The ancient Barons of Wem.

of the Peteril, in the county of Cumberland. Upon a division of the Ferrers' lands, John Greystock had for his share the manor of Norburgh, in Leicester, and the manors of Wem, Loppington, and Hynestoke. April 6th, 5th Henry V. he succeeded his father in honor and estate, being then 28 years of age. 1422. In 9th, Henry V. he was appointed governor of Roseborough Castle, in Scotland, for the space of four years next ensuing the feast of Easter, with an allowance of £1000. per annum in times of peace. and £2000. in time of war. In 1st, Henry VI. he was joined in commission with the bishop of London and others, to treat with James, king of Scotland, or his embassadors, about a firm peace betwixt both realms. 1432. In 11th, Henry VI. he, the earl of Northumberland and others were appointed commissioners, to treat with the Scots at Hadenstank, and to make satisfaction for certain injuries done to the subjects of Scotland against the form of the truce concluded on between the two crowns. And the next year he was joined with Richard earl of Salisbury, and others, to treat with the Scotish commissioners on the like occasion. 1434. In 13th, Henry VI. he was one of the chief commanders of those forces which were sent to the relief of Berwick, upon Tweed, then beseiged by the Scots. He had summons to parliament from 7th, Henry V. till 12, Henry VI. By his testament bearing date 12th July, 14th, Henry VI. he

The ancient Barons of Wem.

bequeathed his body to be buried at the Collegiate church, at Greystock; to which church he gave all his habiliments of war, all his new vestments, with the ornaments thereto belonging, as also his horse for a mortuary. To Ralph his son and heir he gave all his household goods in his manor, houses at Hinderskelf, Morpeth, and Greystock, his plate and jewels excepted. To Elizabeth his wife, he left a ring with a saphire and a diamond. As for his three younger sons, Thomas, Richard, and William, he devised to each of them four marks yearly for their maintenance for term of their respective lives; to every gentleman serving him, 40s. to every yeoman, 20s. and to every groom, 13s. 4d. and to the repair of Newminster Abbey, £20. of which testament he constituted Ralph his son and heir his executor, and upon the 8th August next ensuing departed this life, being then seized of fourteen manors in the counties of Northampton, Bedford, Westmorland, Cumberland, Northumberland, York, and Salop.

2d Ralph, lord Greystock was 22 years of age at his father's death, and the same year had livery of his lands, his homage being respited. 1449. In 27th, Henry VI. he, John viscount Beaumont and others were ordered to treat with the commissioners of Scotland about a truce. 1452. In 30th, Henry VI. he managed a negotiation with James Douglas

The ancient Barons of Wem.

upon certain articles. In 3rd and 5th, Edward IV. he with the Scotish commissioners examined such inquiries as had been done by the subjects of either kingdom, contrary to the truce formerly made. In 10th, 12th, and 13th, Edward IV. he was employed in a like commission. 1482. In 22nd, Edward IV. he attended the duke of Glouster, who next year mounted the throne by the name of Richard III. · in his expedition against Scotland, where the English took Berwick and Edinburgh. He had summons to parliament from 15th, Henry VI. to 1st, Henry VII. inclusive. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of lord William Fitzburgh, for marrying whom he had a special dispensation, in regard they were within the 3rd and 4th degrees of consanguinity. By her he had two sons, Robert who married Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund, lord Grey of Ruthin; and died before his father, 18th July, 1st, Richard III. and John, who living 8th, Henry VII. Ralph, lord Greystock their father departed this life 1st June, 2d, Henry VII. leaving his granddaughter Elizabeth sole issue of his eldest son Robert his heir; which Elizabeth 22nd, Henry VII. had special livery of all his lands, and the same year married Thomas, lord Dacre, he likewise had livery of inheritance, sir Gilbert Talbot was high steward of Wem in the reigns of Henry VII. Benry VIII,

H

The ancient Barons of Wem.

5th, THE DACRES.

1st, The principal seat of the Dacres of the north, was Dacre Castle, about five miles distant from that of Greystock, in the county of Cumberland. Thomas, lord Dacre upon his marriage with Elizabeth, heir general of the Greystocks was baron of Gillesland, Greystock, and Wem. In 1st, Henry VIII. he was constituted warden of the west marches. In the 5th of that reign he commanded a body of horse, which was appointed as a reserve in the memorable battle of Flodden, in which king James IV. of Scotland lost his life. Coming in seasonably with those troops, he very much contributed to the victory then obtained by the earl of Surry. In 14th, Henry VIII. he marched to Scotland with about 500 men, and proclaimed on the borders, that if the Scots made not peace with the king by the 1st of march next ensuing, it should be to their peril. The same year with the lord Ross, he burnt the town of Kelsey, and eighty villages, and overthrew eighteen towers of stone, with all their bulwarks, but at length through the intercession of queen Margaret, he had a conference with the duke of Albany, which produced a truce. 1523. In 15th, Henry VIII. when the earl of Surry invaded Scotland, this lord won the castle of Femihurst. Upon the old ruins at Drumburgh (near the midway between Boulness and Burgh, upon the Sands)

The ancient Barons of Wem.

in the county of Cumberland, he built a little castle for the defence of the country, for the structure whereof he took the stones of the Picts' wall, which is near to it. He was knight of the garter, warden of the marches, and had been summoned to parliament from 1st, Henry VIII. till his death, which happened October 24th, 17th, Henry VIII. His wife died nine years before him.

2nd, William, lord Dacre, eldest son of the preceding lord in 17th, Henry VIII. had special livery of all his lands of his inheritance. 1530. In 22nd of this reign, he was one of the great men that signed a menacing letter to the pope. 1533. In 25th, Henry VIII. he had a dispute with the lord Morley about precedence; which being brought before the house of lords, was determined in favour of his opponent. In 26th, Henry VIII. being accused of treason by sir Ralph Fenwick and one Musgrave, for holding correspondence with the Scots, and being tried at Westminster the 9th July, he was acquitted by his peers, because the witnesses were Scots of mean condition, who were thought to be suborned, and to speak maliciously against him in regard of his severity to them as warden of the marches. 1536. In 28th, Henry VIII. he was one of the twenty-seven peers commissioned to try queen Ann Boleyn, and her brother, the lord Rochford. The same year being supposed to be