The Golden Falcon

The Golden Falcon

Chapter I/3 - Falcon

GWYNN'S TOWER

"Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed was lord over the seven cantrefs of Dyfed; and once upon a time he was at Arberth, chief court of his and it came into his head and heart to go a-hunting. And whilst he was baiting his dogs he could see a horseman coming after the pack on a big dapple-grey steed, with a hunting horn round his neck and a garment of brownish-grey stuff about him by way of a hunting garb." ("Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed" - The Mabinogion).

According to Welsh pedigrees the Winters original surname was Gwyntour because the original Walter or William who went into Dyfed with Arnulf Montgomery de Bellême married Gwenllian, daughter of Gwylim ap Aeddan, lord of Castle Gwynn.

Norman castles were usually painted white and one of them, Whitecastle, in Monmouthshire was named Castell Gwynn by the Welsh for this reason but perhaps also because Gwynn, lord of the Underworld was supposed to haunt desolate high towers and tors.

In Celtic mythology Anarawn or Gwynn, known in Ireland as Finn MacCumhail or McCool, was god of the underworld or Elysium called Ynys Avallon meaning Avallon's Isle which Tennyson in "Idylls of the King" described as:

"Island valley of Avillion;

Where falls not hail or rain, or any snow

Nor ever wind blows loudly; but lies

Deep meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard-lawns

And bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea."

Avalon was the land of summer, of illusion, Mag Mell or the plain of happiness, Tir-nam-beo or the land of the living, Tir Tairngire or the land of promise, Tir-nan-og or the land of the young, Hybreasal or Breasal's Island after which Brazil was named - the Merchant Venturers of Bristol went in search of Hybreasil and discovered Newfoundland instead.

Gwynn was depicted wearing a grey woollen garment, a silver hunting horn hung round his neck and he rode on a grey steed. His pack of hounds were white with red ears and were known variously as the Gabriel Hounds, Yeth, Yell, Heath, Heathen or Cwm Annwn and were the Hounds of the underworld. He hunted men for their souls and was a god of battle and of the dead, leading the slain into Hades and also the leader of the Red Branch of Ulster.

In Christian times he became Gwynn, the son of Nudd or Nodens, "whom God placed over the brood of devils in Annwn lest they should destroy the present race" or "in whom God has put the instincts of the demons of Annwn". He was later considered the ruler of the fairies especially in the Vale of Neath. Gwynn ruled over the misty mountain tops - the valleys of the rivers Tawe and Nedd in Breconshire were his special haunts as was Glastonbury Tor where there was a church to St. Michael who replaced him as the leader of the hosts of heaven when Britain became Christian. He was Spenser's "Sir Guyon, an Elfin born, of noble state and mickle worship in his native land".

Gwynn was the son of Nudd, Nudens, Nodens or Nuada of the Silver Hand, Llaw Ereint, Argentlam or Llud, who had a shrine at Lydney where he is depicted on a bronze plaque as a young god. haloed like the sun, driving a four horse chariot, accompanied by flying wind spirits and he carries a triton symbolising his power over the sea. He was the personification of the Severn and the Forest of Dean.

He had another shrine at Ludgate (Ludes Gate) and Parth Llud over which St. Paul's was built. His tomb was at Grianan Aileach in the Inishowen Peninsula between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle.

He was also Lugh Lamhfada the long-handed far-shooter, Leu, Lew, Llaw Gyffes who took part in the battle of the trees and was changed into an eagle. He was also known as Gwalchmai the May falcon and Gwalchaved the summer falcon, Galahad, Peredur Paladr-hir the spearman of the long spear and Percival. The 1st of August was Lugh's feast day called Lugnassad and the cities of Laon, Leyden, Lyons (Lugudunum) and Carlisle (Luguvallum) were named after him. Paladur was Shaftesbury, the "Kaer Vynnydd y paladur"- the castle of the mount of the spear where the eagle prophesied.

