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

ADDITIONAL NAMES GIVEN BY LELAND.

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Briansoun : "De Briancon, from a place so named in Dauphiny. Thomas de Briancon occurs in London and Middlesex 1189 (Rot. Pip.). Giles de Brianzon was returned for Essex and Sussex to the great Council 1324, and had a writ of summons to pass into Guienne 1325, under command of Earl Warrenne, and was Commissioner of Array in Surrey and Sussex."—(Palgrave's Parl. Writs.) The Norman People. The De Briancons were Lords of Varces, and used the name as their cri de guerre. There is a common saying in Dauphiny:

"Arces, Varces, Granges, et Commiers;
Tel les regarde qui ne les ose toucher,
Mais gare la queue des Allemans et des Berengers."

They were seated at West-Thurrock in Essex, "probably received," says Morant, "of the gift of the Crown," as early as the reign of Henry II.; and in the following century were transferred to Avvelers (Alveley) in the same county through the marriage of the heiress with Bartholomew de Brianzon, who held it of the King in capite. His sons William and John succeeded him; and John's son Sir John (apparently also the heir of Giles de Brianzon) was the last of his race. He died in 1337; and his only child, Joan, only survived him two years: "it is not said who was her next heir."—Morant. "Bartholew de Briancun" is entered in the Camden Roll as bearing Gyronny of ten, Argent and Azure.

Robert de Brienton (Briancon?) occurs in the Liber Niger as an under-tenant in Staffordshire. Ralph de Breinzun witnesses a charter of Walter de Clifford to Dore Abbey in Herefordshire (Mon. Angl.).