as a baron, by the name of Johannes de Ripariis, on the 8th March, 1299, 6th March, 1300, 20th January, 1301, and, on the 12th February following, joined the barons in an address to the Pope, which he signed by the style and title of "Johannes de Ripariis, Dn's de Angre;" his lordship was also summoned to, and sat in Parliament as a baron, on the 1st July and 29th September, 1302, 16th February, 1305, 20th January, and 13th October, 1307; Lord de Ryvers was summoned amongst the barons to the coronation of King EDWARD the Second, on the 18th February, 1308; he d. 5 EDWARD II. seised of " Aungre Hundr," leaving two sons; 1, John; and 2, Sir RICHARD, of Ryvers Hall, of whom presently; he was succeeded in his title and estates by his eldest son and heir, JOHN, LORD DE RYVERS, de Ripariis, of Ongar Castle, Lord of Ongar, Tormerton, Littleton, &c. who was summoned to, and sat in Parliament as a baron, on the 18th March, 8th July, and 23rd September, 1313, | 21st April, and 9th September, 1314, and 20th January, 1315, and d. 8 EDWARD II. seised of the manors of Esthornyngdone Somerset, Tormerton and Littleton, Wormenhale, Bucks, Wotton, (or Wootton-Ryvers) Wilts, and half a knight's fee in Acton-Turvile, Glouc., leaving by Dionysia his wife, who had the township of Stretlee, in Cambridgeshire, à son and heir only; JOHN DE RYVERS, who sold the Ongar estate to John de Sutton 13 EDWARD III. and d. s. p. 32 EDWARD III. His uncle and heir,

SIR RICHARD DE RYVERS, de Ripariis, of Ryvers Hall, and Boxted, in Essex, succeeded to the manors of Tormerton, Littleton, Westhrop, Hampton, Wyke, Storden, &c. and m. first, Maude, daughter and heiress of Sir John le Breton, who died 34 EDWARD I. seised of certain demesnes in Boxted, and lands at Dodyngton, Blatherwyk, and Leyton, or Laxton, in Northamptonshire, by whom he had one child, Margaret, who d. s. p. 49 EDWARD III. seised of the Dodyngton and Blatherwyk estate, which ultimately passed to Sir Robert de Swillington hereafter noticed.

;

and Margaret the younger daughter of Sir Richard de Ryvers (or De la Ryvere) and the heirs of their bodies; remainder to the right heirs of Sir John de Heriz, who d. seised of these manors, 3 EDWARD III.

Sir John de Heriz was the son and heir of John, brother and heir of Henry, grandson and heir of Robert, brother and heir of William de Heriz, of Wyverton, in Nottinghamshire, a branch by a younger son of the House of Vendôme, and who is mentioned under the scutage of the barons, 18 HENRY II.

The issue of Sir Richard de Ryvers and Matilda de Heriz his second wife were three daughters; Margaret the elder, and Margaret the younger, of whom presently ;and Sarah, who m. John Garlek, who had with her a moiety of the Dodyngton estate, by whom she had Walter, her only child, who d. s. p., hence the entirety of that property passed to Sir Robert de Swillington.

Sir Richard de Ryvers d. 36 EDWARD III. leaving also by Emma his third wife, two sons, SIR THOMAS, and Henry, who had Tormerton, ratione fratriagii, and was high sheriff of Gloucestershire. He d. s. p. 3 HENRY IV.

The son of Sir Richard, by Emma, his third wife,

SIR THOMAS DE RYVERS, succeeded to the manors of Tormerton,* Littleton, Westhrop, Hampton, Wyke, Storden, &c. and d. s. p. 7 HENRY IV., seised of Westhrop manor, leaving Isabel, his wife, surviving, who had the manors of Tormerton, Littleton, Shirrewell, and Yate, of which she d. seised 15 HENRY VI. The lineage, therefore, of Sir Richard de Ryvers by his first and third wives became entirely extinct. Sir Thomas's half sister,

MARGARET DE RYVERS the elder, m. SIR ROGER Beler.

