  hold  of  him." 

The  great  Saxon  Manor  of  Melford  became  in  course  of  time  divided 
into  6  manors,  not  including  the  Manor  of  Kentwell,  which  is  separately 
entered  in  the  Domesday  Survey.  All  save  Luton's  and  Woodford's 
continued  in  the  Abbot  of  Bury  until  the  Dissolution  of  the  Monasteries, 
except  that  Monks  Melford  Manor  was  in  1199  vested  in  the  Hospital  of 
St.  Saviour  without  the  north  gate  of  Bury  and  continued  in  this  Institution 
also  until  the  Dissolution. 

The  Abbot  had  the  grant  in  Melford,  in  1235,  °f  a  weekly  market  on 
Thursday,  and  a  yearly  fair  to  last  3  days,  viz.,  on  the  vigil,  day,  and  morrow 
of  the  Holy  Trinity  unless  the  said  market  and  fair  should  be  to  the  hindrance 
of  neighbouring  markets  and  fairs,7  and  he  also  had  free  warren  there.8 
Many  of  the  abbots  made  the  Hall  their  occasional  retreat  from  the  incessant 
contentions  which  seemed  to  be  the  necessary  sphere  of  the  Head  of  so 
powerful  a  monastic  house  in  the  Middle  Ages.  Often  these  houses  suffered 
damage  during  a  vacancy,  when  the  temporalities  vested  in  the  King,  and 
from  the  Hundred  Rolls  of  1275  we  find  that  John  Walraven,  Escheator  of 
the  King,  destroyed  the  cattle  and  damaged  the  park  at  Melford,  whilst 
the  manor  was  in  the  King's  hands  after  the  decease  of  Edmund  the  Abbot. 
It  is  obvious  that  the  record  related  to  an  incident  which  occurred  in  the 
previous  reign,  no  doubt  between  1256  and  1257  in  the  interval  of  the 
abeyance  of  the  Abbacy  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  III. 

Amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.9  is  the  copy  of  a  lease  made  in  1534,  in 
which  the  last  Abbot  of  Bury,  John  Reeve  al.  Melford,  a  native  of  the  village, 
elected  abbot  in  1514,  lets  the  Manor  of  Melford  called  Melford  Hall  with 
"  the  feadyngs  of  the  comon  called  Melford  Grene,  longyng  to  the  sayde 

1  Or  gallows  on  which  he  could  hang  felons.  5  Or  the  right  to  pass  judgment  for  any 
'  Or  the  right  of  pillory  on  which  he  could  theft  committed,  or  any  thief  taken, 

punish   misdemeanours,    and    also  within  his  manor. 

scolds    and    nagging     women    by  6  That  is,  he  could  depasture  those  animals 

ducking.  at  will  in  the  meadows  or  lands  of 

1  Or  the  right  to  control  all  measures  in  every  person  within  his  manor. 

his  manor,  his  own  bushel  to  be  '  Chart.  Rolls,  19  Hen.  III.  5. 

the  standard  for  all.  '  H.R.  ii.  143. 

4  Or  the  measure  for  liquid.  '  Harl.  308. 


MELFORD    (LONG).  133 

Manour.  And  also  closes  whereof  the  on  is  called  Parkefelde  and  the 
other  is  called  the  Horse  Pasture  and  two  meadowes,  the  one  called  Smal 
Medowe,  and  the  other  called  Parke  Medowe  lying  in  Melford  aforeseyd 
in  the  seyd  counte  of  Suffolk  :  except  oute  take  and  reservyd  unto  the 
seyd  Abbott  and  hys  successors  on  of  the  best  Chaumbers  within  the  seyd 
manour  wyth  ffree  ingate  and  outegate  into  and  fro  the  same  at  all  tymes 
at  hys  pleasure  duryng  all  the  seyd  terme  of  the  seyd  lease  "  for  the  term 
of  30  years  to  Dame  Frances  Pennington.  In  this  lease  it  is  covenanted 
that  the  said  Dame  Fraunces  shall  pay  45.  a  year  to  the  abbot,  45.  a  year  to 
the  bailiff  of  Babergh  Hundred,  and  45.  a  year  "  to  the  crosse  berer  of  the 
seyd  abbot  and  his  successors,  on  of  the  best  chambers  within  the  seid 
maner  wyth  ffree  ingate  and  outegate  in  to  and  fro  the  same  at  all  tymes 
at  hys  pleasure  duryng  all  the  seyd  terme  of  the  seid  lease,"  and  "  shall 
fynde  at  hir  costs  and  charges  the  seid  abbott  or  his  officers  comying  onys 
in  the  yeere  to  the  courte  and  leete  of  the  seid  abbott  at  the  seid  manner  to 
be  kept,  sufficient  met  and  drynk,  with  bedding  in  ther  chambre,  hey  and 
otys  for  their  horses,  by  all  the  seid  terme,  for  that  tyme  beyng  there  at 
the  seid  courte  and  lete."  On  the  part  of  the  abbot  and  convent  it  is 
covenanted  to  do  all  needful  repairs  to  the  houses  of  the  said  manor ;  to 
permit  Dame  Fraunces  to  have  500  of  wood  yearly  out  of  the  woods  in  Mel- 
ford  and  to  have  the  feeding  of  the  Little  Park,  "  so  that  the  same  Dame 
Fraunces,  not  her  assignes,  do  non  harm  on  to  the  spring."  On  taking 
possession  of  the  manor,  the  said  Dame  Fraunceys  was  to  have  delivered 
to  her  "  the  chaff e  and  strawe  of  all  the  corne  growyng  of  eleven  acres  of 
grownde,"  and  the  "  implements  of  house,"  which  were  to  be  re-delivered 
at  the  expiration  of  the  lease. 

Within  five  or  six  years  from  the  date  of  this  instrument  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Edmund  was  dissolved,  its  last  abbot  had  died  of  a  broken  heart,  and 
the  Manor  of  Melford,  with  the  other  possessions  of  the  abbey  had  become 
vested  in  the  Crown. 

LONG   MELFORD   MANOR. 

This  was  granted  in  1545  by  the  Crown  to  Sir  William  Cordell,  a  family 
which  had  been  seated  from  an  early  period  in  the  County.  Sir  William 
was  the  son  of  John  Cordell  the  son  of  Robert  Cordell  of  London,  merchant' 
and  his  mother  was  Emma  daughter  of  Henry  Webbe  of  Kimbolton  in 
Huntingdonshire.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  attainments  as  a  lawyer, 
filling  the  important  office  of  Master  of  the  Rolls  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth. 
He  was  also  appointed  a  Privy  Councillor  with  a  grant  of  the  privilege  of 
twelve  retainers.  In  1538  being  elected  a  member  of  Parliament  for  Suffolk 
he  was  chosen  to  be  Speaker  and  received  the  honour  of  knighthood.  In 
1578  Sir  William  entertained  Queen  Elizabeth  at  Melford  Hall.  Church- 
yard, the  chronicler  of  this  progress  of  the  Queen,  says,  "  There  were  two 
hundred  young  gentlemen,  clad  all  in  white  velvet,  and  three  hundred  of 
the  graver  sorts,  apparelled  in  black  velvet  coates,  and  fair  chaynes,  all 
ready  at  one  instant  and  place,  with  1,500  serving-men  more,  on  horseback, 
well  and  bravely  mounted,  in  good  order  ready  to  troope  and  a  noble  sight 
to  behold.  And  all  these  waited  on  the  sheriff,  Sir  William  Spring,  during 
the  Queen's  majesties  abode  in  those  parties,  and  to  the  very  confines  of 
Suffolke  ;  but  before  her  highness  passed  into  Norfolke,  there  was  in  Suffolke 
such  sumptuous  feasting  and  bankets  as  seldom  in  any  part  of  the  world 

1  The  Howard  MSS.  state  that  John  Cordell  was  the  2nd  son  of  Edmund  Cordell  of  Edmonton 
co.  Middlesex,  and  that  he,  Jolm,  was  buried  at  Melford  the  7  Jan.  1563. 


134  THE    MANORS   OF    SUFFOLK. 

hath  been  seen  before.  The  Maister  of  the  Rolls,  Sir  Wm.  Cordell,  was  one 
of  the  first  that  begaine  this  great  feasting  and  did  light  such  a  candle  to 
the  rest  of  the  shire  that  many  were  glad,  bountifully  and  franckly,  to  follow 
the  same  example,  with  such  charges  and  costs,  as  the  whole  traine  were 
in  some  sorte  pleased  therewith." 

Sir  William  Cordell  is  supposed  to  have  drawn  up  the  Statutes  of  St. 
John's  College,  Oxford,  by  desire  of  the  founder,  Sir  Thomas  Whyte,  who 
appointed  him  visitor  of  the  College  during  his  life.  He  was  an  encourager 
of  learned  men,  and  through  his  aid  Christopher  Laxton  was  able  to  pro- 
duce the  ist  English  Atlas  and  William  Lambarde  dedicated  to  him  his 
famous  book  entitled  "  Archaionomia  "  a  System  of  Saxon  Laws  in  Latin 
1568  in  which  he  acknowledges  the  many  obligations  he  was  under  to  Sir 
William.  In  1553  he  had  a  grant  of  the  dissolved  hospital  of  St.  Saviour's  at 
Bury  and  the  Manor  of  Long  Melford  was  confirmed  to  him  in  1554.'  The 
Patent  of  Confirmation  of  26  Nov.  1554  is  at  Melford  Hall,  according  to 
Sir  Wm.  Parker,  who  states  that  it  contains  the  grant  of  the  demesne  and 
Manor  of  Melford  otherwise  Long  Melford  with  the  park  of  Long  Melford 
in  Suffolk,  with  all  rights  appurtenant  thereto,  as  held  by  the  dissolved 
Abbey  of  St.  Edmund's,  Bury,  to  hold  the  same  of  the  Queen  and  her 
successors  of  her  manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  Kent.  Also  the  advowson 
and  presentation  of  the  parish  church  of  Melford.  Also  the  mansion-house 
called  Melford  Lodge  in  Long  Melford  Park,  with  all  the  deer  in  the  said 
park  with  right  of  free  warren.  Also  the  capital  messuage  of  Melford  Hall 
(the  old  Hall  on  the  site  of  the  presenf),  with  two  closes  of  land  and  pasture 
called  Parkfield,  and  horse  pasture  and  two  meadows  called  Small  Medow  and 
Park  Medow  with  all  buildings,  gardens,  belongings,  &c.,  as  lately  in  the 
occupation  of  Dame  Fraunces  Pennyngton  widow  and  afterwards  in  the 
occupation  of  Francis  Johnson.  Various  lands  are  then  specified,  and  all 
other  farms,  messuages,  lands,  &c.,  in  Melford  and  Acton  and  the  manor  and 
rights  of  Court  of  Melford,  and  the  right  of  market  and  fair.  The  grant  also 
included  some  of  the  lands  and  tithes  which  had  been  alienated  from  Melford 
Church  by  Abbot  Sampson's  grant  to  St.  Saviour's  Hospital.  Amongst  the 
Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  will  be  found  an  action  as 
to  the  adjustment  of  accounts  of  William  Necton  as  receiver  of  estates 
late  of  Sir  Wm.  Cordell.1 

Sir  Wm.  Cordell  married  Mary  daughter  and  heir  of  Richard  Clopton 
of  Forehall,  Melford,  but  died  without  leaving  issue  the  ijth  May,  1581,  and 
was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Melford  Church  the  19  June  1581.  One 
panel  of  the  inscription  on  his  monument  runs  thus  :— 

Hie  Gulielmus  habet  requiem,  Cordellus,  avito 

Stemmate  Vir  clams  ;  clarior  Ingenio. 

In  studiis  primes  consumpsit  fortiter  annos  ; 

Mox  et  Causarum  strenuus  Actor  erat. 

Tanta  Illi  Doctrina  inerat,  Facundia,  tanta, 

Ut  Parlamenti  publica  Lingua  foret. 

Postea  factus  Eques,  Reginae  arcana  Mariae 

Consilia,  et  Patrije  grande  subibat  opus. 

Factus  est  et  Gustos  Rotulorum  ;  urgente  senectl, 

In  Christo  moriens,  coepit  ad  astra  viam. 

Pauperibus  largus,  victum,  vestemque  ministrans, 

Insuper  Hospitii  condidit  llle  Domum. 

1  Originalia  I  and  2  P.  and  M.  3  Pars  Rot.         •  C.P.  ii.  276. 
31.     See  I  M.  3  Pars  Rot.  40. 


MELFORD    (LONG).  135 

The  inscription  is  thus  quaintly  rendered  by  Fuller  : — 

"  Here  William  Cordal  doth  in  rest  remain, 
Great  by  his  birth,  but  greater  by  his  brain  ; 
Plying  his  studies  hard  his  youth  throughout, 
Of  causes  he  became  a  pleader  stout ; 
His  learning  deep  such  eloquence  did  vent, 
He  was  chose  Speaker  of  the  Parliament. 
Afterwards  knight  Queen  Mary  did  him  make, 
And  counsellor,  state-work  to  undertake  ; 
And  Master  of  the  Rolls.     Well  worn  with  age, 
Dying  in  Christ  heaven  was  his  utmost  stage. 
Diet  and  clothes  to  poor  he  gave  at  large 
And  a  fair  almshouse  founded  on  his  charge." 

By  his  will  dated  the  ist  January  1580,  he  devised  lands  and  tithes  for  the 
support  of  the  hospital  for  a  warden  and  twelve  brethren  which  he  had 
founded  in  Melford  and  endowed  with  the  lands  which  belonged  to  the 
dissolved  hospital  of  St.  Saviour  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  and  which  afterwards 
received  a  royal  grant  of  incorporation.  He  gave  a  life  interest  in  his 
Melford  property  to  his  wife,  then  to  his  sister  Jane,  wife  of  Richard  Alington 
2nd  son  of  Sir  Giles  Alington  of  Horseheath  co.  Cambridge  for  her  life  and 
then  entailed  the  same  on  his  brothers  Francis  and  Edward  with  remainder 
to  the  heirs  of  his  sister  Jane  Alington  then  a  widow.1  The  charity  given 
by  Sir  William  Cordell's  will  was  confirmed  by  letters  patent  in  the  33  year 
of  Q.  Elizabeth.  The  charity  is  still  in  existence  and  consists  of  a  warden 
and  12  brethren  and  two  sisters  to  attend  upon  them.  The  warden  is 
supplied  with  a  gown  and  suit  of  black  cloth,  and  two  pairs  of  shoes  yearly ; 
and  each  one  of  the  brethren  has  a  suit  of  black  cloth,  and  two  pairs  of 
shoes  yearly,  and  a  gown  every  alternate  year.  There  is  a  common  hall 
wherein  they  dine,  and  to  each  brother  is  allowed  lib.  of  meat,  i  quart  of 
beer,  and  an  allowance  of  bread,  daily.  The  warden  is  allowed  double 
commons,  but  receives  compensation  instead  thereof  in  money.  The 
two  sisters  have  a  similar  allowance  of  provision,  but  are  not  supplied  with 
any  kind  of  clothing  from  the  funds  of  the  charity,  nor  do  they  dine  at 
the  same  table  with  the  warden  and  brethren.  The  will  directs  that  each 
brother  shall  receive  2OS.  by  equal  quarterly  payments,  the  warden  405. 
and  each  sister  405.  ;  but  these  payments  have  been  increased.  The 
Hospital  consists  of  a  quadrangle,  and  is  divided,  so  far  as  regards  three  sides, 
into  12  separate  lodgments  for  the  12  brethren,  who  have  each  a  keeping 
room  and  bed  chamber ;  the  fourth  side  contains  the  common  hall,  the 
warden's  apartments,  and  accommodation  for  the  two  sisters,  together  with 
kitchen,  brewhouse,  &c.  The  whole  is  kept  in  excellent  repair ;  and 
the  income  of  the  charity  is  applied  in  maintaining  and  clothing  the  inmates. 
The  total  expenditure  averages  upwards  of  £800  per  annum. 

Particulars  of  the  lands,  houses,  &c.,  granted  by  Sir  Wm.  Cordell  for 
the  endowment  of  the  Hospital  and  the  Statutes  and  Rules  will  be  found 
amongst  the  Lansdowne  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  and  the  Tanner  MSS.  in 
the  Bodleian.2 

A  letter  of  John  Spring  as  to  the  Hospital  with  his  pedigree  will  be 
found  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Museum.3  We  find  amongst 
the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  an  action  for  discovery 
of  effects,  &c.,  in  a  suit  between  Jane  Alington,  George  Carge  and  Edward 

1  Lansd.  MSS.  Brit.  Mus.  66,  50.  3  Add.  6402. 

•  Lansd.  66,  49,  51 ;  Tanner  cxxxvii.  53. 


136  THE    MANORS    OF    SUFFOLK. 

Cordell  executors  of  Sir  William  Cordell,  and  Dame  Mary  Cordell  and  George 
Moore,  concerning  which  Sir  \Yilliam  Cordell  devised  to  his  wife  for  life.' 

Francis  Cordell  died  in  1586'  without  issue,  before  he  had  livery  of 
the  estate,  as  also  did  Edward  in  1594.*  Jane  Alington,  then  a  widow, 
levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  against  Peter  Crisell  and  others  in  1599*  and  died 
on  the  4th  January  1602  leaving  two  daughters  co-heirs,  Mary  who  married 
Sir  John  Savage  knt.  of  Clifton  co.  Chester,  and  Cordelia  married  to  Sir 
John  Stanhope  knt.,  and  was  mother  of  Philip  ist  Earl  of  Chesterfield. 
During  Jane's  holding  an  action  was  brought  in  1599  by  John  Wrighte 
and  Anne  his  wife,  late  wife  of  Robert  Alington,  against  her  and  another, 
to  be  quieted  in  possession  of  the  farm  in  Melford  which  Robert  Alington 
had  hired  of  Jane  Alington  widow,  sister  and  heir  of  Sir  W.  Cordell.5 

This  manor  passed  to  Sir  John  Savage,  in  right  of  his  wife  Mary,  and 
his  son  Thomas  succeeded  in  1609.  Amongst  the  State  Papers  will  be 
found  a  grant  in  1610  from  Sir  Thomas  Savage  to  Wm.  Noy  the  well-known 
lawyer  of  an  annuity  of  £5  issuing  out  of  the  manor  as  a  retaining  fee.6 
Sir  Thomas  Savage  married  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  and  eventual  co- 
heir of  Thomas  Lord  Darcy  of  Chiche  which  Lord  Darcy  was  created  the 
5th  July  1621  Viscount  Colchester  and  elevated  the  4  Nov.  1626  to  the 
dignity  of  Earl  Rivers,  both  honours  to  revert  in  default  of  male  issue 
to  his  son-in-law  Sir  Thomas  Savage  and  his  male  issue  who  was  himself 
created  two  days  afterwards  Viscount  Savage  of  Rock  Savage  in  the  County 
of  Chester.  Lord  Savage  resided  at  Melford  Hall,  and  had  a  licence  granted 
to  himself  and  wife  to  impark  lands  in  Melford  in  i6i2.7  It  seems  that 
the  grant  was  by  letters  patent  and  was  of  340  acres  of  park  and  warren 
round  Melford  Hall,  with  the  deer  therein  and  full  rights  of  chase  and 
warren.  Amongst  the  Memoranda  Rolls  7  Car.  I.  will  be  found  a  claim 
by  Thomas,  Viscount  Savage,  of  liberty  within  the  manor.8  We  learn 
something  of  the  home  life  of  the  party  there  from  that  voluminous  writer 
James  Howell,  who  lived  for  some  time  at  the  Hall  as  tutor  in  the  family. 
Writing  in  1619  to  Daniel  Caldwall  he  say :  "  My  dear  Dan, — Though 
considering  my  former  condition  in  life  I  may  now  be  called  a  countryman, 
yet  you  cannot  call  me  a  rustic  (as  you  would  imply  in  your  letter)  as  long 
as  I  live  in  so  civil  and  noble  a  family,  as  long  as  I  lodge  in  so  virtuous 
and  regular  a  house  as  any  I  believe  in  the  land,  both  for  aeconomical  govern- 
ment and  the  choice  company  ;  for  I  never  saw  yet  such  a  dainty  race  of 
children  in  all  my  life  together.  I  never  saw  yet  such  an  orderly  and 
punctual  attendance  of  servants,  nor  a  great  house  so  neatly  kept ;  here 
one  shall  see  no  dog  nor  cat  nor  cage  to  cawse  any  nastiness  within  the 
body  of  the  house.  The  kitchen  and  gutters  and  other  offices  of  noise  and 
drudgery  are  at  the  fag  end  ;  there's  a  back  gate  for  the  beggars  and  the 
meaner  sort  of  swains  to  come  in  at.  The  stables  butt  upon  the  park, 
which,  for  a  chearful,  rising  ground,  for  groves  and  browsing  ground  for 
the  deer,  for  rivulets  of  water,  may  compare  with  any  for  its  highness  in 
the  whole  land.  It  is  opposite  to  the  front  of  the  great  house,  whence  from 
the  gallery  one  may  see  much  of  the  game  when  they  are  a  hunting.  Now 
for  the  gardening  and  costly  choice  flowers,  for  ponds,  for  stately  large 

1  C.P.  i.  29.  4  Fine,  Trin.  41  Eliz. 

•  He  was  buried  at  Long  Melford  the  12  '  Chancery  Proceedings,  /.  Eliz.  iii.  219. 

Nov.  1586.  '  State  Papers,  1610,  633. 

1  Edward  married  Eliz.  or  Anne  dau.  of  '  Originalia,  10  Jac.  I.  3  Pars  Rot.  167. 

-  Harrison,  and  she  was  buried  '  M.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot. 

at  Long  Melford  the  30  Oct.  1586. 


MELFORD    (LONG).  137 

walks  green  and  gravelly,  for  orchards  and  choice  fruits  of  all  sorts,  there 
are  few  the  like  in  England.  Here  you  have  your  Bon  Christian  pear  and 
Bergamot  in  perfection  ;  your  Muscatel  grapes  in  such  plenty  that  there 
are  some  bottles  of  wine  sent  every  year  to  the  King  ;  and  one  Mr.  Daniel, 
a  worthy  gentleman  hard  by,  who  hath  been  long  abroad,  makes  good 
store  in  his  vintage.  Truly  this  house  of  Long  Melford,  tho'  it  be  not  so 
great,  yet  it  is  so  well  compacted  and  contrived  with  such  dainty  con- 
veniences every  way,  that  if  you  saw  the  landskip  of  it  you  would  be 
mightily  taken  with  it,  and  it  would  serve  for  a  choice  pattern  to  build  and 
contrive  a  house  by. 

Your's,    J.    H. 
May  20,  1619.'" 

Lord  Savage  died  in  1635  and  was  buried  at  Macclesfield,  leaving  his 
widow  Elizabeth  surviving,  who  in  1641  was  created  Countess  of  Rivers 
for  life.  She  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  the  owner  not  only  of  this  manor, 
but  also  of  St.  Osyth  Priory  in  Essex,  and  large  estates  in  Cheshire  through 
her  father  and  Lady  Lumley.  Her  losses  during  the  Civil  War  are  said  to 
have  exceeded  those  of  any  person,  not  even  excepting  Lord  Arundel  of 
Wardour.  An  Essex  mob  sacked  the  Essex  Priory  and  stripped  the  house, 
even  pulling  off  the  lead  from  the  roof,  and  it  is  said  they  did  not  leave  a 
window  or  door  in  the  place.  The  furniture  of  the  costliest  description 
and  the  plate  and  valuables  to  a  great  amount  were  carried  off  or  destroyed 
by  the  mob,  and  the  Countess  fled  for  her  life  to  her  mansion  house  at 
Melford,  whither  she  was  pursued.  Here  again  she  made  her  escape,  but 
the  havoc  done  by  the  mob  was  very  extensive,  the  hall  being  also  com- 
pletely rifled. 

Peck  in  his  "  Desiderata  Curiosa "  thus  describes  the  sacking  of 
Melford  Hall :  "  The  2Oth  August  1642  the  King  having  left  the  Parlia- 
ment and  thereby  a  loose  reine  being  putt  into  the  mouth  of  the 
unruly  multitute,  many  thousands  swarmed  to  the  pulling  down  of  Long 
Melford  House,  a  gallant-seat  belonging  to  the  Countess  of  Rivers  :  and 
to  the  endangering  of  her  person  and  she  being  a  recusant,  they  made  that 
their  pretence,  but  spoyle  and  plunder  was  their  ayme.  This  furie  was 
not  only  in  the  rabble,  but  many  of  the  better  sort  behav'd  themselves  as 
if  there  had  been  a  dissolution  of  all  government.  No  man  could  remain 
in  his  own  house  without  feare,  nor  bee  abroad  with  safetie." 

The  losses  of  the  Countess  at  St.  Osyth  and  Melford  were  estimated  at 
£100,000,  but  those  who  had  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  richness 
of  the  furniture,  the  amount  of  costly  hangings  and  choice  paintings  and 
plate,  placed  the  damage  nearer  £150,000,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
destruction  wrought  in  Melford  Park.  On  fleeing  from  Melford  the 
Countess  attempted  to  find  refuge  in  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  but  the  gates  were 
shut  against  her,  and  only  after  considerable  difficulty  did  she  obtain  refuge 
for  the  night  in  the  gates,  the  following  morning  escaping  to  London.  She 
obtained  leave  to  go  abroad,  but  while  preparing  to  start,  her  coach  horses 
were  taken  from  her.  Early  in  1650  owing  to  the  persecutions  of  the 
Fairfax  party,  she  was  arrested  for  debt  and  notwithstanding  the  claim 
of  privilege  as  a  Peeress  was  committed  tc  prison.  Most  of  the  Countess's 
property  in  Essex  was  sequestrated  and  sold  and  she  was  obliged  to  com- 
pound for  her  estates  by  paying  a  fine  of  £16,979.  gs.  lod. 

Amongst  the  State  Papers  are  petitions  to  compound  for  two-thirds  of  a 

1  HowelTs  Letters,  loth  Ed.  1737,  p.  86. 


138  THE    MANORS    OF    SUFFOLK. 

messuage  and  park  in  Melford  by  Elizabeth  Countess  Dowager  of  Rivers  in 
1648.'  She  died  shortly  afterwards — in  fact,  on  the  gth  of  March  the  same 
year  she  was  sent  to  prison,  and  was  succeeded  by  her  son  John  2nd  Viscount 
Savage  and  Earl  Rivers.  He  married  1st  Catherine  daughter  of  William 
Parker,  Lord  Morley  of  Monteagle  by  whom  he  had  issue  with  other  children, 
a  son  Thomas.  His  2nd  wife  was  Mary  daughter  of  Thomas  Ogle  of  South 
Dissington  in  Northumberland.  John  2nd  Lord  Rivers  was  as  unfortunate 
as  the  old  Countess  his  mother,  and  shortly  before  his  death  became  a 
prisoner  in  the  Bench  Prison  in  Southwark.  He  died  however  at  Frodsham 
Castle  on  the  loth  Oct.  1654  and  on  the  night  after  his  death  his  house  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Leaving  no  will,  the  administration  of  his  personal 
estate  was  granted  to  John  Watts  his  principal  creditor.  Melford  Manor 
however  passed  to  his  widow.  Thomas,  the  eldest  son  and  3rd  Earl  was, 
in  right  of  his  mother,  co-heir  of  the  Baronies  of  Morley,  Monteagle  and 
Marshal.  The  Melford  estates  having  been  in  mortgage  for  some  time  to 
Sir  John  Cordell,  knt.,  in  fact,  from  the  time  of  the  ist  Earl  Rivers,  were 
sold  to  Sir  Robert  Cordell.  It  appears  that  the  Rivers  owed  him  £20,488. 12S. 
and  for  this  sum  and  an  additional  amount  of  £8,511.  8s.  paid  by  Sir  Robert 
to  them,  they  conveyed  to  him  the  estate  with  all  appurtenant  rights, 
and  the  advowson  of  Melford  Church  and  the  right  of  nomination  of  the 
warden  and  brethren  of  the  Hospital  of  the  Holy  Trinity.  In  addition  to 
the  purchase  money  there  was  an  annuity  of  £100  a  year  charged  on  the 
estate  to  a  Mary  Savage  which  continued  to  be  paid  to  1690.  Thus  the 
Melford  Hall  Manor  again  became  the  estate  of  the  Cordells.  Sir  Robert 
Cordell  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1660,  but  the  title  and  the  name  became 
extinct  on  the  death  of  his  grandson  Sir  John  Cordell  who  was  killed  by  a 
fall  from  his  horse  in  1704. 

Sir  Robert  Cordell's  will  is  dated  the  18  Dec.  1679  an(^  he  left  to  his 
heir  John  "  all  the  deere  in  Melford- Parke,  and  the  great  Saphire  Jewell  " 
and  half  of  his  household  stuff,  plate  excepted.  To  his  grandson  John,  son 
of  the  above  John,  his  great  silver  basin  and  ewer,  and  to  his  wife  Dame 
Margaret  half  of  his  household  stuff .  His  son  Sir  John  Cordell  inherited  the 
Melford  Hall  estate,  and  his  will  is  dated  the  26  Aug.  1690  by  which  he 
appointed  his  wife  Dame  Elizabeth  his  executrix  and  divisesto  his  son  John 
his  estates,  but  provides  that  his  widow  shall  reside  at  Melford  Hall  until  their 
son  was  of  age  or  married.  Dame  Elizabeth  Cordell  died  in  1709.  Sir  John 
was  killed  by  a  fall  as  already  stated  in  1704,  at  the  early  age  of  27.  He  had 
married  Eleanora  daughter  of  Joseph  Haskin  Stiles  merchant  of  London 
but  died  without  issue  leaving  his  two  sisters  Elizabeth  and  Margaret  his 
co-heirs.  Elizabeth  married  Thomas  King,  of  Great  Thurlow,  who  was 
killed  in  a  duel  in  1698  and  his  widow  died  in  1706,  leaving  an  only  son 
who  died  unmarried,  when  Margaret  became  sole  heir  to  her  brother's 
estate.  She  married  Charles  Firebrace  eldest  son  of  Sir  Basil  Firebrace  Knt. 
and  Bart,  whose  only  sister  Hester  married  Basil  Fielding,  4th  Earl  of 
Denbigh.  Charles  Firebrace  inherited  in  his  wife's  right.  There  is  an 
action,  particulars  of  which  are  in  the  Exchequer  Depositions,  in  1722,  1723, 
1724  at  Melford  respecting  the  Rectory  and  Parish  of  Melford — lease  of 
tithes  granted  by  Dr.  Matthew  Bisby  to  Sir  Robert  Cordell,  Bart,  and  John 
Cordell  his  son — Melford  Park,  woods  called  "  Firmage  "  and  "  Spelthorn  " 
&c. — James  Johnson,  Charles  Firebrace  and  others.  A  letter,  too,  by  this 
Sir  Charles  Firebrace  to  Tanner  as  to  a  caveat  against  Mr.  Johnson,  Rector 
of  Melford,  annexing  a  pew  to  his  house  in  172!  will  be  found  amongst  the 

'  State  Papers,  Cal.  of  Comp.  1648,  p.  1857. 


MELFORD    (LONG).  139 

Tanner  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian.'  Sir  Charles  Firebrace  died  in  1727  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  only  son,  Sir  Cordell,  who  was  elected  a  Knight  of  the  Shire 
for  Suffolk  in  1737  and  remained  a  member  of  the  House  until  his  death  in 
1759.  Sir  Cordell  Firebrace  married  Bridget  relict  of  Edward  Ewer  of 
Ipswich  and  3rd  daughter  of  Philip  Bacon  2nd  son  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon 
Bart,  of  Shrubland  Hall,  but  dying  the  28  Nov.  1759  without  issue  the 
manor  passed  under  his  will  to  his  widow  who  re-married  the  Hon.  Wm. 
Campbell  of  Lyston  Hall  co.  Essex  uncle  to  the  Duke  of  Argyle  and  died 
the  10  July  1782  at  the  age  of  80.  In  1785  Melford  Hall  and  the  estate 
were  sold  under  the  will  of  Lady  Firebrace  to  Sir  Harry  Parker,  Bart,  eldest 
son  of  Admiral  Hyde  Parker  a  member  of  an  old  Devonshire  and  royalist 
family.  It  is  a  singular  coincidence  that  as  early  as  1336  a  William  le  Parker 
should  have  been  connected  with  Long  Melford.  He  is  described  as  of  this 
place  in  the  Patent  Rolls  of  Edw.  III.* 

Sir  Harry  Parker  married  Bridget  daughter  of  William  Cresswell  of 
Cresswell  co.  Northumberland  and  dying  the  15  Jan.  1812  was  succeeded 
by  his  elder  son  Sir  William  Parker,  at  whose  death  the  21  April  1830  un- 
married, the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  M.P.  for  West 
Suffolk,  who  died  the  21  March  1856  and  was  succeeded  by  his  cousin  Sir 
William  Parker  gth  Bart.,  who  married  Sophia  Mary  2nd  daughter  of 
Nathanial  Clarke  Barnardiston  of  The  Ryes,  Sudbury,  and  dying  in  1891, 
the  manor  passed  to  his  son,  the  Rev.  Sir  William  Hyde  Parker  loth  Bart, 
who  is  the  present  lord. 

Extracts  from  the  Court  Rolls  in  1670  will  be  found  in  the  Brit. 
Museum.3 

Of  the  old  manor  house  little  is  known,  but  from  a  lease  made  by  the 
last  Abbot  of  Bury  it  is  clear  that  a  part  of  the  house  was  brick ;  some  portion 
was  a  timber-framed  erection  with  the  usual  clay  wattle  between,  for  the 
repair  of  which  the  tenant  was  bound  to  find  all  manner  of  clay  and  straw 
made  and  laid  ready.  Sir  William  Parker  says  :  "  The  mansion  was  moated 
round  on  the  west,  north  and  east ;  on  this  latter  side,  as  on  the  others, 
the  moat  rah  straight  ;  the  present  semicircular  dry  moat  being  a  much 
later  alteration.  In  the  front  of  the  house  beyond  the  sundial  there  stood 
a  gate  house,  the  foundations  and  paving  of  which  still  exist  undisturbed 
a  short  distance  under  the  surface.  The  present  park  was  then  divided  into 
many  field  inclosures,  as  those  called  Long  Pasture,  Horse  Pasture,  Nether 
Home  Fields,  &c.,  the  site  of  the  fences  of  which  can  be  yet  traced  by  any 
one  who  knows  the  history  of  their  old  positions."4 

Sir  Wm.  Cordell  erected  the  present  mansion,  which  however  has 
received  many  alterations.  Sir  Wm.  Parker  in  1873  gives  an  interesting 
description  of  its  then  condition. 

Arms  of  Cordell  :  Gules,  a  chevron,  ermine,  betw.  three  griffins'  heads 
erased,  arg. — of  Firebrace  :  Azure,  on  a  bend  or,  three  crescents,  sable, 
betw.  two  roses,  argent,  seeded  or,  barbed  vert. — of  Parker  :  Sa.  a  buck's 
head  caboshed,  betw.  two  flaunches,  arg. 

MONKS  MELFORD  OR  MELFORD  MONACHORUM. 

This  was  given  in  Saxon  times  by  Alfric  son  of  Witgar,  to  the  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund  who  in  1199  granted  it  to  the  Hospital  of  St.  Saviour  without 

'  Tanner  xx.  73.  3  Add.  Ch.  10552. 

*  Pat.  Rolls,  10  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  2od.  4  History  of  Melford,  p.  310. 


I4o  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

the  Northgate  of  Bury.  The  charter  of  the  Abbot  was  confirmed  by  King 
John  and  approved  by  a  Bull  of  Pope  Celestine  III.  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich  and  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

The  endowment  consisted  of  a  warden,  12  chaplains,  6  clerks,  12  poor 
men  and  12  poor  women.  The  manor  held  by  the  Hospital,  according  to 
an  entry  in  the  Register  of  Abbot  John  of  Norwold  in  1286-7,  consisted  of 
136  acres  of  arable  land,  7  acres  of  mowing  meadow,  3  acres  and  a  half  of 
pasture,  and  4  acres  of  wood.  The  hospital  also  had  72  acres  of  arable 
land,  i  acre  of  mowing  meadow  and  3  roods  of  wood  which  the  villeins 
held  with  their  messuages  from  the  said  manor,  and  also  two  cottars,  who 
held  this  manor  and  a  rood  and  a  half  of  land  with  their  houses.  Some 
interesting  leases  of  the  manor  will  be  found  in  Sir  William  Parker's  Hist, 
of  Long  Melford.1 

On  the  Dissolution  this  manor  passed  to  the  Crown  and  was  in  1545 
granted  to  William  Clopton.*  The  family  is  supposed  to  have  taken  their 
name  from  the  parish  of  Clopton  in  the  Hundred  of  Samford  and  to  have 
given  it  to  a  manor  in  Wickhambrook  before  the  Conquest.  The  hamlet 
Clopton  of  Wickhambrook  occurs  in  Domesday  Survey.  The  Cloptons 
had  large  possessions  in  Suffolk,  Essex,  and  Cambridge,  and  allied  them- 
selves with  several  distinguished  families.  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  whose 
pedigree  of  the  family  is  amongst  the  Harl.  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.,  and 
who  was  particularly  interested  in  the  family,  having  married  one  of  the 
members,  has  in  a  quaint  way  referred  to  the  alliances  :  "  The  unworthiest 
match  that  ever  any  Clopton  had  was  the  alliance  of  Sir  Wm.  Clopton  of 
Kentwell  with  Johan  daughter  of  Sir  William  Marrow  knt.  an  alderman 
of  the  City  of  London  in  the  time  of  Hen.  VII.,  and  the  noblest  match 
was  that  of  John  Clopton,  son  and  heir  of  the  said  Sir  William  Clopton, 
with  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Roydon  Esq.  and  Margaret,  his  wife 
daughter  of  Thomas  Knyvet  Esq.,  of  Great  Stanway,  Essex,  and  the 
co-heir  of  many  great  and  ancient  families." 

The  manor  granted  to  William  Clopton  was  to  be  held  of  the  Crown 
in  chief  by  the  fortieth  part  of  a  knight's  service  and  an  annual  payment 
of  325.  4%d.  at  Michaelmas.  The  contents  of  the  manor  are  thus  given  : 
A  pightle  called  Le  Barneyard  containing  by  estimation  i  acre.  A  close  of 
arable  land  next  to  the  Barneyard  with  the  site  of  the  manor  house,  6£ 
acres.  A  building  called  Le  Tiled  Barne.  Four  inclosures  of  meadow 
and  pasture  called  Bargate  Field,  Crow  Medow,  Middlefield,  and  Prestly- 
field  containing  together  58  acres.  A  parcel  of  land  and  marsh  called  Le 
Cangle  containing  £  acre.  A  pasture  on  Kentwell  Down  near  the  park 
containing  4^  acres  and  27  perches.  Five  parcels  of  land  and  pasture 
between  the  mansion  house  and  the  cross  called  Clopton's  Cross.  Two 
groves  of  wood  between  the  mansion  house  and  the  road  leading  to  Bury. 
Also  all  tithes  of  hay,  grass  and  grain  and  all  other  tithes  of  the  above 
lands  ;  and  also  all  other  tithes  of  land  from  the  tenement  called  Bochers 
on  the  east  side  of  the  said  road  to  the  end  of  Melford  Park.  A  further 
account  says  :  "  To  this  manor  belongs  a  Court  from  3  weeks  to  3  weeks, 
and  many  rents  of  Assize  of  free  tenants  and  divers  customary  or  copyhold 
tenants,  whose  fines  are  arbitrary  ;  but  only  one  tenement  lately  [i.e., 
circa  1640]  in  tenure  of  William  Miller  deceased  which  is  claimed  to  be 
certain  upon  every  alienation  and  descent." 

1  Pp.  24-29.  App.    II   p.    192 ;    and   the  Grant 

1  Particulars  for  this  Grant  will  be  found  itself,  Originalia,  37  Hen.  VIII.  7 

in    the    Record   Office,  D.K.R.   9.  Pars  Rot.  37. 


MELFORD   (LONG).  141 

William  Clopton,  the  purchaser  of  Monks  Melford,  married  Margaret 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook,  knt.,  by  whom  he  had 
issue  Thomas  Clopton,  John  Clopton,  Francis  Clopton,  William  Clopton, 
Walter  Clopton,  Henry  Clopton,  Edmund  Clopton  and  6  daughters.  A 
deed  amongst  the  Harl.  Charters  dated  the  igth  July  31  Hen.  VIII.  [1539] 
effected  an  arrangement  between  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  and  John  Clopton 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife  on  the  marriage  of  Margaret  Jermyn  with  William 
Clopton.  Four  hundred  marks  were  paid  by  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn,  200  to 
John  Clopton  and  200  to  the  executors  of  Sir  William  Clopton  in  satis- 
faction of  a  charge  of  Dame  Thomasine  Clopton.  An  additional  100  marks 
was  also  paid  to  satisfy  the  portions  of  8  of  the  children  of  the  said  John 
Clopton  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.1 

Acquittance  for  homage  of  this  manor  1552  will  be  found  amongst 
the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.,2  and  also  for  the  year  1635. 3 
William  Clopton  died  the  17  Aug.  1562,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest 
surviving  son  and  heir  Francis  Clopton.  In  1564  the  2  Jan.  6  Eliz.,  he 
made  a  conveyance  of  the  manor  to  Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn  and  Ralph  Cootes 
clerk,  in  trust  for  certain  purposes,4  and  married  Anne  d.  of  Robert  Crane. 
He  died  in  1578  without  issue,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother 
William  Clopton.  He  married  Anne  d.  of  Edward  Elms  of  Linford  co. 
Norf.,  and  died  in  1588  without  issue,  being  succeeded  by  his  half-brother 
Thomas  Clopton  second  but  eldest  surviving  son  of  his  father's  second 
marriage  to  Mary  daughter  of  George  Perient.  He  married  Mary  daughter 
of  Sir  William  Waldegrave  of  Smallbridge  ancestor  of  the  present  Lord 
Waldegrave.  Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Q.  Elizabeth 
will  be  found  an  action  by  Anne  Clopton  widow  against  Thomas  Clopton 
and  others  respecting  the  Manors  of  Kentwell  and  lands  in  Melford,  Manor 
of  Melford  Monachorum  or  Monks  Melford  and  tithes  in  Melford.5 

Thomas  Clopton  by  his  will  in  1598  left  to  his  wife  Mary  Waldegrave 
"  the  use  and  occupacion  of  all  his  waineskott  and  glasse  in  and  about  his 
mancion  to  be  and  remaine  as  they  then  were,  and  by  noe  meanes  to  be 
removed  or  altered  ;  and  also  the  occupyinge  of  the  hanginges  of  tapestry 
whiche  serve  for  his  grete  chamber  of  his  saide  house  for  forty  yeres,  yff 
the  saide  Mary  shall  so  longe  live."  He  then  entailed  the  same.  He  lies 
buried  in  the  Kentwell  chapel,  near  the  door  of  which  is  a  brass  plate 
with  the  following  inscription  : — 

Depositum  Thomae  Clopton  Armiger,  sub  hoc  marmore  tumulati 

Filii  et  Haeredis  (quatuor 

grandioribus  natu  Fratribus,  Thoma,  Francisco, 

Willielmo,  et  Georgio  sine  Prole  extmctis), 

Willielmi  Clopton  Armigeri  et  Marias  Filiae 

•  Georgii  Perient,  generosi,  secundas  suas  con- 

jugis  iste  Thomas,  ex  Maria  uxore  suo  Filia 

tercia  Willielmis  Waldegrave  Militis,  et 
Elizabethae  Mildmay  Consortis  suae  duobus 
susceptis  Filiis,  Willielmo  Clopton  milite 
et  Waltero  Clopton  Armigero  ;  et  filiabus 
totidem  Elizabeth!  et  Maria  nuncupatis 
placide  in  Domino  obdormivit  die  xi.  Febr.  A°.  Dnii 
MCXCVII.  A°.  xl.  Regin.  Eliz.  superstite  relicta 

eadem  Maria,  quae  duobus  Viri  clarissimi 
morte  non  exactis  annis  die  xix.  Decembr.  A".  Dni. 
MCXCIX".  A°.  xlii.  Reginae,  ejusdem,  ultimum  Naturae 
debitum  persolvit ;  et  sepelitur  in  Ecclesia 
Sancti  Martini  Westmonasteriensis. 

'  Harl.  55  H.  46.  4  Draft  in  Harl.  MSS.  Brit.  Mus.  995 

•  Harl.  48  D.  38-39.  5  C.P.  i.  188; 

3  Harl.  49  E.  40. 


i42  THE    MANORS    OF  SUFFOLK. 

At  the  time  of  Thomas's  death  his  son  William  Clopton  was  an  infant, 
and  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  is  a  memorandum  of  Sir 
William  Waldegrave  the  elder  his  guardian  as  to  his  entrance  on  Melford  Green, 
in  dispute  with  Sir  Thomas  Savage  as  parcel  of  the  Manor  of  Monks  Melford.1 
Sir  William  Clopton  married  first  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Barnardis- 
ton  of  Clare  Priory, knt.,  "a  gentlewoman  of  exact  beauty  and  comliness  and 
of  exemplary  piety,"  who  died  at  the  early  age  of  20;  and  2ndly,  Elizabeth 
daughter  of  Sir  Giles  Alington  of  Horseheath,  and  widow  of  Sir  Henry 
Pallavicini  of  Babraham  in  the  County  of  Cambridge.  He  was  knighted 
by  King  James  at  Newmarket  in  1613  and  died  n  March  1618,  at  the  age 
of  27.  He  had  two  sons  by  his  2nd  wife,  Edward  and  William,  but  they 
died  infants  in  1618  and  1619.*  By  his  first  wife  he  had  an  only  daughter 
Anne,  who  became  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen  the  wife  of  the  celebrated 
antiquary  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  Bart.  Very  interesting  particulars  respect- 
ing their  courtship  will  be  found  in  the  Autobiography  of  Sir  Symonds 
D'Ewes.  On  Sir  William  Clopton's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow 
Elizabeth  who  remarried  Sir  John  Tracy.  Amongst  the  Harleian  MSS. 
in  the  Brit.  Mus.  is  a  statement  of  accounts  between  this  Sir  John  Tracy 
and  his  tenants  of  the  farm  of  Monks  Melford3  and  a  grant  by  him  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth  with  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  to  Sir  Roger  Martin,  a  copyholder 
of  the  manor,  of  authority  to  cut,  fell,  and  stub  up  30  Pollards  or  Boiling 
trees  in  i65O.4 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  had  several  children  by  his  marriage  with  Anne 
Clopton,  but  they  all  died  in  infancy,  except  Cecilia,  or  Sissellia.  Their 
first  son  named  Clopton  "  a  goodly  sweet  child  born  "  died  soon  after  birth 
through  "  the  cursed  ignorance  or  neglect  of  such  as  were  employed  " 
about  the  lady  during  her  lying  in.  Two  other  sons  twin  born,  survived 
but  a  few  hours  after  their  premature  birth  which  was  occasioned  "  by  some 
hurt  to  Lady  D'Ewes  by  travelling  in  her  coach  in  Bury  Street  "  during  the 
festival ;  and  their  fourth  son  also  named  Clopton  died  before  it  was 
two  years  old  of  the  rickets,  which  were  produced  "  by  their  pitching 
upon  a  proud,  fretting  ill-conditioned  woman  for  a  nurse  "  and  aggravated 
by  the  unskilful  treatment  of  "  Dr.  Despotine,  an  Italian  physician  at 
Bury."5  Lady  D'Ewes  died  of  the  small  pox  in  1641  and  the  distressing 
circumstances  are  fully  detailed  in  her  husband's  Autobiography. 

The  following  year  the  sorrowing  husband  married  the  daughter  of 
Sir  Henry  Willoughby  and  dying  in  1650  was  succeeded  in  his  title  and 
paternal  estates  by  his  son  Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes,  but,  as  both  Sir  Wm. 
Parker  and  Mr.  Tymms  in  their  account  of  Kentwell  Hall  say,  Kentwell 
Hall  Manor  descended  to  Lady  D'Ewes'  daughter  Cecilia  or  Sissilia,  and  was 
carried  by  marriage  to  her  husband  Sir  Thomas  Darcy  Bart,  of  St.  Osyth, 
Essex,  who  came  to  reside  at  Kentwell  Hall,  and  was  created  a  baronet  in 
1660,  at  which  period  he  made  considerable  repairs  in  the  interior  of  the 
Hall.  Lady  Darcy  died  the  29  May  1661,  without  issue,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Kentwell  chapel  in  Melford  Church  on  the  ist  June  following. 

As  the  Manor  of  Monks  Melford  was  derived  in  the  same  way  as  Kent- 
well,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  followed  the  same  line  of  devolution 
as  Kentwell,  but  the  Davy  MSS.  certainly  enter  Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes 
as  lord  on  the  death  of  his  father  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes.  The  matter  is 
free  from  doubt,  and  Davy's  error  is  apparent  from  the  particulars  of  sale 

•  Harl.  97.  «  Harl.  98. 

•  I. P.M.,  i  Car.  I..  No.  71  (1625).  '  Tymms,  in  the  Suff.  Int.,  vol.  2,  p.  69. 
'  Harl.  98. 


MELFORD    (LONG). 


143 


in  1676-7,  when  Sir  Thomas  Darcy  sold  to  Thomas  Robinson.  These 
particulars  are  headed  "  The  Manors  of  Kentwell  and  Monks  Melford  with 
the  lands  thereunto  belonging."  The  Particulars  which  are  given  by  Sir 
William  Parker  are  as  follows  : — 


ACRES. 


IN  THE  LANDLORD'S  OWN  HANDS. 


VALUE  OF  RENTAL. 
£  s.    d. 


150          Park,  orchards,  gardens  and  yards,  about  150 

acres  at  155.  per  acre 112  10    6 

50          Park  lay  and  Maypole  field,  about  50  acres  at 

13$.  40!.  per  acre 32    o    o 

21          Crow  meadow,  part  arable  and  tithe  free,  21 

acres  at  2os.  per  an 21     o    o 

37          Upper   Monks   and   small   crofts,    most   tithe 

free,  about  37  acres  at  145.  per  acre  . .      . .       25     o     0 
2          The  hop-ground,  stocked  and  planted,  near  2 

acres,  at  £3.  55.  per  acre        6  10     o 

The  tithe  of  hay,  corn,  &c.,  of  800  acres  of  land 

belonging  to  Monks  Manor 3100 

Free  and  copyhold  rents  of  both  manors  . .      . .       14    o    o 


260 

ACRES. 

210 

260 

80 

65 
55 

12 

682 
41 

IO 
25 
76 


£242    o    o 


LET  TO  TENANTS. 


VALUED  RENTAL. 
£   S.  d. 

Zeph.  Lungley,  for  Monks  Manor,  mostly  tithe- 
free,  about  210  acres  at  los.  an  acre . .  . .  100  o  o 

Robert  Golding,  for  the  Kell  farm,  about  260 

acres  at  6s.  per  acre 82  o  o 

Ditto  for  another  tenement,  and  lands,  80 

acres  at  6s.  per  acre  25  o  o 

John  Park,  about  65  acres  at  6s.  per  acre . .      . .       20    o    o 

Wm.  Smith,  of  Stanstead,  about  55  acres  at  ^6s. 

per  acre 1600 

Edward  Smith,  of  Stanstead,  about  12  acres  at 

75.  6d.  per  acre  4  10  o 


Robert  Golding,  for  underwood,  of  about  41 
acres  at  6s.  8d.  per  acre- 

Ditto,  for  underwood,  10  acres,  tithe  free,  at 
8s.  6d.  per  acre  

Edward  Johnson,  for  underwood,  25  acres  at 
7$.  6d.  per  acre  

Widow  Muggins,  for  a  tenement  and  yard 


13  13    4 

492 


9    7 

I    10 


6 
o 


1,018  total  A. 


Total  £518  10    o 


Kentwell  Hall  was  described  as  a  "  very  faire  brick  house  with  12 
wainscot  rooms,  the  park  stored  with  above  150  deere,  a  double  dovehouse, 
fish  ponds,  and  other  conveniencys,  besides  timber  on  the  grounds  and 
woods  considerable."  The  purchaser  Thomas  Robinson  was  Prothonotary 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  was  subsequently  knighted  and  created 
a  Baronet  by  Chas.  II.  in  1681-2.  Two  years  later  the  unfortunate  Baronet 
lost  his  life  by  leaping  out  of  his  chamber  window  in  the  Temple  to  avoid 
the  fury  of  a  fire  which  had  broken  out  near  his  chambers.  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Sir  Lumley  Robinson  who  died  in  1684,  and  the  manor  passed 
to  his  son  Sir  Thomas  Robinson  3rd  Bart.,  who  married  Elizabeth  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  Hare  of  Stow  Bardolph,  and  sold  the  manor  to  John  Moore. 
He  by  his  will  bequeathed  to  the  minister  and  churchwardens  of  Melford 
for  the  time  being  the  sum  of  £100  in  trust  to  purchase  lands  and  tenements 


144  THE    MANORS    OF  .SUFFOLK. 

and  distribute  the  rents  thereof  annually  among  20  poor  old  men  or  widows 
above  the  age  of  60  years,  who  do  not  take  alms  of  the  parish  and  who 
frequent  the  Church  of  England.  John  Moore  died  in  1714  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  nephew  John  Moore  who  died  in  1753,  when  it  passed 
to  his  son  Richard  Moore  who  died  in  1782,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  Richard  Moore,  who  was  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  in  1812,  and 
in  1823  sold  the  manor  to  Robert  Hart  Logan,  merchant,  of  London.  He 
married  Nancy  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Robert  Sarvice,  and  in  1828  served 
the  office  of  High  Sheriff  of  the  County.  In  1835  ne  unsuccessfully,  but  in 
1837  successfully  contested  the  Western  Division  of  Suffolk.  He  died 
suddenly  on  the  13  April  1838,  and  in  the  same  year  the  manor  was  purchased 
by  the  trustees  of  Captain  Edward  Starkie  Bence,  second  son  of  Col.  Bence, 
then  a  minor.  The  manor  is  now  vested  in  Edward  Starkie  Bence. 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  is  said  to  be  a  bond 
on  purchase  of  this  manor  in  1540.'  Pardons  on  alienation  of  the  manor 
will  be  found  in  the  same  collection,  1589  and  1634,'  and  a  grant  of  an 
annuity  in  1599  from  the  manor  is  also  in  the  same  collection.3 

Of  Monks  Manor  house  Sir  Wm.  Parker  says,  "  On  Monks  Manor  there 
formerly  stood  a  manor  house,  concerning  which  no  descriptive  records 
remain,  except  that  it  continued  to  be  named  in  the  abuttals  of  the  priests' 
house  or  college  as  Monks  Manor  house,  with  barn,  buildings  and  yards. 
Its  site  was  therefore  somewhere  near  the  north-east  end  of  the  church, 
probably  where  part  of  the  broken  ground  in  Kentwell  Park,  near  the 
churchyard,  indicates  the  position  of  former  buildings  ;  and  a  house  which 
presumably  was  this  manor  house  is  shown  as  standing  on  that  spot  near 
the  college  or  priests'  house  in  the  Melford  Manor  maps  of  1613  and  1615, 
and  also  on  an  old  map  of  1677.  The  date  of  its  erection  and  of  its  destruc- 
tion are  equally  uncertain,  though  perhaps  from  some  context  it  may  be 
surmised  that  it  was  pulled  down  towards  the  close  of  the  I7th  century. 
It  is  mentioned  in  one  document  as  still  standing  in  1674." 

Arms  of  Robinson  :  Vert,  on  a  chevron,  betw.  three  bucks  trippant,or, 
three  cinquefoils,  gules. 

LUTON'S  MANOR. 

This  was  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  in  free  socage  for  16  pence 
a  year  in  lieu  of  all  services,  and  after  the  dissolution  of  the  Abbey  it  is 
described  as  held  on  the  same  terms  "  from  the  Crown  and  from  the  Hundred 
of  Babergh  which  hundred  was  formerly  parcel  of  the  ancient  possessions  of 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds."  It  passed  in  1354  from  Sir  John  de  Luton 
to  John  Littel  and  Marole  his  wife.  A  grant  from  William  fil.  Radulfi 
de  Elmeswelle,  John  de  Luton  and  Margery  his  wife  of  lands  in  Melford 
in  the  time  of  Edw.  II.-Edw.  III.  will  be  found  amongst  the  Stowe 
Charters  in  the  British  Museum.4  In  1380  it  was  vested  in  Sir  Thomas 
Clopton.  He  married  Katherine  de  Mylde  the  heiress  of  Wm.  de  Mylde 
and  died  in  1383,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  who  remarried 
Sir  William  Tendringknt.  Alice  the  issue  of  this  last  marriage  married  Sir 
John  Howard,  who  was  the  father  of  Sir  Robert  Howard  the  father  of  John 
Howard  ist  Duke  of  Norfolk.  Lady  Tendring,  the  Mylde  heiress,  made  her 
will  the  24  Feb.  1403,  and  left  to  the  High  Altar  of  Melford  a  marc.  To 
Thomas,  her  husband's  chaplain,  half  a  marc.  To  Margaret  her  maid  a  marc. 

1  Harl.  48  D.  31.  '  Harl.  51  H.  32. 

'  Harl.  51  H.  29,  53  H;  9.  «  Stowe  Ch.  246. 


MELFORD  (LONG).  145 

To  her  two  gentlemen  chamberlains  each  40  pence.  To  John  her  husband's 
cook  40  pence.  To  Thomas  the  baker  40  pence.  To  her  daughter  Alice 
who  became  a  great  heiress  and  the  ancestress  of  the  Howards  she  left  all 
her  headgear,  except  two  fillets  of  pearls  of  lesser  value,  and  all  her  kever- 
chefs,  also  a  furred  cloak  and  other  furs,  a  long  chest  and  her 
napery,  &c.  To  Sir  William  Clopton  her  son1  by  her  first  marriage 
she  left  a  piece  of  silver  or  covered  cup  with  six  silver  shells  ;  a  bed  of  white 
worsted  stained  with  figures  of  men  and  women,  and  another  bed  and 
mattress  ;  a  Paris  napkin  with  a  long  towell  of  the  same  workmanship  ; 
a  green  vestment  for  a  chaplain  ;  a  missal ;  and  a  book  called  a  Byble ; 
a  piece  of  silver  called  a  stondynggepec  with  a  cover  with  the  head  of  a 
leopard  ;  and  a  chest  called  the  great  cofre.  Finally  she  left  to  every 
beggar  coming  to  her  funeral  two  pence. 

On  Katherine  Tendring's  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  William 
Clapton  who  made  considerable  purchases  of  property  from  his  cousin 
Sir  Wm.  Clopton  of  Wickhambrook.  He  married  twice,  first  Margery 
daughter  of  Sir  Roger  Drury  by  whom  he  had  issue  Wm.  Clopton  who 
died  young,  and  other  children ;  and  2ndly  Margery  daughter  and  heir  of 
Elias  Franceys,  from  which  latter  marriage  descend  the  three  families 
of  Clopton  settled  at  Kentwell  Hall,  at  Castelins  in  Groton  and  at  Lyston 
in  Essex.  Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  are  the  following  deeds  in  1406 
and  1407  :— 

Sciant  p'sentes  quod  ego  Will'us  Clopton  filius  et  heres  Thome  Clopton 
militis  dedi,  &c.  Will'mo  Mylde  de  Clare  et  Rogero  Reue  de  Melford  omnia 
ilia  terras  que  vocant'  Luytones  in  villis  de  Melford,  Schymplynes  et 
Alpheton  que  michi  descendebant  jure  hereditar'  post  mortem  predict' 
Thome  et  Kat'ine  uxoris  sue  Habend'  &c.  Hiis  testibz  Johne  Rookwoode, 
Waltero  Glemesford,  Johne  Hoo  et  aliis.  Dat'  apud  Melford  p'dictam 
vicesimo  tercio  die  mensis  marcij  anno  R.  R.  Henrici  quarti  post  con- 
questum  octavo.2 

Sciant  quod  nos  Willm's  Mylde  de  Clare  et  Rogerus  Reue  de  Melford 
dimisimus  Willielmo  Clopton  filio  Thome  Clopton  milit'  et  Margerie  uxore 
ejusdem  Willi  Clopton  omnia  ilia  terras  que  vocant'  Luytones  in  villis  de 
Melforde,  Schymplyng  et  Alpheton  que  "habuimus  ex  dono  p'fat'  Willielmi 
Clopton  and  que  fuer'nt  Thome  Clopton  patris  p'dicti  Willielmi,  Habend' 
&c.  Hiis  testibz  Roger  Drury  milit',  Johe  Rookwode,  Roberto  Cook, 
Waltero  Glemysforde,  Johe  Hoo  et  aliis.  Dat'  apud  Melforde  p'dict :  die 
Mercurij  prox'  post'  festum  ....  Anno  R.  R.  Henrici  quarti  post 
conquestum  octavo.3 

William  Clopton  died  in  1446  and  his  effigy  is  in  the  recessed  tomb 
in  the  north  aisle  of  the  choir  of  the  church.  He  resided  at  Lutons  for  it  is 
mentioned  as  his  dwelling-house  in  his  will.  The  manor  then  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  John  by  his  second  marriage.  He  was  a  hot  Lancasterian  and 
with  difficulty  saved  his  head.  Together  with  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  his  son 
Aubrey,  William  Tyrell  and  Sir  Thomas  Tuddenham  he  found  himself  in  the 
Tower  on  the  charge  of  corresponding  with  Margaret  of  Anjou.  All  the 
prisoners  above  mentioned  were  beheaded  on  Tower  Hill  Feb.  22nd  1461 
except  Clopton,  who  managed  to  escape.  He  had  served  the  office  of  High 
Sheriff  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  in  1451-2  and  having  married  Alice  sister  of 
Sir  Robert  Darcy  of  Maldon,  Essex,  died  in  1497.  His  will  is  dated 

1  Her  elder  son  Thomas  Clopton  had  died  "  Harl.  48  D.  12. 
shortly  after  his  father  and  in  his  3  Harl.  54  A.  22. 
mother's  lifetime. 


146  THE    MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

the  4  Nov.  1494,  and  is  curious  as  it  illustrates  the  customs  of  the  age.  He 
particularises  the  mortuary  fees  to  be  paid  in  kind  at  his  burial,  and  indicates 
what  the  custom  of  Melford  was.  The  frequent  scandals  which  arose 
respecting  these  mortuary  fees  occasioned  the  passing  of  the  Act  of  21 
Hen.  VIII.,  regulating  and  controlling  not  only  these  fees,  but  also  the 
probate  duties  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Courts.  Sir  Wm.  Parker,  in  his  History 
of  Long  Melford,  mentions  that  there  are  instances  where  in  furtherance 
of  the  claim  of  the  clergy  to  the  best  suit  of  clothes  which  had  belonged 
to  the  deceased,  the  officiating  priest  at  the  grave  side  tore  off  the  doublet 
of  a  mourner  declaring  it  had  belonged  to  the  dead  man.  John  Clopton  says 
in  his  will,  "Also  I  wull  that  the  parson  have  my  best  hors  at  hys  eleccion 
for  hys  mortuary,  according  to  the  lawdabill  custome  of  the  towne." 
His  will  is  mostly  filled  with  bequests  for  masses  for  his  soul  and  the  souls 
of  others,  and  has  a  gift  of  his  Bible  in  English  to  his  friend  William  Pyken- 
ham  Rector  of  Hadleigh  who  was  Archdeacon  of  Suffolk  in  1471.  On 
Wm.  Clopton's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Sir  William 
Clopton.  Sir  Wm.  Clopton  married  three  times,  1st  Johan  dau.  of  Sir 
William  Marrow  knt.  an  alderman  of  the  City  of  London,  and  had  issue  John 
Clopton,  William  Clopton  and  other  children  ;  andly,  Elizabeth  one  of  the 
daughters  of  Thomas  Say  and  one  of  the  sisters  and  co-heirs  of  William 
Say  of  Lyston  Hall,  co.  Essex,  by  whom  he  had  issue  William  Clopton 
father  of  W'illiam  Clopton,  father  of  Thomas  Clopton  of  Lyston  Hall ; 
and  thirdly,  Thomasine  daughter  of  Thomas  Knyvet  of  Great  Stanway 
co.  Essex  by  whom  he  had  issue  Francis  Clopton,  Richard  Clopton  (the 
father  of  William  Clopton  of  Castelins  Manor  in  Groton)  and  other  children. 

William  Clopton  made  his  will  the  I4th  October  1530  by  which  he  be- 
queathed to  his  eldest  son  John  "  all  the  hanginges  within  the  haule,  parlure, 
and  greate  chamber,  with  the  beddinge,  quysschyns-,  tables,  formes  and  stoles 
within  them  ;  and  the  stuff e  of  my  chapell,  as  auter  clothes,  boke,  chalesce 
and  vestmentes  being  and  servyng  on  or  for  the  workyndayes  within  the 
saide  chappell."  He  also  leaves  certain  costly  vestments  to  the  use  of 
Melford  Church,  but  some  to  be  "  at  the  commandement  of  hym  that  God 
schall  provide  to  be  my  heyre  male  and  dwell  at  my  place  at  Lewtons  and 
such  tyme  as  schall  fortune  to  be  any  marige  at  my  saide  place,  and  imme- 
diately after  to  be  delyvered  unto  the  chirchwardens  ayen."  He  has  a 
peculiar  bequest  as  to  a  cross  of  gold  which  apparently  had  some  remark- 
able properties.  After  the  death  of  his  3rd  wife  Thomasine  dau.  of  Thomas 
Knyvet  who  survived  him,  he  leaves  his  cross  of  gold  "  which  I  where 
dayly  abowtte  my  necke  "  to  his  son  John  and  his  heirs  male  as  an  heirloom 
with  this  proviso  :  "  upon  the  condicion  that  they  and  every  of  them 
dow  lenne  the  same  crosse  unto  women  of  honeste,  being  with  child, 
the  tyme  of  ther  laboure  ;  and  immediatly  to  be  surely  delivered  up 
ayen. '  He  devises  to  his  wife  for  her  life  his  Manor  and  Place  of 
"  Lewtons,"  where  he  dwells  and  entails  it  afterwards.  He  died  in  153?, 
in  his  8oth  year  and  was  buried  in  Melford  Church,  as  he  directs,  near  his 
first  two  wives.  The  stone  slab  for  him  which  has  lost  the  brass  and  has 
only  one  shield  left  for  his  first  wife  Joane  Marrow  has  been  removed 
from  its  original  place  in  the  Chancel  floor  in  front  of  John  Clopton's 
tomb  into  the  north  aisle.1 

John  Clopton  Sir  William's  son  succeeded  on  the  death  of  the  latter's 
widow  Thomasine  Knyvet.  He  married  Elizabeth  one  of  the  daughters 

1  Parker's  Hist,  of  Melford,  p.  178. 


MELFORD   (LONG).  147 

of  John  Roy  don  and  of  Margaret  his  wife  the  younger  daughter  of  Thomas 
Knyvet.  SirSymondsD'Ewes  was  exceedingly  proud  of  this  match  which 
he  considers  the  "  noblest  match  that  he  ever  yet  found  any  Clopton 
enjoyed."  He  says  :  "  Whether  she  was  heir  to  John  Roydon,  her  father, 
I  cannot  yet  undoubtedly  discover.  Most  certain  it  is,  the  coat  armour 
of  Roydon,  being  chequy  argent  and  gules,  over  all  a  cross  azure,  stands 
yet  in  a  glass  at  Lutons  Hall  in  the  parish  of  Melford,  being  the  Clopton's 
chief  seat  commonly  called  Kentwell,  both  in  the  east  window  of  the  great 
parlour,  and  in  the  south  window  of  the  hall,  very  anciently  set  up  and 
enquartered  with  Clopton  and  other  coat-armours." 

In  1539  we  meet  with  three  deeds  preserved  amongst  the  Harleian 
Charters  dealing  with  the  manor.  They  are  as  follows  : — 

Carta  qua  Johannes  Clopton  de  Melford  in  com.  Suff.  arm.  et  Willel- 
mus  filius  ejus  concedunt  Henrico  Francklyng  manerii  de  Lutons,  Wod- 
house,  Wodfowle  et  Blak  in  com.  Suff.  Dat.  the  29  July  31  Hen.  VIII. 
This  deed  is  signed  by  John  William  Clopton.  The  second  is  an  Indenture 
of  Henry  Francklyng  agreeing  to  pay  to  Elizabeth  widow  and  executrix 
of  John  Clopton  of  Melford  Esquire  lately  deceased,  an  annuity  of  £30  out 
of  the  manors  of  Lutons,  Wodhouse,  Wodfoulde  and  Blake  and  from  other 
lands  in  co.  Suffolk  until  the  Manor  of  Newenham  Halle  in  Essex  with  other 
manors  and  land  of  the  yearly  value  of  £50  be  assured  to  her.  Dat.  the  30 
July  31  Hen.  VIII.  [1529].  There  is  a  deed  by  which  the  said  Henry 
Francklyng  grants  to  John  Clopton  this  manor  and  the  Manors  of  Wodhouse 
W'odfoulle  and  Blake.  John  made  a  will  a  few  days  before  his  death  on  the 
5  Oct.  1541,  whereby  he  bequeathed  to  his  wife  Elizabeth  (Roydon)  "  the 
hangynges,  beddinge,  testores,  and  all  oder  the  appurtenances  withyn  the 
grett  chamber,  and  as  muche  brede  corne  and  ale  corne  as  shall  fynd  hyr 
howse  oone  hole  yere  after  my  decesse."  The  will  was  proved  the  5  Nov. 
1541,  John  Clopton,  the  testator,  having  died  on  the  2ist  October.  His 
widow  Elizabeth  remarried  one  Robert  Withersby  and  she  survived  her 
son  William,  who  had  a  grant  of  the  Manor  of  Monks  from  the  Crown  in 
1545.  Subsequent  to  this,  the  devolution  of  this  manor  is  the  same  as  Monks 
Melford  Manor  down  to  nearly  the  close  of  the  i8th  century  when  Richard 
Moore  succeeded  his  father  who  died  seised  in  1782.  Amongst  the  Harleian 
Charters  will  be  found  a  covenant  in  1591  by  Thomas  Clopton  of  Melford 
and  Wm.  Clopton  of  Groton  with  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  of  Smallbridge, 
Sir  John  Heigham  of  Barrow,  William  Waldegrave  son  and  heir-apparent 
of  the  said  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  and  Thomas  Waldegrave  second  son  of  the 
said  Sir  William  Waldegrave  in  consideration  of  the  marriage  of  the  said 
Thomas  Clopton  with  Mary  one  of  the  daughters  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave 
and  to  secure  a  competent  jointure,  to  levy  a  fine  of  the  Manors  of  Lutons, 
Kentwell,  Woodhouse  and  Woodfoules  in  Melford.  The  deed  is  dated 
the  2oth  Jan.  33  Eliz.  and  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  the  same  year  by 
the  trustees  against  Thomas  Clopton.1  The  fine  was  duly  levied  between 
William  Waldegrave  and  Thomas  Clopton  in  Trinity  Term  the  same  year. 

A  fine  of  Melford  Manor  and  Luton  Manor  in  1534  will  be  found 
amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.* 

WOOLHOUSE,   WOODFOULE   AND   ALSO  BLARES   MANORS. 

Wodefoyle  or  Woodfowles,  a  reputed  manor  of  Kentwell  no  doubt 
derives  its  name  from  an  ancient  family  of  Melford,  for  we  find  that  as 

'  Fine,  Hil.  33  Eliz.  *  Harl.  45  G.  7. 


148  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

early  as  1280  a  Matilda  Wodefoyle  held  land  parcel  of  the  Manor  of  Kent- 
well  as  tenant  of  Sir  William  de  Valence.  This  manor  was  held  of  the 
Earl  of  Sussex  and  of  his  Manor  of  Shimpling  for  2  shillings  a  year.  Sir 
William  Parker  mentions  that  as  to  a  part  of  this  manor  there  exists  a  notice 
that  in  the  I3th  of  Edw.  IV.,  1476,  one  Walter  Jermayn  held  Woodhouse 
for  135.  ^d.  a  year,  and  he  requested  to  be  allowed  the  sum  of  IDS.  $d.  for  a 
thousand  of  wood  which  in  that  year  had  been  made  in  the  grove  called 
Woodhouse,  and  which  had  been  wrongfully  included  in  his  hire.  The 
parson  of  Stanstead  on  this  occasion  took  a  hundred  of  wood  for  his 
tithe.1  It  seems  that  John  Clopton  son  and  heir  of  William  Clopton  died 
seised  of  these  manors  in  1497,  when  they  passed  to  William  Clopton  his 
son  and  heir.  Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  are  three  deeds  relating  to 
this  manor  in  the  year  1539.  The  ist  is  dated  the  29  July  31  Hen.  VIII., 
and  is  a  grant  by  John  Clopton  of  Melford  and  William  Clopton  his  son 
and  heir  to  Henry  Francklyng.  The  second  is  a  deed  dated  the  30  July  31 
Hen.  VIII.  whereby  the  said  Henry  Francklyng  agreed  to  pay  to  Elizabeth 
Clopton  widow  and  executrix  of  John  Clopton  of  Melford  an  annuity  of 
XXX  pounds  out  of  these  manors  "  Wodhouse,  Wodsone  and  Blake  " 
and  out  of  lands  &c.  which  the  said  Henry  Francklyng  had  in  towns  and 
parishes  of  Melford,  Stansted  and  Shimpling.2  The  third  is  dated  the  ist 
Aug.  31  Hen.  VIII.,  and  is  a  grant  by  the  said  Henry  Francklyng  to  John 
Clopton.3 

On  John  Clopton's  death  in  1578  the  manors  passed  to  his  brother 
and  heir  William  Clopton  and  on  his  death  in  1588  to  his  brother  and  heir 
Thomas  Clopton  and  on  his  death  in  1597  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William 
Clopton  who  died  in  1618  when  they  passed  to  Sir  William  Clopton  son  of 
Sir  William,  at  whose  death  in  1625  the  manors  passed  to  his  uncle  Walter 
Clopton. 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  will  be  found  a  covenant  for 
levying  a  fine  in  1591  of  the  two  former  manors  and  of  Lutons  and  Kent- 
well.4  The  covenant  is  dated  the  20  May  33  Eliz. 

Blakes  seems  to  have  been  little  more  than  a  messuage,  as  it  was 
held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  at  6  pence  a  year. 

CRANEVYLES  al.  CRAINAVILES  MANOR. 

Very  little  is  known  of  this  manor  It  is  apparently  the  subject  of  a 
fine  levied  in  1390  by  Richard  Mucheldenere  and  Margaret  de  Ekerton 
against  Alice  de  Bryene3 ;  and  Thomas  Spring  of  Lavenham  died  seised  of 
it  in  1523,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Spring  who  died  in 
1547,  when  it  passed  to  Sir  William  Spring  of  Pakenham,  after  which  we 
lose  sight  of  the  manor  entirely.  It  is  possibly  the  land  mentioned  in  the 
extent  of  the  Manor  of  Melford  taken  in  1442  thus:  "  John  Mannock held 
130  acres  of  land  at  Cranfield  and  2  water  mills  under  one  roof  on  the  bank 
of  the  river  dividing  Suffolk  from  Essex  which  said  land  formerly  belonged 
to  John  de  Cranvile  and  previously  to  Sir  Guy  Bryan  knight  "  referred 
to  this.  Still  it  was  not  then  mentioned  as  being  held  as  a  separate 
manor. 

KENTWELL. 

This  manor  was  held  in  the  Confessor's  time  by  Algar  under  Seward 
of  Maldon  with  2  carucates  of  land  and  soc.  There  were  7  villeins,  I  bordar, 

'  P.  171  note.  '  Harl.  57  H.  19. 

•  Harl.  50  E.  12.  »  Feet  of  Fines,  14  Rich.  II.  35. 

'  Harl.  50  E   13. 


J 


J 
J 


- 


MELFORD  (LONG). 


149 


4  ploughteams,  2  in  demesne  and  2  belonging  to  the  men,  8  acres  of  meadow, 
i  horse  at  the  Hall,  5  beasts,  30  hogs  and  80  sheep.  These  were  valued 
at  40  shillings.  The  increase  in  value  was  rather  marked  by  the  time  of  the 
Great  Survey,  for  it  was  then  placed  at  4  pounds  which  the  altered  details 
hardly  seemed  to  justify.  The  villeins  had  decreased  by  3,  but  the  bordars 
had  increased  by  2.  It  is  true  there  were  8  beasts,  40  hogs  against  5  and 
30,  but  on  the  other  hand  there  was  one  ploughteam  less  belonging  to  the 
men  and  30  fewer  sheep. 

The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was  Frodo,  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds' 
brother.1 

Frodo  left  two  sons  Alan  and  Gilbert.  Of  their  family  there  is  not  much 
on  record,  but  about  the  period  of  from  1145  to  1148  a  person  named  Galeus 
held  this  manor  ;  for  in  a  Bull  of  Pope  Eugenius  IIL,  endowing  the  Abbey 
of  Bury  with  certain  tithes,  it  was  decreed  that  the  Manor  of  Melford 
should  pay  a  sum  of  20  shillings  a  year  and  the  land  of  Galeus  in  Melford 
was  to  pay  10  shillings  a  year  ;  and  as  at  that  time  there  was  no  other 
property  in  Melford  which  could  have  been  assessed  in  such  proportion 
to  the  Melford  Manor,  except  the  then  existing  manor  of  Kentwell,  it 
may  be  taken  that  Galeus  was  the  owner  of  this  lordship. 

KENTWELL  HALL  MANOR. 

The  de  Kentwells  were  probably  descendants  of  Frodo  the  brother  of 
the  Abbot  and  were  lords  until  the  middle  of  the  I3th  century.  In  1224  the 
manor  was  held  by  Gilbert  de  Kentwell,  and  on  the  Close  Rolls  we  find  in  1225 
an  order  restraining  Isaac  of  Norwich  the  Jew  from  removing  goods  and 
chattels  on  the  land  of  this  Gilbert  de  Kentwell.2  Further  in  1245  William 
de  Kentwell  died  seised  of  9  curucates  of  land  in  Melford.3  The  same  year 
we  find  on  the  Originalia  Rolls  an  order  to  the  sheriff  to  receive  seisin  from 
William  son  of  Hugh  and  Amabil  his  wife  of  land  in  Kentwell,  which  the 
King  bought  (and  freeing  Richard  Wastehus  from  the  custody  of  same),  with 
a  certain  vestment  and  ornaments  in  the  chapel  there.4  In  1251  the  manor 
was  in  the  King's  hands  and  was  granted  by  Hen.  III.  to  Sir  William  de 
Valence  son  of  Hugh  de  Brun  Earl  of  March  by  Isabel  his  wife  widow  of 
King  John.5  The  grant  which  is  dated  the  8  Feb.  35  Hen.  III.  was  made  so 
that  William  de  Valence  should  receive  £17,  for  which  sum  the  manor  was 
extended.  It  was  subject  to  an  annual  fee  of  £5o.6  Below  is  an 
extract  from  the  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  dated  the  Feast  of  the  Purifica- 
tion of  the  Virgin  Mary  3  Hen.  V.  [1416]  regarding  homage  to  be  paid  at 
the  death  of  Hugh  Bokenham  who  held  certain  lands  in  Thelnetham. 

The  manor  as  included  in  this  grant  is  recorded  in  the  Abbot's  Chartulary 
of  Melford  of  1287  as  a  manor  comprising  360  acres  of  arable  land,  4  acres  of 
mowing  meadow,  5  acres  of  pasture,  17  acres  of  wood,  a  windmill  and  a 
warren,  besides  52  acres  which  his  villeins  held  from  him.  Four  persons  are 
specially  named  as  holding  between  them  50  acres  of  the  lord's  land, 
three  of  whom  were  allowed  to  sublet.  The  four  tenants  are  thus  described  : 

"  Stephen  de  Sidulvemere  holds  of  the  said  Sir  William  XX  acres  of 
land  for  his  undertenants  at  20  pence  a  year. 

'  John,  son  of  Capell,  holds  of  the  said  Sir  William  X  acres  of  land  for 
his  undertenants  at  10  pence  a  year. 


1  Dom.  n.  355. 

'  Close  Rolls.  9  Hen.  III.  pt.  ii.  3. 

3  I.P.M.,  29  Hen.  III.  44. 

4  O.,  29  Hen.  III.  i. 


1  Grant,  Harl.  58  H.  17 ;  Chart.  Rolls,  33 
Hen.  III.,  Pars  altera  12,  35  Hen. 
III.  12. 

6  Karl.  58  H.  17. 


150  THE   MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

"  William  Maupas  holds  for  himself  and  his  parceners  a  messuage  and 
X  acres  of  land  for  10  pence  a  year. 

"  Matilda  Wodefoyle  holds  of  the  same  Sir  William  X  acres  of  land 
for  10  pence." 

Though  in  the  Melford  Chartulary  the  Abbot  of  Bury  as  lord  paramount 
of  Melford  included  De  Valence  in  the  rolls  of  lu's  free  tenants,  exacting  from 
him  a  small  yearly  rent  in  free  socage  in  lieu  of  all  services,  the  account 
goes  on  to  state  that  this  particular  manor  was  held  by  Sir  William  in 
chief  from  the  King.  The  manor  was  certainly  held  of  the  King  in 
chief  and  of  the  Castle  of  Norwich  by  the  fourth  part  of  a  knight's 
service,  and  later  by  a  further  payment  of  65  shillings  a  year  to  the 
governor  of  the  Castle* 

This  William  de  Valence  was  a  man  of  great  account  in  the  days  of  the 
3rd  Henry  to  whom  he  was  very  nearly  allied,  being  in  fact  his  half-brother 
by  his  mother.  He  was  made  Constable  of  Goderich  Castle  and  Pembroke 
Castle  and  Warden  of  the  Town  and  Castle  of  Hertford  in  1247.  Dugdale 
gives  an  account  of  this  lord:  "The  King,"  says  he,  "solemnizing  the. 
festival  of  St.  Edwards'  translation  in  the  Church  of  Westminster  with  great 
state,  sitting  on  his  royal  throne,  in  a  rich  robe  of  Baudekyn,  and  the 
crown  on  his  head,  caused  this  William  (with  divers  other  young  noblemen) 
to  be  brought  before  him  and  girt  him  with  the  sword  of  knighthood,  and 
whilest  he  thus  sate  in  his  royal  seat,  casting  his  eye  upon  him  who  penned 
down  all  particulars  of  the  great  solemnity,  he  called  him  nearer,  and 
commanded  him  to  sit  upon  the  middle  step,  betwixt  his  chair  and  the 
floor,  and  said  to  him  :  '  Hast  thou  taken  notice  of  all  these  things,  and 
perfectly  committed  them  to  memory  ? '  He  answered,  '  Sir,  I  have  so, 
deeming  this  famous  ceremonial  worthy  to  be  recorded.'  Wrhereupon  the 
King  replied :  '  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  God  Almighty,  as  a  pledge  of  his 
farther  favours  and  benefits,  hath  vouchsafed  to  work  one  glorious  miracle 
this  morning,  for  which  I  give  him  thanks.  I  therefore  entreat  thee,  and 
intreating  require,  that  thou  record  these  things  exactly  and  fully,  and 
write  them  in  a  book,  lest  that  the  memory  of  them  should  in  time  be 
lost.'  And  having  so  said  invited  him  with  whom  he  had  this  discourse 
to  dinner  that  day  with  three  of  his  fellows ;  commanding  likewise, 
that  all  other  monks,  who  then  came  thither,  with  the  whole 
convent  of  Westminster,  should  at  his  charge  be  that  day  feasted  in  the 
publick  refectory  there."  And  again  :  "  About  that  time,  this  William 
de  Valence,  residing  at  Hertford  Castle,  rode  to  the  Parke  at  Haethfel, 
belonging  to  the  Bishop  of  Ely,  and  there  hunting  without  any  leave,  went 
to  the  bishop's  manor  house,  and  readily  finding  nothing  to  drink  but 
ordinary  beer,  broke  open  the  buttery  doors,  and  swearing  and  cursing  the 
drink,  and  those  who  made  it ;  after  all  his  company  had  drunk  their 
fills  of  the  best  wine  in  the  cellars,  pulled  out  the  spigots  out  of  the  vessels, 
and  let  out  the  rest  upon  the  floor ;  and  that  a  servant  of  the  house 
hearing  the  noise,  and  coming  to  see  what  the  matter  was,  they  laughed 
him  to  scorn,  and  so  departed." 

He  was  driven  out  of  the  kingdom  with  his  brothers  in  1258  by  the 
Barons,  but  returned  two  years  later  with  their  consent  and  led  one  of  the 
three  bodies  of  the  royal  army  at  the  Battle  of  Lewes  in  1264  after  which 
he  fled  to  France,  but  returned  the  following  year  with  John  Earl  of  Warenne 
and  Hugh  Bigod,  and  the  battle  of  Evesham  re-establishing  the  power  of 
the  King,  he  benefited  greatly  from  the  royal  favour  and  had  large  grants 


MELFORD  (LONG). 


from  the  Crown.  He  took  the  Cross  in  1268  and  became  a  Crusader  in 
1270,  but  returned  in  1273. 

Amongst  the  Ancient  Deeds  in  the  Public  Record  Office  is  a  Release 
by  Alice  late  the  wife  of  Thomas  son  of  Nigel  de  Listen  clerk  to  Sir  William 
de  Valence  Earl  of  Pembroke  of  all  right  in  the  lands  and  tenements  which 
he  had  by  demise  of  the  said  Thomas  in  Melford,1  and  a  grant  by  John  de 
Lansele  to  Sir  William  of  2  acres  in  the  Millfield  in  Melford  ;2  also  a  grant 
by  Henry  son  of  William  de  Elmeswelle  to  Thomas  son  of  Nigel  de  Liston, 
clerk,  of  land  called  '  Varelond '  between  Sir  William  de  Valence's  land 
and  the  road  from  Melford  Church  to  Kentwell  tigh  called  '  Haylokestye  ' 
in  Melford  ;3  and  another  grant  by  the  same  to  Thomas  son  of  Nigel  de 
Liston  clerk,  Alice  his  wife  and  John  and  Simon  their  sons  of  land  called 
'  Varelond  '  between  land  of  Sir  Wm.  de  Valencia  and  the  road  from 
Henry's  house  to  the  tigh  of  Kentwell  called  '  Haylokestye  '  in  Melford.4 
There  are  other  grants  in  Melford  preserved  of  this  Sir  William.5  The 
Hundred  Rolls  state  that  William  de  Valence  held  the  manor  in  chief  of 
the  King  for  one  knight's  fee  by  gift  of  Hen.  III.6  and  he  claimed  also  to 
have  free  warren  in  the  hamlet  of  Kentwell.7 

William  de  Valence  was  made  Guardian  and  Lieutenant  of  England 
in  1285,  Joint  Commissioner  for  Armament  of  the  kingdom  in  1292,  and 
Chief  Plenipotentiary  to  treat  with  France  in  1296.  This  year  he  was 
slain  in  the  wars  in  France,  when  his  remains  were  conveyed  to  England 
and  interred  in  Westminster  Abbey  under  a  splendid  monument.  On  his 
tomb  his  arms  are  repeated  as  a  pattern  in  diamond-shaped  panels,  ena- 
melled in  gold  and  colours  in  copper.  These  are  alternately  Gules,  three 
lions  passant  regardant,  Or  ;  and  barry  Argent  and  Azure,  an  orle  of  mart- 
lets, Gules.  These  arms  are  again  repeated  on  the  cushion  beneath  the 
head  of  the  recumbent  figure.  The  shield  he  holds  only  shows  the  second 
coat  of  arms  and  on  the  azure  bars  is  a  delicate  running  pattern  in  gold, 
and  on  the  argent  bars  a  similar  tracery  pattern,  rather  broader  ;  and  the 
outlines  of  the  martlets  are  picked  out  in  gold.8 

William  de  Valence  married  Joane,  daughter  and  eventually  heir  of 
Warine  de  Mounichenst  by  Joane  his  wife,  second  sister  and  coheir  of 
Anselme  Marshal  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

Sir  Wm.  Parker  in  his  History  of  Melford  states  that  he  married  Joane 
daughter  of  William  de  Montchensy  by  his  wife  Dionysia  (daughter  and  heir 
of  Nicholas  de  Anesty).  Gage  in  his  History  of  Thingoe  Hundred  says  that 
Dionysia  was  the  only  child  of  William  de  Mountchensi,  that  she  married 
Hugh  de  Vere  and  died  without  issue  when  her  fee  descended  to  Aymer  de 
Valence  son  and  heir  of  Joane  cousin  of  William  Mountchensi,  and  that  after 
the  death  of  Aylmer  it  came  to  the  Earl  of  Athol  in  right  of  his  wife  Joane 
Comyn  sister  of  Aymer.  Sir  William  de  Vallence's  first  son  John  died 
young,  his  second,  William,  was  killed  by  the  Welsh  in  his  father's  lifetime, 
and  the  Earl  was  succeeded  by  his  3rd  son  Aymer  de  Valence  2nd  Earl  of 
Pembroke. 

On  the  Patent  Rolls  of  1298,  a  Commission  will  be  found  as  to  persons 
who  broke  the  park  of  this  Aymer  at  Kentwell,  hunted  and  carried  away 
deer  from  his  park  there.9 


'  A.  3469. 
"  A.  3520. 

3  A.  3781. 

4  A.  3530. 

3  A.  3330,  3604,  3908,  3964. 


6  H.R.  ii.  142,  150,  194. 

'  H.R.  ii.  143,  153,  195- 

8  Parker,  Hist,  of  Melford,  p.  169. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  26  Edw.  I.  22d. 


152  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Aymer  de  Valence  sold  the  manor  in  1306  to  John  de  Eddeworth  for 
life,  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  will  be  found  a  pardon  to  him  for  acquiring 
for  life  from  Aymer  de  Valencia  the  manor  without  licence,  it  being  held 
in  chief  of  the  King.1  On  the  Originalia  Rolls  is  the  licence  the  same 
year  for  John  de  Eddeworth  to  retain  the  manor  of  the  King  for  life.* 

Aymer  was  in  the  wars  of  Scotland  in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  and  being 
with  the  King  at  Burgh  upon  the  Sands  just  before  his  death,  was  one  of 
those  to  whom  the  King  recommended  his  son,  and  enjoyned  him  not  to 
suffer  Piers  de  Gaveston  again  to  enter  the  kingdom.  He  subsequently 
joined  the  coalition  against  the  power  of  Gaveston,  and  assisted  at  the 
siege  of  Scarborough  Castle,  in  which,  upon  its  surrender,  the  favourite 
was  made  prisoner,  and  was  soon  after  beheaded  by  order  of  the  Earl  of 
Warwick,  at  Blackton  Hill  near  Warwick.  Aymer  was  a  joint  Special 
Ambassador  to  France  in  1302,  1307,  and  1312,  and  Guardian  and 
Lieutenant  of  Scotland  in  1307  and  1314,  Joint  Ambassador  to  the  Pope 
Clement  V.  in  1309  and  to  Pope  John  XXII.  in  1316,  Warden  of  the  Hun- 
dreds of  Claydon  and  Bosmere  in  1319,  and  Guardian  and  Lieutenant  of 
England  in  1320.  On  one  of  his  journeys  to  Rome  he  was  made  prisoner 
by  John  Moilley  a  Burgundian,  and  sent  to  the  Emperor,  when  he  had  to 
give  20,000  pounds  of  silver  for  his  ransom,  by  reason  as  Moilley  alleged 
that  "  he  himself  having  served  the  King  of  England  had  not  been  paid  his 
wages."  In  1321  he  was  one  of  the  lords  who  sat  in  judgment  upon  Henry 
Plantagenet  Earl  of  Lancaster,  and  condemned  that  person  to  death. 
"  But  this  mercenary  and  time-serving  act  of  infamy,"  it  is  said,  was 
speedily  atoned  for  by  his  son's  death,  which  occurred  two  years  after 
in  France,  where  attacking  Queen  Isabel  he  was  murdered  the  23  June  1324. 3 
The  untimely  fate  of  the  last  and  youthful  Earl  of  Pembroke  in  1389  was 
very  generally  by  the  superstition  of  the  age  attributed  to  a  divine  judgment 
upon  the  family  for  this  sentence,  and  it  was  observed  that  subsequently 
to  that  judgment  none  of  the  Earls  of  Pembroke  saw  his  father,  nor  any 
father  of  them  took  any  delight  in  seeing  his  children.  He  married  first 
Beatrice  daughter  of  Ralph  de  Nele,  Constable  of  France,  2ndly  the  daughter 
of  the  Earl  of  Barre,  and  3rdly  Mary  daughter  of  Guy  de  Chastillion,  Earl 
of  St.  Paul  and  a  great-granddaughter  maternally  of  Hen.  III.,  but  had  no 
issue.  He  was  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey  and  his  estates  passed 
to  his  sisters  as  coheirs,  and  on  partition  Kentwell  Manor  was  assigned  to 
David  de  Strabolgi,  Earl  of  Athol  and  Joane  his  wife,  one  of  the  daughters 
and  coheirs  of  John  Comyn  feudal  lord  of  Badenagh,  and  Joane  his  wife, 
one  of  the  sisters  and  coheirs  of  Aymer.4  On  his  death  in  1327'  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  David  de  Strabolgi,  Earl  of  Athol,  2nd  Baron,  who  at  his 
father's  decease  was  but  19  years  of  age,  and  Henry  de  Beaumont  paid  a 
thousand  marks  for  his  wardship  and  marriage.  The  young  nobleman  was 
held  in  such  high  esteem  by  the  King  that  Edw.  III.  in  the  first  year  of 
of  his  reign — immediately  after  the  death  of  his  father — and  notwithstand- 
ing his  minority,  allowed  him  to  do  homage,  and  have  livery  of  his  lands. 
He  lost  no  time  in  getting  rid  of  Kentwell  Manor,  for  we  find  in  1332,  he 
obtained  licence  to  grant  to  Robert  Gower  for  life,6  and  the  following  year 
executed  a  release  to  Robert,  then  Sir  Robert  Gower,  of  all  his  right  in 
the  manor.7  David  de  Strabolgi  however  does  not  then  appear  to  have 

1  Pat.  Rolls,  34  Edw.  I.  5.  4  Close  Rolls,  19  Edw.  II.  14,  7,  3. 

•  O.,  34  Edw.  I.  Ri.  7;  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  »  Extent.    I.P.M.,  I  Edw.  III.  85. 

I.  169.  *  Pat.  Rolls,  6  Edw.  III.  pt.  iii.  I. 

>  Extent:      I.P.M.,  17  Edw.  II.  75.  '  7  Edw.  III.,  Harl.  MSS.  299. 


MELFORD  (LONG). 


153 


parted  with  his  whole  interest  in  the  manor,  for  we  find  on  the  Originalia 
Rolls  of  1335  a  demise  only  to  Robert  Gower  for  his  life.1  This  year  the 
Earl  of  Athol  joined  the  Scots,  and  an  entry  on  the  Close  Rolls  throws  a 
little  light  on  the  subject :  After  reciting  a  licence  to  David  de  Shalbogi  to 
grant  to  Robert  Gower  "  for  the  life  of  the  King  and  his  heirs,"  with 
reversion  at  Robert's  death  to  the  Earl  and  his  heirs  and  seizure  by  the 
Sheriff  for  the  King  in  consequence  of  the  Earl  having  joined  the  Scots  it 
was  ordered  that  the  manor  be  restored  to  Robert.2 

This  David  2nd  Baron  Strabolgi  was  of  a  shifty  character,  wavering 
between  the  sentiments  of  his  father  and  grandfather,  the  latter  of  whom 
had  sided  with  the  Scots  and  been  sentenced  to  death  in  Westminster  Hall 
as  a  traitor,  and  in  respect  of  his  descent  from  royal  blood  had  not  been 
drawn  as  usual  with  traitors  but  set  on  horseback  and  hanged  upon  a 
gibbet  50  feet  high,  his  head  fixed  on  London  Bridge  and  his  body  burnt 
to  ashes ;  and  the  former  of  whom  had  taken  an  active  part  on  the  English  side 
in  the  wars  with  the  Scots.  David  the  2nd  Baron  was  at  one  time  engaged 
against  the  English  forces  and  at  another  with  them  in  these  constant 
conflicts,  but  eventually  fell  fighting  under  the  English  Sovereign.  He 
married  Katherine  Beaumont  and  died  in  1335. 3 

David  the  2nd  Baron  was  succeeded  by  his  son  David  3rd  Baron 
Strabolgi  and  Earl  of  Athol,  who  at  the  death  of  his  father  was  but  3  years 
old.  In  1338  Sir  Robert  Gower  obtained  from  the  King  a  confirmation  of 
the  release  by  the  2nd  Baron  Strabolgi  of  the  manor,  the  same  being  then 
in  the  King's  hands,  in  consequence  of  the  minority  of  the  heir,4  and  in  1349 
on  the  death  of  Sir  Robt.  Gower,  the  King  committed  to  Katherine 
Countess  of  Athol,  the  widow  of  the  2nd  Baron  Strabolgi,  the  custody  of 
this  manor  to  hold  during  the  minority  of  his  (Sir  Robert's)  heir,  rendering 
20  marks  per  annum.3 

On  the  death  of  Sir  Robert  Gower  one  moiety  of  the  manor 
passed  to  Catherine,  one  of  his  daughters  and  coheirs,  who  died  in  I366,6 
and  the  other  moiety,  and  ultimately  the  whole,  passed  to  Joan  sister  and 
heir  of  Catherine,  wife  of  William  Neve  of  Wyting,  and  he  and  his  wife 
had  a  pardon  granted  in  1366  for  having  entered  on  the  Kentwell  Hall 
property  on  the  death  of  Catherine  Gower,  without  process  from  the  King's 
Court,  and  they  were  restored  after  the  seizure  by  the  King  on  payment 
of  ioos.7  The  order  for  seisin  to  be  given  to  William  Neve  and  Joan  his 
wife  of  this  moiety  is  on  the  Originalia  Rolls,8  and  William  Neve  and  his 
wife  recovered  seisin  against  David  de  Strabolgi  Earl  of  Athol,  of  the 
manor  except  12  acres  and  £4  rent  in  Kentwell  the  same  year.9  After 
the  death  of  Neve,  his  wife  married  Thomas  Styward  of  London,  pewterer, 
and  in  1368  he  and  his  wife  granted  the  manor  to  John  Gower,  the  poet,10 
who  had  obtained  a  licence  to  acquire  the  same."  John  Gower  did  not  long 
retain,  for  in  1372  he  conveyed  the  manor  to  Sir  John  Cobham  and  others, 
and  the  following  year  we  find  from  the  Originalia  Rolls  that  they  received 
a  pardon  for  acquiring  the  maoor  in  fee  without  a  licence  from  the  King." 
In  1379  Sir  John  Cobham  an«*x>thers  obtained  a  licence  to  grant  the  manor 


•  O.,  9  Edw.  III. 

'  Close  Rolls  9  Edw.  III.  31. 

>  I.P.M.,  ii  Edw.  III.,  46. 

4  Pat.  Rolls,  13  Edw.  III.  pt.  i,  30. 

5  O.,  23  Edw.  III.  22. 

6  I.P.M.,  40  Edw.  III.  13. 


7  O.,  40  Edw.  III.  29. 

8  O.,  40  Edw.  III.  10. 

9  O.,  40  Edw.  III.  20. 

10  I. P.M.,  42  Edw.  III.  (2nd  nos.)  4. 

11  O.,  42  Edw.  III.  33. 
"  O.,  48  Edw.  III.  31. 


154  THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

to  Katharine  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Clopton,  and  others,  the  Patent  Rolls  in 
which  the  licence  appears  stating  that  it  was  held  of  the  King  by  the  service 
of  rendering  655.  yearly  for  castle  guard  of  Norwich  Castle.1  A  fine 
was  levied  of  the  manor  this  same  year  by  John  Gower  against  John 
Spennythorn  and  Joan  his  wife*  which  is  somewhat  peculiar. 

It  is  stated  by  Davy  and  others  that  William  de  Mylde  had  the  manor, 
and  Sir  Wm.  Parker,  a  most  accurate  historian,  says  it  "  passed  to  the 
family  of  Mylde,"  but  it  is  extremely  doubtful  whether  a  Mylde  ever  was 
actually  lord,  though  it  is  quite  possible  the  manor  was  held  by  Sir  John 
de  Cobham  and  others  in  trust  for  William  de  Mylde,  an  idea  which  is  rather 
confirmed  by  the  fact  of  the  grant  being  made  by  these  parties  to 
Katharine,  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Clopton  as  she  was  the  daughter  of  this 
William  de  Mylde.5 

Sir  Thomas  Clopton  knt.  was  the  younger  brother  of  Sir  William  Clopton 
of  Wickhambrook,  and  the  son  of  Walter  de  Cloptune  who  died  in  1326 
and  of  Alice  his  wife  younger  daur.  and  coheir  of  Warin  surnamed  Fitz 
Hugh.  This  Walter  de  Cloptune  was  the  son  of  William  son  of  Walter 
son  of  William  son  of  Walter  son  of  William  son  of  William  Peche  who  li ved 
in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror. 

The  will  of  Sir  Thomas  Clopton  who  died  in  1383  is  dated  the  8th  March 
1382,  and  was  proved  the  12  Oct.  1383.  He  was  buried  in  Chipley  Priory. 
At  this  time  and  for  two  centuries  subsequently  the  manorial  residence 
was  not  called  Kentwell  but  "  Lutons."  In  the  wills  and  documents  of 
successive  Cloptons  till  the  year  1563,  constant  mention  is  made  of  the 
Hall,  a  Place  of  Luton's,  as  the  dwelling-house  of  the  family,  but  in  that 
year  reference  is  made  to  the  new  mansion  house  of  Kentwell  Hall. 
Lutons  Manor  house  probably  stood  in  or  about  the  wood  now  called  the 
"  Pond  Plantation  "  of  Kentwell. 

On  Katherine  Clopton's  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  William 
Clopton4  who  died  in  1446.  From  this  William  to  William  Clopton  who 
died  in  1562,  the  devolution  is  identical  with  that  of  Luton  Manor  and  from 
this  last  William  Clopton  to  the  present  time  identical  with  that  of  Monks 
Melford  Manor,  which  has  been  already  given. 

John  Clopton  was  in  1537  called  upon  to  show  by  what  title  he  held 
Kentwell  Manor.5  And  amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of 
Q.  Elizabeth  is  a  Bill  to  establish  a  lease  and  set  aside  a  will  by  Anne 
Clopton,  widow  of  William  Clopton  deceased,  late  of  Kentwell,  against 
Thomas  Clopton  and  others  as  to  the  mansion  house  called  "  Kentwell  or 
Lewton,"  and  other  land  in  Suffolk  said  to  be  the  estates  of  plaintiff's  said 
late  husband.6  Amongst  the  Tanner  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  is  a  letter  of 
Sir  John  Tracy  to  Isaac  Appleton  in  165!  as  to  his  being  willing  to  sell  his 
wife's  interest  in  the  Living  of  Kentwell  (?)  ;7  while  amongst  the  Harleian 
MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  of  about  the  same  date  will  be  found  covenants 
between  Sir  John  Tracy  and  Dame  Elizabeth  his  wife  with  Sir  Symonds 
D'Ewes  as  to  yielding  up  the  Manor  of  Kentwell,  this  being  jointure  of  the 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Rich.  II.  pt.  ii.  18.  5  Memoranda  Rolls,   29  Hen.  VIII.,  Pas. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  3  Rich.  II.  6.  Rec.  Rot.  35. 

>  I.P.M.,  47  Edw.  III.  59.  '  C.P.  i.  182. 

4  See   Manor    of    Hawstead   in  Thingoe         '  Tanner  Ixix.  124. 
Hundred. 


MELFORD   (LONG).  155 

said  Lady  Tracy  in  consideration  of  an  annuity  of  £460  per  annum  payable 
by  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  [Harl.  98]. 

Extracts  from  Clopton  deeds  will  be  found  in  the  Bodleian.1  The 
Manor  of  Cressy  was  held  of  Kentwell  Manor.2  It  appears  from  the  Patent 
Rolls  of  1258  that  Hugh  de  Cressy  held  a  knight's  fee  in  (Telnetham)  parcel 
of  Kentwell  Manor.3  Memoranda  concerning  lands  in  Thelnetham 
held  of  Kentwell  Manor  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in 
the  Brit.  Mus.4  and  as  to  the  homage  due  to  Kentwell  Manor  for  land  in 
Thelnetham  amongst  the  same  Charters5  and  particulars  as  to  the  Manor 
of  Thelnetham  held  by  Buckenham  as  of  Kentwell  Manor  amongst  the 
MSS.  of  the  same  collection.6  A  petition  in  Chancery  of  John  Clopton 
respecting  Cressy  Manor  held  by  Richard  Florens,  clerk,  as  of  Kentwell 
will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.7  And  in  the  same  collection 
note  is  made  of  a  grant  of  £3.  55.  payable  to  the  King  out  of  Kentwell  Manor 
for  Castleward.8  An  extent  of  the  manor  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  will  also 
be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.9,  and  also  in  the  7  Hen.  III.  and  other 
matters  relating  to  the  manor,  5  Edw.  III.,  may  be  seen  in  the  same 
collection.10  An  extent  of  lands  owing  suit  to  the  manor  in  1325,  or  rather 
a  copy  of  the  extent,  is  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.11 
The  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  for  1313  are  amongst  the  Rolls  in  the  same 
collection,"  and  extracts  from  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  7  Edw.  II.  to  4 
Hen.  VII.  [1313  to  1489],  amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls'3  and  Harleian 
Charters14,  and  in  1539  amongst  the  former.15 

Fines  for  homage  in  the  manor  for  the  years  1530  and  1634  are  also 
amongst  the  last  mentioned  Charters,16  and  a  Statement  of  Accompts  con- 
cerning the  manor  in  1649  w^  De  found  amongst  the  Cotton  MSS.  in  the 
Brit.  Mus.17 

Kentwell  Hall  is  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  high  road, 
and  is  approached  by  a  fine  avenue  of  limes  for  nearly  the  whole  distance. 
It  is  said  that  the  whole  of  these  beautiful  trees  were  at  one  time  sold  to  an 
eminent  pianoforte  maker,  and  some  of  them,  on  either  side  nearest  to  the 
house  were  actually  cut  down,  but  he  was  ultimately  induced  to  forego 
the  purchase. 

The  present  mansion  was  no  doubt  erected  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  and 
is  in  the  form  of  the  letter  E,  a  form  adopted  in  the  case  of  so  many  buildings 
erected  in  that  reign  and  supposed  to  be  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  sovereign. 
Mr.  Tymms,  in  his  article  already  referred  to,  thus  describes  the  place  and 
its  surroundings  : — 

"  A  fine  moat,  over  which  there  are  two  bridges,  surrounds  the  house  ; 
and  what  is  more  remarkable,  a  second  moat  appears  to  have  enclosed  the 
pleasure  grounds.  The  modern  alterations  were  made  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Hopper,  the  architect.  A  window  in  the  billiard  room  is  filled 
with  stained  glass,  representing  in  twenty-six  coats  the  arms  and  alliances 
of  the  Cloptons,  which  were  collected  from  different  parts  of  the  mansion 

1  4180.  -°  Harl.  299. 

•  Harl.  97.  "  Harl.  58  H.  19. 

•  Pat.  Rolls,  35  Hen.  III.  6,  3.  "  Harl.  Rolls.  H.  7. 

4  Harl.  58  F.  52.  1J  Harl.  Rolls.  O.,  34. 

'  Harl.  58  H.  17.  "  Harl.  58  H.  17. 

6  Harl.  380.  "  Harl.  Roll  H.  8. 

'  Harl.  589.  "  Harl.  58  H.  3,  45,  G.  7. 

•  Harl.  99.  "  Cott.  xvi.  17. 
»  Harl.  362. 


156  THE    MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

and  placed  in  their  present  position  in  the  beginning  of  the  igth  century. 
Part  of  the  glass  is  as  old  as  the  time  of  Henry  the  Seventh,  and  part  is 
of  modern  manufacture.  The  banners  in  the  hall,  the  work  of  the  lady  of 
Col.  Bence,  are  those  of  Henry  the  Third,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  Earl  of 
Strahbogi,  Edmund  Gower,  Katharine  Mylde,  Clopton,  D'Ewes, 
Robinson,  Moore,  Logan,  and  Starkie. 

"In  the  park  which  is  extensive  and  picturesque,  was  formerly  a  little 
chapel  in  honour  of  St.  Anne.  It  is  described  in  a  MS.  of  Roger  Martin,  of 
the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  to  have  been  near  the  pond  in  the  park  ;  and 
to  have  been  the  spot  where  a  drinking  took  place  when  the  parishioners 
went  the  bounds  on  the  second  day  in  Rogation  Week,  being  their  longest 
perambulation." 

An  account  of  Kentwell  Hall  is  to  be  found  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine  for  1830,  pt.  ii.  204,  205,  and  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Suffolk 
Institute,  vol.  n,  59  ;  also  in  the  loth  Rep.  of  the  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  141, 
142,  146 ;  and  an  account  of  a  visit  of  the  Archaeological  Institute  to  the 
Hall  will  be  found  in  the  Archaeological  Journal,  vol.  Ivi.  403. 

Sir  Wm.  Parker  who  knew  the  place  well  from  residing  so  near  says  of 
it :  "  Since  its  erection  more  than  three  centuries  have  rolled  over  it,  and 
far  from  detracting  from  its  beauty,  time  has  only  served  to  add  thereto, 
by  imparting  to  it  its  present  lovely  mellow  tones  and  shades  of  colour,  and 
rendering  more  venerable  the  old  trees  around  it." 

The  old  Hall  is  now  occupied  by  Turton  Norton,  and  could  not  be  in 
better  hands.  The  view  of  the  Hall  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Mrs. 
Norton  and  kindly  given  to  the  writer. 

Arms  of  Clopton  :  Sable  ;  a  bend,  argent,  betw.  two  cottises  dancette, 
or. 

MELFORD  RECTORY  MANOR. 

The  Church  of  Melford  was  endowed  by  Earl  Alfric  in  the  nth 
century  with  a  manor  and  about  261  acres  of  land.  On  a  partition  of  the 
church  property  when  the  Hospital  of  St.  Saviour's  at  Bury  was  founded 
a  portion  of  the  land  of  the  manor  was  appropriated  to  St.  Saviour's  and 
at  the  dissolution  fell  into  secular  hands.  It  appears  however  that  at  or 
shortly  after  the  appropriation  for  the  benefit  of  St.  Saviour's  Abbot  Samp- 
son added  further  land  to  the  Rectory  Manor  so  that  about  172  acres  was 
made  up  thus  :  112  acres  of  the  original  manor,  about  60  of  the  gift  of 
Abbot  Sampson  ;  but  by  the  year  1684  we  find  the  glebe  stated  as  1313. 3r. 
and  under  the  Tithe  Apportionment  Act  as  1293..  2r.  i8p.  as  it  exists  to  this 
day.  A  copy  of  a  survey  made  of  the  manor  of  the  Rectory  in  the  14  Edw. 
I.  [1287]  is  given  by  Sir  Wm.  Parker  in  his  History  of  Long  Melford. 

The  manor  consisted  of  100  acres  of  land,  3^  acres  of  meadow,  8  acres 
of  pasture,  and  half  an  acre  of  wood,  and  the  parson  had  free  right  of  bull 
and  boar,  and  claimed  the  right  of  assize  of  bread  and  ale1  of  his 
homagers  ;  and  these  rights  were  in  the  gift  of  Sampson,  formerly  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund's. 

The  parson  also  held  in  Melford  52  acres  of  arable  land,  which  his 
villeins  held  of  him,  with  their  houses  ;  and  i  rood  of  mowing  meadow, 
six  acres  of  pasture,  and  half  an  acre  of  wood.  He  had  also  7  cottars  who 
held  an  acre  and  a  half  of  land,  with  their  houses,  paying  2  shillings  a  year. 
The  particulars  of  the  tenants  of  the  manor  and  their  various  holdings  are 
given  by  Sir  William  Parker  in  his  history. 

1  Regulating  the  prices  of  bakers  and  alesellers. 


MELFORD   (LONG).  157 

The  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  dating  from  1412  to  1642  were  in  exis- 
tence as  late  as  1669,  but  have  been  lost  or  destroyed  ;  the  earliest  still 
existing  commences  in  1630  and  ends  in  1641.  Extracts,  however,  from 
the  Court  Rolls  in  1670  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in 
the  Brit.  Mus.1  From  a  terrier  delivered  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds  in  1613  the 
parsonage  house  is  thus  described  :  ' '  The  site  of  the  Rectory  containeth  an 
acre  wherein  are  built  one  Manour  house  containing  12  severall  rooms 
smal  and  great  with  an  outhouse  and  the  office  of  the  Dairy  with  5  rooms, 
built  on  the  side  of  ye  yarde  :  one  garden  containeing  one  rood  ;  one 
orchard  planted  containeing  one  rood  ;  al  which  are  inclosed  with  a  moate  ; 
one  close  or  ponde  yarde,  with  a  sluce,  and  a  swann's  tofte,  and  two  fish 
pondes,  and  one  smal  crofte  inclosed  containeing  halfe  an  acre  ;  one  Dove- 
coate  with  a  smal  flighte  of  Doves,  and  one  Pound  belongeing  to  the 
Manour."  The  old  Rectory  manor  house  has  been  pulled  down. 


Add.  Ch.  10552. 


158  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

MlLDEN. 

MILDEN  MANOR   al.    WELLS   HALL   MANOR. 

HIS  manor  in  the  Confessor's  day  belonged  to  his  thane 
Lewin  of  Bacton,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey 
was  held  in  demesne  by  Walter  the  Deacon,  but  had 
formerly  belonged  to  Walter's  brother  Fedric's  fee.  It 
consisted  of  2  carucates  of  land,  and  there  were  6  villeins, 
6  bordars,  4  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and 
3  belonging  to  the  men,  6  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  6 
hogs,  i  mill,  2  horses,  6  beasts,  22  hogs,  40  sheep,  12  goats,  valued  at  4 
pounds.  By  the  time  of  the  Survey  the  value  had  risen  to  6  pounds  but 
two  of  the  ploughteams  belonging  to  the  men  had  disappeared.  There  was 
however  a  slight  increase  in  the  stock — one  more  beast,  10  more  sheep  and 
four  more  goats.  The  holding  was  6  quarentenes  long  and  4  broad,  and  paid 
in  a  gelt  yd.  There  was  also  a  church  living  with  15  acres  of  free  land  ;' 
and  over  10  acres  (held  by  a  freeman  but  alienable)  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds 
had  soc  and  sac.  The  value  was  2  shillings  only.2  There  was  also  a  free- 
man holding  here  under  the  Abbot  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  15 
acres  of  land  and  3  oxen  valued  at  2  shillings.5 

In  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  Sir  Peter  de  Melding  was  seised  of  this  manor, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  William  de  Melding  and  to  him 
succeeded  his  son  and  heir  Peter  de  Melding,  and  to  him  his  son  and  heir 
Peter  de  Melding  who  died  in  1272.  In  the  Hundred  Rolls  the  last  Peter  is 
stated  to  have  held  a  Knight's  fee  here  in  chief  of  the  King  and  to  have  had 
free  warren,  and  that  his  wife  Alice  then  held  the  same  for  life.4  On  the 
death  of  Alice  de  Melding  in  1361  the  manor  passed  to  Remigius  de  Melding 
brother  and  heir  of  the  last  Peter  de  Melding.  On  the  Close  Rolls  for  1274  is 
an  agreement  between  Alice,  described  as  late  wife  of  Peter  de  Meandlingg, 
and  Remigius  de  Meandlingg,  Peter's  brother  whereby  Remigius  grants 
that  what  Alice  holds  of  the  feoff  ment  of  Laurence  de  Meandlingg  shall  remain 
to  Alice  for  life  provided  the  third  of  the  manor  that  Isabella  the  mother  of 
Remigius  held  in  dower  should  remain  to  Remigius  and  also  a  moiety  of  the 
fees  pertaining  to  the  inheritance  saving  to  Alice  for  life  the  other  moiety 
of  those  fees.  Alice  grants  that  after  her  death  the  manor  should  wholly 
revert  to  Remigius  free  of  her  heirs.5  The  manor  did  accordingly  revert  to 
Remigius  de  Melding,  and  he  in  1290  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  against 
William  Milksop  and  Alice  his  wife.6 

In  J335  a  fi°e  was  levied  of  three  parts  of  the  manor  and  advowson  by 
Guy  de  St.  Clare  and  Margaret  his  wife  against  William  Muschet  and  Alice 
his  wife7 ;  and  a  fine  of  the  remaining  4th  by  the  said  Guy  de  St.  Clare 
and  Margaret  his  wife  in  1343  against  Henry  Reymond  and  Margaret  his 
wife.8  The  following  year  a  fine  is  levied  of  the  whole  by  the  said  Guy  and 
Margaret  his  wife  against  Ralph  Swift  and  Roger  parson  of  Bradfield  St. 
Clare  Church.' 

In  the  time  of  Richard  the  Second  the  manor  had  passed  to  Sir  John 
Sutton  (son  of  Sir  John  Sutton,  son  of  William),  for  he  presented  to  the 

1  Dom.  ii.  427.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  18  Edw.  1. 17. 

•  Dom.  ii.  360.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  9  Edw.  III.  2. 

»  Dom.  ii.  427.  *  Feet  of  Fines,  17  Edw.  III.  19. 

•  H.R.  ii.  142,  151.  »  Feet  of  Fines,  18  Edw.  III.  15. 
'  Close  Rolls,  2  Edw.  I.  8.    Schedule  8rf. 


MILDEN.  159 

living  in  1370  and  died  seised  of  both  manor  and  advowson  in  1393, '  when 
the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Richard  Sutton  his  brother  and  heir  then  60  years 
of  age.  Sir  John  left  a  daughter  Margery  who  married  John  Walton  whose 
heir  general  Joan  Walton  married  Sir  John  Howard  ancestor  of  the  Dukes 
of  Norfolk.  A  rental  of  the  manor  during  the  holding  of  Sir  Richard 
Sutton  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls  in  the  Brit.  Mus. 
dated  I398-99."  He  died  about  1409  without  issue,  and  the  manor 
went  to  William  Shelton  who  presented  to  the  living  in  1418  and  died 
in  1-421.  The  next  lord  was  Edward  Wellys  of  London  who  presented  to 
the  living  in  1439.  In  1479  James  Hobart  presented  to  the  living  and  died 
in  1483,  and  Henry  Hobart  seeems  to  have  had  some  interest  in  the  manor, 
but  what  interest  is  not  clear,  for  three  years  previously  Sir  Ralph  Shelton 
appears  to  have  acquired  the  manor.  A  fine  in  1476  was  levied  by  Ralph 
Shelton  against  Erkenwald  Wellys  son  and  heir  of  Alice  Wellys,  not  only 
of  this  manor,  but  also  of  Fenhall  and  Rothyes  Manors  and  appurtenances 
in  Melding,  Illegh  Combusta,  Lavenham,  Preston,  Magna  and  Parva 
Waldingfield,  Edwardeston,  Groton  and  Boxford.3  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  the 
grandson  of  William  Shelton  above  mentioned  died  in  1498  seised,  and  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Shelton,  and  on  his  death  in  1539 
went  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Shelton  the  younger.  Sir  John  Shelton 
died  in  I5584  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Ralph  Shelton  who  sold  it  in 
1558  to  Robert  Thorpe5  who  subsequently  disposed  of  it  to  Richd.  Forsett, 
at  whose  death  it  passed  to  his  widow  Margaret  who  re-married  William 
Massey.  Davy  says  in  1571  Roger  Annys  and  Margaret  his  wife  held  their 
first  Court,  but  in  what  capacity  he  does  not  state,  but  immediately  after- 
wards he  makes  Wm.  Massey  and  Margaret  his  wife  sell  to  Henry  Frorsett 
son  and  heir  of  Richard,  and  in  1588  he  and  William  Massey  and  Margaret 
his  wife  sold  it  to  Wm.  Webbe.6  Four  years  later  William  Webbe  sold  the 
manor  toThomas  Shorland7  and  he  sold  in  1599  to  Paul  D'Ewes.  Amongst  the 
Harleian  MSS.  is  a  conveyance  by  Richard  Symond  of  his  manor  of  Welles- 
hall  alias  Mildinge  to  John  Scott  for  40  days  in  1606.'  Paul  D'Ewes  held  his 
first  Court  for  this  manor  on  the  5th  Dec.  8  Charles  I.,  and  the  Court  Roll 
is  amongst  the  D'Ewes  papers  in  the  Harleian  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum. 9 
An  order  of  Chancery  for  amending  the  Answer  of  Samuel  Coleman  and 
Edward  Coleman  defendants  to  the  Bill  of  Paul  D'Ewes  plaintiff  about 
cutting  down  certain  loads  of  wood  in  Milding  will  be  found  amongst  the 
Harleian  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.10  Also  other  proceedings  in  this  action.  Paul 
D'Ewes  died  in  1630,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Symonds 
D'Ewes"  on  whose  death  the  18  April  1650  the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Willoughby 
D'Ewes.  It  was  subsequently  sold  to  the  Colmans  of  Brent  Illeigh  and 
passed  with  that  estate  to  Edward  Goate."  In  1885  the  manor  was  vested  in 
Edward  Penton  Powney  of  Fyfield  House,  Hants,  who  married  Madelina 
Louisa  2nd  dau.  of  the  Rev.  George  Porcher  of  Oakwood,  Sussex,  and  dying 
in  1890  the  manor  passed  to  his  trustees  and  ultimately  to  his  eldest  sur- 
viving son  Major  Cecil  Du  Pre"  Penton  Powney  of  Brambridge  House, 
Bishopstoke,  co.  Hants,  in  whom  the  manor  is  now  vested.  He  married 
in  1895  Ethel  Mary,  eldest  dau.  of  Col.  Norton  Knatchbull. 

1  I. P.M.,  17  Rich.  II.  51.  '  Harl.  99. 

*  Harl.  Roll  I.  20.  '  Harl.  MSS.  No.  98, 121,  p.  160. 

3  Feet  of  Fines,  16  Edw.  IV.  8.  '"  Harl.  MSS.  No.  99,  19,  p.  20. 

4  See  Brent  Eleigh  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  "  See  Stowlangtoft  Manor  in  Blackbourn 

5  Fine,  Mich.  5  Mary  i.  Hundred. 

•  Fine,  Easter,  30  Eliz.  and  William  Webbe  "  See  Abbot's  Manor  Brent  Eleigh,  in  this 

v.  W.  Forsett.      Fine,  Hil.  31  Eliz.  Hundred. 

7  Fine,  Easter,  34 


160  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Court  Rolls  and  extracts  from  same  will  be  found  for  1464, 1598  and  8 
Car.  I.  amongst  the  Rolls,  Charters,  and  MSS.  of  the  Harleian  Collection  in 
the  British  Mus.1  And  a  compotus  of  the  manor  1482  to  1493  will  be 
found  amongst  the  Rolls  of  the  same  collection.'  A  sale  of  a  rent  charge  on 
the  manor  in  1558  is  in  the  same  collection,1  and  a  precipe  on  a  covenant 
concerning  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  Charters  of 
the  Brit.  Mus.4 

BURES  OR  BOWERS  MANOR. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  i4th  century  this  manor  belonged  to  the  De 
Bures  family  and  Robert  de  Bures  had  free  warren  here  in  1314.'  Five 
years  later  we  find  letters  patent  by  Peter  de  Denardistone  directing  Simon 
de  le  Hey  of  Melding  and  Isabella  de  Calewedon  his  tenants  to  perform 
their  services  for  their  tenements  in  Milden  to  Sir  Robert  de  Bures  and 
Hilary  his  wife  to  whom  he  had  sold  the  premises.6  Sir  Robert  de  Bures 
died  about  1331,'  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Andrew  de 
Bures,  who  died  the  22  April  1360."  Five  years  later  we  find  the  manor 
vested  in  Sir  Grey  de  Sancto  Claro,  knt.,  for  amongst  the  Ancient  Deeds  in 
the  Record  office  is  one  of  the  39  Edw.  III.9  being  a  sale  by  Sir  Grey  de 
Sancto  Claro  to  John  B.  .  .  of  Kersey  of  all  the  timber  and  underwood  of 
ten  acres  of  wood  in  Milding  belonging  to  his,  Sir  Grey's,  Manor  of  Melding10 
in  a  wood  called  "  le  Park."  The  manor  subsequently  passed  to  Thomas 
Spring  of  Lavenham  the  opulent  clothier  who  died  the  28  Sept.  1486,  when  it 
went  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Spring  who  died  the  29  June  1523,"  when 
it  passed  to  Sir  John  Spring  his  son  and  heir,12  who  dying  the  7  Feb.  1548'' 
it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Spring  of  Pakenham.'4  We  meet 
in  1575  with  a  fine  of  Bowers  Manor  levied  by  Robert  Cutler  against  the 
said  William  Spring,15  and  another  two  years  later  of  the  manor  of 
"  Melding  "  against  him  by  John  Mendham.'6  There  is  also  a  fine  levied 
of  Milding  Manor  in  1599  by  Thomas  Feltham  against  John  Clerk  and  others.'7 
The  next  lord  was  apparently  James  Allington  (of  the  Alyngtons  of  Horse- 
heath  in  Cambridgeshire)  who  died  the  7  September  1626,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  nephew  and  heir  Sir  Giles  Allington  son  of  his  elder  brother 
Giles  Allington  and  of  Margaret  his  wife  dau.  of  Sir  John  Spencer  of  Althorp 
in  Northamptonshire,  knt. 

In  Milden  Church  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chancel  is  a  magnificent 
monument  of  marble  to  the  memory  of  James  Allington  erected  by 
his  nephew  and  successor  in  the  lordship.  The  figure  is  large  as  life 
lying  in  a  gown,  the  head  supported  by  books,  and  beneath  is  a  skeleton. 
The  inscription  is  : — 

Nosce  Mori. 

Death  hath  added  to  the  ornament  of  this  Place,  the  blessed 
memorials  of  the  right  vertuous  and  learned  Gentleman,  James  Alington 
of  Mildenge  in  the  Count,  of  Suff.  Esqr.  and  Bacheller ;  second  son 

1  Harl.  Roll  i,  22,  23,  28  ;  58  F.  8.  Harl.        "  I.P.M.,  15  Hen.  VIII.  17. 

MSS.  98,  368.  "  There  is  a  fine  in  1546  levied  of  "  Meld- 

Harl.  Roll  I.  21.  ing  and  Whatfield  Manors  "  between 

Harl.  50  D.  29,  56  I.  33.  John   Spryng   and   Henry  Hobert. 

Add.  Ch.  25396.  (Fine,  Mich.  38  Hen.  VIII.) 

Chart.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  II.  16.  "  I.P.M.,  2  Edw.  VI.  65. 
Ancient  Deeds  in  Record  Office,  12  Edw.        "  See  Cockfield  Hall  Manor  and  Netherhall 

II.,  C.  2175.  Manor,  Little  Waldingfield.  in  this 

I.P.M.,  5  Edw.  III.  55.  Hundred. 

I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  III.  60.  "  Fine,  Hil.  17  Eliz. 

C.  3199.  '*  Fine,  Easter,  19  Eliz. 

"  »'.«.  Bures.  ''  Fine,  Mich.  41,  42  Eliz. 


MILDEN.  161 

of  Robert  Alington  Esqr.  and  his  wife  Margaret  Daughter  of  Sir 
William  Conesby,  Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas ; 
which  Robert  was  sonne  and  Heire  of  that  heroicall  spiritt  ould 
Sr.  Gyles  Alington  of  Horseheath  in  the  Countie  of  Cambridge,  the 
sixth  Knight  of  that  right  worshipful  Familie,  since  their  residing  in  the 
said  Countie  (who  was  High  Sheriffe  of  the  Countys  of  Cambridge  and 
Huntington  the  22  and  27  of  Henrie  the  8  and  the  6  of  Edward  the 
6th)  and  of  Ursula  Daughter  of  Sr.  Robert  Drurie  of  Hawsted  in  the 
County  ot  Suffolk  Knt.  of  the  Privy  Councill  to  King  Henrie  the  7th. 

Thus  this  worthie  Gentleman  enobled  by  the  Blood  of  his  An- 
cesters  but  more  enobled  by  the  Blood  of  Christ,  at  length  changed 
this  life  for  a  better  with  his  Saviour  the  7th  of  September  Anno 
Domini  1626.  In  honour  of  whose  Pietie  towards  God,  service  to  his 
Country,  and  Charitie  to  the  Poore ;  and  for  rescuing  all  these  from  future 
oblivion ;  Sr.  Giles  Alington  of  Horseheath  aforesaid  Knt.  (his 
nephew  and  Heir  to  the  said  James,  by  his  elder  Brother  Giles 
Alington  Esq.  and  of  his  wife  Margaret,  Daughter  of  Sr.  John  Spencer  of 
Altropin  Northamptonshire  Knt.)  in  sacred  memory  of  his  affectionate 
Love  to  his  dear  Uncle,  erected  this  monument  Anno  Domini  1627. 

In  1764  the  manor  is  said  to  have  been  vested  in  John  Canham.  (?) 


MILD«N  HALL. 


i6a  THE    MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 


MONK  ILLEIGH  MANOR. 

RITHNOTH,  Earl  of  Essex,  who  was  killed  by  the  Danes 
at  the  battle  of  Maiden  about  991,  gave  this  manor  with 
the  advowson  to  the  monks  of  St.  Peter  in  Canterbury 
hence  called  Monks  Illeigh.1  The  manor  was  held  with 
5  carucates  of  land  and  soc  and  sac.  In  Saxon  times 
there  were  21  villeins,  13  bordars,  4  slaves,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne,  21  belonging  to  the  men,  12  acres 
of  meadow  and  i  mill.  There  was  also  appurtenant  to  the  manor  a  church 
living  with  22^  acres.  The  value  of  the  manor  was  15  pounds,  but  by  the 
time  of  the  Great  Survey  this  was  increased  to  20.  Though  the  men  and 
implements  had  decreased  the  stock  had  risen.  Thus  there  were  but  13 
villeins  in  place  of  21,  12  bordars  in  place  of  18,  3  slaves  in  place  of  4,  while 
the  ploughteams  of  the  men  were  reduced  from  21  to  13.  The  additional 
stock  consisted  of  2  horses,  19  beasts,  20  hogs,  and  160  sheep.  The  manor 
was  a  league  long  and  5  quarantenes  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  14^.'  The 
Hundred  Rolls  state  that  the  Prior  of  Holy  Trinity  Canterbury  held  pleas 
here  and  claimed  free  warren  for  his  lands.3 

In  1534  Sir  William  Waldegrave  seems  to  have  held,  but  probably  as 
lessee,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  his  holding,  whatever  it  may  have  been,  by 
his  son  William.  At  the  Dissolution  the  manor  was  given  to  the  Dean  and 
Canons  of  Canterbury  Cathedral  and  the  Dean  and  Chapter  are  the  present 
lords.  Richard  Duke  held  later  as  tenant  of  the  Dean  and  Canons  and 
in  1650  when  the  Rev.  Miles  Burkitt  purchased  the  manor  of  Parliament, 
this  Richard  Duke  as  lessee  by  a  verdict  cast  him  out  of  possession.  In 
McKeon's  Inquiry  into  the  birthplace,  parentage,  life  and  writings  of  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Gurnall,4  he  gives  the  advertisement  to  a  re-issue  of  one  of  Gur- 
nall's  sermons  made  public  by  Wm.  Burkitt  and  secondly  the  Rev.  Robert 
Ainslie,  member  of  the  Independent  Congregation  at  Lavenham,  in  which  is 
the  following  relating  to  the  unfortunate  purchase  of  the  manor  made  in 
1650,  taken  from  Calamy  :  "  The  author  saw  a  petition  of  his  (the  purchaser) 
to  King  Charles  soon  after  the  Restoration,  in  which  he  represented  his 
compassionable  case  in  this  manner;  that  having  in  the  year  1650 
unhappily  purchased  the  Manor  of  Monks  Ely,  in  Suffolk,  belonging  to  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  Canterbury,  and  paid  to  Mr.  Richard  Duke  the  imme- 
diate tenant,  £150  for  his  right,  excepting  only  his  lease  and  term  for 
six  years  determining  Sept.  29  1656,  the  said  Mr.  Duke  had  with  the  very 
money  which  he  had  paid  him  purchased  a  new  lease  of  the  Dean  and 
Chapter,  sued  the  petitioner,  and  obtained  a  verdict  to  cast  him  out  of 
possession  without  any  satisfaction, — notwithstanding  that  he  by  purchasing 
and  building,  planting  and  improving  the  premises,  had  expended  about 
£2,500,  and  run  himself  into  debt — whereupon  he  humbly  threw  himself 
and  his  eight  children  at  his  Majesty's  feet,  begging  that  he  might  be 
relieved  either  by  commissioners  appointed  to  inquire  into  particulars,  or 
by  his  Majesty  recommending  his  case  to  the  House  of  Peers.  But  he  could 
get  no  answer  to  his  petition  nor  find  any  way  to  obtain  relief.  He  used 
often  to  say  to  his  friends,  '  Tho'  I  have  lost  a  great  many  scores  of  pounds 
by  my  non-conformity,  yet  blessed  be  God,  I  never  wanted.'  Some  people 

1  Harl.  43  C.  7.  »  H.R.  ii.  143,  153.  195  :  see  I.Q.D.,  15 

•  Dom.  ii.  377.  Edw.  II.  56.     . 

4  Woodbridge,  1830,  8vo. 


MONK    ILLEIGH.  163 

upon  his  being  turned  out  scoffingly  said,  '  Now  we  shall  see  Burkitt  and 
his  family  starve,'  but  he  lived  to  relieve  the  families  of  some  of  those 
very  persons  at  his  own  door."  Particulars  of  the  services  and  customs 
of  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  of  the  British 
Museum.1  In  the  time  of  Hen.  VII.  there  is  an  Inquisition  of  Thomas 
Spring  when  it  was  found  that  a  messuage  called  "  Stakwoodes  "  in  Monk 
Eleigh  was  worth  305.  and  held  of  the  Prior  of  Canterbury  as  of  the  Manor 
of  Monks  Illcgh  by  fealty  and  45.  rent,  and  that  the  same  was  vested 
in  trustees  to  the  use  of  Thomas  Spryng  who  died  the  28  Sept.  2  Hen.  VII. 
[1486],  and  that  Thomas  Spryng  aged  30  was  his  son  and  heir.2>  This  last 
is  no  doubt  the  Thomas  Spring  who  died  the  29  June  1523 .3 

The  manor  seems  to  be  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  John 
Spring  who  died  the  7  Feb.  1547-8  leaving  William  his  son  and  h.  then  aged 
18." 

BOYTON  MANOR  al.  BUYDEN  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  seems  to  have  been  held  in  the  beginning  of  the  i4th 
Century  by  the  Boytons,  and  William  de  Boyton  in  1304  had  free  warren 
here.5  Davy  states  that  Sir  William  Baldrey,  knt.  of  London  was  lord  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  George  Baldrey  who  died  in  1540,  when 
the  manor  passed  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Elizabeth  who  was  married  to 
Robert  Lord  Rich  2nd  Baron.  He  was  the  son  of  Richard  Rich,  Baron 
Rich  and  Lord  Chancellor  of  England  who  amassed  a  large  fortune, 
and  as  Dugdale  says,  "  like  a  discreet  pilot  who  seeing  a  storm  at  hand,  gets 
his  ship  into  harbour,"  retired  from  the  high  office  on  the  approach  of 
danger.  He  endeavoured  while  Sir  Thomas  More  ex-Lord  Chancellor 
was  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower  to  persuade  that  upright  and  honourable  judge 
to  acknowledge  the  King's  supremacy  in  spiritual  affairs,  but  without  effect. 
Lord  Rich's  reputation  has  descended  with  an  indelible  stain  by  reason  of 
the  baseness  of  his  conduct  to  Sir  Thomas  More.  Upon  his  trial  Lord 
Rich  was  a  witness  against  him  as  to  a  pretended  conversation  in  the  Tower. 
Its  truth  may  be  estimated  when  we  consider  the  character  of  Sir  Thomas. 
To  the  evidence  he  thus  made  answer  :  "  If  I  were  a  man,  my  lord,  that  had 
no  regard  to  my  oath,  I  had  no  occasion  to  be  here  a  criminal ;  and  if  this 
oath,  Mr.  Rich,  you  have  taken  be  true,  then  I  pray  I  may  never  see 
God's  face  ;  which  were  it  otherwise  is  an  imprecation  I  would  not  be  guilty 
of  to  gain  the  world."  Sir  Thomas  then  proceeded  to  charge  him  with 
being  "  light  of  tongue,  a  great  gamester,  and  a  person  of  no  good  in  the 
parish  where  they  had  lived  together,  or  in  the  Temple,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated." After  which  he  went  on  to  show  how  unlikely  it  was  that  he  should 
"  impart  the  secrets  of  his  conscience  to  a  man  of  whom  he  always  had  so 
mean  an  opinion." 

Lord  Rich  the  2nd  Baron  was  one  of  the  peers  upon  the  trial  of  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk  in  the  reign  of  Q.  Elizabeth,  and  was  afterwards  employed  by  her 
Majesty  upon  a  diplomatic  mission  to  France  as  well  as  upon  some  affairs  in 
Ireland.  He  had  issue  Richard  who  married  Katherine  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  Sir  Henry  Knevitt,  knt.,  but  died  without  issue  in  his  father's  life- 
time, and  Robert  who  succeeded  his  father  as  3rd  Baron  in  1581. 
Elizabeth  his  widow  survived  her  husband,  and  a  fine  of  the  manor 

'  Add.  6159,  6160.  4  I. P.M.,  2  Edw.  VI.  65. 

*  Inquis.,  2  Hen.  VII.  234.  s  Chart.  Rolls,  32  Edw.  I.  24. 

3  See  Netherhall  Manor,  Little  Walding- 
field,  in  this  Hundred. 


164  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

was  levied  against  her  in  1585  by  Sir  John  Peyton  and  others.1 
In  1 596  we  meet  with  another  fine  of  the  manor  levin  1  by  John  Peyton  and 
others  against  Edwin  Rich.1  In  1598  Robert  Lord  Rich  was  present  at 
the  sacking  of  Cadiz  under  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  was  created  Earl  of  War- 
wick the  6  Aug.  1618  by  King  James  I.  The  Patent  recites  that  "James, 
&c.,the  King,  calling  to  mind  the  memorable,  &c.,and  renowned  deserts  of 
the  worthy  progenitors  of  his  well-beloved  and  faithful  Robert  Lord  Rich, 
and  observing  that  he  treads  the  paths  of  virtue  and  true  nobility,  as  well  as 
of  piety  and  probity;  being  also  steady,  valiant  and  faithful  to  his  King  and 
country,  creates  the  said  Robert  Lord  Rich  Earl  of  Warwick,  to  have  and  to 
hold  to  him  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  ;  and  for  the  l>rtti-r  support  of 
that  honour,  grants  to  him  and  his  heirs  male  £20  yearly,  payable  at  the  Ex- 
chequer." He  married  two  wives,  ist  Penelope  dau.  of  Walter  Dcvereux 
Earl  of  Essex  by  whom  he  had  three  sons — Robert  who  succeeded  him  as 
Earl  of  Warwick,  Henry  created  Earl  of  Holland,  and  Charles  slain  at  the 
Isle  of  Rhee  in  France  in  the  expedition  with  the  Duke  of  Buckingham 
in  1627.  He  also  had  4  daughters.  His  2nd  wife  was  Frances  dau.  of  Sir 
Christopher  Wray,  knt.,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench,  widow 
of  Sir  George  Paul  of  Snartford  co.  Lincoln,  knt.  and  Bart.,  but 
by  her  had  no  issue.  A  precipe  on  a  covenant  concerning  this  manor 
will  be  found  amongst  the  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.3 

A  fine  was  levied  of "  Monks  Eleigh  Manor  "  in  1569  by  William  Humm- 
ynge  against  Robert  Thorpe  and  others.4 


•  Fine,  Easter,  27  Eliz.  '  Add.  Ch.  25498. 

•  Fine,  Trin.  38  Eliz.  4  Fine,  Easter,  II  Eliz. 


NAYLAND.  165 


NAYLAND  MANOR. 

N  the  Confessor's  time  Robert  father  of  Suane  held 
2  carucates  of  land  as  a  manor  with  soc.  There  were  6 
villeins,  20  bordars,  6  slaves,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne, 
4  belonging  to  the  men,  i  mill,  and  10  acres  of  meadow. 
The  value  was  6  pounds  which  by  the  time  of  the  Great 
Survey  had  risen  to  8  pounds.  There  had  been  a  great 
increase  in  prosperity  all  round,  though  the  bordars  were  3  less, 
the  slaves  4  less,  and  there  was  one  ploughteam  less  of  the  men's,  yet  at 
the  Hall  there  were  3  horses,  and  belonging  to  the  manor  31  beasts,  45  hogs,  80 
sheep  and  35  goats.  The  manor  was  half  a  league  in  length,  and  2  quaran- 
tenes  in  breadth  and  paid  in  a  gelt  12^.  Suane  of  Essex  was  the  Domesday 
tenant  in  chief.'  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Henry  de  Essex  who  for- 
feited the  manor  in  1163.  Gervase  speaks  of  the  disgrace  of  Henry  de 
Essex  thus  :  "An.  1157  Rex  Henricus  expeditioncm  paravit  in  Gualias  :— 
Signifer  enim  Regis  Henricus  de  Essessia  nomine,  dum  inter  hostiles  cuneos 
impeteretur,  vexillum  regium  in  terram  dimisit.  Quoviso  Gualenscs  auda- 
ciores,  Angli  vero  timidiores  effecti  sunt,  existimantes  regem  in  praclio 
corruisse.  Ex  hoc  infortunio  Henricus,  cum  esset  nobilissimus  inter 
principes  Angliae,  perpetuum  incurrit  obprobrium  et  exhseredationem."2 
The  duel  between  Robert  de  Montfort  and  Henry  de  Essex  took  place  in 
1163  in  which  year  Diceto  says:  "  Robertus  de  Muntford  cum  Henrico  de 
Essex  certamine  singulari  congrediens  victoriam  reportavit.  Henricus 
antem  notam  infamiae  simul  et  ex  hseredationis  jacturam  incurrens, 
indulgentia  principis  habitum  monachalem  suscepit  aput  Radingum."3 
Henry  III.  granted  the  manor  to  Hubert  de  Burgh  when  he  created  him  Earl 
of  Kent.  Page  rather  implies  that  the  manor  had  to  be  parted  with  by  the 
Earl,  for  he  says  of  him  "  after  falling  into  disgrace  with  that  monarch 
[Henry  III.]  he  was  obliged  to  part  with  several  of  his  castles  and  lands  to 
secure  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  the  residue,"  and  the  Suffolk  historian  then 
skips  to  1339  when  the  Scroops  had  the  manor.  However,  the  inference 
would  not  be  correct,  for  Hubert  de  Burgh  held  this  manor  till  his  death. 
This  Hubert  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  and  influential  nobles  of  his 
time.  Dugdale  says  of  him :  "  The  first  mention  of  this  Hubert  I  find  is 
that  he  was  servant  to  King  Richard  I.,  as  also  to  King  John,  being  sent 
by  the  latter  from  Roan,  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  to  treat  of  a  marriage 
for  him  with  a  daughter  to  the  King  of  Portugall ;  and  had  such  great 
estimation  from  that  King  that  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign,  being  lord 
chamberlain  of  the  household,  he  was  constituted  warden  of  the  Marches 
of  Wales,  and  had  a  hundred  soldiers  to  attend  him  in  those  parts."  He 
was  one  of  the  nobles  who  stood  to  King  John  and  witnessed  the  signing 
of  the  Magna  Charta,  being  at  that  time  made  Justiciar  of  England.  He 
was  one  of  the  guardians  of  Hen.  III.  and  associated  in  the  government 
of  the  Kingdom  during  his  minority  and  was  Regent  of  England  in  1219. 
He  was  High  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1215,  and  1217  to  1225. 

The  incident  to  which  Page  refers  is  narrated  by  Dugdale,  who  states  : 
"  But  before  the  end  of  this  thirteenth  year  [about  Michaelmas]  the  king 
having  a  rendezvous  at  Portesmouth  of  the  greatest  army  that  had  been 
seen  in  this  realm  (it  consisting  of  English,  Irish,  Scotch,  and  Welsh), 

1  Dom.  ii.  4016.  3  Ymag.  Hist.  Col.  535. 

3  Col.  1380. 


166  iTHE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK.' 

designing  therewith  the  recovery  of  what  his  father  had  lost  in  foreign  parts, 
and  expecting  all  things  in  readiness,  with  ships  for  their  transportation ; 
but  finding  not  half  so  many  as  would  suffice  for  that  purpose,  he  wholly 
attributed  the  fault  to  this  Hubert  and  publickly  calling  him  '  Old  Traytor,' 
told  him  that  he  had  taken  five  thousand  marks  as  a  bribe  from  the  Queen 
of  France;  and  thereupon  drawing  out  his  sword  would  have  killed  him, 
had  not  the  Earl  of  Chester,  and  some  others,  prevented  it ;  but 
displaced  him  from  his  office  of  Justice;  whereupon  he  withdrew  till 
the  king  grew  better  pacified,  as  it  seems  he  soon  was.  For  the  next  ensuing 
year,  when  divers  valiant  knights,  coming  to  the  king  out  of  Normandy, 
earnestly  besought  him  to  land  forces  in  that  country,  assuring  him  that 
it  might  be  easily  recovered,  this  Hubert  wholly  disswaded  him  from 
attempting  it,  and  prevailed  with  him  to  make  an  expedition  into  Gascoigne 
and  Poictou,  where  he  succeeded  so  well  that  having  little  opposition  he 
freely  received  the  homages  of  the  inhabitants  of  those  countries."  After 
he  regained  the  royal  favour  he  had  a  grant  in  1232  of  the  office  of  Justiciar 
of  Ireland  and  was  made  governor  of  the  Tower  of  London  the  same  year. 
A  little  later  he  fell  again  into  disgrace,  and  was  sent  with  indignity  to  the 
Tower.  It  seems  that  when  by  reason  of  the  intrigues  of  his  enemies,  en- 
couraged by  one  of  the  meanest  of  sovereigns  ever  seated  on  the  throne  of 
this  kingdom,  De  Burgh  had  to  flee  from  London,  he  received  a  royal 
safe  conduct,  relying  on  which  he  started  to  join  his  wife  at  Bury  St. 
Edmunds,  but  he  had  scarcely  begun  his  journey  when  the  king,  notwith- 
standing his  plighted  word  and  royal  safe  conduct,  sent  Sir  Godfrey  de 
Crancomb  with  300  armed  men  to  seize  him. 

They  surprised  him  in  bed  at  Brentwood,  but  he  contrived  to  escape 
almost  naked  into  the  parish  church,  and  took  refuge  at  the  altar  with  a 
crucifix  in  one  hand  and  the  Host  in  the  other,  hoping  that  the  sanctity 
of  the  spot  would  insure  him  respect  and  safety.  But  his  enraged  pur- 
suers led  by  the  knight  in  command,  regardless  of  the  sacrilege,  burst  into 
the  church,  and  having  dragged  the  Earl  forth,  placed  him  on  horseback 
nearly  naked  as  he  was,  tying  his  feet  under  the  girths,  and  so  conveyed 
him  to  the  Tower  of  London. 

So  soon  as  information  of  this  violation  of  sanctuary  came  to  the  ears 
of  the  Bishop  of  London  he  proceeded  to  the  King  and  boldly  rebuked 
him  for  thus  permitting  so  gross  a  violation  of  "  the  peace  of  holy  church," 
saying  that  if  he  did  not  forthwith  free  De  Burgh  of  his  bonds  and  send  him 
back  to  the  church  from  whence  he  had  been  taken  he  would  pronounce  a 
sentence  of  excommunication  against  all  who  had  any  hand  therein. 

"  Whereupon,"  says  Dugdale,  "  the  King,  being  thus  made  sensible 
of  his  fault,  sent  him  back  to  the  same  chappel  upon  the  5th  calend  of  Octo- 
ber, but  withal  directed  his  precept  to  the  sheriff  of  Essex  and  Hertfordshire, 
upon  pain  of  death,  to  come  himself  in  person,  as  also  to  bring  with  him 
the  '  posse  comitatus,'  and  to  encompass  the  chappel,  to  the  end  he 
should  not  escape  thence,  nor  receive  any  manner  of  food;  which  the 
sheriff  accordingly  did,  making  a  great  ditch,  as  well  about  the  bishop's 
house  as  the  chappel,  resolving  to  stay  there  for  forty  days." 

From  his  unfortunate  position  the  Earl  was  relieved  by  the  influence 
of  his  friend  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin  and  was  conveyed  again  to  the 
Tower,  where  he  was  made  to  disgorge  a  large  amount  of  plate,  silver  and 
jewels,  alleged  to  have  been  wrongfully  obtained,  all  of  which,  of  course, 
passed  into  the  royal  coffers.  He  later  received  a  pardon  without, 
however,  obtaining  his  freedom,  but  after  being  removed  to  Devizes  he 


NAYLAND.  167 

contrived  to  escape.  The  Earl  married  1st  Joane  daughter  of  William  de 
Vernon  Earl  of  Devon  widow  of  William  de  Beever  by  whom  he  had  no 
issue;  andly  Beatrix  daughter  of  William  de  Warren  of  Wormegay  co.  Nor- 
folk, and  widow  of  Dodo  Bardolf;  srdly  Margaret  daughter  of  Robert 
Harsick ;  4thly  Hawise Countess  of  Gloucester  and  Essex ;  and  5thly  Margaret 
daughter  of  William  King  of  Scotland.  It  is  said  he  had  issue  by  the  last 
wife,  but  this  has  been  doubted  on  the  ground  that  issue  by  her  would  have 
been  nearer  to  the  crown  of  Scotland  than  any  of  the  competitors  claiming 
in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  inasmuch  as  the  offspring  of  William  King  of  Scotland 
would  have  had  better  pretention  than  either  Bruce  or  Baliol  who  were  only 
descended  from  the  daughters  of  David  younger  brother  of  the  said 
William.  However  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  Earl  having  issue  by  one  of  his 
wives,  and  the  Manor  of  Nayland  on  the  Earl's  death  in  1243  passed  to  Sir 
John  de  Burgh,  his  eldest  son  who  took  part  with  the  barons  and  fought  at 
the  battles  of  Lewes  and  Evesham  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  He  married 
Hawise  daughter  and  heir  of  William  de  Lauvalay,  and  left  issue  a  son 
John  who  died  6  Edw.  I.  [1278.]  He  or  his  father  had  a  grant  of  free  warren 
in  1260.'  John  the  grandson  of  Hubert  de  Burgh  exchanged  the  manor 
with  the  king  about  the  year  1272. 

The  Hundred  Rolls  state  that  the  manor  was  at  the  time  of  the  com- 
pilation of  that  Record  in  the  King's  hands  by  purchase  from  John  de  Burgh,2 
but  the  real  circumstances  seem  to  be  disclosed  in  an  entry  on  the  Patent 
Rolls  in  1273,  where  we  find  a  covenant  between  the  King  and  John  de 
Burgh  "who  had  granted  the  manor  to  the  King"  that  John  should  have 
£600  a  year  until  he  (the  King)  had  seisin  of  this  manor  and  others,  and 
after  seisin  the  King  should  demise  the  manor  to  the  said  John  for  life.3 

Ministers'  accounts  of  the  lands  in  Nayland  "  late  of  John  de  Burgh," 
in  1275  and  1276,  are  still  preserved  in  the  Record  Office.4  The  manor 
was  certainly  in  the  King's  hands  in  1275,'  and  in  1284  was  granted  by  the 
King  to  Gilbert  Peche  for  life.  It  was  in  1298  assigned  to  Margaret  Queen 
of  England  as  part  of  her  dower.  In  1335  a  commission  of  survey  of  the 
manor  was  issued/  and  the  following  year  the  manor  was  granted  by  the 
Crown  to  Geoffrey  de  Scrope  of  Masham  in  exchange.7  The  manor  was  to 
be  held  of  the  lordship  of  Cawston  in  Norfolk  by  the  service  of  one  rose  a 
year.  Geoffrey  de  Scrope  was  in  1323  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court 
of  King's  Bench  and  again  in  1331,  but  resigned  the  judicial  office  on  going 
abroad  on  the  King's  affairs.  He  was  later  engaged  in  the  wars  of  Flanders 
and  attained  the  rank  of  banneret. 

Sir  Geoffrey  de  Scrope  married  Ivetta  daughter  of  William  Rosse  of 
Igmanthorpe,  and  dying  about  1340  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Henry  de 
Scrope,  who  in  1334  was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  Baron  Scrope.  He 
distinguished  himself  in  the  wars  with  Scotland,  and  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Durham  where  the  Scottish  King  sustained  so  signal  a  defeat. 

In  the  next  reign  he  was  one  of  the  ambassadors  sent  to  treat  with 
Charles  King  of  Navarre  touching  a  league  between  that  prince  and  the 
King  of  England.  He  died  in  1391,"  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir 
Stephen  le  Scrope  2nd  Baron.  He  had  been  knighted  in  the  lifetime  of  his 
father  for  important  services  rendered  to  his  sovereign  and  country  both 

'  Chart.  Rolls,  44  Hen.  III.  4.  «  Pat.  Rolls,  9  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  27^. 

'  H,R.  ii.  140,  150.  7  Chart.  Rolls,  10  Edw.  III.  12,  20 ; 

3  Pat.  Rolls,  2  Edw.  I.  24.  Originalia,  10  Edw.  III.  34. 

4  3  and  4  Edw.  I.,  Bundle  1089,  No.  7.  "  Extent.     I.P.M.,  16  Rich.  II.  28. 

5  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  I.  41. 


168  THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

by  sea  and  land.  He  married  Margery  widow  of  John  son  of  Sir  William 
de  Huntingfield,  knt.,  and  dying  in  1406  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest 
son  Sir  Henry  Scrope  3rd  Baron  summoned  to  Parliament  from  1408  to  1414 
as  Lord  Scrope  of  Masham. 

In  an  Inquisition  quod  damnum  in  1415  it  is  found  that  Sir  Henry 
le  Scrope  held  Nayland  Manor  and  a  water  mill  parrel  thereof.'  He  was  in 
high  favour  with  Hen.  IV.,  and  his  abilities  were  of  so  high  an  order  and  his 
counsel  deemed  so  desirable  in  the  affairs  of  the  realm  that  the  King  assigned 
him  the  towns  of  Hamstede  and  Hendon  in  Middlesex  for  lodging  and  enter- 
tainment for  himself  and  his  servants  and  horses  during  his  stay  in  West- 
minster or  London. 

How  grossly  he  abused  the  confidence  of  King  Henry  V.  when  sent  on 
an  embassy  to  the  French  is  quaintly  told  by  Dugdale. 

"  But  this  great  trust,"  says  Dugdale,  "  he  shamefully  abused  ;  for 
being  a  person  in  whom  the  king  had  so  great  a  confidence  that  nothing 
of  private  or  public  concernment  was  done  without  him  ;  his  gravity  of 
countenance,  modesty  in  his  deportment,  and  religious  discourse  being 
always  such  that  whatsoever  he  advised  was  held  as  an  oracle  ;  upon  this 
his  solemn  embassy  into  France  (which  none  was  thought  so  fit  to  manage 
as  himself)  he  treated  privily  with  the  king's  enemies  (being  in  his  heart 
totally  theirs)  and  conspired  the  king's  destruction,  upon  promise  of  reward 
from  the  French  ;  his  confederates  in  this  design  being  Richard,  Earl  of 
Cambridge  (brother  to  the  Duke  of  York)  and  Sir  Thomas  Grey,  a  northern 
knight.  But  before  this  mischievous  plot  could  be  effected  (which  was  to 
have  killed  the  king  and  all  his  brethren  ere  he  went  to  sea,  five  ships 
being  ready  at  Suthampton  to  waft  the  king  over  into  France),  it  was 
discovered.  Whereupon  he  had  a  speedy  trial  for  it  [before  Thomas,  Duke 
of  Clarence,  and  other  peers],  at  Suthampton,  and  being  found  guilty,  there 
lost  his  head,"  in  August,  1415. 

The  attainted  nobleman  had  married  ist  Philippa  daughter  of  Sir 
Guy  de  Brian  and  2ndly  Joan  Duchess  of  York  sister  and  coheir  of  Edmund 
Holland  Earl  of  Kent,  but  had  no  issue.  The  manor  on  the  attainder  passed 
to  the  Crown,  but  in  1421  was  restored  to  the  traitor's  brother  Sir  John 
Scrope  who  in  1426  was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  Lord  Scrope  of  Masham 
and  Upsal,  and  became  Treasurer  of  the  Exchequer.  He  died  in  1455,' 
and  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Elizabeth.  On  her  death  in  1466  the 
manor  passed  to  Sir  John's  eldest  son  Thomas  le  Scrope  5th  Baron  who  dying 
in  I475,3  it  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Thomas  6th  Baron.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth daughter  and  coheir  of  John  Nevil,  Marquis  of  Montecute,  by  whom  he 
had  an  only  daughter  Alice.  Thomas  the  6th  Baron  died  in  1494,  and  in 
the  Inquisition  of  that  year  we  find  that  the  Manor  of  Nayland  consisted 
of  500  acres  of  land,  200  of  meadow,  500  of  pasture,  200  of  wood  worth 
3O/.,  and  that  it  was  held  of  Edmund  Earl  of  Suffolk  by  Sir  Thomas 
Scrope  Lord  Masham  who  was  seised  in  fee,  and  that  Alice  Scrope,  aged  12, 
his  daughter  was  heir.4 

Alice  married  Henry  Lord  Scrope  of  Bolton  and  had  a  daughter 
Elizabeth  married  to  Sir  Gilbert  Talbot,  knt.  Alice  Lady  Scrope  died  in 
1501,  and  Elizabeth  in  1516,  when  the  manor  was  retained  by  her  husband 
Sir  Gilbert  during  his  life.  He  died  the  19  September  1517  when  it  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  Gilbert  Talbot.5  After  this  the  manor  went  as  did  the  Scrope 

•  I.Q.D.,  3  Hen.  V.  2.  '  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VII.  948. 

•  Extent.     I.P.M.,  34  Hen.  VI.  14.  '  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  17. 
>  Extent.     I.P.M.   1    Edw.  IV.    1. 


n..\iL-iii.     i.r.m.,  ,54  am.  vi.  14. 
Extent.     I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  IV.  41. 


NAYLAND.  169 

estates  on  the  death  of  Geoff ery  le  Scrope  gth  Baron  without  issue  to  Elizabeth 
Talbot's  great  aunt  Mary  married  to  Sir  Christopher  Danby,  knt.,  and  we 
find  an  action  in  the  Star  Chamber,  in  the  time  of  Philip  and  Mary,  as  to 
seizure  of  wood  &c.  in  the  manor  by  Sir  Christopher  Danby  against  John 
Payne  and  others,"  and  amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of 
Queen  Elizabeth  are  actions  respecting  the  manor  by  John  Freston  against  this 
same  Sir  Christopher  Danby  and  another.2  The  manor  then  passed  to  Sir 
Jerome  Weston,  knt.  of  Roxwell  in  Essex,  who  died  in  1603,  when  it  passed 
to  his  son  Sir  Richard  Weston,  knt.,  who  having  been  employed  in  various 
embassies  and  discharged  several  offices  of  trust  and  importance  in  the 
reigns  of  James  I.  and  Chas.  I.,  in  particular  in  the  reign  of  the  former  as 
ambassador  to  Bohemia  and  later  to  Brussels  to  treat  with  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Emperor  and  King  of  Spain  regarding  the  restitution  of  the 
palatine,  was  advanced  to  the  peerage  in  1628  as  Baron  Weston  of  Nayland. 
The  previous  year  he  had  had  a  grant  of  a  market  for  Nayland.3 

He  died  in  1634,  but  the  manor  does  not  seem  to  have  continued  in  the 
family,  for  the  very  next  year  1635  we  find  that  the  reversion  of  the  manor 
was  granted  to  Sir  George  Hastings  and  others.4  It  is  quite  probable, 
however,  the  grant  may  have  been  but  by  way  of  settlement.  We  do  not 
find  any  further  particulars  of  the  manor  until  1814,  when  we  meet  as  lord 
with  Sir  Wm.  Rowley  2nd  Bart,  son  of  Sir  Joshua  Rowley  (created  a  Baronet 
10  June  1786)  by  Sarah  his  wife  dau.  and  heir  of  Bartholomew  Burton. 
He  married  in  1785  Susannah  Edith  daughter  of  Admiral  Sir  Robert  Harland, 
Bart.,  and  on  his  death  the  2Oth  Oct.,  1832,  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest 
surviving  son  Sir  Joshua  Ricketts  Rowley  3rd  Baronet  vice-admiral  R.N., 
who  married  in  1824  Charlotte  only  daughter  of  John  Moseley  of  Great 
Glemham  House,  but  had  no  issue,  and  dying  the  18  March  1857  the  manor 
passsed  to  his  brother  Sir  Charles  Robert  Rowley  4th  Baronet  who  married 
in  1830  the  Hon.  Maria  Louisa  Vanneck  only  daughter  of  Joshua  2nd  Lord 
Huntingfield,  and  dying  in  1888  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  surviving  son 
Sir  Joshua  Thelluson  Rowley  5th  Bart,  of  Tendring  Hall,  the  present  lord, 
who  in  Oct.  1888  married  the  Hon.  Louisa  Helene  Brownlow  3rd  dau.  of 
Charles  2nd  Baron  Lurgan  formerly  Maid  of  Honour  to  the  Queen. 

Extracts  from  the  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  as  to  rights  of  the  Prior 
and  Monks  of  Horkesley  from  44  Hen.  III.  to  9  Edw.  II.  will  be  found  in 
the  Bodleian.5 


1  Public  Record  Office.    Bundle  r,  60.  "  Chancery,  D.K.R.  48.     App.  p.  535. 

'  C.P.,  ser.  ii.  B.  Ixii.  3.  5  Bodl.  Essex  Rolls  17. 

3  Originalia,  22  Jac.  I.  3  Pars  Rot.  4. 


THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 


NEWTON. 

N  the  time  of  the  Confessor  a  manor  was  held  here  by  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  and  in  Norman  days  it  was  held 
by  Aelons  of  the  Abbot.  There  were  2  carucates  of  land, 

2  ploughteams  in  demesne,  ij  belonging  to  the  men,  2  slaves, 

3  beasts,  40  hogs,  97  sheep,  3  villeins,  4  bordars,  14  goats,  16 
hives  of  bees,  wood  for  8  hogs   and   2    acres  of  meadow. 
The  value  was  2  pounds  in  Saxon  days,  but  by  the  time  of 

the  Great  Survey,  it  had  risen  to  2j  pounds.  The  particulars  of  the  manor 
had  somewhat  altered  ;  both  the  slaves  and  the  goats  had  disappeared,  the 
hogs  had  come  down  to  29  and  the  hives  of  bees  to  9  while  there  was  wood 
sufficient  for  6  hogs  only.  The  beasts  however  had  risen  to  7,  the  sheep  to 
102  and  the  bordars  to  10.  The  manor  was  6  quarantenes  in  length  and  3 
in  breadth  and  paid  in  a  gelt  4^.  less  i  farthing.' 

NEWTON  HALL  MANOR. 

This  was  given  by  Theodred  Bishop  of  London  to  St.  Edmunds, 
and  belonged  to  the  Abbot,  as  we  have  seen  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey  when  Aelons  held  it  of  him.  In  1285  it  was  held  by  John  de  Moese 
and  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John.  On  his  death  in  1308  a  third  part 
went  to  his  widow  Ada  in  dower  and  she  remarried  William  de  Pappworth. 
On  Ada's  death  the  whole  passed  to  her  first  husband's  brother  and  heir 
Thomas  de  Moese  at  whose  death  it  went  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Margaret. 
In  1316  the  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  William  de  Botevilleyn  or  Butvillein 
who  was  married  to  Lady  Julian  and  on  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  Thomas.  A  William  de  Blunvill  had  had  a  grant  of  free  warren 
in  Newton  as  early  as  1267.* 

In  1345  Thomas  sold  the  manor  and  advowson  by  fine  to  William  de 
Bohun  Earl  of  Northampton  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  This  William  de 
Bohun  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  Cressy  and  was  a  distinguished  person  in 
the  stormy  times  in  which  he  lived.  He  was  created  Earl  of  Northamp- 
ton the  17  March  1337  upon  the  advancement  of  the  Black  Prince  to  the 
Dukedom  of  Cornwall.  The  Earl  was  installed  a  Knight  of  the  Garter 
and  held  several  important  offices  in  the  State.  His  wife  Elizabeth  was  a 
daughter  of  Bartholomew  de  Badlesmere  one  of  the  coheirs  of  her  brother 
Giles  and  widow  of  Edmund  de  Mortimer.  In  1354  a  fine  was  levied  of  the 
manor  and  advowson  by  Peter  Fanelore  against  this  William  de  Bohun  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  the  same  being  then  held  apparently  by  William  de 
Clopton  for  life,3  and  in  1359  an(i  X3^2  two  other  fines  were  levied,  the  first 
of  the  manor  and  advowson  and  the  second  of  the  manor  alone  by  Adam 
Fraunceys,  Thomas  de  Langeton  chaplain  and  Gregory  Fanelore  against 
Peter  Fanelore,4  and  by  Gregory  Fanelore  against  John  Osckyn,  John  Barton 
and  Thomas  de  Langham  chaplain,5  and  the  manor  and  advowson  became 
vested  in  Adam  Fraunceys  afterwards  Sir  Adam.  From  Sir  Adam  the 
manor  seems  to  have  passed  to  Peter  Fanelore,  for  he  certainly  held  in 
J373»  as  amongst  the  Ancient  Deeds  in  the  Record  Office  is  a  Bond  of  this 
P,eter  Faneloure  to  Sir  John  Milys  on  account  of  a  loan  with  note  endorsed 
for  voidance  on  Peter  securing  to  Sir  John  lands  in  Newton,  a  rent  in  his 

1  Dora.  ii.  360.  «  Feet  of  Fines,  33  Edw.  III.  8. 

'  Chart.  Rolls,  51  Hen.  III.  4.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  36  Edw.  III.  21. 

J  Feet  of  Fines,  28  Edw.  III.  27. 


NEWTON. 


171 


manor  there  and  the  advowson  of  Newton  Church  bought  by  him  from 
Peter.1  And  in  the  same  depository  is  a  deed  actually  effecting  a  transfer 
by  Peter  Fanelore  to  Sir  John  Milys  therein  described  as  of  Clissley,  parson 
of  Bradewell,  of  lands  and  rents  in  the  Manor  of  Newton  with  the  advowson 
of  Newton  Church.2 

A  Parliamentary  Petition  relating  to  the  manor  by  Peter  Fanelore 
is  referred  to  in  the  34th  Report  of  the  Deputy  Keeper.3  Whether 
Peter  was  son  or  brother  of  Sir  Adam  Fraunceys  does  not  appear  to  be  clear, 
but  on  the  death  of  Peter  the  manor  appears  to  have  passed  to  Sir  Adam's 
daughter  Maud  who  married  ist  John  Aubrey,  2nd  Sir  Alan  Buxhull,  knt. 
K.G.,  and  srdly  Sir  John  Montacute  Earl  of  Salisbury.  By  her  2nd  husband 
Sir  Alan  Buxhull,  knt.  Maud  Fraunceys  would  seem  to  have  had  a  son  also 
called  Sir  Alan  Buxhull  for  we  find  a  settlement  of  this  manor  made  by 
him  as  late  as  1436.  The  father  Sir  Alan  Buxhull  must  have  died  before 

1383- . 

Sir  John  de  Montague  the  3rd  husband  of  Maud  was,  as  Dugdale  says, 
"  a  great  favourite  of  the  King ;  he  was  one  of  those  whom  that  monarch 
[Rich.  II.]  suborned  to  impeach  Thomas  of  Woodstock  Duke  of  Gloucester 
as  also  the  Earls  of  Warwick  and  Arundel  in  the  ensuing  Parliament." 
He  was  appointed  Marshal  of  England  in  the  absence  of  Thomas  Holland 
Duke  of  Surrey  at  the  time  employed  in  Ireland.  "  It  is  reported  of  this 
Earl,"  says  Dugdale,  "  that  though  upon  the  deposal  of  King  Rich.  II. 
(to  whom  he  had  been  most  obsequious)  he  had  such  fair  respect  from  King 
Henry  IV.  that  his  life  was  not  brought  in  question  ;  nevertheless  he  con- 
federated with  the  Earls  of  Huntingdon  and  Kent  in  designing  his  destruction, 
and  accordingly  came  with  them  to  Windsor  Castle,  under  the  disguise 
of  Christian  players  with  purpose  to  murder  him  and  his  sons,  and  to 
restore  King  Richard.  But  finding  that  their  plot  was  discovered  they 
fled  by  night  to  Cirencester  in  the  county  of  Gloucester.  Whereupon  the 
townsmen,  being  much  affrighted  at  their  coming  thither  with  such  numbers 
at  such  unseasonable  time,  stopping  up  all  the  avenues,  to  prevent  their 
passage  out,  there  grew  a  sharp  fight  betwixt  them,  which  held  from  mid- 
night until  three  of  the  clock  next  morning,  so  that  being  tired  out,  they 
yielded  themselves  desiring  that  they  might  not  suffer  death  till  they  could 
speak  with  the  King,  which  was  granted ;  but  that  a  priest  of  their  party 
setting  fire  to  the  town  to  give  them  an  opportunity  for  escape  so  irritated 
the  inhabitants  that  (neglecting  to  quench  the  fire)  they  brought  them  out 
of  the  abbey  in  great  fury  and  beheaded  them  about  break  of  the  day." 
The  Earl  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  of  the  sect  called  "  Lollards,"  and  on 
his  death  the  5  Jan.  1400*  he  was  attainted  and  his  estates  forfeited.3 

It  is  true  that  the  King  restored  some  portion  of  the  forfeited  estates  to 
his  widow  and  children,  and  his  son  Thomas  de  Montague  was  subsequently 
restored  and  regained  the  title.  The  manor  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
forfeited,  possibly  because  the  inheritance  of  the  Earl's  wife,  for  we  find 
that  in  1425  Maud,  the  Earl's  widow,  was  still  in  possession,  and  in  that 
year  died  seised  both  of  the  manor  and  the  advowson.6  On  her  death  the 
manor  passed  to  Sir  Alan  Buxhull  her  son  by  her  second  husband,  and 
therefore  her  heir.  Davy  makes  Thomas  the  next  Earl  of  Salisbury  the 
party  to  whom  the  manor  passed,  but  this  was  evidently  a  guess,  as  he  found 
subsequently  the  manor  in  the  possession  of  Richard  Nevill  Earl  of  Warwick 

1  Ancient  Deeds,  47  Edw.  III.  A.  3829.  4  I. P.M.,  i  Hen.  IV.  ir. 

'  Ancient  Deeds,  47  Edw.  III.  A.  3929.  5  I.Q.D.,  I  Hen.  IV.  33. 

