Esquire
Richard de CLARE Earl of Gloucester and Hertford
from "Magna Charta" Part 1-2, by John S. Wurtz
FHL British 942 D2wj pt. 1-2
RICHARD de CLARE. Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, born 4 August, 1222. A year after he became of age, he was in an expedition against the Welsh. Through his mother he inherited a fifth part of the Marshall estates, including Kilkenny and other lord-ships in Ireland. He joined in the Barons letter to the Pope in 1246 against the exactions of the Curia in England. He was among those in opposition to the King's half-brothers, who in 1247 visited England, where they were very unpopular. but afterwards he was reconciled to them. On 20 April, 1248, he had letters of protection for going over seas on a pilgrimage. At Christmas 1248, he kept his Court with great splendour on the Welsh border. In the next year he went on a pilgrimage to St. Edmund at Pontigny, returning in June. In 1252 he observed Easter at Tewkesbury, and then went
66
across the seas to restore the honour of his brother William. who had been badly worsted in a tournament and had lost all his arms and horses. The Earl is said to have succeeded in recovering all, and to have returned home with great credit, and in September he was present at the "Round Table" tournament at Walden. In August 1252/3 the King crossed over to Gascony with his army, and to his great indignation the Earl refused to accompany him and went to Ireland instead. In August 1255 he and John Maunsel were sent to Edinburgh by the King to find out the truth regarding reports which had reached the King that his son-in-law, Alexander, King of Scotland, was being coerced by Robert de Roos and John Baliol. If possible, they were to bring the young King and Queen to him. The Earl and his companion, pretending to be two of Roos's knights, obtained entry to Edinburgh Castle, and gradually introduced their attendants, so that they had a force sufficient for their defence. They gained access to the Scottish Queen, who made her complaints to them that she and her husband had been kept apart. They threatened Roos with dire punishments, so that he promised to go to the King. Meanwhile the Scottish magnates, indignant at their castle of Edinburgh s being in English hands, proposed to besiege it, but they desisted when they found they would be besieging their King and Queen. The King of Scotland apparently travelled South with the Earl, for on 24 September they were with King Henry Ill at Newminster, Northumberland. In July 1258 he fell ill, being poisoned with his brother William, as it was supposed, by his steward, Walter de Scotenay. He recovered, but his brother died.
Richard died at John de Griol s manor of Asbenfield in Waltham, near Canterbury, 15 July 1262, it being rumored that he had been poisoned at the table of Piers of Savoy. On the following Monday he was carried to Canterbury where a mass for the dead was sung. after which his body was taken to the canons church at Tonbridge and interred in the choir. Thence it was taken to Tewkesbury and buried 28 July I 262, with great solemnity in the presence of two bishops and eight abbots in the presbytery. at his father's right hand. His first wife was Margaret, daughter of Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent. She died in November, 1237, and he married, second, on or before 25 January 1237/8, Maud, daughter of the Surety John de Lacie, see Chapter 12. She, who had the manor of Clare and the manor and castle of Usk and other lands for her dower, erected a splendid tomb for her late husband at Tewkesbury and was living in 1287, but she died before 10 March 1288/9.
DEATH: (age 15 Weeks)
Gilbert "Earl of Gloucester" de CLARE
4th Earl of Glouchester. Earl of Hertford.
from "Magna Charta" Part 1-2 by John S. Wurtz
FHL British 942 D2wj Pt. 1-2
GILBERT de CLARE, himself a Surety, and son of Richard de Clare the preceding Surety. was born about the year 1180. In June 1202 he was entrusted with the lands of Harfleur and Mostrevilliers. He was one of the Barons still opposing the arbitrary
proceedings of the crown, who championed Louis le Dauphin, fighting at Lincoln under the baronial banner, and was taken prisoner by William Marshall, whose daughter he later married. He led an army against the Welsh in 1228 and captured Morgan Gain, who was released the next year. Being engaged in an expedition to Brittany. he died on his way back at Penros in that duchy, 25 October 1230. His body was conveyed by way of Plymouth and Cranbourn to Tewkesbury. He was buried there before the high altar, 10 November 1230. a monument being erected by his widow, Isabella, sister of William Marshall, the Surety, see Chapter 16, and daughter of William Marshall, the Protector. He had married Isabella Marshall on 9 October 1217 and she died 17 January 1239/40. Their children were 2 Agnes who became the wife of Roger de Mowbray, grandson of the Surety William de Mowbray, see Chapter 19.
