In

to the capital mansion, with the orchard of Roger (sic.). Irtliburc also I have granted to the said Simon Basset a capital mansion, and to the said Richard de Vernon in the same vill a certain mansion, equal in size to the capital mansion. This covenant and agreement, the said Richard de Vernon and Simon Basset, my order having been faithfully preserved, have confirmed, by oath. Of this covenant and agreement, these are the witnesses : William, son of Hugh de Fuletibi; William, son of Hugh the falconer; Gerold, son of Richard."

The names of the last two witnesses are illegible. This concord, or agreement, would be executed in duplicate; and as two labels, with guards or bags of linen are attached, it is evident that this is the counterpart, to which the seals of Richard Vernon and Simon Basset were appended-both unfortunately missing.

The family of Basset continued to possess a moiety of Nether Haddon in the reign of Edward III (Inq. p. m., 3 Edward III), but in or before the reign of Henry VI, it became vested by purchase in the Vernons.

In consequence of this agreement, or settlement, a moiety of Haddon and other property became vested, after the death of William Avenel, in the family of Vernon.

This family derived its name from the Castle of Vernon, now a commune in the department of Evreux. A Roger was Baron of Vernon about 1030, whose grandson William recovered Vernon (which had been granted to Count Guy of Burgundy), and from him descended the Barons of Vernon. Two of his sons, Richard and Walter, appear in Domesday, both holding lands in Cheshire. Richard was one of the Barons of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, and had a castle at Shipbrook. He is said by Ormerod to have been succeeded, in the fourth or fifth generation, by a second Richard, from whose son William, Chief Justice of Chester (1230-32), all the legitimate. lines of this family derive their descent.

The connection of the Vernons of Haddon with the Cheshire family has been generally accepted, yet a recent writer on this subject has propounded the theory, that the Vernons of Haddon derive their descent more pro

bably from the family of De Insula, Earls of Devon; but the Cheshire and Belvoir records supply strong evidence of the identity of the Cheshire and Haddon families of Vernon. General Wrottesley, in his investigations on the early descent of the Vernons, while differing from other authorities, also favours the idea of the connection. of the two families; and on the assumption of this connection, this attempt to trace the succession of the Vernons of Haddon in the male line will commence with

Walter de Vernon (already referred to), who held in 1086 four manors of the Earl of Chester, and three manors of the King, in capite, in Bucks. (Domesday). This Walter was succeeded by

Walter de Vernon, probably a grandson of the lastmentioned, who was living 11 Henry II (Pipe Roll, Oxfordshire). A deed in Shaw shows that Walter de Vernon, a grandson of a former Walter, was enfeoffed at Harlaston by Matilda, Countess of Chester, during her widowhood. Eyton says: this took place between 1154 and 1157 (Salt Collections). The next in descent is

Richard de Vernon, who married Avice, daughter and co-heires of William Avenel, of Haddon, to whom John, Earl of Moreton, during his brother's absence, probably in the Holy Land, issued a license, to strengthen, but not to fortify (as has been sometimes stated), his house or mansion at Haddon, with a wall 12 ft. high, of which the following is a translation :

"John, Earl of Moreton, to his Justices, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Ministers, and all his faithful people, sends greetings. Know you that I have granted and given license to Richard de Vernon to strengthen (firmandi) his House of Haddon with a wall raised twelve feet high, without Battlements (sine Kernello). And I forbid lest anyone of ours hereafter disturb him. Witness, Robert de Mara, at Clipston."

This document was exhibited to the British Archæological Association when they visited Haddon in 1851, and it is now preserved in a glass case in the library at Belvoir, with a selection of other early and interesting charters. This Richard de Vernon forfeited his estates in 6 & 7 Richard I (Staffordshire Pipe Roll), but they

were afterwards restored to him. He was living in 16 John (Derbyshire Pipe Roll), and was apparently dead before 3 Henry III, when William de Vernon occurs. The "Quo Warranto" Pleas of the Channel Islands show that a Richard de Vernon held the Island of Sark, which was resumed by the Crown because Richard had selected a Norman domicile, on the separation of Normandy from England. This Richard was buried at Lenton Priory. He was succeeded by his son

William de Vernon, by Avice, his wife. He occurs in 3 Henry III (Derbyshire Pipe Rolls), and was living 20 Henry III (Testa de Nevill). He was probably identical with William de Vernon, Justiciary of Chester, 1229 and 1232. That Richard de Vernon of Haddon was succeeded by a William, is placed beyond doubt from the evidence on record amongst the Belvoir Charters. One of these is a confirmation by Richard de Vernon, and Avice his wife, and Richard de Vernon, their son and heir, to Azer, son of Nigel, of a virgate of land in Adstock. The date of this deed appears to be Richard I, or John. Richard de Vernon and Avice his wife occur in a fine made at Westminster, 27 Henry II (1181), between Walkelin Harenc, and Richard de Vernon, and Avice his wife, of the third part of the fee of Swinfen (co. Staff.), on a plea of covenant, viz.: that Richard, and Avice his wife, claim to quit-claim the third part of Swinfen to Walkelin Harenc, for which the said Walkelin gives to Richard de Vernon, and Avice his wife, four virgates of land in exchange for the third part of Swinfen. William Vernon, of Haddon and Harlaston, married Margaret, daughter of Robert de Stockport. Sir Robert de Stockport, his son, and brother to Margaret Vernon, re-granted and confirmed Marple and Wibbersley to the said William and Margaret, between 1209 and 1229 (Cheshire Grants).

