Hundred of South Erpingham: Oxnead

OXNEAD,

Takes its name from its site on certain meads or meadows, by a river called by the Britains and Saxons, Ouse; a general name for rivers in this county, thus Oxburgh and Oxwick.

In the Confessor's reign it was the lordship of Guert, a thane of Saxon or Danish extraction, and Aildeig a freeman held it under him; but at the grand survey Halden was the lord, when there was a church belonging to it, endowed with a large glebe in that age, 24 acres, valued at the annual rent of one penny per acre; 5 villains and 7 bordarers held one carucate of land, and one carucate in demean, and one held by the freemen with 12 acres of meadow, and 3 socmen had 60 acres of land. The whole had been valued at 20s. but at the survey at 30s.; it was seven furlongs long, and six broad, and paid 5d. gelt or tax, and the King and the Earl had then the soc. (fn. 1)

Albert Greslei was lord in the time of King Stephen, and Theobald de Hauteyn, in the reign of Henry II. by the marriage of Agnes daughter of Albert, who on the death of Theobald, married—de Amaundeville in 1183. She was found to be 40 years of age, (fn. 2) and to hold this lordship in dower, having 3 sons by Hauteyn; John, the eldest, was then in the King's custody, aged 14, and died without issue, leaving Robert and Thomas his brothers; (fn. 3) Margery his widow in 1214 surrendered all her right in this town, for an equivalent at Sheldingthorp in Lincolnshire, to Robert her brother-in-law, who on his mother's death became lord and patron of Oxnead and Heilesden, and gave 100 shillings rent per ann. out of that town, in marriage with his daughter Eve, to Ralf de Tyvile, remainder to his own heirs, (if they had no issue.) His seal is a man on horseback circumscribed, S. ROBERTI. HAVTEN.

He was succeeded by Hamon Hauteyn, who in 1287, was found to have the lete, view of frankpledge, free warren, a gallows, and assize of bread and beer here, and in Heylesden; William was his son and successour, who in 1301 was found to hold two knights fees here and in Hellesden of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, who having incurred the displeasure of King Edw. I. in not attending him into France, gave to that King all his estate, so that this lordship was upon this grant held of the Crown. In the 32 of the said King the manor of Oxnedes was settled by fine on W. Hauteyn and Agnes his wife (fn. 4) (daughter of W. de Brampton) and the heirs of William begotten on Agnes; and the 6 of Edw. II. the third part of this manor with lands here were settled by fine on William Hauteyn and Alice his wife, (fn. 5) daughter of William de Walcote. This William Hauteyn dying in 1326, Sir John Hauteyn his son and heir by Agnes inherited it; he sealed with argt. a bend sable, and some of the Hauteyns sealed with bendy of 8 argt. and sable; and married Alice daughter of Henry and sister of Sir John de Colby, Knt,

William Hauteyn, son and heir of Sir John, paid a rent of 15s. per ann. out of this lordship, to the King's manor of Estre Alta in Essex; and in 1339 conveyed the manor and advowson, to John Hauteyn his brother, rector of Oxnead, and he infeoffed it in John de Bonyngton, William de Hewell, John de Kineberley, rector of Skeyton, William de Norton, and their heirs, for the use of Agnes, widow of his brother William, for life, then to himself and heirs, so that it never came to Roger, son of his brother William, who married Julian, sister of Sir Tho. Erpingham Knt. who afterwards was the wife of Sir John Phelip of Dennington in Suffolk, that said Roger being killed at Ingworth by Sir John de Colby aforesaid, and he with Margaret his sister having no issue, John Hauteyn, the rector and his feoffes, sold the manor and advowson to Sir Robert de Salle, Knt. (fn. 6) Henry Hauteyn, his brother, Sir John Colby and Jeffrey de Smalbergh, who married Margaret his sister, releasing their rights; and in 1368, Sir Robert had possession, but was much disturbed in suits about it, Robert Hauteyn, a younger brother of John the rector, and Henry above mentioned never releasing his right, and this Robert having two sons, John, a professed friar at Blakeney, and Hamon, who had also two children, John, rector of Thelton, and Typhania, who married and had a daughter Joan, all these in their turns sued for this estate, and in 1443 John Hauteyn, alias Scharyngton, priest, then a Carmelite friar at Blakeney, had license from Pope Eugenius (on proving that before he was 14 years of age, his parents forced him to enter among the friars, and become a religious) to leave his house, habit, and order, and become secular, and proceeding in his claim, recovered his inheritance.

Sir Robert Salle was son of Edm. son of Roger de Salle, a family of good repute, and was knighted by K. Edward III. for his singular valour; his arms were sable, three eagles heads erased ermin, was governour of the castle of Mark near Calais, and was killed by the Norfolk rebels in a treacherous and barbarous manner in 1381, and is said to have been of his body one of the biggest knights in all England; he purchased also the reversion of the lordships of Ravinston in Bucks, great Canfield, Eystans Magna and Ermestede in Essex, of Thomas Lovell of Dalley in Middlesex; after the death of the lady Margaret Trussell; by his will, dated September 8th, 1380, he gave to Frances his wife this manor, one in Aylesham (fn. 7) with that of Bromhall in South Walsingham, &c. for life; and after her decease to be sold for pious uses; she was the daughter of Sir William Trussell, Knt. of Coblesden in Staffordshire, and remarried to Sir William Clopton of long Melford in Suffolk, Knt. Margaret the wife of Phillip Warner of Aylesham, only surviving sister of Sir Robert, the other dying without issue, released to this lady in 1481, as did Margaret daughter of William Hauteyn in 1383; and in 1401, Sir William Clopton granted his right to Dame Elizabeth Kiriel, John Rothwell of Burton, and John Courtney, Esq. to the use of himself and Frances his wife for life, and her heirs; and it was sold by William Clopton, Esq. of long Melford in Suffolk; (fn. 8) (to whom Sir William Trussell, nephew and heir of the aforesaid lady Frances, had conveyed it in 1423 for 749 marks) to W. Paston, Esq. of Paston, who with his feoffees, settled it on Agnes his wife, who after the death of her husband had suit with the Hauteyn family to maintain her title, till Alan Trygge of Oxnead, and Clarice Hauteyn his wife, with Margaret her daughter, John Spencer and Typhania his wife, daughter of Hamon Hauteyn, William and Walter Hauteyn, all released, together with John Hauteyn, chaplain aforesaid, about 1449.

William Paston, Esq. was son and heir of Clement Paston, Esq. by Beatrix his wife, daughter and heir of John de Somerton Esq.; he married Agnes, daughter and coheir of Sir Edmund Barry, or Berry, by Alice his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Gerbridge, and was born at Paston on the sea coast, near North Walsham in Norfolk. He was bred to the law, and in 1413, made steward of all the courts and letes belonging to Richard Courtney Bishop of Norwich, who settled on him 5l. per ann. out of his lordship of Blofield, and a livery yearly on the nativity of our Saviour out of his wardrobe of woollen cloth and fur, such as the other peers, or nobles of his retinue received yearly: in 1426, he was made serjeant at law, and in 1429, King Henry VI. granted him 110 marks per ann. with two robes more than the ordinary fees of the judges, as a special mark of his favour, being a judge of the Common Pleas, was of the King's council for his dutchy of Lancaster, and a knight. The prior of Bromholm, in 1438, gave him for his good services in the law, 16 acres of land at Baketon; and the abbot of Bury granted him a letter of confraternity, or brotherhood, whereby he partook of all the prayers of that abbey both alive and dead.