His place was taken by Merlin or Myrddin for Britain was Glas Myrddin or Merlin's enclosure. Merlin's wife was the daughter of Coel or Camulus, god of war and the sky - she was Elen Llyddawg or "Elen, Leader of Hosts" after whom Ford Elen (Elen's Road) and Sarn Elen were named - they were the Roman roads over which their troops marched. She was "Helen of the Legions" who, in Christian times, was the wife of Constantius and mother of Constantine. She found the True Cross, founded Carmarthen (Caer Myrddin or Merlin's Fort) and the highest fortress in Arfon - not Caernarfon but Dinas Emrys (Ambrose's Tower) near Beddgelert on Snowdon.

There is a poem about Gwynn in the Black Book of Carmarthen:

Gwyddneu: "A bull of conflict was he, active in dispersing an arrayed army,

The ruler of hosts, indisposed to anger,

Blameless and pure his conduct in protecting life."

Gwynn: "Against a hero stout was his advance,

The ruler of hosts, disposer of wrath,

There will be protection for thee since thou askest it."

Gwyddneu: "For thou hast given me protection

How warmly wert thou welcomed!

The hero of hosts, from what region thou comest?"

Gwynn: "I come from battle and conflict

With a shield in my hand;

Broken is my helmet by the pushing of spears."

Gwyddneu: "I will address thee, exalted man,

With his shield in distress,

Brave man, what is thy descent?"

Gwynn: "Round-hoofed is my horse, the torment of battle,

Fairy I am called Gwynn, the son of Nudd

The lover of Creurdilad, the daughter of Lludd.

Gwyddneu: "Since it is thou, Gwynn, an upright man,

From thee, there is no concealing,

I am Gwyddneu Garanhir."

Gwynn: "Hasten to my ridge, the Tawe abode

Not the nearest Tawe name I to thee,

But that Tawe which is the farthest

Polished is my ring, golden my saddle and bright

To my sadness

I saw a conflict before Caer Vandwy1

Before Caer Vandwy a host I saw

Shields were shattered and ribs broken

Renowned and splendid was he who made the assault."

Gwyddneu: "Gwynn, son of Nudd, the hope of armies

Quicker would legions fall before the hoofs

Of thy horses than broken rushes to the ground."

Gwynn: "Handsome my dog and round-bodied

And truly the best of dogs;

Dormarth2 was he, which belonged to Maelgwyn.

Dormarth, red-nosed, ground-grazing

On him we perceive the speed

Of thy wanderings Gwibir Vynyd 3

Gwynn: "I have been in the place where was killed Gwendoleu

The son of Celdaw, the pillar of songs,

When the raven screamed over blood

I have been in the place where Bran was killed,

The son of Iweridd, of far extending fame,

When the ravens of the battlefield screamed.

I have been where Llacheau was slain,

The son of Arthur, extolled in songs,

When ravens screamed over flesh.

I have been where Meurig was killed,

The son of Carreian, of honourable fame,

I have been where Gwallawg was killed,

The son of Conolath, the accomplished,

The register of Lloegyr, the son of Llanwg.

I have been where the soldiers of Britain were slain,

From the east to the north:

I am escort of the grave.

I have been where the soldiers of Britain were slain,

From the east to the south:

I am alive, they in death!"

(1) Caer Vyndwy was Hades

(2) Dormarth means Death's door

(3) Caer Vynyd was Shaftesbury.

Welsh genealogies of the Winters show a descent from the Norman family of de Lacy and according to a history of Breconshire (Brycheiniog):

"The first member of this family was a Lacy who came over with Duke William of Normandy in the "Lord Neville" and fought at Hastings (Gilbert Neville or de Neuville was William I's admiral). Upon his coronation and settlement on the throne of England and in memory of Senlac, King William bestowed upon his commanders, honours and estates and to that first known member, he gave a knighthood and a coat of arms "sable, a fesse argent". Like most of the Conqueror's warriors, he was also rewarded with an English bride, the daughter of Sir John Allen or York, who bore him 4 sons and 3 daughters".

