General Notes

WALTER LE BLOUNT, 3rd son of John and Isoude, was born about 1348. He became a noted soldier, and appears to have acquired a great fortune. Tradition says that he fought at Najera (3 April 1367) under John of Gaunt. He was apparently in the Duke's service in 1369, and was already a knight in March 1371/2. In January 1372/3 the Duke appointed him constable of Tutbury Castle for life and the following May he entered into a contract to serve the Duke, in peace and in war, for the term of his life. Soon after his marriage he acquired lands, which seem to have been part of the Mountjoy property, from his brother John. In March 1377/8 he was in the train of John of Gaunt, King of Castile and Leon, setting out overseas. He was J.P. for Staffs in 1380, and for Derbyshire in 1388. In 1386 he was setting out again for Spain in the company of his patron. In 1392 he was a commissioner of array in Staffs, and in 1393 to treat with Spain as to peace. He and Sancha his wife obtained Papal indults for portable altars in 1394. In 1398 John of Gaunt made him one of his executors. He was chosen a Knight of the Shire for Derby in 1399, after the accession of Henry IV, who continued him in favour; in February 1399/1400 he was receiving instructions for an embassy to Portugal, Spain and Aragon, and in August 1401 was summoned to a Council. In the same year he was a commissioner of oyer and terminer; and the King sent him to Ireland in attendance on his son Thomas of Lancaster, whom he made Lieutenant. When Percy revolted in 1403 he fought for the King at Shrewsbury, 21 July, and was slain.

He married, circa 1373, Sancha, daughter of Don Diego GOMEZ, alcalde maior of Toledo, by Dona Inez DE AYALA. She was a Spanish lady who came to England in December 1371 in the service of Constance of Castile, John of Gaunt's 2nd wife. He died as abovesaid, 21 July 1403, and was buried at St. Mary's, the Newark, Leicester. His widow founded a chantry in the hospital of St. Leonard at Alkmonton (co. Derby) in 1406. She made her will in 1415, desiring to be buried beside her husband at the Newark, Leicester,(') where her mistress Constance also was interred.  [Complete Peerage IX:331-3, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]