150 



Abridgement of the History of the 



During this interval of more than half a century (the first half 

 of the fifteenth), the estate of Castle Combe had been administered 

 for Fastolf by the resident bailiff, and a seneschal or steward, super- 

 intended by occasional visits of the auditor or supervisor, which 

 character for the most part was enacted by the gossiping antiquary 

 and annalist, William Worcester, who was Fastolf's secretary 

 through the greater part of a long life. Many manuscripts are 

 preserved at Castle Combe in the handwriting of this worthy, 

 especially three or four chartularies, or volumes containing copies 

 of deeds relating to the Scrope estates. The Fastolf letters, pub- 

 lished by Fenn, have already made the public acquainted with 

 this quaint character, as well as with several of his fellows in the 

 household of Sir John Fastolf at Caistor Castle, in Norfolk ; 

 amongst the rest his confessor and executor, Sir Thomas Howes, 

 who was parson of Castle Combe by presentation of his patron. 

 Stephen Scrope in 1458, married the daughter of Sir Richard 

 Bingham, one of the judges of the Court of 

 Common Pleas, by whom he had one son, 

 John, upon whom he had (by a deed executed 

 on the occasion of his second marriage) 

 entailed the Manor of Castle Combe ; and a 

 few years later — viz., in 1466, he sold to 

 the Earl of Warwick the wardship and 

 marriage of this only son, then about six 

 years of age, making over to the Earl at 

 the same time the Manor of Oxendon, in 

 Gloucestershire, until John Scrope should 

 attain his majority, when it was to be 

 settled upon him and his wife, and their 

 heirs. In consideration of this agreement 

 Stephen Scrope was to receive from the 

 Earl immediate payment of £200, and a reserved rent of £10 

 yearly from the manor. The Earl of Warwick was at the time 

 lord paramount of the manor, as held, of the Manor of Gloucester. 

 This agreement, lunyever, was subsequently voided, and in lieu of 

 it, a marriage was arranged on terms similar, with Isabel, daughter 



SEAL OF STEPHEN SCEOPE 

 ESQUIEE — 1443. 



