Roger la Zouch

Sir Roger la Zouch was the instigator of the murder of Roger de Beler and also MP for Leicestershire in 1324, 1331 and 1337^[3] and Sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire during the 1330s.

Sir Roger la Zouch
Arms of la Zouch of Lubbesthorp: "azure, 10 bezants"[1]
MP for Leicestershire
In office 1324, 1331 & 1337 – 1337
Monarch	Edward II
Sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire
In office 1330–1340
Monarch	Edward II
Personal details
Born	1292[2][non-primary source needed]
Children	Roger la Zouch Ralph la Zouch

Ancestry

Roger was the son of Roger la Zouch, Lord of Lubbesthorpe (d.1303^{[2][non-primary source needed]}), the younger brother of William la Zouche, 1st Baron Zouche of Harringworth.^[1] He was the grandson of Eudo la Zouch and Millicent, daughter of William III de Cantilupe, a close friend of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester.

Roger's aunt, Eva, was married to the rebel Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley who was imprisoned by the Despencers in Wallingford Castle and died there in 1326. Eva's son, Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley was entrusted with guarding the deposed Edward II in his castle but was relieved of his duty when others decided Edward was to be treated "less gentley" and died in suspicious circumstances.

Career

Roger was a supporter of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster for which he received a pardon from the king in August 1318. Zouch fought at the Battle of Boroughbridge in March 1322.^{[4][non-primary source needed]}

In January 1324 Roger was accused of raiding Hugh Despencer the Elder's lands at Loughborough and elsewhere in Leicestershire, although in a warrant issued the previous year it had been his son Roger, jnr who had been named.^{[5][non-primary source needed]} The Baron of the Exchequer Roger de Beler, who was viewed as a traitor by the Contrariants, was one of those appointed to arrest la Zouch.^{[5][non-primary source needed]}

In 1325 Sir Roger was appointed as a Commissioner of Warwickshire and Leicestershire but was replaced in November after claiming he was detained through sickness.^{[4][non-primary source needed]}

On 24 March 1326 the Sheriff of Leicestershire was ordered to seize the lands of Sir Roger la Zouch, Lord of Lubbesthorpe as he had been indicted for "assenting to and counselling" the death of the Baron of the Exchequer, Roger de Beler,^{[6][non-primary source needed]} which had been carried out by the Folville Gang. Roger fled from Leicestershire^{[4][non-primary source needed]} first to Wales^{[7][non-primary source needed]} and then probably Paris where Mortimer and the Queen were in court and his cousin Eudo la Zouch died a month later.

Death

Following Isabella and Mortimer's successful invasion of England in 1326, Edward and the Despencers were killed and pardons were issued to the men that had been accused of killing Beler.^{[5][non-primary source needed]}

Roger la Zouch did not immediately reappear, and in 1328 his manor of Lubbesthorp was granted to his uncle William la Zouch, Lord of Harringworth who was Roger's overlord.^{[7][non-primary source needed]} By 1330 a Roger la Zouch had been appointed as Sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire, represented Leceistershire in Parliament in 1331 and 1337 and was again holding the manor of Lubbesthorp. Whether this was the Roger la Zouch who was exiled and returned, his son or the son of William la Zouche of Harringworth is debatable.

Family

Roger had the following issue:

• Ralph la Zouch^{[5][non-primary source needed]}
• Roger la Zouch^{[5][non-primary source needed]}

Both Ralph and Roger were Contrariants that were accused of raiding Despencer's lands at Loughborough in 1323^{[5][non-primary source needed]} and of helping to murder Beler.^{[5][non-primary source needed]}

References

1. Nichols 1795
2. Cal Inq PMs IV 1913.
3. MPs 1878.
4. Parl Writs II Digest 1834.
5. Patent Rolls 1232–1509.
6. Fine Rolls 1199–1461.
7. Close Rolls 1224–1468.

Bibliography

• Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem. Vol. IV. London: HMSO. 1913.
• Moor, Charles (1929). The Knights of Edward I. London: Harleian Society.
• Nichols, John (1795). The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester. Vol. IV. Leicester: John Nichols.
• Close Rolls. Westminster: Parliament of England. 1224–1468.
• Fine Rolls. Westminster: Parliament of England. 1199–1461.
• Patent Rolls. Westminster: Parliament of England. 1232–1509.
• Members of Parliament 1213-1702. London: Public Record Office. 1878.
• Parliamentary Writs Alphabetical Digest. Vol. II. London: Public Record Office. 1834.