The Lexington Family
Alicia (de Lexington) de Sutton
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
Roland de Sutton
Roland was the son of Hervey de Sutton.
- William de Sutton
- Richard de Sutton
- John de Sutton
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire pp315-6
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Southwell.
Suell. And Sudwell.
Another
Chantry was Founded at the Altar of St. Peter
in the same Church by Richard de
Sutton, Canon there, and also of Lincolne,
about the year of our Lord 1260, at which time the Vicars of this Church
of Southwell,
granted to him by their Instrument
sealed with their common Seal, together with that of the Chapter, for
themselves and their Successours, that so oft as Mass for the dead
Brethren and Benefactors of that Church should be there celebrated,
there should a special Prayer be said for the said Richard
Sutton; and another for the Souls of Robert
de Sutton his Father, and Alice
his Mother. And that they would find a Wax Light to burn for his Soul at
the Mass of our Lady daily there celebrated for ever. ...
John, the brother of Richard
de Sutton, Canon of Suthwell,
was Rector of Lexington,
Anno 1259.
p326
Sir
Robert de Lexington was an
Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died
without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as
followeth: John, elder
brother of the said Robert,
and Lord after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter
de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge,
likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry
de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne.
Cecilia,
the sister of Sir Robert
de Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard
[rather William] de
Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert
de Marcham. Alice,
the other sister of the said Robert
de Lexton, was married to Richard
(it should be Roland) de Sutton upon Trent,
who had two sons both
Knights; his eldest was Sir William
de Sutton, and the other Sir Robert
de Sutton, to whom his said Uncles gave the Mannor of Averham, in
old writings called Egrom.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
Richard de Lexington had a very
remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three
of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to
their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their
two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of
them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert
Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch
of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.
Cecilia (de Lexington) de Marcham
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
William
de Marcham
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Sir Robert de Lexington was an
Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without
heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who
also dyed without heir of himself. Peter
de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge,
likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry
de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne.
Cecilia, the sister of Sir Robert de Lexington, was married to
one Sir Richard [rather William] de
Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert
de Marcham. Alice,
the other sister of the said Robert
de Lexton, was married to Richard
(it should be Roland) de
Sutton upon Trent
p384
West
Markham OR Little Marcham.
... Sir
Richard de Marcham, or William,
who married Cecilia, the sister
of Robert Lord Lexington,
as before is in places noted, by whom he had Richard
and Robert, but what sons else I
have not yet discovered.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
Richard de Lexington had a very
remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three
of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... as none of the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to
their nephews, William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their
two sisters. The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of
them came to Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert
Sutton, created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch
of the Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.
Henry de Lexington
about 1196 or about 1216
In the IPM of his brother, John, dated January 1256(7) (Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3), Henry is stated in some places to be
aged 40 and in others to be aged 60. The earlier date is more likely based
on the activities of his brothers - for example, his brother Robert was a
clerk in the court of Henry III in 4 Henry 3 (i.e. 1219-20) (The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p388),
so it would be unusual that he had a brother born just a couple of years
earlier.
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
- Raph de Lexington
- daughter m. Silvester de Kirneshale
Clergyman, rising to the rank of
bishop of Lincoln.
Previously to 1242 Henry held the prebend of North Muskham at Southwell, and
he was treasurer of Salisbury in 1241. Henry became dean of Lincoln in 1245,
and was elected bishop of Lincoln on 30 December 1253 being consecrated at
Lambeth on 12 May 1254. At that time the diocese of Lincoln extended to the
Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his
jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral was
built during his episcopacy.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4
1247-1258 p366 (1908)
1254
April 1.
Windsor.
Royal assent to the election
and confirmation of Henry de Lexinton, dean of Lincoln, as bishop of
that place, with mandate to William de Wylton, guardian of the
bishopric, to give him seisin of the bishopric with the castles, lands
and tenements belonging to it, together with the crops sown in the
lands, saving to the king his outlay in sowing the lands, for the
payment of which he is to take security from the
bishop. By the queen.
Writ de intendendo to
the tenants.
Mandate to the guardians of the manors of the bishopric that when the
bishop elect passes through the said manors before he have seisin by the
above William de Wilton, to whom the king wrote about this, they permit
him to enter therein with his household and lodge or stay therein at his
pleasure.
Shortly after his election, Henry was excused by the king from the
Parliament to be next held, to enable him to focus on his new position.
Close Rolls Henry III 1253-1254 p43
1254. [m. 9 cont.]
Pro electo Lincolniensi.—Rex,
volens electo Lincolniensi propter novitatem creacionis sue parcere
laboribus, mandat eidem electo quod ad parleamentum quod erit apud
Westmonasterium a die Pasche in quindecim dies non veniat, dum tamen
ad idem parleamentum aliquos de suis pro eo mittat, qui cum aliis
magnatibus regi respondere possint super auxilio et aliis que rex ab
eis requirit, ita quod per absenciam suam negocia regis in dicto
parleamento expedienda non retardentur. Testibus ut supra. Per
reginam.
which translates very roughly as:
For the
Lincoln-elect.—The king, desirous of sparing the labors of
Lincoln-elect for the novelty of his election, charges him the elect,
that he should not come to the Parliament which will be at Westminster
from Easter in fifteen days, provided, however, that he should send to
the same Parliament some of his subjects in his stead, who, together
with other magnates, may reply to the king over the aid and others which
the king requires from them, so that by his absence the business of the
king should not be retarded in expediting the said parliament. Witnesses
as above. By the Queen.
Henry was given twenty animals from the forest at Wauberge as a gift from
the king for the feast at Henry's consecration, and he was given 60 oaks in
Sherwood forest, then controlled by his brother, John.
Close Rolls Henry III 1253-1254 p54
1254. [m. 8 cont.]
De damis datis.—Mandatum est
Ernaldo de Bosco, justiciario foreste, quod in foresta regis de
Wauberge cum festinacione habere faciat H. Lincolniensi electo viginti
bestias de seisona, videlicet tam brokettos quam damas, de dono regis,
ad festum consecracionis sue tenendum. Testibus ut supra apud
Westmonasterium vij. die Maii. Per reginam.
which translates very roughly as:
About the deer
given.—It is mandated to Ernest de Bosco, justiciar of the
forest, that in the king’s forest of Wauberge he should make H. Lincoln
chosen with haste to have twenty beasts of the season, namely, both
brokettos and deer, of the king’s gift, to be held at the feast of his
consecration. Witnesses, as above at Westminster 8 May By the Queen.
p296
1254. [m. 12d cont.]
Pro electo Lincolniensi.—Mandatum
est Johanni de Lessinton’ quod in forresta regis de Schirwod’ faciat
habere Henrico Lincolniensi electo sexaginta quercus ad maeremium ad
operaciones Lincolniensis ecclesie, de dono regis. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
For the
Lincoln-elect.—It is mandated to John de Lessinton was ordered
to to have Henry of Lincoln choose sixty oaks in the king’s forest of
Sherwood for timber for the operations of Lincoln church, as a gift from
the king. Witness as above.
Close Rolls Henry III 1254-1256 p52
1255. [m. 15 cont.]
Pro Lincolniensi episcopo.—Quia
rex accepit per inquisicionem quam fieri fecit quod xx. acre terre cum
pertinenciis in Uppingham, quas Robertus Underwod’, qui pro felonia
quam fecit utlagatus est, tenuit, extiterunt in manu regis per unum
annum et unum diem, et quod idem Robertus terram illam tenuit de
episcopatu Lincolniensi; mandatum est vicecomiti Roteland’ quod
Henrico Lincolniensi episcopo de predictis xx. acris terre cum
pertinenciis plenam seisinam habere faciat. Teste rege apud Sanctum
Albanum x. die Marcii.
which translates very roughly as:
For the bishop
of Lincoln.—Because the king received by the inquest which he
made happen, 20 acres of land with appurtenances in Uppingham, which
Robert Underwood, who was outlawed for the felony which he committed,
stood in the king’s hand for one year and one day, and that the same
Robert held that land of the bishopric of Lincoln; it was ordered to the
sheriff of Rutland to let Henry, bishop of Lincoln have full seisin of
the aforesaid 20 acres of land with appurtenances. Witness the king at
St. Alban’s. 10 March.
Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae vol 3 p428
(John Le Neve, 1854)
NORTH MUSKHAM.
... HENRY DE LEXINTON, treasurer
of Sarum, resigned this prebend in 1242. Afterwards bishop of
Lincoln.
Fasti
Ecclesiae Anglicanae vol 2 pp30-11 (John Le Neve, 1854)
LINCOLN.
DEANS.
HENRY DE LEXINTON,
treasurer of Salisbury, succeeded in 1245; and in Dec. 1253 was
made bishop of this see.
pp10-11
LINCOLN.
BISHOPS.
1254 38 H. III.
HENRY DE LEXINTON,
dean of Lincoln, was elected on the morrow of the Feast of St.
Thomas the Martyr (30th Dec.) 1253, and proceeded to the King, who was
then in Gascony, to be presented to him. He was confirmed by the
archbishop of Canterbury, then abroad with his majesty, 28th March 1254,
and obtained the royal assent 1st April. His consecration also took
place abroad 17th May. He died 8th Aug. (vi Id. Aug.) 1258 at Netlinton,
and was buried in Lincoln cathedral. The license to elect bishop
Lexington’s successor is dated 24th Aug. 1258
In 1252, Henry was granted free
warren (the right to hunt) on his lands, provided the land was not
within the king's forest.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p393 (1903)
1252
June 19.
Sherborne.
The like to Henry de
Lessinton, dean of Lincoln, his heirs and successors, in all his demesne
lands in Scardeclive, Palterton, Ryleg, Langwaht, and Grange.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p471 (1903)
1257
July 10.
Woodstock.
Whereas by a charter, which
the king has inspected, he has already granted to John de Lessinton, now
deceased, for life, quittance in all his demesnes of suits of counties,
hundreds, wapentakes, trithings, aids of sheriffs and bailiffs, and from
keeping the king’s works, grant in continuation of the said grant to
Henry, bishop of Lincoln, brother of the said John, for life, of the
aforesaid quittances in the said demesnes.
The Baronage of England vol 2 p743 (William
Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
Whereupon Henry de Lexinton,
Bishop of Lincoln, his
Brother, was found his next Heir: who thereupon doing his Homage, had
Livery of all his Lands, lying in the Counties of Nottingham
and Derby. Which Henry
departed this Life the next ensuing year; leaving Richard
de Markham and William de
Sutton, his Nephews, and next Heirs; Richard
de Markham being at that time fifty years of age, and William
de Sutton forty; who thereupon doing their Homage, had Livery
of his Lands.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Sir Robert de Lexington was an
Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without
heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who
also dyed without heir of himself. Peter
de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge,
likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry
de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne.
Cecilia,
the sister of Sir Robert de
Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard
[rather William] de
Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert
de Marcham. Alice,
the other sister of the said Robert
de Lexton, was married to Richard
(it should be Roland) de
Sutton upon Trent
p340
Silvester
de Kirneshale, son of Henry
de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold
one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale,
of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to
the wood called Bergelhage;
the witnesses were Robert de Laxton,
Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen
his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John
de Kalnatheton.
p364
John
de Lessington about 41 H. 3. and after him his brother and
heir, Henry de Lessington,
Bishop of Lincolne,
42 H. 3. died seized of the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Marneham,
held of Richard de Weston for
a pound of Pepper yearly. Richard de Marcham, and William de Sutton,
were found the heirs of the said Bishop.
p378
Robert de Laxton for the health of
his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard
his father, and Matilda his
mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford,
the gift which the said Richard
his father gave to them, viz.
one Bovat in Walesby,
which William the Clark held,
and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon,
and twenty Acres of Arable, with
Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard
de Laxton had of Alan
Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father
had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco,
sometimes wife of John Burdun,
and a Toft in Welhagh,
which Gumbert held of his
father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of
the Church at Rufford,
Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen,
and Sir Henry his brothers
were Witnesses, and Mr. William de
Marcham.
p380
Tuxford. Tuxfarne.
Robert made a Charter to John de Lexinton his brother of the
Mannor of Tuxford,
and Hamlet of Warsop,
of which 41 H. 3. he died seized, and of the Land in Lexinton
held of Adam de Everingham,
which descended from their Father Richard,
son of Robert de Lexinton,
named in Kirketon,
which Richard had the Custody
or Baylywick of the Barony of Lexinton,
which belonged to Matilda
de Cauz, and brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert
who was a Clergy-man Canon of Southwell,
became a great Judge and Baron, making this place the principal Scat of
his Barony, which he left to his said brother John,
who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery
Merlay, as in Averham
is said, but no issue; for Henry de
Lessinton, the youngest brother, aged above sixty years, 41 H.
3. Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne,
was heir to his brother the said John
Lord Lexington (Peter
and Stephen their brothers,
both Clergy-men, being I suppose dead before) and the year following, viz. 42 H. 3. Richard
de Marcham, and William de
Sutton were found the next heirs of the Bishop, who held this
Mannor and the rest, the Wong and Wood called Hertelhorne
in Knesale,
of Edmund Lascy for a
Sparrow-Hawk or 2s.
yearly, &c.
Dictionary
of National Biography vol 33 pp202-3 (Leslie Stephen,
1893)
LEXINTON
or LESSINGTON, JOHN DE (d.
1257), baron, judge
...
His brother HENRY DE LEXINTON (d. 1258), bishop of Lincoln,
succeeded to his estates (Calendarium
Genealogicum, i. 74, 441). Henry was treasurer of Salisbury in
1241; in 1245 his revenues from the post were seized by Master Martin,
the papal nuncio, but Lexinton resigned the treasurership that same
year. Previously to 1242 he also held the prebend of North Muskham at
Southwell. In 1245 he became dean of Lincoln; when that see fell vacant
by the death of Grosseteste, Lexinton and his chapter were involved in a
quarrel with Boniface, the archbishop, as to the right to the patronage
during a vacancy (MATT. PARIS, vi. 264-6).
On 30 Dec. 1253 he was elected bishop of Lincoln, and went to Gascony to
obtain the royal assent; the election was confirmed on 28 March 1254 by
Boniface, who consecrated Lexinton on 17 May at Lambeth (Ann.
Mon. iii. 190), but Matthew
Paris says the consecration took place abroad, which caused great
offence. The only incident of his episcopate was a dispute with the
scholars of Oxford as to his jurisdiction within the university. He died
at Nettleton 8 Aug. 1258, and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral.
[Foss’s Judges, ii. 383; Dugdale’s Baronage, i. 743; Matt.
Paris’s Chron Maj. iii. 495, iv. 125, 150, 581, v. 384, 517, 610, vi.
741 (Rolls Ser.); Ann. of Burton ap. Ann. Monast. i. 345, 376 (Rolls
Ser.); Royal Letters, Hen. III, ii. 48, 99 (Rolls Ser.); Rymer's Fœdera,
i. 244, 324 (Record ed.) Thoresby’s Thoroton’s Notts. iii. 119. For the
bishop see Matt. Paris; Annales Monastice; Le Neve’s Fasti Eccl.
Angl.] W. H.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
Richard de Lexington had a very
remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three
of his sons, each famous in his own sphere.
... The third brother, Henry, was first Dean and then Bishop of Lincoln,
being consecrated in 1253. At that date the diocese of Lincoln extended to
the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford as to his
jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral
was built during his episcopacy. He died in 1258.
8 August 1258 at Nettleton,
Lincolnshire, England
Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire,
England
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 p109 (1904)
402.
HENRY DE LESSINTON, sometime bishop of
Lincoln.
Writ
to the sheriff of Northampton, 28 Aug. 42 Hen. III. Inq.
(undated.)
Richard de Marcham, aged 50, and William de Sutton, aged 40, are
his heirs.
NOTTINGHAM. Tuggesford and Warsop towns, held of the king
in chief by service of 1 knight’s fee; Lady Margaret late the wife of
Sir J. de Lessinton, holds them in dower.
Lessinton, ½ knight’s fee held of Sir Adam de Everingham.
Marnham, ⅙ knight's fee held of Richard de Weston. (See Nos. 378
and 870.)
C.
Hen. III. File 20. (17.).
Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to
Nottinghamshire vol 2 p116 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
Henry de Lessinton,
formerly Bishop of Lincoln.*
Inquisition made
by precept of the King as to what land the lord Henry
de Lessinton, at one time Bishop of Lincoln, held of the King
in chief in the county, by William le
Walur, Robert son of Ralph
de Hokerton, Hugh Gernun of Carleton, William
de Bathel, William son of Odo
de Muschamp, William Doyunel of Misterton, Robert
Scatheloc of Marcham, Robert
Buridon of the same, Richard
de Sutton in Wyleby, Henry
brother of the chaplain of Marcham, William
Cornet of Tuggesford and William
de Draiton, who say that
The lord Henry de Lessinton,
Bishop of Lincoln, held of the King in chief Tuggesford and Warsop by
the service of a knight’s fee, and it [sic]
is worth yearly £69 5s. 4d. And the lady Margery,
who was wife of the lord J. de
Lessinton, holds the aforesaid vills in dower. And the
aforesaid lord Henry held half
a knight’s fee in Lessinton of the lord Adam
de Everingham and it is worth £16 13s.
11d. And he held a sixth part
of a knight’s fee in Marnham of Richard
de Weston and it is worth yearly 74s.
And Richard de Marcham and William de Sutton are next heirs of
the said Bishop. And Richard de
Marcham is 50 years and William
de Sutton is 40 years of age.
Inq.
p. m., 42 Henry iij., No. 7.
* [Writ witnessed by the King himself at Clive on 28 August, 42 Henry
iij [1258].]
Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to
Nottinghamshire vol 2 pp43-9 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
Henry de Lexinton.
Writ dated at Waverle, 16 Feb., 20 Edw. j [1291-2].
[Abstract of
Writ.]
The King to Sir
Thomas de Normanvill his escheator beyond Trent greeting.
Whereas lately at the suit of John de
Bray who [married] Cecilia
daughter and one of the heirs of Robert
de Markham deceased at one time kinsman and one of the heirs of
Henry de Lexinton deceased who
held in chief of our father King
Henry iij., We command you that you do cause the manor of
Tokesford which Margery at one
time wife of John de Lexinton,
brother of the said Henry de Lexinton,
held in dower of the inheritance of the said Henry
on the day she died, to be divided into equal portions between the
aforesaid John and Cecilia,
and William de Sancta Cruce
and Agnes his wife, the other
daughter and heir of the said Robert
de Markham according to a lawful extent before to be made by
you and cause them to have full seizin of their parts. Having retained
in our hands the portion of the said manor falling to John
de Lungevilers kinsman and third heir of the said Robert
as in our writ to you directed more fully is contained and Richard
de Sutton afterwards coming to our Court asserting himself to
be kinsman and one of the heirs of the said Henry
de Lexinton demanded from us that his portion of that manor, as
well as of the manor of Warsop which the said Margery
likewise held in dower of the inheritance aforesaid and which together
with the aforesaid manor by occasion of the death of the said Margery
we have caused to be taken into our hands, We being willing that justice
should be done in the matter as well to the aforesaid Richard
as to the aforesaid heirs and parcenaries of the inheritance aforesaid
do command you do cause John de Bray
and Cecilia, William and Agnes to be before us on Sunday in
Mid Lent, which day we have fixed for the said Richard
to receive the parts of the manors belonging to him. Meanwhile by the
oaths of lawful men you shall cause the manors to be extended as to what
they are worth by the year in demesnes, in services, rent, villeinages,
and all other issues of the land.
[Abstract
of the Extents.]
Extent of the manors of Toxford
and Warsope made before Thomas de
Normanvill on Thursday in the Morrow of St. Gregory the Pope,
20 Edw. j [1291-2], by William
Deyvill of Egmanton, Richard
Marcham, Henry de Sutton en Walesby, William de Perers en
Kirketon, Hugh Flamberd of
Toxford, Richard Le Warde en
Laxton, Robert de Mora, Robert Burdun
of Boketon, Thomas Derley of
Marcham, Thomas “ad fontem” of the same place, Robert
de Derleton and Richard
of the same place, jurors, who say that
The capital messuage of the manor of Toxford with dovecot
and fruit garden is worth by the year 20s.
There are there in demesne 23 oxgangs and 10 acres of arable land and
each oxgang contains 12 acres, each acre worth by the year 7d.
Sum £8 6s. 10d.
