A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



inferred from writs of 19 January, 1235, for an aid to be made to him for the 

 strengthening of his castle of Liverpool, 1 and of 10 November, 1247, 

 directed to the escheator beyond Trent to deliver to William de Ferrers the 

 lands which had been Agnes de Ferrers', and the castles of West Derby and 

 Liverpool.* 



In 1251 the new earl had a charter of free warren in all his demesne 

 lands in the manors of Liverpool, West Derby, Everton, Great Crosby, and 

 Wavertree. 3 The same year he applied for leave to hold pleas of the forest 

 in his forest between Kibble and Mersey,* but there is no evidence that this 

 was granted. In 1253 he was empleaded in the king's court by the men of 

 the hundred for illegally forcing upon them a gryth-serjeant of his own 

 election, whom they by custom ought to elect by the consent, and under 

 the advice, of the sheriff. 6 Process was terminated by the earl's death in 

 1254. From this time, until Robert, his son and heir, attained his 

 majority, the land between Kibble and Mersey was committed to Edward 

 the king's son. 8 



In 1263 Robert de Ferrers took proceedings against a number of people 

 in this hundred for offences in his forest against the deer. 7 He took an 

 active part in the Barons' rebellion, and was pardoned in 1265 after submis- 

 sion, but rebelled again, and was defeated at the battle of Chesterfield early 

 in 1266. Subsequently he was totally disinherited by Parliament, his lands 

 being taken into the king's hands, 8 and granted to Edmund, the king's second 

 son, afterwards created earl of Lancaster. 9 On 30 June, 1267, the king 

 granted to his said son the honour, county, castle and town of Lancaster, and 

 all the king's demesnes in the county, which gift included the hundred of 

 West Derby. 10 



From this date to the present day the hundred has followed the descent 

 of the honour of Lancaster, subsequently of the duchy of Lancaster, and is 

 now vested in His Majesty King Edward VII, as duke of Lancaster. 



1 Cal. Pat. 1232-47, 89. 



' ' De Castris de Westdereby et Liverpol eidem Willelmo . . . seisinam habere faciant ' ; Fine R. 

 32 Hen. Ill, pt. i, m. 14. 



3 Cal. Chart. R. (Rolls Ser.), 373- 4 Close R. 35 Hen. Ill, m. 7 d. 



' ' It had lately been proved in the king's court before the king himself by a jury taken between them by 

 consent of the parties, that the plaintiffs and their fellows of the hundred had always possessed such liberty 

 that they were accustomed and ought by consent and advice of the sheriff to elect and appoint Grytsergeanz 

 (plural) who should and ought to keep the peace of the lord king, and should answer for them if the peace 

 of the lord king were not well kept ;' Cur. Reg. R. 150, m. 3 ; I 5 I, m. \d. ; 152, m. 9. See also Abbrev. 

 Plac. (Rec. Com.), 142. 



'Close R. 38 Hen. III. Baines, Hist, of Liverpool, 106. An account of the issues between Ribble 

 and Mersey for part of the years 1256-7 is preserved among the Duchy of Lane. Mins. Accts, bdle. 1094, 

 ro. II, m. 12 (printed in Inq. and Extents, 205-10). 



7 Assize R. 1196, m. 5, 5</. 



8 By writ dated 22 May, 1266 ; Pat. R. 50 Hen. Ill, m. 15. 



9 Ibid. m. 9 ; Chart R. 50 Hen. Ill, m. 4. 



Eleanor, widow of Robert de Ferrers, in 1275 claimed dower in the vills of Liverpool, West Derby, 

 Crosby, &c., against Edmund, the king's brother ; Duchy of Lane. Misc. Books, i. 

 " Chart R. 52 Hen. Ill, m. 4 ; 13 Edw. I, m. 7. 



