Humphrey de Bohun VIII, Earl of Hereford and Essex

1276 - 1321  (45 years)

• Name	Humphrey de Bohun VIII
  Relationship	with Robert Alan Roy
  Birth	1276	Pleshey Castle, Pleshey, Essex, England   [2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13]
  General Information	He was the 8th Earl of Hereford and the 9th Earl of Essex. Other sources list him as the 4th Earl of Hereford.  [6, 7, 9, 10, 13]
  Title(s)	1298 (22 years)  [13]
  He succeeded his father in 1298 as Earl of Hereford and Earl of Essex, and Constable of England.
  Military	1300 (24 years)	Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland   [13]
  Humphrey was one of several earls and barons under Edward I who laid siege to Caerlaverock Castle in Scotland in 1300 and later took part in many campaigns in Scotland.
  Offices Held	say 1300 (24 years)  [1, 6, 12]
  He was the Lord High Constable of England.
  Land/House	1302 (26 years)  [7]
  In 1302 he conveyed lands.
  Military	Jun 1313 (37 years)  [1]
  In June 1313 he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Bannockburn. He was released in exchange for the wife of Robert the Bruce who had long been a captive in England.
  Military	From 23 June 1314 to 24 Jun 1314 (38 years)  [13]
  At the Battle of Bannockburn (23–24 June 1314), Humphrey de Bohun should have been given command of the army because that was his responsibility as Constable of England. However, since the execution of Piers Gaveston in 1312 Humphrey had been out of favour with Edward II, who gave the Constableship for the 1314 campaign to the youthful and inexperienced Earl of Gloucester, Gilbert de Clare. Nevertheless, on the first day, de Bohun insisted on being one of the first to lead the cavalry charge. In the melee and cavalry rout between the Bannock Burn and the Scots' camp he was not injured although his rash young cousin Henry de Bohun, who could have been no older than about 22, charged alone at Robert Bruce and was killed by Bruce's axe. On the second day, Gloucester was killed at the start of the battle. Hereford fought throughout the day, leading a large company of Welsh and English knights and archers. The archers who might have had success at breaking up the Scots schiltrons were attacked and overrun by the Scots cavalry. When the battle was lost Bohun retreated with the Earl of Angus and several other barons, knights and men to Bothwell Castle, seeking a safe haven. However, all the refugees who entered the castle were taken prisoner by its formerly pro-English governor Walter fitz Gilbert who, like many Lowland knights, declared for Bruce as soon as word came of the Scottish King's victory. Humphrey de Bohun was ransomed by Edward II, his brother-in-law, on the pleading of his wife Isabella. This was one of the most interesting ransoms in English history. The Earl was traded for Bruce's queen, Elizabeth de Burgh and daughter, Marjorie Bruce, two bishops amongst other important Scots captives in England. Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan, who had crowned Robert Bruce in 1306 and for years had been locked in a cage outside Berwick, was not included; presumably, she had died in captivity.
  Will	1319 (43 years)  [8]
  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: I, Humfrai de Bohun,6 Earl of Hereford and of Essex, of good memory and health, make this my will in the following manner: firstly, I devise my soul to our Lord Jesus Christ who suffered death upon the cross for me and for all sinners, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary his mother, and to all the saints of heaven, and my body to be buried in the church of our blessed lady at Walden, near to the body of Elizabeth late my spouse. Item, I devise that all my debts should be paid and acquitted in full, and I will that the outstanding provisions of my wife’s will shall be performed in their entirety. Item, I devise for the carriage of my body from the place where I die to the Abbey of Walden and for related undertakings and for my burial and for obsequies made at my interment and for all other things thereunto relating, one thousand marks, charging my executors that the bodies of my father, my mother and my wife should be likewise honestly hung with cloths as my body, and that between all our bodies there should be only one hearse and course of lighting. Furthermore, I devise to my lord the King a pot and a cup of gold, which my wife bequeathed to me. Item, to Sir Bartholomew de Badlesmere, the black charger that I brought from beyond the seas. And as my lord the King has of his mercy granted me by his letters patent the moiety of the issues of all my lands from the day that God shall have mercy upon me until the full age of my heir and all the sums that may be levied for the marriage of my said heir and all the sums that my said lord the King owes to me by account made in his wardrobe of my arrears with him and also of all the sums that the Count of Hainault, Holland and Zeeland owes to me, I devise to Humfrai, Edward, William and Eneas my sons, to each of them, £2,000 to buy lands or marriages or to