Brutton Family / Charles Brutton
Bruteton,
of divers Manors & Parishes in the County of
Devon.
Extracted from an old Record in the Herald's Office in
London, December 1814
The Brutetons descended from a supposed Old Family of
Yeoman successive, but not as it appears hereditary
occupier of divers Manors or Aorlions(?) of Manors held
in fief (?) or as variable Tenements of divers,
Lord or Esquires, holden of the same lands ascending to
some frank and heraldic Records of the County of Devon,
occupied in quality of Yeoman in or about the year one
thousand five hundred, certain small parcels of land at
a temporary rent -- and --- in Cours Cattle and divers
Productions of his then land. Thomas Bruteton had two
sons Charles and William both arrived at age of Maturity.
And it appears from the said record, that those youths
assisted their Father, and lived with him on the Tenement.
About this time, the two most sacred and Royal Princes Arthur
and Henry, Sons to the High, Mighty and Sovereign Lord the
King, Henry 7th, were journeying under special care and
Interage (?) in the County of Devon, and as was the custom
for the Promotion of death(?) and pleasure(?), the before
mentioned most Royal Princes were riding, mounted on Royal
horses, Equires Regis(?), in the neighborhood of the said
tenement of the said The Bruteton, attended to several great
and Nobles of the Land, when the Prince whose horse was
foremost suddenly and with exceedingly Malice and Fury,
occasioned by the Intervention of some opposing terrifying
object [I cannot understand this passage of the original
from the obscurity of the Letters] started aside and to
the imminent Danger of the Prince could not be held by the
Rein, and being actuated by excessive Rage, would not endure
the Government of such young, tender hands, whereas several
and many noble persons and Esquires of good and high Estate,
much fearing for the safety of their young Prince, came with
exceeding swiftness to the Spot, and with them the other
Prince, his brother. But when they all perceived the dreadful
and amazing Fury of the Horse, not being able for the great
Danger and risk of their own Bones to approach nearer,
difficulty Reins, a Prayer, and the good Prince still being
on the Animal went very near to death. It further appears
that the Charles Bruteton, oldest Son of the Thomas Bruteton
was employing himself, for the advantage of his Father on
some ploughed Grounds near the Spot where the accident was
likely to befall the most Royal and Benignant Prince, and
one arriving at the place drawn by the noise and confusion and
beholding the Prince's plight and extrenic(?) Danger, like
a good and most loyal and hearty subject, being very strong and
large of Arm and Body, did to his own personal great risk and
peril, advance without Fear, and taking the furious Horse of
the good Prince by the Bridle with great Strength and Courage.
[There are words not intelligible] and until some other
persons near could assist the Royal Rider to dismount in
safety, and did hereby successfully save the life of the said
Prince, who therein... most gracefully and graciously did
upon the Spot return abundant thanks to the said Charles
Bruteton giving at the same time many hopes of reward, when the
Lord the King should have been made to the particulars of the
Action. And it further appears, that in the course of some
elapsed time, the most Sovereign Lord the King was told of the
Escape from Exceeding Danger of the Prince, his Son. The King
was then at London with his Seers (?) and on hearing the above
News, did and was pleased to grant in recompense to the said
Charles Bruteton for his Arms (after his most Royal and
condescending thanks) Two Chevrons upon a shield half azure
and half Sules )?_ whereto were afterwards added Horse Shoes
in commemoration of the above mentioned most worthy Action.
Whereto was afterwards added a grant (?) of three acres and a
half* of good areable land of the King's free Sift, all to be
born and possessed by the said Charles Bruteton and his
Legitimate Heirs.
*Translation correction: 300 acres.
ARMS
Perty per pale azure, & on a fisse
between Two Chevrons Arft. Three Horse
Shoes Sa. Crest Horses Head, erased argent
with a Royal Crown.
[translated by Achievements Jan 1815 with an explanation
that the Family Arms was originally written in old Latin
Court Hand and very difficult to translate. Also, the
Achievements stated that according to the Herald's office
that Breuteton had metamorphorsized to Brutton but in
translation, most persons, even now, will speak of Brutton
as though the name was spelled Bru-ton.]