’ ' by A . H AMI L I UN b . 5 . A .

The obj ect of the following acc o unt of the history of the manor and church of Rothley h as already been explained in the notes o n three other Leicestershire manors recently published in

ns c ti ons our Tra a . The manor of Rothley is o f special interest as one of considerable size and importance , with widely scattered members , and with customs which give it a peculiar individuality . The questions of j urisdiction and tenure which arise in connection with it are of more than local importance , appealing particularly to the general student of manorial history and local government .

On another side of the subj ect , the relation of the manor and church to the tw o military religious orders of medieval England is illustrated in a concrete form by the survival of the house and chapel of the Knights Templars in the parish . These buildings

Fo ro ok are described in the following pages by Mr . sb e , while

Mr . Watts is responsible for the description of the church .

Ecclesiastically , the parish , with its distant chapelries , while not unique , is at any rate quite exceptional . The list of incumbents has been drawn up from records o f institutions kindly supplied ’

R . ev . . by the C . W Foster , prebendary of Leicester St Margaret s n in the cathedral church o f Lincoln . U fortunately , owing to the fact that the priests of the various chapels were appointed by the vicars o f Rothley at their pleasure , according to the universal custom in such cases , so that there is no consecutive record of

o f . their appointments , no satisfactory lists can be made them n Their names , however , eve if they could be obtained , would be of little or no value to the historian .

5791g9 ENGLI SH LOCAL

ROT HLE Y

Fo brook F A H. s e . . . The preceptory , by T . , S

E arnham F A The descent of the manor , by George , . S . .

Re . . v . The church , by J Wallace Watts A R . o F . . A H . The vicars of othley , by amilton Th mpson , S

~ P E I. T HE R C EPT O RY F H. osbrook F A By T . e, . S . .

There is probably no manor in the co unty o f Leicester which

o fiers greater attractions to archaeolo gists than the manor o f

Rothley . Certainly no other manor boasts so large a number of

th e o f o members within orbit of the j urisdiction its l rd , the soke o f Ro th e thley at the time of Domesday s urvey of 1086 , com prising manorial rights in no less than twenty tw o outlying

R The hamlets , besides othley proper . student of ancient customs connected with manorial Courts as well as the lover of ancient R buildings will find in othley a field (for his investigation , the former in the peculiarities of gavelkind and tenants holding

“

ancient de mesn e lands , the latter by inspecting the thirteenth century chapel and the other remnants o f the home o f the Knights o f the Temple . N From Edward the Confessor , through orman and Plan ta n t h H ge e kings , t e Knights Templars , the Knights ospitallers , and a long lin e of Babingtons who hailed from Chilwell and R t Dethick , the very names of the lords of the manor of o hley add to the interest connected with the place ; while in later times its associations with lord Macaulay , whose birthplace

o o f it was , with Wilberforce , the champi n for the abolition R slavery , who , amid the groves of othley Temple drew up in conjunction with his friend and host Mr . Babington , his long ffi indictment o f the cruelties practised in this inhuman tra c , and

R t o lastly with lord Kitchener , summoned from a visit at othley R conduct his campaign in Egypt , will always render othley fa mous . L E IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O CIETY .

T he village of Rothley is situated h alf a mile to the west of t h e main road wh ich leads from Leicester to Loughborough and A e quidistant f rom both places . bout a quarter of a m ile furt her w est stands t h e manor h ouse known as t h e Temple from its con

ne c t io n w ith th e Templars .

Th e situation of the Temple is typically monastic , lying low amid pastures of vivid green through which the Rothley brook winds its course from the hills of Ch arnwood to j oin the river

Soar near Cossington , the ancient preceptory , surrounded by

fine timber and charming gardens , greatly enlarged and much t modernised , makes a deligh ful residence .

T H NI H AR E K G TS TEMPL S .

Th e manor and soke of Rothley were granted to the Knights

Tem plars by King Henry III . in the year 123 1.

This famous Order was started during the first Crusade , in 1118 th e year , by nine French Knights , wh o took the vows of

poverty , chastity and obedience , and depending solely on the alms “ ” o f w At the faith ful , they ere termed Poor Knights . one time

their poverty was so great , t h at only one horse was allowed to

every two knigh ts , a condition portrayed on their seals where t w o

e A A Knights are seen riding on one horse . (S e ppendix . ) The special obj ect of the fraternity was to protect pilgrims on their

way from th e coast to the Holy Sepulch re at Jerusalem . They also undertook to wage perpetual war against the infidel in defence *

II . of th e Cross . Baldwin , King of Jerusalem , assigned to them

* Be h e i 1153 h a s e n a w on e S t . na d e a a w o n r rd Cl irv ux , di d , giv d rful picture o f th e K night s Te mpl a rs in h is di s co urse o n th e Ne w Chi v alry “ Th e soldi e rs o f Chri s t live toge th e r in co mmo n in a n a gre e a bl e but a m a n e o w e a nd w o e n a nd a frug l n r , with ut iv s ith ut childr ; th t no n m a b w a e a n e a e e o n e w e thi g y e nti ng to v g lic l p rf cti , th y d ll e e o o e o f a ny n in o n e o se n e o ne e tog th r with ut pr p rty ki d , h u , u d r rul , c a re ful to pre se rv e th e u n ity o f th e spirit in th e b o nd o f e e is o n e o ne so a s e a o ne in n o Th r but e h a rt a nd ul , ch e s e o w e e h i o w w o r es e is r p ct f llo th a ft r s n ill d ir , but e o h e e a re e e e dilig nt t t e w ill o f t h e M a st r . Th y n v r idl n o r a m n a o a w en e a re no t in th e e r bli g br d , but h th y fi ld , a e m ay n o t e a t e e a in e ne s s e a re a nd th t th y th ir br d idl , th y fitting e a e a m o a nd e o n o r e m o n e m se ve s r p iring th ir r ur th ir cl thi g , pl yi g th l in s o a s e e e o r e uch occupa ti ns a s t h e w ill o f th e M t r r quir th , th ir o mmo n e e s s e e n e n Amo n e m e e is no c n c iti s r d r e xpe di e t . g th th r s n o o f e so ns e e s a nd m o s v o s di ti cti n p r ; r s pe ct is pa id to th e b t t irtu u , ’ no t th e m o e i a o e s o no e s no . e y a a t bl Th p rtici p te n e ch th r h ur , th y ’ ea o n e a no e s e ns a th e v ma v th e la w o f C s . b r th r burth , th t fulfil hri t ROTHL EY . T HE P RE C EPTORY . 3

of a portion his palace in that city , and the abbot of the adj oining convent , having granted them a piece of ground near the Temple

for their home , the Knights assumed the name of Templars .

The Knights wore a white mantle , to which a red cross was added 116 6 o f III . on the left breast in , by order Pope Eugenius , as a

sign of their constant exposure to martyrdom . They observed A h the rule of St . ustin , and admitted spiritual members to t e

Order termed chaplains ; married knights were admitted , but h there were no sisters of the Order . Their patroness was t e Virgin Mary and the head of the Order was termed the Grand

Master .

Owing to the fame of the Templars and their feats of arms H in in the oly Land , the sons of the nobility France and England * fl ocked to their standard . Lands and riches were showered upon

t o the Templars such a degree, that they soon became as noted A for their wealth as they were formerly for their poverty . thir d class of humble servitors was added to the Order , and each Knight

‘ possessed no less than three h orses . i

The Templars had their headquarters in Palestine , where they

th e acquired defended houses , which were in fact strong castles , ruins of som e still remain . They also acquired estates in nearly every country in Europe .

to 1140 They first came England about , and established them in h selves London , at a spot known as the Old Temple on the sout

* Th e Templa rs e ith e r re ce ive d o r a dopte d th e ir fa r-fam e d Banner ca lle d i l F en B A AN in o nse e n e of th e a and w e s r es n o d r ch E US E T , c qu c bl ck hit t ip o f w w a s om o s e s na m e ene a e n a e t o a se of hich it c p d , thi g r lly b i g ppli d hor e se o o s and B ea se a n e ame a so th e W a r Cr of th e em a s th c l ur , u t b c l y T pl r — h n e se o e th e a w o rd o f terro r w h e rever it w a s h ea rd . T e ba n r it lf b r R ed o ss o f th e a n o n a nd th e m e sel - en n Cr e Ord r , p i ted up it , hu bl f d yi g “ e of r o s m ne no n no s s e d o m n tuo d a t xt S c ipture : N n No bi , Do i , bi , n i i m — o no t n us Th y am e e o a . No t o u s gl ri [ unt , 0 L rd , u to , but unto n giv th r e glo y . ] “ ' h I en d e R VINS w h o h a d lIn th e e arly pa rt of t e X II c t . GUYOT P O e a m e a n e a me a m o n w o e a s o ow s o n e n th e b en instr l d b c k , r t f ll , c c r ing Templ a rs “ e r e i a m e a e b th e s a nd e Th y a e h ono ur d n S yri , uch dr d d y Turk , th ir “ e n o w e e no t ne e ssa t o Orde r w o uld s uit m e w ll e ugh , r it c ry fight ; but e r e As fo r m e I d ie w ne ve be I o e th y a e too brav . , if , it ill r , h p “ I h a d ra e be a n ow a an thro ugh pro w e ss o r c o urage . th r livi g c rd , th o se w o e s h a ve th e m o st illu stri o u s de a th in th e w ho le w o rld . Th rthi h of th e Templ e a re v e ry e x a ct in a ll w hich co nc e rns th e se ry i c e s o f t e . n e e n a o n I s o y e t o e m i n no n ; Church ; a d r sp cti g th t p i t , h uld i ld th thi g but th e m o m ent fighti ng c omme nce d th ey sh o uld go W itho ut m e w n ea ve a o n to e . A a e is no t w o e so m . I g y b ttl h l illi l l th t h ou”r e m and e a se d I o e to be e e e no r w o n e . th ; pl Go , h p n ith r kill d u d d S R R AR 4 L E IC E TE S HI E CHAEOLOG ICAL S O CIETY .

n 1185 side of Holborn . I th ey migrated to anoth er site in Fleet

Street wh ere th eir establish ment still continues , though long con H verted to oth er uses . ere stands th at wonderful and beautiful w building ith its circular nave , still known as th e Temple Church , designed on th e same plan as the church of th e Holy Sepulchre at

Jerusalem .

Th e Templars erected on some of their estates in England buildings known as Preceptories , which were dependent upon the

Tem ple in London . The existing remains of these preceptories are very sc anty and it is impossible to obtain from them anything like a complete plan of th e buildings . After the grant of 123 1 one of these preceptories was erected R at othley , of wh ich the chapel and a portion of the domestic

buildings still remain .

Furt h er grants were made by King Henry III . to the

em lars R T p , both of lands in othley itself and in several hamlets

of th e Soke . The King evidently held the order in high esteem and entrusted to them his body for burial after his mortal end ' fi tminst though as a matter of fact he was buried in es er Abbey .

In 1291 A , cre , the last bulwark of the Crusaders against the

Turks , opened its gates to the infidel after a siege of six weeks , at th e close of which William de Beauj eu , the grand master of t h e Order of th e Temple , was slain . The few surviving Templars

w ay elected a new master , and forcing their to the seashore , sailed

r . for Cyp us , which now became the headquarters of the Order For more than a hundred years the Templars had been one of the wealthiest and most influential factors in European politics ; and though the ostensible reason for the existence of the Order was

1291 y gone after , th e Templars continued for a few ears longer It in th e enjoyment of th eir great wealth . was probably owing to m their riches th at the Order was abolished . The prime over in the

o f F ranc e extinction of the Order was Ph ilip IV . , who no doubt

H hv had a greedy eye on the possessions of the Order . aving his 130 5 influence secured th e election o f Clement V . as Pope in ,

Ph ili p prevailed on h im to become a c onsenting part y to the con t e m la te d 4 1307 p suppression , and on 1 September , , Philip issued o rders for the arrest of all the Templars in France on the night of

Frid a v 13 , October ; while in the following month Pope Clement w e rote to Edward II . to arrest all th e English Templars , who wer

R H . OT L EY THE P RE C EPTORY . 5

10 A accordingly seized on January , 1308 . ccusations of heresy and a variety of other crimes were made against the members o f the Order and frightful cruelties were resorted to in France to

o obtain confessions , most of the charges were unproved , th ugh

s n some confes ions were extracted under torture . I England the proceedings against the Templars were more mercifully conducted , but their suppression was equally determined upon and on 22 13 12 March , , the Pope entirely abolished the Order and transferred their possessions to the Knights of St . John of Jerusalem , known as the Hospitallers . This papal order was not entirely satisfactory to the King , who was in constant straits for money , or to the

s noble who had cast longing eyes on the property of the Templars , and it was not until 1323 that the Hospitallers obtained the complete transfer of their rivals possess ions to themselves .

T H N H H A R E K IG TS OSPIT LLE S .

o t This Order was not riginally a military one . I was established by some merchants of Amalfi in I taly for the purp ose of affording hospitality to the pilgrims . They were permitted by the Caliph of Egypt to build a church and monastery near the

H to . oly Sepulchre at Jerusalem , which they dedicated St Mary

A or of the Latins . reception house hospital was shortly added A with a chapel dedicated to St . John the Baptist . fter the

H e Christians became masters of Jerusalem , the ospitall rs formed

1099 oo themselves into a distinct society , at which time [ ] they t k a H vow that they would perpetually defend the oly Sepulchre , wage

A . war against the infidel and observe the rule of St . ustin

Their badge , which they wore on their black robes , was a

to white cross . Their kindness the sick and wounded soldiers of the

first Crusade made them popular , and wealthy crusaders endowed

e H them with estates . They were t rmed Knights of the ospital ,

H . . ospitallers , or Knights of St John from their patron saint

n 1154 A IV . I , Pope nastasius granted them extraordinary All privileges . their lands were free of tithes , and their churches

free from episcopal j urisdiction , as being extra parochial . They

v e e were however f orbidden b him , having once nter d the Order ,

to return to the world , or even to embrace any other religious

institution . H The ospitallers , who first established themselves in England R 6 L E IC E S TE RS HIRE A CHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

in 1100 at Clerkenwell , and w h ose Grand Commander in England

became i n rank the first lay baron of th e realm , entered into R 13 13 possession of the Templars possessions at othley in , and for 227 R the next years h eld t h e manor and soke of othley , as held

y . In H b th eir predecessors the ospitallers , who already

h eld one manor in Old Dalby , exchanged their manor of

N . u . Th r mpton , co otts , for the other manor of Old Dalby wh ich h ad descended in marriage from th e Meyny lls to Sir John h kt . . T e , of Swithland royal licence for this exchange ' W 20 in mortmain is dated at estminster , March , 10 0 . 26 for shillings paid in the hanaper [Patent roll ,

1 . III . H Edward , part , m aving thus obtained

th e whole of the manorial rights of Old Dalby , the H m R ospitallers for ed their manor of Old Dalby , othley and Heath er into a Commandery under a Commander or f Preceptor , (th e terms are used indi ferentl y in the deeds) , whose In residence was apparently at Old Dalby . their later years , if H not actually from this time , the ospitallers let out to farm their

R o w n possessions at othley , retainin g in their hands all the manorial rights which th ey possessed over the manor and soke

R a H w y . of oth ley , their manor of eather being treated in the same

A 12 1 fter the expulsion of t h e Christians from Palestine in 9 , 1309 th e Knights of St . John retired to Cyprus , and later on [ ]

R w y u conq uered the island of hodes , here th e remained ntil finally

y 1 22 . . driven out by Sol man II . in 5 The Emperor Charles V then conceded to them the island of Malta after which they were commonly called Knigh ts of Malta instead of Knights of

R y hodes as the h ad been termed .

y 17 w Th e remained in Malta until 98 , h en they were driven

N w a . out by apoleon , on h is visiting the island on h is y to Egypt

y w Th e grand master of the Order fled to G erman ith a pension , and some of the Knights accepted c o mm i ssmns i n th e French A rmy . The majority fled to St . Petersburg , France , Spain ,

y a u f Portugal and Ital . The Order w s divided p into di ferent

nationalities , each one of wh ich was termed a Ton gue .

Mr . J . T . Clarke , wh ose abstract of the Customary of th e manor and soke of Rothle y w a s read b e fore th e London

y A 1 1879 Arc h ee olo ia Societ of nti q uaries 9 June , , [printed in g , 4 “ . 7 89 vol , pag e ] publish ed also a small pam ph let entitled The R . OTHLEY T HE P RE C EPTORY . 7

n n Ba i to s . b g , Knights of St John . Mr . Clarke Visited Malta 1840 in , and says that he examined the archives of the Order for the express purpose of obtaining information relating to the R H preceptory of othley and the family of Babington . e only found there two thin quarto volumes , one containing the rental of the English Tongue according to the values curr ent in the year 13 38 when Philip de Thame was prior of the Order in England ; the other containing the minutes of the deliberations of the English To ngue fro m 152 4 to 1559 with the autograph signatures o f the Knights present at each Council .

The names o f six Knights of the family o f Babington appear

h o on the rolls of the Order of St . Jo n , of wh m five belonged to it during that part of the 16th century w h en the seat of its govern ment was removed fro m Rhodes and establish ed at Malta . One of t h ese Knights , Sir Joh n Babington , was certainly of the Dethick

o . or elder , and one of the Ottery , a j uni r , branch of this family Both branches descend from a certain Sir John Babington who d 14 ied in 09.

five Sir John Babington , the elder of the Knights of the name , and the highest in rank in the Order , was the second son of

Thomas Babington , of Dethick , and Edith Fitzherbert , of

No H . e H rbury , his wife was the elder brother of umphrey

o f R 1544 . Babington , the lessee othley Temple , who died in ’ o The date of Sir John s entrance int o the Order is unkn wn .

Certainly in 1505 h e had not attained to any of its dignities . 1522 Before the year , h e was farmer of the preceptory of Temple 3 1526 ’ Bruer , co . Lincoln . On July , , Sir John s name appears in the aforesaid b ook of minutes for the first time , in wh ich he is described as Commander of Dalby and Rothley and treasurer

of St . John in England . I In 1527/ 8 Sir John became prior of the Order in reland , but almost immediately exchanged this office for the ofii c e of

m r ffi Turcopolier with the Commandery of Dine o . The o ce of Turcopolier was peculiar to the Tongue of England and ranked * in England next to the prior .

H m o o m so n h a s n s e th e no e o n th e Mr . a ilt n Th p , ki dly uppli d t e tymo logy of th e Turc opo li er . * ler us Turc o ol er Turco iliers is a n na ra e o m Turco o , p i s . p i ccu t f r p r e va on T urco ola rius Turc o ularius a re th e e s a n orm s . Th e p , p b t L ti f d ri ti — f rom Tur cos paller e is not ve ry likely m erely invented to e xpla in a w ord 8 LE IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

“ The Order was composed of eight nations or Tongues , each A o f which was lodged in a distinct uberge , had distinct duties allotted to it in t h e event of a siege , and was ruled under the fi Grand Master by its own of cers , whose titles varied in each

e . tongue . Th e chi f officer in England being the prior

n 153 1 fi f I , Sir John obtained for himself the of ce of baili f of ffi Eagle , co Lincoln , then vacant , and resigned the o ce of Turco 24 1532 — I polier , and on May , , occurs this entry Know that , John

Babington , Knight , being bayley of the Egell hath and rightly enj oy a mansion house not far distant from the Market Strada

o f H within the Borow Malta , wherein now Sir enry Pole , Knight of the honourable Tongue of England at that present remaineth . I n witness w h ere off the said Sir John Babington desired this might be registered in the boke of the tong in the yere of ower 153 2 24th Lord , the day of May . Brother Philip de Vylle rs being 4 . N 1532 Lord Grand Master On ovember , , Sir John signs as R Bayley of the Eagle , but in the private muniments at othley he o f seems to have retained the title of prior of Kilmainham , or ’

I . reland The date of Sir John s death is unknown , but from an

y y 1533 entr on the Common Pleas Plea roll for Trinit term , ,

556 His ffi alabast er attire d m , h e was then dead . e gy in , as a

Knight of St . John , forms one of the ornamental figures around ’

A . . his father s altar tomb at shover , co Derby

w o se o na se se m h n r e in D uc a n e e a h rigi l n h ad b e co e o b scure . T e e t i s g xpl in th e e e a o m n le s tru d riv ti n . Willi a o f Tyre a nd o th er me diaeva l chro ic r m en o n Turco uli -a me a a so e e m o y e in th e B z an ti p , light r d c v lry ldi rs pl d y ne a m so a e e a s e e e a e s ti r y , c ll d b c u e th y w r so n s of Turki s h f th r — (T o ugx énovl og so n o f a Turk ; fo r pa tro ny mic te rm ina tio n _ nouxoq

m m e e n m e umo rf o ul s n an mo e s . cf . co on Gr k s ur a s like E op o ) a d Chri sti th r s rd e ric u V a s X 19 s e a s of th e Turc o oli se b Thu O s it li , , , p k p nt y Ae s m e w R a mo n o f o o se o Ca a o a l xiu Co n nu s ith y nd , cou t T ul u , int pp d ci duri ng th e first cru sa d e th ese a re e l s e w h e re d e sc ribe d a s th e ’ e m e o o se o oo s Th omm a n e s o f e se - a m e ev es p r r s h u h ld tr p . e c d r th li ght r d l i ’ w e e a e Turco l i h Turco olari us is o n a s o ne o an . S se en t e r c ll d p ub qu tly, p f u d o f th e e o fi e f s Th e w o w as a s e e to chi f f c rs o the c o urt o f Cypru . rd tr n f rr d th e o n en o n o n o f e sa em in E a c v ti a l ba iliffs o f th e pri o ry o f S t . J h J ru l ngl nd a s a e o f o : D uc a n e o e s th e s a e s o f th e H s a e s . titl h nour g qu t t tut o pit ll r , tit 19 7 T u rco o le rius Ba uli n entuali ve ne ra nd a e n a e An a e , § p , j vus Co v s li gu gli , d ic it u r a T urc o olis u i h isto rii bello rum a Ch ristianis S a p , qui , t n s yri e s to m e ru a e e s e ra n e a rma turae . g h b tur , quit t l vi s

Bo is e lin o n o n h T ur o la r i w h e P ila rii o r P illerii g c f u d e d t e c po i ith t e i ght , ‘ t h e e a f s o f th e n e s veluti o mn a n a tio num n a m o mnas i ght b ili f to gu , c lu e , c lu ’ ’ v s l ille rio s i id h w o w o s a ve o voc a b . T e t ulgu t ( tit . 19, rd h n thing to d o w e a e ith ch o th r . R H . OT LEY T HE PRE C E PTORY . 9

Babin tons O Of the other g who were Knights of the rder , Sir o 27 1528 J hn , the younger , was described June , , as being nephew of the right worshipful Sir John Babington , Turcopolier; H but this relationship cannot be traced . e signed the minutes 4 A on ugust , 153 1.

A 2 Sir James Babington , Sir mbrose Cave and 1 others w ho came forth of England with Sir William We ston [afterwards 2 3 15 4 . prior] were received October , Sir James had paid his 2 1 2 fees 0 Feb . , 5 5, and signs the minutes on s everal oc casions in 1 2 1528 1 2 5 7 . 8 5 8 . Hi and On May , , Sir James was dead s name is not found in the pedigree , but he probably belonged to the f Ottery branch of the amily .

Sir Philip Babington was the third son of John Babington , — 13 153 1 “ t of Ottery St . Mary . On July , , at h e tong holden by “ license , etc . , Sir John Sutton , kt Commander of Beverley and

T urc o l er Temple Bruer , then being Lieutenant p y , received Nicholas Upton and Philip Babington to be of this noble religion by the consent of all the Commanders and Knights of the

English nation there being resident , and that the said Philip ” shall bring in his proofs in the space o f tw o years .

1 1 1533 153 6 1537. Sir Philip signed the minutes in 53 , , and He was living at the time of the dissolution of the Order in 1 4 e England in 5 0 , and is mentioned as one of the confr res of the th e late hospital of St . John of Jerusalem in England among

Court of Augmentation payments in 1542 .

Com In a letter from Sir Nicholas Upton t o Sir Henry Pole , R 15 A l 1540 mander of Dalby and othley , dated pri , , he is mentioned thus Sir Philip Babington has departed and left the

“ galeys where he was the ornament and forsoke the banner of our ” religion and without licence of my lord master , etc . also in

kt . another letter written to Sir John Sutton , , commander and ’ N receiver general of St . John s at Coventry , Sir icholas says “ A f lso , Sir , ye shall know that Sir Philip Babington le t hys

banner and like an apostate without any licence left . etc .

o f H III ] [Calendar State Papers , Domestic Series , enry V

Sir Nicholas Babington may have been of the Ottery line , R I O L E IC E S TE R S HIR E A C HAEOLOG ICAL S O C IETY .

153 2 1533 h is pedigree is unknown , h e signed the m inutes in , ,

1 3 4 1539 . 5 , and

Mr . Clark savs th at t h e English ton g does not seem ever to h ave flourish ed in Malta . Th e present magnificent auberges

w ere erected after th e English dissolution , and t h e auberge of

y England is a mean , povert stricken h ouse . Th e chapel in the cath edral appropriated to England was never occupied and the monument of onl y one British Knigh t appears in th e whole edifice .

In 18 14 a general Chapter of French , Spanish and Portuguese

as tongues was held in Paris , t h e result of which w the revival of

th e dormant English tongue , wh ich had had its C h arter regranted 1557 by Queen Mary [Tudor] in and never revoked , and from this

date continued its existence as a voluntary institution .

In 1878 , Queen Victoria granted a fresh c h arter , which ,

a founded on the ch arter of Queen Mary , revived the medi eval

o f Corporation of th e Order the Hospital of St . John of

fi y y Jerusalem in England , as the Order was of ciall st led from

arlv its e days until its dissolution in England by Henry VI II . in 4 th e year 15 0 .

’ lerke n The Order is still established at St . John s Gate in C

’ well . The Chapter General has for its patron his Maj esty the

King , and the Duke of Connaught is the present Grand Prior .

350 . Th ere are Knigh ts of two degrees , viz , Knigh ts of Justice

and Knights of Grace , also ladies of Justice and ladies of Grace ,

H y Ho n . Esquires , onorar servin g Broth ers and Sisters , and A ssociates .

’ The work of the British Order is the control of St . John s A H mbulance and Brigade , the British Ophthalmic ospital at

y Aid Jerusalem , and during and since the \Var th e Voluntar De ta c hme nt c o mmo nlv AD called V . . . R Th e Knights of St . Joh n held the manor and soke of othley

13 13 1540 as from to , when the Order w suppressed by Parliament and pensions on a liberal scale were a w arded to th e members of the Order . Their possessions passed to the Crown which dealt with them through the Court of Augmentations of the revenues

of the Crown .

Applicants for th e lands latel y h eld bv the religious orders R H . T HE OT L EY P RE CEPTORY . I I

in sent their applications to this Court , which settled the terms

No of payment . doubt in many cases it was considered politic to send the application in the name of a friend who was supposed to have more influence with the Court than the intending pur

\Yh e th er chaser . this was so in the case of the Hospitallers

R a possessions at ot h ley is uncertain , we c n only form our own

No conclusions from the method employed . w it so happened

1540 H o that in a certain umphrey Babingt n , a younger bro ther of Sir John Babington the Commander of Dalby and Rothley 153 3 w h o died about , held an unexpired lease of the manor house t h e Temple] and the demesne lands the home farm R and buildings] at othley . But Humphrey did not himself apply to th e Court for the property he was renting th e application was H . s made by one enry Cartwright of Brickhill , co Buck , and the R h ouse and lands for wh ich he applied at othley were only a part , H a and to enry a very unimport nt part , of what he applied for and ’ really wanted . The obvious suggestion comes to one s mind that in applying for Rothley h e was acting on behalf of Ambrose Cave t o whom he sold the Rothley portion almost immediately H ’ after it was granted to him . enry Cartw right s application was made in the year 1543 and in 154 4 he sold the lands granted to h im H A e . in Rothley t o mbros Cave umphrey Babington , the lessee , 22 N 1544 died ovember , , and was succeeded in the unexpired lease A by his son Thomas Babington , to whom mbrose Cave sold the freehold in 1565 together with his other more recent purchases R R in othley , such as the advowson of othley , the tithes and other things , (the details of which belong to other portions of

R o y othley hist ry) , and last , but certainl not least , the manor and

soke of Rothley .