use in other ways as my executors shall think best for their profit, and if the sums aforesaid be more, we desire that they be shared between our four aforesaid sons. Furthermore, I devise to Alianore my daughter towards her wedding clothes, £200. Item, I devise to Sir Hugh de Courtenay one thousand marks which I give him for the marriage of Margaret my daughter and his son and heir. Item, I devise to the same Margaret towards her wedding clothes 200 marks. Furthermore, I devise to my eldest son all my armour, and an entire bed of green powdered with white swans, with all its appurtenances. Item, I devise to Master John Walewayn a cup stamped and embossed with fleurs de lis which belonged to Saint Edmond de Pounteny, and a small cup that Giles de Herteberghe gave to me at Bruges, and a gold ring with a ruby which my wife devised to me, which is all covered with bruises and is in a small casket in a great box at the end of the lower wardrobe. Furthermore, I devise to Sir Robert de Haustede the father and to Dame Margerie his wife for the guardianship of Eneas my son, £100, and to Sir Robert de Walkefare, £60, and to Sir Walter de Shorne to whom we have made no regard, £100. Furthermore, I devise to Philippa Wake, governess of Alianore my daughter, £20, and to Maud de Baskerville my sister, towards her marriage, £40. Item, I devise to Katherine de Boklaunde, governess of Margaret my daughter, £10, and to Isabel the wife of Peter de Geudeford, 100 shillings. Furthermore, I devise to the Chapter-General of the Friars Preacher for masses and other prayers sung and said for my soul, £20, and to the Chapter-General of the Friars Minor for the same purposes, £20. Item, to the Chapter of the Augustinian Friars for the same, 20 marks, and to the Chapter General of the Carmelite Friars for the same, 20 marks. Furthermore, I give to the Abbot and Convent of Walden for sung masses and other benefits made for my soul, £10, and to the Prior and Convent of Lanthony near Gloucester for the same undertaken, £10. Item, to the Prior and Convent of Farley for the same, £10, and to the Prior and Convent of Brecon for the same undertaking, £10, and to the Prior and Convent of Hurley for the same undertaking, £10, and to the Prior and Convent of Stoneley, 100 shillings, and to the Prior and Convent of Wirecestre for the same undertaking, £10. Furthermore, I devise to Huard de Soyrou, governor of Humfrai my son, £20, and to Robert Swan who is with John our son and his brothers, £20. Item, I devise to Robert de Clifton, £10, and to Robert de la Lee, £10. Item, to Master William, my cook, £10, and to William my falconer, £10, and to Robert Brutyn, £10. Item, to Berthelet the falconer, 100 shillings, and to John de Gynes, 100 shillings. Furthermore, I devise to Richard Wrothe, my constable at Brecon, £20, and to Thomas Gobyoun, my constable at Plashy, £20, and to Henri Herbert, £10. Item, I devise to Walter le Seler, 100 shillings, and to Roger the cook, 100 shillings, and to Richard le Deen, 100 shillings. Item, I devise to John le Deen, 50 shillings and to Adam de Rothingge, 100 shillings. Item, to John the chandler, 50 shillings and to William ‘le ferour’ [smith?], £10. Item, I devise to Adam ‘le ferour’, 100 shillings, and to William de Weston, 100 shillings. Item, to Miles, 100 shillings, and to Thomas le Pestour, 100 shillings. Furthermore, I devise to Thomas de la Despense, my chamberlain, 10 marks, and to Poun, my barber, 10 marks. Item, to William ‘de la Gardrobe’, 100 shillings, and to Robert my palfrey-man, 100 shillings. Item, I devise to Gilbert le Poleter, 100 shillings, and to each of my boys who shall have been in my service for more than a year when God shall have mercy upon me, 20 shillings. Furthermore, I devise that all of my best horses shall be assigned for my burial. And in order that all the foregoing be undertaken, I have ordained Master John Walewayn, Sir Bartholomew de Enfield, the Abbot of Walden, and Sir John de Walden my executors. Subscribed at Gosforth near to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the 11th day of August in the year of grace 1319.
  Death	16 Mar 1321	Boroughbridge, Yorkshiure, England   [1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13]
  He was killed in battle being run through the body by a soldier, in rebellion against his brother-in-law Edward II at the Battle of Boroughbridge. Acording to Ian Mortimer: "The 4th Earl of] Hereford led the fight on the bridge, but he and his men were caught in the arrow fire. Then one of de Harclay's pikemen, concealed beneath the bridge, thrust upwards between the planks and skewered the Earl of Hereford through the anus, twisting the head of the iron pike into his intestines. His dying screams turned the advance into a panic." [1, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13]
  Burial	—	Blackfriars Abbey Church (defunct), York, Yorkshire, England   [9]
  	Effigy of Humphrey de Bohun
  Oldest Known Ancestors	Paternal Line: Humphrey de Bohun Maternal Line: Maud de Hampton
  Person ID	I2881	| Boudreau Line
  Last Modified	1 Sep 2021

