Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/392



The Hundred of Shropham
This hundred is bounded on the east by Depwade and Diss; on the north by Wayland and Forehoe; on the west by Grymshoe; and on the south by Giltcross, from which it is parted by the rivulet that runs from Quidenham Meer into the Little Ouse at Thetford, by the Atlas called Thet, without any reason, for I do not find it so named in any evidences whatever. This is a large hundred, (or half hundred, as it is sometimes called,) the fee of which, from the Confessor's time to the latter end of King Henry VI. constantly attended the Castle manor of Bokenham, being sometimes whole, and sometimes divided, as that was, but then it was wholly in William De-la-pole Marquis and Earl of Suffolk, who levied a fine of it between himself and his trustees. It was in John De-la-pole Earl of Lincoln, who died in 1487; after in Edmund De-la-pole Earl of Suffolk, who was beheaded for treason in 1513, and so it became forfeited to the Crown; immediately after, it was granted to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk, and his heirs, who, about 1545, exchanged it for other lands with the Crown, in which it continued some time. In 1573, the Queen let it to ''Edw. Fludd, Gent, for 21 years, at 10l''. a year, who surrendered his letters patent to be cancelled in 1584, and the Queen, for 15l. fine, let it to ''Tho. Lovell'', Gent, for 21 years. In 1622, it was granted by letters patent to Sir George Marshall, Knt. Robert Causfield, Esq. and their heirs, in fee, to be held by the fee-farm rent of 10l. a year, in 1628, Mr. Robert Tichbourne and Mr. Andrew Palmer held it in trust, with others, for Robert Hethe, serjeant at law, who, jointly with his trustees, in 1634, sold it to ''Rob. Wilton, Esq. and his heirs, in whose family it continued till Nicholas Wilton of Wilby, Esq. sold it to Henry Kedington, Esq. of Hockham, who sold it to Ralph Hare of Harpham, Esq. and Hugh, son of Tho. Hare, Esq. of Hargham'', the heir of that family, is now [1737] lord, who holds it by the aforesaid