There is no record of any de Lacy having been at the battle of Hastings but they certainly were in England shortly afterwards and the lands they held were the forfeited properties of the rebel, Ralf the Gael, earl of East Anglia, who plotted against the king at the "Bridal of Norwich" in 1070.

According to Welsh pedigrees Ilbert de Lacy by Hawise and/or Hadrude had an unidentified son Walter or William, born in 1056, who went into Dyfed (Pembrokeshire) with Arnulf Montgomery de Bellême. Walter or William married Gwenllian, daughter of Gwilym ap Aeddan ap Blegored, lord of Castell Gwyn. There may have been some confusion between William de Lacy (d. 1233) of Ireland who married Gwenllian, daughter of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth Fawr.

Blegored was an usurper Prince of North Wales who, with his 4 sons, were killed by Llywelyn ap Seisyllt (from whom the Winters were descended through the family of de Braiose). Llywelyn ap Seisyllt usurped the princedom of Gwynedd. His father is not known but his mother was the daughter of Elise ab Anarawd. He married Angharad, daughter of Maredudd ab Owain, had a son Gruffyd ap Llywelyn and died in 1019.

Fig. 1 - Winter of Brecon & Lydney, Glos

Ilbert de Lacy = (1) Hawise = (2) Hadrude > Walter or William (de Lacy) came to Llangain in Carmarthenshire (or Dyfed) with Roger (Arnulf) de Montgomery of Bellême in the 4th year (1093) of William Rufus. He married Gwenllian, daughter of Gwilym ap Aeddan ap Blegored, Lord of Castell Gwynn. Blegored, an usurper prince, and his sons were killed by Seisyllt, Prince of North Wales > William Winter, lord of Rhyd-y-gors & Llangain took name of Gwyn Twr (White Tower) = a daughter of William fitzBaldwin de Bollers or Boulers (d. 1094). Baldwin held the castles of Rhyd-y-gors and Montgomery (the latter passed to the fitzUrse family with the Bollers heiress). A fitzUrse was one of Thomas a'Becket's murderers > David Winter = Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Perrott of Jestington (Eastington) and Scotsbridge, Pembrokeshire. The Pembrokeshire family may have had some connection with William Perrott and his son John who held Wollaston, Worcestershire in 1442-3. This manor passed to Roger Perrot then to his son William and his grandson Humphrey. Their arms were "gules, 3 pears or" and "a chief argent with a demi-lion sable therein" >:

(a) Wynters of Wych (see Fig. A)

(b) Morgan of Rhyd-y.gors > Joan Winter = David ap Gronw-goch of Llangfain > Lloyd

of Kingwyn

Winter = Jane, d. of Sir John Morgan, knight >:

A. Gwenllian Winter = Owen-ap-Meredith of Pwylldufach

B. Walter Winter = d. of Walter Gam

C. Morris Winter = d. of Sir Peter Barrett, lord of Pendyne > William Winter =

Jennett, d. of Griffith-ap-Cadwgan of Escirgaib > Jenkin Winter of Pentre Ritsiart,

Pembs. = Agnes Philips > Walter Winter = Elizabeth, d. of Jenkin-ap-Rhys > Philip

Winter of Castell Garthen > Griffith Winter = d. of Richard Fisher of Cwmmerdin >

William Winter of Laugherne = d. of David-ap-Howell Morgan-ddu of Langadock >

Lewis Winter of the Forest of Dean = Earsley (see OR) >:

a. Andrew, sheriff of Brecon (1553), last bailiff under Stafford Duke of Buckingham

= Cissil, d. of Matthew Walter (see Fig. B)

b. Lewis of Cantref, MD = Boulcott of Brecon > John Winter, bailiff of Brecon

(1589) = d. of Howell David Prosser of Gaer >:

(A) Lewis Winter of Tyrrickard = Jane, d. of Richard Greene > Richard Winter of

London, gent = Alice, d. of Robert Woodroofe of Copthall, Suffolk >:

