THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 

 
 HISTORY 
 
 AND 
 
 ANTIQUITIES 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 COUNTY of NORFOLK, 
 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THE HUNDREDS OF 
 
 Clavering, Depwade, Difs, and Earfham. 
 
 Pro me : Jl merear, in me. 
 
 NORWICH: 
 PRINTED BY J. GROUSE, FOR M. BOOTH, BOOKSELLER. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXXI.
 
 * XX 
 
 T II E 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 NORFOLK. 
 
 HUNDRED of CL/WERING. 
 
 Doomfday-book called Clavelinga, from 
 j X. Clay (as Clay by the lea coaft, andCockley 
 Clay in Clackclofe hundred) and Linga, 
 lying or being feated by the water and low 
 meadows, It was in the crown, and united to the 
 hundred of Loddon, and farmed together, by fir John, 
 de C layering, in the reign of Edward I. This fa 
 mily might take their name from the town of Claver- 
 ing, (ituated near the rife of the river Stort, in the 
 hundred of Clavering in Eflex, of which town fir 
 John de Clavering, a nobleman, being lord in the 
 A reign
 
 2 HUNDREDOF 
 
 reign of Edward I. was by that Icing's appointment 
 called de Claveting; it is alfo a furname in the 
 north of England. Sir Thomas Oavering, bart. of 
 Axw ell Park in the county of Durham, is now re- 
 prefentative in parliament for that county. 
 
 This hundred is bounded on the north by the river 
 Yare, which divides it from Walfliam, on the fouth 
 and eaft by the river Waveney, and on the weft by 
 the hundred of Loddon : the greateft extent in length 
 is from the bridge atBungay, to the confluence of the 
 Yare and Waveney at Braydon near Yarmouth, about 
 eleven miles ; and the greateft extent in width is from 
 Heckingham to Burgh St. Peter, about fix miles. 
 It is a very rich and pleafant part of Norfolk, and 
 contains the following towns, to which we add the 
 number of votes polled by freeholders refident in 
 each at the contefted election in 1768. 
 
 W. deG. A. C. 
 
 Aldby - 7711 
 
 Bergh Apton ^ 4 3 4 
 
 Brooke i i 9 9 
 
 Burgh St. Peter "*- 3 3 i i 
 
 Ellingham - " 4 5 3 2 
 
 Geldeftone i i i i 
 Gillingham St. Mary ) 
 
 ^ Gillingham All Saints ] 5 * 3 
 Haddifcoe and 
 Hadddifcoe Thorpe 
 Hales 
 
 Heckingham - Q i i o 
 
 Howe 7 ', ; o o 2 2 
 
 Kirby-Cane - 3 3 o 
 
 Norton Subcorfe 5621 
 
 Raveningham - i i i i 
 
 Stockton - i i o o 
 
 Thurlton
 
 CLAVE 
 
 R I N 
 
 G. 
 
 
 
 Thurlton 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 i 
 
 it. 
 
 Tult Monks 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 *& 
 
 \Vhetatre All Saints 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Total 55 57 34 35 
 
 and principal Houfes in this Hundred. 
 
 Brooke, John Fowle, efq. 
 
 Ditto, Roger Kerrifon, efq. 
 
 Burgh St. Peter, Rev. Samuel Bovcat. 
 
 Gillingham, Francis Schutz, efq. 
 
 Raveningham, Sir Edmund Bacon, bart. 
 
 The parifhes of Bergh Apton, Brooke and Howe, 
 are fcpaiated from the other part of this hundred by 
 the hundred of Loddon. C layering pays to the ge- 
 neral rate of the county of Norfolk 19!. 45. 6d. to a 
 Cx hundred pound levy. 
 
 ALDBY. ALDEBY, ALDBIE, or ALDEBURGH, wrote 
 in Doomfday-book Aldeburg. Ralph de Beaufoe 
 had a grant of this lordfhip from the Conqueror, and 
 poflefied it at the furvey ; a free-man of archbifhop 
 Stigand was lord in king Edward's reign ; it was va- 
 lued at 405. and there was a church with twelve acres, 
 valued at ss. there were alfo lands, 8cc. valued at 335. 
 but at the furvey at 61. los. The whole was one 
 leuca long, and half a leuca broad, and paid 
 as. id. ob. gelt, whoever pplfefled it. 
 
 Ralph de Beaufoe was a near relation, or fon to 
 William de Beaufoe, bifhop of Thetford, chancellor 
 to the Conqueror, and left at his death an only 
 daughter, Agnes, who brought it by marriage to 
 
 Hubert
 
 4 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Hubert de Rye, caftellan of Norwich cattle, fon of 
 Hubert de Rye, a trufty fervant to William tile- 
 Conqueror, when duke of Normandy : this Agnes, 
 at the requefl of Herbert, bifhop of Norwich, granted 
 great part of this lordfhip to the priory of Norwich, 
 founded by that bifhop, with the patronage of the 
 church, which the faid bifliop appropriated to the 
 laid priory, and a (mall priory was erected here, as a 
 cell to that priory, dedicated to St. Mary, confiding 
 of a prior and three black monks. 
 
 Henry I. by his prxcipe commands, " that the 
 chuich, all the land and men, Sec. which Agnes de 
 Iklfo gave to the monks of the Holy Trinity of Nor- 
 wich, in Aldcbi, be held bv them in perpetual alms, 
 and that no injury, :c. be offered them." The faid 
 king confirmed the grant of Hubert dc Rve, of tithes 
 in Swanton, Hockering, Deopham, 8cc. " with the 
 church and manor of Aldby, which Agnes de BeHo, 
 his wife, had granted to the faid priory, with Ri- 
 chard, her fon, and Anthony, her chaplain, whom 
 they had taken into their fociety, the tithe of the 
 whole village and hall, loo acres of arable land, loo 
 flieep, a marfh with pafture for 100 fhcep. alfo 
 common of pafture, a carucate of land, with fix foe- 
 men, fix lancheches,''' and 405. rent in Thurkcteliart," 
 on the petition of Henry de Rye, fon and heir of 
 Hubert and Agnes. 
 
 Henry de Rye granted two parts of the tithe of all 
 the lands which his father, or he himfelf ever held in 
 demean, to the priory of Norwich, as his father and 
 mother had granted when they laid the fecond flone. 
 on the foundation of the priory church in Aldby. 
 
 In 
 
 * Landcheap, or Lancheches, an ancient cuftomary fine paid 
 n the fale, &c, of land.
 
 CLAVERING. 5 
 
 In the 14th of Edward I. William Rofceline gave 
 t the. k;ng l ol. for a licence to purchafe of William. 
 prior of Norwich, and the convent, the lordfhip of 
 this town, called in the record Audeby, excepting 
 thirty mcfluages, five hundred acres of land, forty 
 of meadow, three hundred of marfh, forty of wood, 
 a mill, ten marks rei-u per ann. and the advowfon of 
 the cluirch, all which the prior referred to the con- 
 vent, and was called the prior's manor, diftinc~t from 
 the other. This fhews that manors have been erected 
 within time of prefcription, though fome lawyers fay 
 othcrwife ; and what is another proof, in a pleading 
 A. 6. Edward II. the jury for the hundred of Mid- 
 dleton, in Kent, prcfent, " that in the time of Ri- 
 chard I. Stephen de Northwode purchafed force af- 
 iarted land, which land was at the time of ihe pre- 
 fcmment called the manor of Northwode Cafteneys. 1 ' 
 In the 14th alfo of the faid king, the prior claimed 
 the aflife, view of frank pledge, Sec. of his tenants ; 
 and in the 35th year, had a grant of free-warren. 
 
 Laurence, prior of Norwich, vicar general to 
 Thomas, bifhop of Norwich, appoints John de 
 Bedingfield, prior of this cell, to take the confeffions., 
 to abfolve and to enjoin the penances of the priorefs, 
 and nuns of Bungay ; dated at Norwich, May 27, 
 
 The temporalities of the priory were valued in 
 1428, at ;1. 155. 6d. in the 6ih of Edward IV. the 
 lady Ifabcl Morley died patronefs, as heir to the 
 founders, Hubert and Agnes de Rye. 
 
 On the diffblution it came to the crown, and on 
 the foundation of a dean and chapter at Norwich, by 
 Henry VIII. in 1538, was granted to them, and io 
 continues. 
 
 B In
 
 6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 In 1376 fir Thomas Savage, km. was buried by 
 the fouth porch in the church yard of the piiory 
 church: all the monks, except two, were at the diffo- 
 tution (aid to be defirous of being difcharged. 
 
 The family of de Rofceline had an intereft in this 
 town ; William de Rofceline held here and in Whet- 
 acre, a quarter of a fee, A. 20 of Henry III. of 
 John de Marfhal (baron of Rye, in right of Alice his 
 wife, daughter and coheir of Hubert de Rve, the laft 
 heir male of that family ;) he was father of fir Tho- 
 mas de Rofceline, who in the ^d of the faid king, 
 was querentin a fine, and William, fon of Adam de 
 Audeley, dcforciant of a meffuage and forty acres of 
 land here and in Whetacre, granted to fir Thomas, 
 who covenants to grant to William, for life, compe- 
 tent maintenance in eating and drinking, as one of 
 his efquires ; and in the 55th year had a grant of free- 
 barren, and a weekly market and fair in this town. 
 
 In the 1 4th of Edward I. .William Rofceline claimed 
 the affife of his tenants, view of frank-pledge, a gal- 
 lows and free-warren ; having purchafed a iordfhip 
 of the prior of Norwich, in this town, there being 
 certain differences between the prior and fir William, 
 about the rights of common, the prior was allowed 
 by fir William to take marie out of the great com- 
 mon of Aldby, called then Mekylheyth, to marie his 
 lands, by agreement, dated 1310. This we men- 
 tion to prove that this method and way of improving 
 lands in the county of Norfolk, was then (fo many 
 years paft) made ufe of. 
 
 Sir William Rofceline and Joan his wife, in the 
 
 4th of Edward II. fettled it on themfelves for life ; 
 
 remainder to William Marshall, baron of Rye, and 
 
 his heirs, by fine ; and John le Marfha.ll, his Ion, 
 
 B 2' died
 
 CLAVERING. 7 
 
 died lord, whofe (ifler and heir, Hawife, brought k 
 by marriage to fir Robert Morley, who was lord in 
 1330 J in tm ' s family it remained till Alianore, daugh- 
 ter and heir of Robert, lord Morley (the lafl heir 
 male ,of that family) being married to William, 
 younger Ton of William, lord Lovell of Titchrnarfh, 
 was baron of Rye, and loid of this manor in "her 
 right, and died lord in 147 -,. Henry, his fon, dying 
 without ilTue, Alice, his only fifter, wife of fir Wil- 
 liam Parker, inherited it, and was baron of Rye, 
 whofe defcendant, Edward Parker, lord Morley, baron 
 of Rye, was lord in the reign of queen Elizabeth, 
 and conveyed it to his fecond fon, Henry Parker, of 
 Horn caflle in LincolnQiire, efq. After this it came 
 to the Calthorpes, and by an inquifition taken in 
 l37, fir Henry Calthorpe, of Ampton in Suffolk, 
 fecond fon of fir James Calthorpe, of Cockthorpe in 
 Norfolk, knt. died feifed of it ; he was recorder of 
 London, Sec. and James was his fon and heir, who 
 poiTelTcd it in 1660, and James Calthorpe, efq. his 
 fon, in i6gS ; in the laid family it remained in i 742. 
 This manor was called Aldby-hall. 
 
 The church was dedicated to St. Mary, and ap- 
 propriated by bifhop Herbert to the priory of Nor- 
 .wich, being valued at fixteen marks. 
 
 On a grave-flone in the chancel Margaret, wife of 
 Edmund Bendijh, gent, who died Sept. 26, 1681. 
 
 One William Wall, eldefl fon of Franc. Wall, of 
 Aldeby, gent, died June 23, 1685. 
 
 Another John Denny, gent, buried Feb. 11, 1680. 
 
 John Bafpole, gent, buried in the church 1530, 
 and Thomas Bafpole in the iomh ajle, by his pa- 
 rents,
 
 8 H U N D RED O F 
 
 rents, A. 1551. This family had a leafe of the 
 priory manor. 
 
 The family of London lived here, and had a leafe 
 of it. 
 
 In the church was a chapel dedicated to St. Fur- 
 ceus ; offerings were made to this faint, and certain 
 tithes belonged, to it. 
 
 '.o 
 
 At the furvey we meet with a town, of which 
 Ralph de Beaufoe was lord, called Thurketeliart, of 
 which a free-man of Stigand's was deprived. It had 
 a church endowed with 20 acres, valued at 4od. 
 fifteen free-men belonged alfo to the lord, and were 
 under his protection, with fix carucates and fix acres 
 of meadow, valued at 4!. before, and the fame at 
 the furvey. 
 
 This confiderable village, as it appears to have 
 been- at the furvey, is now quite deftroyed, and the 
 lands being near to Aldeburgh are included therein, 
 and were made part of the priory lands there, in the 
 reign of Henry I. as is before obfervcd. 
 
 In 1 756, the Rev. Abraham Dawfon was prefent- 
 cd to this curacy, by the dean and chapter of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 This village is pleafantly fituated on the funny fide 
 ef the navigable river Wavcney, three miles from 
 Beccles, and five from St. Olave's bridge. 
 
 BERGH APTON. Mr. Parkin, coritinuator of 
 Blomeneld's Eflay, places this, and the parifh of 
 Brooke, in Loddon hundred. 
 
 APTON.
 
 CLAVERING. 9 
 
 APTON. Called in Doomfday-book, Appleton. 
 Roger Bigot had then 30 acres of land in demean, 
 and one borclerer. This, with foine land of his in 
 Thurton, Carleton, and Mundham, were then va- 
 lued at 305. and the foe was in the lord of the hun- 
 dred. 
 
 Robert de Vaux held it under Roger, and from 
 the Vaux it came to the lords Roos, Sec. The lord- 
 fliip of Bergh alfo extended into it ; but this town 
 has been deftroyed time immemorial. 
 
 A church formerly belonged to it, dedicated to St. 
 Martin, was a reclory, in the patronage of the Vaux, 
 and came by the heireffes of that family to the Nere- 
 fords, and loid Roos. In the 8th of Henry III. 
 Robert de Nereford was querent, and Roger le Pa- 
 villy impedent, of the advowfon of this church, and 
 five acres of land granted to Robert and his heirs. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. the reclor had a manfe, 
 with ten acres of glebe; it was then valued with 
 Bergh, and the lord of Bergh was patron. After 
 this we find it called a chapel, and has been deftroy- 
 cd about two centuries pad. 
 
 BERGH-APTON. This town does not occur in 
 the book of Doomfday, fo as to give us a fatisfaclory 
 account of the tenure of the principal lordfhip; we 
 only meet with a fmall fee, or lands, which St. Ethel- 
 dreda (that is the church of Ely) held in Thurton 
 and Thorpe in this hundred, as may be there feen, 
 and are faid to belong to Berc, with all their cufto- 
 mary dues, and to be valued there. 
 
 It is certain that the ancient family de Monte Ca- 
 nifio were foon after the Conqueft poffeffed of it. 
 
 AgneS
 
 io HUNDREDOF 
 
 Asries, widow of \\arine, lord Montchcnfv, held 
 k about the soth of Henrv II. being then fixty years 
 of age, of the church of Ely, as laid, and was a 
 widow in the king's difpofal or gift. Sir William 
 and fir Ralph de Momchenfy were her fons, and Hu- 
 bert, who was a clerk, file had alfo two daughters. 
 
 William de Montchenfy, by deed, fans date, grants 
 to Ralph de Bradeker all the land which was Gilbert 
 de Karlemant's, belonging to his manor of Bergh, 
 paying isd. per ann. 
 
 Warine, lord Montchenfy, gave in the 15th of 
 Jking John two thouland marks for livery of his in- 
 heritance ; and had by Joan his wife, daughter and 
 co-heir of William Marfhall, earl of Pembroke, 
 William his fon and heir, who married Dionyfia, 
 daughter and heir of Nicholas Anneflev, whofe fon 
 William, leaving an only daughter and heir, Diony- 
 fia, brought this lordfhip, &c. to Hugh de Vere, 
 and dying without iffue, her inheritance defcended 
 to Joan, her father's fifter, married to William de 
 Valentia, earl of Pembroke, lord of Bergh and Ap- 
 ton. In the yth of Edward II. his fon and heir 
 Aylmer, earl of Pembroke, married Mary, daughter 
 of Guy de Chatillon, earl of St. Paul in France, but 
 dying in the i jth of Edward II. his two fitters were 
 found to be his heirs. 
 
 Ifabel, the eldeft, had a grant of difpenfation from 
 the pope, on account of confanguinity, to marry 
 John de Haftings, lord of Abergavenny; and Joan, 
 the youngeft, married John Comyn, lord of Baden- 
 haugh in Scotland. 
 
 On a divifion of the eftate, this lordfhip came to 
 the Ha flings. 
 
 John
 
 CLAVERING. 11 
 
 John de Haftings, carl of Pembroke, dying with- 
 out iffue, in the i c>th of Richard II. fettled (through 
 the perfuafion of his mother, as is faid) the Haftings 
 tftate on her nephew, fir William Beauchamp, sd 
 fon of Thomas earl of Warwick, by Catherine his 
 wife, daughter of Roger Moriimer, earl of March, 
 lifter to Agnes, mother of John, earl of Pembroke, 
 aforefaid, by Laurence carl of Pembroke. 
 
 Great law-fuits commenced on account of this fet- 
 tlement, between Reginald Grey, lord of Ruthyn, as 
 heir, and fir William Beauchamp, which were corii- 
 promifed in the 15th of Richard II. and fir Willi- 
 am had a grant of this lordfliip, Sec. with the barony 
 of Abergavenny in Wales. 
 
 Joan, widow of fir William, fifter and co-heir of 
 Thomas, earl of Arundel, died feifed of the cafllc 
 and manor of Abergavenny, Pembroke's Inn in Lon- 
 don, and Kidderminfter in Worcefieiitiire, as part of 
 her dower. 
 
 Richard Beauchamp, his fon and heir, was earl 
 of W^orcefter, and by Ifabel his wife, daughter and 
 co-heir of Richard, fon and heir of Thomas, lord 
 de Spencer, had a daughter and fole heir, Elizabeth, 
 who brought the inheritance to her hufband, fir Ed- 
 ward Nevill, lord of Abergavenny in her right, fourth 
 fon of Ralph Nevill, earl of Weftmoreland. At his 
 death, in the i6th of Edward IV. George was his 
 fpn and heir, who died in 1498, at Chatham in, 
 Kent. 
 
 George Nevill, lord Abergavenny, his fon and 
 heir, had by Mary his fecond wife, daughter of 
 Edward duke of Bucks, Henry his fon and heir, 
 who married Frances, daughter of Thomas- earl of 
 
 Rutland,
 
 12 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Rutland; he dying in the 2gth of Elizabeth, left an 
 only daughter and heir, married to fir Thomas 
 Vane ; fo that his brother Edward's fon fuccecded 
 him in honour and eft ate, and was lord Abergavenny. 
 
 Tn this family it ftill remains, the Right Hon. 
 George Neville, lord Abergavenny, being lord and 
 patron, vvhofe daughter is lately married to fir John 
 Berney, bait, of Kirby-Bedon. 
 
 At the time of the law-fuits abovementioned, John 
 Maycote, of Brenchefley in Kent, depofed, that he 
 then lived with fir William Brenchefley, who was of 
 counfel to fir Wm. Bcauchamp, (afterwards a judge) 
 and one day he invited to. dinner at his houfe, at the 
 end of Pater-nofter-row, London, all the faid coun- 
 fel, viz. fir Robert Charkon, William Pynchbeck, 
 William Brenchefley, John Catefley, and other judges 
 of the law ; and at the end of dinner he arofe from 
 table, went into his chapel, and a little while after, 
 came back, laid a noble before each counfel on the 
 table, faying, 
 
 " Sirs, for God's fake inform me fully whether I 
 " have any right or not, and delay me no longer.' 
 
 They fitting in doubt of his anger, Wm. Pynch- 
 beck faid, " Sir William, certainlv there is no 
 man who will affure you thofe lands and lordfhips, 
 unlefs you have a releafe from the heirs of Haft- 
 ings, and that heir being under age, his releafe would 
 not fignify." Upon this the compofuion was made 
 afterwards. 
 
 Sir Andrew de Hingham had an intereft, and held 
 lands of this manor, and for thirty-five marks of 
 filver gave them to Henry de Norwich, clerk, in the 
 
 8th
 
 C L A V E R I N G. J 3 
 
 Sth-of Edward L and in the iyth of Edward U. 
 Henry de Heylefden held in Bergh cum Aplon the 
 fixteenth part of a fee of the barony of Montchenfy. 
 
 In the rVn of Edward III. Bartholomew Bateman 
 and John de Acre conveyed to John de Berney lands 
 here, in Thurton, Seething, and Mendham, part of 
 \vhich Agnes, widow of Henry de Hcylcfden, held 
 for life. 
 
 Richard de la Rokeley, in the ijth of Edward II. 
 held lands here of the earl of Pembroke, and Tho- 
 mas his fon held them, in the aoth of Edward III. 
 of Mary de St. Paul, countefs of Pembroke, Adam 
 Home, in the 24th of Edward I. granted by fine to 
 Richard de la Rokeley, land, &c. hete, in Apton, 
 Holveflon, fcc. 
 
 Apton and Holvefion were at this time hamlets 
 belonging to Bergh; now, as we conceive, depopu- 
 lated. 
 
 Richard Berney, efq. of Langley, fold his intereft 
 herein to Mr. Green, a yeoman, whofe fon Thomas 
 enjoyed it; only two copyholders then belonged to 
 it, and the free rents were about 135. per ann. It 
 was held in . foccage of the lords Abergavenny's 
 manor. 
 
 On an inquifition taken in 1652, it was found that 
 there were 592 acres of land, fubjecl to be drowned. 
 
 Here was alfo a little manor called Wafliingford's, 
 from its owner. Francis Wolfe, gent, of Thurton, 
 bought it of William Weflgate, and it was held of' 
 Bergh Aptori manor, paying as. per ann. about the: 
 reign of queen Elizabeth. 
 
 G The
 
 14 HUNDREDOF 
 
 The temporalities of Norwich priory were 35. 
 
 Mr. Roket, reclor, gave twenty-eight acres of land 
 to pay Lhc Icct fee, 6s. 8d. to the lord yearly, &c. 
 
 The church of Bergh cum Apton is a refiorv, 
 dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, has a nave and 
 fouth aile covered with lead, a fquare tower with fix 
 tuneable bells, and a chancel covered wkh lead. 
 
 In the chancel is a grave-ftone, In memory of Ro- 
 bert Connould, reclor 48 years and 8 months, who rebuilt 
 the chancel, and died October \, 1715, in the y 6th year 
 of his age. 
 
 Sarah, wife of John Berney, efq. was buried in 
 the chapel of St- Anne in the church, and by his 
 will, in the 48th of Edward III. he gives a legacy 
 to the making of a new window in the new chancel 
 of this church. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. William lord Mont- 
 chenfy 'was patron of the church ; the reclor had 
 then a maufe, with fourteen acres of land, and held 
 it with Apton, and a mediety of the church of Hol- 
 vefton ; there was alfo a vicarage creeled out of the 
 profits of the rcclory, belonging to the fee of the 
 priorefs of Carrowe, endowed with thirty acres of 
 land, and valued together at 26 marks. 
 
 Carrowe priory had a portion of tithe valued at 
 265. 8d. given by William lord Montchenfy. 
 
 The prefent value of Bergh with Apton and Hol- 
 veflon mediety, is 13!. 6s. Sd. and pays fitft fruits, 
 &c. 
 
 The
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 15 
 
 The chapel of Apton was Handing in 1339. 
 
 Holvefton appears then (o have been a village, 
 and to have had a church, to which there belonged 
 t vvo medicties ; to one of theie the reclor of Bergh was 
 prefeutcd in 1359, and fo remains annexed at this 
 time. 
 
 There was a good family that took their name from, 
 it ; John de Holveflon, and Thomas his fon, were 
 lords of a manor in Heveringland in the reign of 
 Edward III. 
 
 In 1765, the Rev. Nevill Walter was prefented to 
 the re&ory of Bergh-Apton, with a mediety of Hoi- 
 vefton, by the Right Hon. lord Abergavenny. 
 
 BROOKE, wrote in Doomfday-book Bro. The 
 lordfhip of this town was in the abbey of St. Ed- 
 mund of Bury at the furvcy, and Frodo held it or. 
 the faid convent, with a carucate of land. Toll was 
 lord of it, and fherifT; he gave it to St. Edmund, 
 (that is the abbey) in the time of king Edward the 
 Confeffor, and afterwards held or farmed it by the 
 fervice of finding that convent provilion for two 
 days. It was valued at twenty (hillings, and the foe 
 was in the abbey. 
 
 This account, which is authentic, is partly con- 
 tradicled by a regifter of Bury abbey, which fays 
 that William the Conqueror gave it to St. Edmund, 
 when he firft fupplicated his favour and protection, 
 falling proftrate before him, and placing a fmali 
 knife, wrapped up, on the altar of St. Edmund, in 
 the prefence- of many of his chief ncbilitv ; and 
 alfa the grant, figned vrith his feal, which the regilter 
 C 2 obferves
 
 i6 H U N D R D O F 
 
 obfervcs was at that time preserved in the faid con- 
 
 vent: 
 
 " He grants it, with ail, its appurtenances, fac, foe, 
 11 and all cuftomary dues, as Grith, the powerful 
 " earl, hc!d it in the time of good king Edward, 
 " and as he, now king of England, poflcffcd it." 
 
 Before this grant or confirmation of the Conquc- 
 ior, Grith, or Gucrt, was faid to have held it, who 
 was fifth Ion of earl Godwin, and brother of king 
 Harold, flain with him at the battle of Mailings. 
 
 In the Regifter of the Sacrifl, this manor we find 
 was appropriated to the ufe of the chamberlain of 
 this abbey, as the reclory was appropriated alfo. 
 
 The abbot, in the igth of king John, had a dif- 
 charge of fcutage for fifty-two knights fees in Nor- 
 folk and Suffolk, on the Scotch war; and in the 
 52d of Henry III. he pleaded an exemption, and 
 would not funer the king's bailiff* to enter this lord- 
 
 In the loth of Edward I. he had a grant of a 
 weekly market and a fair. 
 
 In the Iter of the Judges of Norwich, a fine was 
 levied the day after ^St. Michael,- between William 
 de Dunfion, Thomas de Ncrcford, William de Gun- 
 thorpe, 8cc. peterits, and John, abbot of Bury, te- 
 nent, whereby they rclcafe to the abbot all their 
 right in this manor and advowfon. 
 
 In the 14th of Edward I. and in the following 
 year, the abbot claimed view of frank-pledge, affife, 
 
 free-
 
 CLAVERING. 17 
 
 free -warren, arid other privileges belonging to that 
 abbey. 
 
 Their temporalities were valued in 1428 at 35}. 
 145. 5d. ob. 
 
 It continued in this monaflery, held by one fee, 
 till the general diflblmion, when it came to the 
 crown ; and on May 27, in the 3d and 4th of Phi- 
 lip and Mary, was granted to Francis Yaxley, and 
 Richard his brother ; and foon after, in the faid year, 
 Thomas Yaxley alienated it to Jeffrey Warde, gent, 
 who died feifed of it in the ill of Elizabeth; and 
 Thomas his fon and heir had a grant in 1576, from 
 Robert Cook, Clarencieux, of arms. 
 
 In this family ic remained, Robert Warde, gent, 
 was lord in 1672. 
 
 Thomas Seaman, fen. gen-t. was lord in 1723 ; 
 and Thomas Seaman lord in 1 740, and patron. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Peter, and the rec- 
 tory was appropriated to the chamberlain of St. Ed- 
 mund's Bury, a vicarage being fettled, valued at five 
 marks, the redory at 50 marks. 
 
 To the reclory belonged a carucate of land"; the 
 vicar had a manfe and ten acres of land ; but in the 
 reign of Edward I. there was no land. 
 
 John Grey, bifhop of Norwich, appropriated the 
 reclory to the chamberlain, after the deceafe of Hu- 
 bert de Brock, reclor, faving an honourable fupport 
 for the vicar, to be ailigned by the bifhops of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 C 3 At
 
 iS HUNDREDOF 
 
 At the diffoludon, the re&ory, 8cc. carae to the 
 crown, and queen Elizabeth, on July 25, in her 6th 
 year, granted to Thomas Watwood, and Matthew 
 Byfmere, the great tithes, or the reclory. 
 
 In 1603, the vicar returned 130 communicants, 
 and that the king was patron. 
 
 On a mural monument againft the north wall of 
 the chancel, Ad hujus muri pedem jacet Johs. Burghill, 
 jilius Johs. Burghill, e domo Thinghill, Pa. in paroch. 
 de Withington in comit. Hereford. Armig. obit. 1659. 
 
 On a grave-ftone in the chancel, Aitgujl. Wood, 
 gent, who died Nov. 6, 1671, aged 63. 
 
 Jeffrey Ward, gent, was buried here in 1558.- 
 Thomas Ward, gent, in 1584. Robert Wood, efcj. 
 in 1654. Thomas Burghill, gent, in 1659. Robt. 
 Sugden, gent, in 1666. 
 
 This town gives name to a large deanry, compre- 
 hending all the towns in Henftead, Loddon, and 
 Clavering hundreds ; and is in die archdeacomy or 
 Norfolk. 
 
 The deacons were collated by the bifliop of Nor- 
 wich ; the laft was in 1436. 
 
 Brooke is an handfome village, with fome neat 
 houfes, as lummer retreats from Norwich. It lies 
 on the great road leading from Norwich, nearly fe- 
 ven miles, to Bungay, ieven and a half. 
 
 John.Fowle, efq. Roger Kerrifqn, efq. receiver- 
 general of the land-tax in Norfolk, alderman, and 
 
 ierved
 
 C L A V E R I N G. ig 
 
 ferved the office of mayor of the city of Norwich in 
 ] j/S-g, and the Rev. Samuel Cooper, rcfide here. 
 
 ELLINGHAM, wrote in Doomfday-book Elin- 
 cham. Manv towns begin with El ; as Elford, 
 Eilefmere, Eling, EHlon, Elwick, from their fcite 
 near the water, or a wet foil. 
 
 This lordfhip was part of archbifhop Stigand's 
 manor of Stigand, and on the conqueft was ieized 
 on by the king, At the furvey we find William de 
 Koiers to be the kings Reward of both, and this was 
 valued and accounted for in Stockton: at the fame 
 time it is faid that there were five focmen alfo in El- 
 lingham, who had half a carucate and fifteen acres 
 of land, which William de Noiers had the care of 
 for the king, belonging formerly to Sligaud, and a, 
 church endowed with 24 acres. 
 
 King Stephen granted it, with Srockton, to Hugh 
 Bigot, earl of Norfolk ; and it was held of the earls 
 of Norfolk by the Bigots, a younger family, defcend- 
 ed from the earls. By the heirefs of the Bigots it 
 came to William Garneys, fo to the de la Poles, and' 
 the crown, and was held by Simon Smith in the 
 icign of Charles I. of that king, by a fee-farm 
 rent, as in Stockton. 
 
 NEVILL'S MANOR. The abbot of Bury's manors 
 of Loddon and Thwaite extended into this town, 
 arid by a fine levied in the 8th of Richard I. Er- 
 noid de Charneles, acknowledged that .he held of the 
 abbot of Bury one fee here, in Norton, &c. by the 
 payment of twenty (hillings fcutage, and to Norwich 
 taiilc guard, before the king's juflices at Weflminfler, 
 
 C 4 After
 
 20 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 ; After this the abbot was found to have one fee 
 here, in Stockton, 8cc. held by Rager de Thweyt. 
 
 In the reign of Henry VIII. Thomas Rifhop con- 
 veyed to Richard Spooner, lands, 8cc. in Ellingham, 
 Stockton, Kirkby, Sec. 
 
 John Caflell had livery of the manor of Elling- 
 ham-NeviiTs, about the 2oth of Elizabeth, which 
 was purchafed of him by William Copping. Ri- 
 chard Hamond, of Ellingham was lord in 1602, and 
 John Hamond, gent, died pofTeffed of it in 1632. 
 In 1688 it was fold to Miles Bafpole, of Aylfham, 
 by John Hamond, and Miles conveyed it to fir Wil- 
 liam Hicks, of Rockholt in Eifex. 
 
 The temporality of Langley abbey were los. $d. 
 of Broomhoim priory i rs. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is a 
 redory. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. Roger Bigot, earl of 
 Norfolk, as capital lord, was patron. The redor 
 had then a manfe and 40 acres of glebe ; it was va- 
 valued at twenty marks ; the prefent value is i al. 
 
 In 1320, Thomas de Brotherton, earl of Nor- 
 folk, was patron. 
 
 In 1603, the redor returned one hundred and fix 
 
 communicants. 
 
 The Right Hon. the earl of Suffolk is patron, and 
 the prefent value is i al, and pays firfl fruits Sec. 
 
 In
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 21 
 
 In ihc fouth ai!c, on a grave-done, Orate, p. aia 
 Johs.-Ellyngham, gen. qui obt. 21 Maij, 1497. 
 
 Againft the wall here, on a monument, Johs. Ha- 
 uiond\ gen. (.id ah anno 3, ad 31 Regine. Elijah, in hac 
 villa pie, horicfle el fn/galiier vixi, Calend. Feb, inalura 
 fencctute dtctffit, et hie jacet fepulius. This John pur- 
 chafed Nevill's manor of Copping. 
 
 . In a window of die faid aile are the arms of El- 
 lingham. 
 
 In i 740", the Rev. Richard Chafe was prefented 
 to this reciory by ihe bifliop of Norwich, by lapfe. 
 
 GELDESTONE, GELDESTON, or GELDISTON. 
 This town is not mentioned in the book of Doomf- 
 day. being included and accounted for under the 
 great lorddiip of Stockton^ of which archbifhop Sti- 
 gand was deprived; and William de Noieis was the 
 Conqueror's fteward of it at the (urvey. It remained 
 in the crown till king Stephen granted it to Hugh 
 Bigot, on his being created earl of Norfolk ; Roger 
 Bigot, his Ion, being earl, enfeoffed fir Ralph Bigot, 
 his brother of this town, and of Stockton, and wus 
 lord of both in the 24th of Henry III. and dying 
 without iffue, fir John Bigot, of Setinghain in York- 
 fhire, was lord in the i ^th of Edward I. In this 
 family it remained til! Elizabeth, daughter and heir 
 of fir Ralph Bigot, brought it by marriage to Wil- 
 liam Garneys, efq. who died lord in the 8th of Ri- 
 chard V. from that family it came to the de la Poles, 
 earls and dukes of Norfolk; after this, by a grant of 
 the crown, to Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk, 
 
 &6. 
 
 In
 
 oo HUNDREDOF 
 
 In the reign of queen Elizabeth it was again in the 
 crown, and fo continues, as may be ken at large in 
 Stockton. 
 
 The church is a reclory dedicated to St. Michael, 
 in the reign of Edward I. valued at ten marks, and 
 the carl of Norfolk was patron; the rector had a 
 manfe with thirty acres of land. 
 
 In 1603 the fctlor returned fixty-four communi- 
 cants, and the patronage was in the crown. The 
 prefent value is 61. and is difcharged. 
 
 Sir Ralph Bigot was buried in the chancel of St. 
 Michael's church, of Geldeftone, in 1415. 
 
 In (he call window of the chancel Orate pro a fa 
 Radulphi Garnej?, antiigen, quondam dm, de Stockton. 
 
 In 17.54, the Rev. John Fayerman was prcfentcd 
 to this rectory by the king. 
 
 GILLINGHAM, called in the grand furvey Kil- 
 dincham. Two free-men of Guert, king Harold's 
 brother, had 30 acres, with half a carucate and an 
 acre of meadow, and on their deprivation it was in 
 the Conqueror's poffcfiion, and valued with the ma- 
 nor of Gorleflon in Suffolk. Stigand had formerly 
 the foe; and it is here exprelfed, that every church 
 v/as valued with the manor, which (hews that the 
 prefentations were at that time in the lords of the 
 manors. 
 
 Another-part was, in king Edward's reign, poffcffed 
 by twelve iree-mcn. In the fame town, lour free- 
 mtn had 15 acres and half a carucate ; and Stigand 
 had the foe before the couqueft : this was added to, 
 
 and
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 23 
 
 and valued with S ti Band's . manor of Ercham, and 
 was meafurcd with Stockton. William de Noie:$ 
 was the king's fleward of it at the furvey. 
 
 Out of thefe two fees arofe two lordfhips, with 
 two churches ; one was granted by king Stephen to 
 Hugh de Bigot, on his being created earl of Nor- 
 folk, and to this belonged the patronage of the church 
 of All Saints. Roger earl of Norfolk dying without 
 iflue, in the reign of Edward I. gave it to that king, 
 and was after granted to Thomas de Brothcrton eail 
 of Norfolk, and came by marriage to John lord Sea- 
 grave, and to the Mowbrays dukes of Norfolk. This 
 was the capital lordfhip, and had the patronage of 
 the church of All Saints, and was that which Sti- 
 gand, archbifhop of Canterbury, was deprived of. 
 
 From the Mowbrays it defcended to the Howards, 
 dukes of Norfolk, and being forfeited to the crown 
 on the attainder of Thomas duke of Norfolk, in the 
 reign of queen Elizabeth, was granted by James I. 
 to Henry Howard, earl of Northampton, on June 
 j 7, anno i, from whom it came to Thomas Howard 
 carl of Surry. 
 
 Sir Nicholas Bacon, bnrt. of Redgrave, was lord 
 and patron, and gave it to his fixth ion. Nicholas, 
 whofe defcendem lir Edmund Bacon, bart. enjoyed 
 it in 1742, as after appears in the following lordihip. 
 
 The other lordfhip of which Gucrt was deprived, 
 had the patronage of the church of St. Mary, and 
 was in Jeffrey de Pome, or Fount, in the 551!! of 
 Henry 111. but when granted from the crown does 
 not appear. In the faid year Jeffrey granted by fine 
 to Roger de Pome for life, the remainder to Jeffrey 
 
 and
 
 o 4 HUNDRED OF 
 
 and his heirs, land, Sec. with the advowfon of St. 
 Mary's church. 
 
 In 1320, Bartholomew Bateman prefented to the 
 church, as guardian of ChriMiana, daughter and 
 heir of William de Horsford ; and in 1344, fir Bar- 
 tholomew Bateman prefented in his own right as 
 lord; and in the 35th of Edward III. Ralph Ger- 
 berge, fon of fir Edward Gerberge, rckafed to fir 
 Laurence de Bremle and his heirs, all his right in 
 the Eioieties of Martharn and Gillingham, with lands 
 in Winflon, Windele, 8cc. 
 
 Thomas Bateman, efq, (a dcfcendent of Bartholo- 
 mew) of South Elmham. in the paiifli of St. Mary, 
 of Flixton in Suffolk, died in 1485, and left this, 
 amongfl oilier manors, to his eldeft fon Robert. 
 
 In the aSth of Henry VIII. Thomas Bateman 
 palled it by fine, with the advowfon, to John Evc- 
 rard. William Everard, gent, in the ift of queen 
 Elizabeth, was found to die feifed of it, held of the 
 queen's manor of Stockton. 
 
 In the manor-houfe were the arms of Everard, 
 impaling Heveningham, alfo impaling Appleyard ; 
 and Chauncey, of Edgecote in Northampionfliire. 
 
 . Sir Clement Higham, and after him Michael 
 Hare, efq. held it in the 44th of Elizabeth. 
 
 After this it was in the Bacons, and fir Nicholas 
 Bacon, bart. was lord in the gth of James I. of 
 Redgrave in Suffolk, premier baronet of England, 
 and eldeft fon of fir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper of 
 the great feal. This fir Nicholas, the baronet, mar- 
 raqd Ann, daughter and heir of Edmund Butts, efq. 
 
 by
 
 CLAVERING. 25 
 
 by whom he had feveral fons, &c. To Nicholas, 
 his fixth fon, he gave this lordfhip, who married, 
 fnft, Ann, daughter and heir of fir James Wefton, 
 baron of the Exchequer, by whom he had a daugh- 
 ter, Ann, married to John Rons, efq. of Henham in 
 Suffolk: by his fecond wife Mary, daughter of Euf- 
 tace Darcy, cfq. he had Nicholas his ion and heir, 
 created a baronet Feb. 7, 1661. By Mary his wife, 
 daughter and heir of Richard Freeftone, of Mend- 
 ham in Suffolk, efq. he left fir Edmund, his eldeft 
 Ion, who died without iffue in 1684, and was fuc- 
 ceeded by his brother fir Richard, who married Ann, 
 daughter of fir Henry Bacon, bart. Ton of fir Butts 
 Bacon, bart. of Mildenhall in Suffolk, and dying 
 without iffue in 1685, gave his eflate to fir Henry- 
 Bacon, bart. of Herringfleet, his wife's brother. This 
 fir Henry, by a daughter of iir John Caflleton, bart. 
 of Sturflon in Suffolk, was father of fir Edmund Ba- 
 con, bart, 
 
 Sir Edmund Bacon, bart. died Ocl. 2, 1738, and 
 left his only fon, fir Edmund Bacon, bart. who was 
 lord and patron in 1742. 
 
 Sir Edmund Bacon, bart. who died 061. 2, 1738, 
 married the daughter of Martin Rebow, efq, of CoL- 
 cheftcr in Effex and left iffue one fon and a daugh- 
 ter ; fir Edmund, who fucceeded him in honour 
 and eftate, and Sufan, afterwards married to Francis 
 Schutz, efq. the fon of colonel Schutz. Sir Edmund 
 was member of parliament for the borough of Th.et- 
 ford. 
 
 Sir Edmund Bacon, bart. his only fon, at the 
 deceafe of his father, was a minor, and educated at 
 WeUminfter fchool: from Weftminfter he removed 
 to Gonville and Caius college in Cambridge, and 
 
 was
 
 26 HUNDREDOF 
 
 ivas admitted a nobleman of that univerfity. After 
 finifhing his fludies. he was introduced at court to 
 the late king George II. by the late duke of Grafton, 
 then lord chamberlain of his majefty's houfehold, 
 and foon after was appointed one of the gentlemen 
 nftiers daily waiters, with a view of fucceeding fir 
 Henry Bellenden, as gentleman ufher of the Black 
 Rod to the Houfe of Lords; but unfortunately catch- 
 ing the fmall-pox at London the latter end of the 
 year 1749, he died in a very few days, univerfally 
 lamented, having furvived his father only twelve 
 years, and in the 25th year of his age. 
 
 The following infcription to his memory was wrote 
 by major Richard Gardiner, of Mount Amelia. 
 
 EQMUNDUS BACG?T~BARONULUS 
 
 JE.vi Flos ep'Decus fui 
 A. S. M.tJCC.XLIII. 
 
 In Academia 
 
 Claruit 
 
 A. M.DCC.XLIX. 
 Variolis Corruptus Occubuit 
 
 yEt. xxv. 
 
 Flevit Soror Optima Pulcherrima 
 De Die in Diem Amici 
 
 Extinclum Plorant 
 
 Flet Soror Flent Amici 
 
 At Mater! 
 
 See, mortal ! where yon hallow 1 d tapers burn, 
 Another BACON bearing to his urn! 
 Born with all charms, and bleft whh ev'rv art 
 To win, to warm, to captivate the heart: 
 The joys of virtue all the joys he knew, 
 Tho 1 brave and fair, and gay and young as you. 
 
 To
 
 CLAVERING. 27 
 
 To footli affliction, or to foften pain, 
 He never fpoke, nor ever look'd in vain. 
 Love's fweeteft fmiles fat blooming on his brow, 
 Graceful in all he did, as them art now. 
 Love's fvveeteft fmiles, alas ! too weak to fave, 
 See ! doom'd like thee and victims to the grave : 
 Yet (hall he live, grim tyrant! and defy . 
 Thy fling, O Death ! 6 Grave ! thy Victory. 
 Far from the white-plum'd hearfe Aftrea fled. 
 The pemive Graces, weeping, hung the head ; 
 Ev'n Envy figh'd as fhe beheld the bier, 
 And from her eye burft forth th' unwilling tear. 
 O Friend ! for let me call thee by that name, 
 What verfe, O fay! can give thee all thy fame? 
 Or to proud Norfolk's fons his virtues tell, 
 Who died fo lovely, or who liv'd fo well! 
 
 In this town were two churches. All Saints was 
 aredlory, containing two ailes, and a chancel thatch- 
 ed, with a fquare tower and three bells. 
 
 In the chancel was a grave-Rone, In memory of 
 John Frebrygge, retfor, who died 1 5xviii. 
 
 Alfo one, In remembrance of Margery Smith, eldejl 
 dzught'>r of Nicholas Garneys, of Rcdjham Hall in Suf- 
 folk, Efq. 2d wife of Thomas Smith, if Win/Ion Hall in 
 Norfolk, Efq. who died in 1656.. 
 
 In the church-yard, by the fouth wall of the chan- 
 cel, is an altar tomb, and againfl the wall, on a mo- 
 nument, Thomas Smith, of Win/ion, Efq. died June 6, 
 1639, and the arms of Smith and Roberts. 
 
 Robert Towre, buried here in 1530, orders by 
 will a fubftantial window to be built of (tone, with 
 elafs, by his executors. 
 
 In
 
 sS H U N D R E D O F 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. the earl of Norfolk was 
 patron ; the rcclor had 34 acres, but uo manie, and 
 it was valued at nine marks. 
 
 In 1603, the re<Ttor returned 70 communicants, 
 and the feoffees of the late duke of Norfolk \\ete 
 patrons. 
 
 The Rev. fir Charles Caflleton, bart. died reclor 
 in 1745, and Robert Athow Succeeded, hoc nice, by 
 Chriftopher Athovv, gent. 
 
 In 1763, the Rev. Edward Holden was prcfemcd 
 to All Saints, with Winflon and \Vindale, bv daiiie 
 Sufan Bacon, Francis Schutz, efq. and Sufan his 
 wife. 
 
 The prefent value is, together with Winflon and 
 Windale, 5!. 6s. Sd. and is difchargcd. The church 
 was demolished in 1/43. 
 
 The church -of St. Mary is a reSory, valued in 
 Edward l.'s reign -at eight marks : the red or had 40 
 acres of land, but no manfc. 
 
 In 1603, the re<5ior of St. Mary returned 42 com- 
 municants. 
 
 In 1742, fir Edmund Bacon was patron. The 
 prcfcnt value is 5!. 6s. Sd. and is discharged. 
 
 The church is a very antique building, a {ingle 
 pile, without any ailes ; at the weft end is the font. 
 As you proceed is a four-fquare tower, then the body 
 of the church, with the chancel, about the fame 
 breadth -with the church, and ends in a femi-circle. 
 
 In
 
 CLAVERJNG. 
 
 2 9 
 
 In the tower are three bells; ' the weft end is tiled, 
 and the reft covered with thatch. 
 
 As yon enter the chancel is a grave-flone, with a 
 brafs plate, In memory of John Everard, Efq. who 
 ditd Ocioher 1553, ar 'd f Dorothy his wife, daughter 
 of John Chauncey, of Chauncey Tower in the town of 
 Northampton, Efq. 
 
 Againft the fouth wall of the chancel is a mural 
 monument of marble alabafter " Nicholaus Bacon, 
 " baronettus, profapia illu'tris, ingenio inclytus, H- 
 " teris ornatus, fama clarefcens, corpore vieto, animo 
 " vegcto, prccmature fenuit et fapuit. Poft vui 
 " annos et menfes ix, quos vixerat prout virum no- 
 " bilem, philofophum, Chriftianum decuit. Tan- 
 " dem fato cedens, quod habuit terrenum, terras red- 
 " didit igne recoctum dici noviffimi, denuo refump- 
 " turus, ccelitus quod erat et patri et patriae fpiri- 
 " tuum rediit; ecce cur marmor tanti nominis faftu 
 " gravidum tumefcit, tanti viri fato frigidum nigref- 
 " cit, tanti ingenii laevore politum fplendefcit. Vale 
 41 ledor et vivas, honore parili, obijt, M.DC.LXVI. 
 *' Augi. iii." On the monument are the arms of 
 Bacon and Quaplode, quarterly; alfo Bacon impal- 
 ing Freefton. 
 
 A marble monument was put up in the church of 
 St. Mary, to the memory of her valuable fon, the 
 late fir Edmund Bacon, by lady Bacon, foon after 
 his deceafe. 
 
 Gill is an old Bruifh. word, and fignifies a rivulet ; 
 thus Gilling, a town and hundred in Yorkfhire ; 
 Guiltcrofs hundred in Norfolk, Gilden in Cambridge- 
 ftiire, Guilford in Surry, &c. 
 
 D Thus
 
 3 o HUNDRED OF 
 
 Thus are all the towns in Norfolk water-Jlain by 
 Parkin and Blomefield, fo that one would be apt to 
 think the whole county was a morafs, from the de- 
 finition they have given of the names of towns and 
 
 villages. 
 
 Mifs Safari Bacon, only filler of the late fir Ed- 
 mund Bacon, and heirefs, married Francis Schutz, 
 clq. fon of colonel Schutz, who is lately deceafed, 
 but has left children. Mr. Schutz has greatly im- 
 proved the family feat at Gillinghum, and alfo the 
 gardens, which were large and fpacious in the time 
 of fir Edmund, and there were many exceeding good 
 rooms and apartments in the old hall. 
 
 Sir Edmund Bacon, of Gillingham, was next in 
 fucceffion as premier baronet of England to the late 
 fir Edmund Bacon, of Garboldifham, who was elect- 
 ed knight of the (hire for the county of Norfolk in. 
 the memorable conteft of 1 734, fir Edmund, of Gar- 
 boldifham, having no fons. 
 
 This village and handfome feat is delightfully fitu- 
 ated oppofite to the market town of Beccles, which 
 are feparated only by the river Waveney, and the 
 meadow grounds that environ" it on both fides. The 
 great road leading from London, 108 miles, and 
 Ipfwich. 39 miles, to Yarmouth, 15 miles, paffes 
 through Becdes*, and this being the only bridge on 
 
 the 
 
 * Beccles, in Suffolk, ftands on the river Waveney, which 
 is navigable hither from Yarmouth by barges, and from hence 
 to Eungay. It is a large populous town, and the ftreets are 
 well paved and kept clean, though the' build ings are but mean, 
 many of them being thatched. It has a noble church and two 
 free fchools well endowed^ one a grammar fchool, with ten 
 
 fcholarfhips
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 31 
 
 the Wavericy between St. Olave's, 8 miles, and Bun- 
 gay, 5 miles, it is much frequented. 
 
 WINSTON. This town is not mentioned In Doomf- 
 day-book, being accounted for in die lordfhip of 
 Stockton, of which it was a part and member, and 
 was granted, with Stockton, by king Stephen to Hugh 
 Bigot, car! of Norfolk, and held by his dependents, 
 carls ol Norfolk, who cnfcoffcd a younger fon, fir 
 Ralph li'got, therein. By a daughter and heirefs of 
 thai family it came to the Garners, the de la Poles, 
 carts of Suffolk/Sec. 
 
 After this, corning to the crown, William Roberts, 
 attorney, town-clerk of Yarmouth, farmed it of the 
 crown, in the reign of queen Elizabeth: his fifter 
 and heir brought it by marriage to Simon Smith, efq. 
 whofe fon and heir, Thomas, married Margery, 
 daughter of Nicholas Garnifh, of Recdcfiham-hall 
 in Suffolk: he died June 6, 1630, and was buried 
 in the church-yard of Gillingham All Saints; being 
 father of Simon Smith, efq. who married Elizabeth, 
 daughter of fir. Edmund Mundeford, fifter and heir 
 to her brother, fir Edmund Mundeford, of Feltwell 
 in Norfolk. Erom the Smiths it came to the Elect- 
 woods, by Frances, daughter and heir of Thomas 
 Smith, c(q. who married Charles Flcctwood, efq. 
 whofe fon, Smith Fleetwood, efq. was lord in i 708. 
 
 D 2 The 
 
 Fcholarfhips for Emanuel college in Cambridge. There are ftill 
 to be ieen the ruins of another church here, called Ingate. 
 The quarter-feflions for the liberty of Blithing are ufually held 
 here ; and a common belonging to the town of no lefs than 
 1000 acres. Market on Saurday. Fairs, Afcenfion day, St. 
 Peter's, June 29, and Oct. 2.
 
 5 2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, was a rec- 
 tory: the reclor, in the reign of Edward I. had 20 
 acres of land, .valued at 2os. and Roger, earl of 
 Norfolk, w;s patron. 
 
 On the gth of February. 1440, the bifhop's vicar 
 general, by the confent of Thomas duke of Norfolk, 
 and the parifhioners, united and confolidated this 
 church to that of Gillingham All Saints. The then 
 reclor of Gillingham All Saints was obliged to fen e 
 one Sunday at Winflon, and the two following at 
 Gillingham. 
 
 In the i ft year of Edward IV. John Mowbray, 
 duke of Norfolk, died lord and patron ; and after- 
 wards the Howards, dukes of Norfolk: and on the 
 attainder of the duke in queen Elizabeth's reign, it 
 came to the crown, but was granted by James I. in 
 his ift year, to Henry Howard earl of Northampton. 
 
 Sir Nicholas Bacon, bart. was patron, and gave 
 it to his fixth fon, Nicholas Bacon, efq. who died 
 Auguft 1 7, anno lyth of Charles I. and it remained 
 in the faid family in i 742, fir Edmund Bacon, ban. 
 of Gillingham then enjoying it. 
 
 This reclory, with that of Windale, was valued 
 at 5!. 6s. 8d. and difcharged, and are both united to 
 Gillingham. The temporalities of Langley abbey 
 were as. 
 
 WINDALE. This town was alfo part of the ma- 
 nor of Gillingham and of btockton, and fo is not 
 mentioned in the book of Doomfday; and coming 
 to the crown at the Conqueft, fo remained, till grant- 
 ed to Hugh Bigot, earl of Norfolk, by king Stephen. 
 From the Bigots it came to Broiherton, earl of Nor- 
 folk
 
 CLAVERING. 33 
 
 folk, &c. To to the Mowbrays and Howards, dukes 
 of Norfolk ; and after that in the crown. 
 
 In the reign of queen Elizabeth, EdwarcJ Everard 
 is (aid to hold the manor of Windale of the crown, 
 as of her lordfhip of Stockton. 
 
 The church of Windale, dedicated to St. Andrew, 
 was a rectory in the reign of Edward I. in the pa- 
 tronage' of Roger Bigot, carl of Norfolk, and the 
 reclor had a manfe, with ten acres', valued at 405. 
 
 In 1449, July 20, on the petition of the duke of 
 Norfolk, the puron, it was united to the church of 
 Giriineham All Saints and Winfton. 
 
 J o 
 
 In the iyth of Charles I. this reclory, with that 
 of Winfton, was held by Nicholas Bacon, efq. of 
 Simon Smith, efq. as of his manor of Stockton, 
 which he farmed of the crown. 
 
 HADDISCOE, HADTSCO, or HADF.SCOE, wrote 
 in Doomfday-book Hatefcois ; at the furvey was a 
 bcruite to the manor of Toft-Monks in this hundred, 
 and William de Noiers was fteward of it for the 
 Conqueror, who had deprived Stigand the archbi- 
 fhop, who held it as a lay-fee in the reign of the 
 Conlelfor. It was valued, together with Toft, in, 
 Siigand's time, at lol. per ann. and at the furvey 
 paid 24!. quit-rent. In length they were one leuca, 
 two furlongs, and ten perches ; aucl in breadth one 
 kuca. 
 
 This lorclfhip was afterwards granted from the 
 
 crown to Robert de Bellcrnont, earl of Mellent in 
 
 Normandy, and earl of Leicefter in England, and 
 
 given by him in the reign of Henry I. to the Bene- 
 
 D 3
 
 34: HUNDRED OF 
 
 diftine abbey De Pratellis (De Preaux) in Normandy, 
 founded by his ancestors. 
 
 In the, 14th of Edward I. the faid abbey claimed 
 the affife, a gallows, and many other liberties, as a 
 member of the manor of Toft-Monks, as enjoyed 
 by the earl Robert, and granted to the abbey ; and 
 the abbot was found to hold two knights fees. 
 
 In the parliament at Leicefter, anno 2d of Henry 
 V. this lordiliip, with that of Toft, (belonging ta 
 Preaux) came to the crown, on the diflblution of 
 the alien priories. Their temporalities in this town 
 we're valued at 745. id. 
 
 Henry VI. on Feb. 14, anno 19, granted it to 
 the college of St. Mary and St. Nicholas in Cam- 
 bridge, (now King's college) founded by him ; and 
 the laid fociety poiTcffes it at this time, with the 'pa- 
 tronage of the church. 
 
 Robert, fon of Corbun, had by the grant of Wil- 
 liam I. land, 8cc. of which Giffard, a foe-man of 
 Stigand, w 7 as deprived, then valued at 55. at the fur- 
 vey at us. 
 
 On the death of Robert, fon of Corbun, this 
 came to the crown as an efcheat, and was granted 
 by \\illiam II. to William de Albini, his butler, an- 
 ceflor of the earls of Arundel ; and on the death of 
 Hugh, the laft earl of this family, this part of 
 hij> inheritance came by a fitter and co-heir, in the 
 reign of Henry III. to fir Robert de Tatefhale; and 
 Robert lord Tatefihale held the th part of a fee here, 
 in the 31 ft of Edward I. from them it came to the 
 Caleys and the Cliftons; fir Adam de Clifton was 
 lord in the time of Edward III, and in the jgth of 
 
 Richard
 
 CLAVERING. 3 J 
 
 Richard II. the prior of St. Olave's held it of fir 
 Conilantine de Clifton. 
 
 Roger Bigot, anceflor to the earls of Norfolk, had 
 a grant of land, Sec. which nine free-men of Stigand 
 were deprived ; valued at i^s. it was one leuca long, 
 and eight furlongs broad, and Robert de Vaux held 
 it under Roger. A focman of Edric de Laxfieid had 
 land, &c. valued at IDS. at the furvey at 135. 4d. 
 This focman put himfelf under the protection of Al- 
 win de Tetford, in the time of the Conqueror, and 
 was in poffeffion of it when that king gave it to Roger 
 Bigot. 
 
 A free-man had in this town one acre and an half, 
 with one borderer, valued at gd. Roger had a grant 
 of this, and Robert de Vaux held it at the furvey 
 under him. 
 
 Here alfo a free-man of king Edward had an in- 
 tereft ; Alwi held /it in commendation of the king, 
 and was in poffeffion of it (before Roger Bigot) when 
 king William came ; this was granted to Bigot, and 
 Turold held it under him at the furvey ; valued at 
 los. and Stigand had formerly the foe. 
 
 All thefe tenures were inherited by the dependents 
 of this Roger, arid by the grant of Roger, earl of 
 Norfolk, who died without iffue, came to Edward I. 
 and fo to Thomas de Brotherton, his fon, earl of 
 Norfolk ; then to the lord Seagrave, and to the 
 Mowbrays ; and from them to the Howards, dukes 
 of Norfolk. 
 
 Ralph, lord Bainard, had by an exchange, lands^ 
 
 &:c. of which a free-man of Stigand was deprived ; 
 
 valued at 25. and the foe was in Stigand. This 
 
 D 4 feems
 
 36 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 feems to have been held with Bainata s manor of 
 Whetacre. 
 
 Here was a preceptory of knights templars, to 
 which Henry III. was a confiderabie benefaclor: and 
 in the 52d of that king, Thomas Rofceiine conveyed 
 by fine to friar Roger Fitz-John, mafter of the tem- 
 plars in England, fifteen acns of land here. In the 
 1 4th of Edward I. the mafter of the templars claimed 
 view of frank-pledge, the aflife, &c. of his tenants, 
 as Henry III. had granted to them. In the faid year 
 the preceptor fet up croffes on the houfes here and in 
 Sifland, belonging to him, and their temporalities 
 were valued at i6s. 
 
 In the soth of Edward II. Thomas de St. Omer, 
 fhcrifi of Norfolk and Suffolk, gave an account of 
 the late lands of the templars, till ' he delivered 
 them to Henry de Seagrave, who fucceeded him. 
 
 The temporalities of the priory of St. Olave's, 
 were 3$. ob. Of Norwich, iSd./ 
 
 Hatfield, Hathorp, Hatherly, Hatton, fo called 
 from fome water or river ; the Hat or Had, Hadleigh 
 in Suffolk, Haddon in Derbyshire, and HaJdenham 
 in Cambridgeshire ; whence the name of this town.* 
 
 The church is a reclory, dedicated to St. Mary, 
 and is covered, as the chancel is, with lead; has. a 
 round tower with five bells. 
 
 In the chancel, on a mural monument Carolus 
 AJhby ecckjiff. hujus reftor, memories Elizabeths, Jilia Sa- 
 muelis Harvy dc Wange in com. Effex, gcneroji, ' conjugis 
 
 * Parkin,
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 37. 
 
 cafli/jima monnmentum hoc amovis ergo dedicat, oliji Apr. 
 19, 1671, atat. fiuc 28. 
 
 In the middle aile, a grave-Rone For John Buck- 
 tnham, gait, ioLo died September 16, 1712, <zlat. 77. 
 
 Alfo For Thomas London, gent, who died in i656. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. the reclor had a manfe 
 with twenty acres of glebe, valued at eighteen marks, 
 and the abbot of Preaux was then patron ; the pre- 
 fent value is 12!. 
 
 In 1402 fir Thomas Erpingham farmed the manor, 
 and presented to the church. In 1603 the reclor re- 
 turned eighty communicants. 
 
 In the church was the chapel of St. John. 
 
 In this town the family of Bayfpool lived ; John 
 Bayfpool, gent, in 1634, and captain Thomas Bayf- 
 pool in 1682. 
 
 This populous village lies at the junction of the 
 two great roads fromBeccles, fix miles, and Norwich, 
 fixteen miles, to Yarmouth, nine miles. The.church 
 flands on an eminence, which forms a tongue of land, 
 xvith the marflies on the north and eaft, and by a 
 delve or valley on the fouth. 
 
 In the church-yard wall, fronting the road, is a 
 mural monument to the memory of William Salter, 
 who drove the machine between London and Yar- 
 mouth many years, with this infcription. 
 
 Here lies Will. Salter, honed man! 
 Deny it, enw, if you can ; 
 
 True
 
 35 HUNDREDOF 
 
 True to his bus'nefs and his trufl, 
 Always punctual, always juft : 
 His horfes, cou'd they fpeak, would tell 
 They lov'd their good old mafter well. 
 His up hill work is chiefly done, 
 His flagc is ended, race is run ; 
 One journey is remaining flill, 
 To climb up Sion's holy hill; 
 And now his faults are all forgiv'n, 
 Elija like, drives up to heav'n, 
 Takes the reward of all his pains, 
 And leaves to other hands the reins. 
 
 In 1759, Auguft 29, the church of Haddifcoe 
 was confolidated .with Toft Monks; and in 1751 
 the prevoft and fellows of king's college, Cambridge, 
 prcfented the Rev. John Lodington to this united 
 re&ory. 
 
 Between this town and the river Waveney is a 
 level of marines nearly two miles broad. The turn- 
 pike road paffes over the river at St. Olave's, vul- 
 garly called St. Tooley's Bridge. In the reign- of 
 Henry IV. the Ferry here was in the king's gift, and 
 was granted to fir George Felbrigg for life, anno 
 Reg. r. 
 
 The priory of St. Olave's flood on the Suffolk fide 
 of the bridge in Lothingland ; and the bridge and 
 caufeway was made at the fole expence of lir James 
 Hobart, attorney-general to Henry VII. 
 
 HALES, or LODDON-HALES, wrote Hals in 
 Doomfday-book, is by fome accounted to be iu 
 Loddon hundred. 
 
 BIGOT'S
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 39 
 
 BIGOT'S MANOR. There were at the furvey feveral 
 lordfhips in this town ; Roger Bigot, anceftor to the 
 earls of Norfolk, had a grant of one, which Aleftan 
 (a thane of king Harold) was deprived of; valued at 
 2os. but at the furvey at 405. This Alcftan put him- 
 felf under the commendation of Alwin de Tetford, 
 in the reign of William I. and was feiled of it at the 
 time when the Conqueror gave it to Roger Bigot ; 
 but the hundred never faw any writ or livery where* 
 by it was granted to AUvin. All Hales was fifteen 
 furlongs long, and twelve perches and fix furlongs 
 broad. 
 
 This lordfhip extended into Loddon, and was held 
 by the Bigots, earls of Norfolk, and by the grant of 
 Roger Bigot, earl of Norfolk, who died without iffue, 
 it came to Edward I. and was given by Edward II., 
 to his brother, Thomas de Brotherton, earl of Nor- 
 folk, and fo came to the loid Seagrave, the Mow- 
 brays, and the hjo wards, dukes of Norfolk. 
 
 On the attainder of Thomas, duke of Norfolk,, in 
 the reign of queen Elizabeth, it was in the crown, > 
 and James I. anno i , beftowed it on Thomas, lord 
 Howard, of Waldcn, and Henry Howard, after- 
 wards earl of Northampton, from whom it paffed to- 
 Thomas Howard, earl of Surry, who in the 21 ft- of 
 the laid king, April i, had licenfe to alien it to An- 
 thony Hobart, efq. and his heirs ; Anthony conveyed 
 k in the fame year to James Hobart, his fon and heir,, 
 who, by deed, dated September 12, in the isthof 
 Charles I. fold it to Henry Humberftone, efq. Ion 
 pf William Humberftone of Loddon. 
 
 Henry was father of William Humberftone, efq. 
 who married Mildred, daughter of Charles Wai de- 
 grave, efq. of- Sianmnghall in Taveiham hundred, 
 
 who
 
 4* HUNDREDOF 
 
 who conveyed this manor to Francis Gardiner, efq. 
 mayor of Norwich in 1685, and bnrgefs in parlia- 
 ment for that city in 1695; Stephen Gardiner, efq. 
 his fon, was recorder of Norwich, and died in 1727. 
 
 Ralph, lord Baynard, was rewarded with a lorcl- 
 fh'rp, of which Toke, a free-man (of Stigand, the 
 archbifhop of Canterbury) of French extraction, was 
 deprived; the whole valued at 17$ but at the furvey 
 
 at 305. 
 
 A family who took their name from this town, was 
 early enfeoffed of it, and held it under the lord 
 Baynard. Sir Roger de Hales, by deed without date, 
 confirmed the exchange of lands (between two per- 
 fons) that were held of his fee in Hales, which fhews 
 that it was the cuflorn for lords of manors to confirm 
 the purchafes before the flatute of Ouia Ernptores, 
 &c. Sir John dc Hales was living in the 2oth of 
 Edward 1JI. arid by Catherine (after married to 
 Roger Wellefham) was father of John de Hales, who 
 died without iflue in the A^d of Edward III. and held 
 this lordfhip of the barony of Fitz Walter. 
 
 In the 17th of Richard II. William, fon of Ed- 
 mund cle Reclefham, of Kirby Cane, conveyed by 
 fine to fir Robert de Willoughby, fir Miles Stapleton, 
 John, fon of fir John de Norwich, Sec. the manor of 
 Hales-Hall in Loddon, and rent, 8cc. in Hales, Lod- 
 don, Kirkby, with the advowion of Hales-Hall cha- 
 pel, purchafed by John de Norwich in reverfion ; fir 
 George Fclbrigg, of Tottington, holding two parts of 
 the manor and lands, in right of his wife. 
 
 Sir Simon Felbrigg in the 12th of Henry IV. re- 
 coviM'd the manor of Hales-Hall by writ of Novel 
 Uillaliu, againft John -Hotot, and it was after fettled 
 
 on
 
 C L A V E R I N G." 41 
 
 on his two feoffees, fir John Howard, and fir John* de 
 
 Ingoldefthorpe, See. 
 
 In the 1 gth of Henry VI. Nicholas- Waleys, and 
 John Pewk, were quercms in a fine, and Henry 
 Walpole, deforciantof lol. rent per ann. in Loddon- 
 Hales manor, conveyed to Pewk ; and in the goth. 
 of that king, Hugh Croke, vicar of Hale, was a 
 truftee of Thomas Clcvmons, cfq. deceafed, late 
 lord. 
 
 After this it was poffeffed by James Hobart, attor-. 
 nev general, and of the privy council to Henry VII. 
 of whom, and his anceftors, we refer to Plumftead 
 Parva, in Blofield hundred. His benefactions and 
 good works, teftify his chaiity and gencrofity ; he 
 idided in his manor-houfe here, which he built for 
 the moft part (and died heie) with the elegant parifh 
 church of the Holy Trinity, at Loddon ; alib a fair 
 bridge over the Waveney river, between Norfolk and 
 Suffolk, called St. Olavc's Bridge, with a good caufc- 
 way to it ; contributed to the rebuilding of the 
 council chamber in the Guild-hall of the city of 
 Norwich, and to the noble arched ftone roof of the 
 cathedral church of Norwich. Sir Walter Hobart 
 was his fon and heir, and lord of this manor, fhcriii 
 of Norfolk .and Suffolk in the ift of Henry VIII. hi 
 the 2oth of that king he fettled this lordfhip, with 
 that of Chedgravc, Lilleford's, and Tilney in Nor- 
 folk, and others in Suffolk, on fir Walter Hobart, 
 his fon and heir. 
 
 James Hobart, efq. of Hales-Hall, fold it in thfc 
 12th of Charles I. to Henry Hurnbcrflone, efq. with 
 Bigot's manor, whole Ion William, is faid to have 
 conveyed part of it to Francis Gardiner, elq. and part 
 to the lady Dionyfia Williamfon, relicl: of Or Thomas 
 
 Williamfon,
 
 4 2 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 Williamfon, baronet, of Markham Marjna in Not- 
 tinghamfliire, daughter and heir of William Hales, 
 cfq. who was lady of this manor of Males-Hall in 
 1666, arid rcfided here; (he gave 40.00! to there- 
 building the church of St. Dunflan in the Eaft, of 
 London ; to the rebuilding of St. Paul's cathedral, 
 Qoool. and was a benefaclrefs to the rebuilding of the 
 church of St. Mary Le Bow, in London, giving 
 2000!. and at her death left Halcs-Hall to John Hof- 
 kins, efq. her nephew, who was lord in 1097, with 
 the impropriated reclory of Loddon. 
 
 The abbot of St. Edmund's Bury had a lordfhip, 
 which Frodo held of them at the furvev, valued 
 xvith Loddon. Frodo alfo held of the abbot one 
 acre, of which two free-men were deprived, valued 
 
 Godric, the king's Howard, held one acre 'and a 
 half, out of which a free-man was ejecled; this was 
 granted to Godric on the forfeiture of Ralph, earl of 
 Norfolk, who had a moiety (as lord) of this frec- 
 
 The temporalities of St. Olave's were Sd. and of 
 Langiey abbey 248. 
 
 The church of Hales was a reclory, but granted 
 in the 4th of Henry L by Ralph de Chedgrave to 
 the prior of St. Olavc's, probably founder of that 
 priory; and a vicar was appointed on its appropria- 
 tion to that convent. It was dedicated to St. Mar- 
 garet, and it appears by the regiuer of Langiey ab- 
 bey, that the prior and convent of St. Olave's at 
 Herringfleet in Suffolk, were rectors of Hale, and 
 had the tithe of 35 acres of land in Hale parifli, 
 belonging to Langiey abbey, in exchange for 235 
 
 acres
 
 
 C L A V F/R ING. 43 
 
 acres of land in Loddon and Heckingham, belong- 
 ing to the priory of St. Olave's. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. the reclory was valued 
 at eleven marks, and the vicarage at 405. The vicar 
 had then a manfe with thirty acres of land, and the 
 patronage was in the prior of St. Olave's. 
 
 In 1503 we find it ferved by a ftipendiary curate 
 for 5!. per ann. and he then returned forty-rive com- 
 municants, John Hill being the impropriator ; and 
 in 1742 the heirs of Mr. Peter Lavves. Hales is at 
 this time (1780) a curacy. 
 
 Here alfo was a chapel at Hales Hall, belonging 
 to the manor of the family of de Hales, dedicated to 
 St. Andrew; this, with the hall, flood in the pariih. 
 of Loddon, and in 1287 it is faid to Hand in the 
 manor of Wrantiihaugh, belonging to fir Roger de 
 Hales, in Loddon pariih, and leave was then granted 
 to him that he might inftitute the chaplains. 
 
 Alexander de Hales, Ailed Doclor Irrefragabilis, 
 who died in 1245, was born here. 
 
 Mr. Parkin fays, Hales, Halefwofth, Hafdlead^ 
 Alefham and Aylesford, is io called as being near to 
 fome river or water. 
 
 HECKINGHAM, wrote fo in Doomfdav-book, 
 and alfo Hethingham, and Ekingham. Godric, the 
 Conqueror's fteward, had the grant of the principal 
 lordfhip in this town, held by Hagan, under Stigand, 
 the archbiihop, in the reign of the Confeffor, with a 
 church, endowed with eight acres. Roger Bigot 
 claimed thirty acres of land out of this lordfhip, be- 
 longing to Alellan's manor in Hales (which Roger 
 
 had
 
 44 HUNDRED OF 
 
 had the grant of.) Seventeen free-men had alfo a 
 carucate, with another that was held by commenda- 
 tion only, and four carucates of meadow. Ralph, 
 earl of Norfolk, added to this lordfhip in the time of 
 William I. eight free-men, and there were fix free-men 
 under thqm. 'In king Edward's time the whole was 
 valued at 205. at the furvey at 6os. and what the free- 
 men held, at 305. The town was one leuca long, 
 and eight furlongs wide. 
 
 LANGLEY ABBEY MANOR. On the death of Godric 
 k feems to have come again to the crown, and was 
 granted to the carl Warren, and a family that took 
 their name from the town was enfeofFcd of it, and 
 held it of the earl Warren. 
 
 In the loth of Richard I. William de Rochage, 
 who took his name from an hamlet in this town, fur- 
 rendered by fine to Baldwin Adeftan de Heckingham, 
 fifteen acres of land ; and in the ^th of king John, 
 Alan de Heckingham was lord, and Herbert de 
 Rochage conveyed lands to him by fine. It appears 
 from the regiftei of Langlcy abbey, that Alan gave 
 to Simon de Blaveney, with Muriel his daughter, in 
 marriage, this lordfhip, and they fold to fir Roger de 
 Thurkelby (an itinerant judge) fifty acres, part of ic, 
 with the fcrvices of feveral tenants in this town, 
 Hales, Norton, &c. and fir Roger hacl a grant of 
 free-warrant in the 2,ith of Henry 111. Alan alfo 
 fold to fir William Rofceline, and Lastitia his wife, 
 the advowfon of this church; this Lastitia. in her 
 widowhood, gave it to Langley abbey ; fhe after mar- 
 ried fir Roger de Thurkelby ; and in 1289, from an 
 extent then made of the manor of Heckingham, 
 which the abbot held of the gift of fir Roger, with 
 the appropriate reclory and advowfon, and the tithe 
 of wheat was then efteemed, one year with another, 
 at ten combs, each comb valued at 25. Melling, 
 
 twenty
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 45 
 
 twentv comb, at i 8d. per cornb. Peafe, ten comb, 
 at 1 8d. per comb. Oats, two comb, at 120!. per 
 comb. Six fcorce comb of barley, at i Sd. per 
 comb. The manor-houfe contained eleven acres, 
 with the out ditches, mote, Sec. Apples in the or- 
 chard, valued at 6s Sd. per aim. the mill, gs. there 
 was a great pond of three acres, coney-garth and 
 broomyard, liberty of a free bull and boar in fum- 
 mer, wkh pleas and perquisites of court, reliefs, 
 wards, &c. lands in feveral fields, 8cc. 
 
 The abbot's temporals in 1428 were valued at 
 yl. iSs. 4d. ob. 
 
 At the diflblution it was, Auguft 16, in the 
 Henry VI11. granted to Thomas Godfalve, eiq. 
 
 Here was a controverfy, without date, between the 
 abbot, Sec. of Langley, reclors of this church, and 
 Ralph de Butiler, reclor of Raveningham, about 
 tithes ; and it was agreed that Ralph and his fucceffors 
 (hold have the the tithe of twelve acres and a half in 
 Raveningham, and the abbot of twelve acres here, 
 butted, &c. Langley Regr. fol. 68. Ralph was 
 living in 1290. 
 
 Lands, Sec. were alfo granted to the abbey of 
 Langley by Robert de Vernon, fir Roger de Hales, 
 Ralph de Earlharn, &c. 
 
 In the 42d of Edward III. William Bergh died, 
 and had a part of a fee. 
 
 Joan Ward died poffeffed of a Jordfhip, as by her 
 will in 1 464. 
 
 E Thomas
 
 4 6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Thomas Denny Was lord of a manor in the reign 
 of queen Elizabeth, and had licenfe, December i, 
 in the Cth of James I. to alien it to Thomas Fifke, 
 who in the i4th of Charles I. conveyed it to Wil- 
 liam Coppin, gent. 
 
 Roger Bigot had the grant of twenty-fix acres, 
 Sec. which a free-man pofleffed in the time of the 
 ConfelTor; Turold held this of Roger, and it was 
 valued at i6d. 
 
 Roger had alfo thirty acres of land given him, 
 which Rondo, a free-man, was deprived of, belonging 
 to Ulcheteirs fee, who had by commendation a 
 moiety of him in die reign of king Edward, and in 
 right of his wife, the whole commendation ; Godric, 
 the Conqueror's fteward, claimed him on the forfei- 
 ture of Ralph, earl of Norfolk, and the hundred 
 -witnefles that he performed fervices to Godric, but 
 know 'not by what right; there belonged to it alfo a 
 carucate arid two acres of meadow, valued in the 
 whole at 43. 
 
 The families of de Loddon and dc Hales feem to 
 have ibme intereft here. In the yth 'of Edward I. 
 John de Gernemuth, or Yarmouth, had free-warren 
 here, in Norton and Loddon. In die 12th of that 
 king, William, fo'n of Fir John de LodJon, confirmed 
 to Thomas Wyth, of Yarmouth, a marfh and a fun- 
 cary, called Lam-Holme, after the deceafe of the 
 lady Alice de Quitwell, widow of fir John, his 
 lather. 
 
 Intlie'gth of Edward TI. the abbot of L'angley 
 and Robert de Hales, were returned to be lords of 
 this town. 
 
 Roger
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 47 
 
 Ro^er Bigot had another {'mall fee held of him at 
 the furvey by .Robert de Vaux, out of which a free- 
 man of S:igand, the archbifhop, was ejeclcd, va- 
 lued at 45. 
 
 The church was a reftory, and is dedicated to St. 
 Gregory; pn the oth of Henry ill. a line was levied 
 before Man in de Pzuefhull, &;c. the king's Jufticcs,' 
 between William, fon of Rofcelyne, and Lecia his 
 wife, petents, and Alan de Heckingham, deforciant, 
 of the advow.fon of this church, purchafed by them 
 and the heirs of Lecia, who afterwards ^gave it by 
 deed \viihout date to the abbey of Langley. Sir 
 Thomas, her fon, releafed.all his right herein, in die 
 ,54th of that king, as did William, fon of Adam de 
 Heckingham, in the s^ch of Jrienry III. to the .faid 
 convent, and they covenanted to receive him and his 
 heirs into ail prayers and benefactions to be made in 
 that abbey ; it was after appropriated to that abbey, 
 and a vicarage fettled. 
 
 At the dhTolution of the abbey, the reclory, and 
 patronage of the vicarage came to the crown ; and in 
 1 603 the church was fcrved .-by a flipcndiary curate, 
 who returned 59 communicants. 
 
 On February 19, in the i6th of Elizabeth, the 
 re&ory was granted to Bernard Gylpin and Chrifto- 
 pher lemon, with ihe redlory of lliwaite. 
 
 Charles Rigges was inftitrated vicar in i6<2j, pre- 
 fented by the king, but in i 748 it was ferved by a 
 itipendiary curate, nominated by the heirs of Mr. 
 Peter Lawes. 
 
 The church has a nave, and a foutli aile, with a 
 
 chancel antique, turned round at the eaft end, and 
 a round 'tower with two bells. 
 
 Ea In
 
 48 HUN. D REDO F 
 
 In the nave a grave-flone To John Crowe, gent. 
 who died in 
 
 In the Couth aile, one To William Mingay, gent. 
 who died in i 7 13 with his arms. 
 
 In a window of the faid aile, the arms of Erping- 
 h am Clifton impaling Erpingham alfo impaling 
 Clifton. 
 
 Heck, fays Mr. Parkin, the Water Etymologijl, fcenis 
 to be the name of a rivulet Heckford in Hampfliiic. 
 and in Norfolk ; Hcckmondwyke in Yorkfhire ; Heck- 
 ingtou in Lincolnihire, Sec. 
 
 A lioufe of induftry for the hundreds of Loddon 
 and C layering has been lately creeled in this parifh, 
 of which, we hope, to be enabled to give fome ac- 
 count in the appendix to this hundred. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Colman was prefented to the curacy 
 of Heckingham by the Crown. 
 
 HOWE, or Hoo, wrote in Doomfday-book Hon. 
 This village, now accounted part of the hundred of 
 Clavering, was part of the hundred of Henflead ac 
 the grand furvey, where we find this account of it. 
 Alnoht, a free-man of archbifhop Stigand, was lord 
 in king Edward's reign, and on his deprivation the 
 Conqueror feized on it, and Godric, his fteward, took 
 care of it for him : in Alnoht's time it was valued at 
 405. and at the furvey at 6os. was fix furlongs long. 
 and four broad. 
 
 It remained in the Crown till William II. gave \i 
 to William de Albini, his butler, anceftor of the 
 earls of Arundel. 
 
 A family
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 49 
 
 A family took their name from this town (being 
 lords of it) according to the cuflorn of former ages, 
 and was enfeoffed thereof by William de Albini. 
 
 In the gth of king John Roger de Howe enjoyed it, 
 and then paid ten marks for the king's favour, anct 
 his land that was feized for beating the king's 
 tarvants. 
 
 In the soth of Edward II. Miles de Howe grants 
 Lis intereft herein to Edward Rofe, of Yarmouth, 
 William March, of Stanhowe, and Walter de Bintre, 
 with the reyerfion of what Nicholas Hovell, and Joan 
 his mother, held in jointure for life; and foon alter, 
 the (aid Edward, William, and Walter, grant it to 
 fir Walter de Norwich: fir Walter is faid, in the ^d 
 of Edward III. to hold it by luk of court of the 
 manor of Wymondham, then valued at 61. los. per 
 annum. 
 
 Sir John de Norwich, fon and heir of fir Walter, 
 was lord and patron in the 4th of Edward III. 
 
 Sir John de Norwich in the 31 ft of Edward III. 
 had a charter of free-warren, and in the 4"th of 
 that king, conveyed it to his feoffees, fir John de 
 Plays. &c. to fettle it on his college of Mettingham 
 in Suffolk ; and in the 4gth was fettled by the lady 
 Catherine de Brews, coufin and heir of fir John, and 
 the faid truilee^ accordingly. 
 
 On the i4th o[ April, in the cjgd of Henry VIII. 
 the king granted this manor belonging to Mettingham 
 college, to fir Anthony Denny, one of his privy coun- 
 cil, who died poffeffed of it in the gd of Edward VI. 
 alio loid ol Mettmgham-caftle, the manors of Ilke- 
 E 3 tefliale,
 
 5 o HUNDRED OF 
 
 tefliult?, B ram Ford, Sibeton, Wenhafton, in Suffolk, 
 &:c. in this family it remained. 
 
 BURGH-ABBEY MANOR, Another lordfhip in this town 
 belonged to the abbey of Burv, and was part of the 
 great manor of Loduon, winch extended here. Bald- 
 win, abbot of Bury, xvho lived in the reign of the 
 Conqueror, enfeoffed Frodo, his brother, of it, &:c. 
 and Gofceline de Lodnc, or Lodcion. held it under 
 Frodo. In this family it continued till Gofceline c'e 
 Lqdne, a defcendent of the aforcfaid Gofccline, dy- 
 ing without iffue, his inheritance was divided among 
 his five fillers and coheirs, and this lordfhip, on a 
 divifion, came to Emma, the fourth fitter and coheir, 
 \vhon-arriedRalph dc Howe. Sir John de Howe 
 in the 5oth of Henry III. granted by fine to Magda- 
 len, priorefs of Carrowe by Norwich, the advowfou 
 of a moiety of the church of St. Maty in this town, 
 and the priorefs was patron in die reign of Ed- 
 ward I. 
 
 Sir Richard de Boyland, the judge, purchafed of 
 de Howe in the i4.th of Edward I. this manor, 
 
 with lands, Sec. in Shottiiham and Framlingham, and 
 John de Boyland held it in the gth of Edward II. 
 and in the 4th of Henry IV. the aboot of Bury had 
 a quarter of a fee, called Boyland's. Sir William dc 
 Norwich feems to be lord, and fo was united to the 
 other manor, and came to the Dcnnys. 
 
 The church of Howe is dedicated to St. Mary, 
 and formerly confided of two mcdieties, or rectories ; 
 one belonged to the manor of Howe, of the Arundel 
 fee, the other to Bury abbey fee. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. fir Ralph de Howe was 
 patron, when this mediety was taxed at iix marks 
 
 and
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 51 
 
 and a half, and the reclor had 'a man fe with thirty 
 acres of land. 
 
 After this, Miles Howe, efq. fon of fir Ralph, was 
 lord and patron, and granted it to fir Walter de Nor- 
 wich in the reign of Edward III. 
 
 In 1603 the reclor returned fixty-three communi- 
 cants, and the patronage was in John Denny, elq. 
 
 Jn 1728 lady Elizabeth HafUngs prefented. The 
 prefent value is 13!. 175. 4d. and i$ dif charged. 
 
 The church is a fingle pile and a chancel, both 
 covered with tiles, and has a round tower with one 
 bell. 
 
 In 1405 the two medicties of Howe were confoli- 
 dated, and they with the church of Poringland Parva, 
 May 6, 1734. In 1767 the Rev. George Robert 
 \Yadef\vorthwasprcfented by the right honourable 
 Francis HaDings, carl of Huntingdon, F. R. S. and 
 one of his maj city's moil honourable privy council. 
 
 This town, with Rergh Apton and Brooke, are fe- 1 - 
 parated from the other parifhes in Clavering, by the 
 hundred of Loddon. 
 
 Howe, or Hoe. fignifies a rifing ground, or a hill, 
 as Houghton, 1 lougham, Greenhowe, Sec. 
 
 KIRBY CANE, or KIRKEBY KAM, wrote in 
 Doorrifday-book Kcrcheby. The principal manor 
 in this town was in the abbey of St. Edmund of 
 Bury, to which it was givi.-n by Algiva, queen of 
 England, mother of Edward the Conieflbr. It is to 
 be obferved here, that Emma is by hiflorians gene- 
 E 4 iall v
 
 52 HUNDRED OF 
 
 rally called the king's mother, who fir ft married 
 Etheldred, king of England, bv vvhom-fhc had king 
 Edward, and afterwards married Canute, king of 
 England, See. the Saxon chronicle calls her /klgiva 
 Ymma, and it is probable that fhe gave it about the 
 year 1020, when king. Canute, her lord, was a great 
 benefaclor to that abbey. 
 
 The faid abbey held it at the grand furvey, and 
 Rafrid of the abbot; it had a church endowed with 
 twenty acres in free alms, and two parts of a church 
 endowed with fourteen acres. The whole valued at 
 405. but at the furvey at 61. and the twenty acres of 
 the church at 2od. it was nine furlongs long, and 
 five broad. 
 
 Rafrid was fucceeded by Godbold de Kiikebia, 
 his fon, to whom Anfehn, abbot of St. Edmund's 
 Bury, granted this lordfhip with all it appurtenances, 
 and to his heirs, to be held by one fee, without date, 
 and this grant was confirmed by the letters patent of 
 Henry I. 
 
 " Henricus Rex Anglic, See. Epifco. Norwic. 
 Sciatis ME concefliffe Godeboldo de Churchebey 
 terram de Chirebeiam cum foca, et faca, See. Teft. 
 A. Line. Efpico. Gajfrido Cancell. Auberio de Vere, 
 Robto. filio Walteri, Gilb. de Blund, &c." 
 
 It appears that this king's grant was in the fingu- 
 lar number Me concejjlfft, and not Nos. 
 
 William, fon of Godbold, held it in the reign of 
 king Stephen. In the 8th of Richard I. Alexander, 
 his brother, left a daughter and heir, Mary, married 
 firil to Gilbert de Norfolk, and after to Walter dc 
 Cam ; Robert de Norfolk, her fon, rcleafed to her, 
 
 and
 
 G L A V E R I N G. 53 
 
 and Walter her hufband, in the gd of Henry III. all 
 his right in his land here, by fine. 
 
 Alter this the lordfhip feems to have been divided, 
 and in the ^scl of Henry III. Richard de Thwaite, 
 and William de Stockton, granted by fine their inte- 
 reft in the acivovvfon of this church, to Richard de 
 Cadomo, or de Cam, or Cane, who gave that name 
 (as lord) to this town. 
 
 Walter de Cam in the reign of king John, let to 
 Thomas de Longvilie, a mill in this town, alfo a 
 lordfhip here, as appears from the deed, without 
 date. 
 
 Sir Richard de Cam was his fon, and inherited this 
 lordfhip, who lived in the ^d of Henry III. and 
 marred Maud, filler of Adam de Mendham, and 
 died about the year 1286. 
 
 Walter de Cam, his fon and heir, fucceeded, was 
 lord in 1287 ; and in the 3ifl of Edward I. did ho- 
 mage to the abbot of Bury. This Walter in the 
 15th of Edward II. Ibid this manor to Roger Gavel, 
 a burgefs of Great Yarmouth ; in rhe following year, 
 Richard, the fecond fon of Walter dc Cam, rcleafccl 
 to Roger all his right; and in the icjth, reciting. 
 That whereas the laid Roger and his wife, daughter 
 of the late ele Cam, were to pay to him an annuity 
 of sos. and to provide him a new robe every win- 
 ter, he had releafed the lame to them. 
 
 Onejohn de Cam was fummoned to Parliament, 
 in the 28th and 32d, 8cc. of Edward II. and was of 
 the king's council. 
 
 Edmund
 
 54 H U N D R E B OF 
 
 Edmund Gavel was lord of Kirkby in the lath of 
 Edward III. in the lythof that king he leafed the 
 manor of To-How's marfh in Thurgarton, to An- 
 felm de Fordel, paying him 5!. per ami. and folding 
 him and Mary his wife, dice at his table, Sec. for tw > 
 years. In the next year he was in rebellion againit 
 the king, riding about Suffolk with banners difplaycd, 
 imprifoning and committing many murders, for 
 which he was indicled before William de Sharefhull, 
 &c. the king's juflices, and after had a pardon un- 
 der the broad feal, dated June 29, in the laid year. 
 
 Nicholas Gavel was his fon and heir, in the 251!! 
 of the faid king : he married Catherine, daughter 
 
 and heir of Myniot, and was lord of Myniot s 
 
 manor in Kirkflead, in her right. 
 
 Robert Gavel was his fon : he died in 1439, and 
 was buried in the chapel of St. Mary, on the north 
 fide of the chancej of this church. 
 
 Thomas fuccecded his father Robert, was lord of 
 this manor and of Kirkflead: he died in 1461, and 
 was alfo buried at the door of the chapel of St. 
 Mary in this church. 
 
 Henry Gavel, gent, inherited this lordfhip and EI- 
 lingham in 14/4, and was buried in the chapel 
 aforefaid. 
 
 Bartholomew, fon and heir of Henry, was father 
 of 1 homas Gavel, the laft heir male of this family, 
 and lord in the i 2th of Henry VII. by Ann, his wife, 
 daughter of Henry Everard, efq. of LinRead in Suf- 
 folk, he left Join daughters and coheirs. 
 
 This
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 5.5 
 
 This Thomas died in 1522, and was alfo buried 
 r.) the church of Kirby. To Thomaisne, his eldeft 
 daughter, he gave this lordfhip, who brought it by 
 marriage to Leonard Copledike, efq. fecond fon of fir 
 John Coplcdike, of Frarrtpi,on in Linco'infbire, and 
 of Horham in Suffolk. On the death of this Leo- 
 nard (by whom fhe had a fon and heir, John) fhe 
 re-married Edward Calthorpc, efq. in 1525; and in 
 the 22d of Henry VIII. this {ordfhip and advowfqn, 
 with meffuages, [vc. in this town, EJlingham, Stock- 
 ton, Gelelcftone, and Hale, were fetrlcd on the faid 
 Edward and Thomafine, for their lives; remainder 
 to John Copledike, (on of the faid Thomaiine, and 
 his heirs : fhe died in 1557. 
 
 Edward was fon of Edward Cahhorpe, efq. of 
 Ludham ; in the 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary, 
 44 he demifed to John Copledike, efq. the fcite of this' 
 manor, which he held for life by the courtcly of 
 England, after the deceafe of Thomafine, his wife, 
 John paying to him 20!. per ann. In the hall of the 
 faid houfe Edward was a lib to have meat and drink 
 for himfelf and one fervant, as often as he fhall refj.de 
 there; and two chambers, one for his own, the other 
 for his fervant' s lodging; with convenient fewcl ; the 
 keeping of three geldings or mares, in furnrner time 
 at grafs, in the winter in the liable, with hay, &;c.' 
 and Edward to pay to John lol. per ann." In 1557 
 he died, and was buried by his wife in the chancel 
 of this church. 
 
 John Copledike, efq. was lord in the 6th of Eliza- 
 beth, and held it in capita of the caftle of Norwich ; 
 he married, firQ, Ellen, daughter and heir of John 
 Wodehoufe, efq. and his fecond wife was Maud, 
 daughter of John Highrield, efq. of Calais, who 
 .died iviihoi t iiiuc ; by his firft wife he left a daughier 
 
 and
 
 56 HUNDREDOF 
 
 and folc heir, Thomafine, who married Humphrey 
 Copledike, cfq. of Hetherfet, ^th fon of fir John 
 Copledike ; John died pofTeffed of it, held of that 
 cjueen, by knight's fervice. 
 
 Humphrey had feveral children, but he fold this 
 lordihip to Thomas Catelyne, efq. of Lakenham by 
 Norwich. 
 
 Richard Catelyne, efq. was fheriff" of Norwich in 
 1331, and alderman of that city; he died in 1536- 
 
 Richard Catelyne, efq. his fifth fon ; in the 4th of 
 Edward VI. he was autumn reader of Lincoln's Inn. 
 ierjeant at law May 19, 1 552 ; fleward of the city of 
 Norwich, and king and queen's ferjeant October 16, 
 1555 ; deputy lieutenant and juitice of the peace, 
 and one of the commiflioners to try the rebels in the 
 reign of queen Mary ; he died before his father, in 
 Awguft, 1556, and was buried in the chancel of 
 Honingham church ; was lord of Honingham-hall, 
 and of WaHoken-Popenhowe in Norfolk. 
 
 Richard Catelyne, efq. firft fon of the ferjeant, 
 was lord of Wolverilon hali in Suffolk, and died 
 March 11, in the 43d of Elizabeth, and was father 
 of Philip. 
 
 Philip was father of Richard, who had Philip his 
 fon, who died unmarried. 
 
 Thomas Catelyne, efq. fecond fon of the ferjeant, 
 married Judith, daughter of Edward Ellington, of 
 Thoydon-Bois in Eilcx, was lord of Wingfield-hall 
 in Suffolk ; in 1604 was lord of Hanings-hall and 
 \Vhitfoot-hali in Inning land, and he purchafed of 
 
 Humphrey
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 57 
 
 Humphrey Copledike this lordfhip of Kirby Cane. 
 He died in 1636. 
 
 Richard Catelyne, efq. fon of Thomas, married, 
 firfl, Mary, daughter of fir Robert Houghton, one 
 of the judges of the King's-Bench ; flic died without 
 iffuc: his fecond wife was Dorothy, daughter of fir 
 Henry Nevili, of Biliingbcre in Berkfhire, by whom 
 flic had a fon and heir, fir Nevili. and Richard who 
 died without iffue ; alfo four daughters. 
 
 Sir Nevili Catelyne was knighted by Charles IT. 
 at Somerfet-houi'e, London, in 1662, lord of this 
 town and Wingfield cailie in Suffolk: he married, 
 firQ, Dorothy, daughter of fir Thomas Bedingfield, 
 of Darfliam in SuHolk; and his fecond wife was 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Houghton, of Ran- 
 wonh, efq. and had children by both, who died 
 young : his third wife was Mary, daughter of fir 
 William Blois, ban. of Cockh'eld-hall in Yoxford, 
 Suffolk, and of Grundefburgh: Sir Nevili was bu- 
 ried in this church in July 1702. 
 
 She furvived fir Nevili, and married fir Charles 
 Turner, .of Warham in Norfolk, and "were both liv- 
 ing here in 1720; and fir Charles was lord and pa- 
 iron in 1 740. 
 
 Rafrid, as has been observed, held at the furvey 
 this lordfhip of the abbot of Bury by one fee, and 
 fo did Godbold de Kirby, and Alexander his ion; 
 but after, this fee was divided arid held by three dif- 
 ferent families; the family of de Cam heid one-third 
 part; the Bigots, earls of Norfolk, had alfo an in- 
 tcrefl in another third part, which came to the Bi- 
 gots, lords of Stockton. 
 
 la
 
 58 HUNDRED OF 
 
 In the ! 4th of Edward I. fir John Bigot, lord of 
 Stockton, claimed view of frank-pledge, affrfe, free 
 warren, as his anceftors had held of the abbot of 
 Bury: this came to the Ganreys, de la Poles, &c. 
 with Stockton. 
 
 Another third part was in Richard de Thwayte, 
 who, with William de Stockton, granted by fine, in 
 the 52d of Henry III. their intereft in the advovvfon 
 of this church to Richard de Cam. William de la 
 Grene, of Kirby, confirmed to fir Richard de Cam, 
 in the '6th of Edward I. for eight marks, all his land 
 in this town, Stockton, Hales, 8cc. with the ferviccs, 
 homages, rents, &c. except the capital mefluage in 
 Kirbv. This third part was thus united, and to came 
 to Gavel's manor, Sec. as above. 
 
 Ralph, lord Baynard, was lord of a manor in 
 this town. When Doomfday-book was made, Ul- 
 rnar, a free-man of king Edward, held it with 30 
 acres of land: Robert, ton of Corbun, laid claim 
 to this land, and had livery. There were alfo eight 
 free-men belonging to the lord's fold, and under his 
 protection, "whole i-mercft was valued at the furvey 
 at 405. . It came to Baynard by an exchange. 
 
 By the forfeiture of the lord Baynard, this came 
 to the lords Fitz-Walter, and was called Loot's, or 
 Lowt's fee, being held by John Loot of the lord 
 fritz-Walter, in the ;:/! of -Henry III. Roger de 
 Hales had an interest herein about the fame 'time, 
 and John de Hales in the ad year of Edward III. 
 This was foon after united to the above-mentioned 
 manors. 
 
 About 4266, William de Wendling had a mefTu- 
 age, Sec. here, in Ravcrrrn gharri, See. which Philip 
 
 Loor
 
 C L A V R I N G. 59 
 
 Loot had conveyed to liifti, and William gave tiicm 
 to the canon of LangJey-, aiTd w<ere confirmed by- 
 Robert lord Fitz-Walter. Henry Wai-pole held this 
 Loot's fee, and owed to the abbot of Langley in the 
 12th of Henry V!. lol. 4s. 2d. arrears of Tetat, For 
 the land and tenements here, nd in Stockton, for- 
 merly George FelbriggV 
 
 En (lace, earl of Boulogne in France, had alfo a 
 lordfhi-p, of whkh Ofomnd, a tliane of archbiihop 
 Stigand was deprived ; Ralph de Beaufoe had an in- 
 teieft in it after Ofmund, but at the furvey Warine 
 held it under Euilaoe. 
 
 In king Edward's time there were other lands, &c. 
 valued at 153. 
 
 Warine was anceflor of the family of de Meyn- 
 tvarine of Ghefhirc. 
 
 The tcrtnporalitics of Rwry abbey here, in 1428, 
 were va'hiied at ill. os. 6d. of the ptiorcis of Camp- 
 icy 2's. 3d. ob. 
 
 The church is a rectory, dedicated to All Saints, 
 and the patronage belonged to the abbot of Bury's 
 manor. 
 
 In the 14th of Henry III. Walter dc Cam, Roger 
 de Thwayte, and Roger de Stockton, were parceners 1 
 in the advowfon of this church, of the inheritance 
 which 'was Alexander de Kirkeby's, therefore they 
 all prefented at this time, which proves that they 
 had it by inheritance. 
 
 In 1220, there was a compoficion between the 
 monks of St. Ildeyert, of Gournay in France, and 
 
 the
 
 60 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 the dean of Flegg hundred, of the tithe of fomer 
 fheaves of corn, OUL of the abbot's manor, held by 
 fir R. de Gam. 
 
 In the /jsd of Henry III. Ridiard de Thwaite 
 and William de Stockton granted, by fine, the ad- 
 vovvfon to Richard de Cam.. 
 
 The rector in the reign of Edward I. had a houfe 
 and a carucate of land, the value was 15 marks. 
 
 The Rev. John Watfon, reclor here, wrote a book 
 in odlavo, called Memoirs of the Stuarts; printed at 
 London in 1689, after his death in 1662. He was 
 ejected during the Ufurpaiion. 
 
 In 1733, fir Charles Turner, knt. prcfented. 
 
 In the cliancel by the communion table are fevcral 
 graverflones. one, " In memory of Mary, daughter 
 " of fir Robert Houghton, the firft wife of Richard 
 " Catelyne, of Kirby Cane, cfq. by whom (he had 
 " two fons and two daughters; Thomas, the elded, 
 " a man of great hopes ; at 21 was captain of a 
 " troop of borfe lor king Charles I. and flain by the 
 " rebels at the ad Newbury right, 1644. Mary, the 
 " eldeil daughter, married Edward Ward, of Bix- 
 44 ley in Norfolk, e(q. and died without iffue. Ro- 
 " bert and Judith died young. She died in 1633, 
 " in the 4^th year ol her age." 
 
 Another, In memory of Judith, daughter of Edward 
 Eni.'igton, of Theydon-Boys in EJfex, Efq; and wife of 
 Thomas Catdym, Efq; who died in 1615. 
 
 'Thomas Catelyne, EJq\ fon of Richard Ca'.clym, of 
 Koningkam, Scrjcanl at Law to king Philip and queen 
 
 Maty.
 
 'C L A V E R I N G. 61 
 
 Mary. He had Richard Catdyne, of Kirly Cane, Efq; 
 and Thomas Cdtelynt, of Blofidd, Gent, and he died in 
 1636. 
 
 Here are alfo tomb-flones to feveral of the family 
 of Catelvne. 
 
 Againfl the north wall of the chancel was creeled 
 a little tomb of free-ftone, which had an epitaph 
 many years pail, through time obliterated ; it was, 
 In memory of John Ccpledike, Efq; who was here buried, 
 April 12, 1593. Ori the weft end of this tomb were 
 the arms of Gavell, with an impalement now ob- 
 fcure. On the body of the tomb, the fingle fhield 
 of Coplcdike; alfo Copledike, with quartering?; 
 Gavell, Rockeley, Harrington, Frifkeny, impaling 
 Wodchoufe of Kimberley ; alfo Copledike impaling 
 Hayfield. 
 
 " Beatam expeclans refurreclionem, fub hoc mar-" 
 " more obdormit Gulielmus Randall, A. M. hujus 
 " ecclefice quondam relor, et benefactor. Probitate 
 " et amicitia clarus, et mire conftans, fincerae ct nori 
 " fucatce pietatis exemplar. Matildam filiam Johs. 
 " Hawys, M. D. duxit, e qua unicam filiam nomine 
 " Mariam reliquit, obt. 13 cal. Apr. anat. 49, anno 
 *' falutis 1699." 
 
 Sir Nevill Catelyne is buried in a vault here, 
 which he built feveral years before his death, in July 
 1702; alfo Mrs. Elizabeth Catelyne, his daughter, 
 was here interred in 1685, as was Mrs. Philippa 
 Culpepper in 1719. 
 
 ^ n ! 559 Thomas Hare, gent, was buried here, 
 
 and in 1557, Mrs. Thomafine Calthorpe, Edmund, 
 
 fon of Edward Calthorpe, efq. in 1567. Mrs. Maud 
 
 F Copledike,
 
 62 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Copledike. wife of John Copledike, efq. in 1589.' 
 In 1286, fir Richard de Cam was here buried. 
 
 The prefent value is iol. and pays firft fruits and 
 tenths. 
 
 In i 7 33, the Rev. Samuel Baker was prefcnted to 
 this re&ory by the late fir Charles Turner, ban. of 
 Warham. 
 
 It is generally fa id that towns beginning with Kirk 
 fjgnify that their fcite is by fome church, but it rather 
 is a compound word, and wrote, as in Doomfday, 
 Ker, Che, or Ke. Kirkftead is wrote Ker-chefs- 
 flead, Chcs, or Che, fignifies always water, and" Ker 
 is the fame as Car; thus Carbroke is wrote Che- 
 rebroc, and lets forth a clear water, as Kercheby 
 does a dwelling by clear water.* 
 
 KIRKSTEAD. See in Langhall, Loddon hun- 
 dred. 
 
 NORTON 7 -SUBCOURSE, or SOUPECORS. 
 A free-man who was under the proteflion of the 
 abbot of Bury, and had 30 acres of land, &c. 
 and nine free-men held under him 20 acres. At the 
 furvey Gofcclin poffefTed it as a moiety of a caru- 
 cate, valued at 55. The foe of thefe nine free-men 
 was in the king arid the earl of Norfolk. Here was 
 a church endowed with 20 acres of free land, alfo a 
 free-man in king Edward's time, under protedion, 
 valued at lad. 
 
 Gofcelin abovementioriedwas alfo lord of Loddon, 
 and aflumed his name from that town. The lafl. of 
 this family of de Loddon dying without iilue male, 
 
 his 
 * Parkin.
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 63 
 
 his inheritance came to his three lifters and co-heirs; 
 Arnicia, one of them, marrying William de Beau- 
 champ, had an interefl: herein, and his defcendent, 
 John de Beauchamp, of Fifhyde, granted in the ;th 
 of Edward II. to Simon de Hederfet, the advowfon 
 of this church. 
 
 Gofcelin de Lodnes, or Loddon, as the regiflerof 
 Buiy teitifies, wns enfeolkd of one carucate of land, 
 &c. by the abbot, in the reign of the ConqQeror; 
 and in thc.Sihof Richard I. a fine was levied be- 
 tween the abbot of Bury, and Ernald de Charnels, 
 of a manor in Norton-Subcourfe which he then ac- 
 knowledged to hold of the abbot, with thofe of El- 
 linghana, Ouiddenham and Thurton, by one fee, 
 arid catlie-guard to Norwich. 
 
 In the soth of Henry III. Roger de Hales, Ralph 
 de Howe, Edward Charnels, and the lady Rivefhale, 
 held here, in Loddon, Hales, 8cc. three quarters of 
 a fee. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I. fir Roger de Hales, as 
 one of Gofccfin de Loddon's heirs, had an intereft 
 in it, and was patron of a moiety of the church. 
 In the 25th of that king, fir John de Beauchamp, 
 and Roger de Hales, levied a fine of the advowfon. 
 of the church, and agreed for them and their heirs 
 to prcfent by turns, 
 
 Godric had ths grant of a fmall fee, of which 
 three free-meu of the abbey of St. Bennec of Holme 
 were deprived, valued at 53. On Godric's death it 
 came as an efcheat to the crown, and was grant* 
 ed, with ifye manor of Heckingham, of which it was 
 a part, to the carl Warren ; and fir Roger de Thur- 
 F 2 kelbv,
 
 64 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 kelby, a jtfdge, gave it in the reign of Henry III. to 
 Langley abbey. 
 
 In 1428, the temporalities of this convent were 
 valued at 133. 4d. 
 
 On the diffolution it was granted to Thomas God- 
 fulve, efq. 
 
 Gooric had alfo the grant of fixtecn acres of land, 
 of wjiich a free-woman was difpoficfied. This is 
 placed in the hundred of Loddon, as belonging to 
 Hellington manor. 
 
 Robert Grcnon had twelve acres of land, as part 
 of the demean lands belonging to his manor of Lod- 
 don, which Ofbert held of him: this was the manor 
 of Bacon in Loddon. 
 
 Roger Bigot, anceftor of the earls of Norfolk, had 
 the grant of eight acres, out of which Ulketel, a 
 free-woman, was eje6lcd, valued at 8d. this is placed 
 in Loddon hundred: he alfo had 30 acres, of which 
 Ulchetel, a free-man, was deprived, and two tenants 
 held it at the furvey of the fee of Ulchetel. 
 
 The whole town was one leuca long, and half a 
 one broad. 
 
 John de Gernemuth, or Yarmouth, in the yth of 
 Edward I. had a grant of free-warren in this town 
 and in Heckingham ; and in the 2d ycr.r of Edward 
 II. a fine was levied between Roger de Hales, &c. 
 qiierents, and Roger Grys, defoiciant, of ' meffuages, 
 land, 8cc. here and in Hellington. 
 
 Ralph
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 65 
 
 Ralph dc Beaufoe had at the furvcy' what two 
 free-men, under the prote&ion of archbifliop Stigand. 
 were deprived of, valued at 2S. This was part of 
 Bcaufoe's manor of Aldby, and held by the Rofce- 
 lynes. 
 
 Ralph, lord Baynard, had the grant of 30 acres, 
 poffeffed before the conqueft by a free-man, valued 
 at IDS. This was part of Baynard's manor of 
 Kirby. 
 
 Be fides the different fees above-mentioned, the 
 Conqueror had in this town, at the lurvey, 30 acres 
 of land, &c. which belonged to a free-man of the 
 abbot of St. Bennet at Holme, valued at 43. and 
 Gofcelin de Norwich held it of the king, but now 
 was independent of any lord. 
 
 The temporalities of St. Olavc's priory were 6d, 
 of Campfey priory iSd. 
 
 The abbot of St. Bennet' s manor of Reedham ex- 
 tended into this town, and in the gd year of Hen- 
 ry III. there was an agreement made between Ste- 
 phen de Reedham and the abbot, whereby Stephen 
 was to hold the abbot's land here in Norton by half 
 a mark rent per arm. and in the i ith of Edward I. 
 tiie abbot granted to fir Bartholomew de Reedham, 
 that if the manor of Reedham fhould be recovered 
 of John dc Ingham, and the manor of Norton of fir 
 Thomas de Roicelyne, that then the abbot fhould 
 '4'ive back to iir Bartholomew the .deeds which he 
 -i^ave to the abbot ; and by another deed, Iir Bartho- 
 lomew quit-claimed to the abbot the homage of fir 
 Thomas Rolcelyne, for the manor of Norton ; dated 
 anno 11 Edward I. 
 
 F 3 This
 
 66 HUNDREDOF 
 
 This lordfhip carne ftbrn the Reedhams to the 
 Berneys. with the town of Reedham, and fo continu- 
 ed till fold, about the year 1716, to fir James Ed- 
 . wards. 
 
 It was valued in 1428 at 6s. Sd. and in the reign 
 of Philip and Mary, there was a rent r(Uiing out of 
 it of 45. 8d. then belonging to the bifhop of Nor- 
 wich, an.d formerly to the facrift of St. Bennet. 
 
 The cellerer of Norwich had alfo certain rents 
 here, in the time of Henry VI. by an old grant of 
 the Beaufoes. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Margaret, and was 
 a re&ory. In the $2d of Henry 111. a moiety ot 
 the advowfon was gi anted by Maud, widow of Ro- 
 ger de Hales, to Roger de Hales, with lands in 
 Hale and Loddon ; and in the yth of Edward I. 
 John de Beauchan.p gave his moiety to Simon de 
 Hederfet. 
 
 The re&or had at this time a manfe, with 50 acres 
 of land, valued at 20 mirks; and the piiorefs of 
 Bungay had a penfion of 35. per ami. 
 
 In the 24th of Edward III. licence was granted 
 to iir John de Norwich, and Remigius Hederfet, to 
 give the advowfon of this church to the matter and 
 chaplain of St. Mary of Raveningham. Sir John's 
 intereft herein came by his mother Catherine, wife 
 of fir Walter de Norwich, and a filler of fir Simon 
 de Hederfet, a judge; and fir Roger dc Male's inte- 
 reft herein was alfo in, fir John Norwich. 
 
 In 1350, William bifliop of Norwich appropri- 
 ated it to the matter and chaplains of Raveningham, 
 
 founded
 
 CLAVERING. 67 
 
 founded by fir John de Norwich, rcferving a pen- 
 ilon of ags. per ann. to the ice, and ordai-ning a vi- 
 carage, valued at ten marks, and the charter of f'oun- 
 darion is dated that year. 
 
 In 1387, the chauntry at Raveningham, for eight 
 chaplains and a malter, was removed by the king's 
 licence, and that of Henry bifhop of Norwich, and 
 bv fir John de Norwich's will, to this town: there 
 were then thirteen chaplains, and a new chapel was 
 built. 
 
 In 1350 the vicar was inflituted, and prefcntcd by 
 the cultos of Raveningham college; and in 1396 by 
 the matter of Mettingham college. 
 
 In the 33d of Henry VIII. fir Anthony Denny 
 had a grant of this appropriated reftory ; Roger 
 Caftlc, efq. had it in the 8th of Elizabeth, and the 
 curate ii {aid to have the tithe of this town, for offi- 
 ciating here and at Raveningham. 
 
 In 1552, lady Joan Denny, relicl of fir Anthony 
 Denny, prefented. 
 
 In 1603 it was ferved by a ftipendiary curate, 
 who returned in this town and Raveningham 145 
 communicants. 
 
 The church is a fingle pile, and thatched, with a 
 round tower and three bells : in the chancel are the 
 arms of Hales and Botetourt; alfo the arms of Eng- 
 land in a bordure, argent. 
 
 In i 739, the Rev. William Johnfon was prefented 
 to this curacy. 
 
 F 4 RAVENINGHAM,
 
 OS H U N D R E D O F 
 
 RAVENINGHAM, wrote in Doomfclay-bouk Ra- 
 venichara. Ralph, lord Baynard, had on the Con- 
 qu.efl; the grant of a lordfhip, of which Torn was 
 deprived ; and Einbold held it under the lord Ikiy- 
 nard at the furvey. In Torn's time it was valued at 
 305. at the furvey at 505. it was one leuca long, 
 and nine furlongs and an half broad. The {aid lord 
 had alfo the. grant of the lands of a free-man. In 
 the faid town there were four free-men who held 
 land, valued at. 205. but at the furvey at 305. 
 
 A family who took their name from the town 
 were enfeoffed of it by the Bigots, the capital lords. 
 Robert de Raveningham was lord in the reign of 
 Henry II. Thomas, his fon, held a whole fee here, 
 and was not a knight. In the 6th of king John, 
 William de Raveningham (as appears from the pipe 
 rolls) was found to owe sos. to the king, to have 
 twenty-four knights fummoncd to convene twelve 
 jurors on account of -perjury in an aiflfe of prefen- 
 tation to this churcjb. Roger de Raveningham was 
 living in the 2oth of Henry III, and in the $d of 
 Edward I. Robert de Raveningham, (on of Thomas, 
 conveyed by fine to Peter de Beccles, a lordfhip in 
 this town, which was conveyed by the faid Peter, 
 in the gth of that king, to Nicholas de Caftello, or 
 Caftell. In the 4th of Edward I. he was clerk in 
 the king's exchequer, when the king wrote to the 
 treafurer and chamberlain of the exchequer, to deli- 
 ver out of the treafury to his beloved clerk, Nicho- 
 las de Caftcllo, lol. 
 
 In the 6th of that reign, he wa:> the king's re- 
 membrancer in the exchequer: he farmed, in the 
 loth of the faid king, the hundreds of Humbleyard, 
 Biofield, Taverham and Walfham, during the king's 
 
 pleaiure,
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 69 
 
 pkafure, at 28!. per ann. and in the faid year bought 
 lands in this town of Walter de Mortimer. . 
 
 Sir Nicholas de Stutevile, in the i6th of that 
 reign, conveyed to him the manor of .Bedingham in 
 Loddon hundred: he was alfo, in the 14th of thac 
 king, a baron of the exchequer ; and was lord of 
 Hormngtoft in Launditch, in the iSth of Edward I. 
 
 In the sgth of Edward I. Gregory de CaftcHo, as 
 a truftee, fettled on Nicholas de Caftello twenty-one 
 meffuages, 700 acres of land, fourteen of meadow, 
 eight of wood, 94 of maiih, 77 of juncary, with 
 lol. 6s. rent in Raveningham, Hales, Loddon, &c. 
 for life; in the 5bth and 57th of Henry III. he 
 was warden of the mint, and in the ifl of Edward 
 1. prefented Bartholomew de Branceftre to make the 
 affay of money. 
 
 Mr. Parkin has given the pedigree of this family, 
 as collected from old writings, &c. but being in fome 
 things erroneous, he has from many ancient records 
 corrected it: but as it is not to our purpofe to enter 
 into a genealogical detail of families, we will, in 
 this inftance, decline giving his errors amended. 
 
 Mary, daughter of John Caflell, efq. of Raven- 
 ingham, married fir Edmund Bacon, bart. of Gil-> 
 lingham, his fecond wife, and had the impropriate 
 of Raveningham and Norton. The Dennys convey- 
 ed it to the Caitells. 
 
 In 1742, John Caflell, efq, was lord, and bears 
 argent, three caflles, tripple towered gules; crcit, a 
 dragon's head, 
 
 The
 
 7 o II a N D R E D O F 
 
 The abbot of Langley had a lordfliip held of th* 
 lord .Fitz- Walter, a. defcendent of lord Bavnard, lord 
 at the furvey, given with lands by feveral benefaclors, 
 fir Roger de Hales, Jeffrey de Mortimer, John de 
 Mortimer, fcc. William de Vernon. of Ravening- 
 harn, gave lands in this town and Norton. 
 
 Their temporalities were valued in 1428 at 2s6s. 
 gd. and granted at die diffolution to Thomas God- 
 falve, efq. 
 
 Sir Edmund Bacon, premier baronet of England, 
 is the prefent loifl : he married a daughter of the 
 late fir William B(-auchanip Proclor, bart. and knight 
 of the Bath, and has an haudfome feat here. 
 
 DEAN and CHAPTER of NORWICH'S FEE. Willi- 
 am de Beaufoe, biurop of Thetford, had a grant 
 from William I. of iat^l, Sec. valued at the furvey 
 at 35. of which a free-man was deprived, who was 
 under the protection of Aylmer, bifhop of Elmham. 
 which bifhop Beaufoe held as a lay-fee, and gave k 
 at his death to his church or fee, and fo are part of 
 the revenues of the dean and chapter at this time. 
 
 In 1298, there was a composition between the 
 prior and convent of Norwich, for two parts of the 
 great and fmall tithes of the demean lands of Ro- 
 bert, late fon of Thomas Bavnard, held by Nicho- 
 las de Caftcllo, paying yearly to the almoner 405. 
 and was farmed by die reclor of this church. 
 
 The temporalities of this fee was held by the lords 
 Baidolph.of the fee; before them by the family of 
 cie Ages. William, fon of fir William dc Ages, 
 Lad an imereft here. John de Ages gave to Jeffrey 
 dc Mortimer, rector of this church, a certain ho-
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 71 
 
 mage in the reign of Henry III. At this time there 
 is a lordfhip that bears this name. 
 
 At the grand fiirvey the Conqueror had a lordfhip, 
 of which Godric was his fleward. Olf was lord in 
 "king Edward s time and deprived, and after him Ro- 
 bert Malet had an imercft in it. 
 
 Eleven free-men belonged to the lord's fold, and 
 held in commendation what was valued in king Ed- 
 ward's time at 305. at the furvey it paid 6os, quit- 
 rent. Keielfrcda had ieven acres with a marfli, va- 
 lued at i2d. 
 
 This lordfhip remained in the crown fometime, 
 and then was granted to the earl Warren on an ex- 
 change for other lands. The ancient family of de 
 Mortimer held it under the earl Warren. Sir Wil- 
 liam de Mortimer pofteffcd it before the reign of 
 Henry II. lord alfo of Attleburgh. 
 
 In the 4th of Edward I. fir William de Mortimer 
 recovered the advowfon againil Robert de Ravcning- 
 ham; after this it came to the Rofcelines. Sir Peter 
 de Rofceiine was lord in the year 1312, and pi e- 
 fented then to this church, fir Thomas, his fon and 
 fceir; but being in the rebellion in 1323, the king 
 preferred. 
 
 Soon after it was conveyed by fir Thomas Rof- 
 ceiine, by deed, dated at Norwich in the 6th of Ed- 
 ward J1I. to dame Catherine, relict of fir Walter de 
 Norwich, and fir John their ion, and to Remigius 
 (de Hederfet) brother of the fame dame Catherine, 
 this lordfhip, and the homage and fervice of fir 
 Gregory de CaUello, knt. which he owes to him for 
 lands and tenements, which formerly were Roger 
 
 dc
 
 72 HUNDREDOF 
 
 de Raveningha-m's, in Ravcningham, Tibcnham, 
 Thurton, Loddon, and Norton, together with the 
 advowibn of the church of Raveningham, Sec. 
 
 Sir Walter de Norwich was one of the barons of 
 .the Exchequer, conflituted locum icncns of the trea- 
 furcr of the Exchequer in the 5th of Edward II. 
 till the king could provide one, and in the faid year, 
 on Oclober 25, admitted one of the privy-council. 
 By Catherine his wife he had fir John de Norwich, 
 Jiis eldcLl fon anct heir, who in 1350 founded a col- 
 lege here, and fettled this lordfhip, Sec. on it. 
 
 Another confiderable lordfhip was granted on the 
 c-onqueft to Roger Fitz-Renard. of which Ofborn 
 was deprived, a riiane of king Edward ; and there 
 -was a church endowed with 60 acres; the whole 
 valued at the furvey at 4.0$. before at 2os. 
 
 The fon and heir of Fitz-Renard affumed the name 
 of Hadeflon, formerly a town, but now the chief 
 manor in fiunwell, and was held by them of the 
 earl Warren. The Mortimers had an intereft in iti 
 and were enfeoifed of it by that earl, and continued 
 in that family till it came to the Rofcelines, who 
 conveyed it to the family of de Norwich, and by 
 them fettled on the college of Raveningham, where 
 it continued till its diffolution. 
 
 ' Roger Bigot, ancefior of the earls of Norfolk, had 
 r. grant of twelve acres of land, valued in his lord-' 
 iJbip of Haddifcoe. 
 
 In the 35th of Edward I. John de Dunhead, and 
 I (abet de Haggele, held in this town, WacTton, Lod- 
 cton, Kirby, Sec. three fees, Sec. of Roger Bigot, earl 
 wi Noitolk. 
 
 Ralph
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 73 
 
 Ralph de Beaufoe had one focman, with one acre 
 of land, valued at 2d. which belonged to his lord- 
 (hip of Aldby, in this hundred. 
 
 Alan, earl of Richmond, had the grant of thirty 
 acres of land, which a free-man of king Edward 
 was deprived of, valued at 55. 
 
 Here was alfo belonging to the king's manor, a 
 free-man, who before the Conqueft held his land 
 independent of any lord: this free-man, called Che- 
 tel Frieday, had fevcn acres and a borderer, and a 
 marfh valued at i 2d. 
 
 Ralph, the late carl of Norfolk, held it when he 
 was outlawed ; it belonged to his fee then, and after, 
 but paid no fervice to him, or to the king, at the 
 iurvey, as he proved ; this was for the maintenance 
 of the lord. Under the title of Invafions,'* we find 
 that Ralph, late earl of Norfolk, had a free-man 
 who held three acres under him, and that Nicholas, 
 the goldfmidi of Hugh earl of Chelier had feized on 
 it, valued at 6d. but at the furvey was in the Con- 
 queror's hand, and granted after to the earl Warren, 
 and fo united to his loidOiip abovcmentioncd. 
 
 William de Noicrs took care of 30 acres of land, 
 &:c. of which three frcomen of bifhop Stigand were 
 deprived: this belonged to the king's manor of Toft- 
 Monks, and was valued with it. 
 
 RAVFNINOHAM COLLEGE, was founded by fir John 
 de Norwich in 1330, for a mailer and eight fecular 
 
 priefts, 
 
 * Invafiones In Ravingeha' i lib. hora. de iii ac. 7 erat in 
 cenfu de Ravingeham qu*. Rad: forisfec. hunc detinuit Nichs. 
 . Comitis Hugon. 7 val. vid. mo. e. in manu regis.
 
 74 HUNDRED OF 
 
 priefts, to officiate in the church of Ravcningham, 
 and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In his foun- 
 dation deed he expreffes hirnfelf in thele words : 
 " Calling frequently to mind that faring of the 
 vl Apoftle, that what feed a man (hall fow, the fame 
 *' fhall he reap, 8cc. for his own foul's health, and 
 " that of Margaret his wife, for the honour of God 
 " and his mother, St. Andrew the Apoflle, and all 
 " the Saints ; he- founds it by deed, dated at Thorpe 
 " by Norwich, July 25, 1350." 
 
 This fir John was vice-admiral of England ; his 
 two brothers, fir Thomas and fir Roger de Norwich, 
 lie buied in Raveningham church. 
 
 Sir Walter, fon and heir of fir John the founder, 
 married Margaret, daughter of Mr Miles Staplcton, 
 of Ingham, and was father of fir John de Norwich, 
 \vho died in 1373, and was buried in Raveningham 
 church, by his father fir Walter, " there to reft, 
 " till it could be removed to the new church of 
 " Norton-Coupe-Cors;" to the building of which 
 he gives 450!. He was the laft heir male of this 
 family. 
 
 The college, by the founder fir John and his heirs, 
 was nobly endowed with the manois of Lyng, Howe, 
 Blackworth, Hadeflon, Snoring Parva, the advow- 
 fou and appropriation of this church of Ravening- 
 ham ; lands and tenements in Eaft and Weft Wre- 
 tham, and Illington, Mcttingham caftle, the manors 
 of Tlketefhale, Shipmeadow, Melles, Broomfiekl, 
 Wenhafton and Redelham ; lands in Barfliam and 
 Beccles; the reveifion of the manor and advowfon 
 of Dalinghow, and the fifth part of the lordfhip of 
 Alderton in Suffolk. 
 
 The
 
 GLAVERING. 75 
 
 The jury, in a writ of Quod Damnum, in the 5th 
 of Richard II. find it would not be to the king's 
 prejudice, if fir John de Plaiz, fir Richard de Bois, 
 kc, removed this college of eight chaplains to Nor- 
 ton, and augmented it with five more ; and in the 
 3 nh of Richard If. the college was removed from 
 this town to the reclory houfe at Norton. In the 
 j^th of that king, Holm-hall in Raveningham was 
 granted to it; and in his i /th year, fir Miles Sta- 
 pleton. Sec. feoffees, aliened to it three meiluages, 
 land, &c. in Noiton, Carlton, Howe, and Peres-hail 
 in Bunwell, with lauds in Ingham, Knapton, Brin- 
 ton, Sec. the advowions oi Tybenhaui and (Jarlton, 
 Bunvveli and Howe. 
 
 On the death of fir John de Norwich, t,he lafl 
 heir male of this family, without iffuc, the lady Ca- 
 therine de Brewes w:>.s found heir to fir John, and 
 the inheritance, as his coufm, being daughter and 
 licir to his brother, fir Thomas dc Norwich. To 
 this lady, her uncle, fir Roger de Norwich, convey- 
 ed the lordfhip of Kimberlev about 1374. In the 
 49th of Edward III. fhe confirmed the grants of her. 
 anceftors to this college, and fettled her inheritance 
 on her truftees, and being a nun at Dartfoid in Kent, 
 in the ift of Richard II. and lady of the capital ma- 
 nor of Great Mamngham in Noiiolk, licence was 
 granted in the Sth of that king, on September 3, to 
 Ler feoffees to amortife it to the priory of Dartford. 
 
 On July 5, anno 6th of Richard II. licence was 
 granted to the truflccs to remove the. na after and 
 eight chaplains of this college from Noiton to the. 
 caflle of Mettingham in Sufiolk, and to increafe the 
 fame to thirteen ; to endow them with the faid caflle, 
 the manor of Ilketediall in Suffolk, Sec. where it 
 continued till the diffolution, being furrcndsrcd to 
 
 Henrv
 
 7 o HUNDRED OF 
 
 Henry VIII. on April 8, anno 33- and on the 
 of the faid month and year, was granted to fir An- 
 thony Denny, with the appropriated reaories of this 
 town, Norton, &c. held by his ion Henry Denny, 
 cfq. in the 4th of Elizabeth. 
 
 In 1349, the firft matter of this college admitted, 
 prelented by fir John de Norwich, and alfo reclor of 
 Raveningham, as all his fncccffors were. In 1392, 
 Robert de Willoughby, lord Erelby, prefentcd. 
 
 Mr. Richard Shelton occurs in 1530 ; he had fuch 
 fkill in water-works, that in 1528 his advice was 
 ii fed in cutting Yarmouth haven. 
 
 In 1539, Thomas Manning was prefented to the 
 college by Charles duke of Suffolk, in right of his 
 wife Catherine. He was fuffragan bifhop of Ipf- 
 \vich-. 
 
 The town feems to derive its name from fome wa- 
 ter or river, called Raveri ; thus Raven fwortli in 
 Durham, and Ravensrield in Yorkshire, Ravenlborn, 
 a river in Kent. 
 
 The church of Raveningham is dedicated to St. 
 Andrew, and was anciently a reftory, valued at 32 
 marks; arid in the reign of Henry III. the reclor 
 had a manfe belonging to it, with a carucate of 
 land. 
 
 Gatherine; relicl of fir Walter de Norwich, and 
 fir John de Norwich, had licence of mortmain to 
 give the patronage to the city of Norwich; but this 
 not taking effect, they had a new licence to annex it 
 to Hickling priory ; but Catherine dying, fir John 
 had a grant, in the i yth of Edward III. to give and 
 
 appropriate
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 77 
 
 appropriate it to his college here. Anthony, bifhop 
 of Norwich, on this refcrved^ the firft fruits to his 
 fee; and on July 24, 1350, bifhop Batcman decreed 
 a penfion of 365. pcf ann. to be paid to his fee. 
 
 At the difiblution the appropriated rcclory was 
 granted, as is above-mentioned, \\ith the patronage 
 ef the curacy, to Gr Anthony Denny, and from that 
 family to Roger Caflcll, eiq. who held it in the 8th 
 of Elizabeth, in \\hich family it continues, and is 
 icrved by a llipendiary curate. 
 
 The curate returned, in 1603, 92 communicants. 
 
 The church has a nave, north and fouth aile, with 
 a chancel covered with lead, and a round tower 
 ivith liiree bells. 
 
 In the chancel lie many grave-flones in memory 
 
 of the Caftells. &c. John Cajlel, Efq; aged 44, 
 
 buried April 16, 1593, find Frances his wife, daughter 
 of Thomas Planter, of Sotterley in Suffolk, EJq; Febru- 
 ary 14, 1614, with the arms of Gaftell impaling 
 Playtcr. 
 
 Roger Cajlell, EJq. of Ravcningham, true owner of 
 the retteries and parfonages of Norton-SubcourJt and Ra- 
 veningJiam, died May 4, 1582. 
 
 Eleanor, latt wife ofTalmach Cajlell, ofRaveningham, 
 EJq; daughter of Sir William de Grey, of Merton in 
 Norfolk, departed, be. Nov. 9, 1648, with the arms 
 of Caftell and Grey. 
 
 Roger Cajlell, efq. fecond Jon of John Caflcll, Efq;; 
 teas buried Sept, 3, 1644, -and Caftell impaling Tal- 
 aiache. 
 
 G
 
 7 8* HUNDREDOF 
 
 Mary, late wife of Roger Cafldl, EJq; fecond daugh- 
 ter of Sir Liondl Tallemache, of Helmingham in Suf- 
 folk, Bart, buried June 23, 1667, in the 8 ad year of her 
 
 age. 
 
 Avice, wife of John Cajlell Gent, departed, kc. Sep- 
 tember \. 1715, aged 54, with the arras of C a dell, 
 and London of" Aldby. 
 
 By the communion table Here lyeth Ann, the wife 
 cf Roger Cajlell, jim. and daughter of Richard Gardi- 
 diner, of Cranford in Sujfolk, who died March 2, 1697, 
 aged 21 years. 
 
 On the foutli fide of the chancel, by the wall, an 
 altar tomb, and on it a black marble, thus infcribed, 
 Roger Cajlell, Efq; youngejlfon of Roger Caftell, Efq; 
 and Mary his wife, daughter of Sir Lionell Tallemaclie, 
 Bart, departed, &c. Jan. 17, 1708, in the &6th year 
 of his age, and left two fons, John and Roger. He 
 was eminent for his loyalty to King Charles the Firjl, hav- 
 ing ferved him in all the civil war raifed again/l him. 
 
 On the north fide of the nave between the two 
 upper pillars, a grey marble, with an effigv of 
 brafs, See. 
 
 Here lyeth buried under thisjlone of mdrbyil, 
 Margaret, fometime wife of Humphrey Cajt)ll t 
 Late wife unto Ralph Willoughby, 
 Squier for King Richard the Third's bodyl 
 The yere of God M.CCCC.LXXX and three t 
 On the ix of March departed foe 
 For whofe fowle befeche yon hartyly to pray 
 And devowtly a pater nojler and avc to 'fay 
 
 Jtr
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 79 
 
 'It wns ornamented with brafs efcutcheons ; one 
 was -lately remaining, with the arms of Willoughby 
 impaling Bokenham or liraunch. 
 
 Near to this, Orate p. aab; Jo/is. 
 tis et Elcne u\or. fuar. quar. aiab; ft pitidur 
 
 Herc arc alfo feveral tomb-fkmes, in memory of 
 the faraiiics of Denny, Pearfe. Broome, Cooper, 8cc. 
 
 William Raveningham was buried in an altar tomb 
 in the church-yard, anno' 1640, by the end of the 
 north aile. 
 
 In the i 6th of Richard II. it was found that fir 
 George Felbrigg, 8ce. might grant a mefluage and 
 160 acres of land here, to the priory of Herringfleet 
 in Sutiolk, held of Ralph Bigot, Nicholas Caftell, 
 and \Villiam Ingleby, knt. This was granted on 
 January 26, anno aSth of Henry VIII. to Henry 
 Jerningham. 
 
 In 1739, the Rev. William Johnflon, curate of 
 Norton-Subcourfe, was prefented to the curacy of 
 Raveningharn. 
 
 STOCKTON, wrote Stoutuna InDoomfday-book. 
 William de Noiers, at the grand furvey, was fleward 
 of this lordfhip, for the Conqueror, on the depriva- 
 tion of Stigand, archbifhop of Canterbury, who was 
 lord before the conquest, and held it as a lay fee, 
 and as a beruite to his manor of Earfham ; it was 
 two leucas long, one broad, paid 53. 4d. gelt, and 
 was valued in Earfham. 
 