From 1565 until 1845 the family of Babington were the lords of the manor and soke of Rothley . Their first obj ect on taking possession of their newly acquired manor would naturally be the reconstructio n of the buildings of the manor house [the Temple] H by converting them into their family residence . aving already had a lease of 29 years of the Temple they certainly ought to have P been good j udges of what alterations were necessary . ortu na t ely for posterity the new o wner decided to retain the chapel

of the Templars . To what particular circumstances we owe this rather unusual forbearance from de struction , we are unable to I 2 L E IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOG ICAL S O CIETY .

y may state precisely , possibl we attribute it to the peculiar ecclesiastical j urisdiction h eld bv t h e Hospitallers w hich the

B abingt o ns were an x ious to retain , possi bly from more devout motives o w ing to th eir h aving used th e c h a pel f o r th eir devotions

y during th e 29 ears lease , or again from th e less devout motive asserted by th e family in later times that t h e lord of th e manor of

Rot hle y could not be compelled to attend a ny place of

x worsh ip e cept h is own chapel , where probabl y th e ' \ h at attendance would be voluntary . R ever the motive

y ma y have been t h e result is eminentl satisfactory .

r In addition to the preservation of the chapel , some po tions of the domestic buildings contiguous to th e chapel were incorporated in the re - arrangement of the buildings to suit the requirements of the family . Many alterations and extensions have been ff In from time to time e ected . the present entrance hall is an

y XVIIth y arcade of th ree ba s , evidently of the centur and the

1742 r date appears on the drawing room , fo merly the kitch en , ’ T hro sbv s 17 0 chimney . view of t h e house in 9 shows two

Elizabethan windows , having transoms and mullions existing at

th at time , but w h ich have since then been replaced by sash es to assimilate with th e other windows . The house also contains some

o fine old panelling and other wo dwork of various dates . showing successive alterations and additions made by the Babingto ns i dur ng their tenure . N R ichols says in his history , under othley , that the inter marriages of this famil y are beautifully recorded in a large bow

- window , no such window exists to day and the emblazoned shields of armorial glass are those which can now be seen in th e

east window of the chapel .

Lord Macaulay , when choosing his title , is reported to have “ : said I determined to be Baron Macaulay of Rothley . I was 2 I 5 . I born there [ Oct , have lived much there , am named f from the amily which long had th e manor there , mv uncle was ” irth r m . b oo rector there The , over the present drawing room is a

XVIIIth y gem of century panelling . Over the chimne piece h angs h is portrait with an inscription on a brass plate recording the event .

On th e vacant ground between the dining room and the

o ch apel , wh ich now leads to the tower entrance , was a ro m , with

R . OTHL EY T HE PRE CEPTORY . I 3

’ bed room over , the lower one being Lord Macaulay s study . 1895 These rooms (removed in ) were of Jacobean date , the lower one being entered from the din ing roo m and the bedroom from the

r upper sto y of the tower . The position of these tw o rooms necessitated an external entrance to the chapel as seen in the photograph . Tradition has recorded that it was in this study that “ ” Macaulay composed his poem of The Armada and his wonder full description of the bonfires was suggested to him when viewing the Beacon Hill from the high ground to the north of the

Temple .

- The Temple , as we see it to day , presents on the eastern , which is the principal front , an Elizabethan house of two stories with

dormer windows in the roof , the whole of the buildings are of the i local granite , with stone quoins , moldings , cop ngs , etc . The

o No roofs are covered with slates fr m the Swithland quarries . t a

o u single original Elizabethan wind w remains in the ho se , although 1 t ld two were in existence at the end of the 8 h century , the o mullioned and transo med windows having b e en replaced by

‘

sashes of the Geo rgian period . The eastern front has a small central

porch and the facade is flanked by two slightly proj ecting wings , to the northern wing is attached the remains of the mediaeval tower leading int o the chapel which forms a conspicu ous and

beautiful terminat ion to the extreme nort h .

On account o f the alterations made at vario us dates by the successive owners of the Temple it is quite impossible to give a

ri but plan of the Preceptory as o ginally finished by the Templars , from an Extent or Inventory preserved at the Public Record ff t 1308 Ofli c e in London of the e ects belonging o them in the year ,

to preparatory their dissolution , we can to some extent

reconstruct the buildings as they existed at that date .

The inventory mentions the chapel , hall , kitchen , pantry ,

‘ brewhouse , bakehouse and buttery , besides the farm buildings ,

A o and is printed in extenso in ppendix D . Fr m this document it will be gathered that th e appointments of the chapel were more

complete than those of the house , while the farming stock and

produce represent far the largest value of the whole place . The buildings as they exist now may be divided thus

I . The Tower , the ground floor of which forms the porch R A I 4 L E IC E S T E R S HIRE A CH EOLOG ICAL S O CIETY .

to t h e entrance door of th e ch apel , is approached from a small

o pen space between t h e chapel on our right and the present In . 1895 dining room on our left th is space stood , until , the room ’ known as Lord Macaulay s study , w h ich was entered from the

y dini ng room t h rough a small doorwa which is now a window .

y u Th e doorwa into th e Tower was blocked p by a fireplace , and t h is necessitated t h e opening out of a new external entrance into th e ch apel itself which was made by a new doorway bet w een the 2 ud and th e 3 rd buttress wh ere the plinth has been (and still is) cut

y i a w a . t h s study , with the room over it was demolish ed in 1 5 89 , th e fine early English doorway to the Tower was reopened ,

as also th e original entrance into th e chapel through the Tower ,

and th e later exterior door to the chapel was w alled up .

10 10 The ground floor of the Tower measuring internally ft .

14 . 9 o f w inches by ft inches has a groined roof , the ribs hich are

supported on four corbels of rude workmanship . The Tower was N an addition after the ch apel was built . ote how the chapel

plinth has been cut away , and how the moldings of the arch way

t o t h e c hapel have been built over and hidden by the vaulted roof .

(See Plate VII . )

O pposite the eastern doorway by wh ich we entered is another

one , now blocked up . On its external face the fine early Eng Wh l ish moldings still remain . at this doo rway communicated

with , it is now impossible to say , but most probably an open

courtyard , from which the west window of the chapel received

its A light . fragment of proj ecting masonry , about ten feet from

th e ground to th e right of t h is doorway , seems to suggest the con in t uatio n w 4 . of a all or staircase turret . (See Plate , letter K )

s The south door opens into the dining room , doubtle s the hall o f the Templars . Over the ground floor of th e Tower is a room in w h ich one of the original windows remains , a narrow lancet only

o seven inches wide . Th e entrance to th is ro m is by a very

\V. 2 f 6 . narrow passage , eet inches wide , in the S angle of the Tower wh ich communicates direct with the main first floor landing 2 7 of th e house , the floor of the Tower room being feet inches

o f above the level of th e landing . This passage in the thickness

the walls is original , and must have communicated with some

staircase now destroyed , and of which the proj ecting piece of

r mason y before mentioned formed part . P lzo W i t a . b . B a l L i c st r . y ey, e e e

RAN T HAP FR M W R ENT CE O C EL O TO E .

ROTHLEY . T HE P RE C EPTORY . 15

It will be remembered that the Tower was built subsequent to the erection of the chapel , to which it was attached at the west end of the south wall , consequently only three new walls were

necessary , the fourth one being the sout h wall of the chapel itself .

The Tower , however , was at least three stories in height , and though the chapel wall formed one side for two of the stories , it became necessary , when the height was in creased further above the chapel eaves , to provide a

a new fourth wall for the additional story . This w s efl ec t ed by inserting two corbels j ust above the level of the floor of the Tower chamber and erecting thereon an arch of 10 7 9 feet span and feet inches high to the apex (see plate VII . )

On this arch the north external wall of the Tower was carried . A portion of this third story , which internally became a square

11 . of feet , can still be seen in the roof

The ground floor of the Tower is commonly termed th e ” Crypt from the fact that it contains a much mutilated efli gy of a

17 fli . T . In 90 e cross legged emplar , this gy was found by Mr N ichols , the county historian , lying in the churchyard , its original position having been inside the church , probably in the recess in th e south wall of the chancel , from which it was removed , as

o . was ften the case , to make room for the monument of Mr N ’ Babington who died in 1567. The result of Mr . ichols strictures on this act of vandalism was to procure the return of th e efli gy t o the church in as is recorded on a leaden tablet now afli x e d At R to the wall of the crypt . the restoration of othley church in 1876 the efli gy was again taken out of the church and deposited in its present resting place to gether with the remains o f some of the incised alabaster slabs which once covered the tombs of the

K n ston y g s and others inside the church , and which are generally believed to have been broken up at the time of this restoration for

the purpose o f conversion int o small alabaster ornaments to be sold in aid of the fund for defraying the costs of the restoration

of the church .

t II . The chapel , on the extreme right , was erected abou 1240 H oo f , with alterations made by the ospitallers (chiefly to the r

and the e ast window) about two centuries later .

This building is perhaps the finest example of a chapel built S R S HIR AR CHA I A I 6 L E IC E TE E EOLOG C L S O C IETY .

by the Templars to be found in England , that of the Temple * Church , London , alone excepted .

Its 47 5 19 t internal dimensions are feet , inches long by fee , 5 inch es wide ; 20 feet in height from the floo r to the eaves and

3 6 feet from the floor o f the ridge . The eastern end is raised by o ne

step of 7 inches in height for a distance of 12 feet from the e ast

wall . Th e only entrance to the chapel is fro m the tower by a small

Early English doorway in the south wall towards the west end . The building is lighted by three Early English windows in the

north wall , three in the south wall , a single window in the west

wall and a very large one , of much later date , in the east w all . f

All o f these windows , with the exception the east window , are

o f similar design , consisting of long single narrow lancets with

trefoil heads , having wide splayed j ambs internally , around each

* Th e e m e Balsall in a w s e e a e M r t t . a i Church at T pl , W r ick hir , d dic t d o S y , s e e en as a e of th e Kn s e m a s o h e fr qu ntly giv a ch p l ight T pl r , but th ugh t e o w ne a e e th e ese w a s no t e e e b e Ord r d l nd th r , pr nt building r ct d y th m , m ea e e s e ss on b th e Hos a e but so e y rs aft r th ir uppr i , y pit ll rs . Thi s Church is m a e an th e em e el at Ro e e n 104 e e o uch l rg r th T pl Chap thl y , b i g f t l ng , i 3 e e e a nd 57 e e . It s In th e ea r e o a e e o 9 f t wid f t hi gh ly D c r t d P ri d , abo ut 133 a nd is o s e e to be th e e s e m e o f a s e in th , c n id r d fin t xa pl th t tyl e Mid 1 h a 3s . It h a s m an ea es in o mmon w R e s a s th e sa m e y f tur c ith othl y , uch n m e o f a s e sse s and ow s o w a e a th e W an e u b r b y , buttr wind , do r y n r S . gl , Ch ance l o f a S i ngle Bay carri e d above th e Nave fl oo r but w ith no ch an ce l A m e n e a a nd no s e s s a a a Na . B sa h a h o n rch i l , i ply r ct gul r v al ll s t e a dditi ’ ba f t o s e and e W o f a e s s oo in th e se o o he s at th S . Pri t d r, c nd y uth id , i a ngl e s a sm all tow e r co nta i n ing a spiral s ta ircase . Th a e e h w h e nci nt R fe cto ry still e xi s ts a t t e est e nd o f t e church . It ons s s o f tw o o t o n s 1 Th e Ha 70 80 e o n e a nd c i t p r i ( ) ll , x , divid d int av a s e s b m a s s e w oo e n illa rs and 2 Asma e n at th e w e s end i l y iv d , ( ) ll r buildi g t — se a a e o m th e a a w a e r e b a s n e oo c o n ( p r t d fr h ll y a p rty ll , pi c d y i gl d r) mne y Th is t a n n a s a o s e a e w ma ss e s o e . e Ha i i g p ci u fir pl c , ith iv t n chi ll e n o s e in a e r w o r a nd h a e e n e e o a m e s fo r th e cl d l t r b ick k , s b n co v rt d int ch b r Ba a nd o e o o f th e H a e e a re m an n e e s n iliff G v rn rs ospit l . Th r y i t r ti g o n a o ns o f o m e n s a e s o f th e mo a a nd fi sh o nd s all f u d ti f r r buildi g , tr c t p , o f w hich a re w ell w o rth y o f study and might throw so m e co ns iderable o n h e e light t e Pre c ptory at Ro thl y .

m m w a ea o e ve r In th e m f h X X e n . w e s o s s t iddl e o t e I . c t h n y b li r d int y e a o a n n e e a s th e n m e 9 w a s o ns e e f ture f a ci nt e ccl si tic al building , u b r c id r d em l to h ave a spe ci a l my stic si gnificance in th e w ork s o f th e K ni ghts T p ars . o e a e o th e m s a S w y n field S o n Lik e th r ch p l s f e T pl ar such s g , utt l Ho e e e m e o na e n e tc . h e a a f o , T S nctu ry o R thl y T pl ri gi lly o ss e w n o w V e d th e e a F en sse NIN . . o e p d E i d s M i l t Duc , gr t r ch ’ A e in h i em nn e 1 A e e F a n a s e rchit ct , s a rt icl e T pl e (Dicti o air d e rchit ctur r c i d u c a u KVIc s iéc le em a s s ) , r rk thu W e mu st no t fo rge t th e f ou nd ers o f th e Ord er o f th e Templ e w e re N ne in m e — e w e e no t a o w e to a d d ne w i nu b r th e squ are o f three . Th y r ll d m e m e s fo r n e a s a nd th e n m e 3 and 9 a re e e o in b r ine y r , u b rs fr qu ntly f und ” t h e a e s o f th e mm e ch p l Co anderi s .

ROTHL EY . THE PRE C E PTORY . I 7

h o f which runs a bold roll mo lding . T e internal arches to the h eads are so slightly pointed that they approach almost to the segmental , and a curious feature to be noted is that the roll m olding of the arch has an additional fillet not found on the j ambs .

Between each window is a buttress dividing the walls into

o f four bays , but the extreme western bays are devoid any

n o o f o pening , retaini g only their blank walls with the excepti n

o i t h e small entrance doorway on the south . The west wind w s s lightly higher and wider than those on the side walls , but their c ill s are all on the same level beneath which runs a molding encircling the whole building , except where broken by the door

s o f way . These seven windows are beautiful example the Early

English style , and remain the original work of the Templars .

o ne ff The east window , however , is of a very di erent design in fact a combin ation of the Early English win dow of the T emplars with subsequent alterations made by the Hospitallers in the

n o P erpendicular peri od . The o rigi al stat e f this win dow , and its c onversion int o the present one is best explained by reference to It plate V . will be seen that when first erected it consisted of three single lancets side by side , the central one being higher than ’ w ne t h e side ones . The east window of a Templar s chapel at S y ford in Kent is of this treatment , as are also several windows of

t h . In u e Temple Church , London order to obtain the maxim m

o th e a mount o f light without increasing the width of the pening , whole central portion between the j ambs was removed , and filled with the present lighter and much restored tracery of the 15th

c . entury The capitals , shafts and bases of the Early English t n reatment are still visible , externally and inter ally , of the j ambs A o f the present window . bove the capitals , not only was the

c pierced walling (known as plate tra ery) removed , but the j ambs 7 t hemselves were continued upwards for another feet , before the whole was crowned with the present arch . This alteration is very noticeable on the exterior on account of another kind of stone in h aving been used the y ellow ironstone from Holwell . The t i ernal Early Engl sh arch , however , was not changed

The east window contains much good heraldic stained glas s r elatin g entirely to the family o f Babington and their alliances .

Afull description o f these is given in Appendix A. 18 LE IC E S TE RS HIRE AR CHAEOLOG ICAL S O C IETY .

To th e righ t of th e east w indow on the south wall is an exceptionall y beautiful exam ple of th at somewhat rare feature

a double piscina .

Th e floor beneath th e east window is partly laid with Swith i land slate slabs , recording t h e names and dates of the var ous members of the Babington family wh o are interred in the family

vault beneath . Beh ind the two small marble tablets on each side of the east window are immured the ashes of two sons of the

A . present owner . (See ppendix C )

Two other monuments , one on the south wall and the other on

the north , are to later members of the family of Babington . (See

Appendix C . ) To the left of the east window is an heraldic shield imposed

o f on a marble disc , which appears to have formed originally part

h urc h R . a Jacobean tomb , probably in othley C There are no

o f less than fifteen quarterings , one of which has t h e arms

Babington .

At the west end of the chapel is a font of uncertain date , but t probably of the 17th century . I was removed from a farm ho use

where it was doing duty as a trough for a pump , and placed in its 1 5 Ad present position at the restoration of the chapel in 89 . j oining the font is an old Jacobean reading desk .

Babin to ns On the north wall hang two hatchments of the g , the western one impaling Macaulay , the eastern one Cardal e . Th e hatchment on the south wall is that of Vice Chancellor Sir

A . James Parker , impaling Babington . (See ppendix B )

o 15th The existing ro f of the ch apel dates from the century , h n and probably contains some timbers of the 13 t century . It co sists of five tie beam principals dividing the chapel into four bays . The earlier roof was of much steeper pitch as shown in plate V . , which is taken from the one still existing in the Templar ’s chapel at

in o S w gf rd .

Before th e chapel was restored in 1895 the western portio n

w as h divided from the eastern by a wall from floor to roof , t e western part being used for domestic purposes , and the exact portion of this wall is marked by a chase . When this wall was o removed th e remains of two Elizabethan h milies , very much ‘ ’ rv 6 S o s L i c st r . b A. Ne zo n P il a t e . y n , e e e

ROTHLEY TEMPLE CHAPEL W EST END .

No te buttre ss o f To w er o n e xtreme right .

R H . E OT L EY T H PRE C EPTORY . 19

to o defaced and almost illegible , were brought light , ne having * been painted on the north and one on the south wall . Externally the chapel is well buttressed as shown in the drawings , but it should be noted that those of the eastern portion a re not exactly the same as those of the western portion .

The fine plinth mold has been excavated at the west end ,

but remains buried on the north side where the ground is higher . At the west end the flat wall buttress to the tower should be n oticed .

Leaving the chapel we cross the porch to the door o pposite

and descending a single step we enter the dining room .

The dining ro o m which forms the northern wing to the

Elizabethan house , is undoubtedly mediaeval in spite of its modern

o f th e appearance , and was probably the hall Templars . The only mediaeval portions now visible are the sou th door which is

opposite to the one by which we have entered , the b uttresses to the external gable and the walls . From

timbers still existing in the roof , it would appear that

e this hall was open from floor to ridg , the present

* Th e fl oo r w hich divid e d th e We st E nd o f th e Ch ape l i nto a n upper and lo w e o on m ave ee nse e in th e me o f th e Ho s a e s r p rti , ight h b n i rt d ti pit ll r , a nd tho ugh u se d in th e time o f th e B abingtons fo r do m e stic purpose s in e n w th e o se w a s no t e e ssa f e e co nn ctio ith h u , n c rily o th ir e r cti o n . ’ Th e We stern E nd o f the Ho spitall e rs Ch apel a t Ch ibbo rn in No rth mbe rland re a n s it s e fl o o t a e e th e u o s d . b , t i upp r r thi y Er ct d y Ho s a e s a nd no t a en o e rom th e e m a s e th e Ro e pit ll r , t k v r f T pl r lik thl y C a e h a s tw o s o es of w n o w s th e w es o o n and one h p l , it t ri i d at t p rti only a t th e e a ste rn portio n . Thi s arra ngeme nt o f th e We s t e nd w a s ve ry co mmo n in D om estic C a e s o f th e le A e s and m a be se en in th e ns o f s eve a of h p l Midd g , y rui r l h f As a s e r n en e . In o ur w n o n t e e e n o o u a ci t c a stl s o c u ty, w st d hby C tl m e Th e s ew s tw o e fl oo s th e o s o ne of w h a s a fire a . h upp r r , e upp r t hich pl c

C a e a t B a a e Ho se a so h ad a n e fl oo w a e a e . h p l r dg t u , l upp r r ith fir pl c In all ese a se s o w e e r th e a s e nd w a s not e n o se h a d an th c , h v , E t cl d but h e Be o e ni o pen s creen to w a rds th e san ctu ary o f t e Ch a p l . f r Tri ty Ho s a a t e es e w a s es o e th e a s nd o f th e Tw o S tori ed B o pit l L ic t r r t r d , E t E l ck o f Ams o se s w a s o en t o th e on e- s tori ed C a e and even n ow a e l h u , p h p l , , ft r th e e o s f h n o s or e s a re o en t o th e E n an e r c n tructi on o t e buildi g , b th t i p tr c

Ha ll . i se ss of th e e m e e see m Wh e n th e Ba bi ngto n fam ily w ere n po s i on T pl , th y t o a v e e a e h e een b a o w a e e e th e n s e w een h r pl c d t s cr y s lid ll , r ct d buildi g b t t h n n m n e now r e m oved and o e u th e ow e e D i i g R oo a d Ch ap l ( ) , bl ck d p T r h n e n an e to th e a e th e refo re w a s o w a e a e . T e o P rch ith fir pl c ly tr c ch p l , h ’ b th e e s s oo n e th e m e w n ow in th e s Is y pri t d r , u d r iddl i d Thi s e i h o n a e 13 no on e e s s a nd seems h w n n t e pho tograph p g , but it l g r xi t n o f 1895 w en th e o e w as to h ave been re mo ve d a t th e re s tora tio , h p ning n n A w a e u th e n e m a ns aw a s m a i ts o s o . ll d p, but pli th r i cut y , thu rki g p iti ’ s imila r f ate h ad b e fallen th e Pri e sts D oo r in th e Ch ancel o f th e Pa ri sh

C hurch a t th e re sto rati on o f 1879. 2 0 LE IC E S T ERS HIRE AR CHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY . bedroom floor over th e dining room being an Elizabethan

T h e a s m . u alteration original dimensions of the hall , on the s p 50 2 1 tion aforesaid , would h ave been feet by feet and the walls 5f n are 3 eet t h ick as can be seen by reference to th e plan . Moder

rearrangement of the rooms , and the erection of additional walls , insertions of new doorways , together with the internal plastering

and decoration have entirely obliterated the old work . Th e south — — door way discovered and opened out in 1895 probably led to the

- buttery , pantry and kitchen ; but to day it connects the dining room with the present entrance hall . The panelling , ceiling , l 6th beams and sash windows are all subsequent to the century , but transomed and mullioned windows of Elizabethan date ’ existed late in the 18th century as may be seen in T hro sbv s view 17 0 [ 8 ] and also in early photographs of the house .

The room over the dining room (now a bedroom but form erlv the drawing room) contains a chimney piece which was sent from

Egypt by Lord Kitchener as a present to his sister Mrs . Parker .

Leaving the dining room by the south door w e enter the present entrance hall which is rich in panelling of the Jacobean

and Georgian periods with much more of quite a recent date . There still remains here a n interesting Jacobean arcade of thre e Doric arches and columns and in the bay behind there is a fine

Georgian staircase of th ree flights .

Leaving the hall by a corridor and passing by two smaller A rooms , the one on the east side having good Queen nne panelling , we arrive at the present drawing room on the extreme south o f th e

east front . This room was formerly the kitchen , but has been completely modernised since 1895. The old kitchen was a room

of considerable interest having a central oak post , with struts supporting the large ceiling beams and a fixed table surroundin g

fire lac e — d the base . There was a large open p now transforme into an ingle nook , and huge dressers on two of the walls . Over

r the old kitchen is the room in which Lord Macaulay was bo n .

1895 bv The South Wing was erected in , as recorded the dat e

on th e western chimney , to replace the older buildings which were in such a dilapidated state that nothing short of entirely re ~ I building them could be done . Plate shows the plan of these old buildings before thev were pulled dow n . The new buildin gs

2 2 LE IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

N N CO CLUSIO .

I t I II t h e foregoing pages , though have made an endeavour o m collect and bring under a single h ead , as much infor ation as I w R could gath er , of th e associations connected ith othley Temple

and its architectural growth , yet no claim is m ade that what is i e h ere publ sh ed is by any means exh austiv .

t I is a matter , however , of some wonder , that a building of

such h i storical and arch itectural interest , should hitherto h ave

escaped that serious study which its importance demands . Existing remains of the buildings connected with the Tem

lars H p and th e ospitallers are very scanty , as compared with those o f the other Monastic Orders , and a complete plan of one of their

establish ments h as still to be evolved .

t Me r t ens . I To Frederick , Esq , the present owner , wish to o fl er my grateful thanks , not only for every assistance h e has

given me in the preparation of this paper , but along with every

a arch eologist of the Kingdom , for restoring and preserving

to posterity this valuable historical monument .

I . am much indebted to Mr George Farnham , for the information which he has given me concerning the ancient state o f 130 9 the building , as shown by the survey of the year , wh ich he R ffi found at the Public ecord O ce in London , together with

i o f oth er h storical notes and papers , all which h ave helped to f solve some of the di ficult problems connected with the building , o th erwise not understood . A . H To Mr lbert erbert , for h is valuable help in measuring the building and providing several of th e drawings

which illustrate this paper , to Mr . Bailey for hi s kindness in supplying photograph s with permission to reproduce th em ,

f o r lans to Mr . G alloway loans of p and other favours ,

le a th to Mr . F . S , who carried out th e restoration and wh ose knowledge of th e building previous to 1895 has

been most valuable , and to several others whose h el p h as been

I . most acceptable , wish to tender mv sincere thanks

To Mr and Mrs . Broadhurst , the present occupants of the I Temple , am more than indebted . Their kindness in allowing

c a uv any me free a cess at time to part of the buildings , to ROTHL EY . T HE PRE C EPTO RY . 2 3

e I m asure or draw any portions required , will be one of my pleasantest recollections , and without that privilege , this paper would never have been written .

LIST OF D RAWINGS .

I . o A Plans of the Ground Floor , First Flo r and ttic of R 4 othley Temple as it existed before 189 .

Note (a) The division o f the Chapel by a cross wall dividing

the building into an Eastern and Western portion . The

Eastern portion was open to the roof , but the Western

o portion was ceiled , and a flo r inserted dividing this

end of the building into two stories , a wine cellar

below , a laundry above .

’ (b) Lord Macaulay s Study with bedroom over .

(c) Exterior entrance to the Chapel .

No t o (d) external entrance Tower , or connection with

Dining Room . — R (e) Old Kitchen now Drawing oom . — (f) Out Buildings now destroyed (7 and

Position of Back Stairs . N o Porch .

Position of doo r leading from Hall to Dining Room .

Plan of Ground Floor as at present .

N t ote (a) Chapel restored o original plan . ’ (b) Lord Macaulay s Study (site of) . (c) External Entrance to Chapel through to the

Tower and from Tower to Dining Room . (d) Kitchen connected with Drawing Room with

Alcove to Garden .

(e) New South or Billiard Room Wing .

(f) New Porch .

(g) New Kitchen Block .

\Y III . Plan of Chamber Floor as at present , estern or Back

Elevation . 2 4 L E IC E S TE R S HIRE AR CHAEOLO GICAL S O C IETY .

IV . Bl ock Plan of Site .

n Front of Easter Elevation , as at present . N W Elevation of Ch apel and Tower . S . . Section through Chapel and Tower and Dining R oom .

Interior Views of the Chapel looking East . m 1. Time of the Knights T e plars shewing the original

East window b efore altered by the Hospitallers . The Early English Roof here shown is taken from

the one still existing at Sw ineford , Kent . 2 l . Ho Time of the spital ers and later , shewing the Per

end ic ular \ p East Vindow and Roof , replacing the

Early English ones .

Details of the Chapel .

Note (a) The Capitals of the original Early English w indow marked (x) and the raising of the j ambs an additional 6 feet before turning

the arch of the Perpendicular one .

The figure of a Knight Templar is taken from one of the efli gie s in the Temple

Church , London .

Details of the Chapel and Tower .

( a) Entrance to Chapel from Ground Floor o f I Tower . nterior and Exterior Elevation and

Section .

Note arch in upper ch amber to carry N. wall

of upper story of Tower . (b) Corbels in Ground Floor of Tower to carry

vaulting ribs .

Iind o w s (c) Section and Moldings to “ and Doors .

(d) Reading Desk in Chapel .

(e) Font in Chapel . ( f) Heraldry of some of the principal families in

East Window . ROTHL EY . T HE P RE C EPTORY . 2 5

o (g) Fragment of Tomb , shewing shield f 15

n No 4 i Quarteri gs , . of which s Babingto n .

( s n o h) Cusping of unusual de sign in Ea t Wi d w . I VI I . ’ h m Details of the panelling in L ord Macaulay s Birt roo .

R LIST OF PHOTOG APHS AND ENGRAVINGS .

Interior of Chapel looking East . (Frontispiece . )

R East Front of othley Temple , from an engraving 4 by John Scott ( d . page

o f R East Front othley Temple before 1895, shewing ’ th t e Entrance o Chapel , Lord Macaulay s

s . Study , and Base of Cro s (Qy )

We st Front of Rothley Temple since 1895.

Entrance to Chapel from Porch under Tower .

