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XIX. Account of an Historical Monument in Britanny. By Mons. D'Auvergne

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

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Extract

Returning in December 1780 from viewing antiquities in the neighbourhood of the Morbiban, late the Mare conclusum of Cæsar, I took in my way the town of Ploemmel, famous in the history of the province for having been the seat of the foreign dukes, when Britanny maintained its independance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1782

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References

page 145 note [a] This sum is a small fraction more than one guinea.

page 146 note [b] The author probably supposes this from the seat of the Sackville family at Knowle in Kent, agreeable to the French custom of joining the name of their estates to their sirname. This Sir Robert Knolles was One of the most celebrated warriors of his time. Historians seem to have been at a loss for words to express his valour. Anstis says his military exploits were beyond imagination illustrious; another author calls him “egregius bellator”, (K. 8. 76. in Coll. Armor.) and another says he was “le veritable Demon de la Guerre” (L'Hist. de Charles VI. par le Laboureur, p. 78.)

“O Roberte Knollis, per te fit Francia mollis

“Ense tuo tollis praedas, dans vulnera collis.”

He is said to have been of low extraction in Norfolk, but to have raised himself by his extraordinary bravery; he was lieutenant of Britanny under John de Montsort, and was appointed seneschal of Guienne by king Edward III. (see Les Rolles Gascons.) He died 8 Hen. IV. 1407, far advanced in years, and was buried with Constance his wife in the White Friars, London, leaving an only daughter Emma his heir married to John Babington. The family of Knollys of Grove-Place in Hampshire claim to be a younger branch of this Sir Robert Knollys. J. C. Brooke.

page 147 note [c] A small antient town on the Morbiban sea, founded by the Veneti.

page 147 note [d] It appears plainly that this was a French and English war carried on under a mask.

page 147 note [e] This Thomas D'Ageworth as the Chronicles of Britanny call him, was Sir Thomas Dagworth of Dagworth in Suffolk, knt. son and heir of John de Dagworth by Alicia de Bellomonte his wife. He was one of the most celebrated warriors of his time. See Walsingham, Knighton, &c. the latter historian gives some account of his death by the treachery of the French, partly similar to the above. In 20 Edward III. he was appointed the king's lieutenant in Britanny, and afterwards to John son of John de Montfort duke thereof, see Les Rolles François for his appointments &c. in that country. He had a son Sir Nicholas Daoworth, knt. who was also a man of considerable note in his time, and much In favour with Richard II. The heir of this family married William lord Furnival of Sheffield, and carried the manor of Dagworth and a considerable estate into that family. J. C. Brooke.

page 148 note [f] So the name is spelt in the manuscript, but evidently mistaken by the French writer, no such name or any thing like it occurring in the records of that time. It is probable that the author, has meant Sir Richard Grenacre, knt. who was a native of Lancashire, and flourished in the French wars in this reign. This Sir Richard was made governor of Ploemel in Britanny abovementioned by Edward III. and it appears that the same thing granted him letters of protection on his departure for that country. J. C. Brooke.

page 149 note [g] An oak said to have been growing on the spot where the cross now stands.