CODNOR CASTLE, AND ITS ANCIENT OWNERS. 29 



There are many other Derbyshire names, and specially in the 

 retinue of Philip Leche of Chatsworth, but I have confined 

 myself to the troop of Richard, Lord Grey of Codnor. 



Mr. Llewellynn Jewitt, in his " Derbyshire Ballads," gives one re- 

 ferring to Agincourt, in which the young monarch (on receiving 

 the tennis balls so insultingly sent by the King of France instead of 

 the tribute due to the Crown of England) is made to exclaim — 



" Recruit me, Cheshire and Lancashire, 

 And Derby hills that are so free : 

 No married man, nor widow's son ; — 

 For no widow's curse shall go wilh me. 

 Fal, lal, etc. 

 " They recruited Cheshire and Lancashire, 

 And Derby hills that are so free ; 

 No married man, nor widow's son, 

 Yet there was a jovial, bold company. 



And tradition (writes Mr. Jewitt) bears out the noble feature of 

 the ballad, that no married man, nor widow's son. was recruited 

 or pressed into the service for this expedition. 



This nobleman, so distinguished in the councils of his sovereign, 

 and so renowned in arms, after holding the offices of Admiral of 

 the Fleet, Governor of Roxburg Castle, Chief Justiciar of South 

 Wales, Constable of Nottingham Castle, and Chief Ranger of 

 Sherwood, Governer of two castles in France, Chamberlain to the 

 King, and Lord Warden of the East Marches, died in the sixth of 

 Henry VI., a.d. 1428. 



Henry, last Lord Grey of Codnor, grandson of the last named 

 Richard, was greatly devoted to chemistry, and obtained a license 

 for the transmutation of metals. In 1458 he confirmed John 

 Gierke in • the office of Keeper of the Parks of Codnor and 

 Aldercar, with a salary of twopence a day. He died in 1496 

 without lawful issue, and was interred in the Priory of Aylesford, 

 founded by his ancestor in 1240. 



On his death, the posterity of his aunt Elizabeth, who married 

 John Zouch, a younger son of William, Lord Zouch of Haring- 

 worth, inherited the Codnor estates, and in this family they 



