Guy de Brienne, 1st Baron of Bryan, KG

• Son of Lord Brienne, Baron Chastel, Guy de Brien and his wife Anne (or Alice) Holwey

The Medieval Combat Society

Also known as Guy de Bryan, Guy de Brian, Guy de Brien, Brienne

• Born: About 1320, Walwyns Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
• Died: 17 August 1390
• Buried: Slapton Parish Church, Devon (Also has a monument in Tewksbury Abbey)
• Parents: Guy de Bryan/Briene of TorBryan, Devon (born about 1289 Laugharne, Pembrokeshire, England, died 1349) married (Laugharne, Pembrokeshire, England) Alice (or Ann) de Holway (born about 1293 Laugharne, Pembrokeshire, England, died after 1343)

Siblings:

• John de Bryan/Briene, cleric, prebend of Lusk, Dublin, Ireland

Married

• Married (1) Joan Carew, daughter of sir John Carew/Carreu

Children with Joan Carew

• Elizabeth de Bryan, married (before 16 Oct 1354) Robert Fitzpayne/Fitz Payn, Grey of Codnor, (born about 1321, died 21 May 1393)
• Margaret de Bryan, married Hugh de Courtenay
• Philippe de Briene, married 1) Edward de Bohun 2) John Chaundos

Married

• (2) before 10 July 1350, Elizabeth Montacute/Montagu (Born 1308/9, died 31 May 1359), daughter of William of Montacute earl of Sarum, widow of Giles lord Badlesmere (died 1338) and of Hugh le Despenser

Children with Elizabeth Montacute/Montagu

• Margaret de Bryan, married John Erlegh
• Guy le fitz de Bryene/Bryan (born 1354, died 1386) married Alyse de Bures
• William de Bryan, 2nd son, d.s.p., born about 1357, died 23 September 1395, buried Seal, Kent) married Joane, who survived him.
• Philip de Bryan, 3rd son, d.s.p. before 14 February 1388.

Family Crest

• Heraldic Coat of Arms: Or three piles azure
• Crest: Or three piles azure on a chapeau Gules, faced Ermine, a hunting-horn Sable, garnished Or.
• Knight of the Garter 1370, Stall 21, became a member of the order of the garter after the death of John Chandos

Origins

Source: Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study In Colonial And Medieval Families, in 5 vols. (Salt Lake City, Utah, 2013), Vol. II, page 446.

After the death of Hugh Le Despenser, his widow, Elizabeth de Montagu, married (3rd) before 10 July 1350 (as his 2nd wife) Guy de Bryan (or Brian), K.G., son and heir of Guy de Bryan, by [Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffudd ap Lloyd.] [sic] He was born about 1309. They had three sons, Guy Knt., William, Knt., and Philip.

Comment: more likely his mother was Ann or Alice Holwey. Guy de Bryan’s second wife was Crisli verch Gruffudd, not her sister Gwenllian verch Gruffudd. They were the daughters of Gruffudd ap Rhys, nicknamed Llwyd. See P. C. Bartrum: Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1400, Marchudd 17 (document attached)

The Medieval Combat Society

Guy de Bryan was the son of Guy de Bryan of Tor Bryan, Devon and took part in expeditions against Scotland, in around 1327 and was with Edward III near Stanhope park, Durham, when Douglas on 4 August 1327 tried unsuccessfully to surprise the English camp at night. In July 1330 Guy was described in a proceeding over an argument with his father over the barony and castle of Walwayn in Pembrokeshire as being one of Edward III's valets and of full age. In 1337 Guy was again in Scotland and in 1339 he served in Flanders, and was with the army at Vironfosse and at Ourney St. Benoyt. In 1341 Guy was appointed governor of St. Briavell's castle in Gloucestershire, and warden of the forest of Dean. Guy was the Patron of the Church in Littleton in 1343. Guy fought at the siege of Calais 1345-8 and at the battle of Crecy 1346, he was the kings standard bearer. In May 1347 he was requested by the king to go to Calais, as the English were expecting an attack by the army of king Philip. In 1349 his father died leaving Guy heir to his lands including Laugharne Castle in the town of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, south Wales. When the chancellor, Ufford resigned in 1349 Guy was intrusted with the temporary custody of the great seal. Guy probably returned with Edward III to England in Autumn 1349. In December 1349 Geoffroi de Chargny tried to take back Calais by a bribe to the governor and Guy de Bryan bore the king's banner when Edward III and Prince Edward fought the French, and was rewarded with a pension of 200 marks on 1 April 1350. In 1350 Guy was was made Lord Bryan and summoned to parliament on 25 November 1350. In 1351 Guy had a charter for free warren in all his lands in Devon, Middlesex, Surrey and Wales, and in Rammesham, Dorset. In 1353, Guy was a commissioner to treat with Louis count of Flanders for the observance of the truce and also in 1350 by the style of "dominus de Lagherne," ambassador to negotiate a treaty of peace with France, he was nominated, with Henry duke of Lancaster and others, ambassador to Rome, to obtain a ratification of it from the pope.