There are there in demesne 47½ acres of meadow, namely: in the south
meadow 15 acres, in Littil More 3 acres each worth by the year 2s.
Sum 30s. And in the meadow of
Eton 18 acres each worth by the year 20d.
Sum 30s. In Lullewode 4 acres
and in the meadow of Karleton 7½ acres each worth by the year 18d.
Sum 11s. 3d.
Sum total £4 3s. 3d.
BONDMEN.—And there are there in bondage 65
oxgangs of arable land of which Nicholas
son of William holds 2 oxgangs
and renders by the year 16s. Henry son of Hugh
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Henry son of William
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Richard son of Robert
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Robert de Boteby holds 1 oxgang
and renders by the year 8s. Nicholas son of Ally
holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s.
Robert son of Magot
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Henry son of John
holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s.
John Hammunde holds 2 oxgangs
and renders by the year 16s. Nicholas Odard holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. John son of Nicholas
holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s.
Emm’ son of (or daughter of ?)
Bate holds 1 oxgang and renders
by the year 8s. Richard
Fiyian holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Ivetta wife of Warin
holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 8s.
Geoffrey son of Ebbe
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Hugh Kinke holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. John son of Emm’
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Richard Juell (or Ivell)
holds 3 oxgangs and renders by the year 24s.
Hugh son of Nicholas
holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s.
Robert son of Adam
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 85. John son of Nicholas holds 1
oxgang and renders by the year 85. Richard son of Gilebert holds 1
oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Nicholas Madde holds 1 oxgang
and renders by the year 8s. Robert son of Roger
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
William Madde holds 1 oxgang
and renders by the year 8s. William son of . . . holds 1 oxgang
and renders by the year 8s. Nicholas the clerk holds 2 oxgangs
and renders by the year 16s. Albreda holds 1 oxgang and renders
by the year 8s. Roger
son of Hugh holds 2 oxgangs
and renders by the year 16s. Nicholas son of Mabel
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Robert Resun holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Richard Bonde holds 2 oxgangs and
renders by the year 16s. Robert Wrdolf holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. William Reynfray holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Emm’ son of (or daughter of) John holds 1 oxgang and renders by
the year 8s. Henry
de Weston holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
William Sele holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Robert Cornet holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Roger Noreman holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Richard son of Ally
holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 16s.
Henry the reeve holds 2 oxgangs
and renders by the year 16s. John son of Mabel
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Robert son of . . . holds 1
oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Sewal holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Hugh son of Roger
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Robert “ad venellam” holds 2
oxgangs and renders by the year 16s.
Robert son of Henry
holds 1 oxgang and renders by the year 8s.
Robert Goderi holds 1 oxgang
and renders by the year 8s. Geoffrey Goderi holds 1 oxgang and
renders by the year 8s. Richard de Swell holds 2 oxgangs
and renders by the year 16s. Nicholas God holds 9 acres and
renders by the year 6s. William Bonde and Richard
son of Lawrence holds 12 acres
and renders 9s. The works of
each oxgang are worth by the year 12d.
Sum of the oxgangs 65 and 9 acres. Sum of the money £30 0s.
9d.
COTTARS.—Also they say that William
Pistor holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works which are worth by the year 2d.
Richard the carter holds 1 toft
and croft and renders by the year 18d.
and does works worth by the year 3d.
Stephen son of Robert
holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year 18d.
and does works worth 3d. Robert Bronce holds 1 toft and
croft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Nicholas Warin holds 1 toft and
croft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 2d. Geoffrey son of . . . holds ½ toft
and renders by the year 6d. and
does works worth 4d. Richard
Fiyian holds 1 toft and renders . . . and does works worth 3d. Emm’
Gele holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Richard son of Walter
holds ½ toft and renders by the year 5d.
and does works worth 1d. Robert Hardi holds ½ toft and
renders by the year and does works worth 2d.
Robert Waleran holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 3d. William
son of John holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 3d. Robert
son of Robert holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 3d. Robert
son of Lawrence holds 1 toft
and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Nicholas son of Beatrice
holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d.
and does works worth 1½d. Nicholas Carman holds ½ toft and
renders by the year 6d. and
does works worth . . . Roger
son of William holds 1 toft
and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Richard son of Lawrence
holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Roger Wiseman holds ½ toft and
renders by the year 6d. and
does works worth 1½d. Hugh
Man holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d.
and does works worth 1½d. Robert Ebbe holds 2 tofts and
renders by the year . . . and does works worth 6d.
Richard Kinke holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 3d. John
son of Emm’ holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 3d. Richard
Harper holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Richard Chaumberlayn holds 1 toft
and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Alan le Cordelur holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 2s. and
does works worth 6d. Isabel
Warner holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Rug’ Poce holds ½ toft and renders
by the year 6d. and does works
worth 1½d. Geoffrey
Dul . . . holds . . . and renders by the year 12d.
and does no works. Henry son
of Hugh holds 2 tofts and
renders by the year 2s. and
does works worth 6d. John . . .
holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. John son of Joan
holds 2 tofts and renders by the year . . . and does works worth 3d. Isabel
wife of Peter holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 3d. Henry
de . . . holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Thomas Bek holds . . . and renders
by the year 3s. and does works
worth 9d. Nicholas
the clerk holds 3 tofts and renders by the year 9s.
and does works worth 3d. Robert son of Magot
holds . . . toft and renders by the year 3s.
and does works worth 1d. William Bonde holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 3s. and
does works worth 1d. Roger
. . . holds 1 toft and renders by the year 3s.
and does works worth 1d. Henry Fraunceys holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 3s. and
does works worth 1d. Nicholas
Madde holds 3 tofts and renders by the year 7s.
and does works worth 5d. Robert son of Walter
holds 1 toft and renders by the year 2s.
and does works worth 1d. Hugh son of Roger
holds ½ toft and renders by the year . . . and does works worth 1½d. Richard
Parker holds ½ toft and renders by the year 6d.
and does works worth 1½d. John son of William
holds 1 toft and croft and renders by the year . . . and does works
worth 3d. Robert
“the shepherd” holds 2 tofts and renders by the year 2s.
and does works worth 6d. John Deyvill holds 1 toft and
renders 12d. and does works
worth 3d. Nicholas
son of Henry holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does [works] worth 3d. Roger
Wiseman holds 1 toft and renders by the year 6d.
Nicholas son of Beatrice
holds 1 toft and renders by the year 12d.
and does works worth 3d. Hugh Faber holds 1 toft and renders
by the year 6d. and does works
worth 3d. Robert
son of Bate holds 1 toft and
renders by the year 12d. and
does works worth 1d. Sum £4 11s. 5½d.
And they say that all the aforesaid as well bondmen as
cottars hold 330½ acres of assart land each worth yearly 8d.
Sum £13 0s. 4d.
[sic]
FREE TENANTS.—Also they say that John de Riperes holds 6 oxgangs of
land in Marcham and Milneton and renders by the year 1d.
and 1 pound of cumin and does suit. William
de Bevercote holds 2 oxgangs in Bevercote and renders by the
year 6s. without suit. William
de Sancta Cruce holds j croft in the vill of Toxford and
renders by the year 6d. and for
his tenement in Marcham in West Marcham 15d.,
concerning his suit they know not. P
. . . de Buxton holds j toft and 4 oxgangs of land and renders
by the year 1 pound of pepper, concerning his suit they know not. Hugh Flamberd . . . oxgangs and 6
acres of land and renders by the year 2s.
3d. without suit. Lawrence
de Weston for 1 place renders by the year . . . Thomas
son of Stephen holds 1 toft
and 2 oxgangs of land and renders by the year 6s.
and does suit. John de Dodington
holds . . . and 2 acres of land and renders by the year 11d.
for all service. Christiana
daughter of Roger holds 1
oxgang of land and renders by the year 5s.
and does suit but does not have . . . Robert
Blorg holds 2 oxgangs and renders by the year 4s.
and does suit. Petronel Cornec
holds 1 acre of land and renders by the year 6d.
Geoffrey de Basingham holds 1
oxgang of land and renders by the year 6d.
Nicholas Pistor holds 1 oxgang
of land and renders by the year 3s.
and does suit. Robert Pagemore
holds 1 toft and 1 acre of land and renders by the year 7d.
and does suit. Stephen Mercator
holds 1 toft and 2 acres of land and renders by the year 20d.
and does suit. Henry Fraunceys
of West Marcham holds 1 oxgang of land and renders by the year 3s.
and does suit. Henry de Estmarly
holds 2 oxgangs of land and renders by the year 5s.
and does suit. William son of
Henry de Walesby does suit of
Court. Henry Harding tenant of
the Prior of Wirkesop does works which are worth 2d.
by the year and suit of mill. William
Toke tenant of the same Prior does works which are worth 2d. by the year and suit of mill. John son of Tilla
tenant of the same Prior does works which are worth 2d.
and suit of mill. Elias Harding
tenant of the same Prior does works which are worth 2d.
and suit of mill. Sum 41s. 8¼d.
And they say that there is there a certain small park which
is called Ber . . . and it renders by the year 8s.
4d. The sum appears.
Also they say that there is there a certain water mill worth £10
yearly. And they say that the pleas and perquisites of Court are worth
yearly 40s.
Sum total £75 12s.
7¾d.
Extent of the manor of Warsop.
They say that the capital messuage does not suffice for the sustentation
of the houses of the manor. There are there in demesne 8 oxgangs of
land, each worth 5s. Also 1½
acre of meadow worth yearly 6s.
And 1 dovecot worth yearly 3s.
And the Prior of St. Oswald renders to the lord of Worsop for 6 oxgangs
of land in Solwoholm 26s. 8d. Also the Abbot of Wellebek
renders to the said lord for the grange of Gledthorp yearly 5s.
Also William Freman renders
for half an oxgang and one eighth of an oxgang of land by the year 3s. And Ralph
the clerk renders by the year 12d.
And there are there in bondage 18 oxgangs of land each worth 5s.
yearly. And there are there 28 cottars and they render by the year 60s. And the park of Pleseley and 2
oxgangs of land in Slimbrack which are held of the lord of Pleseley by
the service of 1d. yearly. And
the park is worth yearly 5s.
And the 2 oxgangs of land are worth yearly 8s.
Also stallage of the forest is worth yearly 8s.
And there is there a certain water mill worth yearly £4. And pleas and
perquisites of Court are worth yearly 13s.
4d.
Sum total £17 9s.
0d.
Chancery
Inq. p. m., 20 Edw. j., No. 35.
Close Rolls Henry III 1256-1259 p260
1258. [m. 3 cont.]
Pro executoribus episcopi
Lincolniensi.—Mandatum est vicecomiti Essex quod accepta
securitate ab executoribus testamenti H. de Lessinton’, quondam
episcopi Lincolniensis de debitis regi reddendis, si que regi debebat
die quo obiit, eosdem executores, permittat häbere liberam
administracionem de omnibus et catallis (sic)
que fuerunt ejusdem episcopi in balliva sua ad execucionem testamenti
sui inde faciendam, proviso quod vina, si que fuerint in aliquo
manerio quod fuit dicti episeopi in balliva sua, ad opus regis per
racionabile et justum forum retineantur. Teste rege apud North’ xxv.
die Augusti.
Postea addita fuit ista clausula:—et securitatem quam inde
fecerint regi scire faciant.
Eodem modo mandatum est escaetori in comitatu Not’ et
vicecomitibus North’, Glouc’ Oxon’. Teste.
Eodem modo mandatum est Ade de Aston' et Waltero de Wassingl’,
custodibus dicti episcopatus, de omnibus bonis et catallis que fuerunt
dicti episcopi tam racione dicti episcopatus quam hereditatis sue etc.
Teste ut supra.
Et mandatum est eisdum custodibus quod de vinis predicti
episcopi existentibus apud Spaldewik permittant Ricardum de
Hemmington’ habere duo dolia vini secundum quod inter ipsum et
executores dicti episcopi convenerit.
which translates very roughly as:
For the
executors of the bishop of Lincoln.—The sheriff of Essex was
commanded that, having received security from the executors of the
testament of H. de Lessinton, formerly bishop of Lincoln, of paying the
debts to the king, if any were owed to the king on the day he died, let
the same executors have free administration of all and chattels in his
bailiwick for the execution of his testament, provided that the wine, if
any, should be in any manor which belonged to the said bishop in his
bailiwick, to be maintained at the work of the king through a reasonable
and just forum. Witness the king in the North’ 25 August
Afterwards this clause was added: and let them make the
king know the security which they had done thence.
In the same way the escheator is commanded in the county of
Not' and the sheriffs of North Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire. Witness.
In the same way, Adam de Aston and Walter de Wassingl, the
guardians of the said episcopate, were commanded concerning all the
goods and chattels which were of the said bishop, both by reason of the
said bishopric and of his inheritance etc. Witness as above.
And it was ordered by the guards to permit Richard of
Hemmington to have two barrels of wine, according to the agreement
between him and the executors of the said bishop.
p266
1258. [m. 3 cont.]
Rex cepit homagium Ricardi de Marcham et Willelmi de Sutton’, nepotum
et heredum H. de Lessinton’ nuper episcopi Lincolnensis, de omnibus
terris et tenementis que idem episcopus tenuit, de rege in capite de
hereditate sua, et eis reddidit terras illas et tenementa: et mandatum
est vicecomiti Not’ et escaetori ejusdem comitatus quod de omnibus
terris et tenementis que fuerunt predicti episcopi de hereditate sua
in ballivis suis, de quibus vestitus fuit et seisitus ut de feodo die
quo obiit, et que cepit in manum regis occasione mortis ejusdem
episcopi, predictis Ricardo et Willelmo plenam seisinam habere faciat.
Teste rege apud Not’ vij. die Septembris.
which translates very roughly as:
The king
took homage from Richard de Marcham and William de Sutton, nephews and
heirs of H. de Lessinton, late bishop of Lincoln, of all the lands and
tenements which the same bishop held of the king oin chief of his
inheritance, and restored to them those lands and tenements. and it was
commanded to the sheriff and escheator of the same county concerning all
lands and tenements which belonged to the aforesaid bishop concerning
his inheritance among his balliwick, of which he was dressed and seised
as of fee on the day he died; and which he took into the king’s hand on
the occasion of the death of the same bishop let him have full seisin
for the aforesaid Richard and William. Witness the king at Not’ 7
September.
- The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p189,
p327
and p378
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
- The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p340
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
- Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
p203 (Leslie Stephen, 1893); The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
- Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae vol 2
pp10-11 (John Le Neve, 1854) and Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
p203 (Leslie Stephen, 1893); The writ of Henry's IPM was
dated 28 August 1258 from Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3 (1904)
- Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae vol 2
pp10-11 (John Le Neve, 1854) and Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
p203 (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
- Henry
of Lexinton
- Henry de Lexington
John de Lexington
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
Margery (d'Umfreville) de Merlay
Margery was the daughter of Richard d'Umfreville, and widow of Roger de
Merlay, Baron Morpeth. Roger had been previously married to Ada, with whom
he had two sons, Ranulph and Roger. Margery died in January 1291(2).
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p363 (1903)
1251
July 5.
Woodstock.
Inspeximus
and confirmation of a chirograph made between Roger de Merlay and John
de Lessinton, whereby the said Roger grants to the said John that, if
Margery wife of the said John, late the wife of Roger de Merlay father
of the said Roger, shall die during the life of the said John, the said
John shall hold for life the manors of Ulcham, Benton, and Killingworth
with the advowson of the church of Benton, the knights’ fees and other
appurtenances, all which he holds as the dower of the said Margery,
saving however to the said Roger and his heirs their custom of hunting
in the chaces pertaining to the manor of Ulcham, according to an
agreement between the said Roger and the said Margery made during her
widowhood; and for this grant the said John has quit-claimed to the said
Roger the mill of Ulcham, which he formerly had of the gift of the said
Roger, provided that if the said John do not survive the said Margery
the said mill shall remain to the said Margery with her dower for life,
and upon her death shall return to the said Roger and his heirs;
moreover if the said Roger and Margery shall die in the lifetime of
Isabel, wife of the said Roger, if dower be due to the said Isabel, she
shall have dower of the manors of Ulcham, Benton and Killingworth as of
the other lands after the death of the said John, just as she would have
had after the death of Margery if this grant had not been made; and on
the death of the said John all the said lands shall revert to the said
Roger and his heirs. Witnesses, Hugh de Morewic, Roger son of Ralph,
Odonel son of Ralph, John de Eslinton, Simon de Horsle, Walter de
Bevercot, Robert de Cressewell, John de Plessetis, Henry Gateganc,
clerk, Thomas de Oggel, John de Craucestre, John de Neuton, and Walter
de Fenton.
A History of Northumberland vol 2 p373
(John Hodgson, 1832)
MARGERY,
da. of that Richd. Umfreville, who died in 1227, so that this Margery
had lived to a considerable age; for an inquest after her death, taken
at Heddon on the Wall, in Feb. 1292, says, that her father gave with her
in free marriage to Roger Merlay, the manor of Burrowsford, in this
county; but, dying without issue, it descended by formedon to Gilbert de
Umfreville, grandson of the same Richard.—(Morp.
Misc No. 6.) In the same year, there is also an inquest,
showing that she died possessed of the manors of Worsop &
Tokisforth, in Notts—(Cal. Inq. p. m.
i. 108; Dug. Bar. i. 726.) She gave to the monks of Newminster
three fisheries on the Tyne—(Wallis,
ii. 305.)
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p380-1
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
John,
who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery
Merlay, as in Averham
is said, but no issue;
... Richard de Marcham
held of the King in Capite half a Knights Fee which Margaret,
sometimes wife of John de Lexinton,
at the time of his (the said Richards)
death had in Dower
... Robert de Markham
about 17 E. 1. left the Park, Mannor, and Advowson of the Church of Tukesford, which Margery de Merley, widow of John
de Lessington had in Dower, &c. to his three daughters and
heirs, and their issue
Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to
Nottinghamshire vol 2 pp33-6 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
Robert de Marcham.
Writ dated at Westminster, 13 March., 17 Edw. j
[1288-9].
Inquisition and extent of the
lands and tenements which were of Robert
de Marcham in the county of Notingham on the day he died, made at
Laxton on Wednesday next after the feast of the Annunciation of the
Blessed Mary, 17 Edward j [1289]
... Robert de Marcham held
in Tuckesford a certain park, the profit whereof in underwood, meadow and
pasture is worth yearly 10s.
Which park he held together with the advowson of the church of Tuckesford
and with the manor of Tuckesford, which Margery
de Merleye who was the wife of John
de Laxton still holds in dower of the King in chief by the
service of ½ knight’s fee. Sum 10s.
... Also the said Robert
held in Westmarcham a capital messuage worth yearly with a dovecot 6s. 8d.
And there are there 140 acres of arable land in demesne each worth yearly
7d. Sum £4 1s.
8d. Also there are there 20 acres
of meadow each worth yearly 18d.
Sum 30s. Also a water mill worth
yearly 6s. 8d.
The Rent of free tenants at the aforesaid 2 terms is yearly 51s.
5d. The Rent of 2 bondmen who
hold 1 oxgang and 3 acres of land and render, at the said terms, 6s.
8d. Also the day’s works of the
same in harvest time are worth 20d.
The Rent of cottars, at the said terms, 21s.
3½d. Their works in harvest time are worth 2s.
The said Robert held the said
lands and tenements of Margery de
Merleye, Lady of Tuckesford, by the service of 16d.
yearly. Sum £10 8s. 0d.
But therefrom he renders to Margery de
Merleye, yearly 16d. as
above. And to Robert de Saundeby
2s. To John
de Rypers of Ordeshal 2s.
Also to the said Margery 6d. To Robert
Ploreger of Tuckesford ½d. To the Prior of Munkebretton 8d.
To the nuns of Wallendewelles 6d.
To Alexander de Drayton 6d.
To Henry Le Clerk of Markham ½d.
To John Le Meire of Milneton ½d.
Sum of rent cancelled 7s. 7½d. And so there remains clear £10 0s. 5d.
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 3
Edward I: 1291-1300 pp5-6 (1904)
11.
MARGERY DE MERLAY, LATE THE WIFE
OF JOHN DE LEXINTON.
