Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/431

 ORIGINAL DOCL'MENTS. 055 RICHARD BEAUCHAMl' was the licad of that I-iandi of the great family of the name that descended from Walter of Klinley Castle temp. Hen. I., and, u|Kin the extinction of the lines of Bedford and Eaton, became chief of the whole race, of which he was the most powerful and the most distinguished member. Richard was g.-g.-g. -grandson of Wm. Beauchamp, who married Isabel sister and heir of Wm. Mauduit, l"'arl of AVarwick. His father, Earl Thomas, died 2 Hen. IV., 1 101. Richard was born at Salwarp, in Worce.s- tershire, L'JS Jan., 3 Rio. II., and 4 Hen. IV. had livery of his inheritance. He at once took part with tlie King against Owen Clendwyr, and was present at the battle of Shrewsbury. He afterwards visited J*alestine, travelling thither through France and Italy in great state, and retuin- ing through Mu.scovy and North Cermany. He then became Captain of Calais, and attended the Council of Constance at the head of the English deputation, escorted by SOO horse. He afterwards took a dis- tinguished part in the wai-s of Henry V. in France, and aided at the siege of Rouen. Under King Henry's will he became guardian of the infant Henry VI., whom he served faithfully for sixteen years, dying at Rouen 30th April, 17 Hen. VI., 143!t. He was ])articrdarly celebrated for Ids ])ersonal strength and courage, and for the magnificence of his mode of life. He was a principal in most of the great jousting matches of liis day, and seems to have been unsurpassed as a skilful and courteous Knight. The Earl married first Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Thomas Lord Berkeley, by whom he left daughters only. His second wife was Isabel, daughter and heiress of Thomas Lord le Dcspenser, Earl of Gloucester, Lord of Glamorgan and Morgan, and widow of Richai'd Beauchamp, l-laii of Worcester and of Lord Abergavenny, his uncle's son. She died within a few months after her husband, her will l)cing proved 4th February following. Their son was Henry Duke of Warwick. The date of Isabel's marriage is not recorded, but it must have been after 1421, the date of her first husband's charter to CarditT, and pro- bably after 14l'."3, the date of her own charter. The Earl's usual style was " Comes de Warrewyk ct de Aumarlc, Signor dc Lisle ct Ca[iitainc de Rouen," but in the Harlcian Charter, 53 H. 17, the legend on his seal is "Comes Warwici et Albermarlc, Dominus Despen.ser." In Glamorgan he retained his main title oul}--, and added to it those ac(|uired by liis marriage. He was created Earl of Aumarlc or Albennaile in 1417, for life only. 'i'he arrangement of the (piarterings upon Earl Richard's seal is some- what peculiar. His paternal arms are (piartered with those of his wife, but the contents of each (juarter are impaled, i)robaV)ly to give greater space, and therefore more boldness to the bearings. Beauchamp, the 1'1'uTs own Gout, impales Ncwburgh, the acccjited coat of the Earldm of Warwick, and to de Clare, as the greatest of the families which have held the Lord- ship of Glamorgan, is given the precedence before le Dcspenser, the pa- ternal coat of the Countess. The seal of the Harleian charter, cited above, bears <piartcrly Beauchamp and Newburgh, and on a shield of j^retence, quarterly, ( 'lare and Despenser. Crest, a swan's head and neck. Sup- portei^s, a bear and a griflfin. The present Charter confirms and recites four others : I. That by Richard