buried in St. Mary's Church in that town, where his tomb existed in Ashmole's time. In 9 Henry VI another William Baron was member of Parliament for the borough of Reading, and is doubtless identical with the William Baron, armiger, who is returned amongst the gentry of co. Berks bearing arms from their ancestors, by the Commissioners to administer the oaths of allegiance in 12 Henry VI (1434).2 In 2 Edward IV, William Baron, armiger, of London, one of the Receivers of the Exchequer, and late fermor of Whitchurch, co. Oxon, obtained a general pardon, with an exoneration from all claims of the Crown up to the previous

4th November.3

4

In the same year he was paid a reward for receiving and sending off to the north a sum of £2,000 which had been found by the Mayor and citizens of London for the expenses of the war, and in the following year he received a special gift of £205 from the King for the labour and expenses of his office. At Easter, 6 Edward IV, he received another gift from the King of £13.6

These gifts were given in augmentation of his salary, which was at the rate of 8d. a day or £32 a year, a sum which would be probably equivalent to about £1,000 a year at the present day.

The latest notice of William Baron I have met with is on the Roll of the Issues of the Pell, of Easter, 9 Edward IV, A.D. 1469, at which date the four Tellers of the Exchequer were William Baron, Thomas Pounde, Robert Martyn, and John Rogger.

By Jane, the daughter and heiress of William Baron, Sir Walter left four sons-Richard, William, Walter, and Henry -and five daughters-Jane, Thomasine, Anne, Margaret, and Parnell or Petronell. Richard succeeded Sir Walter as his heir. William succeeded to the greater part of his mother's property in Berkshire, and was placed in the Household of Henry VII on the accession of that monarch, as the Esquires of the King's Body. His will was proved 4th February 1512. Henry was a Fellow of New College, Oxford, and appears to have died young in 1486. Walter is only known by his will, which is preserved in the Prerogative Court. He died in 1502.

one of

Jane married Richard Cresset of Upnor Cresset, co. Salop,"

Ashmole's Antiquities of Berkshire, vol. ii, p. 349.

2 Fuller's Worthies.

Pardon Roll, 1 to 6 Edward IV.

Pell Issues, Easter 2 Edward IV.

Ibid., Easter 3 Edward IV.

Ibid., Easter 6 Edward IV.

7 Deed at Wrottesley.

Thomasine married William, Lord Stourton, but left no issue.1 Anne married Sir Anthony St. Amand, who claimed to be Lord St. Amand, but there are doubts about his legitimacy. Margaret married Sir John Scrope of Castle Combe,3 who was one of the Knights of the Bath made on the marriage of Prince Arthur in 17 Henry VII. By Margaret, Sir John left a numerous family. Parnell or Petronilla, the fifth daughter, became a nun at Dartford. The Bodleian Library contains the following contemporary notice of her in a book which formerly belonged to the nunnery :

"Thes booke in whom is contente dyvers devowte tretis and specyally the tretis that is called 'Ars moriendi,' ys of the gifte of Wylliam Baron Esquyer, to remayne for evyr to the place and nonrye of Dertforde, and specyully to the use of dame Pernelle Wrattisley sister of the same place by license of her Abbas, the whiche Pernelle is nece to the forseyde gentylman William Baron."5

At the beginning of the MS. are the arms of Knollys quartering Baron, viz.-gules, a chevron embowed azure between three garbs or, and a pedigree showing that William Baron married Joan the daughter of Thomas Knollys of North Mimms. This Thomas Knollys was grandson of another Thomas Knollys, who was twice Lord Mayor of London, and died in 1445.

Besides these daughters the old parchment pedigree at Wrottesley mentioned a daughter Alice, married to Lord Scrope of Upsall. There is no other authority for this marriage, but it derives some confirmation from a clause in Walter Wrottesley's will, in which he left a legacy to "my lord Zowche" (de la Zouche), the latter being a near relation of the Scropes of Upsall.