Writ of plenius certiorari
to Thomas de Normanvill escheator, on the complaint of Gilbert de
Umframvill that whereas Richard de Umframvill, his grandfather, whose
heir he is, granted the manor of Barwesford to Roger de Merleye in free
marriage with Margery his daughter, to hold to them and the heirs of the
body of the same Margery, with reversion to the said Richard or his
heirs, now on the death of the said Margery without such heir the
escheator has taken the said manor into the king’s hand and keeps it
from the same Gilbert, 30 Jan. 20 Edw. I.
NORTHUMBERLAND. Inq.
made at Hedon on the Wall on Monday after St. Peter in Cathedra, 20 Edw.
I.
Barouesford. The said Richard granted the manor as abovesaid; the
said Margery died without heir of her body; and the manor ought to
revert to the said Gilbert as heir of Richard de Wmfrawill.
Writ of certiorari super causa
captionis concerning the lands which Margery de Merlay, lately
deceased, held in dower of the inheritance of Richard de Sutton, son and
heir of Robert de Sutton, deceased, who held of the king in chief, 4
February, 20 Edw. I.
[NOTTINGHAM] and DERBY. Inq.
Thursday before Lent, 20 Edw. I.
Warsop. The manor (extent given), including stallage of the
market and rents of 2 marks from the prior of St. Oswald for 20 bovates
of land in Sulcolm’, and 5s.
yearly from the abbot of Welbeck for the grange of Gledthorp, held of
the king in chief, tenure unspecified.
Pleseley. The park and 2 bovates of land in Schir[ebrok], held of
the lord of Pleseley by service of 1d.
yearly.
Margery de Merlay was dowered of the above named manor together
with the manor of Tokesforth for all the lands &c. which were of
John de Lexinton her husband, ancestor of Richard de Sutton, of Cecily
the wife of John de Bray, Agnes the wife of William de Sayntecroys, and
John de Longevilers, a minor and in the king’s wardship, for which cause
the escheator took the said manors into the king’s hand. The manors are
of the inheritance of the said Richard, Cecily, Agnes and John.
NOTTINGHAM. Inq.
Saturday before Lent, 20 Edw. I.
Tockisforth. The manor (extent given with names of free tenants),
is held of the king in chief and is of the inheritance of Richard de
Sutton, Cecily the wife of John le Bray, Agnes the wife of William de
Seyntecrois, and John de Loungvilers, and Margery de Merlay was dowered
thereof &c., as abovesaid.
Writ of scire facias on the
petition of Richard de Sutton, who claims as one of the heirs of Henry
de Lexinton to have his share in the manors of Tokesford and Warsop,
both of which were held in dower by Margery late the wife of John de
Lexinton: reciting that on the suit of John de Bray, the manor of
Tokesford, which Margery late the wife of John de Lexinton, brother of
the said Henry, held in dower of his inheritance on the day of her
death, was ordered to be divided equally between the said John de Bray
and Cecily his wife daughter and one of the heirs of Robert de Markham,
kinsman and one of the heirs of Henry de Lexinton, William de Sancta
Cruce and Agnes his wife another daughter and heir of Robert de Markham,
and John de Lungevilers, kinsman and third heir of the said Robert, the
share of John de Lungevilers being by reason of his nonage, retained in
the king’s hand; and commanding the escheator to warn the said parties
to be before the king on Sunday in Mid-lent to receive their pourparties
&c. and meanwhile to cause the said manors to be extended &c.,
16 February, 20 Edw. I.
[NOTTINGHAM.] Extent,
Thursday the morrow of St. Gregory the Pope, 20 Edw. I.
Toxford. The manor (full extent given with names of tenants),
including meadows in the south park, Littil more, Eton, Lullewode and
Karleton, and a little meadow called Ker, and among the free tenants, 6
bovates of land in Marcham and Milneton held by John de Riperes, 2
bovates of land in Bevercote held by William de Bevercote, and a toft in
Toxford and a tenement in Marcham in Westmarcham, held by William de
Sancta Cruce.
Warsop. The manor (extent given), including 26s.
8d. rendered by the prior of
St. Oswald for 6 bovates of land in Solweholm, 5s.
yearly by the abbot of Wellebek for the grange of Gledthorp, the park of
Plessley and 2 bovates of land in Shirebrok which are held of the lord
of Pleseley by service of 1d.,
and stallage of the forest.
[See Calendar of Close Rolls,
1288-1296, p. 223.]
C.
Edw. I. File 61. (11.)
Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to
Nottinghamshire vol 2 pp41-3 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
Margery de Merlay.
Writ dated at Westminster, 4 Feb., 20 Edw. j [1291-2].
Inquisition
made at Warsop before Sir Thomas de
Normanvill the King’s Escheator beyond Trent on Thursday next
before “carnisprivium,” 20 Edw. j [1291-2], of lands and tenements which
were of Margery de Merlay, by
the oath of Ralph de Bedeforth,
William Freman, Robert Petyt, Robert de Sutt . . ., Roger
de Lokinton, Robert de Auld, Hugh de Bowre, Benedict de Kukeney,
Thomas “cemetarius” of Sulcolm’, John
Freman of the same place, P . . . Bowre
in Kokeney, Ralph son of Benedict of Warsop, who say that
The manor of Warsopp with garden does
not suffice for the sustentation of the houses. She had there in demesne
8 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 5s.
Also 1½ acre of meadow each. . . . And 1 dovecot worth yearly 3s.
And 1 water mill worth yearly 6 marks. Perquisites of Court there are
worth yearly 13s. 4d.
Stallage of the market there are worth yearly 8s.
The lord Prior of St. Hosewald renders to the lord of Warsopp for 30
oxgangs of land in Sulcolm’ 2 marks. Also the Abbot of Welbeck renders
to the said lord for the grange of Gledthorp yearly 5s.
Also William Freman for ⅝ of
an oxgang of land yearly 3s.
Also Ralph the clerk renders
yearly 12d. Also there are
there in bondage 18 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 5s.
Also 28 cottagers render yearly 60s.
Also the park of Pleseley and 2 oxgangs of land in Schir . . . k held of
the lord of Pleseley by the service of 1d.
yearly, and the park is worth 5s.
yearly and the said 2 oxgangs are worth yearly 8s.
Also they say that the manor of Warsop is held of the King in chief and
Margery de Merlay held in dower
the said manor together with the manor of Tokesforth for all the lands
and tenements which were of John de
Lexinton her husband, ancestor of Richard
de Sutton, Cecilia wife of John
de Bray, Agnes wife of William
de Sayntecroys and John de
Longevilers who is a minor and in the King’s wardship. For
which cause the Escheator took the manors aforesaid into the King’s
hand. They say also that the said manors are the inheritance of the
aforesaid Richard, Cecilia, Agnes
and John.
Inquisition taken at Tokisforth
before Sir Thomas de Normanvill
the King’s Escheator beyond Trent on Saturday before “carnisprivium,” 20
Edw. j [1291-2], of lands and tenements which were of Margery
de Merlay, by the oath of Walter
de Byldewater, Roger son of . . . de
Bocketon, William Goding of the same place, Robert
Lanceleveyn of Kirketon, Robert
le Parker of the same place, John
“a le Chance” of Walisby, William
son of Henry of the same
place, William “a le Freyne”
of the same place, Robert Aubeney
of the same place, Thomas de Werley
in Est Macham, Thomas “ad
fontem” of the same place, Ran[ulph]
le Parker, who say that
The manor of Tockisforth is held of the King in chief and is of
the inheritance of Richard de Sutton,
Cecilia wife of John Le
Bray, Agnes wife of William
de Seyntecrois and John de
Loungvileris who is a minor and in the King’s wardship, and Margery de Merlay held in dower the
said manor together with the manor of Warsop for all the lands and
tenements which were of John de
Lexinton her husband, ancestor of the said Richard,
Cecilia, Augnes and John,
for which cause the said manors were taken into the King’s hand after
the death of the said Margery.
The manor with garden is worth yearly 2s.
A dovecot is worth yearly 4s.
There is there a water mill worth yearly £10. She had there in demesne
12 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 8s.
And 16 acres of meadow each worth yearly 2s.
6d. Herbage there is worth
yearly 12s. Perquisites of
Court there are worth yearly 20s.
Also free tenants; Philip de Broycton
renders yearly for 4 oxgangs of land 1 pound of pepper; Hugh
Flambard [renders] yearly for 2 oxgangs of land 2s.
2d.; Gefrey
de Basigham holds 1 oxgang of land and renders 6d.;
John de Dodington for 2 oxgangs
of land [renders] 11d.; Robert Ploreger holds 2 oxgangs of
land for 4s. yearly; Nicholas
Pistor renders for 1 oxgang of land yearly 3s.;
Thomas son of Stephen
[holds] 2 oxgangs of land and renders 6s.
Cristiana daughter of Roger
holds 1 oxgang and renders 5s.
Also [Margery de Merlay] had
there in bondage 64 oxgangs of land, each worth yearly 8s.
William de Wodicotes for 6
oxgangs of land renders yearly 6s.
Henry ad Kircyate holds 2
oxgangs of land and renders 5s.
Sir Robert “the chaplain” renders for a certain toft and 2 acres of land
yearly 2s. 6d.
Also [Margery] had there of
rent of assize for cottages £20 13s.
1½d.
Chancery
Inq. p. m., 20 Edw.j., No.
13.
Clerk in the Chancery and also a
judge. He was Keeper
of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he
was sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor
Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 John was
Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent and was at Lincoln at the
time of the murder of the boy Hugh
of Lincoln. John adopted the popular blood
libel accusation that Hugh had been ritually murdered by Jews, and
obtained a confession, likely under coercion, from a Jew named Copin. King
Henry III intervened, had Copin executed and arrested ninety Jews in
connection with Hugh's death, 18 of whom were hanged.
John is mentioned a number of times in the Patent
Rolls and Close Rolls, due to his
position as a judge and as the king's steward. Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247, Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4
1247-1258, Close Rolls Henry III 1234-1237, Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242, Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247, Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251, Close Rolls Henry III 1251-1253, Close Rolls Henry III 1253-1254, Close Rolls Henry III 1254-1256, Close Rolls Henry III 1256-1259.
An example commission is:
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 pp139-40 (1906)
1236
March 21.
Dunstable.
To the mayor and good men of
Oxford. The king is sending to them John Gubaud and John de Lexinton to
learn the truth touching the burning of the town of Oxford, which was
lately set fire to (accensa),
and to do other things enjoined them for the preservation of the peace
and tranquillity of the town; and he commands them to be counselling and
helping unto them herein.
Mandate to the sheriff of Oxford to assist them in their inquiry
together with Bardulf de Cestreton and three other discreet knights of
the county.
In 1238 John was sent on an embassy to the king of Scotland.
Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242 p143
1238
Rex mittit J. de Lexinton’ ad regem Scottorum
significans ei quod licet negotium inter ipsum et sororem regine
domini regis non possit optatum effectum consequi, vult tamen quod
tanta consideratio uniat et conjungat eos quod in agendis suis ad
invicem sint fortiores Rogat etiam eum quod hiis que ei dicet ex parte
regis fidem velit adhibere et ea effectum mancipare. Teste rege apud
Merewell’, ix. die Augusti.
which translates very roughly as:
The king
sends J. of Lexington to the king of Scots, indicating to him that
although the affair between him and the sister of the queen of the lord
king cannot achieve the desired effect, he still wishes that such
consideration would unite and unite them, that in their actions they may
be stronger than one another. to those things which he shall say to him
on the part of the king, he wishes to give credit and to enslave them to
their effect. Witness the king at Merewell, 9th day of August.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p119 (1906)
1235
Oct. 10.
Windsor.
Grant to John de Lexinton, for
his homage and service, of 20l.
a year at the Exchequer until the king provide him in escheats or wards
to that amount.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p231 (1903)
1237
Sept. 28.
York.
Inspeximus
and confirmation of a charter whereby Robert de Lexinton gave to John de
Lexinton his brother, and his heirs, the manor of Tuxeford with the
hamlet of Warsop to hold of the king by the service of one knight,
provided that if the said John die without an heir of his body, the said
lands shall revert to the said John and his heirs. Witnesses, Nigel de
Lysures, Master P. de Lexinton, Henry de Lexinton, Richard de Marsham,
Robert de Rypariis, John Burdun, Nicholas de Ayvill, Peter de
Brunington, and William de Sutthorp.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p197 (1906)
1237
Sept. 28.
York.
Grant to Robert de Lexinton,
that in the event of the death of John de Lexinton, his brother, without
heirs of his body, the manor of Tuxford, with the hamlet of Warsop and
other appurtenances, which hamlet the king by charter confirmed to the
same John and his heirs, to hold by the service of a knight’s fee, shall
revert to the said Robert or his heirs to hold as above.
p233
1238
Sept. 17.
Coventry.
Grant to John Burdun, who has
to wife the niece of John de Lexinton. . . . By William de Cantilupo.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p241 (1903)
1239
March 6.
Westminster.
Grant to John de Lexinton, and
his heirs, of free warren in his demesne lands of Thuxford, Warshop, and
Aston; grant to the same and to Matthew, archdeacon of Buckingham, and
his successors, tenants of the prebend of Hornle, of free warren in
their demesne lands in Homle and Hanunton; grant also to the said John
and his heirs of licence to hunt and take the fox, the wolf, the hare
and the cat in Nottinghamshire without the king’s demesne warrens.
p242
1239
March 22.
Westminster.
Grant to John de Lexinton, for
life, that he be not put to serve as justice (in
justiciariis), or upon regards, perambulations, assises,
recognitions, inquisitions or juries, and that he be quit in his
demesnes of suits of counties, hundreds, wapentakes, trithings, of aids
of sheriffs and custody of the king’s works.
p247
1239
Oct. 18.
Westminster.
Pardon to John de Lessinteyn [margin Lexinton] and his heirs, of
the custom, due to the king from the manor of Estun, co. Northampton, of
making six perches of enclosure about the king’s park of Northampton;
grant also to the same, and his heirs, of a weekly market on Tuesday at
his manor of Warsop, co. Nottingham, and of a yearly fair there on the
vigil, the feast and the morrow of SS. Peter and Paul.
We see in the Close Rolls a number of gifts
to John from King Richard III, commonly of deer or oaks that he is allowed
to take from the royal forests. A more unusual gift, in 1240, was of two
jars of wine.
Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242 p173
1240
De vinis datis.—Mandatum est
Johanni de Lexinton’, justiciario Cestrie, quod duo dolia vini que
sunt in castro Cestrie capiat ad opus suum, de dono regis. Teste rege
ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
About the wines
given.—It was commanded to John de Lexington, justiciar of
Chester, that he should take two jars of wine which are in the castle of
Chester for his work, as a gift from the king. Witness the king as
above.
Matthew Paris
(c1200 - 1259), an English monk and noted early historian, was a
contemporary acquaintance of John de Lexington, who appears a number of
times in Paris's seminal work, Chronica Majora, the original source of
some of the anecdotes about John and his brother, Stephen, in Judges of England and the Dictionary of National Biography. For
example, on John rescuing his brother, Stephen, travelling to a council of
the Pope, from attack by the Pisan naval forces under King
Enzio in 1241:
Chronica Majora vol 4 p125 (Matthew Paris,
1877)
De captione prælatorum et legatorum
Dictus igitur Henricus, paternis præceptis obediens, misit
obviam eisdem Januensibus legatos et prælatos confidenter ducentibus,
viginti galeias novas et solidissimas, manu militari optime
communitas, in prima fronte, quibus primicerius præerat Stollius
piratarum peritissimus. Factoque congressu navali cruentissimo,
Pisani, quibus specialiter præfuit Henricus cum jam dicto Stollio, qui
per modum fulgurantis tempestatis irruit ad certamen, victi sunt
Januenses, captique prælati cum legatis, et aliqui submersi vel cæsi,
scilicet archiepiscopus de Besencia, et multi alii, quos longum est
numerare. Ex abbatibus tamen vix Savianensis ope Johannis de
Lexintuna, militis strenuissimi et elegantis, fratris sui ac nuntii
regis Angliæ, evasit liber et illasus. De hujusmodi autem infortunato
casu, per hanc epistolam, cui communis fama perhibet testimonium
evidens, certificamur.
which is crudely translated as:
The
seizure of prelates and officers
The
said Henry, therefore, obeying his father's commands, sent ambassadors
and prelates to meet them with confidence, leading them to the Genoese,
with twenty new and very solid galleys, a very distinguished military
community; After a most bloody naval encounter, the Pisani, to whom
Henry had specially presided over with the already mentioned Stollio,
who rushed to the contest after the manner of a flashing storm, were
defeated, the Genoese, and their prelates with the lieutenants, and some
of them sunk or slain; it is too long to count. But scarcely with the
help of the Abbots of Savia, did John of Lexington, a most valiant and
elegant soldier, of his brother and messenger of the king of England,
escape free and unhurt. Of such an unfortunate case, we are assured by
this letter, to which the common report gives an evident testimony.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p359 (1906)
1243
Jan. 24.
Bordeaux.
Charter granting to John de
Lexinton and his heirs that moiety of the manor of Roderham which Maud
late the wife of Geoffrey de Salsemare holds in dower, as the king’s
escheat because it is of the lands of the Normans; to hold after the
death of the said Maud, with the advowson of a moiety of the church of
the said manor, with homages, services of freemen and other
appurtenances, until the land of England and the land of Normandy are
common, doing the lord of the fee the service due for the same. And if
the said lands become common, the king will not disseise him or his
heirs thereof before making them a reasonable exchange in escheats or
other lands to a like value. Grant also to him and his heirs of 20l. a year at the Exchequer until
they have seisin thereof. Witnesses:—William Lungespe, John son of
Geoffrey, Ralph son of Nicholas, Hugh de Vivona, John de Grey, Geoffrey
le Despenser, John de Plesseto, Robert de Muscegros, Paulinus Peyvre,
Nicholas de Bolevill, Walter de Luiton, William de Chaeny, Richard de
Clifford and others.
1243
Jan. 25.
Bordeaux.
And he has letters patent of
the said 20l. to be received at
the Exchequer.
Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247 p18
1243.
De
perdonatione pro J. de Lexinton’.—Rex perdonavit Johanni de
Lexinton’ x. marcas quas debuit Leoni, Judeo de Eboraco. Et mandatum
est justiciariis ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod eidem Leoni
allocari faciant predictas x. marcas in debito quod regi debit, et
ipsum Johannem de predictis x. marcis quietum esse faciant. Teste rege
apud Burdegalam, j. die Aprilis.
Rex perdonavit Johanni de Lexinton’ viginti et quinque libras
et unam marcam quas regi debuit pro debitis Johannis filii et heredis
Johannis Coleman, qui est in custodia sua, et unde reddere debuit per
annum xl. solidos ad Scaccarium, et mandatum est barronibus de
Scaccario quod eundem Johannem de Lexinton’ et prefatum Johannem
heredem Johannis Coleman de predictis xxv. libris et una marca quietum
(sic) esse faciant. Teste ut
supra.
which translates very roughly as:
Pardons for J.
de Lexinton’.—The king pardoned John of Lexington ten marks
which he owed to Leoni, Jew of York. And it was commanded by the
justices to the custody of the Jews assigned, that they should make the
aforesaid x. marks to be allowed to the same Leoni in the debt which he
owes to the king, and cause John himself to be acquitted of the
aforesaid x. marks. Witness the king at Bordeaux, 1 April.
The king pardoned John of Lexington twenty-five pounds and one
mark which he owed to the king for the debts of John the son and heir of
John Coleman, who is in his ward, and whence he ought to pay xl.
shillings a year to the Exchequer, and it was ordered to the barons of
the Exchequer to let the same John of Lexington and the aforesaid John
heir of John Coleman be acquitted of the aforesaid xxl. pounds and one
mark. Witness as above.
p27
1243.
