Freebridge Hundred: Walpole

WALPOLE

Takes it name from the great wall, or sea bank, raised to defend it, and from a pool, or deep water near to that wall. Of this great parish, only this account is to be found in the great survey, or book called Domesday.

John, nephew of Waleran, held in Walpola half a carucate of land, with 6 borderers, who had half a carucate valued at 5s. per ann. which was possessed by a freeman in the Confessor's time. (fn. 1) Waleran was some officer under the Conqueror, and Earl of Mellant, in Normandy. He held also one in Ringstead, one in Hunstanton, and in Titchwell, in Smithden hundred;—also in Weyland hundred, the lordships of Carbrook Magna and Parva;— in Shropham hundred, one at Bretenham; and one at Saxlingham, in the hundred of Hensted. All which he had of the gift of the Conqueror, and dying before the survey was made, they were then held by John, his nephew and heir.

Earl of Clare's Manor.

How long it continued in this John's possession does not appear; probably on his death it was granted to the Giffard's family, Earls of Bucks, who had considerable possessions in this tract and neighbourhood; and by the marriage of a daughter and heiress of Giffard, the second Earl, was brought into the family of the Earls of Clare.

In the 47th of Henry III. Richard de Clare Earl of Clare was found, as appears from the escheat rolls, to have held lands in Walpole, by knight's service.

In the 52d of that King Hamon Moynstrail had a manor here, which I take to be this; andthen gave license of distress for rent due to the prioress of Carhow, for lands in Hecham; and in the 7th of Edward I. Adam Mustroil settled lands here, and in Hunstanton, on Hamon his son, by fine.

In the 21st year of King Edward I. John Lovell and his tenants held this manor by the 3d part of a fee, of the Earl of Gloucester, and in the 1st of Edward II. John Lovell of Tichmersh, settled it with that of Hunstanton, on William Lovell, and the heirs of his body, by fine then levied: the said William was found in the 8th of that King to die seized of it, held of the honour of Clare.

It appears, in the 20th of Edward III. from the inquisitions, that William Lovell, and his tenants held in Walpole the 3d part of a fee of the Earl of Gloucester, which John Lovell formerly held, and had a charter for free-warren in all his demean lands here, and in Hustanton; and in the 22d of Richard II. Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, was found to hold in capite, one fee in this town, Hunstanton and Walton, held by William Lovell, as parcel of the honour of Clare, and John Lovell held the 3d part of a fee of the Earl of March, in Walpole, and was under age, and the King's ward in the 3d of Henry IV.

Edmund Mortimer Earl of March was found to hold one fee in Walpole, Hunstanton and Walton, held by William Lovell, in the 3d of Henry VI. and in the 13th of Edward IV. the jury present that Robert Fitz Symon held, the day he died, the manors of Hunstanton and Walpole, Mocking, in Essex, Lillingston, Lovell, in Oxfordshire, the moiety of the manor of Archester, in Northamptonshire, and that Joan, the wife of Robert Timperley, was his daughter and heir, then 22 years old.

John Pell was lord of Lovell's manor, with messuages, lands and tenements in the 13th and in the 42d of Elizabeth.

John Richards, alias Glover, and Joan his wife, had a præcipe to deliver to John Moore, the manor of Lovells in this town, and Terrington, &c.

By an inquisition taken at Norwich October 1, in the 5th year of King Charles I. after the death of Henry Reppes, Esq. who died the 23d of March, 1628, it was found that he died possessed of this manor of Lovells held of the King, of his honour of Clare, by knight's service; and is called a decayed and reputed manor.

Valentine Upwood, Esq. lord, and Samuel Upwood in 1716.

Besides this little lordship, there were two very considerable ones in this township of Walpole, one belonging to the church of Ely, another to the Earl Warren, at the time when Domesday Book was made; and yet no account occurs, or is to be found in Domesday Book, of these; or any mention made of Walpole, (excepting the account of John, nephew of Waleran's manor above observed) and the reason is that the manor of the aforesaid John, was the only independent manor, held in capite of the King, in this town, and had its site herein: whereas the lordships of the church of Ely, and the Earl Warren, though held also in capite, were dependent manors, on the church of Ely's capital manor of West Walton, and Wisbeach, and the Earl Warren's capital manor, in the said town of Walton, which had their sites there, and extended in Walpole, Turington, &c. and so were valued and accounted for under the capital manor of West Walton, &c. where, no doubt, all duties and services of those who held lands in Walpole, and Tyrington, of the aforesaid Bishop, and Earl, were constantly performed and due.

Ely Manor.

Oswi, a noble Saxon, and Leofleda his wife, father and mother of Alwyn, gave, on the admission of their son Alwyn into the monastery of Ely, (where he became a monk, and was after Bishop of Elmham, in Norfolk, in 1021,) the manors of Walpole, with those of Wisbeach, Walsoken, West Walton, Tyrington, in Norfolk, Statchworth, Catlidge, Dullingham, and March, in Cambridgeshire, Denbenham, Woodbridge, and Brightwell, in Suffolk: (fn. 2) the said Leofleda, was daughter of Brithnod, duke and alderman of the East-Angles, slain at the battle of Maldon in Essex, by the Danes, in 1093.

On the back part of the stalls, on the north side of the quire, facing the north transept of the cathedral of Ely, are some very antique paintings of Saxon Bishops, &c. one representing the Bishop aforesaid, with this writing,—Alwyn^o. Episc^o. Helm.

Another representing Brithnod, and—Brithnod' Dux Northumb. both being here buried, as tradition will have it.

This lordship continued in the priory, till it was changed into an episcopal see, in the reign of Henry I. when it was assigned to the Bishop, as part of his revenue; and in the 35th of Henry III. the Bishop of Ely had a charter of free warren in all his demean lands in this town.

In the 3d of Edward I. the Bishop was found to have return of all writs, and pleas de namio vetito, and would not permit the King's bailiff to enter into his liberty within the towns of West Walton, Walsoken, Walpole, and Tyrington; the amercements of all his men within the same, with wreck at sea, assise of bread and beer, a gallows, &c. and besides this, about the said time he was found to have the patronage of the church of St. Peter, in Walpole, the fees and homages of Sir Stephen de Marisco, and Sir Roger de Mustrail, the demean lands were 141 acres, a rood and a half of arable land, to be tilthed with two ploughs of 6 oxen each, and three scots to harrow; the meadow lands were 30 acres, with 17 of pasture, common of pasture in West Fen, &c. the stock was 6 cows, one boar, and 200 sheep, one windmill; the free tenants were Henry, son of Osbert de Walpole, Sir Stephen de Marisco, the lady Agnes de Walpole, widow, Sir William, son of Herlewin, of Terrington, the heirs of Alan, son of Algar, &c. (fn. 3)

In the 16th of Edward III. the Bishop of Ely, and the prior of Lewes, brought their action against several persons in this town, for hindering the weekly mercate, which they had here on Thursday, breaking in pieces the stalls, tumbrell, and pillory, for which they were outlawed, but in the 21st of the said King, had a pardon.

In the year 1454, (William Grey, then Bishop of Ely) this lordship was valued at 49l. 4s. 10d. per ann. but in an account of it, made in the 2d and 3d of Philip and Mary, it was but 40l. 8s. 9d. q. per ann. It remained in the see of Ely, till the death of Dr. Cox, in 1581, when it came to the Crown, by act of parliament in the 4th of Elizabeth, and Thomas Bendish, Esq. farmed the demean lands in 1500: (fn. 4) and in the 8th of James I. the quitrents of the free and customary tenants amounted to 25l. 4s. 8d q. per ann. and the farm 18l. 15s. 5d.

And that year granted, November 12, to John Eldred, and J. Verdon, Gent, (valued at 48l. 5s. 9d.) to farm.

Marshe's, or Colevile's Manor.