The following is from "Medieval English Ancestors of Certain Americans" by Boyer
GILBERT DE CLARE, 7th Earl of Clam, 5th Earl of Hertford and 4th Earl of Gloucester, born about 1180, died in Penrns, Brittany, 25 Oct. 1230, while returning from an expedition, and was buried at Tewkesbury.
He married, 9 Oct. 1217, ISABELA MARSHAL, who died Berkhampstead 17 Jan. 1239/40 after having married second, 30 Mar. 1231, Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cornwall, second son of King John. She was daughter of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, and Isabel de Clam [10:iv, above].
He inherited the Clam estates from his father, those of Gloucester from his mother, the honor of St. Hilary from his grandmother, and a moiety of the Giffard estates through his ancestress Rohese. In June 1202 he was entrusted with Harfleur and Mostreviliiers, and in 1211 he held six and one-half knight's fees in Kent of his mother.
He was a Magna Charta surety in 1215; as a consequence he was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III in Dec. 1216. He fought on the side of Prince Louis of France at the battle of Lincoln, 19 May 1217, and was taken prisoner by William Marshall, whose daughter he later married. In Nov. 1217 he was recognized as Earl of Gloucester in right of his maternal descent. From July 1222 he attested royal grants frequently, and he joined the Earl Marshall, his brother-in-law, in an expedition to Wales in 1223. He was present in 1225 when King Henry III confirmed the Great Charter. In July 1227 he supported Richard, Earl of Cornwall, in his dispute with the King over the forest laws and misgovernment by Hubert de Burgh. In 1228 he led an army against the Welsh and captured Morgan Gain, who was released the next year.
Children, listed by Cokayne [3:244], Clark, Weis and Altschul [31-32]:
i. Richard, b. 4 August 1222; d. 15 july 1262, bur. Tewksbury; in. Maud de Lacy.
ii. Amicia, b. 1220; d. 1283; in. (1) Baldwin de Reviers, who d. 1245, in. (2) Robert de Guines, the uncle of Arnold III, comte de Guines [Altschul, 32-33].
iii. Isabel, b. 1226; m. 1240 Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale [Weis, AR7, 252:28], who d. Lochmaben Castle 31 March 1295, having in. (2) Christian d'Irby, widow of Sir Thomas de Lascelles and Sir Adam de Gesemuth [MCS5, 41:3]; Isabel was grandmother of Robert the Bruce, the Scottish hero of Bannockburn.
iv. William [Ceo. T. Clark, 112], b. 1228; d. 23 July 1258 of poison; unm. [Altschul, 31].
v. Gilbert, b. 1229; a churchman.
Sir WILLIAM MARSHAL, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, born probably in 1146, died in Caversham 14 May 1219, and was buried in the Temple Church, London. He married in London, in August 1189, ISABEL DE CL4RE, Countess of Strigoil or Pembroke, who died in 1220 and was buried in Tintern Abbey.
Given as a hostage to King Stephen by his father in 1152, he was spared by the king in spite of his father's bad faith. He was sent then, by his father, to William de Tancarville, hereditary Master Chamberlain of Normandy, with whom he remained for eight years as a squire. In 1167 he returned to England to his uncle, Patrick, Earl of Salisbury, who was ambushed and slain at Poitou in 1168, while William was wounded and captured. Eventually ransomed by Queen Eleanor, he returned to England and was chosen by King Henry II to be a member of the Young Henry's household. Knighted by de Tancarville at Drincourtin 1173, he supported the Young King Henry is his rebellion against his father Henry II. Young Henry chose William to knight him, and on his deathbed, 11 June 1183, charged him to carry his cross to the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine. When William returned to England about 1187 King Henry II made him a member of his household. William served Henry II in France in 1188 and 1189, and checked the King's rebel son's pursuit by killing Richard's horse with his spear during the retreat to Fresnay-sur-Sarthe. He was at Henry's deathbed in Chinon and escorted the body to Fontevrault.