Interior of Chapel looking West .

o f . Exterior showing N. W . angl e Chapel 2 6 LE IC E S TE R S HIR E AR CHAEOLOGICAL S O CIETY

A N A PPE DIX .

' STAINED GLASS IN T HE EAST W INDO\V T H HA OF E C PEL . II N . I . 955 ich ols in h is history of Leicestersh ire , Vol , p , has A m given a complete list of th e Coats of r s , as they existed in his

“ ” - day in a large bow window , but some portions were evidently lost or destroyed during or previous to their removal to their

present position . Only five Coats of Arms remain to—day out of the eight

o described by h im . Their present positions in the wind w are ,

- N two in th e left hand or ort h Ligh t , one in the central Light , and

tw o - in the right hand or South Light .

n N I . I the upper portion of the orth or l eft side of the window A is the Coat of rms of Babington , having six quarterings .

. Th e shield is surrounded with beautiful mantling , and

— A - surmounted w ith w reath and crest demi Bat .

displayed gu .

1 . Th is quartering is now blank , but , originally contained

— Ar 10 a the coat of Babington g . , Torte ux

4 . 2 3 A . 3 . . in chief a label of points z

These arms to - day appear misplaced in the

3rd quarter (see below) .

2 . Ar a é u . be tw . 3 s . g . , a fess vair or and g water bougets (Dethick )

3 . N Babington (misplaced , see above) ichols gives

a S . a lion rampant , a chief or .

h E- a Ar et 3 u . g . a fess b w . billets g l A O r . 3 g on a bend gu . escutch eons of t h e first , a chief of

the second .

6 . . . . u . Or a chevron g , a canton erm (Stafford)

- A R . II . ight hand side of window , upper portion rms of 4 Beaumont , on sh ield with quarterings surrounded with

mantling and h elmet , but crest is missing .

- - 1 4 . Az fle ur . . and . semée of de lis a lion ramp or

( Beaumont . )

2 Ar u sa . . g . a bend gobonated g . and cotised of the second

n h or e a mullet for cadency (Le t p . ) ROTHL EY . T HE P RE C EPTORY . 2 7

3 . a . Britle . S two lions pass ant guardant arg . ( y)

N e No 2 3 entho r e ichols d scribes s . and as belonging to the L p

H No . n . family , but gives o blazonry e is correct as regards

2 No but evidently wrong with . 3 .

- III . . Left hand Light , lower portion o f window

BAB N T N AND H FR I G O VM EY .

1. No I . Babington (as . 2 No . . Dethick (as I .

3 . a wivern in chief and a lion

rampant in base .

4 . Ar . t be w 3 . u . g a Fess . . Billets g

A IN N Ar 5. . u 3 B B GTO g on a Bend g . Escutcheons of the

first and a chief of the second . 6 ff I . . Sta ord (as No .

7 . No II . 1 Beaumont (as . , and 4) t 8 . en h o r No 2 L pe (as . II . )

Britl No 9 . e II . 3 y (as . )

Impaling .

1 4 . u . 8x C a Cross baton ar . pierced of the field (Humfrey) a cross ” t rl W as e e . crosslet sable . y HVMFREY

Nichols . )

4 o 2 Ar etw . 81 3 . Gules a Bend g . b Le pards

Faces Or .

This shield is surrounded with much classic scroll ornament ,

s s . with figure holding cornucopias , etc . , parts of which are mis ing

IV . Central Light . Lo wer portion of window .

BABINGTON AND BEAVMONT — No III . 1 . 9. Babington . The same nine coats as in

Impaling Quarterly .

No 4 1 4 . II . 1 Beaumont ( as in . , 8: ) 2 ntho e No . II . 2 . Le rp (as in , )

itl No I . 3 3 . Br ey (as in . I , )

No III . There is much scroll work similar to . , but no figures ’ except a cherub s head . 2 8 L E IC E S TE RS HIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

- R . . V . igh t hand Light Lower portion of window

N N AND BABI GTO CAVE .

— No I I s . II 81 V 1 9 . Th e same nine coats similar to

(Babington . )

Impaling Quarterly .

1 Az . Ar . 4 . 8: . Fretty g (Cave )

2 . . . Erm on a bend gules . 3 whales heads erased

Ar A . 3 . g . Chevron between 3 Martlets vert

Scroll work surrounding the shield , similar to last with some

portions missing .

A b N o The three following Coats of rms , mentioned y ich ls , are now missing

VI . Quarterl y .

1 4 (Cave) .

2 3 isl (L ey) . This is a mistake for Whalley .

Impaling .

i t 2 ott z es . Three Bars a bend engrailed be w . c

VII . N Quarterly of ine .

1. Babington .

2 . Dethick .

3 . AVVy vern in chief and a lion rampant

in base .

Ar . betw . 3 . g a Fess . billets gules A r . 3 of f g on a Bend gu . escutcheons the first a chie

of the second .

Staff ord .

Beaumont .

B ritl ey . nth Le orpe .

III . o I . V The Crest of the Babingto ns ( see N . )

R 3 0 L E IC E S TE RS HIRE A CHAEOLOG ICAL S O C IETY .

N h N I . o 1. I ort adj oining .

A IN N AR A B B GTO impaling C D LE .

Az . Babington as before (Black ground) . a chevro n t be w . 3 . r arg cornish choughs pp . (White

background) (Cardale) . A A R N A . Motto . MO S J U VIT

Th is is th e Hatchment of Thomas Babington ( 1715— 1776) N I . H 2 father of o . e married Lydia Cardale ( 17 7 They are both buried at the East End of the Chapel .

II \ I . . Sout h Vall , West End

AR R A N N P KE , impaling B BI GTO .

az Or , on three escutcheons . charged with as many

Pheons (Parker) Black ground .

Babington , as before , with the exception of the field ,

which is here painted or . evidently a mistake fo r '

az . (White ground . ) A Motto . C VEO . H This is the atchment of Sir James Parker , the Vice — 2 1803 185 . He r Chancellor ma ried Mary , daughter of Thomas 1799 Babington , who survived her h usband ( Both lie buried in the Chapel .

- - He purchased Rot hley Temple from h is father in law in 1845.

APPENDIX C .

MONUMENTS IN T HE CHAPEL .

Swithland Slate gravestones , in the floor of the Sanctuary

( Ch ancel . )

A 1778 86 . 1. . AR Mrs C D LE , died , aged

2 A A IN N 1791 64 . . Mrs . LYDI B B GTO , died , aged

A N N 1776 6 1. 3 . H A I G T OM S B B TO , died , aged ROTHL EY . T HE P RE C EPTORY . 3 1

AN P H RN 1 1 2 4 I 18 6 8 3 . . SUS YC E G SBO E, born , died N RN T AN I 1 5 1785. w o 5. E G SBO E , born 78 , died A HARIN A IN N 1766 6 . C T E B B GTO , born , small

1 . died 767. slabs

A A N Re Z H IN o v . Mrs . ELI BET B B GTO , wife f the N N 2 A H A I 1793 9. M TT EW B B GTO , died , aged AN I BAB N T N 1764 1 65 FR C S I G O , born , died 7 (small

slab) . A N H A I N 1758 183 7. T OM S B B GTO , born , died AN A IN N 1 6 1 45. JE B B GTO , born 7 4 , died 8 A M . . B . 18 19.

’ A H W A IN N 1792 1836 M TT E B B GTO , born , died , and RAN 1796 1878 . F CES his wife , born , died

N Swithland Slate Gravestones in the fl oor of the ave . A ARR R N 4 13 . 2 H I I o 178 18 7. L DY ET E SK E , b rn , died

R A AR R KNT I - HAN R 14 . I S J MES P KE , . , V CE C CELLO ,

1803 1852 . born , died A AR R R H A 15. A . D ME M Y P KE , dau of T OM S 1 8 A N N 17 9 85 . I . 9 B B GTO , ESQ , born , died

R 1 . A MO 6 small stone 9 inches square . VVILL E , buried

A o 1 73 Feb . nn . 7 .

Marble Tablets on the Walls .

Two small tablets one on each side of East Window

1 In R Z R RTT N . M memory of F IT OEL E E S , 25th 1898 born Dec . , , h 2st 1 1 . died May , 9 9

2 n HN RNHAR M RTTENS . I memory of JO BE D E ,

3 1907 A 11 1909. born Jan . , , died pril , N t 3 . Between the Sanctuary Windows on the or h side is a large white marble slab with a long in 990 scription (printed in Nichols Vol . iii . , p . ) to 2 I S R S HIR AR HA I A 3 L E C E TE E C EOLOG C L S O C IETY .

Rev . A H \Y A IN N The M TT E B B GTO , son of H A IA A IN N T OM S and LYD B B GTO , Vicar R y 6th 1796 of othle , died May , , aged 3 4

years .

On the North Wall o f the Nave a white Marble tablet of black ground to

AN A IN ON 2 nd H A JE B B GT , , daughter of T OM S

EAN A IN ON o and J B B GT , b rn 1 died 839.

On the S . side opposite and similar to No . 4 AR AR ANN A IN N M G ET B B GTO , daughter o f H A AN A IN N T OM S and JE B B GTO , died 18 1 15th 9, in her year .

In 2 4 2 a wooden frame ft . in . x 3 ft . in . are the fragmentary remains of the incised slab o f

A N IN N . G ES K GSTO , which was formerly in R It othley Church . has been engraved by N ichols , in whose time it was entire .

A N PPE DIX D . R H — H R N 1 5 R . 0 OT LEY EXC EQUE K . EXTE TS , , R LEICESTE .

I o By this ndenture , Master Stephen de Segrave , execut r of

h erifl the will of Sir Gilbert de Segrave , late S of the counties

Warwick and Leicester , on Saturday next after the feast of St . Gregory the Pope (March 12) in the second year of the reign of

King Edward , son of King Edward delivered to Sir John de Leyk by the writ o f the King the goods and chattels of the brethren of the Knights of the Temple , in the county of Leicester , in the King ’s hand there being in the custody of the said Master

Stephen , namely T w In . 10 5. o the Chapel One Chalice , value old missals ,

3 5. t h e value of both Four sets of vestments , value of each set

25. 55. A tunic and dalmatic of linen cloth , the value of both

l 8d l 8d . One choir cope , value . One frontal value

f o r 12d . Three mani ples the altar , value of all One

t 205. por hors (book of hours) in two volumes , value

' " LBER HERBER MENS ET DEL l 1. A T T, . 9 2

R H . OT LEY T HE P RE C EPTORY . 33

l d 8 . One psalter value One Gradual value l 8d . One d 3 . 6d ordinal , value Two rochets , value of both . Two vials o f tin , value 2d . And note that Ralph the chaplain has in his custod y another

o entire p rthors , value and two vilas of silver . I tem , in the hall , three tables with two pair of trestles , value

16d . d 4 . o of all One fixed table , value One washing bas n , value

6d . 1 One chair , value d . I 25 2d . tem , in the kitchen , two brazen pots , each worth . 8d . d . Two brazen pans , each worth One posset cup , worth 8

t 6d . One brass pan for frying , wor h Two mortars of stone worth

4 r 3 d d . One g i diron . worth . I t 16d tem , in the brewhouse , five vats , wor h . each . Five l d t kinme s worth 6 . each . Two bowls wor h 8d .

k e d Item , in the ba ehouse , four bowls , value of ach 5 .

l r one o f d . Item , in the pant y , salt cellar tin worth é One d tunnel for bread worth 8 .

th r d I e five 8 . tem , in buttery , barrels each wo th One mazer

2 5. 2d . worth Two tankards worth One cask half full of cider ,

3 . worth 40d . One cask of vinegar value 5

12 d . 24 9 . 0 Item , in the ox stalls , oxen valued at £ s , price

o n 11 of each 85. Item , e bull and cows valued at each worth

25 55. 4 . . Three steers worth 5. each Six yearling steers worth

12d . . each . Four calves of the preceding year worth each 2 Item , in the sheepfold , 1 score and 1 ewes and they are

d . . An 6 1 15. d valued at £ 8 6 , value of each 15. 6d 5 hogs and d 3 6 d 20 . 8 . (garta) , and they are valued at £ 8 15. , each worth — An 12 6d . d 3 lambs and they are valued at 6 1 6d . , value of each 2 I 5. o tem , in the piggery , two boars , each worth Four s ws ,

16d l 8d . each worth . Three porkers , each worth Thirtyfour

2 4d . 1 d . hoggets , each worth Twelve sucking pigs , each worth

2d l d . I r . e tem , five geese , each wo th Fiv ducks , each worth é

artho vel Item , in the c , five carthorses , each worth and

five 3 s . horses for the plough , each worth , and one mule worth

1 5 4d . e 3 . 3 5. Tw o carts bound with iron with all the g ars , value 4 One wagon worth 5.

2 45. I 5 . 7 tem , in the granary , qrs , strikes of wheat , worth per R A A 3 4 L E IC E S TE R S HIRE A CH EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

4 7 t 5. er . 28 . Item , qrs , strikes of rye , wor h p qr

40d . . 26 . Item , qrs of drage , worth per qr

1 40d . 11 . o . Item , }qrs of beans w rth per qr

d . 2 of o 2 5. 6 26 . e . Item , qrs strikes p as , w rth per qr

2 of 25. . 84 . Item , qrs , strikes oats , worth per qr

of o n Item , in the thrashing all the c r thrashed and winnowed ,

2 1 45 r for th i . . . e v z . , for the wheat and rye } qrs worth per q , and '

o 4 d r . a 8 drage 1 qr . w rth 0 . per q , and for beans and pe s strike s

for 4 r 2 2 r . o s and one peck o f peas , value 5. 6d . per q , and at q s .

25. . s trikes , worth per qr

1 45 . Item , in the grange 0 qrs . of mixed grain , worth . per qr

k a Item , there was delivered to the same (Sir John de Ley )

o s c ertain chest with charters , writings and ther muniment

enclosed sealed .

o R th le Item , a certain commissi n of the Temple o f o e e con cerning the commission made to brother Thomas de VValkyngt o n

for term of his life .

I Babbe rave 28 tem , at g four oxen valued at 5. each worth

75. e 25 a Three hors s , each worth . One plough with ge rs , w orth 10d . I d tem , at Gaddesby , two tables with trestles , worth 8 . One

r t 1d fo m wor h . One chair , worth 1d . One brass pan worth 2d . 1 t d . I f 85 a . One Tripod wor h tem , our oxen worth . e ch Five

o 2 o 12d horses w rth 5. 6d . each . One c lt worth . Five geese l d o . n valued at One cart bound with iron , value a d another 12 d . l o 8d . for worth Two ploughs with all the gears , w rth the t o w .

In a a r r B b e r v 0 . 7 the grana y at Gaddesby and b g e 3 qrs , st ikes 2 o f 35 3 25. r . 1 wheat , and qrs . , strikes of peas , worth per q , and

r f s . o 3 q drage , worth 5. per qr . N B . This is the complete record . II — . T HE D ESC ENT O F T HE MANO R

a am F A By Ge orge F rnh , . S . .

This articl e is a continuatio n o f th e series of histories o f the man ors of Leicestershire which was commenced in the Trans a o o f A ae cti ns the Leicestershire rch ological Society last ye ar . The selection of Rothley is due to th e architectural investigations

Fo brooke . s R recently made by Mr , at the Temple , othley , the ancient preceptory of the Knights Templars and their suc c essors the Ho n Knights spitallers , parts of which have bee i incorporated in the exist ng mansion . To embody in an article o f mo derate length the whole of the documents connected with th e descent of a manor with so many outlying hamlets as Rothley

b o h e e f o . . would impossible , the history s me of t em , g , Gaddesby ,

l a wou d require complete articles to themselves . The most th t can be don e in the allotted space is to giv e a general sketch o f the des cent o f the manor based on the original deeds and leave th e

o h st ry of the hamlets co mprised in t e soke to future occasions .

Merttens Before going further I wish to express to Mr . , lord

o of the manor f Rothley , my grateful appreciation o f his liberality in allowing m e to have free access to the large number o f docu

s to ments in his posses ion , my thanks are also due his resident

in o agent Mr . Galloway , for giving me every help his p wer for inspe cting the doc uments and much friendly assistance .

The history of the manor and soke o f Rothley has been N treated at considerable length by Mr . ichols in his history of Leices tershire and much of what follows here must necessarily be

i the s e repetition , s nce both accounts are largely drawn from am N the so urces . ichols , however , does not appear to have used Rothley documents to the extent which we might have expected considering his friendship with Mr . Babington , the owner , other wise he wo uld have avoided the in accuracies of saying that H 1544 a umphrey Babington , who died in , was lord of the m nor

o R son s and owner f othley , thus confusing him with his Thoma i to Babington and his gr andson Humphrey Bab ngton , whom Sir R A A 3 6 L E IC E S TE R S HIR E A CH EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

R 1565 A kt . a mbrose Cave , , conveyed othley in ; also of c lling

Henry Cart w r igh t , to wh om the manor house and demesne lands in 1543 were granted by the Crown , by th e incorrect Christian — name of Edward mistakes w h ich , coming from so high an

by w . a uth ority , h ave been copied subsequent riters

“ ” The word Soke is explained by Nichols to mean th e power

of administering j ustice as also the circuit of a liberty , franchise , o r local privileged j urisdiction , and therefore the Saxons frequently called by that name those parts or members of large

manors which belonged to , or were disj oined from , the principal o r capital seat of the manor .

Th e latter part of this explanation of the term Soke agrees R w ell with the manorial position of othley , of which manor the 1086 lord , at the time of the Domesday Survey in , held rights in 22 14 no less than outlying hamlets , which number is reduced to in an old Customary among th e Rothley documents of a date about 1273 and is furt h er reduced to 12 in a statement of the customs

o f f Hey rick the manor set orth by Samuel , steward of the manor , 1 30 in 1730 . The names of the hamlets comprised in the soke in 7

Mountso rrell were the south end of , the towns of Gaddesby , N Barsby , South Croxton and Keyham , the lordship of ewbold , ' W \Vikeham aw d ew ell the towns of Grimstone , artnaby , , C and

ih part of the town of Saxelby , of which places , he says , the h abitants regularly appear and do suit and service at the Court Leet and Court Baron h eld for the manor of Rothley and acknow

l edge the j urisdiction thereof .

o f R y The customs the manor of othle were peculiar , and are recited both in th e Customary of 1273 and in other Rothley d ocuments . The date of this Customary is open to question , it

is possibly not entirely of one date , but among the list of tenants ” paying foreign rents occurs the name o f Peter Nevill of Allex

ton , who is credited with a payment of 3 shillings yearl y for his

A No 1273 N tenement in llexton . w in the y ear Peter evill made over to h is son Theobald Nevill his manor of Allexton with all the

lands he held th ere of the soke of Rothley , for which Peter had 3 S y No . paid hillings early . [Miscellaneous inquisitions 2 Th e date therefore of this Customary cannot be later than 1 73 .

in te a lia The Customary states , r , that if anyone wishes to grant or sell h is land or part with it to anyone within the soke it

AR HA 38 LE IC E S TE R S HIRE C EOLOGICAL S O C IETY . held their lands is proved by the opening sentences of the Domes “ day Survey for Rothley . Th e King [William I holds Ro d olei

[Rothley] . King Edward [the Confessor] held it .

Another peculiarity among the customs at Rothley relates

o to th e succession to lands in the man r . The Customary says “ If any m an of the Soke having a wife have by her several sons s or daughters and him elf die , the land is partible between the same sons or daughters , but by no means between a son and a daughter , and if there be only one son and many daughters the And son shall have the whole . be it known that whenever the

o r husband dies , whether he have sons daughters or not , the wife sh all have the whole land for her life unless she takes a husband . And if she takes a husband then she shall be dowered with a third ” part and the sons or daughters S hall sh are the land .

He rick 1730 Mr . Samuel y , in , gives this rendering of the “ o above If a man die seised of lands within the Man r of Rothley ,

be no settlement having en made to the contrary , his widow shall hold and enj oy all the lands whereof he died seised during her f widowhood . I a man die seised of an estate within the said manor having made no settlement to the contrary or disposition thereo f by \ Vill , the same shall not descend to his eldest son but all his

sons shall equally inherit in Gavelkind .

R o especting the growth of the custom of prim geniture ,

H o 33 Medley , in his English Constitutional ist ry , page

A - s and following pages , says , that under the nglo Saxon the land of almost all those who ultimately held as tenants in socage was divided according to the dictates

y of natural j ustice , equall among all the sons , but under the Norman Kings when tenants by military service occupied by far the largest portion of the English soil , a diminution of the holding might mean an inabilit y not onl y to discharge the requisite duty (and all military service in England was service to the

Crown) but also to pay necessary feudal dues . There seems little doubt that primogenitary succession was in the first instance enforced from above its denial of the dictates of natural j ustice made it unpopular with the land holding classes ; its simplicity ffi as a working rule commended it strongly to the royal o cials . So rapidly d id the r ule spread that even the holdings of many among the unfree villein tenants had ceased to be partible , the R H . OT L EY THE D E S C ENT O F THE MANOR . 39 descent being regulated by so me custom of inheritance enforced

a t by the manori l cour , not always in favo ur of the succession of the eldest son , but possibly o f the youngest 50 11. N — B . It ffi . is perhaps di cult for the ordin ary reader to remember the e lementary fact that every holder of land was a tenant , that is to say , he held his land either directly o f the Ki ng or of some intermediate overlord w h o held mediately or im m ediately of the King (there may have been tw o or more All intermediaries . ) tenants held by the d ue performance o f certain services . The customs and laws of the manor courts were constantly , as time went on , being modified by new enactments

s n pas ed by the Crown and Parliament , and by the increasi g ’ scope o f the King s Courts which gradually absorbed much o f the business formerly transacted in the manor court .

1086 We have already learnt that in the king held Rothley , and in the Leicestershire Survey of 1124 9 th e king still held it . We hear nothing further concerning the man or until about 1150

th Ran l of when king Stephen gr anted e mano r to u ph , e arl

w h o to a s Chester , seems have taken the prec ution of having thi grant confirmed by Henry II . before his acc ession to the throne . Whether in consequenc e of some act o f rebellio n or from other cause the manor o f Rothley soon reverted t o the king , who made

to occasional grants of the manor , or part s of it , various persons ,

o f se which grants appear to have been temporary , the only one the

e h o o f H grante s w is special interest to us is John de arcourt , to whom in the first year of his reign [1199] King John granted a

Roleia part of the manor . This grant being £ 3 5 of land in [Rothley] and the soke of Roleia to John de Harcourt for his

o H o f homage and service , to hold t John de arcourt and his heirs ’ ” s th e king and his heirs by a service of one knight s fee . Thi

h so 12 . T e 26 03 . e was confirmed May , [Se Charter rolls] rea n why John de Harcourt interests us is because it w as owing to him that the Templars first obtained any interest in the manor o f R H othley . John de arcourt , however , did not have undisturbed

n o f 28 1216 possession , for we fi d in the Close roll , October ,

h erifl . 1 H II . s enry I , that the of co Leicester was commanded to cause John de Harcourt to be reseised o f his manor o f Role [Rothley] of which he was disseise d because We ordered that

Our demesnes should be seized int o Our hand . A A L E IC E S T ERS HIRE ARCH EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

Joh n de Harcourt died while with the cru sading army at 122 1 Damietta in or about , and j ust before his death he be q uea the d by Will £ 10 of land in Rothley to the brethren of the

Ba ra Order of the Temple . Th is land was situated in gg ve in the

N o 405 R f . manor of othley , for in Testa de evill , is the following entry “ Th e master of the Knights of th e Temple holds 15 virgates (about 4 50 acres) of land in Ba bbe grave and had entry

H H 28 y by John de arcourt who died in the oly Land ears ago . N ( o account of the Knights Templars is necessary here as Mr .

ok Fo sbro e has given one in his article on the preceptory . )

In consequence of this bequest the Templars applied to the Crown for a confi rmation of the grant made to them in John de ’ “ Harcourt s Will . The answer of the Crown was that as to the £ 10 of land which the brethren of the Knights Templars of Solomon ask Us to confirm to them from the \Vill of John de

H Ro le arcourt , of the lands which were of the said John in e , We grant them the custody of these lands until we have provided for t h em in escheats [forfeited lands] or in other ways to the value

f h ri o 10 . e fl the said £ of land The s of co . Leicester is therefore ” 6 commanded to deliver seisin to the said Knights [Patent roll ,

May ,

1 . 123 1 On Feb , , t h e king granted by charter to the men of the town of Roel [Rothley] th at th ey might hold th e said town

with t h e demesne wood and the mill of the said town at fee farm , paying therefor every y ear t h e due and ancient rent of £ 10 by the f hands of the sherif of co . Leicester , saving to th e King the tallage of the said town and the said men shall have the essarts land brought into cultivation from the waste] in the said town wh ich they previously held from the King for 22 shillings 22 a year , paying therefor yearly by .the h ands of the sheriff

shillings . It is difficult to understand why this grant to the men of R othley was ever made , it was only temporary , but with regard to t h e essarts it is evident that improvements by bringing into cultivation land from the w aste of the manor had been in progress — for some years as far back as the 7th y ear of King Joh n

“ we learn from t h e Pipe roll that th e men of Ro le ia and the men

Munso r l of e rendered account of 40 marks , to be paid to the R H . T E OT LEY H DE S C ENT O F T HE MANOR . 4 1 e xchequer for having licence to essart the woods which are be t ween the watercourse o i Langec lif and the highway which goe s

o R to Mun o r l fr m ole the vill of s e , so that the moiety of the ess art next the vill of Role remains to the men of Role to hold o f 2 the King , rendering therefor 0 shillings yearly and the oth er m oiety of that essart which is next the vill of Munsorel remain s t o of Munsor l the men e , rendering therefor yearly 20 shillings . O f which were paid into the trea sury 20 marks by the hands of t h e men of Munsorel and 10 marks by the hands of the men o f R 1 ole who owe 0 marks more .

ff o H h auc umb 1 The sheri of c . Leicester ugh de C e owes 0 shillings from the men of Role for the said ess art for half-a -year ” a n 1 un or l - a- d 0 shillings from the men of M s e for half year .

The e ssart ed land was evidently betwe e n Rothley and Mount s orrel and was to be divided between the men of the two places . I t is interesting t o note that during the troublous times of King J ohn the country round Rothley and Mountsorrel was sufli c iently settled for these improvements and additions to the land already under cultivation to be made by the inhabitants themselves . On

2 1 A 123 1 to pril , , the King by a charter gave the abbot and

o convent f St . John the Evangelist of Croxton , in frank almoin , 20 shillings of rent which the men of Muntford pay yearly to the King at the exch equer for essarts made in the fields of Roele R [ othley] . t Mun ford is probably a mistake for Mount sorrel . Wood t horpe near Loughborough was formerly known as Thorpe

Muntford R but had no connection with othley . 6 123 1 On July , , the King gave to St . Mary and to the master h and brethren of the Temple , to whom the King as entrusted his ’ b f o r ody burial after his mortal end , the King s part of the manor

R R th e of oel [ othley] with the advowson of church there , in * frank almoin , with all the liberties and customs possessed by the said master and brethren under the charters previo usly granted to them [Calendar of Charter rolls p .

This is the first definite grant of the manor of Rothley to the T emplars and it w as accompanied by a royal command enrolled 7 123 1 on the Patent roll on the following day July , , addressed to t he freemen and others holding in that portion which the King

‘ F e e l e e e a s e es to th e ono . a ms i . e om s r , , fr d fr cul r rvic d r R HIR AR HA I A 4 2 LE IC E S TE S E C EOLOG C L S O CIETY .

R \Ve had in th e manor of othley Know ye that have given , granted and confirmed to the master and brethren of the Knights of th e Temple of Solomon of Jerusalem all that part which We

R a urt enenc e s hold in th e manor of ole with pp , to have and to hold

of Us and our heirs for ever , in free and perpetual alms , as is more fully contained in Our charter which \Ve have made to

\Ve them . Therefore command you that for the future you be intendant and answerable to the said Knights as in times past ” you were to Us .

Although there is no specific mention of any o f the outlying

hamlets in the above grant , it is quite evident that they were 14 1232 included , for we read on the Close roll of January , , that the King has lea rned by inquisition that the land which William ’ erland de S held of the King s bail in Barsby , Gaddesby and Croxton is part of the manor of Rothley which the brethren of ’ the Temple in England hold of the King s gift , therefore the

sheriff of co . Leicester is commanded to cause the said brethren

to have full seisin of all the aforesaid land witho ut delay . 16 1233 On the Close roll of March , , the King informs the barons of the exchequer that he has given to the aforesaid abbey

4 d . 8 o f 105. 8 of Croxton shillings yearly rents from Twyford ,

kefli n ton 26 e 2 from S g , p nce from Tilton and 0 shillings which the men of Role used to pay yearly to the exchequer for the essarts in the fields of Role and a further 22 shillings yearly from the

same men for the essarts at Role . 2 1 A 123 1 H III . By this and th e former grant of pril , , enry had granted to Croxton Abbey all the rents arising from th e

essarts lately made by the men of Rothley . These grants were probably acts of filial piety because King John ’s bowels were A buried at Croxton bbey .

