The period in history which later became known as "The Wars of the Roses, (1445-85) was really a series of battles for the throne of England, between powerful Barons and their allies. 

An ally of Edward Duke of York was one, Henry, of the very influential Bourchier family.  He was the son of an earl, he was the great grandson of Robert (Chancellor to Edward 111), he was the brother to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and uncle by marriage to Edward Duke of York. 

When Edward became Edward IV in 1461, Henry Bourchier was created First Earl of Essex for his splendid services to the House of York. He received from the King a castle in Northumberland and many other estates in different counties. One of these was Acton, and so the Parish of Acton passed into the hands of the Earls of Essex. 

When Henry died in 1483, his son having already died, the estate including Acton passed to his grandson Henry, Second Earl of Essex, a close friend of Henry, Duke of York, later Henry VIII. 

Henry, Earl of Essex, was a member of the Privy Council of Henry VII, and very much a soldier and courtier, joining with great zest into the revels and jousts associated with Prince Henry who was a bit of a devil and very popular with the people. 

Henry, Earl of Essex, was one of those appointed to meet the sixteen year Old Catherine of Aragon, who later, as Queen, was once entertained by her husband Henry VIII, Henry Earl of Essex and others, dressing up as Robin Hood and his Merry Men. 

The Earl of Essex became Captain of the King's Bodyguard and later Chief Captain of the King's Forces. 

In 1539 whilst riding a young horse, he was thrown and broke his neck. Having no son, his Earldom became extinct. 

Acton Place and the Civil War 

On the death of Henry, Second Earl of Essex, the Acton estate passed to the Bacon family and thence to the Daniels, and remained in that family for five or six generations until 1708. 

The Daniels were staunchly Roman Catholic during times when it was not really safe to be Roman Catholic. The family, as proclaimed recusants, suffered accordingly. 

[ Note: A recusant was one who refused to attend Church of England services. Such a person was subjected to considerable indignities, such as being unable to go more than five miles from his dwelling place.] 

During the Civil War these indignities became more extreme.  There exists in the Journal of the House of Commons, an Order (which was carried out) to search Acton Place for arms, as it was obvious that the Danielsl sympathy lay entirely with King Charles 1 and the Cavaliers. 

In 164213 Arthur Daniels, at the age of 24, left Acton and trained as a priest in Spain.  On his return he was apprehended as a spy and was, on the 1lth December, hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.