An order dated 16 Jun 1238 records the homage of “Alani filii et heredis Rogeri la Zuch” for lands in Devonshire and Shropshire. A writ dated "54 Hen III", after the death of "Alan la Zuche", names "Roger his son, age variously stated as 28 and more and 30, is his heir". 1
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Sir Alan la Zouche in the 26th Henry III [1242] had a military summons to attend the king into France, and in ten years afterwards had the whole county of Chester and all North Wales placed under his government. In the 45th of the same reign [1272] he obtained a charter for a weekly market at Ashby-la-Zouche, in Leicestershire, and for two fairs in the year at Swavesey. About the same time he was constituted warden of all the king's forests south of Trent, as also sheriff of Northamptonshire. In the 46th he was made justice itinerant for the cos. Southampton, Buckingham, and Northampton; and upon the arbitration made by Lewis, King of France, between Henry III and the barons, he was one of the sureties oh behalf of the king. In three years afterwards he was constituted constable of the Tower of London and governor of the castle at Northampton. Sir Alan Zouche was violently assaulted in Westminster Hall in 1268 by John, Earl of Warren and Surrey upon occasion of a dispute between the regarding some landed property, and with his son, Roger, who happened to be with him, severely wounded. He m. Elena, dau. and heir of Roger de Quinci, Earl of Winchester, and by her (who d. 1296] had issue, Roger, his successor, and Eudo, from whom the Zouches, Barons Zouche, of Harynworth derive. Alan le Zouche d. in 1269 and was s. by his elder son, Roger. 2
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ALAN LA ZOUCHE, son and heir, was to have seisin of his lands, having done homage, 16 June 1238. He took part in the capture of William Marsh, June 1242; served in Gascony, 1242-43; was granted a weekly market and yearly fair at Swavesey, 26 June 1244, and at Ashby, 4 May 1261; Justice of Chester and of the four cantreds in North Wales, 2 July 1250, continuing as Deputy under Prince Edward, February 1253/4-October 1255; Commissioner to mediate between Llewelin, Prince of North Wales, and his brother David, 31 January 1253/4. Having gone to Ireland in the service of Prince Edward early in 1256, he was Justiciar of Ireland from before 27 June 1256 till shortly before 21 October1258. During the Barons' Wars he stood firmly for the King. He was among the tenants summoned to London cum serviciis que nobis debent, Easter 1260, and again cum equis et armis, February 1260/1; was granted a pension of 50 marks a year, 4 April 1261; Justice of the Forest South of Trent and Constable of Rockingham Castle, 12 June 1261-64; Constable of Northampton Castle, 12 June 1261-July 1263, and again, 28 February-June 1267; Sheriff of Northants, 9 July 1261-64; was sent hurriedly to defend the march of Wales against Llewelin, December 1262; was one of the King's supporters who, at Windsor, 16 December 1263, declared themselves willing to accept the arbitration of the King of France; and was appointed Keeper of cos. Devon, Somerset and Dorset, 24 December 1263. According to some accounts he was taken prisoner by Sir John Giffard at the battle of Lewes, 14 May 1264, but escaped and was recaptured in the garb of a monk. He was one of the 12 Commissioners, appointed 31 August, who were responsible for the Dictum of Kenilworth, 31 October 1266; and he was Warden of the City and Constable of the Tower of London, 23 or 25 June 1267-April 1268. He married, before 1242, Helen, or Ellen, 3rd daughter and coheir of Roger (DE QUENCY), 2nd EARL OF WINCHESTER, CONSTABLE OF SCOTLAND, by his 1st wife, Helen, 2nd but 1st surviving daughter and coheir of Alan, LORD OF GALLOWAY, CONSTABLE OF SCOTLAND. In the course of a lawsuit with John (de Warenne), Earl of Surrey, he and his son Roger were violently assaulted by the Earl before the Justices in Westminster Hall on the Octave of St. John (1 July) 1270, whereby he received wounds of which he died, 10 August following. His widow, who received Brackley in her pourparty and was patron of the Hospital there, was summoned to send her service to Wales in 1277 and 1282. She died shortly before 20 August 1296. 3
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3 Nov 1238, Woodstock
