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Birth:          ABT 1346 
Death:          29 Jul 1406 Exeter, Devonshire, England

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Courtenay_(died_1406)
Sir Philip Courtenay (c.1355 – 29 July 1406), of Powderham, Devon was the fifth son 
of Hugh Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon (1303-1377). He was the founder of the cadet 
dynasty known as "Courtenay of Powderham", seated at the manor of Powderham, 
until then a former Bohun manor of little importance, whilst the line descended from his 
elder brother, the Earls of Devon of the mediaeval era, continued to be seated at 
Tiverton Castle and Okehampton.
Origins[edit]

Sir Philip Courtenay was the fifth son of eight sons of Hugh Courtenay, 10th Earl of 
Devon (1303–1377) and Margaret de Bohun, daughter of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl 
of Hereford by his wife Elizabeth Plantagenet (1282-1316), a daughter of King Edward 
I.[2]

Military and naval career[edit]

He was known as a rash, angry and temperamental man but was skillful in naval and 
military affairs. Philip served during the Spanish War. He was with Edward the Black 
Prince at the famous victory of the Battle of Najera. He was knighted before the battle 
with his brothers Peter Courtenay, K.G., and Hugh Courtenay, K.G.[3]

On his return Sir Philip was made Admiral of the West responsible for defending a 
coast plagued by pirates. In 1373 he was put in charge of a large supply convoy to 
Gascony. In August, the expedition took the Castle of Gurry.

Back in England, he launched a petition to parliament protesting against corruption of 
the Stannaries, which he claimed was preventing protection and patrol of the 
coastline. That August, Philip was engaged with Peter in a desperate battle against 
the Spaniards during which they were both captured as supplies failed to get through 
to Gascony. Two Bristol burgesses paid a large ransom for their release. In return they 
were granted trading exemptions from customs tax.

In February 1383, he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, serving for 10 years under 
King Richard II. He attended the parliament that met at Salisbury in April 1384, but in 
July his duties were taken over by the deputies. In 1385 the King gave him powers of 
administration in Dublin. He did not stay long and returned to London on 6 May. That 
Christmas the Great Council met to discuss charges of extortion levelled at Courtenay. 
In January 1386 he was dismissed from his post, arrested by the Crown in March. Sir 
Robert de Vere was created Marquess of Dublin and Viceroy. By 1387, De Vere was 
styling himself as duke of Ireland. Courtenay was elected to the Commons in October 
1386, and petitioned against the perceived injustice. He received compensation for 
the loss of Ireland. By the end of 1387, the Lords Appellant had banished de Vere.

Landholdings[edit]

Courtenay also served as Steward of Cornwall in the 12th year of the reign of Richard 
II.[3] Pope Urban VI challenged the English to join a Crusade in 1383. John of Gaunt 
opposed any such venture; whereas the clerical party was supported by Henry le 
Despencer, Bishop of Norwich and Sir Philip Courtenay. Gaunt made the Priory of 
Somborne over to the Courtenays. There in Hampshire they attacked and tortured the 
Carmelites, and when they accused Gaunt of treason, the knights caused the death of 
the Friar.

It was perhaps as well for his privilege that Sir Philip was elected to parliament in 
February 1383, for he was not a favourite of Richard II. Edward III had granted him a 
pension of £100 for life, which was confirmed by Richard II in 1378. The Black Prince 
had granted him two annuities of £50 each from the Duchy of Cornwall, which were 
doubled on his marriage in 1393.

Richard II demanded his presence in parliament because he had been given the 
official post of Keeper of Dartmoor Forest in 1370, and granted substantial estates in 
Devon from 1380. In March 1388, he received four parks, which he forfeited to the 
Merciless Parliament. But he was granted the Royal Manor of Haslebury Plucknett for 
a period of six years. In 1391, the manor of Dartmoor and manor of Bradninch were 
granted to him and his wife, for the sum of £39 p/a. All these landholding decisions 
were confirmed by Henry IV.

In December 1404, the King ordered Philip to grant Dartmoor and Bradninch to Henry, 
Prince of Wales.

Ireland[edit]

Courtenay was still Steward of the Duchy of Cornwall until 1392. Two years later he 
was preparing to go on an expedition with the king to Ireland. Philip was in charge of 
royal household arrangements as the steward. He was to this end commissioned to 
find fish from Devon and Cornwall for provisions. Whilst in Ireland he soon fell out with 
Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, the royal favourite, and was removed as royal troops 
commissioner.

