Source: Bedford Castle History related to period owner, William De Beauchamp, who died 1260
Description
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Titre |
Bedford Castle History related to period owner, William De Beauchamp, who died 1260 |
Texte
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'The borough of Bedford: Castle and barony', in A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 3, ed. William Page (London, 1912), pp. 9-15. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/beds/vol3/pp9-15 [accessed 29 June 2020]. |
Notes
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William de Beauchamp was summoned to perform military service in Wales as knight of Ramsey Abbey in 1245, but sent in his place Godfrey de Drivval. (fn. 47) He and his second wife Ida appear in the Annals of Dunstable as great oppressors of the religious houses. In 1247 Newnham Priory suffered much damage from the extortions of his steward. (fn. 48) Seven years later, on the death of Prior Walter, Stephen the Canon was installed as his successor, with the consent of the bishop. William, to whom the advowson of the priory belonged, marked his protest at the non-recognition of his right by driving him out of St. Paul's Church with threats, then took him by the hand, and, leading him to the choir, installed him as prior. (fn. 49) The same year the Abbot of Warden brought seventeen suits against him, and, on his refusal to appear, his barony was temporarily seized by the Crown. (fn. 50) At this date [1254] he conveyed his castle and barony to his son William by fine, (fn. 51) which conveyance was recognized by the king on payment of 500 marks. (fn. 52)
He died in 1260, (Ann. Mon. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 215.) when the barony would appear to have passed to his eldest son Simon, who must have died very shortly after, leaving a daughter Joan. (fn. 54) She does not appear to have survived her father long, and the barony next passed to his brother William de Beauchamp [son of William, Sr. by Ida]. He died in 1262, (fn. 55) and his brother John de Beauchamp, the last feudal Baron of Bedford, died in 1265 fighting against the king at Evesham. (fn. 56) The barony was now subdivided between the three sisters and co-heirs of the two last barons—Maud wife of Roger de Moubray, Beatrice wife of Thomas Fitz Otho and Ela wife of Baldwin Wake. |