Comments for Elizabeth Ashworth - author

Comment on The de Lacy Family by elizabethashworth

elizabethashworth — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:31:07 +0000

Yes, I’m aware that there are different claims for Eble’s parentage. I looked into them all when I was writing this novel, which is a while ago now, so I would need to go and search out all the references again.

But these links may interest you if you haven’t seen them:

http://homepages.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy/ps15/ps15_495.htm

http://www.archive.org/stream/lestrangerecords00lestuoft/lestrangerecords00lestuoft_djvu.txt

The second contains this:

The Complete Peerage* on the authority of Blore’s Rutland
(p. 228), makes Eubulo the son of a second wife of John, ist
Lord Strange of Knockin, viz. daughter and heiress of Eubulus
de Montibus, of Ketton, Co. Rutland, and says that from the
name it seems likely ; but I know of no other authority for
the existence of this second wife.

So the geneology is very cloudy, but it was the name that made me decide that the probability was he had a grandfather whom he was named after.

Regarding Richard de St Martin and Joan Martin – I had the same thought, but couldn’t find any evidence for a relationship.

Comment on The de Lacy Family by Fran

Fran — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:32:52 +0000

According to my references Eubolo’s mother was Maud of Walton d’Eiville his father was John le Strange [V]. Alianore had three sons by John [iV],John, Fulke, and Robert her second husband was Bogo de Knovill and they had no issue..

Comment on The de Lacy Family by Fran

Fran — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:11:50 +0000

I wonder if he was any relation to Joan Martin, Alice’s stepmother!

Comment on The de Lacy Family by elizabethashworth

elizabethashworth — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:56:49 +0000

He is referred to as Eubolo, Ebulo and Obolus in official records. But these records are ‘Latinised’ so that John became Johannes, Richard became Ricardus just as a couple of examples.

I hated the name Eubolo because it sounds like a disease so I tried to discover whether he really was called that. What I found was that his grandfather (the father of his mother Alianora) was Sir Eble de Montz, the constable of Windsor Castle. So it appears that he was named after him.

I also tracked down a document where he signs his name and he signs as Eble. He is also referred to as Eble in this petition regarding income from Lincoln Castle: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?queryType=1&resultcount=1&Edoc_Id=7715680

So that seems fairly convincing evidence that Eble was his given name.

There is no evidence that he was lame. The story of the ‘lame knight’ appears to refer to a man named Richard de St Martin who is credited as the person who kidnapped Alicia on behalf of John de Warenne. But I suspect that he may be a Victorian invention .

Comment on The de Lacy Family by Fran

Fran — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:07:58 +0000

Note you call Alice’s second husband Eble le Strange, I live a few miles from a ruined castle owned by the le Strange family, Cheswardine Castle, and in Shropshire he is known as Eubolo!
The Shropshire connection is how I became interested in Alice de Lacy and I like to think that she found happiness with Eubolo and may have visited the favourite residence which was used as a hunting lodge.He has been described as ‘the lame knight’ have you any further information on whether he was born lame or sustained a wound which caused his lameness?

Comment on The de Lacy Family by elizabethashworth

elizabethashworth — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:55:39 +0000

I do have a copy of that book. I tracked it down to an Oxfam bookshop. I haven’t read beyond the first few pages though. As for my own book – it will be coming out with a conventional publisher, but that route does take time. Keep a look out for my latest news.

Comment on The de Lacy Family by Fran

Fran — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:11:17 +0000

Sometimes an author has to follow their own creative instincts, why not self publish?
Bye the way, have you read ‘Alesia de Lacy’ by J G Ruddock?

Comment on The de Lacy Family by elizabethashworth

elizabethashworth — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:36:35 +0000

I think it was mainly to get revenge on Thomas. It’s hard to know if Alice went willingly or not. There is so much nonsense written about the incident that it’s hard to pick out the truth. The de Lacy family had been on good terms with the Warennes for most of the time since the Conquest and there had been some intermarriage so maybe John was genuine in his attempt to offer her his protection – although his grandfather had fallen out with her father, Henry, over land some years before.

I find it interesting that she had left Pickering Castle to go to her house in Canford before the ‘abduction’ took place. It was far away from Thomas and made it easier, though whether it was pre-planned we’ll never know for sure.

I don’t have a publication date for the book as yet. My agent remarked that it might be hard to sell as Alice is a victim and has little chance to be pro-active. Sadly, that is a reflection of her real life. Although I think she had tremendous strength of character she was at the mercy of powerful men and I can’t re-write what really happened to her.

Comment on The de Lacy Family by Fran

Fran — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:46:40 +0000

Strange that John de Warenne was the one to help Alice given that he was heavily involved in trying to extricate himself from a marriage to a Plantagenet. Have you found any specific reason for his involvement or was it simply to thwart Thomas of Lancaster because he had tried to stop his divorce?
Oh! By the way have you any dates for publication?

Comment on The de Lacy Family by elizabethashworth

elizabethashworth — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:30:54 +0000

She remained under the care of John de Warenne and so may have remained at Reigate or possibly been taken to another of the de Warenne castles. It seems that Thomas made no concerted attempt to get her back even though he used the matter as an excuse not to attend court, accusing the king of being party to the ‘abduction’.