Worksop and Radford

WORKSOP, WIRCHESOP, & RADFORD.

Elsi before the Norman invasion had two manors in Werchesope, which paid to the geld as three car. The land being then sufficient for eight plows or eight car.— (fn. 1) There afterwards Roger de Busli (whose see the conquerour made it) had one car. in demesne, and twenty-two sochm. on twelve bovats of this land, and twenty-four villains, and eight bord. having twenty-two car. and eight acres of meadow, pasture wood two leu. long, three quar. broad. In the time of Edward the confessour this was valued at 3l. when the survey was taken in the conquerours at 7l. In Rolneton (nigh Wirkesop) also of Roger de Buslies see were two manors before the conquest, which Vlsi and Archill had, and paid the geld for one car. The land two car. There afterwards Roger the man (or tenant) of Roger de Busli had one car. and four sochm. on two bov. of this land, and one bord. with one plow or one car. There were two acres of meadow, pasture wood six qu. long, and three qu. broad. In king Edward the confessours time 20s. value, in the latter part of the conquerours 10s. There was one bov. ad geld. soc, and then waste.

This E si was one of those who were noted in the book of Doomsday to have soc, and sac, and toll, and thaim, and the kings customs of 2d. and particularly upon Werchesoppe, and he is there called Elsi, son of Castbin, but the third penny of the earl was not his.

This Roger the man of Roger de Busli held very many manors of him in this county, in all which in the time of H. 1, (fn. 2) succeeded William de Luvetot who had Sheffeild and Halumshire in the county of York, (as in Carcolston may be seen) and was a principal man in Huntingtonshire, where he left a barony to his second son Nigellus de Lovetot, as in Wishou is noted.

(fn. 3) Here the third of the Ides of May in the third year of king Henry the first, he founded a monastery for canons of the order of St. Austin, in the church of St. Cuthbert of Wirkesop, to which he afterwards by the concession and consideration of Emme his wife, and of sons (or children,) granted and confirmed by his [breve] writing, his gift which he had made to God and the holy church, and the canons of St. Cuthbert of Wirkesop in perpetual alms. First the whole chapelry of his whole house with the tythes and oblations. Then the church of Wirkesop in which the canons were, with the lands and tythes, and all things belonging to that church, and the fish-pond and mill (by or) nigh that church, and the meadow by the said mill and fish-pond. And furthermore all the tythes of the pence of all his set rents as well in Normandy as in England. In the field of Wirkesop one carucat of land, at Inwar, and the meadow of Catala. And all his churches of his demesne of the honour of Blith, viz. the churches of Gringelai, of Misterton, of Walcringham, of Normanton, of Coleston, of Wylgeby, of Wyshou. and his part of the church of Tyreswalle, with all lands, tythes, and things belonging to the said churches. And likewise the tythe of his paunage, and of honey, and of venison, and of fish, and of fowl, and of malt, and of his mills, and of all things of which tythes were wont or ought to be given. This was directed to T. arch-bishop of York.

Thurston arch-bishop of York, Alexander bishop of Lincoln, and Walter Espec, and Alan de Perci, and others were witnesses to king Henry the firsts confirmation of this gift, which William de Luvetot made.

(fn. 4) William de Luvetot in the pipe roll of the fifth of k. Steph. is said to give account of the half year of the farm of Blith, and of 2361. of the pleas of G. de Clinton, and for the land which Robert de Calz had with his mother, and of two hundred marks of silver, that the king should pardon him the pleas whereof he was impleaded at Blith.