He was commonly called the Good Judge, and dying at London, August 14th, 1443 or 1444, aged 66, was buried in our Lady's chapel at the east end of the cathedral church of Norwich. John his son and heir settled 8 marks per ann. out of the manor of Swainthorp, to find a priest to pray for him for 90 years in the said chapel, and paid 7d. weekly for 7 years out of the manor of Sporle to the monk that sung the mass of the Holy Ghost in the said chapel, for the soul of the said judge. Agnes his wife died in 1479, and was buried by him. His will was dated June 20th, 1443, wherein he gives to his lady this manor, &c. for life; (fn. 9) and by an inquisition taken November 2d, in the said year, John was found to be his son and heir, aged 23, Edmund his son, 18, and Clement his son one year old.

He built the north isle of the church of Tharfield in Hertfordshire, where he was lord of Harlingbury-hall, in right of his wife, who was a great heiress, and thereby quartered the arms of the ancient families of Hetherset, Wachesham, Craven, Gerbridge, Hengrave, Kerdeston; and their effigies with an orate for their souls, was to be seen in a window; also in the east window of the north isle of the church, of great Cressingham in Norfolk with his arms, argt. 3, 2, and 1, de-lis azure, and a chief indented, or, which isle he probably built, being lord of a manor in the said town.

This family of the Pastons of Paston is said, by most historians, to have come into England 3 years after the Conquest; Wolstan, who is named to be the person and founder of the family, having a grant of lands at Paston, assumed, according to the custom of the age, his surname from the said town; was buried at Baketon, and afterwards his body was removed with William de Glanvile Earl Glanvile, his cousin, to Bromholm abbey, founded by the said William. This tradition is in some measure confirmed by an old MSS. in the family, supposed to be wrote by William Botiner, alias Worcester, Herald at Arms to Sir John Fastolf, Knt. of the Garter; who lived in the reign of Henry VI. wherein it is observed that all the ancestors of Sir William Paston the judge (except Wolstan aforesaid) were buried in the choir and porch of the church of Paston.

The first authentic proof and evidence of this family is, that the founder of it was Griffinus de Thwait, to whose son Osbern the priest, (or rector, as I take it, of Paston) Anselm, abbot of St Bennets at Holm, gave all the land of St. Bennet in Paston in fee to him and his heirs, as appears by the following deed:—Notum sit quod Dompnus Anselmus gratia Dei abbas ecclia Sci Benedicti de Hulmo, et totus conventus &c. in capitulo dederunt Osberno presbitero terram Sci Benedicti, de Paston cumptin. habend, &c. in feodo et hereditate p. dimidia firme unius caruce, sicut anteressores sui p. eadem reddere solebant &c. sans date.—And William the abbot (fn. 10) by his deed sans date granted to Richer de Pastun, son of Osbern, son of Griffin de Thwete, all the land that the convent held in Pastun. with their men and other pertinencies: Sciant quod ego Willus Dei gratia abbas Ecclie. Sci Benedicti &c. concessi Richero fillo Osberni filii Griffini de Thwete totam terram quam habemus in Pastun cum hominib. et aliis ptinentiis in feodo et hereditate. And the said Richer covenanted with Reginald the abbot, and convent, that when peace was settled in England, and pleadings were held in the King's court, he at the request and summons of the abbot would appear in court and give security therein at the costs of the abbot to release the lands in Pastun, as appears by his deed sans date: —Sciant &c. quod ego Richerus de Pastone conventionem feci cum Reginalde Abbute (fn. 11) et conventa Sci Benedicti de Holmo quod quando pax fuerit reformata in Anglia et placita fuerint in curia Dni Regis et sumptib. ipsius abbatis ad faciend: omnimod: securitatem in eadem curia de remissione &c. de terris in Pastuna. Ralph de Paston was son, (as I take it) of this Richer, and appears to have had two sons, Richard and Nicholas; Richard, son of Ralph de Paston, by his deed sans date, granted to Jeffrey, son of Roger de Tweyt, lands in this town, paying 9d. per ann. for his homage and service, 40s. for a fine (in gersumam) and paying to him and his heirs on the feasts of St. Andrew, Candlemass, Pentecost, and St. Michael, on each feast, 2s. ob.; he sealed with one lis; Laurence de Reppes, William and John his brother, William de Bradfield, &c. were witnesses; and Nicholas, son of Ralph de Paston, gave lands to Robert, son of Wyston de Paston, by deed sans date, witness Roger de Repps.

Richard son of Ralph de Paston had a son, John, who was father of Richard, as appears also by his deed, sans date, and had a lordship in this town, and gave to Richer Alunday and his heirs, Alan de Tilney his villain, with all his family, &c. (cum totâ sequelâ) and 7 acres of land in this town and Knapton, with a messuage, &c. for 4 marks of silver, fine; and paying 22d. per annum: "Sciant quod ego Richardus fil. Joh. fil. Ric. de Paston concessi Richero Alunday, et heredib. Alanum de Tilney nativum meum, cum totâ sequelâ, et 7 acras tre in campis de Paston, et Cnapton cum messuag. bonis, catalis, per 4 marcis argenti in gersumam redd. et reddend. 22 denar. per ann. per omni servitio, sectá curie &c. Testib; mrc. Tho. de Walisham Joh. de Sancta Fide, Wmo. de Waybrigge, Joh. de Kynburle."

There was also another branch of this family, of which was Wystan, or Wolstan de Paston, whom I take to be the lineal ancestor of Sir William Paston the judge, and the Earls of Yarmouth; this Wolstan lived in the reign of Henry II. and Richard I. and married (as is probable) a daughter of the Glanvilles, as appeared from an impalement of Paston and Glanville, in the windows of Paston-hall, in Paston; his son and heir styled himself Robert de Wyston, and Robert de Paston; who dying in, or about 1242, was buried at Bromholm, and left Edmund de Paston; to this Edmund, son of Robert, son of Wolstan de Paston, Sir Richard de Paston gave the land in Paston, which Robert his father held of him and Nicholas his brother, by deed sans date.

Edmund de Paston had, by Margaret his wife, Clement and Walter de Paston; Nicholas, abbot of St. Bennet's at Holm, granted by his deed, dated in the 14th year of King Edward I. to this Clement, son of Edmund de Paston, and his heirs, a messuage and lands in Paston; which Robert son of Wyston, grandfather of Clement, had of Richer, son of Osborn de Theywyt. Clement dying, sans issue, gave his estate in this town to his nephew Clement, with the lands there, which Richard son of John de Paston, had granted him, excepting the lands which Cecily, the mother-in-law of Richard, held in dower; which Clement was son of Walter de Paston, by Cecily his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Simon Peche and Julian his wife; whose arms, a fess between 2 chevronels gules, on the upper one a lion rampant of the first, was the first quartered coat of the Pastons.

Walter died before his wife, in 1290, and left Clement his heir abovementioned; who married, Cecily, daughter and heir of William Leach, Esq. who bore ermine on a chief indented gules, three ducal coronets, or; in 1314 he had a grant to have an oratory, and to retain a chaplain in his house at Paston, (fn. 12) and died September the 21st, 1348; and was succeeded by William his son and heir, who died June the 6th, 1361: Elizabeth his wife was daughter of Nicholas Stalham, and surviving him, had an assignment of dower from her son and heir, Clement de Paston, in 1365, being then the wife of John de Somerton.

