The Duke of Norfolk, in which family it hath ever since continued; Charles Howard Duke of Norfolk, Earl-Marshal of England, being lord and patron at this time. [1736.]
Boyland Manor
Belonged to Alsius in the Confessor's time, and was in the Conqueror's hands at the survey, being by him committed to Godric's custody, and was then very small.
It was after in the Earl of Norfolk, and by him united to the great manor, and so continued till the first Sir Johu de Verdon, about 1240, conveyed it to Walter of Brisingham, to be held, by him and his heirs, of the manor of Brisingham; this Walter left it to William of Brisingham, his son, and he to Walter of Brisingham, his son, who, with Margery his wife, sold it, in 1268, to Sir Richard de Boyland, Knt. from whom the manor took its name. The Brisingham family were of good account, and had large possessions here and in other places, as I find by several evidences. William, son of Walter of Brisingham, lived in 1259; Richard, son of Rose of Brisingham, in 1332; John, son of Robert of Brisingham, and Joan his wife, in 1349; all considerable owners in these parts.
In 1268, Walter of Brisingham sold to Richard de Boylond, one messuage and a carucate of land, in demesne, in Brisingham, Roydon, and Shelfhanger, with all their homages, services of freemen, and villeins, reliefs, &c. (for money,) and 80 acres of land, that the said Richard granted to the said Walter and Margery, in Pulham, being all the land he had there. These arms were always born by the Brisingham family, though there were two younger branches that bore different coats, viz.
Sab. two wings conjoined and elevated arg.
Arg. three mullets sab. between two bendlets engrailed gul.
And according to this conveyance, I read in Curtey's Register, fol. 52, that
Richard de Boylond, Knt. held a messuage, 60 acres of land, 5 acres of wood, 1 of marsh, &c. of William, son of Walter of Brisingham, and the said Walter holds them of John de Verdon, by the service of a third part of a fee, and one arrow, per annum, and the said John holds it of the earl, the earl of the Abbot of Bury, and he of the King.
This Sir Richard was a very great man in Edward the First's time, being justice-itinerant in this county, and owner of many great lordships and estates, but how acquired we may easily judge, for Mr. Weaver informs us from Stow, and other historians, that he being one of the commissioners for the government of the kingdom in the absence of Edward I. was, at the King's return, found guilty of manifest corruption in the administration of justice,