3  No.  3352,  App.  p.  58.  6  I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  VI.  31. 


172  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

the  husband  of  this  Thomas's  only  daughter  and  heir.  But  a  deed  still 
preserved  amongst  the  Ancient  Deeds  in  the  Public  Record  Office  shows  the 
guess  to  be  a  delusion  and  discloses  how  the  manor  did  actually  devolve. 
It  seems  that  by  a  deed  practically  amounting  to  a  settlement  dated  the  loth 
March  14  Hen.  VI.  John  VVolston  and  Richard  Phylip  who  had  had  a  grant 
from  Sir  Alan  Buxhull  demised  to  this  Sir  Alan  both  the  manors  of  Newton 
Hall  and  of  Wyke  and  the  advowson  of  Newton  Church  to  hold  to  the  said 
Alan  and  his  heirs  with  remainders  to  Richard  Nevill  Earl  of  Salisbury  and 
Alice  his  wife  and  her  issue,  Elizabeth  wife  of  Robert  Lord  of  Wyllughby, 
Anne  wife  of  Lewis  John  and  late  the  wife  of  Sir  Richard  Hankeford,  knt., 
and  the  heirs  of  the  said  Elizabeth  and  Anne.1  It  will  be  seen  that  these 
were  Sir  Alan  Buxhull's  connections  by  the  marriage  of  his  mother,  for 
Alice  was  the  only  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Montague  last  of  the  name, 
Earl  of  Salisbury  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  John  de  Montague  Earl  of  Salisbury 
who  had  married  Sir  Alan  Buxhull's  mother,  and  Elizabeth  and  Anne  were  the 
sisters  of  Thomas.  Sir  Alan  Buxhull  no  doubt  died  without  issue,  and  the  manor 
passed  according  to  the  entail  to  Richard  Nevill  2nd  son  of  Ralph  ist  Earl  of 
Westmoreland,  and  Alice  his  wife.  Alice  was,  as  we  have  said,  the  only 
daughter  of  Thomas  Montague  the  Earl  of  Salisbury  whom  Davy  supposes 
to  have  been  seised  of  the  manor.  We  can  hardly  pass  by  this  celebrated 
man  without  a  word.  Polydore  Vergil  describes  him  as  "  a  man  for  hawtines 
of  courage  and  valiancie  rather  to  be  compared  with  the  auncient  Romanes 
than  with  men  of  that  age,"  and  in  his  account  of  the  reign  of  Hen.  VI. 
says  of  him :  "  He  might  have  ordeyned  and  done  many  thinges  after  his 
oun  fantastic,  for  he  was  a  man  alwaye  of  most  ready  witt  and  mature 
judgement,  valiant  to  enterprise  great  matters  and  in  greatest  daunger 
frollike  ;  neyther  body  nor  minde  would  ever  yield  to  painfulnes  nor 
travaile,  by  reason  whereof  there  was  none  in  whom  the  men  of  warre  had 
more  confidence,  nor  under  whom  they  durst  so  well  attempt  any  daungerous 
exployte."  He  served  in  the  wars  abroad  under  the  Duke  of  Bedford, 
and  was  the  general  sent  by  him  to  recover  Melun  and  was  ultimately 
slain  at  the  siege  of  Orleans  in  1429.  Polydore  Vergil  gives  the  following 
quaint  account  of  the  unfortunate  accident  which  caused  the  death  of  this 
great  captain  :  "  The  siege  of  Orleance  continued  the  more  part  of  winter, 
with  great  perill,  many  woundes,  and  much  slaughter  ;  for  the  Englishmen, 
in  cruell  assaultes,  did  everywhere  eyther  kill  or  wounde  many  of  their 
enemies.  Againe,  the  towne  valiantly  defending,  requited  them  the  like  ; 
when,  as  in  the  meane  space,  the  chaunce  was  that  the  Earle  of  Salisbury, 
loth  to  tarry  longer,  and  desirous  to  winne  the  towne,  one  day  early  before 
sonnrise,  began  to  viewe  the  same  againe  more  earnestly  then  he  was  wont, 
out  at  a  certaine  windowe  of  buildings  which  he  had  in  an  high  place,  to 
theintent  he  might  espye  where  to  give  commodiously  a  newe  assault; 
which  he  thought  mightily  to  assay  as  one  inflamed  with  desire  eyther  to 
winne  the  towne  by  force,  or  to  cause  it  yeelde.  While  that  he  was  busied 
in  this  order,  and  by  the  space  of  60  days  did  vehemently  annoy  the  citizens, 
behold  even  sodenly  eyther  an  yron  or  stone  pellett  shott  out  of  a  brasen 
peece  with  great  force  right  against  the  place  where  he  stoode,  did  strike 
and  breake  thone  side  of  the  windowe,  and  drove  certaine  shilvers  thereof  into 
his  face,  wherewithall  he  was  so  wounded  as  that  he  dyed  thereof  two  dayes 
after.  He  lefte  one  Alis,  his  onely  daughter,  very  like  him  in  conditions, 
vertue,  and  honor,  whom,  as  we  shall  hereafter  shewe,  one  Richard  Nevill 
took  to  wife.  But  howe  great  losse  the  common  wealth  sustained  through 

1  Ancient  Deeds,  14  Hen.  VI.  B.  2786. 


NEWTON.  173 

his  untimely  death  appered  evidently  incontinent.  Truely  from  that  day 
forth  the  English  forrain  affaires  beganne  to  quaile  ;  which  infirmitie 
though  the  English  nation,  as  a  most  sounde  and  strong  body,  did  not 
feele  at  the  first,  yet  afterward  they  suffered  it  as  a  pestilence  and  sicknes 
inwardly,  by  litle  and  litle  decaying  the  strength ;  for  immediatly  after 
his  death  the  fortune  of  warre  altered,  as  hereafter  shalbe  declared  in 
place  convenient  ;  wherefore  the  death  of  the  earle  was  much  lamented  of  all 
the  captaines  in  generall,  who,  neverthelesse,  after  that  they  had  performed 
all  thinges  for  his  buriall,  mainteined  the  siege  and  sought  to  atchieve  that 
which  the  Earle  of  Salesbury  had  in  mind  determined,  which  was,  by  what 
meane  they  might  eyther  take  the  towne  by  force,  or,  at  the  least,  compell 
the  citizens  to  yeelde."  The  Earldom  of  Salisbury  was  revived  in  favour 
of  Richard  Nevill  the  husband  of  the  only  daughter  of  the  last  Earl.  He 
engaged  in  the  Wars  of  the  Roses  serving  the  Duke  of  York,  and  was  present 
at  the  battle  of  St.  Albans.  He  defeated  Lord  Audley  at  Blore  Heath  in 
1456  and  again  fought  at  Northampton  in  1460,  when  he  was  appointed 
Lord  Great  Chamberlain  of  England.  At  the  battle  of  Wakefield,  however, 
he  sustained  defeat,  and  his  2nd  son  Thomas  fell  with  the  Duke  of  York. 
The  Earl  himself  was  made  prisoner  when  his  head  was  immediately  cut 
off  and  placed  on  a  pole  over  one  of  the  gates  of  the  city  of  York,  "  for,"  as 
Polydore  Vergil  says,  "  a  spectacle  to  the  people,  and  a  terror  to  the  rest 
of  the  adversaryes."  This  unfortunate  event  happened  3ist  Dec.  1460 
and  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  and  heir  Richard  Nevill  surnamed 
the  Stout,  Earl  of  Warwick,  who  thereupon  became  2nd  Earl  of  Salisbury. 
This  nobleman  is  known  to  history  as  the  King  Maker.  He  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Yorkists  and  commanded  the  van  at  the  Battle  of  Northamp- 
ton and  though  sharing  in  the  reverses  of  his  party  later  he  out-generalled 
the  Lancastrians  and  reaching  London  before  his  adversaries  proclaimed 
the  young  Earl  of  March  as  Edw.  IV.  and  established  him  on  the  throne  by 
his  great  victory  of  Towton  Field.  He  received  for  his  services  the  offices 
of  Lord  Great  Chamberlain  and  Lord  High  Steward,  and  not  unnaturally 
obtained  large  grants  from  the  Crown.  So  enormous  indeed  were  his  ac- 
quisitions that  it  is  said  his  revenue  amounted  independently  of  his  own 
family  property  to  four  score  thousand  crowns  a  year.  It  is  well  known 
how  later  he  re-established  Hen.  VI.  on  the  throne,  and  finally  fell  at  the 
Battle  of  Barnet  in  1471.  His  hospitality  was  so  great  that  it  is  said  that 
in  his  London  house  6  oxen  were  usually  eaten  at  breakfast  and  every  tavern 
full  of  his  meat, "  for  who  that  had  any  acquaintance  in  his  family  should 
have  as  much  sodden  and  roast  as  he  might  carry  upon  a  longer  dagger." 

He  married  Lady  Anne  Beauchamp  daughter  of  Richard  5th  Earl  of 
Warwick  and  left  2  daughters,  but  the  manor  with  the  other  possessions 
of  the  great  Earl  were  forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

The  Crown  in  1484  granted  the  manor  to  Queen's  College  Cambridge 
in  perpetual  frank  almoign,'  but  Hen.  VII.  resumed  the  grant  and  the  manor 
was  again  vested  in  the  Crown.  In  1538  however  we  find  amongst  the 
Bodleian  Charters  a  lease  for  21  years  by  Margaret  Pole  mother  of  Cardinal 
Pole,  and  the  Countess  of  Salisbury  to  William  Alston  of  Newton  of  this 
manor,  there  called  "  Newton  Manor  al.  Newton  Hall."2  Probably  the  lease 
only  related  to  lands  held  of  the  manor  or  the  lease  was  an  attempt  by  the 

1  D.K.R.    9.    App.   ii.   p.    96.     Grant   to         *  30  Hen.  VIII.,  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  358. 
Royal  College  of  St.  Margaret  and 
St.  Bernard,  Cambridge.   Pat.  Rolls, 
2  Rich.  III.  pt.  i.  12. 


i?4  THE    MANORS   OF    SUFFOLK. 

countess  to  exercise  a  right  of  ownership.  There  is,  however,  amongst  the 
Chancery  Proceedings  of  Q.  Elizabeth  in  1598  a  claim  made  under  a  lease 
brought  by  Henry  Wynterfludd  against  William  Alston  sen.  and  jun.  to 
messuages  in  Newton  holden  of  Thomas  Barrowe  as  of  his  manor  of  Newton 
Hall  in  Newton  by  William  Houge  who  granted  the  lease  in  question.1 
At  all  events  it  is  certain  that  in  1543  the  manor  was  granted  by  Hen. 
VIII.  to  Thomas  Barrow,  son  of  Thomas  Barrow,  son  of  Richard  Barrow, 
of  Wynthorp  co.  Lincoln,  and  the  particulars  for  the  grant  will  be  found  in 
the  Record  Office,'  and  the  grant  itself  is  entered  on  the  Originalia  Rolls 
of  the  same  year.'  Thomas  Barrow  who  was  of  Shipdenham  co.  Norfolk 
was  the  son  of  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  son  of  Richard 
Barrow  of  Winthorp  co.  Lincoln,  married  Mary  daughter  and  coheir  of 
Henry  Bures  of  Acton,  and  had  by  her  Thomas,  William,  and  Henry  (who 
was  executed  in  London  with  Rookwood),  and  amongst  other  children  a 
daughter  Anne  married  1st  to  Sir  Rafe  Shelton  and  2ndly  to  Sir  Charles 
Cornwallis.  Thomas  Barrow  the  grantee  died  in  1590.  Thomas  his  eldest 
son  having  died  he  was  succeeded  by  his  (Thomas's)  son  William  Barrow 
who  lived  at  Westhorp  and  married  ist  Frances  daughter  of  Sir  Robert 
Wingfield  of  Letheringham  but  had  by  her  no  issue.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Thomas  Daundy  of  Cretingham,  and 
had  by  her  with  three  other  children  a  son  Maurice. 

William  Barrow  died  the  24  Dec.,  1613,  and  was  buried  at  Bury,4 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Elizabeth  and  on  her  death  in  1634 
to  their  son  Maurice  Barrow.3  He  died  in  1666  at  the  age  of  69,  and  by 
his  will  dated  i665-86  he  desired  to  be  buried  at  Westhorpe  and  left  £500 
for  the  erection  of  his  tomb.  He  devised  the  manor  to  his  cousin  Maurice 
Shelton  the  elder.  Maurice  Shelton  was  of  an  ancient  family  connected 
with  both  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  who  was  Sheriff  for 
Norfolk  in  1570  married  for  his  second  wife  a  sister  of  William  Barrow  as 
above  mentioned,  and  from  this  marriage  Maurice  Shelton  was  the  second 
in  descent.  On  Maurice  Shelton's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Maurice  Shelton  of  Barrington  who  married  Martha  dau.  of  Robert  Appleton 
of  Great  Waldingfield  and  died  the  7  Oct.  1680  leaving  a  sole  daur.  and  heir 
Martha  married  to  Lisle  Hacket  of  Monksworth  Hall  co.  Warwick,  but  the 
manor  passed  to  Maurice's  brother  Henry  Shelton  who  married  Hester 
only  daughter  of  Sir  John  Churchman  of  Illington  co.  Norfolk  and  dying  in 
1690'  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Maurice  Shelton.  He  married 
twice,  first  Arabella  daughter  of  Sir  John  Duke  of  Benhall  and  secondly 
Margaret  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Randall  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  and 
died  without  male  issue  in  1749." 

The  manor  now  belongs  to  Earl  Howe. 

Arms  of  Barrow  :  Sable,  2  swords  in  Saltire,  the  points  upwards  argent, 
hilted  and  pomelled  or.  betw.  4  fleur-de-lis  of  the  last — of  Fraunceys  : 
Gul.  a  chevron  erm.  between  three  doves  volant  proper. 

SAYHAM  al.  Si  AM  OR  SAXHAM  HALL  MANOR. 
This  manor  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  time  by  Hathrad  under 

1  C.P.  iii.  244.  *  For   will    see    Raydon    Hall    Manor   in 

*  35  Hen.  VIII.  D.K.R.,  App.  ii.  p.  164.  Samford  Hundred. 

»  O.,  35  Hen.  VIII.  4  Pars  Rot.  8.  '  His  will  is  dated  the  23  Apl.  1688  trans- 

4  His  will  is  dated  23  Dec.  1613.  ferred  to  the  principal  Registry  16 

*  As  to  Maurice  Barrow  and  the  Shelton  Dec.  1690. 

family  see  Barningham   Manor   in         *  His  will  is  dated  1746  and  was  proved 
Blackbourn  Hundred.  at  Sudbury. 


NEWTON. 

Harold  with  soc  and  sac  and  2  carucates  of  land.  There  were  3  villeir 
7  bordars,  4  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  2  belonging  to  the  men^N 
wood  for  6  hogs,  4  acres  of  meadow  and  a  church  living  with  30  acres  of 
free  land,  also  i  horse,  3  beasts,  17  hogs,  60  sheep,  17  goats  and  half  right  of 
advowson  to  a  church  living  with  8  acres  of  free  land.  By  the  time  of  the 
Domesday  Survey  the  bordars  had  risen  to  20  and  the  beasts  to  8,  the  hogs 
to  20,  the  sheep  to  103,  the  goats  to  35  and  there  was  an  additional  half 
ploughteam  belonging  to  the  men  ;  but  the  slaves  had  come  down  to  one 
and  there  was  no  horse.  A  freeman  also  half  under  Huthrad  and  half  under 
the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  by  commendation  but  wholly  as  to  soc  of  the 
Abbot  had  20  acres  which  he  could  sell  without  the  necessity  for  any 
licence.  The  whole  was  then  valued  at  60  shillings  but  had  been  in  Saxon 
times  valued  at  40.  It  was  half  a  league  long  and  4  quarantenes  broad  and 
paid  in  a  gelt  6£<f .' 

The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was  Ralph  de  Limesi2  a  relation  of  Robert 
de  Limesi  Bishop  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry  and,  according  to  Kelham, 
a  nephew  of  the  Conqueror,  though  Dugdale  makes  no  mention  of  such  a 
relationship.  This  was  one  of  the  forty-one  manors  in  England  bestowed 
upon  him  by  King  William  besides  the  lands  of  his  wife  Christina  one  of 
the  sisters  of  Prince  Edgar  Atheling  grandson  of  Edmund  Ironside  brother  to 
Edward  the  Confessor.  Ralph  de  Limesi  founded  at  Hertford  a  priory  of  Bene- 
dictine monks  subordinate  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Albans  in  the  time  of  Abbot 
Paul  and  died  in  1093.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Ralph  who  married 
Halewise  and  the  manor  passed  on  his  death  to  his  son  Alan  and  then  to 
Alan's  son  Gerard  de  Limesi  who  married  Amy  daughter  of  Trian  de  Horne- 
lade  of  Bidun- Limesi  and  to  their  son  John  de  Limesi  who  married  Alice 
daughter  of  Robert  de  Harcourt.  John  de  Lemesi  died  in  1198  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Hugh  de  Limesi  who  died  in  1223  without  issue.  In 
1346  we  find  Sir  Robert  de  Royton  lord  and  he  died  in  1361  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  Sir  John  de  Royton  who  was  living  10  Hen.  VI.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  John  de  Royton  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  another 
Sir  John  Royton  who  died  in  1416  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Thomas  de  Royton  who  died  in  1484  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  grandson 
Sir  Robert  de  Royton,  who  died  in  1518.  On  his  death  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Sir  Robert  de  Reyton.  The  next  lord  we  meet  with  is  one 
Alnott  about  1550,  but  soon  after  the  manor  passed  to  Edward  Alston. 

This  family  seems  originally  to  have  come  from  Essex.  As  early  as 
the  time  of  Edw.  I.  we  find  a  William  Alston,  of  Stisted,  in  this  county,  for 
want  of  warranty  of  Brockscroft  in  Stisted  granted  and  conferred  to  John 
de  Carpenter  of  Naylinghurst  in  Braintree,  so  much  of  the  better  land  in 
Stisted  except  his  mansion  house  there.  John  Alston  of  Newton,  descended 
from  the  above-mentioned  William  of  Stisted,  was  father  of  William  Alston 
of  Newton  who  by  Anne  his  wife  daughter  of  Thomas  Symons  had  a  son 
and  heir  Edward  Alston  who  resided  at  Saham  Hall  in  Newton  and  married 
Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Coleman  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  William 
his  successor  in  this  manor  and  Thomas  of  Edwardston.  William  was  born 
at  Newton  in  1537  and  married  Mary  Holmsted  of  Maplested  co.  Essex 
by  whom  he  had  several  children  whose  descendants  became  settled  at 
Marlesford,  Polstead,  Lavenham  and  various  other  places  in  Suffolk  and  the 
adjoining  counties.  In  the  Calendar  of  Pleadings  relating  to  the  Duchy 
of  Lancaster  in  1600  will  be  found  a  suit  as  to  a  relief  respecting  the  lands  in 

1  Dom.  ii.  4286.  *  See  Overhall  Manor,  Cavendish,  in  this 

Hundred. 


176  THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK 

Newton  by  Alston  against  Turner,1  and  in  the  same  Pleadings  the  same  year 
is  a  suit  as  to  rent,  fealty  and  suit  of  Court,  and  as  to  the  tenure  of  the  Manor 
of  "  Seyham  Hall  "  by  the  Attorney-General  against  William  Barrow  lord 
of  Newton  Hall  Manor.' 

Of  this  family  Sir  Thomas  Alston  of  Odel  in  Bedfordshire  knt.  was 
created  a  Baronet  June  I3th  1642,  and  Joseph  Alston  of  Chelsea  was  created 
a  Baronet  in  1681. 

There  is  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  a  grant 
in  dower  of  this  manor  in  the  early  part  of  the  I3th  century.  The  manor 
is  there  called  "  Say  ham  al.  Siam."3  And  in  the  same  collection  is  a 
grant  of  goods  in  the  manor  in  I34&.4 

Edward  Alston  M.D.  who  died  the  21  July  1705  aged  25  years,  the 
Rev.  Edward  Alston  B.D.  of  East  Bergholt  and  rector  of  Newton 
who  died  the  i8th  Feb.  1722  aged  79  years,  and  Samuel  Alston  of 
East  Bergholt  who  died  the  9  Oct.  1752  aged  66,  are  buried  at  Newton. 
A  Thomas  Alston  was  baptised  in  Newton  in  1713  and  was  buried  there  in 
1785,  and  he,  according  to  Page,  appears  to  have  been  the  last  of  the  family 
who  resided  in  Newton.  Edward  his  son  married  Frances  daughter  and 
heir  of  Daniel  Constable  of  Manningtree  co.  Essex  and  settled  there, 
whose  son  Edward  Daniel  Alston  died  at  Palgrave  and  the  Rev. 
Edward  Constable  Alston  of  Cransford  Hall  and  vicar  of  that  parish  in  the 
middle  of  the  last  century  his  only  son  was  the  representative  of  that 
branch  of  the  Alston  family.  Though  the  manor  in  1656  seems  to  have 
passed  to  one  Gunton  and  in  1847  to  have  been  in  the  possession  of  Thomas 
Lazzell  Tiffen,  which  latter  gentleman  resided  at  the  Hall,  the  Alstons  were 
retaining  land  in  the  parish  during  Alston's  period,  according  to  Page. 
Arms  of  Alston  :  Az.  Ten  cstoiles  or,  four,  three,  two,  and  one. 

BOTELERS  al.  BUTLERS  OR  BUXTONS  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  apparently  held  at  the  close  of  the  I3th  century  by 
Robert  Carbonell  who  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in  I277-5  Thomas 
Carbonel  of  Great  Waldingfield  seems  to  have  been  lord  and  to  have  been 
succeeded  (after  the  death  of  his  widow  Elizabeth  in  1325)  by  his  son  John 
Carbonel  who  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in  1301,'  and  died  in  13337 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Alice  married  to  Ralph 
Butler.  In  1393  Margaret  daughter  of  Ralph  Butler  and  Alice  his  wife  and 
wife  of  Thomas  Boteler  had  a  confirmation  of  free  warren  here,8  and  in  1410 
Sir  Andrew  Butler  was  lord.  He  by  will  in  1429  left  the  manor  to  his  wife 
Catherine  daughter  of  Sir  William  Philip  for  life.  Sir  Andrew  died  in  1430 
and  on  the  death  of  his  widow  in  1460  it  passed  to  William  Crane  who  had 
married  their  daughter  and  heir  Margery.  William  Crane  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Crane  who  died  the  23  October  1500,'  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother  and  heir  John  Crane  who  died  in  1505,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Crane  who  died  in  1550,'°  when  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Crane  who  died  in  1591,  when  it 

1  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  Cal.  to  Pleadings,  5  Chart.  Rolls,  5  Edw.  I. 

42  Eli/.  3,  34.  '•  Chart.  Rolls,  29  Edw.  I.  8. 

'  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  Cal.  to  Pleadings,  '  I. P.M.,  7  Edw.  III.  4. 

42  Eliz.  36,  43  Eliz.  22.  '  Chart.  Roils,  17  Rich.  II. 

'  Harl.  55  G.  6.  »  I. P.M.,  16  Hen.  VII. 

•  Harl.  54  H.  22.  •  I. P.M.,  4  Edw.  VI.  84. 


NEWTON. 


177 


went  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Robert  Crane  so  well  known  as  of  Chilton.1 
This  manor  was  about  1880  vested  in  the  Rev.  T.  L.  N.  Causton,  and  sub- 
sequently in  his  trustees,  but  is  now  vested  in  Mr.  C.  Beaumont. 


For  a  fuller  account  of  the  Crane  family  see  Chilton  Manor  in  Blackbourn 

Hundred.  w 


178  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


POLSTEAD. 

OBERT  the  father  of  Suane  of  Essex  in  the  time  of 
Edward  the  Confessor  held  a  considerable  manor  here  with 
soc.  It  consisted  of  4  carucates  of  land,  with  26  villeins,  36 
bordars,  i  slave,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne,  15  belonging  to 
the  men,  i  mill,  wood  for  80  hogs  and  31  acres  of  meadow. 
The  value  was  10  pounds.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman 
Survey  the  value  had  risen  to  12  pounds  and  the  details  of 
the  holding  were  considerably  varied.  Thus,  there  were  5  villeins 
and  6  bordars  less,  and  instead  of  the  men  having  15  ploughteams  they 
had  but  9.  There  were,  however,  additionally,  8  horses  at  the  Hall,  28 
beasts,  40  hogs,  and  150  sheep.  The  extent  was  8  quarantenes  long  and 
4  broad,  and  the  holding  paid  in  a  gelt  2od.  whoever  had  the  land.1 

The  following  holdings  of  Ralph  de  Limesi,1  as  entered  in  Domesday 
Book,  seem  to  be  in  Polstead,  one  was  a  manor  of  considerable  size.  They 
were  said  to  be  in  Hoketuna  and  Finstead,  the  latter  stated  to  be  a 
hamlet  of  the  former  and  included  in  the  valuation,  which  was  in  Saxon 
times  4  pounds,  and  in  Norman  days  100  shillings.  The  whole  was  together 
in  length  8  quarantenes  and  in  breadth  4  and  paid  in  a  gelt  ^d.  All  weie 
held  in  the  Confessor's  time  by  Huthrad  under  Harold,  he  holding  as  a 
manor  with  2  carucates  with  soc.  There  was  then  one  villein  and  there  were 
two  bordars,  5  slaves  and  3  ploughteams  in  demesne,  but  a  ploughteam  had 
been  added  by  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey.  There  were  also  10  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  for  20  hogs,  and  i  horse  at  the  Hall,  also  3  beasts  in  Saxon 
times,  but  none  in  Norman  days.  At  Finstead  Huthrad  held  in  King 
Edward's  time  a  carucate  which  Ralph  de  Limesi  held  as  a  hamlet  of  Hoke- 
tona  from  Edgar  his  predecessor  in  title.3 

POLSTEAD  MANOR. 

Suane  the  Domesday  tenant  had  settled  in  England  before  the  Con- 
quest and  readily  joined  with  William  the  ist  on  his  invasion.  His  lands 
were  confirmed  to  him  and  he  seems  to  have  had  additional  grants,  for  in 
Essex  alone  he  held  55  lordships.  Henry  de  Essex,  standard  bearer  to  the 
King,  held  the  manor  in  the  time  of  Hen.  II.  and  forfeited  it  about  n62.4  In 
the  time  of  John  the  lordship  was  held  by  Sir  Hugh  de  Polstead.  He 
married  Hawys  daur.  of  Hugh  de  Candois  lord  of  Burnham  Mercate  and 
coheir  by  Anselina  his  wife,  dau.  and  coheir  of  William  de  Grandcourt. 
Julian  the  other  dau.  and  coheir  married  William  de  Gymingham  and  in 
the  7th  John  they  recovered  one  carucate  of  land  as  heirs  of  William  de 
Grandcourt  against  Walter  de  Grandcourt.  Sir  Hugh  gave  by  deed  sans 
date  to  the  monks  of  Castleacre,  for  the  soul  of  Hawys  his  wife  a  piece  of 
land  in  St.  Margaret's  parish  at  Beresmere  by  Depedale.  In  the  ist  year  of 
King  John  Walter  de  Grandcourt  had  brought  an  action  against  Sir  Hugh 
de  Polstead  for  making  Julian  his  wife's  sister  and  coheir  a  nun 
(she  being  in  his  custody)  that  so  he  might  enjoy  the  inheritance 
of  the  said  Julian ;  but  it  appears  that  Julian  afterwards  married  William 
Jernegan  and  in  the  loth  of  John,  Sir  Hugh  de  Polstede  and  Hawys  his  wife 

1  Dom.  ii.  401.  J  Dom.  ii.  428. 

'  See    Overhall    Manor,    Cavendish,  and  4  Extent.  The  King.     I.P.M.,  c.  Hen.  III. 

Sayham   Hall    Manor,   Newton,  in  244.     See  H.R.  ii.  146. 

this  Hundred. 


POLSTEAD. 


179 


and  Wm.  Jernegan  and  Julian  his  wife  divided  the  estate  which  came  to 
them  as  heirs  of  the  Grandcourts.  and  the  said  Julian  took  as  a  second  hus- 
band Sir  William  de  Gymingham.  From  the  Close  Rolls  we  learn  that  in 
1229  Richard  de  Argent  and  Joan  his  wife  appointed  John  de  Kancia 
their  attorney  in  proceedings  against  this  Hugh  de  Foisted  deforciant 
concerning  the  third  part  of  lands  with  rent  in  Foisted.1 

On  Sir  Hugh  de  Polstead's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Hugh  de  Polstead.  This  Sir  Hugh  with  Sir  William  de  Gimingham  were 
found  to  hold  two  fees  of  the  Honor  of  Haughley  when  an  aid  was  granted 
on  the  marriage  of  King  Henry  the  Third's  sister  to  the  Emperor  of  Germany  ; 
and  in  the  2oth  of  Hen.  III.  gave  £25  relief  for  5  knights'  fees  which  he  held 
of  the  King  ;  and  in  the  26th  of  that  King  paid  5  marks  fine  for  not  attending 
the  King  into  Gascoyne.  Sir  Hugh  de  Polstead  the  son  died  in  I266.2 
From  the  Testa  de  Nevill  we  learn  that  this  Hugh  de  Polsted  held  in  Pol- 
sted  2  fees  and  3  parts  of  a  fee  of  the  Honor  of  "  Relege,"3  and  from  the 
Hundred  Rolls  we  learn  that  he  held  of  the  King  in  chief  Peniton  belonging 
to  the  Manor  of  Polstead  for  one  Knight's  fee  and  sold  the  same  to  St. 
Peter's,  Ipswich.4  On  Sir  Hugh  de  Polstead's  death  in  1266  the  King  took 
the  manor  in  hand  for  2  years  and  it  was  then  divided  between  Sir  Hugh 
de  Polstead's  3  daughters  and  coheirs,  Hawise,  Petronella,  and  Rohesia. 

Blomefield  states  that  in  1267  Petronella  and  Rohesia,  the  daughters 
of  Hugh  de  Polsted  had  the  right  of  presentation  to  the  Church  of  Polstede.5 
Hawise  the  eldest  daughter  married  Thomas  de  Lambourne  who  resigned  his 
right  in  the  manor  of  Polstede  Hall  in  Burnham  Westgate  in  Norfolk 
for  the  Manor  of  Polstede  in  Suffolk.  Petronella  married  Edmund  de 
Kemesek.  The  Hundred  Rolls  state  that  William  de  Lambourne  and 
Edmund  de  Kemesek  held  in  Polstead  in  chief  of  the  King  2  fees. 6 
William  de  Lamburn  had  warren  here.7  William  de  Lambourne  son  or 
grandson  of  Thomas  died  in  1300,"  without  issue  leaving  a  sister  Joan  his 
heir,  who  married  William  de  Cheyne. 

Petronella  de  Kemesek  by  deed  dated  the  May  23  Edw.  II.  conveyed 
her  portion  or  right  in  this  lordship  to  Sir  James  Lambourne  son  of  the 
above  Thomas  and  Hawise  and  Joan  (not  Mary,  as  Blomefield  and  Page  say) 
his  wife.  Referring  to  this  deed,  Blomefield  says,  "  Her  seal9  is  of  red  wax, 
the  impress  being  a  woman  bearing  in  her  right  hand  an  escotcheon,  argent, 
fretty  sable,  and  in  her  left  a  chief  indented,  the  first  being  the  arms 
of  Polstead,  the  other  probably  those  of  Kemesek." 

The  licence  for  the  last-mentioned  conveyance,  which  is  on  the  Patent 
Rolls,  throws  a  very  different  light  on  the  transaction  to  what  would  naturally 
be  inferred  from  Page's  statement,  which  by-the-way,  is  really  taken  from 
Blomefield.  It  authorises  Petronella  de  Kemesek  to  grant  to  James  de 
Lambourne  and  Joan  his  wife  and  his  heirs  a  moiety  of  the  manor  held  in 
chief  and  for  the  grantees  to  re-convey  to  the  grantor  for  her  life  with 
remainder  to  Thomas  her  son  for  life  and  then  to  James  de  Lambourne  and 
Joan  and  his  heirs.10  The  fine  on  the  alienation  was  duly  paid,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  Originalia  Rolls." 

1  Close  Rolls,  13  Hen.  III.  m.  i8</.  "  H.R.  ii.  142, 150. 

3  I.P.M.,  50  Hen.  III.  34,  not  15  Hen.  III.,  '  H.R.  ii.  143,  153. 

as  Page  says.  8  Extent.     I. P.M.,  28  Edw.  I.  14. 

3  T.  de  N.  292.  »  i.e.,  the  Seal  of  Petronella  de  Kemesek. 

4  H.R.  ii.  150.  '-  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Edw.  II.  pt.  ii.  12. 

5  Norf.  8vo.  Ed.  vol.  vii.  33.  "  0.,  I  Edw.  II.  Ri.  ii. 


i8o  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

A  fine  of  this  moiety  of  the  manor  was  levied  the  following  year  (1308)  by 
the  said  Petronella  de  Kemesek  and  Jas.  de  Lambourne  and  Joan  his  wife.1 
Another  fine  of  the  manor  and  advowson  was  levied  in  1338  by  Thomas  de 
Lambourne  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  against  Reginald  de  Shutlyngdon  parson 
of  Lambourne  Church  and  Richard  del  Hoo  chaplain  of  Polestead.1  We 
find  also  another  fine  levied  in  1347  of  both  the  manor  and  advowson  by 
the  same  Thomas  de  Lambourne  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  against  Thomas 
Torny  parson  of  Boxford  Church  and  William  de  Chevyngton  chaplain.1 
Rohesia  de  Polstede  married  Robert  le  Moyne  and  had  an  only  daughter  and 
heir  Emma  who  married  Sir  Ralph  de  Hemenhall  and  in  the  time  of  Rich.  II. 
Richard  de  Hemenhall  died  seised  of  a  moiety  of  the  lordship  of  Foisted 
Hall. 

Thomas  de  Lambourne  son  and  heir  of  James  died  seised  in  1361, 4  and  his 
son  William  de  Lambourne  in  I362,5  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  sister  and 
heir  married  to  William  de  Cheyne  ;  and  on  the  Originalia  Rolls  we  find  an 
order  this  same  year  [1352]  to  accept  security  from  William  de  Cheyne  and 
Joan  his  wife,  sister  and  heir  of  William  de  Lambourne  deceased,  for  a 
reasonable  relief  in  respect  of  Polstead  Manor  held  in  chief  of  the  King  as  of 
the  Honor  of  Reyleagh.6 

William  de  Cheyne  appears  to  have  held  for  a  considerable  time,  for  in 
1386  there  is  a  fine  levied  of  the  manor  and  advowson  by  Ralph  de  Walton, 
John  Benyngfeld  clerk,  John  Brook  clerk,  John  Turk  and  Nicholas  Harpour 
clerk  against  John  Giffard  clerk  and  Sir  John  de  Sutton  "  which  Sir  William 
Cheyne  held  for  life."'  In  1394  there  is  also  a  fine  levied  of  Polstead  and 
Navelond  Manor  by  Thomas  Cogeshall,  Thomas  Bataill,  John  Boys,  Roger 
Wolferston,  Thomas  Monchesy,  Gilbert  Debenham,  Clement  Spice,  John 
Aleyn  and  Ralph  Chamberleyn  against  Ralph  Walton,  John  Benyngfeld 
clerk  and  John  Brook  clerk.8  These  were  evidently  snares  of  the  manor 
for  we  find  Richard  de  Hemenhall  succeeded  by  his  son  William  in  the 
lordship  and  coming  of  age  in  1403.  Three  years  later  the  manor  passed  to 
Sir  Richard  Waldegrave,  who  died  2  May  1434,'  from  which  time  to  the 
time  of  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  who  died  in  1613  the  manor  devolved  in  the 
same  course  as  the  Manor  of  Smallbridge  in  Bures  in  this  Hundred. 

In  the  State  Papers  for  1541  is  a  statement  of  livery  being  made  of 
Polstead  and  Levenley  Manors  and  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Polstead 
to  Sir  William  Waldegrave  sen.,10  viz.,  son  of  George  Waldegrave,  son  and 
heir  of  the  said  Sir  William  Waldegrave  sen.  Sir  William  Waldegrave  still 
held  in  1582,  for  there  is  a  mortgage  in  the  Record  Office  amongst  the  ancient 
deeds  by  Edmund  Wheler  the  elder  of  Polstead  to  Robert  Leeyes  of  Stoke  by 
Nayland  of  "  Capells  Tenement  "  in  Polstead,  which  he  had  bought  of 
Sir  William  Waldegrave,  knt.  on  the  3rd  Oct.  then  last,  adjoining  "  Sayte- 
feyld  "  al.  "  Sayersfilde,"  and  the  lord's  land  called  "  the  dourie,"  parcel  of 
the  tenement  called  Blacksall,  and  abutting  on  a  grove  called  "  Over- 
fey  Ide  Grove,"  and  on  a  heath  called  "  Polsted  heathe,"  for  payment  by  the 
said  Edmund  to  the  said  Robert  of  £34.  55.  [1582]."  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  2  Edw.  II.  29.     See  an  «  O.,  36  Edw.  III.  5. 

action  by  this  James  de  Lambourne  '  Feet  of  Fines,  10  Rich.  II.  16. 

against  the  Bishop  of  Colchester.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  18  Rich.  II.  i. 

Pat.  Rolls,  3  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  3.  •  Extent.     Polstead  Manor  and  advowson. 
'  Feet  of  Fines,  12  Edw.  III.  I. P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  27. 

3  Feet  of  Fines,  21  Edw.  III.  14.  '    State  Papers,  1541,  878  (4). 

'  Extent.    I.P.M.,  35  Edw.  III.  no.  "  A.  6589. 
>  I.P.M.,  36  Edw.  III.  106. 


POLSTEAD.  181 

sold  the  manor  in  1598  to  John  Brond,1  John  Gage  and  others.2  A 
fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1601  by  Thomas  Walton  and  others 
against  the  said  John  Brond.  John  Brond  or  Brand  was  a  clothier  of 
Boxford  son  of  Richard  Brand  of  Boxford.  John  died  in  1610  at  the  age  of 
76,  leaving  by  his  second  wife  Ann  Bromwell  of  Boxford  a  son  Benjamin 
Brand  to  whom  the  manor  passed.  Benjamin  Brand  resided  at  Edwardston 
and  had  a  grant  of  arms  the  year  of  his  father's  death.  He  married  Elizabeth 
daughter  of  Robert  Cutler  of  Ipswich  and  died  in  1621  when  the  manor 
apparently  passed  to  his  brother  and  heir  Jacob  Brand  of  Polstead  who 
married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  William  Cutler  of  Ipswich  and  dying  in 
1630  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William  Brand  who  died  in  1705 
leaving  by  Margaret  his  wife  a  son  Jacob  Brand  who  married  Jane  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Bartholomew  Beale  and  on  his  death  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  William  Beale  Brand  who  married  Ann  Mirabella  Henrietta  daughter 
of  Sir  Robert  Smith  Bart.  At  his  death,  in  1799,  the  manor  went  to  his 
widow  Anne  Mirabella  Henrietta  Brand  who  died  in  1814,  when  it  passed 
to  W.  B.  Brand's  great  nephew  Thomas  William  Cooke  son  of  Thomas  Cooke 
rector  of  Bildeston  who  died  in  1796  and  of  Elizabeth  his  wife,  which  Thomas 
Cooke  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Cooke  rector  of  Semere  who  died 
in  1793  and  of  Jane  his  wife  daughter  of  the  above-named  Jacob  Brand  of 
Polstead  and  sister  of  the  above-named  William  Beale  Brand.  Thomas 
William  Cooke  married  Mary  Anne  daughter  of  Richard  Matthews  of  War- 
grave,  Berkshire.  Page  says  the  manor  passed  to  this  Mary  Anne,  but  this 
does  not  seem  to  be  the  case.  She  did  take,  but  only  after  her  husband's 
death  without  issue,  in  1825,  and  shortly  afterwards  she  re-married  Charles 
Tyrell  of  Gipping  and  Plashwood,  who  resided  at  Polstead  Hall  and  held  the 
manor  in  right  of  his  wife  until  her  death  in  1849.  The  manor  subsequently 
passed  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Alexander  Cooke.  He  resided  at  Polstead  Hall 
and  married  Harriet  2nd  daughter  of  Edward  Sarney  of  Sonndess  Oxon  who 
died  in  1894.  Mr.  T.  A.  Cooke  died  the  following  year,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  the  trustees  of  his  will  and  subsequently  to  his  eldest  son  Edward 
Buckley  Cooke  the  present  lord  who  was  born  in  1849,  was  educated  at 
Elstreeand  Dr.  Bridgeman's,  Woolwich,  and  is  a  magistrate  for  the  Western 
Division  of  the  County  of  Suffolk.  Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  1277  to  1506 
and  1523  to  1534  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  Rolls  in  the  British 
Museum.3 

Polstead  Hall  is  a  fine  old  handsome  white  brick  mansion  on  a  pleasant 
eminence,  in  a  park  of  100  acres  well  stocked  with  deer  and  containing  some 
grand  old  timber,  amongst  which  is  a  large  oak  tree  near  the  church  known 
as  the  "  Gospel  Oak,"  and  said  to  be  the  oldest  in  England.  As  to  this 
oak  tree,  see  "  East  Anglian  Notes  and  Queries,"  New  Series,  vol.  iii.  88. 
The  place  is  celebrated  for  its  cherries. 

SPROTTS  MANOR. 

Against  this  manor  there  is  a  query  in  the  Davy  MSS.  if  one  Bileston 
was  not  the  lord  in  1359.  In  1573  the  lordship  was  held  by  Sir  Thomas 
Rivett4  who  died  in  1582.  Amongst  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury's  MSS.  at 
Hatfield  is  a  letter  from  Lord  North  to  Lord  Burghley  dated  the  5  October 
1582,  in  which  he  says:  "Sir  Thomas  Rivett  is  thought  to  be  past  recovery, 
and  cannot  live  out  this  winter.  He  hath  conveyed  his  lands  to  his  daughters 

'  Fine,  Mich.  40,  41  Eliz.  *  See    Stoke     Nayland    Manor    in    this 

*  Fine,  Easter,  40  Eliz.  Hundred. 

3  Add.  Rolls,  27681,  27093,  34937. 


i82  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

and  delivered  the  conveyance  from  himself,  because  he  will  have  no  altera- 
tion ;  his  brother's  son  is  wholly  shut  out  of  all.  To  his  eldest  daughter,  who 
he  hath  matched  with  Mr.  Haydon,  he  hath  given  his  lands  in  Norfolk 
and  Wales ;  these  are  esteemed  near  400  marks  a  year.  To  the  second 
he  hath  given  his  Manor  of  Chippenham  and  his  lands  in  Hertfordshire 
which  is  Baldock.  Chippenham  is  400  marks  a  year.  Baldock  and  those 
lands  are  thought  to  be  £140  by  the  year ;  but  he  hath  given  Chippenham 
to  '  my  lady  '  during  her  life.  To  the  youngest,  which  he  hath  by  this 
venter,  he  hath  given  Stoke  with  all  his  Suffolk  lands,  and  hath  given  her 
besides  the  land  which  he  bought  of  Sir  Nicholas  Pointz,  called  Oselworth. 
Stoke  is  yet  in  lease,  some  part  of  it,  for  a  year  or  years,  10  or  12  ;  that  manor 
only  will  be  worth  £700  a  year.  Howbeit  '  my  lady  '  hath  Stoke  also  for 
jointure.  Yet  if  Sir  Thomas  Cecil  have  any  young  son,  sure  this  young 
daughter,  who  is  more  than  12  years  old,  shall  dispend  near  on  £1,000 
yearly.  This  conveyance  is  kept  very  secret,  and  I  come  to  it  strangely, 
for  I  am  not  in  great  favour  there.  He  would  not  that  his  brother  should 
know  of  this  device."  "  Writer's  purpose  is  to  let  Burghley  know  what  is 
to  his  hand,  and  what  he  bestows  he  might  have  due  thanks  for."  This 
manor  probably  according  to  the  conveyance  passed  to  Mirabill  the  3rd 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Rivett ;  but  we  then  lose  sight  of  it  until  the  end  of 
the  i8th  century  when  we  find  it  vested  in  Sir  Joshua  Rowley,  who  died 
in  1790.  From  this  period  the  devolution  is  the  same  as  Nayland  Manor  in 
this  Hundred. 

CASTELES  MANOR. 

Very  little  is  known  of  this  manor  save  that  it  belonged  at  the  close  of 
the  I5th  century  to  Sir  Robert  Chamberleyne  and  from  him  passed  to  his 
widow  Elizabeth  who  dying  the  23  May  1517'  it  passed  to  their  son  and  heir 
Sir  Ralph  Chamberleyne  who  dying  the  4  March  1523  it  went  to  his  son 
and  heir  Edward  Chamberleyne,2  and  later  belonged  to  Richard  Brand  of 
Boxford,  who  died  in  1610,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  John  Brand  of 
Edwardston  Hall. 

NEWSTEAD  OR  NEWSTEAD  HALL  MANOR. 

Of  this  manor  Thomas  Spring,  the  rich  clothier  of  Lavenham,  was  lord, 
and  died  seised  in  1523,  when  it  passed  to  Sir  John  Spring  of  Hitcham, 
his  son  and  heir.3  The  manor  then  passed  to  Richard  Brand  of  Boxford, 
and  from  him  on  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Brand,4  who  died  in  1610,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Brand  of  Edwardston  Hall. 
After  this  the  manor  went  to  Thomas  Fones,  apothecary,  who  died  in  1629 
and  was  succeeded  in  the  lordship  by  his  s.  and  h.  Samuel  Fones. 


1  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VIII.  117.  4  This  manor  is  included  in  a  fine  levied 

'  I. P.M.,  14  Hen.  VIII.  106.  in   1598  by  John   Bronde  against 

3  See  Netherhall  Manor,  Little  Walding-                    John     Gage     and     others.     (Fine, 

field,  in  this  Hundred.  Easter,  40  Eliz.). 


PRESTON.  183 


PRESTON. 
LWAR  a  freeman  under  Stigand  held  as  a  manor  2  carucates 

°^  ^an(*  nere  w't^1  soc  m  Edward  the  Confessor's  time.  There 
were  4  villeins,  4  bordars,  i  slave,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne 
and  i  belonging  to  the  men,  9  acres  of  meadow,  5  beasts,  24 
hogs  and  40  sheep.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey 
there  was  not  much  alteration — i  ploughteam  less  in 
demesne,  i  beast  less,  21  hogs  less  and  4  sheep.  In  Newton 
there  were  also  3  freemen  under  commendation  to  Woolard.  Over  two  of 
these  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  had  soc  and  sac  and  over  the  third 
Wisgar  the  predecessor  of  Richard;  but  earlier  Norman  son  of  Tancred. 
In  Domesday's  time  Roger  de  Poictou  had  the  soc  and  sac,  and  three 
had  23  acres  among  them  and  half  a  ploughteam.  In  the  Confessor's  day 
the  value  was  placed  at  4  pounds,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Survey  it  was 
fixed  at  3.  Roger  de  Poictou  was  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief.1 

Another  manor  belonged  in  Saxon  times  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds 
and  was  held  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  of  the  Abbey  by  Arnulf 
a  free  man  who  could  give  or  sell  his  lands.  He  had  3  carucates  in  demesne 
which  he  used  to  plough  with  three  teams,  but  later  with  only  2.  There 
were  2  villeins,  4  bordars  and  they  used  to  plough  half  a  carucate.  There 
were  also  appurtenant  to  this  manor  I  slave,  3  acres  of  meadow,  and  3 
freemen  who  had  26  acres  of  land  and  a  half  and  half  an  acre  of  meadow. 
These  also  could  give  or  sell  their  land.  The  value  had  been  4  pounds,  but 
it  had  come  down  to  3.  The  manor  was  12  quarantenes  long  and  6  broad 
and  paid  in  a  gelt  2d.  There  was  likewise  here  a  Church  living  with 
7  acres.  The  Great  Record  says :  "  Hanc  hominem  et  terram  suam  dedit 
Willelmus  Rex  Sancto  Edmundo  et  Balduino  Abbati  et  socam  et  omnem 
commetudinem,"  but  which  man  the  Record  refers  to  as  having  been  so 
generously  given  by  the  King  to  St.  Edmunds  and  Abbot  Baldwin  is  not 
specified.  Three  socmen  were  the  last  mentioned.1 

PRESTON  HALL  OR  CHURCH  HALL  MANOR. 

The  manor  held  by  Ulwar  in  Saxon  times  and  by  Roger  de  Poictou 
as  Domesday  tenant  was  subsequently  known  as  Preston  Hall  or  Church 
Hall  Manor,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the  main  manor  of  the  5  into  which 
the  land  in  Preston  later  became  divided.  In  1155  we  find  that  this  manor 
was  vested  in  Aubrey  de  Vere  Earl  of  Oxford  who  died  in  1194.  From 
this  time  to  the  death  of  John  de  Vere  I4th  Earl  of  Oxford  in  1526 — a 
period  of  over  three  centuries — the  devolution  of  this  manor  is  the  same 
as  that  of  Earl's  Manor  in  Cockfield  which  has  been  already  given. 

The  following  details  however  relate  to  this  manor  in  particular  : 
Inquisition  post  mortem  of  Hugh  de  Vere  4th  Earl  of  Oxford  in  I264.3 
Robert  de  Vere  6th  Earl  of  Oxford  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in  I33O.4 
John  de  Vere  7th  Earl  of  Oxford.  Inquis.  p.m.  in  1360.*  The  like  of 
Thomas  de  Vere  8th  Earl  of  Oxford  in  1371 6  An  account  of  John  Watres 
bailiff  and  John  Bonde  provost  of  the  manor  from  Michaelmas  5  Rich.  II. 
to  Mich.  6  Rich.  II.  is  amongst  the  Bodleian  Rolls.7  Statement  of  forfeiture 

1  Dom.  ii.  350.  4  Chart.  Rolls,  4  Edw.  III.  37. 

'  Dom.  ii.  3596.  5  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  111.84;  i6Rich.  II.  157. 

5  I.P.M.,    48    Hen.  III.    26.    Extent    of         •  I.P.M.,  45  Edw.  III.  45. 
manor.  7  Bodl.  Suff.  Rolls,  25. 


184 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


of  this  manor  by  the  i2th  Earl  of  Oxford  in  1462  and  grant  to  Duke  of 
Gloucester.'  Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  is  a 
grant  by  John  Earl  of  Oxford  to  James  Arblaster  and  John  Power.  It 
is  dated  the  I  July  6  Edw.  IV.1  Inquisition  post  mortem  of  John  Earl  of 
Oxford  in  1475'  and  a  grant  by  the  Crown  the  same  year  of  this  manor, 
also  of  the  Manors  of  Cokefield,  Aldham  and  Mendham  to  John  Howard 
and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  with  Knight's  fees,  &c.,  belonging  to  the 
King,  to  hold  by  accustomed  services  with  all  issues  due  to  the  King.  * 
Particulars  of  the  lands  in  Preston  held  by  the  Earls  of  Oxford  will  be 
found  amongst  the  Rawlinson  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian.5 

On  the  death  of  John  de  Verei4th  Earl  of  Oxford  this  manor  passed, 
according  to  Davy,  to  the  Earl's  sister  Elizabeth  married  to  Sir  Anthony 
Wingfield,  and  on  her  death  in  1558  passed  to  their  son  and  heir  Sir  Robert 
Wingfield.  A  fine  was  levied  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  by  John  Wyngfeld 
and  others  in  1562  against  the  said  Sir  Robert,6  and  another  fine  of  the 
whole  by  Richard  Wyngefylde  and  others  in  1576  against  the  said  Sir 
Robert.7  On  Sir  Robert's  death  the  manor  descended  to  his  son  and  heir 
Sir  Anthony  Wingfield.*  But,  according  to  Page,  on  the  death  of  the  I4th 
Earl  of  Oxford  the  manor  passed  not  to  Elizabeth  who  married  Sir  Anthony 
Wingfield,  but  to  her  sister  Dorothy  who  married  John  Lord  Latimer  and 
passed  to  his  son  John  who  had  livery  of  the  same  in  1543  and  was  living 
in  1578  but  had  no  issue  male  by  Lucy  his  wife  daughter  of  Henry  Earl  of 
Worcester.  His  estates  became  divisable  between  his  four  daughters  and 
coheirs.  Kirby  concurs  in  Davy's  statement.  There  are  two  Chancery 
actions  amongst  the  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  showing  that 
Page's  statement  is  correct  and  Davy's  and  Kirby's  inaccurate.  The 
first  is  an  action  by  John  Nevill  Lord  Latimer  and  another  against  Robert 
Springe  touching  "  The  Priory  "  and  disputed  land  in  Preston  Manor  ; 9  and 
the  second  is  an  action  by  the  same  against  Thomas  Poley,  Julien  his  wife 
and  another  as  to  the  same  manor.10 

By  the  opening  of  the  I7th  century  the  manor  had  passed  to  Sir  Thomas 
Skinner,  for  he  sold  it  in  r6o8  to  Isaac  Woden.  In  1617  it  seems  to  have 
been  in  the  possession  of  Richard  Goodday  sen.  for  he  in  that  year  had 
licence  to  alienate  it  to  trustees.  The  Davy  MSS.  then  state  that  Richard 
Earl  of  Oxford  who  died  in  1632  held  2/3  of  a  fee  here  but  whether  the  manor 
or  not  is  not  clear.  Davy  includes  him  among  his  list  of  lords  and  makes 
Robert  Price  succeed  him  as  lord  and  die  in  1638. 

The  probability,  however,  is  that  the  manor  continued  in  the  Goodday 
family  from  1617  to  the  time  that  Sarah  Goodday  married  Henry  Copinger 
of  Buxhall,  for  we  know  that  in  1689  this  Henry  Copinger  was  lord  of  the 
manor.  Henry  Copinger  was  born  in  1654,  on  the  7th  July  1670  was 
admitted  at  Caius  College  Cambridge,  and  on  the  i4th  Dec.  1675,  ten  days 
after  his  father's  death  was  admitted  a  Fellow  Commoner  of  St.  John's 
College.  In  1686  he  married  Sarah  Goodday  the  only  daughter  and  heir 
of  George  Goodday  and  by  deeds  of  lease  and  release  dated  the  2gth  and 
30th  April  1689,  the  latter  made  between  Henry  Copinger  of  Buxhall  and 

1  R.P.  vi.  228. 
•  Hart.  57  C.  14. 
'  I.P.M.,  15  Edw 


'  I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  IV.  28. 

4  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  15. 

>  Rawl.  B.  319. 

*  Fine,  Easter,  4  Eliz. 


'  Fine,  Mich.  18-19  Eliz. 

8  See    Walsham    Manor    in    Blackbourn 

Hundred. 

»  C.P.,  ser.  ii.  B.  cxxxii.  86. 
10  C.P.,  ser.  ii.  B.  cxxxii.  87. 


PRESTON.  185 

Sarah  his  wife  of  the  one  part  and  Robert  Beachcroft  citizen  and  cloth- 
worker  of  London  of  the  other  part  they  conveyed  to  the  said  Robert 
Beachcroft  and  his  heirs  "  the  Manner  of  Preston  Hall  al.  Preston  Church 
Hall  "  and  divers  messuages  and  lands  in  Preston  and  Kettlebaston  in 
the  county  of  Suffolk  whereof  divers  rents  belonging  to  the  said 
manor  were  part,  and  were  therein  mentioned  to  amount  in  the  whole  to 
eight  pounds  five  pence  and  one  halfpenny,  namely  thirty-three  shillings 
and  eight  pence  thereof  being  freehold  rent  and  six  pounds  six  shillings 
nine  pence  halfpenny  residue  thereof  being  copyhold  rents  or  arising  out 
of  copyhold  lands  parcel  of  the  said  manor.  The  writer  has  in  his  possession 
a  bond  given  by  the  said  Henry  Copinger  and  Sarah  his  wife  to  the  said 
Robert  Beachcroft  dated  the  soth  April  1689  in  consequence  of  doubts 
having  been  entertained  as  to  the  exact  amount  of  the  rents  arising  from 
the  manor.  It  was  to  operate  in  this  way  :  if  the  freehold  rents  fell  short 
the  Vendors  had  to  pay  to  the  purchaser  a  sum  equal  to  twenty  years 
purchase  of  the  amount,  and  if  the  copyhold  rents  fell  short,  forty  years 
purchase ;  if,  however,  they  were  more  the  purchaser  covenanted  to  pay 
sums  calculated  in  the  like  way  on  the  increase  to  the  Vendors. 

The  manor  descended  from  Robert  Beachcroft  to  Samuel  Beachcroft 
and  in  1734  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Matthew  Beachcroft.  By  Indenture 
of  lease  and  release  dated  the  16  and  17  Oct.  1734  and  made  between 
Matthew  Beachcroft  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  of  the  1st  part,  Dame  Elizabeth 
Porter  widow  of  the  2nd  part,  Robert  Moxon  of  the  3rd  part,  James  Porter 
and  Edmund  Brent  of  the  4th  part,  and  by  virtue  of  a  recovery  the  Manor 
of  Preston  was  conveyed  to  the  use  of  Matthew  Beachcroft  for  life  with 
remainder  to  the  use  of  Elizabeth  his  wife  for  life  with  remainder  to  use  of  the 
children  in  tail  as  Matthew  Beachcroft  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  might  jointly 
appoint  or  as  the  survivor  might  appoint  and  in  default  of  appointment 
in  tail.  Matthew  made  his  will  the  17  July  1747  which  was  proved  at 
Canterbury  and  Elizabeth  made  her  will  the  18  Dec.  1759.  Samuel  Beach- 
croft was  the  heir  at  law,  but  Elizabeth  by  her  will  seems  to  have  appointed 
this  manor  to  Elizabeth  her  daughter  in  tail.  She,  however,  died  un- 
married in  her  mother's  lifetime,  and  Elizabeth  her  mother  by  a  codicil 
dated  the  18  Nov.  1764  appointed  the  manor  to  her  two  sons  Robert  Porter 
Beachcroft  (the  elder)  and  Joseph  Matthew  Beachcroft  in  tail  in  equal 
shares  as  tenants  in  common.  Robert  Porter  Beachcroft  by  will  dated 
the  9  Jan.  1781  devised  all  his  estates  to  his  wife  Sarah  Beachcroft  for  life 
and  if  no  child  to  his  nephew  Matthew  Beachcroft,  son  of  his  brother 
Samuel.  Joseph  Matthew  Beachcroft  died  a  bachelor,  and  by  will  dated  the 
29  Aug.  1781  devised  all  his  estates  to  his  eldest  brother  James  Beachcroft. 
As  neither  Robert  Porter  Beachcroft  nor  Joseph  Matthew  Beachcroft 
suffered  a  recovery  or  barred  the  entail  the  moiety  of  the  first  named  on 
his  decease  descended  to  his  olny  child  the  Rev.  Robert  Porter  Beachcroft 
as  tenant  in  tail;  and  the  moiety  of  J.  M.  Beachcroft  on  his  decease  passed  as 
follows  :  Half  to  the  said  Saml.  Beachcroft  his  eldest  brother  and  from  him 
to  the  said  Matthew  Beachcroft  his  eldest  son  as  tenant  in  tail,  and  the 
other  half  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Porter  Beachcroft  as  tenant  in  tail  being  the 
only  child  of  the  said  Robert  Porter  Beachcroft,  the  said  Samuel  and 
Robert  Porter  Beachcroft  being  the  only  surviving  children  of  the  said 
Matthew  Beachcroft  the  grandfather,  all  others  having  died  without  issue. 

Matthew  either  settled  his  share  on  Elizabeth  his  wife  with  remainder 
to  his  sons  in  tail  or  it  passed  under  his  will  dated  the  10  Aug.  1821  to  his 
trustees  Messrs.  Steward  Beachcroft  and  Maberley  upon  trust  for  sale. 


186  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

The  share  was  sold  to  Wm.  Turner  in  1829.  He  did  not  retain  long,  for 
in  the  Morning  Herald  for  the  22  Aug.  1832  we  find  that  the  manor  with  209 
acres  was  sold  for  £6,600,  the  timber  and  fixtures  being  taken  at  a  valuation. 
The  farm  was  then  let  for  8  years  at  £260  per  an.  and  the  remainder  of 
the  property  was  estimated  to  produce  about  £40.  The  following  year 
on  the  17  July  the  manor  was  again  offered  for  sale,  being  then  stated  to 
contain  in  all  200  acres  let  for  7  years  at  £260,  also  10  acres  of  woodland, 
the  outgoings  being  £26.  I2s.  $d.  a  year.  It  sold  for  £6,510.'  In  1839  the 
manor  was  purchased  by  Sir  Benjamin  Collins  Brodie  Bart,  the  celebrated 
physician,1  who  frequently  came  down  to  this  part  of  the  country.  He 
died  the  21  Oct.  1862  and  by  will  dated  the  17  Oct.  1861  proved  the  n 
March  1863  devised  the  manor  to  his  trustees  the  Hon.  George  Waldegrave 
Leslie  and  Henry  Halford  Vaughan.  The  latter  by  deed  poll  dated  the 
17  Oct.  1863  renounced,  and  George  Waldegrave  Leslie  and  a  trustee  George 
Lushington,  who  had  been  appointed  in  Vaughan's  place  with  Sir  Benjamin 
Collins  Brodie,  the  physician's  son,  sold  the  manor. 

In  1885  it  belonged  to  W.  S.  Calvert  and  is  now  vested  in  Mrs.  Calvert. 

Preston  Hall  in  the  reign  of  James  I.  and  Charles  I.  was  the  seat  of 
the  great  antiquary  Robert  Reyce,  the  preserver  of  so  much  of  historical 
interest  which  but  for  his  industrious  efforts  would  have  been  irretrievably 
lost.  He  did  not  hold  the  manor  though  his  father  Robert  was  seated  in 
Preston  in  the  time  of  Edw.  VI.  Robert  the  antiquary  married  Mary, 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Appleton  of  Little  Waldingfield  who  died  29 
Feb.  1629  and  was  buried  in  Preston  Church  where  to  her  memory  is  a 
flat  stone  with  an  inscription.  Mr.  Reyce  survived  her  about  nine  years 
and  was  buried  the  15  Sept.  1638  within  the  communion  rails  in  the  parish 
church  of  Preston  near  the  remains  of  his  wife.  He  held  the  patronage  of 
the  living,  and  as  Page  says,  "  was  a  benefactor  to  this  his  native  village 
and  an  honour  to  the  place  that  gave  him  birth." 

Reyce's  Breviary  of  Suffolk  was  published  in  1902  with  notes  by  Lord 
Francis  Hervey,  and  it  is  of  the  greatest  interest  and  value.  The  notes 
are  just  of  that  character  one  rejoices  to  see  appended  to  a  work  like  Reyce's, 
and  useful  as  old  Reyce's  production  is,  the  notes  are  by  no  means  the 
least  useful  or  valuable  portion  of  the  work  as  issued. 

Amongst  the  MSS.  of  the  House  of  Lords  is  an  Indenture  dated  the 
nth  Oct.  1621  by  this  Robert  Reyce  to  Smyth  and  others.  Reyce  out 
of  his  desire  for  the  service  of  God  and  his  regard  for  Preston  where  his 
ancestors  had  lived  for  120  years,  and  been  buried,  and  where  he  had  lived 
and  hoped  to  be  buried,  and  also  his  regard  for  Emmanuel  College,  Cam- 
bridge, grants  the  rectory  and  vicarage  of  Preston  to  Smyth  and  others, 
upon  trust  within  three  years  after  his  death  to  procure  the  union  of  the 
said  rectory  and  vicarage,  with  all  tithes,  &c.,  in  the  person  of  the  then 
present  incumbent  Thomas  Willys  or  in  case  of  his  death  in  such  person 
as  the  Master,  Fellows  and  Scholars  of  Emmanuel  College  should  from  time 
to  time  present  to  the  said  living  ;  the  trust  further  provides  for  the 
preaching  of  sermons  during  Lent  on  certain  subjects,  &c.3 

SWIFT'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  seems  to  have  been  carved  out  of  the  holding  of  the  Earls 
of  Oxford,  of  course  not  later  than  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  It  was  held  of 

1  Newspaper,  19  July  1833.  '  Hist.  MS.  Com:  3  Rep:  App.  p.  241 

1  P.R.S.,      Serjeant-Surgeon     to     Queen 
Victoria: 


PRESTON.  187 

Mortimer's  Manor  by  fealty  and  suit  of  Court  at  the  yearly  rent  of  three  shillings 
and  eight  pence.  In  1360  we  find  Ralph  Swift  holding  2  parts  of  a  fee  of 
the  Earl  of  Oxford.  This  is  not  unlikely  that  Ralph  Swyft  of  Preston  who 
in  1326  had  acknowledged  that  he  owed  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Osyth  £80 
to  be  levied  in  default  on  his  lands  in  Suffolk.1  In  the  time  of  Hen.  VI. 
this  estate  was  vested  in  John  Jervys.  The  manor  was  later  held  by 
Cecily,  Duchess  of  York  (mother  of  Edw.  IV.),  who  gave  it  in  1480  to 
John  Smith  of  Bury  founder  of  the  Chantry  there,2  and  the  following  year 
it  was  vested  in  the  Guild  of  Jesus  College  in  Bury  by  the  gift  of  this  John 
Smith.  The  particulars  are  not  given,  as  they  can  be  seen  in  the  will 
of  John  Smyth  of  Bury  printed  in  Tymm's  Wills  and  Inventories  from  the 
Registers  of  the  Commissary  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  and  the  Archdeaconry 
of  Sudbury  issued  by  the  Camden  Society  in  1850.  On  the  dissolution 
the  manor  passed  to  the  Crown  and  in  1548  was  granted  to  Richard  Corbet, 
who  apparently  passed  it  on  to  Wm.  Poley  for  he  seems  to  have  had  it 
this  same  year  and  died  seised  the  31  Aug.  I556,3  when  it  passed  to  his  son 
and  heir  Thomas  Poley.  He  sold  the  manor  in  1588  to  Edmund  Jermyn 
who  alienated  it  to  William  Waldegrave,  but  in  what  capacity  the  alienee 
held  whether  beneficially  or  otherwise  does  not  appear,  though  probably 
as  trustee,  for  we  find  that  John  Jermyn  had  in  1596  licence  to  alienate 
to  Thomas  Jermyn  and  Henry  Firmage  as  trustees.  In  1609  Thomas 
Burler  was  lord,  and  the  next  lord  Thomas  Burler  died  without  issue.  In 
1767  the  manor  belonged  to  John  Newman,  for  there  is  a  memorandum  in 
the  Court  Books  of  Mortimer's  Manor  that  this  year  he  sold  Swift's  Manor 
to  the  Rev.  Henry  Grossman.  Grossman  died  about  1798  leaving  an  only 
child  Elizabeth  married  to  Edward  Green,  and  they  acknowledged  holding 
lands  by  free  tenure  of  the  Manor  of  Mortimer's  the  25  June,  1798,  and  the 
same  date  acknowledged  fealty  for  Swift's  Manor.  In  1833  on  the  17 
July  this  manor  was  offered  for  sale  by  public  auction  and  realised  £3,800. 
It  comprised  150  acres,  the  farm  let  for  4  years  at  £130,  timber  to  be 
taken  at  a  valuation.  The  land  tax  was  stated  to  be  £n.  i8s.4  In  1849 
Sir  Benjamin  C.  Brodie  was  lord,  from  which  time  the  devolution  is  identical 
with  that  of  the  main  manor. 

MAISTER'S   MANOR. 

This  manor  was  held  as  half  a  knight's  fee  by  William  de  Kentwell  of 
the  King,  and,  according  to  Testa  de  Nevill,  Robert  de  Whelnetham  held 
the  manor  of  William  de  Kentwell  at  the  time  of  the  compiling  of  that 
record.  Gilbert  de  Kentwell  who  held  this  same  estate,  which  was  one 
carucate  of  land,  gave  the  same  to  the  Masters  of  the  Commandry  of  Knights 
Hospitallers  or  Knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  at  Battisford  in  1316, 
in  frankalmoign5  and  on  the  suppression  of  the  religious  houses  it  passed 
to  the  Crown.  In  1543  it  was  granted  to  Andrew  Judd6  who  the  same 
year  had  licence  to  alienate  and  did  sell  to  Robert  Spring  of  Lavenham. 
He  died  the  20  April  r5497  when  this  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Thomas  Spring  who  died  the  15  January  1556"  when  it  passed  to  his  son 
and  heir  Robert  who  had  licence  to  alienate  to  Robert  Rookwood  and 
Dorothy  his  wife  in  1572.  The  sale  was  carried  into  effect  by  a  fine  levied 

1  Close  RoDs,  19  Edw.  II.  jd.  5  H.R.  ii.  142,  150,  154,  194. 

•  See  Brett's  Manor,  Hepworth,  in  Black-  "  Originalia,  35  Hen.  VIII.  i  Pars  Rot.  128: 

bourn  Hundred.  '  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  VI.  141. 

'  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  48.  "  I.P.M.,  3  and  4  Ph.  and  M.  93. 
Morning  Herald,,  22  Aug.  1832. 


4 


i88  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

in  Easter  Term  14  Eliz.  Robert  and  Dorothy  had  licence  to  alienate  in 
1591  to  Richard  Martin  and  Anth.  Rous.  The  assurance  intended  to  be 
made  pursuant  to  this  last  licence  was  probably  by  way  of  settlement  for 
Robert  Rookwood  and  Dorothy  and  also  Ambrose  Rookwood  had  licence 
to  alienate  in  1599  *°  Sir  Thomas  Carey  as  trustee.  Davy  says  that  Ambrose 
Rookwood  was  lord  4  Eliz.  and  Edmund  Cooke  in  1609  and  the  same  year 
Elizabeth  Rookwood  widow.  The  subsequent  devolution  is  not  clear. 
It  seems,  however,  pretty  certain  that  Edmund  Cooke  was  lord  in  1615, 
for  in  that  year  he  obtained  a  licence  to  alienate  "  the  Manor  of  Maysters  " 
with  lands  in  Preston,  Kettlebarston,  Thorpe  Morieux,  Brettenham, 
Brent  Eleigh  and  Lavenham  to  James  Alington.1  James  Alyngton  was 
lord  in  1615  and  on  his  death  in  1626  the  manor  passed  to  his  nephew  and 
heir  Sir  Giles  Alyngton.  In  1691  John  Dalton  was  lord,  but  before  1715  the 
manor  was  acquired  by  J  ohn  Wright  for  he  held  his  first  Court  4  Nov .  that  year. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  Wright  who  held  his  first  Court  9  Nov.  1741. 
He  was  succeeded  by  John  Wright  who  held  his  first  Court  7  Oct.  1784. 
The  manor  then  passed  to  John  Ely  Wright  who  held  his  first  Court  7 
March  1809.  The  manor  then  seems  to  have  passed  to  Thomas  Wright 
who  died  intestate  and  without  issue  on  the  I2th  Sept.  1847,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  father  John  Ely  Wright  as  heir  at  law.  By  a  Settlement 
dated  2  May  1848  and  made  between  the  said  John  Ely  Wright  of  the  ist 
part,  Joseph  Wright  of  the  2nd  part,  Henry  Wright  of  the  3rd  part,  and 
George  Richard  Pye  and  Charles  Hammond  Branwhite  the  younger  of 
the  4th  part,  the  manor  was  conveyed  by  John  Ely  Wright  to  his  sons 
Joseph  and  Henry  to  the  use  that  the  said  John  Ely  Wright  should  receive 
during  life  an  annuity  of  £130  and  subject  thereto  as  to  one  moiety  of  the 
manor  to  Joseph  Wright  and  as  to  the  other  moiety  to  Henry  Wright  in 
fee.  John  Ely  Wright  died  before  the  10  May  1851  and  Joseph  Wright 
died  without  issue  having  by  his  will  left  all  to  his  brother  Henry  who 
held  his  first  Court  the  7  June  1854.  Henry  Wright  died  seised  of  the  whole 
of  the  manor  the  7  Oct.  1856  when  it  passed  to  his  son  John  Ely  Wright 
of  Preston  Manor  who  is  the  present  lord. 

MORTIMER'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  William  de  Mortimer  of  Attleburgh  who 
died  in  1297  and  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  de  Mortimer,  knt., 
who  with  Alianora  his  wife  settled  it  in  1333  by  assurance  to  Thomas  de 
Ipswich,  Vicar  of  Preston,  and  Nicholas  de  Hoo  chaplain.'  The  assurance 
was  no  doubt  by  way  of  settlement  as  the  manor  continued  in  the  Mortimer 
family.  A  daughter  of  the  last  named  Mortimer  seems  to  have  married 
a  Ferrars,  and  a  daughter,  issue  of  such  marriage,  married  Robert  Cressener 
who  died  in  1415  seised  of  this  manor  and  the  Manor  of  Otley  .3  The  manor 
then  passed  to  Robert  Cressener' s  son  and  heir  William  Cressener  who 
died  in  1454,*  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Alexander  Cressener  who 
died  in  1498  when  it  passed  to  his  grandson  and  heir  John  Cressener  son 
and  heir  of  Sir  John  Cressener.  A  fine  was  levied  in  1541  of  the  manor  by 
Henry  Payne  against  the  said  John  Cressener.5  Amongst  the  State  Papers 
in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  is  a  grant  of  livery  of  this  manor  with  other 
manors  in  Suffolk  to  this  John  Cressener.6  He  seems  to  have  been  the 
last  Cressener  holder  of  the  manor  for  he  died  in  1556  and  before  this  date 

'  Add.  MSS.  Brit.  Mus.  5834.  «  I. P.M..  32  Hen.  VI.  16. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  7  Edw.  III.  8.  '  Fine,  Easter,  33  Hen.  VIII. 

«  I.P.M.,  12  Hen.  IV.  33.  •  1542.    S.P.  137  (52). 


PRESTON.  189 

we  find  William  Poley  who  died  31  August  this  same  year1  seised  at 
his  death  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Poley  who 
died  about  1558,  when  it  vested  in  another  Thomas  Poley  who  in  1565  sold 
the  same  to  Robert  Rookwood2  who  died  in  1601  when  the  manor  passed 
to  his  son  and  heir  Henry  Rookwood. 

Davy  says  that  in  1614  Sir  Thomas  Tyrwhitt  had  a  grant  of  the  manor, 
but  gives  no  subsequent  information  as  to  its  devolution.  Elizabeth  Gage 
was,  we  find,  lady  of  this  manor  in  1752  and  Sir  John  Gage,  Bart.,  lord  in  1774, 
for  the  26  July  this  year  he  held  a  Court  for  the  manor.  In  1805  Robert  Gage 
Rookwood  was  lord,  for  on  the  22  March  this  year  he  held  a  Court  for  the 
manor.  The  manor  later  passed  to  the  Makins  and  Thomas  Makin  was 
lord  in  1811.  He  by  his  will  dated  the  2gth  Oct.  1834  devised  this  manor 
to  his  son  William  and  dying  the  22  March  1835  was  succeeded  by  him  as 
lord.  William  Makin  died  about  1870  and  his  mortgagees  sold  the  manor 
to  John  Ely  Wright  the  lord  of  Maister's  Manor,  by  whom  it  is  now  held. 

PRIORY  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  passed-  by  fine  from  Michael  Mendham  to  William 
de  Walsham  in  1219,  and  Thomas  de  Mendham  granted  it  to  the  Prior  of 
Holy  Trinity,  Ipswich,  who  in  1333  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here.3  On 
the  Patent  Rolls  for  1335  is  a  licence  for  alienation  in  mortmain  to  the 
Priory  of  Holy  Trinity  by  William  de  Kenteford  vicar  of  the  Church  of 
Reshemere  (Rushmere)  of  a  messuage,  9  acres  of  land  and  2  J  acres  of  pasture 
in  Preston.4  On  the  suppression  of  the  religious  houses  this  manor 
passed  to  the  Crown  and  it  was  granted  in  1543  to  Andrew  Judde,5  and 
the  same  year  he  granted  it  to  Robert  Spring  second  son  of  Thomas  Spring 
of  Lavenham  and  of  Anne  Apulton  his  wife.  Robert  Spring  married 
Anne  dau.  of  Thomas  Eden  of  London  by  whom  he  had  six  sons,  Thomas 
his  son  and  heir,  Nicholas,  Jeremye,  Robert,  John  and  Stephen,  and  five 
daughters — Elizabeth  married  to  John  Jenney  of  Norf.,  Dorothy  married 
to  William  Humberston,  Mary  married  to  Charles  Cleare  of  Stokesby  co. 
Norf.,  Bridget  married  to  -  -  Thwaytes  of  Hardingham  co.  Norf.  and 
Frances  married  to  Robert  Ashfelde  of  Stowlangtoft.  Robert  Spring  died 
on  the  20  April  1549*  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas, 
who  on  his  death  the  15  Jan.  I5567  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Robert,  who  had  licence  to  alienate  it  to  William  Prichthorne  in  1568,  who 
had  licence  to  alienate  to  Robert  Spring  son  and  heir  of  Thomas. 

Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  is  an 
action  by  John  Nevill,  Lord  Latimer,  and  another  against  this  Robert 
Spring  touching  "  The  Priory  "  and  disputed  lands  in  Preston.8  Robert 
Spring  in  1580  sold  to  Robert  Reyce.  In  1609  the  manor  was  vested  in 
Sir  Robert  Jermyn  and  in  1613  in  William  Playne,  and  that  year  he  and 
his  wife  were  called  upon  to  shew  title  to  the  site  of  the  Priory.9  A  William 
Hobart  presented  to  the  living  in  1638  and  Jacob  Allen  somewhat  later. 

'  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  Ph.  and  M.  48.  «  Pat.  Rolls,  9  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  10. 

•  Fine,  Hil.  7  Eliz.  >  35  Hen.  VIII.,  D.K.R.  10.     App.  ii.  p. 

'  Chart.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  III.  38;  see  I.P.M.  224. 

William    de    Kenteford    for    Holy  •  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  VI.  141. 

Trinity  Priory  of  Ipswich,  9  Edw.  '  I.P.M.,  3  and  4  P.  and  M.  93. 

III.  (2nd  nos.)   54  ;    I.P.M.,    Wm;  •  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  cxxxii.  86. 

Vicar    of    Rushmere,  and    Hamo  '  Memoranda,  ii  Jac.  I.,  Trin.  Rec.  Rot; 

Dyke    de    Wydekesho    for    Holy  236. 

Trinity  Priory,  15  Edw.  III.  54. 


igo 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


In  1836  the  manor  was  vested  in  John  Green,  at  whose  death  it  passed  to 
his  son  Edward  Green,  at  whose  death  it  passed  to  a  distant  relative  Maud 
Sach,  whose  mortgagees  sold  to  William  Bantock  of  Preston,  but  the  manor 
is  extinct. 


PRESTON  HALL. 


SHIMPLING.  191 

SHIMPLING. 

N  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  Ailith  a  free  woman  held 

6  carucates  and  a  half  of  land  as  a  manor.     There  were 
then  9  villeins,  12  bordars,  3  slaves,  4  ploughteams  in  demesne, 

7  belonging   to  the  men,  wood  for  100  hogs,    17  acres  of 
meadow,  4  horses,  7  beasts,  60  hogs,  80  sheep,  and  16  goats. 
Also  a  church  living  with  60  acres  of  free  land  and  i  bordar, 
i  ploughteam  and  half  an  acre  of  meadow.    The  whole  was 

then  valued  at  10  pounds,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  the  value 
was  assessed  at  12  pounds,  and  there  had  been  various  changes.  The 
villeins  had  risen  to  12,  the  bordars  to  16,  while  the  slaves  had  dis- 
appeared altogether.  There  was  a  ploughteam  less  in  demesne  and  one 
of  those  belonging  to  the  men  had  gone,  while  the  7  beasts  had  come  down 
to  6  and  the  60  hogs  to  33.  On  the  other  hand  there  was  one  more  horse, 
20  more  sheep,  and  8  more  goats.  The  manor  was  a  league  long  and  half 
a  league  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  15^. 

The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was  Ralph  Bainard.1 

Another  manor  in  Shimpling  of  considerable  size  was  held  in  the 
Confessor's  day  by  Uluric  one  of  his  thanes.  He  had  5  carucates  with  5 
villeins,  4  bordars,  6  slaves,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  3  belonging  to 
the  men,  wood  for  8  hogs,  10  acres  of  meadow,  i  horse,  14  beasts,  40  hogs 
and  120  sheep.  Also  a  church  living  with  30  acres. 

By  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  the  villeins  were  reduced  to  3 
but  the  bordars  had  increased  to  10.  There  was  a  ploughteam  less  in 
demesne,  8  fewer  beasts,  16  hogs  less  and  20  sheep.  Also  under  this  Uluric 
there  were  5  freemen  by  commendation  and  the  Abbot  then  had  soc  and 
sac.  They  held  a  carucate  of  land,  i  bordar,  i  slave,  2  ploughteams  and  2 
acres  of  land  valued  at  9  pounds.  This  manor  was  a  league  long  and  half 
a  league  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  tjd.  The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was 
the  Countess  of  Albamarle.2 

Bainard  also  held  a  freeman  who  had  been  in  Saxon  times  under 
Ailith  by  commendation  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund's  soc  with  30  acres, 
i  bordar,  i  ploughteam  and  i  acre  and  a  half  of  meadow  valued  at  10 
shillings.3 

SHIMPLING  MANOR. 

Ralph  Bainard  the  holder  of  the  main  manor  was  a  powerful  baron 
who  had  come  over  with  the  Conqueror.  He  was  lord  of  Castle  Bainard 
in  London  and  of  the  barony  of  that  castle.  By  virtue  of  this  barony  he 
occupied  the  post  of  hereditary  standard-bearer  of  London.  Bainard 
Castle  seems  to  have  been  situate  in  Thames  Street  in  the  City  of  London, 
though  some  assert  that  the  castle  and  the  Tower  of  London  are  the  same, 
and  the  office  Ralph  held  was  virtually  that  of  Constable  of  the  Tower  of 
London.  From  Ralph  the  lordship  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Jeffrey  by 
Juga  his  wife,4  and  from  him  to  his  son  and  heir  William  Bainard  who  in  the 
reign  of  Hen.  I.  forfeited  the  lordship  with  his  barony  by  joining  with 
Helias,  Earl  of  Mayne  and  others  in  a  rebellion  against  his  sovereign.  The 
King  granted  the  Honor  of  Bainard' s  Castle  to  Robert  Fitz  Walter  and 

1  Dom.  ii.  4156.  4  He  is  not  unlikely  the  Bainard  Godo- 

'  Dom.  ii.  4306.  fridus    mentioned    as    one    of    the 

'  Dom.  ii.  4156;  Domesday  sub-tenants. 


192  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

when  his  great  grandson  Sir  Robert  Fitz  Walter  granted  Bainard's  Castle 
to  Robert  Kilwardby  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  he  was  careful  to 
preserve  the  immunities  of  this  barony.  Those  appertaining  to  Bainard's 
Castle  are  specified  as  follows  :  "  That  the  said  Robert,  as  constable  of  the 
Castle  of  London,  and  his  heirs  ought  to  be  banner-bearers  of  that  city, 
by  inheritance,  as  belonging  to  that  castle ;  and  in  time  of  war,  to  serve 
the  city  in  the  manner  following,  viz.,  to  ride  upon  a  light  horse,  with  twenty 
men-at-arms  on  horseback,  their  horses  covered  with  cloth  or  harness, 
unto  the  great  door  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  with  the  banner  of  his  arms  carried 
before  him  ;  and  being  come  in  that  manner  thither,  the  mayor  of  London, 
together  with  the  sheriffs  and  aldermen,  to  issue  armed  out  of  the  church, 
unto  the  same  door,  on  foot,  with  his  banner  in  his  hand,  having  the  figure 
of  St.  Paul  depicted  with  gold  thereon,  but  the  feet,  hands  and  head  of  silver, 
holding  a  silver  sword  in  his  hand  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  shall  see  the  mayor, 
sheriffs,  and  aldermen  come  on  foot  out  of  the  church  carrying  such  a 
banner,  he  is  to  alight  from  his  horse,  and  salute  him  as  his  companion, 
saying,  Sir  mayor,  I  am  obliged  to  come  hither  to  do  my  service,  which  I 
owe  to  this  city.  To  whom  the  mayor,  sheriffs,  and  aldermen  are  to  answer  : 
We  give  to  you,  as  our  banner-bearer  by  inheritance  for  this  city,  this 
banner  of  the  city,  to  bear  and  carry  to  the  honour  and  profit  thereof  to 
your  power.  Whereupon  the  said  Robert  and  his  heirs  shall  receive  it 
into  their  hands,  and  the  mayor  and  sheriffs  shall  follow  him  to  the  door, 
and  present  him  with  a  horse  worth  twenty  pounds  ;  which  horse  shall  be 
saddled  with  a  saddle  of  his  arms,  and  covered  with  silk  depicted,  like- 
wise, with  the  same  arms  ;  and  they  shall  take  twenty  pounds  sterling  and 
deliver  it  to  the  chamberlain  of  the  said  Robert  for  his  expenses  that  day. 

This  being  done,  he  shall  mount  upon  that  horse,  with  his  banner  in 
his  hand,  and  being  so  mounted  shall  bid  the  mayor  to  choose  a  marshal 
for  the  city  army ;  who,  being  so  chosen,  shall  command  the  mayor  and 
burgers  of  the  city  to  assemble  the  commons,  who  shall  go  under  this  banner 
of  St.  Paul,  which  he  shall  bear  to  Aldgate  ;  and  being  come  hither  they 
shall  give  it  to  whom  they  shall  think  fit. 

And  if  it  shall  so  happen  that  they  must  march  out  of  the  city,  then 
shall  the  said  Robert  make  choice  of  two  of  the  gravest  men  out  of  every 
ward  to  guard  the  city  in  their  absence,  and  their  consultation  shall  be 
in  the  priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity  near  Aldgate  ;  and  before  what  town  or 
castle  this  city  army  shall  come,  and  shall  continue  the  siege  for  one  whole 
year,  this  Robert  shall  receive  from  the  commonalty  of  the  city  one 
hundred  shillings  for  his  pains  and  no  more.  Those  were  his  rights  and 
privileges  in  the  time  of  war  ;  in  time  of  peace  they  were  these  :  That  the 
said  Robert  should  have  a  soc  in  the  same  city,  extending  from  the  canonry 
of  St.  Paul's,  along  the  street  before  Paul's  brewhouse,  unto  the  Thames, 
and  thence  to  the  side  of  the  mill  which  is  in  the  water  that  comes  down 
from  Fleet  Bridge,  and  thence  up  to  London-wall,  all  about  the  Black- 
friars  unto  Ludgate,  and  so  back  to  the  house  of  the  said  friars,  to  the  corner 
of  the  wall  of  the  same  canonry  of  St.  Paul's  ;  that  is,  all  St.  Andrew's 
parish,  which  was  the  gift  of  his  ancestors  for  that  royalty. 

In  this  soc  the  said  Robert  should  have  the  nomination  of  a  socman 
who  should  possess  certain  privileges  in  the  trial  and  execution  of 
criminals. 

Moreover,  the  said  Robert  was  to  enjoy  as  extensive  privileges  in  the 
city  as  the  mayor  and  citizens ;  and  when  the  mayor  held  a  great  council, 


SHIMPLING.  193 

he  was  to  be  summoned  thereto  ;  and  at  all  times  that  he  came  to  the 
hustings  in  Guildhall,  the  mayor  was  to  rise  and  to  place  him  next  to  him- 
self."1 

Robert  Mantel  of  Essex  next  had  a  grant  of  the  manor  for  life  only, 
but  nevertheless  it  seems  to  have  passed  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Petronilla 
who  married  Sir  Fulk  Bainard  the  son  of  Sir  Robert  Bainard,  son  of  Ralph 
Bainard  who  was  second  son  of  Ralph  Bainard  the  Domesday  tenant. 

In  1303  the  manor  was  held  by  Robert  Fitz  Walter  who  had  a  right  of 
gallows  and  free  warren  here.2 

We  find  this  year,  too,  a  grant  on  the  Patent  Rolls  to  this  Robert 
son  of  Walter  stated  to  be  the  King's  kinsman,  in  consideration  of  the 
expenses  incurred  in  the  King's  service,  that  if  he  leave  an  heir  a  minor 
the  executors  of  this  Robert  may  have  the  custody  of  this  manor  which 
was  held  in  chief.3  There  is  a  like  grant  limited  to  4  years  on  the  Patent 
Rolls  in  I3I3-4  In  1306  this  Robert  was  authorised  to  grant  for  life  to 
Adam  de  Waldingfield  part  of  his  park  of  Shimpling  called  "Genteshyrn" 
and  for  the  grantee  to  enclose.5  An  Inquisition  the  same  year  discloses 
the  fact  that  the  amount  passing  was  40  acres  and  the  park  is  therein  called 
"  Gentesherne."6  The  licence  to  Adam  de  Waldingfield  to  enter  appears 
on  the  Originalia  rolls  this  year.7 

The  arrangement  does  not  seem  to  have  worked  very  amicably,  for 
the  next  year  we  find  a  commission  issued  on  complaint  of  Robert 
that  Adam  de  Waldingfeld  felled  his  trees  and  fished  in  his  ponds  at 
Shimpling.8  A  licence  was  granted  to  Robert  Fitz  Walter  to  alienate 
the  manor  in  1315.'  Robert  died  in  1325'°  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  Robert  Fitz-Walter,  and  on  his  death  in  1328"  passed  in  dower 
to  his  widow  Joan  daughter  and  coheir  of  John  de  Moulton  and  Egremond. 
There  is  an  order  on  the  Close  Rolls  in  1328  to  deliver  to  this  Joan  in  dower 
a  moiety  of  a  fee  in  Shimpling  held  by  Stephen  de  Sidolfismere  of  the  yearly 
value  of  los.  and  a  moiety  of  another  fee  in  the  same  place  which  John  de 
Luton  and  John  Tristrem  held  of  the  yearly  rent  of  405.,"  and  also  to  deliver 
to  her  the  manor  assigned  to  her  in  dower  of  the  yearly  value  of  £33.  ys.  ojd.,'3 
and  also  Shimpling  Church  of  the  yearly  value  of  £io.'4 

Joan  survived  till  1362  when  Walter  Fitz  Walter  her  grandson  made 
proof  of  his  age  and  had  livery  of  all  his  lands.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Fitz  Walter  3rd  baron  and  Eleanor  his  wife  daughter  of  Henry  Lord  Percy. 
In  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Joan  Lady  de  Egremond  described  as  "wife of  John 
Fitzwauter,  one  of  the  daughters  and  heirs  of  John  de  Multon"  in  1363,  an 
item  of  355.  for  service  to  guardianship  of  Baynard  Castle  appears.'5 

Walter  Fitz  Walter  was  a  valiant  soldier  and  served  with  distinction 
in  the  expedition  into  Gascony  of  Edw.  III.  in  1370.  During  the  campaign 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  was  forced  to  mortgage  his  castle  of  Egremond 
for  a  thousand  pounds  in  order  to  effect  his  ransom.  In  1373  he  was 
again  in  France  under  John  of  Gaunt,  and  in  the  succeeding  reign  served 
with  Thomas  of  Woodstock  against  the  Spaniards,  and  later  took  an  active 

Burke's  Extinct  Peerage  1831,  p.  209.  '  I.Q.D.,  9  Edw.  II.  181. 

H.R.  ii.  143,  153,  142,  150.  I0  Extent.     I. P.M.,  19  Edw.  II.  99. 


~~T*J>     —  JJt     *T**»     *-Jvt 

Pat.  Rolls,  31  Edw.  I.  14  ;  35  Edw.  1. 10. 

Pat.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  II.  pt.  i.  13. 

Pat.  Rolls,  34  Edw.  I.  37. 

I. P.M.,  34  Edw.  I.  8oa. 

O.,  34  Edw.  I.  Ri.  7. 

Pat.  Rolls,  i  Edw.  II.  pt.  i. 


I. P.M.,  2  Edw.  III.  59. 
Close  Rolls,  2  Edw.  III.  7. 
Close  Rolls,  2  Edw.  III.  19. 
Close  Rolls,  2  Edw.  III.  7. 
I.P.M.,  37  Edw.  III.  26. 


194  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

part  in  suppressing  the  insurrection  of  Jack  Straw.  Perhaps  his  most 
notable  successes  were  in  the  expedition  into  Spain  in  1385  with  John  Duke 
of  Lancaster  when  he  stormed  the  forts  raised  against  the  castle  of  Brest  in 
Brittany  and  relieved  by  his  valour  that  fortress  then  closely  besieged. 
He  married  ist  Eleanor,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue,  and  2ndly  Philippa 
daughter  and  coheir  of  John  de  Mohun  Lord  of  Demster  and  widow  of 
Edward  Duke  of  York  and  dying  in  1386'  the  manor  passed  to  or  rather  was 
granted  to  his  widow  Philippa  in  dower.*  She  survived  her  son  Walter 
Fitz  Walter  5th  baron,  who  died  in  1407,  but  who  was  nevertheless  called 
on  in  1405  to  show  by  what  services  he  held  the  manor.3  Philippa  also 
survived  her  grandson  Humphrey  who  died  in  1422,  but  herself  dying  in  1432, 4 
the  manor  passed  to  her  grandson  Walter  Fitz  Walter  7th  baron,  the  son  of 
her  son  Walter  by  Joane  daughter  of  Sir  John  Devereux  and  sister  and  heir 
of  John  2nd  Baron  Devereux.  The  7th  baron  distinguished  himself  in  the 
French  wars  under  Hen.  V.  and  died  also  in  1432,*  when  the  manor  passed 
to  his  widow  Elizabeth.6 

She  died  in  1463'  leaving  two  daughters,  Anne  wife  of  Thomas  Ratcliff e 
who  died  without  issue  and  Elizabeth  who  was  married  to  Sir  John 
Ratcliffe,  K.G.,  brother  of  the  said  Thomas,  carrying  the  barony  of  Fitz 
Walter  into  that  family.  Sir  John  was  a  distinguished  soldier.  He  was 
Governor  of  Trounsak  in  Aguitaine  and  had  a  thousand  marks  per  annum 
allowed  to  him  for  his  guard  thereof.  In  the  reign  of  Hen.  VI.  he  was  retained 
by  that  monarch  as  seneschal  of  that  duchy,  having  an  assignation  of  four 
shillings  per  day  for  his  own  salary  and  twenty  marks  a  piece  per  annum 
for  two  hundred  archers.  He  was  killed  at  Ferrybridge  in  1461  and  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Ratcliffe  who  in  right  of  his 
mother  was  summoned  to  Parliament  in  1485  as  Baron  Fitz  Walter.  At  the 
coronation  of  the  King's  Consort  Queen  Elizabeth  he  was  associated  with 
Joseph  Tudor  Duke  of  Bedford  in  performing  the  duties  of  High  Steward 
of  England,  but  being  implicated  in  the  conspiracy  in  favour  of  Perkin 
Warbeck  he  was  attainted  of  high  treason,  and  being  carried  prisoner  to 
Calais,  notwithstanding  an  attempted  escape  by  the  corruption  of  his 
guardians,  he  was  beheaded  in  1495. 

His  son  and  heir  Robert  Ratcliffe  was  restored  in  blood,  honour  and  estates 
by  Act  of  Parliament  i  Hen.  VIII.  and  attended  that  monarch  in  his  great 
expedition  to  Therouene  and  Tournay  and  commanded  the  van  of  the  army 
sent  10  years  later  into  France  under  the  Earl  of  Surrey  when  for  his  services 
he  was  created  Viscount  Fitz  Walter.  He  was  one  of  the  peers  signing  the 
articles  against  Wolsey,  and  subsequently  became  a  K.G.  and  on  the  28  Dec. 
1529  Earl  of  Sussex.  This  nobleman  attained  a  special  patent  to  himself 
and  his  heirs  male  of  the  office  of  Server  at  the  time  of  dinner  upon  the 
coronation  day  of  all  future  Kings  and  Queens  of  England  with  a  fee  of 
twenty  pounds  per  annum  out  of  the  Exchequer,  and  was  on  the  attainder 
of  Thomas  Cromwell  constituted  Lord  High  Chamberlain  of  England  for 
life.  He  married  ist  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Henry  Duke  of  Buckingham  and 
a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1512,  no  doubt  byway  of  settlement,  by 
Robert  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  others  against  the  said  Sir  Robert  Ratcliffe 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  as  also  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  of  Thurstanton. 8 

'  I.P.M.,  10  Rich.  II.  15.  *  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VI.  46. 

•  Pat.  Rolls,  10  Rich.  II.  pt.  ii.  18.  *  Livery  of  Manor,  D.K.R.  48.  App.  p.  287. 
»  Memoranda  Rolls,  6  Hen.  IV.  Mich.  Rec.         '  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  IV.  37. 

Rot.  i.  '  Fine,  Trin.  4  Hen.  VIII. 

•  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VI.  45. 


SHIMPLING. 


195 


Sir  Robert  Ratcliffe  married  2ndly  Lady  Margaret  Stanley  daughter  of 
Thomas  Earl  of  Derby,  and  3rdly  Mary  daughter  of  Sir  John  Arundel 
of  Lanherne,  Cornwall,  and  died  in  1542,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  and  heir  Sir  Henry  Ratcliffe  3rd  Lord  Fitz  Walter  and  2nd  Earl  of 
Sussex. 

He  was  engaged  in  the  expedition  into  Scotland  in  1547,  and  was  one 
of  the  first  to  declare  for  Queen  Mary  on  the  decease  of  Edw.  VI.  He 
was  rewarded  accordingly,  being  made  warden  and  Chief  Justice  itinerant 
of  all  the  forests  south  of  the  Trent  and  created  a  K.G.  He  married  Lady 
Elizabeth  Howard  daughter  of  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  dying  the  17 
Feb.  1556  was  succeeded  by  her  eldest  son  Sir  Thomas  Ratcliffe  4th  Lord 
Fitz  Walter  and  3rd  Earl  of  Sussex.  In  the  lifetime  of  his  father  he  had 
been  employed  in  some  important  and  delicate  diplomatic  missions.  He  was 
the  ambassador  chosen  by  Queen  Mary  to  send  to  the  Emperor  Charles  V. 
to  treat  of  a  marriage  between  herself  and  Prince  Philip  the  Emperor's 
eldest  son,  and  afterwards  to  proceed  to  the  Court  of  Spain  to  the  prince 
himself  to  obtain  a  ratification  of  the  treaty.  His  lordship  was  one  of  those 
fortunate  courtiers  who  retained  the  confidence  of  the  succeeding  sovereign, 
and  he  was  confirmed  in  the  office  of  Deputy  of  Ireland,  and  in  1561  con- 
stituted Lord  Lieutenant  of  that  kingdom.  To  him  was  intrusted  the 
negotiations  for  the  matrimonial  alliance  between  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the 
Archduke  Charles  of  Austria  and  later  to  treat  as  to  a  marriage  between 
his  sovereign  and  the  Duke  of  Anjou.  He  married  ist  Lady  Elizabeth 
Wriothesley  daughter  of  Thomas  Earl  of  Southampton  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons  Henry  and  Robert  who  died  young,  and  2ndly  Frances  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Sidney  knt.  sister  of  Sir  Henry  Sidney  knt.  but  had  no  issue,  and 
dying  in  1583  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Henry  Ratcliffe  5th  Lord  Fitz 
Walter  and  4th  Earl  of  Sussex. 

The  manor  was  sold  by  Robert  Earl  of  Sussex  in  1601  to  John  Snelling 
of  Boxford  co-founder  of  the  Royal  School  there.1  There  is  amongst  the 
State  Papers  a  grant  in  1616  of  Shimpling  Park  for  21  years  to  John  Taylor.2 
John  Snelling  died  in  1619,  when  the  manor  seems  to  have  passed  to  his 
daughter  and  heir  Anne  married  to  John  Duke.  They  sold  to  Frances 
Bacon  and  others,  and  in  1622  Simon  Wells,  D.D.,  rector  of  Brockley  was 
lord.  In  1636  the  manor  had  passed  to  William  Wells  clerk.  In  1640  we 
find  amongst  the  State  Papers  a  lease  of  tenements  and  manorial  rights  of 
Shimpling  Park  made  by  the  Queen  to  William  Crofts,3  and  a  further  lease 
to  the  same  in  1643 .4  A  Parliamentary  Survey  of  Shimpling  Park  made  in 
1650  is  in  the  Public  Record  Office.5  The  manor  passed  in  1655  to 
James  Cobbes  of  St.  Edmunds  Bury  for  he  held  his  first  Court  Baron  for  the 
manor  Oct.  22,  1655.  He  married  ist  Dorothea  dau.  of  Thomas  Oliver,  and 
2ndly  Martha  one  of  the  daughters  of  William  Barnes  of  East  Winch  in 
Norfolk  and  widow  of  Edmund  Isty  of  Bury  St.  Edmund.  He  died  in 
1685  and  was  interred  in  Great  Saxham  Church  on  the  7th  June.  The 
Harveys  of  Cockfield  subsequently  held  the  manor,  and  from  them  it  passed  to 
the  Aspin  and  Acton  families,  of  whom  it  was  purchased  by  Robert  Plampin 
who  held  in  1764.  On  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  John  Plampin,  who 
dying  in  1805  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  the  Rev.  John  Plampin,  who  dying 
in  1823  it  was  sold  by  his  trustees  to  Thomas  Halifax  who  was  High 

1  Fine,  Mich.  43,  44  Eliz.  4  State  Papers,  1643,  p.  378. 

•  State  Papers,  1616,  414.  5  D.K.R.  8.     App.  ii.  p.  67. 

3  State  Papers,  1640-41,  p.  48. 


196  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Sheriff  of  the  County  in  1838.'  On  his  death  in  1850  the  manor  passed  to 
the  Misses  Halifax.  The  manor  was  acquired  by  Jerom  Murch  of  Cranwells 
in  the  parish  of  Weston  in  the  County  of  Somerset,  and  passed  under  his 
will  to  his  only  son  Denis  Jerom  Murch  who  by  a  conveyance  dated  the  7th 
October,  1898  conveyed  the  same  to  Henry  Edwards  Paine  and  Richard 
Brettell  both  of  Chertsey  in  the  County  of  Surrey,  and  on  the  death  of  the 
said  Richard  Brettell  the  manor  devolved  wholly  upon  and  is  now  vested  in 
the  said  Henry  Edwards  Paine. 

There  is  an  Inquisition  post  mortem  take.i  at  Henhow  respecting  this 
manor  amongst  the  Lansdowne  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.1  An  appointment 
of  a  bailiff  of  the  manor  in  1438  will  be  found  among  the  Harleian  Charters3 
in  the  Brit.  Mus.  An  assignment  of  the  life  interest  of  Queen  Catherine 
of  Breganza  in  1680  in  Shimpling  Park  is  amongst  the  same  Charters,4  and 
an  abstract  of  a  deed  relating  to  the  Park  is  amongst  the  Additional  MSS. 
in  the  National  Collection.5 

CHADACRE  OR  CHARDACRE  HALL  MANOR,  GIFFORD'S  AND  BOXSTEAD'S. 

This  manor  was  held  in  King  Edward  the  Confessor's  time  by  the 
before-mentioned  Uluric  the  thane  with  i  carucate  of  land.  There  was  i 
villein  and  there  were  3  bordars  and  2  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne 
and  i  belonging  to  the  men,  3  acres  of  meadow  valued  at  60  shillings.  It 
wa=;  4  quarantenes  long  and  2  broad  and  paid  in  a  gelt  2%d.  The  Domesday 
tenant  in  chief  was  the  Countess  of  Albemarle.6  There  has  been  con- 
siderable discussion  as  to  who  this  countess  was,  and  the  whole  matter  is 
treated  by  Mr.  Planch£  in  his  work  "  The  Conqueror  and  his  Companions." 
She  was  Adelaide  daur.  of  Adelaide  sister  of  theConqueror  and  wife  of  Enguer- 
rand  or  Ingleram,  Sire  d'Aumale  in  right  of  his  mother.  After  the  death  of 
Ingleram  his  widow  married  2ndly  Lambert  Count  of  Leus  in  Artois  brother  of 
Eustace  II.  Count  of  Boulogne  and  had  by  him  a  daughter  named  Judith 
whose  hand  was  given  by  her  uncle  William  the  Conqueror  to  Waltheof 
Earl  of  Northumberland.  Count  Lambert  was  killed  at  Lille  in  a  battle 
between  Baldwin  Count  of  Flanders  and  the  Emperor  Henry  III.,  and  his 
widow  married  3rdly  Odo  of  Champagne  by  whom  she  was  the  mother  of 
Stephen  who  on  the  death  of  his  elder  half-sister  Adelaide  became  the  first 
Comte  d'Aumale  or  Earl  of  Albemarle,  the  Seigneurie  having  been  made  a 
comte  by  King  William.  The  late  Mr.  Freeman  fell  into  the  singular  error 
of  making  Odo  the  husband  of  the  younger  Adelaide.  The  Conqueror's  sister, 
the  first  Countess  of  Albemarle,  probably  died  before  1085.  Her  daughter 
Adelaide  succeeded  to  this  manor  and  on  her  death  without  issue  in  1096 
the  manor  passed  to  the  above  named  Stephen  Earl  of  Albemarle  who  died 
in  1126.  In  1301  William  de  la  Lee  and  Beatrice  his  wife  levied  a  fine  of 
the  manor  against  John  son  of  Walter  de  Barnham  and  Maria  his  wife. 8 
and  the  following  year  the  said  William  de  la  Lee  had  a  grant  of  free  warren 
in  Chadacre.'  In  1328  William  de  la  Lee  having  died  and  Beatrice  his 
widow  holding  the  manor  for  life  a  fine  was  levied  by  John  de  la  Lee  and 

1  The  property  was  offered  for  sale  at  the  '  Lansd.  229,  112. 

Six  Bells  Inn,  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  '  Harl.  48  F.  24. 

Sept.  17  1823.  in  six  lots,  and  con-  4  Harl.  in  H.  n. 

sisted  of  the  mansion  called  Chad-  '  Add.  34741. 

acre  Hall,  with  the  manors,  coverts,  *  Dom.  ii.  4306. 

farm  -  houses,      cottages,      woods,  '  London,  1874,  2  vols.  8vo,  vol.  i  p.  118 
meadows,    pasture    grounds,     and  to  126. 

arable  lands,  consisting  of  568  acres  "  Feet  of  Fines,  29  Edw.  I.  36. 

I  rood  and  18  perches.  »  Chart.  Rolls,  31  Edw.  I.  8,  18. 


SHIMPLING.  197 

Petronella  his  wife  against  John  Tristrem  of  Shimpling  and  Ralph  de 
Rerisby  of  the  same.'  In  1408  a  fine  was  levied  of  "  Giffardes  and  Wode- 
house  "  Manors  by  John  Durward  of  Bokkyng,  Richard  Baynard,  John 
Rookwode,Geoff  rey  Michel,  Ralph  Chaumberlayn,  and  Richard  Walton  against 
Henry  Hunt  and  Alice  his  wife  with  appurtenances  situate  in  Shimpling, 
Stansted,  Boxsted,  Melford  and  Glemsford,2  and  John  son  of  William  Dore- 
ward,  Robert  de  Taye  and  others  feoffees  granted  this  manor  called  Giffords 
in  1418  to  Robert  Hunter  and  Katherine  his  wife.  A  little  later  John  de 
Harleston  was  lord.  He  was  of  the  ancient  family  of  Harleston  and  descended 
from  the  noted  Sir  John  Herolveston  so  often  mentioned  in  our  early  English 
chronicles  for  his  martial  exploits  in  the  time  of  Rich.  II.  He  wa  followed 
by  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Harleston  who  held  part  of  Giffords  and  died  in 
I457»3  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Harleston  who  dying 
without  issue  in  1459  was  succeeded  by  his  uncle  Robert  Harleston  who 
forfeited  the  manor  in  1475,*  which  includes  tenements  called  "  Chadaker- 
hall,  Revelis  and  Gyffardes."  The  manor  was  the  same  year  granted  to  Sir 
William  Stanley.  The  grant  is  on  the  Patent  Rolls,  and  is  to  William 
Stanley  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  of  a  messuage  called  "  Chadakerhall," 
and  a  tenement  annexed  to  it  called  "Reules"  in  Shimpling,  a  tenement 
called  "  Gyffardes  "  in  Shimpling,  Standen  and  Boxstedes,  two  tenements 
called  ' '  Cokes  "  and  ' '  Valauntes  "  in  Hertest  and  a  tenement  called  "  Box- 
stedes "  in  Boxsted,  &c.5  Robert  Harleston  was  restored  in  blood  and 
estate  by  Act  of  Parliament  in  I485.6  On  the  opening  of  the  i6th  cent., 
however  the  manor  is  not  found  to  be  any  longer  in  the  Harleston  family, 
but  a  moiety  vested  in  Sir  Roger  Darcy  the  son  of  Thomas  Darcy  and 
Margaret  his  wife  sister  and  coheir  of  John  Harleston  who  died  as  mentioned 
above  without  issue  in  1459.  Sir  Roger  Darcy  who  was  Esquire  of  the 
body  to  Henry  VII.  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Wentworth 
knt.  and  dying  the  3  Sept.  I5O77  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir 
Thomas  Darcy  who  was  one  of  the  masters  of  the  King's  Artillery  in  the 
Tower  of  London,  and  a  gentleman  of  the  privy  chamber.  In  1542  he 
evidently  obtained  the  other  moiety  of  the  manor  by  virtue  of  a  fine  levied 
against  Sir  John  Mordaunt  and  Ela  his  wife.8  Of  this  moiety  Richard 
Fitz  Lewis  had  died  seised  the  12  July  1529,  having  held  in  right  of  his 
wife  Alice  Harleston  dau.  of  John  and  sister  and  coheir  of  John  Harleston— 
Richard  Fitz  Lewis  had  left  a  son  John  whose  daughter  Ela  had  married 
Sir  John  Mordaunt.9  This  manor  had  been  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1525 
by  Sir  John  Bourchier  and  others  against  Clement  A.  Harleston.10  In  1551 
being  then  Vice  Chamberlain  of  the  King's  household,  captain  of  the  guard 
and  one  of  the  principal  knights  of  the  privy  chamber  Sir  Thomas  Darcy 
was  advanced  to  the  peerage  as  Baron  Darcy  of  Chiche  in  the  County  of 
Essex  and  made  a  K.G.  A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1553  by  John 
Cutler  against  the  said  Thomas  Lord  Darcy."  He  married  Elizabeth  de 
Vere  daughter  of  John  Earl  of  Oxford  and  dying  in  1558  was  succeeded  in 
the  lordship  of  this  manor  by  his  eldest  son  John  2nd  Lord  Darcy.  He 
accompanied  William  Earl  of  Essex  into  Ireland  in  1574,  and  married 
Frances  daughter  of  Richard  Lord  Rich,  Lord  Chancellor  of  England. 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  2  Edw.  III.  30.  '  I.P.M.,  24  Hen.  VII.  80. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  9  Hen.  IV.  40.  '  Fine,  Hil.  34  Hen.  VIII. 

3  I.P.M.,  36  Hen.  VI.  13.  »  I.P.M.,  21  Hen.  VIII.  122. 

4  R.P.  vi.  1446 ;  I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  IV.  49.  '°  Fine,  Trin.  17  Hen.  VIII. 

5  Pat.  Rolls,  15  Ed.v.  IV.  pt.  iii.  16.  "  Fine,  Mich,  i  Mary. 

6  R.P.  vi.  2816. 


198  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

How  long  the  manor  continued  in  this  family  is  not  certain.  In  1764 
the  manor  was  vested  in  Robert  Plampin,  and  the  subsequent  devolution 
is  the  same  as  the  main  manor. 

ROWHEADS  al.   ROUSHEDGES  MANOR. 

It  is  not  clear  whether  this  was  a  manor  or  a  free  tenement  only.  An 
Inquisition  in  the  3rd  year  of  Hen.  VII.  [1487]  states  it  to  be  a  tenement 
called  "  Rowheddes  al.  Trystrams  "  in  Shimpling  and  Alpheton  held  of  Lord 
John  Fitz  Walter  as  of  the  Manor  of  Shimpling  by  fealty  and  35.  rent.  It 
is  found  that  trustees  were  seised  of  this  tenement  to  the  use  of  Thomas 
Spryng  who  died  the  28  Sept.  1486,  and  that  Thomas  Spryng  aged  30  years 
was  his  son  and  heir.'  In  subsequent  times  however  it  is  frequently  referred 
to  as  a  manor.  Thomas  Spring  called  the  "  Rich  Clothier  of  Lavenham  " 
was  the  Spring  who  built  two  chapels  in  Lavenham  Church  and  a  good  part 
of  the  steeple.  He  died  in  1523,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Sir  John  Spring.'  Three  years  before  his  death  he  disposed  of  the  manor  to 
his  brother  Robert  Spring3  who  married  Ann  daughter  of  Thomas  Eden  of 
London  and  died  seised  the  2Oth  April  1549'  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  Thomas  Spring  then  30  years  of  age.  Thomas  Spring  married  ist 
Julian  d.  and  h.  of  John  Fayrye  who  died  Sheriff  of  London,  and  2ndly  a 
daughter  of  Appleton  of  Waldlngfield,  and  according  to  the  Davy  MSS. 
held  this  manor  being  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Spring.  It 
seems  pretty  clear  however  that  the  manor  did  not  pass  to  this  last  Robert 
Spring,  for  before  the  year  1575  it  had  vested  in  Stephen  Spring  6th  son 
of  Robert  Spring  and  came  to  him  either  on  the  death  of  his  father 
Robert  in  1549  or  °f  ms  brother  Thomas,  for  in  this  year  1575  Stephen 
disposed  of  the  manor  to  Sir  William  Cordell.5  No  doubt  the  sale  was  made 
as  Stephen  Spring  had  an  only  daughter  as  heir,  Elizabeth  married  to  George 
Kempe  of  Swasye  in  Cambridgeshire. 

Arms  of  Harleston  :   Argent,  a  fesse  erm.  double  cotised  sab. 

A  "  Shimpling  Manor  "  is  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1569  by  William 
Waldegrave,  John  Heigham  and  others  against  Elizabeth  Drurie  widow  and 
others." 


1  Inquis.  3  Hen.  VII.  234.  '  Fine,  Trin.  35  Hen.  VIII. 

'  See  Netherhall  Manor,  Little  Walding-  '  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  VI.  141. 

field,  in  this  Hundred,  and  Manor  of  *  Fines,  Easter  and  Trin.,  17  Eliz. 

Pakenham  in  Thedwestry  Hundred.  *  Fine,  Easter,  II  Eliz. 


SOMERTON.  199 


SOMERTON. 

HE  manor  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  day  by  Stakker 
and  consisted  of  i  carucate  of  land  in  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund's  soc.  There  were  2  bordars,  4  slaves,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne,  3  acres  and  a  half  of  meadow,  15  hogs  and 
60  sheep  valued  at  30  shillings.  By  the  time  of  the  Great 
Survey  the  value  had  risen  to  40  shillings.  The  only  addition 
in  the  details  consisted  of  10  beasts  and  5  goats,  while  the 
ploughteams  were  reduced  by  half,  the  slaves  by  3,  the  hogs  by  7  and  the 
sheep  by  10.  Robert  son  of  Corbuzzo  was  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief.1 
The  only  other  important  holding  in  this  place,  though  not  either  in  Saxon 
times  or  at  the  period  of  the  Domesday  Survey  held  as  a  manor,  was  that  of 
the  Abbot  of  Bury  and  which  Frodo  held  of  him,  namely  one  carucate  of 
land,  i  villein,  5  bordars  accustomed  to  plough  with  3  teams  and  valued  at 
43  shillings  less  4^.  This  land  King  William  gave  to  the  Abbey  with  soc 
and  commendation  and  all  custom.  The  length  was  6  quarantenes  and  the 
breadth  4  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  $d.  Also  the  Abbot  had  a  freeman  with 
30^  acres  which  in  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  Frodo  too  held  of  the 
Abbot  and  the  value  was  2  shillings.2 

SOMERTON  MANOR. 

The  main  manor  was  held,  as  we  see,  by  Robert  Fitz  Corbutio  or  Cor- 
buzzo. He  was  one  of  the  three  sons  of  Corbuzzo,  Chamberlain  to  William 
the  Conqueror  in  Normandy,  one  of  whose  duties  was  to  find  rushes  for  the 
Duke's  bedchamber  and  a  bed  of  down.  The  manor  was  granted  in  the 
time  of  Richard  the  First  to  Richard  Nevill.3  In  1205  Thomas  de  Burgo 
was  lord,  and  in  1240  another  Thomas  de  Burgo  who  is  stated  to  have  held 
the  fourth  of  a  fee.  In  1274  we  find  yet  another  Thomas  de  Burgo  lord 
and  he  in  this  year  gave  the  ninth  sheaf  of  all  his  demesne  lands  in  this 
manor  and  Burgh  in  Cambridge,  and  had  in  exchange  the  advowson 
of  the  parish  Church  of  Somerton,  which  the  Prior  of  the  Augustine  Canons 
in  Thetford  conveyed  to  him.  In  1334  a  John  Multon  de  Egremont  was  lord 4 
and  in  1360  John  de  Burgh  held  half  a  fee  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  and  he 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Thomas  de  Burgh  who  died  leaving  his  sister 
and  coheir  Elizabeth  married  to  Sir  John  de  Ingaldesthorp  or  IngoJdes- 
thorp  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  de  Ingoldesthorp.  Sir  John  died  seised 
of  the  manor  in  I42O,5  leaving  Elizabeth  his  widow  who  died  the  following 
year.  Sir  John  de  Ingoldesthorp's  will  is  dated  Thursday  next  after  All 
Saints  in  1419,  and  in  it  he  names  Elizabeth  his  wife,  Sir  John  Colvile,  Sir 
William  Assonhull,  knts.,  and  William  AUington  his  executors.  The  will  was 
proved  June  8th  1420.  He  gave  legacies  to  the  churches  of  Reinham,Tilney, 
Emseth,  Ingaldesthorp,  and  Ingtesham  in  Norfolk,  to  Swaffham  Bulbeck, 
Burgh,  &c.,in  Cambridgeshire,  and  2O/.  to  the  chantry  of  Burgh;  of  all  which 
manors  he  was  possessed,  with  that  of  Frenge  in  Norfolk,  and  Somerton  in 
Suffolk,  and  was  buried  according  to  his  desire,  in  the  chancel  of  Burgh  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, where  on  the  north  side  he  has  a  stately  monument  with  the  statue 
of  himself  (and  lady)  in  complete  armour.  Blomefield  mentions  that  he 
has  seen  a  note  of  Le  Neve's  Norroy  at  Arms,  where  he  says,  "About  his  neck 

'  Dom.  ii.  4256.  4  I.P.M.,  8  Edw.  III.  13. 

•  Dom.  ii.  3596,  360.  5  I.P.M.,  8  Hen.  V.  49. 

3  Bodl.  4167. 


200  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

is  a  collar  though  more  like  a  garter,  with  the  buckle  put  pendant  in  the 
top  of  his  forehead  above  the  garter,"  adding,  "  This  is  an  odd  description 
of  Le  Neve's,  and  seems  rather  to  be  a  chaplet,  as  was  usual  in  that  age." 
The  will  of  Elizabeth  Sir  John's  widow  is  dated  Thursday  next  before  the 
feast  of  St.  Edmund  King  and  Martyr,  1421,  proved  Feb.  12  following. 
By  it  she  appoints  Sir  Walter  de  la  Pole,  Sir  John  Col  vile,  Sir  William 
Assonhull  knts.,  Thomas  Ingoldesthorp,  Henry  Noffingham,  and  John 
Crane  her  executors,  bequeathing  to  Thomas  her  son  a  bed  in  white  and  red, 
to  Alianore  her  daughter  a  black  mantle,  to  Margaret  Ingoldesthorpe  a 
testour,  to  the  Lady  Margaret  Zouche  her  sister  a  gold  chain ;  Dame 
Joan  Assonhull  wife  of  Sir  William  was  also  her  sister.  She  was  buried 
by  her  husband  at  Burgh. 

Thomas  Ingoldesthorp  was  but  19  years  of  age  at  his  father's  death  and 
the  custody  and  wardship  was  granted  to  his  mother.  He  married  Margaret 
daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Walter  de  la  Pole  lord  of  Sanston  in  Cambridge  and 
nephew  of  Michael  de  la  Pole  Earl  of  Suffolk.  Thomas  died  under  age  in 
1422.'  His  will  bears  date  January  14  in  the  same  year,  and  by  it  he 
orders  all  his  goods  to  be  disposed  of  by  Sir  Robert  Clifton  and  Thomas 
Sorrel  his  executors.  The  will  was  proved  May  22,  1422,  and  the  testator 
was  buried  in  the  church  of  Burgh.  Margaret  his  widow  had  in  the  same 
year  licence  to  remarry  from  the  King,  and  also  an  assignment  of  dower 
and  died  soon  after  in  1426,  leaving  Edmund  de  Ingoldesthorp  her  son 
and  heir  aged  5  years.  He  married  Joan  2nd  daur.  of  John  Tiptoft  Lord 
Powis  and  sister  to  John  Earl  of  Worcester. 

The  will  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Ingoldesthorp  is  dated  August  4,  1456  and 
in  it  he  appoints  Joan  his  wife,  Sir  John  Prisot  knt.,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Common  Pleas,  Laurence  Cheyney  and  Thomas  Lockton  his  executors, 
and  gives  to  his  wife  the  manors  of  Kenwick  in  Tilney  and  of  Frenge  in 
Norfolk,  Burgh,  Meldreth,  and  Alvitheley  for  life,  after  to  Isabel  his  daughter, 
and  for  default  of  her  issue  to  John  Earl  of  Worcester,  Lord  Tiptoft  and 
Powis  to  be  sold  to  pray  for  the  souls  of  Sir  John  Ingaldesthorp,  Thomas 
Ingaldesthorp,  his  own,  and  that  of  Sir  Walter  de  la  Pole.  He  died  seised 
of  this  manor  the  2nd  September  1456." 

He  was  buried  in  the  midst  of  the  chancel  of  Burgh  Church  where  a 
sumptuous  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory,  with  his  portraiture  in 
brass,  and  in  armour,  his  head  (without  a  helmet)  resting  on  a  bull's 
head,  couped,  in  a  coronet.  The  inscription,  or  rather  a  fragment  of  it  is 
given  by  Blomefield,  who  says  it  is  "  for  the  most  part  broke  off,  and  seems 
to  have  been  in  rude  rhyming  verse,  according  to  the  taste  of  the  age." 

Uxorem  comitis  de  Wyrceter  ipse  sororem, 

Anno  milleno  quater  x.  c.  x.  quoq. ;  seno  : 
Eccle  dies  bina  Septembris  quando  aniina 
Militis  hujus  erat . 

In  1460  Sir  John  Prisot  one  of  his  executors  had  licence  dated  December 
5,  39  Hen.  VI.  to  found  a  chantry  in  the  church  of  Burgh  for  the  said  Sir 
Edmund,  Sir  Thomas  his  father,  and  Sir  John  his  grandfather,  Sir  John  de 
Burgh  and  Catherine  his  wife.  The  Lady  Joan  widow  of  Sir  Edmund 
married  Thomas  Grey  younger  son  of  John  Lord  Grey  de  Ruthyn  and 
brother  to  Edward  Grey  the  first  Earl  of  Kent.  This  Thomas  was  created 
Lord  Grey  of  Rugemont  in  Bedfordshire  on  the  death  of  Edward  Tiptoft 
Earl  of  Worcester  who  died  a  minor  in  the  3rd  year  of  Richard  III.  She 

1  I.P.M.,  i  Hen.  VI.  46.  "  I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VI»  20.- 


SOMERTON.  201 

with  her  two  sisters  Philippa,  who  married  Thomas  Lord  Roos  of  Hamlake, 
and  Joyce  who  married  Edmund  eldest  son  of  John  Lord  Dudley,  were 
found  to  be  his  aunts  and  coheirs.  She  died  on  the  2ist  June  1494.' 

It  seems  that  Edmund  de  Ingoldesthorp  left  two  daurs.  only,  Isabel 
and  Joan.  Joan  must  have  died  without  issue  for  the  manor  went  to  the 
issue  of  Isabel.  She  married  Sir  John  Nevill  3rd  son  of  Richard  Nevill, 
Earl  of  Salisbury  by  the  Lady  Alice  Montacute  dau.  and  heir  of  Thomas 
Montacute  Earl  of  Salisbury.  He  was  created  Baron  Nevill  of  Montague 
by  K.  Hen.  VI.  in  1460,  and  after  espousing,  with  his  father  and  elder 
brother  Richard  the  celebrated  Earl  of  Warwick,  the  cause  of  the  House  of 
York,  he  was  advanced  by  Edward  IV.  on  his  accession  to  the  throne 
to  the  dignity  of  Earl  of  Northumberland.  He  received  considerable 
grants  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  out  of  forfeited  lands  in  consideration  for  his 
services  under  the  Duke  of  Somerset  when  he  defeated  the  Lancasterians  at 
Hexham ;  but  on  the  subsequent  restoration  of  Percy  he  relinquished  the 
title  of  Northumberland  receiving  in  lieu  that  of  Marquess  of  Montagu.2 
Leland  says  that  the  King  suspecting  the  fidelity  of  Sir  John  Nevill  privately 
incited  the  people  of  the  north  to  desire  the  restoration  of  young  Henry 
Percy  knowing  his  interest  there,  whereby  he  might  be  an  important 
opposing  factor  to  Nevill,  and  that  to  save  his  outward  enmity  when  he 
resigned  the  Earldom  of  Northumberland  he  was  created  Marquis  of 
Montagu.  The  bait  however  did  not  prove  effectual,  for  on  the  revolt  of 
Richard  Earl  of  Warwick,  his  brother  (who  had  an  irreconciliable  hatred  to 
King  Edward,)  the  Lord  Montagu  having  collected  together  6,000  men  in 
King  Edward's  name  joined  the  Earl,  telling  them  that  the  King  having 
restored  Percy  to  the  Earldom  of  Northumberland,  and  giving  him  the 
title  of  Marquis  Montagu,  was  only  giving  him  a  Pie's  nest,  and  therefore 
he  would  take  part  with  his  brother.  He  fell  with  his  celebrated  brother  at 
the  Battle  of  Barnet  14  April  1471,  and  both  were  attainted.  He  left 
issue  by  Isabel:  i  George  who  was  created  Duke  of  Bedford  in  1469  by 
Edward  IV.  when  he  contemplated  marrying  him  to  his  eldest  daughter 
the  Lady  Elizabeth  Plantagenet ;  but  after  the  attainder  of  his  father 
he  was  degraded  of  all  his  dignities  and  honours  by  Parliament  in  1477, 
and  died  without  issue  at  Sheriff's  Honton  in  Yorkshire  in  1485 ;  2  John, 
who  died  without  issue  in  1480  and  was  buried  at  Sanston  in  Cambridge- 
shire ;  3  Anne  wife  of  Sir  Wm.  Stoner  knt.  of  Oxfordshire;  4  Elizabeth 
wife  ist  of  Thomas  Lord  Scrope  of  Upsall  and  2ndly  of  Sir  Henry 
Wentworth  of  Nettlestead;  5  Margaret,  wife  ist  of  Sir  John  Mortimer 
of  Essex  and  2ndly  of  Charles  Brandon  Duke  of  Suffolk  from  whom 
she  was  divorced,  and  3rdly  of  Robert  Downes;  6  Lucy  wife  ist  of 
Sir  Thomas  Fitz  Williams  of  Aldwarke  in  Yorkshire  knt.,  and  2ndly 
of  Sir  Anthony  Browne  knt.  Standard-bearer  of  England ;  and  7  Isabel, 
wife  of  Sir  William  Huddleston  knt.  of  Salston. 

In  the  Inquis.  p.m.  9  Hen.  VII.  it  is  stated  that  the  manor  was  worth 
4/.  and  held  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford ;  also  that  Thomas  Byllyng  and  others 
were  seised  of  the  manor  to  the  use  of  "  Joan  Ingoldesthorp  and  of  Edmund 
Ingoldesthorp  her  husband  and  his  heirs." 

The  heirs  of  Edmund  Ingoldesthorp  are  found  in  this  Inquisition  to  be  : 
John  Stonor  aged  10 ;  Elizabeth  wife  of  Sir  Henry  Wentworth,  late  wife  of 
Thomas  Lord  le  Scroppe;  Margaret  wife  of  Sir  JohnMortymer;  Lucy  wife 
of  Sir  Thomas  Fitz  William ;  and  Isabel  wife  of  William  "  Hodelston,"  all  over 

'  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VII.  1088.  *  Let.  Pat.  25  March,  10  Edw.  IV. 


202  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

23,  viz.,  John  Stonor  as  son  of  Anne  one  of  the  daughters  and  heirs  of  Isabel, 
Marchioness  Mountagewe,  daughter  and  heir  of  the  said  Joan  ;  and  the  said 
Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Lucy,  and  Isabel  as  the  other  daughters  and  heirs  of 
the  said  Marchioness.1  There  is  an  inquiry  in  the  State  Papers  of 
1524  touching  the  feoffment  of  this  manor  to  Dame  Margaret  Mortimer." 

The  manor  seems  to  have  vested  probably  on  partition  in  Dame 
Margaret  Mortimer  remarried  to  Robert  Downes,  and  in  1522  a  fine  was 
levied  of  the  manor  by  Thomas  Rasshe  against  this  Robert  Downes.3 
Further  the  State  Papers  disclose  an  attempt  by  Sir  James  Framingham 
and  his  wife  to  obtain  the  manor  after  this  lady's  death,  and  Wolsey 
granted  an  injunction  restraining  Sir  Anthony  Win gfield  and  William  Waller 
from  proceedings  against  Dame  Margaret  Mortimer  and  her  third  husband 
in  an  action  of  debt  for  3,000  marks  before  the  justices  of  the  King's  Bench. 

It  seems  that  Sir  James  Framingham  and  Dame  Anne  his  wife  had  en- 
deavoured to  persuade  Margaret  Mortimer  to  bind  herself  to  leave  her 
inheritance  to  them,  and  this  she  refused  to  do  on  account  of  their  "  manifold 
unkindness,  saying,  she  would  never  be  bound  to  her  cradle,  but  be  lady 
of  her  own  during  her  life."  It  was  alleged  that  they  several  times  turned 
her  out  of  their  house  at  Crowyshall,  after  having  spent  and  borrowed  all 
her  money  ;  and  had  failed  to  get  bonds  from  her  for  her  inheritance.  The 
last  time  they  put  her  out  they  took  away  from  her  £8  and  withheld  all  her 
plate  and  apparel.  This  took  place  on  Christmas  eve,  and  she  "  was  driven 
to  seek  her  lodging  that  holy  time  of  Christmas,  and  also  fain  to  go  all  the 
said  Christmas,  as  she  went  upon  Christmas  even,  to  her  great  discomfort." 

It  was  shown  that  Margaret  sealed  and  delivered  an  obligation  of  3,000 
marks  the  6  August  n  Hen.  VIII.  [1519]  in  the  chapel  at  Croweshall,  Deben- 
ham,  to  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield  and  William  Waller  when  none  were  present 
but  the  said  Margaret  and  Waller  and  the  chapel  door  was  shut.  When  it 
was  done  Waller  called  in  the  servants  of  the  house  as  witnesses.  The 
effect  of  the  obligation  was  that  she  should  "  make  estate  of  "  a  pension  of 
100  marks  she  had  from  the  Exchequer,  and  the  Manors  of  Somerton  and 
Droitwitch  Suff.  and  Wore,  to  certain  persons  named  by  Wingfield  and 
Waller  for  her  use  during  her  life,  and  at  her  death  for  six  years  the  manors 
were  to  be  held  to  the  use  of  her  will  and  afterwards  to  go  to  Framingham 
and  his  wife.  The  annuity  was  to  remain  to  Dame  Anne  immediately  on 
Margaret's  death  and  there  was  a  provision  that  she  should  not  alienate 
any  of  her  inheritance.  No  feoffees  were  ever  named  by  Wingfield  and 
Waller  to  Dame  Margaret  and  no  request  was  ever  made  to  her  to  make 
any  such  estate,  either  before  her  marriage  to  Downes  or  after.  She  was  a 
widow  for  two  and  a  half  years  after  making  the  obligation.  The  day  of 
making  the  obligation,  Waller  promised  that  none  of  her  lands  should  be 
put  to  any  "  after  deal,  hurt  or  damage,"  but  the  bond  should  only 
stand  to  show  to  Sir  James  who  was  then  on  his  death  bed  and  died  nine 
days  after.  He  also  promised  to  redeliver  the  obligation  at  Sir  James's 
death.  She  sent  Sir  Henry  Wodward  the  chaplain  three  times  to  ask  for  it ; 
but  he  answered  that  he  could  not  well  tell  where  it  was.  He  said  however 
lie  would  look  for  it  amongst  his  books  at  Yepsyche  (Ipswich)  and  Rameshall 
and  send  it  her. 

Dame  Margaret  alleged  that  she  never  had  a  pennyworth  for  the  making 
of  the  obligation  and  never  had  any  lands  or  moveables  from  Robert  Fornesse 

1  Inquis.  9  Hen.  VII.  1088.  3  Fine,  Easter,  14  Hen.  VIII. 

•  I.P.M.,  Hen.  VII.  737. 


SOMERTON.  203 

Dame  Anne's  father.  Broune  and  Dame  Anne  came  to  Downes's  house 
after  he  had  married  Dame  Margaret  and  in  her  sight  stabbed  at  him  with 
a  dagger  "  and  like  to  have  stricked  him  ;  and  for  fear  the  said  Dame 
Margaret  swooned  three  times  that  night  so  that  they  might  anethes  get  the 
life  in  her/'  which  was  the  cause  of  their  selling  Somerton,  for  fear  of  her 
death,  to  pay  her  debts. 

A  few  years  later  we  find  the  manor  vested  in  Arthur  Rushe  who 
died  in  1548,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Anthony  Rushe,  who  sold  the 
same  in  1557  to  Henry  Payne1  and  Richard  Poley  and  the  latter  presented 
to  the  living  this  same  year.  William  Baker  presented  in  1571  and  1583 
and  probably  then  had  the  manor.  A  fine  of  it  was  levied  in  1588  by  Ed- 
mund Saunders  against  Philip  Coningsby2  In  the  time  of  James  I.  it  seems  to 
have  passed  to  Edward  Copley  who  died  in  1609  when  the  manor  passed  to 
his  son  Edward  Copley,  who  sold  to  Sir  Francis  Blundell.  He  died  in  1702 
and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  George  Blundell  and  from  him  to 
his  son  and  heir  Francis  Blundell,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Montague  Viscount  Blundell,  and  in  1827  it  was  vested  in  Arthur  Blundell 
Sandys-Trumball  Hill  third  Marquis  of  Downshire.  In  1847  the  manor 
was  vested  in  George  Walter  Poley,  and  is  now  vested  in  John  George 
Weller  Poley  of  Boxstead  Hall. 

The  descent  of  this  manor  of  Somerton  Hall  is  given  in  the  Rawlinson 
MSS.  in  the  Bodl.3  Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of 
Elizabeth  is  a  claim  by  Anne  wife  of  Philip  Coningslye  and  Elizabeth  Pollie 
as  co-parceners  against  William  Baker  as  to  Somerton  Hall  al.  Somerton 
Manor,  late  the  estate  of  Francis  Pollie  dec.4 

HORES  MANOR. 

To  this  manor  Davy  assigned  as  first  lord,  Edward  Vauney, 
but  without  giving  any  date.  No  doubt  he  merely  entered  the 
name  from  the  fact  that  in  1428  Nicholas  Drury  is  stated  to  have 
held  here  the  fourth  of  a  fee  formerly  belonging  to  Edward  Vauney. 
Nicholas  Drury  held  the  lordship  and  married  Joan  daughter  of 
Thomas  Heath  of  Mildenhall.  He  died  in  1456  when  the  manor  passed 
to  his  2nd  son  Roger  Drury  who  by  his  second  wife  Felice  daughter  of 
William  Denson  of  Besthorp  Norfolk  had  a  son  Sir  Robert  Drury,  who 
on  the  death  of  his  father  Roger  Drury  in  1500  succeeded  to  the  lordship. 

Roger  Drury  the  son  by  his  will  dated  the  2Oth  Jan.  1493  be- 
queathed to  the  "  heyanter  of  the  churches  of  Hartest,  Somerton,  and 
Whepsted  to  iche  of  them  vjs.  viij^."  Amongst  many  peculiar  bequests 
he  gives  "  a  standyng  pece  white  and  gilt  the  which  weyeth  xxvij.  unc. 
myn  old  silver  bason  with  the  Drury's  armes  departed  which  weyeth  xxxvij. 
unc.,  also  my  gilt  ewer  the  which  weyeth  xviij.  unc."  to  his  wife.  He  also 
adds,  "  I  will  that  she  (his  wife)  have  my  chased  pece  with  myn  armys  in 
the  botom,  the  which  weyeth  xij.  unc.,  because  she  hath  ij.  peces  of  the 
same  sute.  Also  I  will  that  she  have  my  playne  flat  pece,  with  a  gilt  knoppe, 
which  weyeth  xvj.  unc.,  also  I  will  that  she  have  my  powder  box  which 
weyeth  vij.  unc.  Also  I  will  that  she  have  my  primer  clothed  with  purpill 
damaske,  and  my  boke  clothed  with  red  leather,  in  which  boke  is  the  masse 
of  John.  Also  I  will  that  she  have  my  white  counterpeynt  which  hath 

1  Fine,  Hil.  4  Mary  i.  3  Rawl.  B.  319. 

'  Fine,  Easter,  30  Eliz.  *  C.P.  i.  190. 


204  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

myn  armys,  my  greene  coverlyght  wrought  with  white  coton,  my  payer  of 
fritzans,  my  hoole  chamber  that  I  ly  in,  my  ij .  bedds  in  my  maiden's  chamber 
hoole,  with  the  change  of  shets  and  napery  such  part  as  she  thynkyth 
necessary  for  her  withought  contradicon." 

The  escutcheons  as  given  by  Cullum  on  the  tomb  of  Sir  Roger  Drury 
in  Hawstead  Church  are  :  A  tan  between  2  mullets  in  chief. — Drury.  2 
Drury  empaling  a  coat  charged  with  a  chevron. — Harmingficld.  3  Drury 
empaling,  first,  a  coat  charged  with  a  chevron,  on  which  is  a  cross-crosslet ; 
second,  2  lions  passant  guardant. — Denston.  4  Drury  empaling  quarterly, 
ist  3  mullets  on  a  band,  2nd  obscure  except  a  chief,  3  as  2,  4  as  i.  From  the 
time  of  Sir  Robert  Drury  who  died  in  1535-6  to  the  time  of  Sir  Robert 
Drury  who  died  in  1615  the  manor  passed  in  the  same  course  as  the  Manor 
of  Hawstead  in  Thingoe  Hundred. 

Sir  Robert  Drury  did  not  die  seised  of  the  manor,  for  in  1594  he  had 
sold  it  to  Lionel  Sharpe.1 


1  Fine,  Trin.  36  Eliz. 


STANSTEAD.  205 

STANSTEAD. 

'N  the  Confessor's  days  Goodmund  the  Thane  held  in  demesne 

5  carucates  as  a  manor  with  soc.    There  were  4  villeins,  10 
bordars,  10  slaves,  4  ploughteams  in  demesne,  and  2  belonging 
to  the  men,  16  acres  of  meadow,  i  mill,  wood  for  10  hogs,  3 
horses,  16  beasts,  60  hogs,  and  100  sheep.    The  value  then  was 

6  pounds,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  it  rendered 
12  pounds,  tho'  the  villeins  were  but  three,  the  slaves  fewer 

by  4,  and  the  ploughteams  in  demesne  reduced  by  one.  The  only  increase 
was  one  horse.  The  manor  was  one  league  long  and  4  quarantenes  broad, 
and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  j^d.  whoever  might  be  the  holder.  There  was  also 
a  church  living  with  25  acres  of  free  land.1  The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief 
was  Hugh  de  Montfort.  He  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Hastings,  20  years 
before  the  Survey,  and  must  have  been  then  a  good  age,  as  at  the  eventful 
battle  he  had  the  command  of  the  horse.  Indeed  it  is  known  that  in  1054 
he  had  greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his  conduct  in  Normandy  when  the 
great  army  with  which  King  Henry  I.  of  France  invaded  Normandy  was 
defeated  at  Mortemer.  He  had  supplied  the  Conqueror  with  50  ships  and 
sixty  knights  and  in  the  Battle  of  Hastings  he  and  the  Seigneur  de  Vieuxpont 
gallantly  rescued  William  Malet  who  had  his  horse  killed  under  him  and  would 
have  been  slain  himself  but  for  their  timely  aid.  They  lost  many  of  their 
people,but  succeededin  protecting  Malet, and  mounting  him  on  a  fresh  horse." 
His  high  character  and  the  confidence  placed  in  his  abilities  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  three  barons  to  whom  the  Conqueror 
when  he  visited  Normandy  in  1067  entrusted  the  administration  of 
justice  in  England.  The  family  were  a  family  of  warriors,  and  the  father 
of  this  Domesday  tenant  lost  his  life  in  a  duel  with  Walkelin  de  Ferrieres. 
In  fact  both  the  combatants  lost  their  lives  in  the  same  affray  and  on  the 
same  day.  Hugh  de  Montfort  the  tenant  in  chief  received  in  reward  for  his 
services  in  the  conquest  sixteen  manors  in  Essex,  nineteen  in  Norfolk,  twenty- 
eight  in  Kent,  and  the  large  number  of  fifty-one  in  Suffolk,  besides  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  Romney  Marsh.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Richard 
de  Bellofago  by  a  daur.  of  the  Count  of  Ivri,  and  was  therefore  niece  of  John 
Archbishop  of  Rouen,  of  Hugh,  Bishop  of  Bayeux  and  of  the  wife  of  Osbern 
de  Crepon.  By  her  he  had  two  sons  Hugh  and  Robert  and  by  a  second  wife 
he  had  a  daur.  Alice  who  on  the  death  of  her  half-brothers  without  issue 
inherited  the  family  estates.  Hugh  de  Montfort  became  a  monk  in  the 
Abbey  of  Bee  and  probably  died  shortly  after  the  Domesday  Survey.  His 
2nd  son  Robert  was  commander  in  chief  of  the  Norman  army  in  Maine  in 
1099,  and  joined  the  Crusade  under  Bohemund  in  1107.  Alice  the 
daughter  of  Hugh  de  Montfort  married  Gilbert  de  Gant  son  of  Baldwin 
VI.  count  of  Flanders  and  consequently  nephew  of  Queen  Matilda.  Their 
son,  Hugh  de  Gant  assumed  the  name  of  Montfort  and  was  called  Hugh 
the  Fourth.  He  married  Adeline  daughter  of  Robert  Count  of  Mellent  and 
had  a  son  Robert  de  Montfort  who  died  without  issue.  The  Montfort 
arms  were  :  Bendy  of  ten,  Or.  and  Azure. 

STANSTEAD  OR  OVERHALL  MANOR. 

In  1219  the  Domesday  manor  had  become  divided  into  two,  later  known 
as  Overhall  and  Netherhall.      Overhall  which  was  the  main  lordship  was 

1  Dom.  ii.  408.  *  Planch6,  "  The  Conqueror  and  his  Com- 

panions," vol.  i,  p.  167. 


zo6  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

vested  in  Osbert  de  Wachesham  and  Isabel  his  wife  who  had  also  part  of  the 
advowson.  Osbert  predeceased  his  wife,  and  she  appears  as  the  holder  of 
3  4th  of  a  fee  in  the  Red  Book  of  the  Exchequer.1 

On  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  Sir  Giles  de  Wachesham' 
who  was  living  in  1234  an^  had  a  wife  named  Elizabeth.  He  died  in  1267, 
leaving  his  son  and  heir  Giles  de  Wachesham  who  had  the  manor.  He  was  a 
witness  to  a  grant  of  Theobald  son  of  Will,  de  Leyston  by  which  he  gave  the 
manor  of  Sawode  to  Bury  Abbey  and  had  a  charter  of  free  warren  in  his 
manors  of  Marlynford,  Wortham,  Stansted,  Wachesham,  &c.  In  1267 
Giles  the  son  and  heir  was  40  years  old  and  John  his  brother  was  of  age  and 
had  half  a  fee  given  him  by  Elizabeth  his  mother.3  In  1272  Giles  the  son 
died*  and  the  manor  probably  passed  to  his  widow  Joan  and  subject  to 
her  interest  to  their  son  Sir  Gerard  or  Giles  de  Wachesham  then  an  infant. 
The  entry  in  the  Hundred  Rolls  as  to  the  manor  is  that  Giles  de  Wachesham 
held  in  chief  of  the  king  one  knight's  fee  in  Stanstead  of  which  half  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  King  as  guardian  by  reason  of  the  death  of  the  said  Giles 
and  that  John  de  Verdun  held  the  other  half5  of  the  said  Giles.6  In  1290 
Sir  Gerard  or  Giles  de  Wachesham  was  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  and 
died  in  1294,  leaving  Giles  de  Wachesham  his  son  and  heir  who  paid  £6. 55. 
for  relief  of  his  father's  lands  namely  a  fee  and  a  fourth  part  in  Stansted, 
2os.  for  Wachesham,  which  he  held  by  the  sergeanty  of  jumping,  belching, 
and  otherwise  making  a  beast  of  himself  once  in  the  year  before  the  King,  as 
appears  from  the  Memoranda  of  the  Exchequer  Ao.  2ist  Edw.  I.  This 
Giles  or  Gerard  as  he  is  sometimes  called,  in  1300  settled  Wortham  on  him- 
self for  life  and  then  on  Giles  de  Wachesham  his  son  and  Amy  or  Amicia 
his  wife  and  their  heirs,  and  in  1310  he  settled  the  advowson  and  part  of  the 
manors  on  John  (?  Robert)  his  son  and  Joan  his  wife.  On  the  Patent 
Rolls  will  be  seen  a  pardon  in  1304  to  Master  Henry  de  Bradenham  for  enter- 
ing on  the  manor  of  Stanstead  demised  to  him  for  life  by  this  Gerard  de 
Wachesham.7  The  fine  was  duly  paid  for  the  transgression  the  same  year,8 
and  the  manor  is  included  in  an  Inquisition  of  Sir  Henry  de  Bradenham's 
lands  with  an  extent.9  The  manor  is  also  included  in  the  Inquisition  post 
mortem  of  Gerard  de  Wachesham  in  1307.'°  This  same  year  we  find  on  the 
Patent  Rolls  a  licence  for  Gerard  de  Wachesham  to  grant  in  fee  simple  to 
Giles  his  son  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Stanstead  and  the  reversion  of 
the  manor  of  Stanstead  which  Master  Henry  de  Bradenham  held  for  life." 

In  1329  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Robert  de  Wechesham  and 
Joan  his  wife  dau.  of  Simon  de  Hetherset  against  Giles  de  Wechesham12  and 
in  1359  another  fine  was  levied  by  John  de  Wachesham  and  Margaret  his 
wife  against  Robert  de  Wachesham  then  Sir  Robert  and  Joan  his  wife, 
Ralph  de  Denton  and  others  by  which  the  manor  and  the  advowson  of  the 
church  were  settled  on  themselves  and  their  issue.'3  The  above  Sir  Robert 
de  Wachesham  left  an  only  daughter  Elizabeth  who  married  Sir  Thomas 
Gerbridge'4  who  inherited  the  estate  in  her  right.  He  left  an  only  daughter 
Alice  who  married  Sir  Edmund  Barry  or  Berry,  knt.  The  manor  does  not 
however,  seem  to  have  left  the  Wachesham  family,  for  it  appears  to  have 

'  cxxx.  rider  c.  '  Pat.  Rolls,  34  Edw.  1. 17. 

1  See  Manor  of  Wortham  Hall  in  Hartis-  .     "  Originalia,  32  Edw.  I.  Ri.  5; 

mere  Hundred.  '  I.P.M.,  32  Edw.  I.  189. 

»  I.P.M.,  52  Hen.  III.  14.  •  I.P.M.,  35  Edw.  I.  80. 

•  I.P.M.,  i  Edw.  I.  9.  See  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  I:          '  Pat.  Rolls,  35  Edw.  I.  31 

28.  "  Feet  of  Fines,  3  Edw.  III.  17. 

This  is  Netherhall  Hall  Manor:  '  Feet  of  Fines,  33  Edw.  III.  29. 

•  H.R.  ii.  142,  146,  150.  '  Davy  says  Sir  Edmund  Barry  or  Berry. 


STANSTEAD.  207 

been  vested  in  a  Sir  Robert  de  Wachesham  in  1433.  This  year  he  made 
his  will  in  which  he  ordered  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  Carmelites  or  White 
Friars  at  Norwich.  He  left  two  daughters  and  coheirs — Agnes,  married  to 
Sir  William  Paston  afterwards  Judge  Paston  ;  and  Alice  married  to  Sir 
Thomas  Bardolph,  knt.,  who  in  1454  released  their  right  to  Agnes  and  Sir 
William  Paston  in  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Stanstead.  This  Sir  William 
Paston  was  the  son  and  heir  of  Clement  Paston  of  Oxnead  in  Norfolk.  He 
was  bred  to  the  bar  and  in  1413  made  steward  of  all  the  courts  and  letes 
belonging  to  Richard  Courtney,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  who  settled  upon  him 
£5  per  annum  out  of  his  lordship  of  Blofield  and  "  a  livery  yearly  on  the 
nativity  of  our  Saviour  out  of  his  wardrobe  of  woollen  cloth  and  fur  such  as 
the  other  peers  or  nobles  of  his  retinue  received  yearly."  In  1426  he  received 
the  coif  and  in  1429  Hen.  VI.  granted  him  no  marks  per  annum  with  two 
robes  more  than  the  ordinary  fees  of  the  judges  as  a  special  mark  of  his 
favour,  being  a  judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  and  of  the  King's  Council  for  his 
Duchy  of  Lancaster.  The  Prior  of  Bromholm  in  1438  gave  him  for  his 
services  16  acres  of  land  at  Baketon  and  the  Abbot  of  Bury  granted  him 
a  letter  of  confraternity  or  brotherhood  whereby  he  partook  of  all  the 
prayers  of  that  Abbey  both  alive  and  dead.  He  was  surnamed  "  the  Good 
Judge,"  and  died  in  London  the  i4th  Aug.  1443  at  the  age  of  66,  being  buried 
in  the  chapel  at  the  east  end  of  Norwich  Cathedral.  Agnes  his  wife  died  in 
1479  and  was  buried  by  his  side.  His  will  is  dated  June  20  1443,  and  by 
an  Inquisition  taken  Nov.  2  in  the  same  year,  John  Paston  was  found  to  be 
his  son  and  heir  and  of  the  age  of  23  years  ;  Edmund  his  son  was  found  to  be 
1 8,  and  Clement  his  other  son  i  year  old.  Sir  William  Paston  in  right  of  his 
wife  quartered  the  arms  of  the  ancient  families  of  Hetherset,  Wachesham, 
Craven,  Gerbridge,  Hengrave  and  Kerdeston. 

John  Paston  succeeded  to  the  lordship  and  married  Margaret  daughter 
and  heir  of  Sir  John  de  Manteby  by  Margaret  his  wife  daughter 
of  John  Berney  of  Redham.  He  was  a  man  highly  respected  and  worthy 
of  his  father.  Sir  John  Fastolf  Knight  of  the  Garter  appointed  him  one  of 
his  executors,  giving  him  all  his  manors,  lands  and  hereditaments  in  trust 
to  found  a  college  of  seven  priests  at  Castor  near  Yarmouth  and  to  pay 
4,000  marks  in  charitable  uses  in  Norf.  Surf,  and  Norwich  "  for  the  singular 
love  and  trusts  "  (says  Sir  John)  "  that  I  have  to  my  cozen  John  Paston 
before  all  others,  being  in  very  beleve  that  he  will  execute  my  will  herein." 
King  Edward  IV.  seized  several  of  the  estates  of  this  John  Paston  and  he 
was  committed  a  prisoner  to  the  Fleet.  Just  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  London  May  26  1466,  he  assigned  over  his  jewels,  chattels  and 
effects  to  Sir  John  Paston  sen.  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  John  Paston  jun., 
William  and  Clement  his  other  sons,  and  was  buried  at  Bromholm  Abbey 
in  a  very  solemn  and  sumptuous  manner.  Blomefield  gives  the  expenses 
paid  at  his  funeral  from  a  roll  in  his  own  possession  and  the  particulars  are 
very  curious. 

Sir  John  Paston  the  son  of  the  Judge  so  thoroughly  trusted  by  Sir  John 
Fastolf  does  not  seem  to  have  borne  the  irreproachable  character  of  his 
father  if  the  tale  told  of  him  be  authentic  It  is  said  that  the  Judge  his 
father  having  left  large  sums  of  money  and  securities  of  great  value  to  be 
distributed  amongst  his  children  and  placed  them  in  a  coffer  which  he 
deposited  in  the  Priory  of  Norwich  having  taken  an  oath  from  his  eldest 
son  Sir  John  Paston  that  the  treasure  should  not  be  resorted  to  without 
the  executors  of  his  will  and  Agnes  his  mother,  Sir  John  in  violation  of 
his  oath  by  a  subterfuge  obtained  possession  of  the  treasure. 


208  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

It  seems  he  requested  leave  to  place  a  coffer  near  his  father's,  and 
when  resorting  to  his  own  broke  open  that  of  his  father  and  kept  the  con- 
tents for  2  years  when,  as  the  narrator  observes,  "  the  prior  and  the  executors 
durst  have  sworn  that  they  (meaning  the  treasure)  were  safe  therein." 

Edw.  IV.  in  1466  granted  to  Sir  John  Paston,  called  senior  because  of  his 
having  a  brother  called  John,  a  warrant  enabling  him  to  take  possession  of 
all  the  lands  and  inheritance  of  his  late  father  and  of  Agnes  his  grand- 
mother, and  of  Margaret  his  mother  which  had  been  seized  by  the  King  in 
evil  surmises  made  to  him  against  his  deceased  father  and  himself  of  all 
which  they  were  "  sufficiently  openly  and  worshipp fully  cleared  "  before 
the  King.  Sir  John  Paston  senior  acquired  considerable  renown  in  France 
and  was  chosen  to  be  on  King  Edward's  side  at  the  great  tournament  at 
Eltham  in  Kent  against  the  then  Lord  Chamberlain  and  others,  and  was 
also  sent  to  conduct  the  King's  sister  into  France  on  her  marriage  to  Charles 
Duke  of  Burgundy.  He  died  the  15  Nov.  1479  unmarried,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother  John  Paston  jun.,  who  was  made  knight  banneret  by  King 
Henry  VII.  at  the  Battle  of  Stoke  in  Nottinghamshire,  High  Sheriff  of 
Norfolk,  and  was  one  of  those  who  were  appointed  to  receive  the  Princess 
Catherine  of  Spain  wife  of  Prince  Arthur  on  her  landing  in  this  country. 

He  married  Margery  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Brews  of  Stinton  Hall 
in  Lalle,  and  dying  in  1503  was  buried  in  the  White  Friars'  Church  at  Nor- 
wich. His  successor  in  the  lordship  was  Sir  William  Paston  his  eldest 
son  and  heir,  an  eminent  lawyer  who  received  from  the  Corporation  of 
Yarmouth  for  his  services  an  annuity  of  £40  a  year.  He  lived  to  the  age 
of  90  and  died  in  1554  and  his  will  was  proved  Dec.  4th  in  the  same  year. 
His  wife  was  Bridget  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Heydon  knt.  of  Baconsthorp 
in  Norfolk  by  whom  he  had  5  sons  and  7  daughters.  Erasmus  Paston  the 
eldest  son  married  Mary  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Wyndham  of  Felbrigge, 
died  before  his  father  in  November  1538  and  was  buried  in  the  Church  of 
Paston  leaving  by  Mary  his  wife  (who  lived  his  widow  52  years  and  was  also 
buried  at  Paston)  a  son  and  heir  William  Paston  who  succeeded  his 
grandfather  in  his  inheritance,  and  had  livery  of  it  in  1554.  He  married 
Frances  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Clare  of  Stokesby  and  received  the  honour 
of  knighthood.  In  1572  or  before  that  year  he  sold  the  manor  to  Robert 
Jerny  of  Norwich.  The  manor  then  passed  to  Richard  Martyn,  a  member  of 
the  Martyn  family  of  Long  Melford  settled  there  before  the  time  of  Rich.  II. 

The  arms  of  the  Martyns  were  :  Argent,  a  chevron  between  three 
mascles,  sable,  all  within  a  bordar,  engrailled  gules  :  and  Crest  a  cocka- , 
trice's  head  between  two  wings.  Richard  Martyn  married  ist  Anne 
daughter  of  -  -  Eden  of  London  ;  2ndly  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Crane  of 
Chilton,  and  by  his  first  wife  had  Roger  Martyn  the  recusant  who  was  born 
in  1526.  In  the  second  year  of  Q.  Eliz.  Richard  Martyn  was  ordered  to 
send  a  horse  and  man  completely  armed  to  Newcastle  to  rendezvous  and 
march  against  the  French  and  Scots.  He  died  in  1572  and  the  manor  passed 
to  Roger  Martyn.  Roger  was  a  staunch  Roman  Catholic  and  eminent  as 
well  for  his  piety  as  his  liberality.  It  is  recorded  that  at  one  period  of 
bitter  persecution  he  was  obliged  to  hide  himself  during  the  daytime  under 
a  hay  rick,  but  so  popular  and  beloved  was  he  by  his  neighbours  and 
acquaintances  that  they  did  everything  in  their  power  for  his  security  and 
protection. 

He  was  a  person  of  great  learning  and  strict  integrity,  and  Queen  Mary, 
it  is  said,  offered  to  make  him  a  Secretary  of  State  but  he  declined  the 
honour.  His  answer  to  the  Queen  was :  "  that  for  himself  he  was  highly 


STANSTEAD.  209 

satisfied  with  the  sufficiency  God  had  bestowed  upon  him,  and  with  a  private 
life  ;  and  as  for  my  son,  he  will  inherit  a  competency  sufficient,  if  he  proves 
an  honest  man,  and  if  he  becomes  otherwise  it  will  be  far  too  much." 

If  one  may  venture  to  criticise  the  saying  of  so  pious  and  immaculate 
a  man  as  some  have  made  him  out  to  be,  the  reply  appears  somewhat 
selfish,  and  presumes  that  one  would  merely  take  upon  oneself  an  impor- 
tant office  for  the  public  good  from  mercenary  motives.  Sir  William 
Betham  declares  that  the  offer  was  made  to  Roger's  grandfather  and 
namesake,  whom  he  says  lived  to  near  one  hundred  years  of  age  and  died 
the  latter  part  of  Queen  Mary's  reign.  In  this  matter  we  have  followed 
Sir  William  Parker's  statement  in  his  History  of  Long  Melford  that  the 
honour  was  offered  to  Roger  Martyn  who  died  in  1615,  though  of  course  the 
answer  is  not  particularly  appropriate  to  a  young  man  of  eight  and  twenty 
who  most  likely  had  no  son  born  to  him  at  the  time  !  The  son  who  did 
succeed  him  was  born  five  years  after  Queen  Mary's  death.  Although  a 
proclaimed  recusant  the  respect  in  which  Roger  Martyn  was  held 
by  those  immediately  surrounding  was  such  that  he  did  not  experience 
those  hardships  which  in  those  days  so  many  of  his  co-religionists  had  to 
undergo. 

When  with  declining  years  he  was  unable  to  go  far  from  home  he  had 
a  whistle  to  his  cane  by  which  he  called  the  poor  to  him  to  receive  his  charity. 
He  died  Aug.  3  1615  aged  89,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Richard  Martyn. 

He  married  ist  Eleanor  daughter  of  Francis  Mannock  of  Gifford's 
Hall  in  Stoke  by  Nayland  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Roger  who  died 
young  and  Roger  his  heir  born  1584 ;  2ndly  Barbara  daughter  of  Thomas 
Daniel  of  Acton  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter ;  and  srdly 
Alice  daughter  of  Edmund  Smith  of  Suffolk  by  whom  he  had  only  daughters 
who  all  died  without  issue.  He  died  the  8  March  1624  aged  65  and  was  buried 
at  Melford  with  his  wives  and  children  under  a  large  tomb,  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Roger  Martyn.  He  was  knighted  in  1625  and 
was  a  recusant  as  were  his  fathers.  It  is  said  that  by  letters  patent  of  Charles 
I.  3  Jan.  1627,  the  statute  35  Eliz.  relating  to  recusants  was  in  his  case  in  a 
measure  relaxed.  He  was  a  Cavalier  and  so  suffered  in  the  rebellion  that 
he  afterwards  petitioned  both  Houses  of  Parliament  for  redress,  setting 
forth  in  his  petition  that  he  and  his  ancestors  had  lived  quietly  among 
.their  neighbours  in  Melford  for  about  300  years.  He  married  Anne  daughter 
of  Laurence  Samuel  Love  of  Sevenoaks  knt.,  and  had  7  sons  and  3 
daughters. 

In  the  Calendar  of  Pleadings  relating  to  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  in 
1594  is  an  action  by  the  Attorney-General  v.  John  Beneshe  as  purchaser 
of  Stanstead  Hall  Manor  and  Brettenham  relating  to  royalties,  franchises, 
and  other  profits,  &c.'  This  action  however  probably  related  to  another 
Stanstead  Hall  near  Brettenham. 

Sir  Roger  Martyn  died  in  1656  aged  71,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  Richard  Martyn  who  married  ist  Jane  daughter  of  Sir  H. 
Bedingfield  of  Oxburgh,  knt.,  by  whom  he  had  9  sons  and  i  dau. ;  2ndly 
Mary  daughter  of  John  TyndaU  of  Melford  by  whom  he  had  r  son  and 
3  daurs.  He  died  in  1673  and  was  succeeded  in  the  lordship  by  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  Roger  Martyn,  who  was  created  a  Baronet  on  the  28  March  1667. 

1  D.  of  Lane.,  Cal.  to  Plead.,  36  Eliz.  32. 

AI 


2io  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

He  married  in  1663  Tamworth  dau.  of  Ed.  Homer  of  Mells  in  Somersetshire1 
by  whom  he  had  8  sons  and  10  daughters. 

He  died  the  8  July  1712  aged  73.  Sir  Roger  Martyn  purchased  an 
annuity  of  260  French  livres  for  ever  issuing  out  of  the  Bank  of  Paris,  and 
by  deed  the  2ist  March,  1709  directed  the  same  to  be  paid  to  some  priest 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  for  him  to  distribute  one-third  part  thereof 
among  such  poor  Roman  Catholics  as  might  live  in  or  near  Melford  and  the 
remainder  to  the  said  priest  on  condition  that  he  resided  in  or  near  Melford 
and  never  failed  to  remember  in  the  oblations  of  holy  mass  the  dead  and 
the  living  of  the  donor's  family,  saying  before  or  after  mass  the  De  profundis 
with  the  proper  absolve  for  their  souls,  mentioning  the  last  of  the  deceased, 
and  should  make  a  more  especial  memory  upon  the  obiit  days  respectively 
of  himself,  his  ancestors,  his  lady,  children  and  descendants  who  should  be 
heirs  of  his  estate  and  Roman  Catholics  according  to  a  schedule  annexed, 
but  the  whole  number  of  souls  whose  obiits  were  to  be  commemorated  were 
never  at  any  time  to  exceed  twenty-four,  but  the  first  eleven  in  the  list 
and  the  eight  then  living  to  be  continuedin  perpetuity.  The  priest  was 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Provincial  of  the  English  Dominicans  for  the  time 
being.* 

It  might  strike  one  that  the  pious  founder  required  a  large  amount  of 
consideration  for  his  charitable  gift,  but  pious  persons  are  not  always 
the  most  liberal.  It  seems  as  if  two  such  excellent  qualities  are  too  good 
to  be  found  in  the  same  receptacle  ! 

Sir  Roger  Martin  2nd  Bart,  eldest  surviving  son  of  the  ist  Bart.,  married 
Anna  Maria  Harvey  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Roger  his  successor  and 
Richard.  Lady  Martin  died  at  Cambridge  May  15, 1739,  and  Sir  Roger  in 
May,  1742,  when  the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Roger  Martin,  3rd  Bart.,  who 
married  Sophia  daughter  of  Brigadier-General  Lewis  Mordaunt,  brother  to 
the  Earl  of  Peterborough,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Mordaunt.  Sir  Roger 
Martin  died  in  1762  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Mordaunt  Martin, 
4th  Bart,  who  married  Everilda  Dorothea  3rd  daughter  of  the  Rev.  William 
Smith,  Rector  of  Burnham,  Norf.  Sir  Mordaunt  Martin  died  in  1815,  but 
he  seems  to  have  sold  the  manor,  which  in  1829  ls  said  by  Kirby  to  have  been 
vested  in  Hart  Logan,  and  in  1844  by  Page  to  be  then  in  Edward  Starkie 
Bence.  E.  R.  S.  Bence  was  the  lord  in  1885  and  the  manor  is  now  vested  in 
Edward  Starkie  Bence  of  Kent  well  Hall. 

NETHERHALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  in  1219  was  held  by  William  de  Verdon  and  Maud  his  wife 
of  the  main  manor  and  these  individuals  had  also  a  part  of  the  advowson. 
In  1275  John  de  Verdon  had  the  manor,  and  married  Isabel  daughter  of 
Giles  de  Wachesham.  He  was  followed  in  the  lordship  by  his  son  and  heir 
John  de  Verdon  who  died  about  1301,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Thomas  de  Verdon  who  died  in  1315,'  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  Sir  John  de  Verdon.  A  fine  was  levied  in  1325  of  the  manor  by 
this  John  de  Verdon  and  Agnes  his  wife  v.  Robert  Clypston  parson  of  the 
Church  of  Brynton/  and  Sir  John  de  Verdon  seems  to  have  married  again, 

1  By  Elizabeth  dau.  of  Sir  George  Hereby  •  Parker's  Hist,  of  Melford  p.  348. 

of  Thriburgh  in  Yorks,  Bart.,  and  '  Extent.     I. P.M.,  9  Edw.  II.  54. 

rehct  of  Sir  Francis  Fulgiums  who  '  Feet  of  Fines,  19  Edw.  II.  18. 
afterwards  by  a  3rd  marriage  was 
Viscountess  Monson,  and   her  4th 
husband  Sir  Adam  Felton. 


STANSTEAD. 


211 


for  in  1339  another  fine  of  this  manor  is  levied  by  this  same  Sir  John  de 
Verdon  and  Matilda  his  wife  v.  Master  Alan  de  Hotham.1  Sir  John  died  in 
1346  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  de  Verdon.  He 
died  about  1392  leaving  a  daughter  married  ist  to  Sir  Hugh  Bradshaw  and 
2ndly  to  Sir  John  Pilkington  to  whom  the  manor  passed  in  right  of  his 
wife.  The  following  fines  were  levied  respecting  this  manor  between 
1396  and  1430  :  Ralph  Rokyngham  v.  Sir  Edmund  Neon  and  Isabella  his 
wife2 ;  Ralph  Rokynham  v.  Sir  John  Pilkyngton  and  Margaret  his  wife3 ; 
Sir  John  Pylkyngton  and  Margaret  his  wife  v.  Ralph  Rokyngham4; 
William  de  Lobenham,  Thomas  of  Hilton,  clerk,  and  Richard  Fethhyng- 
ham  chaplain  v.  Sir  John  de  Pilkyngton  and  Margaret  his  wife 
which  Edmund  Noon  (sic)  held  for  life5 ;  Sir  John  de  Pylkyngton  and 
Margaret  his  wife  v.  William  de  Lobenham,  Thomas  .  .  .  clerk,  and 
Rich.  Ferthynge  chaplain  which  Sir  Edmund  Noon  held  for  life6;  Ralph 
Birche,  William  Gannok  chaplain  and  Wm.  Tayllour  v.  Margaret  who  was 
wife  of  John  Pilkyngton,  Edmund  Pilkyngton  and  Robt.  Pilkyngton.7 
In  1419  Sir  John  Pilkington  granted  a  lease  to  Wm.  Clopton.  Margaret 
Pilkington  died  in  I437-8  In  1499  the  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  John 
Raynsford  and  on  his  death  passed  to  his  son  and  namesake  who  died 
without  issue.  The  manor  then  passed  to  Roger  Martin  probably  by  virtue 
of  a  fine  levied  by  him  in  1533  of  "  Stansted  Manor  "  against  Isabella 
Tressham  and  others.9  Roger  Martin  died  the  21  Nov.  1541'°  when  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Richard  Martin.  Richard  Martin  was 
in  1569  called  upon  to  shew  title  to  "Stanstead  al.  Staynton  al.  Netherhall."11 
The  title  to  the  manor  subsequently  is  identical  with  that  of  Overhall  the 
main  manor. 