Pro Johanne
de Lexynton’—Rex concessit Johanni de Lexinton’ scutagium de
feodis militum que tenet de rege in capite, et similiter concessit ei
de dono suo scutagium de feodis militum que tenet de aliis, de quibus
scutagium regi debetur, videlicet de scuto xl. solidos pro excercitu,
etc. Et mandatum est Eboracensi archiepiscopo, Karleolensi episcopo et
Willelmo de Cantilupo quod ex quo certificati fuerint quibus comitibus
scribi debeat pro scutagio predicto, et quibus expedit habere litteras
regis de quietancia scutagii quod eidem Johanni rex dedit, et de aliis
qui de rege tenent, litteras ei fieri faciant quales eidem J. et aliis
viderint expedire; et si quid ex eo captum fuerit, id eidem J. reddi
faciant. Teste rege apud Burdegalam, vij. die Junii.
which translates very roughly as:
For John de
Lexynton’.—The king granted John of Lexington scutage for the
knights’ fees which he holds of the king in chief, and similarly he
granted him for his gift scutage for the knights’ fees, which he holds
others for which the scutage is due the king, namely, scutage of xl.
shillings for the army. And it was ordered by the Archbishop of York,
bishop of Carlisle, and William of Cantilupus, that from the time they
were assured by whom the earls ought to be written for the aforesaid
scutage, and by whom it would be expedient to have the king’s letter
concerning the quittance of the scutage which the king gave to that
John, and of the other men who hold of the king, letters to him let them
do what they see expedient for the same J. and others; and if anything
has been taken by him, they may cause it to be returned to the same J.
Witness the king at Bordeaux, 7 June.
p114
1243.
Mandatum est vicecomiti Notingh’ quod habere faciat Johanni de Lexint’
scutagium suum de feodis militum que de rege tenet in capite in
balliva sua, scilicet de scuto tres marcas pro excercitu regis contra
transfretationem in Wasconiam.
Mandatum est vicecomiti Linc’ quod habere faciat eidem Johanni
de dono regis scutagium feodi unius militis quod regi debebatur, et
quod idem Johannes tenet de Willelmo de Vescy in balliva sua, pro
eodem exercitu, scilicet de scuto tres marcas.
Mandatum est vicecomiti Norht’ quod habere faciat eidem Johanni
de dono regis scutagium de feodo unius militis quod regi debebatur, et
quod idem Johannes tenet de Willelmo de Feidnes in balliva sua, pro
eodem excercitu, scilicet de scuto tres marcas.
Mandatum est vicecomiti Oxonie quod habere faciat eidem Johanni
de dono regis scutagium feodi dimidii militis quod regi debebatur, et
quod prefatus Johannes tenet de Roesia de Verdun in balliva sua, pro
eodem excercitu, scilicet de scuto tres marcas.
Mandatum est vicecomiti Norhumbrie quod faciat habere eidem
Johanni de dono regis scutagium feodi unius militis et dimidii, quod
regi debebatur, et que idem Johannes tenet de Rogero de Merlay nomine
dotis Margerie uxoris sue, pro eodem excercitu, scilicet etc.
which translates very roughly as:
The
sheriff of Nottinghamshire is mandated to cause John de Lexint’ to have
scutage for the knight’s fee which he holds of the king in chief in his
bailiwick, namely three marks scutage for the king’s army against the
crossing into Gascony.
The sheriff of Lincoln is mandated to cause the same John to have
the gift of the king’s scutage for the knight’s fee owed to the king,
and which the same John holds of William de Vescy in his bailiwick, for
the same army, namely, three marks scutage.
The sheriff of Northampton is mandated to cause the same John to
have the gift of the king’s scutage for the knight’s fee owed to the
king, and which the same John holds of William de Feidnes in his
bailiff, for the same army, namely, three marks scutage.
The sheriff of Oxford is mandated to cause the same John to have
the gift of the king’s scutage for half a knight’s fee owed to the king,
and what the aforesaid John holds of Rose de Verdun in his bailiwick,
for the same army, to wit, three marks scutage.
The sheriff of Northumberland is mandated to cause the same
John to have the gift of the king’s scutage for the one and a half
knight’s fee, owed to the king, and which the same John holds of Roger
de Merlay in the name of dowry to Margery his wife, for the same army,
etc.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p390 (1906)
1243
Aug. 12.
Bordeaux.
[In
the margin.] Memorandum
that on Thursday after St. Laurence John de Lexinton, who had the
custody of the king’s seal, was ill.
pp490-1
1246
Jan. 25.
Westminster.
Appointment of John de Grey,
justice of Chester, Richard de Grey, John de Lexinton and Adam de Eston
to do justice touching tolls and prises done in the county of Chester by
the bailiffs of John Lestrange, when he was justice of Chester, and
touching all persons who against the king’s prohibition sold or sent
victuals and other necessaries to the king’s enemies in Wales, or
consented thereto; also in lieu of the king to view the waste of the
king’s woods and houses in that county since it came to the king’s
hands; and mandate to them that they meet for this on days and at places
appointed; and it is commanded to the justice of Chester and the sheriff
of Stafford and Salop to cause to come before them all those who are
suspected of the foresaid, who are contained in an inquisition which the
king has had made.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4
1247-1258 p3 (1908)
1247
Dec. 10.
Marlborough.
Grant to John de Lexinton, the
steward, and his heirs and assigns, of the wardship of the land and
heirs of John de Pabbeham, tenant in chief, with all appurtenances and
escheats as well of dowers as of wards and other things; with the
marriage of the heirs and of Eleanor, late the wife of the said John,
who holds of the king in chief of her own inheritance and has done
homage to the king for it. Grant to them also, that if Eleanor die
during the said wardship, the wardship of her inheritance, which she
holds in chief, shall remain to them.
p4
1247
Dec. 20.
Clarendon.
Pardon to John de Lexinton, the
steward, of 25 marks of the fine of 100l.
which he made with the king to have the wardship of the land and heirs
of John de Pabbeham and the marriage of the heirs.
By Geoffrey de Lezinan.
1247 Dec. 28.
Clarendon.
Notification that John de
Lexinton, the steward, on Saturday, the feast of the Holy Innocents, by
order of the king restored to Geoffrey de Lezinan [rectius
John de Lexinton] at Winchester 100 marks of the fine of 100l.
which the said steward made with the king to have the wardship of the land
and heirs of John de Pabbeham.
p5
1248
Jan. 10.
Westminster.
Grant to John de Lessinton that
he and his heirs and assigns shall hold his whole land in the town of
Pek of the king and his heirs by the free service of a pair of gilt
spurs or 6d. a year, to be
rendered at Easter to the keeper of the castle of the Pek for all
service; which land he held before by the serjeanty of making the king’s
larder in the castle of the Pek.
p19
1248
June 10.
Winchester.
Licence for John de Lessinton
to take without impediment, view and livery of the king’s foresters and
other bailiffs of the forest, reasonable estover in his wood of Thaydon
within the forest of Essex.
This entry in the Close Rolls notes that John was the given the wardship of
John de Pabenham, during the latter's minority.
Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251 p175
1249.
Pro Johanne de Lexinton’.—Quia
rex evidenter perpendit per inspeccionem rotulorum suorum, quod in
concessione quam rex fecit dilecto et fideli suo Johanni de Lexinton’
de custodia terre et heredis Johannis de Pabenham, per finem quem idem
Johannes de Lexinton’ fecit cum rege, insimul rex concessit ei
custodiam terre quam Alienora, que fuit uxor predicti Johannis, tenuit
de rege in capite de hereditate sua propria, si de ipsa Alienora
humanitus contingeret; et jam, ut audivit rex, predicta Alienora diem
clauserit extremum, mandatum est Henrico de Wengham et coescaetori suo
in comitatu Bed’ quod de custodia hereditatis predicte Alienore, quam
de rege tenuit in capite, eidem Johanni plenam seisinam habere faciant
usque ad legitimam etatem heredis predicte Alienore. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
For
John of Lexington.—Because the king evidently considers, by an
inspection of his rolls, that in the grant which the king made to his
beloved and faithful John de Lexington, of the custody of the land and
of the heir of John de Pabenham, by the end which the same John of
Lexington did with the king, at the same time the king granted him
custody of the land which Eleanor, who was the wife of the aforesaid
John, held of the king in chief of her own inheritance, if humanity
should touch Eleanor herself; and now, as the king has heard, that the
aforesaid Eleanor has closed the last day, it was commanded Henry of
Wengham and his escheator in the county of Bedford that they should keep
the same John in the custody of the aforesaid Eleanor of the estate,
which she held of the king in chief, to have full seisin until the legal
age of the heir to Eleanor. Witness as above
pp223-4
1249.
Rex vicecomiti Bed’, salutem. Precipimus tibi, sicut pluries
precepimus, quod non distringas vel distringi permittas Johannem de la
Legh’ et Simonem de Pabenham’, custodes terre et heredis Johannis de
Pabenham, qui fuit in custodia nostra, et cujus custodiam dimiseramus
dilecto et fideli nostro Johanni de Lexinton’, ad faciendum tibi
racione custodie predicte sectas ad comitatum et hundredum, visum
franci plegii, hidagium, auxilium vicecomitis, vel alias consuetudines
et servicia, quamdiu predictus heres infra etatem fuerit et in
custodia predicti Johannis de Lexinton’. Teste rege apud Wind’ xxv.
die Junii.
which translates very roughly as:
The
king to the sheriff of Bedfordshire, greeting. We order you, as we have
several times ordered, that you should not distrain or permit John de la
Leigh and Simon de Pabenham, guardians of the land and heir of John de
Pabenham, who was in our ward, and whose custody we had released to our
beloved and faithful John of Lexington to do to you by reason of the
custody of the aforesaid suits at the county and hundred, under the
supervision of frank sureties, hidage, sheriff's aid, or other customs
and services, so long as the aforesaid heir is under age and in the
custody of the aforesaid John of Lexington. Witness the king at
Windleshores 25 June.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p346 (1903)
[The roll is torn longitiudinally for
its whole length.]
1249 Nov. 2.
Canterbury.
Inspeximus
and confirmation of a charter whereby Robert de Bruys and Beatrice his
wife gave to John de Lessinton, for his homage and service, the manor of
. . . . . . with all escheats and profits thereto per-taining within the
hundred of Angre, to be held by the said John, his heirs and assigns, by
the service of two knights; and for this gift the said John has given to
the said grantors 1,000 marks to acquit their debts [and those of] . . .
. de Evermuth, their ancestors. Witnesses, Robert Passelewe, archdeacon
of Lewes, Ralph son of Nicholas, Bertram de Crioyl, . . . . . . . ,
Peter de Tany, Richard de Tany, Richard son of Aucher, Richard de
Witsand. . . . .
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 4
1247-1258 p60 (1908)
1250
Feb. 18.
Reading.
Grant to John de Lexinton, in
pursuance of a charter exempting him for life from the office of
justice, after which, by order of the king, he exercised the same
office, that this shall not be to his prejudice; and grant that, if by
order of the king, he exercise the same office again, the said charter
shall still retain its full force and virtue.
p64
1250
April 24.
Westminster.
Licence for John de Lessinton
to keep closed with a hedge and ditch his close which he made in the
wood of his manor of Teyden, which is within the forest of Essex, but so
that the deer can have ingress and egress.
And he has a writ to G. de Langele, justice of the forest..
p110
1251
Sept. 24.
Windsor.
Commission to W. bishop of
Salisbury, J. de Plessetis. earl of Warwick, John de Lessinton, Gilbert
de Segrave, Giles de Erdinton and William le Breton, appointing them
justices for pleas of the city of London, which ought to come before
justices in eyre at the Tower of London, and be heard and determined
there. They are to meet at the Tower on the morrow of Michaelmas.
p163
1252
Nov. 7.
Reading.
Grant to John de Lessinton and
his heirs, that during the minority of the heirs of Margery de Ripariis,
countess of Devon, he shall continue to receive 10l.
a year out of the manor of Harewod late of the said countess, as she
granted to him by charter which the king has inspected, no matter to
whose hands the lands of the late countess may fall.
By K.
p165
1252
Nov. 23.
Clarendon.
Appointment, during pleasure,
of John de Lessinton to the keeping of the forests beyond Trent, and
mandate to all to be intendant to him as chief justice thereof.
By K.
...
Nov. 25.
Clarendon.
Grant to John de Lessinton,
justice of the forests beyond Trent, of 100 marks a year by his own hand
out of the issues of the said forests to maintain him in the king’s
service so long as he is justice. By K.
p172
1253
Jan. 15.
Windsor.
The like for John de Lessinton
to hunt with his own dogs the hare, fox, cat, badger and squirrel
through the forest of Essex, and to dig out, take and carry them
away. By K.
p173
1253
Jan. 17.
Windsor.
Appointment, during pleasure,
of John de Lessinton to the keeping of the castle of Scardeburg and the
castle and manor of Pikering with the wapentake and other appurtenances,
answering to the king for the issues of the manor and wapentake, with
mandate to the knights and others, tenants of the honor of the castles
of Schardeburg and Pikering to be intendant to him. By
K.
p193
1253
May 26.
Windsor.
Commission during pleasure to
John de Lessinton of the castle of Baumburc, in like manner as William
Heyrun, sometime sheriff of Northumberland, had the keeping thereof.
By K.
p204
1253
June 30.
Southwick.
Mandate to J. de Lessinton,
justice of the forest beyond Trent, in all Southwick. counties beyond
Trent through which he passes to plead and determine by inquisition or
otherwise pleas of trespasses committed in parks, warrens and stews, as
well within the forest as without, and trespasses of the king’s
prohibited rivers, so that he answer for the fines and amercements
arising therefrom.
p206
1253
July 8.
Southwick.
Delivery to John de Lessinton
of Richard de Newhus, an idiot, with his wife, to keep so long as the
said Richard live; and for their sustenance the king has committed to
him his land of Neuhus of the inheritance of the idiot, which land by
judgment of the court the king has retained in his hands for the
security of the heirs; on condition that the said John do not waste,
diminish or in any way alienate anything thereof to the loss or
disherison of the heirs, but that, after the death of the said Richard,
it revert to his heirs free and quit of the said John and his heirs.
By R. Waler[and].
Mandate to William Heyrun, sheriff of Northumberland, to deliver
him with the said woman and the said land to the said John.
p217
1253
July 27.
Portsmouth.
Mandate to the queen of England
that when William Heyrun has, in the absence of the king from the realm,
delivered to her the castle of Bamburg, as the king has ordered him to
do, she is to deliver it to John de Lessinton, according to the tenour
of the king’s letters patent made to him. By K.
Mandate to the said William accordingly.
p234
1253
June 29.
Southwick.
The king is sending Robert de
Cominggham, John de Plessetis, John de Estlinton and Adam Baret to view
in what state William Heyrun leaves the castle of Hamburg and John de
Lessinton receives it, and to certify the king thereof under their
seals. Et sunt patentes.
p372
1254 Aug. 4.
Westminster.
Commission to John de Lesstnton, Nicholas de
Stutevill and Thomas de Bella Aqua to enquire touching rapines,
extortions, trespasses and injuries committed by William de Horsendene,
his clerks, bailiffs and ministers, upon many persons of the county of
York while he was sheriff of that county, and the sheriff is to have
before them all who wish to complain.
p410
1255 May 18.
Marlborough.
Licence for life for John de Lessynton to
hunt the hare, fox, wolf, cat, squirrel and badger through the forests
in the counties of Northampton, York and Northumberland, so that he take
not the king’s great deer or hunt in warrens.
p413
1255 June 20.
Woodstock.
Mandate to John de Lessinton to deliver the
castle of Pykering with the wapentake and manor, which the king
committed to him at will, to the sheriff of York, so that the keeping of
the castle remain to the sheriff, and the manor and wapentake to six
good men of Pykering to keep during pleasure, in the form in which the
king has commanded the sheriff. Also to deliver the castle of Bamburgh
with the manor and the justiceship of the forest beyond Trent, which the
king committed to him in like manner during pleasure, to William Herun,
sheriff of Northumberland, to keep during pleasure, so that he render
for the said justiceship 50 marks yearly and in addition that he answer
for the issues of the same in the way in which the king has commanded
him.
p449
1255 Nov. 16.
Windsor.
Appointment, during pleasure, of William
Heyrun to keep the castle of Scardeburg with all things pertaining to
the corpus of the castle, at
his own cost.
Mandate to John de Lexinton to deliver it to him..
The Baronage of England vol 2 p743 (William
Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
Which Sir Iohn Lexinton,
in 3 H. 3. when the Bishop of
London declared to the Prelates and Clergy of England, that the Pope
required the Third part of all the Livings of the Beneficed Clergy, and
the one half of all the Non-residents, was sent by the King to prohibit
them from giving obedience to such an intollerable exaction.
In 37 H. 3. this Iohn
was made Chief Justice of all the Forests North of Trent;
as also Governour of Bamburgh
Castle in Comitat. Northumb.
and of Scardeburgh and Pikering in Com. Ebor. but died in
41 H. 3. without issue.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Anno 1250. 34 H. 3. the fourth of
the Kalends of June
died Robert de Lexington the
Kings Clark, and special (or spiritual) Counsellour, who continuing long
in the Office of a Justice, heaped up to himself ample possessions, and
enlarged the Kings Treasures. The same year his eldest brother John
de Lexington (who 18 Sept. 31 H. 3. undertook the Custody of
the Seal) went from the Court, and the Seal was committed to P.
de Rievallis and Mr. W. de
Kilkenny, but 37 H. 3. May 15 it was committed to P.
Chaceport, and him again. This John
de Lessington was Lord Keeper, first, in 22 H. 3. secondly, 26
H. 3. and thirdly, 32 H. 3. &c.
Sir Robert de Lexington
was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died
without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as
followeth: John, elder brother
of the said Robert, and Lord
after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter
de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge,
likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry
de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne.
Cecilia,
the sister of Sir Robert de
Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard
[rather William] de
Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert
de Marcham. Alice,
the other sister of the said Robert
de Lexton, was married to Richard
(it should be Roland) de
Sutton upon Trent
p364
John
de Lessington about 41 H. 3. and after him his brother and
heir, Henry de Lessington,
Bishop of Lincolne,
42 H. 3. died seized of the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Marneham,
held of Richard de Weston for
a pound of Pepper yearly. Richard de Marcham, and William de Sutton,
were found the heirs of the said Bishop.
p366
John
de Lessington about 41 H. 3. held sixty Acres of Land in Strathaw of Matilda de Lovetor, and sixty in Skeghawe of John de Eyvil. This part descended
with Tuxford,
as in that place may be seen, through Marcham,
Lungevillers, and Mallovell,
to Sir Richard Stanhope.
p380
Tuxford. Tuxfarne.
Henry de Munedegen, 18
H. 3. next heir Roger de Montebegonis,
paid for relief in Lincolneshire,
&c. After his death I guess she sold this Mannor, Warsop,
&c. to Robert de Lexington,
who 20 H. 3. had a confirmation of from the King, and 21 H. 3. the said
Robert made a Charter to John de Lexinton his brother of the
Mannor of Tuxford,
and Hamlet of Warsop,
of which 41 H. 3. he died seized, and of the Land in Lexinton
held of Adam de Everingham,
which descended from their Father Richard,
son of Robert de Lexinton,
named in Kirketon,
which Richard had the Custody
or Baylywick of the Barony of Lexinton,
which belonged to Matilda
de Cauz, and brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert
who was a Clergy-man Canon of Southwell,
became a great Judge and Baron, making this place the principal Scat of
his Barony, which he left to his said brother John,
who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery
Merlay, as in Averham
is said, but no issue; for Henry de
Lessinton, the youngest brother, aged above sixty years, 41 H.
3. Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne,
was heir to his brother the said John
Lord Lexington (Peter
and Stephen their brothers,
both Clergy-men, being I suppose dead before)
p434
Raph
Tilly forfeited the moyety of the Mannor of Roderham
to King Henry the third, who
granted it to John de Lexington,
and he gave it to the Abby of Rufford.
The Judges of England, from the time of the Conquest
vol 2 pp383-5 (Edward Foss, 1848)
LEXINTON, JOHN DE.
? KEEPER
1238. JUST. 1248.
RICHARD DE LEXINTON, a baron so called
from a manor of that name near Tuxford, in Nottinghamshire (the custody
of which was granted to him in 6 John), had several sons, the two eldest
of whom were this John, and Robert, who will be next noticed. The other
sons were Peter and Henry, both brought up to the church, the latter of
whom became bishop of Lincoln.
John de Lexinton was evidently an officer connected with the
court, and probably one of the clerks of the Chancery; the great seal
having been several times placed in his hands apparently in that
character. On the first occasion, in 22 Henry III., 1238, when the king
took it away from Ralph de Neville, it was delivered to him and Brother
Geoffrey of the Temple, to be held jointly: but this was probably only a
temporary measure, for it soon after was in the custody of Simon the
Norman. The next time was in November, 1242, 27 Henry III., when he held
it for a short time with William de Burgo, and afterwards in the same
year alone. During this period Ralph de Neville continued chancellor,
receiving its emoluments till his death, in 1244, although the seal was
out of his hands.
