Sir Nicholas de Segrave Knight, First Lord of Segrave

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁸⁴⁴
Nicholas de Segrave, first Baron Segrave, born about 1238, son of Gilbert de Segrave & Ambilia Chaucumb. His grandfather was the justiciar, Stephen de Segrave.

Nicholas was about sixteen or seventeen years of age [Calendarium Genealogicum, p. 65]. He came of age about the time when the trouble between Henry III and the barons culminated in Oxford parliament of 1258. He was a great Leicestershire land holder and he attached himself to Simon de Montfort. He was at parliament in 1262, when the king told the barons that he had obtained absolution from his oath to observe the previsions of Oxford. He was summoned to attend the king on 1 Aug 1263 at Worcester, and there to receive knighthood before engaging in the campaign against the Welsh, yet he was in active revolt against the king [Dunstable Annals, p. 222]. He was summoned to Montfort's parliament in Jan 1265. On 4 Aug 1265, he fought at Evesham, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. [Flores Hist. iii 6; London Annals, p. 69; Waverley Annals, p. 365]

Nicholas had his estates returned on the condition of paying the composition stipulated by the Dictum de Kenilworth. He received authorisation to levy special aid on his tenants to raise the fine, and Geoffrey of Genville became surety for his future conduct. He soon obtained the complete confidence of Edward, which continued once Edward took the throne.

Nicholas took part in the campaigns of 1277 and 1282 against Llywelyn of Wales [Parl. Writs, i. 832]. He was summoned to the Shrewsbury parliament of Aug 1283 [Parl. Writs, i. 832]. On 18 1288, he received grants of the custody of the land of William de Ferrars during his minority, paying a fine of one hundred marks for the privilege [Cal. Patent Rolls, p. 295].

Nicholas de Segrave was the first of his house to relinquish its lawyer traditions, and he taught his children "to imitate the brave and associate with the nobles" [Nicholas, Siege of Carlaverock, p. 12] He died late in 1295, being summoned to parliament in Aug of that year, and Nov to foreign service [Parl. Writs, i. 829]. He was married to Matilda de Lucy, who died in 1337, and they had five sons, all described as "valiant, bold and courageous knights" [Nicholas, Siege of Carlaverock, p. 12]. Three of these sons were Gilbert de Segrave, who died in 1216, John de Segrave and Nicholas de Segrave, lord of Stowe. Other sons included Simon, who was imprisoned in 1307, and Henry and Geoffrey, both of who were alive and of full age in the same year. There was also a daughter named Annabel who married John de Plessetis.

~The Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 17, p. 1141

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Nicholas de Segrave, son and heir, aged 16 on 17 Dec 1254, on 18 Apr 1258 had done homage and was to have his lands. On 28 Mar 1259 he was going on pilgrimage to Pontigny. He was crossing with the King to France, 28 Oct 1259. On 27 Mar 1260 he was sum. to London with his service. On 16 Sep 1261, before the King at Windsor, he swore to hold with the King and do his service faithfully and never to oppose him; 21 Oct 1261, summoned to come without delay with horses and arms. In May 1262 at Parliment in London against the King; Jul 1263, to be with the King at Worcester on 1 Aug, there to he knighted by him and to go with him into Wales. He was at the siege of Rochester with the Earl of Gloucester, Henry de Hastings and others in Apr 1264 and on 14 May commanded the Londoners at the battle of Lewes . He was granted the custody of the castle of Rockingham and of the King's forests between the bridges of Oxford and Stamford, 17 Jun 1264; 13/24 Dec 1264, summoned to London to treat upon the delivery of Prince Edward. On 16 Feb 1264/5, with the Earl of Leicester and others, he was forbidden to tourney at Dunstable; and was ordered to treat with the King for the liberation of his son Edward. On . Aug 1265 he was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Evesham, and on 25 Oct 1265 his lands were granted to Edmund the King's son; but on 28 Apr 1266 he was coming to the King's court to treat of his peace. In 1267, Prince Edward entered the Isle of Ely on its surrender by Robert Pecche, Nicholas de Segrave and other captains, who on 11 Apr fled to Southwark and were received by the Earl of Gloucester. On 1 July 1267, he was pardoned and admitted into the King's peace. On 12 May 1270, he was going with the King and Prince Edward to the Holy Land. He was summoned, to serve in Wales in 1276, 1277, 1282 and 1283. On 28 June 1283, summonded to Shrewsbury to treat with David ap Grithth; 2 Jan 1284/5, going to Ireland. He was in various Commissions, 1290-94; 6 July 1291 and 28 Apr. 1292, staying in Scotland on the King's service. He was summoned to Parliment, at Westm. on 24 June (1295) 23 Edw. I by writ directed Nich[ola]o de Segrave seniori, whereby he is held to have become Lord Seagrave.

Sir Nicholas de Segrave married Maud (*1). He died before 12 Nov 1295, and was buried at Chaucombe priory.

(*1) On 28 Aug. 1288 Maud and her husband complained that she was assaulted at Eccleshale, co. Warwick, and thrown out of the vehicle in which she was riding and that a cart laden with victuals and other goods was carried off. Nichols, op. cit., vol. iii, pt. i, p. 240 sets out a copy of a MS. formerly at Naworth Castle, being an account of the descendants of the marriage of Gilbert de Segrave and Amabil de Chaucombe. Nicholas' wife is there stated to have been Maud Lucy. The MS. appears to have been a genealogy of the founders of Chaucombe Priory. There is no record of any assignment of dower.

Nicholas married Maud de Lucy, daughter of Geoffrey de Lucy and Unknown ^160,193.^,844 (Maud de Lucy died in 1337 in England ¹⁶⁰.)