pleasure, with suitable differences, according to the law and usages of arms, without prejudice, impeachment, or interruption by any person whatsoever. In witness whereof I, the said Norroy King of Arms of the Northern Parts aforesaid, have signed with my own hand, and sealed with the seal of arms of my said office, these presents. January 20, 1563, 6 Elizabeth.

III.

GRANT OF ARMS BY LAWRENCE DALTON, NORROY

KING OF ARMS, TO HENRY THOMPSON,

OF ESHOLT, GENTLEMAN, 1569.1

Nearly all the information relating to Henry Thompson, of Esholt, is derived from the Visitation of 1584-5, where it is stated that he was one of the King's gentlemen of arms at Boulogne, and that he had a natural son, William, by Elene, daughter to Lawrence Towneley. This statement is to a certain extent corroborated by his will, dated May 27, 1567. In it, after describing himself as Henry Thomson, of Esholt, esquire, and stating that, though sick in body, he was of good and perfect remembrance, he commended his soul unto God Almighty, his maker and redeemer, and to all the blessed company of heaven, and his body to be buried in Christian men's burial, according to the discretion of his executors. He appointed his cousin, Richard Thompson, of the Inner Temple, guardian of his base begotten daughter, Jennet Thompson, in whose favour he charged his Cumberland property with the sum of one hundred marks. He made this cousin and another cousin, John Heyfourth, guardians of his other base begotten child, William Thomson. There is only one bequest, twenty marks, to his cousin, Alice Heyfourth The executors of his will were his well beloved wife, Bridget Thomson, and his son, William. The will was proved on June 25, 1567, by the widow and the son's guardian, Richard Thompson.

Administration to the estate of William Thompson, of 'Eshall,' his son, was granted to John Wilson on May 15, 1612. William Thompson was succeeded by his son, Christopher Thompson, aged 4, in 1585, whose estate was administered by his brother, John Thompson, of 'Eshall,' on April 27, 1621.5 The inquisition, taken after his death for his Cumberland property, is dated at Cockermouth, October 4, 20 James I (1622). He died seised in fee tale of the

1 Harleian MSS., No. 4630, fo. 738.

2 Foster's Visitations, p. 300.

3 Reg. Test., xvii, 658d,

4 Ainsty Act Book.
5 Ibid.

6 Chancery Inq. p. m.,

6

vol. 391, No. 62.

rectory of Bromfeild, (Broomfield, near Brough), and in other property there and elsewhere in that county. His death took place on December 20, 18 James I (1620). His son and heir, Henry, was aged nineteen years and six months at the date of the inquisition. His father's widow, Dorothy, was still alive. According to a pedigree of this family in the British Museum,' this lady was a daughter of Christopher Anderton, of Lostock, in Lancashire, who was a prothonotary, or, as others stated, an apothecary. There is a very good account of the family in the Herald and Genealogist, vi, 650.

To all and singular, as well Nobles and Gentles, as knowne Heralds and Officers att armes, and others, which presents shall read or heare, I, Lawrence Dalton, alias Norroye King att armes of the North, East, and West parts of England, from the River of Trent Northward, sendeth due commendations and greeting. Forasmuch as anciently from the beginning the noble and vertuous acts of excellent persons should be notoriously commended to the world with sundry monuments and remembrances of their good deserts, amongst which one of the cheifest and most usual hath been the bearing of signes and tokens in sheilds, called Arms, the which are no other things than evidences and demonstrations of prowess and valour, diversly distributed according to the quality and deserts of the persons, whereby such signes and tokens of the diligent, faithfull, and couragious might appear before the negligent, coward, and ignorant, and be an efficient cause to move, stirr, and kindle the hearts of men to the immitation of vertue and nobleness; even so hath the same been, and yet is, continually conserved, to the intent that such as have meritted, and done commendably in service to their prince or country, either in war or peace, or by their vertuous demeanour to their vocation daily encreased in worship, may both receive due honour in their lives, and derive the same successively to their posterity after them: And hereupon I, Norroye king att armes, being credibly inform'd, and also by my own knowledge, that Henry Thompson, of Esholt, in the county of York, gent., one of the Kinges Majesties Gent: att Armes at Bolleyne, hath long continued in vertue, and, as well in that as in other his affaires and behaviour, hath well and worshipfully guided himself, so that he hath well deserved, and is right worthy from henceforth perpetually, and his posterity, to be in all places of honour and worship, renowned, accompted, accepted, received into the number and company of other ancient gent: for remembrance and consideration of the same his vertue, gentleness, and ability, by the vertue, power, and authority of my office,