Abstract  of  bye-laws  of  Overhall  and  Netherhall  Manors  in  150-3 
1578  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus."  In 
the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Q.  Elizabeth  will  be  found  an  action 
touching  the  fraudulent  possession  of  land  called  Syterches  parcel  of  Stan- 
stead  Manor  of  which  Henry  Bowley  was  seised  &c.13  And  also  somewhat 
later  a  claim  by  John  Wynche  son  of  John  Wynche  deceased  against 
Ambrose  Gallant  to  land  held  of  the  manor  of  Netherhall  in  Stanstead  by 
John  Wynche  dec.  who  devised  same  but  did  not  surrender  to  the  use  of  his 
will.'4 

Notes  respecting  Stanstead  Manor  about  1484  will  be  found  amongst 
the  MSS.  of  the  Brit.  Mus.15  and  a  lease  of  the  manor  in  1419  is  amongst 
the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.16 

WOODHOUSE  MANOR. 

The  only  particulars  respecting  this  manor  are  gathered  from  the  Davy 
MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  It  is  in  these  stated  that  Henry  Rushbrook  and 
Alice  his  wife  and  Robt.  Hunter  enfeoffed  John  son  of  Wm.  Doreward, 
Robt.  de  Teye,  Rich.  Baynard,  Ralph  Chamberlayn  and  Nicholas  Peche, 
who  granted  in  1418  to  Robert  Hunter  and  Katherine  his  wife. 


'  Feet  of  Fines,  13  Edw.  III.  7. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  20  Rich.  II.  2. 

3  Ib.  3. 

«  Ib.  6  Hen.  IV.  T4. 

s  Ib.  8  Hen.  IV.  32. 

6  Ib.  10  Hen.  IV.  i. 

'  Ib.  8  Hen.  VI.  12. 

8  I.P.M.,  15  Hen.  VI.  61. 


9  Fine,  Easter,  25  Hen.  VIII. 
°  I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VIII.  129. 
1  Memoranda,  n  Eliz.  Pas.  Rec.  Rot.  63. 
*  Add.  Ch.  26072. 
'  C.P.  i.  73. 
M  C.P.  (29  Eliz.)  iii.  289. 

5  Add.  MSS.  27446. 

6  Harl.  54  H.  31. 


212  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

We  meet  with  a  "  Woodhouse  Manor  "  in  the  Inquisition  post  mortem 
of  John  Wiseman  who  died  the  27  May  1555  leaving  a  son  and  heir  Edward 
Wiseman,  but  are  not  able  to  say  with  certainty  that  this  is  the  manor 
there  referred  to.1 


I.P.M.,  2  and  3  P.  and  M.  59. 


STOKE    BY    NAYLAND.  213 


STOKE  BY  NAYLAND. 

N  the  Confessor's  time  Robert  or  Rodbert  held  the  main 
manor  with  4  carucates  of  land  with  soc.  There  were  25 
villeins,  32  bordars,  8  slaves,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne, 
12  belonging  to  the  men,  25  acres  of  meadow  and  wood, 
and  60  hogs,  valued  at  10  pounds.  Also  a  church  living 
with  60  acres  of  free  land.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman 
Survey  the  value  of  the  manor  had  risen  to  twelve  pounds, 
and  there  had  been  added  to  it  a  ploughteam  in  demesne,  2  mills,  3  horses, 
8  beasts,  20  hogs,  70  sheep  and  4  goats,  but  the  villeins  had  come  down  to 
15,  the  bordars  to  23,  the  slaves  to  6,  and  the  ploughteams  of  the  men  to  7. 
The  same  Robert  had  also  in  this  place  n  freemen  by  commendation  and 
soc,  having  i  carucate  of  land  among  them  which  they  could  sell,  and  I 
freeman  with  12  acres  by  commendation  only  (for  the  soc  and  sac  belonged 
to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund)  having  formerly  a  ploughteam  and  a  half, 
but  then  one  team  only.  The  value  was  30  shillings  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt 
20^.  The  extent  was  8  quarentenes  long  and  4  broad,  and  the  manor  was  one 
of  those  belonging  to  Suane  of  Essex.1 

At  a  later  period  this  manor  became  divided  into  seven — Tendring  Hall 
al.  Stoke  by  Nayland,  Giffard's  Hall,  Scotland  Hall,  Levenhey,  Causer's, 
Peacham's  and  Shardelowes,  and  Stoke  Rectory  Manors.  There  was  indeed 
an  eighth  manor  separately  entered  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  namely 
Withermarsh  Manor. 

TENDRING  HALL  al.  STOKE  BY  NAYLAND  MANOR. 

This  the  main  manor  passed  on  the  death  of  the  Domesday  tenant  to 
his  son  Robert  de  Essex,  and  at  his  death  to  his  son  Henry  who  forfeited  the 
same  in  1163  as  mentioned  under  Nayland.  In  1282  William  de  Tendring 
and  Beatrice  his  wife  levied  a  fine  against  Ralph  de  Berners  respecting  the 
manor,2  and  in  1285  the  said  William  de  Tendring  had  a  grant  of  free 
warren  here.3  This  William  and  his  wife  Beatrice  had  also  a  grant  of 
market  and  fair  here  in  1303 .4 

William  de  Tendring  died  in  1305,5  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son 
Sir  John  Tendring,  and  on  his  death  before  1347,  to  Sir  William  Tendring, 
for  that  year  Sir  William  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor,  Ralph  de  Tendring  and 
Roger  parson  of  Parva  Brythe  Church  being  deforciants.6  Sir  William 
died  in  1375,  leaving  a  son  Sir  William  Tendring  who  succeeded  to  the 
lordship.  He  married  Catharine  Clopton  and  died  about  1421.  He  was 
buried  in  Stoke  by  Nayland  Church  and  upon  the  pavement  before  the 
high  altar  is  an  ancient  gravestone,  having  thereon  the  figure  of  a  knight 
in  complete  armour,  resting  his  head  upon  his  gauntlet,  with  this  inscription 
according  to  Weever :  "  Hie  iacent  tumulati,  dominus  Willelmus 
Tendring  miles  and  Katherina  Clapton  vxor  eiusdem  qui  obierunt  anno 
domini  1408. 

Sir  William  Tendring  left  an  only  daughter  and  heir  Alice  who  married 
Sir  John  Howard,  knt.  On  this  marriage  Sir  John  settled  on  his  wife  the 
manor  and  advowson  of  Fersfield  in  Norfolk,  with  Brokes  in  Suffolk,  the 

1  Dom.  ii.  401.  *  I.P.M.,  33  Edw.  I.  60. 

*  .Feet  of  Fines,  10  Edw.  1. 17.  6  George  de  Geddyngge,  App.  cl. ;  Feet  of 
3  Chart.  Rolls,  13  Edw.  I.  67.  Fines,  21  Edw.  III.  19. 

*  Chart.  Rolls,  31  Edw.  1. 17. 


214  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

same  being  vested  in  Sir  Simon  de  Felbrigge,  John  de  Rochford,  and 
Michael  Beverleye,  Dean  of  Middelham  College  to  the  use  of  himself  and 
Alice  for  life  and  his  heirs  and  if  he  had  none  to  the  use  of  the  trustees' 
heirs.  The  deed  is  dated  at  Fersfield  1398.  Alice  Howard's  will  is  dated 
October  13  1426,  and  in  it  she  orders  her  body  to  be  buried  in  the  south  aisle 
of  the  Ch.  of  Stoke  Nayland  near  her  father  ;  to  which  church  she  bequeaths 
40$.  and  her  white  gown,  striped  with  gold.  She  also  bequeathed  the  like 
sum  to  the  friars'  convent  of  Calre,  to  the  monks  of  the  convent  of 
Bedingfield,  the  friars'  convent  of  Sudbury,  the  friars'  convent  of  Colchester, 
the  friars  predicants  of  Ipswich,  the  friars  minors  there  and  the  friars 
Carmelites  there  ;  and  the  friars  Augustine  of  Thetford.  She  constitutes 
three  chaplains  her  executors,  who  were  to  dispose  of  her  goods  for  the 
health  of  her  soul  as  they  saw  expedient.  She  devised  the  manors  of  Stoke 
Nayland  to  Sir  John  Howard  her  husband  for  life  with  remainder  to  Robert 
Howard  her  son  and  to  the  heirs  of  his  body ;  remainder  to  Henry  Howard, 
brother  of  the  said  Robert ;  remainder  to  Lady  Margaret,  wife  of  the  said 
Robert.  She  died  soon  after,  for  probate  of  her  will  was  granted  the  2Oth 
of  October  next  ensuing  the  date  of  her  will.  She  was  according  to  her  direc- 
tion buried  in  the  south  aisle  of  Stoke  Nayland  Church,  under  the  same 
stone  with  Sir  John  Howard  her  husband,  and  by  her  father  Sir  William 
Tendring.  In  the  east  window  of  the  south  part  of  the  church  are,  according 
to  Weever,  the  portraitures  of  Sir  John  Howard  and  his  wife  Alice,  with  the 
following  inscription :  Orate  pro  animabus  domini  Johannis  Howard 
et  dominoe  Aliciae  vxoris  eius.  Upon  a  fair  marble  though  much  defaced 
in  the  choir  :  Orate  pro  animabus  Johannis  Howard,  militis,  qui  obijt  Anno 
Dni.  14  .  .  .  et  Aliciae  vxoris  eius  qui  obijt  in  festo  Sancte  Luce  Evangeliste 
Anno  Dni.  1426  quorum  animabus  propitietur  Deus.  Amen.  On  Alice 
Howard's  death  in  1426  the  manor  passed  to  her  husband  for  life.  Sir 
Robert  Howard,  knt.  their  eldest  son  subsequently  inherited.  He  married 
Margaret  eldest  daughter  and  coheir  of  Thomas  Mowbray  Duke  of  Norfolk 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife  daur.  and  coheir  of  Richard  Fitzallen  Earl  of  Arundel 
and  cousin  and  coheir  of  John  Mowbray  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  died  in  his 
father's  lifetime,  leaving  a  son  Sir  John  Howard,  who  was  the  first  Duke  of 
that  family.  Sir  John,  who  was  Sheriff  of  the  Counties  of  Essex  and  Hert- 
ford in  the  reigns  of  Hen.  IV.  and  Hen.  V.  did  not  die  as  Weever  states  in 
1400,  for  he  made  his  will  the  i  April  1435,  and  died  in  1437,  in  which  year 
his  will  was  proved.'  He  was  steward  of  the  Liberty  of  St.  Edmund's  Bury 
in  1399.*  On  Sir  John  Howard's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  grandson 
Sir  John  Howard.  He  distinguished  himself  in  early  life  in  the  French 
wars  of  Hen.  VI.  In  the  latter  part  of  that  reign  he  accompanied  John 
Viscount  Lisle  to  Blay  with  22,000  men  and  was  present  when  the  valiant 
Earl  of  Shrewsbury  was  slain.  In  1442  he  was  sent  by  the  King  to  appease 
the  great  riot  in  Norwich,  and  being  a  great  support  to  the  Yorkists,  was 
in  1461  appointed  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  Constable  of  Norwich 
and  Colchester  Castles  and  Carver  to  the  King.  In  1466  he  was  constituted 
Vice-Admiral  of  the  Counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  and  the  following  year 
Treasurer  of  the  Household.  He  occupied  many  important  positions,  being 
joint  commissioner  to  treat  with  Burgundy  in  1472  and  1473,  and  with  France 
in  1475,  1477  and  1478.  In  1477  he  had  a  grant  of  the  office  of  Constable 
of  the  Tower  and  the  next  year  was  made  Captain-General  of  the  King's 
Fleet  against  the  Scots  and  was  also  installed  Knight  of  the  Garter. 

•  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VI.  56.  •  Placita  Coram  Rege,  i  Hen.  IV. 


STOKE  BY    NAYLAND.  215 

In  1478  and  1482  he  obtained  grants  of  market  and  fair  in  Stoke 
Nayland.1  In  consideration  of  his  great  services  he  had  granted  to  him 
from  the  Crown  in  special  tail  the  manors  of  Layham  and  Whersted, 
with  other  manors  in  the  counties  of  Essex,  Dorset,  and  Norfolk  which 
were  then  in  the  Crown  by  reason  of  the  attainder  of  John  Earl  of  Wiltshire. 
At  a  later  period  in  the  15  Edw.  IV.  Sir  John  Howard  was  further  rewarded 
with  a  grant  in  special  tail  of  the  manors  of  Preston,  Cokefield,  Aldham  and 
Mendham  then  in  the  Crown  by  the  attainder  of  John  de  Vere  Earl  of 
Oxford.  On  the  25  July  i  Rich.  III.  he  had  a  further  grant  of  lands  which 
included  the  manor  of  Lavenham.2 

On  the  28th  of  June  1483  he  was  created  Duke  of  Norfolk  and  Earl 
Marshal  of  England,  by  which  latter  office  he  was  empowered  to  grant  to 
any  person  or  persons  the  office  of  Marshal  of  the  King's  Bench,  or  Marshal 
of  the  Exchequer,  and  office  of  Marshal's  crier  before  the  Steward  and 
Marshal  of  the  King's  Household,  and  was  further  empowered  in  the  King's 
presence  or  absence  to  bear  a  golden  staff  tipped  at  each  end  with  black, 
the  upper  part  thereof  to  be  adorned  with  the  royal  arms,  and  the  lower 
with  those  of  his  own  family,  and  for  the  better  support  of  the  dignity  of 
the  office  he  received  a  grant  to  himself  and  his  heirs  for  ever  of  £20  annually 
out  of  the  fee  farm  rent  of  Ipswich.  He  was  present  with  Rich.  III.  at 
Bosworth  and  fell  leading  the  van  of  the  royal  army  22  August  1485.  He 
was  of  course  attainted  in  the  Parliament  held  7  Nov.  i  Hen.  VII. 

On  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1486  is  a  special  pardon  to  Thomas  Earl  of 
Surrey  al.  Thomas  Howard  late  of  Stoke  with  right  reserved  to  the  Crown 
to  imprison  him  during  pleasure  in  any  prison  which  it  may  select.3 

Sir  John  the  first  Duke  of  Norfolk  married  first  Catherine  daughter  of 
Richard  Lord  Molines.  She  died  in  1452  and  was  buried  in  Stoke  by 
Nayland  Church  between  the  high  altar  and  the  choir  where  a  monument 
was  erected  for  her  exhibiting  the  figure  of  a  lady  habited  in  a  hood  and 
gown  on  one  side  whereof  are  the  arms  of  Brotherton,  three  lions  passant 
gardant  or ;  the  arms  of  Howard,  gules,  a  bend  between  6  cross  crosslets 
argent,  and  a  lion  rampant  ducally  crowned.  Also  on  the  four  corners 
are  escutcheons  of  arms  :  On  the  right  next  her  head  four  coats  within  a 
garter  circumscribed  Honi  soit  Qui  mal  y  Pense,  i  the  arms  of  Brotherton, 
2  Howard,  3  Warren,  Chequy,  or  and  azure,  4  Mowbray,  a  lion  rampant 
argent.  On  the  sinister  side,  six  coats  impaling  wavy  of  six  (the  arms  of 
Molines)  i  Brotherton,  2  Howard,  3  Warren,  4  Brews  of  Gower,  azure,  a 
lion  rampant  and  semi  of  cross  crosslets,  or,  5  a  lion  rampant,  ducally  crowned, 
6  Mowbray.  At  her  feet  an  escutcheon  of  the  arms  of  Molines  on  the 
right ;  and  on  the  sinister  six  coats  Brotherton,  &c.,  as  before.  Beneath 
her  feet  is  the  following  inscription  :  Under  this  stone  is  buried  the  body  of 
the  right  honorable  woman  and  ladie  sometime  wife  unto  the  right  high  and 
mighty  prince  lord  John  Howard  Duke  of  Norfolke,  and  mother  unto  the 
right  noble  and  puissant  prince,  lord  Thomas  Howard  duke  also  of  Norfolke, 
which  lady  departed  this  present  life  Ann.  dom.  1452. 

The  Duke  married  2ndly  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  John  Chetworth,  knt., 
who  survived  him  and  by  her  will  dated  May  13  1490  ordered  her  body  to 
be  buried  in  the  choir  of  the  Church  of  our  Lady  in  Stoke  Nayland  before 
her  image  on  the  side  of  the  high  altar.  She  appointed  that  immediately  after 
her  decease  her  executors  should  find  three  hundred  priests  to  say  ccc  masses 

1  Chart.  Rolls,  15,  22  Edw.  IV.  9.  *  pat.  Rolls,  I  Hen.  VII.   pt.  iii.   16  (12) ; 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Rich.  III.  pt.  i.  8  ;  2  Rich.  Privy  Seal,  i  Hen.  VII.  No.  826. 

III.  pt.  ii. 


216  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

and  diriges  for  her  soul,  within  eight  or  ten  days  after  her  decease.  Likewise 
that  they  should  find,  as  hastily  as  might  be,  two  virtuous  priests  to  sing  in 
the  Church  of  Stoke  for  the  space  of  three  years  for  her  soul,  the  souls  of  her 
husband,  John  Norreys  Esq.,  Nicholas  Wyfold,  and  all  others  to  whom  she 
was  beholden.  She  bequeathed  to  the  repair  of  the  church  v.  marks  and 
to  the  gild  of  St.  John  in  Stoke  xxs.  to  keep  her  obit  and  pray  for  her  ; 
xxvis.  &d.  to  the  house  of  St.  John  of  Colchester,  the  like  sum  to  the  nuns  of 
Brusyard  and  the  friars  of  Clare  ;  xxs.  to  the  house  of  St.  Buttolph's,  and  the 
like  sum  to  the  grey  friars  and  friars  of  Sudbury,  who  were  every  of  them 
to  keep  her  obit  and  pray  for  her.  She  bequeathed  to  her  daughter  the  Lady 
Berners,  and  to  her  son  her  husband  (sic)  all  her  household  goods  except  plate, 
as  also  what  belonged  to  her  chapel  with  the  chalice  ;  but  that  they  should 
have  of  her  plate  two  great  pots  of  silver,  two  flaggons,  and  vi.  great  bowls 
with  covers  ;  to  her  daughter  Marney  a  chain  of  water-flowers.  She  con- 
stituted Edmund  Daniel  and  Thomas  Swayne  vicar  of  the  church  of  Stoke 
Nayland  her  executors  and  her  lord  and  son  (in  law)  the  Earl  of  Surrey 
supervisor.  The  probate  bears  date  Dec.  3  1494. 

Though  the  first  Duke's  eldest  son  Thomas  Earl  of  Surrey  was  attainted, 
as  was  his  father,  we  find  on  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1486  a  special  pardon  to 
him  as  "  Thomas  Earl  of  Surrey  al.  Thomas  Howard  late  of  Stoke,"  but 
right  is  reserved  to  the  Crown  to  imprison  him  during  pleasure  in  any 
prison  which  it  may  select.1  The  Crown  exercised  its  pleasure  under  the 
reservation  by  keeping  the  Earl  in  prison  for  three  and  a  half  years  in  the 
Tower.  His  lordship  was  restored  in  1489  and  in  1503  was  constituted 
Lord  High  Treasurer  of  England,  and  Lord  High  Steward  for  the  trial  of 
Sir  Edward  Sutton,  Lord  Dudley  for  felony  committed  in  the  County  of 
Stafford.  In  1507  he  obtained  a  special  livery  of  all  the  manors  and  lands 
whereof  the  Duke  his  father  had  died  seised,2  and  in  1513  was  appointed 
Lieut. -General  of  the  North  and  Captain-General  of  the  Army.  His 
great  military  achievement  was  the  victory  at  Flodden  Field  Sept.  9  1514, 
where  the  Scots  were  defeated  and  their  sovereign  King  James  IV.  slain. 
In  this  battle  the  Scots  lost  the  Archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  2  Bishops,  4 
Abbots,  12  Earls,  14  lords,  besides  knights  and  10,000  men.  This  great 
success  secured  for  the  Earl  the  Dukedom  his  father  had  enjoyed  and 
the  same  year  he  was  created  Duke  of  Norfolk  and  Earl  Marshal.  For 
his  services  against  the  Scots  he  had  a  special  grant  by  the  King's  order 
that  he  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  should  for  ever  bear  as  an  honourable 
augmentation  to  his  arms,  on  the  bend  of  the  Howards'  arms,  the  upper 
half  of  a  red  lion  (depicted  as  the  arms  of  Scotland  are)  pierced  through  the 
mouth  with  an  arrow.  In  1521  he  performed  the  office  of  Lord  High 
Steward  at  the  trial  of  Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  gave  sentence  of 
death  upon  him,  but  not  without  tears  ;  and  in  1522  consoled  himself  by 
obtaining  a  grant  to  his  son  Thomas  Earl  of  Surrey  of  the  manors  of  Welles, 
Shyringham,  Stafford,  Bannyngham,  Warham  and  Weveton  in  the  County 
of  Suffolk  (sic)  with  the  advowson  of  the  churches,  part  of  the  said  Duke's 
lands.  He  resigned  the  office  of  Lord  Treasurer  of  England,  and  retired 
with  the  King's  permission  to  his  castle  at  Framlingham,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  death.  He  married  ist  Elizabeth  daughter  and 
heir  of  Sir  Frederick  Tilney  knt.  and  widow  of  Humphrey  Bourchier  Lord 
Berners,  and  2ndly  Agnes  daughter  of  Hugh  Tilney  sister  and  heir 

1  Pat.  Rolls,   i  Hen.  VII.  pt.  iii.  16  (12) ;         •  Pat.  Rolls,  22  Hen.  VII.  pt.  iii. 
Privy  Seal,  I  Hen.  VII.,No.  826. 


STOKE    BY    NAYLAND.  217 

of  Sir  Philip  Tilney  of  Boston  in  Lincolnshire  knt.  By  his  will 
dated  the  last  day  of  May  1520  he  bequeathed  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the 
church  of  the  Priory  of  Thetford  before  the  high  altar  there,  appointing  that 
his  executors  should  cause  a  tomb  to  be  made  and  set  up  directly  with  the 
images  of  himself  and  Agnes  his  wife  thereon,  allowing  for  the  charge 
thereof  cxxxiii/.  vis.  viii^.  He  also  bequeathed  to  his  son  and  heir 
apparent  who  should  be  living  at  his  decease  his  great  hanged  bed,  paled 
with  cloth  of  gold,  white  damask,  and  black  velvet,  broidered  with  these 
two  letters  J  and  A,  as  also  one  suit  of  hangings  of  the  story  of  Hercules, 
made  for  the  great  chamber  at  Framlingham  in  Norfolk.  He  died  May 
the  21,  1524  at  his  castle  at  Framlingham  and  was  buried  in  the  Priory  of 
Thetford  according  to  his  desire,  with  great  solemnity.  The  manor  passed 
to  his  widow  Agnes  for  life.  It  seems  that  she  was  attainted  and  her  interest 
was  forfeited  to  the  Crown  ;  but  amongst  the  State  Papers  of  Hen.  VIII., 
in  1542,  is  the  notice  of  a  grant  for  life  to  her,  as  "  Agnes  duchess  of  Norfolk, 
widow,  of  Stoke  Hall  Manor,  of  lands  in  Stoke  Nayland,  Polstede,  Box- 
worth  and  Higham,  which  premises  the  said  Duchess  held  for  life  with  the 
remainder  to  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk  and  his  heirs,  forfeited  by 
attainder."1 

On  Agnes's  death  the  manor  passed  to  Thomas  Howard  3rd  Duke 
of  Norfolk,  who  was  Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland  in  1520,  High  Treasurer 
of  England  in  1522,  and  held  many  other  important  offices  of  State. 
He  attended  the  King  into  France  and  was  sent  chief  ambassador 
to  the  French  King  to  attend  him  to  Nice  and  commune  with 
the  Pope  as  to  his  delaying  King  Henry's  divorce.  In  1536  he  marched 
to  the  assistance  of  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  when  he  suppressed  the  insur- 
rection in  Yorkshire  called  the  Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  raised  on  account  of  the 
dissolution  of  the  lesser  monasteries,  and  was  soon  after  made  Lieutenant- 
General  of  all  the  King's  forces  beyond  the  Trent.  He  was  High  Steward 
of  the  Liberty  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  and  joint  High  Steward  of  the 
University  of  Cambridge  in  1540.  But  after  all  his  great  services  to  the 
King  and  his  country,  the  King  was  so  far  misled  and  incensed  against 
him  by  the  insinuating  persuasions  of  some  of  the  nobility  who  bore  him  no 
good  will,  in  consequence  of  his  casual  expressions  as  to  newly  raised  up 
men,  that  he  not  only  sent  him  prisoner  to  the  Tower,  but  gave  order  for 
seizing  his  goods,  stating  to  his  ambassadors  abroad  that  the  Duke  and  his 
son  had  conspired  to  take  upon  themselves  the  government  during  his  (the 
King's)  life,  and  after  his  death  to  get  the  prince  into  their  hands.  The  Duke 
and  his  son  were  both  attainted  in  parliament ;  the  Earl  lost  his  head  and  the 
Duke  would  have  fared  no  better  had  not  death  cut  off  his  inexorable 
sovereign.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  his  preface  to  his  History  of  the  World 
describes  the  Duke  as  exceeding  "  Valiant  and  advised,  whose  deservings 
King  Hen.  VIII.  knew  not  how  to  value  ;  having  never  omitted  anything 
that  concerned  his  own  honour  and  the  King's  service."  And  of  the  son  the 
Earl  of  Surrey  he  says,  "  he  was  no  less  valiant  than  learned,  and  of  excellent 
hopes."  The  bills  of  attainder  were  passed  but  8  days  before  the  King's 
death.  The  Lord  Paget  affirmed  in  the  House  of  Commons  in  the  ist  year 
of  Q.  Mary  that  upon  his  honour  the  King's  assent  was  never  given  to  the  bills, 
but  his  stamp  only  put  thereto,  which  was  done  by  William  Clark.  Not- 
withstanding the  death  of  the  King,  so  powerful  were  the  Duke's  enemies 
that  when  in  the  beginning  of  Edward  the  Sixth's  reign  pardon  was  given  by 

1  State  Papers  1542,  362  (58). 

Bl 


2i8  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

proclamation  to  all  persons  for  all  crimes  whatsoever,  six  only  excepted,  he 
was  the  chief  of  the  excepted  persons.  As  to  the  particulars  laid  to  his 
charge  the  act  of  repeal  in  the  ist  of  Q.  Mary  recites  that  there  was  no  special 
matter  in  the  act  of  attainder,  but  only  general  words  of  treason  and  con- 
spiracy and  that  out  of  their  care  for  the  preservation  of  the  King  and  the 
prince  it  was  passed;  and  this  act  of  repeal  further  sets  out  that  "  the  only 
thing  with  which  the  Duke  stood  charged  was  bearing  of  arms  which  he 
and  his  ancestors  had  borne  both  within  and  without  the  kingdom  in  the 
King's  presence  and  in  sight  of  his  progenitors  which  they  might  lawfully 
bear  and  give,  as  by  good  and  substantial  matter  of  record  it  did  appear." 
It  also  adds,  that  the  King  died  after  the  date  of  the  commission,  but  did 
not  give  it  himself ;  moreover  that  the  King  did  not  sign  the  commission 
with  his  own  hand ;  his  stamp  being  only  set  to  it,  and  that  not  at  the 
upper  part,  but  to  the  nether  part  of  it,  contrary  to  the  King's  custom. 
On  the  attainder  all  the  manors  and  estates  of  the  duke  were  seised,  but 
the  effect  of  the  act  of  repeal,  was  to  restore  to  him  his  estates  without  any 
particular  pardon. 

On  the  insurrection  of  Sir  Thomas  Wyatt,his  Grace  raised  200  horse 
and  600  foot,  with  which  he  marched  from  London,  and  on  his  way 
to  Rochester  defeated  Knevit  who  was  marching  to  join  Wyatt.  His  forces 
however  deserted  him  later.  On  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  the  Duke 
being  over  80  years  of  age  retired  to  his  seat  at  Kenninghall  in  Norfolk, 
where  he  died  the  25  Aug.  1554.  He  married  ist  the  Princess  Anne,  3rd 
daughter  of  Edw.  IV.,  and  2ndly  Lady  Elizabeth  Stafford  (eldest  daughter 
of  Edward  3rd  Duke  of  Buckingham),  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Henry,  the 
distinguished  poet  and  statesman  of  whom  Sir  Egerton  Brydges  says: 
"  Excellent  in  arts  and  in  arms,  a  man  of  learning,  a  genius,  and  a  hero  ; 
of  a  generous  temper  and  a  refined  heart ;  he  united  all  the  gallantry  and 
unbroken  spirit  of  a  rude  age  with  all  the  elegance  and  grace  of  a  polished 
era.  With  a  splendour  of  descent,  in  possession  of  the  highest  honours 
and  abundant  wealth,  he  relaxed  not  his  efforts  to  deserve  distinction  by 
his  personal  worth.  Conspicuous  in  the  rough  exercises  of  tilts  and 
tournaments,  and  commanding  armies  with  skill  and  bravery  in  expeditions 
against  the  Scots  under  his  father,  he  found  time,  at  a  period  when  our 
literature  was  rude  and  barbarous  to  cultivate  his  mind  with  all  the 
exquisite  spirit  of  the  models  of  Greece  and  Rome,  to  catch  the  excellencies 
of  the  revived  muses  of  Italy,  and  to  produce  in  his  own  language  com- 
positions which  in  simplicity,  perspicuity,  graceful  ornament,  and  just 
and  natural  thought,  exhibited  a  shining  contrast  with  the  works  of  his 
predecessors,  and  an  example  which  his  successors  long  attempted  in  vain 
to  follow." 

Henry  Earl  of  Surrey  married  Frances  daughter  of  John  Vere  15th 
Earl  of  Oxford,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Thomas  who  succeeded  his 
grandfather  in  1554  as  4th  Duke.  The  unjust  condemnation  of  the  Earl 
of  Surrey  and  his  execution  is  well  known.  He  suffered  in  1547.  Thomas 
the  4th  Duke  suffered  a  like  unfortunate  end  with  his  distinguished  father, 
for  being  attainted  of  high  treason  in  consequence  of  communications 
made  with  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  he  was  beheaded  the  2  June  1572,  but 
the  manor  was  acquired  the  previous  year  by  Sir  Thomas  Rivett,  Davy 
says  in  1563.  Sir  Thomas  Rivett  was  an  Alderman  of  London 
and  the  son  of  Thomas  Rivett  of  Stowmarket.  Sir  Thomas  levied  a 
fine  of  the  manor  in  1571  against  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk.'  Sir  Thomas 

•  Fine,  Mil;  13  Eliz. 


STOKE   BY   NAYLAND. 


219 


married  first  Alice  eldest  dau.  of  Sir  John  Cotton  of  Landwade  and  by 
her  had  3  daurs. — Mirabel  married  to  Charles  Heydon  of  Baconsthorpe 
Norf.  :  Alice  to  Thomas  son  and  heir  to  Sir  Gilbert  Jarrat  Master  of  the 
Rolls;  Isabel  who  died  an  infant.  Sir  Thomas  married  andly  Grissell 
daughter  of  William  Lord  Paget'of  Beaudesert  co.  Stafford  and  died  in 
1582  aged  63,  being  buried  in  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of  Chippenham, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  who  remarried  Sir  William 
Waldegrave  knt.  of  Smallbridge.  She  died  the  2ist  July,  1600, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  Ann  (the  only  daughter  of  Sir  Thos. 
Rivett  by  his  2nd  wife),  married  to  Henry  Lord  Windsor  of  Bradenham 
co.  Buckingham  son  of  Edward  Lord  Windsor  and  Catherine  dau.  of 
John  E.  of  Oxford.  Henry  Lord  Windsor  died  in  1605,  aged  about  43,  and 
his  widow  the  27  November  1615  ;  and  there  is  in  the  Church  of  Nayland  a 
grand  monument  of  marble  to  her  memory.  She  is  represented  as  a 
Baroness  in  her  robes,  two  females  kneeling  at  her  head,  one  son  at  her  feet, 
with  the  following  inscriptions  :— 

Fuit  hrec  Anna  Tierona  omnibus  animae  virtutibus  corporisque 
dotibus  ornatissima,  erga  Deum  religiosa,  devota  erga  virum ;  in 
amando  constans,  in  Sanguine  conjunctos,  in  pios  praecipue  in  pauperes 
liberalitate  et  charitate  praecellens  insigni,  adeo  ut  mulierculis  pauper- 
tate  fractis  et  senio  confectis  in  refrigerium  hoc  hospitium  in  hoc 
oppidulo  struxit  Pensionem  annuatim  et  perpetuo  illis  providendam 
per  testamentum  pie  et  provide  curavit.  Denique  cum  ad  fatalem  suae 
senectutis  horam  quinquegenaria  aut  eo  circiter  pervenisset,  animam 
aeterno  nomini  firma  in  Christo  fide  placide  et  sauviter  redd  : 
Die  Novembris  27  Ann.  Salv.  1615. 

Dominus  Thomas  Windsor  Mrestissimus  filius  chariss  :  matri  hoc 
qualecunque  monumentum  cum  multis  lachrymis  officiosae  pietatis 
monumentum  devotissimfc  posuit  et  consecravit. 
Deo  opt.  max.  et  memoriae  Sacrum. 

Gloriosam  in  Christo  resurrect! onem  hie  expectat  Honoratissima 
D'na  Anna  Baronessa  Windesor  filia  et  una  haeredum  clarriss  :  viri 
Thomas  Rivett  Equitis  aurati  de  Cheepnum  in  com.  Cantabrig.  et 
hujus  maneni  de  Stoke  Nailand  D'ni  ex  secundis  nuptiis  Grisildse  filiae 
Honoratiss  :  D'ni  Gulielmi  Pagett  Baronis  de  Beudesert  praenobilis 
ordinis  Garteran  sodalis,  quatiior  Principibus  Henrico  Octavo, 
Edwardo  sexto.Mariae  et  Elizabeths,  in  sanctiusconsiliumMariasautem 
et  in  privati  sigilli  munus  asciti,  uxor  nobilis.  Baroriis  Henrici  Dn'i 
Windsor,  cujus  et  vidua  ad  extremum  usque  spiritum  intemerata 
remansit,  et  ex  cujus  connubio  mater  plurium  liberorum,  sed  reliquit 
tres  tantum  superstites,  Thomam,  scilicet  jam  Baronem,  utriusquc 
Parentis  fortunarum  et  honorum  filium  et  haeredem  digniss  :  et  duas 
Filias  unius  nominis,  Elizabethan!  seniorem  et  Elizabetham  juniorem. 
Hie  tumulata  jacet  pia,  provida,  pulchra,  pudica 

Religiosa  Deo  femina,  fida  viro, 
Indulgens  proli  miserisque  tenerrima  mater, 

Ut  quibus  et  moriens  hospita  tecta  dedit. 
Chara  suis,  dilecta  bonis  et  arnica  propinquis, 

Moribus,  ingenio,  dote,  decore  potens. 
NobUitate  nitens  triplici  natique  virique 

Et  quia  Pagetti  filia,  mater  erat. 

Cuique  eques  auratus  pater  ;   heu.  non  prorogat  sevuin, 
Huic  genus  aut  virtus  ;  hie  tumulata  jacet. 

The  following  arms  appear  on  the  tomb  :   i   Arms  of  Windsor.    Gules 
a  saltire  Argent  between  twelve    cross-crosslets    or,  impaling  Samborne, 

1  Though  held  in  high  honour  by  Hen.  VIII.  he  lost  his  credit  with  Edw.  VI.  who 
degraded  him  from  his  knighthood  of  the  Garter  upon  pretence  that  he  Was  defective 
in  blood  and  arms  for  3  descents.  Q.  Mary  however  restored  him  and  he  died  a 
zealous  R.  Catholic  in  1563  and  was  buried  at  Drayton  ab.  16  miles  from  London. 
A  monument  since  destroyed  was  erected  to  his  memory  in  Lichfield  Cathedral. 


220  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Argent  a  chevron  sable  between  three  mullets  gules.  2  Windsor  impaling 
Blount,  Sable  two  bars  nebulyor.  3  Windsor  impaling  Rivett ,  Argent  three 
bars  sable  in  chief  as  many  trivets  of  the  last.  4  Windsor  impaling  Vere, 
Earl  of  Oxford,  Quarterly,  gules  and  or,  in  the  first  quarter  a  mullet  of  the 
second.  5  Rivett  impaling  Raven,  Or  on  an  orb  gules  a  raven  proper.  6 
Rivett  impaling  Pagett,  Sable  on  a  cross  engrailed  between  four  eagles  dis- 
played argent,  five  lions  passant  guardant  of  the  field.  7  Pagett  impaling 
Preston,  Argent  two  .bars  gules,  on  a  canton  of  the  last  a  cinquefoil  of  the 
first.1 

Thomas,  Lord  Windsor  son  and  heir  was  lord  in  1655.  He  sold  to 
Thomas  (?)  Williams,  whose  son  andheir  Sir  John  Williams  was  Lord  Mayor  of 
London  in  1736,  and  built  the  present  mansion,  which  by  purchase  passed  with 
the  manor  to  Sir  Wm.  Rowley  K.B.  a  distinguished  naval  commander,  a 
lord  of  the  Admiralty  in  1751  and  Admiral  of  the  Fleet  in  1762.  He  married 
Arabella  daughter  and  heir  of  George  Dawson,  captain  in  the  army,  and 
dying  in  1763  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Joshua  Rowley,  Rear-admiral  of  the 
Red  Squadron  of  his  Majesty's  Fleet,  who  giving  many  proofs  of  courage 
and  conduct  during  his  long  services,  was  created  a  Baronet  the 
10  June  1786.  He  married  Sarah  daughter  and  heir  of  Bartholomew 
Burton,  and  dying  the  26  Feb.  1590  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son 
Sir  William  Rowley  2nd  Bart,  after  which  the  devolution  is  identical  with 
Nayland  Manor. 

There  is  in  the  Record  Office,  a  Parliamentary  petition  of  one  James 
Phenw  relating  to  the  manor.7  And  on  the  Patent  Rolls  is  a  grant  in  1300  for 
life  to  William  Crisp  of  the  custody  of  the  park  of  the  manor  with  2d.  a  day 
out  of  the  issues.3  Also  on  the  Patent  Rolls  of  1303  is  a  grant  to  Margaret 
Queen  of  England  of  I28/.  6s.  lod.  for  arrears  of  farm  of  manor.4  Also  on 
the  Close  Rolls  in  1328  is  a  Survey  of  the  King's  mills  of  the  manor.5 

A  manor  called  Stoke  Nayland  Manor  without  any  distinguishing 
name  is  mentioned  from  the  time  of  Edw.  III.  to  the  reign  of  Hen.  VIII. 
This  belonged  to  Geffrey  le  Scrope,6  who  was  in  17  Edw.  III.  constituted 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  but  resigned  his  judicial  office 
on  going  abroad  on  the  King's  affairs.  He  attained  the  rank  of  banneret 
and  married  Ivetta  daughter  of  William  Rosse  of  Igmanthorpe.7  He  died 
about  1340,  and  this  manor  passed  to  his  son  Henry  le  Scrope,  who  in  the 
early  part  of  the  reign  of  Edw.  III.  was  engaged  in  the  Scottish  wars  and 
was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  a  Baron. 

On  the  Patent  Rolls  of  Hen.  VI.  it  is  stated  that  this  Henry  le 
Scrope  had  the  manor  by  gift  of  John  de  Gunwardeby  in  1351  by  name  of 
"  all  his  manor  of  Neyland  with  its  members  in  Stoke  .  .  .  Wyslon 
and  Levenesheth  whereof  120  messuages  10  tofts,  200  acres  of  land  10  of 
meadow,  100  of  pasture  and  20/."  As  Geffrey  le  Scrope  had  the  manor 
prior  to  1335  this  deed  of  gift  in  25  Edw.  III.  seems  strange,  but  possibly 
one  of  the  parties  had  a  limited  interest  only.  In  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of 
Lord  le  Scrope  in  1392  part  only  of  the  manor  seems  to  be  included  and 
an  extent  given.  Lord  le  Scrope  served  as  an  ambassador  and  was 
one  of  those  selected  to  negotiate  with  Charles  King  of  Navarre, 
touching  a  league  between  that  prince  and  Richard  II.  He  died  1391  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Stephen  le  Scrope  2nd  Baron.  He  was 

1  Suffolk  Institute,  vol.  iv.  pp.  194,  195.         *  Close  Rolls,  18  Edw.  II.  12. 
'  No.  6703  D.K.R.  34.    App.  p.  115.  *  See  Nayland  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

•  Pat.  Rolls,  28  Edw.  I.  12.  '  I.P.M.,  9  Edw.  III.  (and  nos.)  32. 

4  Pat.  Rolls,  31  Edw.  I.  34. 


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3 


STOKE   BY   NAYLAND.  221 

knighted  for  his  services  during  his  father's  lifetime,  and  married  Margery 
widow  of  John  son  of  Sir  William  de  Huntingford  knt.,  and  dying  in  1406 
the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Henry  3rd  Baron,  who  was  found 
guilty  of  high  treason  as  mentioned  in  the  account  of  Nayland  Manor,  and 
lost  his  head  in  the  month  of  August  1415.  He  married  ist  Philippa 
daughter  of  Sir  Guy  de  Brian,  and  2ndly  Joane  Duchess  of  York,  sister  and 
coheir  of  Edmund  Holland  Earl  of  Kent,  but  had  no  issue.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother  Sir  John  Scrope  who  obtained  from  the  King  a 
grant  of  the  lands  which  had  gone  to  the  Crown  on  the  attainder  of  his 
brother  Henry  Lord  Scrope  to  hold  for  4  years,  and  later  obtained  a 
restoration  of  the  inheritance.  In  1425  a  commission  was  constituted  to 
determine  whether  this  manor  had  been  entailed  on  Henry  Lord  le  Scrope 
his  grandfather  and  the  heirs  of  his  body  and  whether  he  (Sir  John)  was 
entitled  notwithstanding  the  forfeiture  for  high  treason  3  Hen.  against 
Henry  Lord  le  Scrope.1  The  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Inq.  p.m.  of  Sir 
John  Wingfield  in  1480,*  and  was  in  1545  granted  to  John  Foster  and 
Richard  Marden.3  It  is  apparently  the  manor  in  respect  of  which  a  fine  was 
levied  in  1576  by  John  Ive  and  others  against  William  Dawtrey  junior, 4  and 
in  1582  by  Edward  Rookewood  against  Sir  Thomas  Danby  (?  Dantrey).5 

Arms  of  Rowley  :    Argent  on  a  bend  engrailed  between  two  crows, 
sable,  three  escallops  of  the  field. 

GIFFORD'S  HALL. 

In  1281  the  Patent  Rolls  show  that  there  was  an  action  pending 
between  Roger  le  Chaumberleyn  and  Thomas  Gifford  touching  a  way 
stopped  in  Stoke,'  and  in  1287  Wm.  Gifford  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here. 
On  his  death  in  1310  the  manor  passed  to  Thomas  Gifford,  on  whose  decease 
in  1318  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William  who  had  a  grant  of  free  warren 
and  presented  to  Nayland  in  1312,  1328,  and  1340.  Robert  Gifford  was  the 
next  lord  and  he  presented  to  the  living  in  1353.  In  1377  Simon  Burley 
held  the  manor,  and  had  a  grant  of  free  warren.7  '  The  following  year,  being 
a  knight,  he  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  against  Robert  Crull  clerk,  William 
Reade  clerk  and  John  Chaumberleyn  chaplain.9  The  manor  next  passed  to 
John  Withermarsh  who  died  in  1395,  and  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir  Richard 
Withermarsh  who  in  1427  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  and  the  manors  of 
Holton  Hall  and  Ingrames  and  the  advowson  of  Holton  Church 
against  William  Stonham  of  Hadleigh  and  Margaret  his  wife,  Nicholas 
Colloppe  of  Aldham  and  Cristine  his  wife,  and  William  Mathe  ....  of 
Langham.10  In  1428  Philip  Mannock  purchased  the  manor  from  the 
Crown  and  that  family  held  the  same  subsequently  for  many  generations. 
The  Mannocks  had  resided  in  the  neighbourhood  since  the  time  of  Edw. 
III.  and  are  stated  to  have  come  originally  from  Denmark  and  to  have 
flourished  in  this  country  under  the  Danish  kings.  On  Philip  Mannock's 
death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Mannock  who  married  the 
daughter  of  Sir  Thos.  Waldegrave  knt.  and  had  a  son  George  who  succeeded 
his  father  at  his  death  in  1476."  George  Mannock  married  Katherine 
daughter  of  Sir  Wm.  Waldegrave  knt.  and  dying  in  1541  the  manor  passed  to 
his  eldest  son  William  Mannock.  In  1549  William  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Hen.  VI.  pt.  i.  8d.  '  Chart.  Rolls,  i  Rich.  II.  5. 

'  I.P.M.,  2i  Edw.  IV.  59.  "  Gyffords  and  Hallymote  Manor,  Wattis- 

3  Originalia,  37  Hen.  VIII.  5  Pars  Rot.  117.  field,  in  Blackbourn  Hundred. 

4  Fine,  Hil.  18  Eliz. ;  Mich.  18, 19  Eliz.  9  Feet  of  Fines,  3  Rich.  II.  13. 

5  Fine,  Easter,  24  Eliz.  10  Fine,  5  Hen.  VI.  21. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  9  Edw.  I.  gd.  "  I.P.M.,  16  Edw.  IV.  76. 


222  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

against  Francis  Mannock,' and  married  Audrey  daughter  of  John  Alington, 
and  sister  of  the  last  Sir  Giles  Alington  of  Horseheath  co.  Cambridge.  He  died 
the  8  July  1558,*  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Francis  Mannock. 
In  the  Inquisition  post  mortem  of  the  last-mentioned  Wm.  Mannock  it  is 
set  forth  that  he  died  seised  of  the  manor  of  Holton  Hall,  Raymes,  Giffords, 
and  Chamberlains  in  Stoke  Neyland,  and  that  Francis  Mannock  his  son  and 
heir  was  five  years  old.  The  following  year  a  fine  was  levied  in  respect 
of  all  these  manors  by  John  Wynterflod  against  the  said  Francis  Mannock.5 
Francis  Mannock  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  in  1569  against  Robert  Bell 
and  others/  and  in  1570  was  called  upon  to  shew  by  what  title  he  held  this 
manorand  also  the  Rectory.'  Francis  married  Mary  daughter  of  William  Fitch 
of  Canfield  co.  Essex  and  dying  on  the  3  November  1590  in  his  68th  year 
was  buried  in  the  Church  of  Nayland.  Upon  a  plate  of  brass  on  the  north 
aisle  of  the  chancel  is  the  following  : — 

Quid  dant  Divitia;  Crassi,  Craesive  Talenta  ? 
Quid  juvat  immensus  tantus  et  orbis  honor  ? 
Oiniu'a  vilescunt,  quze  more  rapit  ore  voraci  : 
Virtutis  solids;  Vita  perennis  erit. 


GIFFOID'S  MAI  L 

The  manor  passed  to  Francis's  eldest  son  William.  He  was  a  recusant, 
and  in  1596  Queen  Elizabeth  let  to  R.  Croft  two-thirds  of  the  estate  "  in  the 
possession  of  William  Mannock  guilty  of  recusancy."  In  1602  King  James 
the  First  granted  a  general  pardon  for  all  crimes  and  forfeits  to  the  said  Wm. 
Mannock,but  in  1612  two-thirds  of  the  estate  were  again  forfeited  for  recusancy. 
William  married  Audrey  eldest  daughter  of  Ferdinand  Parys  ofLinton  co. 
Cambridge,  and  died  the  24  March  1616  aged  60  ;  and  in  the  Church  of  Stoke 
by  Nayland  is  a  stone  to  his  memory  without  any  brass  thus  inscribed  : — 

Hie  jacet  antiqua  ducens  ab  origine  gen  tern 

Mannockus  priscis  adnumerandus  avis  ; 
Qui  Gulielmus  erat  Francisci  maximus  revo 

Filius,  ac  hseres  jure  tenebat  opes. 
Unica  multiplici  faciebat  prole  beatuin 

Uxor,  et  ilia  uno  consociata  virp. 
De  liberis  propero  cessit  pars  maxima  letho, 

Filia  j  am  superest  fratribus  una  tribus. 
En  !  ut  quisque  pias  tollens  ad  sidera  palmas 

Unanimo  tantos  lundat  ab  ore  sonos, 
"  Sit  requies  animx  "  veniens  hoc  turba  precetur 

Quid  vetat  extinctis  mitia  vota  dare  ? 
Obiit  24  die  Martii,  Anno  1616,  aetatis  suse  60. 

Fine,  Mil.  3  Edw.  VI.  4  Fine,  Hil.  n  Eli*. 

I.P.M.,  5  and  6  P.  and  M.  65.  5  Memoranda,  12  Eliz.  Hil.  Rec.  Rot.  46. 

J  Fine,  Hil.  i  Eli*. 


STOKE   BY   NAYLAND.  223 

He  was  followed  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Francis  Mannock  created  a  Bart, 
by  Chas  I.  in  1627.  The  very  same  year  however  an  Inquisition  was  ordered 
to  be  taken  of  his  estate  for  recusancy.  He  married  Dorothy  daughter  of 
William  Sanders  of  Wilford  co.  Northampton  and  died  the  20th  November 
1634  aged  49.  There  is  a  monument  of  various  marbles  to  his  memory  in 
Nayland  Church  against  the  north  wall  with  the  inscription  : — 

In  pious  and  deserved  memory 
of  Sr  Francis  Mannock  Baronet 

Whose  Ancestors  long  since  derived  from  Denmark  and  in 

England  called  Lords  of  Mannock's  Manor  (now  called  great 

Gravensden  in  the  Countie  of  Huntington)  the  still  continued 

Inheritance  of  theyr  Families  :  have  also  for  many  ages  been  Lords 

and  Inhabitants  of  this  Manor  of  Gifford's  Hall  in  this  Parish. 
Whose  religious  Conversation  made  him  reverenced  of  all :  whose  Candor 

of  mind,  Sweetness  of  Manner,  generous  Hospitalitie,  made 
his  Life  loved  and  honoured  by  the  Rich  ;  whose  bountifull  Charitie  made 
his  Death  lamented  by  the  Poor. 

Eccl"5.  viii ; 

Sunt  optanda  magis  purae  bona  nomina  vitse 
Nobilis  unguenti  quam  pretiosus  odor. 

On  a  marble  slab  with  a  figure  in  brass  of  a  female  is  this  inscription 
to  his  wife  : — 

D.  O.  M. 

Atrato  hoc  marmore  velatur  et  ssepe  ad  invidiam  dolentium 
defletur  humanitus  perillustris  fseminse  et  elegantis  Dorothae  Sanders  : 
conjux  fuit  nobilissimi  viri  Francisci  Mannock  Baronetti  quern  prole 
beavit  mascula,  et  ne  sexus  videretur  oblita  sui,  filiam  reliquit  in  cunis 
Annam. 

Lugent  nee  immerito  talem  maritus  conjugem,  filii  talem  matrem, 
Lugebit  et  olim  filia  orbitatis  conscia,  nee  est  qui  non  lugebit,  novit  qui 
datum  tamque  cito  repetitum  hoc  donum  Dei. 

Debitum  na'ae  (naturae)  Solvens  exivit 
Septimo  eid.  Julij  anno  Incarnati  verbi. 

MDCXXXII. 
Suae  aetatis  42.    Conjugii  24. 

Sir  Francis  left  three  sons,  Sir  Francis  Mannock  to  whom  the  manor  passed, 
John  and  William,  and  one  dau.  Anne.  The  second  Sir  Francis  married  Mary 
eldest  dau.  of  Sir  George  Heneage  of  Hainton  in  the  county  of  Lincoln  knt. 

Sir  Francis  and  his  lady  are  both  stated  to  be  recusants  in  the  State  Papers 
in  1639,'  and  in  1649  Sir  Francis's  estate  being  under  sequestration  Sir  George 
Heneage  his  son-in-law  entered  upon  part  in  order  to  raise  money  for  the 
younger  children's  portions.  In  1650  a  decree  was  made  of  the  Committee 
of  the  House  of  Commons  for  levying  the  sequestration  and  ordering  the 
judgments  of  the  visitation  of  Sir  George  Heneage  for  provision  for  the 
children  with  orders  to  bring  them  up  in  the  Protestant  religion.  Amongst 
the  State  Papers  is  an  order  this  year  summoning  Sir  Francis  to  shew  cause 
why  his  estate  settled  on  Sir  George  Heneage  (his  wife's  father)  should  not  be 
sequestered.1  In  1658  Richard  Cromwell  granted  a  release  of  the  estate 
sequestered  for  recusancy  to  Richard  Waterman  on  the  payment  to  the 
Exchequer  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  yearly. 

On  the  death  of  Sir  Francis  Mannock  in  1687  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  Sir  William  3rd  Bart,  who  dying  in  171^  the  manor  passed  to 
Sir  Francis  Mannock  4th  Bart,  who  dying  in  1758  it  passed  to  Sir 
William  Mannock  5th  Bart.  On  the  death  of  Sir  William  in  1764  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Wm.  Anthony  Mannock  6th  Bart,  and  on  his 
death  in  ±776  to  his  uncle  Sir  Francis  Mannock  7th  Bart,  who  died  in  1778 
without  issue  leaving  Thomas  his  brother  and  heir  who  succeeded  to  the 

'  State  Papers,  1639,  427.  a  State  Papers,  Cal.  of  Compounders,  1650,2230. 


224  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

title  as  8th  Bart,  and  died  in  1781  without  issue  when  the  manor  passed 
to  Sir  George  the  gth  Bart,  who  was  killed  by  the  overturning  of  the  Dover 
mail  June  3, 1787,  and  dying  without  issue  the  baronetcy  expired. 

The  manor  in  1787  came  into  the  possession  of  William  Comyns  who 
assumed  the  name  of  Mannock.  He  died  in  1819  leaving  no  issue  and  the 
manor  devolved  upon  Patrick  Power,  who  likewise  assumed  the  name  of 
Mannock  by  royal  licence  in  1830.  The  connection  of  the  Powers  with 
the  Mannocks  arose  through  marriage  with  the  Strickland  family.  Patrick 
Mannock  married  Catherine  daughter  of  Nicholas  Power. 

Gifford's  Hall  is  a  fine  remnant  of  a  baronial  residence,  part  dating 
from  the  time  of  Hen.  VI.  The  gateway  which  is  castellated  is  stated  to 
have  been  erected  by  Peter  Gifford,  a  distant  relative  of  AnneBullen.  The 
house  surrounds  a  quadrangular  court.  The  mouldings  and  spandrels  of 
the  doorways  are  fashioned  in  brick.  Opposite  to  the  entrance  are  some 
remains  of  an  old  chapel.  The  dining  hall  has  a  fine  open  timber  roof 
and  minstrels'  gallery.  The  Hall  is  owned  and  now  occupied  by  James 
Winter  Brittain. 

In  a  paper  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Suffolk  Institute  (vol.  iv.  p.  198) 
it  is  said  that  Peter  Giffard  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  III.  probably  built  the 
older  part  of  the  present  mansion,  the  hall  with  its  fine  oak  roof  and  the 
butteries.  "  These,"  says  the  writer,  "  are  of  earlier  date  than  the  entrance 
tower  ;  this  which  is  of  brick  with  the  moulding  of  the  windows,  the  doors 
and  the  arch  over  the  door  is  of  the  Tudor  age  and  must  have  been  built 
by  the  Mannocks.  Opposite  the  entrance  are  the  remains  of  an  old  chapel 
dedicated  to  St.  Nicolas.  Richard  Constable  in  the  year  1216  built  this 
chapel  close  by  his  house.  It  was  amply  endowed  by  his  son  William 
Constable." 

Arms  of  Mannock  :   Sable,  a  cross  formec  flory  arg. 

LEVENHEY  al.  NETHERHALL  MANOR. 

From  the  Domesday  tenant  this  manor  passed  to  his  son  R.  de  Essex, 
and  his  son  Henry  forfeited  in  1165.  It  next  appears  to  have  belonged 
to  William  de  Crikett  and  to  have  passed  from  him  to  his  son  William  who 
died  in  1298.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William  de  Crickett  and  he  and 
his  wife  Joan  had  free  warren  here  in  1309,  in  which  year  he  died  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  William  de  Crickett  who  died  in  1343,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  Sir  William  de  Crickett  who  died  in  1354,  when  it  went  to 
his  son  and  heir  William  de  Crickett  who  died  without  issue. 

In  the  time  of  Hen.  VI.  the  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  Richard  Walde- 
grave,  at  whose  death  it  went  to  his  brother  Sir  Thomas,  and  at  his  death 
to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William.  Sir  William  Waldegrave  died  the  30  Jan. 
1527,'  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  George  Waldegrave  who 
died  the  8  July  1528,"  when  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William.3  Sir 
William  Waldegrave  died  the  7  Nov.  1554,'  when  the  manor  vested  in  his 
son  and  heir  Sir  William  Waldegrave.  A  fine  however  was  levied  of  the 
manor  in  1548  by  Ralph  Gyfford  against  John  Beaumonte  and  others,5 
and  in  1551  by  the  said  Ralph  Gyfford  against  George  Foster  of  a  moiety.6 
In  1574  we  find  amongst  the  Chancery  Pleadings  relating  to  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster  an  action  by  Edward  Baeshe  against  Thomas  Revett  "  as  grantee 

•  I.P.M.,  19  Hen.  VIII.  44.  «  I.P.M.,  i  and  2  P.  and  M.  92: 

'  I.P.M.,  20  Hen.  VIII.  18.  »  Fine,  Trin.  2  Edw.  VI. 

]  I.P.M.,  20  Hen.  VIII.  18,  •  Fine,  Easter,  5  Edw.  VI. 


STOKE   BY  NAYLAND. 


225 


of  the  Crown  on  attainder  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  as  to  lands  in  Netherhall 
in  Stoke  Manor."1  Amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus. 
is  a  precipe  on  a  covenant  in  1593  concerning  "  Lavenhey  al.  Netherhall 
Manor  in  Stoke  by  Nayland,"2  which  fine  was  duly  levied  the  same  year 
by  Thomas  Hopper  against  Sir  W.  Waldegrave  and  others.3  In  1620  the 
manor  appears  to  have  become  vested  in  Geoffrey  Little  sen.  and  Geoffrey 
Little  jun.,  and  later  to  have  passed  to  Sir  Joshua  Rowley  who  died  in 
1798,  after  which  the  descent  of  the  manor  is  identical  with  that  of  the  main 
manor. 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  is  a  lease  of  land  in 
;<  Levenhey  in  Stoke  Nayland  "  by  St.  Osyth  Priory  early  I3th  cent.  ;4  and 
in  the  Record  Office  a  fine  between  John  Beaumont  and  others  quser. 
and  John  Peryent  and  other  def.  of  one-third  of  this  manor,5  and  another 
between  Rad.  Gyfford  quaer.  and  John  Beaumont  and  others  def.  of  half 
of  the  manor  in  I548.6 

SCOTLAND  HALL  MANOR. 

John  de  Scotland,  who  held  this  lordship,  died  in  1334,  and  it  then 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William  de  Scotland  by  deed  9  Edw.  III.  [1335] 
who  gave  it  to  his  mother  Margaret  who  remarried  Robert  de  Roke- 
wode,  and  they  held  it  in  1357.  It  passed  to  Thomas  de  Rokewode  son 
and  heir  of  Robert  in  1359  and  he  died  without  issue,  when  it  went  to  his 
brother  and  heir  John.  John  de  Rookwode  represented  the  county  in 
Parliament  in  the  34  and  42  years  of  Edw.  III.  [1360  and  1369].  He 
married  Joan  dau.  of  Sir  Robert  Swynborne.  On  John  de  Rookwode's 
death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Rookwode  who  married 
Eleanor  daughter  of  Sir  William  Burgate  and  Eleanor  Vis-de-Lau.  This  last 
John  died  without  issue.  The  last  John  Rokewode's  brother  William 
Rokewode  of  Stanningfield  succeeded  in  1436,  and  married  Elizabeth  dau. 
of  Sir  Henry  Coggeshall,  and  on  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  William  who  married  Elizabeth  dau.  of  Thomas  Tyrrell  and  at  his  death 
went  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Rokewode.  Thomas  Rokewod  married 
Anne  daughter  of  John  Clopton  of  Kentwell,  and  dying  8  April  1520, 7 
the  manor  passed  to  his  son  John  Rokewod  who  resided  at  Coldham  Hall 
in  Stanningfield,  and  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Clement  Higham  of 
Wickhambrook.  He  died  the  n  April  1521,"  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
widow  Elizabeth  for  life  and  afterwards  to  their  son  Robert  Rokewode  who 
married  first  Anne  daughter  of  Nicholas  Ashton  of  Lane.,  and  2ndly  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Thos.  Sporne  of  Lavenham,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Robert 
Rokewode.  Robert  married  first  Bridget  daughter  of  Edmund  Kempe  of 
London,  and  2ndly  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Drury  of  Hawsted 
knt.  Robert  the  father  died  in  1566,  but  previously  in  1563  on  the 
marriage  of  his  son  Robert  with  the  daughter  of  Sir  Wm.  Drury  he  had 
joined  with  his  son  in  granting  the  manor  to  the  wife  of  the  latter.9  Robert 
Rokewode  the  son  died  in  1600.  This  year  Henry  Rokewode,  son  and 

'  Duchy  of  Lane.,   Cal.  to   Pleadings,  16         '  A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1563 

Eliz.  21.  by    Christopher    Haydon    against 

'  Add.  Ch.  25482.  the  said  Robert  Rokewood  (Fine, 

1  Fine,  Mich.  35,  36  Eliz.  Easter,  5  Eliz.) ;  in  1593  by  Richard 

4  Harl.  44  C.  16.  Martyn    against Rookwood 

5  28  Hen.  VIII.  1536.  (Fine,  Hil.  33  Eliz.) ;  and  in  1599  by 

6  2  Edw.  VI.  Sir    John    Heigham    and    others 
1  I.P.M.,  12  Hen.  VIII.  29.  against    Robert    Rookewoode    and 
•  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VIII.  125.  others  (Fine,  Easter,  41  Eliz.). 

ci 


226  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

heir  of  Robert  Rokewode  the  son,  had  the  lordship  and  died  without  issue, 
and  Ambrose  his  brother  and  heir  being  implicated  in  the  Gunpowder  Plot 
was  convicted  of  treason  and  executed  at  Tyburn  in  1605,  leaving  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife  dau.  of  Robert  Tyrwytt  of  Ketleby  co.  Lincoln  a  son 
Robert.  Ambrose's  offence  was  having  concealed  the  knowledge  of  some 
part  of  the  plot  communicated  to  him  and  Sir  Everard  Digby  by  his  friend 
Catesby.  Sir  Robert  Rokewode  the  son  of  Ambrose  was  a  faithful  adherent 
of  Charles  I.  He  married  Mary  dau.  of  Sir  Robert  Townsend  of  Ludlow,  co. 
Salop,  and  died  in  June  1679.  Two  of  his  sons  he  lost  in  the  Royal  cause,  one 
of  them,  Capt.  Robert  Rokewode,  being  killed  at  Oxford,  and  the  other, 
Capt.  William  Rokewode,  at  Alresford.  They  were  altogether  an  unfor- 
tunate family,  and  a  grandson  of  this  Sir  Robert  Rokewode,  also  bearing 
the  unfortunate  name  of  Ambrose,  after  having  held  a  command  in  the 
Guards — Brigadier-General — in  the  time  of  James  II.,  was  executed  like 
his  great-grandfather  and  namesake  at  Tyburn  in  1696,  for  having  been 
implicated  in  the  treason  known  as  the  Barclay  conspiracy.  The  late  Mr. 
Tymms  in  a  paper  on  Coldham  Hall  mentions  that  at  the  place  of  execution 
he  delivered  to  the  Sheriff  a  paper  in  which  he  says  :— 

"  I  do  with  all  truth  and  sincerity  declare  and  avow  I  never  knew, 
saw,  or  heard  of  any  order  or  commission  from  King  James  for  the 
assassination  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  and  attacking  his  guards,  but  I  am 
certainly  informed  he  had  rejected  proposals  of  that  nature  when  made 
unto  him.  Nor  do  I  think  he  knew  the  least  of  the  particular  design  for 
attacking  the  guards  at  his  landing,  in  which  I  was  engaged  as  a  soldier, 
by  my  immediate  commander  (much  against  my  judgment).  But  his 
soldier  I  was,  and  as  such  I  was  to  obey  and  act.  Near  twelve  years  I 
have  served  my  true  king  and  master,  K.  James,  and  freely  now  lay 
down  my  life  in  his  cause.  I  ever  abhorr'd  a  treacherous  aclion  to  an 
enemy.  If  it  be  a  guilt  to  have  complied  with  what  I  thought,  and  still 
think,  to  have  been  my  duty,  I  am  guilty.  No  other  guilt  do  I  own.  As 
I  beg  of  all  to  forgive  me,  so  I  forgive  all  from  my  heart,  even  the  Prince 
of  Orange,  who,  as  a  soldier,  ought  to  have  considered  my  case  before  he 
signed  the  warrant  for  my  death.  I  pray  God  to  open  his  eyes  and  render 
him  sensible  of  the  much  blood,  from  all  parts,  crying  out  against  him,  so 
to  prevent  a  heavier  execution  hanging  over  his  head  than  what  he  inflicts 


on  me." 


The  arms  of  Rokewode  :  Argent,  six  chess  rooks,  three,  two,  one,  sable. 

In  1536  John  Beaumount  levied  a  fine  of  a  3rd  of  the  part  of  the 
manor  against  John  Paryent  and  others.1  In  1814  we  find  the  manor 
vested  in  Wm.  Valentine  Comyns  Mannock. 

WlTHERMARSH   MANOR. 

This  manor  was  one  of  those  held  by  Robert  Suane's  father  before 
the  Conquest  and  continued  to  be  held  by  the  son  notwithstanding  the 
change  of  dynasty  in  consequence  of  the  aid  rendered  by  the  family  to 
William  the  Conqueror.  The  manor  consisted  of  4  carucates  with  soc. 
In  Saxon  times  there  were  27  villeins,  32  bordars,  2  slaves,  3  ploughteams 
in  demesne,  13  belonging  to  the  men,  i  mill,  and  30  acres  of  meadow, 
valued  at  10  pounds.  By  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  the  value 
had  risen  to  12  pounds,  and  there  were  2  horses,  20  beasts,  24  hogs,  15 
fore  t  mares,  and  80  sheep,  but  there  were  3  villeins  and  5  bordars 

•  Fine,  Mich.  28  Hen.  VIII. 


STOKE   BY   NAYLAND.  227 

fewer,  and  i  slave  only,  while  the  ploughteams  in  demesne  had  come  down 
by  one,  and  those  belonging  to  the  men  had  fallen  from  13  to  8.  The 
length  of  the  manor  was  8  quarantenes  and  the  breadth  4,  and  it  paid  in 
a  gelt  20^.' 

Davy  seems  to  think  that  the  manor  was  called  Netherhall  Wither- 
marsh  Manor,  but  this  does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  case.  Netherhall 
Manor  was  the  same  as  Levenhey.  This  manor  passed  from  the  Domesday 
tenant,  as  did  the  last  manor  treated  of,  to  his  son  Robert  and 
grandson  Henry,  when  it  was  forfeited.  In  the  time  of  Henry  the  second 
Umfreda  de  Winewershe  widow  seems  to  have  held  this  manor.  In  1320 
Roger  de  Withermarsh  held  it,  and  in  1371  Rich.  Withermersh. 

In  I553  George  Bacon  and  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of 
John  Abell,  had  a  grant  of  the  manor,2  and  in  1563  Sir  Thos.  Revett  held  it 
by  grant.  The  manor  then  probably  descended  through  the  Waldegraves 
and  Windsors  to  the  Rowleys,  as  in  the  case  of  Tendring  Hall  Manor,  the 
title  to  which  has  been  already  deduced. 

CAPEL  MANOR. 

This  manor  is  unnoticed  by  Davy,  but  clearly  had  a  separate  existence, 
and  was  at  an  early  period  in  the  possession  of  a  family  of  the  name  of 
Capel.  Hen.  I.  gave  Jakeham  to  Hugh  Capel  by  the  service  of  two  knights' 
fees,  and  Sir  Richard  de  Capel  was  Lord  Justice  of  Ireland  in  1261.  John 
Capel  of  Stoke  Nayland  died  seised  of  this  manor  in  1449  and  his  will 
dated  the  4th  April  1449'  was  proved  the  14  June  the  same  year.  By  his 
wife  Joan  he  left  three  sons  and  a  daughter  all  under  age.  John  the 
eldest  inherited  this  manor.  William  the  second  son  was  a  member  of 
the  Drapers'  Company,  an  eminent  merchant,  and  acquired  an  immense 
fortune.  At  the  coronation  of  Henry  VII.  he  was  knighted,  served  the 
office  of  Sheriff  of  London  in  1489,  of  Lord  Mayor  in  1503,  and  was  repre- 
sentative in  Parliament  of  that  city  from  1491  to  1514.  It  is  recorded  of 
Sir  William  that  Empson  and  Dudley,  emissaries  of  Hen.  VII.  under  some 
pretence  or  other  extorted  from  him  the  sum  of  £1,600  to  enrich  the  Treasury 
of  the  Exchequer,  and  demanded  a  like  sum  a  few  years  afterwards  under 
the  pretence  that  during  his  mayoralty  he  did  not  duly  punish  a  party 
who  had  been  accused  before  him  of  coining  false  money,  "  though,"  as  one 
chronicler  says,  "  he  was  indeed  guilty  of  no  other  fault  but  that  God  had 
filled  his  coffers."  Knowing  his  innocence  of  the  charge  he  refused  to  pay, 
for  which  he  was  committed  to  the  Tower  where  he  remained  until  the 
death  of  the  King,  which  fortunately  for  the  prisoner  occurred  the  same 
year.  On  the  accession  of  Hen.  VIII.  he  was  released  from  confinement 
without  payment  of  the  illegal  fine,  and  Dudley  being  committed  for  his 
great  oppressions,  both  he  and  Empson  soon  lost  their  heads  under  a  des- 
potism which  brooked  no  rival.  Sir  William  Capel,  who  was  ancestor  of 
the  Earls  of  Essex,  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Arundel  knt. 
of  Lanhern  in  Cornwall,  ancestor  of  the  Lords  Arundel  of  WT ardour  and 
Trericeand  died  on  the  6th  of  September  1515.  He  was  buried  in  a  chapel 
of  his  own  founding  in  St.  Bartholomew's  Church  near  the  Royal  Exchange, 
London. 

A  "  Capell  Manor  "  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  James 
Hubert  who  died  the  24  Feb.  1517,  being  then  found  seised  of  the  same, 
when  it  passed  to  Walter  Hubert  his  son  and  heir.4 

'  Dom.  ii.  401.  3  28  Hen.  VI. 

•  Originalia,  I  Mary,  4  Pars  Rot.  45.  4  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VIII:  251 


228  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

CHAMBERLAIN'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  vested  in  Ralph  le  Chamberlaine  in  the  time  of  Hen. 
III.  The  Chamberlain  family,  from  whom  no  doubt  the  name  was  derived, 
were  settled  in  the  parish  at  even  an  earlier  date.'  Davy  says  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thos.  le  Chamberlaine  ;  but  we  find  in 
1275  Roger  le  Chamberlein  holding  land  here,  and  bringing  an  action  against 
John  de  Tendring  touching  common  of  pasture  in  Stoke,1  and  in  1281  against 
Thomas  Giffard  touching  a  way  stopped  up  there.5  This  Roger  le  Cham- 
berlaine was,  according  to  Davy,  the  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Thos.  and  died  in 
1319  seised  of  the  manor,4  which  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Richard  le  Cham- 
berlaine,5 and  it  fs  in  1341  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Alice,  the 
wife  of  the  said  Richard  le  Chamberlaine.6  This  Richard  le  Chamberlaine 
seems  to  have  parted  with  a  portion  of  his  estate  in  1325,  and  to  have 
settled  the  remainder  in  1334,  for  on  the  Originalia  Rolls  in  1325  is  a 
licence  to  him  to  enfeoff  John  de  Kersey  chaplain,  of  one  messuage,  60  acres 
of  land,  10  of  meadow,  20  of  pasture,  3  of  wood,  and  405.  rent  in  Stoke 
Neyland,  Hegham,  and  Shelley  ;7  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1334  is  a  licence 
for  him  to  enfeoff  Nicholas  atte  Pond  chaplain  of  5  messuages,  100  acres 
of  land,  10  of  meadow,  25  of  pasture,  3  of  wood,  and  405.  rent  in  these  same 
places,  said  to  be  held  in  chief  as  of  the  Honor  of  Raleigh,  then  in  the  King's 
hands,  and  for  him  to  regrant  to  him,  Alice  his  wife  and  his  heirs.8  Alice, 
Richard's  widow,  died  in  1341,  and  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  Roger 
Chamberlaine,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Ralph  Chamberlaine. 
A  fine  was  levied  in  1365  of  the  manor  of  Stoke  Nayland,  probably  meaning 
this  manor,  by  Robert  Crull  parson  of  Swanescombe  Church,  Roger  Savale 
parson  of  Stratford  Church,  and  John  Chamberlain  chaplain,  against 
Bernard  Donat  and  Cecilia  his  wife.9  The  manor  may  then  have 
descended  for  a  time  like  the  manors  of  Throgton  in  Thorpe  Morieux  in 
Cosford  Hundred  and  like  Gedding  Manor  in  Thedwestry  Hundred  through 
the  Chamberlain  family. 

In  1558  the  manor  was  held  by  William  Mannock,  who  died  this  year,10 
and  it  passed  to  Francis  Mannock,  who  died  seised  of  it  in  1590.  At  the 
end  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  her  majesty  leased  to  Richard  Croft  2 
parts  of  "  Gifford's  and  Chamberleins."  In  1805  the  manor  was  vested  in 
William  Mannock,  and  descended  in  the  same  mode  as  the  Manor  of  Giffords. 

The  manor  is  included  in  a  fine  levied  of  the  manor  in  1559  by  John 
Wynterflod  against  Francis  Mannock." 

CAUSER'S,  PEACHAM'S,  OR  SHARDELOWE'S  MANOR. 

Edmund  de  Shardelowe  in  1288  had  lands  held  of  him  here ;  and  in  1563 
Sir  Thos.  Revett  had  a  grant  of  the  manor,  according  to  the  Davy  MSS . 
Mr.  Davy  considers  that  after  this  the  manor  probably  descended  as  did  the 
manor  of  Tendring  Hall.  The  manor  of  Shardelowes  is  mentioned  in  the 
Inquisition  p.m.  of  Roger  Darcy  who  died  the  3  Sept.  1507  leaving  Thomas  his 
son  and  heir,"  and  also  in  a  suit  as  to  tithes  between  Peter  Baker  and  Wm. 

'  Rad.  le  Chamberlane,  I.P.M.,  /.  Hen.  III.  '  O.,  6  Edw.  III. 

18.  •  Pat.  Rolls,  8  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  32. 

Pat.  Rolls,  3  Edw.  I.  4^.  »  Feet  of  Fines,  39  Edw.  III.  2. 

Pat.  Rolls,  9  Edw.  I.  gd.  ">  I.P.M.,  6  P.  and  M. 

I.P.M.,  13  Edw.  II.  6.  "  Fine,  Hil.  i  Eliz. 

I.Q.D.,  17  Edw.  II.  95.  '••  I.P.M.,  24  Hen.  VII.  80. 
I.P.M.,  15  Edw.  III.  3. 


STOKE   BY  NAYLAND.  229 

Mannock  and  others  37  Eliz.,  particulars  of  which  suit  are  to  be  found  amongst 
the  Exchequer  Depositions,  and  this  fact  seems  to  operate  somewhat  against 
the  idea  of  a  grant  of  the  manor  in  1563  to  Sir  Thos.  Revett. 

DOUNES  MANOR. 

There  was  in  Stoke  by  Nayland  apparently  a  manor  of  the  name  of 
Dounes  or  Dounings  of  which  Sir  Robert  Reyton  died  seised  the  27  March 
1518  leaving  Robert  his  son  and  heir  20  years  of  age  and  upwards  ;'  possibly 
this  was  the  manor  of  "  Stoke  juxta  Nayland  "  of  which  Sir  Richard 
Corbett  died  seised  the  25  June  1524  leaving  Richard  his  son  and  heir.  * 

STOKE  RECTORY  MANOR. 

Davy  states  that  the  Priory  of  Prithlewell  had  the  advowson  in  1301, 
rather  inferring  that  it  then  obtained  the  same ;  but  amongst  the 
Bodleian  Charters  is  a  deed  dated  nearly  a  hundred  years  earlier,  probably 
about  1220,  reciting  the  appropriation  of  the  Church  of  Stoke  Nayland 
with  the  Chapel  of  Eylond  by  Pandulph  Bp.  elect  of  Norwich  to  the  Priory. 3 
Ministers'  accounts  while  the  manor  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Priory 
18  Edw.  II.  will  be  found  in  the  Public  Record  Office.4  There  are  letters 
patent  of  Edw.  III.  confirming  a  composition  between  the  Bp.  of  Norwich 
and  the  Priory  of  "  Priterwell  "  relating  to  the  patronage,5  and  presentations 
were  made  by  the  Priory  as  late  as  the  year  1510.  In  1536  the  presentation 
was  made  by  the  Crown,  and  in  1546  the  Crown  granted  the  manor  to  Thos. 
Thorowgood  and  John  Foster,  and  it  was  in  1551  sold  to  Thomas  Wiseman, 
who  sold  in  1563  to  Robert  Bell  and  Dorothy  his  wife.  They  had  licence 
to  alienate  to  Francis  Mannock,  of  which  they  availed  themselves  and  con- 
veyed to  him.  He  died  in  1590,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  William  Mannock.  From  this  time  the  lordship  probably  descended 
in  the  same  manner  as  Gifford's  Hall  Manor,  but  it  seems  that  Paul  Viscount 
Bayning  died  seised  of  the  Rectory  of  Stoke  5  Charles  I. 

Amongst  the  Hatfield  MSS.6  is  a  letter  from  Thomas  Browne  to 
Sir  Robert  Cecil  in  which  he  asks  for  a  letter  to  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  England  on  behalf  of  Ralph  Agas,  "  a  skilful  surveyor  of  lands,  dwelling  at 
Stoke  next  Neyland  in  Suffolk  well  reputed  of  my  late  good  lord,  very 
careful  of  her  Majesty's  profit  and  renown,  and  of  my  lord  and  your  Honour's 
report  and  dignity.  He  hath  used  means  to  have  some  punished  for  their 
unloyal  speeches  of  her  Majesty.  He  hath  reproved  others  for  their  un- 
dutiful  regard  of  your  Honour.  For  this,  and  for  his  diligent  pains  and  care 
in  settling  forth  a  concealed  ward's  lands  for  me  (which  is  the  only  grant 
I  ever  obtained  in  my  Lord's  service,  and  hath  cost  me  above  £200,  well 
known  to  Mr.  Gilbert  Wakering,  escheator  of  the  same  county  last  year, 
and  neither  can  get  possession  of  body  or  lands  to  this  present  for  want  of 
help  from  Her  Majesty's  Court  of  Wards,  yet  through  those  my  expenses 
in  discovering  the  original  grant  of  the  manor  of  Neyland,  her  Majesty 
hath  recovered  37  tenures,  and  four  several  offices  thereof  already  found  and 
many  other  tenures  and  offices  thereof  are  like  presently  to  ensue)  the  said 
Ralph's  adversaries,  immediately  upon  report  of  my  Lord's  departure, 
commenced  many  slanderous  and  unjust  suits  against  him,  and  having 
made  extreme  and  grievous  riots  against  him  and  his  family  yet  they  shame 

'  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  I.  '  Bundle  1127,  No.  4. 

"  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  31.  *  16  Edw.  III.,  Bodl.  Ch.  221. 

3  Bodl.  Ch.  220.  6  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  ix.  63. 


230  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

not  to  make  Agas  and  his  family  the  first  authors  thereof.  Albeit  his  cause 
be  so  just  as  his  counsel  hereabove  doth  inform  him  that  he  hath  the 
advantage  of  capital  law  against  many  of  them,  yet  his  estate  being  weak 
and  wholly  beggared  with  his  suits,  he  would  rather  leave  off,  though 
with  his  utter  undoing,  having  a  wife  and  six  poor  children  depending 
only  upon  his  labour  and  travail,  if  so  be  his  adversaries'  extreme  malice 
might  by  any  means  be  appeased.  But  they,  presuming  upon  their  wealth 
and  countenance,  give  forth  that  nothing  shall  content  them  but  to  have 
poor  Agas  his  carcase  to  perish  in  prison.  The  matter  is  to  be  heard  about 
14  days  hence  at  the  next  assize  at  Bury,  where  Agas  in  his  poverty  getting 
no  counsel  to  speak  for  him,  and  his  own  speech  being  easily  quenched,  he 
and  one  of  his  sons,  in  their  just  cause,  shall  be  condemned  to  perpetual 
prison.  Yet  I  do  assure  you  of  the  equity  of  his  cause,  and  were  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice  prepared  and  possessed  of  the  weightiness  and  heinousness 
thereof,  by  your  letter  to  be  delivered  to  him  at  the  assize  from  my  hands, 
then  should  poor  Agas  not  only  escape  the  fury  of  his  adversaries  but 
their  mischief  should  return  upon  their  own  heads." 

The  9  Feb.  1598-9. 

Which   manor   of   Stoke   by   Nayland  is  referred  to   is  not  easy  to 
determine. 


SUDBURY.  231 


SUDBURY. 

IUDBURY  was  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  returned 
as  part  of  Thingoe  Hundred,  though  it  had  no  local  con- 
nection with  it,  and  is  now  part  of  the  Hundred  of  Babergh. 
The  town  was  parcel  of  the  estate  of  Earl  Morcar  forfeited 
to  the  Conqueror.  It  was  the  land  really  of  Alvera 
mother  of  Earl  Morchar,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Survey 
was  in  the  hands  of  William  the  Chamberlain  and  Otho  the 
goldsmith  on  behalf  of  the  King.  In  the  Confessor's  time  the  demesne 
lands  consisted  of  3  carucates  of  land,  with  i  villein,  63  burgesses,  living  at  the 
Hall  or  Manor  House,  6  serfs,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne,  and  55  burgesses 
in  demesne  with  2  carucates  of  land.  These  had  4  ploughteams.  There 
was  also  the  Church  of  St.  Gregory,  with  50  acres  of  free  land  and  25  acres 
of  meadow.  Likewise  a  mill,  2  horses  in  demesne  at  the  Hall,  17  beasts, 
23  hogs,  100  sheep,  and  8  acres  of  meadow  in  the  borough,  and  one 
market  and  money  coiners.  The  value  of  the  whole  was  18  pounds,  which 
by  the  time  of  the  Survey  had  risen  to  28,  but  the  only  changes  in  the 
particulars  from  Saxon  times  was  an  extra  villein  and  4  serfs  less.  The 
length  was  4  quarantenes,  and  the  breadth  3,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  5  shillings. 
There  was  also  a  soc  in  the  town.1 

MANOR  OF  SUDBURY. 

In  parcelling  out  the  lands  he  had  acquired,  the  Conqueror  allotted  the 
Manor  of  Sudbury  with  94  manors  besides  in  Suffolk  to  Richard  Fitz  Gilbert 
or  de  Clare  afterwards  Earl  of  Gloucester  and  Hertford.  It  formed  portion  of 
the  great  Honor  of  Clare  and  was  held  of  the  Crown  as  part  of  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster.  Richard  Fitz  Gilbert  was  joined  with  William  de  Warren  in 
the  important  office  of  Justiciary  of  England  in  1073.  He  fixed  his  residence 
shortly  before  the  Domesday  Survey  at  Tunbridge  in  Kent  and  in  the 
Survey  is  called  "  Ricardus  de  Tonebruge."  He  married  Robesia  daughter 
of  Walter  Gifford  ist  Earl  of  Buckingham  and  is  said  to  have  fallen  in  a 
skirmish  with  the  Welsh,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Gilbert  de 
Tonebruge.  He  joined  in  the  rebellion  of  Robert  de  Mowbray,  Earl  of 
Northumberland,  but  it  is  narrated  that  observing  that  his  sovereign  Wm. 
Rufus  was  about  to  fall  into  an  ambush,  he  relented,  warned  the  King, 
saved  him,  and  was  pardoned.  He  married  Adeliza  daughter  of  the  Earl  of 
Claremont,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Richard  de  Clare,  Earl  of 
Hertford.2  He  distinguished  himself  in  the  wars  in  Wales,  and  vastly 
increased  his  family  possessions  in  those  parts.  He  took  to  wife  Alice  sister 
of  Ranulph  de  Gernon,  2nd  Earl  of  Chester,  and  the  manor  passed  on  his 
being  killed  in  Wales  the  15  April  1136  to  his  son  Gilbert  de  Clare  2nd  Earl 
of  Hertford.3  Gilbert  is  called  "  Earl  "  of  Clare  in  1136.  This  nobleman  was 
a  hostage  for  his  uncle  the  Earl  of  Chester.  In  1145  joining  the  rebellion 
in  the  time  of  Stephen  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  confined  until  he  had 
consented  to  relinquish  his  many  strongholds.  He  died  in  1152  without 
issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Roger  de  Clare  3rd  Earl  of  Hertford. 
In  the  time  of  Hen.  II.  this  Roger  was  summoned  by  Thomas  a  Becket, 
the  celebrated  Archbp.  of  Canterbury  to  do  homage  to  his  Grace  for  the 

1  Dom.  ii.  2866.  3  See  Bures  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

'  See  Round's  Geoffrey  de  Mandeville,  p.  40. 


232  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Castle  of  Toneburge,  but  at  the  command  of  the  King  he  refused,  alleging 
that  "  holding  it  by  military  service,  it  belonged  rather  to  the  Crown  than 
to  the  Church."  The  Castle  had  been  exchanged  by  Roger's  great  grand- 
father Richard,  with  the  Archbp.  of  Canterbury,  for  the  Castle  of  Brion. 
Roger  de  Clare  was  commander  of  the  royal  army  against  the  Welsh  in  1157, 
andmarriedist  a  daur.  of  Payne,  Sheriff  co.  Salop,  and  andly  Maude  daughter 
of  James  de  St.  Hilary.  On  his  death  in  1173,  the  manor  passed  to  his  son 
Richard  de  Clare  4th  Earl  of  Hertford,  who  married  Amicia  2nd  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Wm.  Fitz-Robert,  Earl  of  Gloucester. 

It  would  seem  that  Sudbury,  at  least  the  town,  was  settled  on  this 
marriage,  which  was  subsequently  dissolved  ;  for  in  the  Abbreviation  of 
Pleas  i  John  we  see  a  trial  as  to  whether  "  Amice  "  formerly  wife  of  Earl 
Richard  de  Clare,  unjustly  disseised  Richard  son  of  Wm.  de  Sudbury  of  a 
free  tenement  there  ;  and  the  defence  of  the  Countess  was  that  after  the 
dissolution  of  her  marriage  with  the  Earl  of  Clare  to  whom  the  town  of 
Sudbury  was  given  as  her  marriage  portion,  she  came  to  Sudbury,  and 
summoned  the  said  Richard  to  her  Court.'  It  is  a  question  whether  the 
manor  had  not  passed  earlier  out  of  the  Clare  family  and  become  vested  in 
the  Earls  of  Gloucester,  and  only  came  back  to  the  Clare  family  on  this 
marriage  ;  in  fact  one  is  inclined  to  adopt  this  view,  having  regard  to  the 
entry  in  1202,  also  in  the  Pleadings  in  the  time  of  John,  that  the  Countess 
held  her  Court  at  Sudbury,  with  reference  to  Richard  son  of  Uluric,  and 
Richard  son  of  John  as  to  lands  there,1  and  to  a  claim  in  1206  by  the  Countess 
of  Clare  to  the  advowson  of  St.  Gregory,  Sudbury,  against  the  Prioress  of 
Eton3  who  asserted  that  the  same  had  been  granted  by  William  formerly 
Earl  of  Gloucester  father  of  the  said  Countess  to  the  nuns  of  the  Church  of 
Eton.4 

The  manor  passed  in  1217  to  Gilbert  de  Clare  5th  Earl  of  Hertford, 
created  Earl  of  Gloucester.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  barons  who  con- 
tended against  King  John  and  one  of  the  25  barons  to  enforce  the  provisions 
of  the  Great  Charter.  He  married  Isabel  3rd  daughter  and  eventual  coheir 
of  Wm.  Marshall,  1st  Earl  of  Pembroke,  and  dying  the  25  Oct.  1230  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Richard  de  Clare,  6th  Earl  of  Hertford  and  2nd  Earl  of 
Gloucester,  who  being  a  minor  was  placed  in  wardship  to  Hubert  de  Burgh, 
Earl  of  Kent  and  Justiciary  of  England,  whose  daughter  to  the  displeasure 
of  the  King,  Richard  de  Clare  clandestinely  married.  It  is  probable  the 
marriage  was  dissolved,  as  immediately  after  this  he  was  married  to 
Maude,  daughter  of  John  de  Lacy,  Earl  of  Lincoln,  who  for  the  sake  of 
the  valuable  alliance  paid  to  the  Crown  5,000  marks  and  remitted  a  debt  of 
2,000  more. 

Richard  was  eminent  alike  in  war  and  peace.  He  commanded  the 
Royal  Army  in  South  Wales  in  1257  an^  was  appointed  on  an  embassy  to 
the  Pope,  to  Castille,  to  France,  and  to  treat  with  the  Duke  of  Bretagne  in 
1259.  He  died  the  15  July  1262,  having  been  poisoned  at  the  table  of 
Peter  de  Savoy,  the  queen's  uncle,  along  with  Baldwin  Earl  of  Devon,  and 
other  persons  of  note.5  The  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Gilbert  de 
Clare  3rd  Earl  of  Gloucester  surnamed  the  Red.  He  was  Steward  of  St. 
Edmund's  Abbey  in  1266,  and  married  Alice  daughter  of  Guy  Earl  of 
Angouleme  and  niece  of  the  King  of  France,  and  received  the  honour  of 

1  Abbr.  of  PI.  I  John  19  East,  and  Trin.  *  Abbr.  of  PI.  7  and  8  John  5  in  dorso  ; 
•  Abbr.  of  PI.  4  John  I  in  dorso,  Rot.  St.    Peter's,    Sudbury,    15    John 

Mich.  Term.  Mich.  Hil.  14. 

>  Eaton  in  Warwickshire.  '  I.P.M.,  47  Hen.  III.  34.     Extent. 


SUDBURY. 


233 


knighthood  from  Montford  Earl  of  Leicester  at  the  head  of  the  army  at 
Lewes  where  he  held  a  command  and  where  he  had  distinguished  himself. 
Later  he  abandoned  the  baronial  cause,  and  had  an  important  command 
in  the  royal  army  at  the  Battle  of  Evesham.  This  nobleman  was  one  of  the 
first  to  proclaim  King  Edward  then  in  Palestine  as  successor  to  the 
throne,  and  to  entertain  him  with  great  magnificence  at  Tunbridge  on 
his  arrival.  Gilbert  de  Clare  obtained  a  divorce  from  his  wife  Alice, 
and  married  Joane  of  Acre  2nd  daughter  of  King  Edw.  I.,  upon  which 
marriage  he  gave  up  the  inheritance  of  all  his  castles  and  manors  to  the 
King  to  dispose  of  as  he  thought  best,  and  the  King  entailed  them  (after 
a  life  interest  to  Joane)  on  the  Earl's  issue  by  the  said  Joane,  and  in 
default  upon  her  in  fee  should  she  survive  her  husband.  He  had,  however, 
issue  by  her,  a  son  Gilbert  and  3  daughters,  and  died  1295,  when  the  manor 
passed  under  the  settlement  to  Joane  for  life.  She  subsequently  married 
Ralph  de  Monthermer,  but  died  in  1307,  when  Gilbert  de  Clare  4th  Earl  of 
Gloucester  succeeded  to  the  lordship.  He  is  styled  "  Hereditary  Steward 
of  St.  Edmund's  Abbey,"  and  held  the  appointment  of  Chief  Guardian  and 
Lieutenant  of  Scotland  in  1308  and  1309,  was  one  of  the  "  Lords  Ordainers 
of  Reform  "  in  1310,  and  was  Guardian  and  Lieutenant  of  England  in  1311. 
He  married  Maud,  daughter  of  Rich,  de  Burgh  Earl  of  Ulster,  and  falling 
at  the  Battle  of  Bannockburn  the  24  June  1314,  leaving  no  issue,1  the 
King  granted  to  John  de  Chelmersford  the  wardship  of  the  lands  of  the 
Earl.2  The  manor  passed  upon  partition  between  the  Earl's  three 
sisters,  to  Elizabeth,  who  had  married  John  de  Burgh,  son  of  Richard,  Earl 
of  Ulster,  by  whom  she  had  issue  William,  Earl  of  Ulster,  who  married 
Maud  sister  of  Henry  Plantagenet,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  left  a  daughter 
and  heir,  Elizabeth  de  Burgh,  who  married  Lionel  Plantagenet,  Duke  of 
Clarence,  and  died  in  1369,  leaving  an  only  daughter  Philippa  Plantagenet, 
who  married  Edmund  Mortimer,  3rd  Earl  of  March,  and  through  her  the 
House  of  York  derived  its  claim  to  the  throne.  She  died  in  1381,  and  was 
succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir  Roger  Mortimer,  4th  Earl  of  March.  He  was 
declared  by  Parliament,  9  Rich.  II.  [1385]  to  be  heir  to  the  Crown,  by  reason 
of  his  descent  from  Lionel  Duke  of  Clarence.  He  married  Alianore,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Holland,  Earl  of  Kent,  sister  of  Thos.  Duke  of  Surrey,  and 
sister  and  coheir  of  Edmund,  Earl  of  Kent,  and  was  slain  in  battle  in  Ireland 
in  I398.3  The  manor  passed  to  his  son  Edmund  Mortimer,  5th  Earl  of  March, 
who  like  his  father  had  been  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease  a  minor  of 
tender  years.  The  custody  of  the  youth  was  committed  by  the  King  to 
his  son  Henry  Prince  of  Wales,  but  it  seems  that  sufficient  vigilance  was  not 
exercised,  and  he  was  stolen  away  by  Lady  de  Spencer,  but  being  discovered 
in  Chittham  woods  he  was  afterwards  guarded  more  warily.  He  was  on 
the  accession  of  Hen.  VI.  to  the  throne  made  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland, 
and  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Edmund  Earl  of  Stafford,  but  died  in  1424 
without  issue. 

In  the  Inquis.  taken  after  his  death  will  be  found  an  extent  of  the 
town  and  fishery,4  and  in  the  same  Inquisition  is  included  the  advowson 
of  the  chapel  of  St.  Sepulchre  305.  per  an.  The  manor  passed  to  the  last 
Earl's  nephew  Richard  Plantagenet  Duke  of  York,  son  of  his  eldest  sister 
Anne  married  to  Richard  Plantagenet  Duke  of  Cambridge. 

His  defeat  and  death  at  the  Battle  of  Wakefield  in  1460'  when  the 


I.P.M.,  8  Edw.  II.  68.    Extent. 
Originalia,  8  Edw.  II.  16. 
I.P.M.,  22  Rich.  II.  34. 


I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  VI.  32. 
I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  IV.  14. 


Dl 


234  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

ambitious  projects  of  his  house  for  a  time  received  a  check  are  facts  well 
known.  His  eldest  son  by  Cicely,  daughter  of  Ralph  Nevil  Earl  of  West- 
moreland, after  varying  fortunes  was  finally  established  on  the  Throne 
as  Edw.  IV.,  and  the  manor  became  vested  in  the  Crown  where  it  remained 
for  over  100  years.  A  fine  was  in  1511  levied  of  the  manor  and  of  the 
Manor  of  Woodhall  in  Sudbury  by  the  King  against  Katherine  Courteney, 
Countess  of  Devon,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Edw.  IV.,  and  Thomas 
Haward  and  Anne  his  wife,  another  dau.  of  Edw.  IV.1  Sudbury  Manor  is 
however  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  Richard  Corbett,  who 
died  the  25  June  1524  leaving  a  son  and  heir  Richard  Corbett.1  In 
1577  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  claimed  both  Sudbury  and  Woodhall  Manors 
under  a  grant  from  Edw.  VI.,  and  brought  an  action  against  John  Skynner 
on  behalf  of  the  Corporation  of  Sudbury  as  to  waifs  and  strays.5  In 
1597  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  W.  Reade  and  others  against 
Michael  Stanhope  and  others,4  and  in  1610  the  manor  was  granted  to  Sir 
Robert  Crane. 

Amongst  the  MSS.  in  the  Cambridge  University  Library  is  a  grant  to 
Robert  de  Assheton  of  the  custody  during  minority  of  the  heir  of  Edward 
le  Despenser  of  Sudbury  Manor.5  And  in  1252  a  grant  of  free  warren  in 
the  manor  was  made  to  Ely  Priory.6 

Court  Rolls  of  the  manor  will  be  found  in  the  Public  Record  Office  for 
Edward  II.,  III.,  Richard  II.,  Hen.  IV.,  V.,  VI.,  Edw.  IV.,  V.,  Rich.  III., 
Hen.  VII.,7  and  extracts  from  Court  Rolls  16-35  Edw.  III.,  8  Hen.  VII.8 
As  to  the  Office  of  the  Steward  of  this  manor  see  State  Papers  I  Hen.  VIII. 
222.  In  the  State  Papers  1540  it  is  stated  that  the  King  granted  Sudbury 
Manor  to  Lady  Anne  of  Cleves  in  consideration  of  her  marriage  with  him.9 

An  action  will  be  found  amongst  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  Proceedings 
in  1590  in  reference  to  the  right  of  free  fishing,  &c.,  and  the  boundaries  of 
the  manor.10 

WOOD  HALL  MANOR. 

This  was  evidently  a  small  manor  carved  out  of  the  larger  holding  of 
the  Earls  of  Gloucester.  It  seems  to  have  been  held  as  a  separate  manor 
by  Gilbert  de  Clare  who  died  in  1295,  and  passed  on  his  death  to  his  widow 
Joane  of  Acre.  An  extent  of  the  manor  is  given  in  1369  in  the  Inquis.  p.m. 
of  Lionel  Duke  of  Clarence,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,"  and  also  in  1398  in  the 
Inquis.  post  mortem  of  Roger  de  Mortimer  Earl  of  March."  It  seems  to 
have  devolved  in  the  same  way  as  the  main  manor,  ultimately  vesting  in 
the  Crown  in  the  person  of  the  Duke  of  York  Edw.  IV.  In  1553  it  was 
granted  by  the  Crown  to  Sir  John  Clike,  and  two  years  later  leased  to  Sir 
Edward  Waldegrave,  and  the  following  year  it  was  annexed  by  the  King  and 
Queen  to  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 

In  1577  it  seems  that  Frances  Pawlett  claimed  from  Sir  Edward  Walde- 
grave as  lessee  against  JohnLeyttle  tenant  of  a  water  mill  in  Essex  as  to 

'  Fine,  Mich.  3  Hen.  VIII.  •  Ib.  204,  I. 

J  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  31.  '  State  Papers  1540,  144  (2). 

3  Duchy  of    Lane.  Cal.  to  Pleadings,  19         '•  William  Agarde  in  right  of  Robert  Holmes 

Eliz.  32.  v.   John  Vernoune  in  right  of  Sir 

4  Fine,  Easter,  39  Eliz.  John  Montgomery.   Duchy  of  Lane. 

5  Cambridge  Dd.  iii.  53,  272.  Cal.  to  Pleadings,  32  Eliz.  30. 

6  Chart.  Rolls,  36  Hen.  III.  n.  "  I. P.M.,  43  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  23. 
'  Portfolio  203,  112-115,  204,  2-20,  213,         "  I.P.M.,  22  Rich.  II.  34. 

57.  66.  7°,  71- 


SUDBURY.  235 

suit  and  soc  to  mills  ;'  and  2  years  later  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  Steward  of 
Clare  Manor  brought  an  action  against  John  Skynner  Mayor  of  Sudbury 
and  others  as  to  profits  of  Court,  Court  Rolls  and  Evidences.2 

In  1589  an  action  was  brought  by  Richard  Frende  in  right  of  Sir  Edward 
Waldegrave  against  Thomas  Davye  and  others  as  to  soc,  suit  and  mulcture 
to  two  water  corn  mills  and  one  fulling  mill  in  this  manor,3  there  was  also 
a  suit  as  to  markets  and  fairs  two  years  later,4  and  as  to  water  corn  mills 
again  and  land  called  Border  mortgaged  to  Henry  Freeman.5 

In  1609  tne  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  Robert  Crane  who  died  in  1642. 
By  his  will  he  gave  to  his  eldest  daughter  Mary  "  all  that  my  Manor  of 
Woodhall  Sudbury,  all  those  three  watermills,  &c.,  in  Sudbury,  all  that  27 
acres  of  wood  called  King's  Wood  in  Sudbury,  &c.,  and  also  all  other  lands 
in  Sudbury,  Chilton  and  Acton  which  I  purchased  of  our  late  Sovereign 
King  Jac.  I."  in  fee.  Mary  Crane  married  Sir  Ralph  Hare  Bart,  and  by  her 
marriage  settlement  dated  the  29  Dec.  1647  made  between  the  said  Sir 
Ralph  Hare  of  the  one  part,  and  Isaac  Appleton  and  Dame  Susan  Crane 
widow  of  the  said  Sir  Robert  Crane  and  then  the  wife  of  the  said  Isaac 
Appleton  of  the  other  part,  a  yearly  sum  of  £800  was  charged  on  the  manors 
of  Sir  Ralph  Hare,  but  the  Woodhall  manor  was  apparently  left  unsettled. 
Sir  Ralph  Hare  was  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  Norfolk  in  several  parliaments 
and  was  also  chosen  burgess  for  Lynn. 

He  died  in  1671  and  was  buried  with  his  ancesters  in  the  dormitory  in 
Stow  Bardolph  Church,  having  this  inscription  :— 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of  the  Honourable 

Sir  Ralph  Hare,  Baronet,  he  departed  this 

life  the  last  of  February  1671.     Although  his 

body  is  turned  to  dust,  his  Soule  lives 

ever  with  the  Just. 

The  manor  passed  to  his  only  son  Sir  Thomas  Hare  Bart.,  who  married 
Elizabeth  sister  of  Sir  Robert  Dashwood  of  Northbrook  in  Oxfordshire 
Bart.  Sir  Thomas  Hare  was  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  Norfolk  and  dying  in 
1693  was  buried  in  the  dormitory  adjoining  the  chancel  in  Stow  Bardolph 
Church  with  this  inscription  on  a  noble  monument  having  his  effigies  in  a 
recumbent  posture  : — 

In  Memory  of  Sir  Thos.  Hare  Bart.,  who  departed  this  Life  the  ist  day  of  Jany.  1693, 
aged  35  years,  and  left  a  lady  and  4  sons  and  5  daughters. 
The  Glorious  Sun  which  sets  at  Night, 
Appears  next  Morn  as  Clear  and  bright ; 

The  Gaudy  Deckings  of  the  Earth, 

Do  every  Spring  receive  new  Birth  ; 

But  Life  when  fled  has  no  return, 

In  Vain  we  Sigh,  in  Vain  we  Mourn ; 
Yet  does  the  Turtle  justly  grieve  her  fate, 
When  she  is  left  behind  without  her  Mate  ; 

Not  less  does  she  who  raised  this  Tomb, 

And  wishes  here  to  have  a  Room ; 
With  that  dear  He  who  underneath  does  lye, 
Who  was  the  Treasure  of  her  Heart  and  pleasure  of  her  Eye. 

Arms  of  the  Hares  :  Gules,  two  bars,  and  a  chief  indented,  or. 
In  1805  the  manor  was  vested  in  William  Jones. 

'  Duchy  of  Lancaster.     Cal.  to  Pleadings,          4  Ib.  33  Eliz.  7. 

19  Eliz.  5.  s  if,.  36  Eliz.  8, 26,  Anderton  v.  Home ;  and 

2  Duchy  of  Lane.    Cal.  to  Pleadings,  21  Att.-Gen.  v.  Littell,  Mott  v.  Browne, 

Eliz.  26.  Ib.  40  Eliz.  13. 

3  Duchy  of  Lane.     Cal.  to  Pleadings,  31 

Eliz.  7. 


236  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

PLACE'S  MANOR. 

There  is  a  manor  of  this  name  in  Sudbury  respecting  which  there  is 
but  little  information.  There  are  three  fines  levied  in  the  reign  of  King 
Edward  VI.  in  which  the  manor  is  included — one  in  1547  levied  by  John 
Bokenham  and  others  against  Robert  Dounes  and  others ;'  a  second  in 
1549  levied  of  a  moiety  by  James  Doundes  and  others  against  John 
Bokenham  and  others  ;*  and  the  third  levied  of  a  moiety  in  1550  by 
George  Felton  against  Edmund  Danyell  and  others.*  A  fourth  fine  was 
levied  of  the  manor  in  1592  by  William  Tyffyn  and  others  against  John 
Daniell  and  others.4 


1  Fine,  Hil.  i  Edw.  VI.  '  Fine,  Mich.  4  Edw.  VI. 

Fine,  Easter,  3  Edw.  VI.  <  Fine,  Hil.  35  Eliz. 


WALDINGFIELD.  237 


WALDINGFIELD. 

Saxon  times  there  were  three  manors  here — one  held  by 
Ulwin,  another  by  Uluric  King  Edward's  thane,  and  a  third 
by  Alvera,  the  mother  of  Earl  Morchar.  The  first  was 
at  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  vested  in  Aubrey  de  Vere 
in  chief  of  the  King.  It  consisted  of  2  carucates  of  land 
with  soc  and  sac,  4  villeins,  10  bordars,  4  slaves,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne  and  2  belonging  to  the  men,  4  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs,  i  horse  at  the  Hall,  3  beasts,  16  hogs  and  100 
sheep,  and  was  valued  at  5  pounds.  The  length  was  12  quarantenes  and 
the  breadth  3,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  6d.f 

Another  manor  was  smaller  and  consisted  of  i  carucate  of  land 
which  Ranulf  Ilger's  brother  held  as  a  gift  from  King  William  with  soc  and 
sac.  The  particulars  in  the  Confessor's  time  consisted  of  I  villein,  3  bordars, 
i  ploughteam,  4  acres  of  meadow,  2  beasts,  12  hogs  and  20  sheep,  and  the 
value  was  then  assessed  at  30  shillings.  By  Norman  times  however,  there  was 
an  additional  ploughteam,  4  additional  hogs,  and  10  more  sheep,  and  the 
value  was  assessed  at  40  shillings.2 

The  rest  of  the  land  in  Waldingfield  not  expressedly  held  as  a  manor 
was  in  several  small  holdings — that  of  Roger  de  Poictou,  which  in  the  Con- 
fessor's time  had  been  held  by  Woolmer  the  thane  under  Harold,  namely  a 
carucate  of  land  with  soc,  which  had  i  villein,  5  bordars,  i  slave,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne,  wood  for  3  hogs,  4  acres  of  meadow,  i  horse,  2  beasts, 
and  12  hogs,  and  stood  at  the  value  of  30  shillings.  This,  by  Norman  times, 
was  valued  at  40  shillings,  the  only  variation  in  the  details  being  that  the 
slave  and  the  hogs  had  disappeared. 

The  estate  was  half  a  league  long  and  half  broad,  and  paid  in  a  gelt 
fyd.  whoever  might  hold.  There  was  also  a  Church  benefice  with  30  acres.3 

Then  there  was  the  holding  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  who  had  IT 
freemen  with  half  a  carucate  of  land,  3  bordars,  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 
The  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  the  soc,  commendation  and  service 
were  the  Abbot's.  This  holding  was  valued  at  10  shillings  and  paid  id. 
in  a  gelt.4  A  third  holding  was  that  of  Richard,  son  of  Earl  Gislebert, 
who  had  3  freemen  under  Wisgar  by  commendation  and  soc  and  sac, 
holding  i  carucate,  45  acres  of  land,  and  9  bordars.  In  Saxon  times  there 
were  3  ploughteams,  later  2,  and  by  the  time  of  the  Survey  i  only.  Also 
3  acres  of  meadow,  i  rouncey,  2  beasts,  93  sheep,  and  wood  for  3  hogs  ; 
all  valued  at  50  shillings,  then  held  by  Elinaut  of  Richard.  There  was 
also  the  third  part  of  a  church  benefice  with  10  acres  of  free  land.  Richard 
son  of  Earl  Gislebert  as  Domesday  tenant  in  chief,  also  in  Waldingfield, 
had  2  freemen,  and  one  under  Robert,  son  of  Wimarc  by  commendation, 
both  under  Witgar  by  soc  and  sac,  holding  2  carucates  of  land  and  9  acres 
of  meadow,  2  ploughteams,  9  beasts,  37  hogs,  69  sheep,  and  n  goats  valued 
at  50  shillings,  and  paying  6d.  in  a  gelt,  whoever  was  the  holder.  The 
extent  of  this  holding  was  4  quarantenes  long  and  4  broad.5  The  only 
other  little  holding  was  that  of  Ranulf  Peverell,  who  had  5  freemen  with  72 


acres.6 


1  Dom.  ii.  4186.  4  Dom.  ii.  360. 

2  Dom.  ii.  425.  5  Dom.  ii.  3926. 

3  Dom.  ii.  350.  6  Dom.  ii.  416. 


238  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

CARBONELS  MANOR  OR  BUTLER'S. 

This  the  main  manor  of  Great  Waldingfield  was  held  at  the  time 
of  the  Domesday  Survey  by  Aubrey  de  Vere.  Amongst  the  Charters  in 
the  Bodleian  is  a  grant  about  1270  by  Richard  Talemache  and  Robert  de 
Aketon  chaplain,  to  Carbonel  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  of  two  parts  of  this 
manor  with  the  advowson  of  the  Church  and  also  of  a  third  part  of  the  manor 
held  by  Sir  Robert  de  Bosco1  and  Christian  his  wife  as  dowry  of  Christian.  * 
And  on  the  Sunday  next  after  the  Epiphany  3  Edw.  I.  [1275]  the  said  Thomas 
Carbonnel  grants  to  Richard  Thalemach,  and  Robert  the  chaplain  of  Acton 
the  same  two  parts  of  the  manor  and  the  advowson.3 

In  1277  the  manor  belonged  to  Robert  Carbonel  who  had  a  fee  here 
and  also  free  warren.4 

Amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  is  a  grant  between  1270  and  1280  by 
William  de  Teypo  sen.  to  Sir  Robt.  Carbonel  son  of  Sir  Geoffrey  Carbonel  for 
his  homage  and  service  and  three  marks  of  silver,  3^  acres  of  arable  land  in 
Great  Waldingfield,3  and  about  the  same  date  by  William  de  Teypo  jun. 
for  his  homage  and  service,  and  4  marks  of  silver  and  3  acres  of  arable 
land  in  the  same  place.6 

Robert  Carbonel  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Carbonel. 
These  Carbonels  bore  as  arms  :  Gul.  a  cross  argent,  a  border  indented  or.  Sir 
John  married  Christian  daughter  of  Sir  William  Latimer,  who  afterwards 
married  Sir  Robert  de  Bosco  of  Fersfield,  and  had  for  a  third  husband  Sir 
Thomas  Mose  knt.  On  Sir  John's  death  in  1303,  a  3rd  part  of  the  manor 
passed  to  his  widow  and  in  1308  her  2nd  husband  was  seised  of  it  in  her 
right  as  also  of  a  3rd  of  the  advowson.  She  died  about  1313.  Wm. 
Carbonel  the  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  and  Christian  his  wife  does  not  seem 
to  have  succeeded  to  the  lordship  which  appears  to  have  devolved  on  his 
brother  Thomas.  Amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  is  a  deed  of  attornment 
in  1310  by  Robert  de  Bosco  and  Christian  his  wife  to  this  Thos.  Carbonel 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife  in  respect  of  the  third  of  the  manor  held  in  dowry 
during  the  life  of  Christian.7  And  the  same  year  Thomas  Carbonel  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife  levied  a  fine  of  two  parts  of  the  manor  against  Richard 
Talemache  and  Robert  de  Aketon  chaplain.8  Either  then  William  the 
eldest  son  was  dead  without  issue  or  the  father  had  made  a  will  in  favour  of 
his  2nd  son  Thomas  Carbonel. 

Thomas  Carbonel  died  in  1312  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow, 
who  died  in  1325,  and  was  succeeded  by  their  son  and  heir  John  who  died 
in  1333,'  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Alice  married 
to  Ralph  Butler. 

On  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1334  is  a  commission  which  mentions  an 
Inquisition  after  the  death  of  John  Carbonel  finding  that  he  held  lands  in 
Waldingfield  and  Acton  called  "  Popesmade,  Goreslond,  and  Grenecroft  " 
of  Andrew  de  Bures  as  of  the  manor  of  Acton  by  service  of  2OS.,  and  that 
his  heir  was  Alice  his  daughter  aged  10  years.10  Two  years  later  on  the 

1  This  Sir  Robert  Bosco  was  a  son  of  4  Add.  MSS.  Brit.  Mus.  3937  ;  H.R.ii.  143, 

Robert  de  Bosco    and  Amicia  his  153  ;    Pat.    Rolls,    5    Edw.  I.    -]d., 

wife  wid.  of  T.  Hastyng  of  Gissing  Schedule  in  dorso  8d. 

in    Norf.    which    Robert   was  son  5  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  388. 

of  Sir  Robert  du  Bois  and  Isolda  '  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  389. 

his  wife,  which  Robert  was  son  of  '3  Edw.  II.,  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  400. 

Sir  William  de  Bosco  of  Fersfield  "  Feet  of  Fines,  3  Edw.  II.  31. 

in  Norfolk  in  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  •  I.P.M.,  7  Edw.  III.  4. 

'  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  391.  10  Pat.  Rolls,  8  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  zd. 
>  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  393. 


WALDINGFIELD.  239 

Close  Rolls  is  an  order  to  the  escheator  not  to  meddle  further  with 
these  lands  it  having  been  found  that  though  John  Carbonel  at  his  death 
held  of  Andrew  de  Bures  as  of  the  Manor  of  Acton  yet  they  never  were  parcel 
of  that  manor,  but  were  held  of  that  manor  from  time  out  of  mind  by  service 
of  a  dove  and  a  ginger  root  for  all  services.1 

Page  says  that  the  Appletons  appear  to  have  succeeded,  but  this  is  a 
mistake.  They  held  the  manor  of  Holbrook  in  Waldingfield.  Carbonels 
went  to  Margaret  Boteler  widow  of  Thomas  Boteler  the  daughter  and  heir 
of  Ralph  Butler  and  Alice  his  wife  who  had  a  grant  by  way  of  confirmation 
of  free  warren  here  in  1395.'  On  Margaret  Boteler's  death  the  manor  passed 
to  her  son  Sir  Andrew  Boteler  who  married  Katherine  daur.  of  Sir  William 
Philip. 

In  1401  Robert  Peyton,  Gilbert  Debenham,  John  Rokewoode,  William 
Rokewode,  John  Aleyn,  and  James  Grotene,  rector  of  the  Church  of  Walding- 
field granted  to  Andrew  Botiller  and  Katherine  his  wife  the  manor 
and  the  advowson  to  hold  to  them  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  said  Andrew 
and  Katherine,3  and  the  said  Robert  Peyton,  Gilbert  Debenham,  John 
Rokewode  and  John  Aleyn  appointed  Wm.  Rokewode  and  James  Grotone 
co-feoffees  to  deliver  seisin  accordingly  to  Sir  Andrew  Botiller  knt.  and 
Katherine  daughter  of  William  Phelyp.4  There  is  a  demise  by  Gilbert 
Debenham  and  others  to  Andrew  Botiller  and  Katherine  his  wife  and 
their  heirs  of  the  Manor  of  Gt.  Waldingfield  and  Chilton  with  the  advow- 
son of  the  churches  (which  they  had  with  others  by  the  gift  of  Andrew 
Botiller  knt.)  the  10  Oct.  I4I3.5  And  on  the  6th  June  the  following  year 
Sir  Andrew  Botiller  knt.  granted  to  John  Howard,  William  Phelip,  John 
Phelip,  and  others  his  manors  of  Waldingfield,  Chilton  and  Neweton,  with 
the  advowson  of  the  churches  of  the  two  former,5  and  3  years  later  Sir  John 
Howard  knt.  and  others  remitted  and  released  to  Sir  Andrew  Botiller  knt. 
all  their  right  in  the  manors  and  advowsons  last  mentioned.7  Sir  Andrew 
Botiller's  will  is  dated  1429,  by  which  he  left  the  manor  to  his  widow 
Katherine  for  life.  By  deed  dated  the  i  July  1431,  Sir  Wm.  Philip  knt. 
remits  and  quit-claims  to  Sir  John  Howard  knt.,  Sir  Rich.  Waldegrave 
sen.  and  jun.  knts.,  Thomas  Sampson,  and  Guy  Corbet,  esqs.,  all  right  in 
the  manors  of  Gt.  Waldingfield  and  Chilton,  and  the  advowson  of  the 
church  of  the  latter.8  Katherine  died  in  1460. 

Davy  says  that  James  Butler  Earl  of  Wilts  beheaded  in  i46i9  was  next 
lord,  and  that  he  was  followed  by  Henry  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex,  who  had 
the  manor  by  grant.  He  died  in  1483,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson 
and  heir  Henry,  Earl  of  Essex,  who  died  in  1539.  Amongst  the  Bodleian 
Charters,  however  there  is  a  grant  in  1475  by  Alexander  Cressener,  John 
Clopton  and  others  to  Robert  Crane  and  the  lady  Anne  his  wife  of  the 
manors,  lands  &c.  of  Great  and  Little  Waldingfield,  Chilton,  &c.,  which  they 
held  by  charter  of  feoffment  dated  the  6  Oct.  .  .  .  Edw.  IV.10  and  the 
Manor  of  Waldingfield  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Robert  Crane 
who  died  the  20  Oct.  1500  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  and  heir  John 
Crane ,"  and  also  in  that  of  Robert  Crane  sen.  of  Chilton  who  was  succeeded 

'  Close  Rolls,  10  Edw.  III.  31 ;  13  Edw.  III.  -  5  Hen.  V.  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  429. 

pt.  ii.  22.  8  2  Hen.  VI.,  Bodl.  Suff.  433. 

Chart.  Rolls,  17  Rich.  II.  9  See  account  of  him  under  Bures  Manor 
Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  422.  in  this  Hundred. 

Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  423.  '°  10  Dec.  15  Edw.  IV.,  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  465. 

Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  1380.  "  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIJi 
Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  428. 


240  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

by  his  s.  and  h.  Robert  Crane.1      In  1587  the  manor  passed  from  the  said 
Robert  Crane  to  Sir  Robert  Jermyn.' 

BADLEY  al.  PEYTON  HALL  MANOR. 

In  1240  the  lordship  appertained  to  Sir  Geoffrey  de  Badele,  and  at 
his  death  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Badele.  There  is  an  action 
referred  to  in  the  Patent  Rolls  of  1274  by  this  John  de  Badele  against 
Katherine,  late  wife  of  Thomas  de  Badley  touching  a  messuage  in  Gt. 
Waldingfield.5 

In  1298  John  de  Peyton  had  a  grant  of  free  warren,4  but  in  1315  William 
de  Badele  held  as  much  as  4  fees  here.  In  1331  Wm.  Casteleyne  and  John 
de  Rikell  and  others  (probably  as  trustees)  granted  the  manor  under 
the  name  "  Beedles  "  to  John  de  Peyton,  youngest  son  of  Sir  Robert  de 
Peyton,  knt.,  who  was  the  son  of  John  Peyton  of  Peyton  Hall  in  Boxford. 5 
Sir  Robert  de  Peyton  evidently  had  himself  land  in  Great  Waldingfield  for 
amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  is  a  grant  by  him  in  1345  to  Roger  le 
Parker  of  one  piece  of  meadow  here.6 

In  the  time  of  Hen.  VIII.  the  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  Wm.  Drury, 
for  amongst  the  Charters  in  the  Bodleian  is  a  grant  by  him  and  others 
to  Felicia  Peyton,  widow,  of  an  annual  pension  of  22  marks  arising  from 
the  Manor  of  "  Peyton  Hall  and  Baddelees  "  in  Great  Waldingfield.7 

The  manor  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  had  passed  to  the  Coleman  family, 
for  Edward  Coleman  died  seised  of  it  in  1599,  being  succeeded  by 
his  son  and  heir  William  Coleman,  on  whose  death  in  1606  it  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  John  Coleman.8 

"  The  rental  off  Badleys  in  Moch  Waldyngfeld  "  in  the  time  of  Hen. 
VIII.,  will  be  found  in  the  Bodl.  Rolls.9  Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings 
of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  there  is  an  action  touching  this  manor  between 
James  Love  and  James  Ely  and  another." 

BRANDESTON  HALL  MANOR. 

This  appears  as  Branston  Hall  in  the  Domesday  Survey.  In  King 
Edward  the  Confessor's  day,  Alvera,  the  mother  of  Earl  Morchar,  held  this 
manor  with  3  carucates  of  land.  There  were  5  villeins,  6  bordars,  5  slaves, 
2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  2  belonging  to  the  men,  4  acres  of  meadow, 
wood  for  10  hogs,  2  horses  at  the  Hall,  5  beasts,  20  hogs  and  100  sheep. 
By  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  there  was  only  r  ploughteam  belonging 
to  the  men,  and  the  beasts  were  reduced  by  2,  but  the  hogs  had  increased 
to  23  and  the  sheep  to  i'2o.  In  the  same  place  were  3  freemen  under  the 
same  Alvera,  by  commendation  and  soc  and  sac  (but  they  could  sell 
without  licence)  who  had  24  acres  of  land  of  the  value  of  5  pounds.  This 
manor  was  a  league  long  and  3  quarantenes  broad,  and  paid  in  a  gelt  6d. 
and  was  held  by  Ralph  de  Curbespine  of  the  Bp.  of  Bayeux  as  tenant  in 
chief  of  the  King." 

•  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  VI.  84.  '  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  509. 

•  Fine,  Trin.  29  E\\z.  *  See  Abbot's  Manor,  Brent  Eleigh,  in  this 
3  Pat.  Rolls,  2  Edw.  I.  tf.  Hundred. 

•  Chart.  Rolls,  26  Edw.  I.  5.  '  Bodl.  Suff.  Rolls  35. 
5  See  Peyton  Hall  Manor,  Boxford,  in  this  10  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  cxii.  6. 

Hundred.  "  Dom.  ii.  3736. 

'  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  408. 


WALDINGFIELD.  241 

In  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  this  manor  belonged  to  the  Bavent  family, 
and  Adam  de  Bavent  held  it  of  the  King  in  chief.  Adam  died  and  the 
manor  passed  into  the  custody  of  the  King  by  reason  of  Adam's  heir 
being  a  minor,  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  for  1293  is  a  grant  to  John  de  Cobe- 
ham,  in  satisfaction  of  his  loan  to  the  King  of  500  marks,  of  the  custody  of 
land  and  rent  out  of  lands  late  of  Adam  de  Bavent  in  the  King's  hand  by 
reason  of  the  minority  of  the  heir.1 

A  fine  was  levied  in  1337  between  Augustinus  le  Waleys  of  Woxe- 
brigg  and  Sir  Roger  Bavent  and  Hawise  his  wife  of  this  manor.2 

There  is  a  statement  on  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1344  as  to  this  manor. 
The  entry  referred  to  is  an  appointment  of  William  de  Kelleseye  to  receive 
seisin  in  the  King's  name  of  £40  issuing  out  of  Brandeston  Manor  and  all 
other  lands  of  Roger  Bavent,  knt.,  who  had  granted  the  same  to  the 
King  in  fee.3 

This  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Augustus  Waleys  and 
Matilda  his  wife  in  I354,4  and  of  Matilda  in  1357  ;5  but  Davy  says  that  in  1348 
Roger  Bavent  enfeoffed  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Roger  Bavent  and  Hawise  his 
wife.6  There  is  an  entry  in  the  Originalia  Rolls  in  1356  which  states  that 
the  King  committed  to  John  Woderove  and  William  de  Nessefeld  during 
pleasure  the  custody  of  Brandeston  Manor,  which  he  had  of  the  gift  of 
Sir  Roger  Bavent.7 

Sir  Roger  predeceased  his  wife,  and  gave  the  manor  after  her  death 
to  the  Nunnery  of  Dartford  in  Kent.  Hawise  released  her  life  interest  in 
1360.  In  1362  a  fine  was  levied  by  Matilda  Prioress  of  the  New  "  Work 
of  Derteford,"  against  John  Foxcote  and  Margaret  his  wife  as  to  this 
Manor  of  Brandeston.8  It  did  not  remain  long  with  the  nunnery, 
for  in  1371  the  Prioress  of  St.  Mary  and  St.  Margaret  Dartford,  and 
the  convent  granted  to  the  King  this  manor  as  well  as  the  Churches 
of  Washbrook  and  Velchurch,  and  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of 
Alfreton,  and  the  vicarage  of  the  said  churches  of  Washbrook  and 
Velchurch.9  The  grant  and  surrender  of  this  manor  to  the  King 
which  was  coupled  with  the  Manor  of  Combs  may  be  seen  in  the 
Public  Record  Office,  where  it  is  preserved  amongst  the  Ancient  Deeds.10 
The  manor  is  mentioned  in  1417  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Roger  Swillyngton" 
and  in  that  of  his  widow  Joan  in  I4i812  and  also  in  I43O13  in  that  of 
Margaret  wife  of  Sir  John  Gray  daughter  and  heir  of  Roger  Swillington. 
The  Appletons  had  'a  lease  of  this  manor  about  1500.  In  the  will  of  Thos. 
Appleton  the  2Oth  January  1504  he  gives  the  "  ferme  of  Branston  hall 
duryne  myn  yers  "  to  his  son  Robert  Appleton  and  Robert's  son  William 
Appleton  in  his  will  the  20th  September  1538  leaves  to  Rose  his  wife 
his  "  lease  of  the  Mannor  of  Branston  Hall  in  Mykill  Waldingfelde." 

On  the  Dissolution  the  manor  vested  in  the  Crown  and  was  granted 
to  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  of  Redgrave,  Bart.  He  settled  the  manor  on  his 
eldest  daughter  Frances  on  her  marriage  to  Walter  Narborne  of  Calne, 
Wilts,  in  1676.  On  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  elder  daughter, 

1  Pat.  Rolls,  25  Edw.  I.  pt.  i.  2.  8  Feet  of  Fines,  36  Edw.  III.  5. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  n  Edw.  III.  3.  '  Orig.    45    Edw.  III.  Rich.   30,  33,  See 
3  Pat.  Rolls,  18  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  30  ;  Orig.  47  Edw.  III.  18. 

19  Edw.  III.  3.  *>  45  Edw.  III.  A.  5280. 

«  I.P.M.,  28  Edw.  III.  55.  "  I.P.M.,  5  Hen.  V.  46. 

5  Ib.  56,  31  Edw.  III.  2nd  nos.  48.  "  I.P.M.,  6  Hen.  VI.  52.    Extent. 

•  I.P.M.,  22  Edw.  III.  2nd  nos.  21.  '3  I.P.M.,  8  Hen.  VI.  405 
i  O.,  30  Edw.  III.  5. 

El 


242  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Elizabeth,  who  married  ist  John  Sims  Berkeley  of  Stoke  Gifford  co.  Glou- 
cester, and  andly  Edward  Viscount  Hereford.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had 
a  daughter  Elizabeth  married  to  Charles  Noel  Somerset  4th  Duke 
of  Beaufort,  and  this  daughter  inherited  the  manor  under  her  mother's 
will.  The  4th  Duke  of  Beaufort  died  the  28  Oct.  1756  and  his  widow 
survived  till  1799.  The  manor  was  inherited  by  Henry  5th  Duke  of  Beau- 
fort, son  and  heir  of  Elizabeth  Berkeley,  and  he  died  in  1803. 

The  manor  then  seems  to  have  been  sold,  for  it  was  owned  at  the 
beginning  of  the  last  century  by  John  Ruffel,  but  in  1817  had  been  acquired 
by  Thomas  Mills  by  purchase.  He  died  in  1834  an^  ^e  manor  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir,  William  Mills. 

The  manor  is  now  vested  in  Thomas  Patrick  Hitchcock. 

There  are  grants  of  land,  &c.,  in  Brandeston  in  Gt.  Waldingfield 
in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  amongst  the  Cotton  MSS.  and  the  Harleian 
Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.,1  and  in  1295." 

There  is  also  a  copy  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  of  a  grant  of  free 
warren  in  Brandeston  in  1285.* 

MOREVES  al.  MOREFES  al.  SARRES  WITH  STORKENEST  MANOR. 

This  was  the  land  held  in  Domesday  times  by  Richard,  son  of  Earl 
Gislebert,  but  but  there  is  no  specific  mention  of  the  manor  until  the  end 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  when  to  Richard  Andrew  Lutterell  succeeded 
his  widow  Elizabeth  who  died  in  1395.  Alice  the  daughter  of  Robert  de 
Bures  and  wife  of  Sir  Guy  Bryan4  seems  next  to  have  had  the  manor.  She 
died  the  n  January  1434,*  when  it  passed  to  her  daughter  Elizabeth 
wife  of  Robert  Lovell.  She  died  about  1438  and  the  manor  passed  to 
her  grandson  Humphrey  Fitz  Alan  I4th  Earl  of  Arundel  the  son  of  her 
daughter  Matilda  and  her  husband  John  I3th  Earl  of  Arundel  which  John 
had  survived  his  wife  and  died  on  the  12  June  1435.  Humphrey  held 
but  for  a  short  interval  and  died  the  24  April  1438,  and  the  manor  is  specifi- 
cally included  in  his  Inquis.  p.m.6  It  then  passed  to  his  sister  Amicia, 
married  to  James  Butler,  Earl  of  Ormond  and  Wilts/  who  was  executed 
in  1461,  when  Sir  Thos.  Waldegrave,  knt.,  had  a  grant  of  the  manor  from 
the  Crown.8  Sir  Thomas  did  not  hold  it  long,  for  in  1474  the  manor  was 
granted  by  the  Crown  to  Henry  Lord  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex,9  who  died 
seised  of  the  same  in  1483 10  as  did  his  widow  Isabella  in  1484,"  when  it  passed 
to  his  grandson  and  heir,  Henry  Earl  of  Essex.  In  1528  Henry  Bures 
was  seised  at  his  death  on  the  6  July  of  that  year,  and  the  manor  passed 
to  his  four  daughters  and  coheirs — Joan,  Bridget,  Anne,  and  Mary.  In 
1562  three  fines  were  levied  of  parts  of  the  manor.  They  were  levied  by 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  and  others,  one  of  J  against  Sir  William  Buttes,  a 
second  of  J  against  Thomas  Buttes  and  others,  and  the  3rd  of  \  against 
Anne  Buttes  widow.'2  The  remaining  fourth  share  remained  vested  in 
Mary  Bures  who  married  Thomas  Barrow  who  died  seised  of  this  fourth 

1  Cot.  xxvii.  45  ;  Harl.  47  A.  54,  55  D.  28:  '  I.P.M.,  35  Hen.  VI.  16. 

•  Harl.  48  A.  16.  •  Pat.  Rolls,  12  Edw.  IV.  pt.  iii.  24. 

3  Harl.  58  I.  37.  •  Pat.  Rolls,  14  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  9. 

4  See  Acton  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  10  I.P.M.,  I  Rich.  III.  31. 
'  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  34.  ••  I.P.M.,  2  Rich.  III.  35. 
6  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VL  50.  "  Fines,  Hil.  4  Eliz. 


WALDINGFIELD.  243 

in  right  of  his  wife  in  1590.    The  manor  was  then  stated  to  be  held  of  the 
Honor  of  Clare. 

Thomas  Barrow1  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  William  Barrow 2 
who  died  in  1623,  when  the  manor,  or  rather  the  share  in  it  of  the  Barrows 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Maurice,  who  died  without  issue  in  1666. 3 
The  manor  had,  however,  been  sold  in  1657,  and  the  deed  of  conveyance 
will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus. 4  From 
this  conveyance  it  appears  that  in  1657 the  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  Edmund 
Bacon,  Bart.,  of  Redgrave  and  Robert  French  and  Richard  Buttely,  for 
by  deed  dated  18  August  1657  they  sold  what  was  described  as  the  Manor 
of  Morvies  al.  Morris  with  messuages,  lands,  &c.,  in  Great  Waldingfield, 
Great  Cornard,  Little  Cornard,  Little  Waldingfield,  Assington,  Acton, 
Chilton,  Newton  and  Melford  to  Roger  Kedington  described  as  of  Acton 
and  Ambrose  Kedington  his  son  and  heir.  The  whole  ultimately  vested 
in  Ambrose  Kedington  and  at  his  death  in  1764  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Henry  Kedington,  and  on  his  death  in  1773,  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert 
Kedington,  who  died  in  1787,  when  it  passed  to  the  Rev.  Robt.  Kedington, 
who  died  in  1830  without  issue.  The  manor  then  went  together  with 
Babergh  Hall,  which  is  also  in  Gt.  Waldingfield,  to  John  Medows  Rodwell 
of  Little  Livermere  in  right  of  his  wife  Marianne,  sister  and  sole  heir  of 
the  above  mentioned  Robert  Kedington,  and  it  is  now  held  by  John  Kirby 
Rodwell  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds. 

SANDESFORD'S  al.  STANFORD  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  granted  by  John  Arundel  and  others  to  William 
Chasteleyn  on  the  Monday  next  after  the  feast  of  the  Translation  of  St. 
Thomas  32  Edw.  III.  [i358].5  Robert  Knyvett6  of  Stanway,  Essex, 
died  seised  of  it  in  1420,  when  it  passed  to  John  his  son  and  heir, 
who  died  without  issue  in  1451 — it  then  went  to  his  brother  and  heir  Thomas, 
who  died  in  1459,  when  it  vested  in  his  son  and  heir  John  Knyvet,  who 
by  his  will  dated  the  10  Feb.  1476  and  proved  the  28  June  i4867  devised 
the  manor  to  his  widow  Joan  for  life  with  remainder  to  Thomas  Knyvet 
and  the  heirs  of  his  body,  with  remainder  to  his  (testator's)  son  John.  He 
also  left  to  his  said  son  John  the  Manor  of  Dounhall  in  Essex,  and  the  Manor 
of  Newington  Belhouse  to  his  sons  Richard  and  Robert.  The  son  Thomas 
Knyvet  died  in  the  lifetime  of  his  mother  and  on  her  death  the  manor 
passed  to  Thomas's  son  Edward  Knyvet  who  died  seised  the  4  Feb.  isoo.8 
The  manor  then  passed  to  Edward's  daughter  and  heir  Elizabeth  married 
to  John  Rainsford.  Elizabeth  died  the  4  Feb.  1507'  without  issue,  when  the 
manor  went  to  her  cousins  and  heirs — Thomasine,  wife  of  Sir  Wm.  Clopton, 
Elizabeth  wife  of  John  Clopton,  and  Katherine  Roydon.  In  1530  a  fine 
was  levied  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  by  Henry  Makwilham  and  others 
against  Sir  William  Clopton  and  others10  and  in  1536  of  the  manor  by 

\  As    to    Thomas    Barrow,    see    Newton  !  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  205. 

Manor  in  this  Hundred.  6  See  Castelins  Manor  in  Groton  in  this 

*  A  Fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1600  Hundred. 

by    Robert    Felgate     against    Sir  7  I.P.M.,  20  Edw.  IV.  go.    This  Inquisition 
Nicholas  Bacon  and   others    (Fine,  includes  also  the  Manor  of  Castelyns 

Hil.  42  Eliz.).  in  Waldingfield. 

3  As  to  Maurice  Barrow,  see  Barningham  8  I. P.M.,  16  Hen.  VII.  29. 

Manor  in  Blackbourn  Hundred.  »  I. P.M.,  24  Hen.  VII. 

4  Add.  Ch.  19265.  »  Fine,  Mich.  22  Hen.  VIII. 


244  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Francis  Clopton  against  John  Clopton.1  In  1575  amongst  the  Harleian 
Charters1  is  an  indenture  by  William  Clopton  of  London  granting 
to  the  Queen  all  his  right  and  interest  in  this  manor,  but  the  grant  was  to 
take  no  effect  so  long  as  the  said  William  Clopton  paid  405.  yearly  into  the 
Exchequer.  The  deed  is  dated  the  II  Feb.  17  Eliz.  In  1811  this  manor 
was  vested  in  James  Goodene  Sparrow,  after  which  it  probably  devolved 
in  a  similar  manner  to  Cornard  Manor  or  Abbas  Hall  Manor. 

DOWRES  OR  DOWAYRES  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  no  doubt  called  after  the  first  holder  of  whom  there 
is  any  information — John  de  la  Dowayre,  whose  sister  Maud  married 
Sir  Robert  le  Hanken,  to  whom  the  manor  passed,  and  who  had  a  son  Roger 
le  Hanken,  who  released  to  Sir  John  de  Peyton  in  1294.  Sir  John  died  in 
I3i8,3  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  de  Peyton  who 
died  in  1351,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  de  Peyton, 
who  was  followed  by  his  son  John  de  Peyton  who  died  in  the  time  of  Hen. 
IV.,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  a  third  John  de  Peyton,  who 
died  in  1416'  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Peyton  aged 
3j  years  who  died  in  his  minority  in  1432,  when  his  brother  Thomas  had 
the  manor.  He  died  in  1484.  He  had  a  son  Thomas  who  died  before  his 
father,  leaving  a  son  Thomas  who  succeeded  his  grandfather  but  dying 
without  issue  in  1490  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  Sir  Robert  de 
Peyton  who  died  seised  of  the  manor  in  1518.  His  eldest  son  and  name- 
sake Sir  Robert  followed,  and  on  his  death  in  1550  it  passed  to  his  son 
and  heir  a  third  Robert  de  Peyton  in  succession. 

WALDINGFIELD  PARVA. 

No  distinction  is  made  in  the  Domesday  Survey  directly  between 
Great  and  Little  Waldingfield,  and  therefore  parts  of  the  land  already 
given  under  the  head  Gt.  Waldingfield  from  the  Gt.  Survey  undoubtedly 
appertain  to  what  is  now  known  as  Little  Waldingfield ;  but  there  is  one 
small  holding  in  Waldingfield  which  by  means  of  a  difference  of  expression 
may  be  said  to  belong  to  Little  Waldingfield,  though  the  particulars  are  too 
vague  to  identify  the  exact  site.  After  having  stated  that  Ranulf  Peverell 
held  certain  lands  in  Waldingfield,  namely  the  5  freemen,  with  72  acres,  to 
which  reference  have  been  already  made,  the  Record  adds  '  In  altera 
Walingafella,"  which  we  take  to  be  other  than  Gt.  Waldingfield  and 
therefore  Little  Waldingfield. 

The  entry  is  that  Ranulf  Peverell  here  also  held  3  freemen  with  50 
acres.5 

WOODHALL  al.  WALDINGFIELD  PARVA  MANOR. 

Adam  de  Cokefeld  is  the  first  lord  of  whom  there  is  any  information 
He  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  1267*  and  married  Agatha,  one  of  the  four 
daughters  and  coheirs  of  Sir  Robt.  Aguillon  and  Agatha  his  wife,  and 
dying  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Edw.  I.  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Robert  de  Cockfield.  It  is  stated  in  the  Testa  de  Nevill  that 
the  holding  of  Robert  de  Cockfield  here  was  half  a  fee  held  of  the  Honor  of 

1  Fine,  Trin.  28  Hen.  VIII.  '  I.P.M.,  4  Hen.  V.  42. 

'  Harl.  48  D.  49.  »  Dom.  ii.  425. 

3  For    fuller    account,    see    Peyton    Hall  •  Chart.  Rolls,  51  Hen.  III.  7. 
Manor,  Boxford,  in  this  Hundred. 


WALDINGFIELD. 


245 


Lancaster.1  Robert  de  Cockfield  died  without  issue  in  1297"  and  the 
manor  passed  to  his  sister  and  heir  Joan.  She  married  William  de  Beau- 
champ,  and  in  the  7  Edw.  II.  gave  half  a  mark  for  licence  to  agree  with 
William  de  Wengrave  for  the  Manor  of  Moult  on,  Waldingfield  and  also 
for  the  Manor  of  Feltwell  in  Norfolk,  all  held  by  Robert  de  Cokefeld,  and 
accordingly  in  the  same  year  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manors  and  they  were 
all  settled  on  William  Beauchamp  and  Joan  his  wife  and  the  heirs  of  William 
on  the  body  of  Joan  with  remainder  to  the  right  heirs  of  Joan.3 

Sir  William  Beauchamp's  daughter  and  heir  Joan  carried  the  manor 
to  her  husband  Sir  John  de  Chyverston  who  was  made  by  King  Edw.  III., 
on  his  taking  of  Calais,  its  first  Governor  or  Captain.  In  1351 
Sir  John  de  Chyverston  settled  the  manor  upon  himself  for  life,  remainder 
to  Hugh  de  Chyverston  his  second  son  and  his  heirs.  Sir  John  de 
Chyvereston  notwithstanding  the  settlement  seems  in  1570  to  have  sold  the 
manor  to  Lady  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Sir  Andrew  Lutterell,4  who  was  daughter 
of  Hugh  Courtney,  Earl  of  Devonshire  by  Margaret  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Hertford,  and  who  had  been  the  wife  of 
Sir  John  de  Vere,  3rd  son  of  John  Earl  of  Oxford.  She  had  a  grant  of  free 
warren  here  in  I373,5  and  during  her  tenure  in  1384  a  fine  was  levied  of 
the  manor  by  Edmund  de  Lakynhethe,  John  Sibyle,  John  Wermyngton 
clerk  and  John  Wermyngton  against  this  Elizabeth  Lutterell  in  which  it 
is  stated  that  Thomas  Peverell  held  the  same  for  his  life.6  Elizabeth 
Lutterell  died  in  1395,  and  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  and  heir  Sir  Hugh 
Lutterell  lord  of  Dunster  Castle  in  Somersetshire,  who  had  a  grant  of  free 
warren  here  (by  way  of  confirmation)  in  1425 .7  Sir  Hugh  died  seised  in 
I4288  and  Sir  John  Lutterell  his  son  succeeded  and  died  in  I43I,9  when 
a  third  part  of  the  manor  passed  in  dower  to  his  widow  Margaret,  and  on 
her  death  in  1439'°  the  whole  vested  in  their  son  and  heir  James  Lutterell 
who  was  attainted  and  forfeited  the  manor  on  the  accession  of  Edw.  IV. 
William,  Lord  Herbert,  had  a  grant  from  the  Crown  in  1463,  but  it  again 
vested  in  the  Lutterells,  for  Hugh  Lutterell  died  seised  of  it  in  1521"  and 
it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Andrew. 

This  is  possibly  the  manor  of  which  John  Purpett  of  Newborne  died 
seised  in  1540  leaving  Edward  his  son  and  heir.12 

In  the  time  of  Elizabeth  the  manor  passed  to  Roger  Wincoll  of  Hitcham. 
He  was  son  of  Roger  Wyncoll  by  Anne  his  wife  daughter  of  John  Gurdon 
of  Dedham  which  Roger  was  the  son  of  John  son  of  John  Wyncoll  of  Little 
Waldingfield.  Roger  Wyncoll  married  Susan  daughter  of  Thomas  Bautof 
of  Hitcham  and  died  the  6  June  1589,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
son  and  heir  John  Wyncoll.  He  married  a  daughter  of  William  Chaplin 
of  Little  Waldingfield  clothier  and  had  two  daughters  only,  Susan  and 
Martha. 

In  1847  the  Rev.  Barrington  Bloomfield  Syer  of  Kedington  was  lord, 
impropriator  of  the  rectory,  and  patron  and  incumbent  of  the  benefice. 

'  T.  de  N.zgi.  8  Extent,  Woodhall  Manor.    I.P.M.,8Hen. 

'  I.P.M.,  25  Edw.  I.  9,  51.  VI.  32. 

3  Feet  of  Fines,  7  Edw.  II.  20.  '  Sir  John  Lutterell  and  Margaret  his  wife. 

4  See    Manor    of    Moulton    in  Risbridge                     I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VI.  51. 

Hundred.  I0  3rd  part  of  Woodhall  Manor.     Margaret 

5  Chart.  Rolls,  47  Edw.  III.  n.  wife    of    John    Lutterell.     I. P.M., 

6  Feet  of  Fines,  8  Rich.  II.  9.  17  Hen.  VI.  14. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Hen.  VI.  pt.  ii.  n.  "  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VIII.  123. 

"  I.P.M.,  33  Hen.  VIII.  78. 


246 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


The  manor  is  now  vested  in  George  Wade. 

The  descent  of  the  manor  1597  is  given  in  the  Rawlinson  MSS.  in 
the  Bodleian.' 

Arms  of  Lutterell :  Or,  a  bend  betw.  six  martlets  sable. 

NETHERHALL  MANOR. 

In  1316  this  was  held  by  William  Fitz  Ralph,  and  Alice  wife  of  Guy 
Bryan  died  seised  of  it  in  1435,*  according  to  Davy ;  but  he  also  states 
that  in  1428  John  Fitz  Ralph  held  it  from  Ralph  Fitz  William.  Elizabeth, 
daughter  and  coheir  of  John  Fitz  Ralph  married  Sir  Robert  Chamberlain. 
This  was  probably  the  Sir  Robert  who,  with  Sir  Gilbert  Debenham  knt. 
joined  Edward  IV.  on  his  landing  in  March  1471.  He  was  attainted  and 
beheaded  in  1491.  The  manor  then  passed  to  Edward  Chamberleyn  and 
was  acquired  from  him  and  his  wife  Joane  in  1512  by  Thomas  Spring  of 
Lavenham.  He  died  seised  of  it  the  29  June  1523.  He  married  first 
Anne  daughter  of  Thomas  Apulton  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  sons,  John 
his  son  and  heir  and  Robert,  and  three  daughters — Anne  married  to  Sir 
Thomas  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook,  Rose  to  Thomas  Guybon  of  Lynn  co.  Norf., 
and  Margaret  to  Aubrey  de  Vere  2nd  son  of  John  Earl  of  Oxford.  The 
manor  passed  to  the  elder  son  Sir  John  Spring  of  Cockfield,3  who  married 
Dorothy  dau.  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave  of  Smallbridge  knt.  and  died 
1:he  7  Feb.  1547*  leaving  issue — William  his  son  and  heir,  Frances  married 
to  Edward  Wright  of  Burnt  Bradfield,  and  Bridget  married  first  to  Robert 
Wingfield,  and  2ndly  to  Thomas  Fleetwood  of  the  Vache  co.  Bucks. 
On  Sir  John  Spring's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  William  Spring 
then  aged  r8.5 

The  manor  subsequently  passed  to  John  Wincoll,  son  of  Roger  Wyncold, 
and  Thomasine  his  wife,  daughter  and  heir  of  —  Page.  Amongst  the 
Bodl.  Ch.  is  a  grant  in  1542  by  Robt.  Crane  of  Chilton  to  this  John"  Wyncole" 
described  as  of  Little  Waldingfield  of  a  messuage,  &c.,  in  Great  Waldingfield.6 
He  married  Margery  daughter  of  Edward  Rosse  of  Nayland  and  widow  of 
Robert  Risbye  of  Thorpe,  and  died  seised  the  24  Dec.  1576,'  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Isaac  Wincold  who  married  Mary  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  Gawdy  of  Gawdy  Hall  in  Norfolk,  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
Queen's  Bench,  and  died  in  Aug.  1638,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Isaac  Wyncoll  who  married  Mary  daughter  and  coheir  of  Thomas 
Waldegrave  of  Fenes  in  Bures  granddaughter  of  Sir  William  Waldegrave 
of  Smallbridge  in  Bures  and  died,  and  was  buried  at  Bures  the  6th  Aug. 
1650,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Wyncoll.  He 
married  1st  Mary  daughter  of  Sir  William  Cooke  of  Broome  Hall  in  Norfolk, 
and  2ndly  Mary  daughter  of  William  Spring  of  Stratford  in  Essex,  and  died 
the  i6th  January,  1675 ."  In  1837  tne  manor  was  vested  in  the  Rev. 


1  Rawl.  B.  319. 

•  ii  Jan.  1434. 

3  See  Cockfield  Hall  Manor. 
«  I.P.M.,  2  Edw.  VI.  65. 

5  See  Manor  of  Pakenham  in  Thedwestry 

Hundred. 

6  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  510. 

'  I.P.M.,  19  Eliz. ;  Harl.  639,  fol.  177. 

*  We  are  unable  to  say  how  long  subse- 

quent to  this  the  manor  remained 
with  the  Wincoll  family,  but  a 
Twinstead  Hall,  which  was  also  held 


by  the  family,  Isaac  Wyncoll  eldest 
son  of  Thomas  succeeded  and  died 
without  issue  the  14  March  1681, 
when  that  manor  passed  to  his 
sister  Mary  married  to  Edward 
Golding  and  was  sold ;  but  the 
representation  of  the  family  was 
carried  on  in  the  male  line  by 
Isaac's  half-brother  Thomas  Spring 
Wyncoll  who  resided  at  Langham 
in  Essex  and  died  in  1710. 


WALDINGFIELD.  247 

Barrington  Bloomfield  Syer,  of  Kedington,  and  possibly  this  is  the  manor  of 
Little  Waldingfield  stated  in  1855  to  be  vested  in  George  T.  Parson  and  in 
1885  to  be  in  George  Leach,  though  it  may  have  been  Woodhall  Manor.  An 
acquittance  for  fine  of  entry  on  lands  in  Little  Waldingfield,  parcel  of  this 
manor  in  1608,  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit. 
Mus.1  There  is  still  an  old  farmhouse  in  Little  Waldingfield  called 
Netherhall.  It  is  large  and  two-storied,  but  it  is  not  the  old  mansion  house 
of  the  manor.  The  farm  is  170  acres  in  extent. 

Arms  of  Wincold  :  Ermine,  a  chevron  quarterly  per  chevron  or,  and 
sable  betw.  three  crescents,  gules. 

HOLBROOK  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  belonged  to  the  Appleton  family  who  flourished  as  lords  for 
many  generations. 

John  Apelton,  Apulton,  or  Appleton  as  the  name  is  variously  written, 
was  seised  of  land  in  Gt.  Waldingfield  in  the  time  of  Hen.  IV.  He  died  in 
1416,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John. 

Amongst  the  Charters  in  the  Bodleian  is  a  grant  dated  the  14  March 
*433  by  Wm.  Ryngefeld  of  Little  Waldingfield  to  John  Apilton  jun.  and 
others  of  all  lands  and  tenements  in  Gt.  and  Little  Waldingfield  called 
;<  Holbrokes  "  ;2  also  a  grant  made  6  April  1437  by  John  Appulton  to 
John  Appulton  his  son  and  Margaret  his  wife  of  a  tenement  with  a  garden 
and  certain  land  in  Little  Waldingfield  ;3  and  also  a  lease  by  Robert 
Welly ng  of  Lavenham  and  others  to  this  John  "  Appulton  "  and  others 
of  a  tenement  called  "  Smythis  "  with  a  garden  and  two  crofts  of  land  in 
"  Moche  "  Waldingfield.  It  is  dated  the  8  May  20  Hen.  VI.  [i442].4 

John  Appulton  died  in  1459,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John,  who 
probably  was  the  first  who  held  this  manor.  Amongst  the  Bodleian 
Charters  is  a  grant  in  1467  by  this  John  "  Appulton  "  and  William 
Ryngham  to  Alexander  Cressener,  and  others  of  a  messuage,  3  crofts  &c. 
in  Gt.  Waldingfield.5  John  Appulton  married  Margaret  dau.  of  Richard 
Welling  and  died  the  Qth  April  1481,  being  succeeded  by  his  second  son 
Thomas  who  married  Margaret  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Robert  Crane  of 
Stonham,  sister  of  Robert  Crane  who  married  Anne  Osgard.  Amongst  the 
Bodl.  Charters  is  a  lease  in  1483  by  Alexander  Cressener  and  John  Appulton, 
described  as  of  Gt.  Waldingfield  sen.  and  Richard  Rysing  to  this  Thomas 
Appulton  and  Margaret  his  wife  and  others  of  two  closes  of  land  in  Gt. 
Waldingfield.6  Thomas  Appulton  died  the  13  October  15077  By  his  will 
dated  the  2oth  Jan.  1504  he  says :  "  First  I  bequeth  my  soule  to  Almighty 
God,  to  our  lady  seynt  Mary  and  to  all  the  holy  company  of  heven.  And 
my  body  to  be  buried  in  the  Church  of  Seynt  laurence  in  Waldyngfeld 
nyghe  to  my  wif .  I  will  have  a  priest  syngyng  in  Waldingfeld  the  space  of 
iiii  yeres  for  me  my  fader  and  moder  my  wif  and  others  my  kynnesfolke 
and  my  benefactors.  I  geve  to  the  Church  of  Waldingfeld  a  vestmet  w'. 
deken  and  subdeken  off  such  color  and  price  as  shalbe  thought  metely  and 
convnyet  for  the  said  church.  I  will  that  the  nonnys  of  Mailing  have  iiij. 
li.  in  foure  yeres  to  the  convent  to  sey  Placebo  and  Dirige  w'.  masse  of 
Requiem  for  me  the  day  of  myn  obite.  I  will  that  Dame  Anne  my  doughter 

'.  Harl.  58  E.  27.  »  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  458. 

'  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  436.  6  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  473. 

'  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  440.  '  I.P.M.,  23  Hen.  VII.  84. 
Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  442. 


248  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

haue  xiiis.  iii]d.  yerely  owte  of  my  londs  and  tents  y1.  I  haue  in  Kersey, 
Grotton,  and  other  townes  the  which  I  haue  geven  to  my  son  William 
Appulton.  To  my  son  Gilbert  Appulton  vij.  horses  w'.  the  plough  and  a 
cartt  w'.  all  the  harneys  thereto  belonging,  viij.  keen,  a  masse  booke  w1.  a 
challice,  aulter  clothes  and  vestments.  To  my  son  the  parson  of  Lanetun  my 

gilt  cupp  w'.  the  coulyng.  I  give  him  my  best  salt I  will  that 

my  nappry  and  beddyng,  and  all  other  stuff  of  household  be  devided 
betwene  son  Robert  and  his  brother  Richard.  I  will  that  he  that  hath  my 
manr.  of  Holbrok  have  my  ferme  of  Branston  hall  duryne  nyn  yers.  .  .  . 
The  residue  of  my  goods  I  remytt  to  myn  executors  towards  the  amendyng 
of  the  high  way  leddyng  fro  my  manor  of  Holbrook  to  the  well."  The 
will  was  proved  the  9  Feb.  1508.'  The  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Robert  Appulton  who  married  Mary,  2nd  daughter  and  coheir  of  Thomas 
Mountney  of  Mountnessing  in  Essex.  There  is  a  lease  dated  the  16 
May  21*  Hen.  VII.  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  of  this  Robert  Appulton 
and  others  to  Roger  Ponder  and  others  of  certain  lands  and  a  croft  in  Great 
Waldingfield.1 

Robert  Appleton  died  27  Aug.  1526,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  William  Appulton,  who  married  Rose,  daughter  and  coheir  of 
Robert  Sexton  of  Lavenham,  and  had  a  son  Thomas,  who  succeeded  his 
father  on  his  death  on  the  24  August  I53&,3  and  married  Mary  2nd  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Edward  Isaacke  of  Well  Court,  Kent.  Thomas  Appleton 
died  in  1603,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Sir  Isaack  Appulton, 
who  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Anthony  Cage  of  Long  Stow  co.  Cambridge, 
and  died  in  1608.  In  the  Tanner  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  may  be  seen  a 
claim  to  the  Rectory  of  Little  Waldingfield  by  Mary  Appulton,  the  widow. 
The  manor  at  her  death  passed  to  her  son  Isaac  Appleton  who  married 
Dame  Susan  relict  of  Sir  Robert  Crane  Bart.,  and  dau.  of  Sir  Giles  Alington 
of  Horseheath,  but  died  without  issue.  Sir  Isaac  Appleton  by  his  will  the 
8  Sept.  r6o8  devised  to  Isaac  his  son  his  "  fower  Tenements 
in  the  Churchyard  of  Litle  Waldingfeild  (erected  and  applied  by  my 
late  father  to  charitable  uses)  with  earnest  charge  as  he  will  answere  before 
God  to  contynue  the  same  by  placing  in  them  from  tyme  to  tyme  poore 
men  or  wydowes."  He  also  appointed  six  loads  of  wood,  which  he  directed 
to  be  distributed  among  these  four  houses  annually  for  fuel.  Page  states 
that  this  wood  has  not  been  supplied  for  many  years.  The  will  was 
proved  the  12  July  1609."  The  clause  in  the  will  of  Thomas  Appleton  to 
which  Sir  Isaac  refers  is,  "I  will  that  my  sonne  and  heire  and  his  heires 
shall  paie  and  satisfie  to  the  poor  people  inhabitinge  littell  Waldingfeilde 
tenn  loades  of  wood  everie  yeare  and  to  their  successors  for  ever."  The 
will  is  dated  the  ist  March  1603  and  was  proved  the  i6th  May  1603.' 

Samuel  Warner  was  lord  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century 
and  he  died  seised  of  the  manor  in  1734,  when  it  passed  to  his  eldest  daughter 
married  to  Henry  Vere  Graham.  She  died  in  1736  and  her  husband  in 
1737,  when  the  manor  passed  to  Walden  Hanmer,  barrister-at-law  and  M.P. 
for  Sudbury  who  had  married  Anne,  youngest  daughter  and  coheir  of  the 
said  Henry  Vere  Graham  and  Catherine  his  wife.  Walden  Hanmer  was 
created  a  baronet  in  1774,  and  died  in  1783,  his  wife  having  predeceased  him 
in  1778.  Job  Hanmer,  a  captain  in  the  Royal  Navy  their  second  son  succeeded 

•  P.C.C.  ii  Bennett.  '  P.C.C.,  32  Bolein.     A  Copy  will  be  found 

*  Hoc]].  Stiff.  Ch.  493.  in  Muskett's  Manorial  Families,  vol.  i. 
>  I.P.M.,  33  Hen.  VIII.-  p.  325. 

4  P.C.C.  70  Dorset. 


WALDINGFIELD. 


249 


to  the  estate,  and  married  Maria,  daughter  of  John  Syer  of  Lavenham.  Job 
died  in  1814,  leaving  issue  with  a  daughter  Anna  Maria  who  was 
married  first  to  Thomas  Waring  and  secondly  to  Wm.  Fowke,  a  son, 
Job  Hanmer  captain  in  the  Royal  Navy.  He  married  in  1823  Harriet 
youngest  daughter  of  Thomas  Dawson  of  Edwardston  Hall,  and  was 
succeeeed  by  his  son  Charles  Warren,  to  whom  the  manor  descended. 

Holbrook  Hall,  an  edifice  in  the  Tudor  style,  was  rebuilt  1883,  and  is 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Mitchell,  though  it  still  belongs  to  the  Hanmer 
family. 

Arms  of  Appleton  or  Appulton  :  Argent,  a  fesse  sable  betw.  three 
apples  gules,  stalked  and  leaved  vert. 

LUNS  HALL  MANOR. 

There  was  a  manor  known  as  Luns  Hall  manor,  but  its  history  is  past 
finding  out. 

There  is  amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  a  Court  Roll  of  the  Manor  of 
Waldingfield  4  Rich.  II.  [1380],'  and  amongst  the  Bodl.  Rolls,  Court  Rolls 
of  41  Ed.  III.,  42  Ed.  III.,  and  4  to  16  Rich.  II.2 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  is  a  power  to  give  seisin  of  dower 
from  lands  in  the  Manor  of  Great  Waldingfield  in  I3O3,3  and  to  give  seisin 
in  the  Manor  of  Gt.  Waldingfield  in  1413  and  I43i.4  And  the  Manor  of 
Great  Waldingfield  is  included  in  the  Extent  given  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  de  Brokesbourne  in  1326  ;5  also  in  that  of  Sir 
Andrew  de  Bures  and  Alicia  his  wife  in  I36o.6  The  descent  of  the  Manor  of 
Great  Waldingfield  to  1597  is  given  in  the  Rawlinson  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian.7 
There  are  two  fines,  one  levied  in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  and  the  other  in  that 
of  Edw.  II.  relating  to  the  Manor  of  Waldingfield  Parva,  which  cannot  be 
fixed  to  any  particular  manor  in  the  place,  though  as  the  second  showed 
that  the  advowson  was  appurtenant  to  the  manor,  one  might  hazard  a  guess. 
They  are  as  follows  :— 

1302 — Ralph  parson  of  Bulemere  Church  v.  William  son  of  Ralph  de 
Bebermesshe  of  Waldingfield  Parva  and  Capelis  Manors.8  1320 — Isabella, 
who  was  wife  of  John  de  Wascoirv.  William  son  of  Ralph  de  Pebenersh 
and  Matilda  his  wife  of  Waldingfield  Parva  Manor  except  the  advowson  of 
the  Church.9 


1  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  419. 

'  Bodl.  Suff.  Rolls  32,  33,  345 

3  Harl.  57  C.  7. 

4  Harl.  49  D.  37,  52  A.  2. 
»  I.P.M.,  20  Edw.  II.  32. 


6  I.P.M.,  34  Edw.  III.  60. 
'  Rawl.  B.  319. 

8  Feet  of  Fines,  30  Edw.  I.  4. 

9  Feet  of  Fines,  14  Edw.  II.  27. 


Fl 


250  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

WISTON  OR  WISSINGTON  MANOR. 
HIS  does  not  appear  under  the  head  of  Wiston  in  the 
Domesday  Survey,  though  Mr.  Page  says  that  at  that 
time  the  church  and  a  manor  here  belonged  to  the  great 
Suane  of  Essex,  whose  chief  seat  was  at  Raley  (or  Raleigh) 
in  that  County,  under  whom  the  Godebolds  held  in  Edward 
the  Confessor's  reign.  He  also  adds  that  in  the  time  of 
Hen.  I.,  Robert,  son  of  Godebold,  founded  a  Priory  at  Little 
"  Horkestem"  in  Essex  to  the  honour  of  St.  Peter  forCluniacmonks.  He  and 
Beatrix  his  wife  gave  to  the  Cluniac  monastery  at  Thetford  all  their  churches 
upon  condition  that  the  Prior  at  Thetford  should  send  as  many  monks 
to  serve  God  in  the  Church  of  St.  Peter  at  Horksley  as  the  place  could  con- 
veniently maintain.  And  for  their  better  subsistence  they  assigned  certain 
other  churches  to  this  Priory  amongst  which  the  Church  of  Wiston  is 
included.  The  endowment  was  considerably  augmented  by  a  grant  of 
land  in  this  place  in  1378  ;  wh<3n  there  is  a  licence  for  alienation  in  mortmain 
by  John  Somenour,  John  Olyver,  Thomas  Scorby,  and  William  Pek  vicar 
of  Wiston,  of  a  toft,  80  acres  of  land  and  4  acres  of  wood  in  Wiston  not  held 
in  chief  to  the  Prior  of  the  Church  of  St.  Peter  Little  Horkesleye  for  cele- 
brating.' The  Manor  of  Wiston  was,  as  already  stated,  part  of  the  Honor  of 
Raleigh,  or  Rayhelia,  or  Rayley,  as  it  is  variously  written,  the  head  of  the 
great  Barony  of  Suane.  Blunt  in  his"  Fragmenta  Antiquitatis  mentions  a 
peculiar  Court  which  was  held  by  the  Lord  of  this  Honor.  It  was  held  on 
King's  Hill  in  Rochford,  Essex,  every  Wednesday  morning  next  after 
Michaelmas  day  at  cock  crow  by  ancient  custom,  and  was  vulgarly  called 
the  Lawless  Court.  The  steward  and  suitors  whisper  to  each  other,  and 
have  no  candles,  nor  any  pen  and  ink,  but  supply  that  office  with  a  coal ; 
and  he  that  owes  suit  or  service  thereto  and  appears  not  forfeits  to 
the  lord  double  his  rent  every  hour  he  is  absent.  The  Court  is  called 
Lawless,  because  held  at  an  unlawful  or  lawless  hour,  or  quia  dicta  sine  If ge. 
The  title  of  the  Court  Rolls  runs  thus  and  was  certainly  so  in  1679  :— 
KING'S  HILL  )  ( Curia  de  Domino  Rege, 
IN  ROCHFORD.  /  \  Dicta  sine  Lege, 

Tenenta  est  ibidem 
Per  ejusdem  Consuetudinem ; 
Ante  ortum  Solis, 
Luceat  nisi  Polus, 
Nil  scribit  nisi  colis. 
Totius  voluerit, 
GaJlus  ut  Cantaverit ; 
Per  cujus  solum  sonitum1 
Curia  est  summonita. 
Clamat  clam  pro  Rege, 
In  Curia  sine  Lege, 
Et  nisi  cito  venerint 
Citius  paenituerint ; 
Et  nisi  clam  accedat 
Curia  non  attendat ; 
Qui  venerit  cum  Lumine 
Errat  in  Regimine, 
Et  dum  sunt  sine  Lumine 
Capti  sunt  in  Crimine  ; 
Curia  sine  Cura 
Jurati  de  Injuria, 

Tenta  ibidem  Die  Mercurii  (ante  Diem)  proximi  (v.  proxime  or  proximo) 
post  Festum  Sancti  Michaelis  Archangeli,  Anno  Regni  Regis,  &c. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  2  Rich.  II.  pt.  ii.  14  ;  I.P.M.,  2  Rich.  II.  115. 


WISTON   OR    WISSINGTON   MANOR. 


251 


This  Lawless  Court  is  imperfectly  mentioned  by  Camden  (or  rather  by 
his  editor,  Dr.  Holland,  for  it  is  not  in  the  text  itself)  in  his  description  of 
Essex,  where  he  says  this  servile  attendance  was  imposed  on  the  tenants  of 
the  manor  for  conspiring  at  the  like  unseasonable  time  to  raise  a 
commotion. 

The  Manor  of  Wiston  passed  from  the  family  of  Godebold  in  the  time 
of  King  John  to  that  of  Horkesley,  and  Walter  de  Horkesley  held  a  fee  here  of 
the  Honor  of  Raleigh  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.1  Walter  died  in  1266,"  and  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Robt.  de  Horkesley,3  at  whose  death  in  1296" 
it  vested  in  his  widow  Agidia,  or  Archadia  de  Horkesley,  who  held  in 
1316.  This  year  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  between  Wm.  de  Horkesley 
and  John  Butercourt  and  Matilda  his  wife.5  It  then  passed  to  Michael  de 
Poyning  whose  son  and  heir  Thomas  de  Poynings  had  free  warren  here  in 
1328,  and  was  summoned  to  Parliament  as  a  Baron  23  April  1337.  He 
married  Agnes,  one  of  the  daughters  and  coheirs  of  John  son  of  Bartholomew 
de  Cryol,  and  was  slain  in  the  great  naval  engagement  with  the  French  at 
Sluye  in  1340,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Michael  de  Poynings 
2nd  Baron,  who  participated  in  the  great  victory  at  Cressy.  He  married 
Joane,  widow  of  Sir  John  de  Molyns  knt.  and  died  in  1369. 

The  manor  however  seems  to  have  been  sold  by  Thos.  de  Poynings  in 
early  life,  for  it  was  held  before  1332  by  Thomas  de  Swynburn,  as  in  that 
year  there  is  a  grant  on  the  Patent  Rolls  to  John  Darcy  of  the  custody  of  the 
manor  in  the  King's  hands  by  reason  of  the  minority  of  Robert  son  and 
heir  of  Thomas  de  Swynburn.6  This  same  year  the  manor  is  mentioned  in 
the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  William  de  Horkesley  and  Emma  his  wife.7 

Davy  says  that  Thomas  de  Swynburn  died  in  1348,  and  no  doubt  he 
founded  this  on  the  fact  that  there  is  an  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Thomas  de  Swinburn 
in  1348  which  includes  the  manor,  stating  it  to  be  held  as  of  the  Honor  of 
Raleigh.8  But  a  difficulty  is  presented  by  a  fine  levied  as  early  as 
1323  between  Robert  de  Swynbourne  and  John  Botecourt  and  Isabella 
his  wife  of  this  manor.9  However  this  may  be  Sir  Robert  Swinburn  died 
seised  of  the  manor  in  1376,  and  it  passed  in  moieties  to  his  daughters  and 
coheirs  Margery,  married  to  Michael  Berney,  and  subsequently  to  their 
daughter  Katherine  married  to  Sir  Wm.  Fynden,  who  died  in  1515,  and  by 
will  devised  the  same  to  his  daughter  in  law  Bridget  the  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Waldegrave,  and  it  ultimately  passed  to  her  son  Thomas  Fynden, 
who  died  in  1524  without  issue.  Davy  says  that  the  manor  then  passed 
to  Anne  wife  of  Sir  Roger  Wentworth,10 "  and  then  to  Sir  John  Wentworth 
of  Horkesley  and  Codham,  who  died  in  1567,  when  it  passed  to  Anne  his 
daughter,  wife  of  Henry  Lord  Maltravers,  and  in  1580  went  to  Sir  John 
Wentworth  of  Gosfield  co.  Essex,  nephew  of  Sir  John,  and  that  he  died  in 
1588,  when  it  passed  to  Jane  his  widow.  It  seems  however  that  Sir  Wm. 
West  and  his  wife  were  in  possession  of  the  manor  in  1545  from  the  fact 
that  they  were  called  upon  to  shew  title  to  the  same,12  and  in  1560  a  fine 


T.  de  Nevill  292. 
I.P.M.,  50  Hen.  III.  38. 
H.R.  ii.  142,  144. 
Extent.     I.P.M.,  24  Edw.  i,  37. 
Feet  of  Fines,  10  Edw.  II.  8. 
Pat,  Rolls,  6  Edw.  III.  pt.  iii.  13. 
I.P.M.,  6  Edw.  III.  52. 
I.P.M.,  22  Edw.  III.  7. 
Feet  of  Fines,  17  Edw.  II.  31. 
I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  13. 


