THE RAPE AND HONOR OF LEWES
The Rape of Lewes: from Budgen's Map of Sussex, 1724.
The present RAPE of Lewes, in the eastern division
of the county, is bounded on the north by part of
Surrey, on the south by the English Channel, on the
east by the rape of Pevensey, and on the west by the
rape of Bramber. It does not, however, correspond in
area with the Sussex territory originally given by
William the Conqueror to William de Warenne. Between the Conquest and the time at which the Domesday Survey was made a large strip of land extending to
the River Adur on the west, and running from north
to south, seems to have been cut off from Warenne's
territory and given to William de Braose as part of his
rape of Bramber. Another piece of land in the northeast of the original rape of Lewes, the hundred of East
Grinstead, was given to the Count of Mortain. For
these sacrifices William de Warenne was compensated
by a grant of manors in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex,
which are described in Domesday Book as 'of the exchange of Lewes' or 'of the castellany of Lewes' and in
the time of Henry II as the Earl of Warenne's 'new
land'. (fn. 1)
The rape included throughout the borough of Lewes,
but the hundreds that compose the rest of the territory
have varied from time to time in number, name, and
composition. In 1086, for example, the boundary of the
rape included the hundreds of Swanborough, Holmestrow, 'Prestetune', 'Falemere', 'Welesmere', Poynings,
Buttinghill, Streat, and Barcombe, and a section of
those of 'Eldretune' (later Fishersgate) and Windham. (fn. 2)
By 1316 there were eight and a half hundreds, Preston (fn. 3)
forming part of the hundred of Whalesbone, and the
land in Windham part of Buttinghill. (fn. 4) The half-hundred of Windham reappeared in the early 15th century, (fn. 5) but seems to have been treated as part of
Buttinghill in the 17th century, (fn. 6) though it is mentioned
separately in the Hearth Tax returns of 1665 as containing Bolney and Twineham. (fn. 7) In 1624 the earlier
Welesmere and Falemere had been reshuffled into
Whalesbone and Younsmere, the hundred of Preston
and Hove had been created, or re-created, and a new
hundred of Southover (fn. 8) had grown up. (fn. 9) By 1724 (fn. 10)
there was in existence the hundred of Dean, containing
Patcham, a manor which in 1086 was in 'Prestetune'
Hundred but which since 1296 at least had been
reckoned in Whalesbone Hundred. The rape, at the
present day, contains 11½ hundreds, namely, Barcombe,
Buttinghill, Dean, part of Fishersgate, Holmestrow,
Poynings, Preston, Southover, Streat, Swanborough,
Whalesbone, and Younsmere, though their existence
is now theoretical, as for all practical purposes they
have long ceased to function.
During the eleventh and twelfth centuries, at least,
the Earls Warenne, like the lords of the other rapes in
Sussex and certain magnates elsewhere, had private
sheriffs who were distinct from the sheriffs of the
county and who did not account at the king's Exchequer. (fn. 11) All the information so far discovered about
these Lewes sheriffs comes from the Chartulary of
the Priory of St. Pancras at Lewes. (fn. 12) Sheriffs are
there found witnessing grants of lands and privileges
to the priory by members of the Warenne family (fn. 13) and
by other persons. (fn. 14) One, Peter the sheriff, himself gave
to the priory a mill and four acres of land at Meeching, (fn. 15)
and also one acre of land for building a church at
Kingston. (fn. 16) Earl Warenne, in confirming this latter
grant, ordered Hugh the sheriff of Lewes to give seisin
to the monks. (fn. 17) In another letter to 'Hugh the sheriff
and his other bailiffs (villicis)' Earl William III ordered
that any man failing to get justice from the prior of
St. Pancras in any claim against him, should 'make
complaint to me if I am in the neighbourhood or to
my sheriff'. (fn. 18) Shortly afterwards the Earl's brother
Rainald de Warenne in 1147–8 addressed a letter concerning the merchant gild at Lewes to 'the sheriff of
Lewes and all the barons of the earldom'. (fn. 19)
The earliest of these sheriffs of whom records have
been found is Peter the sheriff (c. 1090–8). (fn. 20) Hugh
occurs in about 1100, (fn. 21) William and Peter in about
1120, (fn. 22) and subsequently Hugh (c. 1145), (fn. 23) Guy
(1147), (fn. 24) Adam (1147–8 and c. 1160), (fn. 25) Adelulf (c.
