Research Notes:

James Tuchet (or Audley), Knt., 5th Lord Audley, of Markeaton, Derbyshire, Heleigh (in Audley) and Audley, Staffordshire, Leegomery (in Wellington), Shropshire, Ashton, Wiltshire, Chief Justice of South Wales, Chamberlain of South Wales, itinerant justice for Brecon, son and heir, born about 1398 (aged 10 in 1408, 13 in 1411). He was co-heir in 1411 to his great-grand-aunt, Margaret Audley, widow of Roger Hillary, Knt. He was summoned to Parliament from 26 Feb. 1420/1 to 26 May 1455, by writs directed Jacobo de Audley. He distinguished himself in the wars in France, having the chief command of some forces in 1430. He and his wife, Eleanor, presented to the churches of Fordley, Suffolk, 1433, and Carlton Colville, Suffolk, in 1444, 1447, and 1455. In 1447 he had an exemption for life from attendance in Parliament. ²

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2 Jun 1438, Windsor Castle

Thomas, late bishop of Durham, deceased, appointed as executors of his will, William, bishop of Lincoln, late bishop of Norwich, William, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, Richard, earl of Warwick, Richard, earl of Salisbury, James lord of Audeley, James Strangways the elder, Thomas Leys, rector of the parish church of Weremouth, Nicholas Hulme, canon of the collegiate church of Derlyngton, in the diocese of Durham [and others,] but the bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, the earl of Warwick and James de Audeley have been afraid to join them lest through failure on their part to prosecute or reply with their co-executors in any suit arising out of the will, they should be amerced, which amercement would be affered at 100s. at least in the case of such persons. The king, therefore, at the request of the bishops and earls above mentioned and of the said James de Audeley, grants to them that they and their pledges shall be released from any amercement so incurred in any of his courts, and shall have any writs necessary in that behalf.

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. VI, vol. 3, p. 171

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24 Oct 1441, Westminster

Grant, during good behaviour, to James Tychet, lord Daudeley, of the office of Chamberlain of South Wales, to hold to himself or by deputy, taking yearly therein all and like wages, fees, rewards and profits, as Ralph Botiller, knight, or John Merbury or others had heretofore; licence also for him to appoint in South Wales coroners, escheators and other officers called 'Penkaysettes,' and other accountable officers whatsoever with such authority as the same late chamberlains used.

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. VI, vol. 6, p. 6

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8 Nov 1446, Westminster

Pardon to James, lord of Audeley, chamberlain of South Wales, of a sum of 186l. 10s. 8½d., wherein he is charged on his account before the auditors of South Wales, for arrears.

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. VI, vol. 5, p. 19

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26 Oct 1447, Westminster

Exemption for life of Jame Tuchete, lord of Audley, from attendance at the king's parliaments and councils.

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. VI, vol. 5, p. 113

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On 28 Jul 1449 James lord of Audeley, knight, was on a commission to make inquisition in the county touching the lands which have come into the king's hands by the death of Henry, duke of Warwick, and of Anne, his daughter and heir, in the king's ward. (CPR, Hen. VI, vol. 5, p. 285)

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On 7 Oct 1450 James de Audeley, knight, was on a commission to defend the ports and maritime places within the counties and lordships of Kermerdyn, Gardygan, Pembroke, the duchy of Lancaster, Haverford and Deweslond in South Wales, to array and try all men at arms, hobelers and archers in those parts and bring them to the seacoast to expel the king's enemies, and to survey the muster of the same from time to time, and to set up 'bekyns' in the usual places and cause the necessary watches to be kept. (CPR, Hen. VI, vol. 5, p. 432)

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On 18 Oct 1459, a writ of diem clausit extremum was directed to the escheator in the county of Suffolk after the death of James late lord de Audeley, knight. On 5 Dec 1459, a like writ was issued to the escheator of co. Lincoln following the death of James Audeley, knight. On 11 Dec 1459, a like writ was direct to thee escheator of co. Derby following the death of James Audeley, knight.

Calendar of Fine Rolls, 38 Hen. VI, p. 245

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James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley...was a distinguished veteran of the Hundred Years' War. In the opening phase of the Wars of the Roses he raised troops from his estates in Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire and commanded the Lancastrian force that moved to block the Yorkist Earl of Salisbury's route to Ludlow where he intended linking up with the rest of the Yorkist army.

The two forces clashed in the Battle of Blore Heath on 23 September 1459 and Audley was killed by Sir Roger Kynaston of Stocks near Ellesmere (Kynaston incorporated emblems of the Audley coat-of-arms into his own). He was beheaded after the battle. Audley's Cross still stands on the battlefield marking the spot where he died.

Audley was buried in Darley Abbey, north of Derby, about 40 miles away from Blore Heath. Unfortunately, the Abbey no longer stands, so his final resting place is no longer marked. ³