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.

CHAP. II.

Of Richard Earl of Chester.

* 1.1

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

G. Crusilly Or, a Wolfs Head era∣sed Ar.

I. RIchard, the onely Child of Earl Hugh by Er∣mentrude his Wife, succeeded his Father in in the Earldom of Chester, Anno 1101. Ordericus, lib. 10. pag. 787.

He was but seven years old when his Father died, saith the Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon, lib. 7. cap. 13. with whom agrees Knighton the Monk of Leycester, pag. 2376. And I find in an old Leiger Book of the Monastery of Abbington, a Manuscript in Cotton's Library at Westminster in London, noted—Clau∣dius c. 9. fol. 147. of the whole Book; but lib. 2. fol. 45. of that particular part De Historiâ Ecclesiae Abben∣donensis, speaking of this Richard's Grant of Wud∣mundsley to the said Abbey and Church of Abbington, —Ipse Comes benefactum extulit & suo descripto robo∣ravit: quod descriptum Sigillo quidem matris Signari constitit: nondùm enim militari Baltheo cinctus, materno Sigillo literae quaelibet ab eo directae includebantur: hâc de re, quod eò annotatur, Comitissae potiùs quàm Comitis Sigillo Signatur. Cujus Forma haec fuit.—

Ricardus Cestrensis Comes, & Ermentrudis Comitissa mater ejus, Nigello de Oilli, & Rogero filio Radulfi, & omnibus Baronibus de Oxenford Scirâ, Salutem & Amicitiam. Scia∣tis quià pro amore Dei, & animâ Patris mei, & remissione nostrorum Peccatorum, Concedi∣mus hidam illam, quam Droco de Andeleiâ dedit Ecclesiae Abbendonensi, quae est in loco qui di∣citur Wudemundeslai: Nos eidem Ecclesiae Concedimus & auctorizamus perpetuò haben∣dam, solidam & quietam ab omni nostro servitio: Et Rogerus filius Radulfi & Successores ejus sint quieti in nostro servitio, quantum ad illam hidam pertinet: Et defendimus, ùt nullo modo Rogerus, vel alius per eum, inquietet habitantes in terrâ illâ: Hoc autèm fecimus & testi∣monio

nostrorum Baronum; scilicèt Willielmi filii Nigelli, & Hugonis filii Normanni, & Ri∣cardi Balaste, & Willielmi filii Auskitilli, & Ricardi filii Nigelli, & Domini Goisfridi Capellani, & aliorum. Hoc actum est in sexto Anno Regni Henrici Regis, in mense Maii,* 1.2 in die Pentecostes. This was in May, Anno Christi 1106. Earl Richard being then about twelve years old.

By the words [nondùm militari Baltheo cinctus] I suppose the Monk meaneth, that the Earl was a Child, and under the Tuition of his Mother; and for that reason used her Seal to this Charter, and also to other his Letters. Of which opinion likewise is Selden, in his Titles of Honor, pag. 786. The Law, saith he, being such, that whoso∣ever was Knighted, though before the Age of one and twenty, he was esteemed as of full Age in regard of any Wardship or other Tuition: and the Use being, that such Great Lords were often Knighted before they were of full Age. Now this Earl as yet not having received that Honour of Knighthood, but being under Age, used the Seal of his Guardian to make the Act more authentick and valid; and that he was but a Child when his Father died, take the Authority of Ordericus, lib. 10. pag. 787. Ri∣chardus autem pulcherrimus Puer, amabilis omnibus, Consulatum [Cestriae scilicèt] tenuit.

II. He Married Maude, Daughter of Stephen Earl of Bloys in France, by his Wife Adela, Daughter of William the Conqueror; and had no sooner tasted the Pleasures of his Marriage Bed, but he with his young Countess were by the churlish Waves, not onely prohibited their mutual Love Embraces, and hopes of future Posterity to suc∣ceed them, but were deprived of their Lives also, as they were Sailing for England, Anno Domini 1119. Ordericus, pag. 787. So that he was about the Age of twenty five years when he was drowned.

Milles in his Catalogue of Honour hath clearly mistaken the Name of this Earl's Wife, calling her Lucy in stead of Maude, vouching no Authority; a gross Absurdity in a Herald.