1150), (fn. 26) William (1150), (fn. 27) Pettewin (c. 1160), (fn. 28)
Payn (1185 and c. 1200) (fn. 29) and Hugh de Plompton
(c. 1230 or earlier). (fn. 30)
The HONOR or BARONY of Lewes, which approximated in area to the rape, was given, as has already
been said, by William the Conqueror to William de
Warenne, (fn. 31) a Norman lord who was present at the
Battle of Hastings and who was left in England in
1067 to help to rule the country. (fn. 32) By 1086 he held
land in twelve counties of England. He supported
William Rufus against the rebellious earls in 1088 and
was invested by him with the earldom of Surrey, (fn. 33) in
which county his descendants are found holding the
castle and town of Reigate, the manors of Dorking and
Betchworth, and other minor possessions closely connected in their descent with the honor of Lewes. (fn. 34) It
was this William de Warenne who
with his wife Gundrada in 1077
founded the Priory of Lewes
(q.v.), the first Cluniac house in
England. He died on 24 June
1088 at Lewes, having been
wounded at the siege of Pevensey. (fn. 35) His elder son and successor
William, 2nd Earl of Surrey, was
disinherited by Henry I for his
share in the rebellion of Duke
Robert of Normandy, but was
subsequently restored to lands and favour. He died on
11 May 1138 and was buried with his father in the
Priory of Lewes. (fn. 36) His eldest son, another William,
succeeded him, and died on crusade on 13 January
1149. He had been an adherent of King Stephen, and
his daughter and heiress Isabel married as her first
husband William, King Stephen's second son. He
died in 1159, and her second husband was Hamelin,
natural son of Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, and halfbrother of Henry II. Both these husbands in turn
were known as Earl Warenne. (fn. 37) In 1166 Hamelin
was holding 60 knights' fees in Sussex (fn. 38) and similarly in
1171–2. (fn. 39) He died on 7 May 1202 and was succeeded
by his son William whose descendants were known by
the name of Warenne. It is uncertain whether Isabel
survived her husband. (fn. 40)
Warenne. Checky or and azure.
The new earl William had livery of his lands on
12 May 1202. (fn. 41) In 1212 he was found to be holding
62 fees in the rape of Lewes (fn. 42) and in 1235–6 was
assessed at £42 10s. for fees of the honor in Sussex. (fn. 43)
In the civil war at the end of John's reign he was at first
a supporter of the king but deserted to the baronial side
when Louis of France arrived in London. (fn. 44) After the
accession of the young Henry III he returned to the
royalist side before June 1217 (fn. 45) and was a prominent
figure in the politics of the reign. He died in 1240,
whereupon his estates devolved upon John de Warenne,
his son by his second wife Maud, coheiress of William
Marshal II, Earl of Pembroke, and widow of Hugh
Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk. (fn. 46) John was only five years
old at the time of his father's death and from Whitsun
1240 to September 1241 his lands were in the hands of
William de Munceus, acting for the Crown. The
estates held in demesne at this time were the manors of
Meeching, Piddinghoe, Rodmell, Iford, Northease,
Houndean, Allington, and Cuckfield; there were also
revenues from 'Phideligworth' (presumably Piddingworth in Ditchling), Lamporte and Walland on the
outskirts of Lewes, and Seaford. (fn. 47) From Lewes itself
14s. 4d. came 'from the farm of the cottars', £8 0s. 10½d.