 It remained in the crown till king Stephen granted 
 
 it 'to Hugh Bigot, on his being created earl of Nor- 
 
 G 2 folk
 
 So HUNDRED OF 
 
 folk; Hugh, his grandfon, earl of Norfolk, married 
 Maud, daughter and co-heir to the Marfhals, earls 
 of Pembroke, by whom file had Roger Bigot, earl 
 of Norfolk, and fir Ralph, a younger fon, who was 
 cnfeoffed of this lordfhip, and held it under the ear! ; 
 to this Ralph, Walter de Shipmeadow, of Suffolk, 
 conveyed by fine, in the 24th of Henry 111. his 
 right of fifhing in the river Wavency between the 
 towns of Stockton and Shipmeadow, and in the cut- 
 ting of reed, rufh, flag, Sec. he married Berta, daugh- 
 ter of the Lord Furnival, and died without iffue, as 
 .did Roger, his brother, earl of Norfolk; fo that thr 
 inheritance came to Roger Bigot, eldeft Ion of Hugk 
 Bigot, who is faid to be chief-juflice of England. 
 
 Roger being thus heir, and earl of Norfolk, con- 
 firmed to his brother, fir John Bigot^ this lordfhip ; 
 and in the 15th of Edward I. was found to have 
 free-warren, the affife, a gallows, Sec. he died in the 
 330! of Edward I. when it was held by him in capitc 
 of the king. Roger, his brother, the earl, having 
 no children, made the king his heir, and difinherited 
 fir John and his children in fomc difguft : fir Henry 
 .Spelman lays, " that the carl being indebted to him, 
 he was too prefling on that account." He left a fon, 
 fir Ralph, who proved his age in the 34th of Edw. I. 
 had livery, and was living in the 3d year of Ed- 
 ward III. 
 
 Sir Ralph Bigot, fon of fir Ralph, fold in the i6th 
 of Edward III. to fir Roger de Sotterly, i is. 6d. rent 
 per annum, with the rent of 1500 herrings, in Gi- 
 ielham, Sotterly, &c. 
 
 Sir John Bigot was his fon and heir, and died lord 
 about 1390, lather of fir Ralph, who married Eli- 
 zabeth, daughter and co-heir of fir Thomas Morti- 
 mer
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 81 
 
 mcr, of Attleburgh, by whom he had a daughter and 
 heir, Elizabeth. Sir Ralph's will is dated at Gel- 
 dellone, February 20, 141 <, ; fhe furvived him, and 
 married to her fecond hufband, Henry Pakenham, 
 efq. and to her third, Thomas Manning, efq. By 
 her will, proved in 1463, fhe was buried in the Au- 
 guftine Friars church of Norwich, and gave to her 
 hufband Manning, her manors in Ellingham Magna, 
 fcc, 
 
 Elizabeth, daughter and heir of fir Ralph Bigot, 
 brought it by marriage to William Garneys, efq. his 
 will is dated February 13, in the 8th of Henry V. 
 xvhercby he gives to Elizabeth, his wife, this lordfhip, 
 and the foe of Stockton, with the manor of Berys in 
 Geldeflone, Sec. for life, and at her death, to Ralph, 
 his fon and heir, Sec. 
 
 Ralph Garneys, efq. of Kenton in Suffolk, inhe- 
 rited it, but died without iffue in 1446 ; and in the 
 fkid year, Edmund Swathing, efq. conveyed by fine, 
 his right in this lordfhip to William de la Pole, mar- 
 quis and earl of Suffolk. 
 
 After this, in the firfl year of Edward IV. Alice, 
 then dutchefs, and John her fon, duke of Suffolk, 
 was querents in a fine, and Margaret Swathing, 
 Thomas Sharington, Amabil Morpeth, and William 
 Garneys, deforcients (as heirs to Ralph Garneys) 
 furrender their interefl herein. 
 
 We have feen a particular grant of this Alice, as 
 follows : " Know all myne executors, and all (oiks, 
 " that I Alyfe, dutchefs of Suffolk, have geven and 
 " granted to my dere and well-beloved fone John, 
 ' duk'e of Suffolk, and to my lady Elizab. his wife, 
 ' iiilcr to pur ibyercyne lord, king Edward 4, all my 
 G 3 ftuffc
 
 S* , HUNDRED OF 
 
 * Ruffe and plate of filver and gilte, and of gold, 
 
 ' and all my beddys of clorh of gold, and of (ilk, 
 
 '' and of arras, and of tapeftre work, Sec. with God's 
 
 *' bleffing and myne for ever. Dated at Eve. Oc- 
 
 *' tobei'3, ao. xi, Edward 4. In wimels of which 
 
 " thinge, to this dede and graunte, figned of my 
 
 " hande, I have fett my feale, ALYCE. 
 
 On the attainder of Edmund de la Pole, earl of 
 Suffolk, it came to the crown, and was granted by 
 Henry VIII. to Charles Brandon, dtikc of 'Suffolk, 
 and on his death to lady Ann, of Cleves, and flic 
 held it in the 2d of Edward VI. then the divorced 
 wile of Henry VIII. 
 
 After this it was again in the crown, and queen 
 Elizabeth pofTefTed it, with the foe, valued in 1570 
 at 49!. 145. 3d. and was farmed of her by Mr. 
 Smith, of Winfton, paying a fee-farm rent. The 
 foe took in the manors of Ellingham, Gillingham, 
 Goldefton, Winfton, Windale, and Kirby Cane, the 
 court baron and lete for the foe were then annually 
 kept on St. Margaret's day, and the cuftora of the 
 manor, Sec- was, " that the bailiff, or any tenant of 
 the fame, might take diftrefs in the foken of any 
 man, either dwelling or having goods within the 
 fame (the debt being under 405.) and have the aclion 
 tried on St. Margaret's day; the fheriffof the county 
 could not arrefl within the foken, but break the writ, 
 and direa the warrant to the bailiff of the manor 
 who executed it : by their charter they are not to ferve 
 at affife or feffions, and all the tenants have liberty 
 to common in the fen called Micklefen, which lieth 
 in Geldefton and Ellingham." 
 
 On the firft of July, in the 3 d of James I. this 
 manor and ioc was granted to Charles, Duke of 
 
 York,
 
 C L A V E R I N G. -? s 
 
 York, the king's fon ; and in the lyth of Charles I. 
 \vas held in fee-farm rent of him, by Simon Smith, 
 efq. 
 
 The temporalities of Langley abbey were 35. id. 
 ob. and the loi dfhip of Kirby extended into this 
 town. 
 
 - The church is a reclory, dedicated to St. Michael : 
 in the reign of Edward I. Roger Bigot, earl of Nor- 
 folk, and earl marfhal, as capital lord, was patron, 
 and it was then valued at twelve marks ; the reclor 
 had a manfe with thirty acres of land. 
 
 In 1505 John Pinchebeke died reclor. and was 
 buried in the college church of Mettingham, and 
 gave eleven acres of land in Kirby field to his fuc- 
 ceflbrs, with one acre and an half in Winfton field, 
 " to keep every year a certain and yere-day with 
 iiicfle and dirige ;" and to the church of Stockton 1 1 
 acres in Winfton: from the Mowbrays this came to 
 the Howards, dukes of Norfolk, who were patrons. 
 
 In 1603 the reclor' returned forty-one commu- 
 nicants. 
 
 In 1758 the Rev. Yalentia Lumley was prefented 
 to this reclory by Valencia Lumley, gent. 
 
 . The prefent value is 81. and is difcharged ; the 
 patronage is in the duke of Norfolk, who is lord. 
 
 In the chancel, on a grave-ftone with a brafs plate 
 " Hie jacet Johs. Sale, S.T.B. in medicina licen- 
 " ciatus, egregie in utraq ; facultate doclus, legum 
 " infuper quas vocant communium non mediocriter 
 41 peritus, qui poftquam hie Stockton reclor anima- 
 G 4 " rum
 
 84 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 " rum curx diligenter et fideliter p. quinquennium 
 " inferviflet, ac tantum non callapfas reclbrix aedes 
 " fuis folis fumpdbus inftauratfet, ifto fub marmoie 
 " conditus eft, 5 -Marty, 15. 
 
 In the chancel, on a grave-flonc Orate p. aia 
 Willi Wright, qui obi. 25, die Maij, 1513. 
 
 In the church the arms of Steward impaling Read, 
 and Or ale probono Jialu Augi'Jlini Steward, civis et al- 
 dmnanni Xorwici, 1335. Hncaux impaling Padon. 
 Hobart impaling Hneaux. Godfalve. Bigot of 
 Stockton, alfo Carvil. 
 
 William Wright, of this to\vn, buried in the 
 church, 1515, gives to the commoners of Stockton, 
 61. on condition " that they can find means to get 
 more friends, and purchafe as much land as (hail 
 purchafe the whole fee. Reg* JohnJon,foL 226. 
 
 THORPE, called Haddifcoe-Thorpe. or Thorpe 
 near Haddifcoe, to diftinguifli it from cither towns of 
 the fame name in this county. 
 
 This town is not mentioned in the grand furvey, 
 being part of Roger Bigot's manor of Haddifcoe, 
 and part of Ralph de Beaufoe's manor of Aldby in 
 this hundred, and therein accounted for. From the 
 JBigots, earls of Norfolk, it came to Thomas de 
 Brotherton, earl of Norfolk, by a grant of his bro- 
 ther Edward II. and fo to the lord Seagrave, the 
 Mowbrays, and the Howards, dukes of Norfolk. 
 
 Tn the soth of Edward III. Stephen de Catfield, 
 William de Thorpdale, 8cc. held a quarter of a fee, 
 which Nicholas de Potter, and the tenants of Johu 
 de Thorpdale, formerly held of the earl of Norloik ; 
 
 and
 
 CLAY E'R I N G. 85 
 
 and in the 4th of Henry IV. the lord had a quarter 
 of a fee. called Potters. Richard de Catfield died 
 feifcd of the manor of Thorpe by Haddifcoe, in the 
 i ft year of Richard II. 
 
 William Caificld, of this town, died in 14/4., 
 was buried in this church, and gave this manor to 
 Alice, his wife, for life remainder to Richard de 
 Southwell, efq. of Wood-Rifing, who had bought 
 the reverfion. 
 
 The Bigots, the Mowbrays, and the Howards, 
 were alfo capital lords of tlm lee, and prefemed to a 
 of the church. 
 
 Ralph de Reaufoe's intcreft herein, as lord of 
 Aldby, came to his daughter and heir. Agnes, mar- 
 ried to Hubert de Rye, and this was held by the 
 Rofcelines, with Aldby. William de Rofceline was 
 lord and patron of a moiety of this church in the 
 reign of Edward I. under the barons of Rye. 
 
 After this it was in the Marfhalls, and from them 
 came to the Lovcls and the Parkers, lords Morley ; 
 Edward lord Morley, in the reign of queen Eliza- 
 beth, conveyed it to his fecond ion, Henry Parker, 
 efq. After this it was conveyed to the Calthorpcs, 
 and Chriiiopher Calthorpe, eiq. of Aldby, prefent- 
 ed to this church in the yth of James I. Sir James 
 Calthorpe, his fon and heir, gave it to his fecond 
 Ion Henry, who was recorder of London, and a 
 knigrr, and died feifed of it in the year 1637, and 
 ot Ampton, near Bury St. Edmund's, in Suffolk.: 
 and his immediate defcendeut, James Calthorpe, eitj. 
 is lord. 
 
 Robert's
 
 86 HU-NDREDOF 
 
 Robert's (fon of .Corbun) lordfhip in Ha-ddifcoc, 
 alfo extended into this town, which came after to the 
 Albini's, earls of Arundel, the Tatefhales, and the 
 Cliftons. 
 
 In the co th of Edward III. the -prior of St. O- 
 lave's, the heirs of Robert de Gillingham, 8cc. held 
 here a quarter of a fee, which the prior and Robert 
 formerly held of the lord Tatefhale ; and in 142$ 
 the temporalities of that priory here were valued at 
 los. ob-. Adam Bacon aliened to it three meifuages 
 and 45 acres of land here, in Norwich,. Sec. anno 6th 
 of Edward II. 
 
 The Gilberiine nuns had temporalities alfo, valued 
 at los. 
 
 The church is a reflory, dedicated to St. Matthew, 
 and confided of two medieties. In the iSth of 
 Henry III. Andrew Wafcelein granted by fine to 
 John Rofceline, the advowfon of a mediety ; and 
 in the reign of Edward I. William Rofceline was 
 patron of a medietv, valued at 405. and Robert de 
 Loddon, patron of the other, valued at 405. 
 
 In January, 1361, there was an agreement between 
 lord Movvbray, and William de Morley, marfhal pf 
 Ireland, patrons, to confolidate the two medieties, 
 and to prefent alternately. 
 
 In 1591, the patronage of one mediety went to 
 the king, on the attainder of Philip earl of Arudel ; 
 and in 1603 the recior returned thirty-eight commu- 
 nicants, 
 
 The prefent value of the church is 3!. 6s. 4d. 
 
 In 
 
 'is .difcharged.
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 87 
 
 In 1758, the Rev. Samuel Browne was preferred 
 to ihis reclory by the crown, who has an alternate 
 prefentation widi James Calthorpe, ei'q. of Ampton* 
 
 THURl.TON, or THURVFRTON. In this town 
 were feveral fordfliips at the time that the grand fur- 
 vey vyas made. One was in the king's hand, and 
 William de Noicrs took care of it for the king, of 
 which Stigand the archbiihop was deprived. 
 
 One free-man pcffeffcd it under Stigand, and va- 
 lued at 2s there were alib two free-men with land, 
 &c. valued at i6d. and here was one free-man, the 
 predeceflbr of Ralph de Bcaufoe, widi eight acres, 
 valued at isd. 
 
 It remained in the crown till it was granted to Ro- 
 bert de Beaumont, earl of Leicefler, who gave it to 
 the abbey of Preaux in Normandy, with the lordlhip 
 of Toft-Monks in this hundred. 
 
 The lord Eaynard's manor of Chedgrave extended 
 into this town, and was held of them by the family 
 of de Rofceline ; from that family it defcended to 
 the lords Willoughby, who held one fee here, in 
 Chedgrave, Sec. of the lords Htz- Walter, and were 
 patrons of a medicty of the church. 
 
 In the gift of Henry VIII. fir Nicholas Hare con- 
 veyed by fine to William Read, citizen and mercer 
 of London, the manor of Baynard's in Thurverton 
 or Thuriton, with mefluages and lands in Thorpe, 
 Raveningham, &c. and his fon and heir, William, 
 was lord in the reign of q-ucen Mary, and Thomas 
 Ward in the g-jth qf Elizabeth. 
 
 Aflr
 
 88 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Afh Windham, cfq. was lord in 1742, and his 
 fon, William Windham, efq. fucceedccl him, who 
 dying in 1 761, left his fon and heir a minor, Willi- 
 am Windham, of Felbrigg, efq. 
 
 Alan, earl of Richmond, had a frnall fee, of 
 which a free-man was deprived, valued at 1 6d. 
 
 William de Scohies had the lands of feven free- 
 men, with the moiety of another, and Odar held it 
 of William, of thefe his ptedeceffor, Ralph de Beau- 
 foe, had the protection only, in the reign of king 
 Edward ; and the moiety of a church, valued at ios.. 
 with 12 acres. 
 
 Roger Bigot, anceftorof the earls of Norfolk, had 
 the giant of a fmail fee, and Robert de Veaux helcj 
 it under Roger : this belonged to Haddifcoe manor. 
 
 Roger, fon of Reynard, pofTeffed lands, &c. xvhich 
 <t free-man held under the protection only of RaluU 
 cle Beaufoe, valued at 8s. 
 
 In Thurlton alfo at the furvey were eight acres, 
 which a free-man of the predeceffor of Ralph de 
 Beaufoe held ; then this free-man belonged to no 
 lordfliip, but is filled the king's free-man: this was, 
 valued at i2d. 
 
 The town is often called in in old deeds, Thur^- 
 ton by Haddiicoe. 
 
 The temporalities of St. Bennet's abbey were 75. 
 id. of St. Olave's 6d. of Norwich 283. 6d. ob. of 
 Carrowe priory us. of the priory of de Preaux 
 6s, ^d. 
 
 Robert
 
 CLAVE R. ING. 89 
 
 Robert Thurgarton aliened to the priory of Nor- 
 vvich a cottage and fix acres of land here and in 
 Toft-Monks. 
 
 The church is dedicated to All Saints, and was a 
 reclory of two medieties. In the reign of Edward I. 
 fir Peter Rofceline was patron of one mediety, valu- 
 ed at four marks, and the reclor had a manfe with 
 15 acres; and Robert de Loddon was patron of the 
 other, valued alfo at four marks, with a manfe and 
 15 acres. 
 
 In the 6th of Edward III. Thomas de Morle of 
 Norwich, and Beatrix his wife, daughter and heireis 
 of fir Thomas Rofceline, knt. conveyed to William 
 bifhop of Norwich, the advowfon of this. church by 
 fine. 
 
 William Ayrmine, biQiop of Norwich, bought 
 the patronage of both the medieties, but in the 8th 
 of Edward the $d, the hofpital of St. Giles in Nor- 
 wich had licence of appropriation of them, on the 
 grant of the faid bifhop, who accordingly appropri- 
 ated them for a chaumry and three chaplains in his 
 chapelat the palace in Norwich. Afterwards Wal- 
 ter Hart, bifhop of Norwich, on the refignation of 
 this church by the proctors of the hofpital, remitted 
 the fuftemation of the three chaplains to the faid 
 hofpital, and the payment of 6s. 8d. per ami, paid 
 on account of the appropriation, in the year 1448. 
 
 In 1504, the redor was prefented by the mayor, 
 Sec. of Norwich; and in 1603 the rector returned 
 140 communicants. 
 
 The value was 61. 135. 4d. 
 
 Againft
 
 9 o HUNDRED OF 
 
 Agamft the north wall of the chancel. Here lyeth 
 Ann. Denny, cne of Lhe eight daughters and co-heirs of 
 William Sfdnor, EJq; and wife of Glover Denny, Genl. 
 who died March 9, 1665. 
 
 The patronage of Thurhon is in the mayor and 
 corporation of Norwich, who in 1757 prdented the 
 Rev. Paul Colombine. 
 
 TOFT-MONKS, or TOFT. William de Noicrs 
 was fteward of the principal manor in this town, at 
 the time of making the book of Doomfday, for the 
 Conqueror, who had fcizcd on it, on the deprivation 
 of archbifhop Stigand, who held it as a lay-fee in 
 the reign of the Confeflbr, and was valued, &c. in 
 Haddifcoe. 
 
 It remained in the crown till granted to Robert de 
 Bellemont, earl of Mcilent in Normandy, and of 
 Leiccfler in England, in the reign of Henry I. wh6 
 gave it to the benedi&ine abbey of de Pratellis (or 
 Preaux) in Normandy; and on that account was 
 called Monks-Tofts. In the 14th of Edward I. thfc 
 abbot claimed the afhfe, ai gallows, and many other 
 liberties, who had a cell here. 
 
 In the sotli of Richard II. fir Lewis Clifford, by- 
 the mediation and licenfe of that king, had a grant 
 from the abbot of Preaux, of this manor, for life, on, 
 a certain rent, with the remainder to his fon Lewis, 
 withWarmington in Warwickfhire, Spclbury in Dor- 
 fetfliire, and Aflon in Bcrkfhire ; and in the parlia- 
 ment at Leicefter, in the 2d of Heiiry V. ou the dif- 
 folution of alien priories, it came to the crown, and 
 was granted for life to fir Thomas Erpingham, 
 March 15th, anno 6th. The faid king in his igth 
 year gave it to Eaton college ; after this Edward IV. 
 
 gave
 
 CLAVERIN G. 91 
 
 gave it to King's college, Cambridge, where it ftili 
 continues. Henry V. on its diflolution, is faid td 
 have granted the revenues to the Carthufians of 
 Witham in Somerfetfhire, which they held fome 
 fhort time. 
 
 Humphrey de Wirlingham in the 54th of Henry? 
 III. granted to this cell, and to the abbot of St. Peter 
 and St. Paul de Preaux, land, rent* :c. here, in 
 Haddifcoe-Thorpe, &c. Nicholas Garde, a -monk of 
 this cell, .or priory, pro&or. for the abbey of de 
 Preaux, accounted for lool. in the 131!! of Edw. III. 
 as cuftos of the lands and tenements, goods and 
 chattels of the fame; and -in 1428 their temporalities 
 were valued at 40!. i6s. lod. ob. 
 
 In Toft-Monks alfo, and in Raveningham, a free- 
 man had 60 acres of land, mortgaged by feveral 
 perfons, valued at sos. This was in the kin&; at 
 the furvey William dc Noiers took care of it, which 
 Stigand the archbifliop held as a lay-fee, and was de- 
 prived of. 
 
 In the 34th of Henry the 3d, William de Tofts 
 had an intereft herein, and in the 6th of Edward the 
 ^d, William de Stafford had a loidfhip; and in the 
 12th of that king, Walter his fon died feifed of it, 
 and James his brother was his heir. 
 
 In the gth of Richard the 2d, a fine was levied 
 between Richard Dodenhale, merchant of Coventry, 
 querent, and Richard Bottler, deforciant, of the ma- 
 nor of Nethcrhall in this town, 8cc. and in the i ;th 
 of that king, fir John Panton died feifed of Over-- 
 hall and Netheihall manors, and John was his fon 
 and heir; but in the ifl year of Henry the 4th, Ri- 
 chard Bottler conveyed the faid lordihips to James. 
 
 Billingford
 
 9 9 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 Billingford by fine ; and the 3d of that king, Jeffrey 
 Wafre held here and in Raveningham a quaiter of 
 a fee, called Reedfweil, in capite. 
 
 James Billingford, of Blackworth-hall in Stoke 
 Holy-crofs, died lord in the i ;th of Edward IV. 
 and John Billingford, efq. in the i ith of James I. 
 
 Afh Windham, cfq. was lord in 1742, and his 
 fon William Windham inherited it, and his fon Wil- 
 liam Windham, cfq. of Felbrigg, is the prefent lord. 
 
 The abbey of Langiey abbey had confidcrable pof- 
 fefiions here ; their temporalities were valued at 
 a6s. 8d. 
 
 In the ifl of Richard the 2d, here were lands 
 given by John Loudham to the repair of St. Olavc't 
 caufey. 
 
 The church of Toft-Monks is dedicated te St. 
 Margaret; two parts of it were appropriated to the 
 abbey of Prcaux by the bifhop of Norwich, and 
 confirmed anno 1181, and were valued at twenty 
 marks. The third part was a re&ory valued at ten 
 marks ; the two appropriated parts always palfed 
 with the manor belonging to Preaux abbey, and the 
 third part was held by a reflor, who in Edward I.'s 
 time had a manfe and 30 acres of land. 
 
 The recloiy is valued at 81. and is difcharged. 
 
 On an alabailer monument againfl the north wall 
 of the chancel, Hie jtite! lepidtvs Joh. Bayj pools of 
 Toft-Monks, in Com. j\crf. gen. obt. di: $. Aug. 1624, 
 cum uxcre Jtia ]Lln. Spdnum, fayore viri nobiiis Htn. 
 csuitis. 
 
 The
 
 C L A V E R I N G. 93 
 
 The patronage of this church is in the provoft 
 and fellows of King's college, Cambridge, who 
 in 1751 prefemed the Rev. John Lodington to 
 this reclory, confolidated with Haddifcoe Aug. 29, 
 '739- 
 
 WHETACRE, Wetacre, Whiteacre, or Wheat- 
 acre, called in Doomfday-book Wateaker ; and 
 BURGH ST. PETER. Ralph lord Baynard, for 
 his fervices, was rewarded with this town by the 
 Conqueror, on the expulfion of Toret, a thane of 
 king Edward, and was held by Jeffrey under the lord. 
 Baynard ; and there were two churches endowed with 
 fixty acres, valued at 55. and the manor was valued 
 at 305. but at the furvey at 505. It was one leuca 
 long, and helf a leuca broad. 
 
 William Jeffrey, his fon, taking part with Elias, 
 earl of Maine in France, and other confpirators 
 againft Henry I. was deprived of his barony of 
 Baynard caftle in London, which was granted to Ro- 
 bert Fitz-Gilbert, whofe fon Walter Fitz-Robert fuc- 
 ceeded, and the dependents of Jeffrey abovementi- 
 oned held it of him ; Thomas, Ion of Robert Bay- 
 nard holding it in the reign of Richard I. Robert 
 Baynard had a charter in the 12th of Edward II. for 
 two fairs and two markets here. 
 
 Robert Baynard, of Whetacre, April 16, in the 
 4th of Edward III. died fcifed of " a capital mef- 
 fuage of no value, befides the repairs, a pidgeon- 
 houfe valued at lad. per ann. 180 acres of arable 
 land valued at 4!. los. at 6d. per acre, 100 acres 
 of fah-marih at loos, per ann. 20 of grofs wood, 
 without underwood, valued at 2d. per acre, a wind- 
 mill at 2os. per ann. rents of aflife payable at Lady- 
 day, Midfummer and Michaelmas, 61. 6s. 4d. copy- 
 H holders
 
 94 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 holders days works between Michaelmas and St. Pi- 
 ter ad vincitla i os. and between that feaft and Mi- 
 chaelmas sos. pleas and perquifites of courts ins. 
 per ann. held of the lords Fitz-Walter," and Tho- 
 mas was his fon and heir. 
 
 This Thomas Baynard fold this lordfhip, in tlie 
 loth of the faid king, to fir Thomas Rofceline, from 
 whom it came to John, lord Willoughby, of Erefby 
 in Lincoinfhire, and from them to Richard Bertie, 
 by the heirefs, whofe fon Peregrine was lord Wil- 
 loughby in his mother's right, and prefented to the 
 church in 1602. Of this family are the dukes of 
 Ancafter and Kefteven. 
 
 John Wentworth, efq. was lord of both manors 
 and patron of the churches of Whetacrc. and Burgh 
 St. Peter, Sept. 21, in the rGt'h of James I. and fir 
 John Wentworth was his fon and heir. 
 
 Matthew Bluck, efq. one of the fix clerks in Chan- 
 cery, was lord in 1675, and in this family it remain- 
 ed till conveyed to William Grimftone, efq. 
 
 The lord Baynard had alfo the grant of another 
 lordfhip in this town, of which a free-man of Harold 
 the king was deprived. Robert Gorbution, or Cor- 
 bun, claimed it, and had livery ; valued then at 305. 
 at the furvey at 455. This came to the lord Bay- 
 hard by an exchange, and Frankus held it of him. 
 
 The ancient family of de Edgefield was foon after 
 the conqueft enfcofled of this lordfliip, and held it 
 in the reign of Henry II. from whom it came by an 
 heirefs to fir William Rofceline, and was held of the 
 lord 'Fitz-Walter, with Chedgravc, Edgetield, 8cc 
 
 Si
 
 CLAVERING. 95 
 
 Sir Thomas de Rofceline dying without iffue, it came 
 to the lords Willoughby, Sec. as above. 
 
 The temporalities of Norwich priory were 133. 
 4d. of Langley abbey 3!. 5$. 5d. 
 
 Here are two churches ; one dedicated to St. Peter 
 a reclory, valued at eleven marks ; the reclor had a 
 manfe, with three acres of land. This is called 
 \Vhetacve-Burgh, or Burgh St. Peter. 
 
 In 1325, Gerard de Horftede prefented reclor. 
 lie is called Efquire of the lady Rofceline, went in 
 a lay-coloured habit (veftejlragulata) and had not the 
 clerical tonfure, 
 
 In 1553, Richard Bertie, efq. of Ormfthorpe in 
 Lincolnfhire v prefented, in right of his wife Cathe- 
 rine: in 1669 Thomas Garneys prefented, and in 
 1713 William Grimftone, efq. 
 
 The prefent value is yl. 6s. 8d. and is difcharged. 
 
 In 1764, the Rev. Samuel Boycatt was prefented 
 to this church by Philip Bedingfield, efq. and Mr. 
 Charles Tucke. 
 
 The village of Whetacre is fituated on an emi-* 
 nence, which commands (from the church tower, or 
 from the White-houie) a very extenfive piofpecl. 
 The country here is rich and pleafant, and the roads 
 good. Jt is about thirteen miles from Yarmouth, 
 four from Beccles, and feven from Loweftoft. 
 
 The other church is dedicated to All Saints. John 
 de Bumpliede is faid to have had an intereft in the 
 patronage, but in the beginning of Edward II . the 
 
 fapiily
 
 96 H U N D R E D O F, &c. 
 
 family of Baynard: the reclor hnd then a beautiful 
 manfe, and it was valued at 5!. This parifli is call- 
 ed Whetacre All Saints. 
 
 In 1 603, the reclor returned 68 communicants. 
 The prefent value is 61. 6s. 4d. and is discharged. 
 
 In 1758, the Rev. Chriftopher Smear was prefent- 
 cd to this church by the Rev. Lyne Smear, for many 
 years minor canon of the cathedral church of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 This town is fituated at the eaftern extremity of 
 the hundred of Clavering, and is bounded by the 
 Waveney, which divides Norfolk from Suffolk. The 
 prefent reclor, who is alfo patron, has built a hand- 
 fome parfonage houfe, ornamented in much tafte, 
 with plantations, &c. Sir Alexander Leith, bar^ 
 major of the Weftminfler volunteers, has a confider- 
 able property in Burgh St. Peter. 
 
 That the vale, which now forms the marfh grounds 
 on each lide of the Waveney, was formerly an aefiu- 
 arv, communicable with the ocean at Yarmouth, is 
 unqueftionable : Camclen, Spelman and Ives, give 
 tis an account of marine flores which have at different 
 times fince been found ; and the latter, in his Ga- 
 rianonum, inferts an ascient map of Garimis Ojtium, 
 (of the rivers Yare, Bure and Waveney) as it is flip-* 
 pofed to have appeared in the year 1000. Some 
 few years ago an anchor was found in a piece of 
 morafs ground, which has the appearance of having 
 been once a navigable creek. Twenty-feven curious 
 and valuable ancient gold coins were lately found 
 in this parifli.
 
 * ^ 
 <*> fctAJ .W * kj^ 
 
 "' ' J 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 NORFOLK. 
 
 Hundred of D E P W A D E, 
 
 IS about eight miles in length from eaft to weft, 
 and fix from north to fouth, and takes its name 
 from the Depe-ford* over the river by Tafburgh, 
 which though now of no great remark, in early 
 days was otherwife, the river --Tints being then very 
 broad, and fordable in no place in this hundred but 
 here. 
 
 The hundred is bounded on the north by the hun- 
 dreds of Humbleyard and Forehoe ; on the eaft by 
 Henftead and Loddon ; on the weft by Shropham ; 
 A and 
 
 * Depe, deep, and waden, to wade, fo that Dep\yade is the 
 deep ford.
 
 2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 and on the fouth^by Difs and Earfham hundreds. 
 The fee of it was in the crown till Richard I. gave it 
 to Gundred thecountefs; and in 1225 Henry III. 
 gave it for life to Roger de Hadifco. In i 249 it was 
 ..valued s.t nine marks a year. In 1274 it was in the 
 hands of Edward I. and was valued at 61. per annum 
 clear; this king fettled it on John de Clavering for a 
 term of years, and iq 1315 Edward II. afligned it to 
 fir Walter de Norwich; but in 1327 Edward III. 
 granted it to fir John de Clavering, with Cofteffey, 
 &c. and his heirs, fince which time the inheritance 
 of it attended Coiteffey, and was afterwards fold by 
 divers of the lords there; the fcveral lords of the 
 manors purchafed the royalties and Jeets belong- 
 ing to their manors, by which means the hun- 
 dred-court failed. 
 
 This hundred paid 65!. 135. lid. clear to every 
 tenth, and now raifes annually 10 the land tax, at 45. 
 in the pound, 3057!. 145. gd. it alfo pays to the ge- 
 neral county rate 25!. i is. 6d. at a fix-hundred pound 
 levy.. 
 
 This hundred contains the following towns, to 
 which we add the number of votes polled at the 
 contefled eledion in 1768: 
 
 W. deG. A. C. 
 
 Afhwekhorpe - 5344 
 
 Allaclon - 213* 
 
 Bunwell a o 55 
 
 Carleton-Rode 4 3 12 11 
 
 Forncet St. Mary > 
 
 Forncet St. Peter ] 497 
 
 Fritton " 3 3 
 
 Fundenhall o o i i 
 
 Hapton
 
 D E P W A D E. 3 
 
 Hapton - o o 2 2 
 
 Haidwick - 6" 5 4 3 
 
 Hempnall - 4488 
 
 Moulton All Saints 
 
 Moulton St. Michael 
 
 Mourningthorpe i I i i 
 
 Shelton - 2220 
 
 Stratton St. Mary ) 
 
 Stratton St. Michael } 7 
 
 Tacolneflon - 5 3 l l 
 
 Tafburgh 5 3 ^ 
 
 Tharfton o o b 6 
 
 Tibbenham i 1.5 5 
 
 Wadori Magna and Parva 113^ 
 
 47 40 76 6S 
 
 Thefe villages make up the dcanry of Dep\vacfe, 
 \vhich contained twenty-three parifhes, and u-as taxed 
 at 1 6s. and the deans were collated by the bifeops 
 of Norwich, till 1498, when Mr. Thomas Wolfcy, 
 A. M. was the lafl rural dean of Depwade. 
 
 Tht. Seals and principal Houfes in this Hundred arc 
 
 Carlcton-Rodc, Rev. John Buxton, 
 
 Forncet, 
 
 Hempnall, 
 
 Mourningthorpe, Rev. Thomas Howes. 
 
 Stratton, Long, Rev. Randall Burroughs, 
 
 TacolncJlGn, Knipe Gobbet, cfq. 
 
 Ditto, Rev. Thomas Warren. 
 
 Ditto, Rev. Charles Browne. 
 
 Tibbcn!ia}nC'iannons,]olin Baxton, efq. 
 
 As This
 
 4 HUNDREDOF 
 
 This hundred, fays Mr. Blomefield, " being fa 
 near Norwich, it hath not any place where there is a 
 market now kept. The foil is rich and well inclofed, 
 and hath much wood and timber in it, but the roads 
 (as a necefiary confequence of good land) are dirty 
 and bad;" but this, fince that author's time, is much 
 altered ; die turnpike roads leading fiom Norwich to 
 Scole Inn, and to New Buckenham, through this 
 hundred, are excellent; and the great improvements 
 lately made, and now making, by cnclofing wafte 
 lands, forming new roads, and. othcrwife enriching 
 the face of the country, has rendered Mr. Blomefield's 
 account now erroneous. 
 
 ASHWELTHORPE was anciently called Thorpe 
 only, and Afhwell was a hamlet in Thorpe, but there 
 being fo many Thorpes in the county, about the 
 time of king Stephen it began, for diflinclion fake, 
 to be called Afhwelthorpe ; the name of Afhwell* 
 does not once occur in Doomfday-book, though it 
 feems to have been a well inhabited place ; for in 
 1311 fir John de Thorpe, knt. founded the Free 
 Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin, at Afhwell, and 
 built a houfe for the refidence of a chaplain, or chan- 
 try prieft, to perform daily fervice in it to the inhabi- 
 tants of the hamlet, and to pray for his own and 
 wife's fouls, and thofe of his anceflors and fucceffors 
 for eVer. Having obtained a royal licence of mort- 
 main, he fettled the houfe and five marks a year for 
 the chaplain's maintenance ; but in 1315, thinkine 
 he had not fully endowed it, he added to it other pot- 
 ieffcons, which the king, and fir John de Clavering, 
 knt. his chief lord, confirmed. The revenues of 
 this chapel were valued at 3!. and paid 6s. annual 
 tenths; but at the diiioludon of chantries, in the time 
 
 of 
 
 * It fignifies the well ; or fpring, by the a(h-trees f
 
 D E P W A D E. 5 
 
 ef Edward VI. the whole was feizcd, and granted 
 away bv that king; and in 1398 fir Thomas Knevet 
 purchafed the chapel-houfe, and al! that belonged to 
 the difiblved chapel of Afhwell, and ever fince they 
 have continued with the manor. 
 
 Afliwcll was alfo a diflincl manor from Thorpe, 
 (and a family had their firnamq from this hamlet). 
 Ric de Afhwell was lord of itiin the time of Henry 
 III. and after him fir John Efwell, or Afiiwcll, his 
 fon, who fold it to the Thorpes; they joined it to 
 their manor of Thorpe, with which it flill conti- 
 nues, but the title was not compleatcd till 1347, and 
 then John de Afhwchhorpe, fon (we fuppofe) of fir 
 John, confirmed the whole to fir Edmund de Thorpe, 
 knt. and his heirs. 
 
 THORPE contained one manor onlv; at the Con- 
 feflbr's furvey it belonged to a thane of bifhop Sti- 
 gand, and was worth 5!. per annum. At the con- 
 queft it belonged to carl Euftace, and was worth 61. 
 it was a mile and a half long, and five furlongs 
 broad, and paid bd. ob. q. gelt. It foon after this 
 belonged to one William, ibmetimes diftinguifhed 
 by the addition of Norwich, where he lived; and 
 that Roger mentioned in the record, called Tefla de 
 Nevile, feems to have been his fon ; he was fucceed- 
 ed by Robert, called Fitz-Roger, and after by the 
 name of fir Robert de Maffingham-Ptf ;v0, who held, 
 feveral fees ia Thorpe, Maffingham, Anmer, and 
 many other towns, of the honor of Bononia, or Bou- 
 logne. His wifej Eda, furvived him, and held 
 Thorpe in 1209, when fhe was called Eda de 
 Thorpe. Hugh, fon of Robert, lived at the fame 
 time ; he is alfo called fometimes Hugh de MaiTing- 
 ham, and was fucceeded by fir John the knight, fon 
 A 3 . of;
 
 G HUNDREDOF 
 
 of fir Hugh, often called John Fitz Robert; he was 
 lord of AQiwelthorpc, Fundenhall, Wrcnningham, 
 Bunwell. 8cc, and married Margery, daughter of fir 
 Robert, de Creake, lord of North Creak, and Hilling- 
 ton, in Norfolk, and Combes, in Suffolk. 
 
 Robert Fitz-John de Thorpe, their fon, fucceeded 
 them, who in the tirrJe of Henry III. anno 1236, was 
 one of the refident barons of the Exchequer, his 
 countryman, mallet 'Hervey de Belet, being then 
 diief baron. 
 
 In 1266 Henry TIT. confirmed to Robert Fitz-John 
 cle Thorpe free-wan en in all his dcmefncs here, 8cc. 
 This" Robert in 1264 had feveral manors, lands, Sec. 
 confirmed to him by Robert, fon of fir Richard Nar- 
 ford, knr.. of Wrenningham. In 1271 he was im- 
 pleaded for creeling a gallows at Afhwdthorpe, when 
 the manor never had that liberty, which he took 
 down again ; buthad then free-warren, view of frank- 
 } ledge, and affize ef bread and ale, allowed to the 
 manor in eire. It feems Margery Creake, his mother, 
 was alive in 1274, and had an annuity out of the 
 rnanor. In this year Robert Fitz-John de Thorpe* 
 was high fheriff" of Norfolk and Suffolk. In i 284 he 
 was alldwed the liberties of a gallows, pillory, and 
 waif, in this manor. 
 
 John de Thorpe, fon of Robert aforefaid, fuc- 
 ce.?ded, being lord. In 1203 he was fummoned 
 among the great men to attend Edward I. at Portf- 
 mouth, on the ill of September, in order to recover 
 
 Gafcoign, 
 
 * In 1249 tki 5 appears to have been a numerous family. In 
 1274 it feems that a John Fitz-John de Thorpe was defcended 
 from the family of Lovell.
 
 D E P W A D E. 7* 
 
 Gafcoign, then pofTeffcd by the French king; and 
 this year he procured his father's executors to advance, 
 by way of loan to the king, 167!. ss. lod. ob. on 
 his going that journey. In 1307 he was fummoned 
 as oae of the king's council ; and in 1309 had ano- 
 ther fummons to attend Edward III. at Newcaftle 
 upon Tyne. to march again ft the Scots, who had 
 broken the truce' made with them, at the inftance of 
 Philip the French king. In 1314 this manor was 
 held of fir John de Clavering at one fee; in 1315,' 
 being appointed high fheriff of the county, he got a 
 letter lent to fir William de Norwich to get him ex- 
 cufed, by reafon of his corporal infirmities ; and 
 another to Hervy de Stanton, chancellor of the Ex- 
 chequer, from the prior of Norwich, by whofe inte- 
 reft he got off ferving the office at prefent. 
 
 In 1321 a commiflion ifTued to fir John de Thorpe, 
 and others, to feize all perfons in Norfo[k and Suf- 
 folk who fhould rife in arms againit the king. la 
 1322 he and Thomas Bardolph were appointed war- 
 dens to guard the coaft of Norfolk againfi any in- 
 valions of the Flemings, or Scots; and the fame 
 year he, and Alice, his wife, conveyed the manor of 
 Ailefwefthorpe, in Freebridge hundred, and the ad- 
 vowfon of the moiety of that church, &c. after their 
 deaths, to the prior of Pentney, and his fucceffors. 
 In 1323 he was joined with Walter de Norwich, Si- 
 mon de Hetherfete, and John de Redenhall, ^knts. 
 who were all appointed the king's juftices to examine 
 into the frauds committed by the collectors of the 
 taxes, feveral of them having collecled more than 
 they returned into the Exchequer ; but dying'" on the 
 A 4 i6th 
 
 * Juft before his death he was joined with fir Edmund Baccn, 
 knt, to treat of, aad affent to, a match between Alphonfo, el- 
 deft
 
 8 HUNDRED OF 
 
 i6ih of May this year, John de Clavering was made 
 juftice in his ftcad. He, and Alice, his wife, held 
 jointly at his deaih, Hillington, Hemlingham, Maf- 
 iingham-Ptfrt/a, Tittlefhall, Thorpe, Wrenningham, 
 Fundenhall, Hapton, Combes, Sec. manors, and 
 -Robert de Thorpe was his eldeft fon ; he married 
 Beatrix, daughter of fir Edmund de Hengiave, and 
 died pofieffed of thefe manors in 1329, leaving a 
 wife, and John de Thorpe, his eldeft fon and heir ; 
 and John dc Clavering, his chief lord, was his guar- 
 dian. In 1339 he made fir George de Thorpe, knt. 
 and John Yernme, of Norwich, his attornies to pre- 
 fent to his livings during his being out of England, 
 in the king's fervice, in France; he died in 1340, and 
 Joan, his widow, who was heirefs to Lucy, and Maud, 
 her fillers, daughters of Roger Atte-Efhe, was alive, 
 and married, in 1345, fir Roger le Strange, who was 
 lord here in her right during her life ; but they having 
 no iffue, fir Edmund de Thorpe, his brother, inhe- 
 rited; and in 1348 there was a fuit commenced to 
 prove Joan, his then wife, a baftard; but on trial, 
 bifhop Batcman certified, that fhe was legitimate, 
 and was filler and heirefs of Thomas Bainard, who 
 died feiied of Colkirke and Gately manors jn 1329, 
 and therefore Edmund had thole manors of her in- 
 heritance. In 1358 he infeoffed his manors, 8cc. 
 to raife a hundred marks per ann. for twenty-one 
 years, to pay his debts, and Tool, to each of his 
 daughters, Beatrix, and Joan; John, his fecond fon, 
 was to have all his lands in Suffolk to him and his 
 heirs ; and Robert, his third fon, to have Bunwell. 
 
 In 
 
 deft fon to the king of Arragon, and Joan, daughter of Ed- 
 ward II. king of England ; the day for the treaty being fixed 
 by the patent, to be held at the Tower of London, February 
 19, 1322.
 
 D E P W A D E. 9 
 
 In bis time the feveral fees and manors held of the 
 manor of Aftiwelthorpe were extended, and by the 
 extent renewed, it appeared that half a fee in 
 44 Sweynefthorp, Gouthorp, and Dunfton," was held 
 by the annual payment of a pair of boots to the lord- 
 of Afhwehhorpe, and a pair of bufkins, lined with 
 felt, to the Lady there, which was then held by John 
 de Hetherfete; and Nicholas de Aldburgh held in 
 Demon, and Aldburgh, one fee, by the payment of 
 a pair of gilt fpurs every Eafter. 
 
 This family had many fees held in Norfolk, Suf- 
 folk. Cambridgefhire, and Eflex, of their feveral 
 manors of Mjffmgham-Parva, North-Creak, Fun- 
 denhall, and Hemlingham; befides which, the fa- 
 mily of the Thorpes inherited eflates and fees in 
 Creak and Hillington. 
 
 A cotemporafy and relation to fir Edmund (but 
 how near we cannot find) was fir William de Thorpe, 
 who was made a king's ferjeant in the i6th of Ed- 
 ward III. and afterwards juftice both of the King's 
 Bench and Common Pleas, and November 26, 1347, 
 chief juftice of the King's Bench. 
 
 In 1350 the record of judgment had againft fir 
 William Thorpe, late chief juftice, was affirmed, 
 confidcring that againil his oath he had received 
 bribes*, but he was foon after reftored to the king's 
 favor, and made a baron of the Exchequer. 
 
 1- 
 
 * In the loth of Richard II. fir William Thorpe, late chief 
 juftice of the King's Bench, was adjudged heretofore to death, 
 and to forfeit his lands, for receiving 20!. of one, for a matter 
 depending before him.
 
 10 HUNDREDOF 
 
 In 13*) 3 fir Robert de Thorpe, brother to fir Wil- 
 liam, was made the king's ferjeant, and furnmoned to 
 parliament, among the judges and king's council, in 1 
 1356; chief juftice of the Common Pleas in 1357; 
 and lord chancellor of England, March 26, 1372. 
 
 Sir Edmund de Thorpe, jun. elded fon of fir Ed- 
 mund aforefaid, was married October 6, 1368, to 
 Margaret, daughter of Richard De-la-Rivere, afte r 
 whofe deceafe he married Joan, daughter and heircfs 
 of fir Robert de Northvvood, of Northwood-Barning- 
 ham* in Norfolk, and of Northwood, in Kent, who 
 was widow to Roger lord Scales, of Newcels ; for 
 which match, riot having obtained the kings licence, 
 he was pardoned in 1387, upon paying the king 20!. 
 for a fine for that tranfereffion, the faid lady hold- 
 ing divers lands in capitt. 
 
 In 1370 fir Edmund de Thorpe, fenior, was high 
 fheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. In 1380 his manors, 
 advowfons, and lands, in Afhvvelthorpe, &c. were 
 fettled by feoffees on his Ton and others, paying him 
 an annuity of lool. per ann. 
 
 In 1381 fir Edmund de Thorpe, jun. knt. purchaf- 
 
 ed divers meffuages, Sc'c. and feveral villains here. 
 
 In 138$ he, and fir Richard de Waldegrave, knt. 
 
 &c. had a grant of the temporalities of the bifhop of 
 
 Norwich, during the forfeiture of Henry Spencer, 
 
 bifhop of the fee, except the knights fees, and ad- 
 
 ,'owfons of the churches, paying fifty marks yearly 
 
 ^ the Exchequer ; and in 1385 they had a writ di- 
 
 .ed to them to reftore them to the bifhop. 
 
 In 1393 fir Edmund de Thorpe, fen. died, and- 
 was buried by Beatrix, his wife, in the chancel at 
 
 Afhwehhaipe,
 
 D E P W A D E. ii 
 
 Afhwelihorpje, and -gave five marks to any one that 
 would take a pilgrimage for him .to St. Jarnes the 
 Apoftle, and legacies to his, tenants wherever he was- 
 lord; manv rings, jewels, Sec. to Joan, his wife, for 
 life, and then to fir Edmund, bis ejdcfl fon and heir; 
 and particularly the murrey cup, tipped with iilver, 
 which is the charter-cup of Thorpe, was to go from 
 heir to heir, to all that fhould be lords of Thorpe, of 
 his blood, and three gold rings, fet with oriental fa- 
 phircs ; he gave Edmund, his heir, ail his goods in 
 his manor-houfes at Golkirkc, with Appleton-hall, 
 and Little Maffingham ; he ordered to be buried un- 
 der, a plain tomb, without funeral pomp; Joan, his 
 widow, died at Colkirke, Feb. 1399, and was buried 
 by her hufband ; and then fir Edmund de Thorpe, 
 her fon, held his firfl court here, and foon after put 
 his eftatcs into feoffees hands, upon his going beyond 
 fea. 
 
 This fir Edmund new roofed and glazed the church 
 and chancel at Afhwelthorpe, and founded Thorpe's 
 chapel for his own burial place, and that of his fuc- 
 C-ffors, on the north fide of the chancel; it was 
 uvauy-feven ieet long, and twelve broad, within the 
 walls, lie was mayor of Bourdeaux, in Gafcoign, 
 in 1399. 
 
 In 1415 Joan lady Scales, wife of fir Edmund de 
 Thorpe, jun. died, and was buried, by her order, hi 
 AQiwelthorpe church-yard, and gave 2ol. to make 
 her a tomb. 
 
 Thomas de Thorpe, efq/''" fecond fon of fir Ed- 
 mund de Thorpe, fenior, had Bunwell manor for 
 
 life; 
 
 * In 1452 Thomas Thorpe, efq. fpeaker of the commons, 
 \vas imprifoned, the commons petitioned tor his liberty, accord- 
 ing
 
 12 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 life; in his will, dated 1414, it appears, that by 
 Elizabeth, his wife, he had one daughter and heirefs, 
 named Eleanor ; he gave lol. as a flock to be always 
 lent out to fome perfon in Afhwehhorpe, the intereft 
 to be laid out in buying new altar-cloths, and orna- 
 ments for the chancel, in which it feems he was bu- 
 ried; he ordered Bunwell manor to go to Elizabeth, 
 his wife, for life, then to his daughter and her heirs ; 
 the remainder to his nephew, John de Thorpe, and 
 his heirs ; but fir Edmund, his brother, was to have 
 the preference, if he pleafed to buy the manors. 
 
 In 1417 fir Edmund dc Thorpe, Sec. were ap- 
 pointed by Henry V. to treat of and compofe all dif- 
 ferences which arofe from any violations of the truce 
 between the duke of Burgoigne and that king: this fir 
 Edmund is the fame perfon whom Holingfhed calls 
 the lord Thorpe, who was killed at the fiege of Lo- 
 vers-caftle, in Normandy, with the lords Scales and 
 Darcy ; but his body was brought over and buried 
 in the new aile of his own foundation, under a fair 
 tomb, on which he lies in compleat armor, with his 
 helmet under his head, and a crown and plume for his 
 ereft; his wife lies by him, with a pillow under her 
 head ; both the ftatues are of white alabafter, and 
 lie under a Wooden canopy. The arms of Thorpe, 
 quartering Bainard, are cut on his armor; he hath a 
 chaplet about his head, and a fword lying by his 
 fide, fjgnifying, that though he loft his life in war, 
 yet he obtained the vidlory ; at his head an angel 
 holds an inefcutcheon of St. George ; at her head the 
 aims of France and England; at his feet a greyhound, 
 and at her s a lap-dog. On the fouth fide are four 
 angels holding four fhields, 1. Thorpe and Bainard 
 
 quartered. 
 
 ing to their privileges ; the lords would not confent, but or- 
 dered the commons to choofe a new fpeaker.
 
 D E P W A D E. 13 
 
 quartered. 2. Northwood. 3. Clifton. 4. Barry. 
 And on the north fide are fliields with the arras of 
 Kerdefton, Calthorpe, &c. 
 
 Sir Edmund left two daughters his coheirefles; 
 Joan was thrice married, and laftly to fir John Clif- 
 ton, of Buckenham-caflle, knt. but on failure of if- 
 fue. according to the entail, the eflate of the Thorpes 
 veiled in her fitter, Jfabel, who married Philip Tii- 
 ney, of Bofton, in Lincolnfhire, efq. and they kept 
 their firft court ia 1436; in which year (Nov. 6) flic 
 died, and lies interred under a marble, with a brafs 
 circumfcription, in Thorpe chapel, with the arms 
 of Tilney, impaling Thorpe, quartering Bainard, 
 and her effigy. 
 
 After her death her hufband retired from the 
 world, took on him a religious habit, turned fecular 
 canon, and was admitted to St. Butolph's prebendary 
 in Lincoln cathedral, where he was buried in 1435; 
 the arms of Tilney, impaling Thorpe, quartering Bai- 
 nard, are on his grave-flone there. 
 
 They had three daughters, and three fons: Frede- 
 rick Tilney, of Bofton, efq. the eldeft fon arid heir, 
 who inherited all the eftate ; he married Elizabeth, 
 daughter and heifefs of Laurence Cheney, of Cam- 
 bridgefhire, efq. and had only one daughter, Eliza- 
 beth, who married fir Humphrey Bourchier, knt, 
 eldeft fon of John lord Berners ; he was flain at Bar- 
 net-field, on the part of Edward IV. April 14, 1471, 
 in the life-time of Jiis father, and was buried in St. 
 Edmund's chapel, in Weftminfter-abbcy, under a 
 tomb of grey marble raifed, and on it is curiouiiy 
 engraved, on brafs plates, the effigy of fir Humphry, 
 armed cap-a-pee, his head on his helm, with a creft, 
 
 and
 
 $4 HUN D R E D O F 
 
 and his feet fupppried, the one by a 'leopard, and 
 the other bv an eagle, with the arms of Bourchiei*, 
 quartering Billete, impaling Tiiuey, Ruos, 'I'horpc, 
 Bainard, &c. and an inscription. 
 
 Elizabeth, his wife, was a widow in 14/0 ; but 
 before 1472 fhe was married again to Thomas, fon 
 and heir of John lord Howard, knr. afterwards earl 
 of Surrey, and duke of Norfolk; and in 1506, No- 
 vember 6, by^ the name of Elizabeth duchcfs of 
 Norfolk, flic made her laft will, by which fhe was 
 buried in the nuns choir of .the Minorics, without 
 Aldgate, London. The duke 'furvived her, and 
 held the manors, by the courtefy of England, to his 
 death, in 1524, when he was buried in the priory 
 church of Thetford, commonly called Thctfoid- 
 abbey. 
 
 Sir John Bourchier, knt. fon and heir of fir Hum- 
 phry, and grandfon and heir of John lord Bcrners, 
 \vas fummoned to parliament as lord Berners in the 
 1 ith and isth of Henry VII. and in the ift, 3d, 6th, 
 and 21 ft of Henry VIII. and died deputy general of 
 the town and inarches of Calais, March 19, 1532, 
 in the 23d of Henry VIII. He ordered his body to 
 be buried in the chancel of St. Mary's church at Ca- 
 lais, and after the deceafe of his lady, gave his ma- 
 nors of Houghton, Offley, and Doxlcy, in Hert- 
 fordfhirc, to fatisfy the king for 500!. ftcrjing, that 
 was due to his majefly, and the overplus of their va- 
 lue was to go to perform kis will, Sec. He married 
 Catherine, daughter of John Howard, duke of Nor- 
 folk, who furvived him, and died March 12, in the 
 
 He was made knight of the bah at the coronation of Ed-
 
 D E P W A D E. * 5 
 
 in the 2yth of Henry VIII. 1535. This lord Ber- 
 ners, in the iSth of Edward JV. was made knight 
 of the bath at the marriage of the duke of York, 
 fccond fon of Edward IV. with the daughter and 
 heirefs of the duke of Norfolk. In the yih of 
 Henry VIII. he was retained to ferve that king with, 
 two fpearmcn, himfelf of the number, each having 
 his cuilrel (a fcrvant to a man of arms, or a prince's 
 life-guard-man) and page, and nine demi-lances on 
 horfeback, in order to an expedition into France ; 
 and accordingly, Ocl. i, the king took fhipping at 
 Sandwich, and the lame day landed at Calais with a 
 large army, and laid fiege to Boulogne till Nov. 8, 
 when a peace was made, to which all the peers con- 
 fented, and among them this John lord Berners. 
 In 1495 he aflented to a peace made with France on 
 the lea, near Boulogne. In 1513 he had the king's 
 letters of protection, being made Captain of the pi- 
 oneers at the fiege of Therovene. In the 6ih of 
 Henry VIII. he was made chancellor of the exche- 
 quer for life ; and that year attended lady Mary, the 
 king's filler, into France, to her marriage with. 
 Lewis XII. 
 
 In the igth of Henry VIII. he obtained a grant 
 from the king- of the inheritance of the manors and 
 advowfons of feveral towns in Surrev, Oxfordfhire, 
 "Wiltfhire, and Hamplhire, with all the knights fees 
 belonging to them. It is alfo obfervable that this 
 John lord Berners was a pcrfon fo eminent for his 
 learning, that by the command of Henry V11I'. he 
 tranflated the Chronicle of fir John Froifart out of 
 French into Englifh: he likewife tranflated feveral 
 other works out of French, SpaniQi, and Italian, as 
 " The Life of fir Arthur, an Armorican knight," 
 " The famous Exploits of Hugh of Bourdeaux," 
 
 " Marcus
 
 i6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 ' Marcus Aurelius," and " The Cattle of Love." 
 Befides which he compofed a book, " Of the Duties 
 of the Inhabitants of Calais," and a comedy, in- 
 tided " Ite in Vineam." He had iffue only two 
 daughters, Mary, married to Alexander Union, efq. 
 fon and heir of fir Thomas Unton, of VVadley, in 
 Berkfhire, knt. to whom flie was fiifl wife, but died 
 \vithout iffue, and Jane, her fifter, by her death, 
 became fole heirefs to her father. She married Kd- 
 mund Knevet, efq. ferjeant-porter to Henry VIII. 
 who became lord and patron of Afhwelthorpe, and 
 owner of the Thorpe's eftate ; he was fecond fon of 
 Edmund Knevet, efq. of Buckenham-caftle, and fet- 
 tled at Afhwelthorpe-hall, and had, in his wife's 
 right, all the manors in Suffolk, the Ifle of Ely, 
 Lincolnfhire, Yorkftiire, Staffordfhire, and in Nor- 
 folk, belonging to that family, except the fix lafl 
 manors fold by lord Berners. He was conftituted 
 receiver of the revenues of the king's demefncs in 
 Denbighfhire, and dying in 1546 was buried in the 
 chapel adjoining to Afhwelthorpe chancel. Jane, his 
 widow, died in 1561, and was buried by her huf- 
 band. In the faid chapel is a grey marble with a 
 brafs plate, and an infcription, obijt Feb. 17, 1561. 
 
 John Knevet, efq. of Plumftead, their eldefl 
 fon and heir, died in his mother's life-time; in 1537 
 he married Agnes, daughter of fir John Harcourt, 
 of Stanton-Harcourt, in Oxfordfhire, knt. fhe died 
 in 1579, and fir Thomas Knevet, of Afhwelthorpe, 
 her eldeft fon and heir, fucceeded, and in the year 
 1616, having petitioned the king for the barony of 
 Berners, defcended to him from Jane, his grand- 
 mother, he obtained a certificate (upon a reference 
 of his petition by James I. to the lords commif- 
 fioners for the office of earl marfhal) of his right 
 
 and
 
 D E P W A D E. 17 
 
 and title to the faid barony, but died the gth of 
 February following, before he could obtain the king's 
 confirmation thereof; he was knighted by queen Eli- 
 zabeth in her progrefs into Norfolk: in 1579 he was 
 high fheriff of the county; hjs will was proved in 
 1617, by which it appears, that Thomas Knevet, 
 efq. his grand-child, was his heir; Abigail Munde- 
 ford, Katherine Pafton, and Muriel Bell, were his 
 three daughters ; Elizabeth Afhfield was his fifter, 
 and had a daughter, named Abigail; he was buried 
 at Afhwelthorpe, February 9, 1617. He married 
 Muriel 1 *, daughter of fir Thomas Parry, knt. rnafter 
 of the court of wards and liveries, and treafurer of 
 the houfhold to queen Elizabeth, fifter and coheirefs 
 of fir Thomas Parry, of Welford, in Berkfliire, knt. 
 chancellor of the Duchy of Lancafter, and ambaflador 
 leidger in France, in the time of queen Elizabeth ; 
 (he died April 26, 1616, and was buried here. 
 
 An elegy, wrote in the higheft zefl of panegyric, 
 to this lady's memory, by a Mr. Oliver Johnibn, of 
 Norwich, begins thus : 
 
 Here Norfolk's wonder lies, a Phcenix right, 
 Who might be terrrid for her good deeds Jo many ; 
 In doing good who took her chief delight, 
 Not caring for vain pleajurc momentary. Sec. 
 
 This fir Thomas was a man of great repute, and 
 much beloved for his hofpitaiity and good nature, 
 for which he was eminent, as the following ballad, 
 containing an incredible ftory, (the tradition o 
 which flili remains} fully declares. 
 
 B The 
 
 * This Muriel brought to the Knevets the moiety of fir Tho- 
 mas Parry's eftate.
 
 iS HUNDREDOF 
 
 The BALLAD of ASHWELTHORPE, 
 
 Made in Sir Thomas Knevtfi time. 
 
 Once there liv'd a man, 
 Deny it they that can, 
 
 Who liberal was to the poor; 
 I dare boldly fay, 
 They ne'er were fent away 
 
 Empty handed from his door. 
 
 When mifers in holes crept, 
 Then open houfe he kept, 
 
 Where many then did refort ; 
 Some for love of good beer, 
 And others for good cheer, 
 
 And others for to make fport. 
 
 There was a gentleman, 
 From London city came, 
 
 The country for to fee j 
 And all in the prime, 
 Of jovial Chriftmas time, 
 
 There merry for to be. 
 
 This Londoner did fay, 
 
 If the gentry would give way, 
 
 That a trick to them he'd fhow, 
 That an acorn he would fet, 
 If they would pleafe to ha't, 
 
 Which to a great tree fhould grow. 
 
 The acorn he pull'd out, 
 And fhewed it all about, 
 
 In his hand then he took it again, 
 In the prefence of them all, 
 In the middle of the hall, 
 
 He fat down the acorn plain.
 
 D E P W A D E. 19 
 
 While one could drink a cup, 
 There did an oak fpring up, 
 
 Which was fo huge and tall, 
 With arms it fo put out, 
 And branches all about, 
 
 That it almoft fill'd the hall. 
 
 This oak then did bear, 
 Which was a thing moft rare, 
 
 Acorns, both black and brown ; 
 For which the fwine did bufk, 
 And they did loofe their hufk, 
 
 As they came tumbling down. 
 
 This great oak there did fland, 
 To the view of every man 
 
 Who faw, it was fo plain ; 
 But room then to afford, 
 To bring fupper unto board, 
 
 They wiih'd it gone again. 
 
 jf 
 
 Then loudly he did call, 
 And two came into the hall, 
 
 Who were both (lout and flrong; 
 And with the tools they had, 
 To workHfhey went like mad, 
 
 And laid this oak along. 
 
 I'll tell you here no lie, 
 The chips there then did fly, 
 
 Buzzing about like flies, 
 That men were forced to ward, 
 Their faces well to guard, 
 
 For fear they fhou'd lofc their eyes. 
 
 B 2 He
 
 20 
 
 HUNDRED OF 
 
 He bid them then be bold, 
 And ev'ry one take hold, 
 
 This oak for to carry away ; 
 And they all hold did get, 
 But cou'd not ftir't a whit, 
 
 But ftill along it lay. 
 
 He faid they had no ftrength, 
 Which he would prove at length, 
 
 For it (hould not lie long on the floor; 
 Two goflings, young and green, 
 They then came whewting in, 
 
 And carried it out of the door. 
 
 Then gone was the oak, 
 That had fo many a ftroke, 
 Before that it fell down ; 
 Thus as it grew in hafle, 
 So quickly did it wafte, 
 Not a chip then cou'd be found. 
 
 This ftory is very true, 
 "Which I have told to you, 
 
 'Tis a wonder you didn't hear it; 
 I'll lay a pint of wine, 
 If Parker, and old Hind, 
 
 Were alive, that they would fwcar it. 
 
 Sir Thomas Knevet, of Afhwelthorpe, and Thorn- 
 age, knt. eldeft fon and heir of fir Thomas Knevet, 
 the elder, and Muriel Parry, his wife, died in Sept. 
 1605, in the life-time of his father, and was buried 
 in St. Mary's church, at Fcltwell, September so ; he 
 was knighted at the charter-houle, May 11,1 603, by- 
 James I. In 1592 he married Elizabeth, fecond 
 
 daughter
 
 D E P W A D E. 21 
 
 daughter and coheirefs of fir Nathaniel Bacon, of 
 Stifkey, knight of the ba'.h, who furvived him. 
 
 Thomas Knevet, of Afhvvehhorpe, efq. their fon, 
 was baptized June I >, 1396, and inherited at the 
 death of his grandfather. In 1625 he was fummoned- 
 to receive the honor of knight of the bath at the co- 
 ronation of Charles I. He died at Henham-hall, in 
 Suffolk, the feat of his fon in-law, fir John Rous, 
 knight and baronet, and was buried at Afhvvehhorpe 
 July 2. 16 58, with this on a black marble grave- 
 flone, in Thorpe chapel : 
 
 Here lies loyal Knyvel, who haled anarchy, 
 Lived a true Protcjlant, and died with monarchy. 
 Obijt Junij '30, 1658. 
 
 On this flone are the arms of Knevet, quartering 
 Bourchier, and Bourchier quartering Burners. He 
 married Catherine, fourth and youngefl daughter of 
 Thomas lord Burgh, of Gainfborough, filter and co- 
 heirefs of Thomas lord Burgh, her brother, who 
 died under age j fhe was buried at Afliwelthorpe 
 May i, 1646, leaving two fons, John and Thomas. 
 
 Sir John Knevet, of Afhwelthorpe, their eldeft 
 fon, was made knight of the bach at the coronation 
 of Charles II. he married Mary, daughter of fir Tho- 
 mas Bcdingfield, of Darfham, in Suffolk, knt. in 
 165^, and fettled on her the manors and advowfons 
 of Afhwelthorpe, Wrenningham, Sec. In 1662 he 
 was appointed by Horatio lord Townfhend one of 
 the deputy lieutenants for the county, and dying 
 June 28, 1673, was interred without any folemnity 
 in the eait end of that chapel, in the church of Afh- 
 welthorpe, belonging to his family, where there is a 
 flone with his creft and arms, and a L.atin infcription. 
 B 3 He
 
 22 HUNDRED OF 
 
 He gave a handfomc fet of communion-plate to the 
 altar, and was high fherifF of Norfolk in 1682. 
 
 Mary, his wife, furvived him, and dying April 
 18, 171^, aged 80 years, was interred in the vault 
 of Afhwelthorpe chancel, by her hufband's body, 
 with an infcription flone ; fhe lelt two fons and five 
 
 daughters : 
 
 1. Thomas Knevet, efq. of Afhwelthorpe, eldeft 
 fon and heir, was colonel of a regiment of militia in 
 the county of Norfolk, died unmarried, and was bu- 
 ried by his father, under a marble, Odober 4, 1693, 
 
 aged 3 7. 
 
 2. John Knevet, efq. was captain of a foot com- 
 pany in the fervicc of William III. and died at Lif- 
 burne, in Ireland, unmarried, Feb. 15, 1659, and 
 was buried in the church there. 
 
 1. Elizabeth, the eldeft daughter, married Tho- 
 mas Glemhain, efq. of C-rlcmham- Parva, in Suffoll^ 
 where they were buried. They had one child, Tho- 
 mas, who furvived his parents, and was captain of a 
 company of dragoons under brigadier Pepper, in 
 Spain, in the fervice of queen Ann, and died un- 
 married about 1711, at Valladolid, and was buried 
 there. 
 
 2. Catherine, who by the death of all her brothers 
 and fitters without ifftie became fole heirefs ; (he 
 married, firft, John Hairis, of London, gent, by 
 whom (he had no iffue ; fecondly, Richard Bucken- 
 ha-ii, of VVeflon -Market, efq. high fheriff of Suf- 
 folk, by whom flic had no ilfue. In 1720, fhe being 
 wife to the faid Richard, claimed the barony of Ber- 
 ners, and after a hearing in the houie of lords, their 
 
 lordftiips
 
 D E P W A D E. 25 
 
 lordfhifis were of opinion, " That fhe had fully 
 proved her claim to the faid barony of Berners, in 
 fee. and had a right to the faid barony in fee ; and 
 accordingly, by his majefty's command, fhe was al- 
 lowed to be Catherine baronefs Berners, by defcent 
 from John Bourchier, lord Berners, who was firft 
 fummoned to parliament by writ, dated May 26, in 
 in the 33d of Henry VI." She died December 3, 
 1743, and was buried at Weflon, by her hufband, 
 aged 89. 
 
 3. Mary, died unmarried, Olober 29, 1710, aged 
 47, and is buried at Afhwelthorpe, under a marble 
 grave-flone, with Knevet 1 s arms in a lozerige. 
 
 4. Jane, married Oliver le Neve, efq. of Great 
 Witchingham, but died before her hufband, without 
 iffue, June 19, 1704, and is buried under a black 
 marble in the chancel of Great Witchingham, obijt 19 
 Junij, annojalutis nojlra 1704. 
 
 5. Muriel, died unmarried, and is buried in the 
 chapel here; flie died Sept. 8, 1688. 
 
 This branch being thus extinguished, the barony 
 and eftate defended to the heirs of Thomas Knevet, 
 efq. of Mutford, in Suffolk, fecond furviving fon, 
 but third fon born, of Thomas Knevet, efq. eldeft 
 fon and heir of fir Thomas Knevet, cf Afliwel- 
 thorpe, who died in the life-time of his father. 
 
 John Knevet, of Norwich, efq. only fon and 
 heir of Thomas Knevet, efq. of Mutford, married 
 Lucy, daughter and coheirefs of Charles Suckling, 
 efq. of Bracondale, who are both dead, and lie buried 
 at Trowfe ; they had five fons and three daughters ; 
 the fons all died without iffue. The daughters were,, 
 64 i.Eli-
 
 24 HUNDREDOF 
 
 1. Elizabeth Knevet, married Henry Wilfon, efq. 
 of Didlington, in the hundred of South Greenhoe, 
 who was buried firft at Trovvfe, but fince remoseJ 
 to Afhwelthorpe; flie lived his widow, and was in 
 pofieffion of the manors of Afhwelthorpe, Wrenning- 
 ham, Fundenhall, and Hapton, by the will of the 
 late lady Eerners, with the advovvfons of Aihwel- 
 thorpe and Wrenningham, and had two fons, and 
 one daughter, living. Mrs. Wilfon, who was the 
 reprefentative of the ancient and honorable family of 
 the Knevets, died Auguft 21, 1757. aged 65, and is 
 fucceeded in eftate by Henry Williarri Wilfon, efq. of 
 Didlington, the pivcfcnt lord and patron. 
 
 2. Lucy Knevet, now dead, married, firft, Mr. 
 Thomas Holt, by whom (he had a daughter, named 
 Elizabeth Ann; fecondly, John Field, carpenter, at 
 Reading, in Berkfhire, by whom (lie had two daugh" 
 ters, Lucy and Catherine. 
 
 3. Catherine Knevet, who died young; fo that 
 now the barony* of Berniers, or Berners, is in aoey- 
 ance, both the fillers having furviving iffue. 
 
 The church hath a fquare tower, and four bells, a 
 nave, chancel, and north chapel. There is a hand- 
 iome ftone font, erecled by Thomas Knevet, efq. and 
 Katherine Burgh, his wife; it is an oclagon, an4 
 
 hath. 
 
 * Journal of the houfe of lords, die Marti s, 19 die Marti), 
 1694. " The heralds being tnis day heard at the bar, purfuant 
 to an order of the i6th inftant, in relation to defcents of ba- 
 ronies by writ, and (debate thereupon, &c. this queftion was 
 put; Whether, if a perfon fummoned to parliament by writ, 
 and fitting die, leaving iffue two or more daughters, who all 
 die, one of them only leaving iffue, fuch iffue has a right to de- 
 mand a fummons to parliament? It was refolved in the affir- 
 mative."
 
 D E P W A D E. 25 
 
 hath eight fhields ; I. Thorpe; 2. Tilney impaling 
 Thorpe; 3. Bourchier impaling Tilney ; 4. Knevet 
 impales Bourchier; 5. Knevet impaling Harcourt ; 
 6. Knevet impales Parry, alias Vaughan ; 7. Knevet 
 and Bacon ; 8. Knevet and Burgh. In the eaft 
 window of the chapel, quarterly, France and Eng- 
 land ; Scales impaling Northwoud; Burgh in the 
 garter ; Thorpe and Bainard quartered. In the eaft 
 chancel window, Thorpe 'and Barnard 1 . lu the belfry 
 window, Bainard impaled with lozenge, erm. and 
 gul. In the other windows, lord Morley. North- 
 wood wiih the creft ; and Aflack, 
 
 On a black marble, Knevet with a crefcent;-^ Dt- 
 pojita Nathaniclis Knevet, armigcri, quiobijt 13 die Nov. 
 A. Z). 1695. He was fon of fir Thomas Knevet, 
 knt. 
 
 In the eaft window are the remains of a knight in, 
 armor, kneeling at an altar-tomb, and Knevet and 
 Clifton quartered by him, with a crefcent; againft 
 him is a woman kneeling, in the drefs of that age, 
 with the faid quarters in a lozenge, impaling or. a 
 fefs fab. furmounted by a Caltyr gul. and there was a 
 picture of it at Afhwelthorpe, which we take to have 
 been creeled either to the memory of that fir John 
 Knevet who married Joan, daughter and heirefs of 
 fir John Boutetort, of Mendiefham, in Suffolk, knt. 
 or rather of fir John, his fon, and his wife, Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of fir Condantine Clifton, of Buck- 
 enham-caftle, knt. who was buiied in Wymondharu- 
 abbey church, Sept. 1551. 
 
 The rectory is valued in the king's books at 61, 
 135. 4d. and being fworn of the clear yearly value of 
 30! it is difcharged of firft-fruits and tenths, and is 
 capable of augmentation. 
 
 The
 
 26 HUNDRED OF 
 
 The church is dedicated to All Saints, and when 
 Norwich Doomfday-book was made, fir Robert Fitz- 
 John was patron. The re&or had a houfe and tevi 
 acres of glebe, and it was valued at nine marks. 
 The terrier hath a houfe and about eight acres of 
 glebe. The church of Afhwell is down, and imme- 
 morially annexed to Thorpe. There is weekly fer- 
 vice here. 
 
 The village hath about twenty families, and it 
 paid to each tenth s6s. clear. The etymology of 
 its name is, " The Thorpe by the well, or fountain 
 at the afhes." Here was a guild of the Holy Tri- 
 nity. In 1504 the tenor bell was made by the con- 
 tribution of Sarah Sawer, and others. 
 
 In 1298 Philip de Thorpe, reclor, brother to fir 
 John de Thorpe, patron, was buried under a ftone, 
 with a crofs only on it, on the north fide of the 
 altar. 
 
 John Snetel, of Wymondham, re&or, was buried 
 in the church porch in 1420. 
 
 John Brown, re&or, died December 27, 1593, anc * 
 was buried here. 
 
 John Harrifon, A. M. returned anfwer in 1 603 
 that he had ninety-one communicants in this 
 
 In 1728 the Rev. John Browne, re&or, had it of 
 the gift of Catherine baronefs Berners ; and in 1775 
 the Rev. Francis Leighton was prefented to the rec- 
 tory of Afhwelthorpe by Henry William Wilfon, 
 efq. lord and patron. 
 
 From
 
 D E P W A D E. s, 
 
 From the parifh regifter, in 1485, Thomas Longc, 
 of Afhwelthorpe, went to the king's hod at Notting- 
 ham. Rtgr. Caftonfol. 252. By which it feems he 
 was a perfon of diflin&ion here. 
 
 ASLACTON, alias HASKTON, OSLACTUNA, or 
 OSLAC'S TOWN, and ESTINGTON, commonly called 
 ASLINGTON, was a berewic to the manor of Forncet, 
 was a league long, and half as much broad, and 
 paid gd. to the gelt. Here was a focman, who held 
 fix acres, belonging to Alan earl of Richmond, and 
 pafll'd afterwards with the manor, which was granted 
 from Forncet when Roger Bigot infeoffed William de 
 Verdon, in the time of William II. and it remained 
 in the Verdons till Vido de Verdon gave it in mar- 
 jiage with his eldeft daughter, Alice, to Nicholas ,de 
 Brunefle, who was -to hold it of Verdon at one fee ; 
 and Nicholas gave it with Oriel, or Muriel, his 
 daughter, in marriage to Walter Malet, and their 
 heirs. 
 
 In i "263 John de Vaux had a grant for a weekly 
 market, and yearly fair here, now difufed, and for 
 free-warren, by patent from Henry III. 
 
 In 1309 William De- la-Park, of Ilketefhall, in 
 Suffolk, (from whom the manor took the name of 
 Park's) and his parceners, held the manor of fir John. 
 Verdon, and he of the earl Marfhall, in right of 
 Elizabeth, his wife; and in this family it continued 
 till Joan Park, the fole heirefs of the family, inhe- 
 rited it ; fhe firft married John Duke, efq. of Bramp- 
 ton, in Suffolk, by whom fhe had iflue; fecondly, 
 John Strange, efq. of Norwich, who releafed all 
 right in this manor, 8cc. to Thomas Duke, and his 
 heirs. 
 
 Ambrofe
 
 2 8 HUNDREDOF 
 
 AmbrofeDuke, of Brampton, died in 1609 feifed 
 of the manors of Park's here, Wa&on, and Hedden- 
 ham, 8cc. leaving them to his fon, Edward, who 
 married Catherine, daughter of fir Thomas Hol- 
 land, of WortweJl-hall, knt. and in 1631, by the 
 name of Edward Duke of Benhall, efq. fold the ma- 
 nor to fir William Platers, of Billingford, 8cc. in 
 truft for fir William le Neve, knt. This branch of 
 the le Neves defcended from Jeffry le Neve, of Ti- 
 vetfhall, whofe fon, Laurence, fettled at Afladon, 
 where he was buried, May 17, 1587. 
 
 Sir William le Neve was educated at Caius Col- 
 lege, in Cambridge; created herald by the title of 
 Mowbray, June 29, 1694; foon after made York 
 herald ; afterwards norroy ; and at laft clarencieux, 
 and knighted. In 1643 he was fent by Charles I. 
 the day before the battle ofEdgehill, to the parlia- 
 ment army under the earl of Eflex, with a proclama- 
 tion of pardon to fuch as would lay down their 
 arms; but when he offered to read it aloud in the 
 carl's .prefence, and to deliver the effecl of it, that 
 he might be heard of thofe that were prefent, the 
 earl rebuked him with foroe roughnefs, and charged 
 him, as he loved his life, not to prefume to fpeak a 
 word to the foldiers, for obeying which command 
 he was very uneafy ever after. He died unmarried, 
 at Hoxton, near London, Aug. 15, 1661 ; and John 
 le Neve, his brother, being dead before him, without 
 iffue, in 1630, the manor and his eftate went to the 
 heirs of his uncle, Jeffry le Neve, of Aflaclon, who 
 married Margaret, daughter of Robert Burcham, of 
 Afla&on, by whom he had four fons ; i. Jeffry the 
 eldeft, who releafed to his fecond brother, William 
 le Neve, clerk of Aflaclon; he had two wives, 
 and Laurence le Neve, his eldeft fon and heir, was 
 
 lord
 
 D E P W A D E. 29 
 
 lord here in 1697 ; he was then married, but had no 
 iflue ; and his brother, Rich, le Neve, was unmarried in 
 1699 ; after this the manor was purchafed by theBux- 
 tons, by the name of Afla&on's, Park's, or le Neve's 
 manor, in Afla&on, the free rents being il. 7$. $d. per 
 ann. and the copyhold rents 81. 6s. lod. q. and 
 and John Buxton, efq. of Chanons, in Tibbenham, 
 and Shadwell-Lodge, is the prefent lord, as alfo of 
 William's manor*, in Aflaclon, and Forncet, the 
 quit rents of which are only 45. yd. a year. 
 
 The PRIORY MANOR was given to the prior of 
 Thetford by Roger Bigot, their founder, together 
 with the advowfon of the church, and it remained 
 in that monaftery till its diflblution in 1540, when it 
 was given with that houfe to the duke of Norfolk, 
 and continued in that family till 1561, and then 
 was fold to Charles le Grice, of Brockdifh, and John 
 Tiler, who in 1564 fettled it on John Rivec, and 
 Chriftopher Thetford ; and in 1572 Andrew Thet- 
 ford had it. In 1574, after Charles le Grice's death, 
 it was granted to Andrew Mansfield, of Norwich, 
 gent, whofe daughter, Sufan, was married to the {aid 
 Charles, who died feifed, and devifed it to pay his 
 debts ; it was fold to Thetford, and by him, in 1598, 
 to the Buxton's, in which family it now remains, John 
 Buxten, efq. being lord. 
 
 The quit-rents are 4!. 133. per ann. and the fines 
 of this, and Park's manor, are at the will of the 
 lord. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Arch- 
 angel, and was given by Roger Bigot to the priory of 
 
 Thetford, 
 
 * This was part of William's manor in Tacolneflon, which 
 which was not granted by the earl of Aruadel to the Clere's 
 with it, but to the Buxtons foon after.
 
 5 o HUNDREDOF 
 
 Thetford, of his foundation, to which it was appro- 
 priated, and no vicarage endowed, but was fervedas 
 it is now, by a parifh chaplain, or curate, it being a 
 donative in the gift and nomination of the impro- 
 priator. There was a re&ory-houfe, and two caru- 
 cates of glebe ; it was firft valued at ten, and after- 
 ivards at twelve marks. 
 
 The prior was taxed for his fpirituals at twelve 
 marks, and paid i6s. to every tenth, and for his 
 temporals at ;1. 75. 3d. 
 
 In 1603 the perpetual curate here returned anfwer, 
 that there were 120 communicants, and that this 
 town paid i6s. to every tenth. There are now 
 (Blomefield) about thirty families, and weekly fervice, 
 the falary being 20!. per ann. 
 
 The impropriation always attended the priory ma- 
 nor, and was left by Laurence le Neve, gent, to 
 Reuben Gihnan, of Loddon, and his heirs ; and he 
 at his death gave it to his younger brother, Mr. John 
 Gilrnan. 
 
 The nave, fouth aile, and fouth porch, are leaded, 
 the chancel tiled ; the fleeple is round, and hath five 
 bells. 
 
 In the fouth aile, le Neve impaling Aldham ; 
 For William le Neve, gmt. 1609. 
 
 A tomb-ftone by the altar, For John le Ntve, 
 tbijt 24 die Nov. anno Dom. 1559. 
 
 Laurence le Neve died June 29, 1724, <ztat. 74. 
 He tied ten acres of land in Aila&on to pay to the 
 pajrifh officers 205. per ann. to be given to the poor. 
 
 Here
 
 D E P W A D E. 3I 
 
 Here are only two fmall cottages belonging to the 
 parifli. 
 
 In the chancel window is the picture of an infant 
 in fwadlfng clothes, lying in a cradle, which, accord- 
 ing to tradition, reprefcnts an orphan fo left at the 
 church-ftile; this orphan was brought up by the 
 parifh, and from the town was called Aflac, and be- 
 came a man of renown, being llandard-bcarer to 
 Edward III. he is faid to have married the daughter 
 of fir Oliver Calthorpe, knt. of Burnham-Thorpe, 
 and this window is adorned with thefe arms: I. Cal- 
 thorpe and Strange. 2. Warren and ditto. 3. Bovilc 
 and ditto. 4. Mautby and ditto. 5. Mautby anfi 
 Clifton. 6. Lord Grey, of Ruthyn, and Calthorpe. 
 7. Calthorpe and Withe. 8. Brewfe and Calthorpe. 
 g. Breton and ditto. 10. Pierpoint and ditto. 11. 
 Pierpoint and Ufford. 12. Stapletori and Ufford. 
 13. Aflac and Calthorpe. 14. Argentein and Cal- 
 thorpe. 15. Calthorpe and Bacon. 16. Burgulion 
 and Calthorpe. tj. Burgulion and Kerdefton. 18. 
 Burgulion and Mautby. 
 
 In 1467 the impropriator fold the tithes for ever 
 of two inclofurcs in Afladon; one clofe contains 30 
 acres, and lies near Chanons Wood; the other con- 
 tains twelve acres and half a rood, called Overhage, 
 or Over-Houfe Wong, on condition of paying 8s. 
 4d. every Lammas-day, viz. 55. for the thirty acres, 
 and 35. 4d. for the twelve acres, &c. 
 
 Thomas Bio field, curate here, was fequeftcred in 
 the late rebellion. Blomeficld. 
 
 In 1768 the Rev. Charles Carver had this curacy 
 by fequeftration. 
 
 BUNWELL*
 
 t HUNDRED OF 
 
 BUNWELL, alias BULL WELL. This town is not 
 fo much as once called by this name in Doomfday- 
 book, but that of Hadcflan, or the holy-done, from 
 fome remarkable ftonc crofs creeled there; but ic 
 foon after came to be called by the name of Bun- 
 well, which was a hamlet belonging to it; Bunwell 
 fignifies Fans Rivuli, or the rivulet's head, and ac- 
 cordingly the fituation of the place anfvvers it, for 
 that part of the town which is diflinguifhed by this 
 name from the other manors, hath the fountain, or 
 head of a fmall rivulet arifing in it; which paffing 
 fouthwards, is called Bunwell-beck, running at the 
 entrance into Tacolnefton common, and thence by 
 Stanhowe-bridge* to Ailaclon and Forncet. 
 
 This town comprehends feveral villas, berewics, 
 or letter hamlets, mentioned in the ftile of the court- 
 baron, and which now are the feverat manors, viz. 
 Bunwell, Haddefton, Bofevil's, Perifhall, and Ban- 
 yard's, all which are in the bounds of this parifh; 
 and befides thefe, the ftile of the court runs, " Carle- 
 ton, Tibbcnham, cum Membris, " all which lie in the 
 parifhes of Tibbenham and Carleton. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Arch- 
 angel, and had thirty acres of glebe belonging to it 
 at the conqueft, when there were three manors, to 
 each of which a part of the advowfon belonged ; but 
 Roger Fitz-Peter Fitz-Ofbert bought a part of VVat- 
 keline de Bofevilc, fo that he had one moiety, and 
 fir Robert Banyard the other. 
 
 When Norwich Doomfday-book was made Robert 
 Fitz-Ofborn was patron, and the rc&or had a houfe 
 and forty acres of glebe ; it was firft valued at twenty 
 
 marks 
 
 * That is, the bridge at the Stoney-hill.
 
 D E P W A D E. S3 
 
 marks, afterwards at thirty, without the portion ; 
 and the portion of the prior of Lewes was fit ft laid 
 at fix, and after at ten marks, and confi fled of two- 
 thircj parts of the great tithes of all the demefnes of 
 Bofevile's manor, which were given to the monks of 
 Caftle Acre, (a cell to Lewes, in Suffex) by Walkeline 
 de Bofevile, and his . lady, and the bifhop of Nor- 
 wich confirmed the agreement made by the judges 
 affigned by the pope for this purpofe, on a fuit be- 
 tween the monks of Acre, and Alan de Beccles, rec- 
 tor here, that the reclor and his fucceflbrs fhould for 
 ever receive all the tithes of all the demefnes and te- 
 nants of Bofevile's manor, paying to Caftle Acre con- 
 vent 3od. every Eafter, and 3od. every Michaelmas, 
 which is paid at this day by the reclor, to the duke of 
 Norfolk, in right of the diffolved monaftery of Caftle 
 Acre, which was granted to his family at the dilfolu- 
 tion. The portion of Sees monaftery was firft taxed 
 at i os. afterwards at 133. 4d. then by compofition 
 between the monaftery and reclor reduced to 6s. 8d. 
 penfion, which is alfo paid by the reSor at this time, 
 to the aforefaid Duke. The town paid clear to each 
 tenth 5!. bs. 8d. it ftands thus in the king's books: 
 17!. Bunwell, alias Bullwell recloty ; il. 145. yearly 
 tenths; and not being difcharged, is capable of aug- 
 mentation. The fpirituals of the prior of St. Olave 
 were one mark, his temporals 35. and the temporals 
 of the prior of Buckenham were 45. i id. 
 
 The prcfentauon to this living was alternate in the 
 college of Mettmgham arid the de Greys, of Merton. 
 The college had it by gift of fir Roger de Norwich, 
 km. 
 
 In 1541 fir Robert Codde, chaplain to the bifhop 
 
 of Norwich, and mafter of St. Giles's hofpital 
 
 G there,
 
 5 4 HUNDRED OF 
 
 there, was prefented by Thomas Codde, the famous 
 mayor of Norwich, in 1549, who had this turn of 
 Edmund Grey, efq. and in 1547 Anthony Denney, 
 efq. one of the privy council, was patron, in right 
 of his manor of Perfe-hall, late belonging to the 
 diffolved college of Mettingham. 
 
 In 1555 John Porye, D. D. fellow of Stoke-Clarc 
 and Bennet colleges, reclor of Landbeach, and this 
 year vicar of St. Stephen's, Norwich ; prebend of 
 the fecond flail in Ely cathedral; in January 1559 
 being made reclor of Lambeth and prebendary of 
 Weflminfter, he quitted Ely, and in 1564 this 
 church*. 
 
 In 1603 the re6lor returned anfwer that there were 
 240 communicants in this parifh, and that Mr. Grey, 
 and Mr. Denney, were patrons by turns. 
 
 In 1750 the Rev. John Buxton was prefented to 
 this reclory by the late Robert Buxton, efq. of Tib- 
 benham, and Shadwell Lodge. 
 
 The church is a neat lightfome building, having 
 a nave only, which, with the fouth porch, is co- 
 vered with lead ; the chancel is tiled, and hath a 
 decayed veftry on the north fide ; the tower is fquare, 
 is a neat flruclure,. and was finithed about 1520. 
 
 In 
 
 * In 1563 he leafed out the parfonage for fix years to Wil- 
 liam Tolp, in confederation of his repairing the houfe, and 
 paying the arrears of tenths ; and the bifhop confirmed it. 
 And thus, when nothing was to be got, he refigned it the next 
 year. A bad example to pofterity ! that a man thus laden with 
 preferment fbould be permitted to snake fuch a leafe, inftead 
 of repairing it himfelf; and as bad in relation to that bifhop 
 who confirmed fuch a proceeding.
 
 
 D E P W A D E 
 
 S5 
 
 In 1505 William Taylor, of Hacldefton, a ham- 
 let of Bumvell, was buried in the church-yard, and 
 bequeathed " Toward the rnakying of the ftepill of 
 " Bone well every yere whan the mafons work upon 
 " it, 6b 8d. till the mm of 33$. 4d. be paid. 1 ' 
 
 In 1724, November 15, the widow Richards was 
 buried here, aged one hundred and eleven years. 
 
 In the chancel, on the north fide, is a ftone for 
 Mr. John Blake, Au%. 21, i686,-#la/. 64 and the 
 arms of Blake. 
 
 Sir Simon Socelyc had a penfion granted him out 
 of the revenues of Mettingliam college, in this 
 town, by Henry VIII. we fuppofe he was one of the 
 laft fellows there; he was buried here in Anguft, 
 1555. Mr. Andrews, the prince's fervant, had 
 another penfion, but he was buried here foon after 
 the grant. 
 
 On a ftone towards the eaft corner To Charles, 
 
 Jon of James Baldwin, rettor of this pari/h, obijt June. 
 6, 1 733, <Kla,t. 7. 
 
 In 1479 John Bukke purchafed eight acres and 
 one rood freehold iu Springfield, in Bun well, and 
 by will, dated in 1497, gave it for ever to the parifli 
 of Bunwell, to help the poor in difcharging the 
 king's talk, and other charges when they fall; he 
 was buried at Bunwell, gave 355. to adorn our La- 
 dy's tabernacle, and the hearfe of the fepulchre of 
 our Lord in the church. Thefe are town lands at 
 this day. Several other gifts of this kind were 
 made by well-difpofed perfons. 
 
 C 2 HADESTON, ]
 
 $6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 HADF.STON, BAINARD'S, or BANYARD'S-HALI, in 
 
 Hadefton, was the principal manor in this town, 
 and belonged to Torn, a Dane, in the Confcffor's 
 time, and at the Conqueror's furvey Gaoferid, or 
 Godefride, held it under Ralph Bainard ; at the firft 
 furvey it was worth 5!. a year, and at the fecond 
 lol. 12S. There wete at the firft furvey eighteen 
 freemen, reduced to twelve at the fecond, and they 
 were worth 285. in yearly rents paid to the manor; 
 the whole town was four miles and one furlong 
 long, and two miles and fifteen perches broad, and 
 paid gd. to the gelt. 
 
 As this manor for the mod part patted with the manor 
 of Merton, till Thonias de Grey, efq. the prefent 
 lord of Merton, fold it with the moiety of the ad- 
 vowfon to the Buxtons, who joined it to their other 
 manors here, we need only refer you to the account 
 of Merton for the biography of the family. 
 
 Robert Bainard gave two parts of the tithes of 
 this manor to the monks of Lewes; Fulk Bainard 
 held it at one fee of Robert Fitz-Walter, as of his 
 manor of Hemenhale, and confirmed his father's 
 grant to the monks of Lewes. The prior paid 283. 
 every twenty weeks for cattle-guard to Baynard caf- 
 tle, for Merton, and this manor, and had affize of 
 bread and ale, and waif, belonging to it. 
 
 In 1371 fir Roger Grey, of Merton, km. ordered 
 liis feoffees to fell this manor to raife portions 
 for his two daughters ; and accordingly they in 
 1389 fold it for 200 marks to Thomas duke of 
 Gloucefter, and his heirs; and in 1303 the faid 
 duke of Gloucefter obtained a royal licence to fet- 
 tle an annuity of ten marks a year on the abbey 
 
 of
 
 D E P W A D E. 37. 
 
 of Walden, but the fettlement was never corn- 
 pleated. 
 
 In 1398 Richard II. granted it to Edmund de 
 Langley, duke of York, as part of the poifeffions of 
 the duke of Gloucefter, attainted; it afterwards be- 
 longed to John Stuckley, in right of his wife, Phi- 
 lippa, daughter and heirefs of John Mohun, lord of 
 Dunfter, widow of Emund Placagenet, fon and heir 
 of Edmund of Langley, duke of York, but was af-. 
 terwards repurchased by Thomas Grey, clerk. 
 
 In 1536 the manor of Whitwell-hall, in Skeyton, 
 and in 1543 Vauce's manor, in Eafton, were held as 
 the manor of BainardVhall, in Bunwell ; as was al- 
 fo Burnet's manor, in Giffing. 
 
 In 1566 Robert Grey held this manor of the earl 
 of Suffex, as of his manor of Attleburgh, by one 
 fee: and in 1742 the quit-rents of the manor of Bain- 
 ardVhall, in Hadeiton, were 22!. 145. 4d. q. a 
 year. 
 
 The ancient Bainards, upon lofing their barony 
 of Bainard's-caftle, for rebellion again ft Henry I. 
 had it given from them to the anceftors of the Fitz- 
 Walters; but this manor being granted to a younger 
 branch before the forfeiture, it was never forfeited, 
 though thefe Bainards bear their arms differing only 
 in colour from the Fitz -Walters, their chief lords, as 
 the Fitz-Walters did from the Clare family, whence 
 they defcended, from whofe arms they only varied by 
 a fefs between two chevrons, inftead of three chev- 
 rons, borne by the eails of Clare; and in like manner 
 the Cornherds, or Cornerths, in imitation of the 
 Bainards, their capital and chief lords, bear the 
 lame arms, only varied in colour, and often quarter- 
 r * cd
 
 ^8 HUNDRED OF 
 
 ed them with the Bainarcls ; but when fir Thomas de 
 Grey, knt. married the heirefs of (ir Richard de 
 Cornherd, knt. he laid afide the paternal coat of 
 Grey, and he and all his defcendents always ufed 
 Cornherd's as his own, except Thomas de Grey, 
 clerk, who always bore the ancient family arms of 
 de Grey with a mullet; ever fince their fon, fir 
 Thomas de Grey, knt. married Ifabel, daughter and 
 coheirefs of Fulk Bainard, of Merton, the Greys 
 bear Bainard quartered with Cornerth. 
 
 HADESTON T , FiTz-OsBERi's, PETER'S-HALL, PE- 
 RER'S, commonly called PERSE-HALL MANOR, in 
 Bun iv ell, took its name from Peter Fitz-Ofbert, its 
 lord. Ailwin of Thetford was lord of it in the time 
 of Edward the Confeffor, and Robert de Curzon held 
 it of Roger Bigot at the Conqueror's furvey. 
 
 The church had thirty acres of glebe, two acres 
 and an half of meadow, and half a carucate; the 
 foe, or fuperior juriidiclon over the manor, belonged 
 jointly 'to the king and the earl ; and the manor in 
 the firft furvey was valued at 405. and afterwards at 
 yos. but as it paffed with Carleton manor to Wal- 
 ter de Norwich, we need not repeat it, but refer vou 
 thither; it was held of the earl Marfhal at one fee,, 
 and had free-warren allowed in tin to Roger Fitz- 
 Ofbert, its lord. 
 
 In 1287 fir Walter de Norwich being feifed, left 
 it to fir John, his fon, who confirmed it for life to 
 Catheiine, his mother, and after her deceafe to the 
 matter and chaplains of the college of St. Mary at 
 Raveningham, of his own foundation, to whom he 
 gave his caftle at Mettinghara, in Suffolk, to which 
 he ordered them to tranflate their college, or chantry, 
 
 and
 
 D E P W A D E. 
 
 39 
 
 and his own and ancettors bones ; he gave them part 
 of his eftate to increafe the number of their fellows 
 from eight to thirteen ; he firft founded them at Ra- 
 veningham in 1342, tranflated them in 1350 to Nor- 
 ton-Subcors ; and in 1394 they removed and fixed 
 their college at Mettingham. 
 
 John le Neve, the laft 'matter of Raveningham 
 chantry at Norton-Subcors. became lord of this ma- 
 nor, and patron of the mediety. In 1530 Thomas 
 Manning, fuffragan-bifhop of Ipfwich, was chofen ; 
 he was the laft matter. 
 
 This college was granted with the revenues thereto 
 belonging to the Denneys. It was afterwards pur- 
 chafed by the Buxtons, with the moiety of the ad- 
 vowfon, and joined to their manor of Carleton-Rode, 
 &c. The quit-rents in 1742 Were igl. 14$. per 
 annum. 
 
 In the windows of Perfe-hall are thefe arms: Sab. 
 a faltyr arg. Crett on a wreath O. G. a bunch of 
 wheat ears. Do. impaling arg. a fefs lozenge gul. 
 in chief three eagles heads crazed fab. 
 
 HADESTON, BOSEVILE'S MANOR, belonged to O.f- 
 born at the Confeflbr's furvey, and to Roger Fitz- 
 Renard at the Conqueror's ; in Ofborn's time it was 
 worth 2os. and in Roger's 405. Fitz-Renard's iffue 
 affumed the name of Hadefton, "and William de 
 Hadefton, lord here, held it of the earl Warren, as 
 did William, his fon, who died young, and without 
 iffue, leaving his fitters his heireffes, who all releafed 
 their rights in 1198 to Agatha de Hadeilon, their 
 fitter, who the year following married Walkeline de 
 Bofevile; he became poffeffed of the whole manor, 
 held at one fee of the earl Warren, in which family 
 C 4 it
 
 40 HUNDRED OF 
 
 it continued. In 1403 fir Robert Noon had it. In 
 1417 fir Henry Noon, knt. and after him fir John 
 Heydon, who died feifed in 1479, when he held it 
 of Mortimer's manor of Attleburgh ; he was fuc- 
 ceeded by Henry Heydon, efq. his t: fon, who held it 
 with the manors of Buckenham and Rodehall, in 
 Carleton-Rode. In 1570 they belonged to fir Chrif- 
 topher Heydon, and were lefc by him to James Ho- 
 bart, fir -Chriftopher being bound thereto by the 
 grand-father of the faid James. 
 
 In 1 588 it appears by a furvey then made, that 
 James Hobart, jun. efq. was lord of the feveral ma- 
 nors of Hadefton, Bofeweil's, Rodehall, Bucken- 
 ham's, Whitweli*, and Laund's, all which were 
 joined, their court being kept at Bunwell, and the 
 ilile of the court was, Bunwell, Carleton, and Tib- 
 benham cum Mcmbris, the two firft being in Bunwell, 
 the two fecond in Carleton, and the two laft in Tib- 
 benham ; the whole rents were about 44!. per ann. 
 they belonged to John Buxton, efq. of Channons, in 
 Tibbenham, in 1623, and after him to Robert Bux- 
 ton, whofe ion, Robert Buxton, efq. had them, who 
 was fucceeded by John Buxton, efq. father of Robert 
 Buxton, efq. whofe fon, John Buxton, efq. of Shad- 
 well-Lodge, is the prefent lord of all the manors in 
 this town, and fole patron of this church. 
 
 THORPE'S MANOR, in Bunwell, was originally 
 part of Fitz-Ofbert's manor, which was feparated by 
 Roger Fitz-Peter Fuz-Ofbert, who fettled half a fee 
 here on Sarah, his firft wife; (he died in 1285, and 
 fir John de Thorpe, of Afhwelthorpe, knt. was one 
 of her coufins and heirs, and had this allotted to his 
 fhare, and obtained liberty of free-warren to it of 
 lid ward I. In 1324 he held it of Bainard's manor 
 
 by
 
 D E P VV A D E. 41 
 
 by the fervice of 55. a year, and the rents were then 
 3). IDS. per ann. from this time it conftantly attended 
 Aflivvelthorpe. 
 
 In 1406 fir Thomas Jernegan had it, and had a 
 charier of confirmation of free-warren. In 1414 fir 
 Thomas de Thorpe ordered it to be fold, or to go 
 with Elizabeth, his daughter. In 1550 James Downes, 
 and Elizabeth, his wife, had it, when Roger Wood- 
 houfe, Robert Richers, and Thomas Afteley, con- 
 veyed divers parts of it to him. In 1572 Robert 
 Downes was lord, who joined it to his manor of 
 Beacham's, or Beauchamp's, in Wymondham, with 
 which it flill remains. 
 
 There was an ancient family firnamed de Bone- 
 well ; for in 1268 William de Bonewell gave to the 
 prior of Lewis a rent of 2S. 6d. out of his lands in 
 Bumvell. They continued a long time in the neigh- 
 bourhood ; for in 1482 William Bonewell, of Carle- 
 ton-Rode, conveyed to Thomas Chamberlain, gent, 
 and others, divers lands in Carleton-Kode. 
 
 CARLETON-RODE. This village, to diftin- 
 guifh it from many others of the fame name in this 
 county, hath the addition of Rode fixed to it, from a 
 remarkable rode, or crofs, ftanding in Rode -lane, 
 where the road from Wymondham to Difs laid. 
 
 The church is dedicated to All Saints, and hath a 
 fquare tower and five bells, there are two ailes with 
 chapels at their eaft ends ; the chancel and nave are 
 thatched. When Norwich Doomfday-book was 
 wrote Robert Ficz-Ofborn was patron. The re&or. 
 had a houfe and twenty-fix acres of glebe, whichjoins 
 to the north fide of the church-yard j the living, 
 
 with
 
 42 HUNDRED OF 
 
 with the portion of the prior of Sees*, was valued at 
 twenty-fix marks, and now ftands thus in the king's 
 
 books: 161. Carleton-Rode reft. 48!. clear 
 
 yearly value, as fworn ; fo that it is discharged of 
 firft-fruits and tenths, and is capable of augmenta- 
 tion. Here were three guilds, and in 1302 the 
 tower was fmifhed, and the bells fixed. 
 
 There was a free chapel in this town, dedicated to 
 the Virgin Mary; the way which leads to it is flill 
 called Chapel-gate-lane, but it hath been long fince 
 demoliflicd. 
 
 There is a ftone, For Thomas Howfe, of this parijh, 
 who died March 16, 1671, and his fix youngejl chil- 
 dren. 
 
 And another, For Thomas Talbot, gent, who died 
 'Jan. 2, 1657, with the arms of Talbot and Wy- 
 mondhain, impaling a chev. ingrailed between three 
 goats heads crazed. 
 
 There was taken up fome years fince a fine flone 
 coffin in the midfl of the chancel, which flood le- 
 vel with the earth, the grave-ftone that covered it 
 being jointed into the trough, or coffin part. 
 
 There is an altar-tomb on the fouth fide in the 
 church-yard, For Thomas le Hunt, efq. Jen of fir 
 George le Hunt, of Little Bradley, in Suffolk, who died 
 January 2, 1703, aged 76. Margaret, his rditt, JVo- 
 vembcr 6, 1716, aged 80. 
 
 William 
 
 * In the old taxation the living was valued at twenty-five 
 marks, and the portion of the monks of Sees, by Mendham, 
 
 at 45. '
 
 D E P W A D E. 43 
 
 William Ernald, re&or, was buried in the middle 
 of the chancel in 1375; his ftone lies now at the 
 entrance; his effigv, in a priefVs habit, in his defk, 
 with a book lying before him, and a crofs (landing 
 before, remains in brafs, but the infcription is loft. 
 He was prefented by fir Roger de Norwich, knt. on 
 whom this advowfon was entailed, levied about 1320 
 by the heirs of Roger Fhz-Ofbert. 
 
 In 1392 Richard II. granted licence to appropriate 
 this rectory to the college of Norton-Subcors ; but for 
 want of the bifhop's confent it never took effect. 
 
 In 1411 the mafter and brethren of Mettingham 
 chantry, or college, which was founded bv fir John 
 de Norwich, knt. vice : admiral, and lord of Metting- 
 ham, prefented to this reclory. 
 
 In 1560 William Bcnnet, no graduate, and a man 
 under excommunication, had this reciorv of John 
 Denny, efq. he had a long fuit with Richard Stokes, 
 as coming in \yj firnony. He was fucceeded in i f>g6 
 by Stokes, who in 1603 was chaplain to the archbi- 
 ihop of Canterbury, and returned anfwer, that there 
 were 340 communicants in this parifib. 
 
 In 1619 Thomas Stokes, L. L. B. was prefented 
 by fir William Doyly, affignee of Thomas Denny, 
 and was afterwards reclor of Heigham, by Norwich, 
 from which, as alfo from this, and a temporal ellate 
 of about 30!. per ann. he was ejected by the earl of 
 Manchefter, April 28, 1(144., for abjence, keeping an 
 mjujficient curate, oblerving the rules of the church, 
 refufmg to contribute to the rebellion, and being an 
 ale-houle haunter ; he had a wife and three children. 
 In 1660 Edward Atkinfon was prefented by Ro- 
 bert Barton, efq. he lies buried under an altar-tomb 
 
 cm
 
 44 HUNDREDOF 
 
 on the fouth fide of the church-yard, with the arms 
 of Atkinfon, obijt May 4, 1698, <ztat. 77. 
 
 In 1731 the Rev. Mr. James Baldwin, fen. A. M. 
 was prefentcd by John Buxton, efq. of Chanons, in 
 Tibbeiiham, then lord and patron, father of Robert 
 Buxtou, efq. of Channons and Shadwell-Lodge, who 
 in 1750 prefented the Rev. John Buxton to this rec- 
 tory, and alfo to the rettery of Bunwell. 
 
 At the conqueft this town was in five parts ; the 
 firfl and principal part belonged to Robert Bigot's 
 manor of Forncet, and was held of it by twenty-one 
 freemen, two of whom, with the two churches *, and 
 thirty acres of glebe belonging to them, he gave to 
 Oflac, the reft attends Forncet manor to this day, 
 in right of which his grace the duke of Norfolk is 
 lord paramount over his own tenants, and flill holds 
 court leet here. 
 
 The fecond part belonged to Tibbenham manor, 
 which Alric, a Thane of the Gonfeffor's, held, and 
 was given to Eudo, fon of Spiruwin, who held it at 
 the Conqueror's lurvey, and Hainfrid under him. 
 Oatleton was then two miles and an half long, and one 
 mile and a quarter and four perches broad, and paid 
 22Q to the gelt or tax. This part was after aliened 
 from Tibbenham manor, and joined to Carleton ; 
 and accordingly in 1550 Thomas Knevet held a par- 
 cel of the manor of Tibbenham, lying in Carleton- 
 RodeJ. And hence it is that as all the manors are 
 united and joined to Bunwell and Carleton, with 
 their members, that Tibbenham is always men- 
 tioned. 
 
 * St. Mary's chapel was one of them, and might then be 
 parochial. 
 
 | The court of the manors was held at Bunwell, and the 
 ftyle is " Bunwell, Tybenham, Carleton cum membris."
 
 D E P W A D E. 45 
 
 tioned. This part was very early joined to Bucken- 
 ham Cattle, which it always attended till fold from 
 it by the Knevets ; and accordingly in the time of 
 Henry III. 1257, that king granted to Robert de Tate- 
 (hale, lord of Buckenham Caftlc, liberty of free- 
 warren in his demefnc lands in this town, and Rich- 
 ard II. in 1394, confirmed it to Conflantine de Clif- 
 ton, his heir; and in 1275 Edward I. granted view 
 of frankpledge, or a leet, and affize of bread and 
 ale of all his tenants in Tibbenham and Carleton, 
 for which he paid 35 per annum to Depewade hun- 
 dred. 
 
 The third part belonged to William de Warren, 
 who had it of the king's gift, and Almark a freeman, 
 held it in the Confeffor's time under Bifhop Stigand ; 
 this afterwards became the manor called Buckenham's. 
 
 The fourth part belonged to Alan earl of Rich- 
 mond, as appendant to his manor of Coffey, and 
 made part of the manor of Carleton. 
 
 The fifth part belonged to the manor of Howe, 
 which Godric the Sewer took care of for the king. 
 And this was the ftate of the village at the Conqeror's 
 furvey. 
 
 CARLETON-MANOR was the capital manor, and con- 
 tained that part and advowfons which Oflac had of 
 the Bigots, and that part which belonged to CoGTey, 
 the former of which was held of the Norfolk family, 
 and the latter of the honor of Richmond f , to which 
 the king's part was afterwards added, when Maud, 
 
 mother 
 
 f This honour extends now into this town, and all that hold 
 of the honor are exempt from *ny fuperior jurifdittton of any 
 other lords, and may claim the privileges of the honor by their 
 tenure.
 
 46 HUNDRED OF 
 
 mother of Henry II. gave it to Gundred the counters, 
 the whole being then worth lol. per annum. That 
 countefs infeoffed the whole in one Ofbert, and Patro- 
 nel, or Parnel, his wife, the father and mother of Ro- 
 ger Fitz-Ofbcrt, founder of St. Olave's, in Hei ling- 
 fleet, about 1216. 
 
 Roger Fitz-Ofbert, fometimes le Fitz-Ofbert, or 
 Ouburn, died in 1205, Catherine his widow furvived 
 him, and held it for life ; flic prefcnted twice to this 
 rectory. At her death it was to defcend. to the heirs 
 of the two fitters and heirefles of Roger aforefaid, 
 viz. fir Peter Jernegen, fon of fir William Jernegen, 
 by Ifabel, fitter of the faid Roger, and to John Nuin, 
 or Noion, (now Nun) of Sail, in Eynsford, fon and 
 heir of Alice, the other fitter of the faid Roger, and 
 they, about 1320, by fine, fettled the manor and ad- 
 vowfon on fir Walter de Norwich, and his heirs, to- 
 gether with the manor and advowfori of Bunwell 
 Perfe-Hall, all which have paffed together to this 
 day. 
 
 RODE-HALL-MANOR, in Carleton-Rode, took its 
 name from the owners, who were firnamed from 
 the rode, or crofs, they dwelt by. In 1237 Walter de 
 Rode held it at a quarter of a fee of Roger Fitz-Ofbert, 
 he of the earl marfhal, and he of the king. It after 
 belonged to William de Rode, called alto de Carle- 
 ton ; and in 1338 to Benedict de Uvedale and John 
 de Carleton Rode, and then to Robert de Rode . In 
 1402 William Woodherd had it, and alier himRo- 
 bert Morton, efq. In 1479 we find it in Henry Hey- 
 don, cfq. who joined it to hb other manor here, 
 called 
 
 BUCKENHAM'^S 
 
 $ This family continued here long after, for in 1543 Wm 
 Rode fold an eilate here to John Clement.
 
 D E P W A D E. 
 
 47 
 
 BUCKRNHAM'S, in Carleton-Rode, which took its 
 name alfo from its owners. In i 279 Robert de Buck- 
 cnham died feifed lord. 
 
 It appears that this manor had then two acres of 
 meadow in demefne, an hundred acres of wood, four 
 hens paid for rent, Cxty-four days work in harvefl 
 done by the tenants, pannage for eighty-four hogs, 
 and liberty for eighty men, and two fervants appoint- 
 ed by the lord to look after them, to gather nuts for 
 fix days together in the woods belonging to the manor 
 of Lopham. In 1404 Agnes, wife of Thomas 
 de Lye, had a third part of it, and conveyed it to 
 John de Colby ; and afterwards all the parts were 
 bought in by John Heydon efq. In 1479 Henry 
 Hey don his fon held thefe manors, joined as afore- 
 faid, at the death of John, together with Bofevile's 
 manor, in Bunwell. .fc,-'.^ 
 
 In 1544 the third part of the manor of Beau- 
 champ's, or Beacham's, was fettled by Robert New- 
 port, efq. and Margaret, his wife, (in whofe right he 
 had it) on fir John Clare, km. This belongs to 
 Beacham's manor in Wymondham, which extended 
 hither. 
 
 The lords of the honor of Clare had lands here, 
 held of them. In 1453 John duke of Bedford died 
 feifed of two courts called turns, and one court called 
 leet, to be held yearly in the village of Carleton- 
 Rode. And the whole lands held of that honor 
 were extended, or valued, at half a fee,' 
 
 In 1570 Thomas Knevet, jun. James Hubbard, 
 gent. Anthony Denny, gent. Robert Grey, Robert 
 Jexe, and John Randolf, were lords here, and the 
 
 honor
 
 48 HUNDRED OF 
 
 honor of Richmond and the earl of Arundel were 
 chief lords of the commons. 
 
 In 1699 the manor of Richmond's, formerly the 
 Talbot's, is mentioned, and faid to belong to Mr. 
 Wm. Jubbs, and then to Mr. Martin, but finding 
 this never named elfewhqre, we are apt to think 
 that they only hired the property of Richmond 
 honor. 
 
 The religious concerned here were, the prior of 
 Norwich, whofe temporals were taxed at 45. the pri- 
 or of Buckenham's at 25. gd. and thofe of the prior 
 of Wangford at 6d. ob. q. 
 
 FORNCET, wrote in Doomfday-book Fornefftta, 
 includes at this time feveral ancient berewics or ham- 
 lets, according to which it is in fome meafure divided 
 at this day ; one part is called Kettleton-end, an- 
 tiently Kekeling's-town, or Kekelington ; this with 
 Tuanatuna, or Tanaton-end *, made up the parifh of 
 Forncet St. Peter, which though known by that 
 name in the Confeffor's time was only a berewic to 
 Forncet, and had then only one church, now called 
 Forncet St. Mary, to which St. Peter is, and alwayfe 
 was, a chapel of eafe, though it hath all the privi- 
 leges of baptifm, burial, and adminiftration of the 
 facrament, as well as the mother church. It was 
 founded ju ft before the Conqueior's time in Tuana- 
 tun berewic, probably by Oflac and his tenants, N who 
 then held this part ; for Doomfday fays, " it had 
 Cxty acres of the alms of many," 
 
 Forncet, called fometimer, to diftinguifh it from 
 the feveral berewics or ends, Mid-town, or the Mid- 
 
 , die 
 
 * Tuanaton, Thwanaton, and now Swanton hamlet, in 
 Forncet.
 
 D E P W A D E. 49 
 
 die part of the town, in the time of the ConfeiTor be- 
 longed to bifliop Stigand, of whom Coleman held it. 
 It had then only St. Mary's church and fifteen acres 
 of glebe belonging to it, but the appcndant berewics, 
 or manors, held of it. made it a grand manor ; for 
 befides KekeJington, Tuanaton, Galgryme, or Gal- 
 lowgreen, - Sugat, and Southgate, which now arc 
 all included in the bounds of the two parilhes, it 
 badlands, or manors, in the under-named towns"'', 
 mentioned in Doomfday, no lefs than fifteen in 
 number, held of it, which conftituted the honor of 
 Forncet, of which Roger Bigod, or Bigot, was lord 
 at die conqueft, when the Forncet part was two miles 
 long and one broad, and paid 6d. ob. to the gelt ; 
 and Tuanaton was then eleven furlongs long and fix 
 furlongs and ten perches broad, and paid 1 id. ob. 
 to the gelt, Kekelington being included in the mea- 
 fure of Tuanaton. 
 
 The whole, without the freemen, was worth 4!. 
 per annum at the fit ft furvey, and 5!. and lod. at die 
 laft ; and the king and the earl had the foe, or chief 
 jurifdiclion. The freemen, at the firft furvey, were 
 worth lol. per annum to the manor, and at the laft, 
 22!. 2s. gd. A part of it was held of Coleman by 
 Olf, a Dane, in the Confelfor's time, and Tuanatou 
 was then in two parts ; Oilac held one, as aHo at the 
 conqueft, and Hardeking the other, and reclaimed 
 it as given him by the king, but yet Walter held it 
 of Roger Bigot. 
 
 There was a part of it which belonged to Tafburgh 
 
 manor; one freeman, named Scuia, that belonged 
 
 to ihe king ; and three parts, one of which laid in 
 
 D three 
 
 * Hales, Af! -nekton, Wa-fton, MouTtjn, Tibbenham, Thraf- 
 ton, Straftcn, Shelton, Hardwick, Kritton, Caiictou, TaCoiiis- 
 ftone, Hapton, Tafturgb, i^undealul!. I
 
 5 o HUNDRED OF 
 
 three feveial ends, or divifions of die town, belong- 
 ing to Alan earl of Richmond's manor of Cofley, 
 viz. in Kekeiington three freemen, &c. in Tuanaton 
 two foe-men, See. and in Mideltun one freeman and 
 half the fervices of another ; and this was the ftate of 
 the town at the Conqueror's ftirvey, when Roger Bi- 
 got was lord of it by that prince's gift, being one of 
 thofe great men that attended him when he firft came 
 into England, and-for his fignal fervices was well re- 
 xvaidcd. This was that Roger who founded Thct- 
 ford priory, to which he gave this advowfon. He 
 left it to William Bigot, his (on and heir, fteward of 
 the houfehold to Henry. I. who was drowned with 
 the king's children as they came from Normandy, 
 and was fucccecled by Hugh Bigot, his brother, ftew- 
 ard alfo of the houfehold to the lame king ; but at his 
 death, which happened to be in Normandy, this 
 Hugh became the principal inftrument for advancing 
 Siephen earl of Bjulogne to the crown of England ; 
 for Leing Reward as aforefaid (an office in thofe times 
 of the higeft repiruion) he hafted to England, and 
 in the prcfence of the archbifhop of Canterbury 
 averred upon oath, that king Henry, upon his death 
 bed, difinherited his daughter Maud, the emprefs, 
 and appointed Stephen his heir ; for which fervices 
 (as fome fay) he was advanced by him to the earldom 
 of the Eall-Angles, for in the 6th of king Stephen 
 he was fo Ililed ; and in the twelfth year of Henry 
 II. he 'advanced him anew to the dignity and title of 
 earl of Norfolk, and to the office of fleward, to hold it as 
 amply as Roger his father did in the time of Henry I. 
 notwithstanding all which honor and great favors con- 
 ferred on him, he took part with Robert earl of 
 Leicefler, adhering to young king Henry in his rebel- 
 lious infurreclions ; for which diiloyal practices he 
 was forced to make his peace with a fine of 1000 
 marks, a prodigious ium in diofe days ; and going 
 
 foon
 
 D E P W A D E. 51 
 
 fdon after with the earl of Flanders to the Holy Land, 
 lie died in 1 1 77, and the king feifed on his trealure;, 
 but it was afterwards reftored, or at lead great part of 
 ir, to Roger Bigot, his fon and heir, who upon pay- 
 ment of 1000 marks more to Richard I. in the firft 
 year of his reign, viz. i 189, was reftored, by fpecial 
 grant, both to the earldom and flewardfhip, and the 
 whole inheritance of his father, to hold them as free- 
 ly and honorably as his father and grandfather did ; 
 and was not only a favorite of the king's, but was 
 entrufled by him, and much employed in public af- 
 fairs ; for in 1190 he was arnbaflTador to Philip 
 king of France, to folicitan aid towards the recovery 
 of the Holy-Land ; he attended William de Long- 
 camp, bifhopofEly, when he went to king Richard, 
 then made captive in Almaigne. He was one of the 
 four knights which carried the canopy of ftaie over 
 that king's head at his fecond coronaiion. He was 
 lent to require William king of Scotland to come 
 to Lincoln, and do homage to king John, whom he 
 attended into Poiclou in 1213; but in 1-215 he dc- 
 ferted that prince, being, fays Mr. Blomefield, one 
 of thofe " rebellious barons" that met in a " hoftile" 
 manner at Stamford, and afterwards at Brackley, and 
 by their power exacted from the king thofe ftricl: co- 
 venants *, whereby he infolemly " wrefted " the 
 government out of his hands, and put it into ihe 
 management of himfelf and his accomplices ; lor 
 which violent proceedings he and his twenty-four 
 comrades, who had thus obtained the real govern- 
 ment, were excommunicated by pope Innocent III. 
 He died in 1220, leaving Hugh Bigot his fon and 
 heir, who married Maud, eldeft daughter of Wm. 
 Marfhall, earl of Pembroke, and marfhal of Eng- 
 land, who out-lived him In 1222 he was with the 
 D 2 king's 
 
 * Magna-dnrta.
 
 5 s H U N D R E D O F 
 
 king's army in Wales, but dying in 1224, this ma- 
 nor, and all his inheritance, defcended to Roger Bi- 
 got, their Ion and heir, who was knighted in 1232 ; 
 and at a tournament between the fouthern and nor- 
 thern loids in 1236, was taken much notice of for 
 his linguiar {kill and dexterity in thofe warlike exer- 
 clfes. Upon levying the aid to marry the king's el- 
 ded daughter, he paid 162!. i is. for an hundred and 
 twenty-five knights fees of the old feoffment. andthir- 
 iy-feven and an half of the new. In i 241 he was with 
 the king in Fiance, and behaved gallantly at the fa- 
 mous ikirffiifh between the French and Englifh near 
 Xamoigne. In 1245 he was one of thofe that were 
 lent to the council of Lyons, to complain of the bur- 
 den the kingdom laid under from the fee of Rome, 
 and finding no redrefs, was one of thofe lords who 
 iubfcribed a letter to the Pope, requiring a remedy 
 fiorn fuch future exactions, and unjuft oppreffions ; 
 and the fame year obtained the office and honor of 
 maiihal. in right of his mother, which that king 
 thus conferred on him : The king gave the marfhal's 
 rod, or ftaff, into Maud's hands, and fhe having de- 
 livered it to her fon and heir, Roger, the king ac- 
 cepted his homage for it, and ordered the treafurer 
 and barons of the exchequer to let him enjoy all 
 the privileges of that office, and admit his fufficient 
 deputy (if occafion required) to fit in that court. In 
 ^247 he feized the earl of Ghifnes, on his arrival in 
 England, and excufed that facl to the king by ac- 
 quainting him, it was only a retaliation of former 
 indignities, the laid earl having feived him fo when 
 he went ambaffabor into France, having detained 
 him prifoner till he had fatisfied him for his pafTage 
 through his lands. In 1252 he was prefent when the 
 king confirmed the two charter.;, called, the great 
 charter, or Magna Carta, and Carta dc Forefla ; and 
 tiie next year he attended his majefly into Gafcoigne. 
 
 la
 
 D E P W A D E. 53 
 
 In 1254 Robert de Rofs, one of the baron?, being 
 charged with fbme crime committed again the king, 
 this earl apologized for him, till the king gave him 
 harfh language, and called him " traitor ;" upon 
 which, with a ftern afpecl:, he told him " he Ired," 
 and that he never way, nor would be fo, adding, " if 
 you do nothing but what the law warramcth, you can 
 do no harm :" yes, quoth the king, ' I can thrafh, 
 your corn and fell it, and f'o humble you :" to which 
 he replied, ''if you do it, I will fend you the heads 
 of the thrafhers." But this breach was foon made 
 up, for in 1259 he was fent ambaffador to the king 
 of France. In i 263 he was one of thofe who un- 
 dertook that the king fhould fubmit to the determi- 
 nation of Lewis the French king, concerning the 
 provifions of Oxford ; and the king being made pri- 
 foner at the battle of Lewes, he was confiituted by 
 the barons governor of Oxford-caftle, in Suffolk. 
 In 1269 he was found to hold this manor and ad- 
 vowfon (the prior of Thetford having releafed all 
 right in the latter) as head and chief parcel of the 
 barony of Bigot, and dying foon after, he was bu- 
 ried at Thetford, leaving his honors and eftate to his 
 nephew, Roger Bigot, fon of his brother, Hugh, who 
 in 1281 was in the Welfh expedition. In 1288 he 
 had a charter of free-warren to this manor. In 1293 
 he was licenfed to embattle his caftle, or manfion- 
 houfe, at Bungay, in Suffolk; and it is x plain he did 
 not degenerate from his anceflors, for he flood up 
 for the people's liberty, being the chief of thofe 
 lords who openly oppofed Edward I. in his arbi- 
 trary impofitions upon lands and wool, and not only 
 oppofed the levy demanded by the king for his ex- 
 pedition into Flanders, but actually refufed his per- 
 fonal attendance thither ; and he and the earl of 
 Hereford, with others, inhibited the payment of the 
 affelfment, and incited the Londoners fo, that he ob- 
 tained a confirmation of the two great chaiters, and 
 D 3 the
 
 54 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 the articuli fuper cl<arlas, which explain them, toge- 
 ther wish a pardon for all offences ; thus all difcon- 
 tcnts being fettled, in 1209 he went in the expedition 
 into Scotland, and having no ifTue, he conftimtcd 
 king Edward his heir, delivering to him his maiflial's 
 rod, on condition it fhould be returned to his chil- 
 dren if he had any, he to have a loool. down, and 
 loool. per ann. during life. Hiftorians aver all this 
 to be done out of fear, becaufe the earl of Hereford, 
 his old friend and ally, being dead, he thought the 
 king would now make him fufter for confpiring a- 
 gainft him. But foon after he had a regrant of the 
 earldom, rnarfhalfhip, and conftablefhip of Norwich 
 caftle, and all his eftate, in tail fpecial, to himfeif 
 for life, and to his heirs, if he had any, by Alice, his 
 fccond wife, with remainder to the king, who inherit- 
 ed the whole at his death in 1305, John Bigot, his 
 brother, and heir, inheriting only the manors of 
 Stockton, in Norfolk, and Settci ington, in Yorkfhire, 
 and a few more eftates not contained in the fet- 
 element. The king being thus pofieffed, enjoyed it 
 (ill Thomas de Brotherton, his fifth fon, had the 
 earldom of Norfolk, and marfhalfhip of England, 
 and great part of the eftate of the Bigots ; and a- 
 inong others, this manor and advowlbn, granted 1 to 
 him and his heirs by Edwaid II. his half brother. In 
 1312 he was conftablc of Norwich caftle. In 1315 
 he was returned lord of the honor of Forncet, and 
 of the manors of Forncet, Ditchingham, Earfham, 
 Framlingham-Earl. Halvergatc, South field, South- 
 Vv'aiiliam, Hanwbrth, &;c. with the half hundred of 
 Earfham. In 1326, having behaved well in the 
 Scorch war?, he had a grant of confirmation of the 
 honors, lands, and eflates of the Bigots. In 1332 
 he was a third time in the Scotch wars, and dying in 
 1338, was buried in the abbey at St. Edmund's Bu- 
 ry. He had two wives, but left no male iffue ; by his 
 firii wife, Alice, daughter of fir Roger Hales, of 
 
 Harwich,
 
 
 D E P W A D E. 1 53 
 
 Harwich, knt. lie had a fon, filmed Edward, who 
 died before him, and two daughters, named Alice, 
 and Margaret, the latter was firit married to John 
 lord Segrave, of Folkftonc, in Kent, who in her right 
 was lord here ; by him flic had illu^, Elizabeth, and 
 Anne, who was lady abbefs at Barking, in E(Tex. 
 Her lecond hufband was fir William Minn ey, knt.* 
 by whom flie had iiTueThomas, who was, in his youth, 
 unfortunately drowned in a well, at Deptford, in 
 Kent, and Margaret, married to John Haflings, 
 earl of Pembroke. This fir Walter was lord and 
 patron here in 1361, and 1368, but dying before his 
 lady, fhe had the whole of the eflate in her own righr, 
 and in 1397 was created duchefs of Norfolk, forlife, 
 by Richard II. She died in I399> and was buried 
 at the Friars- minors in London, arid by inquifition 
 taken at her death, it was found rbrt her daughter 
 and heirefs, Elizabeth, married to John Lord Mow- 
 bray, had iffue John, created earl of Nottingham, 
 who dying under age, ifTuelefs, was fucceeded by 
 Thomas Mowbray, his brother, who was duke of 
 Norfolk, earl of Nottingham, baron Mowbray, Se- 
 grave, Bradfe, and Gower, knight of the garter, 
 and, as Coke upon Littleton faith, the firfl earl mar- 
 fhal that fliied hirnfelf earl marfhal of England t ; 
 D 4 his 
 
 * Sir Walter Manney, knt. in right of Margaret, his wife, 
 held Forncet manors and honor in chief, as parcel, or head, of 
 the barony, of the earl of Norfolk, by knights fervice, and 255. 
 per annum paid for caftle-ward to Norwich cattle ; and he had 
 free-warren belonging to the manor, which was worth twenty 
 mark* a year. It had then a capital manfion houfe, 178 acres 
 of land, 23 of meadow, divers woods and alder-carrs, two 
 wind-mills, the fourth part of the tolls and profits of Stratton- 
 market, lett at as. per annum, &c. 
 
 f He was conftituted earl- marftial of England for life, but 
 afterwards obtained it in remainder to the heirs of his body, 
 with an union of the office of marfhal in the ccurts of king's 
 bench and exchequer, and marftial cryer before the fteward, and 
 
 marfhal
 
 3 6 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 his chriftian name was Thomas, in refpec"t to Tho- 
 mas, the archbifhop of ihe diocefe of Canterbury. 
 He was To much in the king's favor as to be created 
 carl of Nottingham, to which honor he was advan- 
 ced the very day his grandmother, Margaret, (the heir- 
 efs of Brothenon) was created duchefs ; but as his 
 greatnefs was founded in blood, fo he foon after ir- 
 recoverably fell ; for being accufed by Henry of Bo- 
 lingbroke, for words fpoken indecently of the king, 
 whom he faid, " notwithstanding his fair pretences 
 and oaths, meant to opprefs the duke of Lancafter, 
 and others," that prince, though he had fo great a 
 favor for him, for being aclive in the deftruclion of 
 Richaid earl of Arundelt, his f.ither-in-law, and 
 Thomas of Wcodftock, duke of Gloucefter, as to 
 create him duke of Norfolk, and give him his father- 
 in-law's forfeited eflate, yet he committed him prifoner 
 to \-Vindfdr-cafile, and a challenge, or camp-ordeal, 
 enfued between them, when the duke came to the 
 place appointed for the combat, wi;h his horfe capa- 
 rifoned with crimfon velvet, embroidered with filver 
 lions and .mulberry-trees ; but the king then prohi- 
 bited the combat, banifhed Henry, caned earl of 
 Hereford, f;:r ten years, and the duke for life; and 
 this happened ou the very day twelve-month that he 
 
 had 
 
 marfhal of the king's houfehold, and on that account he and 
 his heirs iliould hear a golden truncheon, enamelled with black 
 at each end, having the king's arrr.s engraven at the upper, and 
 his own at the lower end. 
 
 f He had two wives ; ift. Elizabeth { daughter of the lord 
 Strange, by whom he had no iffue ; 2d. Elizabeth, fitter and only 
 heircfs of Thomas Kitz-Alan, e^rl of Arundel, by whom ihe 
 had iiTue Tho/nas lord Mowbray, beheaded at York, with Ri- 
 chard Scroop, archbilhop of Canterbury, in the year 1405 ; 
 John, his fccond fora, who fucceeded him ; Margaret, his eld- 
 ell daughter, married fir Robert Howard, knt. Ifabel, the fe- 
 cond daughter, imnied, firft, Henry Ferrers, of Groby, and 
 afterwards fir James Berkeley, knt. father of William marquis
 
 D E P W A D E. 57 
 
 had been acceflary to the murder of the duke of 
 Gloucefter : Germany, Bohemia, and Hungary, were 
 allotted for his exile, purfuant to which fentence he 
 departed, but never returned ; for as he came from. 
 Jerufalem, he died of the plague at Venice, in the 
 year 1400, in the ift of Henry IV. feifed of this 
 manor, with the court, called the " knighten-couit," 
 thereto belonging, and Elizabeth, his widow, inhe- 
 rited them, and afterwards remarried fir Gerard de 
 Ulllete, knt. who held them till her death, in 1424. 
 
 The knighten-court belonging to this manor was 
 the ancient court, to which all thofe great men that 
 held their feveral manors, lands, and tenements, of 
 the Bigots honor, were obliged to do fuit and fervice, 
 and pay catlle-ward for the guard of the earl's caftle 
 at Norwich every three weeks, and to do their ho- 
 mages, pay their reliefs and aids for the feveral 
 knights fees they held of the honor, at every death, 
 alienation, or aid, granted to the earl. It appears 
 that there were many fees held both of the old and 
 new feoffment in the Bigots times ; but it was greatly 
 augmented in 1337, when the divifion of all the fees 
 belonging to Thomas de Brotherton, late earl of Nor- 
 folk, was made by the king's writ between his two 
 daughters and heirefles ; Alice married fir Edward de 
 Montague, and Margaret, fir John de Segrave, who 
 had Forncet for his (hare, and above fifty knights 
 fees, many of which he transferred from Rifing- 
 Caftle, and other places, and added th^rn to the 
 knighten-court here. 
 
 : - I 
 
 This court was held conflantly every three weeks, 
 and had the following officers belonging to it: 
 
 1. An auditor, whofe bufmefs was once a year to 
 audit and pafs the year's accounts, receive the money, 
 
 and
 
 5S HUNDRED OF 
 
 and return it to die lord;- he was generally a man of 
 ibme principal family in the county, and had a hand- 
 fomc falaiy for life, it being held by patent. Sir 
 Richard Fulmerfton, km. and feveral of the Kempes, 
 Sec. were auditors. 
 
 2. The feodary, an office of honor and great pro- 
 fit^ his bufinels was to take inquifuions at the death 
 of each tenant that held any fees, or parts of fees, 
 by knights feivicc, and inroll all deeds of alienations 
 of any fees or parts thereof. 
 
 3. The collector, whofe office was to attend at the 
 doing of all homages, and to receive all reliefs, aids, 
 caflle-guard money, wards, marriage money, &c. 
 
