Braose, obtained the Castle and Lands of Writ of Summons of the 29th Hen. VI. to Edward Nevill, as "Domino de Bergavenny," the proper designation of the previous barons was not that of their family name. The first possessor of that territory after Writs of Summons were regularly issued was John de Hastings, who died 6 Edw. II, and was succeeded by his son John de Hastings, who died 18 Edw. II.; to these personages nearly thirty Writs of Summons were directed, and in no instance, in this number, does the word "Bergavenny" occur. The descendants of the last mentioned John for three generations being Earls of Pembroke, no inference on the subject is to be drawn, until the Writ of Summons to William Beauchamp 16 Ric. II, who was Summoned as "Willielmo Beauchamp de Bergavenny." This William Beauchamp not being related to the preceding Barons, and being Summoned as "de Bergavenny," certainly affords at the first view strong grounds for the generally received opinion that he was Summoned as Lord Bergavenny by tenure of that Castle. On looking attentively into the point, how ever, a conclusion equally strong may be drawn, that it was merely an addition used to distinguish him from " John de Beauchamp de Kydderminster." In the previous reign, a John de Beauchamp was Summoned as "de Somerset," and another John de Beauchamp, a younger son of Guy Earl of Warwick, as "de Warwyck;" and before, contemporary with, and after this William de Beauchamp" de Bergavenny" numerous Barons were named in Writs of Summons with the addition of their place of residence, without such ever being supposed to be the title of their Baronies; as, therefore, in the only instances which occur of Writs of Summons being issued to the possessor of the Castle of Bergavenny, previous to that to William de Beauchamp, in the 16th Ric. II. they were never designated as "de Bergavenny;" and as examples of such additions were exceedingly frequent, without any similar inference being deduced from them, there does not appear any greater cause for supposing that the designation in question was intended to express the title of the Barony, than there is for concluding such to have been the case either in the instances of John de Beauchamp " de Somerset," "de Warwyk," or in either of the numerous examples alluded to. In order, however, to obtain as much information as possible on the subject, it was necessary to inquire in what manner the Barons in question were described in the Rolls of Parliament BARONS BY TENURE. to have been Summ. to Parl. by Hen. III. previous to the reign of Henry VI. and the result of the examination is certainly in favour of William Beauchamp's being considered as Baron Bergavenny, though it does not positively establish the fact, whilst it confirms the opinion that his predecessors in the Lordship of Bergavenny never bore that name as the title of their dignity. The earliest instance when BERGAVENNY occurs as a title in the Rolls of Parliament is in the 21st Richard II. 1897, five years after, William Beauchamp was summoned to Parliament as "Willielmo Beauchamp (de Bergavenny)," when he was described as "Wm Beauchamp, Sr. de Bergavenny." In the 1st Henry IV. the names of "Dns. de Roos, de Willoghby, de Bergeveney," occur; and in the following year we find among the Barons then present, "le Sr de Bergavenny." In the 2d Henry IV. he is mentioned as "WilLam Sire de Bergavenny," and in a similar manner on subsequent occasions. It must, however, be observed, on the other hand, that on the last and most solemn occasion when his name occurs in the Rolls of Parliament, viz. among the Peers present at the settlement of the Crown in the 8th Henry IV. he is in both places styled "Will'mi Beauchamp de Bergevenny," and at the same time Henry Lord Scrop of Masham is mentioned as "Henrici le Scrop de Masham," whilst other Barons are styled, "Reginaldi Domini de Grey de Ruthyn, William Domini de Ferrers, Thomae Domini de Furnyvel," &c. Richard Beauchamp, his son and heir, was never Summ, to Parl. as a Baron, as he was created Earl of Worcester four years after he became of age; and though he is sometimes styled "Lord of Bergavenny," and his mother, both in the Rolls of Parliament and in her will, is called "Lady of Bergavenny," no conclusion is to be drawn therefrom, for this expression was more frequently applied to designate important manors and lordships than Parliamentary Baronies. On Edward Nevill's being Summoned in the 29th Hen. VI. as “Domino de Bergavenny," such certainly became the title of his Barony: but it is to be considered that this occurred in the reign of Hen. VI. a period, as is remarked elsewhere, fruitful in anomalies on subjects connected with the Peerage, and when even, as is stated in subsequent page, some instances occur of the addition of "Domino de," &c. being used, without such designation being the title of the dignity possessed by the Baron to whose name it was appended. Vide the observations 'on this subject under Charleton, Dudley, and Grey of Powis. BARON BY TENURE. the fact appears to be extant, and to have been the first who assumed the title of Bergavenny; ob. 1253. II. 1253. 