It seems probable that the T emplars were experiencing some d ifli c ulty with the men of Rothley in taking possession of their newly acquired manor and in enforcing the services due

from the tenants of the manor to the master , for on the Close roll 9 123 4 of September , , the King sent the following command to “ the sheriff of co . Leicester Since We have learned by th e

inquisition which \Ve commanded you to make a nd which you

H II . have sent to Us , that King enry , Our grandfather , in his

o time , and in the times of the other Kings f England , Our R H . T E N OT L EY H D E S C E T O F T HE MANOR . 4 3 a ncest ors had two carucates of land in demesne [240 acres] and

1185. of assized [fixed] rents in Roel [Rothl ey] besides the wood a nd i a m ll of the same town , and th t the men of the town reaped ’ in common all the King s corn for one meal daily and carried with ’ the King s carts his corn to his granges and that the men of the s aid town were customary tenants [held their land by the custom of

he i H I t I . f oo manor] and that K ng enry , O ur grand ather , t k an aid from them at his pleasure ; and that the men of Roel held a

t f or 22 certain essar which they used to render Us s . , wh ich they h eld by Our charter and which they restored to Us [this refers to 1 123 1 the grant of , February , , the restoration was probably compul sory] We command you that you diligently enquire who h a olds the said two carucates of l nd and the said 1185. o f rent i together with the said wood and m ll , and as to that essa rt that y o u at once give full seisin thereof to the master and brethren of t h e Knights of the Temple in England , to who m we have given the m R o u anor of oel , with our body for burial , and on Our behalf y a re to enj oin and firmly command the said men of Roel that for the future they do to the said m as ter and brethren the same

. H . c ustoms which they were accust omed to do to King enry II , a nd n o to the other Our predecessors , Ki gs of England , for as l ng as the m anor of Roel w as in the hands of those Kings and b e fore 7 ” “ e gave that manor to the said master and brethren .

In spite of all these commands it was considered necessary for t he security o f the Templars that they should have a new grant o f o f R y the Manor othle , possibly because in the former grant there w as no specific mention of the two carucates of demesne

11 a 85. o f O f l l and or rents assize or the wood , mi l and ess rts which the King had previously given to the inhabitants of Roth l e y at fee farm and which , as he is pleased to phrase it , the 8 A 1235 inhabitants had rendered to him again , so on ugust , , th e

th e King by charter granted to St . Mary and to master and

o Ro ele brethren of the Order o f the Temple , the man r of g R tw o [ othley] , with the advowson of the church there , including carucates of land in demesne and 118 shillings of assized rents ,

with the wood , mill and essarts , for which latter the said master and brethren shall render to the abbot and convent o f Croxton

22 for 5. yearly , as the men of the said manor used to render the s aid essart s while they held the manor at fee farm To hold the AR HA A 44 LE IC E S TE RS HIRE C EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

said manor , etc . , etc . , in frank almoin , with all the liberties and

free. customs t h at h ave been granted to them or shall be granted

to th em in th eir lands . ffi R T h e di culties with t h e inhabitants of othley continuing , 1235 th e King on 8 June , , sent a peremptory order to the sheriff R of co . Leicester to go in person to othley and compel obedience “ : It in th e following words has been sh own to Us , on behalf of

th e the master and brethren of Knights of the Temple in England , that the men of Roel do not permit them to cultivate that essart for which the said men were formerl y accustomed to render to Us 22 shillings by our charter , which they have restored to Us , and of which essart \Ve commanded vou to give seisin to the said

\Ve y ou master and brethren , therefore command , firmly enj oin R ing , that you go in your own person to the manor of oel and cause the said master and brethren to have full seisin of the said essart

w ith the appurtenances , and you w ill maintain , protect and defend the master and brethren in their seisin of the said essart as also ” in the other lands and rents of the said manor . [Close roll . ]

And 25 N 1237 on the close roll of ovember , , the King com m and e d the barons of the exchequer to enrol the grant of th e manor of Rothley to the master and breth ren of the Tem ple of

Solomon of Jerusalem .

This order to the barons of the exchequer finishes the story of the royal grant of the manor of Rothley to the Knigh ts of th e

Temple , who from this time were in full enj oyment of whatever the King could grant them in the manor and soke of Rothley Having taken possession of their property the Templars w ere no w in a position to build their chapel and such domestic buildings as

were necessary for their occupation . The Templars received a ch arter of confir mation from King “ I 2 2 - 1 1 7 8 1 . 59 Edward . [Calendar of Patent rolls , p ] that they

Ro th ele h may continue to h old the church of the manor of g , with

th e the chapels thereto belonging , for pittance for brethren at

A Ro th l h cre , the manor of e eg with the advowson of the said church and chapels having been granted to them by King H r III . en y in frank almoin , but t h e King for divers reasons

having a righ t in the said advowson .

Th e schedule of the ch a pels is missing on the Patent roll , f . G . o but is stated by Mr T . Clark , to h ave consisted the

HIR AR HA I A 4 6 L E IC E S TERS E C EOLOG C L S O C IETY .

ff John de Dene was succeeded as sheri of co . Leicester by

of o fli c e Geoff rey de Segrave , who died in his year , and his executor Stephen de Segrave was ordered to hand over Geoff rey ’s

R to inventories and accounts of othley manor one John de Leyk .

The suppression of the Order of the Temple was largely d ue to Philip IV . , King of France , who w as determined to put f H an end to the Knights o the Temple if he co uld . e o btained

V . on 14 or compelled the assistance of Pope Clement , and Sep

1307 o f tember , , he issued orders for the arrest all the Templars

o in France on the night f Frid ay , 13 October , and Pope Clement

I r w rote to King Edward I . to ar est all the Templars in England , 10 13 who were accordingly seized on January , 08 . Monstro us

i em lars cr mes were charged against the T p , but the Order was u never formally pronounced g ilty of them , and the opinion that the charges were false and the confessions were only extracted by torture is supported by the general results of the investigations

s in almo t every country outside France . The wealth of the

Order may well have been the motive in suppressing it , and the riches of the T emplars were of the greatest assistance to the

impoverished exchequer of Edward II . Pope Clement suppressed th e whole Order in 13 12 and transferred its lands to the Knights

o H of St . J hn of Jerusalem , commonly called the Knights ospital

lers .

This papal order was tardily executed in England , the King was in great want of money and many of the barons laid hands o n estates belonging to the dissolved Order which they were

Ho unwilling to disgorge , so the Knights spitallers found that the lands of their former rivals came to them but slowly and in many cases encumbered with charges . \Vith the suppression of the Order the rule of the Templars 12 R . 8 13 at othley came to an end On the th December , , the R custody of the manor of othley , late of the Templars , now in the ’ r King s hand , was given to William de Ferrers to hold du ing 26 13 13 pleasure [Patent roll] and on December , , William de Ferrers was commanded to deliver seisin of the manor of R H 227 othley to the Knights ospitallers , who for the next years were lords of the manor and soke of Ro thley .

Among the Rothley deeds is an extent of the Tem pl e of

R h 1 W illia m rne s ot ley made at Rothley in the year 133 , before E y , R H . T HE S N OT LEY D E CE T O F THE MANOR . 4 7

’ e an the King s escheator in counti s Warwick and Leicester, d a j ury who say on o ath that there is there Rothley Temple] a

tw o h r capital messuage with orchards , t e f uit and herbage of 2 o 05. e 65. 8d which are w rth a year ; a dovecot worth . a year ;

tw o one and mills , water and one wind , worth 605. a year .

And r 2 there are there th ee separate pastures worth 05. yearly ,

med o P r m o and three pieces of meadow called Est w e , ees t ed w e ,

e An with other piec s not measured , worth 1005. a year . d there are

400 d 120 o f there acres by the longer hun red [ ] arable land , o f 6 — which each acre is worth pence yearly . N. B . This probably 4 means carucates of land . 2 Total £ 1 yearly .

There is there the profit of the park with the underwoo d 40 worth pence yearly , and a certain fishing in a certain water

oore 5 called S [Soar] worth 8 . yearly , and there are there the per i q uis tes of the court which are worth £ 10 a year .

There are there rents of assize o f th e free tenants 1 d d . 0 5 £ 7 35 5 . yearly , namely at Lady Day 55 . Si , at the N 4 N ativity of St . John the Baptist 335. d . and at the ativity of

4 1 d St . Mary 555. } .

And 305 o rents of cottages . yearly , payable by even p rtions

of 2 N o f at the feasts the Annunciatio n (Mar . 5) and the ativity t St . Mary (Sep .

e s They say that the rectory of the church , with its chap l ,

th n for the when it was in e custody o f the Ki g for his own uses , whole time when the King had the custody of the said messuage

r property] was worth £ 60 a yea . They say that the Templars throughout the whole of their

i th e time , and the custodians of the manor wh lst rectory was in the ’ to n s King s custo dy , paid the archdeaco of Leice ter for the court

5 4 . s of the said church and its chapels 53 . d They say that the aid manor was charged in the time of the King and now with finding two chaplains for celebrating divin e services in the said manor .

Here follow in the original record the lists o f rent s paid by the

Ba rave free tenants and others of Gaddesby , gg , Grimston ,

a Marfield S xelby , Wartnaby , Caldwell , Wykeham , Somerby , ,

Barsby , Tilton , South Croxton , and Keyham

1d . The total sum o f the manor being £ 128 05. AR A A 4 8 L E IC E S TE R S HIRE CH EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

Th e manor and ch ur ch of Rothley and the chapels pertaining thereto were confirmed to the Knights Hospitallers by King 1 0 N 16 A 3 3 . Ed w ard III . on ugust , ichols says that from this time the Knights Hospitallers continued to enj oy their property u with out interr ption , with additional confirmations by each 154 0 . succeeding King , until their dissolution in

13 46 H n I n the year the ospitallers , who had long held o e

s manor in Old Dalby , co . Leicester , increa ed their property there by N exchanging their manor of Thrumpton , co . otts . , with Sir John

\Vale s kt . y , , of Swithland , for his manor of Old Dalby which had

descended to Sir John from his grandmother Margaret , daughter i n ll Me . and heir of William de g e , of Old Dalby

N . . . ichols [vol iii , p under Old Dalby , is not quite

a ccurate in his account of this transaction . The details of this R 58 exchange are enrolled on the Coram ege roll 9, Trinity , “ 1408 9 a H IV . 9 enry , , m rex and are as follows Sir John W leys

a c o . Knight was seised of th e manor of D lby on the Wolds ,

o P aw le e Leicester , and gave the said man r to one John , prior of

t h e hospital of St . John of Jerusalem in England , in th e year 2 13 46 0 Edward III . [ ] to hold to the prior and his successors for ’ ever , the King s licence not having been obtained , which prior and h is successors have taken the issues and profits of the said manor from the time of the said gift [exchange] to the use of their And 10 house . the manor is worth £ yearly according to the

true value . Wh ereupon Walter Grendon , now prior of the said l 4o8 b n h ospital [ ] , y his attor ey , comes and says that there are two

manors of Dalby on the Wolds , namely , one which was of old the possession of the same prior and his predecessors of the hospital from a time when memory does not exist and the other manor

\Vale s which was of Sir John y specified here , and he says that 20 III . King Edward , by his letters patent , dated at Westminster 1352 March , , in reciting that by the common council of the realm of England it is ordained that it is not lawful for men of religion or others to enter on the fee of anyone so that it come into the ’ dead h and without [the King s] licence and that o f the chief lord of whom that thing is immediately held [The Mortmains Acts] nevertheless the said King for the sum of 100 shillings which the prior of the said hospital paid him , granted and gave licence , for

r h imself and his heirs , as much as in him lies , to the said p ior R H . OT LEY THE D E S C ENT O F THE MANOR . 4 9 a nd the brethr en of the said hospital that they might give and

kt o hu t grant to Sir John Waleys , . , their manor f T rm e on N [Thrumpton] co . otts . , to hold to the sa id Sir John and his h r e ei s in xchange for his manor of Dalby on the Wolds , co .

Leicester , which manors are not hel d of the King , and the same i to kt . s n K ng gave licence the said Sir John Waleys , , to a sig his manor of Dalby on the Wolds to the Said prior and brethr en o f s the said hospital and their succe sors for ever as in exchange .

i o f kt By v rtue which exchange Sir John Waleys , . , was seised of the manor of Thur m eto n and the prior and brethren of the said h h ospital of St . John of the manor of Dalby on t e Wolds .

N B — P avele 1346 . . John Pawley or y was not prior in , but he may have been prior when the 1005. were paid to the King for the i licence , or he may have been act ng for the prior Philip de 20 T hame . The licence was granted by letters patent March ,

13 2 . 5 , and the roll is endorsed that the money has been paid

N 246 1407 son . . H ichols , iii , p , says that in , William of ugh de f ll Meynel died . I he means that this Wi iam was father of N Margaret who married icholas Waleys , of Swithland , he is quite wrong ; how could Sir John Waleys have exchanged in 13 46 a N manor which belonged to his ancestor who , according to ichols , w a s alive until 1407 The correct Waleys pedigr ee runs thus

Rob e rt W ale ys Is ab el . he m v e he r t he firs t of t fa ily at s ur iv d husband .

Swithland . He di e d in m N W e s M . a nd e W ichola al y argare t , d a u h ir of illia , H d e Me ne l s o n of u gh y , of

Old Dalby.

s . h s se r e die d vita patri S e ove rlive d Nichola , but d e t d

him in his life time for W alter B asse t .

. 99. d e banco roll 129. m 40 . AD. 12

Olive r W ale ys B e atrice .

died in 13 3 1.

J n W e s . E sa e . oh al y , kt li b th

w ho mad e t he e xchange in 1346 .

di e d in 1363 .

E e W m B s ham J o h n W alc ote , kt lisab th illia y p

. L . . a nd e . 2 nd s . o f W a lc ot e , co e ic dau h ir hu band

n . l st husba nd . lady of Swithla d

die d in 1408. S R HIR AR HA A L E IC E TE S E C EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

By th e above exchange the Hospitallers possessed both

manors in Old Dalby . The manorial history after this date until t A the end of the 1s h century is practically nil . mong the muni

R o ments preserved at othley are a very few Court r lls , the earliest

12 8 R II . 1384 one dated October , ichard , , two others of the

1443 1463 o 1 same reign and some for the years , and 464 . The business transacted at these Courts was of the usual character

o not fi and d es call for special mention ; pleas of debt , nes for breaches of the peace and for admittance to lands in the manor

constitute the larger portion of the entries .

In of the latter part the fifteenth century , if not earlier , the

H Ro Knights ospitallers made Old Dalby , and not thley , the residence of the Commander or Preceptor and let out to farm the

an R manor house , demesne lands d rectory of othley .

In 1524 Do c w ra , Thomas , prior of the hospital of St . John , A and the brethren of the same Order granted to nthony Babington ,

e . omc e o o sq , the of supervis r , feodary and govern r of all their

lands and tenements and of the Courts of Dalby and Rothley , c o . A Leicester , as also in co . Lincoln . To be held by the said nthony ’ uffi A o or his s cient deputy for the term of nth ny s life , and 40 especially within the soke of Rothley , at a remuneration of 4 shillings yearly , payable June 2 , with full powers of doing ffi whatever of right belongs to the said o ce , especially in the soke R o f othley .

n Dated at Clerkenwell in the chapter held 7 July . [Cotto

Claudius vii . , m .

On the same day and year at Clerkenwell the same prior and brethren by their writing indented , with the unanimous assent of

A N o f their Chapter , granted and to farm let to ndrew owell ,

R y Dalby , co . Leicester , gent , their rectory of othle with

th e all the tithes , oblations , rights , profits and commodities to

s said rectory pertaining in the county of Leicester , as Thoma A Pachet lately held and occupied . To hold to the said ndrew N owell and his assigns for the term o f his life , rendering yearly to the prior and his successors or to the preceptor of the preceptory

R £ 12 e of Dalby and othley , for the time being , sterling , payabl 2 at the feasts of the Purification B . V . Mary (Feb . ) and the N 24 ativity of St . John the Baptist (June ) by equal payments , R H . THE S N O F T HE M OT LEY D E C E T ANOR . 51 w ith a clause o f distress and re-entry for non payment o f the rent a nd an undertaking by Andrew Nowell to maintain the property i n oo to ard ne g d repair and to pay Stephen G y r, archdeac on of

s 4 a o Leice ter , m rks yearly f r the said rectory under a pen alty of

£ 24 . N B — . . f a e o The above is taken rom the Common Ple s Pl a r ll , 25 H . III . 6 . 3 6 . A. D . 1533 Mich , enry V , m Middlesex , , out of a

w o o f os of . suit in hich William Weston , pri r the h pital St John , c f £ 24 1 laims the orfeit of and damages 005. for the default of Andrew Nowell in payment of £ 4 to the archdeacon of Leicester i n th e 15 A 30 . year ndrew savs he did pay him .

The above lease was not the only transaction which Andrew

N i n H or owell had with the pr or and the K ights ospitallers , f in

T rinit te rm 1533 556 th e i u . A y , , m , same pr or s mmoned ndrew Nowell to pay him £ 40 which he owed him on a bond given by A N i 26 A 1529 ndrew at ott ngham , pril , , to the prior and to a

i o f c erta n brother John Babingto n , Turcopolier and preceptor R 24 Dalby and othley , now deceased , to be paid on June next

10 . ensuing , still unpaid , by which the prior says he is damaged £ Andrew called for a reading of the terms of the obligation and t hey are read in Court , he then asked for leave to imparl , so we do n ot know what the result was .

The substance of the bond , which is in English and quaintly w 5 1527 orded and more quaintly spelt , was that on October , , Andrew had made an agreement by a p air of indentures with th e p rior and Sir John Babington to leave in as good a condition as

lac e . is when he took it some farm , of which the p not mentioned

e but probably Old Dalby , when his leas came to an end , appar i ently there was a dispute as to the conditions hav ng been fulfilled , h ence the claim as usual Andrew asks leave to imparl .

A 29 e 24 1529 lease for years from Jun , , was granted by the

prior of the Hospital of St . John and the brethren of the Order to Humphrey Babington of the site o f the manor of Rothle y t h e Temple] with the buildings and certain demesne lands per 4d a 6 13 5. . t aining to it at a v e rly rent of £ , all woods , advowsons ,

. profits and perquisites of courts , fines , amercements , etc , were

excepted , but the tenant was to be allowed to have firewood and w ood for repairs to his hedges , carts and ploughs during his t enancy from the woods of the manor . A L E IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOG IC L S O CIETY .

o Humphrey Babington was the fifth son of Th mas Babington ,

of Deth ick , co . Derby , while Sir John Babington , who had been R 1533 preceptor of Dalby and othley and was dead in , was the H second son of Thomas Babington and brother of umphrey , and it was probably owing to the influence of Sir John that Humphre y 2 A obtained his lease in 15 9. nthony Babington , who was

R 1524 e appointed supervisor of Dalby and othley in , may hav H been the nephew of both John and umphrey , but the exact

relationship has not so far been traced .

At th e time therefore of the dissolution of the Knights Hospitallers in Humphrey Babington held an unexpired

lease of the manor h ouse , buildings and certain demesne lands at

R 18 to A N othley , of which years still had run , and ndrew owell , of

o o R Dalby , held a lease f the rect ry of othley with the tithes ,

for life .

Humphrey Babington did not apply to the Crown for a grant

r of the premises held by him under his lease , they were applied fo

H s by a certain enry Cartwright , of Brickhill Magna , co . Buck ,

yeoman , among several other pieces of monastic property in which H he was much more closely interested than in Rothley . enry Cartwright made his bargain with the Crown through the Court A 17 of ugmentations , the particulars of which are dated July , 1543 ; he obtained all that Humphrey Babington held under his

“ a R T em llan le se at othley and in addition py d Wood , containing 20 10 4 0 acres , of which acres of 0 and 6 years growth were really reserved to Humphrey Babington for supplying him with wood

H o under h is lease . enry Cartwright evidently cared nothing ab ut

R o f his purchase at othley , for by a fine levied in the octaves

1544 A s o f R Trinity , , he sold to mbro e Cave , esq . , the manor oth 2 6 500 100 ‘ ley and messuages , tofts , a watermill , acres of land , 200 40 100 of meadow , of pasture , of wood and of furze and heath 10 R and shillings of rent in othley , which must certainly have “ r included all his interest in that place . O f course the term mano R of othley is an error , for he had not obtained the manor , only

* The a ctua l da te o f th e di s s olution of th e Knights Hospitall ers se e m s to a e ee 7 Ma 1540 sso w a n e o h v b n y , , a bill fo r th e ir di lution s i troduc d int t he Ho se o f o s 22 A r 4 n e a a m e o n th e 29th f u L rd p il , 15 0 , a d r d third ti o th e s a m m e o n . a e e s s e w e th e K s th e o th L rg p n i on w re a a rd d to ni ght , pri r a m e s o o a a e s o o f £ 1000 a y ea w h e ne e r Willi W t n bt ining p n i n r , hich v e e e e a s he e r c iv d b c u e di d i n th e same ye ar .

HA A 54 L E IC E S TE R S HIRE ARC EOLO GIC L S O CIETY .

2 with all issues £ 1 . Be it remembered that if the aforesaid Andrew Nowell should die or if the demise shall be void or de 2 in r £ 0 . t e rm e d , then it would be wo th yearly

Also the j urors present that the manor of Rothley is worth in th e rent of the fishing in the water there called Soar from a

far Mo unt o certain bridge called Cossington bridge as as s rrell , l o Of Mo untsorrel 6 5. 8d late in the tenure f the miller , by the year .

And in the separate wood there containing 20 acres by 3 e stimation and more , for every sale and at the age of 0 years 4 8d . e very acre of it is worth 65.

If an alienation be made t o a stranger of any lands or tene ’ ments in Rothley without the lord s licenc e the Fine for such a lienation shall be arbitrable between the lord and the tenant .

The lord of Rothley hath within the lordship there Court ’ a nd o o view of Frankpledge , waifs and strays , fel n s g ods , and c h attels of men outlawed , attainted or fled , with the correction

r of all so ts of victuallers . The lord hath also probate of Wills ,

return of writs , and he is coroner and almoner within the said lordship and within the Soke . R R The lord of othley is patron of the church of othley , g iveth the advowson of the Vicarage at every vacation or void a nce .

Sum total of the rents within th e lordship of Rothley a ccording to the said recognition of the tenants is by the year

1 5 d . £ 71 5 . 94

P ure fe Examined by me Michael y . Except the value of the

woods , perquisites of court , customs and works of the tenants a foresaid , the liberties and advowsons aforesaid which are not

extended nor valued . R A A [Endorse d] othley . court of survey for Sir mbrose Cave

in Elizabeth 2 . This survey of the manor of Rothley was doubtless made by Ambrose Cave for the express purpose of further purchases by h im from the Crown of such portions of the manor as he had not H already obtained from enry Cartwright , some of which were 10 t granted January , 3 Elizabeth , o Brian Cave and Edward

\Villia ms A 16 , and were purchased from them by mbrose Cave on R H . T HE S N O F OT L EY D E CE T T HE MANO R . 55

3 1 An E 561. d 14 A 7 1 May , lizabeth , on pril , Elizabeth , 565,

A o f Sir mbrose Cave , then chancellor of the duchy Lancaster , had licence from the Crown to alienate his manor of Rothley

with all its rights , members and appurtenances , and also all and

s singular his messuage , mills , houses , buildings , lands , o tenements , meadows , w ods , rents , reversions , services , courts leet , views of frankpledge and hereditaments whatsoever situate , l y ing and being in the town and fields of Rothlev held of the

a H Crown in chief to Thom s Babington , esquire , and umphrey

i th e s Babington , gent , son and he r of aid Thomas , To have and H to hold to the same Thomas and umphrey , _their heirs and assigns for ever of Us and Our heirs and successors by the

services therefore due and of right accustomed , and We have given by these presents special licence to the same Thom as and Humphrev that they may be able to receive and hold the afore

said manor , etc . , to them , their heirs and assigns . [Patent roll , 7 6 . Elizabeth , part , m The grant of the manor of Rothley to Sir Ambrose Cave which should have come in before the above licence is however

R o not among the othley documents , so we must , in view f the

t o royal licence alienate , presume that the queen had granted the manor o f Rothley to Sir Ambrose Cave before the licence for alien ation was promulgated .

In consequence of the licence for alienation having been A 24 1565 granted , Sir mbrose Cave , on June , , conveyed to the t es r . . said Thomas Babington , q , [described as of Cossing on , co

Hu a arent of Leicester , ] and to mphrey , son and heir pp the same R Thomas , all that his manor of othley as quoted in th e licence , A and also the several purchases which Sir mbrose had made ,

1 d e namely a yearly rent of £ 7 3 5. 0 . and all servic s as well of free

o e tenants as of customary tenants in R thl y , also his rectory and church of Rothley with its rights , members and appurtenances , together with all tithes , oblations , emoluments and profits and am commodities to the sam e rectory appertaining , in as full and ple And A a manner as Sir Ambrose held them . lastly Sir mbrose appointed Thomas Duport and Edward Vincent , esquires , as his attornies to deliver full and peaceful possession of the manor , H t etc . , to Thomas Babington and umphrey Babing on who took 7 1565 possession of the manor of Rothley , etc . , on December , , in 56 L E IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY

R a the presence of ich rd Temple , gent , Gawen Phillips and many

o thers .

Th is completes the story of the transfer of the man or and R Soke of othley from the Knights of St . John of Jerusalem

th rough the Crown to the family of Babington , who held the manor and soke until 1846 when at the co urt held for the manor

5 . and soke on June , James Parker appears as lord

17 1829 Vice chancellor Sir James Parker had married June , , t R Mary , one of the daughters of Thomas Babing on , of othley

Ro MP Temple , lord of the manor and soke of thley , . for

1 1 1 1 1 5 2 1 Nov . f 800 8 8 8 . 7 8 Leicester rom to , born Dec , , died , 1 837.

ir 13 A 1852 a S James Parker died ugust , , and M ry , his wife ,

d 20 1858 . ied July ,

Sir James Parker purch ased Rothley Temple and the manor of Rothley from the Babington family in 1845 by his wife Mary h e h ad a son Harry Rain y Parker who succeeded to the manor

R 1893 Mert t ens of othley , which manor he sold in to Frederick , R esq . , wh o held his first court for the manor and soke of othley

2 7 18 3 . July , 9 , and is th e present lord of the manor

This concludes th e sketch of the descent of the manor of Rothley and of such parts of the h amlets as were included in the

o s manor of Rothley . I have printed in an appendix the D me d a R y return for othley , also the interesting records relating to Rothley and the h amlets comprised in the soke enrolled on the 2 1 . 1 85 de banco roll of Easter term , 3 Edward I [ ] and on a Patent

5 u 51 III . roll dated Febr ary , Edward Out of these and o ther Rothley documents arise several debatable points which

cannot be entered upon here , such as whether the composition of 12 45 altered the tenure of ancient demesne , and what was the “ ” exact definition of a foreigner within the custom of the manor , and wh en did the fine for admittance for a “ foreigner ” become fixed at 1/ in the of the purchase money ! I have not touched th e subj ect of the peculiar exem pt j urisdiction of the lord of the

manor in matters ecclesiastical as it properl y belongs to Mr . 7 ’ \\ a tt s article on the church . R H . T HE S N OT LEY DE C E T O F T HE MANO R . 57

The method adopted for summoning and holding Courts Leet and Baron for the manor and soke of Rothley can be read at H ’ R length in ardy s Literary emains , published by J . Gough N 1852 43 ichols , F in , p . 0 and f ollowing pages and will be fo und of interest to those who study the history of manor Courts .

I A R TH NI H TH L ST OF M STE S OF E K G TS OF E TEMPLE .

m ri u aur . 2 No 12 2 E e c s de St . M . Liberate roll v . 00 , John .

4 12 16 1 . Close roll . Sept . , 8 John

l 1 A 122 4 III . A . s 5 0 H lan Martel Clo e rol , pril , , enry

1 2 122 11 H . I . . . 0 . 7 III Charter roll . , p Jan , enry

1233 . Robert de Saunfo rd . Close roll .

3 1. 2 1248 3 2 H . Charter roll . I . , p . 3 June , , enry III

i 4 1 . 12 3 H I . Roc el n . Charter roll . I . , p . 5 8 Jan . 53 , 7 enry I I

2 2 l . A Morest l . . II . . 19 0 1 59 madeus de e Charter roll , p July , , 4 3 Henry III .

