Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 12.djvu/348

Courtenay could not avert the war, as the French were not yet willing to accept the English terms (see for the embassy, Chroniques, 1399–1422, p. 164). Courtenay was absent between 10 July and 3 Oct. (Fœdera, ix. 190). Later in the year the same ambassadors went on a second mission, and on 24 Jan. 1415 signed at Paris a prolongation of the truce (ib. ix. 199). On his way to France he got the hangman at Calais into great trouble by persuading him to cut the cord which suspended a dead felon sentenced to be hanged as long as the cord endured (ib. ix. 195). On his return his denunciation of some special French treachery excited Henry's anger and hastened the outbreak of the war (, ii. 301. His accounts and expenses as ambassador are in Add. MS. 24513, f. 68). During the next arduous months Courtenay was much occupied in raising money for the French expedition on the security of the royal jewels (see many instances in Fœdera, ix. and Kal. and Inv. of Exchequer, ii.) On 24 July Henry made his will at Southampton, and made Courtenay one of his executors (Fœdera, ix. 293). On 11 Aug. he left England with Henry for Harfleur, and continued in attendance on the king during the siege of that town until on 10 Sept. he was attacked by the dysentery that was already ravaging the English army. On Sunday, 15 Sept., he died in the king's presence. Henry, who was much affected at his loss, ordered the body to be conveyed to Westminster, where it found an honourable tomb in the Confessor's chapel, behind the high altar of the abbey.

The chaplain of Henry V, who commemorates his exploits, speaks of Courtenay as one of the dearest friends and most trusted counsellors of the king. He commends his noble birth, his lofty stature, his ability, his culture, and his eloquence (Gesta Hen. V, p. 27). The monk of Norwich repeats the same praises (Anglia Sacra, i. 416). Walsingham and Capgrave agree that he was fully worthy of the honours he obtained. His heir was his nephew, Sir Philip (d. 1463), the father of Peter Courtenay, bishop of Winchester [q. v.] (, vi. 254).

 COURTENAY, THOMAS PEREGRINE (1782–1841), statesman and author, youngest son of the Right Rev. Henry Reginald Courtenay [q. v.], bishop of Exeter, by Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Thomas, second earl of Effingham, was born 31 May 1782. He was returned to parliament in 1811 as M.P. for Totnes, being re-elected to every succeeding parliament until the dissolution of 1831. He was deputy-paymaster of the forces 1807–11. He was secretary to the commissioners for the affairs of India from 1812 till 1828, when he was promoted to be vice-president of the board of trade, being sworn a privy councillor on May 30 following. He retired from office in 1830 on a pension of 1,000l. a year. Besides efficiently discharging his official duties, he devoted a large portion of his time to the interests of literature, and was a member both of the Camden and Granger Societies. In addition to various political pamphlets, including ‘Observations on the American Treaty, being a continuation of the Letters of Decius,’ 1808, ‘View of the State of the Nation,’ 1811, ‘Treatise upon the Poor Laws,’ 1818, and a ‘Letter to Lord Grenville on the Sinking Fund,’ 1828, he was the author of ‘Memoir of the Life, Works, and Correspondence of Sir William Temple, Bart.,’ 1836, 2 vols., and ‘Commentaries on the Historic Plays of Shakespeare,’ 1840, originally contributed to the ‘New Monthly Magazine.’ After his brother's accession to the earldom of Devon, Courtenay was in November 1835 raised to the rank of an earl's younger son. He was accidentally drowned 8 July 1841. By his marriage, 5 April 1805, to Anne, daughter of Mayow Wynell Mayow of Sydenham, Kent, he left eight sons and five daughters.

 COURTENAY, WILLIAM (1342?–1396), archbishop of Canterbury, fourth son of Hugh Courtenay, earl of Devon, and Margaret Bohun, daughter of Humphrey Bohun, earl of Hereford, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Edward I, was born in the parish of St. Martin's, a suburb of Exeter, in or about 1342. After receiving his early education in his father's house, he was sent to Stapledon Hall, Oxford, where he graduated in law, being described both as Doctor Decretorum and D.C.L. (Fasciculi Zizaniorum, pp. 288, 498). In 1367 he was chosen chancellor, and the university having successfully resisted the claim of the Bishop of Lincoln to control its right of election, he was admitted without