11  The  Inquisition  thus  gives  her  descent : 
Daughter  of  Isabella,  daughter  of 
John,  son  of  Alice,  daughter  of 
Joan,  mother  of  Margaret,  mother 
of  Katherine,  mother  of  Sir  William 
Waldegrave,  father  of  William  Wal- 
degrave, brother  of  Thomas  Walde- 
grave. 

"  Memoranda  Rolls,  37  Hen.  VIII.,  Mich. 
Rec.  Rot.  10. 


252  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

was  levied  of  the  manor  by  SirJ  Thomas  Wentworth  and  others  against 
Sir  John  Wentworth  and  others.  ~  In  1601  another  fine  was  levied  of  the 
manor  by  Arthur  Longvile  and  others  against  John  Wentworth  and  others.1 

In  1658  the  manor  belonged  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Nott,  rector  of  Stoke 
Nayland,  whose  daughter  and  heir  married  the  Rev.  Wm.  Gurnell  of 
Lavenham,  celebrated  for  his  work,  "The  Christian  in  Complete  Armour," 
which  has  run  to  many  editions. 

In  1814  the  manor  belonged  to  Matthew  Beachcroft  in  which  family 
it  still  remains,  the  owner  in  1885  being  Richard  Beachcroft  of  Clapham. 

WISTON  GRANGE  MANOR. 

This  was  given  by  Hugh  de  Hordene  to  Thetford  Abbey,  and  on  the 
Dissolution  passed  to  the  Crown,  when  it  was  granted  to  Sir  Thomas 
Seymor  in  1537,  and  he  in  1539  sold  it  to  Robert  Cowper  of  Nayland  juxta 
Stoke.  There  is  an  entry  respecting  the  deed  of  assurance  on  the  Memoranda 
Rolls,  31  Hen.  VIII.  [I539J.3  And  the  licence  to  Sir  Thomas  Seymour  to 
alienate  will  be  found  amongst  the  State  Papers  for  the  s  ime  year.4  In 
this  licence  the  manor  is  thus  specified :  "the  manor  or  chief  messuage  called 
Wyston  Graunge  and  lands  in  Wiston."  Robert  Cowper  died  the  loth  April 
!5585  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  two  daughters  and  coheirs,  Margaret 
wife  of  Thomas  Harte  and  Joan  wife  of  John  Caringdale.  In  1578  is  found 
on  the  Memoranda  Rolls  an  order  for  removal  of  process  from  the  farm  called 
Wiston  Grange  and  discharge  of  Henry  Hart  and  wife.6  As  to  Joan 
Caringdale  no  information  is  to  be  found  ;  but  in  the  43rd  Deputy  Keeper's 
Reports  App.  i,  p.  62  is  an  entry  of  livery  of  lands  in  Wiston  to  William 
Dynn  and  Mary,  one  of  the  two  daughters  of  Benjamin  Cowper  in  1627. 


In  order  to  complete  the  account  from  the  Domesday  Survey,  the 
following  entries  as  the  land  therein  referred  which  have  not  been  included  in 
the  manorial  land  specified  are  added.  In  Linhow  (?)  Uluric  held  under  Aluric 
Camp  in  King  Edward's  time,  and  they  could  not  sell — 30  acres  and  4 
bordars  and  3  oxen — valued  at  i8s.  Saint  Edmund  had  soc  and  sac. 
This  was  held  by  Roger  de  Rheims  as  tenant  in  chief.7 

Among  the  encroachments  upon  the  King  in  Saibamus  Richard  held  a 
freeman  formerly  under  Robert  son  of  Wimarc  by  commendation  and  in 
St.  Edmund's  soc  and  sac  ;  but  Wisgar  held  from  him  when  he  made 
forfeiture.  At  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  Richard  his  successor  in 
title  held  from  him  ;  and  had  i  carucate  of  land,  3  bordars,  2  slaves,  i 
ploughteam,  7  acres  of  meadow,  50  sheep,  and  7  hogs,  all  valued  at  20 
shillings.8 


1  Fine,  Hil.  2  Eliz.  '  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  148. 

•  Fine,  Trin.  43  Eliz.  6  Memoranda,  20  Eliz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  60. 

'  M.  31  Hen.  VIII.,  Trin.  Rec.  Rot.  I.  '  Dom.  ii.  4216. 

4  State  Papers,  1539,  1192  (31).  '  Dom.  ii.  448. 

END  OF  BABERGH  HUNDRED. 


BLACKBOURN    HUNDRED. 


SAXTON, 
1576. 


'Aj 


SPEED, 
1610. 


BOWEN 
1777. 


BLACKBOURN     HUNDRED. 


HIS  Hundred  (Blacbruna,  Blackbourne,  Blackbrune, 
Blackburne,  Blakeborne,  Blakeburn),  lies  upon  the  utmost 
bounds  north-westwardly  of  the  County,  being  separated 
from  Norfolk  by  the  river  Ouse.  It  is  east  of  Lackford 
and  west  of  Hartismere  Hundred,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  south  by  the  Hundreds  of  Stow,  Thedwestry  and 
Thingoe  ;  and  watered  by  the  Lark  and  the  Little  Ouse, 

the  small  river  Thet  also  intersecting  it.     Ixworth  is  its  chief  town  and 

Walsham  le  Willows  a  place   of  some    importance.      The  Hundred    has 

65,352  acres. 

Blackbourn  .  Hundred   contains   the   following   34   parishes   and   64 

manors  : — 


Parishes. 


Manors. 


Parishes. 


Manors. 


Ashfield.... 
Badwell  Ash 

Bardwell    . . 
Barnham  . . 

Barningham 


-  Coney 

Weston  . . 

•  Culford 

'    Elmswell   . . 
Euston 

Fakenham 
(Great)  .. 

Fakenham 
(Little)  .. 


Ashfield    Magna. 

Badwell   Ash   or 
Little  Ashfield. 

StrikelandHall. 

Brushes  al.  Brookes- 
hull. 

Bardwell. 

Wykes  or  Wicken. 

Wyken  Hall. 

Barnham  al.  Pley- 
ford's. 

Calthorp. 

Baggotts. 

Barningham  or  Bar- 
ningham Hall  al. 
Senders. 

Netherhall. 

Holdens  al.  Haldens. 

Coney  Weston. 

Culford. 

East  Hall  al.  Syfre- 

wats. 
Elmswell. 
Euston  al.  Little 

Hall  or  Verleys. 
Great  Fakenham. 
Ringmere  or  Grange. 

Little  Fakenham. 


Ixworth     . . 
Knettishall . 

Langham  . . 

Livermere 
(Little)  .. 

Norton 

Rickinghall 
Inferior  . . 

Sapiston    . . 


Stanton 
Stowlangtoft 
Thelnetham . 
Thorpe  . . 


Ixworth. 

Knettishall. 

Stanton. 

Salthouse. 

Langham. 

Livermere  Parva  al. 

Morieles  or  Mury- 

elle. 
Norton. 
Harding. 
Little  Haugh. 
Rickinghall   Inferior 

al.  Westhall. 
Sapiston. 
Sapiston  Grange  or 

Manor. 

Stanton  All  Saints. 
Stanton    St.    John, 

Mickfields  and 

Badwells. 

Stowlangtoft  Hall. 
Colvyles. 
Thelnetham. 
Cressy. 

Eye  Thelnetham. 
The  Rectory  of  Thel- 
netham. 

Thorpe  by  Ixworth. 


254                           THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Pariahe*. 

Manors 

Parishes. 

Manors. 

Hepworth. 

Troston     .  . 

(  Troston. 
I  Rougtownes. 

Hepworth  .  . 

Riveshall  al.  Rushall 
al.  Reeve's. 
North  Hall. 
Master  Stephen's. 

Walsham  le 
Willows  .  . 

1  Walsham. 
Churchhouse  or 
Easthouse. 

Brett's. 
Hinderclay. 

•  Wattisfield  . 

(  Wattisfield. 
Gyffords  and  Hal- 

Hinderclay  . 

Bartford   Soham 

lymote. 

Honington... 
Hopton  

Hunston    .  . 

(       Hall. 
Honington. 
Hopton. 
|  Hunston. 
j  Nycols  or  Nicoll. 

Weston 
Market 

«  West  Stow  . 

Weston  Market. 

f  West  Stow. 
{  Jenney's. 

Ingham 

Ingham. 

Wordwell  .  . 

Wordwell. 

In  1561  the  Hundred  was  granted  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  knt.,  Lord 
Keeper,  as  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  the  suppressed  Monastery  of  St. 
Edmunds ;  it  has  since  passed  as  the  Redgrave  estate  and  is  now  vested  in 
Mr.  G.  H.  Wilson  of  Redgrave  Hall.     The  following  is  a  summary  of  its 
devolution  : — 

1561  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  by  grant,  d.  1579.' 
1579  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  son  and  heir  ist  Bart.  d.  1624. 
1624  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  son  and  heir  2nd  Bart.  d.  s.p.  1649. 
1649  Sir  Robert  Bacon  brother  and  heir  3rd  Bart.  d.  1655. 
1655  Sir  Edw.  Bacon  grandson  and  heir  4th  Bart.  d.  1685. 
1685  Sir  Richard  Bacon  5th  Bart. 
Sir  John  Holt. 

1709  John  Holt  d.  1710. 

1710  Rowland  Holt  brother  of  Sir  John. 
1719  Thomas  Holt  son  and  heir  d.  1726. 
1726  Rowland  Holt  uncle  d.  1739. 
1739  Rowland  Holt  son  and  heir  d.  1786. 

1786  Thomas  Holt  brother  and  heir  d.  1799,  gave  it  to 
1799  George  Wilson  his  nephew  d.  1826. 
1826  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson  son  and  heir  d.  1852. 
1852  George  Holt  Wilson  son  and  heir. 

Amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  will  be  found 
deeds  relating  to  this  Hundred  from  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  to  1678,'  and  suit 
of  Court  of  its  Hundred  was  claimed  by  William  Whitene  for  Bury  Abbey  in 
1323,'  and  land  in  the  Hundred  is  included  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  Thomas 
de  Lovayne  in  1345.'  Suit  of  Court  &c.  also  in  that  of  Roesia  wife  of  Sir 
Edmund  de  Pakenham  in  1353,'  and  of  Richard  de  Pakenham  in  1383.' 
The  Hundred  is  also  included  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  Anna  one  of  the 
daughters  and  coheirs  of  John  Filliott  in  1397.'  Particulars  as  to  Musters 
in  this  Hundred  in  1539  will  be  found  in  the  State  Papers  for  1539  ;"  and  in 


The  grant  to  Sir  Nicholas  was  by  way  of 
lease,  the  reversion  being  granted 
to  Sir  Thomas  Drury,  from  whom 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  subsequently 
acquired  the  same. 

Add.  Ch.  10520-10529. 


3  I.Q.D.,  17  Edw.  II.  171. 

•  I.P.M.,  19  Edw.  III.  44. 
1  I.P.M.,  27  Edw.  III.  64. 
«  I.P.M.,  7  Rich.  II.  62. 

'  I.P.M.,  21  Rich.  II.  24. 

•  S.P.,  1539,  898. 


BLACKBOURN    HUNDRED. 


255 


the  same  papers  for  1565  (?)  will  be  found  the  statement  that  at  that  time 
the  livings  of  three  churches  in  this  Hundred  were  vacant.1 

An  account  of  the  charge  of  every  town  in  this  Hundred  for  the  supply 
of  5  men  out  of  Bury  in  1570,  and  a  Precept  for  taxing  the  Hundred  towards 
the  relief  of  prisoners  at  Bury  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS. 
in  the  British  Museum2 ;  and  in  the  same  collection  of  MSS.  may  be  seen 
an  Order  dated  the  22  April  31  Elizabeth  [1589]  for  suppressing  rogues, 
vagabonds,  idle,  loitering,  and  lewd  persons  in  the  Hundred,  with  a  Bill  of 
Rates  on  every  town  for  mustering  [193]  men  at  Bury.3  Amongst  the  same 
MSS.  will  be  found  a  note  of  the  able  men  in  this  Hundred  and  their  furni- 
ture,4 and  the  names  of  trained  shot,  pikemen,  and  bowmen5 ;  also  a  note  of  a 
claim  for  rent  by  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  in  right  of  his  Manor  of  Stowhall 
from  the  Hundred.6  Amongst  the  State  Papers  for  1623  is  a  certificate  as 
to  corn  in  the  Hundred.7 

A  Parliamentary  Survey  of  the  Hundred  about  1650  will  be  found 
in  the  Record  Office8 ;  and  in  the  British  Museum  a  subsidy  roll  for  the 
Hundred  in  i66i9 ;  also  a  rental  of  Rowland  Holt,  lord  of  the  Hundred  in 
1716,  with  list  of  subsequent  tenants  to  1732. 10 


'  S.P.,  1565,  Addenda  577. 

*  Harl.  MSS.  309. 

'  Harl.  MSS.  364,  366. 

'  Harl.  MSS.  366. 

5  Harl.  MSS.  309. 


6  Harl.  MSS.  97. 

7  State  Papers,  1623,  549. 

8  D.K.  8th  Rep.    App.  ii.  p.  67. 
'  Add.  MSS.  21036. 

10  Add.  Ch.  26582. 


256  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


ASH  FIELD. 

IN  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  one  of  the  manors  in 
Ashfield  was  held  by  Achi  with  3  carucates  of  land.  There 
were  9  bordars,  4  ploughteams  in  demesne,  12  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  for  60  hogs,  2  rouncies,  2  beasts,  25  sheep, 
and  10  hives  of  bees,  and  the  value  was  60  shillings.  By 
the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the  ploughteams  in  demesne 
had  come  down  to  3,  the  60  hogs  had  been  reduced  to  15,  and 
the  25  sheep  to  10,  but  the  value  had  remained  unaffected.1  There  were 
also  14  freemen  under  commendation  with  80  acres,  I  ploughteam,  4  acres 
of  meadow,  and  wood  for  4  hogs,  the  whole  valued  at  8  shillings.  The 
Abbot  of  Edmund's  had  also  a  considerable  holding  in  Ashfield,  namely, 
21  freemen  with  a  carucate  and  a  half  of  land,  i  villein,  4  bordars, 
5  ploughteams,  12  acres  of  meadow,  and  wood  sufficient  for  20  hogs. 
These  men  could  give  or  sell  their  lands,  but  by  sac  and  soc  and 
commendation  they  would  remain  under  the  Abbot.  The  value  was  33 
shillings.  Of  the  above  freemen  and  of  this  land  Odar  held  17  freemen 
with  a  carucate  and  30  acres  of  land,  and  4  ploughteams  of  the  value  of  30 
shillings,  part  of  the  above  sum. 

There  was  also  i  socman  with  half  a  carucate  of  land  and  2  bordars,  i 
ploughteam,  4  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs.  Over  this  socman  the 
Abbot  had  soc  and  sac  and  commendation,  and  without  his  licence  the  soc- 
man could  not  part  with  his  land.  The  value  was  10  shillings.  There  was 
also  a  church  with  12  acres  of  free  land.  The  length  of  this  holding  was 
10  quarentenes  and  the  breadth  5,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  nfrf.a 

Another  manor  in  Ashfield  was  held  in  the  Confessor's  time  by  Ketel 
the  Dane,  a  freeman  who  had  i  carucate  of  land,  2  bordars,  2  serfs,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne,  4  acres  of  meadow,  and  wood  sufficient  to  support  20 
hogs.  Three  freemen  under  him  had  22  acres  and  half  a  ploughteam. 
There  were  2  rouncies,  4  beasts,  24  hogs,  32  sheep,  40  goats,  which  by  the 
time  of  the  Great  Survey  were  varied  thus  :  The  hogs  one  less,  the  sheep 
68  more,  the  goats  28  less.  The  value,  however,  remained  the  same  in  both 
Saxon  and  Norman  times  —  namely  30  shillings.  Over  Ketel,  Robert  le 
Blund's  predecessor  had  commendation,  and  according  to  the  Great  Record 
William  then  held  Ketel  of  Robert  le  Blund.  In  the  same  place  there  were  also 
3  freemen  under  commendation  having  I  carucate  of  land,  and  60  acres  and 
i  bordar.  There  were  3  ploughteams,  4  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs, 
valued  at  30  shillings.  Over  these  men  two  soldiers  held.  There  was  also 
a  church  with  9  acres.  The  extent  of  the  holding  was  n  quarentenes  long 
and  ii  broad,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt 


ASHFIELD  MAGNA  MANOR. 

From  Robert  le  Blund,  the  Domesday  tenant,  both  manors  men- 
tioned in  Ashfield  descended  as  one  in  his  family  in  the  same  course  as  the 
manor  of  Ixworth  in  this  Hundred  to  the  time  of  Sir  William  le  Blund 
who  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Lewes  in  I2&4.4  On  Sir  William's  death 
without  issue,  this  manor  passed  to  Agnes  his  sister  and  one  of  his  coheirs 

1  Dom.  ii.  439.  '  Dom.  ii.  439- 

•  Dom.  ii.  367.  4  I.P.M.,  48  Hen.  III.  file  30  (20). 


ASHFIELD.  257 

who  had  married  William  de  Criketot.  Of  him  the  King  took  homage  for  this 
manor  as  one  of  the  heirs  of  Sir  William  le  Blund  in  1264.'  Wm.  de  Criketot 
died  about  1299,  when  ^e  was  found  to  have  held  this  manor  and  those  of  Ix- 
worth  and  Ousden,  leaving  a  second  William  de  Criketot  his  son  and  heir. 
This  William  died  about  1307,'  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  a  third 
William  de  Criketot,  who  died  in  1310,  and  it  was  assigned  to  Joan  his  wife  as 
part  of  her  dower  and  subject  thereto  went  to  a  fourth  William  her  son.3 
Amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls  in  the  British  Museum  is  a  compotus  of  Nicholas 
Diggelar,  provost  of  Sir  William  Cricketot  for  the  Manor  of  Ashfield,  Mich.  3 
and  4  Edw.  III.  [i329~3o].4  He  died  about  1343,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  a  fifth  Sir  William  de  Criketot  who  the  same  year  enfeoffed 
Michael  de  Ponynges,  John  Botiler  and  others  of  the  Manor  in  trust  to  re- 
grant  the  same  to  him  and  Joan  de  Ponynges  his  wife  in  tail.5  The  manor 
then  seems  to  have  been  composed  of  2  messuages,  2  carucates  of  arable 
land,  20  acres  of  meadow,  40  acres  of  pasture,  200  acres  of  wood  and  61.  of 
rent  in  Gt.  Ashfield,  Little  Ashfield,  Badwell,  Honterston,  and  Walsham. 

Sir  William  de  Criketot  died  about  1354  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  William,  who  died  without  issue.  This  last  William  Criketot  and 
Joan  his  wife  granted  the  manor  to  Richard  de  Pakenham  who  had  married 
Joan  the  heir  of  the  Criketots,  and  he  and  his  wife  Joan  in  1371  enfeoffed  John 
de  Cove  parson  of  Berdewell  and  others,  no  doubt  by  way  of  settlement.0 
The  following  year  Richard  de  Pakenham  and  Joan  his  wife  received  a 
licence  to  enfeoff  this  John  de  Cove  and  John  Atte  Chaumbre  chaplain,  of  the 
manor,  except  one  carucate,7  and  the  year  following  Richard  de  Pakenham 
paid  a  fine  for  the  transgression  which  William,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Wm. 
Criketot  and  Joan  his  wife  had  committed  in  granting  to  Joan,  after  the 
death  of  the  said  William,  the  manor,  except  one  carucate.8  Blomefield 
mentions  that  in  the  47th  of  Edw.  III.  William  Walsham  and  Thomas 
Ikeworth  released  to  Richard  de  Pakeham  and  Joan  his  wife  (heir  to  the 
Criketots),  and  to  the  heirs  of  their  body,  all  their  rights  in  the  lands  in 
Ashfield  Magna  and  Parva,  Hunteston,  Langham,  Walsham,  Wyverston, 
and  Wetherden,  except  the  lands  that  Alberick  de  Wyke  gave  to  Wm. 
Criketot  and  Isabel  his  wife.9  In  1379  Richard  de  Pakenham  and  Joan 
his  wife  obtained  a  licence  to  enfeoff  John  de  Cove  and  John  Martel  of  the 
manor  (except  one  carucate)  and  for  the  feoffees  to  regrant  the  same  to 
Richard  and  Joan  his  wife,  with  remainder  to  John  son  of  Sir  Richard 
Fyliol,  John  de  Rookwode,  Roger  de  Wolfreston,  and  John  Rokele  in  fee.10 
Richard  de  Pakenham  died  in  1383." 

In  1387  Roger  de  Wolferston  and  John  Rokele  who  with  John  son  of 
Sir  Richard  Filyoll  were  joint  tenants  of  the  manor  (with  the  exception  of 
one  carucate)  held  in  chief,  released  all  their  interest  to  the  said  John  son 
of  Sir  Richard  Filyoll  in  fee  simple  ;  and  John  Filyoll  having  the  full  estate 
enfeoffed  Roger  and  John  Rokele  and  Sir  Richard  de  Sutton,  Edmund  de 
Lakynghath,  Roger  son  of  the  said  Roger,  William  Wyght,  and  John 
Fordham  chaplain.12  John  Filyoll  died  seised  in  1390,  when  the  manor 

'  Fine  Rolls,  48  Hen.  III.  3.  '  Orig.  46  Edw.  III.  36  ;   Feet  of  Fines,  47 

1  I.P.M.,    William,    son    of    William  de                    Edw.  III.  8. 

Criketot    and    Maria    his    wife  35         8  Originalia,  47  Edw.  III.  31. 

Edw.  III.  133.  '  Vol.  vii.  p.  461. 

'  Close  Rolls,  3  Edw.  II.  gd.  '"  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Rich.  II.  pt.  iii.  18 ;   Feet 

4  Harl.  Rolls,  A.  n.  of  Fines,  3  Rich.  II.  16. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  17  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  260 ;  17        "  I.P.M.,  7  Rich.  II.  62. 

Edw.  III.  55.  "  Pat.  Rolls,  n  Rich.  II.  pt.  ii.  15. 
6  I.P.H-,  45  Edw.  III.  2nd  nos.  51. 

Gl 


THE 'MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

passed  in  moieties  to  his  two  daughters,  Joan  wife  of  Thomas  House,  and 
Anna.1 

Thomas  House  died  about  1418,"  being  at  his  death  apparently  seised 
of  the  whole  manor,  which  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Walter  House  of  Thorpe 
in  Essex.5  Walter  House  conveyed  the  manor  to  William  Narbourgh  of 
Narbourgh,  Richard  Bosourn  and  Master  Simon  Baret  clerk  in  fee,  no 
doubt  by  way  of  settlement.  He  made  the  assurance  without  licence,  and 
subsequently  received  a  pardon  for  the  transgression  on  payment  of  a  fine  to 
the  King.4  He  died  in  1457,'  and  the  manor  was  inherited  by  his  son  and 
heir  George  House,  who  died  in  1466,*  leaving  Robert  Mortymer  his  next 
heir  then  aged  24.  On  the  death  of  Robert  Mortimer  the  manor  went  to  his 
widow  Isabella  who  died  in  1507,'  and  then  it  passed  to  Elizabeth  wife 
of  George  Guildforde.  It  subsequently  vested  in  Sir  John  Guildford  who  in 
1549  s°ld  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  Lord  Darcy  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,8  and 
Lord  Darcy  in  1553  sold  to  Sir  Robert  Rochester  K.G.,9  who  died  28 
November  1556,'°  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  and  heir  William 
Rochester.  William's  son  and  heir  John,  and  John's  son  Emeric,  sold  the 
manor  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  knt.  in  1561,"  he  vested  it  first  in  Sir  Robert 
Catlyn  and  others  in  1566,"  then  in  1570  in  Sir  Thomas  Gresham  knt.  and 
others  as  trustees,'3  and  finally  in  1587  sold  it  to  Jeffrey  Lyttell.  In  1589 
John  Cavell  seems  to  have  been  lord,  but  probably  as  trustee,  for  we  find 
John  Lyttell,  son  and  heir  of  Jeffrey,  had  livery  of  the  manor  in  1627. '4 

The  manor  later  passed  into  the  Smith  or  Hovel  alias  Smith  family, 
which  was  seated  at  the  old  mansion  called  Lee  now  Lee  farm  until 
Elizabeth  daughter  of  Robert  Smith  by  Anne  his  wife  dau.  and  coheir  of 
Robert  Torkington  of  Brettenham  married  the  Rev.  Thomas  Thurlow 
rector  of  Ashfield.  Edward  Thurlow  their  eldest  son  became  Lord  High 
Chancellor  in  1778,  and  was  elevated  to  the  Peerage  3  June  1778  as  Baron 
Thurlow  of  Ashfield.  He  had  been  Perse  scholar  at  Gonville  and 
Caius  College  Cambridge,  but  removed  for  misconduct.  He  was  re- 
tained for  the  appellants  to  the  House  of  Lords  in  the  case  of  Douglas  'v. 
Hamilton  when  the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Session  was  reversed,  and 
fought  a  duel  with  the  Duke  of  Hamilton's  agent  Andrew  Stuart  who  had 
the  conduct  of  the  case  on  the  other  side.  Thurlow  filled  the  offices  of  Soli- 
citor and  Attorney  General  in  1770  and  1771.  Various  opinions  have  been 
entertained  as  to  his  talents,  but  none  have  questioned  that  his  temper  was 
overbearing  and  imperious.  He  was  dreaded  by  some  and  respected  by 
many,  held  an  extreme  view  of  the  royal  prerogative,  and  could  brook  no 
opposition  to  his  own.  Mr.  Burke,  when  once  asked  his  opinion  of  Lord 
Thurlow,  expressed  himself  in  the  following  terms  :  "He  was  an  oak  at 


1  A  moiety  of  manor,  Anna  Fillioll.  I.P.M., 
21  Rich.  II.  24 ;  other  moiety 
Wm.  Asshe,  Hen.  Colafre,  Thomas 
House  and  Joan  his  wife.  I. P.M., 
21  Rich.  II.  100. 

•  I.P.M.,  6  Hen.  V.  4. 

1  In  1429  John  Howes  did  homage  to  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  for  his 
estates  in  Ashfield  (Regr.  Curteys, 
fol.  51). 

•  Pat.  Rolls,  5  Hen.  VI.  pt.  ii.  19. 

5  I.P.M.,  36  Hen.  VI.  25. 

6  George  House  and  Joan  his  wife.     I. P.M., 

6  Edw.  IV.  23. 


'  I.P.M.,  22  Hen.  VII. 

8  Fine,  Easter,  3  Edw.  VI. 

'  Fine,  Easter,  I  Mary. 

0  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  Ph.  and  M.  44. 

"  Fine,  Easter,  3  Eliz. ;  Memoranda  Rolls, 

3  Eliz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  25. 
"  Fine,  Mich.  8  Eliz. 
11  A  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  in  1579 

by    Sir    Nicholas    Bacon    against 

Nathaniel  Bacon  and  others  (Fine, 

Mich.  21,  22  Eliz.). 
"  Chancery  D.K.R.  43.    App.  i.  p.  85. 


ASHFIELD.  259 

Norwood,  but  a  willow  at  St.  James's."  On  the  12  June  1792  his  lordship 
was  created  Baron  Thurlow  of  Thurlow,  with  remainder  to  his  brothers  and 
their  male  descendants,  and  dying  a  bachelor  the  12  Sept.  1806  was  succeeded 
by  his  nephew  Edward  Hovell  Thurlow,  eldest  son  of  his  next  brother 
Thomas,  Bishop  of  Durham.  The  2nd  Baron  Thurlow,  married  Katherine 
Bolton  and  assumed  the  surname  of  Hovell  in  1814  in  consequence  of  his 
descent  maternally  from  Richard  Hovell  esquire  of  the  body  to  King  Hen.  V. 
He  died  3  June  1829,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Edward  Thomas  3rd 
Baron  who  married  Sarah  only  dau.  of  Peter  Hodgson,  and  dying  2  March 
1857  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  Edward  Thomas  Hovell-Thurlow, 
4th  Baron,  on  whose  death  without  issue  in  1874  the  manor  went  with  the 
title  to  his  brother  Thomas  John  Hovell-Thurlow  Cumming  Bruce  5th 
Baron  who  was  a  Lord  in  Waiting  to  the  Queen  1880-5  and  1886,  Pay- 
master-General in  1886  and  Lord  High  Commissioner  of  the  Gen.  Assembly 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  1886.  He  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  1896, 
but  the  lordship  now  seems  to  be  held  by  George  Payne.  There  is  a  rental 
of  Robert  Aisshefelde  in  the  I4th  cent.,  and  an  imperfect  terrier  or  rental 
of  the  Manor  of  Ashfield  of  the  I5th  cent,  amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls  in 
the  British  Museum.1 

ABRI WICKS  al.  ALLRED  WYKES. 

There  was  a  small  manor  here  known  as  Alriwicks  al.  Allred  Wykes  or 
Aubry  Wikes  or  Albergh  Wykes,  which  must  not  be  confounded  with  the 
manor  of  Wykes  or  Wicken  which  are  two  manors  in  Bardwell.  Abriwicks 
belonged  to  Sir  William  Criketot  and  passed  from  him  to  John  Cokerell 
of  Ashfield,  and  his  wife  Katherine  died  seised  of  it  in  1428,'  when  it 
devolved  on  their  granddaughter  and  heir  Katherine,  daughter  of  John 
Cokerell,  and  she  died  in  1432  under  age.  The  manor  appears  later  to  have 
vested  in  Edward  Tenrue,  and  in  1554  to  have  passed  from  him  to  William 
Smyth.3  Subsequently  it  became  vested  in  William  Masham  and  devolved 
as  the  Manor  of  Strikelandhall  in  Little  Ashfield,  the  descent  of  which  is 
given  later. 


Harl.  Rolls,  A.  8,  10, 13.  3  Fine,  Mich.  2  Mary. 

Extent.    I.P.M.,  6  Hen.  VI.  23 ;  6  Hen. 
VI.  63 ;    7  Hen.  VI.  63. 


2f5o  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


BADWELL  ASH  OR  LITTLE  ASHFIELD  MANOR. 

seems  very  probable  that  this  had  the  same  lords  with 
Ashfield  Magna  till  it  was  given  to  Ixworth  Priory.  Davy 
says  that  William  de  Crikrtot  was  lord  in  the  time  of  Edw. 
II.  He  died  about  1310,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  William  de  Criketot  who  died  about  1343,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William,  who  died  about 
I354?1 3  The  manor  then  passed  to  the  Priory  of  Ixworth, 
and  on  the  dissolution  of  that  house  was  vested  in  the  Crown.  In  1538  it  was 
granted  by  Hen.  VIII.  to  Richard  Codington  who  died  without  i^sue  in 
1567  and  was  succeeded  by  his  widow  Elizabeth.4  The  manor  was 
left  in  fee  by  her  husband  to  Elizabeth,  and  her  daughter  Dorothy 
Caryll  had  a  son  John  Caryll  who  became  lord  on  the  death  of  his  grand- 
mother under  her  will.  In  1609  Sir  John  Caryll  was  lord,  after  which  the 
manor  passed  to  R.  Clough  of  Feltwell  co.  Norfolk,  who  died  in  1733,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Robert  Clough,  when  it  descended  in  the  same  course 
as  Strikeland  Hall  Manor,  the  devolution  of  which  is  next  given. 

STRIKELAND  HALL  MANOR. 

Another  manor  of  Badwell  Ash  known  as  Strikeland  or  Shakerland  Hall 
was  from  early  times  vested  in  Ixworth  Priory,  and  continued  so  vested 
until  the  time  of  the  Dissolution,  for  there  is  as  late  as  1533  an  award  con- 
cerning a  lease  of  this  manor  granted  by  the  Priory.5  In  1538  the  manor 
was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Richard  Codington,  on  whose  death  it  passed  to 
his  widow  Elizabeth,  and  she  took  proceedings  in  Chancery  in  the  early  part 
of  Elizabeth's  reign  against  Robert  Clarke  concerning  the  manor.6  In  1570 
Elizabeth  Codington  obtained  licence  to  alienate  it  to  Philip  Barrow  M.D., 
who  three  years  later  sold  to  William  Masham  citizen  and  grocer  of 
London,7  who  died  in  1606,  and  was  succeeded  by  William  Masham,  his 
son  and  heir,  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Masham  of  High 
Laver  in  the  County  of  Essex,  created  a  Baronet  in  1621. 

The  manor  was  subsequently  purchased  by  Samuel  Clough,  who  dying 
in  1712  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Robert  who  died  in  1733,  and 
was  followed  by  another  Robert  whose  2nd  son,  but  heir,  R.  Cyrill  Clough, 
of  Feltwell  co.  Norfolk,  was  lord  in  1764.  In  1827  Pleasance  Rebecca  and 
Catherine  Clough  coheirs  were  ladies  of  the  manor,  and  it  eventually 
passed  to  Catherine  who  married  W.  Newcome.  The  Rev.  William  Cyril 
Newcome  of  Boothby  Pagnell  Rectory,  Lincolnshire,  was  lord  in  1855  and 
in  1885.  The  manor  is  now  vested  in  Francis  d'Arcy  William  Clough 
Newcome  of  Thurston,  eldest  son  of  Edward  Clough  Newcome,  J  .P.  and  D.L. 
of  Feltwell  Hall,  Norf.,  by  Amelia  dau.  of  the  Very  Rev.  Peter  S.  Wood, 
Dean  of  Middleham  co.  York. 

BRUSHES  al.  BROOKESHULL  MANOR. 

This  manor  also  belonged  to  the  Priory  of  Ixworth,  and  on  the  Disso- 
lution was  granted  in  1538  by  Hen.  VIII.  in  exchange  to  Richard  Codington8 

1  xooa.   of  land  and  6  meadow  in  Little  *  As    to    the    Codingtons,    see    Ixworth 
Ashfield.  William  de  Criketot  and  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

Joan  his  wife.  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  II.  52.  «  Add.  Ch.  18816. 

'  I.P.M.,  28  Edw.  III.  48.  •  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  xlv.  7. 

1  As  to  the  Criketots,  see  Langham  Manor  '  Fine,  Mich.  15  Eliz. 

in  this  Hundred.  •  See  Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


BAD  WELL  ASH    OR  LITTLE  ASHFIELD   MANOR.         261 

who  died  the  27  May  1567  having  devised  it  to  his  widow.  Elizabeth 
died  in  1571,  and  by  her  will  devised  the  manor  to  her  grandson  John 
Caryll.  It  subsequently  passed  to  John  Moseley  who  sold  it  the  26th 
October,  1841,  to  George  Mayhew  his  then  tenant  for  £8,870.  At  that  time 
it  was  only  a  reputed  manor,  and  the  sale  included  not  only  Brook  Hall 
Farm,  but  also  Tiptoft's  Farm,  in  the  whole  306  acres. 


262  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


BARDWELL. 

HIS  was  the  lordship  of  the  Abbots  of  Bury.  The  Abbot 
held  in  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  8  freemen  with 
2  carucates  and  30  acres  of  land,  which  men  Bucard  held. 
There  were  4  bordars,  2  serfs,  4  ploughteams,  2  parts  of  a 
mill,  n  acres  of  meadow,  and  wood  for  8  hogs.  Also  a 
^church  with  8  acres  of  free  land.  The  men  could  give  or 
sell  the  land,  but  the  sac,  soc,  and  commendation  remained 
in  the  Abbot's  hands.  The  land  had  formerly  been  valued  at  20  shillings 
but  had  then  risen  to  60.  Under  the  freemen  were  20  socmen  of  whom  the 
Abbot  had  10  with  30  acres,  and  one  ploughteam  (valued  at  5  shillings), 
and  Peter  de  Valoines'  held  the  other  10  with  half  a  carucate  of  land  and 
one  ploughteam  (valued  at  10  shillings).  The  whole  land  was  a  league 
long  and  6  quarentenes  broad  and  in  a  gelt  paid  33^."  Another  small 
holding  was  that  of  Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert  which  consisted  of  a  free- 
man under  commendation  with  30  acres,  i  bordar,  and  half  a  ploughteam 
valued  at  5  shillings.3  The  invasions  on  the  King  here  were — the  mansions 
of  a  certain  freeman  under  the  Abbot  of  Bury,  half  a  freeman  under  the 
Abbot  holding  8  acres  valued  at  i6d.,  and  10  acres  in  the  holding  of  a  certain 
freewoman  under  the  Abbot  valued  at  zod.  To  all  this  W.  de  Partenai 
invaded  upon  the  Abbot's  right,  and  he  held  the  commendation  of  one 
freeman.4 

BARDWELL  MANOR. 

Nothing  here  apparently  from  the  time  of  the  Conquest  to  the  Great 
Survey  was  held  as  a  manor,  but  was  so  shortly  after,  probably  when 
Baldwin  who  was  Abbot  of  the  Monastery  from  1065  to  1097  granted  to 
Ralph  de  Berdewelle  in  fee. 

The  Berdwells  always  bore  for  their  arms  Arg.  a  goat  saliant,  gul. 
armed  or,  and  for  their  rebus  or  device  a  bear  with  a  well  on  his  back,  and 
the  two  letters  "  de  "  which  made  up  the  word  "  Bear-de-welle  "  or  Bard- 
well  ;  and  for  a  crest  on  a  wreath  or  and  sable  a  goat's  head  erased  gul. 
attired  or,  mantled  sal.  doubled  arg. 

In  1196  William  son  of  a  Ralph  de  Berdewelle  held  the  manor  at  2 
knights'  fees,  as  he  acknowledged  in  a  fine  then  levied  between  him  and 
Abbot  Sampson. 

In  1315  Davy  says  John  de  Pakenham  was  lord,  but  gives  no  hint  in 
what  capacity,  and  he  makes  the  next  lord  John  de  Berdewell,  son  of  the 
above  William,  which  is  not  at  all  likely,  having  regard  to  the  dates  he  gives 
and  the  allotted  period  of  man's  life.  Davy  follows  this  last  John  by 
another  John  who  died  in  1298  and  was  succeeded  by  a  Thomas,  his  son  and 
heir,  who  died  in  1338,  who  was  followed  by  his  son  Thomas  the  father 
of  Sir  William  Berdwell,  who  died  in  1400.'  But  Davy  here  is  somewhat 
confused.  Page,  who  simply  copies  from  Blomefield,  gives  the  descent 
more  accurately,  but  unfortunately  omits  a  portion  of  Blomefield  which 
justifies  the  subsequent  descent  of  the  manor.  It  seems  (for  the  descent 
is  not  very  clear  and  Blomefield's  account  is  obviously  inaccurate)  that 

1  See   Great    Fakenham  Manor    in    this         4  Dom.  ii.  4486. 

Hundred.  *  Davy  says  one  son  Thomas  who  had  3 

•  Dom.  ii.  366.  sons  and  one  daughter. 

'  Dom.  ii.  391. 


BARDWELL.  263 

John  the  son  of  William  the  son  of  Ralf  had  a  son  John  who  was  lord  of 
Gasthorp  in  Norf.  in  1274.  He  had  two  wives  both  named,  according  to 
some,  Sarah,  but  the  second  wife's  name  was  probably  Elizabeth.  She  was 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Furneaux  of  Herlingco.  Norf.  John  the  son  of  Ralf 
by  the  first  of  these  wives  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter  Alice  who 
married  John  Rivet  of  Freton.  The  eldest  son  was  Thomas  who  had  the 
whole  manor  by  release  from  his  brothers,  and  he  married  Amy,  daughter 
of  Sir  Nicholas  de  Beaufo,  and  died  about  1342,  leaving  a  son  John  Berd- 
well  who  in  1348  was  lord.  John  Berdwell  by  his  wife  Isabel  daughter  of 
Sir  Thomas  Barra  knt.  had  a  son  William  Berdwelle,  who  had  free  warren 
allowed  him  in  Bardwell  and  Thorpe.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Hethe,  lord  of  Hengrave,  Denham  by  Barrow,  and  Saxham 
Parva,  and  died  seised  of  this  manor  leaving  Margaret  his  only  daughter 
married  to  John  Harleston.  But  the  manor  it  is  said  for  want  of  male 
issue  reverted  to  Sir  William  Berdewell,  the  renowned  warrior  who  was 
the  male  heir,  being  son  of  William,  son  of  John  de  Berdewelle  by  his 
second  wife  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  John  Furneaux.  This  Sir  William 
was  born  in  1367  and  according  to  the  custom  of  that  period  was  retained 
by  different  lords  and  gentlemen  to  fight  either  the  battles  of  the  King  or 
their  own.  In  1407  when  he  was  not  more  than  40  he  was  one  of  the  knights 
summoned  as  a  witness  for  Sir  Edward  Hastings  of  Elsing  in  the  cause 
between  him  and  Sir  Reginald  Grey,  Lord  Ruthin,  concerning  the  Hastings 
arms,  and  the  evidence  shows  indirectly  the  service  he  had  seen.  For  he 
swore  that  he  was  a  soldier  with  Sir  Hugh  Hastings  in  a  voyage  made  by 
Sir  John  Arundel  on  the  sea  and  saw  Sir  Hugh  bear  the  arms  of  Or,  a 
maunch  gul.  with  a  label  of  three  points  Arg.  In  the  voyage  of  the  Halves 
del  He,  in  the  voyage  of  King  Richard  II.  into  Scotland,  in  Bretaigne,  and  in 
the  Duke  of  Lancaster's  voyage  into  Spain,  he  observed  the  same  device. 
In  1382  he  was  retained  by  Sir  John  Clifton  of  Bokenham  Castle  to  serve 
him  with  7  men  at  arms  and  6  archers  on  horseback  in  the  voyage  of 
Croyserge  and  by  the  King  for  one  year  for  100  marks  for  himself  with 
Bouche  de  Court,  and  for  his  7  men  at  arms  and  6  archers  392  marks,  to  be 
paid  half  down  and  the  rest  quarterly  as  the  Bp.  of  Norwich  should  pay 
Sir  John  Clifton.  In  1387  he  covenanted  with  the  Lord  Camoys  to  serve 
under  him  in  the  naval  expedition  under  the  command  of  the  Lord  Arundel 
then  Admiral  of  England  for  a  period  of  4  months  with  2  esquires  sufficiently 
armed  and  3  archers,  and  each  of  his  men  at  arms  to  have  one  servant  to 
carry  their  bayonets,  Sir  William  to  find  them  wages.  He  was  to  have 
18  marks  for  his  own  service  and  20  marks  for  his  archers,  and  Bouche  de 
Court  for  all  his  retinue,  all  of  them  to  be  ready  at  Southampton  the  4th 
May  following,  and  "  if  any  great  chieftain  was  taken  in  the  war  by  Sir 
William  or  his  retinue  the  Lord  Camoys  was  to  have  him,  giving  sufficiently 
to  him  and  his  men  that  should  have  taken  him."  He  was  not  only  a  skilful 
soldier,  but  a  pious  individual,  for  we  find  he  built  the  porch,  part  of  the 
steeple,  and  most  of  the  windows  of  Bardwell  Church  about  1421.  His 
effigy  is  depicted  in  rich  stained  glass  in  one  of  the  windows  of  the  nave, 
and  his  sword  still  hangs  on  the  north  wall.1 

He  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Theobald  (or  John)  de  Pakenham. 
Sir  William' swill  is  dated  at  Bury  on  the  ist  Oct.  1434,  and  there  he  died  soon 
after  for  it  was  proved  on  the  2gth  of  the  same  month.  He  desires  to  be 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  the  parish  church  to  the  reparation  of  which  he 
leaves  405 .  and  205.  to  repair  the  roads.  He  leaves  to  Robert  his  son  and  heir 

'  Gent.  Mag.  July,  1825,  Suff.  Inst.  ii.  47. 


264  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

his  basilard,  and  all  his  gilt  armour,  and  his  best  girdle  with  his  loose  gown 
furred  with  beaver.  John  his  eldest  son  and  his  issue  by  his  wife  Elizabeth 
dau.  and  coheir  of  Sir  John  (or  Thomas)  Clopton,  William,  and  Rose  died 
before  Sir  William.  Sir  William  died  seised  not  only  of  Bardwell  Hall 
Manor,  but  also  of  Wykes  Manor  and  Wyken  in  Bardwell.  In  his  lifetime 
he  had  settled  this  manor  on  Ralph  and  Robert  de  Bernyngham  for  their 
lives,  remainder  to  Robert  Berdewell  his  son,  remainder  to  William,  son 
of  Robert,  and  his  heirs. 

Davy  makes  out  that  this  manor  in  some  way — he  does  not  state  how- 
came  back  to  the  old  channel,  and  that  Margaret  late  wife  of  John 
Harleston,  only  daughter  of  William,  ultimately  succeeded.  There  is  a 
fine  of  the  manor  levied  in  1440  between  Robert  W.  .  .  clerk,  Hugh  Acton  cl., 
Thomas  Welbys,  Edmund  Cowper  cl.,  and  John  Goddye  of  Norwich1 
against  John  Cok  and  Margaret  his  wife,  who  was  wife  of  John,  son  of 
William  Berdewell.2 

It  is  not  possible  to  say  with  certainty  who  this  John  son  of  William 
Berdewell  was ;  but  a  strong  presumption  is  raised  that  though  John  Berde- 
well and  his  issue  predeceased  his  father  Sir  William  who  died  in  1434  John 
the  eldest  son  had  taken  as  a  2nd  wife  this  Margaret  and  that  the  manor  had 
passed  to  her.  If  so  it  is  possible  that  it  was  under  this  fine  in  1440  that 
the  manor  passed  to  Margaret  Berdewell  wife  of  John  Harleston.  Margaret 
Harleston  died  in  1459  and  was  succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir  John 
Harleston.  He  died  apparently  immediately  afterwards  without  issue, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister  and  coheir  Margaret  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Darcy  of  Danbury  son  of  Sir  Robert  Darcy  son  of  Robert  Darcy  escheator 
for  the  County  of  Essex  in  the  time  of  Hen.  V.  Thomas  Darcy  was  an 
Esquire  of  the  Body  to  Hen.  VI.  and  Edw.  IV. 

Under  a  partition  deed  dated  2oth  May  i  Rich.  III.  [1484]  the  manors 
of  Bardwell,  Wikes,  Wyken,  Norton,  and  others  were  allotted  to  Thomas 
Darcy  and  Margaret  his  wife  in  special  tail.  The  partition  was  between 
them  and  Margaret's  sister  Alice  and  her  husband  Sir  Richard  Fitz  Lewes  and 
is  more  fully  referred  to  under  Norton  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  Thomas 
Darcy  died  in  1486  and  Margaret  Darcy  in  1489,  when  the  manor  passed 
to  her  son  Roger  Darcy.  Davy  mentions  that  Emma,  wife  of  William 
Brond,  was  lady  of  this  manor  and  died  in  1495.  He  cites  no  authority, 
but  there  is  an  Inquisition  10  Hen.  VII.  which  supports  the  statement.  It 
was  found  in  1495  that  the  manor  was  worths  marks  and  held  of  the  Abbot 
of  Bury  by  knight  service,  and  that  Emma  Brond  had  died  leaving  an 
infant  heir  Wm.  Brond  then  aged  2.3  Possibly  Emma  was  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Darcy  and  had  married  one  William  Brond  (for  such  was  her 
husband's  name)  and  that  her  father  had  left  this  manor  to  her.  However 
this  may  be,  the  manor  was  in  1536  vested  in  George  Brond  who  sold  it 
in  that  year  to  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn1  of  Rushbrooke.5  Amongst  the 
State  Papers  in  1540  is  a  grant  of  lands  to  Sir  Thomas  in  this  place 
described  as  "  belonging  to  the  late  Monastery  of  Bury."6  He  died 
seised  of  the  manor  the  8th  Oct.  1552,*  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn  by  Anne  Spring  his  first  wife.  Sir  Ambrose 
Jermyn  married  ist  Anne  d.  and  coheir  of  George  Heveningham,  and  2ndly 
Dorothy  d.  of  William  Badbye  and  relict  of  Sir  George  Blage  knt.  and  died 

1  Probably  the  trustees  of  the  settlement          4  See  Manor  of  Rushbrooke  inThedwestry 

above  referred  to.  Hundred. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  18  Hen.  VI.  20.  >  Fine,  Hil.  28  Hen.  VIII. 

•  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VII.  1095.  6  State  Papers,  1540,  436  (81). 

'  I.P.M.,  7  Edw.  VI.  66. 


BARDWELL.  265 

seised  in  1577,  according  to  the  Davy  MSS.,  being  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Robert.1  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  served  under  Robert  Dudley  Earl  of 
Leicester  in  his  first  mission  to  the  Low  Countries  in  1586,  in  aid  of  the 
United  Provinces  in  their  great  contest  with  Spain.  Of  Sir  Robert  the 
Earl  writes  to  Mr.  Secretary  Walsingham  i4th  February  1585-6  trans- 
mitting the  letter  by  Sir  Robert  :  "  Mr.  Secretary,  this  gentleman  Sir 
Robert  Jarmine  hathe  in  my  knowledge  causes  of  great  weight  which  force 
him  at  this  tyme  to  come  over.  He  myndeth  to  retourne  hither  within  a 
moneth  or  therabowtes,  and  for  that  tyme  he  may  be  best  spared  hence. 
I  have  founde  him  to  be  very  wise  and  stowt,  and  most  willing  and  ready 
to  this  service,  and  he  hathe  come  hither  as  well  appointed  as  any  that 
hathe  commen  over.  I  very  hartely  pray  you  to  accounpt  of  him  as  of  one 
specially  recommended  to  you  from  me,  and  yf  he  shall  neade  your  favour 
in  his  causes,  that  you  will  the  rather  affourd  it  him  for  my  sake.  I  wilbe 
behoulden  to  you  for  it  and  so  with  my  right  harty  commendacions  I  commit 
you  to  the  Allmightye.  From  the  Haghe  in  Hollande,  the  xiiijth  of  Feb. 

1585- 

Your  very  loving  frende, 

R.  LEYCESTER. 

I  nede  not  commend  this  gentleman  to  ye,  but  assuredly  he  ys  gretly  to 
be  estemed.  I  besech  further  him  yf  he  shall  nede  your  favour."2 

In  September  1586  on  sending  him  home  again  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
writes  to  Mr.  Secretary  Walsingham  of  Sir  Robert  Jermin  as  follows  : — 

"  Good  Mr.  Secretary,  this  good  gentleman  Sir  Robert  Jermin  one  that 
hath  declared  every  way  his  hearty  zeale  and  love  both  to  religion  and  to  her 
majestic,  I  have  thought  good  euen  in  manner  against  his  will,  to  send  home, 
for  winter  is  come  to  vs  here  alreadye,  and  he  hath  a  sickly  bodie,  yet  would 
no,.  corsake  the  feild.  I  have  prayed  him  to  deliver  some  matter  to  her 
majestic,  which  he  shall  imparte  also  to  you.  I2th  September." 

Sir  Robert  Jermyn  married  Judith  daughter  of  Sir  George  Blage  knt. 
sister  of  Sir  Henry  and  died  in  1614,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  knt.1  who  married  Catherine  daughter  of  William 
Kellegrave  of  Hanworth  co.  Midd.  and  sold  the  manor  to  Wm.  Rushbrooke 
in  1626.  In  the  Rawlinson  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  however  there  is  an 
entry  that  John  Nunne  was  the  holder  of  this  manor  in  1597.* 

The  next  lord  according  to  some  was  Sir  Henry  Croftes  of  Little  Saxham, 
but  this  is  a  mistake.  What  passed  under  the  will  of  John  Croftes  in  1557 
was  the  Manor  of  Wykes  in  Bardwell  of  which  we  shall  treat  presently.  The 
next  lord  there  is  any  account  of  is  Sir  Patrick  Blake  of  Langham  (son  of 
Andrew  Blake)  who  was  created  a  Baronet  8th  Oct.  1772  and  married 
Annabella  dau.  of  the  Rev.  Sir  William  Bunbury,  and  had  two  sons  Patrick 
and  James  Henry  successive  baronets.  Sir  Patrick  was  divorced  from  his 
wife  by  Act  of  Parliament  in  1778,  and  dying  in  July  1784  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son  Sir  Patrick  Blake.  He  married  Maria  Charlotte  only 
daur.  of  James  Phipps  of  the  Island  of  St.  Christopher's,  but  died  without 
issue  i  August  1818,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  Sir  James 

1  This  assumes  that  John  the  eldest  son  '  Harl.  285  pi.  207. 

of  Sir  Ambrose  was  then  dead.    He  3  See    Rivershall    Manor,    Hepworth,    in 

had    married    Margaret    daughter  this  Hundred. 

of  Edward  Earl  of  Derby,  and  did  *  Rawl.  B.  319. 

no  doubt  die  without  leaving  any 

issue. 

HI 


266  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Henry  Blake.  He  married  Louisa  Elizabeth  daur.  of  General  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Gage  and  granddaughter  of  Thomas  ist  Viscount  Gage,  and  dying 
the  21  April  1832,  his  eldest  son  Sir  Henry  Charles  Blake  inherited  the 
manor.  He  married  ist  Mary  Anne  only  daur.  of  William  Whitter  of 
Midhurst  Sussex,  and  2ndly  Louisa  3rd  daur.  and  coheir  of  Sir  Thomas 
Pilkington  Bart,  and  widow  of  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Dawson.  Sir  Henry  Blake 
died  in  1880,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  grandson  Sir  Patrick  James 
Graham  Blake  5th  Bart,  the  only  son  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Bunbury  Blake 
rector  of  Hessett  by  Frances  Marian  only  daur.  of  Henry  James  Oakes 
of  Nowton  Court,  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  Sir  Patrick  Blake  is  the  present 
lord,  and  on  the  18  Oct.  1883  married  Emma  Gertrude,  only  daughter  of  the 
late  Thomas  Pilkington  Dawson,  of  Groton  House  by  whom  he  has  issue 
a  son  Cuthbert  Patrick  b.  2  Jan.  1885  R.N.  and  a  daughter  Veronica. 
Arms  of  Blake  :  Arg.  a  fret,  gules. 

WYKES  OR  WICKEN  MANOR. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  Alan  held  here  one  carucate  as  a 
manor,  with  5  bordars,  2  serfs,  I  ploughteam  in  demesne,  3  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  for  8  hogs,  a  team  of  2  oxen  belonging  to  the  men,  3  beasts, 
7  hogs,  and  40  sheep.  And  there  were  2  socmen  with  10  acres  and  a  team 
of  2  oxen.  The  value  in  Saxon  times  was  20  shillings,  but  it  had  risen  in 
value  to  30  under  Norman  influence.  One  serf  had  disappeared,  there 
was  an  extra  ploughteam  in  demesne,  i  rouncy,  8  more  beasts,  6  more 
hogs,  and  60  more  sheep.  Peter  de  Valoines  was  the  Domesday  tenant 
in  chief  and  he  also  had  here  8  freemen  under  commendation  holding  i 
carucate  and  n  bordars,  2  ploughteams,  3  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  2 
hogs,  formerly  of  the  value  of  10  shillings,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Survey  of 
the  value  of  20  shillings.'  Another  manor  was  in  Saxon  days  held  by  Aki 
with  i  carucate  of  land.  There  were  3  bordars,  3  serfs,  2  ploughteams  in 
demesne,  3  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  10  hogs,  one  rouncy,  i  beast,  12 
hogs  and  25  sheep,  and  the  value  was  30  shillings.  Though  the  value  had 
not  been  altered  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey,  the  serfs  had  been 
reduced  by  one,  one  rouncy  had  been  added,  n  hogs,  and  13  sheep.  The 
Domesday  tenant  in  chief  of  this  manor  was  Robert  le  Blund.  He  also 
held  5  freemen  and  a  half  under  commendation,  who  had  a  carucate  of  land, 
2  bordars  and  had  under  them  2  freemen  with  4  acres,  2  ploughteams,  6 
acres  of  meadow,  and  the  fourth  part  of  a  mill,  in  Saxon  times  valued  at  20 
shillings,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Survey  at  13.  Robert  also  had  a  freeman 
under  commendation  with  60  acres  and  a  bordar  and  i  ploughteam  valued 
at  10  shillings.' 

About  1230-1240  we  meet  with  a  grant  of  the  manor  with  the  advowson, 
amongst  the  Charters  of  the  British  Museum.3  The  grant  was  by  Hugo  de 
Schardelolke  to  Nicholoo  daughter  of  Master  Stephan  de  St.  Edmunds 
"  pro  cc  libris  argenti  datis  in  gersuman,"  and  it  included  the  advowson 
of  the  Church  of  Bardwell  and  of  Knattishall  rendering  6  marks  for  a  rent 
to  Walter  son  of  Sibila  de  Calna,  who  sold  the  said  manor  to  the  said  Hugo, 
to  hold  in  fee  of  the  said  Hugo. 

In  1264  Richard  de  Wykes  had  free  warren  here,4  and  in  the  9  Edw.  I. 
Isabel  de  Wykes  held  the  manor.  It  appears  from  the  Patent  Rolls  that 
in  1277  a  commission  was  issued  to  inquire  as  to  the  ejection  of  Robert  de 

1  Dom.  ii.  421.  i  Add.  Ch.  15520. 

'  Dom.  ii.  4396.  «  Chart.  Rolls,  48  Hen.  III.  4. 


BARD  WELL. 


267 


Valoynges  from  Wikes  Manor,  he  having  custody  of  same,  and  abducing 
Edmund  a  minor  the  heir.1  By  the  time  of  Edw.  III.  the  manor  had 
passed  to  the  Pakenham  family,  though  they  seem  to  have  held  land  here 
even  earlier,  and  coeval  with  the  de  Wykes,  for  William  de  Pageham  had  a 
grant  of  free  warren  in  Bardwell  in  1259,'  an<^  m  J349  Mary  the  widow  of 
Edmund  de  Pakenham  held.  In  1404  we  find  the  manor  vested  in  Sir 
William  Berdewelle,  for  by  a  conveyance  dated  "  die  jov.  p.  a.f.  S.  Mary 
Virg.  5  Hen.  IV."  he  and  Margaret  his  wife  assured  the  same  to  Sir  Roger 
Drury,  Nicholas  Rys  clerk,  Nicholas  Drury,  John  Lodewyk  and  others,  no 
doubt  by  way  of  settlement.  The  assurance  included  the  Manor  of  Ampton 
and  advowson,  the  Manor  of  Thorpe  juxta  Ixworth,  Wykene  in  Norton, 
the  Manor  of  Wyken  and  Belhawe  in  Bardwell.3  In  1422  amongst  the 
Harleian  Charters  we  meet  with  a  letter  of  attorney  from  Sir  John  Hevenyng- 
ham,  William  Hanyngfelde  and  Radulph  Greagres  of  Great  Fakenham  to 
Roger  son  of  John  Drury  to  deliver  seisin  of  the  manor  to  Sir  William 
Berdewelle,  William  Copenger  clerk,  William  Rowe  clerk,  Roger  Irby  clerk, 
and  Edmund  Heyford,  and  lands  were  also  included  in  Bardwell,  Stanton, 
Langham,  Walsham  le  Willows,  Ixworth,  and  Sapiston,  15  April  10  Hen. 
V.4  Sir  William  Berdewell  died  seised  of  the  manor  in  1434.  The  Berdewell 
family  had  long  previously  held  land  in  Bardwell  and  as  early  as  1288  we 
find  amongst  the  Abbreviations  of  Pleas  the  finding  of  a  jury  that  William 
de  Berdewell  ought  not  to  have  any  common  in  Coningston  appurtenant 
to  any  tenement  of  his  in  Bardwell.5  The  manor  not  unlikely  came  to  the 
Berdewells  by  the  marriage  of  this  Sir  William  Berdewell  with  Margaret 
the  only  daughter  and  heir  of  John  de  Pakenham.  It  seems  from  the 
death  of  Sir  William  Berdewell6  to  have  passed  as  the  main  manor  to 
Margaret  Harleston  wife  of  John  Harleston  and  then  to  the  Darcy  family, 
and  Thomas  Darcy  Lord  Darcy  of  Chiche  was  lord  in  1553,  when  a  fine 
was  levied  against  him  in  respect  of  this  manor  by  Sir  John  Crofts  ;7  but  we 
do  not  find  any  mention  of  the  Brond  family  in  connection  with  its  trans- 
mission. Sir  John  Crofts  who  thus  acquired  in  1553  made  his  will  dated 
the  2ist  Jan.  1557."  Gage  informs  us  in  his  account  of  Little  Saxham 
that  Sir  John  by  his  will  entails  his  manor  and  park  of  Bardwell  and  other 
lands  upon  his  second  son  Thomas  Croftes  with  remainder  over  to  Thomas 
and  Henry  sons  of  the  testator's  eldest  son  Edmund  Croftes.  This  however 
seems  to  be  a  mistake,  at  least  if  the  will  as  printed  in  the  Little  Saxham 
Parish  Register  by  the  Rev.  S.  H.  A.Hervey  is  correct,  for  the  manor  is  not 
mentioned  and  the  devise  of  Bardwell  park  is  in  fee  simple.  "  Item,  I  will, 
give,  and  bequeath  unto  my  sonne  Thomas  Crofte  his  heirs  and  assignes  for 
ever  my  parke  and  grounds  called  Bardwell  Parke  with  all  lyberties,  profitts, 
and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging.  Also  I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  said 
Thomas  Croftes  all  my  shepe  which  at  the  tyme  of  my  decease  shal  be  goyng 
uppon  the  shepes  pasture  called  Lowbekk.  Also  I  gyve  to  the  same  Thomas 
all  my  shepe  which  at  the  tyme  of  my  deceasse  shal  be  goyng  uppon  the 
shepes  course  late  Coketts  in  Barnham,  the  said  Thomas  paying  to  myn 
executors  one  hunderth  pounds  or  ells  to  leave  the  shepe  to  pay  my  debtes." 
Testator  goes  on  to  provide  "andwhereasl  have  before  gyven  and  bequeathed 
to  my  son  Thomas  Crofte  and  his  heirs  the  Parke  and  ground  called  Bardwell 


'  Pat.  Rolls,  5  Edw.  I.  tf. 

"  Chart.  Rolls,  43  Hen.  III.  3,  4. 

3  Add.  Ch.  Brit.  Mus.  15537. 

«  Harl.  51  F.  i. 

5  Abbr.  of  PI.  16  Edw.  I.  Trin.  9. 


6  Extent.     Wykes     Manor.      I. P.M.,    13 

Hen.  VI.  31. 
'  Fine,  Easter  i  Mary,  Robert  Asshefeld, 

Mich.  I  Mary. 
8  See  West  Stow  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


268  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Parke  which  lieth  in  mortgage  to  George  Sayes  so  as  therby  my  will  can  not 
take  effecte  as  my  very  meanyng  and  intente  is,  I  will  therefore  gyve  and 
assigne  to  the  said  Thomas  Croft  my  sonne  and  to  his  heeres  my  manor  of 
Calthorp  Hall  and  Muriells  with  their  members  and  appurtenances  and  with 
the  stocke  and  store  of  shepe  uppon  the  same  manor  uppon  this  condicion 
following,  that  is  to  say  that  yf  the  same  Thomas  and  his  heeres  shall  in 
eny  manner  of  wyse  be  disturbed,  letted,  hyndered,  or  expulsed  from  the 
possession  and  occupying  of  the  same  ground  called  Bardwell  Parke  or  any 
parcell  thereof  by  my  said  sonne  Edmond  his  heires  and  assignes  or  by  any 
other  for  hym  his  heeres  or  in  the  name  of  theym  or  eny  of  them,  this 
my  gift  of  the  same  manor  called  Calthorp  Hall  and  Muriells  to  stand  good 
and  effectuall  anything  before  remembered  or  any  other  matters  or  causes 
to  the  contrary  not  with  standing,  I  will  nevertheless  and  gyve  to  my  said 
sonne  Edmond  and  his  heeres  the  young  pasturing  and  feding  of  vi. 
geldings  within  the  said  Parke  and  30  dere  out  of  the  same  Park."' 

Thomas  Croftes  the  2nd  son  of  Sir  John  accordingly  succeeded  and  died 
seised  the  17  November,  1595.  There  is  a  mural  monument  on  the  north 
side  of  the  chancel  of  Bardwell  Church  thus  inscribed  :— 

Here  lieth  buried  Thomas  Crofts  Esquire 
the  second  sonne  of  Sir  John  Croftes  Knight 

deceased  and  Margret  his  wife  ye 
eldest  Daughter  of  Sir  John  Copuldicke  Knight  of  Lin 

co'shire  :  She  departed  the  first  day  of  June 
1560  :   and  the  said  Thomas  Crofts  departed  ye 
xviith  Day  of  November  1595  being  about  the 

age  of  fourscore  yeres ;    leaving  behind 

him  two  sonnes  vidilicet  Charles  and  Thomas 

and  two  daughters,  Susan  and  Elizabeth. 

On  Thomas  Croftes's  death  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Charles 
Croftes2  who  died  nth  February  1616,  and  his  monument  in  the  chancel 
of  Ixworth  Thorpe  Church  gives  full  details  as  to  his  marriages  and  family. 
It  is  as  follows  :  "  Here  lyeth  the  body  of  Charles  Croftes  Esq.  sonne  and  heir 
of  Thomas  Croftes  of  Bardwell  Esq.  He  had  two  wives  :  his  first  wife  was 
Elizabeth,  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Peirs  of  Norwold  in  the  co.  of 
Norfolk  gent,  by  whom  he  had  issue  3  sons  and  3  daughters,  viz.,  Charles 
Croftes  his  son  and  heir,  John  2nd  sonne,  Robert  3rd  sonne,  Elizabeth 
eldest  daughter  married  to  Robert  Drury  Esq.  sonne  and  heir  of  Sir  Robert 
Drury  of  Rougham,  knight,  Susan  2nd  daughter,  Margaret  3rd  daughter. 
His  second  wife  was  Thomasine  daughter  of  Ralph  Shelton  of  Broom  co. 
Norfolk  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  She  lyes  buried  here  by  him.  He 
departed  this  life  Feb.  xi.  A.D.  1616  in  the  7Oth  year  of  his  age.  The  said 
Thomasine  dyed  March  8,  1617.  The  second  Charles  Croftes  (jun.)  in  a 
religious  memory  of  his  deceased  father  caused  this  monument  to  be  erected." 

The  manor  passed  to  the  son  and  heir  Charles  Croftes.  He  was 
knighted  at  Whitehall  the  i2th  May  1628.  In  July  1644  he  is  described  as 
of  Lincoln's  Inn  and  Suffolk,  and  was  assessed  at  £400.  He  paid  his  ^ 
and  I  in  Suffolk,  and  got  his  discharge.  He  married  1st  Cecilia  Poley  of 
Badley  to  whom  there  is  a  monument  in  Bardwell  Church.  His  second 
wife  was  Jane  daughter  of  Sir  Rowland  Litton  of  Knebworth  in  Herts. 
Sir  Charles  Croftes  died  the  i2th  December  1660  and  was  buried  in  Bardwell 

1  The  will  was  proved  in  the  P.C.C.  10          •  See  Thorpe  by  Ixworth  Manor  in  this 
May,  1559,   by  Osberd  Mundford,  Hundred, 

an   executor. 


BARDWELL.  269 

Church  beneath  a  handsome  altar  monument  of  marble  and  stone  thus 
inscribed  : — 

Here  resteth  ye  body  of  Sr.  Charles  Crofts 
Kt.  expecting  a  glorious  Resurrection 

he  had  two  Wives. 

who  his  first  was,  her  monument  in  this  Church 
speaks.     His  second  was  Dame  Jane  the  Dau 
ghter  of  Sr.  Rowland  Litton  of  Knebworth 

in  Hartfordshire  Kt. 

he  left  two  Daughters  by  his  first  wife  : 

the  elder  Bridget,  Relict  of  Thomas  Read 

Esqr.  of  Wrangle  in  Lincolnsshire  one 

of  his  Executors 

the  younger  Cecilie  wife  of  Francis  Brewster 
of  Wrentham  in  Suff.  Esquire 

the  other  Executor 

he  deceased  Dec.  12,  1660 

aged  85  current. 

Sir  Charles's  widow  Jane  died  the  2Qth  April  1672  aged  70  and  was 
buried  at  Knebworth.  Sir  Charles  Croftes  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter 
and  coheir  Bridget  wife  of  Thomas  Read  of  Wrangle  co.  Lincoln.  She  died 
the  8th  March  1494  aged  80  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Croftes  Read  (son 
of  Sir  Charles  Croftes  Read  grandson  of  Sir  Charles  Croftes).  His  father 
Sir  Charles  Croftes  Read  had  died  in  Oct.  1690  in  the  lifetime  of  his  mother. 
There  is  a  handsome  altar  monument  of  marble  and  stone  to  his  memory 
in  Bardwell  Church  with  this  inscription  :— 

Christ  is  risen 

and  in  hope  also  that  it  shall  rise  again 

lieth  here  the  body  of 

Sir  Charles  Crofts  Read 

Grandson  of  Sr.  Charles  Crofts 

he  had  to  wife  Mary 
one  of  the  daughters  of  Sr.  Thos.  Hewet 

of  Pishobury  in  Hartfordshire 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children 

whereof  four  are  yet  living 

Jane,  Charles,  Bridget  and  Thomas 

he  died  the  gth  of  October  1690 

in  the  38th  year  of  his  age. 

Charles  Croftes  Read  who  succeeded  his  grandmother  Bridget,  the 
daughter  of  Sr  Charles  Crofts,  died  the  8th  August  1769  aged  71,  and  was 
the  last  of  his  family  who  had  the  manor.  In  the  Church  of  Bardwell  is  a 
small  mural  marble  thus  inscribed  to  his  memory  : — 

Due  to  the  memory 

of 
Thomas  Croftes  Reade  Esqre. 

In  whom  that  name  ceases 
Happily  preserved  for  many  generations, 

This  stone  is  here  placed 
Plain  and  undesembling  as  his  Conduct : 

A  small  but  grateful  tribute 
Sacred  to  a  valuable  Friend  and  generous  Benefactor 

The  sense  of  whose  Liberality 

Shall  long  survive  in  the  Hearts  of  many 

Particularly  experienc'd 

By  Christ :    Loft  Esqre. 

who  long  esteem'd  him  and  revers  his  Remains 

Ob.  8th  Aug.  1769 

aetat.  71. 


270  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

He  seems  to  have  sold  the  manor  in  his  lifetime,  for  we  find  Clement  Cor- 
rance  lord  in  1723,  and  he  on  his  death  in  1734  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  John  Corrance  who  died  in  1742  (?  1760)  and  was  followed  by  his  nephew 
William.  William  left  a  daughter  and  heir  Catherine  married  to  Edward 
Bouverie,  and  she  was  lady  of  the  manor  in  1788.  Gage  in  his  History  of 
Thingoe  Hundred1  mentions  the  marriage  of  Bridget  to  Thomas  Read  and 
adds  "  whose  grandson  and  heir  Thomas  Croftes  Read  dying  without 
issue,  the  same  (Bardwell  Manor)  was  sold  under  the  trusts  of  his  will  dated 
3rd  March,  1769." 

In  1805  we  find  the  manor  in  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Albemarle  in 
whose  descendant  it  is  now  vested. 

WYKEN  HALL  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  acquired  in  1815  by  Thomas  Halifax  of  Chadacre  Hall, 
Shimpling,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  A.  M.  Wilson  of  Stowlangtoft 
Hall.1 

TIPTOFTS  al.  WYVERSTONE  TIPTOD'S  MANOR. 

This  was  a  small  manor  of  Badwell  Ash  held  by  Ixworth  Priory,  and 
on  the  Dissolution  granted  by  Hen.  VIII.  to  Richard  Codington,3  after  which 
it  devolved  apparently  in  a  like  course  with  the  main  manor. 


p.  135,  note.  >  See  Ixworth  Manor. 

See  Langham  and  Stowlangtoft  Manors 
in  this  Hundred. 


BARNHAM. 


BARN  HAM. 


271 


N  Saxon  times  there  were  three  manors  in  Barnham.  One 
of  these  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  was  held 
by  Scula  one  of  his  thanes.  The  manor  consisted  of 
2  carucates  of  land  and  with  it  I  bordar,  2  serfs,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne,  I  acre  of  meadow,  one  mill,  25  hogs,  and 
10  sheep ;  the  value  30  shillings.  The  Abbot  of  Bury 
had  the  soc.  By  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  the  hogs 
were  reduced  to  14,  but  in  lieu  there  were  3  beasts,  and  the  sheep  had 
increased  from  10  to  120.  The  tenant  in  chief  was  Earl  Hugh.1 

The  second  manor  was  held  by  Ailwin  Bishop  of  Thetford  in  King 
Edward  the  Confessor's  time,  and  consisted  of  i  carucate  of  land.  There 
were  6  bordars,  i  serf,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne,  half  a  ploughteam 
belonging  to  the  men,  2  acres  of  meadow,  i  mill,  2  rouncies,  3  beasts,  14 
hogs,  12  forest  mares,  and  160  sheep.  5  freemen  held  40  acres.  The 
Abbot  of  Bury  had  soc  and  sac.  The  condition  of  the  manor  had  not 
materially  altered  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey,  but  the  value  had  risen 
from  30  shillings  to  40 ;  the  value  of  the  freemen  was  3  shillings.  The  only 
other  alterations  specified  were  i  rouncy  instead  of  2, 6  beasts  instead  of  3, 
and  300  sheep  instead  of  160.  Over  the  freemen  the  predecessor  of  Roger 
Bigot2  who  was  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  of  this  manor  had  commenda- 
tion in  the  Confessor's  time.  All  was  held  by  Stannard  under  Roger 
Bigot.  The  manor  was  12  quarentenes  long  and  10  broad,  and  paid  n£d. 
in  a  gelt.3 

The  third  was  a  small  manor  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  day  by 
Bos,  one  of  his  thanes.  It  consisted  of  half  a  carucate  of  land  and  there 
were  3  bordars,  2  serfs,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne,  half  a  ploughteam  belonging 
to  the  men,  2  rouncies,  13  hogs,  and  85  sheep.  And  there  were  3  freemen 
with  4  acres,  and  half  a  ploughteam.  Over  them  the  predecessor  of  William 
de  Varennes,  who  was  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  of  this  manor,  had 
commendation.  The  value  by  the  time  of  the  Survey  had  slightly  increased, 
namely  from  16  shillings  to  20,  though  there  was  really  less  on  the  land. 
The  half  ploughteam  of  the  men  was  then  a  team  of  2  oxen,  the  rouncies  were 
reduced  to  i,  while  the  sheep  had  risen  in  number  from  85  to  go.4 

The  Abbot  of  Bury  also  held  3  freemen  with  i  carucate  of  land,  2 
ploughteams,  and  one  mill ;  and  these  men  could  give  or  sell  their  lands,  but 
sac,  soc  and  commendation  remained  in  the  Abbot's  possession.  There 
was  also  half  a  church  with  8  acres  of  land.  The  value  of  the  whole  was  20 
shillings.  Of  this  land  Fulcher  held  80  acres  and  i  ploughteam,  and  it 
was  valued  at  20  shillings.5 

The  only  other  holding  in  Barnham  was  that  of  Hugh  de  Montford8  in 
demesne,  who  had  9  freemen  with  16  acres,  and  half  a  ploughteam.7 

BARNHAM  al.  PLEYFORD'S  MANOR. 

Barnham  Manor,  the  principal  of  the  three  manors,  was  given  by 
Reginald  le  Brun  in  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  to  the  monks  of  Thetford,  and  in 
1195  Simond  de  Perepunt  on  behalf  of  John  L'Estrange  sued  Ralph  de 

1  Dom.  ii.  299.  <  Dom.  ii.  3986. 

*  For  account  of  Bigot    see  Framlingham  5  Dom.  ii.  3666. 

Manor  in  Loes  Hundred.  6  SeeStansteadManorinBaberghHundred. 

3  Dom.  ii.  3306.  '  Dom.  ii.  4056. 


272  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Plaiz  for  land  at  Barnham  held  by  the  said  Ralph  for  warranting  to  the 
monks  on  the  ground  that  it  descended  through  Reginald  le  Brun,  uncle  of 
John  the  alien  father  of  the  said  John,  and  as  that  which  Hugh  de  Praiz 
gave  with  Helewise  his  daughter  when  she  married  Ralph  son  of  Herluine, 
and  after  that  Reginald  le  Brun  son  of  the  said  Ralph  and  Helewise  gave  it 
in  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  to  the  monks  of  Thetford. 

Martin,  prior  of  Thetford  agreed  to  renounce  his  rights  in  one  carucate 
of  land  in  Barnham  in  favour  of  John  L' Estrange,  provided  he  gave  in 
exchange  20$.  worth  of  land  in  Tothington  in  Norfolk.1 

The  Prior  of  St.  Sepulchre  at  Thetford  later  acquired  more  land  here. 
In  1364  he  had  licence  to  receive  in  mortmain  here  and  in  Barningham  3 
messuages,  200  acres  of  land,  and  i  of  meadow  from  Edmund  Goneville 
and  others.'  In  1392  he  again  had  licence  from  the  Abbot  of  Bury  to 
purchase  the  tenement  called  Pleyford's  in  Barnham,  standing  near  the 
rectory  house  of  St.  Martin's  parish  with  the  homages,  services,  rents,  and 
fold  course  for  400  sheep  thereto  belonging,  with  7  score  acres  of  arable 
land  worth  a  halfpenny  each  acre,  all  which  formerly  belonged  to  Master 
Walter  de  Elveden,  being  held  of  the  fee  of  St.  Edmund  and  were  pur- 
chased of  the  said  Walter  for  the  use  of  the  Priory  by  Peter,  rector  of 
Fakenham  Parva,  Adam  Foxele,  rector  of  St.  Etheldred  in  Thetford,  and 
John  Dauntre,  rector  of  Broome,  for  which  licence  the  Abbot  reserved  a 
relief  of  2s.  gd.  at  the  installation  of  every  prior,  besides  the  old  services. 
Again  in  1400  it  was  found  by  a  jury  on  a  writ  of  ad  quod  Damnum  that  it 
would  be  no  prejudice  to  the  King  if  Nicholas  Wichingham  settled  on  the 
convent  one  messuage  no  acres  of  land,  2  of  meadow,  4  of  pasture,  a  free 
fold  course,  and  two  free  fisheries  in  the  waters,  and  fields  in  Barnham.3 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  is  a  covenant 
in  1354  concerning  the  possession  of  the  manor,4  and  a  surrender  in  1360.' 

At  the  Dissolution  of  the  Monasteries  the  manor  became  vested  in  the 
Crown,  and  in  1549  John  Perient  probably  had  a  grant  of  it.  In  1540 
however  we  meet  with  a  fine  of  "  Barnham  Manor  "  levied  by  Sir  William 
Drury  and  others  against  Frances  Shales  and  others  which  included  the 
advowson.6  The  manor  did  probably  under  this  fine  vest  in  the  Drury 
family,  and  was  sold  in  1589  by  Robert  Drury  to  Thomas  Croftes.7  It  was 
certainly  vested  in  this  Thomas  Croftes  at  the  time  of  his  decease  in  1612 
when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Croftes  who  died  in  1628,  when 
it  descended  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Henry  Croftes.8 

Playford  Manor  in  Barnham  is  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1562  by 
Francis  Earl  of  Bedford  and  others  against  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon.9 

CALTHORP  MANOR. 

One  of  the  other  manors  in  Barnham  was  known  as  Calthorpes  or  Calthrop 
Hall  and  was  so  named  after  William  Calethorpe,  who  held  it  of  the  Honor 
of  Georges  in  the  time  of  Hen .  I II .,  and  it  continued  in  the  same  family  for  many 
generations.  William  Calethorpe  had  free  warren  here  in  1271,'°  and  another 
William  Calthorp  in  1449."  Shortly  after  the  manor  passed  to  the  Peyton 

1  Abbr.  of  Pleas,  6  Rich.  I.  3.  '  Fine,  Hil.  31  Eliz. 

•  I.Q.D.,39Ewd.III.5;  O.,39Edw.III.29.  'See   Bardwell   Manor   and   West   Stow 

1  I.Q.D.,  2  Hen.  IV.  43.  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

4  Harl.  51  E.  5.  •  Fine,  Hil.  4  Eliz. 

»  Harl.  49  G.  42.  ••  Chart.  Rolls,  55  Hen.  III.  2. 

4  Fine,  Mich.  32  Hen.  VIII.  "  Chart.  Rolls,  27  Hen.  VI. 


BARNHAM.  273 

family,and  in  thetimeof  Hen.VII.themanorthensaidtobeworth£6.i3s.4^., 
and  the  advowson  of  the  church  belonging  to  the  manor  were  settled  on 
Thomas  Peyton  in  tail  mail.1  He  died  ist  Aug.  1490,  Robert  aged  22  his 
brother  being  his  heir.2  Sir  Robert  Peyton  married  Elizabeth  dau.  of  Sir 
Robert  Clare  of  Norfolk  knt.,  and  a  fine  was  levied  on  the  manor  in  1515, 
no  doubt  on  some  settlement  between  William  Waldegrave  and  others  and 
Sir  Robert  Peyton  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  The  fine  included  the  advowson  of 
St.  Martin,  Barnham.3  Sir  Robert  Peyton  died  the  27  March  (?  18)  1518,  and 
the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Elizabeth  as  part  of  her  jointure,  and  at  her 
death  vested  apparently  in  their  second  son  John  Peyton  who  married 
Dorothy  dau.  of  Sir  Robert  Tyndall  of  Hockwould,  co.  Norf.  knt.  From  that 
marriage  descended  the  Peytons  of  Knowlton  and  Dodington,  Barts.  John 
Peyton  in  1548  sold  the  manor  to  Sir  John  Croftes,4  who  died  seised  of  it 
20  Jan.  1557,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  Croftes  who  died 
the  i4th  Febry.  in  the  same  year.5  The  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquisi- 
tion p.m.  of  Edmund  Croftes,  taken  the  4  June  1558  at  Stowmarket,  and  as 
having  been  devised  by  his  will  to  his  executors  for  16  years  towards  the 
payment  of  his  debts  and  fulfilling  his  will.  The  jurors  found  that  the 
manor  with  the  advowson  of  St.  Andrew  in  Barnham  and  liberty  of  one 
foldage  and  free  fishery  were  held  of  the  heirs  of  Peter  de  Theltham  as  of 
his  Manor  of  Theltham,  but  by  what  services  the  jurors  knew  not,  and  that  it 
was  worth  per  annum  £10.  The  manor  passed  on  the  death  of  Edmund 
Croftes  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Croftes  who  died  13  April  1612  when  it 
vested  in  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Croftes  who  died  in  1628 ;  it  then 
devolved  on  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Henry  Croftes.6 

BAGGOTTS  MANOR. 

The  third  manor  in  Barnham  was  known  as  Baggott's,  and  was  in  the 
time  of  Hen.  III.  the  inheritance  of  Simon  de  Walton,  Bishop  of  Norwich. 
His  daughter  Agnes  married  Sir  Jas.  de  Shyrle,  and  through  her  the  manor 
was  carried  into  the  Shirley  family  where  it  remained  for  many  generations. 
It  does  not  seem,  however,  to  have  actually  passed  on  the  marriage,  for  it  con- 
tinued in  the  Bishop  until  by  grant  he  vested  it  in  Sir  Ralph  Shirley,  son  of  his 
daughter  Agnes  and  Sir  James  de  Shyrle.  In  the  Close  Rolls  for  1277 
we  find  the  enrolment  of  a  grant  from  Ralph  son  of  James  de  Shyrleye  to 
John  de  Ubbeston  of  all  his  tenement  in  Barnham,  and  the  advowson  of 
St.  Gregory  of  the  same  place  rendering  id.  yearly  for  all  customs,  &c., 
except  foreign  service  pertaining  to  the  lords  of  the  fee.7  There  is  also  an 
agreement  between  Ralph  described  as  son  of  James  Shirle,  and  John  de 
Ubbeston,  by  which  Ralph  grants  that  if  he  does  not  pay  120  marks  lent 
him,  John  de  Ubbeston  shall  hold  the  manor  with  the  advowson  of  the 
Church  of  St.  Gregory  in  fee.8  On  the  same  Rolls  is  the  enrolment  of  a 
deed  of  the  said  Ralph  de  "  Shirele  "  by  which  he  is  bound  to  John  de 
Ubbeston  in  120  marks  for  which  sum  Ralph  mortgaged  to  the  said  John 
de  Ubbeston  this  manor,  and  in  default  of  payment  of  the  money  Ralph 
binds  himself  to  levy  a  fine  of  the  manor  to  John  and  his  heirs  for  ever 
and  in  default  to  pay  to  the  King  40  marks.9  Sir  Ralph  died  in  1327  and 

1  See    Peyton    Hall    Manor,  Boxford,  in         6  See  Bardwell  Manor   and   West    Stow 

Babergh  Hundred.  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

'  Inqois.  6  Hen.  VII.  740.  '  Close  Rolls,  5  Edw.  I.  gd. 

*  Fine,  Easter,  7  Hen.  VIII.  •  Ib. 

4  Fine,  Hil.  2  Edw.  VI.  '  Close  Rolls,  5  Edw.  I.  lod. 

*  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  Ph.  and  M.  21. 

ji 


274  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thomas  Shirley.  In  1342  on  the 
Patent  Rolls  is  a  licence  for  alienation  in  mortmain  by  John  de  Shirle  and 
William  de  Hoo  to  Henry  deSirle  parson  of  the  Church  of  St.  George  Barn- 
ham  of  i*  acres  of  meadow  in  Barnham  not  held  in  chief  for  the  enlargement 
of  the  manse  of  the  rectory.'  Sir  Thomas  Shirley  the  holder  of  the  manor 
died  in  1363  and  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Hugh  Shirly  ;  and  he 
died  in  1405,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Ralph  Shirly  who 
died  in  1443,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Ralph,  and  on  his  death  in 
1467  it  went  to  John,  who  died  in  1485,  when  the  manor  passed  to  Sir 
Ralph  Shirley  who  died  6  Jan.  1517,  when  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir 
Francis  Shirley,*  who  sold  it  to  Thomas  Croftes.  Amongst  the  Chancery 
Proceedings  of  /.  Elizabeth  is  the  record  of  an  action  brought  by  Thomas  Os- 
borne  to  protect  his  title  to  freeholds  in  Barnham  and  copyholds  in  Barnham 
held  of  Thomas  Croftes  as  of  his  Manor  of  Baggotts  by  Agnes  the  wife  of 
Robert  Barry  tt  al.  Burrard,  and  which  plaintiff  purchased  of  devisees  of  the 
said  Agnes.3  Thomas  Croftes  died  in  1612,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Sir  John  who  died  in  1628,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Henry 
Croftes.  The  next  lord  met  with  is  Charles  2nd  Duke  of  Graf  ton,  who 
died  in  1757,  from  whom  the  manor  descended  to  and  is  now  vested  in 
Augustus  Charles  Lennox  Fitz  Roy,  7th  Duke  of  Graf  ton,  K.G.  and  C.B. 

Amongst  the  Additional  Charters  of  the  British  Museum  is  a  precipe 
on  a  covenant  concerning  this  manor  and  the  advowson  of  St.  Gregory's 
in  1589,*  and  amongst  the  Rawlinson  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  an  account  of 
the  descent  of  the  lands  called  "  Bagotts  "  in  1597.' 

All  these  manors  of  Barnham  now  belong  to  the  Duke  of  Graf  ton. 
A  "  Barnham  Manor  "  is  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1576  by  William  Cooke 
and  others  against  W.  Andrewes.6 


1  Pat.  Rolls,  16  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  3.  Origina-         •  Add.  Ch.  25417. 

lia,  16  Edw.  III.  95.  >  Rawl.  B.  319. 

'  I.P.M.,  9  Hen.  VIII.  29.  •  Fine,  Mich.  18  and  19  Eliz. 

'  C.P.  ii.  289. 


BARNINGHAM.  275 


BARNINGHAM. 

HIS  was  held  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  by 
Alestan  with  one  carucate  of  land.  There  were  5  villeins 
and  i  serf,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne,  half  a  ploughteam 
belonging  to  the  men,  2  acres  of  meadow,  i  rouncy,  30  sheep, 
all  valued  at  20  shillings. 

By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the  villeins  were 
reduced  to  2,  and  the  half  ploughteam  of  the  men  had  come 
down  to  a  team  of  2  oxen.  The  manor  was  then  held  by  Peter  de  Valoines  r 
as  tenant  in  chief.2  The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  here  a  much  larger 
holding.  He  had  19  freemen  holding  2  carucates,  2  villeins,  2  bordars,  9 
ploughteams  in  Saxon  times  and  in  Norman  6,  4  acres  of  meadow,  and  a 
church  with  15  acres  of  free  land  in  frankalmoin.  These  freemen  could 
give  or  sell  their  lands,  but  sac,  soc  and  commendation  remained  in  the 
Abbot's  possession  and  service  at  Coney  Weston.  In  the  time  of  the 
Confessor  the  value  was  fixed  at  20  shillings,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Great 
Survey  the  value  had  doubled.  Of  the  freemen,  Bucard  held  under  him 
3  with  i  carucate  of  land  and  2  ploughteams  valued  at  15  shillings  not 
included  in  the  above  valuation.  And  Peter  de  Valoines  held  6  with  3 
carucates  valued  at  20  shillings,  also  not  included  in  the  above  valuation. 
The  extent  of  this  large  holding  was  i  league  long  and  6  quarentenes  broad, 
and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  i7^.3 

The  main  lordship  seems  to  have  had  appertaining  to  it  the  smallest 
amount  of  land.  In  the  Confessor's  time  Osmund  a  freeman,  over  whom  the 
Abbot  had  commendation,  soc,  and  sac,  held  Barningham.  The  extent  of 
the  land  was  half  a  carucate,  and  on  it  one  villein,  2  bordars,  i  ploughteam 
in  demesne,  and  half  a  ploughteam  belonging  to  the  men,  and  2  acres  of 
meadow.  The  value  of  this  holding,  of  which  Hemer  de  Ferrieres  was  the 
Domesday  tenant,  appeared  at  2  shillings  and  the  Abbot  had  the  soc.4  No 
doubt  a  great  portion  of  this  land  went  to  make  up  the  two  manors  into 
which  the  land  here  was  subsequently  divided. 

BARNINGHAM  OR  BARNINGHAM  HALL  al.  SENCLERS  MANOR. 

This  the  main  manor  was  at  the  time  of  the  Survey  held  by  Hermer  de 
Ferrieres.  In  an  action  brought  in  the  time  of  Edw.  I.John  deAnyens  acknow- 
ledged that  Barningham  Manor  (Senders)  belonged  to  John  de  St.  Claire, and 
released  the  same  to  him  and  his  heirs.5  In  1303, 1318,  and  1329  respectively 
this  manor  was  the  subject  of  fines  levied,  the  first  fine  under  the  title  of 
"  Bernyngham  Manor."  This  was  levied  by  John  de  Sancto  Clare  and 
Joan  his  wife  against  Peter  de  Redlysworth.6  The  second  fine  was  levied 
by  Peter  de  Redesworth  against  John  son  of  John  de  St.  Clare.7  The  3rd 
fine  was  levied  by  Thomas  son  of  Katherine  de  Stanton  against  Peter  de 
Redlisworth  of  this  manor  and  the  Manor  of  Netherehall.8  In  the 
fourteenth  century  there  were  three  lords  only,  John  de  Montfort,  Eustace 
de  Barningham,  and  Geoffrey  de  Barningham  who  died  in  1411,'  when  the 
manor  passed  to  the  latter's  daughters  and  coheirs,  Margaret,  wife  of  Thomas 

1  See    Great    Fakenham  Manor    in    this         s  Abbr.  of  Pleas,  24  and  25  Edw.  I.  42. 

Hundred.  6  Feet  of  Fines,  31  Edw.  I.  25. 

'  Dom.  ii.  421.  *  Feet  of  Fines,  12  Edw.  II.  37. 

3  Dom.  ii.  3656.  *  Feet  of  Fines,  3  Edw.  III.  13. 

•  Dom.  ii.  354.  »  I.P.M.,  12  Hen.  IV.  27. 


276  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

de  I kesworth,  Elizabeth  wife  of  William  Attegate,  and  Agnes  wife  of  John 
Pyke. 

In  1428  Thomas  de  Ridlesworth  held,  and  later  Henry  Eden  of  Bury 
who  married  Anne  dau.  of  John  Fitz  Ralph  and  died  in  1545  leaving  two  daus. 
and  coheirs — Anne  married  to  John  Bucknam  or  Bettenham,  and  Elizabeth 
married  to  William  Bradbury,  to  whom  the  manor  descended  in  moieties. 
This  is  in  accordance  with  one  pedigree  in  the  writer's  possession  which 
belonged  to  the  late  Dr.  Howard ;  but  another  pedigree  makes  a  Richard  of 
Bury  St.  Edmunds  son  of  Richard  2nd  son  of  Thomas  Eden  of  the  North, 
leave  three  daughters,  one  married  to  —  Lucas  of  Suffolk,  Ann  married  to 
William  Bradbury  of  Wickham,  Essex,  and  a  third  married  to  Beckenham  of 
Pluckley  in  Kent.  As  in  this  pedigree  it  is  stated  that  Richard  Eden  father 
of  the  three  daughters  married  Elizabeth  dau.  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham  who 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Kempe  of  Finchingfield  in  Essex, 
one  is  rather  led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  pedigree  has  put  "  Richard  " 
for  "  Henry,"  and  that  the  father  of  the  three  daughters  was  "  Henry  " 
or  as  he  calls  himself  in  his  will  dated  the  23  Dec.  1545  "  Harry  "  Eden, 
for  in  this  will  he  refers  to  his  daur.  Anne  and  his  daur.  Joan,  evidently 
then  having  no  son.  He  also  refers  to  his  "  brother  John  Heigham  "  and 
his  "brother  Thomas  Heigham,"  and  his  "  father  in  law  Clement  Heigham,  ' 
who  with  his  (testator's)  wife  Elizabeth  he  appoints  executors. 

The  following  fines  were  levied  of  the  manor  during  the  reign  of  Q. 
Elizabeth  :  1565,  Daniel  Brettenham  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  v.  Ann  Eden 
late  of  Henry  Eden' ;  1567,  Jeremiah  Bettenham  and  others  v.  Daniel  Bet- 
tenham and  others  of  a  moiety2 ;  1568,  Henry  Bradbury  and  other  v.  William 
Bradbury  of  a  moiety3 ;  1568,  Jeremiah  Bettenham  and  others  v.  Daniell 
Bettenham  and  others  of  a  moiety4 ;  1571,  Michael  Moseley  and  others  v. 
Robert  Kempe  and  others' ;  1597,  W.  Moseley  and  others  v.  W.  Bradley 
and  others.6 

In  1628  Anne  Mason,  William  Mason  and  Grace  Mason  sold  to 
Maurice  Barrow7  only  surviving  son  of  William,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas 
Barrow,  whose  daughter  Anne  was  the  2nd  wife  of  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  of 
Shelton  in  Norfolk  knt.  High  Sheriff  of  that  county  in  1570.  Maurice 
Barrow  married  Mary  dau.  of  Sir  Richard  Smith  of  Leeds  Castle  co.  Kent, 
knt.,  and  widow  of  Sir  James  Poyntz  of  North  Okenden  in  Essex  knt. 
She  died  19  Nov.  1666,  and  was  buried  in  Barningham  Church  where  on 
a  flat  stone  in  the  chancel  is  the  following  inscription  :— 

Here  lyeth  buried  ye  Body  of  Dame  Marye  Poyntz,  Daughter 

unto  Sr  Richard  Smith  of  Leeds  Castle  in  the  Countie  of  Kent  Kt. 

who  was  first  married  to  Sr  James  Poyntz  of  North  Okenden  in 

the  Countie  of  Essex  Knt.  by  whom  she  had  a  son  Richard 

Poyntz  Esqre.  of  transcendent  Parts  for  his  yeares  who  deceased  in 

France  anno  aetatis  vicesimo.    She  was  afterwards  married  to 

Maurice  Barrowe  of  Barningham  in  the  Countie  of  Suffolk 

Esqre.  with  whom  she  lived  neere  forty  yeares.    She  departed 

from  this  Vally  of  Teares  to  the  Fruition  of  eternal  Joy,  Nov 

ember  19,  1666  anno  aetatis  suae  65. 

Beneath  the  inscription  on  a  lozenge  :   A  chevron  engrailed  between  three 
lions  passant  guardant.       Smith  of  Leeds  Castle  impaling  on  the  dexter 

1  Fine,  7  Eliz.  47.  5  Fine,  Trin.  13  Eliz. 

•  Fine,  Easter,  9  Eliz.  '  Fine,  Mich.  39  and  40  Eliz.  vol.  ii. 

1  Fine,  Easter,  10  Eliz.  '  See  Newton  Manor  in  Babergh  Hundred. 

4  Fine,  Easter,  10  Elk. 


BARNINGHAM.  277 

side  Barry  of  Eight.      Poyntz,  and  impaling  two  swords  a  saltire,  points 
upwards  between  four  fleurs-de-lis  Barrow. 

Maurice  Barrow  died  the  same  year  as  his  wife,  and  by  will  dated  the 
i6th  Nov.  1665  devised  this  manor  and  also  those  of  Roydon  Hall,  Newton, 
Westhorpe,  and  Newton  in  tail  to  his  cousin  Maurice  Shelton  only  son 
of  Henry,  only  surviving  son  of  the  above-mentioned  Sir  Ralph  Shelton.1 
Blomefield  mentions  that  in  Shelton  Church,  Norfolk,  the  windows  are 
often  painted  with  the  device  of  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  who  built  the  fabric  : 
viz.  Raf .  with  an  escallop  shel  and  a  tun  which  cannot  fail  of  making  Sheltun.2 
On  Maurice  Shelton's3  death  the  manor  devolved  on  his  son  Maurice  Shelton 
who  died  without  male  issue  (having  had  a  son  John  who  died  young), 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  next  brother  Henry  Shelton.  Henry 
Shelton  had  two  sons  Maurice  and  Henry,  and  died  the  24  May  1690  in  his 
36th  year,  and  was  buried  at  Shelton.  Maurice  Shelton  his  eldest  son  suc- 
ceeded. This  Maurice  Shelton  published  anonymously  in  1718  in  one  volume 
and  again  in  1720  in  two  volumes  an  Essay  on  Nobility.  To  the  last 
edition  however  his  portrait  and  coat  of  arms  were  prefixed :  "  The  true 
effigies  of  the  Author  taken  from  an  original  painting  of  Mr.  Joseph  Brook 
of  St.  Edmunds  Bury  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  painter,  with  his  single 
Coat  of  Arms,  truly  emblazen'd."4  Maurice  Shelton's  address  to  the  Grand 
Jury  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  Bury  n  Oct.  1725  was  published  in  1726  4to 
pp.  35.  He  married  Margaret  dau.  of  the  Rev.  John  Randall  of  Bury  St. 
Edmunds  who  died  Oct.  23,  1727,  and  is  buried  in  Barningham  Church 
with  the  following  inscription  : — 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Shelton  Daughter  of 

the  Revd.  Mr.  John  Randall  of  St.  Edmunds  Bury  in  Suffolk.      She 

was  married  to  Maurice  Shelton  Esqr.  of  Barningham  July  15 

1714  and  died  Oct.  23,  1727,  seta,  suae  31. 

Here  lieth  the  Casket,  but  the  Jewel's  gone 
Guarded  by  Angels  to  ye  Immortal's  Throne 
To  live  for  ever  with  the  Three  in  One. 

Maurice  Shelton  died  on  the  31  May  1749  aged  65,  but  he  had  during 
his  lifetime  sold  the  estate  called  Barningham  Park  to  the  Duke  of  Grafton. 
The  particulars  of  property  sold  taken  from  a  lease  leading  to  a  fine  dated 
the  13  July  1714  made  between  the  said  Maurice  Shelton  of  the  one  part 
and  John  Randall  of  St.  Edmunds  Bury  gent,  and  James  Harvey  of  Cock- 
field  Esquire  of  the  other  part  were  :  "  All  that  the  capital  Messuage  or 
Manor  house  known  by  the  name  of  Barningham  Hall  or  otherwise  situate 
and  being  in  Barningham  wherein  he  the  said  Maurice  Shelton  doth  now 
dwell,  together  with  the  houses  and  outhouses,  barns,  stables,  yards, 
gardens,  orchards,  and  every  other  the  appurtenances  whatsoever  to  the 
said  capital  messuage  belonging  or  reputed  to  belong  to  the  same  or  there- 
with at  any  time  used  or  enjoyed,  together  with  about  30  acres  of  land, 
meadow  and  pasture  to  the  same  messuage  also  belonging  and  adjoining  or 
otherwise  near  unto  the  same  and  consisting  of  four  several  enclosures 
known  by  the  name  of  The  Twenty-acre  close,  containing  by  estimation  16 
acres  more  or  less ;  Dogs  close,  containing  by  estimation  four  acres 

'  See   Brent   Eleigh    Manor   in   Babergh         3  A  copy  of  his  will  dated  3rd  Oct.  1680  is 
Hundred.  given      in     Muskett's    "  Manorial 

•  Norf.   v.,  p.   270.     See  an  account  of  Families,"  vol.  ii.  231. 

the  Shelton  family  in  Gent.  Mag.         4  Noble's   continuation   of   Granger,   vol. 
July,  1826,  p.  32.  iii,  p.  364.     Anecdotes  of  Bowyer, 

vol.   ii.  (1812),  p.  114. 


278  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

more  or  less ;  Aqua  Vitae  close,  containing  by  estimation  five  acres  more 
or  less  ;  and  Costrops  meadow,  containing  also  five  acres  by  estimation  more 
or  less  as  the  same  premises  are  situate  lying  and  being  in  Barningham 
aforesaid  and  all  in  the  possession  or  occupation  of  the  said  Maurice  Shelton 
or  his  assigns ;  and  also  all  that  Wood  or  wood  ground  called  or  known  by 
the  name  of  Fakenham  Wood  and  the  ground  and  soyle  thereof,  lying  and 
being  in  Fakenham  in  the  said  county  of  Suffolk,  or  in  some  other  town  or 
towns  there  next  or  near  adjoining,  with  their  and  every  of  their  rights, 
members  and  appurtenances  containing  by  estimation  360  acres  more  or 
less.  And  also  all  those  quit  rents  or  lords  rents  of  and  belonging  to  the 
respective  manors  of  Netherhall  als.  Nether  Hall  and  St.  Cleer's  in  Barning- 
ham aforesaid  and  also  all  that  the  perpetual  advowson  and  right  of 
Patronage  of  and  to  the  Parish  Church  of  Cony  Weston  in  the  said  County 
of  Suffolk  with  every  their  appurtenances."  It  is  clear  however  that  the 
manor  did  not  pass  to  the  Duke.  This  in  1811  was  vested  in  John 
Thurton  and  was  sold  by  his  executors,  and  in  1885  was  vested  in  Cornell 
Henry  Fison  of  Lord  Place,  Thetford,  who  married  Eliza  3rd  dau.  of  Frederick 
Edwards  of  Barnham  and  dying  in  1895  left  with  other  issue  a  son  the 
Rev.  Charles  Frederick  Fison,  vicar  of  St.  Nutfield,  Surrey.  The  manor 
seems  still  to  be  vested  in  the  trustees  of  the  will  of  the  said  Cornell  Henry 
Fison. 

Amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  is  a  precipe 
on  a  covenant  concerning  the  manors  of  Sinclers  and  Netherhall  in  1578.' 

Arms  of  Shelton  :  Azure,  a  plain  cross  or.  The  old  coat  was  :  sa.  ; 
3  escallops  ar.  Sir  Ralph  Shelton  who  married  Dorothy  dau.  of  Sir  Robt. 
Jermyn  of  Rushbrook  and  was  killed  at  the  Isle  of  Rhe  in  France  sealed  in 
1602  with  az.  on  a  chief  indented  or.  2  mullets  of  the  field  ;  and  P.  L'  Neves 
observes  that  they  are  said  to  have  been  the  ancient  arms  of  Shelton 
re-assumed  by  Sir  Ralph.2 

NETHERHALL  MANOR. 

In  the  Davy  MSS.  this  is  made  the  same  manor  as  Barningham  Hall, 
which  is  called  otherwise  Sender,  but  they  are  apparently  two  different 
manors,  and  in  early  documents  are  mentioned  together  as  two  distinct 
manors.  This  is  the  manor  probably  included  in  the  Inquisition  p.m. 
of  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave  in  1 264.3  Roger  de  Risby  granted  to  this 
Hemegrave  and  Katherine  his  wife  an  acre  of  land  in  this  place  in  the  time 
of  Hen.  III.  and  of  course  it  is  possible  that  land  in  the  manor  only  is 
meant,  but  this  seems  hardly  likely  as  the  manor  itself  is  mentioned  as 
"  Barningham  Manor."  Sir  Eustace  de  Berningham  knt.  confirmed  to 
Thomas,  son  of  William,  son  of  Thomas  de  Hemegrave  and  to  Beatrice  his 
wife  4  acres  in  Barningham,  and  Petronilia  de  Carleton  released  to  Thomas 
son  of  William  de  Hemegrave  2  shillings  in  this  place.  This  Thomas  de 
Hemegrave  was  dead  in  1264,  when  it  was  found  by  an  inquisition  taken 
at  Barningham  that  he  died  seised  of  manors  or  lands  in  that  parish,  Westley 
and  Tudenham,  with  the  advowsons  of  Tudenham  and  Gislelam.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave  who  died  1334,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Thomas  de  Hemegrave  who  died  in  1349,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave  who  died  in  1379.  By 
deed  in  1352  this  Sir  Edmund  de  Hemegrave  conveyed  the  reversion  of 

•  Add.  Ch.  25341.  '  I. P.M.  48  Hen.  III.  21. 

'  Blomefield  Norf.  v.,  269  note. 


BARNINGHAM.  279 

the  manor,  expectant  on  the  decease  of  Thomas  de  Riddlesworth,  to 
Richard  de  Brews  and  others  as  trustees  by  way  of  settlement. 

The  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Hugh  Stafford  in  1423,' 
and  later  vested  in  Henry  Eden,  and  devolved  in  like  manner  with  the  main 
Manor  of  Barningham. 

HOLDENS  al.  HALDENS  MANOR. 

This  manor  in  the  time  of  Hen.  VIII.  was  held  of  the  King  and  licence 
was  given  to  grant  the  same  to  John  Tront.  After  him  we  meet  with  Thomas 
Goldinge  as  lord,  who  in  1598  sold  the  manor  to  Laurence  Fuller  and  Thomas 
Fuller,  and  in  1609  Thomas  Fuller  was  lord.  In  the  time  of  King  Charles  I. 
it  was  held  by  Wm.  Reve,  son  of  Robert  in  right  of  his  mother  Susan.2 


I.P.M.,  i  Hen.  VI.  33.  *  1631,  Chancery  D.K.R.  43.  App.  i.  p,  177. 


280  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


CONEY  WESTON. 

HE  manor  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  reign  by  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  with  2  carucates  of  land.  There  were 
belonging  to  this  manor  2  villeins,  3  bordars,  2  ploughteams 
in  demesne  and  half  a  team  of  the  men's,  I  serf,  2  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs,  I  rouncy  (but  added  after  the 
conquest),  10  beasts,  12  hogs,  80  sheep,  and  24  goats.  Besides 
to  the  manor  apper  tained  12  socmen  with  half  a  carucate  and 
30  acres  of  land.  The  12  socmen  had  formerly  6  ploughteams,  but  these  in 
Norman  days  were  reduced  to  4,  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  There  was  also 
a  church  with  8  acres  of  free  land  held  in  alms.  The  manor  was  in  the 
Confessor's  day  valued  at  5  pounds,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  at 
6.  The  length  was  a  league,  and  the  breadth  6  quarentenes,  and  it  paid  in 
a  gelt  17^.'  The  manor  continued  with  the  Monastery  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds 
until  the  Dissolution.  A  rental  of  the  possessions  of  the  Abbey  here  made 
in  1434-5  will  be  found  amongst  the  Gough  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian,2  and  a 
copy  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.3  At  the  Dissolution 
the  manor  vested  in  the  Crown,  and  was  granted  by  Hen.  VIII.  in  1545 
to  Francis  Lovell  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  He  died  in  1550  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thomas  Lovell,  who  died  in  1567,  when 
it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thomas  Lovell.  Amongst  the  Chancery 
Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  will  be  found  a  suit  by  Elizabeth 
Hoo  widow  against  Sir  Thomas  Lovell,  touching  some  copyholds  of  the 
manor.4  Sir  Thomas  had  with  his  son  Francis  Lovell  licence  to  alienate  the 
manor  in  1598  to  Sir  Edmund  Huddleston  and  Robt.  Garthe,  no  doubt  by 
way  of  settlement,  for  on  Sir  Thomas's  death  in  1604  the  next  lord  was 
Sir  Francis  Lovell  his  son  and  heir.  He  sold  to  George  Cooke,  alderman  of 
Norwich,  and  others  who  held  in  1614. 

In  1633  John  Webbe  of  Beccles  and  Mary  his  wife  conveyed  the  manor 
to  Wm.  Johnson  of  Eastham,  William  Gilbert  of  Bury,  and  Thomas  Gaudy 
of  London  as  trustees  for  Samuel  Colman  of  Brent  Eleigh. 

Samuel  Colman,  Wm.  Johnson,  and  Thomas  Gaudy  sold  and  conveyed 
to  Maurice  Barrow  in  1641.  Maurice  Barrow  died  in  1666  having  by  his 
will  dated  1665  devised  the  manor  to  his  trustees  for  20  years,  and  subject  to 
the  term  devised  the  same  to  his  cousin  Maurice  Shelton  in  fee.  At  the 
death  of  the  last-named  Maurice  Shelton  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Maurice,  and  he  by  his  son  Maurice,  and  he  by  his  brother  Henry.  Henry 
Shelton  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Maurice  Shelton  who  died  in 
1749.'  The  last  Maurice  Shelton  settled  the  manor  on  his  3rd  wife  Bridget, 
widow  of  William  Hall,  and  she  devised  the  same  to  her  granddaughter 
Harriet  Hall,  who  married  Maurice  Dryer.  In  1764  the  lordship  belonged 
to  John  Reilly  in  rig^ht  of  his  wife  Maria  Rebecca  granddaughter  of  Maurice 
Shelton.  She  died  in  1810,  and  the  manor  was  sold  to  one  Bridgman,  who 
in  1837  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Edward  Bridgman,  who  served 
the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  the  County  in  1842.  Edward  Bridgman  seems 
to  have  left  two  daughters  Elizabeth  Mary  Bridgman  and  Fanny  Isabella 
who  married  the  Rev.  Edward  Henry  Sawbridge  of  East  Haddon  co. 

'  Dom.  ii.  365,  3656,  366.  *  As  to  the  Sheltons,  see  Brent   Eleigh 

'  Bodleian,  18232.  in  Babergh  Hundred  and  Barning- 

5  Add.  34712.  ham  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 
'  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  Ixxxi.  i. 


CONEY    WESTON.  281 

Northampton.  The  manor  on  Edward  Bridgman's  death  passed  to  his 
widow  for  life  and  on  her  death  to  the  daur.  Elizabeth  Mary  Bridgman 
who  resided  at  the  Hall,  and  on  her  death  in  1889  the  manor  passed  to  her 
nephew  the  Rev.  John  Sikes  Sawbridge  rector  of  Thelnetham,  2nd  son  of 
the  above-named  Edward  Henry  Sawbridge,  and  he  is  now  lord  of  this 
manor.  He  married  Elizabeth  Tudor  daur.  of  George  Edward  Frere  of 
Roydon  Hall,  Diss,  co.  Norfolk,  and  has  with  other  issue  John  Edward 
Bridgman. 


K  1 


282  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


CULFORD. 

HE  manor  in  the  Confessor's  time  was  held  by  the  Abbot 
of  St.  Edmund  with  i  carucate  of  land.  To  this  manor 
there  belonged  2  villeins,  2  bordars,  I  ploughteam  in 
demesne,  and  in  Saxon  times  i  belonging  to  the  men,  but  in 
Norman  times  this  had  come  down  to  half  a  ploughteam. 
There  were  also  8  acres  of  meadow,  i  beast,  2  hogs,  and  85 
sheep.  To  this  manor  also  there  appertained  18  socmen 
with  half  a  carucate  of  land  and  2  ploughteams.  These  also  belonged  to 
the  Abbot  by  soc  and  sac  and  all  custom  and  they  could  not  part  with  their 
land  without  his  consent.  The  value  in  King  Edward's  time  was  4  pounds, 
reduced  to  3  in  King  William's.  Peter  also  held  of  the  Abbot  a  freeman 
with  i  carucate  of  land,  7  bordars,  2  serfs,  2  ploughteams,  and  a  team  of  2 
oxen  belonging  to  the  men.  There  were  also  in  this  holding  6  acres  of 
meadow.  Peter's  holding  was  formerly  valued  at  10  shillings,  but  at  the 
time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  at  30.  It  was  a  league  long  and  5  quarentenes 
broad,  and  paid  in  a  gelt  7^.' 

CULFORD  MANOR. 

There  is  a  grant  to  the  Abbey  in  the  nth  century  of  land  in  Culford 
amongst  the  Cotton  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.,1  and  a  confirmation  of  the 
manor  to  the  Abbey  in  1162-1174,  or  rather  a  transcript  of  this  confirmation 
made  in  the  15th  century,  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  in  the 
Brit.  Mus.3  On  the  Patent  Rolls  we  find  a  commission  issued  in  1274  to 
try  a  case  in  which  John  de  Salisbery  clerk  complained  that  Richard 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  and  others  had  assaulted  him  here  and  broken  his 
thighs  and  arms.4 

The  extent  and  customary  of  the  lands  of  the  Abbey  here  in  1357  w^ 
be  found  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.5  We  find  the 
advowson  of  the  parish  church  also  very  early  appropriated  to  St.  Edmunds. 
Anselm  who  governed  the  monastery  from  1119  to  1148  granted  to  William, 
son  of  Albold  and  Robert  his  son  and  heir  in  fee  farm  as  a  compensation 
for  some  claim,  and  by  way  of  exchange  for  the  churches  of  Culford  and 
Barton,  the  lands  in  Haustedof  Geoffrey  Sacrist  of  that  house  which  had 
belonged  to  Leveva  late  wife  of  Odo  the  goldsmith,  reserving  a  rent  of 
405.  to  the  altar  of  St.  Edmunds. 

In  1368  Sir  Nicholas  de  Tamworth  was  lord  of  the  parish  and  patron  of 
the  church,  and  William  de  Lo  veto  ft  was  rector  by  his  presentation. 
Sir  Nicholas  held  the  same  in  fee  of  the  Abbot  who  actually  held 
the  chief  lordship  of  the  place  until  the  suppression  of  the  monastery 
when  the  Crown  granted  the  manor  to  Christopher  Coote  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife  in  1541.  Particulars  of  this  grant  will  be  found 
amongst  the  State  Papers  for  1541.  It  is  of  the  manor  and  church 
stated  to  have  late  belonged  to  Bury  Abbey,  and  also  of  a  portion  of 
tithes  in  Culford,  and  a  yearly  pension  of  8s.  from  the  rectory  in  as  full  a 
manner  as  John  Melfordo/.  Reve  late  Abbot  held  the  same.6  Christopher 


1  Dora.  ii.  364,  3666.  «  Pat.  Rolls,  2  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii. 

•  Cott.  Aug.  ii.  8f  s  Add.  14849. 

>  Add.  34689.  •  State  Papers,  32  Hen.  VIII.  580  (62). 


CULFORD.  283 

Coote  died  the  17  Sept.  1563'  and  the  manor  passed  to  his'son  and  heir 
Richard  Coote,  who  died  in  1580,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Nicholas  Coote  who  sold  in  1586  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  premier  Baronet, 
eldest  son  of  the  Lord  Keeper."  He  erected  in  1591  a  mansion  on  the 
estate  where  he  occasionally  resided.  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  was  much  blessed 
with  this  world's  goods  and  had  no  lack  of  lands.  He  held  the  Hundred  of 
Blackbourn  with  the  rent  of  57  quarters  of  oats,  and  annual  suit  and  service 
of  the  inhabitants  within  the  parishes  of  Stowlangtoft,  Hunston,  Langham, 
Walsham,  Ashfield,  Barnham  Parva,  Livermere,  Culford,  Thorpe,  Faken- 
ham,  Ixworth,  Westowe,  Wordwell,  Ryseworth,  Wattisfield,  Rykenhall, 
Hinderclay,  Weston,  Bardwell,  and  Staunton,  likewise  the  Manor  of  Ashfield 
Magna,  and  40  messuages  there,  and  in  Little  Ashfield  and  Ixworth  ;  also 
the  Manors  of  Mettingham,  Ilketshall,  and  Shipmeadow  with  60  messuages, 
60  tofts  in  Mettingham,  Bungay,  and  the  Rectory  of  Mettingham,  the 
Manor  of  Bromfield  and  70  messuages  in  Bromfield,  Wenhaston  al.  Waynston, 
the  Manors  of  Inham  al.  Ingham  Hall,  Tymworth,  Barnham  near  Thetford 
and  Pleyford  in  Barnham,  and  30  messuages,  &c.,  in  Ingham  with  the 
advowsons  of  Ingham  and  Tymworth,  the  rectory  and  manor  of  Walsham  ; 
the  liberties  and  franchises  of  St.  Edmunds  Bury,  the  manor  and  rectory 
of  Tymworth  held  of  the  Manor  of  Ingham  ;  also  the  manor  and  advowson 
of  Burgate.  He  married  Anne  only  daughter  and  heir  of  Edmund  Butts  of 
Thornage  co.  Norfolk,  brother  to  Sir  William  Butts,  knt.,  by  Anne  his  wife, 
daughter  and  coheir  of  Henry  Buers  of  Barrow,  and  dying  in  1624  devised 
the  Manor  of  Culford  to  his  seventh  son  Nathaniel  Bacon  with  an  estate 
worth  £1,000  a  year.  Sir  Nicholas  and  his  lady  lived  52  years  together  in 
wedlock,  and  they  are  both  buried  together  in  Redgrave  Church  under  a  most 
magnificent  altar  tomb  with  both  their  effigies  curiously  carved  in  full 
proportion  out  of  the  finest  white  marble.  Mr.  Walpole  has  given  this 
memorandum  relative  to  this  monument  by  Nicholas  Stone  :  "  and  in  this 
same  place  (i.e.  Redgrave  Church),  I  .made  two  Pictors  of  white  marbell 
of  Sir  N.  Bacon  and  his  lady,  and  they  were  layed  upon  the  tomb  that 
Bernard  lanson  had  made  there  :  for  the  which  two  Pictors  I  was  payed 
by  Sr.  Edmund  Bacon  2oo£."3 

Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon  was  a  Knight  of  the  Bath,  and  married  Jane 
daughter  of  Hercules  Meautys,  and  relict  of  Sir  William  Cornwallis  of 
Brome,  knt.  By  him  she  had  one  son  Nicholas  and  two  daughters  :  Anne 
married  ist  her  cousin  german  Sir  Thomas  Meautys  knt.  clerk  of  the  Privy 
Council,  and  2nd  Sir  Harbottle  Grimstone  of  Bradfield  in  Essex.  By  each 
marriage  she  had  an  only  daughter,  both  of  whom  died  in  childhood,  as 
did  Sir  Nathaniel's  other  daughter  Jane  Bacon.  A  writer  in  the  "  Gen- 
tleman's Magazine  "  for  1826  points  out  how  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon  has  been 
confounded  with  his  uncle  and  namesake  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon  of  Stiffkey 
in  Norfolk,  knt.,  for  he  has  been  made  to  take  his  uncle's  place  of  relation- 
ship towards  the  Lord  Keeper  his  grandfather,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor 
the  Viscount  of  St.  Albans.  He  has  also  had  given  to  him  the  two  wives 
and  his  uncle's  monument  as  well.  Sir  William  Betham  in  his  Baronetage 
falls  into  this  very  error.  He  says  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon  of  Stiffkey,  "  He 
attained  the  perfection  of  a  master  in  painting.  He  travelled  into  Italy, 
and  studied  in  that  country  ;  but  his  manner  and  colouring  approach  nearer 
to  the  style  of  the  Flemish  school.  Some  of  his  works  are  preserved  at 
Culford,  where  he  lived ;  and  at  Gorhamburg,  which  was  the  seat  of  his 

1  I.P.M.,  6  Eliz.  171.  '  MS.  note  by  Sir  John  Cullum. 

*  Fine,  Easter,  28  Eliz. 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

father,  is  a  large  picture  in  oil  done  by  him  which  is  admirably  painted." 
This  all  applies  to  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon  the  lord  of  the  Manor  of  Culford.  He 
died  in  1627,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  at  Culford,  with  a  monument 
having  a  good  marble  bust  and  an  epitaph  which  informs  us  that  he  was 
well  skilled  in  the  history  of  plants  and  the  art  of  delineating  them  with 
his  pencil.  His  lady  is  also  interred  here  with  an  inscription  giving  her  a  high 
character  as  having  supported  and  saved  from  ruin  two  ancient  families 
into  which  she  had  been  married.  He  devised  the  Culford  property  and 
manor  to  Lady  Jane  his  widow,  who  survived  until  the  8th  May  1659.  She 
was  78  years  of  age. 

The  monument  above  referred  to  is  on  the  north  side  of  the 
chancel  of  Culford  Church.  A  lady  sits  in  a  chair  with  a  child 
in  her  lap,  with  children  standing  on  each  side  of  her,  partly  within  a 
semi-circular  recess.  Lower  down  lies  a  man  full  length  with  his  head 
resting  on  his  right  hand,  and  a  book  in  his  left.  They  are  all  large  as  life, 
of  statuary  marble  and  prettily  executed.  Who  they  are  we  learn  from  this 
inscription  overhead  : — 

ad  dextram  :  ad  sinistram  : 

Jane  Bacon  Anna  ~\ 

Jane  Meautis  Frederick        V  Cornwallis 

Nathaniel       j 
In  sinu  sedet 
Hannah  Grimston 

Infra  jacet 
Nicolaus  Bacon  Armiger 

On  the  base  of  the  monument  is  the  following  high  character  of  the 

lady : — 

M.  S. 

Sub  hoc  raarmore  vocem  tubae  praestolantur  exuviae  Filiarum  uxorum, 
Matrum,  Feminarum  optima;,  Doe  Janae  Bacon  de  Culford,  in  Comitatu 
Suffolciae,  Filiae  Herculis  Meautys  Armigeri,  e  nobilioribus  Elizabethae 
Reginae  Satellitibus,  Filii  Petri  Meautys  de  Ham  in  Comitatu  Essexiae 
Equtis  aurati  et  Philippiae  Coke  de  Giddy  Hall  in  Comitatu  Essexiae 
armigeri,  quae  talibus  et  orta  et  digna  Parentibus,  Gulielmo  Cornwallis 
de  Broome  Militi  Balnei  nuptum  data  est ;  cui  unicum  Filium  peperit 
Fredericum  Cornwallis  de  Broome  Militem  et  Baronettum.  Postea 
Nathanieli  Bacon  de  Culford  Militi  matrimonio  juncta  Filium  unum 
peperit  Nicolaum  Bacon  de  Culford  Armigerum  :  Filias  autem  duas 
Annum  Janamque ;  quarum  natu  major  primo  Thomae  Meautys 
Militi,  dein  Harbotelbo  Grimston  Baronetto  juncta  connubio  est 
altera  junior  in  Christo  obdormivit. 

Erat  autem  Ipsa  dum  viverat  cum  omnibus  virtutibus  exculta, 
turn  praecipue  pietate  insigni  charitate  singulari,  prudentia,  ultra 
sexum  plane  admiranda  :  quia  temporibus  difficillimis,  duas  Familias 
antiquitate  nobiles,  quibus  certissimo  divinse  Providentiae  natu 
conjuncta  fuerat,  sola  sustinet,  ab  intentu  vindicavit,  et  perpetuitatis 
spei  restituit,  ingenti  exemplo,  quale  nee  hactenus  cognitum,  nee 
fortasse  posthac  sperandum  adeo  legit  hie  tumulus  illud  quicquid 
mortale  est  ejus  Feminae,  quae  fecit  quicquid  mortalitas  potest. 

Nicholas,  her  son  by  Sir  Nathaniel,  died  the  9  January  following  year 
without  issue,  and  did  not  therefore  enjoy  much  of  his  father's  riches. 
He  is  described  on  his  monument  in  Culford  Church  to  have  been  "a  man  of 
great  modesty,  of  a  most  playne  and  single  heart,  of  an  antient  freedom 
and  integrity  of  mynde,  loyall  to  his  Prince,  a  lover  of  his  country,  and  a 
greate  sufferer  for  both." 

In  1645  it  apppears  from  the  Calendar  of  Compounders  that  his  whole 
estate  was  not  worth     more  than  £350  a  year,  and  this  had  been  long 


CULFORD.  285 

previously  absorbed  by  his  creditors.  He  presents  to  the  committee  at  this 
time  that  three  years  previously  he  had  gone  into  King's  quarters  to  secure 
himself  from  arrest,  and  for  six  months  was  a  captain  of  dragoons.  After 
having  laid  down  his  commission  for  2  years  he  appeared  before  the  com- 
mittee begging  to  be  allowed  to  compound,  and  on  his  return  was  seised 
for  a  debt  of  £600  and  committed  to  prison.1  The  following  year  Dame 
Jane  Bacon  presented  a  petition  to  the  committee  to  compound  for  mort- 
gage to  her  by  Sir  Frederick  Cornwallis  of  lands  in  Suffolk  for  £6,000 ."  This 
Sir  Frederick  was  the  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Cornwallis,  the  first  husband 
of  Lady  Jane  Bacon,  and  on  her  death  and  that  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon's 
only  son  Nicholas  succeeded  to  the  manor.  Sir  Frederick  was  created  Baron 
Cornwallis  of  Eye,  20  April  i66i,3  and  died  the  6th  January  the  same  year, 
when  the  manor  devolved  in  the  same  course  as  the  Manor  of  Ingham  in 
this  Hundred  until  the  time  of  the  last  Marquis  Cornwallis. 

The  manor  and  other  estates  of  the  last  Marquis  Cornwallis  were  sold 
in  1824,  and  this  manor  was  purchased  by  Richard  Benyon  de  Beauvoir  of 
Englefield  House  in  Berkshire  and  High  Sheriff  for  that  county  in  1816. 
The  purchase  included  the  lordship,  advowsons,  and  entire  parishes  of 
Culford,  Ingham,  Timworth,  West  Stow,  and  Wordwell  comprising  11,000 
acres,  and  the  purchase  money  was  £230,000  exclusive  of  the  value  of  the 
timber.  This  Richard  Benyon  de  Beauvoir  whose  original  name  was  Richard 
Benyon,  married  Elizabeth  only  daughter  of  Francis  Sykes  of  Basildon  Park 
co.  Berks,  but  had  no  issue.  He  left  in  real  and  personal  property  seven 
millions  and  a  half.  He  represented  Berkshire  in  Parliament.  Most 
unexpectedly  in  the  year  1814  he  was  left  over  a  million  by  the  Rev.  Peter  de 
Beauvoir,  no  relative,  and  he  thereupon  assumed  the  patronymic  of  de 
Beauvoir  in  addition  to  his  own.  It  is  said  that  his  mode  of  living  was 
extremely  simple,  and  entirely  devoid  of  any  ostentation  or  extravagance. 

The  manor  of  Culford  and  the  estate  were  presented  by  the  owner  prior 
to  1847  to  his  nephew  the  Rev.  Edward  Richard  Benyon,  and  on  his 
death  without  issue  in  1883  the  estate  passed  to  his  relative  Richard  Benyon 
Berens  eldest  son  of  Richard  Beauvoir  Berens  by  Catherine  dau.  of  John 
Edward  Dowdeswell  M.P.  of  Pull  Court  co.  Worcester,  who  in  1860  had 
married  Fanny  Georgina  dau.  of  Alexander  A.  Park,  Master  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  and  he  in  1889  s°ld  the  manor  and  estate  to  Earl  Cadogan, 
K.G.,  P.C.,  the  present  lord. 

Particulars  of  the  farm  of  Culford  Hall  for  grant  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk 
in  1540  is  mentioned  in  the  Deputy  Keeper's  loth  Report.4  And  the 
Household  Book  of  Expenses  of  Culford  Hall  for  1704  is  referred  to  in  the 
8th  Report  of  the  Historical  Commissioners.5 

The  arms  of  the  Benyons  are  :  Vaire  ;  on  a  chief  argent,  three  mullets, 
gules,  pierced  of  the  second  ;  and  of  the  Beauvoirs  :  argent ;  a  chevron 
between  3  cinque  foils,  gules. 

The  manor  house  of  Wordwell  Hall  stands  near  the  church.  The  Rev. 
S.  H.  A.  Hervey  in  his  West  Stow  Parish  Registers,  &c.  (p.  286),  says  of  the 
house  :  "As  seen  from  the  king's  highway  it  has  a  picturesque  seventeenth 
century  look  about  it,  and  shows  no  sign  that  the  nineteenth  century  has  yet 

'  S.P.  Cal.  of  Comp.  1648,  p.  985.  3  See  an  account  of  him  and  his  family 

1  State  Papers,  1646,  Cal.  of  Compounders,  under     Ingham     Manor    in     this 

1390.  Hundred. 

4  App.  ii.  p.  242. 

5  p.  2776. 


286  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

dawned.  One  need  not  doubt  for  a  single  moment  but  that  it  occupies  the 
exact  site  of  the  manor  house  which  was  inhabited  by  the  de  Wndewells 
or  de  Wordwells  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries.  Not  only  the 
site,  but  the  foundations  and  some  parts  of  what  stand  upon  them  may 

go  back  as  far  as  that A  manor  house  must  have  been  standing 
ere  say  in  1120  when  the  present  church  was  built.     How  much  earlier 
one  cannot  say.     When  it  ceased  to  be  the  residence  of  the  lord  of  the  manor 
and  became  a  farm  house  I  cannot  say  exactly.       Probably  not  much 
before  1400  at  the  earliest,  and  not  much  later  than  1500  at  the  latest." 

EAST  HALL  al.  SYFREWATS  MANOR. 

Richard  Syffrewast  held  this  manor  in  1321  of  the  Hundred  of  Black- 
bourn  and  on  his  death  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Richard  who  died  in 
1330,'  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Roger  who  died  in  1351,'  when  it 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John,  at  whose  death  in  1393'  it  vested  in  Sir 
John  Siffrewast,  who  granted  the  same  to  William  Galyon  of  Mildenhall 
and  Katherine  his  wife  daughter  of  Sir  John  Siffrewast.  William  Galyon 
died  in  1429,*  and  the  manor  was  sold  to  John  Coote  of  Culford.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Richard  Coote  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir 
Richard  Coote  of  Blourton,  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  Christopher  Coote. 
Fines  were  levied  of  the  manor  under  the  name  of  Culford  Manor  al.  Esthall 
in  Culford  in  1531  and  1543  by  Nicholas  Rokewoode  and  others  against  a 
Christopher  Coote  and  others.5  These  fines  were  probably  levied  on  some 
settlement  of  the  property  for  the  manor  continued  with  the  Coote  family 
like  the  main  manor  until  the  sale  in  1586  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon.6  Sub- 
sequently to  this  the  manor  seems  to  have  gone  in  the  same  course  of 
descent  as  the  main  manor. 


•  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  III.  16.  '  I.P.M.,  7  Hen.  VI.  62. 

'  Roger  Cyfrewast  de  Clyware.     I.P.M.,  5  Fine,Hil.23  Hen.  VIII.;  Mich.  35  Hen. 

35  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  56.  VIII. 

J  I. P.M.,  "  John  Cyfrewast  and  Katerina  "  '  Fine,  Easter,  28  Eliz. 

his  wife,  17  Ric.  II.  ir. 


ELMSWELL   MANOR.  287 


ELMSWELL  MANOR. 

HIS  was  granted  by  King  Edwin  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, and  the  manor  house  became  one  of  the  country 
seats  of  the  head  of  the  monastery  to  which  he  could  retire 
from  the  busy  harassing  life  such  as  was  necessarily  led  by 
the  Abbot  of  so  great  an  establishment.  In  the  time  of  the 
Confessor  the  manor  was  held  by  the  Abbot  with  2  caru- 
cates  of  land,  16  villeins,  14  bordars,  2  ploughteams  in  de- 
mesne and  4  belonging  to  the  men,  4  serfs,  8  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for 
80  hogs,  5  beasts,  15  hogs,  18  sheep,  and  48  goats.  By  the  time  of  the 
Great  Survey  the  serfs  were  one  less,  but  there  were  3  rouncies  additional. 
The  Abbot  also  had  5  socmen  with  40  acres  of  land,  2  ploughteams  and  i  acre 
of  meadow.  These  men  were  entirely  under  the  Abbot  and  could  neither 
give  nor  sell  their  lands  without  his  licence.  There  was  also  a  church  with 
20  acres  of  free  land  in  alms.  The  manor  was  valued  in  Saxon  times  at  5 
pounds,  but  in  Norman  days  at  6.  It  was  a  league  long  and  10  quarentenes 
broad,  and  paid  in  a  gelt  uj^.1  There  is  an  extent  and  customary  of  the 
lands  of  the  Abbot  here  in  1357  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  in  the  Brit. 
Mus.2 

In  the  Abbey  the  manor  continued  until  the  suppression,  when  it  reverted 
to  the  Crown,  and  HenryVIII.it  is  said  in  1536  granted  it  to  Sir  Thomas 
Darcy.  However,  it  appears  doubtful  if  this  grant  included  the  Manor  of 
Elmswell  for  amongst  the  State  Papers  in  1542  is  a  notice  of  a  Lease  to  Sir 
Thomas  Darcy3  of  the  manor  with  warren  of  coneys,  fairs,  &c.,  except  the 
chief  messuage,4  and  at  the  same  time  an  appointment  of  Sir  Thomas  to  be 
keeper  of  the  chief  messuage.5  At  Sir  Thomas  Darcy's  death  it  seems  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Lord  Darcy  at  whose  death  in  1554 
it  passed  to  his  son  Thomas  Lord  Darcy,  who  sold  the  same  to  Sir  Robert 
Gardner  in  1590 .6  This  Sir  Robert  Gardner  was  Chief  Justice  of  Ireland  for 
18  years,  and  for  2  years  from  Aug.  1597  to  April  1599  Viceroy  there.  He 
obtained  a  grant  of  the  manor  also  from  the  King ;  and  was  three  times  married, 
first  to  Anne  Cordall,  2ndly  to  Thomasine  Barker,  and  lastly  to  Anne  widow 
of  John  Spring7  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Spring,  knt.  He  had  issue  an  only 
son  William  by  his  first  wife  and  this  son  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  24 
years.  In  1614  Sir  Robert  Gardner  executed  a  settlement  of  certain 
almshouses  at  Pakenham  where  he  resided,  having,  as  Page  surmises,  removed 
there  after  his  marriage  with  the  widow  of  John  Spring  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Trelawny  knt.  of  Trelawny  in  Cornwall.  Sir  Robert  Gardner 
by  deed  dated  the  I2th  of  James  I.  [1614]  reciting  that  he  had 
erected  within  the  Manor  of  Elmswell  an  almshouse  containing  five 
rooms,  and  had  assigned  to  every  of  the  rooms  a  parcel  of  ground  for  a 
garden,  and  a  yard  to  set  wood  in,  the  whole  containing  by  estimation  near 
half  an  acre  of  ground  ;  and  that  he  had  placed  in  each  of  four  of  the  rooms 
one  poor  widow,  and  in  the  fifth,  being  somewhat  larger  than  the  rest,  two 

1  Dom.  ii.  3646.  '  Fine,  Easter,  32  Eliz.    A  fine  was  levied 

'  Add.   14849.    See  also   I.Q.D.,    Robert  of  "  Emswell  Manor "  in  1597  by 

Louthroppe   for   Bury   Abbey,    16  Robert  Hovell  against  John  Harte 

Edw.  II.  134.  and    others.       Fine,   Mich.    39-40 

3  See  Shimpling  Manor  in  Babergh  Hun-  Eliz. 

dred.  7  See    Pakenham    Manor  in  Thedwestry 

4  State  Papers,  1542,  1258.  Hundred. 
>  Ib. 


188 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


poor  widows,  he  thereby  appointed  that  the  almshouse  should  be  used  for  the 
habitation  of  six  poor  aged  women  being  and  continuing  widows,  to  be  chosen 
out  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  parishes  of  Elmswell  and  Woolpit,  three  from  each, 
being  of  the  age  of  60  years.  The  owners  of  the  mansion  house  of  the  Manor 
of  Elmswell  were  to  keep  the  said housesingood  reparation  ;  and  appointed  to 
each  of  the  poor  £3.  los.  a  year  to  be  paid  monthly  ;  one  load  of  firewood 
to  each  yearly,  and  one  gown  ready-made,  of  coarse  blue  cloth  or  stuff,  and 
for  the  payment  of  the  same  he  granted  a  yearly  rent  of  £16  out  of  his  estate 
in  Thelnetham,  and  £10  yearly  out  of  the  Manors  of  Elmswell  and  Woolpit. 
He  also  gave  £100  to  purchase  lands  for  the  poor  in  the  almshouse  and  £30 
to  purchase  lands  for  the  poor  of  the  parish  ;  and  these  sums  were  laid  out 
in  the  purchase  of  about  14  acres  at  Combs  ;  of  which  three-fourths  are 
appropriated  to  the  former,  and  the  residue  to  the  latter  ;  rent  £15  a  year. 
The  poor  estate  contains  2oa.  2r.  ;  the  church  estate,  25a.  3r.  i6p.,  and  two 
small  allotments  containing  ir.  lop.  The  rental  of  which  amounts  to  about 
£80  per  annum. 

Sir  Robert  Gardner  died  I2th  Feb.  1619  aged  80  years,  and  was 
buried  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  of  the  Parish  Church,  where 
a  sumptuous  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory.  He  is  represented 
life  size  reclining  his  head  on  his  left  arm,  a  book  in  one  hand,  his 
gloves  in  the  other,  under  him  his  armour ;  at  his  feet  his  crest,  a 
rhinoceros,  which  has  given  birth  to  a  ridiculous  story  that  his  son 
who  is  kneeling  by  him  was  devoured  by  a  wild  boar.  His  inscription 
refers  to  the  offices  he  held,  and  adds,  "  In  all  which  time  (that  is,  the 
18  years  Chief  Justice  and  2  years  Viceroy)  such  was  his  integritie 
in  justice,  his  wisdom  and  valour  in  personal  services  in  the  wars  against 
rebellious  Tyron,  and  the  Spanish  army  beseiging  Kinsale,  as  gained  him 
everlasting  love  and  honour  in  the  Kingdome,  and  after  his  return  into 
England  he  was  sent  by  King  James  into  the  Isles  of  Jersey  and  Gernsey, 
where  having  settled  their  estate  in  peace  and  good  government,  retired  to 
his  native  home  and  affecting  a  more  private  life  wholly  devoted  himself  to 
the  good  acts  of  Piety,  Justice,  and  Charitie.  He  founded  this  adjoining 
Almshouse,  and  gave  liberal  sums  of  money  to  purchase  lands  for  the  relief 
of  the  Poore  in  divers  towns  for  ever." 

He  left  the  manor  it  is  said  by  his  will  to  his  nephew  Gardner  Webbe, 
but  amongst  the  Chancery  Entries  in  1628  mentioned  in  the  43rd  Report  of 
the  Deputy  Keeper  of  Public  Records'  is  a  note  of  livery  of  a  moiety  of 
Elmswell  and  Woolpits  Manors  to  Mary  Snow  widow,  sister  of  Sir  Robert 
Gardiner  and  one  of  his  two  coheirs. 

Page  says  that  on  Gardiner  Webbe's  death  in  1668  the  Elmswell  estate 
was  divided,  "  the  manors  of  this  parish,  Woolpit  and  Drinkstone  being 
the  estate  of  Sir  Henry  Wood  knt.  of  Loudham  Park  in  this  county  and  upon 
his  death  in  1671  a  partition  of  his  estates  being  made  by  the  Court  of 
Chancery  in  1747,  when  this  appears  to  have  been  allotted  to  [one  of]  the 
heiifs]  of  Elizabeth  Webb,1  Sir  John  Chapman  Bart.,  and  the  advowson 


App.  i.  p.  104. 

She  was  one  of  the  daughters  of  Thomas 
Webbe  alias  Wood  of  Kensington 
and  one  of  the  coheirs  of  Sir  Henry 
Wood,  who  was  one  of  the  clerks  of 
the  Board  of  Green  Cloth  to  King 
Charles  II.  Elizabeth  Webb  was 
married  to  Sir  William  Chapman 
who  was  knighted  by  King  George 


I.  in  October  1714,  and  on  the  27 
June  1720  was  further  honoured 
with  the  title  of  Baronet.  Sir  John 
Chapman  was  his  eldest  son  and 
married  Nov.  1736  Rachel  daur.  and 
coheir  of  James  Edmonson.  He 
was  elected  a  Member  of  Parliament 
for  Taunton  in  Somersetshire. 


ELMSWELL  MANOR.  289 

was  at  this  period  appendant  to  the  lordship  ;  the  whole  estate  became  the 
property  and  residence  of  Gardiner  Kettleborough  gent,  and  passed  to 
Christopher  Calthorpe  Esq.,  by  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  one  of  the 
daughters  and  coheirs  of  the  said  Gardiner  Kettleborough."  Mr.  Page 
adds  that  Mr.  Calthorpe  resided  at  Elmswell  Hall  until  the  decease  of  his 
elder  brother  James  Calthorpe  of  Ampton  in  1702,  when  he  inherited  that 
estate  and  removed  thither.  He  deceased  in  1717  and  James  his  eldest  son 
and  heir  born  in  1699  at  Elmswell  succeeded  to  this  estate.  It  is  quite 
possible  Page  intends  merely  to  trace  the  estate  and  not  the  manor,  for 
Davy  gives  an  entirely  different  devolution,  but  unfortunately  without 
dates.  He  makes  Anthony  Webbe  succeed  Gardiner  Webbe  and  Henry 
Webbe  succeed  him,  whilst  Thomas  Webbe  of  Chelsea  succeeds  Henry,  and 
to  Thomas  succeeds  his  son  and  heir  John  who  left  it  in  1711  to  Robert 
Oneby  married  to  Susanna  Webbe  daughter  and  coheir  of  Thomas. 

Robert  Oneby  died  in  1720-1,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  widow  Mary, 
who  held  for  her  life.  She  died  in  1757.  Davy  says  the  next  lord  was 
William  Chapman  who  died  in  1785  when  upon  division  of  the  estate  the 
Rev.  Rich.  Gifford  succeeded  and  at  the  time  he  wrote  Mrs.  Euphonia  Gifford 
held  the  manor.  Page,  on  the  other  hand  (but  possibly  dealing,  as  we  have 
already  suggested,  by  way  of  explanation),  says  that  in  or  about  1736  Mr. 
Calthorpe  sold  this  property  to  Sir  Robert  Smyth  Bart,  of  Isfield  in  Sussex, 
who  married  Lady  Louisa  Caroline  Isabella  Hervey,  4th  daughter  of  John 
ist  Earl  of  Bristol  by  whom  he  had  issue  Hervey  his  successor  and  Anna 
Mirabella  Henrietta  who  in  1660  married  William  Beale  Brand  of  Polstead 
Hall.  Sir  Robert  Smyth  deceased  in  1773.  Sir  Hervey  Smyth  his  only  son 
was  born  in  1734  at  Ampton,  and  was  aide-de-camp  to  General  Wolfe  at 
the  siege  of  Quebec,  afterwards  colonel  in  the  Foot  Guards.  He  died 
at  Elmswell  in  1811  unmarried  when  the  baronetcy  expired.  The  Elmswell 
Hall  estate  was  purchased  by  Zachariah  Paltle  gent.,  and  in  1847  was  the 
property  of  Sir  George  Francis  Seymour,  capt.  R.N.,  G.C.H.,  and  C.B.,  by 
purchase. 

In  1855  the  manor  was  said  to  have  belonged  to  the  late  Miss  Gifford, 
and  in  1885  was  vested  in  the  Rev.  W.  A.  C.  Macfarlane  who  was  also  both 
rector  and  patron  of  the  living.  The  manor  is  now  vested  in  Mr.  W.  A. 
Macfarlane  Grieve  of  Impington  co.  Cambridge. 

Mr.  John  Nichols  in  1786  published  as  No.  52  of  his  Bibliotheca  Topo- 
graphica  Britannica  "Collections  towards  the  History  and  Antiquities  of 
Elmeswell  and  Campsey  in  the  County  of  Suffolk."  In  this  he  mentions  as 
then  in  his  possession  "  an  Original  Description  of  the  Manor  of  Elmeswell 
parcell  of  the  possessions  of  Gardiner  Webbe  Esqre.  (viz.)  of  so  much  thereof 
as  doe  ly  in  the  parish  and  boundes  of  Elmeswell  afforsaid,  within  the 
county  of  Suffolk  was  taken  and  made  on  the  ninth  of  October  Anno  Domini 
1627,  by  Thomas  Waterman." 

Arms  of  Gardiner  :  per  fesse,  argent  and  sable,  a  pale,  counter  changed, 
three  griffins,  heads  erased  of  the  second. 


2QO  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


EUSTON. 

T  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  Adelmud  held  of  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  2  freemen  with  I  carucate  of  land. 
The  holding  is  not  stated  to  have  been  as  a  manor.  There 
were  4  villeins,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  half  a  plough- 
team  belonging  to  the  men,  3  acres  of  meadow,  and  2  mills. 
These  men  could  either  give  or  sell  their  lands,  but  soc,  sac 
and  commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot  notwith- 
standing any  transfer.  The  value  was  30  shillings.  The  length  was  a 
league  and  the  breadth  5  quarentenes,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  n^d.' 

EUSTON  MANOR  al.  LITTLE  HALL  OR  VERLEYS. 

Shortly  after  the  Norman  Survey  Robert  de  Verley  held  a  lordship 
in  Burnham  in  Norfolk  which  passed  to  the  Earl  Warren  and  by  a  branch 
of  that  family  to  the  Bardolphs.  In  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  William  de  Verley 
held  6  parts  of  a  fee  in  Euston  of  William  Bardolf  and  he  of  the  Honor  of 
Wyrenengeye."  In  the  same  reign  John  de  Bello  Campo  and  his  wife  en- 
feoffed  by  deed  of  gift  William  de  Odingselles  and  he  by  a  grant  which  is 
preserved  amongst  the  ancient  deeds  in  the  Record  Office3  granted  to 
Philip  Basset  "  all  his  land  in  Euston  which  he  had  by  gift  of  John  de  Bello 
Campo,"  doing  foreign  service  to  the  lord  of  the  fee  and  to  himself  the  ser- 
vice of  the  fortieth  part  of  one  knight's  fee. 

Philip,  Lord  Bassett  died  seised  of  the  manor  in  1272,*  and  it 
passed  to  his  widow  Ela  daughter  of  William  Longstren,  Earl  of  Salisbury. 
She  died  in  1297,  when  the  manor  passed  to  Alicia  Countess  of  Norfolk, 
daughter  and  heir  of  Philip  Lord  Basset  and  wife  of  Roger  Bigod  Earl  of 
Norfolk.  She  died  in  1280,  but  it  seems  previously  to  have  passed  to 
Robert  Verley  for  he  died  seised  in  1279,'  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
and  heir  Philip  Verley.  In  1329  we  see  from  the  Escheat  Rolls  that  Philip 
Verley  died  seised  of  two  fees  in  Euston  belonging  to  Lord  Bardolph,6  and 
Walter  de  Pateshull  held  the  reversion  of  the  estate  and  succeeded  on  the 
death  of  Philip  Verley,  but  died  soon  after  and,  according  to  Page,  Sir  Richard 
Pateshull  succeeded  and  was  living  in  1346. 

Whoever  the  heir  of  Walter  de  Pateshull  was  he  was  an  infant  when  his 
father  died,  for  in  the  Originalia  Rolls  in  1332  is  an  order  of  the  King  com- 
mitting to  Thomas  de  Totyngton  the  custody  of  all  the  lands  which  belonged 
to  Walter  de  Pateshull  deceased,  held  by  knight's  service  in  Euston  until 
the  heir  should  come  of  age7 ;  and  the  following  year  the  King  presented  to 
Euston  Church  then  said  to  be  in  the  King's  gift  by  reason  of  the  custody 
of  the  lands  of  Walter  de  Pateshull  deceased  who  held  by  knight's  service 
of  the  heir  of  Thomas  Bardolf  the  King's  ward.8 

We  find  the  Manor  of  Euston  al.  Lytlehalle  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m. 
of  Thomas  son  and  heir  of  William  (?  Walter)  de  Pateshull  in  1349,"  and  it 
passed  to  Elizabeth  and  Joan  his  sisters  and  coheirs.  Elizabeth  de  Pates- 
hull married  Sir  Robert  de  Gedding  and  Joan  her  sister  married  John  dela 

1  Dom.  ii.  367,  3676.  '  The  manor  is  mentioned  as  one  of  those 

•  T.  de  Nevill  292.  of  which  John  Lord  Bardolph  died 
1  A.  3259.                                                                      seised  the  3  August  1371. 

•  I  P.M.,  56  Hen.  III.  31.  '  O.,  6  Edw.  III.  13. 

»  I.P.M.,  7  Edw.  I.  8.  •  Pat.  Rolls.  7  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  30. 

»  I.P.M.,  23  Edw.  III.  97. 


HUSTON.  291 

Lee.  There  is  a  fine  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  and  also  of  the  advowson 
of  the  church  levied  by  John  de  Herlyng  and  John  de  la  Lee  and  Joan  his 
wife  in  1352.'  And  a  fine  of  the  other  moiety  in  1360  levied  by  Ralph  de 
Walsh  against  Sir  Robert  de  Geddyngge  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.2  The  manor 
subsequently  passed  to  the  Rokewode  family  and  John  Rokewode  held 
Verley's  Manor  in  Euston  of  Thomas  Beaufort  Duke  of  Exeter  in  1427  as 
parcel  of  the  Honor  of  Wormegay,  which  had  been  forfeited  on  the  attainder 
of  Thomas  5th  Lord  Bardolf  and  conferred  on  Thomas  Beaufort  the  King's 
brother  afterwards  Duke  of  Exeter. 

In  1458  Roger  Rokewood  held  the  manor  and  died  seised  of  it  in  1482. 
He  made  his  will  the  3Oth  April,  1479,  bequeathing  his  soul  to  Almighty  God, 
to  our  lady  virgin  Saint  Mary  and  to  all  the  holy  company  of  heaven,  and  his 
body  to  be  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Euston  by  the  chancel  door  beside 
the  pew.  After  various  pious  and  charitable  bequests  he  wills  as  follows  : 
"  Also  I  will  that  Alys  my  wyffe  haue  myn  maner  of  Euston  called  Lityle 
Halle  with  all  the  pertenances  terme  of  her  lyfe,  praying  and  desiryng  her 
that  wt.  parcelles  of  the  profightes  of  the  same  maner  she  fynde  a  pryste 
duryng  the  terme  of  vij .  yeer  to  syng  and  to  pray  in  Euston  Cherche  for  my 
soule,  the  soule  of  the  seid  Alice,  and  alle  my  frendes'  soules.  And  yf  it  so 
be  that  the  seid  Alice  shall  or  wele  lete  the  seid  maner  wt.  thappurtenances 
to  ony  persone  duryng  the  terme  of  her  lyfe,  thane  I  wille  that  my  sone  Roberd 
Rokewood  have  the  seid  maner  with  thappurtenances  in  f  ourme  (Jerme)  duryng 
the  lyfe  of  the  seid  Alice  as  itts  aggreyd  as  welle  by  me  and  the  seid  Alice  as 
by  the  said  Roberte,  payng  therfor  yeerly  to  the  seid  Alyce  terme  of  her 
lyfe  x.  marcs  at  too  times  of  the  yeer,  Esterne  and  Mychellmess,  by  euyn 
porcyon,  and  also  the  seid  Roberd  shall  paye  the  wages  of  a  priste  syngyng 
for  my  soule,  the  soule  of  the  seid  Alyce,  and  all  my  frendes'  soules  in  cherche 
of  Euston  durynge  the  terme  of  the  seid  vij .  yeers,  and  the  seid  Alice  therof 
discharge,  yf  she  leue  so  long,  and  in  case  be  that  she  discess  wtjnne  the 
terme  of  vij.  yeers,  thane  I  will  that  the  seid  priste  be  founde  the  residue  of 
the  seide  vij.  yeers  wt.  my  loose  godes,  so  that  I  fayle  not  of  a  priste  duryng 
the  terme  of  vij .  yeers  nexte  ensuyng  after  my  decess.  And  also  ouer  that 
the  seid  Roberd  shall  beer  all  oute  rentys  and  services  of  olde  tyme  charged 
vpon  the  seid  maner  to  the  chief  lords  of  the  same  fee  due  and  accustomyd 
duryng  the  seid  terme,  and  alle  reparacyonys  of  hegges  and  houses  repayre 
as  nede  shall  require  by  alle  the  seyd  terme,  provided  alleway  that  yfe  my 
sone  Roger  Rokewoode  wele  haue  the  seid  maner  wt.  theappertenances 
duryng  the  terme  of  the  life  of  the  seid  Alice,  beryng  yeerly  therfor  as  the 
seid  Robert  shuld  do  in  maner  and  fourme  above  expressed,  thane  I  wille  he 
haue  it  as  wele  by  my  wille  as  by  the  aggrement  of  my  seid  wyfe  Alice  and 
my  sone  Robert  therto  bothe  assentyd.  And  after  the  decess  of  the  seid 
Alice,  I  will  that  the  seid  maner  shall  remayne  to  the  jssues  of  my  body 
lawfully  begotten  according  to  the  tayle  therof  made."  He  leaves  to  his 
son  Robert  also  his  "  fermes  of  Cokfelds  in  Euston,"  and  also  adds,  "  I 
wyll  that  he  haue  alle  manner  fermes  that  I  haue,  excepte  the  ferme  of 
Ryngmer  Grange,  payng  therfor  yeerly  to  the  owners  therof  as  I 
do,  so  that  yf  my  son  Roger  will  take  vpon  hym  the  ocupacyon  of  my 
manor  in  Lityl  Halle  in  manner  and  fourme  aboue  expressed  of  his  moders 
lyfe,  thane  as  welle  by  my  wylle  as  by  the  aggrement  of  the  seid  Alice  and 
Robert  the  same  Roger  to  haue  the  seid  fermes,  doyng  therfor  as  the  seid 
Robert  shuld  do."  Testator  bequeathed  to  his  son  Thomas  Rokewood  his 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  26  Edw.  III.  i.  *  Feet  of  Fines,  34  Edw.  III.  27. 


292  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

messuages  called  Baas,  and  Nottes  and  Coles  in  Euston,  and  a  close  called 
Scottes  Close, "  lying  by  the  tenement  of  the  seid  Thomas's  called  Pakmannes 
on  the  west  parte,  and  the  cloos  of  William  Brygges  called  Blabettys  on 
est  parte,  the  southe  hede  therof  abbuttyth  vppon  the  wey  ledyng  from 
Euston  Mylle  to  Rooshworthe,  and  the  northe  hed  abbuttyth  vpon  the 
comown  of  Euston  ledyng  in  to  the  Wroo."  He  also  wills  that  his  daughter 
Elizabeth  Cokett  shall  have  xij/t.  and  that  Edmund  Rokewood,  his  son 
Roger's  son  should  have  the  ferme  of  Ryngmer  "  to  the  terme  of  myn  yeres 
of  any  graunte."  He  also  directs  that  his  executors  should  make  a  new 
roof  to  the  Church  of  Euston  "  and  ledyd."  The  will  was  proved  at  Fornham 
St.  Martin,  8  May  1482.' 

Amongst  the  Charters  in  the  Bodleian  is  a  confirmation  in  1513  by 
Edward  Rokewode  son  and  heir  of  Roger  Rokewode  to  Master  William 
Focer  clerk,  of  the  whole  of  the  manor  with  the  advowson  of  the  church.1 

Another  Roger  Rokewood  was  holding  about  1537  at  which  date  Davy 
says  he  sold  the  manor  to  his  brother  Nicholas  Rokewood.  Page  now 
says  that  Roger  Rookwood  married  Olivia  daughter  and  coheir  of  John 
Wychingham  of  Great  Wichingham  in  Norfolk,  and  in  1558  she  had  letters 
of  administration  granted  of  the  goods  &c.  of  her  husband  deceased.  Page 
further  states  that  this  Olivia  died  in  1563,  leaving  two  daughters  and  coheirs, 
Jane  married  to  Christopher  Calthorpe  who  died  in  1606  seised  of  the  manors 
of  Euston,  Knattishall,  Stanton,  &c.,  and  Anne  married  to  Henry  Cornwallis 
of  Coxford  Abbey,  Norfolk.  These  statements  appear  to  be  doubtful,  for 
according  to  a  fine  levied  in  1542  Roger  Rokewood  was  then  living.  He  is 
in  the  fine  stated  to  be  son  and  heir  of  Edward  Rokewood  late  of  Euston, 
and  it  purports  to  be  levied  by  Robert  Houghton  of  the  manor  and  other 
estates  in  Euston,  Falkenham,  Sapiston,  Hornton,  Bardwell,  and  Barning- 
ham3 ;  and  further  Nicholas  Rookwood  who  was  Chief  Prothonotary  of 
the  Common  Pleas  in  1543  and  M.P.  for  Thetford  in  1554  died  in  I5574 
apparently  seised  of  the  manor. 

His  son  Edward  Rokewood  was  but  3  years  old  when  his  father  died, 
and  by  reason  of  his  long  minority  the  Crown  presented  to  the  living  several 
times,  the  last  time  in  1573.  In  1575  however  he  would  have  been  of  age, 
as  this  year  a  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  against  him  by  William  Browne 
and  others.5  Queen  Elizabeth  in  one  of  her  progresses  being  on  her  way  to 
Norwich  lodged  one  night  Sunday,  Aug.  loth  1578,  at  Mr.  Rookwood's 
house  Euston  Hall,  but  the  next  morning  before  she  had  departed  an  image 
of  the  Virgin  was  found  in  the  hay  loft  which  was  treated  with  the  grossest 
indignities  in  the  Queen's  own  presence.  Mr.  Rookwood  was  himself 
compelled  to  attend  the  Court  to  Norwich  where  he  was  committed  to 
prison.  Topcliffe's  letter  giving  an  account  of  this  incident  in  the  Royal 
progress  is  characteristic.  He  says  :  "  This  Rookewoode  is  a  Papyste  of 
kynde  newly  crept  out  of  his  layt  wardeshipp.  Her  Maty,  by  some  meanes 
I  know  not  was  lodged  at  his  house,  Ewston,  farre  for  her  Highness, 

but  fitter  for  the  blacke  garde  ;  nevertheles  (the  gentilman  brought  into 
her  Maty.'s  presence  by  lyke  device)  her  excellent  Maty,  gave  to  Rookewoode 
ordenary  thanks  for  his  badd  house,  and  her  fayre  hand  to  kysse  ;  after 
wch.  it  was  brayved  at :  But  my  Ld.  Chamberlayn,  noblye  and  gravely 

1  Lib.    Hervy,    f.    263.    Bury   Wills   and  '  Fine,  Mich.  34  Hen.  VIT1. 

Inventories.    Camden  Soc.  1850,  p.  •  I. P.M.,  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  146. 

50.  *  Fine,  Mich.  17-18  Eliz. 
•  20  Aug.  5  Hen.  VIII.,  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch. 

1300. 


EUSTON.  293 

understandinge  that  Rookewoode  was  excommunicated  for  Papistrie, 
cawled  him  before  him,  demanded  of  him  how  he  durst  presume  to  attempt 
her  reall  presence,  he,  unfytt  to  accompany  any  Chrystyan  person  ;  forthe- 
with  sayd  he  was  fytter  for  a  payre  of  stocks  ;  comandeth  hym  out  of  the 
Coort,  and  yet  to  attende  her  Counsell's  pleasure  :  and  at  Norwyche  he 
was  comytted.  And,  to  dissyffer  the  gent,  to  the  full ;  a  peyce  of  plaite 
being  missed  in  the  Coorte,  and  serched  for  in  his  hay  house,  in  the  hay  rycke 
such  an  immaydge  of  our  Lady  was  there  fownd,  as  for  greatnes,  for  gayness 
and  woorkemanshipp  I  did  never  see  a  matche  ;  and  after  a  sort  of  countree 
daunces  ended,  in  her  Maty.'s  sighte  the  idoll  was  sett  behinde  the  people, 
who  avoyded  :  She  rather  seemed  a  beast,  raysed  uppon  a  sudden  from 
hell  by  conjewringe,  than  the  picture  for  whome  it  had  bene  so  often  and 
longe  abused.  Her  Maty,  comanded  it  to  the  fyer,  wch.  in  her  sight  by  the 
cuntrie  folks  was  quickly  done,  to  her  content,  and  unspeakable  joy  of 
everyone,  but  some  one  or  two  who  had  sucked  of  the  idoll's  poysoned 
mylke."  His  misfortunes  do  not  seem  to  have  shortened  his  life,  for  he 
lived  until  1633  and  was  buried  at  Euston  in  his  7Qth  year.  On  the  north 
side  of  the  communion  table  in  Euston  Church  is  a  flat  stone  with  half  the  por- 
trait of  a  man  between  his  two  wives.  The  inscription  is  gone  but  by  the 
three  escutcheons  that  are  left  it  appears  that  a  Rookwood  was  buried 
under  it. 

In  1655,  the  estate  seems  to  have  passed  to  Sir  George  Fielding  Earl 
of  Desmond  who  presented  to  the  living  in  1662.  He  was  the  second  and 
youngest  son  of  William  first  Earl  of  Denbigh  by  Susan  dau.  of  Sir  George 
Villiers  and  sister  to  George  Villiers  Duke  of  Buckingham.  He  married 
one  of  the  daughters  and  coheirs  of  Sir  Michael  Stanhope  by  whom  he 
had  issue  5  sons  and  as  many  daughters. 

At  the  decease  of  Sir  George  Fielding  3ist  January  1665  in  his  4Qth 
year,1  the  estate  was  purchased  by  Sir  Henry  Bennett  2nd  son  of  Sir  John 
Bennett  knt.2  of  Dawley  in  Middlesex  by  Anne  his  wife  daughter  of  Christo- 
pher Weeks  of  Salisburyin  co.  Wilts.  Sir  Henry  was  bred  at  Oxford  during  the 
civil  war,  and,  as  Banks  expresses  it,  "  seeing  the  nation  unhappily  embroiled, 
quitted  the  study  of  books  for  the  exercise  of  arms."  Being  fortunate 
enough  to  be  wounded  on  several  occasions  and  rather  severely  at  Andover 
his  promotion  would  have  been  rapid  had  his  side  not  been  the  losing  one. 
For  a  time  therefore  he  withdrew  to  the  Continent,  but  with  the  Restoration 
his  star  arose.  First  made  Privy  Purse,  then  Principal  Secretary  of  State, 
he  subsequently  occupied  several  high  offices.  Amongst  others  he  held  the 
office  of  Lord  Chamberlain  of  his  Majesty's  Household.  In  1663  he  was 
created  Baron  Arlington  and  in  1672  Viscount  Thetford  and  Earl  of  Arling- 
ton besides  being  decorated  with  the  Order  of  the  Garter.  He  was  one  of 
the  five  noblemen  or  ministers  of  Charles  II.  who  were  pointed  at  in  the  term 
"  Cabal,"  which  was  composed  of  the  initial  letters  of  their  names. 

Arlington's  character  was  stiff  and  formal,  but  the  possession  of  ex- 
ceptional tact  enabled  him  to  manage  the  King  better  perhaps  than  any 
other  man  of  his  day.  He  erected  Euston  Hall,  a  large  and  commodious 
mansion,  built  of  red  brick  and  without  any  decorations  within  or  without. 
Particulars  of  trees  and  work  supplied  for  Lord  Arlington  at  Euston  will  be 
found  in  the  State  Papers  for  1667 ,3  and  the  same  year  amongst  the  same 
papers  will  be  found  a  letter  from  Lord  Arlington  as  to  the  pleasure  he  had 

1  He  is  buried  at  Euston.  3  S.P.,  1667,  546. 

'  Judge  of  the  Prerogative  Court,  i  Jac.  I. 


294  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

in  Euston  and  his  projects  of  opening  the  river,1  and  also  an  order  to  prevent 
destruction  of  the  King's  game  about  Euston.1  The  Queen  was  entertained 
at  Euston  in  1670' ;  and  in  1671  Lord  Arlington  obtained  a  licence  to  im- 
park 2,000  acres  of  land  in  Euston,  Great  Fakenham,  Sapiston  and  Coney 
West  on  accompanied  by  a  grant  of  free  warren.4 

The  Montagu-Arlington  correspondence,  mainly  consisting  of  letters 
from  Ralph  Duke  of  Montague  to  Lord  Arlington — 1669-1677 — many  of 
them  addressed  to  Euston,  will  be  found  in  the  Report  of  the  Historical 
Manuscripts  Commissioners  on  the  MSS.  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  and 
Queensberry  K.G.  preserved  at  Montagu  House,  Whitehall. 

His  lordship  married  Isabella  daughter  of  Lewis  de  Nassau  Lord  of 
Beverwaert  and  Count  of  Nassau,  and  dying  28th  July  1685  in  his  &7th 
year  was  buried  at  Euston.  His  widow  survived  until  January  i8th  1717, 
and  was  also  buried  there.  His  only  daughter  and  sole  heir  Isabella  was 
married  in  1672,  when  only  5  years  old  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
and  remarried  in  1679  when  only  12  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester  to  Henry 
Fitz-Roy  one  of  the  natural  sons  of  King  Charles  II.  by  the  Duchess 
of  Cleveland.  He  was  created  by  his  father  Earl  of  Euston  and  Duke  of 
Grafton  and  the  manor  still  belongs  to  his  descendant  the  present  Duke  of 
Graf  ton. 

The  hall  is  almost  surrounded  by  trees  of  uncommon  growth,  and  near 
it  glides  the  river  Ouse.  There  are  fine  and  extensive  views  in  the  park  which 
comprises  nearly  1,500  acres.  The  estate  itself  is  between  30  and  40  miles 
in  circumference  and  includes  a  number  of  villages  and  hamlets.  The 
vicinity  is  noted  for  its  scenery,  and  is  the  subject  of  the  poet  Bloomfield's 
verse  : — 

Where  noble  Grafton  spreads  his  rich  domains, 
Round  Euston's  water'd  vale  and  sloping  plains  ; 
Where  woods  and  groves  in  solemn  grandeur  rise, 
Where  the  kite  brooding  unmolested  flies, 
The  woodcock  and  the  painted  pheasant  race, 
And  skulking  foxes,  destin'd  for  the  chase. 

In  a  Journey  in  the  Eastern  Counties,  December  1737-January  1738, 
amongst  the  Duke  of  Portland's  MSS.  in  the  handwriting  of  the  second  Earl 
of  Oxford  is  the  following  not  very  flattering  account  of  Euston  Hall :  "On 
our  way  we  called  to  see  Euston  Hall,  the  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton.  The 
park  is  pretty  well,  the  house  very  indifferent,  the  furniture  old  and  bad, 
the  pictures  very  poor  and  mean.  I  was  extremely  disappointed  in  every 
part.  I  had  heard  so  much  of  the  house  and  pictures  from  several  persons 
in  a  very  different  light  from  what  I  really  found  it.  I  often  wished  that 
if  it  were  possible  one  should  make  this  resolution  to  oneself,  which  is,  that 
upon  hearing  the  description  of  any  places  not  to  form  too  high  an  idea  of 
them,  not  even  so  far  as  the  person  described  the  places,  for  that  is  often 
too  high,  and  then  when  you  actually  do  see  them,  the  places  fall  so  very 
short  of  your  expectations  and  your  disappointment  being  so  very  great, 
that  one  can  scarce  bring  oneself  to  do  justice  to  the  places,  and  what  they 
really  are.  But  this  is  not  I  doubt  to  be  obtained  by  anybody,  for,  as 
Prior  says,  Alma  will  run  away  with  you  in  spite  of  all  your  prudence." 

Horace  Walpole's  description  is  not  much  more  inviting.  "  Euston 
is  one  of  the  most  admired  seats  in  England,  in  my  opinion,  because  Kent 

•  S.P.,  1670,  359.  >  S.P.,  1670,  468,  478. 

•  S.P.,  1667,  515.  «  S.P.,  1671,  592. 


EUSTON.  295 

has  made  a  most  absolute  disposition  of  it.     Kent  is  now  so  fashionable 
that,  like  Addison's  'Liberty,'  we 

'  Can  make  bleak  rocks  and  barren  mountains  smile.' 

I  believe  the  duke  wishes  he  could  make  them  green  too.  The  house 
is  large  and  bad  ;  it  was  built  by  Lord  Arlington  and  stands,  as  all  old 
houses  do,  for  conveniences  of  water  and  shelter,  in  a  hole,  so  it  neither  sees 
nor  is  seen  ;  he  has  no  money  to  build  another." 

