John,
Baron de Seagrave
John, Baron de Seagrave is the forth to hold the title of Baron de Seagrave and the second of that name. Born on the 4th of May 1315 in Northampton he became Baron at the tender age of ten when he lost both his father Stephen de Seagrave and his grandfather John de Seagrave (for whom he was named) whilst they were fighting for the King in Aquitaine against the French.
He owns a Castle at Bretby, Derbyshire and a Manor House at Caulden and holds territory in Leicester, Norfolk, Oxfordshire and Huntingdon. He is currently indentured to King Edward the third and serves under Prince Edward of Woodstock (commonly known as the Black Prince) in France where he hopes to elevate his family name further and ordain such glory on the field as to outshine his illustrious forefathers.
He is back in England at the Princes behest to recruit new warriors to fight to claim back France for King Edward (Frances rightful ruler) and to drum up support for the ongoing campaigns.
The de Seagrave line enjoys a proud history.
Thomas de Seagrave is noted in the dooms day book as holding lands in Barton Seagrave, Leicester. His great grandson Sir Stephen de Seagrave was made High Sheriff of Buckingham, Bedford, Worcester, Leicester and Northampton as well as Constable of the Tower of London.
Four generations on, after years of loyal service from the family, King Henry the third finally went too far with his taxes and abuses leading Sir Nicholas de Seagrave to join the rebellion led by Simon de Montfort. Although the rebellion was defeated at the battle of Evesham, Nicholas was granted a full pardon and went on to serve Edward the first (then still a Prince) on the 9th Holy Crusade and fight with him in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. He was made a Baron for his loyal service.
But the real renown lies in the life of John De Seagrave, the second to hold the rank of Baron. A loyal supporter of King Edward I, hammerer of the Scots, he commanded the field at the Battles of Roslin and Happrew and was named as Warden of Scotland. He fought at Stirling along side his brothers Nicholas (who went of to become Marshall of England) and Simon, and at Falkirk.
He assisted in the capture of William Wallace and personally escorted him to London, overseeing both his custody and trial. It was John who pronounced the sentence of treason upon him and was charged with bearing the quarters of the famous rebel to the four corners of Scotland.
Unfortunately this proud family history of English achievement is a bone of contention between John, 4th Baron de Seagrave and Sir Alexander de Gordon, who with his small horde of Scottish retainers accompany the recruiting party and worship Wallace like some Holy Saint rather than condemning him as the traitor he was.
For King and Country, and with the Bishop of Durham as
mediator John endures their presence on Campaign and in camp but will not pass up a chance to mimic the great King Edward the first and ‘hammers' the Scots whenever he gets the chance in tournament or in training.
The de Seagrave coat of arm is a lion rampant in white with a baronial crown at its neck on a field of black. As you will note the knight that plays John wears the same colours but bears a wyvern rampant instead. John is played by a literal D. Seagrave and as such has adopted their own coat of arms for the battle keeping the family colours but displaying their own device.
