FEUDAL BARONAGE 



pairs across the back or over a pack-saddle, hence the heraldic emblem known 

 as the water bouget. He further adduces in support of this derivation the 

 appearance of the water bouget in the early arms of the Banastres.^ If we 

 may believe the statement of a notable petition, made by one of the sub- 

 jects of this notice in 1278, the family of Banastre descended from Robert de 

 Roelent (Rhuddlan), who held a large fee, described in Domesday as including 

 half the castle, burgh, and manor of Rhuddlan, and some thirty-three berewicks 

 in Englefeld, now part of co. Flint.' If so, the descent was probably through 

 a daughter of Robert de Roelent. Richard Banastre, the first of this family 

 upon record, occurs among the attestants of a charter of Richard, earl of 

 Chester, and the Countess Ermentrude, his mother, confirming to the monks 

 of Abingdon the grant of ' Wudemundeslai ' made by Drogo de Andely. 

 The first three witnesses of this charter are William fitz Nigel (the constable), 

 Hugh fitz Norman (the steward), and Richard Balasta. The date is stated 

 to be circa May, 1106.' In another charter, reciting William Malbanc's 

 gifts to the abbey of St. Werburgh, of Chester, Banastre's name appears next 

 after that of the countess in the testing clause.* About 1 1 1 5 he attests an 

 important charter of Richard de Belmeis, bishop of London, then viceroy of 

 Salop, touching the claim of Wenlock Priory to St. Milburg's land in Shrop- 

 shire, he being the second lay witness.^ Between 11 20 and 1128 he is a 

 prominent witness to Ranulf Meschin's charter of confirmation to St. Wer- 

 burgh.* In the history of Shropshire, Mr. Eyton adduces evidence to show 

 that Richard Banastre was probably lord of Munslow and Aston Munslow in 

 that county.^ His successor, both in Cheshire and Shropshire, was Thurstan 

 Banastre, probably his son. In proof of his dignity, as one of the earl's chief 

 barons, we find his name standing as the third witness, following William, 

 earl of Lincoln, and William de Percy, of the charter by which Ranulf 

 Gernons, fourth earl of Chester of his line, acknowledges and appoints Eustace 

 fitz John to be his hereditary constable.* This charter probably passed in the 

 earl's palatinate court between 1 149 and 1 154. Of about the same, or per- 

 haps rather earlier, date is the charter of Earl Ranulf releasing to the monks 

 of Shrewsbury his toll in the city and county of Chester. This was given at 

 Shrewsbury and is tested by Ralph, abbot (of Shrewsbury ?), Robert, the 

 earl's steward, and 'Thurstan Bannestre." Evidence is wanting to enable us 

 with absolute certainty to connect other contemporary members of this family 

 with Thurstan Banastre, but Robert Banastre, the first of the Lancashire 

 family of that name, and Alard Banastre, sheriff of Oxfordshire from Easter, 

 1 170, to Michaelmas, 1175, may have been younger sons of this Thurstan. 

 No doubt exists as to the ultimate successors of Thurstan in his Cheshire, 

 Lancashire, and Shropshire estates. These were two sisters, Maud, the 

 younger, wife of Henry II. 's steward, William de Hastings^" (occurs 1 1 59-1 168, 

 dead, 1 182), whom she married in or before 1 168, and Margery or Margaret, 

 the elder, wife of Richard fitz Roger," thegn of Woodplumpton, in this county, 



1 Chetham Soc. xcviii. 19. * Dom. Bk. (Rec. Com.), i. 269. 



3 'Testimonio .... Ricardi Balaste,' Ormerod, Hist. ofChes. ed. Helsby, i. 16. 

 * Mon. Angl. ii. 386. ^ Eyton, Hist. ofShroj>s. iii. 233. 



6 Mon. Angl. ii. 387^ ; Ormerod, Hist. ofChes. ed. Helsby, i. 19. 



7 Hist. ofShrops. v. 131. * Ormerod, Hist, of Ches. i. 52. 



9 Chartul . of Salop Abbey, No. 3 1 2, from a MS. copy penes W. Farrer . _ i" Eyton, //;». of Hen. II . pass. 

 11 Eyton, Hist, of Shropshire, v. 135. She gave lands in Appleby, co. Leic, to the nuns of PoUesworth. 

 Mon. Angl. ii. 363. 



367 