Previously to continuing the descendants of Margaret de Ryvers, we will give some details of the family of her husband:

Sir Roger Beler was the eldest son of Roger, Lord Beler, baron of Criche, in Derbyshire, who had there a capital mansion, park, and jurisdiction, 18 EDWARD II. son of William de Beler, of Kirkby Park, in Leicestershire, 14 EDWARD I., son of Roger, son of Ralph, Lord Beler, son of Sampson, son of Hamon, Lord Beler, who took that surname, son of Nigel, Lord

* Tormerton very anciently had its baronial in the great rebellion, but the ruins of a stately hall, the principal part of which was demolished lodge appear to have been standing in the last century. The manor had passed through the families of Willington and Drayton, by whom it had been held at intervals. After the family of De Ryvers, Sir John St. Loe became the next proprietor.

D'Albini and Gundred, his wife, daughter | of Hugh, Earl of Gournay, and Editha, his wife, daughter of William, Earl of Warrenne and Gundred, his wife, daughter of WILLIAM I. King of England, and Maude, the Queen, daughter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders, whose mother, Alice, was the daughter of Robert, King of France.

Lord Beler of Criche, by Alice his wife, the daughter of William, son of Peter de Wakebrugge and Juliana his wife, the sister of Hubert Fitz-Ralph, Baron of Criche, in the reign of King JOHN, had two sons and a daughter: Sir Roger before mentioned (whose issue by Margaret de Ryvers the elder, and his other wives will be noticed presently); Thomas, of whom hereafter; and Avice, who m. Sir Ralph Cromwell, the grandfather of Ralph, Lord Cromwell, Baron of Tatshall, and treasurer of England, temp. HENRY VI.

The manor of Criche, or Cruch, was purchased by Lord Beler, of Ralph, Lord Frescheville, who in right of this manor was summoned to and sat in Parliament, as a peer of the realm, on the 24th February, 1297, (25 EDWARD I.) and who conveyed it by feoffment and fine 18 EDWARD II., with license of the king, to him and his heirs for ever. Lord Beler held the manor of Criche by Barony, viz. of the king in capite, as of his crown, by the service of one knight's fee, and so d. seised of it in his own demesne as of fee, 19 EDWARD II.; he also d. seised of Bunny Park, in Nottinghamshire, and other considerable possessions. The tragical rencontre which occasioned his death is recorded as follows:

Eustace de Folville, of Ashby Folville, his two brothers, and Eudo de la Zouch, of Haryngworth, having been threatened by Lord Beler, one of the justices itinerant, and very old, they way-laid and barbarously murdered the judge, in a valley near Reresby. Dodsworth has this remark on the occurrence: "Anno MCCCXXVI., quarto Kal. Februarii occisus est Dominus Rogerus Beler in comitatu Leycestrie. Iste Rogerus fundavit cantariam secularium sacerdotum apud Kirkeby Beler, in comitatu Leycestrie; quam post multos annos uxor ejusdem Rogeri, cum concessu Rogeri filii eorum, transtulit in usus canonicorum regularium, instituens ibidem primum priorem loci de Abbathiâ de Olvestone. Hic Rogerus occisus est a quodam Eustachio de Folville, ac fratibus suis, quibus prius minas ingesserat et injurias; interfectus erat a tribus fratribus in quâdam valle juxta Reresby. Hic oppressor fuit ecclesiarum et aliorum vicinorum religiosorum, pro cupiditate possessionum, quas cupierit ad donationem cantarie sue."

The Folvilles being indicted for the mur

der, their lands at Reresby were seised by the king, and were never restored to them.

"Anno 1326, Eudo de la Zouch indictatus pro morte cujus dem Rogeri de Beler, ob metum indictamenti transfretavit sine licentia Regis; et ea occasione terre ejus capte sunt in manum d'ni Regis, et idem Eudo obiit Parisiis eodem anno.' ""

is an ancient altar tomb of one of the FolIn Ashby Folville church, says Wyrley, villes, in armour; on his breast, the crest of Folville, but no inscription. This monument is still in the South chapel, under the South window, and is said to be for old helmet remains on it with part of his gauntFolville who slew Beler. A large rusty lets and several fragments of armour. Folville's effigy is mutilated; the features of the face scarcely visible; his arms broken off; shoes square toed, which rest against a lion couchant regardant; a girdle round his waist, but no sword; his breast very prominent; on the right side of which is an iron blunted spike, or dagger, fixed in the stone with lead, apparently coeval with the figure itself; his head rested on a double pillow, which appears to have been originally supported by two angels, their hands and part of the drapery being yet visible.