(fn. 5) His son Richard de Lovetot 2 H: 2, gave account of twenty marks for the marriage of his wife, whereof ten were in the treasury, and ten he then ought, and one norroy-hawk and one gerfalcon; her name was Cecilia, and she gave the church of Dinisley (in Hertfordsh.) (fn. 6) to this covent, which amongst the gifts of her husbands father, and of others was confirmed by pope Alexander the third in the second year of his pontificate, Anno Dom. 1161. (fn. 7) This Richard de Luvetot confirmed the said William his fathers gift, to God and the church of St. Cuthbert of Wirkesop; adding his part of the church of Claverburgh, and two bovats of land in Herthewik at Utwar, and in Wirkesop, the land which was Wulvet the priests, and Hugh his brothers (to wit) that between the way and the park, and Impecroft, to make a holt; for twigs [virgultum] He confirmed also his own proper gift which he made to that church after the death of his father, viz: the whole site of the town of Wirksop, near the church, as it was shut in by the great ditch unto the meadow of Bersebrigg. And without the ditch the seat of a mill, with one dwelling house, and the meadow of Buselin, which is between the [virgultum] holt of the church and the water. But on the other part of the water towards the north, the meadow and land, by the bound of Kilton, from the water unto the way under the gallows, towards the south, and by the crosses which he himself, and William his son, erected with their own hands, unto the moore, that is the mucky and moist plain, the land also towards the south, from the head of the causey, beyond the plain, as it was girt in by a ditch to the water. In Mauton the mill with the fish-pond. And all Sloswik. He confirmed also the gift of his mother Emme, which she gave by his concession to the church of St Cuthbert, viz. the mill of Bolum, &c. He also granted that the said canons should have two carts straying in his park of Wyrkesop for dry wood, whatever they should find lying except green, and timber, [viridi & materie] he confirmed the land of Thorp, of the gift of Walter le Hayer, and the grant of Roger his son. This deed of confirmation he made by the consent of William his son, who offered it together with him on the altar, for the souls of his father and mother, for himself and his said son William, also for all his parents as well living as dead. The witnesses were Robert de Meisnill, and Robert his son, Leonius de Maleverer (it should rather be de Malnuers) and Michael his son, Henry de Luvetot, Robert de Sov rvill, and Robert his son, Raph de Luvetot, Jordan de Revenell, and Thomas his son, Raph de Tortesmains, Fulco de Traitons, Odo de Eston, and Mathew his son, Nigellus son of Godard

(fn. 8) His said son William de Luvetot, on the day of his fathers burial, gave and confirmed to God, saint Mary, and saint Cuthbert, and the canons of Radesord, the tythe of all his rents, which he then had, or ever should have, and wheresoever on this side or beyond the sea. He survived not very long, for Raph Murdac the sheriff, 27 H. 2, (fn. 9) gave account of 42l. 12s. 10d. of the issues of the land of William de Luvetot.

(fn. 10) Matilda de Luvetot who was daughter of Walter Fitz-Robert, and wife of William de Luvetot, and then twenty-four years of age, and had by the said William one daughter, who was then also seven years old, and in the custody of Raph Murdac, was certified 32 H 2, (or thereabouts) to have the town of Dineley (in Hertfordshire) in dower, which was valued at 12l. per annum.

(fn. 11) Matilda the daughter and heir of William de Lovetot was by king Richard the first, married to Gerard de Furnivall, who came out of Normandy.

(fn. 12) Girard de Furnivall 2 Joh. gave the king four hundred marks, that he should take the homage of Gerard his son, concerning the barony, which was William de Luvetots, father of his said sons wife, and that he might hold in peace his land, so as he then did, and the land whereof his said wifes father was seised in his demesne as of fee, on the day upon which he was alive and dead.

(fn. 13) King John by his charter dated at Nottingham 12 Mar. in 2 Joh. forbad Gerard, the son of Girard de Furnivall, and Matildis his wife, the daughter and heir of William de Lovetot to be put in plea, concerning any free-hold which they held, and whereof the said William was seised when he died, as long as she should be under age.

(fn. 14) The said king, 4 Joh. certified G. Fitz-Peter, and the barons of the exchequer at London, that Gerard de Furnivall had rendred Conan, son of Giuomar de Leon, whom he took at Mirabell, to be the said king, who gave him to the said Gerard, to help his journey to Hierusalem, and redeemed him of him for 400 marks of silver which the said Gerard gave the king a fine, for Gerard his son, and his wife, the daughter of William de Luvetot, concerning the land of the said William, &c.— The said king, 20 May, 5 Joh. (fn. 15) rendred to Gerard de Furnivall, and Matilda his wife, the heir of William de Lovetot, the whole land of the said William, with the appurtenances.

(fn. 16) Gerard de Furnivall 9 Joh. gave account of 1000l. and fifteen palfreys for having peace of the lands, which Nigellus de Luvetot (named in Wishou) claimed against him, and besides he quit-claimed to the king the town of Nieweport, and restored the charter which he had concerning the same town.

(fn. 17) Gerard de Furnivall at the request of his wife Matildis de Luvetot granted to God and church of St. Mary, and St. Cuthbert of Radeford, and the canons there, for the health of his foul, and of his said wifes, and of his mother Audel, and of his brother Galfr. and all their ancestors and successors, pasture for forty cattel in his park of Wyrkesop, every year from the close of Easter, till the feast of St. Michael.

(fn. 18) Matilda de Lovetot daughter and heir of William de Luvetot, gave a mark of yearly rent, out of her mill of Wyrkesop, to be received yearly on the day after St. Luke the evangelist, for a pitance for the use of that covent, who then ought to celebrate the anniversary of sir Gerard de Furnivall sometimes her husband. Her brother sir Ernulph de Mandevill was a witness to this.