On the 24 November 1355, Guy was ordered to prepare, with forty men-at-arms, against the Scots who had taken Berwick and in 1356, he took part in the army that retook Berwick. In May 1357, by the style of dominus de Chastel Gawayn, one of the king's councillors, "he was a party to the truce concluded with Scotland. In 1360 Guy was with the English army near Paris and was one of the four barons who were sent to the French capital to swear, in Edward's name, to to the observance of the treaty of Chartres. Guy had, with three colleagues, the custody of Calais upon the king's return to England and, in October 1360, swore, at Calais, with the prince Edward the fulfilment of the articles of peace. In 1361 Guy purchased both the manor and the advowson of Haselbury at Easter for 300 marks, also 1361 he was again ambassador to the pope. In 1362 Guy received an annual payment of 200 marks from Edward III for his valour in carrying the royal standard in a battle at Calais. In 1364 the Edward III confirmed him in fee the manor of Northam, Devon. Guy bought Woodsford Castle near Dorchester, Dorset in 1367 and is thought to have built there the 'grand apartment' and lesser lodgings. In 1369 Guy was made, admiral of the fleet and served the year, under the duke of Lancaster in Normandy. On 6 February 1369-70, Guy was appointed admiral of the fleet in the parts westward. In 1371 Guy was in command of a flotilla of English ships that encountered ships under the Flemmish flag, led by Jan Peterson, and after a battle of 3 hours with many losses on both sides, the English captured 25 ships.

After the death of John Chandos on 1 st January 1370, he was elected into the Order of the Garter, and filled the eleventh stall on the Sovereign's side, where his plate still remains. Robes were issued to him in 1371, 1373, 1375 to 1378, 1383 and 1387 to 1389. In 1372 John de Erlegh (VI) sold the manor of Somerton-Erleigh in the hundred of North Petherton, Somerset (and the advowson of the chapel) to Richard Brice and his wife, Edith who passed it to Guy. Guy served against the French during the reign oh Richard II, and was in the expedition made to Ireland, with Edward Mortimer, Earl of March.

The church of Slapton (which the family endowed) in Devon has stained glass from the de Bryan family and Guy founded a collegiate chantry in 1373 near the church for a rector, five fellows, and four clerks, but all that remains is a ruined 80ft tower. Thomas, son of Thomas Fort of Llanstephan, was charged with having harboured one John de Ispannia of Castile "as a servant to ride with him," and shewn him all the secrets of all the castles of South Wales. Fort was pardoned in 1389 and Fort's brother, John, was also charged, and pardoned, with harbouring this Spaniard and also pardoned for scaling the castle walls of Laugharne and breaking into Guy de Brian's money chest. Laugharne castle is situated between the two rivers Corran & Taf and owing to its proximity to the former it was previously known as the Castle of Abercorran.

Towards the end of his life Sir Guy had built in Tewsbury Abbey a magnificent tomb chest carrying his effigy and bearing on its sides representations of his shield. Guy de Bryan is shown in the act of sheathing or, drawing, his sword, the arms and hands of the figure, and the sword have long since disappeared. The figure was originally richly painted and the over-garment was coloured with his arms and traces of some paint still remains on the tomb canopy, which is said to be 'garter blue'. Guy de Bryan was not buried in Tewksbury but was laid to rest in Slapton.