'from the customs (consuet') of the town', and £7 'from
perquisites of the court of Lewes; other issues include
perquisites of the halmotes (alimottorum) or manorial
courts, the farm of the hundreds, the issues of the Forest
of Worth, and the park of Cuckfield. (fn. 48) In September
1241 the guardianship of the honor was given to Peter
of Savoy, the king's uncle. (fn. 49) This grant was later made
to extend for 10 years from 2 Feb. 1242. (fn. 50) Later in
1242 all freemen and tenants in socage and burgage in
the late earl's Sussex lands were requested to make a
competent aid to Peter of Savoy, who was about to cross
the sea with the king. (fn. 51) In 1242–3 there were 665/6
knights' fees held of the honor in Sussex. (fn. 52)
Although part of John's inheritance was restored to
him in 1248, (fn. 53) the grant did not include the lands his
father had held in Sussex and Surrey. Peter of Savoy
still held the Surrey lands in April 1252, (fn. 54) but they were
in John's possession as from Michaelmas 1252 (fn. 55) and in
May 1256 he was granted the third penny of the county
of Surrey as Earl of Surrey (fn. 56) and must soon after have
been given full possession of the honor of Lewes. (fn. 57)
Already, in 1247, he had married the king's half-sister,
Alice, daughter of Hugh X, Count of La Marche. (fn. 58)
John de Warenne took an active part in the Barons'
Wars and fled to France after the Battle of Lewes. His
lands, with the exception of the castles of Lewes and
Reigate, were then committed for a time to Gilbert de
Clare, Earl of Gloucester. (fn. 59)
The story told by Hemingburgh of the 'ancient and
rusty' sword produced by Warenne as warranty for his
lands (fn. 60) is now discredited, (fn. 61) but the sober record of the
Quo Warranto proceedings of 1279 shows that he was
successful in maintaining his claim to the liberties of
free warren, view of frankpledge, assize of bread and
ale, gallows, pillory, tumbrell, thief-hanging, and wreck
of the sea throughout the rape, together with his prison
at Lewes. (fn. 62) As to the composition of the honor at
this period, an inquiry made in 1284–5 showed that the
manors held in demesne and in chief were: Meeching
(later Newhaven), Rodmell, Piddinghoe, Rottingdean,
Ovingdean, Brighthelmeston, Patcham, Blatchington,
Clayton, Cuckfield, Worth, Ditchling, Ardingly, Balcombe, and part of Bolney. (fn. 63) Knights' fees held of the
barony were to be found in Portslade, Aldrington,
Hangleton, Poynings, Piecombe, Perching, Newtimber,
Hurst (later Hurstpierpont), Slaugham, Plumpton,
West Hoathly, Chailey, Streat, Westmeston, and
Hamsey. (fn. 64) At the time of his death in September 1304,
Earl John de Warenne was holding in demesne the
manors of Houndean, Northease, Meeching, and
Patcham, Rodmell, Brighton, Middleton, Allington,
and Cuckfield; also lands and tenements in Rottingdean, 'la Wyk', and Keymer, Clayton, and Ditchling. (fn. 65)
There were also revenues from 'the castle and borough
of Lewes, with nine hundreds', the borough and market
of Seaford, and the forest of Worth. In view of the
importance attached by the earl to his hunting rights, (fn. 66)
it may be noted that wages were paid to a head warenner
of Lewes and four subordinates, a head forester in 'le
Cleres' with eleven sub-foresters, a head forester and
eight subordinates in the forest of Worth, and parkers at
Ditchling and Cuckfield. Another interesting point is
that the escheator did not account for any meadow or
pasture, as all of this was in the hands of Edward, Prince
of Wales. The prince at this time had his stud at Ditchling; (fn. 67) on the death of the earl he had at once approached his executors with a demand to buy the earl's
horses; and on 15 March 1305 (fn. 68) he had obtained from
the king, his father, a grant of the meadow and pasture
in the earl's lands for his stud, during the minority of
the heir.
Earl John was succeeded by his grandson John,
aged 19, whose father William had been killed in 1286
at a tournament at Croydon. (fn. 69) The younger John was
granted seisin of his inheritance in April 1306, (fn. 70) and by
June of the same year he was referred to as 'the present
Earl of Surrey'. (fn. 71)
In the lifetime of this second John de Warenne the
barony was the subject of several legal processes. By
February 1316 the earl had started proceedings in a
divorce suit against his wife, Joan, a grand-daughter of
Edward I. (fn. 72) To make provision for his illegitimate
children by Maud de Nerford, he surrendered his Sussex
manors, with his Surrey estates, to the king in July of
that year (fn. 73) and received them again, in August, to hold
for life, with remainder successively to his sons John and
Thomas de Warenne. (fn. 74) In May 1326, however, this
arrangement was set aside by a settlement upon the earl
and Joan, still his lawful wife, and their heirs male, with
remainder to John's only sister Alesia and her husband
Edmund Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel, and their son Richard, and
Isabel his wife. (fn. 75) Earl Warenne
subsequently made a surrender
to, and accepted a re-grant from
Edward III, but in December
1346 the settlement of 1326 was
confirmed. (fn. 76) In 1347 the earl
died (fn. 77) and his widow continued
to hold the estates until her death
in 1361, after which they passed
to the earl's nephew Richard,
Earl of Arundel, who then assumed the title of Earl
of Surrey. (fn. 78)
Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel. Gules a lion or.