A  list  of  the  portraits  at  the  Hall  in  1796  will  be  found  amongst  the 
Additional  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.1 

The  Hall  was  almost  entirely  destroyed  by  a  fire  which  occurred  on  the 
5th  April  1902,  but  has  been  since  re-erected. 

A  Cockfield  Hall  Manor  in  Euston  is  mentioned  in  a  fine  levied  in  1351 
between  Peter  le  Clerc  of  Euston  against  Roger  son  of  John  de  Murton,2 
and  is  also  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1580  by  Edward  Rookewood  against 
Robert  Drurye,3  and  a  fine  was  levied  by  the  said  Edward  Rookwood  of 
rent  out  of  the  manor  and  tenements  in  Euston  against  Francis  Drury  in 
I585-4 

Arms  of  Pateshulls  :  Argent,  a  fesse  sable  betw.  three  crescents  gules. 


1  Add.  5726-6391.  3  Fine,  Mich.  22-23  Eliz. 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  25  Edw.  III.  32.  "  Fine,  Mich.  27-28  Eliz. 


296  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


FAKENHAM  (GREAT), 

R  as  it  is  styled  in  early  documents  Fakenham  Aspes,  was 
held  by  Alestan  the  thane  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Con- 
quest. He  held  5  carucates  of  land  as  a  manor  and  had  14 
villeins,  7  bordars,  and  10  serfs. 

There  were  5  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  4  belonging 
to  the  men,  16  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  8  hogs,  I  mill, 
4  rouncies,  which  by  the  time  of  the  Survey  had  come  down 
to  3, 16  forest  mares,  12  beasts,  40  hogs,  and  300  sheep  ;  but  by  the  time  of 
the  Survey  the  hogs  had  become  reduced  by  half.  There  were  also  2 
churches  with  40  acres  and  a  ploughteam  and  half  an  acre  of  meadow.  To 
the  manor  were  also  attached  6  socmen  and  a  half  with  30  acres  and  i 
ploughteam.  The  value  of  the  whole  was  13  pounds  and  the  extent  a 
league  long  and  8  quarentenes  broad  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  2  shillings.  In  the 
same  place  there  were  20  freemen  with  80  acres  over  whom  Alestan  had  com- 
mendation. They  had  2  ploughteams  and  2  acres  of  meadow  and  the 
value  was  2  shillings.  The  whole  was  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  com- 
pilation held  by  Peter  de  Valoines  as  the  gift  of  the  King.1  This  Peter 
also  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  2  freemen  with  I  carucate  of  land, 
3  villeins  and  4  bordars,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne  and  half  a  ploughteam 
belonging  to  the  men,  4  acres  of  meadow  and  wood  for  4  hogs.  The  men 
could  give  or  sell  their  lands,  but  the  soc,  sac  and  commendation  remained 
with  the  Abbot.  The  value  was  20  shillings.2 

FAKENHAM  MAGNA  MANOR. 

Peter  de  Valoines  was  nephew  to  William  the  Conqueror  and  had  many 
lordships  granted  to  him  by  the  Crown.  At  the  time  of  the  Great 
Survey  he  held  lordships  in  Essex,  Cambridgeshire,  Lincolnshire, 
Hertfordshire,  Norfolk,  and  Suffolk  and  the  head  of  his  Honor  or 
barony  was  at  Orford.  He  married  Albreda  sister  of  Eudo  de  Rye 
Chamberlain  to  Hen.  I.,  and  together  with  his  wife  founded  the  priory  of 
Binham  in  Norfolk  in  the  time  of  Hen.  I.  On  his  death  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Roger  de  Valoines  who  married  Agnes  and  had  four  sons, 
Peter,  Robert,  Geffrey,  and  John.  Peter  the  eldest  married  Gundred  de 
Warren  but  dying  without  issue  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow,  and  on  her 
death  to  the  second  son  of  Peter  the  elder  namely  Robert  de  Valoines,  who  in 
the  I2th  Hen.  II.  certified  his  knights'  fees  to  be  thirty  and  a  third  part  of  one 
de  veteri  feoff amento  and  four  de  novo  ;  and  by  deed  saws  date  gave  to  the 
priory  of  Binham  the  rectory  of  Dersingham  in  Norf.  with  80  acres  of  land 
for  the  soul  of  Agnes  his  mother,  with  the  tithe  of  all  his  manor  in  Dersing- 
ham (Pakenham  Manor),  the  moiety  of  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Walsingham 
Magna,  the  chantry  and  land  which  Humphrey  held  of  him  there,  the  fee  of 
Gunthorpe,  his  land  in  Well  which  Robert  Godchild  held.  By  Hawise 
his  wife  he  left  a  daughter  and  heir  Gunnora  and  died  in  the  30  Hen.  II. 

In  1225  the  manor  was  vested  in  Joan  who  was  married  to  Hugh  de 
Neville  and  Margaret  de  Ripariis  her  sister.  It  then  seems  to  have  gone 
to  the  Crown,  and  was  granted  in  1243  to  Beatrice  Countess  of  Provence 
mother  of  Hen.  III.3  We  next  find  the  manor  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition 

1  Dom.  ii.  4206.  >  Chart.  Rolls,  27  and  28  Hen.  III.  15. 

•  Dom.  ii.  3676. 


FAKENHAM    (GREAT).  297 

p.m.  of  Isabella  de  Valoines  in  1253."  She  was  the  daughter  and  coheir  of 
Peter  de  Valoines  and  married  to  David  Comyn  Earl  of  Bademash.  In  the 
Hundred  Rolls  it  is  stated  that  \  part  of  a  knight's  fee  of  the  manor  was 
alienated  to  the  Religious  House  in  Ixworth.2  On  Isabella's  death  the 
manor  passed  to  her  son  and  heir  William  Comyn  whom  the  Hundred  Rolls 
state  held  the  manor  in  chief  of  the  King.3  William  Comyn  died  in  1283  and 
we  find  this  year  on  the  Patent  Rolls  a  grant  from  the  Crown  to  John  de 
Ubbeston  of  the  custody  of  the  manor  stated  to  be  "  late  of  William  Comyn 
deceased  tenant  in  chief  "  for  4  years.4  Subject  to  this  grant  the  marior 
passed  to  William's  widow  Euphemia  who  died  in  1289.  In  1285  however 
the  King  presented  to  the  living  by  reason  of  the  minority  of  the  heir,5 
and  in  1295  the  presentation  was  again  made  by  the  King  with  this  significant 
entry  on  the  Patent  Rolls  of  that  year  :  "  in  the  King's  gift  by  reason  of  the 
forfeited  lands  of  Edmund  Comyn  being  in  his  hands.6" 

In  1302  the  manor  was  still  in  the  King's  hands,  for  this  year  it  was 
granted  to  Roger  le  Bigod  for  life  in  exchange  for  other  manors.7  In 
reciting  this  grant  two  years  later  the  manor  is  stated  to  have  been  of  the 
value  of  £40  to  the  King.8 

A  little  later  the  manor  was  again  in  the  King's  hands,  and  was  then 
granted  to  Edmund  Comyn  son  of  Alyh,  brother  of  William  Comyn.  He 
died  in  1314,'  and  on  the  Close  Rolls  for  this  year  there  is  an  order  to  the 
Escheator  to  deliver  to  Mary  late  wife  of  Edmund  Comyn  a  third  of  the 
manor  assigned  in  dower  to  her  by  the  King.10  It  seems  that  the  King 
seized  parts  of  the  manor  as  escheats  by  reason  of  Edmund  Comyn  having 
made  unlawful  alienations ;  but  from  the  Abbreviations  of  Pleas  in  1318  we 
learn  that  though  the  King  had  seized  he  intended  to  do  justice  to  the  heirs 
of  Edmund."  The  heirs  were  two  daughters,  Euphemia  married  to  William 
de  la  Beche  and  Mary  married  to  Edmund  son  of  Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham 
and  Rohesia  his  wife  to  whom  the  manor  passed. 

As  to  the  share  which  passed  to  William  de  la  Beche  and  his  wife 
there  is  an  extent  in  1321."  She  obtained  a  licence  in  1330  to  enfeoff 
Geoffrey  de  Wauncey  and  John  de  Cavenham  chaplain  of  a  moiety  of  the 
manor  and  for  them  to  regrant  the  same  to  William  de  la  Beche  and 
Euphemia  in  tail  with  remainder  to  the  right  heirs  of  Euphemia.13  And 
in  1333  there  is  on  the  Close  Rolls  an  order  to  the  Escheator  not  to  inter- 
meddle with  a  third  part  of  the  manor,  as  it  was  found  that  William  and 
Euphemia  held  jointly  by  the  gift  of  Geoffrey  Wauncey  and  John  de  Caven- 
ham by  a  fine  levied  with  the  King's  licence  to  hold  to  themselves  and  the 
heirs  of  their  bodies.'4  Davy  says  Euphemia  assigned  her  share  to  John 
Walkefare,  and  it  is  true  we  do  find  the  manor  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition 
p.m.  of  John  de  Walkefare  andEufemia  his  wife  in  1345,"  but  the  assignment 
could  only  have  been  of  a  limited  interest  as  she  had  a  daughter  Elizabeth 
married  to  Sir  Roger  Elmrugge  knt.  who  on  the  death  of  her  mother  in  I36i'6 

'  I.P.M.,  37  Hen.  III.  45.  "  Abbr.   of  PI.   12   Edw.    II.   East.    105. 

'  H.R.  ii.  154.  See    I.P.M.,    Edmund   Comyn,    14 

3  H.R.  ii.  151.  Edw.  II.  25. 

4  Pat.  Rolls,  ii  Edw.  I.  1-16 ;  Originalia        "  I.Q.D.,  15  Edw.  II.  103. 

10  and  ii  Edw.  I.  22.  "  Pat.  Rolls,  4  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  18;  Origi- 

5  Pat.  Rolls,  14  Edw.  I.  20.  nalia,    4    Edw.  III.    43  ;     I.P.M., 

6  Pat.  Rolls,  24  Edw.  I.  14.  4  Edw.  III.  32,  7  Edw.  III.  34. 

7  Pat.  Rolls,  30  Edw.  I.  25.  '<  Close  Rolls,  7  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  2. 

8  Pat.  Rolls,  32  Edw.  I.  3.  '5  I.P.M.,  John  de  Wathefare  and  Eufemia 
'  I.P.M.,  8  Edw.  II.  18 ;  14  Edw.  II.  25.  his  wife,  19  Edw.  III.  24. 

10  Close  Rolls,  8  Edw.  II.  30.  *  I.P.M.,  35  Edw.JII.  43. 

Ml 


298  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

became  seised  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor,  and  there  is  an  order  on  the  Originalia 
Rolls  this  year  to  take  fealty  of  Roger  de  Elmrugge  "  husband  of  Elizabeth 
daughter  and  heir  of  Eufemia  de  la  Beche  deceased  "  of  such  moiety. ' 
Sir  Roger  Elmrugge  died  in  1375,'  and  Elizabeth  his  widow  the  following 
year  enfeoffed  Sir  John  de  Cavendish.1  By  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  Roger 
Elmrugge  he  is  stated  to  have  held  the  manor  of  the  King  in  chief  by  the 
service  of  i8d.  castleward  to  Norwich  Castle  every  27  weeks  and  that  John 
his  brother  was  his  heir.  Blomefield  states  that  in  the  36  of  Edw.  III.  [1362] 
John  son  of  Sir  John  Rattlesden  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  Fakenham  Aspes 
in  Suffolk,  but  he  gives  no  authority. 

The  licence  to  enable  the  above-mentioned  feoffment  to  be  made  will 
be  found  in  the  Originalia,4  and  for  the  licence  Sir  John  Cavendish  paid  the 
King  loos.  Sir  John  de  Cavendish  was  murdered  in  1381,  and  his  moiety 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Andrew  Cavendish.  Amongst  the  MSS.  of 
Mr.  Wodehouse  is  a  licence  in  1390  by  this  Sir  Andrew  de  Cavendish  to 
Stephen  de  Halys  knt.  and  others  to  give  to  the  Prior  and  Canons  of  Wal- 
singham  all  their  lands  in  Little  Ryburgh  and  Great  Ryburgh,  Norf.,  which 
were  of  his  (Cavendish's)  fee  appertaining  to  this  manor.5  Sir  Andrew 
Cavendish  died  in  I395fi  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William 
de  Cavendish.  A  fine  was  levied  in  1412  by  John  Murydon  clerk,  Thomas 
Ion  and  John  Werkworth  against  this  William  de  Cavendish  of  the  manor. r 

As  to  the  other  moiety  Mary  the  other  daughter  and  coheir  of  Edmund 
Comyn  married  to  Edmund  de  Pakenham,  died  seised  in  1361, 8  when  it 
passed  to  her  son  Thomas  de  Pakenham  who  had  eight  years  previously 9 
done  homage  for  all  the  lands  belonging  to  his  grandmother  Rohesia  then 
deceased. 

To  Thomas  de  Pakenham  succeeded  Edmund  who  was  lord  of  a  moiety 
in  1428.  Davy  makes  John  son  of  Sir  John  Rattlesden  lord  in  1362,  and 
Page  has  a  like  statement  adding  that  Joan  was  found  to  be  his  daughter 
and  heir.  She  married  first  Robert  Hovell  knt.,  and  secondly  Robert 
Monceaux  who  in  1392  held  jointly  during  her  life  the  lordships  of  Wiston 
Market  and  Bradfield  St.  Clare.  John  de  Rattlesden,  he  says,  held  of  the 
heirs  of  Comyn  of  the  Barony  of  Valonis,  and  this  is  likely  enough  if  he 
held  at  all. 

However  before  1451  the  manor  was  again  vested  in  the  Crown,  for  it 
was  granted  by  Hen.  VI.  to  Reginald  de  West  afterwards  Lord  de  la  Ware. 
He  performed  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Land  in  the  igth  Hen.  VI.  and  died 
in  1451, 10  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Richard  West  who 
was  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  house  of  Lancester  in  the  Wars  of  the  Roses. 
He  settled  the  manor  on  Sir  Thomas  Cobham  of  Sternborough  and  Anne 
his  wife  in  1468.  The  licence  enabling  him  to  effect  this  settlement  will  be 
found  on  the  Patent  Rolls  for  this  year.  The  licence  was  granted  to  Sir 
Richard  West,  Lord  de  la  Ware,  and  Katharine  his  wife  who  was  daughter  of 
Robert  Hungerford,  Lord  Hungerford,  and  the  grant  was  to  be  made  upon 
Sir  Thomas  Cobham  and  Anne  his  wife  and  the  heirs  of  their  bodies  with 
remainder  to  the  right  heirs  of  Sir  Thomas."  A  fine  was  duly  levied  of  the 

1  O.  35  Edw.  111.  9.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  13  Hen.  IV.  29. 

•  I.P.M.,  49  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  43.  •  I.P.M.,  35  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  19. 
'  See  Overhall  Manor,  Cavendish.  «  xoth  Oct.  27  Edw.  III. 

•  0.  50  Edw.  III.  46.  "  I.P.M.,  29  Hen.  VI.  21. 

5  13  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  425.  "  Pat.  Rolls,  8  Edw.  IV.  pt.  ii.  12. 

'  I. P.M.,  18  Rich.  II.  ii  ;  n  Hen.  IV.  5. 


• 


FAKENHAM    (GREAT).  299 

manor  in  this  same  year  by  Sir  Thomas  Cobham  and  Anne  his  wife  against 
Sir  Richard  West,  Lord  de  Ware,  and  Katharine  his  wife.1 

Anne  survived  her  husband  and  died  in  1474,  when  the  manor  passed 
to  her  daughter  and  heir  Anne  married  to  Sir  Edward  de  Burgh  2nd  Baron 
Burgh,  on  whose  death  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  de  Burgh  3rd 
Baron,  who  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Tirwhit  of  Kirtilby  co. 
Lincoln,  and  dying  in  1552  it  passed  to  his  son  Thomas  de  Burgh  4th  Baron 
who  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  David  Owen  knt.,  but  the  lady  proving 
faithless  and  having  children  by  another  person  his  lordship  obtained  an 
Act  of  Parliament  to  bastardise  those  children.  He  married  secondly 
Alice  and  had  issue  Henry  who  died  without  issue  in  the  life-time  of 
his  father  and  William  who  succeeded  his  father  as  5th  Baron  and 
was  one  of  those  peers  who  sat  in  judgment  upon  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  in 
the  reign  of  Elizabeth.  In  1564  he  with  Katherine  his  wife  sold  the  manor 
to  Sir  William  Cordell.2  Sir  William  died  the  19  June  1581  without  issue, 
when  the  manor  went  to  his  brother  Edward  Cordell.  Amongst  the 
Chancery  Proceedings  of  Queen  Elizabeth  is  a  Bill  for  discovery  by  Sir  George 
Carye  knt.,  Gabriel  Goodman  D.D.,  Alexander  Nowell  clerk,  William 
Necton,  and  Jane  Allington  widow  against  Thomasine  Gayer,  Peter  Chisfell, 
and  Mary  his  wife  respecting  lands  late  the  estate  of  Sir  William  Cordell 
knight,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  and  devised  by  his  will  viz.  the  Manor  of  Faken- 
ham  Aspes  alias  Great  Fakenham  and  other  lands.3 

Edward  Cordell  obtained  licence  in  1587  to  alienate  the  manor  by  way 
of  settlement  to  Humphry  Donatt  and  others,4  and  in  1591  sold  to  Thomas 
Cordell.5  Thomas  Cordell  died  in  1612  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Thomas.  There  is  however  a  deed  in  existence  dated  the  loth  March 
1614  which  shows  that  the  manor  had  been  purchased  by  William 
Rushbrook  of  Thomas  Cordell  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Cordell  citizen  and 
Mercer  of  London ;  that  William  Rushbrook  conveyed  the  manor  to  his 
second  son  Thomas  on  his  marriage  with  Prudence  Frost.  Further  the 
Rushbrooks  apparenty  held  the  manor  till  1674.  It  is  sometimes  said 
that  the  manor  at  a  much  earlier  date  passed  to  the  very  ancient  family  of 
Tollemache  who  resided  for  many  years  at  a  place  now  called  "  Brunt 
Hall." 

Sir  Lionel  Tollemache  who  is  said  to  have  been  the  purchaser  married 
Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Lord  Stanhope  of  Harrington  and  served  in 
Parliament  for  the  borough  of  Orford  18  James  i  and  3  Chas.  I.  He  was 
found  dead  in  his  tent  at  Tilbury  Camp  Sept.  6th  1640  aged  49. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Lionel  Tollemache  Bart,  who  married 
Elizabeth  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Murray  Earl  of  Dysart  in  Scotland 
and  afterwards  the  2nd  wife  of  John  Maitland  Duke  of  Lauderdale.  The 
manor  however  probably  never  was  in  the  family  and  if  it  were  did  not 
continue  in  the  family,  but  passed  during  the  lifetime  of  Sir  Lionel  last 
mentioned  to  Thomas  Taylor  who  had  both  manor  andadvowson.  He  married 
Fayth  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  J  ohn  Reynolds  of  Fen-Ditton  co.  Cambridge, 
and  on  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  the  Rev.  Reynolds  Taylor 
who  died  loth  May  1692.  To  his  memory  was  erected  a  handsome  marble 
tomb  within  the  altar  rails  of  the  parish  church  of  Great  Fakenham  upon 
which  his  ancestry  is  very  fully  set  forth,  thus  : — 

"  Neer  hereunto  lyeth  the  Body  of  Mr.  Reynolds  Taylor  who  married 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  8  Edw.  IV.  18.  3  C.P.  i.  192  C.c.  15. 

'  See   Long   Melford   Manor  in   Babergh         4  Fine,  Hil.  29  Eliz. 

Hundred;  Fine,  Trin.  6  Eliz.  *  Fine,  Easter,  33  Eliz. 


300  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Rebecca,  Daughter  of  Christopher  Tumor  of  VVittlesey  in  the  Isle  of  Ely  and 
County  of  Cambridge  Esqre.  late  high  Sheriff  of  that  County,  by  whom  he 
hath  left  two  hopeful  children,  Thomas  and  Rebecca.  He  was  son  of  Thomas 
Taylor  Esqr.,  Lord  of  this  manor  and  Patron  of  this  Church  by  Fayth  his 
wife,  Daughter  and  sole  Heir  of  John  Reynolds  of  Fenditton  in  the  County 
of  Cambridge  Gent,  truly  descended  of  a  younger  Braunche  of  that  gener. 
Family  of  Reynolds  of  Bumsted  in  Essex,  and  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  which 
Thomas  was  son  of  William  Taylor  of  Bradley  in  the  County  of  Southton 
Esqre.  by  Barbara,  Daughter  of  Thomas  Hanbury  of  Hanbury  in  the  County 
of  Worcester,  which  William  was  son  of  Thomas  Taylor  of  Bradley  Esqre. 
by  Mary  Daughter  of  John  Shorbolt  of  Yardley  Place  in  the  County  of 
Hartford  Esqr.,  which  Thomas  was  son  of  Thomas  Taylor  of  Battersey 
Esqr.  by  Cecily,  Daughter  of  Anthony  Walker  Esqr.  of  the  Wardrobe  to 
Hen.  8,  Queen  Mary  and  Queen  Elizabeth,  which  Thomas  was  the  son  of 
John  Taylor  of  Haselden  Grange  in  the  Parish  of  Rodmorton  in  the  Count 
of  Glouc.  Esqr.  by  Margaret  the  sister  and  sole  heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Ramsey 
knt.,  which  John  by  several  steps  or  Descents  was  truly  descended  from 
Thomas  Taylor  of  Carlisle  in  the  County  of  Cumberland  Esqr.,  whose 
Issue  fell  down  in  the  eldest  line  unto  Thomas  Taylor  Esqr.,  slayne  at  the 
Seige  of  Mattrell  in  France  A°.  36  Hen.  8,  and  by  his  death  unto  Edmund 
Taylor  his  Brother  also  slayne  in  the  Battle  of  Musleborough  in  Scotland 
Anno  i  Edw.  6  and  by  his  Death  unto  John  Taylor  of  London  Esqr., 
whose  Daughter  and  sole  Heir  was  married  to  Sir  Thomas  Freake  of 
Learne1  in  the  County  of  Dorset  knt.,  by  whom  she  left  a  most  flourishing 
Family  and  Estate.  The  said  Reynolds  Taylor  was  a  most  indulging 
Husband  to  his  Wife,  a  tender  Father  to  his  Children,  and  a  dutiful  Son  to 
his  Father.  He  was  piously,  of  an  honest  Heart,  true  to  his  Friends  and 
beloved  of  all  who  did  know  him.  He  departed  this  life  10  Day  of  May  1692." 

The  manor  was  then  purchased  by  Charles  2nd  Duke  of  Grafton  K.G. 
whose  descendant  the  present  Duke  of  Grafton  is  now  lord. 

Arms  of  Valoines  :  Ar.  three  pallets,  wavy,  gu. 

RINGMERE  MANOR  OR  GRANGE. 

The  place  is  entered  by  Davy  as  a  manor,  but  it  seems  doubtful  if  it  were  a 
lordship.  King  Henry  VIII.  granted  it  in  1528  to  Charles  Brandon  Duke 
of  Suffolk1  who  had  licence  to  alienate  it  the  same  year  to  John  Wiseman 
and  Agnes  his  wife.  On  John  Wiseman's  death  it  passed  to  his  son  John, 
and  later  into  the  possession  of  Sir  William  Cordell  who  died  in  1592,  and 
the  estate  ultimately  in  1837  passed  into  the  family  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton. 

FAKENHAM  (LITTLE). 

The  only  entry  in  Domesday  relating  to  this  place  is  the  holding  of  the 
above  Peter  de  Valoines  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  namely  a  freeman 
with  60  acres  of  land  and  I  ploughteam.  The  man  was  under  the  Abbot 
who  had  sac,  soc  and  commendation  and  the  man  could  not  give  or  sell  the 
land  without  the  Abbot's  licence.  He  was  valued  at  5  shillings.3 

FAKENHAM  PARVA  MANOR. 

This  manor  seems  to  have  been  held  by  the  Comyn  family  (probably 
of  the  Abbot  of  Bury),  for  it  is  mentioned  by  name  in  the  Inquisition  p.m. 

1  ?  Cearne  or  Cerne.  •  Dom.  ii.  3676. 

•  As  to  him,  see  Gyfford's  Manor,  in  Wattis- 
neld,  in  this  Hundred. 


FAKENHAM    (GREAT). 


301 


of  Edmund  Comyn  in  1320.'  We  find  no  specific  mention  of  the  manor 
from  this  time  until  1346  when  we  meet  with  a  fine  levied  by  William  de 
Pakenham  and  Joan  his  wife  against  Thomas  de  Saxham  and  Robert  de 
Bokenham  of  this  manor,2  and  in  1380  when  another  fine  was  levied  of  a 
moiety  of  the  manor  by  Thomas  de  Stanton  and  Margaret  his  wife  against 
John  Rokewode  of  Fakenham  Parva  and  Margaret  his  wife.3  In  the  Staunton 
family  the  manor  seems  to  have  been  for  some  generations,  for  in  1458  we 
find  a  moiety  of  it  included  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  James  Staunton.4  The 
manor  was  not  held  with  the  advowson,  which  was  granted  in  the  time  of 
King  John  to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Dionys  near  Southampton5 
with  whom  it  remained  for  three  centuries  and  from  whom  it  came  to  the 
Rookwoods.  No  vestige  of  the  church  now  remains  and  all  the  land  in  the 
parish  is  included  in  Euston  Park.  Lord  Arlington,  when  he  held  Euston, 
united  the  rectory  with  Euston. 

We  meet  with  the  following  fines  of  this  manor  in  the  times  of  Hen. 
VIII.  and  Q.  Elizabeth  :  1509,  Sir  Robert  Drury  and  others  v.  John  Harvey 
and  others  of  a  moiety6;  1601,  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  and  others  v.  Edward 
Rookewood  and  others7 ;  1603,  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  and  others  v.  Henry 
Townshend  and  others.8 

Amongst  the  State  Papers  for  1668  is  a  petition  by  Lord  Arlington 
for  a  grant  of  the  perpetual  advowson  of  the  rectory  of  Little  Fakenham 
to  him  and  his  heirs  so  as  to  increase  the  revenue  of  Euston  Church  by  both 
being  enjoyed  by  one  parson.  It  was  stated  that  the  living  which  was  then 
in  the  King's  hand  was  worth  only  £25  a  year.9  In  the  report  of  the  Bishop 
of  Norwich,  also  in  the  State  Papers  of  the  same  year,  it  is  said  that  the  two 
parishes  adjoin,  and  that  in  Little  Fakenham  there  is  only  one  family ; 
"  which  parish,"  says  the  Bishop,  "  has  neither  church,  chapel  or  place  of 
worship  so  that  the  family  resort  to  Euston  Church  about  a  mile  off."  He 
adds  that  Fakenham  and  Euston  have  been  joined  by  former  Kings  in  one 
presentation  and  that  the  three  preceding  incumbents  admitted  to  the 
Rectory  of  Little  Fakenham  Church  had  been  so  on  the  presentation  of 
Nicholas  Rookwood  the  patron  and  it  would  be  convenient  to  make  a 
union  of  the  two  churches.10 

The  following  year  amongst  the  State  Papers  we  find  a  grant  of  the 
union  of  Fakenham  Parva  and  Euston  Churches  and  grant  to  Henry  Lord 
Arlington  patron  of  Euston  of  the  advowson  of  Fakenham  Parva  provided 
the  same  person  be  presented  to  both  livings."  Page  however  states  that 
the  union  of  the  two  rectories  was  not  effected  until  1739. 


•  I.P.M.,  14  Edw.  II.  25. 

*  Feet  of  Fines,  20  Edw.  III.  19. 
'  Feet  of  Fines,  4  Rich.  II.  41. 
«  I.P.M.,  36  Hen.  VI.  10. 

s  Hail.  57  E.  24. 

6  Fine,  Mich,  i  Hen.  VIII. 


i  Fine,  Easter,  43  Eliz. 

•  Fine,  Hil.  45  Eliz. 

»  State  Papers,  1668,  p.  460. 

10  State  Papers,  1668,  p.  108. 

11  State  Papers,  1669,  p.  277. 


302  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


HEPWORTH. 

O  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey  in  connection 
with  Hepworth,  but  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  and  Robert 
le  Blund  both  held  land  here  in  chief  of  the  King.  The 
holding  of  the  Abbot  was  20  freemen  with  two  carucates  and 
a  half,  3  villeins  and  4  serfs,  8  ploughlands,  4  acres  of  meadow 
and  wood  for  6  hogs.  There  was  also  a  church  with  15 
acres  of  free  land  in  alms.  The  men  could  give  or  sell  their 
lands,  but  the  soc,  sac  and  commendation  and  all  customs  remained  with 
the  Abbot  who  was  also  entitled  to  services  in  his  manors  at  Coney  Weston 
and  Stanton.  The  value  had  in  Saxon  times  been  20  shillings,  but  at  the 
time  of  the  Survey  was  40.  Of  this  land  Fulcher  the  Norman  held  of  the 
Abbot  i  carucate  and  Peter  de  Valoines'  had  30  acres  and  3  bordars 
valued  at  32  shillings  beyond  the  above  valuation.  The  extent  of  the  Abbot's 
holding  was  7  quarentenes  in  length  and  5  in  breadth  and  the  assessment  in 
a  gelt  was  17$.* 

Robert  le  Blond  or  Blund's  holding  was  half  a  freeman  with  40  acres 
and  a  bordar  and  half  a  ploughteam  and  half  an  acre  of  meadow  of  the  value 
of  10  shillings.5 

The  lands  specified  in  Domesday  Survey  became  subsequently  split  up 
and  divided  into  5  manors. 

HEPWORTH  MANOR. 

Davy  thinks  this  was  composed  of  the  land  of  Robert  Blund,  but 
this  is  not  probable.  The  entries  relating  to  Hepworth  in  the  Feodary 
compiled  for  Baldwin  the  Abbot  of  about  the  same  date  as  the  Great 
Record  are  "  ad  Hepworde  tenet  Fulcerius  de  Sancto  Edmundo  Ixxx.  acras 
terrae  et  xiiii.  liberos  homines  de  xxxvi.  acris  terrae.  Ad  VVattisfelde  et 
Hepworde  tenet  Roricus  Sancto  i  carucatam  terrae  et  iii.  bordarios  et  iii. 
liberos  homines  de  viii.  acris  terrae.  Ad  Hepworda  tenet  Peter  de  Valoiniis 
de  Sancto  dimidium  liberum  hominem  de  xxx.  acris." 

From  this  it  appears  that  a  process  of  subinfeudation  had  begun  and 
the  germs  of  a  manor  appear.  Fulcher's  capital  manor  was  at  Little  Saxham 
and  his  descendants  adopted  the  name  of  De  Saxham.  Fulcher  may  be 
taken  to  have  held  the  main  manor  under  the  Abbot  of  Bury  who  was  the 
chief  lord.  Towards  the  end  of  the  I2th  century,  Fulcher's  holding  was  in 
the  possession  of  his  descendant  Ralph  de  Saxham  and  it  passed  to  his  son 
Gilbert  before  1180.  In  1198  Gilbert  was  still  holding,  for  in  that  year  by 
fine  levied  before  the  King's  justices  he  acknowledged  that  he  owed  Samson 
the  abbot  the  service  of  three  knights'  fees  for  his  lands  in  Saxham,  Thel- 
netham,  Hepworth,  Gissing,  and  Royden,  and  also  castle  guard  at  Norwich 
Castle.  Gilbert  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William  de  Saxham  and  he  in  his 
turn  by  his  son  Ralph.  Ralph  de  Saxham  t.  of  Edw.  I.  sold  his  fief  in  three 
portions. 

The  Hepworth  manor  formed  one  portion  and  went  to  Giles  the  son  of 
William  de  Neketon.  Giles  probably  bought  about  1279  and  was  in  posses- 
sion in  1288,  for  in  that  year  he  sued  Matthew  Thelingham  and  three  others 

1  See   Great     Fakenham    Manor   in    this         •  Dom.  ii.  3656. 
Hundred.  3  Dom.  ii.  439*. 


HEPWORTH.  303 

for  trespass  on  his  free  warren  at  Hepworth.1  He  married  one  Sybil  by 
whom  he  had  a  son  William  de  Neketon  who  succeeded  his  father  about  the 
year  1300.  William  was  a  minor  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death  but  had 
livery  of  his  lands  on  doing  homage  to  Abbot  Thomas  de  Tottington  in 
1307.  The  land  in  Hepworth  which  William  de  Neketon  thus  inherited  from 
his  father  who  had  purchased  the  Saxham  fee  and  from  his  grandfather 
who  had  purchased  the  estate  of  Marcella  de  Hepworth  as  after-mentioned, 
really  went  to  make  the  manor  subsequently  known  and  still  passing  under 
the  name  of  the  North  Hall  Manor. 

RlVESHALL  al.  RUSHALL  dl.  REEVE'S  MANOR. 

The  land  forming  this  manor  was  part  of  the  fee  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmunds  and  clearly  not  part  of  the  land  held  by  Robert  le  Blund  or 
Peter  de  Valoines  though  Davy  does  make  the  land  held  in  1086  by  Robert 
le  Blund  to  be  that  held  by  Walter  de  Hepworth  in  the  time  of  Richard  the 
First.  This  may  be  seen  from  the  statement  in  Abbot  Samson's  Calendar 
as  to  the  suits  or  services  due  from  the  leets  to  the  Hundred  Court  compiled 
with  the  descent  of  the  land  held  later  by  the  de  Hepworths.  The  Calendar 
says  :— 

'  Nunc  de  sectis  duorum  hundredorum  dicendum  est.  In  Hepwortha 
sunt  III.  (secte) ;  una  de  terra  Walteri  filii  Berardi  una  de  terra  Walteri 
filii  Eadwardi  et  sociorum  ;  una  de  terra  Blundi  et  de  terra  Valencensi." 
The  de  Hepworth  estate  was  that  held  at  the  time  of  the  Survey  by  Aldstan 
who  was  living  as  late  as  1134.  He  married  a  sister  of  Ording  who  was 
cellarer  of  St.  Edmund's  Abbey  and  had  a  son  Berard  to  whom  Abbot 
Anselm  granted  all  the  lands  which  his  father  held  in  1134  by  the  following 
tenure  :  "  Quod  ibit  in  exercitum  cum  equis  suis  in  corrodio  Abbatis  ;  et 
ad  placitum  Abbatis  cum  abbate  vel  cum  Dapifero  suo,  ibit  cum  equis  suis 
longe  et  ibit  ad  comitatum  et  ad  hundredum." 

It  is  true  no  vill.  is  mentioned  but  the  context  shows  that  Hepworth  is 
intended.  The  Abbot  Anselm  also  granted  to  this  Berard  the  land  of 
Melusia  Aquenesima  in  Hepworth.  In  1225  there  is  an  order  on  the  Patent 
Rolls  to  the  Justiciaries  in  an  action  by  William  Gernun  parson  of  the  Church 
of  Hepworth  against  this  Berard  de  Hepeworth  as  to  whether  one  messuage 
in  Hepworth  belonged  to  the  church  or  was  a  lay  fee.2 

Berard  married  Goda  daughter  of  Hereward  of  Barton  and  was  succeeded 
by  Walter  de  Hepworth  his  son  and  heir.  Walter  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir  William  who  married  Matilda  who  surviving  her  husband  in 
1248  claimed  dower  out  of  his  lands  in  Hepworth  from  her  grandson's 
guardian.  Walter  the  son  of  William  died  in  his  father's  lifetime  leaving 
a  son  William  who  in  1248  was  in  guardianship  of  Jeremy  de  Caxton. 
This  William's  widow  Amicia  survived  him  and  re-married  Sir  Henry  de 
Riveshall.  Amicia  by  her  first  husband  William  de  Hepworth  had  four 
daughters — Helen,  Susannah,  Marcella  and  Agnes,  and  by  her  2nd  husband 
had  a  son  Sir  John  de  Riveshall.  Helen  the  eldest  daughter  married  Richard 
de  Champ  and  together  they  sold  their  share  in  the  manor  to  Sir  Henry 
de  Riveshall  who  also  bought  up  the  share  of  Agnes  de  Hepworth  and  thus 
secured  a  moiety  of  the  manor.3  Susannah  married  Thomas  de  Stanton 

'  Abbr.  of  Pleas,  16  Edw.  I.  Trin.  i.  '  On  the  Abbr.  of  Pleas  of  Edw.  I.,  Majus 

*  Pat.  Rolls,  9  Hen.  III.  $d.  Record,  Hil.   9,   will   be   seen   the 

finding  that  William  Redgrave  had 
removed  a  certain  dike  at  Hep- 
worth  to  the  injury  of  the  tenement 
of  Henry  de  Riveshall. 


304  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

and  the  fourth  share  passed  to  her  son  Nicholas  and  then  to  his  son  Edmund 
de  Stanton  who  sold  it  to  Robert  Ashfield  in  1376.  The  remaining  daughter 
Marcella  sold  her  J  share  in  the  manor  to  William  son  of  Robert  de  Neketon. 

Sir  John  de  Riveshall  on  the  death  of  his  father  Sir  Henry  about  1285 
succeeded  to  his  moiety  and  married  Wynesia  dau.  of  Ralf  son  of  William  de 
Prevense  who  claimed  dower  in  1292  out  of  200  acres  of  land  in  Hepworth 
and  elsewhere.  The  claim  to  dower  was  peculiar  in  that  she  alleged  she 
was  entitled  to  one-half  whereas  the  Abbot  who  had  the  lands  in  hand,  the 
heir  John  de  Riveshale  being  a  minor,  contended  that  she  was  entitled  to 
but  a  third.  The  question  was  in  reality  one  as  to  the  nature  of  the  tenure, 
for  if  the  lands  were  held  by  knight's  service  she  would  have  been  entitled 
to  one- third,  whereas  if  common  socage  or  petty  serjeanty  to  one-hall.  It 
was  decided  that  she  was  entitled  to  a  third  only,  except  as  to  certain  lands  at 
Bardwell.  By  an  agreement  23  Edw.  1. 1294  the  Abbot  demised  all  the  lands 
in  his  custody  "late  of  Sir  John  de  Riveshall "  to  Wynesia  the  widowto  hold 
until  the  minor  John  de  Riveshall  the  younger  or  his  sister  Johanna  should 
attain  their  full  age  at  certain  rents  mentioned  in  the  agreement.  An 
extent  of  the  manor  from  the  Reg.  Pinchbeck  fol.  202  taken  by  this  John 
de  Riveshall  when  still  a  minor  is  valuable  as  showing  its  condition  before 
severance.  The  quotation  is  taken  second-hand  from  the  extract  in  Messrs. 
Corbett  and  Tindal  Methold's  Article  later  referred  to  :— 

Extenta  Manerii  quod  quondam  fuit  Willelmi  de  Heppewurth  in 
Heppewurth,  tarn  de  antiquis  dominicis  quam  de  perquisitis,  &c.,  facta 
per  extentores  videlcet  Adam  Baf,  Willelmum  Pikele,  Henricum  filium 
Cler.,  Thomas  de  Grimesyk  et  Thomas  le  Chape tur. 

Est  ibidem  unum  mesuagium  de  antique  dominico,  &c.,  et  valet  per 
annum  v.  sol.  Summa  v.  sol. 

Item  in  crofto  mesuagii  praedicti  xxx.  acrae  terre  ;  valet  acra  per 
annum  xiid.  Summa  patet. 

Item  juxta  Brockeleye  xi.  acrae  terre ;  precium  acrae  terre  viii^. 
Summa  viis.  mid. 

Item  apud  le  Brethe  xxvi.  acrae  terre ;  precium  acre  vd.  Summa 
xs.  xd. 

Item  una  acra  in  mesuagio  Willelmi  Bret  et  super  Lirantischorin  una 
acra  terre  ;  precium  acre  xiid.  Summa  ii.  solidi. 

Item  apud  Longelond  iiii.  acrae  et  super  le  Redeles  iii.  acrae  et  in  Leyt 
i.  acra  et  i.  roda  super  le  Knol  iii.  acrae  et  dimidium  et  juxta  Swepneshawe 
in  uno  campo  xi.  acre  vocato  Eleven  acrae  et  super  Swegneshawe  xviii. 
acrae  et  apud  Oldegate  x.  acrse  et  apud  Upwelle  vi.  acrae  et  apud  Wrothe- 
land  v.  acrae  precium  acrae  vd.  Summa  acrarum  Ixi.  acrae  et  dimidium  and 
i  roda  Summa  argenti  xxvs.  viiid.  obulus  (et)  quadrans  per  annum. 

Item  apud  Walsham  xvii.  acrae  et  xviii.  acrae  apud  Tuftis  et  apud 
Newehawe  xviii.  acrae  et  apud  Tuyst  Castel  ix.  acrae  et  in  Reyses  xviii. 
acrae  et  apud  Oselaks  Pit  xviii.  acrae  et  juxta  Esthawegate  ii.  acrae  et  super 
Brunescroft  xiii.  acrae  precium  acrae  Hid.  Summa  acrarum  vi".  et  ii.  acrae. 
Summa  argenti  per  annum  xxx.  solid  vid. 

Item  super  le  Nabbe  viii.  acrae  de  antique  dominico  de  quibus  Elena 
qui  fuit  uxor  Walteri  de  Soham  vendidit  Thome  de  Stanton  i.  acra  et  i. 
rodam  precium  acrae  vd.  Summa  in  argento  per  annum  xxid. 

Item  super  Reycroft  v.  acrae  de  dominico  antiquo  de  quibus  dicta 
Elena  vendidit  Radulpho  Turold  seniori  pro  parte  sua  scilicet  i.  acra  et  i. 
roda  precium  acrae  vd.  Summa  in  argento  per  annum  xviiid.  ob  quadrans. 


HEPWORTH.  305 

Item  i.  acra  juxta  Croftum  Walter!  de  Coneston  precium  acrae  xiid.  et 
iii.  roda  juxta  Croftum  Goldyng  precium  ixd.  Summa  in  argento  per  annum 
xxid. 

Item  sunt  ibidem  de  antique  dominico  xiii.  acrae  bosci  unde  possunt 
amputari  per  annum  iiii.  acrae  et  dimidium  precium  acrae  iiis.  iiii^.  Summa 
in  argento  per  annum  xvs. 

Item  apud  Esthawe  ix.  acras  pasturae  precium  acrae  vid.  Summa  in 
argento  per  annum  iiiis.  vid. 

Item  iiii.  acrae  prati  falcabilis  precium  acrae  iiiis.  Summa  per  annum 
xvi.  solidi. 

Item  juxta  praedictum  pratum  iii.  acrae  et  dimidium  pasturae  precium 
acrae  xii^.  Summa  in  argento  per  annum  iiis.  vi^. 

Item  Libertas  unius  falde  que  valet  per  annum  xxxviis. 

Item  sunt  ibidem  x.  villani  qui  tenent  iiii".  acras  terre  ;  reddunt  per 
annum  xis.  iiiid. 

Item  faciunt  per  annum  vi".  et  xvi.  opera  et  unumquodque  opus 
valet  id.  Summa  in  argento  per  annum  xxiiiis.  iiiid.  pro  utraque  summa. 

Item  iii.  villani  faciunt  iii.  arruras  iemales  et  valet  xiid.  precium  arrurae 
iiiid.  debent  xii.  averagia  que  valent  xii^.  precium  cujuslibet  id.  Summa 
in  argento  per  annum  iis. 

Item  x.  villani  superscripti  debent  per  annum  x.  gallinas  precium  gal- 
linae  id.  et  debent  Iii.  ova  et  valent  ii^.  Summa  xiid. 

Item  sunt  ibidem  v.  cotagii  qui  tenent  vii.  acras  terre  et  dimidium  et 
reddunt  per  annum  iis.  vid.  et  faciunt  per  annum  xli.  opera  precium  cujus- 
libet operis  id.  Summa  vs.  xid. 

Item  iii.  Cotagii  sunt  ibidem  quorum  unusquisque  reddit  per  annum  i. 
Gallinam  precium  id.  et  unusquisque  reddit  v.  ova  et  valet  obolus.  Summa 
iii^.  obolus. 

Item  sunt  ibidem  iii.  ex  villanis  qui  metant  in  autumpno,  scilicet 
unusquisque  eorum  iii.  acras  ordei  vel  iiii.  acras  frumenti  precium  acras 
ordei  iiii^.  Summa  iiis. 

Item  est  unus  Villanus  qui  reddit  per  annum  i.  quartam  a  venae 
precium  iis.  Summa  iis. 

De  perquisitis  Domini  Henricus  de  Riveshale  videlicet  quod  Dominus 
Henricus  perquisivit  medietatem  totius  predicti  tenement!  et  etiam  idem 
Henricus  perquisivit  unum  mesuagium  quod  domina  Anna  tenuit  ad 
totam  vitam  suam  quod  valet  per  annum  iiis.  Summa  iiis. 

Item  in  crofto  ejusdem  mesuagii  v.  acrae  et  dimidium  precium  acrae 
viiid.  Summa  iiis.  iiiid. 

Item  apud  Anselescroft  et  le  Stubbing  v.  acrae  et  dimidium  precium 
acrae  vd .  Summa  iis.  Hid.  obolus. 

Item  apud  Tuftes  ix.  acrae  terre  et  apud  Hawyswod  xi.  acrae  terre  et 
apud  Brunescroft  xvi.  acrae  precium  acrae  Hid.  Summa  ixs.  per  annum. 

Item  apud  Folates  Bushes  xvi.  acrae  unde  pars  est  pastura  et  pars 
est  subboscus  precium  acraa  viiid.  Summa  xs.  viii^. 

Item  ii.  acrae  prati  qui  fuerunt  Frederici  de  Heppeworth  sicut  jacentin 
prato  de  Hepworth  precium  acrae  xiid.  Summa  iis. 

Item  Dominus  Henricus  perquisivit  de  Salamano  de  Ingham  iiis.  iiiid. 
de  redditu  per  annum  et  de  aliis  perquisivit  vii^.  de  redditu,  &c.  Summa 
per  annum  iiiis.  et  iiiid.  Summa  totius  perquisitionis  per  annum  xxxiiiis. 
viid.  obolum. 

Summa  totius  istius  extent!  et  utraque  parte  cum  perquisitis  Domini 
Henrici  de  Riveshale  xiii  lib.  vs.  viid.  obol. 

Nl 


306  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Subject  to  the  dower  right  the  moiety  of  Sir  John  descended  to  his  son 
Sir  John  de  Riveshall,  and  passed  again  in  moieties  on  his  death  to  his  two 
daughters  and  coheirs,  Wynesia  married  to  Sir  Oliver  Wythe  son  of  Sir 
Jeffery  Wythe.  Sir  Oliver  died  in  1367,  leaving  his  wife  surviving.  Alesia 
the  other  daughter  of  Sir  John  de  Riveshall  married  Hugo  le  Groos  and 
died  in  1367  leaving  3  sons,  John,  William  and  Thomas.  An  Inquisition 
was  held  in  1367,  on  the  death  of  Alicia  wife  of  Hugo  le  Groos  and  the  same 
year  on  her  eldest  son  John  Groos,1  and  in  1369  on  the  death  of  her  son 
William.  In  the  last  the  jurors  found  that  William  the  son  and  heir  of 
Hugo  le  Groos  held  on  the  day  of  his  death  a  moiety  of  the  Manor  of  Hep- 
worth  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmunds  by  the  fourth 
part  of  a  knight's  fee,  and  that  William  le  Groos  died  about  the  feast  of 
St.  Margaret  the  Virgin,  1368,  leaving  Thomas  his  brother  and  heir  and  that 
he  was  8  years  of  age.  As  to  the  Wythe  J  share,  Sir  Oliver  and  Wynesia 
his  wife  left  a  son  Sir  Jeffery  Wythe  who  succeeded  to  his  mother's  portion 
in  the  manor.  Sir  Jeffrey  lived  at  Smalburgh  and  by  his  will  made  in  1373 
he  gave  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  the  brethren  of  Mount 
Carmel  (the  White  Friars)  of  Norwich.2  His  will  was  proved  the  last  day  of 
February  in  the  aforesaid  year,  and  Alice  his  wife  was  executrix.  He  left 
a  son  Sir  John  Wythe  who  married  Sibella  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir 
Edmund  St.  Omer  of  Clenchwarton  co.  Norfolk.  After  the  death  of  John 
Wythe  she  married  Sir  William  Calthorpe  of  Calthorp  co.  Norf.  In  an 
able  article  in  Vol.  X.  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Suffolk  Institute  by  Messrs. 
W.  J.  Corbett  and  T.  Tindal  Methold,  from  which  we  have  gathered  most  of 
our  information,  they  refer  to  the  allegations  of  Robert  Ashfield  in  certain 
proceedings  relating  to  the  advowson  in  which  it  is  asserted  that  John  Wythe 
by  a  deed  dated  "  die  lune  proximo  post  finem  claus  Paschae  anno  Ric. 
II.  7,"  i.e.,  1384,  granted  to  Robert  Ashfield  and  others  all  his  part  of  the 
advowson  of  the  Church  of  Hepworth  and  all  his  right  of  presentation  to  the 
said  Robert  Ashfield  and  others  in  fee.  The  writers  of  the  article  add 
"  and  probably  all  his  (John  Wythe's)  share  of  Riveshall  Manor." 

This  seems  to  us  somewhat  doubtful,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
advowson  is  said  to  have  been  appendant  to  the  manor  or  rather  to  the 
carucate  of  land  held  by  the  first  William  de  Hepworth. 

Most  of  the  descents  as  given  above  appear  in  a  statement  of  the  evidence 
used  or  rather  intended  to  have  been  used  in  an  action  brought  by  Nicholas 
de  Stanton  in  1303  to  establish  his  right  to  present  to  the  living  of  Hep- 
worth.  It  is  clear  from  two  statements  confirmed  by  still  existing  documents 
that  the  allegation  of  Blomefield  in  his  Norfolk,  Page  in  his  Suffolk,  and 
Davy  in  his  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  that  Sir  Henry  de  Riveshall  married 
a  daughter  of  William  son  of  Walter  de  Hepworth  is  inaccurate.  The 
moiety  of  the  manor  acquired  by  Sir  Henry  de  Riveshall  has  since  been 
known  as  Rushall  or  Riveshall  manor,  while  the  part  acquired  by  Thomas 
de  Stanton  on  his  marriage  with  Susannah  de  Hepworth  has  since  been 
known  as  the  Manor  of  Master  Stephen's,  no  doubt  by  reason  of  the  manor 
having  been  leased  to  Master  Stephen  when  the  Court  Rolls  were  first  kept 
separately  of  this  manor ;  and  the  portion  purchased  by  Giles  de  Neketon 
from  Marcella  went  as  already  indicated  to  make  up  North  Hall  Manor. 

The  issue  of  Alesia  le  Groos  having  been  exhausted,  the  whole  manor  was 
vested  in  Sibella  Calthorpe  at  the  time  of  her  death  which  occurred  about 
1421,  for  her  will  was  proved  on  the  6  Oct.  in  this  year.  She  left  the  manor 

•  I.  P.M.,  41  Edw.  III.  25.  •  Reg.  Haydon,  Norw.  fol.  35. 


HEPWORTH.  307 

to  Amy  her  daughter  by  her  first  husband  Sir  John  Wythe1  which  daughter 
had  married  Sir  John  Calthorpe  her  second  husband's  son.  On  Amy's  death 
the  manor  passed  to  Sir  William  Calthorpe  her  son  and  heir.  Sir  William 
was  in  1457  knighted,  and  became  locum  tenens  and  Commissary-General  to 
WilliamDuke  of  Suffolk  andEarl  of  Pembroke,  High  Chamberlain  of  England, 
Ireland  and  Aquilan  during  the  minority  of  Henry  Duke  of  Exeter.  In 
1468  he  writes  himself  Sir  William  Calthorpe  of  London,  and  in  1478  was 
Steward  of  the  Household  of  the  Duke  of  Norf .,  also  High  Sheriff  of  Norf .  and 
Suff.,  as  he  had  been  in  1429  and  in  1441  and  1447.  He  married  ist 
Elizabeth  daughter  of  Reginald  Lord  Grey  of  Ruthin  and  andly  Elizabeth 
daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir  Miles  Stapleton  of  Ingham  Norfolk.  By  his  first 
wife  he  had  Sir  John  Calthorpe  his  son  and  heir;  Amy  married  to  William 
Gourney  s.  and  h.  of  Thomas  ;  Elizabeth  married  to  Richard  Welby  of 
Moulton  in  Lincolnshire.  By  his  second  wife  he  had  a  son  William  Calthorpe 
of  Pockthorp  in  Norwich  who  was  buried  in  the  White  Friar's  Church  in 
Norwich,  and  a  daughter  Anne  married  to  Sir  Robert  Drury  of  Hawstead 
Privy  Councillor  to  Hen.  VII.  and  later  married  to  Sir  Edward  Howard 
knt.  Lord  Admiral,  brother  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  then  to  the  Lord  Scrope, 
and  lastly  to  Sir  John  Fortescue,  Lord  Chief  Justice.  Sir  William 
Calthorpe  died  in  1494."  Inquisitions  were  awarded  in  Suffolk  and 
elsewhere.  He  was  buried  in  the  White  Friar's  Church  at  Norwich 
where  several  of  his  children  lay,  where  he  says  in  his  will,  "  The 
place  of  my  Sepulture  is  made,"  and  directs  forty  marks  to  be  given  in  pence 
to  the  poor  on  his  burial  day,  "  ten  marks  to  the  friers  and  Frier  Thomas 
Waterpepe  to  sing  three  years  for  his  own,  friends',  and  wife's  souls  at  the 
altar  whereto  his  sepulture  is,  and  after  the  gospel,  to  sey  openly  at  the 
end  of  every  mass,  de  profundis,  and  to  have  six  marks  a  year  ;  also  74^.  6s. 
to  make  and  adorn  the  choir  and  presbytery  of  the  Abbey  of  Cricke,  and  the 
chapel  there  where  his  ancestors  lie  buried." 

Sir  John  Calthorpe,  the  eldest  son,  who  had  married  Elizabeth  daughter 
of  Roger  Wentworth  of  Nettlestead,  had  died  in  his  father's  lifetime, 
leaving  a  son  Sir  Philip  Calthorpe  who  in  1494  is  said  to  have 
succeeded  his  grandfather  in  the  lordship.3  Sir  Philip  Calthorpe 
married  ist  Mary  sister  of  Sir  William  Sage  and  secondly  Jane 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Blennerhassett  of  Frense  in  Norf.  Sir  Philip's  will 
was  proved  7  Apl.  1535,  and  he  died  in  1535,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  Sir  Philip  Calthorpe  of  Erwarton  who  married  Amata 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Boleyn  of  Blickling  co.  Norf.,  aunt  to  Queen 
Anne  Boleyn.  The  last  two  lords  are  assigned  as  such  by  Davy, 
but  as  a  matter  of  fact  on  the  death  of  Sir  William  Calthorpe  in  1494 
certain  estates  at  Burnham  Thorpe  in  Norfolk  and  Erwarton  seem  to  have 
gone  to  the  grandson  Sir  Philip  and  this  manor  to  have  passed  to  Edward 
Calthorpe  of  Ludham  the  third  son  of  Sir  William  Calthorpe  by  his  second 
wife  as  he  presented  to  the  living  in  1505  in  respect  of  the  Rushall  turn. 
Edward  Calthorpe  married  Ann  Cromer  and  died  before  1535  when  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  another  Edward  Calthorpe  who  married  Thomasina 
daughter  of  Thomas  Gavel  of  Kirby  Caine  widow  of  Leonard  Copledyke 
and  had  a  son  Edmund  Calthorpe.  Davy  states  that  in  1522  John  Marshall 
held  what  had  been  Sir  Oliver  Wythe's  manor,  but  he  gives  no  authority 
for  this  nor  can  any  be  found.  The  manor  seems  however  to  have  become 
vested  in  William  Spring  of  Cockfield,  for  in  1567  he  granted  the  same  and 

1  Arms  of  Wythe  :    Azure,    three  griffins         '  His  will  was  proved  Nov.  27. 
in  pale  passant  or.  '  I. P.M.,  n  Hen.  VII.  975. 


308  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

also  the  advowson  of  Hepworth  Church  to  Ambrose  Jermyn.'  Sir  Ambrose 
Jermyn's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Spring,  of  Lavenham.  He 
mamed  ist  Ann  daughter  and  coheir  of  George  Heveningham  and  andly 
Dorothy  daughter  of  VVilliam  Badbye  and  widow  of  Sir  George  Blage  knt. 
On  his  death  in  1577,  his  eldest  son  John  having  died  in  his  lifetime  without 
issue,  the  manor  passed  to  his  2nd  son  Sir  Robert  Jermyn2  who  in  1579, 
when  the  Rushall  turn  came  to  present  to  the  living,  made  the  presentation. 
On  Sir  Robert  Jermyn's  death  in  1614  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir 
Thomas  Jermyn  who  was  created  a  Knight  of  the  Bath  at  the  Coronation  of 
James  I.  in  1603.  He  was  attached  to  the  embassy  of  the  Earl  of  Carlisle 
to  France  in  1616,  when  the  Earl's  excessive  magnificence  and  expenditure 
became  the  theme  of  general  comment.  It  seems  he  wholly  run  through 
on  this  and  two  other  embassies  £400,000  he  had  received  from  the  Crown. 
"  The  Lady  Haddington,"  writes  Chamberlain  of  the  embassy  of  1616,  "says 
the  flower  and  beauty  of  his  (Carlisle's)  embassy  consists  in  three  migards, 
three  dancers  and  three  fools  or  buffoons.  The  'migards  are  himself,  Sir 
Harry  Rich,  and  Sir  George  Goring ;  the  dancers  Sir  Gilbert  Hoghton, 
Auchmonty  and  Abercromby ;  the  fools  or  buffoons  are  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn, 
Sir  Ralph  Sheldon  and  Thomas  Badger."  However  Sir  Thomas  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  such  a  fool  as  he  then  appeared  or  may  have  grown 
wiser,  as  he  became  Vice-Chamberlain  to  Charles  I.  and  a  Privy  Councillor. 
It  was  this  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn's  second  son  Henry  Jermyn  created  in  1643 
Lord  Jermyn  of  St.  Edmunds  Bury  whose  intimacy  with  Henrietta  Maria 
occasioned  so  much  scandal — a  passage  in  Sir  John  Reresby's  Memoirs  has 
been  considered  an  authority  for  the  belief  that  they  were  privately 
married.  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  in  1620  sold  the  manor  to  John  Shawberry 
the  elder  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Shaw- 
berry  the  younger  who  married  Ann  daughter  of  John  Anguish  and  died  in 
1640  intestate  leaving  a  widow  and  4  children — John,  Anne,  Mary  and 
Margaret.  Ann  the  widow  remarried  John  James  who  held  the  manor  in 
his  wife's  right  till  1653,  when  he  died,  the  widow  living  on  until  1689  by 
which  time  John  her  son  and  his  sister  Margaret  had  both  died  without 
issue,  and  the  manor  descended  in  moieties  to  the  two  surviving  children 
Anne  and  Mary  Shawberry. 

Anne  married  John  Mingay  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  Barrister-at-law,  and  Mary 
married  Edmund  Bedingfield  of  Halesworth.  Anne  Mingay  died  without 
issue  and  her  moiety  passed  to  James  Mingay  nephew  of  her  husband  and 
son  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Mingay  rector  of  Redenhall  and  Shottesham  in 
Norfolk.  James  Mingay  married  Rebecca  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Ashwell  rector  of  Pelden,  Essex,  and  settled  the  moiety  in  1707  on  himself 
for  life  and  remainder  to  his  wife  for  life  with  remainder  to  himself  in  fee. 
He  died  in  1714,  leaving  an  only  surviving  daughter  Ann  Mingay. 

Rebecca  the  widow  remarried  Bolds  Markwich  and  held  her  moiety  of  the 
manor  until  it  was  sold  in  1753.  Her  daughter  Ann  married  Matthew 
Manning  of  Thetford  and  had  an  only  son  the  Rev.  Harry  Charles  Manning. 
Ann  died  in  1778.  Under  a  private  Act  of  Parliament  26  Geo.  II.  cap.  xxxv. 
passed  during  the  minority  of  Harry  Charles  Manning  the  Mingay  moiety 
of  the  manor  was  vested  in  trustees  upon  trust  for  sale  and  was  sold  and 
conveyed  by  deed  dated  the  26  June  1753  to  Henry  Ord  one  of  the  sworn 
clerks  of  the  King's  Remembrancers'  Office.  As  to  the  other  moiety  of 

1  Fine,    Mich.    9    Eliz. ;   Add.  Ch.    Brit.         •  See  Bardwell  Manor. 
Mus.  10526. 


HEPWORTH. 


309 


the  manor,  Mary  Bedingfield  left  an  only  daughter  Elizabeth  who  married 
Joel  Fremoult  of  Norwich  and  died  in  1720  when  it  passed  to  her  son  Robert 
Fremoult. 

This  moiety  was  however  immediately  after  Elizabeth  Fremoult's 
death  sold  to  Francis  Hutchison  of  Fornham  St.  Martin.  He  died  in  1741, 
leaving  an  only  daughter  Anne  who  married  the  above-mentioned  Henry 
Ord,  and  ultimately  by  the  conveyance  of  the  26  June  1753  the  whole  manor 
became  vested  in  the  Ord  family.  Henry  Ord  died  in  1756  and  was  buried 
at  Hampstead.  He  left  by  Anne  his  wife  a  son  Henry  Ord  who  died  in  1757 
leaving  a  son  the  Rev.  John  Ord. 

In  1757  Anne  Ord  widow  held  her  Court  as  lady  of  the  manor  and  in 
1771  she  and  John  Ord  held  their  Court  as  lady  and  lord  of  the  manor. 
Anne  Ord  died  in  1794,  and  the  Rev.  John  Ord  married  Mary  the  daughter 
of  S.  Norman  and  died  in  1816  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  John 
Norman  Ord  who  like  his  father  first  adopted  the  law  as  a  profession  and 
was  subsequently  ordained  to  preach  the  Gospel.  He  married  Ann  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Cocksedge  and  died  in  1812  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father. 
The  Rev.  John  Ord  about  1795  sold  the  manor  to  John  Sparke  who  died  in 
1814  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of  Walsham  le  Willows. 
He  left  a  son  named  John  who  in  1833  sold  the  manor  to  Thomas  Thornhill1 
of  Riddlesworth,  Norfolk,  and  the  manor  still  remains  the  property  of  the 
trustees  of  the  will  of  his  grandson  the  late  Sir  Thomas  Thornhill,  Bart. 

A  "Rivershall  Manor  "  was  included  in  a  fine  levied  in  1527  of  Brightwell 
and  Stutton  Manors  by  Sir  Anthony  Hopton  against  Sir  Thomas  Teys  and 
others.2 

Arms  of  Mingay  :    Or  on  a  bend  az.  three  leopards'  heads  arg. 

NORTH  HALL  MANOR. 

We  have  shown  how  the  land  inherited  by  William  de  Neketon  from 
his  father  and  from  his  grandfather  went  to  make  up  this  manor.  The  manor 
was  probably  first  known  as  Necton  Manor  which  Davy  enters  as  a  separate 
manor,  but  without,  it  is  apprehended,  sufficient  evidence. 

William  de  Neketon  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Giles  de  Neketon  and 
Giles  on  his  death  in  13642  by  his  daughter  Margaret  who  married  John 
Crulle.  Margaret  was  but  8  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  father's  death  and 
the  King  had  the  guardianship,  the  Abbacy  of  St.  Edmund  being  vacant 
by  reason  of  the  death  of  William  of  Burnham.  Margaret  the  widow  of 
Giles  de  Neketon  had  her  dower  set  out  in  1363,  and  it  consisted  of  the  east 
chamber  in  the  capital  messuage,  the  Little  Grange,  40  acres  of  land,  10 
acres  of  wood,  and  6  shillings  and  8  pence  rent.  This  same  year  the  King 
committed  to  his  valet  Helmyng  Leyet  the  custody  of  all  the  lands  in  Hep- 
worth  which  belonged  to  Giles  de  Neketon  during  the  minority  of  the  heir,4 
but  3  years  later  the  King  committed  to  "  John  de  Crule  "  the  husband  of 
Margaret,  Giles's  daughter  and  heir  the  custody  of  her  lands  during  her 
minority.5 

As  Margaret  was  but  8  years  of  age  when  her  father  died  in  1361  she 
must  have  married  at  13.  John  Crulle  and  his  wife  died  leaving  an  only 
daughter  Joan  who  married  Nicholas  Conyers  and  left  a  son  Sir  Robert 

1  See  Hopton  and  Knettishall  Manors  in         3  I.P.M.,  37  Edw.  III.  53. 

this  Hundred.  *  Originalia,  37  Edw.  III.  3. 

*  Fine,  Hil.  19  Hen.  VIII.  *  Originalia,  40  Edw.  III.  2. 


310  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Conyers  and  a  daughter  Alice.  Sir  Robert  presented  to  the  rectory  of 
Hepworth  in  respect  of  this  manor  in  1459  and  died  in  1480,  leaving  his 
widow  Elizabeth  and  a  son  Thomas  Conyers  him  surviving. 

Thomas  Conyers  died  18  Nov.  the  same  year  as  his  father  and  left  a 
daughter  Ela  or  Etheldreda  born  in  1476  his  heir.  Davy  makes  out  this 
Ela  to  have  been  the  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Conyers,  but  this  does  not 
seem  to  be  correct.1 

Ela  married  ist  Edmund  Cotton  of  Ridware,  Hamstall,  in  Staffordshire, 
the  son  of  William  Cotton  of  Landwade  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  secondly 
Edmund  Lee  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds.   A  fine  was  in  1527  levied  of  the  manor  by 
Sir  Robert  Drury  and  others  against  this  Edmund  Lee  and  others.1     Ela  died 
2  August  1535  leaving  a  son  and  heir  George  Cotton  and  a  daughter  Ethel- 
dreda or  Audrie  Cotton.3    The  daughter  took  the  manor  for  life,  apparently 
residing  at  North  Hall.     She  made  her  will  23  Sept.  1561  which  was  proved 
3rd  January  at  Norwich.     George  Cotton  her  elder  brother  who  was  entitled 
in  remainder,  evidently  under  some  will  or  settlement,  married  Jane  the 
daughter  of  John  Goldingham  of  Belstead  and  made  his  will  dated  July  14 
1551  proved  at  Norwich  July  ist  1555,  whereby  after  reciting  that  his  sister 
held  the  manor  for  life  directed  that  after  her  decease  it  should  remain  in 
the  hands  of  his  executors  for  10  years  to  apply  the  rents  and  profits  for  the 
benefit  of  his  children  and  subject  thereto  to  the  use  of  his  eldest  son  Edmund 
Cotton  in  tail  with  remainder  to  John  Cotton  in  tail  with  remainder  to 
Robert  Cotton  his  third  son  in  tail.     The  first  Court  held  after  the  death 
of  Audrie  Cotton  on  the  I7th  Sept.  1564  was  held  by  John  Putter  in  right  of 
Jane  Cotton  the  widow  of  George  Cotton  by  virtue  of  the  10  years'  term. 
On  the  expiration  of  this  term  the  manor  came  to  Edmund  Cotton,  George's 
eldest  son  as  tenant  in  tail.     He  married  Ann  daughter  of  John  Futter  and 
by  his  will  in  1584  attempted  to  dispose  of  the  manor  for  the  benefit  of 
Ann  his  wife  and  his  younger  sons  Robert  and  Charles  for  a  term  of  60  years 
and  subject  thereto  to  his  eldest  son  Edmund  Cotton  in  fee.       He  had 
previously  had  a  fine  levied  against  him  of  the  manor  in  1581  byj  ohn  Chapman.4 
Edmund  Cotton  the  father  died  in  1594  and  it  seems  that  Ann  the  widow 
held  Courts  and  after  her  death  Robert  the  son  also,  claiming  no  doubt  under 
the  60  years'  term  created  by  Edmund's  will ;  but  by  1617  the  manor  became 
duly  vested  in  Edmund  Cotton  the  tenant  in  tail  or  in  fee  according  to 
his  father's  will.     He  married  Katherine  daughter  of  Roger  Potter  of  Bury 
St.  Edmunds  and  died  in  1637,  his  w^e  having  preceded  him  a  couple  of 
years.     They  had  an  only  son  George  who  died  in  his  father's  lifetime  in 
1609  when  about  17  years  of  age  without  issue.     On  Edmund  Cotton's  death 
in  1637  the  manor  passed  to  his  nephew  Edmund  Cotton  of  Finningham, 
the  son  of  his  brother  Robert  Cotton  by  Elizabeth  Markant  his  wife. 

Edmund  Cotton  of  Finningham  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John 
Knapp  of  Great  Ellingham  Norfolk,  and  on  his  death  about  1645  it  passed 
to  his  two  daughters  and  coheirs — Elizabeth  Cotton  married  to  Richard 
Keeble  of  West  Greeting  son  of  Richard  Keeble  Sergeant  at  Law,  and  Katherine 
Cotton  married  to  Harbottle  Wingfield  of  Crowfield  Hall  eldest  son  of  Henry 
Wingfield  and  Dorothy  his  wife  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Brewster.  Har- 
bottle Wingfield  and  his  wife  sold  their  moiety  of  the  manor  to  Richard 
Keeble  and  about  1670  Richard  Keeble  and  Harbottle  Wingfield  and  their 
wives  sold  the  manor  and  the  North  Hall  right  of  presentation  to  Roger 

1  I.P.M.,  20  Edw.  IV.  74.  '  I.P.M.,  28  Hen.  VIII.  308. 

•  Fine,  Easter,  19  Hen.  VIII.  *  Fine,  Trin.  23  Eliz. 


HEPWORTH.  311 

Kedington  of  Rougham  who  by  deed  2yth  March  1703  sold  and  conveyed 
what  he  had  purchased  to  Robert  Hammond  of  Wattisfield,  timber  merchant. 

Robert  Hammond  by  his  will  dated  23rd  Sept.  1723  devised  the 
manor  to  Martin  Nunn  and  Mary  his  wife,  who  was  the  testator's  niece,  for 
their  lives  and  the  life  of  the  survivor  with  remainder  to  their  eldest  son 
Robert  Nunn  in  tail,  with  remainder  to  Martin  Nunn  their  2nd  son  in  tail, 
with  remainder  to  William  Nunn  their  3rd  son  in  tail,  with  remainder  to 
George  Nunn  their  4th  son  in  tail.  The  will  was  proved  at  Bury  29  June 
1724,  and  at  Robert  Hammond's  death  the  manor  passed  to  Robert  Nunn 
the  eldest  son  of  Martin  Nunn  and  Mary  his  wife.  He  married  Elizabeth 
daughter  of  John  Sparke  of  Walsham  le  Willows  and  died  in  1773  when  the 
lordship  passed  to  his  eldest  son,  the  Rev.  Robert  Nunn  who  became  rector 
of  Hepworth  and  also  of  Hemingstone.  He  married  Penelope  Hurrell 
and  died  in  1797  leaving  a  son  and  2  daughters.  Robert  Nunn  the  son  dis- 
entailed the  estate  and  sold  the  turn  of  presentation  to  the  living  to  William 
Colhoun  of  Wretham  in  Norfolk  who  exchanged  it  with  King's  College 
Cambridge  for  the  advowson  of  West  Wretham  with  the  authority  of  a 
private  Act  of  Parliament.1  He  married  Elizabeth  How  and  about  1815 
sold  the  manor  but  not  the  estate  to  his  relative  John  Sparke  of  Walsham  le 
Willows.  The  manor  at  that  time  was  of  little  value,  almost  all  the  copyholds 
having  been  enfranchised  or  having  been  acquired  by  the  lords  from  time 
to  time. 

On  John  Sparke's  death  the  manor  passed  to  John  Hector  Munro  who  on 
25th  Aug.  1857  conveyed  it  to  Edward  Freestone  of  Norwich  and  it  is  under- 
stood that  all  the  copyhold  lands  held  of  the  manor  have  now  been  en- 
franchised. As  to  the  North  Hall  estate  we  may  just  add  that  Robert 
Nunn  made  his  will  dated  28  Oct.  1836  and  died  in  1838  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  only  son  John  Nunn  who  married  Mary  Brown  and  sold  the 
manor  and  North  Hall  estate  in  1839  to  *ne  Rev.  Thomas  Methold  of  Thet- 
ford  and  rector  of  Kilverstone  in  Norfolk.  He  died  in  1853  having  devised 
the  property  to  his  wife  Susannah  Mary  Methold  for  life  and  after  her  death 
to  his  half-brother,  the  Rev.  John  William  Methold  vicar  of  Wighton, 
Norfolk  and  Henry  Methold  for  their  respective  lives  with  remainder  to  the 
children  of  Henry  Methold.  Henry  Methold  died  in  1869,  Susannah  Mary 
Methold  in  1872,  and  John  William  Methold  in  1883,  and  T.  Tindal  Methold 
eldest  son  of  Henry  Methold  is  the  present  owner  of  the  estate. 

Arms  of  Methold:  Azure,  six  escallops  or  3,  2,  i. 

MASTER  STEPHEN'S  MANOR. 

Thomas  de  Stanton,  as  we  have  shown,  held  this  manor  in  1303  as  tenant 
by  the  curtesy  and  demised  it  to  Master  Stephen  de  Hepworth.  On  Thomas's 
death  it  descended  to  his  son  Nicholas  de  Stanton  who  on  his  death  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Edmund.  By  a  deed  dated  49  Edw.  III. 
[1375]  cited  in  the  article  already  referred  to,  Edmund  de  Stanton  granted 
his  share  of  the  lands  of  William  de  Hepworth  to  Robert  Ashfield,  Margaret 
de  Bedingfield,  James  de  Bedingfield,  William  Jacot  Capellanus,  and  John 
Julian  and  their  heirs  for  ever.  Margaret  Bedingfield  died  and  by  a  deed 
a  few  months  later  her  co-grantees  other  than  Robert  Ashfield  released 
what  they  had  acquired  under  the  grant  of  Edmund  de  Stanton  to  the  said 
Robert  Ashfield  in  fee.  On  Robert  Ashfield's  death  the  manor  passed  to 

1  30  Geo.  III.  cap.  35. 


3i2  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

his  son  John  and  from  him  to  his  son  Robert  Ashfield  of  Stowlangtoft, 
who  married  ist  Eleanor  Curzon  and  2ndly  Cecilia  eldest  daughter  and  co- 
heir of  John  Tendring  of  Brockdish,  Norfolk.  Robert  Ashfield's  will  is  dated 
22  Feb.  1459  and  he  is  buried  in  Stowlangtoft  Church.1  His  eldest  son 
Robert  died  without  issue  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father,  who  left  the  manor 
to  his  next  son  John  who  married  Florence  daughter  of  John  Boteler  or 
Butler  and  died  in  1481,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Ashfield 
of  Stowlangtoft,  who  married  Margaret  daughter  of  John  Wentworth  of 
Gosfield  Essex,  and  died  in  1499  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  George  Ashfield  who  married  Margery  daughter  of  John  Cheke  of 
Bludhall  and  died  20  Aug.  1517,"  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow 
Margery.  She  died  4th  April  1525,'  when  the  lordship  passed  to  her  son 
Robert  Ashfield.  A  fine  was  levied  against  him  in  1542  by  Thomas  Reder 
and  others  which  included  the  advowson  of  Hepewood.  This  was  no  doubt 
on  some  settlement  of  the  property.  Robert  Ashfield  married  first  Margaret 
daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Simon  le  Groos  knt.,  and  2ndly  Alice  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  knt.  of  Rushbrook  and  had  issue  by  her  a  son  Robert 
Ashfield  who  on  his  father's  death  2ist  May  1549  succeeded  to  the  lordship.4 
He  married  ist  Alice  dau.  of  Wm.  Clopton  of  Listen,  and  2ndly  Frances 
dau.  of  Robert  Spring  of  Lavenham,  and  dying  in  1558  the  manor  passed  to 
Sir  Robert  Ashfield  who  after  suffering  a  fine  to  be  levied  against  him  in  1560 
by  George  Asshefelde5  sold  the  manor  in  1569  to  Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn.6 
Sir  Ambrose  died  in  1577  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Robert 
Jermyn,  after  which  the  title  devolves  in  the  same  way  as  that  of  the  Manor 
of  Riveshall  or  Rushall. 

BRETT'S  MANOR. 

This  manor  was  probably  formed  by  the  union  of  the  two  fees  of  le 
Blund  and  de  Valoines  which  in  the  time  of  Henry  III.  were  held,  the  one  by 
Sir  William  le  Blund  and  the  other  by  Robert  de  Valoines,  Blund' s  brother-in- 
law.  Sir  William  le  Blund  took  part  in  the  Baron's  War  and  was  slain  at  the 
Battle  of  Lewes  in  1264.'  He  left  no  issue  and  his  estates  went  to  his  sister, 
part  falling  to  Robert  de  Valoines  in  right  of  his  wife  Roesia.  Robert 
de  Valoines  and  Roesia  his  wife  probably  sub-infeoffed  Adam  le  Bret  about 
1270  and  the  estate  became  a  separate  manor  styled  Bretts  after  the  name 
of  the  holder.  Adam  le  Bret  married  Amicia  and  died  before  1283,  for  that 
year  Domina  Amicia  and  William  le  Bret  her  son  are  amongst  the  list  of 
persons  assessed  in  Hepworth  to  the  thirtieth  then  levied. 

In  the  article  in  the  Suffolk  Institute  to  which  we  have  been  so  much 
indebted  it  is  stated  that  William  le  Bret  mentioned  in  1283  was  still  a  minor 
in  1302  and  the  Abbot  of  Bury  had  the  custody  of  him  in  virtue  of  his  over- 
lordship  of  the  Valoines  fee,  but  this  seems  to  be  a  mistake.  The  William 
de  Bret  who  was  assessed  in  1283  had  free  warren  here  in  1290,"  and  died 
7  years  later  leaving  a  son  and  heir  William  le  Bret  who  succeeded  to  the 
lordship.  He  was  no  doubt  the  infant  in  1302.  The  authors  of  the  paper 
above  referred  to  say  that  William  le  Bret  had  a  son  John  le  Bret  de  Heppe- 
worth  who  appears  to  have  succeeded  him,  for  a  rent  roll  of  his  estates  is 
preserved  amongst  the  papers  of  the  Corporation  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  A 

1  I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  IV.  32.  '  Fine,  Easter,  2  Eliz. 

•  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  94.  •  Harl.  in  H.  14. 

»  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  41.  '  I.P.M.,  48  Hen.  III.  25. 

4  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  VI.  no.  §  Chart.  Rolls,  18  Edw.  I.  92 


HEPWORTH.  313 

fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1428-9  by  Thomas  Heigham,  Robert 
Pope,  Thomas  Harewell,  and  John  Heigham  against  Edmund  Bret  of 
Cokefeld.1 

Davy  makes  the  next  lord  one  Nicholas  Conyers,  but  evidently  after  a 
long  gap,  for  he  states  that  he  was  succeeded  in  1428  by  his  son  and  heir 
Nicholas.  This  2nd  Nicholas  Conyers  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter  Alice 
wife  of  Sir  John  Harpley  and  on  Alice's  death  the  manor  passed  to  her 
brother  Sir  Robert  Conyers.  He  died  in  1480  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  Nicholas  who  died  the  same  year/  and  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter 
Ela  married  to  Edmund  Cotton.  Davy  mentions  that  in  1482  a  grant  was 
made  by  Thomas  Ampe  elk.,  Nicholas  Toxle  and  others  to  the  Guild  of 
Jesus  in  Bury,  and  John  Smith  or  Jankin  Smyth,  who  was  an  alderman  of 
Bury  by  his  will  dated  1480  gave  the  manor  to  found  a  chantry  priest  in  the 
Church  of  St.  Mary's,  Bury.3  The  clause  in  his  will  which  is  dated  the  12 
Dec.  1480  is  as  follows  :— 

"  And  where  also  as  I  the  seid  John  Smyth  have  ordeynyd  and  declarid 
my  will  of  myn  maner  of  Hepworth,  callyd  Brettys,  be  feoffez  handys  to 
thentent  to  fulfille  that  same  myn  will  for  the  sustentacion  of  a  chapeleyn 
ppetually  to  synge  for  myn  sowle,  and  for  the  soule  of  Anne  myn  wyff ,  and 
for  alle  cristen  soulys,  accordyng  to  the  tenoure  and  effecte  of  my  seid  will 
tryptyte  indentyd,  that  the  collacion  of  my  seid  Chaunterie  whan  it  shall 
happen  in  any  man'  wyse  to  be  woyde,  that  than  the  priour  of  the  Monas- 
terie  of  Bury  be  fore  seyde  shuld  have  the  gyfte  and  collacion  of  the  same, 
as  in  the  same  indenturez  more  pleynly  is  declarid. 

'  I  now  the  seid  John  Smyth,  for  diu'se  causez  and  consyderacyonys 
shevyd  vnto  me,  will  ordeyne  and  declare  by  this  my  p'sent  testament  and 
last  will  that  whan  so  euer  the  colage  of  prests  of  Bury  be  incorporat  and 
have  a  maister,  presydent,  or  other  reuler,  that  than  the  seid  maistr., 
presydent,  or  other  reuler,  with  myn  othir  chaunterie  prist  synggyng  at 
Seynt  Marie  aughter,  in  the  seid  chirche  of  oure  Ladye,  and  the  chapelyn 
of  the  gylde  of  the  holy  name  of  Jh'u,  have  the  collacion  of  the  seyde 
chaunterie  to  them  and  to  their  successourez  for  euer.  And  moreouer  I  will 
that  [when]  someuer  the  seid  collage  be  so  incorporat  and  have  licence  of 
the  king  to  purchas  to  them  and  their  successourez,  than  I  will  that  all 
my  feoffez  in  seid  maner  of  Hepworth,  vpon  due  request  to  them  by  the  seid 
maistr.,  p'sedent,  or  reuler,  and  phelaschep  of  the  seid  collage  made, 
deliuere  vnto  them  a  suer  and  sufficient  astatte  of  and  in  the  seid  maner 
with  thappartenancez,  to  haue  to  them  and  to  their  successourez,  for  the 
sustenacion  of  the  seyde  chaunterie  prist  for  euer." 

The  uses  were  declared  to  be  superstitious  and  the  manor  became 
forfeited  to  the  Crown.4 

Davy  says  further  that  Robert  Cotton  clerk  2  Edw.  VI.  then  chantry 
priest  and  incumbent  sold  the  manor  to  Roger  Rene ;  but  how  he  could  have 
this  power  does  not  appear,  nor  indeed  if  the  manor  had  been  forfeited  in 
the  reign  of  Edw.  IV.  what  a  chantry  priest  could  have  had  to  do  with  it 
in  the  time  of  Edw.  VI.  requires  some  explanation  which  we  are  unfor- 
tunately not  able  to  offer. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  7  Hen.  VI.  4.  «  I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  IV.  30.    See  I.P.M.,  22 

•  I.P.M.,  20  Edw.  IV.  74.  Edw.  IV.  54. 

'  See  Swift's  Manor,  Preston,  in  Babergh 
Hundred. 

01 


314  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

In  1552  John  Marshall  was  lord,  and  the  Crown  in  the  4th  Elizabeth 
granted  the  manor  to  Edmund  Grymston  and  William  de  Guys  who  the 
following  year  conveyed  it  to  the  feoffees  of  the  town  lands  of  Bury,  who 
in  1572  conveyed  to  the  Guildhall  feoffees. 


HINDERCLAY    MANOR.  315 


HINDERCLAY    MANOR. 

HIS  was  amongst  the  many  manors  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund.  It  consisted  of  4  carucates  of  land  and  in  Saxon 
times  had  6  villeins,  8  bordars,  6  ploughteams  in  demesne, 
10  serfs,  2  ploughteams  belonging  to  the  men,  8  acres  of 
meadow,  wood  sufficient  for  60  hogs,  8  beasts,  20  hogs  and 
60  sheep.  By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  there  had  been 
some  variations  in  the  details.  In  lieu  of  6  villeins  there  were 
8,  of  8  bordars  there  were  12,  and  there  were  3  rouncies  additional ;  but 
on  the  other  hand  the  ploughteams  in  demesne  had  been  reduced  to  5  and 
the  serfs  from  10  to  8.  There  were  also  pertaining  to  this  manor  7  socmen 
with  40  acres  of  land  and  2  ploughteams,  besides  a  church  with  an  acre  of 
free  land  in  alms.  The  manor  was  always  valued  at  8  pounds  and  was  in 
length  a  league  and  in  breadth  6  quarantenes,  paying  in  a  gelt  $%d.1 

The  manor  was  originally  given  by  Earl  Ulfketel  to  the  Abbey,  with 
whom  it  remained  until  the  Dissolution,  when  the  Crown  granted  it  together 
with  the  advowson  in  1540  to  Edward  North.  From  the  State  Papers  in 
1542  we  learn  that  a  lease  was  made  of  the  manor  that  year  to  Robert 
Hewlett  jun.  of  Nether- Rykynghall.1  The  grant  to  North  was  apparently  for 
a  short  period,  certainly  not  in  fee,  unless  indeed  the  grant  had  been  resumed, 
for  in  1^45  the  manor  was  granted  to  Thomas  Bacon  and  James  Bacon  his 
brother  who  had  licence  to  alienate  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  the  Lord  Keeper. 
It  is  somewhat  strange  the  grant  was  made  in  this  way  as  particulars  are 
still  preserved  in  the  Record  Office  of  an  intended  grant  direct  from  the 
Crown  in  1545  to  Sir  Nicholas.3  However,  the  grant  to  Thomas  and  James 
[George  in  the  Calendar]  may  be  seen  on  the  Originalia  Rolls.4  Camden  in  his 
Britannia  says  that  Buckinghamshire  and  Bucknam  in  Norfolk  were  so 
called  from  the  buchen  or  beechen  trees  growing,  Regiocucin  fagifera  in 
Germania  Buchonia  vocatur,  and  from  hence  it  may  be  the  surname  of 
this  family,  being  anciently  written  Bachone  or  Bacchone  as  Trithermus,  or 
Baucan  or  Baccoun,  as  Matthew  of  Westminstre  and  some  other  records 
call  them  ;  as  well  as  the  word  bacon  both  in  Latin  and  English  for  swine's 
flesh  which  Camden  and  others  say  came  from  the  same  word,  because  the 
best  of  that  kind  was  produced  from  their  feeding  upon  beechen  mast. 

In  the  grant  of,  or  rather  confirmation  of,  arms  in  1568  to  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon  his  descent  is  thus  given  by  the  heralds.  He  is  stated  to  be  the  second 
son  of  Robert  Bacon  of  Drinkstone,  the  son  and  heir  of  John  Bacon,  son  and 
heir  of  John  Bacon,  son  and  heir  of  Walter  Bacon,  son  and  heir  of  Robert 
Bacon  t.  Hen.  IV.  who  was  son  and  heir  of  Henry  Bacon,  son  and  heir  of 
Adam  Bacon,  son  and  heir  of  John  Bacon  knt.,2nd  son  of  Sir  Edmund  Bacon 
knt.  son  and  heir  of  Dame  Margery  the  second  wife  of  the  said  Sir  Edmund 
Bacon  daughter  and  heir  of  Robert  Quapladde,  which  Sir  Edmund  was  son 
and  heir  of  William  Bacon  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Edw.  II. 

Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  was  probably  educated  in  the  school  attached  to 
the  monastery  at  Bury  where  his  father  was  sheep-reeve,  and  later  proceeded 
to  Corpus  Christi  College  Cambridge,  finishing  his  education  in  Paris.  He 
was  called  to  the  Bar  in  1533,  and  in  1537  was  appointed  solicitor  to  the 
Court  of  Augmentation.  In  1340  with  two  others  he  drew  up  a  scheme  for 
establishing  out  of  the  revenues  of  the  dissolved  monasteries  a  seminary  for 

1  Dom.  ii.  3646.  3  37  Hen.  VIII.  D.K.R.  9.    App.  ii.  p.  162. 

•  S.P.,  1542, 1258.  4  O.  37  Hen.  VIII.,  3  Pars  Rot.  4. 


3i6  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

the  training  of  statesmen ;  but  the  scheme  fell  through  in  consequence  of  the 
lavish  expenditure  of  the  King,  Hen.  VIII. ,  in  his  pleasures  and  his  wars  and 
the  gratifying  the  cupidity  of  his  sycophant  courtiers. 

Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  himself  received  large  grants  from  the  Crown  of 
Abbey  lands,  having  conferred  upon  him  in  1544  the  Manors  of  Redgrave, 
Botesdale,  and  Gillmgham,  with  the  park  of  Redgrave  and  the  tithes  of 
Redgrave  to  hold  in  chief  by  knight's  service.      In  1546  he  was  made 
Attorney  of  the  Court  of  Wards  and  Liveries.     On  the  accession  of  Mary  he 
quietly  conformed  to  the  change  of  religion  and  lived  in  retirement.      When 
Elizabeth  succeeded  to  the  throne,  Sir  Nicholas  came  out  of  his  shell, 
received  the  honour  of  knighthood,  and  had  delivered  to  him  in  1558  the 
Great  Seal  of  England  taken  from  Nicholas  Heath  Archbishop  of  York  with 
the  title  of  Lord  Keeper.    As  a  statesmen  he  had  a  clear  head  and  sound 
judgment  and  his  counsel  was  of  great  assistance  to  the  Queen  in  balancing 
factions.     When  her  Majesty  visited  him  at  his  mansion  at  Redgrave  she 
remarked  to  him  that  his  house  was  too  small  for  him.     "  Not  so,"  he 
replied,  "  but  your  Majesty  has  made  me  too  great  for  my  house."     To 
show  his  respect  no  doubt  to  her  Majesty's  judgment  he  added,  it  is  said, 
wings  to  his  dwelling.     It  is  well  known  how  in  later  years  he  grew  very 
corpulent  so  that  after  walking  from    Westminster  Hall  to  the   Star 
Chamber,  but  a  short  distance,  he  was  so  out  of  breath  that  counsel  forbore 
addressing  him  until  he  had  recovered  himself,  which  he  gave  them  notice  of 
by  knocking  with  his  staff.     His  sovereign,  who  seems  to  have  been  pleased 
to  observe  on  the  dwellings  of  her  favourite  subjects,  on  one  occasion  making 
merry  over  the  Lord  Keeper's  corpulence  remarked,  "  Sir  Nicholas's  soul  is 
lodged  well."     However  his  very  corpulence  seemed  ultimately  to  have 
been  the  cause  of  his  soul  quitting  its  well- furnished  lodging,  for  the  weather 
being  sultry  and  having  ordered  a  window  in  front  of  him  to  be  thrown  open 
he  fell  asleep,  a  current  of  air  blowing  in  upon  him.     Suddenly  he  awoke 
"  distempered  all  over."     "  Why,"  said  he  to  the  servant,  "  did  you  suffer 
me  to  sleep  thus  exposed  ?  "     The  fellow  replied  that  he  dared  not  presume 
to  disturb  him.     "  Then,"  said  the  Lord  Keeper,  "  by  your  civility  I  lose 
my  life,"  and  thereupon  removed  to  his  bedchamber  where  he  died  a  few  days 
later.      So  much  for  the  current  account  of  his  death,  but  as  this  occurred 
on  the  20  Feb.  1579  the  seasons  would  seem,  if  the  anecdote  be  reliable,  to 
have  since  changed  with  the  course  of  time.     Camden's  character  of  Sir 
Nicholas  is  :  "  Vir  proepinguis,  ingenio  acerrimo  singulari  prudentia,  summa 
eloquentia,  tenaci  memona  et  sacris  consilius  alterum  columen."     And 
Lord  Campbell  says  of  him  :  "  As  a  judge  the  Lord  Keeper  gave  the  highest 
satisfaction  ;   and  it  was  universally  acknowledged  that  since  the  time  of 
Sir  Thomas  More  justice  had  never  been  so  well  administered  in  the  Court 
of  Chancery.     Thoroughly  imbued  with  the  common  law,  he  soon  became 
familiar  with  the  comparatively  simple  system  of  equitable  jurisprudence 
then  established.    On  the  bench  he  was  patient  and  courteous,  and  it 
was  remarked  that  the  parties  against  whom  he  decided,  if  not  convinced 
by  his  reasons,  never  doubted  his  honesty,  and  admitted  that  they  had  a 
fair  hearing.    More  fortunate  in  this  respect  than  his  greater  son,  he  was 
never  once  accused  or  suspected  of  bribery  or  corruption,  either  by  his 
contemporaries  or  by  posterity." 

His  first  wife  was  Jane  daughter  of  William  Fernley  of  West  Greeting 
by  whom  he  had  3  sons  and  3  daughters,  and  his  2nd  Anne  daughter  of  Sir 
Anthony  Cooke  of  Giddy  Hall  co.  Essex,  a  woman  equally  distinguished  for 
her  learning  and  piety.  She  made  a  translation  of  Jewel's  Apology  from 


HINDERCLAY   MANOR.  317 

the  Latin  into  English  which  in  1564  was  published  for  common  use  by 
special  order  of  Archbishop  Parker.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  great 
Lord  Chancellor  Bacon  who  owed  so  much  to  the  early  training  of  his  mother 
that  in  gratitude  to  her  memory  he  directed  by  his  will  that  his  body  should 
be  interred  near  her's  in  the  Church  of  St.  Michael  within  the  precincts  of 
Old  Verulam.  On  the  death  of  Sir  Nicholas  the  manor  of  Hinderclay,  as  also 
the  Hundred  of  Blackburn,  passed  to  his  eldest  son  and  heir  Sir  Nicholas.  He 
was  knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  at  Norwich  in  her  progress  thither  22 
Aug.  1578  and  had  afterwards  the  honour  of  being  the  first  person  advanced 
to  the  dignity  of  a  baronet  on  the  introduction  of  this  order  by  James  ist 
in  1611. 

He  married  Anne  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  Edmund  Butts  of  Thornage 
co.  Norfolk,  brother  of  Sir  William  Butts  knt.  by  Anne  his  wife  daughter  and 
coheir  of  Henry  Bures  of  Barrow.1 

Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
[1597]  will  be  found  a  claim  by  John  Strangman  against  Allan  Ellis  and  Sir 
Nicholas  Bacon  as  to  a  copyhold  tenement  parcel  of  the  Manor  of  Hinder- 
clay.2  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  died  in  1624  and  was  buried  in  Redgrave 
Church,  where  there  is  a  monument  to  himself  and  his  wife.3 

The  inscription  to  him  in  Redgrave  Church  is  : — 

The  Body  of  Nicholas  Bacon  Knight  and 

Baronet  Lieth  Here  :    He  took  to  Wyfe  Anne 

Butts  sole  Heyre  to  Butts  and  Halfe  Heyre  to  Bures 

They  lived  together  52  yeares,  when,  Death  makinge 

The  Separation  on  Hir  Part,  He  Erected  This 

Monument  to  Them  Both.    Ano  Domini  1616 

The  Lady 

Ann  Bacon  Wife  of  the  same  Nicholas  Bacon 

lyeth  buryed  in  this  place,  by  whom  he  had  9 

sonnes  and  3  daughters,  she  dyed  in  the  68 

year  of  hir  age,  the  19  day  of  September 

Ano  Domini  1616. 

The  manor  then  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Edmund  who  married 
Philippa  one  of  the  daughters  and  coheirs  of  the  Right  Hon.  Edward 
Lord  Wotton  Baron  of  Marley,  but  dying  without  issue  10  April  1649  was 
buried  in  Redgrave  Church  under  a  handsome  mural  monument  with  this 
inscription  : — 

Within  This  Vault  was  laid  The 

Body  Of  Sir  Edmond  Bacon  Knight 

And  Baronet  The  Eldest  Son  of  Sir 

Nicholas  Bacon  Baronet  and  the  Husband 

Of  That  Lady  Philip  Bacon  mentioned 

In  The  Other  Table,  April  The  loth  1649 

This  Grave  Stone  was  Layd 

Over  the  Bodye  of  The  Ladye 

Philip  Bacon  Daughter  To  The 

L.  Edward  Wotton  Baron 

of  Marley  and  Wife  to  Sir 

Edmond  Bacon  Knight 

Baronet 

The  ist  of  October 
1626. 

The  manor  passed  to  his  next  surviving  brother  Sir  Robert  Bacon.  Sir 
John  Holland  is  the  author  of  the  following  anecdote  of  Robert  Bacon, 

1  See  Acton  Manor  in  Babergh  Hundred.  >  See  under  Culford  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

•  C.P.  iii.  51. 


3i8  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Sir  Robert's  son,  from  the  L'Estrange  collection  :  "  Young  Robert  Bacon, 
being  at  his  uncle's  house  at  Redgrave  and  having  walk't  out  one  morning 
with  some  other  gentlemen,  they  came  in  upon  the  front  of  the  house,  which 
was  very  gracefull,  and  one  of  them  protested  that  of  all  that  ever  he  saw 
he  never  saw  a  better  coming  to  an  house  in  his  life.  Robert  Bacon  swore 
it  was  one  of  the  worst  in  England.  '  Oh,  fye,'  sayes  the  other,  '  what  fault 

can  you  find  in  it  ? '  'By '  sayes  he, '  it  is  too  longe  by  halfe,'  meaning 

before  his  coming  to  it."  An  anecdote  attributed  to  Sir  Wm.  Spring  is 
from  the  uncle's  side:  "One  told  Sir  Edmund  Bacon  he  did  his  nephew 
Robert  (heire  to  his  honour  and  land  and  much  in  debt)  a  great  deal  of 
wrong  in  holding  out  so,  and  keeping  that  estate  from  him  which  he  had  so 
muche  nede  on.  '  Alas,'  sayes  he,  '  that's  a  fault  in  nature,  for  let  him 
never  trust  to  that,  for  we  Bacons  alwayes  dye  upward."  The  greedy  and 
needy  heir  survived  his  uncle  but  not  his  father.  Sir  Robert  Bacon  his 
father  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  John  Peyton  of  Isleham  co.  Cambridge, 
Bart.,  and  was  buried  at  Redgrave  16  December  1655  when  the  manor  passed 
to  Sir  Edmund  the  only  surviving  son  of  his  son  Robert  Bacon'  by  Grace 
Violet  of  Pynkney  House  nr.  Taterford  in  Norfolk.  Sir  Edmund  married 
Elizabeth  one  of  the  daughters  and  coheirs  of  Sir  Robert  Crane  of  Chilton 
Bart.,  and  died  in  1685  without  leaving  male  issue,  when  the  manor  descended 
to  Robert  Bacon  of  Egmere  in  Norf.  his  cousin  and  heir.  It  descended  to 
him  under  such  encumbrances  that  he  judged  it  convenient  to  sell  the 
manor  to  Sir  John  Holt,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench.  Sir 
John  was  an  Oxfordshire  man  born  at  Thane  in  1642,  being  the  son  of  Sir 
Thomas  Holt  sergeant  at  law,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Holts  of  Grisle- 
hurst  co.  Lancaster  by  Susan  his  wife  daughter  of  John  Peacock  of  Cumnor 
co.  Berks. 

Sir  John  Holt1  had  been  educated  at  Winchester  and  at  Oriel  College, 
Oxford,  and  proceeded  to  Gray's  Inn  where  he  was  called  to  the  Bar  in 
1663.  In  the  reign  of  James  II.  [1686-7]  h.e  was  chosen  Recorder  of  London, 
but  had  to  relinquish  the  office  for  refusing  to  comply  with  the  measures 
of  the  Court.  In  1686  he  was  made  Sergeant  and  at  the  Revolution  bore 
an  active  part  as  a  member  of  the  Convention  Parliament  for  which  he  was 
made  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench  and  a  Privy  Councillor  in  1689. 
He  was  a  sound  constitutional  lawyer  and  a  steadfast  defender  of  the  liberties 
of  the  subject,  and  declined  the  Lord  Chancellorship  in  1700.  His 
reports  are  still  cited  with  approval  and  his  judgment  in  Coggs  v.  Bernard 
is  still  the  recognised  authority  in  Bailments.  He  married  Anne  sister  of 
Sir  John  Cropley  Bart,  and  died  in  March  1709  without  issue,3  when  the 
manor  passed  to  his  brother  Rowland  Holt,  chief  prothonotary  of  the  King's 
Bench. 

He  married  Prisca  daughter  of  Augustin  Ballow  of  Norwich  merchant, 
and  dying  was  buried  at  Redgrave  18  Feb.  1718-9,  when  the  manor  went 
to  his  3rd  son  Rowland  Holt,  the  two  elder  having  killed  themselves 
with  drinking.4  Rowland  Holt  was  a  fortunate  man,  as  he  occupied  but 

1  Who  had  died  on  the  25th  August,  1652,  the   pen   of    the    celebrated   Dr. 

in  his  father's  lifetime.  Halley.    For  the  character  of  this 

•  D.N.B.   xvii.   202.    He  was  buried  at  upright  and  able  judge,  see  "  The 

Redgrave  20  March,  1709.  Tatler,"   No.   14,   in  which  he  is 

•  A  splendid  monument  executed  by  T.  distinguished  by  the  noble  character 

Green  of  Camberwell  was   erected  of  Verus  the  magistrate. 

to  his  memory  on  the  north  side  of  4  Rep.  on  Duke  of  Portland's  MSS.,  vol.  vi. 

thechancelof  Redgrave  Church,  with  151. 

an   elegant  Latin   inscription  from 


HINDERCLAY   MANOR. 


319 


the  post  of  a  Custom  House  Officer  in  Kent  with  an  income  of  about  four 
score  pounds  a  year.  In  an  account  of  a  journey  made  through  part  of 
the  counties  of  Suffolk,  Norfolk  and  Cambridgeshire  in  the  month  of 
September  1732  amongst  the  MSS.  of  the  Duke  of  Portland  at  Welbeck  and 
in  the  handwriting  of  the  second  Earl  of  Oxford  we  have  the  following 
particulars  of  Mr.  Holt  :  "  He  married  one  Mrs.  Washington  of  Berkshire. 
He  will  have  a  considerable  fortune  by  her.  She  was  worth  to  him  above 
£1,000,  when  he  had  only  that  small  office  [the  Custom  House  appointment], 
and  the  only  provision  he  had  then  ;  he  has  several  children.  He  is  very 
covetous,  very  much  out  of  the  way  in  his  behaviour,  exceedingly  proud. 
This  estate  coming  to  him,  he  thinks  himself  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  most 
people."  Rowland  Holt  did,  as  stated  in  the  extract  above,  marry  Elizabeth 
Washington  and  dying  the  25  July  1739  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir 
Rowland  Holt,  M. P.  for  Suffolk  in  1759,  who  died  unmarried  12  July  1786, 
and  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  and  heir  Thomas  Holt.  Thomas 
Holt  married  Frances  Parsons  of  Parndon  co.  Essex,  but  died  22  Aug.  1799 
without  issue  having  left  the  manor  by  his  will  dated  20  Aug.  1798  proved' 
at  Camberly  12  Sept.  1799,  to  his  nephew  George  Wilson  for  life  with 
remainder  to  his  issue  in  tail  male.  The  said  George  Wilson  was  the  son 
of  Lucinda  eldest  daughter  of  Rowland  Holt  by  Thomas  Wilson  her  hus- 
band of  Gray's  Inn  sometime  Chief  Justice  of  Dominica  3rd  son  of  Daniel 
Wilson  of  Dalham  Tower  M.P.  for  Westmoreland. 

George  Wilson,  who  resided  at  Redgrave  Hall,  was  an  Admiral  of  the 
Red,  and  married  in  1801  Catherine  daughter  of  John  Pollard  of  Ewell  co. 
Surrey,  and  dying  3  March  1826  was  buried  at  Redgrave  the  15  of  the  same 
month,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  George  St.  Vincent 
Wilson  who  was  High  Sheriff  in  1841.  He  married  Matilda  Louisa  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  John  Surtees  prebendary  of  Bristol,  and  dying  in  Dec.  1852  the 
manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  and  heir  George  Holt  Wilson  of  Redgrave 
Hall  who  married  Lucy  Caroline  eldest  daughter  of  William  Edward  James 
of  Barrock  Park  co.  Cumberland,  and  is  the  present  lord  of  this  manor. 

Abstracts  of  the  customs  &c.  of  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst  the 
Additional  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus." 

Arms  of  Bacon  :  Gules,  on  a  chief,  arg.  two  mullets,  sable  ;  of  Holt  : 
Arg.  on  a  bend  wavy,  sable,  three  fleurs-de-lis,  of  the  first. 

BARTFORD  Son  AM  HALL  MANOR. 

We  find  no  particulars  of  this  manor  save  Davy's  statement  that  it 
belonged  to  Thomas  Smith  who  died  seised  of  it  in  1552,  when  it  passed  to 
his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Smith. 


With   3  codicils  dated   26    Aug.    1798,          *  Add.  31970. 
12  Sept.  1798,  and  8  July,  1799. 


320  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


HONINGTON  MANOR. 

HE  Abbots  of  St.  Edmund  held  the  lordship  in  Saxon  times 
and  also  at  the  period  of  the  Great  Survey.  There  were  held 
by  the  Abbot  16  freemen  with  2  carucates  of  land,  2  bordars, 
5  ploughteams,  8  acres  of  meadow  and  wood  for  2  hogs. 
The  men  could  either  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  whatever 
the  disposition  made  the  sac,  soc  and  commendation 
remained  with  the  abbey.  The  value  was  placed  at  20 
shillings. 

There  was  a  church  with  20  acres  of  free  land.  Of  the  land  specified 
above  Peter  de  Valoines1  held  one  carucate. 

The  length  of  the  Abbot's  holding  was  6  quarentenes  and  the  breadth 
4  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  i2\d.  Domesday  Survey  does  not  mention  the  above 
to  be  a  manor  but  states  that  others  held  land  here.  It  is  clear  that 
if  in  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the^  Abbots  of  St.  Edmund  did  not 
exercise  manorial  rights  they  did  so  shortly  afterwards.2 

On  the  Dissolution  the  lordship  vested  in  the  Crown,  and  we  do  not 
find  any  dealing  with  it  until  we  discover  it  vested  in  Charles  2nd  Duke  of 
Grafton  who  died  seised  of  it  in  1757.  From  him  it  has  descended  to  the 
present  Duke  of  Grafton. 

The  place  is  celebrated  as  the  birthplace  of  Robert  Bloomfield  known 
to  the  world  as  the  author  of  "  The  Farmer's  Boy,"  "  Rural  Tales,"  '  The 
Banks  of  Wye,"  and  other  works.  Bloomfield  was  born  in  obscurity  and 
of  poor  parents,  and  would  probably  have  been  unknown  to  fame  but  for 
the  genial  notice  of  Mr.  Capel  Lofft  and  the  then  Duke  of  Grafton,  who 
appreciating  his  genius  patronised  his  productions  and  introduced  them  to 
public  notice.  Bloomfield  was  nature's  child.  Lacking  the  advantages  of 
education  and  culture  he  has  shown  that  the  spirit  of  poetry  may  exist 
at  the  sheepfold  as  indeed  was  illustrated  in  the  case  of  David,  and  the 
beautiful  but  simple  annals  of  the  Suffolk  boy  have  raised  him  a  lasting 
monument  amongst  the  poets  of  his  country.  Bloomfield  was  a  man  of 
mild,  unassuming  manners,  and  he  scarcely  seemed  to  possess  a  consciousness 
of  the  extent  of  his  own  powers.  He  died  at  Shefford  in  Bedfordshire  the 
igth  August  1823. 


1  See    Great    Fakenham    Manor    in    this          •  Dom.  ii.  366. 
Hundred. 


HOPTON   MANOR.  321 


HOPTON  MANOR. 

O  manor  is  mentioned  here  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  but 
the  greater  portion  of  the  land  in  Hopton  was  vested  in  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  who  probably  then  or  certainly  a  little 
later  exercised  manorial  rights.  The  holding  of  the  great 
monastic  house  here  consisted  of  23  freemen  with  2  carucates 
of  land,  4  bordars,  6  ploughteams,  4  acres  of  meadow,  wood 
for  2  hogs,  and  i  mill.  There  was  also  a  church  with  13  acres 
of  free  lands  in  alms.  The  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but 
sac,  soc  and  commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot  and  the  service 
to  his  manor  at  Coney  Weston.  In  Saxon  times  the  value  was 
20  shillings,  and  by  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  it  had  risen  to  30 
shillings.  Of  this  land  Fulcher  the  Norman  held  half  a  carucate  valued  at 
20  shillings  not  included  in  the  above  valuation.  The  size  of  the  holding 
was  6  quarentenes  long  and  4  broad,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  16^.' 

We  find  no  further  account  of  this  manor  until  its  mention  in  the  Inquis. 
p.m.  of  Thomas  de  Lovayne  in  1345  when  he  died  seised  of  the  same,2  and  it 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  Lovayne.  Sir  John  Lovayne  died  in  1347, 
apparently  leaving  3  daughters  and  coheirs,  Eleanor  married  to  Sir  William 
Bouchier,  Joan  and  Maud.  The  Bourchiers  seem  to  have  had  this  manor. 
Sir  William  Bourchier  died  in  1365  and  his  widow  in  1397,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  their  son  William.  He  obtained  from  Hen.  IV.  the  grant  of  an 
annuity  of  50  marks  p. a.  payable  out  of  the  Exchequer,  and  in  1413  sur- 
rendering the  patent  conferring  this,  had  a  like  grant  for  life  in  case  the 
wars  between  England  and  France  should  so  long  continue.  In  1415  he 
was  made  Constable  of  the  Tower  for  life,  being  the  same  year  retained  by 
Indenture  to  serve  in  the  expedition  which  the  King  in  person  then  made 
into  Guyon,  with  thirty  men  at  arms,  himself  included,  and  eighty  archers 
on  horseback.  The  following  year  he  was  again  retained  to  serve  in  the 
war  with  France,  this  time  with  forty  men  at  arms  and  eighty  archers, 
and  to  sail  from  Southampton.  In  1420  on  the  surrender  of  Dieppe  he  was 
appointed  governor  and  for  his  services  had  a  grant  in  special  tail  of  the 
whole  province  of  Ewe  in  Normandy,  paying  to  the  King  and  his  heirs  at  his 
Castle  of  Revan  one  gardebrache'  on  the  feast  of  St.  George  every  year,  and 
finding  ten  men  at  arms  and  twenty  archers  thenceforth  to  ride  with  the 
King  and  his  heirs  or  his  lieutenant  in  these  his  present  wars  in  France.  He 
married  Anne  Plantagenet  widow  of  Edmund  Earl  of  Stafford  and  daughter 
and  eventually  sole  heir  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock  Duke  of  Gloucester 
6th  son  of  Edw.  III.,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons — Henry  to  whom  this  manor 
passed,  Thomas  Bishop  of  Ely,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
William  Lord  Fitz-warine  and  John  Lord  Berners.  He  also  left  a  daughter 
Anne  married  to  John  Mowbray  Duke  of  Norfolk.  He  died  in  1421  and 
was  buried  in  the  Conventual  Church  at  Lanthony  in  Gloucester.  Henry 
his  successor  2nd  Earl  of  Ewe  was  the  same  year  his  father  died  retained  by 
Indenture  to  serve  the  King  in  the  wars  in  France  as  his  father  had  been. 
He  had  to  supply  thirty-three  men  at  arms  and  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
archers.  He  landed  with  the  Duke  of  York  in  Normandy  when  the 
Duke  was  made  Regent  of  France,  and  made  another  expedition  to  that 
country  in  1441,  being  on  the  14  Dec.  1446  advanced  to  the  dignity  of 

'  Dom.  ii.  3656.  '  A  vanbrace  or  protection  for  the  arm. 

•  I.P.M.,  19  Edw.  III.  44. 

PI 


322  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Viscount  Bourchier  and  8  years  later  constituted  Lord  Treasurer  ot 
England.  Honours  fell  thickly  upon  his  lordship,  for  in  1452  he  was  installed 
a  Knight  of  the  Garter  and  the  following  year  mae  a  Privy  Councillor. 

Dugdale  says  of  him  that  he  was  a  person  of  singular  parts  and  had 
such  esteem  from  Richard  Duke  of  York  as  that  in  his  younger  years  the 
more  to  oblige  him  to  the  interest  of  that  house  in  those  great  and  sharp 
contests  which  for  a  long  time  continued  betwixt  it  and  the  House  of  Lan- 
caster the  Duke  gave  him  his  sister  Isabel  in  marriage.  His  lordship's 
"  singular  parts  "  seems  to  have  made  him  somewhat  ungrateful  to  his 
sovereign  Hen.  VI.  who  had  favoured  him  without  stint,  for  he  joined  his 
forces  with  those  of  the  Earls  of  March  and  Warwick  and  was  with  them  at 
the  Battle  of  Northampton  where  they  had  the  better  of  the  day  against 
the  King's  forces.  On  the  accession  to  the  throne  of  Edward  IV.  Viscount 
Bourchier  was  by  letters  patent  dated  the  soth  June  1461  created  Earl  of 
Essex,  and  in  1464  the  King  in  consideration  of  the  charges  his  zealous 
subject  had  been  put  to  in  his  service  granted  him  licence  to  transport 
sixteen  hundred  woollen  clothes  of  his  own  goods  or  of  any  others  free  of 
duty. 

In  1471  he  was  again  constituted  Lord  Treasurer  of  England  and  three 
years  later  obtained  large  grants  of  land  settled  on  himself  and  his  wife 
Isabel  daughter  of  Richard  Duke  of  York  Protector  of  England  and 
sister  of  King  Edw.  IV.  in  tail,  which  grants  included  the  Manors  of  Acton 
and  Moreves  in  Waldingfield  and  many  estates  which  had  belonged  to 
James  Butler  the  attainted  Earl  of  Ormond.  In  1472  he  was  appointed  one 
of  the  Commissioners  to  treat  with  Louis  King  of  France  touching  a  pro- 
longation of  the  truce,  and  four  years  later  with  his  wife  Isabel,  Sir  John 
Dynham  knt.  and  others  he  obtained  a  licence  to  found  a  certain  gild  to  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  Blessed  Virgin  consisting  of  two  wardens  and  divers 
other  men  and  women  of  the  parish  of  VViting  in  Essex,  as  also  of  "  such  other 
persons  as  out  of  their  devotion  would  enter  into  that  fraternity,  in  a 
certain  Chapel  of  our  Lady  situate  in  the  churchyard  of  VViting,  and  to 
purchase  lands  to  the  value  of  ten  marks  per  annum  for  the  maintenance 
of  a  priest  to  celebrate  divine  service  there  every  day  for  the  good  estate 
of  King  Edward  the  Fourth  and  Queen  Elizabeth  his  consort  during  this 
life,  as  also  for  the  health  of  their  souls  afterwards,  and  for  the  good  estate 
of  them,  the  said  Henry  and  Isabel,  and  all  other  the  brethren  and  sisters 
of  that  fraternity."  He  died  the  4  April  1483,'  and  was  found  to  be  seised  of 
the  following  manors  in  Suffolk  :  Acton,  Moreres  in  Waldingfield,  Bildeston, 
Drinkstone,  Hopton,  and  Shetland.  He  was  buried  with  his  wife  within  the 
chapel  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the  Abbey  of  Bylegh  juxta  Maldon  in  Essex 
leaving  Henry  his  grandson  his  next  heir,  being  son  of  William  his  eldest 
son  who  had  died  in  his  father's  lifetime  by  Anne  one  of  the  daughters  of 
Richard  Widville  the  first  Earl  of  Rivers  of  that  family  and  sister  of  Eliza- 
beth queen  of  Edw.  IV.  then  eleven  years  of  age.  Isabel  the  widow  of 
Henry  ist  Earl  of  Essex  survived  until  the  2nd  Oct.  1484.  The  King 
having  regard  to  the  fact  that  William  Bourchier  had  married  so  near  a 
connection  of  his  wife  granted  for  the  better  support  of  Anne  William's 
wife  the  Manor  of  Overhall  and  the  Manor  of  Netherhall,  otherwise  called 
Sylvister's  Hall  in  St.  Mary,  Bures,  with  other  lands  to  her  in  tail  male.1 
Henry  Bourchier  the  2nd  Earl  of  Essex  was  called  to  the  Privy  Council  in 
1485,  and  in  1492  attended  the  King  into  France  and  was  present  at  the 
siege  of  Boulogne.  In  1493  he  had  special  livery  of  all  the  lands  which  by  the 

1  I.P.M.,  i  Rich.  III.  31.  •  I.P.M.,  i  Rich.  III.  31. 


HOPTON   MANOR.  323 

death  of  Henry  his  grandfather,  William  his  father,  Isabel  his  grandmother, 
Anne  his  mother,  and  Sir  Thomas  Bourchier  knt.  his  uncle  (to  whom  he 
was  heir)  descended  to  him  and  in  1496  was  one  of  the  chief  commanders 
in  the  King's  army  at  the  Battle  of  Blackheath  when  the  Cornish  insur- 
rection was  suppressed.  When  the  8th  Henry  ascended  the  throne  he  was 
made  captain  of  that  sovereign's  horseguards,  then  first  instituted,  or 
rather  reconstituted,  for  attending  on  the  King's  person,  which  body  guard 
consisted  of  50  horse  trapped  into  cloth  of  gold  or  goldsmith's  work,  every 
guard  having  his  archer,  a  demi-lance  and  Constrill.  He  was  present  in 
1520  at  the  celebrated  interview  between  Henry  VIII.  and  Francis  the 
First  of  France.  The  end  of  his  career  is  thus  given  by  Dugdale  :  "  In 
1539  adventuring  to  ride  a  young  unruly  horse  at  his  Manor  of  Basse  in 
co.  Hertford  he  had  the  hard  hap  to  be  overthrown  and  by  the  fall  to  break 
his  neck  upon  the  I3th  of  March,  whereupon  he  was  buried  at  his  Manor  of 
Estanes  in  co.  Essex,  leaving  issue  by  Mary  his  wife  the  elder  of  the  two 
daughters  and  heirs  of  Sir  William  Say  knt.,  one  sole  daughter  and  heir 
called  Anne  wife  of  Sir  William  Parre  knt.  Lord  Parre  of  Kendal,  afterwards 
Earl  of  Essex  and  Marquis  of  Northampton,  but  that  marriage  was  in  1551 
disannulled  by  Act  of  Parliament."' 

Davy  enters  John  Cockett  who  died  in  1494  and  his  son  and  heir  John 
Cockett  who  died  in  1518,  and  John  Drury  who  died  in  1523  and  his  son 
and  heir  John  Drury  as  lords,  making  Edward  Cockett  son  and  heir  of  the 
last-mentioned  John  Cockett  lord  in  1518,  but  there  seems  to  be  some  con- 
fusion here.  The  Inquisitions  post  mortem  however  clearly  shewthe  descent. 
John  Cockett  died  10  Aug.  1516  seised  of  the  manor,  leaving  Edward  Cockett 
his  son  and  heir,2  and  Edward  Cockett  died  15  May  1541  leaving  Anthony 
Cockett  his  son  and  heir.3  This  Anthony  Cockett  was  living  in  1560,  for 
there  is  an  entry  on  the  Memoranda  Rolls  this  year  for  the  removal  of  process 
from  this  manor  and  for  discharge  of  Anthony  Cockett.4 

He  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  Arthur  Hopton  and  sold  all  his 
estates  in  Suffolk.  Davy  says  that  in  1571  Walter  Viscount  Hereford  held 
the  manor  by  grant  from  Queen  Elizabeth  during  the  life  of  William 
Marquess  of  Northampton,  but  as  the  Marquis  died  this  year  the  tenure 
had  but  a  short  duration. 

Sir  Robert  Drury  was  the  next  lord.  He  married  Elizabeth  sole 
daughter  and  heir  of  Edmund  Brudenell  and  dying  about  1575  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Drue  Drury.  He  married  ist  Elizabeth  daughter 
of  Sir  Philip  Calthorpe  and  Amata  Boleyn  aunt  to  Queen  Anne  Boleyn  and 
widow  ist  of  Sir  Henry  Parker  eldest  son  of  Henry  Lord  Morley,  and  2ndly 
of  Sir  William  Woodhouse,  but  had  no  issue  by  her.  Sir  Drue  Drury  married 
2ndly  Catherine  only  daughter  and  heir  of  William  Finch  of  Lynsted.  Sir 
Drue  was  usher  of  the  Privy  Chamber  to  Queen  Elizabeth  and  one  of  the 
keepers  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  He  died  in  1617  at  the  age  of  99  and  the 
manor  passed  to  his  only  son  Drue  Drury  who  was  created  a  Baronet  7 
May  1627.  He  married  Anne  daughter  of  Edward  Waldegrave  of  Canfield 
co.  Essex  and  died  in  1632  being  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Drue 
Drury  Bart  who  married  Susan  daughter  of  Isaac  Jones  of  London.  In  1764 
the  manor  belonged  to  J .  Cavendish. 

In  1826  it  belonged  to  Thomas  Thornhill  who  dying  in  1837  it  passed  to 
his  son  Thomas  Thornhill  of  Riddlesworth  Hall,  Thetford,  Norfolk,  High 

1  Baronetage,  vol.  ii.  p.  130  and  131.  3  I.P.M.,  33  Hen.  VIII.  145. 

•  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  98.  "  Memoranda,  2  Eliz.  Pas.  Rec.  Rot.  50. 


324  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Sheriff  of  Suff .  in  1860.  He  married  Martha  Mary  Anne  eldest  daughter  of 
Harry  Spencer  Waddington  of  Cavenham  Hall,  M.P.  for  West  Suffolk, 
and  died  in  1875,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  Thomas  Thornhill 
who  in  1885  was  created  a  Bart.  He  married  in  1863  Katharine  Edith 
Isabella,  only  child  of  Richard  Hodgson-Huntley  of  Carham  Hall,  Northum- 
berland. Sir  Thomas  Thornhill  resided  at  Pakenham  Lodge  near  Bury  St. 
Edmunds.  The  manor  is  now  vested  in  William  Needham  Langden 
Champion  of  Riddlesworth  Hall. 


HUNSTON   MANOR.  325 


HUNSTON  MANOR. 

T  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  the  greater  part  of  the  land 
in  Hunston  was  held  by  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  on  behalf 
of  that  monastery.  He  had  9  freemen  with  2  carucates  of 
land,  4  bordars  and  4  ploughteams.  Also  10  acres  of  meadow 
and  wood  for  12  hogs.  These  freemen  were  at  liberty  to 
give  or  sell  their  land,  but  not  to  oust  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Abbot,  for  notwithstanding  any  disposition,  the  soc,  sac  and 
right  of  commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot.  There  was  also  half  a 
church  with  15  acres  of  free  land.  The  value  had  always  been  40  shillings. 
Of  this  land  and  of  those  freemen  Bucard  held  6  with  a  carucate  and  a  half 
and  3  ploughteams  which  composed  35  shillings,  part  of  the  above  40  shillings. 
The  length  of  this  holding  was  8  quarentenes  and  the  breadth  7  and  it 
paid  in  a  gelt  g^d.1 

There  was  also  a  small  holding  in  the  hand  of  the  King — lands 
which  had  belonged  to  Earl  Ralph,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Domes- 
day Survey  were  in  the  keeping  of  Goodrich  the  Steward  for  the  King. 
It  consisted  of  7  freemen  of  whom  in  the  Confessor's  time  Edith  had 
commendation.  They  held  half  a  carucate  of  land  and  had  one  ploughteam. 
The  value  was  but  6  shillings.2  The  Abbot  does  not  seem  to  have  had  the 
lordship,  and  no  manor  in  Hunston  is  mentioned  in  the  Great  Survey.  Not 
until  the  opening  of  the  I4th  century  do  we  find  any  reference  to  a  manor. 
In  1316  we  know  that  the  lordship  and  demesne  of  the  parish  were  vested 
in  William  de  Langham  and  shortly  afterwards  passed  to  the  Prior  of  St. 
Mary  at  Ixworth  where  they  continued  until  the  dissolution  of  that  house. 
From  the  Patent  Rolls  of  1273  we  find  that  at  that  time  there  was  an  action 
pending  between  the  Prior  of  Ixworth  and  William  de  Langham  and  Hubert 
de  Langham  touching  a  tenement  in  Hunston.3 

The  manor  is  included  in  the  grant  made  in  1538*  by  the  Crown  in 
exchange  to  Richard  Codington  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  There  is  however 
amongst  the  Bodleian  Charters  a  grant  by  William  Appulton  son  of  Thomas 
Appulton  to  William  Appulton  son  of  Thomas  and  others  of  the  Manor 
of  Hunston  Hall  in  1509,'  and  also  the  appointment  by  William  Appulton 
of  London  and  others  of  John  Coket  of  Ampton  to  receive  seisin  of  this 
manor  on  the  i8th  of  January  the  same  year.6 

The  manor  then  seems  to  have  passed  to  Richard  Appulton  and  on  his 
death  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth  who  married  "  Henry  Ryches  al.  Henry 
Rychers  ye  younger,"  who  together  in  1543  conveyed  the  manor  to  Robert 
Asshfeld.7 

The  Ashfields  had  held  land  in  Hunston  nearly  two  hundred  years 
earlier,  for  amongst  the  Stowe  Charters  now  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  we  find  a  grant 
from  John  Torald  of  Hunston  to  Robert  de  Aisshfeld  and  John  son  of  John 
de  Rokewode  of  land  at  Hunston  acquired  by  him  from  John  Coupere  of 
Houston.8  And  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Robert  Asshefeld  made  in  1402  he 
was  found  to  be  seised  of  land  here.9  Robert  Ashfield  the  purchaser  of  the 

'  Dom.  ii.  367.  *  Bodl.  Sufi.  Ch.  1321. 

'  Dom.  ii.  286.  '  Stowe  Ch.  245.    Fine,  Trin.  36  Hen.  VIII. 

»  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Edw.  I.  5^.  •  44  Edw.  III.,  Stowe  Ch.  244. 

4  See  Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  '  I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  IV.  8. 

5  Bodl.  Suff.  Ch.  1320. 


326  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

manor  from  the  Appultons  was  the  son  of  George  Ashfield  of  Stowlangtoft 
and  of  Pakenham.  He  married  first  Margaret  daughter  and  heir  of  Simon 
Le  Gros  knt.  and  2ndly  Alice  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook 
who  died  the  21  Jan.  1546.  Robert  Ashfield  died  2ist  May  1549,  and  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  by  his  2nd  wife — Robert  Ashfield,  who 
married  1st  Alice  daughter  of  William  Clopton  of  Liston  Hall  Essex,  and 
2ndly  Francis  daughter  of  Robert  Spring  of  Lavenham.  He  died  in  1558 
and  the  manor  passed  to  his  only  son  by  his  first  wife,  Sir  Robert  Ashfield, 
who  in  1570  was  called  upon  to  shew  by  what  title  he  held  the  manor  or 
capital  messuage  or  farm  called  Nicoll  in  Hunston.1 

Sir  Robert  Ashfield  married  Ann  daughter  of  John  Tasborough  of 
Flixton  Abbey,  and  was  the  father  of  Sir  John  Ashfield  of  London  and  of 
Nether  Hall  in  Harkstead  knt.  and  Bart.  He  sold  Stowlangtoft  to  Paul 
D'Ewes  and  also  the  manor  of  Hunston  to  John  Gyll  and  went  to  reside  in 
Ireland. 

Thomas  Frost  was  the  next  lord  of  whom  we  hear.  He  died  in  1642 
and  was  succeeded  by  Edmund  Frost  who  resided  at  Hunston  Hall  and  in 
1672  received  a  licence  for  his  house  Hunston  Hall  to  be  used  by  James 
Waller  of  Rattlesden,  presbyterian.*  He  died  in  1700  and  was  buried  with 
Letitia  his  wife  in  the  Church  of  St.  George  of  Tombland  in  Norwich. 
Their  daughter  Judith  married  Daniel  Meadows  of  Norwich  and  died  in 
1719. 

John  Lurkinwas  the  next  holder  of  the  manor,  and  on  his  death  it  passed 
to  his  daughter  and  heir  Mary  wife  of  John  Symonds  Heigham  of  Rougham 
descended  from  a  junior  branch  of  the  Heighams  of  Barrow,  being  the  direct 
lineal  descendant  of  Arthur  Heigham  rector  of  Redgrave  and  Anne  his 
wife  daughter  of  Thomas  Coell  of  Depden,  which  Arthur  was  only  son  of 
Sir  Clement  Heigham  of  Barrow  knt.  by  his  second  wife  Anne  daughter  of 
John  Appleyard  of  Denston  in  Norfolk.  Sir  Clement  Heigham  was  gth 
in  direct  descent  from  Richard  Heigham  who  died  in  1340. 

John  Symonds  Heigham  died  in  1747,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son 
and  heir  Arthur  Heigham  who  died  without  issue  in  1787,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  nephew  John  Heigham.  He  died  in  1787  and  the  manor  passed 
to  his  brother  the  Rev.  Henry  Heigham  who  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of 
Thomas  Symonds  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  Capt.  R.N.  Henry  died  the  29  Dec. 
i834,and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Henry  Heigham  who 
married  ist  Maria  Catherine  eldest  daughter  of  William  Gould  of  Bury  St. 
Edmunds  Lieut. -Col.  in  the  army,  and  secondly  Lydia  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Henry  Rous  Birch  rector  of  Southwold  and  dying  the  22  July,  1879, 
the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  by  his  first  wife — Clement  Henry  John 
Heigham  of  Hunston  Hall.  He  married  Grace  Charlotte  dau.  and  coheir  of 
the  Hon.  John  Malcolm  Fraser  of  Mount  Murray  in  Lower  Canada.  The 
present  lord  of  the  manor  is  their  son,  Major  Clement  John  Malcolm 
Heigham,  J. P. 

Arms  of  Ashfield  :  Sable,  a  fess  between  3  fleurs-de-lis,  argent ;  of 
Frost :  Argent,  a  fesse  gules  betw.  three  trefoils  azure  ;  of  Heigham :  Sa.,  a 
fesse  chequy,  or.  and  az.  betw.  three  horses'  heads,  erased  arg. 

NYCOLS  OR  NICOLL  MANOR. 
There  seems  to  have  been  another  manor  in  Hunston  called  by  this 

Memoranda,  12  Elk.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  43.          *  State  Papers,  1672,  pp.  298,  550,  554. 


HUNSTON   MANOR.  327 

name,  but  of  it  few  particulars  are  preserved.  A  lease  of  this  manor  will  be 
found  amongst  the  Additional  Charters  in  the  British  Museum  in  1553,' 
and  the  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Memoranda  Rolls  as  a  "  manor  or  capital 
messuage  or  farm  called  Nicoll  in  Hunston  "  in  1570. 2 


'  Add.  Ch.  18833.  '  M.  12  Eliz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  43. 


328  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


INCH  AM. 

HERE  were  two  manors  in  Ingham  in  Edward  the  Confessor's 
time,  the  larger  being  held  by  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund. 
Ulfwin  a  soldier  under  the  Abbot  there  had  3  carucates  of 
land  and  a  fourth  carucate  lying  in  another  Hundred. 
There  were  two  bordars  and  a  villein,  three  ploughteams  in 
demesne,  one  belonging  to  the  men,  three  serfs,  twenty- 
seven  acres  of  meadow,  one  mill  and  five  hundred  and  twenty 
sheep.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  these  particulars  were  somewhat 
altered.  There  was  an  additional  ploughteam  in  demesne,  nine  serfs,  four 
rouncies,  nineteen  beasts  and  thirty  hogs.  There  were  also  twenty-one 
socmen  with  a  carucate  of  land,  seven  ploughteams  and  two  acres  of 
meadow  under  the  Abbot  by  sac,  soc  and  all  customs,  and  they  could  not 
dispose  of  their  land  without  his  consent.  There  was  also  a  church  with 
twenty-four  acres  of  free  land  in  alms.  The  manor  was  in  Saxon  times 
valued  at  4  pounds,  but  by  the  time  of  the  Survey  at  8,  and  it  was  in  length 
16  quarantenes  and  in  breadth  8,  and  paid  in  a  gelt  i6d.1 

The  other  manor  was  held  in  the  Confessor's  time  by  Lewin  as  one 
caurcate  of  land,  and  there  were  two  bordars,  two  ploughteams  in  demesne, 
four  acres  of  meadow  and  one  rouncy ,  and  the  value  was  4  pounds.  Strangely, 
the  value  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  had  come  down  to  20  shillings, 
and  yet  the  only  change  in  the  particulars  given  was  that  instead  of  there 
being  two  ploughteams  in  demesne  there  was  then  but  half  a  team.  There 
were  also  in  Ingham  ten  freemen  over  whom  the  predecessor  of  Roger  de 
Poictou,  the  tenant  in  chief  of  the  last-mentioned  manor  had  in  the  Con- 
fessor's day  commendation  and  they  had  forty  acres.  In  Saxon  times  there 
was  also  a  ploughteam,  but  this  had  sunk  to  half  as  the  value  had  also 
fallen  from  5  shillings  to  3.  The  Abbot  had  the  soc,  and  Roger  de  Poictou 
was  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief.* 

INGHAM  MANOR. 

The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  held  the  lordship  until  the  Dissolution. 
Leases  of  the  manor  by  the  Abbot  are  among  the  Bodleian  Charters.  One 
dated  10  Sep.  .  .  Hen.  VIII.  is  by  John  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  and  the 
Convent  to  John  Playford  and  John  Calbot  de  Ingham  of  the  Manor  of 
Ingham  and  all  that  belonged  to  it,  except  the  advowson  of  the  church  for 
20  years  paying  annually  to  the  cellarer  of  the  monastery  of  £i6.J 
Another  is  dated  5  November  28  Hen.  VIII.  [1536],  by  which  the  Abbot 
demises  to  Thomas  Andrew  and  Thomas  Reve  the  manor  for  50  years  at 
an  annual  rent  of  £39. 4 

On  the  Dissolution  the  manor  vested  in  the  Crown  and  was  granted  to 
Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  in  1540,  the  grant  including  the  advowson  of  the  parish 
church  and  all  the  demesne  lands  of  Ingham  and  Timworth,  and  all  appur- 
tenances in  Ampton,  Culford,  Fornham,  St.  Genevieve,  Fornham  St. 
Martin's  and  Livermere  Magna  with  foldages  of  or  belonging  to  the  late 
monastery  of  Bury.5 

In  1553  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  had  licence  to  alienate  the  manor  to  himself 
and  his  wife  Anne,  and  in  1562  and  1566  fines  were  levied  against  him  in 
which  this  manor  was  included,  the  first  by  Frances  Earl  of  Bedford  and 

1  Dom.  ii.  364.  *  Bodl.  Sufi.  Ch.  150. 

•  Dom.  ii.  348.  5  State  Papers,  1540,  436  (57).    Originalia 

'  Bodl.  Stiff.  Ch.  133.  1540,  2  Pars.  Rot.  83. 


INGHAM.  329 

others,1  and  the  second  by  Sir  Robert  Catlyn  and  others.2  No  doubt  both 
these  fines  were  levied  in  effecting  some  settlement  of  the  property,  for  Sir 
Nicholas  died  the  20  Feb.  1579  seised  of  the  manor,  when  it  devolved  to  his 
eldest  son  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  who  was  knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in 
1578  and  was  the  first  person  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  a  Baronet  on  the 
institution  of  that  order  in  1611.  On  his  death  in  1624  the  manor  passed 
to  his  fifth  son  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon  of  Culford,  K.B.  He  married  Jane 
daughter  of  Hercules  Meautys  and  widow  of  Sir  William  Cornwallis  lent., 3 
and  had  with  other  issue  a  son  Nicholas  who  died  without  male  issue.  On 
Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon's  death  in  1627  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Jane, 
who  left  it  by  will  to  her  son  by  her  first  marriage,  namely  Sir  Frederick 
Cornwallis  who  was  created  a  Baronet  by  letters  patent  4  May  1627  and 
received  the  order  of  knighthood  at  Whitehall  2nd  December  1630.  He 
represented  Eye  in  1639  an<^  again  in  1640,  when  foreseeing  that  the  violent 
measures  of  the  predominant  party  would  lead  to  disastrous  results  in 
regard  to  the  country,  he  opposed  it  with  considerable  warmth  and  was 
rewarded  by  having  his  name  inserted  in  the  list  of  those  who  were  maligned 
under  the  title  of  Staffordians.  He  thereupon  withdrew  with  his.  Sovereign 
and  sat  in  the  assembly  at  Oxford  in  January  1643,  subsequently  taking  an 
active  part  in  the  commotions  of  his  time.  He  distinguished  himself  in 
many  engagements  and  particularly  in  the  fight  at  Cropredybridge,  Oxford, 
in  1644  where  he  rescued  the  Lord  Wilmot  then  taken  prisoner  by  the 
rebels.  He  followed  Charles  II.  into  exile  and  had  part  in  his  triumphant 
return  in  1660  when  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  Privy  Council  and 
Treasurer  of  his  Majesty's  Household  three  days  before  the  coronation, 
being  with  other  distinguished  persons  created  a  Baron  of  the  realm  by  the 
title  of  Lord  Cornwallis  of  Eye  having,  as  the  preamble  of  the  patent  sets 
forth,  "  from  his  youth  with  great  fidelity  served  King  Charles  the  First,  in 
court  and  camp,  for  which  he  suffered  the  loss  of  his  estate,  imprisonment  and 
exile  ;  and  in  testimony  of  the  high  .esteem  his  Majesty  had  of  his  merits, 
he  advanced  him  to  the  said  degree  and  dignity."  He  died  suddenly  of  an 
apopletic  fit  3ist  Jan.  i66£  generally  lamented.  He  is  characterised  by  one 
as  "  a  man  of  so  cheerful  a  spirit  that  no  sorrow  came  next  his  heart ;  and 
of  so  resolved  a  mind  that  no  fear  came  into  his  thoughts  ;  so  perfect  a 
master  of  courtly  and  becoming  raillery  that  he  could  do  more  with  one 
word  in  jest  than  others  could  do  with  whole  harangues  in  earnest ;  a  well 
spoken  man  competently  seen  in  modern  languages,  and  of  a  comely  and 
goodly  personage."4  He  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of 
Brome,  and  on  a  monument  to  his  memory  is  the  following  inscription  : — 

Exuviae  Prsenobilis  Viri  Frederic!  Dni 

Cornwallis  Baroniis  de  Eye,  Hospitii  Regii 

Thesaurarii,  et  Regiae  Majestatis  a  Secretioribus 

Consiliis  :   Qui  Exi"™  Uxore  Dom.  Elizibetha 

Ashburnham  (Oxonii  in  JEde  Christ!  tumulata) 

Quatuor  suscipit  Liberos,  Carolum  et 

Fredericum,  Henriettam-Mariam,  et  Georgium. 

Defunctos,  Ex  2di  Doma  Eliz.  Crofts  Post 

Multos  in  Infantia  abreptos  unicam  Janam 

Superstitem.     Hie  pro  inconcussa  in  Regem 

Fide  proscriptionem  et  exilium  Passus  a  per- 

duellibus,  Tandem  Coelestem  Invenit  Patriam 

Et  in  Gremio  restauratse  Ecclesia  placide 

Obdormivit  Ultimo  Die  Januarii 

Anno  Salu.    MDCLXI. 

1  Fine,  Hil.  4  Eliz.  may  be  seen  amongst  the  Marquis 

*  Fine,  Trin.  8  Eliz.  of  Salisbury  MSS.    Hist.  Com.  Rep. 

3  An  extraordinary  letter  of  this  Sir  Wm.  pt.  v.  30. 

to  Sir  Robert  Cecil  dated  Dec.  1594         4  Lloyd's  Memoirs,  663. 


330  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

By  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  John  Ashburnham  of  Ashburnham  he  had 
amongst  other  issue  a  son  Charles  who  succeeded  his  father  as  2nd  lord.  At 
the  coronation  of  Charles  II.  he  had  been  made  a  Knight  of  the  Bath.  He 
married  Margaret  dau.  of  Thomas  Playsted  who  died  6  March  1668  being 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  Culford  Church  with  the  following  inscription  : — 

Depositum  Lectissimae  Heroinae 

D.  MARGARETE  CORNWALLIS 

Castiss,  Conjugis  CAROLI  CORNWALLIS 

Baronis  de  Eye 

quoe 

Bonis  natalibus  orta 

Claris  sponsalibus  decora t a 

Numerosa  progenie  circumsepta 

Ipsa  sibi  Monumcntum  fuit  optimum 

FREDERICVM  NATHANIELEM  JACOBVM 

ANNAM  ELIZABETHAM  (Juxta  sepult.) 

Gratas  Deo  animas,  Deo  pramisit. 

CAROLVM  FREDERICVM  GVLIELMVM 

THOMAM  GEORGIVM  HENRIETTAM  MARIAM 

Reliquit  superstites. 

Abi  Viator  et  disce 

Quod  tanta  Virtus  potuit 

Nee  potuit  mori. 

Obijt 
Sexto  die  Martij  Anno  MDCLXVIII. 

Monumentum  hoc 

In  memoriam  dilectissimae  Conjugis 

CAROLVS  CORNWALLIS  moerens  superstes. 

P.  C. 

Her  husband  the  2nd  lord  died  the  I5th  April  1673,  and  was  buried  by 
his  wife  Margaret's  side  in  Culford  Church,  and  the  manor  passed  to  their 
3rd  but  eldest  surviving  son  Charles  3rd  lord.  He  was  distinguished  as  one 
of  the  most  accomplished  men  of  his  age  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
King  William  I II.  who  called  him  to  the  Privy  Council  in  169^.  In  1689  he 
had  been  constituted  Lord  Lieutenant  and  Gustos  Rotulorum  of  the  County 
of  Suffolk  and  in  1697  became  High  Steward  of  the  Corporation  of  Ipswich. 
He  married  the  27  Dec.  1673  first  Elizabeth  eldest  dau.  of  Sir  Stephen  Fox 
knt.  She  died  the  28  Feb.  1680,  aged  25  years,  and  in  the  Church  of  Brome 
is  a  bust  in  alto  relievo  and  an  inscription  to  her  memory.  Sir  Stephen 
Fox  her  father  built  a  hospital  at  Brome.  In  the  memoirs  of  Count  Gram- 
mont  is  the  following  :  "  Lord  Cornwallis  had  married  the  daughter  of  Sir 
Stephen  Fox,  treasurer  of  the  King's  household,  one  of  the  richest  and  most 
regular  men  in  England.  His  son-in-law  (Lord  Cornwallis)  on  the  contrary 
was  a  young  spendthrift,  was  very  extravagant,  loved  gaming,  lost  as  much 
as  anyone  would  trust  him,  but  was  not  quite  so  ready  in  paying.  His  father- 
in-law  disproved  of  his  conduct,  paid  his  debts  and  gave  him  a  lecture.  At 
the  same  time  the  Chevalier  de  Grammont  had  won  of  him  a  thousand  or 
twelve  hundred  guineas  which  he  heard  no  tidings  of,  although  he  was 
upon  the  eve  of  his  departure,  and  he  had  taken  leave  of  Cornwallis  in  a 
more  particular  manner  than  any  other  person.  This  obliged  the  Chevalier 
to  write  him  a  billet,  which  was  rather  laconic.  It  was  this  :— 
"  My  lord, 

"  Pray  remember  the  Count  de  Grammont,  and  do  not  forget  Sir 
Stephen  Fox. '" 

Lord  Cornwallis  married  2ndly  Anne  Scott  Duchess  of  Monmouth  and 
Buccleuch  widow  of  James  Duke  of  Monmouth.  His  lordship  was  indicted 

1  Memoirs  of  Count  Grammont,  1809,  vol.  ii.  205. 


INGHAM.  331 

for  the  murder  of  Robert  Clerk  and  the  King  on  his  trial  constituted 
Heneage  Lord  Finch,  then  Lord  High  Chancellor,  Lord  Steward  for  the 
occasion.  The  number  of  peers  summoned  was  35,  Thomas  Earl  of  Derby 
being  foreman  of  the  jury.  Serjeant  Maynard  opened  the  indictment  and 
the  Attorney-General  Sir  William  Jones  the  case.  Sir  Francis  Winnington 
the  Solicitor-General  summed  up  the  evidence.  Twenty-five  of  the  lords 
brought  in  not  guilty  and  6  not  guilty  of  murder  but  guilty  of  manslaughter. 
Lord  Cornwallis  had  by  his  first  wife,  with  other  issue,  a  son  Charles,  who  on 
the  death  of  his  father  2gth  April  1698  succeeded  to  the  title  and  the  lordship 
of  Ingham  as  4th  Lord  Cornwallis.  He  sat  for  Eye  until  his  father's 
decease  took  him  to  the  Upper  House.  He  married  Lady  Charlotte  Butler 
dau.  and  eventual  heir  of  Richard  Earl  of  Arran  Baron  Weston  2nd  son  of 
James  Duke  of  Ormond,  and  with  other  issue  had  a  son  Charles  who  on 
the  death  of  his  father  19  Jan.  1721-2  succeeded  as  5th  lord.  He  was 
appointed  Constable  of  the  Tower  and  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower 
Hamlets  and  30  June  1753  created  Earl  and  Viscount  by  the  title  of  Viscount 
Broome  in  the  county  of  Suffolk  and  Earl  Cornwallis.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth eldest  dau.  of  Charles  Viscount  Townshend  and,  with  other  issue,  had 
a  son  Charles  who  on  the  decease  of  his  father  the  22nd  June  1762  succeeded 
as  2nd  Earl  Cornwallis.  In  the  American  War  he  held  an  important 
command  which,  after  many  brilliant  successes,  terminated  in  the  defeat 
and  capture  of  himself  and  the  troops  entrusted  to  his  guidance.  This 
reverse  however  was  amply  compensated  by  the  laurels  he  reaped  in  the 
East  as  Governor-General  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  India,  where  by  his 
integrity,  disinterestedness,  and  strict  regard  for  public  faith,  as  much  as 
by  his  victories,  he  raised  the  reputation  of  the  British  name,  and  greatly 
ameliorated  the  condition  of  our  eastern  empire  by  his  judicious  and  efficient 
measures  of  reform.  He  was  perhaps  the  most  distinguished  member  of  the 
family  and  for  his  eminent  services  was  created  Marquis  Cornwallis  15  August 
1792  on  his  return  to  Europe.  In  1798  he  was  appointed  Lord  Lieutenant 
of  Ireland  and  commander  of  the  forces  there  when  the  rebellion  of  that 
unhappy  country  demanded  in  its  governor  military  as  well  as  political 
abilities.  He  was  for  a  second  time  placed  at  the  head  of  the  government 
of  India  as  Governor-General  and  died  there  5th  Oct.  1805.  By  his  wife 
Jemima  Tullikens  dau.  of  James  Jones  whom  he  married  the  14  July  1768 
he  had  a  son  Charles  Cornwallis  3rd  Earl  and  2nd  Marquis.  In  1796  he 
had  been  elected  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Shire  for  Suffolk  which  position  he 
retained  until  the  death  of  his  father.  His  lordship  was  held  in  great  and 
deserved  estimation ;  his  amiable  character  and  unassuming  manners,  coupled 
with  the  kindness  and  benevolence  of  his  heart,  rendered  him  throughout 
life  as  beloved  as  he  was  respected.  On  25  May  1803  he  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  Eastern  Battalion  of  Suffolk  Militia,  and  in  1805 
Master  of  his  Majesty's  Buckhounds.  He  married  on  the  17  April  1797 
Louisa  5th  daughter  of  Alexander  Duke  of  Gordon  and  died  the  gth  Aug. 
1823  in  his  4gth  year  without  issue  when  the  Marquisate  expired,  and  the 
Earldom  and  other  honours  passed  to  his  uncle  John,  Lord  Bishop  of  Lichfield 
and  Coventry.  The  Manor  of  Ingham,  however,  was  sold  before  the  death 
of  the  last  Marquis  to  Richard  Benyon  de  Beavoir  of  Englefield  House, 
High  Sheriff  of  Berks  in  1816,  from  which  time  it  has  descended  in  the  same 
course  as  the  Manor  of  Culford  and  is  now  vested  in  Earl  Cadogan. 

Abstract  of  the  customs  of  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst  the 
Additional  MSS.  of  the  British  Museum.1 

1  Add.  31970- 


332  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


IXWORTH. 

HE  main  manor  was  held  in  Edward  the  Confessor's  time  by 
one  Achi  with  3  carucates  of  land,  2  bordars,  5  serfs,  3 
ploughteams  in  demesne,  i  mill,  20  acres  of  meadow,  2 
rouncies,  5  beasts,  40  hogs,  8  sheep,  3  arpents  of  vineyard, 
and  one  park  of  the  value  of  80  shillings.  The  value  by 
the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  had  risen  to  6  pounds  and 
the  sheep  to  92  but  the  serfs  had  come  down  to  3,  the 
rouncies  to  one,  and  the  hogs  to  22.  There  were  also  here  25  freemen  under 
commendation  who  had  2  carucates  and  a  half  of  land  with  5  ploughteams 
and  4  acres  of  meadow,  over  all  of  which,  as  indeed  of  the  whole  Hundred,  the 
Abbot  had  sac  and  soc.  By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  there  were 
only  3  ploughteams  and  a  half,  but  the  value  had  continued  at  20  shillings. 
There  were  also  5  freemen  under  commendation  who  had  a  carucate  and 
80  acres  of  land  with  5  ploughteams  and  3  acres  of  land  of  the  value  of  30 
shillings  in  King  Edward's  time.  By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  the 
value  had  come  down  to  20  shillings  and  there  were  but  2  ploughteams. 
There  was  also  a  church  with  80  acres  of  free  land  and  i  ploughteam  and  i 
acre  of  meadow  valued  at  5  shillings.  The  whole  extent  of  this  holding,  of 
which  Robert  Blund  was  the  tenant  in  chief,  was  2  leagues  in  length  and  6 
quarantenes  in  breadth  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  22j^.  There  was  also  another 
freeman  holding  40  acres  with  i  ploughteam  valued  at  5  shillings  in  the 
chief  holding  of  Robert  Blund.  He  also  had  another  manor  which  in 
King  Edward  the  Confessor's  time  was  held  by  Ketel  a  freeman  with  200 
acres,  2  bordars,  2  serfs,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne,  6  acres  of  meadow  and 
one  mill.  And  under  him  were  6  freemen  with  29  acres,  2  ploughteams  in 
Saxon  times,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Survey  only  one,  which  had  always  been 
of  the  value  of  60  shillings.  Over  Ketel,  Augar  the  Slatter  had  commenda- 
tion in  the  Confessor's  time.  Ralph,  Robert  Blund' s  brother,  was  seised  of 
this  manor  when  he  died  and  Robert  received  it  from  the  King.1 

1  he  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  was  the  tenant  in  chief  of  i  carucate  of  land,  5 
men,  3  acres  of  meadow,  2  ploughteams  of  the  value  of  10  shillings.  These 
men  could  in  Saxon  times  and  apparently  subsequently  dispose  of  their  land, 
but  the  soc,  sac  and  commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot.  This  land 
was  held  by  Robert  Blund  of  the  Abbot  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey.2  The  only  other  holding  in  Ixworth  was  that  of  a  freeman  remaining 
in  the  King's  hands  at  the  time  of  the  Great  Record  being  compiled.  This 
freeman  had  12  acres  valued  at  20  shillings  and  the  Abbot  had  in  the  Con- 
fessor's day  half  the  commendation  and  sac  and  soc,  and  the  predecessor  of 
Peter  de  Valoignes  had  the  remaining  half  of  the  commendation.  Over  this 
freeman  Richard  who  was  Robert  Blund's  man  held  and  gave  security, 
but  Robert  was  not  his  warrant.3 

IXWORTH  MANOR. 

The  Domesday  tenant  Robert  le  Blund  was  lord  of  the  parish,  and 
since  this  time  the  two  manors  mentioned  in  the  Survey  seem  to  have  been 
held  as  one.  He  had  no  less  than  13  lordships  in  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
Ixworth  forming  the  head  of  the  feudal  barony.  Robert  was  one  of  the 
three  sons  of  Radolf  le  Blund  Lord  of  Guisnes  in  France  and  of  Rosetta  his 

1  Dom.  ii.  4386,  4396,  440.  »  Dom.  ii.  447. 

•  Dom.  ii.  3676. 


IXWORTH.  333 

wife  daughter  of  Count  de  St.  Pol,  who  had  accompanied  William  the 
Conqueror  in  his  invasion  of  this  country.  Robert  married  Gundred  de  Ferrars 
dau.  of  Henry  Earl  of  Ferrars.  His  brother  Sir  William  le  Blund  was 
Captain-General  of  the  infantry  of  the  Conqueror  and  was  quartered  with 
the  monks  of  Ely.  Robert  was  the  father  of  Gilbert  le  Blund  who  founded 
a  Priory  of  Augustine  or  Black  Canons  near  the  parish  church  here  about 
the  year  noo.  He  married  Alice  de  Colkyoke  and  on  his  death  the  lordship 
passed  to  his  son  William  le  Blund  who  rebuilt  the  Priory  which  had  been 
destroyed  during  the  intestine  wars  and  re-endowed  it,  but  it  was  not 
re-erected  exactly  on  the  same  site.  The  new  site  occupied  about  30  acres 
and  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Prior  and  Convent  until  the  Dissolution. 
The  endowment  of  le  Blund  was  of  £280  per  annum,  being  in  those  days  of 
14  knights'  fees.  William  le  Blund  married  Sarah  daughter  of  Hubert 
de  Montechesny  of  Edwardstone  and  dying  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  Hubert  le  Blund  (called  also  Gilbert)  who  married  Agnes  de  Insula  and 
had  a  son  William  le  Blund  who  married  Cecilia  de  Vere.  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  le  Blund  who  was  standard-bearer  of  the 
insurgent  barons  under  Simon  de  Montfort  Earl  of  Leicester  and  was  slain 
at  the  Battle  of  Lewes  in  1264  without  leaving  issue,  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  widow  Alicia  de  Copella.  It  will  be  found  stated  in  the 
Hundred  Rolls  that  Alicia  widow  of  William  le  Blund  held  this  manor  of 
the  King  in  chief  as  of  the  Barony  of  le  Blund.1 

On  her  death  in  1282  the  lordship  was  divided  between  Sir  William  le 
Blund's  two  sisters,  Agnes  married  to  Sir  William  Criketot  of  Ousden,2 
who  died  in  i2o,83  seised  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor  and  Rohesia,  married  to 
Robert  de  Valoinis. 

On  Agnes  Criketot's  death  her  moiety  passed  to  her  son  William 
Criketot  who  married  Maria  daughter  of  Gilbert  Peche.  He  died  in  I3O74 
and  his  moiety  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William  Criketot  (3)  who  married 
Joan  daughter  of  William  Watleville.  He  had  licence  to  alienate  the 
manor  or  more  probably  his  moiety  within  a  year  after  his  father's  death, 
but  most  likely  byway  of  settlement,5  for  the  moiety  of  the  manor  is  specified 
in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  himself  and  Joan  his  wife  two  years  later,6  and  an 
entry  on  the  Close  Rolls  in  1310  shows  that  a  moiety  of  the  manor  was 
assigned  as  dower  to  William's  widow  Joan  and  subject  thereto  was  to 
remain  to  William  son  and  heir  of  William  de  Criketot.7 

William  (4)  married  Isabella  Bracebrigge  and  died  about  1343 ,8  when 
his  moiety  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William  (5)  married  to  Joan  Poynings. 
He  died  about  1354,'  when  his  moiety  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William 
Criketot  (6)  who  being  an  infant  the  King  granted  the  custody  of  his  moiety 
of  the  manor  to  Reginald  de  Cobham.10  This  moiety  a  little  later  became 
vested  in  Ixworth  Priory.11 

The  last  named  William  Criketot  died  unmarried. 

The  other  moiety  descended  from  Rohesia  le  Blund  to  her  son  and 
heir  Robert  de  Valoines  who  married  Eva  Criketot.  He  died  about  1282" 
leaving  two  daughters  one  of  whom  Rohesia  was  married  to  Sir  Edmund 

1  H.R.  ii.  151.  '  Close  Rolls,  3  Edw.  II.  gd. 

'  See    Manor    of    Ousden    in    Risbridge  "  I.P.M.,  17  Edw.  III.  42. 

Hundred.  '  I.P.M.,  28  Edw.  III.  48. 

3  I.P.M.,  27  Edw.  I.  47.  '°  Originalia,  31  Edw.  III.  4. 

<  I.P.M.,  35  Edw.  I.  133.  "  I.P.M.,  44  Edw.  III.  2nd  Nos.  16. 

*  I.Q.D.,  i  Edw.  II.  106.  "  I.P.M.,  10  Edw.  I.  15. 
6  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  II.  52. 


334  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Pakenham  knt.  and  had  this  manor.  Rohesia  survived  her  husband 
having  had  by  him  four  sons — ist  Thomas  de  Pakenham  who  died  without 
issue;  2ndly  Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham  who  married  Mary  dau.  of  John  Comyn 
of  Scotland  and  left  two  sons,  Sir  Edmund  Pakenham  and  Thomas 
Pakenham  who  both  died  without  issue  ;  3rdly  Robert  de  Pakenham 
who  died  without  issue  ;  and  4thly  Henry  or  Hervey  de  Pakenham  rector 
of  Bardwell  who  was  the  heir  of  his  nephew  Thomas. 

Rohesia  de  Pakenham  remarried  Hugh  de  Saxham  and  on  the  Patent 
Rolls  in  1332  is  a  licence  for  this  Hugh  de  Saxham  and  Rohesia  his  wife  to 
en  feoff  Thomas  de  Saxham  and  Robert  de  Rykyghale  of  the  manor  and 
for  them  to  regrant  the  same  to  Hugh  de  Saxham,  Rohesia  and  the  heirs  of 
the  said  Rohesia.1  This  same  year  a  fine  was  levied  by  Thomas  de 
Saxham  parson  of  the  Church  of  West  Harling  and  Ralph  de  Rykyngale 
chaplain  against  this  Hugh  de  Saxham  and  Rohesia  his  wife.1 

In  1349  Rohesia  obtained  a  licence  from  the  King  enabling  her  to  enfeoff 
Robert  Ty reward  and  John  Kebel  chaplains  of  a  moiety  of  the  manor,3  and 
two  years  later  another  licence  enabling  her  to  enfeoff  the  Priory  of  Ixworth 
of  the  moiety,  except  id.  rent  in  same.4  This  same  year  Rohesia  settled  her 
moiety  of  the  manor  by  fine  on  Hervey  or  Henry  her  son  rector  of  Bardwell 
with  remainder  to  the  Prior  of  Ixworth  except  one  penny  rent  and  the  moiety 
of  the  advowson  of  the  Priory  here.  She  died  in  1353,  but  her  moiety  of 
the  manor  does  not  seem  then  to  have  passed  to  the  Priory,  though  it  did 
not  pass  to  the  heir,  for  on  the  Originalia  Rolls  we  find  an  order  this  year  to 
take  security  of  Thomas  de  Pakenham  son  and  heir  of  Rose  who  was  wife 
of  Edmund  de  Pakenham  for  a  reasonable  relief  of  id.  rent  out  of  a  moiety  of 
the  manor.5  This  id.  was  all  that  was  left  to  pass  to  the  heir  who  so  far  as 
the  manor  was  concerned  seems  to  have  been  placed  on  a  par  with 
those  unhappy  youths  of  later  times  so  often  cut  off  with  the  proverbial 
shilling. 

On  the  Originalia  Rolls  we  find  two  entries  in  relation  to  the  Priory 
Church  which  throw  some  light  on  the  Pakenham  connection.  The  first 
is  an  order  in  1361  to  accept  security  of  Henry  de  Pakenham  uncle  and 
heir  of  Thomas  de  Pakenham  deceased  for  a  reasonable  relief  in  respect  of 
a  moiety  of  the  advowson  of  Ixworth  Priory  Church  and  id.  rent  in  Berde- 
well  held  of  the  King  in  chief.6  And  the  other  two  years  later  an  order  to 
take  fealty  of  Robert  de  Ufford  Earl  of  Suffolk  heir  of  Hervey  de  Pakenham 
of  a  moiety  of  the  same  church  held  of  the  King  in  chief.7  On  the  failure 
of  heirs  of  Roesia  the  manor  would  naturally  pass  to  the  Uffords,  for  her 
sister  Cecily  the  other  daughter  of  Robert  de  Valoines  had  married  Robert 
de  Ufford  the  father  of  Robert  de  Ufford  Earl  of  Suffolk. 

In  1377  this  moiety  of  the  manor  coalesced  with  the  other  in  the  hands 
of  the  Priory.8  On  the  Patent  Rolls  will  be  seen  the  licence  for  alienating 
in  mortmain  to  the  Priory  by  Richard  de  Pakenham  and  others  of  this 
moiety  (except  id.  rent  and  the  advowson  of  a  moiety  of  the  Priory  of 
Ixworth).9  Davy  says  that  in  1361  Thomas  de  Pakenham  died  seised  of  a 
moiety,  but  this  is  an  error.  He  only  died  seised  of  the  id.  rent.  In  1534 

1  Pat.  Rolls,  6  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  2  ;  Origina-  »  O.,  27  Edw.  III.  2. 

lia,  6  Edw.  III.  35.  •  O.,  35  Edw.  III.  10. 

•  Feet  of  Fines,  6  Edw.  III.  35.  '  O.,  37  Edw.  III.  5. 

1  Originalia,  23  Edw.  III.  31.  •  I.P.M.,  51  Edw.  III.  2nd  Nos.  43. 

4  Originalia,  25  Edw.  III.,  25 ;  Esch.  25  •  Pat.  Rolls,  i  Rich.  II.  pt.  i.  5. 

Edw.  III.  2nd  Nos.  14. 


IXWORTH.  335 

the  Prior,  John  Jervys  and  sixteen  monks  subscribed  to  the  King's  supre- 
macy,1 and  of  course  the  endowments  went  to  the  Crown  on  the  Dissolution. 

In  1538  the  Crown  granted  the  manor  to  Richard  Codington  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife  in  exchange  for  the  manor  of  Nonesuch  in  Surrey.2 

Richard  Codington  was  the  representative  of  an  ancient  Surrey 
family,  deriving  its  name  from  the  manor  and  parish  of  Cuddington,  and 
he  was  tempted  by  an  offer  of  several  valuable  manors  in  the  eastern  coun- 
ties to  relinquish  his  ancestral  domain  in  favour  of  King  Henry  VIII., 
who  erected  therein  his  famous  Palace  of  Nonesuch.  A  copy  of  the  exchange 
is  in  the  writer's  possession  having  come  from  the  MSS.  in  Sir  Thomas 
Phillipps's  library.  As  the  grant  in  exchange  refers  mainly  to  manors  in 
Blackbourn  Hundred  a  copy  may  be  of  interest  :— 

"  Indenture  of  Exchange  loth  July  30  Hen.  VIII.  between  the  King 
and  Richard  Codyngton  of  Codington  co.  Surrey  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  The 
King  in  exchange  for  the  Manor  of  Codington  and  other  premises  in  Surrey 
grants  to  the  said  Richard  Codyngton  and  his  heirs  the  scite  of  the  late 
Priory  of  Ixworth  with  the  Church,  Steeple  and  Churchyard  and  all  messuages 
and  lands  thereto  belonging,  as  well  within  as  without  the  circuit  or  precinct 
thereof,  the  manor  and  parsonage  of  Ixworth  with  their  appurtenances 
then  late  belonging  to  the  said  Priory  and  all  lands,  tenements,  rights, 
privileges,  hereditaments,  &c.,  in  Ixworth,  Berdwell,  Thorpe  als.  Ixworth- 
Thorpe,  Pakenham,  Thurston  and  Stanton  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  belonging 
to  the  said  manor  and  parsonage,  or  either  of  them.  And  also  all  his 
messuages,  lands,  rights,  and  hereditaments  in  Ixworth,  Weston,  Berdwell, 
Opton,  Thelnetham,Cunston,  Knottishale,  Hinderclare,  Rykinhale,  Wattley- 
field,  Stanton,  Barton,  Gaysley,  Kentford,  Coling,  Thorpe  Morreles,  Lang- 
ham,  West  Thorpe,  Winston,  Newmarket,  Emswele,  Stowlangtoft,  Paken- 
ham, Thurston  and  Lingmere  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  late  belonging  to  the 
said  Priory  (excepting  and  reserving  to  the  King  the  manor  of  Norton  in 
Suffolk  and  all  messuages,  lands,  &c.,  parcel  of  the  said  manor  and  all 
messuages,  lands,  &c.,  in  Upwell  and  Thurling) ;  which  scite  of  the  said 
Priory  and  the  manor  and  parsonage  of  Ixworth  with  their  appurtenances 
in  the  County  of  Suffolk  except  as  aforesaid  are  ascerted  to  be  of  the  yearly 
value  of  £83.  9.  o,  above  all  reprizes.  To  hold  the  same  of  the  King  and 
his  successors  under  the  reserved  rent  of  £8.  7.  o.  in  the  name  of  the  Tenth 
payable  at  the  Court  of  Augmentations  on  Michaelmas  day  in  lieu  of  all 
rents  and  services.  And  also  the  manors  of  Sapeston,  Walsham,  Downe- 
ham,  Hunterston,  a/s.Huntston,  Thorpe  al.  Ixworth-Thorpe,  Little  Ashefield, 
Great  Ashefield  als.  Badwell  in  Suffolk  and  all  messuages,  lands,  tenements, 
hereditaments  &c.  within  the  towns,  fields,  parishes,  or  hamlets  of  Sapeston, 
Walsham,  &c.,  and  to  the  parsonages  and  Vicarages  of  the  parish  churches 
of  Sapeston,  Walsham,  Downeham,  Hunterston,  Thorpe,  Little  Ashefield 
and  Great  Ashefield  belonging  a  Pension  of  6s.  Sd.  issuing  out  of  the  parsonage 
or  church  of  Bardwell,  a  pension  of  135.  4^.  going  out  of  the  Vicarage  of 
Langham.  And  also  all  his  portion  of  Tyths  in  Berdewell  and  Langham 
unto  the  said  late  monastery  or  Priory  belonging.  And  also  all  other 
messuages,  lands,  presentations,  Chantries,  chapels,  Ecclesiastical  benefits 
and  hereditaments  as  well  spiritual  as  temporal  in  Sapeston,  Walsham  &c., 
to  the  priory  of  Ixworth  then  lately  belonging,  which  manors  and  other 
premises  with  the  appurtenances  in  Sapeston  are  ascerted  to  be  of  the 
yearly  value  of  £69.  19.  3^.  above  all  reprizes.  To  hold  of  the  King  and 

1  State    Papers,  26  Hen.  VIII.  vol.  vii.          '  State  Papers,  1538, 15,  19  (70) ;   Origina- 
1347.  lia,  30  Hen.  VIII.  Rot.  128. 


336  THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

his  successors  by  the  tenth  part  of  a  knight's  fee  and  of  the  yearly  rent  of 
£54  in  the  name  of  the  Tenth  to  the  Crown  in  lieu  of  all  services." 

Richard  Codington's  wife  was  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Jenour  of 
Great  Dunnow  in  Essex  and  widow  of  Thomas  Bokenham  of  Great  Livermere, 
and  he  died  without  issue  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Elizabeth. 
Elizabeth  Coddington  by  her  will  devised  the  manor  to  John  Caryll  the 
son  of  Thomas  Caryll  who  had  married  Dorothy  daughter  of  Elizabeth  by 
her  first  marriage  with  Thomas  Bokenham.  They  had  had  a  son  John  who 
had  married  Lucy  dau.  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham  of  Barrow  knt..  but  he  had 
died  in  1551  without  issue.  Dorothy  had  died  in  1560  and  her  husband 
Thomas  Caryill  in  1563.  There  is  a  fine  table  or  altar  monument  on  the 
north  side  of  the  chancel  within  a  circular  arch  in  the  parish  church  of  Ixworth 
which  is  richly  ornamented  in  memory  of  Richard  Codington  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife.  A  plate  of  brass  is  thus  inscribed  :  "  Here  lyeth  buryed  the  Bodyes 
of  Richard  Codington  Esquyer,  the  first  temporall  Lorde  of  this  Manor  of 
Ipworth  (st'c)  after  the  suppression  of  the  Abbye  whiche  he  had  of  or 
Sovereigne  Lorde  Kinge  Henrye  the  eight  in  Exchange  for  the  Manor  of 
Codington  now  called  Nonsuche  in  the  Countie  of  Surry,  and  Elizabeth  his 
Wyffe,  sometime  the  Wyffe  of  Thomas  Bucknhm  of  great  Lyvermeare 
Esquyer,  which  had  yssue  by  the  said  Thomas  Bucknton,  John  and  Dorothe, 
the  said  Richard  Codington  deceasyd  the  xxvii.  day  of  Maye  in  the  yeare  of 
or  Lorde  God  mccccclxvii.  ;  and  the  said  Elizabeth  deceasyd  the  viii.  day 
of  September  in  the  yeare  of  or  Lorde  God  mccccclxxi."  Within  the  arch 
are  their  portraits  kneeling,  behind  her,  two  children  ;  over  their  heads  three 
escutcheons  in  brass — Cudington,  Cudington  and  Jenour  and  Buckenham. 
Codington,  gules,  a  cross  or,  fretty  azure  ;  2nd,  Codington  and  Jenour,  Or,  on 
a  cross  engrailed  azure  five  fleur-de-lis  of  the  first,  within  a  border  engrailed 
of  the  second  ;  3rd,  Buckenham  and  Jenour,  quartering  i  and  4,  argent  a 
lion  rampant  gules,  2nd  argent,  two  bars  sable,  Thelnetham,  3rd  argent, 
three  ogresses,  each  charged  with  a  cross  crosslet  of  the  field,  Hethe.1 

Elizabeth  Codington  was  probably  the  person  who  left  a  customary 
donation  of  £5  in  money  and  12  loads  of  wood  at  los.  a  load  out  of  the  Manor 
of  Ixworth,  for  this  charity  has  long  passed  under  the  name  of  "  Mrs. 
Codington's  gift."  'In  1616  there  is  an  order  on  the  Memoranda  Rolls  for 
the  removal  of  process  from  the  profits  of  the  manor  and  for  discharge  of 
Sir  John  Carrell."  The  manor  did  not  long  remain  with  the  Carrills.  Sir 
John  Carrill  and  his  son  before  1630  sold  the  manor  to  Sir  Garret  Kemper 
and  Daniel  Norton,  and  amongst  the  State  Papers  for  1630  will  be  found  a 
release  of  the  King's  interest  in  the  manor  to  them  reserving  rents  and  such 
benefit  as  the  King  might  claim  in  a  rent  of  £200  payable  to  Sir  John 
Carrill  during  his  life.3  Davy  and  Page  both  state  that  the  manor  went  to 
the  Fiennes,  but  we  fail  to  find  any  evidence  of  this.  Page  says  distinctly 
that  the  Hon.  Richard  Fiennes  4th  son  of  William  Fiennes  ist  Viscount 
Saye  and  Sele  died  seised  in  1674  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  the 
church  here  ;  also  that  he  left  by  Susanna  his  2nd  wife  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Cobb  of  Alderbury  in  Oxfordshire  a  son  Richard  in  holy  orders, 
whose  son  Richard  Fiennes  became  6th  Viscount  Saye  and  Sele  and  died 
without  issue  in  1781  when  the  Viscounty  expired.  The  only  explanation 
we  can  offer  is  the  fact  that  Elizabeth  the  sister  of  Richard  Fiennes  the  father 
of  Richard  the  rector  and  grandfather  of  Richard  the  Viscount  married 
Richard  Norton  of  Southwick. 

