John Verdon, and he of the Earl-Marshal, in right of Elizabeth his wife, one of the daughters and coheirs of John son of James de Ilketshale; Edm. de Specteshale and Margaret his wife, and Roger son of John de Specteshale having released their right, and all joined and settled the whole for life, on Amabilia wife of Richard de Shimpling, in whose right the said Richard was lord in 1315; but at her death it came to the Parks again, and Will. del Park was lord in 1345, and in this family it continued, till Joan Park, the sole heiress of the family, inherited it; she first married John Duke of Brampton in Suffolk, by whom she had issue Thomas; secondly to John Strange, Esq. of Norwich, who made his will in 1479, and ordered all right in this manor, and in Wackton and Hedenham Park's manor, to be released by his executors, to Tho. Duke and his heirs, he being the son of his first wife Joan, if he would grant Eliz. his second wife and widow, an annuity for life, of ten marks a year, which being done, it was vested absolutely in the said Tho. Duke and his heirs; he married Margaret, daughter and heir of Henry Banyard of Spectishall, and they had this manor with Park's manor in Wacton and Hedenham, and Brampton manor in Suffolk, which they left to William Duke of Brampton, who married Thomasine, daughter of Sir Edw. Jenny, Knt. and were succeeded by their son George Duke of Brampton, Esq. who married Anne, daughter of Sir Tho. Bleverhasset of Frenze in Norfolk, their son, Edward Duke of Shadingfield in Suffolk, succeeded, who married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Ambrose Jermyn of Rushbrook in the said county, and left it to their son Ambrose Duke of Brampton in 1597, who died in 1609, seized of the aforesaid manors, leaving them to his son Edward, then six years old, who after he had attained to manhood, married Catherine daughter of Sir Thomas Holland of Wortwellhall, Knt. who in 1631, by the name of Edward Duke of Benhale, Esq. sold the manor to Sir William Platers of Prileston or Billingford, Francis le Neve of Wichingham, and Tho. Jacob, alias Bradlehaugh of Laxfield, in trust, for Sir William le Neve, Knt. This branch of the le Neves descended from Jeffry le Neve of Tivetshall, and Alice his wife, whose son Laurence settled at Aslacton, where he was buried May 17, 1587, and by Aveline Martin his wife, left two sons, William and Jeffry: William, the eldest, married Frances daughter of John Aldham, Gent. of Shimpling in Norfolk, who died in 1599, and he in 1609, leaving William le Neve their only son and heir, who was baptised the 1st of July 1592; he was educated at Caius college in Cambridge, created herald by the title of Mowbray, June 29, 1624, soon after made York herald, afterwards Norroy, and at last Clarencieux, and knighted; in 1543, he was sent by King Charles I. the day before the battle of Edgehill, to the parliament army under the Earl of Essex, with a proclamation of pardon, to such as would lay down their arms; but when he offered to read it aloud in the Earl's presence, and to deliver the effect of it, that he might be heard of those that were present, the Earl rebuked him with some roughness, and charged him as he loved his life, not to presume to speak a word