1269. Imbert . Patent roll per inspe ximus , Defendant of common of pasture in Rothley in P arkolde

A o . . and ssart Mead w and Le Mede , Fine Mich 2 55H II A. D . 1 70 . enry I . ,

2 2 . 1 7 . 13 I . Guy de Foresta . de banco roll , Edward , Close roll 2 4 1 7 .

1293 R l . 10 1276 . obert de T urvil . Close roll . Close roll July , ,

late master .

R . 260 . o Guy de Foresta . Dukery ecords , p Wo lley Charter , D A. . 2 . British Museum , I . , 5 . Feast of St Barnabas

1292 .

4 No . 12 3 . Patent roll , v , 9

fo 289. Re . I . . 11 1297. . Brian de Jay . May , Lincoln g ,

1302 . \Vill a o . 13 . i m de la More . Cl se roll Sept R HA I A 58 LE IC E S TE R S HIRE A C EOLOG C L S O CIETY .

LIST O F PRIO RS OF T HE KNIGHTS OF THE O RDER OF

HN F R A IN N AN ST . JO O JE US LEM E GL D .

’

N a o li 1162 . Du d ale Monastic o n G arn erius de e p , prior before [ g s

2 . VI . , part , p ’ 118 No Charter dated 9. [Jeayes Derbyshire charters . 1 539 . , p ’ a na ti n A 11 . Du d le s Mo s co . Richard de Turk . fter 90 [ g ]

R a . o . alph de Din . [More pr bably Diva ] [ibid] A He o a o 16 A 11 . lan . was consecrated bishop f B ng r pril , 95

[ibid] .

11 5. . Gilbert de Vere . 9 [ibid]

H l . ugh de Aneto . [ibid]

R h aurari e s us . o . 1 5 n 2 3 . obert de T Charter r ll 8 May , Joh , 1 0

'

W 18 10 1208 . illiam de Villers . Charter roll . May , John ,

R 1 2 1 . . 1 1 09 obert . Fine , Bedford Dec . , John ,

1 . 15 12 14 . Patent roll . Jan , John ,

H . 1 12 16 . ugh Patent roll . 3 Sept . , 8 John ,

22 R . 2 I I . 1 o f . 7 H I obert de Dive Fine , Mich , enry , , defendant a ’ H knight s fee in eather . A 2 8 H III . 1 30 . Charter roll . pril , 14 enry ,

i rr N a I . 1235. h e uss . 10 1 H I I T y de Patent roll . July , 9 enry ,

a h a Ravenesto Presented Walter de Sw ves ei to church o f rp,

124 - 7 8 . o o c . o [Cant . and Y rk S r lls of Grosseteste

p .

’ R ann Du ale s Monastic on obert de M eby . Was prior in 1251. [ gd ]

m h t ton . 12 e e . 11 . 37 H III 53 . Elias de S Patent roll . Jan , enry , A [ dmission as prior] .

3 2 . r . 5 9 H II . 1 5 Fine , Mich , enry I , [War ants a messuage

in Loughborough] . R 2 4 4 No 49 H III . 1 6 . . 1 v . oger de Vere Charter roll , , enry

25 May 56 H III 1272 . Charter roll , , enry R H . THE S N OT L EY D E C E T O F T HE MANOR . 59

o . i o o . J seph de Chauncey S met me pri r Close roll , 7 Feb . , 12 1 Edward I . , 284 . ’ He 1274 12 Du d al o occurs in and 80 . [ g e s Monastic n ]

Henle e . 2 Au 13 William de y Close roll , g . , Edward I . , I2SS .

New c o urt 10 2 - . 9 I . 1 8 gives him as prior Feb , Edward , 0 1. 6 18 12 Charter roll , May , Edward I . , 90 .

Ha h am 2 N 2 . 7 2 ov . I . 12 . Peter de g Close roll , , Edward , 93 28 u 25 I . 12 Patent roll , J ne , Edward , 97.

th al i! 2 To e . 15 5 William de Patent rol , Oct . , Edward I . , 1297.

o 8 II . 1 14 N . 3 De Banc roll , Mich , Edward , . ew c ourt says 12 13 1 he died Oct . , 8 .

R P a le A ve . III . ichard de y Calendar of ncient Deeds , p . 115,

No 4 1 . 877 0 . 132 , Feb , 0 .

le A He Thomas rcher or Larcher . presented to church of St .

V . 13 23 t a l d n Re . e o Madron , , Cornwall in June [Exeter g S p ,

’ 28 Au 1 2 D d ale Mona on 3 9. u tic Died g , [ g s s ]

Ti rti be s . 4 4 e . Leonard de Close roll , S p , Edward III . , 1330 . Am [ d itted as prior] . H t e R . o 1333 . presented Brendon , , Devon , Se pt . , [Exeter

Re Grandisson 12 5 g . , 7 ]

He H R . Philip de Thame . presented to alwill , Devon , Feb . ,

1 - 335 6 . [ibid , 2 7 . 7 II . 13 . Close roll , Oct , Edward I , 53

P a l ve e . I 1 . 7 . 27 I John de y Close roll , Oct , Edward I . , 353 H e . A 1 presented to St Cleer , V . , pril 3 62 and to St . Madron ,

V . 13 63 . R randi on 14 2 , July [Exeter eg . G ss , 8 , R H 1 4 . 13 3 . 8 7 II . 7 obert de ales Close roll , June , Edward I ,

2 . 4 R . II . 1381. [ibid] Feb , ichard ,

Ra din t n . o . 23 . 6 R II . 1382 John de g Close roll , Sept , ichard ,

[Did fe alty to the king] . 2 4 II . 13 5 . 13 . 9 . De Banco roll 8 , Trin 8 9 Richard , 8 , m

Au 140 1. H I e V . . e . v . Walter Grendon presented to St , , g , ’ Du d al s ff 14 16 . e [Exeter Reg . Sta ord , Occurs in [ g

a Mo n stic on] . ’ 14 1 Du d al s Mo nastico n l . William Hu les . Occurs in 7 [ g e ]

4 1 I . Occurs in 1 3 . [ bid ] 6 0 LE IC E S TE R S HIRE ARCHAEOLOG ICAL S O C IETY .

1433 Robert Mallory . Made prior in . VVarw ickshire

II . . , p 14 H 4 700 Hil . I . 1 36 De Banco roll , , , enry V , , m . 233 . 4 H R . 7 6 . 25 4 obert Botiller De Banco roll , Trin , enry VI . , 1 47, 1 m . 67 d . R 27 4 r 3 . othley Cou t roll , Dec . , Edward IV . , 1 63

th r an stro e . 9 1469. John L g Became prior March , Taken prisoner at battle of Tewkesbury and beheaded in

1471 ar i k hi VV w c s r . . e II , p .

’ o ur na H 4 -2 . e H . . 1 71 . William T y presented to Standon , erts , Jan N e c ourt I . [ w ,

1473 . . Ditto , ditto Oct . , [ibid ]

l n R Mu to . 852 . obert or Molton De Banco roll , Mich , 14 Edward

14 4 . 2 . . 53 IV , 7 , m R 4 \ . 15 . 17 I . 1 77 . John Veston othley Court roll Dec , Edward V ,

’ 4 al na i o n . Du d e s Mo st c Joh n Kendall Occurs in 1 91. [ g ]

He R No 4 . Ne w o urt v . 1 99 c presented to oydon , Essex , [

I o 1 0 1 N . I . , Dugdale says he died in v . 5

’ 2 Du al o na ti o n Do c w ra . 1 150 . d e s M s c Thomas May , [ g ] 2 15 6 . R R 18 H III . othley Court oll , July , enry V ,

\Villiam \ R t 17 19 H r III . Veston . othley Cour roll , March , en y V , 1 2 5 8 .

7 1 4 . Died May , 5 0

Sir Thomas Tresham was made prior upon the refo unding of the

30 No v 1557. Order , . ,

T HE LO RDS OF T HE MANO R OF ROTHLEY FROM T HE

YEAR 1565.

2 156 . He r Thomas Babington , died 7 Oct . , 7 ma ried Eleanor , H daughter of Richard umfrey , of Barton Segrave , N co . orth ants .

He H f 7 16 11. umphrey Babington , son o Thomas , died June ,

Ba rave married Margaret , daughter of Francis Cave , of gg ,

co . Leicester .

N APPE DIX .

A AD DOMESD Y BOOK , . . , 1086 .

TH N ’ AN E KI G S L D .

Ro d olei R The King holds [ othley] . King Edward held it .

There are five carucat es [600 acres] o f land .

In demesne there are 2 of these carucates and there are 2 plo ughs; 29 i 1 and v lleins with a priest and 8 bordars have 6 ploughs . There is a mill rendering 4 shillings and 37 acres of mea dow Demesne woodland 1 league in length and half a league in

\ o o dlan 4 breadth . V d of the villeins furlongs in length

3 62 s and furlongs in breadth . This vill is worth shilling

yearly .

To this manor belong the following members

n A a h It i I d el c estone [Allexton] there are 6 bovates o f land . s

waste .

In Barnesbi 5 1 15 [Barsby] , carucates of land , less bovate , and

acres of meadow .

In 6 u o 3 f n Segrave [Seagrave] , car cates f land and meadow urlo gs

in length and 15furlongs in breadth .

In S e lebi 2 2 10 g [Sileby] , carucates of land and bovates and

acres of meadow .

In o c hebi r 10 ow . T [Tugby] , 6 ca ucates of land and acres of mead

\Voo dland 2 furlongs in length and one furlong in breadth .

In c iftito ne keffi n to n 12 o f i S [S g ] , carucates land and a m ll 12 3 and 2 rendering pence . Woodland furlongs in length

furlongs in breadth .

In Merd efeld e Marefield 3 a o f 8 [ ] , caruc tes land and acres of

m eadow .

In a o Merd e feld e Marefield 3 o f n ther [South ] , carucates land and 8 acres of meadow .

In lste d e H o 2 E [ alstead] , 3 carucates f land , less bovates , and

1 o 1 f o acre f meadow . Wo odland url ng in length and

another in breadth . 6 R . OTHL EY APP ENDIX . 3

n Caldew ell ich 4 a o f I [Caldwell] and VV e [Wycomb] , caruc tes

land and 2 mills rendering 2 shillings .

n Tiletone 2 4 o I [Tilton] , carucates of land and acres f meadow

o and 5 acres f woodland .

n sferd edie A 12 a of a and 2 I O [ sfordby] , caruc tes l nd mills

i 20 a ow render ng 8 shillings, and cres of mead .

n b 4 r of 8 e s of . I Cai am [Keyham] , ca ucates land and acr meadow

n ortnod ebie 6 10 s of I W [Wartnaby] , carucates of land and acre

meadow .

n T uiuord e 49 o f 8 o f I [Tw yford] , ; carucates land and acres

meadow .

n um rlid i 6 o f I S e ebe [Somerby] , carucates of land and acres

meadow .

n Fri i 4 a o I sebe [Frisby] , 8 carucates of land and acres of me d w i and 2 shillings from the third part of the m ll .

In ax elbie 1 o f 5 o . S [Saxelby] , carucate land and acres of mead w

In rimestone 3 u of s 1 . G [Grimston] , car cates land les 3 bovates

n Ba d e r a e Ba r ave 6 3 I g v [ gg ] , carucates of land , less bovates, and 1 0 acres of meadow .

n Gad esbie 8 a 3 a s I [Gaddesby] , carucates of l nd and bov te and 12 acres of meadow .

In these there are 204 sochmen with 157 villeins and 94

d . 82 3 1 5. 1 bordars having ploughs, and it renders altogether £ 8

D B n ll Ea r 1 r D 34d . e a co ro A. . 1 . 58 , ste , 3 Edwa d I 2 85. m

Pleas at Westminster before Thomas de Weland and his fello ws

j ustices of the Bench .

lli u I R son o f Ro e . a b s LE CES TER . alph ger demanded befor J de V i r o and h s fellows, Justices in Ey e , at Leicester n the R a 12 . a ain octaves o f St . Mich el , Edward I , g st alph de W arkeneth eby th e m oiety o f one messu age and of o ne

ar neth eb R on of bovate o f land in W ke y , and against obert s Hugh the fourth part o f one b ovate o f land in the sam e vill

o Ra W arke netheb and as his right by w rit de av . lph de y 6 IC S T ERS HIRE ARCHA ICA S 4 L E E EOLOG L O CIETY .

And Robert come . thereupon comes the Master of the

Knights Templars in England , by his attorney , and says that the said tenements are within the soke of Rotheleye which is ancient demesne of the king wherein no writ runs except A the little wri t of right closed . nd he says that the said soke is the right of the said Master by the grant of kings o f

England .

Ralph son of Roger says that the Master ought not to

o demand his C urt , for brother Guy , formerly Master , quit - claimed all tallages and villein customs in these words

To all the faithful in Christ to whom the present writing o shall come , br ther G uy de Foresta , Master of the Knights o f

a the Temple in England , and the brethren of the s me Order ,

greeting . Know all of you that whereas a plea w as ’ set in motion in the king s Court before the

15 a Justices of the Bench in days from St . Mich el , 56 Henry III . between the said Guy and all the free tenants of the soke of the manor of Ro th ele touching the customs and services which the Master exacted from his

e tenants who hold of him in the soke aforesaid , except thos

ho Ro th el f [tenants] w belong to the vill of e , and where ore the Master exacted from the said men that they should giv e ’ to him tallage at the said Master s will , which tallage the

said tenants gainsaid to give , because whereas in three weeks h t 2 H III . from St . John e Baptist , 9 enry there was ’ R aunford ~ a plea between brother obert of S , G uy s pre

o decessor , then Master , and the men f the soke , and the men granted that they ought to incre ase their farm [rent] beyond

to the farm which they were wont to render to the Master ,

wit , for each carucate of land which they hold in the soke 3 shillings yearly , and that they ought to come to the view of ’ frankpledge and do suit at the Master s Court in Ro th ele when anyone is impleaded by writ of right or wh en there m nt shall be a robber to be j udged by afl orc e e of the Court ,

as before they were wont to do for all works , tallages and

other villein customs , the said G uy and his brethren came by

a nul h Br me rave r their attorneys , brother R p de y g and brothe

R Athlo t oger de , and acknowledged the said form of peace , a as is contained in the rolls of the Bench , Mich elmas , R H . A OT L EY P P END IX . 6 5

56 H III enry . and granted to the said men and their heirs that they be quit of all tallages and villein customs — for ever . These b eing witnesses brother Ralph the R R Chaplain , brother ichard son of John , brother oger de

Alken e de Mered ene R y , brother William , brother oger de

Athlo t Ranul h Br mes rave , brother p de y g , preceptor o f

o n L don , and others .

I “ berefore they say that it seems to them th at the Master is pre cluded from demanding his Court when it is lawful for the lords of this tenure of ancient demesne to change it i by the r own deed into a free fee .

The Master says that he do es not think that he is repelled by any words contained in the writing whereby he n cannot demand his Court , especially as o s pecial mention is made therein whereby it plainly appears that such writs ,

t o according the custom of the manor , are excepted from the

o He i said C urt from thenceforth . still says that the writ ng ought not to be prej udicial to him , for he says that Guy , his successors and h e all his time hitherto were in seisin of pleading the said writs according to the cust o m of the manor . And this the Master is ready to verify as the Court should adj udge .

And e the j ustices , by reason of the grave and fr quent

of R R R H plaint the said alph son of oger , obert son of ugh and also of William de Diggeby w ho sues for the community of the said soke , caused the knights and old men of this

h o county to be assembled , w being required to say the truth thereupon , say on the faith whereby they are bound to the king that the master and all his predecessors in times p ast and notwithstanding th e said writing are and were in seisin of pleading the said writs according to the custom of th e

manor , and no common writs were issued or ought to run

in the said soke . They also say that the men of the said ’ soke ought to do suit at the Master s Co urt in Ro th ele when anyone is impleaded there by the king ’s writ of right or when there shall be a robber to be j udged there by afl orc e i s v z . ment of the Court , in this manner , , that the township which come to the common suit of Court of Roth ele from three weeks to three weeks by one man only ought to come R R AR HA 6 6 L E IC E S TE S HI E C EOLOGICAL S O CIETY .

by two men , and those which come by two men should come

by four , etc . The knights and old men also say that certain of them were present on the eyre of Gilbert de Preston and saw th at the same Gilbert at the petition and challenge of the Master delivered all writs touching the said soke issued in A common form to the same Master in full Court . djourned f An to hear their j udgment . The parties ask or j udgment . d because the said Ralph son of Roger is not able to gainsay that the said tenements are within the so ke nor that the ’ soke is of the king s ancient demesne , etc . , it is adj udged R that alph take nothing by his writ , but is in mercy for a And R . false claim , and alph and Robert are without a day the said Ralph son of Roger may purchase for himself another

to writ , to wit , a writ of right closed , according the custom

of the manor , if it shoul d seem expedient for him .

AD. Patent Roll, 51 Edw ard III. , m. 3 7. .

atio n Of an ex emplific .

c . . The King to all to whom , & , greeting We have inspected a certain certificate sent to Us into Our chancery by Our com mand by Our Treasurer and Chamberlain in these words

a Pleas at Westminster in the octaves of St . Mich el in the D A . 56th year of King Henry [III . , .

o f o f L EICESTER To W IT; Brother Imbert , Master the Knights

e the Temple in England , was attached b fore the j ustices in

a 53rd eyre at Leices ter in the octaves of St . Mich el in the year to answer to the men of the soke of the manor o f

Rothley in respect of the plea wherefore , since a plea had been

between brother Robert de S a unfo rd , formerly Master of the a Knights of the Temple aforesaid , the predecessor of the s id

Master , and the said men in the Court of the lord the king before the justices at \Ve stminst er respecting the customs and services which the aforesaid Robert was exacting from the men aforesaid for t h eir tenements which they held of him

in the soke a foresaid and in that suit between the said brother

Robert and his successors and the said men a composition and agreement had been made in the aforesaid Court of the king before the said j ustices and enrolled before them that for R . OTHL EY AP P END IX . 67 every carucate o f land which the said men hold of him in the soke aforesaid they should increase their farm [rent] beyond the farm which they were accustomed to render to the same Master in respect of the said te nements three shillings yearly for all works , tallages and o ther customs which the same Master was exacting from them , the afore said Imbert distrains the sa id men to give him tallage for their said tenements contrary to the composition enrol ment and grant aforesaid and whereof the said men complain that whereas the said agreement was made before the sa id j ustices at Westminster in the 29th year of the reign of the now king [1245] the said Master unj ustly

and distrains them contrary to the agreement , enrolment grant aforesaid by their oxen , horses , kine , sheep and all their cattle by exacting from them tallage more or less at his will , wherefore they say they are deteriorated and have damage to the value o f 500 marks and thus they pro duce

c . And suit , 8x the Master comes by attorney and defends

An a force and inj ury , 8 m. d he well acknowledges th t he dis trains the said men for the said tallage because he says that the

R aunfo rd aforesaid obert de S , his predecessor , never remitted o r quit - claimed the said tallage to th e said men nor was there any mention made in the agreement between them o f any

so s remission of the said tallage , and that this is he put him self on the record of the rolls of the Bench o f the lord the An king . d a day was given them before the j ustices on the

f a the o H III . quindene St . Mich el 56 enry and to search rolls of that term .

And afterwards the rolls of that term were searched wherein was found in these words 1 Milo de Crokest on for himself and for the men of the sam e

adisb vill , Walter son of Sweyn of G y for himself and for the 2 R Barnesb men of the same vill , obert the reeve of y for R Harew ard himself and for the men o f the same vill , obert 3 o f Babbygrave for himself and for the men of the same vill , Robert Saber of Kayh am for himself and for the men o f the H T lton for same vill , enry the reeve of y for himself and the H o f Mard efe ud for men o f the same vill , ugh the reeve

2 3 1 B ra e . Ba s . a v So uth Croxto n . r by gg 6 8 I S T E R S HIRE A A L E C E RCH EOLO GICAL S O C IETY .

h imself and for the men of the same vill , Walter Sewar for

“f illia h imself and for the men of the same vill , m the reeve of S o merd by f o r himself and for the men of the sam e vill Robert Fitz Henry of Caldwell for himself and for the men o f

50 11 \ arken the same vill , Gilbert of Matthew of V edby for

ill o ff r h imself and the men of the same v , Ge ey the reeve of

Grimston for himself and for the men of the same vill , and Ralph de Fra unc eys for himself and for the men of the

of c . same which] vill whom they in the place , & , by writ of the king acknowledge that they ought to increase their farm beyond the farm which they were wont to render to the

h t r Master of the Knights of t e Temple in England , o wit , fo every carucate of land which they hold in the said vills

three sh illings by the year for all works , tallages and other

villein cust oms which the same Master exacted from them . And that they ought to come to the view of frankpledge and d o suit at the Court of the said Master at Rolegh when any o ne should be there impleaded by writ of the lord the king of right and when a robber was to be adj udged there by the

afl o rc m nt And e e of the Court . all those who are of the body [de corpore] o f the manor of Rolegh ought to d o suit and all other villein customs which before they were wont to do to

C . the same Master , &

And we have caused the tenor of the certificate aforesaid at the request of the men of the soke aforesaid to be ex em

lifie n o f & c . p d by these presents . I witness where , Witness the king at Westminster on the sth day of

r Feb uary .

EXTRACTS FROM THE ROTHLEY MANOR COURT

ROLLS .

TH H o f RO LEY . Court of John Weston , prior of the ospital 15 St . John of Jerusalem in England , held there December , 14 17 I . Edward V , 77.

k T a e of Land .

To this Court came Bartholomew Kyngeston and took o f the aforesaid prior all the lands and tenements , meadows , feedings a nd y pastures , with their appurtenances , l ing within the vill and

0 I S R S HIR AR HA I A 7 L E C E TE E C EOLOG C L S O C IETY .

n G r m ston Bar abas by even portions , [the rent of y and W illughby from of old annexed to the manor altogether reserved ]

A 425 Mo nke nd for . from Thomas for the rent of the demesne lands at Gaddesby called Temple land and Brad mer

ho l le . e se , so let to him in this year

8d . H ill And 265. r VV u hb for from en y g y , knight , for i 'ill h certa n lands in W ug by w hich he occupies .

A o 8d . N nd f r 665. from icholas Temple for certain lands at

W l s ur h e y b g , lately let by common deed . I And 46 d H e th r for 5. 8 . from enry Barker for the manor of H e with the demesne lands so let to him in this year .

n 8d . R Hol n o h A d for 465. from oger y gw rt for the rent of the manor o f Stonesby with the demesne lands so let to him in this year .

An 405 R d for . from obert Barbor for the rent of a water mill H R at ether called so let to obert in this year . An 2 m 8d . N a ll d for 65. from icholas C w e for the rent of the

o other mill there s let to him in this year .

And 1 5 o f for 0 . for the rent of the fishing in the water

R y othley , so let to Joh n Villers , knight , in this ear .

And 50 5 o lston for . from the abbot of \V [Owston] for the 2 N r by rent of all pastures and lands in orth Me feld , so let to him copy .

rm Fa of the Meadow s and Pastures .

And 3 3 s 4d for . . from the rent of the meadows at Thor 35 masterm , so let to Thomas Kyng in this year . An h d 265 8d . VVillu b for . for the rent of the pasture called g y pasture , so let to divers tenants there in this year . An 4 B n d for 05. for the rent of the pasture called yggy g

ll h of which lies in the fields of VVi ug by , so occupied by the vill ' d m r o o l W y e p e formerly at 20 5. yearly . He does no t answer for the rent of the meadows and pastures called Be amo unt lese or for the rent of the pasture called Oldlese

mo unt or the pasture called Burstallese at Bea , the pasture called

Beleh olme , to wit , for the time of this account , because the said meadows and pastures were granted to the lord the king Edward “

Bo tho l h . I . V . , in exchange for the rectory of the vill of St p

1 2 3 4 H M h Bo s o c o . o . e a e . a re fie ld T nn sto n . th r . u a t n , Linc ln R H . A OT L EY PP END IX . 7I

Rothley.

And 12 o f Roth ele to for £ rent of the rectory y , so let

o Th mas Pachet in this year .

And f or 12 s to £ rent of the rectory of G addesby , o let

H W o dd e enry and William Burgh , chaplain , in this year .

And 6 r m ton for £ rent of the rectory of G y s , so let to the H same enry and William in this year .

An 66 d ark n d for 5. 8 . rent of the rectory of W e eby , so let to the same Henry and William in this year .

An aud ll 8d . w e d 665. rent of the rectory of C and Wykeham , so let to John Herpley this year . An 6 A va d for 5. of pension from the rectory of shby Par yearly .

An o Raw nston d for 65. 8d . of pension from the rect ry of yearly .

E E T PR C P ORY OF DALBY AND ROTHLEY. ’ Minister s Account . The value of all and singular the lands and territories to the preceptory aforesaid pert aining ' o r belonging as appeareth by the ’ N minister s accounts there at the feast of ativity of St . John the 2 D H III . A. 1 Baptist , enry V , . 510 . Rents of assize and at the will of the lord within the fee of Dalby

47 12 11d . with its members yearly , £ 5. R 11 35 4d . ent of the demesne lands there yearly , £ 1 . R 60 5. ent of the pastures and meadows there yearly , R ent of the mill there yearly , 33 s . 4d .

R o f ent the rectories there yearly as in the preceding (account) ,

iz r m to n rk n a e d ell v . , G y s , £ 6 , W e e eby , 5 marks , and C w w

kham 12 1 5 4d . W 5 . 3 . and y , marks £ 12 Farm of the brethren there yearly , as in the preceding , £ . Rents and farm of lands and tenements recovered from Thomas d ntw ll 565 8 . E ysy there yearly , . Rents and farms of lands and tenements lately bought by the lord 4 nt ll . from the said Thomas E w y sy there yearly , £

635 1d . For the common fine there yearly as in preceding , , d 125 . 98 . 8 Total , £ 1 Reprises.

20 . a D b kt . 5 The fee and wages of John yg y , , Thom s Villers ,

1 i . e . o o n s . , utg i g 2 I R S HIR A A A 7 L E C E S TE E RCH EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

40 5. chief steward , Of the said accountant , of the ’

4d . u 135. H ndersteward , of enry keeper of th e lord s

1 . 4d 3 . s 4 oo 4 . d . w d there , s To the dean of Leycester , , and to John Dygby for divers tenements demised at fee farm to

4 . the lord , 5. in all 2 55. 6d . The expenses of the steward there yearly , n I 165. 8d . decay of rent this year ,

o M ney depending on divers persons for their rent deducted , 51 6d 5. .

d . 12 75. 8 Total allowed , £

And r . 0d . so the clear value is £ 86 55. [for the said p eceptory]

Rotheley.

Rents of assize and at will of the lord within the fee of Roth eley

29 115 2 d yearly , £ . i .

4d . R 11 155. ent of the demesne lands yearly as in preceding , £ Rent of meadow called Beamo untlese (Beaum ont Leys) yearly as Nil in preceding , .

R 105. ent of the fishery of the water there yearly as in preceding ,

R y y . ent of the rectories there earl as in preceding , viz , in

Ro h l 4 t e ey 12 12 2 . , £ and Gaddesby , £ , £

6 d . 65 65. Total , £ i

Reprises .

405. The fee of the accountant yearly as in the preceding year , d y 95. 8 . Deca or decrease of rent t h ere in this year , d 1 . 1 5. 7 Expenses of the steward and others there in this year ,

4 s 6d . Money dependant on divers persons for rent deducted , .

9d . Sum allocated , 655.

An d R . d so the clear value is £ 62 0 5. 92 . [For othley only]

Heyther.

Hey th er y Rents of assize and at will of the lord in early ,

22 9 d . £ 75. & Rent of the demesne lands there yearl y as in the preceding

l r 8d . viz . VVe le sb u h 665. (account) , , g , and for the rent of the

1 s 4d . He ther 5 £ 6 3 . manor of y marks ,

viz . Far m of the pensions there yearly as in preceding (account) , ,

2 d . d . 1 5. 8 Ash eb Raw nsto n 65. 8 from y and from ,

3d . Increase of rent there y earl y as in preceding ,

d . 33 05. 8 Total , £ 5

RS HIR AR HA I A 74 L E IC E S TE E C EOLOG C L S O C IETY .

Ra l nso n d 12 . 2 5 6d . w . . John y , for Mr Derby , One acre o f

1d . 2 Town land , Th e prior of Trentham for one carucate , 5.

