Warmington.
MOre than a mile Northwards, on the side of Edg-Hill; stands Warmington, which in the Conquerors time, being possest by the Earl of Mellent, contained xv. hides and a half; two whereof were held by a certain Knight of the said Earl, and valued at xx s. and the residue rated at x li. all which had been the Freehold of one Azor before the Norman invasion. In that Survey f it is written Wermintone in one place, and Warmin∣tone in another; but I presume that its denomina∣tion originally sprung from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time; perhaps Weremundus, for that appellation was then usuall.
This, as most of the lands, which the said Earl had in Warwick-shire came to Henry de New∣burgh Earl of Warwick (brother to the same E. of Mellent) but by what Agreement appears not; wch Henry gave g it wholy, excepting the Hamlets be∣longing thereto, to the Monks of Preaux, in Nor∣mandy; who built a Cell here, and sent over part of their Covent to reside therein, and to be subor∣dinate to their House of Preaux; of which Cell the said Earl Henry is reputed h to have been Founder: which Religious House stood about the midst of the town, as the Inhabitants, by tradition, do affirm. This grant so made to Preaux by Earl Henry, was in Edw. 1. time confirmed i by William de ••eau∣champ then Earl of Warwick, it being then found that there were xx. Tenants here, that held their lands by a servile tenure; viz. each one providing a Labourer one day every week, for the Lord•••• im∣ployment, or to give 1 d. ob. for every day in the week, which would amount to x d. and so in the year to xliii s. iv d. And that every one of them should plow for the Lord thrice in the year, or give x s. per annum and mow his meadowing or give xl d. As also that every yard land should find two men for 3. days in Harvest•• or give for every day in stede of a man ii d. which comes to xxx s. in the year: That they should carry the Lords Hay, or give xl d. That each man should perform one dayes carriage in Harvest, or give xl d. That they should make the Lords Hay, or give x d. Rake his corne or give x d. Harrow each of them one day with a single Horse or give x d. And lastly carry once in the year at War∣wick, or give xl d. Howbeit afterwards I find k, that this whole town payd only a marke per annum to the Earls of Warwick at two termes, viz. Candle∣mass, and Whitsontide for all services.
But this Mannour so belonging to Preaux grew afterwards reputed l to be parcell of the possessions pertaining to the Priory of Toftes in Norfolk (which Religious House was founded by those for∣raign Monks after they had the grant m of the Man∣nour of Toftes by Rob. E. of Mellent before men∣tioned) the Monks here, being either recalled into Normandy, or transmitted to Toftes: And up∣on the seizure of those lands which the Priors-Alien had in England (whereof in Wolston I have fully spoke) was in 33 E. 3. committed to the custody n of Iohn de Herdewyk: Howbeit after∣wards, the King allowing some favour to the Monks of tho••e Cells, the Prior of Toftes had permission to o ferm it; who whilst he was Tenant there∣to, made much wast p here, by falling CC. Ashes, prized then at xx li. the yearly value thereof being about that time rated q at xxix li. xi s. vi d. per annum.
Certain it is, that the frequent seizures of such lands, by reason of the Warrs with France, made those forrain Monks willing enough to sell their in∣terest in them, during those troubles at least; as may appear by the passing them away, aswell to divers Lay persons, as unto some Religious Houses in England about this time: amongst which this Mannour of Warmington, as also that of Toftes•• with some others, was by those Monks of Preaux granted r to Lewys Clifford for life, with remainder to Lewys, his son, for life also, upon a certain Rent reserved to the King during the continuance of those warrs.