Guy married twice, his second wife was Elizabeth Montacute, daughter of William de Montacute, earl of Salisbury. Elizabeth had married twice before (to a Despenser and a Badlesmere). The ancient castle of Tal y vaen, or Talavan, one of the twelve fortresses erected by the followers of Fitz-Hamon, formed part of the dowry of the widow of Hugh le Despencer, when she married Guy de Brien. In the Bodleian library is a fifteenth century memorial roll of benefactors of Tewksbury Abbey and identifies Guy de Bryan and Elizabeth fairly prominently. The shield of arms displayed is the marital, impaled, coat of de Bryan and his wife. His arms show the three piles, while her half of the shield is quartered Montacute (argent three lozenges in fess gules) and Monthermer Or an eagle displayed vert membered and beak gules. The Bryan arms appear in Hazelbury Bryan and Torbryan churches and also on the front of the gallery in St. Saviour's church Dartmouth, as well as a memorial brass in Seal in Kent, to Sir William de Bryan who was lord of Seal and Kemsing, whoinherited the manors from his grandmother Lady Grandison. They may also be seen in Exeter cathedral on a Courtney tomb impaled with Courtney.

The title of Lord Bryan became extinct on the death of Guy.

Ancestry.com Boards Thread

447. Guy IV De13 Bryan Brienne [Baron Bryan] (Guy III De13, Guy II De12, Guy I De11, Alphonse De10, [Princess of Leon & Castile]9 Berenguela, IX Fernandez [King of Leon]8 Alfonso, II Fernando Alfonsez [King of Leon]7 Ferdinand, VII [Emper King Castile Galicia Leon]6 Alfonso, De Burgundy [Comte D'amerous5 Raymond, (Etiennette) Of Barcelona4 Stephanie, Matilda3 Maud, Guiscard of Apulia D' Hauteville, I Weasel Robert Guiscard[Count of Apulia]2 Roger, De Hauteville [Sir]1 Tancred) was born Abt. 1289 in Walwyns Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and died Abt. 1347 in England. He married Anne Holwey Bef. 1311 in England, daughter of Unknown Hogan [Lord]. She was born Bet. 1280 - 1293 in Walwyns Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and died Aft. 1343 in England.

Children of Guy Bryan Brienne and Anne Holwey are:

+ 599 i. Guy V De14 Bryan Brienne [Baron Bryan], born 1311 in Walwyns Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales; died August 17, 1390 in England.

+ 600 ii. Elizabeth De Bryan Brienne, born Abt. 1321 in Of, Somersetshire, England.

601 iii. Phillippa De Bryan Brienne, born Abt. 1322 in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales. She married John Chaundos [Sir Knight].

602 iv. Jane De Bryan Brienne, born Abt. 1325.

The records that have come to light only refer to the line of primogeniture in matters of land transference.

The records that have come to light only refer to the line of primogeniture in matters of land transference. We must presume that all other Cambro-Norman Bryans in Kilkenny and subsequently in Wexford are derivative of this parent stock. Caution is urged in researching this Bryan line, for a common Anglicization of both O’Brien and O’Byrne has periennially been "Bryan/t." It cannot therefore be taken for granted that a North American Bryan found not to descend from William Smith Bryan will be a descendant of the Kilkenny Bryans.

Paraphrased from the "Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom":

Guy served in the wars with Scotland, Flanders, and France, and was made governor St. Briavels castle and warden of the Forest of Dean in 1341. In 1349, being then 30 yers old and upwards, had the temporary custody of the Great Seal in that year. On Nov. 25, 1350, made Baron, Lord Byran by writ directed "Guidoni de Bryan", after which he was constantly entrusted with martial and diplomatic affairs of the highest importance. He sat in parliament. In 1361, he was ambassador to the pope. In 1369, he was admiral of the fleet.

Knight of the Garter 1370, Stall 21, became a member of the order of the garter after the death of John Chandos

