John de Erleigh (II) – 3rd GEN
John de Erlegh(II) or d’Erley, the son and heir of William(I), became a close advisor and companion to William the Marshal, regent of England in the early 13th century.
In 1195 he paid scutage to King Richard I for his lands in Somerset and Berkshire; he held one knight’s fee in Berkshire [1,v.3,p.213].
In 1197, he received from Maud, daughter of Robert de Earley (see Appendix 1C) a quitclaim for two hides of land in Earley, Reading, and Sonning, Berkshire [1,v.3,p.213].
In 1199 he held the manor and hundred of North Petherton at an annual rent to King John of 100 shillings [11,v.2,p.198].
John (II) also gave land to the Abbey of Athelney, Somerset, in return for a yearly rent of a pair of gilt spurs worth sixpence; for this grant he received 2 marks of silver, his wife Sibyll a bezant, and his son John a pair of spurs [32,v.14,p.190].
This agreement was witnessed by Geoffrey de Erlegh and William de Erlegh.
His wife, Sibyll [32,v.14,p.190], had at least two sons,
- William(II) and
- John.
From reference [2] we know the following about the career of John(II):
In the year 1188, William Marshal, a knight in the service of Henry II of England engaged a new attendant, John d’Erley, who as squire and knight was to serve him all his life [2,p.63].
John d’Erley, squire, is mentioned as having a part in a skirmish in 1190 between the English Normans and Phillip of France near Le Mans, France [2,p.69].
By 1199 John had become a knight in William’s service.
In fact, he was deemed so trustworthy that he was charged with the delicate mission of carrying the news of the death of Richard I (as well as Richard’s choice of his brother John as his successor) from France to England and, in particular, to the justiciar Geoffrey Fitz Peter [2,p.120].
King John made John d’Erley joint sheriff of Devonshire in 1202 in order to suppress a reported rising in S.W.England [15,p.276].
William Marshal had been created Lord of Leinster, Ireland in 1189 but he never visited this domain until 1207.
In that year King John issued letters patent for the protection of William’s lands in England, as well as those of Henry Hose and John d’Erley who were to accompany William to Ireland [2,p.146].
William held lands in the vicinity of Kilkenny (his demesne manor and castle), Carlow, Kells, and Wexford. He also founded New Ross.
John d’Erley and Jordan de Sackville (an Irish baron) were entrusted with the custody of two halves of Leinster when William Marshall was recalled to England by King John in some measure of disgrace [2,p.155].
Indeed John d’Erley and Jordan de Sackville rose in arms against the king’s justiciar, Meiler Fitz Henry, and defeated him. However, William made a temporary peace with the king and returned to Kilkenny in April 1208, at which time he probably rewarded John d’Erley with a generous fief [2,p.161].
However, the trouble between William and King John flared up again in the winter of 1208-09 when William de Briouse, fleeing from John, was harbored for a time by William Marshall at his castle in Kilkenny. King John came to Ireland in force to put down other rebel barons who played a larger role in the de Briouse affair. He also punished William Marshal and as a part of that treatment John d’Erley (among others) was taken as a hostage and placed in Nottingham castle [2,p.167].
Nevertheless, as a part of William’s sub-infeudation of Leinster John d’Erley and others received fiefs in the previously undeveloped county of Kilkenny [2,p.167].
Somewhat later in 1212 King John again restored William Marshal to favor and gave William’s two sons who had been hostages in the royal court into the custody of John d’Erley, who was still at court [2,p.173].
John d’Erley did not feel he could handle both sons so one was transferred to Thomas de Sandford [2,p.173].
When King John died in 1216, leaving his infant son as heir, William Marshal became regent of England and John d’Erley his closest advisor, though he initially advised William against acceptance of the regency [2,p.202].
John served in a number of capacities, including bailiff at Striguil in Wales in 1219.
In 1219 as William Marshall approached death John d’Erley hastened from Striguil to his bedside at Caversham on the Thames, there to attend him closely until his death [2,p.279].
