Vol 1: The Bluets - Lackham Countryside Centre

The Bluets 12
Cirencester. Unfortunately the church here, as at Duntisbourne, was
improved by the Victorians and little remains from before the mid 19 th
century, save three lovely Saxon carvings built into the walls.
The Bluets, as might be inferred from what has already been seen, were
an important family at this period; as indicated at the start they were
not usually one of the families that were tenants in chief, holding
directly of the Crown, but of considerable weight on the national scale.
They were part of the mesnie, household knights, of the de Clares
before that family‘s lands passed to William Marshal by his marriage to
Isabel de Clare (née de Beaumont)
de Clare 33 Marshal 34
Fig. 6 Arms of de Clare and Marshal 35 *
They became household knights with the new and powerful Earl of
Pembroke. He was
one of the most noteworthy knights of the Middle Ages.
After almost being killed by King Stephen when he was a
child, William grew up to be a prominent tournament
competitor, and then a soldier, serving in several
campaigns. After the death of King John in 1216, William
fulfilled the task of regent for the young Henry III, and
led English forces to victory at the Battle of Lincoln in
1217. 36
33
De Clare or three chevrons gules
34
Marshal Per pale or and vert overall a lion rampant gules
35 by permission of Brian Timms at
http://perso.numericable.fr/briantimms/era/early%20rolls%20of%20arms.htm
36
Crouch, D (1993) William Marshal: Court, Career and Chivalry in the Angevin
Empire 1147 – 1219 p139