1  Mr.  Fairer  makes  these  arms  to  be  '  M.,  14  Jac.  i,  Hil.  Rec.  Rot.  263. 

different.  »  State  Papers,  1630,  296. 


IXWORTH.  337 

The  Nortons  certainly  had  the  manor  at  the  close  of  the  I7th  century, 
but  had  long  previously  been  connected  with  the  parish.  A  John  Norton 
had  died  14  July  1597  at  tne  age  of  44  and  been  buried  in  the  Parish  Church, 
where  there  is  a  mural  monument  to  his  memory. 

Between  Colonel  Richard  Norton  of  Southwick  and  Oliver  Cromwell 
existed  great  intimacy.  The  colonel  was  knight  of  the  shire  for  Hants  in 
1645,  and  Governor  of  Southampton  in  1658.  He  was  instrumental 
in  negotiating  the  match  between  Richard  Cromwell  and  Mr.  Major's 
daughter.  Norton's  eldest  son  Richard  by  a  second  marriage  succeeded 
his  father.  In  some  Exchequer  Depositions  taken  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds 
in  1663  we  find  a  suit  between  Richard  Norton  and  Arthur  Heron 
as  to  the  site  of  the  late  priory  of  Ixworth,  the  manor,  rectory,  and  tithes, 
also  an  annual  pension  of  6s.  8d.  from  Bardwell  Rectory  and  tithes  said  to  be 
"late  of  Sir  D.  Norton  knt.  deceased."  Richard  married  Elizabeth  daughter 
of  James  Butler  of  Ambersly  Castle  in  Sussex,  who  died  i  May  1708,  aged 
48,  and  her  husband  deceased  the  same  year  on  the  loth  Dec.  aged  66  and  was 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  this  parish  church.  Thomas  son  of  Robert's  brother 
William  Norton  succeeded  to  this  estate,  and  at  his  decease  it  passed  to 
Colonel  Richard  Norton  who  died  in  1781  and  settled  the  same  upon  Isabella 
his  wife  (daughter  of  Julius  Hutchinson  and  of  Betty  his  wife,  daughter  of 
William  Norton  of  Wellow  in  Hants)  during  her  natural  life.  Isabella  Norton 
died  in  1792  when  the  property  became  the  inheritance  of  John  Cartwright 
in  right  of  his  wife,  daughter  and  coheir  of  the  said  Richard  and  Isabella 
Norton,  and  in  1847  h^3  grandson  Richard  Norton  Cartwright  had  the 
manor.  It  is  now  vested  in  Robert  Norton  Cartwright. 

The  Blund  arms  were  :  Barry  nebulee  of  six  or  and  sable  ;  those  of 
Criketot,  Lozengee  or  and  sable  ;  of  Coddington,  Gules,  a  cross,  or  fretty, 
azure  ;  of  Newton,  Vert,  a  lion  rampant  or  (but  they  also  bore  Azure 
3  swords  in  triangle  pomel  la  pomel,  argent  hilts  or,  on  a  chief  of  the  third 
a  lion  passant  gules  between  two  maunches  erm) ;  and  of  Cartwright, 
Ermine,  a  fesse  between  three  fire  balls,  sable  issuing  flames,  ppr. 

Particulars  of  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst  the  Harl.  MSS.1 
There  is  what  is  styled  a  Chartulary  of  the  Pakenhams  lords  of  Ixworth  t. 
Edw.  I. -II.  amongst  the  Campbell  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum.2 

The  manor  is  mentioned  and  an  extent  given  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of 
Adomarus  de  Valencia  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  Maria  his  wife  17  Edw.  II. 
also  in  that  of  Hugh  de  Saxham  and  Roesia  his  wife  6  Edw.  III.3, 
and  a  fine  was  levied  this  same  year  by  Thomas  de  Saxham  parson  of  the 
Church  of  Westharlyng  and  Ralph  de  Rykyngale  chaplain  against  Hugh  de 
Saxham  and  Rose  his  wife  of  this  manor  and  the  Manor  of  Walsham.4 


Harl.'gS.  3  2nd  Nos.  42. 

Camp.  XVII.  *  Feet  of  Fines,  6  Edw.  III.  35. 

Kl 


338 


THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


KNETTISHALL. 

HE  main  holding  in  this  parish  prior  to  the  Conquest  was  that 
of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.  By  the  time  of  the  Domes- 
day Survey  Fulcher  the  Norman  held  of  the  Abbot  3  freemen 
with  a  carucate  and  30  acres  of  land  and  6  bordars.  These 
men  had  three  ploughteams,  i  mill,  and  2  acres  of  meadow, 
and  they  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  the  soc,  sac  and 
commendation  would  remain  with  the  Abbot.  The  value 
was  20  shillings.  Here  too  was  a  church  with  12  acres  of  land.  The  length 
of  this  holding  was  8  quarentenes  and  the  breadth  3  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt 
n$d.1  The  Great  Survey  states  that  others  held  land  here,  but  the  only 
other  holding  specified  is  amongst  the  invasions  upon  the  King,  where 
there  is  an  entry  that  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  in  the  Confessor's  time 
held  30  acres  and  half  a  mill  valued  at  5  shillings.2 

Entered  under  Chenetessaia  in  Hartismere  is  a  holding  which  probably 
belongs  to  this  place.  It  is  that  of  Robert  Malet  and  consisted  of  3  acres 
valued  at  6d.  formerly  held  by  a  freeman  under  commendation.  The  King 
and  the  Earl  had  the  soc.3 

KNETTISHALL  MANOR. 

Davy  says  that  Sibil  de  Kame  gave  this  manor  to  Hugh  de  Shardilow 
and  he  in  1248  enfeoffed  Nicholas  de  St.  Edmunds  and  that  in  1316  Eleanor 
de  Gnateshall  was  lady.  Thirty-two  years  later  the  manor  was  vested  in 
John  de  Herling  of  East  Herling  in  Norfolk,  and  a  fine  was  levied  of 
the  manor  by  him  against  Robert  de  Wynneferthyng  and  John  his 
brother4  for  in  1360  he  had  free  warren  in  the  same.  In  1367  he  settled  the 
manor  on  Thomas  Heyward  Master  of  Rushworth  College  and  other  feoffees. 
Being  a  tested  and  experienced  soldier  and  expert  in  naval  affairs  he  had 
committed  to  him  in  1342  the  custody  of  the  sea  water  of  Bristol  during  the 
King's  pleasure.  His  death  occurred  in  1382  when  he  was  buried  in  the 
Church  of  St.  Peter  and  Paul  at  East  Herling  according  to  his  will  by  which 
he  ordered  his  best  horse  to  be  led  before  his  corpse  to  the  grave  as  his 
principal  or  mortuary  for  the  Priest.  John  de  Herling  married  Margery 
Jenney  and  on  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  eldest  son  and  heir  Sir 
John  de  Herling  lent.,  who  married  Cecily  daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir  Thomas 
Mortimer  of  Attleburgh  knt.,  who  survived  him  and  afterwards  married 
John  Rat  cliff  son  of  Sir  John  Ratcliffe  knt.  In  1374  Sir  John  Herling 
settled  the  manor  on  George  de  Felbrigge  knt.5  and  other  trustees,  but  the 
settlement  must  have  been  rather  peculiar  as  this  manor  was  possessed  not 
only  by  his  widow  Cecily  after  his  death  but  also  by  her  second  husband 
Sir  J  ohn  Ratcliffe.  Sir  J ohn  de  Herling  was  succeeded,  after  the  death  of  his 
widow  in  1419  and  her  2nd  husband,  by  Sir  Robert  Herling  knt.,  who  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  wars  in  France  under  Hen.  V.,  whom  he  attended 
in  1412  at  the  siege  of  Meaux  and  was  finally  slain  by  the  French  while 
valiantly  endeavouring  to  defend  the  city  of  Paris  the  9  Sept.  1435.  His 


1  Dom.  ii.  3676. 

•  Dom.  ii.  4486. 

»  Dom.  ii.  321. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  22  Edw.  III.  9. 


5  Sir  George  de  Felbrigge  was  trustee  of 
the  estates  settled  for  Margery  his 
sister,  the  mother  of  Sir  John  de 
Herling,  who  had  remarried  and 
was  then  the  wife  of  Sir  John  de 
Tuddenham. 


KNETTISHALL. 


339 


body  was  conveyed  to  this  country  and  laid  by  the  side  of  his  ancestors  in 
St.  Mary's  Chapel  in  St.  Peter  and  Paul's  Church,  East  Herling,  under  an 
altar  tomb  in  the  south  wall,  in  which  chapel  he  founded  a  perpetual 
Chantry  for  his  own  and  his  ancestors'  souls. 

He  married  Jane  or  Joan  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Gonville  descended  in 
a  direct  line  from  Sir  Nicholas  Gonvile  knt.  brother  to  the  founder  of  Gon- 
ville Hall.  By  his  will  dated  the  5th  June  1421'  he  orders  that  if  he  died 
without  heirs  then  certain  manors,  including  this,  should  be  settled  for  the 
benefit  of  three  Chantry  Priests  in  the  chapel  of  the  Virgin  Mary  called 
Herling's  Chapel  in  East  Herling,  Norf.,  but  if  he  left  a  daughter  then  there 
should  be  an  obligation  only  to  settle  a  provision  for  one  priest. 

Sir  Robert  de  Herling  left  an  only  daughter  and  heir  Anne  who  married 
three  times  :  ist  Sir  William  Chamberlain  of  Gedding,  K.G.,  a  man  of  great 
renown  and  a  distinguished  warrior,  of  whom  Hollingshed  relates  how  being 
governor  of  Craill-upon-Oise  in  France  which  in  1436  was  beseiged  by  the 
French  immediately  after  they  had  taken  Paris,  he  behaved  so  bravely 
that  with  500  Englishmen  only  he  issued  out  of  the  town,  discomforted 
his  enemies,  slew  200  of  them  and  took  a  great  number  prisoners.  He 
was  buried  under  a  fine  arched  monument  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel 
of  East  Herling  Church.  His  will  is  dated  March  3, 1461,  and  it  was  proved 
the  21  April  of  the  following  year.  Anne  de  Herling's  2nd  husband  was  Sir 
Robert  Wingfield  knt.,  2nd  son  of  Sir  John  Wingfield  of  Letheringham. 
He  occupied  the  position  of  Comptroller  of  the  Household  to  Edw.  IV. 
In  1474  he  and  his  wife  Anne  settled  the  manor  with  other  extensive  estates 
on  themselves  and  their  trustees  Edward  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  Sir  John 
Wingfield,  Sir  John  Heveningham,  Sir  Henry  Grey  knts.,  Edward  Bokenham, 
Henry  Spelman,  William  Berdwell  jun.,  Thomas  Chamberlain,  and  others. 
Sir  Robert  Wingfield  died  in  1481*  and  Anne  de  Herling  took  for  a  third 
husband  John  Lord  Scroop  of  Bolton  who  died  in  1494.  Anne  was  a  lady 
remarkable  for  her  gifts  and  the  foundress  of  many  valuable  charities.  She 
lived  to  a  great  age,  and  dying  about  I5023  without  issue  the  manor  passed 
to  her  Aunt  Margaret  sister  of  Sir  Robert  Herling  and  wife  of  Sir  Robert 
Tuddenham  knt.  Margaret  had  5  children,  Joan  a  nun  at  Carrow,  Mar- 
garet a  nun  at  Shouldham,  Thomas  who  was  18  years  of  age  in  1417  and 
married  Alice  daur.  of  John  Wodehouse,4  but  had  no  issue,  and  Robert  who 


1  Proved  the  I2th  Dee.  1435. 
'  I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  IV.  60. 

3  This    year    she    founded    the    seventh 

fellowship  in  Gonville  Hall,  en- 
dowing it  with  the  Manor  of 
Newenham  called  Mortimer's  in 
Cambridge,  with  the  water  mill 
there,  all  which  she  gave  for  the 
maintenance  of  her  fellow,  who  had 
to  be  a  priest  and  of  the  Norwich 
Diocese.  His  stipend  at  the  time 
of  the  foundation  was  £8  a  year. 
She  was  granddaughter  of  John 
Gonville,  descended  in  a  direct  line 
from  Sir  Nicholas  Gonvile  knt. 
brother  of  the  founder. 

4  He  married  before  he  was  of  age,  and  in 

1436  Nov.  22  on  a  full  hearing  of 
the  cause  at  Lynn  before  the 
Chancellor  of  Norwich,  the  Prior 


of  Lynn,  &c.,  he  was  divorced 
from  her  on  proof  of  her  own 
confession  of  adultery ;  she  had 
before  this  left  him  and  was  at  that 
time  a  nun  professed  at  Crabhouse,  in 
Wigenhale,  Norf,  and  he  had  power 
to  remarry.  But  the  close  of  his 
life  was  yet  more  unfortunate ; 
for  in  Feb.  1461  John  Earl  of 
Oxford,  Aubrey  his  son  and  heir, 
this  Sir  Thomas,  John  Clopton, 
John  Montgomery,  and  William 
Tyrrell  were  arrested  by  John  Earl 
of  Worcester,  Constable  of  England, 
on  suspicion  of  having  received 
letters  from  Margaret  wife  of  Hen. 
VI.,  and  being  convicted  in  court  by 
the  said  Earl  of  Worcester  were  all 
beheaded  (except  Clopton)  on  Tower 
Hill  on  the  22  Feby.  1461. 


340  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

inherited  but  died  young  and  without  issue,  leaving  Margaret  his  sister  his 
sole  heir.  She  married  Sir  Edmund  Beddingfield  of  Oxburgh  in  Norfolk, 
created  a  Knight  of  the  Bath  at  the  Coronation  of  Rich.  III.1  Sir  Edmund 
died  in  1451  and  his  widow  in  1475.  Margaret  Bedingfield's  will  was  dated 
at  Ereswell  the  24  May  1474  and  proved  by  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  she 
being,  as  is  there  expressed,  "  nobilis  et  arma  gerens."  She  bequeathed 
her  body  to  be  buried  before  the  image  of  the  Holy  Cross  near  the  altar  of 
the  Virgin  in  the  nave  of  the  Church  of  St.  Peter  of  Ereswell,  40^.  for  vest- 
ments, books  and  necessary  ornaments,  and  to  the  repair  of  the  said  church, 
535.  4^.  for  a  vestment  in  which  her  chantry  priest  was  to  officiate  on  high 
festivals  before  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  405.  for  another  to 
officiate  in,  on  other  holidays.  To  St.  Laurence's  Chapel  at  Ereswell 
535.  4d.  and  10  marks  to  the  poor  dwelling  in  her  manor  of  Ereswell  and 
other  her  manors  in  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  ;  an  house  with  gardens,  pastures, 
meadow  grounds  and  40  acres  of  land,  with  liberty  of  foldage,  and  certain 
rents  and  services  thereto  belonging,  for  a  chantry  priest  to  officiate  daily 
in  the  Church  of  St.  Peter,  for  her  soul,  and  that  of  her  father,  mother, 
grandfather,  grandmother,  husband,  children,  brother,  &c.  To  the  monas- 
tery of  Bruisyard  in  Suffolk  where  her  mother  was  buried  loos.,  and  to  the 
nuns  there  loos.,  to  the  Augustin  Friars  in  London  where  her  brother  (Sir 
Thomas)  was  buried  xx/.,  and  that  a  good  and  decent  marble  stone  be  bought 
to  cover  his  body,  and  the  residue  to  be  divided  amongst  the  friars  there. 
To  the  Church  of  Bedingfeld  where  her  husband  was  buried,  465.  Sd.  for  a 
vestment  in  memory  of  her  and  her  husband  ;  to  the  friars-minors  at  Babe- 
well,  265.  Sd.  i  the  same  sum  to  the  Cannes  at  Ipswich  ;  to  the  friar-preachers 
at  Thetford  2OS. ;  to  the  Augustine  friars  there  20s.  ;  and  to  the  nuns 
there  105.  ;  and  to  the  repair  of  Bedingfeld  nunnery  IDS.  ;  to  the  repair  of 
Carrow  nunnery  IDS.  ;  and  to  the  nuns  there  los. ;  to  the  nuns  of  Shouldam 
2os.,  to  be  distributed  amongst  them  ;  to  the  repair  of  the  Church  of 
Belings-Magna  565.  8d.  A  silver  cup  to  the  altar  of  the  Virgin  in  the  Church 
of  Cresswell,  to  every  priest  assisting  at  mass  on  the  day  of  her  sepulture 
Sd.  ;  to  every  clerk  zd. ;  every  poor  man  and  woman  at  her  burial  praying 
for  her  soul  zd.  ;  and  to  every  poor  boy  2d. ;  to  the  Lady  Alice  Tudenham,  a 
nun  at  Crabhouse,  ten  marks. 

The  will  of  her  husband  Edmund  Bedingfield  is  dated  at  Bedingfield 
4  June  1451  and  was  proved  on  the  2Oth  July  follownig.  He  bequeathed  his 
body  to  be  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  Bedingfield,  gives  to  Margaret  his 
wife  all  the  goods  and  chattels  which  Margaret  Tuddenham  (daughter  of 
John  Herling)  her  mother  had  given  her  ;  to  Thomas  his  son  and  heir  12 
silver  spoons  and  a  covered  cup  which  was  his  father's  ;  and  to  Edmund  son 
and  heir  of  Thomas  a  silver  cup,  &c. 

On  the  death  of  Margaret  Bedingfield  the  widow  the  manor  passed  to 
her  grandson  and  heir  Sir  Edmund  Beddingfield  the  son  of  Thomas  her 
eldest  son  (by  Anne  his  wife  daur.  and  h.  of  John  Waldegrave  of  Waldegrave 
in  Northamptonshire,  both  of  whom  died  in  1453),  who  sold  it  to  Sir  Thomas 
Lovell  knt. 

Sir  Thomas  Lovell  was  a  man  of  note  in  the  time  of  Henry  VII.,  being 
in  1485  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  for  life.  He  was  first  made  Banneret 
and  in  1487  knighted  at  the  Battle  of  Stoke  and  afterwards  installed  Knight 
of  the  Garter. 

Arms  :  Erm.  a  spread  eagle  gul.  beaked  and  peded  or. 


KNETTISHALL.  341 

In  1502  he  became  Treasurer  of  the  Household  and  President  of  the 
Council,  and  was  so  highly  esteemed  by  King  Henry  the  Seventh  as  to  be 
appointed  one  of  the  executors  of  his  will.  Under  his  successor  Sir  Thos. 
became  Constable  of  the  Tower,  Surveyor  of  the  Court  of  Wards,  and 
Steward  and  Marshal  of  the  Sovereign's  House.  It  may  be  mentioned  as 
not  being  a  fact  widely  known  that  he  erected  the  Gate  House  at  Lincoln's 
Inn.  He  died  25  May  1524  and  was  buried  at  Halliwell  (where  he  had  re- 
founded  a  nunnery)  in  a  chapel  built  by  him  on  the  south  side  of  the  choir 
of  that  church  under  a  tomb  of  white  marble. 

He  married  Isabel  daughter  and  coheir  of  Edward  Lord  Ross  of  Ham- 
lake  but  left  no  issue,  and  by  his  will  dated  Oct.  i4th  1522,  proved  Sept.  26th 
1528,  he  gave  to  his  nephew  Francis  Lovell  trie  2nd  son  of  his  brother 
Sir  Gregory  Lovell  of  Berton  Bendish  and  Margaret  his  wife  daughter  of 
Sir  William  Brandon  knt.  his  manor  of  Knettishall  for  life  with  remainder 
to  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  son  of  Sir  Francis.  Sir  Francis  Lovell  married  Anne 
daughter  of  George  Ashfield  of  Harefield  in  Middlesex  and  died  the  21  Jan. 
1550,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  under  the  settle- 
ment created  by  his  great  uncle's  will.  He  married  Elizabeth  daughter 
of  Sir  Philip  Paris  of  Linton  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  dying  in  1567  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Thomas  Lovell  who  married  Alice  daughter  of 
Sir  John  Huddelstone  of  Sawston  co.  Cambridge  knt.,  and  died  in  1604. 
The  arms  of  the  Lovell  family  are  :  Ar.  a  chevron  Az.  between  3  squirrels 
Seiant,  Gul. 

The  manor  then  seems  to  have  passed  to  Sir  Drue  Drury  of  Ridlesworth, 
co.  Norfolk1  who  was  the  next  lord.  He  was  created  a  Baronet  7th  May 
1627  and  married  Anne  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Edward  Waldegrave  of 
Canfield,  Essex,  and  dying  in  1632  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
Sir  Druce  Drury  Bart.  He  married  Susan  daughter  of  Isaac  Jones  of 
London  sister  and  coheir  of  Sir  Samuel  Jones  of  Northamptonshire  and 
on  his  death  the  manor  passed  to .  his  eldest  son  and  heir  Sir  Robert 
Drury  3rd  Baronet  who  married  ist  Elizabeth  daughter  and  heir  of  Edward 
Dunstan  of  Worlingworth,  and  2ndly  Eleanor  daughter  of  Samuel  Harsnet 
of  Great  Fransham  relict  of  William  Marsham  of  Stratton  Strawless,  and 
3rdly  Diana  daughter  of  G.  Vilet  of  Pinkeney  Hall  co.  Norfolk  but  died 
without  issue  7  April  1712  aged  78. 

The  manor  no  doubt  subsequently  descended  as  did  the  manor  of  Hop- 
ton,  for  we  find  in  1764  one  Cavendish  was  lord  and  in  1804  Silvannus 
Bevan.  Seven  years  later  the  manor  had  passed  to  Thomas  Thornhill,  who 
dying  in  1837  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Thornhill  of  Riddles- 
worth  Hall  Thetford  co.  Norfolk,  High  Sheriff  in  i86o.2  He  married  Martha 
Maryaune  eldest  daughter  of  Harry  Spencer  Waddington  M.P.  for  West 
Suffolk,  and  dying  in  1875  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas 
Thornhill  who  married  Katherine  Edith  Isabella  only  child  of  Richard 
Hodgson-Huntley  of  Carham  Hall  Northumberland  and  was  in  1885  created 
a  Bart.  Sir  Thomas  Thornhill  died  in  1900,  and  the  manor  is  now  vested 
in  William  Needham  Longden  Champion  of  Riddlesworth  Hall. 

Arms  of  Herling,  Ar.  a  unicorn,  sable  armed  and  unguled  or;  of 
Tuddenham,  Lozenge,  argent  and  gules. 

STANTON  MANOR. 

This  was  vested  in  1428  in  Geoffrey  de  Stanton,  from  whose  family 
no  doubt  it  derives  its  name,  but  shortly  after  we  find  the  manor  in  John 

1  See  Hopton  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  *  See  Hopton  Manor. 


342  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Cocket  of  Ampton  who  died  in  1495,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John 
Cocket,  who  dying  10  Aug.  1516  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir  Edward  Cocket. 
He  died  15  May  1541,'  when  the  manor  devolved  on  his  son  and  heir  Anthony 
Cocket  who  sold  it  to  Nicholas  Rookwood.'  Nicholas  died  8  September 
J557i5  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Edward  Rookwood  who 
had  licence  to  alienate  and  did  in  1577  convey  it  to  Thomas  Lovell.4  In 
1604  a  moiety  was  vested  in  Jane  Rookwood  daughter  and  coheir  of  Robert 
Rookwood  of  Euston  and  subsequently  passed  as  did  the  manor  of  Salthouse 
and  the  main  manor  of  Knettishall. 

SALTHOUSE  MANOR. 

A  manor  of  this  name  in  Knettishall  appears  in  the  time  of  Henry  the 
Eighth  to  have  belonged  to  Thomas  Sallhouse  or  Salthouse  who  died  in  1524 
leaving  his  two  nieces  Ursula  wife  of  William  Hosey  and  Margaret  wife  of 
Anthony  Gurney  daughters  of  his  brother  Robert  Salthouse  his  coheirs.  We 
meet  with  a  fine  levied  in  1532  of  a  "  Solehouse  or  Selhouse  Manor  "  and 
appurtenances  in  Knettishall  which  may  possibly  relate  to  this  manor. 
It  was  levied  by  Robert  Earl  of  Sussex  and  others  against  John  Chamberleyn.5 
Davy  suggests  that  the  manor  went  to  Nicholas  Rookwood  who  died  in 
1557,  when  it  passed  to  Jane  daughter  and  coheir  of  Roger  Rookwood  of 
Euston  wife  ist  of  Christopher  Calthorp  of  Cockthorp  in  Norfolk  and  2ndly 
of  Sir  Jerome  Bowes,  and  then  passed  to  her  son  and  heir  John  Calthorp  in 
1605.  However  this  may  be  the  manor  subsequently  became  vested  in 
Sir  Druce  Drury  who  died  in  1632,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  absorbed  in 
the  main  manor,  for  we  learn  nothing  further  respecting  it. 


1  I.P.M.,  33  Hen.  VIII.  145.  4  Fine,  Trin.  19  Eliz. 

•  See  Euston  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  »  Fine,  Easter  24  Hen.  VIII. 

1  I.P.M..  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  146. 


LANGHAM.  343 


LANGHAM. 

O  manor  in  Langham  is  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey, 
but  the  largest  holding  was  that  of  Haret  in  Edward  the 
Confessor's  time,  over  whom  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had 
commendation.  His  holding  was  3  carucates  of  land  with 
i  villein,  3  bordars,  3  serfs,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  half 
a  ploughteam  belonging  to  the  men,  12  acres  of  meadow, 
wood  for  6  hogs,  7  rouncies,  8  beasts,  30  hogs,  and  140  sheep 
of  the  value  of  80  shillings.  By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey, 
when  Robert  le  Blund  was  the  tenant  in  chief  of  the  King,  the  value 
had  gone  down  to  60  shillings  and  there  had  been  a  general  decline  in 
prosperity  all  round.  There  was  a  ploughteam  less  in  demesne,  the  roun- 
cies had  come  down  to  i,  the  beasts  to  2,  the  hogs  to  i6,and  the  sheep  from 
140  to  12.  Robert  le  Blund  also  held  in  Langham  2  freemen  under  com- 
mendation with  20  acres,  who  in  Saxon  times  had  had  half  a  ploughteam 
but  then  a  team  of  2  oxen,  all  of  the  value  of  3  shillings. 

The  size  of  this  holding  of  Robert  le  Blund's  was  7  quarantenes  long 
and  6  broad  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  10^.' 

The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  himself  had  a  smaller  holding  here,  in  fact 
the  only  other  holding  mentioned  in  the  Great  Record.  He  had  7  freemen 
with  i  carucate  of  land,  i  bordar,  3  ploughteams,  6  acres  of  meadow,  and 
wood  for  6  hogs.  The  men  could  give  or  sell  their  lands,  but  the  sac,  soc, 
and  commendation  would  remain  with  the  Abbot.  The  value  was  10 
shillings.  There  was  also  a  church  with  20  acres  of  free  land.a 

LANGHAM  MANOR. 

The  lordship  of  Langham  on  the  death  of  Robert  le  Blund3  the  Domes- 
day tenant  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Gilbert  le  Blund,  and  on  his  death  to 
his  son  and  heir  William  who  was  the  father  of  Hubert  who  was  father  of 
William  father  of  Sir  William  le  Blund  slain  at  the  Battle  of  Lewes  in  1264. 
The  manor  on  his  death  passed  to  his  sister  and  coheir  Agnes  who  married 
William  de  Criketot  and  so  carried  the  manor  into  that  family.  William 
de  Criketot  died  about  1299,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
William  de  Criketot,  and  on  his  death  about  1307*  it  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  William  de  Criketot,  at  whose  death  in  1310  it  passed  to  Sir  William 
de  Criketot  who  died  about  1343,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  another  William 
Criketot  who  died  about  1354,  when  the  manor  went  to  his  son  and  heir 
another  William  Criketot  who  was  the  last  male  heir  of  this  ancient  family. 
He  died  unmarried,  but  in  his  father's  lifetime  the  manor  had  passed  to 
Sir  William  de  Langham  a  descendant  of  Ralph  de  Langham  a  person  of 
note  in  the  time  of  Hen.  II. 

A  fine  in  1347  was  levied  in  respect  of  this  manor  by  William  vicar  of 
Geyton  Church  and  Hugh  de  Oldefen  chaplain  against  this  Sir  William 
de  Langham  knt.  and  Joan  his  wife.5  Sir  William  Langham  was  succeeded 
by  a  son  of  the  same  name,  and  he  by  his  son  of  the  same  name,  and  the 
3rd  Sir  William  (for  they  were  all  knights)  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and 
heir  John  de  Langham  who  died  in  1417.  On  John's  death  the  manor  passed 

1  Dom.  ii.  4396.  «  I.P.M.,  3  Edw.  II.  52.  See  Ixworth  Manor 
'  Dom.  ii.  367.  in  this  Hundred. 

»  For  a  fuller  account  of  this  family  see  *  Feet  of  Fines,  21  Edw.  III.  26. 
Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


344  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

to  his  son  and  heir  George  Langham  who  was  succeeded  by  his  widow 
Isabel,  and  on  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  their  son  and  heir  Richard 
Langham.  Richard  Langham  left  an  only  daughter  Alice,  married  to 
Thomas  St.  John. 

They  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  against  Richard  Welthen  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife  in  1474.'  On  Thomas  St.  John's  death  Alice  married  for  a  2nd 
husband  John  son  and  heir  of  John  Cotton  of  Ridware  Hamstall  in  Stafford- 
shire. 

Alice  Cotton  was  succeeded  by  her  son  and  heir  Nicholas  Cotton  from 
whom  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Alice  who  died  on  16  May  1525,' 
when  it  went  to  Sigismund  Cotton  their  son  and  heir  who  died  5  January 
1541.'  William  Cotton,  son  and  heir  of  Sigismund,  who  had  the  previous 
year  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  against  his  father4  was  the  next  lord,  and  on 
his  death  in  1561  the  manor  passed  to  George  Cotton.  He  married  Frances 
daughter  of  Thomas  Felton  of  Play  ford,  and  dying  in  1592  he  devised  the 
manor  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  who  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir 
Henry  Warner  knt.  of  Mildenhall  and  in  1602  disposed  of  it  to  Robert 
Cooke.5 

In  1642  Thomas  Frost  died  seised  of  the  manor  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Edmund  Frost  of  Hunston  Hall,6  but  by  the  opening  of  the  i8th 
century  it  had  passed  into  the  Turner  family  and  was  held  by  William  Turner. 
In  1734  John  Turner  resided  at  Langham  Hall  and  married  Bridgett  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Sir  Thomas  Gery  of  Ealing  in  Middlesex  knt.,  who  died  in 
1746  and  was  buried  in  his  parish  church  of  Langham.  Mr.  Turner  became 
reduced  in  circumstances  and  retired  to  Great  Livermere,  where  he  died 
in  1766  and  was  buried  in  that  parish  church,  but  the  manor  had  been 
previously  sold  to  Patrick  Blake  son  of  Andrew  2nd  son  of  Patrick  Blake  of 
the  Islands  of  Montserrat  and  St.  Christopher's,  a  family  of  ancient  British 
origin  allied  to  the  house  of  Blake  of  Cunner  in  the  County  of  Galway  in 
Ireland. 

He  was  created  a  Baronet  8th  Oct.  1772  and  married  Annabella  youngest 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Sir  William  Bunbury  Bart.,  by  whom  he  had  amongst 
other  issue  two  sons  who  were  successive  Baronets,  1st  Patrick  who  on  the 
death  of  his  father  27  June  1784  succeeded  to  the  title  and  manor.  He 
married  Maria  Charlotte  only  daughter  of  James  Phipps  of  the  Island  of 
St.  Christopher,  but  died  without  issue  i  August  1818,  when  the  title  and 
manor  passed  to  his  brother  James  Henry  the  2nd  son  of  Sir  Patrick  ist 
Bart. 

Sir  James  Henry  Blake  married  Louisa  Elizabeth  daughter  of  General  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Gage  so  celebrated  in  the  American  war  and  granddaughter  of 
Thomas  ist  Viscount  Gage,  and  dying  21  April  1832  the  manor  and  title 
passed  to  his  eldest  son  Sir  Henry  Charles  Blake  4th  Bart.,  who  married 
ist  Mary  Anne  only  daughter  of  William  Whitler  of  Midhurst  co.  Sussex,  and 
2ndly  Louisa  3rd  daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir  Thomas  Pilkington  Bart,  and 
widow  of  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Dawson.  He  sold  the  manor  in  1832  to  Joseph 
Wilson  of  Stowlangtoft  and  of  Highbury  Hill,  Islington,  also  of  Little  Massing- 
ham  co.  Norfolk. 

Joseph  Wilson  married  ist  Mary  Anne  eldest  daughter  of  Robert 
Maitland  of  Blue  Stile,  Greenwich,  and  2ndly  Emma  eldest  daughter  of  John 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  14  Edw.  IV.  I.  «  Fine,  Mich.  32  Hen.  VIII. 

•  I.P.M.,  17  Hen.  VIII.  26.  '  Fine,  Easter^H  Eliz. 

«  I.P.M.,  33  Hen.  VIII.  '  See  Hunston  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


LANGHAM. 


345 


Wellford  of  Blackheath,  and  by  his  first  wife  had  with  other  issue  a  son 
Henry  who  on  the  death  of  his  father  succeeded  to  the  lordship.  Henry 
Wilson  was  High  Sheriff  in  1845  and  for  some  time  M.P.  for  West  Suffolk. 
He  married  ist  Mary  Fuller  eldest  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Fuller  Maitland  of 
Park  Place,  Henley-on-Thames,  and  andly  Caroline  only  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Lord  Henry  Fitzroy  prebendary  of  Westminster  and  rector  of  Euston, 
brother  of  the  Duke  of  Graf  ton.  On  the  death  of  Henry  Wilson  the  manor 
passed  to  Lieut  .-Col.  Fuller  Maitland  Wilson  his  eldest  son  by  his  first 
wife.  He  was  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk  in  1873  and  M.P.  for  West  Suffolk 
in  1875  and  married  Agnes  Caroline  2nd  daughter  of  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  R. 
T.  Kindersley,  and  dying  in  1875  the  manor  devolved  on  his  eldest  son 
Arthur  Maitland  Wilson,  now  of  Stowlangtoft  Hall,  the  present  lord. 

Arms  of  Langham  :  Arg.  a  fesse  gu.  in  chief  a  label  of  3  points  az.  ; 
of  Cotton,  Azure  an  eagle  displayed  argent,  beaked  and  legged  gules  ;  of 
Blake,  Argent,  a  fret,  gules ;  of  Wilson,  Sa.  a  wolf,  salient  or,  on  a  chief 
of  the  last  a  pale  of  the  first  charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis  arg.  betw.  two 
pellets. 


346  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


LI  VERM  ERE  PARVA  al.  MORIELES  or  MURYELLE  MANOR. 

[HIS  was  held  by  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  and  consisted  of 
7  freemen  with  2  carucates  of  land,  3  bordars,  4  ploughteams 
and  half  an  acre  of  meadow.  These  men  could  give  or  sell 
their  land,  but  the  soc,  sac  and  commendation  remained 
with  the  Abbot.  There  was  a  church  with  12  acres  of  free 
land,  all  of  the  value  of  30  shillings.  Of  these  Walter  held  i 
carucate  and  i  ploughteam  valued  at  15  shillings  as  part 
of  the  above  sum.  The  length  of  the  Abbot's  holding  here  was  one  league 
and  the  breadth  4  quarantenes,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  3^.' 

W.  de  Windevill  held  the  manor  in  1200.  In  the  reign  of  King  John, 
Alan  son  of  Hamonde  Flemeton  held  jointly  with  Peter  de  Livermere  a 
knight's  fee  in  this  parish  and  Ampton. 

In  1241  Thomas  de  la  Haye  held  a  fee  here,  and  a  little  later  Henry  de 
Livermere  seems  to  have  held  the  manor  which  in  1316  was  vested  in  his 
son  and  heir  Bartholomew  de  Livermere.  To  him  succeeded  John  de 
Livermere  and  Alice.  Robert  de  Livermere  held  a  fee  here  in  1360.  In 
1428  the  manor  was  vested  in  Gilbert  Moriel,  and  it  subsequently  passed  to 
John  Cockett  who  died  10  August  1516,'  when  it  passed  to  Edward  Cockett 
his  son  and  heir  who  dying  15  May  I54I3  was  succeeded  in  the  lordship  by 
his  son  and  heir  Anthony  Cockett  who  sold  his  estates  to  Sir  John  Croftes. 
He  died  15  January  1557,'  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Edmund 
Croftes  by  Rose  Sampson.3  Edmund  married  ist  Elizabeth  daughter  of 
Sir  Thomas  Kytson  of  Hengrave  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Thomas  Croftes 
of  Little  Saxham  and  Henry  who  died  without  issue.  By  his  2nd  wife 
Eleanor,  daughter  of  Thomas  Lord  Borough  he  had  a  son  John  Croftes  of 
Wangford,  who  died  without  issue,  and  two  daughters,  Margaret  wife  of 
John  Southwell  of  Barham  in  Norfolk,  and  Alice  who  died  unmarried. 
On  Edmund  Croftes's  death  14  Feb.  1557*  within  a  month  of  his  father's 
the  manor  devolved  on  his  son  Thomas  Croftes  of  Little  Saxham.  The 
manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Inqusition  p.m.  of  Edmund  Croftes  the  4  June 
1558  as  the  Manor  of  "  Little  Lyvermere  otherwise  called  Myryelles,"  and  was 
bequeathed  by  his  will  to  his  executors  for  16  years  from  the  date  towards 
the  payment  of  his  debts  and  fulfilling  his  will.  The  jurors  found  that  the 
"  manor  of  Little  Lyvermere  with  the  advowson  and  liberty  of  one  foldage 
in  Little  and  Great  Lyvermere  were  held  of  the  King  and  Queen  as  of 
their  barony  of  St.  Edmund  by  half  a  knight's  fee,  and  worth  per  annum 
10  marks." 

In  1593  or  4  Thomas  Croftes  granted  to  Anthony  Penning  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  £2,100  the  "  manor  of  Little  Livermere  called  Murryelle 
with  the  appurtenances  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  together  with  all  those  tene- 
ments called  Kyngs  and  Bulls  and  all  and  singular  the  messuages,  lands,  tene- 
ments, rents,  &c.,  and  also  the  advowson  and  patronage  of  the  parishe  churche 
of  Lyttle  Lyvermere  in  the  seid  county  of  Suff .  and  also  all  that  messuage 
and  one  hundred  acres  of  londe  wth  all  the  other  londs,  tenements,  heathes, 
pastures,  feadings,  fyshings,  fowlings,  shepes-courses,  lybertyes  of  foulden, 
&c.  situate  in  Lyttle  Lyvermere  aforeseid  and  Great  Lyvermere  w0"1  some- 
tyme  were  John  Sampson's,  together  wtb  all  other  the  messuages,  lands  &c. 

1  Dom.  ii.  3666.  «  I. P.M.,  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  pt.  iii.  54. 

•  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  98.  *  See  West  Stow  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

'  I.P.M.,  33  Hen.  VIII.  145.  •  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  21. 


LIVERMERE   PARVA.  347 

situate  or  extending  wthin.  the  seid  townes,  parishes  and  feilds  of  Lyttle 
Lyvermere  and  Create  Lyvermere  and  Troston  in  the  seid  county  &c. ; 
also  one  woode  called  Oakewoode,  and  one  pasture  called  Oake  Close,  and  two 
other  pictells  conteynyng  bothe  together  not  above  three  acres  thereunto 
nere  adioynyng  lying  in  Lyttle  Lyvermere  aforeseid  being  all  reputed  to  be 
parcell  of  the  manor  of  Ampton  in  the  seid  county,  and  all  free  rents  and 
fyns  due  unto  the  seid  manor  of  Ampton  in  the  seid  County,  or  parcel  of 
the  same  only  excepted  &c."  A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  in  1596  by 
Anthony  Penning  against  Thomas  Croftes  and  others.1 

Anthony  Penning  who  was  the  son  of  Arthur  Penning  the  eldest  son  of 
John  Pennyng  of  Kettleburgh  had  married  Elizabeth  dau.  of  Thomas 
Crofts.  He  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  the  County  in  1607  and  was 
in  the  Commission  of  the  Peace  in  1618  when  his  estate  was  valued  at  £1,500 
per  annum.  He  resided  latterly  at  Ipswich  and  dying  there  in  1630  was 
interred  in  the  chancel  of  the  parish  church  of  St.  Matthew  in  that  town, 
on  the  north  side  of  which  is  a  handsome  mural  monument  to  his  memory 
containing  figures  of  himself,  his  lady  and  their  numerous  family.  It 
bears  the  following  inscription  with  some  commendatory  verses  : — 

Here  lieth  the  body  of  Anthonie  Penning  Esq.  (sonne  of  Arthur 
Penning  of  Ketleberge  in  the  county  of  Suffolke  Esqr.)  who  had  issue 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife  (daughter  of  Thomas  Crofte  of  Saxham  in  the 
said  county  Esqr.)  14  sonnes  and  4  daughters.  He  departed  this  life 
the  nth  daie  of  Janvary,  Ano  Dni  1630,  being  of  the  age  of  65  years. 

His  descendants  continued  proprietors  of  Kettleburgh  Hall  until  about 
1679  when  Anthony  Penning  his  grandson  sold  it  to  Richard  Porter  ;  but 
this  manor  the  grandfather  who  died  in  1630  seems  to  have  parted  with  in 
his  lifetime  for  William  Coke  and  William  Chapman  held  it  in  1609  and 
Richard  Coke  of  Broom  Hall  in  this  parish  had  it  a  little  later  and  presented 
to  the  living  in  1681.  Richard  Coke  married  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Arundel  of  Trerice  in  Cornwall  and  at  his  death  12  Nov.  1688  at  the  age  of 
54  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Richard  Coke.  He  married  Elizabeth 
daughter  of  Robert  Maltyward  of  Rougham  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Crackerode  of  Topesfield  in  Essex  and  died  in  1688  being 
buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Little  Livermere.  She  survived  till  Mar. 
I2th  1716  and  was  also  buried  there.  They  left,  it  appears,  no  issue  and  the 
unfortunate  Arundel  Coke  barrister-at-law  who  was  executed  in  1722  at 
Bury  St.  Edmunds  was  heir  to  this  estate.  Arundel  Coke  was  hanged  at 
Bury  in  March  1722  under  the  Coventry  Act  for  defacing  his  brother  in  law 
Edward  Crispe  of  Bury,  and  his  execution  was  by  his  own  desire  at  7  o'clock 
in  the  morning  to  avoid  the  crowd  of  people.  He  was  buried  in  the  chancel 
of  the  church  of  Little  Livermere  the  same  day.  A  daughter  of  his  was 
married  to  Mr.  Godbold  father  of  the  John  Godbold  of  Bury  who  married 
Miss  Delanoeire  Discipline.  Mr.  Crispe  the  brother-in-law  survived  the 
melancholy  misfortune  24  years  dying  6  Sept.  1746  aged  74. 

The  estate  is  said  to  have  been  given  by  a  member  of  the  Coke  family 
to  the  Duke  of  Graf  ton  who  occasionally  resided  there.  It  subsequently 
however,  became  the  property  of  Baptist  Lee  who  presented  to  the  living  in 
1722.  He  died  the  23  March  1768  aged  77  and  devised  the  manor  to  his 
nephew  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton.  He  married  ist  Susanna  Miller  eldest  dau. 
of  Sir  Thomas  Miller  of  Chichester  Bart,  who  d.s.p.  5  April  1789,  and 
2nd  Penelope  eldest  dau.  of  Sir  Richard  Rycroft  of  Penshurst  Bart,  who 

1  Fine,  Mich.  38-39  Eliz. 


348  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

died  s.p.  5  Nov.  1819.  From  Nathaniel  Lee  Acton  to  the  present  lord, 
James  St.  Vincent  Saumarez  4th  Baron  de  Saumarez  the  devolution  of 
the  manor  is  identical  with  that  of  Lawshall  Manor  already  given. 

Livermere  Hall  was  built  by  a  member  of  the  Coke  family  during 
the  time  they  had  the  manor  and  it  was  subsequently  much  enlarged  and 
improved  by  later  proprietors.  The  park  though  flat  has  been  so  judiciously 
arranged  that  it  presents  many  charming  features,  and  an  extensive  piece 
of  water  adds  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  scenery. 

Arms  of  Penning  :  Gules,  three  stags'  heads  caboshed  argent,  and  a 
chief  indented  ermine. 


NORTON.  349 


NORTON. 

| HIS  manor  belonged  to  the  demesne  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund,  and  Edith  a  freewoman  held  it  in  the  Confessor's  time 
by  an  arrangement  with  the  Abbot,  the  agreement  being  that 
after  her  death  the  Abbot  should  have  it  back,  and  so  the 
moneyer  held  it  the  day  that  King  Edward  died.  She  had 
4  carucates  of  land  for  this  manor  and  to  it  appertained  9 
villeins,  21  bordars  and  6  serfs ;  also  2  ploughteams  in  demesne 

and  5  belonging  to  the  men,  wood  for  150  hogs,  8  acres  of  meadow,  2  rouncies, 

10  beasts,  50  hogs  and  100  sheep  and  30  goats. 

And  34  socmen  held  2  carucates  of  land  with  10  ploughteams  and  2 
acres  of  meadow.  In  Saxon  days  this  holding  was  valued  at  10  pounds, 
later  at  15  pounds  and  10  shillings,  and  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey 
at  16  pounds  of  silver.  There  was  also  a  church  with  30  acres.  The  length 
of  the  manorial  holding  was  i  league  and  the  breadth  8  quarantenes,  and 
it  paid  in  a  gelt  ij^d.  The  lands  were  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey 
in  the  King's  hand  having  been  lands  held  by  Earl  Ralph,  but  were  in  the 
keeping  of  Goodrich  the  Steward  for  the  King.1 

NORTON  MANOR. 

In  1316  John  de  Pakenham  held  the  manor.  Page  says  the  Pakenhams 
had  acquired  it  from  Agnes  de  Norton,  but  as  he  quotes  no  authority  we  are 
unable  to  verify  or  disprove  the  statement.  We  do  however  find  that 
in  1329-30  a  release  by  John  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas  de  Warbleton  to 
Sir  Edmund  son  of  Sir  William  de  Pakenham  of  his  right  in  this  manor 
within  the  liberty  of  St.  Edmunds  and  in  £20  of  yearly  rent  issuing  from 
the  manor.2 

Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham  was  Ihe  son  of  Sir  William  de  Pakenham 
one  of  the  King's  judges  and  Joan  his  wife,  which  Sir  William  was  son  of 
John  de  Pakenham  son  of  Sir  John  de  Pakenham  Steward  to  the  Bishop 
of  Ely  37  Hen.  III.  Of  this  last  mentioned  Sir  John  de  Pakenham  there  is 
a  remarkable  account,  that  coming  into  the  Exchequer  Court  where  the 
King  [Hen.  III.]  himself  was  sitting  in  1255  he  claimed  a  monstrous  fish 
taken  on  the  land  of  one  of  the  Bishop's  wards,  whose  ancestors  claimed 
wreck  at  sea.  The  King  himself  made  answer,  and  ordered  him  to  produce 
the  charter  by  which  he  claimed,  which  being  done  it  was  then  asked  if  the 
fish  was  taken  on  the  land  or  in  the  sea,  and  it  was  answered  in  the  sea,  not 
far  from  the  land,  and  taken  alive,  six  boats  being  overturned  in  the  sea 
before  he  could  be  caught ;  then  the  King  replied  that  since  it  was  acknow- 
ledged that  the  fish  was  taken  alive  in  the  sea,  it  could  not  be  wreck,  and  he 
would  further  consider  of  it,3  and  the  cause  was  adjourned  to  the  parliament. 
From  this  record  it  appears  that  the  King  himself  at  that  time  sat  in  the 
Exchequer  and  asked  questions,  gave  answers  and  judgment,  and  this 
seems  to  be  a  very  early  reference  to  the  parliament. 

Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham  died  in  1332  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
widow  Roesia  daughter  and  coheir  of  Robert  de  Valoines.  She  died  in  1353* 
when  it  passed  apparently  to  her  son  Thomas  de  Pakenham5  at  whose  death 

•  Dom.  ii.  286.  <  I.P.M.,  27  Edw.  III.  64. 

*  Close  Rolls,  3  Edw.  III.  ijd.  s  Davy  says  John  without  specifying  the 
5  Com.  P'lita  HiUar,  39  Hen.  III.  R.  9.  relationship. 


350  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

it  went  to  Mary  the  widow  of  his  brother  Sir  Edmund  de  Pakenham  who 
died  in  1361.  On  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  her  son  and  heir  Thomas 
de  Pakenham.  In  1364  licence  was  granted  to  the  Priory  of  St.  Mary 
Ixworth  to  acquire  the  manor  in  mortmain,'  but  it  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  acted  upon  for  it  is  included  in  the  conveyance  of  the  manor  in  1404 
to  which  we  have  already  referred  under  Wyken  Manor  in  Bardwell.' 

Sir  William  de  Berdewell1  who  married  Margaret  sole  daughter  and 
heir  of  John  son  of  Theobald  [or  John]  son  of  this  Thomas  de  Pakenham4  died 
seised  of  the  manor  in  1434'  and  was  succeeded  by  his  2nd  son  Robert. 
Johnde  Berdewell,  Sir  William's  eldest  son  had  married  Elizabeth  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Sir  John  [or  Thomas]  Clopton  by  whom  he  had  William  and 
Rose,  but  they  all  died  before  their  grandfather. 

Robert  de  Berdewell  married  twice,  ist  Elizabeth6  and  2ndly  Margery 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jenny.  He  is  buried  with  his  first  wife  on  the  north 
side  of  the  altar  in  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of  West  Herling,  Norfolk,  and 
Blomefield  said  that  in  his  day  the  stone  was  much  broken  and  defaced  but  had 
on  it  the  Berdewell  coat  impaling  the  arms  of  Elizabeth,  Robert's  first  wife 
as  given  above,  and  which  he  had  transcribed  before  it  was  defaced  as 
follows  :  "  Orate  pro  anima  Roberti  Berdewelle,  Armigeri  qui  obiit  xxii. 
die  Januarii  A°  Dni.  Mcccc"  lv°.  et  pro  anima  Elizabet  uxoris  eius 
quorum  animabus  propicietur  Deus."  Robert  Berdewell  devised  the 
manor  to  Edmund  de  Berdewell  his  grandson,  second  son  of  William  de 
Berdewell  of  West  Herling  in  Norfolk.  On  Edmund  Berdewell' s  death  the 
manor  passed  to  Margaret  Harleston  wife  of  John  Harleston  who  was  the 
daughter  of  William  Berdewell  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  daughter  of  Thomas 
Hethe  lord  of  Hengrave  which  William  was  son  of  John  Berdewell  son  of 
Thomas  son  of  John  de  Berdewell  who  was  lord  of  Gasthorp  in  1274  son 
of  John  de  Berdewell  son  of  William  son  of  Ralf  de  Berdewell  who  levied  a 
fine  with  Abbot  Samson  of  land  in  Berdewell  in  1196. 

Margaret  Harleston  had  a  son  John  Harleston  who  died  1459  without 
issue  when  the  manor  passed  to  her  daughters,  Margaret  married  to  Thos. 
Darcy  of  Danby  Essex  son  of  Sir  Robert  Darcy  and  esquire  of  the  body 
to  King  Hen.  VI.  and  Edw.  IV.,  and  Alice  married  to  Sir  Richard  Fitz 
Lewes  knt.  Under  a  partition  made  in  1484  between  the  coheirs  the 
Manor  of  Norton  was  allotted  to  Thomas  Darcy  and  Margaret  in  special 
tail  and  it  was  agreed  that  all  evidences  relating  generally  to  any  lands 
allotted  under  the  partition  should  be  deposited  in  the  Abbey  of  Cogges- 
hall  in  a  chest  with  3  locks  of  which  Thomas  Darcy  and  Margaret  and  her 
heirs  were  to  have  one,  Richard  Fitz  Lewis  and  Alice  and  her  heirs 
another,  and  the  Abbot  of  Coggeshall  the  third.7 

Thomas  Darcy  died  in  1486  and  Margaret  in  1489,  when  their  son  and 
heir  Roger  Darcy  of  Danby  had  the  manor.8  He  was  esquire  of  the  body  to 
King  Hen.  VII.  and  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Wentworth 
knt.  On  his  death  3  Sept.  1507'  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Thomas 
Darcy  knt.  who  in  1544  was  constituted  Master  of  the  King's  Artillery 

1  Originalia,  38  Edw.  III.  31.  •  Blomefield  does  not  give  her  name,  but 

•  Add.  Ch.  Brit.  Mus.  15537.  mentions  later  what  her  arms  were  : 

'  For  an  account  of  him,  see  Bardwell  3  Naggs  heads  couped  sa.  bridled  or. 

Manor  in  this  Hundred.  '  Charter   de   Saxham    pt.  36,   cited    by 

4  See    Ixworth    Thorpe    Manor    in    this  Gage,  Thingoe,  p.  130  note. 

Hundred.  •  See  under  Bardwell    Manor  in  Babergh 

'  I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  31.  Hundred. 

•  I.P.M.,  24  Hen.  VII.  80. 


NORTON.  351 

within  the  Tower  of  London  and  was  advanced  to  the  peerage  as  Baron 
Darcy  of  Chiche  in  the  County  of  Essex  5  Apr.  1551  and  installed  a  Knight 
of  the  Garter. 

Amongst  the  State  Papers  for  1539  will  be  seen  a  grant  of 
Norton  Manor  in  tail  male  to  Sir  Thomas  Darcy  in  this  form  :  "  of  Norton 
Manor  belonging  to  late  Priory  of  Ixworth,  annual  value  £36.  13.  4.,  rent 
535.  4^." '  2  Sir  Thomas  Lord  Darcy  resided  at  Wivenho  in  Essex  and  in 
1558  made  his  will  whereby  he  declared  that  he  committed  his  interment 
and  funeral  wholly  to  the  order  of  "  Holy  Church,"  and  dying  within  two 
years  after  (for  the  probate  of  the  will  bears  date  the  I4th  March  1560),  was 
buried  at  St.  Osyth's  leaving  issue  by  Elizabeth  de  Vere  his  wife  daughter 
of  John  Earl  of  Oxford,  John  his  son  and  heir  to  whom  this  manor  passed, 
and  two  daughters,  Thomasyne  married  to  Richard  Southwell  of  Wood 
Rysing  in  Norf.  and  Constance  to  Edmund  Pyrton  of  Bentley  in  Essex. 
In  the  Chancery  Proceedings  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  will  be  found  a  suit 
by  Edward  Brooke  against  Lord  John  Darcy  and  George  Sowter,3  and  an 
action  by  Lord  John  Darcy  against  Edward  Broke.4 

John  2nd  Lord  Darcy  was  summoned  to  Parliament  in  I  Eliz.  and 
took  his  place  there  25  Jan.  the  same  year,  and  in  16  Eliz.  accompanied 
William  Earl  of  Essex  into  Ireland.  He  married  Frances  daughter  of  Richard 
Lord  Rich  Lord  Chancellor  of  England  and  dying  in  1580  left  issue  Thomas 
his  son  and  heir  to  whom  the  manor  passed,  John  a  younger  son  who 
died  unmarried  and  an  only  daughter  Mary  who  married  Robert  Lord 
Lumley.  Thomas  3rd  Lord  Darcy5  was  on  the  5th  July  1621  created 
Viscount  Colchester  for  life  with  remainder  to  his  son-in-law  Sir  Thomas 
Savage  of  Rocksavage  in  the  County  of  Chester  knt.  and  Bart,  and  to  the 
heirs  male  of  his  body  by  Elizabeth  his  wife  eldest  daughter  to  him  the  said 
Thomas.  Moreover  upon  the  4  Nov.  1626  he  was  advanced  to  the  dignity 
of  an  Earl  by  the  title  of  Earl  Rivers  with  a  similar  reversionary  clause  in 
the  patent. 

His  lordship  married  Mary  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Kitson 
knt.  and  died  in  1639  having  had  issue  by  her  a  son  Thomas  who  married 
the  daur.  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Fitz  of  South  Tavistoke  co.  Devon  knt.  widow 
of  Sir  Alan  Percy  knt.  but  died  in  his  father's  lifetime  without  issue,  and 
four  daughters — Elizabeth  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Savage ;  Mary  the  wife  of 
Roger  Manwood,  son  of  Sir  Peter  Manwood  Knight  of  the  Bath ;  Penelope 
married  first  to  Sir  George  Trenchard  son  and  heir  of  Sir  George  Trenchard 
of  Wolverton  co.  Dorset  knight  and  afterwards  to  Sir  John  Gage  of  Firle 
Bart. ;  and  Susan  who  died  unmarried.  Earl  Rivers  died  in  London  21 
Feb.  1639  and  was  buried  in  the  Church  of  St.  Osyth  at  Chiche  co.  Essex. 

We  have  given  this  descent,  but  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  the 
manor  was  retained  so  long  in  the  Rivers  family  ;  for  amongst  the  Additional 
Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.6  is  a  conveyance  of  the  manor  in  1589.  It 
recites  that  by  letters  patent  13  July  30  Eliz.  [1588]  the  manor  as  part  of  the 
possessions  late  of  the  Priory  or  Monasteiy  of  Ixworth  was  granted  by  the 
Crown  to  William  Tipper  and  Robert  Dawe  of  London  who  by  Indenture  of 
Bargain  and  Sale  dated  the  14  July  30  Eliz.  sold  the  same  to  John  Carill 

'  S.P.  1539,  113  (17).  *  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.L.  no. 

*  The  manor  is  expressly  excepted  out  of  *  A  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  against 
the  grant  made  in    exchange   by  Lord  Darcy  by  William  Onslowe  in 

Hen.  VIII.  to  Richard  Codington.  1584.     (Fine,  Hil.  26  Eliz.) 

See  Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  6  Add.  Ch.  18867. 

3  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  xxiii.  9. 


352 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


and  Edward  Carill  and  to  the  heirs  and  assigns  of  the  said  John  Carill  for 
ever.  The  conveyance  referred  to  is  dated  20  June  31  Eliz.  and  by  it  the 
said  John  Carill  and  Edward  Carill  grant  the  manor  to  William  Kirkham 
and  Thomas  Kirkham  and  the  heirs  and  assigns  of  the  said  William  Kirkham 
for  ever.  Davy  makes  the  Rev.  Henry  Patteson  lord  in  1811  and  Robert 
Clarke  lord  in  1817.  In  1821  the  manor  was  vested  in  Thomas  Woodward  of 
Sproughton. 

In  1885  it  was  vested  in  James  Sparke. 

HARDING  MANOR. 

This  is  probably  the  manor  referred  to  as  "  Hardyngyd  Manor"  in  a 
fine  levied  of  it  in  1542  by  Robert  Asshefeld  against  Edward  Bardekell.1  The 
fine  included  lands  in  Norton,  Stow,  Woolpit  and  elsewhere.  Somewhat 
later  the  manor  seems  to  have  been  held  by  W7illiam  Brooke  against  whom 
in  1578  a  fine  was  levied  by  Robert  Fyske.* 

Davy  mentions  that  is  was  held  in  1609  by  William  Stokes  and  that 
William  Fiske  of  Pakenham  by  will  dated  1648  bequeathed  it  to  John 
Fiske  his  eldest  son.  The  will  is  dated  the  2Oth  March  1648,  and  the  gift  is 
in  the  following  terms  :  "I  give  and  bequeath  vnto  John  Fiske  my  eldest 
sonne,  my  mannor  or  capitall  mesuage  in  Norton  called  Hardings  together 
with  my  tenement  called  Finches  wherein  one  William  Syer  now  dwelleth, 
with  all  the  lands,  rents  and  appurtenances  to  them  belonging  lyeing  and 
being  in  Norton  aforesaid,  and  in  the  occupacion  of  one  William  Muskett  to 
him  and  his  heirs  for  ever.  Item  I  give  vnto  the  sayd  John  Fiske  my 
sonne  one  close  of  pasture  called  Norton  pasture  conteyning  by  estimacion 
therof  ffortie  acres  lyeing  in  Norton  aforesaid,  and  holden  by  copie  of 
Cort.  Roll  of  the  mannor  of  Norton  Hall,  to  him  and  his  heires  for  euer." 
We  do  not,  however,  find  any  further  particulars  relating  to  this  manor. 

LITTLE  HAUGH  MANOR. 

The  manor  variously  appears  under  the  names  of  Little  Haugh,  Litle- 
haughe,  Lytelhawe  and  Lytlyhaghe.  In  the  time  of  Henry  I.  the  manor 
was  vested  in  A.  and  R.  de  Dammartin,  and  on  the  Close  Rolls  in  1212  will 
be  seen  an  order  to  let  Reginald  de  Dammartin  Earl  of  Boulogne  have  the 
manor  of  which  he  had  been  disseised.3  In  1229  the  King  granted  to  Roger 
le  Bigod  during  pleasure  the  manor  which  is,  in  the  document  referred  to, 
stated  to  have  belonged  to  Count  Boulogne  and  which  Robert  le  Marescall 
sometime  held  and  as  he  then  held.4  In  1248  the  King  seems  to  have  granted 
the  manor  to  Hugh  de  Vivonia.5  In  1259  we  ^n^  an  order  on  the  Fine 
Rolls  to  assign  reasonable  dower  to  Petronilla  widow  of  the  said  Hugh  and 
to  retain  the  residue  in  the  hands  of  the  King.6 

Hugh  de  Vivonia  or  Vynun,  as  the  name  sometimes  appears,  had  not 
merely  left  a  widow  but  also  a  son  and  heir  John  de  Vivonia,  for  on  the 
Close  Rolls  i  Edw.  I.  we  find  an  order  to  restore  to  him  John  son  and  heir 
of  Hugh  tenant  in  chief  of  the  King  the  manor  of  Norton  (as  it  is  styled) 
which  belonged  to  Hugh,  as  John  de  Vivonia  had  proved  his  age.7 

The  manor  was  sold  in  1313  by  John  de  Vivonia  to  Hervey  de  Staunton 
for  life,  and  on  the  Patent  Rolls  is  a  pardon  to  Hervey  for  acquiring  for 


1  Fine,  Easter,  34  Hen.  VIII. 

•  Fine,  Trin.  20  Eliz. 

'  Close  Rolls,  14  John  9. 

•  Close  Rolls,  13  Hen.  III.  m.  n. 


5  H.R.  ii.  150. 

6  Fine  Rolls,  43  Hen.  III.  8  fal.  4]. 
'  Close  Rolls,  i  Edw.  I.  6. 


NORTON. 


353 


life  without  licence  the  manor  from  John  de  Vivonia  who  is  stated  to  have 
held  it  in  chief  of  the  Honor  of  Boulogne.1  It  is  included  in  the  Inquis. 
post  mortem  of  John  de  Vivonia  the  following  year.2  A  few  years  later 
the  manor  became  vested  in  John  de  Beauchamp  de  Somerset  and  Margaret 
his  wife  and  John  died  seised  in  I343.3 

An  order  to  the  Escheator  to  set  the  manor  free  will  be  found  this 
year  on  the  Originalia  Rolls.4 

John  de  Beauchamp  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John  Beauchamp 
who  died  in  I36i,5  and  the  King  with  the  consent  of  Queen  Philippa(why 
this  consent  was  necessary  does  not  appear)  the  following  year  assigned  the 
manor  to  Cecilia  one  of  the  sisters  and  heirs  of  John  Beauchamp.6 

Cecilia  married  one  Turburvyle.  She  seems  to  have  enfeoffed  Thomas 
de  Beaufryne  and  Margaret  his  wife  and  they  granted  the  manor  to  John 
de  Preshale  and  others  without  licence.  The  result  seems  to  have  been  to 
vest  the  manor  ultimately  in  the  Priory  of  Ixworth.7 

In  1364  the  Prior  of  St.  Mary  Ixworth  certainly  had  licence  to  acquire 
the  manor  in  mortmain,8  but  the  licence  does  not  seem  then  to  have  been 
acted  upon,  for  we  find  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  a 
grant  dated  at  Ixworth  die  Jov.  in  fest.  App.  Ph.  and  Jac.  45  Edw.  III. 
[1371]  of  the  manor  by  Cecilia  Turbervyle  to  the  Priory.9  And  amongst  the 
same  Charters  a  grant  of  the  same  manor  by  Thomas  Beaupyne  and 
Margaret  his  wife  to  John  de  Pyshale  clerk,  Roger  de  Wolf  rest  on  and 
Robert  de  Aisshfeld  for  £100,  dated  25  May  5  Rich.  II.  [1382]. I0  There  are 
two  fines  levied  of  the  manor  in  1381  and  1383  respectively ;  the  one  was  by 
Thomas  Beaupyne  and  Margaret  his  wife  against  Cecilia  Turburvyle," 
and  the  other  by  John  de  Pishale  clerk,  Roger  de  Wolferston  and  Robert 
de  Aisshefeld  against  the  said  Thomas  Beaupynge  and  Margaret  his  wife." 
In  1385  a  pardon  appears  on  the  Patent  Rolls  for  the  trespass  of  Cecilia 
Turburvyle  in  parting  with  the  manor/3  and  in  the  same  year  a  commission 
was  issued  by  the  Crown  upon  information  that  bondmen  and  bond  tenants 
of  John  Pieshale,  Roger  Wolferston,  and  Robert  de  Aissefeld  of  Little 
Haugh  had  withdrawn  their  customary  services  for  their  tenure.  On  the 
Commissioners  was  conferred  power  to  imprison.14  We  learn  from  the 
Fine  Rolls  for  Mich.  Term  16  Rich.  II.  [1392]  that  Robert  Asshfeld  was 
summoned  to  shew  cause  why  he  had  entered  upon  and  by  what  service 
he  held  this  manor  which  of  right  belonged  to  Roger  son  and  heir  of 
William  Symons.'5 

This  same  year  Davy  states  the  manor  was  held  by  this  Roger  Symons 
son  and  heir  of  William  Symons  whom  he  makes  out  to  have  been  the 
second  husband  of  the  above-mentioned  Cecilia  Turbervyle.  The  manor  was 
certainly  vested  in  Robert  Ashfield  in  1401,  for  that  year  he  died  seised  of 
it,  the  Inquis.  p.m.  stating  that  it  was  held  as  of  the  Barony  of  Hugh 
Beauchamp  in  the  County  of  Somerset.16  The  explanation  probably  is  that 
the  manor  was  held  by  Robert  Ashfield  of  Cecilia  Turbervyle.  Robert 
Ashfield  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson  and  heir  Robert  Ashfield  who  died 


1  Pat.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  II.  pt.  ii.  24. 

•  I.P.M.,  8  Edw.  II.  43. 

'  I.P.M.,  17  Edw.  III.  58. 

4  O.,  17  Edw.  III.  n. 

5  Extent.     I.P.M.,  35  Edw.  III.  36. 
15  Originalia,  36  Edw.  III.  3. 

7  I.P.M.,  37  Edw.  III.  2nd  nos.  5. 

•  O.,  38  Edw.  III.  31. 
'  Harl.  57  B.  u. 


Harl.  45  G.  61. 
Feet  of  Fines,  5  Rich.  II.  10. 
Feet  of  Fines,  7  Rich.  II.  21. 
Pat.  Rolls,  9  Rich.  II.  pt.  i.  9. 
Pat.  Rolls,  9  Rich.  II.  pt.  i.  14^. 
Harl.  Ch.  58  G.  12. 

I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  IV.  n.  Robert  Asshefeld 
sen.     I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  IV.  8. 


Tl 


354  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

in  1459,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Ashfield  who  died 
in  1481,'  when  it  devolved  on  his  son  and  heir  John  Ashfield  who  died  in 
1499,  when  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir  George  Ashfield. 

George  Ashfield  died  20  Aug.  1517,'  when  the  manor  went  to  his  son 
and  heir  Robert  Ashfield  who  dying  2ist  May  1549'  it  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  Robert,  at  whose  death  in  1558  it  devolved  on  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Robert 
Ashfield.4  By  1581  it  appears  to  have  vested  in  Benjamin  Clere,  for  a 
fine  was  this  year  levied  of  the  manor  against  him  and  others  by  Elizeus 
Colman.5  Sir  Robert  Ashfield  married  Ann  dau.  of  John  Tasborough  of 
Flixton  Abbey  and  not  unlikely  disposed  of  the  manor  to  his  father-in-law 
or  his  son,  for  in  1614  Sir  John  Tasburgh,  according  to  Davy,  had  licence  to 
alienate  the  manor,  and  in  1622  Henry  Lambe  had  a  like  licence  to  alienate 
to  Philip  Colby.  Davy  states  that  William  Onslow  was  lord  in  1641  and 
Borrodaile  Mileson  in  1655,  and  that  the  latter  was  succeeded  by  Thomas 
Mileson  and  he  by  Mileson  Edgar.  The  late  Mr.  Tymms  however  in  an 
article  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Suffolk  Inst.6  states  that  the  heiress 
of  Borrodaile  Mileson,  who  died  I3th  January  1677  aged  72  and  lies 
buried  in  the  Parish  Church  of  Norton,  carried  the  manor  to  a  family  named 
Edgar,  and  Mileson  Edgar  sold  the  estate  to  Thomas  Macro  a  wealthy 
grocer  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  Thomas  Macro  was  an  alderman  of  Bury  in 
1689  and  one  of  the  Governors  of  the  Bury  School.  He  married  Susan 
only  daughter  of  Dr.  Richard  Cox  the  well-known  Bishop  of  Ely  tutor  to 
Edw.  VI.  and  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  helpers  in  the  compiling  of  "  Lilly's 
Grammar." 

Mr.  Tymms  informs  us  that  one  son  is  mentioned  as  Dr.  Ralph  Macro 
in  the  will  of  his  sister  Susan  to  whom  he  (sic)  bequeathed  a  fourth  share  of 
one  undivided  moiety  of  the  celebrated  Wills'  Coffee  House,  London,  where 
"  Dryden  had  his  arm  chair  and  honoured  the  young  beaux  and  wits  with 
a  pinch  out  of  his  snuff  box." 

At  Thomas  Macro's  death  at  the  age  of  88,  26th  May  1737  the  manor 
passed  to  Cox  Macro  D.D.  his  third  son.  Cox  Macro  received  his  education 
at  Christ's  College  Cambridge  and  took  the  LL.B.  degree  in  1710,  subsequently 
obtaining  a  fellowship.  He  had  the  degree  of  D.D.  (comitis  regiis)  in  1717  and 
was  the  senior  Doctor  in  Divinity  in  the  University  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1767.  He  was  one  of  the  chaplains  to  George  the  First  and  accumulated 
many  fine  and  valuable  MSS.,  including  some  which  had  belonged  to  the 
Monks  of  Bury,  to  Sir  Henry  Spelman,  Bishop  Tanner,  Dr.  Covell,  Bishop 
Hurd,  and  other  antiquarians,  besides  some  of  the  rarer  productions  of  the 
early  English  and  foreign  presses.  Amongst  the  MSS.  is  an  original  Register 
of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmunds  during  the  time  when  William  Curteys  presided 
over  it,  who  was  succeeded  by  John  Boon  in  1457.  It  was  known  as  the 
"  Registrum  Magnum  Curteys  "  and  had  belonged  to  Sir  Henry  Spelman. 
Also  a  ledger  book  of  the  Abbey  of  Glastonbury  which  Bishop  Tanner  rescued 
from  destruction  in  the  shop  of  a  grocer  at  Oxford  in  the  year  1692  ;  a 
Cartulary  of  the  Religious  House  of  Blackborough  in  Norfolk  ;  "  The  Bible 
of  English  Policy"  ;  several  volumes  of  collections  of  Dr.  Covell  relating  to 
the  University  of  Cambridge  ;  a  vellum  MS.  of  the  works  of  Gower.  Also 
a  valuable  collection  of  Charters  relating  to  ecclesiastical  affairs,  which  last 

1  I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  IV.  32.  family,  see  Master  Stephen's  Manor, 

'  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  94.  Hepworth,    Hunston    Manor,    and 

1  I. P.M.,  4  Edw.  VI.  no.  Stowlangtoft Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

4  For   a   fuller   account   of   the   Ashfield         »  Fine,  Hil.  23  Eliz. 

•  ii.  281. 


NORTON.  355 

were  published  by  the  Camden  Society  in  1840  under  the  editorship  of  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Hunter.  Dr.  Macro  had  also  a  fine  collection  of  coins  and 
medals.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Edward  Godfrey,  Privy  Purse  to  Queen 
Anne  and  died  the  2nd  Feb.  1757  at  the  age  of  84,  being  buried  in  Norton 
churchyard  in  an  enclosure  between  the  side  of  the  vestry  and  one  of  the 
buttresses  which  support  the  church  wall.  The  old  collector  and  recluse 
had  not,  it  is  said,  been  beyond  his  dwelling  house  and  garden  for  many  years 
prior  to  his  death  though  hale  and  hearty  to  the  last.  He  had  two  children, 
a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  son  was  of  a  somewhat  delicate  constitution, 
but  proceeded  to  Emmanuel  College  Cambridge  where  he  had  the  privilege 
of  having  Bishop  Hurd  for  his  tutor.  He  died  before  his  father,  having  gone 
abroad  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  Mr.  Tymms  refers  to  a  tradition  that 
the  young  man  was  murdered  by  his  sister  who  wanted  to  obtain  the 
property  and  that  a  skeleton  was  found  in  a  box  in  the  house  and  believed 
to  be  his ;  but  having  regard  to  the  eccentric  old  father's  character  one 
might  almost  feel  surprise  that  more  skeletons  than  one  were  not  discovered  ! 
Mary  the  daughter  inherited  the  property  on  her  father's  death,  and  it  is 
related  that  she  immediately  applied  to  Mr.  Green  the  bookseller  at  Bury 
to  spare  no  expense  in  getting  the  announcement  of  her  father's  decease 
inserted  in  every  newspaper.  This  was  with  the  object  of  the  announce- 
ment falling  under  the  notice  of  William  Stainforth  of  Sheffield  whose 
addresses  her  father  would  never  countenance.  The  notices  were  successful 
and  the  marriage  took  place.  By  deed  dated  1773  this  William  Stainforth 
in  fulfilment  of  a  charitable  devise  contained  in  the  will  of  his  father-in- 
law  Dr.  Cox  Macro  dated  in  1766  settled  the  sum  of  £600  Three  per  cent. 
Consols  in  trust,  the  dividend  to  be  applied  in  the  purchase  of  12  poor 
men's  coats,  of  strong  cloth,  and  12  poor  women's  gowns  and  petticoats  of 
strong  stuff  to  be  given  away  every  Easter  Day. 

Mary  Stainforth  died  in  Aug.  1775  and  her  husband  survived  till  14 
Nov.  1786  when  he  died  in  his  7oth  year.  There  being  no  issue  of  the 
marriage  the  manor  passed  to  William  Stainforth's  brother  Robert  Stain- 
forth  whose  daughter  Jane  carried  it  in  marriage  to  John  Patteson  some- 
time member  for  Norwich. 

He  sold  the  manor  to  Robert  Braddock  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  The 
Macro  collection  was  then  dispersed,  the  books  and  MSS.  being  in  1819 
sold  to  Mr.  Beatniffe,  a  bookseller  of  Norwich  who  is  said  to  have  made  a 
fortune  out  of  them  in  sales  to  Mr.  Hudson  Gurey,  Mr.  Dawson  Turner, 
and  others.  A  portion  of  the  charters  had  been  presented  by  the  Stainforths 
soon  after  Dr.  Macro's  decease  to  a  nephew  of  his  who  strongly  resembled 
the  doctor  in  his  tastes  and  pursuits — a  Mr.  Wilson  a  Yorkshire  gentleman 
who  died  in  1783.  Robert  Braddock  died  in  1812  having  devised  the  manor 
to  his  nephew  Robert  Braddock  and  the  trustees  of  his  son  sold  it  to  Peter 
Huddleston.  He  in  1835  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  William  Lee  of 
Upwell  Norfolk  and  died  in  1875  leaving  his  widow  and  with  other  issue  a 
son  Thomas  Jervoise  Huddleston  who  married  in  1873  Laura  younger 
daughter  of  John  Josselyn  and  died  in  1885.  On  Peter  Huddleston's 
death  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Elizabeth  Huddleston  and  is  now 
vested  in  her  trustees  as  lords. 

An  account  of  Little  Haugh  Hall  will  be  found  in  the  2nd  vol.  of  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Suffolk  Institute,  p.  279.  The  Hall  is  pleasantly  situated 
and  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  specimens  at  the  time  of  an  embellished 
residence  of  a  country  gentleman  of  easy  but  not  affluent  fortune.  Exten- 
sive pleasure  grounds  were  laid  out  by  Dr.  Cox  Macro  and  the  interior  of 


356  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

the  hall  was  choicely  decorated.  One  marked  feature  was  the  staircase 
which  was  painted  by  Peter  Tillemans,  a  celebrated  painter  of  Antwerp,  who 
died  at  Dr.  Macro's  house  at  Little  Haugh  when  on  a  visit  there  in  1734. 
The  enriched  ceiling  in  a  lower  room  was  painted  by  F.  Huysman.  The 
carving  was  the  work  of  Davis  and  the  stucco  of  Burrough. 


RICKINGHALL    INFERIOR.  357 


RICKINGHALL  INFERIOR. 


MANOR  was  held  here  in  the  Confessor's  time  by  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund  with  2  carucates  of  land.  There  were  4  villeins, 
6  bordars,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  one  belonging 
to  the  men,  a  winter  mill,  4  serfs,  8  acres  of  meadow,  wood 
for  60  hogs,  8  beasts,  16  hogs,  24  sheep,  and  30  goats.  By 
the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  the  villeins  were  reduced  by 
half  and  the  ploughteams  of  the  men  had  come  down  to 
half  a  team.  The  serfs  too  were  reduced  by  half,  but  there  were  2  rouncies 
additional.  There  were  also  22  socmen  with  half  a  carucate  having  amongst 
them  6  ploughteams  and  6  acres  of  meadow.  These  men  held  under  the 
Abbot  by  commendation  and  sac  and  all  customs,  and  they  could  not  give 
or  sell  their  land  without  licence.  To  the  Abbot's  fold  all  belonged.  The 
manor  was  in  Saxon  times  valued  with  its  appurtenances  at  5  pounds,  but 
at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  at  7  pounds.1  The  Abbot  also  held  2 
freemen  with  half  a  carucate  of  land,  i  bordar,  2  ploughteams,  2  acres 
of  land,  wood  for  8  hogs.  The  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  sac  and 
commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot  as  also  the  service.  They  were 
valued  at  10  shillings.  There  was  also  a  church  with  24  acres  of  free  land  in 
alms.  This  holding  of  the  Abbot's  was  a  league  long  and  3  quarantenes 
broad,  and  paid  in  a  gelt  i2d.2 

Robert  Malet  also  had  a  small  holding  as  tenant  in  chief  at  the  time  of 
the  Domesday  Survey,  for  Hubert  held  of  him  a  freeman  with  30  acres. 
Malet's  predecessor  had  the  commendation,  but  not  the  soc,  for  this 
belonged  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.  The  value  of  this  small  holding 
was  only  5  shillings.3 

RICKINGHALL  INFERIOR  al.  WESTHALL  MANOR. 

The  manor  which  had  been  the  gift  of  Ulfketel  Earl  of  the  East  Angles 
to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Edmund  remained  with  that  house  until  the  Disso- 
lution when  it  reverted  to  the  Crown,  and  was  granted  in  1544  to  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon  afterwards  Lord  Keeper.4  From  this  time  this  manor  devolved  in  the 
same  line  of  devolution  as  the  manor  of  Hinderclay,  the  descent  of  which  has 
been  already  given.  The  manor  is  included  in  a  fine  levied  by  Sir 
Nicholas  Bacon  in  1600  against  Henry  Yaxley  and  others.5  It  is  now 
vested  in  George  Holt  Wilson  of  Redgrave,  Suffolk  and  of  Billingford, 
Norfolk,  who  was  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk  in  1877. 

Abstracts  of  the  customs  of  the  manor  will  be  found  in  the  Additional 
MSS.  of  the  Brit.  Mus.6 

A  copy  of  a  Survey  of  this  manor  made  in  1604  will  be  found  amongst 
the  Davy  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  It  is  in  the  account  of  Blackbourn  Hundred, 
p.  301.  This  survey  is  contained  on  39  folio  pages  closely  written.  It 
was  copied  from  a  4to  MS.  of  93  folios  which  was  in  the  collection  of  Craven 
Ord  and  was  bought  at  the  auction  of  his  books  in  1830  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Rodd  the  bookseller  for  £2.  2s.  Mr.  Rodd  lent  the  MS.  to  Davy  and  offered 
to  sell  it  to  him  for  £3.  35. 

1  Dom.  ii.  3646.  Hen.  VIII.  D.K.R.  9  App.  ii.  p. 

•  Dom.  ii.  365.  162. 

3  Dom.  ii.  328.  5  Fine,  Easter,  42  Eliz. 

4  Originalia,  37  Hen.  VIII.  4  Pars   Rot.          6  i6th  Cent.,  Add.  MSS.  31970. 

178.     Particulars  for  the  grant  36 


358  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


S A  PISTON. 

O  manor  in  Sapiston  is  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey. 
The  most  considerable  holding  was  that  of  the  Abbot  of  St. 
Edmund.  He  had  here  n  freemen  with  a  carucate  and 
a  half  of  land,  2  ploughteams,  2  mills,  and  6  acres  of  meadow. 
The  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  the  soc,  sac  and 
commendation  would  remain  with  the  Abbot.  The  holding 
included  two-third  parts  of  a  church  with  6  acres  of  free 
land  in  alms,  and  the  whole  was  valued  at  25  shillings.  Of  these  freemen 
Peter  de  Valoines'  held  over  4  with  80  acres,  and  i  thrall,  and  i  plough- 
team,  valued  at  13  shillings.  The  length  was  10  quarantenes,  and  the 
breadth  5,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  ij^d* 

There  were  three  other  small  holdings  which  subsequently  formed  parcel 
of  the  two  manors  into  which  Sapiston  became  divided.  First,  the  holding 
of  the  above-named  Peter  de  Valoines  as  tenant  in  chief.  This  consisted 
of  three  freemen  with  13  acres  and  a  half  of  land,  and  amongst  the  men  i 
ploughteam  and  i  acre  of  meadow.  It  was  held  of  the  King's  gift,  and  was 
valued  at  5  shillings.3  Secondly,  the  holding  of  Saisselin  as  tenant  in  chief 
which  consisted  of  half  a  carucate  of  land  in  the  Confessor's  time  belonging 
to  Goodman  the  Thane.  The  holding  included  2  bordars,  a  ploughteam 
in  demesne,  5  acres  of  meadow,  a  mill,  2  beasts,  formerly  3  hogs  and  20 
sheep,  but  in  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey  5  hogs  and  33  sheep  all  valued 
at  15  shillings.  Also  8  freemen  under  commendation,  holding  24  acres 
valued  at  3  shillings.  Over  these,  as  indeed  over  the  whole  Hundred,  the 
Abbot  had  soc  and  sac.4  And  thirdly  the  holding  of  Robert  le  Blund  as 
tenant  in  chief,  which  consisted  of  but  2  freemen  who  under  King  Edward 
held  18  acres  valued  at  3  shillings.5 

SAPISTON  MANOR. 

Page  states  that  at  the  period  of  the  Norman  Survey  Gilbert  le  Blund 
held  a  manor  in  Sapiston  parish,  but  this  is  a  delusion  ;  he  did  nothing  of 
the  kind.  Robert  le  Blund  is  the  only  tenant  in  chief  of  this  family  holding 
in  Sapiston  at  the  time  of  the  Survey,  and  his  holding  was  extremely  small. 

Davy  says  that  the  King  had  the  manor  in  1316,  but  in  1326  it  seems 
to  have  belonged  to  John  de  Brydwelle  and  an  extent  of  the  manor  will  be 
found  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  this  John  de  Brydwelle.6  Before  1375 
it  had  become  vested  in  John  Holbrook,  for  that  year  he  died  seised  thereof, 7 
when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Holbrook,  who  died  without 
issue  about  1399,  leaving  Margery  his  sister  and  coheir  to  whom  it  passed. 
Henry  Drury  seems  to  have  held  the  manor  a  little  later,  and  in  1432  to 
have  done  homage  for  it  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.  By  Elizabeth 
his  wife  daughter  of  George  Eaton  he  had  issue  a  son  Henry  who  died  an 
infant,  and  a  daughter  Jane  who  married  first  Thomas  Hervey  and  2ndly  Sir 
William  Carewe,  whose  will  bears  date  1501  in  which  he  devises  Sapiston 
Manor  to  his  eldest  son  John  by  a  second  marriage,  then  a  minor  and 
ancestor  of  the  Carews  of  Crowcombe  in  Somersetshire.  Sir  Wm.  Carewe 

1  See   Great    Fakenham  Manor    in    this         4  Dom.  ii.  4366. 

Hundred.  5  Dom.  ii.  4396. 

•  Dom.  ii.  366.  '  I.P.M.,  i  Ed.  III.  14. 

'  Dom.  ii.  421.  '  I.P.M.,  50  Ed.  III.  31. 


SAPISTON.  359 

was  buried  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  where  his  altar  tomb 
is  to  be  seen  in  the  chancel  with  the  recumbent  effigies  of  himself  and 
Margaret  his  wife.  He  died  in  1501  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  John 
Carewe  according  to  the  terms  of  his  father's  will.  John  Carewe  married 
Celley  Delond  (who  remarried  a  Tyrrell)  and  died  i  March  1524'  when  the 
manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  George  Carewe  who  married  Margery  sister 
of  Sir  Francis  Englefield.  We  meet  with  a  fine  of  the  manor  in  1529  levied 
by  Thomas  Tropnall  and  others  against  John  Tyrrell  and  others,2  but  the 
manor  clearly  continued  in  the  Carewe  family.  In  1553  it  was  held  by 
Thomas  Carewe,  for  this  year  a  fine  was  levied  of  the  manor  by  Laurence 
Eton  against  him,3  and  in  1562  this  Thomas  Carewe  sold  the  lordship  to 
John  Aldham.4  The  manor  next  passed  to  Thomas  Aldham  who  in  1580 
with  others  levied  a  fine  against  T.  Carewe  and  others5  and  died  seised  of  the 
lordship  two  years  later  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Aldham ;  and 
amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  is 
a  suit  by  Edward  Brooke  against  John  and  Thomas  Aldham  respecting  the 
manor.6  How  long  the  manor  continued  in  the  Aldham  family  is  uncertain, 
but  from  a  fine  in  1635  we  learn  it  was  still  in  the  family,  being  vested  in 
Thomas  Aldham  as  the  successor  of  his  brother  John.  By  1764  however 
the  manor  had  passed  to  Augustus  Henry  3rd  Duke  of  Grafton,  and  it  is 
now  vested  in  his  representative  the  present  Duke. 

SAPISTON  GRANGE  OR  MANOR. 

The  land  subsequently  forming  this  manor  was  held  by  Robert  le 
Blund  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  and  on  his  death  went  to  his 
son  and  heir  Gilbert  le  Blund,  by  whom  it  was  given  to  the  Priory  of  Black 
Canons  founded  by  him  at  Ixworth,  and  with  the  Priory  of  Ixworth  this 
manor  remained  until  the  Dissolution  when  it  passed  to  the  Crown.  In  1538 
Henry  VIII.  granted  it  to  Richard  Codington  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  in 
exchange  for  other  lands.7  Richard  Codington  in  1565  sold  the  manor 
to  Thomas  Aldham.8  A  claim  is  said  to  have  been  made  by  the  Crown  on 
John  Aldham  in  1564  for  forfeiture  of  this  manor.9  Possibly  John  had  con- 
tracted to  purchase  or  Thomas  had  then  done  so,  and  John  is  a  mistake  for 
Thomas,  for  2  years  later  we  find  an  entry  on  the  same  Rolls  ordering  the 
removal  of  process  from  this  manor  and  the  discharge  of  Thomas  Aldham 
(there  given  as  Oleham).10  In  1579  the  manor  passed  by  grant  to  John 
Caryll,  but  probably  only  for  life  or  for  a  time,  for  we  find  Thomas  Aldham 
dying  seised  in  1582,  and  the  manor  thereafter  seems  to  have  devolved  in 
the  same  course  of  descent  as  the  main  manor. 


•  I.P.M.,"i6  Hen.  VIII.  23.  *  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  ix.  40. 

''  Fine,  Trin.  21  Hen.  VIII.  7  See  Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

3  Fine,  Easter,  7  Edw.  VI.  8  Fine,  Hil.  7  Eliz. 

4  Fine,  Hil.  4  Eliz.  '  Memoranda,  6  Eliz.  Pas.  Rec.  Rot.  82. 

s  Fine,  Hil.  22  Eliz.  '°  Memoranda,  8  Eliz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot.  98. 


360  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


STANTON  ALL  SAINTS. 

ING  Edward  the  Confessor  gave  the  manor  and  advowson 
to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  who  held  I  carucate  of  land. 
There  was  one  ploughteam  in  demesne  at  that  time,  also  4 
serfs,  2  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  8  hogs,  3  beasts,  28  hogs, 
52  sheep,  and  30  goats.  By  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey, 
the  ploughteams  in  demesne  had  risen  to  2,  and  there  were 
2  rouncies  additional,  but  the  serfs  were  less  by  one.  There 
were  also  60  socmen  with  2  carucates  of  land,  5  ploughteams  and  4  acres 
of  meadow.  The  men  were  under  the  Abbot  by  commendation,  soc,  sac 
and  all  customs,  and  they  could  not  give  or  sell  their  land  without  his 
licence  and  they  belonged  to  the  Abbot's  fold.  The  manor  was  valued  at 
6  pounds  in  both  Saxon  and  Norman  times.  The  Abbot  also  had  7  freemen 
with  i  carucate  and  30  acres  of  land,  4  ploughteams,  4  acres  of  meadow, 
wood  for  10  hogs,  and  these  men,  unlike  the  last,  could  give  or  sell  their 
land,  but  commendation  and  soc  remained  with  the  Abbot  as  well  as  the 
service.  There  was  also  a  church  with  28  acres  and  the  fourth  part  of  a 
church  with  7  acres  of  land.  The  value  in  Saxon  times  was  10  shillings, 
but  in  Domesday  time  it  was  13  shillings.  The  length  of  the  Abbot's 
holding  was  a  league  and  the  breadth  6  quarantenes,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt 
2  shillings  and  io%d'. 

A  terrier  of  the  manor  when  parcel  of  the  estate  of  the  Abbey  of  St. 
Edmunds  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional  MSS.  of  the  Brit.  Mus.J 

STANTON  ALL  SAINTS  MANOR. 

In  1305  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  granted  this  manor  to  Henry  de  Stanton 
for  life  in  recompense  for  Newhall  in  Pakenham,  but  it  soon  returned  to  the 
monastery,  for  we  find  the  manor  again  vested  in  the  Abbot  in  1316,  and 
with  the  monastery  it  continued  until  the  dissolution  of  the  religious 
houses,  when  of  course  it  passed  to  the  Crown. 

In  1539  it  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Sir  Thos.  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook. 
Particulars  for  this  grant  will  be  found  in  the  Record  Office.3 

Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  married  first  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Spring,  of 
Lavenham,  and  2ndly  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Drruy,  and  died  8  Oct. 
1552.  An  account  of  his  funeral  is  given  in  the  Diary  of  Henry  Machyn, 
a  citizen  of  London,  1550-1563,  thus  :  "  The  xxj.  day  of  October  was  the 
funeralle  of  a  gentyll  knyght,  Ser  Thomas  Jarmyn,  the  best  housekeper  in 
the  Contey  of  Suff  oke,  with  ys  standard  and  ys  penone  of  armes,  cot-armur, 
target,  and  sword,  and  skochyons  ;  and  he  kept  a  godly  chapel  of  syngyng 
men,  for  the  contrary  have  a  gret  loss  of  ys  deth,  as  any  contrey  in  England." 
He  had  been  High  Sheriff  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  in  1541  and  the  goodly 
chapel  of  singing  men  were  at  Rushbrook  Hall  near  Bury  St.  Edmunds 
where  the  Jermyn  family  had  been  seated  from  a  very  early  period.  He 
was  the  lineal  ancestor  of  Henry  Jermyn  created  Lord  Jermyn  of  Edmunds- 
bury  by  King  Charles  I.  and  Earl  of  St.  Albans  by  Charles  II.  On  the  death 
of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son  by  his  first  wife- 
Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook  knt.  who  died  in  1577  and  his  eldest  son 
John,  who  had  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Edward  Earl  of  Derby 

1  Dom.  ii.  364.  J  31  Hen.  VIII.  D.K.R.  9  App.  ii.  p.  212. 

•  Add.  MSS.  4699. 


STANTON    ALL    SAINTS. 


361 


having  died  without  issue,  the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Ambrose's  2nd  son 
Sir  Robert  Jermyn.1  In  1579  a  claim  was  made  by  the  Crown  on  Sir 
Robert  Jermyn  for  forfeiture  of  this  manor.2 

The  manor  does  not  seem  to  have  passed  to  Sir  Robert's  son  Sir  Thomas 
Jermyn  knt.  but  to  have  been  sold  to  Sir  Arthur  Capel.  He  married  Mary 
or  Margaret  dau.  of  John  Lord  Grey  of  Pergo  brother  to  the  Marquess  of 
Dorset  and  died  in  1655,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Gamaliel 
Capel  D.D.,  at  whose  death  it  went  to  the  Rev.  Gamaliel  Capel  his  son  and 
heir,  rector  of  Stanton.  He  married  Hester  daughter  and  heir  of  Robert 
Maddox  or  Maddockes  of  Troston  Hall  and  Anne  Bysshe  and  died  in  1756. 
In  the  Church  of  Stanton  All  Saints  there  is  an  inscription  to  him  and  his 
wife  Hester's  memory.  The  manor  then  devolved  upon  his  son  and  heir 
Edward  Capel.  He  was  a  native  of  Troston,  being  born  there  nth  June 
1713,  and  early  obtained  the  place  of  Deputy  Inspector  of  Plays,  which 
probably  turned  his  attention  towards  publishing  an  edition  of  Shakespeare. 
On  this  edition  he  spent  over  20  years'  labour,  but  although  it  appeared 
in  10  volumes  8vo  it  was  unaccompanied  by  notes.  These  notes  however 
were  published  separately  in  1783  in  3  vols.  4to,  and  had  a  wide  circulation. 
Mr.  Capel  was  also  the  author  of  an  altered  play  of  "  Anthony  and 
Cleopatra,"  acted  at  Drury  Lane  in  1758,  and  the  editor  of  a  vol.  of  poems 
entitled  "  Prolusions  ;  or  Select  Pieces  of  Ancient  Poetry,"  issued  in  1760. 
A  catalogue  of  his  Shakesperiana  presented  by  him  to  Trinity  College 
Cambridge  was  printed  in  1779. 

He  died  24  Jan.  1781  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Stanton  All 
Saints  Church  with  his  ancestors.  He  left  the  manor  by  will  to  his  nephew 
Capel  Lofft  son  of  Christopher  Lofft  by  his  wife  Anne  sister  of  the  above 
Edward  Capel.3 

Capel  Lofft  was  a  native  of  London,  born  there  the  I4th  Nov.  1751, 
and  educated  at  Eton,  where  he  continued  10  years  and  thence  proceeded 
to  Peterhouse,  Cambridge,  being  ultimately  entered  at  Lincoln's  Inn, 
and  called  to  the  Bar  in  1775.  He  was  a  voluminous  writer  and  upon  a 
great  variety  of  subjects,  political,  poetical,  theological,  and  archaeological. 

He  issued  from  time  to  time  the  following  works  :  "  The  Praises  of 
Poetry — a  Poem,"  Lond.  1775,  i2mo ;  "  View  of  several  Schemes  respecting 
America,"  1775  8vo;  "Cases  Adjudged  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench," 
Lond.  1776,  fol. ;  "  Dialogues  on  the  Principles  of  the  Constitution,"  1776, 
8vo  ;  "  Observations  on  Wesley's  second  Calm  Address,  &c.,"  1777,  8vo  ; 
"  Observations  on  Mrs.  Macaulay's  History  of  England,"  1778,  4to ; 
"  Principia  cum  juris  Universalis  turn  praecipue  Anglicani,"  Lond.  1779,  2 
vols.,  I2mo  ;  "  Elements  of  Universal  Law,"  vol.  I  Lond.,  1779,  I2mo ;  "  An 
Argument  on  the  Nature  of  Party  and  Faction,"  Lond.  1780,  8vo ; 
"  Eudosia,  or  a  Poem  on  the  Universe,"  Lond.  1781,  8vo  ;  "  Observations 
on  a  Dialogue  on  the  Actual  State  of  Parliament,"  1783,  8vo  ;  "  Inquiry 
into  the  Legality  and  Expediency  of  Increasing  the  Royal  Navy  by  Sub- 
scriptions for  Building  County  Ships,"  1783,  8vo  ;  "  Observations 
Dialogue  on  the  Actual  State  of  Parliament,"  1783,  8vo;  '" 
the  Expediency  of  Increasing  the  Royal  Navy,"  1783,  8vo  ; 


on  a 
Inquiry  into 
"  Translation 


1  See  Bardvvell  Manor  and  Riveshall 
Manor,  Hepworth,  in  this  Hundred. 

'  Memoranda,  21  EUz.  Mich.  Rec.  Rot. 
117. 

3  Christopher  Lofft  was  the  son  of  Charles 
Lofft  of  St.Albans  by  Olive  his  wife 


daughter  of  Lewis  Montgomery. 
Christopher  was  a  member  of  the 
Bar,  Deputy  Ranger  of  Windsor 
Park,  and  Recorder  of  Windsor. 
He  acted  too  as  Secretary  to  Sarah 
Jennings,  Duchess  of  Marlborough. 


362  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

of  the  first  and  second  Georgics  of  Virgil,"  1784,  8vo ;  "  Essay  on  the 
Law  of  Libels,"  &c.,  Lond.  1785,  8vo ;  "  A  Brief  Account  of  the  Hospital 
of  St.  Elizabeth,"  &c.,  1786,  8vo.  This  was  a  translation  from  the  Latin  of 
C.  L.  Noks.  The  original  Latin  printed  same  year  under  the  fictitious  name 
of  Humillimus  Pauperum  Advocatus,  8vo.  "Three  Letters  on  the  Question 
of  Regency,"  Lond.  1789,  8vo  ;  "  Observations  on  the  ist  part  of  Dr. 
Knowles,  Testimonies  of  the  Divinity  of  Christ  from  the  first  four  Centuries," 
Lond.  1789,  8vo  ;  "  History  of  the  Corporation  and  Test  Acts,"  Bury, 
1790,  8yo ;  "  Remarks  on  the  Letter  of  Edm.  Burke  concerning  the 
Revolution  in  France,"  &c.,  Lond.  1790,  8vo  ;  "  Essay  on  the  Effects  of  a 
Dissolution  of  Parliament,"  Lond.  1791,  8vo  ;  "  The  Law  of  Evidence  by 
Chief  Baron  Gilbert,"  1791-96,  2  vols.  8vo ;  ist  and  2nd  Books  of  Milton's 
"  Paradise  Lost  with  Notes,"  1792,  4to  ;  "  On  the  Revival  of  the  Cause 
of  Reform  in  the  Representation  of  the  Commons  in  Parliament,"  2nd  ed. 
1810.,  8vo;  "  Laurana,"  Lond.  1812-1814,  5  vols.  8vo  ;  "  Aphorisms  from 
Shakespeare  arranged  to  plays,  &c.,  notes  and  preface,"  Bury,  1812,  i8mo. 

Capel  Lofft  married  Anne  daughter  of  Henry  Evelyn  of  Windsor,  and 
in  1815,  while  Napoleon  was  being  detained  in  Plymouth  Harbour  prior  to 
being  sent  to  St.  Helena,  obtained  a  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  for  the  bringing 
up  of  his  body,  but  the  proceedings  were  futile  in  consequence  of  the  ship 
having  sailed  before  the  writ  could  be  served. 

Until  1816  he  resided  at  Troston,  when  he  went  abroad,  principally 
with  the  object  of  the  education  of  his  daughters,  going  first  to  Brussels, 
then  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Nancy,  and  in  1820  to  Switzerland.  In  1822 
he  removed  to  Turin  where  he  remained  till  1824,  when  he  went  to  Montcally, 
at  which  place  he  died  the  26th  of  May  in  that  year.  His  attainments  were 
considerable ;  but  he  was  pedantic  and  self-opinionated,  a  zealous  Whig  in 
politics,  in  religion  his  views  were  distinctly  Socinian.  Probably  his  greatest 
claim  upon  our  gratitude  is  the  judicious  aid  he  afforded  the  poet  Robert 
Bloomfield  by  bringing  before  the  public  the  early  effusions  of  this  humble 
songster.  Capel  Lofft  was  the  first  to  recognise  the  "  pleasing  characteristic 
and  original  poem,"  as  he  himself  terms  it,  "  The  Farmer's  Boy,"  and  under 
his  auspices  it  was  introduced  to  the  public  eye.  He  edited  the  I2th  ed. 
of  Bloomfield's  Poems,  Lond.  1811,  and  wrote  an  admirable  preface  containing 
many  valuable  critical  observations. 

Capel  Lofft  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft  of  Troston 
Hall,  who  married  Letitia  daughter  of  Lieut.-Col.  Richardson,  and  died  in 
1842  (?)  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Henry  Capel  Lofft  who  changed 
his  name  to  Moseley  on  inheriting  his  great-uncle's  estate  of  Glemham. 
Henry  Capel  Lofft  or  Moseley  died  in  1866,  when  the  manor  devolved  on 
his  brother  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft  who  was  High  Sheriff  in  1881  and  died 
without  issue  in  1890,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  sister  Letitia  wife  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hubert  Holden  and  mother  of  Colonel  Capel  Holden  the 
present  representative  of  the  Lofft  family.  This  manor  has  recently  been 
sold. 

STANTON  ST.  JOHN,  MICHFIELDS,  AND  BADWELL'S  MANOR. 

This  was  not  held  as  a  manor  till  after  the  compilation  of  the  Domesday 
Survey.  At  the  time  of  the  compiling  of  this  Record,  Walter  de  Caen  held 
of  Robert  Malet  tenant  in  chief  a  freeman  over  whom  Malet's  predecessor 
had  half  commendation,  and  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  the  other 
half  and  the  soc  and  sac.  He  had  90  acres,  3  bordars,  4  acres  of  meadow, 


STANTON   ALL  SAINTS.  363 

and  one  ploughteam,  and  under  him  was  a  freeman  with  10  acres  over  whom 
also  the  said  Walter  held.  There  was  also  a  church  with  4  acres,  and  the 
whole  was  valued  at  16  shillings.1 

The  only  other  holding  in  Stanton  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey  and  specifically  mentioned  was  amongst  the  invasions  upon  the 
King,  where  we  meet  with  the  entry  that  a  free  woman  under  commendation 
to  the  Abbot  held  30  acres  in  the  Confessor's  time  of  the  value  of  5  shillings.2 

This  is  probably  the  manor  intended  by  "  Stanton  Manor  "  specified 
in  the  Inquis.  post  mortem  of  Roger  le  Bygod  Earl  of  Norfolk  in  1270,3 
and  also  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Edmund  Earl  of  Kent  and  Margaret  his  wife 
in  I330.4 

At  the  opening  of  the  I4th  century  we  find  the  manor  in  Edmund 
de  Stanton  who  gave  it  to  his  sister  on  her  marriage  with  Henry  de  Stanton. 
Margery,  the  daughter  and  heir  of  this  union,  married  William  de  Badwell. 
Davy  makes  Henry  de  Stanton  to  hold  the  manor  in  1325  and  John  Ashfield 
who  died  in  1394  when  it  passed  to  Robert  Ashfield  his  son  and  heir.  This 
may  be  so ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  John  Ashfield  died  in  the  lifetime 
of  his  father  Robert  who  did  not  die  till  1401.  Robert  by  will  dated  1459 
gave  Michfield  Manor  to  Cecilia  his  wife  for  life,  and  she  was  living  in  1460. 
The  other  or  Badwell  Manor  seems  to  have  gone  to  William  Asshefeld  son 
of  John. 

Michfield  was  held  in  1428  by  Robert  Stanton  and  later  by  John 
Ashfield,  son  and  heir  of  Robert  Ashfield,  who  in  1533  sold  the  same  to 
Thomas  Jermyn  of  Rushbrooke  sen.5  The  sale  included  the  manors  of 
Mikilfylde  or  Mikilhall  Manor,  the  advowson  of  All  Saints  Church  in  Stanton, 
and  tenements  in  Stanton,  Bardwell,  Wattisfield,  Walsham,  Langham, 
Hepworth  and  Ixworth.  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn  died  in  1552  and  the  subse- 
quent devolution  of  the  manor  is  the  same  as  the  Manor  of  Stanton  All 
Saints  already  given. 


1  Dom.  ii.  3276.  «  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  III.  38. 

°  Dom.  ii.  4486.  5  Fine.  Trin.  25  Hen.  VIII. 

\  I.P.M.,  54  Hen.  III.  25 


THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 


STOWLANGTOFT. 

O  manor  here  is  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  but 
the  main  holding  was  that  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  and 
under  him  Durand  held  4  carucates  of  land,  which  2  freemen 
had  in  King  Edward  the  Confessor's  time.  There  were 
8  bordars  and  in  Saxon  times  4  ploughteams  in  demesne, 
but  in  Norman  days  2  only.  Also  a  mill,  wood  for  20  hogs, 
30  sheep,  and  8  acres  of  meadow.  The  value  of  the  whole 
was  6  pounds.  There  were  also  in  the  Abbot's  holding  14  freemen  with  half 
a  carucate,  4  ploughteams,  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  The  men  could  give 
or  sell  their  land,  so  that  the  soc,  commendation  and  service  remain  with  the 
Abbot.  All  except  one  of  these  men  belonged  to  the  Abbot's  fold.  The 
value  of  the  holding  was  6  shillings  and  8d.  Also  a  church  with  40  acres  of 
free  land.  The  township  was  one  league  long  and  8  quarantenes  broad, 
and  paid  in  a  gelt  iod.' 

Richard  son  of  Earl  Gislebert'  held  here  a  socman  with  28  acres  and 
half  a  ploughteam  of  the  value  of  3  shillings. 

Robert  le  Blund  was  in  possession  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey, 
and  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  the  soc.3 

Earl  Alan  also  held  60  acres,  3  bordars  and  half  a  team — earlier  there 
had  been  a  whole  ploughteam.  It  was  included  in  the  valuation  of  Rum- 
burgh,  and  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  the  soc.4 

STOWLANGTOFT  HALL. 

There  was  what  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  calls  "  a  fond  and  idle  tradition  " 
held  by  the  inhabitants  that  the  village  was  called  Stowlangthorne  after  a 
lantern  that  stood  fixed  on  the  top  of  the  steeple  of  the  church  there ;  but 


STOWLAMOTOFT. 


the  name  was  really  derived  from  the  family  of  Langetot  who  held  from 
William  the  Conqueror's  day  to  the  latter  end  of  King  John's  reign  or  the 
beginning  of  Hen.  III.  In  the  time  of  Henry  II.  Robert  de  Langetot  or  Lang- 
toft  acknowledged  that  he  held  three  fees  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund. 

In  1206  we  find  an  action  to  try  the  question  whether  Richard  de 
Langeton  and  Ralph  his  brother  wrongfully  disseised  Stephen  de  Bolonia 
of  a  free  tenement  in  Stowlangtoft,  and  Richard  disclaiming  interest  in  the 
tenement  the  jury  jound  that  Ralph  was  entitled.5 

In  1224  Richard  de  Langetot  held  the  manor,  and  he  is  no  doubt  the 


'  Dom.  ii.  365. 

•  See    Bures    and    Sudbury    Manors    in 
Babergh  Hundred. 


1  Dom.  ii.  391. 

4  Dom.  ii.  2726. 

1  Abbr.  of  Pleas,  8  John  Mich.  5. 


STOWLANGTOFT.  365 

Richard  de  Langetot  who  in  1229  is  mentioned  on  the  Close  Rolls  as  having 
appointed  Roger  de  Stowe  his  attorney  in  proceedings  against  Robert  de 
Dunmawe  tenant  concerning  one  rod  of  meadow  in  Stowlangtoft.1  A 
little  later  Sir  Nicholas  Peche  who  married  Maud  the  daughter  and  heir  of 
Robert  de  Langetot  the  son  of  Richard  de  Langetot  held  the  manor  and 
did  homage  in  respect  thereof  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund. 

In  1265  Sir  Nicholas  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  John  Peche  who  died 
without  issue  in  1286,  when  the  manor  passed  to  Sir  Reginald  Peche  his 
brother  and  heir. 

Sir  Reginald  died  in  1310  and  the  manor  devolved  on  his  son  and  heir 
Jeffrey  Peche  who  resided  at  the  Hall,  and  died  in  1335  leaving  his  widow 
who  succeeded  to  the  lordship  which  she  retained  until  her  death  in  1337. 

Amongst  the  Harl.  MSS.  may  be  seen  an  account  of  the  lands  held  here 
by  Reginald  and  Jeffrey  Peche  of  the  Abbot.2  On  the  death  of  Jeffrey 
Peche's  widow,  John  Peche  the  brother  and  heir  of  Jeffrey  succeeded. 

There  is  a  fine  in  1346  levied  by  John  Peche  described  as  a  knt.  against 
John  Talbot  of  Fyncham  and  Roger  le  Stave  (or  Stane)  parson  of  Parva 
Lyvermere  Church.3  The  same  year  Sir  John  Peche  died  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  3'  daughters  and  coheirs  Amicia,  Catherine  and  Margaret,  who 
sold  the  same  in  1371  to  Robert  Davy  of  Ashfield  sometimes  called  Robert 
de  Ashfield.  The  transaction  was  carried  out  by  various  proceedings  and 
documents  and  the  purchase  was  of  the  several  shares. 

The  advowson  was  included  in  the  purchase  of  the  manor,  and  the  three 
following  fines  levied  : — 

40  Edw.  III.  36.  Adam  Hautboys,  parson  of  Cockfield  Church,  John  de 
Peshale,  parson  of  Alderton  Church,  Reginald  de  Eccles,  Robert  Davy  of 
Asshefeld,  and  John  son  of  John  de  Bokwode  v.  Amicia  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Pecche  and  Katherine  her  sister  of  2  parts  of  the  manor  and  advowson. 

42  Edw.  III.  37.  Adam  Hautboys,  parson  of  Cockfield  Church,  John 
Peshale,  parson  of  Alderton  Church,  Reginald  Ecclys,  Robt.  Davy  of  Asshe- 
feld, and  John  son  of  John  de  Rokwode  v.  Peter  Bray  and  Maria  his  wife. 

47  Edw.  III.  20.  Adam  Hautboys, clerk,  John  de  Peshale  clerk,  Reginald 
de  Eccles  and  Robert  de  Asshefeld  v.  William  Cat  of  Thetford  and  Margaret 
his  wife  of  the  3rd  part  of  the  manor. 

Robert  Ashfield  alias  Robert  Davy  died  in  1401. 4  He  built  the  beautiful 
church  of  Stowlangtoft  and  by  his  will  left  £20  towards  finishing  the  south 
porch.  He  and  his  wife  Margaret  are  buried  under  the  great  chancel 
window  in  which  he  is  represented  kneeling ;  and  in  the  upper  south  window 
they  are  both  represented  kneeling  holding  up  a  church.  Under  is  written, 
Ano  millesimo  tricentessimo  quinquagesimo  primo.  The  manor  passed  on 
the  death  of  Robert  Ashfield  to  his  grandson  and  heir,  Robert  Ashfield.  He 
was  at  the  date  of  his  grandfather's  death  a  minor,  and  in  1404  we  find  Sir 
John  Strange  knt.  granted  to  John  de  Bohun  Earl  of  Hereford  the  custody 
of  all  the  manors,  &c.,  late  Robert  Ashfield's  during  the  minority  of  Robert 
Ashfield,  cousin  [grandson]  and  heir  of  the  said  Robert.  The  Liber  Compp- 
torum  et  conventionum  Roberti  Ashefelde  in  the  time  of  Hen.  VI.  will 
be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.5 

Robert  Ashfield  married  twice,  ist  Eleanor  Curzon  who  is  buried  by  her 
husband  in  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of  Stowlangtoft,  and  2ndly  Cicely  eldest 
daughter  and  coheir  of  John  Tendring  of  Brockdish  in  Norfolk,  by  whom  the 

•  Close  Rolls,  13  Hen.  III.  m.  $d.  «  I.P.M.,  3  Hen.  IV.  8,  n. 

•  Harl.  MSS.  537.  5  Harl.  MSS.  143. 
Feet  of  Fines,  20  Edw.  III.  28. 


366  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

said  Robert  had  three  sons,  John,  William  parson  of  Stowlangtoft,  Reginald, 
and  one  daughter  Margaret.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  one  son  John  Ashfield. 
Robert  made  his  will  in  1459  wherein  he  desired  his  body  to  be  buried  in  Stow- 
langtoft Church  by  Eleanor  his  first  wife  ;  to  Cicely  his  2nd  wife  he  left  his 
interests  in  his  Manor  of  Bicham  Wells,  and  for  her  life  that  lordship  with 
the  appurtenances,  remainder  to  his  eldest  son  by  his  2nd  wife  J  ohn  Ashfield 
jun.  m  tail,  remainder  to  William  his  son  rector  of  Stowlangtoft  for  life, 
remainder  to  Reginald  his  son  in  fee.  He  died  in  1459  and  the  manor  passed 
to  John  Ashfield  his  only  son  by  his  first  marriage.  He  married  Florentia, 
daughter  of  John  Boteler  of  Mepertishale  in  Bedfordshire,  and  died  in  1481,' 
his  widow  surviving  until  1507. 

On  his  father's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  John  Ashfield,  who 
married  Margaret  daughter  of  John  Wentworth  of  Gosfield  in  Essex.  John 
Ashfield  died  in  1499  and  was  buried  in  the  Church  of  Buers,  being  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son  George  Ashfield  of  Stowlangtoft  and  Pakenham.  He 
married  Margery  daughter  of  John  Cheke  of  Bludhall,  and  dying  20  August 
1517  the  manor  went  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Ashfield.2  From  this 
Robert  to  his  grandson  Sir  Robert  Ashfield  the  manor  passed  in  the  same 
course  as  the  Manor  of  Hunston  in  this  Hundred. 

This  manor  is  specifically  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Robert 
Ashfield  who  died  the  21  May  1549.*  Sir  Robert  Ashfield  sold  the  manor  in 
1614  to  Paul  D'Ewes  one  of  the  six  clerks  in  Chancery,  son  of  Gerard  D'Ewes 
of  Upminster  in  Essex,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Lords  of  Kersal  in 
the  Duchy  of  Guelderland. 

Amongst  the  Harl.  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  may  be  seen  a  release  from 
Penelope  Ashfeld  to  Paul  D'Ewes  of  land  purchased  by  him  at  Stowhall 
in  Stowlangtoft  in  i6i5.4  And  in  1619  he  had  a  general  release  from  Robert 
Wilmer  and  Dorothy  his  wife,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Thomas  Ashefield, 
who  it  is  stated  had  purchased  her  father's  estate  there.5  Also  amongst  the 
Harl.  MSS.  will  be  found  an  agreement  between  Paul  D'Ewes  and  George 
Peche  bricklayer  as  to  the  building  of  Stowhall  in  1625. 6 

By  his  marriage  with  Cecilia  only  daughter  and  heir  of  Richard  Sy- 
monds  of  Coxden  in  Dorsetshire,  Paul  had  with  other  issue  a  son,  the  cele- 
brated Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  to  whom  this  manor  passed  on  his  father's 
death  14  March  1631.  There  is  a  monument  to  Paul  D'Ewes  over  the  south 
door  of  the  chancel  of  the  Church  of  Stowlangtoft.  He  is  represented  as 
kneeling  with  a  book  in  his  hand  with  a  front  face,  a  wife  on  each  side  of 
him,  somewhat  more  forward,  kneeling  opposite  to  each  other,  about  half 
as  large  as  life.  Eight  children  very  small  in  bas  relief  are  beneath  them. 
The  inscription  is  thus  : — 

Depositum  Pauli  D'Ewes  de  Stowlangtoft  armigeri,  pro  se 

et  bxoribus  suis,  cujus  prima  Sissilia,  Filia  unica  et  Haeres 

Richard!  Symonds  de  Chardestocke  in  Comitatu  Dorcestriae 

Armigeri,  quae  obiit  die  Veneris  ultimo  Julii  A.D.  1618,  quibus  dedit 

Deus  octo  Ljberos,  viz.,  Filios  tres,  Symonds  de  Medio  Templo 

Armigerum  ;   Paulum  in  infantia  morte  sublatum,  et 

Richardum  :  et  Filias  quinque  ;   Joannam  modo  Uxorem  Guli 

elm!  Ellyot  de  Godleming  in  Comitatu  Surrine  Militis  ; 

Graham,  Mariam,  Sissiliam  in  minoritate  defunctans,  ae 

Elizabetham,  cujus  secunda  Uxor  (nit  Elizabetha  soror 

Johannis  Isham  de  Lamport  in  Comitatu  Northamptoniae 

Militis  superstitis,  vidua  et  relicta  Anthonii  Denton 

de  Tunbridge  in  Comitatu  Kantiae  Militis.7 

1  I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  IV.  32.  '  16  Apl.  1619,  Harl.  MSS.  99. 

•  I.P.M.,  10  Hen.  VIII.  94.  '  Harl,  MSS.  98. 

J  I.P.M.,  4  Edw.  VI.  no.  '  She  lies  buiied  in  the  chancel,  having 

4  Harl.  97.  died  in  1663  in  her  86th  year. 


STOWLANGTOFT.  367 

Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  was  born  at  Coxden  in  Dorsetshire,  the  seat  of  his 
maternal  grandfather,  in  1602'  and  educated  atSt.  John'sCollege,  Cambridge. 
Page  says,  "he  commenced  even  while  a  student  at  Cambridge  those 
historical  studies  in  which  he  eventually  attained  such  distinction,  and 
almost  at  the  same  early  period  gained  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  Cotton, 
Selden,  Spelman,  and  many  others  of  the  first  rank  in  the  republic  of  letters." 
His  published  works  were  few,  the  most  prominent  being  "  The  Journals 
of  all  the  Parliaments  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth"  published  in 
1682,  Lond.  fol.  This  work  was  published  by  order  of  Parliament  and 
supplies  a  chasm  in  the  Journals  of  the  House  of  Commons.  Prefixed  is  a 
frontispiece  representing  Queen  Elizabeth  sitting  in  full  parliament. 
Another  issue  was  made  of  the  work  with  a  new  title  only,  1693,  viz.,  Journal 
of  the  Votes  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  folio  ;  and  the  best  edition 
appeared  in  1708,  fol.  Several  of  his  speeches  have  been  published,  i, 
The  Antiquity  of  Cambridge ;  2,  The  Privilege  of  Parliament,  1641,  fol.  1642. 
His  Autobiography  and  Correspondence  which  is  of  great  interest  has 
been  edited  by  Mr.  J.  O.  Halliwell,  Lond.  1845,  8vo.  2  vols.  And  the  Diary 
of  his  College  Life  in  the  time  of  James  I.  appeared,  Lond.  1851,  post  8vo. 

The  greater  part  of  his  literary  labours  are  still  in  MS.,  much  in  the 
Brit.  Mus.  His  extracts  from  early  wills  in  the  Bury  and  Norwich  registers 
are  of  considerable  interest  and  value,  for  some  of  the  originals  seen  and  noted 
by  him  have  since  been  lost  or  destroyed.  He  received  the  honour  of 
knighthood  from  Charles  the  First  at  Whitehall  Dec.  6 1626  and  in  1640  served 
the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  Suffolk.  In  the  Long  Parliament  which  met 
in  1640  he  was  elected  member  for  Sudbury,  and  the  15  July  in  the  following 
year  was  created  a  Baronet  by  King  Charles  I.,  but  upon  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  War  he  espoused  the  other  side  and  took  the  solemn  league  and 
covenant  in  1643.  He  continued  to  sit  in  the  House  until  Dec.  1648,  when 
he  was  turned  out  with  others  who  were  thought  to  retain  some  little  regard 
for  the  person  of  the  King  and  the  old  constitution. 

Fuller  says  of  him  :  "  his  genius  addicted  him  to  the  study  of  antiquity ; 
preferring  rust  before  brightness,  and  more  conforming  his  mind  to  the 
garb  of  the  former  than  mode  of  the  modern  times.  He  was  studious  in 
Roman  coin,  to  discriminate  true  ones  from  such  as  were  cast  and  counter- 
feit. He  paused  not  for  price  to  procure  a  choice  piece  ;  and  was  no  less 
careful  in  conserving,  than  curious  in  culling,  many  rare  records.  He  had 
plenty  of  precious  medals  out  of  which  a  methodical  architect  might  con- 
trive a  fabric  for  the  benefit  of  posterity.  His  treasury  afforded  things  as 
well  new  as  old,  on  the  token  that  he  much  admired  that  the  ordinances  and 
orders  of  the  late  Long  Parliament  did  in  bulk  and  number  exceed  all 
the  statutes  made  since  the  Conquest.  He  was  loving  to  learned  men,  to 
whom  he  desired  to  do  all  good  offices ;  and  died  about  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1653." 

Fuller  is  rather  out  in  the  date — Sir  Symonds  died  the  i8th  April  1650. 
He  married  twice — ist,  Anne  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Clopton  of 
Kentwell,  when  she  was  but  13  years  of  age.  The  Autobiography  of  Sir 
Symonds  contains  most  minute  particulars  of  his  courtship,  and  a  copy  of 
his  only  letter  to  his  fiancee  during  what  he  calls  his  "  wooing  time." 
Their  meetings  are  described  and  "so  humble  and  discreet  was  the  deportment 
of  the  maiden,  as  to  oblige  him  no  less  to  an  ardent  affection  for  her  than 
the  comeliness  of  her  person."  By  this  marriage  he  had  a  son,  "  a  goodly 

'  The  only  child  of  Paul  born  out  of  the  County  of  Suffolk. 


368  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

sweet  child,"  who  died  soon  after  birth  through,  as  he  energetically  expresses 
it,  "  the  cursed  ignorance  or  neglect  of  such  as  were  employed  "  about 
his  wife  during  her  confinement.  The  infant  was  baptised  in  Lavenham 
Church  by  Doctor  Copinger  and  named  Clopton  "  to  perpetuate  in  him,  if 
God  had  so  pleased,  his  mother's  name  and  family."  Sir  Symonds  had 
with  the  like  object  all  three  witnesses  of  that  surname,  Walter  Clopton 
his  wife's  uncle,  Thomas  Clopton  of  Lyston  Hall  in  Essex,  and  Mary  Clopton 
one  of  the  daughters  of  Edward  Waldegrave  and  widow  of  William  Clopton 
of  Castelins  Hall  in  Groton.  At  the  end  of  five  days  little  Clopton  "  ren- 
dered up  his  blessed  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Eternal  Creator,"  as  the  pious 
father  expresses  it,  he  himself  having  attended  the  child,  fasting  the  greater 
part  of  the  day. 

Two  other  sons,  twins,  survived  but  a  few  hours  their  premature 
birth,  which  was  occasioned  by  some  hurt  to  Lady  D'Ewes  by  travelling  in 
her  coach  in  Bury  Streets  "  during  the  festival,"  and  her  fourth  son,  also 
named  "  Clopton  "  died  before  it  was  two  years  old  of  the  rickets,  which 
were  produced  "  by  their  pitching  upon  a  proud,  fretting,  ill-conditioned 
woman  for  a  nurse,"  and  aggravated  "  by  the  unskilful  treatment  of  Dr. 
Despotine,  an  Italian  physician  at  Bury."  After  this  series  of  unfortunate 
circumstances,  the  young  couple  managed  to  rear  two  daughters,  one 
Cecilia,  who  married  Sir  Thomas  Darcy  Bart.,  and  after  her  father's  death 
inherited  the  Kentwell  Hall  property,  but  died  without  issue  in  1661.  The 
second  daughter  Isolda  died  unmarried. 

Lady  D'Ewes,  the  last  of  the  Cloptons  holding  Kentwell  died  of  small- 
pox in  1641  at  Stowlangtoft  Hall  at  the  early  age  of  29  years.  It  seems 
she  was  taken  ill  while  on  a  visit  to  Lady  Denton,  Paul  D'Ewes's  widow,  at 
Ixworth  Abbey.  "  but  finding  no  remorse  or  pity  nor  offer  for  her  to  stay, 
she  resolved  "  to  return  to  Stowlangtoft,  declaring  to  her  maid  "  that  she 
must  goe  whatever  hurt  comes  of  it,  seeing  nobody  offered  her  to  stay." 

The  removal  cost  her  her  life.  After  the  lapse  of  a  year,  during  which 
Sir  Symonds  had  grieved  for  what  he  calls  "  the  sickness  and  death  of  this 
glorious  saint  of  God,"  he  practically  demonstrated  his  appreciation  of  his 
first  wife  by  marrying  a  second,  and  united  himself  to  Elizabeth,  youngest 
daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir  Henry  Willoughby  Bart.,  of  Risley  in  Derbyshire. 
By  her  he  had  a  son,  who  on  the  death  of  Sir  Symonds  succeeded  to  the 
lordship  as  Sir  Willoughby  D'Ewes  2nd  Bart.'  He  died  the  13  June  1685 
aged  35  and  was  buried  at  Stowlangtoft  the  i6th  of  the  same  month,  the 
manor  passing  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  3rd  Bart.  He  died 
in  1722  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Jermyn  D'Ewes 
4th  Bart.,  who  died  unmarried  in  1731,  when  the  baronetcy  became  extinct. 
It  seems  that  the  3rd  Bart.,  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes,  contracted  debts  to  a 
considerable  amount,  and  having  only  a  life  estate  in  the  Stowlangtoft 
property  prevailed  upon  his  son,  afterwards  Sir  Jermyn  D'Ewes,  to  join 
with  him  in  certain  mortgages  of  the  estate.  Sir  Symonds  was  subsequently 
lodged  in  the  King's  Bench  prison,  where  he  continued  in  confinement  for 
several  years,  and  indeed  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  May  1722. 

How  the  Stowlangtoft  property  and  the  manor  went  to  the  Nortons 
appears  from  an  action  brought  by  Sir  Jermyn  D'Ewes  in  1728  against 
Thomas  Norton  to  set  aside  certain  deeds.  The  particulars  are  somewhat 
curious  and  interesting.  The  yearly  value  of  the  Stowlangtoft  estate  was 
at  the  time  of  Sir  Symonds  D'Ewes  the  3d  Bart.'s  death  £465,  besides  the 

For  his  marriage  see  Manor  of  Lavenhani  in  Babergh  Hundred. 


STOWLANGTOFT.  369 

manor  and  mansion  house,  and  the  incumbrances  then  amounted  to  £2,100. 
Thomas  Norton  having  property  in  the  neighbourhood,  seeing  the 
straightened  circumstances  Sir  Jermyn  was  in,  offered  to  lend  him  in 
1715  100  guineas  without  interest,  which  Sir  Jermyn  readily  accepted, 
giving  his  note  to  repay  on  demand.  About  a  year  later  the  question  of 
selling  the  reversion  was  mooted  by  one  of  the  parties — each  alleged  by 
the  other.  Sir  Jermyn  alleged  that  having  been  "  bred  in  the  army  "  he 
was  utterly  unacquainted  with  affairs  of  this  nature,  and  knew  nothing  of 
the  value  of  the  estate  and  having  no  rental  or  particulars  thereof,  nor 
having  anything  to  do  with  the  estate  during  his  father's  lifetime,  and  having 
great  confidence  in  Norton,  with  whom  he  had  had  a  long  and  intimate 
acquaintance,  he  left  it  to  him  to  settle  the  terms  of  the  purchase.  Articles 
of  agreement,  dated  the  17  May  1716,  were  accordingly  prepared,  wherein 
the  estate  was  stated  to  be  worth  £416  per  an.,  besides  40  acres  of  wood. 
In  consideration  of  £1,915  agreed  to  be  paid  by  Norton  to  Sir  Jermyn,  he 
agreed  to  sell  the  reversion  in  fee  free  from  all  incumbrances  by  himself 
or  his  father,  other  than  the  above  three  mortgages.  On  the  back  of  the 
article  was  endorsed  a  receipt  which  Sir  Jermyn  signed,  acknowledging 
to  have  had  and  borrowed  of  Norton  as  much  as  amounted  to  £970 
and  agreed  that  the  same  should  be  taken  as  part  of  the  purchase 
money,  which  £970  was  made  up  by  the  before-mentioned  loan  of 
100  guineas,  the  sum  of  £450  received  during  the  treaty,  and  by  £115  paid 
down,  and  a  note  for  £300  given  by  Norton  to  Sir  Jermyn.  At  the  same 
time  Norton  gave  Sir  Jermyn  a  note  which  recited  that  Sir  Jermyn  had 
sold  him  the  reversion  of  the  estate  in  the  contract  for  which  were  mentioned 
the  particular  rents  amounting  to  £416  and  woods  £9  per  an.,  besides  which 
estate  there  were  7  cottages  therein  particularly  described.  Norton  by 
the  note  agreed  that  if  the  cottages  were  not  included  in  the  rent  of  £416 
and  £9  per  ann.  then  he  would  pay  to  Sir  Jermyn  for  the  cottages  at 
the  rate  of  7  years'  purchase  for  the  reversion  thereof,  and  also  promised 
that  after  the  assignment  of  the  mortgages  to  him  so  much  of  the  arrears 
of  the  interest  as  he  could  procure  from  Sir  Jermyn' s  father  he  would  pay 
to  Sir  Jermyn.  The  agreement  was  carried  out  by  deeds  dated  the  2nd  and 
3rd  June  1716,  and  on  their  execution  instead  of  Sir  Jermyn  receiving £945 
the  residue  of  the  purchase  money  he  took  Norton's  bond  for  £i  ,000  payable 
in  3  months,  and  Sir  Jermyn  was  to  be  accountable  to  Norton  for  the  £55 
overplus  money.  Norton  paid  off  the  three  mortgages  for  £2,100  and  took 
assignments  in  trust  for  himself  ;  but  instead  of  paying  Sir  Jermyn  his 
£1,000  secured  by  the  bond,  put  him  off  from  time  to  time  with  small  sums 
of  £10,  £20,  £30,  and  £40  at  a  time,  and  these  only  obtained  after  great 
.trouble  and  solicitation  during  a  period  of  4  years.  It  seems  that  Norton 
by  means  of  the  transfers  of  the  mortgages  he  had  taken  harassed  old  Sir 
Symonds  then  in  prison  and  forced  him  to  part  with  his  life  estate  which 
Norton  purchased  for  £2,750.  Sir  Jermyn,  not  having  been  able  to  obtain 
more  than  £700  of  the  money  secured  to  him  by  the  bond  and  discovering 
on  inquiry  that  instead  of  £416  per  an.  as  mentioned  in  the  agreement 
the  estate  had  been  worth  for  several  years  (exclusive  of  the  mansion 
house,  garden  and  manor)  £465  per  an.,  and  that  the  wood  said  to  be  no 
more  than  40  acres  amounted  to  60  acres,  and  that  the  mansion  house  and 
garden  were  worth  £1,250,  and  that  the  reversion,  "  considering  the  beauty 
and  situation  of  the  estate,"  was  worth  much  more  than  Norton  had  paid, 
and  further  that  Norton  had  received  from  Sir  Jermyn's  father,  on  account 
of  interest  on  the  mortgages  £278.  155.  and  other  sums  amounting  to  £500 
which  he  never  paid,  or  accounted  for  to  Sir  Jermyn,  according  to  the 

VI 


370  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

note,  Sir  Jermyn  filed  a  Bill  in  Chancery  on  the  12  Nov.  1720  to  be  relieved 
against  the  articles  and  conveyances,  and  prayed  for  redemption  of  the 
estate.  On  the  hearing,  25  Jan.  1726-7  before  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Sir 
Jermyn's  Bill,  so  far  as  it  sought  to  set  aside  the  conveyances,  was  dismissed ; 
but  Norton  had  to  render  an  account  on  the  bond  and  arrears  of  interest 
received  from  Sir  Symonds.  From  this  decree  Sir  Jermyn  appealed  to  the 
House  of  Lords,  where  the  decree  was  affirmed,  but  coupled  with  an  order 
for  the  payment  of  a  further  sum  to  Sir  Jermyn  D'Ewes  for  the  misstatement 
in  the  articles  as  to  the  annual  value  of  the  estate. 

Thomas  Norton  held  the  manor  till  his  death  in  1756. 

The  estate  was  in  1760  sold  to  Sir  Thomas  Rawlinson  knt.,  Lord  Mayor 
of  London  in  1754.  The  advowson  of  Stowlangtoft  did  not  apparently 
belong  to  Thomas  Norton,  but  was  later  acquired  by  Sir  Thomas  Rawlinson. 
This  advowson  was  held  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smith  of  Pakenham  and  passed 
under  his  will  to  his  widow  Mary  Smith  of  Great  Horningsheath.  In  1768 
she  sold  the  advowson  for  £1,100  and  it  was  conveyed  to  Richard  Ray  of 
Haughley ;  the  purchase  money,  however  was  found,  as  to  half  by  Anne 
Ray  and  Catherine  Ray  both  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  spinsters,  and  as  to 
the  other  half  by  Sir  Thomas  Rawlinson  under  an  arrangement  that  the 
two  ladies  or  the  survivor  should  have  the  first  presentation  and  that  the 
advowson  and  perpetual  right  of  presentation  should  be  vested  in  Sir 
Thomas  Rawlinson.  This  arrangement  was  carried  out  by  a  declaration  of 
trust  on  the  part  of  Richard  Ray  dated  the  2gth  July  1768.  Catherine 
Ray  died  the  21  July  1770,  and  the  next  presentation  in  accordance 
with  the  above  arrangement  was  made  by  Bernard  Mills  as  the  surviving 
executor  of  Anne  Ray  and  pursuant  to  her  will  dated  the  19  January 
1771  by  a  nomination  in  favour  of  Anne  Ray's  nephew  the  Rev.  Walter 
Craske  on  the  2Oth  Oct.  1775. 

The  manor  of  Stowlangtoft  was  settled  by  Sir  Thomas  Rawlinson  on 
the  marriage  of  his  eldest  son  Sir  Walter  Rawlinson,  a  barrister  of  the  Inner 
Temple,  with  Mary  Ladbroke  a  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Ladbroke  knt.  an 
alderman  of  the  City  of  London,  being  conveyed  to  Richard  Grove  and 
Robert  Ladbroke  as  trustees  by  a  settlement  dated  the  30  and  31  January 
1769.  In  this  settlement  was  included  the  equitable  interest  of  Sir  Thomas 
Rawlinson  in  the  advowson  under  the  declaration  of  trust  of  Richard  Ray 
above  referred  to.  Sir  Thomas  Rawlinson  died  the  2nd  Dec.  1769  and  by 
an  indenture  dated  the  igth  Dec.  1776  made  between  Richard  Ray  of 
the  first  part,  Sir  Walter  Rawlinson  and  Dame  Mary  his  wife  of  the  2nd 
part,  and  Richard  Grove  and  Robert  Ladbroke  of  the  3rd  part,  the  advowson 
was  conveyed  by  Richard  Ray  to  the  trustees  of  the  settlement  to  the  same 
uses  and  limitations  under  which  they  held  the  manor.  Sir  Walter  Rawlin- 
son was  in  1773  elected  an  alderman  of  the  City  of  London,  but  resigned 
his  gown  in  1777.  He  was  also  representative  in  Parliament  for  Queen- 
borough,  and  afterwards  for  the  borough  of  Huntingdon.  He  died  the 
I3th  March,  1805,  in  his  7Oth  year,  without  surviving  issue,  and  was  buried 
in  the  parish  church  of  Stowlangtoft. 

Sir  George  Wombwell  Bart,  his  m-phew  succeeded  to  the  lordship, 
being  the  only  son  of  George  Wombwell  (who  was  created  a  baronet  in  1778) 
by  Susannah  his  wife  only  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Rawlinson  knt. 
Sir  George  Wombwell  in  1825  sold  the  manor  to  Joseph  Wilson  of  High- 
bury Hill,  Islington,  and  Little  Massingham,  Norfolk,  subsequently  to  which 
the  devolution  is  identical  with  Langham  Manor. 


STOWLANGTOFT.  371 

Court  Rolls  for  the  manor,  1444,  1566,  1571,  1578,  1615,  1618,  1620, 
1624,  and  1659  will  t>e  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls  in  the  Brit. 
Mus.,1  and  an  extract  from  a  court  roll  for  1566  amongst  the  Harleian 
Charters."  Receipts  for  money  for  castleward  payable  out  of  the  manor 
will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.,3  and  in  1452  and  1507  amongst  the 
Harleian  Charters.4  In  these  last  charters  will  be  found  acquittance  for 
homage  of  land  in  the  manor  in  1632 .5  Particulars  of  the  rentals  of  the  manor 
t.  Edw.  II.  to  the  time  of  Ed.  III.  and  in  1396-1397,  1416-1465,  will  be  found 
amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls,6  and  amongst  these  rolls  will  also  be  found 
particulars  of  the  holding  of  John  Champaign  in  the  manor  in  the  time  of 
Edw.  II.,7  and  Compotus  rolls  of  the  manor  I337-38,8  1369-70,  1391-92, 
1394-95,  1396-97,  1398-99,  1412-13, 1415-16, 1422-26  ;9  also  an  appointment 
of  a  bailiff  of  the  manor  in  1346. 10 

A  Feodary  of  the  manor  about  1410-11  will  be  found  amongst  the 
Harleian  Rolls";  also  bailiff's  abatements  in  1425-26,"  fines  imposed  in  the 
manor  I444,'3  and  assessments  on  the  manor  in  1602. 1+  Amongst  the 
Harleian  Rolls  is  an  orginal  declaration  dated  the  3  Sept.  1638  made  by 
Robert  Mallie  of  Stowlangtoft  respecting  the  digging  of  clay  for  making 
bricks  and  tiles  on  Stow-digging,  and  that  the  dissolved  Abbey  of  Ixworth 
never  made  any  claim  to  Stow-digging,  but  that  it  was  part  and  parcel  of 
Stowlangtoft  Manor.15 

COLVYLES  MANOR. 

This  manor  is  not  mentioned  by  Davy ;  but  we  find  there  was  a  manor 
of  the  name  in  Stowlangtoft,  for  rentals  of  it  will  be  found  as  follows 
amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  In  1376  Harl.  Roll  D.  8  ; 
in  1381-2  Harl.  Roll  M.  2 ;  late  i4th  cent.  Harl.  Roll  D.  7  ;  Early  isth 
cent.  Harl.  Roll  D.  9 ;  in  1421-2  ;  Harl.  Roll  D.  12,  13,  16  ;  in  the  time 
of  Hen.  VI.  Harl.  Roll  D.  n,  14;  in  1490-1  Harl.  Roll  D.  15. 

This  is  possibly  the  manor  of  Stowlangtoft  of  which  we  find  Henry  le 
Strange  died  seised.  His  will  is  dated  in  1483. 


•  Harl.   Rolls,  M.  16,  24,  26,  27 ;  0.  23.         »  Harl.  RoUs,  M.  i,  3-6,  8, 11-15. 

1  Harl.  58  F.  22.  °  Harl.  56  E.  10. 

3  Harl.  99.  '  A.  9. 

«  Harl.  44,  0.  23-28  ;  58  P.  53.  *  Harl.  Rolls,  M.  17. 

'  Harl.  49  E.  35.  3  Harl  Rolls,  M.  16. 

6  Harl.  Rolls,  L.  45,  M.  7,  9, 10,  18-23.  4  Harl.  Rolls,  M.  25,  29, 

'  Harl.  Rolls,  L.  44.  *  Harl.  Rolls,  O.  35. 

8  Harl.  Rolls,  L.  43. 


372  THE  MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 


THELNETHAM. 

HIS  manor  was  held  in  King  Edward  the  Confessor's  time  by 
Acolf  the  thane  with  2  carucatcs  of  land.  There  were  8 
bordars,  6  serfs,  3  ploughteams  in  demesne,  I  ploughteam 
belonging  to  the  men,  4  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  30  hogs, 
i  mill,  i  rouncy,  3  beasts,  50  hogs  and  2  sheep.  By  the 
^time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  a  change  had  taken  place 
in  the  surroundings.  Of  the  6  serfs,  2  only  remained  attached 
to  the  manor,  of  the  hogs  there  were  but  25.  The  sheep  however  had  risen 
from  2  to  35,  and  there  were  3  hives  of  bees.  Besides  this  15  freemen  under 
commendation  held  40  acres  and  2  ploughteams. 

The  manor  was  in  the  Confessor's  day  valued  at  3  pounds,  but  in  Nor- 
man times  at  50  shillings,  and  the  freemen  at  60  shillings.  There  was  also 
a  church  with  20  acres.  The  Abbot  had  the  sac  and  soc.  The  size  of  the 
holding  was  10  quarentenes  in  length  and  3  in  breadth,  and  paid  in  a  gelt 
<$d.  The  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  was  Frodo,  the  Abbot's  brother.' 

The  Abbot  himself  of  course  held  land  here.  He  was  tenant  in  chief 
in  the  Conqueror's  day  of  a  considerable  estate  though  not  of  a  manor  in 
Thelnetham.  Fulcher  the  Norman  held  of  the  Abbot  7  freemen  with  i 
carucate  of  land,  6  bordars,  I  serf,  2  ploughteams  and  a  half,  3  acres  of 
meadow,  and  wood  for  30  hogs.  These  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land, 
but  in  any  case  the  soc,  sac  and  commendation  would  remain  with  the 
Abbot.  The  value  of  this  holding  was  in  Saxon  days  20  shillings,  but  in 
Norman  times  30 ." 

The  only  other  holding  in  Thelnetham  was  that  of  Robert  Malet,  who 
had  2  men  with  all  customs,  but  the  Abbot  had  the  soc.  These  men  had 
20  acres  and  half  a  ploughteam,  also  an  acre  of  meadow  of  the  value  of  5 
shillings  and  4  pence.  They  were  held  by  Robert  Malet  in  demesne.3 . 

THELNETHAM  MANOR. 

This  was  the  holding  of  Acolf  the  thane  in  the  Confessor's  time,  and 
of  Frodo  brother  of  the  Abbot  in  William  the  Conqueror's  day.  Prior  to 
the  time  of  Hen.  III.  it  had  vested  in  Peter  de  Brettenham.  In  the  reign 
of  the  last-mentioned  monarch  William  de  Thelnetham  held  the  lordship. 
To  William  de  Thelnetham  succeeded  Matthew  de  Thelnetham. 

In  the  Harleian  MSS.  in  one  place  (97)  the  manor  is  stated  to  be  held  of 
Bury  St.  Edmunds,  and  in  another  (380)  to  be  held  of  the  Manor  of  Kent- 
well — probably  the  former  entry  refers  to  Cressy  Manor  in  Thelnetham 
and  the  latter  to  the  main  manor. 

In  the  Testa  de  Nevill,  however,  we  find  that  the  above-named  Matthew 
de  Thelnetham  held  one  fee  here  of  Roger  de  Cressy  and  he  of  William  de 
Kentwell,  and  he  of  the  King.4  Matthew  had  a  grant  of  free  warren  here  in 
1255.'  His  daughter  Agnes  is  supposed  to  have  married  Sir  Adam  de 
Gissing,  of  which  Matthew  she  is  said  to  have  held  her  tenement  at  Gissing 
in  Norfolk  at  a  quarter  of  a  fee.  This  must  have  been  early  in  the  reign  of 
Edw.  I.  for  Matthew  seems  to  have  died  about  1275  whenPeter  de  Thelnetham 
succeeded  him  in  this  lordship.  We  hear  of  this  Peter  in  1283  selling  to 

1  Dom.  ii.  3546.  «  T.  de  N.  292. 

•  Dom.  ii.  3666.  5  Chart.  Rolfs,  39  Hen.  III.  5. 

5  Dom.  ii.  3276. 


THELNETHAM. 


373 


Sir  Robert  de  Tateshale  three  messuages,  185  acres  of  land,  and  2os.  rent 
in  Besthorp  in  Norfolk.  Two  years  later,  in  1285,  we  find  on  the  Patent 
Rolls  a  commission  issued  touching  an  appeal  which  Edmund  de  Sancto 
Clare  had  brought  against  this  Peter  de  Thelnetham  and  others  for  the 
burning  of  his  house  at  Thelnetham  and  for  robbery.1 

To  Peter  de  Thelnetham  seems  to  have  succeeded  Matthew  de  Thel- 
netham, for  in  1304  we  find  him  with  Cecilia  his  wife  levying  a  fine  of  a 
part  of  this  manor  and  the  advowson  against  Nicholas  son  of  Bartholomew 
de  Thelnetham2 ;  and  again  the  following  year  with  Cecilia  his  wife  levying 
a  fine  of  a  third  part  of  the  manor  against  John  son  of  Matthew  de  Thel- 
netham.3 

By  1316  John  de  Thelnetham  appears  to  have  succeeded  to  the  lordship 
and  held  the  same  until  his  death  in  1324,  when  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir 
Peter  de  Thelnetham,  who  dying  in  1333  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John 
de  Thelnetham  whose  will  is  dated  in  1399 .4 

The  manor  then  passed  to  Juliana  sole  daughter  of  Peter  de  Thel- 
netham and  sister  and  at  length  heir  of  John  de  Thelnetham  married  to 
Hugh  de  Bokenham,  but  then  his  widow,  Hugh  having  died  in  1373. 

On  the  death  of  Juliana  de  Bokenham  the  manor  passed  to  her  son 
and  heir  Hugh  de  Bokenham  who  married  ist  Joan  daughter  of  Robert 
Ashfield  who  died  about  1393,  and2ndly  Joan  daughter  of  Sir  John  Bruse. 
Hugh  died  before  1425. 

Amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  is  an  Inquisition  con- 
cerning the  lands  of  Hugh  de  Bokenham  in  Thelnetham  in  1428.  The 
Inquisition  was  held  at  Melford  6  October  7  Hen.  VI.  and  the  finding  was 
to  the  effect  that  Hugh  de  Bokenham  had  held  in  Thelnetham  the  lands 
formerly  held  by  John  de  Thelnetham  and  afterwards  by  Peter  de  Thelne- 
tham for  one  knight's  fee  and  Castleward  rent  30^. 

Sir  Hugh  de  Bokenham  is  supposed  to  have  been  buried  in  the  parish 
church  of  Great  Livermere  under  an  altar  tomb  formerly  to  be  seen  there 
on  the  north  end  of  the  communion  table,  for  which  two  brass  figures  are 
engraved  in  the  "Antiquarian  Repository  "  (vol.  iv.).3  On  Sir  Hugh's  death 
the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Hugh  de  Bokenham,  sometimes  called 
Hugh  Bokenham  the  elder,  and  on  his  death  to  his  son  and  heir  Hugh 
Bokenham  who  married  Emma  daughter  of  Robert  Scarke  and  died  in 
1467,  being  buried  in  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Great  Livermere,  when  the  manor 
devolved  under  his  will  upon  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Bokenham,  who 
married  Anne  daughter  of  John  Hopton  of  Yoxford  and  by  his  will  dated 
and  proved  in  I4846  gave  the  manor  to  his  trustees  for  certain  purposes, 
and  then  to  his  son  and  heir  George  Bokenham.7  George  Bokenham  married 
first  Christian  (daughter  of  William  De  Grey  of  Merton  in  Norf .)  who  died  in 
1492  and  lies  buried  in  the  middle  aisle  of  Merton  Church.  He  married  2ndly 
Margaret  daughter  and  heir  of  Francis  Heath  of  Worlington  by  Mildenhall, 
and  by  her  had  issue  John  Bokenham  his  2nd  son,  from  whom  the  Thornham 
family  descend,  and  an  eldest  son  Thomas  Bokenham  to  whom  the  manor 
descended  on  the  death  of  his  father  the  21  Sept.  1523." 


1  Pat.  Rolls,  13  Edw.  I.  2gd. 
'  Feet  of  Fines,  32  Edw.  I.  10. 
3  Feet  of  Fines,  33  Edw.  I.  36. 
•  Harl.  53  H.  44,  58  H.  29. 
»  Harl.  58  H.  24. 


6  He  was  buried  in  All  Saints'  Church, 

Snetterton,  in  Norf. 
'  I.P.M.,  2  Rich.  III.  7. 
8  I.P.M.,  16  Hen.  VIII.  44. 


374  THE   MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Thomas  Bokenham  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Jenour  of 
Great  Dunmow  in  Essex  and  she  after  Bokenham's  death  married  Ruh;inl 
Codington  of  Ixworth. 

Thomas  Bokenham  died  the  gth  Dec.  1555,'  leaving  his  son  and  In  ir 
John  Bokenham,  then  only  one  year  old,  and  was  buried  in  the  Temple 
Church  with  this  inscription  :  "  Hie  iacet  Thomas  Bokynham  Armiger, 
films  et  haeres  Georgii  Bokynham  nuper  de  Snetherton  in  Com  :  Norfolk 
Armigeri,  et  Margarcttrc  uxoris  eius,  Filiae  et  Heredis,  Francisci  Heath 
Arm  :  qui  quidem  Thomas,  pbiit  ix°  die  Decembris  Anno  Dni  1535,  et 
A°.  Regni  Regis  Henrici  Octavi,  vicessimo  Septimo  cuius  animae  propicietur 
Deus.  Amen." 

John  Bokenham  of  Snetterton,  the  last  male  heir  of  his  family  was  born 
August  29,  1534  and  married  Lucy  daughter  of  Clement  Heigham  of  Barrow 
knt.  who  after  his  death  remarried  Francis  Stonard  and  died  the  ist  Aug. 
1551,'  leaving  the  manor  and  also  that  of  Great  Livermere  to  Dorothy 
Bokenham  his  only  sister  and  heir  then  17  years  of  age.  She  married 
Thomas  Carryll  of  Sussex  son  of  Sir  John  Carryll  knt.  Attorney  of  the  Duchy 
of  Lancaster  and  died  the  7th  June  1560.  Thomas  Carryll  her  husband  died 
November  21, 1563. 

John  Carill  the  Palatine  attorney  supplied  an  inscription  for  the  Church 
of  Warneham,  certainly  giving  different  dates,  for  the  departure  from  this 
life  of  his  son  John  and  his  daughter-in-law.  In  his  will  dated  9  March 
1565  he  says :  "A  faire  stone  to  be  laid  upon  my  eldest  son  Thomas  Carill 
and  Dorothie  his  wife,  now  deceased,  who  doth  lie  buried  in  the  chappell 
wherein  I  and  they  used  to  sit  in  the  said  church  of  Warneham,  and  a 
faire  scripture  as  followeth,  '  Here  lieth  Thomas  Carill  son  and  heir  apparent 
whiles  he  lived,  of  John  Carill  Esq.,  attorney  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster ; 
and  here  lieth  also  Dorothie  wife  of  the  said  Thomas  and  sister  and  heir 
of  John  Buckenham  Esq.,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Buckenham,  son  and  heir  of 
George  Buckenham  and  of  Margaret  his  wife,  which  Margaret  was  daughter 
and  heir  of  -  -  Heathe  Esq.,  which  Thomas  Carill  died  the  23d  [2ist  ?]  day 
of  November  1563,  6th  Elizabeth,  and  which  Dorothie  died  -  -  day  of 
February,  1558,  ist  Elizabeth,  on  whose  soulis  Jhu  have  mercie.' ' 

Thomas  Carrill  had  issue  a  son  and  heir  John  Carrill  and  a  daughter 
Elizabeth  married  to  John  Cotton  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Cotton  of  Lan- 
wade  in  co.  Cambridge. 

The  heir  John  Carryll  afterwards  Sir  John  of  Warnham  in  Sussex, 
was  but  14  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  a  dispute  arose 
as  to  the  guardianship  in  respect  of  the  Manor  of  Snetherton  in  Norfolk. 
It  seems  that  this  was  held  of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich  in  socage. 

The  reversion  in  the  manor  of  Great  Livermere  was  held  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  as  of  the  late  dissolved  Abbey  of  St.  Edmunds  by  knight's  service 
and  not  in  chief,  so  the  wardship  as  well  of  the  body  of  the  infant  as  of  the 
manor  belonged  to  the  Queen.  As  to  the  Snetherton  Manor  however  Richard 
Codington  claimed  to  be  guardian  in  socage  to  the  said  John  Carryll  in  right 
of  Elizabeth  his  deceased  wife3  John  Carryll's  grandmother.  John  Carryll, 
the  infant  by  his  grandfather  on  the  father's  side  John  Carryll  filed  a  Bill 
against  Richard  Codington  complaining  that  he  had  wrongfully  entered 
into  the  said  manor  and  taken  the  rents  and  profits  and  detained  the  evi- 
dences thereof.  The  point  was,  whether  John  Carryll  grandfather  of  the 

1  I.P.M.,  27  Hen.  VIII.  26.  »  Did  she  not  survive  until  1571  ? 

•  I.P.M.,  6  Edw.  VI.  86. 


THELNETHAM.  375 

infant  on  the  side  of  his  father,  or  Elizabeth  being  grandmother  to  the  infant 
on  the  part  of  his  mother,  ought  to  be  guardian  in  socage,  and  the  decision 
was  in  favour  of  John  Carry  11  the  grandfather. 

Sir  John  Carrill  of  Warnham  in  Sussex  knt.  in  1577  nad  livery  of  this 
manor  and  of  that  of  Great  Livermere,  and  in  1590  disposed  of  this 
manor  to  Edmund  Buckenham1  cousin  and  heir  of  John  Bokenham, 2 
being  the  son  of  John  Bokenham  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  sole  dau. 
and  heir  of  Edmund  West,  which  John  Bokenham  was  the  second  son 
of  George  Bokenham  and  Margaret  Heath.  Amongst  the  Chancery 
Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  will  be  found  a  suit  by  Thomas 
Smyth  against  this  Edmund  Bokenham  touching  copyhold  held  of  this 
manor.3  Edmund  Bokenham  was  High  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  in  1605 
and  died  in  1618,  when  his  son  and  heir  Sir  Henry  Bokenham  knt. 
by  Barbara  his  wife  daughter  and  coheir  of  John  Wiseman  of  Great 
Thornham  succeeded  to  the  lordship.  He  served  the  office  of 
High  Sheriff  in  1630,  and  married  Dorothy  eldest  daughter  and  coheir  of 
Guilford  Walsingham,  and  to  her  and  her  husband  is  erected  a  monument 
in  Thelnetham  Church.  It  stands  on  the  south  aisle  against  the  wall. 
The  effigies  (half-way)  of  a  man  in  armour,  and  a  woman  ;  his  right  hand 
and  her  left  are  each  laid  on  a  book,  and  his  left  and  her  right  (one  on  the 
other)  upon  a  skull.  Under  these  are  the  busts  of  a  young  man  and 
young  woman,  and  the  following  inscription  :— 

Hie  Dormiunt  Henricus  Bokenham  de  Thelnetham  in  Comitat' 

Suff'  mil'  et  Dorothea  uxor  ejus  Filia  natu  Maxima  et 

cohaeres  Guilfordi  Walsingham  Armigr  Filij  Natu  Maximi 

Thomas  Walsingham  de  Scadbury  in  comitat'  Kent  Mil : 

Haec  obijt  I  octob  :   1654.     Ille  mens'  octob  :   1648  Duos 

Reliquerunt  Liberos  Filium  and  Filiam  Suorum  Effigies  cum 

Parentum  Statuis  hie  Collocantur  :  Haec  obijt  20  Octobr' 

1630.     Ille  autem  adhuc  vivus.     Testamento  matris,  erga  se 

Pietatis  et  amoris  ergo  merens  hoc  monumentum  Extruxit. 

Hoc  tumulo  positi  nobis  dant  munera  fati 

Sitvte  ignoras  dis  cito  quaeso  mori. 

The  Arms  are  Bokenham  :  Argent,  a  lion  rampant  gules,  over  all  on 
a  bend  azure  three  besants ;  impaling  Walsingham,  Paly  of  six  or  and 
sable  over  all  a  bend  gules  ;  Crest  1st,  Bokenham,  a  lion  rampant ;  2nd 
Walsingham  on  a  mural  crown  a  griffin's  head  erased,  ducally  gorged. 

The  manor  passed  to  Sir  Henry's  son  and  heir  Wiseman  Bokenham 
High  Sheriff  in  1649.  He  married  Grace,  daughter  of  Paul  D'Ewes4  and 
died  the  26  Oct.  1670  in  the  68  year  of  his  age.5  In  his  will,  which  is  at 
Somerset  House  and  was  proved  the  8  Dec.  1670,  he  mentions  his  sons 
Walsingham,  Paul,  Hugh,  Cleare,  George,  Richard  and  Henry  and  his 
daughters,  Sicilia,  and  Grace  the  wife  of  Edmund  Tyrrell.6  The  manor  next 
passed  to  his  son  Paul  Bokenham.  Paul  Bokenham  by  a  deed  dated  the 
10  Nov.  1671  conveyed  all  his  lands  in  Thelnetham  except  the  lordship  of 
the  manor  to  Richard  and  George  Bokenham.  Paul  Bokenham  died  the 
20  Oct.  1 68 1.  He  made  a  will  which  is  rather  peculiar,  as  follows  :— 

"In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  5  Feb.  30  Car.  II.  1677.  I  Paul  Bokenham 
of  Thornham  Magna  in  the  C.  of  Suff.  Esqr.  make  this  my  will  &c.  First, 

'  Fine,  Mich.  32-33  Eliz.  *  He  is  buried  in  the  Church  of  Thornham 
'  See  Fine  27  Nov.  13  Eliz.  13  (1570).  Magna. 

3  C.P.  ser.  ii.  B.  clxx.  62.  6  They  were  married  at  Palgrave  in  1662. 

4  Who  died  the  n  Sept.  1669,  and  is  buried 

in  the  Church  of  Thornham  Magna. 


376  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

I  comitt  my  soul  to  God  and  my  body  to  the  earth  to  be  decently  buried 
with  the  book  of  Como  Prayer  at  Little  Thornham  if  I  shall  happen  to  dye 
within  five  miles  of  Thornham  hall  my  new  mansion  house.  And  my  desire 
is  that  a  Gravestone  of  a  reasonable  price  may  be  provided  Ingraven  in  latin 
words  to  this  effect,  '  Here  lyeth  the  body  of  Captain  Paul  Bokenham 
Standard  Bearer  unto  the  Great  Duke  his  Royall  Higness  the  Duke  of 
Yorke  in  Anno  Domini  1662.'  '  To  Francis  his  wife1  he  gives  a  jointure  of 
£200  per  an.  To  Richard  his  "  loving  brother  (st'c)  to  Guilford  my  son  all 
my  mansions  messuages  lands  &c.  in  fee  upon  condition  to  pay  to  Jemima 
my  daughter1  &c.  &c.  If  Guilford  dyes  leaving  issue  to  his  issue  in  fee. 
If  Guildford  dies  sans  issue  to  his  daughter  in  fee,  remainder  to  Richard  "  his 
brother  of  London  merchant  in  fee  remainder  to  his  [testator's]  brother-in- 
law  Edwd.  Tyrrell  of  Gipping  in  fee  remainder  to  Anthony  Bokenham 
rector  of  Helmingham  in  fee  remainder  to  his  Royal  Highness  James  D. 
of  York  and  his  heirs  for  ever.  He  adds :  "  An  unnatural  father  giving  away 
from  me  a  great  part  of  my  estate  caused  me  suits  in  law  which  cost  me 
near  £600  and  I  am  thereby  indebted.  Yet  I  will  my  just  debts  be  paid." 

It  does  not  appear  that  this  document  ever  was  executed  or  proved 
as  a  will ;  but  it  at  least  displays  the  wishes  of  the  intended  testator  at  the 
time. 

His  wife  Frances  predeceased  unfortunate  Paul  Bokenham,  dying 
July  5th  1681,  and  the  son  Guilford  Bokenham  survived  but  a  few 
months,  dying  nth  March  in  the  same  year.  Before  his  death 
Paul  Bokenham  having  granted  by  deed  14  Sept.  1667  the  next  presenta- 
tion to  Anthony  Bokenham  contracted  to  sell  the  Manor  of  Thelnetham 
to  his  brother  Richard  with  the  advowson  for  £660,  but  before  execution 
of  the  conveyance,  though  prepared,  died  intestate  leaving  Guildford  his  only 
son  a  minor  of  about  14  and  a  daughter  Jemima  still  younger.  The  con- 
veyance could  not  be  therefore  carried  out  and  with  the  consent  of  the  several 
relatives  these  minors  were  entrusted  to  the  guardianship  of  Anthony 
Bokenham  who  lived  near  to  them.  Richard  Bokenham  had  entered 
into  possession  of  the  manor  and  received  the  assurance  from  Anthony  that 
on  his  coming  of  age  the  infant  heir  should  carry  out  the  sale  made  by 
his  father.  The  infant  Guildford  however  died  under  age  without  issue 
when  the  estate  descended  to  his  sister  Jemima.  She  married  Charles 
Killigrew  and  lengthy  Chancery  proceedings  ensued  as  to  the  rights  of  the 
parties.  The  suit  seems  to  have  been  determined  in  favour  of  Richard 
Bokenham.  In  the  suit  an  account  was  rendered  of  the  profits  of  the 
Manor  of  Thelnetham  for  10  years,  1682-1692,  which  is  interesting  as  showing 
the  tenants  of  the  manor  and  the  profits  :— 

Cur.  27  Nov.  1682.    Reed,  for   a   Fine   on  the    Admission  of 
Margarett  Booty  to  lands  holden  of  sd 


manner 
For  a  Fine  on  the  Admission  of  Thomas  anc 

Edmund  Outlaw 

For  a  Fine  on  John  Burgis  Admission 
For  a  Fine  on  John  Goes  Admission  . . 
For  a  Fine  on  Thomas  Parsetts  Admission 
For  a  Fine  upon  John  Pickes  Admission 
For  a  Fine  upon  Bishop  Woods  Admission 


oo-ii-oo 


oo-ii -oo 
02-10-00 
00-06-06 
01-02-06 
04  oo-oo 
00-19-06 


'  She  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Bacon  of  handle    of    perfect  gold,  with  the 

Redgrave.     Sir   Ed.   Bacon,   Bart.  girdle  and  hangers  to  it. 

by  his  will  dated  1648  gives  "  unto  •  She  married  Charles   Killigrew,  son  of 

Captain  Bokenham,  my  good  friend,"  Charlotte  Killigrew. 
£10  and  liis   damask  sword  with 


THELNETHAM.  377 

Cur.  3  Mar.  1682.     For  a  Fine  upon  Robt.  Negus  Admission       . .  00-15-00 

Cur.  26  May  1684.    For  a  Fine  upon  Ann  Musketts  Admission    ..  03-00-00 

For  a  Fine  upon  Joseph  Hamonds  Admission  oo  -12-00 

For  a  Fine  upon  Joseph  Hamonds  Admission  00-04-00 

For  a  Fine  upon  Tostecks  Bakers  Admission  00-06-08 

For  a  Fine  on  Margarett  Salters  Admission  . .  00-07-06 

Cur.  30  Sept.i684    For  a  Fine  on  Amy  Moores  Admission     ..  01-17-06 

For  a  Fine  on  Robert  Beartes  Admission     . .  00-05-00 

For  a  Fine  on  Sarah  Holmes' Admission       ..  03-05-00 

Cur.  17  Mar.  1684.  For  a  Fine  on  Katherine  Bridgehams 

Admission..          ..          ..          ..          ..  15-00-00 

For  a  Fine  on  He:;ter  Bridghams  Admission  00-09-00 

For  a  Fine  on  Mr.  Edward  Crispes  Admission  02  -oo  -oo 

Cur.  i  Mar.  1685.     For  a  Fine  on  John  Cramfeilds  Admission      ..  02-05-00 

For  a  Fine  on  Joseph  Rusts  Admission         . .  01-04-00 

Cur.  22  Nov.  1687.  For  a  Fine  on  Josias  Kerryes  Admission        ..  01-10-00 

For  a  Fine  on  Joseph  Rusts  Admission         . .  01  -oo  -oo 

Cur.  7  May  1688.   For   a   Fine   on  John  Lock    and  wives 

Admission...          ..          ..          ..          ..  09-00-00 

Cur.  i  Sept.  1688.    For  a  Fine  on  Samuell  Rix  Admission  . .  oo  •  10  •  oo 

Cur.  16  Nov.  1688.  For  a  Fine  upon  Nicholas  and  Margarett 

£Ellis  ..         15-00-00 

Cur.  22  Dec.  1690.    For  a  Fine  upon  Sarah  Briants  Admission    ..  00-18-04 

For  a  Fine  upon  Robt.  Briants  Admission    . .  oo  18  -04 
For  a  Fine  upon  Joseph    and    Eliz.    Had- 

leys  Admission      . .  oo  •  10  •  oo 

Cur.  19  Jan.  1690.  For  a  Fine  on  Joseph  Tindleys 

Admission..         ..         ..         ..         ..  15-07-06 

For  a  Fine  on  George  Bluies  Admission         . .  01-12-06 
For  a  Fine  on  Mr.  Witherell  and  wives 

Admission  . .         . .         . .         . .  25  10  •  oo 

Cur.  28  Dec.  1691.  For  a  Fine  on  Willm.  Hawys  Admission       ..  oo-n-oo 

Cur.  9  Jan.  1692.    For  a  Fine  on  James  Barkers  Admission       . .  00-15-00 

The  account  actually  rendered  in  the  suit  (and  which  the  writer  has) 
was  up  to  October  1699.  The  quit  rents  of  the  manor  amounted  at  this 
time  to  £10.  8s.  per  annum,  of  which  about  three  shillings  per  annum  was 
not  recoverable  nor  then  paid.  The  manor  was  subject  to  the  payment  of 
a  feodary  rent  of  twelve  shillings  per  annum. 

Richard  Bokenham  died  2  Dec.  1721  having  by  his  will  dated  gth  of 
Sept.  1715  devised  the  manor  to  his  kinsman  Thomas  Tyrrell  of  Gipping 
in  fee.  In  1764  the  manor  was  vested  in  Dr.  Thurston  and  from  him 
passed  to  John  Thurston.  In  1847  it  was  vested  in  Sir  Edward  Kerrison, 
only  son  of  Matthias  Kerrison  of  Hoxne  Hall  Suffolk  and  Breccles,  Norfolk. 

Sir  Edward  was  created  a  Bart,  the  8  Aug.  1821.  He  married  Mary 
eldest  daughter  of  Alexander  Ellice  of  Pittencrief  co.  Fife,  and  on  his  death 
the  9  March  1853  the  manor  passed  to  his  only  son  Sir  Edward  Clarence 
Kerrison  of  Hoxne  and  Brome  sometime  M.P.  for  East  Suffolk  2nd  Bart, 
who  married  in  1844  Lady  Caroline  Margaret  Fox-Strangways  daughter  of 
Henry  3rd  Earl  of  Ilchester,  but  dying  the  nth  July  1886  without  issue  the 
manor  passed  to  his  sister  Agnes  Burrell  youngest  dau.  of  Gen.  Sir  Edward 
Kerrison  married  the  13  May  1854  to  Wm.  Bateman  Bateman  Hanbury,  2nd 
Lord  Bateman  of  Shobdon  Court  co.  Hereford.  He  died  in  1901  and  the 
manor  is  still  held  by  his  widow  Lady  Bateman  of  Brome  Hall,  near  Eyea 

Releases  and  other  documents  relating  to  the  manor  will  be  found  amongst 
the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  in  1401,'  in  1411,'  in  I5oo,3  in 
I5O5/  And  in  the  same  collection  will  be  found  declarations  concerning 

•  Harl.  51  E.  6.  '  Harl.  52  B.  9. 

3  Harl.  43  I.  44.  *  Harl.  46  E.  12. 

wi 


378  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

claims  to  the  manor  in  1410,'  [in  1411.']    And  also  a  compotusof  William 
Unfrey  bailiff  of  the  manor  4  Hen.  IV.J 

Particulars  of  money  due  from  this  manor  to  Kentwell  Manor  in  1416 
will  also  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters,4  as  also  a  rental  of  lands 
called  Ladyes  yerd,  &c.  in  the  manor  in  the  time  of  Edw.  IV.5  and  a  list  of 
rentals  and  other  documents  shewing  the  title  of  Hugh  Bokenham  to 
the  manor  about  the  time  of  Edw.  IV.  or  Hen.  VII.6 

Arms  of  Thelnetham  :  Or,  2  bars  sable  ;  of  Bokenham,  Argent,  a 
lion  rampant  gules,  over  all  on  a  bend  azure  three  bezants. 