Clement married Beatrice, daughter and heir of the said John de Somerton, by his wife Mary Clere; Somerton bore, or, on a chevron, between three lions heads, erased gules, five bezants; in his will dated on the feast of Corpus Christi, 1419, (fn. 13) he desires to be buried in the church of St. Margaret of Paston between the south door and the tomb of Beatrice his wife, gives money for a light to burn before the image of St. Margaret, in the said church, and to the rood loft light: appoints Margery his sister, widow of John Bacton, and his son William his executors, and died the day wherin he made his will. William, his son and heir, was the famous Sir William Paston, the judge abovementioned, who by Agnes, daughter and coheir of Sir Edmund Berry, bore argent, a chevron between three bears heads couped sable, muzzled, or, by Alice the daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Gerberge, which Sir Thomas dying at Calais, was there buried in the White Friars,

John Paston, Esq. was son and heir of Sir William and the Lady Agnes, aged 23 at his father's death; in 1457, Elizabeth, wife of William, son of William de Sywardby of — in Yorkshire, released to him, and Agnes his mother, all her right in the manor of Huntingfeld-hall in Baketon, and other lands, late Huntingfeld's, in the hundred of Tunsted. He married Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir John de Mauteby, (who bore az. a cross or,) by Margaret his wife, daughter of John Berney, Esq of Reedham. Sir John Fastolf, Knight of the Garter, appointed him one of his executors, gave him all his manors, lands, &c. in trust, to found a college of seven priests at Castor near Yarmouth, and to pay 4000 marks in charitable uses in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich; "for the singular love and trust (says Sir John) that I have, to my cozen John Paston before all others, being in very beleve, that he will execute my will herein."—King Edward IV. seized on several of the estates of the said John, and he was committed prisoner to the Fleet; just before his death, which was at London, May 26th, 1466, he assigned over his jewels, chattels, &c. to Sir John Paston, sen. his eldest son and heir, John Paston, jun. William and Clement, his other sons, being lord of manors in these towns, Sporle, Pagrave, Cressingham Magna, Oxnede, Gresham, Sweynesthorp, Mautby, Marlingford, Sparham, Matelask, Basingham, Helesdon, and Winterton, in Norfolk, being the family estates, and of the manors of Tychewell, Beghton, Castor Vaux, Castor Bozuns, Castor Reedham's, Drayton, Heynford, Saxthorp, Postwick, Repps, Heringby, Spencers, Gutons in Brantesdon, the 3d part of Runham, 100 acres in Erlham, Rees in Long Stratton, &c. which he purshased of the feoffees of Sir John Fastolf, also of several other lordships in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Surrey, and was buried at Bromholm abbey, in a very solemn and sumptuous manner, in 1466.

I have in my possession a very long, but narrow roll, wrote soon after his burial, containing great part of the costs and charges of many things provided for, and relating to it, and as it sets forth the custom and manner of the interment of persons of good families and fortunes, and the value of goods and necessaries of life, &c. in that age, I could not omit pleasuring the reader with several particulars therein.

Expences paib by Gloys at Norwhich the bay the Cots their and befor

Fyrste. The iiii orders of fryers viiil.—Item, almesse iis. viid.—Item, to xxiii susters of Normandys (fn. 14) with the gardian eche of them iiiid. and the gardian viiid.—viiis. Item in offering on pentecost Tuesday for my master id.—for the herse xls.—For xxiiii yerdes of brod wythtys for gowns xxviis. viiid.—for dyeng of the same iiiis.—for settyng on the tents vid.—for xxii yerdes and iii quarters of brod wythts xxxiiiis. iiid. —for grownedyng iiis. iiiid.—for dyeng iiiis.—to xxxviii. prests at the dyryge at Norwyche when the cors lay ther, xiis. viiid.— to xxxix schyldern with surplyces within the schurche and without iiis. iiiid.— to xxvi clerks with iiii kepers of the torches, eche of them iid.-iiis. iiiid. —to the clerks of St. Peter's and St. Steven's for the ryngers ageyn the cors, iis.-to the iiii orders of fryers that rede ageyn the cors. — to the prioress of Carow, vis. viiid.—to a maide that came with her, xxd. —to the ancors. xld.—in almesse xvs.—to a woman that came from London with the cors to Norwyche, vis. viii.

Bayments be Gloys and Calle at Bromholm,—

Fyrste, To the prior, be my master's bequest, xls.—to ix monks, eche of them vis. viiid.—iiil.—to another monke, who was of the same place, xxd.—for brinnyng of the abbes, with the torches, xxd.—to the prior's boteler for bred, iis. xd.—for wasshyng of napry, xiid.—to the boteler for hys reward, xxd.—to the baker for cccx eggs, xixd. —to him for hys reward, iiis. iiiid.—to xxviii bedds with—of clothys, and wasshyng of the same, vs.—to ii men that fyllyd the grave, viiid. to brueng of v. kome malte, xxd.—for ix pownd candyl, xid.—to the clerks of Bromholm, viiid.—for viii peces of peuter lost of the priors xxd.—geven among the men of the bakhouse xxd.—to the parisshes chyrche of Bromholm xs.—to xii schyrchys ls. viiid.—to the prest that cam with the cors from London iiis. iiiid.—to servytors that awaytyd upon him by the komawndment of W. Paston, xxid. to Playters for hys offering, iiiid.—to the vyker of Upton, iis.—to the sexton of Bromholm for xxii crossys geven to Marget and Modeley per John Paston, iiiis. vid.—to xiiii rynggars, viis.—to xxiiii servertors, eche of them, iiiid.—viiis. to lxx servertors, eche of them iiid. xviis. vid. paid to Dawbeny for severtors, viis—for fyshh the day after the enterment, vis. xd.—for vi barells bere, xiis.—for a roundlet of red wine of xv gallonys, &c. xiis. xid.—to a hors hyer for iii days for Sir James, xiid.—for a quarter malte, vs.—for iiii bushels wete, xxxiid.—for a quarter of otys iis. viiid. for x. kombe malte brueng xld.—for the boord of Rychard Hermer Wrythe, iii days, and for hys hyer the sayde tyme xiiid. ob. for William Yonge barbor, v days, mete and drynke and hys hyer the sayde tyme xvid.—for vi pownd candyl, viid. ob.—to xii pore men beryng torches from London to Norfolk be vi day, is. takynge eche of them on the day iiiid. and for iii dayes in goyng homerward takynge every day vid.—geven to Martyn Savage and Danschers, awaytyng upon my master at London be vii dayes before that he was caryed, iis. xd.—for bred bowthe xxiiiis. for vii barels bere xviis. vid.—for a barel of the grettest assyse, iiis. iiiid.—for iiii barells of alee, xiiis. iiiid.—for bred and alee for xii men that bare torches, xiiid. ob.—to a dole at Bromholm, vl. xiiis. iiiid. to William Colens one of the botelers at Bromholm, xiid.—to Wate Webster, another boteler, xiid.—to Greg. Worsteler one of the porters at Bromholm iiiid.—the parson of Mauteby and Sir Thomas Lynes, to the prests at the deryge at Bromholm xliiis.—in almesse xlviis vid.—more xxs.—to the glaser for takyn owte of ii panys of the wyndows of the schyrche for to late owte the reke of the torches at the deryge and sowderyng new of the same, xxd.—This part of the said roll seems to be wrote by Gloys above mentioned in an indifferent hand, the remaining part is in a very neat and curious old hand, considering that age, and seems to be wrote by Margaret Paston, widow of the deceased John Paston, Esq.

Uittelles bought by Richard Charles..

