KNOLE 261 



King John. " The patriotic efforts of Langton, 

 Archbishop of Canterbury," Hume says, "were 

 warmly seconded by William Earl of Pembroke; 

 and to these two distinguished men the English 

 nation is under the deepest obligations for the 

 foundation of their liberties." 



Pembroke's " patriotic efforts " cost him his 

 estates, which John granted to an adventurer, 

 who was later banished in disgrace by Henry III., 

 and Pembroke came by his own again. Dying 

 without an heir, he was succeeded by his nephew, 

 Roger Bigod, who, in turn, left the estates to the 

 Grandisons. In this last family they remained for 

 some generations, during which time the property 

 was divided and the manor of Knole transferred 

 to Geoffrey de Say, "Admiral of all the King's 

 Fleets." 



Records do not appear to mention how the 

 manor and house of Knole passed away from the 

 De Say family ; it was probably by marriage. 



After the Wars of the Roses, the owner of Knole 

 was forced to sell the greater part of his estates. 

 The Manor of Knole, with its great house, had 

 long been the envy of the Archbishops of Canter- 

 bury, who delighted in palaces suitable to show off 

 to advantage their splendid retinues ; so a willing 

 purchaser was found in Thomas Bourchier, Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury. Thus Knole became an 

 ecclesiastical Palace, and the new owner enclosed 