(fn. 19) After the great controversie concerning many demands on both parts between her and Wal. the prior and the covent of Wyrkesop, the said Mat. in her free widowhood and lawful power on the day of the translation of St. Thomas the martyr, 33 H. 3, confirmed all the gifts of William de L. her father, and Richard de Luvet her grandfather, and Gerard de Furnivall her quondam husband, who was entombed at Ebrard in Normandry in his own demesne, which is called Furnefall; (fn. 20) he begot Thomas, Gerard, and William. Thomas was slain in the holy land by the Saracens, and his brother Gerard after his death returned from thence: but the said Maud his mother taking it ill that her son Thomas should remain amongst heathens, sent back the said Gerard that he might bring the bones of the said Thomas his brother, by which means he was intombed in this monastery on the north side, with his helmet adorned with gems, and a noble carbuncle upon his head. The said sir Gerard her son lay on the south side under a marble stone next the chapel of St. Peter, and the sa d William their brother, in the middle of the chapel of the blessed Mary, not far from Maud the wife of John first lord of Furnivall, in a tomb of stone inscribed thus,

Me memorans palle, similis curris quia calle, De Fournivalle, Pro Wilielmo rogo psalle.

These chronicles of Wyrksop are not exact in this descent, which I suppose misled Mr. Robert Glover in the draught of that noble pedigree, which he designed for Geo. late earl of Shrowsbury, and earl Marshall of England, lord Talbot, Furnival, Verdun, Lovetoft, and Strange of Blackmer, knight of the garter, &c. 22 Eliz. 1580, wherein he makes Ger. son and heir of this Thomas de Furnivall to be father of Thomas, &c. which he was not.

(fn. 21) He indeed married Maud, the sister and coheir of Richard Fitz-John Fitz-Geoffrey, the justice of Ireland, who was afterwards married to William Beauchamp earl of Warwick, by whom she had Guy earl of Warwick, twenty-six years of age, and above, 26 E: 1, her heir, which shows that her former husband the said Gerard de Furnivall had none by her: (fn. 22) but it further appears, for Gerard, son and heir of Thomas de Furnivall, gave with his body the third part of the mills of Bradfeld, with the suit of his men of the Sok of Bradfeud, to this monastery; and Thomas, son and heir of Tho. de Furnivall, (fn. 23) confirmed this gift which Gerard de Furnivall his brother had conferred; and Bertrea or Bertha, sometime wife of Thomas de Furnivall in her widowhood, for the health of her soul, and of the souls of sir Thomas de Furnivall her quendam husband, and of sir Gerard his brother confirmed 4l. of silver, to be taken out of her mill at Bradefeld yearly, during her life.

(fn. 24) Thomas de Furnivall lord of Halumschire, son and heir of Thomas de Furnivall, confirmed to these canons all lands, &c. in which they were seised in the time of Matildis de Luvetot his grand-mother.

The prior of Wyrkesop, 53 H: 3, (fn. 25) offered himself the fourth day against Thomas de Furnivall in a plea, wherefore he made waste, sale, and destruction of his park of Wirksop, by which means the said prior for the future could not as he ought, have two carts to bring dry wood every day to the monastery, &c.

(fn. 26) There was a licence 54 H: 3, granted to Thomas de Furnivall, to build a certain castle at his manor of Sheffeild in the county of York.

(fn. 27) Thomas de Furnivall, son of Thomas de Furnivall, confirmed with his body presente, the yearly rent of six marks out of the mill of Bradfeud, viz. that rent which the canons had of the gift of the lady Bertr. de Furnivall his mother during her life.

(fn. 28) Bertra who had been wife of Thomas de Furnivall, 7 E: 1, was fined 40s. because she retracted or withdrew herself, &c.

(fn. 29) Thomas, son and heir of Thomas de Furnivall, 1 E: 1, was under age, and married to Joane, the daughter of Hugh le Dispenser.

(fn. 30) Thomas de Furnivall the third lord of Halumshire, and of Wyrkesop, confirmed to this priory eight marks of yearly rent, out of his mills of Wirkesop, and 30s. 6d. in the name of the tythe of his rents of his manor of Wyrkesop, and 10s. in the name of the tythe of his manor of Glesthorp, of old constituted or set in this county, and twelve marks of his mills of Bradefeld per annum, and five marks yearly rent of his mills of Brekesherth, and also 60 and 6s. and 1d. in the name of tythe of the yearly rents of his manor of Sheffeld in Hallumshire in the county of York, and pasture for 40 cattel in his park; and this bore date at Nottingham the Thursday after the feast of St. Augustine the apostle of the English, An. Dom. 1328, 2 E. 3.

