Reynold Grey, 3rd Baron Grey of Ruthin

Reynold Grey, 3rd Baron Grey of Ruthin (c. 1362 – 30 September 1440), a powerful Welsh marcher lord, succeeded to the title on his father's death in July 1388.[1]

Arms of Grey de Ruthyn: Barry of six argent and azure in chief three torteaux
Arms of Grey on a barbed quatrefoil, illumination in the De Grey Hours, probably written for the De Grey family of Ruthyn circa 1390. National Library of Wales

Lineage

Reginald Grey was the eldest son of Reynold Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Ruthin and Eleanor Le Strange of Blackmere. His paternal grandparents were Roger Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Ruthin and Elizabeth de Hastings. His maternal grandparents were John Le Strange, 2nd Baron Strange of Blackmere and Ankaret le Boteler.

Marriages and issue

Grey married firstly, after 25 November 1378, Margaret de Roos (or Ros), daughter of Thomas de Ros, 4th Baron de Ros of Helmsley by Beatrice de Stafford, daughter of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, by whom he had two sons and several daughters, including :[2]

Grey married secondly on 7 February 1415, Joan de Astley, daughter of Sir William de Astley, 4th Baron Astley and Joan de Willoughby. Joan de Astley died in 1448. By her he had three sons and three daughters, including:

Rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr
Arms of Hastings, Earls of Pembroke: Hastings quartering Valence
Arms of Sir John de Grey

In 1410 after a long legal dispute, the younger Reginald won the right to bear the arms of the Hastings family, but rather than the undifferenced arms which were born by the Hastings of Sutton he won the right to the higher status quartered arms born by his deceased cousin the Earl of Pembroke: Hastings quartering Valence. Since he had gained the right to bear these arms from his claim through his paternal grandmother, he displayed Quarterly 1 & 4: Grey de Ruthyn; 2 & 3: Hastings quartering Valence. (Sir John de Grey displayed the new family arms with a label argent for difference from his father's arms). More important from a financial perspective, he gained title to certain properties of the estate.

De Grey enjoyed the favour both of Richard II and Henry IV, and his chief military exploits were against the Welsh, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr.. Reynold de Grey was responsible for issuing and enforcing royal demands in the Northern March, such as calling the local nobility and gentry and their men to Royal and military service. He was already in a long-running legal dispute with Glyndŵr, claiming a tranche of Glyndwr's land as his own. Under King Richard II the case had been found in favour of Glyndŵr, but on the usurpation of King Henry IV of England Lord Grey seized the land. Early in September 1400, Henry IV left Newcastle and traveled south to Northampton, which he reached by 19th. There news reached the King of the quarrel that had broken out between Grey and Glyndŵr. Grey was a member of the King's Council.[7]

Glyndŵr responded in law early in 1400 but his case was not granted a hearing, instead it was asked of Glyndŵr that he grant Lord Grey further concessions. De Grey also delayed summoning Glyndŵr's quota or levy of men for service in Scotland until the last moment, making it impossible for Glyndŵr to respond as requested or even send an explanation for his absence and the lack of his levy. Such an act as refusal or failure to respond to an order of the King was deemed a treasonous act. Glyndŵr's estates were deemed forfeit until he could prove his loyalty or receive due punishment. On 16 September Owain and brothers had taken up arms and burned Grey's property, for three days the Welsh band ravaged the countryside of Flintshire and Denbighshire.[7] On 24 September, Glyndwr's forces were encircled at Welshpool and defeated.[7]

De Grey now invited Glyndŵr to a reconciliation meeting, but arrived with a large force, attempting to surround Glyndŵr and making his intentions clear. Glyndŵr escaped with his life and went into hiding, confirming himself a traitor in English eyes. King Henry confiscated the estates of Glyndŵr's supporters, and granted them to John Beaufort, his half-brother. The rebellion spread after initial successes for the Welsh and by 1402 it was gathering momentum. Lord Grey was captured by Glyndŵr's forces in an ambush near Ruthin in January.[7]

A ransom of 10,000 marks was asked for him and Lord Grey was asked to swear an oath never to bear arms against Glyndŵr again. King Henry IV sent eleven knights to treat with Glyndŵr and then complied with the ransom, ordering the selling of a manor in Kent to raise the monies in mid 1402. On 22 June, Glyndwr had captured another important hostage, Edmund Mortimer.[8]

Lord Grey then would have been expected to repay the amount over time as best he could and any outstanding debt would be borne by his family. In August, Glyndwr went south into the Marches. The King however held Grey in better view than Mortimer, whom he considered a troublemaker. While Grey and Earl of Northumberland were loyal; it was clear that Hotspur intended to join Glyndwr's rebellion.[7]

Hotspur had refused to surrender the Scots prisoner, earl of Douglas to the King, and had demanded that Edmund Mortimer be purchased his freedom. Henry was furious that his power should be challenged in this way.[7] The King wrote to Grey and other leading nobles on 23 November 1409, demanding that all officers who were entreating with Glyndwr should cease forthwith. The rebellion had failed after the re-capture of Harlech, and release of Mortimer's family. The Grey family did in fact sell the Ruthin Lordship to King Henry VII in 1508 when their fortunes and favour had declined.[4]

Hundred Years War

Grey was a member of the Council which governed England during the absence of Henry V in France in 1415; he later fought against the French in the Hundred Years War in 1420 and 1421. He had been previously a Governor of Ireland.

Notes

    References
    1. http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/greyr1324.htm
    2. Richardson II 2011, p. 274.
    3. Richardson III 2011, p. 394.
    4. Burke's Peerage, pp.1226-31
    5. Complete Peerage, 2nd edition, Volume 5, page 359
    6. Richardson II 2011, p. 276.
    7. Profile of Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn, Oxford History of England, 1399-1485, pp. 37-38, 46, 51.
    8. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage (1999), vol.2 of 2

    Bibliography
    • Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G. (ed.). Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. II (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah. ISBN 1449966381.
    • Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G. (ed.). Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. III (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah. ISBN 144996639X.
    Peerage of England
    Preceded by
    Reynold Grey    		 Baron Grey of Ruthin
    1388–1440    		 Succeeded by
    Edmund Grey
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