Again, on September 18, 1247, 31 Henry III., John de Lexinton had
the seal during the absence of the keeper, John Mansel, on an embassy,
which lasted till the 10th of the following August. On John Mansel’s
retirement from office, he again took charge of the seal, on October 8,
1249, 33 Henry III., but retired from court in the ensuing year. He,
however, appears again in the same character, in conjunction with Peter
Chaceporc, from May 15 to June 22, 1253, 37 Henry III., when they
resigned the seal into the queen’s hands, on the king’s departure for
Gascony. He thus was five several times entrusted with the great seal;
but from the nature of the appointments it is evident that he held it
for little more than safe custody as an officer of the court.
Within these years he was performing other duties in connection
with the court. In 1241 he had the custody of Griffin, Prince of Wales,
in the Tower of London: and in 1247 he is spoken of as the king’s
seneschall.
It is apparent that though he might be occasionally called to
take possession of the great seal on a particular emergency, after June,
1248, 32 Henry III., he had then been elevated to the judicial bench;
for on that date, and afterwards from October, 1251, 35 Henry III., till
December, 1256, 41 Henry III., a few weeks before his death, there are
numerous entries of payments made for assizes to be taken before him,
precisely in the same manner as before the other judges. In 35 Henry
III. also he was one of those appointed to hear the pleas in the city of
London: and in 38 Hen. III. he is mentioned as having been sent by the
king and council to pronounce a judgment “ad Bancum Domini Regis.” In 37
Henry III. he was made chief justice of the forests north of the Trent,
and governor of the castles of Bamburgh, Scarborough, and Pickering.
He married Margaret Merlay, but left no children. Surviving his
brother Robert, who also died without issue, he succeeded to his
property, which, together with the family estates, devolved, on his
death in February, 1257, 41 Hen III., on his youngest brother Henry,
Bishop of Lincoln. That prelate died in the following year, when his
nephews, Richard de Marcham and William de Sutton, were admitted to the
inheritance as his heirs.
Lives
of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp22-4 (Cornelius Brown, 1882)
JOHN
DE LEXINGTON was a member of an influential family taking their name
from the village of Lexington, now called Laxton, where they held
property. His father was Richard de Lexington, who, says Thoroton,
“brought up his sons so fortunately that Robert, who was a clergyman,
canon of Southwell, became a great judge and baron; while John, the
eldest brother, was Lord Keeper; and Henry the youngest became Bishop of
Lincoln.” One of the earliest notices of John de Lexington is in 1235,
when he took an active part in searching out the origin of a remarkable
crime. A boy named Hugh had been crucified at Lincoln, and suspicion had
fallen upon the Jews. A similar atrocity had taken place years before at
Norwich, when the Jews, about Easter time, bought a Christian child and,
as the chronicler tells us, “tortured him with all the same torture that
our Lord was tortured.” The monks buried the body, and miracles were
wrought by it. The story of the Lincoln murder is of a similarly absurd
character. The clergy buried the body of the boy Hugh next to the tomb
of Bishop Grosseteste, and many astounding stories of miracles which the
body performed were narrated to arouse the interest of the curious and
excite the wonder of the populace. The affair was brought under the
notice of the king, and efforts were made to discover the boy’s
murderers. One Jopin, a Jew, upon whom suspicion had fallen, was
interrogated by Lexington, and induced, under promise of pardon, to make
a full confession. Several Jews were thereupon apprehended; and Jopin,
notwithstanding the promise made to him, was put to death. Lexington
appears to have been elevated to the judicial bench about 1248, for Foss
tells us that “on that date, and afterwards till December 1256, a few
weeks before his death there are numerous entries of payments made for
assizes to be taken before him, precisely in the same manner as before
the other judges.” He had previously held positions of honour and
responsibility. In 1241 he was sent as a messenger from the King to the
Emperor Frederick, and was with that monarch when an extraordinary
event, graphically described by Matthew Paris, took place. Disputes
having arisen between the Emperor and the Pope, a large number of
prelates, assembled at Genoa, who were proceeding to a council at Rome,
refused to travel through the emperor’s territory. They said they could
place no reliance on the words of an excommunicated man, and, embarking
on board ships manned by Genoese, they started on their eastward voyage,
amidst the tumultuous shouts of the sailors and the clang of trumpets.
The emperor, much chagrined, ordered the prelates to be captured; and
his son Henry, with a powerful fleet, started in pursuit. A desperate
fight ensued, in which the Genoese were conquered, and the prelates and
legates, amongst whom was a brother of De Lexington, were made
prisoners. Most of the unfortunate ecclesiastics were sent to Naples,
and endured much suffering on the way thither. They sat “fastened and
squeezed together in heaps,” and “with the intolerable heat falling upon
them, and flies flitting around them and stinging them like scorpions,
they dragged on a long martyrdom.” Of the abbots Matthew Paris adds:
“The abbot of Savigny with some difficulty escaped free and uninjured by
the assistance of John de Lexington, his brother, a most courageous
knight and messenger from the King of England.”
The same year Lexington accompanied the king on an expedition to
Wales. Griffin, the son of Llewellyn, being detained in prison by his
brother David, the Bishop of Bangor entreated the King of England to
procure his release. Henry raised an army, summoning all who owed him
military service to assemble at Gloucester with horses and arms. A
council was held at Shrewsbury, and the English forces marched towards
Chester. Fearing to hazard a battle, David set his brother at liberty;
and Griffin, being handed over to England, was sent under the protection
of John de Lexington to the Tower, where other Welsh nobles were
detained.
In 1247 Lexington was king’s seneschal. As one of the clerks in
chancery, or as an officer connected with that court, the great seal was
placed in his hands on four occasions, viz. in 1238, 1242, 1249, and
1253. He heard pleas in the city of London in 1251, and pronounced a
judgment, “ad Bancum Domini regis,” at the special request of the king
and council in 1254. About the same time he became chief justice of the
forests north of the Trent, and governor of Bamburgh, Scarborough, and
Pickering Castles. He died in February 1257, leaving his property to his
younger brother Henry, the Bishop of Lincoln.
Dictionary
of National Biography vol 33 pp202-3 (Leslie Stephen,
1893)
LEXINTON
or LESSINGTON, JOHN DE (d.
1257), baron, judge, and often described as keeper of the great seal,
eldest son of Richard de Lexinton, baron, who took his designation from
Lexinton (now Laxton), near Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, was a clerk of the
chancery. In 1238, being then a knight, he and Geoffrey, a templar, had
the custody of the seal for a short time on the dismissal of Ralph
Neville, the chancellor; he again had it, also for a short time, in
1242; and in September 1247 had charge of the seal on the departure from
England of John Mansel, the keeper. In 1249 and in 1253 he also had the
custody of the seal for short periods. It may well be doubted whether
these circumstances should cause him to be called keeper of the great
seal. He was rather a temporary guardian of it during vacancies in the
office of chancellor (Foss). Having been sent by Henry III as his envoy
to attend the council which Gregory IX proposed to hold in 1241, was
with the Genoese fleet which conveyed the prelates going to the council
when it was defeated by the Pisan and Sicilian ships under the command
of King Enzio on 3 May between the islands of Giglio and Monte Cristo
[see under LEXINTON, STEPHEN DE]. On his
return he joined the king in his expedition against David, son of
Llewelyn, and was sent from Chester to conduct Gruffydd ab Llewelyn
[q.v.] to London. He was the following year appointed a commissioner to
amend infringements of the truce with France (Fœdera,
i. 244). In 1246 he was sent by the king to the bishops assembled in St
Paul’s to forbid them assenting to a large demand for money which the
pope was making upon them. Possibly then, and certainly in 1247, he was
the king’s seneschal. From 1248 onwards some notices occur of his work
as a judge. When the king was at Nottingham in 1250, John swore on his
behalf to the preliminaries of a truce with France, and in that year
succeeded to the estates and barony of his brother, Robert de Lexinton
[q.v.] In 1253 the king proposed to send him to conduct Henry’s
daughter, Margaret, queen of Scotland, to her mother. He was in 1255
chief justice of the forests north of the Trent, and governor of the
castles of Bamburgh, Scarborough, and Pickering. In that year, being at
Lincoln, the cathedral city of his brother, Bishop Henry de Lexinton
[q.v.], when the boy called Hugh of Lincoln [q.v.] was found dead, he at
once adopted the popular belief that the Jews had murdered the boy, and
promised the Jew Copin safety if he would confess. Having obtained the
desired statement, he kept the Jew in fetters until the king arrived,
who chided him for promising to save the man’s life. He died in February
1257. Matthew Paris refers to him as his authority for the miracles
wrought at the tomb of the archdeacon Thomas of Hertford, and says that
he was a man of weight and learning and a brave and accomplished knight.
Paris notes that he bore a cross azure on a shield argent. Lexinton
married Margaret Morlay, but left no children.
... [Foss’s Judges, ii. 383; Dugdale’s Baronage, i. 743; Matt.
Paris’s Chron Maj. iii. 495, iv. 125, 150, 581, v. 384, 517, 610, vi.
741 (Rolls Ser.); Ann. of Burton ap. Ann. Monast. i. 345, 376 (Rolls
Ser.); Royal Letters, Hen. III, ii. 48, 99 (Rolls Ser.); Rymer's Fœdera,
i. 244, 324 (Record ed.) Thoresby’s Thoroton’s Notts. iii. 119. For the
bishop see Matt. Paris; Annales Monastice; Le Neve’s Fasti Eccl.
Angl.] W. H.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
Richard de Lexington had a very
remarkable family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three
of his sons, each famous in his own sphere. ... The second brother,
John, was a clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper of the
Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was sent
on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor Frederick
II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 he was Chief
Justice of the Forests north of the Trent, and tried, at Lincoln, the
Jewish murderers of the boy, Hugh of Lincoln. He founded a chantry in the
church at Laxton, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr.
... About the year 1250 the earlier chancel and aisles were rebuilt,
the occasion being the founding of a chantry to the Blessed Virgin Mary by
Sir John de Lexington, who endowed it and vested it in the Prior of
Rufford. A chantry was an endowment for the celebration of masses at an
altar in a church for the souls of the departed. Usually masses were said
by a specially appointed priest who held his chantry as an independent
benefice, and his altar, his stipend, and his house, if one were provided,
were as fully his freehold as the church and rectory were of the rector.
The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the
north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin
was set up. The endowment of the chantry amounted to 5 marks yearly, from
rents.
The family of Lexington founded and endowed another chantry at
Laxton, dedicated to St. Edmund, though there is no record of a chapel or
altar connected with it. This chantry was a donative, and the two chantry
priests shared a house which was still standing near the eastern end of
the church in 1635. Lands for their support were set aside in the Laxton
fields.
...In 1861 the work of restoration was undertaken by the second Earl
Manvers. The Early English tower was taken down, together with the last
bay of the nave, and the present tower was erected out of the old
materials, at the end of the nave thus shortened. The effect was to
destroy the proportions of the church, chancel and nave being now out of
balance and the length of the two insufficient to carry the width. An
attempt was made to correct this by pulling down the north aisle and the
Lexington chapel and the south aisle, replacing them with the present
narrower structures. The south porch was taken down and rebuilt at the
same time.
... In the north aisle is a tomb much mutilated, the details of
which suggest the latter part of the thirteenth century. The north aisle
was the chapel of the Lexingtons, the inferior lords of Laxton, and it is
probable that this tomb was built by a member of this family. At some date
the tomb has been cut down to form a resting-place for the statues of the
second Adam de Everingham (d. 1341) and his two wives.
1256-7
The first dated reference to John being deceased is the IPM writ (Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3) dated 16 January 1256(7).
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3 (1904)
378.
JOHN DE LESSINTON alias DE
LAXINTON, DE LEXINTON.
Writ
to the sheriff of Northampton, 16 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
Sir Henry de Lessinton, alias
de Laxinton, de Lexenton, bishop of Lincoln, age variously stated as 40
and 60 and more, is his heir.
NORTHAMPTON. Bifeld and Warewrth, 18s.
rent held of William Lingespeye rendering 3 barbed arrows yearly; 20s. rent of Ralph Giffard; 2
virgates land of William Constantin by service of 2d.;
1 virgate of the prior of Ware rendering 3s.; ½ virgate of Ralph
Giffard, which Ralph had of Elias the clerk of Wardon, to whom the prior
of Esseby delivered it for his life.
Apiltre and Aston, 20l.
land held of Thomas . . . . . doing scutage.
Writ to the sheriff of
Nottingham and Derby, 16 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq.
(undated.)
NOTTINGHAM. Tukesford manor with Warsope hamlet, held of
the king in chief by service of 1 knight’s fee.
Lessinton, land held of Sir Adam de Everingham by service
of ½ knight’s fee.
Knesale, a culture with a wood called Herteshorn, held of
Sir Edmund de Lascy for one sore sparrowhawk or 2s.
yearly.
Marnham, ¼ knight’s fee held of Richard de Weston for 1lb. pepper yearly.
Scrathawe, 60a.
land held of Lady Maud de Luvetot for homage only.
Scheghawe, 60a. held of Sir John de Eyville for homage
only.
Egrum manor, held of Sir John de Gatesdene by service of 2
knights’ fees.
Kelum, 8 bovates held of Peter son of Peter de Kelum by
service of ½ knight's fee.
[DERBY.] The Peak (Pecko),
land held of the king by service of 1 pair of gilt spurs, or 6d.
to the keeper of the Castle of the Peak.
Writ to the sheriff of Oxford,
17 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
OXFORD. Hornle, 10 hides land of the fee of Braundon,
held of John de Verddun, service unknown.
Writ to the sheriff of Essex,
17 Jan. 41 Hen. III. Inq. (undated.)
ESSEX. Theyden ad montem manor, held of Sir Robert de
Brywes by service of 2 knights’ fees. (See No. 402.)
C.
Hen. III. File 19. (18.)
Abstracts of the Inquisitiones Post Mortem Relating to
Nottinghamshire vol 2 p115 (ed. John Standish, 1914)
John de Lessinton.*
Inquisition
by precept of the King as to the land of John
de Lessinton in the county, made by Thomas
de Muchaump, William son of Hervey
of the same, Ralph of the
same, William de la Venele of
the same, Roger de Keleshold
in Kelum, Richard de Weston, Robert
de Draiton’ Walter de Pivigl’ in Starthorp, William
son of Odo de Muchaump, Peter de
Schelford, Robert Burdun in Buketon and William
son of Eudo of the same who
say that
John
de Lessinton held of the King in chief, the manor of Tukesford
with the hamlet of Warsope by the service of 1 knight’s fee. And he held
all his land in Lessinton of the lord Adam
de Everingham by the service of half a knight’s fee. And he
held one arable plot (cultura)
with a wood which is called Herteshorn in Knesale of the lord Edmund
de Lascy by 1 sore sparrowhawk or 2s.
yearly. And he held a fourth part of a knight’s fee in Marnham of Richard de Weston by 1 lb. of
pepper yearly. And he held 60 acres of land in Scrathawe of the lady Matilda de Luvetot by homage only.
And he held 60 acres of land in Scheghawe of the lord John
de Eyvill by homage only. And he held the manor of Egrum of the
lord John de Gatesdene by the
service of 2 knights’ fees. And he held 8 oxgangs of land in Kelum of Peter son of Peter
de Kelum by the service of half a knight’s fee. And he held his
land in Pecko of the King by the service of 1 pair of gilt spurs or 6d. to be paid to the keeper of
Pecko Castle. And that the lord Henry
de Lessinton, Bishop of Lincoln, is his next heir and is aged
60 years and upwards.
Inq. p. m., 41 Henry
iij., No. 12.
*[Writ witnessed by the King himself at Wudestok on 29 September, 41 Henry
iij [1257].]
†[Writ witnessed by the King himself at Westminster on 16 January, 41
Henry iij [1256-7].]
(The two footnotes in this entry appear to be mixed up. The * footnote is
listed for John de Lessington and the † footnote is listed for the entry of
Roger Scissor, but the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3 lists the writ for John de Lessinton for
Nottinghamshire as 16 January, and the writs to other counties on 16 or 17
January)
Close Rolls Henry III 1256-1259 p26
1256. [m. 11 cont.]
Pro exequtoribus testamenti Johannis
de Lexinton’.—Mandatum est Johanni Waler’, eseaetori regis
citra Trentam quod, accepta securitate ab exequtoribus testamenti
Johannis de Lexinton’ de debitis regi reddendis, si que regi debebat
die quo obiit, eosdem exequtores liberam administracionem habere
permittat de omnibus bonis que fuerunt ejusdem Johannis ad exequcionem
testamenti sui faciendam. Teste.
Eodem modo mandatum est vicecomitibus Northumbr’, Nottingham et
Derby’. Teste rege apud Westmonasterium xviij. die Januarii.
which translates very roughly as:
For the
executors of the testament of John de Lexington.—It is the
mandate of John Waler, the king’s escheator on this side of Trent, that,
having received security from the executors of the testament of John de
Lexington, to pay the debts to the king, if anything was owed the king
on the day he died, he is to allow the same executors to have free
administration of all the goods belonging to the same John to execute
the execution of his will. Witness
In the same way, mandates to the sheriffs of
Northumberland, Nottingham and Derby. Witness the king at Westminster 18
January.
-
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p189
and p327
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
- Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247 p114
refers to John's wife as Margery, holding dower of Roger de Merlay; The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p380
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); Margery father and 1st husband from Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 3
Edward I: 1291-1300 pp5-6 (1904) and A History of Northumberland vol 2 p373
(John Hodgson, 1832); Roger 1st wife and children from A History of Northumberland vol 2 p373
(John Hodgson, 1832)
- The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935); The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
- Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 pp102-3 (1904) has the writ for John's IPM
dated 16 January 1256(7); The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p364
states John's death to be "about 41 H. 3." and Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
pp202-3 (Leslie Stephen, 1893), copying Lives of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp22-4
(Cornelius Brown, 1882) and The Judges of England, from the time of the
Conquest vol 2 pp383-5 (Edward Foss, 1848) says he
died in February 1257 which cannot be, given the IPM writ.
- John
Lexington
- John de Lexington
Matilda (_____) de Lexington
Richard de
Lexington
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p378
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Robert de Laxton for the health of
his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard
his father, and Matilda his
mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford,
the gift which the said Richard
his father gave to them, viz.
one Bovat in Walesby,
which William the Clark held,
and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon,
and twenty Acres of Arable, with
Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard
de Laxton had of Alan
Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father
had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco,
sometimes wife of John Burdun,
and a Toft in Welhagh,
which Gumbert held of his
father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of
the Church at Rufford,
Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen,
and Sir Henry his brothers
were Witnesses, and Mr. William de
Marcham.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
The father, mother, and sister
of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the north aisle of the church, and
it was here that his altar to the Virgin was set up.
Laxton church, Nottinghamshire,
England, in the north aisle, along with her husband
Peter de Lexington
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
Cleric. Peter was parson of
Gedlinge, Nottinghamshire.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Sir Robert de Lexington was an
Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died without
heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as followeth: John, elder brother of the said Robert, and Lord after him, who
also dyed without heir of himself. Peter
de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge,
likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry
de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne.
Cecilia,
the sister of Sir Robert de
Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard
[rather William] de
Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert
de Marcham. Alice,
the other sister of the said Robert
de Lexton, was married to Richard
(it should be Roland) de
Sutton upon Trent
p340
Silvester
de Kirneshale, son of Henry
de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold
one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale,
of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to
the wood called Bergelhage;
the witnesses were Robert de Laxton,
Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen
his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John
de Kalnatheton.
p347
The
Rectory is appropriated to the Church of Southwell,
and makes a Prebend called South
Muskam
Prebend, which Henry de Sewell,
Clark, augmented (in the time of Henry
the third) by the donation or gift of three Tofts in the Town of Suell, to Mr. William
de Marcham, Canon of that Church, and to his successours Canons
of the Prebend of Suth Muschamp,
&c. The Witnesses to the Chapters Certificate of his Deed were, Mr.
