Elizabeth, born 29th Dec., 1810. 7, George John Frederick, Marquis of Granby, born 20th August, 1813; died 15th June, 1814. 8, Charles Cecil John, Marquis of Granby, born 16th May, 1815, M. P. for Stamford. 9. Lord Adolphus Edward, born 10th Nov., 1817; died 6th Feb., 1818. 10, Lord John James Robert, born 13th Dec., 1818. 11, Lord George John, born 22nd June, 1820, NOTES. FIRST PERIOD. wwwwww ROBERT DE TODENI TO WILLIAM DE ALBINI IV. Belvoir.-In some of the most ancient charters of the priory, it is thus spelt. But the "various readings" in similar documents, in Leland, Camden, &c., are more numerous than it might be thought possible, a word of such simple meaning is susceptible of: Bevar, Bever, Belvar, Belver, Belveer, Belvere, Belveir, Beauver, Beuver, Beauvoir, Beauvoire, Bellevoir, Belvidere, Belvedier, Bellovide, Bellovidere, Bellovero, Belloviso. The last monk of the priory calls himself in a declaration dated Nov. 20, 1538, Richard Bevyr. However spelt, the same signification is expressed by Leland, in his "pulchrum visu"; and by Camden when he derives it "a bello prospectu"; Anglice,-a beautiful prospect. Peck in his MSS. dated 1727, (quoted by Nichols,) justifies the appellation, by giving a list of the places in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, which may be seen from Belvoir :-in Leicestershire, twenty-three places; of which, Breedon on the Hill, is the most distant, or about twenty-six miles as the crow flies:-in Lincolnshire, fifty-seven places; of which, Burton near Lincoln, is the most distant; viz. twenty-six miles in a straight direction; the cathedral at Lincoln is, as it may be supposed, a conspicuous object from Belvoir :-in Nottinghamshire, ninetythree places; of which, Mansfield and North Clifton, are the most distant, the former about twenty-eight miles. "But the grand prospect of all," says Nichols, "is that which the Duke of Rutland sees from hence, viz. twenty-two manors of his own paternal inheritance; Belvoir, Croxton, Bescaby, Saltby, Sproxton, Waltham, Eaton, Braunston, Knipton, Harby, Howes, Plungar, Barkston, Redmile, Bottesford, Normanton, Easthorpe, Long Clawson, Harston, Scalford, and Muston, in the county of Leicester; Woolsthorpe and Eagle, in the county of Lincoln; and Granby and Sutton, in the county of Nottingham. The Duke has also in this neighbourhood, the patronage of almost as many churches, and a landed property of more than £20,000 a year.” Belvoir, the Margidunum of Antoninus. Nichols does not allow this. Dr. Stukeley (Itin. vol. 1, p. 106) supposes that Margidunum is in the immediate neighbourhood of Over and Nether Broughton, and Willoughby. This also Nichols disputes. Valeant quantum. I have not the presumption to attempt a decision of the controversy, in other terms than those stated in the text. There is another vexata quæstio among the learned, respecting the county in which the Castle is situated. Burton and the authors of Magna Britannia expressly declare for Lincolnshire. Wright, in his Antiquities of Rutland, fixes the locality in Leicestershire. The mode of proof of the latter author is approved of by Nichols; viz. "that the assessments both for the land and window-tax, are at present regularly levied in the county of Leicester; and brought in to the commissioners who act for the hundred of Framland." Camden, in his map and description of Lincolnshire, (Britannia) places it in that county. His words are these: "In the west part of Kesteven, and the very confines of this shire and Leicestershire, standeth Belvoir or Beauvoir Castle, so called of the fair prospect." Sidney Hall, (British Atlas, 1833,) draws the boundary line of the two counties, through the park at Belvoir, in such a manner, that the Castle is left in the county of Leicester: and he mentions it in his text among the noblemen's seats in that county. I prefer, in the text of this work, adopting an expression which leaves each person to decide for himself:-"situated on the junction of two counties"; or as Leland three hundred years ago expressed it; "Bever Castle of surety standith in Leicestre in the vale of Belver." The hill of Belvoir, for the most part, a natural elevation. Leland's assertion, that, "the Castle of Bellevoire is on the very knape of a high hill, steep up each way, partly by nature, partly by working of men's hands, as it may be evidently perceived," seems to have been followed without much consideration by Camden, and other writers on the subject. The only artificial portions of the hill, as they appeared to Camden, were the terraces and two hundred steps, by which it was ascended; and these were, certainly, of a date, some centuries posterior to the conquest. Seat of William de Albini IV. On the reverse, a shield in the shape of a heart, sable, two chevronels, argent; surrounded by the motto (a cross) "Signum sigillum salutis." (Peck's Stamford, plate, lib. 8, p. 27.) Todeni. The orthography of this name is almost as various as that of Belvoir. On his coffin, discovered in 1726, it was written Todnei. The other forms of writing it, are Todeni, Todenei, Toteneia, Toteneius, Toterneius, Tothenei. He is called in the deed of agreement between himself, and the Abbot of St. Albans, Robert de Belvedier. Paul, Abbot of St. Albans, who built the Abbey Church, 1080, was a friend of Robert de Todeni. It was therefore natural to have recourse to him, for the further establishment and completion of his pious design, and to place the cell under the government of a perpetual rector. Carucate of land. A popular illustration of history being all that is attempted in this work, obsolete technical terms are for the most part omitted. But it may be useful to the reader to subjoin an explanation of the terms, constantly occuring in works, professing to give an account of ancient ecclesiastical endowments, and other property, and more especially in the domesday inquisition. A Carucate, says Bishop Kennet, is a ploughland, or as much arable ground, as in one year, could be tilled with one plough; computed sometimes at sixty, eighty, one hundred and twelve, eight or nine score acres, different according to time or place, (Paroc. Antiq. Gloss.) The hide was the measure of land, in the Confessor's reign, the carucate, that to which it was reduced by the Conqueror's new standard. A bovate is the same as an oxgang; that is, as much land, as an ox can plow in one season, Eight of these commonly went to the hide or carucate; some contained twelve, sixteen, eighteen, or twenty acres, more or less, in different counties. A virgate, four of which made a hide, was likewise unequal, according to the difference of place and custom. They reckoned in some parts forty; in others, thirty, twenty, and |