25. 6d . Sum of the rents in G addesby , £ 6

4 I lo m w 0 5. B ho lm e 25. Tenants at ill of the lord , tem , lees , 4 2 s . Sum ,

Rothley Chief Rents . 4 4 d s . . W Butt lar From M . Donham , illiam e , 125d . John

l s . illiam K n ton 12 d . 7 \V Br nd y ges , § Wil iam Tough , yge , j unr . , ' Br n 6d 2 e d . 1 d s . 1d . Thomas yg , William Morden , 1 . W illiam

d a tk n d . H l 8 . \V 8 16 d ull , Thomas y , é John Martyn , % . William d B o k sb 4s 8d . 1 . d r e y , . The same William , John Clerk , 16 . John F i 2 uls t 5. R 0d . R 8 Fowler , Sir obert , knight , ichard Martyn , A B a nt i 4d . 12d . r d o rn ove r e 2d b C , lexander Palmer , . Felicia

B amsto n l l d R 22d . r . 7 d . , é ich ard Thorpe , Thomas Pachet , é R P T lle 4 5. er s 4 5 John y , obert y , for church land , . Thomas h 4 l f 4 d . K n eston Ro t ele 1 5. e y g , of y for rent , John O y , 15 John t n 4 4d kev n o s . . K n to n . l fe 3 d . . es 5d O y , 3 Mr S y g , John y g ,

b 4 5. T ll 12 o s e e d . Thomas Pachet , for C , William y , 5 John

a illia B l 2 R r l 2d . n ufe s . 5d . Me d 3 s . \ m r end S pe , oger y , V yg , 1

l r 2 d . nr . 11d . sc o fte 7d . s . 9 se , The prior of U , Tugh ,

2 2d . Ro th eley 3 5. l l d . H s . John owbe , The Vicar of , é Joh n

ln r n to n 4 s 6d . R P e r s d . M e 8 d . K es . 8 y , § John y g , obert y ,

1d h a e n R d . . v e obert G reyn , 9& John German , Thomas C y ,

h a l m th 2 . 3 d . R tto n . o d s 1 d s 55. \V 55 G obert , John y , Thoma ’’

R 11 d . 20d \ illia a st n 14d . . V m M Pachet , y , alph Mason , 1 John

ho d n tho 2 d R Ra t rn l . Gla d w 3 s . 9d . A Raw rn 3 . w y , gnes , oger , é

Roth le R d VV llo w s 7d . e 7 . alph Barker , John y , The church of y ,

R ia d 11d d ill m 3 . . ichard Thorpe , 6 . \V Draper , Thomas l Mar aretT l 16d . \Vh te Barkb 3d R 3d . y , of e , . obert Linsey , g y , 2 N d . ll 6d . R 4 d . T Edward Thornell , é John y , obert orth , 3

R M rdl 6 5 ey e . 8d . oger y ,

6 5 8 . 3d . Sum of chief rents , £

R . ental there for the term of St . John the Baptist ’

2 d . illi d 1 Vl am 5 . s From Thomas Pachet , Smyth , Thoma ’ 5d Vi illia ars . 2d . 3 d . m V c Pachet , y , of Cropston , Thomas

l Ulve rsc ro ft . R H . A N OT LEY PPE D IX . 75

A 2 L d . o o 12d . as gnes eche , J hn Braunst n , Thom Pachet , 9d . Sir C Merc iall 9d . R 2 1 hristopher , priest , ichard Thorpe , d . John

5d . l f O e 8d . o T ll 2 d . o d Sharples , John y , J hn y , 5 J hn Clerk , 6 . '

3 d . Ro thele 2 1 d . J ohn Dave , The church house of y , John K n t n d es o 2 . m R 5 d . P er s 8d . y g , John Ger an , 5 obert y , Mr .

2 d . Brok b 12d s . 4 . Davers , & William y y , The same William , d

8d . R P er s for John Clark , obert y , the church house , 6d . Br nd 4 e d . . 4 William yg , j unr , William Butle r , d . William Br d nr en se . 1d . I esch eat 2d yg , , tem , for the e house , 1 . John c r n 6d S ve . H 7d . 6d . y , William ull , William Marden , John W a tt 2d . P ac hett 2d 1 . l 8d . y , Thomas , William Tugh , i ia d 3 . o Br en d 3d . K n o W ll m Burton , Th mas yg , John y gest n , 6 d . . k vin to n Mr S e g , 8d .

- 7 95 I d . Sum , £ . OJ

Baggrave . A d t f r 1 5. 1 . From the bbot of Leices er there o chief rent , £ 3 5 1

B aresby. Chief Rents .

Butt e e 14d R Bik r tafl R r . e s 25. From ichard y , obert , William 2 1d A H . n 12d . 25. ss Cooke , The heirs of John oore , lan Gy y g ,

14d . B ker t afl 1 d . R R n senr . alph Gyssy g , , Margaret y s , 7 ichard R R 3 . 9d . . 23d 16d . s Pyk , ichard Cooke , alph Pyk , j unr , . William

h at in d e c e 55. R s 17 . Pyk , for s e land , obert Gys y g , John Buk ,

B ar 2 R 4d . f or esb 2 d . 1 self and for y thyng , alph Pyk , William

2 1 2s 4d . R d . Tebbe , John Tebbe and William Tebbe , . alph d l n 3s 8 . so 65. 1 d . . Gy , 0 The heirs of William Pyk , Everard

2s d . h . 3 6 R Boru d . 5. 8 Derby , obert g , Thomas Pyk , John

8d . Buk , tenant of William Pyk ,

1d . 515. Sum ,

Croxton. Chief Rents

P lum r 2 d t n on 11d . e 0 . From Edmund S eve s , William , John d P k 10 . P lum r 2s . 1d . a lo r 2d . e T y , Edmund , John y , John Taylor , hin d Th G lson t 8 . e 4 d . Everard Derby , for y g, same Everard

f G ss n 2 2d . ark l 20d . o for B e ey thing , The heirs William y y g ,

d . 35. 8 R 14d . obert Matte , John Palmer , Thomas

S tevenson , 3 5.

Sum , 18 shillings . 76 L E IC E S TE RS HIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O CIETY .

n Erborough . Chief Re ts . d h N R 8 . T e 12 . From obert Borough , house where ell lives , 5

2s . 1d . John Rokeby ,

14 . d . Sum , s 9

Tw yford ,

In 5. d . 2 5 8d . 8 b 6 . 8 Twyford payeth y year , decays ,

Tylton . Chief Rents .

1 d . D b 2 s . 8 From Everard yg y , The abbot of Croxton , ' d fl 18 . Re Everard Digby , for Bolton thyng , Everard Digby , for

h at l 8d . 3 s . e sc e e thyng , The land ,

6d . Sum , 95.

n Marfeld South . Chief Re ts . R 2 . A ff A 9s . d From William lyn , William lyn , for e thyng ,

\Villiam A illia A f or 10d . 1d . \V m 7s . lyn , Clerk thyng , lyn , for

D 5. Roulso n 4 s . b 3 thyng , Everard yg y ,

2 4s 1d . Sum , .

Marfeld North . Chief Rents .

1

ston 50 5. From the abbot of Cy ,

n . Somerby. Chief Re ts

1 d Horse o ll 55 From William Wynter , 0 John p y , John Dale ,

d e senr . 5. 10 . T r 2 ro d en 9d . 9d . John C , John Dent , 5 John ygg , , 2 t s . unr . 2 1d . R W a e J ohn Trygge , j , ichard y , The prioress of

14d . d R l 5d . 2s . 6 . Langley , ichard Sutton , William Lynde ,

3 d . F re sb 3d . y y y thyng , Dalb thyng , 4 d 19 . . Sum , s J

Kayham. Chief Rents .

d . 185. 6 k 25. 4d . From John Baw d ry , William Clerk , William

nt rto n R \V ston 6d . \V e W nte rt o n 65. y , William y , for oger yg ,

2 11d . 4 d R Herbe rd s . 2 . W odkok s . 20d . Thomas , ichard , John

d M d lto n 6 . e y Med lton 2 1d . y , The church of Bebe , John ,

1 Ow ston .

8 IC S R S HIR ARCHA I A 7 L E E T E E EOLOG C L S O C IETY . until th e feast of the Annunciation of Bless ed Mary the Virgin then next following ; and the said Andrew from the same feast o f A 4 H 1 III . the nnunciation enry V , until the feast o f N . 1 the ativity of St John the Baptist then next ensuing , 5 H I enry VI I .

Arrears .

The same are charged in the account with £ 58 13 5. 3d . of arrears o f the last account for the year preceding as appears at the foot of the same .

Sum , 58 135. 3 d .

Assized Rents and at w ill of the lord w ithin the fee of Dalby.

An 8 105. 7d d they answer for £ . of assized rents and at the will of the lord in Dalby yearly as appears by t the rental there . renewed in the 4 h year of the reign

H III . s a ff of King enry V , in pos ession of the b ili n 2 d A d 15. 2 . remaining . for of rents of assize and at the will An 4 of the lord in Broughton yearly . d for 05. of rents at the will

in m r ol d o B \V d e e . An 1 2 . f the lord in yg g j uxta y p yearly d for 7s .

An 4d o o d 17 . f assized rents in Kyrkeby Bellers yearly . for s . f assized rents and at the will of the lord in Ed munthorpe and 1 ma inh am An 16 VVo d yearly . d for 5. of rents of assize and at the

Bukm nster y An will of t h e lord in Sewstern and y early . d for

1 c h allfo rd l d . 55. fi of assized rents and at the will of the lord in S 2 An 2 d H [Scalford] yearly . d for 0 . of assized rents in olywell An 2 d 0 5. 10 d . yearly . for of assized rents at the will of the lord

An 13 5. 4d in Stathern yearly . d for . assized rents and at the will A til n d o A d 95. 7 . f the lord in pke by yearly . for of rents of

“

An 55. assize and at will of th e lord in Howes yearly . d of An assized rents and at the will of the lord in Harby yearly . d

P lun ar 6d . e for 55. rents of assize and at the will of the lord in g And An 13 d Kne to n . yearly . d for . of assized rent in p yearly

An 3 5 3 d . d . 11d . s . for 3 5. of a sized rent in Braunston y early for ' u hb of rents of assize and at the w ill o f the lord in W yllo g y yearly .

And 115 7d . for £ 7 . of assized rents and at the will of the lord in 6d An 12 s . Melton Mowbray yearly . d for of rents of assize and 3 5 1d . And £ 8 8 . at the will of the lord in No rth stoke yearly . for And of rents of assize and will of the lord in Stonesby yearly .

1 2 3 m . m . Ho w o o e . Wy ondh a l ll . c Linc ln R H . A N OT LEY PPE DIX . 79

4 4 5 d . for 0 . for rents of assize and at the will of the l ord in Cand

W kh am An . d f o r 6 2 £ 5. 0 d well and y yearly 5 . of rents of assize

Gr msto n An . d and at the will of the lord in y yearly for 14s . 4d .

s of rents of as ize and at the will of the lord in Saxilby yearly .

And 525 2d for . . of rents of assize and at the will of the lord in ' 1 W rkneb A e . nd 3 15 4d y yearly for . . o f rents of assize and at the 2 in Bill n bur h will of the lord y g g yearly .

arm of the Site of the n F Ma or w ith the Demesne Lands .

And £ 9 05 16d for . . of the farm of the manor or site of th e

s o f preceptory of Dalby together with all the tithe Dalby aforesaid , so now let to Humphrey Babington by an indenture dated [not fi in lled ] . To have and to hold from the feast of N ativity of St . John the Baptist until the end of the term of years then next ensuing and ful ly to be B completed , paying at the feasts of the Purification . V . Mary and St . Barnabas the apostle by equal portions , [the rents of Grymston and W yllo ughby belonging to the said manor altogether reserved] , and the said farmer and his assigns shall find one chaplain to celebrate the divine services in the church of Dalby aforesaid during the said term and also shall find Sir John

P lumtre ir chaplain there , and shall pay to the said S John for 4d wages together with his clothing 53 s . . and meat and drink and An the keep of one horse during the term aforesaid . d the said ’ farmer shall find meat and drink for the bailifl of the lord there

405 or his deputy for the collection of the rents , or . yearly , and

t r fur h er shall find him an honest lodging during the said te m , and the same farmer shall pay the costs and expenses of the lord on his coming twice a year and the costs and expenses of the Steward and Receiver as often as it may happen to be necessary for them coming to superintend and examine the said preceptory with And u its members . f rther the same farmer shall repair , keep and maintain all th e houses in thatching with straw and plastering and roofing with tiles , and maintain the closes and ditches at his now own proper cost and expense during the term aforesaid . So let to the said Humphrey Babington yearly .

H W llo u hb kt . for And for 265. 8d . from enry y g y , , certain

8d f o R And 465. . lands in W yllo ughby yearly . for r m oger

1 z oln . Wartnaby . eo . Linc 8o I S R S HIR ARCHA I A L E C E TE E EOLO G C L S O C IETY .

Ho llyngw o rth for the farm of the manor of Sto nne sby with the d emesne lands to the same belonging yearly .

£ 12 14 5 Sum , . 8d .

Farm of the Pastures .

An 265 d 8 . d for . for the farm of the pasture in W yllo ughby An 4 . d 33 s d so let to divers persons yearly for . . for the farm 1 h orn a tr n o f e c s e . An 4 the meadows at T yearly d for 05. for the farm of the pasture called Bygging in the fields o f W yllo ughby

\V dme r ole a j uxta y p , namely , for the term foresaid he does not answer because it was before charged under the heading o f rents of assize and at the will of the lord within the fee of Dalby yearly .

5. Sum , 60

Farm of the Mill. 4 An 33 . d 5 d . for farm of the wind mill there yearly , so lately let N to icholas Sharpe as in divers preceding accounts .

Farm of the Rectories .

4 msto n And for £ 6 13 d . of the farm of the rectory of Gry 2

And 65 8 arkneb . 6 . d . W yearly . for farm of the rectory of y yearly

ll IV kh ame 8d . f a d w e And 665. arm of the rectory of C w and y 4 d And 53 s . yearly . for . increase of rent of the said farm of the rectory of Warkeneby f or four years past at the feast of Annun

4 D lke 1 III . c iati n B . H o V . Mary , enry V , which Thomas y within

13 5 4d . iz . the said time did not account , v . , for each year ,

16 . Sum , £

Farm of the Brotherhood .

All d for £ 12 of the farm of the brotherhood of Dalby . f 8d . And 56s . for of rent and arm of two messuages , two

ntw isell bovates of land and one mill recovered from Thomas E , and for £ 4 of rent for certain lands and tenements lately bought — from the said Thomas Entw isell yearly .

6 l 6 8d . Sum , £ s .

Goods and Chattels of Felons and Fugitives .

Perquisites of Courts w ith Common Fine . For any profit arising from goods or chattels or issues there

l 2 na . Th u rc as to n . Wa rt by

8 2 IC S RS HIR AR HA L E E TE E C EOLO GICAL S O C IETY .

Money Paid .

And N o in monies paid to Thomas ewp rt , clerk , then receiver 10 N 14 H III . general , ovember , enry V , as by his bill 2 An remaining on record of this year , £ 0 . d the said Thomas

D lke y paid to brother John Babington , treasurer of the religion ,

16 4 H III . 1 March , 1 enry V , as appears 005.

33 1 5 0 Sums allowed and paid , £ 0 . d . and he o wes 4d £ 133 175. . H Of which respite for monies paid to Gregory umphrey , t chaplain of Dalby , for his wages due o him at 15 Henry III V . , in respite by the order of the said treasurer until he ffi An shall obtain a su cient acquittance 100 5. d in allowance of

r 1 the su plus of the preceding year 85. l o5d . for his costs going to London on three occasions in this year by order of the said

385 1 d . And treasurer in all . 0 § in allowance for the farm of the site of the manor of Dalby in the tenure of Humphrey e 4d Babington , the farm r there , formerly charged at £ 9 15. . and N k t . o paid to Thomas ewport , , late precept r of the same , by reason of an anticipation granted to him for his j ourney R towards hodes for the two first years to come , so in allowance

4d . An in this year as should be allowed in a future year £ 9 15. d

in respite for money paid to brother John Babington , treasurer ,

K n e B e lhom c by the hand of Thomas y g , farmer of the meadows in ,

4d . 33 5. of his recognisance on this account as they say ,

And in respite for divers repairs made by Thomas Dylke until 22 An s 5d . e a bill of the particulars may be seen , . d in respit

6d . for the expenses of the Court by him paid , 85. and enclosing

6 5. the wood there , until he h as a bill of the written particulars ,

4 d And A w N 6 . 1 s . in money paid by the said ndre owell to the said

o ne John Babington , treasurer , as appears by two particulars in An 28 65 d . d bill , £ . 8 in allowance for divers parcels demanded A by the said ndrew , as appears by a bill of John Babington under kt d And ill Dy b . 155. 6 . written , money paid to John g y , , because the lord has all the lands and tenements of his in Dalby at farm

3 5 0 . for the easement of his tenants , beyond paid to the same , n 4 d 75 4d A 84 175. . . . d they owe £ & of which said Thomas D lk 20 15 y e paid to John Babington , treasurer , September ,

H III . enry V , as appears by a bill among the memoranda And o w e 4 d . 15 3 . of th is year remaining , £ 5 5 they R H E . A OT L Y P P ENDIX . 83

d a n £ 69 145. 0 . s o o n is contai ed in the foll wing acc u t , of which H not hi J ohn urst , late farmer [ filled in] there for s arrears,

H II . 4 d ri 17 V 65. 8 . kt enry , owes Mau ce Berkley , . , for the r ent of one toft called P eneyard and 8 acres of meadow lying on “ ” 1 n in W odm andhome i More and certai arable land be ng in arrear , a f r 2 1 n s much for this year as o years precedi g at 85. a year . 2 s 5. 8 85. 1d . Nevertheles he refuses to pay but a year , £

o f f or in o The abbot Croxton certain rents Braunst n , being in a a 2 1 rrear as much for this year s for years preceding , at 6d . a

115. y ear ,

o f fo r The same abbot Croxton his rent in Stonesby , being

fOr 22 in arrear as much for this year as years preceding , at

2 5 465. . yearly , k H t . n enry Willoughby , , for rent of certai lands in

illo u hb a VV g y occupied by him and detained , being in arrear s 2 23 65 8d . much for this year as for years preceding , at . a year ,

£ 32 . The occupiers of the lands and tenements late of Ralph

No rth to k Bald ok Roche ford in s w e in co . Lincoln , called thyng , 23 being in arrear as much for this year as for preceding years , at 2 5. 7 5. 3 yearly ,

Thomas Johnson for his rent in Melton Mowbray , being in

4 . d 73 5. d arrear this year and 2 1 years preceding at 3 5. 4 . a year ,

K n to in in Elizabeth y ges n for her rent Dalby , being arrear 5 H for 10 years at the feast of St . John the Baptist , anno . enry

5 4 VIII . , at 8 . yearly , £ .

K n e sto n He th er for The same Elizabeth y g , late farmer of y ,

2 4d . 3 . 12 H VII . 5 her arrears , anno . enry , Divers persons for amercements put upon them owing to

1 H III . 1 5 6d . 22 H II . 8 . the lord from enry V , and enry V ,

2d . 39s .

William Nobill of Scalford for his obit for certain lands in

8d . 65. H III . o . t he same vill , ann 7 enry V , owes Divers tenants for their arrears at Michaelm as within the time of this account as appears by a bill of their names and sums d 6 . 33 5. r emaining among the memoranda o f this year ,

d . 6 145. 0 Total , £ 9

lke Thomas Dy , d 9 . £ 7 55. B ailiffs accountants A N i ndrew owell , [End of the Dalby accounts ] 1 Wymondh am . H R AR HA A 84 L E IC E S TE RS I E C EOLOGIC L S O CIETY .

’ A R hele . ot y Minister s ccount of the manor of Rothley .

bailifl Th e account of Thomas Pachet , there for the tim e aforesaid .

Arrears . d o r 0 . The same accountant answers f £ 7 85. of the arrears of the account for the preceding year as appears at the foot o f the same account . 2 d And for 65. 8 . rents and at the will of the lord in Twyford yearly by a rental there renewed .

An . 9d . y d for 145. assized rents in Burgh early

1

And 6d . Bri tall for assized rent in s y early .

2 n And for l 5d . assized rent in Aw lepe of Margery Straw nto n yearly .

l d . And for £ 7 95. oi assized rents and at the w ill o f the lord l in Ro th e ey yearly . A n 6d . d for £ 6 25. assized rents and at will of the lord in

Gaddesby yearly . 11d n An 5. i d for 75 . assized rents and at the will of the lord

a a B ggr ve yearly .

And 5. 1 d for 65 2 . assized rents and at will of the lord in 3 Kame yearly .

An 4 7d . d for 2 s . assized rents and at will of the lord in " l y Me ryfe d south yearl . n 9d . A d for 19s . assized rents and at will of the lord in Somerby yearl y

An 5 d w d for 9 . 6 . assized rents and at ill of the lord in Tilton

yearl y .

And for 18s . assized rents and at will of the lord in South

Croxton [yearly] . n A d f or 565. l 0d . assized rents and at will of the lord in

Bare sby yearl y .

‘ An 25 d for . assized rents and at will of the lord in Thurcaston

yearly .

n - d “ A d for 6 5. 1 . assized rents and at will of the lord in

n y Q ue iburgh yearl . A t nd for 25. assized rents and at will of the lord in Scraptof y y earl .

1 2 3 “ m Ma re field . B . n Ke a . irs tall Wa li p. yh

S R HIR A 86 L E IC E TE S E ARCH EOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

Goods and Chattels of Felons and Fugitives .

A f o r 25. 8 nd d . i of o the pr ce one black h rse there in this year , Plumtr so appraised , and sold to James e , as the said account ant

an states on his oath . For y similar profit arising from goods and chattels of felons and fugitives within the said term he does

not answer , because none happened there within the said term , as

this accountant states on his o ath . 2 5 d . Sum , . 8 m Sale of Ti ber.

t d . Bu for 10 65. 0 o he answers £ fr m the sale of timber , wood

o N and underwood there sold by Th mas ewport , knight , late

o precept r of the same , in the preceding year to divers persons in t fi a certain bill with the par iculars of the sums speci ed , received

within the time of this account for repairing and mending , which

bill remains in the memoranda of this year . 1 6 d Sum , £ 0 5. 0 .

Perquisites of Courts .

He does not answer for any profit arising from the pleas a n d perquisites of the Courts held there in this year , because the rolls of the same Courts were not delivered nor sufficiently

extracted by which he could be charged in this account , therefore he will answer in the account o f a f uture year .

83 0 5. 8 d . Sum Total with arrears , £ & of which

Fee of the Accountant .

The same accountant for his fee o f bailiff there at 40 shillings yearly by reason of his office as is allowed in divers preceding a ccounts .

40 . Sum , shillings

Dec rease of Rents.

And in decrease of rent of the farm of Baddesley formerly charged at £ 12 yearly and now let to Henry Gylles for

4d 65. 8d . £ 11 13 5. . yearly , and so in decrease of rent , And in decrease of rent of one tenement and two bovates of d 2 6 . 8 . land in Twyford formerly charged at 5 yearly , because it

205. remains in the hands o f the lord , except from the issues

d . 65. 8 thence , and so it is decreased in rent

1 5 4d . Sum , 3 . R H . A OT L EY PP END IX . 87

Payment of Monies .

And N in money paid to Thomas ewport , clerk , then receiver 26 14 H general , February , enry VIII . , as by his bill thereo f

24 . A remaining in the memoranda of this year , £ nd he paid to 26 A brother John Babington , knight , the treasurer , pril , 15 H I II . 11 enry V , as by his bill remaining £ , and on 15

September in the same year , as appears in the same bill remaining , £ 15 , acknowledged to have been received by him J . Babington , 2 treasurer , £ 6 .

50 . Sum , £ 2 4 o 5 13 5. Sum of the allocati ns and payments , £ d . , of which there is allowed to him for his clothing in this year A 65. 8d . n as in preceding accounts , d there is allocated for divers repairs there made in this and the preceding year as appears in a bill of particulars thereof made by the said John

a 7 1 4d An Babington , the tre surer , signed and remaining £ 7s . . d 2 2 3 5. 4 d he owes £ 5 , of which there is allowed to him for money N f paid into the hands of Thomas ewport , baili f of Eagle and late preceptor of the preceptory aforesaid for his journey to Rhodes

viz . by reason of his anticipation for two years , , from the farm of

Roth ele t o 24 £ 12 the rectory of y for the same w years £ , rated at yearly before charged , as appears in his bill thereof examined on this account by the said J . Babington , knight , treasurer

of the religion of St . John of Jerusalem in England ,

before the auditor , signed with his seal and written with 11 14 H his hand , the date of which is September , enry

III . V , and so allowed in this year as should be allowed 16 12 . And in the next year , £ he paid September , t o H III . o 15 enry V , the said John Babingt n , knight , And 1 2 d . 6 5. the treasurer , by the bill remaining 5 he owes 2 2 d . £ 7 5.

Merefeld Everard Dygby , esquire , for his rent in Tilton and

South owes t o the lord at the feast of St . John the baptist , anno . ,

14 Bol th n d . o . 4 15. 6 13 Henry VII . , ; ann , for y y g in three parcels

1 d . 18 55. 0 17 6s . 16 . 15 . 2 . ; 6 5 ; anno , anno , anno , ; anno ,

1 H III . 23 . 22 . 19 . , anno . , anno , anno , anno enry V

5 . 4 . 3 . d . 2 1 . anno . 2 , ; anno , anno , anno , anno

12 13 14 . 11 l 8d . . 6 8 9 10 3 5. . , , 7, , , , each year ; anno , ; anno and

d . l 18d . 1195. 7 8d . ; and in this year 8 8 I S RS HIR AR HA A L E C E TE E C EOLOGIC L S O C IETY .

Thomas Ch arnell for his free rent in S narsson [Snaresto n] b 4 eing in arrear for years ending at feast of St . John the Baptist , 2 0 4 d . H VII . 16d enry , at yearly , .

The prior of Trentham , for rent of one carucate of land

s ituated in G addesby , being in arrear for 3 years ending at the

. 20 H 2 . VII . 5 feast of St John the Baptist , anno , enry , at . yearly ,

6 5.

\Vo d fo rd e B arnesb o Matthew , for r nt in y , being in arrear f r

y 4d 2 . s d eight preceding ears at yearly , . 8 .

Edmund Stevenson , for part of his free rent in South Croxton , 4 being in arrear for years ending at the feast of St . John the 20 H VII . 13 d . 4 Baptist , enry , at y early , s . 4d .

T a lo ur H John y of oby , late servant of John Villers , knight , a s appears for the money owed by him of the moiety of the 2 1 H y . . II perquisites of the Courts , anno , enr V , beyond the other 8 3d 5. . moiety granted to the same John Villers by the lord ,

o (The account leaves ff here abruptly . )

H ’ e her. A yt Minister s ccount of the manor of Heather . ff The account of John Barker , baili there , for the said time .

Arrears .

ai 2d . The same b lifl answers for £ 25 155. of arrears of the last account for the preceding year as appears on t h e foot of the same .

2 2 d . 5 155. Sum , £

Rents of assi ze and at the w ill of the lord w ithin

the Bailiw ick of Heyther. An 2d . d for 79s . of rents of assize and at the will of the lord in \Valton Y sseley [Isley Walton] yearly by the rental there

And 115. 1d . o f renewing . for of rent at the will the lord in An 2 d 65. . o O sgo rtho rpe yearly . d for 7 5 f rents of assize and at

A 75 0 d . nd . the will of the lord in Heyth er yearly . for 5 for rents

An 85. of customary tenants there yearly . d for of assized rents in T w y c ro sse yearly . For any profits arising or renewing of rents of assize and at ' Welles ur h th e will of the lord in b g , namely , for the time of this

c f N a count , he does not answer , because let to arm to icholas Tem ple and afterwards charged under the title of farm o f the demesne lands as described hereafter .

90 L E IC E S TE R S HIR E ARCHAEOLOGICAL S O C IETY

h Mill Farm of t e s .

And 40 5 . He ther for from the farm of the water mill of y , so R An . d 2 let to obert Barbone yearly for 65. 8d . from the farm

VValk m of the mill there called e yll .

665 Sum , . 8d .

Farm of the Pensions.

And 6 f for 5. rom the farm of the pension of the rectory of

Assh eb An . d 6 y parva yearly for 5. 8d . from the pension of the

Raunc eto n rectory of yearly . 12 Sum , s . 8d .

In crease of Rent .

And 6d . ro for increase of rent for one cottage in T w yc sse ,

y newl built by John Farmer , rendering therefor yearly for term

6d . R of his life , who is now dead , and now let to obert Farmer , 12d his son , at . yearly .

6d . Sum ,

Perquisites of the Courts w ith Estrays .

And 22d for . for th e price of two stray sheep so appraised in this year by the homage of the Court and sold by the said accountant on his own recognisance as he says on oath on this account . For any other profit arising from perquisites of the Courts held in this year he does not answer because the Rolls fi were not sufll c ic ntly extracted by the steward of the Court before this account or not d elivered f th erefore he will answer for them in a future year . 2d Sum , 2 .