Guy de Bryan was the son of Guy de Bryan of Tor Bryan, Devon and took part in expeditions against Scotland, in around 1327 and was with Edward III near Stanhope park, Durham, when Douglas on 4 August 1327 tried unsuccessfully to surprise the English camp at night. In July 1330 Guy was described in a proceeding over an argument with his father over the barony and castle of Walwayn in Pembrokeshire as being one of Edward III's valets and of full age. In 1337 Guy was again in Scotland and in 1339 he served in Flanders, and was with the army at Vironfosse and at Ourney St. Benoyt. In 1341 Guy was appointed governor of St. Briavell's castle in Gloucestershire, and warden of the forest of Dean. Guy was the Patron of the Church in Littleton in 1343. Guy fought at the siege of Calais 1345-8 and at the battle of Crecy 1346, he was the kings standard bearer. In May 1347 he was requested by the king to go to Calais, as the English were expecting an attack by the army of king Philip. In 1349 his father died leaving Guy heir to his lands including Laugharne Castle in the town of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, south Wales. When the chancellor, Ufford resigned in 1349 Guy was intrusted with the temporary custody of the great seal. Guy probably returned with Edward III to England in Autumn 1349. In December 1349 Geoffroi de Chargny tried to take back Calais by a bribe to the governor and Guy de Bryan bore the king's banner when Edward III and Prince Edward fought the French, and was rewarded with a pension of 200 marks on 1 April 1350. In 1350 Guy was was made Lord Bryan and summoned to parliament on 25 November 1350. In 1351 Guy had a charter for free warren in all his lands in Devon, Middlesex, Surrey and Wales, and in Rammesham, Dorset. In 1353, Guy was a commissioner to treat with Louis count of Flanders for the observance of the truce and also in 1350 by the style of "dominus de Lagherne," ambassador to negotiate a treaty of peace with France, he was nominated, with Henry duke of Lancaster and others, ambassador to Rome, to obtain a ratification of it from the pope.

On the 24 November 1355, Guy was ordered to prepare, with forty men-at-arms, against the Scots who had taken Berwick and in 1356, he took part in the army that retook Berwick. In May 1357, by the style of dominus de Chastel Gawayn, one of the king's councillors, "he was a party to the truce concluded with Scotland. In 1360 Guy was with the English army near Paris and was one of the four barons who were sent to the French capital to swear, in Edward's name, to to the observance of the treaty of Chartres. Guy had, with three colleagues, the custody of Calais upon the king's return to England and, in October 1360, swore, at Calais, with the prince Edward the fulfilment of the articles of peace. In 1361 Guy purchased both the manor and the advowson of Haselbury at Easter for 300 marks, also 1361 he was again ambassador to the pope. In 1362 Guy received an annual payment of 200 marks from Edward III for his valour in carrying the royal standard in a battle at Calais. In 1364 the Edward III confirmed him in fee the manor of Northam, Devon. Guy bought Woodsford Castle near Dorchester, Dorset in 1367 and is thought to have built there the 'grand apartment' and lesser lodgings. In 1369 Guy was made, admiral of the fleet and served the year, under the duke of Lancaster in Normandy. On 6 February 1369-70, Guy was appointed admiral of the fleet in the parts westward. In 1371 Guy was in command of a flotilla of English ships that encountered ships under the Flemmish flag, led by Jan Peterson, and after a battle of 3 hours with many losses on both sides, the English captured 25 ships.

After the death of John Chandos on 1 st January 1370, he was elected into the Order of the Garter, and filled the eleventh stall on the Sovereign's side, where his plate still remains. Robes were issued to him in 1371, 1373, 1375 to 1378, 1383 and 1387 to 1389. In 1372 John de Erlegh (VI) sold the manor of Somerton-Erleigh in the hundred of North Petherton, Somerset (and the advowson of the chapel) to Richard Brice and his wife, Edith who passed it to Guy. Guy served against the French during the reign oh Richard II, and was in the expedition made to Ireland, with Edward Mortimer, Earl of March.

The church of Slapton (which the family endowed) in Devon has stained glass from the de Bryan family and Guy founded a collegiate chantry in 1373 near the church for a rector, five fellows, and four clerks, but all that remains is a ruined 80ft tower. Thomas, son of Thomas Fort of Llanstephan, was charged with having harboured one John de Ispannia of Castile "as a servant to ride with him," and shewn him all the secrets of all the castles of South Wales. Fort was pardoned in 1389 and Fort's brother, John, was also charged, and pardoned, with harbouring this Spaniard and also pardoned for scaling the castle walls of Laugharne and breaking into Guy de Brian's money chest. Laugharne castle is situated between the two rivers Corran & Taf and owing to its proximity to the former it was previously known as the Castle of Abercorran.

Towards the end of his life Sir Guy had built in Tewsbury Abbey a magnificent tomb chest carrying his effigy and bearing on its sides representations of his shield. Guy de Bryan is shown in the act of sheathing or, drawing, his sword, the arms and hands of the figure, and the sword have long since disappeared. The figure was originally richly painted and the over-garment was coloured with his arms and traces of some paint still remains on the tomb canopy, which is said to be 'garter blue'. Guy de Bryan was not buried in Tewksbury but was laid to rest in Slapton.

http://www.nntpnews.net/f5043/c-p-addition-correction-guy-de-bryan-...

