552 Notice of Screnwood. By James Hardy. 



de Nov. Monasterio, p. 78), Walter de Bataille as we learn 

 from the Testa de Nevill, p. 385, was the contemporary of John 

 de Letelwell. William Bataill, who may or may not be the 

 same personage, witnesses a charter of Eobert de Umframvill to 

 William Bertram, of Great Bavington (Hodgson, Part iii. vol. 

 ir. p. 25). We also find Bataills elsewhere of this name, 

 William Bataill having married one of the heiresses of William 

 Flamavill of Whittingham (Testa de Nevill, p. 393;. His wife's 

 name was Constance, and her son and heir, Eobert occurs in the 

 Pipe Eolls from 1262 to 1272. (Pipe Eolls in Hodgson, and 

 Dickson's Pipe Eolls). The race appears to have become extinct 

 as landowners. 



By the inquisition on the death of John de Yescy, 17 Edward 

 I. 1289, the heirs of William de Middleton held Burnetone, 

 Prestone, and Scranewoode, by the service of one knight's fee, 

 and payment during the year of 13s. 4d. The annual value of 

 the lands was £40. (Hartshorne's Feudal and Mil. Antiq. of 

 Northd. Appendix, p. cxx). The names are not given, but 

 among them was the predecessor of the Belsay family ; as John 

 de Middleton about 21, Edward I. 1292, was summoned to show 

 cause why he had warren in Belshow, Burneton, Preston, 

 Thorneburgh. (De quo Warranto in Hodgson, i. p. 146). 



When the old Northumbrian family of the Middletons rose 

 in open rebellion against Edward II. in 1317, Sir John de 

 Middleton was involved in the catastrophe that ensued, and died 

 the death of a traitor with all its forbidding penalties ; and his 

 estate was forfeited. By an Inquisition " ad quod Damnum," 

 12 Edward IL, 1318, John de Middleton, a rebel, heldBelshowe 

 villa, Burneton manor, Preston villa, Scranewood manor, Beche- 

 feld manor, &c. {Apud Hodgson, ii., p. 398). In that same 

 year this king granted to John de Orambewell, constable of the 

 tower of London, in special entail, viz., to his heirs male, the 

 manor of Bruneton in Emeldon, with the moiety of the vill of 

 Preston, and the moiety of the vill of Belshow, lately pertaining 

 to John de Middleton adhering to the Scots, for the services due 

 (Cal. Eot. Pat. pp. 84-86). He died 7, Edward III., 1332-3, 

 possessed of Burnetone manor, Preston, Scranewood, Belsow, etc. 

 (Inq. p. M. II. p. 58). The Middleton property was thereafter con- 

 ferred upon Sir John de Strivelyn, who was of Scottish descent. 

 His father was of Moray (Documents Hist. Scot. (Stevenson) ii. 

 p, 66), and was restored to his lands in Scotland in 1296 (Eot. 



