History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

IO INTRODUCTION.
Drogo and the earl of Moriton were of the same age and both
entered heartily into the plans of William in his proposed expedition
against England.
This expedition was in active preparation in the summer of 1066
and was composed of sixty thousand men and over three hundred
ships. Drogo de Monte-acuto accompanied the expedition in the
immediate retinue of Robert, Earl of Mortain.
They landed at Pevensey upon the coast of Sussex, late in Septem-
ber, 1066, and immediately burned and scuttled their ships, that their
only hope might lie in their courage and resolution, their only safety
in victory. *
This marked the advent of the first Montague upon the shores of
England, and as he marches on toward the plain near Hastings
(where, upon the 14th of October, the battle of Hastings was fought
and won), we note that he bears the kite shaped shield of the Norman
invador, its color is cerulean blue, and upon it is the full length figure
of a Griffin, segreant (rampant with wings spread), and painted a
bright golden hue. This was the original Coat of Arms of the
Montagues in England.^
William having conquered England and ascended the throne his
followers were rewarded with large grants of land.
Both his favorite brother the Earl of Moriton and his trusty
follower Drogo de Monte-acuto received large possessions.
Drogo obtained the grant of several Manors, particularly in the
county of Somerset. The original castle or seat of Drogo was at
Montacute, an eminence and parish in Tintinhull Hundred, Somer-
setshire, four miles south from Ilchester. Its ancient name appears
to have been Logoresburg and was also called Bishopston. Here the
Earl of Mortain built a castle and named it after his friend Drogo de
Monte-acuto. (Cappers Topog. Diet.).
Camden says of this place that "the Castle has been quite
destroyed these many years and the stones carried off to build the
Religious houses and other things, afterward on the very top of the
hill was a Chapel made and consecrated to St. Michael, the arch and
roof curiously built of hard stone and the ascent to it is around the
mountain up stone stairs for near half a mile."
* A gryphon (or griffin) was an imaginary animal devised by the ancients and consisted of
the body and tail of a lion with the head and claws (or talons) of an eagle, thus denoting
great strength united with great swiftness.