NO.
IV
PAPERS FROM THE COURTFIELD MUNIMENTS CONTRIBUTED BY JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS HAVE lately concluded the laborious but interesting task of examining and calendaring the large and important collection of ancient muniments preserved at Courtfield , near Ross , in the county of Hereford . Courtfield has been, since the reign of Elizabeth , the seat of the Vaughan family, one of the elder branches of the great Herbert sept. The present head of this branch is Colonel Francis Baynham Vaughan , J.P., K.C.P. , to whom I am indebted for permission to print the following papers. In 1721 John Vaughan of Courtfield , lord of Welsh Bicknor, inherited the adjoining manor of Ruardean, co . Glouc. , together with the manor of Abenhall , one - third of Mitcheldean , and other lands in Gloucestershire ; as also the manor of Cleiro and lands in Radnorshire . This inheritance was from the family of Vaughan of Ruardean, who, though staunch Catholics and near neighbours, were of Breconshire origin , and an entirely distinct race from their namesakes of Courtfield . Most of the documents here presented for the first time to the public relate to the Ruardean Vaughans. They are arranged as follows : A. A series of papers concerning the indictment in 1641 of Dame Joan Vaughan of Ruardean (widow of John Vaughan of Kinnersley , co. Heref., who was jure uxoris of Ruardean) , for the treason-felony of harbouring a priest . The priest was John + Broughton , who was chaplain to Dame Joan, and also acted as her Steward. We have a few particulars about him from the Ruardean Court Rolls , followed by a Petition of John Vaughan on behalf of his mother , the accused lady. Then , after sundry minor items, comes Case for Counsel's Opinion , with learned counsel's opinion duly set out . The Instructions for Pleadings to the Indictmentfollow, and afterwards the Chief Justice's reversal of his warrant to arrest the defendant. The set of documents concludes with the King's mandate (Nolle exequi) under the Royal sign manual, to stay execution of sentence in case the accused lady was found guilty. B. Letter from John Jones of Dingastow , co. Monm., esq., to Richard Vaughan of Courtfield , esq. ( whose sister, Mary Vaughan, was married to Mr. Jones ), dated in 1642. It gives warning that a new Commission is to be held in Monmouthshire for laying fresh burdens upon the Catholics. C. Two receipts, dated in 1684-5 , for legacies bequeathed by John Vaughan of Courtfield to the Benedictines of Douai and to the Franciscans. D. A letter, dated in 1813, from John Brydges to Mr. William Vaughan of Courtfield , claiming kinship in a female line and making reference to wellknown Catholic families . The writer was evidently not a Catholic . His anxiety to show himself worthy of recognition as a kinsman is almost pathetic .
I
-
See The Vaughans of Courtfield , by the present writer. Sands & Co., London , 1912. + Not Thomas as stated by Sir John Maclean (History of the Manors of Dene Magna and Abenhall ).
*