Grafton Manor

[3] Above the parlour window, there is an inscription:[3] Plenti and grase ti in this plase whyle even man is plesed in his degre there is both pease and uniti.

Disputes are recorded over the inheritance of the revenues (advowson) and the costs of maintenance that took place between John de Grafton family and the sacrist of St Mary’s.

[1] Edmund de Grafton represented the two member Worcestershire constituency in the early House of Commons of England four times.

He and his brother William died leading the fight against Jack Cade's Rebellion in Kent and both can be identified as characters in Shakespeare's play, Henry VI, Part 2.

[6] After fighting at the Battle of Bosworth with Richard III, Sir Humphrey Stafford broke sanctuary and supported Viscount Lovell[10] in a further rebellion.

[12] Nevertheless, the presence of prominent Catholics such as the Talbots in the military affairs of Worcestershire created disquiet and resentment within the county.

In 1646-7, bands of Clubmen formed in the west of Worcestershire, with the intention of driving away any armed forces from their lands, to resist despoliation and requisitioning.

He raised a troop of horse, which proved vital in helping Charles II escape the city when he was defeated by Cromwell's New Model Army.

[14] After the restoration, Francis died as the result of a duel at Barn Elms with the Duke of Buckingham over his wife, Anna Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury.

Samuel Pepys related that:[15] from the whole house the discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of Buckingham, Holmes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord of Shrewsbury, Sir John Talbot, and one Bernard Howard, on the other side: and all about my Lady Shrewsbury, who is a whore, and is at this time, and hath for a great while been, a whore to the Duke of Buckingham.

And so her husband challenged him, and they met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes, and there fought: and my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast through the shoulder: and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his armes; and Jenkins killed upon the place, and the rest all, in a little measure, wounded.

This will make the world think that the King hath good councillors about him, when the Duke of Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellow of no more sobriety than to fight about a whore.

The whole House full of nothing but the talk of this business; and it is said that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared, that he may die too; and that may make it much the worse for the Duke of Buckingham: and I shall not be much sorry for it, that we may have some sober man come in his room to assist in the Government.