1 Lansdowne MSS., No. 900, fo. 357.

annexed and granted under the Great Seal of England, I, Norroye aforesaid, have given, granted, and confirmed unto the aforesaid Henry Thompson, for him and his posterity, with their due differences, these arms and creste hereafter followinge; that is to say, Per fesse silver and sables a fesse battele, between three faulcons counterchanged of the field, the bells and beaked (sic) gold. The crest and badge: An arm quarterly gold and azure with a gauntlett of the colour of harnsre (sic), holding a truncheon of a speare gold, sett upon a wreath silver and sables, mantled gules, lined silver, buttoned gold, as more plainly appeares depicted in this margent. To have and to hold the same arms and crest with the appurtenances to the said Henry and his posterity, to use, bear, and shew for ever, either in sheild, coat armour, or otherwise, att his and their liberty and pleasure. In wittness whereof, I, Norroye, the said King att arms, have signed these presents with my own hand, and sett thereunto the seal of my office, and also the seal of my arms. Yeven the 15th day of April, in the first year of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Ladye Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and in the year of our Lord God 1569. by me Lawrence Dalton als' Norroye Roy d'armes.

Sealed with the seal of the office and Dalton's coat of arms in two labells.

IV.

GRANT OF ARMS BY WILLIAM FLOWER, NORROY KING OF ARMS, TO RICHARD JESSOP, OF

GENTLEMAN, 1575.1

BROOMHALL,

This family seems to have derived its origin from the Northern Midlands, and was first advanced by the marriage of Richard Jessopp, who received the grant of arms printed below, with Anne, daughter and co-heir of Robert Swift, and Helen, his wife, daughter and heir of Nicholas Wickersley, by which marriage a considerable property in Sheffield became vested in the family. The earliest member of the family who has been met with is William Jesoppe, of Treeton, father of Richard, the grantee, who made his will' on December 12, 1557, proved April 26, 1558. By it he desired to be buried within

The

1 S. P. Dom. Eliz., cv, 17. information relating to the Jessop family which is given here can be supplemented from Hunter's History of

Hallamshire, edited by Gatty, and Mr.
Clay's edition of Dugdale's Visitation of
Yorkshire, ii, 94.

2 Reg. Test., xv (2), 225d.

the churchyard of Treeton.

His chief possession seems to have been a farm, that is, a lease in Treeton. Besides his wife, Emote, he mentions two daughters, Emote and Agnes, who received 20s. apiece, and two sons, Richard and Lawrence. The widow survived some ten years, making her will' on February 10, 1569-70, proved June 8, 1570. She desired to be buried within the church or churchyard of Treeton. She left 13s. 4d. to each of her son's children, William, Richard, Francis, and Margaret. To her sister, Alice Frithe, 20s., a silk hat, a petticoat, and a pair of sleeves; and to Agnes Frithe the younger a black apron. Her farm to her son Lawrence and her daughter Agnes, whom she made residuaries and executors. "My sonne Richarde to be overseer betwene them, to the intente they maye use thinges orderlie and quietlie, as brother and sister ought to doo." The will of the eldest son, Richard Jessop, of Broomhall, in the parish of Sheffield, executed on October 8, 1580, proved April 22, 1581, commences:-"First and principallie, I committ my soule to Almightie God, trustinge to be saved by the merittes and passion of his dearlie beloved sone, Jesus Christe, and my bodie I do committ to the grounde frome whence it came." After providing for his mortuary according to the laws of the realm, he made bequests—to the poor men's box at Sheffield 40s., at Rotherham 20s., Ecclesfield IOS., Treeton, Beighton, Norton, Worsop, 6s. 8d. a piece, and Hayton, 3s. 4d. To his son William all his household stuff at Bramhull, "with all selinges, glasse, portalles, bedsteades, formes, stooles, tables, and also all husbandrie geare and necessaries thear belonginge." Real property at Tylne, Heyton, Clarebroughe, and Moregate, in Nottinghamshire, which he and his deceased wife, Anne, had passed by a fine to Mr. Richard Cottes, Mr. John Pettingar, and Lawrence Jessop, his brother, was to be held upon trust for his two sons, Richard and Francis, and the income during their minority was to be applied for their yearly and sufficient exhibition, to keep them at learning, and the overplus was to be put in a chest with three locks, the three keys of which were to be safely kept by the trustees. Sums of 70oli., in the hands of Manasses Scotton, of London, goldsmith, and 100li., in the hands of Mr. Richard Handburie, were to be divided amongst his children. His daughter Margaret was to have her mother's apparel. To Mrs. Wortley a little ruby that was