However, in 1189 King Richard gave him Isabel de Clare in marriage and he was given a number of posts for his service. At Richard's Coronation on 3 Sept. 1189 he bore the gold sceptre with the cross; shortly afterwards he was appointed a justiciar subordinate to Longchamp. Before Sept. 1190 he had a fine for 2,000 marks for a moiety of the lands of Walter Giffard, and when the Archbishop of Rouen succeeded Longchamp in Oct. 1191, William became his chief assistant. In 1193, when John revolted against Richard, William besieged and took Windsor Castle. From 1194 to 1199 he was mostly in Normandy for Richard, and one of King Richard I's last acts was to appoint him custodian of Rouen. Nonetheless, when Richard died William supported John, obtaining the support of the magnates at a meeting in Northampton. He was present at the Coronation on 27 May 1199, the day King John made him Earl of Pembroke.
On 20 April 1200 he was confirmed as Marshal. He served actively in Gascony, England and Normandy, and in 1204 he invaded Wales and captured Kilgerran. In June 1205 he joined the Archbishop of Canterbury in forcing King John to abandon a projected expedition to Poitou. From 1207 to 1211 he spent most of his time in Ireland, but in April 1213 the desperate king recalled him and on 15 May 1213 he witnessed John's resignation to the Pope. He was in command in England during John's absence in Poitou in 1214; in 1215 he was a representative of the King at Runnymede, and in 1216 he was an executor of John's will. A man of superior ability and exemplary character, he was chosen unanimously as Regent for Henry III at Bristol on 11 Nov. 1216, and on 20 May 1217 he routed the rebel barons and the French at Lincoln. Some months later he besieged London, and on 11 Sept., following Hubert de Burgh's naval victory off Dover on 24 Aug., William concluded the Treaty of Lambeth with Prince Louis of France. In 1218, as Regent, he granted himself yearly fairs and weekly markets. From his death bed in May 1219 he committed the young king to the care of the Papal Legate. He was a benefactor to many religious institutions. He was described as tall and well built, with finely shaped limbs, a handsome face and brown hair, a model of chivalry in his younger days, and of unswerving loyalty in his maturity and old age [CP, 10:364a].
Children, mentioned by Weis and Cokayne, of five sons (all of whom died without issue, which the superstitious attributed to a curse by the Bishop of Ferns, who had had two manors appropriated by the Marshal) and five daughters, listed in the order given by Cokayne [CP, 10:364a]:
i. William, Earl of Pembroke, Magna Charta surety, b. Normandy c. 1190; d. 6 April 1231, bur. Temple Church, London; m. (1) 1214 Alice de Bethune, who d. c. 1216, bur. St. Paul's Cathedral, Loudon, m. (2) 23 April 1224 Eleanor (daughter of King John), who m. (2) Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester.
ii. Richard, Earl of Pembroke, d. Kilkenny Castle 16 April 1234; in. 1222 Gervaise de Dinan, widow of Juhel de Mayenne; she m. (3) Geoffrey, vicomte de Rohan, and she was living in 1236.
iii. Gilbert, Earl of Pembroke, mortally injured at a tournament near Hertford in June 1241, d. Hertford Priory 27 June 1241, his entrails bur, there while his body was bur. in the new Temple Church, Londouu; while alleged to have m. (1) Maud de Lanvalei, this was a clerical error, he m. Berwick, 1 Aug. 1235, Margaret of Scotland (who d. 17 Nov. 1244, bur. Church of the Preaching Friars), dau. of William the Lion, King of Scotland (for whom see Huntingdon); no legitimate issue.