At the time of John de Warenne's death the manors
of the honor held by the gift of Edward II, following
the arrangement of 1326, were: Cuckfield, Clayton,
Ditchling, Meeching, Patcham, Brighthelmeston,
Rottingdean, Houndean, Northease, Rodmell, Keymer, Middleton, Allington, Worth, and Piecombe,
with the vills of Iford, Piddinghoe (member of the
manor of Meeching), and Seaford, and the castle and
town of Lewes. (fn. 79) No knights' fees are listed in the
inquisition post mortem. These same Sussex lands were
settled by Richard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, in 1366
upon himself and his then wife Eleanor, daughter of
John, Duke of Lancaster, and upon their son Richard
and his wife Elizabeth and their heirs. (fn. 80) The elder
Richard died in 1376, and in 1397, after the younger
Richard had been attainted and executed for treason, (fn. 81)
the honor of Lewes and the rest of his lands were
granted by Richard II to Thomas, Earl Marshal and
Earl of Nottingham. (fn. 82) In the following year Thomas,
who had meanwhile been made Duke of Norfolk, was
banished, and in September 1398 the honor was
granted in tail-male to the king's half-brother, John,
Duke of Exeter. (fn. 83)
In January 1400 the Duke of Exeter was beheaded at
Pleshey for his part in the conspiracy against Henry IV,
and in October of that year his father's attainder having
been reversed, Thomas Fitzalan was restored in blood
and honors as Earl of Arundel and Surrey. (fn. 84) A few
months before his death in October 1415, he settled the
honor of Lewes, with his Surrey lands, on himself and
his wife Beatrice and their heirs. (fn. 85) Beatrice held the
honor until her death in 1439, (fn. 86) when in the absence
of direct heirs it devolved upon the representatives of
the late earl's sisters, viz. John Mowbray, Duke of
Norfolk, grandson of Elizabeth Fitzalan and her second
husband; Elizabeth Nevill, Baroness Bergavenny,
grand-daughter of the second sister Joan who married
William Beauchamp, 4th son of Thomas, Earl of
Warwick; Edmund Lenthall, son of the third sister,
Margaret, and her husband Sir Rowland Lenthall,
Master of the Wardrobe to Henry IV. (fn. 87) Edmund
Lenthall was a minor and in the king's wardship, but in
December 1440 the other two coheirs were allowed to
enter their respective pourparties. (fn. 88)
The barony of Lewes, with all its rents and profits,
and the castle of Lewes were now divided into three
equal shares. (fn. 89) Each coheir therefore received, in
addition to ⅓ of the castle, third parts respectively of the
'Chase called Cleres'; of the forest of Worth and of any
residue of the manor of Worth beyond the forest; of
assised rent of the vill of Lewes, that is to say a third of
each tenant's rent together with any residue from the
vill. Similar division was made of the proceeds of view
of frankpledge, of the court of the vill, and of the court
baron, of a yearly fair at Whitsuntide and a weekly
market on Saturday, and of a fishery called the fishery of
Lewes. The profits of the eight and two half hundreds
of the rape were also divided, as were a certain common
fine paid at the feasts of the Annunciation and Michaelmas, the toun of the sheriff of Sussex held at 'Nomansland', and a rent of £11 6s. called 'Sherevesyeld' taken
within the rape of Arundel. The order of presentation
to the Priory of Lewes was to be first by Edmund
Lenthall, second by the Duke of Norfolk, and third by
Elizabeth Lady Bergavenny. (fn. 90) The only manor in
which actual partition was to be made was Northease
with the vill of Iford, from which rents were to be paid
to Edmund Lenthall and the Duke of Norfolk by Lady
Bergavenny, who was to hold the manorial rights. (fn. 91)
Apart from these, the manors were allotted in groups of
approximately equal value.