D ecay of Rents. 0 d 59 65. . Sum of the rents with arrears , £ , of which The same accountant for decay of rent of one t o ft and virgate

versh e l of land in O y e , formerly of William Waren , and of one

ar r virgate of land formerly of Roger Re d e w d , fo merly charged

105. at yearly , and since the accountant is unaware where the

'

55. payment for it lies so that h e c o uld distrain , in decay And in decay of rent of a messuage and bovate of land in VVh eston

4d now late in the tenure of William Cokke for 13 s . . yearly and

2 4d . 115 s . let to Elizabeth Ward for . y early , and so in decay And in decay of rent of two tofts and a virgate o f land in R H . A I OT LEY PPEND IX . 9

W mmesw o d e o y , f rmerly in the tenure of John Clarke charged at

65. 11d . 11d . yearly and now let to divers tenants there for 3 5. , 3 A and so in decay 5. nd in default of the farm of the pension

Raun t form rlv c e o n e 65. 8d . from the rectory of , charged at yearly , because th e rector there refuses to pay and so in default 65. 8d .

And W ellesbur h in decrease of rent for certain lands in g , charged 6 d 65. 8 . above at yearly , because they remain in the hand of the 4d 535. . o lord except of the issues thence , and so in decrease f

13 4 . rent , s . d

3 4d . Sum , 05. F ee of the Accountant .

And in f the fee of the said accountant , bailif there , taking 2 d . 65. 8 ffi yearly by reason of his o ce , as was allowed in divers preceding accounts .

265. 8d . Sum ,

Payment of Monies .

And N in money paid to Thomas ewport , chaplain , then

2 7 14 H III . receiver general , January , enry V , as by his bill An 4d . 9 13 . d remaining among the memoranda of this year , £ s n he paid to brother John Babi gton , knight , the treasurer of the

religion of St . John of Jerusalem in England on two occasions , 2 A 1 15 H . 6 15 H III . 5 viz , pril , enry V , and September , enry 1 III . 0 7 17 V , £ and £ , in all £ , as by his two bills remaining in the memoranda of this year . 2 1 4 d 6 35. . Sum , £

4 An Sums allocated and paid £ 29 10 5. d . . d he owes

2 d 65 8d . £ 9 155. 8 . , of which is allowed with . for divers par

lar . tic u s contained in a bill , for his clothing in the sam e bill

specified , signed by the said John Babington , the treasurer , and

185. 11d . remaining among the memoranda , An 17 d he paid to John Babington , the treasurer , on Sep

15 H III . tember , enry V , on the settlement of this account as appears by his bill remaining among the memoranda of this year ,

1 0d . And £ 26 95. 375. 9d . he owes The occupiers of the lands and tenements late of John 4d Sw an n ton Markham for rent of 13s . . for his rent in y g , being 2 at in arrear as much for this year as for 1 preceding years ,

d . £ 11 75. 4 35. 105. 4d . yearly , beyond paid yearly 2 S R S HIR AR A 9 L E IC E TE E CH EOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

Ve ss John y , for his free rent in Shilton , being in arrear for 9

as . 2 1 years preceding ending at the fe t of St John the Baptist ,

II . a t 8d . H V 65. enry , yearly ,

R Hal d a Thomas Bent and ichard y y , for their part of the free

o r rent in Cosby , being in arrear f 5 years ending at St . John the 2 1 H VII . 2d 1 . 55. Baptist , enry , at yearly ,

Ne ell Christopher , for rent for certain lands and tenements

H \Villiam Rid n in owton formerly of y g , being in arrear for this 23 4 . 25. 85 and preceding years at yearly , The same Christopher for rent from certain lands in Prest

in 2 l d . wold , being arrear for this and 3 preceding years at 8

3 5. yearly , 6

eld n Everard F y g , for his free rent in Lutterworth , being in d 2 1 10 105. . 0 0 5. £ 0 arrear for this and preceding years at yearly ,

Ra unc eto n 17 John Clerke , chaplain , for his pension in , H II . 6 8d . enry V , owes 5.

ROTHELEYE .

a View of Frankpledge with great court of Thomas Dokw r y ,

a prior of the hospital of St . John of Jerus lem in England , in the

H t o f 4 k . time of enry Babington , , preceptor the same , held 2 17 H III . A. D . 15 5. October , enry V , Jury John Kyngston Ralph Land all John Burt on John VV llo use Alexander Palmer Thomas Pachet y Sworn l R He erd H . w John O yve obt . Palmer umpy John Pach et \Vill Tough John Branston

6d . K n ton Who say on oath that William y ges , kt , William

6d . 4 d . 1 k nto n k Brad bern ew e t . e S , , Will Dunham , William , the prior of

2 d . 2 d . 2d . 2 \V lsc ro ft lad ew in Brokesb a y , Will Martyn , John G , Bart y , Willi m

2 d . 2d . 2d . 2d .

R Ratc l ff e T lle R F uls t H Lolle , oger y , Elizabeth y , obert y , enry

2 d . 2 d . 2d . 3 Ri of c . Smithe , Butler , chaplain , John Davers , John Clerk

2d . 2d . 2 d . D a fte R V nc ent R No rth e o f Belgrave , John , obert y , obert

2d . 2d . “ Mo nstr ll \Villiam an e w ell e , Thos . Clerk and C owe suit to this

1 2 3 4 i m k e s o a e s . o so e . S r a effi n ton . Willi S g . Ulv r cr ft D nv r M unt rr l

R AR HA A 94 L E IC E S TE RS HI E C EOLOGIC L S O C IETY . o f of 12 the lord by suit of Court and a yearly rent d . And tha t ' Bartholomew Bro kesby and W illiam Loulle are his kinsmen and heirs . Th erefor , etc .

Thomas Grene was seised in demesne in divers lands and tenements in Ro th eley and held them of the lord by suit of Co urt

2 d . . and rent § yearly John Grene is his son .

R r . ichard Tho pe was seised , etc . John Thorpe is his so n and R h eir and has the lands aforesaid of the gift of ichard his father .

Henry Smythe now has divers lands and tenements which ' W ntersh all were of John y , as dower of his wife , who was the wife o f said John .

Joh n Blanche holds divers lands and tenements as dower o f w his ife who was (not filled in . )

Thomas Ha w so n of Brakely holds lands which Ralph

Ma sso n y formerly held , as dower of his wife , formerly the wife of said Ralph .

Agnes Ro w th ern holds in dower the land which Roger

Ro w th ern formerly held .

— 7 ' Afl e r rs illiam Hetnell . e e John Pachet , “

They present t h at John F reby who held of the lord 3 acres And in Somerby by service 3d . and suit o f Court is dead . that Margaret the wife of Robert \Varde and Isabel wife of Edward

aili are daughters and heirs of the said John . The b fl is ordered to distrain them f o r relief .

Thomas Lynde held of the lord a messuage and 14 acres in 4 r 1 d . Somerby by se vice of yearly and suit of Court , and William

baili . is his son and next heir . Order to the fl as above

Thomas Kebull who held in S ax ulby a messuage and 40 acres

4 y of the lord by service of 0d . early and suit of Court is dead , bailifl and John is his son and next heir , therefor order to the as above .

They say that Edward Mo nke held of the lord a me ssuage and

o f . 200 acres in G addesby by service of 205. yearly and suit Court R . OTHLEY APP END IX . 95

And that Elizabeth wife of Henry G olf is his daughter and heir , therefore as above .

And Thomas Blak held a mess uage and 30 acres of the lord by

25 6d . . service of . yearly and suit of Court Order to distrain

A A . lice , Joan and gnes , who are his heirs , for their relief

William Brokesby who held of the lord a messuage and divers 2 a i lands in Grymesto n by suit of Court and rent of 55. ye rly s

An Brokes hi . r as dead . d Robert by is s son and heir O der above . No te s o n the family o f Kyngst o n o f Ro thle y

No history of Rothley would be complete wi thout

K n ston a short account of the family of y g , one member — — of which Bartholomew Kyngsto n has bequeathed to us th e most interesting incised slab remaining in the county of N R Leicester ich ols in his article on othley , vol . iii . , 960 “ K p . , dismisses the family in two lines The yngstons held lands with in this manor and seem to h ave been men of goo d ” account . The same author gi ves a short and incorrect pe digree n t n K s o . . 40 . of y g in vol iv , p . 8

The first mention of Kyngsto n in connection with Rothley is in the year 144 1 when Hugh Kyngsto n brought an action

\Villiam R against aper , of London , hosier , for breaking into Hugh ’s house at Rothley and forcibly taking away £ 10 worth ’

H . of ugh s goods and chattels there found [de banco roll Trin , 1 H 9 IV . . enry , m

From 144 1 to 1570 the Ky ngsto ns continued to own lands in

R y othle and had a parclose in the church , probably at the east end ’ 1622 of the south aisle , which in Burton s time [ ] contained five

y or six monuments of this family , of which onl two now remain

l i l the church .

H K n to n R ugh y gs was probably the father of two sons , alph

R K n ston R y and Robert . alph y g owned a house in othle then H known as the all , which he purchased in and was

father of Bartholomew , whose interesting monument is dated

1486 1496 y ea r , but who was still living in , in which latter he 2 made a gift to the church of Rothle y by his charter .

Robert Kyngsto n O btained a lease of the manor of Heather l \ for himse f , his heirs and assigns in the time of John Veston , then prior of the knights hospitallers [ 1477 to 1487] for a term

1 2 7128 . B 24 . . no . e m e s o . 7 5 s s Add . a n riti h Mu u , Ch rt r , ibid

8 I S RS HIR AR HAE I A 9 L E C E TE E C OLOG C L S O CIETY .

f . o n kt . Upsall , co York , and widow sir Edward Jer ingham , , of

. o h a Somerleyton , co Suffolk , by wh m he d no issue . In his will

P . C C . 5 154 1 proved . July , , by Mary , his relict , he makes bequests to his stepsons the Gyes and the J erningh ams and a bequest of £ 40 to his brother George Kyngsto n towards the ’ o m arriage of George s daughters , one f whom Margaret marr ied

th e Francis eldest son and heir of John Danvers of Swithland .

o K n ston Ge rge y g had married Mary , daughter of sir William

keffin t o n kt S g , . , and a portion of his monument still remains

a fli x ed o o to the south wall f the s uth aisle o f Rothley church .

He o 4 died between Oct ber 15 8 and 1550 .

A o o f A K n ston full acc unt sir nthony y g , son and heir o f sir

l o N Wi liam , can be read in the Dictionary f ational Biography .

His v o public ser ices were quite as c nstant as th ose of his father . He was knighted in 1537 and when the western rebellion broke out in 1549 he was appointed provost marshal in Cornwall of the ’ king s army and suppressed the outbreak at the expense o f so much bloodshed that his conduct has been compared with that

r H t of Judge Jefl eys . e is said o have entertained the mayor of Bodmin at a banquet and to have hanged him after the repast on gallows which the m ayor had himself been directed to make H e MP . o ready . was for co . Gl ucester in several parliaments 4 from 15 5 to 1555. In 1556 he was co ncerned in a plot to rob the exchequer in order to provide f unds for a conspiracy devised by sir Henry Dudley with the obj ect of marrying the princess

to o of . Elizabeth , afterwards queen , C urtenay , earl Devonshire Being summoned to London to stand his trial sir Anthony died at 4 A 15 6 fo r Cirencester on his way up on 1 pril , 5 , so opportunely h imself , that he was suppo sed to have committed suicide in order H f A to avoid the block . e le t two illegitimate sons nthony

K n t n K n ston o f y gs o (who died s . p . ) and Edmund y g , the latter whom sold the last remnants of the Kyngston property at

Ro to thley John Danvers , of Swithland , by a Fine levied in H ilary term , 1570 .

P / - 5 za t o . b 1 . « S o n s Le i c s t . y , e er

S . E . O F CHURCH AS S EEN FRO M V AR AG IC F, G AR D N E S .

RS HIR HA A 10 0 L E IC E S TE E AR C EOLO GIC L S O C IETY .

12 - 12 H 09 35. ugh of Welles , bishop of Lincoln , The Register

Mat i w hich he caused to be kept , and of which this r c ulus forms

e 12 19 12 20 a part , was b gun in or , and is , with the possible exception of that said to have been begun in 12 14 for the Arch

o i f diocese York , the oldest episcopal record of the a fairs of a

great diocese . The rolls of this register are mainly arranged

A for according to rch deaconries , that Leicester covering the

- period 1220 123 5.

13 th R From the century othley , with its dependent chapels

o f K eame Gaddesby , Keyham or , Grimston , Wartnaby , and “ Caldwell formed what is known as a Peculiar , and as such was f to a large extent free rom episcopal supervision . These ex w emptions ere much sought after by the great monastic bodies , In a nd . , wh en once obtained , were j ealously guarded the case

o f Rothley all the chapelries were in royal manors , except

G addesby , and here the king held some land . The term “ Peculiar ” was given to th em not because they were out of the d “ irect authority of the Ordinary , or bish ops of th e diocese in w h ich th ey h appened to be , but because they h ad an unusual ,

or peculiar , Ordinary , to whom they were responsible , in th e

person of the king , or of the lord of the manor .

At R t h e eformation , by an oversight they were not restored

o to the j urisdiction of the di cese , but remained under the

Sovereign , or other such person as by custom or purchase had o btained the right of superintendence .

’

W IV . Most peculiars were abolished in t h e reign of illiam ,

d ay but a few royal instances remain to the present , exempt

from episcopal control .

o Before beginning a general description f the church , it might be well to quote a short account of its unrestored con dition so that we may get a clear idea of the amount n of modern work to be fou d in it , and also that we may under

stand the j ustification for that work at the time of restoration . “ so The Chancel was low , dark , and damp ; the walls were much shattered and o ut o f the perpendicular that a collapse was o threatened , and the roo fs were too rotten to be safely tr dden by — t h e workmen . The furniture was very mean the pulpit , R H . OT L EY THE CHURCH. 10 ]

’ r s eading pew , the clerk desk , all of deal , rose one above the other in the approved fashion of seventy — y ears ago the pews were high and narrow — an ugly g allery at the west end blocked up the tower arch

e ind ed the whole aspect , internally , was most depressing a nd t i t disheartening . Outside , oo , great d fli c ul ies faced the restorer ; for the burials of m any generations had so raised the surface of the ground that it not only stood some feet higher than the Church floor , but in some parts almost peeped into th e R R R . . . o f windows Mr eynolds owe , F Cambridge , was Hi called upon to report as to what should be done . s suggestions were , in the main , carried out . The principal works executed may be thus summarised — The tower masonry has been

o a i th roughly repaired , and the b ttlements renewed n Ketton

s o s . d tone ; the bells have been rehung , and new fl or , etc , provide

o in the t wer; two of the piers , and the bases of all those between t h e nave and the north aisle being crushed , the clerestory walls

e a were shored up , and the defectiv m sonry was renewed in hard s tone upon huge masses of concrete ; the roofs of the nave and north aisle were entirely renewed and recovered with lead ; a new s tone porch was added on the north side ; the chancel w as entirely

old o ses rebuilt on the foundati n , the ancient windows and buttres being very properly incorporated into the new work ; o n the north

side of the chancel a vestry and an organ chamber were built .

Several ancient tombs have been preserved . The ancient Norman font has been placed upon a base of suitable character;

e two fine hagioscopes were discov red , one at the end of each

o th aisle , t giv e views of the altar through e j ambs of the chancel ” 1 a rch .

This is a very valuable report and helps to explain several

o n points which might be perplexing , as we shall see later .

It is advisable to go round the outside of the church and to

i e of s e xamine the W lls , etc . , for trac s old work , or for alteration

o be on f plan , evidences which may obscured in various ways

to e t h e inner surface of the walls , before attempting investigat

l a s o s 1881. Le ic e ster Archite ctural and Archaeo logic l Tran acti n , V l -1 o . V . . 180 . , pp E R HIRE AR A L EIC E S T S CH EOLOGICAL S O C IETY .

a s the interior , but in c se like the present , where so much re

or building , renewal of decayed stonework , has been done , litt le i w ll be gained by such an examination , and we must fall back

upon old illustrations if we desire to learn what the appearance

o f the unrestored church was like . Unfortunately Rothley has

not been illustrated to any great extent . Mr . Go ugh Nichols “ R H in his Literary emains of the late J . S . ardy , has pro vid ed a sketch of the Cross on the south side , with a view o f the N “ H church in the background . ichols , in his istory of ” Leicestershire has given a picture somewhat m ore in detail

o drawn from the S . E . The general plan f the building is about

- the same as to day . The Porch , a wooden structure , is shown

as covering the south entrance , east of it comes a three - light traceried wi ndow : the south - east window of the aisle

- is shown as a tall square headed opening , with two perfectly

straight mullions dividing the window into three lights . The east window of the aisle is of four lights with a traceried head ’ so- in a pointed arch . There is a called Priests door by the

- o f sout h west window of the chancel , which window consists

two lights with a slightly pierced head under a pointed arch .

Two substantial buttresses , each of two stages , standing fairly

- close together come next , while at the south east are two

buttresses o f similar size .

The c ast window of the chancel is sh own under a pointed arch with two upright mullions rising without a break up to the

underside of the arch . Bel o w the sill of this window is shown a small buttress of two stages placed in the centre of the

wall . The chancel has a somewhat shallow and sloping pediment at each end of which rises a short oblique line which seems to indicate that along each side ran a low and entirely plain parapet .

So much for the ancient appearance of a part of the church , the only part of which it is possible now to get any kind o f

o o f description , and by comparis n we may learn something what

has been done in the way o f alteration and rebuilding . The south

porch is gone , the windows have all been renewed , with the possible exception of a small part of the tracery of the east window of the south aisle and part of the south - west window of

l I

R H . THE OT L EY CHURCH. 10 3

. In the chancel the rebuilding the priests door was no t r efix e d tw o buttr , the ess es w ere so modified as to form the end

walls of an entirely new internal recess in the south wall o f the

. - chancel Beyond this a two light window , which is a copy of

e - Early English design , has been ins rted , and th e south east window o f two lights with cusped heads surmounted by a pierced plate

o f o stone is als a renewal . The east window is entirely new and , the buttress below its sill has been destroyed except the foun d ation which still remains so me tw o feet below the surface of the

- pathway . The walls of the present east end rest upon ancient

, 13th foundations probably of early century date , and the buttress o ab ve mentioned may possibly indicate the east end of this time .

The buttress of tw o stages shown on the print we have been d escribing may have been merely a remnant of a much larger buttress which once rose to a considerable height between two E E large arly nglish lancet windows , replaced , it may h ave been 17 18th in the th , or , century when the predecesso r of th e present w as window inserted , as indicated by the plain , degenerate N ’ A mullions shown in ichols print . bove the roof of the south aisle at the east e nd of th e clerestory wall may be seen a few old i n stones their original position , but on the whole , we may say

that the outside now reveals very little of any real importance ,

and that it is , practically , an entirely renewed and modern

structure .

Let us begin o ur investigation of the interior from the H . of chancel and proceed westwards ere , in the south wall the Sanctuary we may see an attempt to reproduce Early English

work . It is not intended to represent what was originally h ere . As it now stands we have a double piscina in its proper place at

the south end of the altar , followed by a triple sedilia . The

N o foliated work on these is very elaborate , but ichols , sh ws only

a sedilia of two seats having a very simply moulded cap and base . The new window openings in the south wall have a A lready been mentioned . little to the west from the sanctuary

is the modern recess referred to in a previous paragraph , wherein

is placed the table - tomb of Thomas Babington of 1sth century w ork , which will be described later on , together with the monu S R IR AR A 10 4 L E IC E T E S H E CH EOLO GICAL S O CIETY .

ment above and a little westward of it . On the north side within the Sanctuary is a window of Early English lancet type , but it appears to be entirely new . It is well to remember th at the whole of the north wall , and the organ chamber are quite modern .

Before we leave the chancel a reference may be made to an interesting problem as to the position of the Altar there and the length of the original chancel— ii one existed at all before that — which was demolished at the last restoration which is raised by

or tw o the angle , direction , in which the openings , one into each aisle , are placed . The usual name given to these openings is “ ” “ H ” Squint , but sometimes the Greek word agioscope , which

means a sacred , View is used . The generally accepted theory concerning these openings is that they were intended to enable worshippers in aisles to get a View of the elevation of th e H fi ost at the time of its consecration in the Of ce of Mass , or for them to see the Sanctua ry light as it hung before th e A At ltar . Bridgewater parish church , for instance , th e openings lead through three walls into a north porch . If this

r R were the real pu pose , then in the instance at othley the line of vision would come to the point of foc us at about the “ ” position marked A on the ground plan . This might indicate

one of two conditions . Eith er the altar was placed much in

front of its present position , or the east end has been , at some

time , rebuilt further eastwards , and the altar has gone with it . It is not an unknown condition for there to be some considerable

space between the altar and the eastern wall of the chancel , as

for example at Sawley in Derbyshire , but no evidence can possibly be obtained that such an arrangement was ever adopted at Rothley ; neither is there any probability that an extension o f

f o r the original chancel ever took place , the east wall appears ,

as before stated , to rest upon an ancient substructure . The

theory upon which the above has been founded is , however , by

no means an entirely accepted hypothesis , and the following facts

may be set against it .

if 1. Usually the smaller of the two ends , there is any h the diff erence is towards t e altar , and as a result

View eastwards is very much restricted .

10 6 L E IC E S TER S HIRE AR CHAEOLO GICAL S O C IETY .

which it springs , with its unusual section , its square fillets con

h o - tinned t ro ugh the neck of the cap , t gether with the V shap ed

o quirk running r und the top stone , or abacus , might very well

r - be mistaken for a e cut , or restored specimen of early

work , but from the restoration account we know it is not . Under

s the arch t h ere is , h owever , a corbel of ancient work , pos ibly

o 1sth century , now built int the wall , and this is in all probability the bracket upon which stood the statue of “ Our Lady ” before “ ” “ which a serge (a wax taper , or candle) was to bren (burn)

as we shall learn later on . The four complete arches o f this

th e arcade are pointed in shape , and of two orders , but recesses

- - are sharply cut at right angles to the wall plane , with no trace of a chamfer such as is usually to be found on the members of arche s “ ” of true Gothic character . Most likely they belong to the R ” f A latter end of the omanesque style o rchitecture , that is to

- N 11 . o . 70 80 late Transitional rman , c We must carefully remember that these terms are descriptive only as to methods of

construction , and not really to forms of arches or details of ” or n R nament . I omanesque work the building depends for

its strength , or stability , mainly upon the thickness of its walls , N ’ as may be seen in the nave and tower of St . icholas Church , “ ” Leicester ; while in Gothic the builders were striving after t economy of stone , and so tried to streng hen their thin walls by making masses of masonry which proj ected outwards con

a l sid e r by at their bases to carry the thrusts of arches , or o f “ ” a sloping walls , etc . , s fely to the ground . These buttresses “ o f R are typical Gothic , so omanesque is aptly described “ ” “ c on as Wall construction , and Gothic as buttress str uction .

All the pillars , except the third which is only a copy , tend to

fi s . con rm the date given above , as does also the western re pond

They are circular in section , and have octagonal caps , the abacus of each being ornamented with a typical quirk or

“ - - V . ha c shaped cut The neck is bell s pe and moderately long ,

divided from the shaft by a simple plain roll mould . The circular

- bases , which are placed u pon eight sided plinths , have a shallow , “ ” and somewhat undevel oped , water hollow cut on their upper surface , evidently an early form of a very common ornamentation 13 th in Early English work of the first part of the century . . I ROTHLEY T HE CHURCH. o 7

A a e o ltogether , one can s y that this arcad has a m derately

i s s i e arly appearance , in spite of its renewals and ser ou crap ngs ,

a 12th . u and we may place its period of erection l te in the cent ry ,

- s ome years before fully developed Go thic designi ng appeared .

Turning ro un d at the west end of the tower we may see that t he e astern face h as so me large stones built into it which are

N o uncomm only like true orman work , wide j inted and massiv e; a nd it is quite poss ible that the j ambs o f the arch are also of

N - in e of 15th orman origin , but re cut the arly years the century , “ ” s o as to resemble the prevailing Perpendicular style which

t o f w as then at the height o f i s development . The base the t No a It ower almost certainly rests upon rman found tions . may be of interest at this point t o describe the tower which was

- o mitted when we w ere considering the outside o f the church . t I is built in three stages of granite , or syenite rubble with It worked stone dressings . has a western entrance with moulded j ambs and arch surmounted by an ornamented head . Over this

- o a A o i s a three light tracerie d wind w filled with stained gl ss . b ve t r his is the second story o ringing chamber , the lighting o f which

a f of is provided for by three sm ll quatre oil windows , one on each N i . . o e the three faces , W and S , and a small pla n pointed p ning o n - the E . The third story is the bell chamber; with a large two l s ight window , having tracery of Early Perpendicular de ign covered by “ drip stones ” or “ hood moulds ” on each of its four At . o faces the top of this stage , j ust below the ro f , there are

a signs of its having been surmounted by a spire , or , at least , th t s o s uch an erection was intended , for across each f the corner “ ” squinches have been built to carry the alternate sides of an o At ctagonal steeple . present the top is finished by an embattled parapet , moulded along the top , and furnished with three

o are o n . penings , or embrasures , on each side ; but these m der Below the battlement is a band of o rnament with quatrefoil tracery . The four corners are strengthened by shallow buttresses At rising in four stages almost to the summit . the base there is the usual plinth with moulded top . The whole structure is typical o f many towers to be found in the Wreake and Soar valleys .

fi e 4 Th The bells are v in number , cast in 178 . e follow ing ’ “ ” o N details are c pied from orth s Church Bells of Leice stershire .

26 . p . 7 R A L E IC E S T E RS HI E AR CH EOLOG ICAL S O CIETY .

I R 4 ARN I 178 . N E . OLD LE CESTE FEC T LO G LIFE AND P ROSPERITY TO OUR VVORTHY R R SUBSC IBE S . T HE FOUNDER WILL REJOICE TO HEAR A A R I A H AR TH T LL OU VO CES PLE SE T E E . I TO T HE POO R AND NEEDY AM AF RIEND FOR H R I I A A N W OSE EL EF C LL YOU TO TTE D . FOU R BELLS CAST INTO FIVE BEING THE FIRST ARN 1 84 . BELLS CAST AT LEICESTER BY E . OLD 7 JOSEPH NEWBOLD AND DANI ELL PAGETT N ARN I 17 4 CHURCHWARDE S E . OLD FEC T 3 R HENRY WOODCOCK VICA . I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL R AND TO T HE G AVE DO SUMMON ALL.

WEIGHT 12 CWT .

a unc e In 6 Edward VI . there were foore belles and a s ” (sanctus) bell .

The following is an extract from t h e Parish - book under the “ ’ t 1 4 : A date 28 h September 78 Mr . rnold s bill for recasting the ”

9d . Bells £ 95 75.

This outlay was met partly by a rate , and partly by a sub 2 6d scription of £ 55 5. .

The Curfew has been recently discontinued and a schoo l bell

- rung at 9 a m . instead . The Pancake bell is rung on Shrove

Tuesday at noon .

To return to the inside of the church again , we come to the

o f south arcade , and here we find four arches , each two members but diff ering from thos e on the north side in having both orders cham fered . The pillars are octagonal with similarly shaped

. w caps and bases Th e caps are very simply moulded , ith short 14 necks , and a th or possibly late 13 th century scroll moulded at

o f the top of the shaft . The bases rest upon great blocks N squarely cut stone , which may be the remains of a orman south wall .

ROTHL EY . THE CHUR CH. 10 9

Above the arches of each arcade there is a line of clerestory t windows , of 1s h century date , four on either side , each con

o N sisting f three lights . The ave roof is modern , except for

e the tie beams which belong to the XV . cent . , but there are cl ar

- o e indications of an earlier steeply pitched ro f , which began to ris j ust below the sills of the clerestory windows . When thes e

a u were added a flat roof became a necessity , and it rem ined ntil

s the last restoration . The roof of the north aisle seems alway to have been somewhat flat , but there is reason to suppose that the covering of t h e south aisle was originally in the form of a t steeply inclined roof rising to a ridge in the centre . I may be noticed that a curious alteration of level occurs at the e ast end so as to c lea r the crown of the window arch without in any w ay damaging the outline .

i We have now completed the round of the bu lding , and may

be able to form some idea of the way it has developed in plan .

