By the Rev. J. Wilkinson. 307 
Ralph Lord Stafford before Whitsuntide 1348, giving to the young 
couple, on his part, 200 marks per annum, secured on lands in Salop 
and Cheshire, on condition of the lady’s portion amounting to 
£1000. The bridegroom and his father! died within a month of 
each other in 1349. The wife was a widow within eighteen months. 
Soon afterwards the bride of John de Ferrers.? Again a widow. 
( 
Again the bride of Reginald Lord Cobham. In all her changes of 
condition, she held our half manor, and died seized of it 1375. On 
her death, without issue by her husband Fulk, the half manor 
came to Elizabeth his great niece. This young lady was born on 
1The inquisition on this John le Strange was taken at Broughton, before 
Jurors, whose names, still existing here, shew that they belonged to the locality. 
The description of the property is full, and ought to be altogether honest, for 
it was given on oath. The Jurors, however, certainly seem to depreciate the 
value as much as possible, and probably also the extent, under the same amiable 
partiality for the minor, as Ingulphus ascribes to William the Conqueror’s 
commissioners in behalf of his Abbey. ‘‘ Taxatores penes nostrum monasterium 
benevoli et amantes non ad verum pretium nec ad verum spatium nostrum 
monasterium librabant, misericorditer precaventes in futurum regiis exac- 
tionibus, et aliis oneribus piissima nobis benevolentia providentes.”’ However, 
the description, the only one taken on the spot, is worth quoting. The Jurors 
say ‘‘ there is on the 3 manor 3 one messuage worth nothing beyond reprises, 
and 2 carucates of demesne and bondage lands, containing 6 score acres, of 
which there can be sown yearly 4 score, and they are worth yearly when sown 
20s. and per acre 3d., and 40 acres lying fallow: the pasture, because it is 
commonable, and also 8 acres of meadow, which this year are under water (sub- 
mers sunt per magnum flumen), and are worth nothing, but when they (8 acres) 
are cut and carried well (falcantur et bene levantur), they are worth 16s., per 
acre 2s., and there are also 6 acres of pasture which are worth yearly 18d., per 
acre 3d., and there are also 18 acres of wood of oaks in which there is no 
pasture nor underwood of any value by reason of the multitude of oaks. And 
there are rents of Assize issuing out of lands formerly John Arundel’s 7s. payable 
quarterly, and no more in this year because all the other tenants, as well free- 
men as villains (nativi), are dead, and their land is fallen into (supra extendita) 
the demesne lands. They further say that the heir is 19 years of age.” 
“Of the noble family founded by William the Conqueror’s shoeing smith, 
_ who was nowise ashamed of his calling, for he took six horseshoes for his arms, 
The name of Agnes Ferrar, de Ferar, or de la Ferrer, occurs as Abbess of 
Shaftesbury 1252-1269. She presented to the Rectory of Broughton. John 
and Elizabeth Ferrers had a son Robert, but he did not succeed to Broughton, 
S 
“ 
which was his mother’s for life only, with remainder to the right heirs of Fulk 
le Strange. John le Strange (Fulk’s nephew) died in the same year as Lady 
} Cobham, but a little before her; so that his daughter, afterwards Countess of 
_ Nottingham, succeeded. 
ede, 
¢ 
