The church consists of a nave and a chancel covered with reed, and has a tower, the lower part round, the upper octangular, with one bell. In the chancel, a marble stone,

In memory of Andrew Calle, rector, A. M. qui. ob. 20, Martij 1697, ætat. 56, arms on a fess, between two chevronels, three escal lops.

Hic jacet Edw. Boys generosa familia de Fredvel in agro Cantiano oriundus; collegij Corporis Xti. Cantab. socius in theolog. bacc. et hujus eccles. rector. indignus, obt. 10, Martij, 1667, atat. 67, regiminis 28; arms, or in a bordure, a griffin, segrant.

In a north window of the chancel is the effigies of a man on his knees in complete armour, and these arms, sable, a cross, argent, under it, -- DE HYKELING. &. ALIS. SR. FEMA. Also the effigies of his wife Alice or Elizabeth de Hickling, with the same arms. At the east end of the church, against the south wall, lies a curious antique monument, a stone coffin about a foot and a half deep, resting on the pavement, and about 7 feet in length, on the lid or cover, (the whole being of gray marble,) is the effigies of a Knight Templar, crosslegged in armour, in full proportion, his sword in a broad belt, hanging over his shoulder, in memory, as is said, for a knight of the family of De Mauteby, and living, as the style of the monument bespeaks, about the year 1250.

At the west end of the church, a gravestone of marble, in memory of Robert Howlet, who married Catherine, daughter of Laurence and Ann Womack, and died October 22, 1714, aged 39.

Arms, three owls heads erased, impaling, a lion rampant, Womack. The south isle, where many of the Mautbys were buried, and which was rebuilt, by Margaret Paston, the heiress of the family, and where she was buried, is all in ruins.

In the church was the guild of St. Peter, and the arms impaled of Mautby and Loveyn, Mautby, and Clifton, Mautby and Beauchamp, Mautby and Berney, also Mautby and Marshall.

The temporalities of St. Olaves were 8d.; of St. Faith's in salt, 8s. 4d.; of Norwich priory 19d.

The tenths were 6l. 13s. 4d.-Deducted 15s. 4d.

ORMES BY.

THE principal lordship of this town was possessed by Guert, a younger son of Earl Godwin, and brother of King Harold, who being slain at the battle of Hastings, the Conqueror laid claim to it; Guert had three carucates of land and 30 acres, which acres he held of the abbey of St. Bennet of Holm, 4 villains, 3 borderers, 2 carucates in demean, and half a one among the tenants, 16 acres of meadow, &c. 381 sheep and 80 socmen had 4 carucates of land, and 46 acres with 3 borderers; there were there 33 carucates, &c. of meadow.

Of these socmen Richard had 3, by grant of Arfast, the Bishop of Elmham, and they held half a carucate of land.

The whole was then valued at 10l. at the survey at 217. in tale, and was a leuca and a half long, and one leuca broad, and paid Ss. 8d. gelt, whoever was lord. The King and the Earl had the soc

This lordship extended into Martham and Clipesby, Winterton and Rouham, and its teuures there were in the valor abovementioned; also in Scroteby, as may be seen in those places.

This lordship remained in the Crown in the 14th of Henry II. but in the 7th of Richard I. William Bloet seems to hold it at a fee farm rent, when William de Sancta Marie Ecclesia, sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, and Hugh Peverell, rendered account of 167. for the lands held by Wm. Bloet in Ormesby.

William de St. Mary's church was at this time dean of St. Martin's in London, and soon after in 1199, was consecrated Bishop of London.

King John, when Earl of Morton, granted it to Robert de Berners, at the aforesaid rent.

Robert enfeoffed John Fitz-Hugh therein, whose daughter Julian, married Adam son of Hervey, who held it of King Henry II. in his 11th year, at the said rent; and in the 37th of that King, Julian, widow of Adam, was sued for this lordship, when she pleaded that the King had granted it to her and her husband, and her heirs, that she performed in the King's court personal homage, and now produ ced King John's charter, (when Earl of Morton) whereby he gave it to Robert de Bernarijs, who enfeoffed John Fitz-Hugh her father.

In the 14th of Edw. I. Julian de Bannyngham was querent in a fine, and Wm. de Redham, and Ellen his wife deforcients, of the

Terre Regis-Ormesbeiten. Guert. T.R.E. iii car. t're. et xxx ac. q's acr. tenebat de S'cto Benedicto sem. iiii vill. et ili bor. et ii car. in d'nio. et dim. car. hom. xvi ac. p'ti. et iii r. et iiii an, et vi bor. et tc. mo. ccclxxx i ov. et lxxx. soc. iiii car. t're. et xlvi ac. et iii bor. tnc. xxxii car. p. et mo. xxiii. xvi ac.

p'tj ex his soc. tenet Ricard. iii de dono Arfasti Epi. et ht. dim. car. t're. tc. totu'. val. x lib mo xxi ad numeru'. et i leug et dim. in long. et i leug. in lat. et i sol. et viiid. de g. quicu'q; ibi teneat.

• Rot. Pip.

arrears of an annuity of six marks, and 2000 herrings, which William and Ellen were to pay-to Julian, at Tidmarsh in Berkshire, for the manor of Ormesby, in the right of Ellen, they agreeing to pay it during Julian's life; probably she and Ellen were sisters.

Wm. de Redham was returned to be lord in the 15th of Edward I. and to have view of frank pledge, the assise, &c.

Roger de Ormesby inherited it on the death of Ellen his mother, wife of Wm. de Ormesby, in the 7th of Edward II. and Roger died possessed of it paying 161. per ann.

