A manuscript which narrates the descents of the founders of Lanthony Abbey names “Willielmus de Brews quartus” as son of “Reginaldus de Brews” and his wife “filiam domini Willielmus de la Bruere”. The Red Book of the Exchequer records "Willelmus de Braosa" holding one knight’s fee "in Eadburgetone" in Kent in [1210/12]. Henry III King of England granted "honore de la Cnappe et de…Bremble", relinquished by "Reginaldus de Braosa", to "Willelmo de Braosa filio et heredi suo" dated 7 Aug 1218.
"Willelmi de Braosa" gave homage to King Henry III for lands "que Reginaldus de Braosa pater suus de rege tenuit in capite" dated 13 Jul 1228. The Annals of Tewkesbury record that “W. de Breuse filius Reginaldi de Breuse” was captured by “Lewelinum” in 1228. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "William Bruse was hanged by Llywelyn son of Iorewerth, having been caught in the chamber of the prince with the princess Jannet, daughter of King John and wife of the prince" in 1230. The Annals of Dunstable record that “Willelmus de Brause” was captured and hanged by “Leulino” in 1230. The Annals of Tewkesbury record that “Lewelinus princeps Norwalliæ” captured and hanged “Willelmum de Breuse filium Reginaldi” after Easter in 1230. The Annals of Margan record that “Lewelinus” captured and killed “Willelmum de Brewsa juniorem” in 1230, adding that it was partly motivated by his old hatred of “progenitorum suorum…Willelmi de Brewas senioris et Matildis de Sancto Walerico uxoris suæ” who had killed many Welsh people, which confuses William de Briouse, son of Reynold, with his cousin William de Briouse, son of William. 1
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He was discovered in Joan's chambers, accused of being her lover, a nd promptly and publicly hanged. While the story that William and Joan were lovers has been generally accepted, the Annals of Margam (in T. Gal e, ed , Historiae Britannicae et Anglicanae Scriptores XX (Oxford, 1687 ), 2-18, [anno] MCCXXX) implies that the "intimacy" was devised by Llywelyn to avenge himself on William for political injuries inflicted not only by William but by the entire Braose family; the execution was hailed by the Welsh as a vindication of a blood-feud against the Braoses dating from at least 1176. Indeed, shortly after the execution Llywelyn wrote to William's widow Eva and to William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, Eva 's brother, stating, in effect, that so far as he was concerned, the intended marriage between Llywelyn's son Dafydd and Eva's daughter Isabella could go forward as planned, and that he could not have prevented the Welsh magnates from taking their vengeance. See J. Goronwy Edwards, Calendar of Ancient Correspondence concerning Wales (Board of Celtic Studies of the University of Wales, History and Law Series, 2)(Cardiff, 1935), pp 51-52, no s. XI.56a, 56b. The marriage in fact took place three months later. 2
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