Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/199

 Gloucester, June 24, 1314, leaving a son, whose heir was this Sir Robert of whom we now speak, whose son, Sir Robert Buteveleyn, junior, in 1401, is said to hold the manor of the Lord Grey of Ruthyn, at half a fee, which was heretofore Nicholas de Hastyng's, and another part of it, of the abbey of Bury, at a quarter of a fee; and another part of it of Shimpling manor; and in 1403, he settled his manors called Hastynges, and Dallings, upon Sir Simon Felbrigge'', Knt. Sir Robert Buttevelyn, senior, his father, Richard de Cotesbrook, parson of Cotesbrook, John Reynes, John Clere, Esqrs., and Henry Lomnour, junior, and others, and their heirs in trust, for the wife of Sir Robert Butteveyleyn, junior, for her life and the heirs of their bodies. Upon the death of this Sir Robert the Abbot of Bury seized his ward, by reason of the chief part of the manor which was held of him by knight's service; but this settlement being produced, he was forced to release his seizure, and at her death,

William Buttevelyn, her son and heir, inherited the manors of Florendon, Hastynges, and Dawlings; he died without issue about 1465, leaving these and Cotesbrook manor in Northamptonshire, and Fenwick and Thorndich in Bedfordshire, to his sisters, Elizabeth and Julian; Elizabeth married Edmund Chaterton, and left one daughter only, named Elizabeth, who married Thomas Herteshorne, alias Hartstrong, of Gissing, Esq.; Julian married Robert Duke of Brampton in Suffolk, Esq.; and left only one daughter, named Alice, who married John Kemp of Weston, Esq.; between which John, and Thomas Herteshorn aforesaid, the estate came divisible, and by agreement they divided it; Thomas had Cotesbrook, Fenwick, and Thorndich, and John had Flordon manor and advowson, and Hastyng's and Dalling's manor in Gissing, so that now he was lord of three of the manors in this town.

The Customs of this Manor extracted from the Extent Roll in 1327, A o 2 Edward III.) which was a renewal of the old Roll made in the 5th of Edward II. in Sir Nicholas Hastyng's time, (1311,) were as follow:

A villein cannot divide his tenements, but all shall remain to the eldest issue; and if such issue withdraws out of the homage, he forfeits his tenements.

A prepositor and messor to be yearly chosen out of the tenants; the messor to have the custody of the fields, meadows, and woods; he shall sow all the lord's seed, and give an account of all trespasses to the lord, and shall keep a man all seed-time, to fright the vermin: the messor shall come to the lord's diet (or maintenance) the first day of harvest, and shall be maintained all harvest time: he is to collect the lord's rents, and profits of court, and to warn the labourers and all others to their duty; and is to be paid his wages by the tenements that are eligible into that office.

The bondmen to fine for their marriage at the lord's will.

The tenement of every copyholder, at each death is heriotable, by the best beast; and if they have no beast, they shall give 5s.

The heir of the tenant shall take his inheritance by fine, at the will of the lord.

And shall give for leyerwite 2s. 8d.

All bond tenants also shall make redemption of their blood, and shall not put themselves under the protection of any other lord.

Every heir (according to the custom) is of full age at 14 years.

The jury also present, that the whole manor is held of the heirs of the lord Thomas de Hastyngs, viz. of the lord Laurence de Hastyngs, as of the fee of the Abbot of St. Edmund's,