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=2. 4. 6 Spenser, I thinke, the younger. = Thomas (1373-1400)
was the only member of the Despenser family who was an Earl of
Gloucester. The person referred to here, however, is Hugh le
Despenser, the younger baron, son of Hugh le Despenser, the elder.
He married Eleanor, daughter of Gilbert of Clare, Earl of Gloucester,
and sister and coheiress of the next Earl Gilbert. After the
death of the latter, the inheritance was divided between the husbands
of his three sisters, and Despenser was accordingly sometimes called
Earl of Gloucester.

Despenser was at first on the side of the barons, but later joined
the King's party. In 1321 a league was formed against him, and he
was banished, but was recalled in the following year. In the
Barons' rising of 1326 he was taken prisoner, brought to Hereford,
tried and put to death.

=2. 4. 8 Thomas of Woodstocke. = Thomas of Woodstock, Earl
of Buckingham (1355-97), the youngest son of Edward III. , was
made Duke of Gloucester by his nephew, Richard II.
, in 1385, and
later acquired an extraordinary influence, dominating the affairs of
England for several years. By his high-handed actions he incurred
Richard's enmity. He was arrested July 10, 1397, and conveyed to
Calais, where he was murdered in the following September by the
king's order.

=2. 4. 10 Duke Humphrey. = Humphrey, called the Good Duke
Humphrey (1391-1447), youngest son of Henry IV. , was created
Duke of Gloucester and Earl of Pembroke in 1414. During the
minority of Henry VI. he acted as Protector of the kingdom. His
career was similar to that of Thomas of Woodstock. In 1447 he
was arrested at Bury by order of Henry VI. , who had become king
in 1429. Here he died in February, probably by a natural death,
although there were suspicions of foul play.

=2. 4.