in Leicestershire were Tur Langton (to which parts of the other Langtons were then appendant), Lubbenham, Welham, Keythorp,

and Tilton.

"III. Remigius, bishop of Lincoln, was a Norman by birth, of the blood of the Deincourts, who were allied to the Conqueror, and a monk of Fefcamp. He held the fee of Lincoln from 1070 to 1092; and, befides his property in Leicestershire, had lands in the counties of Bedford, Buckingham, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Lincoln, Northampton, and Nottingham.

"William of Malmesbury's defcription of the perfon of Remigius, is too ftriking to be paffed over in filence: "Quia ipfe pro exiguitate corporis penè portentum hominis videbatur; luctabatur excellere & foris eminere animus, eratque

Gratior exiguo veniens è corpore virtus.

Quem ideo Natura compegiffe videtur, ut fciretur beatiffimum ingenium in miferrimo corpore habitare poffe." To the fhortness of his figure bishop Fuller alludes in these verses, which he caused to be engraven on the tablet over his tomb:

"Hujus Fundator templi Remigius urnâ

Hac jacet, atque brevi fit fatis ampla viro."

"I could enlarge on the history and character of this prelate; but am unwilling to anticipate a memoir, compiled by my venerable friend Dr. Pegge, now actually in the prefs. From a valuable register of this bifhop, recovered by bishop Green from the MSS. of archbifhop Wake, and now preferved amongst the archives of the dean and chapter of Lincoln, I have been favoured with fome extracts by John Fardell, efq. their very intelligent Registrar.

"IV. Geoffrey, bishop of Coutance, a noble Norman, was elected to the fee (which is fuffragan to the archbishop of Rouen) in 1048. He had a diftinguifhed command at the battle of Haftings; and for his fervices was rewarded with 180 lordships, amongst which was that of Arrby in this county; and was conftituted chief jufticiary of Ireland. He prefided alfo at a great trial in the county-court held at Tenterden in Kent, between Lanfranc archbishop of Canterbury, and Odo bifhop of Baieux. In 1070 he is called by Ordericus Vitalis magifler militum; and, in 1074, accompanied bishop Odo to fupprefs a rebellion under the earls of Hereford and Norfolk; and from this prelate the Weft Saxons, who had affaulted Montacute, received a fevere check. He affifted at a council at St. Paul's, 1079; and, after having been prefent at the Conqueror's funeral, joined the bishop of Eaicux in the rebellion against Rufus; and died in 1093.

"V. The abbey of Peterborough, one of the moft ancient of our mitred abbeys, had been founded to early as 655, by Peada, king of the Mercians. The chief of this houfe, at the time of the furvey, was Thorold, who is reprefented as a man of boundlefs profufion. At his entrance into office, in the year 1069, the goods of the abbey were eftimated at 1500l. which he reduced to one third of that fum. Being weary of his government at Peterborough, he obtained the bifhoprick of Beauvois in France, whither he transported many of the

goods

goods of the English church. But, being expelled thence in the hort time of four days, he gave the Conqueror a large fum of money to be re-established at Peterborough; where he continued till his death in 1089 or 1100. He had in Leicestershire the manor of Eafton, with lands in one of the Langtons.

"VI. The abbey of Coventry was another of our mitred abbeys, and had been then but lately founded by Leofric earl of Leicefter. The abbot of this period is believed to have been Leofric II. who died a little before the year 1095. The abbot was lord of Burbach, Barwell, Marfton, and part of Stapleton.

"VII. The abbey of Croyland was a very early foundation, by Ethelbald king of Mercia, in 716. The abbot, when the furvey was taken, was Ingulphus, who became the hiftoriographer of his monaftery, after he had skreened it from fevere taxation. He was abbot from 1076 till his death in 1109. His property in Leicestershire was at Beby, Sutton, and Stapleton.

