• General Notes

  of Abergavenny, Wales
  
  -----------------------------
  Maud D'Oyly survived her husband, held Walingford a widow six years, and in 1113 (or thereabouts) was given in marriage, by Henry I. to Brian Fitz-Count, Lord of Abergavenny in Wales, a baron of great valour and renown, natural son of Allan Tergent Earl of Britanny and Richmond, by Lucia, dau. of Dru de Baledon, Lord of Overwent in Wales, and descended from Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon. Brian Fitz-Count then became Lord of Walingford in right of his wife, flourished temp. Hen, I. and bore the arms of his father, "Barry of ten argent and gules," bastardized with a bordure engrailed, sable.[62] Brian Fitz-Count afterwards became famous for his constant adherence to the Empress Matilda, in her contest with Stephen for the crown of England. Immediately she arrived in England Fitz-Count declared in her behalf, and fortified Walingford Castle; where in the winter of 1140-1 her majesty took shelter, and was besieged by Stephen, when Fitz-Count made a valiant and spirited defence of the fort in her behalf,[63] and according to many ancient accounts his wife Maud D'Oyly took a prominent part in the action, "inheritynge the spirit of her auncestours." The Empress had escaped there from Oxford by passing down the river (Thames), then frozen over, eluding the observation of her pursuers by being arrayed in white garments while the ground was covered with snow.[64] The loyal Fitz-Count was at length however compelled to come to an agreement with Stephen;[65] and after sending his wife, Maud D'Oyly, into Normandy to avoid the perils of the war, took the cross himself about 1153, or soon after (Stephen having then become settled on the throne for life), made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, became an exile, and died abroad. Maud his wife took a religious habit, gave an estate in Wilts to Bec Abbey in Normandy, and appendant to the charter of her gift is her seal, containing her effigy in the dress of a nun, holding in her right hand an olive branch, and in her left a string of beads, with these words in the margin, "Sigillum Matildis Domine Wallingfordie." By Fitz-Count she had two sons, both of whom were lepers, and died in a Norman monastery, s.p.: thereupon King Henry II., soon after his accession, seized upon Walingford Castle and honour as an escheat

Details of Brian's family with Lady Maud D'Oyly