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 :