 4. The ferjeant, who was the feodary's officer, to 
 ferve all proceffes, make enquiries, ferve all funa- 
 raonfes, return the jurors, and certify the deaths. 
 
 5. The bailiff, v:ho was to fummon the under te- 
 nants, give notice of the courts, make feizures, re* 
 turn copies of the rolls, &c. to the evidence-room. 
 
 The feodary-book of this honor was laft of all re- 
 newed in 4609, when the noble Henry earl of Nor- 
 thampton, baron of Marnebill, lord guardian of the 
 Cinque-ports, lord keeper of the piivy-feal, and knight 
 the garter, was lord. It had then above fifty fees 
 held of it in the county of Norfolk only. 
 
 At the death of Elizabeth duchefs of Norfolk, in 
 1424, John Mowbray, licr fecond fon and heir, by 
 the cleaih of his eldeft brother, fucceeded to the ho- 
 nor and manor ; he was one of thofe valiant n0ble- 
 rneri that ferved Henry V. and VI. in their wars with 
 France, in which, having behaved with the greateft 
 
 courage
 
 D E P W A D E. 55 
 
 courage and fidelity, he was by parliament reflored 
 to the title and dignity of duke of Norfolk (being 
 before ftiFed earl marfhal and earl of Nottingham 
 only) in 1424. In 1414 he was at the fiege of Har- 
 ileur with Hen ry V. where he got the flux by eating too 
 much fruit, and fo was forced to return before the 
 famous battle of Agincourt. In 1416 he was at the 
 fiege of Caen, in Normandy, and continued in tho(e 
 parts till that king's death,, and Was foon after retained 
 to fervc Henry VI. in his wars, by whom he was 
 made knight of the garter ; he died Oclober i g, 
 1433, at nis manor of Epleworth,, in the Ifle of Ax- 
 holm, in Lincolnfhire, and was buried in the charter- 
 houfe of the carthufians there: by Katherine, daugh- 
 ter of Ralph Nevile, firft earl of Weftmoreland, and 
 of Joan, his wife, daughter of John of Gaunt, duke 
 of Lancafter, he had John lord Mowbray, duke of 
 Norfolk,' earl MarQial and Nottingham, lord Segrave, 
 Gower, &:c. knight of the garter, and lord of this ho- 
 nor and manor, who in 1438 went ambaflador into 
 Picardy, to make a peace between the kings of Eng- 
 land and France, and had then a grant of a place and 
 feat in parliament next to the duke of Exeter. In 
 1446 he went in pilgrimage to Rome; and in 1436 
 he had licence to vilit other holy places in Ireland, 
 Scotland, Bretaigne, Piccardy, and Cologn, and to 
 the blood of our Saviour at Wind if mark; as aiio to 
 go a fccond time to Rome and Jerufalem, having 
 vowed to do it for recovery of the king's health. In 
 1460 he was confirmed by Edward IV. jullice-itine- 
 rant of all the forefts fouth of Trent, but died in 
 1461, and was buried in the abbey of Thetfqrd, as 
 was Eleanor, his wife, daughter of William lord 
 Bourchier, and fifler of Hen. Bourchier, earl of Eflfex. 
 
 He was fucceededby his fon, John lord Mowbray, 
 who during his father's lifetime was created earl 
 Warren and Surrey by Henry VI. and by Edu'ard
 
 fro II UNBRED OF 
 
 IV. was macle knight of the garter. In 1473 ^ iat 
 kin?; retained him to ferve in the French wars ; he 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of John Talbot, fir ft 
 earl of Shrewsbury, and had iffue only one daughter; 
 he died in 1475, and was buried by his anceftors in 
 Theiford priory church, and this manor was affigned 
 to Elizabeth duchefs of Norfolk, his widow, who 
 prefentcd here in 1496; but the honor of Forncet 
 went to Ann, their only daughter, who married Rich. 
 Plantagenet, of Shrevvfbury, duke of York, lecond 
 ion to Edward IV. who, becaufe the title of duke of 
 Norfolk was by creation limited to the heirs male of 
 the Mowbrays, he obtained a patent from his father, 
 creating him duke of Norfolk, and 'earl Warren, 
 with annuities of 40!. a year out of the revenues of 
 the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and 20!. per 
 annum out of the profits of the counties of Surrey 
 and Suffex, to be paid by the fheriffs of thofe coun- 
 ties ; in right of his wife he was earl rnarfhal, and 
 had the baronies of Mowbray, Segrave, and Govver, 
 together with the vaft inheritance of her family. 
 This Richard, vviih his brother, Edward V. was by 
 the unnatural and cruel command of that monfter 
 Richard duke of Gloucefter, their uncle, afterwards 
 Richard III. barbaroufiy murdered in the Tower of 
 London in 1485, and leaving no iffue, the inheri- 
 tance of this great houfe fell to two heireffes, Ifabel 
 and Margaret, daughters of Thomas de Mowbray, 
 firft duke of Norfolk, the fir ft of whom married fir 
 James Berkley, and the other fir Robert Howard, 
 km. to whofe family this honor, manor, and advow- 
 fon, palled, and hath continued in it to this day : we 
 fhall therefore conclude our account of the Bigots 
 and Mowbrays, and proceed to "the noble family of 
 Howard*. 
 
 The 
 
 * Mr. Blomefield, in his efTay, concludes his accounts of tha 
 Bigots and Mowbrays with the copy of an ancient manufcript, 
 
 calkd
 
 D E P W A D E. 61 
 
 The moft honorable family of the Howards being 
 not only the firft of this county, but of ail England, 
 next to the royal family, we fhall treat of them at 
 large in this place, this town being the chief, or head 
 of the honor, beginning as far back as we can trace 
 them, from the many ancient, pedigrees, roils, evi- 
 dences, printed accounts, and other memorials, that 
 we have met with concerning them, chiefly following 
 that pedigree* which is in Caius College library, in 
 Cambridge, the greateft part of it being proved by 
 extracts out of authentic evidences and deeds, which 
 are entered upo,n it. 
 
 1. Fulcho, orFulk; he is exhibited on his knees 
 in armor, with a plume of feathers for his creft, on 
 the top of his helmet; the fafli on which the fcab- 
 bard of his fword hangs, goes in the form of a band, 
 and is tied with a knot on his flioulder; he hath his . 
 drawn fword creeled in his right hand; from the oval 
 that he is drawn in hangs his fhield, made in the fhape 
 of a heart, and on it, gul. a bend between fix crofs 
 croflets fitche arg. which arms have been conftantly 
 borne by the Howards to this day. 
 
 2. Galfrid, or Jeffery, foii of Fulk, fucceeded, 
 who had two fons, Humphrey, the younger, arid 
 
 3. Alan Fitz-Jeffery, the elder, whofe fon, 
 
 4. William, took the firname of Wiggenhall, from 
 the town f that name in Freebridge Marfhland, 
 where he was born, and had lands confirmed to him 
 
 by 
 
 called " The Book of Pleas," now remaining rn the guild-hall 
 in the city of Norwich ; which we omit, as thinking it a dull 
 reiteration of what we have already faid on the fubjecl:, 
 
 * The title of that pedigree is, Stsmma et accurata dtduftiv, 
 preeclar# families Hiwardorum, ufqtte ad annum 1605.
 
 62 HUNDRED OF 
 
 by the abbot and convent of St. Edmund's Bury, HJ 
 Suffolk ; he had three Tons ; Aikill, his fecond, and 
 Wilfric, his third fon, both continued the fimame of 
 Wiggenhall, but 
 
 5. John, his eldeft fon, took the firname of Hey- 
 ward, Hauuard, or Howard, and was the firft of 
 this family of that firname*, which, as we imagine, 
 he took from the office of heyward there ; he married 
 Lucy Germund, by whom he had 
 
 6. William Howard, of Wiggenhall, with whom 
 fir William Dugdale begins the t pedigree of this 
 noble family. This William being bred to the law, 
 made fo great proficiency therein, and raifed fuch 
 fortunes, that he was knighted about the 6th year of 
 Edward I. and had his feat at Wiggenhall, where by 
 various purchafes he acquired a confiderable eflate ; 
 he had a brother, named Thomas, who was called 
 iometimes Thomas de Wiggenhall, and fometimes 
 Thomas Howard, of Wiggenhall; and alfo another 
 brother, called Hugh Howard, who was inflituted to 
 the vicarage of Wiggenhall St. German's, May 7, 
 1304^:. This William was fnfl appointed one of 
 
 the 
 
 * This name is faid, by different people, to be derived from 
 different origins, as hot ward, the warden of an hall; hold- 
 ~jjard, the warden, or keeper of any ftrong hold ; of hoch, 
 high; and -ward, a warden; or hold, a favor; and -word, 
 \vorthy , I'eui. or of hold, hofpitality, and ward ; but all thefe 
 ^re little to our purpofe, otherwife than the natural origin of 
 it, the Heyward, or Howard, being the high or chief warden, 
 or keeper of any place or thing ; and indeed we believe that 
 this John was the Heyward here. 
 
 f* The Peerage, publifhed at London in 1715, begins with 
 this William ; but the edition in 1741 with Hervey. 
 
 'J The Howards remained in thefe parts asany generation* 
 after the chief branch removed.
 
 D E P W A D E. 6 5 
 
 the judges in the court of Common-pleas by Ed- 
 ward I. about 1280; and on the i ith of OiHober, 
 i 296, in the s^th of Edward I. he was (worn chief 
 juftice of the King's-bench ; was conftantly fummon- 
 ed to parliament till the time of Edward II. in which. 
 year he was lent into Scotland with Robert de Wate- 
 ville, on the king's affairs ; and on the rath of De- 
 cember, 1307, had letters of protection from his ma- 
 jefty to anfwer no funs, and not to plead to any 
 thing till his return, which patent was produced in 
 the i ft, sd, and 3d years of Edward II. fo that he did 
 not return to fettle till after that time. By various 
 deeds we find that he purchafed eftates in Walpole, 
 Tilney, North Wotton, and many towns in that 
 neighbourhood : he had two wives ; Alice, daughter 
 of fir Robert Ufford, knt. by whom he had no iffue; 
 and Alice, daughter of fir Edmund Fitton, of Wig- 
 genhall, knt. by whom he had iffue John and Wil- 
 liam ; he is faid to have died about 1308, but where 
 buried we do not find; the Peerage, v. i. p. 7. faith, 
 he is pourtrayed in glafs in judges robes in a window 
 in Long Melford church, in Suffolk, with two other 
 judges, and this infcription under them: Pray for 
 the goodjiate. of William Haward, chief jujtis of Yng- 
 land, and the : : : : P)cot and John Haiigh fu/lis of 
 the law. 
 
 7. Sir John Howard, knt. his eldeft fon, fucceeded 
 him, who in 1305 was gentleman of the bed-cham- 
 ber to Edw I. afterwards fherifT of Noifolk and Suf- 
 folk, andcuftos, or governor, of Norwich caftle ; went 
 into the Scottifh wars, and to Gafcoigne, to fervc the 
 king there ; his brother, William Howard, purchafed 
 Eaft Walton manor, and many other eftates in Nor- 
 folk ; but dying without iffue. before 1316, he be- 
 tamc his fole heir. He married Joan, fitter of Ri- 
 chard
 
 64 HUNDRED OF 
 
 chard de Cornwall, who furvived him, as appears 
 from the inquifition taken at his death, in the 5th of 
 Edward III. in the year 1330, when he was lord of 
 feveral manors in Wiggenhall, Eaft Walton, Terring- 
 ton, Souih Wotton, 8cc. and though it hath been 
 faid that one Edmund Howard was brother to this 
 iir John, we cannot find any thing like it, but take it 
 to be a miftake for that Edmund Howard, who was 
 prefented in 1309 by Edward II. to the -reclory of 
 Weeting St. Mary ; now this iidmund we take to 
 have been fon to a younger branch of the family. 
 
 8. Sir John Howard, jun. knt. fon and heir of fir 
 John Howard, fen. knt. and Joan Cornwall, his wife, 
 married Alice du Bois, daughter of fir Robert cm 
 Bofco, or Bois, of Fersfield, knt. by ChriP.ian, 
 daughter of fir William Laiimcr, knt. who in 1333 
 became fole heirefs to fir Robert du Bois, her only 
 brother, and inherited the large eftate of that family. 
 Sir John in 1335 was conftituted by Edward III. ad- 
 miral of the king's whole fleet, from the mouth of 
 the Thames northward ; in 1 344 was fherifF of Nor- 
 folk ; and in 1346 obtained a grant for a market 
 every Friday, and a fair yearly, at his manor of Wig- 
 genhall, and had a new patent to conflituie him Ad- 
 miral again ; he was efquire of the body to Edward 
 III. and behaved well in the fiege of Calais, in the 
 i ft year of that king ; he had iffue, 
 
 g. Sir Robert Howard, knt. who married Marga-\ 
 ret, daughter, and at length one of the heirefles of 
 iir Robert Scales, knt. lord Scales and Newcels ; he 
 liad all the Bois'$ eftates at the death of his mother, 
 , in 1371. In 1378 he was committed to the Tower 
 for detaining Margery de Narford from Alice lady 
 Nevile, her grandmother; fir Robert died July 3, 
 
 1388,
 
 D E P W A D E. 65 
 
 1388, at Eaft Winch, where he lies buried. Accord- 
 ing to the fettlement made by him in 1356, Margaret, 
 his widow, enjoyed the greateft part of the Boil's 
 eftate during her life; and at her death fhe was bu- 
 ried by her hufband, who died before his father, 
 leaving iffue, 
 
 10. Sir John Howard, knt. his eldeft fon and 
 heir, who at his grandfather's death became heir to 
 the whole eftate, except the manors of Brookes, in 
 Suffolk, and Eaft Walton, in Norfolk, the former of 
 which was fettled by fir Robert Howard on Edmund 
 Howard, his fecond fon; the latter, on Robert 
 Howard, his third fon ; but both dying without if- 
 fue, they reverted to fir John, their elder brother, 
 who was retained to ferye Richard II. for life, and 
 had two wives : by Margaret, his firft wife, daughter 
 and heirefs of fir John Plais, of Weeting, knt. he 
 had iflue fir John Howard, jun. knt.* who married 
 Joan, daughter and heirefs of fir Richard Walton, 
 knt. and by her had Elizabeth Howard, their folc 
 daughter and heirefs, who married John de Vere, 
 twelfth earl of Oxford of the Vere family. Marga- 
 ret Plais, his firft wife, died in 1391, and he married 
 again to Alice, daughter and heirefs of fir William 
 Tcndring, knt. and Catherine Clopton, his wife, who 
 died in 1426, and was buried at Stoke-Neyland, in 
 Suffolk, by her father, fir William Tendring ; and 
 in 1437, when fir John, her hufband, died, he was 
 buried by her. He had iffue by his laft wife two 
 fonst; Henry, his youngeft, whofe only daughter, 
 E Elizabeth, 
 
 * Sir John Howard died in 1410, twenty-feven years before 
 his father. 
 
 f He had alfo by her two daughters ; Margaret, marrie 1 to 
 fir William Daniel, knt. and Catherine, to Edward Nevile, lord 
 
 Abergavenny.
 
 66 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Elizabeth, married Henry Wentwonh, of Cobham ; 
 and fir Robert Howard, his eldeft, lord of Forncet 
 manor and honor in his wife's right, died in his fa- 
 ther's life-time, leaving ifiue by Margaret, daughter 
 and coheirefs to Thomas dc Mowbray, duke of Nor- 
 folk, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and coheirefs 
 of Richard earl of Arundel. 
 
 i i . Sir John Howard, knt.* who began very early 
 to diftinguifh himfelf in the wars. In the latter part 
 of the reign of Henry VI. he accompanied John viC- 
 count Lille to Blay, with 22000 men, and foon after 
 marched to the relief of Chatillon with John earl of 
 Shrewfbury, where that valiant earl was flain. In 
 1442 he was fent by Henry VI. to appeafe the great 
 riot at Norwich. In 1460, in the ift of Edward IV. 
 he was iheriff" of Norfolk and Suffolk, and confe- 
 quently had the cuftody of Norwich-caftle, then the 
 king's prifon, and was appointed one of the king's 
 Carvers ; and in connderation of his great fervices 
 obtained a grant of feveral manors, which were then 
 in the crown by the attainder of John earl of Wilt- 
 ihire. In the fecond of Edward IV. he had the joint 
 command (with the lords Falconberg and Clinton) 
 of the king's fleet, and did confiderable fervice 
 againft Fiance, being alfo at that time treafurer of 
 the king's houfliold. In 1467 he was iheriff of Ox- 
 fordfhire and Bcrkfhire. In 1469, bearing the tide of 
 lord Howard, (by which title, in 1471, he was fum- 
 moned to parliament as a baron of the realm) he was 
 made captain-general of the king's forces at fea, for 
 baffling the attempts of the Lancaltrians, then making 
 
 a powerful 
 
 * Thus it appears, that this fir John Howard, the firft How- 
 ard duke of Norfolk, by his mother, was defcended from Ed- 
 ward I. by his fecond wife, Margaret, daughter to Philip the 
 Hardy, king of France.
 
 D E P W A D E. 67 
 
 a powerful head under the flout earl of Warwick* 
 In 1470 he was made deputy-governor of Calais and 
 the Marfties, with lord Haflings, and having behaved 
 with fingular prudence and fidelity, he obtained a 
 grant in tail fpecial of divers lands and manors. In 
 1473 ne obtained of the king the wardfhip and mar- 
 riage of fir John Bourchier, knt. lord Berners, then a 
 minor, whom he afterwards married to 'Catherine 
 Howard, his only iffue by his fecond wife. In 1477 
 he had a grant of the office of conftable of the 
 Tower of London, and the next year was again 
 made captain-general of the king's fleet againft the 
 Scots, and was alfo inftalled knight of the garter in 
 the reign of Edward IV. to whom he adhered faith- 
 fully during the whole courfe of it; as he did to 
 Richard III. after he had got the crown, (though 
 without having any evil hand in the barbarous ac- 
 tions which were exercifed thereto) fo that to oblige 
 him the more, he was upon June 28, in the ift yeaf 
 of that king's reign, made ear] marQial of England, 
 and advanced to the dignity of duke of Norfolk, 
 (Thomas, his fon, being then alfo created earl of 
 Surrey) ; and the day preceding the king's coronation 
 was conftituted high admiral of England for that day, 
 alfo lord-admiral of England, Ireland, and Aqui- 
 tain, for life; and at the fame tirne obtained a fpecial 
 grant of divers manors and lordihips, and confirma- 
 tion of his mother's inheritance, and among others 
 this manor, advowfon, and honor, and of all the 
 liberties, fmce, and now called the duke of Nor- 
 folk's liberties, which were firft granted to John loid 
 Mowbray. But thefe great honors and van: poffeffions 
 were not long enjoyed; for in 1485, being placed in 
 the front of the army at Bofworth-field. he was there 
 flain.with the king, Auguft the 2sd; and being after- 
 wards attainted, great pait of his eftate was feized 
 E* by
 
 68 HUNDREDOF 
 
 by Henry VII. His body was brought back, and in- 
 terred in the abbey church at Thetford. Catherine, 
 daughter to William lord Molins, was his firfl wife, 
 by whom he had one fon and four daughters ; Ann, 
 married fir Edmund Gorge, knt. Ifabel, fir Robert 
 Mortimer, of ElTex, knt. Jane, fir John Timperley ; 
 and Margaret, fir John Windham, knt. By his ie- 
 cond wife, Margaret, daughter of fir John Chetworth, 
 knt. he had only Catherine, who married fir John 
 Bourchier, lord Berners. 
 
 1 2. Thomas Howard, his fon and heir, being 
 e fqu ire of the body % to Edward IV. was retained to 
 ferve him in his wars. In the 15th of Edward IV. 
 1474, he was fheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk; and in 
 the id of Richard III. 1483, was created earl of 
 Surrey; and though he took part with the {lain king, 
 being taken prifoner at Bofworth-field fighting in his 
 own defence, yet did the conquering prince, Henry 
 VII. receive him into his favor, made choice of 
 him for one of his privy council, and in 1488 re- 
 ftored him to his title of earl of Surrey, and em- 
 ployed him to reflrain the Scots incurfions, and the 
 northern infurreHons: about this time he fhared 
 wirh Maurice, brother of William marquis of Berke- 
 ley, the lands which came to them by inheritance, by 
 reafon of his defcent from the coheirs to Mowbray 
 duke of Norfolk. In 1499 he attended the king 
 and queen to Calais ; and the next year was advanced 
 to the high office of lord treafurer of England, and 
 Co-much was he in his mailer's favor, that he confti- 
 tuted him one of his executors ; and immediately af- 
 ter the accefTion of Henry VIII. that prince nomina- 
 ted him one of his privy council, renewed his patent 
 of lord treafurer, and the year following made him 
 carl marflial of England for life. In 1512, being 
 fent general of the Englifli forces againft the Scots, 
 
 he
 
 
 D E P W A D E 69 
 
 he flew James IV- king of Scotland, and routed their 
 army at Flodden-field ; for which great fervice a fpe- 
 cial grant paflfed by the king's order, that he, and 
 the heirs male of his body, fhould for ever bear, 'as 
 an honorable augmentation to his arms, on the bend 
 of the Howards arms, the upper half of a red lion, 
 (depicled as the arms of Scotland are) pierced through 
 the mouth with an arrow. In 1513, February i, the 
 king advanced him to the dignity of duke of Nor- 
 folk, which title John, his father, (deriving his de- 
 fcent, through the heirs female of Mowbray and Se- 
 grave, from Thomas of Brotherton, fon to Edw. I.) 
 did enjoy. At the fame time he had a new patent 
 for the office of lord treafurer, and a grant of divers 
 lordfhips and manors from the crown, and confirma- 
 tion of many others ; among which the honor and 
 manor of Forncet, then valued at 44!. per ann. and 
 its appendages of Swanton, Southgate, and Callow- 
 green, were included; and in 1516 he iffued his let- 
 ters to fir Nicholas Appleyard, knt. chief flcward of 
 his honor, and to other the learned counfel of the 
 law, who were conftantly retained by him, and to 
 John Crane, his high bailiff, to renew the extents, 
 rentals, and evidences, of the honor and manors be- 
 longing thereto, which was done very exally. In 
 1521 he performed the office of lord high fteward at 
 the trial of Edward duke of Buckingham, and gave 
 fentence of death upon him, but not without tears ; 
 and in 1522 obtained a grant to his fon, Thomas earl 
 of Surrey, of part of the faid duke's lands ; and re- 
 figning to him his office of lord treafurer of England, 
 he retired, with the king's leave, to his caflle at 
 Framlingham, in Suffolk, where he kept an honor- 
 able hbufe to his death, and being above eighty years 
 of age, died there, on the ifl of May, 1524; and 
 when he was carried out of that caflle, towards his 
 burial in the abbey church at Thetford, " he cudc 
 3 '* not
 
 70 HUNDREDOF 
 
 11 not be afked one grote for his debte, 1 " as appears 
 from an exaft account of his life, which was fixed 
 on a table by his monument. He married two wives ; 
 firft, Elizabeth, daughter and fole heirefs to fir Fre- 
 derick Tilney, km. and widow of fir Humphrey 
 Kourchier, km. lord Berners, by whom he had eight 
 fons, of which Henry, John, Charles, Henry, and 
 Richard, all died young, and the other three furviv- 
 ed him. viz. 
 
 1. Thomas, his eldeftfon, created carl of Surrey 
 in his father's life-time. 
 
 2. Sir Edward Howard, knight of the garter, and 
 lord admiral, was a man of as great account as any 
 of his cotemporaries. In 1491 he was in an expe- 
 dition then made into Flanders, in favor of the em- 
 peror Maximilian. In 1509 he was made ftandard 
 bearer to Henry VIII. who in 1512 conftituted him 
 lord high admiral of England, when he convoyed the 
 marquis of Dorfet into Spain, to aid Ferdinand the 
 emperor againft the French ; and having fcoured the 
 fcas, he landed in Britaigny, did great execution in 
 that country, and returned home laden with honor 
 and fpoils. This put the French to re-inforce their 
 navy, and that encouraged the king to do the fame ; 
 upon which, to the honor of this lord admiral, he 
 fearched for the French, and met them coming out 
 of Breft, and, after a Qiarp encountre, obtained a fig- 
 nal victory. He was alfo fent after fir Andrew Bar- 
 ton, the famous " Scotch pirate, 11 whom he fought 
 and took. Afterwards the French could never dare 
 to look out of Breft, fo that refolving to attempt 
 them in their harbour, he entered a galley, and 
 boarding the admiral of the f reach galleys, the grap- 
 lings giving way, the galleys parted, and he was left 
 in his enemies hands, where fighting courageoufly, in 
 
 the
 
 D E P W A D E. 71 
 
 the heat of the a&ion he was borne over board, and 
 loft his life. He married Alice, fifter and heirefs to 
 Henry Lovel, lord Morley, and widow of fir Wil- 
 liam Parker, knt. (he died April, 1313* His brother, 
 
 3. Lord Edmund Howard, was at Floddsn-field, 
 and with his elder brother, lord Thomas earl of Sur- 
 rey, led the van-guard of the army, and behaved 
 very gallantly ; he was then a knight, and marfhal of 
 the hoft. He married, firft, Joice, daughter of fir 
 Richard Culpepper, of Hollingborne, in Kent, by 
 whom he had three fons ; Henry, who died an in- 
 fant ; fir George Howard, knighted in Scotland by 
 Edward duke of Somerfet, in 1546 ; and fir Charles, 
 flain in France; all dying without iffue; and five 
 daughters; i. Margaret, married fir Thomas Aiun- 
 del, knt. grandfather to Thomas the firft lord Arun- 
 dei, of Wardour. 2. Catherine queen of England, 
 fifth wife to Henry VIII. 3. Mary, married Edward 
 Trafford, efq. 4. Joice, married John Stanney, efq. 
 
 5. Ifabel, married Bainton, efq. His fecond 
 
 wife was Dorothy- daughter of Thomas Troys, efq. 
 by whom he had no iffue. 
 
 The faid duke by his firft wife had alfo three 
 daughters : 
 
 1. Elizabeth, married fir Thomas Boleyn, after- 
 wards vifcount Rochford, earl of VViltfhire and Or- 
 mond, by whom fhe was mother of queen Ann Bo- 
 leyn, who had by Henry VIII. her hufband, Eliza- 
 beth queen of England. 
 
 2. Muriel, who firft married John Grey, vifcount 
 Lifle, by whom (he had Elizabeth, wife of Henry 
 Courtney, and fecondly, to fir Thomas Knevet, knt. 
 and had iffue fir Henry Knevet. 
 
 4 The
 
 7 s HUNDRED OF 
 
 The aforefaid Duke's fecond wife was Agnes, 
 daughter of Hugh Tilney, eiq. fifler and hei?efs>to 
 fir Philip Tilney, of Bofton, in Lincolnshire, knt. 
 aiid had iflfue by her, 
 
 1. William, afterwards created baron Howard, of 
 Efiingham, of whofe defendants more will occur 
 hereafter. 
 
 2. Sir Thomas, who marrying lady Margaret 
 Douglas, daughter to Margaret queen of Scots, 
 niece to king Henry, was attainted of treafon, on 
 fome fufpicion of his afpiring to the crown, and di- 
 ed in the Tower of London. 
 
 3. Richard, who died march 27, 1517, and was 
 buried at Lambeth, with two ethers of his brothers 
 who died infants, and four daughters, 
 
 i. Anne, the eldefl, married to John Vere, earl of 
 Oxford, but left no iflue by him. 2. Dorothy, to 
 Edward Stanley, earl of Deiby. 3. Elizabeth, to 
 Henry Ratcliff, earl of Suffex. 4. Katherine, married 
 firfl to fir Rhefe-ap-Thomas, and afterwards to Hen- 
 ry Daubeny, earl of Bridgewater. 
 
 13. Thomas, earl of Surrey, eldeft fon to the laft 
 memioned duke, fuccecded him in hie honors ; in 
 his father's life-time he commanded a Qiip under his 
 brother Edward, who was then lord admiral, when 
 the famous pirate fir Andrew Barton was taken, in 
 1512. He accompanied the marquis of Dorfet into 
 Spain, in aid of king Ferdinand, 'againft the French ; 
 and the faid marquis falling fick, he had the com- 
 mand of the Englifh army. In 1513, upon the death 
 of lord Edward, his brother, being then knight of 
 the garter, he was conftituted lord high admiral in 
 
 his
 
 D E P W A D E. 73 
 
 his ftead, and fo fcoured the feas, that not a French 
 fiihing-boat durft be ieen ; and landing in \Vhitfand- 
 bay, he ravaged the country thereabouts. Upon the 
 invafion of James IV. in Scotland, he landed 5000 
 Telerans, and joined his father, the earl of Surrey, 
 then general of the Englifh array, fending a meflagc 
 to that king to jtiftify fir Adrew Barton's death ; at 
 the battle of Fioddor-field he behaved gallantly, 
 when he commanded the vanguard with his younger 
 brother, Edmund, who being in great diftrefs, was 
 fuccoured by him and fir Edward Stanley ; and in 
 recompence of thefe fignal ferviccs, he was, foon af- 
 ter, created earl Surrey, the fame day that his father 
 was made duke of Norfolk, in the fifth year of Hen- 
 ry VIII. and on a difpute in parliament concerning 
 his place there, it was declared that he fhould fit ac- 
 cording to his creation, and not as a duke's eldcft fon. 
 In 1520, being appointed lord deputy of Ireland, he 
 fuppreffed the O'Neal's and O'Carrols, and governed 
 fo acceptably, that he gained the love of that coun- 
 try. Afterwards, having performed many-fignal fer- 
 vices in France, he was conflituted lord-ireafurcr, 
 and made general of the king's whole army, defigned 
 to march againft the Scots, and all this in his father's 
 life-time ; after whofe death he was again made ge- 
 neral of the army, at that time raifed to advance into 
 Scotland, to fet the young king free, whom the duke 
 of Albany kept then in cuftody at Sterling caftle. 
 He afterwards attended the king into France, and 
 was fent chief ambafTador to the French king, to at- 
 tend him to Nice, and commune with the pope, as 
 to his delaying king Henry's divorce. In 1536 he 
 marched to the affiftance of the earl of Shrewfbury, 
 when he fuppreffed the refurre&ion in Yorkfhire, cal- 
 led " the pilgrimage of grace," raifed on account of 
 the difiblution of the leffer monaftries, and was foon 
 after made lieutenant-general of all the king's forces 
 
 beyond
 
 74 HUNDREDOF 
 
 beyond the Trent. But after all thefe fignal fer vices, 
 (fo little gratitude reigns among the great) by the in- 
 Gnuating peri'uafions of forac of the nobility (be- 
 caufe on fome occafion he had called them " the new 
 raifed men," which they counted a difhonor to them), 
 the king was fo far milled and incenfed againft him, 
 that he not only lent him prifoner to the Tower, but 
 gave otder for feizing his goods, and gave notice to 
 his ambaffadors abroad, that he and his fon had con- 
 fpired to take upon them the government during 
 his life, and after his death to get the prince into his 
 hands ; all which jealoufies (the king being in a de- 
 caying and weak condition) fo far prevailed, that the 
 duke, and his fon, Henry earl of Surrey, were both 
 attainted in parliament ; the earl loft his head, and the 
 duke had fared no better, had not the death of that 
 inexorable prince haftened him to give an account 
 of his own adions, at that bar to which he had fo 
 lately fent the fon, and defigned to have hurried the 
 father alfo. However, though his life was fpared, 
 yet his enemies fo far prevailed over him in the reign 
 of Edward VI. that though a pardon was given by 
 proclamation to all perfons of what crimes foever, 
 yet was he, with five others, excepted by name. As 
 to the particulars laid to his charge, though the aft 
 of attainder itfelf be not on record, the aft of re- 
 peal in the reign of queen Mary I. rcciteth, that there 
 was no fpecial matter in the aft of attainder, but on- 
 ly general words of treafon and confpiracy, and that 
 out of their care for the prcfervaticn of the king and 
 prince they paffed it. And this aft of repeal further 
 lets forth, " that the only thing with which he flood 
 charged, was for bearing of arms, which he and his 
 anceftors had borne both within and without the 
 kingdom, in the king's prefence, and fight of his 
 progenitors, which they might lawfully bear and 
 give, as by good and fubftamial matter of record it 
 
 did
 
 D E P W A D E. 75 
 
 did appear." It alfo addeth, " that the king died 
 after the date of the commiiTlon." Likcwife, " that 
 lie only empowered them to give his confent, but 
 but did not give it himfelf ; and that it did not ap- 
 pear by any record that they had given it." Moreover, 
 that the king did not fign the commifHon vviih his 
 own hand, his (lamp being only fet to it, and that 
 not'at the upper part, but to the nether part of it, 
 contrarv to the king's cultom.' 1 At the attainder all 
 the manors and eftates of the duke were feized, and 
 among others, the manor and honor of Forncet, of 
 which a curious furvey was then made. He afterwards 
 retreated to his palace at Kenninghall, in Norfolk, 
 where he died in 1554, and was buried at Fraraiing- 
 ham, in Suilolk. 
 
 He had two wives; the firfl was Anne, third daugh- 
 ter to king Edward IV. by whom he had a fon 
 named Thomas, who died young on the third ofAuguft 
 in the twenty-third year of the reign of Henry VII. 
 and was buried at Lambeth, though fhe lies buried at 
 Framlingharn, in Suffolk. 
 
 His fecond wife was ^lizabeth Stafford, eldeft 
 daughter to Edward dukef of Buckingham, by whom, 
 he had two fons* ; Henry, earl of Surrey t, beheaded 
 
 in 
 
 * He had four daughters, Jane, wife of Charles Nevlle, earl 
 of Weftmoreland ; Margaret, married to Henry lord Scroop, 
 of Bolton ; Kstherine, to Henry lord Berkeley. 
 
 f This Henry carl of Surrey married Frances, daughter to 
 John Vere, earl of Oxford, Thomas the fourth duke of Nor- 
 folk, and Henry, were reftored in blood in Parliament in the 
 firft year of the reign of queen Elizabeth, and on May j, 
 in the reign of James I. he was made privy-counfellor, warden 
 of the Cinque-ports, and conttable of Dover-caftle ; and the 
 1 3th of March following he was advanced to the title and ho- 
 nor of baron of Marnhiil, in Dorfetlhire, and dignity of earl of 
 Northampton, and one of the commiflioners for the office of 
 arl marihal of England, and April 24, 1605, made knight cf
 
 76 HUNDRED OF 
 
 in his life-time, and Thomas, who married Elizabeth, 
 one of the daughters and co-heireffes to John lord 
 Marney, and Chriflian, his wife, daughter andheirefs 
 cf fir 'Roger Newburgh, knt. He had livery -of the 
 lands of her inheritance, was reftored in blood in the 
 firft of queen Mary I. and in the firft year of the 
 reign of queen Elizabeth was advanced to the tide 
 of vilcount Howard, of Bindon in Dorfetr*ii-e, 
 and foon after fummoned to parliament, and died, 
 February 14, 1582, leaving four fons ; Henry, who 
 fucceeded him in his honor, but dying without male 
 iffue, Thomas, his next brother, enjoyed the title of 
 vifcount Howard, of Bindon, and was inflalled 
 knight of the garter in the fourth year of the reign 
 of James I. but died without iffue. 
 
 14. Thomas, the elded fon of Henry earl of 
 Surrey, on the death of his grandfather became the 
 fourth duke of Norfolk, of this family, being then 
 upwards of eighteen years of age : he was fully re- 
 ftored in blood, and the acl of his grandfather's at- 
 tainder made void in the reign of Mary I. In the 
 fecond year of that queen he commanded the forces 
 againft the Kentifh men, and continued in efteem all 
 her reign, and was inftalled knight of the garter in the 
 iirft of Elizabeth; and in the third year of the reign of 
 that queen he was conflituted lieutcntant-general for 
 the northern part of the realm. In 1365 he, with 
 Robert earl of Leicefler, was folemnly inverted with 
 the habit and enfigns of the order of St. Michael, in 
 the chapel of the queen's palace at Weftminfter, by 
 an embaffy fent from the French king. In the ele- 
 venth year of the reign of queen Elizabeth, being 
 lufpecled to be not only a favorer but a great ad- 
 mirer 
 
 the garter; and in 1608 lord privy-feal : he died June 2 
 1614, and lies buried under a goodly monument in the church 
 of Dover-caftle. He was a man of ready wit, furprifing elo- 
 quence, and excellent learning, and died fingle at his houfe, 
 Gharing-Crofs.
 
 D E P W A D E. 77 
 
 mirerof Mary queen of Scots, he was caft into pri- 
 fon, accufed of defigning to marry her, tried, con- 
 demned, and beheaded, June 2, 1572, in the fifteenth 
 year of the reign of queen Elizabath, on Tower-hill'"', 
 to the great grief of many, for he was a good man, 
 and much beloved by his country. 
 
 He married three wives, firft, Mary, daughter and 
 co-heirefs to Henry Fitz-Alan, earl of Arundel, by 
 whom he had Philip earl of Arundel, his fon and 
 heir. She died at Arundel-houfe in the Strand, Aug. 
 25, 1557, and was buried in St. Clement's church, 
 near Temple-bar. 
 
 His fecond wife was Margaret, daughter and fole 
 heirefs to Thomas lord Audley, of Walden, chan- 
 cellor of England, widow of Henry Dudley, a young- 
 er fon to John Duke of Northumberland, who was 
 flain at St. Quintin's, in Picardy, in 1557, by whom 
 he had Thomas, afterwards lord Howard, of 
 . Walden, and duke of Suffolk, (of whofe defcent 
 more hereafter). Secondly, William lord Howard, 
 of Naworth-caftle, in Cumberland, born Dec. 19, 
 1563, and two daughters, Elizabeth, who died an 
 infant, and is buried at Framlingham, in Suffolk, 
 and Margaret, born Aug. i, 1562, afterwards mar- 
 ried to Robert Sackvile, earl of Dorfet. This du- 
 chefs died at Norwich in 1563, and is buried in the 
 church of St. John Maddermarket. 
 
 His third wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Fran- 
 cis Leibourn, knt, widow of Thomas lord Dacres. 
 
 of 
 
 * He was a great friend and benefaftor to the office of arms, 
 was earl of Surrey, earl marlhal of England, lord Mowbray, 
 Segrave, and Brufe of Gowtr, and privy councilor. He is 
 buried in the chapel of the Tower, and {he at Kenninghall.
 
 78 HUNDRED OF 
 
 of Gillfland, by whom he had no iftue. She died 
 in 1567, and was buried at Kenninghall. 
 
 15. Philip Howard, fon and heir to the laft men-* 
 tioned duke, was earl of Surrey, lord Howard, 
 Mowbray, Segrave, and Brufe of Govver, and carl 
 marfhal of England ; alfo, in right of his mother, 
 he affumed the title and honor of earl of Arundel, 
 with the appurtenances thereof, it having been anti- 
 ently adjudged in parliament to be a local dignity. 
 fo that the poffeiTors thereof fhould enjoy that tide of 
 honor. Whereupon he fat in Parliamant by the ti- 
 tle of Philip earl of Arundel in the twenty-third 
 year of the reign of queen Elizabeth, in which 
 parliament he was reftored in blood from the attainder 
 of his father, Thomas duke of Norfolk, beheaded 
 in the year 1572. 
 
 This noble peer being a mofl zealous papift, was 
 much maligned ; being accufed to queen Elizabeth 
 by fome of his potent adverfaries for holding a cor- 
 refponce with cardinal Allen, Parfons the Jefuit, and 
 others, the took a great diflike to him ; for which 
 reafon, after the (iricl laws made again ft the papills, 
 he endeavoured to go beyond the feas without leave, 
 but being difcovered, was apprehended and commit- 
 ted to the Tower, in the year 1584, and his eftate 
 feized ; and among others, this honor and manor of 
 Forncet, of which the queen took immediate poffef- 
 fion, and demifed part of it to William Pennant for 
 twenty-one years, namely, all that part which, af- 
 ter the attainder of Thomas, late duke of Norfolk, 
 had been granted the lady Mary, the then king's fifter, 
 and by her had been leafed to the faid William. 
 In 1586 he was fined io,oool. pounds in the flar- 
 chamber for his mifdemeanors and attempt to go be- 
 yond the feas ; and three years after was arraigned 
 
 aud
 
 B E P W A D E> 79 
 
 and condemned by his peers in Weftminfter-hali 
 for divers praHces in relation to his religion, and fa- 
 voring of the Spaniards ; nevertheiefs, by the queen's 
 grace, he obtained her pardon for his life, but con- 
 tinued prifoner in the Tower, and at length died in 
 cuftody there, Nov. 19, 1595, being not full forty 
 years of age, having, during his imprifonment, 
 lived in the feverity of his religion a moft ftrift and 
 auftere life. He married Anne, fifler and co-heirefs 
 to George lord Dacres, of Gillfland, by whom he 
 had his only fon. 
 
 16. Thomas earl of Arundel, who was born 
 during his father's imprifonment, and was reilored 
 in blood by James I. in the year 1602, in the parlia- 
 ment held at Weflminfter in the firft year of his 
 reign, and had livery of all eftates from that prince, 
 and, among others, of his honor and manor of 
 Forncet. 
 
 He was earl of Arundet and Surrey, earl marflial', 
 and premier earl of all England, knight of the moft 
 noble order of the garter, one of his majcfty's 
 mofl honorable privy-council, and lord fteward of 
 the houfliold, and by Charles I. was conftituted chief 
 juflice of the forefts norch of the Trent, and general 
 of the army in the firft expedition to Scotland, in 
 the year 1638. He fat as lord high fteward of Eng- 
 land in Wefttninfter-hall, at the remarkable trial of 
 Thomas Wentworth, earl of Stafford ; fhortly after 
 which, forefeeing the civil wars then beginning in Eng- 
 land, he willingly refigned his ftaffof lord fteward of 
 the houfehold, refolving to travel. His lady alfo 
 took the the fame refolution, and a fair and honor- 
 able opportunity prefently offered, for the queen mo- 
 ther of France, having been in England about two 
 years, was at this time neceffitated to return, and 
 
 ihe
 
 8a HUNDRED OF 
 
 the cane of conducing her to the fca-fide, and wait- 
 ing on her over, was committed to this eail, who af- 
 terwards fpent fome time at Utrecht, but in the win- 
 ter returned to England, and by reafon of his fpecial 
 fervices and great merits, as alfo in refpecl; of his li- 
 neal defcent from Thomas de Brotherton, earl of 
 Norfolk, (a younger fon to Edward I.) was by letters 
 patent, dated June 6, in the soth of Charles I. ad- 
 vanced to the title of earl of Norfolk ; fhortly after 
 which, difcerning the flames of war to encreafe daily, 
 his age and infirmities alfo rendering him unfit for 
 any further employment, he obtained leave of the 
 king to travel ; whereupon retiring to Padua, in 
 Italy, he died there, Sept. 14, 1646, in the 61 ft year 
 of his age, and his corpfe being brought over, was 
 buried at Arundel, in Suflex. He married lady Ala- 
 thea*, one of the daughters and coheireffes of Gilbert 
 Talbot, earl of Shrewfbury, by whom he had iffue, 
 i.James lord Mowbray, and lord Maltravers, who 
 was one of the knights of the bath at the coronation 
 of Charles I. and after making the tour of France, 
 and Italy, died in his return, at Gaunt, in Flan- 
 ders, unmarried. 2. Henry lord Mowbray, who 
 fucceeded him. 3. Thomas. 4. Gilbert. G.Charles, 
 who all died infants, in their father's life-time. Wil- 
 liam, the fifth fon, married Mary, fifter and fole 
 heirefs to Henry lord Stafford, and in the i6th of 
 Charles I. was created baron of Stafford, and fhe at 
 the fame time baronefs of Stafford, from whom the, 
 prefent earl of Stafford is defccnded. During this 
 time this manor and honor paffed in the tru flees of 
 the family, along with Fersfield manor. 
 
 This mod noble earl was the greateft favorer of 
 arts, and promoter of fciences, that we have met 
 
 with 
 
 * She brought the title of baronefs Strange, of Blackmere, to 
 her hufband.
 
 D E P W A D E. Si 
 
 with. He had an excellent knowledge in painting, 
 iculpture, carving, building, and defigning, his col- 
 lection of defigns exceeding that of any perfon then 
 living, and his flames were equal in number, value, 
 and antiquity, to thofe in the houfes of mod princes ; 
 to gain which, he had perfons many years employed 
 both in Italy, Greece, and many parts of Europe 
 where rarities were to be bad ; all which w^ere by 
 him placed in the garden, and certain rooms belong- 
 ing to Arundel-houfe, in the Strand, and are accu- 
 rately defcribed in that tracl; of his, intitled " Mar- 
 mora Arundeliana," and will remain a lading monu- 
 ment of his highly deferved fame to future ages. 
 Henry duke of Norfolk, his grandfon, beftowing 
 them on the univerfity of Oxford, they were orderly 
 placed in the walls, inclofing the ftately theltre, but 
 are fmce removed to a room over the Bodleian li- 
 brary. 
 
 His paintings likewife were numerous, and of the 
 moft excellent matters, having more of that exquifite 
 painter, Hans Holben, than were in the world be- 
 fides. He had the honor to be the firft perfon of 
 quality that fet a value on them in our nation, being 
 alfo the perfon that brought in uniformity of build- 
 ing, and was chief commiffioner to fee it performed 
 in London ; he was likewife fumptuous in his houfe- 
 hold fluff; full of date and magnificence in his en- 
 tertainments, efpecially offtrangers; at his table very 
 iree and pleafant ; he was more learned in men and 
 manners than in books, yet underflood the Latin 
 tongue very well, and was matter of the Italian; he 
 was a great favorer and admirer of learned men, as 
 appears by his intimacy with Mr. Cambden, Mr. 
 Selden, fir Robert Cotton, and fir Henry Spclman, 
 the lights of their age. He was a promoter of order 
 and ceremony, and kept greater diilance towards his 
 F fovcreigu
 
 S 2 HUNDREDOF 
 
 foverefgn than any perfon at court, often complain- 
 ing, that the too great affability of the king, and the 
 French garb of the court, would bring majefty into 
 contempt. In council he was grave and fuccio&j 
 rather difcharging his confcience and honor, than 
 complying with particular intcrcfts, and fo was never 
 at the head of bufinefs, or principal in favor. He 
 was free from covetoufnefs, and fo much above a 
 bribe of gratuity (for favors done) as no perfon ever 
 duift tempt him with one. He was in his religion 
 no bigot, or puritan, and profefifed more to aflccl: 
 moral virtues, than nice queftions and foolifh con- 
 troverfics ; if he was defective in any thing, it was 
 that he could not bring his mind to his fortune, 
 which, Upough very great, was far too little for the 
 va'lnefs^tf his noble defigns, which were only for the 
 glory and ornament of his country, and may 
 well be excufed. When he was conftituted earl 
 marfhal of England, he revived that honorable court, 
 which had been anciently held by the conftable and 
 marfhal jointly, wherein remedy was given for fuch 
 abufive provocations as might occafion no little 
 bloodfhcd by duels, or other mifchievous ways of 
 revenge; and fome fcruple being made as to the ju- 
 riftliclion of earl matflial alone, he the year after 
 obtained other letters patent, bearing date Auguft i, 
 1621, in the soth of James I. whereby ,.the king, 
 after mature advice had with the lords of his council, 
 did declare, that in the vacancy of the conftable of 
 England the earl marfhal had the like jurifdi&ion in 
 the court, as both conftable and marfhal, jointly, ever 
 exercifed, and commanded him to proceed accord- 
 ingly ; which he thereupon did, with much honor to 
 himfelf and his authority, and to the great fatisfac- 
 tion of the nobility and gentry of the realm, in cafes 
 where they received fuch affronts and injuries; for 
 
 which
 
 D E P W A D E. 83 
 
 which (by the rule of the common law) no rcdrefs 
 could be had, until by the votes oF a predominant 
 party in that parliament, (which deftroyed monarchy 
 and epifcopacy, and brought all things into confu- 
 fion) his jurifdi&ion in the court was queftioned. 
 
 17. Henry Howard, lord Mowbray and Malsra- 
 vers, (as he was called in his father's life-time, and 
 as fuch fat in parliament) fucceeded him in his ho- 
 nors. In 1626 he married lady Elizabeth Stuarr, 
 eldeft daughter of Efme Stuart, lord of Aubigny, earl 
 of March, and afterwards duke of Lenox , but it 
 being without the king's confent, he and his ladv 
 were confined fame time to Lambeth, with archbi- 
 fliop Abbot; but after that he was called up by writ 
 to the houfe of peers, as lord Mowbray and Maltra- 
 vers. When the rebellion broke out in 1461, he 
 faithfully adhered to the king, and ferved in his ar- 
 my till about the end of the year 1465, when he vi- 
 fited his father in Italy, was with him when he 
 died, and returned with his corpfe into England. 
 During the tyrannic government of his native coun- 
 try under Cromwell, he lived retired to his death, 
 which happened April 17, 1652, when he was bu- 
 ried at Arundel. He had by his lady nine fons, 
 and three daughters, whereof Ann died young; Ca- 
 therine married John Digby, of Gothurft, in Buck- 
 inghamfhire, efq. and Elizabeth, Alexander Macdon- 
 uel, grandfon to the earl of Antrim, in Ireland: his 
 foils were, Thomas, Henrv, Philip*, Charles, Talbot, 
 Edward, Francis, Bernard, and Efme. 
 
 2 1 3. Thomas 
 
 * Philip Howard, the third fon, travelling with his grand- 
 father, Thomas earl of Arundd, into Italy, took up the habit 
 of a Dominican, or black friar, at Cremona, at fifteen years of 
 age; and on the marriage of Charles II. with Catherine t|ie In- 
 fanta
 
 84 HUNDRED O F 
 
 iS. Thomas Howard fucceeded him in Jiis titles 
 of earl of Arundel, Surrey, and Norfolk ; and after 
 the reftoration of Charles II. in the year 1661, at 
 the humble petition of James Howard, earl of Suf- 
 folk, Thomas Howard, earl of Berkfhire, William 
 Howard, vifcount Srafford, Chailes lord Howard, of 
 Chailton, Edward lord Howard, of Efrick, Charles 
 lord Hovvaid, of Naworth, all lineally defcended 
 from Thomas the laft duke of Norfolk, and above 
 eighty others of the nobility, he was reftored by acl: 
 of parliament to the title of duke of Norfolk, to re- 
 main to him and the heirs male of his body, w r ith 
 all the privileges, precedencies, and pre-eminences 
 thereunto belonging; by which he became the fifth 
 duke of Norfolk: but dying at Padua, in Italy, in 
 1678, unmarried, the title and eflate defcended to 
 his next brother, 
 
 19. Henry Howard, the fixth duke of Norfolk, 
 who on March 26, 1669, in the sift of Charles II. 
 was created lord Howard, of Cattle-Riling, in the 
 county of Norfolk ; and on the 2gth of December, 
 16-2, in confideration of the eminent fervices done 
 by his noble father and grand-father, to Charles I. 
 and the crown of England, at home and abroad, as 
 alfo for many perfonal fervices performed to Charles 
 II. in his exile, was created earl of Norwich, which 
 honor was limited to hin- and the heirs male of his 
 body; and alfo by the Tame patent had the office 
 and dignity ot earl marfhal of England granted, with 
 ail rights, powers, jurildiclions, precedencies, and 
 authorities thereto belonging, &c. to him and the 
 
 heirs 
 
 fanta of Portugal, became lord almoner to her, and continued 
 in her fervice feveral years; but retiring to Bornheim, in Flan- 
 ders, to an Englifti convent of his own order, he had a cardinal's 
 cap fent to him there by pope Clement X. in May, 1675, and 
 made his public entry into Rome with great magnificence.
 
 D E P W A D E. 85 
 
 heirs male of his body; and for default of fuch if- 
 fiie, to the heirs male of the body of lord \\ illiain. 
 Howard, of Navvorth, in the countv of Cumberland, 
 youn:?;eft fon to Thomas duke of Norfolk, (who was 
 beheaded in the 15th of Elizabeth) ; and for default 
 of fuch iffue, to Charles Howard, carl of Notting- 
 ham, and the heirs male of his body. He was born 
 July 12, 1628, and died at his houfe in Arundel- 
 flreet,Jan. 11, 1683. He married to his firft wife, 
 lady Ann Somerfet, eldefl daughter to Edward mar- 
 quis of Worcefter, by Elizabeth Dormer, his firft 
 wife, and by her he had two fons and three daugh- 
 ters ; by his fecond wife, Jane, daughter of Ro- 
 bert Bickerton, efq. gentleman of the wine cellar to 
 Charles II. (a lady famed for her beauty and accorn- 
 plifhments) he had, firft, lord George Howard, who 
 married Arabella, daughter and fole heirefs to fir Ed- 
 mund Allen, of Hatfield-Peverel, in the county of 
 Effex, bart. widow of Francis Thompfon, of Hum- 
 bleton, in the county of York, efq. and died March 
 6, 1720, without iffue. The fecond fon was lord 
 James Howard, who died a bachelor, being drowned 
 in Auguft, 1702, attempting to ride over Sutton- 
 wafh, in Lincolnshire. The third fon was 'lord Fre- 
 derick Henry Howard, who married Catherine, daugh- 
 ter to fir Francis Blake, of Oxfordfhire, relicl of fir 
 Richard Kennedy, of Mount Kennedy, in Ireland, 
 bart. and died March 16, 1726, his lady furviving, 
 who died January 23, 1731. Lady Catherine, and 
 lady Ann, both nuns in Flanders ; and lady Philip- 
 pa, married to William Standifh, of Standifh-hall, in 
 the county of Lan caller, efq. and died in January, 
 1683. 
 
 The duke's daughters by his firft wife were, the 
 ladies Ann-Alathea, Elizabeth, and Frances, where- 
 of the latter was married to the marquis Valparefa, a 
 F 3 Spanifh
 
 86 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Spanifh nobleman in Flanders ; the fecond, to Alex- 
 ander Gordon, marquis of Huntley, in Scotland, 
 who was created duke of Gordon in that kingdom ; 
 and the elded died in her infancy. His ions were, 
 Henry, and Thomas* This lord Thomas Howard, 
 at the coronation of James II. as lord of the manor 
 of Workfop, in Nottinghamfhire, claimed to find 
 the king a right-hand glove, and to fupport the 
 king's right arm while he held the fceptre; and it 
 being allowed, he performed that fervice. In 1685 
 he was made mafler of the robes to James II. and be- 
 i;;g of the Romifh religion, was in great efleem at 
 court; fo that in 1688, when king James withdrew 
 himfelf into France, this lord (oon after attended 
 mm into Ireland ; but in his return to Breft was un- 
 happily caft away at fea, in November, 1689. His 
 lordfhip, in Oclober, 1681, married Mary Elizabeth, 
 daughter and fole heirefs of fir John Savile, of Cop- 
 ley, in the county of York, bart. who died in No- 
 vember, 1 733, and by her left a daughter, Mary, 
 married to Walter lord Aflin, of Forfar, in Scotland, 
 and feated at Standon, in Hertfordshire, and died in 
 i 723 ; he had five fons, Thomas the eighth duke of 
 Noifolk, Sec. 
 
 20. Henry Howard, feventh duke of Norfolk, was 
 born Jan. 11, 1654, and on January 27, 1677, was 
 fummoned to parliament by writ j|by the title of lord 
 Mowbray ; and upon the death of prince Rupert was 
 made conflable of \Vindfor-caftle, waiden of Wind- 
 for-foreft, and lord lieutenant and cuftos rotulorum. 
 of the counties of Norfolk, Surrey, and Berks ; and 
 on May 6, 1685, in the ift of James II. being 
 elected knight of the moft noble order of the garter, 
 he was inftalled the 2-sd of July following. This 
 Duke obtained a commiffion under the great feal, 
 
 dated
 
 D E P W A D E. 87 
 
 dated Auguft 13, 1687, in the 9,d of James II. 
 whereby his grace, as earl marfhal of England, fliould 
 revive and hold a court of chivalry, Sec. and felting 
 out for France the 24th of March following, confli- 
 tuted his brother, lord Thomas Howard, his lieute- 
 nant in the court of chivalry, and fir Thomas Ex- 
 ton, and fir. Richard Raines, f urrogates. His grace 
 returned from Flanders July 30, 1688 ; and on the 
 landing of the prince of Orange in England, being 
 then in Norfolk, he immediately declared for him, 
 and brought over this, and fome of the adjacent 
 counties, to his intereft, for which fervicc lie was 
 foon after fworn of his privy-council, and fo conti- 
 nued to his death ; afterwards he was made conftable 
 and governor of his majefty's royal caftle at Wind- 
 for, lord warden of Windfor-foreft, lord Meutenant 
 of the counties of Norfolk, Surrey, and Berks, and 
 of the city of Norwich, and county of the fame, as 
 alfo cuftos rotulorum for the counties of Norfolk 
 and Berks, and fellow of the royal fociety. He 
 died at his houfe in St. James's-fquare, April 2, 1701, 
 having married the lady Mary Mordaunt, daughter 
 and fole heirefs to Henry earl of Peterborough, from 
 whom he procured a divorce in parliament for incon- 
 tinency, which in the year 1 700 pafTed both houfes ; 
 and having no children by her, he was enabled. to 
 marry again ; but leaving no iffue, his honor and 
 cflate delcended to the eldefl fon of his brother, lord 
 Thomas, viz. 
 
 21. Thomas Howard, the eighth duke of Nor-, 
 folk, who was born December u, 1683; and in 
 1709 his grace was married to Mary, fole daughter 
 and heirefs to lir Nicholas Sherbourne, of Stony- 
 Hurft, in the county of Lancafter, bart. but dying 
 without iffue, Dec. 23, 1732, (Henry, his next bro- 
 F 4 ther,
 
 8S HUNDRED OF 
 
 thcr, being dead without iilue) his honor and eft ate 
 went to his third brother, 
 
 22. Edward Howard, ninth duke of Norfolk, Sec. 
 lord of ihe honor and manors of Forncet. He 
 married, in the year 1727, Mary, daughter to Edward 
 Blount, of Blagden, near Torbay, in the county of 
 Devonflrire, efq. a younger fon of fir George Blount, 
 of Sodington, in Worceflerfhire, bart. 
 
 The honorable Richard Howard, his next brother, 
 died without iffue. Philip Howard, efq. of Buck- 
 enham-houfe, in Norfolk, his youngcft brother, 
 rnanied January 7, 1723, Winifred, daughter of 
 Thomas Stoner, of Waclington-park, in the county 
 of Oxford, efq. by whom he had a fon, named Tho- 
 mas, born February 3, 1727, fmce dead, and a 
 daughter, named Winifred. Since the deceafe of 
 his lady, he temarried, Nov. 1739, Mrs. Proley, 
 widow, a fitter to the ducheis dowager of Norfolk, 
 by whom he had no male iffue. He died in the 
 life-time of his brother, the late duke, on whole de- 
 mi fe in 1777, without iffue, the honors and eftates 
 devolved on the neareft heir male, Charles Howard, 
 efq. of Greyftock, in Cumberland. 
 
 23. The high, puifTant, and moil noble prince, 
 CHARLES HOWARD, the prefent duke of Norfolk, 
 earl marfhal, and hereditary earl marfhal of Eng- 
 land*, earl of Arundel, Surrey, Norfolk, and Nor- 
 wich, 
 
 * Creations.] Earon Howard by writ of Summons to parlia- 
 ment by Henry VI. 15 Oft. 1470; lothof IV. and alfo 19 
 Aug. 1472, 1 2th of Edward IV. earl marfbal, and duke of 
 Norfolk, and earl of Surrey, 28 June, 1483, ift of Richard 
 
 ^ confirmed earl of Surrey, 3 Nov. 1492, 8th of Henry VII. 
 
 and
 
 D E P W A D E. S 9 
 
 \\lch, baron of Mowbray, Howard, Segrave, Brevvfc 
 of Govver, in Carmanhenfhire, Fitz-Alan, Warren, 
 Clan, Ofwaldeflre, Maltravers, Greyflock, Furnival, 
 Verdon, Lcvetot, Strange, (of Blackmere) and How- 
 ard, of Caflle-Rifing, premier duke, earl, and baron 
 o! England, next the blood royal, chief of the truly 
 illuftrious family of the Howards, and lord of 
 the honor and manors of Forncet. 
 
 His grace the prefent duke is decended from 
 Charles, fourth fon> of Henry earl of Arundel, Sur- 
 rey, and Norfolk; by Elizabeth, daughter of Efmc 
 Stuart, lord d'Aubigny, earl of March, afterwards 
 duke of Richmond and Lenox. 
 
 He was born in 1720, and in 1739 was married 
 to his prefent duchefs, Catherine, daughter of Tho- 
 mas Brockholes, efq. of Lancafliire, by Mary, his 
 wi l e, who is lineally defcended from Henry lord 
 Scroop, of Bolton, in Yorkfhire, knight of the 
 mod noble order of the garter, by Eleanor, daughter 
 
 of 
 
 and again 13 May, 1509, ift of Henry VIII. again earl of 
 Surrey, and duke of Norfolk, i Feb. 1513, 5th of Henry 
 VIII. earl of Arundel, in the county of Sulfcx, (a feudal ho- 
 nor, or local dignity, as adjudged in parliament, 8 July, 1433, 
 j ith of Henry VI.) by inheritance and poflelfion of that caftle 
 only, without any other creation, alfo by fummons to parlia- 
 ment, 1 6 Jan. 1 5 Bo, 23d of Elizabeth. By defcent originally, 
 as well before as after the conqueft, by William I. and by Maud 
 the emprefs, in the time of king Stephen, confirmed by Henry 
 II. and alfo June 27, 1189, ift of Richard I. earl of Nor- 
 folk, 6 June, 1644, zoth of Charles I. duke of Norfolk by aft 
 of parliament, with an entail on the heirs male, and divers li- 
 mitations; 8 May, 1669, 1 3th of Charles II. baron Howard, 
 of Rifing-Caftle, in Norfolk; 27 March, 1669, 2ift of Charles 
 II. earl of Norwich, and hereditary earl marital ; 19 October, 
 1672, 24th of Charles II. baron Mowbray, by writ of fum- 
 mons to parliament ; 6 March, 1678, 3 ift df Charles II. and 
 likewife 21 March, 1639, uth of Charles I. 'by defcent, ori- 
 ginally 8 June, 1294, 2zd of Edward I.
 
 go HUNDREDOF 
 
 of Edward lord North and Grey, which title of lord 
 Scroop is now in abeyance. His grace has now liv- 
 ing one fon, Charles earl of Surrey, born in March, 
 1 745 wno * n jySo read his recantation, abjuring 
 the errors and fuperftitions of the church of Rome ; 
 and in the fame year was chofen one of the reprefen- 
 tatives for the city of Carlifle in the prefent parlia- 
 ment of Great Britain. His lordfhip is married, and 
 has iffue. 
 
 The duke of Norfolk has precedence of all other 
 peers, next to the royal family, not only by creation, 
 but in re(pel to his high office as earl marfhal of 
 England ; yet after the lord great chamberlain, lord 
 great conflable, lord high admiral, lord high ftew- 
 ard, chamberlain of the king's houihold, and lord 
 privy feal. 
 
 The arms, creft, fupporters, and motto, of his 
 grace the duke of Norfolk are, Arms, gul. on a 
 bend between fix croflets fitchee arg. a Chield or. there- 
 in a demi lion ramp, (pierced through the mouth 
 widi an arrow] within a double treffure coumerflory 
 of the firft. Creft, on a chapeau gul. turned up 
 erm. a lion (or leopard) paffant guardant, (his tail 
 extended) gorged with a ducal coronet arg.* Sup- 
 porters, on the dextei fide a lion, and on the {inifler 
 a horfe, both arg. the latter holding a flip of oak 
 fru$ed proper. Motto. Sola virtus invifta. 
 
 The chief feats of this family are at Arundel- 
 caftle, in Suffex, at Workfop-manor, in Nottingham- 
 fhiie. at Deepden, -in Surrey, and at Greyftock, in 
 
 Cumberland. 
 
 * This creft belongs to the duke, as being defcended from 
 Margaret, daughter and heireis of Thomas de Brothcrton, fifth 
 fon of Edward 1.
 
 D E P W A D E. 4 91 
 
 Cumbcland. They had formerly a feat at Kenning- 
 hall, in Norfolk, and a houfe in Norwich. Their 
 town-houfe is in St. Jarnes's-fquare, London. 
 
 Ci. AVER'S, or CLAVERING'S MANOR, was originally 
 pan of ihe capital manor granted by the Bigots to 
 John de Claveiing, from whom it took its name, and 
 \vas held of it at a quarter of a fee. In 1283 Wil- 
 liam le Claver, or Clavering, of Stirfton, and Miles 
 le Parker, of Stirfton, fettled it on Ralph de Creep- 
 ing; and in 1286 John de Vaux was lord, and had 
 free-warren allowed to it in eire. It afterwards be- 
 longed to John le Graunt; in 1306 to John Jermy; 
 and in 1308 to Henry Page, in whofe time an ex- 
 tent of it was made, and the cuflomary perch, or 
 pole, was then found to be fixtecn feet and an half. 
 It had a manor-houte, and above eighty-fix acres in 
 dcmefne, twelve acres of wood, nine copy, or cuf- 
 tomary tenants, and fixty-five free-men. Thomas 
 Brampton was lord, and held it in 1432 of John 
 Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, as of his honor here, 
 in which family it continued till 1536, when William 
 Brampton fold it to Thomas Reeve ; and in 1570 it 
 was fold to Edward Clere, efq. who in 1571 fold it to 
 William Moore, gent. In 1605 Thomas Lingwood 
 died feifed of a moiety of it; it afterwards paffed 
 through the Cocks, and Edwards, and belonged to 
 the late Mr. Matthew Gofs, a dyer, in Norwich. 
 
 Here are two churches now in ufe, which were 
 given by Roger Bigot to the monks of Thetford, 
 who releafed that gift very early; thefe churches 
 were annexed very foon, for we never find them 
 prefemed to feparately, though Doomfday-book 
 makes them both parifh churches, governed by one 
 rector, who had then in their right a houfe and forty 
 
 acres
 
 QZ HUNDREDOF 
 
 acres of glebe. They were valued as one benefice 
 at thirty marks: all the inftitutions are to For.ncet 
 only till 1465, and then to Forncete utraque\ the 
 .rectory always paying double mftitution fees, (hews 
 it to have been an ancient confolidation, though for 
 many ages St. Peter's church hath been efteemed as 
 a chapel of eafe to St. Mary, the mother church ; 
 there were anciently three guilds 'here. 
 
 The terriers have eighty-five acres of glebe, and a 
 good parfonage-houfe, and it pays firft-fruits and 
 yearly tenths, it being valued at sol. in the king's 
 books. 
 
 The prior of Buckenham's temporals were taxed at 
 4cl. and thofe of the monks of Thetford at i 75. 6d. 
 
 The whole town of Forncet St. Mary, or Forncet 
 Magna, with Forncet St. Peter, or Parva Forricet, 
 paid 3!. IDS. clear to every tenth. Here is a farm 
 belonging to the girls hofpital at Norwich. 
 
 In i 256 the reclor of Forncet was prefented by the 
 prior of Thetford, but afterwards by the lords. 
 
 In 1541 Thomas duke of Norfolk prefented John 
 Richards, his domeflic chaplain, and prebend of Nor- 
 wich ; and in 1578 the queen, by lapfe, gave it to 
 Robert Norgate, who was B. D. fecond prebendary 
 of Ely, and mailer of Bennet College, in Cam- 
 bridge. 
 
 In 1584 William Dix, and William Cautrell, 
 feoffees to the duke of Norfolk, gave it to George 
 Gardiner, dean of Norwich: and in 1630 Hugh 
 Williams, A. M. had it by lapfe ; he was fequeftered, 
 and afterwards kept fchool at Low-Layton, in Effex. 
 
 In
 
 D E P W A D E. 93 
 
 Tn 1725 Rowland Hill, A.M. was preferited by 
 the honorable Richard Hill, the advowfon having 
 been purchafed of the duke of Norfolk by Dr. Hill, 
 who hath obliged his heirs for ever to prefent a fel- 
 low of St. John's College, in Cambridge, and ac- 
 cordingly at Mr. Hill's death the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, 
 fellow there, was prefented ; and in 1764, Novem- 
 ber 30, fir Rowland Hill, bart. of Hawkeftone, in 
 Shropfhire, prefented the Rev. Zachariah Brooke, 
 D. D. to the confolidated reclory of Forncet St. 
 Mary, with St. Peter, p.j. 
 
 The church of St. Mary hath only a nave and 
 chancel, both thatched, a north porch, which is 
 leaded, and a fquare tower and three bells. There 
 are no memorials in it. 
 
 The church of St. Peter hath its fleeple round at 
 bottom, and octangular at top, with five bells ; the 
 north porch, nave, and two ailes, are leaded, and 
 the chancel is tiled. 
 
 In the communion rails, on the north fide, on a 
 black marble, with the arms of Aggas, William Ag- 
 gas, A. M. who was twenty-Jeven years vicar of Hemp- 
 nail, and twenty-three years reftor ,of both the Forncets, 
 September 4, i 7 24, aged 5 1 . 
 
 There is a black marble in the church, For Ed- 
 mund Marcon, Sept. 16, 1709. Grace Mar con, Aug. 
 22, 1710. Edmund Mar con, his Jon, November 8, 
 1727. John Mar con, May 20, 1728, Ogtd %Q* Ri- 
 chard Barker, obijt May 31, 1485. 
 
 There is a curious altar-tomb, with the figures of a 
 gentleman and his wife, engraved to their middle, 
 creeled to the memory of Thomas Drake, and Eliza- 
 beth,
 
 94 HUNDREDOF 
 
 beth, his wife ; the infcription is now gone, but part 
 of it remains in Weaver's Funeral Monuments, fol. 
 823. 
 
 Near it, on the ground, on a {tone inlaid with 
 brafs plates, To Thomas Baxter, April 15, 1535. . 
 Three fhields, two of Baxter, the third having the 
 paternal arms of Drake. 
 
 FRITTON, called in Doomfday-book Fredetuna, 
 Fretuna, Fritletuna, Frietuna, and Frieftuna. The 
 chief part of Fritton, or Free- town, to which the 
 advowfon belonged, was part of the honor and ma- 
 nor of Forncet, and from its enjoying the liberties 
 of the honors that extended hither, it might take its 
 name as being free from many things that other vil- 
 lages were fubjeft to. 
 
 There was another fmall part held of the manor 
 of Hempnall by Thomas Trot, in 1384. Robert 
 Malet, lord of the honor Eye, which extends hither, 
 had two free-men here, and their fervices. 
 
 The honor of Richmond alfo extends into this 
 village, for in i 636 it appears, by the rolls of that 
 honor, that Roger Ward, gent, was amerced 205. for 
 detaining from the king, as lord of the honor, id. a 
 year of ware-pound rent for his lands in Friuon. 
 
 The abbot of St. Edmund had lands here belong- 
 ing to his manor of Mourningthorpe, which he affigned 
 with that manor to Robert de Vals, and it hath paffed 
 to this day with Mourningthorpe, or Thorpe-hall ma- 
 nor. To this alfo Was joined one free-man, and 
 two borderers under him, and their fervices, which 
 belonged till then 10 the king's hundred of Dep- 
 wade. 
 
 Befides
 
 D E P W A D E. 95 
 
 Eefides thefe parts there was a confiderable fhare 
 of the parifh, which in the Confeffor's time was held 
 by Oiketel, a Dane, and freeman of Ederic de Lax- 
 field's, the anteceffor of Robert Malet, lord of Eye, 
 and by Gifart, under Robert Fitz-Corbun, at the 
 conqueft; and there were then feven tenants of this 
 manor that had power to fell their land, if their 
 lord refufed to purchafe it of them ; it was always 
 worth 255. and had the liberty of foldage ; the town 
 was a mile long, half a mile broad, and paid d. to 
 the gelt. This was afterwards called Boyland manor, 
 and hath paffed ever fmce as Boyland-hall, in Mourn- 
 ingthorpe. 
 
 Another part of this village extended imoHenfiead 
 hundred, and was held of Roger Bigot's manor of 
 Forncet at the twentieth pait of a fee, by Rainulf, or 
 Ralph, and belonged to Ulf, the Dane, in the Gori- 
 feflbr's time. 
 
 In 1264 Roger le Hayre, Eyre, or Ayer, was found 
 to be a rebel againfl Henry III. and to hold a manor 
 in Fritton of loos, value, which the king feized; but 
 in 1276 it was reftored to William le Ayer; in 1306 
 Roger Ryvet had it ; and in 1432 John Storer, and 
 after that Roger Bennet, by whom it was fold to the 
 lord of Boyland, and fo became joined to it. 
 
 The Manor of BAVENT'S, BURTOFT'S, and HE- 
 MENHALE'S, was infeoffed by the lord of Forncet in 
 Peter Fitz-Nicholas, to be held of Forncet at the 
 fourth part of a fee; and in 1198 he fettled it by 
 fine on Euftace de Bavent, and his heirs. About 
 1210 Ralf deFretton, and John, his fon, were lords; 
 and in 1245 John de Burtoft, who in 1*64 was 
 found to be one of the rebels againft Henry III. but 
 having obtained his pardon in 1285, his fon poffefTed 
 
 it
 
 g6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 it. In 1515 fir John de Sturmyn, knt. was lord, and 
 in 1327 had a charter for a weekly market, and yearly 
 fair here., and for free-warren in this town, Stratton, 
 and Mourningthorpe. In 1329 Ralf de Burtoft fold 
 it to John de Hemenhale, and in 1331 the reft of his 
 lands here ; it continued in that family till about 
 1400, and then James Rees, and Edmund Young- 
 hufband, held the lands and fcite of Hemenhale, 
 alias Burtoft's manor, in Fritton ; but the manor con- 
 tinued with Hempnall, and lord vifcount Grimfton 
 now hath it*. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Catherine, was va- 
 lued in the old taxation at Gxteeri marks, and had a 
 houfe and eleven acres of glebe. The whole village 
 paid 3!. i os. clear to every tenth. It Hands thus in 
 the king's books: gl. Fritton re&ory; 40!. clear 
 yearly value. It is difcharged of firft-fruits and 
 tenths, and is capable of augmentation. 
 
 There is a meffuage and ten acres of town land, 
 and the following religious houfes had temporals here, 
 taxed as follow: the prior of the monks at Thetford 
 305. The abbot of Wymondhom lod. The prior 
 of Dunmow as. And the facrifl of St. Edmund at 
 Bury 43. 4d. 
 
 Robert de Bofco, or Boys, of Great Thornham, 
 re&or here, purchafed the parfonage-heufe, and a 
 ad. rent in 1319, of William le Eyre, and fettled it 
 on the church by licence of mortmain from Edward 
 II. who prefented him. 
 
 In 
 
 * On account of exchanges made between the lords of Boy- 
 *land and Burtoft's, it hath paffed by the name of Fritton cunt 
 Boyland for fome time.
 
 D E P W A D F, 97 
 
 In 160^5 the relor returned eighty-eight commu- 
 nicants; and in 1627 Ralph Smith, of Friiton, gent, 
 (having purchafed the advovvfon of the Norfolk fa- 
 mily) prefentcd George Cook, who in 1636 was ftif- 
 pended by bifhop Wren, for not complying vviih the 
 rubric ; but after his fubmiflion he was reflorcd, 
 and died reclor. 
 
 In 1714 John Howfe, fen. efq. had purchafcd the 
 ndvowfon, and prefented ; at xvhofe deceafe John 
 Howfe, efq. his fon, was patron. 
 
 The prefent patron and incumbent is the Kcv, 
 Thomas Howes, of Mourningthorpe, in 1763, and 
 1775. P'j- 
 
 The church and chancel are leaded, the Tomb 
 porch is tiled, the fteeple is round at bottom, anci oct- 
 angular at top, and hath three bells. 
 
 There is no memorial of any kind in this fabric, 
 except the arms of Bigot, Thetford abbey, and Bro- 
 therton, in the chancel windows. 
 
 In the yard, againft the fouth chancel wall, under 
 an altar-tomb, lies buried, -Thomas Holmes, reflor 
 here fourteen years; he died in Augujl, 1729, aged 44. 
 
 FUNDENHALL, or FUNDENHALE, at the Con- 
 fjflbr's furvey belonged to one of his thanes, named 
 Burkart, who owned the chief part, anci was patron 
 of the church, which had then twenty-four acres of 
 glebe. Aluric, a freeman of bifhop Siigand, had 
 another part ; and there was a berewic in Nelondc 
 which belonged to it. 
 
 C Walter
 
 gS HUNDRED OF 
 
 Walter de Dol-, lord of Habetuna, or Hapton' 
 became lord here, and made thefe two villages one 
 manor; he had them both of Roger Bigot, who 
 held them of earl Hugo, except two parcels, which 
 the faid Roger kept as belonging to his manor of 
 Forncet, with which they always paffed to this time. 
 This town was a league in length, and half a one 
 in breadth, and paid igd. ob. to the tax. 
 
 The manor was very early in a family which took 
 their name from the town of North Creak, where 
 they were lords, and always refided. Sir Robert de 
 Creak much augmented his eftate by marrying one of 
 the heireffes of the Glanvillc family. John de Creak 
 in 1285 obtained a charter of free-warren from Ed- 
 ward I. for this manor, and that of Creak, when it 
 was found that it extended into Hapton and Wy- 
 mondham, and that one fee of it was held of Chei- 
 ter honor, and another of the earl Marfhal, as of 
 Forncet manor; but he dying without iifue, his inhe- 
 ritance went to fir John de Thorpe, knt. in right of 
 Margaret, (or Margery) his wife, daughter of fir Ro- 
 bert de Creak ; and from this time it always paffed 
 as the manor of Afhwehhorpe, with which it flill 
 remains at this day. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, and was 
 a re&ory appendant to the manor, till Margery, wi- 
 dow of fir Bartholomew de Creak, foundrefs of 
 Flixton nunnery, in Suffolk, gave it*, with a mef- 
 fuage, and twelve acres of land, and many rents 
 and fervices heret, to the priorefs of Flixton, and 
 her fucceffors, for ever ; and that convent presented 
 
 till 
 
 * It continued in the convent till 1392, and then the priorefs 
 there fold it to fir Edmund de Thorpe, knt. 
 
 f This conftituted the rectory manor, which always attended 
 the impropriation.
 
 D E P W A D E. 95 
 
 till it was impropriated to their houfe, by William 
 Bateman. bifhop of Norwich, in 1347, an annual 
 penfion of two marks being referved to -the bifhop, 
 in lieu of fii ft-fruits ; and 2s. a year to the facrift, 
 as to the high altar at the cathedral, and the priorefs 
 was to nominate and rind a ftipendiary chaplain, to 
 be approved by the bifhop, and pay him for ferving 
 the cure; and from that time it hath been a dona- 
 tive, in the gift of the impropriator, who names a 
 chaplain, or clerk, and pays him for ferving the cure, 
 to which, when licenfed by the bifliop of the dio- 
 cefe, he is a perpetual curate. 
 
 When Norwich Doomfday-book was made, the 
 reclor had a houfe and forty acres of glebe, and it 
 was valued at fifteen marks, with all the tithes. 
 
 In 15273 an inquifition was taken in the confiftory 
 court at Norwich, on the oaths of John vicar of 
 Thorpe, Roger vicar of Tharfton, Gilbert chaplain 
 of Hapton, and others, who prefented that the rec- 
 tor for the time being ought to repair the church of 
 Fundenhall, and, if itfhould happen, to rebuild it; 
 and that a certain lady, called Bertha de Glanville de 
 Fundenhale, gave to the faid church, and rcclors 
 thereof, for ever, fifteen acres of land in Fundenhall- 
 field, and a mark yearly rent in the town of Harpol, 
 on condition that the reclor and his fucceflfors, for 
 ever, fhould repair and rebuild it as often as it fliouid 
 happen to want, which lands and rent the reclor then 
 enjoyed; and that in a former controverfy between 
 the parifhioners and Robert du Boys, then reclor, it 
 was adjudged by the bifhop's official, that the reclor 
 fhould repair it, and not the parifhioners. 
 
 At the diffolution, in 1536, the king granted to 
 
 Richard Stephens, and George Buck, " ail ihc.rec- 
 
 G 2 toiy,
 
 lod HUNDRED OF 
 
 tory of the church of Fundenhall, in the county of 
 Norfolk, and the advowfon of the vicarage of the 
 parifli church of Fundenhall, to be held by the rent 
 of 6s. &d. per annum, and the yearly ftipend of one 
 chaplain performing Divine offices, and taking the 
 cure of the fouls of the faid parifli ;" and in 1547 
 Stephens had licence to fell it to fir John Clere, km. 
 and his heirs. Afterwards Thomas Knevet, of Afti- 
 vvelthorpe, efq. lord here, and the inhabitants, peti- 
 tioned the houfe of commons, " that the lady Clere, 
 of Cotton, laie wife of fir Francis Clere, and John 
 Smith, efq. who purchafed the reverfion of the im- 
 propriation of fir Edward Clere, brother to the faid 
 lir Francis, who died without iifue, might be called 
 to fliew, why they fhould not pay a competent fti- 
 pend out of the profits, fufficient to find a ferving 
 minifter, that might ferve it regularly, and continue 
 vvith them, inftead of fuch poor ftipends as twelve 
 or fixteen pounds a year, at moft, by reafon of which 
 no minifter would flay any time on the cure, there 
 having been forty returns of curates in the memory 
 of one man; 11 but it appearing that one Mr. Syraoncis, 
 who obtained a prefentation from the king in 1608, 
 could not enjoy it, as not being prefentatjive, but 
 that the impropriator was to nominate a chaplain, or 
 curate, and pay him out of the profits a competent 
 f Upend, they were difmiffed ; however, Mr. Edward 
 Voice, the then curate, being returned to the houfe 
 as a " Godly, confcionable, and painful preacher of 
 God's word," was appointed minifter, and had a 
 competent ftipend* affigned him out of the profits, 
 by virtue of the order of the Houfe, made Dec. 19, 
 1640. The impropriadon now belongs to John Ber- 
 
 ney, 
 
 * They petitioned for 30!. per annum, and an apartment in 
 the parfonage-houfc, which was not allowed, but only 20!. per
 
 1 
 
 D E P W A D E. 101 
 
 ney, efq. of Bracon-afh, and the Rev. Thomas Mo- 
 ney had this curacy in i 766. 
 
 In 1603 the curate returned anfWer, that he was 
 perpetual curate, it being a donative, and that there 
 were ninety-three communicants in the parifh, which 
 paid 463. to each tenth. 
 
 The prior of Wymondham's temporals were taxed 
 at i 2. and the fpirituals of the priorefs of Fiixton* at 
 fifteen marks, and were to pay sos. to each tenth; 
 but in 1347 the nuns being returned to be very poor, 
 they were excufed the tax. Here was a guild of St. 
 Nicholas, and that of the Virgin, in the church, 
 which is built in the collegiate form, with a fquare 
 tower, under which William Petifer, parifh chap- 
 lain, was buried, in 1374; and in 1460 William 
 Norman, parifh chaplain here, was interred in the 
 chancel; he was a benefaclor, as was John Daniel, 
 who gave twenty marks to repair this fteeple, in 
 which there are three bells. 
 
 The roofl-loft is whole and painted ; in the middle 
 of it is a fhield with the Eaft Angles arms, and round 
 it, Ave rex gentis Anglorum, tu rex regis Anglorum. 
 ' Eadmunde! Jlos marly rum, vdud roja vel lilium, 6?. 
 
 There are two or three flones difrobed of their 
 
 plates, under one of which lies buried John Kemp, of 
 
 Fundenhall, who inherited an eflate here. There 
 
 was anciently a manor, or free tenement, called Sun- 
 
 G 3 day's 
 
 * In 1433 Catherine Pilly, priorefs of Flixton, refigned, 
 being old and blind ; but as fhe had governed well and laudably, 
 the biftiop, as patron of the nunnery, afiigned her a chamber, 
 and maid to wait on her, and an honorable penfion for life, out 
 of this impropriation.
 
 io2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 day's, which was joined to the other manor early, 
 and now continues with it. William Knyvet, gent, 
 feconcl Pin to Edmund Knyvet, efq. ferjcant porter to 
 Hemy VIII. died, in 1594, and was buried in the 
 church of Fundenhall, where he lived; and John 
 Knyvet, of Fundenhall. his cldeft fon, married Joan, 
 daughter of Robert Browne, of Tacolnefton, and had 
 John Knyvet, of Fundenhall, who married Joanna 
 Smton, fiom whom defcended William Knyvet, efq. 
 oi Fundenhall, late coroner for the county of Norfolk. 
 
 HAPTON, HAPETON, HABETON, or HARPTON 
 advovvfon, was given by fir Robert de Narford*. 
 founder of Lingcrfcroft hofpital, by North Creak, af- 
 terwards called the inonaitery of St. Mary de Pratis, 
 or Creak abbey, to that houfe, to which it was ap- 
 propriated, and was to be ferved by a chaplain, or 
 parifli curate, to be nominated by the convent, and 
 paid a competent annual flipend for the fervice ouc 
 of the profits ; and Alice, daughter of John Poun- 
 chatd," formerly wife of fir Robert de Narford, con* 
 firmed it, with the moiety of the church of Wren- 
 rangham, as did Edward I. in 1273. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Margaret, was firfl 
 valued at feven, and after at eight marks, had twenty- 
 ihrce acres of glebe, and the abbot of Creak paid for 
 his Ipirituals los. 6d. to each tenth, and for his tem- 
 porals 255. id. 
 
 In 13 14 John Afhwell, by royal licence, aliened to 
 the abbot of Creak three roods of land in Hapton, 
 to enlarge the fcite of the reclory-houfe there. 
 
 In 
 
 * It is to be obferved, that the advovvfon did not attend the 
 manor, but belonged to the Bigots manor of Forncet, and was 
 by them inf coftecl in the Creaks, from which family it went to 
 tlieNar. fords.
 
 D E P W A D E. 103 
 
 In 1426 the abbot fold to John Fleet, and his 
 heirs, a meffuage, called Dalyot's, in Hapton, and 
 four acres of land, paying 2s. and an hen yearly to 
 that houfe. 
 
 In 1461 John Sheltqn, efq. lefTee to John abbot of 
 .^ Creak, leafed to John Wood, then parifli chaplain of 
 -"' Hapton, all the lands, lioufes, and great and fmall 
 tidies, for ten years. 
 
 About 1 506 this monaflery was looked upon as 
 diflblved, becaufe the abbot died without a convent 
 to elel another, whereupon all the lands and reve- 
 nues, by the procurement of lady Margaret, coumefs 
 of Richmond, mother to Henry VII. were fettled on 
 her college in Cambridge, called Chrifl's College; 
 and ever fmce the impropriation hath remained in the 
 rnafter and feltows there, who nominate a perpetual 
 curate to ferve the parifh, and pay him out of the 
 profits, it having been efleemcd a donative in their 
 gift ever fmce the foundation, and as fuch it now re- 
 
 in 1 603 the perpetual curate returned anfwer, that 
 there were forty-three communicants, that the whole 
 parifh paid 505. to each tenth, and that Chrifl's Col- 
 lege had twenty-three acres of glebe. The priot of 
 Thetford was taxed at 22d. ob. for temporals here ; 
 the prior of Walfingham 6d. the abbot of Sibton 
 los. and the prior of Buckenham 2s. gd. ob. 
 
 The church, which {lands on an eminence, hath 
 no fleeple, the nave is leaded, and the chancel 
 thatched. In the eaft window are the arms of Thorpe, 
 Clifton, Cailly, 8cc. but there are no other memorials, 
 There is a bell hanging in a wooden frame in the 
 church-yard. 
 
 G 4 There
 
 104 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 There was an ancient family firnamed from the 
 town. Stephen de Habeton was an owner here. In 
 1348 William de Habeiun; and in 1412 John Hap. 
 ton, of Wyraondham. 
 
 The manor was joined to that of Fundenhall at 
 the conqueft, by Walter de Dol ; the church had 
 then fifteen acres of glebe. The town was a mile 
 long, and a mile and a quarter broad, and paid 6d. 
 ^cj. to (he gelt. It was always held of the Norfolk 
 family, as of Forncet manor, at one quarter of a 
 Jte, and always attended the manor of Afhwelthorpe. 
 The manor-houfe is called Hapton-hall, and was al- 
 ways the jointure houfe of the Knyvet family. The 
 ftiie ol the manors now run, " Afhwelthorpe with 
 Wicrininghara, and Fundenhall with Hapton." 
 
 The manor of Forncet extended into this town, 
 and haih done fo ever fince the conqueft ; for then 
 there was another part in this village of about ninety 
 acres, and fome fmall rents, held by knight's fervice, 
 of William de Vallibns, or Vaus ; and in 1426 they 
 were held as parcel of Wormegay honor. 
 
 The late Rev. Thomas Thurlow, father of Ed- 
 ward lord Thurlow, and lord high chancellor of 
 Great Britain; 2. Thomas bifhop of Lincoln; 3. 
 John Thurlow, eft], alderman of Norwich, mayor in 
 
 1 779, and candidate to reprefent that city, Sept. 1 1, 
 
 1780, was curate here, and was fuccceded by the 
 Rev. Richard Perkinfon. 
 
 HARDWICK, or HERDEWIC, fignifies the place 
 at the wic, or winding of the river, where the herd 
 was ufually fed; it was in many parts at the con- 
 queft, the whole being two miles long, and one 
 bioad, and paid gd. to the gelt. The honor cf Eye 
 
 extended
 
 D E P *W A D E. 105 
 
 extended hither, and there was one part which be- 
 longed to the abbey of Ely, as to the manor of Pul- 
 ham ; and. another to Bainard-caflle, as'belonging to 
 die manor of liempnall, which was held of that 
 honor. 
 
 The CAPITAL MANOR, called afterwards BARRET'S, 
 belonged to Roger Bigot at the conqueft, and was al- 
 wavs held of the Norfolk family at one fee, as of 
 their manor of Forncet. This manor in the time of 
 Henry III. belonged to the Barrets, and was fold by 
 Ivo Barret to Robert Bacon. In 1308 Bartholomew 
 de Evereux had it. William le Waleys, of Shelton, 
 was lord and patron here; and in 1308 Margaret, 
 reli& of Walter le Waleys ; it then palled along witli 
 the advowfon in the Barrets, .and their feoffees, till 
 Catherine, daughter and heirefs of Simon Barret, 
 carried it to William Shelton,* of Shelton, efjj. her 
 hufband, in the time of Henry IV. and it continued 
 in the Shel tons till fold to Thomas, father of Peter 
 Gleane, of Norwich, who was knighied by James I. 
 and ferved as member of parliament for that city in 
 the i ft of Charles I. 1627. He married Maud, 
 daughter of Robert Suckling, of Norwich, efq. and 
 was fucceeded by his eldeft fon, Thomas Gleane, of 
 Hardwick-hall, efq. who married Elizabeth, daughter 
 and heirefs of Thomas Brewfe, efq. (defcended from 
 fir Richard Brewfe, of Topcroft, knt.) for whom is 
 an infcription on a tomb again ft the north chancel 
 wall: he died January 27, 1660, aged 74; fhe died 
 July 22, 1630, aged 45. Gleane impales Suckling, 
 Ditto impaling Brewfe, and Brewfe impaling Brewfter. 
 
 Peter Gleane, their eldeft fon, fucceeded, who was 
 created a baronet in the i jth of Charles II. he ferved 
 member for Norfolk in the parliament called the 
 3iftof Charles II, at Weftminfter, 1678, and was 
 
 rcchofea-
 
 io6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 rechofen to ferve in the fucceeding parliament, 1681 ; 
 he married Penelope, daughter and coheirefs of fir 
 Edward Rodney, of Rodney-Stoke, in Somerfetihire, 
 knt. Sir Peter died about 1694, and his lady Fe- 
 bruary 17, 1689, and are buried within the altar- 
 rails of the chancel, under an altar-tomb, by which 
 hang two atchivements ; the firft hath Gleane quar- 
 tering Brewfe, with the Ulfler arms, or Baronet's 
 badge, in the fefs point, and this motto: Jay fervy 
 mon roy and the arms, creft, and motto of Rodney. 
 Sir Peter Gleane, bart. Jerved Charles I. in all the. ci- 
 vil wars ; raifed and armed two companies of foot at his 
 own charge; he ferved the crown faithfully above forty 
 years in military offices, from a lieutenant to a colonel of 
 foot, and in this county of Norfolk, lieutenant-colonel of 
 the militia, and was deputy lieutenant, and likewise colonel 
 and deputy lieutenant for the city of Norwich. In his 
 civil Jlation, he bore the characler of ju/lice of the peace 
 witliin this county above twenty years, and had the honor 
 twice to be chofen one of the reprefentatives for the fame, 
 to ferve in parliament ; in which feveral fervicss for his 
 king and country he fpent hisflrength and fortunes, and 
 the wounds with that received, were not healed in this 
 year, 1683. 
 
 This fir Peter was lord alfo of BOUTON'S, or BOL- 
 TON'S MANOR here, which was held by Wiftret, a 
 free-man of the Conqueror, at the furvey, and it 
 feems to have been in the crown fome time after- 
 wards. In 1315 fir John Sturrnyn, knt. had it, and 
 in 1332 Roger de Hardwick, when it was held of 
 Forncet, as of the manor of Hempnall, at one fee; 
 it afterwards came to the Bois's ; Catherine, daughter 
 and heirefs of Roger Buis, carried it to her hufband, 
 Jenney, and fo it paffed along with Intwood, till it 
 was fold to the Gleans's, by William Grefham, of 
 
 London,
 
 D P W A D E. 107 
 
 London, efq. and ever fince thefe two manors and 
 advowfon have continued together, the ftile of the 
 court being, " The manor Boughton's, and Barret's, 
 in Hardwick." 
 
 The Atlas, p. 334, fays, that Henry Bouchier, 
 earl of Effex, had Bolton s manor here, which was 
 bcftowed upon his father, William, by Edward IV. 
 becaufe he married Ann, one of the daughters of 
 Richard Woodvile, earl of Rivers, filler to his 
 queen. 
 
 The lord hath waif and flray only upon his own 
 demefnes; the eldeft fon is heir, and the fines are at 
 the lord's will. 
 
 Hardwick was fold by fir Peter Gleane to fir John 
 Holland, of Quiddenham, and given by him to his 
 fecond fon, Brian, for life; and in 1713 we find 
 Waller Bacon, efq. of Earlham, lord and patron, 
 whofe relic!;, Mrs. Frances Bacon, enjoyed it. Ed- 
 ward Bacon, efq. of Earlham, now member in par- 
 liament for the city of -Norwich, being their eldeft 
 fon and heir, is now lord and patron. 
 
 Shelion manor always did, and now doth, extend 
 into this town, and therefore that manor is ftiled 
 Shelton cum Hardwick, and the churches annexed. 
 
 The churcli hath a fleeple round at bottom, and 
 octangular at top, with one bell in it ; the nave is 
 leaded, the fouth porch tiled, the chancel part 
 leaded, and part tiled, in the windows of which are 
 the arms of Shelton fingle, and again impaling Mor- 
 ley, and Fitz-Walter's arms fingle ; and on a flat 
 Hone the arms of Bacon, of Baconfthorpe. 
 
 In
 
 locS HUNDRED OF 
 
 In a north window, Shclton impales arg. a fefs fab. 
 between three mullets gul. Thomas Crabbe, hujus ec~ 
 defuz rector, cb. Feb. 3, A.D. 1680. 
 
 Rand impaling Brock, The Rev. Samud Rand, 
 A. M. 33 year's reclor, who died June 7, 1714, aged 
 65; Maria, his wife, died Augitft 5, 1724, 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Margaret. Wil- 
 liam le Waleys was patron when Norwich Doomf- 
 day-book was wrote ; the reclor had a houfe and 
 three acres of glebe, though the terriers have fmcc 
 fix; it was valued at eight marks and an half, and 
 paid il. 8s. clear to each tenth. 
 
 The monks of Thetford had temporals here va- 
 lued at los. and in the regifter of the facrift of Bury 
 abbey it is laid, that Robert le Gros rclcafed his 
 right in the advowfon to the abbot of Bury, but we 
 do not find the abbot ever prefented, or had any 
 thing to do here. Jt Hands difcharged of firft-fruits 
 and tenths in the king's books, and is capable of 
 augmentation. 3!. Hardwick rectory ; 40!. cleat 
 yearly value. 
 
 In 1 344 Roger de Herdegr**/, citizen of Norwich, 
 was patron ; and in 1412 fir Ralph Shelton, krit. in 
 right of his manor, called Barret's ; in which family 
 ihe advowfon remained till 1620, when Thomas 
 Cronfhay had it of William Bofwell for his turn ; he 
 was turned out April 28, 1644, by the earl of Man- 
 rhefler, for obfervmg^the orders of the church, dif- 
 fuading his parifhioncrs from aflifling the rebellion, 
 and faying, " The parliament arc lay-men, and have 
 no power to order religion, or church government. 1 ' 
 He had at that time a wife and ten children, the 
 youngeft of which was not above three years old; he 
 
 was
 
 D E P W A D E. 109 
 
 was alfo very poor, and by confequence, when fe 
 qucftered, was, with his numerous family, turned a 
 begging. Walker, part II. fol. 223. After this the 
 Gleanes and Bacons were patrons. 
 
 In 1718 the Rev. Samuel Shuckforth had the 
 church united to Shelton. He was alfo minifter of 
 Seething, and the two Mundhams, all which he re- 
 figned in 1746, being then D. D. and prebend of 
 Canterbury. He publifhed, " The facred and pro- 
 phane Hiftory of the World, connected from the 
 creation of the world, to the dififolutioii of the Afiy- 
 rian empire, at the death of Sardanapalus, and to 
 the declerifion of the kingdom of Judah and Ifrael, 
 under the reigns of Abaz and Pekah." The firft 
 volume, o&avo, was publifoed at London, in 1728. 
 
 June 15, 1445, the reel ory of Hardwickwas con- 
 folidated with the two medieties of Shelton ; and in 
 i 748 the Rev. John Kinderly was preferred by Mrs. 
 Frances Bacon, widow, p. j. Since which the Rev. 
 John Salmon, then curate, has been prefented. 
 
 HEMPNALL, or HEMENHALE. The rectory here 
 was given by Walter Fitz-Robert, patron of Dun- 
 mow priory, in Effex, to that houfe, to which it was 
 impropriatcd, and a vicarage endowed, which was 
 prefented to by the priors there till the diffoluiion, 
 and then Henry VIII. granted the impropriation, and 
 advowfon of the vicarage, to Robert earl of SuiTex, 
 and his heirs, to be held of him in capitc, by knights 
 fervice, and ever fince they have attended the manor 
 here, with which they now remain. 
 
 Before the appropriation the reclory had a houfe 
 and twenty acres of glebe; it was taxed at twenty-fix 
 marks, and confequently the prior paid 545. 8d. to 
 
 each
 
 io HUNDREDOF 
 
 each tenth. The vicarage was taxed at ten marks, 
 or 61. 135. 4d. as it now ftands in the king's books, 
 and being not difcharged, it pays 1 35. 4d. yearly 
 tenths, and is not capable of augmentation. 
 
 In 1 605 the re&or returned anfvver, that he had 
 400 communicants in the parifh. 
 
 William Barwick, A.M. rector here, was Tequef- 
 tered April 28, 1644, by the earl of Manchefter, for 
 obferving the orders of the church, declaring againft 
 the parliament and rebellion, oppofing the lectures of 
 godly minifters in the town, and fwearing by his 
 faith and troth. And from this time feverai of the 
 intruders kept pofleffion till 1649, and then John 
 Potter had it, who was buried here, Auguft 4, 1692, 
 when fir Capel Luckyn was patron ; and in 1 / 23 
 lady Mary Luckyn, widow, was patronefs. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Margaret, and is 
 twenty yards long, the breadth of the nave and two 
 aiiles is twelve yards, being all covered with lead ; it 
 hath a fquare tower about fixteen yards high, and 
 only one bell and a clock; part of the chancel is 
 ruined, and the remaining part is tiled. 
 
 We find no infcription, fave one, on a flone in the 
 north ailc, which lies over Robert French, gent. Aug. 
 31, 1711, atat. 57. * 
 
 The town lands were given by Mr. Scwell, and 
 and are now lett at 22!. IDS. a year. This town 
 paid 61. los. clear to every tenth. 
 
 In 1615, October 13, Elizabeth Gray, aged above 
 100 years, was buried here; fhe \vas a defcendent 
 from John Gray, efq. lord of the manor of Little- 
 hall,
 
 D E P W A D E. in 
 
 hall, in Topcrofr, in 1408, which manor extended 
 into Hempnall, Woodton, and Bedingham. 
 
 The priory of Dunmow had anciently divers lands 
 here ; but in i 234 the prior fold four acres to Roger, 
 fon of William de Hemenhale ; and in 1204 die 
 prior had fold others, fo that the prior was taxed'6d, 
 only for his temporals, and the priorefs of Bungay at 
 i2d. for hers. The abbot of Bury had a water-mill, 
 and divers fuits and rents belonging to it here, for 
 which he was taxed at 345. 4d. it was named Tvva- 
 grind, and was confirmed to that monaftery by Wal- 
 ter Fitz-Robert, being fituate on Long-bridge, and 
 anciently was called " Piper-mill on Rucham-river, 
 in Hemenhale," and was given by Roger de Bucken- 
 ham, and William de Rucham confirmed it. 
 
 The manor of HEMPNALL, or HEMENHALE, be- 
 longed to Torn, a Dane, at the Confeffor's furvey ; 
 had then three free-men, 41 borderers, (or copy- 
 holders) and 54 villains ; it had one priefl, (or rec- 
 tor) and two churches, endowed with a carucate of 
 land, and four villains and four borderers that held 
 two carucates more of them, valued at 155. there 
 was a wood, called Schietefhaugh, which maintained 
 200 fwine, and the abbot of St. Bennet at Holme 
 claimed part of it; the manor was then worth 15 1. 
 
 At the Conqueror's furvey it belonged wholly with 
 its foe, fac, and jurifdiclion, to Ralph Bainard, when 
 it had lands, 8cc. worth 24!. 55. a year, &c. it was 
 four miles long, and three broad, and paid 1 8d. ts 
 the gelt, or tax. It had ten acres held by a freeman, 
 which lay in Fritton and Hardwick, and Forncet 
 manor extended hither. A free-man of Alwius, or 
 Alwine, of Thetford, had thirty acres, &x. worth
 
 ii2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 los. at the firfl furvcy, all which was held by Turolcl 
 at the laft. 
 
 This Ralph lord Bainard was a powerful baron, 
 one of thofe that came in with the Conqueror, lord 
 of Caftle-Bainard, in London, and of the barony of 
 that caftle; all which William Bainard, his de- 
 fcendent, forfeited by his rebellion to Henry I. and 
 he gave the whole to Robert Fitz-Richard Fitz-Gil- 
 bert, the firft earl of Clare, and his heirs; he gave it 
 to Robert de Tonebridge, his fifth fon, and he to fir 
 Walter Fitz-Robert, his fon, who was to hold it of 
 the barony of Bainard's-caftle : this Robert was lord 
 of the manor of Difs. with which this paffed to the 
 Fitz- Walters, and Ratcliffs, earls of Suflex, being 
 always held of the Fitz-Walters barony. 
 
 In 1 545 Henry earl of SuGTex, on his fon's match 
 ivith Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Wriothefley, 
 fettled it on them and their heirs, and it remained in 
 the family till Robert Ratcliff fold it to fir William 
 Luckyn, alias Capel ; he was the firft baronet of the 
 family, fo created in the 13th of Charles I. and 
 married Mildred, third daughter of fir Gamaliel Ca- 
 pel, of Rookwood-hall, in Efiex, knt. by whom he 
 had fir Capel Luckyn, ,bart. who married Marv, eld- 
 eft daughter of fir Hai bottle Grimfton, of Bradfield, 
 in EiTex, bart. matter of the rolls ; fhc died in March, 
 1718, aged 86. 
 
 Sir William Luckyn, of Meflinghall, alias Bai- 
 nard's-caftle, in Eifex, bart. fecond, but eldeft fur- 
 Viving fon, fucceected ; and lady Mary Luckyn, his 
 widow, daughter of William Sherrington, alderman 
 of London, was lady and patronefs, and prefemed 
 'in 1724, this manor having been ufually the jointure 
 of the ladies of ail its owners. 
 
 Sir
 
 D E P W A D E. 113 
 
 Sir Harbottle Luckyn, the elded foil, is dead, 
 and the title abforbed in William Luckyn, the fecond 
 fon, who being adopted heir to fir Samuel Grimfton, 
 bare, changed his name to Grimfton, and was created 
 vifcount Grimfton, of the kingdom of Ireland, May 
 4, 1719; and fir James Bucknall Grimfton, bart. 
 lord vifcount Grimfton, is now lord and patron. 
 
 This manor had liberty of free-warren, view of 
 leet and frank-pledge, in the prefencc of the bailiff 
 of the king's hundred of Depwade; a weekly market 
 on Monday, granted by Henry III. in 1225, and a 
 fair granted by Edward I. a pillory, ducking-ftool, 
 gallows, and affize of bread and ale, allowed in 
 1286. 
 
 In 1327 the manor-houfe had a park of 260 acres, 
 and 5 79 acres in demefne, 96 acres of under-wood, 
 and lol. 2S. 3d. q. rents of affize, here and in Pul- 
 ham, Hardwick, and Shelton ; and there was 61. i gs. 
 paid yearly to the manor for caftle-ward from Whet- 
 acre, Chadgrave, Langley, Hales, Kirkby, Broome, 
 Boketon, or Bowton, Barton. Stradfet, Tivetfhall, 
 Haleholme, and Wicklewood, viz. for every fee, 
 every twenty-four weeks, 35. 4d. the tvhole value of 
 the manor being eftimated at 48!. per ann. 
 
 In 1315 lordFitz-Walter was returned entire lord 
 of the town. 
 
 In 1379 John Fitz-Walter procured a charter of 
 Richard III. to hold their market every Friday, and 
 lo the Monday market was laid afide ; the Friday 
 market is now difufed; and to hold another fair on 
 St. AndrewVday, which is ftill annually kept on 
 that day ; and the ancient chapel of St. Andrew, 
 which at the conqueft was parochial, though depend- 
 H cnt
 
 114 HUNDRED OF 
 
 cnt on the mother-church, is now ufed (as we arc in- 
 formed) for a repofuory for the flails. 
 
 Sir RALPH'S, or CURPLE'S MANOR, in Hempnall, 
 took its name from Roger Curpeil, who had one fee 
 in Hempnall of the gift of Walter Fitz-Robert, and 
 it was always held of the Fiiz-VVaker's barony of 
 BainardVcafUe, as of their manor of Hempnall; this 
 Roger Curpeil, or Capell, (as he is alfo called) di- 
 vided the fee into four parts, one of which he gave 
 to Walter de Valoines, and his heirs. 
 
 The part in the Valoines family came to the family 
 firnamed de Hemenhale, or Hempnall ; and fir Ralph 
 de Hemenhale, who was knighted by Edward I. was 
 the firfl lord of that family, from whom it was ftiled 
 fir Ralph's manor ; he was fucceeded by Ralph, his 
 fon, who was lord of this part in 1227, and added to 
 it by purchafing many lands. Sir Ralph de Hemen- 
 hale had now, 1307, the whole, except one fourth 
 part*, all which remained in this family. 
 
 In 1389 fir Robert Hemenhale, knt. of Hempnall, 
 (where this family rcfided) releafed to firGeo.Felbrigg, 
 knt. and ottu truflees, his manors in Norfolk, and 
 Suffolk, and all the poffeffions of his father, fir 
 Ralph ; he was firfl hufband to Joan, daughter and 
 heirefs of fir John De-la-Pole, knt. by whom he had 
 only one fon, William. It appears that fir Robert 
 died before 1306, for in that year William being a 
 natural, this manor and 405. rents in Fritton, Mourn- 
 ingthorpe, and LongStratton, were committed to the 
 cuftody of John Beaver ; but this William was dead 
 fome time before 1419; for in that year his father's 
 
 arms 
 
 * Thomas de Hemenhale, of this family, was elefted bifhop 
 of Norwich, and confecrated bithop of Woicefter.
 
 D E P W A D E. 115 
 
 arms were fixed up in the window of the Auftin- 
 friars church at Norwich, among the reft of the 
 knights that had no furviving iflue ; and John, fon 
 of Robert de Hemenhale, his uncle, inherited, and 
 died without iffue. 
 
 In 1407 David Hemenhale, efq. lived here; he 
 was a witnefs in the caul'e between fir Reginald Grev, 
 and fir Edward Hallings, of Elfing, for their arm', 
 in which he depofecl, that Walter Ubbeflon, of Ub- 
 befton, in Suffolk, was his father-iu-law, and tutor 
 to the carl Marflial, who died at Venice ; it feems he 
 had no iffue, for the manor went to fir Thomas 
 Brooke, of Somerfetfhire, in right of Joan his wife, 
 daughter and heirefs of John De-la-Pole, by Regi- 
 nald Braybrook, fon of fir Gerard, her fecond huf- 
 band, according to a fettlement made on her and her 
 heirs, by fir' Robert de Hemenhale, her firfl hulband, 
 in cafe of failure of the iffue of his own family ; and 
 in 1468 fir Edward ikooke, of Cobham, fon of iir 
 Thomas, died feifed. 
 
 In 1490 Richard Bromvyle, or Blundevyle, efq. 
 had this manor, and Heveringland, and died feiicd 
 of them in 1503; it continued in that family till 
 after 1580,, and then it was fold by Thomas Blun- 
 devyle, efq. In 1612 fir William Bowyer, knt. and 
 Thomas Awdeley, efq. conveyed it to Thomas Ri- 
 chardfon, and George Allington, efqrs. and their 
 heirs ; and fince it is manurnifed and divided, fo that 
 we do not find it fublilting as a manor at prefent* 
 
 In 1 774 the Rev. Cofle Leicefter was prefemed to 
 the vicarage of Hempnall by the right honorable 
 lord vifcount Giirnflon, p.j. 
 
 H 2 MOULTON
 
 ii6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 MOULTON St. MICHAEL, GREAT MOULTON, 
 or MOULTON Magna"' manor, was held of Roger Bi- 
 got, "as of his manor of Forncet, by Algar, at the time 
 of the conqueft ; and another part of it belonged to 
 Alan earl of Richmond, and was valued with his 
 manor of CoflefTey. Little Moulton belonged alfo 
 to the faid Roger, and Algar held that alfo of him ; it 
 had then a church and fifteen acres of glebe, and the 
 king had two free-men here, who had an inheritance, 
 held of the abbey of Holme, to which the advowfon 
 belonged. Both the parifhes were three miles long, 
 and a mile broad, and paid J3d. ob. gelt. 
 
 In the time of William Rufus the earl of Norfolk 
 enfeoffed William de Verdon in it, along with Brii- 
 fingham, and it attended that manor for many ages, 
 being held of the Verdons, one half fee of it of the 
 Norfolk family, and one fifth part of a fee of the ho- 
 nor of Bainard's-caftle, which was purchafed of 
 Ralph de Camois, and added to the manor. It af- 
 terwaids went with Brilfingham, till Ifabel, daughter 
 and heirefs of fir John Verdon, married fir. Imbert 
 Noon, of Shelf hanger, and carried it into that family; 
 it paffed with it till 1512, and then Henry Noon, of 
 Shelfhanger, efq. fold it to Thomas Spring, of Lan- 
 ham, cloth-man, and Thomas lermyn, his feoffee, 
 together with the advowfon, at which time it extended 
 into Waclon and Forncet ; by him it was foon after 
 conveyed to Leonard Spencer, of Blofield. It after- 
 wards belonged to fir Thomas Jermyn, knt. then to 
 fir William Drury, knt. afterwards to Robert We- 
 therber; and in 1562 to Andrew, John, and An- 
 thony Rivet; in 1570 to John Rivet, of Brandeflon, 
 
 efq. 
 
 * Muleton, or Moleton, feems to fignify the town at the 
 molcndiuum, or mili, and the fuit to this mill feems remarka- 
 ble, fourteen free -men being forced to grind there.
 
 D E P W A D E. n j 
 
 efq. in which year it was found that the fuperior 
 lordfhip over the commons, &c. belonged to the ma- 
 nor of Forncet. It continued in this family till after 
 1689; and in 1717 Elizabeth, widow of Thomas 
 Chute, efq. had it: it now belongs to Mrs. Ann El- 
 win, of Norwich, widow, and Thomas Lobb Chute, 
 efq. of Pickenham, in joint tenancy, and a third turn 
 of the fmecure reclory of Waclon P&rva is appendant 
 to it, as alfo this patronage. 
 
 The Rev. Richard Drake, L. L. B. reclor here, 
 was buried by the church-yard gate, by his houfe, 
 and gave all he had to be divided among his poor 
 parifliioners of Moulton, arid Grifton. Moulton 
 hath now town lands of his gift, in 1526. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Michael, was firft 
 valued at ten, and afterwards at twelve marks. The 
 reclor had a houfe and twenty acres of glebe. The 
 portion of the monks at Thetford was valued at 6s. 
 8d. and in 1612 was paid to Afladlon manor, in right 
 of Thetford priory. 
 
 There was a chapel of our Lady in this church, 
 and an altai dedicated to her alfo in it, by which, 
 flood her image, with a light burning before it. In 
 1504 Walter Taylor gave a legacy for a new bell; 
 and in 1674 a licence paffed to leffen the great bell. 
 It ftands in the king's books at 61. 133. 4d. and being 
 fworn of the clear yearly value of 30!. it is difcharged 
 of firft-fruits and tenths, and is capable of augmen- 
 tation ; and the whole parifh paid 5!. clear to every 
 tenth. 
 
 In 1329 lands here and in Hardwick were fettled 
 
 on the prior of the Holy Trinity at Ipfwich, by 
 
 H 3 Richard
 
 uS H U N D R E D O F 
 
 Richard Mundham, William Weybred, Walter de 
 Thorpe, and R. Fugar, and their wives. 
 
 The prior of the monks at Thetford was taxed for 
 divers temporal rents here, belonging to their eftate 
 ia Afla&on, at 133. 5d. 
 
 The fteeple is round at bottom, and oclangular at 
 top, and hath five bells ; the fouth porch, fouth and 
 north uiles, and nave, are leaded, and the chancel 
 is tiled. The arms of Verdon', Vice de Lou, and 
 Noon, were very often in the windows. 
 
 In the nave, Hie jacet corpus Johannh Roope, gent, 
 qui obijt 30 die Julij, 1667. 
 
 In the fouth aile, Hie jacet corpus Roberti Roope, 
 gent, qui obijt 27 die Julij, 1666. Dorothy Roope, 23 
 08. 1673. 
 
 In the chancel, Richard Wilfon, reclor 27 years, 
 28 Nov. 1716, (Zlat, 60. William Needham, reclor, is 
 buried north andjouih under the altar. 
 
 On a brafs, Hie jacet Wil'dmus Machett, quondam 
 reclor ijlius ecclffie, qui obijt xi die Sept. A. D. 1620. 
 
 On an altar-tomb by the fouth chancel door arc 
 the arms of Wickham*, Thomas, Jon of Thomas 
 Wickham, gent. Apr. 5, 1661. Thomas Wickham, gent* 
 the elder, Dec. 16. 1688,. aged 66. Mary, wife of 
 Thomas Wickham, 23 May, i 706, aged 80. William, 
 their fon, Am* . 5, 1706, dgwf 45. 
 
 At 
 
 * This family defcended from William of Wickham, found- 
 er of New College, in Oxford, as the arms plainly fhew, and 
 as fuch, their dependents are the founder's kinfmen.
 
 D E P W A D E. ng 
 
 At the fouth-weft corner of the church-yard is a 
 very antique altar-tomb, but no arras or infcription. 
 
 John Moulton, born here, a white friar, or carme- 
 lite, in Norwich monaftery, flouriflied about the year 
 1400; Pitts, page 568, tells us, that he was a pious, 
 learned, and eloquent man, and an excellent preach- 
 er; hepubHftied a book of ninety ferrnons. 
 
 MOULTON ALL SAINTS, LITTLE MOULTON, 
 or MOULTON Parva, at the furvey was in two parts ; 
 that held of Forncet, by Algar, belonged firft to 
 Ralph, and then to Robert de Agnellis, and the 
 whole was held of Forncet at a fee, but part of it the 
 lord of Forncet held of the honor of Gloucefter; 
 and in 1212 Lambert Teuionicus, called alfo le AI- 
 main, who afterwards took the firname of Moulton, 
 agreed with Roger Bigot, earl of 'Norfolk, the capi- 
 tal lord of the town, and purchafed divers rents and 
 lands from the manor of Great Moulton, of Bertram 
 de Verdon, of whom it was fettled this manor 
 fhould henceforward be held; fo that by this pur- 
 chafe the quit-rents of this manor became 5!. per 
 annum. 
 
 In 1235 Richard de Brewfe, and Oliver de Reed- 
 ham, were concerned in it; and in 1246 the faid 
 Richard, jointly with Eleanor, his wife, held a court 
 baron. In 1306 Reginald le Gros fettled it on Oli- 
 ver de Reedham, and Joan, his wife. In 1309 Wil- 
 liam de Wafcotc fettled it on Thomas de Moulton, 
 who held it in 1315 of Richard de Brewfe; and in 
 134.5 it was purchafed by William De-la-Park, and 
 joined to his manor, called Park's, in Waclon, and 
 from that time there hath been no court kept in this 
 parifh. 
 
 H4 The
 
 i2o HUNDREDOF 
 
 The advowfon from the Conqueror's time belonged 
 to the abbot of St. Bennet at the Holme, who was- 
 taxed at 285. 6d. for temporals here, but had no 
 manor, only free-rents, or penfions, paid out of fuch 
 lands as belonged to him, which were granted to be 
 held free. 
 
 The re&ors were prefented by the abbots of Holme 
 till 1535, when fir Robert Matthew, chaplain, was 
 the lafl prefented by the convent ; after which the 
 re&ors were prefented by the bifhops of Norwich, as 
 abbots of Holme. 
 
 In j 664 the relor was prefented to it as ajinecurc, 
 and lett the whole profits, both of tithes and glebes, 
 at lol. per ann. though in the time of Henry VIII. it 
 was returned to be then worth 20!. per ann. and now 
 ftands at 30!. clear yearly value in the king's books ; 
 but in 1670 he lett it at 81. per annum only. It was 
 held by fo many, with Great Moulton, that the lands 
 titheable to this re&ory are fcarce known, though 
 they were about one third of the parifh's. 
 
 The church was dedicated to All Saints, and when 
 Norwich Doomfday-book was wrote, the relor had 
 no houfe, but thirteen acres of glebe; it was valued 
 at three, and afterwards at four marks ; the abbot of 
 Holme's portion was 45. The church was in ufe till 
 1570, and then was totally demoliihed ; the fcite of 
 it is ftill called All Saints church-yard: it is capable 
 of augmentation, being returned of 30!. value, it is 
 difcharged of firfl-fruits and tenths, and now ftands 
 thus in the king's books: 4!. 35. id. ob. Moulton 
 Omnium Sanftorum, alias Parva re&ory, 30!. clear 
 yearly value. 
 
 In
 
 D E P W A D E. id 
 
 In 1762 the Rev. John Malyn was preiented to 
 this reclory by the bifhop of Norwich. 
 
 MOURNINGTHORPE, or MORINGTHORP, was 
 known by the name of Thorpe only in the Con- 
 feflbr's time ; and to diftinguifh it from the many 
 villages of that name, it began to be called Moring- 
 thorpe about the time of the Conqueror, from the 
 mere, marc, or more, it was fituated by. It was 
 given before the Confeffor's furvey to the abbey of 
 St. Edmund at Bury, in Suffolk, by Turketel, a 
 Danifh thane, or nobleman, along with the town of 
 Caflor by Norwich, and the abbot held it as a manor, 
 having one carucate in demefne, of 205. a year va- 
 lue, to which belonged a church and twenty acres of 
 glebe; but before the Conqueror's furvey the whole 
 (except the advowfon, leet, and fome fmall parcels 
 which always attended the abbey to its diffoiution) 
 was infeoffed by the abbot in Robert de Vals, or 
 Vaux, who held it of the abbey by knights fervice; 
 it was then rifen to 305. value, and the town was a 
 mile long, and three furlongs broad, and paid id. 
 ob. q. to the gelt, or tax. 
 
 The reclors of Mourningthorpe were prefented by 
 the abbots of Bury till the diffolution, when the ad- 
 vowfon veiled in the crown, and ftill remains there. 
 
 In 1603 the relor returned fifty-eight communi- 
 cants in this parifti. 
 
 In 1722 the Rev, William Smith, relor here, pub- 
 Hfhed a tranflation from the French of the dialogues 
 concerning eloquence, by the late archbifhop of 
 Carabray. 
 
 la
 
 122 H U N D R E D O P 
 
 In 1756 the Rev. Thomas Hovvfe, jun. the prefcnt 
 reclor, had it of the gift of the crown. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptift, 
 who had a guild kept in it to his honor. The recldr 
 had a houfe and nine acres of glebe when Norwich 
 Doomfday-book was made; it was valued at eleven- 
 marks, and the prior of the Holy Trinity at Ipfwich 
 had a portion of tithes valued at 325. per annum ; 
 the village paid clear to every tenth il. 135. it now 
 {lands in the king's books by the name of Morn- 
 ingthorpe rcclory, valued at 7!. but being fwi>rn of 
 the clear yearly value of 45!. it is difcharged of firft- 
 fruits and tenths, and is capable of augmentation. 
 
 The temporals belonging to Bury abbey here were 
 affigned to the ufe of the facrift of that monaftery, 
 and were taxed at 45. 6d. 1 he prior of Dunmow, 
 in Effex, had a mill, lands, and rents, of 355. sd. per 
 annum. The temporals of the prior of Norwich 
 were taxed at 55. lid. and thofe of the prior of Wy- 
 raondham abbey at 7d. 
 
 There is a penfion of iSs. a year paid by the rec- 
 tor to the re&or of Stratton St. Michael ; and in 1612 
 we find another penfion of 6s. Sd. per annum was 
 paid out of this reclory to the rectory of Stratton St. 
 Michael. The lleeple is round, the church is leaded, 
 and the chancel tiled. 
 
 There is an altar-monument in the fouth part of 
 the chancel, For John Roope, gent, of this parifh, 
 who died February 11, 1686, aged 77; with his 
 arms. 
 
 In the church is a memorial, For Francis Ha- 
 mond,gcnt. December 7, 1687. 
 
 A black
 
 D E P W A D E. 12$ 
 
 A black marble in the chancel, In memory of John 
 Roope, jun. gent. June 30, 1685. Elizabeth Roope, 
 icife of John Roope, gent, died Nov. 15, 1680. 
 
 A black marble hath an inscription, and two 
 fhields: I. Garnifli impaling Ruclge, or Rugge. 
 2. Dilto impaling So a me ; John Garntys, of Boy ~ 
 land-hull, cjq. who dud December 15, 1661; as alf& 
 Charles Garners, of ~Boyland-hall, efq. (father of the faid 
 John Garncys,) andfome time high Jher iff of this county, 
 who died Jan 30, 1657, in the 8gth year of his age. 
 Many others of this family are interred here. 
 
 Againft the north chancel wall is a mural monu~ 
 ment, with this : John Howe, efq. died in i 737. 
 He was a pious man, and tfie world the better for him. 
 - Hovvfe impaling Keddington. 
 
 The late John Howfe, efq. refide'd at his feat in 
 this town ; he married Barbara Sidnor, daughter of 
 the Rev. Mr. Thomas Sidnor, re&or-of Hempflead, 
 and vicar of Honingham, who w : as defcended from 
 a brother of Richard Sedenore's, alias Sydnore, arch- 
 deacon of Tomes, in Devonfhire. The Rev. Tho- 
 mas Howes now refides here. 
 
 In 1429 John Howes, efq. did homage to Bury 
 abbey for his eftates in Afhfield; in Suffolk. 
 
 There is a mural monument again ft the fouth 
 chancel wall, For John Wormall, gent, of this parifh, 
 Jan. 4, 1729, aged 55, and others of his family. 
 
 Nine coats quartered : i. Garnifli; 2. Ramfey; 3. 
 Wellytham ; 4. Ken ton ; 5. Fraunce ; 6. Denfton ; 
 7. Waunflon; 8. Toppesfield ; 9. Church. Gar- 
 nifli
 
 124 HUNDRED OF 
 
 nifh with a crefcent impales Berney. Ditto impaling 
 Tirrel. Ditto impaling on a chev. 5 martlets. 
 
 On a white mural marble monument, with the arms 
 of Goftlin and Garnifh, on a coat of pretence, To the 
 memory of Dams Mary Gojllin, daughter of John Gar- 
 nijli, of Boy land-Hall, in the county of Norfolk, cfq. 
 jljltr and coheirefs of Wentwcrth Garneys, efq. who died 
 January' '23, 1723, in the 6gth ytar of her age ; Jhc 
 left ijfue one fon, Charles, and one daughter, who mar- 
 ried fir John Bendijh, of Steeple- Bumpfiede, in the county, 
 of Effex. Alfo near this place lieth the body of her huf- 
 band, fir William Gojllin, knt. who was alderman and 
 Jhcrijj of the city of London. 
 
 There is a town-houfe, and twenty yards of land 
 in length, and fourteen yards in breadth, held of 
 Mourningthorpe, or Thorpe-hall manor; and a mef- 
 fuage and thirteen acres and an half of land, of which 
 three acres and an half lie in Shelton-field, and the 
 reft in this parifh, the clear yearly profits of which 
 is to be laid out about the repairs and ornaments of 
 Mourningthorpe church. 
 
 The honor of Richmond extends hither, and did 
 fo at the conqueft ; for Alan earl of Richmond had 
 a freeman, and other fervices here, valued at 45. per 
 annum. 
 
 MOURNINGTHORPE, or THORPE-HALL MANOR, 
 pafifed in the Vaux's, who held it of the abbot of 
 Bury at one fee ; the abbot always being fuperior 
 lord held a leet, which at the diflblution vefted in 
 the crown, and was granted to the Shcltons, and ad- 
 ded to the manor, which was fettled by fine, levied 
 in 1186 on Henry, fon ofjoceline, who had it of 
 the Vaux's by the abbot's confent; and in 1198 
 
 Henry
 
 D E P W A D E. 125 
 
 Henry fettled it on the de Shimplings, in which fa- 
 mily it continued long, all of them releafing to the 
 abbots all right in the advowfon. In 1202 fome of 
 this family had aflumed the firname of Thorpe*, 
 from this his manor. In 1274 the heir of Roger de 
 Shimpling had affize of bread and ale, and free-war- 
 ren allowed to the manor; and in 1286 had view of 
 frank-pledge of all his tenants in Mourningthorpe, 
 to be held in the prefence of the bailiff of the hun- 
 dred, paying the king by him i 2d. a year, and alfo 
 aflize of bread and ale, and waif; and in 1287 held 
 it at one fee of John de Vallibus, or Vaux, of Tharf- 
 ton. In 1363 Ifabel Shimpling held the third part in 
 dower, and conveyed it to John de Eafthall, on con- 
 dition to marry her ; but he not performing his pro- 
 mile, flie was forced to fue for her lands again'; and 
 in an aclion brought in 1401, it appeared, that Roger 
 Shimpling died feifed of this, and Shimpling, and 
 left three daughters and heireffes ; Ifabel, married to 
 John Kirtling; Katherine, to William Ellingham ; 
 and Joan ; to whom this manor was allotted in 141 2. 
 It was foon afterwards, in 1412, purchafed by the 
 Sheltons, and continued in that family till fir Ralph 
 Shelton, knt. fold it to theGarneys, of Bpy land-ball, 
 in this parifli, and ever fince it hath been united to 
 Boyland-hall, in Mourningthorpe; for at the Con- 
 queror's furvey Boiel andt was a feparate villd, and 
 afterwards was united, part of it to Fritton ;, and the 
 greater part to this town. Torn, the Dane, owned 
 
 it 
 
 * This family, though the manor went to the Shimplings, 
 continued here, and had a good eftate. In 1274 Walter de 
 Mcringthorpe, and his father, had free-warren to their eftate 
 here. 
 
 f- Boieland, Boifland, or the woody land. 
 
 J Theftileof Fritton court runs, Fritton and Boyland cum 
 Fritton ; and Boyland, in Mourningihorpe, extended into 
 Fritron.
 
 T 2 6 H U N D R fc D O F 
 
 it in the time of Edward the Confeffbr, when the 
 demefnes and manor were worth 205. and Ralph 
 Bainard had it at the Conqueror's furvey, when it 
 was worth 408. a year, and had the foe and fac be- 
 longing to it, with lect, and all other jurifdidions ; 
 and it palled in this family till they fold it, about 
 1 190, to Ralph, who fettled here, and took the name 
 of Boyland from this place. Sir Richard de Boy- 
 land built Boyland-hall, in Briffingham, and fettled 
 there, and from his time it patted in that family, and 
 continued with Boyland-hall, in Briffingham, till 
 about 1334, and then it was purchafed by John Gar- 
 ricy, late of Mendlefham, in Suffolk, and joined to 
 Mourningthorpe manor, which he purchafed as be- 
 fore. 
 
 The family of the Garneys, or Garnifhes, is, and 
 hath been many ages, efleemed one of the principal 
 families of the county. 
 
 In 1384 Robert Garneys was one of the lords of 
 Soham-nall manor, in Barford. 
 
 William Garneys, efq. of Geldeflon, married Eli- 
 zabeth, daughter of fir Ralph Bigot, of Stockton, 
 km. and died feifed in fee of the manors of Geldef- 
 ton, Kirby-Cane, and Stockton, in Norfolk, held of 
 the abbot of St. Edmund's Bury, in 1428. 
 
 Thomas Garneys, of Kenton-hall, in Suffolk, eldefr, 
 fon of fir Peter Garneys, km. married Margaret, 
 daughter and coheirefs of Hugh Fraurice, of Gil- 
 fard's-hall, in Suffolk, who out-lived him, and re- 
 married Thomas Peyton, of Ifelham, efq and of 
 Peyton-hail, . in Boxford, in Suflolk: they had two 
 fons ; Richaid, his fccond fon, fettled at Mcrdlc- 
 Ihara, and married Elizabeth, daughter of William 
 
 Toppesfield,
 
 D E P W A D E. 
 
 127 
 
 Toppcsfield, by whom he had John Garneys, efq. 
 who having purchafed the manors of Mouvning- 
 ihorpe, a'nd Boyland-hall, as before, removed from 
 Mendlefliam, and fettled here; and by Urfula, his 
 wife, daughter of Thomas Bcrney, efq. of Reed- 
 ham, had four fonst, of which the eldeft was Ri- 
 chard Garneys, elq. of Boyland and Mendlefham, 
 who built the prefent fabric, called Boyland-hall'", 
 which he finifhed in 1571, as the date on the por- 
 tal fiiews, on which is the full coat of Garnifli, fup- 
 ported by two mermaids, and in the windows is his 
 motto, in which every word begins with a G. the 
 initial letter of his name, viz.Goddefs Grace Go- 
 Garncys. 
 
 In the hall windows are the arms of Garney quar- 
 tering the different families connected with them, be- 
 {ides others that are now defaced and loft. 
 
 Richard 
 
 f The fecond fon was fir Francis Garneys, knight of the 
 Rhodes. 
 
 * In 1352 there was- a chapel belonging to Boyland-hall, 
 called Mourn ingthorpe chapel. The prefent building is moated 
 i.n, and hath been a grand houfe. We are {hewn a painting 
 here of Henry VIII. with Edward VL at his right hand, and 
 queen Mary at his left, with thefe verfes on it : 
 
 Venitt Benenifli Patris mei , pojfidste regnum. 
 
 1. The kyngdom of Heven be Chrift, 'leys refembled to this 
 
 noble kyng 
 With riches inroded mercy for to lern, and to have com- 
 
 paflion. 
 One of another, after goddes FafTyon. 
 
 2. The kyng here hys fervantes before hym dothe cali, 
 Accountes for to make, of hys goodes grete^and fmalle ; 
 Among them ys one, that ten thowfand talants owght, 
 But wherewyth for to pay, the man had right ncnvght 
 
 .'3. Wherfor the kyng commawnded that he fhuld be folde, 
 His wyfee, children, and goodes, payment to be tolde, 
 On knees he afked refpight, and payment promyfythe, 
 The Lords do relealFe hym, and all his dett fyrgyvythe.
 
 i2S HUNDRED OF 
 
 Richard Garneys, efq. married Margery, daughter 
 of James Tirrell, efq. of Columbine-hall, in Suf- 
 folk ; but dying without iffue, all his inheritable 
 lands went to Nicholas Garneys, efq. of Kenton, de- 
 fcended from another branch of this family. 
 
 Nicholas Garneys, of Kenton, efq. fole heir of the 
 family, was high fheriff for Suffolk in 1592, .arid his 
 eftate in Kenton, Mourningthorpe, Ringsfield, Redif- 
 ham, &:c. was above 1200!. per arm. he married 
 Ann, daughter of Charles Clere, efq. of Stokefby, 
 in the hundred of Weft Flegg, and dying about 
 1599, left fix fons* and five daughters : I. Charles 
 Garneys, of Kenton, efq. the eldeft, removed to 
 Boyland-hall, and fettled there ; he was high fheriff 
 of Norfolk in 1652, and married Elizabeth, daughter 
 of John Wentworth, efq. fitter of fir John Went- 
 worth, of Somerly-Town, in Suffolk, knt. the great 
 Jawyer, who bought it of Jernegan ; and on her 
 brother's death, without iffue, the faid Charles had it 
 in her right, as one of the coheireffes to fir John ; he 
 was buried at Mourningthorpe in 1657. 
 
 John Garneys, of Boyland-hall, and Somerley- 
 town, only fon of Charles Garneys, and Elizabeth 
 Wentworth,, had two wives ; firft, Ann, daughter of 
 William Rugge, of Felmingham, gent, by whom he 
 had Ann, who died unmarried, and was buried here 
 in 1688, and Thomas Garneys, efq. of Redifham, who 
 died without iffue. His fecond wife was Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Stephen Soame, alderman of London, 
 by whom he had three fons and five daughters ; he 
 
 died 
 
 * From Clere Garneys, efq. 6th fon of Nicholas Garneys, 
 efq. of Kenton and Boyland-hall, is defcended the prefent 
 Charles Garncys, efq. of "Hedenhaai, who was high (herrff of 
 Norfolk in 1777-
 
 D E P W A D E. 129 
 
 died in 1661, aged 54, and was buried here; and 
 Wentworth Garneys, efq. his eldeft fon, fucceeded 
 him, and married for his firft wife, Ann, daughter of 
 fcr Charles Gaudy, of Crowftiall, in Debenham, knt. 
 who died in 1681, and is buried here, but left no 
 child ; and for his fecond wife, Mary, daughter of 
 fir Thomas Abdy, of Felix-hall, in Kelveden, in Ef- 
 fex, but had no iffue ; he died in 1685, and is bu- 
 ried here, leaving Boy land -ball, and this eftate, to 
 his lifters, and it is now in the heirefs of his fourth 
 fifter, Martha, then married to Robert Raworth, of 
 London, merchant; (he died in 1694, and is buried 
 here, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, and three 
 fons, Henry, Robert, and John, and it is now, fays 
 Mr. Blomefield, in William Drake, efq. L. L. D. of 
 Shardelowes, in Bucks, member in parliament for 
 Agmondefham, in that county, who in 1 746 married 
 the heirefs of the Raworths, a young lady of a large 
 fortune. 
 
