The Skaggs-Files

BARONY OF LISLE of Rougemont (I)

ROBERT DE LISLE, son and heir, of Campton, Beds, was born there20 January 1287/8, and baptized the following day in the churchof All Saints. He was a minor at his father's death in 1296. Heproved his age at Bedford, 21 March 1309/10, and the King havingtaken his homage on 26 March, he had livery of his father'slands. livery of various other manors, including Harewood, whichhad been the inheritance of Isabel de Forz, Countess of Aumale,was granted to him 18 July 1310, the King having taken homagefor them. These were the manors claimed by Warin his father onthe death of Isabel. He was summoned for military serviceagainst the Scots from August 1310 to 1342, to a Council 25February 1341/2, and to Parliament from 19 December 1311 to 3March 1339/40, by writs directed Roberto de Insula or Robertodel Isle, whereby he is held to have become LORD LISLE. In 1312he had a grant of a yearly fair at Shefford. In 1313, with therest of the court, he attended the King and Queen to theWhitsunday festivities in Paris; and in later years he hadprotection when going beyond seas on the King's service. He wassummoned for the Bannockburn campaign in 1314, and was directedin August 1315 to continue in the North for the winter campaign,being in the King's service in 1316 and in 1317. In November1321 he was ordered not to attend a meeting, of the 'Good Peers'summoned by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and in February followingwas ordered to bring his men to aid the King. He fought atBoroughbridge, 16 March 1321/2, for the King. Shortly afterwardshe had a protection in his manors of Harewood, &c. In 1323, hereceived a grant of the wardship and marriage of Edmund, son andheir of Robert Peverel. In 1324, in the return of knights to besummoned from each shire to Parliament, to confer, he wasreturned as holding lands in Berks, co Cambridge, Herts, Suffolkand Yorks and in Beds also, but he did not reside there. In thesame year he was summoned for service in Gascony on anexpedition which did not start, and also to a Council ofmagnates to advise as to Gascony. In May 1327 he and Margarethis wife obtained Papal indults for portable altars. In 1328 hewent on pilgrimage to Santiago. In 1332 and later he was on thecommission of the peace, &c., in co. Cambridge. On 22 December1336 the King, pitying his enfeebled state, directed that heshould not in future be compelled against his will to come tothe King in his wars or to his parliaments and councils, norappointed minister or officer; but he was several timesnominated on commissions in co. Cambridge down to 15 March1340/1, when he was one of the collectors of the ninth. Ninedays after, however, he appears to have been relievedaltogether, although he received, as mentioned above, a summonsto a Council in February 1341/2.

He apparently married, before 3 May 1318, Margaret, daughter ofWalter DE BEAUCHAMP, of Alcester, co. Warwick, Steward of theKing's household (died 1303). She died in the summer of 1339,when Robert was about to cross the seas on the King's service.After her death he entered the Franciscan Order, to which he hadbeen a benefactor. On 23 March 1341/2 his lands were taken intothe King's hand, he being professed in a religious order. Heappears to have been ordained priest. He died 4 January 1343/4,and was buried in the choir of the Franciscan church in London,in the chapel of All Saints. [Complete Peerage VIII:71-3,(transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

Note: The current ruins of Harewood Castle, which is near thetown of Harewood (north of Leeds, Yorks), was built about 1365.The originial Harewood Castle, also called Rougemont, was nearthe town of Weeton (also just north of Leeds, Yorks).