(Vol. v., p. 389.)
In an old manuscript book now before me, containing a copy of Flower's
"Visitation of Cheshire," 1580, together with a very great number of
coats of arms, copies of charters, &c., is the curious account of old
Sir Raulfe Vernon, which I now send you. I have not at present Ormerod's
_History Of Cheshire_ to refer to; but, if I remember right, there is an
account of the old knight, and of the great age he is said to have
attained, there. The latest date in the book from which this is
extracted is 1610; but there is bound with it eleven pages of "Armes of
the Gentry of Cheshire, entred in ye Visitation of that County made in
Ao 1663 and 1664, by me Wm. Dugdale, Esqr., Norroy King of Armes."
"_Coppies of old Pedegrees remayning wth Sr John Savadge, 1583._
"Theare was Sr Raulfe ye Vernon ye old, ye quych levet [xx]vij yer
and x yere, and he had to his first Wyffe on Mary ye Lordes
doughter of Dacre, and he had Issue by her one Sr Raulf ye Vernon
of Hanwell, Mr Ricrd person of Stockporte, other two sonnes
Mighell & Hugh, ye quich wer both freres: and two daughteres,
Agnes and Rose and yen deghet ye forsaid Mary, and after her death
ye forsaid old Sr Raulf tooke to paremer on Maude ye Grosevener,
and had Issue by her Ricrd and Robart bastardes. Ye forsaid Sr
Raulf ye Vernon of Hanwell was maryed to A. Seintper, and had
Issue by her Ralyn, Hychcoke, John, & Thomas, ye quiche Ralyn had
Issue Sr Raulfe ye Vernon of Mottrem, ye quich Sr Raulf had Issue
yong Sr Raulf, ye forsaid Sr Raufe ye Vernon of Hanwell, Ralyn his
Sonn, and Sr Raufe his sonn deygen, lyvand ye old Sr Raufe; and ye
sam tym on Sr Ricrd Damory was Justice of Chester, and ye forsaid
old Sr Raufe and he weren accordet yat ye yong Sr Raufe shold
wedde Agnes daughter of ye forsaid Sr Ricrd Damory, and that Sir
Raufe ye old shold be fyne reret at Chester, gife all his landes
&c. to ye said Mr Ricrd his sonn, getten by ye forsaid Mary of
Dacre and to his heires, and so it was done, and the sam Ricrd
pson gyfe the sam lands &c. to ye sam old Sr Raufe againe to term
of his Lyve; and after his dessease to ye yong Sr Rauf and to
Agnes his Wyfe daughter to Sr Ricrd Damory, and to ye heires male
of yr bodyes geten; for default of Issue mall of ye forsaid yong
Sir Raufe and Agnes, yat all ye Landes &c. then Remaine to Ricrd
ye Sonn of Raufe ye Vernon of Shibbrocke getten by Maud ye
Grosvener, and to ye heires of his body begotten male, and for
default of Issue of his body getten male, that all ye Landes &c.
sholden remain to ye right heires of ye forsaid Mr Ricrd wthouten
ende. Ye forsaid yong Sr Raufe and Agnes deyhten wthout Issue of
hose bodyes begotten male, and yen entret Sr Raufe yat last
deyhten as sonn and heir to Ricrd ye Vernon ye sonn of old Sr Rauf
ye Vernon and Maude ye Grosevenor, by Vertue of ye fyne before
rehersed. Ye forsaid Sr Rauf Ricrd son deyget wthout heir of his
body getten mall, and so Sr Ricrd ye Vernon brother to yis last Sr
Rauf entret heir male, and continued all his Lyfe and had Issue
mulier Sr Ricrd ye quiche is now dead wthout Issue malle."