Page:VCH Staffordshire 1.djvu/273

 POLITICAL HISTORY produced the charter of Robert de Ferrers to that effect. Robert pleaded that this charter was signed by him when in prison under duress, and, there- fore, could not invalidate his claim. However, Edmund's answer to this was that Robert after the execution of the charter had come before the king's chancellor and enrolled the same, and that an act so done could not be pleaded as the act of a prisoner. Robert was obliged to admit he had acknowledged the validity of his act before the chancellor, but he still maintained he had done it under duress, for the chancellor had come to him in prison with the charter in his hand, and he had acknowledged it under bodily fear; moreover, the chancellor had come to him privately and not as chancellor. But Edmund finally pleaded that as Robert did not deny he had acknowledged the deed, nor its enrolment, he could not appeal to a jury now, and the court found in his favour because they could not go behind the chancellor's rolls, especially when the said chancellor had quitted office and delivered up his rolls to the king, who had given them into other custody. 90 Thus the bulk of the estates of this great family passed away from them into the hands of the house of Lancaster, and the title of earl disappeared with them, but John the son of Robert de Ferrers received again from the king the castle and honour of Chartley, and his family long flourished as Lords Ferrers, Barons of Chartley, until Anne, heiress of William Lord Ferrers, married Sir Walter Devereux, in the reign of Henry VI, and Chartley passed into that family. 91 In 1275 the king cautioned Bogo de Knoville, Sheriff of Shropshire and Staffordshire, regarding his dealings with Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, who was at that time dreaming of driving the Saxon from Britain, and, conse- quently, refused to do homage to Edward I, a refusal that next year caused Wales to be invaded, and its conquest begun. 93 When in 1282 the Welsh broke out into revolt and made their last bid for independence, many Staffordshire men were ordered to take the field at once, others were summoned to be at Worcester, the usual basis of operations against Wales, by Pentecost. 93 Among them were William de Aldithel, Roger de Somery, Geoffrey de Geneville, Richard Basset of Weldon, Richard de Harcourt, Theobald de Verdun, Nicholas the Baron of Stafford, and John Fitz Philip. Edward was a great general, and neglected no preparations ; no less than 310 carpenters and 1,000 sappers were to attend the king's army, of whom Staffordshire and Salop together contributed fifteen carpenters, and forty sappers, according to their population. A proclamation was issued that markets were not to be held in Stafford- shire and other counties until further orders, Chester being appointed temporarily as the sole market for Stafford, Lancaster, and Derby. 94 The careful preparations and sound strategy of Edward had their reward and the war was soon over. After a portion of the English troops had been cut to pieces in the Isle of Anglesey, among whom was Sir Thomas de Haughton, a Staffordshire knight, Llewellyn was surprised and killed near Builth in 90 Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), vi (i), 63, from Coram Reg. Roll.Trin. 2 Edw. I. 91 Mosley, Hist, of Tutbury, 29 ; Dugdale, Baronage, i, 265 et seq. " Rymer, FoeJtra (orig. ed.), ii, 53. 229
 * Coll. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 10; Rymer, Focdera (orig. ed.), ii, 1 89. * Col!. (Salt Arch. Soc.), viii, 1 1.