In the 2d year of King Richard II. Sir William Marsh, Knt. and Mary his wife, conveyed 60 acres of land here by fine to Thomas de Cockfield, clerk, Henry de Lesingham, and James Walsham; this Sir William was lord of a manor held under the Bishop of Ely; and in the 3d of Edward I. Geffrey de Marisco, or Marsh, held a knight's fee of the Bishop in this town, Walton, and Walsoken, had the assise of bread and beer, of his tenants, and at the same time Sir Stephen de Marisco was a free tenant, or lord of part of this town, whose daughter and heir, Desiderata, brought the manor of the family de Marisco, to Roger de Colvile (by marriage) son of Sir Roger de Colvile, of Caxton in Cambridgeshire.

In the 15th of Edward I. a fine was levied between Jeffrey de Sandiacre, and Roger, son of Roger de Colvile and Desiderata his wife, of this manor, who acknowledged it to be the right of Desiderata, and she and her husband Roger conveyed it to Jeffrey for life, remainder to the heirs of Desiderata. This Roger died in the 28th of that King, and left Jeffrey his son and heir

Sir John Colvile (fn. 5) and his tenants held, in the 3d of Henry IV. (as appears by an inquisition then taken at Bishop's Lynn, on Monday before the feast of St. Agnes the Virgin, before Sir John White, Knight, &c.) half a fee in Walpole, Walton, and Walsoken, of the Bishop of Ely, and the Bishop held it in capite. In the said year, on Monday next after the feast of the Epiphany, John Lynstock, Nicholas Deguisson, capellani, grant by deed to Sir John Colvil, Knt. John Manning of Crimplesham, John Karvill, of Wigenhale, Richard Peverell, of Tylney, Simon Derby, vicar of Terrington, Edmund Massingham, of Walton, &c. all the manors and lands which they had in Walpole, West Walton, Walsoken, Emneth, Well Barsham, Hyndryngham, Kettleston, and Creyk, of the gift of Richard Bennett;—witnesses, Walter Goddard, Sim. Calow, Richard Boure, Thomas de Vere, and Thomas de Geyton; and in the 9th of Henry VII. Francis Colvile died seized of it, and left Richard, his son and heir, who died lord of this manor, and one in Walsoken, A^o. 17 of Henry VIII. held of the Bishop of Ely.

Walpole's Manor.

The truly ancient family of the Walpoles, of Houghton in Norfolk, Earls of Orford, were many ages past enfeoft in lands, and a lordship in this town, from which, according to the Norman custom, they assumed their name. Of this family was Jeffrey de Walpole, son of Reginald, as appears by deed sans date. (fn. 6)

Amongst the names of those knights who owed service to the Bishop of Ely, as appears from an Exchequer book, Jocelinus de Walpol is named to hold half a fee in Walpol, Walton, and Hakebech; (fn. 7) and among the free tenants of the said Bishop, Adam de Walpol is said to hold half a virgate, and a piece of pasture, paying one mark per ann. and Jocelinus de Walpol half a virgate; Osbert de Stradsett the fourth part of a virgate, John Normon, William de Sculham, Alan, son of Algar, Ralph, son of Joceline, and Roger his brother, Andrew de Tirington, and William de Camera, &c.

Ralph, son of Joceline, appears to have three sons, Thomas, Alan, and Richard de Walpole, from a pleading in the 34th of Henry III. when Peter and William de Walpole were sons of Thomas de Walpole. And before this, in the 12th of the said King, a fine was levied between Claricia, daughter of Alan de Walpole, Thomas de Cheyle and Christian his wife, Robert Chamberlain, and Mariona his wife, petents, and Henry de Walpole, tenent, of 40 acres of land in this town, granted to Henry; and in the 19th of the said reign, Richard de Walpole was petent in a fine, and Walter, son of Alan, and Katharine his wife tenent, of lands here. A son of Joceline, was a benefactor to the priory of Lewes.

About this time lived Sir Henry de Walpol, Knight, who by deed, sans date, granted to Thomas de Spalding, burgess of Lynn, for his homage and service, and for 20 marks sterling, certain lands in Terington, to be held of him and his heirs, paying to the lords of the fee the accustomed services and dues, viz. 6d. (de censu) at the feast of St. Michael, and to him and his heirs one clove at the feast of St. John Baptist; witnesses to this deed, sans date, are Sir William de Tyrington, Sir John de Wygenhale, Knights; Hugh de Dunstone, Nicholas de Hecham, Walter Mareschal, William de Mundeford, Nicholas de Burw. John de Bausey, clerk, &c.

To this is affixed his seal, a fess between two chevrons; which arms are born at this day by the Earl of Orford; of the same family was Ralph de Walpole, who was Bishop of Ely in the reign of Edward I. and bore the same arms.

Before this, it is said that the family removed from Walpole to Houghton in Norfolk, on the marriage of Richard, son of Reginald de Walpole, with Emme, daughter of Walter, son of William de Havelton or Houghton; but they still continued to have an interest and a manor here.

For in the 5th of Edward II. Henry de Walpole, (and Alice his wife) appears to be lord both of Houghton and Walpole, by a fine then levied.

In the 3d of that King lands in Tylney and Wigenhale were settled on John son of Alexander de Walpole, by Alexander his father; and in the 6th of the said reign, Bartholomew de Walpole, son of John de Walpole, and Catharine his wife, held lands in Walpole.

Henry, son of Henry de Walpole, by his will, dated 1442, orders his trustees of this manor, to enfeof Henry his son, in tail, in the same; and Thomas Walpole, Gent. son of John Walpole, Esq. by his deed, dated March 30, in the 12th of Henry VII. granted to Thomas Aleyn of Walpole, a messuage, lands, and a salt-work with the grains, &c. in this town.

John Walpole of Houghton, Esq. by his will, dated February 28, in the 30 of Elizabeth, and proved in April following, bequeaths to Katharine his wife, all his lands in Walpole and Walton, to her and her heirs, towards the preferment of the marriage of his daughters.

Rochford's Manor.

The ancient family of de Rochford had also a manor in this town, held, as it seems, of the see of Ely. Of these I shall treat as I find them in due order and time, from ancient authentick records and evidences. They take their name from a town in Essex, of which they were enfeoffed soon after the conquest.

Waleran de Rochford was witness to a deed of Thomas, son of Thomas Darcy, of lands given by him to Kirksted abbey in Lincolnshire, in the reign of King Stephen. (fn. 8)

About this time lived Simon de Rocheford, who gave lands at Soberie in Berkshire, to the priory of Clarkenwell, (fn. 9) and Emme his wife lands to the abbey of Vaude or Valle Dei (fn. 10) in Lincolnshire.

Wido de Rochford was a witness to the foundation deed of the abbey of Nutely in Bucks, founded by Walter Giffard Earl of Bucks, in the reign of Henry I. and John de Rocheford, son of Guy or Wido de Rocheford, was under age, 16 years old, had a brother aged 12, and a sister 18. (fn. 11)

This John was a ward of King Henry II. in his 30th year, and his land at Rocheford in Essex was valued at 12l. per ann. and half Beredon in Essex, with one hide of the fee of Earl William, was 11l. 10s. per ann.

William de Rocheford, by deed sans date, gave to the church of Beverley in Yorkshire, Thomas de Newton his villain, cum tota sequela; witnesses, Sir Thomas de Becock, Waleran de Sancta Letitia, Rayner de Aldeburgh, and Master Roger de Richmond.

Digarius de Rocheford was seneschal of Anjou in France, in the first of Richard I. John de Rocheford, son of Guy, (as I take it,) paid 10s. scutage to the sheriff of Norfolk, towards the redemption of the King, in the 6th or Richard I. and in the 8th of that King, paid 20s. for one fee, scutage, for the army in Normandy.

Robert de Rocheford was a witness to the grant of Elsenham church in Essex, to the monastery of Walden, by Beatrix de Maundevile Lady Say; about this time, John de Rocheford abovementioned was ving, and had an interest in ppleton, and Flithaam, in the 20th of Henry III.

