Ralph de Greystoke Baron

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁹⁶⁴
Ralf, lord of Greystoke, was seventeen years of age at the time of his father's death, and did not recieve livery of his lands until 1321, in which year he was summoned to parliament as Ralf de Graystok. Ralf married Alice, daughter of Sir Hugh Audley, and became one of the followers of the younger Sir Hugh in the 'pursuit' of the Despensers. The king was afraid of his coming under the influence of the Earl of Lancaster, and warned him against attending the meeting of 'good peers' at Doncaster in 1321. He was present at the battle of Borroughbridge where Lancaster was overthrown. His armorial bearings were inscribed on the roll of that battle as 'burule dazur et dargent ove iii chapeletz de gul.' During his short life, he was often summoned to parliament and to military service. At the siege of Mitford Castle in 1323, which Gilbert de Middleton was holding against the King, he was treacheroulsy poisoned and buried before the altar in the abbey of Newminster. He widow was afterward married to Ralf, Lord Neville of Raby.

~The Ancestor, Vol. VI, pp.129-130

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Ralph de Greystoke, feudal Lord of Greystoke, son and heir of Robert Fitz Ralph, by Elizabeth, his wife, and grandson and heir of Sir Ralph Fitz William, of Grimthorpe and Hildreskelf, co. York; was born 15 August 1299. On the death of his father, April 1317, he became feudal Lord of Greystoke, and, according to modern doctrine, Lord Fitz William. On 19 August 1317 the King granted him the manors of Grimthorpe, Crossthwaite, Thorpe Bassett, and Neasham (all held in socage, but not of the King), he being then aged 18 and more.

On 27 August 1320, being of full age, though Ralph, had not proved his age, he had livery of the lands of his inheritance, his homage and fealty being respited: on 7 October following, having proved his age, he had livery of the knights' fees and advowsons of his inheritance, his homage being respited. He was summoned to Parliament from 15 May 1321 to 18 September 1322, by writs directed Radulpho de Craystok', or Creystok', whereby he is held to have become Lord Greystoke. In 1319 he was about to go to Scotland with Hugh Daudele the younger. He fought for the King at the battle of Boroughbridge, 16 March 1321/2.

Ralph de Greystoke married, after 25 November 1317, Alice*, sister of Hugh, Earl of Gloucester, and daughter of Hugh Lord Audley, by Iseude, widow of Sir Walter de Balun, of Much Marcle, co. Hereford, and daughter of Sir Edmund de Mortimer of Wigmore, co. Hereford. He died at Gateshead, being poisoned, 14 July 1323, aged nearly 24, and was buried in Newminster Abbey. His widow had livery of her dower, 12 August and 27 September 1323, and of the knights' fees, cornages, and advowsons of her dower, 18 and 26 December following, all of which had been assigned to her by the King. She married, 2ndly (royal licence, 14 Jan. 1326/7) Sir Ralph de Nevill, of Raby, co. Durham . He died 5 August 1367, and was buried in Durham Cathedral Church. She died 13 January 1374/5, and was buried with him.

* Request by the King, for a papal dispensation that Ralph Graystoke, of the diocese of York, and Alice de Audele the King's kinswoman, of the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, might intermarry, although the said Ralph and Alice are related in the 4th-3rd degrees on consanguinity; Windsor, 25 November 11 [not 12] Edward II.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. VI, pp. 190-191

Ralph married Alice de Audley, daughter of Hugh Audley Lord Audley of Heleigh and Isolde de Mortimer ¹⁴¹.^,964 (Alice de Audley was born about 1300 in Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire, England, died on 13 Jan 1375 in England ¹⁴¹ and was buried in 1375 in Durham Cathedral, Durham, England ¹⁴¹.)