[ 785] FORD, in Devonshire.

IN the year 1133. Richard Viscount or Sheriff of Devonshire, a near Kinsman of King William the Conqueror, and to whom that King had given the Castle of Exeter, and Honour and Barony of Okehampton in De∣vonshire, gave his Land of Brightley, within the said Honour of Okehamp∣ton, for the founding of an Abby, and obtained twelve Monks for the same from the Abby of Waverly. These Monks having remaine•〈◊〉Brightley for five years, were at last forced through the 〈…〉Page  95 sterility of the place, to return back to Waverly: Which the Sister and Heiress of their Founder seeing, she gave them the Mannor of Thorncomb for their maintenance, and her house therein, then called Ford, for their more convenient habitation. From this Lady did descend Hawisia who was mar∣ried [ 786] to Reginald de Courtnay, who was the Grandson of Lewis the Gross of France, from whom descend the noble Family of Courtnays, Patrons of this Abby, and great Benefactors. Whose descent and lineage is set forth in the [ 787] Book at large. One of which Family, namely the Lord Iohn Courtnay, was, through the divine Mercy, his great Faith, and his Hope in the Pray∣ers of these Monks, miraculously delivered from a terrible Storm at Sea in the Night time, when all the Seamen despair'd of life. Hugh Courtnay the [ 789] second of that name, became Earl of Devonshire, and died 9 E. 3. I•seline de Pomerei, and others, were Benefactors to this Monastery; all whose [ 791] gifts are confirm'd by King Richard I. in the first year of his Reign.

[Valued at 374 l. 10 s. 6 d. ob. per Annum.]