In the 9th of that King, John Donetland conveyed by fine the fourth part of a fee, in Langeford, to Ralph de Rochford, who granted it back to the said John for life, remainder to Robert de Rocheford, his brother, and his heirs: and John was patron of the church of Rochford in Essex, in 1219, and lord.

John de Rochford de Kirby, and Margaret his wife, were living in the 34th of Henry III. and in the 40th of that King, Sir Ralph de Rochford was querent, and Eudo or Guy de Rochford, and Grecia his wife impedients, of lands in Seneberch in Somersetshire; and in the 45th of that King, the manor of Hyptoft Hall in Freston, and Toft and Holland, in Lincolnshire, were conveyed by fine to Sir Ralph, &c.

Sir Guy de Rochford, lord of Rochford, purchased of John de Burgh Earl of Kent, all his marshes in Rochford, and held in capite at Berden, a messuage with a garden, dove-house, above 600 acres of arable land, 6 of meadow, 30 of pasture, and 3s. rent per ann. with a wood, wind-mill, and advowson of the rectory, by the service of one fee, and the patronage of Rochford.

In 1272, he was witness, with 10 other Norfolk knights, to a deed of John de Burgh Earl of Kent, (son and heir of Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent) whereby he granted to his valet, Baldwin de Cankewell, the lordship of Newton by Castleacre; the witnesses were Sir John de Vaux de Shotesham, Tho. Rosselyne, William de Weyland, Guy de Rochford, Richard de Sandchirche, Anselm de Geyse, John de Bretton, Richard de Belhouse, William de Gyney, William de Calthorp, Knights, &c. Sir Guy died in the following year, 1273.

He was found to hold Rochford as the head of his barony, and Margaret his widow had her dower in that manor, and marshes of Foulness.

On the death of Sir Guy, his estate descended to Sir John de Rochford, son of a brother of Sir Guy, on a Quo Warranto brought in the 3d of Edward I. on account of wreck of sea, and other privileges belonging to the manor of Rochford. The said John pleaded that they were given to his uncle Guy, by John de Burgo, Earl of Kent, and confirmed by King Henry III.

To this John, Ralph de Rochford and Agnes his wife, conveyed lands by fine, in the counties of Stafford, Derby, and Nottingham; and Theobald de Nevile conveyed to the said Ralph, the manor of Fenne in Lincolnshire, and Grave in Warwickshire, in the 12th of the said King.

Sir John de Rochford, Sir Richard de la Rokeley, &c. were witnesses to a grant of Sir William Baud, Knight, of Coringham in Essex, of a fat buck and doe, yearly, to the church of St. Paul in London, in the 30th of that King, in which year he died.

Sir Robert de Rochford was his son and heir, and presented to the church of Rochford, in 1321. In the 17th of Edward II. the King confirmed to him, and Christian his wife, the grant of the marshes abovementioned, and it appears by the escheat rolls, that he died in the eleventh year of Edward III. that he and Isabel his wife, daughter of William Fitz-Warin, held the manors of Rochford and Berdon, with 1100 acres of marsh in Rochford, and that Thomas was his son and heir, aged 25.

About this time lived Sir Waleran de Rochford, who with Jeffrey de la Legh, was a knight of the shire of Hertford, in parliament, in the 8th of Edward II.

Sir Thomas Rochford, son of Sir Robert, released to Adam, son of Geffrey de Derham, of Suffolk, in the 11th of Edward III. all his right in the manor of Bernehalle.

After this I meet with nothing more of this family in Essex. Newcourt observes, (fn. 12) that soon after the year 1324, there being no heir general, the estate escheating to the Crown, King Edward III. in his 14th year, granted the honour of Rayleigh, (to which the lordship of Rochford belonged,) with the hundred of Rochford, to William de Bohun Earl of Northampton. But that there were other branches of the family is manifest.

Sir Ralph Rochford (as I have observed) was living in the 40th of Henry III. (fn. 13) and in the 30th of Edward I. Sir Ralph, with Henry Spigurne were the King's justices, and held the assise, tried several causes at Lynn, in Norfolk, on Tuesday after Whitsunday-week; and in the 7th of Edward II. had a pardon for adhering to Thomas Earl of Lancaster, and for the death of Peirs de Gaveston, the King's great favourite. He was father of Sir Saier de Rochford, a commissioner of the banks and sewers in Lincolnshire, in the 16th of Edward III.

In the 22d of Edward III. a fine was levied between him and Joan his wife, and John Cleymond of Kirkton, who conveyed lands in Walpole, and at Brandeston in Suffolk, St. Botolph, Benington, Tofts, and Shirbeck in Lincolnshire, to Sir Sayer and Joan, in tail.

Ralph de Rochford, in the 26th of Edward III. was a commissioner to view and repair the banks in Marshland. And in the 28th of that King, Sir Ralph, (son of Sir Sayer de Rochford, Knight, and Maud his wife,) were querents, and Sir Sayer de Rochford of Slivekey in Norfolk, and Ralph de Bigeney, deforcients, of lands in Walpole, Hindringham, Barsham, Keteleston, Creyke, and Geyst in Norfolk: and in the said year, Sir Ralph, and Maud his wife, granted to Sir Saier de Rochford of Stivekey a messuage with a windmill in Walpol, with all his lands and tenements in Walpol, Walsoken, Enemeth, and messuages in Hindringham, with all the services, rents, wards, reliefs, escheats, villains, by deed, dated on Thursday after the feast of St. Winwaloy.

To this Sir Ralph and Maud his wife Robert Lacock of Walsingham, clerk, &c. in the 41st of Edward III. granted messuages, lands, tenements, rents, services, &c. in East Barsham, Norfolk.

Sir Ralph was buried in the church of St. Peter's, in Walpole, with his wife Maud, who is said to be a daughter and coheir of Sir James Walpole, and was here buried in 1369.

About this time lived Sir John de Rochford, probably eldest son of Sir Ralph; to whom John de Atte-Chambre, and Margaret his wife, conveyed lands in the 32d of Edward III. and Sir William Skipwith, and Alice his wife, in the 40th of that King, surrendered to him the manor of Calthorp, Covenham, and Uphall in Lincolnshire.

There was also John Rochford, Esq. who married Joan, daughter of Sir Ralph, sister and heir of Robert de Grendon, of Grendon in Warwickshire, (fn. 14) by whom he had Sir Ralph Rochford, which John married to his 2d wife Isabella, widow of John de Rochford, who had dower granted her by her son-in-law, Sir Ralph, in the — of the said King.

This Ralph married Joan, daughter of Sir Hugh de Meynill, by whom he had a daughter and heir, Margery, and Joan his widow remarried Hugh de Askeby.

Sir Sayer de Rochford, probably brother of Sir John, and a son of Sir Ralph, was an eminent soldier in the wars of France; in the 33d of King Edward III. undertook to keep safely the King of France (then a prisoner in England) at Somerton castle in Lincolnshire, and was to be allowed him 2s. per day; (fn. 15) Sir John de Kirton was joined with him in this charge, and being a banneret was to have 4s. per day; and they were allowed for each esquire with them, 12d. per day.

This seems to be the Sir Saier at Stivekey, who married Joan, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Roger Hillary, by whom he had Sir John de Rochford; and by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Ralph Perlye, Sir Ralph Rochford.

John, son of Sir Sayer de Rochford, and Alice his wife, is mentioned in a fine levied in the 5th of Richard II. and Sir John de Rochford, Knight, in another fine of lands in Holbeach, in the 8th of that King; and was witness to a grant of John de Halmeton, of an annual rent of 10 marks, issuing out of the lands of Sir John de Litsbury in Tyd St. Mary's, to Frederic de Tilney.

In the same year Sir Ralph Rochford had the manor and advowson of the church of Askele, by Parteney in Lincolnshire, conveyed to him by Reginald Curteys and Cecilia his wife.

