June 5, 1536 – Edward Seymour Created Viscount Beauchamp of Hache

More good times for the Seymours…now that Jane was married to the King, the rest of the family had to be ennobled a bit as well. There was precedent: well before he’d married Anne Boleyn, Henry had confirmed Thomas Boleyn’s Earldom of Ormonde and added the Dukedom of Wiltshire. Edward might have secretly been a bit miffed that he hadn’t gotten a better title, but advancement was advancement, especially since it came with money and land!

Specifically, the patent of creation as Viscount Beauchamp carried twenty marks a year. Plus the records show that he also received the following – further evidence of the great benefits derived by the Seymours (and others too) of the dissolution of the monasteries. I’ve left in a lot of the archaic language, I thought it was cool – FYI, a “messuage” is a dwelling house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use:

• Grant of the manors of Brodeton, Sherston, and Ambresburye, Wilts, and the hundreds of Ambresburye, Wynterbourne, and Alleworthbury, Wilts, and all lands, et cetera in those places belonging to the said manors and hundreds; to hold to the said Edward and the heirs male of his body by dame Anne his wife, with remainder.

• Grant in tail male of the site, ground, et cetera of the late priory of Holy Trinity, Eston, Wilts, dissolved by Parliament; and all messuages, et cetera, within the circuit; the manors of Eston, Froxfeld, and Grafton, Wilts, the rectories of the parish churches of Estonne, Froxfeld, Stapleford, and Tydcombe, and the advowsons of the churches and vicarages thereof, the manors, messuages, et cetera in the villages, parishes, and hamlets of Eston, Froxfelde, Stapleford, Tydcombe, and Grafton, Milton, Wyke, and Puttale, and elsewhere in said co., lately belonging to the said priory, as enjoyed by Henry Bryan, late Prior, in right of the said priory on the 4 February last, which came into the King’s hands by virtue of the Act 27 Hen. VIII. Also the manor of Corseley, Wilts, parcel of the lands of the late priory of Studley, Oxon, dissolved by Parliament; and all messuages, et cetera thereto belonging in Corseley; in the same manner as Mary Baynbrig, the late Prioress, held the same. Also the manor of Monketon, Wilts, parcel of the lands of the late priory of Farleygh, Wilts, dissolved by Parliament; and all messuages, lands, et cetera of the said late priory in Monketon, in the same manner as Lewis Breknok alias Millen, Prior, held the same on the 4 February last. Also all messuages, lands, et cetera in Tudworth, Wilts, parcel of the lands of the late priory of Mayden Bardley, Wilts, now dissolved by the said Act, in the same manner as Ric. Jenyns the Prior held the same on the 4 Feb. last; with all court leets, views of frankpledge, &c. in the above possessions.

• Also grant in tail male to the said Edward and dame Anne his wife, of the manors of Barwyk, Basset, Richardston, Langden, Mydgehall, Studley, and Costowe, Wilts; parcel of the lands late of the abbey of Stanley, Wilts; and all messuages, lands, et cetera in those places, as fully as Thomas Calne alias Morley the Abbot held the same on the 4 Feb. last; the site, ground, et cetera of the late priory of Farlegh, Wilts; the church, bell tower, and churchyard of the same priory; all messuages, et cetera within and without the enclosure and circuit of the said late priory; and the manors of Farlegh, Chippenham, Thornehill, and Brome, Wilts; and the advowson of the parish church of Farlegh, and all messuages, lands, et cetera of the said late priory in Farlegh, Chippenham Thornehill, and Brome, as fully as the said Lewis Breknok enjoyed the same on the 4 February last. Also the manors of Erchefounte and Alcanings, Wilts; parcel of the lands of the late abbey of St. Mary, Winchester, likewise dissolved; the rectory of the parish church of Erchefounte and the advowson of the parish church of Alcanings, and the advowsons of the churches of Erchefount and Alcanings, and all messuages, lands, et cetera, in those places, parcel of the said late abbey, as fully as Eliz. Shelley the Abbess held the same on the 4 February last; with all views of frankpledge, court leets, et cetera in the above possessions.
• To hold the possessions in the first paragraph to the said Edward and the heirs male of his body by the said dame Anne; with remainder to the heirs male of his body by future wife, at the rent of 7l. 16s. 2d.; and those in the second paragraph to the said Edward and Anne and heirs male of the body of the said Edward by the said Anne; with remainder in default of such issue to the heirs male of the body of the said Edward by any future wife; with remainder in default of such issue to the heirs female of the said Edward, at rent 34l. 16d.

[From Letters & Papers, Grants in June 1536]

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