The history of Hertfordshire ; describing the county and its antient monuments, particularly the Roman / With the character of those that have been the chief possessors the the lands. And an account of the most memorable occurences. By N. Salmon.

  • Salmon, N. (Nathanael), 1675-1742.
Date:
1728
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of Hertfordshire ; describing the county and its antient monuments, particularly the Roman / With the character of those that have been the chief possessors the the lands. And an account of the most memorable occurences. By N. Salmon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    B R 0 X B 0 R N, N London Diocefe, and Hertford Hun- SgSgjpte dred, hath Wormley on the South, Hll fgl Hatfield and Bey ford on the Weft, Amovell and St. Margarets on the jsjorth, and the Rivet Lea on the Eaft. ’ In Domejday ’tis writ Brocbesborne, but why derived from a Brook, as fome wou’d have it, and that Brook afterwards made a River, is not eafily underftood. Bros in Saxon fignifies a great Affliction, Ca¬ lamity, or Sicknefs, from whence it may poffl- bly be named, but we have no Mention of that in Hiftory. ’Tis valued, in the Survey, at 6o i. and iunk from 7 /. which it was reckoned at in the Con- feflbr’s Time. Moft of the Lands funk at this Valuation a third, fourth, or fifth Part, but few fo much 'as thefe. There ’tis laid to be poflefled by Adeliz, Wife of Hugh de Grentmaifnill, fettled on her, probably by her Husband, after he had a Grant of it from the Conqueror. This Hugh's Merits were very great, and were greatly rewarded. He came over with him, and fignalized himfelfin the decifive Battle ; was afterwards in the Commifflon of Regency, with Odo, Bifhop of Bayeux, and William Fit z-0 shorn, in the King’s Abfence. Juft before his Death he went into a Monaftery, put on the Habit, and died before the Week was up. Ivo their fourth Son, his Brothers being dead, gave Broxborn to the Monks of Bermondfey in Surrey, for the Health of the Souls of his Father and Mother. His Mother was buried in that Monaftery. What Confirmation this Aft of his wanted, we are not told ; but in a little Time after, Robert, furnamed Blanchmains, Earl of Leiceficr, who married Petronill, Daughter and Heir of Hugh the Son or Defcendant of Ivo, with the Con¬ tent of his Wife and Sons, gave this Town and Church to the Knights Hofpitallers of St.John of Jerufalem. The Prior and Chapter of this Hpfpital gave the Church of Broxborn, with all its Revenues, to Richard Fitzneal, Bifhop of London, and his SuccefTors, under the yearly Penfion of four Marks of Silver. This was confirmed afterwards by Gart'ms de Lifa, Pre¬ ceptor of all the Brethren of the Hofpital of Jsrufalem on this Side the Mediterranean, and by Gilbert de Fere, Prior of the fame Home in England. Thefe Knights Hofpitallers, according to the beft Accounts, had their firft Seat in the Hofpi¬ tal of St. John Baptijl at Jcrafalem. The Order was either erefted or reftored by onsGirardus. John, a Patriarch of Alexandria, and others, have been thought the original Inftitutors. How¬ ever, Girardus was their Patron, and they took their Rule from Pope Gelafms. Their Habit was appointed by Honorius, a black Mantle with a white Crofs on the Left Shoulder ; as the Tem¬ plars had a white Mantle with a red Crofs there. Both Orders wore their Beards, and a broad Sword girt about their Wafte under the Man¬ tle. The Profefflon of the Hofpitallers was to entertain Pilgrims in their journey to the Holy Land, and defend them from Robbers. In Time they grew great, and acquired large PolTeffions by the Vein of Devotion for which that Age was famous. In the Year iioo, which was foon after their firft Inftitution, John Brifel built them a Houfe near Smithfield, called St. John's of Jerufalem. This was their firft Refidence here, and goes ftill by their Name. The Charter of the 5th of Richard I. is a Proof oftheEfteem they were in here for the Aufterities of their Life, and their known Valour. This King granted them --Omnejus, Omne Domini¬ um quad ad Nos pertinet peri meat ; Omnem Po- teflatem,Omnes Libert ates, tV Liber os Confuetudines, yurt's Regia Potefias conferre potejl, in Omnibus, &c. When the Infidels got Pofleffion of Palefime, thefe Knights retired to the Ifle of Rboa.es, which they maintained 200 Years. And when the Turks beat them out there, the Ifle of Malta was given them by Charles V. and Pope Cle¬ ment VII. whence they are called Kjiights of Malta, as they had been before of Rhodes. This they keep to this Day, notwithftanding they have been feveral times attack’d by the Turks. In the Time of Pope Clement V. they were incorporated with the Knights Templars. Thefe Templars had been condemned in the Couftcii of Vienna, i$n, under the fame Pope ; there¬ upon their Pofleflions here were forfeited and feized into the King’s Hands. Yet in the fame Pope’s Time they were, by his Decree, incor¬ porated with the Hofpitallers. Thefe enjoyed vaft Privileges, their Demcfne Lands were ex¬ empt from Tythes; and fome of their Lands in this County, to this Day, pay no Tythes, if manured by the Owner. Other Advantages their Lands had, when in Leafe, that they fee up Crofles upon their Tenant’s Houles todiftin- guifh them; and there are inftances of fome People in thofe Days that forfeited their Eftates to the King, by fetting up Crofles on their Hou¬ les, in order to fhare of their Privileges. Whether the Crimes or the Riches of the Templars railed the Indignation of the World againft them, does not, at this Diftance, well appear. Herefy, Idolatry, Blafphemy have been laid to their Charge ; and Cowardice too, or fomething worle, when they were accufed of taking Part with the Pagans, againft Tharps, a Chriftian King, and fo ruining him and his Army. Silver Crofles always gave great Of¬ fence. And if one had a Mind to be generous, the Aft of William de Grenefield, Archbifhop of Fork, who declared, He could fee nothing proved againft them, was of more Value than aTlioufand Hear fays of their Enemies. This Bifhop took pity of