William de Marcham, Sir Robert de Lexington, Richard de Sutton,
Canon of Suell,
Mr. Peter
de Lexington, Sir Henry de
More, William the Sacrist, Thomas
de Barra, Chaplains, John de
Augir, Robert de Barra, John de Suwell, Clark, and others.
p378
Robert
de Laxton for the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard his father, and Matilda
his mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford,
the gift which the said Richard
his father gave to them, viz.
one Bovat in Walesby,
which William the Clark held,
and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon,
and twenty Acres of Arable, with
Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard
de Laxton had of Alan
Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father had
of the Fee of Alice de Bofco,
sometimes wife of John Burdun,
and a Toft in Welhagh,
which Gumbert held of his
father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of
the Church at Rufford,
Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen,
and Sir Henry his brothers were
Witnesses, and Mr. William de Marcham.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable
family, and his sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons,
each famous in his own sphere.
... There were two other brothers, Stephen, who was Abbot of Clairvaux,
and Peter, also a cleric
Richard de Lexington
Robert de Lexinton
Matilda
The Baronage of England vol 2 p742 (William
Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
OF this Family, so named from Lexinton,
(now called Laxton, near Tuxford, in Com. Nott.) I find no
mention till King Iohn's days;
but then, viz. in 13 Ioh. that
Lordship was in the King's hands, and reputed a Barony, it consisting of
Thirteen Knights Fees, and a Fourth part. It seems that Richard
de Lexinton, about that time possessor of it, had incurred the
King's displeasure (as many others then did, in arming against him,
under colour of asserting their antient Rights and Liberties:) but in 17
Ioh. giving an Hundred marks
and Two Palfreys, he made his peace,
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p375
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Laxton.
Lexington. And Morehouse.
The
Land of Matilda de Calz viz. Lessinton with
the Appurtenances, was in the Custody of Richard
de Lessinton, who 7 Joh.
gave account of 7l. 17s. 6d. of the
Rent of Assize of Lessinton,
of the term of Saint Michael
the year before,and of 43l. 0s. 4d. of
the Rent of Assize that year, and of 30l. 18s. 10d.
of Corn of that Mannor sold, and of 40s. of Bacuns sold, and
of 25. Marks of the Scutage of 12. Fees and an half, and for 8. Oxen
bought, 100s. by the Kings writ. Richard
de Lessinton, and Robert
his son for him, 9 Joh.
accounted for 16l. Rent of Assize for half a year of Lessington,
the Land of Matilda de Cauz. Richard
de Lessington 9 Joh.
ought two hundred Marks for having the Kings favour, and seisin of his
Lands he was disseised by occasion of the custody of the Kings Forest,
30l. and 15s. being computed to him, which Brian de Infula took of the
Chattels the said Richard
sold.
In 13 Joh. this was
called the Barony of Lexington,
whereof Brian de Infula for
the Scutage that year gave account, the other was not yet in being, and
Robert, afterwards Lord Lexington,
son of Richard before-named,
had his name from his Ancestors residence, and holding Lands here of
this family of Cauz: but the
most of his Land he purchased in other places, as in this Book may
easily be noted.
p378
Alan, son of William
Lancelene of Kirkton,
granted and confirmed to Richard,
son of Robert de Laxinton, his
whole Wood of Kirketon,
with the Land in which it stood,
reserving [Argenteum] a Silver
Penny within the twelve days of Christmas
yearly.
Robert de Laxton for
the health of his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard
his father, and Matilda his
mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford,
the gift which the said Richard
his father gave to them, viz.
one Bovat in Walesby,
which William the Clark held,
and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon,
and twenty Acres of Arable, with
Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard
de Laxton had of Alan
Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father
had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco,
sometimes wife of John Burdun,
and a Toft in Welhagh,
which Gumbert held of his
father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of
the Church at Rufford,
Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen,
and Sir Henry his brothers
were Witnesses, and Mr. William de
Marcham.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
In the twelfth century a
de Caux made a grant of land to one Richard, of Laxton or Lexington, in
return for certain services. This grant was added to by his successors,
the de Birkins and de Everinghams, and in 1232 these grants were all set
out clearly in a Royal Charter, which confirmed them to Richard de
Lexington's son, Robert, and his heirs. This charter is very interesting,
as the lands are described in great detail, and some of them can be
identified to-day, as their names, such as Eastkirk, Southlound,
Crouchwell, &c, still remain.
Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his
sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in
his own sphere. The eldest, Robert de Lexington, was a prebendary of
Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. In 1240 he was the Chief
Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England. The second
brother, John, was a clerk in the Chancery and also a judge. He was Keeper
of the Great Seal during vacancies in the Office of Chancellor, and he was
sent on several missions abroad by the King: in 1241 to the Emperor
Frederick II, and in 1250 to arrange a truce with France. In 1255 he was
Chief Justice of the Forests north of the Trent, and tried, at Lincoln,
the Jewish murderers of the boy, Hugh of Lincoln. He founded a chantry in
the church at Laxton, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr.
The third brother, Henry, was first Dean and then Bishop of
Lincoln, being consecrated in 1253. At that date the diocese of Lincoln
extended to the Thames, and he had a dispute with the scholars of Oxford
as to his jurisdiction within the University. The Angel Choir in Lincoln
Cathedral was built during his episcopacy. He died in 1258.
There were two other brothers, Stephen, who was Abbot of Clairvaux,
and Peter, also a cleric, but they died before the Bishop, and as none of
the brothers had any children, their inheritance passed to their nephews,
William Sutton and Robert de Markham, the children of their two sisters.
The Lexingtons had large estates, and the Laxton portion of them came to
Robert de Markham. From William Sutton was descended Robert Sutton,
created Baron Lexington of Averham, by Charles I, but this branch of the
Lexington family had no connexion with Laxton.
... About the year 1250 the earlier chancel and aisles were rebuilt,
the occasion being the founding of a chantry to the Blessed Virgin Mary by
Sir John de Lexington, who endowed it and vested it in the Prior of
Rufford. A chantry was an endowment for the celebration of masses at an
altar in a church for the souls of the departed. Usually masses were said
by a specially appointed priest who held his chantry as an independent
benefice, and his altar, his stipend, and his house, if one were provided,
were as fully his freehold as the church and rectory were of the rector.
The father, mother, and sister of Sir John de Lexington were buried in the
north aisle of the church, and it was here that his altar to the Virgin
was set up.
Laxton church, Nottinghamshire,
England, in the north aisle, along with his wife
Robert de Lexinton
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p378
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Kirketon.
And Willoughby.
Alan,
son of William Lancelene of Kirkton, granted
and confirmed to Richard, son of
Robert de Laxinton, his whole
Wood of Kirketon,
with the Land in which it stood,
reserving [Argenteum] a Silver
Penny within the twelve days of Christmas
yearly.
Robert de Lexington
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
Justice in Eyre, and clergyman
Robert was a Prebendary of Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. He
was also rector of the church at Lexington, or Laxton, in Nottinghamshire.
Robert resigned the prebendary of Wells in 1243.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p398 (1906)
1243
Oct. 23.
Westminster.
Grant to Thomas de Stretton,
upon the resignation of Robert de Lexinton, of the prebend which the
latter had in the church of Wells, in the king’s gift by reason of the
voidance of the bishopric of Bath: directed to the dean and chapter of
Wells.
In 1240 Robert was the Chief Justice Itinerant for the northern division of
England.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
states that he was "the Kings Clark, and special (or spiritual) Counsellour,
who continuing long in the Office of a Justice, heaped up to himself ample
possessions, and enlarged the Kings Treasures."
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p388
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
King Henry the third 4 H. 3. commanded Roland de Sutton, Adam de Muscamp, Henry
de Rolleston, William Rufus, and Robert
de Lexington, Clark, that they should go together to Kingshagh,
and there assign to the men of the Sok
of Dunham,
their Pasture to the Brook there running, as they ought, and were wont
to have, before the Wood of Kingshagh
was made a Park, as it was acknowledged at Nott.
before H. de Burg, the Kings
Justice, and to prohibit the said men on the Kings behalf, that they
passed not that Brook towards the Wood by (reason or) occasion of having
Pasture, &c.
Robert is mentioned a number of times in the Patent
Rolls and Close Rolls, due to his
position as a judge. Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 1
1216-1225, Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 2
1225-1232, Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247, Close Rolls Henry III 1227-1231, Close Rolls Henry III 1231-1234, Close Rolls Henry III 1234-1237, Close Rolls Henry III 1237-1242, Close Rolls Henry III 1242-1247, Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251.
These are some examples of commissions made to Robert as a justice
in eyre.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 pp76-8 (1906)
1234
Aug. 1.
Westminster.
Commission to Thomas de
Muleton, Robert de Bello Campo, Robert de Lexinton, Oliver de Vallibus,
and Adam son of William, as justices in eyre in the county of Norfolk
touching all assizes and pleas, as well of the crown as others, which
have arisen since the last eyre in that county touching those which were
summoned and postponed and not finished before the justices at
Westminster, or before the justices last in eyre in that county for all
pleas, with assigns of novel disseisin or gaol deliveries. And all such
assizes and pleas are to be before them in the same state in which they
remained by order of the king, or by the said justices in eyre, or by
the justices of the Bench. There are to meet on the morrow of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross at Norwich and the sheriff is commanded to
cause summonses to be made before them on the said day and place, and
the attachments to come before them with the writs of the said assizes
and pleas; and the king sends them under his seal the Capitula
whereby they should hold the pleas of the crown.
The same justices are to go on eyre in the county of Suffolk and
they have like letters without the days and places on which they should
meet being expressed.
... Justices appointed in the following counties:—
... cos. Norfolk and Suffolk
Thomas de Muletun. Oliver de Vallibus. Robert de Bello Campo. Robert de
Lexinton. Adam son of William.
... cos. Essex and Hertford.
Earl Roger le Bigot. Robert de Bello Campo. Adam son of William.
Robert de Lexinton. Simon de Furnoll[is].
Afterwards in place of the earl, O. de Vallibus was appointed.
... cos. Cambridge, Huntingdon and Middlesex.
R. de Lexinton. Robert de Bello Campo. Adam son of William.
Oliver de Vallibus. Simon de Furnell[is]
p128
1235
Sept. 3.
Nottingham.
Appointment of the abbot of
Hyde, Robert de Lexinton, Adam son of William, Robert de Bello Campo,
and Jordan Oliverias justices in eyre for all pleas in the counties of
Berks and Wilts.
The like of the following in the respective counties:—
The said justices. Berks and Wilts.
Dorset and Somerset. To meet at Reading on the octaves of
Michaelmas.
Robert de Curtenay Robert de Lexinton Adam son of William Robert
de Bello Campo Jordan Oliveri
Afterwards the four last named
were commanded to admit Henry de Ortyaco in place of Robert de
Curtenay.
In 1229, Robert was granted the right to cut wood in Sherwood forest to
repair houses in Okeston that had burnt, and then later that year given the
manor of Woodstock, and received a gift from the king of two deer for
Christmas 1230, and three deer the following year.
Close Rolls Henry III 1227-1231 pp168-9
1229 [m. 12]
De fustis datis.—Mandatum est
Thome de Birkin quod per visum constabularii Noting’ faciat habere
Roberto de Lexinton’ x fusta in alta foresta de Shireuuod’, ubi
competentins et ad minus nocumentum foreste capi possint, ad domos
suas de Okeston’, que combuste sunt, reparandas. Scire etiam faciat
predicto constabulario quibus die et loco ei occurrere debeat ad hoc,
sicut predictum est, exequendum. Teste rege apud Wyndles’, xxij die
Aprilis.
which translates very roughly as:
It was ordered that Thomas de Birkin should, under
the supervision of the constable of Nottingham, have Robert de
Lexington's rights in the high forest of Shireuuod, where competent and
less harmful forests could be seized, to repair their homes of Okeston',
which have been burnt. He shall also cause the aforesaid constable to
know on what day and place he ought to meet him in order to execute as
stated above. Witness the king at Wyndles', 22 April.
p221
1229 [m. 2]
De manerio et domibus regis de
Wudestok’.—Rex commisit Roberto de Lexinton’ manerium et
domes regis de Wudestok’ cum pertinentiis, custodienda quamdiu regi
placuerit. Et mandatum est G. de Craucumbe quod predictum manerium cum
pertinentiis ei liberet, sicut predictum est. Teste ut supra. De
stauro et blado etc. ut in rotulo finium.
which translates very roughly as:
Of the manor
and houses of the king of Woodstock.—The king entrusted Robert
of Lexington the manor and houses of Woodstock with the appurtenances to
the king’s manor and houses, to be kept as long as it pleases the king.
And it was commanded G. of Craucombe that he should deliver the
aforesaid manor with the appurtenances to him, as stated above. Witness
as above.
p460
1230 [m. 20]
De damis datis.— Mandatum est
B. de Insula quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexinton’ duas damas in
foresta de Sirewud’ contra instans Natale, de dono regis. Teste rege
apud Westmonasterium, xxviij die Novembris.
which translates very roughly as:
About the deer
given.—B. de Insula is ordered to have Robert de Lexington two
deer in the forest of Sirewud’ before Christmas, as a gift from the
king. Witness the king at Westminster, 28 November.
Close Rolls Henry III 1231-1234 p1
1231 [m. 19]
De damis datis.— Mandatum est
B. de Insula quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexinton’ tres damas in
foresta de Shirewod’ de dono regis. Teste rege apud Rading’, xxviij.
die Octobris, anno etc. xvj.
which translates very roughly as:
About the deer
given.—B. de Insula is ordered to have Robert de Lexington
three deer in the forest of Sherwood’ as a gift from the king. Witness
the king at Reading, 28. October, year 16
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p141 (1903)
1231
Oct. 23.
Westminster.
Grant to Robert de Lexintun,
his heirs and assigns, of the following gifts :—
of the gift of William Briwer the younger, 10l.
yearly receivable from the yearly farm of 20l.,
which Peter son of Robert de
. . . . . . and his heirs owe to the said William Briwer [for land in]
Hwytinton;
of the gift of Olive daughter of Alan son of Jordan, Stephen son
of Hugh with all that goes with him (sequela),
and all his lands, which he holds of her within and without the town . .
. . whether in essarts or other land, with the mill of Marieton and the
suit (secta) of the men of
Tuxford and the soke thereof, both of free men and villeins, who owe
that suit . . . . multure from her own house of Tuxford;
of the gift of William son of Richard de Pecco, all his land in
the town of Peak with the capital messuage formerly of his father
Richard.
pp149-50
1232
Feb. 4.
Westminster.
Grant to Robert de Lexintun,
his heirs and assigns, of the following gifts gifts, grants and
quit-claims:—
of the gift of Maud de Kauz, eight bovates of land in Newtun with
tofts and crofts and the homage and service of Ralph de Cressy and Henry
nephew (nepos) of Engeralm the
butler from three bovates in Newton, with common of pasture in Scelford,
and a bovate in Lexintun with a toft and croft, which Hugh Mansel held,
and three acres and a half in the field of Lexintun towards Osantun in
the tillage (cultura) called
Tunstal:
of the gift of the same, four bovates of her demesne at
Lexintun, each containing ten acres, with a little meadow between the
tillage of Cruchewelle and the brook that falls into the fish-pond, six
acres of meadow in the meadow of Estkirk on the east side, two bovates
which Robert son of Geoffrey the reeve held in Lexintun, a toft which
Coleswanus held in Morhuses and all her wood there:
of the gift of John de Birkin, the hamlet called Moorhuses and
the men dwelling there, with all that goes with them (sequela)
and their goods; the meadow called Nabheng, which Geoffrey de Lond held;
12d. of service, which Hugh the
clerk paid to the said John yearly for four acres, and the four acres; a
toft formerly of Ranulf le Franceis; four bovates of land, which
Geoffrey son of Roger and William son of Geoffrey held, with the tofts
and crofts thereto belonging, and meadows called Fordayles:
of the quit claim of the said John, remission of two pounds of
pepper which the said Robert used to pay to him for his holding in
Lexintun and Newtun under the charters of Maud de Kauz:
of the gift of the said John, ninety acres, by the perch of
twenty feet, of his demesne in Lexinton, and all the meadow which he had
in demesne in Estkirk, with 6s.
6d., which he used to receive
yearly through the said Robert from the land of Alan son of Robert, and
the land of the said Alan:
of the grant and quit claim of the said John, all his right in
that part of the wood of Lexintun, which is beyond Ballandebec on the
south side; also licence to make exchanges of land with his men in
Lexintun, both free and bond:
of the gift of Thomas de Birkin, all the wood called Knapenshag
and all the meadow called Suthlund, and five sellions of demesne in
Langhill; the homage and service of Engeram the cook of the holding held
from the said Thomas in Lexinton:
of the gift of Robert de Everingham and Isabel his wife, 100s. of land in Lexintun, that is the
land which the said Robert de Lexintun formerly held for the term of
twelve years under an agreement, made between him and Thomas de Birkin:
of the gift of Roger son of Geoffrey de Lexinton, four bovates of
land, in Lexinton:
of the gift of Alard de Lexinton, all his land in Lexinton, that
is three bovates and two tofts, which he had of the gift of Maud de
Kauz:
of the gift of John de Lascy, constable of Chester, two parts of
the wood, which was in dispute between him and John de Birkin, that is
the two parts lying nearer to the brook called Balandebec, and land in
the fields of Lexinton, which Ralph son of Stephen held:
of the gift of John de Ayvill, land in Egmaneton, that is the
tillage called Northal, formerly of Godard the knight, which contain ten
acres:
of the gift of Robert de Ayvill, the homage and service of the
heirs of Robert son of Walter son of Richer of all his holding in West
Marham, and all the wood of the said Robert in Strathagh, which William
Basset and Maud de Lovetot quit-claimed to him:
of the gift of Roger de Westun, all the land which William his
grandfather held in Mamham and Weston:
of the gift of John Joscelin, all his land of Weston and
Appeltre, which the said Robert de Lexintun formerly held of him for the
term of twenty years:
of the gift of Hugh Bardulf, all bis land of Hemeley and
Hornigton, with the services of the free men and bondmen, which land the
said Hugh formerly demised to the said Robert for the term of eight
years.
p176
1233
April 23.
Lambeth.
Grant to Robert de Lexinton, his heirs and assigns, of the gift
which Olive daughter of Alan son of Jordan, in her widowhood, made to
him of all her meadow of Karleton and Crumbewell and of her manor of
Waresop with the advowson of the church there, for which gift the said
Robert quit-claimed to her the mill of Milneton and the land of Stephen
son of Hugh, which he previously held of the said Olive.
Close Rolls Henry III 1231-1234 p186
1233 [m. 13]
De quercubus datis.—Mandatum
est P. de Rivall’ quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexington’ xv. quercus
in foresta de Savernac de dono regis ad se hospitandum apud Sarr’.
Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
About the oaks
given.—P. de Rivall was ordered to have Robert of Lexington 15
oaks in the forest of Savernac as a gift from the king for his
accommodation at Sarre. Witness as above.
p357
1233 [m. 32]
De quercubus datis.—Mandatum
est P. de Rivall’ quod habere faciat Roberto de Lexington’ xx. quercus
in foresta de Graveling’ ad domos sibi apud Sarr’ construendas, de
dono regis. Teste ut supra.
which translates very roughly as:
About the oaks
given.—P. de Rivall was ordered to have Robert of Lexington 20
oaks in the forest of Graveling to construct houses for himself at
Sarre, as a gift from the king. Witness as above.
p477
1234 [m. 15]
De damis datis:—
... Pro Roberto de Lexinton’.—Mandatum
est eidem Roberto quod faciat habere Roberto de Lexinton’ quinque
damos in eadem foresta, de dono regis. Teste ut supra. [Per] episcopum
Karleolensem.
which translates very roughly as:
About the deer
given:—
... For Robert de Lexington.—It is commanded to the same Robert to cause
Robert of Lexington to have five deer in the same forest, as a gift to
the king. Witness as above. [By] the bishop of Carlisle.
Close Rolls Henry III 1234-1237 p93
1235 [m. 11]
Pro Roberto de Lexinton’,—Mandatum
est Roberto de Everingham’ et Henrico de Lamelegh’ quod habere faciant
Roberto de Lexint’ quater viginti quercus in bosco regis de Mamefeld’
ad maeremium inde faciendum ad se hospitandum apud Warcshop’ de dono
regis, et permittat eundem Robertum de Lexinton’ capere maeremium in
bosco suo proprio de Warcshop’, quantum neccesse fuerit et quale ibi
poterit inveniri ad se hospitandum ibidem; et inde sine impedimento
chiminagii abducere et extrahere. Teste rege apud Westmonasterium,
xix. die Maii.
which translates very roughly as:
For Robert de
Lexington.—Robert de Everingham and Henry Lamelegh are
commanded to make Robert of Lexington twenty-four oaks in the king's
wood at Mamefield, to make timber thence for an accommodation at
Warcshop by the gift of the king, and permit that the same Robert of
Lexington seize timber in his own wood from Warcshop, so far as it is
necessary, and of what quality it will be able to be found there for his
accommodation there; and to draw him off from thence without impediment
to the building. Witness the king at Westminster, 19 May
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p115 (1906)
1235
Aug. 17.