1. Richard Winter, s. & h.

2. John Winter, 2^nd son

3. Charles Winter

4. Margaret Winter

5. Elizabeth Winter

c. William Winter, bailliff of Brecon (1614) = Margaret, d. of Philip Jones of

Edwinsford (see Fig D)

d. Daniel (d. 1668) = Esther, d. of William Berkeley (see Fig. C)

OR: Owen Winter = Elizabeth, d. of David Meuric of Cilcwm > William Winter = Margaret, d. of Phillip Jordan > Jenkin Winter, lord of Menorgain > Elizabeth = (1) Richard Read = (2) = Fisher > Fisher alias Winter > William Winter alias Fisher >:

Fisher alias Winter > Lewis Winter of the Forest of Dean = Earsley

Fig. D

William Winter, bailliff of Brecon (1614) = Margaret, d. of Philip Jones of Edwinsford >:

(a) Sarah Winter = Rowland Gwynne

(b) Anne Winter = Lewis Jones > Wynter Jones

(d) Frances Winter = Lewis Watkins of Brecon, mercer

(e) Goditha Winter = Edward Edwards of Cefn-y-Coed

(f) Esther Winter = Owen Griffiths, clerk

Fig. B

Andrew Winter =Cissil Walter >:

(a) Margaret Winter = Roger Vaughn of Cathedine

(b) Walter Winter, barrister = Margaret, d. of John Walwyn, King’s Receiver, Brecon by

his wife Gwladus, d. of Gwilym Morgan of Trallong. Margaret brought Llanfihangel-

tal-lyn & Ystradgynlais >:

1. Edward Winter > Edward Winter (d. 1668) of Llangoed Castle > Walter Winter (d.

1673) > Walter Winter

2. William Winter of Llanfihangel-tal-y-llyn = Blanche, d. of Anthony Dew of

Herefordshire >:

A. Joan Winter

B. Edward Winter = Jane, d. of John Edwards of Chirk >:

(a) Edward Winter of Llanfihangel (d. 1669)

(b)John Winter = Jane, d. of Nicholas Lewis of Viven (1649)

of Treivor, Monmouthshire >:

(1) Eleanor Winter

(2) Mary Winter

(3) Margaret Winter

(4) Jane Winter = Thomas Levings

(5) Anne Winter = Rev. Owen Morgan of Llanfihangel-Nant-Bran, rector of

Llanfihangel-tal-y-llyn

(6) Edward Winter of Tredustan (1658-1737) = Anne, d. of Thomas

Williams of Talgarth by his wife Anne de la Hay of Urishay,

Herefordshire > Robert Winter of the Pipe Office, London (1728-1803)

sp.

(7) Walter Winter of Llangoed = Anne Lewis of Glyn >:

A. Richard Winter (1693-1729) vicar of Boughrood > Richard Winter of

Masgawr, Crickadarn > Henry Winter (1775-93)

B. Henry Winter (1695-1746) = Mary (d. 1735), both buried Crickadarn

a. Anne Winter

b. Margaret Winter

c. Henry Winter (1726-1742)

d. Richard Winter (1781-1846) both bur. Crickadarn

Fig. C

Daniel Winter = Esther Berkeley >:

(a) Anne Winter = Lewis Jones of Brecon

(b) Daniel Winter of Cefyn-y-vedw = Jennet Edwards > William Winter, bailiff of Brecon

1695 (d.1708) = Anne > Daniel Winter of Brecon (1724) = Maria > Daniel Winter of

Brecon (1712-41) = Esther (dsp. 1741).

