Hastings, Barons Hastings, Earls of Pembroke, Baron Hastings of Gressing Hall
Hastings, Barons Hastings, Earls of Pembroke, Baron Hastings of Gressing Hall, Hastings of Bergavenny
Burkes Extinct Peerage has the following articlesp:
This noble family derived its surname from Hastings, (one of the Cinque Ports,) in Sussex, the lastage of which they farmed for a considerable period from the crown.
Robert, Portreve of Hastings, was s. by.
Walter de Hastings, who held the office of steward to King Henry I., by Sergeantle, in respect of his tneure of the manor Ashele, in the county of Norfolk, viz., by the service of taking charge of the naperie, (table linen,) at the solemn coronation of the kings of this realm. This Walter, by Hadewise, his wife, had a son,
Hugh de Hastings, Lord of Fillongley, co. Warwick, who m. Erneburga, dau. of Hugh de Flamville, of Aston-Flamville, co. Leicester, by whom he acquired that manor, as well as Gressing, in Norfolk, and the stewardship of the abbey of St. Edmundsbury, and had two sons and a dau., viz.,
William, his successor.
Richard, a priest, rector of Barewell, in Leicestershire.
Mahant, to whom he gave the manor of Arke, in Devonshire, on her marriage with Robert de Wyford; from this lady descended,
Sir Geffery de Anke, or Hanke, who, temp. Henry III., conveyed that estate, in marriage with his dau., to Michael Davyll.
Hugh de Hastings was s. by his elder son,
William de Hastings, steward to Henry II., who m. 1st, Maude, dau. of Thurstan Banaster, and had two sons,
I. Henry, who d.s.p.
II. William, of whom we treat.
William de Hastings m. 2ndly, Ida, dau. of Henry, Earl of Ewe, and had a son,
Thomas, ancestor of the Earls of Huntingdon.
The 2nd son,
William de Hastings, m. 1st Margery, dau, of Roger Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, and had, (with a dau. Ida, m. to Stephen de Segrave) a son,
Henry de Hastings, who, upon paying a fine of 50 marks, and doing his homage, had livery of his lands in the cos. Warwick, Leicester, Salop, Bedford, Norfolk, and Suffolk. This Henry m. Ada, 4th dau. of David, Earl of Hintingdon, and of Maud, his wife, dau. of Hugh, and one of the sisters and coheirs of Ranulph, Earl of Chester; and through her he eventually shared in the great estates of the Earls of Chester. By this lady he had issue, Henry, his successor, and two daus., Margery and Hilaria, who, at the time of his decease, were in the nunnery of Alneston, and their tuition was then committed to William de Cantelupe. This Henry de Hastings attending King Henry into France, in the 26th of that monarch's reign, was taken prisoner at the great defeat which the English army then sustained at Zante, but was soon afterwards released. In a few years subsequently he accompanied Richard, Earl of Cornwall, with divers other of the principal nobility, into France, whither the said earl proceeded at that period with a splendid retinue, but for what purpose does not appear. About the close of the same year (1260) Henry de Hastings d. and was s. by his son,
Henry de Hastings, then in minority, whose wardship was granted to Guy de Lusignan, King Henry III.'s half brother. This Henry, in the 44th Henry III., had a military summons to be at Shrewsbury, with horse and arms, to march against the Welsh; and the next year had a similar summons to be at London. But very soon afterwards we find him in arms with Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and other turbulent spirits, against the king, and with those excommunicated by the archbishop of Canterbury. After which he became one of the most zealous of the baronial leaders, and distinguised himself at the battle of Lewes, wherein the king was made prisoner, recieved the honour of knighthood at the hands of Montfort; and was constituted governor of Scarborough and Winchester castles. This stout baron was s. at his decease in 1249, by his son,
Henry de Hastings, who m. Eve, sister, and at length co-heir, of George de Cantilupe, Barons of Bergavenny, and had issue,
John, his successor.
Edmund, who had summons to parliament, as a baron, from 29 December, 1299, 28th Edward I., to 26 July 1313, 7th Edward II., but nothing is known of his descendants.
