l88 THE VERNONS OF HADDON HALL. 



since all trace of these records is lost or at least unknown at 

 present : — 



One is a short note of a fine between Sir Rich. Vernon, Kt., 

 and Avice, his wife, of 17 Henry II.; no corroboration of this 

 fine can be found in the Pipe Rolls, but it is a very probable 

 date, for the marriages and fines of tliat period are very rarely 

 to be found. 



A note to Wm. de Vernon, son of Rich., states that a fine 

 was levied between him and Gam, and A., his wife, probably 

 Rich. Gernon, of the date 14 H. III. (1230) 



But the most important record relates to the Franceys family, 

 which, however, is terribly mutilated. It commences with only a 



few letters — Ro nceys...filio yburn. Probably this 



relates to Robt. le Franceys and the Manor of Meaburn, a 

 manor which records show belonged to Robt. le Franceys ; and 

 afterwards to Richard Vernon, son of Gilbert le Frances ; this 

 charter gives the intermediate holders quite a new discovery in 

 this pedigree. 



Then a grant which is quite clear if the words in brackets may 

 be added : — 



" Henr. Dei gra R{ex Angl.) Dns Hibernie Dux Nor(>«a//)se 

 Co. Andeg. conct?,{sit Jo.) le Franc, liber: Vf{arrend) in oibus 

 Domin : {et terris) suis in Dni : Westm : et Cumbr. A : R : 

 sui 41." And the following charter, 



"Anno R. R. H. III., 15, primo in {festo Sd) Pet. ad Vine, 

 convent' fuit m\.[er) Jo. le Franceis ex una parte et Dns {Rich.) 

 de Vern ex altera, videl ipe idem [Rich.) dedit Havisia filia Ro(b") 

 nepoti eius(^^;«) Rici in uxorem Gilberto fil Ade nepoti eid. 

 Johanni." 



This charter, if it can be rehed upon as genuine, gives the 

 origin of the Franceis family and their true connection with the 

 Lords of Haddon, the fact that the father of Gilbert's wife was 

 brother and not the son of William of Haddon, accounts for 

 much of the obscurity that prevails respecting this family. There 

 is httle doubt that the sons of William de Vernon lost their 

 inheritance in England through the rebellions of the period, and 



