Biography of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk 1361-1415
Paternal Family Tree: De La Pole
In or before 1356 [his father] Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 26) and [his mother] Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 15) were married.
In 1361 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk was born to Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 31) and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 21).
In 1366 [his father] Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 36) was created 1st Baron Pole. [his mother] Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 26) by marriage Baroness Pole.
In or before 1383 Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 19) and [his future sister-in-law] Margaret Stafford Baroness Neville Raby (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford (age 46) and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (age 48). They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
In 1385 [his father] Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 55) was created 1st Earl Suffolk. [his mother] Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 45) by marriage Countess Suffolk.
In 1386 [his mother] Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 46) died.
The Chronicle of Adam of Usk. Sep 1386. Owing to the many ill-starred crises of king Richard’s (age 19) reign, which were caused by his youth, a solemn parliament was holden at Westminster, wherein twelve of the chief men of the land were advanced, by full provision of parliament, to the government of the king and the kingdom, in order to bridle the wantonness and extravagance of his servants and flatterers, and, in short, to reform the business of the realm; but alas! only to lead to the weary deeds which are hereinafter written1.
Note 1. The actual number of the commissioners appointed by the Wonderful Parliament of 1386 was eleven, or fourteen if the three principal officers of state be included. The eleven were: the archbishops of Canterbury (age 44) and York (age 45), the dukes of York (age 45) and Gloucester (age 31), the bishops of Winchester (age 66) and Exeter, the abbot of Waltham, the earl of Arundel, John de Cobham, Richard le Scrope, and John Devereux. Thomas Arundel (age 33), bishop of Ely, had replaced Michael de la Pole (age 25), earl of Suffolk, as chancellor; John Gilbert, bishop of Hereford, was treasurer; and John de Waltham, keeper of the privy seal. It will be remembered that John of Gaunt (age 46) was at this time in Spain, as a reason for his name not appearing on the commission.
On 05 Sep 1389 [his father] Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 59) died in Paris [Map]. His son Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 28) succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk.
Around 1390 [his daughter] Elizabeth Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 29) and [his future wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 14).
Before 1394 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 33) and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. She the daughter of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (age 59). He the son of Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
In 1394 [his son] Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 33) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 18).
On 09 Jun 1396 [his sister-in-law] Margaret Stafford Baroness Neville Raby (age 32) died. She was buried at St Brandon's Church, Brancepeth.
On 16 Oct 1396 [his son] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 35) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 20) at Cotton, Suffolk.
After 1397 [his son] Thomas Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 36) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 21).
After 07 Jan 1401. The names of the lords who were present at the said declaration are as follows:
Henry, prince of Wales (age 14).
Edmund, duke of York (age 59).
Edward, earl of Rutland (age 28).
Thomas, earl of Arundel (age 19).
John, earl of Somerset (age 28).
[his brother-in-law] Edmund, earl of Stafford (age 22).
Henry, earl of Northumberland (age 59).
Ralph, earl of Westmorland (age 37).
Thomas, earl of Worcester (age 58).
Michael, earl of Suffolk (age 40).
Richard, Lord Grey of Codnor (age 30).
Thomas, Lord Berkeley (age 49).
John, Lord Charlton.
Reginald, Lord Grey of Ruthin (age 39).
Thomas, Lord Camoys (age 50).
Thomas, Lord Furnivall (age 39).
Robert, Lord Scales (age 29).
John, Lord Beaumont.
William, Lord Willoughby (age 31).
Hugh, Lord Burnell (age 54).
William, Lord Ferrers of Groby (age 28).
William, Lord Bergavenny (age 58).
John, Lord Lovell (age 60).
Robert, Lord Harrington (age 45).
Richard Lescrope (age 74).
Before 05 Feb 1403 [his son-in-law] Thomas Morley 6th Baron Marshal 5th Baron Morley (age 10) and [his daughter] Isabel Pole Baroness Marshal and Morley were married. She the daughter of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 42) and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 27). She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
Before 06 May 1410 [his son] Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk (age 16) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Mowbray Countess Suffolk (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 44). He the son of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 49) and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 34). He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
On 17 Sep 1415 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 54) died of dysentery. His son [his son] Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk (age 21) succeeded 3rd Earl Suffolk. [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Mowbray Countess Suffolk (age 21) by marriage Countess Suffolk.
