WALTER DE DEVEREUX

Amongst the principal Normans who accompanied the Conqueror, and participated in the triumph and spoil of Hastings, was WALTER DE EVEREUX, of Rosmar, in Normandy, who obtained, with other considerable grants, the Lordships of Salisbury and Ambresbery, which (having devised his hereditary possessions and Earldoms to Walter, his eldest son,) he bequeathed to his younger son, Edward de Evereux, thenceforward designated of Salisbury. This potent noble, who possessed, at the General Survey, lordships in the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Surrey, Hants, Middlesex, Hereford, Buckingham, and Wilts, bore the royal Standard at the battle of Brennevill, and eminently distinguished himself. His only son, Walter de Evereux, founded the Monastery of Bradenstoke, wherein, in his old age, he became a canon. He was grandfather of William de Evereux, Earl of Salisbury, whose only daughter and heiress, ELA, was at her father's death, resident in Normandy. "This lady," says Dugdale, "being so great an inheritrix, one William Talbot, an Englishman, and an eminent soldier, took upon him the habit of a pilgrim, and went into Normandy, where, wandering up and down for the space of two months, at length he found her out. Likewise that he then changed his habit, and having entered the court where she resided, in the garb of a harper (being practised in mirth and jesting), he became well accepted. Moreover that, growing acquainted with her, after some time he conducted her to England, and presented her to King Richard, who, receiving her very courteously, gave her in marriage to WILLIAM, surnamed, Longespee (from the long sword which he usually wore), his brother, that is a natural son of King Henry II., by Fair Rosamond, and that thereupon, King Richard rendered unto him the Earldom of Roamar, as her inheritance. Be this true or false, it is certain, however, that the great heiress of Devereux, Ela, espoused WILLIAM Longsword, 'jure uxoris' Earl of Salisbury, the gallant soldier of the reign of King John, and one of the Crusaders at the disastrous battle of Damieta,

[The Earl subsequently served in Gascony, whence, returning to England " there arose (we quote Dugdale) so great a tempest at sea, that, despairing of life, he threw his money and rich apparel overboard. But when all hopes were passed, they discerned a mighty taper of wax, burning bright at the prow of the ship, and a beautiful woman standing by it, who preserved it from wind and rain, so that it gave a clear and brilliant lustre. Upon sight of which heavenly vision, both himself and the mariners concluded of their future security; but every one there being ignorant what this vision might portend, except the Earl; he, however, attributed it to the benignity of the blessed Virgin, by reason, that upon the day when he was honoured with the girdle of knighthood, he brought a taper to her altar to be lighted every day at mass, when the canonical hours used to be sung, and to the intent, that, for this terrestrial light, he might enjoy that which was eternal."]

and left at her decease (she was then Abbess of Lacock) an eldest son, WILLIAM DE LONGESPEE, who made two pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and after a brilliant career, fell in 1250, in a great conflict with the Saracens, wherein the crescent triumphed. His grand-daughter and heiress, Margaret, commonly called Countess of Salisbury, married Henry de Laci, Earl of Lincoln, and was mother of Alice, wife of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. From Robert de Ewrus youngest son Walter, Earl of Roamar, the companion of the Conqueror, descended the DEVEREUX'S Lord Ferrers of Chartley, and EARLS or ESSEX, of whom the second possessor of the Earldom was ROBERT DEVEREUX, the ill-fated favourite of Queen Elizabeth - an able statesman, a gallant soldier, and one of the most accomplished noblemen of the period in which he lived. His Lordship is now represented by the Marquess Townshend, who, as heir-general, inherits the Barony of Ferrers of Chartley. The present male head of the house of Devereux is Robert, Viscount Hereford.

--(This name appears on the Battle Abbey roll)