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

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Maumaisin : or rather as Leland gives it Mauveysin: Malus vicinus: an ominous name. "This family is considered to have been a branch of the ancient Counts of the Vexin (Wiffen, Memoires de la famille de Russell, i. 49). In 1070, Ralph Malvoisin, Sire de Rosny, (who occurs as "Malusvicinus" in Suffolk 1086) gave lands to the Abbey of St. Evroult, Normandy (Ord. Vitalis, 604). Hugo Malusvicinus, founder of Blithburgh Priory (Mon. i. 468) appears in Stafford 1130 (Rot. Pip.) Henry Malveisin in Salop and Stafford 1165 (Lib. Niger). Gilbert Malveisin was of Normandy at this time (Mem. Soc. Ant. Norm. viii. 266). Ridware Mauvesyn still bears the name of this family."—The Norman People. Berwick Maviston, in Shropshire, was held by a branch of the Mauveysins. "The return upon the death of Saer Mauveysin in 1283 states that he held a knight's fee under Richard Fitz Alan by service of Castle-guard at Oswestry, with one horseman, not heavily armed, for forty days in time of war."—History and Antiquities of Shropshire. Their principal seat was at Mavesine-Ridware, in Staffordshire, which was first owned in the time of King John by William Mauveysin (son of the founder of Blythburgh Priory), and continued in their possession till the beginning of the fifteenth century. The last heir, Sir Robert Mavesyn, was "slain in 1403 at the battle of Shrewsbury, ex parte regis, as his monument in Mavesine Ridware saith; and well might be called Malvoisine; for (as the report of the country is) going towards the battle of Shrewsbury, he met with his neighbour Sir William Handsacre going also into the said battle, either of them being well accompanied by their servants and tenants,; and upon some former malice, it might seem, or else knowing the other to be backed by the contrary party, they encountered each other, and fought as it were a skirmish, or little battle, when Mavesyn had the victory, and, having slain his adversary, went on to the battle, and was there slain himself. The said Sir-Robert left behind him two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, who were his heirs; Elizabeth was married to Sir J. Cawarden, knt, and Margaret was married to Sir William Handsacre, son of the aforenamed Sir William, to whom she brought her purparty in recompense of the death of his father slain by hers."—Erdeswick's Staffordshire. "The old manor house of Maveyson-Ridware," adds his editor Dr. Harwood, "is entirely demolished, except the gate-house, in which is an old chamber said to have been an oratory. The ancient part of the church contains several monuments. Some of the tombs of the Mavesyns were opened at different periods during the last century. The stone coffin in which was deposited the body of Hugo, the founder of Blythburgh Priory, was raised in 1785, after it had remained undisturbed for upwards of six hundred years. The altar tomb of the last Sir Robert is very handsome; his figure is armed and helmed, with a great sword on one side and a dagger on the other." The Mavesyns bore Gules two bendlets Argent.