This Sir Ralph is said to be the son of Sir Saer the elder, by his first wife, Eliz. daughter of Sir Ralph de Arley, and dying in 1401, was buried in the church of St. Giles's, Cripplegate, and found to die seized of Arley and Slowley, in Warwickshire, held of Sir John Odingsels by the service of one knight's fee; and John Rochford, Esq. was his son and heir.

Sir John de Rochford was steward to the Bishop of Ely, and constable of Wisbeach castle, in the 20th of Richard II. whose only son, William, was buried in the church of St. Peter's of Walpole.

I also find mention made of Sir John de Rochford, alderman of the gild of Boston, in 1383, where he seems to have had his chief residence; and in the 10th of Richard II. was appointed a commissioner to assess the loan demanded of 200 marks from the inhabitants thereof, for the King in his necessities, dated Sep. 22, and died on the feast of St. Lucia, the Virgin, in 1410; (fn. 16) leaving, as some say, three daughters and coheirs, by Alice his wife, daughter of Sir Hugh Hastings; his mother Joan, dying, as appears by the eschaet rolls, in 1403.

Sir John Holbeach married a daughter and coheir of Sir John Rochford of Lincolnshire; and Anne, one of Holbeach's daughters and coheirs, married Thomas Barrington, sheriff of Essex, ao. 30 Henry VI.

On a division of the estate of Sir Roger Hillary, in the 13th of Henry IV. Elizabeth, Lady Clinton, was found to be a cousin and coheir (by a daughter of Sir Rog. and sister of the Lady Joan Rochford) as were Joan and Margaret, two of the daughters and coheirs of Sir John Rochford, and Alice his wife, Joan being then the wife of Robert Roos of Gedney in Lincolnshire, Esq. and Margaret the widow of Sir Frederick Tilney of Boston.

At the same time John Gibthorp, a minor, son of Sir William Gibthorp, and Alice his wife, daughter also and coheir of Sir John Rochford, were proved to be cousins of the Lady Elizabeth Clinton, and coheirs of Sir Roger Hillary, Knight and Bart.

The Rochfords were such a numerous family, and of so many branches, that it is not easy to distinguish, or make a regular descent of them, and we find that they varied on this account their arms: some bore quarterly, or and gules, in a bordure sable, bezanty: others the same quarterly, in a bordure indented, uncharged: I find also an annulet bore in the first quarter, also a de-lis, bore by some: the crest of the Rochfords was a man's head, with a prolix beard, thereon an high almain cap, on a wreath, mantled ermin.

We must now return to Henry Rochford, Esq. who was found to be son and heir of Sir Ralph, in 1401, which Sir Ralph, with Sir Robert de Leek, Sir Philip de Tilney, Sir John Bussey, and Sir John Rochfords, Knts. had a patent from King Richard II. in this year, September 25th, to proclaim, and take care that the grasiers in Holland and Kestevan, in Lincolnshire, presume not to sell any of their cattle, or horses, at a higher price than was customary, and was father of Sir Ralph brother of Henry, who in 1401, had order from King Henry IV. to pay 50 marks out of the lordship of Newenton Longevile, in Buckinghamshire, (which he farmed of the King) to Sir Thomas Erpingham. On the attainder of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, in the 6th of the said King, he had, with Sir John Tiptot, a grant of all the apparel, pertaining to the body of that Duke, and all his harness for peace and war, as well for great horses called coursers, or saddles for tilts and tournaments; was governor of the castle of Hammes, in France, and lieutenant of Guien.

In the 5th of Henry VI. Sir William Mallory and Margaret his wife, conveyed messuages and lands to him, and Richard Leek, Esq. in North and South Stoke, in Lincolnshire, and in the said year he surrendered his right in the manor of Wychampton, in Dorsetshire, to Sir Gilbert Kyghley. He was living at Walpole, in 1446, and died before 1455. In the leidger book of Boston, Margaret, late the wife of Sir Ralph Rochford, is said to die in that year.

In the east window of the north isle of St. Peter's church of Walpole, is to be seen the effigies of this knight in armour, (as I take it,) and that of his lady, on their knees; on his surtout are the arms of Rochford, quarterly, or and gules, in the 2d quarter an annulet sable, in a bordure of the same, bezanty. On the outward vest, or mantle of the lady are the said arms, and on her inward vest, gules, an eagle displayed, or, with an annulet on the breast of the eagle, sable, she being a Godard: the same arms of Rochford and Godard, impaled, are, or were to be seen in a window of the north isle of the church of Braintree, in Essex.

In the 3d of Henry IV. Sir Henry Rochford conveyed in trust to Richard Revel, vicar of Walpole, all his manors, lands, and tenements in Walpole, West Walton, Emneth, Well, Barsham, Hindringham, Kettleston, and Creke; he was also lord of Arley, and Sloley, in Warwickshire, which he sold to Thomas Bate: in the 7th of Henry V. he was returned by the justices of the peace of this county, as a person of ancient coat armour, and one of the 20 lances, able to serve the King in his wars.

He is said to have married two wives; by Isabel, the first, daughter of Sir Steph. Burdet, he had three daughters; Alice, married to Sir Robert Leake, Mabel, to Sir John Hamelyn, and Isabel to Clement Derby; four sons; Ralph, John, Thomas, and Henry: by Elizabeth, his second wife, daughter of Nicholas de Reresby, two daughters; Mary, the wife of Thomas Aungvine, and Margaret, the wife of Henry Bellingham.

William de Worcester, in his MSS. abovementioned, says he married a daughter of — Braunch, relict of Sir —; and it appears that the Lady Catharine Braunche, widow of Sir — Braunche, by her will dated in 1420, and proved September 5, following, bequeaths to Catharine, daughter of Sir Henry Rochford, Knt. 10 marks, and to John, son of Sir John Rothenale, a silver cup with a foot. In the 7th of Henry VI. Sir Henry, with John, and Thomas his sons, Esq. sold lands in Tilney, and in the 14th of that King was a commissioner for the fen banks, &c.

Ralph Rochford, Esq. (son and heir of Henry) was by some called a Knight. Thomas Rochford, Esq. his brother, by his will dated January 30, 1438, and proved February 25 following, requires to be buried in the chapel of St. Mary, in the church of St. Peter of Walpole, names Margaret his wife executrix, to whom he gives his lands in Ringsted and Holme, to pay his debts, and if she should be with child, the issue to have them, and she her dower in his lands at Walpole. (fn. 17) (fn. 18)

In the 33d of Henry VI. in a deed of this Ralph, of lands in Castle Rysing, dated September 26, at Walpole, he styles himself Ralph Rochford, late Esq. now clerk, (nup. Armiger modo Clericus) by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Marmaduke Constable, he had 3 sons; Henry, the eldest, Ralph, of Langholm, and Saier, of Barton.

Henry had a lordship in Boston, called Fenn's, and that of Rochford in Shirbeck, and in the 7th of Henry VII. Sir Henry Rochford, Knt. was one of the justices of the peace, and of the goal delivery, within the Bishop of Ely's liberty in Norfolk.

After this I find nothing more of the Rochfords; as the Bishop of Ely was the capital lord, and their estate was held of him it was vested in that see, and so continued, till granted by act of parliament, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to the Crown, on an exchage of lands with the Bishop.

Denver's Manor, Or Godard's,

Had its rise from a division of that lordship, which Henry de Walpole, son of Osbert de Walpole held, who dying without issue, his two aunts, Isabel and Alice, sisters of Osbert, were heirs to it. In the 41st of Henry III. a fine was levied between Isabel, and Walter de Denver, and Alice his wife, tenents of a moiety of 2 carucates of land, 4l. 11s. 0½d. rent, with the moiety of the rent of 8000 turf in Walpole, Tylney, Well, and Lynn, which Isabel claimed as her part of the inheritance of Henry, son of Osbert de Walpole, nephew of Isabel and Alice, which Isabel released to Alice, with the land which William de Wendling held for life, of the said inheritance in Wisbeach Littleport and Crekemere, in Cambridgeshire, and which Robelina, widow of the said Henry, and Sarah, widow of Osbert de Walpole held in dower. Osbert was son of Sir Walter de Denver, and in the 21st of Edward I. John, son of Osbert and Egelina, his mother, and Sir Robert de Hackbeach held also lands here; Sir Robert Howard, and their under tenants, held half a fee here, in Walton, and Hackbeach, of the Earl Warren.