The manors of Houndean, Keymer, and Cuckfield
with its appurtenant 'Haldelegh' were given to Edmund Lenthall, with rents as above from Northease and
Iford. His knights' fees lay in Portslade, Aldrington,
Ovingdean, Hamsey, Barcombe, Streat, Newtimber,
Baldshill, Rottingdean, Ockley, Hangleton, Plumpton,
and Perching, and Fincham and Rougham in Norfolk,
with a third share of fees in Blatchington, Deopham in
Norfolk, and Ovingdean, and of Surrey fees. (fn. 92)
The demesne manors of the Duke of Norfolk were
Meeching with the vill of Piddinghoe, Clayton, Piecombe, Brighthelmeston, Allington, and Middleton
with the vill of Seaford, and rents from Northease and
Iford. His knights' fees were in Hurst, Westmeston,
Hamsey, Barcombe, Streat, Newtimber, Bevendean,
Rottingdean, Hangleton, 'Sonde', Standean, Smithwick, Kingston, Radynden in Sussex, Wretham in
Suffolk, and Rougham in Norfolk, with a third share
of fees in Blatchington, and Deopham, and Ovingdean,
and fees in Surrey. (fn. 93)
To the share of Elizabeth, Lady Bergavenny, fell the
manors of Ditchling, Rodmell, Patcham, Rottingdean,
Northease, and the vill of Iford. (fn. 94) Her knights' fees lay
in Poynings, Piecombe, Wapsbourne, Chailey, Iford,
Worth, Ditchling, 'Banham', Firles', Maplesden, Piddingworth, Folkington near Wilmington, and Fulking, (fn. 95)
with a share of fees in Blatchington, and Ovingdean,
and Deopham, and with certain of the Surrey fees. (fn. 96)
The Lenthall pourparty of the barony did not long
preserve its identity. Edmund Lenthall entered upon
it in August 1441, soon after coming of age. (fn. 97) In 1444
he settled it upon William, Bishop of Salisbury, and
others, including Roland Lenthall his father, doubtless
as feoffees to uses of his will. (fn. 98) He died in 1447 (fn. 99) and,
subject to the life interest of his widow (d. Jan. 1484) (fn. 100)
and of his father (d. 1450), (fn. 101) the Lenthall third of the
barony was shared by the owners of the other twothirds. From 1447, therefore, the barony was held in
half shares by the Nevills and the Mowbrays.
Lenthall. Argent a bend cotised sable with three molets or thereon.
Nevill, Lord Bergavenny. Gules a saltire argent charged with a rose gules.
The descent of the Nevill or Bergavenny portion of
the rape and honor presents few problems. (fn. 102) Elizabeth, wife of Sir Edward Nevill, Lord Bergavenny,
died in 1448 (fn. 103) and her husband continued to hold part
of her half of the honor until his own death in 1476. (fn. 104)
He was succeeded by his seconds on George, 4th Lord
Bergavenny. (fn. 105) In 1484, on the death of Margaret
Tresham, widow of Edmund Lenthall, he entered into
full possession of the Sussex lands of his half of the
Lenthall third, the demesne manors of Cuckfield, Keymer, and Houndean being divided between the two
heirs. (fn. 106) George, 5th Lord Bergavenny, succeeded his
father in 1492 (fn. 107) and died in 1535, having entailed his
lands upon himself and his heirs male, with remainder
to his brothers Thomas and Edward respectively in like
manner. (fn. 108) His son and successor, Henry, 6th Baron,
died in 1587 leaving an only daughter, Lady Mary
Fane, (fn. 109) so that by terms of the entail the half barony
descended to a cousin, Edward Nevill, notwithstanding
the attainder of his father Edward, brother of the 5th
Lord Bergavenny. (fn. 110) Edward, 7th Lord Bergavenny,
died in 1589 (fn. 111) and his son and successor, another Edward, in 1622. (fn. 112) The half rape continued to descend
with the barony of Bergavenny which was raised to an
earldom in 1784. (fn. 113) In 1876 William, Earl of Abergavenny, was created Earl of Lewes and Marquess of
Abergavenny. (fn. 114) Such rights as still persist are vested
in his grandson Temple Montacute Larnach-Nevill,
4th Marquess of Abergavenny.