(fn. 31) Thomas de Furnivall, senior, 19 E: 2, atturned in his place William de Sheffeld, and Adam, son of Henry de Sheffeld, to prosecute in the court of the exchequer, concerning a debt which the said Thomas had paid to the king by Roger de Somervill sheriff of Yorkshire.

(fn. 32) It appeareth also in 19 E. 2, that the said Thomas de F. senior, was amerced as a baron in several courts before the 14 E. 2, but he pleaded he was no baron, neither did he hold his land by barony nor part of a barony, whereupon several inquisitions were taken by Robert de Nottingham, remembrancer of the exchequer assigned thereto, viz. one at Rotheram, where it was found that the said Thomas de F. senior held the manor of Sheffeld in the county of York, of the king in capite by homage only, and the manor of Whystan of Galfr. Luterell in capite, by the service of three sees and an half of a knight by right of inheritance. Another at Nottingham the Saturday next before quindena Pasche, where it was likewife found that he held the manors of Wyrkesop and Gresthorpe, with the members in this county of the king, as of the honour of Tykhull, by the service of four fees, and the fourth part of a knights see, by right of inheritance, after the death of Thomas de F. his quondam father, whose heir he was. And the third inquisition was taken before the said Robert de Nott. at Darby the Friday before, where it was found that the said Tho. de F. senior held in the county of Darby the manor of Eyum of the king of the honour of Peverell, of the castle of the High Peke 1 f. which manor ne bought of Roger Morteyn. And that he held the manor of Middleton of Thomas de Chaworth, by the service of half a knights see, and that he had of one Richard de Bernake, who held it of the said Thomas by the same service. And that he held the moyety of the town of Bracington, as parcel of the Wapentac of Wyrkeswrth, which was an eschaet of the kings by the forfeiture of Thomas late earl of Lancaster, by the service of finding two frank-pledges in that Wapentach; and that a certain ancestor of him the said Thomas de Furnivall had that moyety, and held it to him and his heirs, by the gift of a certain earl of Derby, who held that Wapentach of king Henry the third, grand-father of the king (viz. Edward the second) in fee farm for ever, and the said moyety of the town of Bracington gave to the said ancestor of the said Thomas de F. in frank-marriage, with a certain daughter of the said earl. And the said Thomas de F. senior, held of Nicolas de Langford, as of his manor of Haversedge in the said county, an hamlet called Bauutford, &c: but none by barony, or part of a barony, &c.

(fn. 33) Yet it appears that he was called to all the parliaments, as other barons were, as for example in the 23 E. 1. to one to be held at Westminster the first of August, and to another the same year the Sunday next after the feast of St. Martin in winter; and that at St. Edmunds (Bury) the day after All Souls, 24 E. 1, and that in 12 E. 2, and that in 13 E. 2, and in 14 E. 2, to that to be held at Westminster three weeks after the Nativity of St. John Baptist, both Thomas de Furnivall, senior, and Thomas de Furnivall, junior, were summoned.

(fn. 34) Thomas de Furnivall, senior, 6 E. 3, held this manor, with the appurtenances, and Gresthorp, as in that place is noted.

(fn. 35) The jury, 28 E. 3, said that Elizabeth de Monteacuto held the manor of Wyrksop of the endowment of Thomas de Furnivall her quondam husband, and of the inheritance of Thomas de Furnivall, who then was cousin and heir of her said husband, viz. son and heir of Thomas de Furnivall, son and heir of Thomas her husband.— She was daughter of Peter de Montford, and widow of William, son of Simon de Montacute, (fn. 36) and mother of William de Montacute, earl of Salisbury: there is a Monument of marble for her yet standing on the north side of the quire of Christs Church in Oxford.

Thomas de Furnivall, junior, was above forty years old at the death of his father, which was the day after the Purification 1332. He married Joane, the eldest daughter and co-heir of Theobald de Verdun lord of Alveton castle in Staffordshire, baron of Webley in the county of Hereford, the relict of William de Mountague. (fn. 37) This Tho de Furnivall lord of Alveton in Staffordshire died at Sheffeld the day before the Ides (it should be Nones) of October 1339, the inquisition faith the Thursday next before the feast of St. Dionis, 13 E. 3, which is on October 9. leaving then his son and heir Thomas de Furnivall about seventeen years old, whose brother William de Furnivall (fn. 38) (which afterwards was his heir, and did his homage, 39 E. 3,) was born at Alveton Castle the tenth of the Kalends of September 1326. Their father who died about 14 Octob. Anno Dom. 1339, was buried the Monday within the Vtas of the Ascension of our lord next following, in the abby of Beauchief by the abbat of Crokesden: his said wife Joane, the lady of Alveton, died in child bed 6 of the Nones of Octob. 1334, of the age of thirty years and two months, and was honourably buried the seventh of the Ides of January following at Crokesden, amongst her ancestors of, the family of Verdun founders of that place.