From an inquisition taken after the death of Sir Robert de Stockport, who died in 1249, it was found that Marple and Wibbersley were held of the King, as Earl of Chester, in capite, and that Sir Richard de Vernon held the same from him.

The Belvoir muniments contain several very interesting

1900

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charters bearing on the question of the connection of the Haddon Vernons with the Cheshire family. One of these is a release by Robert, son of Sir Robert de Stockport, to William de Vernon, and Margaret his wife, of Marple and Wibbersley. This deed is witnessed, amongst others, by Warin de Vernon, and Phillip de Orreby, Justiciar of Chester (1209-1229). Another of these charters is a grant and confirmation by Sir Robert de Stockport, the elder, to William, son and heir to Richard de Vernon, of the manor of Baslow and Bubnell, in free marriage with Margaret, his daughter. All the witnesses to this charter are Cheshire men, with one exception, viz. Henry, clerk of Tideswell-probably the scribe who wrote it, Two of the charters alluded to relate to Lenton Priory. One of these, dated 1237, recites that William de Vernon, for the repose of his soul, and the souls of his wife Alice, and all his ancestors and successors, had given all the land which he had in Stanton (near Haddon), to the Prior and Convent of Lenton, together with his body, there to be buried beside his father. From another deed, dated 1242, it appears that the Abbot of Dieulacresse, and the Priors of Lenton, Chester, and Derby were the executors of the will of the said William Vernon, Knt., and that his debts were to be proved at Derby. It appears, therefore, that William Vernon died about this time. It will be observed that Alice is given as the wife of William de Vernon; and in a portion of a Vernon pedigree amongst the Woolley MSS., Alice is also described as the wife of William Vernon. She must, therefore, have been a second wife.

The following is an abstract of a transcript of a Latin charter in a volume of the Towneley MSS.

"To all about to see or hear this writing, etc. Know you that I have given, etc., for my soul, and the souls of Margaret my wife, and my successors, to God, and St. Mary, and St. Editha of Polesworth (near Tamworth), 5s. of my rent of Harlaston, to be paid annually at the feast of St. John the Baptist, for the maintenance of a lamp with oil, to burn every night in the Chapter of the said House."

This deed has the names of two Derbyshire witnesses,

amongst others. William de Vernon was succeeded by his son and heir, Richard de Vernon. He was alive in 4 Edw. I, but, dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother,

Robert de Vernon, who, it is supposed, died shortly after. Robert held Adstock under his brother Richard (Testa de Nevill). The descent of Haddon, and other possessions, terminated in the male line of the Vernons with this Robert, who appears to have died without male issue, leaving a daughter,

Hawise, or Havisia, who married Gilbert le Franceys, who was afterwards knighted, but about whom but little seems to be known; but he was, probably, a member of a Yorkshire family of that name. He held Harlaston in right of his wife. He was dead in 6 Edw. I (Ing. p. m.). He was succeeded by his son and heir,

Richard, born in 1261 (Inq. p. m., 11 Edw. I). Assumed the name of Vernon. He was presented to the advowson of Pichcote in 1310, and in 8 Edw. II he conveyed Harlaston and Appleby to his son Richard, who reconveyed them to his father. He was apparently alive in 16 Edw. II, when his son died (Inq. p. m, 16 Edw. II). He very probably married Isabel, daughter of Sir William Gernon, Lord of Bakewell, by Isabella, his wife, son of Sir Ralph Gernon, Lord of Bakewell, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford. His son, who predeceased him, married Matilda, or Maud, daughter and co-heir of William Camville, Lord of Clifton, co. Staff., who survived her husband. In 1337, William de Camville granted to his daughters, Matilda de Vernon and Eleanor, wife of Richard de Penres, his manor of Clifton Camville, with the advowson of the Church of Clifton (Belvoir Charters). On the Patent Roll, 11 Edw. IIÌ, is a grant or confirmation for the manor of Lanstephen, in Carmarthenshire, to Matilda, formerly the wife of Ric. de Vernon, and Eleanor her sister, daughters and heiresses of William de Camville. This Richard, who died in the lifetime of his father, left a son and heir,

William de Vernon, born in 1314 (Inq. p. m., 16 Edw. II), who succeeded his grandfather, Richard. It