For these be the words: "Tenendum sibi & haeredibus ita libere ad
gladium, sicut ipse (Rex) totam tenebat Angliam ad coronam."
Earle Hugh then established in possession of this earledome, with most
large priuileges and freedoms, for the better gouernement thereof,
ordeined vnder him foure barons; [Sidenote: Foure barons. Nigell or
Neal. Piers Malbanke. * Eustace whose surname we find not. Warren
Vernon.] namelie, his cousine Nigell or Neal baron of Halton, sir
Piers Malbanke baron of Nauntwich, sir Eustace * baron of Mawpasse,
and sir Warren Uernon baron of Shipbrooke. Nigell held his baronie of
Halton by seruice, to lead the Uauntgard of the earles armie when he
should make anie iournie into Wales; so as he should be the foremost
in marching into the enimies countrie, and the last in comming backe:
he was also conestable and Marshall of Chester. [Sidenote: The
Lacies.] From this Nigell or Neal, the Lacies that were earles of
Lincolne had their originall. When earle Hugh had gouerned the
earledome of Chester the terme of 40. yeares, he departed this life,
in the yeare 1107. He had issue by his wife Armetrida, Richard the
second earle of Chester after the conquest; Robert, abbat of Saint
Edmundsburie: and Otnell, tutor to the children of king Henrie the
first. [Sidenote: _Iohn Bohun._] Moreouer, the said earle Hugh had a
sister named Margaret, that was maried to John Bohun, who had issue by
hir, Ranulfe Bohun, otherwise called Meschines, which Ranulfe by that
meanes came to enioy the earledome of Chester in right of his mother
(after that earle Richard was drowned in the sea) and not by exchange
for the earledome of Carleil, as by this which we haue alreadie
recited may sufficientlie be prooued.
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