he gave this William Briewere the Town of Bridgewater, to procure his re∣ingratiating. His large inheritance (his son dying without issue) was divided amongst his Daughters, married into the honourable Families of Breos, Wake, Mohun, La-fert, and Percy.
8
- PHILIPPUS filius ROB.]
- ALAN. de MARTON.]
It is without precedent, that ever two persons held the Shrevalty of one County, jointly, or in Co-partnership, London or Middlesex alone excepted, (whereof hereafter.) How∣ever, if two Sheriffs appear in One year, (as at this time, and frequently hereafter) such Duplication cometh to pass by one of these Accidents;
- 1. Amotion of the first put out of his place for misdemeanor, (whereof very rare precedents) and another placed in his Room.
- 2. Promotion. When the first is advanced to be a Baron in the year of his Shre∣valty, and an other substituted in his Office.
- 3. Mort. The former dying in his Shrevalty, not priviledged from such Arrests to pay his Debt to Nature.
In these cases Two (and sometimes Three) are found in the same year, who successive∣ly discharged the office. But if no such mutation happened, and yet two Sheriffs be found in one year, then the second must be understood Sub-vice-comes, (whom we commonly also call Mr. Sheriffe in courtesie,) his Deputy, acting the affaires of the County under his Authority. However, if he who is named in this our Catalogue in the second place, appear the far more Eminent Person, there the Intelligent Reader will justly suspect a Transposition, and that by some mistake the Deputy is made to pre∣cede him, whom he only represented.
Be it here observed, that the place of Under-Sheriffs in this age was very honoura∣ble, not hackned out for profit. And although some uncharitable people (unjustly I hope) have now adays fixed an ill character on those who twice together discharged the place, yet anciently the office befitted the best persons; little difference betwixt the High-Sheriffe and Under-Sheriffe, save that he was under him, being otherwise a man of great credit and Estate.
Henry III.
2 FULCO de BREANTEE. Oxf.]
This Fulco, or Falkerius, or Falkesius de Breantee, or Breantel, or Brent, (so many seve∣ral ways is he written,) was for the first six years of this King High-Sheriffe of Ox∣ford, Cambridge, Huntington, Bedford, Buckingham, and Northampton shires, (Counties continued together) as by perusing the Catalogues will appear. What this Vir tot locorum, Man of so many places was, will be cleared in Middlesex, the place of his Nativity.
56 ROG. EPIS. COVENT. & LICH.]
That Bishops in this age were Sheriffs of Counties in their own Dioceses, it was usuall and obvious. But Bark-shire lying in the Diocess of Sarum, Oxfordshire of Lincolne, that the far distant Bishop of Coventry and Lich. should be their Sheriffe, may seem ex∣traordinary and irregular.
This first put us on the inquiry who this Roger should be, and on search we found him surnamed De Molend, aliàs Longespe, who was Nephew unto King Henry the third, though how the kindred came in I can not discover. No wonder then if his royal re∣lation promoted him to this place, contrary to the common course; the King in his own great age, and absence of his Son Prince Edward in Palestine, desiring to place his Con∣fidents in offices of so high trust.
Edward II.
6 PHIL. de la BEACH]
Their Seat was at Aldworth in this County, where their Statues on their Tombs are Ex∣tant at this day, but of Stature surely exceeding their due Dimension. It seems the Grecian Officers have not been here, who had it in their Charge to order Tombs, and