2. George Cantilupe, s. and h.; ob. 1272, s. p. III. 1272. 3. John Hastings 11.-9th Baron Hastings, nephew and heir; being s. and h. of Henry Baron Hastings, by Joan, sist. and coh. of the last Baron; Summ. to Parl. from 23 June, 23 Edw. I. 1295, to 22 May, 6 Edw. II. as "Johanni de Hastings," 1313; ob. 13!3. IV. 1313. 4. John Hastings III.-10th Baron Hastings, s. and b.; Summ. to Parl. from 26 Nov. 7. Edw. II. 1313, to 20 Feb. 18 Edw. II. 1325, as “Johanni de Hastings;" ob. 1325. V. 1325. 5. Lawrence Hastings IV.-11th Baron Hastings; Created Earl of Pembroke 13 Oct. 1339; ob. 1348. VI. 1348. 6. John Hastings, s. and h. Earl of Pembroke; ob. 1375. VII. 1375. 7. John Hastings, s. and h. Earl of Pembroke, K. G.; ob. 1389, s. P. Though the Barons Hastings were possessed of the Castle of Bergavenny, it appears they were Summ. to Parl. as Barons Hastings only; the first person designated as "de Bergavenny " in the Writs of Summons was BY WRIT. 1. 1392. 1. William Beauchamp, 4th son of Thomas XIII.11th Earl of Warwick, by Katherine dau. of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and sister of Agnes wife of Lawrence 1st Earl of Pembroke, and 5th Baron Bergavenny, who being seised of the Castle and Lands of Bergavenny by purchase, according to Collins, but by virtue of an entail according to Dugdale, was Summ. to Parl, from 23 Nov. 16 Ric. II. 1392, to 26 Aug. 9 Henry IV. 1408, as "Willielmo Beauchamp (de Bergavenny);"' K.G.; ob. 1410. II. 1410. 2. Richard Beauchamp, s. and h. Created Earl of Worcester in 1420. He married Isabel De spencer, sister and sole heir of Richard, VII.8th Baron Despencer, and Baron Burghersh; ob. 1431, S. P. M. BARONS BY WRIT. Harl 4.1444 Ill. 1450, Edward Nevill, 6th son of Ralph I. Earl of Westmoreland, having married Elizabeth, dau. and sole heir of the last Baron, was Summ.ch. 42 3.50. to Parl, as "Edwardo Nevill, Militi, Domino de Bergavenny," or as "Edwardo Nevyll de Bergavenny, Militi," from 5 Sept. 29 Hen. VI. 1450, to 19 Aug. 12 Edw. IV. 1472; ob. 1476. IV. 1476. 3. George Nevill, s. and b. Summ. to Parl. from 15 Nov. 22 Edw. IV. 1482, to 12 Aug. 7 Henry VII. 1492; oh. 1492. V. 1492. 4.George Nevill, s. and h. Summ. to Parl. from 16 Jan. 12 Henry VII. 1497, to Henry VIII. 1534; K. G.; ob. 1535. Jan. 25 VI. 1535. 5. Henry Nevill, s. and h. Summ. to Parl. from VIII. 1586. 7.Edward Nevil!, s. and b. Summ. to Parl. from IX. 1629. 8. Henry Nevill, s. and h. ob. 1641. X. 1641. 9. John Nevill, s. and h. ob. 1660, s. p. XIII. 1695.12.George Nevill, cousin and heir male, being s. son of Christopher Nevill, 2d son of Edward, XIV. 1721.13.George Nevill, s. and h. ob. 1723, s. p. EARLS. XVIL1744.—I. 1784.—16. George Nevill, s. and h. Created Viscount Nevill, of Berling, co. B BARONS BY WRIT. EARL. co. Monmouth, 17 May, 1784, ob. 1785. XVIII-II. 1785.-17. Henry Nevill, s. and h. K. T. Present Earl and Baron of Abergavenny, and Viscount Nevill of Berling. F EARLS. 1. 1682. II. 1699. ABINGDON. 1. James Bertie, 3d Baron Norris of Rycote; Created Earl of Abingdon, co. Berks, 30 Nov. 1682, ob. 1699. 2. Montagu Bertie (assumed the name of) Venables, s. and h. ob. 1743, S. P. III. 1743. 3. Willoughby Bertie, nephew and heir, being s. and h. of James, 2d son of James 1st Earl, ob. 1762. IV. 1762. 4. Willoughby Bertie, s. and h. ob. 1799. V. 1799. 5. Montagu Bertie, s. and h. Present Earl of Abingdon and Baron Norris of Rycote. — ABITOT. Vide WORCESTER. ABRINCIS, OR AVERENCHES. Y BARONS BY TENURE. 1. Will. 1. 1. William Abrincis, ob. 1087. II. Hen. 1. 2. Raolo d'Abrineis, s. and h. acquired the Lord- V. John. 5. William Abrincis, ob. 1230. VI. Hen.III. 6. William Abrincis, s. and h. ob. ante 1235, s.p. Maud, his sister and heir, married Hamon Crevequer. AGUILLON. BARONS BY TENURE. 1. Rich. I. II. John. Manser Aguilon, ob. ante 1194. William Aguillon, living 1233, ob. ante 1257. |