General Notes

Saher De Quincey, the Surety, born before 1154, a Baron present at Lincoln when William the Lion of Scotland, did homage to the English monarch in October 1200. He obtained large grants and immunities from King John, and was created Earl Of Winchester on March 2, 1207, having been, in 1203, governor of the castle of Ruil, in Normandy. To him is credited the re-writing of Magna Charta from the Charter of King Henry I and the Saxon code. Opposing the King's concession to the Pope's legate, he was bitterly hated by King John. He was one of the Barons to whom the city and Tower of London were resigned, and was excommunicated with the other Barons the following year. he was sent, with Robert FitzWalter, the Surety, by the other Barons, to invite the Dauphin of France to assume the crown of England, and, even after the death of King John, he kept a strong garrison in Mountsorell Castle, in behalf of Prince Louis. When the Barons, being greatly outnumbered, were defeated by the troops of King Henry III, Saire de Quincey with many others was made prisoner and his estates forfeited. In the following October his immense estates were restore upon his submission. In 1218, the Earl of Winchester went with the Earls of Chester and Arundel to the holy Land, assisted at the siege of Damietta, 1219, and died November 3, 1219 on the way to Jerusalem. his wife Margaret was daughter of Robert de Bellomont and his wife Petronella Grentesmesnil was descended from Emperor Charlemagne.