General Notes

Alias:<ALIA> Iseude /De Mortimer/
REFN: 10285AN
This late 2nd marriage would mean that she had 4 children by Hugh De Audl
ey at a period in her life when she was approaching the end of her child-b
earing years - at age 46. It is not known if she had children by her 1st m
arriage to Walter De Balun.
The Isolde discussion:
Yesterday I researched the matter of the parentage of Iseult, wife of Hu
gh de Audley the elder. Claims have been advanced in print that Iseult w
as the daughter of Sir Edmund de Mortimer, lst Lord Mortimer, by a hither
to unknown first marriage.
My research indicates that Iseult and her first husband, Walter de
Balun, received the grant of the manor of Arley, co. Stafford from
Edmund de Mortimer for the term of their lives. The grant evidently
took place in or before 1286, in which year I believe Walter de Balun
died. In 1305, following Edmund de Mortimer's death, his widow,
Margaret, sued Iseult and her second husband, Hugh de Audley, for
dower in the manor. In 1325 Iseult paid a fine of 10 pounds to the
King for having acquired the manor of Arley without license from the
king [References: William Salt Arch. Soc., vol. 7, pp. 6,137-138,142;
vol. 9, pg. 132].
In the various wrangling over this property, there is no indication
that Iseult had the manor in free marriage, or any indication that she
was related to Edmund de Mortimer. Indeed, the gift being for life is
unusual, as marriage settlements were usually permanent gifts, not
lifetime grants. I also find it unusual that if Edmund de Mortimer
granted the manor to Iseult and Walter for their lives that his widow,
Margaret, would later sue them for dower, especially if Iseult was
Edmund's daughter.
Reading the records on this matter, I'm frankly skeptical that Iseult
de Audley was Edmund de Mortimer's daughter. As best I can determine,
Iseult de Audley was born say 1360. If true, it would make it
chronologically impossible for her to be Edmund de Mortimer's
daughter. Does anyone know any record which would prove Iseult's
parentage?
I've got to sympathize with a lot of this, Doug, having been one a
few years ago to raise the question here as to whether Margaret de
Fiennes was Isolt's mother (see archive). Birth in 1360 to a fa.
living ca. 1252-1304 would certainly pose a few logistical/biological
problems. I wonder if you mean 1260? I've no need at all to cling
to her being a da. of Edmund de Mortimer; but is there trouble in
having her b. say ca. 1270-2, and in her early-mid teens when she m.
Walter de Balun?
Just because it may contain fresh references, here's the relevant
statement in Vict Co. Hist. of Worcester, III, 6, following its
statement that the manor of Upper Arley, Halfshire Hundred, Worcs,
was granted in 1276 to Roger de Mortimer: "It passed from Roger to
his son Edmund in 1282 [CP V, 379], and was granted by the latter to
his daughter Iseult and her first husband Walter de Balun for their
lives. After Walter's death Iseult married Hugh de Audley, and on
his forfeiture in 1322 the manor was granted by the King to Iseult
[Cal.Close, 1323-7, p. 467], who held it until her death about
1339-40 [Abbrev.Rot.Orig. (Rec. Com.), ii, 130]. The reversion after
her death, during the minority of Roger de Mortimer, had been granted
in 1336 to William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton [Duchy of Lanc.
Royal Chart., no. 277], who had married Elizabeth widow of Edmund de
Mortimer, grandson of the Edmund who had granted the manor to Iseult.
[Cal.Close, 1354-60, p. 271; CP V, 379]. Roger came of age about
1348, but Elizabeth held the manor until her death in 1356, when it
passed to her son Roger [Cal.Close, 1354-60, p. 271], who had become
Earl of March by the reversal of his grandfather's attainder in 1354
[CP V, 243]." In note, p. 9, VCH Worc describes "a fine effigy" of
an early C14 knight. "From his arms the knight is probably Sir
Walter de Balun of Much Marcle, co. Hereford, first husband of Iseult