Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/440

376 EXAMPLES OF MEDLEVAL SEALS. a lad {puer) named Simon de Bordes, who is said to have been born abroad; and he stated that in case he died without issue, this Simon was his next heir (hercs ejus pro/x'/i^Kior liber et legithnus) ; and he requested the king to accept him as such, to which the king assented, though somewhat guardedly, by adding, so that it be according to riglit and the custom of the kingdom {proxit de jure et consuctudine reri»i fuerit faciendum, ctc.)^ In 34 Edward I. he probably acquired the manor of Tothill from his uncle Otto Ferre, which appears to have been held of the Barony of Chester.'^ He was appointed steward {simescaUus) of Aquitaine in 1 Edward II., and in the same year is mentioned as Steward of Gascony.' It also appears from Rymer, that he was otherwise much employed abroad in the King's service till 11 Edward II., though occasionally in this country. He had licence to impark a wood at Aythorp llothing in 4 Edward II.- The unfortunate Edward having been compelled to assent to certain ordinances for the removal of Gavestou, and securing a better administration of atiairs, this Guy Ferre was in 5 Edward II. associated with the Bishop of Norwich (John Salmon) and divers knights and clerks in a commission, to act on the king's Ijchalf in revising and correcting those ordinances.^ The name of Guy stands next after that of the Bishop, who was the principal ; from which we may conclude he was high in Edward's favour and confidence. In the Cal. Inq., p.m., under 16 Edward II., we find the names of Guy de Ferre and Elianor his wife, as if they had been jointly seised of the manors of Clietham (Chatham), Kent, Godindon (Goddington), Oxon, Boclonde (Buckland), Surrey, Tothill, and other estates, Lincoln- shire, Rothing Aytrop, and Netherhall, Essex, and Benhall, Badingliani, Framlingham, and Ililkeclishall (Ilketshall), Sutfolk. On the 27th of March in this year he is stated to have died.' Mr. Stapleton gives 4 Edward III., as the year of his death.' Possibly his authority was an entry in the Cal. Inq., p.m., under that year, with reference to the manor of Chatham, but that may have been an Inquisition taken a few years after his death relating to that manor only, lie died without issue ; and in the Cal. Inq., p.m., under 17 Edward II., we find Simon de la Borde mentioned as nephew {nepos) and heir of Guy Ferre, and as having held the manor of Godyngdon ; so that it is probable he did not survive his uncle more than about a year. Elianor, we know from the document above mentioned, out-lived her husband many years. There is reason to think that the reversions expectant on his decease, or on the decease of the survivor of himself and his wife, in several of the manors which ho liold, had been disposed of in his life-time. Whatever may have become of the others, Elianor had dower out of Tothill as we have seen, and she had also an estate for her life in Benhall and in a third part of the manor of Ilketshall. The former of these two manors a])pcars to have been a considerable property. It was held of the lioiiourof Eye. Slie claimed in respect of it the i)atroiiage {avoireric) of the Priory of Ihitley in H Edward III.'^ The king bad then granted tbo rcverHion to his brother .John, J'^arl of Cornwall, wIkj died in l.'j.'lG. Tiic extent of it. as well a.-i another cluim to the reversion, appears in a petition presented to the ■^ llot. rnrl. i., ll.'. Ii. ' (Jal. Iriij. p.m. i., "J 10. ' Uymir, ii., .'{7, I'l. - (ill. Il<.l. I'lit. 7'-'. •• Uoi. I'url. i., 117. •• Miiiiniiij; iiikI Hniy'M Surrry ii, •_'!)!. '• I'ri'f. Lib. ill- ,iilic|. I,c;^iljus. cxii. note. " V..1. iv., i.ll. " Koi. I'liil. ii., (t.j 1).