The aforesaid Walter de Denver and Alice his wife, in the 34th of Henry III. sued James de Creik and Sarah his wife, Henry de Walpole having granted to her the wool of his stock of 300 sheep in his manor of How, by East Derham, in Norfolk, till the marriage of Alice; and was detained from her.

Sir John de Denver, Knt. de Hakebeche, &c. held in the 20th of Edward III. half a fee here, in Walton, &c. of the Bishop of Ely, which John, son of Osbert de Walpole, and Egelina his mother, &c. formerly held.

Walter Godard held it in the 5th of Richard II. and Catharine his wife, with 2 messuages, 140 acres of land, 4l. rent per ann. &c. in Walpole, Tilney, Walton, Well, &c. and the advowson of Walpole chapel. Catharine seems to be heiress of Denvers. Walter presented to that church in 1395.

From the Denvers it came by marriage to the Godards, who quartered the arms of the Denvers, of whom see in Tyrington; of this family was Sir John Godard, governour of Loviers, in Normandy, in the 6th of Henry V. under the Duke of Clarence, on whose death in the 9th of Henry VI. several lands in Lincolnshire, &c, came to his son and heir John, a minor, who dying without issue, Agnes, (wife of Sir Brian Stapleton,) then the wife of Robert Wadesley, Esq. of Yorkshire, and Sir Robert Ughtred (fn. 19) were his cousins and next heirs. But in the said reign, it appears that Robert Godarde was lord, and was buried in the church of Tyrington in 1448, into which town this manor extended, and he quartered the arms of Denver; Elizabeth his daughter and heir seems to have married Robert Sutton, Esq.

In the 20th of Henry VII. a fine was levied between Sir James Hobart, Sir Richard Southwell, Sir Henry Ogard, Knts. and Richard Braunche, Esq. querents, and Thomas Sutton and Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Robert Godard, (as I take it) deforciants, of the manor of Denvers, and lands in Walpole, Tylney, Terrington, Clenckwarton, Walton, Lynn, and Well, and the advowson of the chantry in the chapel of St. Catherine, in Walpole, and Sir James Hobart, in the 2d of Henry VIII. settled on Walter Hobart, his son and heir, and Anne his wife, and their heirs male, a rent charge of 6l. 13s. 4d. per ann. out of this manor, and Sir Walter Hobart of Hales-Hall, in Lodne, had the advowson of the chapel of St. Mary, at the Fen end, in Walpole, in the 20th of the said King.

Afterwards it came to the Hunstons, a family of good account in Lincolnshire, Marshland, &c. John Hunston, Gent. had an estate in the 40th of Edward III. in Tydd St. Maries, Lincolnshire, and Thomas Hunston, Gent. had lands, and lived at Walpole, in the 1st of Richard II. Thomas Hunston, in the 17th of Edward IV. and Thomas in the 19th of Henry VIII.

Henry Hunston, of Walpole, Esq. was living in the reign of Henry VIII. and married Jane, daughter of Sir John Audley of Swaffham, Knt.

William Hunston, of Walpole, Gent. had a patent from Sir Gilbert Dethick, dated February 6th, in the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, of these arms and quarterings, 1st, sable, four lozenges, 1, 2, 1, ermine in a bordure engrailed, or;—in the 2d quarter the arms of Denvers; — in the 3d quarter, sable, three lozenges, in a triangle ermin, the arms of Haltoft, as I take it;—and in the 4th quarter, a lion's head caboshed, or, lingued gules, in chief, three plates between two flaunches, ermin; the crest, a hind's head couped or, in his mouth a holly slip, vert, with berries, gules. He died in the 9th of Elizabeth, and left William, his son and heir aged 26, who was lord in the 38th of that Queen.

Thomas Hunston, Esq. sold it to John Hare, Esq. son of John Hare, citizen, and mercer of London, with several messuages, lands, &c. that came to the Hunstons from the Godards, Walpoles, and Rochfords, called in the conveyance, the manors of Denvers, and Walpoles; and Henry Hare, Lord Colraine, his direct heir, died possessed of it in 1749, and on his death descending to an alien, was in the King's hands.

Prior of Lewes's Manor

Was a part, or member of the prior's capital manor in West Walton, given by William, the first Earl Warren, as is observed in that town.

In the reign of Henry II. the prior had a mill of the gift of Sowline, son of Nicholas de Walpole, and Sir Henry de Walpole gave the tithe of 300 sheep, in the marshes of Fridland, and Redland, in Walpole, which he and his father Joceline, held of them.

John, son of Robert, son of Gilbert de Walpole, granted all the lands which his ancestors held here, for 10 marks; witnesses, Sir William de Terington, Sir Hugh de Pinkeney, Sir Drue de Acton, Geff. de Marisco, &c.

In the 3d of Edward I. the prior was found to have wreck at sea, a gallows, assise of bread and beer, &c. of his tenants in Marshland, the advowson of the church of St. Andrews, of Walpole, of the gift of Hamelin Plantaginet, Earl Warren, a weekly mercate, on Thursday, and a fair on the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, and for two days more, which belonged equally to the prior and the Bishop of Ely.

Adam Grey of West Walton gave a messuage, a toft, and 16 acres of land, in this town, West Walton, with the right of a free bull, late Julian's, widow of Richard Betele, bedel of Cambridge, by deed in the 4th of Henry V.

The temporalities of it in 1428, were valued at 34l. 3s. 4d.

After the Dissolution it came to the Crown, and was granted December 22, in the 29th of Henry VIII. to Thomas Duke of Norfolk, with the appropriated rectory, and advowson of the vicarage, and passed from that family to the Hares, as may be seen at large in West Walton.

Henry Hare Lord Colrain died possessed of it in 1749; on his death it came as an eschaet to the Crown.

There were lands in this parish called Wyldole, belonging to the late nunnery of Elvestow, in Bedfordshire, granted in the 2d of Queen Mary, to Thomas Reve and Giles Isham.

Pannel's Manor.

The Welbys of Lincolnshire, had a considerable interest in this town. Joan Welby, widow of Moulton, possessed it, and on her son Richard Welby's Esq. marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Calthorp, of Ludham in Norfolk, settled it on them September 10, in the 8th of Edward IV. Christopher Langholm, Esq. on the death of his brother, had livery of it in the 29th of Henry VIII. held, as is said, of the prior of Lewes; in the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, Christopher Langholm conveyed it to Richard Goodrick; and Thomas Hewer had prœcipe, in the 3d of Elizabeth, to deliver it to Andrew Ogard.

After this it came to the Coneys. John Coney lived here in the reign of Henry VIII. and Thomas Coney, Gent. of Sutton in Lincolnshire, was father of William Coney, Esq. of Walpole, who bore sable, a fess between two cottises, or, and three coneys sejant, argent: the crest, a talbot's head couped, issuing out of a mural coronet, or.

This William was a justice of the peace, and by Abigail his wife, daughter of—Tilson of Gedney, had a son Robert, who married Alice, daughter of Sir Robert Barkham, Knt. of Waynfleet, in Lincolnshire, and was father of Robert, a minor, in 1664, who dying sans issue, William Coney, Esq. his brother, was his heir, and by Edith, daughter of Sir Humphrey Edwin, Lord Mayor of London, in 1697, was father of Edwin Coney, Esq. high sheriff of Norfolk, in 1734, whose son, by—,daughter of—Turner, Esq. of Lynn, now possesses it.