Fyrste. For xxvii gees, xviis.—for xxvii frankyd gees, vis. viiid.— lxx caponnes, xviis. viid.—for xxix xvii chekons, xvis. vid.—for x chekons, xd.—for xli pygges, xiiis. xd.—for xlix calvys, iiiil. xiiis. iiiid. for xxviii lambys xxviis. iid.—for xxii shep xxxviis. vd.—x nete iiiil. xvis. id.—for ii napronnes to Richard Lynstede, xd.—for claretts and fawcetts, vid.—mccc eggs, vis. vid.—for xx galons milk, xxd.—for viii galons creme, iis. viiid.—for iiii pints of butter iiiid.—for i quarter and ii bushels of whete mele, viis. xd.—to the parson of Crostweyt for i quarter of whete, vis.—for xiiii galons of ale iis.—to a labourer for iii days, xiid. — to xxiiii galons of ale iiiis.—for xiii salt-fysshe iiiis. iiiid.—for the purveying of bred, ale, and fysshe, iiis. iiiid.—to William Reynolds for lodgyng of Master Prowet the prior of the white freres, the parson of Mautby, Sir Thomas Lynds and other by ii nyghtes, vid.—for bred, ale, and possets to the same persons vid.—to Herman, fleying bests by iii days, iis. and to John Foke by iii days, xxd. for purveying of all the velys, lambes, x beefins, certain piggs and polaly, xld.

Bill of the Prior of Bromholm.

Memorandum. The prior toke to bord diverse persons laboryng abought the enterment begynnyng the Thursday in Pentecost Weke, the vi. yere of Kyng Edward the iiiith.

On Thursday I find 3 persons, who had xiid. for their bord and hyer; on Fryday 5, who had xvd. on Saturday 8, who had xxiiid. on Monday all were employed, and on the day after I find 4 to be allowed for ther bord iiiid. ob. and for ther hyers, vd.—ixd. ob.—Delivered by the prior to Richard Charles,—fyrst v quarters of otes, xiiis. iiiid.—v swyne, xiis. vid.—ii bushel of mestlyn, xvd.—v pownd of candell, vd.—xx quarters of malte, xiiis. iiiid. and with gryndyng and brewyng, xviiis.—for a cartfull of hey, iiis. iiiid.—for ii swyne, vs. for ii bushel otes, viiid.—for a quarter of herryng, vid.—for half a quarter makerell, viid. ob. to the parson of St. Peter's for his fee of the wax abought the coors, beside ii candels of ilb. and i hert candel of a pound, xxd.—at my masters xxx day for offeryng, id.

Geven to churches and in almes by Gresham, toward Bromholm, v. marks,—to the clerk of St. Peter's of Hungate his felaship for ryngyng when the coors was in the church, xiid.—to Dawbeney for bests and other stuffe for the enterment, xxl. to him in gold for to chaunge into small mony for the dole, xll.—to W. Pecock, in iii bags to bere to Bromholm, in copper the 20th day, xxvi marks.—to Medeley for his reward, iiii marks, and the same to Maryot,—to Maryot for costs he bare by the way to Bromholm, iiil. xiid.—more to Medeley, for mony paid by him, xlis. xd.—to the keeper of the Inne, where myne husband dyed for his reward xxs.—to Paston chirch, xs.—to Bakton chirch, vis. viiid.—to Gresham the London carrier in full payment for the chaundeler of London, vl. xixs. iiiid.—more in almes mony, vis. viiid.—more for wyne and bere vii marks,—to the parson of St. Peters, vis. viiid.—for wyne for the seingers when the coors was at Norwich, xxs.—to Skolehouse in part of his bille for torches and wax made at Bromholm, for to brenne upon the grave, iiii marks.—for x yerds of narow black for the viker, of Dallynge, and Robert Gallawey, and for iii yerds and quarter of brod cloth for Illee, xxs. xd.—to Freton chirch, vis. viiid.—for a cope, called a frogge of worsted for the prior of Bromholm, xxvis. viiid.—for bred at the enterment, ixs.—in almes, viiis. iiiid. in wyne and spices, ls.—to Dom. John Loveday for cloth for a ridyng cope for himself, xiiiis. iid.—to the makyng of Redham Stepill, viiis. iiiid.—to John Orford, wax-chandeler, for xii torches, and one candell of ilb. lvs. iid. ob. to John Dewe for grey lynen cloth and sylk frenge for the hers, vil. xvis. iid. given to the Austeners at the chapter at the —of Yarmouth, lxxvs.—to Daubeney, for to kepe the yere day at Bromholm, the first yere, after his dethe, viiil. iis. iiiid.—given at Castor to xxv howsholders, every houshold iiid. the said tyme, vis. iiid.—to viii pore men the said tyme xviiid.—to the master of the college, the said tyme, vis. viiid.—to master Clement Felmyngham, the said tyme, vis. viiid.—to viii prests at Castor the said tyme, iis. viiid.—to children in surplices, and other pore folk the said tyme, xiiiid.—to the parson of Hungate, vis. viiid. —to the said parson for a certeyn unto mighelmesse next after the said yere day, viiis. viiid.—to Skolous wax-chandeler, for makyng of the hers at Bromholm, xxiil. ixs. viiid.—to Philip Curson, draper, for cloths, ixl. iiis. ob.—to Aubrey, draper, xxxiiiis.—for a quarter of makerell, xiid.—to the prior of Bromholm, for malte spent at the enterment, xls.—for light kept on the grave, xs.—geven at christemasse next after the said yere-day, to eche of the iiii orders of friers, xs.—xls.—to the vyker of Dallyng for bryngyng home of a pardon from Rome, to pray for alle our frends sowles, viiis. iiiid. for a blacke gowne to the said viker viiis.

The Lady Agnes his mother survived him, and dying in 1479, was buried by her husband, in the chapel of our Lady, in the cathedral of Norwich.

She had by the Judge, besides the above mentioned John Paston, Esq. her eldest son, Edmund, the 2d son, Walter the 3d, and William, the 4th son, Margery, Elizabeth, and Anne Paston. Edmund in 1474 was retained by Richard Duke of Gloucester, constable and admiral of England, to serve him with the King in his voyage over sea, for a whole year, at his spere; well horsed, armed and arraied, with 3 archers well horsed and arraied, he was to have 18d. a day and each archer 6d. a quarter's wages in hand paid; to meet him at Portesdown, in Hampshire, on May 24th ensuing, to enter ship with the King and Duke. Edmund to have all prisoners of war, paying the Duke the 3d part of their value; except the King of France, or the King's sons should be taken by him, or his men, who with all lieutenants and captains taken, are the King's very special.

In 1467, King Edward the Fourth granted a pardon and release to William Paston, Esq. son of William de Paston, late one of the judges of the King's Bench, of Henry, late King of England, (de facto, et non de jure,) for all treasons and crimes whatever; the chief crime was adhering to Henry VI. and (it is particular) that it shall not extend to those that adhere to him, and are attainted of high treason, nor to our enemy Henry VI. Margaret his wife, or Edward their son. This William was a knight, and married Anne, daughter and coheir of Edmund Beaufort Duke of Somerset, by whom he left two daughters, Anne, married to Sir Gilbert Talbot, and Elizabeth to Sir John Savile, Knt. The daughters of the Judge were Elizabeth, married to Robert son of Robert Lord Poynings; Anne, married to William Yolverton, Esq. and Margery, to Richard Colle, Esq.

