THE BERKELEY MANUSCRIPTS
VOLUME 2
Berkeley Manuscripts
(Written and translated in the year 2006, by (NMDC) as near like what the writer (J.M.) in the mid-' 1800's meant his translation of John Smyth's original Manuscripts of 1618 to be. Meanwhile, John Smyth of 1618, did his translations from 'ancient manuscripts' extracting information from Berkeley Castle's private family Muniment Room, and, also, from Abbey, Monastery, and other local Parrish records.) Berkeley. Market town and Parrish. In the County of Gloucestershire. Berkeley was important during the time of the Saxons, and it is said to have had a religious establishment prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066. Henry the First, visited in 1121, and remained through Easter. In the reign of Henry the Second, the castle which had been originally erected by Roger de Berkeley, a Saxon, was considerably enlarged by Robert Fitz Harding, a Norman, to whom King William (The Conqueror) gave the Manor (divided into seven tythings) to, upon his victory at Hastings, and, who, at this time, this Robert Fitz Harding, thereupon, assumed the title of Baron of Berkeley. Also, after, it became a principle baronial seat. Robert Fitz Harding de Berkeley, the First. He was made a Baron after King Stephan's death. His eldest son, Maurice the First, married Alice, who was daughter of Roger de Berkeley of Dursley, an ancient Saxon Baron. He (I think this is referring to Roger) had the same bloodlines as Edward the Confessor (Pg, 32, Berkeley Manuscripts). It was William de Berkeley, Lord of Dursley, father of Roger de Berkeley, who was the founder of this ancient Saxon family (Pg. 56, Berkeley Manuscripts). (Note) The Berkeley Manuscripts. The original volumes were borrowed from the 'University of Mississippi" .. .December 1994. They are the property of John D. Williams, Library/University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi. I had the "Manuscripts", in three huge book forms, brought through the Orlando, Florida interlibrary system in December 1994. My sister Thelma (Thelma R.D.Moye), and myself (Nancy M.D.Chamberlain), copied what we could on the library copier; Plus also, I made many handwritten notes of sections not devoted to our direct lineage, but what I thought was impertinent information to the understanding of the overall project. The Manuscripts are written in a combination of aIde Inglishe, Latin and Roman Numerals. My only prerequisite for translating, is I studied the ancient writings of 'Beowulf and 'The Canterbury Tales' as a teen studying English Literature. This has allowed me to get a slight edge on the 'aIde Inglishe', that the 'Manuscripts' are written in. Therefore, I attempt to translate whenever I am able. The Latin & Roman numerals I must leave up to someone else. Nancy Margaret Dickinson-Chamberlain Date: 2 November 2006
To the memory of the most Ancient and Honorable Family of the Berkeleys of Berkeley Castle In the County Of Gloucester. The oblation of a Servants myte and duty. The custom of those who write histories, is to propose in the beginning a model of the subject they mean to handle: Mine is, of noble men and noble minds, whom I will not celebrate above the merit: Stand or stoop they shall unto themselves: Labor I will through all the months of .550. Years to respect to this family, the image of itself, in all or the most remarkable actions and accidents, changes and chances, which in the reigns of twenty-four Princes of this English monarchy have fallen upon the descendants thereof.
Ambitioufly (Ambitiously) lie (I) take a tafke (task) in hand, Whofe (whose) greatness with my weakness cannot ftand (stand): He walke (walk) a wayles way, with untrod pace, Which yet noe (no) former man with foot did trace, lie (I) travell where noe (no) path is to bee feene (seen), Of any humane ftepp (step) that there hath beene. The striue (story) to tell that noble family in generall, and particularly that matchles Lady mother, the noble Lord George her son, and his virtuous sister the Lady Theophila, (all the fruites (suits) which the last uintage of their parents hath left ripened from posterity, That; Their race was not of yesterday or lately brought to pass, Of old it was, And know they shall, whence it's beginning was. Present them I will with my gleanings of forty years vacant hours, how unbound forever those handfulls be, gathered out of the vast fields of their evidences, the Kings feuerall (several) Courts, Defolated (desolated) Monasteries, the private stores of more than fowefcore (fourscore) men, with an hundred other manuscripts & cartularies. Sound warranties, for this my work and me; To bring them truth fetch (fetched) from antiquitee, Whereby their lives from stroke of death seem free And they as borne of immortalitee: He beg no further favor or protection, then as upright and faythfull (faithful) writing shall deferue (defer), in a plain and home-bred style clear from passion or partiality, lie (I) freely write the truth I know, and begin my story thus:
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