Daniel Winter MD (d. 1725) = Anna (d. 1726), d. of Richard James of Llanbered,

Llanigon >:

1. Edward Winter (d. 1719)

2. Elizabeth Winter (b. 1711)

3. James Winter

4. John Winter, clerk = Mary Howells

5. William Winter (b. 1703, d. 1758) = Mary (1710-49) d. of Thomas Jones of

Tredustan, sheriff in 1721 >:

A. Thomas Winter (obsp)

B. John Winter (dsp. 1779) = Anne

C. Mary Winter (b. 1734) = Vernon

D. Daniel Winter (1735-82 obsp)

E. James Winter = Elinor Henrietta (1737-1802) >:

(1). Mary Winter = Richardson

(2). Agnes Winter = Beynon

(3). James Winter (1794) = Henrietta Parkin >:

a. Robert Winter

b. Anna Winter

c. Maria Winter

F. Rev. William Winter of Penderyn, rector = Jane Wheeler >:

(a) Jane Winter (b. 1760) = (1) George Williams, barrister = (2) Richard Gough

Awbrey

(b) Robert Winter (1769-1806) rector, Penderyn = Anne, d. of Thomas Hughes

Philips of Pentywall >:

(1) Anne Winter

(2) William Winter (b. 1803)

(3) Robert Winter (1794-1831) held licence to living of Llanfihangel-yal-y-

llyn in 1817.

1. Hugh Winter (b. 1805 posthumous)

2. William Winter (1796-1871 sp)

3. Jane Winter (1801-38)

4. Elizabeth Winter (1796-18 70) = Gabriel Myddleton Powell of Peterstone

Court (obsp)

5. Daniel Winter =(1802-42) capt. Indian Army = in 1831 Frances Mellor

(d. 1880) >:

A. Daniel Winter (1832)

B. Jane Winter (b. 1842, d. 1933) = in 1860 Capt. Verey of the Buffs >:

a. Rev. Lewis Verey MVO (1870)

b. Rev. Cecil Verey (1872-1958) > David Winter Verey >:

(1) Charles Winter Verey 1940

(2) Christopher Verey (1941)

(3) Davina Verey

(4) Veronica Verey

C. Elizabeth Winter = Edward Mercer (1833-1917)

D. William Winter (1833-56 in India) in Indian Army

E. Hugh Bold Winter = Christian Anne Frances, d. of Rear Admiral John

Talbot >:

[1]. William Winter (b. 1868) Lieut. RN

[2]. Christian Winter (1870-90) = Hugh Cresswell

[3]. Maud Winter

c. Hugh Talbot Winter, Royal Artillery killed in action 1914 = Eva, d. of

Edward Chichester Incledon Webber of Braunton, N. Devon > Derek

Winter 1899 MVO > Mark Winter

Fig. A.

Roger Winter = Margaret or Elizabeth fitzPiers, widow of (1) William Martin (2) John, lord Mohun of Dunster > Robert Winter = Elizabeth, d. of Sir William Hotot of Gloucester > Richard Winter = Margaret, d. of William Burghill of Warwick > William Winter = Elizabeth, d. of Henry Appleby. He was knighted after the siege of Calais (1346) & supposed to have been made Edward III's Comptroller of the Army (*) >:

(a) John Winter (d. 1449), Sir John Fastolf’s steward at Castlecombe, bought lands in

Lambeth, Stockwell & Dulwich & “The Boar’s Head” Inn in 1416 = Agnes Martin >: (1)

John (2) William (3) John mentioned in his Will.

(b) Roger Winter of Wych (Droitwich) = Joan, d. of Thomas Hoddington (1483) >:

1. Robert Winter of Wych = Elizabeth Washbourne >:

A. Thomas (1509 Letters & Patents Henry VIII) held corrody a Evesham in 1509,

grant of the same in 1546 (or perhaps to a son?) > Thomas of Evesham (d.

1562) barber (& probably surgeon)

B. Anne Winter = Thomas Underhill of Hunninghill, Warks.

C. Margaret Winter = Chadnor of Herts

D. Elizabeth Winter = Thomas Soley of Henlip

E. Roger Winter (d. 1535) = Elizabeth, d. of Sir John Hungerford of Down

Ampney, Glos mentioned in letters of Thomas Cromwell (1535) >:

(A) Robert Winter (d. 1549) = Katherine Throckmorton >: Edward, Katherine,

John, Valentine, Elizabeth = Bushell, George (aged 5 at father’s death) =

(1) Jane Ingleby = (2) Elizabeth Bourne >:

[a] Dorothy Winter = Graunt > Graunt Wynter

[b] John executed 1605 at Redhill, Worcester

[c] Elizabeth = Cole > Thomas Cole.