CRESSY  MANOR. 

In  1251  this  manor  belonged  to  Hugh  de  Cressy  who  this  year  had  a 
grant  of  free  warren  here.  He  married  Margaret  dau.  and  heir  of  Wm.  de 
Cheny  and  on  his  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Roger  de 
Cressy.  Roger  de  Cressy  married  Isabel  one  of  the  two  daus.  and  coheirs  of 
Hubert  de  Rie,  and  had  in  right  of  his  wife  17  fees  and  a  half,  being  the 
moiety  of  the  barony  of  Rye.  By  Isabel  he  had  two  sons  Hugh  de  Cressy 
the  eldest  and  Stephen,  and  upon  his  (Roger's)  death  in  1246  the  manor  passed 
to  the  eldest  son  Hugh  de  Cressy  who  in  1239  married  Margaret  dau.  of 
Hugh  de  Vere  E.  of  Oxford,  but  died  without  issue  in  1262,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother  and  heir  Stephen  de  Cressy.  He  married  Sibyl  dau.  and  heir 
of  John  de  Braytoft  and  died  in  1277  leaving  issue  William  his  son  and 
heir  who  was  summoned  to  Parliament  the  25  Edw.  I.  but  never  afterwards. 

In  1334  there  was  a  grant  of  the  custody7  of  this  manor,  and  the  same 
year  Eva,  daughter  of  Sir  John  de  Clavering  granted  it  to  Margaret,  wife  of 
Peter  de  Thelnetham.  Margaret  was  succeeded  in  the  lordship  by  her  son 
and  heir  John  de  Thelnetham,  and  the  manor  subsequently  devolved 
in  the  same  course  as  the  main  manor. 

Particulars  of  rents  of  assize  of  the  manor,  late  I4th  cent,  will  be 
found  amongst  the  Harleian  Rolls.8  Proofs  that  the  manors  of  Thelnetham 
and  Cressy  are  distinct  manors  and  severally  holden,  viz.,  the  one  of  the 
Abbot  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  and  the  other  of  the  Manor  of  Kentwell 
will  be  found  amongst  the  Harleian  MSS.  in  the  Brit.  Mus.9 

EYE  THELNETHAM  MANOR. 

This  was  formed  of  the  land  held  by  Robert  Malet  at  the  time  of  the 
Domesday  Survey,  and  it  probably  constituted  part  of  the  endowment  of 
the  Priory  of  Eye  when  he  founded  that  establishment.  The  following  is 
taken  from  a  MS.  in  the  writer's  possession  :  "  The  manor  of  Eye  Thel- 
netham is  parcel  of  the  Honor  of  Eye  and  comprehended  in  the  value 
thereof.  In  the  gross  sum  of  the  perquisites  of  Courts  the  reliefs  arising 
from  Castleward  tenants  are  valued  at  15/1.  per  annum.  This  particular 
is  grounded  upon  a  survey  taken  by  Thomas  Jackson  gent,  and  others  in 
the  month  of  September  1650  and  is  made  forth,  examined  and  signed 
by  order  of  the  contractors  25  September  1650.  John  Weekly,  Deputy 
Register." 

Harl.  51  G.  54.  '  Harl.  58  F.  52. 

Harl.  58  F.  33,  37,  38.  '  Harl.  48  B.  34- 

Harl.  MSS.  362.  '  Harl.  Rolls,  O.  7. 

Harl.  58  H.  17.  '  Harl.  97-2. 
Harl.  55  H.  24. 


THELNETHAM.  379 

The  manor  seems  to  have  been  vested  in  Charles  Marquis  Cornwallis 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1805,  and  then  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Charles 
2nd  Marquis  who  died  without  issue  in  1823.'  It  was  purchased  by 
Matthias  Kerrison  of  Bungay  in  1825.  Matthias  Kerrison  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Edward  Barnes,  and  died  in  1827,  when  the  manor  passed  to 
his  only  son  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  and  then  followed  the  course  of  descent 
of  the  main  manor  of  Thelnetham. 

THE  RECTORY  OF  THELNETHAM  MANOR. 

There  is  a  manor  belonging  to  the  rectory  and  a  court  baron,  and 
Lete  Courts  were  continuously  held  from  the  time  of  Ed.  I.  to  the  middle 
of  the  i8th  century.  Records  are  preserved  of  courts  held  7  Ed.  III.  by 
William  Gonevile.  In  1356  fifteen  persons  were  named  and  fined  for  non- 
attendance  at  the  court.  Courts  were  also  held  as  follows  :  8  Edw.  IV. 
by  Thos.  Breton;  9 Edw.  IV.  ist  Court  of  John  Raumessey;  18  Edw.  IV. 
ist  Court  of  William  Fyncham ;  30  Ed.  IV.  by  Henry  de  Burgh ;  23  Hen. 
VII.  by  Henry  Aubry;  7  Hen.  VIII.  by  William  Rychers;  22  Oct.  1628  by 
Robt.  Dado;  30  Jan.  1638,  ist  Court  of  Anthony  Samms;  28  May  1640 ist 
Court  of  Anthony  Bokenham;  7  Jan.  1666  ist  Court  of  Anthony  Bokenham ; 
3  Feb.  1700  ist  Court  of  Samuel  Rye ;  30  Dec.  1723  by  Maurice  Alexander ; 
and  3  November  1735  John  Bridge  held  his  first  court. 

A  General  Court  Baron  and  Customary  Court  with  the  articles  of  a 
leet  were  held  4  Nov.  1754.  Wm.  Baxter  was  rector  in  1575,  Robert 
Dade  in  1613,  John  Fenton  in  1650,  and  John  Ward  in  1659. 

The  custom  of  this  manor  is  to  the  youngest  son. 

The  tenements  and  houses  are  at  the  will  of  the  lord.  The  rental  in 
1697  came  to  £2.  4.  7^.,  and  two  hens,  and  in  1752  it  came  to  £2.  6.  6.  The 
whole  rent  paid  by  27  tenants  who  then  held  by  thirty  tenures  was  £2.5.3. 

In  the  23rd  year  of  Hen.  7  Henry  Aubrey  the  rector  of  the  church  was 
presented  for  surcharging  the  common, 

The  profits  of  the  manor  in  the  ist  of  Edward  IV.  were  as  follows  : — 

£  *•  d. 

Summary  of  Rentals.  Rents  per  an 469 

Summary  for  days  work  in  autumn . .  . .  i  12  o 

„      for   cocks   per   an 5  cocks. 

„      for  capons  per  an 2  capons 

The  advowson  in  1748  belonged  to  the  Tyrrels  of  Gipping,  for  on  the  25 
March  this  year  Edmund  Tyrrel  made  a  deed  of  gift  of  it  to  Robert  Brown 
of  Blow-Norton,  Norfolk,  and  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Rye  of  Hepworth  in 
trust  to  present  Charles  Brown,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  trustee  Robert 
Brown,  on  the  first  vacancy. 

The  rectory  is  now  vested  in  the  Rev.  John  Sikes  Sawbridge  M.A. 
Rector  and  Rural  Dean  of  Blackbourn. 

A  "  Thelnetham  Manor  "  is  mentioned  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Robert 
Downes  who  died  the  26  Feb.  1547  leaving  Francis  his  son  and  heir.2 


1  See  Ingham  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  *  I.P.M.,  2  Edw.  VI  .62. 


38o  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

THORPE  BY  IXWORTH  MANOR. 

HE  lordship  of  Thorpe  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conquest 
was  vested  in  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.  At  the  time  of  tin' 
Domesday  Survey  Robert  le  Blund  held  9  freemen  of  the 
Abbot  with  i  carucate  of  land.  There  were  2  bordars,  2 
ploughteams,  i  acre  of  meadow,  and  i  mill  valued  at  205. 
These  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land  but  sac  and  soc 
remained  with  the  Abbot.  The  size  of  this  holding  was 
a  league  in  length  and  half  in  breadth,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  gd.  Robert 
le  Blund  also  held  of  the  Abbot  i  freeman  with  60  acres  and  one  bordar, 
i  ploughteam  and  4  acres  of  meadow  valued  at  10  shillings.  The  man 
could  give  or  sell  his  land  but  soc  and  sac  remained  with  the 
Abbot.  This  land  the  Abbot  put  in  pledge  against  (?)  the  King's  Barons, 
viz.,  William  the  Bishop,  Engelric  and  Ralph  the  Staller  for  100  shillings.' 
The  Abbot  also  held  here  2  freemen  with  16  acres,  half  a  ploughteam  and 
half  an  acre  of  meadow  valued  at  izd.  These  men  could  give  or  sell  their 
land,  but  soc,  sac,  and  commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot.'  Peter 
de  Valoines  also  held  a  freeman  Sparhawk  with  30  acres.  He  was  Queen 
Edith's  man  and  given  by  her  to  Peter,  and  after  her  death  the  King 
granted  him  to  Peter,  according  to  the  testimony  of  his  men.3 

The  only  land  said  to  be  held  as  a  manor  in  the  Domesday  Survey  was 
that  held  in  chief  by  Saisselin.  In  the  Confessor's  time  it  has  been  held  by 
Acolf  the  thane  and  consisted  of  one  carucate  of  land.  There  were  2 
bordars,  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  and  half  a  ploughteam  belonging  to 
the  men,  6  acres  of  meadow,  one  mill,  2  beasts,  10  hogs  and  30  sheep.  By 
the  time  of  the  Great  Record  one  ploughteam  had  gone  but  there  were  4 
more  hogs.  Saisselin's  predecessor  also  had  commendation  over  4  freemen 
in  the  Confessor's  time,  and  they  had  13  acres  and  half  a  ploughteam. 
The  whole  was  valued  at  20  shillings.4  The  only  other  holding  in  Thorpe 
by  Ixworth  was  in  the  King's  hand,  namely,  a  freeman  with  30  acres  in 
King  Edward's  time.  He  had  half  a  ploughteam,  and  later  a  team  of  2 
oxen  of  the  value  of  2  shillings  and  6  pence.  For  a  time  Robert  le  Blund 
held  this  freeman  supposing  him  to  belong  to  the  Abbot's  fee,  he  having 
received  assurance  from  his  men  of  this  being  the  case.  The  Abbot 
however  thought  differently,  and  Robert  had  to  make  recognisance  that  he 
did  not  belong  to  the  Abbot's  fee,  and  the  man  was  remitted  to  the  King's  hand.5 
William  le  Blund  and  Geoffrey  de  Thorp  were  successively  lords  of 
this  manor,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century  it  became  vested 
in  William  de  Pakenham  who  had  free  warren  here  in  1259  an<^  1292,' 
and  died  in  1304,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  Thomas  de  Pakenham  who  had 
free  warren  here  in  13167 

Thomas  de  Pakenham  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  Theobald  de 
Pakenham,  and  he  by  his  son  and  heir  John  de  Pakenham,8  who  was  living 
in  1385.  He  married  Agnes  dau.  of  Sir  Thomas  Saxham,  and  on  his  death 
the  manor  passed  to  his  daughter  and  heir  Margaret  married  to  the  warrior 
Sir  William  de  Berdewell9  who  died  in  1434.'°  A  John  Berdwell  had  free 

1  Dom.  ii.  3676.  '  Chart.  Rolls,  n  Edw.  II.  5. 

•  Dom.  ii.  367.  '  See  Norton  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 

1  Dom.  ii.  421.  '  The  manor  was  included  in  the  settlc- 

4  Dom.  ii.  4366.  ment  made  in  1404  referred  to  in  the 

5  Dom.  ii.  447.  account  of  Wyken  Manor  in  Bard- 
4  Chart.  Rolls.  43  Hen.  III.,  4  ;  20  Edw.  I.  well  in  this  Hundred. 

22.  '    I.P.M.,  13  Hen.  VI.  31. 


THORPE    BY   IXWORTH    MANOR.  381 

warren  here  confirmed  to  him  in  1426,'  and  the  manor  seems  next  to  have 
been  held  by  William  Berdwell  the  grandson  of  the  warrior's  father's  half- 
brother  who  died  leaving  an  only  daughter  Margery  married  to  John 
Harleston  and  she  by  will  dated  1459  left  the  same  after  one  year  to  John 
Harleston  her  son  and  heir  who  died  without  issue  leaving  Alice  and 
Margaret  his  sisters  and  coheirs.  Page  says  that  the  manor  subsequently, 
that  is  after  its  being  in  the  Pakenhams,  became  parcel  of  the  possessions 
of  Ixworth  Priory,  and  at  the  dissolution  of  that  house  was  included  in  the 
grant  made  to  Richard  Codington  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.  The  statement 
on  which  this  is  based  is  probably  Kirby,  but  he  merely  says  "  the  princi- 
pal estate,"  and  does  not  mention  the  manor.  Whether  the  manor  belonged 
at  any  time  to  Ixworth  Priory  or  not  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  did  pass 
to  the  Crown  and  was  granted  by  Hen.  VIII.  in  1546  to  Richard  Codington 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife  in  exchange,  and  upon  Richard's  death  passed  to  his 
widow.2 

In  1553  we  meet  with  a  fine  levied  of  "  Wykys  alias  Bardwell  and 
Thorpe  Manors "  by  Sir  John  Crofts  against  Sir  Thomas  Darcy,  Lord 
Darcy,  of  Chiche,  and  others,3  and  it  is  quite  possible  this  is  the  Thorpe 
referred  to. 

Elizabeth  Codington  by  her  will  left  the  manor  to  John  Caryll.  The 
next  lord  was  Thomas  Croftes  who  died  seised  in  1595"  when  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Charles  Croftes.  He  was  twice  married.  Eliza- 
beth his  first  wife  was  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Piers  of  Northwold 
in  Norfolk  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  Charles,  John  and  Robert,  and  3 
daughters.  Elizabeth  married  Robert  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Robert  Drury 
of  Rougham  knt.,  and  the  other  daughters  were  Susan  and  Margaret.  His 
second  wife  was  Thomasine  daughter  of  Ralph  Shelton  of  Brome  in  Norfolk 
by  whom  he  had  no  issue.  He  died  the  n  Feb.  1616  in  his  yoth  year  and 
his  widow  the  8th  March  in  the  following  year,  and  they  were  both  buried 
in  the  chancel  of  the  parish  church  of  Ixworth  Thorpe.  Charles's  eldest 
son  Sir  Charles  Crofts  inherited  the  manor,  and  the  descent  is  the  same  as 
the  manor  of  Wykes  in  Bardwell  already  given  until  the  death  of  Sir  Thomas 
Crofts  Read  in  1690,  when  this  manor  was  sold  by  the  trustees  of  his  will 
under  the  trusts  to  John  Lamb  of  Golden  Square,  London,  who  died  in 
1798  and  was  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Ixworth  Thorpe,  when  Sir 
James  Bland  Burgess  Bart,  succeeded  to  the  manor  and  assumed  by 
Royal  licence  in  1821  the  surname  of  Lamb  only  and  the  arms  of  Lamb 
quartered  with  those  of  Burgess. 

Sir  James  Bland  Lamb  was  M.P.  for  Hestone  and  Under  Secretary 
of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs  in  1789,  and  in  July  1794  named  a  joint  com- 
missioner for  holding  the  Privy  Seal.  He  was  made  Knight  Marshal  in 
1795  with  remainder  to  his  son  and  created  a  baronet  31  Oct.  1795.  He 
married  ist  the  Hon.  Elizabeth  Noel  2nd  daughter  of  Edward  Lord  Viscount 
Wentworth  who  died  without  issue,  and  2ndly  Ann,  3rd  daughter  of  Lieut.- 
Col.  Lewis  Charles  Montolieu  Barm  of  St.  Hypolite  by  whom  he  had  issue 
James  George  who  died  young,  Clara,  Maria,  Charles,  Montolieu,  and  7 
other  children. 

He  married  3rdly  Lady  Margaret  Fordyce  relict  of  Alexander  Fordyce 
and  daughter  of  James  5th  Earl  of  Balcarres,  who  died  without  issue. 
Sir  James  died  the  12  Oct.  1824  and  the  manor  passed  with  the  title  to 

1  Chart.  Rolls  4  Hen.  VI.  3  Fine,  Easter,  i  Mary  i. 

See  Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred.  4  See  Wykes  Manor  in  Bardwell. 


382  THE  MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

his  eldest  surviving  son,  Sir  Charles  Montolieu  Lamb  who  married  Mary 
Dowager  Lady  Montgomerie  daughter  and  coheir  of  Archibald  nth  Earl 
of  Eglington  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Charles  James  Savile  Montgomerie 
Lamb  who  married  Anna  Charlotte  eldest  daughter  of  Arthur  Grey  of  Bcr- 
sted  Sussex  and  died  the  n  Dec.  1856  in  his  father's  lifetime  leaving,  with 
other  issue,  Sir  Archibald  Lamb  3rd  Bart.,  who  succeeded  his  grandfather 
on  his  death  the  21  March  1860. 

Sir  Archibald  Lamb  married  in  1875  Louisa  Mary  Caroline  younger 
daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Estridge  Durrant  3rd  Bart,  and  widow  of  John 
Richard  Fenwick,  and  is  now  lord  of  this  manor. 

The  arms  of  the  Lambs  are  :  Per  pale  wavy,  arg.,  and  erminois,  a 
chevron,  between  three  lambs,  passant,  sa. 


TROSTONfMANOR.  "  383 

TROSTON  MANOR. 

O  manor  is  mentioned  here  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  but 
the  principal  holding  was  that  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund, 
who  had  24  freemen  with  2  carucates  and  a  half  of  land  and  2 
ploughteams.  These  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land, 
but  the  sac,  soc  and  commendation  would  continue  with 
the  Abbot. 

In  the  Confessor's  time  the  value  was  placed  at  20 
shillings,  but  in  the  time  of  the  great  Survey  it  was  fixed  at  30.  Of  these 
men  Frodo  held  12  with  a  carucate  of  land  and  2  ploughteams  of  the  value 
of  20  shillings  out  of  the  above  sum.  The  length  of  the  holding  was  10 
quarentenes,  and  the  breadth  5,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  n£^.: 

To  the  manor  (for  manorial  rights  were  exercised  by  the  Abbots  shortly 
after  the  Domesday  Survey)  the  monastery  added  the  advowson  of  the 
parish  church  by  purchase  from  William  son  of  Alexander  de  Barewe.  The 
purchase  was  made  by  Henry  who  was  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  from  1234 
to  1248. 

The  manor  remained  with  the  Abbey  until  the  Dissolution,  when  it 
vested  in  the  Crown.  We  find  a  moiety  of  the  manor  mentioned  in  the 
Inquis.  p.m.  of  Catherine  Drury  wid.  in  1481. 2  The  manor  seems  to  have  been 
granted  by  the  Crown  to  Thomas  Bacon  for  he  died  seised  of  it  in  1547, 
when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Henry  Bacon.  On  his  death  it  passed 
to  his  son  and  heir  John  who  died  in  I5&7,3  when  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir 
Edmund  Bacon  who  was  the  last  of  that  family  who  held  the  lordship. 

Davy  gives  Fitz  Nun  Lambe  as  lord  of  this  manor  in  1666.  We  find 
him  mentioned  in  a  deed  relating  to  a  charity  in  the  parish  a  little  before  this 
time.  By  an  indenture  dated  the  18  Chas.  I.,  reciting  that  Thomas  Lambe 
had  given  £20,  and  other  persons  £14  for  purchasing  lands  for  the  benefit 
of  the  poor  of  Troston,  and  that  Fitz  Nun  Lambe  had  contracted  with 
certain  persons  for  the  purchasing  of  lands  for  the  said  sum,  and  the  further 
sum  of  £2.  los.  paid  by  the  said  F.  Lambe  himself,  the  said  parties  conveyed 
unto  Roger  Greengrass  and  others  certain  pieces  of  land  in  the  open  fields 
of  Troston  to  the  intent  that  they  should  be  leased  to  the  said  F.  Lambe 
for  1,000  years  at  the  yearly  rent  of  345. ;  the  same  to  be  distributed  amongst 
such  poor  at  Troston  as  the  churchwardens  with  the  approbation  of  the 
said  F.  Lambe  and  his  heirs  and  the  said  R.  Greengrass  and  his  heirs  being 
resident  in  Troston  should  think  most  fit. 

In  1680  the  manor  was  purchased  by  Robert  Haddocks,  and  on  his 
death  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Maddocks,  who  died  in  1735, 
and  was  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Troston.  His  widow  Dorothy 
took  the  manor,  and  remarried  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Brundish,  who  died  in 
1739.  She  survived  until  1763  when  the  manor  passed  to  her  nephew 
Edward  Capel  son  of  Gamaliel  Capel  formerly  rector  of  Stanton  All  Saints 
and  St.  John  by  Hester  his  wife,  sister  and  heir  of  Robert  Maddock  who 
died  in  1735,  as  above  mentioned.  Subsequently  the  manor  descended 
to  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft  in  the  same  course  as  the  manor  of  Stanton,  the 
devolution  of  which  has  been  already  given.  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft  died  in 
1900,  and  the  manor  is  now  vested  in  the  trustees  of  his  will. 

1  Dom.  ii.  3666.  3  I.P.M.,  D.K.R.  10  App.  ii.  p.  132. 

'  I.P.M.,  21  Edw.  IV.  8. 


384  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

The  view  given  of  Troston  Hall  is  from  the  sketch-book  of  H.  Evelyn, 
the  drawing  having  been  kindly  lent  for  the  purposes  of  this  work  by  Mrs. 
E.  L.  Wade,  a  niece  of  the  said  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft.  It  shows  the  Hall 
before  it  was  disfigured  by  alterations.  Robert  Emlyn  Lofft  encased  the 
old  building  of  Troston  Hall  with  bricks  of  his  own  design.  The  library 
contains  an  elaborate  frieze,  grotesque  heads  and  figures,  combats  of  club- 
men and  wild  beasts,  rampant  goats  and  couchant  unicorns  with  divers 
other  figures  of  created  and  uncreated  things.  There  is  a  fine  oak  hall  and 
staircase.  The  house  was  evidently  larger  and  turreted  in  early  times  and 
surrounded  by  a  moat. 

ROUGTOWNES  MANOR. 

This  was  but  a  small  manor  held  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  and  we  find 
it  the  subject  of  a  fine  levied  in  1413  under  the  term  "  Troston  Manor  "  by 
parties  from  whose  family  the  manor  no  doubt  derived  its  name.  The 
fine  was  levied  between  Thomas  Rungton  and  William  Smyth  clerk  and 
Edmund  Rungton  and  Joan  his  wife.1  The  manor  is  also  included  in  the 
Inquisition  post  mortem  in  1495  of  William  Felton,  who  died  seised  of  it 
on  the  23  Dec.  1493,  when  it  passed  to  Edmund  Felton  his  son  and  heir 
then  aged  32.' 


Feet  of  Fines,  i  Hen.  V.  9.  Glemsford     al.    PeverelTs    Manor, 

Inquis.  10  Hen.  Vll.   1014  ;  see  Trpbett  Glemsford,  in  Babergh  Hundred, 

or  Truchetts  Manor,  Boxstead,  and 


WALSH  AM.  385 


WALSHAM. 

N  the  Confessor's  time  Achi  held  as  a  manor  here  2  caru- 
cates  of  land.  There  were  4  bordars,  2  ploughteams  in 
demesne,  and  half  a  ploughteam  belonging  to  the  men, 
5  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  20  hogs,  i  rouncy,  3  beasts, 
40  hogs,  and  5  sheep,  valued  at  40  shillings. 

By  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  the  value  had  risen 
to  60  shillings,  and  there  was  an  additional  ploughteam  in 
demesne,  and  30  sheep  in  lieu  of  5,  but  the  beasts  had  come  down  to  i  and 
the  hogs  to  29.  There  were  also  here  20  freemen  under  commendation 
with  one  carucate  of  land,  2  ploughteams,  2  acres  of  meadow,  and  wood  for 
10  hogs,  all  valued  at  10  shillings  in  Saxon  times  and  in  Norman  days  at  20 
shillings.  Also  3  freemen  and  a  half  with  i  carucate,  formerly  3  plough- 
teams  and  a  half,  but  by  the  time  of  Domesday  Survey  2  only  ;  and  2  acres 
and  a  half  of  meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs,  all  of  the  value  of  20  shillings. 
Also  half  a  church  with  10  acres,  and  an  acre  of  meadow  of  the  value  of 
8d.  The  whole  of  the  above  was  held  by  Robert  le  Blund  as  tenant  in 
chief  of  the  King,  and  it  measured  2  leagues  long  and  6  quarantenes  broad, 
and  paid  in  a  gelt  ijd.' 

The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  the  largest  holding  as  tenant  in  chief,  but 
not  apparently  as  a  manor.  He  held  30  freemen  with  3  carucates  of  land,  2 
bordars,  9  ploughteams,  8  acres  of  meadow,  and  wood  for  30  hogs.  These 
men  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  sac,  soc  and  commendation  would 
remain  with  the  Abbot.  They  were  in  Saxon  times  valued  at  30  shillings, 
but  at  the  time  of  the  Great  Record  at  45,  though  the  ploughteams  had 
come  down  to  6. 

Of  these  freemen  and  of  this  land  Robert  le  Blund  held  10  freemen 
with  2  carucates,  and  2  ploughteams  of  the  value  of  40  shillings,  part  of  the 
above  valuation.2 

Robert  Malet  had  also  a  small  holding  as  Domesday  tenant  in  chief, 
for  Herbert  held  of  him  a  freeman  with  60  acres  over  which  Malet's  pre- 
decessor in  title  held  commendation  in  the  Confessor's  time.  There  was 
one  ploughteam,  2  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  4  hogs,  and  the  value  was 
fixed  at  zos.  The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  the  soc  and  sac.3 

WALSHAM  MANOR. 

From  Robert  le  Blund  the  Domesday  tenant  in  chief  to  the  time  of 
Sir  Wm.  le  Blund  who  was  slain  at  the  Battle  of  Lewes  in  1264*  the  manor 
passed  in  the  same  course  as  the  Manor  of  Ixworth  in  this  Hundred.  Sir 
William  le  Blund  dying  without  issue  the  male  line  of  the  Barons  of 
Ixworth  ceased,  and  this  manor  passed  to  his  sister  Rohesia  married  to 
Robert  de  Valoines,  and  at  her  death  in  1284  the  manor  passed  to  her  son 
and  heir  Robert  de  Valoines.  It  is  stated  in  the  Hundred  Rolls  that  Robert 
de  Valoines  then  held  this  manor  of  the  King  in  chief  as  of  the  Barony  of 
Blund,  and  rendered  to  the  ward  of  the  Castle  of  Norwich  23^  Sir  Robert 
de  Valoines  married  Eva  Criketot  and  died  in  I282,6  leaving  a  daughter 

1  Dom.  ii.  439.  <  This  manor  is  specifically  mentioned  in 

*  Dom.  ii.  367.  Inquis.  p.m.  48  Hen.  III.  file  30  (20). 

3  Dom.  ii.  3276.  s  H.R.,  ii.  151. 

6  I.P.M.,  10  Edw.  I.  15. 


386  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

and  coheir  Roesia  to  whom  the  manor  went.  She  married  Sir  Edmund  de 
Pakenham,1  and  on  his  death  in  1332  held  until  1353.*  She  had  remarried 
Hugh  de  Saxham.3 

On  the  Patent  Rolls  in  1332  will  be  found  a  licence  for  this  Hugh  de 
Saxham  and  Roesia  his  wife  to  enfeoff  Thomas  de  Saxham,  and  Robert  de 
Rykyghale  of  the  manor,  then  said  to  be  held  in  chief,  and  for  them  to 
regrant  the  same  to  Hugh  de  Saxham,  Roesia  and  the  heirs  of  Roesia. 4 
The  licence  extended  to  Ixworth  Manor  as  well.  This  same  year  we  have 
a  fine  of  the  Manors  both  of  Walsham  and  Ixworth  levied  by  Thomas  de 
Saxham  parson  of  the  Church  of  West  Herling  and  Ralph  de  Rykyngale 
chaplain  against  this  Hugh  de  Saxham  and  Roesia  his  wife.5 

The  manor  went  on  his  mother's  decease  in  1353  to  Sir  Thomas  de 
Pakenham  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Edmund.  There  is  an  order  on  the  Originalia 
Rolls  this  year  to  take  security  of  Thomas  de  Pakenham  son  and  heir 
of  "  Rose  "  who  was  wife  of  Edmund  de  Pakenham  for  a  reasonable  relief  of 
Walsham  Manor  said  to  be  held  of  the  King  in  socage  by  service  of  i6s. 
to  the  Castle  of  Norwich.6  Sir  Thomas  de  Pakenham  enfeoff ed  Sir  John 
de  Ufford  and  others  in  1355  and  died  in  1358.  On  the  Originalia  Rolls 
this  year  is  a  licence  enabling  Sir  John  Ufford  and  others  to  grant  the 
manor  to  Mary  who  was  wife  of  Edmund  de  Pakenham.7  She  was  dau. 
and  coheir  of  Sir  Edmund  Comyn  of  Scotland  and  survived  her  husband, 
holding  the  manor  till  about  1359*  when  according  to  the  settlement  the 
manor  went  to  Robert  de  Ufford9  son  of  Cecily  daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir 
Robert  de  Valoines.  This  Robert  de  Ufford  has  been  already  referred  to. 
He  married  Margaret  daur.  of  Sir  John  Norwich  and  his  eldest  son  Robert 
dying  in  his  father's  lifetime,  the  manor  passed  on  the  Earl's  death  in 
1369'°  to  his  second  son  William,  to  whom  he  leaves  in  his  will  (which  is 
dated  the  previous  year), "  the  sword  wherewith  the  King  girt  him  when 
he  created  him  Earl,  as  also  his  bed,  with  the  eagle  entire  and  his  summer 
vestment  powdered  with  leopards."  This  William  2nd  Earl  of  Suffolk  has 
also  been  already  referred  to  at  length. 

The  manor  is  mentioned  in  the  Escheat  Rolls  in  1375  in  connection 
with  Robert  Swillington  and  others,  no  doubt  as  trustees."  The  licence  to 
Robert  Swillington  and  others  to  acquire  the  manor  from  William  de 
Ufford  E.  of  Suffolk  will  be  found  on  the  Originalia  Rolls."  This  licence 
extended  not  only  to  Walsham  Manor  but  also  to  the  Manors  of  Combs 
and  Wykes  Ufford.  William  Ufford  Earl  of  Suffolk  died  the  isth  Feb. 
1382  without  issue.13 

In  1384  a  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  by  Ralph  de  Walsham,  Robert 
de  Kedyngton,  Thomas  Ewell  and  Wm.  Hore  and  Robert  his  son  against 
John  Straunge  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.'4 

The  next  lord  was  William  de  la  Pole  4th  Earl  and  ist  Duke  of  Suffolk'5 
who  was  beheaded  at  sea  in  I45O,16  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 

1  See  Manor  of  Nethcrhall,  Pakenham,  in  •  I.P.M.,  35  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  19. 

Thedwestry  Hundred.  •  Created  Earl  oi  Suffolk  n  Edw.  III. 

•  I.P.M.,  27  Edw.  III.  64.  -  I.P.M.,  43  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  38. 

1  Inquis.  Hugh  de  Saxham  and  Roesia  his  "  I.P.M.,  49  Edw.  III.  pt.  ii.  znd  nos.  9. 

wife,  6  Edw.  Ill;  ad.  nos.  43.  "  O.,  49  Edw.  III.  52. 

«  Pat.  Rolls,  6  Edw.  III.  pt.  i.  2 ;  Originalia  "  I.P.M.,  5  Rich.  II.  57. 

6  Edw.  III.  35.  "  Feet  of  Fines,  8  Rich.  II.  14. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  6  Edw.  III.  35.  •«  See  Gyfford's  Manor  in  Wattisfield  in 
4  O.,  27  Edw.  III.  2 ;  I.P.M.,  29  Edw.  III.  this  Hundred. 

2nd  nos.  2.  ••  I. P.M.,    28    Hen.    VI.    25.    See  D.N.B. 
'  O.,  32  Edw.  III.  24.  xlvi.  50. 


WALSH  AM.  387 

heir  John  de  la  Pole  Duke  of  Suffolk.1  John  died  in  1491  and  the  manor 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Edmund  de  la  Pole,1  the  Duke  who  lost  his  head 
in  1513,  when  the  manor  was  forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

Two  years  later  it  was  granted  by  Hen.  VIII.  to  George  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury who  about  this  time  was  appointed  Steward  of  the  King's  Household 
and  a  member  of  the  Privy  Council,3  and  he  sold  it  the  same  year  to 
Charles  Brandon  Duke  of  Suffolk.4  Page  says,  but  erroneously,  that  the 
manor  remained  for  several  generations  in  the  family  of  the  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury. In  1538  Charles  Brandon  granted  the  manor  to  the  Crown  in  ex- 
change for  other  lands,5  and  a  lease  of  the  manor  was  granted  by  the  Crown 
in  1558  for  30  years  to  Sir  Robert  Rochester6;  but  apparently  in  1538  a 
lease  of  the  manor  and  advowson  had  been  granted  to  William  Page/ 
Yet  a  third  dealing  inconsistent  with  these,  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Martin  in 
his  "  Church  Notes."  He  says:  "A°  32  Hen.  8.  The  King  leased  to  William 
Page  of  Walsham  the  manor  and  parsonage  of  Walsham  for  a  term  of 
years.  He  dyed  soon  after  and  John  Page  his  son  assigned  the  lease  over 
to  George  Wright  of  London  gent,  for  £30  except  the  herbage  of  the  ch. 
yard  ....  and  except  also  certaine  lands  containing  v.  acres  called 
Esthouse  F.B." 

In  1558  we  find  the  manor  or  rather  a  moiety  of  it  vested  in  Lady 
Elizabeth  Wingfield  dau.  of  Sir  George  de  Vere  Earl  of  Oxford  and  widow 
of  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield.8  She  died  seised  that  year,  when  it  passed  to 
her  son  and  heir  Sir  Robert  Wingfield.  A  fine  was  levied  of  a  moiety  of  the 
manor  in  1562  by  John  Wingfield  and  others  against  this  Sir  Robert 
Wingfield,9  and  a  fine  of  the  whole  manor  apparently  against  him  in  1576 
by  Richard  Wingfield  and  others.10  Sir  Robert  Wingfield  married  Cecily 
daughter  of  Thomas  Lord  Wentworth  of  Nettlestead  and  died  in  1578, 
leaving  a  son  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield  who  married  Anne  dau.  of  William 
Bryd  of  London  and  of  Denton  and  died  the  29  Dec.  1605  without  issue, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Sir  Thomas  Wingfield  High  Sheriff  of 
Suff.  who  died  the  22  Jan.  1609.  From  the  Wingfields  this  manor  passed 
to  the  Hunts,  and  John  Hunt  whose  will  is  dated  in  1681  died  the  nth 
July  that  year  seised.  He  is  buried  in  the  Church  of  Walsham  where  on 
the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  mural  monument  to  his  memory.  The 
manor  on  his  death  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Hunt  who  married 
Mary  only  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Tobias  Blois  of  Belstead  Hall  who  died 
the  23  Feb.  1685  aged  21.  John  Hunt  died  the  gth  June  1726  aged  65. 
The  inscription  on  a  flat  marble  to  his  memory  in  the  chancel  of  the  church 
of  Walsham  declares  him  to  have  been  "  a  loveing  father  and  a  faithful 
friend,  a  defender  of  the  fatherless  and  a  true  administrater  of  Justice." 
On  John  Hunt's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  grandson  and  heir  John 
Hunt.  In  Wherstead  Church  there  is  a  handsome  marble  slab  in  memory  of 
John  Hunt  gent,  who  died  1769  aged  63,  with  the  same  arms  and  crest  as 
those  assigned  to  the  Hunts  in  Walsham  Church. 

In  1802  the  manor  was  vested  in  James  Powell  of  London  who  died  in 

1  D.N.B.  xlvi.  27.  *  State  Papers,  Mary,  1558.  p.  in. 

•  D.N.B.  xlvi.  21.  '  State  Papers,  519  (70),  1520  (p.  586). 

3  O.  or  M.   7   Hen.    VIII.,   Micha:  Rec.          8  See    Preston    Hall    Manor   in    Babergh 

Rot.  2,  where  the  name  is  "  Francis  Hundred. 

E.  of  Salop."  '  Fine,  Easter,  4  Eliz. 

«  Sale,  Harl.  56  G.  52.  ™  Fine,  Mich.  18,  19  Eliz. 

5  State  Papers,   30  Hen.   VIII.   ii.  1182 


388  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

1818.     In  the  year  1855  it  was  held  by  the  Rev.  T.  B.  Powell,  and  is  now 
vested  in  James  David  Powell  of  Newick,  co.  Sussex. 

Acquittances  for  Castle-ward  in  the  manor  in  1448  and  1454  will  be 
found  amongst  the  Harleian  Charters  in  the  British  Museum,'  and  rentals 
of  the  manor  in  1475-6  and  1507-8  will  be  found  amongst  the  Additional 
MSS.  in  the  same  library.1 

CHURCHHOUSE  OR  EASTHOUSE  MANOR. 

In  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror  Robert  le  Blund  held  the  land 
here  which  subsequently  formed  this  manor.  He  held  it  of  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund.  In  1293  a  fine  of  the  manor  was  levied  between  John  de 
Walsham  and  Roger  de  Walsham.3  In  1307  the  manor  was  vested  in  John 
de  Walsham  and  Alice  his  wife.4  On  the  death  of  John  and  Alice  the  manor 
passed  to  their  son  and  heir  Nicholas  de  Walsham.5 

On  the  death  of  Nicholas  de  Walsham  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir, 
William  de  Walsham.  Davy  says  he  died  in  1377  when  the  manor  passed 
to  Robert  de  Walsham  his  grandson  and  heir  who  died  in  1451.  This 
however  does  not  seem  to  accord  with  the  Inquisition  p.m.  which  we  find 
this  year,  for  the  manor  is  included  in  that  this  year  of  William  de  Walsham, 
son  of  Nicholas  de  Walsham.6  Davy  then  suggests — for  he  has  a  doubt  on 
the  subject — that  the  manor  went  to  the  Priory  of  Ixworth,  and  on  the 
dissolution  of  that  house  passed  to  the  Crown.  That  it  went  to  the  Crown 
there  is  no  doubt,  for  in  1538  it  was  granted  by  Hen.  VIII.  to  Richard 
Codington7  who  in  1541  had  a  licence  to  alienate  this  manor  to  George 
Wright,8  who  sold  it  in  1545  to  Henry  Chittinge,  who  sold  it  in  1555  to 
Nicholas  Bacon,9  to  whom  the  Queen  in  1558  confirmed  the  grant.  On 
the  Memoranda  Rolls  in  1561  will  be  found  particulars  touching  letters 
patent  to  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  of  the  manor,10  and  the  manor  was  included 
in  the  settlement  effected  in  1562  by  fine  levied  by  Francis  Earl  of  Bedford 
against  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon."  The  following  year  we  meet  with  a  fine  levied 
by  Francis  Earl  of  Bedford  and  others  against  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon." 

Amongst  the  Chancery  Proceedings  of  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
will  be  found  a  claim  by  copyholders  against  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  as  to  a 
certain  fine  payable  as  well  on  death  as  on  surrenders,  the  defendant  being 
lord.'3  And  also  a  claim  by  Mary  Reve  and  Margaret  Hawes  as  coheirs  of 
James  Hawes  to  freeholds  and  copyholds  in  Walsham,  Redgrave  and 
Wattisfield,  the  latter  held  of  the  manors  of  Walsham  and  Walsham  Church 
House  in  Walsham,  sometime  the  estate  of  John  Hawes  the  elder,  uncle 
of  the  said  James  Hawes  and  by  his  will  devised  to  divers  uses.14  And  also 
a  claim  by  Mary  wife  of  Henry  Greye,  late  wife  of  James  Hawes  to  lands 
in  Walsham,  Wattisfield,  held  of  the  manors  of  Walsham  and  Walsham 

1  Harl.  44  D.  29,  30.  Welle  of  the  manor.     Feet  of  Fines, 

•  Add.  MSS.,  21034,  21035.  *9  Edw-  H.  24- 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  21  Edw.  I.  13.  •  I. P.M.,  29  Hen.  VI.  14. 

4  John  de  Walsham  and  Alice  his  wife  v.  '  See  Ixworth  Manor  in  this  Hundred. 


Nicholas  de  Walsham  chaplain, 
Edmund  de  Pakenham  and  Rose  his 
wife  appon.  clam.  Feet  of  Fines, 
i  Edw.  II.  25. 
1  Nicholas  de  Walsham  and  Margaret  his 
his  wife  v.  Ralph  de  Rydlyngfeld 
chaplain  and  John  son  of  Peter  de 


State  Papers,  1541,  1591  (4). 

Fine,  Mich.  2  Mary. 

M.,  3  Eliz.  Hil.  Rec.  Rot.  17. 

Fine,  Hil.  4  Eliz. 

Fine,  Hil.  4  Eliz. 

C.P.  ii.  345- 

C.P.  ii.  432. 


WALSHAM.  389 

Churchhouse,  and  also  certain  freeholds  all  settled  on  Grey's  marriage  with 
the  said  Hawes.1 

The  manor  did  not  long  remain  in  the  Bacon  family  according  to  Davy, 
for  he  says  that  in  1589  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  granted  it  to  John  Carill.  This 
does  not  however  agree  with  what  Page  says.  He  asserts  that  in  the 
20  Elizabeth  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon  the  Lord  Keeper  had  a  Court  of  Survey  of 
the  chief  Manor  of  Walsham,  and  also  of  the  Manor  of  Churchhouse  and 
the  customs  of  the  tithes  of  the  rectory.2  The  tithes  continued  in  the 
Bacon  family  until  1673,  when  they  were  purchased  by  John  Hunt  of 
Cambridge  whose  descendants  held  the  same  until  1782,  when  they  were 
purchased  by  John  Sparke  whose  son  in  1835  sold  portions  to  divers  persons 
having  estates  in  Walsham  parish,  and  the  residue  with  the  rectory  and  site 
of  the  Manor  of  Churchhouse  (or  Parsonage  House)  to  Samuel  Golding  who 
was  then  [in  1847]  the  owner  and  had  a  neat  residence  and  good  estate  there 
formerly  Aston's,  since  Barton's.  Page  further  adds  that  Sir  Robert 
Bacon  Bart,  had  a  survey  of  the  Manors  of  Walsham  and  Walsham  Church- 
house  as  lord  in  1695,  and  these  lordships  continued  in  his  family 
and  their  descendants,  the  Holts,  until  about  60  or  70  years  since 3 
when  they  were  sold  to  James  Powell  a  merchant  in  London, 
whose  mother's  family,  named  Barton,  resided  in  the  parish  of  Walsham  le 
Willows.  Thomas  Baden  Powell,  clerk  succeeded  his  father.  In  1764 
Davy  says  this  manor  was  vested  in  Rowland  Holt,  and  Kirby  in  his  edition 
of  the  Suffolk  Traveller  in  1835,  which  being  a  re-issue  merely  of  the  edition 
of  1829  must  be  taken  as  conveying  information  only  up  to  that  year, 
says  that  the  manor  which  was  formerly  vested  in  Rowland  Holt  was  then 
vested  in  George  St.  Vincent  Wilson.  Davy  however  states  that  in  1802 
the  manor  was  vested  in  James  Powell  who  died  in  1818.  From  this  period 
the  devolution  is  identical  with  the  main  manor  of  Walsham. 


C.P.  i.  377.  3  This  was  written  in  1847. 

See  13  Rep.  Hist.  Com.  pt.  iv.  412. 


390  THE   MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 


WATTISFIELD. 

|N  the  Confessor's  time  Aluric  the  thane  held  a  manor  here 
\vith  a  carucate  of  land,  one  villein  and  2  ploughteams, 
valued  in  Saxon  times  at  25  shillings,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Domesday  Survey  when  Earl  Hugh  was  tenant  in 
chief  at  17  shillings.1 

Hugh  de  Mont  ford  also  held  in  demesne  9  freemen 
with  16  acres  and  half  a  ploughteam  valued  at  15  shillings. 
The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  had  the  soc,  two  of  the  freemen  were  under 
him  as  to  their  commendation  in  the  Confessor's  time,  and  7  under  Earl 
Hugh's  predecessor  in  title.1 

The  largest  holding  in  Wattisfield,  though  not  in  the  Survey  stated  to 
be  a  manor,  was  that  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.  It  consisted  in  the 
Confessor's  time  of  20  freemen  with  a  carucate  and  a  half  of  land,  i  bordar, 
I  serf,  8  ploughteams  which  by  the  time  of  the  Norman  Survey  had  come 
down  to  6.  Also  i  acre  of  meadow  and  wood  for  12  hogs.  A  church  too 
with  12  acres  of  free  land  in  alms  was  included  in  this  holding.  The  men 
could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but  sac,  soc  and  commendation  and  the  service 
at  Rickinghall  remained  notwithstanding  transfer  with  the  Abbot.  The 
value  was  formerly  30  shillings,  but  in  Domesday  times  40.  Of  this  land 
Roric  held  i  carucate  and  3  ploughteams  valued  at  30  shillings  out  of  the 
above  valuation.  The  length  of  this  holding  of  the  Abbot's  was  7  quaren- 
tenes  and  the  breadth  5,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  17^. J 

WATTISFIELD  MANOR. 

Page  says  that  in  1281  the  lordship  and  demesne  were  vested  in  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  and  at  the  dissolution  of  that  house  were  included 
in  the  grant  made  to  Sir  Thos.  Darcy  knt.,  and  that  they  afterwards  passed  to 


WATTISFIILD  HALL. 


the  Bacon  and  Holt  families.  We  fail  to  find  any  justification  for  this 
statement.  The  manor  undoubtedly  was  the  lordship  of  the  Abbots  of  St. 
Edmund,  and  they  are  assigned  as  lords  in  the  well-known  return  made  of 
such  in  1316;  but  that  Sir  Thomas  Darcy  ever  had  this  manor  is  a  delusion. 
The  manor  remained  with  the  Abbey  until  the  Dissolution,  and  a  lease 
was  made  in  1538  by  the  last  Abbot  of  Bury  to  John  Hammond  and  Thomas 

1  Dom.  ii.  299.  »  Dora.  ii.  3656. 

*  Dom.  ii.  4056. 


WATTISFIELD.  391 

Smith  of  the  manor  for  44  years.  The  lease  is  dated  the  12  Oct.  30  Hen.  VIII. 
and  was  in  1849  exhibited  by  Mr.  Golding  at  a  meeting  of  the  Suffolk 
Institute  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds.1  On  the  Dissolution  the  manor  of  course 
reverted  to  the  Crown,  and  in  1544  was  granted  to  Sir  Ambrose  Jermyn.2 
He  died  in  1577  and  by  his  will  dated  the  28  March  1577  and  proved  the 
i  May  I5773  devised  the  manor  with  others  to  his  eldest  son  Robert 
Jermyn  afterwards  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  in  tail  male  with  remainder  suc- 
cessively to  his  sons  Ambrose,  Edmund,  Anthony,  William,  and  his  brothers 
John  Jermyn  and  Thomas  Jermyn  in  tail  male.  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  must 
have  barred  the  entail,  for  he  sold  the  manor  to  John  Osborne.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother  (?)  Thomas  Osborne  at  whose  death  the  manor 
passed  to  John  Osborne  his  son  and  heir  who  sold  it  in  1655  to  Clement 
Heigham  of  Barrow  who  in  1664  sold  to  Samuel  Baker,  who  died  in  1700, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Baker  who  died  the  29 
Nov,  1713  aged  31.  He  left  by  Elizabeth  his  wife  a  son  Samuel  who 
succeeded  him  and  two  daughters,  Elizabeth  wife  of  Samuel  Moody 
merchant  of  Bury  and  Anne  Robina  married  to  Nocold  Tompson  all  of  whom 
succeeded  to  the  lordship  in  succession.  Samuel  Baker  died  in  1734 
without  issue,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  sister  Elizabeth.  She  died  the 
5  Oct.  1746  in  her  38th  year  and  like  her  father  and  brother  was  buried  in 
Wattisfield  Church.  The  inscription  on  a  mural  monument  of  marble  in 
the  south  chancel  is  this  : — 

What  sense,  what  wishes  dignify'd  thy  mind ! 

In  Truth  how  constant,  and  in  Friendship  kind, 

How  lov'd  you  liv'd  ;  and  how  lamented  fell, 

The  Hearts  that  knew  you,  feel — that  mourn  you,  tell. 

Such  Frailties  as  the  best  of  mortals  share, 

Rest  with  thy  Ashes,  nor  shall  Envy  dare 

Disturb  the  peaceful  Reliques  whose  they  be 

Whilst  guardian  Angels  waft  thy  soul  on  high ; 

Admit  thee  to  the  Chorus  of  the  Blest, 

A  willing  Trav'ller — and  a  welcome  Guest. 

The  other  sister  and  coheir  Anne  Robina  who  married  Nocold  Tompson 
and  died  in  1747  aged  33,  was  succeeded  by  Nocold  Tompson,  who  with 
Samuel  Moody  soldthe  manor  in  1766  to  David  Powell  of  Clopton,  Middlesex. 

In  1841  -  -  Powell  of  Leyston  was  lord ;  in  1855  Henry  Youngman ;  in 
1885  Alfred  and  Thomas  Youngman  were  joint  lords  ;  in  1900  the  former 
solely ;  and  Messrs.  Youngman  of  London  are  the  present  lords. 

GYFFORDS  AND  HALLYMOTE  MANOR. 

The  Giffords  held  this  manor  in  the  i3th  century,  and  in  1287  Sir  Wm. 
Giffprd  had  free  warren  here.  His  son  and  heir  Sir  Wm.  Gifford  and 
Amicia  his  wife  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  and  advowson  in  1320  against 
John  de  St.  Clare/  and  the  said  Sir  William  had  free  warren  the  following 
year.5  In  1324  we  meet  with  a  fine  of  the  manor  levied  by  this  Sir  Wm. 
Gifford  and  Isabella  his  wife6  against  Roger  de  Halis  parson  of  Norton 
Church  and  John  de  Kerseye  chaplain.7  From  this  fine  it  appears  that  the 
manor  extended  with  Stoke-Nayland,  Shelley  and  Belstead.  The  fine  also 

•  Suff.  Inst.  i.  152.  3  P-C.C.  13  Daughtry. 

•  See    Bardwell     Manor    and     Riveshall         '  Feet  of  Fines,  14  Edw.  II.  17. 

Manor,  Hepworth,  in  this  Hundred,         5  Chart  Rolls.  15  Edw.  II.  29. 

and     Rushbrook     in     Thedwestry         6  See  Boxstead  Hall  Manor  in  Babergh 

Hundred.  Hundred. 

7  Feet  of  Fines,  18  Edw.  II.  5. 


THE   MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

included  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Wattisfield  and  chapel  of  Stoke. 
This  Sir  Wm.  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  William  Gifford,  who  also 
had  free  warren  in  1340.'  He  died  in  1349,  leaving  an  heir  under  age.  In 
1377  the  manor  was  vested  in  Sir  Simon  Burley  who  had  free  warren  here 
that  year,'  and  in  1379  levied  a  fine  of  the  manor  and  advowson  against 
Robert  Crull  clerk,  William  Reade  clerk  and  John  Chaumberleyn  chaplain.  * 
Sir  Simon  de  Burley  was  beheaded  in  1389. 

The  manor  was  next  vested  in  William  de  la  Pole  4th  Earl  of  Suffolk 
who  obtained  the  Garter  in  reward  for  eminent  services  rendered  to  his 
country.  He  was  left  in  France  by  Hen.  V.  with  the  Earl  of  Salisbury  to 
defend  the  castles  and  towns  taken  from  the  French  by  that  monarch,  and 
with  the  Earl  achieved  a  great  victory  over  the  French  at  Vernoil,  and  at 
the  Seige  of  Orleans,  where  the  Earl  lost  his  life,  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand by  the  Duke  of  Bedford.  In  1444  he  was  created  Marquis  of  Suffolk 
by  cincture  with  a  sword  and  by  the  placing  of  a  coronet  of  gold  upon  his 
head,  receiving  at  the  same  time  a  grant  of  £35  yearly  out  of  the  issues  of 
the  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  He  successively  held  the  offices  of 
Lord  Chamberlain  and  Lord  High  Admiral,  being  for  15  years  a  member  of 
the  Privy  Council  and  for  30  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Garter.  In  1448  he 
was  raised  to  the  dignity  of  Duke  of  Suffolk,  an  honour  said  to  have  been 
conferred  on  him  for  counselling  the  murder  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester. 
Though  impeached  by  the  Commons,  charged  with  a  long  series  of  crimes, 
he  was  protected  by  the  King,  and  released  from  prison  that  he  might  seek 
safety  abroad  until  the  storm  which  hung  over  him  had  abated.  But 
embarking  at  Ipswich  for  France  his  vessel  was  boarded  by  the  captain  of 
a  ship  of  war  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  Exeter,  then  Constable  of  the  Tower 
of  London,  and  being  brought  into  Dover  Road  he  was  beheaded  without 
further  trial  the  2  May  1450.  He  was  buried  in  the  Collegiate  Church  at 
Wingfield.  It  is  said  that  he  espoused  privately  the  Countess  of  Hainault, 
and  by  her  had  a  daughter,  but  that  afterwards  marrying  Alice  daughter  and 
heir  of  Thomas  Chaucer,  granddaughter  of  Geoffrey  Chaucer  the  poet,  that 
daughter  was  proved  a  bastard.4  Having  been  attainted  his  estates  were 
forfeited,  but  this  manor  seems  to  have  passed  to  his  eldest  son,  John  de  la 
Pole  2nd  Duke  of  Suffolk  who  married  Elizabeth  Plantagenet,  sister  of  Edw. 
IV.,  and  was  created  Duke  of  Suffolk  by  letters  patent  dated  the  23rd 
March  1463.  He  died  in  1491,  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  surviving 
son5  Edmund  de  la  Pole  Earl  of  Suffolk.  This  unfortunate  nobleman  was 
treacherously  siezed  by  the  Duke  of  Gueldres  while  on  his  way  to  Friesland 
in  1504,  and  delivered  up  to  the  English  sovereign  by  Philip  King  of 
Castile  in  1506,  and  after  being  kept  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  for  some 
years  was  in  1513  executed  on  Tower  Hill  on  the  30  April  1513,  practically 
for  being  a  Yorkist.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Richard,  Lord 
Scrope,  and  left  an  only  daughter  Anne,  who  became  a  nun  in  the  convent 
of  the  Minoresses  without  Aldgate  in  the  City  of  London. 

The  manor  of  course  was  forfeited  to  the  Crown,  and  was  by  deed  of 
Henry  VIII.  dated  at  Westminster  the  30  Jan.  2  Hen.  VIII.  [1511]  granted 
to  Sir  Robert  Brandon.6  Sir  Robert  Brandon  died  in  1524,  when  the  manor 
seems  to  have  gone  to  his  nephew  Charles  Brandon  Duke  of  Suffolk,  son  of 
Sir  Robert's  elder  brother  William.  The  Brandon  family  of  which  the 


•  Chart.  Rolls,  14  Ed.  III.  39. 

•  hart.  Rolls,  i  Rich.  II.  5. 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  3  Rich.  II.  13. 
«  I.P.M.,  28  Hen.  VI.  25. 


5  His  elder  brother  John  Earl  of  Lincoln 
had  been  slain  at  the  Battle  of  Stoke 
16  June  1487. 

•  Harl.  51  H.  30. 


WATTISFIELD. 


393 


Duke  was  a  member  is  said  to  have  been  of  considerable  antiquity  and  to 
have  assumed  its  name  from  the  lordship  of  Brandon  in  Suffolk.  Dugdale 
however  finds  no  earlier  mention  of  the  Duke's  family  than  the  time  of 
Richard  the  Third.  The  family  was  not  of  any  account  at  a  much 
earlier  date  than  this.  Charles's  father  William  was  standard  bearer  to 
the  Earl  of  Richmond  at  the  Battle  of  Bosworth,  where  he  was  slain  and  his 
uncle  Sir  Thomas  Brandon  was  one  of  the  Squires  of  the  Body  to  Hen. 
VII.  and  was  installed  a  Knight  of  the  Garter.  Charles  the  famous  Duke 
was  a  person  endowed  by  nature  with  eminent  qualities  both  of  mind  and 
body,  being  remarkable  for  the  dignity  and  gracefulness  of  his  person, 
his  high  courage,  and  suavity  of  disposition.  He  excelled  in  all  youthful 
exercises  and  pastimes  and  soon  stood  in  exceptional  favour  with  his 
sovereign  Henry  VIII.  He  particularly  excelled  in  tilts  and  tournaments 
(the  favourite  exercises  of  the  English  King)  and  by  his  consummate 
dexterity,  gallantry,  and  valour  won  the  admiration  and  affection  of  the 
King.  In  the  first  year  of  this  monarch  he  was  made  one  of  the  Squires 
of  the  King's  Body  and  Chamberlain  of  the  Principality  of  North  Wales, 
and  having  been  in  that  sharp  naval  conflict  with  the  French  near 
Brest  in  1512,  the  next  year  attending  the  King  upon  the  expedition 
of  Therovene  and  Tournay,  he  was  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  Viscount 
Lisle1  and  appointed  commander  of  the  advanced  guard  of  the  army  in 
France,  in  which  campaign  he  behaved  so  valiantly  that  in  reward 
of  his  distinguished  services  he  was  created  on  the  first  of  February  following 
[1514]  Duke  of  Suffolk.  "  Shortly  after,"  says  Dugdale,  "  viz.,  6  Hen. 
VIII.,  being  at  St.  Dennis  in  France  at  the  coronation  of  the  Lady  Mary, 
sister  to  King  Henry,  then  married  to  Lewes  the  XII.  King  of  France,  he 
atchie ved  much  honour  by  his  prowess  manifested  in  a  Princely  Tournament, 
where  he  overthrew  the  person  with  whom  he  tilted,  horse  and  arms,  and 
gained  so  much  upon  the  affections  of  that  Queen  as  that  upon  the  death 
of  King  Lewes  (hapning  soon  after),  she  engaged  herself  to  marry  him,  and 
intreated  King  Francis  (successor  to  Lewes)  to  mediate  with  King  Henry 
(her  brother),  for  his  approbation  thereof,  which  being  obtain'd,  he  pro- 
cur'd  a  grant  in  general  tail  of  all  the  lordships,  mannors,  lands,  and 
tenements  formerly  belonging  to  Edmund  de  la  Pole,  late  Earl  of  Suffolk." 

Dugdale  assigns  the  advancement  of  the  Duke  to  his  gallant  conduct, 
and  no  doubt  this  contributed  to  it ;  but  the  Viscount  more  probably  owed 
his  elevation  to  his  contemplated  marriage  with  Lady  Elizabeth  Grey 
then  styled  Viscountess  Lisle,  the  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Grey 
Viscount  and  Baron  Lisle,  but  who  was  then  not  nine  years  of  age.  Again, 
the  advancement  from  Viscount  to  Duke  was  probably  mostly  owing  to  the 
desire  of  the  King  to  qualify  his  favourite  so  far  as  possible  for  an  alliance 
with  Margaret  of  Austria  Duchess  of  Savoy  only  daughter  of  the  Archduke 
Maximilian  afterwards  Emperor.  She  had  been  in  1482  affianced  to  the 
dauphin  Charles,  afterwards  Charles  the  Eighth,  but  by  the  treaty  of 
Seulis  in  1493  this  alliance  was  relinquished.  She  was  next  married  in 
1495  to  John  Prince  of  Spain  at  the  same  time  as  her  brother  Philip  was 
married  to  Joanna  infanta  of  Spain.  John  died  without  issue  in  1497 
and  Margaret  married  in  1501  Phelebert  Duke  of  Savoy,  but  in  1504  was 
again  a  widow.  She  was  then  courted  by  King  Hen.  VII.,  but  this  came 
to  nothing.  In  1507  she  was  appointed  by  her  father  to  be  Regent  of  the 
Netherlands  and  she  accompanied  her  father  the  Emperor  Maximilian  to 

'  15  May,  5  Hen.  VIII. 

VI 


394  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

the  meeting  between  him  and  Henry  VIII.  at  Lille,  the  battle  of  Spours 
and  the  reduction  of  Tournay  and  Theroueune.  Hall  distinctly  says  in 
his  Chronicle,  in  referring  to  this  meeting ;  "  the  noys  went  that  the  lord 
Lysle  made  request  of  manage  to  the  ladye  Margarete  duches  of  Savoy, 
and  doughter  to  themperour  Maximilian,  whiche  before  that  tyme  was 
departed  from  the  Kyng  with  manye  riche  giftes  and  money  borowed  ; 
but  whether  he  prefered  manage  or  not,  she  favored  him  highly.  There 
the  prynce  and  duches  sojorned  with  great  solace  by  the  space  of  x.  dayes. 
Duryng  whiche  tyme,  the  xviij.  daye  of  October,  began  the  justes  ;  the 
kyng  and  the  lord  Lysle  aunswered  all  commers  ;  uppon  the  kyng  attended 
xxiiij.  knyghtes  on  foote,  in  coates  of  purple  velvet  and  cloth  of  gold.  A 
tent  of  cloth  of  gold  was  sett  in  the  place  for  the  armoree  and  releve  ;  the 
kyng  had  a  base  and  a  trapper  of  purple  velvet  both  sett  full  of  I.S.  of  fyne 
bullion,  and  the  lord  Lisle  in  the  same  sayte.  Ther  were  many  speres 
broken,  and  many  a  good  buffet  geven  ;  the  strangers,  as  the  lord  Walon 
and  lorde  Emery,  and  other,  dyd  right  well.  When  the  justes  were  done, 
the  kyng  and  al  the  other  unhelmed  them,  and  rode  about  the  tylt  and  dyd 
great  reverence  to  the  ladies,  and  then  the  herauldes  cryed,  To  lodgyng." 

No  doubt  the  King  was  desirous  of  his  favourite's  marriage,  and  the  steps 
he  took  to  further  it  unwittingly  paved  the  way  for  the  Duke's  subsequent 
alliance  with  the  King's  sister ;  for  if  Brandon  were  a  proper  husband  for 
an  Emperor's  daughter  he  could  not  well  be  objected  to  by  the  daughter 
of  a  King.  The  rapid  rise  in  dignity  of  the  Duke  has  never  otherwise  been 
accounted  for,  as  he  might  have  been  created  an  Earl,  and  the  sudden  rise 
to  the  highest  degree  in  the  Peerage  is  all  the  more  remarkable  as  at  that  time 
there  was  only  one  other  peerage  of  that  grade  in  this  country,  namely  that 
of  Buckingham,  though  it  is  true  that  on  the  same  day  that  Brandon 
received  his  dukedom  Howard  was  created  Duke  of  Norfolk.  As  to  the 
marriage  with  Mary  Tudor  it  seems  that  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  Sir  Richard 
Wingfield  and  Dr.  West  had  been  sent  by  Hen.  VIII.  on  embassy  to  Paris 
to  negotiate  the  settlement  of  the  Queen's  dower  on  the  death  of  her  husband 
King  Louis  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  towards  the  end  of  February  1515 
the  marriage  between  Charles  Brandon  and  the  Queen  took  place  secretly 
in  the  Hotel  de  Cluny  in  Paris,  this  being  then  the  residence  of  la  blanche 
reine,  as  it  was  customary  to  term  the  royal  widow.1  There  is  in  existence 
a  draft  in  Wolsey's  hand  of  a  reproving  letter  to  the  Duke  on  the  subject 
of  this  marriage  and  a  letter  of  exculpation  from  Mary  to  her  brother 
Hen.  VIII.  In  the  Record  Office  is  a  letter  from  Mary  to  her  brother  Hen. 
VIII.  It  was  written  and  corrected  by  Brian  Tuke,  Clerk  of  the  Signet, 
apparently  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Wolsey,  who  has  made  some 
alterations  in  his  own  hand,  recalling  to  the  King's  recollection  his  promise 
that  in  the  event  of  her  surviving  her  husband,  the  late  King  Louis  XII. 
of  France  whom  she  had  married  solely  to  please  his  Majesty  and  further 
his  policy,  she  should  be  permitted  to  marry  a  second  time  her  own 
choice,  and  informing  him  that  she  has  in  consequence  "affixed  and  clearly 
determined  "  herself  to  marry  with  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  Charles  Brandon, 
her  love  for  whom  the  King  well  knows.  She  assures  the  King  that  this 
is  wholly  her  own  doing,  without  any  request  from  the  Duke  of  Suffolk 
or  any  other  person,  and  beseeches  him  to  take  it  in  good  part,  and  to 
receive  them  both  into  his  favour  ;  for  she  has  so  bound  herself  to  the 
Duke  that  no  earthly  cause  can  induce  her  to  part  from  him.  Confident  in 

1  Cott.  MSS.  Caligula,  D.  vi. 


WATTISFIELD.  395 

his  promise  she  has  left  the  realms  of  France  and  come  to  Calais,  intending 
to  abide  there  till  the  receipt  of  the  King's  letters,  promising  at  the  same 
time  to  surrender  her  whole  marriage  portion  and  all  the  plate  and  jewels 
belonging  to  the  late  King  Louis  which  shall  fall  to  her  share,  if  he  will  give 
his  consent  to  their  union,  and  to  bind  herself  to  pay  any  yearly  sum  of 
money  out  of  her  dowry  that  the  King  shall  be  pleased  to  determine.  The 
letter  is  of  peculiar  interest  from  the  fact  of  the  Queen  having  actually 
been  privately  married  to  the  Duke  at  the  time  when  it  was  written,  probably 
about  the  end  of  April  1515. 

Both  Sir  Henry  Ellis  and  Sharon  Turner  are  in  error  in  supposing  the 
public  solemnization  of  the  marriage  took  place  at  Calais,  for  this  was  at 
Greenwich  on  the  I3th  May  this  same  year.  The  "Chronicle  of  Calais" 
is  distinct  on  this  point,  there  being  the  three  following  entries  relating  to 
this  matter,  after  the  statement  "  the  last  of  Decembar,  Lewes  Kynge  of 
Fraunce  deceased  "  : — 

"1515.  Mary  the  Frenche  qwene  cam  to  Caleys  put  of  Fraunce  the 
xxv.  of  Aprell  with  Charles  Brandon,  who  had  been  with  her  in  Fraunce 
sence  the  xix.  of  January. 

The  2  of  May,  Mary  qwene  of  Fraunce  toke  shippe  at  Caleys  with 
the  duke  of  Suff olke  and  other,  and  landyd  the  same  nyght  at  Dovar. 

The  13  of  May,  Mary,  the  Frenche  qwene  was  maried  at  Grenewiche 
to  Charles  Brandon  duke  of  Suffolke." 

The  Duke  and  his  wife  were  of  the  retinue  of  the  King  at  his  celebrated 
meeting  with  Francis  the  First  upon  "  the  Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold,"  in  1520, 
the  knights  from  Suffolk  who  then  accompanied  the  King  being  Sir  Robert 
Curson,  Sir  Richard  Wentworth,  Sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  Sir  Robert  Drury, 
Sir  Arthur  Hopton,  Sir  Philip  Tilney,  and  Sir  Edward  Boleyn.  Three 
years  later  the  Duke  landed  at  Calais  with  "  six  hundred  demi-lances,  two 
hundred  archers  on  horseback,  three  thousand  archers  on  foot,  five  thousand 
bill-men,  besides  two  thousand  six  hundred  pioners  ;  adding  seventeen 
hundred  more  stout  soldiers  taken  out  of  the  garrisons  thereabouts,"  he 
marched  almost  to  the  gates  of  Paris  to  the  great  consternation  of  the  citizens 
whose  destruction  was  saved  by  his  recall.  During  this  campaign  the  Duke 
was  the  King's  lieutenant,  and  at  "  Roye  "  made  the  following  knights  : 
Lord  Herbert  son  and  heir  of  the  Earl  of  Worcester,  Lord  Powes,  Sir 
Arthur  Poole  brother  to  the  Lord  Montague,  Sir  Oliver  Manners  brother 
to  the  Lord  Roos,  Sir  Thomas  Wentworth,  Sir  Richard  Corbet,  Sir  William 
Stourton,  Sir  Richard  Sandes,  Sir  Edmund  Bedingfielde,  Sir  Edward 
Seymour,  Sir  George  Warham,  Sir  Walter  Mantell,  and  Sir  Robert  Jerning- 
ham.  His  Suffolk  following  can  be  easily  recognised.  On  the  River  Some 
he  made  two  more  knights,  Sir  John  Dudley  and  Sir  Robert  Utreight,  and 
at  Valenciennes  two  more,  Sir  William  Penyngton  and  Sir  Bartholomew 
Tate.1 

Charles  Duke  of  Brandon  was  in  1529  one  of  the  peers  who  subscribed 
to  the  articles  exhibited  to  the  King  in  Parliament  against  Cardinal  Wolsey, 
and  the  following  year  was  a  party  to  the  declaration  by  the  peers  sent 
to  Pope  Clement  the  VII.  regarding  the  divorce  of  the  King  from  Queen 
Katherine.  Shortly  after  the  Duke  was  installed  a  Knight  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Michael  and  made  Chief  Justice  in  Eye  of  all  the  King's  forests.  He 
was  joined  with  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  in  suppressing  the  insurrection  in 
Yorkshire  called  the  Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  and  on  the  dissolution  of  the 

1  Cott.  MSS.  Clan.  C.  iii.  f.  996. 


396  THE   MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

religious  houses  obtained  grants  of  land  of  vast  extent.  These  estates  were 
considerably  augmented  by  his  marriage  to  Katherine  sole  daughter  and 
heir  of  William  Lord  Willoughby  of  Eresby.  In  1544  he  was  constituted 
general  of  the  Army  and  sent  over  to. France,  whereat  the  seige  of  Boulogne 
he  again  won  distinction,  being  the  first  to  enter  the  town.  His  grace  made 
his  will  20  June  this  year  bequeathing  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the 
Collegiate  Church  of  Tatshall  in  Lincolnshire  if  it  might  conveniently  be, 
but  without  any  pomp  or  outward  pride  of  the  world,  appointing  that 
certain  masses  and  diriges  should  be  done  for  him  there,  by  all  the  priests  of 
that  college  and  other  his  chaplains,  "  according  to  the  ancient  custom 
of  the  Church  of  England."  He  also  directed  that  no  black  gowns  or  coats 
should  be  given  at  his  funeral  except  to  his  own  servants  and  torchbearers. 
Likewise  that  £100  should  be  distributed  to  the  poorest  householders  of  his 
tenants  and  others  dwelling  next  to  his  houses  of  Tatshall,  Eresham,  Ellow, 
and  Grymesthorpe  in  co.  Lincoln  to  pray  for  his  soul.  And  that  a  of  gold 
should  be  made  of  his  collar  of  the  Garter  and  given  to  the  King.  He  died 
the  24  Aug.  1543  ;  but  the  King  directed  his  body  to  be  buried  at  his  own 
cost  in  the  Royal  Chapel  of  St.  George  in  Windsor  Castle  by  the  door  of 
the  choir  on  the  south  side  of  that  church  near  the  place  where  King  Henry 
the  Sixth  is  interred  and  in  the  same  grave  with  his  aunt  the  wife  of  Sir 
Thomas  Brandon.  The  Duke  did  not  retain  Gyfford's  Manor  till  his  death, 
for  in  1538  he  exchanged  the  same  for  other  lands  with  the  Crown,1 
and  it  was  given  to  Anne  of  Cleves  during  her  life.  She  died  in  1557  and 
the  following  year  the  manor  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Ambrose  Jermyn 
afterwards  Sir  Ambrose.'  The  grant  is  on  the  Originalia  Rolls,3  and  par- 
ticulars for  the  grant  will  be  found  in  the  Record  Office.4  Sir  Ambrose 
died  in  1577  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  who 
sold  it  in  1592  to  John  Osborne.'  John  Osborne  died  the  4th  July  1619 
and  there  is  a  plain  altar  monument  on  the  north  side  of  the  communion 
table  in  Wattisfield  Church  to  his  memory  thus  inscribed  :— 

Here  under  lyeth  interred  ye  Body  of  John  Osborne  late  of  Wattlesfield 
in  this  pishe  Esq.,  who  depted  this  lyfe  ye  4th  of  Julye,  1619,  and  in 
ye  74  yere  of  his  age. 

Over  the  above,  on  a  small  tablet  of  black  marble  in  the  wall  is  :— 

To  the  memorie  of  John  Osborne  Esquier 

here  under  buried : 

A  Friend  to  Virtue,  a  Lover  of  Learninge, 
Of  Prudence  great,  of  Justice  a  Furtherer. 
Redress  he  did  the  wrongs  of  many  a  Wight, 
Fatherless  and  Widdowes  by  him  possess  their  right. 
To  search  and  trie  each  cause,  and  end  all  strife 
With  Patience  great  he  spent  his  mortal  Life, 
Whom  blessed  we  accoumpt  (as  Scripture  saith), 
Who  Peace  did  make,  and  liv'd  and  died  i"  th'  Faith. 

On  John  Osbprne's  death  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  (?)  Thomas 
Osborne  and  on  his  death  to  his  son  John  Osborne  who  sold  the  same  to 
Clement  Heigham  who  sold  it  to  Samuel  Baker  about  the  year  1664.  It 
is  now  held  with  the  main  manor,  the  style  being  Wattisfield  Hall  with 
Gyffords  and  Halymote. 


1  State  Papers,  30  Hen.  VIII.  1182  (i&a).  '  36  Hen.  VIII.     3  Pars  Rot.  2. 

'  See  Manors  of  Hepworth  and  Stanton         '  36  Hen.  VIII.  D.K.R.  9,  App.  ii.  p.  212. 
All  Saints  in  this  Hundred.  5  Fine,  Easter.  34  Eliz. 


WESTON    MARKET.  397 


WESTON  MARKET. 

O  manors  existed  in  this  place  in  the  time  of  the  Saxons 
and  are  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey.  One  was  held 
in  the  Confessor's  day  by  Aluric  a  freeman  with  a  carucate  of 
land  and  8  acres  in  Thorpe.  To  this  manor  appertained  4 
villeins,  i  ploughteam  in  demesne,  i  belonging  to  the  men, 
2  acres  of  meadow,  wood  for  10  hogs,  10  hogs  and  15  sheep. 
Also  a  church  with  4  acres.  The  value  was  20  shillings,  which 
does  not  seem  to  have  altered  though  the  details  of  the  manor  were  somewhat 
varied  by  the  time  of  the  Great  Survey.  There  were  then  only  2  villeins,  but 
there  were  80  sheep  in  lieu  of  15  and  2  rouncies  by  way  of  addition.  Three 
freemen  also  held  a  carucate  and  20  acres,  3  ploughteams  and  3  acres  of 
meadow.  These  were  valued  also  at  20  shillings.  Of  this  land  William 
de  Scoies  was  the  tenant  in  chief  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey 
and  Huard  de  Vernon  held  of  him  the  land  which  formerly  belonged  to 
Aluric,  and  of  the  other  land  Hugh,  William's  man  invaded  25  acres  against 
the  Abbot.  The  8  freemen  could  give  or  sell  their  land  in  the  Confessor's 
time,  but  commendation,  soc  and  sac  remained  with  the  Abbot — that  is,  the 
sale  or  transfer  of  the  land  did  not  affect  his  jurisdiction.  William  de 
Scoies  was  also  tenant  in  chief  in  respect  of  another  holding  here,  namely 
of  10  socmen  under  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  who  had  all  customs  in  the 
Confessor's  day,  but  Bardwin  held  them  in  King  William's  time.  These 
had  60  acres  of  land  and  in  Saxon  times  2  ploughteams,  but  at  the  time  of 
the  Survey  half  a  team  only.  They  were  valued  at  4  shillings.  The  size  of 
this  manor  and  holding  was  7  quarantenes  long  and  5  broad,  and  it  paid  in 
a  gelt  9^.' 

The  Abbot  also  had  a  holding  in  chief,  namely  3  freemen  and  a  half 
with  a  carucate  of  land  and  6  bordars,  2  ploughteams,  i  acre  of  meadow 
assessed  for  4  hogs.  These  men  could  all,  except  one  with  40  acres,  sell  or 
give  their  land,  but  the  soc  and  sac  and  commendation  remained  with  the 
Abbot  and  the  service  at  his  manor  at  Coney  Weston.  The  value  was  10 
shillings.2 

The  second  manor  in  Weston  was  held  by  Robert  de  Verli  as 
Domesday  tenant  in  chief.  In  the  Confessor's  time  Alsey  a  freeman  had 
held  i  carucate  of  land  as  a  manor.  He  also  had  i  bordar,  2  serfs,  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne  and  half  a  team  belonging  to  the  men,  3  acres  of  meadow, 
i  mill,  2  beasts,  8  hogs,  and  50  sheep.  The  prosperity  of  the  place  seems  to 
have  varied,  for  during  the  interval  between  the  Confessor's  time  and  the 
Survey  the  2  ploughteams  in  demesne  disappeared,  but  finally  there  was 
one.  The  only  addition  in  Norman  days  seems  to  have  been  i  rouncy 
There  were  also  6  freemen  under  commendation  holding  103  acres,  2 
ploughteams  in  Saxon  times  which  also  had  by  the  time  of  the  Survey 
come  down  to  one,  and  I  acre  of  meadow.  There  was  also  a  church  with 
12  acres  and  half  a  ploughteam.  The  manor  was  always  valued  at  25 
shillings  and  the  freemen  at  5  shillings.3 

WESTON  MARKET  MANOR. 

One  manor  only  appears  in  the  thirteenth  century,  and  this  was 
held  in  1225  by  Robert  Hovel  of  Wyverstone,  the  son  of  Ralph  Hovell, 

1  Dom.  ii.  3536.  3  Dora.  ii.  437. 

1  Dom.  ii.  306. 


398  THE    MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

a  descendant  of  Richard  Hovell  of  Wyverstone  who  held  lands  there  of 
Baldwin  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  in  1065-1098.'  This  Robert  Hovell 
held  also  the  manors  of  Wyverstow,  Horpole,  and  Istede  with  two- 
thirds  of  a  knight's  fee  in  Westhorpe  and  lands  in  Cheston.  He  married 
Margery  a  daughter  of  William  de  Briseworth  by  whom  he  had  four  sons, 
Hubert  Hovell  who  abducted  and  married  Ada  daughter  of  Henry  de 
Hastings  a  ward  of  the  King  in  1252,'  Robert  Hovell,  John  Hovell  parson  of 
Wyverstone  and  lord  of  the  manor  of  Finborough  in  1258,  and  Bartholomew 
Hovell.  Robert  Hovell,  whom  for  distinction's  sake  we  will  call  the  ist 
Robert  Hovell,  died  in  1240  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Hubert  Hovell 
who  died  without  leaving  issue,  and  Ada  his  wife  claimed  a  third  part  of  the 
Manor  of  Horpol  as  dower.3 

Robert  Hovell,  Hubert's  brother,  succeeded  to  the  lordship  and  had  a 
grant  of  free  warren  and  a  market  and  fair  in  1264.*  He  was  deforciant 
in  a  fine  levied  in  1281  by  William  de  Burnton  respecting  this  manor.5  Robert 
married  Alianora  daughter  of  William  de  Burnton  and  died  before  1286, 
when  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow  Alianora,  the  and  Robert  having  en- 
feoffed  William  de  Burnford  of  the  manor  in  trust  for  the  said  Alianora 
as  dower  and  on  her  death  passed  to  his  eldest  son  the  3rd  Robert  Hovell. 
There  is  an  entry  relating  to  this  Robert  Hovel  on  the  Quo  Warranto  Rolls 
in  1287  as  follows  :— 

"  The  Hundred  of  Blackbourne  by  twenty-four  jurors.  Concerning 
new  customs  it  was  said  that  Robert  Hovell  who  died  took  toll 
of  whatsoever  bushells  of  corn  came  to  the  market  of  Weston  against  the 
custom  of  the  kingdom.  And  Robert  Hovell  his  son  and  heir  follows  the  same 
custom.  Therefore  it  was  commanded  the  Sheriff  that  he  should  cause  the 
said  Robert  the  son  to  appear. 

"  Robert  the  son  of  Robert  Hovell,  presents  himself  and  says  that 
he  makes  no  claim  to  take  this  toll.  And  he  is  prohibited  from  taking  such 
toll  in  the  future."6 

Robert  Hovell  died  before  1292  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother 
Sir  Hugh  Hovell,  then  under  age.  Sir  Hugh  Hovell  married  first  Joan 
daughter  and  heir  of  William  de  Pensthorpe  lord  of  Westhorpe,  and 
secondly  Agnes  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  de  Tuddenham,  and  by  a  fine7  in  1325 
the  manor  was  settled  on  Hugh  Hovell  and  his  wife  Agnes  for  life  with 
remainder  to  Robert  Hovell  and  Hugh  Hovell  their  sons  and  to  the  right 
heirs  of  Hugh  the  father  for  ever. 

Hugh  Hovell  the  father  died  before  1339,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his 
widow  Agnes  in  dower  and  on  her  death  to  Sir  Hugh  Hovell's  eldest  son 
the  4th  Robert  Hovell  who  by  Joan  his  wife  daughter  of  Roger  Loveday  of 
South  Elmham  had  a  son  the  5th  Robert  Hovell  who  seems  to  have  parted 
with  the  manor,  at  least  for  a  limited  period,  for  we  find  it  held  for  life  in  1387 
by  his  cousin  Hugh  the  son  of  Hugh  Hovell  son  of  the  above-mentioned 
Sir  Hugh  Hovell.  The  reversion  in  the  manor  continued,  however,  in  the 
elder  branch  and  probably  was  sold  by  the  widow  of  the  5th  Robert  Hovell 
and  her  2nd  husband  John  Crulle  who  certainly  sold  Wyverstone  and  Hor- 
pole Manor  to  Thomas  Monchensey,  for  in  1387  we  find  this  Thomas  Mon- 
chensey  conveyed  the  manor  to  Joan  sister  of  Sir  John  de  Rattlesden  the 

1  Liber  Pinderbeck.  «  Chart.  Rolls,  48  Hen.  III.  4. 

Close  Rolls,  36  Hen.  III.  18 ;  37  Hen.  III.  s  Feet  of  Fines,  9  Ed.  I.  38. 

9.  '  Quo  Warranto  Rolls,  15  Edw.  I.  831. 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  41  and  42  Hen.  III.  63.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  19  Edw.  II.  10. 


WESTON    MARKET.  399 

widow  of  the  6th  Robert  Hovell  who  was  the  son  of  John  Hovell  the  brother 
of  the  5th  Robert  Hovell.1  The  fines  stated  that  the  manor  was  then  still 
held  by  Hugh  Hovell  for  the  term  of  his  life,  and  the  assurance  of  the  manor 
was  made  to  Joan,  she  rendering  yearly  one  rose  at  the  feast  of  the  Nativity 
of  St.  John  Baptist  in  lieu  of  all  services  and  customary  payments  with 
remainder  after  the  death  of  the  said  Joan  to  the  said  Thomas  "  Munchensy  " 
and  his  heirs.  In  the  grant  and  agreement  Joan  paid  to  Thomas  Munchensy 
a  hundred  marks  of  silver.  Joan  married  for  a  2nd  husband  Robert 
Monceux  and  we  find  him  holding  as  lord  in  1393,  no  doubt  in  his  wife's  right. 

The  next  lord  was  Sir  Roger  Drury  of  Rougham  who  died  in 
1418.  He  had  removed  from  Thurston  where  his  family  had  been 
seated  since  the  Conquest,  being  the  son  of  Nicholas,  the  son  of  John, 
the  son  of  Henry,  the  son  of  John,  son  of  Henry,  son  of  John,  son  of 
John,  son  of  Drury,  who  came  in  with  William  the  Conqueror.  Sir 
Roger  Drury  knt.  married  Margery  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir  Thomas 
Naunton  of  Chavent  in  Rougham  and  with  other  sons  and  daughters  who 
died  young,  had  a  daughter  Margaret  who  married  Sir  William  Clopton, 
judge,  from  whom  descend  the  Cloptons  of  Kentwell,  and  a  son  Sir  William 
Drury  knt.,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  this  lordship  and  died  about  1450. 1 
He  married  Catherine  daughter  of  Sir  Ottes  Swynford  by  Catherine  Roet, 
sister  of  Chaucer's  wife,  and  afterwards  the  third  wife  of  John  of  Gaunt, 
Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  with  other  issue  had  a  son  Thomas  Drury  who 
succeeded  his  father.  He  married  Catherine  daughter  and  coheir  of  John 
Witwell  and  dying  the  12  Dec.  1487  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  heir  John 
Drury,  who  married  Margaret  daughter  of  Sir  William  Felton  alias  Chapman 
and  died  in  1498,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  John  Drury, 
who  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Goldingham  of  Belsted  in  Essex, 
one  of  the  three  coheirs  of  her  mother  Thomasine  Listen. 

John  Drury  died  the  3  Aug.  I5563  and  Thomas  Drury  was  lord  in  1566, 
after  which  the  manor  seems  to  have  gone  to  George  Nunn  clerk,  for  he  died 
seised  of  it  in  1596,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  John  who  died  about  1613. 

Sir  Henry  Bokenham  seems  to  have  acquired  the  manor  in  1609 
during  the  lifetime  of  John  Nunn  and  died  seised  of  it  in  1648,  when  it 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Wiseman  Bokenham. 

Wiseman  Bokenham  in  his  lifetime  made  a  settlement  upon  his  sons 
Richard  and  George,  which  he  effected  by  a  lease  and  release  dated  the  15 
and  16  Jan.  1669  and  made  between  Wiseman  Bokenham  of  the  one  part  and 
Richard  Bokenham  and  George  Bokenham  of  the  other  part,  the  parcels  and 
important  parts  of  such  settlement  being  :  "All  that  the  Manors  of  Weston 
Market  in  the  said  County  of  Suffolk  and  the  Advowson  and  right  of 
patronage  of  the  Church  of  Weston  Market  aforesaid  and  of  the  messuages, 
lands,  tenements,  meadows,  pastures,  feedings,  woods,  underwoods,  com- 
mons, heaths,  ways,  courts  leet,  views  of  frankpledge,  Courts  Baron, 
royalties,  liberties,  rents,  suits,  services,  perquisites  of  courts,  profits, 
emoluments,  commodities,  appurts.,  and  particulars  whatsoever  to  the  said 
manor  belonging  or  appertaining  ....  situate  lying  and  being  in  the 
towns,  parishes,  hamlets,  or  places  of  Weston  Market,  Thelnetham,  Barning- 
ham,  Hopton,  Coney  West  on  or  some  or  one  of  them  in  the  coy.  of  Suffolk; 
and  also  All  that  capital  messuage  in  Weston  Market  aforesaid  commonly 
called  or  known  by  the  name  of  Wards  or  by  whatsover  other  name  the 

1  Feet  of  Fines,  u  Rich.  II.  17.  3  See  Manor  of  Rougham  in  Thedwestry 

'  His  will  is  dated  28  Hen.  VI.  Hundred. 


400  THE   MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

same  is  called  or  known,  with  all  the  houses,  edifices,  buildings,  yards,  or- 
chards, gardens,  and  other  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  and 
also  all  other  the  messuages,  lands,  or  tenements  and  hereditaments  what- 
soever of  him  the  said  Wiseman  Bokenham  which  were  theretofore  the 
jointure  of  Dame  Dorothy  Bokenham  deceased  mother  of  him  the  said 
Wiseman  situate  lying  and  being  in  Weston  Market,  Thelnetham,  Barning- 
ham,  Hopton,  or  Coney  Weston  aforesaid  or  some  or  one  of  them  with  their 
and  every  their  appurtenances  to  the  use  of  the  said  Wiseman  Bokenham 
for  life  and  after  his  decease  to  the  use  of  Richard  Bokenham  and  George 
Bokenham  and  their  heirs  to  the  intent  and  purpose  that  they  and  their 
heirs  should  stand  and  be  seised  of  one  moiety  of  the  manor,  rectory, 
messuages,  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments,  and  other  the  premises  to  the 
use  of  Richard  Bokenham  and  the  heirs  of  his  body  lawfully  to  be  begotten, 
and  for  default  of  such  issue  then  to  the  use  of  the  said  Geo.  Bokenham 
and  the  heirs  of  his  body  lawfully  to  be  begotten,  and  for  want  of  such 
issue  then  to  the  use  of  Walsingham  Bokenham  and  to  the  heirs  of  the 
body  of  the  said  Walsingham  lawfully  to  be  begotten,  and  for  default  of  such 
issue  then  to  the  use  of  Richard  Bokenham  and  his  heirs  for  ever,  and  as  to 
the  other  moiety  to  the  use  of  Geo.  Bokenham  and  the  heirs  of  his  body 
lawfully  to  be  begotten,  and  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  of  Richard 
Bokenham  and  the  heirs  of  his  body  lawfully  to  be  begotten,  and  for  default 
of  such  issue  to  the  use  of  the  said  Walsingham  Bokenham  and  the  heirs  of 
his  body  lawfully  to  be  begotten,  and  for  default  of  such  issue  for  the  use 
of  Geo.  Bokenham  and  his  heirs  for  ever." 

Wiseman  Bokenham  by  his  will  dated  the  7  Nov.  1669  (inter  alia) 
gave  and  devised  unto  the  said  Richd.  Bokenham  and  George  Bokenham 
his  sons  the  said  Manor  of  Weston  Market  and  the  advowson  and  right  of 
patronage  of  the  Church  of  Weston  Market  aforesaid  and  all  other  the  heredita- 
ments which  formed  the  jointure  of  his  mother  and  to  their  heirs  for  ever. 
And  did  also  by  his  said  will  give  and  devise  unto  his  son  George  in  fee  a 
tenement  called  Lovetts  and  Downes  with  a  pightle  thereunto  belonging 
in  the  occupation  of  Wm.  Wyard  and  60  acres  of  land  called  N.  Woods  in 
the  occupation  of  John  Doughty,  and  certain  lands  called  Ladyes  Fields 
containing  9  acres,  and  one  piece  of  land  called  Bells  Land  al.  Beau  and  con- 
taining 2  acres,  and  one  other  close  called  Ladyes  Field  containing  5  acres, 
and  one  piece  of  arable  land  containing  3  acres  lying  in  Thelnetham,  and 
also  one  other  tenement  with  the  land  thereunto  belonging  in  the  occu- 
pation of  —  Pasesman  lying  and  being  in  Stoke  Ash. 

Wiseman  Bokenham  died,  and  Richard  Bokenham  and  George  Bokenham 
by  virtue  of  this  conveyance  and  will  entered  into  the  manor  and  heredita- 
ments, but  not  without  opposition  from  their  brother  Paul  Bokenham 
who  made  claim  to  the  manor  of  Weston  Market  and  the  other  premises 
settled  upon  Richard  and  George  in  tail  alleging  that  Wiseman  Bokenham 
his  father  had  no  title  to  settle  and  devise  the  same  and  proceeded  so  far 
that  in  1670  he  filed  a  Bill  in  the  Court  of  Chancery  against  Richard  and 
George  Bokenham  for  discovery  of  evidences  of  the  estate.  Subsequently 
however  Paul  Bokenham  being  advised  that  he  had  no  right,  came  to 
an  agreement  with  his  brothers  Richard  and  George  under  which,  in  con- 
sideration of  £150  and  of  the  conveyance  to  him  in  fee  of  a  messuage  and 
lands  in  Stoke  Ash  and  Gt.Thornham  he,  by  indentures  dated  the  28  and 
29  April  1671  conveyed  and  confirmed  to  Richard  and  George  Bokenham 
the  said  Manor  of  Weston  Market  and  other  the  hereditaments  by  his 
father  settled  upon  them. 


WESTON    MARKET.  401 

George  Bokenham  by  his  will  dated  3  Oct.  1672  gave  to  his  two  brothers 
Hugh  and  Cleare1  £70  each.  To  his  two  sisters  Cecilia  and  Grace2  £10 
apiece.  To  his  nephew  Thomas  Tyrrell  £10,  to  Mr.  Keziah  Tyrrell  a 
mourning  ring.  To  his  nephew  Walsingham  £10.  To  "  the  fair  Mrs.  Alice 
Brand'ston  of  Woodham  Water  in  Essex"  £10  to  buy  a  ring  if  not  married. 
To  his  brother  Richard  his  moiety  of  Weston  Manor  and  advowson  and  of 
all  the  messuages  &c.  in  Thelnetham  in  fee.  The  will  was  duly  proved 
in  the  Prerogative  Court  in  i674-3  Richard  Bokenham  thus  became 
seised  of  the  whole  manor. 

He  married  first  Elizabeth  eldest  daughter  of  Maurice  Shelton  of  Shelton, 
in  Norfolk,  by  Elizabeth  his  wife  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Kemp  of  Gissing  co. 
Norfolk  Bart.  Elizabeth  died  I2th  March  1692  and  is  buried  in  the  Church 
of  Weston  Market  where  on  a  flat  black  marble  near  the  south  chancel  wall 
and  door  is  an  inscription  to  her  memory.  According  to  this  inscription 
she  had  three  sons  by  her  husband  Richard  Bokenham.  Richard  Bokenham 
married  secondly  Katherine  2nd  daughter  of  Sir  John  Knyvet  Knight  of 
the  Bath  of  Ash  well-Thorpe  co.  Norfolk  and  relict  of  John  Harris  and  died 
the  2  December  1729  in  his  Both  year.  By  his  will  dated  thegth  Sept.  1715 
he  desires  to  be  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Weston  Church  near  to  his  first 
wife  Elizabeth  and  bequeaths  to  Katherine  his  second  wife  his  plate,  jewels, 
&c.  and  £500,  also  his  best  bed  and  bedding  in  the  best  room  at  Weston, 
his  coach  and  coach  horses,  and  confirms  the  jointure  made  before  marriage. 
And  after  reciting  that  his  nephew  Walsingham  Bokenham  at  his  decease 
gave  £100  to  his  kinswoman  Margaret  Yaxley  to  be  paid  at  his  (testator's) 
death,  he  willed  that  £20  be  paid  to  her  quarterly  for  life  in  lieu  thereof. 
He  devised  the  reversion  of  all  lands,  estates,  advowsons,  and  manors  &c. 
to  his  kinsman  Thos.  Tyrrell  of  Gipping  and  all  woods,  lands,  &c.  at  Weston 
Market  and  Thelnetham  and  Hopton  he  paying  all  just  debts,  funeral 
expenses,  and  legacies.  And  after  reciting  that  he  was  in  debt  to  his 
nephew  Walsingham  Bokenham  by  note  of  hand  for  one  thousand  pounds 
the  same  to  be  paid  to  his  (testaor's)  kinsman  Thos.  Tyrrell,  he  directed 
that  his  wife  Katherine  should  enjoy  all  estates  &c.  for  her  life,  and  bequeathed 
to  the  poor  of  Weston  Market  a  legacy  as  also  to  his  servants.  Thomas 
Tyrrell  was  appointed  sole  executor. 

In  1717  Katherine  Bokenham  had  claimed  and  in  1720  established  her 
right  to  the  Barony  of  Berners  by  proving  descent  in  the  ninth  generation 
from  Sir  John  Bourchier  K.G.4  who  died  the  21  March  1473.'  The  Barony 
had  been  dormant  from  the  23  Hen.  VIII.  to  that  period.  She  died 
Nov.  29,  1743  aged  89  and  without  issue,  when  the  dignity  fell  again  into 
abeyance.  She  was  buried  by  the  side  of  her  second  husband  in  the 
chancel  of  the  parish  church  of  Weston  Market  and  the  barony  descended 
to  the  heirs  of  Thomas  Knivett  of  Mutford. 

On  her  death  the  manor  passed  to  Thomas  Tyrrell  (who  had  assumed 
the  name  of  Bokenham  and  was  known  as  Thomas  Bokenham  Tyrrell  the 

1  Cleare  Bokenham  was  educated  at  Caius  *  He  was  the  fourth  son  of  Wm.  Earl  of 
Coll.  Cambridge  and  was  A.M.  in  Ewe  (of  Ashwell  Thorpe  co.  Norf.) 
1664.  He  became  rector  of  Thorn-  by  the  Lady  Ann  Plantagenet  his 
ham  Magna,  and  was  buried  there  wife  daughter  of  Thomas  of  Wood- 
June  I4th  1698.  stock,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  the  sixth 

'  She  was  married  to  Edward  Tyrrell  in  son  of  King  Edw.   III.  and  sister 

I062.  and  sole  heir  of  Humphrey  Earl  of 

3  Bunce,  fol.  96,  Lib.  2.  Buckingham  her  brother. 

'  Created  Baron  Berners  in  the  33  Hen. 
VI. 


402  THE   MANORS   OF   SUFFOLK. 

son  of  Thomas  Tyrrell  of  Gipping)  the  devisee  under  Richard  Bokenham's 
will. 

In  1764  John  Thurston  M.D.  was  the  owner  of  the  manor  and 
seated  at  Weston  Hall.  He  died  in  1776  when  his  cousin  Framlingham 
Thurston,  barrister-at-law  succeeded  to  the  lordship  and  died  at  the  age  of 
40,  the  i8th  January  1789  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  whither  he  had  gone  with 
the  object  of  attending  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  as  a  County  Magistrate. 
He  married  Frances  eldest  daughter  of  *^^x\  Holworthy  of  Elsworth 
leaving  two  sons  John  and  Frederick.  The  latter  was  the  minister  of 
Bayswater  Chapel  and  died  in  1821  ;  the  former  John  Thurston  succeeded 
to  the  manor.  He  married  first  a  wife  named  Margaret  who  died  at 
Boulogne  30  Oct.  1826,  and  2ndly  another  Margaret  eldest  daughter  of 
R.  C.  Coker.  He  died  the  roth  March  1849  age^  66  leaving  a  son  by  his 
first  wife,  named  Framlingham  Thurston  who  married  Catherine  3rd 
daughter  of  Thomas  Wilkinson  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Framlingham  (sic) 
William  Thurston  who  died  in  Nelson  Square  London  I2th  Sept.  1849 
aged  18. 

On  the  death  of  John  Thurston  in  1849  the  manor  passed  to  his  widow 
Margaret  who  sold  the  same  to  T.  E.  Amyott  of  Diss,  surgeon,  whose 
executors  sold  the  manor  to  Donald  Charles  Warnes  of  Bramford  Lodge, 
Ipswich,  who  is  the  present  lord. 

The  custom  of  Borough  English  by  which  the  youngest  son  or  daughter 
succeeds  to  the  manor  in  cases  of  intestacy,  prevails,  it  is  said,  in  80  manors 
in  Suffolk.  Amongst  these  this  manor  and  the  Manor  of  Thelnetham  are 
included. 


WEST    STOW. 


403 


WEST  STOW  HALL. 


WEST  STOW. 

HE  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  held  21  freemen  with  2  carucates  of 
land,  6  ploughteams  and  2  acres  of  meadow  valued  at  20 
shillings.     The  men  were  under  the  Abbot  by  soc  and  sac 
and  all  customs,  and  did  their  service  in  Lackford.    And 
there  was  another  freeman  with  half  a  carucate,  and  one 
ploughteam   valued   at   4   shillings.     Also   a   church   with 
12  acres  of  free  land  in  alms  lying  in  another  hundred.     The 
length  of  the  Abbot's  holding  was  9  quarentenes  and  the  breadth  7,  and 
it  paid  in  a  gelt  ijd.' 

The  lordship  of  the  parish  was  at  an  early  date  vested  in  the  Abbot  of 
St.  Edmund,  but  the  parish  itself  from  the  time  of  Henry  III.  was  divided 
into  two  manors,  West  Stow  and  Jenney's  Manor.  In  1196  Robert  de 
Horningsherth  by  fine  before  the  King's  Justices  at  Westminster  acknow- 
ledged the  service  of  half  a  knight's  fee  to  be  due  for  his  lands  in  that 
parish  and  Horningsherth  to  Sampson  Abbot  of  that  Monastery.2  To 
Robert  de  Horningsherth  succeeded  Walter,  and  in  the  I4th  Edw.  I.  it  was 
certified  that  Isabella  the  daughter  of  this  Walter  de  Horningsherth  held 
freely  in  West  Stow  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  a  messuage  and  60  acres  of 
land.  Sir  Ralph  de  Hemenhall  and  Alicia  his  wife  held  land  here  in  1307. 
m  J335  Robert  son  of  Sir  Ralph  de  Hemenhall  and  Agnes  his  wife  levied  a 
fine  in  respect  of  such  land,3  and  in  1364  Sir  Wm.  de  Hemenhall  also  levied 
a  fine.4  The  Austins  and  the  Attebrigges  also  had  land  here  in  the  time  of 
Edw.  III.  for  from  the  Pat.  Rolls  in  1329  we  learn  that  the  Abbot  received 
a  pardon  for  acquiring  in  mortmain  from  John  Austyn,  Walter  Attebrigge, 
and  Peter  Attebrigge  a  toft  and  2  acres  of  land  in  West  Stow.5 

WEST  STOW  MANOR. 

This  manor  remained  with  the  monastery  of  Bury  until  the  Dissolution 
of  that  house,  when  it  devolved  on  the  Crown  and  was  granted  the  25  March 


1  Dom.  ii.  365. 

•  Page,  Hist,  of  Sufi.  817. 

'  Feet  of  Fines,  9  Edw.  III.  16. 


4  Feet  of  Fines,  39  Edw.  III.  23,  40  Edw. 

III.  28. 
*  Pat.  Rolls,  3  Ed.  HI.  pt.  i.  30. 


4o4  THE    MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

ii  Hen.  VIII.  [1519]  to  Sir  John  Croftes.  The  particulars  for  the  grant 
will  be  found  in  the  Record  Office.1  The  grant  itself  which  was  in  fee  and 
in  consideration  of  a  payment  of  £497.  os.  yd.  is  noted  in  the  State  Papers  for 
1540'  and  included  the  advowson  of  the  church,  a  water  mill,  a  meadow  and 
fulling  mill  in  West  Stow,  and  also  a  close  of  land  and  pasture  called  Cage's 
close  in  Magna  Barton  and  various  rents  and  services.  West  Stow  Manor  is 
included  in  the  Inquisition  post  mortem  of  Jasper  Lucas  who  died  on  the  17 
Feb.  1529'  leaving  Thomas  Lucas  his  son  and  heir.  It  will  be  observed 
that  in  the  will  of  Sir  John  Crofts  in  1557  he  refers  to  property  he  had 
purchased  from  the  family  of  Lucas,  but  this  property  he  leaves  to  his  son 
Thomas.  We  mention  the  fact,  but  can  offer  no  explanation. 

The  Croftes  had  held  the  other  manor  in  West  Stow — Jenney's  Manor 
—according  to  the  inscription  to  Thomas  Croftes,  since  the  time  of  Edward 
the  First.  John  Croftes  to  whom  the  grant  was  made  of  West  Stow  Manor 
was  of  the  household  of  Mary  Queen  of  France  wife  of  Charles  Brandon, 
Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  in  compliment  to  his  royal  mistress  he  placed  her 
achievement  over  the  gate  of  the  mansion  West  Stow  Hall,  built  by  him. 
"  To  this  circumstance,"  says  Mr.  Tymms,4  "  we  probably  owe  the  tradition 
which  asserts  that  the  young  and  royal  widow,  freed  from  her  State  con- 
tract with  an  old  and  feeble  monarch,  and  now  allied  to  the  gay  and 
handsome  object  of  her  early  and  romantic  attachment,  passed  her 
time  in  happy  seclusion  between  the  halls  of  West  Stow  and  Westhorpe. 
At  least  this  is  the  only  fact  which,  as  yet,  has  been  ascertained  to  connect 
the  place  with  the  beautiful  Dowager  of  France."  The  idea  that  the 
Duchess  ever  resided  at  West  Stow  is  ridiculous.  It  arose  no  doubt  from 
the  fact  of  her  arms  being  placed  on  the  gateway  and  the  confusion  between 
the  names  Westhorpe  and  West  Stow.  John  Croftes  was  knighted  the 
2  Oct.  1553  being  the  day  after  the  coronation  of  Queen  Mary.  He  married 
Rose  dau.  and  heir  of  -  -  Sampson  of  Kersey  and  widow  of  John  Bledlowe 
of  London.  By  his  will  dated  the  2ist  Jan.  1557-8,'  and  proved  in  London 
the  loth  May  1559,  he  directed  that  his  body  should  be  buried  in  the  church 
of  West  Stow,  bequeathing  to  the  church  four  pounds  for  vestments  and 
books  ;  to  the  poor  of  every  township  in  the  Hundred  of  Blackbourn  he 
left  six  shillings  and  eightpence  ;  all  his  household  stuff  at  West  Stow 
he  gave  to  Edmund  his  son  ;  to  his  sister  Margaret  an  annuity  of  ten  pounds ; 
and  after  dealing  specifically  with  Bardwell  Manor0  and  certain  estates 
he  had  acquired  from  the  Lucas  family,  he  gave  to  his  son  Thomas  and  to 
each  of  his  executors  for  their  trouble  one  hundred  hogg  sheep.  Sir  John 
Croftes  died  28  Jan.  I557-8.7  Edmund  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Croftes  by 
Rose  Sampson  of  Kersey  his  wife,  widow8  of  John  Bledlowe  of  London, 
survived  his  father  only  a  few  days  dying  the  I4th  Feb.  1557-8'  and  was 
buried  at  West  Stow.  The  reference  to  this  manor  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  is  as 
follows  :  The  jurors  say  that,  before  the  death  of  Edward  [Edmund] 
John  Croftes  knight  was  seised  of  the  Manor  of  West  Stow,  a  fulling  mill, 

1  31  Hen.  VIII.  D.K.R.  9.  App.  ii.  p.  195.  Little  Saxham  Parish  Registers,  p. 

•  S.P.  436  (75).  129. 

»  I.P.M.,  32  Hen.  VIII.  34.  •  I.P.M.,  Elizabeth  Croftes,  ii  Hen.  VIII. 

«  Suff.  Inst.  ii.  p.  148.  63. 

5  See  also  Saxham  Parva  Hall   Manor  in  •  I. P.M.,  4  June  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  21. 

Thingoe  Hundred.  Printed  in  English  by  the  Rev.  S. 

•  Probably  Wykes  Manor  in  Bardwell  in  H.  A.  Hervey,  in  his  West  Stow 

this  Hundred.  Parish  Registers,  p.  164. 

'  I.P.M.,  4  and  5  P.  and  M.  32, 54.    A  copy 
is  given  in  the  Rev.  S.  H.  A.  Hervey's 


WEST    STOW.  405 

405.  rent,  advowson  of  church  and  liberty  of  one  foldage  there,  and  of  a 
close  of  land  there  called  Cage's  Close,  which  said  manor  &c.  were  parcel  of 
the  possessions  of  the  late  monastery  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  and  of  a  toft, 
40  acres  of  land,  2  acres  of  meadow,  6  acres  of  marsh  and  6  shillings  rent 
in  West  Stow  purchased  by  the  said  John  Croftes  of  Thomas  Lucas  Esquire  ; 
and  by  his  will  he  declared :  I  will  and  give  to  Margaret  Crofts  my  sister 
an  annuity  of  10  marks  out  of  West  Stow,  and  my  purchased  lands 
to  be  paid  at  the  Annunciation  and  St.  Michael  &c.  And  at  his  death  the 
aforesaid  manor  &c.  descended  to  Edward  [Edmund]  Croftes  as  his  son 
and  heir  being  then  37  years  old.  And  on  the  3  Feb.  before  the  taking  of 
this  inquisition  he  had  livery  of  the  premises  and  on  Feb.  8  entered  on  them. 
And  the  manor  of  West  Stow  and  premises  late  of  the  monastery  of  Bury 
St.  Edmunds  are  held  of  the  King  and  Queen  in  chief  by  one-tenth  of  a 
knight's  fee  and  worth  per  annum  £15.  6s.  8^.  beyond  the  said  annual  rent  of 
10  marks  and  the  rent  of  405.  given  by  the  will  to  one  John  Dent  for  life. 
And  the  said  tenements  and  rents  so  purchased  are  held  of  the  King  and 
Queen  of  the  Hundred  of  Blackbourn  and  worth  per  an.  265.  8d. 

Edmund  Croftes's  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Kytson  of  Hengrave  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  Thomas  Croftes  of  Little 
Saxham  and  Henry  who  died  without  issue.  By  his  second  wife  Eleanor 
daughter  of  Thos.  Lord  Borough  he  had  a  son  John  Croftes  of  Wangford 
who  died  in  1558  without  issue,  and  two  daughters,  Margaret,  wife  of  John 
Southwell  of  Barham  in  Norfolk,  and  Alice  who  died  in  Jan.  1561  unmarried. 
Thomas  Croftes  the  eldest  son  was  only  18  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  death,  and  on  coming  of  age  changed  the  family  residence  from 
West  Stow  to  the  Hall  of  Little  Saxham.  He  was  High  Sheriff  for  the 
County  in  1595.  By  Susan  daughter  of  John  Poley  of  Badley  he  left 
many  children  of  whom  Sir  John  Croftes  was  the  eldest  son.  Thomas 
Croftes  died  the  13  April  1612,  and  on  a  mural  monument  on  the  north  side 
of  the  chancel  of  the  church  of  West  Stow  is  the  following  genealogical 
inscription — wretched  orthography,  not  even  consistent  with  itself  : — 

"  Here  lyeth  the  boddye  of  Thomas  Croftes  Esquior  sonne  and  heireof 
Edmunde  Croftes,  by  Elizabeth,  eldest  Daughter  of  Sr.  Thomas  Kitson 
Knight,  which  Edmunde  was  the  sonne  and  Heyre  of  Sr.  John  Croftes 
Knight  and  Rose  his  wife  Daughter  and  Heyre  of  Sampson  :  which  Sr. 
John  Croftes  was  sonne  of  John  Croftes  [ye  sonne  of  John]  descended  of 
Thomas  ye  sonne  of  John  Croftes  who  married  the  Daughter  and  Heyre 
of  Ginne,  was  Lord  of  this  Manor  and  kept  his  firste  Courte  heere  on  St. 
Barnabye's  day  in  A°  r°  Edward  I.  as  appereth  by  auncient  Courte  Rowles 
yet  extant  in  ye  custodie  of  Sr.  John  Croftes  Knighte  now  livinge,  eldest 
sonne  and  Heyre  of  the  sayde  Thomas  :  who  caused  this  monument  to  be 
erected  for  a  memoryall  of  his  dutyous  love  to  his  deceased  Father,  who 
lyved  a  worthye  and  well  beloved  Gent,  in  this  his  countrye  untill  he  sawe 
his  children's  children,  he  departed  this  life  at  his  house  at  Little  Saxham 
ye  13  of  Aprill  1612  and  in  the  75  yeere  of  his  age  ;  appointinge  by  his 
laste  wil  his  boddie  to  be  buried  in  this  Church  amongest  divers  of  his  worthie 
auncesters.  he  marryed  Susan  eldest  Daughter  of  John  Poley  of  Badlye 
Esquier  who  dyed  before  him,  and  lieth  buryed  in  a  chappell  of  ye  church 
of  Little  Saxham  :  by  whom  he  had  yssue  divers  Sonnes  and  Daughters." 

Thomas  Croftes'  will  was  dated  the  2  April  1612  and  it  was  proved  the 
27  June  following  by  Sir  John  Croftes  his  son  and  executor.1  A  copy  of  the 
will  may  be  seen  in  the  Rev.  S.  H.  A.  Hervey's  West  Stow  Parish  Registers.1 

1  P.C.C.,  49  Fenner.  '  Woodbridge,  1903,  p.  148. 


406  THE  MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

Sir  John  Croftes  was  knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  1599.  He  not 
unlikely  had  West  Stow  settled  upon  him  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  about 

1590,  as  we  find  he  presented  to  the  living  during  his  father's  lifetime  in 

1591,  1593  and  1610.    He  married  Mary  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Shirley 
of  Witneston  in  Sussex  and  had  among  other  children  Sir  Henry  Croftes  of 
Little  Saxham  and  Anthony  Croftes  of  West  Stow.    Sir  John  Croftes  was 
buried  at  Little  Saxham  on  the  29  March  1628.     His  will  is  dated  the  i 
Oct.  1627  and  it  was  proved  the  I  Feb.  1629  by  Dame  Mary  Croftes,  relict 
and  executrix,  also  by  Anthony  Croftes  son  and  "  executor  specialis.'" 
On  the  marriage  in  1610  of  Sir  Henry  Croftes  with  his  first  wife  Elizabeth 
daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Wortley  of  Wortley,  West  Stow  Hall  was  settled 
in  remainder  expectant  upon  the  deaths  of  Thomas  the  grandfather  and 
Sir  John  the  father  on  Anthony  Croftes  the  second  son. 

Anthony  Croftes  was  a  member  of  Gray's  Inn  in  1612  and  probably 
the  author  of  a  poem  entitled  "  The  Husband,  a  Poeme,  expressed  in  a 
compleat  man,"  London,  1614,  4to.  He  represented  the  borough  of  St. 
Edmundsbury  in  Parliament  in  1623,  and  died  the  i  October  1657  aged 
64,  leaving  issue  by  Mary/  daughter  of  Richard  Francklin  of  Wilsdon  in 
Middlesex  relict  of  Sir  John  Smyth  of  Leeds  Castle  in  Kent,  Knt.  three  sons : 
ist  Sir  John  Croftes  of  West  Stow ;  2nd  William  Croftes  of  Little  Saxham ; 
3rd  Anthony  Croftes  of  Badley  who  died  unmarried  in  1713  and  was  buried 
at  West  Stow. 

A  flat  stone  in  the  tower  of  West  Stow  Church  records  : — 

"  Here  lyeth  interred  ye  body  of  Anthony  Croftes  of  West  Stow  in 
ye  County  of  Suffolke  Esq.,  the  second  sonne  of  Sir  John  Croftes  of  Little 
Saxham  in  ye  said  County  knt.,  whose  tender  care  towardes  his  wife  and 
children  and  greate  abillyties  and  forwardnes  to  assiste  his  friendes  and 
acquaintance  hath  made  his  death  an  unspeakable  loss  to  ye  first  and  a 
generall  griefe  to  ye  last.  He  departed  this  life  uppon  ye  first  day  of  October 
in  ye  64  yeare  of  his  age  and  in  1657  °f  our  Saviour  Christs  Incarnation. 
To  ye  honour  of  whose  memory  John  Croftes  his  eldest  sonn  and  sole 
executor  hath  layde  this  marble."  On  a  mural  tablet  in  the  tower  is  also 
this  inscription  :  "  Upon  ye  much  lamented  death  of  her  husband  Anthony 
Crofts  of  West  Stow  in  ye  County  of  Suffolcke  Esq.,  second  Sonne  of  Sir  John 
Crofts  of  little  Saxham  in  the  same  County  Knt.,  Dame  Mary  Smyth 
the  daughter  of  Richard  Francklin  of  Wilsden  in  the  County  of  Middlesex 
Esq.,  and  the  relict  of  Sir  John  Smyth  of  Leeds  Castle  in  the  county  of 
Kent  Knt.  (who  was  his  only  wife  and  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter  who 
dyed  before  him  and  three  sonnes,  viz.,  John,  William,  and  Anthony, 
who  all  did  survive  him)  hath  in  testimony  of  her  entire  affection  to  him 
whilst  he  lived  and  of  her  piety  to  his  memory  now  he  is  dead  caused  to  bee 
erected  this  monument." 

Anthony  Croftes  the  father's  will  bears  date  the  15  May  1654,  and  it 
was  proved  in  London  the  26  Oct.  1657  by  John  Croftes  the  executor.3  In 
this  will  the  testator  says :  "  Whereas  I  have  made  noe  intayle  uppon  my 

1  P.C.C.,  8  Scroope.     A  copy  of  this  will  children,  in  honour  of  whose  memory 

is  given  by  the  Rev.  Sydenham  H.  A.  her  two  sorrowinge   sonns  Wiliam 

Hervey  in  his  West  Stow  Parish  and     Anthony "     dedicated       the 

Registers  (Woodbridge  1903,  p.  151).  marble. 

3  She  lived  till  80,  dying  on   the  u  May         3  P.C.C.  352  Ruthen.    A  copy  is  given  by 
1678,  and  according  to  her  monu-  the  Rev.  S.  H.  A.  Hervey  in  nis 
mental  inscription  in  West    Stow  Registers    of    West   Stow    (Wood- 
Church    was     "  emanently    pious  bridge,  1903,  p.  152). 
towards    God    and    kind    to    his 


WEST    STOW.  407 

landes,  but  have  left  them  to  descend  to  my  sonne  and  heire  in  ffee  simple, 
subject  to  such  leases  and  payments  as  shalbe  herein  expressed,  now  it  is 
my  desire  that  if  it  please  God  that  sonne  John  shall  depart  this  life  without 
issue  male  and  leaving  one  or  more  daughters,  that  he  would  not  suffer 
said  landes  to  descend  to  his  heirs  female,  but  would  intayl  them  upon  his 
brother  William  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body,  with .  remainder  to  his 
brother  Anthony  and  heirs  male,  with  remaynder  to  his  owne  right  heires  or 
any  other  person  that  he  in  his  judgement  and  affection  shall  thincke  fitt. 

"  Whereas  the  Manners  of  West  Stowe  and  Ginnis  in  Co.  of  Suffolk  were 
heretofore  purchased  by  Robert  Lewes  Esq.,  William  Greeke  Esq.,  and 
John  Legg  gent,  with  my  money  and  in  trust  for  me  and  in  trust  that  they 
should  make  such  estate  in  said  manners  either  to  me  or  to  any  others 
persons  as  I  should  appoint ;  and  Whereas  my  said  trustees  have  by  my 
appointment  made  a  lease  of  said  manors  for  21  yeares  to  John  Smith  of 
Highgate  Esq.,  Mr.  Robert  Croftes  and  others  since  deceased,  upon  trust 
that  said  lessees  should  receive  the  rents  of  said  manners  to  the  profitt  and 
increase  of  the  sheepe  thereupon  depasturinge  to  such  uses  as  in  the  inden- 
ture of  lease  is  mencioned  ;  and  Whereas  said  Robert  Lewes,  William 
Greeke,  and  John  Legg  not  long  after  did  convey  said  manners  to  me  and 
my  heires  for  ever ;  and  Whereas  since  then  said  lessees  and  my  selfe  have 
graunted  one  annuity  of  £300  out  of  said  mannors  unto  certaine  ffeoffees 
in  trust  for  the  use  of  my  dearly  beloved  wife  for  her  life,  which  said  rent 
I  desire  may  be  justlie  paid  unto  her  ;  Now  my  will  is  that  said  John  Smyth 
and  Robert  Croftes,  my  surviving  lessees  in  trust,  shall  permitt  my  eldest 
son  John  Croftes  to  receive  to  his  own  use  all  the  surplusage  of  the  rents  and 
profitts  of  said  mannors  and  of  the  yearlie  increase  of  the  sheepe  thereupon 
depasturing  which  shalbe  over  and  above  the  yearly  £300  payable  to  my 
wife.  And  if  it  shall  please  God  that  my  sonne  John  shall  depart  this  life 
before  he  shall  have  paid  £1,200  a  piece  to  my  younger  sonnes  William  and 
Anthony,  and  shall  not  leave  assetts  behinde  him  sufficient  for  the  payment 
thereof,  then  my  will  is  that  said  John  Smyth  and  Robert  Croftes  shall 
paie  them  their  said  porcions  out  of  the  rents  of  said  mannors.  It  is  my 
will  that  all  my  stocke  of  sheepe  that  shalbe  goinge  upon  any  of  my  lands 
in  West  Stowe  at  the  tyme  of  my  death,  together  with  the  yearely  increase 
of  them  (except  such  number  as  have  been  accustomed  to  be  yearlie  sold  of) 
shall  be  left  upon  said  landes  dureing  the  life  tyme  of  my  deare  wife  and 
untill  my  twoe  younger  sonnes  William  and  Anthony  shall  have  received 
their  £1,200  each." 

By  a  codicil  the  testator  provided  that  "  It  is  my  will  and  pleasure  that 
my  most  dearly  beloved  wife  shall  injoye  the  possession  of  my  chiefe  man- 
sion and  dwelling-house  in  West  Stowe  dureing  the  life  of  my  deare  sister 
the  Lady  Bryers.  And  if  any  difference  or  controversie  arise  concerning 
my  meaninge  in  my  will,  it  shall  be  determined  by  my  deare  brother  Sir 
Henry  Croftes  under  his  hand  and  scale.  I  bequeath  to  my  twoe  nephues 
Sir  Fredericke  Cornwallis  and  Sir  Edmund  Poley  40  shillings  a  peice  to  buy 
them  ringes.  Antho'  Croftes."  Proved  with  codicil  at  London,  Oct. 
26,  1657,  by  John  Croftes  the  executor.  P.C.C.  352  Ruthen. 

Sir  John  Croftes  the  eldest  son  was  created  a  Baronet  the  16  March 
1660  and  took  to  wife  Bryers,  daughter  and  heir  of  George  Wharton  of 
Wrotham  in  Kent.  He  had  by  her  two  children,  Bryers  and  John  both 
of  whom  died  infants.  Sir  John  died  the  2gth  November  1664  in  his  3oth 
year  at  his  house  at  West  Stow  without  issue. 


408  THE   MANORS    OF  SUFFOLK. 

Sir  John  Croftes  by  his  will  dated  the  29  Nov.  1664'  gave  to  Dame  Bryers 
Croftes  his  "  deere  wife  "  all  his  house,  lands  &c.  at  West  Stow  and  all  other 
his  lands  &c.  "  and  all  that  he  had  in  the  world,"  to  her  and  her  heirs  for 
ever  she  paying  to  his  mother  the  Lady  Smith  £300  per  annum  during  her 
life.  Testator  went  on  to  order  that  his  land  at  West  Stow  should  be  sold 
to  pay  his  debts,  and  after  giving  certain  legacies  gave  the  remainder  of  the 
money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  land  to  be  equally  divided  between  his 
two  brothers  William  and  Anthony.  Shortly  after  Sir  John  Croftes'  death, 
no  doubt  to  clear  up  the  inconsistency  of  his  will,  a  deed  dated  the  18  Jan. 
1664  was  executed  between  Dame  Bryers  Croftes  the  widow  and  the  two 
brothers  William  and  Anthony  under  which  the  manor  vested  in  the  widow. 
She  by  her  will  dated  the  I3th  Nov.  1669*  appointed  Edward  Progers  of  St. 
Martin  in  the  Fields  Middlesex  to  be  sole  executor,  and  after  making  various 
pecuniary  and  specific  bequests  devised  all  her  estate  of  lands,  tenements, 
and  hereditaments  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  and  all  her  goods  to  the  said 
Edward  Progers  and  his  heirs  for  ever.  She  died  the  13  Jan.  1669  and 
was  buried  with  her  husband  at  West  Stow  where  there  is  an  inscription 
to  her  memory. 

Mr.  Progers  was  a  younger  son  of  Colonel  Progers  of  Garreddin  in  Mon- 
mouthshire, equerry  to  James  I.;  and  being  early  introduced  to  court  as 
page  to  Charles  I.  was  afterwards  groom  of  the  chamber  to  Charles  II. 
whilst  Prince  of  Wales.  Mr.  Tymms  says  of  him  in  an  article  on  West  Stow 
Hall5 :  "  In  the  lampoons  of  the  times,  particularly  in  those  of  Andrew 
Marvell,  Mr.  Progers  is  described  as  one  devoted  to  assist  his  master's 
pleasures ;  for  which  reason,  perhaps,  he  was  banished  from  the  King's 
presence  in  1650  by  an  Act  of  the  Estates  of  Scotland,  '  as  an  evil  instrument 
and  bad  counseller  of  the  King.'  He  is  said  to  have  obtained  several  grants 
to  take  effect  after  the  Restoration ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  they  took 
effect.  In  1660  he  was  named  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Royal  Oak,  an 
order  the  King  then  intended  to  institute.  He  represented  the  County  of 
Brecon  in  Parliament  for  17  years,  but  retired  in  1679.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Wells  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  Court,  and  their  daughter  Frances, 
wife  of  Sir  Sydenham  Fowke  inherited  West  Stow  and  left  it  to  her 
nephew  John  Edwards." 

The  Progers  MSS.  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Nevil  Story  Maskelyne 
of  Basset  Down  House,  Swindon,  Wilts,  have  been  catalogued  by  the  Com- 
missioners appointed  for  inspecting  and  reporting  on  the  Historical  MSS. 
Amongst  them  are  some  interesting  letters.  One  from  Charles  II.  to  Edward 
Progers  dated  the  14  Jan.  1649  is  as  follows  :  Progers,  I  wold  have  you 
(besides  the  embroidered  sute)  bring  me  a  plaine  riding  suite  wth.  an  Innocent 
coate,  the  suites  I  have  for  Horsebacke  being  so  spotted  and  spoil'd  that 
they  are  not  to  be  scene  out  of  this  Island.  The  lining  of  the  coate  and  the 
petit  teies  (?)  are  referred  to  yr.  greate  discretion,  provided  these  want 
nothing  when  it  comes  to  be  put  on.  I  doe  not  remember  there  was  a 
Belt  or  a  Hatband  in  yr.  directions  for  the  embroider'd  suite,  and  those  are 
so  necessarie  as  you  must  not  forget  them.  Charles  R."  There  are 

'  Proved    the    3    Jan.    1664    by    Dame  '  Proved  in  London,  the  i  Feb.  1669  by 

"  Brieres"  Croftes  relict  and  executrix  Edward  Progers  the  executor.    P.C. 

A  copy  of  this  will  is  given  in  the  C.  17  Penn.    A  copy  of  the  will 

Rev.    Sydenham    H.    A.    Hervey's  is    given    in    the    Rev.    S.    H.    A. 

West  Stow  Parish  Registers  (Wood  Hervey's      West      Stow      Parish 

bridge,  1903,  p.  156).  Registers,  p.  159. 

3  Suff.  Inst.  vol.  2,  p.  149. 


WEST    STOW. 


409 


letters  from  Lord  Cottington,  James  Marquess  of  Montrose,  James  ist  Duke 
of  Hamilton  and  others. 

Progers  was  a  great  favourite  with  his  master  as  a  letter  undated  but 
said  to  be  about  4th  August  1650  from  the  Duke  of  Hamilton  to  Mr.  Progers 
makes  pretty  clear.  "  From  a  river  syde  20  myles  from  Carliell. — Dear 
Ned,  I  feare  my  last  letters  to  you  from  Stirling  are  miscaried  wherein  I 
gave  you  a  large  account  of  yr.  Master's  condition  which  [nowe,  being  sur- 
prysed  with  the  sudden  goeing  of  this  bearer]  I  can  not  possible  doe,  more 
than  to  tell  you  that  the  late  misfortune  a  partie  of  his  had  in  Fyfe,  by  the 
imprudent  cariage  of  one  of  his  generall  persons  doth  not  discourage  him 
from  prosecuting  his  desynges  of  goeing  into  England  whither  he  is  nowe 
upon  the  marche  and  advanced  within  20  myles  of  Carliell,  it  is  his  positive 
pleasure  that  you  make  all  the  hast  you  can  to  him  and  I  hope  you  shall  not 
need  to  feare  a  purge.  Farewell."  Appended  to  this  letter  is  a  note  in 
the  handwriting  of  King  Charles  and  signed  "  C.  R."  as  follows  :  "  The 
army  being  on  there  march  I  could  not  write  to  you  myselfe,  pray  make  all 
the  hast  you  can  hither.  Remember  my  service  to  *  *  *.  C.  R." 

Sometime  after  1702  Edward  Progers  presented  a  petition  to  Queen 
Anne  which  discloses  the  fact  that  he  by  this  time  had  somewhat  come  down 
in  the  world,  and  his  affairs  were  by  no  means  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
The  petition  shews  that  King  Charles  the  Second  granted  the  petitioner 
the  sum  of  £5 ,000  out  of  the  fund  given  His  Majesty  by  the  adventurers 
and  soldiers  of  Ireland  to  reward  such  persons  as  had  served  him  at  home 
and  abroad;  that  of  this  grant  the  petitioner  received  but  £1 ,000,  the  fund 
being  afterwards  applied  to  other  purposes  ;  that  the  said  King  in  view  of 
this  was  pleased  to  further  grant  to  the  petitioner  a  pension  of  £400  per 
annum  payable  half  yearly,  the  said  pension  to  continue  until  His  Majesty 
should  have  paid  the  petitioner  £4,000  unpaid  on  the  former  grant ; 
that  the  petitioner  had  only  received  £200  of  this  pension  and  that  by 
reason  of  this  and  other  misfortunes  he  was  reduced  to  great  distress;  "That 
your  petr.  hath  served  the  Royal  family  at  June  next  three  score  and  nine 
yeares,  that  he  was  exposed  to  more  dangers  in  the  time  of  the  Rebellion 
than  any  reformed  officer  that  hath  half  pay  to  subsist  on."  In  con- 
sideration whereof  the  petitioner  begs  Her  Majesty  to  settle  such  a  fund 
upon  him  as  may  preserve  him  and  his  family  from  extreme  want.1 

Some  account  of  the  gay  Progers  will  be  found  in  the  Notes  to  Gram- 
mont's  Memoirs,  published  by  Carpenter  in  1811.  He  died  the  31  Dec. 
1713  aged  92  of  the  anguish  of  cutting  teeth,  he  having  cut  4  more  teeth 
and  had  several  others  ready  to  cut  which  so  inflamed  his  gums  that  he 
died.  He  was  buried  at  Hampton  in  Middlesex  4  Jan.  1714  as  appears  from 
the  Parish  Register.  In  the  "  European  Magazine  "  for  May  1798  is  an 
epitaph  intended  for  his  tomb.  The  inscription  on  a  memorial  stone  in 
Hampton  Church  to  his  memory  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Here  lyes  in  hopes  of  a  happy  resurrection  the  body  of  Edward 
Progers  Esqr.,  descended  from  the  Progers  of  Ginernddee  in  Monmouthshire. 
He  was  page  of  honour  to  King  Charles  ye  first ;  and  though  very  young 
behaved  himself  with  so  much  courage  in  the  civil  warrs  and  acquitted 
himself  with  so  much  judgment  and  fidelity  of  many  secret  and  important 
employments  that  that  Prince,  during  his  imprisonment  at  Hampton 
Court  sent  an  order  to  have  him  sworn  one  of  the  Grooms  of  the  Bed- 
chamber to  his  son,  the  then  Prince  of  Wales,  afterwards  King  Charles  II., 

1  loth  Rep.  Historical  Com.  pt.  iv.  152. 

A? 


4io  THE    MANORS  OF   SUFFOLK. 

in  which  post  he  continued  during  the  life  of  that  Prince.  He  served  his 
country  seventeen  years  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons  for  the 
County  of  Brecon.  Upon  the  death  of  King  Charles  II.  he  retired  from 
all  public  business,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  hearty  and  zealous 
prayers  for  the  good  and  prosperity  of  his  church  and  country  ;  in  doing 
good  offices  to  his  friends  and  neighbours,  in  being  affectionately  kind  to  his 
children  and  relations,  in  showing  great  tenderness  and  affability  to  his 
servants  and  inferiors,  and  in  being  good  as  farr  as  he  had  power  to  all 
people. 

"  He  was  born  June  16  1621,  and  deceased  Dec.  31,  1713. 

"In  and  near  this  place  lyes  the  bodys  of  Elizabeth  Progers,  wife  of  the 
said  Edward  Progers,  and  of  Henrietta  Progers,  Philip  Progers,  Edward 
Progers,  and  Anne  Progers  sons  and  daughters  to  the  said  Edward  and 
Elizabeth  Progers.  Also  the  bodys  of  Mary  Edwards  wife  to  John  Edwards 
gent.,  and  daughter  to  ye  said  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Progers,  and  Philip 
Edwards  son  to  the  said  John  and  Mary  Edwards." 

His  will  is  dated  the  2nd  July  1713,  proved  in  London  the  7th  Jan- 
following  by  Henry  Earl  of  Rochester,  Thomas  Elliott,  and  John  Edwards 
the  executors.  He  gave  to  his  grandson  John  Edwards  a  legacy  of  two 
hundred  pounds  out  of  a  lottery  of  7  per  cent,  drawn  in  the  year  1710 
with  the  interest ;  and  the  like  sum  to  his  granddaughter,  Elizabeth 
Booth,  and  after  certain  other  legacies  he  devised  all  his  real  and  the 
residue  of  his  personal  estate  to  his  three  daughters — Philippa  (afterwards  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Croxall  D.D.  He  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Croxall  rector 
of  Hinworth.  Samuel  Croxall  the  husband  of  Philippa  was  a  political  and 
poetical  writer  and  in  1715  was  a  chaplain  to  his  Majesty  for  the  chapel 
royal  at  Hampton  Court  and  vicar  of  Hampton.  Later  he  became  canon 
residentiary  of  Hereford,  and  archdeacon  of  Salop  and  died  in  1752.  He 
had  no  children  by  Philippa  his  wife),  Catherine  and  Frances  afterwards 
wife  of  Sir  Sydenham  Fowke  knt.  Another  daughter  Mary  the  wife  of 
John  Edwards  was  probably  dead.  Catherine  seems  on  the  division  of  her 
father's  property  to  have  had  West  Stow  and  there  she  died  unmarried  the 
2  March  1736  when  West  Stow  went  to  Frances  and  Sir  Sydenham  Fowke 
her  husband.  The  mural  tablet  in  Hampton  Church  where  Catherine  was 
buried  was  formerly  on  the  east  wall  of  the  south  aisle,  but  is  now  over 
the  gallery  in  the  south  aisle.  The  inscription  is  as  follows  :— 

'  To  the  ever  dear  memory  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Progers,  who  departed 
this  life  at  her  seat  at  West  Stow  Hall  in  Suffolk,  March  2,  1736,  and  lies 
near  this  place  in  her  father's  vault.  She  was  daughter  and  one  of  the  co- 
heiresses of  the  honourable  Edward  Progers  Esqr.,  late  ranger  of  Middle 
Park,  now  called  Bushey  Park,  who  was  descended  from  the  Progers  of 
Gwerndee  in  Monmouthshire,  was  page  of  honour  to  King  Charles  the  first, 
Groom  of  the  Bedchamber  to  King  Charles  the  second,  and  17  years  member 
of  Parliament  for  Brecknockshire  who  was  born  June  16,  1621,  and  dy'd 
Dec.  31, 1713. 

"  This  monument  was  erected  by  Sir  Sydenham  Fowke  and  Dame 
Frances  his  wife,  as  a  small  acknowledgment  to  so  good  a  father  and  so 
affectionate  a  sister." 

Sir  Sydenham  Fowke  by  his  will  dated  the  28th  Oct.  1736,  in  which  he 
describes  himself  as  of  West  Stow,  gave  unto  his  dearly  beloved  wife,  her 
heirs  and  assigns,  all  his  manors,  advowsons,  lands,  &c.  in  West  Stow  or 
in  any  parish  near  adjoining  and  all  his  right  and  interest  therein.  He  was 


WEST    STOW.  411 

buried  at  West  Stow  the  29  May  1743,  and  his  will  was  proved  in  London 
the  12  July  following  by  Dame  Frances  Fowke  widow  and  sole  executrix.1 

Frances  Fowke  died  the  2Oth  Dec.  1752  and  her  will  was  proved 
apparently  the  following  day  in  the  Archidiaconal  Court  of  Sudbury, 
which  shows  how  rapidly  legal  business  is  or  perhaps  was  formerly  tran- 
sacted in  the  County  of  Suffolk.  The  will  is  dated  the  24  February  1749 
and  by  it  the  testatrix  gives  to  her  nephew  John  Edwards  "  all  her  manners, 
advowsons,  lands  &c.  in  Westowe  or  places  adjoining  to  him  and  his  heires 
for  ever  subject  to  the  payment  of  the  money  which  was  or  should  be  due 
on  mortgage  of  the  said  premises  at  his  death,  and  of  the  several  legacies  " 
specified.  She  also  says,  "  I  do  request  that  when  my  said  nephew  shall 
come  into  possession  of  my  estate  in  Westowe  he  shall  be  called  by  the 
name  of  Progers  Herbert." 

The  nephew  John  Edwards  in  accordance  with  his  aunt's  desire  assumed 
the  name  of  Progers  Herbert,  being  thereafterwards  known  as  John  Progers 
Herbert  Edwards. 

Gage  mentions  that  at  Rushbrooke  was  a  portrait  of  Edward  Progers 
by  Sir  Peter  Lely.  An  engraving  of  another  portrait  appears  in  an  edition 
of  the  Grammont  Memoirs  published  in  one  volume  in  1793. 

John  Progers  Herbert  Edwards  died  the  29  May  1758  in  his  7ist  year, 
when  John  Edwards  his  eldest  son  and  heir  succeeded  to  the  lordship  and 
dying  n  July  1775  in  his  69  year  it  passed  to  his  only  child  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Barham  Rushbrooke2  of  Mildenhall,  barrister  at  law,  who  in- 
herited in  her  right.  He  died  and  was  buried  at  West  Stow  the  27  November 
1782,  and  she  survived  until  the  23rd  August  1794  being  also  buried  at  West 
Stow  the  29  Aug.  Robert  Rushbrooke  their  only  son  succeeded  on  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  he  in  1795  under  the  provisions  of  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment passed  20  Geo.  III.  exchanged  the  manor3  with  Charles  ist  Marquis 
Cornwallis  for  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Little  Saxham,  and  upon  the 
decease  of  his  only  son  the  2nd  Marquis  in  1823  this  manor  was  purchased 
the  following  year  with  his  lordship's  other  estates  from  his  executors  by 
Richard  Benyon  de  Beauvoir,  after  which  the  devolution  of  this  manor  is 
identical  with  Culford  and  Ingham  Manors  in  this  Hundred,  being  now 
vested  in  Earl  Cadogan. 

The  manor  house  West  Stow  Hall  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  mansion 
house  of  Ginney's  Manor  and  was  a  spacious  brick  mansion,  moated,  and 
formerly  was  surrounded  by  a  quadrangular  court,  being  well  adapted  by 
its  interior  construction  for  baronial  customs  and  festivities.  A  fine  wide 
moat  surrounded  the  building,  but  this  was  filled  up  some  years  since. 

When  the  mansion  ceased  to  be  the  residence  of  the  territorial  owner, 
probably  about  the  year  1795,  it  appears  from  all  accounts  to  have  become 
reduced  in  size.  It  has  been  since  used  as  a  farm  house,  and  a  large  room 
on  the  north  side  of  the  house  with  massive  beams  and  panelling  is  nearly 
all  that  now  remains  of  the  old  house,  but  the  embattled  pediments,  diamond- 
shaped  1  racery,  and  the  statues  are  worthy  of  notice  as  curious  and  unusual 
appendages  to  buildings  of  this  character.  The  gateway,  which  was  the 
portion  added  by  Sir  John  Croftes  t.  Hen.  VIII.,  is  a  good  example  of  the 

1  P.C.C.,  232  Boycott.  A  copy  of  his  will  *  The  West  Stow  estate  at  the  time  con- 
is  given  by  the  Rev.  S.  H.  A.  sisted  of  about  3,050  acres,  and  the 
Hervey  in  his  West  Stow  Parish  annual  value  about  £700;  the  timber 
Registers,  p.  162.  on  the  estate  was  valued  at  £2,800. 

"  There  is  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman  at 
Rushbrooke  Hall. 


412  THE  MANORS  OF  SUFFOLK. 

brick  buildings  of  that  time.  It  is  connected  with  the  hall  by  a  corridor, 
also  of  brick,  but  probably  of  later  erection.  In  one  of  the  upper  chambers 
of  this  gatehouse  are  remains  of  some  rude  distemper  paintings  of 
the  time  of  Q.  Elizabeth  which  were  rendered  visible  a  few  years  since  on 
the  removal  of  some  panelling.  The  subjects  remaining  represent  four 
of  the  seven  ages  of  man — a  favourite  subject  of  mediaeval  artists.  A 
young  man  hawking  is  inscribed,  "  Thus  do  I  all  the  day  "  ;  a  young  man 
making  love  to  a  maiden  is  made  to  say,  "Thus  do  I  while  I  may";  a 
middle-aged  man  pointing  to  the  young  couple,  "  Thus  did  I  while  I  might "  ; 
while  the  aged  man,  hobbling  onwards,  bitterly  exclaims,  "  Good  Lord, 
will  this  world  last  ever  !  " 

Another  manor  not  having  any  distinguishing  name  other  than  a  manor 
of  West  Stow  belonged  to  the  de  Blakehams  and  passed  to  the  family  of  De 
St.  Philibert,  of  which  Sir  John  de  St.  Philibert  died  seised  in  1333,  when  it 
passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Sir  John  de  St.  Philibert,  who  conveyed  in  1350 
to  Thos.  de  Aspal.  He  died  in  1365  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son 
and  heir  Sir  John  de  Aspal  who  settled  it  this  same  year  on  himself  and 
Katherine  his  wife.  On  their  death  it  passed  to  Mirabel  de  Aspal,  their 
daughter,  who  married  William  Gedding  of  Lackford,  and  descended  to 
Thomas  Gedding  who  died  about  1465,  when  it  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
John  Gedding,  who  dying  in  1469  it  went  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert  Gedding. 
On  Robert  Gedding's  death  in  1495  the  manor  devolved  on  his  only  daughter 
and  heir  Margaret  married  to  Jasper  Lucas  of  the  family  of  Lucas  of  Little 
Saxham,  who  had  held  land  here  from  the  twelfth  century.  Jasper  Lucas 
died  in  1529,  when  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Lucas  of 
Little  Saxham,  who  presented  to  the  living  in  1530.  He  sold  this  manor 
to  Sir  John  Croftes  when  it  became  merged  in  the  main  manor. 

Arms  of  Croftes :  Or ;  three  bulls  heads  couped,  sable — of  Progers  : 
Per  pale  az.  and  gules,  three  lions  rampant  Arg. 

JENNEY'S  OR  GINNEY'S  MANOR. 

In  the  monumental  inscription  to  Thomas  son  of  Edmund  Croftes  in 
the  chancel  of  West  Stow  Church,  his  ancestors  are  stated  to  have  held  this 
manor  from  the  time  of  Edw.  I.  Gage  however  calls  attention  to  the  fact 
that  the  name  of  Croftes  in  West  Stow  does  not  occur  in  the  Iter  Salo- 
monis  de  Roff,  and  he  himself  was  not  able  to  meet  with  the  name  until  a 
much  later  time. 

We  meet  with  a  fine  levied  of  the  manor  by  Roger  de  Gynney'  and 
Margaret  his  wife  levied  in  1313  against  John  le  Moigne  of  Garboldesham  and 
Alice  his  wife.'  It  is  quite  possible  that  John  Thomas  Croftes  married  their 
daughter,  but  the  date  is  too  early.  From  John  Croftes  the  manor  passed 
to  his  son  and  heir  Thomas  Croftes  and  from  him  to  Thomas  Croftes  of 
Bury,  whose  wife's  name  was  Emma.  He  is  buried  in  the  Church  of  St. 
Tames  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  From  him  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and 
heir  John  Croftes  of  Bury,  who  made  his  will  dated  the  last  day  of  Oct. 
1467  proved  at  Bury  in  the  month  of  May  following.  By  this  will  he 
ordered  his  body  to  be  buried  near  the  cross  in  the  churchyard  by 
Katharine  his  wife  deceased.  He  gave,  among  other  legacies,  to  the  high 
altar  of  St.  James,  for  tithes  and  oblations  forgotten,  xiijs.  iiij^. ;  to  the 
chaplain  of  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the  same  church,  iijs. 

'  No  doubt   the   family  of  Ginnes,  from          •  Feet  of  Fines,  7  Edw.  II.  27. 
which  the  manor  derived  its  name. 


WEST    STOW.  413 

and  to  a  fit  chaplain  to  celebrate  in  the  Church  of  St.  James,  for  his  soul, 
and  the  souls  of  Thomas  Croftys  his  father,  and  Emma  his  mother,  and 
Katharine  his  wife,  and  the  souls  of  Master  Hawkyswell,  John  Lelye  and 
Isabella  his  wife,  Thomas  Batle,  John  Berton  clerk,  John  Sneteysell,  John 
Shepard,  and  Edward  Tabor,  forty  marks ;  bequeathing  to  his  son  Thomas 
Croftys,  monk  of  St.  Edmundsbury,  ten  pounds,  and  to  his  son  John  Croftys 
all  his  goods,  and  everything  belonging  to  his  kitchen,  except  as  therein 
mentioned.  And  the  testator  willed  that  the  said  John  his  son  should 
have  all  his  lands  in  Westley,  Flempton,  Culford,  and  Lackford,  to  him 
and  the  heirs  of  his  body.  And  that  the  said  John  should  have  his  house  in 
St.  Edmundsbury,  formerly  of  Bartholomew  Mere,  for  life,  remainder  to 
John  Croftys,  son  of  the  said  John  and  godchild  to  the  testator,  together 
with  a  house  in  the  cheese-market,  and  another  house  in  Risbygate  Street, 
with  the  Teynton  yard,  and  buildings  there  and  3  acres  of  arable  land  in 
Westley  ;  remainder  to  Walter  Croftys,  brother  of  the  said  testator's  god- 
child J  ohn ;  and  in  default  of  heirs  of  the  body  of  Walter,  the  testator  directed 
the  said  hereditaments  to  be  sold  by  his  executors,  and  the  produce  to  be 
applied,  with  the  residue  of  his  personal  estate,  for  the  benefit  of  the  souls 
of  himself  and  Katharine  his  wife,  parents,  and  benefactors.  And  he  con- 
stituted John  Croftys,  rector  of  Elmswell,  and  the  testator's  son,  John 
Croftys,  of  West  Stow,  executors,  and  John  Coket  of  Ampton,  supervisor, 
with  four  marks  for  his  trouble. 

John  Croftes  the  son  lived  at  West  Stow  and  married  a  daughter  of 
Coket  of  Ampton,  and  on  his  death  this  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir 
John  Croftes  who  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Thomas  Hervey  of  Ick- 
worth'  and  died  before  1518,  when  the  manor  went  to  Sir  John  Croftes,  who 
later  purchased  the  main  manor  of  West  Stow,  with  which  this  manor  has 
ever  since  devolved.  In  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Elizabeth  Croftes  12  April 
1520  it  was  found  that  at  the  time  of  her  death  the  said  Elizabeth  was  not 
seised  of  any  lands  or  tenements  held  of  the  King  in  chief,  but  that  the 
said  Elizabeth  and  one  John  Croftes  son  and  heir  of  John  Croftes  were 
seised  of  the  manor  of  Gyneys  in  West  Stow,  Wrydewell,  Culford,  Flempton 
and  Lackford,  in  the  said  county  in  their  demesne  as  of  fee,  and  by  their  deed 
dated  at  West  Stow  30  May  9  Hen.  VIII.  they  therewith  enfeoffed  George 
Walgrave,  John  Wentworth,  Edmund  Lee,  Edward  Coket  and  William 
Walgrave  esquires  and  John  Sampson  clerk  in  trust  to  raise  an  annuity  of 
10  marks  for  Rose  Bledlowe  late  wife  of  John  Bledlowe  late  of  London 
for  the  term  of  the  life  of  the  said  Elizabeth  Croftys  ;  and  afterwards  in 
trust  for  the  said  John  Croftys  the  son  and  the  said  Rose  Bledlowe  and  the 
heirs  of  the  body  of  the  said  John.  It  was  also  found  that  the  manor  was 
held  of  the  Abbot  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  and  worth  per  annum  £8.* 

The  manor  is  also  included  in  the  Inquis.  p.m.  of  Sir  John  Croftes 
taken  at  Stowmarket  the  4  June  1558,  in  which  it  was  found  that  the  said 
Sir  John  was  seised  of  a  capital  messuage  (in  which  he  lived)  called  Jenneys, 
and  of  two  other  messuages,  two  cottages,  three  gardens,  100  acres  of  land 
and  6  acres  of  meadow,  6  acres  of  pasture,  4  acres  of  marsh,  100  acres  of 
heath,  a  water  mill,  and  6  shillings  of  rent  in  West  Stow,  Culford,  Flempton, 
Wridwell,  Hengrave,  and  Fornham  St.  Geneve,  which  formerly  belonged 
to  John  Croftes  his  father  and  worth  per  annum  £10  and  held  of  the  King 
and  Queen,  and  the  said  other  messuages,  two  cottages  and  three  gardens 

•  She  died  the  9  May,  1519.     I.P.M.,  u         '  I.P.M.,  nHen.  VIII.  63.    Printed  in  the 
Hen.  VIII.  63.  Rev.  S.  H.  A.  Hervey's  Little  Sax- 

ham  Parish  Registers,  p.  128. 


414  THE   MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

were  held  of  William  Harvie,  armiger,  as  of  his  Manor  of  Wridwelland  worth 
40  shillings.  The  first  finding  in  the  Inquisition  p.m.  of  Edward  Croftes 
the  4  June  1558  is  that  he  was  seised  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  a  capital 
messuage  called  Jennys,  in  which  John  Croftes  knight  his  father  lately  dwelt 
in  West  Stow,  and  of  2  other  messuages  2  cottages,  3  gardens,  100  acres 
of  land,  6  acres  of  meadow,  6  acres  of  pasture,  4  acres  of  marsh,  100  acres 
of  furze  and  heath,  a  water  mill  and  6s.  rent  with  appurtenances,  which 
late  were  of  -  -  Croftes  Esq.,  grandfather  of  aforesaid  Edward  in  West 
Stow,  Culford,  Flempton,  Wridwell,  Hengrave,  and  Fornham  St.  Genovese  ; 
and  of  i  messuage,  100  acres  of  land,  4  acres  of  meadow,  10  acres  of  pasture, 
100  acres  of  furze  and  heath  and  one  liberty  of  foldage,'  which  are  called 
Sampsons  in  Little  Lyvermere  and  Great  Lyvermere,  and  of  a  messuage 
and  garden  in  Bury  St.  Edmunds. 

We  meet  in  1599  with  a  fine  of  "  West  Stow  Manor  "  levied  by  Edward 
Lambe  against  John  Croftes.1 


The  right  of  setting  up  folds.  '  Fine,  Trin.  41  Eliz. 


WORDWELL  MANOR.  415 

WORDWELL  MANOR. 

jORDWELL  in  the  middle  of  the  loth  century  was 
owned  by  one  Thurketel  who  in  958  gave  the  same  to 
the  Abbey  of  St.  Edmund.1  The  Abbot  retained  the 
lands  at  the  time  of  the  Survey ;  but  the  lands  did 
not  at  that  time  form  a  manor,  though  a  little  later 
we  do  meet  with  the  Abbot  exercising  manorial  rights 
here.  He  had  at  the  time  of  the  Survey  eleven  freemen 
with  2  carucates  of  land,  4  bordars,  2  serfs,  5  ploughteams,  3  acres 
of  meadow,  and  I  mill.  These  men  could  give  or  sell  their  land,  but 
sac,  soc,  and  commendation  remained  with  the  Abbot  and  service  to  be 
rendered  at  his  manor  at  Culford.  They  were  valued  at  30  shillings.  Here 
was  also  a  church  with  i  acre  of  free  land.  The  size  of  the  manor  was  a 
league  long  and  4  quarentenes  broad,  and  it  paid  in  a  gelt  J?d* 

The  manor  was  probably  granted  about  1200  by  the  Abbey  to  a  member 
of  the  family  of  de  Wudewell  or  de  Wordwell  connected  with  the  establish- 
ment. We  find  an  Alexander  de  Wridewell  a  witness  to  a  charter  of  Abbot 
Hugh  confirming  the  Manor  of  Hengrave  and  lands  in  Westley,  Saxham, 
and  Chevington  to  William  son  of  Leo.3  Hugh  was  Abbot  from  1137  to 
1180. 

In  1200  a  William  de  Wordwell  held  a  fourth  part  of  a  knight's  fee  in 
Little  Livermere  and  Wordwell  of  the  Abbot,  and  in  123  4  Thomas  de  Word- 
well  or  Wridewell  held  the  manor,  probably  of  the  Monastery  of  Bury.  That 
the  chief  lordship  was  in  this  religious  establishment  seems  clear  from  the 
fact  that  the  portion  which  Fulcher  the  Norman  held  of  the  Abbey  in  Snare- 
hill  in  the  time  of  Hen.  III.  was  held  of  the  Abbey  by  the  i5th  part  of  a 
knight's  fee  of  Wordwell  Manor  by  William  Fyshe  and  John  Byntleton.4 

Another  Thomas  de  Wordwell  was  lord  in  1306  and  this  year  presented 
to  the  living.  The  advowson  and  the  manor  have  been  always  united  until 
the  last  few  years,  and  this  Thomas  de  Wordwell  exercised  his  right  in  regard 
to  the  living  in  a  somewhat  remarkable  manner  between  the  years  1322 
and  1329  presenting  no  less  than  six  de  Wridwells,  four  of  them  acolytes,  one 
a  clerk,  and  the  last  a  deacon. 

Thomas  de  Wordwell  seems  to  have  been  dead  by  1344,  for  a  presenta- 
tion was  made  this  year  to  the  living  by  a  Thomas  de  Clopton  who  was 
probably  a  trustee  or  mortgagee.  From  Thomas  de  Wordwell  the  manor 
seems  to  have  passed  to  John  de  Wordwell  probably  a  son,  and  in  1359, 
1367,  and  1371  John's  son  being  a  minor,  presentations  were  made  to  the 
living  by  Richard  de  Martlesham  as  guardian  of  the  infant. 

Whether  the  heir  of  John  de  Wordwell  ever  came  of  age  is  uncertain ; 
but  it  is  clear  that  by  1375  the  manor  had  passed  to  Sir  John  Holbroke  for 
he  died  seised  of  it  this  year,5  leaving  as  heirs  his  cousins,  Margery  married 
to  Sir  John  Fastolf  and  Elizabeth  married  to  Ralph  Fitz-Ralph. 

Another  John  de  Holbroke  held  the  manor  in  1416,  for  in  Jan.  1416-7 
he  presented  to  the  living,  and  4  years  later  it  had  passed  to  Alice  the  wife 
of  Richard  Blackbourn,  for  they  in  1420  presented  to  the  living  in  right  of 
the  manor. 

1  Burch,  Anglo-Saxon  Charters,  No.  1018,         3  Gage's  Hist,  of  Thingoe,  p.  166. 

1019.  *  Page,  Hist,  of  Suff.  p.  820. 

•  Dom.  ii.  3666.  5  I.P.M.,  50  Edw.  III.  3. 


4i6  THE    MANORS   OF  SUFFOLK. 

The  manor  then  passed  to  the  Drury  family,  and  Henry  Drury  did 
homage  for  it  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  in  1432,  and  he  presented  to  the 
living  in  Feb.  1434-5  and  in  May  1441.  His  death  occurred  in  the  lifetime 
of  his  father  Nicholas  Drury,  as  appears  by  his  will  dated  in  1454  wherein 
the  said  Nicholas  makes  a  bequest  to  Elizabeth  "  late  wife  of  his  son  Henry 
Drury."  This  Elizabeth  who  was  the  daughter  of  George  Eaton  presented 
to  the  living  of  Wordwell  in  July  1455  and  her  will  is  dated  the  14  March 
1475.  In  this  will  she  mentions  the  sheep  in  her  manors  of  Ickworth  and 
Wordwell,  "  my  shepe,  bought  with  my  penys,  for  the  manors  were  left 
unstored  of  any  shepe  or  other  catell." 

The  children  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Drury  all  died  young  except 
Jane,  who  inherited  Ickworth  and  Wordwell.  She  married  first  Thomas 
Hervey  of  Ickworth,  and  secondly  Sir  William  Carew  a  younger  son  of  Sir 
Nicholas Carew  knt.  She  died  before  1476,  for  in  that  year  John  de  la  Pole 
Duke  of  Suffolk  gave  to  Sir  William  Carew  the  wardship  of  William  son 
and  heir  of  Thomas  Hervey.  This  was  by  reason  of  the  death  of  his  elder 
brother  John  without  issue.  In  1483'  William  Hervey  was  of  age,  and  in 
the  following  year  married  Joan  daughter  of  John  Coket  of  Ampton. 
William  Carew,  Richard  Heigham,  John  Coket  and  Clement  Clerk  being  seised 
of  the  Manor  of  Wordwell  and  lands  in  Great  and  Little  Livermere  and 
Sapiston  as  trustees  to  the  use  of  William  Hervey  and  his  heirs,  they  by 
deed  dated  at  Wordwell  the  2  Rich.  III.  [1484]  confirmed  the  same  to  the 
said  William  Hervey  and  Joan  his  wife  in  special  tail.  William  survived, 
but  died  in  1538'  and  was  buried  in  the  middle  aisle  of  St.  Mary's  Church  in 
Bury  St.  Edmunds,  with  the  following  inscription  :— 

Pray  for  the  soule  of  William 
Harvye,  Esq. :  Obiit  i  Aug.,  1538. 

He  had  issue  several  sons  and  daughters,  viz.,  Elizabeth,  Joan  and 
Margaret,  John  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  Nicholas  Hervey  his  2nd  son.  The 
second  son  was  a  Privy  Councillor  and  much  in  favour  with  King  Hen.  VIII. 
being  one  of  those  appointed  to  furnish  the  days  of  jousts  when  the  King  and 
seven  he  had  nominated  challenged  the  French  King  and  as  many  on  the 
part  of  France,  and  when  all  feats  of  arms  were  performed  for  30  days  at  a 
camp  between  Guisnes  and  Arde.  Again  in  1526  when  the  King  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  French  Ambassadors  appointed  a  solemn  jousts,  he 
named  this  Sir  Nicholas  Hervey  for  use  of  the  challengers,  and  he  is  styled 
"  the  valiant  Esquire,"  for  he  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  after  this, 
and  was  the  King's  ambassador  to  the  Emperor's  Court  at  Gaunt  in  1531. 

John  Hervey  the  eldest  son  succeeded  to  the  lordship  and  intermarried 
with  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Henry  Pope  of  Mildenhall,  and  dying  the  6 
July  1554'  the  manor  passed  to  his  son  and  heir  William.  John  Hervey  by 
his  will  leaves  Ickworth  to  his  wife  Elizabeth  for  life,  but  as  to  Wordwell 
he  says :  "  Item,  I  bequeathe  to  my  son  William  my  Manor  of  Wyrdwell, 
with  my  purchased  londes,  my  stocke  of  corne  and  all  my  sheepe  to  the  num- 
ber of  eighteen  hundreth,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  upon  condition  that  my 
said  sonne  shall  not  interrupt  his  mother  of  no  part  nor  parcel!  of  ennie 
thing  that  I  have  given  her  within  Ikworth  without  her  consent  during  her 

'  According  to  the  tombstone  in  Ickworth  about   1776  are  not,   it  is   appre- 

Church  he  was  born  in  1464,  and  hended,  to  be  relied  on. 

therefore  would  not  have  been  of  "  The  Rev.  S.  H.  A.  Hervey  in  his  West 

age  until  1485,  but  the  dates  on  Stow  Parish  Registers,  p.  280,  states 

the  tombstone  referred  to,  which  was  that  he  died  in  1528. 

erected  by  Augustus  Lord  Bristol  3  I.P.M.,  3  and  4  Ph.  and  M.  zoo. 


WORDWELL    MANOR.  417 

lyf."  William  Hervey  intermarried  with  Elizabeth  daughter  of  John  Poley 
of  Boxted  and  dying  in  1592  was  buried  the  2nd  Nov.  1592  at  Ickworth.  He 
had  three  daughters  and  five  sons  and  the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son 
and  heir  John  Hervey  of  Ickworth  who  in  1582  married  Frances  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Edmund  Bocking  of  Bocking  and  had  issue  two  sons  and 
three  daughters.  John  Hervey  lived  to  the  age  of  75  and  dying  in  1630  was 
succeeded  in  the  lordship  of  this  manor  by  his  son  and  heir  William  who 
was  knighted  at  Whitehall  on  the  3oth  April  1608.  He  married  ist  21 
March  in  1612-3  Susan  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Jermyn  of  Rushbrook 
(grandfather  to  Sir  Henry  Jermyn  Earl  of  St.  Albans),  and  2ndly  Penelope 
daughter  of  Thomas  Darcy  Earl  Rivers,  relict  first  of  Sir  George  Trenchard 
of  Wolverton  in  Dorsetshire  and  secondly  of  Sir  John  Gage  of  Firle  in 
Sussex  Bart. 

In  1618  he  was  in  commission  with  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Edward  Earl  of 
Worcester,  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal,  with  other  Lords  and  persons  of 
note  to  survey  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields  and  to  "  cause  such  uniform  and  comely 
buildings  to  be  erected,  and  such  walks,  particians  and  plots  to  be  made, 
both  for  health  and  pleasure  as  they  should  approve  of."  In  1627  he  was 
elected  as  the  member  for  Bury  St.  Edmunds  but  retired  into  private 
life  before  the  Civil  War  began.  He  died  the  30  Sept.  1660,  and  the  manor 
went  to  John  Hervey,  a  son  by  his  father's  first  marriage. 

In  the  last  Parliament  called  by  King  Charles  I.  which  met  at  West- 
minster Nov.  3,  1640,  and  continued  sitting  till  the  20  April  1653,  John 
Hervey  served  for  the  Port  of  Hyeth  in  Kent ;  but  asserting  the  royal 
prerogative,  and  taking  arms  in  behalf  of  his  Majesty,  he  was  excluded  the 
House,  and  obliged  to  compound  for  his  estate.  The  friendship  between 
him  and  the  Earl  of  Leicester  was  very  remarkable,  as  the  letters  passed 
between  them  show.  Mr.  Hervey  from  London,  the  12  January  1652,  tells 
his  Lordship  :  "It  was  more  than  sixteen  years  that  he  had  the  honour 
to  be  his  Lordship's,  by  all  the  best  titles  that  anything  is  possest,  you 
having  for  every  day  in  that  time  given  more  than  a  valuable  consideration 
for  me ;  and  I  having  in  every  minute  of  those  days  voluntarily  resigned 
myself  to  you,  so  that  the  whole  power  in  me,  and  over  me,  has  for  thus  long 
absolutely  remained  in  your  Lordship,"  &c. 

Having  heartily  concurred  in  the  Restoration  of  King  Charles  the  2nd 
he  was  constituted  Treasurer  of  the  Household  to  Queen  Catharine  his  con- 
sort,' and  was  in  the  peculiar  esteem  of  His  Majesty,  and  in  the  greatest 
intimacy  with  the  most  learned  men  of  the  time. 

In  Parliament  he  was  one  of  the  leading  members,  and  Bishop  Burnet 
relates  of  him  :  "That  he  was  one  whom  the  King  [Charles  II.]  loved  per- 
sonally, and  yet  upon  a  great  occasion  he  voted  against  that  which  the  King 
desired.  So  the  King  chid  him  severely  for  it.  Next  day  another  impor- 
tant question  falling  in,  he  voted  as  the  King  would  have  him.  So  the 
King  took  notice  of  it  at  night,  and  said,  '  You  were  not  against  me  to-day.' 
He  answered,  '  No,  Sir,  I  was  against  my  conscience  to-day.' '  Which 
was  so  gravely  delivered,  it  was  much  talked  of,  being  about  the  time  of  the 
Popish  plot.  He  was  a  particular  favourer  of  men  of  letters,  and  the 
famous  Mr.  Cowley,  by  his  recommendation,  was  taken  into  the  service 
of  his  kinsman  Henry  Earl  of  St.  Albans,  Lord  Chamberlain  of  the  House- 
hold to  King  Charles  II.  and  was  his  great  patron.  This  John  Hervey 
married  his  cousin  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  William  Lord  Hervey 

1  D.N.B.  xxvi.  284. 

BI 


418  THE   MANORS    OF   SUFFOLK. 

of  Kidbroke,  but  dying  without  issue  the  18  Jan.  1679'  n's  estate  devolved 
on  his  only  surviving  brother. 

Sir  Thomas  Hervey,  knighted  by  King  Charles  II.,  was  elected  for 
St.  Edmundsbury  in  the  three  last  Parliaments  called  by  that  prince,  as 
also  in  that  called  by  King  James  1 1.  and  in  all  others  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  shewed  himself  in  all  walks  of  life  "  one  of  the  best  of  men,  and  was 
particularly  remarkable  for  his  piety,  chastity,  charity  and  other  Christian 
and  moral  virtues,  whereby  he  was  in  the  esteem  of  all  that  knew  him  " ; 
and  having  lived  to  the  7Oth  year  of  his  age,  died  the  2yth  May  1694,  and 
was  buried  with  his  ancestors  at  Ickworth. 

He  married  in  1658  Isabella,  daughter  of  Sir  Humphry  May,  Vice- 
Chamberlain  of  the  Household  to  King  Charles  I.,  which  lady  died  in  1686, 
and  had  with  other  issue  a  son  John  Hervey  who  as  eldest  surviving  son 
succeeded  to  the  lordship  on  the  death  of  his  father.  He  married  7  Nov. 
1686  ist  Isabella  daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir  Robert  Carr  of  Sleaford  co. 
Line.  Bart.  Chancellor  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  and  of  the  Privy  Council  to 
Charles  II. ;  secondly  Elizabeth  sole  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Thomas  Felton 
of  Playford  Bart,  by  Elizabeth  daughter  and  coheir  of  James  Earl  of  Sufi  oik 
Baron  Howard  de  Walden,  Comptroller  of  the  Household  to  her  Majesty 
Queen  Anne. 

On  the  death  of  Henry  Goldwell,  John  Hervey  was  elected  in  his  place 
for  Bury  St.  Edmunds  in  that  Parliament  which  first  met  in  the  second 
of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  and  was  chosen  for  the  same  place  in  a 
new  Parliament,  which  met  at  Westminster  the  22  Nov.  1695,  and  in  all 
other  Parliaments  called  by  King  William  ;  as  also  in  that  of  the  first  year 
of  Queen  Anne.  Having  distinguished  himself  in  the  House  of  Commons 
he  was,  for  "  the  nobleness  of  his  extraction,  the  antiquity  of  his  family, 
and  his  many  eminent  virtues,"  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  a  Baron  of  this 
realm,  by  the  style  and  title  of  Lord  Hervey,  of  Ickworth  in  the  county  of 
Suffolk,  by  letters  patent  bearing  date  the  23  March  1703,  and  created  Earl 
of  Bristol  the  19  Oct.  1714. 

The  ist  Earl  of  Bristol  died  the  20  January  1750-1,  having  had  with 
numerous  other  issue  a  son  John  Lord  Hervey  who  married  in  1720  Mary 
daughter  of  Brigadier-General  Nicholas  le  Pell,  then  one  of  the  maids  of 
honour  to  the  Princess  of  Wales'  by  whom  with  other  issue  he  had  a  son 
George  William.  John  Lord  Hervey  was  called  to  the  House  of  Lords  in 
his  father's  barony  in  1733  and  was  appointed  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal 
in  1740  and  in  the  same  year  constituted  one  of  the  Lord  Justices  during 
the  absence  of  the  sovereign  from  the  kingdom.  He  died  the  5  August 
1743  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father  at  whose  death  therefore  the  manor  devolved 
on  his  grandson  George  William  2nd  Earl  of  Bristol.  He  was  Ambassador 
Extraordinary  to  the  Court  of  Spain,  and  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal, 
and  died  without  having  been  married  the  18  March  1775,  when  the  manor 
devolved  on  his  brother  Augustus  John  3rd  Earl  a  distinguished  naval  officer, 
who  attained  the  rank  of  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Blue  and  was  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty.  He  married  privately  the  4th  Aug.  1744  the 
celebrated  Elizabeth  Chudleigh  daughter  of  Thomas  Chudleigh  a  colonel  in 
the  army,  but  was  divorced  m  the  Spiritual  Court.3  She,  25  years  later  in 
1769  publicly  married  Evelyn  Pierrepont  Duke  of  Kingston  for  which 

1  His  will  is  dated  the  18  Aug.  1676.  '  See  "  Gentlemen's  Magazine,"  Jan.  1780 

•  Her  letters  have  been  published  with  a  and  Dec.  1783. 

biographical  sketch  prefixed.    Lend. 

1821. 


WORDWELL    MANOR. 


419 


offence  she  was  impeached  before  the  House  of  Peers  and  the  marriage 
declared  void.  She  retired  to  the  Continent  and  died  there  in  1778.  The 
3rd  Earl  of  Bristol  died  the  22  Dec.  1779,  without  issue,  when  the  manor 
devolved  on  his  brother  Frederick  Augustus  Lord  Bishop  of  Derry  as  4th 
Earl.1  He  the  10  Aug.  1752  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Sir  Jermyn 
pavers  Bart.,  and  sister  and  heir  of  Sir  Charles  Davers  and  had  with  other 
issue  a  son  Frederick  William  Lord  Hervey,  who  joined  with  his  father  in 
July  1799  in  selling  the  manor  and  advowson  to  Charles  ist  Marquis 
Cornwallis  for  £33,000,  and  the  same  passed  on  the  sale  of  the  Culford 
estate  as  already  described  under  Culford  Manor  to  Richard  Benyon  de 
Beauvoir  and  is  now  vested  in  the  Earl  Cadogan,  K.G.,  P.C.,  J.P. 