After this Edmund Earl of Kent had a grant of it from King Edward III and his son, John Earl of Kent, died possessed of it in the 26th of Edward III. when it came in right of the Lady Joane his wife, to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent: and on the death of the said Lady Joan, princess of Wales, and mother of King Richard II. it came to her son, Thomas Holland Earl of Kent.

Margaret, late wife of Thomas Duke of Clarence, as one of the daughters and coheirs of Thomas Earl of Kent, had an interest in it; as had Joan Dutchess of York, in the reign of Henry VI.

In the 22d of that King, John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, died possessed of it, Margaret, daughter and heir of John, who married Edmund of Hadham Earl of Richmond, inherited it; and her son, Henry VII. King of England, and was in the hands of King Henry VIII. in his 11th year. Queen Elizabeth held it as part of the Crown lands.

Roger Bigot, ancestor of the Earls of Norfolk of that name, possessed at the time of the survey, the lands that 2 freemen held in King Edward's reign, under the commendation of the abbot of St. Bennet, who were deprived, and Alwi de Thetford after their deprivation; but the King granted them to Roger, containing $4 acres of land, 5 of meadow, and one borderer, with half a carucate, valued at 2s. and Stanart held this under Bigod."

The ancient family of de Ormesby were lords of this manor, Wm. de Ormesby was lord in the 3d of Edward I. Sir William de Ormesby was living in the 25th of Edward I. as was Sir John de Ormesby, both knights of this country. Sir Wm. bore gules, a bend componeé, or and azure, betweeen six cross crosslets, argent,

Sir John bore the same with a mullet, sable, on a bend.

Sir Wm. de Ormesby is also mentioned, and Agnes his wife, late wife of Sir Hugh de Caley, in a fine of the 30th of the said King: he was a judge itinerant, and slain at the battle of Bannocksburn in Scotland, in the 7th of Edward II.- This William was also in the 33d of Edw. one of the justices of trail-baston, to enquire after all murders, rapines, &c. and malefactors in Norfolk, and Suffolk, with William de Kerdeston, John le Breton, Richard de Walsham, (all noblemen,) and Wm. Inge probably of the same county.

In the first of Edward II. the aforesaid Sir Wm. de Ormesby was a judge of the King's council, and summoned to the King's corona

tion.s

7 Terra Rogeri Bigoti--In Ormesbei ii (liberi ho'es) S'ci. Benedicti comend & postea ten' Alivius mo. R. Bigot. ex dóno Regis de e xxxi car. t're. & v

acr. p'ti. et i bord. semp. dim. car. semp. val, ii sol. idem Stanart.

Reymer, vol. iii. 151, 152, &c.

In the 3d of that king, Sir Wm. de Ormesby, with Sir John de Thorp, the king's justices, were assigned to hear and determine the differences between the King's subjects, and those of the Earl of Holland, about piracies.

In the 7th year of the said reign, Elena, wife of William Ormesby, died selized of the manor of Ormesby, and Roger was her son and heir, aged 40.

This Roger was returned to be lord of both the Ormesbys, (the 2 parishes) in the 9th of Edward II.

In the 16th year of the said reign, Sir John de Ormesby was witness to a deed of Wm. son of Sir William de Reedham, Knt. of lands in Stokesby.

About this time this lordship was settled by Roger de Ormesby on Thomas his son and Margaret his wife in tail.

This Sir Thomas dying without issue male, left 4 daughters and coheirs, Burga, who married Sir Thomas Wesless, or Westly who died in the 48th of Edward III. holding by the courtesy of England, the 4th part of the manor of Ormesby, and left by Burga, Sir John Westless his son and heir.

Gunnora, another daughter and coheir, married John Perers, and had Elizabeth (or Alice) then the wife of Sir Thomas de Nerford, aged 30.

This, as I take it, was the famous mistress of King Edward III. Ellen was also a daughter and coheir, who married

and had 2 daughters, Agnes, wife of Sir John Sneck, and Alice of John Derling.

Juliana, the other daughter and coheir, married John Falconer. Escheat ao. 50 Ed. III. Ñ, 66.

But it will be proper here to insert the pedigree of the family of the Cleres, as taken from the tomb of Edward Clere, Esq. who died in the reign of Elizabeth, and which may be seen at large in Mr. Blomefield's account of Bickling, vol. vi. p. 381.

I shall confine myself to that part of it which relates to their settlement in the estate of the Ormesbys, in this town, and with some remarks thereon.

CLERE'S PEDIGREE.

(a) Nicholas de Clere

T Annable, daughter and heir of Sir William de Ormesby

(6) William de Clere Catherine, daughter and heir of Sir John

Snecke.

Robert de Clere☛ Melvin, daughter and heir of Sir John Westlesse.

Nicholas de Clere Morvel, daughter of Robert Somerton, Esq.

(f) Rob. de Clere Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Tho. Owydale,

Ann daughter of Sir
Wm. Hopton.

Esq.

Sir Rob. de Clere 2d Alice daughter of Sir Wm. Boleyn of

Bickling.

(a) of this Nicholas and his marriage I meet with no record or authority, to vouch it; he is said to be living in 1284, and to have been clerk of the King's treasury in Dublin, and Sir William de Ormesby, whose daughter he married, died in 13 --,

(b) William de Clere, son of Nicholas, said to have married Catherine, daughter of Sir John Snecke, must be a great mistake; it appears by the Escheat Rolls, abovementioned, ao. 50 Edward III. (1376) that Agnes was then the wife of Sir John Snecke, by Ellen one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Thomas de Ormesby.

Robert de Clere, son of William, who is said to have married Melvin, daughter and coheir of Sir John Westlesse, is liable to the same