The third share of the barony inherited in 1439 by
John de Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Nottingham, Marshal of England, &c., (fn. 115) became, as has
been said above, one half, on the death of Edmund
Lenthall in 1447. (fn. 116) The 3rd Duke died in 1461 leaving
a widow, Eleanor, to whom dower was assigned from
the Sussex lands, (fn. 117) and a son John, born in 1444, (fn. 118) who
was a minor in the king's wardship (fn. 119) until 1465 when
he was allowed to enter into all his
father's possessions. (fn. 120) During his
father's lifetime, in 1451, he had
been created Earl Warenne and
Earl of Surrey, (fn. 121) these titles having
been extinct since the death of
Thomas, Earl of Arundel, in
1415. (fn. 122) The grant was confirmed
by Edward IV in 1462, 'in consideration of his father's services
in divers conflicts against the king's
adversaries', and carried with it
a yearly sum of 20s. from the
issues of the counties of both Surrey and Sussex. (fn. 123)
Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Gules a lion argent.
John died in 1476 leaving a four-year-old daughter,
Anne. (fn. 124) His titles then became extinct, but were
revived, in part, in favour of Edward IV's second son
Richard, who became Duke of York and of Norfolk,
Earl Marshal, Earl Warenne, and Earl of Nottingham.
To support his new dignities he was married to the
heiress Anne Mowbray 'to the grete honoure of her and
of her blode' and it was agreed that he should inherit her
possessions even if she died without issue. (fn. 125) Meanwhile, Anne's widowed mother, Elizabeth, Duchess of
Norfolk, in view of her daughter's marriage, was induced to surrender the lands of the barony held by her
in dower, and to accept instead other manors in Sussex
and elsewhere. (fn. 126)
Anne died in 1481; (fn. 127) her husband was murdered in
the Tower in 1483. (fn. 128) There was no direct heir to this
half of the barony and so it was divided among the next
of kin, the four surviving heirs of the other daughters of
Elizabeth Fitzalan. (fn. 129) These were John Howard
(created Earl Marshal and Duke of Norfolk, 28 June
1483), son of Margaret Mowbray; William, Lord
Berkeley (created Earl of Nottingham, 28 June 1483),
son of Isabel Mowbray; Sir Thomas Stanley (created
Earl of Derby, 27 Oct. 1485), son of Joan Goushill,
Elizabeth Fitzalan's daughter by her third husband Sir
Robert Goushill; Sir John Wingfield, grandson of
Elizabeth Goushill.
The Mowbray half of the barony of Lewes was now
to be subdivided so that each of the four heirs would,
in 1483, be holding one-eighth of the barony and rape
and borough of Lewes, with one-quarter of the original
Mowbray manors, (fn. 130) and one-quarter of half the vill of
Cuckfield, lately held by Edmund Lenthall. (fn. 131) An agreement was, however, made by the heirs, that the inheritance of Anne Mowbray should be divided in such
a way that the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Derby
should between them hold the half barony of Lewes
with its lands in Sussex and Surrey, while the Earl of
Nottingham and Sir John Wingfield should similarly
divide Anne's lands in Wales and Chester. (fn. 132) By this
arrangement the Duke of Norfolk was to have received
the Berkeley eighth of the rape and the Earl of Derby
that of Sir John Wingfield, but the agreement was not
immediately carried into force. (fn. 133)
William, Lord Berkeley, Earl of Nottingham, instead of handing over his eighth to the Duke of Norfolk,
settled it, in 1490, on himself and the heirs of his body,
with remainder to the king, Henry VII, and his heirs
male. (fn. 134) In October 1491, in parliament, all fines levied
by him to the king's use were confirmed against the Earl
of Surrey (son and heir of the late Duke of Norfolk),
who was thereby excluded from his title and right in this
eighth share. (fn. 135) The Marquess Berkeley died seised of
1/8 of the barony of Lewes in 1492. He died without
issue and his brother Maurice was declared his heir, (fn. 136)
in spite of the agreement of 1490. In 1504 Maurice,
Lord Berkeley, enfeoffed Sir Edward Poynings and
others (fn. 137) to the use, it has been suggested, of the Earl of
Surrey. (fn. 138)
Berkeley. Gules a cheveron between ten crosses formy argent.
Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Gules a bend between six crosslets fitchy argent with the augmentation for Flodden on the bend.