St. Peter's Church is one of the most beautiful parish churches in England, built of free-stone, consisting of a nave, 2 isles, and a chancel, all covered with lead; at the west end stands a noble, stately tower of stone, embattled.

On the stone work of the south porch, as you enter, are the arms of Goddard, and Denver, quarterly with Goddard's crest, an eagle's head erect; and on the stone-work towards the east end, near the great arch, the arms of Rochford: these families (as I take it) were the chief benefactors to the building of the church, which was about the beginning of the reign of King Henry VI. In the year 1423, I find the windows to be glazed and set up.

At the east end of this south isle, lie several marble grave-stones.

Hic jacet Robertus Cony, Armiger, de Walpole, in comit. Norf. qui ex uxore Alicia, filiâ Rob. Barkham de Wainfleet, in comit. Lincoln. Equitis auratj; 8 filios et 6 filias suscepit, Norfolciam, Ao. 1673, Vicecomes tuebatur. vir in patriam devotus, in Deum devotissimus, in regem fidelis, in suos liberalis, in alios benevolus, in probos suavis, in malos severus, in omnes humanus; obt. 5, Apr. 1707, œtat. 72.

On the summit are the arms of Cony, sable, a fess between two cottises, or, and three coneys sejant, argent, impaling Barkham, argent, three pallets, gules, and a chevron over all, or.

Another,

In memory of Robert Cony, son of Robert Cony, Esq; and Alice his wife, &c. who died Nov. 8, 1683, aged 21.

One,

In memory of Alice, wife of Robert Cony, Esq; who died Oct. 3, 1676, œtat. 41.

Also one,

In memory of William Cony, Esq; son of Robert Cony, Esq; and Alice his wife, &c. who died Jan. 6, 1742, aged 82: who married Edith, daughter of Sir Humphrey Edwin, Kt. of the city of London: with the arms of Cony, impaling - - - - - - -, a cross flory engrailed between four birds, - - - - -.

On an altar monument here, now deprived of its brasses, were painted anciently these arms, sable, four fusils, or lozenges, 1, 2, and 1, ermin in a borbure engrailed, or--Hunston; impaling, azure, a chevron, between 3 bucks trippant, or—Green; also Hunston, with Audley and Touchet, quarterly, viz. gules, a fret, or, and ermin a chevron, gules. By this it appears that this was for one of the family of Hunstons, who had a lordship in this parish.

On the pavement here are several gravestones for the family of Richers.

John Richers, Gent. who dyed a batchelor, Sept. 1, 1707, aged 40° — Bernard Richers.— Valery Richers, Gent. who died a batchelor, in 1708, aged 75.—Matthew Richers, Gent. who died June 19, 1713, and Sarah his wife, in 1716.

In the east window of this south isle, which was formerly ornamented with curious painted glass, is to be seen the effigies of a person on his knees, with a great broad belt hanging over his shoulder, therein a great broad sword, and this label;

Tu sis memor mej, Jacobe, in p'se'tia Dej.

In the said window, no doubt, was the figure of St. James, before whom he was a supplicant.

Here was the altar and chantry of St. James. The person here represented was Sir Thomas Daniel, a person of eminency in the reign of King Henry VI. governour of Rising castle, in Norfolk, and had a patent in the 16th of Edward IV. to found this chantry, and endow it with 32 acres, &c. of land; who bore argent, four fusils in pale, sable.

In one of the upper windows of this isle, is a profane representation of the Supreme Being, habited in a loose purple gown, with a long beard, resting his right hand on a staff of gold, and crowned with glory; pointing out the fore finger of his left hand, as dictating to the Virgin Mary, who is seated before him, with a pen in her hand, and paper on a desk before her. The deity stands at the door, or entrance of a castle, embattled, and with turrets, surrounded by a wall embattled; within this wall is the Virgin, and many angels are looking down from the tower, &c.; there has been a legend, and the word— Convertit—is now legible.

The artist has represented a great degree of majesty in the face of the Deity, and seems, like Phidias of old, to have had those verses of Homer in his thoughts;

[I, KAIK[?]ANEIEIN] &c. Hom. Iliad. lib. 1, &c.

On the font is this date,

An^o. [..] Dni. [..] m. [..] c. c. c. c. c. === and [..] thanks

Against the walls of the nave are painted the insignia of the 12 tribes of Israel; and at the upper end a gravestone,

In memory of Robert Butler, Esq; who took to wife Elizabeth Wright, and died August 1, 1630, in her 59th year: with the arms of Butler, a chevron between three cups, with handles.

In the windows on the north side of the nave, (over the arches,) were these arms;—argent, three flowers-de-lis, azure, between seven cross croslets fitché, in a bordure, sable, Hillary;—argent, three buglehorns, sable, garnished, or, Blower;—gules, a spread eagle, or, Goddard;—gules, three dexter gauntlets, pendant, or, and a canton checque, or and azure, Denver; quarterly or and gules, in the 2d quarter, an annulet sable, in a bordure of the last bezantee, Rochford;— quarterly, (in the first and fourth,) argent, and sabel, Hoo;—in the 2d argent, a crescent sable, in the 3d argent, a mullet, sable;—azure, on a fess sable, three roses between three acorns, argent, Daniel; Rochford, with his crest, a man's head, with a long beard, and an high cap, ermine.

Against the upper pillar of the nave, on the north side, was the staircase leading to the rood loft; over the door is to be seen an old piece of painting of the Virgin and the child Jesus, and on a scroll,

Orate p. bono statu Joh. Nelson, et p. aiab; parentu. et benefactor. suor.

And on the opposite pillar on the south side, the painted figure of St. John the Evangelist.

On the windows of the north isle, are the arms of Goddard, Denver, Howard, of the East-Angles, and the see of Ely, the triangular emblem of the Trinity, St. George's arms, and argent, a saltier, vert, Noon;— also argent, a chevron, between three wolves heads erased, gules, Lovell; here were also argent, a chevron, between three griffins heads erased gules, Tilney,—Rochford, and Goddard, impaling Denvers.

The east end of this isle is taken in by a screen, and was the chapel and burial-place of the Rochfords. On the pavement lies a large marble gravestone, whereon has been a long great cross of brass, standing on a pedestal of four steps, with a cross on the head of it, and six shields, three on each side, all reaved, as is the inscription, which was on a rim of brass round it, of which this only remains,

Hic jacet Willm. filius === constabularij castri de Wisbeache [===] Januarij A^o. Dni. Mill^o.

This is said to be in memory of William, only son of Sir John Rochford, who left three daughters and coheirs.

South of this stands a large altar monument, ornamented with curious brass work, and the effigies of a knight in armour, a lion at his feet, with that of his lady, and a dog at her feet, over his head are two shields, with Rochford's arms and a flower-de-lis, in the 1st and 4th quarter, the two shields over the lady are gone, and so is the rim of brass that went round it, with its inscription, this only remaining;

=== Domina Mátilda, uror ej. que obijt === Anno Dni. Millesimo tricentesimo, sexagesimo nono:

Weaver says this is the monument of Sir Ralph Rochford, Knt (fn. 20) this Sir Ralph (as I have above observed) was son of Sir Saier de Rochford, and married Matilda, daughter and coheir (as is said) of a Walpole.

The east window of this chapel is beautified with the effigies of many saints, &c.; at the bottom of the pannels are the pourtraitures of a man in armour on his knees; on his surtout, argent, a bend ingrailed, azure, and a chief gules; this I take to be for Ralph Lord Cromwell, Lord Tateshale, governour of Rising castle, in the time of Henry VI. and that of his wife, who appears by her arms, on her vest, or inward garment, to be a Rochford, quarterly, or and gules, &c. and on her outward garment, the arms of Cromwell. Also the pourtraiture of a Rochford in armour, with the shield of Rochford, and an annulet sable, in the 2d quarter, and his lady with the arms of Godard, on her inward vest, with an annulet, azure, on the breast of the ealge. Another pourtraiture of a Rochford, and a lady with the arms of Rochford on her outward vest, and of Cromwell (though obscure) on her inward vest.

