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

Rous :

or Le Roux. "This family is Norman; and in 1165 held lands near Rouen from the county of Breteuil (Duchesne, Feod. Normanniae). Ralph le Roux was sent in 1119 by Henry I. to the aid of Ralph de Guader (Ord. Vital. 857), and in 1120 was one of the nobles who perished with Prince Henry in the Blanche Nef. The English line descends from Turchil Rufus or Le Rous, who came to England in 1066, and held lands in Norfolk from Alan Fitz Flaald, ancestor of the Fitz Alans (Mon. i. 627). Alexander Rous appears in the Liber Niger; also Richard Rous, who held from De Albini in the Eastern Counties. Hugo Rufus was Viscount of Norfolk in 1225 (Roberts, Excerpta i. 227). Richard le Rous of Norfolk died 1277, and had Alan, who in 1316 was Lord of Dunham and East Lexham, Norfolk, and had Peter le Rous of Dennington, ancestor of the Rouses of that place, from whence descend the Rouses of Henham, Earls of Stradbroke."—The Norman People. Dennington was brought into the family in the time of Edward III. by the marriage of Peter Rous with a Hobart heiress, and increased by subsequent matches with the heiresses of Le Watre and Philips. The latter lady was the representative of one of the co-heirs of Erpingham. "Al the Rousis that be in Southfolk cum, as I can learne, oute of the House of Rouse of Dinnington. Diverse of the Rouses of this Eldest House ly in Dinnington Paroche Chirche buried under flat Stones. Antony Rouse, now the Heire of Dinnington Haule, hath much enlargid his Possessions."—Leland. It was this Sir Anthony, Comptroller of Calais, who in 1535 bought their present residence, Henham Hall, the ancient seat of the De La Poles, and afterwards of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and of Sir Arthur Hopton, to whom it had been granted by Henry VIII. It was a very fine house, but "was burnt down in 1773 through the carelessness of a drunken butler, who, while robbing the cellar during his master's absence in Italy, set fire to the sawdust in one of the wine-bins."—Suckling's Suffolk. Lady Rous (perhaps Sir Anthony's daughter-in-law) was appointed by Queen Mary one of her Quorum for Suffolk, and "did usually sit on the bench at assizes and sessions amongst the other justices, cincta gladio."—Ibid (v. Harl. MS. 980). In the next generation, Sir John Rous was so eminent for his loyalty, that Charles II. wrote him a letter of thanks with his own hand. There is a venerable oak beneath the windows of the Hall, which, according to tradition, saved his life during the Civil War, when a party of rebels arrived at Henham with a warrant for his arrest. It was even then hollow, and having been used as a summer-house, was fitted with a door covered with bark, so curiously contrived that no one suspected the cavity thus concealed. Into this hiding place his wife promptly conveyed him; and night after night stole out to bring him food, eluding the strict watch kept over her by the Roundheads.^[24] Baffled in discovering her secret, they next tried to force it from her by violence; but they stormed and threatened in vain; the lady's courage was proof. She was neither to be scared nor bullied; till at last they went away discouraged, and she had carried the day.

This loyal Sir John received a baronetcy at the Restoration; and his descendant in the fourth generation—another John—was created Lord Rous of Dennington in 1796. The next heir obtained the Earldom of Stradbroke in 1821, and was the grandfather of the present Lord.

I find mention of a good many families of this name, but I cannot trace the connection between them. In Gloucestershire "the manor of Dunstbourne-Rous, soon after the Conquest, belonged to John le Rous, and continued long in the family. Roger le Rous held there 22 Ed. I.; and John le Rous temp. Ed. II. He was in rebellion against that King, and was attainted and his lands forfeited; but restored 1 Ed. III."—Atkyns, In Wiltshire, "Richard Ruffus or Le Rous had a grant of Imber from Henry II. for his services as Chamberlain. Sir Roger and Sir John attended Ed. I. in his wars. After the time of Henry VI. I can find no descendant of Le Rous of Imber."^[25]—Hoare. "Little Mitton in Blackburnshire was granted by Robert de Lacy, 3 Henry I., to Ralph le Roux, whose posterity were named from the place."—Whitaker's Whalley. Thomas le Rous was High Sheriff of Leicestershire 14, 15 Edward II. John Rufus, in the time of Henry III., was seated at Ragley in Warwickshire, and Lench-Randolph in Worcestershire; his last heir-male, Sir Thomas, died in 1721. Another John Rous, who died in 1491, and lies buried in the nave of Warwick Church, "was," says Leland, "of the Howse of the Rowsis of Ragley by Alcester. He beareth three Crouns in his Armes." The Augustinian Priory of Woodbridge in Suffolk was founded by Hugh le Rous, but at what date is uncertain. "The Prior and Convent were bound to pray and say mass for the souls of Sir Hugh, the founder, and six other knights of the same surname, registered on a table in this monastery."—Davis's Suffolk Collections.