Meanwhile, John, Duke of Norfolk, owner of the
second 1/8, had been killed at Bosworth in 1485, and
with his son and heir, Thomas, Earl of Surrey, subsequently attainted, and his lands seized by the king. (fn. 139)
Thomas was pardoned in 1489, (fn. 140) but did not recover
possession of his father's lands until 1507, on the death
of Elizabeth, Duchess of Norfolk, mother of Anne
Mowbray, (fn. 141) and it was not until he had petitioned the
new king, Henry VIII, that he was given leave to
enter, c. 1512, that 1/8 share of the barony to which he
declared himself entitled by his agreement with the
Earl of Nottingham. (fn. 142)
From this time forward the Howard share of the
barony of Lewes would be ¼, and owing to political
complications was continually in and out of the king's
hands. Thomas, Earl of Surrey, created Duke of Norfolk in 1514, died in 1524, (fn. 143) when he was succeeded by
his son Thomas. Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, forfeited his
lands and possessions in 1546 when his son Henry, Earl
of Surrey, was attainted for high treason. (fn. 144) His dukedom was, however, restored to him in 1553, and he
died the following year. (fn. 145) The fate of his grandson and
successor, Thomas Howard, was worse than his own,
for he was beheaded for conspiracy with Mary Queen
of Scots in 1572, and once more the honours and titles
of the family were forfeit. (fn. 146) Thomas had married Lady
Mary Fitzalan, heiress of the 12th Earl of Arundel.
His eldest son Philip succeeded his maternal grandfather as Earl of Arundel in 1580. (fn. 147) With his brothers,
Thomas and William Howard, he was dealing by fine
in 1585 with ¼ of the manor of Cuckfield, part of the
barony. (fn. 148) He unsuccessfully claimed the title of Duke
of Norfolk, became a Roman Catholic, and was committed to the Tower, where he died in 1595. (fn. 149) He died
attainted, so that his son Thomas was deprived of his
honours. On the accession of James I, in 1603, he was
created Earl of Arundel and Surrey, but the king kept
his property. Some of this he was able to buy back in
1608 with his wife Anne Dacre's money, and in 1610
and 1611 he was dealing by fine with lands of the honor
of Lewes. (fn. 150) He suffered a recovery of the barony, manor,
and borough of Lewes and other land in 1640–1. (fn. 151)
He was created Duke of Norfolk in 1644 and died
1646. (fn. 152) From this time the ¼ of the barony and rape of
Lewes descended in the family of Howard, Dukes of
Norfolk.
The 1/8 share of Sir John Wingfield presents many
difficulties. Sir John was attainted and his estates forfeited for taking part in risings
following the accession of Richard
III in June 1483, that is to say
immediately after the murder of
the young Richard, Duke of York
and Norfolk. (fn. 153) His estates were
restored to him on the accession
of Henry VII (1485), (fn. 154) and in
April 1487 the king for his good
services granted him an annuity of
£40 of and in the manors or lordships of Reigate and Dorking, co.
Surrey, Lewes, Clayton, Brighthelmeston, Meeching, and Seaford, co. Sussex, late of John, Duke of Norfolk. (fn. 155) How
long this grant lasted does not appear. Meanwhile,
according to the arrangement made c. 1483 by the
four Mowbray coheirs, Wingfield's 1/8 of the barony
should have been transferred to the Earl of Derby
in return for lands in Wales and Chester. (fn. 156) This
transfer had certainly been made by 1521. (fn. 157) The
lands acquired by Sir John in 1484 upon the death of
Margaret Tresham were not, however, included in
this arrangement. (fn. 158) They apparently remained in the
family until 1539, when Sir Anthony Wingfield (fn. 159) conveyed them to Joan Everard. (fn. 160) They consisted of ¼
of a moiety of the manors of Houndean, Keymer,
'Haldeleigh', and of lands and rents in Cuckfield, i.e.
¼ share of the Lenthall manors formerly held in dower
by Edmund Lenthall's widow. (fn. 161) The quitclaim also
included ¼ of a moiety of the barony, castle, and
borough of Lewes, (fn. 162) but their claim to this was later
disputed and disproved, (fn. 163) and the only lords of the rape
from 1559 onwards are representatives of the families
of Bergavenny, Howard, and Stanley.
Wingfield. Argent a bend gules cotised sable with three pairs of wings argent on the bend.