(fn. 39) Her son Thomas de Furnivall, 17 E. 3, had an Ad quod Damnum for settling the castle and mannor of Sheffeld, and in 18 E. 3, (fn. 40) the castle and manner of Alveton, to the use of him the said Thomas, and Margaret his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, as William de Furnivall (his said brother and heir) had, 40 E. 3. (fn. 41) to set tle the mannor of Farneham in the county of Bucks, to the use of him the laid William, and Thomasia his wife, and the heirs of their bodies.

(fn. 42) William de Furnivall chr. dyed the twelfth of April, 6 R. 2, seised of this mannor, &c. Thomasina his wife held the mannor of Coggeshalis in Elmedone in Essex, and the mannor of Dagworth in Suffolk. Joane, the daughter of the said William, wife of Thomas de Nevill was then found his heir, and above fourteen years old.

(fn. 43) This Thomas Nevill was brother to Raph first earl of Westmerland. He was treasurer of England (but is not in Mr. Dugdales catalogue, which makes these chronicles of Wirksop more doubtful) and in right of his wife, lord Furnivall; he was buried here most magnificently, and lieth in the middle above the quire. He died the Monday next before Palmsunday, 8 H. 4, (fn. 44) leaving behind him another wife, who was Ankaretta, daughter of John le Strange of Blackmere, and widow of Richard, son of Gilbert Talebot, and mother of the famous John Talbot; she and he in her right held the mannor of Swynden in Wiltshire, and the third part of the mannor and hundred Shryvenham in Barkshire of the dotation of Richard Talbot chr. her former husband: the heirs of the said Thomas de Nevill where then found to be Matilda and Joane his daughters.

(fn. 45) Thomasia, who had been wife of William Furnivall chr. died on the feast of St. Margaret the virgin being Saturday, 10 H. 4, Matilda was found cousin and heir, and aged seventeen years, viz. the daughter and heir of Joane, the daughter and heir of the said William and Thomasia, and the said John Talbot had then taken her to wife.

This John was brother of Gilbert lord Talbot, and after the death of Ankaretta, his said brothers daughter, his heir. He was in his said wifes right lord Furnivall, and had respite of homage 7 H. 5, (fn. 46) Febr. 12. He was created by king Henry the sixth at Windsor, May 20, 19 H. 6, earl of Shrowsbury. He was earl of Weishford in Ireland by inheritance, and created earl of Waterford 17 July, 24 H. 6, and steward of that kingdom, and afterwards Marshal of France most worthily, where he wan so many battles, and was so formidable to the French during the twenty four years of his most glorious warfare there. He was slain at the siege of Chastilion the fourth of the Ides of July, Anno 1453, as also was his son John Talbot viscount Lisle, whom he had by his second wife Margaret, the daughter of the famous Richard Beauchamp earl of Warwick. The body of our noble earl was brought over and buried at Whitchurch; after whose death Burdeaux was presently taken by the French, and an end made of that war, and the civil wars begun here by the dukes of York and Somerset.

John the second earl of Shrowsbury (his son by his first wife the forenamed Matilda,) was a most excellent young man and most like his ancestors, he fell in the battle of Northampton the sixth of the Ides of July 1460, fighting on the part of king Henry the sixth, who was then taken captive by his adversaries. Elizabeth, daughter of James Botiller earl of Ormond, was his wife, and sir Humfr. and sir Christopher Talbot his brothers, He was buried here and had inscriptions upon his tomb prose and verse, &c. He and his father were both knights of the garter, as these earls usually were, and he, 35 H. 6, was lord treasurer. He had sons John, James, Gilbert of Grafton, knight of the garter and banneret, father of John, father of John, &c. of whom the present earl of Shrowsbury is descended, and Christopher, another son of this great earl, who was arch deacon of Chester, and rector of Whitchurch nigh Blackmere, and George — Anne, the daughter of this second earl, was wife of sir Henry Vernon of Haddon.

His said son John Talbot, the third earl of Shrowsbury, Weishford, and Waterford, was born on the eve. of St. Luke the fourth hour after midnight 1448, he married Catherin, daughter of Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, and died in the city of Coventry the fourth of the kalends [it should be ides] of July 1473, and was buried in the chapel of St. Mary at this Wirksop. The inquisition saith his death was on the Saturday next after the feast of the nativity of St. John Baptist, 13 E. 4, (fn. 47) otherwise 28 of June (which is 4 of the Ides of July) and that George his son and heir was then above three years old.