George Winter by (1) >:

[d] Thomas executed 1605

[e] Robert executed 1605 = Gertude, d. of John Talbot >:

(a) Helen Winter

(b) John Winter >:

1. John Winter (d. 1628)

2. Robert Winter (d. 1630)

3. George = (1) Frances, sister of Francis Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury

= (2) Mary, d. of Charles, Viscount Carrington = (3) Mary, d. of Sir

George Kemp of Pentelow Hall, Essex.

(B) Roger Winter = Elizabeth Wyrall > John Winter (d. 1545) of Bristol,

Lydney, Limehouse & Deptford, Surveyor of the Navy to Henry VIII >

Lydney, Dyrham, Portsmouth, Battersea, Fulham, Coleford, Dymock.

Aldeburgh branches. He = Alice Tirry. The following children are

mentioned in his Will [F.3 ALEN 1545] >:

(a) Arthur, eldest son, died at sea

(b) William the elder, 2^nd son died or was imprisoned at River Cestos,

Gold Coast, Sierra Leone

Elizabeth I.

(d) Ralph or Raffe, 4^th son settled Cornwall > Winters of Gwennap &

Kellyfrith-in-Kea

(e) William of Lydney, 5^th son, Surveyor of the Navy Edward VI, Philip &

Mary & Elizabeth I.

(f) Anne, eldest daughter

(g) Alice or Agnes, 2^nd daughter = Sir Thomas Wilson

(h) Anne, 3^rd daughter

(i) Elizabeth

(j) Mary

(kI Anne the younger (same as h?)

Burghill manor, Warwickshire was held by Basile de Burghill and passed to Henry Burghill (d. 1271) then to his brother Roger de Burghill. It was inherited by his son another Roger (d. 1303) and his wife Julia then by their son Roger and wife Sybil in 1334.

Leics. Carta Robert d'Albini Brito - Ralph de Hotot in 1166 (Red Book of the Exchequer)

John Winter (d.1449) Captain of Castell Mayett (Mayet near Le Mans, France) = Agnes Martin. He may actually have been William's or Roger Winter's brother. He was at Harfleur serving under John Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford and Earl of Pembroke (King Henry V's brother). John Winter was later employed as steward by Sir John Fastolf at Castlecombe, Somerset, a wool centre where the English uniforms were made. John Winter owned the Boar's Head Inn at Southwark which he sold to Fastolf and the manors of Camberwell, Streatham, Lambeth, Dulwich, Levehurst and Stockwell (where he built a chantry) in Surrey (now South London). He made an arrangement with Nicholas Molyneaux, his brother-in-arms and Chambre des Comptes in France, to stash away the loot they plundered in France in the Chapel of St. Thomas Acon at Cheapside which later became the Mercers' or wool merchants' chapel. St. Thomas of Acre was Thomas a'Becket the martyr and patron saint of the Mercers Company, an off-shoot of which was the Merchant Venturers' Company known as the Brotherhood of St. Thomas over the Seas. In his Will dated 1445 he directed that he should be buried at White Friars of London "afore the altar of Saint Katherine". He made bequests to the White Friars for a daily Mass at this altar, using vestments and plate, his own gift. He also left money to the Church of Lambeth and wood "in the cold winter to the poor of Lambeth parish". He left to his eldest son John property once belonging to Thomas Walters of Carmarthen, his youngest son was also named John. The manor of Stockwell was to descend to his eldest son and other land in Southwark and Surrey. He also bequeathed to his son William "£20 to be paid of the revenues of the place that was William Gwyn's".

Roger Winter of Wych (Droitwich), Worcestershire is mentioned in South London (formerly Surrey) land documents with John Winter of Castell Mayett. Roger married Joan, daughter of Thomas Hoddington or Huddington of Huddington Court from whom the Winters inherited many coats of arms and lands as she was a wealthy co-heiress. These arms are shown on the glass windows at the Raven Hotel (St. Andrew's manor), Droitwich which had been the old Exchequer House and returned to Huddington chapel from where they had been originally taken. Roger owned saltsprings in Droitwich inherited from the Cooksey or Cokesay family.