However, a threat to William’s lands in south Wales prompted him to direct John as follows: “John, do not tarry. Go to your bailiwick. I am disturbed about my men in Netherwent and especially about your son who if he should be foolishly advised might make some expedition in which our men would suffer” [2,p.283].
After his mission, John returned to Caversham and stayed with William Marshal until the latter’s death [2,p.283-289].
John de Erlegh’s(II) recollections are said to have provided the material for Mayer’s poetic story “Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal”.
John(II) was in the service of the younger William the Marshal (son of the elder Marshal) in 1222 and accompanied him to Ireland in 1224; letters patent were issued for the protection of his English lands until Christmas 1224.
During this time, he witnessed at least one of the charters of the younger Marshal [29,v.1,p.23,n.46].
He was still living in 1229 but died shortly afterward [7,p.157].
This biography is reproduced by kind permission of the author, Steve Earl, and originally appeared in manuscript form as “New Information on William and John d’Earley”. It is based on the work of Dr. David Crouch in his “William Marshal: Court, Career and Chivalry in the Angevin Empire 1147 to 1219” More information on the family is available via Steve’s website.
Steve Earl 2002.
https://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jdearley.html
William (I) John’s father, on his deathbed, donated land and monies for the foundation of a priory at Buckland in Devon. The Earley lands remained in Royal keeping, and John (II) became a ward of his great uncle Thomas, archdeacon of Wells. Thomas died in approx. 1185 or 1186, and King Henry II gave the wardship of the 14-year-old John to William Marshal.
We know that John remained as William Marshal’s ward until he came of age in 1194. During this period, he became the Marshal’s squire and was married to Sybil, another of the Marshal’s wards. It is almost certain that Sybil was the illegitimate daughter of William Marshal’s brother, John, and his mistress, Alice de Colleville. Sybil was a Marshal family name – William’s mother and, later after he married, his daughter were called Sybil.
John was almost certainly with William when King Henry II sent the Marshal to Poitou with messages to his son, Count Richard, who was in rebellion against his father. Unfortunately, Richard openly defied his father and a border war took place through the winter and spring. Henry fell ill and languished in Anjou until the May of 1189 when he met with Richard. This came to no avail and Richard attacked and pursued his father to Maine. He caught up with him at Le Mans. William Marshal ambushed Richard and killed his horse, so giving Henry II the chance to escape. He reached Chinon but fell ill again and died.
William accompanied the body to the Abbey of Fontevrault and there waited for the arrival of Count Richard. Richard arrived at the abbey and John d’Earley described him thus:
“If you ask whether he looked joyful or wrathful when he came, there is no one who can tell if he were joyful, sad, remorseful, grieving or cheerful”.
Count Richard, now King Richard I, summoned William Marshal to him and pardoned him. He gave him the hand of Isabel de Clare (the heiress of Earl Richard de Clare, Lord of Striguil – ie. Chepstow) in marriage and, after the funeral, despatched him to England
John d’Erley (II) was knighted in 1194, probably by William Marshal, and came into his inheritance at this time. Although John now had considerable wealth and land, he seems to have stayed in the Marshal’s household. This was due in part to their mutual liking and also to the family connection through Sybil, his wife. Also at this time John would have become part of Williams mesnie (household knights).
William Marshal and John d’Earley (II) were with Richard in France between 1195 and 1198, both returning to England briefly. John was with Richard at Gisars in 1198 (see the illustration below in which John d’Earley is the second knight from the right).
In March 1199, King Richard marched to the castle of Challus in the Limousin region of France. William Marshal and John d’Earley took their leave of the King to attend to Royal business in Normandy. On 26th March, the King was wounded by a crossbow bolt. The wound turned septic and he died on 6th April. A day later, a courier carried the news to William Marshal at the castle of Vaudreuil. John d’Earley was then sent immediately to England to carry the news to the Justicar, Geoffrey fitz Peter.
