Protector of England; Earl of Pembroke and Striguil.
The Earl of Pembroke and celebrated Protector during the nonage of Henry III (Browning, Charles. Americans of royal descent, 7th ed., Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1969, pg. 67). Regent of England. Hostage in Stephen's hands, 1152. Trained in Normandy. Accompanied his uncle, Earl Patrick, to Poitou, 1168, but was wounded and captured. Ransomed by Queen Eleanor. Guardian of Prince Henry, 1170. Sided with the prince in his rebellion against his father. Left the court, 1182 and went to France. Recalled, 1183 on death of young Henry started for the Holy Land to bear Henry II's cross to the holy sepulchre and performed great exploits there. Returned about 1187. Became member of king's household. Present at conference of Gisors, 1188, and volunteered to fight as champion. Promised the hand of the Princess of Pembroke and Striguil. Failed in mission to King Philip of France at Paris, 1189. Took part in engagements. Spared Prince Richard's life in battle. Remained faithful to Henry II to the last at Chinon. Joint-marshal under Longchamp. Subsequently joined in opposition to Longchamp. Received Nottingham Castle to hold for Richard I, 1191. Associated in government with Walter de Coutances and excommunicated by Longchamp. Retained Richard I's favor. Took up arms against Earl John, brother of Richard I, 1193. Accompanied Richard to Normandy, 1194, and took part in fighting. Made treaties with counts of Boulogne and Flanders, 1196. Appointed custodian of Rouen by Richard before his death, 1199. Declared for King John and with Hubert secured his peaceful succession in England, 1199. Invaded Wales, 1204. With John's consent did homage to King Philip of France for his Norman lands, 1204. Refused to accompany John's projected expedition to Poitou, 1205. Entrusted with defense of England in John's absence, 1206. Visited his estates in Ireland, 1207. Recalled to England, and his Irish lands ravaged by John's direction. Returned to Ireland, 1208, and obtained full possession. Received Willian de Braose, 1208. Compelled to give hostages to John. Protested against papal encroachments, 1212. Returned to England, 1213. Became John's chief adviser, 1213. Witnessed charter of resignation to Pope, 1213. Made guardian of John's eldst son, and guardian of England, 1214 during John's absence abroad. One of John's envoys to the barons, but also one of the counsellors of Magna Carta, 1215. Sent to France to avert threatened invasion, end of 1215. Executor of John's will, 1216. Regent, 1216. Republished Great Charter with omissions, 1216. Took Lincoln, 1217, while Hubert defeated French fleet. Effected treaty of Lambeth, 1217 with Louis, and made himself responsible for payment of 10,000 marks. Established order in the kingdom. Took habit of a Templar before his death at Caversham, near Reading. Possessed lands in Ireland, England, Wales, and Normandy (The concise dictionary of national biography. Part 1 : form the beginnings till 1900. London : Oxford University Press, 1969, pg. 844).