 The manor, called HOO-HALL, BLOMFFIELD'S, and 
 SEAMAN'S, from the names of the feveral owners, be- 
 longed to fir William de Hoe, knt. in 1572 ; and in 
 1479 to Thomas Hoe, efq. who infeoffed fir Thomas 
 Arundel, knt. and others in it, and Worthing manor. 
 In 1565 John Blomefield conveyed it to Philip Tir- 
 rei, efq. and he to Richard Garneys, efq. and it haih 
 been ever fince joined to Boyland-hall manor, in 
 Mourningthorpe, and Fritton ; the fciie of it is be- 
 tween Mourningthorpe and Hempnall, into which it 
 extended^ as alfo into Siraiton, Tafburgh, and Sax- 
 lingham. 
 
 S HELTON, or, as it is wrote in Doom fday -book, 
 SCELTUNA. This town in the Confeffor's time be- 
 longed to bifhop Stigand, and was held of him by 
 Aldwin. or Ailwin ; but at the Conqueror's furvey i:
 
 i3o HUNDRED OF 
 
 was in three parts*; the head, or principal manor, 
 called afterwards Over-hall, belonged to Roger Bigot, 
 who infeoffed Durand in it; for which reafun it was 
 always held of the earl of Norfolk's honor of Forn- 
 cet at one fee: it was then a league long;, and half a 
 league broad, paid gd. gelt, or tax, and had a church 
 and fixteen acres ef glebe, the advowfon of which 
 then folely belonged to this manor; but when the 
 tithes of the manor, called afterwards Nether-hall, 
 were joined to it, the lords of that manor prefented 
 to one turn, and thofe of this to another; but when 
 the moieties were feparated, and one of them given 
 by the Sheltons to Langley abbey, and the other re- 
 mained with Nether-hall manor till that fell into the 
 Sheltons, then the turn that belonged to the convent 
 being fold to John Jenny, fen. efq. it paffed with Int- 
 wood and Hardwick till it was fold byWm. Grefham, 
 cfq. to the Gleanes, and they joined the alternate 
 prefentation to their manor at Hardwick, with which 
 it now remains. 
 
 NETHER -HALL MANOR at the conqueft was held by 
 Nigel, of Robert Fitz-Corbun, and was then worth 
 2os. per ann. it paffed afterwards with Boyland's 
 manor, in Scole, till 1322, when it belonged to fir 
 Ralph Hemenhale, knt. and before the extinction of 
 that family was vefted in the Sheltons, truflees, and 
 ever lince have been joined to their 
 
 MANOR of OVER-HALL, which went as the capital- 
 manor of Scole to the Sheltons very early ; which 
 family, though they took their name from this vil- 
 lage, were anciently featqd at Stradbrooke, in Suf- 
 folk. Nicholas de Shelton was then one of the re- 
 belling 
 
 * There was a third part which belonged to the manor -of 
 Forncet. : i
 
 D E P W A D E. 131 
 
 belling barons again ft king John, and upon the fur- 
 render of Framlingham-caftle, in Suffolk, he fub- 
 niitted, and gave his fon, Robert, as a pledge for his 
 future allegiance. This family had large inheritance 
 here and in Suffolk. 
 
 Sir Robert de Shelton, knt. had livery of them 
 all in 1286, and had liberty of free-warren allowed 
 to them in eire. In 1502 he had fees in Mundham, 
 Shelton, Bedingham, and Scole; and the manor of 
 Brent-Illeigh, in Suffolk. 
 
 In 1345 fir Ralph Shelton was lord. In 1346 
 Edward III. granted him his letters patent, fignifying 
 that he was in the king's own company in the battle 
 of Creffy, and there received the order of knight- 
 hood, the king pardoning him the contempt and pe- 
 nalty which he had incurred for not taking that or- 
 der upon him before, when his majcfly iflued his 
 proclamation, that all thofe who had 40!. a year in 
 land fhould take that order upon them. -In 1355, 
 on going beyond fea with Edward III. he had his 
 letters of protection, and being in the battle of Poic- 
 tiers, he took John Rocourt prifoner, for whom he ob- 
 tained a fafe conducl in 1336. This fir Ralph was 
 coufin and heir of ftr Ralph Burgullion, of Kerdit- 
 tone, and dying in 1372, Nov. 17, was buried in 
 the chancel of St. Mary's church at Shelton, and his 
 grave-ftone lieth in the midft of it, with his effigy in 
 compleat armor. He left fir Ralph Shelton, jun. 
 'km. his fon and heir, who married Alice, daughter 
 of fir Thomas Uvedale, of Tacolnefton, knt. la 
 he attended John duke of Lancafter in his 
 expedition into Spain, and was at the famous 
 battle of Nazarett. He was in the voyage of St. 
 Maloes de L'iile, and in that into Scotland with Ri- 
 cliard U. and in that into Spain where fir Hugh 
 I Haftings
 
 1 3 2 HUNDRED OP 
 
 Haflings died: fir Ralph died April 25, 1424, as 
 the infcription on his tomb in Great Snoring church 
 faith. 
 
 He was fucceeded by his brother. William Shelton, 
 efq. who died feiled, in 1420, of the manors of 
 Over-hall, and Nether-hall, in right of his wife, 
 Catherine, daughter of Simon Barrett, who lies bu- 
 ried in Shelton chancel, Augufl %, I4 r )6. There 
 are arms of Shelton and Burgullion quartered, and 
 Shelton and-Barrett impaled. 
 
 He had the manor of Barret's, in Hardwick, and 
 was alfo poffeiled at his death of the manors of Snor- 
 ing Magna, Thursford, and Burgullion's, in Kerdif- 
 tone, as heir of the Burgullion family, and of Brent- 
 Illeigh, in Suffolk, all which he left to John, his fon 
 and heir*, who had livery of his 1-ands in 1427, and 
 died in 1430, leaving Ralph his fon and heir. 
 
 In 1500 Margaret Shelton, of Shelton, late the 
 wife of fir Ralph Shelton, knt. willed to be buried in 
 Shelton chancel, by her hufband, in " a tumbe which 
 is ordeyned to that intent." She gave the tenements 
 in Mouringthorpe, called Roper's, with the appurte- 
 nances, to pay the fifteenths for the towns of Shel- 
 ton and Fritton. Sir John Shelton, their fon and 
 heir, was high fheriff of Norfolk in 1504, and was 
 made knight of the bath at the coronation of Henry 
 VIII. In 1512 a pardon was granted to this fir John 
 Shelton, who married Ann, daughter of fir William 
 Boleyn, of Blickling, knt. and died December ,21, 
 1539, .in the 6sd year of his age, and is buried un- 
 der 
 
 '* In the eait window of the north ailc are the effigies of 
 Ralph Shelton, and Margaret his wife, in furcoats of their 
 arms. This Ralph was high fheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk hi 
 
 -
 
 D E P W A D E. 133 
 
 ^er a tomb .in Shelton chancel. On the fouth fide 
 of the tomb are thefe arms: Shelton, Illeigh, Burgul- 
 Jion, and Sbelton quartered in the nombieil. Cock- 
 field, Shelton, and Boleyn impaled. On a north fide, 
 Shelton and Boleyn impaled. Boleyn and Butler 
 earl of Ormond quartered. 
 
 The eafl window of this chancel was glazed at fir 
 John's charge, and in it is his own effigy, in a praying 
 poflure, with his arms on his furcoat, and that of his 
 wife, with Boleyn's asms. 
 
 Sir John, fon and heir of fir John Sheho:i knt. was 
 high fheriflf of Norfolk in 1522, and again in 1525,'* 
 and had livery of the manors of Shelton, Stratton- 
 Sayes, Reef ham-Burgullions, Scole, B^ dingham. Snor- 
 ing, Callowes, &c. in Norfolk, and of Brent-Illeigh, 
 and Milding, in Suffolk. He manied Margaret, 
 daughter of fir Henry Parker, knt. fon and heir of 
 Henry lord Morley, and was one of thofe gentle- 
 men that joined queen Mary at Kenninghall, in order 
 to advance her to the crown. He is buried under an 
 altar-monument in the chance', on the north fide, 
 November, 1558; with the arms, of Shelton and his 
 quarterings; Shelton impaling Morley, Woodhoufe, 
 Sec. 
 
 Sir Ralph Shelton, knt. high fheriff of Norfolk in 
 1570, had livery of his father's inheritance: he mar- 
 ried two wives ; firfl, Mary, daughter of fir William 
 Woodhoufe, of Waxham, knt. Secondly, Ann, 
 daughter of Thomas Barrow, efq. of Barningham, in 
 Suffolk, who afterwards married fir Charles Corn- 
 wallis. He lies buried on the north fide of the altar, 
 June 15, 1568; with the arms of Shelton, Illeigh, 
 Burgullion.andCockfield, quartered, impaling Wood- 
 houfe, of Waxham. 
 
 I 3 Thomas
 
 i 3 4 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Thomas Shclton, efq.'" his deleft fon and heir, 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Flowerdew, 
 efq. baron of the Exche^u-r, and was lord of Shel- 
 ton, and gentleman-porter of the Tower; he died, 
 and was fuccceded by his brother, fir Ralph Shelton, 
 knt. who married Dorothy, daughter of fir Robert 
 Jermyn, of Rufhbrook, in Suffolk, knt. He was 
 killed at the Ifle of Rhe, in France, and dying with- 
 out iffue, Henry Shelton, only furviving fon of fir 
 Ralph Shelton, by Ann Bariovv, his fecond wife, in- 
 herited, who was a captain in the low countries fixty 
 years ; he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thorras 
 Jermyn, of'Depden, in Suffolk, e(q. and dying Oc- 
 tober 8, 1634, at Barningham, was buried here, and 
 was fucceeded by his fon, Maurice Shelton, of Shel- 
 ton, efq. and of Barningham, in Suffolk, which he 
 had as heir to Ann Barrow aforefaid, his grandmo- 
 ther; he married Elizabeth, daughter of fir Robert 
 Kemp, of Giffing, bart. and is buried at Shelton 
 leaving four fons and four daughters. 
 
 Maurice Shelton, the elded fon, married Martha, 
 daughter of Robert Appleton, of Great Walding- 
 field, in Suffolk, efq. and dying without iffue male, 
 was buried at Shekon, and the eft ate went to his fe- 
 cond brother, Henry Shelton, of Barningham, in 
 Suffolk, efq. who lies buried under a black marble 
 in Shelton chancel, with the arms of Sheltcn impal- 
 ing Churchman : he married Hefter, daughter of fir 
 John Churchman, of Illington, knt. and died May 
 24, 1690, eetat. fu<z $6. 
 
 He was fucceeded by his eldeft fon, Maurice Shel- 
 LOIJ, of Barningham, in Suffolk, efq. and fince of 
 
 Bury 
 
 * His brother, John Shelton, was at the facking of Cadiz in 
 the time of queen Elizabeth ; was afterwards knighted, and 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward lord Cromwell.
 
 D E P W A D E. 
 
 135 
 
 Bury St. Edmund's, who fold the manors of Over- 
 hall and Neihcr-hall, in this parifh, with the alternate 
 right of prefentation to the re&ory of Shelion, to 
 the late John Howfe, of Norwich, efq. 
 
 To thefe manors belong leets, and all royalties, 
 with waif and ftray. The fines are at the will of 
 the lord, the eldeft fon is heir, and they give no 
 dower. 
 
 The church is dedicated to Sr. Mary, was firft va- 
 lued at fourteen, and afterwards at fifteen marks, and 
 was in medieties; the abbot of Langley was pa- 
 tron of one, and that reclor had fixteen acres of land, 
 but no houfe; fir Richard Boyland was patron of the 
 other, having purchafed it in 12-7 of Roger de 
 Tafburgh ; and the re&or of that had a houfe and 
 eighteen acres of land. The whole now lies as one 
 rectory in the king's books, valued at 81. and the vil- 
 lage ufed to pay 2!. 17$. to every tenth. The prefent 
 fabric was built by fir Ralph Shelton, knt.* and is a 
 fine uniform brick building, having a nave, two. 
 ailes, a chancel leaded, a fquare tower, and one bell. 
 His name is exprefled often in the windows, viz. 
 Raf, with an efcallop (hell and a tun, which cannot 
 fail of making Sheltun. There is now a handfome 
 new-built parfonage-houfe, and above thirty acres of 
 glebe. 
 
 The re&ors of the foulh part, or Shelton mediety, 
 and the north part, or Langley mediety, were prefented 
 by each lord, in turn. 
 
 In 1445, the two medieties being void, and the 
 
 convent having fold their mediety to the Sheltons, 
 
 I 4 they 
 
 * He alfo built the hall.
 
 136 HUNDRED OF 
 
 they were perpetually united June 15, by confent of 
 the patons, the bifliop referving double fees on all in- 
 flitutions. 
 
 The re&or in 1518 was fir John Shelton, prieft, 
 whom we fhould have taken to have been the poet 
 laureat of that name, had it not been that this man 
 died in 1523, and the laureat lived to 1529. 
 
 In 1746 the Rev. Mr. John Salmon had this rec- 
 tory of his father's gift, who purchafed this turn of 
 the late John Howfe, efq. lord of Shelton ; and the 
 next turn belongs to Barret's manor, in Hardwick, 
 which Edwaid Bacon, efq. of Earlhara, now enjoys. 
 
 There was a grand antique manfion, or manor- 
 houfe, here, built by fir Ralph Shelton, in a fquare 
 form, with an out-fide imbattled, and a turret at each 
 corner, moated in, with a grand gate-fpace at the en- 
 trance, and a turret at each corner of it. In the 
 windows and cielings were many coats of the matches 
 of the Shehons, 8cc. but the whole is now ruined. 
 The demefnes and the park, 8cc. were fold by the 
 Shehons from the manors, as we are informed, to fir 
 Robert Houghton, knt. ferjeant at law. and one of 
 the juflices of the King's-bench, who died in 1623 
 feifed of the manors of Leffley, Buxhall, Bretten- 
 ham, andHecham, in Suffolk, and their leets. This 
 judge was born at Gumhorpe, in Norfolk, Auguft 3, 
 1548, and was buried February 6, 1623, in the 
 church of St. Dun flan in the Weft, London, for 
 whom there is a noble cenotaph in this chancel, 
 with his effigy in his judge's robes, and thofe of 
 his wife, and fon, kneeling on the top of it, and 
 an infcription ; with Houston's, arms quartering 
 Richers.
 
 D E P W A D E. 137 
 
 A black marble in the church, To William Pearfe, 
 gent. Aug. 3, 1711, aged 80. Elizabeth, wife of 
 Charles Pearfe, gent. Aug. 10, 1714, aged 34. 
 
 In the windows of this church and chancel were 
 all the matches of the Shclion family put up, many 
 of which flill remain; and the fame were in thje win- 
 dows, and on the cielings in bhelton-hall, and are 
 the fame exactly as thofe in Carrowe-abbey, only the 
 impalement of Burgullion is there omitted, it being 
 loft. 
 
 Here are in the church alfo the following arms : 
 Witchingham, Howe, iScutumbre, Heydon, and Bo- 
 leyn. Cahhorpe quartering Burgullion. Dovedale 
 impaling gul. a chev. erm. between three delis's or. 
 Fitz-Walter and Shelton. Stapleton and Hingham. 
 Clere and Dovedale. Clere and Ha,ukforth. How- 
 ard, Bedingfield, and Shelton. Boleyn, Butler, and 
 Ormond. Boleyn, Hawe, and Witchingham. Vere 
 quartering Howard and Plays. Shelton and Plays. 
 Shelton quartering Clere and Dovedale. Yelverton 
 and Brewfe. Braunch and ( Bardolph. Lowdham 
 and Shelton. Brewfe and Shardelowe. Mundeford 
 and Barrett. Knevet and Shelton. 
 
 Many of the arms were in the chapel in Shelton- 
 hall, where the feveral lodging-rooms were called 
 after the names of thofe families whofc arms were 
 placed in them, as Morley's chamber, Howard's 
 chamber, Sec. 
 
 There was formerly a manufcript kept at the hall, 
 which had a drawing of the houfe in it, and the arms 
 of fuch families as the Sheltons married into, and 
 many of the quarterings of thofe families. The 
 
 grand
 
 j 3 8 HUNDRED OF 
 
 grand coat of Shelton there was, Shelton quartering 
 Illcigh, Burgullion, Cockfield, and Barrett, quartered. 
 
 The impalements are forty-feven, viz. Shelton and 
 Fitz-Hammond, Ditto and Gelding, Greeting, Vaux, 
 Harling, Martin, Illeigh, Plais, Bures, Tendring, 
 Winter, Mellers, UfFurd, Thoringion, Burgullion, 
 Cockfield, Lowdham, Dovedale, Hevcningham, a 
 lefs between three delis's or. Mohun, Peyton, Staple- 
 ton, Cahhorpe, Poynings, Gilbert, Bairett, Lewes, 
 Brewfe, Thorpe, of Afhwelhhorpe, St. Philebert, 
 Delabre, Talbot earl of Sbrewfbury, Clere, Notting- 
 ham, Marke, Broome, Bedingfield, Boleyn, Wode- 
 houfe. of Kimberley, Nottingham, Parker lord Mor- 
 ley, Woodhoufe, of VVaxham, Cromwell, Barrow, 
 Appleyard, and Jermyn. 
 
 Other matches of Shelton in the fame book are, 
 Bernardiflon impaling Shelton, Lowdham impales 
 Shelton, as do the following names, viz. Wemwonh, 
 Fitz-Waker, Uffcrd, Heveningham, Bedingfield, Bo- 
 Jeyn, Knyvet, Denny, Godfalue, Scudamore, Wal- 
 finghara, Hunt, Lewes, Joceline, Afke, Wodehoufe, 
 of Kimberley, Stanton, Nappier, Bacon, Southwell, 
 and Fcrnley ; fo that hence it appears that gentlemen 
 of all thefe families have mairied into this family. 
 
 There are alfo the arms of Shelton, with a crefcent, 
 and other differences for younger brothers, impaling 
 twenty-four coats, which (hew that the younger bro- 
 thers of the family matched into thofe families. 
 
 . We find two final! manors in this, and the adjoin- 
 ing towns of Hempnall, Fritton, 8cc. called Blome- 
 field's, and Seaman's, as the abuttals of the lands in 
 Shelton court-books mention ; and the eftate, late 
 the Houghton's, being the park, &c. vvhich Charles 
 
 Houghton
 
 D E P W A D E. 13, 
 
 Houghton owned in 1665, belongs now fas xve arc 
 informed) to fir Edmund Bacon, of Raveningham, 
 bart. 
 
 STRATTON, properly called STRATON, or STRA- 
 TI' M, the paved highway, or (beet, it being the di- 
 reel road that led to the neighbouring Roman burgh, 
 or foitification, ad Taum, now called Tafburgh, and 
 thence to their ftation, Ca/lrum, or Camp, called 
 Cadre, or Caftor. In thc.fe early times the whole of 
 the three villages, or parifhes, that pafs novv by this 
 name, was one only, and afterwards was often called 
 Eftratuna, the ftreet at the Ee, or water, which novv 
 parts this from Tafburgh ; it is commonly called 
 Long Stratton, the bounds being fo large, and the 
 Stratum aforefaid running in a (trait line fuch a long 
 way through it. 
 
 It originally belonged to the Eafl Anglian kings, 
 and the (uperior juritdiclion over the whole remained 
 in the crown, till the Conqueror gave it (Eftratuna) 
 to Alan earl of Richmond, who held it at the furvey, 
 and it hath ever fmce attended the honor of Rich- 
 mond, and belongs to it at this day. 
 
 Formerly there were three parifhes, two of which, 
 St. Mary, and St. Michael, are in being ; the third, 
 St. Peter, has been dilapidated fince Henry VII. The 
 whole was then four miles and three furlongs in 
 length, and two miles and four furlongs in breadth, 
 and paid 2",d. to the gelt, or tax. The earl had 
 eight free-men that held lands, which were valued 
 with, and efteemed part of his manor of Cofteffey; 
 and feventeen free-men, See. were fubjecl to his jurif- 
 di&ion here; the honor held two turns, or fuperior 
 leets, in every year, to which all the tenants of the 
 other manors were obliged to do iuit and fervice, as 
 
 well
 
 i 4 o H U N D R E D OF 
 
 well as to the three feveral leets belonging to the 
 three caj ital manors of the three different parifhes ; 
 and very anciently there was a weekly market held 
 here, belonging to Richmond honor ; but upon fomc 
 difputes between the lord of Stratton-hall, and the 
 leffee of the honor, jufl before the Reformation, the 
 market, as having no peculiar juftification for holding 
 it, was totally difufed, and hath been fo to this 
 day. 
 
 In 1435 J onn duke of Bedford, lord of Svvaffham, 
 and of the honor of Richmond, died feifed of the 
 fuperior court here, called " the Honor Turn/' and 
 the ftile of it was thus: " The turn and general 
 court of the king's honor of Richmond," held at 
 Stratton, April 30, 1644, when a churchwarden and 
 four men out of each parifh appeared to do the fuit 
 arid fervice for the feveral parifhes of Stratton, 
 Mourningthorpe, Carleton, Tibbenham, Moukon, 
 VVaclon, Tafburgh, Fritton, Keckleton, in Forncet, 
 and Bunwell, in all which places it appears that the 
 honor had leets and royalties over the commons, and 
 fuperior jurifdi&ion over the feveral lords. 
 
 Sigebert, king of the Eaft Angles, on his erection 
 of the bifhopric, gave the fouthern part of the towa 
 to Felix the firft bifhop of the Eaft Angles, and fo it 
 became part of the bifhopric ; and in the time of the 
 Confeffor bifhop Ailmar held it as fuch, when there 
 were lands, 8cc. and twelve free-men, whofe rents 
 and fervices were valued at aos. per ann. and at the 
 conqueft Walter the Deacon, and one Ralph, held it 
 of the bifhopric, in right of which they had a leet, 
 the half of which belonged to them, and the other 
 half to the king and the earl ; and the whole of the 
 profits of this manor \vas then worth 61. per annum. 
 The mother church of St. Mary the Virgin always 
 
 belonged
 
 D . E P W A D E. 141 
 
 belonged to it, which was probably founded by one 
 of the bifhops that owned it, and that before Ail- 
 mar's time; and the fucceffors of this Ralph owned 
 the part which afterwards was called Stratton-hall 
 manor, and was held of the barony of the bifhopric 
 of Norwich till that was taken from the fee by 
 Henry V11I. and annexed to the crown, and fince it 
 is held of the crown in right of that ancient barony. 
 
 That part called Stratton St. Michael was held by 
 the Confeffor till he gave it one of his thanes, or no- 
 blemen, and it: was worth 303. per ann. it was 
 rifen to 405. value at the conqueft, and a leet belong- 
 ed to it, when Robert Corbutio, or Fitz-Corbun, 
 held it, and infeoffed it in one Hunfrid, or Hutnfrey, 
 the anceftor of the family, afterwards firnamed de 
 Stratton, lords of the manors here, afterwaids called 
 Rhees's, and Welholme's, which laft was a part of 
 the former, granted off by the Strattons, and though 
 they extended into the other part?, lay chiefly in 
 Stratton St. Michael, the church of which, in all 
 probability, was firfl founded by Hunfrid aforefaid, 
 and the advowfon attended the manor. 
 
 The third part belonged to the crown till theCon- 
 queror gave it to Roger Bigot, who added one fin all 
 part of it to his manor of Forncet, to which the ad- 
 vowfon of Stratton St. Peter always belonged, fo 
 that it is likely this earl was founder of that church ; 
 but the chief part he granted off, and that had the 
 leet of all its tenants, and was afterwards called 
 Saye's, or the manor of Stratton St. Peter. 
 
 There was a fmall part that belonged to the abbot 
 of Bury's manor of Mourningthorpe, and another 
 to St. Etheldred's manor of Pulham, which belonged 
 to Ely monaftery and fee. 
 
 Hie
 
 142 HUNDRED OF 
 
 The manors, called Sturmyn's and Snapehalt, 
 were firft fevered from Stratton-hall, into which thev 
 fell again, and there continue. 
 
 Thus having fixed the origin of the feveral manors 
 and parifhes, we (hall treat of them in their order ; 
 
 aucl firfl of 
 
 Si R ATTON-HALL, Or SxRATTON St. MARY'S MANOR, 
 
 belonged to Philip Malherbe one of the lords of Ta- 
 colnefton ; and in the time of Richard I. was held at 
 one knight's fee of the bifhop of Norwich, as of the 
 barony of the fee. 
 
 Roger Malherbc, who lived at Tacolneflon, and 
 was a benefaclor to Wymondham abbey, died fcifed 
 of it, and it went with one of his daughters and heir- 
 efles to Gilbert de Bourne, who occurs lord and pa- 
 tron about 1273, anc * came an d fettled here; and in 
 1285 was returned as a gentleman of eftate that 
 was much above age, and ought to have been knight- 
 ed, but had not yet taken up that honor, for whick 
 he v/as fined, 
 
 In 1286 this Gilbert had free-warren allowed him, 
 waif, and view of frank-pledge, overall his tenants, 
 with the aflTizc of bread and ale, on condition that the 
 king's bailiff was always prefent at the leet, to fee that 
 none but the tenants of the manor did fuit there ; ht 
 had alfo a fair allowed him to be kept once a year, 
 Auguft 15. This fair was fiill g; anted by king 
 John, in the year 1207, to 'Roger de Stratton, who 
 gave that king one good palfrey to have his charter for 
 liberty to hold a fair yearly for two days at his ma- 
 nor of S(.ratton ; but it is to be obfcrved, that he was 
 lord of Saye's manor here, and that Boutne purchafed 
 the liberty from it, and added it to this manor ; it was 
 
 kep:
 
 D E P W A D E. 14^ 
 
 kept in a clofe oppofite to the iveft part of the 
 church-yafd, which is fh'll called the fair iond, or 
 land, but it hath been difufed many years. 
 
 In 1325 Ralph Malherbe claimed the manor 
 againft Roger de Bourne, and made out his title un- 
 der the claim fo well, that Roger fettled an annuity 
 of 40!. on him and his wife during their lives, for 
 their releafe. In 1331 he was a knight, and was 
 fucceeded by fir Nicholas de Bourne, knt. He died 
 without ifTue male. Margery, one of his daughters 
 and heirefTes, was firft wife to John de Marling; and 
 in 1336 Elizabeth, another daughter of fir Nicholas 
 Bourne, relcafed to John de Harling all her right in 
 this manor and advowfon, and in the advowfon of 
 Waclon St. Mary, and in all the Bournes eflates in 
 Wa&on, Tafburgh, Mourningthorpe, Moulton, 8cc. 
 referving an annuity of twenty marks to Robert Mo'-- 
 timer, and Margaret, his wife, who was widow of fir 
 Nicholas de Bourne, remarried to Mortimer ; he died, 
 feifed of this, and Sturmyn's and Snape-hall manors 
 here'*''; and from this time it patted with the manors 
 of Eaft Harling. till it came to the Bedingfields, of 
 Oxburgh. bv the marriage of fir Edmund Bedmg- 
 field with Margaret, daughter of fir Robert de Tud- 
 denham, and it continued in that family till fir Henry 
 Bcdingfield fold it to fir Edmund Reeve, lord chief 
 juflice of the common-pleas, who was preferred to 
 that high Ration March 14. 1638, and died March 
 27, 1647, and having no iffue, left his eftate to Au- 
 guftine Reeve, his brother, and he to his fon, Mr, 
 Henry Reeve, of Bracondale, who fold the manors', 
 &c. to the Rev. John Mallom, of Booton, at whofe 
 
 death 
 
 * Sturmyn's, Snape-hall, Welholmc's, and Rees's manor*, 
 were all in the Harling family, and have had the fame 
 as Bourne's, or Strattoa-hall, ever fince.
 
 144 HUNDRED OF 
 
 death they defcended to John Mai lorn, of Waclon 
 Magna, who left them to John Mallom, of Waclon, 
 cfq. who was lord: but the patronage of Stratton St. 
 Mary, which was appendant to this manor, was fold 
 by him, and his father, to Caius College, in Cam- 
 bridge, who are now patrons. 
 
 The united manors of Welholme's, and Rhees', of 
 which Stratton-hall is the manor-houfe, was after- 
 wards fold to John Ramey, efq. of Yarmouth, who 
 fold them to the prefent owner, the Rev. Randall 
 Burroughs. Mr. Burroughs has a mofl elegant and 
 delightful feat at the fouth end of the village, where 
 he reudcs. 
 
 The leet is held annually, at which the conftables 
 for Stratton St. Mary are always chofen, and the 
 leet-fee paid to the lord is 8d. 
 
 The cuftoms of this manor, as well as thofe of 
 the manors ofSturmer's, or Sturmyn's, Snape-hall, 
 Welholme's, and^Rhees', all which are now held with 
 this manor, are the fame, viz. all lands and tene- 
 ments defcend to the eldeft fon ; the fines are arbi- 
 trary, and they give no dower. The manor-houfe, 
 called Stratton-hall, and the demefncs, were not fold 
 with the manors, but were the eftate of the late John 
 Houghton, of Bramerton, efq. Round the manor- 
 houfe is a deep moat. 
 
 The church of St. Mary, commonly in old evi- 
 dences called Stratton cum Turn, viz. Stratton with, 
 the fteepfe, (by which it fhould feem, that anciently 
 the other two churches had none) was in the patron- 
 age of Gilbert dc Buurne when Norwich Doomf- 
 day-book was wrote ; the reclor had a houfe and 
 forty acres of giebe, now encreafed to fifty. 
 
 In
 
 D fe P W A D E. 145 
 
 In 161 2 return was made that a yearly penfion of 
 5bs. was paid on Michaelmas-day bv the re&or here, 
 to the reftor of Stratton St. Michael, which is now 
 duly paid". The reclory was valued firft at fourteen, 
 and afterwards at twenty marks, and (lands now thus 
 in the king's books: lol. Stratton Longa Marias R. 
 il. tenths and being undischarged, it pays firfl- 
 fruits and yearly tenths, and is not capable of aug- 
 mentation. 
 
 Edmund Crofs, reclor here, died in 1471, arid was 
 buried in the church before St. Mary's image, and 
 gave a good miflal, 3!. ios. to buy a crofs, and his 
 tenement, late Scot's, in this town, to the profit of 
 the town. 
 
 In 1603 the redlor returned anfvver, that he had in 
 the pariQi 180 commurlicants. 
 
 In 1766 the Rev. Charles Carver was prefented to 
 the reclory of Long Stratton St. Mary by the mailer 
 and fellows of Gonville arid Cams College, Cam- 
 bridge, p.j* 
 
 The prior of Thetford monks was taxed at 1 25. 
 to each tenth, for his temporals here. The abbot of 
 Langley for his 6d. The prior of Norwich at iGd- 
 obi and the whole parifh paid clear to each tenth, 
 without the taxation of the religious aforefaid, 
 61. 103. 
 
 There were two guilds here, the moft ancient one 
 
 was the guild held in honor of St. John the Bap- 
 
 tift. Sir Roger de Bourne, the founder, was en- 
 
 K dowed 
 
 * The college muft always prefent the fenior fellow. The 
 yearly value of the tithes are faid to be worth two hundred 
 pounds, befide* fwplice fees.
 
 146 HUNDREDOF 
 
 dowed with a houfe, called the Guild-hall, and half 
 an acre of ground thereto belonging in Siratton, which 
 being copyhold of Forncet manor, was feized by the 
 lord at the diffolution, and granted to be held by 
 copy of court-roll ; it was given in the time of 
 Henry VII. by Robert Barnard. 
 
 The half acre copyhold on Forncet, upon which 
 a little houfe is built, but was guild land, was lately 
 purchafed for a dwelling-houfe for a diffenting 
 teacher. The barn owned by the late Rev. Mr. 
 Soley is the very Guild-hall, and is freehold, held 
 of Stratton manor at is. per ann. free-rent. 
 
 In this parifh alfo was an anchorage of ancient 
 foundation, with a fmall chapel, or oratory, adjoining. 
 In i 236 William de Suffield, alias Cahhorpe, bifhop 
 of Norwich, gave a legacy to the anchorite here, and 
 at the diffolution the chapel was granted from the 
 crown into private hands'"". Here is an eftate of 20!. 
 per ann. fettled on the reclor of St. Edmund, in 
 Norwich. 
 
 STURMY, STURMIN, or STURMER'S MANOR, was fo 
 called from Robert le Sturmy, of Stratton, who had 
 a grant of it from the Malherbes ; and fir William le 
 Sturmy, knt. his fon, was lord of it in 1262, and 
 held it at one fee of the bifhop of Norwich ; and in 
 1285 he had a leet, and aflize of bread and ale of all 
 tenants allowed in fire; and fir John de Sturmy 
 in 1327 obtained of Edward II. a charter for free- 
 warren for all his lands here, 8cc. In 1345 Robert 
 Sturmy held it by 6d. a year paid to the bifhop, by 
 whom it was fold to the lord of Stratton-hall manor, 
 
 and 
 
 * In Straiten, libera capella ruincfa, tent' per Will. Grice, arm 
 et hered' ut de mamrio de EJlgreeniMick infocsagio 8 Elt'z. ^ ~
 
 D E P W A D E. 147 
 
 and hath paffed with it ever fince. The manor- 
 houfe is down ; the fcite is inclofed vvich a mote, and 
 is now called SturminVyard. 
 
 SNAPE-HALL MANOR was another part of the ca 
 pital manor, granted to the family of the Snapest, 
 and was in 1307 in the hands of Stephen dc Brock- 
 difti; it had then a houfe and fixty acres of demefne 
 land, quit-rents to the value of 3!. 8s. Sd. and was 
 held of the honor of Richmond at i gd. per annum 
 rent; and in 1339 it was conveyed to fir John le 
 Sturmyn, and his heirs ; and fo it was joined with 
 Sturmer's manor, and with that lell into Siiatton- 
 hall manor, and there continues. 
 
 The town is a fmall, but compact village, and 
 hath a good public-houfe or two, for the reception of 
 travellers ; its {landing on the London road from Ipf- 
 wich, Colchefter, and Bury, to Norwich, makes^ it 
 pretty much frequented. The juftices of the peace 
 for this divifion generally meet here, and have done 
 io very anciently; for in 1380 thejuftices and coun- 
 try gentlemen, in the time of the inlurreclion, met 
 here to confult what was beft to be done for the 
 king's fervice and country's fafety. 
 
 St. Mary's church Hands clofe eafl fide the turn- 
 pike road, is a large building, with a round fteeple 
 fifty-four feet high, and a fmali fpire on its top, 
 againft which the clock bell hangs, on the out-fide; 
 there are now five bolls ; the nave and two ailes are 
 fifty-lix feet Jong, and forty-four broad, and the 
 chancel is thirty-fix feet long, and twenty broad ; 
 the church-yard is very large, containing about an 
 K 2 acre 
 
 f In 1420 fir John Snape, reftor of St. Michael, in Stratton, 
 was a defccndcnt from this family.
 
 H8 HUNDRED OF 
 
 acre and a quarter. The fteeple is a much older 
 building than the church, the prefent fabric of which 
 was built chiefly by fir Roger de Bourne knt. lord 
 and patron, about 1330, and the chancel by Richard 
 de Bourne, his bi other, then rector here; and it 
 feems as if one John, or James de Bourne, glazed the 
 clereflorics, or lights, in the nave; for J. B. in old 
 capitals remain flill in the feveral windows there, as 
 do the arms of Bourne in the eaft chancel window ; 
 and in the north window of the BaptifVs chapel, at 
 the upper end of the north aile, which fir Roger built 
 for his own burial place, is now a broken infcription. 
 His ftone is robbed of its infcription, circumfcription, 
 arms, and effigies, and nothing remains thereon, fave 
 two brafs effigies of corpfes looking out of their winc'~ 
 jng fheet. Sir Roger lies buried under a low raifed 
 tomb, and near him lies his brother, Richard, under 
 a flat flone. The fouth porch, two ailcs, Have, and 
 north veftry, which is now ufed as a fchool-houfe, 
 are all leaded, as is the eafl part of the chancel, the 
 weilern part of which is thatched. 
 
 At the eaft end of the chancel, againft the nortk 
 wall, is creeled a very fumptuous marble monument, 
 on the alter part of which are the incumbent effigies 
 of judge Reeve, and his lady, in their proper pro- 
 portions and habits ; he in his judges robes, with a 
 roll in one hand, and the other under his head ; fhe 
 with a book in her left hand, and her head fupported 
 by two cufhions ; their arms, and a very copious 
 Latin infcription: he died March 27, 1647 ; (he died 
 March 12, 1637, and was interred in the fame vault 
 with her huCband, under this monument. 
 
 On the oppofue fouth wall is a monument, with 
 Reeve's arms, creeled to the memory of Thomas 
 Reeve, ejq. OB. i, 1663, <ztat. 69. Thomas, his elde/l 
 
 Jon,
 
 D E P W A D E. 149 
 
 Jon, November 26, 1656, atat. 20. 'John, his vounge/l 
 Jon, April 13, 1600, atat. 18. Many of the Reeves 
 were re&ors here. 
 
 On a black marble in the altar, Hie jacet Johannes 
 Reve, Norf A. M. Canonice ordinatus preftyter, vir 
 omm'gena eruditione apprise in/lrutfus, exemplar! pietatc 
 pcrquam ornatus, fummifque virtutibus eminenter prcecla- 
 rus, hujus ecdefuz pa/lorjidclij/imus, ubi cum novemdecim 
 annis munere mini/lrali indefejfe funfflus ejjet, tcrrtnam 
 hanc vilam anno cetalis Jttez qnadravejimo nono Febr. die 
 decimo, et anno Domini mill: Jexcent: quinquag: oftaiiQ, 
 pro cele/ti gloria commutavit. 
 
 The following perfons are buried under divers 
 marbles in the chancel : 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Keenc, widow, daughter of Augujline 
 Reve, of Bracondale, near Norwich, efq. January 21, 
 1710, atat. 79. 
 
 Ann Houghton, Jolt daughier and heirefs of Henry 
 Reve, of Bracondale, wh& married the eldejl Jon of John 
 Houghton, of Bramerlon, efq. and left iffiic only one fan, 
 John, ob. 6 May. 1705. Robert Houg/iton t efq. ob. 1 
 Dec. 1715, (Ktat. 36. 
 
 Houghton impaling Reeve, Ric. Reeve, 1727. 
 John Reeve, father of reftor Reeve, 1658. 
 
 Elizabeth Bafpool gave il. 6s. to be given weekly 
 in bread at the church, to the poor, for ever, and tied 
 all her lands in Stratton for payment thereof, now 
 the eflate of Mr. Jofeph Cotman, of Great Yar- 
 mouth. 
 
 K 3 Johq
 
 150 HUNDRED OF 
 
 John Roope gave il. 6s. to be paid yearly out of 
 the ale-houfe, called the^vvan, in Stratton St. Mary, 
 which he tied for payment thereof, on condition the 
 faid premises be not rated to any tax above 13!. per 
 annum, othervvife the gift to ceafe ; it is given in 
 bread at church, as the other. 
 
 Thomas Pudding gave 1 2S. yearly to the poor, till 
 ml. be paid to the church-wardens, and tied his 
 eflate, now in the poffcflion of William Booty, for it, 
 lying in Stratton St. Michael. 
 
 William Pudding gave 125. yearly, iffuing out of 
 William Booty's eftate, till lol. 'be paid to the 
 church-wardens for the ufe of the poor. 
 
 Half an acre of ground, with four cottages there- 
 on built, now inhabited by the poor, were given 
 by Nicholas Porter, and Thomas Stanton, in the 
 time of James I. 
 
 Elizabeth Keene, widow, daughter of Augufline 
 Reeve, and niece to the judge, gave by will 2!. los. 
 yearly, to be laid out in blue gowns for the poor of 
 Stratton St. Mary, during the life of her nephew, 
 John Houghton, of Bramerton, efq. 
 
 The church of Stratton St. Peter always belonged 
 to Forncet manor, and was founded by Roger Bigot 
 about the conqueft, in all appearance. In 1195, 
 by fine then levied, William de Stratton, as truftee, 
 fettled it on Gundred the count efs for life, and the 
 remainder to Roger le Bigot and his heirs for ever ; it 
 it was valued at five, and afterwards at fix marks : it 
 was consolidated September 10, 1449, to the church 
 of Stratton St. Michael, which (lands not above a 
 bow-fliot diftant from it ; and it was agreed, that as a 
 
 recompence
 
 D E P W A D E. 151 
 
 recorapence for this patronag?, St. Marv's, alias 
 Winchefler college, in Oxford, fhou'd pr^fent two 
 turns, and the duke of Norfolk every third turn, and 
 that St. Peter's fhould exift as a fepar-ate parifh ftill, 
 and the re&or fhould ferve in each church every Sun- 
 day; and it continued fo till t ! ie diffolution, when 
 being returned as a chapel onlv, it was totally de- 
 molifhed, and was laid to St. Michael's parifh, and 
 hath continued as part of it ever fmce; nothing is to 
 be feen of the church, but the foundation, level with 
 the ground, which fhow that it was a fmall building. 
 The fcite is ftill called St. Peter's church-yard, and 
 being plowed over, often turns up human bones. 
 
 SAYE'S MANOR belonged to, and lay chiefly in this 
 parifh, and was granted from the other part of the 
 paiifh, and the advowfon, by the Bigots, lords of 
 Forncet, to William de Say, who held it at a quarter 
 of a fee. John de Say in 1283 had a leet, view of 
 frank-pledge, and the affizeof bread and ale over all 
 his tenants in Stratton, and held it at a quarter of a 
 fee of the lord of Forncet, who held it of the earl of 
 Gloucefter as of Clare honor. In 1296 the rents of 
 this manor were 465. 6d. per ann. but in 1317 
 Jeffery de Say conveyed it by fine to John de Hol- 
 vefton, who afterwards held it of the lord Say, &c. 
 and in 1401 Geffry de Franfham held it of the lord 
 Say, he of the earl of March, See. In 1414 Wil- 
 liam de Taverham conveyed to Richard Pigot, and 
 his feoffees, all his property of Say's manor in Long 
 Stratton., and it continued in the Pigots till it paffed 
 with Ann, daughter and coheirefs of Thomas Pigot, 
 of Sturfton, to Robert Barnard, of Norwich, efq. 
 her hufband ; fhe fettled it by will on fir Robert 
 Southwell, and other feoffees, to find a prieft to fing 
 for their fouls in the Black Friars Church, in Nor- 
 K 4 wich,
 
 1-2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 \vich. where they are buried, at iheir tomb, which is 
 now Handing, and was lately ufed for St. Georges 
 company to meet at: they left two daughters co- 
 heireffes ; Eleanor, married Chriftopher Calihorpe, 
 of Cockthorpe, efq. and Elizabeth, John Legge; and 
 this was affigncd to Legge in i r >ii, and Cahhorpa 
 hadSturflon manor, and a rent charge of il. 6s. out 
 of this, which fir James Calthorpe, and his fon, 
 Chriftopher, fold to William Matchet, of Moulton, 
 clerk, who had purchafed this manor of John Legge; 
 and in 1539 fir John Shelton, knt. was lord, and 
 Ralph Shehon, his coufin, was lord in 1570; he it 
 was that rhanumifcd the whole, fold the rents to the 
 lev eral tenants, and the demefnes to Nicholas Porter, 
 and fo the manor and leet alfo extinguished for want 
 ot tenants. The fcite came afterwards to the Cul- 
 lyer's, and Abigail Nocris, wjdow, of Barton-Tuft,, 
 fold it to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Howes, reclor of 
 Mourningthorpe, who now owns it, and the demelh.es, 
 called Say's. 
 
 Suaiton St. Michael. This rectory was given by 
 Walter Giffard to the priory of Longevile, in Nor- 
 mandy, with Wefton, and Witchingham, in Eynsford 
 hundred ; the reclor had then a houfe and ten acres 
 ot glebe, and now there are twenty-eight acres and 
 an half, in thirty-one pieces, lying about the town. 
 The parfonage houfe joins to the fouth-eaft part of 
 the church-yard, and the eafl part of it, (as we are 
 informed) is copyhold of Rhees's manor, and belongs 
 to a farm adjoining to the eaft pait of the parfonage- 
 ho/ufe, now owned by Thomas Howes, clerk. It 
 was valued without the portion at eight marks, and 
 paid IDS. 8d. tenths, and the reclor paid a portion of 
 135. 4d. per ann. to the prior of Longaville, which 
 is now paid to New College, in Oxford, who had the 
 
 patronage
 
 D E P W A D E. 153 
 
 patronage from William of Wickham, their founder, 
 b.y grant from the king, it being veiled in the crown 
 as belonging to a diflblved alien piiory. It (lands in 
 the prefcm value bv a falfe name thus: '61. 125. 
 d. ob. Stralton Omnium Sanflorum R. i ^s. gd. tenths, 
 - and we fuppofe came to be fixed fo, bccaufe an- 
 ciently the church is called St. Michael and All 
 Saints ; bin ftrange it is, that the names both of St. 
 ^eter .and St. Michael, (by which only this reftory is 
 known) fliould be omitted: as it is not difcharged it 
 is capable of augmentation. 
 
 The church, which (lands about a furlong eafl of 
 the turnpike road, is twenty- five yards long, and 
 feven broad; It is a fmall church, with a fquare 
 tower, and no bell*; the fouth porch is tiled, the 
 nave and chancel thatched, the la ft of which was 
 built by John Cowall, redor here in 14X7 ; he lies 
 buried in the middle of the chancel, with an infcrip- 
 tion on a brafs plate, now loofe. But though he built 
 the chancel in 1487, he continued reclor till I 09; 
 bis will is in regilter Spyltimer, fol. 225, in which is 
 this: " Alfo my houfe in the (Irect, called Pcpyrs, I 
 " wol the ftate ther of, with all the lands ther of, 
 " fliall remayne in the handys of feofFys, and in the 
 " attorneys of them, to my perifliincrs beholfe, in ex- 
 " cufing of tenths and tallage, when it fallyth, and 
 " the overplus to the reparation of the churchys of 
 " St. Michael, and St. Peter, .in the faid town, ever- 
 " more; feen, that the cunftabyll and the church- 
 " wardynns fiiall let it, and repare it, with the- ferine 
 " of it ; and the refidewe of the ferme I wol yt re- 
 " inayne in the handys of the faid conftabyll and 
 
 " wardynns, 
 
 * There were three ; for in 16993 licence pafled to fell a 
 bell, under pretence to repair the church f which had lands fui- 
 ficient for its reparation.
 
 154 HUNDRED OF 
 
 " wardynns. and yerly they make accounte before 
 " all the parifhe, and they to excufe the rent of it to 
 " the lordys of the fee." T. his houfe, with about 
 twelve acres of land, part copy, and part free, is 
 now in feoffees hands, and is worth about lol. per 
 ann. and the churchwardens receive the rent, and 
 apply it as it ought to be, to repair the church, fince 
 the taxes of tenths and tallages are ceafed. The nave 
 was finifhed in 1440. 
 
 There was another brafs plate in the chancel, now 
 loft, For Richard Vynnt* , Jan. 26, 1626, aged 76. 
 
 Theic is an altar-tomb in the church-yard, on the 
 fouth fide, For William Weddall, gent. 1730, and 
 Mary, his wife, who was daughter of Thomas Dixon. 
 
 There&or of Mourningthorpe pays a yearly pen- 
 fion of 1 8s. to the rector here, on Lammas-day, for 
 exchange of tithes, as mentioned in the Terrier. 
 
 In 1347 the reclor was firft prefented by the king, 
 the prior of Newenton Longaville's lands being feifed 
 into his hands, on account of the war with France. 
 It remained in royal patronage till 1439, when fir 
 Ralph Rochford, kut. prefented ; and being granted 
 from the crown, it was fettled on the cuftos and 
 fcholars of St. Mary, alias Winchefter College, in 
 Oxford, at the rcqueft of the founder; and in 1449 
 was con folidated to St. Peter's: ever fince >New Col- 
 lege hath two turns, and the duke of Norfolk the 
 third ; but the perpetual advowfon of that third turn 
 was fold to John Soley, rector of Straiten St. Mary, 
 
 from 
 
 * This family were redors here for near two centuries, many 
 f whom lie buried in the chancel.
 
 D E P W A D E. 155 
 
 fiorn whom the late Rev. Edward Hibgame bought 
 
 In 1 603 the redor returned anfvver,|that here were 
 ninety-one communicants. 
 
 In 1629 John Merewether held it united to Taf- 
 burgh, from both which he was ejected by the earl of 
 Manchefter's fcandalous committee, and one Gooke 
 was put in, " being a godly man," to preach, and 
 had 55. a Sunday allowed him by the fequ eft ra tors out 
 of the tithes, and Mrs. Merewether had a fifth part of 
 the profits to maintain herfelf and fix children ; he 
 being allo deprived of his temporal eflate of 50!. per 
 annum, the reft was ordered to go towards maintain- 
 ing the parliament forces, &c. but it feems Cooke 
 was not * godly" enough for thofe rebels ; for in 
 1654 they put in one Richard Laurence, who held it 
 by intrufion till Merewether's death, which happened 
 before the reftoration, when the cuftos, &x. prefented 
 in 1 660. 
 
 In i 762 the late Rev. Edward Hibgame, as patron 
 of this turn, prefented himfelf to the re&ory of Strat- 
 ton All Saints, with St. Michael, and St. Peter, 
 p. h. v. In 1778, April 28, he died, and the Rev. 
 Francis Wickham Swanton was prefented by New 
 College, Oxon. Aug. 15 following. 
 
 WELHOLME'S, or WELHAM'S MANOR, was granted 
 by the Strattons, from their manor, to the Welholmes ; 
 and in i 285 Alexander de Welholme had a leet, or 
 view of frank-pledge, and aflize of bread and ale 
 allowed him in eire, on condition he paid 8d. a year to 
 
 the 
 
 * The prefent tithes of this reftory, we are told, are worth 
 one hundred and fifty pounds, befides furplice fees.
 
 j 5 G H U N D R E D O F 
 
 fhe king's bailiff of Depwade hundred for that li- 
 berty ; and he held it at half a fee, and half a quar- 
 ter of a fee, of fir John Inglofe, he of Ifabel queen of 
 England, and fhe of the king, as heir to Momealt, 
 lord of Rifmg-Caftle. In 1401 John Brufvard had 
 it, and it was purchafed by fir John Marling, knt. 
 and ever fince hath palled as Stratton-hall manor, the 
 cuftoms being the fame, and the court is always held 
 at the fame time'' 1 '. 
 
 Thedemefnesandfcite fevered from the manor were 
 late Booty's, and wereowned by the late John Howfe, 
 efq. of Mourningthorpe, who alfo had the demefnes 
 of Rhees's manor here, fevered anciently from that 
 manor, which is now (and for a long time hath been) 
 joined to Welholme's, the ftile being, Welhohne's, 
 or WelhariTs and Rhees's, in Stratton. 
 
 This manor was infeoffcd by Fitz-Corbun, as is 
 already obferved, in one Hunfrid, or Humfrcy, 
 vvhofe defcenclems afTumed the name of Stratton, and 
 it was in Robert de Stratton I. In 1249 Ralph de 
 Stratton, called alfa dc Bofco, or Bois , held it at 
 one fee, and was fined for not being a knight. In 
 1285 John de Stratton was killed by William de 
 Dunfton ; but it being found that he did it in his own 
 defence, and not felonioufly, or malicioufly, he had 
 the king's pardon, which he pleaded before the itine- 
 rant juftices at Norwich. 
 
 In 1270 Robert de Stratton fold part of the de- 
 melnes to Richard de Boy land, who joined them to 
 
 his 
 
 * Here are lands now called Welholme, or Wellum woods. 
 {He fold the advowfon from the manor. 
 + Took the additional name of dc Bofco from the wood he 
 dwelt by.
 
 D E P W A D E. i 57 
 
 his manor of Boyland-hall, in Mourningthorpe. In 
 1404 it belonged to John Rhees, and William Rhees, 
 efq. who fold the manor in 1407 to John Kirtling, 
 clerk, and Robert Park, and the heirs of John, but re- 
 ferved the fcite and demefnes ; the manor was fooii 
 afterwards conveyed to fir Robert Harling, and ever 
 fince haih attended the manor of Siratton-hall. 
 
 The fcite and demefnes, called Rhees's me{Tuage, 
 in 1449 were conreyed to Thomas Ludham, clerk, 
 and Thomas Howes, chaplain to fir John Faftolf, 
 and their heirs ; and in 1464, Howes and Ludham 
 having conveyed it to fir John, John Pafton, heir to 
 fir John Faftolf % died feifed, and fince it hath paffed 
 through many conveyances to John Howes, efq. 
 
 In 1285 it was returned before the juftices in eirc 
 that the king was defrauded of the fervice of a fer- 
 jeanty, due for lands here in the time of king John, 
 worth 5!. per ann. by the ferjeanty of finding one 
 horfeman in the king's war whenever there happens 
 to be war in England, and that Roger Bigot, earl of 
 Norfolk, then held it fubtrafted from the king ; to 
 which the earl, by his attorney, anfvvered, that he 
 held it of Richmond honor in capite, and that it was 
 in the hands of Henry III. who gave that honor, 
 with all belonging to it, except Coftefley manor, to 
 Peter de Subaudia, or of Savoy ; and after that Roger 
 Bigot, anceftor of the prefcnt earl, purehafed it of 
 Richard de Haddefco, as held of the faid honor, and 
 that it was now held of John de Britain, lord of the 
 honor, by the fervice aforefaid, but not by any fer- 
 jeanty ; 
 
 ^ There is a piece of land, about half an acre, moated 
 round, where the manor-houfe of Rhees formerly ftood ; but 
 there arc now no retruins of t'ue building.
 
 158 HUNDRED OF 
 
 jeanty; upon which he was difmifled, and it hath 
 ever fincc paffed with Forncet manor. 
 
 A weekly market was formerly held in Long Strat- 
 ton, which, on account of an epidemic diftemper 
 that raged in this part of the kingdom, was difufed. 
 That this town hath been of note is evident by 
 the vaft number of coins found about it. A John 
 Sharpe hath in his pofTetlion a great many Roman, 
 Saxon, and Englifh coins, and petrifactions, taken 
 up here in the laft twenty years by himfelf ; he has 
 dug up feveral ancient coins in his garden ; and 
 in 1773, on opening a gravel-pit about a furlong 
 from the town, feveral urns were found in a very re- 
 gular form, fix feet below the furface, moft of which 
 were broke by the workmen, one only being pre- 
 fcrved from their ignorance and careletanefs ; it is 
 curioufly ornamented, and had a common red pan 
 laid over it: it it now in the collection of fir John 
 Berney, bart. of Kirby-Bedon. 
 
 About ten yards diftant from the fame gravel-pit, . 
 and at about the fame depth, a hearth was lately dif- 
 covered ; it is four yards fquare, and had on it afhes 
 and burnt earth three inches deep. This, no doubt, 
 was the place, according to ancient cufiom, where 
 dead bodies were burnt. Two copper coins were al- 
 fo found on the hearth, but fo imperfect that they 
 cannot be made out. 
 
 The village of Long Stratton is pleafantly fnuated 
 on the great turnpike road from Norwich, ten miles, 
 to Scole Inn ten, Bury thirty-two, Ipfwich thirty- 
 three, Colchefter fifty, and London 100 miles. The 
 flage coaches pafs through daily, and its vicinity to 
 Norwich renders a refidence here very dcfirablc, 
 either for buftnefs or pleafure. 
 
 TACOLNESTON,
 
 D E P W A D E. 
 
 159 
 
 TACOLNESTON, commonly called TACLESTON*. 
 belonged to Stigand the bifhop in the ConfefTor's time, 
 who held it as a berewic to Wymondham ; it was 
 then worth lol. per ann. when the Conquerors fur- 
 vey was made 20!. and it belonged to that prince, 
 and was under the cuftody, or care, of Godric his 
 fewer; it was about three miles in length, and one 
 in breadth, and paid lod. ob. to the gelt, or tax. 
 There was then a part of it which belonged to 
 Roger Bigot's manor of Forncet, and went as Forri- 
 cet manor did, and continues with it to this day. 
 
 The whole town, except Bigot's part, was in the 
 crown till Henry I. gave it to Richard de Lucy, who 
 held it at three fees, and paid caftle-ward for them to 
 Dover-caflle, and he gave two of them to (ir Robert 
 de Mounteney, who held them in 1161; and the 
 other fee to Hugh, fon of Hamel, or Harneline, who 
 then held it of Dover-caftle, and they were always 
 held afterwards of the honor of Dover, and of the 
 Fitz-Walters, as of their manor of Hempnall. 
 
 Hugh was fucceeded by Reginald Ove^ale, de 
 Uvedale, or D'ovedale, and John de Uvedale, his 
 brother; the firft held his part at half a fee of Walter 
 itz-Robert, and the laft held his of him at the 
 fourth part of a fee, and this conftituted the manor 
 called afterwards, from its owners, D'ovedalc'.s, Do- 
 verdale, or Tacolneflon manor. Simon Fitz-Richard 
 held a fourth part of a fee, which made up the ma- 
 nor, called afterwards the earl's manor; Hugh, fon 
 of Euftace, of Tacolnefton, held one fee of Walter 
 Fitz-Robert, which was afterwards called William's 
 manor ; and Bartholomew Malherbe held one fee of 
 
 Walter 
 
 * Villa Tacolvi, from fome ancient owner ; it is wrote Ta 
 Colneftuna in Doomfday-book.
 
 i6o HUNDRED O $ 
 
 Walter Fitz-Robert, which was afterwards joihed tft 
 Tacolnefton manor; and the aforefoid manors had 
 their feveral fhares in the advowfon, all which were 
 purchafed by Hugh de D'ovedale, and io the ad- 
 vowfon attended D'ovedale's manor. 
 
 TACOLNESTON, or D'OVEDALE'S MANOR, defcend- 
 ed from Reginald de Uvedale to Hugh de Uvedale, 
 who in 1214 purchafed a part of the advowfon of 
 Robert Mortimer, and became lord and fole patron j 
 at which tirhe Malherbe's part was united to it. In 
 1274 he had liberty of free-warren allowed to the 
 manor, view of frank-pledge, and aflize of bread 
 and ale overall his tenants. In 1285 the king's 
 charter for liberty of warren was allowed in cire, but 
 the oiher liberties belonged to the king's hundred, 
 whofe bailiff was to be prefent at every lect, and re- 
 ceive three {hillings a year of the lord for liberty of 
 holding a leet. He was lucceeded by fir John D ove- 
 dale, his fon arid heir, about 1306, when he held here 
 one fee of Roger Bigot, earl of Norfolk. In 1318 
 this John gave his manor of Bedingham to the ca- 
 nons of Walfingham, upon which an inquifition be- 
 ing brought, the jury prefented, " that befides the 
 manor of Bedingham which John de Uvedale gavfc 
 the canons of Walfingham, at that time John had 
 his manor of Tacolnefton, and feveral lands and 
 tenements in Newton-Flotman, to the value of 40!. 
 which would fully faiisfy all cufloms and fervices, 
 as well of the manor fo given, as of the lands re* 
 xnaining in fcutage, view of frank-pledge, aids, tal- 
 lages, wards, fines, redemptions, amerciaments, con* 
 tributions, and all emergencies ; and that the faid John 
 might flill be put on all affizes, juries, and recogni- 
 zances, as before the faid gift, fo that the country 
 would not be more charged than before the faid John 
 gave that manor. 1 ' This we have tranfcribcd at 
 
 length
 
 D E P W A D E. 161 
 
 length, as fliewing, in a good meafure, the rcafon for 
 making the ftatute of mortmain. 
 
 This lordfhip continued in the poflefflon of this 
 Family* of the D'ovedale, or Uvedale, and in 1388 
 fir John obtained a charter from Richard II. confirm- 
 ing the charter of Edward I. dated May 16, 1303, 
 by which that king granted to fir John de Uvedale, 
 and his heirs, a weekly market on Wednefday, to be 
 held at his manor of Tacolnefton, and two fairs 
 yearly, to be held at the faid manor; the market and 
 fair have been longfmce difufed. He died about 1434 ; 
 for in that year Robert Clere, efq. of Ormefby, held 
 his firft court for the manor of Tacolnefton D'ove- 
 dale's, jointly with Elizabeth, his wife, only daugh- 
 ter and heirefs of Thomas Uvedale, efq. She out- 
 lived him, and died in 1492, and was buried by her 
 hufband, in Norwich cathedral. About 1600 fir 
 Henry Clere, ban. of Ormefby, mortgaged it to Mr. 
 John Browne, of Sparkes, in Tacolnefton, who af- 
 terwards joined with fir Henry, and fold it to Richard 
 Brockden, or Brogden, alderman of Norwich. His 
 fon, James Brockden, was killed before Namur about 
 1695 ; he had three wives, but no iffue by any; his 
 mother, Mary, held this manor for life, and after- 
 wards remarried to John Ladd, furgeon, of Norwich ; 
 it afterwards belonged to Benjamin Andrews, who 
 fold it to Edmund Knipe, of Tacolnefton, efq. the 
 late lord, who refided at a good houfe here, about 
 two furlongs weft of the church, anciently the feat 
 of the Brownes, called Sparkes: William Knipe, efq. 
 was his fon and heir. This manfion is now the feat 
 and manor-houfe of Knipe Gobbet, efq. alderman 
 (and mayor in 1771) of the city of Norwich, and 
 L lieutenant- 
 
 * This was a very numerous family, many of them being 
 confiderable owners in this county.
 
 162 HUNDRED OF 
 
 lieutenant-colonel of the Weft Norfolk regiment, in 
 which corps he has ferved for many years. In 1779 
 he gave the corporation of Norwich one hundred 
 pounds, to be diipofed of as they might think proper, 
 and foon after that corporate body prefented the co- 
 lonel with a handfome field tent, marquee, and camp 
 equipage, in tefiimony of their efteem for his thus 
 dedicating fo much of his attention to the defence 
 and fervice of this country at a time when threat- 
 ened by an INVASION. 
 
 WILLIAM'S MANOR was granted to William fir- 
 named of Tacolneflon, the place of his birth and 
 education, from whofe Chriftian name the manor 
 took its name. In 1249 it was held at a whole 
 knight's fee ; but Hugh de Tacolneflon was not 
 yet knighted. In 1285 fir William de Tacol- 
 nefton (though he is often called fir William Fitz- 
 Euftacc) had view of frank-pledge of all his tenants, 
 and affize of bread and ale. In 1381 John de Ta- 
 colneflon was lord; the famous John Tacefphalus 
 (we believe) was born here, and was elecled prior of 
 the carmelites, or white friars, in Norwich, in 1404, 
 of whom Pits fpeaks, p. 607. He was D. D. a man 
 of great learning, remarkable piety, and a good ora- 
 tor ; a great preacher againfl the difciples of Wick- 
 liff, Hus, and the Lollards ; he publifhed two books, 
 by way of comment, on the Revelations; a collec- 
 tion of fermons for the faints days, and many others; 
 and to make them of the greater authority and 
 efteem, he went to pope Martin V. to Rome, to ob- 
 tain his approbation and public recommendation, 
 which he had juft obtained when he died, and was 
 buried there; and it is probable the manor fell by 
 cfcheat to the lord of Forncet manor, of which it 
 was held, and continued with it till about 1570, 
 when the earl of Arundel was returned lord of Wil- 
 liam's
 
 D E P W A D E. >6 3 " 
 
 liam's manor, in Tacolnefton, and chief lord of the 
 commons there, in right of the earl's manor, which 
 belonged to Forncet manor; but it was fold by the 
 earl to the Cleres, and by them to the Brownes. In 
 1623 Edmund and Robert Browne, fon and heir ap- 
 parent of Edmund, articled with Thomas Knyvet, 
 efq. and for igool. fold him Tacolnefton manor, and 
 the manor of William's, with the advowfon and the 
 rents of affize there, above i il. per ann. fix capons, 
 two hens, and five eggs : but it did not take place ; 
 for William's manor defcendcd to John Browne, who 
 joined and fold Tacolneflon manor as aforeiaid to 
 James Brockden, but kept this to hirnfclf. In 1657 
 the faidjohn Browne, the elder, gent, was lord; and 
 in 1664 John Browne, his eldeft fon and heir, kept his 
 firft court, in which it was found, that the cuftom of 
 the manor is to the eldeft fon ; it hath continued 
 ever fince in the Brownes, and at the death of Richard 
 Browne it defcended to his fon, the Rev. John Browne, 
 late re&or of Afhwelthorpe. The Rev. Charles 
 Browne is the prefent lord, and refides here. 
 
 EARL'S MANOR was held as aforefaid by Simon 
 Fitz-Richard ; and in 1199 by Richard Fitz-Walter. 
 In 1306 Roger Bigot, earl of Norfolk, and marfhal 
 of England, held it jointly with Alice, his wife, of 
 Robert Pitz-Walter, by the fervice of two parts of a 
 fee; and from that time to this it hath paffed as 
 Forncet manor. 
 
 The church is dedicated to All Samts ;'when Nor- 
 wich Doomfday-book was wrote Hugh de D'ovcdale 
 was patron ; the re&or then had no houfe, but two 
 barns, and twenty-three acres of glebe, though now 
 there is a handfomc houfe, barn, and outhoufes, ad- 
 joining to the north fide of the church-yard, and 
 about thirty acres of glebe; it was firft valued at ten,, 
 L 2 and '
 
 HUNDRED OF 
 
 and after at twelve marks, and the town paid al. IDS. 
 clear to' every tenth. The prior of BuckenhanVs. 
 temporals were taxed at 6d. and thofe of the monks 
 Of Thetford at 25. ob. The rectory {lands undif- 
 charged in the kings books at 12!. pays firft-fruits, 
 and il. 45. yearly tenths. There were two guilds 
 here. The church was rebuilt about 1503; for 
 there were about that time many legacies given to 
 the foundation of the church of Tacolnefton. The 
 tower is fquare, and hath five bells in it; the nave 
 and chancel are thatched, the fouth aile is leaded, 
 and the fouth porch tiled. 
 
 Ricardus Browne de Sparkes in hac parochia gen. hie 
 jacet Jepultus, qui mortem obijt 21 die Augujli, A. D. 
 1678, atat.Juce 45. 
 
 Browne impaling Knevet. Pietate et Charitate. 
 Hie jacet corpus Murielis, nuper uxoris Johannis Browne, 
 apud Sparkes, gcneroft, qua fuit unajiliarum Johannis 
 Kncvet, generofi, et vitam hanc cum morte commulavit 16 
 die Martij, 1671. 
 
 Hie jacet corpus Johannis Browne, apud Sparkes, ge- 
 neroji, qui vitam hanc migravit 29 die Sept. A. D. 
 1666. 
 
 The Brownes are an ancient family, having been 
 in this parifli ever fince the time of Henry VI. and 
 many of them lie buried here. Alfo forae of the 
 Knipes. 
 
 In the eaft window, quarterly, i . Barry, or Berry ; 
 2. loft ; 3. Pafton ; 4. Mautby. In a north window, 
 Bohuh. * 
 
 In
 
 D E P W A D E. 165 
 
 In 1603 the reftor returned anfvvcr that there were 
 123 communicants in this pariflh. 
 
 In 1660 Robert Baldock, efq. ferjeant at law, pre- 
 fented, who in 167 I, by the name of fir Robert Bal- 
 dock, knt. gave it to John Baldock, whofe wife lies 
 buried here, Ocl. n, 1692; and in 1681 Richard 
 Kerrington had it, but was deprived for not taking 
 the oath to William III. 
 
 In 17 64 the Rev. Thomas Warren was prefented 
 to this reclory by Dame Sufannah Ward, p. h. v. Mr. 
 Warren is now patron, and incumbent of this church. 
 
 The advowfon was fold from the manor by fir 
 Henry Clere, and was afterwards purchafed by fir 
 Robert Baldock, who defcended from an ancient fa- 
 mily of that name in this county; for Richard Bal- 
 dock, of Ne&on, owned a good eftate there in 1 263. 
 In 1683 the faid Robert was appointed king's ferjeant 
 by patent, and being an aclive man in the time of 
 James II. he was one of the king's council at the 
 trial of the feven bifhops in 1688, in which caufe 
 (hewing much zeal, he was the fame year made one 
 of the juftices of the King's Bench, in the room of 
 fir John Powell, knt. who was turned out for main- 
 taining that the bifhop's petition to the king could 
 not be a libel, becaufe it was founded upon the 
 king's incapacity to difpenfe laws, which was very 
 frue: he had two wives; firft, Mary Bacon ; fecond, 
 the relic! of fir William Hewet, of Breccles : by the 
 firft he had two children ; Henry, his only fon, who 
 died without iffue foon after his father, and left his 
 only fitter, Mary, then wife of George Townfhend, 
 of Little Wrotham, efq. his fole heiiefs, whofe only 
 furviving fon was the late reclor. Sir Robert Baldock 
 aforefaid built a houfe oppofite to the Couth part of 
 L 3 the
 
 166 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 the church-yard, which is commonly called Tacol- 
 neflon-hall, in which he dwelt, but now being de- 
 cayed, great part of it is pulled down. This eftaie, 
 with the advowfon, was fold fome years fince to 
 Mr. Ferrer, who left it to his fon, William Ferrer, 
 gent, and his fifter carried the patronage to her huf- 
 band, Bernard Hyde, gent, of Seven-Oaks, in Kent. 
 
 In 1778 the moft noble Charles duke of Norfolk, 
 as lord of the manor of Forncet, Knipe Gobbet, efq. 
 as lord of the manor of Tacolneflon, otherwife 
 D'ovcdale, the Rev. Charles Browne, a* lord of Wil- 
 liam's manor, the Rev. Thomas Wan en, as patron 
 and re61or, and feveral other proprietors of lands in 
 this parifli, obtained an aci of parliament for dividing 
 and inclofing the commons and wafle lands belong- 
 ing thereto, which is now laid out in convenient por- 
 rions, and new roads made much to the benefit of 
 the country. 
 
 Ten acres of land is allotted for the benefit of the 
 poor refiding in the parifh, and not receiving alms j 
 this i* vefted in the hands of the manor lords, re&or, 
 churchwardens, and overfeers, for that purpofc. 
 
 TASBURGH, or TASEBURGH. The name of 
 this town fhews its original to have been the burgh, 
 or fortification, on the river Taus, or Tefe ; and 
 accordingly Dr. Gale, in his commentary on Anto- 
 ninus's Itinerary, tells us, this river was called 
 Tau, and that the flation ad Taum, mentioned in the 
 Pentingerian tables, was here""'; and indeed the parifh 
 church ftands in the fortification, the dimenfions of 
 which are ftill very vifible; and an advantageous fi- 
 tuation it was, to guard the pifs cf the river, leading 
 
 to 
 
 * He tells us of coins found here with 1C. DVRO. T.
 
 D E P W A D E. icy 
 
 to Caftor, being on the very fummil ' of a high 
 hill, which furveys the adjacent country, and hangs 
 over the river, which turned eaftward by it, and made 
 a commodious finus, or bay, for fuch veffels as came 
 up hither; and though for many years this ftream 
 hath declined through neglect, it would be an eafy 
 matter to make it navigable for lighters and fuch fore 
 of veffels up to this village, which would be an ad- 
 vantageous thing to ah the neighbouring country ; 
 this good project hath been twice attempted, and as 
 often mifcarried, rather through want of conduct 
 and a proper application, than ability of the under- 
 takers. 
 
 The entrenchment, or burgh, here, is fquare, and 
 contains about twenty-four acres ; it feems to be 
 that encampment of the Romans which, by the cho- 
 rographical table published by Mark Velfer, is called 
 Ad Taum. This place hath given name to the an- 
 cient family of the Tafburghs, who being lords of 
 the town, had anciently their feat there ; but after 
 their removal hence had their chief feat (and that a 
 very pleafant one) juft otit of the county, on the 
 bank of the river Waveney, which parts this county 
 from Suffolk, not far from the abbey of Fadix-Tovvn, 
 commonly called Flixton, in Suffolk; the houfe is a 
 grand ancient building, and fronts the road from 
 Bungay to Harlefton, 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, 
 who hath her guild here , the fleeple was built in 
 1385, is round, and hath four bells in it; there is a 
 north porch ; the nave is leaded, and the chancel 
 tiled. 
 
 In 1694 the rector had licence to fell the lead off 
 the chancel, and cover it with tiles. 
 
 L4 Qn
 
 i6S H U N D R E D O F 
 
 On an altar-tomb on the fouth fide of the church, 
 Bludworth impaling Baxter, and this on a brafs plate 
 at the top: Elhabdha,Jilia et heres Georgij Bludworth, 
 gen. el uxor Thom<z Baxter, gen. per quern, habuit duos 
 filios et tres filias, obijt 8 die Oclobris, anno Dom. 1587, 
 eUlatis Jute xxxviij. On the fide of the flone, 
 Elhabclha, uxor Thomas Baxter. 
 
 On a brafs, in the middle of the church, Burman 
 impaling Drury; Dorothy, late wife of John Bur- 
 man, dottor of law, and daughter of Anthony Drury, of 
 Beflhorpe, ejq.jhe died July 14, 1642. 
 
 Under the fcrecn, between the church and chan- 
 cel, on a flat flone, Tirrei impales Burman, Eliza- 
 beth, late wife of James Tirrcl, of the Inner Temple, efq. 
 one of the daughters of John Burman, dottor of the civil 
 law ; flie died in child-bed, April 4, 1 638, atat. 2 1. 
 
 On a tomb againft the fouth chancel wall, Thomas 
 Baxter, patronus hujus ecdefie, obijt 3 Dec. anno Dom. 
 1,611, at. fua 75. (He built Ramhorpe-hall.) Jt 
 hath three fhields : i. Baxter; 2. Baxter and Tai- 
 mach; 3. Drake. 
 
 On the north fide is a monument for Newce, of 
 Ranthorpe-hall ; Newce impaling Seabright, and 
 Newce impales Levemhorpe ; Thomas Newce, gent, 
 and Margaret, his wife, daughter of John Shrawberry, 
 of St. Edmund's Bury. He died Feb. 4, 16-29, a S e( ^ 
 68. She Nov. 24, 1632, aged 6y. 
 
 Nicholas Bohun, of Frefmgfield, efq. was buried 
 here in 1572. 
 
 In 1274 Roger de Tafburgh, lord of Uphall ma- 
 nor, fold the advowfon from the manor, to fir Robert 
 
 d*
 
 D P W A D E. 169 
 
 de Tateihale, lord of Buckenham-caftle and h\ 
 1603 the reclor returned anfwer that he had 120 
 communicants, and that Thomas Baxter, efq f was 
 patron. 
 
 In 1757 the Rev. Thomas Warren was prefented 
 to this reclory by Thomas Beevor, efq. of Hethe!, in. 
 right of Mrs. Beevor, who was daughter and heireCs 
 of the late Miles Branthwayte, efq. 
 
 When Norwich Doomfday-book was wrote the 
 prior of Broomholme was patron, and the re&or had 
 a houfe and ten acres of glebe; it was valued at 
 twelve, and after at fourteen marks. The prior of 
 Thetford monks had revenues here of the gift of 
 \Villiam Bigot, viz. temporals taxed at 405. 2d. a 
 year, and fpirkuals, viz. the tithes of his demefnes, 
 and divers other lands held of him, valued to the 
 tenths at 405. a year, and afterwards compounded 
 for at i6s. 8d. a year, redaced afterwards to ic>s. a 
 year, which in 1612 was paid to the lord of Afla&on 
 priory Riano-r, in right of Thetford priory. It now 
 flands in the king's books undischarged, and there- 
 fore is not capable of augmentation. SI. Tafburgh 
 reel. i6s. yearly tenths. This town paid 3!. to every 
 tenth, when the taxes were raifed by tenths and fif- 
 teenths. 
 
 The MANOR of UPHALL, or BOYLAND'S, in Taf- 
 burgh, was the capital manor, and belonged to bi- 
 fhop Ofborn in the time of the ConfefTor, and was 
 held by Tar.olf, a free-man of bifhop Stigand, at the 
 Conqueror's furvey, and then it extended into Forn- 
 cet; at the firii furvey it was worth aos. per annum, 
 and 305. at the laft. All Tafebure was a mile and 
 quarter long, and feven furlongs broad, and paid
 
 jyo HUNDRED OF 
 
 gd. gelt. The fucceffors of this Tarolf affumed the 
 name of Tafeburgh about i 239. 
 
 In 1247 R^ph de Tafeburgh was lord, and had 
 infangenthef, or liberty to try all theft committed by 
 his tenants, in his own court baron and leet here, 
 and to execute them, and take their forfeited goocib. 
 In 1280 his fon, Roger, had fold it to fir Richard de 
 Boy land, who in i 284 had the leet, paying 6d. yearly 
 to the king, by the bailiff of the hundred ; aflize 
 of bread and ale, a ducking flool, pillory, and 
 common gallows ; he lived here, and had his cha- 
 pel of St. Michael* adjoining to his houfe. It 
 was foon afterwards fold to Richard de Uphall, 
 of Taflburgh, from whom it was called Uphall 
 manor. In 1 298 he fold it to Henry De-la-Salle, 
 when ii contained ten meflfuages, one hundred and forty 
 acres of land, twenty-four of meadow, ten of pafture, 
 eight of wood, two of marfh, and 61. as. $d. ob. 
 rent, in Tafburgh, Newton-Flotman, Saxlingham, 
 Waclnn, and Hempnall. It afterwards came to 
 Kalphde Bumpftead, citizen of Norwich. 
 
 A moiety rjf this manor in 1539 was fold by 
 Thomas Wifeman to Charles duke of Suffolk, who 
 ill 1542 fold it to fir Richard Grefham, who the year 
 befoie had purchafed the other moiety of John 
 Branch, and others, who bought it of Edward Tafe- 
 burgh ; and before 1570 it was fold to William Fern- 
 jcy, 01 Farlowe, of Greeting, in Suffolk, and by him 
 to fir Thomas Gaudy, of Glaxton, who died feifed, 
 and left it to Henry Gaudy, efq. his fon, who fold 
 
 it 
 
 * This was a free chapel belonging to the manor -houfe, 
 and was for the fole.ufe of the family ; we do not find it was 
 ever endowed, but the ferving prieft was fupported by the 
 lords, to pray for them, their family, and anceftors ; this con- 
 tinued to the difiblution,but being the fole property of the lord,, 
 the ftatute hath nothing to do with it.
 
 D E P W A D E. 17I 
 
 it according to an agreement made before his father's 
 death, with the manor of Hunt's, in Tafburgh, to 
 Gafcoign Weld, who left it to Jofeph Weld, efq,* his 
 fon, ferjeant at law, whofe two daughters, Elizabeth, 
 and Mary, inherited; Elizabeth, married Richard 
 Rutter, of Kingflcy, in Chefhire ; and Mary, Wil- 
 liam Starkey, clerk, whofe daughter, Mary, inherited 
 the whole, and carried it to herhufband, John Jcrrpy, 
 of Bayfield, in Norfolk, efq. whofe only fon and 
 heir, William Jermy, efq. was fince lord. 
 
 HUNT'S MANOR belonged at the Confeffor's furvey 
 to Almar, who held it of bifhop Stigand, and at the 
 Conqueror's Roger de Ebrois held it of William de 
 Schoies, and Richard de Hadefco held it about the 
 time of king John of the honor of Clare, at the 
 eighth part of a fee; and in 1235 John \Vythe, and 
 Roger de Broome, had it. In 1266 Henry III. 
 granted liberty of free-warren to Thomas Rofcelinc, 
 then lord, by purchafe from Richard le Chamber- 
 lain, of Haddifcoe; and in 1270 the faid Thomas 
 fold it to Roger dc Hales. In i 289 William de Nar- 
 ford had it; and in 1315 it belonged to Dunmovv 
 priory, in EiTex, at the diffolution of which it came 
 to the crown, and being granted from it, in the l 2th 
 of queen Elizabeth it belonged to fir Thomas Gref- 
 ham, knt. lord mayor of London, and by him was 
 joined to the manor of Uphall, with which it now 
 
 remains 
 
 * About 1700 Jofeph Weld, efq. ferjeant at law, brought his 
 ae~i.ion againit Mr, Carter, an attorney at Norwich, then lord of 
 Ranthorpe-hail, for cutting down trees on the common of 
 Tafburgh; it went for the plaintiff, it being proved by the evi- 
 dences and court-rapt, that in the time of queen Elizabeth the 
 lords of Tafburgh granted licence to the lord of Ranthorpe-hali 
 to plant trees, and to make a caufeway through the common 
 to go to the church, and that all tre drifts, filhing, and other 
 royalties, belonged to the lord ofTafburgh.
 
 i 7 * HUNDRED OF 
 
 remains. The ftile of the court now is, Tafeburgh- 
 Uphall, Boyland's, and Hunt's. 
 
 The honor of Richmond extends hither, two par- 
 cels belonged to Alan, lord of that honor; the one 
 was valued with his manor of Cofteffey, and the 
 other belonged to the manor of Swaffham ; and in 
 1632 Matthew Weld, gent, was obliged by procefs to 
 pay 2!. los. to the king as his forfeiture for not pay- 
 his Majefty an annual rent of sd. ob. called war- 
 pound rent'", due to his honor of Richmond. 
 
 There was a ferjeanty held under Roger Bigot at 
 the furvey, by Berard and Afceline and afterwards 
 by the earl Marfhal, who held it of Richmond ho- 
 nor. 
 
 RANTHORPE-HALL MANOR was held of Roger de 
 Ramis by William, at the furvey, and after him by 
 Jeffrey de.Rainefthorp, or Ranthorp, at one fee, in 
 1156; and it is now divided, and in that pan in Taf- 
 burgh he was fucceeded by John de Rainefthorp, and 
 he by William de Raines, or Reymes ; it continued 
 in this family a long time. In 1307 John de Reymes, 
 or Rarnefthorp, had it ; and afterwards, in 1342, it 
 belonged to William de Rhees. In 1550 Ann Chap- 
 man held it of Forncet at half a fee; and in 1579 
 Dudley Chapman fold it to fir Thomas Cornwallis, 
 knt. Thomas Baxter had it about 1600; he built 
 the houfe, called Ranthorpe-hall, in the windows of 
 which are the following arms : Howard duke of Nor- 
 folk, quartering Brotherton, Warren, and Mowbray; 
 
 Robfert 
 
 * War-pound, " beware of your pound rent," the forfei- 
 ture being one pound 'for every penny left unpaid. E. Rot. Pea. 
 P. L. N. inter Rot. Honoris Richmond, in Norff. ex parts Strattoa- 
 Longa in Dtp-wade hund curia ibm 16 y..
 
 D^E P W A 'D E. 173 
 
 Robfertt impaling Kerdefton, Sec. Appleyard and 
 Thornbury, Baxter impaling Drake, quarterly ;. Baxter 
 and Bludworth ; Bludworth and Croffe, quarterly; 
 Baxter and Bludworth quartered, impaled with Bovv- 
 ycr, Sec. Baxter and Sherman; Ditto and Flint. 
 
 Thomas Baxter, efq. fold it to Thomas Newce, 
 efq. of Hodfdon, in Hertfordshire, Stephen Bowyer, 
 and Thomas Heyward, efqrs. being truftees; at his 
 death it went to his only daughter, married to Mor- 
 gan Jenkyn, whofe only fon, Newce Jenkyn, fold it 
 to Mr. Richard Carter, fen. attorney at law, in Nor- 
 xvich, and his fon, Richard, had it, whofe widow 
 fold.it. 
 
 THARSTON. This village is called by va- 
 rious names in old evidences, as Sterftuna, or Sleres- 
 Town*. Therfton, Teftun, Thurfton, and Tharf- 
 tpn, and was in divers parts at the Cpnqueft, feve- 
 ral of them belonging to the manor of Forncet, of 
 which the capital manor was always held ^ at one 
 fee. LJluric held it of bifhop . Stigand at the Con- 
 feflbr's furvey, and Robert dc Vallibus, .Vals, or 
 Vaux, of Roger Bigot at the Conqueror's. The 
 church had forty acres of glebe, valued at 35. per 
 ann. the manor was worth '5!. 6s. and the town was 
 a league and an half long, and half a league broad, 
 and paid i^d. ob. to the gelt. This \vas afterwards 
 'Called Narford's, or Thariton-hall manor. 
 
 Another 
 
 f In 15 86 "fir Echvard Stafford, of Grafton, ambafiador in 
 France in 1586, married Mrs. Chapman, of Kanthorpe-hall, 
 by whom he had a fon, William ; and llie was rclid of Rob- 
 iert when he married her. 
 
 * From the fleers, or young bullocks, it being probably 
 appropriated for a place to breed and bring up young cattle in, 
 in the Sctxon times.
 
 174 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Another part belonged to Robert Fitz-Corburi, 
 which was worth IDS. per ann. in rents at the fiift, 
 and 2 os. at the laft furvey ; this conflituted the 
 
 Matior of THARSTON, or ST. OMER'S MANOR, 
 taking both its names from the lords of it; in 1236 
 Richard de Tharfton was lord, and held it at a 
 quarter of a fee of Robert de Shelton, of whom he 
 purchafed it, and Shelton held it of Robert de 
 Tatefhale, lord of Buckenham-caftle, from which 
 it had been formerly fold by the Albanys. 
 
 In 1317 Richard de Tharfton fettled it on Ralph 
 de St. Omer, and it foon after divided into two 
 parts*; but before 1401 St. Omer's part was joined 
 in William Rees, efq. who was lord of this, and 
 
 NARFORD'S, LOVENEY'S, or THARSTON-HALL MA* 
 XOR, as it is now called, which continued in the 
 Vaux's a long time; in 1275 John de Vaux had a 
 charter for free-warren here, and in 1285 he had a 
 leet held once a year, but the king's bailiff of the 
 hundred was to be prefent, or the lord could not 
 hold it, unlefs he agreed with him yearly, which 
 was afterwards done conftantly, till it was bought in 
 perpetuity; and then the lord had view of frank- 
 pledge, aflize of bread and ale, and waif. 
 
 In 1288, upon the partition made between the 
 two daughters and co-heireffes of John de Vaux, 
 
 Maud 
 
 * In 1303 Joh'n Jerrhy purchafed of Roger de Hales three 
 mefluages, j 20 acres of land, four of meadow, eight of paf- 
 ture, fifteen of wood, and zos. rent in Tharfton, Wadon, and 
 Korncet ; this was held in the time of Henry III. by the fef- 
 jeanty of finding one flinger, with a fling to caft ftones with in 
 the kino's army. Jenny's manor continued in that family, and 
 M as fome time afterwards joined with the other manor.
 
 D E P W A D E. 175 
 
 Maud, married to William de Roos, and Petronel, 
 to William de Narford, who had this manor, and 
 that of Shottefham, in Henftead, and the moieties 
 of Holt and Cley, the whole advowfon of Holt, 
 with divers knights fees in Thorpe, Winch, Bee- 
 chamwelJ, Thurneton, Mourningthorpe, Sec. and it 
 continued in the Narfords. 
 
 Sir Thomas Roos, of Hamlake, knt. who de- 
 fcended from Maud, the other daughter and co- 
 heirefs of Vaux, had it; and. in 1394 Margery de 
 Narford releafed and conveyed all right in it to 
 William Roos, or Rees, efq. and his heirs, who 
 held it in 1403 of Thomas Mowbray's manor of 
 Forncet at one fee. In. 1410 this William Rees. 
 efq. by will, gave his two manors in Tharfton, the 
 one called Narford's. and the other St. Omcr's, to 
 be fold by his execucors, with his manors of Caxton 
 and \Vroting, in Cambridgefhire, to found a chan- 
 try in the college of St. Mary in the Fields, in Nor- 
 wich, and to pay fir Thomas, the anchorite, near 
 that college, 2s. a week for life ; and foon after it 
 wns fold to William Lqveney, and afterwards pur- 
 chafed by fir Robert Clere, knt. who held it in, 
 1432, and it patted in that family with Kefwick. 
 
 In 1549 fir John Clere was lord, and the manors 
 were valued at 30!. but he manumited much, and 
 and died Auguft 21, 1557, leaving fir Edward, his 
 fon and heir. He made a long leafe of the de- 
 mefnes to John Woolmer, and fettled the manor. 
 He left it to fir Edward Clere, of Ormefby, his fon 
 and heir, who fold it to John Smith, efq. of Ar- 
 minghall, and he in 1617 to ^ r Thomas Knyvet, of 
 Afluvelthorpe, knt. when there were 319 acres, three 
 roods and an half of copyhold, which paid lol. 
 2s. ^d. quit-rents, befides fix capons, two hens, three, 
 geek, ten eggs, two buQiels of oats, feven days 
 
 work
 
 176 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 work and an half in barveft, feven days work in 
 winter, half a day's work in hay-feele, and half 
 a day's work in weeding, which were even now 
 paid in kind. The freehold rents of antient te- 
 nure were 61. zs. 4d. per ann. twelve capons, 
 five hens, one comb of wheat, half a pound of 
 pepper, and one July-flower. The freehold rents 
 of the new purchafes, or manumiffions, were 2!. 75* 
 ^d. one capon, and one red rofe. The rents of 
 159 acres of demefnes granted off free, 61. 175. ob. 
 and one capon. The profits of the court one year 
 with another 81. los. The lord hath had a warren 
 of coneys at Holme-hill, and hath lett Holme cha- 
 pel to farm. It then paid gd. per ann. to Forncet, 
 and is. to Stratton manors. 
 
 In 1626 Thomas Knevet, of Afhwekhorpc, efq. 
 fold it to Robert Wood, efq. of Bracon-Afh, and it 
 hath paffed ever fince in that family. 
 
 WFLHOLME'S, or WELHAM'S MANOR, laid inStratton 
 St. Michael, and this town. Before the Welholmes 
 removed to their new made manor-houfe at Stratton, 
 they du elt in the old fcite of their manor by Holm- 
 hill, in this parifh, to which belonged an ancient 
 free chapel dedicated to St. Giles, called Holme, or 
 Welholme's chapel, the fcite of which now belongs 
 to the manor of Tharflon ; and on account of this 
 it is that we often meet with the churches of Thar- 
 fton mentioned, but the manor united to. Stratton- 
 hall. 
 
 The advowfon of the rectory of the church of 
 St. Mary the Virgin, at Tharfton, was given in the 
 time of king Stephen to the priory of Pentney, in 
 treebridge-Lynn, by Robert dc Vaux, founder of 
 that houfe, to which it was appropriated before 1273; 
 it was firft valued at fifteen, afterwards at eighteen 
 
 marks,
 
 D E P W A D E. 177 
 
 marks, and had a houfe and forty acres of glebe. 
 The vicarage is valued in the king's books by the 
 name of Thurfton, at 5!. is. 8d. and being (worn 
 of the clear yearly value of 45!. it is difcharged of 
 firfl-fruits and tenths, and is capable of augmenta- 
 tion ; and in 1571 the queen's receiver-general paid 
 to the vicar, out of the impropriate tithes, a yearly 
 penfion of 3!. 6s 8d. There was a guild held in 
 honor of the Bleffed Virgin, and the following reli- 
 gious peifons had temporalities, valued as follow : 
 the prior of Thetford monks at as. the abbot of 
 Creake 6d. the prior of Buckenham ss. the prior of 
 Norwich 45. 6d. and it paid clear to every tenth 
 
 4!. I2S. 
 
 The church hath a fquare fteeple and four bells, 
 the nave is leaded, the chancel and north porch are 
 died. 
 
 There arc two monuments of black marble in- 
 fcribed to Robert Wood, efq. fon and heir to fir Ro- 
 bert Wood, of Ayljham, knt. who died May 23, 1623. 
 Alfo Anne Wood, wife to the fold Robert, -daughter and 
 one of the co-heireffcs of Robert, Wodmer, efq-ifhe died 
 at her houfe at Bracon-AJh, Jan. 7, 1646. The f aid 
 Robert and Anne had ijjue three fons and two daughters, 
 fir Robert, their eldejl fon, married Elizabeth, the third 
 daughter of fir Thomas Richardfon, knt. late chief -juf~ 
 lice oj the Kings-Bench. 
 
 John Woolmer, efq. fome time clerk of the aJJiT.es for 
 this circuit, and Alice, his wife; he died in this town 
 Dec. 2, 1598, and Alice, his wife, died at Croxton, 
 near Thetford, Dec. 9, 1610. 
 inn mot Lii. ~.K;.-i*i:. ! j /; .v-v.oj. 1 1 'io' tin . r co 
 
 The vicars of Tharfton were prefented by the 
 
 priors of Pentney till 1500, when the prior granted 
 
 M the
 
 17 S HUNDRED OF 
 
 the next turn to Thomas Codde, Alderman of 
 Norwich. 
 
 The impropriate re&ory, and advowfon of the 
 vicarage, vefted in the crown at the diffolution, 
 and the king lett the impropriation to farm at 61. 6s. 
 &d. referved rent, and preferred to the vicarage one 
 Robert Ringer, who in 1554 was deprived by 
 queen Mary for not complying with the Romifh re- 
 ligion, which fhe endeavoured to eftablifh, and (he 
 gave it to Robert Vaffour ; and in 1557, he being 
 outed, Thomas Underwood, alias Babington, took 
 it by lapfe. 
 
 The impropriation and advowfon of the vicar- 
 age was fettled in i6ftl by he crown on the bi- 
 Ihopric of Ely, the bifhops of which fee have all 
 along, and do now enjoy them. 
 
 In 1 603 the vicar returned 136 communicants in 
 this parifh. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Thurlow, father of the prefent 
 lord high chancellor of England, was vicar of 
 Tharfton; and in 1762 the Rev. John Salmon had 
 it. In 1775 the lord bifhop of Ely prcfented the 
 prefent vicar, Thomas Howes, of Mourningthorpe. 
 
 TIBBENHAM, or TIBENHAM. The church here 
 is dedicated to All SaintSj and hath a fquare tower 
 and five large bells; the fouth porch, fouth aile, 
 nave, and chancel, are all leaded; the vicarage- 
 houfe joins to the weft part of the church-yard: 
 there are the emblems of the four evangelifls at each 
 corner of the tower, carved in flone, and four mar- 
 bles in the chancel : 
 
 I. Ro-
 
 D E P W A D E. 
 
 i. Robertus Herne, generofus, ob. Mar. 2, A. D. 
 1685. Anna Herne, ob. 20 Mar. A.D. 1729, at. 81. 
 
 2. Richard Herne, gent. 1668. 3. Herne' s arms 
 
 and crcft. Robertas Herne, armiger, jilius Robcrti 
 Hcrne, generoji, ob. 12 die Aug. A.D. 1720, at. 66-. 
 4. Gooch impaling Hernc. Here lieth Sarah Gooch, 
 tlie wife of Clement Gooch, late of Earfliam, in the 
 county of Norfolk, efq. and daughter of Robert Herne, 
 of this parijh, gent. Dec. i, 1729, <zt. 76. To the 
 memory of fo good a parent. Ann, the wife of John 
 Buxton, of Channom-Holl, efq. her only furviving 
 child, by the [aid Clement Gooch, confecrales this mo- 
 nument. 
 
 There are feveral braffeS loft in the nave and Couth 
 aile. At the weft end of the nave is a itone for 
 Samuel Vernon, gent. March 2, 1686, at, 49. 
 
 On an old brafs in St. Nicholas's chapel, at the 
 caft end of the fouth aile- Orate pro animabus Ro- 
 bcrti Bucjlon, Chrijliane, et Agiietis, uxorttm ejus, qui 
 quidem Robertus obijt anno Dni. MCCCCCXXVIII, quorum 
 animabus propicietur Delis*. 
 
 Buxton quartering two bucks couchant, impaling 
 Warner 'For John Buxton, gent, Jon of Robert Bux- 
 ton, obijt April 5, 1572. 
 
 There is cut on the Buxtori's feat in the church, 
 which was built by thefe two, the paternal coat of 
 Buxton, quartering or. two bucks lodged, gulei, 
 and is the rebus for the name of Buxton, as we 
 have fgcn fof the name of the town of Buxton, in 
 South Erpingham, whence this family took their fir- 
 name; and indeed Buxton fignifies the bucks tpwn, 
 M 2 lod- 
 
 "Ifcii J&fv/ .'!; . . ' -v. !-?i o i >TO *-' 
 
 * Wecver, fol. Si 4,
 
 ito HUNDRED OF 
 
 lodgement, or habitation impaled with Warner; 
 alfo Buxton impaled with Herne, and Buxton im- 
 paling Pert. 
 
 Here is another brafs plate for the aforefaid Johan- 
 nes de Buxton, and one with Buxton's arms impal- 
 ing Pert For Johannes Buxton, de Channom, apud Ty- 
 benham, armiger, obijt 29 die menjis Aprilis, anno Dm. 
 1660, tftatis Jutz 51, et Margareta, uxor, fiha Gu- 
 K.'lmi Pert, of MontncJJiny, comitatu Effex, armig. obijt 
 II die mentis Maij, anno Dni. 1687, at.futz curren. 76. 
 
 There is a flone For Benjamin, third Jon of Wil- 
 liam Buxton, who died April 16, 1681. And ano- 
 ther head-ftone by the chancel door For Mary, wife 
 of Francis Buxton, gent, and Mary, his wife, who died 
 Jan* 29, 1723, &t* 22; and Hannah, their daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 T/iomas Talbot, armiger, juris confultus, jujliciarus, 
 vir Deo devotus^ omnibus boms charus, amicus fidiffimu s , 
 natalibus virtutibus, dignilatibus indytus, mortem patiendo 
 corporahm victor abibat in vitsm elernam, per Dommum 
 nojlrum, Jefum Chriftum, cui onmis laus, gloria, ho- 
 nor, &c. in fecula feculorum. Amen. 
 
 Here was a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, 
 {landing by itfelf in the church-yard, at the eaft end 
 of the chancel, the ruins of which may flill be 
 feen. William Lynfter, alias Bocher, in 1493, was 
 buried in the chapel of the Bleffed Virgin Mary at 
 Tibbenham; he gave a meffuage and lands to the 
 parifh church of All Saints here, ordering the 
 churchwardens to apply the neat profit to repair 
 and adorn the church for ever; he gave alfo nine 
 acres of freehold lying at Mill-hill and Rowe-Bufhes, 
 for the conflables to receive the rent, and with the 
 
 neat
 
 D E P W A D E. igi 
 
 neat yearly profit thereof to pay the king's fif- 
 teenths for the poorer fort of people, and when there 
 are no fifteenths, then the churchwardens are to re- 
 ceive it, and repair and beautify the church with it. 
 
 There were three guilds here, the brethren and 
 fifters of which had one common guild-hall, fince 
 turn'd into a fchool-houfe ; thefe guilds had divers 
 lands here, which at their diffolution were feized by 
 the crown, where they continued till 1609, an( i 
 then James I. granted them to John Eldred, efq. 
 and Mrs. Joan Verdon, and their heirs. The fur- 
 niture of the guild-hall remained till 1650, when 
 the hall was ruined ; for then the officers fold 30!. 
 of pewter, 92!. of lead, four fpits that weighed 
 iSglb. a metal pot that weighed 44 Ib. two pots 
 
 of brafs of 89 Ib. and a brafs pan of 9 lb. A 
 
 plain proof of the jolly doings at thefe guilds ! But 
 as the poor of the parifh always were partakers 
 with them, we much queftion whether their revenues 
 were not better fpcnt then, than they have been 
 fince they were rapacioufly feized from the parishes 
 to which they of right belonged. 
 
 In 1652 the town lands to beautify and repair the 
 church were lett at above 28!. per ann. 
 
 In 1-506 John Blomefield, of Norwich, gent, be- 
 queathed to the paving of St. Nicholas's chapel, in 
 Tibbenham church, a thoufand paving tiles, or mo- 
 ney to the value. 
 
 The vicars of Tibbenham were prefented by the 
 priors of Horfham St. Faith ; or the king, when he 
 feized that priory into his hands, as being an 
 alien. 
 
 In
 
 jS* HUNDRED OF 
 
 In 1393 the advowfon of Tibbenham was alU 
 cnated by fir Miles Stapleton, and others, to Norton- 
 Subcrofs chantry; but they having ; no other right 
 in it, only a grant from the king, as part of the 
 pofTeflions of an alien priory, when that was made 
 a denizen, the grant ceafed. 
 
 In 1554, the vicar being deprived, and a pen- 
 fion affigned him, fir Richard Southwell, knt. by 
 leafe from the crown of the impropriation and ad- 
 vowfon of the vicarage, gave it to Peter Walker*. 
 
 They were afterwards granted by queen Elizabeth, 
 in exchange, to the bifhopric of Ely; and ever fmce 
 the bifliop of Ely hath been patron of the vicarage, 
 and leafes out the impropriation. 
 
 In 1603 the reclor returned 210 communicants 
 here, that the bifhop of Ely was patron of the vi- 
 carage, and had the impropriate redorv, which had 
 formerly been endowed with part of the vicarage, 
 viz. the tithe hay. 
 
 In 1227 it was a re&ory, for Richard le Chaum 
 then granted two parts of the advowfon to Auguf- 
 tine, prior of St. Faith, at Horfham, who had the 
 other third part before in right of their lands here; 
 and the church was appropriated and confirmed to 
 them by the bifhop of Norwich, according to art 
 agreement made in the time of his predeceffor, fav- 
 ing a fufficient maintenance to the vicar ; and in 
 1428 the prior was taxed for his fpiritualities at 
 33 marks, and his temporals paid 1 2d. to each 
 tenth. At the diffolution their temporals as well as 
 
 fpiri- 
 
 * Dna. Regina habet prefentationtm vicarie d Tibenham, rec- 
 fr(ut fft in manu Rid Southwell, jnilitit, pro tsrmino annorwn /- 
 turoruOi, froredditu 8/. l$t.6<f.
 
 D E P W A D E. i$ 3 
 
 fpirituals vefled in the crown, and in 1610 were 
 granted by James I. to George Salter,. and John 
 Williams, by the name of the revenues and lands 
 late of St. Faith's priory, viz. the tenement called 
 the priory-houfe, and yard, and thirty-two acres 
 of land and a tenement, called Annables ; and the 
 tithe-wood and hay of the reclory of Tibbenharn 
 aforefaid, now in the tenure of Nicholas Herne, 
 efq. of the yearly value of 445, 
 
 As the impropriation confifts of all the great, fo 
 doth the vicarage of the fmall tithes, except the 
 tithe-wood and hay aforefaid. It now flands in the 
 king's books at 7!. 6s. 8d. 
 
 When Doomfday-book was made, the vicar hacih 
 a houfe, and half an acre of land, and the vicar- 
 age was valued at five, and afterwards at fix marks, 
 but was not taxed; and the village paid 4!. 155. i id, 
 clear to every tenth. The prior of Weftacre was 
 taxed at 61. 135. $d. for his temporals here. The 
 prior of Caflle-Acre at half a mark for his fpirituals, 
 which were two parts out of three of the tithes of 
 the demefne lands of the manors of Robert de Bofe- 
 vile here, which the faid Robert confirmed to the 
 monaflery, as his anceftors had formerly granted 
 them. The portion of the raonaftery of Sees, in 
 Mendham, was 6s. The portion of tbe prior of 
 St. Olave in fpirituals (being taxed at half a mark) 
 was for two parts of the tithes of their demefnes 
 here, valued at two marks : and the portion of the 
 abbot of St. Bennet in the Holme was one mark, 
 and was for two parts of the tithes of his demefnes 
 here. The prior of Buckenham had . temporals alfo 
 in this parifh, taxed at 255. And it is faid, there 
 was a chapel at Tibbenham Old-Hall, which be- 
 longed to, and was lerved by, the canons of that 
 M 4 houfe ;
 
 184 HUNDRED OF 
 
 boufe ; but we have not met with any certain ao 
 count of it. 
 
 In 1759 tne R CV ' Thomas Kerrich was prefentcd 
 to the vicarage of Tibbenham by the lord bifhop 
 of Ely. 
 
 TIBBE^HAM-HALL, alias ORREBY'S, TATESHALL'S, 
 Sec. cum CARLETON*, Sec. (for it hath gone by the fe- 
 veral names of its owners) is the capital manor, and be- 
 longed to Alric, a thane of king Edward the Con- 
 fefTor, arid had then three carucates of land be- 
 longing to it, two in demefne, and one in the te- 
 nants hands, who had liberty to fell their lands, if 
 they firll offered them for falc to their lord, and he 
 refufed them. The king and earl had then the leet, 
 and all fuperior jurifdi&ion ; and at the Conqueror's 
 furvey it was owned by Eudo, fon of Spiruwin, the 
 founder of the Tatefhall family, in which it conti- 
 nued till it was joined to Buckenham-caftle, and 
 palfed exaclly as that caftle did through the Tates- 
 halls, Orrerys, Cliftons, Knevets, Sec. till it was 
 ibid by the Harveys to Mr. Shaw, of Beflhorpe, 
 whofe daughter and heirefs married to lord Byron, 
 \vlio now owned it. 
 
 In 1 25 7 fir Robert de Tatefhall had a charter for 
 free-warren in this manor from Henry III. which, 
 was afterwards confirmed to Conftantine de Clifton, 
 his heir, by Richard II. in 1275, affize of bread 
 and ale over all his tenants in Tibbenham and 
 Carleton was allowed him by Edward 1. In 1285 
 all thefe privileges were allowed in Eire, with waif, 
 and a tumbrel. 
 
 In 
 
 * This manor extends into Carleton-Rode.
 
 D E P W A D E. 185 
 
 In 1272 this manor was held in capitc of the 
 king by barony. 
 
 In 1649 ^ r Philip Knevet, baronet, had it valued, 
 and the free quit-rents, 8cc. were sol. fcite of the hall. 
 8cc. 93!. 155. per annum. The hall Hands a quar- 
 ter of a mile north-weft of the church. 
 
 ABBOT'S MANOR was given before the conqueft by 
 Lefwald, a Saxon, to the abbey of St. Bennet at the 
 Holme; and at the conqueft was worth 255. a year. 
 In 1326 the rents of affize were 225. 4d. ob. a year; 
 and there was a manor-houfe, and 136 acres of ara- 
 ble land worth 3d. an acre; two acres of meadow 
 worth 2S. and twenty acres ef wood;, for all which 
 temporals the abbot was taxed in 1428 at 4!. 75. 4d. 
 ob. The whole revenues went with the abbey of 
 Holme to the bifhop of Norwich, whofe leffee now 
 hath it. 
 
 DAGWORTH'S MANOR was part of the abbot's ma- 
 nor granted to Ofbert de Dagworth, who recovered it 
 in the king's court againft the abbot, and then gave 
 it to the monaftery of St. Olave's, at Herringfleet, in 
 Suffolk, and the prior of that houfe paid 75. id. tax 
 for it in 1428. At the diflfolution this manor of Tib- 
 benham was given by Henry VIII. to Henry Jerning- 
 ham, and it afterwards carne to the Abergavennys. 
 
 The manor of TIBBENHAM, HASTINGS, or LONG- 
 ROWE, belonged to the abbot of Bury St. Edmund's, 
 and was held of him by Richard, being raifed from 
 40 to 6os. value. At the Conqueror's furvey the 
 village was a league and an half long, and one league 
 broad, and paid i Sd. gelt, or tax, and pafTed as Haft- 
 ing's manor, in Giffing, held of the abbot of Bury, 
 by the fervice of half a fee, and as. yd. per ann, 
 
 rent
 
 i-S6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 rent for caiUe-guard to Norwich caftle. In 1374 
 John Hafiings, earl of Pembroke, died feifed of 
 Tibbenham-Rowes, and Win far thing, of which ma- 
 nor it was held, and conflantly attended it for fome 
 time. In 1401 fir William Beauchamp had it; and 
 in 1445 Joan, widow of fir William Beauchamp, 
 knt. lord of Abergavenny, died fcifed thereof, having 
 held it in dower of the inheritance of Elizabeth, her 
 grand-daughter, wife of fir Edward Nevile, knt. lord 
 Abergavenny, as parcel of the inheritance of Haft- 
 ings earl of Pembroke. In 1475 Edward Nevile, 
 lord Abergavenny, died feifed ; and in 1570 it was 
 in the hands of the lord Abergavenny. 
 
 CHANNONS, or CHANEUX'S MANOR, was fo called 
 from the Chauns, or Chains, the ancient lords there- 
 of. In the Conqueror's time it was parcel of Forn- 
 cet manor, and belonged to Roger Bigot. In 1198 
 it was Adam Fitz-Roberfs, afterwards the Fits-Wal- 
 ters, of whom Henry de Croftwick held it at one fee. 
 In 1200 Ralph de Chaum, Cham, or Caam, held it 
 at one fee. In 1227 Richard le Chaum fold two 
 parts of 'the advowfon. fci 1303 William deMor- 
 bun, and John le Wales, or Willis, had the manor 
 Jate Thomas de Chauns, which then contained 30 
 mefluages, four carucates of land, two acres of 
 meadow, 20 acres of pafture, 80 acres of wood, a 
 wind-mill, and 6os. per annum rent in Tibbenham, 
 Ailadon, Moulton, and the towns adjacent. After 
 this it came into the Bacons; and in 1401 John Ba- 
 con, of Baconflhorpe, had the united manors of 
 Hackford, Chaun'b, or Chaneux, and Wefthall, in 
 Tibbenham, with view of frank-pledge, See. belong- 
 ing to them. It ddcended to ihe coheirefles of Tho- 
 mas Bacon, and the iaft of that family, Ann, mar- 
 ried to Robert Garnifh, of Kenton, in Suffolk ; and 
 Elizabeth, to fir John Glemham, knt. who inherited 
 
 the
 
 D E P VV A D E. i$ 7 
 
 the whole hy releafe from Ann and Robert. Garnifh. 
 In 1537 fir John Glerrham, knt, died feifcd, and' left 
 Chriftopher his fan and heir; he died Oclober iS, 
 1549, and left them all to Thomas Glemham, efq. 
 his Ton and heir, who was alfo coufin and heir to 
 Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk. After this we 
 find Chriftiana Glemham had thefe manors of Cha- 
 nons, Wefthall, Hackford, and Seckford, in Tib- 
 benham, and paid for ward to Norwich-rcaftle every 
 thirty weeks as. 4d. and before the year 1567 we 
 find them in the hands of Robert Buxton, gent: who 
 died feifed of them, and North or Great GJemham 
 manor, in Suffolk, June ^ i 1621, leaving Robert his 
 fon and heir: this Robert was grandfon to Robert 
 Buxton, who was buried in the church of Tibben- 
 ham in 1528. In 1655 John Buxton, efq. ofCha- 
 nonSt was lord, and was buried here in 1660, leaving 
 by Margaret Pert, his wife, one of the hcirelles o 
 Thomas Conyers, of Eaft Barnet, in Hertfordshire, 
 efq. four fons and two daughters. 
 
 Robert Buxton, of Chanons, the eldeft fon, mar- 
 ried Hannah, daughter of Robert Wilton, efq. o 
 Topcroft and Wilby, and was buried at Tibbenham ; 
 John Buxton, his eldeft fon, dying unmarried, at Or- 
 leans, in France, where he was buried, 
 
 Robert Buxton, his fecond fon, fucceeded him, and 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard Gooch, efq. 
 of Earfham ; he was buried at Rufhford in 1691 ; 
 and Elizabeth Buxton was buried by him in 1 730. 
 His brother, Charles; was A. B. and fellow of Clare- 
 hall, in Cambridge, who died in 1682, and was bu- 
 ried in St. Edward's church there, being 22 years old. 
 Margaret, his fifter, married Henry Keddington, of 
 Hoekhamj and Hannah, her fifter, was then un- 
 married. 
 
 John
 
 i88 HUNDREDOF 
 
 John Buxton. fon of Robert Buxton, and Eliza- 
 beth Gooch, fuccecded, and was buried at Rufli- 
 worth in 1731, leaving thefe manors to Ann, his 
 wife, for life, and Robert Buxton, efq. his fon, her 
 heir. John Buxton, efq. of Shadwell-Lodge, in 
 Rufhworth, is now lord. 
 
 In 1570 Knevet and Buxton, in right of their ma- 
 nors here, were chief lords of the commons. 
 
 In I 742 the total of the quit-rents of the manors 
 of Chanons, Weflhall, Hackford, and Seckford, were 
 7!. 6s. i id. ob. per ama. 
 
 The fcite of the manor of Chanons 1 is now called 
 Chanons-hall, and is a feat of the Buxtons ; it (lands 
 about a mile fouth-eaft of the church, and is a good 
 old regular building, moated in. 
 
 The manors of WEST-HALL, HACKFORD, and SECK- 
 roRt>, called afterwards Bacon's manor, belonged 
 to Roger Bigot's manor of Forncet at the conqueft, 
 and the feveral parts before their union belonged to 
 different families. Weft-hall was held by Richard 
 de Hadefco, by the fourth part of a fee, in the time 
 ef Richard I. and after that was joined to Hackford's 
 manor, which pafled as Hackford's manor, in Weft 
 Harling, and from thence to the Seckfords, and 
 was by one of them fold to the Bacons, and joined 
 to Chanons manor, as before-mentioned. 
 
 The manors of SKEYTON-HALL, alias WHITWELL'S, 
 and LAUNDE'S. are now joined to the manors of Bun- 
 well, Carleton, and Tibbenham, cum Mcmbris, the 
 members of it being thefe two manors: 
 
 Skeyton-hall
 
 D E P W A D E. 189 
 
 Skeyton-hall manor, alias Whitwell's, took its 
 jaame from fir John de Skegeton, or Skeyton, lord of 
 it in the time of Edward I. as sflfo of Skeyton-hall, in 
 Skeyton, from which village he took his name. Richer 
 de Whitwell had it in 1261. 
 
 Launde's manor in 1 264 belonged to Richard Lem- 
 ming, of Tibbenham, who forfeited it for rebelling 
 againfi Henry III. In 1278 Robert de Buckenham 
 had it ; and in 1283 William de Cruce, De-la-Croyz, 
 or At-Crofs, owned it. In 1287 John de Tib- 
 benham had affize of bread and ale, arid waif, al- 
 lowed him here. In 1478 John Heydon, of Baconf- 
 thorpe, died feifed, and from that time to this they 
 have paffed as Bunwell, John Buxton, efq. being now 
 lord. Alan earl of Richmond's manor of Carlcton. 
 extended hither. 
 
 Tibbenham vicarage is valued in the king's books 
 at 61. 165. 8d. and being fworn of the clear yearly- 
 value of 46!. it pays no full-fruits nor tenths, and is 
 capable of augmentation. 
 
 WACTON, or WATCH-TOWN, might probably 
 take its name from the watch that ufed coniiantlv to 
 be kept upon the Roman highway, at the entrance 
 of Siratton, in order to guard the paflage to their 
 fortification at Tarburgh. At the Confeffor'6 and 
 /Conqueror's furveys the whole of Waketuna belong- 
 ed to, and was included in the manor of Forncer, 
 except one part, which belonged to the honor of 
 Richmond, and afterwards became Park's manor 
 here. 
 
 There was a fourth pait of A fee held by Durand 
 at ihe Conqueror's f'urvey, and this was the manor 
 of 
 
 WACTON
 
 jgo 
 
 H U N D R E t) O 
 
 WACTON Parita, or LITTLE WACTON, which al- 
 ways attended the rtjanor of Great Moulton from 
 that time to this, in fcght of which the third turn 
 of the fmecure reclory here is flill appendant to it. 
 The other third part of the village of Waclon Parva 
 always belonged to Forncet, and a third part of the 
 advowfon, till it was lately purchafed of the duke of 
 Norfolk by the late Rev. John Soley, reclor of Strat- 
 ton St. Mary, who had alfo the other third part of 
 the gift of Thomas Buckenham Tirrel. lord of the 
 manor of Parks, in Great Waclon, to which it lately 
 belonged, though formerly it was appendant to the 
 manor of Stratton-hall, according to an agreement 
 made in 1288, between Roger le Bigot, earl of Nor- 
 folk, and Gilbert de Bourne, owners of Stratton- 
 hall, by which this turn was fettled on Bourne and 
 his heirs. 
 
 In 1755 fir Edward Duke, bart. prefented the Rev. 
 William Baker, A. M. to this reclory; and in 1762 
 the Rev. James Anfdell was prefented by Thomas 
 Lobb Chute, efq. of Pickeuham, in the hundred 
 of South Greenhoe. 
 
 The church was dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, 
 and when Norwich Doomfday-book was made, the 
 reclor had a houfe and fixteen acres of glebe ; the 
 revenues were fo fmali that it was not valued in the 
 firft taxation, but at the fecond it was valued at 408. 
 though not taxed ; it now ftands in the king's books 
 thus: al. 135. 4d. Waclon Parva reclory 30!. clear 
 yearly value; no church; fo that being discharged, 
 it pays no firft fruits or tenths, and is capable of 
 augmentation. 
 
 In 1606 this panflh was valued by itfelf at 233!. 
 135. 8d. per annum to the tax. The church was in 
 
 eonftant
 
 D E P W A D E. 191 
 
 conftant life till about 1500, and then it began to be 
 called a chapel ; and in 1510 was returned to be in 
 decay. In 1520 it was fo bad that fervice began to 
 be omitted, and then there was a defign of rebuilding 
 it, though it never took place; for in 1522 William, 
 Cullyng, of Wa&on St. Mary, was buried there, 
 and willed, " That when it fhall pleafe the pariff- 
 " heners of the feid Wekton, to go about the 
 " halowynge of their churche, yf that they will doo 
 " geve the bifhop his dener that day, then I wyti 
 ' that mine executors (hall foo geve the bifhop his 
 " ftypende, as he or they may agree." But not- 
 withftaiiding this it fell down, and was never re- 
 paired. It flood on the piece of glebe now called 
 Dove-houfe-acre, or chapel-yard; but the founda- 
 tions are plowed over, though the re&or upon every 
 inftitution reads prayers there forenoon and afternoon, 
 as in other reclories ; the filver cup which belonged 
 here is now the only cup in Great Wadlon church, as 
 the infcription on it fhews. 
 
 The parifh is now fo far fwallowed up in Great 
 Wa6on, that the bounds are not commonly known; 
 fo that all the tithes are received by the reclor of 
 Great Wa&on ; there being no houfe, church, or pa- 
 rifhioner, it is 'an abfolute fin^cure. The reclor.ac 
 this day is poffeffed of nothing but about fixteen acres 
 of glebe, and even that pays all taxes, tithes, and 
 rates, to Wa&on Magna, being rated at 5!. los.'per 
 annum. 
 
 Twelve fmall pieces of this glebe laid intermixed 
 in ten or twelve inclofures of land belonging to 
 Mrs. Martina Robe, widow, but are newly ex- 
 changed for the like quantity of land in two inclo- v 
 fures, containing about eight or nine acres, by con- 
 fent of the bifhop, reior, and patrons. 
 
 WACTON
 
 igz HUNDRED OF 
 
 WACTON Magna. The church is dedicated to All 
 Saints ; the advowfon belonged to Forncet manor, 
 till fold from it lately; when Norwich Doomlday- 
 book was made the reclor had a houfe and fixteen 
 acres of glebe ; the houfc is fhuaied againft the 
 church-yard, and much the fame quantity of glebe 
 now remains ; it was firft valued at five, and after- 
 wards at eight marks, and the monks of Thetford 
 had a portion of tithes, valued at 6s. fcd. the whole 
 village paid si. 6s. 8d. clear to every tenth. 
 
 Elizabeth Bafpoole, widow, tied her eftate in 
 Waclon, now Mr. Jofeph Cotman's, of Great Yar- 
 mouth, for ever, to pay 2!. 1 2S. yearly, to be given 
 weekly at church, by is. a week in bread, to fucli 
 poor people of the parifh as conflantly attend there. 
 
 The re&ory of Great Wac"lon was in the duke of 
 Norfolk in right of Forncet manor; and in 1603 
 the redor returned 67 communicants here. 
 
 Jn 1752 the late Rev. John Soley, of Long Strat- 
 ton, (as patron of this turn) prefented himfelf to the 
 reclory of Great Wa&on. 
 
 WACTON PARKS is the only manor in this parifh, 
 except the parts belonging to Forncet, and to the ho- 
 nor of Richmond, (of which this manor is held) and 
 to the honor of Eye, both which extended hither; 
 he duke of Norfolk, as lord of Forncef, and the 
 lord of the honor of Richmond, are fuperior lords 
 of the commons and waftes, and had their leets here, 
 though there is a leet belonging to this manor, the 
 jurisdiction of which extends to the tenants of the 
 manor only, as the ether leets do ove'r the feveral te- 
 nants of the honor. It-was firft held by the family 
 of the VVadons, and Stephen de VVadon, who had 
 
 in
 
 D E P W A D E. 195 
 
 iti n i 230, was the laft lord of that name here. In 
 1235 Walter de Waleys owned it, who was fucceeded 
 by Thomas dc Camera, or Chambers, of Baclon. 
 who in 1283 had leet, or view of frank-pledge, and 
 affize of bread and ale of all his tenants here, by the, 
 king's grant ; this leet belonged to the king's hun- 
 dred, and therefore the lord was obliged to pay 6d. 
 per annum fee farm for it to the bailiff of the hun- 
 dred. In 1298 it had 130 acres, one mill, and 16. 
 inefTuages, belonging to it, and extended into Aflaclon, 
 Stratton, and Forncet. In 1315 Thomas De-la- 
 Chambre was lord, and after him it came to. the 
 Parks, and pafled with the manor of Park's, in 
 Afla&on , and fo to the Dukes, of Benhale, in Suf- 
 folk, and after the death of fir Edward Duke, ivhu 
 fold Aflaclon, it went to fir John Duke, his fon, 
 who ferved as member of parliament for Orford, in 
 Suffolk; he married Elizabeth, daughter and coheirefs 
 of Edward Duke, M. D. by whom he had four, 
 daughters, and one fon, fir Edward Duke, bart/" who 
 married Mary, daughter of Thomas Rudgc, of Staf- 
 fordfhise, but dying without iffue, he gave it to his 
 lifter's .fon, Edmund Tirrel, of Gipping, efq. who 
 fold it to his brother, Thomas Buckenham Tirrel, 
 of Belftead, near Ipfwich, cfq. The fines are arbi- 
 trary, the eldeft fon inherits, and it gives no dower. ; 
 
 There was a fourth part of a fee of the Forncet 
 part granted from it, and was to be held of it ; this 
 was called 
 
 GREYSHAUGH, LA VILE'S, or BACON'S MANOR, and 
 anciently belonged to Richard la Vile. In 1345 
 Thomas Grey, chaplain, and his parceners, had it. 
 In 1370 Robert Bacon, of Dickleburgh, lord of it, 
 
 N was 
 
 * The t\vo hundred and ninety-firft baronet, created in 1661.
 
 i 9 4 HUNDRED OF 
 
 was outlawed for felony, and it was feized by the 
 king; but Joan, his wife, recovered it, and held it in 
 1391 : at her death it went to the crown, and was 
 purchafed by the lord of Park's manor, and joined 
 to it, and fo continues. 
 
 The church and chancel are both of a height, and 
 thatched, there is no porch, the tower is round, and 
 hath three bells. 
 
 On a brafs in the nave are the arms of Knevet, 
 with a cretcent in a lozenge; Hie jacet Abigal Stdley, 
 vid : filia Johannis Knyvet, dt Ajhwould- thorp, armi- 
 geri, et nuper uxor Martini Sedley, de Morley, armigert, 
 qu<z diem obijt 15 Decem. A. D. 1623. 
 
 At the entrance of the chancel are two black mar- 
 bles, thus infcribed: Hie jacet corpus /Catherine, ux- 
 oris Johannis Mallom, clerici, et Jilia Timothei Mann, 
 genero/i, el Elizabeths, uxor is (jus, qu<z obijt 5 die Maij, 
 A. D. 1685, atat^ 66. John Mallom, of Waclon, 
 gent, had a grant of arms anno 1685, and a feat 
 here. 
 
 Hie jacet corpus Eliz. uxoris Johannis Mallom, gene- 
 rnfi, ctjilice Thomce Stone, gencrq/i, et Ethcldreda, uxoris 
 fjus, qua obijt 12 die, Sept. A. D. 1684. Eliam pre- 
 diclus Johannes Mallom obijt Aug. A. D. 1687. Mai- 
 lom impales Stone. 
 
 On two other black marbles in the chancel, as 
 foon as you enter it, Sub hoc ntarmore corpus Johan- 
 nis Mallom, armigeri t jacet, qui vicefimo quarto die mtnjis 
 Julij anno Jalutis, 1728, tetat. "58, diem claufit ex- 
 trcmum. 
 
 Mailom
 
 D E P W A D E. 195 
 
 Mallom impaling Suckling, Depojitum Elizabeths, 
 uxoris Johannis Mallom, jiliaq. Rolerti Suckling, de 
 Woodton, armigeri, natu maxima, 14 die Nov. annoja- 
 lutis 1728, at. 
 
 . 
 
 . Here is a vault on the north fide of the chancel, 
 in which are buried, Gulid. Soley, 1725 ; he was of 
 Pembroke-hall, Cambridge. Sufannah Soley, 1741. 
 M. B. Soley, 1741. And Mary Baker, for whom 
 there is a mural monument, with the arms of Soley 
 impaling Baker, Mary, wife of William Baker, clerk, 
 retfor of Hedenham, And elder daughter of John Soley, 
 clerk, re6lor of this pari/h, was buried on the i-jth day of 
 April, 1741, aged 41. 
 
 In the rails are buried, John Fley, gent. 2 Sept. 
 1647, aged 26. Walter Reyner, Dec. 10, 1655. 
 Thomas Reyner, June 4, 1680'. 
 
 On a black marble in the nave, Samuel Cock, died 
 Oft. 17, 1727, aged 77. 
 
 Stay hajly. traveller, whoe'er you be, 
 Tell, if you can, what is t become of me; 
 Confcious of guilt, my foul, as one afraid, 
 Fled from that body, which now here is laid; 
 Thoughtful in life, make that your chief ejl care, 
 What you mujl be, as well as what you arc ; 
 Death makes thejloutejl hearts and hands to yield, 
 Ceaje to difpute, and tamdy quit thejield;- 
 And when approaching, makes all living fear, 
 To be they know not what, they know not where. 
 
 Margaret, his wife, died Augujl 20, 1736, at. Si. 
 
 Over the door, (the ufual place for St. Chriflopher) 
 is an ancient pi&ure of that Saint, painted on the 
 
 N 2 - wall,
 
 I 9 6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 wall, with " a terryble and ferefull countenance" accord- 
 ing to the defcription of him in the Golden Legend; 
 and of as prodigious fize as the height of the wall 
 would permit, though not fo inonftrou^ as the Legend 
 makes him, for that fays, " lie was xii cubeyts of length." 
 At the uppcrmofl coiner, towards the weft, arc 
 the two tables of the commandments ; on the upper 
 part of one is Mofes, and on the other Aaron, and by 
 them Solomon's temple atjcrufalem; at the lower 
 corner, on the lame fide, is a fhield, and on it the 
 golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that bud- 
 ded ; types (we fuppofe) of the Aaronical priefthood; 
 in the mid ft is a river, and the huge faint with " a 
 grete pole in his hand injlede cfajlajfe, by whiche he 
 Jujleyned \\yrn in the water ;" and on his (houlders is 
 our Saviour reprefented as a child, " which prayed 
 him goodly to bere him over the water; 1 ' and when 
 Chriftopher " lyfte the chyld on his fholdres, and 
 " toke his ftaffe, and entred the ryuer for to pafie, 
 4C the water of the ryuer arofe, and fwelled more 
 " and more, and the chylde was heuy as leed, and 
 " alway as he went ferder the water increfed, and 
 " grewe more, and the chylde more and more wexed 
 *' heuy, in fo moche that Chriftofer had grete an- 
 " guyiihe, and was aferde to be drowned, and when 
 " he was efcaped with gretc payne, and paffed the 
 " water, and fet the chylde a grounde, he fayd to 
 " the chylde, chylde, you haft put me in grete pe- 
 " ryll, you weyft almoft as I had had all the world 
 " upon me, I rayght bere no greter burden. And 
 " the chylde anfwered, Chriftofer, marvayle the no- 
 " thynge, for you haft not only borne all the worlde 
 *' upon the, but you haft borne hym that created 
 ' and made all the worlde, upon thy fhoulders : I 
 " amjefu Chryft the Kyng, to whome you ferveft 
 " in this wcrke, and bycaufe that you know that I 
 *' faye to the trouth, fet thy ftafFe in the erth by thy 
 
 hows,
 
 D E P W A D E. 197 
 
 " hows, and thou fhalt fe to raorrowe that it fhall 
 " here floures and fruyte. And anon he vanyfhed 
 " from his eycn. And then Chriftofer fet his ftaffe 
 " in the erth, and whan he arofe on the morrowe, 
 " he found his flaffe like a palmyer, beryng floures 
 44 leues, and dates." And after this he was bap- 
 tized ; for when the king enquired his name and 
 country, he anfwered thus : " tofore I was baptyfed 
 " I was named Reprobus, and now am named 
 " Chriftofer, tofore baptyfm a Cananee, now a 
 " Chryflen man*." And at the upper corner, to- 
 wards the eaft, is Noah's ark, the figure of Chriftian 
 baptifm, by which we enter into the church, which 
 is rcprefented at the lower corner of the fame paint- 
 ing, to which the faint directs his fteps: all this 
 confirms our former obfervation, that this faint 
 is always placed here (oppofite to the font, which an- 
 ciently flood always between the two doors) " In al- 
 lujion to the water in baplijm" notwithftanding what 
 is faid in the " Palaso^raphia Britannka" 8cc. of Dr. 
 Stukeley, againfl the truth of it. 
 
 This reclory is valued in the king s books at 5!. 
 Hands there by the name of Walon Magna re&ory, 
 and being fworn of the clear yearly value of 45!. is 
 difcharged of firft-fruus and tenths, and is capable 
 of augmentation, 
 
 The common, called Wa&on-Great-Green, is rated, 
 and the going of each beaft is ufually lett off at 123. 
 per annum. 
 
 * Goldln Legend.
 
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 NORFOLK. 
 
 HUNDRED of DISS. 
 
 THIS hundred hath its name from the capital 
 town, which is fo called from {the mere fitu- 
 ate on its fouth fide; dke in the Saxon language 
 fignifying a ftanding water, lake, or ditch ; it is 
 bounded on the fouth by the river Waveney, which 
 now divides Norfolk from Suffolk ; on the weft by 
 the hundred of Guiltcrofs ; on the north by Dep- 
 wade ; and on the eaft by the half hundred of Ear- 
 fham, which, joined with the half hundred of Difs. 
 makes up a whqie hundred ; or, according to the old 
 A divifion,
 
 s HUNDRED OF 
 
 dlvifion, two whole hundreds, and compleats the 
 deanry of Redenhall, in the archdeaconry of Nor- 
 folk, and diocefe of Norwich; the fee of it wholly 
 belonged to Edward the Confeffor, as demefne of the 
 crown, till he granted to Ulfiet and Stigand the foe 
 of their own lands, and to the abbot of St. Edmund's 
 Bury the half part of the foe and fac of his lands', 
 and of all his freemen, 
 
 But by the way, it will be neceflary to obferve, that 
 what we now call Difs hundred, in th eC on fe (Tor's time 
 was ahundred and half; the hundredvvas called Wine- 
 ferthinc, or Winfarthing hundred, which earl Ralph 
 held; upon whofe foifeiture it came to the crown, 
 and was added to the king's half hundred of Dice, 
 and continued ever after as part of it, and this is the 
 reafon that the title in Doomfday-book is, " The 
 hundred and half hundred of Dice ;" the fee of 
 which, with all the jurifdiclion thereof, (except what 
 belonged to the abbot, to Ulfiet, and Stigand,) came 
 into the Conqueror's hands, and the foe and fac 
 of all his freemen in the hundred, that held lefs than 
 thirty acres, belonged to his manor of Fersfield ; 
 but of thofe that held thirty acres, or more, the foe 
 and fac belonged to the hundred of Winfarthing, 
 which earl Ralph forfeited. But as it hath always 
 attended the capital manor of the town, and now 
 remains with it, we have no occafion to difcourfe of 
 it fingly any further. 
 
 The
 
 D I S S. 3 
 
 The following is an alphabetical lift of towns in 
 this hundred, to which we add the number of votes 
 polled at the contefted election for knights of the 
 (hire, March 23, 1768, by freeholders refident in 
 each : 
 
 
 W. 
 
 deG. 
 
 A. 
 
 C. 
 
 Briflingham ><* 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Burfton - V r 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 Dickleburgh 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Difs - 
 
 21 
 
 20 
 
 3 2 
 
 29 
 
 Fers field 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 Frenze 
 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 u 
 
 GifTmg 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Ofmundfton, alias 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 
 Scole 
 
 r 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Roydon 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Shelfanger 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 8 . 
 
 8 
 
 Shimpling 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 Tivetfhall St. Mary 
 
 P 
 
 
 
 
 and St. Margaret 
 
 j 
 
 4 
 
 O 
 
 I 
 
 Thelveton 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thorpe 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 Winfarthing 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 Total 58 58 66 63 
 
 This hundred is about feven miles by five in ex- 
 tent, and pays 17!. 55. to the general county rate, 
 at a fix hundred pound levy. 
 
 Seats and principal Houfes in the hundred of Dtfs. 
 
 Dickleburgh, Mr. Rant 
 
 Jii: JDtfs, Philip Meadows, efq. 
 
 Rojdon, John Frere, efq. F. R, and A. S. 
 
 . Thclveton, Thomas Havers, efq. 
 
 A 2 The
 
 4 HUNDREDOF 
 
 The whole hundred is inclofed, and abounds 
 much with wood, it being reckoned as part of the 
 Woodland half of Norfolk: the roads are verv bad 
 in winrer, efpecially that part by Gifling, arid Tittle- 
 fhall; the lands in general are moid, occafioned by 
 their being flat, and having a blue clay within a foot 
 or two of the earth's furface, through which ihe wa- 
 ter cannot pierce, it containing twenty or thirty feet 
 in depth in many places; the foil is in general rich, 
 and about one half of the land is ufcd for the plow, 
 the other for the dairy and grazing; it produces 
 much wheat, turnips, clover, and all other grain in 
 abundance, except buck, or brank, and cole-iced, of 
 which there is butlittle fown. 
 
 This hundred was the firft written and published 
 by the late Rev. Francis Blornefield, in his " Effay 
 towards an Hiflory of Norfolk," and. we believe, 
 the moft correct and particular. He refided at Fers- 
 field, both as reclor and patron of that church, 
 which enabled him to defcend to that minutiae of de- 
 fcription which muft appear trifling to a common 
 reader. We have endeavoured to fele& the more 
 important and interefting pafTages ; but we find it 
 difficult to confine the vaft variety of matter to 
 proper bounds. 
 