This George, the fourth earl, was also knight of the garter, and a great man with king Henry the eighth. His first wife was Anne, the daughter of William lord Hastings, chamberlain to king Edward the fourth, by whom he had his eldest son Francis, and many children; his second wife was Elizabeth, daughter and heir of sir Richard Walden of Kent, by whom he had a daughter Anne, the heir of her mother, married to Peter, son of sir William Compton, to whom she brought Henry lord Compton (ancestor of the earl of Northampton) and was after married to William Herbert earl of Pembroke. This earl George died twenty-sixth of July 1538, and was buried at Sheffeild.

(fn. 48) To his son Francis earl of Shrowsbury did king Henry the eighth, 22 November, 33 H: 8, grant the whole scite and precinct of the monastery or priory of Worksop, and all mess. and houses, and several closes and fields, and four acres of arable in Manton in the parish of Worksop, &c. to hold to him and his heirs of the king in capite by the service of the tenth part of a knights fee, and also by the royal service of finding the king a right-hand glove at his coronation, and to support his right-arm that day, as long as he should hold the scepter in his hand, paying yearly 23l. 8s. od. ob. rent. His first was Mary, daughter of Thomas lord Dacres of Gillesland, she died 28 March 1538. His second was Grace, the daughter of Robert Shakerley.

This earl Francis was also knight of the garter, as was also his son and heir George, whose first wife was Gertrude, daughter of Thomas lord Ros and earl of Rutland, by whom he had Francis, Gilbert, Edward, and Henry, Katherin, the wife of Edward, son and heir of William Herbert earl of Pembroke, Mary, the wife of sir George Savile, ancestor of the lord Halyfax, and Grace, married to Henry Cavendish, eldest son of sir William Cavendish, whose widow this earl George took to his second wife: she was Elizabeth, the daughter of John Hardwick of Hardwick in the county of Derby, esquire, and first married to — Barlow of that county; next to sir William Cavendish, by whom only she had issue; then to sir William St. Low; and lastly to this great earl: she adorned these counties with the magnificent houses of Chattesworth, Hardwick, Oldcotes, and this Worksop Mannor, and with her illustrious off-spring the families of the earls of Devonshire, and duke of Newcastle. The four sons of the earl her husband, before named, three whereof were earls, all failed of issue male, so that the lands of this mighty earldom, and this lordship, became divided.

Francis married Anne, daughter of William earl of Pembroke, without issue. His brother Gilbert earl after him, married Mary, daughter of sir William Cavendish, and of the said Elizabeth the countess his mother-in-law, by whom he had three daughters and heirs; Mary, wife of William Herbert earl of Pembroke, without issue; Elizabeth, of Henry earl of Kent she was acquainted with the great antiquary J. Selden, and accused for cutting down the best oaks of all England, both here and at Sheffeid she also left no child; and Aletheia, the wife of Thomas earl of Arundell she bore him Henry earl of Arundell, who by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Esme Stuart duke of Lenox, begot Thomas, since the kings return restored to the dukedom of Norfolk; and Henry lord Howard and earl Marshal of England his brother, who manageth all this noble inheritance for him, whilest he remains not so capable of such affairs in Italy.

(fn. 49) King Edward the sixth, Septemb. 2, 1 E. 6, granted to Henry bishop of Lincolne, the reversion of the rectory of Worshop, and all tythes of corn and hay, &c. in the hamlets of Sloswick, Ratcliff, Retford, Kilton, Reton, Scotton, and Clummer, within the parish of Worsopp, and Eastbarton [Osberton] and all other hamlets within the said parish of Worsopp to the said rectory belonging, and all that yearly rent of 35l. reserved upon the demise made to William Chastelyn, merchant of London, to hold to him and his successours in pure and perpetual alms.

(fn. 50) A good part of the church is yet standing, in which lay William de Lovetot the founder, on the north side by the wall at the lowest step tending to the high altar, he died 7 Id Apr. Richard de Lovetot his son is buried below his father, under a white stone at the left side of sir Thomas Furnivall; William Lovetot, son of Richard, by the lowest step in the same pavement. The last Thomas Furnivall lyeth in a tomb of alabaster beyond the principal quire on the north side, and William on the south side. Joane, the wife of Thomas Nevill, was buried above the principal quire, and lay with her image of alabaster very near her husband; Maud their daughter was buried in the chapel of St. Mary, before the image of the blessed Mary near the side of the stall.

