Botetourt as Overlord under the de Veres
See also my page where I describe underlord.
The Church guides have the following statement (with respect to the Nave of St. Mary's Church):
At the North - east end are the remains of what must have been a very beautiful
canopied Chantry Chapel, which evidently extended outside the North wall, and
would have incorporated the tomb of the Botetourt family - Sir John de Botetourt
having been buried in 1324. Prior to that date he occupied the Manor as underlord of
the de Veres - Earls of Oxford, at Hedingham Castle, and Priory of Earls Colne, to
whom the Church at that time belonged. This memorial was apparently defaced
during the Civil War, at which time memorial brasses were also removed from tombs
under the Centre Aisle.
The author of this website has "issues" with this statement. Sir John de Botetourt was unlikely
to be an Overlord of the de Veres he was far too busy with state affairs
to be occupied in Belchamp Walter.
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The term "Overlord"
Accoriding to the Wikipedia page an "overlord" is either the same status as a Tenent in Chief or a
higher status.