III. But because this lamentable Accident is memorable for the destructive influence it had upon many of the Nobility of England, I will collect the whole Story out of Ordericus, and as briefly as I may, lib. 12. pag. 868, 869, 870. The Master of the Ship was Thomas the Son of Stephen, who came to King Henry the First, then in Nor∣mandy, and ready to take Shipping for England, and offered him a Mark of Gold (in el∣der Ages valued at six Pound in Silver, Rot. Mag. Pipae de Anno 1 Hen. 2. and as others say, ten Marks of Silver, 6l. 13s. 4d.) desiring, that as Stephen his Father had Transported the Conqueror when he Fought against King Harold in England, and was his constant Mariner in all his Passages between England and Normandy, so that he himself likewise might now have the Transportation of King Henry with all his At∣tendance, as it were in Fee: for he had a very good Ship called Candida Navis, or The White Ship, well furnished for that purpose. The King thanked him, but withal told him, he had already made choice of another Ship, which he would not change; yet he would commend him to his two Sons, William and Richard, with many others of his Nobility: whereat the Mariners much rejoiced, and desired the Prince to bestow some Wine upon them to drink: He gave them Tres Modios Vini, three Hogsheads of Wine, wherewith they made themselves sufficiently Drunk. There were almost three hun∣dred in this unfortunate Ship: for there were fifty skilful Oars or Galleymen, had they not been intoxicated with Wine, which belonged to the Ship, besides the young Gallants which were to be Transported: but now being neither able to govern them∣selves nor the Ship, they suffered it to be split on a Rock, and so all were drowned, ex∣cept one Be••olde, a Butcher of Roan in Normandy, who was took up the next Morning by three Fishermen into their Boat, after a cold frosty Nights Shipwrack, and with much ado recovered and lived twenty years after.

There were, saith Hoveden, in this Ship Militaris numeri 140. Nautarum 50. cùm tri∣bus Gubernatoribus, with many Noblemen and Women.

The Names of the more eminent Persons who then perished [of whom Huntington thus,—Omnes, velferè Omnes, Sodomiticâ labe dicebantur irretiti,] I have here collected out of Ordericus, viz. pag. 869. William and Richard, two Sons of King Henry the First;

Rafe Rufus, and Gilbert de Oximis; & pag. 870. Maude, Daughter of Henry the First Wife of Rotron Earl of Morton; Richard Earl of Chester juvenis multâ probitate & be∣nignitate laudabilis, with Maude his Wife, Sister to Tedbald Earl Palatine of Blois; Othu∣erus also, Brother to Richard, Hugonis Cestriae Comitis filius, Tutor Regiae Prolis & Paedago∣gus, ut fertur, dùm repentina fieret ratis Subversio, nobiliumque irreparabilis dimersio; adole∣scentulum (meaning Richard Earl of Chester) illicò amplexatus est, & cùm ipso in profundum irremeabilitèr prolapsus est; also Theodoricus Puer, Henrici Nepos Imperatoris Almannorum; also two brave Sons of Ivo de Grentemaisnill, and William of Rothelent their Cosin, who by the King's Command were coming to receive their Father's Inheritances in Eng∣land; William sirnamed Bigod, with William de Prior the King's Steward; Geffrey Ridell, and Hugh de Molinis; Robert Malconductus or Malduit, and Nequam Gisulfus Semba Regis: aliique plures multae ingenuitatis. And in Page 649. he names two more, Engenulfe and Goisfred, Sons of Gilbert de Aquilâ: And in Stowe we find named Walter de Curcy, and Geffrey Archdeacon of Hereford; in all 160 Persons.

Of which Shipwrack an excellent Rhimer of those Times composed these Verses. Ordericus, pag. 869.

Accidit Hora gravis, Thomaequè miserrima navis, quàm malè rect aterit, rupe Soluta perit. Flebilis Eventus, dùm nobilis illa Juventus est immersa mari Perditione pari. Jactatur Pelago Regum Generosa Propago: quosque Duces plorant, monstra marina vorant. O Dolor immensus! nec Nobilitas, nequè Census ad vitam revocat, quos maris unda necat. Purpura cùm bysso liquido putrescit abysso, Rex quoquè quem genuit, Piscibus Esca fuit. Sic sibi fidentes ludit fortuna Potentes: nunc dat: nunc demit: hinc levat, indè premit. Quid numerus Procerum, quia Opes, quid Gloria Rerum? quid, Guillelme, tibi forma valebat ibi? Marcuit ille Decor Regalis, & abstulit aequor quod fact••s fueras, quodque futurus eras. Inter Aquas istis instat Damnatio tristis, nî Pietas gratìs caelica parcat eis: Corporibus mersis animae si dona Salutis nactae gauderent, moesta procul fierent: Certa salus animae verùm dat tripudiare his, benè qui charos Commemorant Proprios. Hinc Dolor est ingens, humana quòd inscia fit mens, An Requies sit eis, quos capit uda Thetis.

The Place or Haven where they took Shipping is called Barbaflat, that is, Harefleet in Normandy; the time 7 Calend. Decemb. 1119. So Ordericus. But Hoveden, Hunting∣ton, Paris, and Judicious Cambden, do all place it in Anno 1120. Hoveden expresseth the very Day of the Week,—Anno 1120. in Scopulos, dictos Chaterase, fracta est Navis 6 Calendas Decembris, feriâ quintâ, noctis initio apud Barbefleet: where he computes the Night to the Day following; Ordericus, to the Day past.