On the pavement of the chancel, lie several gravestones—one with a brass plate,

In memory of Henry Frencham A.M. sometime fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and for the space of 30 years parson of Walpole, a faithful feeder of his flock, who took to wife Anne Walvard, widow, daughter of Robert Baynard Esq; by whom he had Barnabas and Anne, he died Jan. 31, 1629, in the 71st year of his age; with these arms cut in stone, viz. six coats, quarterly—1st, a fess between two chevrons—2d, an eagle displayed, with two necks—3d, a bend fusily —4th, a cross ingrailed—5th, a cross moline—6th, as the first; the crest, an unicorn's head erased.

On another with a brass plate,

Of your charite pray for the soule of Syr John Whetom, su'tyme p'sone of Walpole, and of Leveryngt. whiche decessy'd the xxiiii day of July m. v. xxxvii, on whose sowle J'hu have m'cy.

On a brass plate

Si quœris advena, suas hic deposuit reliquias Barnabas Frenchamus, juvenis ultra annos pius, supra vires sedulus, cujus in interitu, duplex hoc potuit malum, herede patrem orbare et conjuge. Proh flebile fatum consumptio rapuit filium et tristitia conjugem. Tam chari pignoris damnum non prius deflere destitit luctuosa parens, quam eundem cum filio tumulum habuit, et in cœlo, solium, audijt Deus, et dedit; obijt filius Augusti 25°. mater Novemb. 15. A^o, 1652, A^o. Æt. 87: with a quartered shield as above.

A gravestone,

In memory of Francis Ireland, vicar 32 years, died Janu. 7, 1632, in his 69th year.

Another with a brass plate for,

John Austin—Sub hoc marmore tanquam incarceratum jacet corpus Joh. Austin, Gen. donec D'nus apparet in judicio, et sepulchra reddant mortua, in cujus memoriam Maria nuper uxor ejus hoc condit; filios eorum si numeras tres sunt, unicam tantum filiam, pie et religiose, et pacifice vixit, et non sine dolore multo de suis et bonis accubuit. Sepult. decimo tertio Junij An^o. Dnj Mill'imo, sexcentesimo, vicesimo, octavo: with this shield, - - - - -, a chevron between three crosses patteé.

Elizabeth Frencham, the virtuous wife of Michael Beresford, deceased May 31, 1654, aged 21.

Here lyeth William Crane, Gent. son of William Crane, minister, in Burford, in the county of Wilts, who departed this life the 10th of Nov. in the 33d year of his age, an^o. D'ni 1682.

On a marble grave-stone, argent, three lozenges, azure, each charged with an escalop, or; crest a stag's head erased, with a branch in his mouth,—Hart,

H. S. E. Gulielmus Hart, clericus, rector et vicarius de Walpole, dignissimus, rectoris munus. per unum et quinquaginta, vicarij per duos et quadraginta annos fideliter executus est, officio satisfecit; Theologus ad primœvœ religionis normam fide, moribusq; incorruptissimus, ingenij, facundiœ, pictatis laude florentissimus, varicœq; eruditionis elegantiâ, ornatissimus vir. Vitœ ad amussim dispositu atq; ordinatœ sanctitas, summa comitas, par ab omnibus diligebatur, colebatur, probissimus, gravissimus, venerabilis senex. Amicitiâ ejus nihil fidelius, sermonibus nihil jucundius, nihil doctius, perpetuâ mentis, corporisq; sanitate et vigore usus est, et in ipso fere œtatis flore tantam non oetogenarius decessit, In altissimâ tranquillitate, pariq; veneratione admortalitatis finem pervenit mensis Maij die 2d^o. A. D. 1726, œtat. suœ lxxix.— Juxta jacent Alicia Hart, Gulielmi et Susannœ filia, quæ decem annos nata animam Deo reddidit, et Gulielmus eorund. nepos, Gulielmi et Mariæ Hart de Boston, in com. Linc. filius primogenitus ad cœlum redire maturavit quinq; menses natus, infantulus.

On a mural monument under an arch in the south wall, is the small effigies of a man kneeling before a desk, with a book—

En pius ornator Templi, benefactor egenis, Solamen pariœ consorti fidus amicus.

Robertus Butler, obiit primo die Aug. An^o. 1630, œtat. sua 59, ej. monumentum hoc, Gulielmus Coney, generosus, statuit A^o. Dom. 1632. Abi viátor, et ad tuos reversus narra te vidisse locum in quo Pater Patriœ jacet; and Butler's arms as above.

On the windows on the south side of this chancel, have been painted several saints; St. Alban, St. William Archbishop of York; St. Hugh Bishop of Lincoln; St. Cuthburga, St. Etheldreda with a crosier; St. Sexburga, with a palm branch, are still remaining: at the bottom an orate for the persons that glazed it, the date of the year 1423 is to be seen in three of the windows, and under the 5th window,

Orate p. aiab; Rich. Bowre, === ejusd. === ista' fenestra' vitrari fecerunt A^o. Dni. m. ccccxxiii.

On the windows on the north side also, have been many; in the 3d window is St. John the Evangelist, and—Orate p. aiâ Joh. Frecup, === A^o. Dni. m^o. ccccxxv.—St. John, of Beverly, Archbishop. of York. In the 4th m. ccccxxiii, and in the 5th, St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury.

The ascent to the communion table consists of many steps, under it is an arch, which will contain many horses, for the use of those parishioners, who are obliged, by the badness and length of the ways, to come on horseback to church.

Rectors.

John de Langton was rector in the reign, of King Edward I. Bishop of Chichester, &c.

1300, Roger de Noston.

1305, John de Leek, collated by the Bishop of Ely.

Bernard de la Bret.

1310, Richard de Ideshale, presented by the King; the temporalities of the see of Ely, being then in his hands, said to be void by the residence of Bret, in the court of Rome.

1310, Guicard, son of Amadeus Lord De la Bret, by papal provision.

1319 John de Gysslingham, by papal provision.

1320, Mr. John de Brecham, LL. D. by the Bishop of Ely, an exchange for Redgrave, in Suffolk.

1326, Mr. Ralph de Pagrave (exchanged for Sudburn, &c. in Suffolk) by the Bishop.

1328, Mr. Laur. Falstof. Ditto.

1330, Mr. John of Oxford, Ditto.

Robert de Fulborn occurs rector, either of this church, or St. Andrew's Walpole, the time not mentioned.

1361, John de Swynleigh, by the King, in the vacancy of the see: he was chaplain to King Edward III. who gave him the prebend which William de Cusantia held in the collegiate church of St. Stephen, Westminster, August 6, 1360, and the custody of the free chapel, of St. Anne de Alvedely, in 12 days after, on the 21st of October, in the said year, the King also gave him the prebend of Isledon, in the church of St. Paul's, London. (fn. 21)

1375, Thomas de Cockfield, by the Bishop, prebend of CarltonKyme, &c. in the church of Lincoln.

1393, Mr Mathew de Ashton. Ditto.

1400, Thomas Patesley, Ditto, archdeacon of Ely in 1387.

1411, Bartholemew Colman, (exchanged with Patesley, for Denington, in Cambridgeshire) Ditto.

John Whetom, died rector 1537.

Andrew Pern, S.T.B. afterwards dean of Ely.

1594, William Brown compounded for first fruits, May 13, 1594.

1598, John Fox, compounded December 15,

1599, Henry Frencham, compounded August 4, 1599, presented by the Queen.

1675, William Hart.

1726, Henry Fish, by the King, vicar also of Middleton, in Norfolk, presented by the Crown.

1743, William Everard. Ditto.

This rectory was formerly valued at 46 marks per ann. and was called the portion of John de Langton, so taxed when he was rector. Peter-pence 13d. the present valor is 21l. and pays first fruits and tenths.