I think it probable that Sir Walter was a Knight of the Garter, for amongst the muniments formerly preserved at Wrottesley was an original vellum copy of the Statutes of the Garter of this period, and this period, and Anstis shews that the succession to many of to many of the Stalls during the reign of Edward IV has never been ascertained. In fact between the years 7 to 12 Edward IV there is a complete chasm."

1

History of the Family of Stourton, Heralds' Visitations, and wills of William Wrottesley and Walter Wrottesley.

2 Deed at Wrottesley, and wills of William Wrottesley and Walter Wrottesley. 3 Will of William Wrottesley, and "History of Castle Combe," privately printed. Old parchment pedigree at Wrottesley, and Douce MS., Bodleian Library. 5 Bodleian MS., Douce MS., 322, ex. inf., Falconer Madan, Esq., Sub-librarian. Niece is here used for granddaughter, which was frequently the case in old days.

6 These Statutes were contained on an ancient Roll of Parchment about one foot wide, and being undated, were always supposed by the family to be the original Statutes supplied to Sir Hugh de Wrottesley, K.G., in 1348. Somewhere about the year 1861, I happened to mention to Sir Charles Young,

The following deeds formerly at Wrottesley belong to the epoch of Sir Walter Wrottesley.

Edwardus dei gratia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus Hibernie, omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint, salutem. Sciatis quod nos de gratia nostra speciali ex mero motu et certa sciencia nostris ac consideratione boni et gratuiti servitii quod dilectus et fidelis noster Walterus de Wrottesley miles nobis ante hec tempora impendit, Dedimus et concessimus ac per presentes damus et concedimus eidem Waltero maneria sive dominica de Mere, Clynt alias dictum Clent et Hondesworth cum pertinentiis, necnon advocaciones ecclesiarum de Hondesworth predicti et Forton in comitatu Staffordie; ac etiam maneria de Ramisham alias dictum Rammesham et Poundeknolle alias dictum Penpole cum pertinentiis ac advocacionem ecclesie de Ramisham alias dictum Rammesham predicti in Comitatu Dorset, cum feodis militum, parcis, warennis, franchesiis, libertatibus, curiis, visibus franciplegii, piscariis, et omnibus aliis libertatibus, proficuis et emolumentis predictis maneriis ac eorum cuilibet seu eorum alicui quovismodo spectantibus sive pertinentibus que nuper fuerunt Jacobi nuper Comitis Wiltes Rebellis nostri de altis proditionibus attincti virtute cujusdam actus parliamenti in parliamento nostro apud Westmonasterium quarto die Novembris anno regni nostri primo tento, edito, et ad manus nostras ea occasione devenerunt seu devenire debuerunt. Habenda et tenenda predicta maneria, advocaciones, et cetera premissa, cum pertinentiis eidem Waltero et heredibus suis masculis de corpore suo legitime procreatis imperpetuum de nobis

then Garter King of Arms, the existence of these Statutes at Wrottesley. This information caused much excitement at the College of Arms, for no copy of the Statutes earlier than the reign of Henry V was known to exist, and it was thought possible that we might be in possession of a copy of the original Statutes of Edward III. It was therefore arranged that my father should bring the Statutes to London, and that they should be examined by Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy, who was then Deputy Keeper of the Records, and the most experienced paleographist of his day. The meeting took place at the Rolls Office in Chancery Lane, and Sir Thomas, after examining the Roll, stated, without hesitation, that the handwriting was not earlier than Henry VI or Edward IV, and he asked whether another member of the family had not been a Knight of the Garter during one of these reigns. Sir Charles Young on examining the Roll agreed with Sir Thomas Hardy and shewed that the Statutes were the same verbatim as those of Henry V, a copy of which he had brought with him for comparison. The Statutes were in French and the names of the original Knights of the Garter on the Wrottesley Roll were entered as below. Le Prince de Galles. Le Duc de Lancastre.

Le Comte de Warwick.

Le Captal de Buch.
Le Comte de Stafford.

Monsire Johan de Grey.

Richard Fitz Simon.
Miles de Stapelton.

