9 EDWARD UNTON or UMPTON, Miles.]
This ancient and worshipfull name was extinct in the days of our fathers for want of Issue Male, and a great part of their lands devolved by an Heir-general to G. Purfen of wadley Esquire, whose care is commendable in preserving the Monuments of the Umptons in Farington Church, and restoring such as were defaced in the war to a good degree of their former fairness.
26 BESILIUS FETIPLACE]
Some may colourably mistake it for Basilius or Basil, a Christian-name frequent in some families, whereas indeed it is Besil a Surname. These liv'd in great regard at Lee, thence called Besiles-Lee in this County, untill Elizabeth danghter and heir of William Besiles, last of that name, was married unto Richard Fetiplace, whose great∣great-grand-child was named Besile, to continue the remembrance of their Ance∣stors.
Reader, I am confident an instance can hardly be produced of a Surname made Chri∣stian in England, save since the Reformation; before which time the Priests were scrupulous to admit any at Font, except they were baptized with the name of a Scrip∣ture or Legendary-Saint. Since it hath been common; and although the Lord Coke was pleased to say he had noted many of them prove unfortunate, yet the good suc∣cess in others confutes the generall truth of the observation.