Page  mentions  that  the  Manor  House  near  the  Church,  the  birthplace 
of  Captain  Hervey,  has  near  its  western  entrance  the  remains  of  a  venerable 
oak  which,  at  about  5  feet  from  the  ground,  measures  22  feet  in  circumference, 
and  is  said  to  have  contained  20  persons  within  its  then  hollow  trunk  at  the 
same  time.  Martin,  writing  on  Sunday  Oct.  gth  1757  of  this  place  which 
he  calls  "  Wortwell  "  says :  "  This  village  is  now  so  reduced  as  to  have  no 
more  Buildings  in  it  than  the  Church,  the  Farm  or  Mannor  house,  and  one 
dwelling  house  for  the  Sheppard.  They  stand  pretty  near  one  another, 
and  not  long  since  the  parsonage  house  made  one  amongst  them  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Churchyard,  but  now  the  grass  grows  over  the  site  of  it. 
The  situation  is  upon  an  high  ground  in  a  fine  open  champion  country, 
except  some  springs  arising  on  the  south  and  west  parts,  quickly  increase 
into  a  small  clear  rivulet  and  runs  through  the  garden  and  yards  of  West 
Stow  Hall  near  adjoining  and  so  into  the  navigable  river  at  Flempton,  &c." 
He  adds,  "  The  Church  is  a  very  mean  Fabrkk  and  kept  in  a  most  nasty 
condition,  'tis  almost  quite  until' d,  but  materials  lye  ready  to  repair  it." 


In  order  to  complete  the  entries  in  the  Domesday  Survey  relating  to 
the  Hundred  of  Blackbourn  we  may  mention  that  in  that  portion  of  Rush- 
ford  which  is  in  Suffolk,  Peter  de  Valoines  had  a  considerable  holding  as 
tenant  in  chief  of  the  King,  but  it  was  not  then  nor  has  it  since  been  held  as 
a  manor  in  Suffolk,  though  strangely  in  King  Edward's  time  Alti  and 
Ketel  had  held  as  two  manors.  Peter  de  Valoines' s  holdings  were  in 
fact  two  inRushford — First  2  carucatesof  land  which  in  the  Confessor's  day 
had  been  held  by  Alti  and  Ketel  freemen  and  thanes.  They  had  2  plough- 
teams  in  demesne,  i  beast,  n  sheep  and  4  hives  of  bees.  By  the  time  of  the 
Survey  there  were  4  acres  of  meadow  and  I  rouncy,  and  the  beasts  had 
sprung  up  to  5  and  the  sheep  to  80.  The  value  was  30  shillings.  The  2nd 
was  of  8  freemen  holding  a  carucate  of  land  and  9  acres  by  commendation. 
Over  7  Peter  had  fold  soc  and  over  one  commendation  only.  Formerly 
there  had  been  2  ploughteams  but  then  there  was  but  one,  and  4  acres  of 
meadow.  The  value  was  10  shillings.  This  holding  was  6  quarentenes 
in  length  and  3  in  breadth,  and  paid  in  a  gelt  njrf.2 


1  For  further  particulars   of   the  Hervey         3  Dom.  ii.  421  a. 
family    see    Ickworth    Manor    in 
Thingoe  Hundred. 


TAYLOR.    GARNETT.    EVANS 

AND-COMPANY.  LIMITED. 

54,  FLEET  STREET.  LONDON. 

Also  Manchester  and  Rrddiih. 


INDEX  RERUM. 


Abbot,   Family  of,  69 
Acton  Hall,  5 

,,       Place,  Mansion  of,  n 
Aigulon,  Family  of,  46,  51,  56,  70 

„        Grant  of  Weekly  Market  and  Fair,  47 
,,        Sporting-  Rights,   48 
,,        Letter  of,  to  Peter  de  Roches,  46 
Allington,  James,  Inscription,   160 
Almshouses  built  by  Colman,  43 
Alpheton  Advowson,  Title  to,  14 
Alston  Family  and  Arms,   175,   176 
Appleton  or  Appulton  Arms,  249 
Appulton,  Will  of  Isaac,  248 

,,          Will  of  Thomas,  247 
Ashfield  Arms,  326 

,,         Robert,  and  Wife,   Inscription,  365 
Babergh,  Division  and  Boundaries  of,    i 

,,        Parishes  and  Manors  of,   i 
Bacon  Family,  8,  73,  315 
Arms,  319 
Monuments,  284 

Anne,   Translator  of  Jewel's  Apology,  317 
Sir  Edmond,  Inscription,  317 
Sir  Nicholas,  Great  Artist,  283 
»  , ,         Anecdote  of,  316 

i,  ,,         Inscription,   317 

Robert,  Anecdote  of,  318 
Badwell   Family,   32 
Bainard's   Castle,   Immunities   of  the   Barony, 

192 

Balisden  Manor,  Hodebovile  Holding  of,   5 
Bardolf  Family,  48,   56 

,,        Description  of,  48,  49 
Barrow  Arms,    174 

,,      Anne,  Inscription,  276 
Barclay,   Conspiracy,   226 
Beachcroft  Family,    185 
Beaumont,  George  Frederick,   76,  82 
Bedmgfield,  Edmund,  Will,  340 
,,  Margaret,   Will,   340 

Benyon  Arms,  285 
Berdcwell,     Robt.,     Stone    in    Church,    with 

Inscription  now  Defaced,  350 
Berdwell  Arms,  262 
Bernham   Family,    14 

Blackbourn   Hundred,    List  of   Parishes,   253 
Blake  Arms,   266,   345 
Bloomfield's  Birthplace,  320 
Blund  Arms,   337 
Bokenham  Arms,   375 

Edmund,  and  Wife,  Monuments,  375 
George,  Will,  401 
Paul,  Will,  375 
Richard,  Will,  401 
Thomas,  Inscription,   374 
Wiseman,       Settlement       on       His 

Sons,  309 
Wiseman,  Will,  400 


Borh    or   Suretyship    under    Edgar,    Ethelred, 

Knut,  v. 

Borough  English,  Custom  of,  402 
Boteler   Family,    71 
Bourchier   Family,    7,    322 

„          William  and  Henry,  Anecdote  of, 

3«>  323 

Boxford,  Manor  of,   22 
Boxstead  Hall,  35 
Brand  Family,  30,   181 
Brandon,  Charles,  Duke  of  Suffolk,  Will,  396 

,,        Marriage  with  Queen  Mary,  394 
Brond  Family,  29 
Bures  Family,  6,   50 
,,      Monument,  6 

,,      Estate  of,  of  What  Consisted,  8 
,,       Wardship  of,  given  to  Buttes,  8 
Burgh,    Hubert   de,    Disgrace   of,    166 
Burghley,   Lord,  and  Lord  North,   Letter  be- 
tween,  181 
Butts  Family,   7 

Capel,    Edward,   Publisher   and   Author,   361 
„      John,  Illegal  Fine  of,  227 
,,       Lofft,  Voluminous  Writer,  361 
Carbonel  Family,  70,  71 

,,      '  Arms,  238 

Carill,  Thomas,   and  Wife,   Inscription,   374 
Cavendish  Family,  59,  60,  61,  62,  68,  69 

,,  ,,        Memoirs  of,  by  Dr.  Ken- 

nett,   1 703,  69 

,,          Sir  John,  Murder  of,  1381,  60,  68,  298 
,,          Lawsuit  Respecting  Land  in,  60,  65 
Caxton  Manor,  Assignation  of  Dower,  92 
Cecil,    Sir    Robert,    Letter    from,    to    Thomas 

Browne,    229 
Chilton,   Action   as  to  a   Fosse   Destroyed  at, 

71 

Clerbeck  Family,  9 
Clopton  Arms,    156 

,,       Thomas,  Will,   141 
William,  Will,  146 
Cloth,   Blue,    Manufacture   of,    126 
Ccckfield  Family,  83,  84 
Codenham  Family,  28 
Codington,   Richard,   Grant   in   Exchange   for 

Nonesuch,   335 

,,          Richard,    and   his    Wife,     Inscrip- 
tion, 336 

Coke,   Arundel,    Hanging   of,   347 
Cokefeld,   Pedigree  of,    112 
Coldham  Hall,   Paper  on,  226 
Collingham   Hall,    Grant  of,   for   Endowment 

of  Fry  Chantry,  1484,  69 
,,          Hall,    Devolved   upon   Bury   Free 

School,   1609,  69 
Colman,  41 

Monument,  42 


ii. 


INDEX    RERUM. 


Colt   Family,  64,  65,   67,   68 

„    Anns,  6$ 
Copley  Family,  69 
Corbet   Family,   17 
Cordell  Arms,  139 

„       Sir  Robert,  Will,  138 

..       Sir  William,  Inscription,  134 
Cornard,  Gt.,  Rental  of,  86 
Cornethall   Manor,  Action   Respecting,   55 
Cornherd  Arms,  63 

Court  Baron,  Reference  to,  by  Lord  Coke,  is. 
Crane  Family,  71,  72,  73 

„      Arms,  71 

.,      Monument,  72 

,,  Inscription,  72 
Cressener  Family,  36 
Croftes  Arms,  413 

„      Anthony,    Probable    Author    of   "  The 
Husband,"  406 

,.      Anthony,  Inscription,  406 

„      C.,  Will,  406 

,,      Charles,  Mural  Monument,  268.  269 

„      John,  Will,  404,  4«2 

„      Sir  John,  Will,  267,  408 

„      Thomas,   Grant   of   Livermere    Parva, 
.      346 

„  „        Inscription,  405 

,,  ..        Mural  Monument,  268 

Custom,  Ancient,  126 

,,        of  Borough  English,  402 
Customary  Court,   x. 
Daniel  Family,   10 

. ,      Arms,  12 
Death  by  Poison  of  Baldwin  Earl  of  Devon, 

Deed   of   Lady   Bardolf  to    Sir    Michael    de 

Poynings,   1312,  49 
De  Grey  Family,  63 
„        Arms,  63 
„         Inscription,  93,  94 
De  Vere  Family,  76,  77,  78,  79,  80,  81,  82 
„        Extracts      from      the      Warkworth 

Chronicles,  78,  79,  80 
„        Maud,     Wife    of    Eighth    Earl    of 
Oxford,  Account  by  Dugdale,  78 
,,        Robert,      Outlawed    and    Attainted, 

'393.  77 
D'Ewes  Family,  41,  366 

.,        Paul,  Monument,  366 

,,        Sir  Symonds,  Account  of,  367 

Domesday  Survey,  Terms  Used  in,  xii. 

„         Extract  from  Sir  Henry  Ellis  on, 
xiv. 

Drury,  Elizabeth,   Mention  of  sheep  in   Her 

Will,  416 
„      Roger,  Tomb  of,  204 

Elizabeth,    Queen,    Entertained    by    Sir    Wil- 
liam Waldegrave,  1541,  1579,  54 

Essex,  Henry  de,   Disgrace  of,   165 
,,      Priory,  Sacking  of,  137 

Euston  Hall,  Description  of,  294 

Felton  Family,  35 

Fiske,  William,  Will,  352 

Fiti  Walter   Family,    193 

Forth  Family,  28 

Fowke,  Frances,  Will,  411 

Gardiner,  Arms,  289 

Gardner,  Sir  Robert,   Monument,  288 

Clifford's  Hall,  Account  of,  224 

Gislebcrt,  Earl,  Family,  45 

Glemsford,  Action  as  to  Right  of  Way  at,  107 

Gloves   and    Perfumes    Introduced    into    Eng- 
land,  121 

Goate  Family,  42 
,,      Monument,  42 


Grandison,    William,     Lord,     wounded    and 

died,   1643,  68 
Grey  Family,  63,  64 
Grey*   Hall,   Paper  on,   Suff.    lust.,  Vol.   vi., 

23,  89 

Gurdon  Family,   18 
Hall  Mote,  Barons  Court  House,  ix. 
Hare  Arms,  235 
..     Sir  Ralph,  Inscription,  23$ 
,,     Sir  Thos.,  Inscription,  235 
Harleston,  Arms,  198 
Herling,  Arms,  341 
Hervey  Family,  31,  85 

,,       Account  of,  by  Bishop  Burnet,  417 

„      John,  Extract  from  Letter  to  Earl  of 
Leicester,  417 

„      John,  Will,  416 

„       Mrs.   F.,   of  Ickworth,   Present  Owner 
of  Smallbridge,  55 

,,      William,  Inscription,  416 
Hodeboviles  Family,  5 
Honor  of  Raleigh,  179 

Hovel,  Robert,  Custom  of  Taking  Toll,  308 
Howard,  Alice,  Will,  216 

„        Henry,  Account,  218 

„        Thomas,  Will,  217 
Huddlestone   Family,  29 
Hundred,  as  a  Division,  v. 

„        Mote,     Place   of   Business    Transac- 
tions of  Hundred,  vi. 
Hunt,  John,  Inscription,  387 
Infangenethef,   a   Liberty  Granted   by   Samp- 
son   Abbot    of    St.     Edmund   to   William 

Carboncl,    End    of   Twelfth    Century,    71 
Ingoldesthorp,   Lady  Elizabeth,   Will,   200 

,,  Sir  John,  Monument,  200 

Ipswich  Journal,  Extract  from,  89 
Jennens  Family,   11,  65 
,,        Arms,  12 
,,        Last    Annuitant   of   the    Exchequer 

Tontine  of  £100  share,  12 
Jermyn,  Sir  Thomas,  Account  of  Funeral   of, 

360 

Kemesk,  Petronella,  Seal  of,  179 
Kenilworth,  Dictum  of,  76 
Kentwell  Hall,  Description  of,   143,   155 
Lamb,  Arms,  382 
Langham,  Arms,  345 

Lawshall  Hall,  Visit  of  Queen  Elizabeth,   129 
Leet  Feu,  Annual  Payment  of,  vii. 
Leyham,  Nesta  de,  Descent  of,  no,   m 
Library  of  Dr.   Colham,  43 
Licence  to  Castellate,   Robert  Aigulon,  47 
Limesi  Family,  58 
Lindsey   Family,  59 

Little   Haugh    Hall,   Description   of,   355 
Livermere  Hall,  Short  Account  of,  348 
Lovell,  Arms,  341 
Lutterell,  Arms,  246 
Macro  Family,  354 
Maitland,   Professor,   Mention   of,   x. 
Malet,  Robert,  Present  at  Battle  of  Hastings, 

76 

Malpigernoun,    Serjeanty   of,   46 
Manning,  The  Misses,  76,  82 
Mannock,  Arms,  224 

,,        Francis,  and  Wife,  223 
,,         William,   Inscription,  222 
Manor   Derivations,   vi.,   viii. 
Manors,    Division   of,    x. 

,,        Reputed,  xi. 
Martin  Family,    14 

,,      Arms,  15 
Martyn,  Arms,  208 


INDEX   RERUM. 


111. 


Measuring   of   Ground   with   Rope   for   Exact 

Measure,  45 

Melford  Manor,   Deeds  Concerning,    147 
„         Rectory,  Description  of,   157 
„         Hall,  Visit  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  133 
»  ,,      Sacking  of,   137 

Methold,  Arms,  311 
Mildmay,  Arms,  54 
Mingay,  Arms,  309 
Monk  Illeigh  Manor,  Account  of  Purchase, 

162 

Monks  Manor  House,   Account  of,    144 
Montague,  Sir  John  de,  Violent  Death  of,  171 
,,  Thomas,        Earl       of       Salisbury, 

Account  of,  172 
Montchensy,  Arms,   103 
Montfort,  Arms,  205 
Moody,   Elizabeth,   Inscription,  391 
More,  Sir  T.,  Evidence  of  Lord  Rich  against 

163 
Mortimer,     Margaret,     Her    Connection    with 

Somerton   Manor,   202 
Netherhall  Manor,  Action  as  to,  65 
North,   Lord,   and   Lord  Burghley,   Letter  be- 
tween,   1582,   181 
Odyngsells   Family,   59,  60 

„          Arms,  59 

Osborne,   John,    Monument,   396 
Oxford,  Maud,  Wife  of  Eighth  Earl  of,  Anec- 
dote of,   78 
Pakenham,  Sir  John  de,   Claim  of  Wreck  at 

Sea,  349 

Paston  Family,  207 
Pateshulls,  Arms,  295 
Peculiar  Services,   xiv. 
Penning,  Arms,  348 

„        Anthony,   and  Wife,   Inscription,  347 
Peyton   Family,   22,   30 
„       Arms,  28 
„       Hall,  22 
Pole,  de  la,   Family,  392 
Polstead  Hall,  Short  Account,   181 
Pope,  Letter  of  Remonstrance  to  the,   76 
Poynings   Family,  49,   51,   56 
Progers,   Mrs.   Catherine,   Inscription,   410 
,,         Edward,   Letter  to,    from   Chas.    II., 

408 
„         Edward,     Letter     to     the     Duke     of 

Hamilton,  409 

,,         Edward,   Inscription,  409 
,,  ,,         Portrait    of,    by    Sir    Peter 

Lely,  at  Rushbrooke,  411 
Raleigh  Honor,  Lawless  Court  of,  250 
Ratcliffe  Family,    195 

Read,  Sir  Charles  Croftes,  Monument,  269 
Rich,     Lord,     Evidence   against   Sir  Thomas 

More,  163 
Risbie  Family,  28 
Riveshall  Manor,  Extent  of,  304 
Robinson   Family,   82 
„         Arms,   144 
Rokewode  Family,   10 
,,          Arms,  226 

Roger,  Will,  291 
Rokewood,  Edward,  Account  of,   292 


Rowley,  Arms,  221 
Sale,  Extraordinary,   55 
„     Particulars  of,   Concerning  Kentwell  and 

Melford,  143 
Scroope  Family,  32,  33,  34,  35 

,,         Lady  Elizabeth,  Inscription,  81 
Scrope,  le,  Sir  Henry,  Treachery  of,   168 
Seal  of  Nesta  de  Cokefeld,  Engraving,  84 
Settlement    on    Marriage    of    Nicholas    Bacon 

and  Anne  Butts,  8 
Services,  Peculiar,  xiv. 
Shelton  Family,  37,  38,  39,  40 

,,        Arms,  41,  278 

,,         Mrs.  Margaret,   Inscription,  277 

,,         Maurice,   Author,  277 
Silvester   Family,   50 
Smith,  John  or  Jankin,  Will,  313 
Soame  Family,  55,   56,  62,  66 

„       Inscription,  1593  (?),  56 
Spanish  Armada,   Muster  of  Suffolk  Men,   54 
Spring  Family,  41,   82,  84 
Stowlangtoft,  Tradition  of  Name,  364 
Talemach   Family,   5,    13 
Taxes  on  Towns,  4 
Taylor,   Reynolds,  Monument,   299 
Tendring,    Lady,   Will,    144 

,,  Sir  W.,  Inscription  on  Gravestone, 

2I3 
Thelnetham,   Profits  on  Manor  of,  376 

„  Arms,  378 

Tithe,    Action    as    to,    between    Skinner    and 

Copinger,   122 

Tithing,   Explanation  of,  v. 
Trehaupton  Family,  65,  66 
Troston   Hall,   Description   of,   384 
Valence,  Aymer  de,  Account  of,    152 
„        Wm.  de,  Account  of,  150 
„  „        Arms,  151 

Valoines,  Arms,  300 

Vere,  de,  Family,  76,  77,  78,  79,  80,  81,  82 
,,     John  de,   Reinstation  of,   as    I3th   Earl, 

120 
Waldegrave   Family,    19,   29,   50,   51,   52,   53, 

54,  55.  57 
Anecdotes  of,  51 
Sir  Richard,  Inscription,   1401,  52 

„       Will,   52 
Sir  William,  Will,  53 
,,          „        Inscription,    1554,  54 
Sir  Richard,  Victory  of,  in  Brit- 
tany, 1402,  50 
Warkworth  Chronicle,  Accounts  of  De  Veres, 

78,  79 

West     Stow     Hall,      Connection     with     Mary 
Queen  of  France,  404 
„          ,,          „         Description  of,  411 
Wilson,  Arms,  345 
Wincold,  Arms,  247 
Windsor,  Ann,  Lady,   Monument,  219 
Winthorp,   Adam,   Will,    1562,    113 

„  „        Inscription,   112,   113 

Wordwell    Hall,    Manor    House,    Description, 

285,   4"9 

Wyndham,  Arms,  73 
Yelloby  Family,  62,  63,  66 


INDEX    LOCORUM. 


Abbas   Manor,   a,  So,  88,   144 

Abbots  M.,  i,  40,  41,  159*.,  240*. 

Abingdon,  99 

Abriwicks,  259 

Acre,  233,  234 

Acton,  i,  s.  65,  89,  114,  122,  134, 

"39"-.   '74.  »>9.  '35.   338,   »39. 

at*"-.  *43.  3'7»-.  3" 
Addington,  46,  47 
Aguitaine,  194 

Albergh  Wykes  v.  Abriwicks 
Alderbury,  336 
Alderton  Ch.,  365 
Aldgate,  192,  392 
Aldbam,  119,  184,  215,  221 
Aldwarke,  201 
Alfreton   Ch.,  241 
Algakirk,  88 
Algoods  M.,  2,  103 
Allred  Wykes  v.  Abriwicks 
Alnwick,  62 

Alpheton,  i,  14,  15,  122,  145,  198 
Alresford,  226 
Althorp,   160,   161 
Alveneley  M.,  i,  18,  21,  200 
Amberley  Castle,  337 
Ampton,  267,  289,  325,  328,  342, 

347.  4«3 
And  over,  293 
Anjou,  145 
Antwerp,  123 
Appulgary's  M.,  2,  98 
Arde,  416 
Argbam  Ch.,  119 
Arsa  M.,  37 
Artois,  196 
Arundel,  47 
A ry shire,  130 
Asham,  96 
Ashfield,  122,  253,  256-260,  260*1., 

*83,  333.  335.  3$5 
Ashwell-Thorp,   17,  401 
Aspeden  Hall,  62 
Assington,  i,  16-19,  43.  86.  89,98, 

»43 

Atte  Chaumbre,  257 
Attleburgh  188,  338 
Babergh  (Babburgh  al.  Babenga, 

Balbrig    al.     Baburgh),    1-252, 

3710.,  27311.,  2?6".,  27711.,  a8o»i., 

«7».,  »99»-.  3'3»-.  3'7»-.  3S°»- 
364*.,  368*1. ,  38711.,  391  n. 

Babewell,  340 

Babraham,   142 

Baconsthorp,  208,  219 

Bacton,  158 

Badenagh,  152 

Badley,  3,  30,  56,  240,  268,  405, 
406 

Badwell,  257,  363 

Bad  well  Ash,  253,  260,  261,  270 

Baggotts  M.,  253,  273,  274 

Bainard,   191,   192,   193 

Baketon,  207 

Balisden  M..  5,  285 

Bannockbnm,  233 


Bannyngham,  216 

Barcomb,  49 

Bardwell,  253,  257,  259,  262,  263, 
264,  266-270,  27211.,  273*1.,  ^83, 
292,  304,  30811.,  334,  335,  337, 
35°.  35°»-.  36«».,  363,  380, 
381*1.,  39i»r.,  404,  404*1. 

Barfield,  Little,  88 

Barham,  346,  405 

Barnardiston,  63 

Barnet,  79,  173,  201 

Harnham,  253,  267,  271-281,  283, 

Barningham,  40,  174*1.,  243*1.,  253- 
272,  275-280*1.,  292,  399,  400 

Harrington,   174 

Barrock  Park,  319 

Barrow,  283,  317,  326,  336,  374, 

39' 

Hartford  Soham,  254,  319 
Barton,  282,  303,  335,  404 
Basse  M.,  323 
Battersey,  300 
Battisford,   187 
Battle  Abbey,  99 
Bayswater,  402 
Healings,   Gt.,   Ch.,   340 
Beaudesert,  54,  219 
Bee,  45 
Beccles,  280 
Bedeford,  101 
Bedford  CO.,  17,  55,  97,  176,  200 

320,  366 

Hedingfield,  214,  340 
Bee  Abbey,  205 
Bekkes,  35 
Belhawe,  267 
Belhouse,  18 
Bells  Land,  400 
Belstead,  310,  387,  391,  399 
Benhall,   174 
Bentley  (Benetteley),  5,  13*1.,  77, 

35' 

Beresmere  by  Depedale,   178 
Bergholt,  East,  19,  176 
Berkesdon  M.,  56 
Berks,  co.,  56,  76,  99,   181,  285, 

3>8,  3'9.  33' 
Berners,  401 
Bernwell,  92 
Berated,  382 
Berton  Bendish,  341 


Besthorp,  75,  203,  373 
Betley  al.   Botley,  55 
Bichamwell,  94,  366 


lotley,  55,  56 


Bidun-I-imesi,  59,  175 
Bildeston,  52,  181,  322 
Billingford,  357 
Binham  Priory,  296 
Birmingham,    n 
Bishopstoke,  159 
Blackborough,  335,  337,  354 
Blackbourn    H.,   i,  71.,  32*1.,  40, 

41*1.,    51*1.,     124*1.,     '59.     '74". 

177*1,  184*1.,  '87*1.,  "'"•.  >43"-. 

»53-4«9 


Blackburn,  379 

Blackheath,  322,  345 

Blackton   Hill,   152 

Blakes  M.,  2,  147 

Blay,  214 

Hletshoe,  97 

Blickling,  39,  39*1,  72,  307 

Blofield,  207 

Blore  Heath,  173 

Blourton,  286 

Blow  Norton,  379 

Itludhall,   312,  366 

Blue  Stile,  344 

Hocking  or  Bokkyng,  53,  197,  416 

Bohemia,  169 

Bokenham,  263 

Bolton,  339 

Boothby  Pagnell,  260 

Bornhouse  M.,  2,  29 

Bosmere  H.,  viii.,  152 

Boston,   112,   113,   217 

Bosworth,  81 

Botelers  v.  Butlers 

Botesdale,  316 

Boulogne,  32,  322,  333,  396 

Bowers  M.,  2,  160 

Bowes,  2,  29,  342 

Boxford,    i,   2,   3,  22,   25-30.   35. 

102,  114,  159,  180,  181,  182,  195, 

240,  240*1.,  244*1.,  a73»" 
Boxstead,     3,    }i-jf>,     65,     107, 

108*1.,  116,  190,  197,  391*1.,  417 
Boxworth,  217 
Boyton  M.,  163 
Bradbourne,  103 
Bradenham,  219 
Bradewell,   171 
Bradfield,   158,  283,  298 
Bradley,  55,  300 
Bradnam,  54 
Braintree,  175 
Bramford,  85,  402 
Brandeston,  3,  240-242,  248 
Brandon,  341,  393 
Branham,  274 
Branston  v.   Brandeston 
Breccles,  377 
Brecknock  co.,  410 
Brecon,  408,  410 
Breganza,  196 
Brent  Eleigh  or  Illeigh,  2,  37-43, 

122,     159,     1591.,     188,    240*1., 

277*1.,  280.  280* . 
Brentwood,  166 
Brest,  104,  393 
Rretaigne,  263 

Brett's  M.,  187*1.,  a54>  3I2>  3'3 
Brettenham,   184,  209,  258 
Brickendon  M.,  55 
Brightwell,  309 
Brion  or  Brionne,  45,  232 
Bristol,  68,  319,  338 
Britain,  viii. 
Brittany,  50,  194 
Brockdish,  312,  365 
Brockley,   195 


INDEX   LOCORUM. 


v. 


Brockscroft,  175 

Broke,  129,  213,  260,  261 

Brome,  xv.,  19,  246,  268,  272,  283, 

284,  329,  33°,  347.  377.  381 
Bromfield,   283 
Bromholm  Abbey,  207 
Browston  Hall,  35 
Bruisyard,  216,   340 
Brunt  Hall,  299 
Brunt  Illeigh  v.  Brent  Eleigh 
Brushes  M.,  253,  260 
Brussels,   169,  362 
Brynton  Ch.,  210 
Brythe  213 
Buckenham,  71 
Buckingham  co.,  48,  54,  219,  246, 

3'S 

Bucknam,  315 

Bulemere  Ch.,  52,  249 

Bulley  M.,  2,  67,  68 

Bumsted,  300 

Bundrum,  130 

Bungay,  283 

Bures  or  Buers,  2,  7,  8,  19,  29, 
44-57,  62».,  63,  70,  74».,  86,  91, 
98,  102,  109,  160,  i So,  231,  239«., 
246,  322,  366 

Burgate,  283 

Burgh,  199,  200 

Burgh  upon  Sands,  152 

Burgundy,  214 

Burnham,  210,  290,  309 

Burnham  Mercate,  178 

Burnham  Thorpe,  307 

Burnham  Westgate,   179 

Burnt  Bradfield,  246 

Burrefelde,  66 

Bursted,  Little,  34 

Burwash,  co.  Sussex,  35 

Bury  St.  Ed.,  i,  3,  21-24,  24"-> 
26,  30-32,  35,  37,  51,  60,  66n., 
69,  83,  85,  106-107,  "7-1  '9,  1*3, 
129,  131,  132,  133,  134,  135,  137, 
139,  140,  142,  149,  156,  157,  174, 
187,  195,  io6n.,  206,  217,  230, 
232,  233,  243,  254,  255,  262-267, 
276,  277,  280,  282,  285,  287, 
292*1.,  300,  303,  306,  310-314, 
315,  324,  326,  328,  337,  347,  354, 
355.  359.  360.  362,  367.  368,  37°. 
372,  374,  39',  4°2,  4°5.  406. 
412,  413-418 

(Liberty),  i,  84,  131,  214,  349 

Bushey  Park,  410 

Busselus,  132 

Butlers  or  Buttons  M.,  2,  3,  82, 
176,  238 

Buxhall,   i2in.,   184 

Buxtons  v.  Butlers 

Buyden  Hall  M.,  163 

Bylegh  juxta  Maiden  Abbey,  322 

Cackstones  v.  Caxtons 

Cadiz,  164 

Calais,   2,   30,   33,   54,    106,    107, 

'94,  245,  395 

Callys  v.  Calais 

Calne,   241 

Calre,  214 

Calthorp,  30,  253,  268,  272 

Camberly,  319 

Camberwell,  3i8«. 

Cambridge,  43,  60,  84,  85,  95, 
106,  I2i».,  122,  173,  1731.,  184, 
186,  239,  258,  315,  354,  355 

Cambs.  co.,  15,  22-27,  42>  5**,  72, 
76,  104,  123,  160,  161,  198,  199, 
201,  289,  296,  299,  300,  310, 

3'8,  3'9>  339".  34',  374,  3^9 
Campes,   81 
Campsey,  289 
Canada  Tower,    326 
Caneworth  M.,  2,  98 
Canfield,  222,  323,  341 


Canterbury,   17,   162,   185 

Capel  or  Capelis,  3,  227,  249 

Carbonels  M.,  2,  3,  70,  238,  239 

Carliam  Hall,  324,  341 

Carleton  M.,  56 

Carlford  H.,  rx. 

Carlisle,  64,  300,  409 

Carrow,  339,  340 

Casteles  M.,  2,   182 

Castelyns  or  Castelins  M.,  2,  113, 

114,   115,  145,  146,  24371.,  368 
Castille,  232 
Castle   Hedingham,    124 
Castlemaine,  68 
Castor,  207 
Catchleigh  M.,  2,  98 
Causers  M.,  3,  213,  228 
Cavendish,   2,    28,   31,    56».,  58, 

60-69,   86,   86n.,   90,   9i».,    105- 

I07,    I75"-,    '78«.,    2g8n. 
Cavenham,   15,  324 
Cawston  or  Cawsones  v.  Caxtons 
Caxtons  M.,    2,    63,    90,    91,    92, 

94-98,  167 

Cearne  or  Cerne,  3oo». 
Chadacre,  3,  35,  196,   i96«.,  270 
Chamberlaines  M.,  3,  222,  228 
Chardestocke,  366 
Chavent,  399 
Chelfordes,  64 
Chelmsford,  18 
Chelsea,   176,  289 
Chelsworth,   74 
Chenetessaia,  338 
Chertsey,   196 
Cheshire,  137 
Chester,   136,  351 
Chesterford,  L.,  25 
Cheston,  398 
Chevington,  415 
Chicago  P.  Library,  xvi. 
Chicester,  129 

Chiche,  136,  197,  267,  351,  381 
Chichester,  347 
Chilton,    2,    70-73,    91,    97,    177, 

i77».,  208,   235,   239,   243,  246, 

3'8 

Chipley  Priory,  154 
Chippenham,   182,   219 
Chittham,    233 
Church  Hall  M.,  2,  183 
Churchhouse   M.,  254,   388,   389 
Cirencester,  171 
Clapham,  252 
Clare,   5o«.,   58,  60,  89,  91,   131, 

142,  145,  216,  231,  235,  243 
Claydon  H.,  viii.,  152 
Clenchwarton,  306 
Clerbecks  M.,  i,  5,  9,  10,  n 
Clifton,  136 
CHssley,  171 
Clopton,  140,  391 
Cobham,  62 
Cockfield,  2,  67«.,  74-85,  109,  no, 

n8n.,    ngn.,     i6on.,    183,    184, 

195,   2'5,  246,   246».,   277,   295, 

3°7,  3'3>  365 
Cockley  Cley,  9 
Cockthorp,  94,  342 
Coddenham,  i,  28,  29 
Codham,  66,  67,  251 
Codington  v.  Cuddington 
Codnamhall  v.  Coddenham 
Coggeshall,  55,  76,  106,  350 
Cokefield  v.  Cockfield 
Coketts,  267 
Colchester,  2,  7,  9,  35,  62,  83,  85, 

103,  214,  216 
Cold   Grano,  45 
Coldham  Hall,  53,  130,  225,  226 
Coling,  335 

Collingham  H.  M.,  2,  69 
Colne  Priory,  77,  81,  100,  118 


Colneis  H.,  ix. 

Colneye,  23 

Colts  Hall,  64,  65,  67,  69 

Colvyles,  253,  371 

Combs,  241,  288,  386 

Combusta  v.    Brent    Eleigh 

Coney  Weston,  253,  275,  278,  280, 

281,  294,  302,  321,  397,  399,  400 
Coningston,   267 
Conquet,  50 
Copford  Hall,  62 
Copley,  69 
Coresfella,  74 
Cornard,  2-10,  44,  55,  56,  63,  64, 

86,    88,    89,    90-98,    gSw.,    109, 

243,  244 

Cornerth  v.  Cornard 
Cornethall  or  Cornhall  v.  Cornard 
Cornwall  co.,  75,  79,  80,  195,  227, 

287.  347 
Corsham,  95 

Cosford  H.,  viii.,   1-84,  228 
Courci,  45 

Coventry,  10,  17,  113 
Coxden,  366,  367 
Coxford  Abbey,  292 
Crabhouse,  340 
Craill-upon-Oise,  339 
Crainaviles  or  Cranevyles  M.,  2 
Cransford  Hall,  176 
Crecy,  77 

Greeting,  West,  310-316 
Creshall,  62 
Cresswell,  139,  340 
Cressy,  38,  49,  155,  170,  251,  253, 

372.  378 
Creting,  71 
Cretingham,  174 
Cricke  Abbey,  307 
Cropredybridge,  329 
Crowcombe,  358 
Croweshall  or  Crowyshall,  202 
Crowfield  Hall,  310 
Croxfield,   123 
Croxton,  15 
Croy,  63 
Cublesdon,  82 
Cuddington  M.,  335,  336 
Culford,    253,    282,     286,    31  ?«., 

328-331,  4'1-4'S,  4'9 
Culstone,  106 
Cumberland  co.,  300,  319 
Cumnor,  318 
Gunner,  344 
Cunston,  335 
Dalham,  94,  95,  319 
Danbury,  264 
Danby,  350 
Darsham,  95 
Dartford,  241 
Dawley,  293 
Deans  Hall,  67 
Debden,  106 
Debenham,  47,  202 
Dedham,  245 
De  Greys  M.,  2,  63,  gin. 
Denham  by  Barrow,  263 
Denmark,  221,  223 
Denston,  326 
Depden,  40,  53,  326 
Derby,  124 
Derby  co.,  368 
Devon  co.,  351 
Dieppe,  321 
Diss,  281,  402 
Dissington  S.,   138 
Doddington,  24,  26,  27 
Dorset  co.,  75,  123,  215,  300,  351, 

366,  367,  417 
Dounes,  229,  400 
Dounhall  M.,  243 
Dounings  v.  Dounes 
Dover,  64,  92 


vi. 


INDEX   LOCORUM. 


Dowayres  or  Downs  M.,  3,  144 

Downesham  M.,  335 

Drayton,  33,  in,  21911. 

Drinkstone,  288,  315,  321 

Droitwitch  M.,  aoa 

Dunhall  M.,  114 

Dun  mow,  Gt,  336,  374 

Dunster  Castle,  345 

Durham,    103,   167 

Ealing,  344 

Earls  H.  M.,  2,  75,  76,  8a,  118*.., 

11911.,  183 
Earl  Stonham,  56 
Easington,  103 
E»st  H.  M.,  253,  286,  388 
Eastham,  280 
Eaton,  33211. 
Edmonton,   13311. 
Edwardstone,  2,  5,  39,  50,  53,  09, 

100.104,  113-115,  159,  175,  182, 

»49.  333 
Egmere,  318 

Elingbam  Gt.,  93,  310 

Ellow,   396 

Elraham  South,  398 

Elmswell,    253,    287,    28711.,    a88. 

a?9.  33}.  4'3 
Elsing,  263 
Elstow,  97 
Elstree,  181 
Els  worth,  402 
Kltham,  208 

Ely,  loo,  105,  116,  234,  300,333 
Englefield,  285,  331 
Erdington  Hall,  1 1 
Eresby,  396 
Eresham,  396 
Eriswell,  340 
Erwarton,  xv.,  18,  307 
Essex  co.,  i,  8,  9,  10,  17,  18,  23, 

*$•  33,  34,  37.  4',  43.  44.  45.  S3. 

55.  6*.  65.  67.  7'.  72,   75.  7°. 

88,  93,  100,  106,  in,  115,  118, 

"3,  «»4.  «3'.  '37.  '39.  '4°. 
•4»,  M5.  '46,  M7.  "65,  166, 
"69.  '75.  '7*.  '78,  '93.  '97. 

201,      205,      213,      215,      222,      234, 

243,  246,  24611.,  248,  250,  251, 

2OO,   264,   276,   283,   284,  296,  300, 

3<>8,  3".  3'6.  3'9.  3"-  3*3.  336. 

34«.    347.    35°.    35'.    3<».    368, 

399.  4°' 

Estanes  M.,  323 
Esthall  v.  East  Hall 
Esthorpe  M.,  23 
Esthouse  v.  Churchhouse 
Eton,  42,  232,  361 
Europe,  331 
Euston,    104,   253,   290-95,   29311., 

_  3<".  342,  34**->  345 

Evesham,  76,   150,  167,  233 

Ewe,  321 

Ewell,  319 

Eye,    70,    71,   99,    101,    285,   329, 

33",  33'.  37»,  395 
Eye  Thelnetham  M.,  253,  378 
Eylond  Chapel,  229 
Fakenham,   60,   253,   26211. ,    267, 

272,  275*.,  283,  294,  296-30™., 

320*1. 

Falkenham,  292 
Fawley,  95 
Faxton,  56 
Felbrigg.  73,  95,  208 
Feltwell  M.,  245,  260 
Fen-Ditton,  299,  300 
Fenhall  M.,  2,  42,  159,  246 
Ferrybridge,  194 
Fenfield,  213,  314,  238,  23811. 
fTulybrok,  08 
Kin'borough,  398 
Fife  co.,  377 
Findingfield,  376 


Kinningbam,  310 

Finstead,  178 

Firle,  351,  417 

Flanders,  33,  167 

Flempton,  413,  414 

FHxney  Abbey,  326 

Flixton,   in,  354 

Flodden,  216 

Florence,  76 

Folybrok  M.,  2,  98 

Forehall,  134 

Fornham,  103,  393,  309,  328,  413, 

4'4 

Fortescue,  94 

Fort  Neck  House,  15 

Fowke,  411 

Framlingham,  in,  126,  216,  217, 
37111. 

France,  40,  54,  79,  80,  150,  151. 
152,  164,  168,  193,  194,  205, 
208,  214,  217,  232,  278,  300,308, 
321,  322,  323,  332,  338,  339,  362, 

39*.  395.  396,  4<M.  4'6 
Fransham  Gt.,  341 
Freckenham,   15,  56 
Frenge,  199,  200 
Frense,  307 
Freston,  14 
Freton,  263 
Frieps  M.,  53 
Friesland,  393 
Frodsbam  Castle,  138 
Furca  M.,  132 
Fyfe,  409 
Fyfield,  159 
Fyncham,  365 
Galway  co.,  344 
Garreddin,  408 
Gascony,  166,  179,  193 
Gasthorp,  263,  350 
Gaul,  viii. 
Gaunt,  416 
Gawdy  Hall,  246 
Gaynes  M.,  53,   123 
Gaysley,  335 
Gedding,  228,  339 
Gelderland,  122 
Georges  M.,  30,  272 
Germany,  viii.,  52 
Gernsey  Isle,  288 
Geyton  Ch.,  343 
Giddy  Hall,  284,  316 
Giffords,  3,  14,  24,  196,  197,  209, 

213,  221-224,  228,  229,  254,  300, 

386(1.,  391,  396 
Gimernddee   or    Gwerndee,    409, 

410 

Ginney's  M.,  407,  411,  413 
Sipping,  181,  376,  377,  379,  401, 

402 

Gisleham,  278 
Gissing,  238,  302,  372,  401 
Glaslough,  19 
Glastonbury  Abbey,   354 
Glemham,  169,  362 
Glemsford,  2,  351.,  105-108,  197 
Glentworth,  124 
Gloucester  co.,   27,   56,   65,    171, 

242,  300,  321 
Goderich  Castle,  150 
Godleming,  366 
Gonville,  25$  339,  339«. 
Gopsal,  12 
Gorhamburg,  283 
Gosfield,  67,  88,  251,  312,  366 
Gower,  215 

Graces,  co.  Essex,  18 
Grange  M.  v.  Ringmere  M. 
Grantham,  113 
Gravensden  Gt.,  223 
Gray,  63 
Greece,  218 
Greenwich,  134,  344,  395 


Greys  M.,   2,  64,  65,  67,  69,  86, 

89,  107 
Grislehnrst,  318 

Groten,  2,  1911.,  83,  84,  8411.,  103, 
109-115,  11311.,  i4S-«47.  '59. 
243.1.,  248,  266,  368 

Grymesthorpe,  396 

Guelderland,  366 

Guisnes,  416 

Gunnersbury,  90,  96 

Gunthorpe,   296 

Guyon,  321 

Gy fiords  v.  Giflords 

Haddon,  East,  280 

Hadeston  M.,  92 

Hadleigh,  17,  28,  29,  73,  146,  221 

Haethfel  Park,  150 

Hag  he,  265 

Hainton,  223 

Haldens  v.  Holdens 

Halesworth,  308 

Halliwell,  341 

Hallymote   M.,    jin.,    22in.,    254, 

39'.  39s 

Halstead,  28,  88 
Ham,  284 
Homes  Castle,  So 
II  am  lake,  341 
Hampshire,    n,  65,  85,   95,   159, 

.337 

Hampton,  409,  410 

Hamstall,  310 

Hamstede,   168 

Hanbury,  300 

Han  worth,  265 

Harding  or  Hardyngd,  253,  352 

Hardingham,   189 

Harewell,  341 

Harkstead,   326 

Harrington,  299 

Hartest,  2,  35,  105,  116,  197,  203 

Hartford,  300 

Hartismere  H.,   2o6n.,   253,  338 

Harvard  Library,   xvi. 

Haselden  Grange,  300 

Hastings,  58,  70,   117,  205 

Hatfield  Peverel,  5,  8».,  9,  10,  17, 

98,  181 

Haughley,  xv.,   179,  370 
Hawstead  or  Hausted,  7,  28,  53, 

75.    "9,    '54*-.    '6'.    204,   225, 

282,  307 
Hegham,  228 
Helmingham,  376 
Helleaston,  17 
Hemingstone,   115,  311 
Hemston,  366 
Hendon,  168 
Heneye,  Little,  M.,  02 
Hengrave,   7,   125,   263,  346,  350, 

4°5.  4'3-S 
Henbam,  27 
Henhow,  196 
Henley  on  Thames,  345 
Hepewood,  312 
Hepworth,  18711.,  2S4>  26511.,  302- 

3'4,  354"-,  36"».,  363 
Hereford,  65,  377,  410 
Herling,  47,  94,  263,  334,  337-339, 

35?.  3|6 
Hernngfleet,  9 
Herringswell,  56 
Hertest  v.  Hartest 
Hertford,  95,  150,  175 
Herts  co.,  25,  48.  55,  56,  62,  65, 

90,  1 66,  182,  268,  269,  296,  333 
Hessett,  266 

Heston,  19,  381 
Hexham,  201 
Heydon,  55,  62,  208 
Higham,  217 
Highgate,  407 
High  Mount,  75 


INDEX   LOCORUM. 


vn. 


Hinderclay,  254,  283,  315-19,  335, 

357 

Hitcham,  182,  245 
Hockwould,  24,  47,  273 
Hoketuna,  178 

Holbrook,  3,  72,  104^,  239,  247-9 
Holdens  M.,  253,  279 
Holfield  Grange,  55 
Holkam,  99 
Holland,  265 
Holm,  64 
Holton,  221,  222 
Holybrok,  98 
Honington,  254,  320 
Honterston,  257,  335 
Honton,  201 
Hopton,  7,  7«.,  5i«.,  254,  309«., 

321-4,  341,  34i«. 
Hores  M.,  3,  203 
Horkestem  L.,  250 
Horksley,  250,  251 
Horndon-on-the-Hill,  33 
Hornton,  292 
Horseheath,  72,  104,  142,  160,  161, 

222,  248 

Horseley,  West,   in 
Houghton  H.  M.,  2,  67,  68,  73 
Houston  v.  Hunston 
Hundon  Ch.,  56 
Hunstanton,  85 
Hunston,  254,  257,  283,  325-7,  344, 

344"-.  354»- 
Huntingdon,  24,  161 
Huntingdon  co.,  26,  128,  133,223 
Hunts  Hall,  55 
Huntston  v.  Hunterston 
Hyde  Hall,  Herts,  25 
Ickworth,    55,    413,    416,    4i6«., 


Igmanthorpe,  167,  220 

Ilketshall,  283 

Illegh  Combusta  v.  Brent  Eleigh 

Illeye  v.  Arsa 

lllington,  174 

Impington,  289 

Impy  M.,  2,  67,  68 

India,  331 

Ingaldesthorp,    199 

Ingham,  254,  283,  285,  2850.,  307, 

3^8-31,  379"-.  4" 
Ingrames  M.,  221 
Intytesham  Ch.,  199 
Institution,  Royal,  xvi. 
Ipswich,  4,  5,  68,  85,  89,  94,  139, 

179,    181,   189,    1891.,   202,  214, 

"5.  33°,  34°,  347,  392,  4°2 
Ireland,   10,  22,  45,   50,  68,   113, 
163,  166,  171,  197,  233,326,344, 

35' 

Isfield,  289 
Isis  River,  77 
Isleham,  24,  241;.,  25-7,  318 
Isleworth,  19 
Islington,  112,  344,  370 
Istede,  398 
Italy,  218,  283 
Ixworth,  253,  256,  257,  2&OH.,  267, 

270,  270*.,  283,  297,  325,  325»., 

332-7.  343,  35°.  35i,  35'"-.  353. 

359-  359"-,  36o,  363,  368,  37'. 

374,  381,  381*.,  385,  386,  388 
Ixworth   Thorpe,    253,    267,    268, 

268n.,   335)   380.  380*.,   381 
[acobbies  M.,  2,  82 
akeham,    227 
enneys,  254,  403,  404,  412 
fersey  Island,  288 
Cedington,  245,  247 
Kemsynge  v.  Kessings 
Kendal,  323 
Kenninghall,   40,   218 
Kensington,   288 


Kent,  28,  45,  48,  86,  103,  104,  125, 

'34,    2°5,    208,    23',    241,    248, 

276,    294,    295,    319,    366,    375, 

406,  417 
Kentford,  335 
Kenton,  24 
Kentwell,   2,  33,   67,   68,   75,   82, 

124,  132,  140-156,  210,  225,  367, 

368,  372,  378,  399 
Kenwick  M.,  200 
Kersal,  366 

Kersey,  84,  114,  248,  404 
Kessell,  122 

Kessings  or  Kensings  H.  M.,  2,  68 
Ketleby,  226 

Kettlebaston,  xiv.,  10,  185,  188 
Kettleburgh,  347 
Kidbroke,  418 
Kilverstone,  311 
Kimbolton,  133 
Kings  Hill,  250 
Kingston,  15,  56 
Kinsale,  288 
Kirby  Caine,  307 
Kirtilby,  299 

Knattishall  v.  Knettishall 
Knebworth,  268,  269 
Knettishall,  253,  266,  292,  3ogtt., 

335.  338-42 
Knights  Hill,  82 
Kodenham,  28 
Kyvetts,  417 

Lackford,  253,  403,  412,  413 
Lagen,  132 
Lakenham,  88 
Lalle,  208 
Lambourne,  180 
Lamport,  366 

Lanam  or  Lanham  v.  Lavenham 
Lancaster  co.,  225,  318 
Lancaster,  Duchy  of,  20,  38,  64, 

78,  85,  8s«.,  175,  194,  207,  209, 

224,  231,  234,  245,  262,  374 
Landwade,  219,  310,  374 
Langelow,  364 

Lanetun,  248 
Langford,  106 

Langham,  221,  246;;.,  253,  257, 
260,  265,  267,  27on.,  283,  343, 

344,   345.   363.   3?o 

Lanherne,  195,  227 

Lanthony,  45,  321 

Lark  River,  253 

Lavenham,  i,  2,  iS,  28,  62,  76«., 
82,  103,  112,  117-127,  159,  160, 
162,  175,  182,  187-9,  '98,  215, 

225,  246-9,   252,   312,   326,   360, 
368,  368«. 

Lavenhey  v.  Netherhall 

Lawcell  M.,  129 

Lawford,  115 

Lawshall,  2,  128,  130,  348 

Layer  Marney,  23 

Layham  M.,  215 

Learne,  300 

Leeds,  276,  406 

Lees,  23,  26 

Leiston,  391 

Lelegay,  37 

Leominster,  65 

Letheringham,  174,  339 

Letton,  18,  19,  65 

Levenesheth,  220 

Levenhey,  i,  3,  19,  180,  213,  224, 

227 
Lewes,  47,  48,  150,  167,  233,  256, 

3",  333.  343,  3«5 
Lewtons  v.  Lutons 
Ley  or  Leys,  xii.,  i,  5,  13 
Leyham,  84 
Leyston  v.  Leiston 
Lichfield,   2ig». 
Lidierd  Tregoze,  68 


Lille,  196 

Lillesey,  63,  83,  84 
Lincoln,  22,  49,  73,  88,  113,  124, 
125,  164,  174,  217,  223,  226,396, 
Lincoln  co.,  260,   268,   269,   296, 

298>  3°7.  396.  4'8 
Lindsey,  no 
Linford,  141 
Lingmere,  335 
Linhow,  252 
Linton,  222,  341 
Listen,    33,    139,    145,    146,    312, 

326,  368 
Litlehaughe,   Lytelhawe,  or  Lytly- 

haghe,  352 

Little  Hall  v.  Euston 
Little  Haugh,  253,  352,  353,  356 
Little  Mill,  62 
Livermere  Gt.,  29,  243,  253,  268, 

283,  328,  336,  344,  346-8,  365, 

373.  374-5.  4'4,  4'6 

Loes  H.,  ix.,  27i». 

London,  xii.,  15,  18,  26,  27«.,47, 
S2,  55.  56.  6°,  61,  69,  78,  79, 
81,  96,  102,  103,  in,  112,  114, 
118,  122,  133,  137,  138,  140, 
144,  146,  153,  159,  163,  166, 
168,  173,  174,  185,  189,  191, 
192,  197,  198,  207,  208,  218, 
2'9«-,  225,  227,  244,  284,  300, 
3°7>  3'8,  323.  325,  326,  34°, 
34'.  35".  354,  36°,  36',  362,  367. 
37°.  376,  381,  387,  39'.  392, 
402,  404,  406,  408,  417 

Lovetts,  400 

Long  Island,  15 

Long  Stow,  104,  248 

Lostock  Place,  42 

Lothingland  Half  H.,   viii. 

Loudham,  288,  307 

Louvain,  77 

Ludlow,    226 

Luns  H.   M.,  3,   249 

Lutons  M.,  2,  132,  144-7,  '54 

Lydwelles,  116 

Ly  minster,   129 

Lynn,  235,  246,  339«. 

Lynnes  M.,  2,  103,  104 

Lynsted,   323 

Lyston  v.  Listen 

Macclesfield,   137 

Maine,  205 

Maister  M.,   2,   187-189 

Maldon,  3,  16,  34,  71,  145,  162 

Mailing,  86,  87,  247 

Marlynford  M.,  206 

Manningtree,  176 

Mannocks  M.,  223 

Maplestead,  67,  175 

Marlesford,  175 

Marshal,  138 

Marten,  94 

Masham,  32,   167-8 

Massachusetts  Bay,   113 

Massingham    Little,  344,  370 

Master  Stephen    M.,  2,  54,  306, 
311,  354«. 

Mattrell,  300 

Maysters  v.  Maister 

Meaux,  339 

Melding,   103,  159,  160,  ifton. 

Meldreth  M.,  200 

Melford,  10,  u,  14,  15,  33,  55,  62, 
65,  67«.,  107,  114,  122,  125, 
129,  131-157,  i33«.,  136*., 
i39«.,  1461.,  i5i«.,  197,  208- 
2io«.,  243,  299«. 

Melkys,  41 

Mells,  210 

Melun,  172 

Mendham,  184,  215 

Mepertishale,  366 

Merton,  63,  86,  92-98,  373 


Vlll. 


INDEX   LOCORUM. 


Mossing,  to 

Methold's  M..  2.  106,   107 

Mrtt.ngham,  9,  183 

Michfield  M.,   363 

Michfields  T.  Stanton  St.  John 

Middle  Park,  410 

Middlrham,  114,   260 

Middlesex,   65,    112,    1330.,    168, 

a°S.    »73.    34«.    344.    39".    4°°. 

4«»,  4»9 
Middletune,  70 
Midhurst,  166,  344 
Milden,  2.  39,  40-43,  158-161,  240 
Mildenhall,    203,    286,    344,     373, 

411,  416 
Milding,  5,  159 
Monk*  M.,  143.   144.  «47 
Monks  Illeigh,  2,   162-164 
Monks  Melford,    2,    671*.,    751., 

132,  139,  M'-43.  '47.  '57 
Monksworth  Hall,  174 
Monmouth,  6$ 

Monmonth  CO.,  408,  409,  410 
M  on  ogham,  19 
Montague,  201 
Montcally,  362 
Monteagle,  138 
Montserrat  I.,  344 
Mores  M.,  2,  36,  69 
Moreves  or  Moreyes  M.,  3,  242, 

243,   322 

Morieles  or  Muryelle  v.  Livermeie 
Morley,  18 
Morris  v.  Moreves 
Mortemer,  205 

Mortimers,  2,  50,  187,  188,  329(1. 
Moulton,   245,   245*.,  307 
Mount  Murray,  326 
Monntnessing,  248 
Munster,  68 
Musleborough,  300 
Mutford,  viii.,  401 
Myryelles  v.  Livermere 
Narborough,  63 
Navelond  M.,  180 
Nayland,    i,    2,    113,    165,    167-9, 

182,  219-223,  229,  246 
Naylingburst,  175 
Nazaret,  38 

Necton  M.,  309 
Nedging,  xiv. 

Netherhall,    2,    3,    41*. ,    44,   50, 
50"-.  S3.   55.  61-3,  65-68,   75».. 

105,     119,     II9<l.,     122,     124,     125, 

16011.,  16311.,  '82».,   198)1.,  203, 

206».,  210,  211,  224,  22C,  227, 
246,  247,  253,  275,  278,  315, 

3".  326 

Nettlestead,  201,  307,  387 
Newborne,  245 
Newbury  Lib.,  xvi. 
Newcastle,  50 
New  England,  112,  113 
Newenham,  147,  339*. 
New  Hall,  2,  65,  67,  360 
Newick,  388 

Newington    Belhouse   M.,    243 
Newmarket,  6j».,  75,  142,  335 
Newstead,  2,   182 
Newton,  2,  5811.,  63,89,  170-178*., 

183.  239,  243,  276*.,  277 
New  York,  15 

Nice,  217 

Nicoll  or  Nycols  M.,  254,  325 

Nonesuch  M.,  335-6 

Norfolk,  9,  15,  if,  19,  23,  24,  38- 

4°.   47-49.    55.    56.    59-   63.   °4. 

04*-  7*.  73,  75.  83,  86,  92,  93, 

93"-,  95.  99.  100.  '06,  133.  '4'. 

167,    171,    182,    189,    195,    199, 

200,  201,  2O3,  207,  208,  210, 
213,  315,  217.219,  238*.,  245, 
246,  253,  260,  263,  268,  272, 


»73.    »7$.    »77, 

296,  298,  306-312,  315,  3i7-3'9. 

3*3,   3*>   333";   339-34*.    344. 


346.  350.  35'.  354-357.  3*5.  37O. 

7.  379.  3»«. 
405 


37^-374.  377.  379-  3»«.  39».  401. 
405 
Normandy,    i,   45,   63,    166,   199, 

*>S.  3" 

Northall  v.  Cornard 
Northall  M.,  2,  55,  254,  303,  306, 

Northampton,  18,  47,  52,  53,  56, 

173,  281,  322 
Northampton  CO.,   160,   161,   223, 

34°.  34'.  3*6 
Northbrook,  235 
North  Mimms,  65 
Northumberland  co.,     103,     138, 


'39.  3*4.  34' 
North  Woods, 


400 

Northwold,  381 

Norton,  253,  264,  267,  335,  347- 
35°.  367.  38o«.,  391 

Norwich,  75,  88,  149,  150,  154, 
207,  208,  214,  264,  280,  292, 
293,  298,  302,  306-311,  317,  318, 
326,  33911.,  355,  367,  385,  386 

Norwood,  259,  268 

Nottingham  co.,  208 

Oak  wood,  159 

Odel,  176 

Okenden  M.,  276 

Old   Fold,   96 

Oldham,  18 

Opton,  335 

Oreton,  9 

Orford,  296,  299 

Orleans,  172,  392 

Ormsby,  24,  39 

Osgodby,  73 

Ousden,  257,  333,  333(1. 

Ouse  River,  253,  294 

Overhall,  2,  3,  15,  44,  50,  51,  53, 
SS.  5°».,  58,  61-63,  66-69.  Son., 
119,  122,  124,  125,  17511.,  '?8»., 

205,     211,     2981.,     322 

Overchrysal,  62 
Oxburgh,  59,  93,  209,  340 
Oxford,  68,  76,  77,  134,  181,  201, 

226,  293,  318,  329,  354 
Oxford  co.,   235,   336 
Oxnead,  207 
1'adbrook,  56,  61,  66 
Pakenham,  75,  82,  83,  160,  i<)8n., 

246*.,  287,  287)1.,  296,  324.  3J6, 

335.  35*.  360,  366,  370,  386*. 
Palestine,    233 
Palgrave,    176,  375*. 
Palmeres,   32 
Parham,   9 
Paris,  210,  315,  338-9 
Parndon,  319 
Parry's  M.,  44 
Paston,  208 

Peacham's  M.,  3,  213,  228 
Peacocks,  2,  90,  91,  96,  97 
I'cches  M.,  2,  69 
Pelden,  308 
Pembroke  Castle,   150 
Peniston,  179 
Penshurst,    129,  347 
Pentlow,  10,  35,  60,  63,  108 
Pepers  M.,  a,  83,  88,  109 
Perching,  47 
Pergo,  361 
Peverells    M.,    2,    6,    9-1  in.,    16, 

35».,  107 
Peyton,  1-3,  22,  23,     26,  27,  2711. 

30,  69,  240,  24011.,  244(1., 
Pilkencrief,  377 
Pinkeney  Hall,  341 
Pishobury,   269 
Place's  M.,  3,  236 


Plashwood,  181 

Playford,  34,  272.  283,  344,  418 

Plomesgate  M.,  ix. 

1'luckley,  276 

Plumpton  M.,  48 

Plymouth,  362 

1'ockthorp,  307 

Poictiers,  38,  77,  166 

Polstead,  2,  29,  30,   175,  178-182, 

217,  289 
Porcher,   159 
Portsmouth,  165 
Poslingford,  65-68 
Pounstord,   18 
Preston,  2,  10,  63,  64,   120,    122, 

159,  183-90,  215,  313(1.,  387*. 
Priory  M.,  2,  189 
Prittewell   Priory,   88,   229 
Pull  Court,  285 
Quebec,  289 
Queenborough,  370 
Quipsey  H.  M.,  2,  68 
Raimes,   44,    222 
Raleigh  or  Relege,  179,  180,  228, 

250,  251 
Rameshall,  202 
Ramsdenbelehouse,    114 
Ramsey,  128,  129 
Ramsholt,  22,  27 
Rattlesden,   326 
Raydon  M.,  8,   1741. 
Reading,    118 
Redbourne,  96 
Redenhall,  308 
Redgrave,  8,  9,  73,  241,  243,  254. 

283,  316-9,  326,  357,  376(1.,  388 
Redham,  207 
Reeve  v.  Riveshall 
Reform  Club,  xvi. 
Keinham  Ch.,  199 
Reshemere  v.   Rushmere 
Revan  Castle,  321 
Rhe,  Isle  of,  33,  40,  50,  164,  278 
Rheims,  77 
Rickinghall   Inf.,    253,    283,   335, 

357.  39° 

Riddlesworth,  309,  323,  334,  341 
Ridware,   310 
Ridware  Hamstall,  344 
Ringmere   M.,   253,  300 
Ringshall,  33 

Risbridge  H.,  viii.,  i,  2450.,  33311. 
Risby,   124 
Risley,  368 
Riveshall    M.,    254,    26511.,    3°3> 

306,  309,  312,   361,  391*. 
Rochester,  34,  132,  218 
Rochford,   250 
Rocking,  17 
Rock  Savage,  136,  351 
Roding,  in 
Rodmorton,  300 
Rokewodes  M.,  i,  5,  9*. -13,  65 
Rome,  17,  121,  152,  218 
Romney,   205 
Ropers  M.,  2,  44-51 
Ross  Castle,   26 
Rothbury,  103 
Rotherfield,  63 
Rothyes  M.,  159 
Rougham,  84,  no,  268,  311,  326, 

347.  381,  399 
Roughtownes  M.,  254,  384 

rdges  or  Rowheads  M.,   }, 

198 

Roxwell,  169 

Roydon,  53,  65,  277,  281,  302 
Roye,  395 
Royston,  26 
Rugemont,   200 
Rumburgh,  364 
Runnimede,  46 
Rushall  v.   Riveshall 


INDEX   LOCORUM. 


IX. 


Rushbrooke,  33,  40,  53,  72,  104, 
141,  246,  264,  26471.,  278,  312, 
326,  360,  363,  39i«.,  411,  4iin. 

Rushford,  419 

Rushmere,    189,   i89». 

Rushworth  Coll.,  838 

Russia,    129 

Ruthvin,  307 

Ryburgh,  298 

Rykenhall  v.  Rickinghall 

Ryseworth,   283 

Saffron  Pan,   126 

Sahara,   175 

Saibamus,   252 

St.  Albans,  173,  175,  361,  417 

St.   Anthony,  84 

St.    Christopher's,    265,   344 

St.  Dennis,  393 

St.  Etheldred,   ix.,   i,   105,  272 

St.  Giles  in  the  Fields,  26 

St.  Helena,  362 

St.  Hypolite,  381 

St.  Michael's  Mount,  78,  80 

St.  Minims,  96 

St.  Mitfield,  278 

St.   Osyth,   37,  41,  43,   137,   142, 

35' 

St.  Swithin,  47 
Saires  M.,  3 
Salisbury,  293 
Salop,  226,  232,  410 
Salston,  201 
Salthouse  M.,  253,  342 
Samford  H.,  viii.,   140,   I74». 
Sampsons,  405,  414 
Sandesford's    M.,    3,    1131.,    "4, 

243 

Sanston,  200,  201 
Sapiston,  253,  267,  292,  294,  335, 

358,  359,   4'6 
Sarres,  242 
Sawode  M.,  206 
Sawston,  341 

Saxham,  60,  195,  302,  347,  415 
Sayham,    2,    30,    s8».,    174,    176, 

i78».,   253,   265,   267,  346,  400, 

404«.,  406,   4ii-4i3». 
Scadbury,  375 
Scarborough  Castle,   152 
Schreppes,  53 
Schymplynes,  145 
Scotland,  3,  77,  79,  152,  167,  195, 

213,    225,    263,    299,    300,    333, 

386,  406 
Segenhoe,  55 
Semere,  84,   109-112,  181 
Senders  M.,  275,  278 
Series  M.,   2,   18,  97 
Sevenoaks,    19,    125,   209 
Shardelowes  M.,  3,  213,  228 
Sharrington,  23 
Sheffield,  355 
Shefford,  320 
Shelfhanger,  xv. 
Shelland,  322 
Shelley,  228,  391 
Shelton,  38-40,  276,  277,  401 
Sherborne,  65 
Shimpling,  3,  35,  122,  191-9,  270, 


. 

Shimplingford,  i,  18 
Shipdenham,  r74 
Shiringham,  216 
Shipmeadow,  283 
Shobden  Court,  377 
Shottesham,  308 
Shouldham,  339,  340 
Shrubland  P.,   129,   130,   139 
Siam  M.,  2,  174,  176 
Sibton,  22,   103 
Sidmanton,  65 

Silvesters  M.,   2,  44,   50-55,   102, 
322 


Sleaford,  418 

Sluse,  49 

Sluye,  251 

Smalburgh,   306 

Smallbridge,  2,  6,  7,  8,  ign.,  29, 

44,    5',    S2,   55.    57,   &3«;    "». 

141,  147,  180,  219,  246 
Smithfield,  61 
Snartford,   i,  64 
Snetterton,  3731.,  374 
Snoryng  Gt.,   39 
Solehouse  M.,  342 
Some,  395 
Somerley,  72 
Somerset  co.,   18,    196,   210,   245. 

288».,  353,  358 
Somerton,  3,  36,  199-204 
Sotterley,  56 
Sounders,   181 
Southampton,  168,  263,  301,  321, 

337 

Southton  co.,   300 
Southwark,   138 
Southwick,  336,  337 
Southwold,  326 
Spain,  195,  263,  265 
Spains  Hall,  62 
Sparrows'  Nest,  85 
Sprottes  M.,  2,  181 
Sproughton,  66,  352 
Stafford  co.,  54,  82,  216,  219,  310, 

344 

Stambourn,  65 
Standen,    197 
Standish,    1 1 
Stanewaye,  114 
Stanford,  3,  243 
Stanningfield,  225 
Stansfield,  2,  69 
Stansgate,  n 
Stanstead,    3,    15,    28,    109,    143, 

197,  205-12,   271,1. 
Stanton,  253,  267,    283,  292,  302, 

335,  34',  360.  36"1-.  3^3-  383 
Stanway,  113,  140,  146,  243 
Staynton  v.   Stanstead 
Steeple-Marderi,  25 
Sternborough,  298 
Stiffkey,   283 
Stinton  Hall,  208 
Stirling,  419 
Stisted,   175 
Stoke,   3,    182,    208,    215-17,    220, 

2ai,  225,  229,  340,  392,  392*1. 
Stoke  Ash,  400 
Stoke  Bevan,  18 
Stoke  by  Clare,  131 
Stoke   Gifford,   242 
Stoke  Nayland,  3,  n,  14,  23,  24, 

113,    180,    i8in.,     209,     213-16, 

217,    222,    228,    252,    391 

Stokesby,   189,  208 

Stonham,  71,  247 

Stonham   Jernegan,    71 

Storkenest  M.,  3,  242 

Stour  River,  i 

Stourton,  125 

Stow,  352 

Stow  Hund.,  253 

Stow    Bardolph,    73,    73*.,    143, 

235 

Stow  Hall,  255,  366 
Stowlangtoft,  34,  41*.,  124,  1240., 

I59».,  189,  253,  270,  27o«.,  283, 

312,  326,   335,   344,   345,   354»., 

363,   364-371 

Stowmarket,    19,   218,   273,   413 
Stow,  West,  254,  267,  272«.,  273«., 

283,   285,  346».,  403,  408,  410- 

414,  419 

Stratford,  228,  246 
Stratton  M.,   i 
Stratton  Strawless,  341 


Stretford,  99 

Strikehall  M.,  259 

Strikeland  H.  M.,  253,  260 

Sturston,  9 

Stutton  M.,  309 

Sudbury,  i,  3,  5,  10,  15,  19,  27, 
34,  46»->  52,  6°.  62,  71,  103, 
107,  139,  i74».,  !87,  214,  216, 
231-6,  248,  273,  364«.,  367,  411 

Surrey,  15,  26,  46,  47,  48,  62, 
ni,  196,  278,  319,  335,  336 

Sussex,    35,    47.9,   159,    266,  289, 

337,    344,    374,    375-    382,    388, 
406,  417 

Swaffham  Bulbeck,  199 

Swanescombe,  228 

Swasey,  198 

Swifts  M.,  2,  186,  187,  3i3». 

Swindon,  408 

Switzerland,  362 

Syfrewats  v.  East  H.  M. 

Tacolneston,    38 

Talemach,   r,  5,   13 

Tany's  M.,  2,  56 

Tatesford,    318 

Tatshall,   396 

Taunton,  2§8n. 

Tavistoke    South,    351 

Telnetham  v.   Thelnetham 

Tendring  Hall,  2,  3,  27,  104,  113, 

169,  213,   227,   228 
Tewes  M.,  2,   104 
Thane,    318 
Thedwestry    Hund.,    ix.,    r,    ig8n., 

228,     246;;.,     253,    264.1.,     287, 

386».,  391". 
Thelnetham,    149,    155,   253,   273, 

281,  288,  302,  335,  372 
Thelnetham    M.,    372,    375,    376, 

379-  399.  400,  4°',  402 
Therlowe  al.  Thurlow,  56 
Therovene     al.     Therouene,  194, 

393,  394 
Thet  R.,  253 
Thetford,   95,   99,    199,    214,   250, 

252,  271,  272,  292,  308,  311,340, 

34".   365.   378 

Thingoe  Hund.,  i,  7,  151,  I54»., 
204,  231,  253,  270,  35on.,  404*1., 

4i5»-  4'9»- 
Thornage,  283,  317 
Thorney   Campsey   al.    Thorney- 

less,  56,  M.,  56 
Thornham    Gt.,    89,    375,    375*1., 

376,  400 
Thorpe,    63,    246,    253,    263,    283, 

333,  380,  397 
Thorpe  Morieux,  85,  122,  188,  228, 

335 

Thorpe  West,  335 
Thredling  H.,  ix. 
Thriburgh,  2io». 
Throcking,  56 
Throgton  M.,   228 
Thurling,   335 

Thurling,  Little,  56,  62,  138,  259, 
Thurstanton  M.,  194 
Thurston,  260,  335,  399 
Tilbury  Fort,  54,  299 
Tillingham  M.,  316 
Tilney,  aoo,  Ch.,  199 
Times,  The,  Book  Club,  xvi. 
Timworth,  283,  285,  328 
Tipstofts  M.,  261,  270 
Tooting,  26 
Topesfield,  347 
Totham  Little,  Essex,  34 
Tottington,  272 
Tounbland,  326 
Tournay,  194,  393,  394 
Towton  Field,   173 
Trelawny,  75,  287 
Trent  R.,  195,  217 


X. 


INDEX  LOCORUM. 


Trence.  aa;,  347 

Trimberell,   131 

Trimley,   to 

Trobetti  M..  io8n. 

Trotton,  254,  347,  361,  362,  383. 

T3*4 
Trounsak,    104 

Tnickett'i  M.,  2,  35.  36,  io8». 

Tndenham,  278 

Tues  v.  Teweaill 

Tunbridge,  34,  45,   231,  232,   366 

Twin,  362 

Twinstead  H.,  246*. 

Tjrlnes  M.,  a,  106,  107 

Tyion,  288 

Upminster,  366 

Upsal,  168,  201 

Upwell,  335,  355 

Vacbe,  246 

Valenciennes,  395 

Velchurch  Ch.,    241 

Verity*  M.  v.  Kuslon 

Vernoil,    392 

Veyses,  41 

Wachesham  M.,  206 

Wakefield,  jo,  173,  233 

Waldegrave,  52,  340 

Waldingfield,  2,  3,  5,  18,  19,  41*., 

63,  7°.  7«.  7».  75"-.  I03.  »°4»-. 
H3*.,  114,  159,  16011.,  i6j»., 
174,  176,  18211.,  186,  198,  loon., 

337-*5°.  *43»;  3".  34« 
Waldringfield,  Little,  29 
Wales,    ST.,    45,    165,    182,    231, 

»3*.  393 
Walsham,    18411.,    »53,    354,    *S7. 

267.    383,    3°9.    3".    335.    337. 

363-  385-389 
Walsingham  Gt.,  296 
Wangford,  346,  405 
Wardour,   137,  227 
Wargrave     181 
Warham  M.,  216 
Warnham,  374,  375 
Warwick,  n,  152 
Warwick    co.,    n,    33,    59,    174, 

232*. 

Washbrook  Ch.,  241 

Wastehus,  149 

Wattisfield,  320.,  22111.,  254,  283, 

300.1.,  302,  311,  335,  363,  386, 

388,  39o-39a,  30 
Walton  at.  Stone  M.,  48 
Waxham,  40 


Wayneton  v.  Wenhaaton 

Welbeck,  319 

Well,  90,  216,  248,  296 

Wellei'hall   v.   Klilden 

Wellow.   337 

Welnetham,   Little,  82 

Wendeshalam,  70 

Wenhaston,  283 

West  Court,   104 

Westersfield,  53 

Westhall   v.    ftickinghall   Inf. 

Westhorp,  40,  174,  277,  398,  404 

Westley,  278.  413,  415 

Westminster,    51,     141,     150-152, 

»68,  315,  345,  39«,  403 
Westmoreland,  319 
Weston,  283,  335,  397.  401,  402 
Western  Cranwells,  196 
Weston    Market,     54,     254,    397, 

399,  400 

West  Stow  v.   Stow  West 
Wetherden,  257 
Wetheringset  M.,  56 
Wetyng,  38 
Weveton   M.,   216 
Weyland,  33 
Whatfield    M.,    i6o». 
Whepsted  Ch.,   203 
Wherstead  M.,  8,  53,  215,  387 
Whitehall,  268,   294,  329,  367 
Whitehead,   123 
Wichingham  Gt.,  292 
Wicken  v.  Wyken 
Wickham,  27,  276 
Wickhambrook,  24,  53,   140,   145, 

'54,  "5 

Wigenhale,    3391. 
Wighton,  311 
Wight,  Isle  of,  47 
Wilford,  223 
Wilford  Hund.,   ix. 
Wilsdon,  406 

Wilts,  68,  76,  241,  293,  408 
Winchester,   318 
Windsor,  171,  36m,  362,  396 
Wimbold's  M.,  2,   106,  107 
Winch  East,  195 
Winfarthing,   100 
Wingfield,  xv.,  392 
Winston,  335 

Wiston,  3,  67,  220,  350-252,  298 
Withersmarsh  M.,  3,  213,  226 
Withersfield  Ch.,  87 
Wiling,  322 


Witneston,  406 
Wittlesey,  300 
Wixoe,   23,   26 
Wodfowle  M.,  2,  147 
Wolverton,   351,  417 
Woodbridge,   162*.,  4050.,  40611., 

40811. 

Woodford  M.,   132 
Woodfoule  M.  v.  Wodfowle 
Woodhall    M.,    3,    27,    231,    235, 

M4.  2451*-.  »47 
Woodham  Water,  401 
Woodhouse   M.,    i,   3,    147,    197, 

211,    212 

Wood  Rising,  72,  351 
Woodstock,  193,  321,  401  x. 
Woolpit,    288,    352 
Woolwich,  181 
Worcester  co.,  202,  285,  300 
Word  well,    254,    283,    285,    415, 

4>7.  4'9 

Worlington,  93,  373 
Wormegay,  48,  67,  291 
Wormingford,  Essex,  33 
Wortham,  306,  2o6n. 
Wortley,  406 
Wotton  under  Edge,  56 
Woxebrigg,  241 
Wrangle,   269 
Wratting,  xv. 
Wrentham,  269 
Wretham,  311 
Wretham  West,  311 
Wridwell,   414 
Wrotham,   407 
Wrydewell,  413 
Wyken,  23,  26,  253,  264,  270,  350, 

38on. 
Wykes,   253,   359,   264,    265,   266, 

267,    267».,   3i8n.,  386, 404». 
Wykys  al.   Bardwell  and  Thorpe 

Manors,   381 
Wynthorg,  174 
Wyrenengeye   Honor,    290 
Wyting,  153 
Wyvenhoe  Ch.,  81,  351 
Wyverston,  42,  257,  370,  397,  398 
Yardley  Place,   300 
Yarmouth,  207,  208 
Yepsyhe  v.  Ipswich 
York,  38,  60,  70,  I2i«.,  173,  260 
York  co.,  18,  201,  2ion.,  395 
Youghal,  68 
Yoxford,  373 


INDEX    NOMLNUM. 


Abblaster,  120 

Abbot,  3,  69 

Abell,  227 

Achi,  256,  332,  382 

Acolf,  372 

Acton,  85,  129,  195,  264, 

347.  348 
Adam,    103 
Addison,  295 
Adelmud,  290 
Aelfric,  i 
Aelons,    170 
Agarde,   234*. 
Agas,  229,  230 
Agellium  v.   Aguilun 
Aguillon,   46,  47,   48,  49, 

5'.  56,  7°.  244 
Ailith,   191 
Ainslie,    162 
Airmine,   73 
Aisshefelde  v.   Ashfield 
Aistanus,  83 
Aketon,   238 
Aid,   266 
Alan,  266,  364 
Albemarle  abb.,  14 
Albemarle,     Count,      14, 

105,    191,    196,   270 
Albold,  282 
Albreda,    296 
Aldstan,  303 
Alestan,  275,  296 
Alexander,  379 
Aleyn,  28,  180,  239 
Alfer  or  Alfar,    70,    74, 

99.    '3' 

Alfreak,  v.,  vi.,  vii. 
Alfric,   Earl,     131,      132, 

'39;    '56 
Alfurinus,  128 
Algar,   Earl,    37,   44 
Algood,    103 
Alington,  39,  72,  104,  135, 

136,  142,  160,  161,  188, 

199,     222,    248,     299 

Allyn,  28 
Alne,   65 
Alrede.  68 
Alsey,  397 
Alston,    173-176 
Alti,  419 

Aluric,   58,  390,  397 
Alvera,  231,  237,  240 
Alvey,  117 
Alwold,   58 
Alyngton  v.   Alington 
Ampe,    313 
Amyott,  402 
Ancaster,   Earl,   3 
Anderton,    235*1 
Anderwood,   130 
Andrew,   66,   328 
Andrewes,   274 
Andrews,  xvi. 
Anes,  in 


Anesty,    151 

Bachone   v.   Bacon 

AngoulSme,  E.  of,  232 

Bacon,  xvi.,  7,  8,  9,   12, 

Anjou,    D.    of,     195 

54.   73.    '39.   "95.   "7, 

Anne,   Q.,   78,   355,   409, 

234.  235,  241,  242,  243, 

418 

343"-,   254,  254"-.  258«., 

Annys,   159 

272,     283,      284,     285, 

Anselm,  83,  282,  303 

286,  3'5.  3'6,  317,  318, 

Anson,  12 

3'9.     3^8.     3*9.     357. 

Anyens,   275 

376n.,    383,     388,    389, 

Apelton  or  Apilton,  247 

39° 

Appilgare,  98 

Bacun,  33 

Appleton,     18,     23,     72, 

Badbye,  264,  308 

103,     104,    io4>i.,    106, 

Badele,  240 

107,  174,  1  86,  189,  198, 

Badger,  308 

a35.  239>  24i.  246,  247. 

Badlesmere,  77,    170 

248,  249,  325,  326 

Badwell,  32,  33 

Appleyard,  326 

Baeshe,  224 

Appulton  v.   Appleton 

Baf,  304 

Arblaster,    120,    184 

Baily,  33 

Arden,  33 

Bainard,  63,  191,  193 

Argent,   1  79 

Baker,     122,     130,     203, 

Argyle,  D.  of,  139 

228,  391,  396 

Arlington,  293,  294,  295, 

Bakers,   377 

301 

Balbie,   42 

Armine,  73 

Balcarres,  381 

Arnold,  65 

Baldrey,    163 

Arnulf,  37,  183 

Baldwin,  xv.,  14,85,183, 

Arran,   Earl,  331 

196,  205,  232,  262,  302, 

Arthur,  Prince,  53,  208  . 

398 

Arundel,   7,   18,   87,   137, 

Baliol,    167 

171,  195,  227,  243,  26.1, 

Ballow,   318 

347 

Band,  57 

Ashburnham,    329,    331 

Banks,  46,  293 

Ashe,  90,  96 

Bantock,  190 

Ashfield   (under   various 

Bantof,  245 

forms),  189,  259,  267«., 

Barclay,  55 

3°4.  306.  3".  3",  325, 

Bardekell,  352 

3*6,  341,  352,   353,  354, 
354"-,    363.    365.    366, 

Bardolf,  xv.,  46,  48,  49, 
56,    64,     80,     81,     167, 

373 

207,  290,  29071.,  291 

Ashton,  225 

Bardwell,   52 

Ashwell,  308 

Bardwin,  397 

Aspal,  41  a 

Barett,  39 

Aspin,  85,  195 

Barewe,  383 

Assber,  2s8«. 

Barker,  287 

Assheton,   234 

Barkers,  377 

As'sonhull,  199,  200 

Barm,  381 

Ashonhull,   199,   200 

Barnardiston,     xvi.,     15, 

Aston,  389 

42,  54.  55.  93,  124,  1*5, 

A  sty,  277 

'39.  "42 

Atheling,    59,    175 

Barnes,    195 

Athoe,  94 

Barnewell,  82 

Athol,  Earl,   151-153 

Barnham,    196 

Attebrigges,   403 

Barningham,  275,  278 

Attegate,   276 

Barra,   263 

Aubrey,   102,  171,  379 

Barre,    152 

Aubry,  379 

Barrel!,  130 

Audley,  Lord,  173 

Barret,  18 

Augar,  332 

Barrett,  xvi. 

Austins,  403 

Barrow,  7,  8,  8K.,40,  174, 

Austria,   Archd.,    195 

1740.,     176,    242,    243, 

Aveyleres,  xv. 

243*1.,    260,    276,    277, 

Aylof,  35 

280 

Babington,  82,  85 

Barry,  54,  94,  2o6«. 

Bacheler,    19 

Barrytt  al.  Burrard,  274 

Barthelmewe,  61 
Barton,  34«.,  170,  389 
Basset,  62,  290 
Bassyngburne,   49 
Bataill,   180 
Batayle,  61 
Bateman,  xvi.,  377 
Baucan   or    Baccoun    v. 

Bacon 
Bavent,  241 
Bawde,  64,  92 
Baxter,  66,  379 
Baxton,  126 
Bayeux,  Bp.,  37,  45,  205, 

240 
Baynard,   10,  58,  63,   92, 

93.  94.   "4,   '97.  211 
Bayning,  68,   229 
Beachroft,  185,  252 
Beartes,  377 
Beaufo,  263 
Beaufou,   47 
Beaufort,  47,  291 
Beale,  181 
Beatniffe,  355 
Beauchamp,   9,   84,    101, 

109,  in,  173,  245,  253 
Beaufryne,  353 
Beaumond  v.  Beaumont 
Beaumont,  76,  80,  81,  82, 

106,     151,     153,     177, 

224,  225,  226 
Beaupyne  v.  Beaufryne 
Beauvoir,  285,  331,  411, 

419 

Bebermershe,  249 
Beche,  297,  298 
Beckenham,  276 
Becket,   231 
Beddell,   xvi. 
Bedford,     77,      78,     172, 

2OI,    272,    328,    388,  392 

Bedingfield,  93,  95,  208, 
308,  309,  311,  340,395 

Beever,   167 

Belasyse,  Lord,  73 

Beleswe,  45 

Belet,  48 

Bell,   222,   229 

Bellingham,  26 

Bello  Campo,  16,  101, 
290 

Bellofago,   205 

Bellomonte,  de,  19,  22, 
no,  in,  112,  ii2« 

Bemonde,   Lord,   80 

Bence,  144,  156,  210 

Benefacta,  45 

Benesbe,   209 

Bennett,  29,  293 

Benyngfeld,    180 

Benyon,  285 

Berdewell,  Berdewelle, 
Berdwell,  262,  263,  264, 
267,  350,  380,  381 


xn. 


INDEX   NOMINUM. 


Berdfeld,  106 

32.  67,  71,  72,  176,235, 

Bryan    al.   Brian,    6,    7, 

Caleys,   107 

Berens,  285 

239,  257,  312,  366 

50,  50-.,  168,  221,  242, 

Calna,    266 

Bere-se,  29 

Botelers,  67 

tf     '     •* 

246 

Calthorpe,  24,  71,  85,94, 

Sendee,  88 

Botevellyn,  91,   170 

Bryd,  387 

114,  272,  289,  292,306, 

Berkeley,  242 

Botiler  v.    Butler 

Brydges,  218 

3<>7.  3*3.  34* 

Bernard,  25,  88,  318 

Bouche  de  Court,  26 

Brydwelle,  358 

Calvert,  186 

Berners,    83,     no,     in, 

Bourchier,  7,  8,  49,    51 

Bryers,  407 

Cambridge,    Provost    of, 

116,  213,  216,  321 

197,  216,  239,  242,  321, 

Brygges,  292 

3,  E.  of,   168 

Berneway,  61 

3**.   3*3-   401 

Bnc,  3 

Camden,   23,   25,    187 

Berney,  207,  251 

Bouverie,  270 

Bucard,  275 

Camellor,   125 

Bernham,   14 

Bowley,   211 

Buccleugh    and   Queens- 

Camois  v.  Camovs 

Bernyngham,    264 

Boys,  de,  16,  17,  28,  180, 

berry,  D.  of,  294 

Camoys,  Lord,  263 

Berry  v.  Barry 

238.  238* 

Buck,   75 

Camp,   252 

Berton,   413 

Boytons,   163 

Buckenham,      155,     374, 

Campania,   105 

Betham,  209,  283 

Bracebrigge,   333 

375 

Campbell,   139,  316 

Bettenham  v.  Bucknam 

Bradbury,   270 

Buckingham,   D.   of,   26, 

Campo,  90 

Bevan,    141 

Braddock,  355 

164,      194,     216,     218, 

Candois,   178 

Beverleye,   214 

Bradefeld,  28 

394,  401  H. 

Candysh,  52 

Bignold,  75 

Bradenham,  206 

Bucknam  or  Bettenham, 

Canham,  41,  161 

Bigot  or  Bigod,    27,   76, 

Bradfeld,    in 

276 

Canterbury,  Abp.  of,  22, 

150,    271,    a7«»i.,    290, 

Bradley,  130,  276 

Bucknhm    or    Bucknton, 

45.     75.   87,    140,    163, 

397.  35*.  363 

Bradshaw,   27,   124,    125, 

336 

*3*.    *94.    3*' 

Bileston,    181 

211 

Buers  v.   Bures 

Cantilupe,  76 

Birch,   211,   326,   41  5». 

Brampton,    18,   19 

Buiffuns,    16 

Capel,  361,   383 

Birmingham,  59 

Brand,  29,  30,  51,  87,  89, 

Bulbeck,    81 

Capell,   149,   227 

Bisbie,  55 

Bull    63 

Capellanus,  311 

Bisbv,   138 

1821*.,  264,  289 

Bull,    Bp.,    113 

Carbonel   al.    Carbonell, 

Blackbourn,   415 

Brandon,     D.     of    Suff., 

Dullen.    224 

69,    7°.    7".     7*.     "76, 

Blackehams,   412 

201,  300,  387,  392,  394, 

Bullok,  28 

238.  239 

Black   Prince,   170 

395.  396.  4°4 

Bulwer,   xvi. 

Cardigan,  Robt.,  6th  E., 

Blackwin,   105 
Blage,   264,  265,  308 

Hrand'ston,    401 
Branston,  72 

Bunbury,   265,   344 
Bures,  5,  6,  (in.,  7,  71.  ,8, 

12 

Cardinal,  97 

Blake,  265,  266,  344,  345 

Branwhite,    126,    188 

10,   13,  23,  29,  32,   50, 

Carew,  416 

Bledlowr,   96,   404,    413 

Braunch,  91 

53,   101,   160,   174,  238, 

Carewe,  358,  359 

Blennerhassett,  307 

Bray,  365 

239,     242,     249,     283, 

Carey,  188 

Jilomefield,    6,    i8».,    38, 

Braytoft,  378 

3«7 

Carge,   135 

39-  59.  64"-.  70,  93.94. 

Brent,   185 

Burgate,  225 

Carill,   374,    389 

99,  179,   199,  200,  207, 

Bret,   304,  312,  313 

Burgers,    381 

Caringdale,  252 

257,    262,     277,     278*., 

Bretagne,   D.   of,  232 

Burgh,  83,  84,    109,    in, 

Carington,  xvi. 

294,     298,     306,     320, 

Breton,   379 

165-67,   199,   232,   233, 

Cark,   285 

350,  350*.,   362 

Brettell,   196 

299,  379 

Carleton,  278 

Blond  v.   Blund 

Brettenham,   276,  372 

Burghley,  121,  181,   182 

Carlisle,  Bp.  of,  339,  E. 

Blose,  387 

Brews,   208,   215,   279 

Burgis,   376 

of,  308 

Bluies,  377 

Brewster,  269,  310 

Burgo,    199 

Carpenter,   175,  409 

Blund,     256,     257,     266, 

Brian  v.   Bryan 

Burgoyne,   23 

Carr,  418 

3°*.     3°3.     3'7.     33*. 

Briants,  377 

Burgullion,  39,  40 

Carrill  v.   Caryll 

333.  337,  343-  358.  359. 
364,  380,  385.  388 

Bricius,   128 
Brictric,  44 

Burgundy,  D.  of,  208 
Burke,  258,  362 

Carss,  82 
Cartwright,  337 

Blundell,     36,    52,     102, 
203 
Blunderville,       Bp.       of 

Bridge,  77,  379 
Bridgehams,   377 
Bridgemans,  181 

Burkes,   35 
Hurkitt,  162,  163 
Burler,  187 

Carye,  299 
Caryill  v.  Caryll 
Caryll   or    Carrell,     260, 

Norwich,  84 

Bridgman,  280,  281 

Burley,  2,  21,  392 

*6i,  336.  35'.  35*.  374. 

Blunt,  xiv..  So,  250 

Bridon,  94 

Burnet,  417 

375-  38i 

Blunvill,   170 

Brionne,  45 

Burnford,    398 

Casteleyne,    240 

Blyant,  33 

Brise,  62 

Hurnton,   398 

Castell,  9 

Blyth,   97 

Briseworth,  398 

Burrard  v.   Barrytt 

Castile,  King  of,   392 

Hocking,  417 

Bristol,  Earl,  xvi.,  4161., 

Burrough,  356 

Castleacre,     Monks     of, 

Bodrygan,    Bodryngham, 

418,   419 

Burton,    112,    220 

178 

79-80 

Brithnoth,    E.   of   Essex, 

Bury  v.  St.  Edmunds 

Castlemaine,  E.  of,  68 

Bohemund,  205 

162 

Butevyler,   63 

Castleton,  9 

Bohun,     Earl,     48,    170, 

Britolio,  45 

Butler,    7,    10,   39,   39*., 

Cat,  365 

*45.  365 

Brittain,  224 

50,   71,    176,   238,    239, 

Catesby,   226 

Boiland,  132 

Brodie,    186,    187 

242,  322,  331,  337 

Catherine,   Q.,   196,  208, 

Bokenham,  89,  149,  236, 

Broke,  129,  130 

Butte,   Buttes,  v.   Butts 

4'7 

3°'.  S36.  339.  373.  374. 

Brokesbourn,   14,  249 

Buttely,   243 

Catlyn,   329 

375.    376.    376"..    377. 

Bromholm  Prior,  207 

Buttercourt,  251 

Caunton,  59 

370.     37<>.     399.     4°°. 

Bromley,  121 

Butts,    7,    8,     242,     283, 

Causton,    177 

401,  402 

Brond  v.  Brand 

3'7 

Cavendish,  3,  59,  60,  61, 

Bokwode,  365 

Brook,   180,   277 

Butvillein,   170 

62,  66,  67,  68,  69,  298, 

Bolebic,  70 

Brooke,     72,     331,     351, 

Buxhull,  171,  172 

3*3.   34' 

Boleyn,    39,    3911..    307, 

35* 

Bygod   v.   Bigot 

Cavenham,    297 

3*3.  395 

Brotherton,  215 

Byllyng,   201 

Caxtons,  91,  303 

Bolonia,  364 

Broughton,  13 

Byntleton,  415 

Cecil,      120,      182,      229, 

Bolton,   259 

Brown,  40,  42,  311,  379 

Bysshe,  361 

3290. 

Bonde,    183 

Browne,    xvi.,    113,    123, 

Cadogan,   285,   331,  411, 

Cecill,   121 

Bookynge,  14 
Boon,  354 

201,   229,   235«i.,   292 
Brownlow,      Earl,      129, 

4'9 
Caen,  262 

Celestine  III.,  Pope,  140 
Chalton,  61 

Booth,   65,   410 

169 

Cage,  104,  248 

Chamberlain,  339 

Booty,  376 

Bruce,   167 

Caketon,  91 

Chamberlaine,    107,    180, 

Borough,  346,  405 

Brudenell,   12,  21,  323 

Calamy,   161 

182,    211,     228,     2281., 

Boi,   271 

Hrun,    149,   271,   272 

Caldwall,  136 

246.  34* 

Botco,  de,  v.  Boys 

Brundish,  383 

Calethorpe   v.  Calthorp 

Chamberleyn    v.    Cham- 

Boteler   or    Hotelier,    6, 

Bruse,  373 

Calewedon,  160 

berlaine 

INDEX    NOMINUM. 


Xlll. 


Champ,  303 
Champaign,  371 
Champion,      xvi.,      324, 

34i 

Chapetur,  304 
Chaplin,  248 
Chapman,  66,  288,  288«., 

289,  310,  347,  399 
Charles   I.,    65,     75,     94, 

223,      226,      308,      360, 

367,   408,   417,   418 
Charles  II.,  65,  68,  143, 

162,    288«.,    293,     294, 

329.  33°,  360,  4°8,  409, 

410,  417,  418 
Charles  V.,    195 
Charles  VIII.,  393 
Charsley,  76 
Chase,  97 

Chasteleyn,    113,   243 
Chastillion,  152 
Chaucer,   392,  399 
Chaumberlayn,   197 
Chaumberleyn,  221,  392 
Chaumpaent,  48 
Chaworth,   21 
Chayce,  91 
Cheke,  312,   366 
Chelmersford,   233 
Cheney,  378 
Chequy,  215 
Chester,    Ranulph,     2nd 

E.  of,  46,   166,  231 
Chesterfield,  Earl,   136 
Chetworth,    215 
Chevyngton,  180 
Cheylesmore,   Lord,   106 
Cheyne,    179,    180 
Cheyney,  200 
Chicheley,   28 
Chichesley,  61 
Chichester,  Bp.  of,  48 
Chilton,   103 
Chisfell,  299 
Chittinge,   388 
Chudleigh,    418 
Churchman,  174 
Chyverston,    245 
Clapton  v.  Clopton 
Clare,  16,  45,  48,  67,  67«., 

208,  231,  232,  233,  234, 

273 

Clare,   Friars  of,   29 
Claremont  v.  Cleremont 
Clarence,  Lionel,  D.  of, 

234 

Clark,  217 
Clarke,     xvi.,     15,     260, 

352 

Clavering,    66,    378 
Cleare,    189 
Clement  V.,  152 
Clement   VII.,    395 
Clerheck,  Clerbek,  Clere- 

bec,  6,  6n.,  9,  10,  ion., 

II,     12 

Clere,    24,    29,    39,     295, 

Cleremont,     E.     of,    45, 

231 

Clerk,  160,   331,  416 
Clerke,  54 
Cleve,  122 
Cleveland,  Duch.  of,  68, 

294 
Cleves,    Anne     of,     234, 

396 

Clifton,    72,  200,    263 

Clike,  234 

Clinton,  50,  59,  60,  125 

Clopton,  3,  28,  33,  35, 
54,  55,  64,  66,  67,  68, 

71,  114,  II4«.,  124, 


Clopton — continued. 
134,  140,  141,  142,  144 
145,  i45>i.,  146,  147 
'54.  '55.  i56.  2ii: 
2'3.  225,  239.  243,  244, 
264,  3>2,  326,  339,  350, 
367.  368,  399,  415 

Clough,   260 

Cloverine,  Countess,  3 

Clyfforde,    80 

Clyfton,   93 

Clypston,  210 

Clyware,    286n. 

Cobb,  336 

Cobbes,   195 

Cobbold,  xvi. 

Cobbould,  30 

Cobeham,   241 

Cobham,     72,     153,    298, 

299.  333 
Cockerel,   42 
Cockelt,   323,   342,   346 
Cockfield,  39,  40,  83,  244, 

245 

Cocksedge,  309 
Codeham,   28 
Codington,     260,     26o»., 

27°.  325.  335.  336,  337. 

3S'«-.    359.    374.     381, 

388 

Codrington,   27 
Codyngton  v.  Codington 
Coell,  326 
Goes,    376 
Cogeshall,    180 
Coggeshall,   225 
Coggeshall,     Abbot     of, 

35° 

Coggs,  318 
Cok  264 

Coke,   284,   347,   348, 
Coke,  Lord,  vi.,  ix.,  xii. 
Cokefeud,  83 
Cokefield,    74,    84,    84«., 

109,   in,  244 
Cokerell,  259 
Coket,  325,  413 
Cokett,  292 
Colafre,   25871. 
Colborne,    Lord,    19 
Colby,  354 
Colchester,       43,       Bp., 

i8on.,  Vis.,   136,  351 
Colchestre,  84 
Coldham,   1 26 
Cole,   7,    116 
Coleman,    41,     42,     159, 

'75.  240 
Colhoun,  311 
Colkyoke,  333 
Colloppe,   221 
Collyn,  85 
Colman,    40,    41,   42,   43, 

104,    H4«.,    280,    354 
Colt,    64,    65,    65«.,    6&, 

67,  68,  69 
Colthe,   107 
Colvile,  199,  200 
Colvile,   Baron  of,  23 
Comyn,     81,     151,     152, 

297«.,    298,     300,     301, 

386 

Comyns,  xii.,  224,  334 
Conesby,    161 
Coneston,  305 
Coningsby,    36,    203 
Conisby,  65 
Constable,  176,  224 
Conyers,  309,  310,  313 
Cook,  145 
Cooke,  Jtii.,  xiii.,   19,  30, 

181,  188,  246,  274,  280, 

3'6.   344 


Coole,  71,  72 

Cooppyng,   122 

Coote,  97,   126,  282,  283 

286 

Cootes,     141 
Copella,  333 
Copenger,   267 
Copinger,       121,       i2i«., 

122,   184,   185,  368 
Copledyke,   307 
Copley,   203 
Copuldicke,   268 
Corbet,    17,    18,    22,    97, 

98,   gSn.,    103,   239, 295 
Corbett,  21,  49,  229,  234, 

304,  306 
Corbuzzo,   199 
Cordall,  10,  287 
Cordell,    104,     121,     133, 

i33«-.    '34.     135.     '36, 

138,  139,  198,  299,  300 
Corder,   xvi. 
Cork,  Earl  of,  68 
Cornerd  v.   Cometh 
Cometh  a/.  Cornerth,  55, 

68,  86,  91,  94 
Cornhearth   v.   Cometh 
Cornherd,  63 
Cornherthe,  55 
Cornnerde  v.  Cometh 
Cornnerde,   55 
Cornwall,    E.    of,    102 
Cornwallis,  40,   174,  283, 

284,  285,  292,  329,  330, 

33'.  379.  4°7,  4",  419 

Corrance,    270 

Corry,  xvi. 

Corsbie,   75 

Cottingham,   409 

Cotton,  26,  54,  107,  219, 
3'°.  3'3.  344.  345. 
367.  374 

Coupere,  325 

Courcy,    77 

Courteney,   78 

Courtney,  Bp.  of  Nor- 
wich, 207 

Courtney,  c.  of  Devon, 
234,  245 

Cousens,,  85 

Cove,  257 

Covell,  354 

Coventry,   Bp.   of,   48 

Coventry,    Lord,    123 

Cowley,  417 
owper,    95,    252,    264 

°X>    ¥4  « 
^oxe,  61,  66 

Crabbe,    86,   89,   90,    92, 

„  94,  95.  97.  98«- 

-racherode,   62,  66 

3rackerode,  347 

Dramaville,  no 

^ramfeilds,    377 

Crane,  3,  28,  71,  72,  73, 
91,   97,    104,    141,    176, 
177,     i77«.,    200,    208, 
234.     235,     239,     240, 
246,   247,   248,  318 
raske,  370 
raven,    207 
reake  v.  Creke 

Creke,  54,  83,  103,  no, 
in 

"repon,  205 

^ressener,   36,    188,   239, 

247 

resswell,  139 
ressy,   155,  372,  378 
riketot,    19,   257,   257»., 

259,   260,     26o«.,     333, 

337.  343,  388 
_,rikett,  224 


Crisell,   136 
Crisp,   xvi.,  220,  347 
Crispin,   Comte  d'Eu,  45 
Crocheman,   77,   119 
Croft,   222,   228,   268 
Croftes,    265,    268,    272, 

273.  274,  346,  4°4.  4°5> 

406,   408,    411,   412,414 

Crofts,     195,     267,     269, 

329,    347,    381 
Croftys,   413 
Crokker,  80 
Cromer,    307 
Cromwell,   129,   194,   223, 

337 

Cromworthe  v.  Cornerth 
Cronshaye,  35 
Cropley,  318 
Grossman,  97,  187 
Crowe,   88 
Croxall,  410 
Croyserge,   263 
Cruche,  88 
Crull,  221,  228,  392 
Crulle,   309,  393 
Cryoll,  49,   251 
Cuddon,  75,  82 
Cudington   v.   Codington 
Cullum,  xvi.,  7,  204,  277, 

283*. 

Culpper,  55 
Culworth,  65 
Cumming,      Bruce,     4th 

Baron  Thurlow,   259 
Curbespine,  240 
Currance  v.  Currant 
Currant,   55 
Curson,  395 
Curteys,  354 
Curtis,  91,  94,  97 
Curtois,  70 
Curzon,  365 
Curzon      Howe,        Earl 

Howe,  12,  13,  65,  312 
Cust,   129 

Cutler,  29,   160,  181,  197 
Cyfrewast,    286n. 
Dade,  379 
Dado,  379 
Dalbany,  E.  of  Arundel, 

101 

Dalton,  107,  188 
Dammartin,    E.   of  Bou- 
logne, 352 
Danby,  169,  221 
Daniel,    10,   n,    12,    137, 

209,  216 
Daniell  al.   Danyell,    10, 

89,  236 
Danvers,   97 
Danyell  v.   Daniell 
Dapifer,  45 
Darcy,  71,  136,  142,  143, 

197,  228,  251,  264,  267, 

287,  35°>  35',  35'«-> 
368,  381,  390,  417 

Dartford,   Abbess  of,  3 

Dartmouth,  Earl  of,  15 

Dashwood,  26,  27,  235 

Daubenny,  52 

Daubeny,   23 

d'Aumale,    196 

Daundy,   174 

Dauntre,  272 

Davers,   419 

D'Avillers  v.  Aveyleres 

Davis,  356 

Davy,  5,  n,  14,  17,  27, 

32,  33,  39,  4°,  4',  49, 
50,  59,  60,  64,  65,  66, 
82,  84,  86,  96,  99,  loo, 
102,  113,  114,  1141., 
125,  142,  154,  159,  163, 


XIV 


INDEX   NOMINUM. 


Davy  —  continued. 

Dunham,  21 

Essex,  7,  64,  76,  99,  164, 

171,     184,      188,      189, 

Dunkin,  xvi. 

165,     178,     197,      213, 

198,    203,    206*.,    211, 

Dunmawe,  365 

"4.  "7.  3*3.  35" 

218,     227,     228,     229, 

Dunstan,  341 

Estbury,  77 

»39,  241,  251,  260,  262, 

Durand,  364 

EMhorpe,  28 

361*.,    264,    289,    300, 

Durham,  lip.  of.,  259 

F.thelfled,    74 

30*.  3°3.  306,  3<>7.  3°9. 

Durrani,  382 

Klhelred,  v.,  xvi.,   i 

3'°.  3"  3.  3'9.  3*3.336. 

Durward,  17,  53,197,211 

Eton,   Prioress  of,  232 

342,    349*.,    352,     353, 
354.  357,  SS8,  363.  365. 

Dutton,  65 
Dynn,  252 

Eugenius  III.,  Pope,  149 
Eustace      II.,      C.      of 

37'.  383.  389 

Dynham,  322 

Boulogne,  196 

Davye,  235 
Dawe,  351 

Earle,  xvi. 
Eaton,  106,  358,  415 

Euston,  E.,  294 
Evelyn,   362,   384 

Dawson,   62,     103,    115, 

Eccles,  365 

Evans,   129 

220,   249,   266,  344 

Eddeworth,   152 

Ewe,  321,  40  in. 

Dawtrey  al.  Dautrey,  221 

Eden,  189,  198,  208,  276, 

Ewell,  386 

Dean,  Deane,  66,  67 

*79 

Ewer,  139 

Death,  68 

Edgar,  xv.,  82,  354 

Exeter,  Duke  of,  307,  392 

Debenham,  6,    60,    180, 

Edith,  325,  349,  380 

Eyr,  114 

239,  246 

Edmonson,  28811. 

Eyre,  xvi. 

Deedes,   xvi. 

Edmund,  32 

Eyres,  15 

De  Treys,  90-95,  9811. 

Edon  v.   Eden 

Fairfax,  137 

Delond,  359 

Edric,  58 

Falconbridge,  Lord,  50 

Denardistone,  160 

Edward    the    Confessor, 

Falsaur,   74 

Denarston,  42 

v.,vi.,  1,5,  31,    37,   44, 

Fanelore,  170,  171 

Denbigh,   138,  293 
Dence,  34*. 

59,  70,    117,   131,    175, 
237,  349,  358,  360,  380, 

Farrar,  115 
Farrer,   xvi. 

Deneston,  68 

39°.  397,  4°8.  4'0,  4", 

Fastolf,   207,  415 

Denston,  66,  204 

4'9 

Fayrye,   198 

Dent,  405 

Edward  I.,  vii.,  x.,  xii., 

Fedric,   158 

Denton,  206,  366,  368 
Derby,   E.   of,    77,    in, 

77,  100,  233,  403,  412 
Edward  III.,  77,  118,  152, 

Felbrigge,  214,  338,  3380. 
Felgate,  243*. 

195,  265*..  331.  360 

>93,   MS,  3*',  4°3 

Feltham,  160 

Despenser,   234 

Edward   IV.,    8,    10,    51, 

Felton,  10.  34-36,  62,  89, 

Despotine,  142,  368 
d'Eu,  Comte,  45 

64,    78,    119,    120,    173, 

187,    2OI,    207,    2O8,    234, 

97,  107,  108,  2ion.,  236, 
344.  384,  399,  4'8 

Devereux,  164,  194 
Devon,    Marchioness   of, 

245,  246,  264,  322,  339, 
35°,   39*- 

Fenton,  379 
Fenwick,    382 

36,   47 
Devon,  Earl  of,  47 
D'Ewes,  32,  34,  41,  4i»., 

Edward     VI.,     14,     195, 
219*.  ,    234,   236,    354 
Edwards    278 

Ferariis,  in,  ii2». 
Fermer,  77,   119 
Fernley,  316 

43,   54,    100,    118,    122, 

Edwin,   King,  287 

Ferour,   119 

123,  124,  125,  126,  140, 

Egard,  71 

Ferrars,   188,  333 

'4*.  '47.  '54.  '55.  '56. 
'59.  *55.  3*6,  364.  366. 
367,   368,   370,   375 
Dicer,  36 

Eglington,  Earl,  382 
Egremond,   193 
Egremonl,    199 
Eldred,   87,  88 

Ferrers,  32,  47,  71 
Ferrieres,  205,  275 
Ferthynge,   21  1 
Fethhyngham,   211 

Digby,   226 
Diggelar,   257 
Dionesse,  42 
Donat,  228 
Donett,  299 

Eleanor,  Q.,  47 
Elinaut,   237 
Elizabeth,     Q.,     12,     51, 
54.   55.  97.    '33.     '94. 

Fetone,  114 
Fettiplace,  56 
Fielding,   138,  293 
Fiennes,  336 
Filiole  v.  Fillioll 

Doreward    al.    Dorward 
v.   Durward 

195,  211,  292,  299,300, 
316,      317,     322,     323, 

Fillioll,   257,   258*. 
Filliott,  254 

Dorset,  Marq.  of,  361 

3*9,     359-     367,     374. 

Finch,  323,   331 

Doughty,  400 

388,  406,  412 

Fines,  125 

Douglas,  258 
Donndes,      Dounes,     89, 

Ellice,  377 
Llliott,  88,  410 

Firebrace,   138,   139 
Finnage,  187 

236 

Ellis,      xiv.,     xvi.,     107, 

Fisher,  35,  97 

Dowayre,    244 

3'  7.   377.   395 

»     JJ»     71 

Fiskes,  352 

Dowdeswell,  285 

Ellyot,  366 

Fison,  278 

Downes,     62,    201,     202, 
*°3.  379 

Elmeswelle,  144,  151 
Elmrugge,  297,  298; 

Fitch,  89,  222 
Fitton,  28 

Downing,  42 

Elms,  141 

Fitz,  351 

Drayton,  83,   in 

Elrington,   65 

Fitz  Alan,  47,  50,  67,  214, 

Drurie,  161,  198 

Elton,  xi.,  359 

242 

Drury,  13,  23,  53,  74,  75, 
116,  129,  145,  203,  »04. 

Elvedon,  272 
Ely,  Abbot  of,  45,  105 

Fitz  Aylwin,  46,  47 
Fitz  Bernard,  47 

225,    240,     2541.,     267, 

Ely,  Bp.  of,  99,  100,  105, 

Fitz  Eustace,  28 

**8.  *7».  *95.  3°'.  3°7> 

106,  116,  150,  321,  349, 

Fitz  Gilbert,   45,   231 

3'°.  3*3.  34'.  34*.  3S», 
360,  381.  383.  395.  399 

354 
Ely  v.  Illeigh 

Fitz  Hervey,  32 
Fitz  Hugh,  27,  154 

Dryden,  354 

Elye,  130 

Fitz  John,  99,   100 

Dryer,  280 

Elyott,  35 

J                 *      77* 

Fitz  Lawes,  3 

Dublin,   Abp.  of,   166 
Dublin,  Marquess  of,  77 

Emery,  394 
Emma,      Q.      of      Nor- 

Fitz Lewes,  93,  197,  264, 
35° 

Dudley,    120,    201,    227, 

mandy,    i 

Fitz-oates,   101 

^S.  395 
Dugdale,   16,  45,  46,  78, 

Empson,  227 
Engelric,    380 

Fitz  Osborn,   72 
Fitz  Payn,  77 

81,  84*1.,  99,   too,  150, 
163,  165,  166,  168,  171, 

Englefield,    359 
Enguerramd,  196 

Fitz  Ralph,  72,  246,  276, 
4'5 

•75,  3".  3*3.  393 
Duke,  162,  174,  195 

Erdinton,  83 
Erpingham,  72,  81 

Fitz  Robert,   232 
Fitz-Roy,   274,  294,   345 

FiU  Thomas,  47 

FiU  Walter,   22,  47,   78, 

191-195,   198 
Fitz-Warine,  321 
Kitz  Williams,  aoi 
Klectwood,  246 
Klemeton,  346 
Fleta,  xiv. 
Flete,  61 
Floreus,  155 
Flowerdew,  40 
Floyd-Jones,    1 5 
Focer,  292 
Folkard,  xvi. 
Fones,   182 
Ford,  3,  96 
Fordham,  10,  257 
Fordyce,  381 
Fornesse,   202 
Forrecy,   71 
Forsett,   159,   I59«. 
Fortescue,  17,  72,  80,  97, 

3°7 

Forth,  28 
Foryby,  69 
Foster,     103,     221,    224, 

229 

Fowecher,  61 
Fowke,  249,  408,  410 
Fowler,  62 
Fox,  330 
Foxcote,   241 
Foxele,  272 
Fox-Strangways,  377 
Framingham,    202 
Francis,  24 
Francis,   I.,  323,   395 
Francklin,  406 
Francklyng,  147 
Fraser,   326 
Fraunceys,    145,  170,  171, 

'74 

Fray.  S3,   54 
Fraye,  54 
Freake,  300 
Freeland,  62 
Freeman,  62,   196,  235 
Freestone,  31 1 
Fremoult,  309 
French,     35,     102,     103, 

243 

Frende,  235 
Frere,  281 
Freston,  xvi.,  169 
Frodo,     117,     149,     199, 

37*-    383 

Frost,   299,   326,  344 
Frowyke,  90,  91,  96,  97 
Frumband,  xv. 
Fulcher,   271,    302,    321, 

338,  37* 

Fulgiums,    2ion. 
Fuller,  62,  120,  121,  135, 

"9-  367 
Fullerton,   xvi. 
Furneaux,  263 
Fuller,  310 
Fyliol     al.     Filyoll     v. 

Fillioll 

Fyncham,  379 
Fynden,    251 
Fyshe,  415 
Fyske,  352 
Gage,    7,    125,    151,    181, 

i82«.,    189,    266,    270, 

344.     35°»-    35".    4". 

412,  415,  417 
Gale,  29 
Galens,    149 
Gallant,   211 
Galyon,  286 
Gannok,   211 
Gant,  205 


INDEX   NOMINUM. 


xv. 


Garboldesham,  412 
Gardenere,  21 
Garderobe,  84 
Gardiner,   9,  288,   289, 
Gardner,  287,  288 
Garius,  105 
Garneys,   24 
Garroway's,    89 
Garthe,   280 
Gaudy,  280 
Gaunt,  John  of,  193 
Gavel,  307 
Gaveston,   152 
Gawdy,  246 
Gayer,  299 
Gedding,   290,  412 
Geddyngge,  213*1.,  291 
Gefford,   107 
Genevyll,  66 
George   I.,    12,   354,   iv., 

62 

Gerbridge,  206,  207 
Gerish,   xvi. 
Gernon,  23,  25 
Gernun,   303 
Gervays,  103 
Gibbon,  97 
Giffard,  32,  45,  180,  221, 

224,  228,  289,  33J.391. 

392 

Gilbert,  48,  280 
Gilbert,   Earl,  37,  44-46, 

58,    74,    86,    90,     109, 

1 16,  237,  242,  262,  364 
Ginnes,   41 2». 
Gipps,   5,   6,    7,    23,    34, 

99-102 

Gissmg,  372 
Glanville,  3,   19,   in 
Glemesford,  145 
Glemsford,  107 
Glemysforde,    145 
Gloucester,  Duke  of,  33, 

45,   64,    64«.,    77,    78, 

87,  119,   167,  184,  392, 

4Oin. 

Gnateshall,  338 
Goate,  41-43,   159 
Godbold,  347 
Godchild,  296 
Goddye,  264 
Godebold,  250,  251 
Godfrey,  355 
Godofridus,   igin. 
Godsalve,  40 
Godwin,  70,  99 
Golding,    55,     130,     143, 

246*.,   389,  391 
Goldinge,   279 
Goldingham,  310,  399 
Goldwell,  418 
Goneville,    272,   379 
Gonville,  339,  339*1. 
Gonvyle,    72 
Gooch,  9 
Goodchild,  67 
Goodday,   184 
Goode,  42 
Goodeal,  88 
Goodman,   299,   358 
Goodmund,  205 
Goodrich,   325,   349 
Goodwin,   41,   43,   72 
Goodwyn,  122 
Gordon,  331 
Goring,  308 
Gorters,   115 
Gosefeld,  32 
Gould,   326 
Gouldinge,    129 
Gournay,  48 
Gourney,  307 
Gower,  152-154,  156,  354 


Grafton,  D.  of,  274,  277, 
294,  300,  320,  345,  347, 

359 

Graham,  248 
Grai  v.   Grey 
Grammont,     330,     33o«., 

409,  411 

Grandcourt,   178,   179 
Grandison,  Lord,  68 
Grange,  291 
Grantham,  21 
Gray,  97,  241 
Graye,  94 
Greagres,  67 
Greeke,  407 
Green  or  Greve,  29,  64, 

97,     187,     190,     3i8»., 

355 

Greene,    71 

Greengrass,   383 

Grevell,  17 

Grey,  28,  49,  59,  63,  64, 
64*1.,  67,  86,  87,  89,  92- 
95,  168,  200,  263,  307, 
339.  344.  36',  373.  38a. 
389 

Greye,  388 

Grieve,   289 

Griggs,  62 

Grimesyk,    304 

Grimstone,   283,   284 

Grimwade,   29 

Groos,  306,  312 

Grosvenor,  81 

Grotene,  239 

Grove,  115,  370 

Grygge,  28 

Grymshawe,   97 

Grymston,  314 

Guarder,  E.  of  Norf.  and 
Surf.,  45 

Gueldres,  392 

Gufden,  39 

Guidott,  ii 

Guildford,  Lord,  62 

Guines,  Earl,  118 

Guisnes,  Lord,  332 

Gunton,  176 

Gunwardeby,    220 

Gurdon,   xvi.,   17-19,   98, 

245 

Gurnall,    162 
Gurnell,  252 
Gurney,  342,  355 
Guybon,  246 
Guys,  314 
Gyfford,  224,  225 
Gyll,  326 

Gymingham,  178,  179 
Gynney,  412 
Racket,  174 
Haddington,  Lady,  308 
Hadleys,  377 
Halford,   19 
Halifax,    35,     195,     '96> 

270 

Halis,   391 

Hall,  55,  106,  280,  394 
Halley,   3i8». 
Halliwell,   367 
Halys,  298 
Hamilton,    130,    258 
Hamilton,  D.  of,  409 
Hammond,  311,  390 
Hamonds,  377 
Hanbury,    49,    55,    300, 

377 

Hankeford,  172 
Hanken,  244 
Hankwood,  77 
Hanmer,  12,  248,  249 
Hanningfeld,  128 
Hanyngfelde,  267 


Harcourt,  46,  59,  175 
Hare,  73,  143,  235 
Haret,    343 
Harewell,  313 
Harland,   169 
Harleston,    33,    68,    197, 
198,  263,  264,  267,  350, 

38' 

Harling,   72 
Harmingfield,   204 
Harold,  44,  70,  175,  178, 

237 

Harper,   55 
Harpley,  313 
Harpour,   180 
Harris,   53«.,   401 
Harrison,   62,  88,   136 
Harsick,  167 
Harsnet,  341 
Harte,  252,  287«. 
Hartland,   xvi. 
Harvey,  18,  85,  130,  195, 

210,  277,  301 
Harvie,  414 
Harvye,  416 
Haryngton,  61 
Haseldyne,  25 
Haslewood,    xvi. 
Hastings,     33,     52,     169, 

253.  39s 
Hastyng,  238«. 
Hathead,  174,   175 
Hautboys,   365 
Haward,  234 
Hawes,    xvi.,    126,    388, 

389 

Hawkyswell,  413 
Haydon,  182,  225«. 
Haye,  346 
Head,  34 
Heath,  65,  203,  316,  373- 

Hegham,  68 

Heigham,  67,  116,  198, 
225,  276,  313,  326,  336, 

•    374,  39' >  396.  4'6 

Helbam,  65?;. 

Helias,  E.  of  Mayne,  191 

Helyon  v.   Herion 

Helyun,  37 

Hemegrave,  278 

Hemenhale  or  Hemen- 
hall,  102,  1 80,  403 

Hemming,  128 

Heneage,  223 

Hengrave,    207 

Henney,   112 

Henrietta,   Q.,  33 

Henry  I.  of  France,  205 

Henry  I.,  70,  227,  296 

Henry  II.,   76,   100 

Henry  III.,   Emp.,    196 

Henry  III.,  47,  63,  65, 
149,  151,  152,  156,  165, 
179,  296,  349,  403,  415 

Henry  IV.,  168,  171,  321 

Henry  V.,  168,  194,  259, 

338,  392 
Henry  VI.,  xiv.,  78,  120, 

173,  201,  214,  233,  264, 
298,  322,  339,  350,  396 

Henry  VII.,  81,  120,  197, 
208,  227,  307,  341,  350, 

393 

Henry  VIII.,  7,  68,  161, 

174,  219,    2i9«.,  227, 
260,  270,  280,  287,  300, 
3'6.     323,     335,  336, 
35'"-,    359.    387.  388, 
392-394,  404,  416 

Heppeworth,  312 
Hepworth,  303-306,    311, 
379 


Herberd,    128 

Herbert,  245,  385,  395, 
411 

Hereford,  45,  242,  323 

Hereward,    303 

Herion,   37 

Herling,  338-341 

Herluine,   272 

Herlyng,  291 

Herolveston,   197 

Heron,  337 

Hertford,   E.    of,   45,  46 

Hervey,  xvi.,  31,  32,  55, 
103,  186,  267,  285,  289, 
358,  404,  405,  4o6n., 
4o8«.,  41  in.,  4i3,4i3«., 
416,  4i6».,  417-419, 
4ig«. 

Hervici,    Wm.,    son    of, 

32 

Hervie,    32 

Hethe,  93,  263,  336,  350 
Hetherset,  206,  207 
Heton,  Bp.  of  Ely,  105 
Heveningham,     39,     52, 

264,  308,  339 
Hevenyngham,  52,  267 
Hewet,  269 
Hey,   160 
Heydon,  219 
Heyford,  267 
Heygham,    129 
Heyward,  338 
Higham,  225 
Hill,  xvi.,  18,  55,  203 
Hilton,  211 
Hind,   123 
Hitchcock,    242 
Hobart,     26,     72,     i6o«., 

189 

Hodeboville,   5,  6,  6«. 
Hodebovyle,  6 
Hodelston  v.  Huddleston 
Hodgson,    259 
Hodgson-Huntley,      324, 

34i 

Hoghton,  308 
Hokewold,  47 
Holbrook,  358,  415 
Holden,  362 
Holderness,   105 
Holland,    19,    164,    168, 

i?1-  233,  25',  3i7 
Hollingshed,   339 
Holmes,   107,  234?!.,  377 
Holmsted,   175 
Holt,  254,  255,  318,  319, 

39° 

Holts,  389 
Holworthy,  402 
Holyer,  n^n. 
Hoo,   145,  18(3,   188,  274, 

280 

Hopper,  155,  225 
Hopton,    114,    131,    309, 

323,  373,  395 
Hordene,   252 
Hore,    386 
Horkesley,  169,  251 
Home,  xii.,  122,  2351. 
Hornelade,    175 
Horner,    210 
Horningsherth,   403 
Hosey,  342 
Hoskins,    56 
Hotham,  211 
Hothum,     Bp.     of     Ely, 

101,    102 
Houblon,   15 
Houge,  174 
Houghton,  292 
House,  258*1. 


XVI. 


INDEX   NOMINUM. 


Hnvcll,  xri.,  41.  43.  158, 

Jarmine  v.  Jermyn 

Knighton,  55,  56 

"59,    »87»-.    »98.    397- 

arrat,  219 

Knowles,  362 

399 

'enkins,  xii. 

Knut,  King,  i.,  v. 

How,  56,  311 

ennens,  it,   12,  65 

Knyvet,      113,     114,    140, 

Howard,  to,  aa,  29,  341., 

enney,  189,  338 

146,  147,  401 

50,  67,  78,  81,  119,  144. 

enmngs,    75,    36111. 

Knyvett,  113".,  243 

«4S.  '59-  '84.  '95.  »«3- 

enny,  350 

Kokefield,  47 

217.  239,  276,  307,  394 

lenour,  336,  374 

Kytson,  75,  346,  405 

Howe,  7,  o,  12,  62,  174 

[ermin  v.  Jermyn 

Lacy,  48,  232 

Unwell.   136 

Jermyn,  9.  33,  40,  53,  72, 

Ladbroke,   370 

Howells,  137*. 

85,     104,      106,      lain., 

Lakynghath,  257 

Howes,  35811. 
Hewlett,  315 

12},    141,    187,    189,240, 

246,  264,  265,  278,  308, 

Lakynhethe,  245 
Lamb    or    Lambe,    354, 

Hubert,  227,  357 
Huddeletone,  341 

312,  326.  360,  361,  363, 
369,   37°.   396,   4«7 

381-383,  414 
Lambarde,  19,  134 

Huddleston,  29,  201,  280, 

Jernegan,  72,  178,   179 

Lamborne,  28 

355. 

erningham,    395 

Lambourne,      179,      180, 

Huggms,  143 

•nrr,  208 

i  Son. 

Hugh,    Earl,     271,     390, 

lervis,    71 

i.amont,  xvi. 

397.  4'S 

Jervys,    187,   335 

Lancaster,   33,    50,     120, 

Humberston,   17,   18,  29, 

John,   172 

298,  322,  399 

43.  98.  '89 

'_  ohn,  King,  63,  140,  149, 

Langdale,    82 

Humberton,   98 

165,  232,  301 

Langeton,  170 

Hummynge,  164 

John,  xxii.,  152 

Langetot,  364,  365 

Hungerford,  398 

Johnson,   xvi.,    134,   138, 

Langham,  xvi.,  170,  325, 

Hunt,   xvi.,   55,  56,    197, 

'43.  28o 

343-345 

387.  389 

Jones,  15,  23.;.  323,  331, 

Langton,  48 

Hunter,  197,  an,  355 

34' 

Lang  worth,   12  j 

Huntingdon,   E.   01,   171 

Jones-Floyd,   15 

Lansdowne,   196 

Huntingfield,  70,  168,  169 

Josselyn,  40,  355 

Lansele,    151 

Huntingford,  221 

Jo  worth,  45 

Lathell,  61 

Kurd,  Bp.,  354,  355 

Judd,   187,    189 

Latimer,  14,  184,  238 

Hurrell,   311 

Julian,  311 

Lauvalay,   167 

Hussey,  35 

Jumieges,  45 

Laxton,    134 

Hustler,    82 

Kame,  338 

Lay,  98 

Hutchinson,  337 

Kancia,  179 

Lay  ton,  xvi.,  85 

Hutchison,  309 
Huthrad,  178 

Katherine,   Q.,   82,    395, 
396 

Leach,  247 
Leadam,  xvi. 

Huysman,  356 

Kebel,  334 

Lee,    32,    129,    196,    291, 

Hyde,  25 
lanson,  283 

Kedington,  243,  311 
Kedyngton,  386 

3'°,  347,  355,  4'3 
Leech,  29 

Ikesworth,   276 

Keeble,  310 

Leeds,  15,  26 

Ikeworth,  257 
Ilchester,    Earl,   377 

Kelham,  xii.,  175 
Kellegrave,  265 

Leeke,   1  13 
Leeyes,   180 

Ilger,  237 

Kelleseye,  241 

Legg,  407 

Illegh  or  Illeigh,  30,   37, 
39,  4°,  240 
Illeye  v.  Illegh 
Ingaldesthorp,    72,     199- 

Kelrington,  78 
Kelvedon,   72 
Kemesek,  179,  1791.,  180 
Kemp,  73,  102,  401 

Legge.  iS 
Le  Gros,  326 
Lehunt,   56 
Leicester,  E.  of,  121,  417 

2OI 

Kempe,   198,  225,  276 

Leigh,  96 

Inge,  14 

Kemper,  336 

Leland,  201 

Ingelnc,    16 

Kennett,   xiv.,  69 

Lely,  411 

Ingham,  328 

Kent,    E.    of,    165,    171, 

Lelye,,  413 

Ingleram,  196 

363 

Lemmerus,  109 

Ingoldesthorp    v.    Ingal- 
desthorpe 

Kenteford,  189,  1891. 
Kentwell,  149,  187,  372 

Le  Neve,  199,  200 
Lenveise,  1  1  1 

Insula,  333 

Kenyng,  38 

Leofgion,   131 

Ion,  298 

Kerdeston,  207 

Leofsin,   105 

Ipswich,  1  88 

Kerrison,  377 

Leofson,   116 

Irby,   Lord  Boston,    95, 

Kerryes,  377 

Leofstan,  131 

267 

Kersey,   228,   391 

Leslie,  19 

Ireland,  D.  of,  77,  78 

Ketel     the     Dane,    256, 

Lestrange,  85,   271,   272, 

Ironside,  59,  175 

33».  4'9 

3'8 

Isaac,    149 

Ketlesberston,  14 

Leus,   Count,    196 

Isaacke,   104,  248 

Kettleborough,  289 

Leveva,   282 

Isaak,    17 

Killegrew,   376,   37611. 

Lewes  xii.,  393,  407 

Isabel,  152 

Kilwardby,       Abp.        of 

Lewin,   158,  328 

Isabella,  Q.,  101 

Cant.,   192 

Lewkener,   1141. 

Isham,  366 

Kindersley,   345 

Leyburn,  48 

Ive,  221 

King,  64,  115,  138,  167 

Leyes,  10,  17,  32 

Iveagh,  Viscount,  xvi. 

Kingsmill,  65 

Leyet,   309 

Ivri,  Count,  205 

Kingston,  D.  of,  418 

Leyham,   84,    109-111 

Ixworth,     Prior     of     St. 

Kirby,   23,  27,   105,  117, 

Leyston,  206 

Mary,  353 

125,  184.  210,  389 

Leyttle,  234 

Jackson,   107 

Kirkeby,   47 

l.i<  hfield,  48 

James,    xvi.,   62,   67,   77, 

Kirkham,  352 

Lichfield   and   Coventry, 

107,  308,  319 
James   I.,    26,   4111.,    75, 

Kitbourn,   126 
Kitrhin,  xii.,  xvi. 

Bp.  ol,   175,  331,  348 
Ligate,    to 

'4*,  235.  ^88,  308,  317, 

Kition,  351 

Lilly,    354 

408 
James   II.,  fa,    164,   226, 

Knapp,  310 
Knatchbull,   159 

Limesey,  31 
Limesi,   58,   59,   86,   175, 

418 

Knevit,  218 

178 

James  IV.,  216 

Knevitt,  163 

Lincoln,  98,  391". 

Lindsay,  59 

Lisle,  Vis.,  18,  214,  393, 

393"-,  394 

Listen,   151,  399 

I.ittell  v.  Little 

Little,  15,  144,  225,  235 

Litton,   18,   268,   269 

Livermere,  346 

Livesay,  26 

Lloyds,   3291. 

L'Neves,  278 

Lobenham,  211 

Lochton,  23 

Lock,  377 

Lockton,  200 

Lodewyk,  267 

Loe,  laa 

Lofit,  320,  361,  36111., 
362,  383,  384 

Logan,   144,   156,   210 

London,  Bp.  of,  87,  166, 
170 

Longspee,  E.  of  Salis- 
bury, 59 

Longstren,  E.  of  Salis- 
bury, 290 

Longvile,   252 

Louis,  King,  322,  394 

Louthroppe,    28711. 

Lovayne,    254,    321 

Love,  209,  240 

Loveday,  398 

Lovell,  7,  28,  29,  50,  94, 
129,  242,  280,  301,  340- 

34» 

Loveney,  19 
Lovetolt,  282 
Lowther,  xvi. 
Lucas,     xvi.,     276,     404, 

405,   412 
Lucy,   10 
Lukin,   73 
Lumley,  137,  351 
Lungespeye,   16 
Lurgan,  169 
Lurkin,  326 
Lutterell,  242,  245,  245*. , 

246 

Luton,  144,  193 
Lyes  v.   Leyes 
Lymsey,    54 
Lyndholt,  74 
Lynne,  103 
Lysle  v.  Lisle 
Maberley,  185 
Macaulay,   301 
Machyn,  360 
Macro,  354-3S6 
Macfarlane,  289 
Mack-William,      10,    65, 

*43 

Maddocks,   361,   383 
Mahew,  9 
Maitland,  x.,  xii.n.,  299, 

344.  345 
Major,  337 
Makerel,  3 
Makin,    189 
Malet,    22,    70,    99,    117, 

2°5.  338,  357,  3°*.  37», 

378,   385 
Mallie,    371 

Mailing,  Abbess  of,  3,  87 
Maltravers,  Lord  II.,  251 
Mahyward,   347 
Malvesdel   He,   263 
Mandeville,    2311. 
Manners,  395 
Manning,  76,  82,  93,  94, 

103,  308 
Mannock  or  Mannok,  3, 

14,     54,     209,    221-224, 

226,  228,  229 


INDEX    NOMINUM. 


xvn. 


Manteby,  207 

Mantel  or  Mantell,   193, 

395 

Manwood,  351 
March,  E.  of,  8,  173,  322 
Marden,   221 
Marescall,  352 
Margaret,  Q.,   167,  220 
Margaret  of  Austria,  393, 

394 

Marisco,  32 

Markant,  310 

Markham,   64 

Markwich,   308 

Marlborough,  D.  of,  n 

Marlcy,   Baron,  317 

Marney,   23 

Marrow,   140,   146 

Marshall,    xvi.,    307,    314 

Marshall,  E.  of  Pem- 
broke, 46,  151,  232 

Marsham,  341 

Martel,    257 

Marten,    97 

Martin,  10,  14,  15,  75, 
115,  142,  156,  188,  210, 

387,    4'9 
Martlesham,  415 
Martyn,  n,  122,  208-210, 

2251. 

Marvell,  408 
Mary,      53,      135,      195, 

208,    209,    218,     2ign., 

300,  316,  323,  393,  395, 

404,    418 

Marsham,  259,  260 
Maskelyne,  408 
Mason,    276 
Massey,  159 
Massye,  41 
Mathe,  221 
Matilda,  Q.,  205 
Matthew,  315 
Matthews,    181 
Maundevill,    128 
Maupas,   150 
Mawgan,  54,  412 
Maximilian,  Archd.,  393, 

394 

May,   418 
Maydeston,  19 
Mayhew,  261 
Maynard,  331 
Meade,  xvi. 
Meadows,    326 
Meaundlingg,   158 
Meautys,  283-284,  329 
Melding,   158 
Melford,  132,  282 
Mellent,  C.   of,   205 
Mendham,   119,    160,    189 
Mere,  413 
Merton,    10 
Metcalfe,    104 
Methold,   xvi.,   304,    306, 

3" 

Methuen,  95 
Methwold,   106 
Michel,   197 
Middleton,   129 
Milde,   68 
Mildmay,    18,    54 
Mileson,   354 
Milksop,  158 
Miller,  129,  140,  347 
Mills,  242,   370 
Milton,   362 
Milys,   170,   171 
Mingay,  308,  309 
Mitchell,  249 
Moese,  170 
Mohun,  47,  194 
Moigne  v.  Mawgan 


Moilley,   152 
Molines,  215 
Mollington,   72 
Molyns,  49,  251 
Monceaux,  298,  299 
Monchensey     v.      Mont- 

chensy 

Monmouth,  45 
Monmouth  and  Buc- 

cleuch,  Duch.  of,  330 
Monson,   Vise.,   2io«. 
Montacute,   87,   171,   201 
Montague,  171,   172,  201, 

294.  395 
Montchensy,   28,    50,    53, 

54,     99,     101-103,     151, 

i 80,   333,   398,   399 
Monte  Caniso,    101 
Montficket,  45 
Montfort,   47,   76,    i65«., 

205,  233,  271,  275,  333, 

39° 

Montgomene,  382 
Montgomery,   234?).,  239, 

361*. 

Monthermer,  233 
Monto  Alto,    16 
Montrion,    75 
Montrose,  Marq.,  409 
Moody,    391 
Moore,    66-68,     75,     105, 

io5«.,    125,    126,     136, 

143,   144,   147,   156 
Moores,   377 
Morant,    100 
Morchar,   Earl,   86,    109, 

231,  237,  240 
Mordaunt,  Lord,  97,  197, 

210 

More,  163,  316 
Morgan,    75 
Morgan-ap-Owen,   45 
Moriel,  346 
Morley,   40,   138,  323 
Mortimer,  64,  72,  77,  170, 

188,  201,  202,  233,  234, 

388 

Mortuo  Mari,  14,  48,  84 
Moryell,  66 
Mose,   238 
Moseley,   169,    261,    276, 

362 

Mott,  87,  235«. 
Moulton,   193 
Mountagewe,       March., 

202 

Mounteney,  63 
Mountney,  248 
Mowbray,  49,  214,  215, 

231,  3" 

Moxon,    185 

Moyne,   180 

Mudd,    126 

Multone,   28 

Munchensi,  99-100 

Mundford,    268«. 

Muneworth,   107 

Munford,   97 

Munro,   311 

Murch,   196 

Murray,    E.    of    Dysart, 

299 

Murton,    295 
Murydon,  298 
Muschet,   158 
Muskett,    17,     i8«.,    104, 

I04«.,          11211.,          248«., 

27?"-,  352>  377 
Mylde,     144,     145,      154, 

'56 

Myryell,  43 
Narborne,  241 
Nash,  xiv. 


Nassau,  294 

Naunton,   399 

Navarre,    King   of,     167, 

220 
Necton,  134,  299 

Negus,   377 

Neketon,  98,  302-304,  306, 

309 

Nele,    152 
Nell,  61 
Nelson,  xii. 
Neon,  211 
Nessefeld,  241 
Neve,  153 
Nevil,  52,  168 
Nevill,  171-173,  189,  199, 

20 i,  234 
Neville,  296 
Nevyll,   3 
Newcome,    260 
Newman,  73,  97,   187 
Newton,   337 
Nicholl,   56 
Nichols,    289 
Nicolas,  81 
Noffingham,  200 
Noks,  362 
Noon  v.   Neon 
Norfolk,  D.  of,  3,  29,  120, 

163,     218,     225,      285, 

290,  299,  307,  395 
Norman,   31,   58,   309 
Normandy,    D.    of,    70 
Norreys,   216 
North,  95,  181,  315 
Northampton,  Marq.,  323 
Northumberland,   E.    of, 

201 
Norton,    xvi.,     156,    336, 

337,    349.    368-37° 
Norwich,     Bp.     of,    38, 

140,  229,  263,  340,  374, 

386 

Norwich,   De,  23 
Norwich,   Prior  of,   102 
Norwold,  61,   131,   140 
Notele,  23 
Nott,  252 
Nouerre,    75 
Nowell,   299 
Noy,    136 
Nunn    al.    Nunne,     265, 

3",  399 
Oakes,  266 
Odar,  256 

Odingselles,  59,  63,  290 
Odo,  45,  70,   196,   282 
Odyham,    28 
Odyngseles,    59,   60 
Ogard,   71 
Ogilvie,  xvi. 
Ogle,  138 
Oldefen,  343 
Oleham  v.  Aldham 
Oliver,   195 
Olney,  61 
Olorenshaw,   xvi. 
Olyver,  61,   250 
Oneby,   289 
Onslow,  Onslowe,  351"., 

354 

Orange,  Prince  of,  226 
Orbec,    109 
Ord,  308,  309,  357 
Ordgar,   i 
Ording,  303 
Ormond,  D.  of,  331 
Osborn,      Osborne,     26, 

274.  39',   396 
Osckyn,   170 
Osgard,   247 
Osmund,  275 
Otho,   109,  231 


Otre,  64 

Outlaw,  376 

Owen,  45,  299 

Oxenforde,  Earl,  78-80 

Oxford,  E.  of,  3,  118- 
122,  125,  126,  145,  186, 
187,  201,  219,  294, 

3'9>   339«- 

Oyri,  ni 

Page,  6-8,  17,  26,  27,  32, 
33,  59,  65,  82,  86,  99, 
100,  ioo«.,  104,  105, 
118,  165,  176,  179, 
179^.,  181,  184,  186, 
210,  239,  246,  250,  262, 
287-290,  292,  298,  301, 
3°6,  336,  349,  358,  367, 

387,   389,    39°,    4i5«- 
Pageham,  267 
Paget,  xvi.,  54,  217,  219, 

220 

Paine,  196 
Painell,  99 
Pakenham,  in,  254,  257, 

262,  263,  267,  297,  298, 

3°i,  334,  337,  349,  35°, 
380,  381,  386,  388n. 

Pallavicini,    142 

Palmer,  E.  of  Castle- 
maine,  68 

Paltle,  289 

Pandulph,  Bp.  of  Nor- 
wich, 229 

Pappworth,   170 

Papworth,  69 

Parcar,  71 

Parham,  59 

Paris,  341,  394 

Park,    143 

Parke,   126 

Parker,  15,  18,  39,  134, 
138-140,  142,  143,  146, 
I46«.,  151,  i5i«.,  154, 
156,  209,  2ion.,  317, 

323 

Parleman,  19 
Parmentier,   Le,  46 
Parr,   65 

Parre,  33,  6s«.,  323 
Parsetts,  376 
Parson,    247 
Parsons,  319 
Partenai,  262 
Partrich,   10 
Partridge,    xvi. 
Paryent,  226 
Parys,   222 
Pasesman,  400 
Paston,  207,  208 
Pateshull,   290,  295 
Patteson,  352,  355 
Pattinson,   105 
Paul,    164 
Pawlett,    234 
Payne,     169,     188,     203, 

232,  259 

Peacock,   122,  318 
Pebenersh,    249 
Pec,   36 
Peche,  69,  154,  167,  2ii, 

333,   365,  366 
Pecok,   91,   96 
Peirs,  268 
Pek,   250 
Pelham,  64,   77 
Pell,   418 
Pembroke,  i8».,  45,  151, 

15.;,  156,  307 
Penning,   346-348 
Pennington,    133,    134 
Pennyng   v.    Penning 
Pensthorpe,  398 
Penyngton,  395 


• 

XV111. 


INDEX   NOMINUM. 


Peper,   84 

Pretyman,  xvi. 

Percy,  45,  193,  201,  351 

Prevense,  304 

Percyhale,  4 

Price,  184 

Perepunt,    271 

Prichthorne,  189 

Perient,   141,  272 

Prickes,  376 

Fervent,  335 

Prigg,  91,  97 

Peshale,  365 

Prisot,  300 

Peter,  282,  419 

Proctor,  9 

Peterborough,       E.      of 

Progers,  408-410,  412 

210 

Provence,  47,  296 

Petworth,   19 

Purfy,  33 

Peverell,  5,  16,  105,  237, 

Purpett,  345 

244*      ^45 

Pychard,  xv. 

Peyton,  3,  33-30,  69,  164, 

Pye,  135,  1  88 

239,  244,  272,  373,  318 

Pyke,  376 

Phelebert,  D.  of  Savoy, 

Pykenham,    114 

393 

Pynchbek,  93 

Phelip,  38 

Pynchbeke,  64 

Phelipp,   81 

Pynk,  38 

Phelips,    73 

Pynkeneye,  65 

Phelyp  v.  Philip 

Pyrton,  351 

Phenw,  330 

Quapladde,  315 

Philip,  71,  173,  176,  195, 

Quincy,  E.  of  Winches- 

*39.  393 

ter,  76 

F'hilippa,   Q.,  49,  353 

Rainsford,   343 

Phillips,  335 

Rainsfortb,  114 

Phipps,  365,  344 
Phylip  v.    Philip 

Raleigh,  317 
Ralph,  31,  335,  349,  380 

Picard,  63 

Ram,  le,   71 

Pierrepont,  418 

Ramsey,  300 

Piers,  381 

Ramsey,  Abbot  of,   138 

Pikele,   304 

Ranby,  42 

Pilkington,  115,  211,  266, 

Randall,  174,  277 

Pinchbeck,   304 

Rann,  65 
Rasshe,   202 

Pinkenny,  59 

Ratcliffe,   194,  195,  338 

Pishale  al.    Pyshale    T. 

Rathivire,  Lord,  JO 

Presbale 

Rattlesden,  44,  298,  398 

Piweleden,   47 

Raumessey,  379 

Plaiz,    272 

Raven,  xvi.,  52,  220 

Plampin,    195,    198 
Planche,  45,  196,  20311. 

Raveningham,  9 
Raw,  60 

Plantagenet,     152,     201, 

Rawlinson,  370 

a33.   3".   392.  4°'  »• 
Playford,   328 
Playne,  123,  189 

Ray,  370 
Raymond     -     Berenger, 
Comte    de     Provence, 

Playsted,  330 

47 

Playter,   1  14 

Raynforth,    14 

Playters,  56 
Playz,   de,   38 

Raynsford,   53,   54,    211 
Read     or     Reade,     xvi., 

Poer,  Le,  59 

221,  234,  269,  270,  381, 

Poictou,     31,     183,    337, 

392 

3*8 

Rebow,  9 

Pointz,   183 

Rede,  87 

Poix,   xvi. 

Reder,   312 

Pole,  xiv.,  173,  300,  386, 

Redesworth,  275 

387.   39*.  ,393.   4'6 
Poley,     32-36,     65,     116, 

Redgrave,  3031. 
Kedlysworth,  275 

184,     187,     189,     203, 

Reeve,  132 

268,  405,  407,  417 

Reilly,  380 

Pollard,  319 

Reinolds,   121 

Pollock,    urn. 

Rene,  145,  313 

Polstead,    178-180 

Rereby,  2ion. 

Foisted,    18 

Reresby,  308 

Pond,  228 

Rerisby,   197 

Ponder,   248 

Reve,   379,    338,   388 

Ponynges,  357 

Reve  v.  Mel  ford 

Poole,  395 

Revett,   224,   227-229 

Pope,  313,  416 
Porter,  28,  135,  185,  347 
Portsmouth,   E.   of,   19 

Reviers,   47 
Reyce,   186,   189 
Reymes  v.   Rheims 

Portugal,  King  of,  165 

Reymond,   158 

Potter,  310 
Powell,  387-389.  39' 

Reynolds,  85,  299,  300 
Reyton,  229 

Power,   130,   184,  324 

Rheims,   38,   44,    252 

Powes,  395 

Ribourg,  Comte  de,  47 

Powney,   159 
Poynings,  47,  49,  51,  56, 

,,64.   »5'.  333 
Poyntz,  376 

Rich,    26,   67,    163,    164, 
'97.  3o8,  351 
Richard  I.,  45,  63,   165 
Richard  II.,  78,  171,330, 

Preshale,  353 

263 

Preston,  xvi.,  220 

Richard    III.,    119,    120, 

Pretty,  xvi. 

a'5.  340.  393 

Richardson,  19,  362 

Richer*,  29 

Richmond,  E.  of,  80,  81, 

393 

Riddlesworth,  279 
Ridlesworth,  270 
Rie,  378 
Rikell,  340 
Ripariis,  396 
Risbie,  38,  39 
Risby   or    Risbye,     346, 

378 

Riston,   53 
Rither,    139 
Ritson,   xii. 
River,  de  la,  17 
Rivers,      Earl,      136-138, 

35'.  4'7 

Riveshall,  303-306 
Rivet  or  Rivett,  54,  181, 

182,   218-220,   263 
Rivett-Carnac,    xvi. 

R«.  377 

Robert  v.   Rolbert 

Robinson,  66-68,  75, 75*1., 
82,  143,  144,  156 

Roby,  xvi. 

Roches,  46 

Rochester,    387,    410 

Rochester,  Bp.  of,  294 

Rochford,   214 

Rockhill  v.   Rookshill 

Rocourt,   38 

Rodbert,  213 

Rodd,  337 

Rodenhatn,  58 

Rodwell,  243 

Rokele,  257 

Rokyngham,  31 1 

Rolt,  399 

Rookehill,   33 

Rookwood  (under  various 
forms),  10-12,  61,  104, 
114,  122,  130,  145, 

174,     187-189,     197,     321, 

225-226,  239,  257,  286, 
291-293,  295,  301,  325, 

342 

Roos,  7,  8,  201,  395 

Rorie,   300 

Ross,  341 

Rosse,  167,  220,  246 

Rotherham,    17 

Rouen,  Abp.  of,  205 

Round,  v.,  xivn.,  23i». 

Rous,  27,  1 88 

Rowe,  367 

Rowley,  27,  113,169,182, 

220,  221,  235,  337 
Rowning,  106 
Roydon,    50,     114,     140, 

'47.  243 
Royton,   175 
Ruffel,  343 
Ruggles,  63,  69 
Rungton,  384 
Rushbrook,      211,      265, 

299,  411 
Rushe,  203 
Russell,  xvi.,  95 
Rusts,  377 
Ruthin,  263 
Ruthyn,  200 
Rychers  or  Ryches,  325, 

379 

Rycroft,    129,    347 
Rydlyngfeld,  38811. 
Rye,  296,  379 
Rykenham,   146 
Rykyngale,  v.  Rykyghale 
Rykyghale,   334,  337,386 
Rylands,  xvi. 
Ryngefeld,  247 


Ryngesale,  5,  13 

Ryngham,  247 

Rys,  267 

Rysby,  125 

Rysing,  247 

Sach,  190 

Sacrist,  282 

Sage,  307 

St.   Albans,   14 

St.     Albans,    Vise,     of, 

283.   36o.   4' 7 
St.  Aubyn,    14,  78 
St.    Claire,    275 
St.  Clare,   158,   160,  373, 

39' 

St.  Clere,  81 
St.  Dionys,  Prior  of,  301 
St.    Edmund,    252,     272, 

338 

St.  Edmund,  Abbot  of, 
i,  22,  34*1.,  39-33,  35, 
37,  44,  48,  7'.  74.  74"-. 
76,  84,  86,  90,  98,  loi, 
109-113,  131,  132,  139, 
144,  150,  156,  158,  170, 
175,  183,  191,  197,  307, 
213,  *37.  256,  258,  262, 
264,  271,  272,  275,  280, 
282,  287,  290,  296,  300, 
3°2,  3°3.  3°6,  3°9.  3". 
3'5.  320>  3",  325>  3*8, 
33».  338.  343.  340,  349. 
357.  358.  360,  36*,  3f4. 
365,  380,  383-385,  388. 

39°.  397.  4°3.  4'3.4'S. 
416 
St.   Edmund,    Prior    of, 

St.      Edmunds,      Master 

Stephan,  266 
St.  Elizabeth,  362 
St.  Etheldreda,   i,  31 
St.  Gennains,  158 
St.   Hilary,   232 
St.  John,  68,  88,  97,  344 
St.   Maur,   42 
St.  Michael,  47 
St.    Omer,    306 
St.   Osyth,  37,   187,   225 
St.  Osyth,  Abbot  of,  43 
St.  Philibert,  412 
St.  Pol,  333 
St.  Quintins,   14 
St.  Sepulchre,  Prior,  272 
St.  Valery,  28 
Saisselin,  358,  380 
Sakevill,    47 
Salisbery,    282 
Salisbury,     3,    81,     120, 

173.    "81,   39* 
Sallhouse   or    Salthouse, 

34* 

Salomon,  132 
Salop,  E.  of,  387 
Salt  IT,    lit) 
Salters,  377 
Salthouse  v.  Sallhouse 
Saltonstall,  18 
Samborne,    21911. 
Samford,   77 
Samms,  379 
Sampson,    71,    239,    346, 

403,  404,  413 
Sampson,     Abbot,      109, 

i 34,  i 56,  262 
Sams,   34 

Samson,  Abbot,  303,  350 
Sanders,  323 
Sandes,   395 
Sarcere,    xiv. 
Sarney,  181 
Sarvice,   144 
Saumarcz,  130,  348 


INDEX  NOMINUM. 


xix. 


Saunders,  36,  203 

Smyth,  29,  61,  62,  66,  68, 

Saundford,   118 

186,  259,  289,  375,  384, 

Savage,  136-138,  142,351 

406 

Savale,   228 

Snelling,   195 

Savoy,   4,   7,   232 

Sneteysell,    413 

Sawbridge,  280,  281,  379 

Snow,  288 

Saxham,      301-303,      334, 

Soame,  55,  56,  62,  66 

337,  380,  386 

Soham,  304 

Say,  146,  323 

Sokes,  29 

Saye  and  Sele,  Vise.,  336 

Somenour,  250 

Sayer,   19 

Somerset,  82,    120,    201, 

Sayes,  268 

242.  353 

Scales,   81 

Somersham,  90,  96 

Scarke,   373 

Sorrel,  200 

Schardelolke,    266 

Sotehill,   64 

Schelton,  37». 

Southampton,  E.  of,  195 

Scoies,    397 

Southwell,   72,  346,  351, 

Scorby,    250 

4°5 

Scotland,    Sovereign    of, 

Sowter,   351 

59,  76,   120,  225 

Spain,  Infanta  of,  393 

Scott,  36,   123,   159 

Spain,  King  of,   169 

Scratton,  88 

Spain,   Prince  of,   393 

Scrope,   32,   81,  87,   165, 

Sparhawk,   380 

167-169,  201,  220,   231, 

Spark,  84 

307.   339.   392 

Sparke,    107,     309,     311, 

Scudamore,  40 

352>   389 

Scula,  271 

Sparrow,  88,   97,   244 

Seath,  68 

Spelman,    91,    339,    354, 

Sedley,   18 

367 

Seebohm,     viii.,     xiiin., 

Spencer,   160,   161,  233 

xivn. 

Spennythorn,  154 

Selden,  367 

Spice,   180 

Seneschal,    46 

Sporne,  225 

Sergean,    78 

Spottiswoode,    xvi. 

Seward,  the  Thane,  5,  16 

Spours,  394 

Sexton,     1  8,    103,    248 

Spring  or  Spryng,  41,43, 

Seymor,  252,  289,  395 

75,  82,  84,  85,  133,  135, 

Shaa  v.   Shaw 

160,     i6o».,    163,    182, 

Shakespeare,   361,    362 

184,  187,  189,  198,  246, 

Shales,    272 

264,  287,  307,  308,  312, 

Shardelowe,  64,  92,  228 

318,   326,   360 

Shardilow,  338 

Spurgeon,  115 

Sharpe,  112,  204 

Spycer,    28 

Shaw,   Shawe,  33,  61 

Squire,  126 

Shawberry,  308 

Stafford,    218,    233,    279, 

Sheldon,   103,   308 

321 

Shelton,   38-41,    43,    159, 

Stakker,  199 

174,    i74».,     268,     276- 

Stamforth,  355 

278,  280,  381,  401 

Standish,    1  1 

Shephard,   413 

Stane,  365 

Shepherd,    103 

Stanford,  xvi. 

Shirewood,    17 

Stanhope,   136,  234,  293, 

Shirley,  273,  274,  406 

299 

Shopage,  19 

Stanley,    195,    197 

Shorbolt,  300 

Stannard,   271 

Shorland,    159 

Stanton,   275,    301,    311, 

Shrewsbury,   E.  of,   120, 

341,  360,  363 

214,  217,  387 
Shutlyngdon,    1  80 

Stapleton,  307 
Starkie,   156 

Shyrle,    273 

Staunton,    301,    352 

Shyrleye  v.    Shirley 

Stave,  365 

Sibyle,   245 

Stechert,  xvi. 

Siday,   71 

Stedman,   105 

Sidney,   195 

Stephen,   King,  44 

Sidolfismere,    193 

Stevenson,   xvi. 

Sidulvemere,  149 

Stigand,   Abp.,   37,    183 

Siffrewast  v.   Syffrewast 

Stiles,    138 

Silvester,  50,  52 

Still,   113 

Simkin,    82 

Stoke,   10,  77,   119 

Sinclair,   xvi. 

Stokes,  352 

Singh,    xvi. 

Stonard,   374 

Singleton,  71 

Stone,  55,  283 

Siward,    105 

Stoner,  201,  202 

Skinner  or  Skynner,   n 

Stonham,  221 

.  18,   82,    122,    123,    184, 

Stourton,   395 

234.  235 

Stow,  118 

Skrene,  69 

Stovre,  365 

Smerte,  10 

Strabolgi,   152,   153,   156 

Smith,    41,   43,     66,     75, 

Stradbroke,  E.  of,  27 

104,  106,  107,  143,  181, 

Strange,   365,    371 

187,  209,  210,  258,  276, 

Strangman,  317 

3«3,  3'9.  37°.  39'.  407. 

Stratton,  96 
Straunge,  30,   386 

Straw,  194 

Strickland,  224 

Strongbow,  45 

Strutt,  82,  1 06 

Stuart,   258 

Studd,    126 

Sturgeon,  90,  96,   126 

Sturt,   12 

Stutevile,  94,  95 

Stutfield,   95 

Styles,   15 

Styward,   153 

Suane,  165,  178,  213,  226, 

250 

Suckling,   xvi.,    7 
Sudington,  132 
Suffolk,    E.    of,    22,    72, 

168,  307,  387,  393-395, 

418 
Surrey,  15,  95,  194,  215- 

218,  233,  335 
Surtees,   319 
Sussex,  E.   of,   121,   194, 

195.  342 
Sutton,    xvi.,     I4«.,    23, 

i58.  '59,   1 80,  216,  257 
Swanburne,  96 
Swayne,  216 
Swift,  158,   187 
Swillington,   386 
Swillyngton,  241 
Swynborne,   n 
Swynbourne,   n,  61,  225 
\Swynburn,  251 
Swynford,   399 
Syer,  245,  247,  249,  352 
Syffrewast,  286 
Sykes,  285 
Symond,  159 
Symonds,   123,  326,  366 
Symons,  175,  353 
Symplyngford,   96 
Tabor,  413 
Taillour,   119 
Talbot,  83,  120,  1 68,  169, 

36S 

Talboys,  17 
Talemach,  Talmache,  5, 

'3.  238 

Talemathie  v.  Talemach 
Talmages   v.    Talemach 
Tamworth,  282 
Tancred,  31,  183 
Tanfani,    76 
Tanner,  138,  139 
Tanner,    Bp.,    354 
Tasborough,  326,  353 
Tasburgh,  125 
Tate,  395 
Tateshale,  373 
Taye,   197 
Tayllour,   21 1 
Taylor,   xiv«.,    195,    299, 

300 

Tebbe,  106 
Telgers,  45 
Tendring,  104,  144,  145, 

213,  214,  228,  259,  312, 

3°S 

Tenrue,  259 

Tey  or  Teye,  93,  114,  211 
Teypo,  238 
Teys,  309 
Tezelinus,  46 
Thelingham,    302 
Thelnetham,     336,      372, 

373.  378,  379 
Theltham,    273 
Thetford,  Vise.,  293 
Thomas,  34«.,  62,  75 
Thomond,   E.   of,  68 
Thornham,   373 


Thornhill,  309,  323,  324, 

34' 

Thorowgood,  229 
Thorp,   Thorpe,    17,   40, 

40».,  43,  HI,  159,  164, 

380 

Thurkelley,  14 
Thurlow,  Lord,  258,  259 
Thurston,  377,  402 
Thurton,  278 
Thwaytes,  189 
Tiff  en,  176 
Tillemans,  356 
Tilney,   216,   217,  395 
Tindleys,  377 
Tiptoft,  Lord  Powis,  200 
Tirel,  45 
Tirwhit,   299 
Todenam,    78 
Tollemache,  5,  299 
Tompson,   391 
Tonbridge,  Lord  of,  45 
Tonebruge,  231 
Tonevolle,  28 
Topcliffe,    292 
Toppyng,   107 
Torald,   325 
Torkington,  258 
Tornour,  96 
Torny,    180 
Tosti,    44 
Tottington,  303 
Totyngton,  290 
Toudron,  63 
Touneshend,   114 
Touraine,  D.  of,  50 
Townsend,  226 
Townshend,  301,  331 
Toxle,   313 
Tracy,  142,  154,  155 
Treesham,  211 
Tregoze,  Baron  of,  23 
Trenampton  v.  Tryanton 
Trelawny,  75,  287 
Trenchard,  351,  417 
Tristrem,  193,  197 
Trithermus,  315 
Tropnall,  359 
Trusbutt,   Trusbutts,   64, 

64«. 

Trussell,    82 
Tryanton,  65,  66 
Tuddenham,    145,   332»., 

339-341,  398 
Tudenham,  93,   340 
Tudor,    281,    394 
Tudor,    D.    of   Bedford, 

194 

Tuke,   394 
Tullikens,    331 
Turburvyle,    353 
Turk,   1 80 
Turner,     176,    186,    344, 

355,  395 

Turner,   300 

Turold,  304 

Twyne,   106,   107 

Tyffyn,  89,  236 

Tyler,  60,  61 

Tymm,    187 

Tymms,  142,  I42«.,  155, 
226,  354,  355,  404,  408 

Tyndall,    24,    209,    273 

Typpes,  66 

Tyrell,  Tyrrel,  Tyrrell, 
10,  30,  35,  77,  '45, 
181,  225,  339«-  359, 
375-377,  379,  401,  402 

Tyreward,   334 

Tyrwhitt,    189 

Tyrwytt,  226 

Tyssen,    63 

Ubbeston,    273,    297 


INDEX   NOMINUM. 


U fiord,  22,  77,   in,  334, 

H 

llfketel,  315,  357 
I  Inc.    31 
I'luric,  44,  i')i.  196,  237, 

flwar,   183 
Ulward,  37 
I'lwin,    117,   237 
Underwood,   125 
Unwin,   xvi. 
I'treight,  395 
Uvedale,  38,   39 
Valence,  149-152 
Valence,  Valencia,  E.  of 

Pembroke,   151,  337 
Valoignes,   100,   262,  266, 

»75.  332 

Valoines,   296,   297,    300, 
302,  303,  312,  320,  333, 

334.  349,  358.  380,  385. 

386,  419 
Valoinis,  333 
Valonies,   1 1 1 ,  298 
Valoynges,  267 
Vapneck,  169 
Varennes,  271 
Vavasour,  32 
Vauncey,   54,     101,     102, 

203 

Vaugham,    28,    186 
Verdon,  87,   210,  211 
Verdun,   206 
Vere,    117-121,    151,   237, 

338,  333,  378,  387 
Vere,   E.   of  Oxford,  76- 
82,  183,  184,   197,  215, 

218,  220,  245,  246,  351 
Vergil,  81,  172,  173,  362 
Verley,  290 

Verli,   397 

Vernon,    E.    of     Devon,. 

"67,  39" 

Vernoune,  234*1. 

Verus,  318*1. 

Victoria,   Q.,   i86«. 

Vieuxpont,  205 

Vilet,  341 

Villiers,  67,  68 

Villiers,  D.   of  Bucking- 
ham, 293 

Villiers,  Lord  Grandison, 

67 

Vis-de-Lau,  225 
Vivonia,   352,   353 
Vyne,  55 

Vynun  v.  Vivonia 
Wachesham,     206,     207, 

210 

Waddington,  324,  341 
Wade,   246,   384 
Wadewell    or   de   Word- 

well,  415 

Waher  v.    Guader 
Wakering,    229 
Wakerley,   xvi. 
Waldegrave,  3,  7,  8,  n- 

«3.  «9,  29, 49-55.  57.  «9. 

102,  116,  141,  142,  147. 

162,  180,  186,  187,  198, 

219,  221,  224,  225,  227, 
234.  235,  239-  24»,  »5'. 
25'"-.    '73,    3*3.    34°. 
34'.  368 

Walden,   Baron   Howard 

de,  418 
Waldeyn,    3 
Waldingfield,   193 
Waleran,   44 
Waleys,   241 


Walford,  34 

Walgrave,      10,     51,    51, 

"5.  4'3 
Walker,   300 
Wall,   88 
Waller,    202,   326 
Walleran,   E.   of  Warw., 

59 

Walon,  394 

Walpole,    xvi.,     38,     73, 

120,  283,  294 
Walraven,   132 
\VaNh,  291 
Walsham,  189,  257,  386, 

Walsingham,  89,  95,  96, 

265,  298,  375 
Walter,   32,   47,   48,    158, 

346 
Walthe,   E.   of   Northd., 

196 
Walton,    34,     102,      159, 

180,   181,    197,  273 
Walworth,   61 
Warbeck,   194 
Warbleton,  349 
Ward,   379 
Warde,   96 
Ware,   298,   299 
Warenne,  Earl,  150 
Warham,  395 
Warin,  99,  100 
Waring,    113,   249 
Warkworth,   78,  79,  8o». 
Warner,  xvi.,  9,  19,  248, 

344 

Warnes,  402 
Warren,  45,  48,  167,  215, 

231,  249,   290,   296 
Warwick,    E.   of,   8,   45, 

79,  87,    152,    164,    171, 

173.  *°'.  3" 
Wascoil,  249 
Washington,    319 
Wassingle,  60 
Waterman,  223,   289 
Waterpepe,  307 
Wathefare,   297*1. 
Watleville,    333 
Watres,   183 
Watts,  27,  126,  138 
Wauncey,   297 
Wauton,   48 
Webb,  27 
Webbe,    41,     133,     159, 

159*1.,  J8o,  288,  289 
Webster,  xvi. 
Weekly,  378 
Weeks,  293 
Weever,  22,  23*1.,  50,  52, 

118,  213,  214 
Wegge,  66 
Welby,   307 
Welbys,   264 
Welle,   388*1. 
Weller,    34-35 
Wellford,  345 
Wellington,  23 
Wells,   195,  408 
Wellyng,  247 
Welly  s,  159 
Welthen,  344 
Wengrave,   245 
Wentworth,     53,     66-68, 

114,  197,  201,  251,  252, 

3°7.  3".  35°,  366,  381, 

387,  395-  4' 3 
Werk worth,   298 
Wermyngton,   245 


West,  10,  71.  88,  89,351, 
«98.  J99.  375-  394 

.     itx,.     ({I 
l.md.  96 
\\Yyliiiiil,  74 
Wh'aley,  35 
Wharlon,  407 
\\havnian,  xvi. 
Wheier,    180 
\Vhclnitham,    14,    187 
Whethill  v.  \Vhelley 
Whetley,  33 
White,  72,  91,  97,   117 
Whitene,  254 
Whitler,   344 
\Vhitmore,  87 
\Vhitter,   266 
Whyte,  134 
\Vhytcbred,    107 
\\~ichingham,  272 
Widgar,    131,   132 
Widville.     E.    Rivers,   8, 

3" 
Wightman,  xvi. 

Wild,   xvi. 
Wilkinson,  xii. 
Willett,  55 
William  I.,  i,  16,  46,  52, 

63.  7°.  74.  86.  99.  i°5. 
117,  118,  154,  175,  178, 
196,  199,  205,  226,  231, 
337.  256.  296.  333.  388. 
397,  399 

William    II.,    23 

William  III.,  12,  330, 
418 

William,  the  Bp.,  380 

William,  the  Chamber- 
lain, 109,  231 

William,  son  of  Leo,  415 

Williams,  61,  220 

Willoughby,  78,  124,  142, 

368.  396 
Willys,   1 86 
Wilmer,   366 
Wilmott,  329 
Wilson,    xvi.,    254,    270, 

3'9>  344.  345.  357.  37°. 

389 

Wilts,  E.  of,  7,  8,  215 
Wimarc,  109,  237,  252 
Winchester,  Bp.  of,  46, 

47 
Winchester,   Prebendary, 

95 

Wincoll,  4in..  245-247 
Windevill,  346 
Windsor,    in,   220,   227 
Windsor,  Lord,  54,  219 
Winewershe,   227 
Wingfield,   60,    74,     174, 

184,    202,    221,    246,    310, 

339.  387.  394.  395 
Winnington,   331 
Winterfloyde  v.  Wynter- 

flod 

Winthorp,  112,   113 
Wirmegeye,   Lord  of,  49 
Wiseman,  212,  229,  300, 

375 
Wisgar,   31,    37.    58,    74, 

86,   90,    109,    116,   183, 

237,  252 
Witherell,  377 
Withermarsh,  221 
Withersby,   147 
Withgar  or  Witgar.  Earl, 

«.  44.  45.  74.  86,   131, 

139.  a37 
Witwell,  399 


Wode,  103 

:  >yle,    150 

Wodrh'.n^r,  71,  j,>S 
Woden,  184 
Woder,   112 

!<>ve.   241 

:i.  51 

ard,    202 
Wolfe,    289 

Wolferston   al.    Wolf  res- 
ton,  180,  257,  353 
Wolsey,  61,  82,  194,  202, 

394,  395 
Wi'Kton,   172 
Wombwell,    370 
Wood,    xvi.,     260,     288, 

288*1. 

Woode,  129 
Wooder,  82 
Woodhouse,  40,  323 
Woods,  376 
Woodstock, 'D.  of  Glos., 

171,  321,  40in. 
Woodward,  352 
Woolard,  183 
Woolby,    xvi. 
Woolmer,  237 
Worcester,  E.  of,  78,  79, 

339*. 
Worcester,  48,    184,   200, 

395-   4'7 
Wordwell,  415 
Wordwells,  286 
Wortley,   406 
Wotton,  Lord,  317 
Wray,   124,   164 
Wridewell,  415 
Wridewells,  266 
Wright,  75,  105,  114,  116, 

1 88,  189,  246,  387 
Wrighte,  136 
Wriothesley,  195 
Wyard,  400 
Wyatt,  218 
Wychingham,   292 
Wydekesho,    189*. 
Wyfold,  216 
Wyght,  257 
Wyke,  357 

Wykes,   uq,   266,   267 
Wylden,  68 
Wyllughby,    172 
Wynche,  211 
Wyncol,  43 
Wyncoll,   xvi. 
Wyncold  v.  Wincoll 
Wyndham,  73,  95,  208 
Wyngefeld   v.  Wingfield 
Wynneferthyng,   338 
Wynterflood,  21,  222,228 
Wynterfludd,  174 
Wyntreshull,  48 
Wyntresmill,  48 
Wythe,    306,   307*. 
Wythersby,  114". 
Wytouse,   72 
Yaxle,   104 
Yaxley,   357,  401 
Yelloby,  66 
Yelloly,  62,  63 
York,      Abbot      of      St. 

Mary's,   38 

York,  Abp.  of,  17,  48,  87 
York,  D.  of,  50,  64,  67, 

69,  168,  173,   187,  194, 

221,  234,  321    322,376 
York,  House  of,  120,  233 
Youngmian,     391 
Zouch,    14,    21,    200 
Zusche,   16 


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