6 HADDON : THE HALL, THE MANOR, AND ITS LORDS. 



" John, Earl of Moreton, to his Justices, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, 

 Ministers, and all his faithful people, sends greeting. Know 

 you that I have granted and given licence to Richard de Vernon 

 to strengthen {finnaiidi) his House of Haddon, with a wall raised 

 twelve feet high, without battlements. And I forbid lest anyone 

 of ours hereafter disturb him. Witness, Robert de Mara, at 

 Clipston." 



This document was exhibited by the Duke of Rutland to the 

 British Archaeological Association when they visited Haddon 

 in 185 1, and it is now preserved in a glass case in the library 

 at Belvoir, with a selection of other early and interesting charters. 

 This Richard de Vernon forfeited his estates in 6 and 7 Ric. I. 

 (Staffordshire Pipe Roll), but they were afterwards restored to 

 him. He was living in 16 John (Derbyshire Pipe Roll), but 

 was apparently dead before 3 Henry HI., when William de 

 Vernon occurs. The Quo Warranto Pleas of the Channel 

 Islands show that a Richard de Vernon held the Island of Sark, 

 which was resumed by the Crown because Richard had selected 

 a Norman domicile on the separation of Normandy from Eng- 

 land. This Richard was succeeded, as already mentioned, by 

 his son 



William de Vernon, by A\ice, his wife. He occurs in 

 3 Henry HI., in Derbyshire Pipe Rolls, and was living 20 

 Henry III. {Testa de Nevill.) He was probably identical with 

 William de Vernon, Justiciary of Chester, 1229 and 1232. That 

 Richard Vernon was succeeded by William, his son, is placed 

 beyond doubt from the evidence on record amongst the Belvoir 

 charters. One of these is a confirmation by Richard de Vernon 

 and Avice, his wife, and William de Vernon, their son and heir, 

 to Azer, son of Nigel, of a virgate of land in Adstock (co. 

 Bucks.). The date of this deed appears to be icmp. Ric. I. 

 or John. Richard de Vernon and Avice, his wife, occur in a 

 Fine made at Westminster, 27 Henry II. (1181), between Walke- 

 lin Harenc and Richard de Vernon, and Avice, his wife, of 

 the third part of the Fee of Swinfen (co. Staff.), on a plea of 