The Judge left each of them considerable fortunes, with very large sums of money, and things of grate value, which were to be distributed, by his will, among his children: these were in a coffer, and laid in the priory of Norwich, and John Paston, Esq. the eldest son, promised not to resort to it, without the executors and Agnes, his mother; but, contrary to oath, by a wile, got out the goods therein, without the knowledge, (as it is said,) of any of the monks; desiring to have a coffer stand in the said place where his father's stood, and resorting to his own, he broke up his father's, and kept the goods 2 years, when the prior and the executors durst have sworn that they were safe therein. Margaret his wife died in 1481, and was buried in the south isle of the church of Mauteby. (fn. 15)

Sir Jon Paston, Knt. called senior, having a younger brother, John, succeeded as heir to his father, John Paston, Esq. and Margaret his wife. King Edward IV. on July 6th, 1466, granted him a warrant under his hand and privy seal, to take possession of all the lands of inheritance of his late father, or of Agnes his grandmother, or of Margaret his mother, or of William Paston, and Clement Paston, his uncles, and of the manor and place of Castor or in any estates, late his father's, which he had by way of gift, or purchase, of the late Sir John Fastolf; or of any other, in the counties of Norfolk, or Suffolk, and Norwich, &c. the lands being seized by the King on evil surmises made to him against his deceased father, himself, and uncles, of all which they were sufficiently, openly, and worshipfully cleared, before the King.—"So that all yee now being in the said manour, or place of Castor, or in any liflihod late the said Jahn Paston's Esq; by wey of gift or purchase, of late Sir John Fastolf, in our countees aforesaid, that was seised into our hands, that yee avoid the possession of the same, and suffer our trusty and well beloved Knight, Sir John Paston, son and heir of the said John Paston, Esq; deceased, to enjoy the profits thereof, with all the goods and chatels there, and that yee all pay the issues and profits thereof as you did unto his fader at any time in his life." All this was exemplified 21st of Elizabeth.

He gained great honour and reputation for several gallant actions in France, and was chosen to be on King Edward's side, at the great tournament at Eltham in Kent, against the then Lord Chamberlain and others; (fn. 16) and also was sent to conduct the King's sister into France, on her marriage to Charels Duke of Burguudy, and dying November 15th, in 19th of Edward IV. without issue, unmarried, (as I take it) was succeeded by John Paston, junior, Esq. his brother, who in 1475, had a letter of confraternity from William, prior provincal of the Franciscans, or Gray Friars, making him partaker of all the prayers of that order, in life and death, dated at Norwich. "Ob sinceram quam habetis ad nostrum ordinem &c. et Seraphici Francisci patris nostri." He was made knight banneret by K. Henry VII. at the battle of Stoke, in Nottinghamshire, high sheriff of Norfolk, and was one of those who were appointed to recieve the Princess Catherine of Spain, wife of Prince Arthur, at her landing at Plymouth.

He died in 1503, and was buried in 1505, in the White Friars church at Norwich, and left, by Margery his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Brews, of Stinton-hall, in Salle, who bore argent, a lion rampant gules, crowned and crusily of cross croslets, or; Sir William Paston, and Philip Paston, Esq. who married Anne, daughter and heir of Robert Guggs of Sparham, relict of John Blakeney, Esq. and a daughter, Elizabeth, married 1st to William Clere, eldest son of Sir Robert Clere of Ormesby, with 400 marks portion, and after to Sir John Fineaux, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

Sir William, the eldest son and heir, was (as it seems) an eminent counsellor at law, in 1516, the corporation of Yarmouth, in Norfolk, ("for his good and learned counsel given, and to be given") retained him, and granted him an annuity of 40l. per ann. he lived to a great age, about 90, dying in 1554, and his will was proved December 4th, in the said year, (fn. 17) leaving by Bridget his lady, daughter of Sir Henry Heydon, Knt, of Baconsthorp, in Norfolk, (who bore, quarterly argent and gules, a cross ingrailed counterchanged) 5 sons, and 7 daughters; first, Erasmus, of whom we shall afterwards treat; 2d, Henry; 3d, John, who married, Anne, daughter of—Moulton, Esq. by whom he had 2 daughters and coheirs; Bridget, married to Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Elizabeth to Ambrose Jermyn, Esq.; he was gentleman-pensioner to Henry VIII. Edward the VI. Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, and died Sept. 21st, 1575, and was buried in the church of Huntingfield, in Suffolk.

Clement, the 4th son, was born at Paston-hall, on the sea coast, and having a genius and love for shipping and navigation, was in his youth admitted to the service of King Henry VIII. in the navy, and made captain of one of the King's ships, and in an engagement with the French, took their admiral called the Baron de St. Blankheare, or Blankard, whom he kept a prisoner at Castor by Yarmouth till he paid 7000 crowns, for his ransom, besides considerable things of value, which were found in his ship, or gally, (fn. 18) and was at the battle of Muscleburgh, in Scotland, in 1547.

He is said to have been the person to whom Sir Thomas Wyat, the rebel, in Queen Mary's reign, surrendered himself, had the command of several ships of Queen Elizabeth, sent to Newhaven in France, and high sheriff of Norfolk in 1588. King Henry VIII. called him his Champion, the Duke of Somerset, Protector in King Edward's reign, called him his Souldier; Queen Mary, her Seaman; and Queen Elizabeth, her Father. He enjoyed the lordships of Oxnead, and Marlingford, by the will of his father, Sir William Paston, Knt. and built Oxnead-hall, which after became the constant seat and residence of the family. He married, Alice daughter of — Packington, Esq. and relict of Edward Lambert, Esq. and died without issue, February 18th, 1599.

His will his dated Septemer 5th 1594, wherein he desires "his body to be laid in the earth in the chauncel of the parish church of Oxned, his funeral not to be costly, nor over sumptuous, but decent and christian-like, according to his degree and calling; a fair and convenient tomb to be made over his body, and his and his wife's arms to be graven thereon.—to repair Oxnet church, 20s. and his executors to build the steeple higher, and in decent order, and to buy and fix up one new bell, larger, of a greater sound than those already there, to make a ring. To the prisoners in Norwich and the castle, and the guild-hall, 28l. to each lazar-house there 40s. to Alice his wife, her living at Oxnet, for life; mentions the Queen's chamber there, and to enable her to keep hospitality there for life, Buxton park, Mill, and the tithes &c. with 200l. worth of plate, his gold chain of 20 ounces, his jewels, rings, chains, and bracelets, (fn. 19) and 1000l. in money, with the lease of his house in Aldermanbury, London. Appoints his executors to keep good hospitality at Oxned, for one half year next after his decease, that all such who shalle bee his household servants at the time of his decease, shall, or may, at their wills have there, convenient meat, drink, and lodging. Gave to 14 men servants annuitys for life; to some of them 10 per ann. and annuitys to several gentlemen and friends, to Edward Appleton, his nephew, the manours of Appleton, Bucknam's, with their appertenances in Norfolk, several marshes &c.—To Sir William Paston, his nephew, his collar of gold with the snakes, and my standing bowle, called Baron St. Blankheare, to the Right Honourable the Earl of Rutland, his young horse called Barrabie, &c. to his well beloved nephew, Roger Mannors, Esq; an 100l. to his well beloved nephew, John Manners, Esq; one standing cup of silver and gilt, containing 40 ounces, with my arms graven thereon, alo considerable legacies to Elizabeth Jermyn, one of the daughters of my late brother, John Paston, Esq; to the Lady Catherine Newton, daughter of his brother Sir Thomas Paston, to his neice Bridget Court, daughter of Sir John Chaworth, Knt.; to his neice Bridget Cooke, daughter of John Paston, his brother, to Frances his neice, wife of Thomas le Grosse, Esq.: and to many others.

