Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

His Base Issue.

Robert, made Monk of Utica in Normandy, Anno Christi 1081. Ordericus, pag. 602. and afterwards made Abbot of Edmundsbury in Suffolk in England, Anno 1100. Ordericus, pag. 783.

Othuerus, or Ottiwell, Tutor to the King's Children; to wit, the Children of Henry the First. Malmesbury calls him, Frater nutricius Richardi Comitis Cestriae, pag. 165. that is, Bastard-Brother* 1.1; which Phrase I have often seen used in Old Deeds for the same. He was drowned with his Brother Richard Earl of Chester, Anno 1119. saith Ordericus; but most other of our Historians do place that unfortunate Accident Anno 1120. When he saw the Ship sinking, he clips the young Earl of Chester in his Arms, and so both were drowned together. Ordericus, pag. 870.

Philip, another Base Son, whom Miles in his Catalogue of Honor affirms he hath seen mentioned as a Witness to a Charter of William the Conqueror.

Geva, a Base Daughter, married Geffrey Riddell; to whom Earl Hugh her Father gave Drayton-Basset in Staffordshire, as appears by this Deed, taken out of a Manuscript in Arundel-house in London, Anno 1638. wherein the old Deed belonging to the Bassets of Drayton-Basset in Staffordshire, about the Reign of King Richard the Second, were en∣rolled. Ibid. fol. 67. a.

RAnulphus Comes Cestriae, Willielmo Constabulario, & Roberto Dapifero, & omnibus Baronibus suis, & Hominibus Francis & Anglicis totius Angliae, Salutem. Sciatis me dedisse & concessisse Gevae Riddel, Filiae Comitis Hughes, Draitunam, cùm per∣tinentiis in libero Conjugio, sicut Comes Hughes ei in libero Conjugio dedit & concessit; & teneat benè & in pace, honorificè & liberè, ut meliùs & liberiùs tenuit tempore Hugonis

Comitis, & aliorum meorum Antecessorum, eisdem consuetudinibus & libertatibus. Testibus Gilberto filio Ricardi, & Adeliza Sorore mea, & Willielmo Blundo, & Alexandro de Tresgor, & Regero de Bello Campo, & Willielmo de Sais, & Roberto de Sais, & Ri∣cardo Filio Aluredi, & Hugone Filio Osberti, & Henrico de Chalder, apud Saintonam.

She Founded the Monastery of Canwell in Staffordshire, within four Miles of Lich∣field, as appears by this Transcript, which I received from Mr. Dugdale: The Origi∣nal remained with Sir William Peshale of Suggenhill in Staffordshire, Anno 1638. It is al∣so in Monasticon, 1 Pars, pag. 439.

UNiversis Sanctae Dei Ecclesiae fidelibus, Geva Filia Hugonis Comitis Cestriae, & Uxor Gaufridi Ridelli, Salutem. Noverint tàm posteri quàm praesentes, quòd ego Geva Concilio Religiosarum Personarum, & Authoritate Rogeri Episcopi Cestriae, & Assen∣su Ranulfi Comitis Cestriae Cognati mei, pro salute Animae meae & omnium Antecessorum & Parentum meorum, Fundavi quandam Ecclesiam in honorem Sanctae Mariae & Sancti Egidii, & omnium Sanctorum, in loco qui dicitur Canwell, ad opus Monachorum ibidèm Deo Servi∣entium: Et Concedo eis in Elemosynam terram de Stichesleia, & unum pratum quod vocatur Little-Mersi, & molendinum de Fareslei. Praetereà concedo eis in Duntona Manerio meo quatuor Virgatas terrae, & unam Virgatam ex dono Osberti Capellani mei, cùm omnibus quae ad eas pertinent; & in eâdem Villâ unum Molendinum quod dicitur Le Corre. Et volo & concedo, ut praedicti Monachi teneant haec omnia benè & in pace, liberè & quietè ab omni Servitio Seculari ad me, vel ad Haeredes meos pertinente. Et habeant omnes consuetudines & libertates suas in nemore & plano, pratis & Pascuis, ità quòd nullus eis nequè pro Pannagio, nequè pro aliquâ, occasione, molestiam vel injuriam faciat. Hanc quoquè Donationem feci concessione Haeredum meorum, scilicèt Gaufridi Ridelli & Radulfi Basset. Hujus Con∣cessionis sunt Testes, Radulfus Decanus de Blabi, Gaufridus Decanus de Butneswella, Gubertus Canonicus de Legercestria,—&c.

This Deed was made about the Year 1120. or soon after: And though she here writes her self Uxor Gaufridi Ridel, yet truly was her Husband then lately drowned: Ordericus, pag. 870. with many others of the Nobility: Neither could she have made a Deed legally without her Husband, had he been alive.

And because of the Civility of those Ages, she was stiled onely Daughter of Earl Hugh, not Base Daughter; whence some suppose her a Legitimate Daughter: But if she had been Legitimate, then must her Issue have inherited the Earldom of Chester, and not Earl Randle; for as much as a Sister is inheritable before an Aunt. Besides, Ordericus tells us in express Words, That Earl Hugh had no other Child by Ermentrude but onely Richard; nor doth it appear by any Record, or Ancient Historian, that he ever had any other Wife, besides Ermentrude: But Ordericus saith, E Pellicibus pluri∣mam sobolem utriusque Sexûs genuit; quae diversis infortuniis absorpta penè tota periit, pag. 522. But these before-named are so many of them as I haue hitherto collected, or met withal.

As for the usual Custom in ancient Times, of omitting that infamous Title of Ba∣stard, Robert Earl of Glocester, Base Son of Henry the First, is termed onely Brother of Maud the Empress, by Hoveden, pag. 553. Also in a Charter made by Maud the Em∣press her self, he is stiled Brother, not Bastard-Brother. Selden, Tit. Hon. pag. 649. Reginald Earl of Cornwal, another Bastard of Hen. 1. is called Uncle to Henry the Se∣cond, not Base Uncle, by Hoveden, pag. 536. Infinite other such Examples we meet with.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For that such were educated with legiti∣mate Chil∣dren usually in those Ages.