Martin Williams

King H. VIII. who by Letters Patents dated the 20th of Aug. in the 37th Year of his Reign, conveyed to Richard Morisin, Esq. this Mannor of Caishoebury, Court Leet, View of Franc-pledge, Goods, and Chattels, waifed Goods, and Chattels of Felons and Fugitives, Felons of themselves, Deodands, Estraies, Liberties, Emoluments, and Hereditaments whatsoever, in as large and ample Manner as the Abbots held the same.

This Richard Morisin was in the time of his Youth, bred up in the University, where he studied Philosophy; and when he had attained to some Perfection of Knowledge in the Latin and Greek Tongues, and the liberal Arts, he removed thence to the Inns of Court, where he became well skilled in the Common and Civil Law, and by Reason of his great Learning, obtained much Esteem and Favour with King H. VIII. and Edw. VI. so that they often employed him upon several Ambassages to the Emperor Charles V. and the mightiest Princes in their times; he proving both honest and able in the Performance of all these Negotiations: He married Bridget, Daughter of John Lord Hussey of Sleford in the County of Lincoln, by whom he had Issue Charles, who was his Heir, and two Daughters, Jana Sibella married to Edward Lord Russel, eldest Son to the Earl of Bedford, and after his Decease to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton; and Elizabeth married to William Norris, Esq. Son and Heir apparent to Henry Lord Norris: he began a fair and large House in this Place, scituated upon a dry Hill not far from a pleasant River in a fair Park; and had prepared Materials for the finishing hereof, but before the same could be half built, he was forced to fly beyond the Seas, and returning out of Italy died at Strasburgh, on the 17th Day of March, Anno 1556, 2d and 3d of Philip and Mary, to the great Grief of all good Men:

After his Decease this Mannor came to the Possession of Bridget his Widow, who enjoyed it; and An. 1561, 3 Eliz. married Henry Earl of Rutland, who was made Lord President of the Council for the Northern Parts of this Realm in the same Year, and installed Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, during whose Intermarriage, Courts were held in both their Names for this Mannor: He died without Issue by her upon the 17th of Sept. 1563, 5 Eliz. after his Decease she married Francis Earl of Bedford, who died without any Issue by her, on the 28th of July, Anno 1585, 27 Eliz. in the 58th Year of his Age: Afterwards she died the 12th of Jan. Anno 1600, 43 Eliz. and in the 75th Year of her Age.

Sir Charles Morisin, Knight, Son and Heir of Sir Richard Morisin and Bridget his Wife, succeeded, was constituted Sheriff for this County, Anno 1579, 21 Eliz. and married Dorothy, the Daughter of Nicholas Clerk, Esq. by whom he had two Children, Charles his only Son, and Bridget his sole Daughter, married to Robert Earl of Sussex. He compleatly finished the House which his Father begun, and died the Day before the Calends of April, Anno 1599, 41 Eliz. in the 51st Year of his Age:

After his Death this Mannor came to the Lady Dorothy Morisin his Relict, who held Courts here from the second Year of King James I. in her own Name, to the fourth Year of the same King inclusive:

Upon her Decease this Mannor descended to Sir Charles Morisin, Knight, Son and Heir of Sir Charles, who was made a Baronet by Letters Patents dated 22nd May, 1611, invested with the honourable Order of the Bath at the Coronation of King Charles I. in the year 1625, 1 Car. I. He served for the Borough of St. Albans in the Parliament held at Westminster, 17th of May, 1 Car. I. For the Borough of Hertford, in the Parliament held 1628,4 Car. I. And for this County in the Parliament held 21 Jac. I. He married Mary the second Daughter of Sir Baptist Hicks, Viscount Cambden: He gave Or, on a Chief Gules, three Chaplets of the first; and died on the 20th of August, leaving only Elizabeth, his sole Daughter and Heir.