till the dissolution of their monastery, when it was seized by the Crown, and was granted by King Henry VIII. in the year 1542, to
John Cornwaleys, and the heirs of his body, who for his singular courage and conduct, under Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, at the taking of Marlaix in Britany, had the honour of knighthood then conferred on him; and soon after his return from those wars, was made Steward of the Household to Prince Edward. He died seized in 1549, at Asherugge, (or Ashridge,) in Buckinghamshire, and is buried under a noble monument in Berkhamsted church in that county, leaving it to
Sir Thomas Cornwaleys, Knt. his son and heir, who had then livery of it, he being Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in the last year of Edward the Sixth's reign, raised great forces against the opposers of Queen Mary's title, for which services he was first sworn one of the privy-council, then made Treasurer of Calais, and after Comptroller of her Household. At his death in 1604, it went to
Sir William Cornwaleys, Knt. of Brome in Suffolk, who died seized Nov. 13, 1610, leaving it to
Frederick Cornwaleys his son and heir, who was created baronet by King Charles I. by letters patent, dated May 4, 1627, and having served that prince both in court and camp with great fidelity, for which he suffered in those unhappy times, both imprisonment, exile, and the loss of his estate; in testimony of which, to reward his great merits and accomplishments," he was by King Charles II. in 1661, made a baron of the realm, by the title of Lord Cornwallis, Baron of Eye in Suffolk, with remainder to the heirs male of his body. At his death it went to
Charles Lord Cornwaleis his son and heir, who is buried at Culford in Suffolk; he left it to
Charles Lord Cornwaleis, his son and heir, who was one of the Lords of the Admiralty in the reign of King William III. and Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Suffolk; he left it to
Charles Lord Cornwaleis, his son and heir, at whose death it descended to the present [1736]
Charles Lord Cornwaleis, his son and heir, who sold it to
His Excellency Horatio Walpole, Esq. who is now lord and patron.
Another part of this town belonged to Winfarthing manor, for which see Winfarthing.
Another part belonged to the Abbot of Ely's manor of Pulham.
Another to William Bishop of Thetford, which was of his own inheritance, and not in right of his bishoprick, of whom it was held at the Conquest by Reinald de Perapund, and was of 20s.