Thomas de Furnivall, son of Bertha, buried at the bare-foot Friers in Doncaster, died the fourth of the Ides of May.

The inscription upon the tomb of John, the second earl of Shrowsbury, in this place was thus,

(fn. 51) Sepulchrum magnanimi ac præpotentis Domini Domini Johannis Talbot, Comitis Salopie secundi, ex regio sanguine ducentis originem. Qui Henrico Regi fidrssimus, Bello apud Northamptoniam gesto, ante signa strenue' pugnans, honestâ morte cecidit die decimo Julii, Anno Dom. nostri Jesu Christi 1460.

Et Metrice' sic.

Salopie Comitis lapis hic tegit ossa Johannis, Cui nihil antiquius quam fuit alma sides.

Hic ut serviret Regi, tormenta subivit Intrepidus ferri sanguineamq; necem.

Ergo licet parvum condat sua viscera saxum, Virtus Angligenum lustrat in omne solum.

[Throsby] Worksop and Radford.

This lordship or manor, is owned chiefly by the duke of Norfolk. The duke of Portland has the great tythes. The open fields, commons, and waste grounds lying within the townships or liberties of Worksop, Radford, Kilton, Gateford, and Shireoakes, within this parish, are about to be enclosed. This parish is supposed to be 15 miles in circomferrence.

Of this place, its religious retreat, and the ancient things in the church Thoroton has been sufficiently elaborate. Of the present state of things here, I shall therefore take a cursorary review, after Leland and Tanner's account.

"Werkensop a pretty market town of two streets, and metely well builded. There is a fair park hard by it, and the beginnings of a fair manor place of squarid stone in the same. The old castle on a hill by the town is clene down and scant known where it was This town, castle, and large park, longid first to the Lovetotes, then as some say to one of the Neviles. Then were the Furnivaulx of certainty owners thereof, and after the Talbotes. The priory of the black canons there was a thing of great building and a place of sepulture to the aforesaid noblemen. (fn. 52) A great wood, called Room wood, longid to this abbey." "Wyrkesop is called in some old writings Radeford. Wilhelmus Lovetost was the first founder of it in the time of Anselm bishop of Canterbury and Gerard bishop of York in Henry's days. His b'ood and inheritance came to a daughter that married one Furnivall. After Furnivalie's inheritance came to a daughter, the which was married to one Nevile, and he had a daughter by her, the which married to Talbot the first earl of Salop, and among other children he had Talbot of her called Dn's de Lile. This Nevile hath a goodly tomb in the middis of the quire. Many of the Lovetofts, Furnivalles, and Talbottes buried at Wirksop. It is a market town, and there is a place now invironed with trees called the castle hill, where the Lovetofts had sometime a castle. The stones of it were setched as some say to make the fair lodge in Wyrksoppe park not yet finished. The earl of Shrewsbyris' father was about to have finished it as appearith by much hewyd stone lying there. But I am of opinion that the canons had the ruins of the castle to make the closure of their large walls. There is at the south side of the priory court a very fair great gate of hewn stone. (fn. 53) "

The high town, Worksop, is in general well built, has good accommodating inns, has a market on Wednesdays; and fairs in October and March. The market-place is but small; but the street that leads thence to Radford church, gives it the appearance of space. Worksop is a very considerable market for barley. Liquorice is grown plentifully in this neighbourhood.

Radford below nearly joins Worksop above, for, from the former to the latter you pass over descending ground. Here also are some decent dwellings.

The church of Radford, which is dedicated to St. Cuthbert, has two towers and is not of the ordinary kind. It has six bells. The church has suffered little or no alteration in appearance since Thoroton's time; but the ruin, near, has suffered somewhat considerably. The ruined gate-way annexed was done by Chapman about the middle of the present century; as was also the Abbey gate-house.— That which is called the church now standing, was the west end of the priory church.

The west entrance into the church is grand; it is modelled partly after the zig-zag Saxon architecture. The roof of the nave is supported by eight columns, alternately round and square: stepping I judged it to be about 135 feet long. The principal things I saw here, are three mutilated figures which it is apparent have been removed from the decayed part of the church to their present resting place: very probable those mentioned above by Thoroton, the Lovetots and Furnivalls. The old sexton told me (for there is no inscription to give information) that the figure on the right, page 264, fig. 1, was Sir William de Lovetot, founder of the church of St. Cuthtert near Worksop, (see page 280.) That in the centre a Nevile, and that on the left Sir John Furnaval, probable Thomas. The figure in the centre I apprehend was Joan the lady of Thomas Nevil, as Thoroton has mentioned above. When I copied them I found them so fine with whitewash, that no one could tell whether the figures were out of marble, freestone, or alabaster. They are now placed upon pedestals no ways corresponding, against a wall of the inside of the church.

