Bells Cathedrals: The Abbey Church of Tewkesbury | Page 5

His simul ecclesiæ sanctæ suffragia
prosint Ut simul in requie cælesti cum Domino sint."
Gilbert de Clare bequeathed to the Abbey the manor called Mythe, on
the hill just outside the town, and Isabelle also left to it many relics,
besides vestments, and much valuable church furniture.
On the death of Gilbert de Clare, his son Richard became a ward of the
King. Marrying Margaret de Burgh, a daughter of the great Earl of
Kent, without permission, he incurred the royal displeasure, and was
eventually forced to divorce his young wife in favour of the lady
chosen for him. He supported the barons against the King, with whom
he had never been in agreement. In 1262 he died, and was buried in the
Abbey. One of his wife's sisters married Robert Bruce, competitor for
the Scottish Crown and grandfather of King Robert Bruce.
His son Gilbert the second, Rufus or Rubens, i.e. Red, is another
well-known figure. Like his father, he at first supported the barons, but
soon after the battle of Lewes he took the King's side, and fought for
him at Evesham. Again from pique he deserted him, returning to his
allegiance once more in 1270. He was buried in the Abbey in 1295.
Gilbert de Clare the third, who was born at Tewkesbury in 1291, was
perhaps the most famous of the De Clares. Whilst he was still in early
manhood, he was twice chosen by Edward II. to serve as Regent of
England in his absence, once even before he had attained full age. His
promising career was cut short at Bannockburn in 1314, and the last of
the De Clares was buried in the Choir in 1314, his widow being placed
later by his side.
The lordship of Tewkesbury then passed from the De Clares, who had
held it for ninety years, to Eleanor, Gilbert's eldest sister. By her
marriage in 1321 to Hugh le Despenser, the lordship came into the
hands of the Despensers. This Hugh the younger, or Hugo Secundus as
the Register calls him, was too faithful a supporter of Edward II., and
he paid for his fidelity with his life in 1326, having been hanged, drawn,

and quartered in Hereford about three weeks after his aged father had
suffered a similar fate at Bristol. His remains were collected and buried
in the tomb at the back of the sedilia, where Abbot John's tomb was
placed at a later date.
The next lord of Tewkesbury was Hugh, the son of Hugh the younger
and Eleanor de Clare. His tomb is to be seen on the north side of the
high altar, with his effigy upon it, together with that of his wife, the
Lady Elizabeth, who, though thrice married, preferred to be buried with
him. She retained the manor of Tewkesbury after her marriage to Sir
Guy de Brien, and on her death in 1359 it passed to her nephew,
Edward le Despenser.
This Edward le Despenser took part in the battle of Poitiers, and was
one of the first Knights of the Garter. On his death at Cardiff in 1375
his body was brought to Tewkesbury, and his effigy is to be seen on the
roof of the Trinity Chapel on the south side of the high altar. He was
buried close to the presbytery, and his wife was, in 1409, buried next to
him.
Thomas le Despenser, the third son of Edward, was for two years only
Earl of Gloucester, and being attainted, was executed at Bristol in 1400.
No trace remains of his grave at Tewkesbury.
[Illustration: RICHARD BEAUCHAMP, FIRST HUSBAND OF
ISABELLE DESPENSER, AND HIS ARMORIAL CONNECTIONS.
From the Registrum Theokusburiæ. (H.J.L.J.M.)]
With the death of his son Richard in 1414, the lordship of the
Despensers in the male line, after ninety-three years, became extinct.
Once again the Manor of Tewkesbury passed by the female line, and
into the distinguished family of the Beauchamps, with whom Richard
le Despenser's sister Isabelle was connected by her marriage with
Richard Beauchamp, or Ricardus de Bello Campo as the Register calls
him when it does not give his name as Becham. He was killed at the
siege of Breaux in France in 1421, and his young widow erected the
sumptuous chantry chapel known as the Warwick Chapel over his

remains. She then, by special papal dispensation, married her cousin,
also a Richard Beauchamp, and from henceforth was generally known
by her new title, the Countess of Warwick. On her husband's death at
Rouen in 1439, she brought his body to England and had it conveyed to
the Beauchamp Chapel at Warwick. The widowed countess died in
December of the same year, but elected to be buried at Tewkesbury.
Her young son Henry was a favourite of Henry VI., who bestowed
most unusual favours