Chronicle of Gregory 1403-1419. 25 Oct 1415. And the kyng (age 29) sawe he myght not passe whythe out batayle, and thenne he sayde unto hys lytylle mayne, "Serys and felowys, yendyr maynye wylle lette us of oure waye, and they wylle not come unto us. But nowe lette every man preve hym-selfe a goode man thys day and a-vance hys baner in the beste tyme of the day and yere." Ande the kyng (age 29) roode ande hys basnet in hys hede, and alle othyr men wente on hyr foote a-passe in hyr hoole araye and18 Englysche myle or that they assemblyde. And thorowe Goddys grace the kynge (age 29) made hys way thoroughe the thyckyste of alle the batayle; and ther was slayne on the kyngys syde the Duke of Yorke (age 42), the Erle Southeffolke (deceased), and ij knyghtys, and Davy Gam (age 35), and of the gentylle men no moo, and of alle maner of Englysche men hyt passyd not xxviij personys. And on the Fraynysche syde was slayne the Duke of Launsonne, the Duke of Barre (age 38), the Duke of Braban (age 31), ande vij erlys, and the Constabylle of Fraunce, and the Senschalle of Henowde, and the Mayster Alblester19, and many moo lordys, and knygtys and squyers v Ml and moo. And there was take the Duke of Orlyaunce (age 20), the Duke of Burbon (age 34), the Counte of Rychemounde, and the Counte of Ewe (age 21), [th]e Marchalle of Fraunsce, Syr Bursegaunte, and many moo othyr knyghtys and squyers. And whanne thys was done the kyng (age 29) bode alle nyghte in a vyllage faste be-syde ther that the batelle was done. And on the morowe he toke hys waye unto Calys whythe hys lordys and hys presoners, whythe hys owne mayne.
Note 18. So in MS.
Note 19. Thomas Arblastier. He was one of the retinue of Sir William Bourchier. See Nicolas's Battle of Agincourt, 360.
After 1419. Monument to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and [his former wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 43) in St Andrew's Church, Wingfield [Map]. Early Plate Bascinet Period.
Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk: Around 1376 she was born to Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. Before 1394 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and she were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. She the daughter of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford. He the son of Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. On 08 Apr 1419 Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk died.
On 08 Apr 1419 [his former wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 43) died.
After 20 May 1475. St Mary's Church, Ewelme [Map]. Monument to Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (deceased). Wrist Garter. The effigy was, apparently, viewed to determine how a lady should wear the garter at the re-commencement of Lady of the Garter appointments in 1901 after a gap of several hundred years. A particularly fine Cadaver Underneath the chest on which Alice's effigy lies. Full-length in a shroud. Chest with Angels with Rounded Wings holding Shields.
Detail of the South Side of the Monument to Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (deceased).
1 
Roet Arms impaled 
Chaucer Modern Arms. Alice's paternal grandparents.
2 De La Pole Arms impaled Stafford Arms. Her third husbands parents Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and [his former wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.
3 
Montacute and Monthermer Arms impaled Francis? Possibly Alice's second husband's parents John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury.
4 De La Pole Arms quartered Chaucer Modern Arms.
5 Roet Arms quartered Chaucer Modern Arms.
8 De La Pole Arms impaled 
England Henry IV Arms signifying Alice's son John's (age 32) marriage to Elizabeth of York (age 31) sister of King Edward IV of England (age 33).
Detail of the North Side of the monument to Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (deceased). Arms from left to right ...
1 De La Pole Arms quartered Chaucer Modern Arms impaled Unknown.
2 De La Pole Arms impaled Chaucer Modern Arms. Her third husband [his son] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk.
3 De La Pole Arms quarted Chaucer Modern Arms. Alice's son John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 32) by her second husband William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk.
5 Montacute and Monthermer Arms quartering impaled Chaucer. Alice's second husband Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury.
6 Roet Arms. Alice's paternal grandmother Philippa Roet.
7 England Henry IV Arms impaling Roet Arms probably signifying John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster, Katherine being the sister of Alice's paternal grandmother Philippa Roet who married Geoffrey Chaucer.
8 Roet Arms impaling Chaucer Modern Arms. Her paternal grandparents Geoffrey Chaucer and Philippa Roet.
Philippa Roet: Around 1346 she was born to Giles "Payne" Roet. Before 1367 Geoffrey Chaucer and she were married at St Mary de Castro Leicester, Leicestershire. Excerpta Historica Page 152. Philippa, his eldest daughter, is stated to have been the maid of honour to Philippa Queen of Edward the Third who by the name of "Philippa Pycard" obtained a grant of one hundred shillings per annum on the 20th January 1370, and married Geoffrey Chaucer, to whom, in consequence, it is supposed, of this connexion, the Duke of Lancaster granted the Castle of Dodington. Of John of Gaunt's connexion with Chaucer, however, no proof has been found; and the circumstance of the lady assigned to him for his wife being styled "Philippa Pycard," instead of Roelt, renders the assertion, that she was the sister of the Duchess of Lancaster, extremely doubtful. Around 1387 Philippa Roet died.
[his daughter] Isabel Pole Baroness Marshal and Morley was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.
Thomas Kerdeston and [his daughter] Elizabeth Pole were married. She the daughter of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
[his son] John Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.
[his son] Alexander Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.
[his son] Abbess Katherine Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Pole
GrandFather: William Pole
Father: Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk
Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Norwich
GrandMother: Katherine Norwich
Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Wingfield
GrandFather: John Wingfield