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

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Veirny : from Vernai, near Bayeux, Normandy. Walter de Vernai occurs in Cambridge 1158, and Richard de Vernai in Stafford in the time of Richard I. The Lords Willoughby de Broke descend from William de Vernai, living 1119-1148. They were first seated at Bromshulfe in Staffordshire, and in the beginning of the fourteenth century at Madeley in Herefordshire, but as early as the reign of Henry VI. we find them settled in their present home in Warwickshire. In 1442 Richard de Vernay built a stately manor house at Compton-Murdack, which as Compton-Vernay, still continues to be the family seat. His grandson, another Richard, was "in such esteem with Henry VIII., that, being informed of some infirmity in his head, he granted him a special license, dated Greenwich, January 15th, 1517, to wear his bonnet at all times and in all places, as well in the King's presence as elsewhere, according to his own pleasure, without the interruption of any man whatsoever." But it is not mentioned whether this privilege was, as in the case of Lord Kingsale in Ireland,^[101] extended to his posterity.

A third Sir Richard, born in 1563, married Margaret Greville, granddaughter and heiress of Elizabeth Willoughby, the wife of Sir Fulk Greville, and the elder daughter of Edward, last heir-male of the Lords Willoughby de Broke: and their grandson Richard laid claim to the barony in 1695. He was a younger son, seated at Belton in Lincolnshire, but the posterity of his elder brother had died out, and he accordingly became Lord Willoughby, and "took his place in the House of Peers as the ancient Barons of Broke had it." He is now represented by the seventeenth Lord.

The Earls Verney descended from Sir Ralph Verney, whose son John married a Hertfordshire heiress, the daughter of Sir Robert Whittington of Penley, Sheriff of London in 1419. They were afterwards seated at Middle Claydon, Bucks (bought by Sir Ralph in 1458), and "either he, or his son Sir John, built a capital mansion there in the reign of Henry VIII., which has ever since been the chief seat of the family, but having undergone many alterations, retains no vestige of its ancient form. The more modern part was fitted up in a very magnificent manner, and furnished, with great expense, by the late Earl Verney."—Lysons. Sir Edmund Verney, standard bearer to King Charles I., who fell at the battle of Edgehill in 1642, was the father of Sir Ralph, the first baronet, and the grandfather of Sir John, created in 1703 Baron Verney of Belturbet and Viscount of Fermanagh in Ireland. An Earldom followed in the succeeding generation; but the second Earl died childless in 1791: and his niece Mary Verney, who was created Baroness Fermanagh the year after his death, never married. She bequeathed her estates to her half-sister on the mother's side, Mrs. Wright, from whom they passed to Sir Henry Calvert, who took the name of Verney.