The church at Criche contains an old

tomb, and upon it an effigy, according to the tradition of the place, of Lord Beler.

and estates, which were very considerable, His lordship was succeeded in his title by his eldest son,

SIR ROGER BELER, who, paying his relief and doing his homage, had livery of his lands; he m. firstly, Margaret de Ryvers the elder, before mentioned, by whom he had one child only, Margaret, who m. Sir Robert de Swillington, and afterwards John de Aylesford, by the latter she had no issue: by Sir Robert de Swillington, who d. 15 RICHARD II. seised of Ryvers Hall, Boxted, Brampton, and the Dodyngton estate, she had a son and heir; Sir Roger de Swillington, who had two sons and one daughter only: Sir John and Sir Robert, who had both d. s. p., the former 6 HENRY V. and the latter, 8 HENRY V. and Margaret, heiress, who m. Sir John Gra of Ingleby, in Lincolnshire, and who d. s. p. 8 HENRY VI. Sir Roger Beler m. secondly, Margaret, (the daughter of John, Lord Grey, of Codnor Castle) who d. 8 EDWARD III., by whom he had no issue; thirdly, Elizabeth, who d. 36 EDWARD III., by whom he had no issue; fourthly, Catharine, who d. 5 RICHARD II., by whom he had one child only, Thomasine (co-heiress with his daughter Margaret by his first wife) who d. 5 RICHARD II. and was never married; fifthly, Mary, who died 15 RICHARD II. by whom he had no issue. Hence the lineage of Lord Beler, the son, became entirely extinct; his lordship held

the manor of Criche, by barony, as his father did, and so died seised of it in his own demesne, as of fee, 4 RICHARD II.; he also died seised of Bunny, Widmerpool, Gunnelveston, South Winfield, Tibshelf, and a large estate.

It should be observed, that Sir John Gra, and Margaret, his wife, settled part of the Heriz and Beler estates on the family of Pierreponte (Sir Robert de Pierreponte having married Sarah, the sister of Sir John de Heriz) and Criche, Bunny, and South Winfield, on the family of Cromwell, before spoken of, about which estates, for a series of years afterwards, they had great suits and controversies. Lord Cromwell, however, in the reign of HENRY VI. erected a magnificent mansion at South Winfield, memorable from the circumstance of the unfortunate Mary, the Scottish queen, being imprisoned there, in charge of George, Earl of Shrewsbury, to whose ancestor the Crom

WILLIAM LE EYR, of Hope, in the county of Derby, temp. HENRY III. held lands of the king in capite, by service of the custody of the Forest of High Peak, and died seised thereof before 4th December, 28 EDWARD I. He was direct ancestor of

NICHOLAS LE EYR, of Hope, living 9 EDWARD III. By an inquisition it was found, that the king in the 35th of his reign might, without prejudice to him or others, grant to this Nicholas lands in Hope with the wardship of the Forest of High Peak. He was father of

NICHOLAS LE EYRE, of Hope, who m. Jo

anna, daughter and heir of Edward Barlow' of Barlow, near Manchester, and had issue, 1. NICHOLAS, of Hope, living temp. HENRY VI. m. Margaret, daughter of Reddish of Reddish, in Lancashire. II. ROBERT, of whom presently. III. William, of North Lees, near Hathersedge, in Derbyshire, living 12 HENRY VI. m. Elizabeth, daughter of Wickersley, of Wickersley, in the county of York.

IV. Thomas, died s. p.

I. Emma, m. to- Wickersley, esq. of
Wickersley, in Yorkshire.

II. Dionysia, m. to Thurstan Hall, esq.
of Hucklow, in Derbyshire.

III. Joanna, m. to James Thornhill,
esq. of Thornhill, in Derbyshire.
IV. —, m. to — Cressham, esq.
V., m. to - Balguy, esq.

