[15] Cal. iv. 5772. Cf. also Noble, Memoirs, vol. i. pp. 4–5, 238–241. The statements in Noble about the Williamses and Cromwells are most confusing and contradictory. Except for the information afforded concerning Morgan Williams, they are without value, and for the most part have been superseded by documentary evidence, discovered at a later date.
[16] Court Rolls, 10 Oct., 5 Hen. VII., and Cal. iv. 5772.
[17] Cal. iv. 5757.
[18] Antiquary for October, 1880, vol. ii. p. 164. Antiquarian Magazine for August and October, 1882, vol. ii. pp. 56 and 178.
[19] The original entries read as follows:—
1. ‘Ad hanc curiam venit Ricardus Williams et sursum redidit in manus domini duas integras virgatas terrae in Hamptone . . . quarum una vocata Purycroft . . . et alia virgata vocata Williams ad opus Thomae Smyth heredum et assignatorum’ (Court Rolls, 26 Feb., 19 Hen. VII.)
2. ‘Ricardus Williams fecit insultum Thomae [Smyth] et eundem Thomam verberavit contra pacem domini Regis’ . . . ‘Ad hanc curiam venit Thomas Smyth et sursum redidit in manus domini duas integras virgatas terrae in Rokhamptone . . . quarum una virgata vocata Purycroft et alia virgata vocata Williams ad opus Davidii Doby heredum et assignatorum’ (Court Rolls, 20 May, 19 Hen. VII.)
[20] Antiquarian Magazine for October, 1882, vol. ii. p. 183.
[21] It is possible that the Thomas Smyth, whose name occurs so frequently in the Court Rolls, was identical with a certain ‘tryumphant trollynge Thomas Smyth,’ who, in 1541, wrote several ballads ‘declaring the despyte of a secrete sedycyous person,’ by name William Graye, who had composed certain verses very derogatory to the memory of Thomas Cromwell. This Thomas Smyth describes himself as ‘servaunt to the Kynges royall Majestye, and clerke of the Quenes Graces Counsell, though most unworthy’; he had perhaps obtained his position through the influence of the King’s minister. He was supported in his tirade against Graye by ‘the ryght redolent and rotunde rethorician R. Smyth . . . in an Artificiall apologie articulerlye answerynge to the obstreperous obgannynges of one W. G. evometyd to the vituperacyon of the tryumphant trollynge Thomas Smyth . . . to thende that the imprudent lector shulde not tytubate or hallucinate in the labyrinthes of this lucubratiuncle.’ ‘R. Smyth’ was probably another member of the Smyth-Cromwell tribe. The name ‘Ricardus Smyth’ occurs frequently in the Court Rolls (Cal. xvi. 423).
[22] See Appendices [I.] and [III.] at the end of this chapter.