homage had livery of all his fathers lands.
In 47 H. 3. this William had summons, amongst divers other great men, to be at Worcester suffi∣ciently furnisht with Horse and Arms on the Feast∣day of S. Peter ad vincula (commonly called Lam∣mas) to resist the power of L••welin Prince of Wales, then in Rebellion: And the next year fol∣l••wing received command to attend the King at Oxford, in Mid-lent•• with Horse and Armes, there to give him Counsell, and to march along with him against the said Lewelin. Which Will. or Wil∣liam his son past away this Lordship unto Hugh de Brandeston; for in 21 E. 1. the said Hugh had Free-warren granted to him in all his demesn lands here. Unto whom succeeded Henry de Brande∣ston, who in 6 E. 2. aliened it to Will. de Bere∣f••rd, and Edmund de Bereford his son, and to the heirs of the said Edmund; entayling it, for want of issue by Edmund on Iohn de Bereford his brother, and the heirs of his body: for better confirmation of whose title William de Harecourt, son and heir of Sir Iohn de Harecourt of Bosworth in Leicester∣shire, in 3 E. 3. released unto the said Edmund all his right therein.
Which Edmund in 3 E. 3. granted it to the Mo∣nastery of Chaucumbe in Northampton-shire but without license; for it appears , that in 39 E. 3. it was charged with xx s. annuity to the Monks of Coventre and their successors, as being held of that Monastery, and so purchased: yet it seemes that the Canons of Chaucumbe did not long possess it, but that the heirs of Brandeston had it again: for by a Fine levied 46 E. 3. between Philip de Ay∣lesbury and Agnes his wife, and Richard Mont∣fort and Rose his wife, it was concluded, that the said Richard and Rose should hold the moytie thereof during their naturall lives, but that after∣wards it should revert to the same Philip and Ag∣nes, and the heirs of Agnes. Which Rose and Agnes were daughters and heirs of Hugh de Brandeston, grandson to the before mentioned Hugh, (as in Lapworth I shall shew) and held that part of this town, called Harecourts-f••e of the Monks of Coventre, by the service of half a Knights fee, and ii s. per annum, as also two appearances at the Court held at Southam every year by themselves and their tenants; with Ward, Marriage, Relief, and Scutage when it happeneth.
After which, scil. in 14 R. 2. Roger Aylesbury of Lapworth (son to the abovesaid Philip and Agnes) granted to Will. Montfort of Thoneworth and Agnes his wife, and their heirs, the r••version of all his part therein, after the decease of Agnes his mother. Which William upon the marriage of Mar∣garet, one of his daughters to Iohn Catesby of Ash∣by-Lagers in Northampton-shire (as in Lapworth appeareth) by his deed dated the Munday after the Feast of S. Faith the Virgin 6 H. 5. granted his reversion expectant, after the death of Royse his mother, unto the said Iohn Catesby and his heirs; to which grant the said Royse atturned.
In the line of Catesby it continued till 23 H. 8. but then was it conveyed to Sir Valentine Knight∣ley Knight, who by his last Will and Testament bearing date 26 Dec. 7. Eliz. gave it to Edm. his second son, and the heirs male of his body, and for want of such issue to the heirs male of the body of the said Sir Valentine, the remainder to his right heirs. Which Edmund leaving Richard his son and heir, who dyed without issue male, it reverted to Sir Richard Knightly of Norton in Com. North∣hampton Knight, as son and heir male to the said Sir Valentine. Which Sir Richard by his deed da∣ted 7. Oct. 9. Iac. sold the same to Laurence Bol∣ton; from whom Hugh Audley esquire, one of the Clerks in the Court of Wards, purchased it in 6 Car. anno scil. 1629.
As for that part of Granborough which Richard Forestarius held in the Conq. time, it descended to Walter Crok as Chesterton did. Which Walter enfeoft Gilbert Crok there with, by the service of x s. and the Sergeanty belonging thereto, whose sister and heir, Alice, held it in 20 H. 3. But from this Alice it came, ere long, unto Henry de Bray, who in 17 E. 1. setled it upon Thomas de Faren∣done and Emme his wife, and the issue of the said Thomas and Emme; and in case of their departure without issue, that then the said Henry, (who was a Priest it seemes) should hold it during his life; but after his decease to remain unto Thomas de Bray and Sarrah his wife, and the heirs of their two bo∣dyes, by the service of a Clove Gillofer, to be year∣ly payd at Easter for ever.
From which family of Bray, it came to Hastang, though how I have not seen; For it appears that in 20 E. 3. Iohn de Hastang held it of the heirs of Loges, by half a Knights fee. Which Iohn left two daughters his heirs, whereof the younger was mar∣ryed to Sir Iohn Salisbury, who in her right dyed seized of the moytie of this Mannour in 12 R. 2. being attainted in the Parliament then held: and Maud the other marryed to Raph Stafford, against whom Thomas Bray commenced suit for this Man∣nour, called Bray's, and in 1 H. 4. recovered it: But it should seem, that by some composition Bray quitted his title therein to the said Raph Stafford; for I find that the said Raph dyed seized thereof in 11 H. 4. leaving Humfrey his son and heir 26. years of age. From whom descended Sir Humfrey Stafford of Blatherwick, who dying seized there∣of 17 Eliz. as the Record expresseth, left issue Iohn his son and heir, then of full age. But I have heard, that the same Sir Humfrey sold it to one Richard Rowley, and he to Mr. Thomas Bradgate, who had issue William, and he a daughter called Alice, marryed to Mr. Iohn Hill, the present owner thereof.
I now returne to that Mannour which belong'd to the Priory of Coventre. This continued with the Monks till the dissolution of that House in 30 H. 8. and issued not out of the Crown till that Ed∣ward Aglionby of Balshall and Henry Hugford of Solihull Gent. had a grant thereof by Patent, da∣ted 26. M••ii 7 E. 6. Who forthwith past it, (viz. 12. Iunii the same year) to Valentine Knightley es∣quire, and his heirs. Which Val. (afterwards Kt.) setled it, as it seems, on Edmund his younger son: for in 38 Eliz. the said Edmund was found to dye seized of it, leaving Richard his son and heir 28. years of age: who dying without issue, (as in Ca∣tesbye's Mannour I have observed,) it came to Sir Richard Knightley of Norton, and so to Hugh Audley the now Lord thereof, as that did.
The Church (dedicated to S. Paul) hath been very antiently appropriated to the Priory of Ron∣ton in Stafford-shire. Which makes me believe, that Robert Noel, the founder of that Monaste∣ry, first builded and endowed it: but whether it were given thereto before the Harecourts became Lords of this Mannour by Marriage of Noels heir before specified, I am yet to learn. Besides the Church, there are lands of good value here in