And three daus. Audra, Lora, and Joane. This feudal lord was summoned to parliament, as Baron Hastings, 14 December, 1264. He d. in 1268, and was s. by his son,
John Hastings, 2nd baron, summoned to parliament as Lord Hastings, from 23 June, 1295, to 22 May, 1313, although in right of his mother, and the tenure of the castle of Bergavenny, he was unquestionably Baron of Bergavenny. This nobleman was in the expedition to Scotland in the 12th Edward I., and in three years afterwards attended Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, regent of the kingdom during the king's sojourn in Gascony, into Wales. He was subsequently in an expedition to Ireland, and again in Scotland, 28th Edward I., where he performed military service for five knights' fees. The nexy uear he continued in the Scottish wars, under Edward, Prince of Wales, and in the 31st Edward I. he assisted at the celebrated siege of Kaerlaverock. His lordship had afterwards, 34th Edward I., a grant from the king of the whole co. Menteth, with the isles, as also of all the manors and lands of Alan, late Earl of Menteth, then declared an enemy and rebel to the king. He was likewise seneschal of Aquitaine, and one of the competitors, in 1290, for the crown of Scotland, in right of his descent from Ada, dau. of David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of Malcolm and William, Kings of Scotland. His lordship m. 1st, Isabel, dau. of William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, half brother of King Henry III., and sister and co-heir of Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, by whom (who d. 3 October, 1305) he had, with other issue,
John, his successor.
Elizabeth, m. to Roger, Lord Grey, of Ruthyn.
Lord Hastings m. 2ndly, Isabel, dau. of Hugh Despencer, Earl of Winchester, and had two other sons, viz., Hugh (Sir) of Gressing Hall, co. Norfolk (see Part 2), who m. Margery, dau. of Sir Jordan de Foliot, and sister and co-heir of Sir Richard Foliot, and Thomas. From the elder son lineally descended Edward Hastings, of whom the sequel, as competitor with Lord Grey de Ruthyn, for the arms of Hastings. His lordship d. in 1313, and was s. by his eldest son,
John Hastings, 3rd baron, summoned to parliament as Lord Hastings, from 26 November, 1313, to 20 February, 1325. This nobleman was actively engaged in the wars of Scotland from the 4th to the 12th Edward II., and the next year, upon the insurrection of the lords, when they banished the two Spencers, his lordship being one of their adherents, deserted the barons, and joined the king at Cirencester. Moreover, he was the same year again in the Scottish wars; and in the 16th Edward II., he was made governor of Kenilworth Castle. Lord Hastings married Julian, grand-dau. and heir of Thomas de Leybourne, Baron Leybourne, which lady m. 2ndly, Thomas le Blount, and 3rdly, William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon. His lordship d. in 1325, and was s. by his son,
Laurence Hastings, 4th baron, then but five years of age, who, upon attaining majority, was, by royal favour, by letters patent dated 13 October, 1339, declared Earl of Pembroke: and about the same time, was in the expedition made into Flanders. The next year he attended King Edward III., in the notable adventure at sea against the French, where he participated in the glory of the victory achieved near Slugs. He was afterwards constantly in the French wars, wherein he displayed great valour. The earl m. Agnes, dau. of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and dying in 1348, was s. by his only son,
John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, K.G., who, in the 46th Edward III., being selected for his experience and valour, was sent liutenant into Aquitaine, and arrived at the port of Rochel, then besieged by the French, on the eve of St. John the Baptist. But no sooner had he got his ships within the harbour, than being suddenly attacked by the Spanish fleet, before he had been able to form his line of battle, he suffered so signal a defeat that few of his men escaped. His squadron was entirely consumed, himself and his principal officers made prisoners, and treasure to the amount of 20,000 marks, which King Edward had sent over to maintain the war, became a prize to the enemy. He subsequently endured four years' harsh captivity in Spain, from which he was eventually released through the interference of Bertrand Clekyn, Constable of France, but died on his hourney from Paris (whither he had removed from Spain) to Calais, being considered to have been poisoned by the Spaniards, 16 April, 1375. His lordship m. 1st, the Lady Margaret Plantagenet, 4th dau. of King Edward III., by whom he had no issue. He m. 2ndly, Anne, dau. and at length sole heir of Sir Walter Manny, K.G., by Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk, by whom he had an only son,
John, his successor.