IV. I cannot but take notice here of the Printer's Error in Ordericus, as it is set out by Andrew du Chesne with other Authors, and Printed 1619. We read Page 787. —Ricardus autem pulcherrimus Puer, quem Solum ex Ermentrude filiâ Hugonis de Cla∣romonte genuit, Consulatum ejus ferè 12 annis Amabilis omnibus tenuit: where the num∣ber 12 should have been 19. for if this place be conferred with Page 870. then Richard, by exact computation out of Ordericus, was Earl of Chester just eighteen Years and four Months: But if you place the time of this Shipwrack in Anno 1120. as most

Authors do, then must he have held the Earldom nineteen Years and four Months.

I shall close all concerning this Earl, with his Charter of Confirmation to the Abbey of St. Werburge, which remained among the Evidences of that Church Anno 1644. but were after removed thence in the late War, 1648.

ANno ab Incarnatione Domini, Millesimo centesimo decimo nono, Regnante Potentissimo Rege Henrico, Ego Comes Ricardus meique homines Communi Concilio confirmavi∣mus Sigillo meo omnes Donationes, quae datae sunt à me vel à meis in meo tempore Ecclesiae Sanctae Werburgae Cestriae: Ego itaque Comes Ricardus post obitum Patris mei dedi, pro salute Animae meae & suae, terram quae fuit Wulfrici Praepositi foris Portam de North, priùs per unam Spicam frumenti, deindè per unum Cultellum supèr Altare Sanctae Werburgae; & Molendinum de Bache, & tres Mansuras quietas & ab omni re liberas, duas in Civitate, & unam extra Portam de North. Testibus Willielmo Constabulario, Waltero de Vernon, Radulfo Dapifero, & multis aliis. Willielmus Constabularius dedit Neutonam simul cùm Servitio Hugonis Filii Udardi de quatuor Bovatis; & Servitium Wicelini de duabus Bovatis. Hugo Filius Normanni dedit Gostrey & Lawton. Testibus Hugone de Lacy, & Radulfo & Rogero Filiis Normanni, multísque aliis. Ricardus de Praers dedit Knoctirum. Testibus Willielmo & Ada, Filiis ejus. Corbinus dedit unam Carucam Terrae in Werewel. Hamundus de Mascy concessu Haeredum suorum, & Rosa Uxor Pigoti concessu Rogeri Fratris ejus, dederunt Norwordinam & Ecclesiam, cùm omnibus quae ad eam pertinent: Concedentibus & Testibus Filiis eorum. Rogerus de Menilgarin dedit Plumleiam cùm Widone Filio suo quando factus est Monachus. Teste Ranulfo & Willielmo Filiis. Ranulfus Venator dedit Bresseford, & unam Salinam in Northwich, concessu Ricar∣di Comitis, & Hugonis de Vernon Domini sui. Item Ricardus Comes dedit Decimum Salmonem de Ponte, & locum unius Molendini citrà Pontem, & Decimam illius Mo∣lendini ultrà Pontem. Burel dedit Ecclesiam de Haliwella, & Decimam de Molendino suo, & de omnibus rebus suis. Herebertus Wambarsarius dedit Terram quatuor Boum in Hole. Ricardus Pincerna dedit Ecclesiam Sancti Olavi, & Terram juxtà Ecclesi∣am, & duas Mansuras in foro. Rogerus de Sancto Martino dedit Terram duorum Boum in Bebington. Willielmus de Punterling dedit Buttanari, cùm omnibus Ap∣pendiciis suis, id est, Ecclesiam & totum Manerium solutum & quietum, & Silvam Le∣ctone ad rogum faciendum & ad communem usum Domestici Operis; Consensu & Testi∣monio Hereberti Filii sui, & Aluredi Domini sui, & Ricardi Comitis. Hugo de Vernon concessu Ricardi Comitis dedit unam Mansuram in Civitate solutam & quietam ab omni re & consuetùdine. His ità descriptis, Ego Comes Ricardus, meique Barones, & mei Homines, Confirmavimus non solùm ista, sed etiàm illa omnia quae Comes Hugo Pater meus, & Barones sui, confirmaverunt, &c. Ità liberè ut nihil libertatis possit eis addi ulteriùs; nihil enìm retinemus praeter Orationes in rebus Sanctae Werburgae. Con∣cedimus etiàm, ut Beata Virgo Werburga habeat suam Curiam de cunctis placitis & fo∣risfactis, sicut Comes habet suam. Ità verò quòd Abbas illius loci non exeat nequè Pla∣citet contrà aliquem de aliquo Placito, vel de aliquâ re extrà Curiam suam. Testibus Ranulfo de Meschines, & Willielmo Fratre suo, Willielmo Constabulario, & Ri∣cardo Fratre suo, Hugone Malbanck, Osberno de Meschines, Hugone Filio Osber∣ni, & Willielmo Fratre ejus, multísque aliis: Apud Graham.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1101. 1 Hen. 1.
• * 1.2

  6 Hen. 1. 1106.