A Note on the Names in the two Preceding Ballads. ...................................................
Most of the names in the two preceding ballads are found to have belonged to
families of distinction in the north, as may be made appear from authentic records.
Thus in
THE ANCIENT BALLAD OF CHEVY-CHASEVer. 112.Agerstone.] The family of Haggerston, of Haggerston near Berwick, has
been seated there for many centuries, and still remains. Thomas Haggerston was
among the commissioners returned for Northumberland in 12 Hen. VI, 1433. (Fuller's
Worthies, p. 310.) The head of this family at present is Sir Thomas Haggerston, Bart.
of Haggerston above mentioned.
N.B.The name is spelt Agerstone, as in the text, in Leland'sItinerary, vol. vii. p. 54.
Ver. 113.Hartly.] Hartley is a village near the sea in the barony of Tynemouth, about
seven miles from North Shields. It probably gave name to a family of note at that
time.
Ver. 114.Hearone.] This family, one of the most ancient, was long of great
consideration, in Northumberland. Haddeston, theCaput Baroniæof Heron, was their
ancient residence. It descended, 25 Edw. I. to the heir general Emiline Heron,
afterwards Baroness Darcy.-- Ford, &c. and Bockenfield (in com. eodem) went at the
same time to Roger Heron, the heir male; whose descendants were summoned to
Parliament: Sir William Heron of Ford Castle being summoned 44 Edw. III. Ford
Castle hath descended by heirs general to the family of Delaval (mentioned in the next
article). Robert Heron, Esq. who died at Newark in 1753, (father of the Right Hon. Sir
Richard Heron, Bart.) was heir male of the Herons of Bockenfield, a younger branch
of this family. Sir Thomas Heron Middleton, Bart. is heir male of the Herons of Chip-
Chase, another branch of the Herons of Ford Castle.
Ver. 115.Lovele.] Joh. de Lavale, miles, was sheriff of Northumberland J4 Hen. VII.
Joh. de Lavele, mil. in the 1 Edw. VI. and afterwards. (Fuller, 313.) In Nicholson this
name is spelt Da Lovel, p. 304. This seems to be the ancient family of Delaval, of
Seaton Delaval, in Northumberland, whose ancestor was one of the 25 barons
appointed to be guardians of Magna Charta.
Ver. 117.Rugbe.] The ancient family of Rokeby, in Yorkshire, seems to be here
intended. In Thoresby's Ducat. Leod. p. 253, fol. is a genealogy of this house, by
which it appears that the head of the family, about the time when this ballad was
written, was Sir Ralph Rokeby, Knt., Ralph being a common name of the Rokebys.
Ver. 119.Wetharrington.] Rog. de Widrington was sheriff of Northumberland in 36
of Edw. III. (Fuller, p. 311) Joh. de Widrington in II of Hen. IV, and many others of
the same name afterwards. (See also Nicholson, p. 331.) Of this family was the late
Lord Witherington.
Ver. 124.Mongon-byrry.] Sir Hugh Montgomery was son of John Lord Montgomery,
the lineal ancestor of the present Earl of Eglington.
Ver. 123.Lwdale.] The ancient family of the Liddels were originally from Scotland,
where they were Lords of Liddel Castle, and of the Barony of Buff. (Vide Collins's
Peerage.) The head of this family is the present Lord Ravensworth, of Ravensworth
Castle, in the county of Durham.
IN THE BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE