North Erpingham Hundred: Matlask

MATLASK.

Is called in Domesday Book, Matingeles and Matelesc. Alan Earl of Richmond had a lordship, of which Estan, a freeman, was deprived, consisting of 16 acres of land, with one borderer, and 2 oxgangs or bovates of land, and was valued in Saxthorp, in South Erpingham hundred: 16 acres were claimed at the survey, by a man or tenant of the King, who challenged any of the Earl's tenants or men, (as he had the right, by verdict of the hundred, that proved it,) to try the right of it by trial ordeal, or by combat, and Ribald held it under Earl Alan. (fn. 6)

Also Matlask was a member of the Conqueror's manor of Saxthorp, which Godric took care of for him, and was included and valued with it, (as may be there seen) and of which Earl Godwin, King Harold's father, was deprived; this part consisted of one carucate and an half of land, 7 villains, one carucate in demean, and one among the tenants, &c. and 15 socmen held a carucate and half of land, and 2 acres of meadow; in all, there were always 4 carucates, valued with Saxthorp at the survey, at 10l. it was 3 furlongs long, and 2 broad, and paid 3d. gelt. (fn. 7)

In the 9th of Richard I. William Fleming, and Maud de Bosevill his wife, conveyed the manor of Matelash, by fine to Walter de Basingham.

William de Valentia Earl of Pembroke, half brother to King Henry III. held it in capite of that King, with Saxthorp, in his 34th year, and was held of by him by Walter de Mawteby, who married Christian, daughter and coheir of Sir Piers de Bassingham; and in the 6th of Edward I. William le Fleght or Flegg, (probably son of Sir John de Flegg, who married another of Sir Pier's daughters,) released to Walter de Mauteby, by deed, inrolled in the Common Pleas in Hillary term, all his right in this manor, that of Bassingham, and West Beckham; and in the 15th of that King, the jury find, that the King, as lord of the hundred, used to receive 6s. 4d. lete fee, and for suit of court at Gunegate, out of Matlask, Plumstede, &c. which had been withdrawn for 32 years last past, by William de Valentia, to the loss of the King, 10l. but William proving that King Henry III. in his 36th year, had granted the lete, &c. to him and his heirs, it was allowed.

In the 9th of Edward II. John de Mauteby was lord, Sir Robert in 1347, and Sir John in 1369 and 1397; Margaret, daughter and heir of John Mauteby, Esq. married John Paston, Esq. of Paston, and it was settled on them and their heirs in the 20th of Henry VI.—John Paston, Esq. died seized of it in the 6th of Edward IV. In this family it continued in 1740, William Paston Earl of Yarmouth being lord. Of this family see in Oxnead.

About 1600, Sir William Paston's manor here, was 15l. 13s. 0d. per ann. with 29 comb and 2 bushels of barley, 34 hens, 4 capons, and 312 eggs.

In the 3d of Edward I. the abbot of Bury was found to have a lordship here, and in Plumstede; and in the 9th of Edward II. the abbot was returned to be lord; the temporalities of the Sacrist of Bury in 1428, were 3s. 6d.

Peter de Savoy, uncle to Queen Eleanor, wife of King Henry III. as Earl of Richmond, had an interest herein, in the 50th of that King.

Temporalities of Lewes priory were 4d.

The temporalities of Merton priory, were 2s. Of Walsingham, 2s. 3d. Of the monks of Thetford, 10d. And the tenths of the town, 1l. 10s.

The Church is a rectory, dedicated to St. Peter, valued in King Edward the First's reign at 10 marks; the prior of Merton had then the patronage of it, and a portion of tithe of 2 marks per ann. Peterpence 4d. The present valor is 5l. and is discharged.

Rectors.

1305, Henry de Reding instituted, presented by the prior of Merton in Surry.

1334, Richard de Carleton Ditto.

1341, Nicholas de Hunworth.

1355, John Attewell.

William Agell, rector.

1386, John Donne.

1393, John Holbourn.

1397, Robert Hoo.

1427, James Lytelport.

1458, John Tropewell.

1474, Robert Bokenham, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1483, Thomas Trylle, A. M. by the Bishop, a lapse.

1523, William Kyngesmill, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1544, Richard Smith.

1574, John Brown, by the Queen.

1601, Thomas Settle.

Rowland Nicholson died rector, 1715.

1715, William Reynolds, by the King.

1719, Thomas Gallant. Ditto.

Stanley Leaths, by the King in 1741.

Mat is an initial syllable to several towns; thus Matsale, Matford in Devonshire; Materdale in Cumberland; Matlock in Derbyshire, and Matching in Essex.