Besides the chantry of St. James, there was in this church the chantry of St. Catherine, also the chantry of St. Edmund and St. Thomas, but in which church they were I cannot say. The chantry of St. Thomas was valued at 4l. 13s. 9d. and that of St. Edmund, at its dissolution in King Edward the Sixth's time at 6l. 8s. 4d. and I find these pensions paid to to the late chantry priests.—William Clerk, late incumbent of a chantry, in 1555, 4l. 1s. 6d. per ann.—William alias Robert Lynne, late incumbent of a chantry in Walpole church 5l. per ann.—William Ebden, late incumbent of, &c. in Walpole church 5l. per ann.

On the first of June, in the 5th of King James I. the chapel called the chantry chapel of St. Edmund, in Walpole, with one rood of land adjoining, (by which it seems to be distinct from the church, and in some part of the township) was granted to William Herick, and Arthur Ingram, together with 20 acres of land and pasture, in the village and fields of Walpole, in the tenure of John Repps;—also 12 acres of arable land in Walpole, in the tenure John Neale;—5 acres in Walpole, in the tenure of St. Edmund's chantry;—20 acres of land and pasture in Walpole, in the tenure of William Catharn;—9 acres of land and pasture there in the tenure of William Bynns;—13 acres of land and pasture in the tenure of John Brewer;—5 acres of land and pasture in the tenure of the chantry;—2 acres of land and pasture in the tenure of William Daniel, also all those lands, tenements, &c. whatsoever belonging to the said chantry of St. Edmund, which came to King Edward VI. on its dissolution, and were valued at 10l. per ann. In 1590, all this was farmed by Mary Butler at 10l. 0s. 7d. per ann.

Here was also the chantry of St. Mary in Walpole Fen, valued at 5l. 2s. 1d. per ann. the advowson of this was in the Godards, &c. afterwards in the Hobarts, &c. as above mentioned.

In the 38th of Henry VI. John Glodesforth and Anne his wife conveyed messuages and lands in Tilney, Islington, Walpole, &c. with the advowson of St. Mary's chapel of Walpole, to John Lyhert, and Henry Hobart conveyed this chapel in the Fen end, in the 36th of Hen. VIII. to Nicholas Rookwood.

There is a curious print of this church, dedicated to the late Lord Colerain, who was (as I presume) at the charge of it.

St. Andrew's Church: this is a regular, well built church consisting of a nave, a north and south isle, a chancel, with a south porch, all covered with lead.

At the west end is a square steeple, with 4 bells.

In the north windows of the chancel were these arms;—Blower;— Rochford, impaling, argent, a fess dauncette between six cross crosslets, sable;—Rochford, impaling, argent, on a fess, between three cinquefoils, sable, three crescents, or, Denver;—argent, a lion rampant and crusily of cross crosslets, gules, crowned or, Brews;—azure, three crescents, argent, Thorp:—azure, a saltier and chief or Bruce;— Calthorp;—Carvile;—Derham:—Stapleton; sable, a cross engrailed or, Peyton:—and argent, a cross flory, sable, Hasilden, quarterly.

On the south windows, ermine, Earl of Richmond, and Duke of Britan;—Woodhouse;—gules, a bend nebuleè between three cinquefoils, argent, - - - -; argent, a cross sable, Norwich priory;—sable on a bend, argent, three lis of the first;—sable, three martlets, or;—or, two lions passant, azure, Dudley;—vairy, gules and argent;—argent, a bend ingrailed gules, Culpeper;—argent, a chief ermine;—sable, a bend between three crescents, or, Debenham.

Rectors.

In 1229, Alexander was rector, when it appears that he had a vicar under him. Ralph, then his vicar, perceiving the tithes of certain lands in this parish, of right belonged to the prior and convent of Lewes, and that Adam, his predecessor, by violence took the said tithes by the assent of Alexander, rector, restored the same. (fn. 22) The tithes here mentioned were those which William the first Earl Warren gave to the aforesaid priory; and in 1230, Thomas Bishop of Norwich ordained that the rector of this parish should pay to the priory afore6 marks per ann. and so take the said tithes to himself, and the rector of Lewes's mediety in West Walton 4 marks per ann.

Brisgotus, rector, sans date.

1294, Boga de Clare occurs rector of Walpole; this church, as I take it.

John de Brews was rector in the reign of Edward I. the rectory was then taxed at 64 marks per ann. Peter-pence 16d. the prior of Lewes had a portion of tithe, valued at 5l. per ann.

Robert de Spiney, resigned in 1325.

1325, William de Cliff, by the prior, &c. of Lewes, an exchange for Leek in York diocese.

1339, Thomas de Lewes, by John Earl Warren, on a grant from the King, of the advowson: the priory of Lewes being in the King's hands, on account of the wars.

1344, The King presented to this church, the temporalities being in him.

Vicars.

1362, Walter Colton, presented to the vicarage (newly erected) by the prior, &c. of Lewes. In the 26th of Edward III. the prior had a grant to appropriated this church.

Hugh de Chintriaco, prior of Lewes, ordered May 5, 1361, that whereas the churches of Walpole, and East Greensted, in Sussex, were appropriated to that house, 30s. per ann. should be paid to the sacrist, and another sum to the monks for cloathing out of the profits of the said churches; this appropriation was confirmed by Andrian, minister of the order of the Cistericians, on the feast of the purification in the said year; and on this the prior was taxed for tithes of the rectory at 42 marks, 8s. 10d. ob. q. and the vicar at 21 marks 4s. 5d. q.; and and on July 31, 1372, it was agreed by indenture between the prior and Walter, vicar, that he should obtain a confirmation to be made between them.

—, Richard Bennet.

1409, Richard Chamberlain, on Bennet's resignation, an exchange for Askeby Terreby, in Lincoln diocese, by the prior of Lewes.

Richard Revell occurs vicar in 1401.

John Cannock.

1472, William Canyngston.

1504, Thomas Leman, instituted.

1504, John Daycot, vicar, wills to be buried on the north side of this church, before his hall; gives 30 stone of lead to the church work, and a suit of vestments of white damask branched with angels of gold, or lily pots, like the red suit in the said church, and a cow to the parish.

On the 22d, of December, in the 29th of Henry VIII. this appropriated rectory, with the advowson of the vicarage, was granted to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk, which was conveyed by fine to the King, by Robert, the prior, and the convent of Lewes.

The prior from time beyond memory, used to pay to the Bishops of Norwich an annual pension of 3l. 11s. 1d. out of this rectory appropriated, but Robert, the late prior, and convent having demised this rectory to Nicholas Fordham, Gent. for 60 years, the Bishop of Norwich released the pension to Fordham, for the term of his lease July 12, A^o. 1 Edward VI.

1597, Robert Dixon, on March 22d, compounded for first fruits.

1599, Francis Ireland, October 23d compounded, presented by John Holland, Esq. hâc vice.

1632, William Sandford, March 17, compounded.

1684, William Hart.

1725, Thomas Coleborn, by Henry Lord Colerain, on Hart's death.

1762, Mr. Smith, by the Lord Chancellor.

The present valor is 26l. 13s. 4d. and pays tenths and first fruits.

In this town the Romish saint, St. Godric, is said to have been born, who was at first a pedlar, and after went on a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, and lived a hermit at Finchale, near Durham, where he died in 1170; (fn. 23) many miracles are ascribed to him, and his girdle that he left had so great a virtue in it, as to make barren women fruitful.

The sea bank at this town from St. Hellin's chapel next Terrington, to Novechgate in West Walton, is 3 miles in length.

At a place called Cross Keys, in this parish, is a passage over the Washes, at the mouth of the river Nene, to Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire, (when the tide is out, and before its reflux,) for horses and carriages, and King John passing over here into Lincolnshire, a little time before his death, not observing this, lost most of his baggage, or carriages, by the reflux of the tide.

Here is a guide always attending to conduct passengers over, bearing a wand, or rod in his hand, probably in imitation of Moses, who held a rod, when he conducted the Israelites through the Red Sea.