The king has granted to Alan la Zouche that, of the debts which Roger la Zouche, his father, owed the king for himself and for Ralph of Stopham, one of the heirs of Brian de Lisle , who was in his custody , of which he was accustomed to render 45 m. to the king per annum at the Exchequer, Alan may similarly render 45 m. at the same terms at which they were previously accustomed to be rendered until the aforesaid debts are paid to the king.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 23 Hen. III, 8
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24 Sep 1252, Hatfield
Whereas the king by letters patent appointed Alan la Zuche to keep all the lands of the county of Chester and North Wales until Michaelmas in this year; it is his will that the said Alan shall still hold the same at farm from the said feast of Michaelmas for one year more, rendering 1,000 marks, 500 marks at the Exchequer of Easter next and 500 marks at Michaelmas; and in the meantime he shall keep all the king's castles there at his own cost in time of peace, with the buildings in the same state in which he received them, and maintain the king's appointed alms there and the king's chaplains serving in his chapels, and shall treat the king's tenants duly and not overcharge their pasture; saving to the king advowsons of churches, reliefs, wards, tallages, marriages, stews, parks and forests so far as relates to venison....
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 4, p. 151
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24 Apr 1257, Merton
Protection with clause, for one year, from Whitsunday for Alan la Zuche, gone to Ireland in the service of the king and Edward his son.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 4, p. 551
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14 Jun 1258, Oxford
Protection, with clause, from Whitsunday to Easter, for Alan la Zuche, staying in Ireland by the king's command in the service of the king and Edward his son.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 4, p. 633
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12 Jun 1261, Winchester
Appointment, during pleasure, of Alan la Zuche to keep all the forests on this side Trent, rendering at the Exchequer yearly as much as Thomas Gresle and to render the like of him to keep the castle and park of Norhampton in the same manner as Thomas Gresle had it before...
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 5, p. 158
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25 Dec 1262, Canterbury
To Thomas de Orreby, justice of Chester. Whereas the whole march of Wales is disturbed by L. son of Griffin and his accomplices so that unless a speedy remedy be applied great loss and may ensue, the king is sending Alan la Zuche, justice of the forest on this side Trent, to the said march for the preservation of the peace and the defence of those parts, he commands the justice to deliver the castles of Edward, the king's son, to wit, Chester, Beston and Shotwik to Eudo la Zuche, brother of the said Alan, without delay to keep in the name of the said Alan until his arrival, and behave himself so manfully and powerfully about the defence of those parts that the king can commend his diligence and probity...
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 5, p. 238
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22 Oct 1267, Westminster
Grant, at the instance of Alan la Zuche and in aid of the marriages of Orabilla and Margery de Harecurt, daughters of William de Harecurt and Alan's nieces, to his said nieces of the ransom of the value of the manors of the said William of Tonge and Ayliston with the soke of Straton, belonging to the king by occasion of the trespasses of the said William, who was against the king in the time of the disturbance had in the realm; to hold according to the award of Kenilworth.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 6, p. 120
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4 Aug 1270, Winchester
Whereas John de Warenna, earl of Surrey, for himself and his men, has put himself in the king's mercy to tax him at will for a trespass and wounds lately inflicted, as it is said, upon Alan la Zuche and Roger his son in the king's hall of Westminster, whereof the said Alan appealed the said earl before the king himself; the king has remitted to the said earl and all his men, and all those who can be charged with the said trespass or wounds, all his indignation and rancour of mind by occasion of the said trespass and has pardoned them the suit of his peace for the said trespass, whatever may happen in the way of death or other mischief (incommodo) to the said Alan or Roger through the said trespass or wounds.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 6, p. 451
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