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170 THE ANCESTOR charge increased to three, rather than three charges reduced to one, in order to denote a younger line of inferior rank, though it is not easy to point to another clear instance of either pro- cess. In short, three wolves' heads would seem more appro- priate than a single sheaf to mark the genealogical pretensions of the Grosvenors. One word of warning here to the author of Armorial Families, Strange to say, in his immaculate pages the bende dore still figures without protest as a paternal coat of Grosvenor ; it is quartered also by descendants of a doubt- ful line, who differenced their sheaf with bezants.^ Is this wilful contempt, or can it be ignorance ? Mr. Fox-Davies is, we know, a stickler for authority. Probably therefore it merely shows that he cannot boast the marvellous memory of Sir Bernard Burke, and is not aware of the two judgments I have mentioned. The Marshalsea has no more terrors ; but I tremble to think of the vials of wrath ' X ' may open upon his devoted head, should he become aware of the offence in all its enormity. To return to the court of chivalry, Grosvenor's case, as succinctly stated, was that Sir Gilbert Grosvenor came with the Conqueror to England, bearing the arms in question ; and that from Sir Gilbert they descended in a direct line to himself.^ The depositions however develop it in greater detail. His most important witnesses are three : the Abbot of Vale Royal, his overlord in Allostock ; William de Praers ; and John de Holford, his overlord in Hulme. The abbot makes Sir Gilbert a nephew of Hugh Lupus the earl, who was himself nephew of William ; and proceeds to trace the pedigree from him to the defendant. Praers produces a document with the same pedigree, differing only in twice substituting Randulf for Rauf ; but this document is no older than his grandfather's time ; indeed the words suggest that he may have written it 1 There is a place called Gravenor in Shropshire, and a family, taking from it their name, claimed to be Grosvenors, and even to be male heirs of Grosvenor of Hulme. The heralds allow^ed them the sheaf, with bezants for difference. But it seems, by a further confusion, some genuine Grosvenors were made to difference their arms also with bezants (see Herald and Genealogist, v.). Two of the Gravenors served in the campaign of Crecy (Gen. Wrottesley, Crecy and Calais), 2 * AUeggea q' mons' Gilb't Grosveno' venoit cue le Conquerer en Englet're arme en Icz ditz armes et depuis en droit lynee sont descenduz au dit mons' Rob't.'