"Appoints his executors to erect within a year after his decease, in some convenient place in Oxned, six houses, or lodgings for six poor aged men, and wills that such of the name of Paston, as shall have any estate, or freehold in the manour of Oxned, to have the nomination, placing and displacing of them, and as they dye, or are removed, another poor aged man, such as have served some of the name of the Pastons, to be preferred to the same place or room, and for their releif, I do give and bequeath unto every of them, weekly on Sunday, 12d. apiece, and dinner and supper, every Sun day in the year at my house at Oxned, and to every of them a freeze gowne, half a hundred of fagot-wood, and half a thousand of flaggs, to be yearly provided and brought home to every of their houses. And that this might be the better performed, he gives and devises to Alice his wife, his manour of Burgleons or Bergoleons, in Norfolk, all his lands, tenements, rents, &c. scituate, lying and being in Repham, Salle, Cardeston, Whitwell, Wooddalling, Hakeford, Booton, Thimblethorp, in Norfolk, also several pasture lands, &c. with messuages, woods, &c. in Oxned, Skeyton, Buxton, Brampton, and Stratton, in Norfolk, and in Southeton, in Suffolk, to have and to hold to his said wife, for her life, and after that to his nephew Sir William Paston, and his heirs for ever, on condition that they truely perform the same, and appoints Alice his wife, Sir William Paston, and Edward Paston, his executors."

The fifth son of Sir William Paston was Sir Thomas Paston; in the 35th of Henry VIII. he was a gentleman of the King's privy chamber, and in the year following was knighted at Bologne in France; he married Anne, daughter and coheir of Sir John Leigh of Addington, in Surrey, and from him descend the family of the Pastons of Berningham, in Norfolk. The daughters of the said William were, first, Elianor, married to Thomas Manners Earl of Rutland; 2d, Anne, married to Sir Thomas Tindale, of Hockwold; 3d, Elizabeth, to Sir Francis Leak of Derbyshire; 4th, Margery, a nun at Berking; 5th, Mary, to Sir John Chaworth of Nottinghamshire; 6th, Margaret; 7th, Bridget, to— Carre, Esq.

Erasmus, the eldest son and heir of the aforesaid Sir William Paston and Bridget his wife, married Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Wyndham of Felbrigge, and died before his father in 1538, November 13th, and was buried in the church of Paston, leaving Mary his wife, (who lived his widow 52 years, buried also at Paston,) by whom he had William Paston, his son and heir, who succeeded his grandfather in his inheritance, and had livery of it in the 1st and 2nd of Philip and Mary; he married Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Clere of Stokesby, who bore argent, on a fess azure, three eaglets displayed or. He received the honour of knighthood, and was famous for his great hospitality; in 1607 he articled with John Key, a free-mason of London, for 200l. to erect and set up a tomb or monument, of alabastar and black marble, with his effigies in armour five feet and a half long, in the chancel of the church of North Walsham, which was accordingly performed in the next year, and the epitaph thereon was composed by his friend, Sir Thomas Kolevet, as follows;

PIETATI et BENEFICENTIÆ SACRUM.—Obdormit hic in Domino GULIELMUS PASTONUS Eques auratus, antiqua et nobili stirpe ortus, cognatione nobilissimus familiis conjunctus, hospitalitate per annos 55 et post mortem 20 duraturâ clarus. Ad reparandas cathedrales ecclesias Bathonïœ et Norwici, collegiumq; Gonvilli et Caii munificus, pauperibus Villœ Yarmouthiœ beneficus. Qui scholam in hoc loco adinformandum, juventutem, concionsq; ad divinum verbum disseminandum, redditibus in perpetuum assignatis pie instituit, et mortalitatis memor hoc monumentum certâ spe in Christo resurgendi, sibi vivus posuit Anno Domini 1608, œtatis suœ 80. The monument is ornamented with the crest and arms of Paston, and his quarterings.

On the school of North-Walsham he settled 40l. per ann. and 10l. per ann. for a weekly lecture there, to the cathedrals of Bath and Norwich he gave 200l. to Caius college, 100l.; to the poor of Yarmouth, 8l. per ann.; and 2l. per ann. to the poor of Castor; and died October 20th, 1610.

By an inquisition taken at Norwich, September 3d, 1611, he was found to die seized of the manors of Wilton and Hockwold, with Poyning's, Scales, Munford's, Stewky's and Stinton's manors there, and Wilton advowson, and the lete there,—Sterncoat marshes in Runham, Magna and Parva Stokesby, Readham, Frethorp, Wickhampton, Limpenhow and Halvergate. The manors of Castor Bardolf's, Castor Paston's and Horninghall, with the advowson of Castor St. Edmund, and Castor Trinity, Tilby Holmehall, Runham Paston's, Mautby with the advowson, Mautby's and Brampton's in Winterton, with FlegHall and Begvile's there.—Waxham, Mautby's and Brampton's and Flodgate, East-Holmes and Begvile's marshes there.—Paston's, Leche's, Latimer's and Hunlingfeld's manors in Baketon.—Paston manor, with the advowson.—Cromer Weyland's, with the lands drowned in the sea. —Gresham, with the advowson.—Basingham and Oxnead, with the advowsons—Matlask manor.—West-Beckham, Sporle and Woodhall there; Easthall, alias Wooton's, and Pagrave Magna with Rand's tenement, and lands and tenements in Runham, Thrigby, Hapisburgh &c. in Norfolk.

His clear rental (all outrents being paid) at his death was 3376l. 13s. per ann. 69 hens, 22 capons, 2 geese, thirteen score, 2 comb, and 2 bushels of barley, 12 comb of oats, and four hundred and five score eggs, the manor of Oxnead being then found to be parcel of the dutchy of Lancaster, paying 15s. per ann. He had a daughter Anne, married to Sir George Chaworthe, and after to Sir Nicholas L'Estrange.

Christopher Paston, Esq. was son and heir to Sir William, and married Anne, daughter of Philip Audley, Esq. of Pagrave in Norfolk, who bore quarterly in the 1st and 4th quarter, ermine, a chevron gules, in the 2d and 3d, gules, a fret or; at an inquisition taken at Norwich castle, September 3d, in the 9th year of James I. before Sir Henry Gawdy, Sir Thomas Berney, Knts. Thomas Corbet, Esq. Henry Branthwayte, Esq. feodary, and John Forest, Esq. eschea or of Norfolk, by virtue of the King's commission, the jurors find that the said Christopher appeared before them personally, and, that he was FATUUS et IDEOTA, and had been so for 24 years past &c. and that he was possessed of the manor of Swanton Abbot in Norfolk, for 34 years yet to come, and of a wood there for 19 years yet to come, valued at 3l. per ann.; and that Sir William his father settled one hundred pounds per ann. rent charge, to be paid to such person as Anne, the wife of the said Christopher, should appoint, for the maintenance of herself and husband, and that Sir Edmund Paston, Knt. was their son and heir apparent, aged 26 years: he married Catherine, daughter of Sir Thomas Knevet of Ashwell-thorp, who bore, argent a bend, and bordure ingrailed sable. She died in 1628, March 10th, and was buried in the church of Paston, as was Sir Edmund, who died in 1632, aged 48.

Sir William Paston, his eldest son, succeeded him, and was admitted in Corpus Christi College, in Cambrige, and took the degree of A. B. in 1626. Fuller, in his history, styles him Decus, Coll. Corp. Christi. In 1636, he was high sheriff of Norfolk, and on June 8th, 1642, created a baronet; his first wife was the Lady Catherine, daughter of Robert Bertie Earl of Lindsey, whose arms were argent three battering rams in pale, armed and ribbed or, headed azure: which lady dying in childbed, in 1636, was buried in the chancel of Oxnead; his second wife was—daughter of—Hewet of London, and sister to Sir William Hewet, who bore, gules, a chevron ingrailed between three owlets argent, and died sans issue. Sir William died February 22, 662, and was buried at Paston.