1 Reg. Test., xviii, 215.

2 Ibid., xxii, 53. On the death of the executor, Mr. Francis Wortley, the execution of the goods unadministered was committed on June 5, 1584,

to William Jessop, the son (Doncaster Act Book); and on October 9, 1589, a further grant was made to Richard Jessop, another son, and also of the letting of lands within the lordship of Tylne. (Retford Act Book.)

her sister's, and 20s. in gold, if her worship please to accept it for a small token. Her sister, Mrs. Leake, 20s. Goddaughter, Mistress Elizabeth Wortley, 40s. To the rest of her brothers and sisters, amongst them, 6/i. Mr. John Stirling, 10s. To the rest of his godchildren who should demand the same, 3s. 4d. a piece. Lawrence, his brother, 10s. and his farm at Treeton during the term, with all the sheep there, allowing his (the testator's) children one half of the increase of the wool and lambs of the said sheep. To Lawrence's wife, 40s., to buy her a kirtle. Mrs. Brey, 205. Sister Vessee,

3li. 6s. 8d. and two kine. To everyone of his sisters' children 5li., and to everyone of his aunts their children that should demand the same 205. After some small bequests to servants and others, he proceeds :-" Allso I humblie request the right worshipfull Mr. Francys Wortley, esquier, to take upon him the execution of this my laste will and testamente, upon which hope I do constitute and make the said worshipful Mr. Francys Wortley executor of this my laste will and testament, and he for to have for his paynes 4oli., trustynge he will be good to my children, and to se the same my laste will and testament well and trulie performed, as shall seme good to his owne discretion. Written with my owne hand, subscribed with my name, and setto my seal, the daie and yeare above written."

From the Inquisition' taken after his death at Pomfrett, on April 6, 23 Elizabeth (1581), it appears that all his property mentioned in the inquisition was derived from his wife Anne, one of the daughters and heirs of Robert Swift, esquire. He died seised of land, etc., in Crokesmore syde, worth 66s. 8d. a year; of two cottages in Sheffield, 5s. a year each; a cottage and land (6s.), and a tenement in Lyttle Sheffeld (38s. 10d.); lands, etc., in Hallam (12s.); all held of George, Earl of Shrewsbury, as of his manor of Sheffield, by knight service, suit of court every three weeks, a rent of 135. 1d., and finding a horseman for the same earl at the war. Also a capital messuage, called Bromehall, held of the same earl by the same tenure, the rent being 10s. Id., worth yearly 22li. 25. 7d. A freehold tenement in Lyttle Sheffeld and a third part of the tithes of Eglesall (Ecclesall), held of the Queen in chief, 5li. 175. a year. And a capital messuage, called Northlees, in Hathersege, co. Derby, held of Thomas Fytzharberte, knight, in free socage, by fealty only. Richard Jessop died on November 25, 1580, leaving a son and heir, William, aged nineteen years and seven months at the time of his father's death.

1 Ch. Inq. p. m., cxciv, 49.

2 Per inveniendum unum equitem eidem comiti ad guerram.