In 4 Hen. III. it appears[250] that he stood indebted to the king in five hundred ninety-seven pounds and one mark, which was due by him to King John for the honour of Braeles (alias Broeneis), and that the same year disobeying[251] the king’s commands, as also stubbornly departing[251] the court without leave, the king discharged all his subjects,[251] and in particular those of Cornwall, from having anything to do with him. Howbeit, soon after, through the mediation[251] of the Bishops of Norwich, Winchester, and Exeter, as also[251] of Hubert de Burgh (then Justice of
England) and some others, giving[252] up the Castle of Lanceston, and the county of Cornwall, with all the homage and services thereto belonging, as fully as King John enjoyed them at the beginning of the war which he had with his barons, his peace[252] was then made with a salvo jure, &c. saving the right he pretended to for that county, wherein the king was to do him justice when he should come of age.
But that as it seems was never done: for certain it is that the king did not arrive to his full age till long after the death of this Henry, it being evident[253] that he died about two years after, viz. in 6 Hen. III. whereupon command was given to the Sheriff of Cornwall, that he should permit his executors to enjoy all his goods, and likewise the rents of all his lands whereof he was possessed when he went to Hierusalem for the full term, for all those who were signed with the cross.
It is by some thought that this Henry succeeded his father in the Earldom of Cornwall, in regard that King Henry the Third in the first year of his reign granted to him the county of Cornwall, with all its appurtenances, as is above expressed. But considering that the title of earl was never attributed to him after that time, I cannot conceive anything more passed by that grant, than the barony or revenue of that county. For it is observable, that in patent[254] to Richard Duke of Gloucester, by King Edward the Fourth, whereby he grants him Castrum, Comitatum, Honorem, et Dominium Richmundiæ, there passed no more than the mere Seignorie, otherwise he would not have omitted the title of Earl thereof amongst his styles. The like may be noted of Raphe Earl of Westmerland, who had Castrum, Comitatum, Dominium, et Honorem Richmundiæ granted[255] to him by King Henry the Fourth, yet never enjoyed the title of Earl of Richmond.
RICHARD EARL OF CORNWALL.
Of this county, Richard, a younger son to King John (for he calls him[256] filius noster) had the title of Earl in the
time of King Henry the Third. Of him the first mention I find is in 16 Joh. the king then directing his precept[257] to Peter de Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, (at that time Justice of England) for livery (though then very young) of all the lands of Roese de Dovor, whom he had married,[257] she being in the custody[257] of William de Brewer; but not long after this (notwithstanding his tender years) he was, in 1 H. III. constituted governor[258] of Chileham Castle in Kent, and the next ensuing year obtained a grant[259] from the king of the honour of Walingford.
Moreover, in 5 Hen. III. he had a grant[260] of the honour of Eye, to hold during pleasure, (which shortly after was rendered to the Duke of Lovain, the right owner thereof); and in 9 Hen. III. had the like grant[261] of the custody of the county of Cornwall (id est the sherevalty) during the king’s pleasure, Henry de Berkering being his substitute.
In this 9th year of Henry III. he was girt[262] with the sword of knighthood, upon Candlemas Day, with ten other noble persons who were designed for his service; and soon after accompanied[263] William Longespe, Earl of Salisbury, (his uncle,) into Gascoigne, having letters of[263] recommendation from the King to the Archbishop and Citizens of Burdeaux, who gladly welcoming him thither, assisted[263] him with their best advice for recovery of those lost territories; whereupon he raised[264] forces in all those parts, having had from the king (before he set out of England) a grant of the county of Cornwall, with all Poictou, for which respect he was generally called[264] Earl of Poictou; and marching into the country, in a short time subjugated[264] all those places by force which declined to do homage to him, receiving a supply[265] of Welsh from hence, with a large[265] sum of money.
It is reported,[266] that whilst he lay at the siege of the castle of Riole, hearing of the approach of the Earl of March, he divided his army, and with part thereof, keeping the seige with the rest, gave him battle, and obtained an absolute victory, whereby he gained all their baggage, and took many prisoners; and not long after this, having merited so well by these his successful beginnings, upon the third day of Pentecost (id est, 3 calend. Junii,