Roger Winter, husband of Anna, daughter of Richard Washborne. The Washbourne family held the manor of Little Washbourne, Warwickshire. Their arms were "argent, a fesse between 6 martlets gules with 3 cinquefoils argent in fesse."

Roger Winter (d. 6.3.1535) married Elizabeth (d. 1536), daughter of John Hungerford, knight, of Down Ampney. Roger owned the manor of "Bacchesore" (probably Badgeworth), Gloucestershire on 10.12.1540 (mentioned in his Will or Inquisition postmortem). His sister Anna married Thomas Underhill of Hunningham, Warwickshire from whom the family of Underhill of Warwickshire was descended. Sir John Hungerford's father Thomas Hungerford, knight of Down Ampney, is buried at Westminster Abbey

Robert Winter inherited Huddington although his eldest brother was Richard, originally betrothed to Katherine Throckmorton. Her father George Throckmorton or Throgmorton, in a letter to Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle (Edward IV's illegitimate son) wrote that Richard was "ill and about to die". According to some heraldic Visitations Robert is incorrectly shown as having married twice (1) Elizabeth, daughter of William Wyrall from whom the Winters of Dyrham and Lydney were descended and (2) Katherine Throckmorton form whom the Huddington Gunpowder Plotters were descended. If this is correct, his son John from his first marriage did not inherit Huddington but his son George from his second marriage did. Katherine was definitely alive when he died and is mentioned in his Inquisition post-mortem. This mistake has been corrected in a 1535 Visitation of Worcestershire.

John Winter, merchant of Bristol who owned lands in Deptford, Limehouse, Bristol and Whitecross manor, Lydney died in 1546. He was Surveyor of the Navy or Clerk of the King's ships to Henry III for a brief period and married Alice, daughter of William Terry or Tirry of Cork who was a descendant of the fitzGeralds, earls of Desmond. John's eldest brother Gilbert Winter was gentleman Usher of the Bedchamber to Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I) and died without heirs. This John Winter's daughter or sister was said to have been the mistress of Cardinal Wolsey but she may have been the second wife of Sir William Gascoigne, Comptroller of Wolsey's Household and daughter of John Winter (Vinter) of Cardington, Bedfordshire whose arms she bore.

According to some genealogies William de Lacy died an anchorite at the Augustinian Priory of Llanthony.

There were two St. Augustines, one was born at Hippo in North Africa was once a Manichean, the other (named after him) was archbishop of Canterbury.

The Augustinian Order was founded after the Lateran Synod of 1059, the monks were laymen, never called upon to preach, celebrate mass or hear confession but their canons were obliged to take Holy Orders. They reached England in 1075 and settled in Canterbury from where they spread; at the Dissolution there were 60 of these cells.

The Canons Regular or Augustinian Canons were compared to a “lofty tower surrounded on all sides by water.” They held Cirencester (1108), Llanthony by Gloucester (1136), St. Ausgustine's, Bristol (1148), St. Oswald's, Gloucester (1135) and Walsingham, Norfolk whose canonesses held St. Mary Magdalene, Bristol in 1173.

The first to establish such a cell on the borders of Wales was Hugh de Lacy who founded a priory of Augustine Canons at Llanthony, Monmouthshire in about 1103. Llanthony Prima was attacked by the Welsh after the death of Henry I so the monks fled and in 1136-7 a second priory called Llanthony Secunda was founded outside Gloucester.

Walter fitzRoger, sheriff of Gloucester & Lord High Constable of England became a monk at Llanthony in his old age and was buried in the chapter house in 1127. He was succeeded by his son Milo fitzWalter (d. 1143) for whom the Empress Matilda revived the earldom of Hereford in 1141. Milo founded Llanthony Secunda near Gloucester in 1136-7.

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