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.

V. The Death of Randle the Third, sirnamed Blundevill.

[Obiit 1232] * 1.1Anno 1232. Ranulfus Comes Cestriae & Lincolniae apud Wallingford diem clausit extremum quinto Calendas Novembris [that is the 28. day of our October] cujus Corpus delatum est apud Cestriam tumulandum, viscera apud Wallingford tumulabantur. Mat. Paris, pag. 380.

The Book of Teuksbury thus—Anno 1232. obiit Ranulphus Comes Cestriae 7 Ca∣lendas Novembris apud Wallingford, ubi posita sunt viscera sua: Cor apud Delacres: Corpus apud Cestriam.

Agreeing herewith take this Deed, which I found transcribed in a Paper Book be∣longing to Sir Thomas Delves of Dodington in Cheshire, Baronet, Anno 1668. vouching the Original to have been in possession of Mr. Thomas Rudyard of Rudyard; and to be Sealed with three Garbs or Wheatsheafs, as followeth, made a little before Randle's Death, about the 16 Hen. 3. 1232.

UNiversis—Ranulfus Comes Cestriae & Lincolniae, Salutem. Sciatis me dedisse Deo, & Sanctae Mariae de Delacres, & Monachis ibidem Deo Servientibus, Cor meum post obitum meum ibi Sepeliendum, ubicunque Corpus meum Sepeliri contigerit: Quare volo & firmiter praecipio, quod ubicunque vitam meam finiri contigerit, aut ubicunque Corpus meum tumulatam fuerit, quod haeredes mei & homines mei Cor meum ad Abbatiam meam de Dela∣cres, quam ego ipse fundavi, absque omni impedimento & contradictione asportent, Condendum ibidem, —&c. Testibus W. Abbate Cestriae, Willielmo de Vernon tunc Justiciario Cestriae,—&c.

The Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon thus:—Anno 1232. Ranulphus Comes Cestriae, Lincolniae, & Huntindoniae, obiit apud Wallingford, & sepultus est apud Cestri∣am in Capitulo Monachorum, cùm Progenitoribus suis.

Certainly the Monk is mistaken here in the Title of Huntindoniae; for Randle was never Earl of Huntindon: John the Scot, who next succeeded Earl of Chester, was also Earl of Huntindon.

I find that Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln, had the Earldom of Leycester given him by Henry the Third, as Cambden in Leycestershire informs us.

For Simon Montfort, Earl of Leycester in Right of his Wife, took part with the French King, and for his Rebellion was expelled England. He was slain at the Siege of Tholouse in France, Anno 1219. Mat. Paris. After whose Death, Henry the Third gave Simon Montfort's Lands in England to Randle Earl of Chester. Howbeit, I find not that Randle ever assumed or used the Title of Earl of Leycester at any time. But Almaric de Montfort, Son and Heir of the said Simon, Petitions Henry the Third, thus,—

Couchir Book in the Dutchy-Office at Grays-Inn, Tom. 2. Comitatus Leycestriae, num. 4.

EXcellentissimo Domino suo, Henrico Dei Gratiâ Illustri Anglorum Regi Almaricus Comes Montisfortis & Leycestriae, Salutem, in eo qui dat salutem Regibus; & cùm omni subjectione tàm debitum quàm devotum ad obsequia famulatum: Vestrae Regiae Maje∣stati multotiès supplicavi humilitèr & devotè, ut mihi terram meam & jus meum, quod ha∣beo & habere debeo in Anglia, quod bonae memoriae Pater meus de vestro tenuit, & tenebat (dùm decessit) pacificè & quietè, mihi vestro Militi redderetis: Quòd quià Dominationi ve∣strae non placuit hucusquè facere, adhuc vestrae Majestati supplico humilitate quâ possum, qua∣tenùs hâc vice mihi vobis servire parato (sicut decuit) reddere dignemini terram. Et si hoc vobis non placuerit, ego ad pedes Dominationis vestrae transmitto Simonem Fratrem meum, qui de Domino Regae Franciae nihil tenet, cui si eam reddideritis, me pro bene pacato tene∣rem. Datum Parisiis Mense Februario.

Whereupon King Henry, 6 Februarii, 14 Hen. 3. Anno 1229. engageth himself to restore all the Lands in England, which were parcel of the Honour of Leycester, cùm tertio Denario Comitatus Leycestriae, to this Simon younger Brother of Almarick afore∣said, so soon as he could get them out of the Hands of Randle Earl of Chester and Lin∣coln; for to him he had formerly granted them.

And afterwards Almarick surrendred up his Right to his Brother Simon, 23 Hen. 3. in these words following.

Couchir Book in the Dutchy-Office, Tom. 2. Com. Leycestriae, num. 5.

SCiant praesentes & futuri, quòd ego Almaricus Comes Montisfortis, Franciae Consta∣bularius, ìn praesentiâ Henrici Illustris Regis Angliae, Filii Regis Johannis, apud Westmonasterium die Lunae proximè post Quindenam Paschae, Anno Regni ipsius Henrici vicesimo tertio, recognovi, concessi, & quietum clamavi de me & Haeredibus meis, dilecto Fratri meo Simoni de Monteforti, Comiti Leycestriae, totam partem Honoris Leycestriae, cùm omnibus pertinentiis in Regno Angliae, adeò plenè & integrè sicut Comes Simon Pater noster, vel Robertus Comes Leycestrensis, illam unquàm meliùs, pleniùs, & liberiùs te∣nuerunt. Habendum & tenendum eidem Simoni Fratri meo, & Haredibus suit de Corpore suo procreatis, de praedicto Domino Henrico Rege, & Haeredibus suis in perpetuùm,—&c. Actum apud Westmonasterium, Anno & Die praenominatis. 1239.

Which the King at that very instant confirmed unto him: But this was after the death of Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln. Howbeit this Simon lost the same again by his Rebellion, and was slain at the Battel of Evesham, 4 Augusti, 49 Hen. 3. 1265.

Randle, sirnamed Blundevill, was Earl of Chester 51 Years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  16 Hen. 3.