Westminster.
Signification to Olive,
daughter of Alan son of Jordan, that as the king holds Robert de
Lexinton as beloved and approved, if she will divest herself of the
manor of Tukesford, which she holds in chief, and grant it to the said
Robert, to hold to him and his heirs by the same service as she held it
by, the king is willing that she should do so, and will hold her deed in
that behalf as pleasing and accepted.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p215 (1903)
1236 Jan. 11.
Windsor.
Inspeximus
and confirmation of a charter of Olive daughter of Alan son of Jordan,
giving to Robert de Lexintun, and his heirs, all her manor of Tuxford
with all its appurtenances within and without the town, to hold of the
king, rendering the service due from the said manor; witnesses, R. de
Dayvyll, N. de Lysures, H. de Lexintun, J. de Lexintun, R. son of Hervey
de Sutton, R. de Mars, W. de Staunton, H. son of Robert de Weston, R. de
Marcham, N. de Dayvyll, R. de Rypariis, W. de Sandeby, P. de Brumton,
and J. Burdun.
p231
1237
Sept. 28.
York.
Inspeximus
and confirmation of a charter whereby Robert de Lexinton gave to John de
Lexinton his brother, and his heirs, the manor of Tuxeford with the
hamlet of Warsop to hold of the king by the service of one knight,
provided that if the said John die without an heir of his body, the said
lands shall revert to the said John and his heirs. Witnesses, Nigel de
Lysures, Master P. de Lexinton, Henry de Lexinton, Richard de Marsham,
Robert de Rypariis, John Burdun, Nicholas de Ayvill, Peter de
Brunington, and William de Sutthorp.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p197 (1906)
1237
Sept. 28.
York.
Grant to Robert de Lexinton,
that in the event of the death of John de Lexinton, his brother, without
heirs of his body, the manor of Tuxford, with the hamlet of Warsop and
other appurtenances, which hamlet the king by charter confirmed to the
same John and his heirs, to hold by the service of a knight’s fee, shall
revert to the said Robert or his heirs to hold as above.
p398
1243
Oct. 1.
Westminster.
Charter granting to Robert de
Lexinton and his heirs free warren in his demesne lands of Egrum.
Witnesses:—W. archbishop of York, R. bishop of Chichester, chancellor,
W. bishop of Carlisle, W. de Cantilupo the elder, W. de Eboraco, Philip
Basset, Robert de Mucegros, Herbert son of Matthew, Paulinas Peyvre,
Nicholas de Bolevill, Walter de Luton, Theobold de Englechevill and
others.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry III vol 3
1232-1247 p429 (1906)
p429
1244
June 24.
Ely.
Confirmation of a grant which
Alice countess of Eu made to Robert de Lexinton of the custody of the
whole land late of William de Chaurces in Maraham, and of the custody of
the manor of Kymberwurth, which is of the fee of Tykehull, and which the
countess had in her custody by reason of the heirs of John de Voteri
Ponte.
Calendar of the Charter Rolls Henry III vol 1
1226-1257 p315 (1903)
1247 April 6.
Merton.
Grant to
St. Mary and the prior and canons of Newstead in Shirwude of the site
given to them by King Henry II, their founder, and of Papelwik with the
church, and the mill which the canons made there, and the meadow of
Bescwod along the water; and in Shepewik and Walcrinham 100s.
of rent;
of the gift of Robert de Kauz and John the cook, lands in
Nottingham; of the gift of King John, count of Mortain, 7l.
and 6d. of land in
Walcringeham, Mysterton, Shepeye, and Waltre;
of the gift of Robert de Lexinton, all the land of Scardeclive,
with the capital messuage, the park, mills and the homage and service of
William de Grangia from his holding in Cruch, with the towns of
Starestorp and Rugherthorn.
The Baronage of England vol 2 p743 (William
Dugdale, 1676)
Lexinton
To this Richard
succeeded Robert de Lexinton,
who in 8 H. 3. was made
Governour of the Castles of Pec
and Bolesover, in Com. Derb.
and in 13 H. 3. of Oxford
Castle; being then in such esteem with that King, as that he obtain'd
his Letters swasory, to Aliva
the Daughter of Alan Fitz-Iordan,
to grant her Mannor of Tuxford (which was held in
Capite) unto him: intimating, that in case she would so do, he
should take it for a favour. Which Letters were so prevalent, that he
had his desire; and the next year following, did his Homage for it: but
soon after passed it, together with the Mannor of Warsop
(near at hand) to Iohn de Lexinton
his Brother, with condition, That if the said Iohn
did die without issue, that then those Lordships should return to him
and his Heirs.
This Robert de Lexinton,
being a person learned in the Laws, was a Justice Itinerant in 9 H. 3. in the Counties of Northampt.
Rutl. Nott. Derb. Linc. Ebor. Northumb. Cumb. and Westmor.
In 10 Hen. 3. in the Counties
of Nott. Derb. Warw. Leic. Wigorn.
and Glouc. Afterwards also in
other Counties, until 26 H. 3.
being then one of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas: and
departed this life 4 Cal. Iunii, Anno
1250. (34 H. 3.) leaving Sir Iohn de Lexinton Knight his Brother
and Heir.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p145
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Newton.
Newentone.
The
Chapter of Southwell
held eleven Bovats of Land in Newton,
of the Fee of Robert
de Everingham (to whom some of Alselins Fees descended, as
in Laxton
may be noted) in pure Alms, and one in Saxendale,
all which Robert de Lexington,
the great Judge in the former part of the Reign of Henry
the third, and sometimes one of the Canons there, bought and gave when
he founded his Chantrys. as in Southwell
may be seen.
pp260-2
Papplewick.
And Newstede.
William Peverell gave what he had
here to the Monastery of Lenton
at the first Foundation.
... King John, and the
following Kings, confirmed and inlarged their Territories and
Priviledges; and they had several other good Benefactors, as in diverse
places of this County will be noted, amongst whom Robert
Lord Lexington was one of most
considerable.
... These Canons at several Altars were to pray for the Souls of
King Henry the second, and all
the Kings their Founders; of Robert
Lexington, who gave the Towns of Routhorn
and Scarcliff
(in Derbishire)
and Starthorp,
to supply four Canons; of William
Cossall, who gave his Mannor of Cossall
and Bullwell Wood,
and divers Lands and Tenements in Nott.
and Egmanton;
of John Longvylers, who gave Tuxford Church
pp315-6
Southwell.
Suell. And Sudwell.
In this
Church were many Chantries Founded, and those Priests had also some
Lands in Common, and an House at the North-West side of the Church-yard
for their residence, which is now in Lease to Mr. Robert
Butler, and his dwelling House.
Three of these were Founded by Mr. Robert
Lexington, Canon of this Church, the two first at the Altar of
St. Thomas the Martyr, for the
health of his own Soul, and his Ancestors, and for the Souls of King John, of Brian
de Insula, of his Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents,
Friends, Parishioners, all his Benefactors, and for all the faithful
departed, and also for all the living for whom he was any way obliged to
pray or of whom he had ever received any thing willingly or against
their wills, for the performance whereof he gave the Church, and some
Lands in Barneburgh
near Doncaster,
which he had of Henry de Novomercato,
and were confirmed to him by Adam de
Novomercato, brother of the said Henry,
to the Chapter of Southwell
for the augmenting the Divine Worship in that
Church, and the sustenance of two Priests, two Deacons, and two
Sub-deacons, to minister in their Order, and to follow the Quire, as
Vicars according to the Order of Walter
Grey Arch-bishop of York,
dated at Oxton
in the twenty sixth year of his
Pontificate; and likewise to pay half a Mark yearly towards Lights,
Ornaments, and other necessaries for the said Altar; and to find twenty
seven pounds of Wax to make one Light for the great Altar, and thirteen
pounds to make two for the said Alyar of St. Thomas
the Martyr, to burn on the day of his Passion and Translation; the
remainder to be for the use of that Altar as occasion should require:
which Advowson and Lands were likewise released to the Chapter by Thomas, the son of Sir Thomas
de Bella aqua. And the succeeding Rectors of Barneburg
did accordingly by the Decree of the aforesaid Arch-bishop pay quarterly
to the said Priests forty shillings, to the said Deacons twenty, and to
the said Sub-deacons sixteen and eight pence, besides the Wax and half
Mark before mentioned. The third Chantry was likewise at the Altar of
St. Thomas the Martyr in the
new work, for the Soul of the said Robert
de Lexington the Founder, and for the Souls of his Father,
Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Ancestors, Successours,
Parishioners, Benefactors, and of all the faithful, for which he gave to
the Chapter of Southwell
sixty and four shillings of yearly Rent issuing out of eleven Oxgangs of
Land held of him by several
persons in Newton,
and one Oxgang in Saxendale,
together with Homages, Services, Reliefs, Wards, &c. and sixteen
shillings of like Rent in Laxton
Morehouse. The Priest who did the Service, and might sometimes
Read, sometimes Sing, which stirr’d up most devotion, was to have all
the said Rents, and half the Reliefs, and other profits happening out of
the aforesaid Tenements and the other half was to be for the Commons of
the Canons resident.
... After the death of Sir Henry de
Notingham, about 29 H.3. Anno
Domini 1245. Robert
Lexington founded a Chantry at the Altar of St John
the Evangelist, where the bones of the said Sir Henry
Nott. do rest, to pray for his Soul. And procured Lands in Helpringham, and
other places in Lincolneshire,
for the Monastery of Sixill,
who were therefore obliged to pay ten Marks yearly, to the Chapter of Southwell, for
that purpose; as did also William
Rosell, and his heirs, twenty Shillings for a Tenement, which
he held of the said Robert Lexington,
in Warksop
and Raph, the Chaplain, son of
Goscelinus de Willoughby, the
summ of half a Mark yearly, for one in Carleton.
p325
Starthorpe.
by the said Hubert Hosee, or his heirs, the
whole residue of the Town of Sterthorp
in Demesne and Service, came to the possession of the Abbat and Covent
of Durford,
of whom afterwards the said Robert de
Lexington acquired all those things, with the Services of the
Freemen and Villains, and thereof enfeoffed the Prior and Covent of Newstede, to
whom he also gave Routhorne
and Scardcliff,
with the Appurtenances in Darbyshire.
p326
Aram.
Averham. Aygrum. Egrom.
Robert
le Sauvage acknowledged that he granted to Robert
de Lexington the Mannor of Egrum,
which he held for term of life of John
de Gatesden, and remised, &c. and for this the said Robert de Lexington acquitted the
said Robert le Sauvage of a
great summ of money, wherein he was bound to Aaron
the Jew of Yorke.
The said John
de Gatesden acknowledged that he gave to the said Robert
de Lexington the said Mannor of Egrum
and by his Letters Patents
produced before the Justices, commanded the said Robert
le Sauvage that he should be intending to the said Robert
de Lexington, as he was to himself.
Robert de Lexington had
Free Warren here about 27 H. 3. This Mannor was found in the time of H.
3. and E. 1. to be of the Honour of Moubray.
Anno 1250. 34 H. 3. the
fourth of the Kalends of June died Robert
de Lexington the Kings Clark, and special (or spiritual)
Counsellour, who continuing long in the Office of a Justice, heaped up
to himself ample possessions, and enlarged the Kings Treasures.
... Sir Robert de Lexington
was an Ecclesiastical person, and one of the Kings Justices, and died
without heir of himself, and had three brothers, and two sisters as
followeth: John, elder brother
of the said Robert, and Lord
after him, who also dyed without heir of himself. Peter
de Laxton, Parson of Gedlinge,
likewise died without heir of himself; and so did Henry
de Laxton, Dean, and after Bishop of Lincolne.
Cecilia,
the sister of Sir Robert de
Lexington, was married to one Sir Richard
[rather William] de
Marcham, of whom came Sir Robert
de Marcham. Alice,
the other sister of the said Robert
de Lexton, was married to Richard
(it should be Roland) de
Sutton upon Trent
p340
Silvester
de Kirneshale, son of Henry
de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold
one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale,
of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to
the wood called Bergelhage;
the witnesses were Robert de Laxton,
Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen
his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John
de Kalnatheton.
p347
The
Rectory is appropriated to the Church of Southwell,
and makes a Prebend called South
Muskam
Prebend, which Henry de Sewell,
Clark, augmented (in the time of Henry
the third) by the donation or gift of three Tofts in the Town of Suell, to Mr. William
de Marcham, Canon of that Church, and to his successours Canons
of the Prebend of Suth Muschamp,
&c. The Witnesses to the Chapters Certificate of his Deed were, Mr.
William de Marcham, Sir Robert de Lexington, Richard de Sutton,
Canon of Suell,
Mr. Peter
de Lexington, Sir Henry de
More, William the Sacrist, Thomas
de Barra, Chaplains, John de
Augir, Robert de Barra, John de Suwell, Clark, and
others.
p378
Robert de Laxton for the health of
his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard
his father, and Matilda his
mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford,
the gift which the said Richard
his father gave to them, viz.
one Bovat in Walesby,
which William the Clark held,
and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon,
and twenty Acres of Arable, with
Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard
de Laxton had of Alan
Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father
had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco,
sometimes wife of John Burdun,
and a Toft in Welhagh,
which Gumbert held of his
father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of
the Church at Rufford,
Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen,
and Sir Henry his brothers
were Witnesses, and Mr. William de
Marcham.
p380
Tuxford. Tuxfarne.
Henry de Munedegen, 18
H. 3. next heir Roger de Montebegonis,
paid for relief in Lincolneshire,
&c. After his death I guess she sold this Mannor, Warsop,
&c. to Robert de Lexington,
who 20 H. 3. had a confirmation of from the King, and 21 H. 3. the said
Robert made a Charter to John de Lexinton his brother of the
Mannor of Tuxford,
and Hamlet of Warsop,
of which 41 H. 3. he died seized, and of the Land in Lexinton
held of Adam de Everingham,
which descended from their Father Richard,
son of Robert de Lexinton,
named in Kirketon,
which Richard had the Custody
or Baylywick of the Barony of Lexinton,
which belonged to Matilda
de Cauz, and brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert
who was a Clergy-man Canon of Southwell,
became a great Judge and Baron, making this place the principal Scat of
his Barony, which he left to his said brother John,
who was Lord Keeper, and the eldest son, and had to wife Margery
Merlay, as in Averham
is said, but no issue
p396
the said Town of Routhorn
was in the possession of one Raph Tilly, and Sibyll
his mother, by Eschaet, and they enfeoffed one William,
son of Walkelin. And
afterwards the said Town came to the possession of one Robert
le Savage, who married Hawisia,
sister of the said Raph Tilly.
Which Robert le Savage
afterwards of it enfeoffed one Robert
de Lexington, who gave it to the Priory of Newstede
in Shirwood.
p446
A Grant or Donation 17 H. 3. was made to Robert
de Lexington of the Parc of Karleton
and Crumbwell,
and of the Mannor of Warsope,
with the Advowson of the Church, and the Mill of Hilueton,
which he had of Oliva Fitz-Jordan.
The Judges of England, from the time of the Conquest
vol 2 pp385-7 (Edward Foss, 1848)
LEXINTON, ROBERT DE.
JUST.
1219. ? CH. JUST. 1234.
ROBERT DE LEXINTON was a younger brother
of the abovementioned John. Brought up as an ecclesiastic, he followed
the practice of those times by pursuing also the study of the law; but
never appears to have been further advanced in the former profession
than to a prebend in the church of Southwell, to which he was presented
in 16 John. In the same year he acted as custos of the archbishoprick of
York during its vacancy.
As a lawyer he is first mentioned as taking the acknowledgment of
a fine in Michaelmas, 4 Henry III.; from which period, until a short
time before his death, there are the following evidences of his having
acted as a justicier, both at Westminster and in the provinces.
In 5 Henry III. he was the last named of seven justices itinerant
into nine counties; upon the sheriffs of two of which he had orders for
the payment of five marks and ten marks for his expenses. In 8 Henry
III. he was the third of four justices itinerant into Buckinghamshire
and Bedfordshire. He must have then made a rapid advance in his
position, since in the next year, 1225, he was at the head of six
different commissions into as many counties; but in the two following
years he was sometimes preceded by his seniors, Stephen de Segrave and
Thomas de Muleton. In 11 Henry III. he is mentioned as a justicier “de
Banco;” in Michaelmas, 13 Henry III., 1228, his name is at the head of
four justiciers before whom a fine was levied at Westminster; and he
appears on the lists of justices itinerant in 15, 16, and 18 Henry III.
In the latter year, July, 1234, three justiciers appointed “ad Bancum”
were ordered to be admitted by Robert de Lexinton and William of York,
he being at that time the oldest judge on the bench, and perhaps the
chief of the court. When the king, in 1240, 24 Hen. III., sent justices
itinerant through all the counties under pretence of redressing
grievances, but with the real object of extorting money from the people,
Robert de Lexinton was placed at the head of those assigned for the
northern counties, William of York holding the same position in the
south. The subsequent entries of his acting as a judge do not extend
beyond Hilary, 1243, 27 Henry III., in all of which he is placed at the
head of his associates. He then probably retired, having been on the
bench nearly twenty-four years: but his death did not occur till seven
years afterwards.
He appears to have added military to his judicial duties, and to
have received various proofs of the royal confidence and favour. In 8
Henry III. he was constituted custos of the honour of Pec and governor
of its castle, and that of Bolsover, in Derbyshire: and there is a
letter from him to Hubert de Burgh, detailing the progress of William,
Earl of Albemarle, through Nottingham, with his own preparations to
oppose him, and stating his intention to proceed himself into
Northumberland. He afterwards also had the charge of the castle of
Orford. On the death of Philip de Ulecot, 5 Henry III., he was employed
to secure his possessions; and by the king’s intercession with Aliva,
the daughter of Alan Fitz-Jordan, to whom the manor of Tuxford, in
Nottinghamshire, belonged, he obtained a grant of it, which he soon
afterwards transferred to his brother John. On his death on the 4th of
the Calends of June, 1250, John succeeded as his heir to all his other
property.
Lives
of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp24-5 (Cornelius Brown, 1882)
ROBERT
DE LEXINGTON, PRIOR OF LENTON, brother of
John de Lexington, was not only a priest and a lawyer, but a soldier
also. In the first named capacity he filled no greater office than that
of canon; his abilities as a lawyer led to his appointment as a judge;
while for his military services he had entrusted to him the charge of
several castles. As a soldier, he describes in a letter to Hubert de
Burgh the progress of William Earl of Albemarle through Nottingham, and
his preparations to oppose him, stating his intention to proceed himself
into Northumberland. In 8th Hen. III. he was custos of the honour of the
Peak and governor of its castle, and that of Bolsover in Derbyshire, and
he subsequently had charge of the castle of Oxford. He officiated as
judge from the 4th to the 27th Hen. III., and is mentioned in 1234 as
being at that time the oldest judge on the bench. In 1240, when the king
sent justices-itinerant through all the counties, ostensibly to redress
grievances, but in reality to extort money from the people for the
king’s use, Robert de Lexington was at the head of those assigned for
the northern counties. In the discharge of his official duties at
Lincoln he appears to have incurred the displeasure of the celebrated
Bishop Grosseteste, Lexington and his fellow-justices having heard
capital causes on a Sunday, the Dean censured them, whereupon the
justices summoned the Dean before them and punished him. The matter
reached the ears of the Bishop, who addressed a letter of rebuke to
Lexington, a copy of which is still preserved amongst his
correspondence. Lexington died on May 29, 1250, and his brother John
came into possession of his property. Matthew Paris thus records his
decease: “On the 29th May in this year died Robert de Lexington, who had
long continued in the office of Justiciary, and had acquired a
distinguished name and ample possessions. A few years before his death,
however, he was struck with palsy, and gave up the aforesaid office; so
that, like the apostle St. Matthew, he was summoned from the receipt of
custom to a better life, and, employing himself in bountiful almsgiving
and devout prayers, he laudably terminated his enfeebled
existence.”