 BRISSINGHAM,BRISINGHAM, or BRESINGHAM*. 
 This town about 963 was given by Ofulph le Sire, 
 and lady Leofrine, his wife, to the abbey of St. Ed- 
 mund's Bury, to which it belonged in the Confeffor's 
 time, except that part which Almar then held of that 
 houfe, which was almoft half the town. This part 
 was a manor alfo, and held in the Conqueror's time 
 by Roger Bigot, earl of Norfolk, who was afterwards 
 
 infeofied 
 
 * This feems to fignlfy the village of broad low meadows.
 
 D I S S. 5 
 
 infeoffed in the other part by abbot Baldwin, to hold 
 it of the abbey at one fee, and to pay nothing to the 
 ward of Norwich caftle, becaufe the abbot paid 75. 
 evety twenty weeks for the whole town. The capi- 
 tal manor at the furvey was in the abbot, who had 
 then two carucates of land in demefne, and twelve 
 focmen, who held fixty acres of land, but could not 
 fell or give it any one without licence. In the Con- 
 feifor's furvey the manor was of 405. value, but in the 
 Conqueror's was rifen to 6os. The town was then 
 two miles long, and a mile and a half broad, and paid 
 I2d. Dane gelt; it extended at that time into Shimp- 
 ling, Fersfield, Shelfanger, and Roydon. 
 
 In William Rufus's time the earl had the whole 
 town, all which he infeofifed in William de Verdon 
 about" 1 100, or before, and it was all along held of 
 the Norfolk family. 
 
 In 1285 fir John' Verdon, knt. claimed view of 
 frank-pledge, aflize of bread and ale, infangthef. 
 gallows, and free-warren, in all his lands and ma- 
 nors in Norfolk, viz. BriiTingham, Moulton Magna, 
 Saxlingham, and Roydon ; all which privileges were 
 granted to his father by Henry III. as the charter 
 then produced evidently proved. 
 
 About 1328 the prior of Blythburgh had i sd. a 
 year paid out of this manor, and it paid 4d. per ann. 
 to the hundred for the leet fee, the lord of the hundred 
 having granted this manor liberty of a leet for that 
 payment, and for fuit of the hundred court; which 
 being troublefome, the lord paid 35. per ann. in lieu 
 thereof. The manor-houfe flood near Briflingham- 
 wood, in the Hall-grounds, the Swan-hill and the 
 large motes ftill remaining, plainly fhew the fcite 
 of k^ In this feat the Verdons had lived many 
 
 ages
 
 6 HUNDREDOF / 
 
 ages ; but at this time fir John Verdon removed from 
 hence to Martlefham, in Suffolk. We have Teen at 
 inventory of the goods left in the houfe here, dated 
 1328, among which feveral things for the ufe of the 
 chapel are named, and a poor 3 box ftanding at the 
 great hall door, the cuftcm of that time being, to put 
 in what every one pleafed, inftead of giving fervams, 
 as is ufual now: he feems to have been a man of 
 great hofpitality; for he left eighty difhes, feyenty- 
 five plates, forty faucers, and twelve cups, to treat his 
 tenants at his coming over. 
 
 Sir John de Verdon, knt. his fecond fon, became 
 lord ; he held Briflingham, with the advowfon, of 
 the earl Marfhal, at two fees, and the earl held it of 
 the abbot of St. Edmund, and the abbot of the 
 king; the faid John had view of frank-pledge, and 
 all other liberties before fpecified. The manor-houfe, 
 and 300 acres of ploughed land in demefne, being 
 then valued at 7!. los. which is 6d. an acre; thirty 
 acres of wood, valued at ;s. 6d. per ann. forty acres 
 of mowing meadow, worth 3!. 6s. 8d. that is, lod. 
 an acre; nineteen acres one rood of pp.flure ground, 
 valued at 6s. <>d. a year; and two windmills, at sos. 
 per ann. ^elides the commons lying round the whole 
 town, which in eggs, hens, and days works, paid to 
 the lords by the commoners, were worth los. per ann. 
 and the lord had twenty acres of fen to dig turf in, 
 worth 55. a year; he had alfo liberty of free-warren 
 by the king's charter, and a free fifhery, with all ma- 
 nor of boats and nets, throughout his manors of 
 Briffingham and Roydon, as far as Difs ; to the faid 
 manor belonged ninety-five copyholders, who held 
 among them feventy-four meffuages, and 588 acres 
 two roods of land in villainage ; there were fix cot- 
 tagers in villainage, and the lord paid yearly 35. in 
 full fatisfaclion of all iuit to the hundred court of 
 
 Difs,
 
 D I S S. 7 
 
 Difs, and the fame extent faith, that Filby's manor, 
 and Boyland's manor, 8cc. were held of him. 
 
 The pro/its, cujloms, fervices, and tenures, of the manor 
 of BreJJingham, made on Wednejday befoe thefeajl of 
 St. DunJIan, in the I ^th year of king Edward III. 
 anno 1341. 
 
 Memorandum, " That all the commoners upon the 
 " commons of this town, both freeholders and co- 
 " pyholders, pay hens eggs, and days works, with 
 " their plough, to the lord, except thofc that have 
 " liberty of faldage, and that all copyholders are 
 41 obliged to have their fheep in the lord's fold, from 
 " Pentecoft to St. Martin." The quit-rents, (in 
 money) and free rents, were 4!. as. 2d. q. and three 
 roots of ginger, of id. value ; ninety-five hens, 
 juftly valued at 75. ad. feventeen capons, valued 
 at id. ob. each; five ducks, valued at lod. 539 
 ggs, and more, valued at 3d. a hundred; 212 days 
 works in autumn, the workmen to be maintained by 
 the lord, valued at id. a day; 174 afternoons works 
 in autumn, id. each, the workmen having no vic- 
 tuals ; twenty-five days work with their carts and 
 horfes, and no victuals allowed them, valued at 2d. 
 each day; 120 alebeves*, or as many as will come ; 
 183 journeys at plough, without victuals, if all come 
 in to do their work, and if they do not, they muft 
 work half a day for every day of ploughing, the 
 whole valued at 75. 3d. ob. 170 days work and an 
 half in fheering, i 74 days work in mowing, every 
 four days valued at id. fifteen haymakers to make 
 it, as the mowers cut it, they being obliged to make 
 
 and 
 
 * Thefe were general carting days, on which the tenant ufed 
 to go, or not, as they pleafed, and had their name becaufe 
 the lord ufcd to treat them well with provifions and ale. - * ,
 
 8 HUNDRED OF 
 
 and mow 59 acres one rood, the whole of cutting 
 and getting up is valued at 4d. an acre ; fifty-four 
 days to cut and make the lord's wood, and to finifli 
 it before Chriftmas ; twenty days to pull the lords 
 hemp; 120 days work of a man and horfe, every 
 day valued at id. thirty-three days work of a man, 
 each worth a id. befides days made uncertain, be- 
 caufe when they do not plough, or cart, they are to 
 do other work, as the loid pleafes ; but there are 220 
 works more, of half a clay each, value certain ; 
 twelve chickens, one halfpenny each ; forty-one car- 
 riages to carry corn, worth sod. ob. 160 days work 
 in carting out the muck ; forty-one days to carry the 
 hay, valued at 2od. ob. three days to cart the tim- 
 ber ; fourteen loads of hay to be threfhed, valued at 
 sd. a load; fourteen loads of corn to be threfhed, 
 valued at cd. a load ; twenty-eight days to make- 
 hurdles for the fold ; eighteen to clean and repair the 
 cow binns ; and ten to repair the horfes flails, all 
 which fervices were valued at 5!. us. gd. q.t 
 
 By this account we may fee ihe difference of 
 the value of things then and now ; in what a fervile 
 condition the copyholders were, and how grand the 
 lords muft be, who had all works done without any 
 expence. This being as perfect an account as we 
 ever faw of any manor, we could not omit inferting 
 it, and do not doubt its being acceptable to fome, 
 though, we muft own, to others it may feem ufelefs; 
 however, certain it is, that the quit-rents of the ma- 
 nor have remained to this day according to this com- 
 
 Ifabel, 
 
 F -J- The Extent, or Compofiuoa Rol. 
 ' J Blomefield.
 
 D I S 9 
 
 Ifabel, daughter of fir John Verdon, knt. by a fe- 
 cond wife, married fir Irabert Noon, of Shelfangcr, 
 in whofe pofleujon the manors were in 1391 ; but 
 Briffingham went to Margaret, his only daughter by 
 his fiift wife, his fole heirefs, who was lady here in 
 1396, and lived, with her mother-in-law at Shel- 
 fanger ; at whofe death this manor and others came 
 to fir John Pilkington, in right of Margaret, his wife, 
 who was widow of fir Hugh Bradfhaw, and daughter 
 and heirefs of fir John Veidon; but Moulton, Shel- 
 fanger, $cc. went to the Noons. 
 
 This family took their firname from a town which 
 they were lords of in Lancafhire, where they were 
 poflefled of a great eft ate. as is proved by the efcheat 
 roils in the Tower, and in particular by a grant of 
 free warren to this very fir John Pilkington, in all his 
 manors in that (hire, in which twenty at leaft are 
 named. 
 
 In 1401 fir John held Briffingham manor of Tho- 
 mas Mowbray, earl marfhal, at two fees and a half 
 quarter, as of Forncet manor. In 1405 the manor 
 was lett for fcven years, at 24!. per ann. the fifheryr 
 in Roydon for 305. and that in Briffingham for thirty 
 more. 
 
 In this family the manors remained, and fir Tho- 
 mas Piikington iu 1450 was admitted one of the 
 chamberlains of the Exchequer ; he was very ftedfaft 
 to the YorkiPts, and all along in thofc civil wars took 
 part with Edward IV. and fufiered much for it: after 
 the death of that king, and of Edward V. and Ri- 
 chard III. he was one of thofe who joined with the 
 carl of Lincoln, earl of Kildare, lord Lovel, fir Tho- 
 mas Broughton, and other Lancafhire gentlemen, on 
 the bebalf of Lambert Simnell, the counterfeit Plan- 
 B tagenet,
 
 io HUNDREDOF 
 
 tagenct. and fighting on his fide at the battle of Stoke, 
 near Newark, in 1487, was there (lain ; whereupon 
 all his lands were forfeited to the crown, and the 
 year following were granted to George lord Strange, 
 fon of Thomas Stanley, earl of Derby, and to his 
 heirs male, Stagenhoe. in Hcrtfordfhire, the feat of 
 the Pilkingtons, and this manor, being among them; 
 but notwithftanding this, in 1493 inquifiiions were 
 awarded into Norfolk and Suffolk, as at the death of 
 fir Thomas aforefaid, in which it was found that fir 
 Roger Pilkington, knt. was his fon and heir, who in 
 the mean time had got his father's attainder, and the 
 grant made to the lord Strar,g\ reverfed, and now he 
 inherited his paternal eftate ; he married Alice, daugh- 
 ter of fir John Savage, knt. and began to rebuild 
 Briffingham church and tower, though he lived not 
 to fee them finifhed ; at his death his eflate was di- 
 vided among his fix daughters, viz. Margaret, mar- 
 lied to Thomas Pudfey ; Catherine, to John Allow, 
 or Auhow; Alice, to Edmund Sahmarfh ; Elizabeth, 
 to William Huntley ; Margery, to Henry Pudfey ; 
 and Joan, to John Daniel, of Darefbury, in Chefhire ; 
 each of which had a fixth part of the manor and ad- 
 vowfon in right of their wives. 
 
 Afterwards fir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper, being 
 fole feoffee, in whom the title was entirely vefted in 
 order for iale, the whole manor, with the advowfon, 
 was fold by him to Thomas duke of Norfolk, and 
 his feoffees, who kept their firfl court here the loth 
 of February, 1364. 
 
 In 1578 his fon, Thomas duke of Norfolk, kept 
 his firfl court, upon whofe attainder it was forfeited 
 to the crown, and the queen kept court here; fhe 
 granted it to fir William Cecil, knight of the garter, 
 and others, whether to the ufe of the Howard fa- 
 mily,
 
 D I S S. 11 
 
 Hiily, or not, we cannot fay ; however, certain it is, 
 that it was in Philip earl of Arundel and Surrey, and 
 upon his attainder, in 1589, was feized again by the 
 queen ; from which time it remained in the crown 
 till the i ft of James I. when Thomas, fon of the 
 faid earl, was reftored to his honor and eftate ; and 
 in that year the king by letters patent, dated June i 7, 
 reftored the manor and advowfon to Thomas lord 
 Howard, and Henry Howard, to each a moiety. 
 
 In 1625 it was mortgaged; but about 1665, the 
 debt being paid, it was conveyed to the duke of Nor- 
 folk, in which family it hath ever fince continued, 
 Charles Howard, duke of Norfolk, earl marfhal of 
 England, being lord and patron at this time, 1781. 
 
 BOYLANO MANOR belonged to Aifius in the Con- 
 feflbr's time, and was in the Conqueror's hands at 
 the furvey, being by him committed to Godric's cuf- 
 tody, and was then very fmall. It was afterwards in 
 the earl of Norfolk, and by him united to the great 
 manor, and fo continued till the firft fir John de 
 Verdon, about 1240, conveyed it to Walter de Brif- 
 fingham, to be held by him and his heirs, of the ma- 
 nor of Briffingham; but his grandfon fold it in 1268 
 to fir Richard de Boyland, knt. from whom the ma- 
 nor took its name. 
 
 The Briffingham family were of good account, 
 and had large pofieffions here and in other places, 
 as we find by feveral evidences. 
 
 This fir Richard was a very great man in the time 
 of Edward I. being juftice itinerant in this county, 
 and owner of many gieat lordfhips andcllaies, but how 
 he acquired them we may eafily judge; for Mr. Weaver 
 informs us from Stowe, and other hillorians, that he 
 B 2 being
 
 15 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 being one of .the commiflioners for the government 
 of the kingdom in the abfence of Edward I. was at 
 the king's return found guilty of manifeft corruption 
 in the administration of juftice, and fined 4000 
 marks for his intolerable extortions. After this he 
 retired htther, where he built a noble feat, furrounded 
 with a large moat, which he continued round the or- 
 chards, park, and all his lands, the remains of which 
 mav be feen at this dav ; but his greateft work was 
 that fubterraneous vault, or arch, now remaining, 
 commonly called the conduit, which was made with a 
 double dcfign. both for bathing and for a continual 
 fupply of water to thefe moats. It is fituate about 
 half a furlong S. W. from the houfe, and is very re- 
 markable, being arched over very flrong, cieled very 
 fmooth, and paved at the bottom ; the mouth of it 
 is about three feet wide, but when you enter, beyond 
 the rubbifh which is thrown in, a man may fairly 
 walk upright, it goes in a (trait line, about thirty or 
 forty roods in length, and near the further end is a 
 Jarge well, exceeding deep, beyond which there is a 
 wall, and there the ftrait line of the vault ends. This 
 well continually overflows, fo that the water runs 
 about a foot deep the whole length of the vault, 
 occafioned by its outlet being almolt (topped up with 
 rubbifh, or elfe it would not run above two or three 
 inches in depth ; when you have entered this vault 
 about four roods, there are two mouths of other 
 arches, one on the right hand, and another on the 
 kft, from which the water continually flows into the 
 great arch, fo that the three currents have one dif- 
 chargeonly: what is in thefe two we know not; for 
 though the mouths feem large, the arches are not big 
 enough for one to enter : right over the well in the 
 clofe is a hill raifed, to determine the place where the 
 well is ; when the water runs out it comes dire&ly into 
 a fquare bath, over which there was lately a bathing- 
 
 houfe
 
 D I S S. 13 
 
 ho'ifc of brick, with a f .mmer-hoiife joined to it, 
 the ruins of which flill nrruin; out of this the water 
 runs into fuch another fquare bath, which was de- 
 figned as a common one, it being never covered: 
 from this is a fmall conveyance, which fcems to have 
 been arched over formerly, that ieads direclly into 
 the moat that furrounds the orchard. Whether this 
 water was heretofore remarkable for any medicinal 
 virtue, we know not ; but if not, are apt to think 
 that this overflowing fpring induced him to fettle 
 here, a fpring of any kind being very rare in this 
 part, there being little water for ufe but what comes 
 from ponds and moats, which might be the reafon 
 he beftowed fuch coft on it. The water is very 
 cold, and in the extremity of froft never freezes, 
 though the motion is but little. The people that 
 come to fee this place have pulled down moil of the 
 ruins, to throw into the vault, to hear the found, 
 which is very great, and continues long ; the meadow 
 is called the Conduit Meadow, and is part of the 
 eftate of the duke of Norfolk. 
 
 In 1285 he had a charter for free-warren in all his 
 demefnes heie; and about this time he added to the 
 manor divers lands and tenements in this town, which 
 he purchafed of Robert le Bretun. 
 
 Sir John Boyland, of Boyland-hall, in Brifling- 
 ham, who died without iffue male about 1370, leav- 
 ing only one daughter, Maud, married to John Lan- 
 cafter, fen. efq. of Briflingham, was of a good 
 family in this country ; he added to it by purchafmg 
 Filby's manor and uniting it to this, as he did the te- 
 nement of irland's and all the fervices thereto be- 
 longing, which was of his own inheritance, all which 
 came to Edward Bolton, efq. in right of his wife, 
 Benedida Lancafter, about 1500. 
 
 B 3 His
 
 14 HUNDREDOF 
 
 His great grandfon. Edward Bolton, dying with- 
 out iffue, the manor and tenements aforefaid defcend- 
 ed to his four fitters, and their hufbands fold them to 
 Philip earl of Arundcl in 1,583. together with Rofe's 
 and Irland's: at this time the (cite of the manor, with 
 the demefnes, whereof part was in the park of Ken- 
 ninghall, was lett to the keeper of the old park for 
 his dwelling, and fo had been ever fince 1571, be- 
 fore which ume it was hired by the Norfolk family, 
 if not mortgaged to them by William Rolton, though 
 there was no title compleated till now: from this time 
 it continued in the Norfolk family, tbc prefent duke 
 being now lord. 
 
 MIDDLETON'S MANOR had its beginning in 1276, 
 when VVigona de Vet don and her partners held it; a 
 part of it afterwards came to a branch of the Brif- 
 fmgham family. 
 
 In the time of Edward II. Hugh de Pool, of Brif- 
 fmgham, feems to have had it. In 1338 his grand- 
 fon aliened it to Wrn. de Middleton. of Briffingham; 
 thus it continued to 1359, and then the faid Wil- 
 liam, and all other parties concerned, joined in 
 a fine, and conveyed it absolutely to Mary de Brewfe, 
 countefs of Norfolk, and her heirs, at which time 
 the extent of it was 118 acres of land, four of mea- 
 dow, twenty-four of wood, twenty of paflure, arid 
 6cs. rent, lying in Briffingham, Sec. It was afterwards 
 united to the capital manor. 
 
 FILBY'S MANOR had its fcite in this parifh, though 
 half of its lands and rents were in Roydon ; it was 
 part of the great manor till the firft fir John Verdon 
 gave it to his chaplain ; foon after which it was in 
 the Morleys, lards of Roydon, who held it of fir 
 John Verdon, lord of BrifTmgham, by the annual 
 
 payment
 
 D I S S. ,5 
 
 payment of ss. and aos. fcutage, and in them it con- 
 tinued. 
 
 From this family it went to the Filbys, who in 
 1335 paid three roots of ginger, or id. per annum, 
 to the capital lord of Brifllngham, in lieu of all fer- 
 vices. 
 
 In 1460 John Lancafter, lord of Boyland manor, 
 had purchafed all that part of this manor that laid in 
 Briflingham, and joined it to his manor of Boyland, 
 except the part that laid in R/>ydon. in 1480. John 
 Lancafter, gent, in 1521 fold it to Wm. Bolton, gent, 
 and fo it was joined again to Boyland manor, with 
 which it continues at this day,. though the demefnes 
 are fold from it. 
 
 The PRIORY^ MANOR was taken out of the great 
 manor in the beginning of the reign of Edward II. 
 when fir John de Verdon granted it to the prior of St. 
 James the ApofUe, of Old Buckenham. 
 
 The value of this manor in 1479 was 315. d ob. 
 in quit-rents, befides the demefnes ; the whole tem- 
 poralities of the prior here were taxed at 265. in 
 43- 
 
 It continued in this houfe till its diflblution, from 
 which time it remained in the crown till 1557, when 
 Philip and Mary, by their letters patent, granted it to 
 Thomas Guybon, of Lynn-Regis, efq. and William 
 Mynne, of London, gent, to be held by feahy only 
 in free foccage, as of the manor of Eaft Greenwich, 
 in Kent. In a few years time they fold it to Robert 
 and Francis Buxton, of Tibbenham, in Norfolk ; and 
 they in 1560 to Edmund Hoare, of Palgrave, in Suf- 
 B4 folk;
 
 16 HUNDREDOF 
 
 folk; and he in 1361 to Thomas Howard, of Bur- 
 flon. 
 
 A daughter and heirefs of the Howards married 
 Mr. Dowe, and fhe in her \vidowhood paffed it to 
 the Bringloes, Mr. John Bringloe being the laft male 
 of that family that enjoyed it, whofe daughter mar- 
 ried Mr. Robert Onge, of Kenninghall, lord of the 
 whole manor, and part of the demefncs. The other 
 part, called Prior's lands, lying at Crofgate. in Fers- 
 field, and BrhTingham, were ibid from the manor by 
 the Buxtons, and are now divided into parcels, fome 
 being held by Mr. John Edwards, of Winfarihing, 
 and others by divers pcifons. 
 
 The cufloms of thefe manors are as follow, viz. 
 " The fines are at the lord's will, and the copyhold 
 defcends to the eldcft. fon ; the tenants have liberty to 
 pull down and wafte their copyhold houfes, to fell 
 and cut down wood and timber on the copyhold, 
 without licence, and to plant and cut down all man- 
 ner of wood and timber on all the commons and 
 waftes againft their own lands, by the name of a 
 free-board, or out-run, and to dig clay and turf, and 
 tat furze and bufhes, on all the commons." 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptift, 
 and had fifteen acres of land belonging to it at the 
 conqueft ; it is a redory, to which belongs a manor, 
 called 
 
 The RECTORY MANOR, the cufloms of which are 
 the fame as the other manors, except this, that the te- 
 nants cannot wafte, or pull down their copyhold 
 houfes, without licence. The glebe, or demefnes, in 
 the time of Edward III. were forty acres ; and in 1 554 
 fiiiy-one acres and an half; but much being granted 
 
 to
 
 D I S S. ,7 
 
 to be held by copt of court-roll, they are now re- 
 duced to about twenty acres. The patronage always 
 hath, and now continues with the capital manor, 
 and the re&ory is N alued in the king's books at 15!. 
 
 In 1715, September 23. the Rev. Humphry Clar- 
 ton, A. B. was prefemed to this reclory by William 
 Clayton, and Thomas Dwyer, clerk, patrons for 
 this turn. 
 
 The following religious perfons had temporalities 
 here, which were thus taxed in 1428 :-The prior of 
 Kerfey's at i 2d The abbot of Sibton's (being pait 
 of Friers manor in Shelfanger, that extended hither) 
 at 6s. Sd. And the prior of Buckenham's at 263. 
 
 Befides thefe the prior of St. John Baptift's com- 
 mandry of ihe hofpitallers of St. John of Jerufalem, 
 at Carbrook, had an annual payment of id. out of 
 {even acres of land lying here, which was held 
 free of that houfc by the laid payment. This 
 land was owned by Francis Blomefield. cleik, of 
 Eersfield. 
 
 The church here was much decayed, as fhould 
 feem by the rebuilding the prefent fabuc, which was 
 begun by fir Roger Pilkington, knt lord of the ma- 
 nor, whofe anus are cut in ftone over the weft, door 
 of the tower, quartering the arms of Verdon ; on 
 the other fide of which is a fingle coat of fome bene- 
 faclor to the building, which was alfo in the church 
 windows, though now loft. But though it was be- 
 gun by him, he lived not to fee it finifhed, for it 
 was not perfected till 1527. 
 
 Among Mr. le Neve's papers we find, that- againft 
 the north wall of this chancel, at the upper end 
 
 thereof,
 
 18 HUNDREDOF 
 
 thereof, "was a fair raifed monument, once adorned 
 with two fair portraitures, and efcutcheons of brafs, 
 but now all reaved, with the epitaphs ; he obferved, 
 that the inhabitants told him it was a knight of the 
 family of the Pilkingtons: and in Mr. Anftis's book 
 it is faid, that there is a fair monument, having its 
 brafles taken away, erected for a Pilkington, from, 
 which we imagine that this fir Roger Pilkington, and 
 his wife, were buried under it, the tradition flill re- 
 maining that it was the tomb of the builder of the 
 church ; it is now taken down, and the top ftone 
 laid level with the floor, that it might not hinder the 
 uniformity of the altar-rails, the fleps of which half 
 cover the Hone. 
 
 ^ 
 
 The building is very neat and uniform, having a 
 nave, two ailes, and fouth porch, all covered with 
 lead, a fine lofty fquare tower, with a tunable ring 
 of five bells ; the chancel is tiled, which was not re- 
 built with the church, it being much more ancient. 
 Here are but few itones, and thofe that had braffes 
 are all difrobcd. 
 
 In the windows the following coats flill remain, 
 viz. In the fouth aile the arms of Bury abbey ; 
 in the north windows of the nave are Verdon's arms ; 
 and in a north aile window, Creffi, or Morley. Thofe 
 that follow are now loft, Scales and ' Howard Bro- 
 therton, Ufford and Beck, Vefey, Segrave, the Eaft 
 Angles, and St. George's. 
 
 In the chancel a black marble, with the arms and 
 creft of The Rev. Francis Tilnty, A. M. obijt Sept. 13, 
 1715, cEtat. 81. Alfo of Elizabeth, his wife, who 
 died April 2.3, 1691; and of their fon. 
 
 John
 
 D I S S. ig 
 
 John Lancafter, jun. efq. was buried here, with 
 feveral of that family, whofe memorials are all 
 loft. 
 
 In 1569 Henry Sym.onds, buried in this church, 
 gave 2os to the poor, and died poffeffed of a good 
 eflate here ; he had purchafed the fcite only, and 
 two clofes, of Philby's tenement, or manor, from 
 Boyland's, manor. 
 
 Two guijds were kept in this church, the one de- 
 dicated to St. John the Baptift, the other to St. Peter; 
 a fair book of their accounts and lands is flill in the 
 church. St. John's guild had above twenty brethren 
 and fitters on their bead-roll when the guild was dif- 
 folved in 1547; and their hall was veiled in feoffees 
 for the ufe of the poor. 
 
 St. Peter's guild was a lefs fociety, and having no 
 liall, it was kept at the guild-holders houfes ; they 
 had two pieces of land, which at the diflblution were 
 vefted in feoffees for the ufe of the poor, and are 
 freehold. 
 
 In 1506, April 2, Thomas Smetherfte, rector here, 
 made his will, which is a very remarkable one! as not 
 having ontfuperflitious bequeft in it, the fubftance of 
 which is, that what God gave him he bequeathed as 
 follows: "I commend thofe things which are Csefar's, 
 " to Caefar, the earth, to the eaith, and thofe things 
 " which are God's, to God ; that is, my foul to 
 " Chrift. And I will, that all the poor that come 
 " to my burial have as much money diftributed 
 " among them as^my circumftances will allow, at the 
 " difcretion of my executors ; and if I have de- 
 ' frauded any one, fo that he can in confcience fay* 
 " I ought to recompenfe, I will that recompence be 
 
 made
 
 so HUNDREDOF 
 
 ' made him. I give to fir Richard Becflon, par'fh 
 ' pricft of Roydon, for his conftant and true f iei.d- 
 ' fhip, 6s. 8d. and one of my gowns ; and I make 
 f fir James Smetherfte, my brother, executor." 
 
 ID 1517 there was a gathering in all the neighbour- 
 ing towns for to finifli the roof of the church. 
 
 In 1632 Henry Rufl^ls gave lol. to the benefit of 
 the poor. 
 
 Mr. Tirrcl gave lol. and the parifli had 61. J$s. 
 ^d. out at ufe, of divers gifts ; the town gave 4!. out 
 of their flock, and fold a piece of iown land, which 
 laid in Baldrycs, with another piece in Winofalls, 
 for sol. to Mrs. Frere ; thefe two pieces were free- 
 hold of Giffinghall manor, held at gd. per ann. and 
 were given in the time of Edward IV. by Robert 
 Kyrkebi, and John Gooch. This they expended 
 about paving, fcating, and adorning the roof of the 
 church, and carving the (tools, what remained being 
 kept for town flock. 
 
 In 1638 the inhabitants petitioned thebifhop, that, 
 Whereas the village of Briffingham grew very po- 
 pulous, and the parifh church was large and neat OQ 
 the outfide, but much unbeautified within, the pave- 
 ment and feats being decayed, and others wanting 
 addition, the parifhioners fitting in no order, the 
 font Handing in an obfcure place, behind one of the 
 pillars, 8cc. that they might have licence to do ail 
 things convenient for the beauty of the church, and 
 decent placing the inhabitants therein. 
 
 In 1644, April 7, captain Gillcy was paid 6s. by 
 the town for viewing the church, to abolifh fupcrjti- 
 tious pi&ures, and immediately after John Nun was 
 
 paid
 
 D I S S. 21 
 
 paid for two days work for taking down glafs and 
 pictures about the church, and filing the letters off 
 the bells. This church fuffeied much in thefe 
 times; for in 1664, 54!. iis. 8d. was railed by rate 
 to put it in order, and to buy it ornaments, of all 
 which it was fpoiled. 
 
 About 1668 the town purchased certain lands, 
 called le Holmes, 8cc. now lett at 395. per ann. 
 
 The town clofe, lying againft BriflTingham great 
 common, heretofore called Chedbury-clofe, is free- 
 hold, and is lett at al. ios. per ann. this hath be- 
 longed to the church many ages, even before 1400. 
 
 The town houfe, in which two poor families dwell, 
 {landing on the caft fide of the great common, was 
 creeled about 1630, by the inhabitants, upon a piece 
 of their common. 
 
 Elizabeth, widow of Mr. John Barker, reclor of Fers- 
 field, by will dated June 18, 1728, gave lands, Sec. ly- 
 ing in Briflingham, the profits of which to be expended 
 in the teaching of as many poor children (whofe pa- 
 rents are fettled inhabitants of Briflingham) above 
 eight, and under ten years old, in reading, writing, 
 fpinning, and other work, and learning the church 
 ca'.echifm, as the produce will pay for. Several 
 other charitable donations belong to this parifh. 
 
 In 1549 the crofs was pulled down, and the mate- 
 rials fold, as was all the church plate, (except 
 enough to make a new cup) with a veftment, rochet, 
 crofs cloth, and altar cloth; but in queen Mary's time 
 they bought a new rochet, and proceffion book, in 
 
 tnglifh. 
 
 This
 
 22 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 This town, as appears from ancient evidences, not- 
 withftanding the common received opinion to the 
 contrary, was moft field uninclofed ; for at all times 
 great number of licences were granted the tenants 
 to inclofe their lands, and vaft numbers of them in 
 the time of Henry VII. when it feems they com- 
 pleated the whole, and this is the reafon that all the 
 highways and lanes in this and the neighbouring pa- 
 rifhes are meafured into the lands that lie againft 
 them. 
 
 The commons are very large, and fo they were al- 
 ways ; for in an extent iu Gr John Verdon's time it 
 is (aid, that the town is furrounded with common, 
 the names of which at this time are, Boyland-green, 
 Whitehoufe-green, PiddockVgreen, the Great Com- 
 mon, with Aldwood green, and JayVgreen, now 
 joined thereto, Roydon-green, the Fenn Commons, 
 Derby's-green, Winley-green, and Thwayt-green. 
 
 In this parifli lived one Mr. Harrifon, who was a 
 cuiious collector of Roman coins, of gold, diver, and 
 copper, from Pompey the Great, to Honorius and 
 Arcadius ; his collection was fold by his fon to fir 
 Simon D'Ewes, of Stow-Langetot, in Suffolk, knt. 
 he was a very curious perfon, and lived in the houfe 
 in which Robert Kent, fen. fince dwelt, which was 
 adorned in a very odd manner : in the parlor flood 
 the effigy of a man, which had a fpeaking trumpet, 
 put through the wall into the yard, fixed to his 
 mouth, fo that upon one's entering the room it ufed 
 to bid him welcome, by a fervant's fpeaking into the 
 trumpet in the yard. 
 
 On the parlor door you may read the following 
 diftich in brafs capitals, in-laid in the wood: 
 
 Rccla
 
 D I S S. 
 
 Re Fa, patens, felix, Jtfus, via, j anna, vita, 
 Alpha, docet, verbum, ducit, omega, beat. 
 
 2 3 
 
 And on the flair-cafe door is a brafs plate, w'th a 
 circle engraved thereon, equally, divided by the 
 twenty-four letters, and this diftich, in capitals of 
 lead, in-laid in the wood: 
 
 Difficiiu, eels fera, porta, Olympi, 
 
 Fit, Jacilis,Jidei t car dint, clave, manu 
 
 In 1364 John Spilwan held lands here, which fa- 
 mily were of good account in this country, though, 
 we do not find them owners of any manors. 
 
 In i 603 it was returned that there were 160 com- 
 municants in this parifh, which had in 1735 near 
 feventy dwelling-houfes, and about, 400 inhabitants. 
 It ufed to pay 3!. 145. for every tenth. Parliament 
 valuations under the atfociations were 1150!. and 
 1104!. the pi efent valuation being 1093!. los. The 
 leet-fee paid to the lord was 205. but the leet being 
 dropped, there is no fee paid. 
 
 BURSTON is wrote in Doomfday-book BER- 
 STUNA. The church and guild here were dedicated 
 to the Bleffed Virgin ; it was a redlory appropriated 
 byjohn of Oxford, bifhop of Norwich, to Butley 
 priory, who were patrons, it being given them by 
 Henry I. at their founder's requeft, before he gave 
 the manor to the Fitz- Walters. In 1293 their tem- 
 porals were taxed at 265. 6d. and their fpirituals at 
 .17!. 6s. 8d. The impropriation was confirmed by 
 the archbifhop, and the vicar had a penfion of 
 26s. 8d. payable by the prior out of the great tithes, 
 all which were afterwards difappropriated by the 
 piior and convent's refi going up the church and 
 
 tithes
 
 14 HUNDRED OF 
 
 tithes, and preferring a reclor In 1510 a pen f] on 
 of 405. per ann was referved to the prior out of 
 the reclory. The lands that belonged to the priory 
 were granted by queen Eiizabcih to different perfons, 
 foine to Edward Dyer, Hugh Crefliner, and others. 
 This reclory is valued in the king's books at i61. 
 
 In i ^46, Auguft 20, Thomas Mildmay, efq. one 
 of the king's auditors, piefented. who had this turn 
 from Nicholas Airowfmith efq. who had it by grant 
 frpm the prior before the houfe was diilblved. 
 
 In 1550, May 24, Edward VI. prefented, from 
 which lime the relors have been prefented by the 
 crown; and in 1741 George II. prefented the Rev. 
 Ifaac Cowper to this reclory. 
 
 The church is (mall, and is leaded, the fouth porch 
 and chancel are tiled, the fteeple is round at 
 bottom, and octangular at top, having five bells. 
 
 Here are no memorials, fave a black marble in 
 the church, for Francis Alpe, gent, who died July 
 the \^ih t 1670, aged 
 
 And in the yard, at the eaft end of the chancel, 
 a grave-poft much decayed, for Hugh Mure, late 
 rector ; by which it appears that he was a Scottck- 
 man, though it is now almofl illegible. 
 
 Burfton at firft was in three parts, though the whole . 
 was held of Robert Mallet, lord of the honor of 
 Eye, and then was two miles long, and one broad, 
 and paid i sd to the gelt. 
 
 Thefe parcels foon after became two manors, one 
 called Brockdifh-hall, from a family of that name ; 
 
 the
 
 D I S S. 25 
 
 the other MeaulingVhall, from Peter de Meauling, 
 or Melding, lord thereof, and now, by corruption, 
 Milding-hall, both being always held of Eye honor. 
 
 The MANOR of BROCKDISH-HALL was given by 
 Henry I. to the Fitz-Walters, from whom it went 
 very early to Geffry de Brockdifli, whofe defcendents 
 enjoyed it. 
 
 Sir Stephen de Brockdifh in 1327 purchafed lands 
 to this manor of Ernold de Monteney, and had view 
 of frankpledge allowed him in 12.^6, and afluc of 
 bread and beer. 
 
 In 1380 William Ufford, earl of Suffolk, as lord 
 of Eye honor, claimed the fines and amerciaments of 
 Brockdifh's tenants, in Burflon, and elfewhere, in 
 the half hundred of Difs, where Walter le Fitz- 
 Waker, of Wodeham, was lord, as being the capital 
 lord of whom this manor was held. We do not 
 find how it went from the BrockdUh family, but it 
 was in the Boylands, from whom it paffed by Maud, 
 the heirefs of that family, to John Lancafter, of Brif- 
 fingham, arid went as Bjyland-hall till about 1500, 
 when it was aliened to lir John Sharpe, km. who in 
 1514 obtained licence to alien it to \VilliamTyler, 
 or Tylot, and his heirs, to be held as formerly, by 
 che fervice of a ted rofe yearly, payable to the duke 
 of Suffolk, to his honor of Eye. In 1518 this fir 
 -John Sharpe, km. and fir William Tyler, knt. &c. 
 Jords of Brckdifh, and the prior of Old Buckehhaui, 
 and the convent there, lords of the manor of Meld- 
 iog-hal-f, agreed' to divide the two manors, which hav- 
 ing for a long time been fanned together, were now 
 <b intermixed, that they knew not their leparate 
 rights, wherefore they got two books in indented 
 bindings, the one having the convent feal affixed 
 C thereto
 
 *6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 thereto, and :hc other the feals of the two knights, 
 Sec in thefe the divjfion was entered, and the one 
 was delivered to the prior, and the other to fir John 
 Sharpe, &c. which is now among ihe evidences of 
 .the manor. 
 
 Robert Browne was coufin and heir to fir John 
 Sharpe, from whom it came to the Pcttus', and from 
 them to Bo 1 ton. and from Bolton to Thomas Proc- 
 tor, fenior, clerk, whofe kinfwoman and heircfi mar- 
 ried John Bimon, of St. Margaret's, who finding no 
 licence for the alienation from Bolton to Proclor. was 
 forced to get a royal pardon, from which time both 
 thefe manors have been in that family, Elizabeth 
 Buxton, a minor, being lady in 1733. 
 
 MELDING-HALL MANOR was purchafed by fir 
 Peter de Meauling, <;r Melding, of Henry I. to be 
 held by this ferjeanty, or fervice, that the owner of 
 it " fhould always fell the beafts taken in Norfolk, 
 or Suffolk, for the king's debts;" it was then valued 
 at 81. per ann. Peter de Melding, his grandfon, in 
 i 249 fold it to fir Robert du Bois, of Fersfield, re- 
 ferving a rent of 4!. and the fervice of a quarter of a 
 knight's fee. Failing heiis male it came to fir Wil- 
 liam Carnobcl, knt. who was lord in 1315. It foon 
 after came into the family of de Swillington, of 
 Ditchingham; and in the year 1424 fir John Graa, 
 knt. had two parts of the manor in right of 
 Margaret, his wife, fifter of fir John Swillingion, all 
 which was mortgaged to Thomas Murftead, efq. 
 for two hundred marks; from this time to 1454 we 
 know nothing of it ; but in that year fir Andrew 
 Ogard, knt. died without iffue, feifed of this manor of 
 Melding-hall, and it looks as if he gave it to Buck- 
 enham priory ; for it appears from the book of ac- 
 compts of that koufc, that this manor belonged to
 
 D I S S. 57 
 
 it, and in 1479 was lett at 15!. IDS. at which time the 
 prior hired the oiher manor at 5!. los. per ann.and lett 
 them together ; and from this time it continued in 
 the convent till its diflblution, and then went to the 
 crown, and being afterwards granted off, it belonged 
 in 1570 to Francis Bowlton ; and in 15 73 it came 
 by exchange to Thomas and Michael Heneage; and 
 after that, having pafled through divers families, 
 though with but fmaU continuance in any of them, 
 it came to the Buttons, and was then joined to the 
 other manor. 
 
 Mr. le Neve favs, there was a manor here (which, 
 we imagine, was this) that all'along attended the fate 
 of the Albanys, of Buckenham-caltle, from whom it 
 came to the Orrebys, from thence to the Cailys, and 
 fo to the Cliftons, and was fettled by fir John Clifton, 
 lent, whofe daughter, Margaret, married fir Andrew 
 Ogard, knt. of Rhye, in HertfoidQiire, who died 
 feifed as aforefaid. 
 
 This might be held of them as capital lords, under 
 Eye honor, titf the whole fee came to fir Andrew, 
 about 1450, whether by marriage, pui chafe, or de- 
 fcent, we do not learn. 
 
 Here is los. a year given to the poor, payable out 
 of Mr. Alpe Ward's farm, given by one of the 
 Alpes, and alfo two town-houfes. 
 
 In 1603 here were eighty communicants; and in 
 1735 there were forty-eight dwelling-houfes, and 
 about 250 inhabitants. 
 
 The old tenth was al. 125. The valuation at the 
 affociation was 780!. and that to the king's tax is 
 528!. per ann. 
 
 C 2 M The 

 
 ;S H U N D R E D O F 
 
 ' The commons are, Pound-green, Church-green, 
 and Bur (Ion, or Northgate-green, whcic they common 
 folely. 
 
 The cuftom of the manor is to the cli'eft fon, and 
 the fine at the lord's will. The leet belongs to the 
 hundred, to which it pays is. leet fee. 
 
 The BurRons, of Burfton, are an ancient fa- 
 re 5 1/. 
 
 DICKLERURGH, wrote in Do omfd ay-book Dic- 
 rles-Bnrc is a large parifh, containing the whole town 
 of Sentere. which at the conquert was as large as 
 Dicklcburgh itfelf. to which it is now a hamlet. 
 This town was anciently divided into four parts, or 
 portions, each uf which had a re&or of its own, and 
 ferved by turns in Dickleburgh church. The firft 
 portion was called fomeiimes Fouldon, fometimes 
 the Portion in the Marfh, (it being the lowed part of 
 the town) fometimes the Portion of Henry, who was 
 Feclor in 1256. but moft commonly the portion of 
 Richard, who was reftor of it when (he Lincoln tax- 
 ation was made, it being then valued at ten marks ; 
 out of this portion the abbot of Bury had an annual 
 penfion of i js. The fecond was called the Portion 
 in the Fitlds, (it being the upper part of the town) 
 fomeiimes the Portion of Henry, and fometimes Cul- 
 phoe's Portion, John de Cu!i/hoe -being reclor at the 
 Lincoln taxation, and J:-hn of St. Edmund's Bury 
 At the Norwich, taxation, when it was valued as Cul- 
 phoc's-, and paid a penfiun to the abbot of St. Ed- 
 mund of 95. yearly. The third portion belonged to 
 that 'part of the town which is now called Lang- 
 tocre*, and is ilill a hamlet belonging to it, all 
 
 which 
 
 * That is the long mere.
 
 D I S S. 29 
 
 xvhich lies in the hurt fired of Earfham, nrvl hath n fe- 
 paraie leet. which ?>o<v belongs to Dickleburgh hall 
 manor, and its juiifdiclion extends to all that part of 
 the town which lies in Eatfham bundled.- 1 lie lect 
 and royalties of the other part in Difs hundied be- 
 longed ai this time to the lord of the hundred, but 
 there are no leei fees due to either of them ; this was 
 at the conqucft included in Semere, of which it was 
 near the half, and was gixen to Bmlev priory, after 
 the deceafe, or ceffion, of Ranulfthe chaplain, who 
 had been prefented thereto by \VilIiam de Aubcrvil, 
 and Maud, his wife, which Maud was daughter to 
 Kanulf de Glanvil. and belonged to the land that the 
 laid Ranulf held of Thomas Noel! ; at the Nojvvich 
 taxation it was valued at ten marks, and in ihe Lin- 
 coln at thirteen maiks; it was appiopt ia-ed to that 
 convent about ilio by John Oxford, bilhop of 
 Norwich. without any vicar to be en- lowed, they 
 being obliged to find a flipendiary chaplain only, who 
 was to adminifter the facrament, and to peiform all 
 duties to the parifhioners of that portion only; this 
 was confirmed by ieveral arctybifhups of Canterbury, 
 and by the bifiiops of Norwich, and thus it conti- 
 nued till 145^, when it was dilappropriated by con- 
 fen t of all par.L'f, and confolidated to the other por- 
 tions, the abbot of Bury giving the prior fl-curity 
 that the future reclors fliould for ever pay to that 
 priory a yearly penfion of gs. 4d. a year, clear of 
 all fervice due fiom the laid portion. The fourth 
 portion was called Sernere*, and contained the oih?r 
 half of Semere that lay in Difs hundred, and was 
 fometimes called Matthe\v's Portion, from Matthew, 
 who was re&or of it at the Norwich taxation, wh' ., it 
 was taxed at fix marks; it was afterwaids nairi'd 
 Alexander's Portion, but moil commonly John's P <r- 
 c 3 tion, 
 
 * The Mere, from a large mere in it.
 
 30 HUNDREDOF 
 
 tion, from John de Hemcnhale. who was reel or of it 
 at the Lincoln taxation, in v\hich it was valued at 
 fix maiks and an half; this portion was of the f mall- 
 eft value, becaufe it was chargeable with a penliun 
 (valued in the Norwich taxation at 8s. and in the 
 Lincoln at los.) payable every year to the prior of 
 St. Faith's, at Horfham : concerning this petition we 
 find in a rcgifter formerly belonging to Pury abbey, a 
 grant made by Raymund, prior of St. Faith's, to fir 
 Ralph Hemenhale. parfon of the fourth part of 
 Dickleburgh, and his fucceffors for ever, of two 
 parts of the tithes of the demefnes, formerly of (ir 
 William de Cheyney, of the fee of his barony of 
 Horsford, in this town, by the authority and con- 
 fent of Ralph de Walpole, bifhop of Norwich, and 
 his chapter, for the annual payment of los. fterling, 
 which tithes were given by the faid William to that 
 monaftcry, all which demefnes, with their fcveial 
 quantities, names, and tenants, are recited therein. 
 The deed was fealed by the bifhop, the abbot, the 
 prior of St. Faith's the reclor, and the prior of Nor- 
 wich and for this penfion the prior- was to allow 
 and pay isd. tenths. The two portions, called 
 Foul don, and Semere, were confolidated in 1429; 
 and in 1449 they were conloiidated to the poifion in 
 the fields. In 14-4 the appropriation of Long-Mere 
 pot don being refigned, it became one reclory, chatge- 
 able with the annual petitions of 35. 4d. to the prior 
 of Butley, ios. to the prior of St. ; aith's, and 245. 
 ^d. ob. to the abbot of Bury, and hath fo continued 
 ever fmce. 
 
 This advowfon, with the manor, now called the 
 Reclory Manor, was procured bv Svward, a monk of 
 Bmy, at which time it belonged to the manor of Ti- 
 veifhall, and with that was given to this monaftery, 
 there being at that time only one chaplain, or parifh 
 
 pried ;
 
 D I S S. 31 
 
 priefl; but before the conquefl the abbot had given 
 the manor to the church, and infrorred it in two 
 priefts. who held it at the furvev ; th fe, xvith ihe 
 parochial pricils. made three portions, all which were 
 in the prcfemation of the abbot of Bury till the dif- 
 folution, each reclor having a houfe with a caiucate 
 of land, a third parl of the manor, (which they di- 
 vided) and the tithes of their feparate portions; at 
 the difTolution the advowfon went to the crown, and 
 was gi anted in 1536 to I hoinas and James Bacon, 
 efqrs. and the heirs of J homas. In i 547 they 
 aliened it to Nicholas Bacon, efq. and he in i ',50 to 
 Thomas Godfalve, who in I5 r ,7 fold it to William 
 Mingay. and he foon after to Stephen Lacy, gent, 
 and he to John Whitman, who in 1567 aliened it to 
 Charles le Grice, efq. who kept it but a little while; 
 for in 1570 it belonged to John and Thomas Whip- 
 pie, and John Whipple, of Pulham-market, in wh'ch 
 family it continued forne time; for in 1603 William, 
 and Thomas Whipple were patrons, who left it to 
 (heir daughters ; the one married to Robert Boiens, 
 the other to George Gawdy, both which held it in 
 their wives right in 1632. from whom it came to 
 Thomas Buxton, who at his death left it to Thomas, 
 liis foh, and he dying without iffue, left it to his v.-i'e. 
 and her heirs, and foon after it belonged t> one 
 Congham, of Wells, of whom George Chambeilain, 
 D. D fellow of Trinity College, in Cambridge, pur- 
 chafed it, and prelentcd his nephew, Samuel Need- 
 ham, to it; after whofe death he gave it to the fenior 
 fellow of Trinity College, for ever. The rector hath 
 a good houfe. and eighty acres of land adjoining to it, 
 together with the Reclory Manor, thecuftom of wlvch 
 is, that the copyhold defcends to the youngeft ,011, 
 and the fine is at the lord's will. It is in the libeay 
 C4 of
 
 3* HUNDRED OF 
 
 of hrs Jrrace the duks of Norfolk, and is valued in 
 the king's books at 28!. 
 
 The firft portion, called Fouldon, or the portion 
 io the mafh, and Scmere portion, were confoiidated 
 October 2<j, 1429; and December 13, 1454. they 
 were confoiidated to the fecond portion, or the por- 
 tion in the fields. The Rev. John Bulman held the 
 whole benefice till 1497 ; he was fecrctary to bifhop 
 Walter Lyhert. rector of Hevingham, prebendary of 
 the college of Stoke-Clare, and rector of Rollefby, 
 (for which church he refigncd this) : he willed to be 
 buried in this chancel, under a black marble ftone 
 prepared, with an infcription thereon put. wkh men- 
 tion of John Bulman, his father, and Beatrix, his 
 mother, who are there buried ; he gave divers veft- 
 ryents to keep his and their obijts, and a pair of filver 
 candleflicks, weighing fixty ounces, a liuie filver 
 crofs, gill, a gilt filver cup, two ofculatories of filver, 
 tyvo cievveis of (liver, his beit milfal, altar-clothes, 
 &c. and ordered a piiefl to officiate five years after 
 his death lor his and his faihei's and mother's fouls, 
 and his good lords. Thomas Browne, and Walter 
 L\ hert, formerly bifhops of Norwich, Richard 
 licdge, William Ivot, and Margaret, his wife, and 
 Stephen Brafier, and all his benefactors. 
 
 This teelory is thus defcribed in the bifhop's re- 
 gifler: Dickkbuigh two portions, Semeie, and the 
 J.'ields. with uthei two poitions, viz. Foulden and 
 Heniv's Uicklebiugh, with Semere and the I iejds, 
 confnlidated Auguit 23, 1430: the fame wiih the 
 otlici two poiti. ns, cond'lidated December 13, \$(,^" 
 The Rev. Robert Bcudyfhc was prelemed in 1755 by 
 the imifter and leilows of Irinuy College, Cam- 
 bridge. * 20 > 
 
 IB
 
 D I S S. 33 
 
 In 164^ Clmfto.pher Bernard " was di-fpofff (Ted 
 " by the earl of Mnnchefter, who tendered him the 
 *' covenant, and offered him to keep his place if he 
 " would take it, both which he generoufly refufed, 
 " and by neceffary confluence brought on himfelf 
 ." discommon, calamities and fate .which- then at- 
 *' tended loyalty and fidelity to his majcfty ; for his 
 " houfe was plundered and rifled of a great deal of 
 44 plate, linen, and oiher goods; he was alfo feized 
 " and dragged away towaids Norwich caflle, but by 
 " his exccik-m life and doclrine he had fo much 
 " recommended himfclf to his parifhioners. that 
 V they thought a greater judgment could not befall 
 41 them than to lofe him, and fo by confcnt they 
 11 followed the party that had him in ciiftixly, and 
 *' refcued him: they alfo gave this further teftiinony 
 " of their affcflion towards him, xha; when the yil- 
 4i lains had defigned to plunder his houfe a fecond 
 41 time, unknown to him, they voluntarily went, and 
 41 by force fecured the remainder of his goods in 
 " their own houfes, and even the very women and 
 *' children affifted in this perilous undertaking, to 
 11 the manifcft hazard of their fafetv, perhaps of 
 44 their lives, if it had been difcovered. He had 
 41 at the time of his fuiferings a wife, and at leaft 
 44 nine young children, which helped to compleat 
 4< his raifery, and fufficiemlv aggravated the barba- 
 " rities which- were exercifed upon him; 'tis remark- 
 44 able he had always a firm pcrfuafion of his ma- 
 " jcfiy's reflorarion. which he afterv\aids lived 10 fee, 
 w and was himlelf one of ihe Hiit mil illers rcftored 
 44 in this county, after which he enjoyed his re&ory 
 44 twenty years, and having been admitted about the 
 44 year 1620 and not dying ii!l if)8o, (in the S4th 
 ! 4 year of his age) he muil in all have been reclor of 
 it near fixty years*." 
 
 Thus 
 
 * Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part z, fol. 204.
 
 34 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Thus far Mr. Walker, in which account there arc 
 feme fmall errors, all which may be conecled by the 
 infoiption on his Hone in the chancel: he died Oc- 
 tober 5, 1680, aged 83. 
 
 The church is a regular building, having a nave, 
 and two ailes, with a chapel at the eaft end of each 
 of them; the chancel, veftry, and fouih porch, are 
 all covered with lead, and a fquare tower and five 
 befls at its weft end ; it is dedicated to the honor of 
 AH Saints, and had a guild held in the fouth aile 
 chape!, which acknowledged St. Peter and Paul for 
 their patrons. The Guild-hall now Hands on the 
 tveft fide of the church-) aid, and ij> ufed as a town- 
 houfe. 
 
 The arms of bifhop Lyhart, England, and \\aker- 
 ing, weie in this chancel, as Mr. Auflis's manu- 
 faipis tell us. 
 
 In the upper windows of the church there flill re- 
 main the crofs fwords, and crofs keys, the emblem. 
 of St. Peter and Paul, the patrons of the guild, the 
 emblems of the Trinity, and of the Sacrament, the 
 iuflruments of the Paflion, the arms of Bury Abbey, 
 of the Eaft Angles, and of St Geoige, and alfo an 
 insperfecl coat of the arms of the bifboprfc. 
 
 On a done in the middle aile. neai the pulpit, is 
 Jarnegan's aims, foi Mrs. Eliiabcth Vvnippie, wife 
 unto Thomas Whip pie. gent, and daughter of John far- 
 negan, of Baton, in Somcticc, ejq.Jun if Sir Jij 
 negan, knt.jJie died September 4, 101 -. , aged 65. 
 
 A black marble in the chancel, for Maria, wife cf 
 John Wiiufidd, reftor here. 
 
 Oft
 
 D I S S. 35 
 
 On the north fide of the chancel is a noble mural 
 monument, of various forts of marble, with a lady 
 holding a book, and under her the following in- 
 
 fcripiion : (Le Neves Monuments, vol. 2, p. 42.} 
 
 Hereundtr lieth buried the body (if Dame Frances Play- 
 tcrs, the daughter and heirefs of Charles le Grys, of Bil- 
 ling ford, in Norfolk, tjq-jhf married Sir William Play- 
 fcrs, ofSotttrley, in Suffolk, knt. and hart, fame time one of 
 the deputy lieutenants, and vice admiral of the faid coun- 
 ty , and ju/lice of the peace and cor am. and colonel of a re- 
 giment of foot, 'till turned out of all by the then rebellious 
 parliament, whereof he had the misfortune to be a member. 
 She had ijfue by him only Thomas, who married with Re- 
 becca, the daughter and coheirefs of Thomas Chapman, of 
 Woonnly, in the county cf Plertford, efej. which faid Sir 
 Thomas was a great traveller before and after marriage, 
 with his lady fame time beyond thefeas with him, a learned 
 fcholar, an exacl lingui/l, expert in all arts and know- 
 ledge, of rare temper and courage, arid of great ejteem in 
 mojl courts in Cluijlendom; high flier iff for the county of 
 Suffolk by commijjion from his majejly of bleffcd memory, 
 anno 1646, till forced by that fatal parliament to fee to 
 the king at Oxford, where, by commijfwn from his ma- 
 jefly, he raifed a regiment of horfe. wherewith he perform- 
 ed remarkable fervice, till his majeftys Jotce* were totally 
 ruined, and then he departed the kingdom, arriving in 
 Cictlia, where, by commijfwn from that viceroy, he had 
 command of a fquadron of Jixjhips, againjt all enemies to 
 the crown of Spain, which being prepared, he put to fea, 
 and performed many gallant Jervices, much to the honor of 
 the Spanijh Jlag. In July, 1651, he put into the port 
 of Mejfina with a very rich prize, and poflcd to the court 
 at Palermo, where he met with an honorable reception, for 
 the fever al good fervices he had performed- but at four 
 days end he there fell ill of a violent fever, whereof with- 
 in eight days he died, aged about 3 5 years, and by the 
 princes order had an honorable interment, and much la- 
 mented
 
 36 HUNDRED OF 
 
 merited there, lut muck greater caufe a' 1'owe, lefi-chiv no 
 ijjue, but a forrowful widvw, r,nd fr,d c'ti'-He-s pa-ents 
 the fa id Dame Frances died al Itillin* ford hall t'ie gtk 
 of September, 16 59, from whence by her own de/irejhe 
 was brought and interred in this pnrifli to which Jhe oj- 
 ten manijejled a charitable ofjcciivn. On the top are. 
 the arms of Piavters, impaling le Grice ; Playters with. 
 Ulfler arms, and his quaiteiings, with le Grice, and. 
 hi& cjuarterings. 
 
 On the eafl fide of this monument is an ancient 
 painting on the wall, half of which hath been lately 
 renewed, viz. Chrifl beaiing hiscrofs; the other part, 
 that is dill obfcure, we lake to be Chnfl riling from, 
 his fejnilchrc. 
 
 The plate belonging to the altar is very fine ; the 
 flaggon holds about two quarts, on which is this : 
 A gift to the church of Dickleburgh, anno \ - 1 5. The 
 cup is a very good one, and. was ptnchafcd by the 
 parifh in queen Elizabeth's time, togeiiier with a neat 
 imall falver for its cover ; on it is this : Dj-ckelbourgh, 
 T. F. W. A. Remember God. There is alfoa good 
 falver, on which, Tho. Button, gent, et </i: uxor de 
 Dickleburgh, Notf: 1697. An offering plate of fil- 
 yer, on which, Ex Dono Alicice Rant. 
 
 The town lands* were a;iven by J"hn Billorne, 
 cliaplain, anno 1483, and William Hyll. of bickle- 
 burgh, anno 1484, and were all fettled by deed of 
 feoffmem, dated Feb. 10, 150, to the u(e of all the 
 inhabitants of the town, and parifh of Dicklebuigh, 
 as well thofe that inhabit in the greater part of it, 
 which is in the hundred of Difs, as thofe that in- 
 habit in the hamlets of Langmere and Lincroft, which 
 
 lie 
 
 * They lie in Thorpe- Abbots and Tivetfhall. '
 
 D I S S. 37 
 
 lie in the hundred of Eaifham, towards the payment 
 'of callages and fif:eemhs of our fovereign lord the 
 king, on this condition, that the fixth part of the pro- 
 fits (ball go towards difcharging the hamlets afore- 
 faid ; this land now belongs to the parilh. 
 
 They have alfo a pightle of one acre, called Dove- 
 houfe pightle, and a clofe of two acres, called the 
 Town-clofe, both which belonged to the guild, and 
 were purchafed by the parifh with the Guild hall. 
 
 There is a gift alfo of 205. a year, called Chap- 
 man's-Dole. paid out of lands in Burflon, which was 
 given by Ralph Chapman, anno 1618. 
 
 The EARL'S, c r DICLKFEURGH-HALL MANOR, was. 
 the mofl confideiable in this town, (except that which 
 was granted by the abbot to the reclory) though its 
 beginning was very (mail, as we learn from Doo:nf- 
 day-book ; but foon afier the conqueft it was enlarged 
 by the abbot's enfeoffing the earl of Norfolk in this 
 part, and all thofe lands, fei vices, Sec. \vhich belonged 
 to the abbot's capital manor, and were not granted with 
 the Reclory Manor, and in this family it continued 
 till the death of Roger Bigot, the laft earl of ihac 
 line, who held it in 1306, at which time it was held 
 of Robert Fitz-Walter, lord of Difs hundred, at 29. 
 per ann. rent paid to his hundred of Difs, to which 
 the leet of this part always did, and now doth be- 
 long. This Roger died in the 3 r ,th of Edward 1. 
 without ilFue, upon which it carnc to the crown, and 
 was granted in theSth of Edward II. to Thomas de 
 Brotherton, earl marfhal, with the barony of the 
 Bigots. 
 
 ' I 11 35 ' J onn l r d Segrave, of Folkfttmc, in Kent, 
 had it iu right of Margaret, his wife, daughter of 
 
 Thonias
 
 3 8 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Thomas de Brorherton. In 1360 Edward Mon- 
 tague, (or de Monte Acuto) and Alice, his wife, one 
 of the daughters and heireffes of Thomas de Bro- 
 therton, held one moiety as part of the barony of 
 that earl, and Joan, their daughter, then wife of 
 William Ufford, was their heiiefs. In 1371 Walter 
 Manney, knt. held the other moiety in right of Mar- 
 garet, his wife, late wife of John Jord Segrave, and 
 one of the heireffcs of Thomas de Biotherion. In 
 1381 William de U fiord, earl of Suffolk, died feifed 
 of one part ; and in 1309 Thomas de Mowbray, 
 duke of Norfolk, who had been banifhed for fpeak- 
 ing difgracefully of Richard 11. died in banifhment 
 at Venice, of the plague, in his return fromjerufa- 
 lem, feifed of this among other manors, in 1406, and 
 it was after held bv John Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, 
 who in 1432 held it as of Forncet manor; and in 
 this family it continued till the male iflue failed, and 
 then it defcended to the Howard family, and con- 
 tinued in it till (eifed by queen Elizabeth in 1572, 
 upon the duke of Norfolk's attainder; notwithftand- 
 ing which, in 1576, November 17, William Dyx, 
 of Wickmere, efq. and Willliam Canterell, of Nor- 
 wich, gent, (as truftees to the Norfolk family) lett to 
 Thomas Whipple, of Dickleburgh, gent, the liberty 
 of fifhing and fowling in Sernere-moor, and the 
 Damm's-dyche in Dickleburgh, that is as much as 
 to that manor belonged, for twenty one years, at 35. 
 4d. a year. In 1604 J >hn and Thomas Holland 
 kept their firft court as truflees to that family, and 
 fome time after fold it, with their confents, and by 
 their order. 
 
 The cufloms of this manor are thefe: -"The 
 eldeft fon is heir, the fine is at the lord's will, it gives 
 a third dower, the tenants cannot wafte their copyhold 
 
 houfes,
 
 D I S S. 39 
 
 houfes, nor fell timber upon the copyhold, or wafte, 
 without licence." 
 
 There were formerly three other manors, all which 
 belonged to Semcre, and are now fallen into pickle- 
 burgh-hall manor. The chief of Semere was at 
 the conqueft in the abbot of Bury, who held it as a 
 manor, worth at that time 403. it being a mile and 
 quarter long, and as much broad, and paid 6d. gelt. 
 This vvas foon after the conquefl divided into three 
 parts, the firft of which belonged to the Gianvilis. 
 In the latter end of the reign of Henry III. Jjhnde 
 Somery'* held in Semere the fourth part of a fee: it 
 continued in this family till 1401, and not long after 
 was joined to the Earl's manor. 
 
 After various changes the Eatl's, or Dickleburgh 
 manor, was purchafed in the year 1733 by the late 
 Horatio lord Walpole, of \Vooltertoti, and his foil, 
 Horatio lord Walpole, is the prefent lord, (1781.) 
 
 The fecond part of Semere was in the Conqueror's 
 time held by Walter, under Robert M-ilet, lord of 
 Eye, to which honor it was appendant for fome 
 time; and about the year 1200 fir \Vilham Cheyney 
 had it, as part of his barony of Horsford, from 
 which time we meet with no account of it till 1370, 
 when it belonged to Robert Bacon, who was out- 
 lawed for felony ; he is faid to hold it of Edmund 
 Ufford le Coufyn, by knight's fervice, as of his ba- 
 lony of Horstord. Joan, wife of the faid Robert, 
 in 1414 had licence granted her by the bifHop of Nor- 
 wich, " to have mafs faid to her in any decent place. 1 * 
 Thefe licences were then ufually granted to aged 
 people that could not come to church, or to people 
 
 * The family of the Semeres, or Sjmerys, arc very ancient.
 
 40 HUNDRED OF 
 
 of diftinflion thru lived at a diftance, in which cnfe 
 the pricfl always had a confecraied portable al'ar to 
 officiate at. John Shelton conveyed it by fine to 
 Henry Whipple, in whom ii w as joined to the earl's 
 manor. 
 
 MANTEtAKE's, Of MANCLPRK*S MANOR, was the 
 
 third manor in Scmere, and had its name from feme 
 of its former lords. In iiqi Roger de Dicdcfburc 
 had it, after which it paffed through many hands, till 
 in i r ,g8 Thomas Spnoner, gent, iold it to William 
 Holmes, and Thomas Edwards, and then it extend- 
 ed into Seething, Mundham, and Loddon ; and foon 
 afier, in I'^Sy, it was loft in the earl's manor, td 
 which it had fome tirrre been joined. 
 
 Diccles-Burc, or Burgh, may take its name from 
 fome rcmaikable Saxon that fettled here, and railed 
 a f< rtification of fome fort or oihcr to defend himfclf 
 and his adherents againft the ini'alts of the Danes. 
 
 In 1603 here were 224 communicants ; and in 
 1735 about eighty houfes, and 400 inhabitants ; it 
 paid 3!. los. tenths; the parliament valuation was 
 1032!. and the prefent one is, for Langmere part 
 335!. and for Dickleburgh part 6681. 
 
 In 1428 the abbot of Bury was taxed at 315. 
 fid. ob. for his temporals in this town, it being part 
 of the land belonging to his man< r of Tivcifhall, 
 that extended hitlur, together wkh a tenement, given 
 to the abbey in the year 1120 by Thomas Noeli ; the 
 cuttomb and lervice^ remitted by the abbot to Henry 
 Freeman, and Matthew de Cambridge, are faid to be 
 thele, viz. that the tenants of the rector's manor were 
 obliged to do lu t of court every fifteen days, at Ti- 
 vetfLiall court, aad to j-ay aid and talia^c whenever 
 
 it
 
 D I S S. 41 
 
 .'t was laid on the town of Tivc-tfhan, and to carry 
 fa t of the abbot's wine and board from Norwich, or 
 Yarmouth, to PaJgrave-bridge, and to hedge and 
 ditch round Tivetfhall fiack-vards. and to plough one 
 day, and reap another, the abbot finding them diet. 
 
 In i 2^4 the reftors had aflize of brend and beer of 
 all their tenants allowed them upon a Qvo Warranto. 
 
 Humphry Rant, of Dickleburgh. efq. by will, 
 dated May 13, 1726, gave ^5*. a year to the poor, 
 as long as William, las fon, lived, in thefe words: 
 " Item. \ give to the poore of Dickleburgh, and 
 41 LangtRcre, the fmn of il. i ',. to be paid yearlv, 
 " and upon New Year's Day. as Chapman's Dole is, 
 " by my Ion, William, during his life;" he was 
 grandfather to the prefent Mr. Riant. 
 
 Thehoufe, called Dickleburgh-hall, is a good old 
 /eat, having about 230 acres of land belonging to it, 
 and is owned by Henry Harold, elq. of Crowfield* 
 hall, in Suffolk.. tilomcficid. 
 
 The commons are Semere-green, which contains 
 about fixty acres; on this Pulbam-Markrt inter- 
 commons, as far as Pnlham-bridgc; Dicklebulgh- 
 moor contain^ about eighty acres, "and Pound, or 
 Hi^h-Green, about fifty acres, on both which Dickie- 
 burgh commons lolely ; and whereas it is faid in Nor- 
 wich Doom(day-book, that all rhis town is the king's, 
 (Tola Villa tji Regalis) when the crown was never 
 concerned in the manors, it will be proper j/> ob- 
 (erve, that it is meant of the jurifdition and fpecial 
 privileges which the crown had in this and many 
 oiher towns, all which were granted by Edward IV. 
 fo John duke of Norfolk, and is now in the prefent 
 ciiirie, wbofe liberty extends all ovei this town. 
 
 D The
 
 4i H U N D R E D O F 
 
 The village of Dickleburgh lies on the turnpike 
 toad from Norwich, fevemeen miles, to Scole three. 
 
 DISS, DYSSE, or DICE, in the time of the Confeflbr 
 extended into Suffolk, nay the town itfelf was then in 
 Hertefmere hundred, in that county, as we learn 
 from Doomfday-book, where we find that it was in 
 king Edward's poffeffiort as demefnc of the crown, 
 there being at that time a church and twentv-four 
 acres of glebe; that the whole was worth 15!. per 
 ann. which at the Conqueror's time was doubled, 
 it being then eflimated at 30!. with the foe of the 
 whole hundred and half belonging to it; it was then 
 a league long, and half a one broad, and paid 4d. 
 Dane gelt, by which it appears that it was not fo 
 large in its bounds as it now is, which is eafily 
 accounted for from the fame record ; for Watlingfct 
 manor, as it is there called, which was as large as 
 Difs, andfeemingly fuller of inhabitants, as we may- 
 judge by the gelt, or tax, that it paid, was foon after 
 quite loft in Difs, to which it was appendant at that 
 time. This was afterwards called Walcotc, and in- 
 cludes part of Hey wood, as appears from its join- 
 ing to Burfton, into which town this manor ex- 
 tended. 
 
 The manor thus joined, with the advowfon and 
 hundred, continued in the crown till Henry I.* 
 granted them to fir Rich, de Lucy, a Norman knight, 
 a man of great renown in thofe days ; the record, 
 called Tejla de Ncuilt, fays, that it was not known 
 whether it was rendered unto him as his inheritance, 
 
 or 
 
 * The manor was then valued at 51!. per annum, and at the 
 time of the grant the king referved a rent of 4od. per annum, 
 to be paid at Norwich caftle.
 
 D I S S. 43 
 
 or Tor his fervice, but without doubt it was for the 
 latter, it having been always demefne of the crown. 
 This Richard was governor of Falais, in Normandv, 
 in the 3d year of king Stephen, which he manfully 
 defended againft Jcffcry earl of Anjou, who had bs- 
 fieged it ; he was a great inftrument towards the 
 agreement between that king and Henry II. and had 
 the Tower of London, and caflle of Winchefter, put 
 into his hands, by the advice of the whole clergy, 
 upon his fwearing to deliver them up at Stephen's 
 death to king Henry ; all which he faithfully accom- 
 plifhed, which fo far advanced him in that king's fa- 
 vor, that he made him chief jufticc of England, and 
 in his abfence he was appointed governor of the 
 realm, during which time he took prifoner, in a 
 pitched battle near Fornham, in Suffolk, Robert earl 
 of Leicefter, together with his Amazonian proud coun- 
 tefs, Petronell, or Parnell, and put to the (word above 
 10,000 Flemings, which the faid Robert had levied 
 and fent forth to the depopulation of his country ; 
 all, or the moft part of which, were buiied in and 
 about Fornham in 1173; their fepulchres are now tp 
 be feen near a place called Rymer-houfe, on the 
 right hand of the road leading from Thetford to 
 Bury, and are now called the Seven Hills, though 
 ihcre are many more; but fevenofthem being much 
 larger than the reft, are particularly taken notice of 
 by thofe that pafs this way, under which moft pro- 
 bably the commanders were buried: this memorable 
 battle was fought in this field. But to onr purpofe, 
 it appears he had two fons, Jeffery. or Godfrey, after- 
 wards bifhop of Winchefter, who in 1204 died with- 
 out ififue, as alfo did Herbert de Lucy, the fccoud 
 fbn, fo that the inheritance came to his daughter^ ; 
 Maud, the eldcft, married Walter Fitz- Robert, the 
 progenitor of the Fitz-Walters, to whom he gave iwo 
 parts of the hundred, manor, and maiket, of Difs 
 D 2 wiih
 
 44 H T J N D R E D O F 
 
 with her in man-Iage. Avelihe. Ihf ' 
 Richard Riprrijs, (or Rivers) of Stanford-Rivers. 
 Rofe, or Rohnis, the third, to Richaid de Warren, 
 natural fon of king John. Dimiifia, a fourth daugh- 
 ter, mairied Arnold de Monnteny, knt. who had with 
 her the other third part of the manor, hundred, and 
 market, fo that from that time there were two ma- 
 nors bv'the divifion of thi third part, which was 
 Walcote, and part of Heywood. 
 
 In i 179 Richard de I. ucy, cKefJM Hice of England, 
 deceafed, and was buried in the choir of (he abbey 
 church at Lefties, in Kent, which he had founded, 
 and where he had taken . upon him the habit of a 
 canon-regular the year before. 
 
 From this Richard the manor came to fir Walter 
 Fifz-Robert, ion of Robert de Tonebrigge, or Tun- 
 bridge, the fifth Ton of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, firnamed 
 de Tonebrigge, the firft earl of Clare, who came in 
 with the Conqueror, of whofe gift he had the caltle 
 and town of Clare, in Suffolk, with Tunbiid^c, in 
 K<"nt, and divers other great lordfhips in England. 
 This earl was fon of Gilbert, firnamed Crifpin, ea>rl 
 of Brion. in Normandy, and fon of Jeffery, natural 
 fon to Richard I. of that name, xduke of Normandy ; 
 he bore, as the Fitz-Wakers ever after did, the 
 carl of Clare's fhield varied; he had two wives, 
 Maud de Rocham, or de Bohun, and Maud, daugh- 
 ter of fir Richard de Lucy, as aforefaid, in whofe 
 right he had this manor, to which he firfl obtained a 
 charter for a fair. He was juftice itinerant in Nor- 
 folk and Suffolk, and died in 1 198, being buried in 
 the midftof the choir of the priory church of Little 
 Dunmow, in EfTex, of which his father was firft 
 founder; he was fomeiimes called Walter of Claie, 
 
 fometimes
 
 D I S S. 45 
 
 fomeciraes Robert Fiiz- Walter,' but moftlv Walter 
 Hu Robert ; he lefi Robert tht Valiant his heir. 
 
 Sir Robert Fitz Walter, km. commonly called 
 Robert the Viiliar.t, had two wives; Gunnora, 
 daughter and heireis of Philip de Valoines, and Ro- 
 hcfia, or Rnfe, v\ho furviyed him. and had ihe ma- 
 nors of Difs, Hempnall, (which always went wiih 
 Difs) Theye, and Difs hundred, in do\ver ; he it was 
 that firft divided this manor, by giving a moiety of 
 the two parts which he polTeffed to fir GilbertPecche, 
 knt. with his daughter, Alice, in free marriage, with 
 the third part of the hundred and market, and fo 
 ihere branched a third manor, which was called 
 Pecche's fee; this Robert was leader of ihofe barons 
 that rofc againft king John, the beginning of which 
 was on this occafion, a^ the book ol Duumow in- 
 forms us : 
 
 " About the year 1213 there arofe a great difcord 
 " between king John and his barons, becaufe of Ma- 
 *'. tilda, firnamed the tair, daughter ol Robeit Ficz~ 
 " Walter, whom the king unlawfully loved, but 
 " couid not obtain heT, nor her father's confent 
 V thereunto; wheieupon (and for divers other like 
 '.' caufes)) enfued war throughout the whole realm ; 
 " the king banilhcd the faid Fitz-Walter, among 
 ' others, and caufed his caftle, called Baynard, and 
 " -other his houfes, to be fpoiled, which being done, 
 " he lent a mefTenger unto Matilda the Fair, about 
 " his old fuit in love, ancj becaufe fhe would not 
 agree to his wicked motion,, the meffengcr poiforied 
 M a boiled, or potched egg, againft (he was hungiy, 
 " a,nd gave it unto her, whereof fhe died in 1212.". 
 Her tomb was (landing between two pillars in the 
 priory church of Little Dunmow when Aii. Weaver 
 uublifhed his book. > 
 
 D 3 "in
 
 46 HUNDREDOF 
 
 In the rear following her banifhed father was re- 
 fiored to the king's favor upon this occafion : " King 
 " John being then in France with a great army, it 
 " happened that a truce was taken between the two 
 44 kings, of England and France, for the term of five 
 44 years ; and a river, or arm of the fea, being betwixt 
 " either hoft, there was a knight of the Englifh hoft 
 44 that cried to them of the other fide, willing fome 
 " one of their knights to come and jtifl a courfe ot 
 " two with him; whereupon, without flay, Robert 
 ' fritz-Walter being on the French part, made him- 
 41 ielf ready, ferried over, and got on horfeback, and 
 *' (hewed himfelf ready to the face of his challenger,- 
 " whom at the firft courfe he ftruck fo hard with his 
 " great fpear, that horfe and man fell to the ground, 
 ** and when his fpear was broken, he went back again 
 4 ' to the king of France, which king John feeing, by : 
 44 God's tooth, quoth he, (for fuch was his ufual 
 44 oath) he were a king indeed that had fuch a knight. 
 " The friends of Robert hearing thefe words, kneeled 
 44 down and faid, O king, he is your knight, it is 
 "Robert Fitz-Walter ; whereupon the next day 
 ** he was fcnt for, and reftored to the king's favor, 
 *' by which means peace was concluded, and he re- 
 *' ceived his livings, and had licence to repair his 
 *' caftle of Baynard, and all his other caflles." Not- 
 withflanding this, he afterwards joined the barons 
 that flood againfl the fame king for their liberties, 
 during his whole reign, and at the king's death, by 
 his advice, there was an agreement made between 
 them and the fucceeding king, from which time he 
 was always in great favor both in court and country. 
 Holinfhed, that faithful hiftorian, gives him this cha- 
 rafter: that he was " both excellent in counfel, and 
 " valiant in war." He went with Ralph earl of 
 Chefler's army to aid the Chriftians againfl the Infi- 
 dels, who had befieged the city of Damieta, in Egypt, 
 
 where
 
 D I S S. 47 
 
 where he performed noble atchievements: " Afier 
 " which this flrenous knight, this Mars of men, thi$ 
 " marfhal of God's army and holy church, (for fo he 
 " was (tiled by the common multitude) lived in all af- 
 *' fluence of riches and honor till 1235, when he 
 " died, and was buried by his daughter in the faid 
 " church:" Holingflied fays, " anno 1234, in Ad- 
 " venc, died the noble barori, the lord Fitz-WaL- 
 " ter." 
 
 Robert Fitz-Walter, his fon, often called Walter 
 Fitz-Robert, fucceeded ; he was a man of renown in 
 thofe days, "and in great favor with his prince; he 
 inherited the lands of his father, except this manor, 
 and thofe of Hcmpnall and Theye, which were held 
 in dower by Rofe, his ftep-mother, who pofTefled 
 them to 1250, from which time he held them, and 
 dying feifed in 1258, was buried in the conventual 
 church of Dunmow, leaving Robert, his fon and 
 heir, who was knighted in 1274, and had a great 
 part of his poffeffions in his own hands before that 
 time, though this manor, with Hempnall and Thcyc, 
 were in the hands of Stephen Fitz-Walter, his uncle, 
 as his guardian and trufiee. This Stephen in 1286 
 claimed a market every Wednefday and Friday, with 
 all rights belonging to a market, and it was allowed 
 in tire. It feems that Henry I. eftablifhed this mar- 
 ket, for he granted it to fir Ricard de Lucy along 
 with the manor ; at this time Stephen held a third 
 part of the hundred, which was worth five marks 
 yearly, and Ernald de Mpminiaco (Arnold Mounieny) 
 held of him another third part, which was worth 6os. 
 per annum; and Ricnard de Boyland held of the 
 laid Stephen another part, which was worth 283. per 
 annum. This Stephen, as capital lord of the whole, 
 paid into the Exchequer a rent of 4od. a year, being 
 entitled in ki&part to view of frank-pledge, affize of 
 D 4 bread
 
 4 S H U N D R E D O K 
 
 bread and ale, infangthef, waif, and all other liber- 
 ties which belonged to a hundred, all which toon 
 after came to Robert Fitz-Walter aforefaid. In izcj^ 
 he was fummoned to attend Edward I. into Gal- 
 coigns, in order to recover his inheritance from the 
 Fiench king, to which place he went in the retinue 
 of Edmund earl of Lancafter. In 1296 he was in 
 the Welfh expedition ; and in 1 29*) in the Scotch 
 wars. It was this man that aliened Bainard's-caflle 
 in London, and Momfitchet tower, to the archbifhop 
 of Canterbury, referving his barony that belonged to 
 it to himfelf and his heirs; he was the firfl of this 
 family that (tiled himfelf lord of Woodham, in Ef- 
 fex, where he had a feat and a fine park : he had two 
 wives; Devorgil, daughter and coheirefs of John de 
 Burgh, fon of Hubert de Burgh, late earl of Kent, 
 and chief juftice of England; and Eleanor, daughter 
 of earl Ferrers, by whom he had Robert, his fon, 
 who fucceeded him : in this year he obtained a char- 
 ter of confirmation for a fair every year at his manor 
 of Difs, upon the eve, day, and morrow, after the 
 feaft of St. Simon andjude, and dire'-' days follow- 
 ing; he was one of thofe parliamentary barons that 
 fcaled the letter to the pope, anno 1301, "denying 
 that the kingdom of Scotland was his fee, or that he 
 had any jurifdi&ion in temporal affairs: 1 ' he lealed 
 with his paternal coat, fupported by two harpies, 
 which feal of his we have feen affixed to feveral 
 deeds, and in particular to a grant made in 1298, to 
 William Partckyn, - of Priileilon, (now Billingford) 
 dyer, by which he granted " for his homage and fer- 
 vice, and half a mark of filver in hand paid, two rnef- 
 fuages in Difs, with liberty of wafhing his wool and 
 cloths in Difs-meer whenever he would, with this re- 
 ferve, that the grofs dye fhould be firft wafhed off, 
 and that he fhould not fuffer the drain of his dying- 
 office to run into the meer." The. efcheat rolls of 
 
 the
 
 D ;fc s s; 49 
 
 the i ^th of Edward Tl. fav, that he held Difs a: three 
 knights fees, and Hempnall by baronv: he re- 
 nounced all the rempor.il matters, and then -entered 
 himfelf a friar minor in the friarv at Colchefter, 
 which he hirnfelf in 1309 'had founded, and there 
 took upon him the habit of a religious votarv, where 
 he fpent the reit of his days. In the catalogue of 
 emperors, kings, princes, and other potent period, 
 that have- entered into this religious order, this Ro- 
 bert was one. It.ieenis as if the church of Difs was 
 built by this man, his arms cut in Hone flill remain- 
 ing feveral times on the (outh porch. 
 
 Robert Fitz-Walter, his fun/ married Joan de 
 Mou! ton, who furvived him, and had for her dower 
 an affirmation of the manors of D:fs, and Hempnall, 
 in Norfolk, 8cc. In 1361 this Joan purcha fed of Ni- 
 cholas de VValcote one mefluage, eighty acres of land, 
 fixty acres of meadow., fix acres of pafture, four acres 
 of wood, and 145. per annum quit-rent, in Difo, 
 Frenze, and Burflon, which were added to the Capital 
 manor, and was part of Walcote manor that wad 
 granted by one of the Mountenys to William de 
 Watcote, the father, or grandfather, of this Nicholas. 
 'She it was alfo that brought the caitle of Egremont, in 
 Cumberland, and a third part of that manor, and 
 many others, to this family. This Robert was in 
 the expedition made'into Scotland in 1326, and died 
 the year following, leaving John, his Ion, poffefled of 
 two parts of his eftate, the third being held by the 
 faid Joan in dower ; he was a ward of Henry de 
 Percy; but- in the gth of Edward III. by the king's 
 fpecial favor, his homage was accepted, and livery 
 made to him ; Difs manor ihen was valued at 31!. 
 Hempnall at 48!. Fincham at 61. 135. 4d. He was 
 in the French wars in 1359, being one of thofe ap- 
 pointed to accompany fir Walter Manny in that 
 
 fkirmifh
 
 5 o H U N D R E D O F 
 
 fkirmifh at the barriers of Paris, the duke of Nor- 
 mandy then lying in that city, and was then knight- 
 ed: he married Eleanor, daughter of Henry lord 
 Percy, his guardian, was fummoned to parliament 
 from the i^th to the 34th of Edward III. exclufive, 
 and died in 1360, leaving Walter, his fon and heir, 
 Joan, his mother, furvivinghim ; (he died in 1362, 
 v/hereupon Walter, her grandfon, was found to be 
 next heir, this manor being then held at three fees, 
 as of the barony of Bainard-caftle. 
 
 Walter lord Fitz -Walter making proof of his age 
 in 136-2, and doing his homage, had livery of all 
 his lands. In the 44th of Edward III. he was in 
 that expedition made into Gafcoigne, and there re- 
 puted one of the moft expert foldiers in the whole 
 realm; but being taken prifoner in thofe wars, was 
 forced to mortgage his caftle and Jordihip of Egro 
 xnont for loool. towards raifing the fine lor his re- 
 demption. In 1372, an invafion being feared from 
 the French, having raifed what power he could for 
 the defence of Eflex, he was commanded to repair 
 into Norfolk, for the lafeguard of thofe parts. In 
 1379 he procured the king's charter for a weekly 
 market every Friday.at his lordfhip of Hempnall, in 
 Norfolk, and a fair yearly ; foon after, in 1381, he 
 did great fervice in Effex againfl the rebels under 
 Jack Straw, by fuppreffing thofe that endeavoured to 
 make head there. Many other great and noble ex- 
 ploits of this man may be feen in the firft volume of 
 Dug. Baron, fol. 222, and in the fecond volume of 
 Holinfhed's Chronicle, fol. 405, 419. He was lieu- 
 tenant to Thomas duke of Gloucefter, conftable of 
 England in the great caufe between the lords Lovel 
 and Morley, for the arms of Burnel, in the court of 
 chivalry, in 1384 and 1386, in which year he died, 
 in Spain, on Wednefday before St. Micliael, being 
 
 one
 
 I 
 
 D I S S. 51 
 
 one of thofe that accompanied John duke of Lan- 
 cafter, king of 'Caftile and Leon; in his expedition 
 thither, where the Englifh, not able to bear the heat 
 of the country, died in great numbers: '* Among 
 " others there died before the breaking up of the 
 " camp one of the greateft barons of all the com* 
 " pany, the lord Fitz-Walter." There is an ancient 
 deed of this Walter in French, by which, as lord of 
 Difs, he granted a mefluage and eight acres of land 
 to one William Moundary ; it was dated at Henham, 
 in the 4oth of Edward 111. to which his feal was fatt- 
 ened, being his paternal coat, and an eftoil between 
 fu'o plumes for his crefl, circumfcribed Sigillum Wal- 
 ter i Filij-Walteri. 
 
 His fon, Robert, married Philippa, daughter and 
 coheirefs of John de Mohun, lord of Dunfter, and 
 died before his father, without iffue ; Philippa, after 
 his death, manied again to Edward Plantagenct, duke 
 of York, and earl of Rutland, who held Difs manor, 
 hundred, and market, together with Hempriall, till 
 he was killed at Agincourt, and from his death file 
 held them till 1431, in which year fhe diedfeifed; 
 and fir Walter Fitz-Walter, .brother and heir of. fir 
 Robert Fitz-Walter, firft hufband of the faid Phi- 
 lippa, had livery of the manors of Difs and Hemp^ 
 nail, with their appurtenances, all which (except the 
 advowfons) were held in dower by the faid Philippa ; 
 but they went with the reft of the eftate of the faid 
 Robert, and had been in pofleffion of the faid Wal- 
 ter ever fince 1389, when he had livery of them, as 
 heir to Walter, his father, and Robert, his elder bro- 
 ther ; and accordingly, we find, he prefented to Difs, 
 in 1390. This Walter married Joan, daughter of fir 
 John Devereux, knt. he died in 1408, leaving Hum- 
 phry lord Fitz-Walter, his eldeft fon, under age at 
 his father's death, and was a ward of Henry V. who 
 
 granted
 
 5* HUNDREDOF 
 
 granted the cuftody of him to John de Beaufort, carl 
 of Somerfct; the earl dying foon after, left him to his 
 executor, Henry Beaufort, bifliop of Winthcftei ; 
 but dving before he came of age. he never was in 
 pofleflion of his inheritance, but it went to his bro- 
 ther, Walter Fitz-Walter, who was under age, and 
 Jiad not poffeffion of his cftate till 1428, at which 
 lime he had livery thereof, but not of Difs 
 and Hempnall, till 1451, when Fhilippa died, who 
 had held rhem all this time in dower. This Waller 
 was one of the nioft a&ive men in the French wars, 
 in the time of ihnt vi&orious prince, Henry V. who 
 in the 8th year of his reign, .for the great Cervices' be 
 had done him, gave all the lands and Jordfaips which 
 Sr John Cheney, km. deceaied, held in the Duchy of 
 Normandy, which reverted to the crown for default 
 of heirs male of the faid John, and were of the 
 value of 5000 fcutes. He was then a very young 
 man, not being of full age till 1422, though in 1421 
 be was taken prifoner by the French, but foon got re- 
 Icafcd; he died about 1432, and was buried in Dun- 
 mow priory. Elizabeth, his wife, furvived him, who 
 held in dower Hempnall and Difs manors, with the 
 hundred of Difs ; the manors of Shimpling, and 
 Thome, in Suffolk; of Wodeharn- Walter, Heuham, 
 Leiden, .Vitring, Dunmow Parva, Burnham, Win- 
 bufh, and Shering, in Effex ; fhe after married Wil- 
 liam Mafley, and died June 14, 1463, leaving Anne, 
 wife of Thomas Ratcliff, efq. and Elizabeth, (then 
 fingle) her daughters and heirefles ; Anne had no 
 iflue, but Elizabeth afterwards married fir John Rat- 
 cliff, knt. brother of the faid Thomas, who was loon 
 after fummoned to parliament, as lord Fitz-Walter, 
 and in right of. his wife enjoyed all the honors and 
 poffeffions of this noble family. 
 
 . This
 
 D I S S. 53 
 
 This family, as Mr. le Neve thinks, came firft into 
 this county in 1411, when John Ratcliff, efq. father 
 of this fir John Ratcliff, married Cecily, the widow of 
 fir John de Marling, by which he much advanced his 
 family; this fir John after he was lord Fuz- Walter 
 fided with Edward IV. agninfl Henry VI. and being 
 by him appointed to keep ibe pauage at Ferrybridge, 
 which lord.Clifford refoived to gain by furpiife, wus 
 there flain. in 1460, as he arofe from his bed, un- 
 armed, with a poll ax only in his hand, in onU-r to 
 appeafe the fray (as he thought) among his own 
 men leaving his eftate in poffeffion of Elizabeth, his 
 wile, and John RatclifF. aftei wards lord Fitz* Waller, 
 his foo, all which the faid John enjoyed till 1493\ 
 when he was attainted of treafon, and being appie- 
 hended, was> bi ought into England, \viih fever a! otiicr 
 knights, among which u-as fir Robert Ratcliff, who 
 wa* beheaded ; but lord Fitz-VValtcr was pardoned-: 
 after that he went to Calais, and being there laid in 
 hold, was beheaded, becaufe he would have corrupted 
 the keepers with many promifcs, to have efca^eJ out 
 of the fame, intending (as was thought) to have gone 
 to Perkin. at lhac time a Pretender to the crowii 
 ajrainfl Henry VII. who at the time of his attainder 
 feued upon all his revenues, and among tliem, o-i 
 this manor, hundred, and advowfon, together w;th 
 the manor of Wai ion, or Cock-flreet, and Walco e, 
 in Difs, boih which were become members of the 
 great manor; and in 1498 the king prefented here by 
 rcalon of the foileiture and attainder. 
 ; < . . . : 
 
 They remained in the crown till Henry VIII. re- 
 ftored them to Robert RacclifF, fun of the faid J >hn, 
 who was in fo great favor with that kin, that he not 
 only refloied him in blood and efiate, but made him 
 kuight of (he garujr, lord Fiiz-Wal er. Egremont, and 
 Buincl, and afiei wards, Jun, i5 5 1525, created him 
 
 vikoimt
 
 54 HUNDRED OF 
 
 vifcount Fitz -Walter, and December 8, 1^29, earl of 
 Suflex: he had three wives ; by Elizabeth, daughter 
 of Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, he had 
 Henry lord Fitz-Walter, who fucceeded him ; he 
 died at Chelfea the 28th of November, 1542, and is 
 buried in the church of Boreham, in London diocefe, 
 with two other earls, his fon, and grandfon, under a 
 fumptuous monument. 
 
 Henry Ratcliff, earl of Suflex, vifcount Fitz-Wal- 
 ter, lord Egremont, and Burnel, held his firft court in 
 1542 ; he was in great favor with queen Mary, and 
 of her privy council, and by her grant, dated No- 
 vember 2, in the ift year of her reign, had " Liberty 
 " licens and pardon to were his cappe, coyf, or 
 " night cappe, or twoo of them, at his pleafor, as 
 " well in our prefens as in the prefens of any other 
 " perfon or perfons within this our relme, or any 
 " other place of our dominion, during his life." He 
 died at Weftminfter, February 17, 1556, leaving if- 
 fue by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Thomas 
 Howard, duke of Norfolk, Thomas the third earl of 
 Suffex, and Henry the fourth earl. 
 
 Thomas the third earl in 1557 was feifed of Difs, 
 Attleburgh, and feveral other lordfhips in Norfolk ; 
 he died June 9, 1583, leaving Frances, his widow, 
 this manor, and great part of the eftate, for life, and 
 at her death to Robert lord Fitz-Walter, his fon, who 
 died before her, fo that it came to Henry Ratclifi, his 
 brother, who died feifed the 14th of December, 1 593, 
 when it defcended to Robert Ratcliff, his fon, who in 
 1621 fold it to Frances Shute, widow, and her heirs, 
 who held a court in 1622. In 1635 it was in John 
 Duke, efq. of VVorlingham, in Suffolk, who about 
 1649 l e ft it to Parnell and Ann Duke, his daughters, 
 
 who
 
 t D I S S. 55 
 
 who kept their firft court in 1636: this John fo!d 
 the advovvfon from the manor. 
 
 Parnell married Roger Pepys, of Impington, efq. 
 who afterwards had Ann's part alfo, and at his death 
 left it to Talbot Pepys, efq. his fon, who married 
 Hannah, daughter of John Man, alderman of Nor- 
 wich ; (lie out-lived him, and held the manor and 
 hu-ndred till 1694, when fhe died, and left it to Roger 
 Pepys, her fon and heir, on whofe death Mrs. Ann 
 Pepys, his widow, was lady thereof, in 1735. 
 
 PECCHE'S MANOR, now called HEYWOOD-HALL, 
 had its rife out of the capital manor ; fir Robert Fitz- 
 VValter, who held two thirds of the hundred and 
 town of Difs, granted one third thereof with his> 
 daughter, Alice, in marriage to fir Gilbert Pccche. 
 km. lord of Brunne, in Cambridgefhire, upon whofc 
 death it. defcended to fir Hammond Pecche, knt. his 
 ton, who died in 1240, leaving feveral children ; Gil* 
 bert was his eldeft ion and heir, but this was given 
 to Robert Pecche, his fourth fon, who held it in 1286. 
 in which year he claimed view of frank-pledge, and 
 affize of bread and ale of all his tenants. It was this 
 Gilbert, and Agnes, his wife, that in 1292 conveyed 
 two third parts of this manor to fir Robert Fitz-Wal- 
 ter, fo that it was again joined to the great manor, alt 
 but one third part, which they in 1285 had conveyed 
 by fine to fir Richard de Boyland, together with a 
 third part of the demefiies, and 283. per annum quit- 
 rent, and this part conflituted that manor here which 
 is now called Heywood-hall, of xvhich we find a fine 
 levied in 1289 by fir Richard de Boyland to Stephen 
 Fiiz-Walter, lord (in truft) of the great manor, who 
 dcfigned to join this, as his predeceflbr had done the 
 other parts, to that manor, in order to make it more 
 compleat : but it proved of no force; for in 1314 
 
 Richard,
 
 56 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Richard, "Ton of fir Richard de Boyland. fuetl Robfrt 
 Fhz- Walter for it, and recovered it, it having been 
 fettled on his mother before the fine was fued, 
 to which he was not a party; at fir Richard's death 
 it came to fir John de Boyland, of Boy land-hall, in 
 Biiffittgham; he left only one daughter, married to 
 John Lancallcr, of Biiflingliam, cfq. fcnior, v\ho left 
 it LO Ellen, his vvife, for life, then to J;>hn Lancafter, 
 junior, of Briflingham, efq. he by will, proved Julv 
 28, 14/0, left it to Elizabeth, his wife, for life; and 
 aftei her dcceafe to William Lancafler, efq. (hei ion) 
 of Catyvvacle and Brifunghain, who had BenecJicla. 
 1m lolc hciicfs, mairicd to Edwaid Bolton about th 
 year 1505; and by will dated July 15, 1528, be- 
 queathed it to Thomas Boitou, of Suham Tony, his 
 Jecond fon, who died fcifed in 1544: it was, fold o 
 fir Thomas Jermyn, knt. but it continued vciy liitie 
 \vhiie in that family; for in 1616 William Mafon, 
 efq. and John Befelcy, gent, fold it to William Webb. 
 and Charles YYifcman, gents, from whom it came to 
 the I i fliers, Richard x Fifner, gent, being feifed in 
 1636, and Edvvaid tifher, gent, in 1662. From 
 1607 to ;6S4 we find it in John Euxton, gent, and 
 afier in Robert Buxton, eiq. of St. Margaret's, in 
 South Elmham, who was luid in 1713. 
 
 We mull obftrve, that in a court roll of this ma- 
 nor, among Mi. lc Neve's papers, in 1423, when El- 
 len, widow of John Lancaiter, fcnior, held- her firft 
 court, there weic two diflincl juiies, one for the part 
 of the manor in Diis, and the odier for that part in 
 Burflon ; it was always held of the great manor of 
 piii, by fealty, and 55. per annum rent, in full for 
 jtll luit and fcivice, beiug ciUuiatcd at bl. per 
 annum. 
 
 HEYWOOD,
 
 D I S S. 57 
 
 - Hr.Wv'ooD, HEWODE, or HEYWODE MANOR, was 
 always part of Winlarthing manor till it was fepa- 
 ratcd by Henry I. who gave it to fir Richard de 
 Lucy, and fo joined it to Difs ; he gave a third part 
 of the hundred, manor, and market, in frank-pledge, 
 with Dionifia, his daughter, to fir Robert de Mun- 
 tcnie, or Mountcn.y ; and in the year 1161 the faid 
 Robert held of R ichard , in Walcote, a member of Difs, 
 one fee. Sir Arnold de Munteney, his fon, i'uc- 
 cecded him in 1230; and Robert, his fon, in 1286 
 had view of frank-pledge, and died feifed of this 
 manor, with a third pait of the hundred, and market, 
 leaving it to Arnold, his fan and heir, who claimed 
 libertv of free- warren in all his demefnes, and had ic 
 allowed. In 1293 he was fummoned to attend Ed- 
 ward I. into Gafcoigne, for the recovery thereof. 
 'This Arnold granted part of this manor to William, 
 his Cccgnd fon, which at William's death, in 1313, 
 was fettled on Katherine, his widow, then married to 
 Gilbert Balioi, for life, and the remainder to Dionifia, 
 afterwards wife of Hugh de Vere, daughter, of the 
 faid William, by which Dionifia it reverted to Win- 
 fai thing manor .again, .and being joined in the faid 
 liugh, it hath gone with it everfince.. 
 
 The cujloms of the manor of Difs, confirmed by the lord 
 and tenants at a general court of furvey there held, the 
 i^th of September, 1036, are as follow, as appear by 
 the original, now in the churchwardens hands : 
 
 & * 
 
 " The fines are arbitrable upon every alienation 
 and defcent, and on every death the lands defected to 
 the eldeft fon, or next allied, according to the courfe 
 of the common, law, and are fubjeci to fuch -for- 
 feitures as the common law dcth dircd. 
 
 E * The
 
 58 HUNDRED OF 
 
 41 The copyhold tenants may fell timber without 
 forfeiture on the copyhold lands. 
 
 " The lord's bailiff can take but one penny for 
 each bead's poundage. 1 he tenants can dig gravel, 
 fand, turf, &c. on the wafte, and make hemp pits on 
 Difs-moor, and Cock-flreet-grecn. 
 
 " The tenants can plant upon the wafles againfl 
 their own lands and houfes, by the name of an 
 Out-run. 
 
 " They can alfo flub furze and bufhes on all the 
 wafles. 
 
 " The lord hath all the ftrays, he hath no warren, 
 but liberty of hawking, hunting, and fifliing, in the 
 manor; and the lords formerly have granted liberty 
 of fifhing to divers tenants; and it is returned, that 
 John Turner, Samuel Folfer, Thomas Shreve, Regi- 
 nald Shuckforth, and Henry Turner, have, and 
 maintain certain pits in their yards and grounds, with 
 inlets from them to the great meer, as by cuftom 
 they can juftify. 
 
 " The tenants can make fleps out of their doors 
 into the flreet, and flairs out of their cellars, and 
 alfo they can fet up buoys, or props, at their windows, 
 and feats at their doors, according to cuftom. 
 
 41 The lord hath a market every Friday, a fair on 
 Sts. Simon and Jude, when his bailiff takes 2d. for 
 every tilted flail, and id. for every one untilted, and 
 no more ; and for the market flails he takes either a 
 weekly or yearly rent, but all that ftand under any 
 houfes, pent-houfes, Sec. pay the bailiff ^d. per ann. 
 by id. every quarter, and no more ; but all they 
 
 that
 
 D I S S. 59 
 
 tint fell any manner of visuals pay DO&hig, {land 
 where they will, and all corn, com carts, Sec. pay 
 nothing. 
 
 " As to the extent of the manor, they fay that it 
 extends from the river dividing Norfolk and Suffolk, 
 on the fouih, in and through a great part of the town 
 of Difs, and into Roydon, Burfton, Frenze, Shelf- 
 anger, and Winfarthing, and that Thomas earl of 
 Arundel and Surry, earl marfhal of England, hath a 
 manor here, called Hey wood ; alfo John Havers, gent, 
 a manor that extends into this town, called Roydon- 
 hali cum Tufts ; Richard Fiftier, gent, hath a manor, 
 called Heywood-hall ; and Richard Nixon, gent. 
 Frenze manor, which extends into this town; the 
 manor of Difs re&ory, and the manors of Brockdifh- 
 hall, and Mildenhall, in Burllon, extend hither. The 
 lord of this manor hath a manfion-houfe, in which 
 Samuel Pethaugh now dwells, and 35!. per annum, 
 and a part of the toll-houfe now in decay for want 
 of tiling, and a piece of land, called Hingelfwood, 
 and a piece of maifh in, Briflingham. 
 
 " The advowfon belongs to the lord, whofc offi- 
 cers are, a fteward, a bailiff, and a hey ward. 
 
 " N. B. The manors in Difs give a moiety 
 dower." 
 
 The capital manor-houfe, called Difs-ha!l, is 
 Fituated at Hey\vood-green, which, with lixteen acres 
 three roods of land, is held by copy of court-roll of 
 this manor. 
 
 9 
 
 WATTON'S MANOR, now called COCK-STRFET, was 
 very fmall, being held by a free-man of William Ma- 
 let, lord of the honor of Eye, in Suffolk, though it 
 2 did
 
 *o HUNDRED OF 
 
 did not belong fo his fee: Wai er de Cadomo, Caam. 
 or Canz, difleifed him ; this was afterwards called 
 Walton's, from one of its lords ; it continued fo mo- 
 time in Walters family, and was afterwards held of 
 the capital manor. 
 
 In 123<> Ralph de Cunges, or Canz, a (dcfcendent 
 from the faid Walter) was lord ; he held it by the 
 fourth part of a ice ; from him it came to Richard 
 de Cunges, who enlarged it, by purchafmgmore lands 
 and rents to it of the Fhz-Walters. 
 
 In 1322 Reginald le Man, of Difs, was lord, who 
 in 1337 left it to Alice, his wife, from which family 
 it came to the Wattons. 
 
 About 1420 John Walton was lord, who before 
 1431 had conveyed it to Henry Sircok, for then he 
 occurs lord ; it was foon after purchafed by the Fitz- 
 Walters, and added to Difs manor, with which, in 
 1493, upon lord Fitz-Walter's attainder, it was feifed 
 by the king, as a member of that manor, and was 
 then called Walton's, or Cock-ftrcet, in Difs, from 
 which time it hath been always included in the manor 
 of Difs. The fcite, or manor-houfe, abuts on Cock- 
 flreet-green, weft, and was granted in 1494 by Henry 
 VII. to be held by copy of court-roll, paying 45. 6d. 
 per annum quit-rent. 
 
 Diss RECTORY MANOR hath all along gone, and 
 now is in the rector of the parifh; the cuftom of 
 which is, that all lands and tenements defcend to the 
 eldeft fon, and the tenant cannot wafle his copyhold 
 houfes without licence. The fines are at the lord's 
 will, but in all things elfc the tenants may do as they 
 pleafc. 
 
 Sale,
 
 D I S S. fa 
 
 A I 
 
 Bale, in his A6lions of Englifh Votavlcr, ("ol. 98. b) 
 fay^, that pnpe Alexander wrote to John of Oxford, 
 then bifhop of Norwich, thai William, :he now par- 
 ion of Difs, for claiming the pa-'fonage of Difs by 
 inheritance, after the death of his father, who be- 
 gat him in his pricfihood, fhould be dijpojjejftd, and 
 no appellation admitted. 
 
 Edward III. by letters patent, dated the 26 of 
 July, prefented Martin de Ixning, one of his chap- 
 lains, to this church; he had feveral ecclefiaftical 
 preferments given him both before and after. It was 
 a prefentaiioH only for the turn when void, if he 
 Jived fo long, and was obtained by the king; from the 
 Fitz-VValter family ; however, he never polIeHed this 
 living. 
 
 John Skelton, the king's orator, and poet laureat, 
 was reclor in 
 
 Will?am Browne, reclor here, was deprived for 
 being married. 
 
 In 1554, May 6, the right Rev. John Salifbury, 
 bifhop of Thetford, fuffragan to the bifhop of Nor- 
 wich, was prefented by Henry earl of Suflex to this 
 reclory, which was void by the deprivation of the laft 
 incumbent; he was bifhop of the J fie of Man, and 
 held in commendam the deanry of Norwich, the arch- 
 deaconry of Anglefcy, the church of Thorpe on the 
 Hill, in Lincoln diocefe, and the reclory of Difs, by 
 licence from archbifhop Parker, dated anno 1570; he 
 was reclor for fome time of JLopham, and feveral other 
 parifhes in this county ; he died at Norwich, and is 
 buried in the middle of St. Andrew's church there. 
 
 3 In
 
 6fe HUNDRED OF 
 
 In 1587 John Reeve, A.M. was inftituted at the 
 prcfemation of Frances, then vvidoW of the laid Tho- 
 mas earl of Suffex; but he had not peaceable poflef- 
 fion ; for Henry earl of Suffex, brother to Thomas, 
 hufband of the faid Frances, brought his aflion 
 again both patronefs and incumbent, and ejccled him 
 in 1589 ; and on May 1 7, in that year, Richard Cox, 
 A. M. was inflitmed. The difpute feems to have 
 been this ; that though the faid Frances held the ma- 
 nor for life in jointure, yet the advovvfon, as the earl 
 would have it, was not in the fettlement*. But it 
 ended not here, Frances contending her claim, Cox 
 was ejecled, and Reeve declared incumbent: but he 
 remained fo but little time ; for Nov. 17, 1591, Cox 
 was re-inflituted, awd very foon after ejected again, 
 and no incumbent declared, nor none presented, fo* 
 long that it had laid from the latter end oT 91, to 
 Dec. 93, when one William Goddard, A.M. was 
 prefented, but denied inftitution ; whereupon Cox, 
 to make himfelf fure, and end all difputes, took the 
 broad feal, it being lapfed to the crown, and obtained 
 queen Elizabeth's letters patent to void all other pre- 
 femations, on which he was inftituted December 2, 
 > and held it to 96, when he died. 
 
 In 1647 Edward Palgrave, B. D. was prefented by 
 Richard Prettyman, of Grifton, gent, it was not long 
 before he was ejecled by the proceedings of the times, 
 a- nd his living given to Richard Moore, A.M. who 
 figned the atteftation of the minifters of this county 
 in 1648; but he was foon difplaced, and it was 
 taken by John Hobart, who held it by ufurpation 
 
 feme 
 
 * Theadvowfon of Great Maflinghnm at this day (1780) is 
 in the carl of Orford, though the manor is held for life in 
 jointure by his mother, Margaret, the prefent countefs dowager 
 of Orford.
 
 D I S S. 63 
 
 Tome time, but was afterwards thrown out by Mr. 
 Moore, who held it till 1662, when he was ejected, 
 and Edward Bernard, clerk, inftituted upon his de- 
 privation, at the prefentation of John Hobart, efq. 
 
 In 1729 William Burlington, of Difs, gent, pre- 
 fented the Rev. Edward Bofworih to the relory of 
 Difs, but the right honorable the earl of Suffex is 
 patron. The Rev. Mr. Manning is the prefent 
 rector. 
 
 Here is a good rectory-houfe, and convenient out- 
 houfes, with twelve acres of glebe adjoining to it, alt 
 which abut fouth on Difs-moor. It is valued in the 
 king's books at 33!. 6s. 8d. 
 
 In the dean and chapter's book, called Norwich 
 Doomfday, it is faid, that the rector then had a man- 
 fion-houfe much in decay, with another houfe, which 
 was formerly the vicar's ; it may feem odd that there 
 was ever a vicar, but we are to remember, that often 
 in thofe times vicars fignified no more than curates, 
 and were removeable at the rector's pleafure; in- 
 deed, when churches were appropriated to monafte- 
 ries, and the religious were forced to fet out a portion 
 of the glebe and tidies for the maintenance of a vi- 
 car, fuch a one is called a perpetual vicar, made prc- 
 fentive and inftitutive;* but there are no footfteps of 
 any inftitution to the vicarage of Difs, not but that 
 the rector might, with the confent of the bifhop and 
 patron, have at any time created a vicarage, and made 
 his own fhare afmecurc, as was done at Eaft Dere- 
 ham, Terrington, Sec. and this fince the council of 
 Lateran ; nay, in the diocefe of St. Afaph, there are 
 fuch feparations of tithes made, and vicarages erect- 
 ed, as low as the time of Henry VIII. 
 
 4 In
 
 64 HUNDRED OF 
 
 In the time of James I. there was a -long fuit 
 about ihecufloms of this redlofy, and at length it 
 was ended, and an exemplification under leal palled, 
 November 21. i6ip, in which it was thus acknow- 
 ledged on all fides : 
 
 " That the reclor is to receive in kind the tenth 
 fheaf of all corn bound up. And of all corn not 
 bound up, the tenth heap, ready heaped. Of peas 
 he is to take the tenth ftetch. 
 
 " For the fall of every calf, Iamb, or pig, under 
 feven, he is to receive one halfpenny ; but if there be 
 feven, he is to take the fevcmh, and to pay to the 
 owner three halfpence, becaule there lacks thiec of 
 ten ; if there be eight, one penny ; if nine, one half- 
 penny ; if ten, nothing. Por the fall of every foal 
 the reclor to receive one penny. Every feventh gof- 
 ling, allowing one farthing for each gofling wanting 
 of ten, and taking one farthing for each gofling un- 
 der feven. The tithe eggs are due in kind. Tithe 
 wool, every tenth pound. Everv tenth bate, or fiicaf 
 of hemp, in kind. 
 
 , " Jn lieu of tiihc wood the reclor is paid one 
 penny every Sunday, houfe after houfc, throughout 
 the town ; for when holy bread was ufed, three penny- 
 worth of bread was brought 10 the parfon every Sun~ 
 day, of wfoich he distributed to the poor two penny- 
 worth, and the third, penny he had to his own ufe, 
 by the name of hanhage, and at the time of taking 
 away holy bread, the inhabitants paid as above for 
 wood and hauhage. 
 
 41 In lieu of tithe hay the rector receives two- 
 pence per acre for all mowing ground, by the name 
 of fcnage. For every milch cow he receives one 
 
 penny
 
 D C2K'--" s s. 65 
 
 penny per ann. by the name of laclnge. For every 
 orchard, and garden plot, he receives one peony per 
 annum in lieu of its tithe. For -every hive of bees one 
 penny per. annum, except it be the firft year they 
 {warm, and then nothing. For every gaft heifer, 
 fleer, or colt, feeding from one year old to three, 
 one penny. 
 
 " The tithe calves are to be paid at feven weeks 
 old, and not before ; pigs at five weeks old ; chick- 
 ens at a month old ; lambs and goflings at Lammas ; 
 eggs are due at Eafter; herbages, la&ages, and fen- 
 ages, to be paid between Lammas and Chriftmas." 
 
 By the churchwardens books it appears that upon 
 every burial in the church they receive 6s. 8d. for 
 breach of the pavement. In 1571 Richard Foulfer 
 paid it for his wife's burial, and Nicholas Eftowe 
 did the farae. 
 
 The church here is dedicated to the honor of the 
 Virgin Mary, and is a regular building, having a 
 fquare tower joined to its weft end, with fix bells, a 
 clock and chimes ; the nave, two ailes, and tw<? 
 porches are leaded, the chancelis tiled, between 
 which and the nave haners a faints bell. 
 
 'a- 
 
 The veflry, which was on the north fide of the 
 chancel, is down ; at the end of the north aile is a 
 chapel, formerly belonging to Corpus Chrifti guild; 
 oppofite is another, belonging to the brothers of St. 
 Nicholas' guild ; but upon their incorporation, about 
 the time of Henry VI. when they built St. Nicholas' 
 chapel, they were forfakcn by them, and left to the 
 foul priefls of the parifh, who fang in them till the 
 Reformation ; the organ ufed to (land between the 
 fir.lt of thefe chapels and the chancel ; thc'roofs of 
 
 the
 
 C6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 the na\ r e, chancel, and two chapels, are ftained with 
 red and white. The building now {landing was 
 without doubt built by the Fitz-Walters, whofe arms 
 are often cut on the fouth porch in (lone, and were 
 formerly in many of the windows, as were the arms 
 of Wingfield and De-la-Pole. In other windows, 
 i ; itz- Walter impales Ufford ; in another, were the 
 arms of England and France quartered, and St. George, 
 as alfo Bury abbey arms ; and in another fhield, the 
 Kail Angles, all which are now loft, except the Fitz- 
 VValters. 
 
 In an upper north window of the nave is a man in 
 a blue robe, with a red mantle, kneeling on a cufhion, 
 bidding his beads ; and oppofite (in the fame win- 
 don) a woman in the fame pofture; but there being 
 no arms, or infcription, we know not who they were 
 dcfiajned for. 
 
 o 
 
 In the fouth aile is an old in-arched monument, 
 \rith a coffin-flonc lying by it, but there are no arms 
 or infcription. 
 
 In the north chapel was fuch another ftone, which 
 being taken up to make a vault for Mr. William 
 JBurton, they found an entire ikeleton ; by its head 
 was a filver chalice ; this in all probability was fomc 
 pricft: it was buried again in the coffin. 
 
 By this ftone (lands a fine altar-tomb' of black 
 inaiblc, and Portland-ftone, on which is an infcrip- 
 utw in gilt letters, for Mr. William Burton, late of 
 Cflck-Jlrect, in this parijh of Difs ; he died February 14, 
 anno Dom. 1705, aged 59. Amongjl other charities he 
 uLcuifed, tJmL his executrix Jhould purchafe lands* to the 
 
 value 
 
 * That \vasf laid out for land, called Hingelfwood, being 
 
 copyhold
 
 I) I S S. 67 
 
 value of one hundred pounds, arid that the fame fliould be 
 
 fettled upon two trujlces, to the intent that this t.omb-Jlone, 
 and the vault, fhould by the churchwardens of Difs be 
 con/lantly kept clean, and in good repair, and what re- 
 tnains of the yearly profit of ike ejtate when pur chafed, 
 or of the. inter eft money till the purchafe be made, fhould. 
 upon Chrijlmas-day yearly, for ever, be difpofed of by the 
 churchwardens and overfeers of the poor for the time being, 
 to fuch of the poor houje-keepers within this parifli as they, 
 or themajor part.fhall think jit, with a condition or provifo 
 in his will, that if thisjlone, or the vault underneath it, 
 
 fhould be broke open, other than for the interment of Mary, 
 his wife, or if the churchwardens neglecled to keep the 
 
 fame clean, and in good repair, or to keep an account in 
 their books how, and to whom, the money fhall be yearly 
 difpofed of, then the payment of the charity to Difs is 
 
 from thenceforth to ceafe, and to be paid to Roydon, for 
 the like ufes, and under the like conditions ; and if Roy- 
 don make default, then, in like manner^ to BriJJingham. 
 
 Againft one of the north pillars in the middle aile 
 is fixed a neat fmall monument, on the top of which, 
 in a fhield, Deynes, impaling fab. three boars heads 
 coupee, or; and an infcription, for Martha, Henrici 
 Deynes, gen. uxor, obijt Maij 30, anno aetat. 23, Dni. 
 1661. 
 
 On the fame pillar another fmall monument is 
 faflened, for Richard, fen of Henry and Martha 
 Deynts, who died July 25, 1712, aged 56. 
 
 All the ftones are robbed of their braffes, on one 
 of which, in the chancel, is the impreffion of the 
 chalice and wafer, under which is a priefl buried. 
 
 Two 
 
 copyhold on Frenze manor, and is new infeoffed among other 
 lands ; js. per annum is fettled to keep clean the tomb, the reft 
 to the poor.
 
 68 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Two black mar . in the chancel IILVC infcrip- 
 tions and aims ; for Edward Biifnorth, i'tt rt&or of 
 Thclvcttm, who die' J e 14, 17 4, aged^o; and aijo 
 Deborah, kuwtfe ?/>//<. wdso/iecj '.he daughters of Sa- 
 muel Manning, ^ nt. deceafed, who died the I'^th of Sep- 
 tember, i 708, a^id 28. 
 
 On the feconrl, Bofworth's arms and crefl; for 
 Edward Bofworth late reftor of this parijh, who died 
 January 18, 1713, aged 65. 
 
 On an altar-tomb by the fouth aile, Thomas She- 
 riff e, gen : & artium magi/lcr, Jub tnmulo a laboribus hie 
 repofitus quicjiil, daeffit April: $ 13, anno atatis 61, 
 
 JU* 
 
 Another altar-monument, with the arms of Cog- 
 gcfhall ; William Coggejhall, gent, late of Dijs t who 
 died An gi-.Jl <), 1/14, aged 48. t 
 
 Befides the monumental infcriptions we have men- 
 tioned, there are fonie to the families of Shuckfort, 
 
 Baylie, 
 
 * This man, though he was info great favor with the anti- 
 royalifts as to be made and continued a jufljce of peace, yet 
 altogether deferves a good character, for by him \ ere many 
 royalifts faved from their defgned ruin ; When the gentlemen, 
 of the neighbourhood were impeached, or itrprifontd, he pri- 
 vately fent them letters, informing them wh^t was intended, 
 and advifing them how to procud, by which means feveral 
 efcaped out of Ipfwich gaol, and others were faved from threat- 
 ened defiru&icn ; by which beh;.viour he gained fuch efteem, 
 that though times altered, he lived beloved, and died refptded, 
 for the good he had done. 
 
 f- This William was fon of Henry Cogge(hjll, a defccndent 
 from the arcient family of the Coggefhalls, of C^ggefliall, in Ef- 
 fex, which family flourifhed there from the time of Henry I. 
 down to Queen Mary. This Henry much improved the art 
 of gauging, by inventing the rule called after his name.
 
 D I S S. 69 
 
 Baylie, Harrifon, Kett, Burroughs, Cann, and Car- 
 ncll. 
 
 In 1558, February 10, fir Thomas Johnfon, prleft, 
 was buried here. 
 
 In 1494 Richard Edon de Difs was buried here: 
 " I will that the (town) village of Difs have ray 
 houfe and land in Sturflon. (except ray paflure at 
 Overgate-went, and half an acre and a rood at Wet- 
 land-went) and alfo my meadow in Scole, and half 
 an ;icre at Sondewey there, and one acre and an half 
 at Broome, for ever, on condition that the annual 
 profits thereof be applied to pay the common fine 
 (i. e. the leet-fee) of the town of Difs, for ever, and 
 that they annually keep my obijt for ever, for the 
 fouls of me and all benefactors, 4d. to ring; 35. 4d. 
 (pro ctrtitudiite) for a certain." 
 
 In 1579 the plague was at Difs, of which fifty-fix 
 perfons died this year. 
 
 John Petit died Sept 21, 1727,^. 71. By his lafl 
 will he gave IDS. perann. forever, to the minifter, or 
 curate, for the time being, to preach a ferrnon an- 
 nually on the day of his interment, by way of ex- 
 hortation, to prepare for death, is. per ann. to the 
 fexton, and one to the cleric, to attend the fervice of 
 the day, and los. perann. to the poor, to be dilr/ri- 
 buted on the fame day, which is the 23d of Septem- 
 ber, for all which he tied his eftate, called the Uni- 
 corn, in Difs. 
 
 Iri 1497 fir John Dowe was buried in our Lady's 
 church here. 
 
 In
 
 7 o HUNDREDOF 
 
 In 1504 Margery Covvper was buried in the church : 
 " I wyll myne executors pay the money I promyfyd 
 " to the purchafe of the church, (this was towards 
 44 Framlingham lands) : Item, to Thomas, myne fon, 
 " Mil Clofe to ringe the yereday for me and rnyne 
 ** hufbande, fo long as it fhall plcafe the faid Tho- 
 *' mas, but never tke leffe, 1 conftrayne him not to 
 " do it, but at his awn voluntary will -be it done." 
 
 In 1^05 John Prikke, of Difs, fenior, was buried 
 in the church ; he gave 6d. to repair lefuwlejlothe, 
 (foul flough) towards Roydon. 
 
 February 2, 1506, John Clarke ordered his exe- 
 cutors to pay to the purchafe of Framlingham, quar- 
 terly, " To a pilgrim, a prieft, to be in prayer and 
 " pilgrimage at Rome, the whole lent there, to pray 
 *' and fyng for me and myne children, my fader and 
 " moder, Robert, and Gate, John Kew, and Maut, 
 11 Stephen Brightled, and John Payn, the which I am 
 ' in dut (debt) to." 
 
 In 1512 Thomas Cowper was buried in Difs 
 church : " Item, I wyll that my cloien, called Chepys, 
 " and the Mylle-clofc, fhall find the lamp with, 
 " for the rood, and the certen, and the yerday, for 
 *' the foulys of Stephyn Cowper, and Margery, his 
 " wife, Thomas Cowper, and Agnes, his wife, and 
 " all our children, for whom a pried fhall be found 
 44 to fing Ix yers, of my londs in Harleflon." 
 
 In 15 14 Thomas Purchafe, alias Spicer, of Difs, 
 buried in the church there, gave his wife and fon a 
 meadow in Difs, called Mekill-clofe, with a houfe on 
 it, on condition to keep his anniverfary yearly, for 
 evermore, in the church, that is, with iis. 4d. to be 
 jiven to three honejl priefts. 
 
 In
 
 D I S S. 71 
 
 In 1563 John Rivet, of Difs, was buried in the 
 fteeple-porch, September 25 ; he gave a furplice, and 
 2os. to repair the Market-ftreet pavement, 2os. 
 
 Some of the lands that were fettled on the foul 
 priefts, and to maintain the lamps, &c. were feized 
 by Edward VI. in 1547, and were granted with di- 
 vers other to fir Roger Townfhend, knt. and fome 
 to others. 
 
 The foul priefls of Difs had ftipends of 5!. 6s. &d. 
 per ann. each. 
 
 At the Reformation the church plate was fold to 
 Henry earl of Suffex, Auguft 15, 1546, at wh-ich 
 time he gave the inhabitants a bond for twenty marks 
 for it ; and after this we find a letter from the fame 
 earl, dated at his manor of Attleburgh, July 25, 
 1587, dire&ed to the chief inhabitants, figned by 
 him, Your lovynge and affurcd good lorde, (as he calls 
 himfelf) defiring them, that as he JUad already re- 
 ceived part of the town plate, that he may have the 
 nay (as we call it) of fuch portion more as fhall be 
 fold, at a reafonable price, which (hall be paid them 
 by warrants directed to his bailiff, out of his manor 
 of Difs ; at the fame time intimating, that as they do 
 by him in this affair, they may expect he fhould do 
 to them and theirs. We never could meet with an 
 account of the plate, but do not doubt but that it was ' 
 fine and valuable, elfe fo great a man as the earl 
 would never have thought it worth his while to trouble 
 himfelf about it. We find that they fold all fo far, 
 that in 1571 they had only one cup of 23 oz. weight. 
 There is now belonging to this church a chalice, a 
 cup, two (ilver difhes, a fmail plate, a fpoon, and a 
 filver-hafted knife and fork. 
 
 This
 
 7? H U N D R E D O F 
 
 This place is faid 10 have produced the following 
 writers, and remarkable men : 
 
 Ralph de Diceto, dean of St. Paul's, and a great 
 benelaclor thereto, was a very learned man. and a 
 great author; fome of his works are printed; he 
 lived in the time of Henry II. of whom moie may 
 be feen in Nevvcourt's Repcrtorium, and in fir Wil- 
 liam Dugdaie's Hiftory of St. Paul's, ad edit. p. i o, 
 where by mi flake (as le Neve fays) it is called Difca, 
 in Suffolk, though in page 501, it is called Difce.* 
 
 William of Difs was facrifl of St. Edmund's mo- 
 nailery at Bury, cluly elecled ; but he continued fo 
 but four days, having fo great fear upon him, that he 
 could not difcharge his office well, that all that time 
 he could take no reft, and therefore petitioned abbot 
 Samlbn that he might refign, who confeming thereto, 
 Robert de Gravely was chofen in his place. 
 
 Walter of Difs, born here, was a carmelite friar at 
 Noi with, one of the mod ignorant of all that convent 
 in his youth ; at length he turned the reverfe, con- 
 tinually applying himfelf to gain knowledge and 
 learning, in wiiich he fo much profited, that he took 
 his do<ftcis degree in Cambridge with the utmoft ho- 
 nor. He was afterwards confeifor to John duke of 
 Xancaflci and Aquitain, king of Leon and Caftilc, 
 and alfu to Conflancc. his queen, and a gteat llickler 
 for pope Urban, and the other popes, that were by 
 him and his Jution named the Anti-popes, of whom 
 
 he 
 
 * We own we are no way* certain of his original, for Le- 
 land fioults whether be was an Engliftman, ?iid his name is 
 fpclled fo very dirY'.ient in old manufcripts, that we can m^ks 
 no infeitr.ce from thence, though we find him placed under thi$ 
 jo - .\n i-i ie iSeve's cdiedions.
 
 D I S S. 73 
 
 he obtained, through the duke's favor, certain facul- 
 ties, to be diftribmed to fuch as would pray, and pay 
 for them, of which one was, to make all thofe whon\ 
 he thought good the pope's chaplains, 'according to 
 the form of law, and the cuftom ufed in die court of 
 Rome, and becaufe fuch as obtained this favor en- 
 joyed great liberties, (viz to hold as many ecclefi- 
 aPiical preferments as they could get, Sec ) many 
 were glad to give largely to be fo preferred ; another 
 bull gave him power to create fifty doclors, and as 
 many prothonotaries, to reconfccrate fuch things, or 
 places, as had been prophancd, to legitimate bnf- 
 tards, and fuch like. In 1387 he was made the 
 pope's legate, a latcre, to preach up the crufade 
 again ft the Anti-pope's faction, granting indulgences 
 to all thofe that helped, or went to thole wars, in as 
 ample a manner as if they went againft the commuii 
 enemies of religion, the Turks ;' this he did in the 
 time of pope Urban, and BonnifaceXII. with fucce's, 
 and that not in England only, but in Caflile, Portu- 
 gal. Acquitain, Leon, Navarre, Gafcoignc, and fe- 
 veral foreign parts; at laft he rctumed to his monaf- 
 tery, in which he died, and was buiied Auguft 14, 
 1404, near the high altar ol their churchf. 
 
 William of Difs, a friar preacher, was confcITor lo 
 Henry V. with whom he went to Caen, in Normandy, 
 in the 6ih year of his reign, where the king heating 
 of the holy life, and frequent miracles, of one Vin- 
 cent of Arragon, a friai preacher, he fent this Wil- 
 liam to him, who brought him to the king, bv whom, 
 he was honorably received, anno 1417. 
 
 F John 
 
 * He compofed the following treatifes, and feveral others : 
 Lefturam Theologiae, lib. i. Contra Lolhrdos, five Wickle- 
 tius, lib. i. De Scifmate, lib. i. Sermones deTempore ac dc 
 Sanctls, &c. (fee PclTcvin).
 
 74 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 John Skelton. rector of Difs, was a plcafant, merry 
 poet, to much efteemed for his oratory, as well as 
 poeiry, that he was made * poet-laurcat, and king's 
 orator; he flourifhcd in the times of Henry VII. and 
 VIII. was rcfior and lived here in 1504, and in 
 i 3 M , as we find by his being wimcfs to feveral wills 
 in this year. \Ye take it that Skelton was not only 
 icaor, but a native of this place, being fon of Wil- 
 liam Skelton, and Margaret, his wife, whole will was 
 proved at Norwich, November 7, 1512. That his 
 name was Shelton, or Skelton, appears from his fuc- 
 cetlor's inflitution, viz. July 17, 1529, Thomas Cleik 
 was inftituted on the death of John Shelton, laft rec- 
 Lor ; and indeed, though the latebifhop of St. Afaph, 
 
 * (Orator rzgitis s" poetalaureatus.) We cannot omit adding a* 
 this place a remark out of doftor Knight's life of dean Colet, 
 p. 121, to fet the mat;er of poet-laure^t in a true light, molt 
 people being often deceived in that point: " It may ihew the 
 ' great rega-rd had about this time to thefe ftudies, that the 
 " univerfity ftudtnts took their degrees in rhetoric and gram- 
 mar, the manner whereof Mr. Wood tells us, in his account 
 of an eminent grammarian, Robert Whitington : In the be- 
 gining of the year 1513, he fupplicated the venerable con- 
 gregation of regents under the name and title of Robert 
 Whytingdon, a fecular chaplain, and a fcholar of the art of 
 rhetoric ; that whereas he had fpent fourteen years in the 
 ftudyof the fa id art, and twelve years in the informing of 
 boys, it might be fufficient for him, that he might be lau- 
 reated. This fupplication being granted, he was (after he 
 had compofed a hundred verfes, which were ftuck in public 
 places, efpecially on the door, or doors, of Saint Mary's 
 church) very folemnly crowned, or his temples adorned with 
 a wreath of laurel, that is, doclorated in the arts of grammar 
 and rhetoric, 4 July the fame year. And this may difcover 
 the error of fome, who not confidering the crown of laurel 
 as the enf.gn of a degree, have been apt to thnik, that a 
 poet-laureat of old, as well as of late, had that title, and a 
 penfion with it from the prince, when it came from the uui* 
 verfity, in commencing the degree of doctor of grammar ; 
 as it came thus to Bernard Andreas, tutor of prince Arthur, 
 to John Shcltoii, tutor of prince Henry, &c."
 
 D I S S. 75 
 
 in his notes to Mr. Blomefield upon this hundiecf, 
 obfervcs, that Bale, Wood, &c make him to have 
 been born in Cumbciland; and though one of both 
 his names was admitted to the reading of the decre- 
 tals, and feems to have been beneficed in Somerfet- 
 fhire, yet he much doubts whether it was the fame 
 with our poet, though he was an Oxonian, hureated 
 in that univerfity, ordained deacon April 14, 1498, 
 and pried the 8th of June following, by Thomas Sa- 
 vage, bifhop of Condon, Johannes Skdton, poela lau- 
 realus, London dio&: ad titulum monafterij de gracijs 
 juxta Turrim London: ordinatur diac: per Thorn: Lon- 
 don: ep: 14 April, 149$, prejbit, 8 Jim: fcqueni 
 (Regr. Savage ep: Land:) William Caxton in his 
 preface to his tranflation of Virgil's /Eneids, printed 
 in 1490. hath this : "I pray Mayfter John Skelton, 
 " late created poete-laureat in the utnverfite of Ox- 
 " forde, to over-fee and correct this fayd boke." 
 
 Mr. le Neve fays, that his inflitution does not ap- 
 pear in the books, which is true ; for often thofe thac 
 were collated by the pope had 'no inftitution from 
 the bifhop, many inftances of which in thofe books 
 occur ; but it is certain from abundance of records 
 and evidences, that he was re&or feveral years. Eraf- 
 mus himfelf gives him this characler, in his letter to 
 Henry VIII. w that he was the light and honor of the 
 44 Britifh learning:" he was fcholar enough, and no 
 bad poet, unleis for himfelf, for being addicled too 
 much to fatire ; he created three fuch enemies as 
 ruined him, both in reputation, liberty, and eftate, 
 William Lilly, the Dominican friars, and cardinal 
 Wolfcy; the firfl of thefe was that great fchool- 
 mafler, the author of our Latin grammar; upon 
 him he reflected as a bad verfe-rnaker, to which 
 Lilly replied, 
 
 F 2 Skdtone,
 
 7 6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Skcltc-ne, dum tibi fwrare fetmam 
 F.t doflus fieri, fliidcs pceta, 
 Dottrinam nee babes, nee es poela. 
 
 VVhilft Skelton thou to get efteem, 
 A learned poet fain would fcem ; 
 Skelton thou art, let all men know it, 
 Neither learned, nor a poet. 
 
 The Dominicans were very obnoxious to his fati- 
 rical pen, for their vices, and he could not forbear 
 exercifing his wit upon them; but they who would 
 bear no ferious reproofs, would much lefs endure his 
 poetical feoffs; whereupon they flitted up Richard 
 Nix, then bifhop of Norwich, to call him to an ac- 
 count for keeping a concubine, (though we ought to 
 obfcrve with Bale, that fhe was his wife) for which 
 the bifliop fufpended him from his benefice ; but 
 thefe were not his word enemies; for the cardinal it 
 was that compleated his misfortunes : our poet having 
 inveighed againfl fome of that great prelate's alions*. 
 and charged him with too much truth, he profecuted 
 him fo hard for it, that he was forced to take fanclu- 
 ary in Weflminfler Abbey, where abbot Iflip treated 
 him with much refpeft in his confinement, in which 
 he died, June 21, 1529, and was buried in the chan- 
 cel of St. Margaret's church, Weflminfter, under a 
 ftone, with this Epitaph: Johannes Skelclonus, vales 
 Pierius, hicjitus eft. 
 
