Research Notes:

Known as Lord of Monmouth from 20 Mar 1297. Summoned to Parliament as Lord Lancaster from 6 Feb 1299. He was among the barons who forced King Edward II to agree to the appointment of the Ordainers, the leader of whom was his older brother. Although he joined the confederacy against the Despencers in 1320, he took no part in the rebellion of his brother Thomas. He was restored to the earldom of Leicester 29 Mar 1324.* In Sep 1326, he joined the queen's party and Roger Mortimer against the king. He was sent to in pursuit of Edward, who had fled to Wales, captured him at Neath and was responsible for his custody at Kenilworth castle until 4 Apr 1327. Used the title Earl of Lancaster from 26 Oct 1326, restored to that earldom 3 Feb 1327 on his brother's rehabilitation. Appointed Guardian of the young King Edward III on his accession. He went blind some time in 1330. He was a close friend and supporter of Edward III after the fall of Mortimer. He succeeded his brother John as Seigneur de Beaufort et de Nogent.

The Chronicon Angliæ records the death of “dominus Henricus comes Lancastre pater Henrici comitis de Derby” and his burial “Leycestriæ in monasterio canonicorum”, dated to 1345 from the context. ¹

* 29 Mar 1324, Westminster

Order to Roger de Belegrave, keeper of certain forfeited lands in the county of Leicester, to delivery to Henry de Lancastre, son and heir of Edmund son of Henry III, the honour, town and castle of Leicester and all lands of that honour with knights' fees and other appurtenancesin his keeping of the king's commitment, except the castle of Kenilworth, Henry having done homage; Henry III having granted the said honour, town, castle, lands and knights' fees to the said Edmund by charter as late of Simon de Monte Forti, earl of Leicester, his enemy, which also came to Henry III as his escheat through the war waged by Simon against him to his [dis]hersion and the battles fought against him, in one of which at Evesham he was slain, to hold to the said Edmund and the heirs of his body as Simon sometime held the same, and doing the service due and accustomed; and Thomas, earl of Lancaster, son and heir of the said Edmund, to whom the premises descended, having gone the way of all flesh without heir of his body.

The like to Robert de Hungerford, keeper of certain forfeited lands in the counties of Wilts, Southampton, Berks and Middlesex, to deliver to the same Henry the said lands and fees in his keeping of the king's commitment.

The like to Robert de Aston, keeper etc. in the counties of Gloucester, Somerset and Dorset.

The like to Robert de Stoke, keeper etc. in the counties of Bedford, and Buckingham.

Order to Roger Heroun, keeper of certain forfeited lands in the county of Northumberland, to deliver to the same Henry all the lands which Simon de Monte Forti, earl of Leicester, held of the barony of John le Viscounte and all other lands held hereditarily by Simon of Henry III with advowsons of churches, knights' fees, services of freemen and all other things belonging thereto, and other lands late of Simon as below, in the said Roger's keeping of the king's commitment, the said Henry having done homage; Henry III having granted the said lands in Northumberland and elsewhere to Edmund his son by charter etc. as above, to hold to him and the heirs of his body, together with all other lands held by Simon of other chief lords, which pertained to the ordinance and disposition of Henry III by Simon's forfeiture by the common consent and council of the magnates and faithful of the realm....

The like to John de Kilvington, keeper of certain forfeited lands in the county of York.

The like to Robert Tuchet, keeper etc. in the county of Derby.

Be it remembered that afterwards on 10 May following at Westminster it was agreed by the king and council that the same Henry should have the name and honour of earl of Leicester, and that thenceforward he should be addressed in the king's court as earl, and [the title] used in other things.

Calendar of Fine Rolls, 17 Edw. II., pp. 268-9

4 Jun 1324, Westminster

Order to Henry de Cobham, keeper of certain lands in the counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, forfeited to the king, to deliver to Henry de Lancastre, son and heir of Edmund son of Henry III, or his attorney, the lands of the honour of Leicester with knights' fees and other appurtenances in his keeping of the king's commitment, with the issues thereof from 29 March last, on which day the said Henry did homage, as appears by inspection of the rolls of chancery....

Calendar of Fine Rolls, 17 Edw. II., p. 284

22 Jun 1324, Northfleet

Order to Amaury la Zousche, keeper of certain forfeited lands in the county of Huntingdon, to deliver to Henry de Lancastre, son and heir of Edmund son of Henry III, the town of Gummecestre and the rent of the township of Huntingdon, in his keeping, the said Henry having done homage; Henry III by charter having granted the premises among other lands to the said Edmund to hold to him and the heirs of his body [etc.]

Calendar of Fine Rolls, 17 Edw. II., p. 286

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Inquisition Post Mortem

613. Henry, Earl of Lancaster

Writ, 26 September, 19 Edward III. [1345]

Wilts. Inq. 1 June, 20 Edward III.

Everle. Upcolyngbourn and Hanyndon. The manors (extent given) held of the king in chief by knight's service.

Date of death unknown. Henry, earl of Derby, his son, is his next heir and of full age.

C. Edw. III. File 79. (13.)
E. Enrolments &c. of Inq. No. 53 ²