Old Families connected with Etchilhampton. 191 



of Potterne, and of Edward Nicholas of All Cannings. A few 

 particulars of some of the members of the Ernle family, and of one 

 member of the Bayley family, all that in this latter instance we can 

 furnish, we will lay before our readers. 



The Ernle family sprung originally from Ernele, an estate near 

 Chichester, in Sussex. They flourished there as early as the thir- 

 teenth century. In 4 Edward III., one of this family represented 

 tha County of Sussex in Parliament. In the reign of Henry YIII., 

 another of the same family rose to great distinctions in the profession 

 of the law. Appointed successively to the offices of Solicitor and 

 Attorney-General, he was raised at last to the Chief Justice of the 

 Common Pleas (27th January, 1519), and received the honor of 

 Knighthood. Sir John Ernie did not however enjoy his 

 dignified position long, for his decease occurred within two years 

 of his appointment.^ 



Of his direct descendants, Michael Ernie, described as of Bourton, 

 was Sherifi' of "Wilts in 22 Eliz. (1579) ; and another, his name- 

 sake. Sir John Ernie, was Chancellor of the Exchequer to Charles 

 II. A third comes before us in a different character, as having been 

 in the previous reign, a sufferer for his loyalty to his King, and 

 judged a "delinquent" by the victorious Parliament in 1645. 

 Edward Ernie's offence was this, — that he was a Commissioner for 

 sequestrations acting in behalf of the King (Charles I.) in the 

 county of "Wilts. His estate was estimated at £200 per annum, 

 and he was adjudged to pay a fine of £400. This was in July, 

 1647: the following statement being sent up from Devizes to 

 Goldsmith's Hall respecting him h — 



" To THE Committee in London.— Right Honourable ;— Whereas we are 

 directed and required by your Honours to certify the condition and malignancy 

 of Edward Ernie of Etchilhampton in this county : — "We thus certify : — First 

 as touching his delinquency ; he was a Commissioner for the King in the Com- 

 mission for sequestrations ; and being Justice for the peace, appeared at the 

 Assize of Sarum about two years since, but when the charge was given, he im- 

 mediately departed thence. — Touching his estate in lands ; — he hath at Erchfont 

 the moiety of a farm for three lives, worth about £200 a year, out of which he 

 pays £49 to the Marquis of Hertford. At Etchilhampton, he hath £100 per 

 annum land of inheritance, of which there is £16 per annum quit rents and 



* See Foss's Judges of England, v. 161. ''■ See Waylen's Devizes, p. 273. 