Sir Robert Paston, Knt. and Bart. his eldest son, by the Lady Catherine, was born at Oxnead, May 29th, 1631, educated in Westminster school, and in Trinity college at Cambridge, was a person of good learning, and travelling into foreign countries, collected many considerable rarities and curiosities, and being an accomplished fine gentleman, entertained King Charles II. his Queen, and the Duke of York, at Oxnead, with the nobility that attended them. On August 9th 1676, he was beset in the night by some villains, who shot 5 bullets through his coach, and one entered into his body, but it proved not mortal. He was a burgess in parliament for Castle-Rysing, created Baron of Paston, and Viscount Yarmouth in Norfolk, August 19th 1673, and Earl of Yarmouth July 30th, 1679 and was lord high steward of Yarmouth, and lord lieutenant of Norfolk. He built the free-school at North Walsham, founded by his ancestor, and gave a rich service of communion plate to the church of Oxnead, and dying March 8th, 1682, was buried at Oxnead, his funeral sermon being preached by John Hildeyard, L.L.D. rector of Cawston, and printed. By his Lady Rebecca, daughter of Sir Jasper Clayton of London, he left several sons and daughters; 1st, William; 2d, Robert, who married Anne, a daughter and coheir of Phillip Harbord of Besthorp in Norfolk, Esq.; 3d, Jasper, who married the widow of Sir Palmes Fairborn and Thomas, a colonel, drowned in the coronation, in 1693. &c.

William Paston, the eldest son, succeeded his father in honour and inheritance, and married the Lady Charlotte Jemima Maria Boyle, (alias Fitz-Roy) natural daughter to King Charles II. by Elizabeth Viscountess Shannon, daughter of Sir William Killigrew, and wife of Francis Boyle Viscount Shannon in Ireland, widow of James Howard, Esq. only son of Thomas Howard, son of Theophilus Earl of Suffolk; his second lady was Elizabeth, daughter of the Lord North, and relict of Sir Robere Wiseman, L.L.D. dean of the arches, by whom he had no issue. By the Lady Charlotte, he had Charles Lord Paston, colonel of a regiment about 1710, William Lord Paston, who was living in 1719, and Robert, who was captain of a man of war, all dying before their father; also two daughters, the Lady Charlotte, married to Thomas Hyrne, Esq. of Haverland in Norfolk, and afterwards to Major Weldon, and the Lady Rebecca, married to Sir John Holland, Bart. of Quidenham in Norfolk.

The arms of this Earl were argent, six lis, azure, and a chief indented or, crest a griffin sejant, wings displayed or, gorged with a ducal coronet argent, and a chain or, on a torce or and azure supporters a bear sable, chained or, and an ostrich argent, with an horse-shoe in his mouth, or. (fn. 20)

After the death of this Earl, who left his estates to pay his debts, this agreeable seat, with the park, gardens, &c. soon run into decay, the greatest part of the house was pulled down, the materials sold, only a part of it left for a farmer to inhabit, and was sold to the Right Honourable Lord Anson.

Keving's Manor.

This was part of the capital manor of Oxnead, held at the survey by Godwin Halden abovementioned, and soon after granted from it; in the reign of King Richard I. it was held by William de Bernham, lord of Bernham Brome in Norfolk; and in 1263, King Henry III. granted a charter of free-warren to Walter de Bernham, then lord of it, and was held of the Bernhams by the family of Hauteyn. William, son of Sir Hamon Hauteyn, conveyed it to Simon Kevyng, (from whom it took its name,) in 1346, and Margery, widow of Thomas Kevyng, with her husband's feoffees, conveyed it absolutely to Sir Robert Salle: she sealed with a fess lozengy, between three escalops; and was again joined to the capital manor.

In the hall-windows of Paston were formerly many arms, which, as they testify several matches of this family, and others that bare a relation to it, I shall here mention.—Paston impaling azure, a chief indented or, Glanvile.—Paston impaling, argent, a lion rampant gules, quere if not Bokenham.—Paston impaling Somerton. Somerton impaling Clere.—Paston and Somerton, quarterly, impaling Berry, quartering Wachesham, argent a fess between two crescents in chief gules; and Bainard sable, a fess between two chevronels or.—Paston impaling Brews of Salle. Paston impaling Heydon.—Paston impaling azure, a chevron or, between three herns argent, Heron.—Paston impaling sable an escotcheon and orle of martlets or, Begvile.—Paston and Mautby.—Berry and Wachesham, quarterly, impaling Gerbridge. (Sir Edmund Berry married Alice Gerbridge.)—Berry impaling Wacheshan.—Berry impaling argent a chief iudented gules, Hengrave. —Berry and Craven, argent a fess between six cross crosslets fitche gules.—Mautby and Berney, quarterly, azure and gules, a cross ingrailed ermine.—(John Mautby married Margery Berney.)—Mautby impaling Lovein, gules, a fess between 14 billets, 4 and 3, 4 and 3, or, —Mautby impaling Marshall, gules, a bend lozengy, or.—Mautby impaling Beauchamp, gules, a fess between six martlets or.—Mautby impaling Clifton, chequer, or and gules, a bend ermine.—Brews and Debenham, sable, a bend between two crescents or.—Heydon and Bullen, argent, a chevron gules between three bulls heads couped sable, armed or.—Checquer or and azure on a canton ermin, a lion rampant or, Warren.—Bouchier, gules, a cross ingrailed between four waterbudgets sable impaling Lovein.—Wachesham and Hetherset, azure, a leopard rampant, guardant, or.—Gerbridge and Coronne or Crown, argent on a fess gules, three ducal crowns, or.—Reedham, azure, three reed bunches or, impaling Caston, gules, a chevron between three spread eagles argent.—Spriggy, chequer, or, and azure, a fess argent.— Clipsby, quarterly argent and sable, on a bend gules. three mullets of the first, impaling Jerningham, argent, three lozenges gules—Swanton, vert two chevronels between six trefoyles gules.—Le Gross, quarterly argent and azure, on a bend sable, three martlets or.—Gunton, argent, three buckles or, impaling Walcot, azure an escotcheon and orle of martlets argent.—Kerdeston, gules, a saltire ingrailed argent, impaling Delapole, azure, a fess between three leopards faces or.—Kerdeston and Morley, argent, a lion rampant sable, crowned or.

On the hall chimney at Oxnead, carved in stone, were the arms of Sir John Fastolf, quarterly, or and azure, on a bend gules, three cross crosslets argent, with those of Milisent his wife, daughter and coheir of Sir Robert Tiptoft, who bore argent, a saltire ingrailed gules; and those of Philips Lord Bardolph, Scroop, Fitz Ralph, and Inglos, which shows that it was brought here from Castor-hall.

In a grove of this town, were found, in the reign of King Charles II. several silver soins of the Roman Emperors, in an urn, viz. of Augustus, Vitellius, Vespatian, Trajan, Adrian and Pertinax

On the 7th of February, 1442, John Kemp Archbishop of York, at his palace by Westminster (now Whitehall) granted an indulgence of an 100 days pardon to all those persons who would contribute any portion of their goods towards the repair, or new building of the bridges in the town of Oxnead.

The Church of Oxnead is dedicated to St. Michael, consisting of a nave, and a chancel, both covered with tiles, and a square tower, in which is one bell. In the nave lies a gravestone with a brass plate.

Hic jacet GALFRIDUS BRAMPTON Gen. quondam senescallus hospitii Gulielmi Paston Militis in Paston, posteà, Clementis Paston Armigeri in Oxnede, qui, post multos annos in eodem offico fideliter impensos, obt. 14 die Decembri Anno Domini 1586, Ætatis suœ 63.—On it the arms of Brampton of Brampton.