"VIII. The Kings Eleemofinary Lands in this county, were fituated at Peatling, Svefbi, Sutton, Elvestone, Swinford, Wiceftan, and Sceneford. What the exact nature of their tenure was, we cannot readily define. They were held by five fub-tenants; three of whom, Godvin, Ernebern, and Aluric, were priefts; the other two were Ingald, and the wife of Quintin. A conjecture on this fubject has been hazarded in p. xl.

"IX. The earl of Mellent was Robert de Bellomont, a firm adherent to the Conqueror. In 1107, he obtained the earldom of Leicefter; and died in 1118. His lordships in the county were, Aylfton, Frolefworth, Huncote, and Bofworth. Of this nobleman, and his defcendants, a full account is given in the early part of the Hiftory of Leicester, p. 22-98.

"X. Earl Aubrey poffeffed fixteen lordships in Leicestershire, ten in Northamptonshire, fix in Warwickshire, two in Oxfordshire, and ten in Wiltshire; in which laft county he had property in the time of king Edward the Confeffor, which fhews that he was an Englishman; but whence he derived his title of earl has not been discovered. He is a different perfon from Aubrey de Vere, ancestor of the earls of Oxford; who married Beatrix, neice and heirefs of Manaffes earl of Guifnes, whence he is fuppofed to have been earl of Guifues, not allowed by Dugdale. He was father of Alberic, the great chamberlain to Henry I. and grandfather to Alberic, who was, by the empress Maud, created earl of Oxford. Four of the nine manors in Northamptonshire are expressly faid to be held by Alberic the chamberlain, which was in the reign of Henry II. the other fix by Alberic fimply; and a virgate in Clapton, by Alberic the monk.

"XI. Countefs Godiva. Of this devout lady, who was fifter to Thorold, fheriff of Lincolnshire, and from the year 1057 had continued the widow of Leofric, fixth earl of Leicester, a full account is given in the History of Leicester, p. 17. She poffeffed three lord. fhips in this county, Norton, Appleby, and Bilfton.

"XII. Countefs Alveva was wife to Algar, the seventh earl of Leicester; and mother of Edwin the eighth earl, and of Morcar earl of Northumberland. She poffeffed fome property at Ayleston.

" XIII.

"XIII. Hugo de Grentemaifnell, a companion of the Conqueror into England, and one of his barons, obtained fixty-feven lordships in Leicestershire, twenty in Northamptonshire, and feveral in other counties; and is memorable for having been appointed hereditary lord high fteward of England, In the close of life he embraced the monaftic habit at St. Ebrulf in Normandy, where he died in 1094. See a full account of this earl, and his defcendants, in the History of Leicefter, p. 20, 21,

"XIV. Henry de Ferrieres, or de Ferrariis, fon to Gualcheline de Ferieres, a Norman, either accompanied the Conqueror, or followed him before the general furvey; in which great fervice, as has been already ftated, p. xxxiv. he was one of the commiffioners. He had thirty-five lordships in Leicestershire; one hundred and fourteen in Derbyshire, with many in the counties of Derby, Oxford, Wells, Lincoln, Bucks, and Gloucester. He was the founder of Tutbury priory; father to Robert the first earl of Derby; ancestor to the lord's Ferrers of Chartley, Groby, and Oakham; and confequently to the prefent earl of Stamford, the earl Ferrers, and the earl of Leicester. A full account of the family of Ferrers will be feen under Wymondham, Groby, Bredon, Leicester, &c.

;

"XV. Robert de Todeni, another noble Norman, and standardbearer to the Conqueror, was the founder of Belvoir Castle, where his pofterity have ever fince been honourably feated; John-Henry, the prefent duke of Rutland, between whom and the founder there have been but twenty-two generations, being his immediate defcendant as is fhewn under the Hiftory of Belvoir, p. 66. Robert de Todeni died in 1088; and was buried in the priory which he had himself founded; and in the ruins of which, in 1793, his coffin was examined, as defcribed in p. 79. His property in Leicefterfhire was at Horninghold, Medburn, Blafton, Harby, Barkfton (and Plungar), Bottesford, Redmile (and Mufton), Knipton, Laughton, Lubbenham, Barkby, Hungarton, Cropfton, Queniborough, Claxton, Howes, and Stathern. The lordship of Belvoir, not mentioned in the record, was probably included in that of Wolfthorpe. For a full account of this illuftrious family, fee Vol. II. p. 23-68.

