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.

The Death of Hugh Cyveliok.

[Obiit 1181] THis Hugh Earl of Chester, died at Leeke in Staffordshire, and was buried at Chester, Anno Domini 1181. 27 Hen. 2. Hoveden, pag. 615. with whom Westminster, Polychronicon, and Cambden inter Comites Cestriae, do all agree.

He was Earl of Chester 28 Years, and gave the Church of Bettesford to the Prior and Canons of Trentham after the Death of William Barba, who at the time of this Grant possessed the same; a Copy of which Deed I received from Sir Simon Dewes, Baronet.

Now because I find that some are displeased at my placing of Amice, sometime the Wife of Raufe Manwaring, Iudge of Chester, among the base Issue of Hugh Cyveliok Earl of Chester, and also that I am informed, that three eminent Judges and four He∣ralds are of opinion that she was legitimate, and not a base Daughter of Earl Hugh, it is very necessary that I put down here my Reasons why I have so placed her, protest∣ing withal, that I have not done it out of any prejudicate Opinion or Calumny inten∣ded in the least, but onely for the Truths sake, according to the best of my Judgment, and that after a long and diligent scrutiny made herein: for I must ever acknowledge my self to be Extracted out of the Loyns of this Amice by my own Mother; but you know the old Saying of Aristotle, Amicus Plato, Amicus Socrates, sed magis amica veritas. Neither were Bastards in those elder Ages of such Disrepute as now in our Days: Memini me alicubi legisse (saith Spelman in his Glossary on the word Bastardus) Priscos Septentrionales Populos etiam Spurios admisisse in successionem: And where he farther tells us, That King William the Conqueror began his Letter to Alan Earl of Little Britain, as he did many other more, in these words,—Ego Willielmus cognomento Bastardus: of which Title it seems he was not ashamed, otherwise he would never have used it himself.

And therefore the Question being no more than this, Whether Amice was a base Daughter, or no? I will first answer those Reasons which seem to be the chief ground of those worthy Persons abovesaid, who think Amice was no Bastard, and then in or∣der set down my own Reasons why I conceive her to be a Bastard, submitting my self wholly to the Judgment of all Learned Persons herein.