Dictionary
of National Biography vol 33 pp203-4 (Leslie Stephen,
1893)
LEXINTON
or LESSINGTON, ROBERT DE (d.
1250), judge, younger and probably second son of Richard de Lexinton,
baron [see under LEXINTON JOHN DE] was an
ecclesiastic and a prebendary of the collegiate church of Southwell, and
succeeded to the barony of his father, who was alive in 1216 (DUGDALE;
NICOLAS). In February 1221 he wrote to Hubert de Burgh
[q.v.] informing him of the route taken by the rebel Earl of Aumale and
of the measures that he had adopted to secure the safety of the border.
He was then acting as a justice in seven counties, and was employed in a
like capacity in later years, being in 1225 the head of six judicial
commissions. He was warden of the honour and castle of Peak and governor
of Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, and also had charge of Orford Castle.
He is described as a justice ‘de banco’ in 1226, and as one of the chief
members of the king’s court, or bench, in 1229, when he sat with other
judges at Wesminster to hear the case between the convent and the
townsmen of Dunstable. There is reason to suppose that in 1234 he was
the senior of the justices of the king’s bench (Foss). In 1239 he is
said to have been elected to the see of Lichfield, but the right of
election being then in dispute between the canons of Lichfield and the
monks of Coventry, to have declined it (Annals
of Dunstable, an. 1239; comp. MATT. PARIS,
Chron. Maj. iii. 542, where no
mention is made of Robert, but only of William of Manchester, who was
elected by the canons in opposition to the monks’ choice, Nicolas of
Farnham). When in 1240 Henry III sent justices itinerant through the
whole kingdom in the hope of raising money by fines and the like, he
appointed Robert chief of the justices for the northern division of
England. When he and his brother-justices sat at Lincoln they were
denounced by the dean of Christianity (or ‘rural dean’) for trying
capital cases on Sunday. In return they abused the dean, and caused his
goods and the lands of his nieces, his wards, to be seized on behalf of
the crown. Bishop Robert Grosseteste [q.v.] wrote him a sharp rebuke for
his presumption in dealing thus with a clerk. He again acted as a
justice itinerant the following year. After having gained a high
reputation and large possessions, he was seized with paralysis, and
retired from office a few years before his death, spending the remainder
of his life in prayer and almsgiving. He died on 29 May 1250, and was
succeeded by his elder brother John. He founded three chantries in the
chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr in Southwell Minster.
[Foss’s Judges, ii. 385; Dugdale’s Baronage, i. 742; Matt.
Paris’s Chron. Maj. iv. 34, v. 138 (Rolls Ser.); Ann. of Dunstable ap.
Ann. Monast. iii. 119, 122, 131, 149 (Rolls Ser.); Royal Letters, Hen.
III, i. 171, 510 (Rolls Ser.); Epp. Rob. Grosseteste, pp. 266-8 (Rolls
Ser.); Nicolas’s Hist. Peerage, p. 285, ed. Courthope; Visitations of
Southwell Minster, pp. 178, 179 (Camd.
Soc.)] W. H.
The History of Laxton (Christabel Susan
Orwin, Charles Stewart Orwin, 1935)
In the twelfth century a de
Caux made a grant of land to one Richard, of Laxton or Lexington, in
return for certain services. This grant was added to by his successors,
the de Birkins and de Everinghams, and in 1232 these grants were all set
out clearly in a Royal Charter, which confirmed them to Richard de
Lexington's son, Robert, and his heirs. This charter is very interesting,
as the lands are described in great detail, and some of them can be
identified to-day, as their names, such as Eastkirk, Southlound,
Crouchwell, &c, still remain.
Richard de Lexington had a very remarkable family, and his
sub-manor at Laxton passed, in turn, to three of his sons, each famous in
his own sphere. The eldest, Robert de Lexington, was a prebendary of
Southwell and a judge under King Henry III. In 1240 he was the Chief
Justice Itinerant for the northern division of England.
... Robert de Lexington is the first recorded Rector of Laxton, the Prior
and Convent of Shelford being the patrons, and on 25 January 1240 he
appointed Richard de Nottingham to be Vicar.
29 May 1250
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
states that "Anno 1250. 34 H. 3.
the fourth of the Kalends of June died Robert
de Lexington the Kings Clark". The kalend of June denotes the 1st
of June, and by the peculiar methodology of the Roman
calendar, the last half a month (after the Ides) is counted as the
number of days before the following kalend, and so the fourth of the kalend
of June was 29 May.
Lives
of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp24-5 (Cornelius Brown, 1882)
Matthew Paris
thus records his decease: “On the 29th May in this year died Robert de
Lexington, who had long continued in the office of Justiciary, and had
acquired a distinguished name and ample possessions. A few years before
his death, however, he was struck with palsy, and gave up the aforesaid
office; so that, like the apostle St. Matthew, he was summoned from the
receipt of custom to a better life, and, employing himself in bountiful
almsgiving and devout prayers, he laudably terminated his enfeebled
existence.”
Southwell minster, Nottinghamshire,
England
Robert founded two chantries at the altar of St Thomas the Martyr in the
church of Southwell, "for the health of his own soul" and the souls of
others, and he was likely buried there.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire pp315-6
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Southwell.
Suell. And Sudwell.
In this
Church were many Chantries Founded, and those Priests had also some
Lands in Common, and an House at the North-West side of the Church-yard
for their residence, which is now in Lease to Mr. Robert
Butler, and his dwelling House.
Three of these were Founded by Mr. Robert
Lexington, Canon of this Church, the two first at the Altar of
St. Thomas the Martyr, for the
health of his own Soul, and his Ancestors, and for the Souls of King John, of Brian
de Insula, of his Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents,
Friends, Parishioners, all his Benefactors, and for all the faithful
departed, and also for all the living for whom he was any way obliged to
pray or of whom he had ever received any thing willingly or against
their wills, for the performance whereof he gave the Church, and some
Lands in Barneburgh
near Doncaster,
which he had of Henry de Novomercato,
and were confirmed to him by Adam de
Novomercato, brother of the said Henry,
to the Chapter of Southwell
for the augmenting the Divine Worship in that
Church, and the sustenance of two Priests, two Deacons, and two
Sub-deacons, to minister in their Order, and to follow the Quire, as
Vicars according to the Order of Walter
Grey Arch-bishop of York,
dated at Orton
in the twenty sixth year of his
Pontificate; and likewise to pay half a Mark yearly towards Lights,
Ornaments, and other necessaries for the said Altar; and to find twenty
seven pounds of Wax to make one Light for the great Altar, and thirteen
pounds to make two for the said Alyar of St. Thomas
the Martyr, to burn on the day of his Passion and Translation; the
remainder to be for the use of that Altar as occasion should require:
which Advowson and Lands were likewise released to the Chapter by Thomas, the son of Sir Thomas
de Bella aqua. And the succeeding Rectors of Barneburg
did accordingly by the Decree of the aforesaid Arch-bishop pay quarterly
to the said Priests forty shillings, to the said Deacons twenty, and to
the said Sub-deacons sixteen and eight pence, besides the Wax and half
Mark before mentioned. The third Chantry was likewise at the Altar of
St. Thomas the Martyr in the
new work, for the Soul of the said Robert
de Lexington the Founder, and for the Souls of his Father,
Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Ancestors, Successours,
Parishioners, Benefactors, and of all the faithful, for which he gave to
the Chapter of Southwell
sixty and four shillings of yearly Rent issuing out of eleven Oxgangs of
Land held of him by several
persons in Newton,
and one Oxgang in Saxendale,
together with Homages, Services, Reliefs, Wards, &c. and sixteen
shillings of like Rent in Laxton
Morehouse. The Priest who did the Service, and might sometimes
Read, sometimes Sing, which stirr’d up most devotion, was to have all
the said Rents, and half the Reliefs, and other profits happening out of
the aforesaid Tenements and the other half was to be for the Commons of
the Canons resident.
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 p44 (1904)
174.
ROBERT DE LESSINTON.
Writ
of extent to the sheriff of Dorset, 7 June. Extent.
Wednesday after St. Barnabas, 34 Hen. III.
DORSET. Bere manor (extent given) including the hundred
(held of the king to farm).
C.
Hen. III. File 9. (10.)
Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251 p305
1250.
Pro executoribus Roberti de
Lexinton’.—Quia executores testamenti Roberti de Lessinton’
manuceperunt coram rege quod regi satisfacient de precio bladi
instantis autumpni quod idem Robertus seminari fecit in manerio de
Bere, quod idem Robertus tenuit de rege ad feodi firmam, si bladum
illud regi debeat remanere, mandatum est vicecomiti Dorset’ quod, non
obstante precepto quod rex nuper ei fecit de blado illo colligendo ad
opus regis, permittat Reginaldum, quondam ballivum ejusdem Roberti in
manerio predicto, bladum illud colligere, donec discussum fuerit utrum
regi an predicto defuncto debeat remanere. Teste rege apud Clarend’
xix. die Julii.
which translates very roughly as:
For the executors of Robert de Lexington.—Because
the executors of the will of Robert de Lessinton pledged before the king
that they will give satisfaction to the king for the price of corn in
the autumn, which the same Robert made to be sown in the manor of Bere,
which the same Robert held of the king at a lease fee, if that corn
should remain, was ordered to the sheriff of Dorset which,
notwithstanding the order which the king lately made him to collect from
that corn for the king's work, let Reginald, formerly bailiff of the
same Robert, collect that corn in the aforesaid manor, until it has been
decided whether it ought to remain to the king or to the aforesaid
deceased. Witness the king at Clarendon 19 July.
p524
1251.
Omnibus etc. H. de Erle, vicecomes Dorsete, salutem. Noveritis me
recepisse duodecim libras argenti ad opus domini regis ab executoribus
domini Roberti de Lexintona, in quibus idem Robertus regi tenebatur
pro terra de Bere, quam habuit ad firmam de eo ad terminum vite sue,
ita quod ego et heredes mei acquietabimus ipsum Robertum et heredes et
executores suos de predictis xij. libris ad Scaccarium pro ultimo anno
quo ipse prefatam terram tenuit ad firmam, et in quo mortuus, scilicet
anno regis Henrici filii regis Johannis xxxo iiijto,
et ipsos erga dominum regem indempnes conservabimus; quod si non
fecerimus, concessi pro me et heredibus meis quod compellamur ad hoc
per terras et catalla nostra per districcionem domini regis. In cujus
etc. has litteras meas patentes predictis executoribus commisi. Et
quia amisi proprium sigillum huic scripto sigillum Galfridi de
Laverton’, socii mei, apposui. Datum apud Wintoniam in crastino
Natalis Domini, anno regni regis H. filii regis Johannis xxxvto.
which translates very roughly as:
To all
etc. H. de Erle, Viscount Dorset, greeting. Know that I have received
twelve pounds of silver for the work of the lord king from the executors
of the lord Robert of Lexington, in which the same Robert was held to
the king for the land of Bere, which he had the lease of at the end of
his life, so that I and my heirs shall acquit Robert himself and his
heirs and his executors for the aforesaid 12 pounds to the Exchequer for
the last year in which he himself held the aforesaid land at lease, and
in which he died, namely, in the thirty-fourth year of king Henry the
son of king John, and we will preserve them from punishment toward the
lord king; but if we do not do this, I have granted on behalf of me and
my heirs that we may be compelled to do so by our lands and chattels at
the distraint of the lord king. In whose etc. I have entrusted these my
patents to the aforesaid executors. And since I have lost my own seal to
this writing, I have applied the seal of Geoffrey de Laverton, my
comrade. Given at Winchester on the day after Christmas in the
thirty-sixth year of the reign of king H. son of king John.
- The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p189,
p327
and p378
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
pp203-4 (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
- The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
and p380
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); The Judges of England, from the time of the
Conquest vol 2 pp385-7 (Edward Foss, 1848);
Lives of Nottinghamshire Worthies pp24-5
(Cornelius Brown, 1882); Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
pp203-4 (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
- The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p326
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
pp203-4 (Leslie Stephen, 1893); the
writ of Robert's IPM was issued on 7 June 1250 from Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem vol 1
Henry III: 1235-1272 p44 (1904); Close Rolls Henry III 1247-1251 p305
- The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire pp315-6
(Robert Thoroton, 1677); Dictionary of National Biography vol 33
pp203-4 (Leslie Stephen, 1893)
- Robert
of Lexinton
- Robert de Lexington
Stephen de Lexington
Richard de
Lexington
Matilda (_____) de
Lexington
Cistercian
monk. Stephen was Abbot of Clairvaux
Abbey in the Kingdom
of Arles, in present day France.
Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae vol 3 p447
(John Le Neve, 1854)
OXTON, OR OXTON AND CROPWELL,
PRIMA PARS.
... STEPHEN DE LEXINTON,
presented by king John 23rd May 1215, (sede vacante,) to the
prebend of Scrophull and Oxton, which was MATTHEW BARON’S.
But quære whether to this or Oxton Secunda Pars.
The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire p340
(Robert Thoroton, 1677)
Silvester
de Kirneshale, son of Henry
de Laxton, gave to the said Monastery of Ruffold
one Acre of Arable Land in Kirneshale,
of his Wong which lay on the North part of the way, which leads from Kirneshale, to
the wood called Bergelhage;
the witnesses were Robert de Laxton,
Mr. Peter, and Mr. Stephen
his brothers, Raph, son of Henry de Laxton, his own brother William, son of John
de Kalnatheton.
p378
Robert de Laxton for the health of
his Soul, and for the Souls of Richard
his father, and Matilda his
mother, gave and confirmed to the Monastery of Rufford,
the gift which the said Richard
his father gave to them, viz.
one Bovat in Walesby,
which William the Clark held,
and two Tofts with a Croft and Medow adjoyning in Kirketon,
and twenty Acres of Arable, with
Medow, &c. and the Wood which the said Richard
de Laxton had of Alan
Lancelene. He likewise granted them the Wood which his father
had of the Fee of Alice de Bofco,
sometimes wife of John Burdun,
and a Toft in Welhagh,
which Gumbert held of his
father. He likewise granted about two Acres of Medow, to the Fabrick of
the Church at Rufford,
Mr. Peter, Mr. Stephen,
and Sir Henry his brothers
were Witnesses, and Mr. William de
Marcham.
Dictionary
of National Biography vol 33 p204 (Leslie Stephen,
1893)
LEXINTON
or LESSINGTON, STEPHEN DE (fl.
1250), abbot of Clairvaux, a younger son of Richard de Lexinton [see LEXINTON,
JOHN DE], studied both at Paris and Oxford, and was a
disciple of Edmund (Rich) [q.v.], afterwards archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1214 John granted him a prebend in the church of Southwell (Cal.
Letters Patent, 16 John, p. 138). Moved by Edmund’s
exhortations he determined to adopt a monastic life, and in 1221, or
perhaps a little earlier, left Oxford with seven companions, and became
a monk in the Cistercian abbey of Quarr in the Isle of Wight. He was a
man of high character, wise, and learned. After a short residence at
Quarr he was elected abbot of Stanley, in Wiltshire, where he received
his former master, Edmund, and advised him to pay some attention to
worldly concerns. Stephen was in 1228 appointed visitor of the
Cistercians in Ireland; he deposed several abbots and replaced them by
Englishmen, and sent many monks over to Cistercian houses in France. In
1229 he was elected abbot of Savigny, one of the greater abbeys of the
order, situated in the south-west corner of Normandy (Manche
department). There he quickened the religious life of the place, largely
increased the number of monks, adorned the abbey with new buildings, and
a great translation of the relics of saints. By the command of Gregory
IX, he, in 1238, reformed the monks of Redon, in Brittany (Morbihan
department). In company with the abbots of Citeaux and Clairvaux, and
many other French prelates, he sailed from Nice to Genoa in 1241, and
was thence carried by a Genoese fleet to attend the council which the
pope proposed to hold at Rome. The fleet of King Enzio attacked the
Genoese ships on 3 May, and Stephen would have fallen into the hands of
the enemy had he not been saved by the valour of his brother, John de
Lexinton [q.v.] On 6 Dec. 1243 he was elected abbot of Clairvaux.
Desiring to remove the reproach which the friars were in the habit of
casting on the Cistercians as lacking learning, and no doubt specially
moved by the pretensions at that time advanced by the Dominicans in
university of Paris, he in 1244 obtained from Innocent IV to found a
house Paris for scholars of his order. At first he placed his house
close to the buildings of the convent of St. Victor, but to avoid the
possibilities of quarrels with that community he moved his foundation to
Chardonnet, a site of which the name still survives in the church of St.
Nicolas du Chardonnet in the Rue des Bernardins. In 1250 he translated
the body of Aletha, mother of St. Bernard, from St Bénigne de Dijon,
where she was buried, to Clairvaux. Alexander IV employed him in some
secular business of importance in 1255. His house in Paris was then
flourishing, and the scholars who resorted to it were more popular than
the friars with the prelates and townsmen. Nevertheless Stephen was in
this year deposed from his abbotship by a general chapter of the order,
on the ground, it is said, that he had, contrary to the statutes,
solicited from the pope a privilege that he should never be deposed.
Matthew Paris, who was acquainted with Lexinton’s brother John, denies
the imputation. The real ground of his deposition was that he had
neglected to obtain the sanction of the order for the foundation of his
house in Paris. He must have known that an attack on him was impending,
and very likely sought to engage the pope on his side; for Alexander IV
at once ordered Guy, abbot of Citeaux, to restore him. Guy pretended
that he was about to obey, but did nothing. Alexander complained to
Louis IX, who took the side of the order. Stephen had enemies who were
jealous of the success of his foundation, and were busy at Rome, and in
1256 the matter dropped. This was according to his own wish, for he was
afraid that if he persisted in defending himself, the authority of the
order might be weakened; he declared that he felt no regret at being
relieved from the cares of office. He retired to the monastery of
Orcamp, to the south-west of Noyon (Oise department), and there died on
21 March. The year is not known.
[Gallia Christ. iv. 806, xi. 443, 548; Du Boulay’s [Bulæus]
Historia Univ. Paris. iv. 184, 185; Ann. Wav. an. 1229, Ann. Dunst. ann.
1221, 1228 ap. Ann. Monast. ii. 309, iii, 67, 116 (Rolls Ser.); Matt.
Paris, Chron. Maj. iv. 125, v. 529, 596, 651, 652 (Rolls Ser.) Chron.
Savigniac. et Liber de Miraculis ap. Recueil des Historiens, xxiii. 584,
587; Cal. Litt. Patent. John, p. 138 (Record Publ.); for early notices
see also under EDMUND (RICH), archbishop,
and Hook’s Archbishops of Canterbury, iii. 145; Kington’s Frederick II.
ii. 245.] W. H.
Life
of St. Edmund of Canterbury p95-6 (Wilfrid Wallace,
1893)
A remarkable instance is furnished by the
biographer of the effect which Edmund’s lectures had on his hearers. One
day he was giving his accustomed lecture, when the Abbot of Quarr walked
into the school and sat down to listen. Now, on the preceding night,
Edmund had dreamed that he saw a great conflagration in the midst of his
school, from which seven blazing brands were extracted. Whether or not
this dream contributed to give unusual power and energy to his
discourse, at all events, when the lecture was over, and the abbot arose
to depart, seven of Edmund’s pupils followed him, and straightway put on
the monastic habit. Edmund, so far from regretting the loss of these
promising pupils, rejoiced in their happy vocation. One of these seven
(the most famous) was Stephen of Lexington, who afterwards became Abbot
of Stanley, and finally rose to the dignity of Abbot of Clairvaux in
1242. He also founded the Bernardine College in Paris in 1246, the first
collegiate house in that university. But this did not meet with the
approval of the chapter-general, as being contrary to the spirit of the
order, and he was deposed in consequence in 1255.
Stephen de Lexington was one of those who sacrificed their
benefices to become monks. For according to Le Neve, Stephen de
Lexington was presented to a prebend in the Church of Southwell, 23rd
May, 1215. This date is important, as it must have been subsequently to
this that he was a pupil in Edmund’s theological school; and so far it
confirms our chronology.
Stephen of Lexington: Letters from Ireland 1228-1229
(Barry O'Dwyer, 1982) is a translated collection of letters written by
Stephen when he was in Ireland.
21 March -the year is not known - at
the monastery of Orcamp, to the south-west of Noyon, Picardy, Kingdom of
France
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