Gascoigne Coucher Book

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 205 LC00950/4/DG
  • Former Reference
      GB 205 WYL115/DG/1
  • Dates of Creation
      Early C17th cent
  • Language of Material
      Latin
  • Physical Description
      1 volume

Scope and Content

This is an early 17th century "transcript or trew Copies of Sondry parcells of auncient Evidence Concerning my lands", made for one of the Gascoigne family. Latin and English.

Includes:

Copy settlement of 14 Jan 1448 from William Gascoigne [D3] upon Ralph Graystok and Isabella his wife, widow of John Gascoigne and mother of the donor, of the manor of Laysingcroft, etc, for life.

p.139 Warrant under signet (copy), c1626, Charles I to Sir John Gascoigne of Barnbow (D10) granting him a barony in Nova Scotia and the title of Barnet of Scotland. This grant is declared to be sufficient warrant to the Treasury to pass a charter (see next item) under the great seal without fine. It is very much more detailed than the charter and describes very fully the extent and nature of the government to be set up by the planters, their franchises and restrictions and the position of the Governor or 'Livetennant'. The precedence of the baronetcy is also described in more detail. The warrant is made with the consent of John Earl of Marr, the Treasurer, and Sir Archibald Napier of Martheiston, kt, his deputy. The former retired from the treasureship in 1630; this warrant must therefore be earlier tahn May 1627 but it recited a previous grant to Sir William Alexander 12 July 1625.