Michael Linton's Bayeux Tapestry: 1066 - A Medieval Mosaic and Puzzles

Breicourt :

or Briencort. "The sires de Crievecoer, Driencourt, and Briencourt, also followed the Duke wherever he went," says the Roman de Rou. "No place of the name of Briencourt is known in Normandy. It may refer to Brucourt, arrondissement of Pont-l'Evesque; and the correct reading of the MS. was perhaps Brieucort. See Robert de Brucourt's confirmation of the grants of Jeffrey de Fervaques to Walsingham. About the same time a Gilbert de Brucort gave lands at Fervaques to the Abbey of Val-Richer. In the Red Book—de ballia de Oximis—'Gilbertus de Breuecourt 2 mil. regi de Pinu cum pertinent. Idem 1 mil. de foedo Mort. in Cerenciis.' We afterwards find,—among those who 'serviunt ad custamentum domini—Gillebertus de Bruecort, senex, 4 partem de Colevill et Angervill.' Gilbert de Bruecourt and Hugh his son appear in a charter to Troarn."—Taylor's Wace. The family long continued in Normandy. Duchesne mentions three of the name; one of whom, Henri de Bruecourt, held a fee of the Feoda de Hiesmes; and a De Bruecourt, belonging to the bailiwick of Evreux, was to be found in the assembly of the nobles in 1789.

The name is given as Briencort in the Liber Niger, where we find Robert de Briencort holding three fees of the Honour of Clare in Suffolk, and Geoffrey de Briencort one fee of Earl Ferrers in Derby. He also held of the Peverells in Kent, Leicester, Notts, and Derby. (Rot. Pip.) Baldwin de Brencurt held lands at Wytham, Lincolnshire, of the heirs of Hugh Wac (Testa de Nevill): and was a benefactor of Spalding Priory; his son John is mentioned in the time of Edward I. (Rotul. Hundred). Blomfield tells us that in Norfolk Robert de Briencort confirmed some lands, held of him, to Castle Acre Priory; and others to Walsingham Priory. One of these charters is witnessed by John de Briencourt.