User:Whistlaw/Hawise Lestrange

Hawise Lestrange

Hawise Lestrange (d.1310) was the daughter of John Le Strange (d.c.1269) from the family of Great Ness, Cheswardine and Knockin (Shropshire). The date of her birth is unknown, but she was probably still quite young when she married around 1242. Her husband was Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn (d.1286), one of the Welsh princes and Lord of Upper Powys. It was in 1242 that Gruffudd gained royal permission to dower Hawise with land in Ashford.

During the early years of the marriage, the couple resided mainly in the castle of Pool or Powys castle, lying to the west of the town of Welshpool. Gruffudd served the English crown loyally for which he received rewards. In 1248 Hawise received two stags from the king, perhaps for her own loyal service. In 1257, however, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, prince of Gwynedd invaded southern Powys and Hawise and Gruffudd were driven out. Finding a lack of royal support for their plight, Gwenwynwyn initially turned his back on the crown and in 1263 he transferred his allegiance to Llywelyn. But in 1274 he was firmly back in royal favour when his family became involved in an assassination attempt on the life of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. The fullest account of this attempt reveals that Hawise played a leading part. The confession of her son Owain to the Bishop of Bangor relays how Hawise had kept the plot documents, sealing the mutual obligations of the conspiritors, under lock and key at the castle in Welshpool.

During the 1270s Hawise took a prominent role in the management of the family estates. Around 1270 she took personal control over the manor of Church Stretton, Shropshire, of her brother Hamon when he went on crusade. He never did return and while the estate was seized by Edward I, it was returned to Hawise in 1276 for life. She remained a figure of authority after her husband's death in 1286, but by 1302 she was finding estate administration a burden. Between 1302 and 1306 she was granted permission by the crown to present her debts at the Chester exchequer rather than at Westminster 'for her easement'. In 1308 she relinquished the custody of the barony of Pool to her son Grufudd Fychan. Hawise died in November 1310.

Family
Hawise's first child was a daughter, Margaret, possibly named after her mother-in-law Margaret Corbet. Several sons followed of which six sons survived into adulthood:
 * Margaret, married Fulk, son of Fulk FitzWarin of Whittington
 * Owain, married Joan Corbet
 * Llywelyn, married Sybil Turberville, and widow of Grimbald Pauncefoot, a knight of Edward I
 * Gruffudd Fychan, married a kinswoman of Roger Springhose of Shropshire
 * Gwilym, married Gwladus
 * Dafydd, a cleric
 * Ieuan, a cleric

In providing for his family Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn made sure his wife's dower was preserved. In 1277 he issued a charter to his wife, which listed her portion to include the township of Buttington, the commotes of Deuddwr and Caereinion and pastures in Cyfeiliog and Arwystli.

Seal
Hawise's seal matrix was discovered in Oswestry in the 19th century. It shows a standing female wearing a loose-fitting kirtle, a flowing mantle, cap and gorget, and a pair of pointed shoes. In her right hand she holds a shield with the arms of her husband, and in her left hand the shield of her natal Lestrange family. The legend reads S' HAWISIE DNE KEVEOLOG.