By the Rev. Arthur Fane. 



101 



in the property of the Earldom of Salisbury was Boyton, and we 

 find at a very early period after the Conquest that this estate was 

 subinfeuded to the Giffards, who were already tenants, in capite, 

 of the adjoining parish of Sherrington. Elias Giffard, circa 1149, 

 seems to have obtained a more complete possession of the parish, 

 for we find that he granted for the sours health of Bertha his wife, 

 and his ancestors in general, to the Monastery of St. Peter, Glou- 

 cester, the Church of St. Mary at Boyton, the Church of St. George 

 at Orcheston, together with the tythes of the said parishes. This 

 grant, which was made whilst Hamelin was Abbot of Gloucester, 

 was confirmed by Walter Giffard, Earl of Buckingham, son of the 

 above Elias ; and the grant was amplified, as conveying the tythes 

 of all things that good christians ought to pay. Helias Giffard, 

 son of Walter, appears to have endeavoured to recover his ancestor's 

 gifts as far as concerns Boyton ; for we find Abbot Thomas Carbonel, 

 the successor of Hamelin, yielding possession of Boyton to Elias 

 Giffard for peace sake. 



In the reign of Henry III., we find the Giffard family in great 

 eminence and repute. 



Hugh Giffard was appointed Constable of the Tower of London, 

 and in the warrant of appointment, 1235, he is described as " one 

 of our household." The sons of this Hugh Giffard, by Sybilla de 

 Cormeilles, were specially remarkable in this reign. One brother, 

 Walter, was elevated to the See of Bath, 1264; and subsequently 

 was advanced to the Archiepiscopal Throne of York, which he held 

 until his death in 1279. Another brother, Godfrey, was advanced 

 to the dignity of Bishop of Worcester, which See he held for no 

 less than 33 years. His will alludes so fully to the chapel and 

 altar furniture at Boyton, that we cannot doubt that this prelate's 

 piety and munificence led to the more elaborate architecture, as 

 well as the separate endowment of the Mortuary Chapel in the 

 Church of Boyton, wherein reclines the martial form of another 

 brother, Sir Alexander Giffard, who fought the battles of the Cross 

 on the parched plains of Egypt, whilst his more peaceful brethren, 

 in their glorious cathedrals, and in their distant dioceses, were 

 carrying on the war of faith against the powers of darkness. 