O The original building was , most likely , an blong , aisleless structure with a very short chancel . This may have been rebuilt N by the ormans soon after the Conquest , as an oblong aisleless 2 . 1 church , but furnished with a tower Then , in the middle of the th century , a north aisle was added and other structural alterations

. o f made The window at the east end this aisle , with its tw o mullions geometrically intersecting in the head , is an insertion

14th c enturv 1 2 3 0 . In of work of c . the early years of 13 the th century , that is in the first period of Gothic

work , the chancel was probably erected , and at the end “ of th e same century when the Decorated , or second

Gothic period had well begun , the south aisle was built ,

h - as is indicated by the pillars , and t e piscina at the south east

an t corner of the aisle , d par of the tracery of the east window .

It to o o i th e is , however , only right p int out that this pen ng has at

o f - e inside edge its j ambs , slender shafts with little caps and bas s which are distinctly of Early English type , but it is not always easy to interpret such indefinite signs as to date . The stones which form the window opening may have been moved from s o and f s s re ome ther , and earlier , site ; re h tracery in erted on e recti on ; o r the windows may hav e been the ending o f the aisle in som e e arlier form , which is not now visible , and the tracery

c a a o o f a s . h nged at the subse quent rebuilding , or lterati n , the i le 1 R HIR AR HA I A I 0 L E IC E S TE S E C EOLOG C L S O CIETY .

The tower as it now stands forms the completion of the edifice

o t and was erected about the first quarter f the 15 h century .

We turn now from the interes t attached to the fabric of the

n o church , to exami e the features f its interior , and shall still find

to o ur a much claim attention , which must alw ys be the case in a ncient sacred buildings , seeing that they retain and preserve

of o evidences the w rk , together with the thought and feeling ,

r expended upon them by fo mer generations .

N I . THE FO T .

This is a most interesting specimen of a cylindrical limesto ne N 1160 . fl t font of the orman period c . It has a very e ec ive but

simple chevron pattern covering the whole bowl , an ornament

sometimes used on the sculptured piers of Norman w ork . Pos s ibl as y the font might be a portion of a column of that period , ' w as \ the case at Vilne in Derbyshire of Saxon date .

It has been illustrated by Paley , in whose time it stood , raised on a modern base at the west end of the nave ; and is so ’ N II . illustrated in Spencer s Leic . otes and Queries , Vol . , page 2 4 . At th e restoration a baptistry was formed at the west end N o f . the aisle , and the present base provided as shown on the

photograph . 20 25 The height of the bowl is inches , the diameter 5inches , 2 It nor depth of the interior 1 inches . had neither a lead lining

water drain before it was fixed in its present position . There

are traces of iron staples in the rim , in two places , showing that at one time the font cover had been compulsorily locked in accordance with the celebrated decree of Pope Gregory IX 123 6 in .

R N T H . II . E SC EE

In all churches it was needful to mark in some manner a d ivision between that part of the edifice reserved for the sacred

o o offices and the larger p rtion , which might be , and ften was , used for the assembling of parishioners for purposes not at all

o o f times distinctly religious . With this intenti n , the limits the

. H ROTHLEY T E CHU RCH. I I I

chancel were rigidly fixed , if possible , by means of a screen . In Rothley church this necessity was met in the mid -fiftee nth century by one of traceried oak of unusually beautiful crafts

. It o ne s and manship was , in all likelihood , the work of per on ,

e upon it he expended rar gifts of design and executive skill .

This 15th century oak chancel screen has seven com

artments ul p , eight mo ded uprights or mullions , with richly

transomes moulded and embattled , beautifully proportion e d

r k tt c oc e e d . cusped heads , with ogival ribs The upper portion n terminating in a coved cornice is largely missi g , but there are ffi h su cient re mains to indicate its original splendid finish . T e subj ects carved in the s pandrils and o ther salient points include A pelican in her piety , her quaint brood containing birds of — several sizes A double- headed eagle with outstretched — ' wings and mask under Afigure o f a man seated and set upside l— down interlacing stems and foliage and other curious details .

No traces can be found of gilding or painting .

’ “ In Nichols time th e screen had on it Jonathan Leake and 1790 A “ Thomas Bywater , Churchwardens , lso two tables ” - 664 16 4 . 1 9 . . of benefactions , (Vol iii ,

It will be noted that the back of the screen , is , like others of

e this dat , devoid of moulded or carved work of any description ,

o th e a dz e . o and left entirely rough fr m . The architect will als ‘ ’ notice the frequent use of the stonemason s top in place of the

mitre . H ’ These details are well shewn on Mr . erbert s carefully 4 No . . measured drawing , illustrated on plate

The whole appearance is enhanced by the fact that th e ‘ ’ material is not selected but that knots , irregular grain , and “ ” to are twists , and other so called defects natural English oak f r rankly admitted , and thus a cha m is impart ed which is sadly

- l acking m the characteristic straight grained , monotonous , machined articles usually insisted upon by modern restore rs .

H N N T . III . E MO UME TS

In spite o f the drastic restoration , or rather vandalism , that

R o f has taken place at various times in othley Church , one its

s principal features of interest is its collection of monument , but N many of those recorded and figured by ichols are now missing . R R AR HA I A L EIC E S T E S HI E C EOLOG C L S O CIETY .

It is recorded , that when our local historian visited the ch urch in 1790 he found lying on the north side of the churchyard the effigy of a Templar which had evidently — — been cast out of the church as was so often the case to find “ t room for the tomb of a member of one of the later families . I ” N “ would , says ichols , be highly creditable to the cultivated talents of the present owner if so remarkable a relique of the A Templars were again restored to its former situation . very small sum w ould replace it in a manner that would reflect ” honour on the lord of the sok e . This monument was accordingly replaced in the church in ' 182 the year 9, as recorded on a leaden tablet , which though ffi formerly in the church , is now , together with the e gy , in the porch of the Temple chapel .

Some remains of an alabaster Slab to Agnes Kingston are a lso there , as described in the article on the Temple . Thus all that remain of those mentioned by Nichols are the three following a ltar tombs , two wall monuments and an heraldic panel .

T H K N N N N E Y GSTO MO UME T .

The oldest o f the three altar tombs is that situated at the N e . r ast end of the aisle , and pe petuates not only the figures of

K n ston th e f Bartholomew and Elinor y g , but also th e will of ormer ,

N. incised at the end of the slab , the figures of himself and wife being at the south end .

For facility of reading , the will and the figures are N ingeniously reversed , the one to the other , alth ough ichols to

save trouble to the reader of his work has placed them in his plate , the one above the other .

The date on this monument is 1486 . There is a monument ’ ’ n m i the N. aisle of G addesby church to W ill and Marye Darby

1496 O f ( dated ) which is similar treatment , wit h almost identical o utline and drapery , suggesting that the two monuments are the A work of the same craftsman . John Derby was vicar o f R 14 1 othley in the year 6 .

K n Mr . Farnh am has discovered th at Barth olomew y ngsto th 1496 and h is wife were both living in e year , when

/ ° P l O / O . w N l o a i . b A. 67 S s L c st y e n n , e e er

TI'I l K Y NG TO N M N AI N AIS I i S O U IC T I N N. L [M a s u d D a i 4 H w b . e b e t e re r ng y . r r ,

THE K Y NGSTO N MO NUM N I N N AI E T . SLE .

( I I S R S HIR AR HA ICA 4 L E C E TE E C EOLO G L S O CIETY .

O f left h and side the tomb , where now the modern vestry doo r ‘ ’ o is , and it doubtless supp rted the image of our Lady above

alluded to .

This monument is illustrated on page 12 and need not be

furth er described here .

TH IN N N N E V CE T MO UME T .

Next in order of date is an alabaster altar tomb of the l 6th

a R cent . at the e st end of the south aisle to obert Vincent and his “ ” “ ”

Mar er a . 1520 two wives , g y and Thomasina The year is ,

but the inscription is only partly dated , for spaces have been kept

O pen for other dates which have never been filled in .

The inscription reads as foll ows ’ Hic j acent Robertus Vincent 8: Margery a et THO M AS INAUXOR ES BJUS Q QUI D E M ROBERTO S O BI IT D IE M ENS IS ANNO VI CES S I MO

ANIMABZ P P ICI ET OMI P OTENS DE AME

T H KY N TON AR E GS MS .

On the south wall of the S . aisle is an alabaster panel O f the

A K n sto n o f rms of George y g impaling t h ose his wife , Mary

kefii n ton kefii n ton the daughter of sir William S g of S g ,

I H III . the lord deputy for reland under enry V The shield , with

r helm and crest , has as supporters , two mermaids , combing thei H N . e 30 hair; (or vide ichols , their heads) died Sep This panel is all that remains of a low altar tomb of alabaster ’ N It in the south chapel , which existed in ichols time . was on

o f the north side o f the tomb , and contains the following coats arms .

K n o n Quarterly 1 and 4 . y gst .

2 3 . . and Erm a chevron , Sable , over it ’ a leopard s head or , a chief S . ’

k ffin t on . Ar . 3 S e Impaling l . g Bull s heads erased [ g ]

A c otiz ed 6 . 2 . . Bend between mullets Or

3 o . 3 . Erm . . Le pards Or

Ar 3 3 . 4 . g . . Birds 8

- Ar . . Cre st . Agoat erect g against a date tree vert

" l N rv i . P zo l o . b A. e l o u C S o s L c s t y n , e e er

K Y NGS TO N S li lil’l’I NGTO N SO U H AI S l , T L

P h o t o b l Ne w / 0 11 C~ S . o s y n ,

THI-t BABI NG TO N MO NUMENT SO L'TH S i m: 0 1" CHANCI'ZL ( D a te d

ROTHL EY . THE CHUR CH. I I 5 N o f . On the north wall the aisle towards the east end , is a 16th cent . monument to Thomas Babington and Alienara his

wife . The monum ent is di vided into two compartments with an

e n n a and o riched pediment enclosi g the rms crest f Babingt on . o as u Th m Babington is in f ll armour, his wife being in a black o w o n c if and rich go n , and b th of them k eel at a desk with books .

o a all in Behind him are five sons , and behind her f ur d ughters ,

a kneeling attitude .

Below is the following insc ription

B IC JACENT COP O RA THO M AE BABINGTON NUP D E TE M P LE ° ROTHELEY AR M I GERI QUI OBII T x x v ui D IE

M ENS IS OCTOBRI S ANNO D MI 1567 ET ALIENORAE UXORI S EJUS UNAP ILI ARUM R I CARDI

HU M FREY AR QUAE OBI I T AN B NI QUORU

ANI MAE BEATI S S I M I AC CHAR I S S I MI

C HRI STI CLE M ENTI A ABRAHAMI S I NU ET CBTU FI DELIUM ETERNA P ACE QUI ES CUNT

w hich translated reads

H th e ere lie bodies of Thomas Babington , late of Temple ,

Roth ele 28 1567 f y , who died Oct . , , and Eleanor his wi e ,

R . one of the daughters of ichard Humfrey , Esq , who died D annO Domin i E ] wh ose souls res t in eternal peace by the clemency of the most blessed and ’ i in A a o o most char table Christ , brah m s b s m and the

company Of the faithful .

’ u N s ou th This mon ment in ichols time , was on the side of t h e north chapel , and was probably removed to its

prese nt position when the half arch of the N. arcade

a t e w s inserted . I will be noticed that blanks hav been l eft for the insertion of the date of the death of o f Eleanor , which was never recorded . This leaving blanks for dates to be afterwards inserted was not at all inf requent l th in from the 14 th t o the 6 centuries , and most cases points to t h e conclusion that the monuments were erected during the life t ime Of those whose memory they perpetuate .

On the S . wall of the chancel is a marble tablet with busts R A e his f o f Matthew Babingt on O f Temple othley , and nn wi e , S RS HIR AR HA ICA I I O L E IC E TE E C EOLOG L S O CIETY . A t heir righ t h ands j oined over a skull . bove are the arms o f

Babington impaling Sable , on a Chevron argent , between 3

A 3 l H s rquebuses or , lozenges gu es ( opkin ) N The lengthy inscription is given in full in ichols , but part “ O f it is rather curious for it records that They had issue 4 sons and 8 daughters at 12 S ingle births before the eldest was 12 years and 3 quarters Old a daughter not born alive proved 7th n 4 A . 16 8 also fatal to her mother who died the day of June , , ” in the 33 rd year O f her age .

O f w On the south side the chancel , ithin a modern recess ,

th O f formed between two buttresses is the l 6 cent . altar tomb

Humlfre t H y Babing on and his wife Eleanor . e is represented “ on an incised alabaster slab as an old man in a gown , short slit ” “ d f . sleeves and ruf les , in his hand a rosary She has a pointe

- S f and head dress , long leeves and ru fles , a pouch , rosary , sash , belt . Their seven sons and five daughters are also represented

The following is the inscription .

1 HI A T H M FRI D BABY NGTON AR M I R ( ) C J CH U GE , ’ ET ELEANO RA OR E US ET P ILLI I CU P ILLI AB EX J , EO R UND ! QUI QUI D E M HU M FR I D ( 2 ) O BI IT XX I I D IE M ENS I S NO VEMBR I S

(3 ) ANNO B NI MCCCCCXLI I II QUO RU M ANI MABUS ’ ’ A N P P ICI ET D E M E .

th e m an. On eastern end of the north face , is a figure o f a kneeling at a desk with this inscription ’ THO M AS BABYNGTON AR M IG ER P IL ET HER ES HUMFREDI

AR I R N TI P R M GE I NUP ER D EFU C . ECOR UT FILI I ’ CO RP O RI P ROP RI CIETUR D E ET AI E P ATRI S HIC

j ACENTI s ET O M NIU M P I DELI U AM EN which translated reads

O f H . Thomas Babington , Esq . , son and heir umfrey , Esq ,

lately deceased . Pray that God have mercy on the body

O f of the son , and the soul of the father lying here , and

A . all the faithful . men Adj oining the same on the right side are the following arms 4 Quarterly 1 8c . (Babington) . k 2 3 . ( Dethic )

Impaling Beaumont . ’ Crest , a goat s head , on the h orns a label .

R HIR AR HA 1 18 L E IC E S TE S E C EOLO GICAL S O CIETY .

m “ ” fusion of orn a ent of recurring scroll work , and other subj ects

und efina l but for the most part dim and be . There is no

c ertainty as to its date , which may be ascribed to any period t l th in the 9 h and o centuries , and there are no special marks of

C hristian symbols or influences .

o a and Mr . M . Pears n has m e sured drawn to scale the whole

O f a the four sides , which together with descriptive account , are ’ I A 1903 published in Spencers llustrated Leicester lmanac (pp . ’ 15 and there is an engraving and account of it in Hardy s Literary Remains

R R EGISTE S .

The Parish Registers date from the year 1562 to the present t ime , the entries being contained in 9 volumes previous to the 18 13 _year , after which date they are of the usual regulation R form . The following entry in the egister O f Burials is of s pecial interest

“ ffi t ou liv t Samuel , son of John She eld , h gh he ed on h e d em esn e la nd was buried in Ro thly e Church y ard by 1 . 3 consent , Oct ,

The Marriages from the year 1562 to the civil registration

1 3 H Harto 1912 of 8 7 were extracted by Mr . . pp and printed in

P hillimore R s . . in Parish egisters Series , Leicester , Vol vij ,

O f where a full description the earlier volumes is given . Only one marriage is recorded to have taken place in the chapel “ R viz — attached to othley Temple , William Beley and Ursula

R 164 1. A 1 . Pratt were married in othley Temple , Dec , duplicate Register O f Baptisms and Burials at the Temple Chapel ( 18th and 19th centuries) is preserved with the records in the

Archdeaconry Registry at Leicester .

A THE PL TE .

fia on 1685 The Church Plate , which includes a g dated will f R A ’ “ be ound fully described in the ev . nthony Trollope s Church

O f o . Plate Leicestershire , with som e acc unts of the Donors " P e w C S o u s L i c s t e . h o t o . b A. N l o y n , e e r

R R H AR SAXO N C O SS I N CHU C Y D .

A A 1 2 0 L E IC E S TER S HIRE AR CH EOLO GIC L S O C IETY .

Th e nave (interior) is 66 feet 9 inches long by 17 feet 6 3 1 inches ( average) wide by feet high .

The north aisle is 70 feet 3 inches long by 14 feet 6 inches 2 wide by 0 feet high .

The south aisle is 65 feet 6 inches long by 15 feet 5 inches 2 wide by 0 feet high .

o 26 6 The tower externally , (north to s uth) , is feet inches

and 70 feet 6 inches high .

Other dimensions will be found on reference to the measured a nd scaled drawings . HE VI R T LEY T CARS OF O H ,

F A A. Ha . . . By milton Thompson , S

a o son of Ro w as a t The dv w thley ppendant o the m anor , and included the a dvowsons of various ch ap els in sc attered members

o f o so e . s s o the man r and k , viz , Gadde by , Grim t n , Keyham ,

o — a Wartnaby , and Chadwell and Wyc mb e a cardin l instanc e o f the awkward eff ect o f manorial organsiation upon ecclesiastic al

th o arrangements . The patronage lay in e cr wn until the con

an o o A vey c e f the man r to the Knights Templars . t the time o f

o f Ma tri cula s H Of o the compilation the of ugh Wells, each f the ‘ chapels had its resident chaplain and all things which the mother ’ a e n an church h d , i . . , the a dministratio of sa craments d sacra

ntal . me s, rights O f burial , tithes and oblations . etc ; while all 1 except Wart naby paid their own synodal fees . This implies

O f some degree independence of the mother church , which was o e c nsiderably lessened some years later , when the Vicarag was In R a ordained . addition , the rector of othley had an annu l

O u one of pension f half a mark o t o f the church of Wanlip , and 2 ten shillings out O f that of Rothley .

The n am e of William the priest of Rothley occurs in a charter 3 o o O f the reign f Henry II . ; but whether he was actually rect r or not is uncertain ; and our first positive information with regard

h Ma tricu lus to an incumbent O f the church is in t e , compiled in

th e the third decade o f the thirteenth century . From this point list o f incumbents begins .

2 ne os o f ff si c 1. Before 1 35. John , nephew ( p ) Geo rey ( ) ,

a o : o n . sometime legate . P tr n the Cr w

I 252 . Rot . Well es .

to This is the o nly rector whose n ame has been preserved us ,

1 2 3 E M o n C a e s V 62 . t W e Ibid . I 253 258 . . . Ro . lles I , 259. , , C tto h rt r , S T E RS HIRE AR HA ICA L EIC E C EOLOG L S O C IETY .

’ a nd the printed copies o f Hugh o f Welles Ma tricu lus c ontain a

’ ’ Ga u n di serious error , reading f instead of Gua lom s . The legate

f o o f course , was the amous Gual , bishop of Vercelli and cardin al

priest of San Martino , who played a large part in English afiairs d uring the last years of the reign Of J ohn and the minority o f Hi H III . s 12 1 t enry legation lasted from 3 o 12 18 , and it was

12 18 o probably about that his nephew was instituted t Ro thley .

' d e Ver ellzs This nephew was undoubtedly John of Vercelli ( g ) , 25 12 At who is recorded as dying in or before May 77. the time

o f h is institution he must have been a mere boy .

The church of Rothley was appropriated to the Knights

O f Templars by a decree bishop Grosseteste , bearing date at 2 24 1 A 1 0 . Liddington , ugust , By the same decree a Vicarage was o rdained in the church , consisting of the whole altarage of the R l church of oth ey , together with the parsonage house and all the

o f demesne land the church with its appurtenances , the entire fruits of the chapel O f Gaddesby with its land and all appur

t enanc e s O f o , the whole altarage the chapels of Keyham , Grimst n ,

i Of and Wartnaby , with a v rgate land belonging to each O f the

three several chapels and its appurtenances , and the whole altar

O O age f the chapel f Chadwell and Wycombe , similarly with a

bovate O f land . The vicar was bound to the cure of souls with

to personal residence , and with a deacon and clerk assist him in

For find the parish church . the chapels he had to chaplains and

a o oo clerks at his own expense . He w s to pr vide the b ks and

O f n a o ornaments the mother church a d chapels , so far s the rect r

o all o f . was previously b und , and to pay syn dal ees to the ordinary ’ The archdeacon s procurations were settled by a special covenant

R o between him and the Templ ars o f othley , who in additi n were charged with a yearly pension o f four m arks payable to him at

a Mich elm as . The Templars as rectors were charged with the necessary building and repair Of the mother church and its c no hapels , without special reference to the chancels , although doubt in practice their duties would be confined to this part o f the

At o o o f buildings . the same time , their p siti n as lords the manor would entail a contribution to rep airs o f the nave when n ecessary ; but this would not be aff ected by the episcopal decree .

AS i usual , the appropr ation was contingent upon the voidance ' O f 1277 o r a the church ; and , as John of Vercelli did not die till

12 IC S RS HIR AR HA I A 4 L E E TE E C EOLOG C L S O C IETY .

13 4 1 19 . of o d e halke rd , September John Chalf rd ( C fo ) ,

Of deacon , on death W . H. Patron : brother Philip o f

Th ame , prior of the h os pital of St . John o f Jerusalem in

. I fO 15 England bid . . 9. 4 13 3 . 14 A d h . Of e Ass e b O f October John shby ( y) , rector

of R Ru d e t the church udbaxton ( pax on) , Pembrokeshire , by ’

. I . at exchange with J C . nst by the bishop of St . David s Law a d a n Llawhaden ( y ) , Pembrokeshire , by commission .

Re o . . g . VI . , f 35 4 A R 13 6 3 . o , ugust ichard of Overt n , priest , rector of N A a . e . . on Braunston , orth nts , by exchang with J Patr O the prior , etc . Ibid . f . 4 5.

13 4 9 7 . R , October John of Stoke , priest , on death O f . O .

Patron the prior , etc . Still rector in 1376 .

R 4 A 710 1. eg . IX . , fo . 3 6 ; B . M . dd . Charter

A 13 6 n 7 . a new k . R X fO 282 . fter John C y eg . . , . d

1 22 N 383 . B dfield , ovember William Dunstable , rector o f e

B od e e ld ff ° ( f ) , Su olk , by exchange with J . C . Patron to Rad n n . I . o f brother John y g , prior , etc nst by the bishop N o . orwich at Charing by Westminster , by c mmission

Ibid .

R X o 22 1 e mun I . f . . y d Barker . Reg . , d

13 2 3 R o Anle 9 0 A . f , pril obert Burgh , rector Wanlip ( p) , by

R . . : H I exchange with B Patron ildebrand nge , lieutenant

I . of the prior , etc . bid

4 2 - R Kill m o A 1 0 3 15 . o f , February ichard , rector sfordby ,

r h R t by exchange with R . Erd ebu g . Patron : brother ober d 1 . R . I . fO . 99 N . e II ormanton , lieutenant , etc g X , and

- f 14 8 14 euster on . o 0 9, February . William S , priest , res

R o . . K . Patron : brother Walter Grend n , prior , etc

R X . fO . 154 . eg . IV ,

144 14 1. 18 . In 1, 6 J ohn Derby .

Add 7235 7239. M. . B . Charters ,

14 A . . . 76 10 . o , pril J hn Persons , priest , on res of J Darby

R Multon . Patron brother obert , prior , etc ~ Reg . XXL, fo . 70 . THE VICARS OF ROTHLEY . 1 2 5

1519 6 o e . R P achett . B , Oct b r Master obert , LL . , on res . o f

J . P . with annual pension of 4 marks . Patron : Thomas Do cw ra R 4 , prior , etc . eg . XXV . , fo . 0 .

1528 3 A , ugust . Master James Willen , Dec . Bac . , on res . of

R o : . P . Patr n William Weston , prior , etc .

R fo 157. eg . XXVII . , .

1 32 16 o 5 . . o f , Oct ber Master William Duckett , clerk , on res

fO 160 . . . o : o I . . J W Patr n William West n , etc . bid

k a n 1533 22 . H W Odc o e . Of , September ugh , chapl i , on res

o 2 a W . D . with annual pensi n of 05. Patro n : Willi m d e tc . I . fo . 160 . We ston , bid

1 l n 155 6 . Me n o o f 0 , September John w y , clerk , the death

t th o o n for last incumben . Patron : e Cr wn . Comp u ded

- 2 d fir t 2 I . fo . 86 . s fruits 1 August . bid

- 15 3 . t 5 Jo hn Burgland . Comp ounded for firs fruits 28

No vember .

He th ot c . Re o fO 4 . William y Lambeth g . P le , . 5

1556- 2 7 1 . o l H. , February Th mas Cas yn, clerk , on res . o f W . A : os a . Patron mbr e C ve , knight . Ibid

1561- 2 20 H o O , February . ar ld Pagett , clerk , on death f last

u . f A : e e s . o inc mbent Patron Brian Cav , q , brother mbrose

- Cave and grantee Of advowson . Compounded for first fruits 2 8 1 64 . 5 n R X X . fo . 12 . October , Li coln eg . I , 9

1567. R r . O H . obert Kendall , clerk , on es f . Pachet Patron

In ar f s Brian Cav e of g sby , esq . , grantee o advowson for thi

- or u 4 Ma 1568 . turn . Compounded f first fr its y ,

Reg . XXVIII . , fO . 57.

1 A a o A in 4 . n M. . 1608 , 1 December dri Babingt n , Curate Compounded for first- fruits 23 December 1608 ’ l o erI f . 3 7. Bishop s Certificat es ; Liber . C ,

1 m e . e Ba n n e s . of Ro e e . . Son of Humphr y bi gt o , q , thl y T pl Of Ch Ch

f A 1 MA. 1604 . Re o of os s n on 1607 re Ox ord , B . . 160 ; ct r C i gt ; p e o benda ry of G a i a Maj o r in Lichfield 3 1 Octo ber 1608 . Di d ab ut

e m e t 44 or 45. S pte b r 1625, ea , 2 h e ies At thi s da te th ere w ere 500 co mmun icants in Ro thley and t e chap lr ,

and tw o men and tw o w omen re cu sants . R R R HA 12 6 L E IC E S TE S HI E A C EOLO GICAL S O CIETY .

- 3 . 625 6 M. A. 1 , January William Staveley , , on death o f

A. . : o . B Patron Th mas Babington , esq , of Temple Rothley .

o fi t- Compoun ded f r rs fruits 15 February . ’

o 1625 . 47 o t Presentati n deeds , no ; Bish p s Cer ificates .

- R .fo fir t 1653 . . o o r s f t 1 ichard Maden C mp unded rui s 3 May .

1661 12 4 a f , or 1 October . Edw rd “ ard . P atron : M atthew

Babington , esq . R d 12 . i 1662 fo 4 e I fO . e g . XXX I . , ; Lib r Cler , . 16 . 2 1691 . A 5 M. . on Of . , June Samuel Daniel , death E . W

: a es . Patron Thom s Babington , q

Re o 22 g . XXXIV . , f . 1 d .

5- 6 173 3 . n o B r . , Februa y William Babi gt n , LL . , on death

of . . o S D Patron : Thomas Babingt n , esq . R 1. eg . XXXVII I . , p . 3 1

1759 1 a a n , 9 March . Ge orge C rd le , o death of W . B . P atron

65. Thomas Babington Of Rothley . Ibid . p . 5

1770 3 . o . . a O , February William Babingt n , LL B , on de th f

: R . G . C . Patron Thomas Babington of othley Temple , es q

Re . 32 . g . XXXIX , p . 1

2 . o B . f 1783 7 . H oo o , October enry W dc ck , LL , on death

o O f R . W . B . Patron Thomas Babingt n othley Temple , esq

40 1. Ibid . p .

A n . O H 1 24 o M. . o f . . 787, July . Matthew Babingt n , , res W 4 I . . 65. : a . Patron Thom s Babington , esq bid p

6 1 A Aula . . 1 9 . 7 , 3 ugust y Macaulay , on death of M B

22 . I . . 6 Patro n : Thomas Babington , esq . bid p

1 o f A. . 1 2 A M. A. on 819, 9 pril . Joseph Ro se , , death M 2 R . 80 . e . . Patron : Thomas Babingt on , esq . g XL , p

2 2 2 1 R e . 18 0 , June . Joseph o se , after c ssion Patron

0 . I . . 3 8 Thomas Babingt on , esq . bid p

3 A o f 1 2 M. . 8 3 , 18 January . John Babington , , on death

R : i Of R . J . . Patron Thomas Bab ngton othley Temple , esq

Ibid . p . 330 .

1 Re e ne erefs . . ctor of P uddl sto , H 1815

2 - Re ns e le t ne 820 . i titut d to P udd s o , 17 June 1 3 Re cto r of P ud dlesto ne 18 19 ; Of Co ss ingt on 23 March 1820 .

PLATE N! l.

‘ DIIS IS “ TT RO E T N Dl O. E R U V T 1 S YNC E e. 5 C lRC A 1 I NO RMAN PERIOD 54 . 12 14 C ENTURY m use C ENTURY T C T CIQ s sm E N URY. m CA l 77 ENT CR S 3 0 FEE S UTHOF CHANCEL S O S , T O A

P A . RO BABLY CIRC 8 0 0 A.O ,