Inquiry into the origin, pedigree, & history of the family, or clan, of Aitons in Scotland

into Scotland for safety. But when John had, by his folly and
extravagance, lost Normandy, which his family had held for
more than 300 years, been excommunicated by the Pope, and
had roused his subjects to Rebellion, Eustace was one of the
twenty four Barons appointed to manage the Government of
the realm ; and who were all laid under excommunication in
their turn, as king John had been before them. Eustace was
one of the barons, who had joined with Alexander king of
Scotland, his brother-in-la-y, to invite Louis of France to in-
vade England. But when Eustace was besieging Barnard cas-
tle, sometime after the Magna Charta had been extorted from
king John, at Runemde, and shortly before the king's death,
Eustace was shot through the head by an Arrow ; and was
succeeded by his son.
William de Vescey, who, being in minority, was put under
the tuition of tlis earl of Pembroke, who was then Regent for
Henry III. It v/as during the life of this William, and pro-
bably while he was minor, that the lordship and castle of
Snarsburgh, which his great grand father Fitz John, had
succeeded to, by the death of Serlo DE Bukgh his uncle, was
by the king, taken from the family of Vescey s, and given to
William de Scutevil. William Vescey married first Isabel
daughter of the earl of Salisburgh ; and afterwards, Agnes,
daughter of William de Terrers, earl of Derby, and by her
acquired an estate in Kildare, Ireland. Sir William Dugdale,
enumerates, and gives the names of the lordships, manors, and
estates, held by William de Vescey, and which were upwards
of Forty in number.
John de Vescey, succeeded his father William, and being
in minority, his wardship was committed to Peter de Savoy.
John was one of the king's principal generals, in the wars in
Gascoign. But having afterwards joined Montfort, earl of
Leicester, and other rebel barons, John was taken prisoner, at
the battle of Chesham, where prince Edward rescued his father,
king Henry III. from the rebels. John de Vescey was after-
wards admitted to composition, and joined the Cruisaders in