DEVEREUX, VISCOUNT HEREFORD.
Among other powerful Normans, who accompanied Duke William in the conquest of England, was Walter de Etvrus, Earl of Rosmar, to whom, in consideration of his valour, he gave the lordships of Salisbury and Arnesbury, in Wilts. This Earl before he came hither had issue Gerold, called Le Gros, afterwards Earl of Rosmar, father of William, surnamed Meschin, father of William, who died issueless.
But after his coming to England he had other sons, viz.
First, Edward, ancestor to the ancient Earls of Salisbury.
Second, Robert, ancestor to the Viscounts Hereford, and Earls
of Essex.
Edward, eldest son, called De Sareslerie, was possessed, at
the general survey, of large estates, among which were thirty-
three lordships in Wilts. In 20 Hen. I. he was standard-bearer in
the famous battle at Brenneville in Normandy. He left a son
Walter ; whose son and heir Patric was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Salisbury , b by Maud the Empress -, and being
the King's lieutenant in Aquitaine, in 116/, was slain by Guy de
Lezinnian on his return from a pilgrimage, which he had made to
St. James in Galiciaj and was buried at St. Hilarier. He was
succeeded by his son and heir William, second Earl of Salisbury, who died in 1 ig6, 8 Rich. II. leaving Ela, his sole daughter
and heir, " of whom," says Dugdale, *' it is thus reported that
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 an harper, (being practised in mirth
and jesting) he became well accepted there. Moreover, that
growing acquainted with her, after some time he took her into
England, and presented her to King Richard ; who, receiving her
very courteously, gave her in marriage to William, surnamed
Longspe, his brother, (that is, a natural son to King Henry II.
begotten on the Fair Rosamond, sometime his concubine.) And
that thereupon King Richard rendered unto him the Earldom of
Rosmar, as her inheritance, by descent from Edward of Saresburie, the son of Walter de Ewrus before-mentioned." This
Earl William died in ]22rj, his widow Ela surviving till about
1263, at the age of seventy-eight. 1
Also known as Walter le Ewrus of Rosmar and Walter de Salisbury.