Military experience[edit]

By 1399 Sir Philip was an experienced soldier called upon to suppress the Welsh 
revolt. He called up the Commissions of Array. He bought transporters of the soldiers 
and horses for the 1402 expedition to Brittany, and the sailing against the King of 
Scotland in 1400.

Politician[edit]

He criticised ships lying idle in the docks, and reported to the Royal Council. They 
urged Henry IV to bring the experience of the West Country men in provisioning stores 
against France in 1402. Sir Philip also sat on the Council of 1405. Despite falling into 
terrible debts governing Ireland, he was exonerated of any crimes and pardoned by 
the King in 1393. When two men were dispossessed of their property Philip 
encouraged arbitrators Sir Peter Chudleigh and Sir James Chudleigh MP to decide.[4] 
Many men complained of Courtenay's conduct: Sir Thomas Pomeroy was returned 
some property lost in Exeter in 1402. And Nicholas Potyngton managed to renew his 
complaint of 1393 for the loss of the manor of Bickleigh. Abbot of Newenham's 
property was stolen by sixty retainers; Courtenay ignored the summons to appear in 
Westminster. This he also did when summoned to answer for his conduct in forbidding 
the Abbot of Beaulieu access to his abbey.[5]

Imprisonment[edit]

Sir Philip was imprisoned in the Tower in November 1402 for clerical abuses against 
the Church. On 29 November he was forced to pay a recognizance of £100 by Sir 
John Arundell, and to Sir John Herle and Sir William Sturmy a surety of £1000.

Inheritance[edit]

Philip had been very fortunate to receive property on the death of relatives. In 1357 
he received the reversion of the manor of Moreton on the death of his brother, 
Thomas. In 1374 he had gained Broadwindsor and Cadleigh on the death of his 
brother, Sir Peter Courtenay, and the reversion of Honiton and Nuneham Courtenay, 
and East Coker. The Earl left him 100 marks in his will. In 1377, Sir Philip returned 
advowsons of Honiton and East Coker to Exeter Cathedral to construct a memorial to 
his father. His mother also left him seven manors from 1391 as well as her chapel.

Philip was granted Powderham Castle by his mother upon her death in 1391, as well as 
seven other manors.[6] He was succeeded by his son, Richard, Lord Chancellor and 
Bishop of Ireland, upon his death on 29 July 1406.[7] At that time he held one manor 
and hamlet in Dorset; three manors and a moiety and three advowsons in Somerset; 
and seventeen manors and five advowsons in Devon with some smaller properties. He 
was valued in 1405 to have an income of £140 pa.[8]

Marriage and children[edit]

Courtenay married Ann Wake, the daughter of Sir Thomas Wake of Blisworth, 
Northamptonshire, by Alice de Pateshulle, the daughter of Sir John de Pateshulle. 
They had three sons and two daughters:[9]
Richard Courtenay (died 1415), Bishop of Norwich, son and heir.

Sir John Courtenay (died before 1415), second son, who pre-deceased his father and 
elder brother. He married Joan Champernoun (died 1419) daughter of Sir Richard 
Champernoun of Modbury, Devon.[10] They had two sons, Sir Philip Courtenay (18 
January 1404 – 16 December 1463), of Powderham, heir to his uncle Bishop Richard 
Courtenay,[11] and Sir Humphrey Courtenay.
Sir William Courtenay.
Agnes Courtenay, who married Sir Otes Champernoun.
Margaret Courtenay, who married (as his first wife) Sir Robert Cary (died circa 1431) of 
Cockington, Devon, twelve times Member of Parliament for Devon. Without progeny.
[12]

Parents
COURTENAY Hugh (12 Jul 1303 - 2 May 1377)
DE BOHUN Margaret (3 Apr 1311 - 16 Dec 1391)

Siblings
COURTENAY Edward (ABT 1329 - ABT 1368)
COURTENAY Philip (ABT 1346 - 29 Jul 1406)

Marriage To WAKE Anne (ABT 1350 - AFT 30 Mar 1404)
    m. ABT 1380 

Notes

Parents
WAKE Thomas (ABT 1325 - AFT 12 Sep 1379)
PATTESHULL (PATESHULL) Alice (ABT 1330 - BEF 25 Sep 1398)

Children by WAKE Anne ABT 1350 - AFT 30 Mar 1404
COURTENAY John (ABT 1382 - BEF 29 Jul 1406)

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