MARKSHALL
This parish is about four miles in circumference, eleven miles distant from Colchester, and two from Coggeshall. The situation is low , and the soil not materially different from that of Coggeshall.

It is bounded by the parishes of Coggeshall, Pattiswick , Stisted , Halstead , Earl's Colne , and Feering ; and is supposed to have been named from the family of De Mere , who held Mark's Tey , and other estates which received their name ; particularly the manor of Merks, in Dunmow, in William the Conqueror's time , when this parish bore the name of Mercheshald, to which its present appellation bears some resemblance.

* In Edward the Confessor's time, this lordship was in the possession of Gudmund; and at the survey of Domesday it belonged to Hugh de Montfort, under whom it was holden by Nigell.

The Montfort family did not long retain possession; for Robert, grandson of this Hugh, being of the party of Robert Courthose , in opposition to his younger brother King Henry the First, and being questioned for breach of his allegiance , obtained leave to go to Jerusalem , and left all his lands to the king , † who soon afterwards gave them to the noble family of Bohun , earl of Essex, whose chief seat was the honour of Rayleigh ; but Hugh de Essex , constable and standard - bearer to King Henry the Second , conducted himself unworthily in an expedition which that king , in person , made into Wales , in 1163 , throwing down the standard , and from cowardice running away , which so animated the Welch and discouraged the English , from an apprehension of the king's being slain , that the whole army was routed . For this high misdemeanour , being charged with treason by Robert de Montfort , and vanquished in a solemn trial by battle , he ought to have suffered death by law ; but the king interposed , and sparing his life , caused him to be shorn a monk in the abbey of Reading , and seized all his estates . This particular manor or lordship had been held, from the Conquest , of the honour of Haule , sometimes written Hageley , Hagenet , or Dovor Castle ; but coming to the crown on Essex's forfeiture , it was granted in fee to a family surnamed , from the place , De Merkeshall , who were at first only tenants under the chief lords ; but afterwards became persons of eminence . Nigell , who held under Hugh de Montfort at the general survey , was succeeded by his son Robert de Merkeshall , whose name is so written to a deed of Aubrey de Vere , about the year 1109 ; § Roger de Merkeshall was his son , and held this estate of the honour of Hagenet in 1210 and 1211 , and was succeeded by his son Herbert de Merkeshall, who was a considerable benefactor to Coggeshall - abbey :