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~ WHO'S WHO ~

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Agnes Litherland (16th Century)

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The Priory of Ulverscroft, surrounded by the forests of Charnwood, is today a picturesque ruin. It was founded by Robert Bossu, one of the Norman Earls of Leicester about 1130, for the Augustinian order, formerly known as the Black Canons. Although Henry Vill at first reprieved the Priory, it was eventually dissolved in 1539. However, attached to this ruin is a legend of Romance. Once upon a time, in the North Country, lived a wealthy knight by the name of Sir Ralph Litherland. Sir Ralph had a beautiful daughter, called Agnes, who was promised in marriage to William de Mavesyn, a brave knight from Northumberland, much renowned for his feats in battle. He was tall and good looking and Agnes was not displeased with the idea of marrying him. However, before getting married, Agnes persuaded her father to take her abroad for a time; it was arranged that William should meet them at a later date and Sir Ralph and his daughter set off for the Continent, eventually arriving at Cadiz.�

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Agnes was the toast of Cadiz, her beauty captivated the Spaniards, who pestered her whenever she went out and also tried to call on her (though times have changed, it would appear that people don't!). There was one man more determined than the rest, his name was Don Giraidi Sforza. He was rich and came from one of the oldest families in Spain, so he was tolerated with more patience than the rest and was allowed to call upon Agnes. Agnes was rather flattered by his smooth talk and tender affections towards her.

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One evening when a full bright moon hung in a velvety sky and the warm air carried the scents of exotic flowers, and the chirping of crickets, Don Giraidi sat below Agnes's window and serenaded her, his songs were soft and melodious, the words romantic. He was a master of the art and Agnes, dazzled by the romantic setting, came down to him. The legend then says that he "wooed her with a fierce persistence which brook no denial." She consented to a secret marriage and they were married the next day. Agnes's stay in Cadiz was drawing to an end, but even in the short time she had been married, she had come to hate Don Giraidi and realised her mistake. He was no longer kind and loving towards her, but had turned jealously possessive and cruel and was quickly aroused to a terrible temper.�

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One evening a violent storm was raging. Agnes stood by the window watching the lightning flash, suddenly a flash illuminated the body of her husband lying motionless outside the window; she screamed and fainted. It is not known if her father knew, of her marriage to Don Giraldi, but immediately on recovering, her father made arrangements for their return to England. For some strange reason she became an inmate of Ulverscroft Priory, where she studied to take the veil. However, William de Mavesyn had discovered where she was and they had been meeting secretly around the grounds of the Priory. They made plans to run away together, William told her he would come for her when he had made arrangements for their elopement.

One evening Father Paul Pierceton was urging his mule along the road to try to get back to the Priory before the impending storm broke, but when a clap of thunder frightened the animal it reared up and flung the Father to the ground, where he lay unconscious. On recovering, the Father discovered that someone had relieved him of his monk's clothing and the rain was now pouring down. He set off for the priory on foot, cold, wet and very angry.

Meanwhile Agnes was resting in her chamber, though she was supposed to be in meditation her thoughts were no doubt upon her lover. Just then the door opened and in walked one of the friars, he threw back his hood and there stood William. Agnes gasped and ran to him. When William had told her how he had come about the clothing they started to discuss their plans for escaping. William said "Oh that I could know what my fate will be." Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a' deep voice answered him saying, "Your fate will soon be revealed to you."� William jumped up looking all around him for the owner of the voice but no one else was in the room. Agnes then said that she had often heard the voice, it had spoken to her at the oddest times, always when she thought she was alone. William embraced her and told her all would be well and not to worry. At that moment, Father Pierceton, who had found himself some new clothes, burst into the chamber with a number of attendants. They seized William, who put up a good struggle, but was overpowered. He was taken to a small upper room which contained only a pallet and a rough bench.

Weary and bruised he lay down on the pallet and fell into a fitful sleep; shortly after sunrise he was awoken by a dark sinister foreign looking man who stood at the foot of William's bed.� Getting to his feet, William demanded to know who the man was. "I am Don Giraidi Sforza, husband of Agnes Litherland," as the figure spoke William recognised the voice of the previous evening. Don Giraldi pointed to the rough bench where lay the corpse of Agnes. Fury gripped William and he drew his sword, a terrible fight commenced with each wanting to kill the other, but neither wanting to live themselves. The fight was long and desperate, each being gripped by a madness and each receiving mortal injuries. As they lay exhausted and dying, the bells rang out summoning the Monks to Matins.� Today, about the time of Matins, the sound of swords clashing and the noise of a terrible fight can be heard ringing round the ruins. This may be a legend but at the dissolution of Gracedieu Abbey, in 1536, an Agnes Litherland was the last prioress and she was paid 60s. on surrender of the convent in 1539, when the house contained 14,nuns, the prioress and a sub prioress. So Agnes must have taken the veil, probably after her lover and husband had been killed, her corpse being a figment of William's over-wrought imagination.

This story is taken from the publication "Further Legends of Leicestershire and Rutland" by Susan E Green, published by Leicester Research Services, Imperial Building, 4 Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1JB