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HASTINGS. 133
But the stout old knight would not submit, and fearing that the
payment of these costs would be deemed an acknowledgment
of Lord
Grey's right to the honour and arms of his family, he continued a prisoner
for twenty-six years, part of which time he was, he says in some pathetic
documents on the
" subject, boundyn in fetters of iron like a thief or a
" traitor, than like a gentleman of birth."
Imprisonment and chains, the destruction of his own health, and the
death of his wife and children, could not shake his firmness.
He steadily refused Lord Grey's offer to release him from the debt
if he would admit his superior right to the objects in dispute. The only
compromise to which he could be induced to consent was a marriage,
either in his own person or in that of one of his children, with one of
those of his adversary. And in case his eldest son, John Hastings, should
marry one of Lord Grey's daughters, he said that he would relinquish to
him and the heirs of that marriage the name, right, inheritance, and arms
which he claimed as heir of John, last Earl of Pembroke ; which offer he
concluded with this
"
uncompromising vituperation God's curse and mine
" have all mine heirs that will not sue the right and inheritance after me."
This was probably written about 1420. Whether from the personal
antipathy of the parents, or lack of inclination on the part of the young
people, the matrimonial alliance never came to pass.
In 1433 Sir Edward Hastings was still in prison, and, as before,
styled himself "Edward, Lord Hastings." In 1437 he died. After his
death his son, John Hastings, warned, perhaps, by his father's unhappy
fate, yielded to the usurpation of his rights by the Lords Grey of Ruthyn
;
and in the reign of King Henry VIII., the representation of the house of
Hastings fell amongst co-heirs. .
In 1641, Charles Longueville, Esq., nephew and heir of Henry Grey,
eighth Earl of Kent, presented a petition to Charles I., claiming
that the
dignities of Lord Hastings and Ruthyn belonged to him. The petition
was referred to the Lords, where he was opposed by Anthony, ninth Earl
of Kent, who had for his advocate the learned Selden. The Lords referred
it to the judges ; and after counsel had been heard on both sides, Lord
Chief Justice Brampton delivered judgment according to their opinions
practically confirming the previous decision, and allowing his claim to the
barony of Grey de Ruthyn, but not of Hastings. See case prepared by
Sir Harris Nicolas, 1844.
But after a lapse of four centuries, Sir Jacob Astley, one of the coheirs
of Sir Edward Hastings, redeemed the curse, and " sued the right
" and inheritance after him " successfully. The House of Peers having
decided in his favour, between him and Henry L'Estrange Styleman
L'Estrange, Esq., of Hunstanton, Norfolk, another of the co-heirs, on
S