to pay a relief, as half a fee, it being charged with the relief of that part which was John de Lynn's, whose part came from him to a branch of the
Brisingham family, but not that which had the part afterwards Boyland's, for it remained in that family till it went to three heiresses, married to
Henry Baille, Peter de Mayners, and David Cumyn, as an inquisition of all the knights fees in Norfolk and Suffolk informs me: I take them to have been the heiresses of
Thomas de Brisingham, to whom King Edward I. for his great services, gave divers lands in Normandy. In Edward the Second's time,
Hugh du Pool of Brisingham seems to have had it; and in 1321,
Thomas du Pool, his son, who left it to
Henry de la Pool, his son, who, in 1331, levied a fine of this manor, which at that time consisted of 9 messuages, 218 acres of land, and other great parcels in Brisingham, Lopham, Fersfield, Shelfhanger, and Roydon, together with the advowson of Shelfhanger, by which it was settled on Henry and Margaret, and their heirs, in tail. In 1338 they had aliened it to
William de Middleton of Brisingham, and Isabel his wife, and John Howard and others; and it seems as if this Isabel was their daughter and coheiress, and had this part settled on her, as the other part of their estate seems to be on her sister, that married Bosville. However, by an inquisition, 20th Edward III. it is plain that
William de Middleton held it for life, by the fourth part of a fee, and that he was to pay no relief, because it was charged on Boyland's part, which was to pay 45s. for both, as half a fee; thus it continued to 1359, and then the said William and Isabel, and all other parties concerned, joined in a fine, and conveyed it absolutely to
Mary de Brewse Countess of Norfolk, and her heirs, at which time the extent of it was 118 acres of land, 4 of meadow, 24 of wood, 20 of pasture, and 60s. rent, lying in Bresingham, Shelfhanger, Disse, Winfarthing, Burston, Roydon, and Carleton by Bokenham. This Mary was widow of William de Breose, or Brewse, lord of Brembre in Sussex, second wife to Thomas de Brotherton Earl of Norfolk; she afterward married Sir Ralph Cobham, Knt. was daughter of William lord Roos, and died in 1361; but how this manor went till 1392, I cannot say; but in that year
Ralph or Robert de Champayne, and Beatrix his wife, sold it to
Sir Robert Barney, Knt. and others, and his heirs. In 1401
Sir John Howard, Knt. had it, as appears by his letting the fishery belonging to it, lying by the Fen Common, to Sir John Pilkington, Knt. then lord of the capital manor. In 1425