 He 
 
 * The cardinal by his power legantine difiblved the convoca- 
 tion at St. Paul's, called by the archbifhop of Canterbury, and 
 called him and all the clergy to his convocation at Weftminfter, 
 which was never feen before in England, whereof Matter Skel- 
 ton, a merry poet, wrote 
 
 ' Gentile Paule, laie down thy fwearde 
 " For Peter of Weftminfter hath (haven thy beard. 
 For this and fuchlikejefts it was that the cardinal profecuted 
 him fo eagerly.
 
 D I S S. 77 
 
 He foretold cardinal Wolfey's downfall, and being 
 charged with keeping a concubine, and having feve- 
 ral children by her, he faid, in his confcience he ever 
 efieemed her for his vvife, ihough he did not declare 
 it. becaufe fornication in the clergy was thought a 
 little fin, and marriage a great one. 
 
 Mr. Wood in his Athenae Oxonienfes tells us, 
 that " the generality faw, that his witty difcourfes 
 " were biting, his laughter opprobrious and fcorn- 
 " ful, and his jokes commonly fharp and reflecting." 
 His character may be feen at large in Bale and Pitts, 
 wheie there is alfo an account of fome of his workst, 
 molt of which were publifhed this year. He wrote 
 alfo a poem in Englifh. called " The Ymage of Ypo- 
 crefy," being a biuer inveclive againft the monks aqd 
 friars, and forae of the great men of that age. Mr. 
 le Neve fays, that the manufcript was in his own 
 hands, and that he had it out of the Alhwelthorpe li- 
 brary, and that it was allowed to be Skchon's own 
 F 3 hand 
 
 f Pithy, pleaufant, and profitable workes of Mafter Skelton, 
 poete-laureate to Henry VI II. I. The Crowne of Lawrel. 2. 
 The Bouge of Court. 3. Speak Parrot. 4. Edward the 4th. 
 5. Ag^inft the Scottcs. 6. The Tunning of Elinour Humming. 
 7. Why come you not to Court? 8. Colin Clout. 9. Philip 
 Sparrowe. 10. Upon a Dead Man's Head. n. Ware the 
 Hawke, 12. Of three Fooles. 13. En Parlement a Paris. 
 14 Epitaphs of two Knaves of Dice. 15. Lamentation for 
 Norwiche. 16. The dolorous Death of the Earl of Northum- 
 berland. 1 7. A Parable by William Cornifh, in the Fleete. 1 8. 
 Againft venemous Tongues. 19. Of Calliope. With feveral 
 other poem and epitaphs. Printed for C. Davis, in Pater- 
 nofter-Ro\v, near Amen-corner, London-. (Price bound 55.) 
 He wrote fifty-four treatifes, as Pitt fays, fome of which were 
 printed in the time of queen Elizabeth, as Colin Clout, &c. 
 Chorus de Dys contra Scottes, &c. Chorus de Difle contra 
 Gillos, &c. Ware the Hawke. Epitaphium Adz Uderfal & 
 Johannis Clark, Nebulonum de Oifle. Henry the Vllth's Epi- 
 taph ; and thai on Mary countefs of Richmond, &c.
 
 ;S HUNDREDOF 
 
 hand writing; now it belongs to Mr. Weft, who pur- 
 chafed it at Mr. le Neve's audion. 
 
 John Briars A. M. re&or of Difs, was chaplain to 
 Charles bifhop of Norwich; he publiftied a fermon 
 preached at Palgrave, in Suffolk, at the firft meeting 
 of the gentlemen and clergy for encouraging the cha- 
 rity fchooi lately fct up there, on Phil. 4. 17. edit. 
 Lond. 1711 : And alfo a pamphlet, imitled, " The 
 prefein Behaviour of Mankind inconfiitent with the 
 true Spirit of Charity, which alone can prove availa- 
 ble to put an End to our unhappy Divifions ; being 
 a difcourfc on the 13 chap, i Cor." And feverai 
 poems without his name, inferted in divers mifccllzt- 
 nies. He was alfo reclor of Billingford, by Difs, 
 where he was buried, January i, 1728. 
 
 St. Nicholas' chapel. Betides the parifh church 
 there was a free chapel, dedicated to the honor of St. 
 Nicholas the bifhop, which was built about the time 
 of Henry V. by the brethren and fitters of Sc. Ni- 
 cholas, and of Corpus Chrifti guilds, which then 
 were confolidated. It feems by the evidences and 
 wills as if thefe two guilds were ancient, mention be- 
 ing frequently made of them in the time of Richard 
 11. upon theft joining together, itfhews as if they were 
 rich at that time, for they foon built this chapel, and 
 began a fund to purchafe land fufficient to endow it ; 
 but though they joined their common flock, yet each 
 to their diffolution had a prieft that feparately belong- 
 ed to each of them, and all gifts were given as to fe- 
 parate guilds, and the brethien and fitters of each 
 were feverally admitted and enrolled; the Guild-hall 
 was common to them both, being the fame that is 
 now ftanding at the fouth-eaft corner of the church- 
 yard, which was granted to the inhabitants, and js 
 now ufed for the charity fchool-houfe. It was at that 
 
 time
 
 D I S S. )<} 
 
 time well furnifhed for the merry meetings of th<? 
 brethren and fillers of ihofe guilds. In 1575 here 
 were kept the ftandard, fcales, and weights for the 
 market ; and there was left to (he ufc of the tcnvn in 
 this houfe, I chaldron, i brafs pot, {pits, 2 bowls, 
 l ladle, 2 trewcts, 20 falts, 4 platters, 46 meafe of 
 plates, 40 meafe of difhes, 40 nieafe of trenchers, 9 
 dozen of fpoons, 4 cups, 6 table cloths, Sec. by 
 which we may conjecture what jolly doings there had 
 been formerly. Their chapel flood in St. Nicholas'- 
 flrcet, exactly where the houfe now flands, between 
 tins' tlreet that leads down to the fleeple. and that that 
 goes on the right hand to the Market-place, the 
 chapel yard extending eaft to the blackfmith's tra- 
 verle, and no further. This in the 2d year of Edward 
 VI. fuffered the fate of all other free chapels, being 
 ihen diflblved; from that time ir flood in a decaying 
 condition, and was in the crown, by virtue of the acl, 
 jill the i 8th of June, 1584, at which time the queen 
 granted " Ail that chapel, with the appurtenances, in 
 " Difs, in the county of Norfolk, now in decay, 
 " commonly called St. Nicholas' chapel, which was 
 44 formerly ufed for the celebrating mafles, and other 
 " fuperflitious ufcs," to William Croft, and John 
 Haliyet. by her letters dated at Weflminlier the day 
 and year aforefaid, all which they were to hold to 
 them and their heirs, of the queen and her fucceffors, 
 as of her manor of Eaft Greenwich, in Kent, by 
 fealty only, in free foccage, and not in capite t or by 
 knight's lervice, paying gd. into the Exchequer; they 
 held it till i 595. and then fold it to Henry Cullyder, 
 butcher, ofr JDifs, and Robert Haull, of Palgrave, 
 notary public, and they the year after fold it to Wil- 
 liam Chambers, of Difs, black finith, and now (Rlome- 
 ficldj it is in the poireffion of Jonathan Walpole. 
 
 F4 The
 
 So H U N D R E D O 
 
 The Town Lands. Tins town hath an eflate'at 
 Frarnlingham, in Suffolk, which in Mr. lilomerieid's 
 time was lett at 56!. per arm. It was ptiichafwl of 
 William Knights, of Great Glemham. and Robot 
 Aldrcd, of Bi ufiyard, anno 1 500, by the fund that 
 the brethren of St. Nicholas, and Corpus Cbrifli 
 guilds, had made; which was, that every bioiher 
 and fitter fliould pay a certain fum every quar- 
 ter into the guild cheft, to be kept till it fhould 
 amount to a fum fufficient to purchafe lands to en- 
 dow their flipendiary priefts ; this was fo generally 
 approved of, that fe.v died heic without leaving fome- 
 tbing towards this purchafe, and the chief inhabitants 
 fubfcribed to it, though they were not brethren ; nay, 
 fevcral left money to be annually paid by their exe- 
 cutors to it, for years after their deaths; this by de- 
 grees raifed enough to buy more than they at firft in- 
 tended, but yet they laid out more than at that time 
 they had, for they bought no Id's than eighty acres of 
 freehold ground, called Coldhaugh, alias Cowle-hall, 
 in Frarnlingham. By an Englifh fchedule annexed, 
 the feoffees in 1508 declared the ufes of the feofl- 
 ment, viz. " that a bailly, or officer, by them or the 
 " mode parte in nombre of them appointed, fhall 
 11 take Sc perceyve the yerely profits of the feid londes 
 " and tenements, and other the premifles comprifed 
 " within the faid deed, therewith an honed and go- 
 " vernabill feculer-preeft, by the mod parte of the co- 
 " feoffees to be named, hired, and waged cornpe- 
 " tently, yerly tofynge or feye mnffes, and other cle- 
 " vygne fervice, for the fowles o! the brctheren and 
 fifkra of the glides and fiatemiiies of Corporis 
 " Chrifti, and St. Nicholas the bifhop, in the parifhc 
 " churche of Diffe, within the counte of Norfolk, 
 " by the fpacc and terme of Ixxxxix yercs, next en- 
 " feu in y; the date of the feide prefent dede, and at 
 " the end of the feide Ixxxxix yeres. the fcide feoffees, 
 11 their heirs, and affignces, and all manner of perfons 
 
 that
 
 -D -'I -:S S. 81 
 
 4< tnat then (hall be lawfully feafed, or infer.) ffed in the 
 *' premifles, or ony of them, at and for fuche price 
 " as they, or the mod pane of them in nombrc, 
 " cannc agree, fhall felie alle and every of the pre- 
 " in ides, with the appurtenances, and with or for 
 " ihe money thereof, or therefor, corny ng or grow- 
 " yng, fhall fynde annuelly an honed governabill 
 " feculer prcefr., to fynge for the fowlys aforefeid, or 
 " ellis with the feid mony, or londs, or tenements, 
 " and other the premiffes, (hall make further provi- 
 " fion for a competent levyng for an hone ft preeft for 
 " the tymc being, if it then may be, by an amortife- 
 " ment, or other wife, as they fhall feeme beft, for 
 " the moft fewer and longer continuance of the 
 " fynding or the feid honefl preclt, to contynewe for 
 *' ever, if it may fo be contynued by the ordour of 
 " the-Jawe, the fame preefl for the tyme being to do 
 t; the Devygnc fcrvyce, and fynge for the fowles in 
 " manner and forme abovefaid." \Vhen all the 
 feoffees are dead but five, then they to renew again, 
 and thofe five to name 12 more at leaft, which are to 
 be brothers of one of the faid guilds, and none of the 
 heirs of the forrrur feoffees; the flipend allowed to 
 each of thefc priefis was at the diffolution 5!. 6s. Sd. 
 though at firft it was but four marks each, or if they 
 kept one pried only for both guilds, then he was to 
 have eight marks per annum, and the overplus was 
 laid out in repairing the fteeple, church, and ftreets, 
 every year. Thus it continued till the 2d year of 
 Edward VI. when it was feized by the ftatute for the 
 diffolution of the guilds, chapels, and chantries ; but 
 the townfmen of Difs obje&ed againft it, and flood 
 an aclion with that king ; but it appearing that the 
 term of the feoffment was not expired, they could do 
 no good in the affair, arid it continued in the crown till 
 the 43d of Elizabeth, in which year the queen grant- 
 ed them to Thomas Mildmay, for divers years yet 
 unexpired, at the yearly referred rent of 4], and 
 
 Thomas,
 
 8* H U N D R E D O F 
 
 Thomas, fon of the faid Thomas Mildmay, of Fram- 
 lingham, gent, fucceeded his father under that gram, 
 not thinking that the townfmen knew when this irm 
 expired; but. he was much miftaken in that matter, 
 for the original feoffment and writings (out of which 
 we collected this account) were carefully kept and 
 preferred ; and in 1608, when the ninety-nine years 
 of the feoffment were expired* John Shreeve, and the 
 reft of the townfmen, entered upon the premifles, 
 ejecting the faid Thomas Mildmay, and John Wood, 
 his tenant, pleading that thefe lands were fettled only 
 for ninety-nine years to fuperftitious ufes, and that 
 during that time the .prieft had but eight marks, and 
 when there were two, they had but twenty marks 
 yearly, and that thefe flipends could be no longer 
 than the fettlement, which being now out. they en- 
 lered upon thefe prerniffes, as the purchafc of their 
 forefathers, the then townfmen, and would employ 
 them (as lawfully they could do) to the fame ufes of 
 repairing their church, and their ilreets, as they al- 
 ways did ; this they proved by an inquifuion taken at 
 Hoxne, in the very year that Edward VI. feized it; 
 they proved that it was purchafed by the contribution 
 of the townfmen, by the book in which all the con- 
 iributors names were entered ; and in order to prove 
 John Shreeve's entry good, they produced feoffrnents, 
 (hewing that the feoffees in the firtt feoffment above 
 fpecified did infeoff Thomas Shardclowe, and others, 
 whofe fucceffors were alfo feoffees. All this being 
 plainly proved, the lands were given by verdicl to 
 the town; and in the gth of James I. the king and 
 the faid Thomas Mildmay, and John Wood, re- 
 nounced all right, title, claim, or demand, in die faid 
 lands, or in the 4!. per annum ftipend, mentioned to 
 go and be paid outihereoi. This coll the parifli fo 
 much, that in 1613 they fold to George Spalding 
 part of this land, caiied Helbrook-field, in Fraraling- 
 
 ham
 
 D I S S. $3 
 
 barn, containing ten acres, for 150!. with . whicli 
 they paid the charges, then fettled ihe reft by feotf- 
 ment to the ufes aforefru'd, and then made a leafe 
 thereof to Edward Wickham. But though they had 
 fuch fuccefs with this affair, they met wiih the con- 
 trary in relation to the other lands thru were under 
 the fame limitation in the fame 1 feulfment, viz. a 
 clofe called Chawmpeney s, in Difs, and Frenze, 
 three pieces of land in Difs, and i8cj. rent in Difs, 
 Frenze, and Scole; the firfl piece laid in Frenze field, 
 in Difs, and contained three acres, the fecond piece 
 one acre, and the third piece two acres ; for ir, ap- 
 peared by feofFments prior to this, that thefe lands 
 were given without limitation, to find lamps, anni- 
 verfaries, Sec. for ever, in Difs church ; whereupon 
 Chawmpehey's meadow, which at that time was in 
 the hands of the lord of the manor of Frenze, under 
 the king's grant, xvas by arbitration, January 9, ihio, 
 confirmed to him and his heirs; and the other three 
 pieces, which were then in the hands of Mr. James 
 Blomefield, by the fame arbitration was confirmed to 
 him and his heirs, upon his paying lol. to the 
 churchwardens oi Difs, 
 
 The lands that were given br Richard Edon in 
 1494 to pay the leet-fee, or common fine of Difs, for 
 ever, and to keep his obijt, See. were feized by Edward 
 VI. and by him granted in 1547 to fir Ralph Sadler, 
 knt. and Laurence Wennington, gent, to be held of 
 his manor of Eaft Greenwich, by fealty only ; they 
 gave them to Thomas Cook, of Norwich, gent, and 
 William Ne&un, of the fame, *who fold them to 
 Thomas Aldred of Difs, and others, 
 
 In 1595 Mr. Thomas Fulcher gave 24!. with, 
 which the unvnfmen purchafed three roods of copy- 
 hold land on the recloiy manor, called Bell-Acre, in 
 
 Difs,
 
 84 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Difs< which they took up this year, and feuded ihe 
 profits to be employed to the relief of the poor of 
 honeft converfation in the faid town. 
 
 December 25, 1601, Richard Fifher, of Difs, by 
 his will obliged Edward, his fon, to purchafe half 
 an acre freehold in Difs, within two years after his 
 deceafe, and thereupon at his cod and charge to 
 build a houfe fufficient for the dwelling of two poor 
 people, and afterwards toinfcoffthe churchwardens 
 and chief inhabitants therein, who (hall have power 
 to place what poor people they pleafe in thole dwel- 
 lings. In 1610 he bought a piece of land in Dirt- 
 ftreet. built a houfe thereon, and made a feoftment 
 according to the will ; this houfe is now down, and 
 the land is called the Town-yard. 
 
 In 1 605 John Kettleboroucjh, of Flordon, gent, 
 granted to John Okes, of Wymondham, fadler, a 
 pightle of two acres in Roydon, called the Gravel- 
 pits, referving a free-rent of 6d. per ann. to his ma- 
 nor of Roydon-hall ; this pightle in 1672 was pur- 
 chafed by the town of Difs, and is now their gravel- 
 pits. 
 
 In 1618 Ralph Chapman, of Burfton, granted to 
 James Blomefield, fenior, gent, and other feoffees, an 
 annuity of sos. iffuing out of his meadow in Bur- 
 fton, called Shimpling clofe, abutting upon the high- 
 way leading from Burfton to Shimpling, north, and 
 Upon the proceflion way dividing Burfton and 
 Shimpling, eaft; which meadow he purchafed of 
 John Shardelowe, gent, the money to be diftributed 
 by the chief part of the feoffees every Chriftmas-day, 
 for the relief and comfort of fixty of the pooreft 
 houCholders, moft comfortlefs and diftieffed poor 
 
 people
 
 D I S S. 85 
 
 people of Difs, viz. 4^. to each, as of the alms, gift, 
 and donation, of the faid Ralph. 
 
 In 1620 Mr. Sherman gave 45!. to purchafe a clofe 
 of William Yewles, called Yewles's pightle, which 
 by meafure contains four acres and fix perches, two 
 of which are free, and pay 4d. per arm. the other two 
 acres are copyhold on the capital manor, and pay is. 
 4d. quit-rent. In 1635 James Blomefield, fen. gent, 
 and others, were infeoffed to the following ufe, " that 
 its rent fliould annually be laid out to pay the com- 
 mon fine, or leet-fect, of Walcote hamlet, in Difs." 
 
 In 1636 the tqwnfmen purchafed of Thomas 
 Deynes, of Carleton-Rode, a parcel of ground in 
 Cock-ftreet, with a houfe thereon, being twenty-feveti 
 feet broad at the fouth end, and thirty-three feet at 
 the north end ; this is now the flall-houfe on Cock- 
 flreet-green. 
 
 Oclober 15, 1658, Richmond Girling, of Old 
 Buckenham, gent, by will proved in the prerogative 
 court, gave to the poor of Difs i is. per aim. for ever, 
 the fextort to have is. a year for mending the grave 
 of his late wife; for which payment he tied his 
 houfes and lands in Stradbrook, which he gave to 
 Ralph King, his brother. 
 
 In 1716 Robert Buxton, of St. Margaret's, South 
 Elmham, efq. lord of the manor of Heywood-hall, 
 gave to this pariiTi a fmall houfe, called the Hopper- 
 houfe, lying at the eafl end of Difs moor, which 
 he alfo manumifed, it being copyhold before it' 
 came into his hands. This is now ufed as a pefl- 
 huofe. 
 
 Mr,
 
 86 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Mr. R6bert Burroughs built an alms-houfc of 
 brick on the eafl fide of the church-yard, for four 
 poor widows. 
 
 Here is a good regulated workhoufe, which was 
 built about i 730, by the inhabitants, for an alms- 
 houie, {landing on the moor. 
 
 The commons are manv, but not large ; they arc 
 called by the names of Heywood-green, Weftbrook- 
 green, Walcote-green, Cock-ftreet green, the Moor, 
 (on which the cuftom is never to put on any flieep, 
 as appears by the town books) and Penning's-green, 
 part of which, time out of mind, (as appears by the 
 churchwardens book] hath been always inclofed at 
 May-Day, and fo kept till Lammas, on which day 
 there is yearly paid to the churchwardens il. 6s. Sd. 
 rent by thofe that mow it, viz. the tenement. Baxter's, 
 that ftauds by it. hath always one half of the crop, 
 and pays half the rent; the other half goes by turns 
 10 ev.ery tenement on the green, viz. Mr. Cafon's, 
 Mr. Pettoe's, Mr. Jubb's twice, beeaufe this is tw 
 farms laid into one. 
 
 The charity-fchool was firfl creeled at PalgraVe, 
 in Suffolk, in 1711, and two years after removed hi- 
 ther. Mr. Briars, re&or of Difs, preached a fermon, 
 fcvhich was publifhed at the firft meeting of the gen- 
 tlemen and clergy for encouraging this fchool, which 
 be dediceted to Charles bifhop of Norwich, (whole 
 chaplain he was) in which it appears that the re&or 
 of Palgrave began it, at whole requeft that parifh fet 
 apart a large room belonging to the town for that 
 purpofe, and f.jbieribed with him lul. per ann. for 
 its maintenance ; the neighbouring ge'Ttlemen and 
 clergy had then iubfcnbed between 20 and 30!. be- 
 fides cafuai gilts, which theu came to about isl. 
 
 The
 
 D IS S. 87 
 
 The fchool was opened the January before; teii 
 boys of that parifh were taught and cloathed, fix 
 more taught, but not cloathed. This- fchool is now 
 kept at Difs, where the mailer hath his dwelling in 
 part of the late Guild-hall, and keeps his fchool in 
 another part ; there are now ten boys cloathed and 
 taught. 
 
 The grammar- fchool is kept above, in the fame 
 houfe, where the mafler hath lodgings, and iol. per 
 annum ; but this at the voluntary contribution of" the 
 parifti, 
 
 Difs is a neat compact market town, fituated on a 
 rifing hill, having a large bafon of water of about 
 twelve acres on its fouth pare, which they call the 
 Meer, (hence the Difs farthings have a fhield wavy 
 for their device); it is compared about half round 
 with houfes and gardens, which look very pleafantly 
 from the water; but it being almofl a (landing lake, 
 having only a fniall run or two into it, and one only 
 out, and all the filth of the town centering here, be- 
 fides the many conveniences [hat are placed over it, 
 makes the water very bad, and altogether ufelcfs, and 
 fo foul, that when it purges itfelf, which it does once 
 a year, it (links exceedingly and forneiimes the fifh rile 
 in great numbers, fo thick that they are cafily taken; 
 they are chiefly roach and eels ; it is very deep, 
 being plumb'd, it was found eight yards in the deep- 
 efl place, which is by the common flaiihe; the li- 
 berty hereof belongs to the lord of the manor of Difs, 
 and without his leave no man can keep a boat, or 
 fifh, except at his own flaithe, where every one can 
 lay in bow-nets, leaps, eel-poles, or any other en- 
 gines, to catch what fifh they can there, without the 
 lotd's licence. If the paflage out of this meer be 
 flopped up, ii is of great damage, by overflowing the 
 
 yards
 
 8? HUNDREDOF 
 
 yards that lie round it, wherefore it is viewed at the leet. 
 and if it be not clear, the tanner to whom it alwavs 
 belongs to keep it fo is amerced, as is the townfhip 
 if they do not keep up the rails at its mouth, for 
 want of which, in 1635, a man as he watered his 
 horfes was drowned, and the town wasjined. It is 
 of great ufe in cafe of a fire, as was experienced in 
 1640, when the great fire happened in that (Irect; all 
 the wells and pumps being dry, the town was faved 
 by this water. 
 
 The chief ftreets arc, Smith-ftreet. or Mound- flreet, 
 fo called from the mound, or hill, that rifes the 
 whole length of it; Tem-ftreet, or Meer-ftreet, which 
 lies along the Meer's fide; Dirt-flreet, (properly 
 enough (o called) Maiket-ftreet ; and St. Nicholas'- 
 flreet. 
 
 The hamlets are, Cock-ftreet, where the fair is 
 kept, Oclober 28, Walcote, Wolfey, Heywood, and 
 Weflbrook. 
 
 The market is kept weekly on Friday, the chief of 
 which confifts in the linen cloth manufacture, for 
 which this market is famous, great quantities of it 
 being fold here. The ftreets being newly paved, is 
 a great ornament, as well as fervice, to the town. 
 
 In 1602 there were 400 communicants ; and at this 
 time (1735) it contains 240 families, and about 2000 
 fouls. 
 
 It is now aflefled to the king's tax at 2300!. In 
 the civil wars, during the affociation, when the public 
 charges were levied by the month, there were two va- 
 luations made of this town, one at 2616!. per ann. 
 the other at 2700!. per ann. which far exceeds the 
 
 prefent
 
 D 1 S S. 89 
 
 prefent real value. It paid 7!. for cverv tenth when 
 the taxes were afTefied that way. The lea-fee for 
 Difs, audits hamlets, now paid to the capital lord, 
 is il. 135. ^d. per annum. 
 
 The town of Difs is about twenty miles fouth-weft 
 of Norwich, twenty-two from Bury St. Edmund's, 
 a t;d thirty-fix from Yarmouth. It is fituated neat the 
 fouthern extremity of Norfolk, and, for an in-land 
 town, is one of the moft agreeable we have feen. 
 
 FERSF.IELD is bounded on the cafl and fouth by 
 BiifTingham, on the weft by Lopharn, on the north by 
 Kcnninghall, the hundred of Difs extending to the 
 utmofi. limits of this parifh, and no further. The 
 name of it is very differently written, as Ferfevella, 
 Ferveffclla, Fer,efeud, Feyrfeud, Fairfeud, Fairvill, 
 and Fersfell, all which feem to fignify a fair fee, or 
 village. 
 
 One part of it was very early in the abbot of St. 
 Edmund's Bury, being given about 963, along with 
 Brimngham, by Ofulph le Sire, and Lady Laverine, 
 his wife, and was valued with that manor in the Con- 
 feffor's and Conqueror's furveys ; the fee not being 
 mentioned in Doomfday-book under Fersfield, it is 
 evident it mufl be included in that manor, with 
 which it was infeoffed by the abbot foon after the 
 conqueft, in Roger le Bigot, earl of Norfolk. Earl 
 Roger held three fees of that abbey; one in Norton, 
 one in Briffingham, and one in Fersfield, for which 
 he paid nothing to the guard of Norwich-caflle, the 
 abbot being anfwerable for 75. every twenty weeks. 
 The fee in Fersfield was held by fir Robert de Bofco, 
 or Bois, and at the death of earl Roger, who died in 
 G 1107,
 
 go HUNDREDOF 
 
 1 107. it went to William*, his fon and heir, and from 
 him to Hugh Bigot, his brother and heir, who in- 
 feoffed fir William de Bofco in it in the time of Hen- 
 ry II. whof' heir, fir Robert de Bofco, held it in 
 1 1 65 ; it was near one half of the town, and was ever 
 after held of the earls of Norfolk, who held it of the 
 abbot of St. Edmund's Bury. 
 
 The other part belonged to Alfms, a thane (or no- 
 bleman) of Edward the Confeflbr's ; the demefnes 
 being valued at two carucates, it was then an exten- 
 five manor, part of Burfton, BnfTingham, and Shimp- 
 jing, belonging to it. The manor, with the berewic, 
 and that part in Bullion that belonged to it, was then 
 valued at 6os. but by the conqueft was rifen to 7!. 
 6s. Sd. and all that belonged to it was then valued at 
 12!. 6s. Sd. of which the freemen paid los. Sd. It 
 was at the furvey two miles long, and one broad, 
 and paid to the Dane-gelt ;d. being at that time in 
 the king's hands, under the management of earf 
 Godric, and the foe and fac of all the free-men in 
 the hundred that held lefs than thirty acres belonged 
 to it. 
 
 Thus it patted with the crown fome time, but was 
 afterwards given to the Bigots, then earls of Norfolk, 
 to be held at one fee, and Roger Bigot infeoffed fir 
 William de Bofco in it, as Hugh, his fon, afterwards 
 did in the other fee, fo that he had the whole town, 
 except a wood, and igs. 4d. rent belonging thereto, 
 which had been held a long time by the earl of 
 Arundel; but the jury knew not how, or of whom, 
 the earl had that part before the Bigots had the town 
 
 from 
 
 * In the I2th of Henry II. he certified, that he had 125 
 knights fees of the old feoffment, and 35 of the new j he died 
 in 1177.
 
 D I S S. gi 
 
 from the crown ; this alfo came afterwards by pur- 
 chafe to the Bois' ; William du Bois aforefaid, at his 
 death, left the vv hole town, manor, and advowfon, to 
 fir Robert de Bofco, or Bois, of Fersfield, knt. his eldeft 
 fon and heir, who in 1165 held it of the earl Mar- 
 fhal at iwo fees. This fir Robert at his death left 
 Gilbert de Bois, knt. his eldeft fon and heir, who was 
 fucceeded by his next brother, fir Robert de Bofco, of 
 Fertfield, knt. He was a man that purchafed much; 
 for befides this, he bought the manor of Burfton, in 
 this hundred, and feveral other lands in divers adja- 
 cent towns. In 1285 he had the following privi- 
 leges allowed in tire, at Norwich, to his manor cf 
 Fersfield, viz, a pillory, affize of bread and beer, 
 view ot frank-pledge, waif and ftray. He married 
 Amy, (Amicia) widow of Thomas Hafting, of Gif- 
 fing, and fuing for her dower, recovered, and had the 
 manor of Gifting fettled on her for life ; fir Robert 
 died in 1298 feifed of Fersfield, then valued at lol. 
 135. 6d. per ann. of which there is a fine extent in the 
 efcheat-roll, in which the Great-wood, or Home- 
 wood, from, which the family fir ft" took their name, 
 is mentioned ; he is found alfo to be feifed of a ma- 
 nor in Denton, another in Burfton, and of Gar- 
 boldifham, Sec. and Robert, his fon and heir, had all 
 his manors, 8cc. except an eighth part of Fersfield, 
 or a quarter of that fee which was held of Bury ab- 
 bey, which he gave to John de Bois, his fecond fon ; 
 this John built a new hall upon it, and fettled in it, 
 calling his part, 
 
 The MANOR of NEW-HALL, which name he him- 
 felf is called by in teveral evidences, and in particular 
 in the Nomiri* ViUarum of the gth of Edward II. in 
 whichjohn de Nova Aula, or Ncwhall, is faid to 
 hold a manor here : he lived to the year 1335, and 
 G 2 dying
 
 9 a HUNDRED OF 
 
 dying without iffue, his manor reverted to the great 
 manor again. 
 
 The advcwTon of Fersfield, and forty acres of 
 land there, were given to William de Bois, clerk, 
 third -Ton of the faid Robert; he was rc&or of Fers- 
 Field, &.T. In 1305 he granted the land and advow- 
 fon to fir Robert, his eldefl brother. 
 
 Sir Robert do Bofco, who fuccceded in 1298, had 
 two fees, which formerly were the Bigots, one of 
 which was in Smalburgh, the other here, and 
 another in Fersfield, held of the abbot of St. Ed- 
 mund. Sii Robert at his death in 131 1 was feifed of 
 Fersfield Demon, Garboldifham, &c. leaving fir Ro- 
 bert du Bois, knt. his only fon and heir, then very 
 young, and one daughter, Alice; he died a bachelor 
 in 1333, leaving his whole eflate to Alice, his only 
 filler and heirefs, then married to fir John Howard, 
 junior, knt. who was upon fir Robert's death poffeiTed 
 of Fersfidd, and Garboldifham manors and advow- 
 fons, with Demon, &c. She lived to 1371, and at 
 her death left iffuc by the faid John, to which the 
 whole inheritance of the Bois' defcended. 
 
 The family of Bofco, or Bois, we are apt to think 
 was at firft a branch of the Bigots, their arms vary- 
 ing only in field and colour. 
 
 They firnamed themfelves de Bofco, or Bois, from 
 the great wood which joined to their manfion-houfc, 
 and was not cleared till queen Elizabeth's time ; bof- 
 cus, in Latin, or bois, in French, fignifying a wood. 
 The whole generation continually refided here, from 
 William who was firft enfeofFed in it, to Alice, 
 who was the laft of that line ; they were always a 
 
 feparate
 
 D I S S. v 93 
 
 fcparate family from the de Bofcos, of Lincolnfhirc, 
 or thofe of Ingham, in Norfolk. 
 
 In 1333 fir John Howard, jun. lent, was fe'fed of 
 the manors and advovvfons of Fersfield, Garbol- 
 difliam, Brookhall, Sec. in right of his wife This 
 fir John was grandfon of Wm. Howard, of Wiggen- 
 hall, in the hundred of Marfhland, a judge in the 
 court of Common Pleas in the time of Edward I. 
 and fon of John Howard, gentleman of the bed- 
 chamber to that king. In the loth of Edward III. 
 he was conflituted admiral of the king's whole fleet, 
 from the mouth of the Thames northward, being 
 then in great efteem at court, as may be collected 
 from the many favors he obtained ; he was with that 
 kins; at the fiege of Calais, being then Admiral, and 
 had in pay with him one banneret, fix knights, thirty- 
 fix men of arms, and thirty-five archers on foot. In 
 1310 he had the king's letters of prote&ion at his 
 going into Scotland with the earl of Cornwall, the 
 king being then at York. In 1317 was fheriffof Nor- 
 folk, and upon his fecond going into Scotland, by the 
 king's order, he made G. de Ely his attorney, to ac- 
 count in the Exchequer for his office. In 1339 he 
 recovered twenty marks by action againft fir John 
 Segrave, and his fervants, for cutting down trees, and 
 carrying away the foil of Fersfield manor, under pre- 
 tence of cleaning the great ditch round his park, 
 (now called Lopham park). 
 
 Robert Howard, his fon, died before his father, in 
 1388, the 3d of July, fo that he was never poffefled 
 of the eflate, leaving fir John Howard, knt. his fon 
 and heir, on whofe deceafe the eftate defcended 
 to Margaret, his widow, and at her death it went to 
 fir John Howard, knt. her fon, who was retained upon 
 his knighthood to ferve the king for his life. The loth 
 C* of
 
 94 HUNDRED OF 
 
 of March, in the \stli of Richard II. he married, 
 firft, Margaret, daughter and heirefs of fir John Piais, 
 of Weeting, and had a fon named John, who was 
 heir, after her deccafe, to fir John Plais, his grand- 
 father; (he died in 1391. after which fir John mar- 
 ried again to Alice, daughter and heirefs of fir Wil- 
 liam Tendring, km. who died in 1426, and was bu- 
 ried in the iouth part of Stoke Neyland church, un- 
 der the lame ftone with fir John, her hufband, and by 
 her father, fir William Tendring. Sir Robert How- 
 ard, km. their eldeft ion, mamed Margaret, daughter 
 of Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, vvhofe fon, 
 John, was the firft duke of this family. In 1432 fir 
 John Howard, knt. held Fersfield of John Mowbray, 
 duke of Norfolk, of his manor of Forncet, at two 
 fees and an half ; and in 1435 ^ e mac ^ e n ^ s wM in 
 which he gave Fersfield, Garboldifham, &c. to his 
 grand-daughter, Elizabeth, then countefs of Oxford, 
 and her illue. John Howard, efq. his fon and heir by 
 his firft wife, in 1408 releafed to fir John, his father, 
 and Alice, his fecond wife, and their heirs, all his 
 right in them, fo that by this releafe the fee was 
 w holly in his father, who did not fettle it as was de- 
 figned, and therefore he was impowered to give it by 
 will, as he did, to his grand-daughter. 
 
 This Elizabeth married John Vere, earl of Oxford, 
 and carried the manors of Fersfield. Garboldifham, 
 Brookhall, and Foulmere, in Cambridgeshire, with 
 their advowfons, into that family, (together with the 
 inheritance of the Plais' and Waltons) all which by 
 the will of fir John Howatd, her grandfather were 
 entailed on fir Robert Howard, his eldeft fon by his 
 fecond wife, if the faid Elizabeth had no heirs. Buc 
 becaufe the branches of this honorable family are 
 very numerous, we fhall here fhew that branch only 
 thiough, which this manor patted. 
 
 This
 
 D I S S. 95 
 
 This John was the twelfth earl Oxford of the 
 Vere family ; he was knighted by the king at Leicefter, 
 on Whitfunday, the 4th of Henry VI. the king him- 
 fe!f having received that honor at the hands of his 
 uncle, the duke of Bedford. In 1428, being then a 
 ward, he married Elizabeth aforefaid, without licence; 
 but for 2000!. paid into the Exchequer, he was par- 
 doned that tranfgreffion, and before the end of the 
 year, making proof of his age, had livery of his lands. 
 In 1434 he was licenfed to travel to the Holy Land, 
 with twelve perfons in his company ; the year after 
 he went into Picardy for the relief of Calais, and do- 
 ing his homage, had livery of all thofe lands which 
 by the death of fir John Howard, km. in 1437, came 
 to Elizabeth, his wife. In 1438 he was joined with 
 John duke of Norfolk to treat for a perpetual peace 
 between France and England. In 1453 he was one 
 of thofe great men that undertook to keep the feas for 
 three years next following, being allowed the fubfidies 
 of tonnage, and poundage, then granted for that fer- 
 vicc ; but when Edward IV. gained the crown, the 
 Lancaftrian party (of which this earl was one) fpon 
 fell; for that king in the ift year of his reign called 
 a parliament, wherein Henry VI. and all his lineage 
 were difinherited, and this earl, and Aubrey, his eld- 
 eft Ton, attainted, and beheaded on the 26th of Fe- 
 bruary. 1461, and were buried in the Auftin Friars, 
 London. His eftates were all feized, except thofe 
 which were of the proper inheritance of his widow, 
 all which (he retained, and among them thefe manors 
 and advowfons, which (lie held in her own right, and 
 name alfo, till 1472, at which time John, her fon, 
 (who afterwards was earl of Oxford) kept St. Mi- 
 chael's Mount, in Cornwall, againft the king, which 
 made her fear ill meafures might be taken againft 
 her, and therefore to fecure her eftate, and prepare 
 againft the worft, (he and her feoffees infeoffed 
 C 4 Richaid
 
 g6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Richard duke of Glouceflcr (who was founh fon of 
 Richard duke of York, brother to the king) in the 
 manors and aclvowfons of Garboldifham-Howards, 
 Fersfield, Weeting, Toftrees, Knapton. Eaftwinch, 
 Wtggenhall, and Tittlcfball, in Norfolk, others in 
 Suffolk and Cambridge,' and (evcral others in other 
 counties, by two deeds, one dated the gth of January, 
 in tl:e i 2th of Edward IV. the other the gth of Fe- 
 bruaiy, in the igthof the fame reign; and by thefe 
 means fhe enjoyed them to her death, and left them 
 to John de Vere, her fon, who afterwards became the 
 thirteenth earl of Oxford, lord Bulbeck, Samford, 
 and Scales, great chambetlain, and admiralof England, 
 who after his father's death adhered to Henry VI. in 
 order to his rcfroration, and after the lofs of the bat- 
 tle at Barnet he entered St. Michael's Mount, in 
 Cornwall, and kept it fomc time againft the king; 
 but being at lall taken, he and lord Beaumont were 
 fern to fafe cuflody in the caftle of Hamins, in Pi- 
 cardy, and in the next parliament was attainted with 
 George, his brother. But in the sd of Richard III. 
 being flill prifoner in that caftle, and obferving what 
 hopes of aid Henry earl of Richmond had from the 
 French, and others, in order to gain the crown, he 
 and fir James Blount, the governor of the caftle, and 
 fir John Fortefcue, porter of the gates of Calais, got 
 thence, and came to Montarges, to the earl of Rich- 
 mond, whcrrereived him with much joy, being a 
 perfojr of great nobility and integrity, and very ex- 
 pert in military affairs; when king Richard heard that 
 this caftle had declared for the earl of Richmond, 
 through the contrivance of this earl, he ordered out 
 part of the garrifon of Calais to regain the caftle, 
 upon which thofe within it fent a meflenger to the 
 earl of Richmond for more aid, who fent this earl 
 with a number of foldiers, who by his fkilful con- 
 duct di ew off thofe in the caftle without any lofs ; 
 
 after
 
 D I 97 
 
 after which he went to the earl at Paris, with whom 
 lie came into England, and marched to Bof worth, 
 where king Richard encountered them, and by the 
 prudent conduct of this earl the battle in a great 
 meafure was gained, and the earl of Richmond 
 crowned by the name of Henry VII. who immedi- 
 ately reftored him to his honor and eftate ; this earl 
 pr dented here in 1505;' he had two wives ; Margaret, 
 daughter of Richard Nevile, earl of Salifbury, and 
 Elizabeth, daughter of fir Richard Scroop, knt. and 
 widow of William lord Beaumont ; fhe enjoyed this 
 manor after his death, and prefented here in 1527 ; 
 upon his dying without iffue in 151 2, his eilate and 
 honor went toJohnVere, the fourteenth earl oi Oxford, 
 only fon of fir George Vere, knt. brother of the lait 
 earl, by Margery, daughter and heirefs of William 
 Stafford, of Froome, in Dorfetfhire, efq. the faid 
 George dying before his brother. This John married 
 Ann, daughter to the duke of Norfolk, and died in 
 1526, without iffue, leaving all his eftate to his three 
 fitters, his coheireffes. of which Elizabeth, the eldeft, 
 was married to fir Anthony WingGeld, of Lethei ing- 
 ham, in Suffolk, knt. Dorothy, the fecond, to John 
 Nevile, lord Latimer, between which two the inhe- 
 ritance was divided ; for Urfula, the third, married 
 fir Edward Knighiley, but having no iffue, in 1599, 
 when (lie died, her part came to the heirs of fir An- 
 thony Wingfield, and the lord Latimer. 
 
 Hitherto the manor and advowfon went together; 
 but in 1533 they were divided; for fir Anthony 
 Wingfield aforefaid, and John Nevile, lord Latimer, 
 coheirs of John earl of Oxford, exchanged the ma- 
 nors of Fersfield, and Garboldifham, with Thomas 
 duke of Norfolk, for the manor of Dalby-Chacomb, 
 in Northamptonfhire, and fettled them on the duke 
 and his heirs, referving both the advowfons to them 
 
 and
 
 9 S HUNDREDOF 
 
 and their heirs, all which was confirmed by parlia- 
 ment in the a^th and 26th years of Henry VIII. fo 
 that now the advo \vfons of Fersfield and Garbol- 
 difham were one moiety in the VVingfields, and the 
 other in the lord Latiraer. 
 
 The moiety that belonged to the Wingfields went 
 from fir Anthony aforefaid to fir Robert, his eldeft 
 Ion, who in 159*1 died feifcd of a moiety of the ad- 
 vowfons of Ferbficld, and Garboldifham, which ad- 
 vowfons he held jointly with Catherine, countefs 
 dowager of Henry earl of Northumberland, fir Tho- 
 mas Cecil, and Dorothy, his wife, fir John Danvers, 
 and Elizabeth, his wife, William Cornwailis, elq. 
 and Lucy, his wife, daughters and coheirefles of John 
 Nevile, lord Latimer. In the family it remained till 
 iir Henry Wingfield, of Eaflon, in Suffolk, fold his 
 eftate in 1 706 to Mrs. Ann Wroth, in truft for Wil- 
 liam Henry earl of Rochford, who left it to Wil- 
 liam, his fon, who deceafing without iffue, the right 
 honorable Frederick carl of Rochford inherited. 
 
 The prefent patron of Garboldifham is Crifp Mo- 
 lineux, efq. member for Lynn, who purchafed the ad- 
 vowfon of the prefent earl of Rochford. (1780) and 
 Thomas Lambert, clerk, prefented to Fersfield church 
 in 1752. 
 
 The other moiety went to John Nevile, knt. lord 
 Latimer, who upon the death of Richard Nevile, 
 lord Latimer, his father, in 1530, had livery of his 
 inheritance, and upon that infurrection in Yorkshire, 
 called the " Pilgrimage of Grace," he, with the lords 
 Scroop, Lumley, and Darcy, was made choice of by 
 the rebels to treat with the duke of Norfolk, general 
 of the king's forces, then advancing againfl them ; he 
 died in 1542, leaving John lord Latimer, who died 
 
 in
 
 D I S S. 99 
 
 1577, leaving Percy, Cecil, Cornwallis, and Dan- 
 vers, his heirs, in right of his four daughters, whom 
 they had married, who at his death were heirs to 
 all the manors, advowfons, &c. that he died feifed 
 of, among which the moiety of this advowfon, and 
 that of Garboldifham, with the manors and advow- 
 fons of Weeting. Middleton, Scales-hoe, and Fittle- 
 fhall, in Norfolk, as heirs of the faid John, one of 
 the coheircffes of Vere earl of Oxford, and fo it was 
 held jointly by them till 1395. 
 
 The manor being conveyed in 1533 to l 
 noble Thomas duke of Norfolk, and his heirs, he 
 peaceably enjoyed it till the 381!! of Henry VIII. in 
 which vear, after many fignal fervices both to his 
 king and country, he was fuddenly committed to the 
 Tower, through finifter luggcftions to the king, and 
 was attainted in parliament the 2oth of January, 
 with his eldeft fon, Henry earl of Surrey, but eight 
 days before that king's death, and then it was feifed 
 by the crown. In 1554 he died at Kenninghall, 
 leaving his eftate much impaired without any fault 
 of his own, having fuffered fo much by the various 
 ebbs and flows of fortune that he had gone through. 
 After his death Thomas Howard, his grandfon, ion 
 of Henry Howard, earl of Surrey, who was beheaded 
 January 19, 1547, in his fathers life-time, was fully 
 reftored in blood and eftate in the ift of queen 
 Mary, anno 1553, at which time this manor, among 
 other poffeflions, was redelivered to him, it having 
 been fettled during its being in the crown on lady 
 Mary, (now queen) towards the maintenance of her 
 houfiiold, it lying very convenient for Kenninghall- 
 palace, at which fhe generally refided after it was 
 fettled on her. This Thomas in the 2d of that 
 queen was made commander againft theKentifh men, 
 then in arms. In the ift of Elizabeth was inftalled 
 
 knighc
 
 ioo HUNDREDOF 
 
 knight of the garter, and in the gd of that queen 
 made lieutenant general of the northern parts, and fix 
 years after honored by the French king with the 
 knighthood of the order of St. Michael ; but on a 
 fufpicion that he deGgned to marry the queen of 
 Scots, he was beheaded on Tower-hill, upon the ad 
 of June, between feven and eight o'clock in the 
 morning, in the I4th of Elizabem, 1572, being much 
 lamented by all men ; for he was a man good to all, 
 remarkable for his hofpitality, even in thofe times 
 when it abounded every where. 
 
 The names of the peers that pafled fentence upon 
 him may be feen in fir Richard Baker's Chronicle, 
 and his dying words in Mr. Hare's colleclions, in 
 Gaius College library. 
 
 At his attainder the queen feized on this manor, 
 and kept it fome time, and then reftored it to Philip 
 carl of Arundel, eldeft fon of Thomas duke of Nor- 
 folk, by his firft wife, Mary, daughter and one of the 
 heireffes to Henry Fitz-Alan, carl of Arundel, the 
 faid Philip being then reftored in blood ; but foon 
 after, leveral things being laid to his charge, he was 
 ientenced to death. 
 
 At his attainder the manor was again feized, and 
 by letters patent, dated April 17, 1582, the manor- 
 houfe, lands, and demefnes, all which were formerly 
 reierved to the ufc of the houfhold of the duke of 
 Norfolk, were lett to William Dixe, and William 
 Cantrell, the manor being in the queen, in whole 
 name the courts were held, and thus it continued to 
 1595, when Philip earl of Arundel diqd in the 
 Tower, leaving Thomas Howard, his only fon and 
 heir, who inherited the manor; for on the 13th of 
 May, 1599, he conveyed it to his trufte.es. In 1602, 
 
 in
 
 > i S S. ,01 
 
 the ill of James I. he was reflored to all the eftate 
 and honor that his father enjoyed, by which he be- 
 came earl of Arundel and Surrey. In 161 i he was 
 made knight of the garter; and in 1620 earl marfhal 
 of England, for life, with socoh per ann. penfion, 
 and chief jufticeof all the forefts on the north fide 
 of Trent. In the i6th of Charles I. 1640, gene- 
 ral of the army raifed againft the Scots, and in re- 
 fpecl of his lineal defcem from Thomas Brotherton, 
 earl of Norfolk, (a younger foh to Edward I.) was by 
 letters patent, bearing date at Oxford, June 6, in the 
 2oth of Charles I. advanced to the title of earl of 
 Norfolk; fhortly after which the wars breaking out, 
 and he grown ancient and unfit for military fervice, he 
 obtained leave of the king to travel ; whereupon going 
 to Padua, in Italy, he died there, Oclober the 4th, 
 1646, and was buried at Arundel, in Suflex. He 
 fold a great part of the eftate in this county, and 
 kafed out other parts for a long time. In 1604 
 his truftees aforefaid, with fir William Howard, of 
 Axminfler, in Devonfliire, mortgaged this manor, 
 with others, for iSool. to William Harvey, of the 
 Savoy, James Guiccardin, of Folfhunt, in Effex, and 
 Thomas AylofFe, of Lincoln's-Inn, efq. 
 
 In 1608 John Holland, of Kenninghall, efq. John 
 Cornwallis.of Earl-Soham, in Suffolk, efq. and Ro- 
 bert Causfield, of St. Clemenc's Danes, London, 
 granted to Joan Woodward, of that parifh, an an- 
 nuity of 44!. per annum out of this manor, for 450!. 
 paid by her. 
 
 In 1610 John Davis, bailiff of the earl's manor 
 here, accounted for gl. per annum quit rent, 5!. for 
 the fcite of the manor and deraefnes, Thomas Brew- 
 fter being farmer of the Lodge. In 1619 thefe 
 tftates were leafed out at 6ool. per ann. 
 
 Henry
 
 102 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Henry earl of Arundel, lord Movvbray, and Mal- 
 travers. died at Arundel, in Suffex, leaving his eflate 
 to Thomas Howard, his eldeft (on, who in 1660, the 
 13111 of Charles II. was reftored by acl of parliament 
 to the title of duke of Noiiolk. which he enjoyed 
 during his life, and then upon his dying without ifTue 
 it delcendcd to Henry lord Howard, of Caftle Rifing, 
 carl of Norwich, his next brother, who in 1671 had 
 the marfhalfhip of England limited to the heirs male 
 of his body, at whofe death Henry earl of Arundel, 
 his eldeft fon, fucceeded, and was made governor of 
 Windfor-caftle, upon the death of prince Rupert, 
 and was inftalled knight of the garter in the ift of 
 James II. In i6&8, upon the landing of the prince 
 of Orange, this duke being then in Norfolk, he im- 
 mediately declared for him, and brought over that, 
 and fome neighbouring counties, to his intereft ; for 
 which, foon after his royal highnefs had accepted the 
 crown of thefe realms, he was Iworn of his privy 
 council, and fo continued to the time of his death, 
 in 1701 ; he left no iffue, upon which his honor and 
 eflate went to his brother's fon, Thomas duke of 
 Norfolk, whofe father, Thomas lord Howard, upon 
 king James's withdrawing, went with him into France 
 and Ireland, from which lafl place, as he returned to 
 Breft, he was caft away in 1689, leaving five fons 
 and one daughter, of which this Thomas, his eidefl 
 fon, at his uncle's death became duke. Henry How- 
 ard, the fecond fon, left no iffue. Edward Howard, 
 the third fon, upon the death of Henry, his eldeft bro- 
 ther, became duke of Norfolk, and lord of this ma- 
 nor. Richard, the fourth fon, is dead. Philip, the 
 fifth fon, is alfo dead, and left a daughter, married to 
 lord Petre, who refides at Buckenham, the feat of his 
 late father-in-law. This Philip, brother of the late 
 duke of Norfolk, had an only fon, much efteemed, 
 %vho died greatly lamented before the late duke, by 
 
 whole
 
 D I S S. 103 
 
 who fa deceafe die title and eflate went to Charles 
 Howard, efq. of Greyftock, in the county of Cum- 
 berland, the prcfent duke, (1781). His eldeft fan, 
 the prefent earl of Surrey, has read his recantation of 
 the Roman Catholic religion this year, before the ho- 
 norable and mod reverend Frederick Cornvvallis, 
 lord archbifhop of Canterbury, primate of all Eng- 
 land, and is become a Proteftam. fo that the honor 
 of FIRST PEER of England is likely to return again 
 into a PROTESTANT branch of the ILLUSTRIOUS fa- 
 mily of the HOWARDS. 
 
 The lord of this manor hath a court leet as well 
 as court baron, which was always kept annually till 
 i 7 1 9, at which time Mr. Bath, then fteward to his 
 grace, gave notice, that he would keep leet no lon- 
 ger, becaufe there was no leet fee*, from which time 
 there hath been no leet kept here. 
 
 The cuftoms of this manor are as follow : the 
 fines are at the lord's will, and the copyhold de- 
 fcends to the eldeft fon ; it gives no dower ; the te- 
 nants have liberty either to erecl: or pull down houfes 
 on the copyhold, at their own plealure, and to cut 
 down timber on the copyhold without licence, as al- 
 fo to plant and cut down all manner of wood and 
 timber on all the commons and \yaftes againft their 
 own lands, by the name of an out-run, or free-board, 
 and to dig marl, or clay, and cut furze and buflies on 
 the commons and wafte. 
 
 There 
 
 * No leet-fee, becaufe it was the Conquerer's own manor : 
 The leet never belonging to the him Ired, it being granted with 
 the manor, and all its royalties, before the hundred was granted 
 from the crown.
 
 104 HUNDREDOF 
 
 .-> " i' m -^ *' * 
 
 There were two other fmall manors, or tenement?, 
 in Thvveyth, or Whait, a hamlet to Fersfield and Bri!- 
 fingham; the one was called ROSE'S, to which be- 
 longed fourteen acres, adjoining to the tenement, 
 with other fmall rents. This was fome time copyhold 
 of the manor of Fersfield, and bv the lord thereof was 
 granted to one Thomas Rofe, who was owner of it 
 in 1443, and foon after fold it,, with all its rents, fer- 
 vices, and appurtenances, to John Lancafter, junior, 
 cfq. lord of Boyland, who united it to that manor. 
 
 The other was called IRELAND'S, being originally 
 a part of Fersfield manor, which jn the time of Ed- 
 ward 11. was granted by the lord to one Jeffery of 
 Peafenhall, from whom it was firft. called Pcafen- 
 hall's, and from him it went to John of Ireland, from 
 whom it had its prefent name. They both conflantly 
 attended the manor of Boyland, and with it were 
 fold to the Norfolk family, in which they continued 
 till March 12, 1651, when Henry earl of Arundel, 
 and his truftees, among other large eftates. conveyed 
 to Ann Henfhaw, widow, and Thomas Henfhaw, 
 efq. and their heirs for ever, all the demefnes of the 
 capital manor of Briflingham, now called the Hall- 
 farm, and Hall-grounds, and alfo all that tenement 
 called Rofe's, with fixteen acres of land thereto be- 
 longing, lying in Briflingham and Fersfield, together 
 with all that tenement called Ireland's, lying in Fers- 
 .-field aforefaid, with a certain wood lying there, call- 
 ed Winley-wood, and two other inclofures, called 
 Marketfield, with all other the royalties, privileges, 
 and appurtenances thereunto belonging, all which 
 were to be held free without any referved rent what- 
 foever; the faid Thomas and Ann, Feb. 3, 1656, fold 
 all the eftates to James Perrot, of Ammerfham, in 
 Bucks, efq. 
 
 May
 
 D I . S S. 105 
 
 May 13, 1724, James Perrot, of Northlcigh, in 
 Oxf>.>idfhirc, Efq. conveyed thefe two tenements, 
 c. with ail their rights and appurtenances, to Henry 
 Klornefield, of Fersfield, gent, and his heirs ; the 
 {'aid Henry, bv deed dated ihe iqth of March. 1731, 
 conveyed Win Icy- wood and Marketfield to the late 
 rev. Francis Blomefield, who at his deadi bequeathed 
 the two tenements with all their right and appurte- 
 nances to Peter Blomefield, his fecond ion. 
 
 The commons in the time of Henry VIT. were 
 very different from what they are now, for all the 
 Sou th field was then common, which contained i 10 
 acres by meafure, all which was inclofed by the lord, 
 with the tenants conf'ent, in lieu of two market fields. 
 . which were {old off by a former lord. An equal 
 quantity of that which is now called the Great-com- 
 mon was laid out, by which means the two greens, 
 called Fersfield-green, and Old-green, were joined 
 together, and laid into one common ; that part 
 which is now Forty-acres, being pait of Fersfield- 
 green, and the part from the town meadow to Daw's 
 clofe, being Old -green : and thus they continued, 
 till Thomas duke of Norfolk, in the time of Henry 
 VJII. defiring to make his great park at Kenninghall 
 (in which his palace flood) every way compleat, in- 
 clofed 44. acres of Fersfield-green into the laid park, 
 bccaufe it extended like a harp (as it is laid in the 
 evidences) into it, and very near to his palace. Upon 
 this the inhabitants petitioned his grace for relief, who 
 ordered his bailiff thereupon to aflign them other 
 lands, to the full value and quantity of their land 
 inclofed. But it feems this was neglecled to be done, 
 for foon after they brought an action, and feized upon 
 their antient common, which had been thus inclofed ; 
 upon which the duke ordered certain demdne lands 
 pf his manor of Fersfield, and othcis of his manor 
 H ef
 
 io6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 of Lopham, which joined to the faid common, to be 
 laid out to the inhabitants of Fersfield, in recom- 
 pence for the 44 acres inclofeJ ; but it happened at 
 this very time, that the duke was attainted, and the 
 manor feized into the king's hands, upon which ihe 
 workmen were flopped levelling the banks ; upon 
 this the inhabitants laid the cafe before the Commif- 
 fioneis for the furvey of the manor when it was 
 feized, as appears upon the furvey, who took the 
 Jands that were to be laid out to the king's ufe, to- 
 gether with the inclofed 44 acres, and permitted the 
 inhabitants to enjoy their antienc 110 acres of com- 
 mon, which had been inclofed, and which they had 
 feized again in lieu thereof, with which all parties 
 were fatisfied ; and thus they continued till James I. 
 when Thomas earl of Arundel and Surrey, defirous 
 to perfect the park, and to make the demefnes of his 
 manor of Fersfield as compleat as they were before 
 this common was feized by the inhabitants, came to 
 an agreement, upon which the faid tenants and in- 
 habitants yielded up to the faid earl, all their right in 
 the faid common, which they had feized for them- 
 felves and their heirs for ever, on condition that the 
 faid earl fhould tie that part of the Southfield, called 
 the Great-ground, lying on the fouth fide of the 
 church of Fersfield, to be always un ploughed, and 
 to be feized and entered upon at any lime by the faid 
 inhabitants, for want of performance of any thing in 
 the indentures contained, " that they may remaine, 
 " contynue, and be for ever hereafter perpetuall, 
 " flable, and firme to poflerhy, for ever to endure." 
 Thefe indentures bear date the 2oth of November, 
 in the 8th year of the reign of James I. 1610. 
 
 Twayt, orWhait-green, alfo belongs to this parifh 
 and Briffingham, where they are intercommoners, each 
 having a drift ; it was appropriated to Tweyth, or 
 
 Tweyt,
 
 D I S S t 107 
 
 'Tweyt, a hamlet which belonged to both thefe towns, 
 and was fo called from Hervey de Tweyt, who lived 
 in 1340, and had a good eftate here. It now con- 
 tains between twenty and thirl y acres, though it was 
 much larger formerly ; for a contention arifing be- 
 tween the lord of thefe towns and the tenants, con- 
 cerning the cultoms of the manors, it was jointly 
 agreed between them, that upon confirmation of their 
 old cuftoms, and the addition of this new one, viz. 
 to wafle their copyhold houfes without licence, 
 (which before that time they could not do) theyfhould 
 yield up 50 acres of this common to the lord's fole 
 life, which was done accordingly, and the lord enjoys 
 it at this day, it being lett with Byland hall farm, and 
 is now called the Cow-paftures : this was about 157!. 
 
 i 
 
 There is no other common but Win ley-green, to 
 which Lopham park joins, and had its freeboard on 
 this common. All the parks hereabouts had that 
 privilege, which was to plant whatever bufhes and 
 trees they would againft the parks, which the inhabi- 
 tants could not cut, (as they do, and always have 
 done, all other trees, bufhes, Sec. on the commons 
 in thefe manors) but were to belong to the lord for the 
 game-keepers to kill their game from, and to hinder 
 efcapes from the park. Briffingham are inter-common- 
 ers here. All the trees on the commons, that are out of 
 the freeboards of the lord, or the out-runs of the te- 
 nants, were always taken down and flowed by the 
 churchwardens for the ufe of the poor, and the ponds 
 on all the commons that are out of the freeboards, 
 and out-runs, are to be kept clean by the inhabitants. 
 
 The benefactors were, Jeffiy Ellingham, of Fers- 
 
 field, who by will, dated April 18, 1493, gave four 
 
 marks to build a fouth porch, and ordered his execu- 
 
 H 2 tors
 
 loS HUNDRED OF 
 
 tors to make a new bell-foliar* in the church, like 
 that at Eafl Hailing, that the proceflion might go un- 
 der it while the bells ring. He gave alfo his mef- 
 fuage and tenement in which he lived, lying in Fers- 
 field aforefaid, with all his lands inclofed, and the 
 privileges thereto belonging, together with one pightlc 
 inclofed, and half an acre of meadow lying in the 
 common meadow of Fersfield aforefaid, to Margaret, 
 his wife, for life, and at her deceafo to the ufe of the 
 inhabitants of the faid town, for ever; all which 
 were to be vefted in feoffees for divers ufes, with con- 
 dition, that if thofe ufes fhould fail, (as it hath hap- 
 pened fince) then the clear profits arifing from the 
 faid premises fhould be laid out in repairing and 
 beautifying the parifh church for ever; and all the 
 reft of his lands he ordered his executors to fell, with 
 thefe refliidions, that the purchafer fhould not be a 
 gentleman, nor have any other lands or tenements in 
 the world, and that he or they fhould Jive in the 
 houfes, and occupy the lands themfelves, to the ad- 
 vantage of the parifh. 
 
 The farm is now in feoffees hands to the ufe of tue 
 church, about which the profits are expended, either 
 in repairing, beautifying, or purchafmg proper orna- 
 ments to it: it is now lettat i81. perann. and pays 
 a yearly quit-rent to the manor of Fersfield of los. 
 gd. a year. 
 
 July 2, 1589, Matthew Walter, of Bliford, in Suf- 
 folk, gave.to the poor people of Fersfield 2os. and 
 to the poor people of Briffingham sos. This lega- 
 cy is yearly paid to the reclor and churchwardens, 
 and is diftributed among the poor at tHeir difcretion. 
 
 In 
 * This was taken dcwu in 1722, when the gallery was buiit.
 
 D I S S. 109 
 
 In 1687 the eRate belonged to Robert Brodwell, 
 of Wefthall, in Suffolk, and now, 1735, to Mr. 
 William Crowefoot. of Becclcs, who pays the mo- 
 ney without any deduction for taxes, thete lands be- 
 ing exempted on account of the charity. 
 
 I" 1 59*> John Dalton furrendered half a rood rtf 
 land in Billing's-meadow to the ufe of the inhabitants 
 of Fersfield, for ever. This was fold by general 
 confent in the year 1600. 
 
 There is alfo half an acre of land, called the 
 Town Patch, which is freehold, lett at los. 6d. per 
 annum, now vefted in feoffees to the ufe of the 
 church, but by whom it was given we do not find. 
 There is another fmall piece of ground, which was 
 taken off the common U> build a town-houfe upon, 
 and alfo a fmall piece, called BeckVyard, on which a 
 town-houfe formerly flood. 
 
 Fersfield Reflory being under the value of (en 
 marks, pays no firft-fruits, though it does yearly 
 tenths, it being undifcharged. Jt hath a reclory- 
 lioufe, and fifty-one acres of glebe, and all tithes are 
 due in their proper kind. It was taxed at eight 
 marks in the old value. 
 
 In 1603 the reclor returned that there were feventy. 
 five communicants in the parifh, and that fir Thomas 
 Cornwallis and Anthony Wingfield were patrons by- 
 turns. It is valued in the king's books at 61. 6s. 8d. 
 
 The prior of the priory of the monks of St. Mary 
 atThetford (now called the abbey) had two tithe 
 (heaves out of every three of all the wheat growing 
 on certain lands in this parifh, which portion of tithes 
 was.give.n them by Wnu de Bofco, or Bois, in the 1 1 tix 
 H 3 century,
 
 no HUNDRED OF 
 
 century, foon after their foundation, and was con- 
 firmed among other donations by William Bigot, th* 
 principal lord of the fee, of whom it was held by 
 the Bois' : the reclor afterwards came to a perpetual 
 competition with the prior for this portion of lithes, 
 for which he and his fucceffors were to pay for e*-er 
 an annual petition of 6s. 8d. which is now paid to his 
 grace the duke of Norfolk, to whofe predecellors the 
 laid priory, with all that belonged to it, was given 
 at its diffolution: and this was the only religious 
 houfe that was ever concerned in this parifh, except 
 the priory of St. James at Old Buckenham, the prior 
 of which held lands here, that were purch'afed of fir 
 John Verdon, along with the Priory Manor of Brif- 
 lingham, all which pafled as that did. 
 
 The Rev. Francis Blomefield, author of " An 
 ESSAY towards an Hiftory of Norfolk," was inllituted 
 to Fersfield at the prefentarion of Henry Blomefield, 
 gent, patron of this turn, September 13, 1729. 
 
 In 1752 the Rev. Samuel Carter was prefented to 
 the reclory of Fersfield, alias Farsfield, by Thomas 
 Lambert, clerk. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Andrew the ApoRIe, 
 \vhofe effigy was painted on the wall over the north 
 door, though now whitened over: who was the firft, 
 founder of a church here we know not, but the pre- 
 fent nave, in all probability, was built by fir Robert 
 de Bofco, km. about the latter end of the ijzth cen- 
 tury, whofe third fon, William de Bofco, prieft, built 
 the chancel, and referred an arch in the north wall 
 for his own burial, his father, fir Robert, being bu- 
 ried clofe by him. After this, about 1308, fir Robert 
 de Bofco, eidcft fon of fir Robert, began to build an 
 additional kmth aile, with a chapel at its eaft end, 
 
 in
 
 D I S S. in 
 
 in which he referved an arch under the fouth win- 
 dow for his own grave; but dying in 1311, the work 
 flood feme time unfinifhed. Sir John Howard, jun. 
 knt. finished the work, and adorned the fepulchre of 
 the faid fir Robert, his father-in-law, and the win- 
 dows of the aile, with the arms of his own and 
 wife's family, and both were buried in the chapel 
 dedicated to St. Anne, at the eafl end of this aile; it 
 was he alfo that built the fteeple, as the arms carved 
 in (lone plainly prove. The fouth porch and belfry 
 were built in 1494, with money given by Jeftry El- 
 lingham, of Fcrsfield, for that ufe. It is a fmall. 
 building, but in good repair, the nave, chance], and 
 fouth porch being tiled, and the fouth aile leaded ; 
 the fteeple is fquare, and hath but two bells, though 
 it had three till the fecond was fplit by a tempeft 
 about 126 years fmce, together with the fleepie, which 
 is now fupported by iron cramps ; part of its metal 
 was fold in 1 708 towards repairing the church, which 
 was then new paved, together widuhe chancel, at the 
 charge of Mr. John Barker, then rector, by whom 
 the chancel was new roofed. 
 
 At the ftep of the altar He two black marbles; one 
 infcribed to JPhilippa Felgaie, wife of Mr. William 
 Fcigate, of London, Jkinner, who died January 18, 1645, 
 atat. fue 62. The other to Annt Frere, wife of Mr. 
 Thomas Frere, citizen andjkinner, of London, who died 
 January 25, 1643, aged 29. 
 
 On a fmall black marble in the altar-rails, 
 lies buried Henry Blomefield, gent, who died November 3, 
 1670 Ann, hisjirjl wife, lies at his right hand, and 
 Diana, his fecond, at his left. 
 
 Under an arch in the north wall, about two or 
 
 three feet from the eaft end, lies the effigy of a prieft 
 
 H 4 ia
 
 XI4 II U N D ft E D O V . ^ 
 
 in his habit, carved in flone, having hnd four prteftg 
 kneeling in their furpiices by him, iwo on each fide. 
 This lying level with the floor had contracted moif- 
 turc, and began to decay very much, and therefore iir 
 order to hinder its decaying further, Mr. Blonicfield 
 can fed it to be taken out of its place, and the whiten- 
 ing, vviih which it had been waflicd over, to be 
 fcrapcd off cautioufly, upon which were difcovered 
 the colours with which it was fir ft adorned, and found 
 that the large ilone, on which he lies, was green, re- 
 prefenting the earth ; his head lies on a pillow, and 
 that on a cushion, both which were red, the cufhioif 
 being flowered with filver, and the pillow with gold ; 
 his feet lie on a buck couchant ermine, which is the 
 crcft of ihe Bois' ; his gown was black, his caifor 
 red, gilt all over, in imitation of embroidery, and 
 powdered all over with ermine ; round his wane is a 
 girdle which was green, buckled with a black buckle; 
 upon his breaf}, from the neck to the girdle, was the 
 compleat arms of the Bois', which may ftill be feen 
 in two of the chancel windows; the circumfcription 
 was in French, the letters being only painted on the 
 ftone which he lies on, and is all loft but thefe 
 
 words; :KI:- : AVERA: . However, 
 
 we are not at a lofs to know who he was, for from 
 the arms and crcft it is plain he was a Bois, from the 
 habit that he was a prieft, and from the arch that he 
 lies in, (which muft have been made when the chan- 
 cel was built, as any one upon fight of it muft own) 
 that he was builder of the chancel ; fo that it can be 
 no other but William du Bois, prieft, reclor here, who 
 when he built the chancel, referved this place for his 
 own interment. At the removal of the effigy it was. 
 found to be joined in the miclft, and hollow, being 
 full of burnt coals, which were put there to fuck up 
 the moifture, and keep the ftone dry, that its colours 
 might not be injured; Mr, Blomefield had it railed 
 
 above 

 
 D I S S. 113 
 
 above a foot high from the ground, and painted in 
 its original colours, caufmg this infcription to be put 
 on a plate, and fixed to the wall: William du Bois, 
 priefl, founder of this chancel, patron, and reclor of this 
 church, and of Garboldifliam All Saiiils, vicar of Great 
 Conerth, in Suffolk, third fan of Sir Robert du Bois, 
 knt. and brother to that Sir Robert who lies buried in 
 the fouth aile ; he died about 1352. 
 
 Upon the ground, clofe to the arch, lies a large 
 railed coffin-ftone, with a crofs on three Grieces, the 
 monument perhaps of his father. 
 
 There are two (tones in the chancel difrobed of 
 their infcriptions, but never had any arms, or ef- 
 figies. 
 
 On the fouth fide of St. Anne^s chapel, in the 
 fouth aile, under the window, in an arch in the wall, 
 lies the effigy of a knight, armed cap-a-pee t cut out of 
 one piece of oak, which being in a dirty condition, 
 Mr. Blomeficld, the worthy re&or, in 1729 had it 
 taken out and wafhed very clean, and upon removing 
 it, he found it hollowed and filled as trie former, with 
 burnt coals ; the plank on which it lies was painted 
 green, with flowers, grafs, and leaves; the effigy is ex- 
 ad fix feet, and proportionable in all parts, a fword 
 hangs on a belt by his fide, under the head was a 
 board, having on it when he firft took it up the arms 
 of Bois and Latimer very perfect, and in Latimer's 
 coat was a label of three arg. which plainly proves 
 who he was that was buried here. The colours of 
 the arms fcaled off in two or three days after they 
 were expofed to the air, for which reafon he had 
 them painted on the pillow under his head, his hel- 
 met and gantlets were powdered with ermine, and 
 every other folding of his military caffoo, which
 
 H4 HUNDRED OF 
 
 hangs down lower than his armor, was the feme, 
 it being the field of his own coat ; the other fold- 
 ings were guK the field of his wife's ; his feet reft on 
 a buck couchant, arg. fpotted with ermine, being his 
 crcfL His armor was mail, gilt all over with gold, 
 and on his breaft-plate was his perfect coat, erm. a 
 crofs fab. his head lies on a pillow painted \vith red, 
 and flowered with filver, and that lies on a cufhiou 
 painted as of green velvet, flowered with gold, with 
 which his fpurs are covered ; feveral embellifhments 
 were gilded on a cement, and Jet into the wood in fe- 
 veral places, on his belt, fword, and fpurs, and on 
 the edge of the plank that he lies on, and then co- 
 vered with glafs, but moft were defaced ; thofe that 
 remained were, a man's head coop'd at the neck, with 
 leaves in his mouth, a fpread eagle, a dog meeting a 
 hnre, a dog fighting a lion, a bull toffing a dog, and 
 a lion couchant, with an eagle (landing on him, pick- 
 ing out his eyes, all which ieem to intimate, that the 
 dcceafcd delighted chiefly in war, and rural exercifes; 
 but on a very large one that came off" the edge at his 
 feet was a reprefentation of a, building with arches, 
 under which were two hands joined, holding up a 
 book, to fignify his founding this aile ; the infcription 
 was on the edge, After removing the feats that Hood 
 before it, Mr. Blomefield caufed it to be painted in 
 .the. fame colours, as near as could be, and added this 
 jnfciiption ; Sir Robert du Bois, knt. Jon of Sir Ro- 
 bert, and grand/on of Sir Robert du Bois, knts. founder 
 yf this aile, lord of this manor , and patron of this church, 
 tiled in 1311, aged 43 years. He married Chrijtian, 
 daughter of Sir IVilliam Latimer, and widow of Sir John 
 Carbond, of Waldingjield, in Suffolk, by whom he had 
 .Sir Robertt his only Jon, who died unmarried in 1333, 
 and Alice, an only daughter, who married Sir John, Jon of 
 Sir John Howard, knt. and carried the whole ejtate of the 
 Jfoi* to that noble family. 
 
 The
 
 D I S S. 115 
 
 The windows of the aile, and in particular the eaft 
 xvindow of the chapel, were formerly beautifully 
 adorned with paintings on glafs, of the twelve 
 ApoRles, the Bleffed Virgin, and St. Anne, her mo- 
 ther, to whom the chapel was dedicated. She had 
 a famous image Handing in it, and a large guild kept 
 to her honor, to which moft that died in this, and the 
 adjacent towns, generally gave fomething, and often 
 left money to find wax candle, and lights, continually 
 burning before it ; from this place proceflions were 
 ufually made to a well, or fpring, aboutv fixty yards 
 from the north gate of the church-yard, at the foot of 
 the hill, which is ftill called Tann's well, being a cor- 
 ruption of St. Anne's well. There was a feparate 
 chaplain that ferved here from its foundation to 
 1411, and then it was united to the parifh church, 
 the rcdor being obliged to find a chaplain, who 
 from this time was removeable at his pleafure. 
 
 The windows were glazed by fir John Howard, 
 knt. whofe effigy remained in the eaft window when 
 Mr. Weaver publi(hed his book, 
 
 We find that every window is ftill filled with the 
 following letters: the firft is a J. and an H. joined 
 with Howard's arms in it, for John Howard. The 
 fecond an M. with fix efcallops in it, to fignify Mar- 
 garet Scales, his mother* 
 
 In the windows are the following arms, all which 
 now remain, except the two laft, which are gone, as 
 alfo the arms ol Uftbrd and Beck quartered, Howard 
 impaling Spencer, Howard impaling Plais, Clifton 
 impaling Howard, Morley, Courtney with a label 
 az. impaling Scales, Shardelowe, ermine a crofs gul. 
 impaling Scales, and there ftill remain thefe impaled 
 coats; Ufford and Scales, Howard and Scales, and 
 J5ois and Latimer, though they are fomewhat broken. 
 
 la
 
 u6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 In the nave, at the entrance of the chancel, lies a 
 black marble, infaibed to Mr. William Flowerdew, 
 cf Fcrsfield, who died February 12. 1731, aged 43 
 and io two of his children, who died in ttieir infancy. 
 
 On another ftone, in fhape of a coffin, John, fa- 
 ther of Jcjfry Ellin gh am, died anno 1478. He willed 
 to be buried here, and gave fix marks to repair the 
 church. 
 
 Before the pulpit lies a hrge ftone, having had a 
 fcrate plate on it formerly, which being loft, the 
 townfmen had an infcription cut upon the (lone; 
 Ellingham, of Fersfield, died anno 1493, ^ c - 
 
 Another black marble, infcribed to John Blame" 
 Jeld, gent, fomt time of Corpus Chrijli Coll: in Cambr: 
 afterwards an inhabitant of this place, where he lived^ 
 find died December 22, 1700, aged 55 years; and aljo- 
 Elizabeth, his wife, with two of their children. 
 
 Between the north and fouth door in the nave, and 
 in the foiuh aile, are ftones wiih inicriptions to fe- 
 veral others of the Blomefields ; and to Mrs, Eliza- 
 beth Batch, widow, who died December 2, 1 720., aged 81 
 years* 
 
 Againft the fouth wall is a mural monument of 
 white marble, having the creft, arms, and quarterings, 
 of Biomefield, impaling Jolly, Mufker, Peak, and 
 Batch, with a genealogical infcription and eulogium 
 to the memory of Henry Biomefield, gent, of Fers- 
 field, olijtjune, I, 1732, at. 52; and to Alice, his 
 wife, who died March 27, i 729, aged 52. This ele- 
 gant monument was put up, as the infcription (hews, 
 by the late Rev, Mr. Biomefield, to the memory of 
 bis parents.
 
 D I S S. 117 
 
 In the weft end of the aile is a fmall, but exceed- 
 ing ftrong veiby, it having been the repofuoiy for the 
 relics, plate, evidences, and ornaments of the church, 
 at which no one conld heretofore come without 
 paffing eleven locks; a plain demonllration that there 
 hath been plate of good value, though now ihete is 
 only one cup left. 
 
 An altar-monument by the fouth chancel wall, in 
 the church-yard, to John Barker, retfor, who died 
 March 13, 1729, aged 72; and to Mrs* Elizabeth Bar- 
 ker, widow, who died Oflcbcr 2, 1731, who by will Jellied 
 a tenement and lands, lying in BriJ/mgham, upon the rec- 
 tor and churchwardens, and their fuccejjors; the clear 
 profits of which are to be applied in teaching as many poor 
 children of that parijh above eight, and under ten years 
 old, to read, write, f pin, and learn the church catechifm. 
 as the profits will pay for : She alfo tied her houfe and 
 land, called Ten Acres, to keep up this tomb, en failure of 
 which, the churchwardens of Fersfield are impowered to 
 Jeiu on the fame, and repay themfelves what monies they 
 Jhall be out of in repairing and beautifying it, together 
 'with their charges. 
 
 There are feveral head-ftones for the Howchins, 
 who had a good eftate in the parifh ; the family ex- 
 tinguifhed in Mr. Robert Howchin, who died April 
 10, 1717. 
 
 In the time of the rebellion this church was purged 
 .of fuperftition (as they called it) by the rebels, who 
 defaced the carvings on the h^ads of the feats with 
 iheirfwords, and hacked the effigies of the Bois' ; 
 what few brafles there were, were all reaved, fevqral 
 arms broken out of the windows, and the altar-rails 
 pulled down. The evidences, king's arms, Sec. were 
 
 takcu
 
 ii r HUNDRED OF 
 
 taken away before by Mr. Piddock, the church- 
 warden, who juftly returned them at the refloration. 
 
 In 1658 Henry Clark, of Difs, George Francis, 
 and Robert Skurle, of Fersffcld, informed againft 
 Arthur Womack, rector of Fersfield, Mr. John Pid- 
 dock, and Mr. Robert Howchin, of the fame, charg- 
 ing them with endeavouring to prepare at their coft a 
 horfe and man for the king of Scots (as king Charles 
 was then commonly called) and with harbouring ma- 
 lignants in all their houfes, and the faid Arthur was 
 particularly charged with fpeaking thefe words: 
 
 Here is a health unto his majejly, 
 
 Pray God confound his foes, 
 And the Devil take all round heads, 
 
 For we are none of thofe. 
 
 And alfo that he abufed the government thus : 
 
 Hey-ho ! for a two-penny halter. 
 
 When you are hang d you fhall havt good quarter $ 
 
 Oh ! 'twould be a brave fight to fee 
 
 All the round heads hang on a tree. 
 
 Oh ! ye rogues, ye muft all come to it. 
 
 And further, that he offered to raife 500!. for ther 
 king of Scots, and often drank [the king's health, and 
 profperity to the royal family. 
 
 Upon thefe informations they were carried before 
 Thomas Sheriffe, efq. of Difs, then juftice of the 
 peace, who committed them to Ipfwich gaol, where 
 they continued fome time; but by the affiftance of 
 the faid Mr. Sheriffe, who by private letters informed 
 them of all that was intended againft them, they were 
 all difcharged, after they had got certificates, ac- 
 cording
 
 D I S S. n 9 
 
 cording to his advice, of their good behaviour, from 
 the towns of Difs, and Fersfield ; upon which he had 
 eiders to examine the witnelTes apart, and then they 
 confeffed, that they had malicioufly informed againit 
 them, and forfworn themfelves, in hopes of getting 
 advantage by fo doing; all which confeflions they 
 figned before witneffes, and thus, after much trouble 
 and expence, they were at laft f eed. 
 
 This town contains about forty families, and 200 
 inhabitants; it paid il. 145. when the taxes were 
 railed by tenths, and was valued at 750!. to the af- 
 iociation rates, and now to the king's tax at 557!. 
 
 In the time of Edward lit. the great plague reach- 
 ed even this obfcure village; for in the court-roHs a 
 year or two after, the deaths of many of the tenants 
 were prefented, and it is laid that they died in the 
 great peflilence; at this time the parifh was almoft 
 all wood, there being no lefs than four large woods, 
 befides feveral groves, among which Home-wood, or 
 Great wood, is firft named, and faid to contain abovr 
 400 acres, Winley-wond, Wilcox,and Riche's woods, 
 being of no fmall extent, all which are now cleared. 
 
 FRENZE, FREXSE, or FRENGE, or, as it is wrote in 
 Doomfda^ -book, Frifa, was always one manor, which. 
 in the Conqueror s time was held by Hubert of Ro- 
 bert Malet, lord of Eye; it was then worth 155. per 
 annum, being five furlongs long, and four braad, and 
 paid $d. Dane gelt. IL was always held of Eye ho- 
 nor at one quarter of a knight's fee, and paid IDS, 
 relief; we do not meet with any lords names before 
 1280, when John de Ludham was lord and patron, 
 \vhofe family took their firname from a village fo 
 called in Suffolk, in Wilford hundred, which they 
 held many ages. 
 
 la
 
 120 HUNDRED OF 
 
 In 1336 fir John Ludham, knt. purchafcd fevcrat 
 large parcels of land of Ralph de Shimpling, being 
 the firfl of this family that had Boyland's manor, to- 
 gether with this advovvfon, held of Edmund de Uf- 
 ford, lord of Eye. 
 
 John Lowdham died April 28, 1428, and left only 
 one daughter, married to Thomas Heveningham. 
 efq. and after that to Ralph BleverhafTct, efq. both 'of 
 whom foe outlived, not dying till June 20, 1501, 
 being 97 years of age; (he was feifed of Boyland's, 
 the other moiety of which was grained by JohnLowd- 
 ham to John "Wodehoufe. 
 
 John Bleverhaffet was her foil and heir, being 77 
 years old at his mother's death. This is a very an- 
 cient family, taking their name from Bleverfeta, or 
 Bleverhayfet, in Cumberland, where the eldeft branch 
 continued a long time. 1111510 this John died, in 
 the 87th year of his age, feifed of Frenze, and a moi- 
 ety of Boyland's ; and fir Thomas, his fon and heir; 
 died feifed of Frenze, and Boyland's, June 27, 1531, 
 leaving George, his eldeft fon, who died in 1543, and 
 Mary, his daughter and heirefs, brought the eltate to 
 Thomas Culpepper, elq. her firft hufband; fhe fet- 
 tled Frenze on Francis Bacon, efq. her fecond huf- 
 band, and Edmund, his fon, for their lives, both 
 which had it, Edmund Bacon, of Harleflon, being 
 feifed of it in 1572, after whofe death it reverted to 
 John Bleveihaffet, who had enjoyed Boyland's ever 
 fince the death of the faid Mary. This John was 
 brother to George, her father ; he fold the moiety of 
 Boyland's to fir Thomas Cormvallis, knt. and his 
 heirs ; but Frenze continued in this family ; for in 
 1595 Samuel Bleverhaflet held it: how or when it 
 went from this family we do not find; but in 1666, 
 November 24, Richard faton, efq, died feifed, and 
 
 Diamond
 
 D I S S. 121 
 
 Diamond Nixon, his grandfon, fold it to fir Robert 
 Kemp, bart. whofe Con, fir Robert, was lord and pa- 
 tron in 1735. 
 
 The church is a fmall building, of equal height, 
 covered with tile, and not having a fteeple the bell 
 hangs on the outride of the roof, at the weft end j 
 there is no partition between the church and chancel, 
 but there is a beam fixed acrofs the eaft chancel win- 
 dow, on which the rood was conveniently placed; 
 the church is about twenty-four yards long, and feven 
 wide, the fouth porch is tiled, and it is dedicated to. 
 St. Andrew the Apoftle; the meannefs of the fabric 
 hath preierved the infcriptions from being reaved, for 
 it looks like a barn at adiilance. 
 
 In the chancel is buried Ralph Bleverhaflet, efq. 
 whofe effigy, (landing on a lion, ftill remains on his 
 flone, and this infcription ; Hie jacet venerabilis vir 
 Radulphus Blcverhajfet, armtgcr, qui obijt xiv die menfis 
 JVovembris, anno Dni. MCCCCLXXV, cujus anime propid- 
 etur Deus> Amen. 
 
 There are fhields flill remaining; BleverhafTet 
 quartering Orton, ditto impaling Lowdhara^ and 
 Lowdham fmgle. 
 
 The intcription for his wife is now loft, but was, 
 as we learu from Mr. Anftis's manufcripts,- (marked 
 G. 6. fol 39.) as follows : Here lieth Mrs. Joan Blevcr- 
 hajjlzt, the wife of Ralph Bleverhaffet, efq. the daughter - 
 and heirejs of John Lowdham, who died the soih day of 
 June, 1501. 
 
 The fame manufcripts hath the following infcrip- 
 tion, now gotie ; Here lieth the venerable gentleman 
 I Jolw
 
 122 HUNDREDOF 
 
 John Blevcrhajfy, efq. who died the sjthvf March in 
 the year of our Lord 1514. 
 
 A ftone by the fouth door has the efiigy of a wo- 
 tnan bidding her beads, v.-ith three (hields under the 
 infcription ; Jane Bleverha\Jjet, wedour, late w\f onto 
 John Bleverhaffit, ejqnier, whichc Jane departed oule of 
 this prefent'lyf the vi day of October, the yere of our Lord 
 God MVXXI. 
 
 On a ftone at the eafl end, Here lieth Sir Thomas 
 &leuerhqffqi, knight, which decejfyd the xvii day of June, 
 (he ) ere of ' our Lorde MVXXXJ. and xxxiii yere of the 
 reigne of our foveraygne lord kyng Henry the VIHlh, 
 whois foule God pardon. -At each corner is a coat of 
 HafleL quartering Orton, Lowdharn, Keldon, Heigh- 
 am, Beacham, 8cc. his effigy flill remains in compieat 
 armour, having a furcoat of his arms, with his quar- 
 terings ; under his head lies his creft, viz. a fox 
 paflant. ''V ?: 
 
 A marble, three yards long, and a yard and half 
 wide, with this on a brafs plate ; Here lyeth dame 
 Margaret Bleverhatfet, wedowe, late wyf to Syr Thomas 
 Bleverhayfet, of Frens, knyght, dowghter to John Bra- 
 ham, of Wetheryngjet, efquyer, who dyed the xxiii of 
 Julye, in the yere of our Lorde 1 56 1 . 
 
 Adjoining is another fione, having had two coats, 
 ivhich are reaved, as is the effigy of the man, that of 
 the woman remains ; her head lies on a pillow, and 
 her beads hang before her; the two remaining fhields 
 have thefe arms; Duke quartering Banyard, Park 
 and Ilketfhall impaling Haffet, quartering Lowdham, 
 Sec. Heart under Iteth George Duke, ejquyre, who mar- 
 ryed Anne, the dowghter of Syr Thomas Bleverhayjfet, 
 , the whiche George dyed the, xxvi day of July, in 
 
 the
 
 D I S S. 125 
 
 fa yert of our J^ordeGoda. MCCCCCLI. whos Jowle God 
 pardon l Amen. >:; Tfs ,, 
 
 Here are alfo ftones, with arms and infcriptions at 
 length, -To John Blevtrkayfet, ejq. November 8, 1510, 
 To Maria, wife of Sir George BleverhaJJet, barf. Sep- 
 tember 1 ], 1587. at. 70. ToTkomafin, ID if e of William 
 Platers, e r q. of Soiterlty, December 23, i 560. To Jo- 
 hanna, wife of John Braham, November 18, 1519. 
 
 On a hrafs plated ftone, near the north door, a 
 man in his winding-iheet, and this ; 
 
 Pray for the Jowle of your charite, 
 Of Thomas Hobfon to the Trynyte. 
 
 Three flat marbles are for Richard, Jon of Richard 
 Jiixon, efq. who died Augnji 28, 1678, aged 22. - 
 Reliquite Richardi Nixon, armig. qui obijt 24 Novemb: 
 anno Dni. 1666, cetatis Jua 77. - William Cooper, 
 gent, died March 30, 1693, aged 
 
 In the windows are arms and funeral efcutcheons 
 of the Haflets, &c. moft of which flill remain. 
 
 At Mrs. Hill's, at Caftor, near Yarmouth, Mr. 
 Blomefield faw an ancient canvafs furrounding two 
 rooms', painted with the matches of the Bleverhaf- 
 fets : John Bleverhaffet, who married a fifler of the 
 faid Mrs. Hill, and died in 1704, was the la# no\v 
 living of this branch of that family ; their names ar 
 under each coat, but with hanging againft moift 
 walls feveral are worn out ; thofe that are perfect we 
 have added here, though they are fo difplaced thst 
 .the time of the matches cannot be determined by their 
 fucceflion. Bleverhaffet impaled with all the fol- 
 lowing coats : Frogmorton, Braham, Tindall. Evre, 
 1 2 Pickerell,
 
 i24 HUNDRED 0* 
 
 Pickerell, Clopton. I ovvthe, Creffi, Culpepper, Co- 
 vert, Baynaugh, Brampton, Meawes, Lowdham, 
 Kelvcdon, (or Keldon) Orton, Skelton, Cornwallis, 
 Hare, Heydon, Wyngrield, Reade, Kempe, Gofcold. 
 Spilman, Colby, Alcock, Rowfe, Drury, Hubbard, 
 Heigh am, Warner quartering Whemall, Calthorpe, 
 Lovell, and Ruthyn, 
 
 This reclory of Frenze being fworn of the value 
 of 30!. per ann. only, is difcharged of firft-fruits 
 and tenths, and is capable of augmentation ; here is 
 a reclory-houfe, and about three or four acres of 
 glebe; it is a fmall village, having only fix houfes, 
 and about fixty inhabitants. In Norwich Doomfday- 
 book it is faid that the reclor then had a houfe. and 
 twenty acres of land, not taxed. 1 he old tenth was 
 il. 55. the afibciation valuation 204!. per ann. and 
 the prefent valuation is 149!. It is valued in the 
 king's books at 2!. 135. 4d. 
 
 The cuflom of the manor is to the eldeft fon, and 
 the fine is at the lord's will; the l.eet belongs to the 
 hundred, the Icet-fee being $d. per ann. 
 
 In 1767 Dame Elizabeth Kemp, and Eleazar 
 Davy, efq. prefented the Rev. Charles Browne ; and 
 in 1774 the Rev. Simon Adams had this reftory of 
 Eleazar Davy, efq. 
 
 GfSSINC, orGwissiNG. The church is dedi- 
 cated to St. Mary the Virgin, and in 1209 was a rec- 
 tory, a moiety of its patronage being then fettled on 
 Butley piiory, by John, fon of Geffry; about 1217 
 Thomas de Mailings granted to the monaftery of St. 
 Mary at Butley, in Suffolk, the perpetual advowfon 
 of the other part, and the bifhop not only confirmed 
 it, but^agreed to appropriate the whole to that houfe;
 
 S. 
 
 Ifl 5 
 
 and in 1271, the 56th of Henry III. endowed the 
 vicarage with all the offerings, the tythes of the mills, 
 a vicarage-houfe and meadow, and an acre of jand 
 adjoining, with twenty acres more of the church's 
 free-land, and all other fmall tithes, except hay, 
 which with all the corn tythes, and the reft of the 
 glebe, together with the reclory manor, and all its 
 appurtenances, were to belong to the prior, who was 
 always to prefent to the vicarage. 
 
 In 1569, Auguft 7, Richard Denney, of Bawfey, 
 prefented as patron of this vicarage, for this turn 
 only, by grant from Thomas, late prior of the dif- 
 folved houfe of Butley, the grant being made before 
 its diflblution. After this it was in the crown. ; , 
 
 In 1668, Dec. 24, John Gibbs, A. M. was prefent- 
 ed by Charles II. he continued reclortill 1690, being 
 then ejected as a nonjuror^ he was an odd, but 
 iiarmlefs man, both in life and converfation ; after 
 his ejection he dwelt in the north porch chamber, 
 and laid on the ftairs that led up to the rood loft, be- 
 iween the church and chancel, having a window at 
 his head, fb that he could lie in his narrow couch 
 and fee the altar; he lived to be very old, and at his 
 death was buried at Frenze. 
 
 In i 730 the Rev. Thomas Kemp, A. M. was pre- 
 fented to this church by his father, fir Robert Kemp, 
 bart. who died in December, 1734, leaving this pa- 
 tronage and manors to fir Robert Kemp, bart. his 
 eldcft fon, then lord and patron, r 
 
 In 1761 the Rev. Edward Howman was prefented 
 by fir John Kemp, bart. p.j. 
 
 l The
 
 i a6 H TJ N D R E D O f 
 
 The impropriation, according to B-iuley rcgifler, 
 xvas confirmed by fevcral arehbifhops of Canterbury, 
 and was taxed at i61. 138. 4d. and paid 335. 40!. 
 tenths. It appears alfo by the faid regiOer, that fir 
 John Aumbler, as reclor of Gifting, acknowledged 
 a peiifion of 265. d. to be yearly due to the 
 prior of Butley out of the reel ory, which was now in 
 effecl di (appropriated, and united to the vicarage, all 
 but the manor, the impropriate glebe, and its tithes, 
 which remained in the prior, and fell to the crown at 
 the diflblmion, in which they continued till queen 
 Elizabeth, by letters patent, dated the ifith day of 
 April, 1563, granted to Edward Dyer, and Henry 
 Creflinor, in fee-farm, the rents, lands, tenements, 
 woods, and portion of tithes, in Gifting, lately be- 
 longing to Butley -priory, at the yearly fee-farm rent 
 of 4!. id. ob. to be held in foccage; and this Ed- 
 ward on the I jth of February, i r , 74, ibid them to 
 Robert Kemp, cfq. and that year the queen by other 
 letters patent, dated December 22, granted to An- 
 thony Kinwellmarfh, and his heirs, the reclory, or 
 advowfon of the reclory, Sec. who on the gth of Fe 
 bruary, in the fame year, fold it to Robert Kemp, 
 efq. but notwiihftanding this the queen recovered her 
 prefentation to the church, becaufe though the reclory 
 was united, yet it had been all along prefented to by 
 the name of a vicarage, and fo could not be included 
 in the grant of the reclory ; and from this time it re- 
 mained in the crown till Charles 11. gave it to the 
 Kemps, who united the tythes of the impropriate 
 glebe, and fo made it a compleat reclory, and as fuch 
 it hath been prefented to ever fmce. 
 
 Few inftances (if any) of fuch gcnerofity occur in 
 the prefent age, (1781) notwithstanding the verv great 
 impropriations obtained at the time of the dijjolution, 
 when fo many abbeys and religious houfes were 
 
 plundered,
 
 D I S 9. 127 
 
 plundered, and fo many families enriched, facrilegi- 
 oujly enriched, by the lands belonging to the church, 
 and by the ruin of priories, and convents, dedicated 
 to the fervice of God, in the poflfcfllon o r which 
 thcle unhallowed fpoilers ftill triumph to this day, 
 and all the noble endowments of oqr anceftors for 
 pious ufes, and public ads of charity, are wafted 
 away in the loofe revels of extravagant riot, and the 
 perpetual diffipations of private luxury. 
 
 The infant yet unborn 
 
 Will curfe the time the abbeys werepulfd down : 
 I pray you where is hofpitality ? 
 Where now may poor diftrefled people go. 
 For to relieve their need, or reft their bones, 
 When weary travel doth opprefs their limbs ? 
 And where religious men (hould take them in, 
 Shall now be kept back by a maflifF dog." 
 
 In 1569 the Priory-clofe, in Gifling and Burfton, 
 Containing thirty acres, and other lands of the value 
 of 20!. per ann. were granted to Nicholas Yetefworth, 
 and Bartholomew Brokefby. 
 
 In 1364 John deCalthorpe held a meffuage and 
 lands in this town by petit-ferjeanty, viz. by the 
 payment of a well -feathered arrow, of id. value, 
 every year, to the king, by the hands of the fheriff. 
 
 It is called in the king's books Gwifing, alias Gif- 
 fing, and is valued at 14!. i6s. sd. ob. 
 
 Here was a chantry in honor of All Saints, in a 
 chapel of that dedication in the church-yard, founded 
 by fir Nicholas Hafting, km. "about 1280 ; for in that 
 year the laid fir Nicholas, and fir Adam de Gifling, 
 Lot, endowed it with a meffuage and divers lands, 
 1 4 which
 
 i58 HUNDRED OF 
 
 \\hich were copyhold of fir Nicholas' manor, aH 
 which were manuraifed by the laid Nicholas; it wa9 
 for one pried only, who was bound daily to fing for 
 their fouls, and thofe of their anceftors ; it is now 
 quite gone, and we know not in which part of the 
 church-yard it flood. 
 
 In i <j44 it appears that the townfhip held of Gif- 
 fing, cum Dagworth manor, a tenement, called Buck- 
 cnham's, which abuts on the way leading from the 
 church to Tibbenham Long-row, eafl ; and of Gif- 
 fing-Kemp's, cum Balling's manor, another tenement, 
 called Owles', and one acre of land, lying between 
 the Lord's Meadow, north, and the common way, 
 weft; and alfo one piece, called the Meadow-pightle, 
 which abuts on the Drag-way, north: this tenement 
 and acre pay a rent of 6d. and the pightle a rent of 
 jd. a year. They had alfo a freehold cottage and 
 garden at Well-green, and the leet-fec was then 
 as. 4d. 
 
 In 1548 fir Anthony Heveningham, knt. lord of 
 Gifling, cum Dagworth, fettled three acres of land 
 upon the churchwardens towards the maintainance of 
 the poor, and ordered that his heirs fhould pay 3$. a 
 year to the fame ufe out of his eftate. In the year 
 1537 John Tiler gave 205. to the church. In 1350 
 John Taylor gave 265. 8d. to repair the cawfway. In 
 1598 Joan Freeman gave 135. 4d. to the church. In 
 1621 Thomas Prockter, clerk, late of Giffing, de- 
 ceafed, gave 405. for town-flock, to be put out by 
 the churchwardens to two poor men rclident in the 
 faid town ; they to have the benefit for one year, lay- 
 ing in good fecurity, and theu the next year to two 
 others, Sec. 
 
 Here
 
 D I S S. 129 
 
 Here is a very good parfonage-honfe, with a barn 
 and ftable, built all of brick by Mr. John Calver, 
 re&or, (in whofe time the old parfonagc was burned) 
 with a garden, orchard, and other conveniences, and 
 49 acres of glebe. 
 
 The church hath a low fraali round fteeple joined 
 to its weft end. but yet it contains five bells ; on the 
 firft and (econd is this ; God blefs the church and con- 
 found her foes. 
 
 The nave is leaded, the chancel tiled, and hath a 
 chapel joined to each fide of it, both which are lead- 
 ed; that on the fouth fide hath no memorials in it, 
 the vault for the family of the Kemps being under it. 
 That on the north was the ancient burial place of the 
 lords of the manor, [and is full of monuments and 
 grave-ftones. There is only a cup belonging to the 
 altar, on the cover of which our Saviour's head is 
 poorly engraved, and this ; Gjrjfeing, anno 1567. 
 
 There is nothing in the nave, but an infcription on 
 a free-ftone, to Richard Girling, late of St. Andrew's, 
 in thejeven parijhes, in Suffolk; he died in April, 1607, 
 in thejervice of Mrs. Mary Sone, widow, mother -in-laut 
 to Sir Robert Kemp, hart. 
 
 In the chancel there are no memorials of any 
 kind. 
 
 .In the north chapel, which is dedicated t6 the 
 Bleffed Virgin, there are feVeral grave-ftones which 
 have loft their braflTes, but the arms, as in Mr. Anftis* 
 manufcripts, are, Kemp impaling Curfon, Duke, Al- 
 Jeyn, Cockerham, and Smythwine; Robert Kemp, 
 tfq. who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Smythwine t 
 tfy. he died April 27, 1596, atatis / 80. Kemp. 
 
 and
 
 J3o H U N D R E D O F 
 
 and le Grey, his fecond wife, in colours, on a flone 
 
 in the wall, with this ; Spcro Lucem. On another 
 
 Hone in the wall, Kemp quarters Buttevelyn. 
 
 On a mural monument of white marble againft the 
 north wall, having Kemp's arms and creft, For Sir 
 Robert Kemp, hart, rf Gtfling, w/io died September 26, 
 jyio, aged 83; fits Jlrjl lady was Mary, daughter of 
 Thomas Jfyrridge, of London, who died in June, 1655. 
 The fecond lady was Mary, daughter of John Sow, of 
 Ubhejlone, in the county of Suffolk, gent, who died July 
 8 9 ! 75 atUbbcjlone. 
 
 Another mural monument on the fame fide, for 
 Robert Kemp, oj Gifting, ejq. who died October 23, 1612, 
 aged 6 7; he married Dorothy Herris, fcle daughter of 
 Arthur Hern's, of Crixcth, in the county of EJfex, ejq. 
 fy whom he had eight fons and three daughters. 
 
 There are five coffins in the vault, one is fir Ro- 
 bert Kemp's, who died Dec. 1734, and his three 
 vives, and a child by the firft wife. Hatchments for 
 ill em. 
 
 Here were feveral manors, free-tenements, and 
 other fmali lordfhips. 
 
 The capital manor, afterwards called Haftings 
 manor, at the furvey was included and valued as a 
 Lerewic to Tivetfhall, with which it was given to the 
 ,abbot of Bury, who was lord at the conqueft, by 
 Erncburg, daughter of Hugh Flamavile, married to 
 Hugh de Haftings, fon of William de Haftings, flew- 
 ard to Henry I. This manor, and the ftewardfhip of 
 Bury, with Afton Flamavile manor, in Leicefterfhire, 
 and all Flamavile's eftate, came to this family, which 
 was lurnaoied from the port of Haftings, the laftage 
 
 of 

 
 B I ST. 131 
 
 of which, with that of Rhye, they for a long time 
 farmed of the crown. William de Haflings, his fon, 
 married Margery, daughter of Roger Bigot, earl of 
 Norfolk. Tho. de Haftings, hisgrandfon, had affizc 
 of bread and ale, free-warren, liberty of encloiing, and 
 liberty of faldaj;e throughout die town, as well in other 
 folks lands as his own, which, upon a quo warran- 
 to in i 227, were allowed him. Sir Nich. de Hangings, 
 knt. in 1 249, granted to the prior of Pentney a mef- 
 fuagc, and two carves of land in Gayton-thorpe, and 
 Eaft-winch, to be for ever held of his manor of Gif- 
 fing by one knight's fee, and a pair of gilt fpurs, or 
 7d. a year at Eailer. 
 
 Nicholas de Haftings in 1276, being then a knt. 
 was retained by Ralph lord Greyitock, (according 
 to the cuflom of thofe times) by covenants, to ferve 
 him both in peace and war for tjie term of their lives, 
 viz. in time of war, with two yeomen well mounted 
 and arrayed ; and in time of peace, with two yeomen 
 and four grooms ; in confideration of which he was 
 to be furnifhed with all accoutrements for his own 
 body, as alfo with one faddle, according to the dig- 
 nity of a kiiight ; and in cafe he fhould lofe any great 
 hoife in the war, he was to have recompence accord- 
 ing to the eftimation of two men. Furthermore, 
 wherever lordGreyilock refided, fo that it was in York- 
 fhire, he fhould repair to him upon notice, having 
 allowance for his reafonable feivice in war and peace. 
 On account of this retaindcr, fir Nicholas had the 
 manor of Thorpe-ballet, m Yorkfhire, from this lord, 
 paying a fee-farm rent of 81. a year. We could not 
 omit taking notice of this, to fhew the cuftom of that 
 age, abundance of the knights then being retained in 
 the fame manner. This fir Nicholas left two ions, 
 Ralph and William, between whom this manor was di- 
 
 yidect
 
 1 3 2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 vided, one part being henceforward called Gifting 
 only, and the other HaHings in Giffing. 
 
 William, the youngeft, had GiflTing afligned to 
 him, which he left to his fon, Phillip dc Mailings, 
 whofe daughter, Ifabel, in 1324, married Alan 
 Kemp, of Weflon, in Suffolk, efq. to whofe fon, 
 John, the faid Phillip granted the manor called Gif- 
 fing, and to his heirs for ever, from which time it 
 hath continued in that family. 
 
 Sir Ralph, the elded, had Haftings manor in Gif- 
 fing, and in 1328 he renewed his charter of free- 
 warren for it, after the divifion. He married Mar- 
 garet, only daughter of fir William He Harley, of Kir- 
 by, in Leicefterfhire, who afterwards became fole 
 heiiefs to fir Robert, her brother, in 1336. He was 
 governor of York caflle, and fheriff of that county, 
 and lived in great honor till 1346, in which year, be- 
 ing in the fecorid battalion of that northern army 
 raifcd by the invafion of David de Bruce, king of Scot- 
 land, October 17, he was mortally wounded, of 
 which he died in a few days, and was buried, accor- 
 ding to his will, in the abbey of Sulby, of which he 
 was patron. This engagement was called the battle 
 of Nevile-crofs, near Durham, in which the king of 
 Scots, and mod of the nobility of that kingdom, were 
 taken prifoners, and their army routed. 
 
 Ralph, his fon and heir, was a knight in 1349, and- 
 was retained by Henry duke of Lancafter to fervc 
 him, both in war and peace, for 40 marks per annum, 
 out of his manor of Pickering, in Yorkinire, and 
 upon the death of that duke, he had a confirmation 
 thereof from John of Gaunt, fon of Edward III. 
 duke of Lancafter, earl of Richmond, and high-ftew- 
 
 ard
 
 D I S S. 135 
 
 aid of England, who had married one of the daughters 
 and heireffes of that duke. 
 
 In the year 1353 fir Ralph fold the manor of Haf* 
 tings, in Giffing, to Thomas Gardiner, of Chedeflon. 
 Thomas Gardiner, of Giffing, his fon and heir, had 
 a daughter named Joan, who inherited Dalling's ma- 
 nor ; and dying without iiTue in 1400, fhe left it to 
 fir Robert Buttevelyn, of Flordon, knt. who was then 
 lord of Haftings manor, by his marrying Catherine, 
 a daughter of the faid Thomas Gardiner by his fe- 
 cond wife, and half fitter to this Joan, fo that now 
 both thefe manors were vefted in the faid fir Robert 
 Buttevelyn, who was defcended from an ancient fa- 
 mily of that name in Northamptonfhire. In 1403 
 he fettled his manors, called Haflings and Balling's, 
 upon thetruflees forthewife of fir Robert Buttevelyn, 
 jun. for her life, and the heirs of their bodies. Upon this 
 fir Robert's death, the abbot of Bury feized his ward, by 
 reafon of the chief part of the manor, which was held of 
 him by knight's fervice; but this fettlement being 
 produced, he was forced to releafe his feizure, and at 
 her death William Buttevelyn inherited the manors, 
 and died without iffue abou't 1465, leaving thefc, and 
 Cotefbrook manor, in Northamptonfhire, and Fen- 
 wick, and Thornditch, in Bedfordfliire, to his fitters, 
 Elizabeth, and Julian ; Elizabeth married Edmund 
 Chaterton, and left one daughter only, named Eli- 
 zabeth, who married Thomas Hertefhorne, alien Hart- 
 flrong, of Giffmg, efq. Julian married Robert Duke, 
 of Brampton, in Suffolk, efq. and left only one 
 daughter, named Alice, who married John Kemp, of 
 Weflon, efq. between which John, and Thomas 
 Hertefhorn aforefaid, th,e eftate came diyifible, and 
 by agreement they divided it ; Thomas had Gotef r 
 brook, Fen wick, and Thornditch; and John had 
 Flordon manor and advowfon, with Haltings and 
 
 Dalling's
 
 1 5 4 rtUN-DREDOF 
 
 Balling's manors, in Giffing, fo that now he was icrd 
 of three of the manors in this town. 
 
 Tlit at/lows of this manor, extracted from the extent-roll 
 in 1327, (anno 2 . ///.) which was a renewal of tlic 
 old roll made in the $th of Edward II. in Sir Thomas 
 Ha/lings' time, (\$\ \) were as follow: 
 
 " A villain cannot divide his tenements, but all 
 fhall remain to the eldeft iffue, and if fuch iflue with- 
 draws out of the homage, hz forfeits his tenements. 
 
 11 A prepofitor and meffor to be yearly chofen out 
 of the tenants ; the meffor to have the cuftody of the 
 fields, meadows, and woods; he fhall fow all the 
 lord's feed, and give an account of all trefpaffes to 
 the lord, and fhall keep a man all feed time to fright 
 the vermin ; the melfor fhall come to the lord's diet 
 (or maintenance) the firfl day of harveft, and fhall be 
 maintained all harveft time ; he is to collecl: the 
 lord's rents and profits of court, and to warn the la- 
 borers and all others to their duty, and is to be paid 
 his wages by the tenements that are eligible into that 
 office. 
 
 44 The bond-men to fine for their marriage at the 
 lords will. 
 
 " The tenement of every copyholder at each death 
 is htriotable, by the beft bcaft, and if they have no 
 bcaft, they fhaii give 55. 
 
 " The heir of the tenant fhall take his inheritance 
 by fine at ihe will of the lord, and fhall give for ley- 
 erwite* 25. 8d. 
 
 - AU 
 
 * It fignifies'a fine paid by the tenant to his lord for defiling 
 a bond woman.
 
 D I S S. 135 
 
 " All bond tenants alfo fhall make redemption of 
 their blood, and ftiall not put tbemfelves under the 
 protection of any other lord. 
 
 " Every heir (according to cuftom) is of full age 
 at 14 years." 
 
 The whole manor was then held of theaheirs of the 
 de Haftings, as of the fee of the abbot of St. Ed- 
 mund's, by the fervice of one knight's fee, and no 
 more. 
 
 The lord had belonging to this manor liberty of 
 faldagc and clofure through the whole town of Gif- 
 fing, as well in other men's lands as in his own, alfo 
 free-wairen in his own lands, and the correction of the 
 affize of bread and ale of all his tenants. 
 
 In the 3Qth of Edward III. William Goodwin, a 
 villain by blood, (of the lord) was a rebel, and un- 
 grateful towards his lord, for which his tenement, 
 and all his goods in the lordfhip, were feized ; his of- 
 fence was, that he falfely and malicioufly (aid, " that 
 (he lord received and maintained $ thief, and know- 
 ingly kept four ftolen fheep in his fold/ 1 by which 
 the lord was damaged 30!. 
 
 In the 22d and 23d of Edward III. Alice le Ward 
 paid the lord is. he licence to marry. Another paid 
 sos. that fhe might live out of the lordfoip, and 
 merry whoever Jhe would. 
 
 In the 42d of Edward III. a tenant forfeited all his 
 copyhold only becaufe he claimed to hold it freely. 
 widow of a copyholder during thejponage of 
 the heir is his guardian by cuftorn. - . *- 
 
 mj^ 
 
 la
 
 j 3 6 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 In the i6th of Edward IV. the manner of the lord's 
 taking flray is thus let foith ; " a horfe came within 
 the jurifdiclion of the manor, and was feized as a 
 ftray, and proclaimed according to cufiom ; no other 
 challenging him in a year and a day, he was ap- 
 praiicd in open court, and fold." 
 
 We could not forbear obferving thefe cuftoms, be- 
 caufe they ilicw us the former Jiamjh condition of the 
 villains ai>d copyholders. 
 
 GISSIKG-HALL MANOR, in Gifting, was held ofRo- 
 bert Malet, lord of Eye,- by William de Giffing, in 
 the time of the Conqueror, as of the honor of Eye, 
 and foon after the conqueft the manor of Giffing- 
 hall, in Roydon, was joined, and constantly attended 
 this manor till 1579. 
 
 The other parcels alfo were afterwards added to 
 this manor, and that is the reafon that it was partly 
 held of Eye honor, and parti) of the abbot of Bury ; 
 for in the time of Henry III. it was thus diftin- 
 guiflied : Giffing. Pro parti honoris Eyi. Pro parti 
 Abbatis Set. Ectmundi. 
 
 ? In the pipe rolls of the 34th of Henry II. and in 
 the ift of Richard I. it is found, that Walter de Gif- 
 finges paid Henry II. one mark, that it might be re- 
 corded in the great roll, that Bartholomew, his elder 
 brother, and htii to his fa'hcr, releafed his inherit- 
 ance to him in the king's court. This fliews the re- 
 gard which thole times had lor the rolls of the pipe, 
 there being mam inflances in thofe rolls of fuch en- 
 tries, a collection of which bath been made andfcvcral 
 of them printed by Mr. Maiidojt, in his Hiftoiy of
 
 D I S S. i 3 p 
 
 In 1322 fir Thomas de Giffing owned this manor 
 in Giffing and Roydon. In 1355 he had great pof- 
 fc'fions in Cambridgefhire, being patron of Kingflon, 
 &c. He was in the army with Edward the Black 
 Prince in Aquitain, during which time Thomas Min- 
 tinore. of Foxton, in Cambridgefhire, carried away 
 his wile ; for which, at his return, he recovered 500!, 
 damages. He attended the king into Gafcoigne, and 
 died in 1382, leaving only one daughter and heirefs, 
 Joan, who kept her firfl court in 1382, on her father's 
 death. This Joan married fir John Heveningham, 
 fenior, km. Sir John Heveningham, knt. his grand- 
 fon, had Gifling-nall, in Giffing, together with ano- 
 ther manor here, called Dagworch's, which he pur- 
 chafed, it being held at half a fee of the lord Grey, 
 of Ruthvn, as of Win farthing hall manor, which 
 half fee fir John Dagworth formerly held. 
 
 By failure of iffue male the manor of Giffing, cum 
 Dagworth, and the manor of Gifling-hall, in Roydon, 
 which was held of the queen as of Eye honor, at a 
 quarter of a fee, defcended divifible between three 
 fifters ; firfl, Mary, then married to John Smith ; fe- 
 cond, Ann, to F^dward Evcrard ; and third, Jane, un- 
 married, who i'eems to have afterwards married Ed- 
 ward Sulyard, who bought in all the parts, and then 
 fold them to fir Arthur Heveningham, of Heveningham, 
 knt. who was the male heir of that family. He kept 
 his firft court in 1579, anc * ^ oon a ^ er manumifed the 
 manor in Giffing by felling every tenant their own 
 part, fo that the united manors of GilTing-hall, and 
 Dagworth's, were loft, all but the royalties and fair, 
 which the faid Arthur fold to Richard Kemp, of 
 Weftbrook, in Suffolk; but the manor of Gifling- 
 hall, in Roydon, flill continued in him, though he 
 manumifed a great part of that alfo. 
 
 K DAGWORTH
 
 13$ HUNDRED OF 
 
 DAGVVORTH MANOR was in the Confeflbr's time 
 yart of carl Algar's manor of Winfarthing, under 
 whofc sfole protection the free-men then were; but 
 upon the carles foifeiture it fell to the Conqueror, 
 with Winfarthing, with which it was committed to 
 Godric's cuflodv, and remained in the crown till 
 Henry II. in i 189, gave it to fir William de Mun- 
 chenfi, km. in which family it remained, with Win- 
 farthing, and went as that did, till Hugh de Verc 
 granted it to fir John de Dagworth, who was lord in 
 1315: Thomas, his fon, fucceeded him, and fir Ni- 
 cholas, his fon, followed; all thefe were great men 
 and famous warriors in their days. Eleanor, widow of 
 T'vicholas, in the fame year that he died, viz. 1401, 
 conveyed it to fir John Heveningham, km. who 
 held it of Win farthing-hall manor by the fervice of 
 a quarer of a fee, from which time ic always paffed 
 with the manor of Gifling-hall, in Giffing, till 1570, 
 when Henry Heveningham died feifed, and Ann, 
 his wife, daughter of fir Edward Windham, en- 
 joyed it for life, as part of her fettlement ; at her 
 death it reverted again to the Heveninghams, of whom 
 fir Edward Sulyard purchafed it, with Gifling-hall, 
 in Giffing, and Gifling-hall, in Roydon ; he fold it 
 to fir Arthur Heveningham, knt. who after he had 
 manumifed great part of it, fold it with the manor of 
 Gifling-hall, in Gifling, to Richard Kemp, of Weft- 
 brook, in Suffolk, and fo in 1595 it was united to his 
 other manors in this town. 
 
 DALLING'S, alias DAWLING'S MANOR. Stephen 
 Fitz-Walter, one of the lords of Difs hundred, in- 
 feoffed Walter le Breton. This Walter married Al- 
 beria, daughter of fir Thomas Haftings ; in this fa- 
 mily it continued till Henry le Breton, of Stanton- 
 \Vyvil, in Leicefleifhire, fold to Rkhard de Boy land, 
 clerk, the inheritance in this manor. John, fon of 
 
 iir
 
 D I S S. 139 
 
 fir Richard de Boyland, fold it to Simon de Dalling. 
 This Simon purchafed of Robert le Breton, of Stan- 
 ton-Wyvil, an annuity of lol. rent, which he was to 
 leceivc out of this manor, and foon after he pur- 
 chafed all his right in the manor, and to augment it, 
 bought all the lands that John, fon of fir Richard de 
 Boyland, had here, and to compleat the title, had a 
 releafe from all parties. From the Dallings it came 
 by marriage to the Shimplings, 8cc. Roger of Shimp- 
 ling died feifed, leaving three daughters, of whom 
 Katharine, married to William Ellingham, had this 
 manor ; they left Roger their fon and heir, from whofe 
 dependents (if not from him) it came to Thomas 
 Gardiner, who joined it to his manor of Haftings, 
 with which it went joined to the Kemps; and thus 
 having joined all thefe manors in that family, we 
 (hall now fpeak of their rife and defcent, obferving 
 that this manor always continued in the eldefl branch, 
 except when it was held in jointure. 
 
 The name of Kemp is derived from the Saxon 
 word to kemp, or combat, which in Norfolk is re- 
 tained to this day, a foot-bail match being called 
 camping, or kemping, and thus, in Saxon, a kcmpcn, 
 fignifies a combatant, a champion, or man of arms*. 
 This family hath been of long continuance in this 
 county; Galfrid Kemp lived at Norwich in 1272, 
 (i ft of Edward I.) from whom defcended Alan Kemp, 
 of Wefton, in Suffolk, efq. who married Ifabel, 
 daughter of fir Philip Haftings, and had iffue John, 
 to whom fir Philip Haftings, his grandfather, in 1324, 
 gave the manor of Gifting; this John married Alice, 
 daughter to Robert Duke, of Brampton, in Suffolk, 
 K 2 coheirefs 
 
 * If we tniftake not, kemp, or kemping, is alfo a term in 
 Norfolk for gleaning or gathering the r. mains of corn on ftub- 
 tic fields inlurveft.
 
 24P HUNDREDOF 
 
 cohcirefs to Julian Buttevelyn, and had for hrs 
 fhare of her inheritance the manors of Haflings and 
 Bailing, in Gifliug, and left iflue; he is foraetimes 
 called in evidences Johnde Flordon, efq. 
 
 Robert Kemp, of GifTmg, efq. had four daughters, 
 one of whom, Elizabeth, was lady of the bed- 
 chamber to queen Catherine, in 1523, and one 
 fon. 
 
 Richard Kemp, efq. fucceeded to the manors of 
 Flordon, Gifting, Bailing, Buttevelyn, and Bag- 
 tvorth, together with Gifimg fair, in 1594; ^ e was 
 a barriiler at law ; and Robert Kemp, gent, his fon 
 and heir, held Haflings, alias Buttevelyn's, alias 
 Kemp's manor, of the king, as of his manor of St. 
 Edmund's Bury, by half a fee ; Bagwonh manor, of 
 Edmund Buckenham, efq. as of his manor of Thelve- 
 ton ; Balling, of John Shardelowe, gent, as of his 
 manor of Shimpling-Elhngham, at the eighth part 
 of a- fee; Flordon manor and advowfon, of Henry 
 earl of Northampton, as of Forncet manor, at one 
 fee; and Burnett's, of fir William Grey, knt. as of 
 Hadeflon, or Bunwell manor. He left two daugh- 
 ters, Borothy, and Elizabeth, and one fon, fir Robert 
 Kemp, of Gifting, knt. and bart. created March 4, 
 1642; he married Jane, daughter of fir Matthew 
 Browne, of Surrey, knt. and was fucceeded by fir 
 Robert Kemp, bart. whofe eldeft fon, fir Robert 
 Kemp, ef Ubbefton, in Suffolk, bart. had four wives; 
 by his fecond wife he had fir Robert Kemp, bart. 
 John, a merchant ; Ifaac, a barrifter at law ; Tho- 
 mas, late relor of Giffing, and Flordon; and Ben- 
 jamin, of Gains College, in Cambridge ; Elizabeth, 
 unmarried; and Jane, reli& of William Blois, efq. 
 fon of fir Charles Blois, bart, befides Edward, Letitia, 
 and Ann, who died young. By his third wife he had 
 
 William,
 
 D I S. 141 
 
 William, Tome time of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge, 
 and Martha, a daughter, unmarried, befides a former 
 daughter, named Martha, that died an infant. By 
 his fourth wife he had no iflue. 
 
 Sir Robert Kemp, bart. of Ubbeflon, in Suffolk, 
 was lord and patron of Giffing, Flordon, and Frenze, 
 in the county of Norfolk, and Ubbefton, in the 
 county of Suffolk. His brother, the late Rev. fur 
 Thomas Kemp, bart. reclor of Giffing and Flordon, 
 fuccecdcd him in the title, which is now extincl. 
 
 We meet with two great men oT this name, John 
 Kemp, born at Wye, in Kent. L. L. D. of Merton 
 College, in Oxford, archdeacon of Durham, dean of 
 the Arches, firft bifhop of Rochefter, then qf Chi- 
 chefler, then of London, archbifhop of York, and 
 afterwards of Canterbury, cardinal of St. Balbinc, 
 afterwards of St. Rufine, which was fignified by this 
 verfe ; Bis primas. ter prcejts, et bis cardmefunlus> 
 H died a very old man, in 1453. 
 
 The other was Thomas Kemp, his nephew, wrjo 
 was confecrated bifhop of London in 1449, by his 
 uncle, the archbifhop ; but whether they were any 
 way related to this family we cannot fay. 
 
 Trie hall was an ancient building, being the feat of 
 the Haftings, and afterwards of the Kemps, till 
 fir Robert, upon his removal to Ubbefton, pulled it 
 down. The windows were adorned with the follow- 
 ing coats: Kemp quartered with Bmtevelyn, or B,ut- 
 tevelyn impaled with Loveday ; Kemp arid Butte- 
 velyn quartered, impaling Bleverhaffct ; the fame, im- 
 paling Jarnegan ; the fame, impaling Throkmorton, 
 quartering Bainard, of SpeckfhalL 
 
 In
 
 142 HUNDREDOF 
 
 In the parlor windows were, Kemp impaling Haft- 
 ings. Buttevelyn, Duke, Gurlen, Appleyard, of ftra- 
 conafh, St. Legcr, Calthorpe, Alleyn, Cockerham, 
 Heiris, D" Grey, of Merton, quartered with Bainard, 
 Smithin, or Smythwyne, Kemp and Buitevelyn quar- 
 tered, impaling White, of Shouifham. 
 
 In a manufcript of Mr. Anftis's, thefe arms are 
 faid to be in GhTmg-hall, at that time the feat of 
 Richard Kemp, efq. when the chapel was new glazed: 
 In the chamber, by the hall door, were the arms of 
 Giffing, Felton, and Framlingham, and the pictures 
 of two laborers ihrefhing wheat- Cheaves, or garbs, in 
 allufion to Kemp's arms, and Kemp quartering Duke. 
 
 In 1603 here were 150 communicants, and in 
 1735 fifty-one houfes, and about 300 inhabitants; it 
 hath a fair yearly on St. James's-day, (July 25, 17^1) 
 which in 1378 was granted to fir Thomas de Giffing, 
 km. together with a weekly market at Gifling, but 
 that is now difufed; it paid to the old tenth 3!. los. 
 but il. being deduced it was reduced to 2!. 8s. 
 The parliament valuation was 1232!. and the piefent 
 value is 761!. The lect belongs to the hundred, and 
 the prcfcut leet-fee is ss. 
 
 The village of Gifling is fituated on the road from 
 Norwich by Bracon-Afh, fixtcen miles, to Difs four. 
 The country hereabouts is a deep clay foil, and the 
 roads very indifferent. 
 
 OSMUNDESTON, alias SCOLE. joins to the 
 cafl part of Difs, arid is bounded by the Waveney 
 on the fbuth : we cannot find who this Ofmund was 
 that gave name to this town, but imagine him to be 
 a Saxon, and owner of it. Scole was a hamlet to 
 Ofmundefton in the time of Edward III. ancL gave 
 
 name
 
 D I S S. 145 
 
 name to a numerous family, one of which was relor- 
 of'Frenze in 1397. The antient inftitution books 
 have no fuch name, though it now (lands in the laft 
 value by the name of Ofmondfton, alias Scole, 
 which laft name prevailed about the time of Henry 
 VIII when this hamlet was increafcd fo as to become 
 the chief part of the town, and might firft receive 
 its name from the fhoals, or (hallows of the river on 
 which it is fituated. 
 
 Here is a very good inn for the entertainment of 
 travellers, (the White Hart) much noted in thefe 
 parts, being called, by way of diftin&ion, Scole-inn. 
 The houfe is a large brick building, adorned with 
 imagery and carved work in feveral places, as big as 
 the life. It was built in 1635, by John Peck, efq. 
 a merchant in Norwich, whofe arms, impaling his 
 wife's, arc over the porch door : the fign, which is 
 now gone, was very large, beautified all over with a 
 great number of images of large ftaturc, carved in 
 wood, was the work-of one Fairchild, and coft 1037!. 
 The arms about it are thofe of the chief towns and 
 gentlemen in the county, viz. Norwich, Yarmouth, 
 duke of Norfolk, earl of Yarmouth, Bacon of Gar- 
 boldifham, Hobart, Cornwallis, impaling Bukion, 
 Teye, Thurfton, Caftleton, and many others. Here was 
 formerly a very large round bed, big enough to hold 15 
 or 20 couple, in imitation (we fuppofe) of the re- 
 markable ' great bed at Ware.' The houfc was in all 
 things accommodated at firft for large buunefs but 
 the road not fuppor.ing it it fell into decay, though 
 there is a good bowling green, and a pretty large gar- 
 den, with laud iufficient for paffen^crs horfej>. The 
 bufmefs, fays Mr. Blomefield. of the two inns here 
 are much fupported by the animal cock-matches that 
 are fought." 
 
 K 4 SOU
 
 144 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Still further to elucidate this prodigy of human fol- 
 ly, " the wonderful fign at Scbic-inn." we have pro- 
 cured the annexed engraving of its north-eaft view, to 
 which we add an explanation of the figures. 
 
 l. Jonah coming out of the fifh's mouth. 2. A li- 
 on fupponing the arms of Great Yarmouth. 3. A 
 Bacchus. 4 The arms of Lindiey. . The arms of 
 Hobart, now lord Hobart. 6. A fhepherd playing 
 on his pipe. 7. An angel fupponing the arms of 
 Mr. Peck's lady. 8. An angel fupporting the arms 
 of Mr. Peck. 9. A white hart, with this motto, 
 Implcntnr veferisbacchipingvifnutz ferirue, an. Dom. I 05 ^ . 
 10. The arms of the late earl of Yarmouth, l i. The 
 arms of the cjuke of Norfolk. 12. Neptune on a 
 Dolphin. 13. A lion fupporting the arms of Nor- 
 wich. 14. Charon carrying a reputed witch to heil. 
 15. Cerberus. 16. An huntfrnan. 17. Acleon. 
 18. A white hart couchant. 19. Prudence. 20. For- 
 titude. 21. Temperance. 22. Juflice. 23. Diana. 
 24. Time devouring an infant. 25 An aflronomer 
 who is featcd on a circurnferenter, and by fome 
 chymical preparation is fo affecled. that in fine weather 
 he faces the north, and againft bad weather he 
 faces that quarter from whence it is about to come. 
 
 What could induce a merchant, above a century 
 ago, to ere& fo coflly a piece of workmanfhip, we 
 are at a lofs to conjecture, unlefs to indulge his con- 
 fummate vanity, or fingularity of temper ; for we 
 confefs, that we do not difcover the fmailefl trait of 
 judgement or taile in the whole compoiition : had 
 he confulted everv artift in the kingdom to leave a 
 monument of his ftupidity. they could not have pro- 
 duced a better eiFccl. Had he expended fo confider- 
 able a fum at thai time, as 1057!. on a fubjed which 
 would have perpetuated his memory, without an 
 
 impeachment
 
 D I S S. 145 
 
 impeachment of his underftanding, pofterity might 
 have looked on it with indifference; but they faw it witljt 
 contempt, and let this " Sign of Infanity" moulder 
 with its firfl proje&or. 
 
 " Schoale Inn, fo called from its being twenty 
 miles diftant from the city of Norwich, Ipfwich, 
 Bury St. Edmund's, and Thetford, the roads to which 
 places divide themfelves at the door." 
 
 This account of diffances is taken from a print 
 publifhed by Harwin Martin. May i, 1740. The 
 real mrafurcd di fiances are now from Scole Inn to, 
 Norwich 20 miles, Ipfwich 23, Bury St. Edmund's 
 22, and Thetford 20; Difs 2, Hading 12, Har- 
 leflon 8, Bungay 15, Yarmouth 36, Eye 4, Sioneham, 
 i 2, and Botefdale 7 miles. The ftage coaches be- 
 iwcen Norwich (by Bury and Colchefter) a^id Lon- 
 don pafs here daily. Poft-chaifcs and horfes are kept 
 it the White Hart. 
 
 Concerning the capital manor we find that Ralpti 
 de Felgeres had it a long time, and at his death left it 
 t> his poflcrity, from whom it came to fir Aymer de 
 Icniles, and was held of him anno 1270 by Henry dc 
 Sielton, by the rent of 25. 2d. per ann. This was a 
 f parate manor then, and the demefnes fifteen acres. 
 
 There was alfo another part in Ofmundefton which 
 tis Henry de Shelton united in 1270 to the manor 
 aorefaid, held of Roger Bigot. The Sheltoite alfo 
 hd the advowfon. From this family it came to the 
 Adhams, and in 1553 John Aldham, of Shimpling, 
 vus lord and patron, who left it to William Aldham, 
 ad in 1561 he conveyed it to fir Thomas Corn- 
 vwllis, knt. in whofe time the ilile of the court ran 
 tiu i OJmundejlon, nuper Aldhams, quondam Sheltom. 
 
 In
 
 146 HUNDREDOF 
 
 In this noble family the manor hath ever fince com?- 
 nued, the prefent earl Cornwallis being now both 
 lord and patron. 
 
 BEZILE'S, or BOYLAND'S MANOR, was that part of 
 Ofmundefton that was in the crown in the time of 
 king John, and was then \vorf_h 81. 135. 4d. per ann. 
 it being an cfcheat of the Norman lands. This king 
 gave it to Ralph earl of Chefter, for life, at whofe 
 death it came to Henry III who granted it to In- 
 gerard de Tane, for life; he dying foon after, the 
 fame king gave it to fir William de Syvag, (or Sina- 
 gon) for life, and at his death to Ailmaric de Berriles, 
 or Beziles, in 1272, to be held of him by knight's 
 fervice, incapite; the manor then wns thus valued, j 
 viz. the rent of aflize of the freeholders at 61. i 25. 
 ^d. per ann. and of the copyholders in foccage at 
 325. 6d. iq. 
 
 Sir Avlmer, or Ailmaric, died in 1279, and the ef-i 
 cheator feized on his lands for want of an heir. Thej 
 king after the feizurc did not hold it long; for in I 284 
 Edward I. granted in fee to fir Richard de Boyland, 
 and his heirs, all that fir Aylmcr de Berrile held oj 
 him here, and in Sturfton at half a knight's fee, frorr 
 whom it took the name of Boyland's manor. Tl 
 Richard was a great lawyer, and one of the juftice 
 of the King's-bench ; he left it to fir John Boylan 
 his fon, from whom (but whe'her by purchafe, < 
 not, we cannot tell) it came t John de Lowdham 
 who in 1345 paid los. for his relief; from whic 
 time it continually weni as Fienze manor, till Joh 
 Lowdham fold one moiety of it to John Wodehoufe 
 the other moiety went with his daughter to the H! 
 verhaffets, and in 1561 John Bleverhaffet granted 
 to fir Thomas Cornwallis. kin. wh fc heirs purchafe 
 the other half, after many conveyances o! it fro 
 
 Wodehuu
 
 D I S S. 147 
 
 Wodehoufe to Gryme, and from Gryme to Rant, and 
 others, and in this family it hath continued ever 
 fmce, it being now annexed to the capital manor. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apoftle, 
 having a fquarc tower, and but one bell, though for- 
 meily there were five ; the church, chancel, and fouth 
 aile, are leaded, and the fouth porch is tiled. 
 
 On a black marble lying in the chancel, Fremoulc 
 impaling Bedingfield, for Elizabeth, wife cf Joelis 
 Fremoult, who died July 4, i 720, aged 53. 
 
 In a fouth aile window were the arras of Lowd- 
 ham, Braham, Shelton, and Ufford, with a bend 
 arg. all which are now loft, except Lowdham. 
 
 This reclory is valued in the king's books at g). 
 but is now difcharged, being fworn of the clear yearly 
 value of 46!. fo that it is capable of augmentation, 
 and is freed from firfl-fruits and tenths. 
 
 Here is an annual fair held on Eafter Tuefday, 
 April 17, 1781. 
 
 In 1603 here were 81 communicants, and in 1735 
 about forty dwelling-houfes, and 230 inhabitants ; it 
 paid il. 175. tenths, and was allowed ys. deductions 
 out of it ; it was rated in the parliament affociation 
 at 500!. and now to the king's tax at 435!. 
 
