The New Murrey and Blue blog

Philipa de Roet

What did Chaucer think of the Somerset countryside….?

Nov 29, 2023

anniversaries, buildings, The play’s the thing

Clerk of the King’s Works, debts, Deputy Forester of North Petherton, Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry IV, John of Gaunt, Katherine de Roët, Philipa de Roet, Richard II, Somerset, William Shakespeare

Life wasn’t always a bed of roses for Geoffrey Chaucer. We may laud him today, but in his own time he sometimes got into debt. His works are brilliant, there’s no doubt about that (I rate him above Shakespeare) and he made a fortunate marriage to one Philippa de Roët. Who she? Well, she was…
Ewelme

Nov 18, 2023

anniversaries, buildings, genealogy, religion, sources

Alice Chaucer, almshouses, de la Poles, Ewelme, Geoffrey Chaucer, History of Parliament, Hull Charterhouse, John Duke of Suffolk, Katherine de Roët, Matilda Burghersh, Oxfordshire, Philipa de Roet, Sir John Phelip, Thomas Chaucer, Thomas Earl of Salisbury, William Duke of Suffolk, Wingfield Manor

An interesting article about Ewelme and its church, where Alice Chaucer, Duchess of Suffolk, has an exceptional tomb. Ewelme was part of the inheritance of Matilda Burghersh. As mentioned in the earlier M&B article, Matilda’s marriage was quite literally sold to John of Gaunt by her relative and guardian, Lady Mohun. This was only possible…