In summary, it appears that Sir Guy de Bryan was born say 1309, he being in arms in 1327 and stated to be of age in 1330. His first wife, Joan, was living 12 April 1348. It is Nicolas' supposition and my own that Joan was the daughter of John de Carew, Knt., of Carew, Pembrokeshire, by his wife, Joan. As indicated above, Guy de Bryan's marriage was held by Lady Joan de Carew, and he occurs occurs together with Lady Carew in records in 1330, 1341, and 1342. On the last date, Lady Joan de Carew released her life estate to her land holdings at Clifton, Dartmouth and Hardness, Devon to him. Sir Guy de Bryan was still in possession of this property as late as 1376-1377.

Sir Guy de Bryan and his first wife, Joan de Carew, were the parents of at least two, possibly three daughters. There are living descendants through their daughter, Elizabeth de Bryan, who married Robert Fitz Payn (formerly de Grey), Knt., of Stogursey, Bridghampton, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Rodway, etc., Somerset.

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Bryan,_1st_Baron_Bryan (has errors) cites
   1. J.J. Alexander (1936). "The Early Owners of Torbryan Manor". Retrieved 10 January 2023. < link >
   2. The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom : extant, extinct, or dormant. by Cokayne, George E. Vol 2, page 361-2. < Archive.Org > “BRYAN or BRIENE.” Son of d. Guy de Brian, King's yeoman (valettus), and Alice his wife, were living 27 Jan. 1343/4. (Patent Roll). V.G.
2. Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 201.< Archive.Org > BOHUN (b) Their ist s., Edward, m. Philippe (da. of Sir Guy de Brian) and d. s.p. and v.p. Jan. 1 361/2, leaving John his next br. and h., aged 26 and more (Ch. Inq. p. m., Edw. Ill, file 166, no. 24), who also d. s.p. and v.p. Philippe was living 28 July 1368 {Close Roll, 42 Edw. Ill, m. 12).
3. UK, A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerages of England, Ireland, and Scotland, Extinct, Dormant, and in Abeyance, 1831 - by the dietwn tf JCenihoorfft, for the redemption of his lands. This Guy de Brian, m. Eva^ only dau^ter and heireBS of Henry de Trad, and dying in the 3fth Edward I., was #. by his son, SIR GUYDEBRYAN, who..."- https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-90100-32193103/uk-a-gene...
4. Sir Guy de Bryan in the Web: International, Find A Grave' - Name: Sir Guy de Bryan, Birth Date: 1309, Age at Death: 81, Death Date: 17 Aug 1390, Burial Place: Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16441614/de
5. The Medieval Combat Society, Historical Information, Guy Bryan 1st Baron Bryan, 1320-1390 - http://www.themcs.org/characters/Guy%20Bryan.htm
6. Douglas Richardson post on SGM - https://soc.genealogy.medieval.narkive.com/tSTEBle8/cp-addition-mar...
7. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bryan-172 Cites
   1. Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2013), Vol II, p 1, BRYAN #10ii
   2. Ancestral File Number: 9FSF-RF
   3. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id... (dead link) See also:
   4. Knights of England Page 6
   5. Documents relating to the sale of Sutton Poyntz by Sir Nicholas Poyntz to Sir Guy de Bryan
   6. Sutton Poyntz Village website
   7. Beltz, George. Memorials of the Order of the Garter (William Pickering, London, 1841) Page 179-81
   8. Hope, Sir William Henry St. John. The Stall Plates of the Knights of the Order of the Garter, 1348-1485 (A. Constable and Co., ltd., Westminster, 1901) Plate IX < GoogleBooks >
   9. page 361Complete Peerage
   10. Wikipedia: Guy de Bryan, 1st Baron Bryan
   11. his son - Wikipedia : Guy de Bryan, 1st Baron Bryan
8. http://thepeerage.com/p939.htm#i9381 cites
   1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume I, page 373. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
   2. [S2] Peter W. Hammond, editor, The Complete Peerage or a History of the House of Lords and All its Members From the Earliest Times, Volume XIV: Addenda & Corrigenda (Stroud, Gloucestershire, U.K.: Sutton Publishing, 1998), page 118. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage, Volume XIV.
   3. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 361.
   4. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 201.
   5. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume III, page 149.
   6. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, page 248.
   7. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 362.
9. Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 92-93. < GoogleBooks >
10. < Stirnet: Bryan1 >