 In 17 56, the Rev. Thomas Roger du Quefne, of 
 Ball Tuddenham, was prefented to the reclory of Of- 
 mondefton, alias Scole, by the late right honorable 
 Charles Cornwallis, earl Cornwallis, who dying June 
 23, 1762, was fucceeded by the prefent earl Corn- 
 wallis,
 
 145 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 wallis, now ferving in America, and lord and patron 
 here. 
 
 ROYDON, wrote in Doomfday-book Rcgedona. 
 This church is dedicated to the honor of St. Remi- 
 gius, who flourifhed about the fifth century; the de- 
 dication day was kept on the i ft of October, being 
 the day of his tranflation. The rectory is valued in 
 the king's books at 9!. but though the glebe lies 
 valued at 51!. 35. in the Terrier, yet the real mea- 
 fure, including the fcite of the relory-houfe, does not 
 much exceed forty acres. 
 
 In 1 603 there were 1 24 communicants, and in 
 1735 about fixty families, and 240 fouls; it is now 
 affefled to the king's tax at 630!. los. When the 
 taxes were raifed by tenths this paid al. los. and to 
 the monthly levies during the affociation, fometimes 
 at the rate of 752!. and fometimes 780!. 
 
 The patronage was long in the Morleys, after 
 whom it feems to be often changed. 
 
 In 1704 Robert Burroughs, of Difs, gent, pre- 
 fented. In 1 746 the Rev. Francis Blomefield, " Au- 
 thor of an Effay towards an Hiftory of Norfolk," pre- 
 f^nted Edward Chappelow; and in 1777 the Rev. 
 Leonard Chappelow had the rcdory on his own pre- 
 iemation, p.j. 
 
 The inclofure that joins to the fouth part of the 
 church-yard is called Chapel-clofe, in the midft of 
 which formerly flood a chapel, dedicated to the 
 honor of the Bleffed Virgin, in which was a chantry 
 of three or four priefls, daily finging for the foul of 
 fir Robert de Morley, their founder. The foundation 
 deed was produced in the caufe between John lord 
 
 Lovel,
 
 D I S S. 149 
 
 Lovcl, and Thomas lord Morley, about the arms of 
 a lion rampant, which being on this feal, proved that 
 lord Morley's anceftors had anciently ufed thofe 
 arms. This chapel was well endowed, many free 
 larYds in Roydon were held by paying an annual rent 
 to it; it was dilfolved in 1547, and foon after pulled 
 down, and the fcite conveyed by the crown to lay 
 hands ; it was owned in 1 735 by the Rev. Mr. John 
 Dawney; it was founded about 1282, bat being a 
 free chapel without inflitution, it is never mentioned 
 in thofe regifters. 
 
 The prior of Eye, in Suffolk, had the tythes of 
 about 1000 acres of land here, given to that monaf- 
 tery by Odo de Charune, who gave two parts of the 
 tythes of his land in Roydon, in the Conqueror's 
 lime, and by Richard Hoveel, of Reindun, who gave 
 all the tithes of his lands here; and in the charter of 
 king Stephen, granted to that houfe in 1137, they 
 were confirmed to the monks among their oihcr re- 
 venues : and in the regifter, called Danoun, which 
 formerly belonged to this priory, in the hands of the 
 late Mr. Martin, of Palgrave, we find, that the porr 
 don of tythes belonging fo the monks of St. Peter at 
 Eye, lying in lloydon, were lett to the reclor at two 
 marks a year, and fo continued for forne, time, till af- 
 terwards a perpetual compolition was made for the 
 redors to pay 35. 4d. per arm. Thus it continued 
 till the difTolution, and then the penfion went witli 
 the priory to the crown, from whence it was granted 
 off, and hath fince paffed through many hands; it 
 was fume time payable to Catherine, queen of Charles 
 11. but lately belonged to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Pylc, 
 of Lynn-Regis. 
 
 Here
 
 150 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Here were feveral freeholds held of the honor df 
 Eye. 
 
 In 1355 fir Robert de Morlev, knt. confirmed to 
 Edward III. the advowfon of this church, with the 
 chapels annexed, under dims limitations; notwith- 
 flanding which it hath all along paffed with the 
 manor. 
 
 The abbot of Sibton, in Suffolk, had temporals 
 here taxed at 35. being part of their manor, called 
 Friers, in Shelfangei , which extended hither. 
 
 This church is very ancient, having its nave only 
 Handing, the fouth aile having been a long time in 
 ruins; it is covered wiih lead, though ihe chancel 
 and fouth porch are tiled ; the flceple (which is iu a 
 very ruinous condition) is round at bottom, and oc- 
 tangular at top, and had formerly four bells, but be- 
 ing unable to bear them, the pari(h:>;ncrs obtained a 
 faculty in 1680, and fold three of them. 
 
 The chancel feems to have been built by one of 
 the Fitz-Walters, about the time of Henry J. buried 
 here under an arch in the north wall, out or which 
 the Hone coffin, now {landing in the church-yard, 
 was taken fome years ago, and the pavement, fomc 
 of which ftill remains, was adorned with the arms of 
 the Fitz- Walters. 
 
 In a north window are the arms of Ratcliff, earl of 
 Suffex, and of Morley, and Knevet. 
 
 In the chancel are feveral flones with infcnptions, 
 feme of which are printed in le Neve's Monuments, 
 and forne are not j Mr. Blomefield gives tranfcriptS 
 oi them all. 
 
 A black
 
 D I S S. 151 
 
 A black marble in the rnidft of the chancel, for 
 "Robert Homer, gent, of BriJfmgham,Jon of the Rev. R&- 
 *bcrt Homer, rettor here, who died December 4, 1 708, 
 aged 62. Here are alfo feveral other monuments in 
 memory of this family. 
 
 Another black marble, for Henry Danes, gent. 
 olijt tertio die Apr His, anno Dni. 1691, alal. 61. 
 
 Margaret, the wife of John Dawnty, clerk, died line 
 $d of September, 1691, aged 6 1 . 
 
 Hannah, wife of Thomas Deynts, gent, and owe of the 
 daughters of Clement Rolf, gent, deceafed. u-as htrt o- 
 ried October 15,' -1663. The aforcfaid Thomas Deyna 
 died November ay*tmno Dni* 1075. 
 
 On the fouth fide of the chancel, in the church- 
 yard, is an ahar-tomb, covered with a black marble. 
 having die arms of Burroughs impaling Camell; the 
 -inscription (compofed by Dr. Cam.!;) is as follows: 
 ^LcElor, juxta hum tumulum exuvias innenies, Robert* 
 Burrough, Roberti et Maria Burrough, de Dijs in com: 
 Norf. gent.filij natu maximi, parentum fjwn, amcorum 
 dejiderium, prtfdujit mors lieu ! - r -irnis iinmatura, ijl 
 collegio Sta. Trinitalh apud Cantab: 14 die Decemb: 
 anno Dni. 1723, atat. 19. Filio diltMiJfimo pLadde ob- 
 dormiu; i parentes ambo, charijfinus conjugis conjux HU 
 amantijfimus, unionem c&njunBiJJimam mors ipfa v?'.v, et 
 Tie vtK quidem feparabat praivit enim tile 28 die Jan: 
 anno Dni. 1727, atat. 52. Canjcquitur ilia 6 die 
 Mar: tflat. 46. Monumentum hoc fepulchrale pietatis ct 
 giatitudims ; ergo Gulidflius^liuz eorum natu minimus. 
 mar ens pofuit. 
 
 Thh village joins to Difs on the eaft, to 
 ham weft, Shelfarger north, and the county river 
 
 'ibuih :
 
 HUNDRED OF 
 
 -fouth ; it hath now two manors only, though for- 
 merly it had three, which were in one in the Con- 
 queror's time, and was then two miles and a half 
 long, and two broad, and paid gd. Dane gelt ; it was 
 held by Lefriz, fon of Bofe*. a thane, or guard, of the 
 Corifcffor's, and was afterwards given by the Con- 
 queror to Ralph de Belio-fago, or Beaufo, of whom 
 it was held by Hugh at the time of the furvey. It 
 afterwards came to Hubert de Rhie, who died in 
 11 ri, without male iffue, leaving his barony of 
 Rhie divifible bciween his daughters, Ifabella, and 
 Aliva, the firft of whom was- married to Gcffry de 
 Chefler, and at his death to Roger, fon of Hugh de 
 Crefli, who paid a fine of twenty marks and twelve 
 palfreys to king John, for marrying her without li- 
 cence; upon which, the king revoked the feizurethat 
 he had made of all his lands in Norfolk, and elfe* 
 where ; it appears that he had for his part feventeen 
 knights fees and an half, though the other part of the 
 barony feems to have been the head, ieveral of thefe 
 fees being held of it. 
 
 In the i ft of king John, Robert Fitz-Roger, a great 
 baron in Northumberland, gave 300 marks for Aliva, 
 the \ounger daughter of Hubert de Rhie, to marry 
 to his nephew; and in the 13th of the fame king, 
 John Marfhal, his nephew, anfwered for feventeen 
 fees and an half of that barony. In the gth of king 
 John he had obtained a grant in fee of the office of 
 marihai of Ireland, and had livery of it in the i yth 
 of that king; he died in 1234. Aliva, his wife, fur- 
 viving him, who by the death of Ifabel de Crefli, 
 her fitter, was heirefs to the whole barony of Rhie ; 
 and agreeable to this, in the record called Tefta de 
 Neville, it is found thai Roger de Creffi held one fee 
 
 Regius). This is fometimes rendered a thane, or no- 
 bleman, fomctimes a freeman, fometimes a guard of the king's.
 
 D I S S. 153 
 
 in this town of Walter Fuz-Robert, and that 
 Matthew de Morley held another fee of the barony of 
 Rhie, of which it was ever after held; it was this, 
 Robcit that in 1253 nac * a g ra "t of free-warren to 
 this manor. At the death of Matthew aforefaid it dc- 
 fcendcd to fir William de Morley, knt. who died be-. 
 fore IV4- and Robert, his fon and heir, married 
 Hawife, liller and heirefs of John Marfhal, whereby 
 the barony of Rhie, the marfhalfhip of Ireland, and 
 all the inheritance of the Marfhals, came into the 
 Morley family. 
 
 Thomas de Morley, marfhal of Ireland in 1416, 
 died feifedj and left it to Elizabeth, his widow, for 
 life; afterwards to Margaret, his daughter and heir- 
 efs ; (he married Thomas Ratcliff", w-ho in 1487 died 
 feifed. leaving it to Jeftry RatclifF, of Framefden, in 
 Suffolk, efq. his fon, who dying in i ^114, without 
 heirs male, the manor came to his three daughters 
 and coheireffes; Elizabeth, married to Chriflopher, 
 Spehnan ; Eleanor, the fe,cond, to Thomas Lovcl, 
 junior, of Enfield; and Joan,, the thirdj to John Stur- 
 geons, of Cranwich. 
 
 In 1546 Thomas Sherman, of Yaxley, gent, and- 
 William Kettleburgh, gent, held the three parts by' 
 purchafe, and thus it continued till 1586, at whicli. 
 time the courts then kept had two homages, one for 
 this manor of Roydon-hall, and the other for Tuft's 
 manor, which was joined to it; they extended into 
 Roydon, Difs, Btiffingham, and Shelfanger ; it went 
 ifi thefe families till about 1600, and then the 
 whole was purchaftd by Edward Havers, and Wil- 
 liam, Wavers, efq. fold it to Mr. Robert Bui rough, of 
 l)i!s, whofe youngcft fon, William, in 1.733, lold it 
 to Mr. Philip Dykes, of London, 
 
 ^i The
 
 i 5 4 HUNDREDOF 
 
 The leet belongs to the hundred, the leer-fee being 
 abou 2s 5d. The advowfon was always appendant 
 t"> the manor til! Mr. William BuiTOttgh, of Difs, le- 
 vered it, by felling it to Mr Edward Chappelow, ot 
 Difs, clerk, whofe fon is the prefent patron and 
 
 The cuftom of this manor is, to the eldefl fon it 
 gives dower, and the fine is at the lord's will. The 
 fcite of the manor oFRoydon-hall. and the demefhes 
 adjoining, are freehold, and were fold off about 200 
 years fince, being late the eitate of Mr. John Dawney, 
 clerk. 
 
 GISSING-HALL MANOR, which was fo called from 
 a family of that name, the ancient lords thereof, and 
 was originally in two parts, one of which belonged to 
 the honor of Eye, and the other to the abbey of 
 Bury; that belonging to Eye was held by Edric, the 
 anceftor of Robert Malet, lord of that honor in the 
 days of king Edward, and by one Walter in the 
 Conqueror's time; the other was given to Bury abbey 
 in 962, byThurketcl, the Dane. Afterwards it came 
 to the abbey, they held it till the Conqueror's time, 
 when it was held of them by Fulcher, being of the 
 yearly value of 205. it was foon afterwards joined 
 to the other part, but was always held of the abbey, 
 as that was of the honor, arid William de Gifting in 
 1 1 74 owned them both ; from which time to 1579 
 it pafled with the manor of GifTing-hall, in Gifling. 
 In 1579 f ]r Arthur Heveningham, of Heveningham, 
 km. was lord. In 1590 Anthony Reve had it, who 
 this year fold it to William Kculeburgh, gent, and in 
 l6oo John Kemp, of Flordon, kept his firfl court. 
 In 1612 John Kettleburgh, gent, held his firfl court; 
 be fold it to John Pykarell, gent, in 1618; and in 
 i 735 John Pykarell, gent, was lord. 
 
 The
 
 D I S S. 155 
 
 The fcire of this manor alfo, with the demefnes, 
 are freehold, and were fold fiom the manor about 
 1200 years fince ; and in 1735 were jn the poGTefllon. 
 of Mr. Richaid Waynforth. 
 
 The cuftom of this manor is. Borough EngliQj, 
 that is, the copyhold falls by defccnt to the youngeft 
 fun. the fine is arbitrary, but in all things elfie the te- 
 nants do as they plcafc. 
 
 TUFT'S MANOR was ere&ed after the time of the 
 Conqueror, it being then, as it is now, included in 
 the manor of Roydon-hail. In 1272 it belonged to 
 Sampfon de Roydon, or ReiJon. 
 
 It came about the time of Henry III. to Wydo de 
 Verdun, lord of Barfingham ; in this family it con- 
 tinued fome time. It was owned by William Roos 
 towards the latter end of the 131!! century, and foon 
 after it fell into the great manor again. It was held 
 of the barony of Rhie, which fhews that it was a 
 part of the great manor, at firft granted to fome 
 younger branch of the Morley family. 
 
 The fcite was granted from the manor along with 
 Roydon-hall, and is now quite deftroyed; the old 
 motes ftill go by the name of Tuft's-hall-yard. 
 
 BRISSINGHAM MANOR extends into this town, ami 
 hath fo done ever fince the conqueft ; for we read that 
 there were then four foe-men that had five acres of 
 ground valued in that parifh. 
 
 FILBY'S MANOR, in BrifTingham, and Roydon, was 
 joined to Boy land manor, in Briflingham, 
 
 L 2 The
 
 156 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 The gifts to this panfh are fraal! viz. Two acre* 
 of copvhold land, held at Giffmg-hall, given long 
 before 1577, as appear horn the court books. 
 
 About 1609 William Kettleburgh, gent, gave 2os. 
 per annum to the poor to be divided by the church- 
 wardens where moft need (hall be ; and there is a 
 fmall houfe, now the fign of the Hart, with a garden 
 thereto adjoining, tied for the payment of it, the 
 overplus of which is the eftate of Mr. John Dawney. 
 Mr. Robert Homer, who died in 1708, gave the 
 freehold clofe, called Fuller's, joining to the eafl fide 
 of the rectory-garden, for even to the rector, on condi- 
 tion that he preaches an annual fermon on Good 
 Friday, and diftributes 405. per ann. to doath four 
 poor widows of Roydon. 
 
 The commons are very fmalt, being called the 
 Dort, Way n forth 1 s- green, the Parfonage-green, and 
 the Little-green, in all which they common alone, 
 and intercommon on Roydon-green, which joins to 
 Briflingham-pound. 
 
 The church of Roydon Hands on the fouth fide of 
 the road, one mile weft of Difs; two furlongs more 
 weft, on the north fide of the road, is Roydon-houfe, 
 the feat of John Frere, efq. moft delightfully fituated 
 on an eminence which rifes from the river, and com- 
 mands an extenfive and picturefque view into Suffolk. 
 This gentleman is Fellow of the Royal and Antiqua- 
 rian Societies. 
 
 SHELFANGER. This village hath gone by 
 thefe following names ; Scelvangra, Schelfangyll* 
 Shelfangles, Shelfhangre, and now Shelfanger. 
 
 The church flands againft the road leading from 
 Difs to Winfarthing, and hath a fquare tower, and
 
 D I S S. 157 
 
 four bells ; the nave is thatched, and the chancel and 
 north porch are tiled; it is dedicated to All Saints, as 
 was the guild that belonged to it. It is a reclory, 
 and had anciently two reclors, each having inftitii- 
 tion to a mediety ; the patronage of one belonged to 
 Bofvile's, afterwards called Hoe's manor, and the 
 other to Vifedelieu's. 
 
 In 1375, March 21, fir John de Verdoun, knt. and 
 Adam Bofvile, then patrons, confidering the fmall re- 
 venues of each mediety, confolidated them for ever, 
 at the death of Gilbert Colman, in John Baffet, then 
 reclor of Bofvile's mediety, the prefentation hencefor- 
 ward to be alternate. 
 
 In 1766 the Rev. Randall Burroughes was pre- 
 fented to the two medieties by Jeremiah Burroughes, 
 efq. p. h. v. and in 1777 the Rev. George Betts was 
 licenfed curate. 
 
 On the font are the arms of Bofvile carved in 
 flone, with A. on one fide, and B. on the other, being 
 the initial letters of the name of Adam Bofvile, who 
 was patron in 1362, about which time this was fet 
 up; and in a fouth chancel window we find the 
 fame arms quartered by Noon. 
 
 Before the altar-rails lie three large ftones, robbed 
 of their arms and infcriptions ; under the firft lies 
 Henry, fon of fir Henry Noon, who died in 1487; 
 and under the next lies Eleanor, his wife. 
 
 The arms of Vifedelieu were on a flone in the 
 chancel, but are now gone. 
 
 Under a fmall free-ftone is buried, Robert, fon of 
 
 Robert Co/bourne, of l/leham, in Cambridge/hire, efq. 
 
 L and
 
 I5 8 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 and Abigail, his wife, who died March 27, 1722, aged 
 5 years. 
 
 Here is a town-houfe for two dwellers, a freehold 
 clofc of three acres, leu at about 505. a year, half the 
 piofus of which are given to the poor, and the 
 other half to be applied to what ufes the church- 
 wardens pleafe. The reclor hath alfo a clo(e of three 
 acres, given to find bell-ropes, called Bell-rope-clofe. 
 The commons are inconfiderable, except their inter- 
 commonage wiih Briffingham. on Boy land -green.' and 
 a large tracl of meadows, which are called Lammas- 
 meadows. 
 
 Thisparifhin 1603 had 142 communicants, and 
 in 1 735 40 dwelling houfes. and contained abcut 200 
 inhabitants. It paid to the old tenths 275. was taxed 
 to the affociation rates at 980!. and now at 763!. IDS. 
 It is valued in the king's books at 17!. 
 
 Here was a chapel, dedicated to St. Andrew the 
 Apoftle, but when, or by whom founded, we -cannot 
 certainly learn, but moft probable by fome of the 
 Veres, lords of Winfarthing; it ftood on the great 
 road leading from Shelfanger to Winfarthing, and by 
 its not being mentioned in the iriftitution books, ap- 
 pears to have been a free chapel ; it was Handing in 
 1518. for then Matt. Halyett, of Winfarthing, gave a 
 bell to the chapel of St. Andrew, in Shelfanger. It 
 was fupported by lands given by the founder, all 
 which ai the diflblution came to the crown, and fp re- 
 mained till the 12th ot Elizabeth, and then fhe gave 
 them to Nicholas Mynne, efq. and John Hall, gent, 
 and in 1587 they were held by the Cieres, of the 
 manoi of Eafl Greenwich, by fealty only; they are 
 faid to lie in Deep-meadow, and in other places in 
 Sbelfanger and Winfai thing. 
 
 The
 
 D I S S. 159 
 
 The priory of Eye had a portion of tithes given 
 them by Hugh de Avilicrs, out of his Hemefne lands 
 here, which was confirmed to the redor by (hat 
 houfe, fora penfion of 55. g4 a year, which' at the 
 diffolution went to the crown, and was grained for 
 twenty-ome years by queen Elizabeth to George 
 Petre. 
 
 The monks of Theiford had alfo a portion of 
 tithes here, which ihey granted to the reclor for i8d. 
 a year penfion. 
 
 The inhabitants of North Lopham held a meffu- 
 nge, called Elwin s, and other lands, formerly de- 
 mefncs of Shelfanger, Vifedelieu manor; ail which 
 in 1412 were manurnifed by fir Edmund Noon, knc, 
 lord of that manor, and granted to Richard Boffe, to 
 be held by the rent of a red role yearly. 1 his Ri- 
 chard infeoffed the parfon of Shelfanger, and others, 
 to hold it for ever to the ufe oj the parifti ol North 
 Lopham, to repair their parifti church. This land is 
 Hill enjoyed by that parifti. 
 
 The town was in divers parts at the furvey ; Colo, 
 a freeman of Nafger Sialre, in the time of king Ed- 
 ward, had one manor, which in the Conqueror's time 
 Hervicus. or Hervey, held, and Modephefe, a tree- 
 woman of Algar's, had another, both being held of 
 Alan earl of Richmond; the town was a league 
 long, and half a one broad, and paid 9d to the gelt, 
 or last: From this time they continued (eparate, till 
 they united in the Norfolk family ; the one was af* 
 terwards called Hoe's, and the other Vifedehcu's, 
 to each of which a moiety of the advowfon was 
 appendant, 
 
 L 4 Hoi's
 
 i5o H U N D R E D O F 
 
 HOE'S MANOR was held all along of Richmond 
 honor, and foon after the conqueft belonged to Hue- 
 line de Hugethale, or Uggefhale, fo called from the 
 place of his habitation. Roger was hrnamed da 
 Hoe for the fame reafon, and Peter, fon of the (aid 
 Roger, was called Peter de Schelfangell, and fome- 
 times de Hoe. 
 
 Roger de Hoe gave lands here to Sibton abbey, 
 and added to the manor by purchafmg of Robert de 
 Morley, and Roger de Gifling, knis. lords of Roy 
 don, much land in that town, which occahoned this 
 manor to extend thither; he lived about 1190, and 
 his defcendems inherited here. 
 
 In 1^18 Guido, or Eudo de Hoe, alias de Shelf- 
 anger, was lord, who the fame year had a grant of 
 free-warren to his manor ; he is fomeiimes in evi- 
 dences called Kudo Fitz Ofbert, from his father: he 
 granted his moiety of the advowfon in 1227 to 
 Ralph, fon of Reginald, whofc heirs in 1256 fold it to 
 fir John de Hoe, and then it was joined again. In 
 1275 he was fheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, and 
 paid the third penny of the county to the earl of 
 Norfolk. He held much land here of Bury abbey, 
 and many rents and fervices, to the value of 112 
 acres: to this fir John fucceeded Eudo in 1276, in 
 whofe time it was firft called Hoe's manor. How it 
 continued from 1307 till 1345. we know not certain- 
 ly, though it feems to be in a family firnamed De-la- 
 Polei of Briftingham ; and it is probable that De- 
 la-Pole's daughter might marry Buteviile; for in 
 1362 Robert de Bo fe will, or Boieville, had the ma- 
 nor In 1423 Thomas Terrell, efq. had it, from 
 whom it went in 14^5 to Henry Noon, from which 
 time it hath paffcd, joined with Vifedelieu's manor, 
 as it is atihis day. 
 
 The
 
 D I S S. a6i 
 
 TheMANORof VlSEDELIEU, OfVlCEDE LOU, which 
 
 was the part held by Modephefe, had its name from d*c 
 lords thereof; Humfridus Vifedelieu, or Wolf's-face, 
 (for fuch is the fignification of the name) Hved in 
 die time oi the Conqueror, and held lands in 
 Beikfhire (as Doomfday-book informs us) whofe 
 defcendem. William, was lord herein 1170. la this 
 family it continued many ages. 
 
 Sir Thomas Vifedelieu, km. had free-warren to this 
 manor, with the moiety of the advowfon, and left two 
 daughters, co-heireffes, between whom it was divifi- 
 ble. Ifabel married fir John Verdon, kat. and Mar- 
 garet, Thomas Moflelis, efq. 
 
 The moietv of the advowfon went with Verdon:* 
 part, and ddcended with the manor to fir Imbert 
 Noon, of Shelfanger, who married Ifabel, the 
 daughter and heirefs of fir John Verdon, aboui 14.08, 
 and prefented in 1410 In 1412 fir Henry Noorr, 
 knt. fucceedcd who this year had a grant of free- 
 xvarren and liberty to inclofe 310 acres for a park, 
 but he died before he had compleated his defign, 
 leaving Henry Noon, e(q. his fon and heir, who 
 much encrealed his eftate by his valiant exploits, 
 being a brave foldier and an experienced officer. He 
 couitantly attended Henry V. in the French war*, 
 where he behaved fo gallantly, that the king gave 
 him the caftlc, lands, and lordfhip of Tonde, in Nor- 
 mandy, which was late the earl of Montaigne's, being 
 2000 fcutes a year. He died in 1465, leaving this 
 manor to Elizabeth his wife, till Henry his fon catne 
 of age, who enjoyed it till Ws death in 1487, and 
 xvas buried under a large grave-ftone in this chancel, 
 the inscription of which is now torn off, but his arms 
 lately remained. His wife, Eleanor, after his de- 
 
 ceafe,
 
 x62 HUNDRED OF 
 
 ceafe, married William Lancaflcr, of Briflingham, 
 efq. and after lhat Robert VVingfield, efq. 
 
 .Henry Noon, fon and heir, fucceeded. In 1519 
 the faid Henry, and Robert Holditch, (who ws ioid 
 of the other moiety) manutnifed a great part of the 
 manor. Whether it was this liemy, or his fon 
 Francis, that fold the manor, we cannot fay, but it 
 was purchafed by the duke of Norfolk, who kept 
 court herein 1532. 
 
 The other moiety went with Margaret, the other 
 daughter, to Thomas Moflcils, cfq. her hufband, 
 \vlio having no male iflue, it came to their daujzhiers. 
 Margaret and Joan, fb that this moiety was divided 
 again ; but in 1326 Richard Yaxlcy held the whole 
 of this moiety, and in 1532 fold it to Thomas duLc 
 of Norfolk, and his heirs, who having purchafed the 
 other moiety of the Noons, as alfo Hoe's manor, be- 
 came now fole lord and patron, and it hath been ever 
 fince, and now remains in that honouiable family, 
 the prefent duke being lord and patron. 
 
 Here was another manor, called FRIERS, which 
 belonged to the abbey of Sibton, in Suffolk. This 
 was formerly the pcfTcfiion of Edric, falconer to the 
 Coufeffor, and had only fifteen acres demelnes at ihat 
 time. This Edric was ancestor to Robert Mala, 
 lord of Eye honor, who in the Conqueror's days, 
 or foon afterwards, infeofted Walter de Qadcmo, 
 (Caam, or Caus) in the barony of Horsford, to be 
 held of his honor, with which this patted. 
 
 \Villiam de Cadomo, his great grandfon, was cal-- 
 led aftei wards de Cayneto, de Chethmey, or Chey- 
 ney, who, according to his promife, founded the 
 abbey ol Sibton, in Suffolk, in his own land, in the
 
 D I S S. 1% 
 
 year 1145, endowing it with many revenues, and 
 among them with this manor, which was then very 
 fmall, but was foon after augmented by divers gifts 
 given to that houfe. In 1361 it was lett to Bofevile, 
 at 405. per annum. In 1336 the abbot new-built 
 Frier's-hall, at the expence of 50!. the dcmefnes 
 were then 50 acres. In 1403 the convent leafed out 
 their whole po(Te (lions here to John Lancafter, efq. 
 lor feven years, at 3!. is. per annum, the demefnes 
 being cxcepted : it now extended into Sheltanger, 
 Roydon, Briffingham, and Difs, in Norfolk, and 
 Thrandefton and Yaxley, in Suffolk. About 1530 
 Henry Noon farmed it, with one of acre marfh, hi 
 Bnffingham, and the commonage of 200 fheep there, 
 and fo it continued till the twenty-eighth year of Hen- 
 jy VIII. in which year the abbot and monks, fore- 
 feeing what was coming upon them, bargained with 
 Thomas duke of Norfolk, and refigned their houfe 
 to him and his heirs, with all that belonged thereto, 
 the duke having procured leave of the king that he 
 might receive it, and hold it to him and his heirs lor 
 ever, which was confirmed by a& of parliament in 
 the thirty-firft year of the reign of Henry VIII. and 
 then it was joined to the other manors, with which. 
 it now continues. The commonage of the 200 fheep 
 was, laid to Vifeclelieu's, or Shelfanger-hall, as it is 
 now called, and Frier's-hall was foon after demo- 
 lifhed. It flood juft by the gate going from Briffing* 
 ham-comrnon to Shelfanger-hall. 
 
 SHELFANGER MANOR, alias D'AVELER'S, was ori- 
 ginally the demefnes of the Gonfeflbr, afterwards 
 given (Cither by him or lovne other) to St. Edmund's 
 abbey, at Bury, of which it was held in the Con- 
 queror's time, 
 
 The
 
 164 HUNDRED OF 
 
 The firft parr conftitmed the manor called D'Ave- 
 ler's. The fccond was rn the abbey till the diflblution. 
 with other lands that were afterwards given. The 
 third was joined to BrifTingham manor, and always 
 attended it. As to the firft it was very early granted 
 from the abbey in two parts, which foon after was 
 joined, and in 1190 Hugh dc Vilere was lord. The 
 polfeflions of this Hugh, which laid here, and in 
 Broome, and Arwarton, in Suffolk, were then worth 
 40!. per annum, and were all held by ferjeamy, viz. 
 " by the fervice of conducting the foot foldiers of 
 the two counties of Norfolk and Suffolk for 40 davs, 
 at the king's fummons. from St. Edmund's-ditch, now 
 tailed the Devil's-ditch, on Newmarket heath, to the 
 king's army in Wales, for which he was to have four- 
 pence of each for conduct money, and the rfeft, for 
 their maintenance, was to be at the king's coft ;" and 
 by this tenure it always patted. 
 
 John de Avilers fold all to Walter de Shelfanger, 
 and John de Sotefbrook, or Stokefbrook, who after- 
 wards became one of the heirs of the faid Walter, 
 and in 1286 took poffeffion by the king's licence, and 
 had free-warren allowed him in all his lands. This 
 manor had a houfe and park, and by marriage thefe 
 manors came to fir Oliver Calthorpe. It was after- 
 wards divided into many parts, by which the manor 
 vas all loft, except fome trifling rents which were in 
 the duke of Norfolk in 1536, it was then called 
 Sherwood's, in Shelfanger : it remains now with the 
 other manor. 
 
 The other part, which was Loverd's, was made a 
 free tenement, and called by the owner's name, to 
 which many fervices belonged, and daily increafed, 
 as the owners of the tenements fold off their lands, 
 fell which they made payable to the cellarer of the 
 
 abbey
 
 D I S S. 165 
 
 abbey, to difcharge the capital tenement of the lent 
 and fervice due from it to the abbey, and when 
 enough was fold to anfwer that purpofe, it became a 
 freehold only, and as fuch has paffed ever fince. 
 Thefe came to Henry VIII. who gave Ibme of them 
 to divers perfons, and others were granted to Norton, 
 &c. by queen Elizabeth, to be held free of the manor 
 of Eall Greenwich, in Kent. 
 
 Here was another free tenement, called Winfar- 
 thing Tenement, from its fituation on the great road 
 near that place; it laid in Shelfanger, and anciently 
 belonged to the Bardwells, being held of their manor 
 of Gateflhorpe by the annual rent of a pound of 
 pepper: half of it in 1280 was owned by Walter dc 
 \Vinfarthing, who paid half a pound of pepper for 
 himfelf and all his tenants, which were about thirty 
 in number; fome of them were obliged to double 
 iervice for their lands, viz. to pay one rent to the lord 
 of the tenement, and another to the chief lord of the 
 fee : the other half was held by John le Lord, and his 
 tenants, by the fame fervices. 
 
 Thefe manors in 1532 were all in Thomas duke 
 of Norfolk, and being then joined, have continued 
 together without any other diflinCtion, as they do at 
 this day, the flile of the court running thus ; " Shelf- 
 anger, Vifedelieu's, Hoe's, and Frier's." 
 
 The cufloms are thefe, the eldeft fon inherits, 
 they can fell timber, pull down, build up, plant, and 
 cut down on the copyhold, and wafle without li- 
 cence, but the fines are at the lord's will. The Ictt 
 belongs not to the manor, but hath patted with Difs 
 hundred, the lord of which keeps it at this time, 
 and hath as. lect-fec. 
 
 SHIMPLING,
 
 .166 HUNDRED OF 
 
 SHIMPLING, or SHIMPLINGHAM. as it is 
 wrote in Doomfday-book, is bounded on the eaft by 
 Dicklebuigh, on the weft by Burflori, on the fouth 
 by Thelveton, and on the north by Giffing : it is a 
 reclory appendantto the manor, and being difcharjred 
 of firft fruits and tenths is capable of augmentation. 
 The reclory hath a houfe and fixteen acres of glebe. 
 Norwich Doomfday book fays, that Richard dc 
 Boy land was then patron, and that the le&or had a 
 houfe and 15 acres of land. It is valued in the 
 king's books at lol. 135. ^d. and the glebe amounts 
 to about 20 acres. 
 
 In 1753 the Rev. Stephen Whifton was prefented 
 to this reclory by Robert Buxton, clerk, p. j. but in 
 1771 the faud Rev. Robert Buxton held it as reclor 
 and pairon, Edward Moon being licenftd curate in 
 
 1777. 
 
 The church had a fteeple, round at bottom, and 
 oclaugular at top, and four fmall bells ; it is leaded, 
 though the chancel is thatched, and the north porch 
 tiled. It is dedicated to St. George, whofc effigy, 
 with his fhield, viz. arg. a plain crofs gul. is to be 
 fecn in a fouth window of the chancel, and feems to 
 be as old as the building, which in all appearance 
 was in the beginning of the igth century, (though 
 the fteeple is much older) for then William de Shimp- 
 ling was lord and patron, whole arras ftill remain 
 under this efRgy. 
 
 Here was a guild in honor of the fame faint, and a 
 chapel dedicated to St. Mary, which flood on Shimp- 
 ling-hithe, of which there are no remains, being 
 down before the general diCTolution, for we meet with 
 no grant of it at that time. 
 
 St.
 
 D I S S. 167 
 
 St. George and the dragon, and the arms of 
 ShirnpHng, are carved on the font. The chancel is 
 covered with large grave-ftones, all difrobed of their 
 braffes ; feveral of them were laid over the reclors, 
 as appears from the chalice and wafer upon them, that 
 beinp: the fymbolof a prieft. The reft, that had arms, 
 we take to be laid over the Shimplings, and the 
 Shaixielowes. 
 
 On a fmall flone, towards the weft end of the 
 church, Richard Leffingham, ob. 5 die Qftob. anno 
 Dni. 1703, 
 
 On a marble, near the pulpit, the arms of Potter ; 
 ~icill Potter, gent, dyed Jan. 29, 1693, a S e( ^ 7 
 
 Here are twelve penny loaves given to as many 
 poor people, by the reclor and churchwardens, on the 
 fiift Sunday in every month, there being land tied for 
 
 In the Confeflbr's time Torbcrt held this manor 
 of Stigand. it being then worth sos. of whom the 
 part in Giffing was alfo held by another freeman, and 
 was then of 55. value, but was rilen to ten in the 
 Conqueror's time, though Shimpliug continued at the 
 fame value. This, as one manor, was given by 
 the Conqueror to Roger Bigot, who gave it to Ro- 
 bert de Vais, de Vallibus, or Vaus, it being then a 
 mile and quarter long, and a mile broad ; the 
 whole paid $d gelt. There was then a church and 
 ten acres of glebe, valued at iad. and feveral other ma- 
 nors extended hither. The Vais's held it of Bigot's 
 fucceffors till 1237, in which year Oliver de Vallibus 
 
 granted 
 
 * This was Icfi by W. Denrangton, of Meadham, y
 
 i6& H U N D R E D O F 
 
 granted it to Richard Rupella (afterwards called Ro- 
 kele) to be held of him by knight's fcrvicc. 
 
 In 1280 Roger de Shimpling held it by knight's 
 fervice of Richard Rokclc's heirs, and was lord of 
 the manor and patron. Roger dc Shimpiing pre- 
 fented in 1328, and held till about 1345, when 
 he \vas dead, and Emma his wife had it, at whofe 
 death it fell divifible between their three daughters, 
 and was firfl held by John de Kirtliug, and then by 
 the de Ellinghams. 
 
 How it went from the de Ellinghams we don't 
 know, but imagine it muft be by female lieirelTes ; 
 for in 1521 Humphry Wingfield had a moiety of it, 
 and John Aldham had another part ; he died in 1558 
 and was buried in this chancel, leaving his part to 
 John, his fon, who held it jointly with Bonaventurc 
 Shaidelowe in 1571 ; Mr. Aldham had a fourth part 
 of the manor, and a third turn, and Mr. Shardelowe 
 three parts and two turns. The patronage and ma- 
 nor was in Mr. John Moite. who was buried Oclo- 
 ber 7, 1640*. It looks as if the Mottes had Aid- 
 ham's part, and afterwards purchafed Shardelowe's of 
 Mr. John Shardelowe, v\ho held it till 1611. He 
 conveyed it to Edmund Skipwith, efq. and Anthony 
 Barry, gent, and they to Thomas Wales, and John 
 Bafely, gents, who conveyed it to the Mottes, from 
 
 whom 
 
 * 1640, 7thOftober, Mr. John Motte, my airlifted patron, 
 wasburiedby me, Nich. Colie Memorandum, that the laft day 
 of February, or the firft of April, 1636, I felled a licence, and 
 delivered it to my prefent patron, iVL . Motte, allowinge him 
 liberty accordinge to the ftatute in this cafe provided to eat 
 fome flefhe meate this Lent, for his comfortable relief in his 
 prefent ficknefs and weaknefs in nature." Tefte me, N. Colte, 
 tcftore ib.
 
 D I S S, 169 
 
 whom, we are apt to think, it came to the Proctors, 
 for John Buxton, of St. Margaret's, in South Ehn- 
 harc, had it in right of his wife, who was kinf- 
 vvoman and heirefs of Mr. Proctor, reclor of Giffing. 
 After this it came to Robert Buxton, efq. who died 
 and left it to Elizabeth his wife, who is fince dead, 
 and Elizabeth Buxton, their only daughter, a minor, 
 was lady and patronefs in i 735. It is now with the 
 Rev. Robert Buxton. 
 
 The leet belongs to the manor, and the fine is at 
 the lord's will. As to the other parts of this village, 
 they being parts of the manors of Tivetfhall, Fers- 
 field, and BrifTingham, it is fufficient to obferve, that 
 they went with thofe manors, except that pare held by 
 Fulco, of which the regifter called Pinchbeck, 'folio 
 l &2, fays, that Fulco, or Fulcher, held of the abbot in 
 Simplingaham and Giffing feventy acres and four 
 bordereis, being infeofied by abbot Baldwin, in the 
 time of the Conqueror. Ihis manor about the time 
 of Edward I. was in fir John Shardelowe, a judge in 
 that king's reign, in whole family it continued till 
 1630, when it was fold to Mr. Motte. The feat of 
 the Shardelowes is now called the Place, and is the 
 eftate of the duke of Grafton, and formerly belong- 
 ed to Ifaac Pemrington, alderman of London, one of 
 thufe regicidts that fat as judges at the king's trial, 
 for uhich he was knighted. He lived to the reftora- 
 tion, when 4iis eflates were ieized as forfeited to 
 Charles II. who gave this to the duke of Grafton ; 
 upon the forfeiture, the copvhold on the different 
 manors were alfo feized, which is the reafon that the 
 quit-rents to Gifling, Titvetfhall, 8cc. afre fo large, 
 ihey being made fo when the lords regranted them. 
 
 This parifli had fixty-nine communicants in 1603, 
 
 and in 1735 twenty-three houies and about 130 in- 
 
 M habitants.
 
 i;o HUNDRED OF 
 
 habitants. The town is valued at 300!. per annum. 
 Here are three acres ft/ town-land, one piece is a fmall 
 pightlt abutting on the land of Robert Leman, efq. 
 another piece is called SufanVpightle, lying in Gii- 
 iing, and was given by a woman of that name to 
 repair the church-porch (as we are informed) ; the 
 other piece lies in Difs-Heywood, and pays an an- 
 nual rent of 53. 
 
 The commons are, Kett's-fenn, which contains 
 about four acres ; Pound-green, one acre ; Hall- 
 green, four acres ; the Bottom, fix acres ; and the 
 Lower-green, fix acres. 
 
 TIVETSHALL, or TITSHALL. is varioufly writ- 
 ten in different ages, firft Toteffala, Tivetelhall, or 
 TyvetfhaJl, and Titihall, afterwards Tiftefhale, now 
 Tivetfhall St. Mary and St. Margaiet; thefe churches 
 and manor were begged of his parents by Syward, a 
 monk of Bury, whom Leofstan the abbot had made 
 dean, who at his requeft gave it to that monaftery ; 
 and in 1274 it appears that he was foil of Ofulph le 
 Sire, who held it of the crown in capite, by the annual 
 rent of 205. which the abbot paid quarterly at Nor- 
 wich caflle, by the name of waytefee, and held it as 
 part of his barony, having court-leet, aflize of bread 
 and ale, and liberty of free-warren ; the whole was 
 allotted by the convent to the abbot's own ufe, who 
 was taxed for his temporalities here at 30!. iss. 4d. 
 and paid yearly 55. lod. to the lord of the hundred 
 to excufe him and his tenants from all fuit to his 
 hundred-court. In the time of the Confeffor there- 
 were two churches, with forty acres of land, and the 
 manor extended into Gifling and Shimpling, and was 
 then valued at 7!. and in the Conqueror's time at gl. 
 153. it being then a league and four furlongs long, 
 and half a league broad, and paid i/d, gelt; from
 
 D I S S. 171 
 
 this, time it continued in the abbots till the diflblu- 
 tion of their monaftery, when it was feizel by the 
 crown, and was granted by Henry VIII. in the year 
 1542, to John Cormvallis*, who for his fingular 
 courage and conduct under Thomas duke of Norfolk,, 
 at the taking of Morlaix, in Bretaigne. had the honor 
 of knighthood then conferred on him, and foon after 
 his return from thofe wars was made (toward of the 
 houfhold to prince Edward ; he died feifed in i 5494 
 at Afh bridge, in Buckinghamshire, and is buried under 
 a noble monument in Berkharnfted church, in that 
 county, leaving it to Thomas Cornwaliis, knt.. his 
 fon and heir, who had then livery of it ; he being 
 fheriffof Norfolk and Suffolk in the laft year of the 
 reign of Edward VI. railed great forces againft the 
 oppofers of queen Mary's title; for which feivices 
 he was firft fworn one of the privy council, then 
 made trcafurer of Calais, and afterwards comptroller 
 of her houfliold ; at his death, in 1604, it went to 
 fir William Cornwaliis, knt. of Brome, in Suffolk, 
 who died feifed November 13, 1610. leaving it to 
 Frederick Cornwaliis, his fon and heir, who was 
 created baronet by Charles I. by letters patent, dated 
 May 4, 1627, and " having fervcd that prince both 
 " in court and camp with great fidelity, for which he 
 " fuffered in thole unhappy times both imprifon- 
 " merit, exile, and the 4 lofs of his eftate; in teftimo- 
 " ny of which, to reward his great merits and ac- 
 " complifhments," he was by Charles II. in 1061, 
 made a baron of the realm, by the title of lord 
 Cornwallis, baron of Eye, in Suffolk : 'at his death 
 it went to Charles lord Cornwaliis, his fon and heir, 
 Ma / who 
 
 * Upon the grant there was a fee-farm rent of 4!. 6s. ^d. 
 ob. referved, which was p;iid to the crown till William 111. 
 granted it to the lord Offulton, to whom it was paid in 1688* 
 and belongs to his excellency now, (1735) fo that the manor is 
 difchargcd of it.
 
 179 HUNDRED OF 
 
 who is buried at Culford, in Suffolk ; he left it to 
 Charles lord Cornwallis, his fon and heir, who was 
 one of the lords of the admiralty in the reign of 
 William III. and lord lieutenant of the county of 
 Suffolk ; he left it to Charles lord Cornwallis, his 
 fon and heir, at vvhof- death it defcended to the late 
 Charles lord Corr.wallis, his fon and heir, who fold it 
 to Horatio lord Walpole, whofe fon, the prefent Ho- 
 ratio lord Walpole, of Wookerton, is lord and 
 patron. 
 
 Another part of this town belonged to Winfarthing 
 manor; another to the abbot of Ely's manor of Pul- 
 ham ; another to William bifhop of Thetford, which 
 was of his own inheritance, and not in right of his 
 bifhopric, at the conqueft, of aos. value; it was af- 
 terwards held by die le Neves, from whom it was 
 called le Neve's Tenement, in which family it con- 
 tinued till the i6ih century; and another part of 
 this manor extended into Gifllng. 
 
 Bcfides thefe there were feveral tenements, or ma- 
 nors, as tney are often called, all which had their 
 origin by the abbots infeoffments, and are now in- 
 cluded in the great manor. 
 
 In 1307 William Bateman, bailiff of Norwich, a 
 man famous in his time, from whom fprung William 
 Bateman, bifliop of Norwich, purchafcd a free te- 
 nement here. 
 
 It appears in the regifter, called Pinchbeck, fo!. 
 195, thai Walter" a fon of the dean of Norwich, 
 held a free tenement, with fixty acres of land, #nd 
 divers rents and fervices, of the abbot's grant ; it be- 
 ionged afterwards to Thomas de Pakenkam, then to 
 
 Joha
 
 s. 
 
 '72 
 
 John de Hoe, who infeoffed fir Richard de Boyland 
 in it, who held it in 1294. 
 
 The MANOR called UPHALL had its firft rife in 
 die time of Samfon abbot of Bury, who firft infc-' 
 offed Thomas de Tiftefhall in it, and foon after it 
 came to fir Adam de Tiftefhall, knt. It continued to 
 be held by this family, though they quite left off the 
 firname of Tiftefhall, and took UphalU It was fold 
 to fir Edward Jennty about 1500; from the Jcnneys 
 it carne.to the crown, and was granted in the 24th of 
 Henry VIII. to the duke of Norfolk, who afterwards 
 conveyed it to Edward White, of Totfal! to be held 
 of the manor of Forncet, by knight's fervice; his 
 fon, George White, fold it to John Cornwallis cfq 
 and (bit fell into the great manor; it extended at 
 that time into Dickleburgh, Shimplingr, Moulton, 
 JPulnam, Giffing, and Watton. 
 
 Several lands fettled for obijts, and other fuperfti- 
 tiousufes were feized in 1547, and were granted to 
 Ihomas Wodehoufe, gent, and his heirs, to be held 
 m foccage ol the king's manor of Brooke.. 
 
 The cuftoms of the manor are thefe; " the fine 
 is at the lord's will, the copyhold defcends to the 
 eldett Ion, they cannot wafte their copvhold houfes 
 nor fell timber, without licence." 
 
 In 1266 ( 44 th of Henry HI.) there was an extent 
 - '' Whkh lime Che 
 
 T- / n ers 
 
 Tivetfhali and Shimpling*. if the lord was at 
 
 M 3 Bury, 
 
 the , C . onfu ! turlin "y, or copyholders belonging to 
 
 lotter! ' 6 ^ , m nUmbr ' 31ld ea ^ had twelve ,?res 
 Allotted him, for which they werc to do all the lord's work, by 
 
 whoa
 
 i?4 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Bury, were obliged to carry two parts of the abbot's 
 provifion, and the men of Dickleburgh and Semere 
 the other third part ; the lord had then a large park, 
 and a fneid, or fneih, fenced round, which was re- 
 paired by the tenants yearly: William de UphaU 
 held this manor by the payment of 45. sd. per ann. 
 and 8d. a year to the abbot, to be free from fuit of 
 the hundred court, for which freedom ihe abbot paid 
 55. a year for the whole town. All who held free 
 tenements, or fmall manors, under the abbot, were.to 
 .do fuit to the abbot's court, and to plow and cart 
 with all the cattle they had for the lord, and were to 
 pay a third part of the abbot.' s general aid for Tivet- 
 rtiafl and Shimpling, and to find a third part of the. 
 lord's wine, and to carry it to Palgiave-bridge, and 
 to fence in the park, fneid, and flack-yards, and re- 
 pair them yearly, thefe free tenements being iirft 
 granted by the abbots to be held of their chief ma- 
 nor upon thefe conditions. 
 
 Here are two churches, about a mile diftant from 
 each other ; the mother church is dedicated to St. 
 Mary the Virgin ; the other is a parochial chapel, 
 whofe patronefs is St. Margaret, both of ancient 
 foundation, even before the Conqueror, it was al- 
 ways a firgle infihution, appendant to the manor, as 
 it ftill remains, though the parishes are feparate, and 
 hath now. and ever had, diftind officers; it is valued 
 in the king's books at 20!. 
 
 In 1307, May 2. fir Thomas de Botetourt, fub- 
 deacon, one ol an ancient and good family in this 
 county, was infiituted, but upon his infthution was 
 
 obliged 
 
 whom they were to be maintained, and h?ve 8d\ a piece every 
 futnmer, a^d a perch of grafs, and a bundle of hay, and 6d. 
 every autumn.
 
 D I S S. 175 
 
 obliged to fwear to William de Knapeton, then arch- 
 deacon of Norwich, that whereas he was then a plu- 
 ralift, and held Euftone and Troftone livings in this 
 diocefe, both which had care of fouls, that >he would 
 immediately refign one, unlefs he obtained a difpen- 
 fation from the pope, as foon as he quietly received 
 the profits of Tivetfhall. 
 
 In 1603 ^ ie rec "^ or anfwered, that he held thefe two 
 churches, being one benefice, with the benefice of 
 Heigham by Norwich; he was inftituted June 15, 
 1600, and prefented by fir Thomas Cornwallis, knt. 
 
 In 1765 'he Rev, Thomas Martin was prefented 
 by the right honorable Horatio lord Walpole to the 
 retory of Tivetfhall St. Mary, with St. Margaret. 
 
 St. Mary's is the mother church, over which the 
 biftiop and archdeacon's vifitatorial power extends ; 
 it is an old building, having its nave, chancel, and 
 fouth porch, thatched, a fquare tower, and five 
 bells. 
 
 The following arms were formerly in the windows 
 of the church, ftecple, and chancel, but are all loft, 
 except thefe firft three, viz. Botetourt, Fitz-Otes, 
 Jingland, St. Edward the Confeffor, the Eaft Angles, 
 St. Edmund, Boyland, Kcrdefton, Ufford, Lowdham, 
 and Norwich; Bacon impaling Scales. On the 
 rood-loft an efcutcheon of lady Jarnegan, viz. i. Jar- 
 negan. 2. Ingaldefthorp. 3. Fitz-Ofbert. 4. Mor- 
 timer, 5. Arg. on a chev. fab. three efcallops errn. 
 6. Picrpoint. 7. Or. a faltyr ingrailedin a bprdure 
 fab* 
 
 M4 O*
 
 I 7 6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 On a grave-flone were Ailmcr's arms; it lies in the 
 chancel, but the effigies, arms, and inscription, are 
 gone. 
 
 Here are two black marbles ; one hath an ef- 
 CUtcheon for John Boys, recior, who died December 
 
 30, lobi. The other is for Helen, his wife, who 
 
 died September i, 1661. 
 
 In the church-yard, on the fouth fide, is an altar- 
 tomb, covered with black marble, for Mary, wije of 
 Robert Aeltle, daughter and heirejs cf Mr. William Ful- 
 ler, of Brijifingham, who had Jour child? en, all buried by 
 her, dbijt Feb. 27, 1728, aged 63. 
 
 The parochial chapel of St. Margaret acknow- 
 ledges no vifitatorial pov\er but that of ihe bifhop 
 only, for it pays the archdeacon no procurations but 
 as much again as the mother church does, to the bi- 
 fhop for fynodais. The nave and fouth porch arc 
 leaded, the chancel thatched, the tower is fquare, and 
 hath five bells in it. 
 
 In the chancel, under an arch in the north wall, is 
 an pld hee-ltone altar-monument, with a crofs foimy 
 on it, bu^t no inlciipiion to diicover who he was, 
 though without doubt it was for fome religious per- 
 fon that founded the chancel. 
 
 > On abrafs, Hicjacet Bngilta, nuper uxor Antonij 
 Barry, generofi, out obijL 4 ait Maij, anno 1635, atlat. 
 tli 
 
 Here are three black marbles ; the fit ft for Chrif- 
 topher Burrel, late reftor, w; o did "January 6 1701. 
 
 The fecond for L : arlt* o of the Rev Charles 
 
 Gibbs, redor, and Elizabeth, /ii> Wtje y who died April
 
 D I S S. 177 
 
 22, 1721, aged 16 yearn. The third for Mrs. 
 
 Margaret Stannatd, relitt of Mr. 'John Stannard, late 
 of this parijh, firjt married to Thomas Halls, gent, jke 
 died September i, 1 735, in the -j^th year of her age. 
 
 The cu floras of this re&ory are thefe ; they pay 
 .6d for every calf under feven, id. ob for every 
 co.v, intlead of tyihe milk, and id. every houfe for 
 harth-filver for all wood burnt in the town, all 
 wood fold out of town pays tythe according to its va- 
 lue, and all other tythes belonging to this reclory are 
 paid in their proper kinds. 
 
 .;: ; sd i 
 
 The parifh of Tlvetfhall St. Mary hath a frnall 
 cottage fituate near the church, a piece of land con- 
 taining half an acre, which abuts on Mill-green 
 north, fbuth, and eaft, and on Henry Goodwin's 
 lauds weft, a fmall piece, called Sent's-yards. about 
 Tmerood, rented at Ls. per ann. lol. in money, the 
 iniereft of which is given to the poor yearly upon. 
 Ealler Monday, and the poor receive yearly los. 
 from the churchwardens of St. Margaret's. 
 
 The parifh of St. Margaret, in Tivetfliall, hath fix 
 acres of land lying in Mi.-ulton, part is copyhold, and 
 part free, tvhich is rented ai 3!. los. a year, and was 
 given by Jeiicry Neeve; ir abuts on Moulton com- 
 mon on the weft, Mr. Fulcher's on the fouih, and on 
 the way leading to Moulton High green on the eaft ; 
 the rent is received by the churchwardens, ibs, 6d is 
 paid every Eafte; to me poo of St. Margaret's, and 
 106. 10 the poor or St. Ma y's as aforefaid, the reft 
 is given towards repairing the church. 
 
 The commons are, Tivetfhall-green. Bateman's- 
 green Mill a;recu, Pound green, and Beck green, all 
 ef them comainiwg about jooacies, 
 
 b
 
 j 7 S HUNDREDOF 
 
 In 1603 there were 93 commun'cams in St. Mary's 
 pari/b, and 108 in St. Margaret's; there were in 
 1735 about 35 dwelling-houfes in St. Mary's, and 
 150 inhabitants, and 40 in St. Margaret's, and 180 
 inhabitants : they were valued at 3!. together to the 
 tenths, and 1394!. to the parliament valuation, but 
 now they are affeffed fmgle to the land tax, viz. St. 
 Mary's at 1. and St. Margaret's 344!. 
 
 Near the fixteen mile ftone from Norwich, on the 
 turnpike-road to Bury, Ipfwich, and London, is an 
 inn called Tivetfihall Ram, where poft-chaifes and 
 horfes are licenfed to be lett. 
 
 THELVETON, THELTON, or, as it is wrote in 
 Doomfday-book, Tclvetaham, Telvetunam.and Tel- 
 ventuna, had two manors, befides a pan that be- 
 longed to the honor of Eye. 
 
 The manor that belonged to Ely was granted from 
 that church, among others, to Henry de Rhie, and 
 was afterwards by the Marfhalls, who fuccceded in 
 that honor, given to the Scales', who in 1282 held 
 both the manors. Jeffery de Scalarijs, Sealers, or 
 Scales, died feifed the year following. Hardevinus 
 de Sealers, the firft of note of the family, was one of 
 the valiant Normans that aflifted the Conqueror in 
 his great expedition, who gave him many manors, 
 and made him baron by tenure. 
 
 The advowfon of the rec"tory was given to the con- 
 vent of St. Mary Overy, in Southwark, very early, 
 by fome one of this family, all the redlors that are to 
 be (net with in the inftitution books being prefcnted 
 by the priors there till the diflblution, and from that 
 time by the crown, where the patronage now remains ; 
 
 the
 
 ilie priors had a portion of 55. paid out of the rec- 
 tory, which was taxed at 6d. 
 
 A quarter of a fee of the manor of Thelvcton hia 
 in Gifling, and was alienated by Thomas de Scala- 
 rijs to one of the family fimamed de I helveton ; and 
 John de Sealers, or Scales, died in 1466, leaving 
 Thelveton and Whaddon to Maud, his wife, who 
 died in 1470, and left three daughters, coheirelles ; 
 Alice, married to John Moore ; Ann, to John Har- 
 court; and Margaret, unmarried ; but to which this 
 was allotted we find not. neither can we tell who 
 owned it till 1538, March 10, and then it belonged 
 to Beatrix Harman, fole daughter and heirefs to 
 Henry Moine, efq. who was lord of Thelvcton. 
 Geoige Bowgham, efq. n-;xt kinfman and heir to the 
 faid Beatrix, immediately after had the eftate releafed 
 to him and his heirs ; this George the fame year fet- 
 tled it on William Rogers, and Catherine, his wife, 
 and their heirs ; and Catherine furviving her huf- 
 band, in 1554, April 24, fold the manor to John 
 Stubbe. gent, whofe eldeft fon, John Stubbe, gave it 
 to Ann, his wife, to be fold, of whom Thomas Ha- 
 vers, of Winfarthing, gent, in 1592 purchafed it, 
 and died in 1603 ; from which time it hath paffed in 
 a lineal defcent in this family. 
 
 The Havers' had their rife unddr the Norfolk fa- 
 mily, which they have ferved for many generations ; 
 John Haver^ was gentleman of the horfe to John 
 duke of Norfolk, and attended him in the battle at 
 Bofworth-field, where that duke was flain ; John 
 Havers, of Winfarthing, in Norfolk, was fleward to 
 the family, as was Thomas Ha/ers, his fon, who pur- 
 chafed the manor, and built the prefent manfion- 
 houfe, which is a good brick building, and very uni- 
 form ; John, his iecond fon, was bailiff to the earl of 
 
 Arundei
 
 i8o HUNDRED OF 
 
 Arundei in 1610; Edward, his third Ton, was fteward 
 of his courts ; and Tliomas, his fourth fon, was 
 farmer of the parks ; William Havers continued the 
 fame office at his father's death, and Thomas Havers, 
 gent, the prefent lord, now hath it. 
 
 The cuftoms of the manor are thefe ; the copy- 
 hold defcends to the youngeft fon, the fine is at the 
 lord's will, the tenants cannot wafte their copyhold 
 !}pufes, nor fell timber without licence j it gives no 
 dower. 
 
 This re&ory is valued at gl. in the king's books, 
 and being difcharged ot fail-fruits and tenths, is ca- 
 pable of augmentation; it hath a rectary-houfe,- 
 which, with three acres of land belonging to it, was 
 given to the church in 1375, when the re^.rr obtained 
 3 licence in mortmain to confirm it. At the time of 
 the Lincoln taxation the re&or had twenty-two acres 
 of glebe; the rectory was valued atfeventetn marks, 
 belides the prior of Southuark's portion of s. out 
 of it, and in the Norwich taxation the portions of the 
 canons of Somhwark were taxed at feven marks. 
 
 The church is a fmall building, confuting of a 
 rave, chancel, and fouth porch, all tiled, and a 
 fquare fteeple and two bells only one being formerly 
 fold to repair the church, which is dedicated to St. 
 Andrew the Apoflle. 
 
 On two flat ftones by the altar ; the find hath Ha- 
 vers' arms ; Hie jacet corpus Thoma Havers, qui obijt 
 Febr. i, anno Dni. 1697, titet.JiuB 66. Requicjcat in 
 
 pace. Ann, ddtjl daughter of Thomas Bramton, of 
 
 Norton, efq. ^<jl married to Edward Kene, and after 
 to Thomas Atajii, died the ibth of December, 1625. 
 
 A fmall
 
 D I S S. iSi 
 
 A fmall mural monument on the fou:h fideof ihe 
 chancel, to Mary Englefield, wife of Thomas Haver^ 
 tfq. obijt 21 Oftob. anno Dni. 1682. 
 
 This village in the Conqueror's time was twd 
 miles long, and one broad, and paid ;d. Dane-gelt, 
 In 1603 there were 74 communicants; and in 1735 
 20 houfes, and 100 inhabitants: it paid to the tenth* 
 Q[. and was valued at the alfociation tax at 612!. the 
 prefent value being 475!. The leet belongs to the 
 hundred, the leet-fee being is. 
 
 The commons are, Atte-green, which joins to 
 Dickleburgh, and contains about fifteen acres ; Hiil- 
 green, about eighty acres ; Bottom-common, about 
 ten acres ; Weft-common, about fifty acres, and 
 Little-green, and they intercoinmon on Scok-green. 
 
 THORPE Parua, or LITTLE THORPE, is a fmall 
 village on the eaft part of Scole, having only four 
 lioufes in it ; the name of Torp, in Saxon, fignifies a 
 manor-houfe, and this is called in ancient evidences 
 Thorp Mannewen, probably from Ralph de Mane- 
 rijs, or Manors, lord thereof, and Little Thorpe, or 
 Parva Thorpe, to diftinguiQi it from Thorpe Abbots, 
 which lies near it. It paid to the tenths il. 45. out 
 of which 43. was deduced ; the parliament valuation 
 was 148!. and the prefent value is 120!. It is a rec- 
 tory, but aftnecure, the church, which is dedicated to 
 St. Mary the Virgin, being quite demolifhed ; ihe 
 ruins of the fteeple, which was round, ftill remain. 
 
 In 1603. in the manufcript called " The Anfwers 
 of the Parfons,"' it is thus entered; " Robert Dale, 
 '? farmer of this benefice, faith, that there are about 
 *' five communicants, that it is a refiory prefeiuativc, 
 " valued in the king's books at 4!* that Edward 
 
 " D'oyly,
 
 tS2 HUNDREDOF 
 
 ** D'oyly, efq. is patron of it, (as it is faid) who re- 
 " ceiveth the tythes, and fo hath done of a long 
 ' time ; that the parifhioners hear Divine fervice at 
 " Billingford." It being fworn not to exceed the 
 clear yearly value of 30!. per annum, is capable of 
 augmentation, and neither pays firft-fiuiis, or tenths ; 
 the advowfon now is, and always was appendant to 
 the manor. 
 
 In 1469 William White, efq. of this parifh, who 
 was lord and patron, ordered his body to be buried 
 in the chancel of the church of the Bleffed Virgin at 
 Thorpe Parva, fo that the church was in ufe at that 
 time, and we believe long after. 
 
 In 1739, June -12, the rectory of Thorpe Parua, 
 was consolidated with Billingford, alias Prylefton, in 
 Earfham hundred; and in 1742 the Rev. John 
 Barker, fenior, was prefented to both by Rowland 
 Holt, efq. of Redgrave, in Suffolk. The Rev. John 
 Malyn was prefented in 1772. 
 
 This town belonged to Edric, who held it of Edric, 
 the anceftor of Robert Malet, lord of the honor of 
 Eye, of whom it was held by Hubert in the Con- 
 queror's time, when the manor extended (as it now 
 does) into Thetveton, the whole being valued at IDS. 
 in the Confeffor's, and aos. per ann. in the Con- 
 queror's time ; the foe belonged then to the king, to 
 whom it paid gd. gelt, being a mile long, and three 
 quarters of a mile broad ; it afterwards came to the 
 Munchenfies, who held it of the honor of Eye, which 
 tvas held of the king in capitc. 
 
 In 1206 William de Wefton was owner of it, and 
 this year releafed it to Alan Pi&avienfis, (afterwards 
 called Alan de Goldyngham) ; and in 1256 Daniel 
 
 de
 
 D I S S. -183 
 
 de Becclcs held it of the faid Alan, by the fervice of 
 one knight's fee, he of William de Montecanifo, (or 
 Montchenfy) he of the earl of Cornwall, as of Eye 
 honor, and he of the king. 
 
 John deNeckton owned it in 1315 ; it afterwards 
 ame to the Whites; for in 1469 William White, of 
 Thorpe Parva, efq. had the manor and advowfon; 
 Richard, his third fon, fucceeded, and held it till 
 1492 ; but being attainted of high treafon, his eftates 
 were feized by the king, who granted them to Henry 
 Wiot ; but the attainder being taken off, it reverted 
 to the family ; for John, the fourth fon, who was 
 doclor of divinity, inftituted to Filby reclory in 1505, 
 which he refigned in 1512, inherited on the entail, 
 and died feifcd, leaving Edmund, his fon and heir, 
 \vho died in 1551, and left Ann, his fifter, his heireff, 
 who was then the wife of Henry D'oyly, of Shotti'- 
 fham, who held it of the king as of his honor of Eye; 
 and in 1632 Henry D'oyly was lord and patron. 
 
 In 1715 Thomas Robinfon, gent, was lord and 
 patron, and fome time after it was purchafed by John 
 Sayer, of Eye, efq. who fold it to John Holt, efq. at 
 whofe death it defcended to Rowland Holt, of Red- 
 grave ,efq. who is now lord and patron. 
 
 The leet belongs to the manor, fo that ihe lord of 
 the hundred hath no juiifdidion in this town. 
 
 W1NFARTHING. This reaory is capable of 
 augmentation, being fworn of the clear yearly value 
 of 45!. The monks of Thetford had a portion of 
 tythes here, formerly valued at aos. The church i 
 dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Nathaniel Hallet 
 tied a clofe, called Cocky's-clofe, for certain re- 
 iigious purpofes, for ever, and was buriqd in this 
 
 churcja,
 
 iS4 H U N D R E t> O F 
 
 churcb. It was foon after appropriated by trie 
 bifhop of Norwich to the monks of Birley, a pen- 
 iion of s6s. 8d. payable quarterly, being referved 
 out of the great t\thes to the vicar. a!l which was 
 fevcal times confirmed by the archbifhops of Can- 
 terbury and fo it continued til! 1424, and then Re- 
 ginald de Gray, lord Haflings, &:c. recovered the ad- 
 vowfon from them, and prefcnted a rector, from 
 which time it hath continued a re&ory. It feems 
 ihev could produce no grant from the king for 
 the advowfon, nor confirmation from ihe pope of 
 the appropriation. Here is a fmall re&ory-houfe, 
 barn, ftable. back-houfe, and 04 acres of glebe, and 
 a piece without contents. I( is valued in the kingY 
 books at 1 2 1. 
 
 In i C i o, Sept. 20; Sam. Garey , I^L. B. was prefented 
 .by John Holland, elq. truft.ee to the Ho ward family ; 
 |ie was piebendary of Norwich and author* of ma- 
 ny iermons, and other divinity Era&s, fome printed, 
 ibme MSS. In 1774 the Rev. Combe Miller was 
 preleuted to this rectory by the right lion. Georgq 
 carl of Albermarie, p. j. a minor. 
 
 The tower is fquare, having a peal of five bells ia 
 it, the nave, fouth aile, and north porch are leaded, 
 the cliancel is thatched. 
 
 On a brafs plate in the nave ; Hiejacd Matthcui 
 Jialhcl, qui mortem obijt 3 die Maij, anno Dni.. i _,86 t 
 anno txtatisjuez 54. Thwnas Haliytt, gent, fecond '-on 
 cf Robeit tiallyct, gent. (u;.o alfo lyeth buried in this 
 ehurc.j died July 1 8, 1612, aged <fi. Many of this 
 'family (who were confidetable owners) are buried jo 
 
 this 
 
 * In 1618 he publlfiied a book called, Great Britciia's Little 
 "Calendar.
 
 D I S S. i&5 
 
 ' this church, feveral of their (tones being robbed of 
 their brafles. 
 
 About r6oo the following arms were in the win- 
 dows, all which are now defaced, except the Eaft 
 Angles and St. Edmund's ; Valence's earl of Pem- 
 broke, Moncbenfy's, Bohun's, and Hetherfct's. 
 i .!..-. 
 
 In the fouth aile there is a black marble, for 
 Elizabeth Bdvillc, alias Michell, who died April 3, 1683, 
 Aged 23. 
 
 Here was a clock formerly, which now (lands dif- 
 ufed in the fouth aile ; and in a chapel at the upper 
 end thereof was placed a famous fword, called the 
 good fword of Winfarthing, of which Bacon in his 
 Rcliques of Rome, printed in 1563, fol. 91, gives us 
 the following account: 
 
 " In Winfarthing, a little village in Norfolke, 
 there was a certeyne fwerd, called the good fwerd of 
 Winfarthing; this fwerd was counted fo precious a 
 relique, and of fo great virtue, that there was a fo- 
 Icrrtne pilgrimage ufed unto it, wyth large giftes and 
 oflringes, with now makings, crouchinges, and kif- 
 finges : This fwerd was vifited far and near, for many 
 and fundry purpofcs, but fpecially for thinges that 
 were loft, and for horfes that were eyther ftolen, or 
 elfe rune aftray ; it helpid alfo unto the (hortning of 
 a married man's life, if that the wyfe which was 
 weary of her hu(band, would fet a candle before that 
 fwerd every Sunday, for the fpace of a whole ycare, 
 no Sunday excepted, for then all was vain, whatfo- 
 ever was done before." 
 
 "I have many times heard (fays that author) 
 
 when I was a child, of divcrie ancient men and wo* 
 
 N men.
 
 i-86 HUNDRED OF 
 
 men, that this fwerd was the fwcrd of a ccrtayne 
 which totfk fancluary in that church -yard, and after- 
 wards through the negligence of the watchmen ef- 
 captd, and left his fwerd behind him, which being 
 found, and laid up in a certaine old chcfl,. was after- 
 wards, through the futtiky of the parlon and the cktk 
 of the fame parifh. made a precious relique, full of 
 venue, able to do much, but fpecially to enrich the 
 box, and make fat the parfon's pouch.'* 
 
 Pow many candles would have been fet up in the 
 prefcnt age before the " good fvvord of Winfarthing," 
 if it had flill remained, and preferved its former vir- 
 tue? and what a number of bills of divorce would 
 have been (pared the Legiflature in paffing, and what 
 great expences to noble families and others in fuing* 
 out aclions of trim. con. Hou many private fecrets of 
 family-failings and difcontents hadbecn brought lo tight 
 before this unerring fvvord, for the enriching of the 
 parfons pouch ? The reclory of Winfarthing in fucU 
 a cafe would probably be better than the befl hjhvpric 
 in England in point of annual income. 
 
 Algar, a freeman of Harold's, held all Winefcr* 
 thine as one manor in the time of the ConfefTor; at 
 the furvey it was in the Conqueror's own hands, and 
 then extended into Burflon, Shimpling, Tivetfhall. and 
 Shelfanger; it was valued in the firll furvey at 4os r 
 and by the Conqueror at 81. 35. 4d. with the freemen'; 
 he committed it to Godric's care, who anfwered 7!, 
 and no more ; it was two miles long, and one broad, 
 and paid gd. gelt. 
 
 This town is privileged as ancient demefne, the te- 
 nants being excufed from fervmg as jurors at tl e fef- 
 fions, or alfizes, or any whefe-'elfe out of the manor, 
 and from toll in markets and fairs, upon renewing 
 - . their
 
 D I S S. 187 
 
 their writ 'every king's reign, and having it annually 
 allowed by the fheiifF of the county. It remained 
 in the crown till Henry II. gave it to fir William de 
 Motitecanifo, or Munchcnfy, kflt. who gave a hun- 
 dred marks to have feifin of this manor in i 189; 
 he married Joan, fecond daughter to William Mar- 
 Cm! carl ol Pembroke; and in 1222 had fcutage of 
 all his tenants that held bv military fervice in Nor- 
 folk. Suffolk, Sec. In 1241 he was at that famous 
 battle of Xantoine. a gain ft the French, in which by 
 his valiant deportment he won great renown. In the 
 34th qf Henry III. the king ratified to him all the li- 
 berties belonging to his lands, among which the te- 
 nants here were excufed from the fherifTs turn, and 
 from toll, and from ferving upon any juries out of 
 their manor; he had aflizc of bread and ale, and 
 wine, with court-Ieet allowed him, and this further 
 privilege, " that the king's bailiffs fhouid not enter 
 his bailiffwick of VViufanhing to take any diftrcfs, 
 but the bailiff of that bailiffwick fhouid do it:' 1 he 
 died in i 255, being then reputed one of the rnoft 
 noble, prudent, and wealthy men of all the realm, 
 hi? inventory amounting to 2000 marks, a prodigious 
 ium for that time. 
 
 William, his fon and heir, had a park well flock- 
 ed with deer in this parifh. In 1*59, in the 4b'ih of 
 Henry III he was one of the barons then at differ- 
 ence with the king, upuii which account he received 
 notice, that in cale he did not perfonally repair to the 
 court to fign the agreement, (as divers of them did) he 
 might fend his feat for the better confirmation. thereof j 
 and in the 4810 ot the fame king, having been one 
 of the chief commanders on the pait of the barons 
 in that fatal battle of Lewes, where the king was 
 made their pri 'oner, she next year, when they fum- 
 moued a parliament in I'K king's name, he was one 
 Na of
 
 iSS HUNDREDOF 
 
 of the chief of thofe barons that then fat therein ; hut 
 not long after this, being taken at Ken'rfworth, in that 
 notable furprife made by the forces of prince Ed- 
 ward, a little before the battle of Evefharn. his lands 
 were feized, and given to William de/Valence. half 
 brother to the king, and earl of Pembroke, \vho had 
 married his fifler, Joan, whereupon Dionifia, his mo- 
 ther, who was daughter and heirefs of Nicholas de 
 Ancfly, undertook to bring him before the feaft of 
 St. Hillary, in the 51 ft year of that king, to ftand ta 
 the judgment of the king's court, in purfuance of the 
 decree, called Diclum de Kcnilworth, but not being 
 able to perform it within that time, by reafon of his 
 ficknefs, (lie promifed to bring him upon that very 
 day. when he had fuch fair refpeft fliewn him for his 
 fitter's fake, that William de Valence, her hufband, 
 freely reftored him his lands again ; afier which, in 
 1277, (5th of Edward I.) he had a full pardon for his 
 rebellion, and all the liberties granted by Henry II. to 
 his anceflors, confirmed at large, with this additional 
 one, " that he might keep dogs to hunt the hare, 
 fox, and wild cat, in his forefts." In 1289 he went 
 with the earl of Cornwall (then governor of the 
 realm in the king's abfcnce) into Wales, againft Kes 
 ap Griffiyth, at that time in the caftte of Droffclau, 
 (who had made great depredations in thofe parts) and 
 as he, with divers others, endeavoured to demolifh 
 that caftle, by undermining it, he was with them 
 overwhelmed, and killed with the fall thereof; at 
 whofe death Dionifia, his mother, had cuftody of his 
 daughter and heirefs, named alfo Dionifia; and im- 
 mediately after Hugh de Verc, a younger ion of Ro- 
 bert earl of Oxford, who was then the king's fcrvant. 
 obtained licence, and married her in 1296; and in 
 confidciation of his great fervices in the French wars, 
 had livery of her inheritance; Dionifia, her grand- 
 mother was then living, who being a devout woman, 
 
 founded
 
 D I S S. 189 
 
 founded \Vaterbeche nunnery, in Cambndgefliire, in 
 1293; (lie died in 1303, and her lands defcendcd to 
 Hugh de Vcre, who had no iffue by his wife DioqiHa, 
 fo that her inheritance reverted to William de Va- 
 lence, who had married Joan, filler to the laft William 
 de Munchenfy, who after the death of the iaid 
 Hugh had view of frank-pledge, aftize of bread and. 
 ale, and a tumbrell, or ducking flool, allowed to this 
 manor; and thus much oi the ancient family of the 
 Munchenfys. 
 
 William de Valence, earl of Pembroke, died feifed 
 in right of Joan, his wife; and Audomar, or Ayraer 
 dc Valence, earl of Pembroke, his beir, in 1321 held 
 it by one fee of the barony of Munchenfy, and the 
 manor, or tenement, called Heywood, of Robett 
 Fitz-W ; alter, by the fourth part of a fee; he dice! ir^ 
 1323, leaving no male iffue, fo that his lifters inhe- 
 rited, and this manor was allotted to Ilabel, who 
 married John Haftings. lord Abergavenny, by whom 
 he had John de Mailings, who fuccceded him, and 
 John was fucceeded by his fon, Laurence, who, as 
 loon as he came of age, was declared earl of Pem- 
 broke, and the year following, being the i/j-th of Ed- 
 ward III. he attended the king in that great adven- 
 tute againft the Fiench at lea, where he worthily 
 fhared in the glory of that victory obtained againft 
 them, near Sluys. in Flanders ; but this was nor the 
 only brave aclion of this earl; for he behaved himfelf 
 valiantly all his life, as we find in Dugdale's Baron- 
 age, (p. 576) where his brave achievements, and 
 thofe of his family, are amply treated of; he died iu 
 1347, in the sift of Edward 111. leaving John Haft- 
 ings, earl of Pembroke, his fon and heir, who being 
 very aclive in die French wars, in 1371 was made 
 lieutenant of Aquitain, at tha fpecial requeft of the 
 inhabitants of that province, and was then about 25 
 
 years
 
 tga HUNDRED OF 
 
 years old. but unlucky it was for him that he had 
 that honor; for upon his coming to the port of 
 R6chdle, which was then bcleagured by the French, 
 no f boner was he got into tlu- haven but the Spanifh 
 fleet fell upon him, before he could pu: his men in 
 order to fight, fo that he was taken prifoner. his 
 Clips burned, and all the Englifh killed or taken, 
 with no iefs than 20,000 maiks, fent over by the 
 Jung to maintain the war: after he had undergone 
 four years imprisonment, with mod inhuman ufage, 
 for a fum of money he was to have been enlarged ; 
 upon which he came to Paris, where falling fick 
 he hailed' to Calais, but died on his journey, Aprii 
 16, *374, fcifed of thefe manors, which, among 
 others, were affigned to Anne, his widow, for her 
 dower; file died in 1383. 
 
 John de Mattings, their fon, fucceeded ; this John 
 at the coronation of Richard II. (being then not five 
 years old) claimed to carry the great golden fpurs, 
 and fhewing fufficrent evidence of his right to do thai 
 fervice, Edmund earl of March (whofe daughter, 
 Pbilippa, he married) was allowed to perform it for 
 him, by reafon of his minority. He had no iffue; 
 for in the i^th of Richard II. being then but 17 
 years old, the king keeping his Chriftmas at Wood- 
 ftock, and holding a tournament there, this young 
 earl ventured to tilt with fir John St. John, by an un- 
 lucky flip ot whofe lance he was run into the bot- 
 tom of the belly, upon which his bowels burft out, 
 aud he foon died, to ihe great grief of many, bein^ a 
 pfifon of fo noble a difpoiinon, that for bounty, man- 
 hood, and courtefy, he exceeded all of his age, and 
 rood of his degree. His untimely death was at tliat 
 time thought a judgment upon his family, in regard 
 that Aymer de Valence, earl of Pembroke, his an- 
 celior, was one of thole that paffcd lenience of death. 
 
 upon
 
 D I S S. igt 
 
 upon Thomas earl of Lancaflcr, at Pontcfracl ; for 
 it was obferved, that after that judgment fo given, 
 none of the fucceeding earls of Pembroke fiver (aw 
 his father. At his death Reginald lord Grey, of 
 Ruihyn, his coulin and heir of the whole blood, as 
 defcended lineally from Elizabeth, fifler to John de 
 Haflings, father of J->hn. grandfather of this earl; 
 but by iorne inquifuions Hugh de Haftings, great- 
 grandfon of the fame John de Haflings, by . fabeL 
 the daughter of Hugh le Uefpencer, his.fecond wife, 
 was found his heir male, but of the half blood, for 
 which reafon he did not inherit, though there was a 
 great druggie lor it, as there was for the arms of the 
 Haflings. between Edward Mailings, great-grandfather 
 to this Hugh, and Reginald lord Grey, of Ruthyn ; it 
 lafted little lefs than twenty years in the court, before 
 ,the condable and marfhal of England, and in the end 
 the faid Edward, though he was heir male, was not 
 only condemned in 970!. 175. lod. cofls, (Grey 
 {wearing that he had fpent i ooo marks more) but he 
 was imprisoned fixteen years for difobeying that fen- 
 tence, which was reputed a very hard and unjufl one, 
 and (o Mailings thought it, for with extreme anguifli 
 of mind he died, leaving God's curfe, and his own, 
 upon his dependents, if diey did not attempt the- 
 vindication of their right. But to return ; Roger lord- 
 .Grey, of Ruthyn, by the faid Elizabeth Mailings, ha;i 
 Reginald lord Grey, whole fon, Reginald, inherited,- 
 and from an extent in this manor it appears, that here 
 was then a hall, or manor-houfe, with a park, well 
 docked with deer, all which were nothing worth 
 above their outgoings and repairs; and another in- 
 clofure, called a park, fenced in with pales, contain*- 
 ing above eighty acres of arable land, worth 2d. each 
 ao c ; that there were eight acres of meadow, worth 
 Sci. each acre ; that the quit-rents were lul. beliues 
 fcoo days work ia winter, worth a halfpenny each 
 
 day,
 
 i$ HUNDRED OF 
 
 day, and 300 days work in autumn, worth id. each 
 day, together with a wood, called Hulver-wood, the 
 underwood of which was worth i ad. a year ; there 
 was alfo a chace upon Winfatthing-common, and 
 Banham-gieen, worth 6d. a year; a wind-mill, worth 
 2S. a year; the fuits and perq'uifites of the courts, 
 worth gs. 4d. a year clear. But though lord Grey 
 inherited the reit of the carl of Pembroke's eftate. 
 this and Heywood manors were in dower, and held 
 by Philippa, widow of the laft earl, till 1400, in 
 which year (he died, having enjoyed it notwith- 
 itanding the claim of Edward Mattings ; he mar- 
 ried Margaret, daughter of fir William de Roos, 
 by whom he had John.- who married Conftance, 
 daughter of John Holland, duke of Exon. and relict 
 of Thomas Mowbray, earl marfhal ; he died before 
 his father, leaving two fons, Edmund, and Thomas, 
 at his grandfather's death, which was in 1440. Ed- 
 mund became heir to his honor and eflate; he mar- 
 ried Catherine, daughter to Henry Percy, carl of 
 Northumberland, and in the 5th of . EdwaidlV. was 
 created earl of Kent; at his death in 1488 he left 
 thefe manors in dower 10 Catherine, his widow, who 
 died about 1499, and then they went to George earl 
 carl of Kent, their fon, who by fuffering a recovery 
 fettled it on Henry VII. for payment of a great debt, 
 with a remainder to himfelf and his heirs : after this 
 it was fettled on Catherine, his fecond wife, who en- 
 joyed it for her life, and then it went to Richard 
 Grey, earl of Kent, who died in 1523. having greatly 
 wafted his eflate. This and Heywood were part of 
 the jointure of Elizabeth; his wife; but in 1505, 
 with her and her truftees confent, he fold them to 
 Robert le Strange, and his heirs, and a fine was le- 
 vied accordingly, viz. of 2800 acres of land, 30!. rent 
 in Winfarthing, Difs, Shelfanger, Tivetfhall, and 
 Buckenhatn-caftlc, and thus it pafTed from that fa- 
 
 milv,
 
 D I 5 S. 193 
 
 jtiily. This Robert le Strange dung feifed, left it to 
 John le Strange, his executor, to (c!I, of whom it was 
 purchafed by Thomas duke of Norfolk ; from which 
 time it went with that family, till Thomas earl of 
 Arundel and Surry fold this and H'eywood about 
 164310 fir JohnMarfham.of Cuckftone, in Kent, bare, 
 who died (eifed in 1692, leaving it to his fon, from 
 whom it descended, and fir Robert Marfham, who by 
 letters patent was created baron o{ Romney, in Kent, 
 in 1720, obtained an acl of parliament to fell this 
 'eRate, and to fettle another in Kent, already pur- 
 chafed, to the fame ufes ; upon which it was vetted in 
 fir Thomas Dea'.h. bart. and Edtn. Probyn, ferjeant 
 at law, (afterwards judge) who in 1724. conveyed it 
 to Humphry South, of London, merchant, to the 
 life of Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, (only child of John 
 Gray, late of the ifland of Barbadoes, efq.) who by 
 virtue of that purchafe was patronefs and lady of 
 both Winfarthirig and Heywood, which is called 
 Win farthing Outloken Manor. John Biiftowe, efq. 
 prefemed in 1749, and the earl of Albemarle in 
 '7.74- 
 
 In the time of queen Elizabeth there was a great 
 Juit for thefe manors between the earl of Surrey, who 
 recovered, and the earl of Kent, at which time Hev- 
 wood manor was 26!. and Winfarthing 14!. per ann. 
 The leet belonged to the court baron, and the courts 
 of the infoken and outfoken of this manor extended 
 into Briflingham, Kenninghall, 8cc, Here were two 
 parks, viz. the Old and New Park, and the rector 
 had the herbage of both, for the compofuion of 
 which 2L)S. 4d. was paid him ; the rent of Hulvcr- 
 wood was 6d. To this manor belongs Banham- 
 heath,' a 'great part of which lies in Difs hundred, 
 which is divided by the meer, called the Hundred 
 Meer, which divides the hundieds of Difs, Shropharn, 
 O and
 
 194 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 and Guiltcrofs, and the drift of it as far as that meet 
 belongs to Winfanhing, and is in the bounds of that 
 parifh, and according to ancient cuflom the tenants of 
 Winfarthing always drive their part the lad day of 
 April, and impound all waifs and ftravs in a ground 
 called the Hall-yards, in Winfarthing Great Park, in 
 which the manor-houfe did heretofore (land. In 
 1604 this park was full of deer, and fir Bailing- 
 bourne Gawdy, of Weft Harling, km. had every 
 year a fee doe and buck, and liberty of hunting then* 
 in that park, which was then lord Arundel's. 
 
 This parifh hath lands belonging to it, now left 
 at i61. per ann. of the gift of divers perfons, out of 
 which 2!. i is. (called Lowndes 1 and Alden's gifts) is 
 annually, at Eafter, to be divided among fuch poor 
 as are not colleclioners, by the rector and church- 
 wardens, the reft was given to repair the church: 
 they have alfo three to wn-houfes ; one hath an acre 
 of land adjoining to it, and another was the Old 
 Guildhall, the lands of which guild were feifed by 
 the crown, and were given by queen Elizabeth in 
 the Qyth year of her reign to the Hallyats. 
 
 In 1 603 there were 1 89 communicants and in 
 1735 fifty dwelling-houfes, and about 260 inhabi- 
 tants. It paid il. i6s. to the tenths, was valued at 
 1256!. to the parliament valuation, and now at 934!. 
 to the land tax. 
 
 The cuftoms of the manor are thefe; the eldeft 
 fon is heir, the fine is at the lord's will, it gives no 
 dower, the tenants build up, pull down, plant on the 
 wafte, and fell timber, without licence. The leet be- 
 longs to the hundred, 
 
 The
 
 D I S S. 10,5 
 
 The cuftoms of the re#ory were firft exemplified 
 in the 45th of Elizabeth, and after that in the 8th of 
 ]ames I. June 7, and are thefe: They pay id. a 
 year for each cow in lieu of laclage. For every calf 
 under feven, id. ob. the feventh being due in kind to 
 the re&or, he allowing id. ob. for each calf above, 
 feven, and under ten. Inftead of tithe hay, or herb- 
 age, the parifhioners pay 2d. an acre to the reclor, 
 except all tythe-hay growing on the common mea- 
 dows, which is due in kind. They pay for every 
 foal id. a year till it comes to work; and for every 
 heifer id. a year till it is milked, or otherwife con- 
 verted. Every inhabitant on All Saints Day pays 
 id. ob. in lieu of all tythe for fruit, and all fewel 
 fpent in the town. 
 
 Tythe peafe are due every tenth fletch, as foon 
 as they are cut by the owner; all corn and other 
 fmall and great tilhes whatsoever are due in their pro- 
 per kind, the i'mall tythes on Lammas-day, the rell 
 as they are feparated.
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 NORFOLK. 
 
 Hundred of E A R S H A M. 
 
 THIS hundred, or rather half hundred, is wholly 
 in the liberty of the duke of Norfolk, and 
 joins to Difs hundred, on the weft ; Depwade, and 
 Loddon, on the north ; and by the river Wavency, 
 (which divides Norfolk from Suffolk) on the fouth ; 
 the eaft end of it terminating upon the town of Bun- 
 gay, in Suffolk, which ifland'", by the winding of the 
 river northward, juts out, as it were, into Norfolk. 
 
 The fee of it is appendant to the manor of Ear- 
 
 fham, and was firft granted with it to Roger Bigot, 
 
 A earl 
 
 * Bongeye, or the Good Ifland,
 
 2 HUNDREDOF 
 
 carl of Norfolk, by Richard I. Roger Bigot, carl of 
 Norfolk, gave Richard I. 1000 marks to have fcifiri 
 of his county of Norfolk, this town, and half hun- 
 dred, with that of Pirnhoe, 8cc. and was confirmed 
 to Hugh Bigot by Henry II. when he made him earl 
 of Norfolk. 
 
 In i 285 Robert de Tatcfliale, lord of Euckcnham- 
 caflle, iued Roger Ic Bigot, earl of Norfolk, and John 
 Grcencurtcl, his warrtntr^ or game-keeper, for this 
 half hundred, for taking awav his dogs, and two 
 hares, from the game-keeper of his manor of Demon, 
 in the halt hundred; upon which the earl fet forth 
 his liberties, and fhewed, that in the Confeflbr's time 
 bifhop Stigand had the f6c and, fac of all the half 
 hundred, except Thorpe, which belonged to St. Ed- 
 mund's at Bury, tine Puffijims to St. Etheldied of 
 Ely,* and inch part* of Rcdenhall, and Demon, as 
 belonged to earl Ralph, who had the foe, fac, and all 
 jurifdidiori of his own men, or tenants, there, when 
 he forfeited ; and when the grant of the hundred 
 palled to his anceflors, they then had, as he now 
 hath, free-warren through the whole hundred ; and 
 the lecLS, or iuperior jurifdiclion, and paramoumfhip, 
 in his own, and all other perfons fces r except thofe 
 before mentioned- with view of frank-pledge, afli^c 
 of bread and ale, a common gallows, infangthef, 
 waif, and all other liberties belonging to a hundred'"; 
 
 the 
 
 J Warrener, the keeper of the liberty of free-warren, or 
 game-keeper of a manor ; for the liberty of free-warren, or 
 gaming, every where belonged to the crown, till granted 
 thence by the feveral charters of free-warren. 
 
 * A hundred court, to te held at Harleflon on the market day, 
 every three weeks, &c. whh the tolls of the market, and fairs, 
 it Harltfton, paying 3*. 4d. to the king, as to the caftle of 
 Norwich, felons goods, Sec.
 
 E A R S H A M. $ 
 
 the whole, with Earfham manor, being valued at 
 30!. and held of the crown by a fee-farm of 4od. to 
 which Robert anfwered, thai he had free-warren alfo 
 to his. manor of Demon, and it appearing that it was 
 that part which belonged to carl Ralph, it was agreed 
 between the parties, at the in (lance of R. de Hing- 
 ham, and his fellow juftices itinerants, at Norwich, 
 that both fhould have free-warren in Demon. 
 
 In 1352 the jury for the hundred prefcnted, that 
 the inhabitants of Bungay ufed, time out of mind, to 
 repair the bridges between Bungay, in Suffolk, and 
 Ditchingham, and Eaifham, in Norfolk. 
 
 In 1374 the whole perquifites received this year 
 from the hundred, and accounted for to the head 
 manor of Forncet, was 46!. 155. 5d. 5q. and in 1537 
 much the fame as before. 
 
 This was often written anciently Eileflham, and 
 was thought to take its name from the earls of Nor- 
 folk, the lords of it ; but it is not fo, for it was' 
 called by this name long before it belonged to the 
 earls: Herfam, as fpelt in Doomfday, feems to fig- 
 nily the Ration of the army, and accordingly there is 
 an encampment by the church; this hundred, (with 
 that of Difs) makes up the deanry of Redcnhall, in 
 the archdeaconry of Norwich, and paid clear to 
 every tenth 49!. iSs. 4d. 
 
 The towns in this hundred are as follow, to which 
 is added the number of votes polled by freeholders 
 refident in each, for knights of the (hire, at the gene- 
 ral election, March 23, 1 768, fir Armine Wodehcufc, 
 ban. Thomas dc Grey, eiq. fir Edward Aftley, and 
 \Venmau Coke, efq. being candidates. 
 
 Aldburgh
 
 HUNDRED OF 
 
 W. deG. A. C. 
 
 Aldburgh 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Biilingford 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 BrocdiQi 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 Dcnton 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Earfham 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mendham, 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 Necdham 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Pulham St. Mary Mag. \ 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 St. Mary Virgin 
 
 i 
 
 2 5 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 Redenhall aim Harlefton 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 34 
 
 28 
 
 Rufhall - - : 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Starflon - 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 Thorpe-Abbots 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 Wort well ^- . 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 70 61 81 67 
 
 This hundred is about eleven miles in extent, from 
 oppofue Bungay to Biliingford, and not more than 
 four in width. It is chiefly inclofed, and as good 
 fertile foil as any in Norfolk. It pays 2303!. igs. 
 to the land tax, at 45. in the pound, and igl. igs. 6d. 
 to the general rate of the county, at a fix-hundred 
 pound levy. 
 
 The principal feat in this hundred is Earfharn, 
 William Windham, efq. The Rev. Dr. George 
 Sandby has a feat at Demon ; John Kerrich, cfq. at 
 Haiief ion ; and William Smith, Efq. at Topcroft- 
 hall, in Denton. 
 
 ALDBURGH, ALDEBURGH, or ALDBERGH, in 
 Doomfday-book Aldeberga, commonly called ARBO- 
 
 ROUGH;
 
 EARSHAM. 5 
 
 ROUGH'"; its name fignifies the old Burgh; it is often 
 written in evidences Akenberwe, or the Burgh of 
 Oaks. 
 
 There are three manors; the fuperior manor and 
 jurisdiction, with the leet and advowfon, belonged to 
 bifhop Stigand, afterwards to Ralph earl of Norfolk, 
 who forfeited it, by his rebellion, to the Conqueror, 
 and he affigned it to the care of William de Noiers. 
 The town was then a mile long, and five furlongs 
 broad, and paid lod. to the geld. It was afterwards 
 granted to the Bigots, earls of Norfolk, with Earfham, 
 and hath palled always with it to this day, his grace 
 Charles duke of Norfolk being now lord. 
 
 The fecond manor is HOLKBROOK, or ALBURGH- 
 . HALL, which was in two parts; Alfric held one as a 
 bcrewick to Tibenham, in the Confeflbr's time, and 
 Moivan after him ; a free-man of St. Audrey, of Ely, 
 held the other, which Herfrind had afterwards, and 
 his fucceffor, Eudo, had the whole of the Conqueror's 
 gift It came afterwards to Nicholas de Lenham, 
 who occurs lord in 1256; and in 1274 was purchwfed 
 of John Dagworth, and others, by John de Hole- 
 brook, who added lands to it, by purchafc, from 
 William de Alburgh. In 1342 John de St. Maur, 
 or Seymore, (lord of Semere's manor, which extended 
 into this town) was lord ; and in 1350 fir William 
 Seymour, knt. conveyed it to fir John Wingfield, 
 knt. and his heirs; foon after they all joined and 
 fold it to Gilbert dc Debenham, efq. who was in pof- 
 B feffion 
 
 * Mr. Fuller, among other county proverbs, hath this, 
 (fuch as it is :) 
 
 " Den ton in the dale, and Arborough in the dirt, 
 
 "' And if you go i Hemersticld, your purfe will get the 
 
 fquirt." 
 
 Homcrsrield lies in Suffolk, juft by, and is a fmall village^ 
 abounding with alehoufcs.
 
 6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 feffion in 1360, when it was worth ten marks a year, 
 and was held of Earfliam hundred. It continued in 
 the Dcbenhams a long time, though in 1436 Ha- 
 mond Ic Strangle had an interefl in it. 
 
 o 
 
 Mr. Rice, in his furvey, fays, that the manor- 
 houfe, or hall, was down in 14^0, and that it 
 belonged to the heirs general of the Brewfes. two 
 ladies ; one married to fir Edward ThemilLhorpe, km. 
 
 The demefncs and quit-rents were 30!. per ann. 
 the fines were at will, and there were about twenty 
 tenants. 
 
 The third is the RECTORY MANOR, which hath 
 about 40$. per ann. rents, and the copyholds are at 
 the will of the lord. 
 
 There was alfo a fmall part belonging to the ho- 
 nour of Richmond, but that belonged to Redcnhall 
 manor. 
 
 The church is dedicated to All Saints, was firfl va- 
 lued at twelve marks, and after that at fevcnteen. 
 The re&or had a houfe, and forty acres of land, when 
 Norwich Doomfday-book was made ; now reduced, 
 by the rector's granting them to be held as copyhold 
 or their reclory manor, to about eight acres. 
 
 The town paid 5!. clear to each tenth; it pays 
 fir ft fruits and tenths, and is not capable of augmen- 
 tation, {landing thus in the king's books: 12!. Al- 
 bergh rc&ory. il. 43. yearly tenths. 
 
 The abbot of Langley's temporals in this town 
 were taxed at 6d. the prior of Mendham's at 55. 
 
 id. ob.
 
 E A R S H A M. f 
 
 I'd. ob. the prior of Weybrige's at ss. 5d. fo that 
 the religious were little concerned here. 
 
 The prefentatinn was chiefly in the dukes of Nor- 
 folk, as appears from the inflitution books, from 
 1503 to 1699. 
 
 Richard Whetlcy, the reclor here, was deprived 
 by queen Mary, among others of the clergy, whofe 
 fole offence in thofc days was matrimony. In 
 1603 the rector returned 156 communicants in his 
 parifh 
 
 Blomefield fays, that in 1729 the Rev. Mr., Fair- 
 fax Stillingfleet, A. M. late fellow of St. John's Col- 
 lege, in Cambridge, was prefented by fir Rowland 
 Hill, of Hawkfton, in Shropfhire, bart. to this rec- 
 tory, it being one of the livings purchafed of the 
 duke of Norfolk, to which the family muft always 
 prefcnt a fellow of St. John's, college, Cambridge; 
 and the bifhop's regifler has, 1754, the Rev. William. 
 Cole prefented by St. John's college, Cambridge. 
 
 The tower is fquare, had originally three, but now 
 there are fix' bells; the chancel is thatched, the 
 church and fouth porch leaded ; the north veflry is 
 down. 
 
 On marbles in the chancel, Thomas Green, gene- 
 rofus de Putham Sta. Maria calebs, mortuus eft quarto 
 die Mart, anno Xti. MDCCVI. JLt. LXIX. with his 
 arms. 
 
 Mr. Richard Cooper, June 16, 1669, S6. Anne, his 
 wife, Oct. 26, 1669, 65. 
 
 B 2 Over
 
 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Over the north door remains a painting of St. 
 Chriflopher, as ufual, very large ; and there was an 
 image of our Lady in the chancel ; a chapel, dedica- 
 ted to St. Laurence, in the church, and an image of 
 St. Catherine, by which the Wrights (a very ancicrit 
 family in this parifh, arc interred, and were benefac- 
 tors towards building the porch, in 1463 
 
 On a grave-poft in the foiith fide of tho church- 
 yard a latin epitaph to Robert Bayes, clerk, obijt 
 December 8, 1702, atal. 78. Alfo, to Samuel 
 Bayes, efq. obijt Aug. 24, 1689, &tat. 29. 
 
 An altar-tomb at the weft end of the fleeple, for 
 Robert Jay, gent. Jan. 12, 1723, aged 84; and two cf 
 his wives, and fourteen children. 
 
 A grave-poft for John Hambling, March 2o/ 7 /, 
 1712, aged 63. 
 
 Friend! I am gone, and you muji follow, 
 Perhaps to-day, perhaps tQ-morrow, 
 Tour time isfhort, improve it well. 
 Prepare for heaven, and think on hell. 
 
 Here is an eftate belonging to the boys hofpital in 
 Norwich, town houfes, and two commons, contain- 
 ing about 100 acres, on which Wortwell and Al- 
 burgh intercommon. Here is alfo an eftate of 57!. 
 per anh. given by Richard Wright, of this parifh, 
 appropriated to the church and poor, by a decree in 
 Chancery made in the 14th of James J. 
 
 The defcription of the penance of Thomas Pye, 
 and John Mendham, in 1428, may be read in 
 Matter Fox's Ads and Monuments, at fo. 663.* 
 
 * Blomcfield.
 
 E A R S H A M. g 
 
 BILLINGFORD. The original name of this 
 place is Prelefton, or the "Town of the Battle, 1 ' in 
 all probability fo called from fome remarkable battle 
 fought here, when the Romans poflcfTed the land ; 
 and by this name onlv it is mentioned in Doomfday- 
 book. Its prcfent name firft occured in the time of 
 Henry III. when the inhabitants began to fix theoi- 
 fclves by the ford, or pafs over the river into Suffolk: 
 for Billingford fignifics the dwelling at the ford by 
 the low meadow ; and fuch is the lituation of this 
 village at preicnt. 
 
 Stigand the bifhop was fuperior lord here at the 
 Confeffor's time, and Roger de Ramis at the con- 
 queft. One part of the town formerly belonged to 
 the abbot of Bury, and another to the abbot of Ely ; 
 all which Warenger held under the faid Roger, and 
 retained the fuperior jurifdiclion to himfelf; in thofe 
 lands which formerly belonged to Bury; the one pare 
 was given to Bury along with Thorpe, and the orhcr 
 to Ely, with Puiham, to which manors they then 
 belonged. 
 
 Soon after they were divided, and one moiety con- 
 tinued in Roger's family till 1 249, and then Richer 
 de Reymcs fold it to Roger de Hcrdebarow, or Herle- 
 burgh, who by this purchafe became lord of the 
 whole ; for the other moiety went to the Bigots, and 
 in 1211 was fold by William Bigot to Hughde Her~ 
 leburgh: the whole was held always of Forncec ma- 
 nor at one fee, and 2d. ob* per ann. caftle-ward: his 
 two daughters and co-heireffes afterwards inherited 
 it; but in 1285 Roger Bigot claimed liberty of free- 
 warren, as fuperior lord of the fee ; and after this it 
 was divided again into moieties. Ela, one of Heiie- 
 burgh's heirefles, married Walter de Hopton, and 
 preiented here in 1300; and John de Peyto married 
 
 the
 
 1.0 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 the other ; whofe fon, by the name of John de Petto, 
 jun. prefented in i 337 ; but i.n i 338 they joined and 
 fold the whole to (ir Walter dc Hopton, knt. 
 
 In 1360 John de Clinton was lord for life, jointly 
 with (ir Walter de Hopton; and in 1375 Agnes, re- 
 licl of John Brown, and Richard Brown, clerk, their 
 fon, fold it to fir Simon Burley, knight banneret, the 
 great favourite of Edward the Black Prince, and tu- 
 tor to Richard, his fon, afterwards Richard II. who 
 advanced him to many honors, and places of truft 
 and profit*, he being knight of the garter, one of his 
 privy-council, chamberlain of the houfhold, governor 
 of Windfor cattle, conflable of Dover cafllc, and 
 lord warden of the Cinque-ports. In 1 3 7 8 he obtained 
 a grant from the king of the cattle and lordfhip of 
 Llan Stephan, in Pembrokefhire; and in 1382 ano- 
 ther, to be matter of the kings falcons and game 
 kept at Charing, with the manor of Barrock, by 
 Gravefend, and many other lands, &:c. in confidera- 
 lion of his great ferviccs done to him from his in- 
 fancy, before he was made a knight, and at that 
 time, and after, when prince of Wales, and fmce, 
 when king of England; but being fo great in his 
 matter's favor, rt railed him to luch an intolerable 
 degree of pride, and its conference, opprcilion, that 
 he incurred the difpieafure of the whole nation, and 
 being attainted in Parliament, was beheaded on 
 Tower-hill in 1388. This manor was not forfeited 
 thereby ; for in 1375 fir Simon conveyed it after his 
 deceak' to fir John Burley, his brother, and he fettled 
 it (or rather a moiety of it) on fir John" Hopton, of 
 
 Shiopfhire, 
 
 * He could difpend but twenty marks a year of his own in- 
 heritance, but by his Prince's favor attained to 3000 marks of 
 yearly revenue ; he gave fomctimes 220 lireries in a year of 
 fcarlct, &c.
 
 E A R S H A M. ii 
 
 Shropfhire, knt. who married Ifabcl Eurlcy, his 
 daughter, and their heirs. 
 
 '& 
 
 The other moiety, afterwards called CORBET'S 
 MANOR, belonged to fir Nicholas Dagworth, knt. 
 and in 1401 to Thomas Young, efq, of Sibton, and 
 after to John Corbet, efq. in whom the whole united 
 again. In 1460 John Corbet, efq. was found his 
 heir, in right of his wife, Catherine, only daughter 
 and heirefs of Walter Hopton, and it continued in 
 the Corbets a long time. 
 
 Roger Corbet, efq. died lord in 1539, leaving An- 
 drew his fon and heir, who (old it in 1544 to fir Ro- 
 bert Southwell, of whom it was purchafed by Chrif- 
 topherGrice, gent, who died in 15,58, and was bu- 
 ried in this church, leaving Robert his fon and 
 heir, who dying in 1601, lies buried here, leaving 
 only one daughter, Frances le Gricc, who married 
 fir William Platers, of Sotterley, knight and baronet, 
 deputy lieutenant and vice admiral of the county of 
 Suffolk, and member in Parliament; they lelt fir 
 Thomas Platers, bart. their only fon and heir, who 
 was high-fhcriff of Suffolk, and a colonel of a regi- 
 ment of horfc to Charles I. and afterwards had a 
 command at fea under the king of Spain: he mar- 
 ried Rebecca, daughter and co-heirefs of Thomas 
 Chapman, of Wormley, in Hertfordfhire, and died 
 at Medina, in Sicily, in 1651, without legitimate 
 iffue, but fettled this manor aad eftate on Elizabeth, 
 his natural daughter, who married fir Edward Chi- 
 fenhall, knt. of an ancient family in Lancafhire, and 
 had iffue William Chifenhall, of whom it was pur- 
 chafed by the Carters, and in 1704 Edward Carter, 
 fenior, was lord and patron ; and afterwards by the 
 Holts, and Rowland Holt, efq. of Redgrave, in Suf- 
 folk, is now lord and patron. 
 
 Thi
 
 if HUNDREDOF 
 
 The re#ory of Billingford is gl. and the clear 
 yearly value 4.5!. This rcclory being difcharged, 
 pays neither firfl-fruits nor tenths, and is capable of 
 augmentation. 
 
 When Norwich doomfday-book was made the 
 rclor had a houfe and ten acres of land ; the houfc 
 flood near the fummer-houfc at the hall, and was 
 long fincc burned down, and never rebuilt. The 
 terrier hath thirty-fevcn pieces of glebe ; it is in the 
 liberty of the duke of Norfolk, who in right of his 
 hundred of Earfham is loid paramount here. 
 
 There was a family firnamed of the town : In 
 isbo Matthew of Prelefton, and in 1316 John of 
 Piilleilon lived here. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Leonard ; the nave 
 and fouih porch are tiled, and the chancel is thatched ; 
 there was a large Icjuare tower, which is fallen down, 
 
 10 that it is no higher than the church, is covered 
 iu, and hath one "pell in it. 
 
 On a brafs plate Here lyeth buryed the corps of 
 Qhrijlopher It Grys, ejq, feme lime lord and patron of 
 this dutch, only child to Robert le Grjs, cftj. and Sufan, 
 his wife, daughter and co-heire to Thomas Ayre, of Bury, 
 in Suffolk, cfq. lineally defended from fir Robert Ic Grys, 
 
 1 1 Langley, in Norfolk^ knt. on? of the (querrics to kixg 
 Richard the ijl. he married Margaret, daughter' and 
 heir to Thomas Whipple, of Dicklelorough, in Norfolk, 
 gent, and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and co-fheire to 
 John Garrtingfiam, of Helton, in Suffolk, ejq. and had 
 
 : her only Frances, who married withjir William 
 Playtcrs, of Sailer ley, in Suffolk, knt. and bart. He 
 ended this life 'the \yth of October, A. 1601, and inltkc.
 
 fc A R S H A M. 13 
 
 tyd year of his age. RESURGAM. With the arms of 
 le Grice, Whipple, and Jcrnegan. 
 
 On another brafs, -Here lyeth buryed tlie corps of 
 Chrijlopher le Grice, ejq. fame time lord and patron of 
 this church, fonn to William le Grys, of Brotdijli, and 
 Sybell, his wife, daughter and heire to Edmund Syngleton, 
 tfq. he married Ann, eldtjl daughter to Robert Howard, 
 of Brocdi/h, gent, by whom he had three fonns and two 
 daughters: he died Jan. 19, 1558. Grice impales 
 quarterly, Singleton and Howard, f Brockdifh. 
 
 Here tyeth buried the Corps of Charles tc Grys, gent, 
 the only fonne of Henry le Grys, and Ann his wife t 
 daughter to Anthony Yaxley, of Yaxley, in Suffolk, efq. 
 he died Sept. 4, 1634. 
 
 In the chancel windows are the arms o 
 Haftings, and Valence, of Anthony Grys, with 
 three martlets on the top, and of Henry Grys, with, 
 a crefcent ; and on a tree hangs a (hiekl with the 
 arms of Brewfe on it. 
 
 The font hath the arms of St. Edmund, St. George. 
 and a chev. and chief in one fhicld, all carved in, 
 ftone. 
 
 In 1267 there was a vicar here; after this the vi- 
 carage was re-united to the re&ory, and fo it conti- 
 nued a re&ory ever fmce. 
 
 William de Eaflhawe, re&or, was buried in the 
 chancel in 1385, and made the lattices between the 
 church and chancel. 
 
 The re&or returned eighty communicants here irt 
 1603, 
 
 C June
 
 14 HUNDRED OF 
 
 June 1 2, 1 739, the church of Billingford, alias 
 Pryleflon, was confolidated with Thorpe parva, and 
 in 177 2, the Rev. John Malyn was preferred to the 
 re&ory by Rowland Holt, efq. knight of the fhirc 
 for the county of Suffolk. 
 
 There were formerly many arms of the Grices, 
 with their impalements and quarterings, both in the 
 tall and church windows, but are now fome of 
 them removed, and the reft fo broken and defaced, 
 that there is no depending on them for the exaclnefs 
 of the feveral coats. 
 
 Billingford is the mofl foutherly town in Norfolk, 
 and the coach-road between Yarmouth and London 
 paflcs by it. 
 
 BROCKDISH, or BROOKDISH, is the next ad- 
 joining town to Thorpe-Abbots, eaflward, through 
 which the great road paflcs to Yarmouth; on the 
 left hand of which ftands the church on a hill by 
 itfelf, there being no houfe near it but the parfonage, 
 which joins to the eaft fide of the church-yard. The 
 advowfon always belonged to the Earl's manor here, 
 with which it now continues. 
 
 In Norwich Doomfday-book we read, that the 
 Teclor had a houfe, and thirty acres of land, and it 
 was then valued at fifteen marks. It ftands in the 
 king's book thus, " lol. Brokedifh relory, il. 
 yearly tenths," and confequently pays firft fruits, and 
 is incapable of augmentation. The church ftands 
 included in the glebe, which is much the fame in 
 quantity as it was when the aforefaid furvey was 
 taken. It is in the Duke of Norfolk's liberty, though 
 he hath no ket, warren, paramountfhip, or fuperior 
 
 jurifdidion
 
 E A R S H A M. 15 
 
 jurifdiclion at all in this town, the whole being fold 
 by the family along with the manors of the town. 
 
 In 1603 there were 103 communicants here, and 
 now (Blomefield) here are 50 families, and about 
 300 inhabitants. 
 
 The prior of St. Faith at HoHham owned lands 
 here, which were taxed at as. 6d. in 1428. 
 
 The prior of Thetford monks had lands here of 
 the gift of Richard de Cadomo, or Caam, who gave 
 them his land, &c. in Brockdifh, which from thofc 
 monks is now called Monks -hall Manor, and the 
 water-mill there. In the time of Richard II. the 
 monks bought a piece of marfh ground to make a 
 way to their mill, which not being contained in the 
 grant of Monks-hall Manor from Henry VIII. to the 
 duke of Norfolk, William le Grice, efq. and Charles 
 Newcommon. who had a grant of fuch lands as 
 they could find concealed from the crown, feized on 
 this as fuch; and upon their fo doing, the owner of 
 the mill was obliged to purchafe it of them by the 
 name of Thetford-Mill-Way, and it hath ever fince 
 belonged to, and is coniiantly repaired by the owner 
 thereof. 
 
 In 1356 Mary countefs MarQiall, widow of Tho- 
 mas de Brotherton, who had recovered the advowfon 
 by the king's writ againft fir J. Wingfield, knt. and 
 Thomas, his brother, William de Lampct, and Alice, 
 his wife, and Catherine, her fifter. prefemed ; and 
 it remained in the Norfolk family till 1561. 
 
 In 1 739 the late Rev. and learned Francis Blome- 
 field was prefented rector by Mrs. Ellen Laurence, 
 of Cafde-Acre, widow: He published three volumes 
 
 C 2 Of
 
 16 HUNDRED O P 
 
 of Ah ESSAY towards an Hi/lory of Norfolk, which 
 was continued in two volumes more by the Rev, 
 Mr. Parkin. 
 
 In 1766 the Rev. Lawrence Gibbs was prefented 
 to this reclory by Samuel Gibbs, p. j. 
 
 The church is dedicated to the honor of the 
 Apoflles Sts. Peter and Paul, and hath a fquare tower 
 about fixteen yards high, part of which was re-built 
 with brick in 1714; there arc five bells, the third 
 is faid to have been brought from Pulham in ex- 
 change. The nave, chancel, and fouth ailc are 
 leaded, the fouth porch is tiled, and the north porch 
 is in ruins. The roof of this chancel is remarkable 
 for its principals, which are whole trees without any 
 joint from fide to fide, and bent in fuch a rifmg 
 manner as to be agreeable to the roof, The chancel 
 is thirty feet long, and twenty broad ; the nave is 
 fifty-four feet long, and thirty-two broad, and the 
 fouth aile is of the fame length, and ten feet broad. 
 
 At the weft end of the nave is a black marble in- 
 fcribcd to Richard Wythe, gent, who died Sept. 6, 
 1671, aged 64 years, 4 months, and nine days. 
 
 This family had refided here ever fihce the time 
 of Edward III. till lately, and had a confiderable 
 citato here, and in the adjacent villages. 
 
 Another marble, near the defk, to John Moulton, 
 gent, who died June 12, 1718, aged 38 years; and 
 to his two wives who died before him. 
 
 . In a north window are the arms of De-la-Pole, 
 quartering Wingfield. 
 
 In
 
 E A R S H A M. 17 
 
 In 1469 John Wurliche, of Brockdifh, was in- 
 terred in the nave, and left a legacy to pave the bot- 
 tom of the fteeple. 
 
 In 1518 Henry Bokenham, of Brockdifh, was 
 buried in the church, as were many of the Spaldings*, 
 Wythes, Howards, Grices, Tendrings, and Lau- 
 rences, who were all confiderable owners, and fami- 
 lies of diftinion in this town. 
 
 The chapel at the eaft end of the fouth aile was 
 built by fir Ralph Tendring, of Brockdifh, km. whofe 
 arms remain in the eaft window to this day. 
 
 His ahar monument {lands againft the eaft wall, 
 north and fouth, and hath a fort of cupola over it, 
 with a holy water ftope by it, and a pedeflal for the 
 image of the faint to whom it was dedicated to ftand 
 on, fo that it ferved both for a tomb and an altar; 
 the brafs plates of arms and circumscription arc 
 loft. 
 
 On the north fide, between the chapel and nave, 
 {lands another altar tomb, covered with a moft cu- 
 rious marble, difrobed of many brafs plates of arms 
 and its circumfcription, as are feveral other ftones 
 in the nave', aile, and chancel. This is the tomb 
 of John Tendring, efq. of Brockdifh-hall, who 
 C 3 lived 
 
 * This family was originally of Spalding, in Lincolnfliire. 
 In the houfe belonging to the family was a pichire of Samuel 
 Spalding, town clerk, of Cambridge, in his alderman's gown, 
 with a book in his hand, anno 1664, astat. 74. Another of his 
 wife, anno 1664, aetat. 63, with her arms; another of Frances, 
 their daughter, in her wiading-fheet : this child being young, 
 went into a garret in a remote part of the houfe, and the door 
 (hutting upon it, it was there ftarved to death, notwithftanding 
 flrict enquiry had been made after it. This Samuel was father 
 of Samuel, father of Daniel Spalding, gent, deceafcd,
 
 iS HUNDRED OF 
 
 lived there, and died in 1436, leaving five daugh- 
 ters, his heireffes, fo that he was the laft male of 
 this branch of the Tendrings. 
 
 On the eafl chancel wall on the fouth fide of the 
 altar is a white marble monument, with a latin 
 infcription to the Rev. Robert Lawrence, retor and 
 patron here, who died Dec. 31, 1739 aged 25, with 
 the arms of Lawrence, Attack, Lany, Cooke, Bohun, 
 Bardolph, Ramfcy. 
 
 On a flat ftone under this monument is a brafs 
 plate infcribed to Robert Lawrence, efq. ob. July 
 28, 1637 ; the arms on a brafs plate are, Lawrence 
 impaling Lany, and his quarterings, viz. Attack, 
 Cooke, Bohun, Delis, Birdolph, Charles, Ramiey, 
 Tendring, Wachefam, &c. 
 
 There is a picture of this Robert Lawrence, efq. 
 drawn in 1629, aged 36. He built the hall in 
 1634; it ftands near half a mile north-eatt of the 
 church, and was placed near the old fcite of Brock- 
 difh-hall, the feat of the Tendrings, whofe arms, 
 taken out of the old hall when this was built, were 
 fixed in the windows. The arms of this man, and 
 his wife, and fcveral of their quarterings, are carved 
 on the wainfcot in the rooms. 
 
 On the fouth fide of the church-yard is an altar 
 tomb, covered with a black marble, with the creft 
 and arms of Sayer, or Sawyer, to the memory of 
 PVances, late wife of Richard Tubby, efq. who died 
 December 22, 1728. 
 
 Adjoining is another altar tomb In memory of 
 Eichard Tubby, efq. who died December 10, 1741, in 
 the %Qthycar of his age. 
 
 He
 
 E A R S H A M. 19 
 
 He was high fheriff of Norfolk in 1729, and his 
 wife was niece and co-heirefs to Thomas Tennifon, 
 archbifhop of Canterbury, who died December 14, 
 1715, and was buried at Lambcih. 
 
 The town takes its name from its fituation on the 
 Waveney, or Wagheneye, which divides this county 
 from that of Suffolk, the channel of which is now 
 deep and broad, though nothing to what it was at 
 that time, as is evident from the names of places 
 upon this river, as the oppofuc Ville, now called 
 Sileham, (oftentimes wrote Sayl-holm, even to the 
 time of Edward 111.) fhews ; " for," fays Mr. Blomc- 
 field, " I make no doubt but it was then navigable 
 for large boats and barges to Jail up hither, and con- 
 tinued fo till the fea, by retiring at Yarmouth, and 
 its courfe being ftopt near Loweftoft, had not that 
 influence on the river fo far up as it had before, 
 which occafioncd the water to retire, and leave 
 much land drv on either fide of the channel ; tho' 
 it is fo good a ftream, that it might with eafc, even 
 now, be made navigable hither, and it would be a 
 good work, and very advantageous to all the adja- 
 cent country." That brod-dic fignifies no more than 
 the broad-ditch is very plain, and that the termination 
 of 0, can, or water, added to it, makes it " the broad 
 ditch of water" is as evident. 
 
 Before the Confeflbr's time this town was in two 
 parts, bifhop Stigand owned one, and the abbot of 
 Bury the other ; the former afterwards was called the 
 Earl's manor, from the earls of Norfolk ; and the 
 other Brockdifh-hall, from its ancient lords, who 
 xvere firnamed from the town. 
 
 The fuperior jurifdi&ion, lect, and all royalties, 
 belonged to the earl's manor, which was always held 
 
 c 4 rf
 
 20 HUNDRED OF 
 
 of the hundred of Earfham, except that part of It 
 which belonged to Bury abbey, and that belonged 
 to the lords of Brockdifh-hall ; but when the earl's 
 manor was fold by the duke of Norfolk, with all roy- 
 alties of gaming, fifhitig, Sec. together with the leets, 
 view of frank-pledge, &c. free and exempt from his 
 hundred of Earfham, and the two manors became 
 joined as they now arc, the whole centred in the lord 
 of the town, who hath now the fole jurifdidion, 
 with the leet, belonging to it; and the whole parifh. 
 being freehold, on every death, or alienation, the 
 new tenant pays a relief of a year's freehold rent, 
 added to the current year.; the annual free rent, with^ 
 out fuch reliefs, amounting to above 3!. per ann. 
 
 At the Conqueror's furvey the town was fcven fur- 
 longs long, five furlongs and four perches broad, and 
 paid 6d. to the gelt, or la*. 
 
 At the Confeflbr's furvey there were lands, Sec, 
 field of bifhop Stigand, and others held under the 
 abbot of Bury, who held the whole of Stigand. 
 
 There were two foe-men, with land, Sec. here, 
 which were given to Bury abbey along with the ad- 
 jacent manor of Thorpe-Abbots, but were after fe- 
 vered from that manor, and infeoffed by the abbot of 
 Bury in the lord of Brockdifh-hall manor, with 
 which it pafTed ever after. 
 
 BROCKDISH-EARL'S MANOR, or Brockdifh Comilis. 
 This manor always attended the manor of Forncct 
 after it was granted from the crown to the Bigots, 
 along with the half-hundred of Earfham. It was 
 moltly part of the dower of the ladies of the feverai 
 noble families that it pafled through, and the living 
 was generally given to their doiaeitic chaplains. 
 
 In
 
 E A R S H A M. 21 
 
 In the ^d of Edward I. the abbot of Bury tried an 
 action with Roger Bigot, then lord and patron foe 
 the patronage, pleading that a part of the town be- 
 longed to his houfe, and though they infeoffcd their 
 manor here in the family of the Brockdifh's, yet the 
 right in the advowfon remained in him ; but it ap- 
 pearing that the advowfon never belonged to the ab- 
 bot's manor before the fcoffment was made, but that 
 it wholly was appendant ever fince the ConfeiTor's 
 time to the earl's manor, the abbot was caft: not- 
 with (landing which, in 1335, fir John Wingfield, knt. 
 Ecc. owners of Brockdifh s manor, revived the claim 
 to the advowfon, prefemed here, and put up their 
 arms in the church windows, as patrons, which dill 
 remain; but Mary countcfs Marfhall, who then held 
 this manor in dower, brought her quarc impedit, and 
 ejccled their clerk; fince which time it conftantly at- 
 tended this manor, being always appendant thereto. 
 
 Jn the 15th of Edward I. Roger Bigot, then lord, 
 had free-warren in all this town, as belonging to this 
 manor, having not only all the royalties of the town, 
 but alfo the adize of bread and ale, and ^amercia^ 
 rncnts of all the tenants of his own manor, and the 
 tenants of Reginald dc Brockdifli, who were all obli- 
 ged to do fuit once a year at the earl's view of frank- 
 pledge, and leet, in Brockdifh. It continued in the 
 Norfolk family till 1570, and then Thomas Howard, 
 duke of Norfolk, obtained licence from queen Eli- 
 zabeth to fell it, it being held in capiic, or in chief, of 
 the crown, as part of the barony and honor of the 
 faid duke, who accordingly fold the manor, advow- 
 fon, free-fifhery, and all the place, or manor-houfe, 
 and demelne lands, together with the leet, 8cc. and 
 all other royalties whatfocver, free and exempt from 
 any jurifdiction, or payment, to his half-hundred of 
 Earlham, to Charles le Grice, of Brockdifh, cfq.
 
 22 HUNDRED OF 
 
 and his heirs, who was dcfcendcd fiom fir Robert Ic 
 X^rys, of Langley, in Norfolk, knight, equerry to 
 Richard I. This Charles re-built the houle called 
 the Place in 1567, and fixed his own and wife's 
 arms and quarterings in the windows there. He 
 married two wives, from whom defcended the nume- 
 rous branches of the Grices, of Brockdifh, Norwich, 
 Wakeficld, in Yorkfhire, 8cc. He was buried in this 
 church April 12, 1575, and held his manor of the 
 hundred of Earfham, in free foccage, without any 
 rent or fcrvicc. and not in capita ; and Brockdifh-hall 
 manor of the king, as of his barony of Bury St. Ed- 
 mund, in Suffolk, which lately belonged to the ab- 
 bey there, in free-foccage, without any rent or fer- 
 vice, and not in capiic, and William le Grice was his 
 eldeft fon and heir, who was poffeflcd of the whole 
 eftate; for in 158 ^ William Howard, then lord of 
 Brockuiih-hiiil manor, agreed and fold it to this Wil- 
 liam., and Henry le Grice, his brother, and their 
 lie'irs ; but Howard civ ing the next year, the purchafe 
 was not compleated till 15^8, when Edward Copplc- 
 dick, gent and other truftees, brought a writ of en- 
 try againft John, fon of the faid William Howard, 
 gent, and had it fettled abfolutcly in the Grices, from 
 which time the two manors have continued joined, 
 as they are at this day : he left Francis le Grice, efq* 
 his fon and heir, who fold the whole eflate, manors, 
 and advowfon, to Robert Laurence, of Biockdifh, 
 efq.'" and the heirs of the family of Laurence enjoy 
 the eftate to this day. 
 
 BROCKDISH-HALL MANOR belonged to Bury ab- 
 bey as aforefaid till the time of Hemy I. and then 
 
 the 
 
 * Oliver Laurence created banneret by the duke of Somerfet 
 before Roxborough, in Scotland, in 1547, was of this family, 
 which was originajly of Bueldnghamlhire.
 
 E A R S H A M. 23 
 
 the abbot infeoffed fir Stephen de Brockdifh in it, 
 from whom it took its prefent name; he was to hold 
 it at the 4th part of a knight's fee of that abbey ; it 
 contained a capital rneffuage, or manor-houfe, called 
 now Brockdiih-hall, 105 acres of land in demefne, 
 twelve acres of wood, eight of meadow, and 4!. 
 135. lod. rents of affizc. 
 
 Sir Stephen de Brockdifh, knt. was capital bailiff 
 of all the earl of Norfolk's manors in this county, 
 and was lord of this manor about 1329. 
 
 Reginald de Brockdifh:* left two daughters and 
 heireffes, and not long after the whole was united, 
 and belonged to fir William Tendring, of Stokeney- 
 land, knt. and fir Ralph Tendring, of Brockdifh, knt. 
 built the old hall (which was pulled down by Ro- 
 bert Lawrence, efq. when he creeled the prefent 
 houfe) and the fouih aile chapel, in which he and 
 feveral of his family are interred. 
 
 John Tendring, of Brockdifh, efq. his fon, left 
 five daughters, co-heireffes, who joined and le- 
 vied a fine, and fold it to Thomas Faflolf, efq. and 
 his heirs; and the year following they conveyed all 
 their lands, See. in Wiggenhall, Tilney, and Ifling- 
 ton, to fir John Howard, knt. and his heirs, and 
 vefted them in his truftees, who the year following 
 purchafed the manor of Faftolf to himfelf and heirs ; 
 this fir John left Brockdifh to a younger fon, Robert 
 Howard, efq. who fettled here. 
 
 William 
 
 * The family of this name were very numerous, and many 
 collateral branches continued a long time in this county ; fir John, 
 Brockdifh, prkft of Mend I eft am, in Suffolk, was one of the 
 Marian perfecutors, mentioned by Mr. Fox, vol. II, fol. 1913*
 
 24 HUNDRED OF 
 
 William Howard, who died in 1566, fold this 
 manor the year before his death to the Grices afore- 
 faid ; but upon the fale he referved all other his 
 cftate in Brockdifh, in which he dwelt, called How- 
 ard's Place, fituate on the fouth fide of the entrance 
 of Brockdifh-flreet, which houfe and farm was lately 
 in Mr. Bucknall Howard, of London. 
 
 The fcite and demefnes of the earl's manor, now 
 called the Place, was fold from the manor by the 
 Grices fome time fince, and after belonged to fir 
 Ifaac Pennington, alderman of London, and one of 
 thole who fat in judgment on Charles I. for which 
 his eftate was forfeited at the reftoration, and was 
 given by Charles II. to the duke of Grafton, and his 
 grace the prcfcnt duke of Grafion now owns it. 
 
 Benefactions to this parifh are, amongft others, one 
 clofe, called Algorfhegge'"", containing three acres, 
 and a grove arid dove-houfe formerly built thereon, 
 containing about one acre, at the eaft end thereof; 
 the whole abutting on the king's highway north, and 
 the glebe of Brockdifti rectory weft: and one tene- 
 ment abutting on Brockdifh-ftrect, fouth, called Sc- 
 riches, with a yard on the north fide thereof, were 
 given by John Bacon, the younger, of Brockdifh; 
 the clear profits to go yearly to pay the tenths and 
 fifteenths for the parifh of Brockdifh, when laid, 
 and when they are not laid, to repair and adorn the 
 pai ifh church there for ever. His will was proved 
 in 1453. There are always to be twelve feoffees 
 of fuch as dwell, or arc owners in the parifli, and 
 when the majority jof them are dead, the furvivors 
 are to fill up the vacancies. This tenement, with a 
 town-clock fixed therein, was rebuilt in 1583, in the 
 
 lime 
 
 * It pays a free rent of 4d. ob.
 
 E A fc. S H A M. 25 
 
 -time of Richard Gibfon, reclor, who contributed 
 thereto, with many of his parifhioncrs. . 
 
 John Sherwood, late of Brockdifh, deceafed; pur- 
 chafed and lefc in 1572 an annuity, or clear yearly 
 rent charge of 6s. 8d. iffuing out of fix acres of land 
 and paflure in Hoxne, in a clofe, called Calflon's- 
 clofe, to the only ufe and behoof of the poor of 
 Brockdifh, to be paid on the ifl of Nov. in Hoxne 
 church porch, between twelve and four in the after-. 
 noon of the fame day, with power to diflrain and 
 enter immediately for non-payment ; the faid fix 
 acres are warranted to be freehold, and clear of all 
 incumbrances, except another rent-charge of 133. 
 4d. granted to Hoxnc poor, to be paid at the fame 
 day and place. 
 
 In 1592 John Howard, of Brockdifh, fold to the 
 inhabitants there a cottage, called Laune's, lying be- 
 tween the glebes on all parts; this hath been dilapi- 
 dated many years, but the fcite ftill belongs to the 
 parifh. 
 
 In the reign of queen Mary we find, by the old 
 town-book, that feveral fums were paid for churcli 
 utenfils, 8cc. then ufed; but in 1558, as footi as 
 queen Elizabeth afcended the throne, all thcic popi/h 
 images, Sec. were removed out of the church. 
 
 In 1657 feventeen fhillings was laid out for the re- 
 pair of the Brockdifh part of Sileham-bridge, leading 
 over the river to Sileham church. This bridge is 
 now down, through the negligence of both the pa- 
 rifhes, though it was of equal fervice to both, and 
 half of it to be repaired by each of them. 
 
 la
 
 2 6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 In 1618 the church was wholly new paved and re- 
 paired; and in 1619 the pulpit and de{k new made, 
 new books, pulpit-cloth, altar-cloth, 8cc. bought. 
 
 DENTON takes its name from the Saxon word 
 den, a cave, or hollow place'"", between two hills, which 
 cxaclly anfwcrs to its fituation. The prcfent church 
 {lands on a high hill, and the parfonage houfe on the 
 north fide of the church-yard, in the very den, or 
 hollow, from which the village is named. The fu- 
 perioi jurifdidion over divers free-men of this town, 
 from the time of the conquefl to this day, hath pafTed 
 with the hundred of Earfliam ; but the chief mawor 
 of Demon was held of bifhop Stigand by Alfriz, in 
 the Confeffor's time, and by Eudo, fon of Spiruwin, 
 at the Conqueror's furvey, when it was worth 4!. per 
 ami. the town being then a mile long, and four fur- 
 longs broad, and paid iSd. gelt. This came to 
 William de Albany, who joined it to Buckenham- 
 caftle, with which it pafled many ages. Another 
 part, which formerly belonged to Bury abbey, was 
 held by Tarmoht, and after by the (aid Eudo : this 
 conflituted that manor called Payone's, in Demon. 
 
 DENTON cum TOPCROFT MANOR paffed with the 
 Albanys, and at the divifion of the eftate of that fa- 
 mily, among female heirdfes, was allotted, among 
 others, to fir Robert de Taiefhale, knt. in whole fa- 
 mily it continued till the failure of iffue male. 
 
 In 1227 Henry III. granted to fir Robert de Ta- 
 tcfhale, knt. a charter for free-warren here, which was 
 confirmed to Conflancine Clifton, his heir; and in 
 
 1285 
 
 * Thus, den, an&flrand, in the old law terms, fignifies li- 
 berty for a (hip to run a-ground, or come a-lbore, which they 
 ulually did in fuch places for" their fafety.
 
 E A R S H A M. , 27 
 
 1285 Roger Bigot, as lord of the hundred, had joint 
 free-warren with him. It went from the Tatefhales 
 through the Bernaks, Orrebys, Sec. to the Clihons, 
 and continued in that family, with Buckenham-cillle, 
 till 1447, and then fir John Clifton, knt. gave this 
 manor to Robert Clifton, his coufin, and his heirs, 
 who conveyed the united manors of Denton aim Top- 
 croft t, the manors of Hoes, and Littlehall, in Den- 
 ton, with the advowfon of the church, to fir Gilbert 
 Dcbcnham, knt. and the advowlbn of St Giles's cha- 
 pel, in Topcroft, the manors then extending into 
 Denton, Topcroft, Aldburgh, Bedingham, Woodton, 
 Hemenhale, Haddifcoe-Thorpe, and Dickleburgh. 
 
 Sir Thomas Brewfe, of Salle, in Eynsford hundred, 
 and of Wenham. in Suffolk, in right of Elizabeth, 
 his fecond wife, fifter and heirefs to fir Gilbert De- 
 benhani, inherited this eftate, from whom it. de- 
 fcendcd to Robert Brewfe, cfq. of Topcioft-hall, his 
 fecond fon. 
 
