Henry De Percy, (14)

  General Notes:

from "The Percy Family in England", p. 13-14: First Earl of Northumberland.

From Colby:

"...Henry was made Earl of Northumberland at the coronation of King Richard II when he served as marshal of England..."

""The near alliance of the two brothers by blood to the reigning family," write Colonel Pierce, "and the stirring times in which they lived insured them the opportunity of distinction while their own ability and enterprise urged them to profit by it. Both served with honor in the French wars of Edward III, both long enjoyed the favor of the weak successor, Richard II, and by him were elevated to their earldoms; both deserted his failing fortunes and combined to place the able and domineering Henry Bolingbroke on the throne; and both, unable to endure the severe sway with which he wielded the rod of empire they had placed in his hand, endeavored by open war to depose him and perished in the bold attempt.""

"(Before the break with King Henry, Worcester, in Henry IV, Part I, p. 3, reminds him of his family's services: "Our house, my sovereign liege, little deserves the scourge of greatness to be used on it; and the same greatness to which our hands have help to make so portly.")"

"Worcester, when only Sir Thomas Percy, was admiral of the English fleet sent to Spain in 1387 to take the Kingdoms of Castile and Leon on behalf of John of Gaunt (D270, see "DUNHAM ANCESTRY IN EUROPE") (fourth son of Edward III and first Duke of Lancaster from whom that house descended) who claimed them by virtue of his marriage to Constance of Castile. He went to Paris in 1392 to make peace with Charles VI of France, who, according to Froisart, "made a dinner to the English knightes and called Syr Thomas Percy to aytte at his borde and called him cosyn, by reason of Northumberland's bloud.""

"...Henry, as Lord Percy, had with John of Gaunt been a prominent supporter of the early religious reformer, John Wickliffe, and had stood by him when he was cited before the archbishop at St. Paul's. Showing an independence characteristic of a northern baron, he disregarded a summons by Richard II to appear in court, was banished, and fled to Scotland. He joined Henry of Lancaster after he had landed at Ravenspur and helped lead King Richard into his clutches at Conway. For this King Henry gave him the lifelong post of Constable of England, plus a gift of the Isle of Man, high posts in Cheshire, Wales, and on the Scottish border and a commissionership for the marriage of Henry's daughter Blanche with Louis, Duke of Bavaria." ========================================================================== ======================================

Henry married Margaret Neville, daughter of John Neville and Maude de Percy.