By the Rev. J. Ward. 



263 



the king's household, with all usual customs. There were twenty- 

 five burgesses belonging to this Manor. 



The Lordship of Bedwyn was subsequently granted by Henry 

 II. to J ohn Mareschal, who held the office of marshal to the king. 

 His eldest son John was confirmed in this office, and in the lands 

 which he held of the Crown, but dying issueless, his brother Wil- 

 liam Mareschal, Earl of Pembroke, succeeded as his heir. Isabel, 

 one of the earl's daughters, carried his Wiltshire estate into the 

 De Clare family, Earls of Gloucester and Hertford. From them it 

 passed by marriage to Hugh de Audley, second husband of Mar- 

 garet, sister and co-heir to Gilbert de Clare, the last earl of that 

 name. Hugh de Audley was created Earl of Gloucester, and died 

 without male issue in a.d. 1347 ; but his daughter and heir carried 

 his possessions into the family of Ealph de Stafford, Baron, and 

 afterwards Earl of Stafford, and they continued in this family un- 

 til the death of Henry de Stafford, second Duke of Buckingham, 

 who was beheaded at Salisbury, in a.d. 1483. Thus Bedwyn passed 

 again into the possession of the Crown, but was immediately be- 

 stowed by Richard III., with many other estates, upon John 

 Howard, Duke of Norfolk. This nobleman was slain, two years 

 afterwards, at the battle of Bosworth, and being attainted, Bedwyn 

 once more reverted to the Crown. It is not known whether, on 

 the restoration of Thomas, son and heir of John, Duke of Norfolk, 

 this lordship was again conferred upon the Howards; but it is 

 believed that it remained in the Crown until granted by Henry 

 VIII. to his brother-in-law, Sir Edward Seymour, created Viscount 

 Beauchamp, of Hache, a.d. 1536, Earl of Hertford a.d. 1537, and 

 Duke of Somerset a.d. 1547. On the premature death of William,, 

 third Duke of Somerset, under age, a.d. 1671, many of his posses- 

 sions devolved upon his sister, Lady Elizabeth Seymour. On the 

 death of Francis, fifth Duke of Somerset, without issue, a.d. 1678, 

 she inherited other estates in this parish and neighbourhood, as 

 right heir to her uncle, John, the fourth Duke, who, by his will, 

 had devised them, first to Francis and his heirs male, and afterwards 

 to his own right heirs. She married 21st August, 1676, Thomas 

 Lord Bruce, who became third Earl of Elgin and second Earl of 



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