Thomas Wale.

et heredibus nostris pro servicia, tot feoda militum, ac tot et tanta alia redditus et servicia pro que ante primum diem Martii anno regni nostri primo de progenitoribus seu predecessoribus nostris aut eorum aliquo aut alia persona seu aliis personis quibuscunque separatim tenebantur: Et ulterius per presentes concedimus eidem Waltero, exitus, proficua, et emolumenta omnium dictorum maneriorum et ceterorum premissorum habenda et percipienda eidem Waltero a sexto die Januarii anno regni nostri secundo per manus firmariorum, receptorum, sive aliorum occupatorum eorundem absque aliquo compoto sive aliquo inde nobis vel heredibus nostris solvendo, faciendo sive reddendo. Et ulterius perdonavimus remisimus et relaxavimus eidem Waltero omnimoda debita, compota, prestita, arreragia, actiones et demanda que nos vel heredes nostri ratione premissorum aliquo modo versus eundem Walterum ante tertium decimum diem martii ultimo preteritum habere poterimus seu debuissimus ac omnimodas intrusiones, transgressiones, sive impetitiones per ipsum Walterum factas in premissis seu aliquo premissorum eo quod expressa mentio de vero valore annuo aut de aliquo alio valore premissorum facta in presentibus non existit, aut aliquo statuto, actu, ordinatione seu provisione incontrarium facto, edito seu proviso aut aliqua alia re, causa vel materia quacunque non obstante. In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium vicesimo octavo die Februarii anno regni nostri quinto (28 February, 1466).1

Great Seal of England in dark green wax and in fine preservation.

Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego Walterus Wrottesley, miles, dominus de Perton dedi concessi, et hac carta mea confirmavi, Willelmo Cockys de Patyngham tres srostos (sic) terre cum pertinentiis suis jacentes infra dominium de Perton, etc. Hiis testibus Ricardo Clemson, etc. Data apud Perton predictum die Martis proximo ante festum Sancte Petronille Virginis anno regni regis Edwardi quarti post conquestum Anglie nono (May, 1469).2

Seal destroyed.

Universis et singulis presentem documentum visuris lecturis vel audituris Walterus Wrottisley miles, Salutem in domino sempiternam. Noverit universitas vestra me prefatum Walterum fecisse, ordinasse, posuisse et loco meo et pro me constituisse dilectos mihi in Xpo Johannam uxorem meam carissimam, Johannem Yonge et Johannem Hopton generosos, meos veros legitimos et indubitatos attornatos

1 Original Letters Patent at Wrottesley, copied 1860-62. Original deed at Wrottesley, copied 1860-62.

(Here follow full powers to receive all rents, to sue for debts, to carry on all suits, etc., and a clause exonerating them from all personal liability for the same). Ratum et gratum habiturum quidquid predicti attornati et eorum quilibet nomine nostro (sic) fecerint vel fecerit in premissis. In quorum omnium singulorum fidem et testimonium sigillum meum armorum presentibus apposui. Datum tertio die mensis Octobris anno regni Regis Edwardi quarti post conquestum undecimo (3 Octob., 1471).1

ARMS OF SIR WALTER WROTTESLEY.

Quarterly-Or three piles Sable, a quarter Ermine-for Wrottesley; and Gules, a chevron Azure, between three garbs Or-for Baron of Reading.2

1 Original deed at Wrottesley, copied 1860-62.

2 See a note on the Baron Arms by the late Mr. Sidney Grazebrook, amongst his notes upon Glover's Visitation of Staffordshire of 1583, printed in vol. iii of Staffordshire Collections, p. 152. The arms of Baron are emblazoned as above in both the Staffordshire Visitations of 1583 and 1614, and there is no doubt that this was the original blazon. The Heralds of a later era, however, when they attempted to make an exact science of Heraldry, laid down a rule that colour should not be borne on colour, and they changed the Baron chevron into one "componé Or and Azure"; but the seal of Sir Walter Wrottesley shews a plain chevron, and as the garbs must be gold, it is clear that the original coat must have displayed colour upon colour, as stated in the Douce MS. and the Heralds' Visitations of 1583 and 1614.