The Battle Abbey Roll. Vol. I.
by
The Duchess of Cleveland.

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Brasard : probably the same name given by Leland as Busard, and still preserved by the town of Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. "It has been conjectured," says Lysons, "that the addition of Bussard or Buzzard is a corruption, of Beaudesert, which name, indeed, occurs in some old papers; but in the most ancient records the name of the town is written Leighton-Bosard, and sometimes Busard or Buzzard. The family of Bosard or Bossard, from whom it seems to have derived its additional name, were of consequence in the county, and knights of the shire, in the reigns of Edward II. and Edward III." Sir Hugh Bossard, Lord of Shelton and Knotting, had a writ of military summons to serve against the Scots in 1332, and again in 1325, to pass into Guienne under the command of Earl Warren. He twice served as knight of the shire. His armorial bearings are entered upon the roll of the battle of Boroughbridge.

The name appears in many other parts of the country. Gilbert Bochart, in the time of Henry II., held Bourton, Salop, under Shrewsbury Abbey; and was succeeded there by a son and a grandson. Roger, the grandson, "died about Easter 1194; and having been a tenant in capite at Pulley, his two infant daughters became wards of the Crown."—Eyton's Shropshire. It appears that he held Pully by Serjeantry as Custos of the Royal Haye, then known as The Lye, but now called Lythwood. The eldest of his two co-heiresses married the son of her guardian, Elias de Echingham; the second Ralph Mareschal.

But the name continued in the county. Hervicus Boscard occurs in 1194-98 (Rotuli Curiae Regis). Engelard Boscart and Sir Henry Boscard were both under-tenants of Bourton in 1195; and the latter was still living in 1227. His son Ralph is mentioned about 1241. Sibil Bossard held in 1247.

In Nottinghamshire Thorpe-Bozard, or Buzzard, was named from John Bochart, who held it of the Earl of Arundel, and died about the beginning of Henry III.'s reign.—Thoroton's Notts. In the Hundred Rolls of Edward I., I find John Busard and his brother William in Lincolnshire; the latter also of Norfolk and Hereford: Peter Busard of Suffolk: and Eustace Busard and William Bochard of Kent.