Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/551

 of Henry VI. but whether in the 16th or 19th, all agree that he died seized of Atleburgh-Mortimer's, Newnham, and Foxton in Cambridgeshire, &c. In 1452, Katherine his widow was buried here; she was daughter and coheir of Sir Edward Burnell, Knt. and wife of Sir John Ferrers, Knt. and after of Sir John Ratcliff; she left Billingford manor and advowson, held of the King as of the honour of Hatfield-Peverell, by the rent of 6s. 6d. per annum, and not in capite, to

John Ratcliff, Esq. their son and heir, who, according to Mr. Le Neve, married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Walter Lord Fitz-Walter; in 1440, he obtained a pardon of intrusion, for entering his lands without license; in 1444, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Walter Lord Fitz-Walter, then married to John Ratcliff, Esq. proved her age; he was killed at Ferrybridge, (as you may see at p. 10,) in 1416, being then Lord Fitz-Walter, and left

John Ratcliff, Esq. his son and heir, nine years old, whose wardship the King granted to Elizabeth his mother, who then dwelt at Atleburgh; and the same year an inquisition was taken after his death, upon the oaths of Robert Morley and Thomas Brampton, Esqrs. who affirmed that John Ratcliff, the father of this John, at his death, held Southmere, Atleburgh, Dockyng, Hemenhale, Thyrning, and Ryston manors, and that he died March 28, 1416, having been 24 years married to Elizabeth Fitz-Walter, whose son

John, in 1485, the 1st of King Henry VII. was summoned to parliament as Lord Fitz-Walter, and was joined in commission with Sir Reginald Bray, Knt. for exercising the office of chief justice of all the forests beyond Trent, being at that time Steward of the King's household, and had this year a special livery of all his lands; in 1486, he was associated with Jasper Duke of Bedford, and others, to exercise the office of High Steward of England, at the Queen's coronation; but in 1493, he, Sir Thomas Thawyts, Sir Robert Ratcliff, and Sir Simon Mundeford, were attainted of treason, for which the two last were beheaded, and the Lord Fitz-walter being pardoned as to life, was sent to Calais, there to be kept in hold,  but endeavouring to escape from thence, he was beheaded, and so forfeited his estate to the Crown;  but yet

Robert, his son and heir, found much favour; for in 1505, Nov. 3, he was restored to his honour, by letters patent of that date, and soon after there were five several fines levied, by which the estate was conveyed to Richard Bishop of Winchester, Sir ''Tho. Lovell, James Hobart'', Knt. and other trustees, who settled the whole on the said Robert, and his heirs, except the manors of Southmere, Dockyng, Billingford, East Ryston, &c. in Norfolk, which were settled on Margaret his mother, for life, remainder to him and his heirs; he was made Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of King Henry VIII. having obtained an act of parliament to revoke his father's attainder, after which he became one of the most remarkable men of that age; in 1512, he attended the King in his expedition to Therovene and Tournay; in 1522,