VI., m. to Roger Massey, esq.
The second son,

ROBERT EYRE, esq. married Joanna, dau. and sole heir of Robert Padley, esq. of Padley, in the county of Derby, lord of the manor of Hathersedge, and thus acquired the estate of Padley. By this lady, who d. 9th March, 1463, he had issue,

1. ROBERT, of Padley, high sheriff of Derbyshire, 22 EDWARD IV. m. Eli

zabeth, dau. of Thomas Fitzwilliam, esq. of Maplethorpe, in Lincolnshire, and had issue,

1. ROBERT, his heir.

2. Thomas, who m. Catherine, daughter of John ap Gwillim, and from him descended the EYRES of High Lowe, &c.

3. John, who died without legitimate issue.

4. Christopher.

5. Robert.

1. Ann, m. to Thomas Meverell, esq. of Trowley and Frodshall. 2. Elizabeth, m. to Sir John Draycott, knt. of Paynsley, in Staffordshire.

The eldest son,

ROBERT EYRE, esq. of Padley, high sheriff of Derbyshire in 1482, m. Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Huddleston, knt. of the county of Cambridge, and dying 14th November, 19 HEN. VII. left issue,

ARTHUR (SIR), Knt. of Padley, then aged twenty-three. He m. first, Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton, knt. of Plumpton, in Yorkshire; secondly, Alicia, daughter of Thomas Coffin, esq. of Devonshire, and 3rdly, Dorothy, daughter of Humphrey Okeover, esq. of Okeover, in Staffordshire. By his first wife Sir Arthur left, with other issue, who all died s. p. a daughter and eventual heiress,

of

ANNE, m. to Sir Thomas Fitzherbert, knt. Norbury, co. Derby. Dorothy, m. to Alexander Nevile, esq. of South Leverton, in Notts.

Anne, m. to Thomas Barley, esq. of Woodhouse, in Derbyshire.

Margaret, m.to Richard Draycot, esq. uncle of Sir Philip Draycot, knt. of Paynsley. II. NICHOLAS, of Hirst juxta Hathersedge, who m. a daughter of William

St. Andrew, esq. of Gotham, in the
county of Nottingham, but his line is
extinct.

III. ROGER, of whom presently.
IV. Rodolph, or Ralph, of Offerton,

who m. Elizabeth, daughter and co-
heir of William Oxspring, and had
issue.

v. Hugh, died s. p.

vi. Philip, parson of Ashover.
VII. Richard, living 21 EDWARD IV.

VIII. Henry.

IX. Edmund, of Brookfield, m. Agnes, daughter and co-heir of Edmund Ashhurst, esq. of Reyton, Notts. x. Stephen, of Hassop, living 29 EDWARD IV. and 3 HENRY VII. m. Catherine, daughter of Dymoke of Kyme, in Lincolnshire, and had (with two daughters, Elizabeth, m. to John Curzon, esq. of Kedleston, in Derbyshire, and Jane, m. to John Ireton, esq. of Ireton,) a son and suc

cessor,

Rowland, of Hassop, living 3 HENRY VII. m. . Dorothy, daughter of Henry Everingham, esq. of Stainbrough, in the county of York, and had issue,

XI. John.

Stephen, of Hassop, who m. first, Helen, daughter of Downes, esq. of Shrigley, in Cheshire, and secondly, Anne, daughter and heir of Thomas Blackwell, esq. of Shirley, in Derbyshire. By the latter he left issue,

1. Rowland, of Hassop, who m. Gertrude, dau. and co-heir of Humphrey Stafford, esq. of Eyam, and died in 1624, leaving issue.

2. Dorothy, m. to John Roberts, of Loughton le Morthen, in Yorkshire.

3. Jane.

4. Anne, m. to William Parker, of Whitley, in Yorkshire.

5. Mary, m. to John Staveley, of Redseats, in Derbyshire.

6. Catherine, m. to George Needham, esq. of Thornset, in Derbyshire.

Elizabeth, m. to George Blackwell, esq. of Tidswell, Derbyshire.

Anne, m. to Anthony Longsden, esq. of Longsden.

1. Johanna, m. to Stephen Thorpe, esq. of Danthorpe, in Yorkshire.

11. Elizabeth, m. to Ralph Leach, esq. of Chatsworth, in Derbyshire. III. Margaret.

IV. Jean.

The third son,

ROGER EYRE, esq. of Holm Hall, Chesterfield, in the county of Derby, living 12 EDWARD IV. married Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of Robert Whittington, esq. of Whittington, in the same shire, cousin