King Richard’s brother, John, then succeeded to the throne. During 1202, King John made John d’Earley sheriff of Devonshire. In 1204, William Marshal, John d’Earley and a great company of knights and men at arms seized the castle of Cillgeran from the Welsh, surprising them with a dawn attack. In June 1205, King John summoned William Marshal and other magnates to a meeting and ordered that they mount an expedition to France in order to regain the Crown’s lost lands in Poitou. William refused and found himself and his household out of Royal favour.
In 1207, William Marshal, who was now Lord of Pembroke, Striguil and Leinster (since 1189, and, since 1199, he was also Earl of Pembroke ), received a Royal license to travel to his holdings in Leinster. At this time, his tenants in Ireland were rebelling, hence the need of an expedition there to secure his holdings. John d’Earley and Henry Hose, the Marshal’s most intimate followers, were also granted licenses by King John to accompany their Lord to Ireland. Their lands were granted Royal protection for the period of their stay in Ireland. At the last moment, however, the King had a change of heart and demanded William’s second son as a hostage against his good behaviour. He already had the eldest son as hostage at this time. William gave up Richard, his second son, and left for Ireland.
In early March 1207, William Marshal, his wife Isabel and his household knights arrived in Ireland. By 29th September, the Marshal was once again in England, summoned by the King to a meeting at Woodstock. Isabel was left in Ireland to defend her husband’s interests there. Jordan de Sauqueville and John d’Earley were left with her. Jordan was made Bailiff of Northern Leinster, up to Dublin. John d’Earley was Bailiff of Ossory and the southern half of Leinster, having an under bailiff in Stephen d’Evreux.
King John sent letters, in January 1208 using Thomas Bloet as a messenger to Ireland, recalling John d’Earley, Stephen d’ Evreux and Jordan de Sauqueville to England. Knowing that they would forfeit their English lands and holdings if they refused, they conferred amongst themselves. John d’Earley felt it would be dishonourable to yield up the trust that the Marshal had placed in their hands, saying “Let us not complain of the game if we lose land and honour; better that than to lose land, honour and the love of our lord”. Stephen d’Evreux thought “that the King could do as he pleased with their lands rather than they be shamed before God”. All three returned to Thomas Bloet and refused to yield their positions and return to England. These brave sentiments were the sort to be respected in those times.
Meanwhile, in February, the King taunted William Marshal by telling him that Kilkenny had been besieged and that Jordan and Stephen had been killed and that John d’Earley had been mortally wounded, dying soon after. The King then had all the lands of John d’Earley, Stephen d’Evreux and Jordan de Sauqueville confiscated. A letter was then sent to the Marshal, on 20th February, informing him of this action, particularly in regard to John d’Earley whom everyone was aware was as close to William Marshal as his own sons.
In actual fact Meilyr fitz Henry, the King’s man in Ireland who had attacked the Marshal’s men, had been beaten and his lands and castle had been seized and he himself taken and imprisoned. King John finally accepted the inevitable and made up with William, who returned to Ireland. John d’Earley was rewarded, by William, with the grant of land in Kilkenny, which became Earlytown. At this time, John d’Earley became William’s Carissimus: his most intimate of intimates, his most loyal and trusted friend.
The situation between the Marshal and King John flared up again in 1209. William de Braose, formerly a favourite of the King, fell out of favour and fled to Ireland. He was given sanctuary for a time at Kilkenny by the Marshal. King John arrived in force in Ireland in order to put down a minor revolt and, at the same time – in order to show his displeasure at the Marshal’s behaviour – took John d’Earley as a hostage. He was imprisoned at Nottingham Castle for a short while before returning to court.
In 1211, John d’Earley was made Sheriff of Devon, a position he held until 1215. In 1212 the King, fearing a plot to assassinate him again, felt the need of the Marshal’s good will. He released William Marshal’s eldest son, William, into the hands of John d’Earley. The younger son, Richard, was released to Thomas de Sandford. Also, at this time, John d’Earley was named Marshal of the Royal Household. The King’s favour continued and, during the October of 1213, gave William Marshal the town and castle of Haverford. John d’Earley was a witness to that charter. In the year 1216, however, King John fell ill at King’s Lynn after eating a meal of cider and peaches and later, at the Bishop’s Palace at Newark in Nottinghamshire, he died. At the last, he asked that the Marshal look after his son, Henry, a boy of nine.