 John Brewfe in 1602 was lord; he was afterwards 
 knighted, and married Cecily, only daughter of John, 
 Wilton, of Topcroft, gent, and . foon after the Wil- 
 tons were lords. It parted with the Wiltons till Ni- 
 cholas Wilton, efq. fold it in ifiSo to George Smyth, 
 doclor of phyfic, fecond fon of John Smyth, efq. of 
 North Niblcy, high-flieriff of Gloucefterfhire, de- 
 fcendcd from the Smyths of Elkington, in Lincoln- 
 fhire, who flourifhed in the time of Henry VI. 
 and were returned among the gentlemen of that 
 county; and from thence, about 1527, fettled at 
 
 Nibley, 
 
 *-. Tn 1464 Robert and Elizabeth Clifton lived in the princi- 
 pal manor-houfc, called Topcruit-hall, a-id had free hunting, 
 hawking, fifhing, and fowling, for thtir lives, in the unite! 
 manors of Denton cum Topcroft, H :o, and Liulchail, in 
 7'opcrcft.
 
 as HUNDRED OP 
 
 Nibley, where the elder branch have refided to this 
 day, from father to Ton, This George took his 
 mailer of arts degree at Oxford, May 21, 1661, and 
 afterwards travelled beyond fea twenty-five years ; 
 and on the 24th of December, 1638, was admitted 
 doclor of Phyfic at Padua, as a fine diploma now irt 
 the family certifies; in which he is called J\ r oL"ilis 
 Anglus ; he married Mary, daughter and heirels of 
 David Offlcy, of Chefhirc, efq. by whom he had 
 one fon, Offley ] his fecond wife was Ann*, dailghtet 
 of William Chilcot. of Iflewpnh. in Middlefex, cfq. 
 who furvived him, but had ho iilue ; he is buried in 
 Topcroft chancel, with .he arms of Smyth between 
 thofe of Offley and Chilcot on the flone ; obijt Aug. 
 
 Offley, his fon, inherited at his death, who was 
 likewife a great traveller, and never redded at Top- 
 croft, but died at London in 1708, and lies buried in 
 >t. Bride's church there, leaving this manor and 
 eflate to George Smythf, efq. his eldeft (on, by Mary, 
 daughter of Thomas Archer, of GloucefteifLire, cfq. 
 who fetilcd at themanor-houfe of Topctofc-hall, the 
 piefent feat of the family ; he married Mary, third 
 daughter of William Churchman, cfq. of Illington, 
 In 1735 he was high flieriff of NorfoJk, and died 
 Decuubei, 1745, leaving a numerous family. 
 
 Wm. Smyth, of Topcroft, efq. his eldeft fon, is novtf 
 lord of thefe united raauois ; lie married the eldeft 
 
 daughter 
 
 * She died May 10, 1708, aged 64, and lies buried in the 
 chancel of Topcroft church. 
 
 f Againft the north chancel wall at Topcreft there is a neat 
 mural monument of white marble to this gentleman, with the 
 creft and arms of Smyth quartering Churchman, and a Latin in* 
 icription; he died December 12, 1693.
 
 E A R S H A M. 29 
 
 daughter of Alderman Black, of Norwich, by whom 
 he has iiTue. In the late war he commanded a com- 
 pany in the eaftern battalion of the Norfolk militia, 
 ivhen upon an expected invafion they were ordeied 
 down to Portfmouth. 
 
 The faid George Smyth left alfo a fecond fon, Officy 
 Smyth, gent, of Harlefton, who by Branfby Branfby, 
 his wife, hath iffue. And alfo Ann, a daughter, 
 married in Gloucefterfhire. 
 
 HOF.'S MANOR, in TOPCROFT, is joined to Denton 
 cum Topcroft ; it belonged at the conquefl to Bury 
 abbey, and at the furvey Berengarius held it of the 
 abbot ; the leet then belonged to it, and was worth. 
 405. perann. In 1196 Roger de Hoe, or Howe, 
 owned it; he divided it into two parts; that in 
 Topcroft Roger de Coggefhale, and the other Nicho- 
 las de Falfham had, and being foon after united, 
 it paffed through many hands, and was purchafed 
 by Andrew de Bixton, citizen of Norwich, whofc 
 feoffees in 1348 conveyed it to Jeffrey, his fon and 
 heir, who fold it to the Clifions; and in 1378 fir 
 John Cliiton was lord. In 1458 Robert Clifton, 
 efq. who had it by inheritance from his father, joined 
 it to Fopcroft cum Denton manor, with which it ftili 
 remains. 
 
 LITTLK-HALL MANOR, in Topcroft, is alfo joined 
 to the aforefaid manor: this had its original in 1302, 
 when Robert de Tatefhale, the fourth of that name, 
 then lord of Topcroft and Denton, granted to Wil- 
 liam de Bernak, and his heirs, about the third part 
 of the manor, to be held of his capital manor at sd. 
 a year; and with Margaret, daughter and heirefs of 
 fir John Bernak, it went to her hufharui, John Stone- 
 ham, efq. and fo to the Greys ; John Grey, efq. of 
 D Topcroft,
 
 S o HUNDRED OF 
 
 Topcioft, was the firft. that owned it of that family ; 
 he left it to Robert Grey, his fon and heir< who fold 
 it to John Stanbawe, of Bedingham, whofe fon, 
 Ralph Stanhawc, before 1447 fold it to Robert Clif- 
 ton, efq. who joined it to his other manors, with 
 which it flill remains. 
 
 The cufloms of thcfe manors are, the eldcft fon 
 is heir, they give no dower, every meffuage pays 6s. 
 8d. fine certain, every acre of land of the old grant, 
 or feoffmem, pays 25. each acre fine certain, and 
 every acre of the new grant 45. fine certain. The 
 quit-rents, ex parle Den ton, are i81. 195. ad. and at 
 partcTopcroft 19!. i8s. a year. 
 
 A decree in Chancery paficd Nov. <j, 1590, be- 
 tween Thomas Brcwfc, efq. lord, and the tenants, fet- 
 tling the cuftoms, and decreeing the meafurc of land, 
 according to cuflom, to be twenty-one feet and an 
 half to the perch, or pole ; the tenants to cut timber 
 as they pleafe, to repair their copyholds, and alfo 
 for plow-boot, gate-boot, ftile-boot, cart- boot, paling, 
 and all other neceffary ufes, free of all demand from 
 the lord, and no diftinction to be made ; but may 
 take off Denton to ufe at Topcroft, and off Top- 
 croft to ufe at Denton: but in the decree this : ci The 
 ' lords without lett or denial of the coppihold tc- 
 " nants, in a convenient time, and without any un- 
 ' neceffary damage to the faid coppiholders, or their 
 " faid lands, may take, have, and perceive, conve- 
 " nicnt and fufficient timber of the trees now being, 
 44 or hereafter growing upon the coppihold premifes, 
 " or any part thereof, for and towards the building, 
 " tranfpofmg, repairing, bettering, or amending the 
 " manor- houfc of Topcroft-hall, in Topcioft afore- 
 41 faid, or any of the houfes, buildings, or edifices 
 " thereof; or of any water-mills of the lord's, within 
 
 41 the
 
 E A R S H A M. 31 
 
 " the faid manors, or any of them, and not othcr- 
 
 " wife, without the affent, or confent, of the faid 
 
 *' coppiholder, or cuftomary tenant, that then fhall 
 
 " have the prefent cftate, or inheritance, upon whofc 
 
 " coppihold lands and tenements the fame trees have 
 
 " been, or {hall be {landing and growing, provided 
 
 *' that he or they (hall not take fo, but that there 
 
 " fhall be always left by him, or them, to every fe- 
 
 ' verai coppiholder, of whom timber fliall be fo 
 
 " taken, fufficient timber upon his feveral coppihold 
 
 " for his necelTary ufes aforementioned, from time 
 
 *' to time." 
 
 WESTHALL, or PAYONE'S MANOR, in DENTON, was 
 formerly a considerable one, extending into divers 
 towns ; it was in two parts in 1 239 ; Stephen de 
 Brockdifh granted his part to John de Demon. In 
 1256 he claimed to be fuperior lord of his own fee, 
 excluding the earl Marfiiall, who had only the waifs 
 of it in right of the hundred. In 1397 William de 
 Wotton had it. In 1345 Robert de Occoit, and 
 then it became joined to the principal part of the ma- 
 nor, which was infeoffed by Bury abbot in the Bigots, 
 and by them in the Bois\ of Fcrsfield, and paffed 
 with that manor. In 1346 fir John Howard had it. 
 In 1401 Gilbert Franfham was lord; and it was foon. 
 after purchafed by Stephen Payone, of Denton, from 
 whom it took its name. The next owner we meet 
 with was John Bengys, parfon of Seaming, who re- 
 leafed it to Richard Pykot, and fo it became joined 
 to Starilon-hall manor. 
 
 This church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who 
 had her image in the chancel, with a light burning 
 before it. Doomfday of Norwich tells us, that k was 
 valued at thirty-fix marks, and that the re&or had a 
 houfe and carucate of land. The Ghorography lays, 
 D a .there
 
 $* HUNDRED OF 
 
 there are eighty acres of glebe inclofed and wooclrd, 
 lying round the houfc within iifelf, and hath a 
 preity manor, having about twenty copyholders, and 
 fix marks a ycar'quit-rents, the fines being at the wilt 
 of the lord. It fiands thus in the kings books : 24!. 
 Demon rectory, si. 8s. yearly tenths; confequently 
 pays firfl-fruits, and is capable of. augmentation. 
 
 Edward I. granted a prohibition in the 31 ft year of 
 his reign, to his chaplain, reclor here, " that no one 
 fliould moleft him for non-reddence." 
 
 In 1532 Richard Cornwallis, who was not eleven 
 years old, was allowed by the Pope to hold this rec- 
 tory in commtndam till he was eighteen, and then to 
 become rcclor and be inflituted. 
 
 In 1603 the reclor returned 136 communicants in 
 this parifii; and in 1644 Charles Woodward, A. M. 
 of Sidney college, Cambridge, tetat. 25, born at Den- 
 ton, was ordained deacon. 
 
 In 1714 Matthew Pofllethwayte, A. M. was pre- 
 fented by Robert Herne, of Demon, patron of this 
 turn ; he was afterwards re&or of Rcdenhall, and 
 archdeacon of Norwich, In 1719 he publiflied a 
 fermon in quarto, on Acls 26, g, imitled, " The 
 " mbral Impoflibility of Proteftant Subjects prc- 
 " ferving their Religious or Civil Liberties under 
 " Popifti Princes, &x." Preached at Norwich ca- 
 thedral, Nov. 5, 171 8. He was fucceeded by his fon, 
 the Rev. Mr. John Pofllethwayte*. 
 
 The 
 
 * John Poftlethwayte, A. M. high, or chief mafier of St. 
 Paul's fchool, of Merton college, in Oxford, by will, dated 
 Sept, 5, 1713, gave to the archbifhops of Canterbury, for ever, 
 the perpetual advo\vfon of the reftory of Denton, in Norfolk, 
 
 wbMb
 
 E A R S H A M. 33 
 
 The archbifliop of Canterbury is perpetual. patron, 
 but muft prcfent one that is, or hath formerly been, 
 fellow of .Merton college, in Oxford. 
 
 In i 750 the Rev. George Sandby, D. D. chancel- 
 lor of Norwich, was prefented to this reclory by the 
 archbifliop, and has a handfome fummer relidence 
 here. 
 
 The church, chancel, two ailes, and north porch, 
 are leaded ; the north vcftry is down. At the weft 
 end flands a low fcjuare brick tower, in which there 
 arc three bells. 
 
 In the church-yard, on the fouth fide, there are 
 memorials for fevcral of the family of Jay. 
 
 Under this Jlone litth Robert Tile, gent, who died Feb. 
 23, 1737, <ztat. 75. In whom was extinct the male 
 line of the family of the Tites, who have flourifhed 
 in the parifh of Denton from the 30th of Henry 
 VIII. 1538, as appears by the regifter books of the 
 D 3 faid 
 
 which hepurchafed of the duke of Norfolk, on condition that 
 the archbifhop fhould, every vacancy, collate " fuch perfons as 
 " fliall be at thofe times refpeclively fellows of Merton col- 
 " lege in Oxford, or fuch as have been formerly fellows of 
 " the faid college, as their grace? ftiall judge fitteft and moft 
 " worth." He gave alfo 200!. for adorning the chancel at 
 Denton. The life of this gentleman may be feen at large ia 
 the life of dean Collet, written by Samuel Knight, D. D. and 
 publifhed at London, 1724, Mifcel. No. VI. p. 384, &c. where 
 the infcription defigned for his monument in St. Auftin's church, 
 London, where he was buried in 1713, with that in this chan- 
 cel window, is printed. His character by John Hancock, 
 D. D. rector of St. Martin's Lothbury, London, is in the me- 
 morials and characters, with the lives of eminent and worthy 
 perfons, publifhed in folio at London, 1741* price il. 6s. 6d. 
 in fheets. He was uncle to the late archdeacon Poftlethwayte, 
 rector here.
 
 34 HUNDREDOF 
 
 (aid paridi, who have alfo been pofTeffed of lands in 
 the fame ever fince the Ath of Edward VI. as appears 
 by the furvey book of Topcroft cum Dcnton. 
 
 The eaft chancel window is all of painted glafs, 
 the mod perfect and curious to be feen in any country 
 village; it contains the arms of Howard, Brotherton, 
 Warren, and Mowbray, quartered; France and Eng- 
 land in a garter; Norwich city; Branch and Rede 
 impaled; Canterbury fee impaled with the arms of 
 the archbifhops Morton, Kemp, Sheldon, Sec. Will. 
 Eannifter de com. Somerfet, armig. Johannes Sturton, 
 de Piefton Pluclmet, com. Dorfet, &c. 
 
 In the middle pane is an infcription to Joannes 
 Pofilethwayte, A^ M. 1717. 
 
 In a fouth chancel window, over the reclory pew, 
 are the arms and quarterings of C. le Grys, and 
 Manfyldc. 
 
 There is a mural monument of white marble 
 againfl the north chancel wall, with the crefl, arms, 
 and infcription of Robert Rogerfon, A. M. obijt 
 1684. 
 
 On a black marble in the chancel are the creft and 
 arms of Rogerfon, impaling a lion ramp, between 
 three holly leaves. Thomas Rogerfon, A. M. of 
 Ampton, in Suffolk, obijt Nov. 2, 1740, alat. 78. 
 This gentleman being a nonjuror, refigned his living 
 of Ampton, and afterwards lived a peaceable, retired 
 life, and died with a fair character ; he gave by will 
 a moiety of the clear yearly .rent of fix acres, lett 
 at 5!. per ann. towards i'upporting a charity-fchool 
 in Dentont, and if there be no fuch, to furniih every 
 
 poor 
 t Here is a fchool now kept, Blomefield.
 
 E A R S H A M. 35 
 
 poor family with a bible, a Whole Duty of Man, 
 and a Chriftian Monitor, and every poor perfon with 
 a common prayer-book ; and the reft to be diftri- 
 buted in bread every firft Sunday in the month after 
 Divine fervice, among fuch poor houfe-keepers only 
 as conflantly keep their church, and frequently re- 
 ceive the facrament; the profits to be received and 
 applied by the redor of Demon for the time being, 
 jor ever. 
 
 In the nave a brafs to John Gedgc, who was bu- 
 ried Nov. 24, 1621, aged 87. 
 
 Here are alfo grave-ftones for the families of Her- 
 vey. Love, Randall, Thompfon, 8cc. 
 
 The north porch hath a ftone arch, and a chamber 
 over it, with {everal carvings in ftone, of the Refur- 
 reclion, the Salutation, the Laft Judgment, and our 
 Saviour walking on the water. 
 
 It appears by the Terrier, that the reel or receives 
 divers portions of tithes from Earfharn, Bedingham, 
 and Aldburgh, in which laft village there is a meadow 
 belonging to Denton parifh ; there are feven acres 
 and a half of town lands to repair the church; a 
 pighde, called charitable-ufe pightle, of 2os, a year, 
 for the ufe of the poor, which was given by Mr. John 
 Porter, formerly reclor. Robert Rogerfon, relor, by. 
 his will, dated 1713, gave a piece of land, inter- 
 mixed with the glebe, for the augmentation of the 
 redory for ever. 
 
 In 1693 Sarah Bidbank gave 8s. per ann, to buy 
 bibles, to be given away at Eafler by the church- 
 wardens. 
 
 D 4 Mr,
 
 5 6 HUNDRED OF 
 
 Mr. -Warnes gave 2os. per ann. to the poor la- 
 borers of Denton, which is now paid by the treafu- 
 rer of the boys hofpital, in Norwich. 
 
 EARSHAM, or ERESHAM, wrote Hcrfham in 
 Doornfday-book, was the chief manor of the hundred, 
 and belonged to Stigand the archbifhop at the Con- 
 feffor's furvey, when it was worth i il. being then a 
 mile and a half long, a mile broad, and paid 6d. to 
 the gelt, or tax. At the conquefl it belonged to the 
 Conqueror, who committed the management of it to 
 William dc Noicrs. The foe and fac belonged to it, 
 and the whole was rifen -to 40!. value. 
 
 From the time it was granted to the Norfolk fa- 
 mily, along with the half hundred, from the crown, 
 it paffed with Forncet manor, the duke of Norfolk 
 being lord of the manor and hundred, and owner of 
 the park here, which is now difparked, though in 
 the 3 ^th of Edward I. it was well flocked, and be- 
 longed to the lodge, or manor-houfe, which had 286 
 acres in demefne, fixtecn acres of meadow, and the 
 hall dykes, or fifhery, a water-mill, and many woods 
 and fens*; all which were kept for the ufe of th: fa- 
 mily of Roger Bigot, then lord, who chiefly refided 
 at his adjacent cafllc of Bungay, in Suffolk. 
 
 There was a manor here, which formerly belonged 
 to William dq Fraxineto, or Freney, who gave the 
 tithe's of ihe demefhcs of it to che monks at Cafllc 
 Acre; it after came to Roger de Glanvile, who con- 
 firmed that donation, as did Simon bilhop of Nor- 
 wich 
 
 * In i6'y ? the commifHon of fewers found 418 acres of low 
 ground tubjeil to be damaged by inundations* valued at above 
 330!. and fo paid 13!. jos. -/d. towards the repair .of the fea 
 bread' 1 1. t.v een Loweftrtft ami KJrkkv, in Suffolk; and an- 
 ciently we find many legacici left to repair iurfham dam.
 
 E A R S H A M. 37 
 
 wich in 1 265 ; but it was extinguished, or was joined 
 to the other manor. 
 
 The church is dedicated to All Saints. Norwich 
 Doom ("day- book tell us, the reclor had then a houfe 
 and forty acres of land, and now hath about thirty- 
 feven acres; it was fir ft valued at twenty-four, and 
 after at thirty marks. It is incapable of augmentation, 
 andfo confequently pays firft -fruits and yearly tenths, 
 and (lands thus in the kings books: 15!. Earftiam 
 rcclory, il. los. tenths. 
 
 John Wace, reclor, was buried in 1502, and gave a 
 piece of alder-carr to repair the church, and a piece 
 in North Meadow towards paying the town charges 
 for evermore* 
 
 Henry Simonds, reclor, was deprived in 15531 by 
 queen Mary, as a marrifd prieft, and Henry Cum- 
 breford, S. T. B. was inftituted, who refigned in 1558 
 to Alan Percy, brother to Ann countefs of Arundel. 
 
 In 1603 the reclor returned anfwer that there 
 were 260 communicants in this parifh. 
 
 Nicholas Sherwood, A. B. was ejcdled in 1643 by 
 the earl of Manchefter, but lived to be reflored, and 
 died April 19, 1671. 
 
 In 171 7 John Ann 1 is, efq. garter principal king at 
 arms prefented; and in 1746 the Rev. Mr. John 
 Burcham was prefented by his father, Mr. Daniel 
 Burcham, who purchafcd this turn of Mr. Canning, 
 and who was faid to have purchafed the advowfon of 
 the affignce of the late duke of Norfolk, 
 
 The
 
 38 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 The church ftands on an old encampment, which 
 by its oval form feems to have been a work of the 
 Danes, or Saxons. The tou-er is fquare. and hath 
 three bells ; the nave, chancel, and fouth porch arc 
 tiled, and the north porch is leaded. 
 
 A mural monument in the chancel, on the fouth 
 fide, by the altar, to William Lamb, gent, objit .20 
 Aug. 1724, A a . (St. fuce 54. with the arms of Lamb, 
 impaling arg. in a bordurc ingrailed, a lion ramp. fab. 
 
 Under this monument lies a flat black marble for 
 fir Thomas Barker, knt. who died Aug. 22, 1658, 
 with the arms of Barker. 
 
 In the altar rails, on black marbles, M. 5. Jo- 
 Iiannesfiiius fccundus, Johannes Jilius tertius Johanni* 
 Buxton de Channoni in prima aftate tbierunt, et hicfepe- 
 liunter\ fatQ cejjit alter mcnjc Junij, 1710, alter Maij, 
 1712. 
 
 Robert Gcoch, of Earfmm, ejq. ob. 2 Apr. 1655, at. 
 55. Ann, daughter oj Leonard and Dorothy Gocch, ob. 
 29 Dec. 1692. Leonard Gocc'i, gcnL ob. jo Jan. 
 i6S6, with the arms of Gooch. 
 
 Dorothy, wife of Leonard Goocli, gent, one of the 
 daughters of Richard Catlyn, of Kirly, e/'q. ob. \June, 
 1635, at. 48. Gooch impales Catlyn. 
 
 On a monument againft the north wall, In me- 
 moria ceterna erunt jujii. Robert Gooch, late of this 
 town, efq. who died Sept. 29, 1704, aged 76. To 
 whofe memory his niece, Dame Barbara Ward, wife of 
 fir Edward Ward, hart, of Bixley, in this county, has 
 caufed this monument to IK vetted, 
 
 On
 
 u
 
 -E A R S H A M. 39 
 
 On braffcs by the chancel door, Hie jactl Simon 
 Throkmerton, Jecundus filius Johannis Throkmerton, ?iu- 
 per dc South Elrnhdm, in comilaiu Siiffolcic, quifuitfe- 
 cundus fdius Thome Throkmerton, nuper de Thi'okmerton, 
 in comiiatu Wygornic, ohijt dccimo die Julij, A". Dm. 
 D.CCCCC.XXVII O . 
 
 The eftate formerly the Throgmertons, was after- 
 wards the Gooches, and then the Buxtons, on which 
 John Buxton, efq. built the prefent houfe, called 
 Earfham-lodge, or hall, and afterwards fold it to 
 colonel William Wyndham, who is interred under 
 the altar , and it is now the feat of the Wyndhams ; 
 William Wyndham, efq. is the prefent lord, and 
 refides at his feat here, of which a view, taken by 
 Mr. Butcher, of Bungay, is given with this work. 
 
 MENDHAM comprehends in it Needham, Shot- 
 ford, and Metfield. 
 
 NEEDHAM, or NEDHAM, adjoins eaft to Brockdifh, 
 on the great road, and was originally a hamlet and 
 chapelry to Mendham, which is a very extenfivc 
 place. The parifh church ftands juft over the river. 
 and fo is in Suffolk ; but this hamlet and the adjacent 
 part between it and the pariih church, on the Norfolk 
 fide, were no lefs than two miles and five furlongs 
 long, and fcvcn furlongs broad, at the Conqueror's 
 furvey, and paid yd. to the gelt, or tax; and the 
 part on the Norfolk fide (exclufive of the bounds of 
 this ancient hamlet) was called Shotford, or the part 
 at the ford, (over which there is a good brick bridge 
 built, called Shotford-bridgc, at this day) and for 
 many ages had a reclor prefented to it, who ferved in 
 the church of Mendham, by the name of the reclor 
 of Shotford portion, in Mendham. Part of Herol- 
 vefton, or Harlefton, then belonged to Mendham ; 
 and now that part oppofite the fouth fide of the chapel. 
 
 Mendham
 
 40 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Mendham parifh church is dedicated to All Saints, 
 and was originally a rectory, one turn of which was 
 in fir William de Humingfield, founder of thepiiory 
 here, to which he gave it, and the other in fir Tho- 
 mas de Necdham, who gave it to the prior and con- 
 vent of the Holy Trinity at Ipfwich. to which it was 
 appropriated by Thomas de Blundeville, Whop of 
 Norwich, in 1227, when the vicarage was fettled t: 
 and the firft vicar here was prefented -by the prior of 
 Ipfwich. The account of this church in Norwich 
 Doomfday-book is thus: " The prior of the Holy 
 Trinity of Ipfwich hath the moiety of the church of 
 Mendham appropriated to his convent, and hath a 
 houfe and two carucates of land, and receives the 
 tithes of the demcfnes of fir Thomas de Nedhain ; 
 this was valued formerly at fifteen marks. The 
 prior of Mendham hath the other moiety, and re- 
 ceives the tithes of fir William de Humingfield, and 
 his moiety is valued at ten marks. Sir Thomas dc 
 Clare is patron of the third part, which the vicar 
 holds of the fee of Gockfield, and is valued at five 
 marks." 
 
 The chapel of St. Peter at Necdham was in all 
 probability founded by In Thomas de Needham, for 
 his own tenants, and being fo far from the mother 
 church of Mendham, was made parochial, and hath 
 icparate bounds, officers, adminiftration of facra- 
 ments, and burial; 'tis under the epifcopal, but ex- 
 empt from the archidiaconal juriidiclion ; for it pays 
 neither lynodals, procurations, nor Peter-pence ; but 
 the two medieties were in Mendham church, and not 
 in this chapel. 
 
 In 
 
 *{* A houfe and land was fettled in 1226 on the priory of 
 Ipfwich, by William de Arches, and Eve, bis wife, with half 
 a carucate of land, and a manor thereto belonging in Mend- 
 
 L.k:;, called Whiter.dori.
 
 E A R S H A M. 41 
 
 In 1329 a perpetual compofition and agreement 
 was made between the parifhioners of the mother 
 church of Mendham, and vhofe of the chapel of 
 Needham. by which, in lieu of all reparations and 
 dues to the parifh of Mendharn, they agreed to pay 
 l Sd. every Eider-day , towards the repairs of Mend- 
 ham church, as an acknowledgement that they were 
 members of it. 
 
 In 1411 the parifhi oners of Needham complained 
 to pope John XXIII. that their chapel was not well 
 ferved, though the priqr of Mendham was well paid 
 his tithes ; upon which a bull, directed to the bifhop 
 of Norwich, iffucd, commanding him to oblige the 
 prior of Mendham to find, and give fecurity to him, 
 that that convent would always find a parocial chap- 
 lain rcfidcnt in Needham, well and duly to ferve the 
 chapel there; and ever fince the impropriator of 
 Mendham nominates the parifh chaplain. 
 
 In 1603 it was returned that there were 220 com- 
 municants, and that it was an irnpropriation, the 
 herbages being referved for the maintenance of the 
 minifter, who hath now the vicarial tithes, amount- 
 ing to about 14!. per ann. for which it is ferved once 
 a fortnight. The Rev. John Stockdale was prefented 
 to this curacy in 1764. 
 
 The fteeple is round at bottom, and octangular at 
 top, and hath four bells in it ; the fouth porch and 
 nave are tiled. 
 
 There arc feveral ftones, but none with infcriptions 
 on them, all their brafles being reaved. 
 
 The chancel was wholly rebuilt in 173 5, of brick, 
 and titled, (though lefs than the old one was) by Wil- 
 liam
 
 42 HUNDRED OF 
 
 liam Frefton, efq. of Mcndhara, who is interred in 
 it, for whom there is a mural monument on the fouth 
 fide, with his arms, impaling Kedington, and an 
 infcription. He died Odober 26, 1739, aged 55. 
 
 This chapelry hath a leet held in it by the duke 
 of Norfolk's fleward, it being in his grace's liberty, 
 who is lord paramount in right of his hundred of 
 Earfham over all the Norfolk part of Mendham. 
 In 1285 Roger Bigot, then lord of the hundred, had 
 free-warren allowed him here. 
 
 The abbot and convent of Sibton, in Suffolk, had 
 a fifhery, and water-mill, called Fryer's-mill, in this 
 place, which was lett with their giainge and manor 
 of Weybrede, in Suffolk, which in 1611 belonged to 
 George Herring, of Norvvich*. 
 
 This hamlet originally belonged to the abbot of 
 Bury, and was infeoffed by Frodo at the conquefl, 
 whofe defcendcnts took the firname of Nedham, 
 and, contrary to the common rule, gave their name 
 to this place: It fhould feem that the family extin- 
 guifhed in feveral heireffcs, by the many parts or 
 manors it was divided into ; and now there are four 
 manors ftill fubfifting here. 
 
 Thefirflis a very fmall one, called SILEHAM Co- 
 MITIS, Ex Partt Norfolk, and was originally part of 
 the earl's manor of Sileham, from which it was fepa- 
 rated, and now belongs to James Branfby, efq. of 
 Shotufham, in Henflead hundred. 
 
 The 
 
 * The Convent of Redlingfield, in Suffolk, had lands here, 
 taxed at zs. 6d. and the naoaaftery of St. Faith at tiorftura 
 land was taxed at 45,
 
 fc A R S H A M. .43 
 
 Ttic fecond is called DENISON'S, or ' DENSTON'S 
 MANOR ; this was given to the priory of Mendhara, 
 to which it belonged till its dilTolution. 
 
 This mona fiery was founded in the time of king 
 Stephen by William de Huntingfield, who gave the 
 whole ifle of Mendham, called Medenham, or the 
 Village of Meadows, to the monks of Caftle Acre, 
 on condition they fliould erecl a church of ftone, and 
 build a convent by it, and place at leaft eight of their 
 monks there, in ihe place called Hurft, orBraninfliurft, 
 being then a woody ifle on the Suffex fide of the 
 river: accordingly, monks being placed there, the 
 founder ordered that they fhould be fubjecl; to Caftle 
 Acre monks, as a cell to that houfe, in the fame man- 
 ner as Caftle Acre itfelf was to the monaftery of St. 
 Fancras, at Lewes, in Suffex, and that to the 
 church of Cluni, or Clugny, in France: but after 
 the death of the founder, the prior of Caftle Acre co- 
 venanted with Roger de Huntingfield, his fon, (who 
 was alfo a great benefactor) to maintain at leaft eight 
 monks at Mendham, and not to depofe the prior there, 
 unlefs for difobedience, incontinence, or dilapida- 
 tions of the houfe. 
 
 Their founder gave the whole ifland of St. Mary 
 of Mendham, with Ulvefhage, and the grainges 
 there, and many other lands, rents, and homages, 
 and all his lands in Crocheftunc, or Croxton, and his 
 homagers there, which xverc all to be employed by the 
 prior, to the maintenance of Mendham monks, ex- 
 cept half a mark of filver to be paid yearly to the 
 priory of Caftle Acre, as an acknowledgement of 
 their depending as a cell to that monaftery : he gave 
 them alio St. Margaret's church at Linftead, and St. 
 Peter's there ; the moiety ofj;he church of Ttidcling. 
 
 and
 
 44 HUNDREDOF 
 
 and feveral lands, together with all his right in the 
 church of Mcndham. 
 
 In 1386 fir Robert dc Swillington, knt. fir Roger 
 Bois, knt. &x*. fettled the patronage of this monaftery 
 on Ifabel countefs of Suffolk. 
 
 This houfe and all its revenues were given by 
 Henry VIII. together with the lands of the diffolved 
 priories of Ankerwick, in Lincolnfhire, and Little 
 Mailow, in Buckinghamfhire, to the then newly re- 
 ftorcd monaftery at Bifham, or Butlefham, in Bcrk- 
 fhire, in 1537, byway of augmentation, to the va- 
 lue of 66tl. 145. gd per ann. for the maintenance of 
 an abbot and thirteen monks of the Benediclinc or- 
 der ; but that monaftery was fhort-lived, and foon 
 fell; and this houfe, &c. in 1539 was granted to 
 Charles duke of Suffolk, and with, it this manor of 
 Denfton, which (in the sd and 3d of Philip and 
 Mary) was conveyed to Richard Frcfton, efq. and it 
 continued in his family fome time ; it now (Blome- 
 field) belongs to the Bacons. 
 
 The prior was taxed for all his temporals in Mend- 
 ham, on the Norfolk fide, at 4!. 125. lid. 
 
 The third Manor is called BOURT'S, and was owned 
 by Daniel Bourt in 1345, and after by John le Strange, 
 and Thomas de Hales, who held it at half a fee of 
 the heirs of Roger dc Huntingiicid ; it after belonged 
 to theGrices, of Brockdilh. In 1600 Thomas Paw- 
 let, efq. conveyed it to Thomas Leigh and John 
 
 Godfrey ; it now -belongs to the heirs of Schutz, 
 
 efq. who married the only filler and heirefs of the 
 late iii Edmund Bacon, bart. of Giiiingham. 
 
 The
 
 E A R S H A M. 45 
 
 The fourth manor is called Gunfhaws, which for- 
 tperly belonged to the Heylocks, and was purchafed 
 of the Wifemans by Mr. Stiles, of Coddenham. It 
 was fince owned by Mr. Nunn, of Souihwold, in 
 
 Suffolk. 
 
 To this hamlet joins the aforefaid portion of 
 Menclham, called SHOTFORD, or SCOTOFORD, in 
 Mendham, which contains two manors, called Whit- 
 cudon's, or the White-hills, and Semeare's, each of 
 which originally prcfentcd alternately to the portion, 
 Shotford, in Mendham church. The patronage was 
 in the de Inghams, and afterwards in lord Strange, of 
 "Knockyn, till 1350 ; after which fir Miles StapFetou, 
 knt. having the \vhole advowfon, gave it to Mend- 
 ham priory ; and on the gd of July, 1385, it was Ap- 
 propriated to the monallery of the Blcffcd Virgin 
 Mary, at Mendham, and no vicarage ordained, fo 
 that the prior received all tithes whatever of the whole 
 portion, paying a penfion of 6s. 8d, yearly to the 
 bilhop, and finding a chaplain to perform a third 
 part of the fervice in Mendham church ; which fer- 
 vice was after turned 'into that of a chantry prieft, 
 who was to officiate in St. Mary's chapel, on the 
 eaft fide of Mcndham church-yard; and that fervice 
 ceafed in the time of Edward VI. and the chapel was 
 granted by the crown into lay hands, and is now ufed 
 as a'malthoute. 
 
 The MANOR of SEMERE'S at the Conqueror's fur- 
 vey belonged to Roger of Poiclou, third fon of Roger 
 de Montgomery, earl of Arundel, and was held in 
 the Confeffor's time by a free-man, named Ulfriz; it 
 was then valued at los. and after at 205. It divided 
 into two parts, one belonged in 1311 to fir Edmund 
 de Sanclo-Mauro, or Seymore, knL from yvhich fa- 
 mily it took its name. It appears that in 120,1 John 
 de
 
 46 HUNDRED OF 
 
 de Brampton held the other part of Elizabeth de Ing- 
 ham, at half a fee, and it then divided, the one half 
 continuing in the Inghams ; and it paffed with that 
 family till fir Miles Stapleton gave it to Mendham 
 priory, when it became joined to Dcnfton's, in Need- 
 liam. The other part, now Semere's manor, was fold 
 to fir John Wingfield, by Laurence de Scymorc; and 
 in 1349 John Garlek conveyed his third parts of Sile- 
 ham, Earfham, and this manor, and their advowfon. 
 to him. In 1401 Edward Hales was lord. In 1551 
 it was fold to Henry Floteman, and then paffed to 
 the late John Kerrich, of Bury, M. D. 
 
 WHITENDON'S, or WICHMDON'S MANOR, belonged 
 to Humfrey, a free-man of Edric's, in the Confeflor's 
 time; and to Robert Malet, lord of the honpr of 
 Eye, in the Conquerors ; it after belonged to a fa- 
 mily firnamed de Arcubus; and in 1226 William 
 'de Arches gave it to the priory of the Holy Trinity 
 at Ipfwich, in which houfc it continued till its dii- 
 folution, when it came to the crown; and in the ift 
 'of Edward VI. 1546, he granted the advowfon of 
 Sileham, and its appurtenances, this manor of Wich- 
 cndon, and all the tithes and glebes in Mendham, 
 Needhara, and Metfield, late in the tenure of Richard 
 Frefton, efq. to the faid Richard, and his heirs, who 
 upon this grant came and fettled in the manor-houfe 
 here, and his defcendents have continued in it to th: 
 time. This Richard in 1534 appears to be treafurer, 
 and a great favourite of Charles Brandon, duke of 
 Suffolk, and an intimate acquaintance of fir Robert 
 Buddes, who was mafter of Wingfield college, and 
 chaplain to his grace ; and it was by his intereft that 
 he obtained feveral great grants from the crown ; 
 among which, he had Denfton's manor in Needham, 
 and many lands belonging to Mendham priory; he 
 was afterwards knighted, and lies buried with Dame 
 
 Ann
 
 E A R S H A M. 47 
 
 Ann Coke, his wife, in Mcndham chancel, for whom 
 there is a monument againfl the eafi part of the north 
 j.vall, with the arms of Freflon impaling Coke, which 
 fhews that he out-lived his wife; he died in 1557, 
 and was fucceeded by Richard, his fon and heir, who 
 married Cecily, daughter of Thomas Fclton, cfq. 
 (he died Sept. 6, 1615, and lies buried in the chan- 
 cel, under a flone, on which is her effigy, and an iu- 
 Jcription in Roman capitals, on brafs plates. 
 
 An adjoining flonc hath the arms of Freflon, with 
 a mullet, impaling Felton, and his image in brafs; 
 Richard FreRon, efq. died Nov. 27, 1616. 
 
 William Freflon, cfq. their eldeft fon, inherited; 
 and in 1620 fettled the manor on Aiban Pigot, efq. 
 with the patronage of Needham chapel; and in the 
 fame year fir Robert Heath, km. recovered it againfl 
 Pigot, and conveyed it to Freflon again ; he died 
 foon after, and Richard, his brother, inherited, and 
 died fei fed of this and Denfton's manor in 1 ('3'4 ; he 
 is buried under a ftone in the chancel, with his creft 
 and arms, and on a brafs plate this: Animam Crta- 
 tori, marmoreo prefenti monumento, Ricardus Frfjlon 
 (ditm vi\it, in Agro Norfolctcnfi, armigfrj- corparus rcli- 
 quias, amicis omnibus Jui dtjiderium, 20 Dec. A. D. 
 1634, reliquit, nan procul a cujus dextra, paler, mater que 
 ejus rcquicJcMiit. Vitam Tiixit Jumma cum pietate, turn 
 morum probilak, laudabikm amicitiam magna cumjince- 
 rilait coluit. 
 
 By this lies a flone with Freflon's arms fingU, in, 
 memory of his fon, Richard, olijt \%4tivfi t 1648. 
 
 Here are feveral other mural monuments io me- 
 mory of this family. 
 
 E 2 Penelope
 
 4 8 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Penelope, laic wife of John Smith, of Cratfieldj 
 in Suffolk, buried here in 1681, alal. i, whofe 
 marble lies in the altar rails, and hath the arms of 
 Smith impaling Frefton. 
 
 William Freflon, efq. and Margaret Kcdington, 
 his wife, who arc buried in Ncedham chapel, as be- 
 fore, left this manor, impropriation, and a good 
 eftate, to Coke Frefton, efq. their eldeft fon, who 
 lived in the fcitc of the manor, called Wichcndon- 
 hall. 
 
 In the Suffolk part of Mendham there are four 
 manors; the firft is called MENDHAM'S-HALL, or. 
 MENDHAM-HALL, from the ancient lords of it, 
 who took their firname from the town ; it originally 
 belonged to the abbot of Bury. In 1318 John de 
 Mendham fold it to the lord of King's-hall, in Mend- 
 ham"'", to which it hath been joined ever finee. This 
 manor belonged to the king, according as its name 
 intimates, and was fettled by Edward I. on queen 
 Eleanor, his firft wife, after whofe death it came to 
 the Veres, earls of Oxford ; and fir Robert Vere in 
 1314 fold it to fir John de Frefingfield, knt. at which 
 time Robert, fon of John de Mendham, releafed 
 to him all right in Mendham Vhall manor ; and in 
 1327 firjohn fold them to fir Walter de Norwich, 
 knt. the earl of Oxford releafing all right. In 1353 
 lir John de Huntingfield held thofe manors ; and in 
 1 363 it was prefented that William de Huntingfield 
 held the river Waghcne as a feparate fifhing, from 
 Mendham-bridge to King's-hall mill, and that he had 
 the fifhery, as belonging to his manor of King's-hall $ 
 and foon after, in 1370, fettled them on Mendham 
 jniory, in which they continued to itsdiffolution, and 
 
 then 
 
 * Called in 1328 Kenynghale in Parocbia dc
 
 E A R S H A M. 49 
 
 then were granted to Charles Brandon, duke of Suf- 
 folk, by Henry VIII. in 1540, along with the leet of 
 Metficid, and the manor of MENDHAM PRIOUY, which 
 was given to it by its founder They after belonged 
 to the Freftons; and in 1551 Richard Frellon was 
 lord. 
 
 In 1619 fir Thomas Holland, of Quidenham, knt. 
 fold to Edward Ward, of Mendham, in Suffolk, efq. 
 the fcite of Mendham priory manor, now called 
 Mendham-hall, Sec. King's-hall meadow, Sec. the park, 
 the manor of Mendham-hall, 8cc. with the leets there- 
 to belonging, fituate in Mendham, Witherfdale, and 
 Waybrene, all which he purchafed of Anthony Gof- 
 nold, of Clopton, efq. Sec. together with the fifhery 
 in the river Wayveneth. It came afterwards to the 
 Baxters, and thence to the Gardiners, of Norwich ; 
 it was fold by Richard Berney, efq. recorder of Nor- 
 wich, executor to Stephen Gardiner, efq. late re- 
 corder there, to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Whitakcr, 
 late rector of Frefingfield. They have a leet here, 
 and another in Metfield, belonging to them j they 
 give dower, and the elded fon is heir. 
 
 There are feveral memorials relating to the Baxters 
 in this church. 
 
 On a neat mural monument are the arms God- 
 bold, M.S. V. Cmi. D. Guiielmi Godbold, mililis, ex 
 iliujln et per antiqua projapia oriundi, qui po/l feplennem 
 pcregnnationem, animi excoiendi gratia, per Ilaliam, 
 Greciam, Palceftinam, &c. injolo natali in bonarum lite- 
 rarumjludijs confcncfccns, morte repentina obijt Londini, 
 mciijc Aprilis A. MDCXCIII. tztatis LXIX. Hoc monu- 
 mentum defignavitvir integerrimus,et fencer e probitatis ex- 
 emplar, Thomas Baxter generojus, quern tejlamenti fui cu- 
 ratorem inftituit ; ipfo autem Thoma, morU Jubitanea per- 
 E 3 cmpto
 
 5 o HUNDREDOF 
 
 empto, collapfo fuper eum efjuo, notte intcmptjliva et lenc- 
 broja. IIII calcndas Sf plant). MDCXC. Francijcus Gardi- 
 ner de civitatc Norwicenfi, anniger, ejujdem Thoma Bax- 
 ter, Jororis maritus, ft tejlamcnti curator, pojuit. 
 
 Baxter impaling D'Eye, Eliiabctha, ftli-a Thorns 
 Dey,de mfula, five. Eay in agroSuJjolcienji armigen, nxor 
 Tl;om<z Baxter, de Mcndham, in codem agro, geturofi, 
 cbijt 27 Dec. 1681. 
 
 The next manor here is called WALSHAM-HALL, 
 from Gilbert dc Walfham, who held it of the abbot 
 of Bury in the time of Richard I. at one fee ; and 
 lately it belonged to the Hobarts, who lived in the 
 fcite of it till Anthony Hobart, gent, fold it to Mr. 
 Robert Branfby, fenior, of Shottifham, who fold it to 
 Mrs. Sarah VVogan, wife of the Rev. Mr. Holmes, 
 icdor of Frelingrield. 
 
 In the chancel, on a brafs plate, the arras of 
 Hobart. . 
 
 On a ftone at the eaft end of the nave, part of 
 >vhich is covered by a feat, James Hobart, efq. Au- 
 gufl 20, 1669. 
 
 Befides thefe there are feveral memorials for others 
 of this family. 
 
 There is an under manor, or free-tenement, called 
 Midleton-Hall, in this town, which belongs to Mrs. 
 Whitaker, and is a good old feat ; here Richard de 
 Midleton lived in 1373. This family continued here 
 a long time. In 1558 Henry Reppes, of Mcndhara, 
 died feifed of it; and in 1562 Richard Whetlcy, 
 reclor of Homersfield, leafed his reftory to Baffing- 
 bourn Gawdy, of Midlcton-Hall, in Mcndhaiu, efq. 
 
 by
 
 E A R S H A M. 51 
 
 by whom it was fold, and fo became joined to the 
 other manors. 
 
 There is an ancient feat here, called Oaken-Hill, 
 (but no manor) in which the family of the Batemans 
 have refided ever fince the time of William Bateman, 
 bifhop of Norwich. William Bateman, gent, of 
 Mcndharn, lafr-ly dwelt there. Moft of this family 
 have had the Chriflian name of William ever fmcc 
 the bifliop's time. 
 
 Mendham church is a good building, with a fquarc 
 tower and five bells, haying a nave, two ailes, and 
 fouth porch,' leaded, and chancel tiled, in which are 
 feveral memorials, befides thofc already taken notice 
 of. 
 
 In the north ailc window, France and England in 
 a bordure, gul. impaling or. an eagle difplayed fab. 
 quartering Morley. 
 
 On a mural monument againft the north chancel 
 
 wall, In media -hujus-ce templi tramite, junta Cincrcs 
 main's fua pietij/imae, Theop. Rant, fuos eliam voluit de- 
 pom Fre/tonus Rani, armiger, cum quo una fepeliuntur 
 urbanitas, el fuaviffima facetiarum copia, cum quo una 
 abripiuntur ditijjima placcndi vena, animufque arflioris 
 amialia neceffitudini accomodatus, hocjuvcne adempto, vix 
 alterum reperies, aut liter arum Jcicntia prceccllcntiorcm au 
 humanitate parcm, cum dijficilem legis Anglioe dottrinam, 
 univcrjam fere quinquennium apud hojpitium Grayenfe 
 Jtudio fane laudabili projtcutus eft, acerba Juis, luftuoja 
 Jbdalibus, gravis omnibus, labori vitceque morsjinem im- 
 pofuit 23 Sept. A. 1728, at. fuae 27. Et luftus et 
 pietatus monumentum, pater fuus amantij/fimus, Jacobus 
 Rant, atmiger, hoc marmor pofuit. 
 
 E 4 Jamea
 
 5? HUNDREDOF 
 
 James Rant, efq. his father, is fmcc dead, and bu- 
 ried by him ; and William Rant, efq. his only furvi- 
 ving fon, lived in Mendham priory, which is fuua- 
 tedjuftby the river Waveney, about live furlongs 
 fouth-weft of the church, \vhcrc theie is a good old 
 chapel flill left, which is kept clean and neat, but 
 there is no manor remaining with the fcite. 
 
 In the chancel, James Tirrtl, efq. May 22, 1636, 
 48. 
 
 In the church-yard is a memorial for Johannis 
 Kerrich, clerici regions de Sternefidd, in cumitatu Suf/cl- 
 ci<x, cb. 14 Maij, A.D, 1691, at. 28, and for others 
 of his family. 
 
 In 1469 Walter Nyche, or Neech, of Mendham, 
 was buried in All Saints church there : he owned an 
 cftate here, which had continued many generations 
 in his family. In 1610, Jan. si, Ann Neech mar- 
 ried William Bateman, gent, to whofe family the 
 cfiate now belongs. 
 
 The vicarage flands in the king's books at 5!. 55. 
 ad. ob. and being fworn of the clear yearly value of 
 23!. 45. yd. is capable of augmentation, and was aug- 
 mented accordingly by the Rev. Mr. Whitaker, late 
 rcclor of Frefingfield, the patron, who prefented his 
 nephew, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Whitaker, to this vi- 
 carage, who was patron allo in 1764. Vide Kirby. 
 
 In 1228 the firft vicar was prefented by the prior 
 of Ipfwich, as were all the fuccceding vicars to the 
 diiTolution. 
 
 MEDEFIELD, or METFIELD, or the Field by the 
 Meadows, is alfo another hamlet and parochial 
 
 chapel
 
 E A R S H A M. 53 
 
 chapel of Mendham, the great tithes of which be- 
 long to the impropriaior there, who nominates and 
 pays the ftipendiary chaplain. The Rev. Mr. John 
 Mendhim, vicar of Weybrede, had it in Mr. Blome- 
 field's time, and we arc informed there is a good 
 houl'e and glebe given to the feiving mimfter fincc 
 the reformation. 
 
 The chapel is dedicated to St. John, the Baptift, 
 and hath a fquare tower, clock, and three bells; the 
 fouth porch, nave, and chancel, are leaded. 
 
 There is a (lone for Francis Smallpeece, efq, Jon 
 and heir of Thomas Smallpeece, ejq. and Ann, his wife, 
 1652, with his arms. 
 
 This hamlet is of chief remark, being the ancient 
 feat of the Jermys. 
 
 It feems this manor, called METEFIELD, in Mend- 
 ham, was anciently of the fee of the abbot of St. 
 Bennet at Holme, of whom it was held in the time 
 of Richard I. at half a fee, by Hugh Burd ; after 
 which it was efcheatedto the crown, and was granted 
 to Thomas dc Brotherton, fon to Edward I. who 
 married Alice, daughter of fir Roger Hales, of Har- 
 wich, krit. whole fiftcr, Joan, manied fir John Gcrmyn, 
 or Jermy, km, and in 1325 the faid Thomas con- 
 veyed to his brother-in-law, fir John Jermy, knt. two 
 parts of this manor.* and the third part to his wife, 
 for the affignment of her dower. In 1428 fir John 
 Jermy, knt. owned this, and rebuilt this church and 
 manor-houfe, where he placed the matches of his f:i- 
 mily in the windows, and his own arms are carved 
 feveral times on the timber of the roof, and are flill 
 in feveral windows, and in flone on the font; he died 
 in 1487, and was buried at the north-eaft corner of 
 
 the
 
 54 HUNDRED OF 
 
 the chancel ; his inscription was cut in old text letters 
 on his ftone, but it is fo worn and broken, that little 
 of it remains. 
 
 From a younger branch defcended the Jermys of 
 Bay field, in Holt hundred; and John Jcrmy, efq. of 
 the elded, continued the family at Metfield, and lies 
 buried in the chancel, by his grandfather, with a brafs 
 plate on his ftone; c,bijt]z.n. 14, 1504, with the arms 
 of Jeimy and Hopton. 
 
 Sir John Jermy, of Metfield, and Brightvvell, 
 knight of the bath, was his grandfon. 
 
 An altar-tomb at the north-can; corner of this 
 chancel, with the arms of Jermy, and this : Thomas- 
 .Jarmy, ffq.Jonneand hare, of ' Jir Thomas Jarmy, knight 
 of the honorable order of the Bath t Dec. 21, 1632. 
 
 . Since which time the manor hath been fold from 
 the family, and paffed to Walter Piommer, cfq. 
 
 We have feen an account, which fays, " that 
 more gentlemen kept coaches in Mendham than in 
 any place in Suffolk, and that in 1642 many cava- 
 liers in thefe parts railed a fum for the king; among 
 which, in this town, Richard Baxter, gent, lord, 30!. 
 Robert Harper, 30!. William Bateman, fenior, lol. 
 James Terrold, gent. lol. William Jacob, 20!. Wil- 
 liam Herring, 3!. 8cc. Thomas Jermy, efq. 20!. An- 
 ihony-Frefton, gent. 5!." 
 
 In the time of Charles II. fir William Godbould 
 lived here, and colonel John Hobart ; and Edward 
 Ward, efq. juftice of the peace, in the time of 
 James II. 
 
 PULHAM,
 
 E A R S H A M. 55 
 
 . PULHAM. This rcflory, with the chapel of St. 
 Mary Magdalen, was taxed in die old value at fe- 
 venty marks ; and in the year 1559 was returned by 
 the name of Pulham Utraqnc, among the benefices that 
 pay double inftitmion fees, but without reafon, for 
 there never was a double inflitution, it being only a 
 chapel of eafe to Pulham St. Mary the Virgin, 
 founded on account of the market anciently held 
 there, which occafioned a great many people to fix 
 near it, and for their convenience it was rirft creeled. 
 Norwich Doomfday fays, that the re&or had a noble 
 ho ufe, and about forty-four acres of glebe; that the 
 church, with its chapel, was then valued at eighty- 
 marks, and that the parifh paid clear to each tenth 
 ill. 45. It is an undifcharged living, and as fuch, 
 pays firft fruits and yearly tenths, and is capable of 
 augmentation. It ftands thus in the king's books : 
 56!. 6s. Scl. Pulham re&ory, 3!. 6s. 8d. tenths. 
 
 The Chorography of Norfolk hath this : " To the 
 redlory belongs an ancient and large built infet houfc, 
 and all other houfes of office neceffary and conve- 
 nient, with forty-four acres of glebe; all tithes are 
 paid in kind, fave for laclage i d. for every acre of 
 meadow ad. for port and hearthfilver is paid a Hal- 
 lowmafs-pcnny ; and the reclor hath mortuaries .of 
 all his parifliioners, according to the (latute. The. 
 temporals of the prior of Ely were taxed at 3 1. 
 
 In 1 253 Henry de Wengham, dean of St. Martin 
 le Grand, in London, was prefented to the reclory 
 by the king, on account of the vacancy of the fee of 
 Ely, to which the advovvfon belongs. Henry III. at 
 the death of William de Kilkenny, bifhop of Ely, 
 would have prevailed upon Ely monks to have 
 chofen this Henry de Wengham, then his chancellor, 
 to that fee, but could not pcrfuadc them: upon 
 
 which
 
 5 6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 the king fpolled the woods and parks of the 
 bifhopric, and applied to the pope. In 1259 he was 
 made bifhop of London, being then chancellor of 
 England, chamberlain of Gafcoigne, dean of Tot- 
 tenhall and St. Martin's, and rector here. In 1258 
 he refufed the bifhopric of Winchefter. He was 
 twice embaffador into France, and dying July 13, 
 1261, was buried in his cathedral. 
 
 Sir Simon de Walpole died reSor here in 1331, 
 and lies interred in the chancel, under a ftone, which 
 liath the following infcription in Saxon characters, 
 with a crofs on a lion paflant, and Jefus'Salvator in 
 a cypher : Hicjacet Dominus Simon de Walpol, quon- 
 dam retfor ijlius ccdcfic, ci/jits animc propicictur Dcus, 
 Amen. 
 
 Thomas Lille, or Lylde, bifhop of Ely, difobliging 
 the king, in 1354, had a writ of Ne. cxeas Regnum 
 fent him, commanding him in forfeiture of all that 
 he could forfeit to the king to flay in England, and 
 come in perfon to the parliament, which he had re- 
 fui'ed to do, and therefore the king feized this advow- 
 fon ; and on the vacancy of this rectory, about 1357, 
 gave it to William de Wykham, who was parfon of 
 tit. Martin's, in London, then dean of St. Martin le 
 Grand, fucceffively archdeacon of Lincoln, North- 
 ampton, and Buckingham: befides thefe ecclefiafti- 
 cal preferments, the provoftfhip of Wells, a number 
 of benefices, and twelve prebends, in feveral churches 
 he held many temporal offices, as the fecretaryfhip, 
 the keeping of the privy feal, the mafterfhip of wards, 
 the trcafurcrfliip of the king's revenues in France, and 
 divers others ; but the yearly revenues of his fpiri- 
 tual promotions only, as they were then rated in the 
 king's books, amounted unto 876!. 135. 4d. In 
 i c;^6 he was profecuted in the pope's confiftory at 
 
 Rome,
 
 E A R S H A M. 57 
 
 Rome, for illegally holding this benefice with fo many 
 that had cure of fouls, but to no purpole ; for Ed* 
 ward III. who gave it him, and did every thing for 
 him he defired, immediately confirmed it by patent 
 under the great feal to be held in commendam for life. 
 \vithall his other preferments; he was confecrated 
 bifhop of Winchefter in 1376, and was chancellor 
 of England ; he was founder of New College, in Ox.* 
 ford, and died in 1404. 
 
 Tn 1465 fir Thomas Howes, reclor, chaplain to fir 
 John Faflolf. knight of the garter, was prefented by 
 William Grey, bifhop of Ely : this man was one of fir 
 John's executors, and had much money to be laid 
 out about the repairs and ornaments of churches, and 
 other religious places, in all, about 4000 marks; 
 with part of it he repaired this church and chancel, 
 and in a fouth window there he put up the effigy of 
 fir John Faftulf, in his coat armour, gilt, very fair, 
 with his creft, and fupporters, Faflolf impaling Tip- 
 toft, over Millecent, daughter of fir Robert Tiptoft, 
 knt. his wife, whofe effigv, in a mantle of her coat 
 armour, was in the fame window, kneeling in the 
 oppofite pane, and underneath an infcription, now de- 
 faced. 
 
 In 156 1 ) John Crane was the firfl that prefented in 
 right of the crown, where the patronage remains at 
 this time; his (ucceffor in 1603 returned anfwer, 
 " that though Pulham Magdalen was only a chapel 
 of cafe to Pulham St. Mary the Virgin, yet they 
 were feparate parifhes, and that there were 286 com- 
 municants in St. Mary's, and 282 in St. Mary Mag- 
 dalen's parifli. 
 
 In 1717 Nicholas Clagett. was reclor here, and 
 afterwards died bilhop of Exeter. 
 
 In
 
 5 8 HUNDRED OF 
 
 In 1728 William Broome, L. L. D. had this rec- 
 tory, and held it till his death ; he was a learned 
 man, efpecially in the Greek language, being chiefly 
 concerned in tranflating the notes for Mr. Pope's 
 Homer; and was alfo no mean poet himfelf, as 
 his poems publifhcd fhcw: he died at Bath, and 
 was fucceded by the honorable Edward Townfhend, 
 brother to lord TovvnQicnd. 
 
 In i 765 the Rev. Thomas Bowen was prefented to 
 the rectory of Pulham St. Mary, with the chapel of 
 St. Mary Magdalen, and Wortwell, by the crown, p.j. 
 
 About a furlong diftant from the church, fouth- 
 weft thereof, on the other fide of the road, (lands a 
 fmall chapel, now ufed for a fchool-room, which 
 leems to have been founded very early, by the bre- 
 thren and fillers of St. James's guild, to which apoflle 
 this chapel was dedicated, and in which St. James's 
 guild was held, till the time of Edward VI. when all 
 fuch fraternities were fuppreffed. Here was a hermi- 
 tage clofe by it, in which a hermit dwelt, who daily 
 officiated in it, and prayed for the living members 
 of the guild, and for the fouls of the deceafed that 
 belonged to it. The prefent fabric was built about 
 1401, when the bifhop of Ely granted an indulgence. 
 of forty days pardon, to laft for three years, to all that 
 would contribute to rebuild it, and to maintain Wai;- 
 ter Colman, the poor hermit, there. 
 
 This town was famous for hats, dornecks, and 
 coverlets, which were made in great quantities here; 
 and indeed, in the acl paffed in 1551, for the advan- 
 tage of the citizens of Norwich, forbidding any out 
 of the city, unlefs in fomc corporate and market 
 town, to make any of thofe commodities, all of thefc 
 
 bufinefic*
 
 E A R S H A M. 59 
 
 bufineiTes living in Pulham were excepted, as thofc 
 trades had been there followed for fome time pad. 
 
 The church of St. Mary the Virgin is the principal, 
 er mother church, and hath a fquare tower, with a. 
 fpire on its top, and fix bells ; the nave, fouth aile, 
 and porch, as alfo the chancel, are covered with lead, 
 the north veflry being down. 
 
 In the porch chamber lie abundance of court rolls 
 and evidences of the manor, with armour, a broken 
 organ, and feverai brafs plates i caved off the ftone* 
 in the church. 
 
 There is a ftone in the chancel having its brafs 
 plate, on which the infcripdon was loft; but on ano- 
 ther plate, the arms of Lany impaling Ailack, which 
 fliews, that that Lany who married the hcirefs of 
 Aflack is here interred. 
 
 On a black marble, within the communion rails, 
 the fon, Ailack Lany, and his wife, with two coats 
 marfhalled, viz. i. Aflack, S. Lany, and their quar- 
 terings, impaling Jcrmy, and this: Here lyeth buried 
 the body of Aflack Lany, efq. who being of the. age of 71 
 years, died in Jan. 1659. -And alfo the body of Eliza- 
 beth Lany, his wife, who being 68 years old in SchL 
 1646, died -nflcr that time, and was one of the daughters 
 cf John Jenny, efq. 
 
 Here are other monument* to this family, and to 
 ihe -Savers, &c. iu the church. 
 
 There are akar-tombs at the eaft end of the 
 chancel in the church-yard, to Wood, Stebbin^, and 
 Watts. 
 
 la
 
 6o HUNDREDOF 
 
 In the time of John Morton, bifhop of Ely, who 
 was confecrated in 1478, tranflated to Canterbury in 
 1486, and died in 1500, the windows of this church 
 were new glazed, and adorned with the arms of the 
 Eaft Angles, of the fee, of Ely fingle, and impaled 
 with Morton ; and this he did in refpecl: to Robert 
 Morton, cfq. his uncle, who lived here, and was bu- 
 ried in this church in 1467. 
 
 It feems that the tower and porch were built about 
 this time, by the affiftance of the bifhop and other 
 benefactors. On the porch there is a great quantity 
 f imagery in flone, and five images carved in ftone 
 are fixed on the top of the batdements, and many 
 cinquefoils about the building. 
 
 In the eafl window in the chancel are the arms of 
 the Eaft Angles, of Ely church, and St. George ; 
 England alone ; alfo Tiptoft, orTibetot. 
 
 The chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, commonly 
 called Pulham-market church, is a good fabric, with 
 a large fquare tower, a clock, and fix bells ; a hand- 
 fome north porch, two ailes, and nave, all leaded ; 
 the chancel being tiled ; it is an exceeding handfome. 
 building, kept very neat and clean. It ftands at the 
 fouih end of the late market-place, and is a mile at 
 leaft from its mother church. 
 
 In the chancel, Mr. Thomas Claxton, merchant, of 
 London, died 21 July, 1681, 40, with his arms. 
 
 In the nave, towards the chancel, John Rede, gent, 
 eb. 5 jVbv. 1721, 52,
 
 E A R S H A M. Gi 
 
 Robert Prentice, gent, died in i%Q. and 
 to each of the Pulhams, 20!. to Mr. Saycr, redor 
 there, and il. to Statilon poor. 
 
 On a mural monument on the fouth fide of the 
 churcii, towards the eaft end, In a vault near this 
 place lies interred Peter Ro/ier, efq' who was high-Jlierijf 
 vf the countv of Norfolk in 1737, and died at PuLhain 
 St. Mary Magdalen, October 18, 1743, in the ftijlyear 
 of his age, 
 
 Mr. Thomas Palgravc, obijl fexto die Martij, A. D. 
 1638. Cujus offa et Cmeresjub hoc lapide requiefcunt. 
 He was fon of Thomas Palgrave, elq. who was 
 buried here in 1545. 
 
 On a neat mural monument againft the cafl end of 
 the north aile, with Palgravc' s arms, H. S. C. Gu- 
 lielmus Palgrave, M. D. de Gippovico in comitatu Sujfol- 
 citnji, Guiulmi Palgrave, de hoc pago generoft fdius, oh. 
 Sept. 14. A. D, MDCCXLII. at. 49. Libert ejus Jo- 
 hannes et Dorothea Infantes, morte abrepti lucfepeliuntcr. 
 
 On a marble in the fouth aile are the arms and 
 creft of Palgravc. Thomas Palgrave, efq. fome time 
 jheriff and member of parliament for the city of jYonvic'i, 
 in the reign of the late queen Ann of ever blejjed n emery : 
 lie gave an hundred pounds to a charity-fchool in tke pa- 
 rijh of St. Peter Mancroft, in Norwich (wherein he was 
 born] towards the education of poor children, according to 
 the liturgy of the church of England, ob. Aug. 7, 1726, 
 #A 84, 6 months. 
 
 In the fame aile, againft the fouth wall, towards 
 
 the eafl end, by Rofier's monument, is another, with 
 
 the arms of Cornwallis, 8cc. In memory of John 
 
 F Slanhaw,
 
 62 HUNDRED OF 4 
 
 Slanhawe, late cf this par ifh, gent, who was buried near 
 to this place, Sept. 19, 1729, aged 34. 
 
 PULHAM, or PULLAHAM, fignifics the village of 
 pools, or landing waters*. The earlieft account we 
 meet of this town is, that it belonged to Waldchift, a. 
 Saxon, who forfeited all that he had to king Edmund, 
 who was lord of it, and left it to king Etheldrcd, or 
 Edred, his brother; and at his death it went to king 
 Edwy, and after him to king Edgar, his brother, who 
 fold it to Wolflan, and at his death to Ethelwold, bi- 
 fliop of Wirichefter, for 40!. and he gave it to the 
 abbey of St. Etheldred, or Audrey, at Ely, who was 
 in full poffefTion at the Norman conqucft. The fur- 
 vcy then taken tells us, that in the Confeffor's time it 
 belonged to Ely, and the whole manor was worth 
 81. and at the cOnqueft was rifen to 15!. a year. The 
 town was then two miles long, a mile broad, and 
 paid 3od. to the gelt, or tax, and was exempt from 
 thejurifdilion of the half-hundred of Earfham, as 
 belonging to the church of St. Audrey, though now it 
 is reckoned among the towns in the duke of Nor- 
 folk's liberty, as being in Earfliam half-hundred. 
 
 In 1249 it appears from the plea rolls that there 
 ivas a weekly Wednefday market here ; and in 1250 
 the bifhop of Ely, on whom this fee was fettled at its 
 firft ereclion, had a charter of free-warren throughout 
 the manor t. 
 
 In 1277 the town was in the free hundred of earl 
 Roger Bigot, called Erefham half-hundred, to which 
 
 the 
 
 * Pulla, a pool, or lake, of ftanding water, whence a pulk 
 is a fmall pond, or hole, of ftanding water. 
 
 f This manor before the eredHon of the bifhopiic was fixed 
 to find two weeks provifion for Ely convent.
 
 E A R S H A M. 63 
 
 the bifhop's bailiff did fuit from hundred court to 
 hundred court, and paid as. every Michaelmas-day 
 at die will of trie eari, or his bailiffs, who might 
 cimfe cither the fuit or the money. The advowfon 
 of the church of St. Mary the Virgin, at Pulham, 
 with the chapel of St. Mary Magdalen there, be- 
 longed to the bifhop of Ely, with the market held by 
 the laid chapel, the profits of which were then worth 
 three marks and a half per ann. the profits of the 
 fairs ij: held there being included. There was then a 
 park of fixty acres, and all the lands, but the fcvcral, 
 and commons, were whole-year land. 
 
 The commons of North wood-green, and Weft- 
 wood, were common to the whole town only ; but 
 notwithstanding, no perfon could cut wood on them 
 but the lord, who had from the feveral tenants every 
 days work. 
 
 Among the free-men of the manor, fir Adam de 
 Tiftefhale, or Titfhalc, knt. fir Roger de Thiikelby, 
 the parfon of Pulham, the prior of Ely, Richard de 
 Kittlcfliaw, and William Howard, held divers lands. 
 Sec. and the whole was divided into four leecs, or dt- 
 vifions, at each of which the tenants inhabiting the 
 feveral divifions appeared ; Eafl or Upleet, Weit- 
 leet, Somh-leet, and Gidlardes, or North-leet. 
 
 In 1286 the bifhop of Ely claimed the following 
 privileges to this manor, and they were allowed in 
 Eire, viz. infangemhef, outfangenthef, view of frank- 
 pledge, affize of bread and ale, pleas de namio vctito, 
 F 2 and 
 
 J Befides the wakes and fairs heretofore held on the days of 
 the dedication of the church and chapel, there was one held on 
 Wedncfday in Afcenfijn-week : this only now remains, and is 
 lately altered, being now always kept on the Monday in A- 
 
 fcenfion-week.
 
 64 HUNDRED OF 
 
 and to have a prifon, and carry and re-carry his pri- 
 foners any where before the kings ju dices ; to have 
 the fines and amcrciamcnts of all his tenants, and 
 all the goods and chattels of felons and fugitives, 
 with the return of writs, and all other liberties be- 
 longing to his fee of Ely, together with free-warren, 
 according to the charter of Henry III. 
 
 In 1431 Pulham was returned to be within the li- 
 berty of the bifhop of Ely, it being held in demefne 
 of the king, as parcel of the bifhop's barony, and fo 
 continued till the ift of queen Elizabeth, and then it 
 came to the crown, by virtue of an exchange made 
 with that fee. It continued there fome time, it being 
 above 102!. per ann. befides the woods, in 1.558, but 
 was foon leafed out at 13!. 6s. per ann. and many of 
 the woods and demefnes granted to divers perfons ; 
 but in 1609 the citizens of London held it in fee- 
 farm, when the free and copyhold rents amounted 
 to the fum of 71!. 8s, gd. per ann. and the farm 
 of the lands 37!. IDS. yd. but that leafe being out in 
 1622, Richard Afhworth, fen. cfq. accounted with 
 Charles prince of Wales, on whom James I. had 
 fettled it, for 107!. 2$. 4d. in rents, and iSl. 35. for 
 fines of lands, and perquifites of courts'"; and about 
 
 1631 
 
 * Charles I. in recompence for 229,897!. 2s. already ad- 
 vanced to James I. and himfclf, and for izoool. to be advanced 
 by the chamber of London, for which he was to affure lands of 
 the clear yearly value of 1249!. 6s. 6d. among other alienations 
 of crown lands, did grant to the mayor and corporation of the 
 city of London the manor of Pulha'm, which was leafed br 
 James 1. anno reg. 17. to fir Henry Hobart, knight and baronet, 
 chief juftice of the common pleas, and other feoffees, together 
 with the royalty, and all that lately belonged to the fee of Ely ; 
 and it wss affigned to Ann, his wife, as ptrt of her jointure, 
 with rt ll the lects, &c. and parks ftocked with deer, to be held 
 f the crown as of the manor of tail Greenwich, by fealty, in 
 
 free
 
 E A R S H A M. 65 
 
 1631 it was fold by Charles I. and the chamber of 
 London (the advowfon being exceptcd) to divers te- 
 nants ; and in the year 1679 was divided into thirty 
 parts; one part in 1633 belonged to John Bradfaaw, 
 efq. Windfor herald, who lived in Southolt, in Suf- 
 folk, and died there the fame year. This part came 
 afterwards to Thomas Fauconberge, who married 
 Margaret, daughter of the faidjohn Bradfhaw* 
 
 About 1681 Thomas Sayer, juftice of the peace, 
 John Sayer, gent. Charles Davcncy, William Pal- 
 grave, Maurice Kendal, of Gray's-Inn, and Buken- 
 ham Nova, gents, and others, were returned as lords ; 
 but the whole was vefted in John Sayer, of Eye, efq. 
 the profits of one fifteenth part being employed as 
 an endowment to the fchoolmafter, who keeps fchool 
 in St. James's chapel here. 
 
 This John is defcended/rom an ancient family re- 
 fident at Pulham, for feveral hundred years ; and the 
 old regifter, which begins in .539, fhews, that it was 
 a numerous family, there being great number of their 
 births, marriages, and burials, entered there ; and it 
 appears that the feveral branches have been all of 
 them confiderabie owners in this parifh. They have 
 Ipelt their names differently in different ages, as Saw- 
 yer, Sayer, and Saer, which Jaft we take to be their 
 proper name, for Saer, or Saier, was anciently a com- 
 mon Chriftian Name. 
 
 John Sayer, of Eye, efq. was one of his majefly's 
 juflices of the peace for the county of Norfolk. 
 
 F3 The 
 
 free foccage, and not by knights fervice. In 1656 there was 
 above 6000 acres of land in the parifties of Pulbaro St. Mary, 
 and St. Mary Magdafcn.
 
 66 HUNDRED OF 
 
 The ancient furvey of this county hath this : 
 " In this town (for both Pulhnms make but. one 
 town) is only the manor of Pulha.m, commonly cal- 
 led Pulham manor, which heretofore belonged to the 
 bifhopric (or church) of Ely, even from the time of 
 the Saxons, about 800 years fmce, until the reign' of 
 queen Elizabeth, who took it into her own hands, 
 with divers other manors, and is now in pofleffion of 
 the king (James I.) as her next and immediate heir. 
 The king kecpeth court and lect, and hath in it 
 waif, felons goods, Sec. hawking, hunting, fifhing. 
 Sec. The extraordinary fervicc of the tenants, rceve- 
 fhip, heyward-ftiip, and cullycr-fhip ; whoever are 
 cullyers, or collectors, gather the rents of the other 
 tenants, and pay them to the reeves, and they at the 
 audit to the receiver; whoever is hey ward calleth the 
 court: there is one that holds his lands by cornage*, 
 that is, blowing a horn in the morning at the bcgin- 
 
 t The eftate held by carnage is about 30!. per ann. all in a 
 hedge, now owned by Dorothy, late widow Baker,, now the 
 wife of Robert Jermy, of Pulham : there belongs to it liberty 
 to keep hounds, and follow the game any where in the manor ; 
 the fervice is performed at this time by one attendirgconftantly 
 to blow the horn before the court begins,- for which the lord 
 pays 4d. and gives him his dinner ; this was the fervice as the 
 lord's huntfman, and there are feven, acres held by being my 
 lord's hangman. William Akerman held feven acres by divers 
 fervices, all which were to be remitted whenever a thief was 
 hanged in the manor, he being obliged by his tenure to hang 
 him, in lieu of all fervices for that year. Among the ancient 
 cuftoms of the manor we find, that the copyhold ,rs were forced 
 to grind at one of the lord's mills, which occafioned the two 
 mills to be lett at 5!. per ann. in thofe days, the tithe being al- 
 lowed out of it. They were obliged to pay a fine to the lord 
 for licence, or leave, to marry their fons and daughters, and to 
 pay childwite if they had any baftards ; they could not fell an 
 ox, or male colt, of their own breed, without leave of their 
 lord ; the market and fairs then lett at three marks and an half 
 a year, and divers of the tenants paid plough-lhares for the fines 
 of their lands.
 
 E A R S H A M. 67 
 
 ning of the court. The fines are certain of the co- 
 pyhold lands, at fix-pence an acre. This town hath 
 the privileges of Ely as all other manors, holden 
 bv the fame bifhopric ; none may arreft within their 
 limits, befidcs. -their own bailiff, &c. 
 
 There was a market kept for a long time in Pal- 
 ham Magdalen (the crofs yet remaineth) purchafed 
 by the church of Ely, in the time of the Saxons, but 
 now altogether decayed, by reafon of the vicinity of 
 of Harlefton, a hamlet to Redenhall, whofe market 
 is on the fame day. 
 
 There was formerly a manor here, called HEMEN- 
 HALE'S, which had its rife in 1258, when Walter de 
 Hcmenhale had it from the bifhop of Ely. In 1389 
 fir Robert dc Hemenhale owned it, and fettled it on 
 fir George Felbriggc, knt. and others, his truftees. 
 
 Several others had manors here, which fir John de 
 Heveningham, fen. knt. in 1425, died feized of; 
 alfo of the free-tenements, capital meffuages, and 
 rents, called then the manor of Hcmenhale's, 
 Vauxe's, SturmiiVs. and Stunner's, in Pulham, Rive- 
 fhale, Dickleburgh, and Tivctfhall, in Norfolk. But 
 being all purchafed in long fincc, there is no fucri 
 manor now exifting. The demefnes, or manor- 
 houfe, called Vances, or Vauces, in Pulham, with a 
 farm at Rufhall, formerly part of. the faid manors, is 
 fettled for the propagation of the gofpel in New Eng- 
 land. 
 
 The dean and chapter of Ely have a fmall manor 
 in this town, called WINSTON'S cum PULHAM, the 
 quit rents of which are only 175. lod. per ann. It for- 
 merly belonged to the prior of Ely, who held part of 
 it, of the gift of Ofbert de Stradfete. 
 
 F 4 Pulham
 
 68 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Pulham-markct hill is a good old houfe, inclofcd 
 with a high wall of brick, embattclled, and u as for- 
 merly the man fion houfe of the Percics, a younger 
 branch of the Northumberland family; in 1543, 
 Mary, daughter of Henry Pecry, gent, was buiied 
 in St. Mary's church, at Pulham ;' in 1564, Alice 
 Percy was married to John Buckenham, and it feems 
 as if another daughter was married to a Brampton, 
 for this eftate was owned by William Brampton, of 
 Letton, a firenuous man on the kings lide in Kelt's 
 rebellion, by whom a great part of the prcfent build- 
 ing was creeled, and it continued in that family 'tiil 
 a William Brampton fold it to Philip Rofier, \vl:o 
 left it to Peter Rofier, his brother, high fheriif of 
 Norfolk, who died here in 1743. 
 
 The arms of the earl of Northumberland, and 
 thofc of Brampton impaling Levcnthorp, arc in the 
 windows. 
 
 From the old regifter of Pulham St. Mary we 
 find, that in 1550, Sir William Baldwin, and Audry 
 liftowe were married. 
 
 In i 585, Thomas Crane, gent, aged 70. In 1587, 
 Alice his widow, aged 70, both buiied in the church. 
 
 REDENHALL, cum HARLESTON. Reclenhall 
 gave name to, and is ftill the head town of the DEAN- 
 RV, \vhich contains twenty-five Parifhes, and was 
 taxed at two maiks ; the deans of which were 
 collated by the bifliop. 
 
 In 1311, William de Neuport, prieft, was pre- 
 fented to the rcclory by Thomas dc Brothenori, carl 
 of Norfolk. He lies buried in the chancel under a 
 flonc robbed of an effigy in brafs, in his proper 
 
 habit ;
 
 E A R S H A M. 69 
 
 habit; the brafles of the circumfcription are picked 
 out, but the remaining impiefiions flaew that they 
 were antient capitals; much may be read now. 
 from which, and a copy taken long fince, we have 
 made out this: Igi : gill : fire Will : de : Neii- 
 port : jadis : pcrjone : de : Lcjle 
 
 Eglife : prebend : 
 qui: Will: GGG 
 -priet : pur : falme : quc : Dieux : en : eit : 
 
 de : Gredinvlon : et : de : Wdles 
 
 niergi : amen : 
 
 This advowlbn fell to the fhare of Margaret, one 
 of the daughters and heireffes of Thomas dc 
 Brotherton, earl of Norfolk, and was fettled by the 
 king's licence, and the pope's bull, on the priorefs 
 and nuns at Bungay, and was afterwards confirmed 
 by Alice her fitter and Sir Edward de Momacute, 
 or Montague, her hufband ; and in 1349 it was 
 appropriated by the bifhop, to pay ten (hillings to 
 each nun, towards finding her clothes : the bifhop 
 had a pen H on of three marks and an half, and the 
 new erected vicarage was taxed at thirteen marks : 
 the bifhop of Norwich, and his fuccefTors for ever, 
 were to nominate a vicar every vacancv, and the 
 priorefs was obliged to prcfent him. The redlory 
 houfe, which was very large and moated in, with 
 a great ponal at the entrance, was then parted, and 
 the fouth half affigried to the vicar, who was to have 
 the manor and rents of aflize, four acres by the houfe, 
 and thirty acres of the demefncs of the church, being 
 all that on the fouth fide of the beck ; and aHb to 
 have a right of commonage on all the commons in 
 Redenhall, with the altarage, &c. and the vicar was 
 nominated by the bifhop, and prefented by the pri- 
 orefs. 
 
 In 1441, at the complaint of this vicar, the church 
 was difappropriatcd, and became a rcclory again, 
 
 no
 
 7 o H UN D R E D OF 
 
 on condition that the reclor fnould pay a yearly 
 penfion of forty fhillings to the priorefs, which 
 is ftill paid to ,the duke of Norfolk, in right of Bun- 
 gay priory, by the reclor ; and that the bifhop 
 fhould for ever nominate to the priorefs, and if flic 
 did no: immediately prcfent the perfon fo nomina- 
 ted, the bi(hop ruijht then collate him in his own 
 right. 
 
 Sir Richard Wheatly, reclor, was deprived of this, 
 and Aldburgh, by queen Mary, for being a married 
 man, and no favourerof the mafs ; and in 1603 the 
 reclor returned anfwer, that there were fix hundred 
 communicants in this parifh : in 1745, Dec. 26, the 
 Rev. Mr. John Nicolls, reclor, was nominated by 
 the bifhop to Francis Loggin, gent, who prefented 
 him. He was refident chaplain to the merchants 
 at Oporto, in Portugal ; and in i 763, the Rev. Tho- 
 mas Warburton was prefented to this reclory of Re- 
 deuhall, with the chapel of Harlcfton and Wortwell, by 
 the earl of Effingham, on nomination of the bifliop 
 of Norwich. In the kings books it is, 20!. Re- 
 denhall reclory ; yearly tenths, 2!. fo that -being not 
 difcharged oi iiril iruiis and tenths, it is incapable 
 of augmentation ; it was valued in the old taxation 
 at thirty-five marks. Norwich Doomfday fays, that 
 the archdeacon (Jacondenfis) was patron ; that the 
 rector had a houfc and carucate of land, that it was 
 after valued at forty marks. The religious concern- 
 ed here, were the priorefs of Carrowe, whofe tempo- 
 ralities were taxed at 6s. Sd.the prior of Mendham, at 
 365. gd. ob. the prior of Weybrede, for meadows, at 
 235. 6d. the abbot ofLangley, at 8s. 6d. In 1390, 
 Roger de Beis, knt. and others, aliened divers, tene- 
 ments in Harlefton to the abbefs ofBrufyaid. Hamon 
 de Peccatum, or Pecche, gave ten (hillings yearly 
 rents in.Herolfftone to Bury abbey j Geffry Pecche
 
 E A R S H A M. 71 
 
 2os. and Gilbert Peccbe other rents. In 1307, Ste- 
 phen cle Brockdifh, and Reginald his fon, held eight 
 acres of the prior of the Holy Trinity at Ipfwich, by 
 6d. per ann, rent : in i 236, the reclor took toll of all 
 who paffed through part of his church-yard. This 
 town paid clear to every tenth, i il. 133. ^d. 
 
 The church is dedicated in honor of the aflump- 
 tion of the Bicffed Virgin Mary, and is a good regu- 
 lar building, having its north porch, nave, and two 
 ailes, leaded, and chancel tiled. It was rebuilt of 
 freeftone by Thomas Brothcrthon, earl of Norfolk, 
 and the chancel by William Neuport, reclor ; but 
 the noble fquare tower, which is very large and lofty, 
 is of a much later foundation, it being a long time 
 from its beginning to its finiihing ; it hath neat bat- 
 tlements, and four freeftone fpires on its top, and 
 is the fined tower of any country parifli church in 
 the whole county ; it was begun about 1460, and 
 was carried on as the legacies and benefactions came 
 in. John de-la Pole, lord of Wingiield caflle, was 
 a principal benefa&or. Joan Running gave 3! 6s. 
 8d. in 1469 ; in 1492, Thomas Bacon gave a lega- 
 cy ; in 1311, John Bacon ; and it was finifhed 
 about 1.520, by Mafkr Richard Shelton, then reclor; 
 and on the fouth-caft fpire there is an elcallop (hell 
 and a tun, carved on r.he done, as a rebus, or device 
 for his name ; Sir John Shelton, knt wa.s alfo a con- 
 tributor to the work, in i<Ji6, it was fplit from 
 top to bottom by a temped*, fo as to be obliged 
 to be anchored up as it now remains, tho" 
 it was done fo effe&ually, that it is fcarce any 
 damage to its beauty or drength. There was this car- 
 ved on the north-wed fpire : "This fpire was de- 
 molifhed in the year 1680, and rebuilt in the year 
 
 1681, 
 
 * The Seflions then gave 13!. 133. 6d. towards it
 
 7 2 HUNDREDOF 
 
 1681. :c. A large plate of this fine church and tower 
 is given in ihis work. 
 
 The arms of Brotherton and Mowbray. and therofe, 
 the badge of Brotherton, and the leopard's face, the 
 badge of dc-la-Polc, are often on the ftones. On 
 the wed doors are carved a hammer and horfe-fhoe, 
 flhoe and pincers, as rebufles for the names of Smith 
 and Hammei fmith, probably the donors of them. 
 Here arc eight melodious bells, on three of which arc 
 thefe verfes: 
 
 sd. Bell. Pctrus ad eferne ducat nos pafcua vile. 
 4. Celt Solamen nobis det Deus. Amen. 1588. 
 
 6. Sulla Maria, MarisJuccurrcpUJJima nobis. 
 
 The church is new feated throughout, and kept 
 as neat and decent as we have fcen any where, In 
 the caft chancel window, Dc-la-Pole quarters Wing- 
 field in the garter. Erpingham in a garter. Brandon 
 quartering Bourchier in a garter. In a fouth win- 
 dow, gul. an eagle difplaycd, or. and Brewfe. 
 
 In 1504, Thomas Pyers, of Harleflon. gave twen- 
 ty marks to make the font new. The rood, or 
 principal image of our Saviour on the crofs, which 
 flood on the rood-loft between the chancel, was a 
 remarkable one in thofe days ; in 1506, Agnes Stan- 
 forth of Wortwalet hath this in her will ; "Item, 
 xny marrying ring to the goode rood of Redenhale.'' 
 
 Joan, widow of Robert Bunning, who lies buried 
 here, was a Bcnefaclrix to the fieeple, church, and 
 Harlefton chapel j to all which file left legacies. 
 
 Orate
 
 E A R S H A M. 75 
 
 Orate pro animabus Ricardi Bacon, et Gathering, ux- 
 cr.s fuc, qui obijt n" diejulij, A. Dom. MCCCCLXXXXIII. 
 The Bacons were interred at the upper end of the 
 fouth aile. 
 
 In the nonh chapel, which belongs to Gawdy- 
 hall, are. buried fcveral of the families'" to which that 
 manor belonged; it feems to have been founded by 
 the Brewfcs, for anciently the Gawdys buried in the 
 middle aile, where on a (lone, under the poitiaicures 
 of a man and a woman, was this : Orate pro ani- 
 rnabus Johanuis Gawdye, & Alicie uxons fue, qui obijt 
 i mo. die Alaij, A. Dni. MDCX. quorum animabus propi- 
 cictur Dcut>, Aincn. 
 
 On another, Pray for the foule of Mrs. Anne Gawdye 
 in the peace of God, 1350 Or ale pro anima 4gnetis Gaw- 
 dye, que obijt xiv die Sept. anno Dni. MCCCCCX. cujus 
 tuiinc propicittur Deus, Amen. 
 
 A black marble in the altar-rails To Mrs. Ptm- 
 lope D'Oyly, wife of the Rev. Mr. James l?0)iy, who 
 died the %th of Oftober, 1721. 
 
 The bodyes of John Rand, A. M. a. late painful 
 p readier of the go/pel, at Redenhall cum Harlejlon, and of 
 
 Anne, 
 
 * We find in the old church -wardens book, that in I j$8 was 
 received for fir Thomas Gawdy's grave 6s. 8d. In 1693 a feoff- 
 ment made of the chapel and chambers, and town-clofe, which 
 contained about three acres, and was lett at 4!. per ann. faid to 
 be given by the Gawdys, the profits to be givdn to the poor 
 every Chriftmas. The hamlet of Wortwcll was anfwerable for 
 a fourth part of all charges, and it intercommons with Aid- 
 burgh, and hath each a drift ; but there are no commons to 
 Redenhall. In 1461 the chancel was levelled, and the org^n 
 cafe pulled down. In 1464 the oroiles at the end of the chapels 
 were taken down, and the pirtures in the chancel defaced. la 
 1761 paid the ringers for ringing when the king 'paflcd by.
 
 74 H U N D R E D O F 
 
 Anne, hit wife, and Elizabeth, their daughter, Sept. 27, 
 1 659. Here expeft the rejurretlion. 
 
 three temples of l/ie Holy Ghoft, 
 
 Ruirid by death, ly here as lojl; 
 
 St. John s fell Jirft, St. Annzs next year, 
 
 Then'St. Elizabeth fell here ; 
 
 Tet a few day es, and thcs againe, 
 
 Chrijl will re-build and in them rcigne"^.. 
 
 The north vcftry is leaded, and the north chapel 
 tiled, in which is an altar-tomb for fir Thomas Gaw- 
 dy, buried here m 1588. The roof is adorned with 
 ipread. eagles. There is an hatchment with the crcft 
 and arms of Wogan, impaling Sandcroft. 
 
 Several memorials are in the nave, in which (lands 
 a fine large brafs eagle. Two ions of Henry Fenri, 
 i of Rcdinghall, gent. Tobias, fon of Tobias Frere, 
 gent, and Eliabeth, his fifler. AHo, Tobias Frere, 
 cfq. February 6, 1655. 
 
 On a neat mural monument again ft the fouth wall, 
 at the weft end of the nave, Inpiam mcmoriam Tobia: 
 Frere, armigeri, vidua ipji Juperjles, Doinina Sufanna 
 Frere, una cumfilio, Tobia, monumcntum hoc arnoris et 
 officij infigne Jlatui cur aver unt, obijt autem 66 agem. 
 Febr. 6. anno Dni. 1655. 
 
 J\ r e quisjuccumbatfato, ecdatvt Jepulchro, 
 Non pietas, virtus, ncn medicina valet 
 Cuique ejl difta, dies,jalix qui tempora vita 
 Sic agit, utfit ei, grata fuprana dies. 
 
 On 
 
 J \Vhat a compofition of prcfumptuous fuperftition is here ? 
 Three madsrn faints in one church lie buried, tempera * 
 O morn /
 
 E A R S H A M. 73 
 
 On altar-tombs on the fouth fide of the church- 
 yard, Jo/in Dove, clerk, obijt Martij 26, A. I). i6go 
 at. 46 Edward Hart, Sept. 22, 1731. Stephen Free- 
 man, of Harle/lon, gent, obiji anno at.Jutf 42, A.D, 
 1684. 
 
 Infcriptions are on head-flones, To Hannah Wot- 
 ton, March 12, 1715, at. 48. Fleetwood Wotton, gnti. 
 her hujband, Jan. 17, ij$o,at. 68. 
 
 Etnabetha Sara Kerrich, Jilia Guallcri et Anna, ob. 
 22 * die Apr. 1726, at.Juae 25. 
 
 Sub hoc marmort reconduntur ancres Gnalleri Kcrrich, 
 qui mortem obijt Jan. 8, I 705, atatis verqjtta. 38*. 
 
 Thomas Baylie, gent. Nov. 20, 1717, at. 72. 
 Mary, his wife, 1701, at. bi, June 21. 
 
 The church is fituate near the midft of the parifli, 
 fo that it might be equal to the tenants of the feveral 
 manors, t>eing cqui-diflant alfo from its two principal 
 hamlets of Harleflon, and VVortvvell, near a mile 
 irom each. 
 
 Redcnhall takes its name from* Rada, the dean, 
 who was lord in the time of Edward the Confeflbr, 
 and held it of Edric, the antcceflbr of Robert Malet, 
 lord of the honor of Eye. It was then 3!. per ami. 
 but rofe to 81. value, and was a mile and an half 
 long, half a mile and three perches broad, and paid 
 lod. to the Dane gelt. It extended into Alburgh and 
 Starflon ; there were twenty free-men in this town, 
 vvhofc rents Were 4.1. per aim. but they were after fe- 
 parated from this manor, and added to earl Rail 's 
 
 hundred 
 
 "* Radanahalla, Doomfday-book.
 
 76 HUNDRED OF 
 
 hundred of Eaifliam. Ivo Tallcbois, af f .er the carl's 
 forfeiture, got them for fome time, but being rcftored, 
 they have continued ever fincc with the hundred. 
 
 A free-man of Edric's had a part of the town, 
 which the falconer to the earl afterwards held, and his 
 manor, called HAWKER'S, was free from all fcrviccs 
 to the capital hall, or manor, and afterwards held of 
 the king, under Godric; as for the free-men, and fu- 
 perior jurifdiclion of the xvhole town, they all be- 
 longed to bifliop Stigand, by him were forfeited to 
 the king, who committed the care of them to Wil- 
 liam de Noiers, and they have ever fince paffed with 
 the hundred. 
 
 There are now only two lords here; Rcdcnhall 
 cum Harleflon, the Icct, hundred-court, market, fairs, 
 tolls, free-warren, and all fuperior jurifdiclion of the 
 whole town, belong to his grace the duke of Norfolk, 
 and have paffed with the carls and dukes of Norfolk, 
 along with Forncet manor. 
 
 The other manors are now joined, and belong to 
 John Wogan, of Gawdy-hall, cfq. viz. the manors of 
 Rcdenhall, Coldham-hall, Holbrook-hall, Merks, 
 and Hawker's. They were all in the Bigots as one 
 manor, and by them parted arid fold to different 
 perfons. 
 
 REDENHALL MANOR, and half the advowfon, was 
 owned by Henry de Agneux, orAnews, and half by 
 Richard de Argentine, in the time of Henry II. 
 This Henry in 1 196 being a rebel to Richard 1. that 
 king feized all his lands, and granted them for two 
 hundred marks to Ralph de Lenham ; and in 1199 
 Walter himfelf confirmed the grant. In 1247 fir 
 Nicholas de Lenham was lord, and in 1256 had a 
 
 charter
 
 E A R S H A M. 77 
 
 charter for free-warren here, upon which Roger Ic 
 Bigot, earl of Norfolk, lord of the hundred, arid fu- 
 perior lord of the fee of the whole town, fued him, 
 and fcized on this manor, becaufe he had leafed it. 10 
 the queen for fixtecn years, whole attornies the earl 
 ejecled, the manor being held of him by 5!. yearly 
 rent, and other fervices; and though the leafe was 
 made to the queen, it was in effecl the fame as if it 
 had been to the king, fo that no diilrefs could be 
 taken ; but upon the king's granting him letters parent 
 that the leafe fhouid not be to the dis-herifon of him, 
 or his heirs, but that he might didrain for the rents 
 and fervices, the earl confirmed it. In 1257 this fir 
 Nicholas fold all his pOiTeflions here to Peter de Su- 
 baudia, or Savoy. 
 
 In 1261 Henry III. fays, that his beloved uncle, 
 M after Peter de Savoy, furrendered into his hands 
 to the ufe of prince Edward, his eldelt ion, the ma- 
 nors of Rcdenhall, &c. and the king confirmed them 
 to the prince and his heirs, and fo. to., the kings of 
 England for ever; but ihe prince granted it with his 
 father's confent to Nicholas de Yatingdon, and his 
 heirs, to be held by the fervice of two fees. 
 
 The other moiety continued in the Argentein fa- 
 mily; though in 1206 William dc Cuicun gave 
 twenty marks to king John to have it. 
 
 In 1281 Giles de Argentein held here and in 
 Thirning four fees of Richmond honor; his grand- 
 father, Richard, having marriedjoan, widow of Ro- 
 ger de Lenham, and this Giles conveyed it to Mailer 
 Henry de Brantefton, who had the whole manor, and 
 moiety of ihe advowfon. 
 
 G Ofbcrt
 
 ?S HUNDRED OF 
 
 Ofbert de Clinton, lord here in 1317, conveyed ic 
 from Joan and her heirs to Thomas de Brothcuon, 
 carl of Norfolk, marfhal of England, and his heirs; 
 tvho in 1325 fettled it on triiftees, for Alice, one of 
 his daughters and coheireflcs, married to fir Edward 
 de Montacute, or Montague, who owned it in 1344, 
 and mortgaged it to John de Coloigne, arid Thomas 
 de Holbech, merchants, of London, by the king's 
 patent and licence ; and in 1360 Edward, fon of Ed- 
 xvard Montague, and Alice, his wife, one of the 
 daughters and heircfles of Thomas de Brotherton, 
 carl of Ndrfolk, held it; and in 1365, at the death 
 6"! Edward Montague, Etheldrcd, his filler, had it. 
 In 1390 fhc married fir Hugh Straulcy, km. it after, 
 in 1414, belonged to William Dc-U-Pole, earl of Suf- 
 folk, and lord of Wingfield caflle ; and in 1485 
 William Catefbie owned it, who was attainted in the 
 iQ of Henry VII. and that king granted it to fir Wil- 
 liam Norrcys, knt. In 1558 it was granted to Tip-' 
 per and DavvCj and foon after belonged to the Gaw- 
 dys, and fo it came joined to the manor of HOLE- 
 BROOK, or Gawdy-hall, which was held of the honor 
 of Richmond at half a fee. This anciently belonged to 
 the Turbeviles, of Devonshire, and Henry dc Tur* 
 bevile was lord in 1223 ; it took its name from the 
 fituation of the manor-houfc, being in a hole by the 
 brook fide, the hills adjoining Hill retaining the name 
 of Holebrook Hills, and are on the left hand of the 
 road leading from Hailcfton to Yarmouth, near to 
 \Vortwell Dove; but this was pulled down by the 
 Gawdys when the houfe, called Gawdy-hall, was 
 built, in which John Wogan, elq. the prcfcnt lord, 
 now dwells, 
 
 In 1230 Walter de Turbcvile was lord; he fcrved 
 Henry III. with three knights, for one whole year, to 
 Poi&ou, to be released of 150 marks due to that 
 
 king.
 
 E A R S II A M. 7? 
 
 kin. In i 259 Roger de Thirkelby, one ofilie jufti- 
 c< s -itinerant, was lord here Li 1313 Robert Tcndo 
 Vile, of Harlcftoh, fccms to have hacj it; and probably 
 it continued in this family a whole century, for in 
 i/)i4 Ricliard Tviitidle, of Dean, in Northampton - 
 fhirc, owned it; it continued in the family till i 542, 
 and then Thomas Tyndale, and Ofbcrt Mundeford, 
 efqrs. conveyed it Robert Bacon, of Spcclcfball, cfq. 
 and in 1551 the title was compleated. In 13 70 his 
 ion and heir, Edward Bacon, cfq. had it, and foid it 
 to Thomas Gawdy, cfq. and lo it became joined to- 
 the MANOR of COLDHAM-HALL, which was held of 
 the earls of Norfolk, and to which the moiety of thfe 
 advowfon belonged, till fold from it. In 1259 \Va- 
 rine dc Redenhall, lord of it, iinpleaded Roger Bigor, 
 earl of Norfolk, to permit him to enjoy certain liber- 
 ties belonging to this manor, which he held of him. 
 In 1303 Simon de Coldham, of Redcnhalt, (from 
 vJioiu it took its pielent name) ibid the moiety of the, 
 advowfon which belonged to it, and ihc manoi, (ex- 
 cept an hundred Qiillings, land, and fomc rents, after- 
 wards called Mcik's manor) to fir William dc Burgis, 
 Lnt. and in 1309 the faid fir William, and Thomas 
 dc Burgis, inld the moieiy of the advowlon to Tho- 
 mas de Brothertoh, earl ol -Norfolk, (patron of the 
 other moiety) and the manor to John dc Rivcfhale, or 
 Rufhall. It afterwards belonged to the De-la-Poltb r 
 and continued in the earls of Suffolk till the attainder 
 of Charles duke of Suffolk; and in 1551 was grant*- 
 cd by Philip and Mary to Edward lord North, and 
 afterwards it was purchafed by the Gawdys. , 
 
 In 1510 John Gawdy, of Harlefton was Imii^d iri 
 Rsdenhall church. 
 
 In 15-2-3 Thomas Gawdv, of Womvell, gent, ob* 
 tained a iiianumilfion oi ail his luudi in Memlbam 
 G 2 Metficld
 
 So II U N D R E D O F 
 
 Metfield, and Witherfdale, held of the manors of 
 Metfield priory, and King's-hail, of the prior of 
 Mendham. 
 
 In 1545 Thomas Gawdy, of Redcnhall, fen. and 
 in i 5^6 Thomas Gawdy, jun. efq. of Harlcflon, were 
 buried in Redenhall church. 
 
 In 1370, Thomas, the elded fon of the latter, put- 
 chafed Weybrede manor of William Calthorpe, efq, 
 and in 15 82 he fold this manor to fir Thomas Gawdy, 
 knt. he was one of the king's judges, but dying in 
 1588 was buried here, being feifed of Claxton, Hel- 
 lington, Rockland, Poringland, 8cc. leaving Henry 
 Gawdy, efq. his fon and heir ; and in 1615 fir Henry 
 and fir Ctipefby Gawdy, knts. were lords. In 1633 
 fir Thomas Gawdy, knt. and it was mortgaged by 
 Charles Gawdy, efq. to Tobias Frere, who afterwards 
 purchafedit. In 1654 he was one of the juftices of 
 peace for Norfolk, a fequeftrator, and member in 
 parliament, and was buried here in 1655, leaving Su- 
 fannah, his widow, and Tobias, his fen and heir ; 
 his widow married John Wogan, efq. who was lord 
 here in 1688 ; and now John Wogan, efq. is lord of 
 all the aforefaid manors, which arc joined with 
 the MANOR of MERKS, which was part of Coldham- 
 hall manor, that continued in the Redenhall family 
 as aforefaid, and was fold to John de Marleburgh, 
 of whom John de Redenhall purchafed.it in 13*5, 
 and held it of the earl of Norfolk at the eighth part 
 of a fee; it came after, 1358, to James Ormond, 
 carl of Wilts, and at his attainder to the crown. It 
 was granted by Edward IV. with feveral manors in 
 Suffolk, to fir Thomas Waldegrave; and palling 
 through divers hands in the year 1551, it was pur- 
 chafed by Robert Bacon, and joined as aforefaid. 
 
 HAWKER'*
 
 E A R S H A M. 81 
 
 HAWKER'S MANOR firft belonged to Edric, of whom 
 it was held in the Confeffbr's time by one of his free- 
 men, when it was worth 205. per ann. After the 
 coriqueft Ralph Guader, or Wayct. earl of Norfolk, 
 had it, and gave it, to be held free of his capital ma- 
 nor, to Roger, his hawker, or falconer, who held it 
 free from all fervicc but that of falconer : when the 
 king had the capital manor by earl Ralph's forfeiture, 
 and when Godric, to whom he had intruded the 
 care of it, claimed fervices of him, he appealed to 
 the king (of whom he held it freely) as his proteclor, 
 and was difcharged accordingly ; from this tenure 
 the manor and lord-; alfo took their names. The 
 record, called Te/ta de Ncvil, tells us, that Warine le 
 Oftricer, or Hawker, fon of the faid Roger, held it 
 by the grand ferjeanty of keeping a gofs-hawk for the 
 king's ufc, and carrying it every year to the king at 
 his majefty's colt. This Warine added much to the 
 manor, by purchafe from Maud de Beauchamp, in 
 isggt. In 1380 the manor-houfe had 144 acres of 
 demefne, and the manor was found to extend into 
 Aldburgh, and other adjacent towns. Soon after, 
 1436, it paffed to Robert Clifton, coufin to fir John 
 Clifton, of Buckenham-caftle, from which time it 
 paffed with Topcroft, and Denton ; all which in 
 1481 Thomas Brewfe, in right of Elizabeth, his 
 wife, had affigned to him as parcel of the lands of 
 Robert de Clifton : it continued with the faid ma- 
 nors till 1621, and in that year John Brewfe, gent, 
 fold his manor of Hawker's, cum Shacklock's, to To- 
 bias Frere, efq. and in 1627 John Brewfe, and Tobias 
 Frerc, cfqrs. conveyed it to fir Clipefby Gawdy, knt. 
 andfo it became joined to the other manors. 
 
 G 3 WORTWELL 
 
 * This family of the Hawkers were very numerou?, and many 
 of them had good cftates here, and elfewhere.
 
 is HUNDRED OF 
 
 \VORTVVELL MANOR was form after the conqutfl in 
 a family called Pcccatum, or Pccchc. In 1196 
 Gilbert Pccche a benefaclor to Burv abbey, held 
 two fees of thathoufc in Wortwcll, Ihrleflon. and 
 Drinkflon, in Suffolk. In 1298 it belonged to 
 William Carliol, arid the manor then extend. -d into 
 Aldburgh : this family lived in the manor-houfc for 
 fevcral defcents. In 1428 Robert Warner was lord, 
 in which family it continued till 1/546, when Jolm, 
 third fon to Brian Holland, of Wortwcll, married 
 Ann, daughter and hcirefs of Robert Warner, of 
 Wingficld, with whom he had this manor: this John 
 came and fettled at Wortwell-hall, and purchafed 
 the greateft. part (if not the whole) of the copyhold: 
 it hath continued in this family till this day, it being 
 now owned by the heirs pf the late fir William Hol- 
 land, bart. 
 
 HARLESTON, anciently called Herolf'Aon, and ITe- 
 rolvcflon, from Herolf, one of the Danifh leaders that 
 earns with Swain, king of Denmark, into Britain, 
 about the year 'jpio, in order to fubdue the Eafl-An- 
 gles, and bring them under their power; \vhich they 
 did fo effccl.ua 1 1 y, as to feize their poffeiTions ; and it 
 is mod likely that Herolf fettled here, and gave name 
 to the place, which is, and always was, of fmall extent, 
 ior it never contained more than twenty-five acres of 
 land in its bounds, which at the Conqueror's furvey 
 was divided (as it now continues) into two parts, 
 thirteen acres of it, held by Frodo, being added to 
 Mendham, to which it now belongs, as the other 
 twelve do to the hundred of Earfharn, on which the 
 chapel and town now (land, being the Middle-row 
 only; the reft (though commonly called Harleflon) 
 being in the parifh of Redenhail, to which this is a 
 chapel of cafe, and hamleu 
 
 The
 
 E A R S H A M. 83 
 
 The manor alwys attended the hundred of Ear- 
 fham, and flill continues with it, in the Norfolk fa- 
 mily, and the houfes are all copyhold, except thofe 
 called the ftonc-houfes, which are free. On this 
 fpot of ground formerly flood Hcrolf's ftone, or crofs, 
 where Richard de Herolvefton, about 1109, fettled, 
 and took his firname from hence ; from whom de- 
 fcended the famous fir John Herolvefton, fo often 
 mentioned in our Englifh Chronicles for his valiant 
 prowcfs in martial exploits, and particularly for be- 
 ing a great inftrument in quelling the grand rebel- 
 lion in thefe counties in the time of Richard II. of 
 whom much may be feen in Froiflart, Holingfhed, 
 and Stowe's Chronicles: from him defcended the fa- 
 mily of the Harleftons, of good account in both 
 counties. They had eftates in Shimpling, in Suf- 
 folk, fettled at Norwich, and afterwards at Mattifhall, 
 in Norfolk ; archbithop Parker married one of them. 
 
 This town hath a weekly market on Wednefdayv 
 and two fairs in a year ; one is held on Midfummer- 
 day, being the nativity of St. John the Baptift, to 
 whom the chapel is dedicated, fa that this is the 
 feaft, wake, or dedication day; and the other was 
 granted by Henry III. in the year 1259, to Roger le 
 Bigot, carl of Norfolk, and marfhal of England, to 
 laft eight days, viz. the vigil, and day of the decolla- 
 tion of.St John the Baptift, and fix days after. The 
 faid carl had a hundred-court held here every three 
 weeks, and the toll of the market and fairs, affizc of 
 bread and ale, free-warren, and waif. 
 
 In 1570 there was a rebellion intended to have 
 been begun here. 
 
 The chapel of St. John the Baptift was a free 
 
 chapel, founded, in all probability, by fir John de 
 
 G 4 HerolfHon,
 
 .$4 H U N D R E D OF 
 
 HcroHfton, for his;own ufe ; It never had any infli- 
 tution, but was always dependent upon its mother 
 church at Redenhall, the rec"tor of which ferves here 
 one part of the day every Sunday; it hath admini- 
 fl ration of both facraments belonging to it, but not 
 burial ; the flreet furrounds it, fo that there is no 
 convenience for that purpofe. At the caft. end is the 
 inarket-crofs, which, with the chapel, was rebuilt 
 about i 726"". Jt is tiled, hath one bell, and a good 
 clock in a fort of a cupola, for there is no tower. 
 
 'In j688, being almoft ufelefs, and deferted for 
 want of fit endowment, that pious and charitable 
 prelate, William Sandcroft, archbifhop of Canter- 
 bury, fettled on the matter, fellows, and fcholars, of 
 Emanuel college, in Cambridge, 54!. per ann. paya- 
 ble quarterly out of the hereditary revenues of the ex- 
 cifc, in trufl and fpecial conhdence that they will re- 
 ceive it, and conftantly nominate a chaplain and 
 fchoolmaftcr, and pay it fo received to him, " Upon 
 " condition, and folong as he the faid chaplain, and 
 M. .chaplains, or fchool mafler, and fchoolmaflers, for 
 " the time being, fhall perform and celebrate pub- 
 " lickly in the (aid chapel at Harlcflon aforefaid the 
 't-.tJae daily office of Divine fervice, morning and 
 'V evening, on eveiy day of the week throughout the 
 " year (except only the Lord's days, when the inha- 
 " ibitants of Harleflon are bound to repair to the 
 " mother church of Redenhall aforefaid) according 
 
 to 
 
 * Being a free chapel was diflfolved by the ftatute of Edward 
 VI. and became .afterwards vefted in ,the inhabitants., and was 
 by them fettled on feoifees, to their ufe. In 1726 it was .re- 
 paired at the expence of nool. feven hundred of which was 
 raifcd in the parifli by contribution only, and the rqft by the 
 neighbouring gentlemen. ]Part"of'jt was formerly hi&de^ a 
 mar'kct-crofs, and chambers over it, but th-e whole is\no\T;lai.d' 
 inly the chapel as at f.rt, and a crofs built at its eaft end.
 
 E A R S H A M. $5 
 
 " to the Liturgy of the Church of England by law 
 ," cftabliChed ; and alfo to hold and keep a public 
 " fchool there, for the education of youth, in fome 
 " convenient place near the faid chapel, which the 
 " inhabitants of Harleflon aforefaid, in confederation 
 " of the great benefit which bv this donation may 
 " accrue to them and thcir-children, sre dcfired from 
 " time to time to provide ; and particularly, befides 
 " the common grounds of learning, fliall teach and 
 " inflruct all his fcholars in that excellent Catechifm 
 " of the church of England, and caufe them to get 
 " the fame perfectly by heart, together with the Ni- 
 " cene, and Athanafian Creeds ; the Te Deum, and 
 " fuch other prayers, pfalms, and hymns, as arc 
 " contained in the Primmer, and common Prayer- 
 " book, and are fit for every good Chriftian to learn 
 " and ufe ; and alfo to take care, that all the fcho- 
 " lars whom he fhall undertake to teach be con- 
 " ftantly prefent, with himfelf, at the prayers of the 
 " church, whenever they fhall be publicly performed 
 " in the faid chapel, and behave thcmfelves foberly 
 " and pioufly there, and be taught to ufe fuch gef- 
 41 turts, and make fuch anfwcrs as the church pre- 
 " fcribes." The mafter and tellows, under their col- 
 lege feal, arc for ever to nominate fome able and 
 competent pcrfon in holy orders, to be licenfed by 
 the bHhop to read prayers, and teach fchool here. 
 
 The prefent chaplain and fchoolmafler was nomi- 
 nated by the mailer arid fellows, receives the annual 
 falary, and keeps fchool in a houfc provided for that 
 purpofe by the inhabitants. 
 
 Other benefactions here arc, A rent charge of 
 405. per ann. payable out of the profits of the bul- 
 lock fair held here, and the annual intcreft of aool. 
 given by Mr, Dove, for a fchoolmafier to teach poor 
 
 boys
 
 86 HUNDREDOF 
 
 boys to read, and write, with which an rilnte is pur- 
 chafed in Rufhall, and the profits are enjoyed by tii6 
 ichoolmafler. 
 
 This hamlet is in the liberty of the duke of Nor- 
 folk, as well as Redenhall. 
 
 RUSHALL, RIVESSALLA, or REFVE'S-HALL. fo 
 called from the Prepofitus, or Reeve of the hundred, 
 that anciently dwelt there, ws in three parts ; the 
 firft (which belonged to bifhop Stigand) was 
 feizcd by the conqueror, and was afterwards granted 
 to the Bigots, and hath attended the manor and hun- 
 dred of Earfham to this time : his grace the duke of 
 Norfolk keeping leet here, is lord paramount in 
 right of the hundred. In 1285, Roger Bigot, earl of 
 Norfolk, had free-warren allowed him here. The 
 fecond was, 
 
 RtrsHALL MANOR, which before the confeflbr's 
 'lime belonged to Bury abbey, who infeofled Henry 
 in it, but at the conqueifc it was given to Ralfh Peverel, 
 of whom Warincus held it, it being then of 3!. per 
 ann. value. The town was then half a mile long, and 
 five furlongs broad, and paid bd. geld. 
 
 The third part belonged to Stigand, of whom 
 Bricnic, a Dane, held it ; the conqueror gave it to. 
 Robert Fitz-Corbun, of whom Gunfrid held it at the 
 furvey ; this was afterwards divided into many parts, 
 and conflituted the manors called Vauce's, Sturmer's, 
 Branched, St. Faith's, and Langley, or the re&ory 
 manor. 
 
 RUSHALL-HALL, or the capital manor, was held of 
 the honor of Peverel at one fee, by Warincus, whofe 
 iucceffor, Alan, affumed the name of Rivefhale, or 
 
 Rufhall,
 
 E A R S H A M. 87 
 
 Ruri all, from this his lordfhip ; his fon, Miles ds 
 Rivefhale lord here, gave in free alms to the monks 
 at Norwich ; he was fuccecded by Sir Henry de 
 Rivcfhale, knt. who in 1263 obtained a charter of 
 free-warren for this manor, and that o Semere in 
 Suffolk, ot Henry HI. Mis grand fon, John de Rive- 
 fhale. left Winefia, his daughter, fole heirefs, who 
 held it atone fee in I34 r >, and by her marri-ge with 
 Sir Oliver Withe, carried it out of the R vefhale fa- 
 mily. Sir Oliver Withe being thus pofTeffed of this, 
 purchafcd the other manors of Vauce's, Branche's, 
 and Sturmyn's, in this town and Pulham, and joined 
 them to Rufhall hall, the demefnes of them being 
 excepted, having paffed fcparate to this day. the 
 demefnes of Branche's in Rufhall making one farm, 
 and thofe in Pulham another, both which arc novy 
 known by their antient names. 
 
 From the Withes thev came to the CarboneJs, 
 Sir Robert Carbonel being the firft lord of that fami- 
 ly, whofe (on, Sir John Carbonel, knt. poiTeifed them 
 in 1421, and in 1425 Sir John Heveningham fen. 
 knt. owned them ; they after paffed thro 1 the Groofes 
 and Calthorpes ; and in i ^65 Thomas Bcanrnnnd, 
 and Thomas Gooch, fold ihe manors of Rufhall-hall, 
 Vaunce s, or Vauce's, Stuimyn's, and Branche's, in 
 Rufhall, Pulhr.m,Dickleburgh, Harlefton, Rcdcnhall. 
 and Dils, 10 Thomas Crane, and hb heirs. In 1571 
 Anthony Tebold had it, it a'lerwards was purchafeci 
 by the Pettus family, and haih continued in it fornc 
 time, the heirs of Sir Horatio Pettus, bart. of Rack- 
 heath, being the prefcnt proprietors, but hold no 
 court, the whole being either purchafed in, or manu-. 
 mifcd, and the demefnes are about 30!. per ann, 
 
 The PRIORY is a farm-houfe, owned by the Bal- 
 lards of Mctingham ; it is fo called as belonging
 
 SS HUNDREDOF 
 
 amicmly to the priory of Buckcr.ham, to which it 
 was given by Richard de Sengles, together with 
 his whole tenement, in Rufhall, and Lincroft a ham- 
 let thereto. 
 
 In 1401 the prior ofBuckenham held it at the 
 fourth part of a fee, and was taxed for his 
 temporalities at 3!. 2S. At the diflblution it went 
 to the crown, and was granted by Philip and Mary 
 to Thomas Gawdye, and was held by Anthony 
 Gawdye, who conveyed it to Sir Baffingbourn Gaw- 
 dye, knt. 
 
 The RECTORY, or LANGLEY MANOR, confided of 
 two parts, the firfl was the manor originally belong- 
 ing to the reclory before its appropriation ; the other 
 was a manor owned by Wulnard Bctckarl, and after 
 by Euftace dc Hoe, whofe daughter, Imbria, before 
 1195, was married to Baldwin de Burcs. the then 
 lord. This was after given to the abbot of Langley, 
 and joined to the impropriation ; but the whole 
 hath been long fmce manumifed, and no court is now 
 kept for thele manors. The abbot held it at half a 
 fee of Horsford, and fo of Eye honor, and was tax- 
 ed for his temporalities at 5!. 6s. This xvas given in 
 divers parcels to this abbey; and in 1427 the abbot 
 of Langley was profecuted for purchafing and hold- 
 ing 200 acres of land in Rufhall of lay fjr, but up- 
 on proving that all his lay -fees here were joined to 
 his fpiritual impropriate reclory, and taxed with it 
 as fpirituals, and that he was ccfled for it with the 
 clergy, he was acquitted. 
 
 The : Prior of St. Faith, at Horfham, had a 
 quarter of a fee of the founder's gift in this parifh, 
 held of the honor of Eye, it was firfl taxed at 303. 
 after, as fpirituals, 3t 405. and fo paid 45. tenths, 
 
 ail
 
 E A R S H A M. S 9 
 
 'all the tithes belonging to it being paid to St. Faith's, 
 and not to the redor, or vicar. This houfe was 
 taxed at 255. d. for their temporalities in Rufhall. 
 Being vefted in the crown, Henry VIII. in the gStli 
 year of his reign, granted all the lands, rents, and 
 poflfeffions belonging to the priory of Horfham, late 
 in the tenure of Catherine Branche, to John Caryll, 
 and his heirs. 
 
 The Reclory was given to the abbey of Langley, 
 and appropriated to that houfe. In the old tax- 
 ation, the abbot of Langley was taxed for his manor 
 and lands at fix marks ; the reclory was valued at 
 fifteen, and in the new valuation at twenty-fix mark::. 
 There was a houfe, manor, and carticare of land be- 
 fore the impropriation; the vicarage endowed was 
 valued at five marks, but was not taxed ; the vica- 
 rage is difcharged of firfl fruits and tenths, and is ca- 
 pable of augmentation ; it ftands thus in the king's 
 books : 4!. Rufhall vicarage, 30!. clear yearly 
 value. 
 
 In 1548 Edward VI. granted to John Pykarel, 
 and John Barnard, the tithes, glebes, 8cc. with the 
 appurtenances of Rufhall reclory, late parcel of Lang- 
 ley monaflery, paying 2os. per ann. to the vicar; in 
 the time of Queen Elizabeth, a confirmation of it 
 pafled to the Gleres, and in 1603 Sir Edward pre- 
 iented to the vicarage, as an appurtenant to the 
 re&ory ; it was afterwards conveyed to Thomas 
 Sherwoood, who in the reign of James I. fold about 
 feventy acres, with the parfonage houfe, to one Ket, 
 but excepted the tithes, 8cc. and fixed 6s. 8d. per 
 ann. to the vicar for his dividend of the aos. a 
 year ; it belonged after that to the Redes, and then 
 to William Long, in right of his wife, and he fold k 
 to the Branfbys, and being; fold by James Braufbv, 
 
 Elq.
 
 $o H U N D R E ti 6 
 
 Efq. of Shottifham, to Emmanuel college, in Cam- 
 bridge, they are now rented of that focicty at 85!. 
 los. per aim. The i'mall tithes belong to the vicar. 
 
 In 1605 there were ninety-two communicants in 
 the parifh. In i 620, John Thirleby was prcfenied 
 by the crown, and was the laft vicar, it being lerve'd 
 by (equellration 'til the year i 733, and in 1764 the 
 Rev. John Stockdale was prcfented to this vicarage by 
 James Branfby Efq. and again in 1774. 
 
 The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, hath 
 a fteeple round at bottom and oclangular at top, and 
 only one bell, the nave, chancel, and fbuth porch 
 are tiled. There was a fmall chapel on the north 
 fide of the nave, which is now demolifhed, in 
 which there was an altar, image, and guild held, 
 all in the honor of the Holy Trinity, to fuflain 
 which there was a clofe given at Bonwcll-Crofi'"". 
 The ftone of John Braunch lies in the middle of it, 
 but hath loft an effigy in armour {landing on a lion, 
 and lour fhieids ; he had good eftatcs ia the town. 
 
 There are no copyholds but fuch as are held of 
 the manors that are in other places and extend hither, 
 as Semcrc's, in Mcndham, Gunfhaw's, in Starflon, 
 Manclcrk's, in Dicklebui gh, Sec. 
 
 STARSTON, STERSTON V , or STERES-TOWN, was an- 
 ciently in many parts ; the head manor belonged to 
 Bury abbey, and was infeoffed by the abbot in Roger 
 Bigot, who obtained of the king a free-man and his 
 
 fervices 
 
 * Thefe lands contain fix acres, lying i three pieces, and are 
 in feoftces hands to repair the church with the profits. There 
 is alfo i town-hoafe for the poor. There -re two pieces ot 
 Irad belonging Co Ncedham ihat lie in this ton n?
 
 A R S H A M. 91 
 
 fervices here, which belonged to the mona fiery at 
 HJv ; and another part, which was Stignnd's, he had 
 as belonging to his manor of Earfham; all whi:li he 
 left to his fucceffors, and they continued in his fa- 
 inily till one of them granted off two fees, which made 
 ivvo manors, to be held of the manor of Forncet, and 
 referred the fuperior jurifdiction, leet. and advovvfon) 
 with liberty of warren, &:c. to his heirs; all which 
 have pafled, and now continue (except the advowfcn. 
 with the manor, and hundred of Earfham, in the 
 iluke of Norfolk, lord thereof, the chief part of the 
 town being free fuitors to the hundred-court at Har- 
 lefton. 
 
 The town at the Conqueror's furvey was a mile 
 and five furlongs long, and five furlongs broad, and 
 paid i^d. gelt. 
 
 STARSTON-HALL MANOR being granted from the 
 Bigots to be held of Forncet at one fee, was owned 
 by Bartholomew Evercus, or Devereux, and was foon 
 after, 1308, fold to James Herwardcftoke. John 
 de Herwardeftoke, citizen of London, ibid it to Ro- 
 bert de Bumpftead, citizen of Norwich; and his Cong 
 fold it to Roger Pycot; whole fon, fir Bartholomew 
 Pycot, knt. was lord in 1375. Thomas Pycot, efq. 
 was lord in 1432, and left the manor at his death, 
 vefted in truftees for the ufeof his daughters and 
 heireffes, who fecm to have married Hugh Auftvn, 
 uf Frarnlingham-calile, gent. Hamon le Strange, e(q. 
 of the king's houfhold ; Roben Bernard, ek]. and 
 Chnflopher Calihory)e, ciq. htld h-;s firit court in 
 1515, in right of his wife. Sir James Galthorpe, of 
 Cotklhorpe, in th hundred of North Grcer.Lr 
 was lord in 1610; it was ti.cn tlie chief manor in the 
 town, and had a convenient nouie belonti:j toil; 
 si afterwards belonged to the Wiltons, ot Wiibv, in 
 
 '
 
 9 2 HUNDRED OF 
 
 the hundred of Shropham, was mortgaged to John 
 Strange, of Rcd-Lion-Square, and is fmcc ovvucd by 
 Mr. Mills, of London. 
 
 BRESINGHAM'S MANOR takes its name from its an- 
 cient lords ; Walter de Brefingham was lord about 
 1235, and it continued in the family till 1462. when 
 John Brefmgham. cfq. died, and was buried in Brock- 
 difh church ; he left the manor to Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of William Grice, of Brockdifh, his wife, and her 
 heirs ; it continued in the Grices till they (old it to 
 the Pycots, or Pigots ; and in 1578 William Pycot 
 was lord, who fold it to Bartholomew Cotton, efq. 
 In his time it was returned to have a houfe, dcmefnes, 
 and royalties, but no copyhold tenants, nor court 
 baron, the whole being manumifed, and the free- 
 holders belonging to it paid but igs. per ann. free 
 rents: he died June 21, 1613, aged 76, and lies bu- 
 ried under a fumptuous monument on the north fide 
 of the chancel; his effigy, with a ruff about his 
 neck, is kneeling at a dcfk, with his creft and armo- 
 rial bearing. 
 
 An altar-tomb, with Cotton's arms, To "John 
 Luckin Cotton, gent, who (being about 23 years of age) was 
 interred Jan. 17, 1634, and cj his two infant Jons. 
 Several others of this family lie buried in the 
 chanceL 
 
 In 1689 Robert King, of Great Thurlow, in Suf- 
 folk, in right of his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Thomas Steward, of Barton-Mills, in Suffolk, was 
 lord here, and lived hi 1 703 ; his fon, Thomas, about 
 1698, was killed by Sir Sewfler Peyton, bart. but 
 by a fitter and heir of Sir John Cordel left one fon ; 
 flie died his widow in 1 706. 
 
 STABSTON-
 
 E A R S H A M. 95 
 
 StjsrRon-Place is now owned by Waldegrave Pel- 
 liam, efq. and is a good Houfe, near the church. 
 
 BECKHALL MANOR is fo called from the fcite of it 
 (long fincc demolifhed.) being near the beck, or rivu- 
 let, that runs through this village. It was very an- 
 ciently in William de Bovilc's hands, who held it at 
 one fee of Forncct manor. In 1296 William dc 
 Ingham had it ; and after, 135$, it pafled with Hing- 
 ham, in the hundred of Happing, to the Stapletons. 
 In 1418 fir Miles Stapleton, km. was lord, and it 
 continued in the family till 1501, when Dame Eliza- 
 beth Fortcfcue, daughter and heirefs of fir Miles Sta- 
 pleton, firfl the wife of fir William Calthorpe, after 
 of fir John Fortefcue, lord chief juflice, and laftly of 
 fir Edward Howaid (while Fortefcue's widow) fettled 
 it on the heirs of her body, and fo it came to the 
 Calthorpes, afterwards to the Gawdys, and was 
 joined by the Cottons to Bremngham manor. 
 
 BOUTON'S, or BOLTON'S MANOR, paffed in a great 
 nieafure like the manor of the fame name in Hard- 
 wick. In 1285 William le Claver had it ; whofc 
 grand-daughter and heiiofs, Maud, married Walter 
 de Burwood. It was fold by Wiiliam Greham. efq. 
 to Peter Glcane, of Norwich, at which time it had 
 no houfe, but feveral copyhold tenants belonging 
 to it. 
 
 GUNSHAW'S MANOR, in Starflon, Needham, Sec. 
 was anciently held by William de Arches, of John dc 
 Mcndham, at half a fee; it formerly belonged to the 
 Keylocks, and was purchafed of the Wifemans about 
 the time of Charles I. by Mr. Stiles, of Codenham, 
 whofe wife married a fccond hufband, and held it for 
 life. It hath a farm-houfc, and about 50!. per ann. 
 bcfides the royalty, and many copyhold tenants. It 
 H is
 
 4 HUNDRED Of 
 
 is now (Blomeficld) owned by Mr. Nun, of S'outh- 
 vvold, in Suffolk. 
 
 The fcveral manors of Seymer's, and Hunting- 
 field's, in Mendham ; Gunfhaw s, and Buit's, in 
 Keedliam, Pulham, &c. and Payone's, in Demon, 
 extend hither. 
 
 The church of Starfton is dedicated to St. Mar- 
 garet. The rc&or hath a good houfc, and about 
 forty-three acres of glebe; there are no cuftoms. all 
 tithes being due in their proper kind; it is undif- 
 charged of tenths and firft fruits, and iiands thus, in 
 the king's books: 15!. Starflon rcc"lory. il. los. 
 yearly tenths. in the old value it was valued at 
 thirty marks, and the town paid clear to every tenth 
 3!. 155. 
 
 The monks of Thetford had lands here, and the 
 tidies anting therefrom were anciently valued at 205. 
 but were afterwards compounded for perpetually at 6s. 
 per ann. and in 1612 was paid bv the reor to the 
 lord of Aflaclon manor, in right of Thetford priory; 
 at the fame time alfo the relor paid a penfion of 35. 
 4d. to Mendham priory, as a perpetual compofuion. 
 for the tithes of that part of their manor of Hunting- 
 field's which extended hither, for which lands that 
 houfe was taxed 245. ad. ob. 
 
 The prior of Norwich had temporals in the parifh, 
 taxed at 53. lod. and the priorefs of Garrowe at i4d. 
 The advowfon continued in the dukes of Norfolk 
 till 1699. 
 
 In 1603 the re&or returned 120 communicants in 
 the parUh. 
 
 There
 
 E A R S H A M. 95 
 
 There is a neat monument, with the creft and arms 
 of Arrowfmith, impaling Smith ofCratficld. Thomas 
 Arrowfmith, M. A, reflor of this parijh and Aldburgk 
 30 yean \ he died March 2 5, 1 7 29, 
 
 In 1725, Angtifl 15, Philip Williams, S. T. B. 
 fellow, and Come time prefident of St. John's college, 
 Cambridge, was prcfented by fir Ro-.vland Hill, bart. 
 by purchafe from the duke of Norfolk, he being 
 obliged to prefent a fellow of St. John's college, in 
 Cambridge; and in 1769 the Rev. Thomas Framp- 
 ton, D. D. was prcfented to the re&ory by fir Row- 
 land Hill, bart. of Hawkftone, in Shropfhire. 
 
 The tower is fquare, and hath five bells : the nave 
 is leaded, and the fouth porch and chancel are tiled. 
 
 On a brafs by the church door, William Bugott, 
 gentleman, died Nov. 1580. 
 
 In 1740 Thomas Aldous, a poor man, was buried 
 here, aged 106 years. 
 
 Twenty fhillings a year is paid to the ufe of the 
 poor, out of 'he cftate of John Smith, late of Har- 
 lefton, butcher, and fince owned by francis Bouerit, 
 of St. James's, Suffolk. 
 
 There is a town-houfe for four families, and an 
 inconfiderablc quantity of town land. 
 
 THORPE-ABBOTS, fo called to diftinguifh it 
 from other villages of this name, it being for many 
 ages part of the poffcrlions of the abbot of Bury, and 
 oif thofc manors that were appropriated to ihe abbot's 
 own ufe ; and from its being much larger than the 
 ether neighbouring villa, called Thorpe Parva. in 
 H 2 Difs
 
 g6 HUNDREDOF 
 
 Difs hundred, it is often nnmed Thorpe Magna, and 
 of late years Thorpe Comvvallis, fiom its lords. 
 
 This town belonged to Ailfric bifhop of Elmharn, 
 in the time of king Edgar, who gave it to Bury ab- 
 bey, to which it belonged ever fince, to its diffolution, 
 the abbots of that houfc being always lords and 
 patrons. 
 
 At the furvey the manor was feven furlongs long, 
 and fix broad, and paid 4d. gelt, or tax. The church 
 had twelve acres of glebe, then worth 2s. a year, 
 the abbot had the foe, or fupcrior jurifdiclion here, 
 exempt from the hundred, except the fervices of two 
 free-men, which belonged to Earfham ; and in all re- 
 turns made to the king, the abbot is faid to hold this 
 town as part of his barony. 
 
 In 1285 Roger Bigot, earl of Norfolk, as lord of 
 Earfham hundred, claimed free-warren here, but it 
 was not allowed him, the abbot recovering it againft 
 him, proving by Doomfday-book that he was folc 
 lord, and had the paramoumfhip of Thorpe in right 
 of his church, exempt from the hundred. About thii 
 time Robert de Thorpe held it by leafe, for life, from 
 the abbot, and it appears that he had a good eftate 
 in the town, for in 1271 he purchafed of Arnold de 
 Bedingfield feveral lands here, and in Billingford. 
 
 At the diiTolution it was bought of Henry VIII.* 
 by Giles Bridges, eiq. citizen and draper of London, 
 
 fori 
 
 * There was a fee-farm rent referved to the Crown of lol. 
 I as. 8d. per ann. which was granted among other fee-farm rents 
 by king William to the lord Oflulfton, afterwards carl of Tan- 
 kc'rville, and is now paid to the honorable Horatio Walpole.
 
 E A R S H A M. 97 
 
 fon of fir John Bridges, knt. lord-mayor of London : 
 this Giles conveyed it to Robert Southwell, efq. wh(* 
 in 1546 fold it to Thomas Cornwallis, efq. and his 
 heirs ; he was afterwards knighted, and became a 
 man of great figure and reputation. [An account of 
 him and his dependents (who have been lords here) 
 may be feen in the fourth volume of the Peerage, 
 edit. London, 1741, p. 175.] The right honorable 
 Charles Cornwallis, earl Cornwallis of Eye, vifcount 
 Brome, and baronet, conflable of the Tower of Lon- 
 don, lord lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets, lieutenant 
 general of his majefty's forces, and colonel of the 
 ^gd regiment of foot, is now lord and patron, and 
 haih the leet here. His lordfhip hath ferved in Ame- 
 rica with great honor ; a circumftance which does 
 not often occur in a ftatc of political war-fare. ' 
 
 The reclory (lands thus in the king's book : 61. 
 Thorpe-Abbots rcdlory, 49!. clear yearly value. 
 And being difcharged of firit fruits and tenths, is ca- 
 pable of augmentation. 
 
 In Doomfday-book we find that the church is dedi- 
 cated to All Saints, and the re&or had a houfe and 
 nine acres of land, -Sec. that were valued at fifteen 
 marks. The vicarage was diffolved, and fell into 
 the re&ory. 
 
 The abbot of Bury was taxed for his temporalities 
 here, viz. the manor, dcmcfncs, mi\\,Jilva cedua. Sec. 
 at 20!. 45. id. and the village paid 365. clear to every 
 tenth. 
 
 The rectors were prefcnted by the abbots of Bury 
 from 1303 to 1538. 
 
 In
 
 gS HUNDREDOF 
 
 In 1603 the relor returned fixty-three communi- 
 cants ; and in 1607 the rector was presented by Mary 
 coumefs of Bath, younger daughter of fir Thomas 
 Cornwallis, knt. on whom he had fettled this town 
 for life. 
 
 In 1 757 the Rev. Nathaniel Scott was prefentcd to 
 the reclory of Thorpe-Abbots, alias Cornwallis, by- 
 carl Cornwallis. 
 
 The fteeple is round at bottom, and octangular at 
 top, having a clock and two bells; the chancel, 
 chuich, and fouth porch, are tiled. 
 
 There was a brafs by the pulpit with this on it : 
 Orate pro anima Rogtri Harvey, cujus anime propicietur 
 Dcus. 
 
 The arms of the Eaft Angles, and Bury abbey, 
 are in the windows, but no other memorials fave a 
 piece of black marble fixed into the fouth iide of the 
 wall in the church-yard with this: Near this place 
 lieth the body of Sitjan, late wife of Henry Chamberlain, 
 late of Flor don-hall, who died March i, 1707, aged 
 7 1 years.

 
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