  
  

  Father	Humphrey de Bohun VII, Earl of Hereford and Essex,   b. 1249   d. 31 Dec 1298, Pleshey, Essex, England (Age 49 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Maud de Fiennes   d. 6 Nov 1298, England
  Relationship	Birth

  
  

  Spouse / Partner	Elizabeth of Rhuddlan, Countess of Hereford,   b. 7 Aug 1282, Rhuddlan Castle, Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, Wales d. 5 May 1316, Quendon, Essex, England (Age 33 years)
  Marriage	14 Nov 1302	Westminster Abbey, London, England   [3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14]
  Age at Marriage	He : ~ 26 years and 11 months - She : 20 years and 3 months.
  Children	6 sons and 4 daughters
  1. Margaret de Bohun,   b. 1302, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England d. 7 Feb 1304 (Age 2 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]   2. Humphrey de Bohun,   b. 10 Sep 1304, Knaresborough Castle, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England bur. 8 Nov 1304, Westminster Abbey, London, England (Age ~ 0 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] > 3. Eleanor de Bohun, Countess of Ormond,   b. 17 Oct 1304   d. 7 Oct 1363, Vachery Manor, Cranleigh, Surrey, England (Age 58 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] > 4. John de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex,   b. 23 Nov 1305, Pleshey Castle, Pleshey, Essex, England d. 20 Jan 1335, Kirkby Thore, Westmorelandshire, Wales (Age 29 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]   5. Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, Lord High Constable,   b. Between 1309 and 1311, Lochmaben Castle, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland d. 16 Oct 1361, Pleshey Castle, Pleshey, Essex, England (Age 52 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] + 6. Margaret de Bohun, Countess of Devon,   b. 3 Apr 1311, Caldecote, Northamptonshire, England d. 27 Dec 1391 (Age 80 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] + 7. Sir William de Bohun, KG, Earl of Northampton,   b. Abt 1309, Caldicot Castle, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales d. 16 Sep 1360 (Age 51 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] > 8. Sir Edward de Bohun of Annandale,   b. Abt 1309, Caldicot Castle, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales d. Before 8 Nov 1334, Annandale, Dumfrieshire, Scotland (Age 25 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]   9. Eneas de Bohun,   b. Abt 1313   d. 29 Sep 1331, Kimbolton Castle, Kimbolton, Cambrdgeshire, England (Age 18 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]   10. Isabella de Bohun,   b. 5 May 1316, Quendon, Essex, England d. 6 May 1316 to 30 May 1316, Quendon, Essex, England (Age 0 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
  Last Modified	31 Aug 2021

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Humphrey de Bohun VIII, Earl of Hereford and Essex(1276 – 1321) 2Humphrey de Bohun VII, Earl of Hereford and Essex(1249 – 1298) 3Maud de Fiennes( – 1298)

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 1276 - Pleshey Castle, Pleshey, Essex, England Military - 1300 - Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland Marriage - 14 Nov 1302 - Westminster Abbey, London, England Death - 16 Mar 1321 - Boroughbridge, Yorkshiure, England Burial - — - Blackfriars Abbey Church (defunct), York, Yorkshire, England  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Arms of Bohun Azure, a bend argent cotised or between six lions rampant or

  
  

• Sources

  [S11] Burke, Bernard. A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire , (London: Harrision, 1866). [S1444] Cokayne, George E. Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland Volume V (L-M), (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1926). [S278] Directory of Royal Genealogical Data, (web: http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/public/genealogy/royal/catalog.html). [S309] Fraser, Antonia. The Lives of the Kings & Queens of England, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1975). [S1704] Johnson, Samuel W. History and Genealogy of the Johnson Family, from Charlemagne to the Present Time, (Denver, Colorado: Big Mountain Press, 1956). [S1569] Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage web site, (Wellington, New Zealand: http://www.thepeerage.com/index.htm, 2019). [S1460] Norr, Vernon M. Some Early English Pedigrees , (Washington DC: by author, 1968). [S1876] Reading, Michael Andrews. "The Will of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford & Essex, 1319", (Vowchurch, UK: Foundations: Journal of the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, volume 6, 2014). [S1875] Verity, Brad. "The Children of Elizabeth, Countess of Hereford, Daughter of Edward I of England", (Vowchurch, UK: Foundations: Journal of the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, volume 6, 2014). [S1922] Verity, Brad. "Descendants to the Third Generation of Eleanor, Countess of Ormond (c.1310-1363)", (Vowchurch, UK: Foundations: Journal of the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, Volume 8, 2016). [S63] von Redlisch, Marcellus Donald Alexander R. Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants volume 1 , (Cottonport, Louisiana: Order of the Crown of Charlemagne, 1941). [S59] Weis, Frederick Lewis. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 Fifth Editionif, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982). [S304] Wikipedia, Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford. [S304] Wikipedia, Elizabeth of Rhuddlan.