General Notes

WILLIAM DE MUNCHENSY, son and heir by 2nd wife, was a minor at his father's death; his wardship was granted to his half-brother-in-law, William de Valence. He had livery of lands in Norfolk, Essex, Kent, co. Gloucester and Northants, 20 October 1256. He was summoned for, and did, military service in Wales, 1257 and following years. He did fealty to the King at Windsor, 26 August 1261, and was summoned in September following to the Council at Windsor, dealing with Llewelyn. He was early in opposition to the King; his seal was one of those required to be put to the writing of the peace made between the King and the Barons, 7 December 1261; on the 16th he was commanded, if he could not come to affix it, to send it up for the purpose. When opposition was renewed at the Council held in London at Whitsuntide 1262, under Simon de Montfort, William de Munchensy was prominent among the younger Barons. He commanded in the Earl of Gloucester's division of the Barons' forces at Lewes, 14 May 1264, and was summoned to (Montfort's) Parliament 14 December following. In May 1265 he was one of the four arbitrators to whom were referred (unsuccessfully) the matters in dispute between Simon de Montfort and the Earl of Gloucester. He took part in the younger Simon's raid on Winchester, and with him was sent to seek aid for the Barons in Norfolk and Suffolk. On their return to the Midlands they were surprised in their beds at Kenilworth Priory, and taken prisoners, by Prince Edward on the night of 1 August 1265. His lands were granted to William de Valence; he was released temporarily on bail to his mother, and had safe conduct to come to court to treat as to his peace in June 1266 and afterwards. He was pardoned under the Award of Kenilworth in February 1267, and his lands restored to him by William de Valence. In March 1268 he had a fresh protection, but was excepted by name from the safe conduct given in October 1269 to the Earl of Gloucester and his household, coming to court. In February 1270 he had leave to go to France with the Earl, who was accompanying Prince Edward to that court to make arrangements for the Crusade. He was one of the magnates who wrote, on behalf of all, from the New Temple, 23 November 1272, informing Edward I of his father's death, and that they had buried him in Westminster Abbey, when they, and the multitude present, had taken the oath of fealty to Edward. On the following morning they had had him proclaimed in the Great Hall at Westminster. In January 1273 he was again going overseas. He received a full pardon from Edward I in 1275 for all his part in the disturbances in the late reign. In the summer of 1277 he was abroad without the King's permission, and in the autumn obtained a pardon for all forest offences under Henry III and Edward I. He was summoned and had allowance of scutage for service performed in 1277, 1282 and 1283 in Wales. On 28 June 1283 he was summoned to the Assembly at Shrewsbury, and on 15 July 1287 to attend, with horses and arms, a military council at Gloucester, and set out accordingly. He died s.p.m., being killed by the collapse of a wall in mining operations at Dryslwyn Castle, near Carmarthen, before 16 September 1287, and was buried at Dereham.

He married Amice, whose parentage has not been ascertained. She was buried in the church of the Greyfriars in London. M.I.  [Complete Peerage IX:422-4, XIV:493, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

------------------------

(g) William m. Amy before suncrise on the Tuesday after the Feast of St Bartholomew (24 Aug 1279), in the parish church of Hill Croome, co. Worcester, he in a robe of black camlet and she in one of murry colour.  About the time of Amy's death the validity of this marriage was challenged, apparently on the ground that it took place at the church door.  But as a result of proceedings in Worcester Cathedral, on the 2nd law-day after the Feast of St Simon and Jude (28 Oct) 1283, wherein inter alies depositions were taken from Thomas de Wychio, priest of the church of Hill Croome aforesaid, who officiated at the ceremony, Bishop Giffard gave sentence that William and Amy were lawfully married.  This was in accordance with similar declaration by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 23 Aug 1283.  Nevertheless the matter was again raised in the King's Court, 1287, and in Parliament, 1290, by William de Valence and his wife Joan, Denise's aunt of the half-blood and next heir, who tried, but failed, to prove that Denise was in consequence a bastard and not her father's lawful heir.  [Complete Peerage XII/2:255 note (g)]