Biography of William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire 1350-1399

Paternal Family Tree: Scrope

Maternal Family Tree: Katherine Norwich 1306-1381

1399 Execution of Richard II's Favourites

In 1350 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire was born to Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 23) and Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton (age 22).

In or before 1369 [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 42) and [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton (age 40) were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton.

In 1371 [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 44) was created 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton.

Around 1378 [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton (age 50) died at Bolton.

In 1394 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 44) was appointed 85th Knight of the Garter by King Richard II of England (age 26).

In 1396 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 46) and Isabel Russell Countess Wiltshire were married.

In 1397 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 47) was created 1st Earl Wiltshire. [his wife] Isabel Russell Countess Wiltshire by marriage Earl Wiltshire.

In 1398 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 48) was appointed Lord High Treasurer.

Richard II's Last Will

                    On 16 Apr 1399 King Richard II of England (age 32) wrote his Last Will from which the following extracts are taken … Also we bequeath to our beloved nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey (age 25) ten thousand marks and to our beloved brother Edward York 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle (age 26) two thousand marks and to our beloved brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 47) three thousand marks and to our faithful and beloved William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 49) two thousand marks ... we ordain and set aside for the fulfilment of all and singular the premises the sum of ninety-one thousand marks, of which sixty-five thousand marks are in the keeping of Sir John Ikelyngton and twenty-four thousand marks in the hands and keeping of our dear nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey (age 25).                

                    Of this our royal testament we nominate make and depute executors the venerable fathers in Christ Bishop Richard Mitford, Bishop Edmund Stafford (age 55), Bishop Robert Tideman of Winchcombe, Bishop Thomas Merke and Bishop Guy Mone Aka Mohun; our beloved brother Edward York 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle (age 26), our nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey (age 25), our brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 47) and William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 49) to each of whom we bequeath a gold cup of the value of twenty pounds and our beloved and faithful clerks Master Bishop Richard Boteville Keeper of our Privy Seal, Master Richard Maudeleyn, Master William Fereby and Master John Painter Ikelyngton clerks and John Lufwyk and William Serle laymen, to each of whom we will shall be paid their expenses and necessary costs while it shall happen that they or any of them are employed about the execution of our present last will, but according to the discretion of their said co-executors ...                

                    Whom all and singular we have charged and charge that they shall do as much as in them is for the due execution and fulfilment of this our last will as they shall wish to answer before God. We create ordain depute and make overseers of this our will the reverend fathers in Christ Archbishop Roger Walden and Archbishop Richard Scrope (age 49), William bishop of Winchester and William abbot of the monastery of Westminster Edward York 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle (age 26) our uncle and Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland (age 57) our cousin.                

Click to expand text ...

Henry IV lands at Ravenspur

On 07 Jul 1399 Edmund of Langley 1st Duke York (age 58) appointed William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 49), Henry Green (age 52) and John Bussy to protect Kent against invasion by Henry Bolingbroke Earl of Derby (age 32).

Execution of Richard II's Favourites

On 28 Jul 1399 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 49), Henry Green (age 52) and John Bussy were captured at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map].

On 29 Jul 1399 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 49), Henry Green (age 52) and John Bussy were beheaded at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map]. Earl Wiltshire forfeit.