On another,

Mors ultima linea rerum, Hic jacet Rob. Dunning, medicinœ doctor; vir probus, et doctus, pauperibus munificus, ac egregio et venerabili viro, Dno. Gulielmo Paston Equiti Aurato, fidelis medicus, quocum domesticè vixit, et per multos annos salutem ejus, doctè, salutaliter et peritè curavit; et postquam complevit LXXIIII annos, fœliciter vitam cum morte mutavit 28 die Junii, 1610, et in ejus memoriam hoc posuit Johannes Drage consanguineus ejus.

In the chancel, which is paved with black and white marble, at the east end against the north wall, on a marble tomb, lies the effigies of a man in armour on a matt, at his feet a pelican, by him his wife kneeling in alabaster, and on a wall-piece ornamented, and supported with pilasters,

You that behold this stately marble tombe, And long to know, who here entombed lyes, Here rests the corps, and shall 'till day of dome, Of Clement Paston, fortunate and wise; Fourth son to old Sir William Paston, Knight, Who dwells with God in sphere of christal bright.

Of Brutus race princes he served four, In peace and war, as fortune did command.

Sometimes by sea, and sometime on the shore, The French and Scot he often did withstand, A Pere of France, in spight of all his betters, He took in fight, and brought him home in fetters.

Oxnede he buildt, in which he lived long, With great renowne for feeding of the poor, To frinds, a frind, of foes he took no wrong, Twice forty years he lived, and somewhat more, And at the last by dombe of hie beheste, His soul in heaven, his body here doth rest.

Obt. 18 Febr. 1597.

On the monument is the quartered coat of Paston, viz. 1, Paston, argent, 3, 2, and 1, de-lis azure and chief indented or.—2d, Argent a fess between two chevronells gules, Peche.—3d, Ermin, on a chief indented gules, 3 ducal coronets, or, Leach.—4th, Or, on a chevron between lions heads erased gules, three bezants, Somerton.—5th, Argent, a chevron between three bears heads couped, sable, muzzled or, Barry.—6th, Azure, a cross or, Mautby.—7th, Ermine, on a chief gules, three lozenges of the first, Charles.—8th, Argent a fess, and in chief two crescents, gules, Wachesham.—9th, Azure, a lion rampant, guardant, or, Hetherset.—10th, Sable a fess between two chevronells or, Gerbridge.—11th,

12th, Azure, an escotcheon and orle of martlets or, Walcote.—13th, Argent, a chief indented gules, Hengrave.—14th, Gules a saltier engrailed argent, Kerdeston.—15th, Argent a fess between six cross crosslets, fitchee gules, Craven.—Also Paston impaling quarterly by chevrons, sable and argent in chief, three estoils, or, in base three garbs gules, Packington; in 2d quarter argent on a fess between six martlets gules, three roses slipped or; in the 3d, argent on a bend gules, three martlets or; 4th quarter as the 1st, and,

Here resteth Alice Paston widow, daughter of—Packington, first the wife of Richard Lambert, of London, Esq; secondly to Clement Paston, of Oxned, she dyed 18th. of January 1608.

On the said north wall, is a neat monument of black and white marble, with the bust of a lady in white marble, &c. with the arms of Paston impaling argent, three battering rams, armed and ribbed or, headed azure.—Bertie.

Hæc Niobe tegit defletq; funestas Exuvias celeberrimæ Dnæ. Katherinæ Paston, quondam sponsæ dilectissimæ dignissimi viri, Gulielmi Paston Armigeri, filiæq; Natu maximæ Honoratissmi Domini Roberti Comitis Lindisiæ. D. Magni Angliæ Camerarii et Constabularii &c. Hæc Heroina sublimes suos natales Summâ virtute superavit, vixit Omnibus, tam corporis quam Animi dotibus omnifariam, abundèq; Ornata, et honorata ex dolore Puerperii pientissime obt; 3.

Calend; Januar; anno domini 1636.

Tres filios spectatissimæ Speratissimæq; indolis superstites Mille verò mærores, suis reliquit.

Needs she another monument of stone, Who had so many better then this one, All which were noble hearts whom her decease Transmuted into marble Niobes.

Each tomb was arch'd about with weeping eyes, Whom sorrow's blasts did christalize.

Tru piety, virtue, love and honour'd blood, On both sides, as corinthian colums stood, Three children angels were which did disperse, Youth, beauty, wealth, like flowers on each herse.

A foliage of humane frail estate The basement of the worke did variate, But glory, like a pyramid above, The fabrick crown'd and wreath'd the court of Love.

Though these renowned Mausoleums were, Yet her sad consort rear'd this structure here, That future ages might from it collect, Her matchless merit, and his true respect.

On a gravestone in the chancel,

Hic jacet Anna, filia Johannis Paston, Militis, cujus animœ propitiatur Deus.

Also,

Here lyeth Edmund Lambert, late of Boyton in the county of Wilts, Esq; son of Mr. Lambert of London, Esq; who had issue by Anne Jackman his wife, 5 sons and 9 daughters, he died 23d. of December 1608.

This rectory is valued in the King's Books at 9l. 17s. ob. and by a terrier in 1663, there appears to be 30 acres and one rood of glebe land belonging to it.

Rectors.

1307, Nicholas de Castello, or Castle, presented by William son of Sir Hamon Hauteyn, Knt. deceased.

1315, Henry de Mundham, by William, &c.

1327, John Nabbyng, of Happesburgh, by Henry de Colby.

1339, John, son of John Hauteyn of Oxnede.

William Hauteyn of Oxnedes.

1383, Thomas Bonde occurs rector.

1402, John Canceler, by John de Hanwelle, lessee.

1420, Adam Smith. William Paston of Paston.

1421, John Cory. Ditto. He exchanged for Dersingham.

1421, Richard Bolour by ditto; an exchange for Durgh St. Margaret.

1427, Bartholomew Colet. Ditto.

1439, John Roys. Ditto. On an exchange for Mundford.

1440, Thomas Holtman. Ditto.

1444, Laurence Baldewar. Ditto. Exchanged for Stocton.

1461, Walter Balle. Agnes, widow of William Paston.

1475, Thomas Everard, canon regular. Ditto.

1479, William Barthulmew. Ditto.

1504, Owen Wachan. William Paston, Esq.

1529, Peter Deye. Sir William Paston.

1546, William Warner, S. T. P. Ditto.

Edmund Themilthorp.

1564, Roger Pole. Clement Paston, Esq.

1568, Roger Sherlock. Ditto. United to Brampton.

1609, Thomas Barber. Sir William Paston.

1617, William Starkey, A. M. by Sir John Hevenynham, and John Jermy, Esq.

1645, William Starkey, A. M. on resignation of his father, by Sir William Paston, Bart.

1657, Henry Lucy. Ditto. Admitted by the commissioners of publick preachers, and vicar of Buxton.

1667, John Doughty. Sir Robert Paston, Bart.

1671, John Gough, A. M. Ditto.

Francis Crusoe held it by sequestration, rector of Mautby.

Laurence Womock held it by sequestration, rector of Castor by Yarmouth, and vicar of Buxton.

1709, Henry Sheppey. The Crown by lapse; and rector of Possewick.

1740, George Ray, A. M. by John Bennent, Gent. by a grant from the late Earl of Yarmouth.

The Hospital in Oxnead, its Foundation and Maintenance, Land tied for it.

Out of which must be laid out,

Whereof the house, and especially the house, to be kept in order.