General Notes

WILLIAM II DE MUNCHENSY, son and heir, born about 1230, was in 1254 found heir to Ralph de la Hay, of Layer de la Hay, Essex, and did fealty. In April 1256 he fined for deferring his knighthood till Christmas. In April 1257 he had protection on going to Wales in the service of the King and Prince Edward, and on 13 September received a grant of free warren in his demesne lands of Edwardstone, &c. In that year he accompanied the Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans elect, to Germany, and in January following, as the King's yeoman, had protection during a pilgrimage to Santiago. During the troubles between the King and the Barons he remained loyal in his service, and was sent in June 1264, with Ralph de Camoys, to take measures for the security of Windsor Castle. His marriage, to a coheiress of Beauchamp of Bedford, made him a tenant in chief of the Crown, and he was summoned direct for military service and to Councils. In July 1277 he was going to Wales on service for the King, which seems to have engaged him for several months. In May 1282, and later years, he was summoned to perform military service in person against the Welsh, and in June 1283 to the Assembly at Shrewsbury. His career was cut short in September 1285 by his being charged with, and outlawed for, incitement to murder in Essex, for which he fled, and his lands were forfeited. He submitted his person and belongings, and in May 1286 received a pardon on condition of going to the Holy Land before June 1287, and remaining there in God's service for ever. His armour, which had been seized, was returned to him. He appears not to have observed the condition, for in February 1290 he was a prisoner in the Tower. A year later he was making ready to journey to Acre, there to stay in the service of God; the Abbot of St. Edmund's was ordered to restore to him such of his armour, plate, jewels and robes as were in the Abbot's hands, and an annuity was assigned him of £100. He was evidently in Palestine 1295-97. In February 1297 he received pardon and permission to return, and in June, when he was probably in England again, restitution of his lands. The following year he was summoned for military service against the Scots. He was planning to go abroad 27 April, but died before 14 May 1302.

He married, before June 1278, Beatrice, widow of Thomas FITZOTES (hereditary coiner of the Mint, an adherent of the Crown in the civil war, who died 1274, leaving a son Otes, aged 10), and daughter and coheir of William DE BEAUCHAMP, of Bedford. She died before 30 September 1285.  [Complete Peerage IX:416-7, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]