iv. Walter, Earl of Pembroke, b. after 1198; d. Goodrich Castle 24 Nov. 1245; m. 6 Jan. 1241/2 Margaret de Quincy (who survived him and was bur. Tintern Abbey), widow of Jolun de Lacy; she m. (3) Richard de Wiltshire; Walter had no issue.
v. Anselin, Earl of Pembroke, d. (before investiture) Chepstow 22-24 Dec. 1245, bur. Tintern Abbey; m. Mnud de Bohun (dau. of Humphrey de Bohun), who m. (2) Roger de Quincy as his second wife; no issue.
vi. Maud, d. 27 March 1248; m. (1) Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, who d. Feb. 1224/5, m. (2) before 13 Oct. 1325 William Plantagenet de Warenne, who d. 1240.
vii. Isabel,d. Berkhampstead l7Jan. 1239/40; m. (1) 9 Oct. 1217 Sir Gilbert de Clare, Magna Charta surety, m. (2) 30 March 1231 Richard, Earl of Cornwall.
viii. Sybil, m. (1) Sir Gilbert Basset, m. (2) before 14 May 1219, William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby, who m. (2) c. 1238 Margaret.
ix. Eve (or Eva), d. before 1246; m. William de Braiose, Lord of Abergavenny, who was hanged 2 May 1430.
x. Joan, d. before Nov. 1234; m. after 14 May 1219 Warin de Munchensi, Lord of Swanscomb [Cokayne's CP, 9:421, cited in Weis, MCS5, 148:2].
DEATH: Buried in the Temple Church, London.
Isabel CLARE Countess of Strigoil or Pembroke
otherwise Countess of Pembroke. The Complete Peerage vol.X,pp.358-364.
DEATH: Buried in Tintern Abbey.
JOHN FITZ GILBERT (also JOHN THE MARSHAL) died before Michaelmas in 1165.
He married first, Alma, who may have been the daughter and heir of Walter Pipard, and repudiated her about 1141. He married second, SIBYL DE SALISBURY [for whom see D'EVEREUX]. The office of Marshal assumed responsibility for keeping accounts of payments made out of the Treasury and Chamber.
He was with Henry I in Normandy in 1130, and with Stephen in Normandy in 1137. In 1138 he fortified the castles of Marlborough and Ludgershall. He held Marlborough for the king in 1140, and captured Robert Fitz Hubert, who had taken the royal castle of Devizes.
After King Stephen was taken prisoner at Lincoln, John joined the Empress at Reading in May 1141, at Oxford in July, and at Winchester in August and September of that year. In the final rout of the Empress' forces in September "he was cut off and surrounded in Wherwell Abbey, but escaped with the loss of an eye and other wounds" (Cokayne, 10:93-94]. In 1144 he was using his base at Marlborough to raid the surrounding countryside and oppress the clergy. In 1149 and 1153 he was with Maud's son Henry at Devizes. After Henry's accession he was granted Crown lands in Wiltshire, but he had to surrender Marlborough Castle in 1158. Soon after he was present at the Council of Clarendon in 1164 he sued Thomas Becket for part of his manor of Pagham, in Sussex. He was a benefactor of the priory of Bradenstoke, the abbey of Troarn, and the Templars.
Children, mentioned by Cokayne, by first wife:
i. GiIbert, by first wife, d.s.p. at Salisbury before Michaelmas 1166.
ii. son, d. young.
Children, mentioned by Weis, Cokayne and Grazebrook, by second wife:
iii. John, b.c. 1144; d.s.p. March 1194; m. Joan de Port, who m. (2) Richard de Rivers [CP, 11:12].
iv. William, 4th son, b. c. 1146; d. Caversham 14 May 1219; m. London August 1189 Isabel de Clare.
v. Margaret, m. (1) Ralph de Somery, m. (2) Maurice de Gaut.