"XVI. Robert de Veci, another of the Normans who affifted William the Conqueror in his expedition, was rewarded with the lordfhips of Morton, Scentone, part of Cleveliorde, Gumley, Shankton, Thorpe, Bafurde, Cliborne, and Newton, in Leicestershire; and with other great eftates in the counties of Northampton, Warwick, and Lincoln. From Ivo, called alfo John de Vefci, a great baron, either brother, or nearly allied to Robert, the prefent lord Vefci claims his defcent by the female line.

"XVII. Robert de Buci poffeffed thirty lordships in this county. "XVIII. Roger de Bufli had five lordships in Leicestershire; Clofintone, Wimefwould, Saltby, Wy fordby, and Burton. He had one lordship alfo in Devonfhire, eight in Derbyshire, forty-nine in Yorkfhire, and eighty-fix in Nottinghamshire. His principal refidences were at Tickill Caftle, Yorkshire; at Hougham, Lincolnshire; and at Blith (near Tickhill) on the confines of Nottinghamshire, where he had alfo another caftle. In 2 William Rufus, he founded a priory

for

För Benedictine monks, which he annexed as a cell to the abbey of St. Catharine's on the Mount, near Roan, in Normandy. He gave alfo to the monks of St. Peter's, in Gloucefter, his lordship of Clifford ; and, furviving king Henry I. ftood firm to his daughter Maud the Emprefs; on which account, king Stephen feized upon his caftle of Tickhill, and the whole honour of Blithe, and gave them to Ranulph then earl of Chefter. The barony terminated in John his grandfon, who left one daughter and heir, married to Robert de Vipont, a great baron of that tiine.

"XIX. Robert Defpenfer was fteward to the Conqueror; one of his barons; and had feventeen lordships in Leicestershire, fifteen in Lincolnshire, with feveral others in the counties of Warwick and Gloucefter. He was brother to the earl of Montgomery, and to Urfo D'Abetot, hereditary fheriff of Worcestershire; father to William le Defpenfer, who was steward to king Henry I. and progenitor to the noble family of Spenfer, now duke of Marlborough.

"XX. Robert the Ufher (Hoftiarius) poffeffed lands in two lordhips in this county, Claxton and Howes. He was the fon of William the Ufher; and his lordships devolved to Roger de Bufli.

"XXI. Ralph de Mortimer was allied, by the mother's fide, to the Conqueror, accompanied him into England, and was one of the chiefeft commanders in his victorious army. He was afterward fent to encounter Edric earl of Shrewsbury, whom he fubdued, and delivered captive to the king; whereupon he enjoyed Wigmore caftle, and all the other lands of that earl. He had only two lordships in Leicesterfhire, Sbernefton and Weftone; but had large poffeffions in many other counties.

"XXII. Ralph Fitz Hubert held nine plough-lands at Dalby; and had property alfo in Derbyshire.

"XXIII. Wido de Renbudcurt had the lordships of Thurstanton, Stormfworth, Mifterton, Barrehorde, part of Cleveliorde, and Barefworde, in Leicestershire; and others in Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and Lincolnshire,

"XXIV. Wido, or Guy, de Credun came in with the Conqueror, and obtained the lordships of Stonefby, Waltham, and Sproxton, in this county, and about fixty in Lincolnshire. He fixed the chief feat of his baronry at Frefton, in the divifion of Holland; where Alan his fon afterward founded a priory of Benedictine monks, which he gave as a cell to Croyland, and fettled on them the church of Stonesby. His inheritance paffed by a female to the family of Vaux; and afterward by another female into that of the lords Ros, ancestors to the prefent duke of Rutland. See the pedigrees of Creon and Vaux, under Belvoir, p. 28.

