Ralph, (c. 1291- )

1. Ralph, Lord Nevill of Raby, son of Ranulf de Neville, 1st Lord Neville ( - ) and Eupheme FITZROBERT ( - ), was born circa 1291. He had the title '2nd Lord Neville'. He married Alice AUDLEY circa 1327.

 

Ralph de Neville, 2nd Lord Neville was educated in Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. In 1319 he was captured by the Scots at the death of his brother, Robert, but was ransomed by his father, for a crippling sum. He held the office of Constable of Warkworth Castle in 1322. In 1324 he was appointed with the Earl of Angus to escort the envoys of Robvert Bruce to York, to treat for peace. He held the office of Steward of the Household between 1331 and 1337. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Lord Neville, of Raby [E., 1295] after 18 April 1331. He held the office of Warden of the Scottish Marches in 1334. He held the office of Keeper of Bamburgh Castle in 1335, for life. He held the office of Keeper of the Forests beyond the Trent in 1336, for life. He fought in the siege of Dunbar in 1338. He was a member of the Council of Prince Edward as Keeper of the Realm between 1338 and 1340. He fought in the relief of Perth when besieged by the Scots in 1339. He was Commissioner of the peace in Cumberland, Northumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire in 1343. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff of Westmorland in 1345. He was joint commander of the forces to repel the Scots invasion of Westmorland in 1345. He fought in the Battle of Neville's Cross on 17 October 1346, where he commanded the 1st Division. He fought in the naval battle off Winchelsea against the Spaniards on 29 August 1350.

 

Alice AUDLEY was the daughter of Hugh Audley, first and last Lord Audley ( - ) and Isolt de Mortimer ( - ). She and Ralph, Lord Nevill of Raby had the following children:

 

+2	Margaret NEVILL (1341-1372)

Second Generation

2. Margaret NEVILL, daughter of Ralph, Lord Nevill of Raby and Alice AUDLEY, was born on 12 February 1341 in Raby Castle, County Durham. She died in May 1372. She married William de Ros, 3rd Lord Ros of Helmsley. She married Henry PERCY.

 

Henry PERCY, son of Henry, 3rd Lord Percy of Alnwick ( - ) and Lady Mary PLANTAGENET ( - ), was born on 10 November 1341. He had the title '1st Earl of Northumberland'. He was killed at the Battle of Branham Moor. He and Margaret NEVILL had the following children:

 

+3	Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur) (1364-1403)

Third Generation

3. Sir Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur), son of Henry PERCY and Margaret NEVILL, was born on 20 May 1364. He died on 21 July 1403. He married Elizabeth MORTIMER.

 

Harry acquired a great reputation as a warrior, fighting against the Scots and the French. He fought against the Scottish forces of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas at the Battle of Otterburn in August, 1388 and was captured, but later ransomed. He went to Calais in 1391 and served as governor of Bordeaux from 1393 to 1395. Harry joined with his father and helped depose King Richard II in favor of Henry of Bolingbroke, who later became King Henry IV. ater with his paternal uncle Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, he led a rebellion against Henry IV in 1403, forming an alliance with the Welsh rebel, Owain Glyndw^r. Before they could join forces, Hotspur was defeated and killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury when he raised his visor to get some air (as he was wearing plate armour which restricted air circulation) and was immediately hit in the mouth with an arrow and killed instantly. Henry IV upon being brought the body was said to have wept and ordered the body buried but then he had a change of heart and decided to make an example to all those who would rebel and cut his body up into four quarters and sent it around all of England and his head was stuck on a pole at York's gates. He is a major character in William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, though in the play he is portrayed as being of the same age as his main rival Prince Hal (Henry V of England), when in fact he was considerably older.

Sir Henry Percy, also called Harry Hotspur (May 20, 1364/1366 ?July 21, 1403) was the eldest son of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, 4th Lord Percy of Alnwick. His mother was Margaret Neville, daughter of Ralph Neville, 2nd Baron Neville de Raby (c. 1291 - 1367) and Alice de Audley. His nickname is suggestive of his impulsive nature. His date of birth is known but not the exact year of birth.

Early career

Harry acquired a great reputation as a warrior, fighting against the Scots and the French. He fought against the Scottish forces of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas at the Battle of Otterburn in August, 1388 and was captured, but later ransomed. He went to Calais in 1391 and served as governor of Bordeaux from 1393 to 1395.

After his return from Valois Dynasty France, Harry joined with his father and helped depose King Richard II in favor of Henry of Bolingbroke, who later became King Henry IV.

Rebellion and death

Later with his paternal uncle Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, he led a rebellion against Henry IV in 1403, forming an alliance with the Welsh rebel, Owain Glyndw^r. Before they could join forces, Hotspur was defeated and killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury when he raised his visor to get some air (as he was wearing plate armour which restricted air circulation) and was immediately hit in the mouth with an arrow and killed instantly.

Henry IV upon being brought the body was said to have wept and ordered the body buried but then he had a change of heart and decided to make an example to all those who would rebel and cut his body up into four quarters and sent it around all of England and his head was stuck on a pole at York's gates. He is a major character in William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, though in the play he is portrayed as being of the same age as his main rival Prince Hal (Henry V of England), when in fact he was considerably older.

Marriage and children

He married Lady Elizabeth de Mortimer, daughter of Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March and Philippa. Philippa was daughter of Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence and Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster. Lionel was son of Edward III of England and his consort Philippa of Hainault.

 

Elizabeth MORTIMER was the daughter of Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March (1351-1381) and Philippa Plantagenet of Clarence (1355- ). She and Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur) had the following children:

 

4	Elizabeth PERCY (c. 1390-1437). Elizabeth was born circa 1390. She married in 1404. She married John CLIFFORD in 1404. She died on 26 October 1437.