William Marshal and John d’Earley attended the Kings funeral at Worcester Cathedral and, afterwards, joined other magnates at Gloucester in council. The nine-year-old Henry, now King Henry III, was brought from Devizes. After the coronation of Henry, the magnates urged the Regency on the Marshal. He retired to his rooms at Gloucester Castle and called his nephew John Marshal, John d’Earley and Ralph Musard (Sheriff and Castellan of Gloucester) into private council. He had misgivings concerning the Regency and wanted their advice. Ralph Musard and John Marshal urged him to accept, seeing rich rewards for the Marshal and his followers. John d’Earley, taking into consideration his lord’s age (sixty-nine) and not wishing for gains at the expense of William’s health, advised against. The Marshal bade them goodnight, promising to sleep on their advise.
The following day the Earl of Chester arrived and deferred to the Marshal, saying that he should accept the Regency. William again called the three friends from the previous night into council and announced that he was going to accept. John d’Earley then said:
“you have undertaken a task that must be carried through at all costs. But when we reach the end, I tell you that, even putting things at their worst, only great honour can come of it. And as the worst possible outcome is so honourable, the most propitious will bring you both great honour and great joy. No man will have ever earned such glory on earth”.
William Marshal caught Johns mood and replied:
“By God’s sword this advise is true and good. It goes straight to my heart, that if everyone abandoned the King, do you know what I would do ? I would carry him on my shoulders step by step, from island to island, from country to country and I would not fail him, not even if it meant begging my bread”.
The Marshal, his Royal ward and retinue left Gloucester in early November and moved to Tewkesbury.
In the time around 1217, Royal lands in South Wales had been attacked by the Welsh prince, Morgan ap Hywel, Lord of Caerleon. Morgan had been an ally of Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, Prince of Gwynedd. He was trying to regain lost Welsh lands around Usk and in Netherwent (Lower Gwent – the area between Chepstow and Usk bordered by the rivers Wye and Usk). The main holding of the Welsh was the castle of Caerleon. This was attacked in September 1217 by John d’Earley, then Bailiff at Striguil (Chepstow), and captured.
In Westminster, during January 1219, William Marshal fell ill with great pains. In the middle of March, he and his wife were rowed up the River Thames to his castle of Caversham (Oxfordshire), close to Earley, his friend John’s manor. He was aware that he was dying. At this time, John d’Earley’s son, John, was acting as his father’s deputy as Seneschal of Netherwent and Striguil. John d’Earley himself had hastened to Caversham to be at William’s side. William received news that his lands in South Wales were under threat from the Welsh. At some point William Marshal said to him:
“John, do not tarry. Go to your bailiwick. I am disturbed about my men in Netherwent and especially about your son who if he should be foolishly advised might make some expedition in which our men would suffer”.
John returned to Netherwent, sorted the problem out and swiftly came back to the Marshal. On 14th May 1219, with his son William, his best friend John d’Earley and two bishops giving him absolution, William died.
John d’Earley was executor of the Marshal’s will and both he and William Marshal the Younger paid to have a poem written to celebrate the Marshals life. This poem of 19214 lines was written by John the Troubadour. Some speculation suggests that the real author may have been John d’Earley himself.
John d’ Earley carried on by serving William the Younger until he died in 1230. His own son, John, had died two years previously, leaving no offspring and his second son, Henry, died much later in 1272, leaving a son, Phillip, as his heir.
On the foyer wall, above the entrance to the great hall at Chepstow Castle, there are two painted shields. Time and algae have severely damaged them. The left hand shield was at one time red, traces of red paint still remaining. Steve Earl has digitally enhanced the lower third and a white scallop shell can be made out. Obviously, in his opinion, these are the arms of John d’ Earley: gules, three escallops argent. This was doubtless to commemorate his time as seneschal or bailiff of Striguil for which the records show he was, between 1217 and 1219.