"XXV. William Peverell was a natural fon of the Conqueror, by a Concubine, afterwards the wife of Ranulph Peverell. William had the cuftody of the caftle of Nottingham; with five lordships in Leicestershire (Fofton, Erendefbi, Lubbelthorpe, Carbi, and Effebi) and others in various parts of the kingdom, to the number of 162.

"XXVI. William Buenvaleth is mentioned only as holding two ploughlands in Ravenfton; which lay wafte in the time of the Con. feffor,

feffor, and continued fo. He had other lands, at the time of the furvey, in Warwickshire.

66

XXVII. William Loveth, or Levet, had three lordships in this county, Difworth, Thedingworth, and Sweftern, and others in Berks and Bedfordshire. He had lands alfo in Northamptonshire, where we find his pofterity feated at Welford, from the reign of Henry III. to that of Edward III. on a manor called Lovet's Manor.

"XXVIII. Geoffrey Alfelin had the lordships of Alton, Godeby, Keythorpe, Billefdon, and Rollefton, in Leicestershire, and a confiderable barony in the counties of Nottingham, Derby, and Lincoln; but great part of his eftate, after two generations, went by a daughter to the Bardolphs.

"XXIX. Geoffrey de Wirce, of a noble family in Bretagne, came over with the Conqueror; who rewarded him with twenty-feven lordships, amongst which was the paramount manor of Melton. He had alfo large poffeffions in the counties of Warwick, Northampton, Nottingham, and Lincoln.

"XXX. Geoffrey de Cambrai was a land-owner at Sproxton in this county, and had poffeflions alfo in Lincolnshire.

"XXXI. Guntrid de Cioches poffeffed three ploughlands in Mofeley; a lordship which, at the time of the furvey, is defcribed as ying wafte. He had fixteen lordfhips in Northamptonshire, and others in the counties of Berks, Bedford, and Nottingham.

"XXXII. Humphrey the Chamberlain had two lordships in this county, Dalby and Barnefbi; and fome others in Surrey, Hants, Berks, Wilts, Dorfetthire, Glouceflerfhire, and Suffolk.

"XXXIII. Gilbert de Gaunt, fon of Baldwin earl of Flanders, and nephew to the Conqueror, married Alice, daughter and heir of Robert, fon of Hugh Montfort. In Leicestershire he had only five plough Jands at Barefworth; but poffeffed feveral lordships in different counties. He fixed his feat at Folkingham, co. Lincoln, which he made the head of his barony. Gilbert V. was fummoned to parliament 26 Edward I. but, having no iffue, conftituted the king heir to all the lands of his barony, and the others went to his heirs female.

"XXXIV. Gilbert had two lordfhips in this county, Ashby and Mofeley.

XXXV. Durandus Malet is fuppofed to have been nearly allied to the great baron, Robert Malet. He had property at Burton, Preftwould, and Wimefwould, in this county; and divers lordships in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

XXXVI. Drogo de Bevrere was a noble Fleming, who attended the Conqueror on the invafion, and was rewarded with the lordships of Orton and Hoby in Leicestershire; and feveral others in the counties of Northampton, York, Lincoln, Norfolk, and Suffolk. He probably was ancestor of William de Briwere, who stood in great favour with the kings Henry II. Richard I. John, and Henry III. and had large property in Somerfetfhire, where he founded feveral religious houfes. William his fon died without iffue, 16 Henry III. leaving his five fifters his heirs.

3

"XXXVII. Maino the Briton had in Leicestershire the lordship of Lutterworth, with lands at Miferton and Thorpe ; and other lordships in the counties of Hertford and Northampton.

"XXXVIII.