By the Rev. J. Wilkinson. 313 
We go back to the Audleys, to take our leave of them and their 
fortunes, for John Tuchet, the restored Lord Audley, took his leave 
of us. He was in want of money. Though restored in blood and hon- 
ours 1512, he did not enter into full possession of his father’s estates 
till1532. Meanwhile he had got into the hands of the Jews, and must 
sell out to pay them off. Immediately therefore on his mother’s 
death, he parted with the twin quarter manors of Broughton Gif- 
ford and Ashton Gifford to Sir John Brigges, Brygges, or Brydges, 
afterwards the first Lord Chandos, and others, trustees or feoffees, 
apparently, in the purchase, for Richard Brigges to whose heirs 
there is a warranty. Richard was uncle to Sir John. A fine 
between Richard Brigges and Robert May, in the beginning of 
1544, passed the property to the latter. A further fine passed six 
years later, in which Jane the wife of Richard Brigges joined, 
doubtless to bar her dower and further secure Robert May’s title. 
The purchaser is described in both fines as May alas Hayston. 
The origin of the alias I know not;! but I find it again in a will of 
“William May alias Hewestone de Mylksham” (probably the proper 
orthography) in 1562. The family were settled at Melksham. In 
the Diocesan Registry at Sarum are four wills by them between 
1554 to 1562. They were substantial yeomen, making bequests of 
were again connected by marriage with the Fanshawes of Ware Park, Herts. 
And all three families had money transactions with one another. The disen- 
tanglement of their Broughton mortgages gave me much trouble. I willingly 
spare my readers the detail, as the mortgages were all ultimately redeemed by 
the Brounkers (probably to enable them to sell), and in the result the unra- 
velled skein came out straight. Here is an incident which may apply to this 
family. The names of 59 members who voted against the Strafford bill of at- 
tainder were taken down by William Wheeler M.P. for Westbury, Wilts, and 
posted ‘‘at the corner of the wall of Sir William Brunkard’s house in Old Palace 
Yard,” with this title, ‘These are the Straffordians, the betrayers of their 
country.” The name Brunker was frequently written Brunkard. One William 
Brounker contributed £25 to the defence of the country 1588. 
‘The alias may indicate illegitimacy, or a good marriage. The family of 
Cromwell, and Oliver himself when young, used the names of Cromwell and 
Williams interchangeably. The name of Cromwell was coveted as implying 
some connection with the Earl of Essex: but, on the Restoration, the name of 
Williams was preferred, in order to avoid the obloquy attendant on Cromwell’s 
name. ‘This alias arose from a marriage. The Earl of Essex’s wife was Jane 
Prior, whose first husband was one Thomas Williams. 
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