This John, Earl of Pembroke, according to Dugdale, in the 43rd Edward III., having obtained the king's license for so doint, made a feoffment of all his castles, lordships, manors, &c., in England and Wales, to certain uses. Which feoffment upon his decease, was, by the foeffers, delivered to the king's council at Westminster to be opened; when it was found, that in case he died without issue of his body, the town and castle of Pembroke should come to the king, his heirs and successors; and the castle and lordship of Bergavenny, with other lands in England and Wales, to his cousin, William de Beauchamp (his mother's sister's son), in fee, provided he should bear the arms of Hastings, and endeavour to obtain the title of Earl of Pembroke - in default thereof, then to his kinsman, William de Clinton, upon similar conditions. This Earl of Pembroke was the first English subject who followed the example of King Edward III., in quartering of arms; as may be seen in his escutcheon on the north side of that monarch's tomb, in Westminster Abbey, wherein he beareth quarterly, Or, a maunch, gules, for Hastings, and Barry, arg., and az., an orle of martlets, gules, for Valence. His lordship d. in 1375, and was s. by his son,
John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, then but two years and a half old. At the coronation of Richard II., this nobleman (not having attained his fifth year) claimed to carry the great golden spurs; and proving his right to that honourable service, it was adjudged that by reason of his minority, another should be appointed in his behalf; viz., Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, whose dau. Philippa, he m. although very young. The 13th Richard II., that monarch keeping his Christmas at Woodstock, his lordship, only then seventeen years of age, adventuring to tilt with Sir John St. John, was so severely wounded, by an unlycky slip of Sir John's lance, in the abdomen, that he died almost immediately, 30 December, 1391, when leaving no issue, the Earldom of Pembroke became extinct. At his lordship's thus premature decease, Reginald, Lord Grey de Ruthin, (grandson of Roger, Lord Grey, and his wife, Elizabeth Hastings, dau. of John, 2nd Baron Hastings,) was found to be his heir of the whole blood. And Hugh, Baron Hastings, eldest son of Hugh Hastings, of Gressing Hall, co. Norfolk, (eldest son of the said John, 2nd Baron Hastings, by his 2nd wife, Isabel, dau. of Hugh de Spenser, Earl of Winchester) his heir of the half blood; between the son of this Lord Hastings of Gressing Hall, Edward Hastings, and Reginald Lord Grey, there was a memorable competition in the court military, before the constable and marshals of England, for the right of bearing the arms of Hastings, which lasted the full period of twenty years, and was eventually decided against Hastings, who, besides being condemned in the heavy costs of �970 17s. 1d. was imprisoned sixteen years for disobeying the judgement.
"Unless the barony of Hastings," says Nicolas, "be considered the same as Bergavenny," (and he proves that it was totally unconnected with the feudal tenure of the castle of Bergavenny,) "it must be vested in the descendants and representatives of the said Edward Hastings."
Note. - The superstition of the period attributed the untimely fate of the last and youthful Earl of Pembroke to a divine judgement upon the family, in regard that Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, his ancestor, was one of those who passed sentence of death upon Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster, at Pntefract: for it was observed, that subsequently to that judgment, none of the Earl of Pembroke saw his father, nor any father of them took delight in seeing his children.
*** Part 2 - Hastings of Gressing Hall ***
John Hastings, 2nd Lord Hastings, (grandfather by his 1st wife of Laurence Hastings, Earl of Pembroke,) m. for his 2nd wife, Isabel, dau. of Hugh Despencer, Earl of Winchester, and had, with a younger son,
Hugh Hastings, of Gressing Hall, co. Norfolk, whose grandson,
Hugh Hastings, of Gressing Hall, having distinguished himself in arms in Glanders, was summoned to parliament as a baron by King Edward III., 25 February, 1342. In the 20th of the same reign, being designated the king's cousin, his lordship was constituted lieutenant of Flanders, and commander of all the king's forces there, against the French. At this period, he took 300 prisoners, and brought them all to England. In 1359, Lord Hastings was in the wars of Gascony, and in some years afterwards, he attended John Duke of Lancaster, into Spain; but further notghin is mentioned of this nobleman, because neither himself nor any descendants were subsequently summoned to parliament. His son and eventual heir,
Edward Hastings, who assumed the title of Lord Hastings and Stoteville, but by what authority remains to be established, is the person mentioned in the account of the Hastings, Earls of Pembroke, as having twenty years' litigation with the Lord Grey de Ruthyn, regarding the right to bear the arms of Hastings (viz.: or, a maunch, gu). This celebrated cause was heard and decided in the court military, by the constable and marshal of England, and it went finally against Hastings, who was also condemned in heavy costs, and imprisoned sicteen years for disobeying the judgment of the court. Edward Hastings, having likewise questioned the entail of John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, by which the Bergavenny and other estates passed to William de Beauchamp. "Beauchamp invited," says Dugdale, "his learned counsel to his house in Pater-Noster-Row, in the city of London; amongst whom were Robert Charlton (then a judge), William Pinchebek, William Brenchesley, and John Catesby (all learned lawyers;) and after dinner, coming out of his chappel, in an angry mood, threw to each of them a piece of gold, and said, 'Sirs, I desire you, forthwith to tell me, whether I have any right and title to Hasting' lordships and lands?' whereupon Pinchebek stood up (the rest being silent, fearing that he suspected them), and said, 'No man here, nor in England, dare say that you have any right in them, except Hastings do quit his claim therein; and should he do it, being now under age, it would be of no validities.' "Perhaps," (continues the same authority), "there had been some former entail, to settle them upon the heir male, of the family; but whatever it was, Hastings apprehended the injury thereby done to him, to be so great, that with extreme anguish of mind, at his latter end, he left God's curse and his own, upon his descendants, if they did not attempt the vindication thereof."
Nicolas considered the Barony of Hastings, which had belonged to the Earls of Pembroke, to be vested in the representatives of this Edward Hastings.
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