“———I wish no other herald,

No other speaker of my living actions,

To keep mine honour from corruption,

But such an honest chronicler.”

According to the custom of those times, when the English, in imitation of the Normans, began to assume their surnames from the place of their residence, this of Berkeley was then given to one Roger de Berkley, in the time of William the Conqueror, whose descendants did enjoy the same for some time; but the male line of that noble family ceasing, we are to observe that Robert Fitz Harding (a powerful man in his time) obtaining a grant of the castle and honour of the Berkeley from Henry, son of Maud the Empress, possessed himself thereof; whereupon his descendants assumed the surname, which, together with the castle and barony, continues to them in the male line to this day; of which Robert, I am to take notice, that his father is said to have been the youngest son to one of the kings of Denmark; or, as others affirm (which differs but little), to be descended from the royal line of those kings, and that accompanying Duke William of Normandy, in that signal expedition he made into England, was present with him in the memorable battle where king Harold was slain.