A tablet, in the south aisle remembers Dame Mary Lassells who died in 1615, aged 79. Several old stones are much defaced. The pulpit is a curious piece of ancient light carving, such an one as I have scarcely ever seen, and remains to this day in the highest preservation. The altar piece, I can only say, is a representation of Moses and Aaron. Many stone coffins, I have been informed, have been taken from the earth where a part of the ruin stands.

Robert de Worksop who died in 1360, supposed to have been a titular bishop in some foreign country was born at Worksop. He was bred (Dr. Fuller tells us) an Augustin monk, in the convent of Tikill not far from Doncaster. He, it appears, was a learned man and wrote much.

Patron of this church, earl Fitz-William in 1783. Incumbent, rev. Mr. Stacey, vic. K. B. 12l. 4s. 2d. Yearly tenths 1l, 4s. 5d. Archiepisc. pro Syn. 1s. Val. per ann. in mans. & pens. rec. pri. de Worksop 12l. 4s. 2d. Pri. Worksop Propr. Sir John Rodes, bart. presented in 1685. Thomas Wentworth, esq. in 1718. Marquis of Rockingham in 1752, and 1758.

Worksop Manor House,

The seat of his grace the duke of Norfolk, (fn. 54) stands at the distance of little better than a mile from Worksop town. The view subjoined, is from the dwelling which was begun to be built by George earl of Shrewsbury, (whose family pedigree is substantially related above by Thoroton) but finished by Elizabeth his wife, known by the name of Bessey Hardwick, who married four husbands, and possessed all their estates. It was at length burnt down.

Of the fire above noticed, I received rather varying accounts, respecting time: one says it happened on holy Thursday, 1759. In Gough's Additions to Camden, 1761. Another account says in 1762; another I have seen May 5, 1762. Be these as they may, it was supposed to have been burning two days before it was discovered, and that it was occasioned by airing one of the rooms where a fire was left burning, and not attended to. However, the ravages of the flames were such, that very little of the splendid furniture and fixtures were saved; happening during a very high wind, the whole building was soon in a general blaze after it broke forth. (fn. 55)

The present building, although only about a third of the original plan, is a magnificent structure, and was begun to be rebuilt on a plan with a front upwards of three hundred feet in length. The grand drawing-room is 53 by 31 feet, hung with gobelin tapestry; the family pictures were brought from other seats. Some of its beautiful parts may be attributed to the taste and skill in architecture, of the late duchess of Norfolk, who, it seems, superintended its erection. The plan is light and airy. The north front, which is built of a white freestone, got about 3 miles from the house, is rich in decorations; but every thing near looks rather cold and comfortless, it has no memberlike field embellishments in high cultivation. The present duke seldom sees this princely edifice, consequently there are only two or three rooms occupied. The elegant tapestry is in a state of decay; and several of the best pictures are removed to Arundal Castle, a favorite seat of the present noble owner. The extensive park belonging to Worksop Manor, in some parts has much apparent good timber, ornamental and useful. The lawns and extensive pleasure grounds, sinking in some places and in others rising to your view, managed as they would be, if the family resided here, would make this a scene delightful. The hand of nature, without art, has been bountiful in silvan embellishments; and here is enough of nature's chief effusions, moulded into forms to make this domain splendid, picturesque and beautiful. The park is about eight miles round, bounded by delightful hanging woods over the fence or park pails, and the clumps within are agreeably diversified, with different shades of foliage; those patches which stand in that part of the park which is now farmed and divided and subdivided with right line fences, look not so captivating.

A view of the present building, rebuilt by the late duke Edward, was exhibited by Hodges, R. A. in 1772. A view of the Manergeri as designed by the late duchess, painted by P. Sanby, R. A. was exhibited at Spring Gardens in 1764. Thoroton's old view of Worksop Manor-house is esteemed a miserable one.

This noble family of Howard, has progressively had its share of political state sufferings; their great honours and eminent services have been blended at times, with the gall of bitterness, as the pedigree below will sufficiently testify. The three latter dukes, being Roman catholics, were excluded from the services of the state; but one of them, in particular, Edward the ninth duke of Norfolk, lived becoming his rank and fortune in retirement, chiefly at Worksop Manor, dispensing blessings to the needy, and keeping up the ancient spirit of hospitality in its primitive greatness.

I may just remark, before I leave this subject, from the appearance of the preceding view of this mansion, that notwithstanding the eye is bounded with right lined fences, so offensive to the present taste of beauty, yet all, it must be allowed, in this view is in harmony.