Joan Everard settled her part of the rape in 1546
on her daughter Mary, second wife of Richard Bellingham of Hangleton and Newtimber. (fn. 164) After his death,
Mary, now widow of George Goring of Ovingdean
and Lewes, and her son Edward Bellingham, made a
fine with George Smyth and others in 1595, (fn. 165) for
purpose of a settlement on Mary for life and her son
after her. Mary Goring died in 1602; her son succeeded to her so-called 1/8 of the barony and of the
manors, (fn. 166) and died in 1605, said to be seised of 1/8 of the
castle and barony of Lewes, and of 1/8 of the manors of
Houndean, Keymer, 'Hall Lee', Court Bushes, Cuckfield, Cuckfield Clauditor, held of the king in chief and
valued at £5. (fn. 167) His son, Sir Edward Bellingham, died
in 1637, still claiming 1/8 of the castle and barony and
manors, (fn. 168) and leaving as his heir his cousin Cecily, wife
of Thomas West and daughter of Richard Bellingham,
deceased (brother of Edward Bellingham, father of Sir
Edward). (fn. 169) Cecily's son Henry West of Woodmancote (fn. 170) and his wife Alice in 1670 made a settlement of
¼ of a moiety of the castle and barony and also of the
borough and manor of Lewes, with ¼ of a moiety of
the manor of Houndean, on himself and heirs (fn. 171) and the
next year conveyed it to William Spence. (fn. 172) In 1672 ¼
of a moiety of the castle of Lewes and of the manor of
Houndean were the object of a fine between Sir John
Stapley as deforciant and John Stonestreet and Martha
Stonestreet, widow, plaintiffs, (fn. 173) but there is no further
evidence forthcoming concerning this so-called Wingfield eighth share of the barony.
The fourth of the Mowbray heirs, Sir Thomas
Stanley who inherited 1/8 of the barony had made com
pact, as has been said above, to take over the Wingfield
1/8 share in return for lands in Chester and Wales. (fn. 174)
When, if ever, he did so, does not
appear since no inquisition post
mortem has been found. (fn. 175) He died
in 1504 and his grandson Thomas
son of Sir George Stanley, Lord
Lestrange, entered straightaway
upon his inheritance. (fn. 176) He was
the 2nd Earl of Derby. At the
time of his death, May 1521, he
appears to have been holding, in
addition to the original 1/8 barony,
the 1/8 inherited in 1483 by Sir
John Wingfield, but, as has been
already stated, not the Lenthall share that fell to
Wingfield after Margaret Tresham's death in 1484. (fn. 177)
So, though the Earl of Derby held half the manors of
the Mowbray Dukes of Norfolk, i.e. Meeching, Piddinghoe, Cuckfield, Allington, and Seaford, &c., he
held only his original 1/8 share in Houndean, Keymer,
Cuckfield Clauditor, and 'Haldelegh'. (fn. 178) Edward, 3rd
Earl of Derby, a minor at the time of his father's death,
obtained possession of his lands in 1531. (fn. 179) It is clear
that during his lifetime at least, the barony of Lewes
was shared by three owners, namely, the Lord Bergavenny (whose share was ½), the Duke of Norfolk, and
himself. (fn. 180) He was succeeded in 1572 by his son Henry,
who in 1576 alienated ¼ of the barony, borough, and
manor of Lewes, with ¼ of the hundreds of the rape, and
½ the manors of Brighthelmeston, Meeching, Allington,
and Seaford to Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst. (fn. 181)
Lord Buckhurst was later created Earl of Dorset, and
was followed in 1608 by his son Robert who died the
following year and was succeeded by his son Richard, (fn. 182)
to whom King James I appears to have confirmed ¼ of
the barony in 1611–12. (fn. 183) He was dealing with his ¼ by
fine in 1617. (fn. 184)
Stanley. Argent a bend azure with three harts' heads caboshed or thereon.
Sackville. Quarterly gules and or a bend vair.
West. Argent a fesse dancetty sable.
The ¼ lordship appears to have followed the line of
the Earls and Dukes of Dorset (fn. 185) until the death in 1815,
without issue, of George John Frederick the 4th duke,
when the Sackville property was divided between his
two sisters, (fn. 186) the barony of Lewes falling to the younger
sister Elizabeth, wife of George John Sackville-West,
Earl De La Warr. (fn. 187) In 1835 her husband was one of
the three lords of the honor, (fn. 188) but since this time any
rights specifically connected with the barony appear to
have lapsed.