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BELVOIR CASTLE, the splendid seat of the Manners family for many generations, and now belonging to John Henry Manners, the fifth Duke of Rutland, is the greatest ornament of the county; and the whole demesne embraces a large tract of land at the north eastern corner of Leicestershire, and extends into Lincolnshire. In some topographical works it has been described as situated in the latter county. Camden says, "In the west part of Kesteven, on the edge of this county (Lincolnshire) and Leicestershire there stands Belvoir castle, so called (whatever was its ancient name), from the fine prospect on a steep hill, which seems the work of art." Burton expressly says, that this castle “is certainly in Lincolnshire ;" and the authors of the Magna Britannia' repeat the same terms. Mr. Nichols, whose authority on this, and most other subjects of local history respecting Leicestershire, is decisive and satisfactory, states that "the Castle is at present in every respect considered as being within this county, with all the lands of the extra-parochial part of Belvoir thereto belonging (including the site of the priory); consisting in the whole of about 600 acres of wood, meadow, and pasture ground; upon which are now no buildings but the Castle, with its offices, and the Inn. It would be a difficult matter, notwithstanding, to trace out with accuracy the precise boundary of the two counties in this neighbourhood*."

Leland notices it in the following terms, "Bever castle of surety standeth in Leircestre (Lincolnshir), in the vale of Bever +." In another place he writes, "The Castelle of Bellevoire standith in the utter part of that way of Leicestershir on the very keepe of an highe hille, stepe up eche way, partely by nature, partely by working of mennes handes, as it may evidently be perceyvid. Wither ther were any Castelle ther afore the conquest, or no, I am not sure; but surely I think rather no then ye. Totenius was the first enhabiter after the conquest. Then it cam to Albeneius. VOL. IX. K k And

* History of Leicestershire, Vol. I. p. 23.

+ Itinerary, Vol. VI. f. 29.

And from Albevnius to Ros. Of this descent and of the foundation of the Priory in the Village at the Castelle foote, I have written a quire separately."

The original castle was founded by Robert de Todeni, who obtained the name of Robert de Belvedeir, and who was standardbearer to William the Conqueror. At the Domesday Survey it was probably one of the two manors noticed under the name of Wolsthorpe: but afterwards becoming the head of the lordship, the whole was distinguished by the title of "Manerium de Belvoir, cum membris de Wollesthorpe +."

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As the possessors of this castle and lordship were chiefly persons of great eminence, and many of them distinguished in the historical annals of the county; and as some of them, from their dignity and power, exercised considerable control over this and the contiguous counties; it will be necessary to give a concise account of the most eminent. Robert, the first Norman lord, died in 1088, and was buried in the chapter-house of the Priory, where Dr. Stukeley discovered a stone inscribed to his memory. By a general survey taken at the death of Robert de Todenei, it appears that he was in possession of fourscore lordships: many of which, by uninterrupted succession, continue still to be the property of the Duke of Rutland. The lordships in Leicestershire, as enumerated in Domesday, were, Horninghold, Medborne, Blaston, Harby, Barkston (including Plungar), Bottesford, Redmile, Knipton, Laughton, Lubbenham, Barkby Thorpe, Hungarton, Croxton, Quenby, Long-Clauston, Howes, Stathern, and Holwell. In Lincolnshire his domains were still more numerous. In Northamptonshire he had nine lordships; one of which, Stoke, acquired the additional name of Albini, when it came into the possession of his son t."

William de Albini, son of the above, succeeded to these lordships; and, like his father, was a celebrated warrior, and distin-,

guished

* Itinerary, Vol. I. f. 114.

+ Inq 26 Edward III.

History of Leicestershire, Vol. I. p. 23.

guished himself at the Battle of Tenerchebray in Normandy, where -Henry the First encountered Robert Curthose, his brother. Matthew Paris describes the actions of William as being particularly valiant on this occasion. King Stephen and Henry the Second granted the castle of Belvoir to Ranulph de Gernons, Earl of Chester: but it was again obtained by de Albini, who died here about 1155. He obtained from Henry the First a grant of an annual fair at Belvoir, to be continued for eight days.

William de Albini (alias Meschines, and Brito), the next possessor of Belvoir, &c. endowed the Priory here with certain lands, and, in 1165, on the aid granted to Henry II. for marrying his eldest daughter Maud to the Emperor, certified the king that he then held of him thirty-two knights' fees under the old feoffment, whereby he was enfeoffed in the time of King Henry the First.

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William de Albini, the third of the name, was a distinguished character in the reign of King Richard the First, and went with that monarch into Normandy in 1195. In 1211, a peace being concluded tween King John and the French King, William de Albini was one of the sureties for the former. He was also one of those twenty-five barons who swore to the observation of Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta, sealed by the King at Runnemeade, in the 17th year of his reign. Afterwards he was engaged in the barons' wars, and was taken prisoner by the king's party at Rochester Castle. The castle at Belvoir was also seized by the monarch. Previous to his death, he granted several immunities to the Priory of Belvoir, for the health of his own soul, and the soul of Agatha his wife, and the soul of Margery his former wife. He also founded, and plentifully endowed, the hospital of our lady, called Novum-locum, (Newstead,) at Wassebridge, between Stamford and Uffington, where he was interred in May 1236.

An opulent heiress of the house of Albini, named Isabel, married to Robert de Ros, or Roos, baron of Hamlake, and thus

carried these estates, &c. into a new family.

The bounds of the

lordship of Belvoir at this time are described by a document

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printed in Nichols's History. This new lord obtained a licence from Henry III. to hold a weekly market at Belvoir, and an annual fair. He died in 1285, and his body was buried at Kirkham, his bowels before the high altar at Belvoir, and his heart at Croxton Abbey. It was a common practice in this age, for eminent characters to have their corporal remains thus distributed after death. An inscription, with the arms of Robert de Ros, is preserved in the church at Bottesford. In 1304, William de Ros was allowed to inclose 100 acres in the parish of Redmile, under the name of Bever Park, which was appropriated solely to the preservation of game. This gentleman was a benafactor to the Priory of Belvoir, to the Priory of Ouston, and also to the house of White Friars at Blakeney in Norfolk. He died in 1317, and was buried in the monastery of Kirkham.

William de Ros, eldest son of the above, finished the foundation in 1321, which his father had begun, at Blakeney; was made Lord Ros, of Werke, took the title of Baron Ros, of Hamlake, Werke, Belvoir, and Trusbut: and had summons to parliament from 11th Edward II. to 16th Edward III. He was also appointed Lord High Admiral of England. Dying in 1342, he was interred at Kirkham, in Yorkshire, under a monument near the great altar.

Sir William de Ros, Knight, was a very distinguished character during the reign of Henry the Fourth; was appointed Lord High Treasurer in 1402, and one of the triers of petitions, in parliament. He also held several other offices of state. By his will he gave 400l. "for finding ten honest chaplains to pray for his soul, and the souls of his father, mother, brethren, sisters," &c. for eight years, within his chapel at Belvoir Castle. He died here in 1414; and his monument was removed from Belvoir Priory to Bottesford church, after the dissolution,

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John Ros, the eldest son of the above, succeeded to the estates in 1414, and was slain, with his brother William, at Baugé, near Anjou. His remains were brought to England, and immured at Belvoir, and his monument is now preserved at Bottesford. He

was

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