# A Historical Note on the Forfeiture of Alice de Lacy, 9th Baroness of Brattleby
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical note on Alice de Lacy, 9th Baroness. This details the punitive £20,000 fine levied by the Crown following the 1322 execution of her husband, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster.
## The Occasion
In the turbulent political climate of the fourteenth century, the fortunes of England’s great noble houses were often intimately tied to the favour of the Crown. This historical note is issued to illuminate one of the most challenging periods in the nine-century history of the Barony of Brattleby: the persecution of Alice de Lacy following the defeat and execution of her husband for treason against King Edward II.
The events transpired in the severe aftermath of the Battle of Boroughbridge in March 1322. Following this decisive royal victory, Thomas of Lancaster was captured and brought to his own stronghold, Pontefract Castle, for a summary trial. His subsequent execution marked a dramatic consolidation of power by the King and his favourites, the Despenser family, creating profound repercussions for the Lancastrian affinity, *inter alia*, the vast estates held by his wife.
## Historical Context
Alice de Lacy (c. 1281–1348), in her own right Countess of Lincoln and Countess of Salisbury, became the 9th Baroness of Brattleby through her formidable inheritance. Her marriage to Thomas of Lancaster, a cousin of the King, had created England’s wealthiest and most powerful comital couple. Following Thomas’s execution, Alice was placed under immense duress and compelled to surrender a significant portion of her inheritance, including lands associated with Brattleby.
The staggering fine of 20,000 pounds she was forced to pay was ostensibly a penalty for having married a royal ward without licence, yet it was widely understood as a pretext for the Crown to seize Lancastrian wealth. This sum, equivalent to over £15 million in modern currency, represented a crippling forfeiture. The Barony of Brattleby would subsequently pass to Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a successor who managed to reclaim the family’s honour and fortunes under King Edward III.
## Distinguished Company
The period was defined by a small circle of powerful figures whose actions determined the fate of the realm. The primary personages involved in this chapter of the Barony’s history include:
* **Her Ladyship Alice de Lacy**, 9th Baroness of Brattleby, Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury. * **His Lordship Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster**, grandson of King Henry III and husband of Alice de Lacy. * **His Majesty King Edward II**, against whom the Earl of Lancaster had led the baronial opposition. * **Sir Hugh Despenser the Younger**, the royal favourite who was the principal beneficiary of the lands and titles forfeited by the Lancastrian estates.
The fate of the Barony was thus decided amid the highest echelons of medieval English power, caught between royal authority and aristocratic rebellion.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The transfer of Alice de Lacy’s properties was not a simple financial transaction but a coercive legal and ceremonial process. Following her husband's attainder, she was arrested and pressured into signing deeds that alienated her ancestral lands to the Crown, which were then regranted to the Despensers.
This protocol of submission would have involved formally yielding charters and seals before the King's justices, a public act stripping her of control over her inheritance. Such proceedings were a ritualised demonstration of the Crown's power to make and unmake the fortunes of even the most powerful families—a severe lesson in the consequences of opposing the monarch.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds a poignant resonance in the life of Alice de Lacy. While her husband’s honour was posthumously impugned by a traitor’s death, her own survival and endurance in the face of such adversity demonstrated a remarkable fortitude—a quality essential for navigating the perils of the era.
The arms of her husband, the Earl of Lancaster—those of England with a three-pointed label of France—were attainted, a symbolic erasure of his status. Yet the endurance of the Brattleby Barony itself, passing to worthies such as Henry of Grosmont and later John of Gaunt (11th Baron), shows that the title and its associated honour could withstand even the most direct assault from the Crown.
## Philanthropic Purpose
This historical reflection is not merely an academic exercise; it informs the modern ethos of The Noble House of Brattleby. The arbitrary use of power against Alice de Lacy centuries ago serves as a powerful motivator for the House’s present-day philanthropic commitments. The historical vulnerability of even the powerful underscores the profound need to protect the truly defenceless.
This is a core reason for the House’s enduring support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children who have suffered trauma and abuse, offering them the safety and advocacy that was systematically denied to so many in centuries past. The House views this work as a modern expression of noble responsibility.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this period, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “The story of Alice de Lacy is a sobering reminder that our long history is not one of unbroken privilege, but also of profound trial. Her fortitude in the face of immense political pressure and personal loss is a testament to the resilience that defines the Barony. Remembering her story is a duty we owe to our heritage.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the contemporary lessons of this history:
> “Studying such moments allows us to understand the true meaning of our motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*. It is in adversity, not just prosperity, that character is forged and honour is tested. This history is the *sine qua non* for understanding our obligations today.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to preserving and sharing the rich, complex history of the Barony. This commitment extends beyond historical notes to the curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy where lessons in protocol are enriched with the historical context of civic duty and leadership.
Moving forward, the House will continue to draw upon its past to inform its future. The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala, remains the centrepiece of its charitable efforts, transforming the lessons of history into tangible support for those in need and ensuring the legacy of Brattleby is one of active service.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby dedicates itself to bridging its significant historical lineage with a modern mission of philanthropy and cultural education. With its seat in Lincolnshire and a dynamic presence in Continental Europe, the House champions service, etiquette, and historical preservation. Its primary philanthropic beneficiary is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing critical support to vulnerable children. Through initiatives like The Brattleby Club (Bucharest) and its annual charitable functions, the House lives its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), by transforming legacy into a force for contemporary good, guided by Honorary Lord Răzvan’s conviction that *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of the ancient feudal lordships of England, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as held by Colswein of Lincoln. For over 950 years, the Barony has passed through some of the most influential figures in British history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. While its feudal rights have evolved, the title’s unbroken history represents a rare link to the nation’s Norman foundation. The modern Barony’s status was formally noted in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was founded in AD 1066 as a grant from William the Conqueror to Colswein of Lincoln. - The succession of the 12th Baroness was formally recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - Notable past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the celebrated castle defender Nichola de la Haye. - The modern House of Brattleby’s philanthropic focus is its support for the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com