Welsh Journals

80 At the top of folio 170a is the signature Ed'ap Rog'. In the margin at the bottom left of the same folio, in a different hand, and perhaps c. 1600, is the following entry Jo'. Henri An vj Richard Wm Argl John Herbert John 31 The account of the subsequent claims to the barony of Powis has been written in The Complete Peerage, VI (s.n. and also Appendix C), where it is stated (p. 697) that the crux of the claim is the identity of the parentage of one Elizabeth Grey. The position is as follows Margaret Tuchet, daughter of John, lord Audley, married, first, Sir Roger Vaughan, knight of Tretower and, second (before 12 January 1458-9), Richard Grey, lord Powis; this Richard Grey had two children, John and Elizabeth one claimant states that this Elizabeth was the daughter of Margaret by Sir Roger Vaughan, and the other claimant states that she was the daughter of Margaret by Richard Grey, lord Powis. The editors of The Complete Peerage comment (p. 697) "It is a curious fact that although everything hinged on this point, the paternity of Elizabeth was not determined even by the time that the last claim was made in 1800". Gutun Owain was in no doubt. He says quite clearly that she was the daughter of Richard Grey: a Ric' a beiriodes Marged v3' Arglwydd Awdle, ac vddynt i bu vab a merch, John ac Elsabeth (folio 170a supra). Here, then, is a contemporary record by one of the outstanding scholars of his day, who was recording known facts when the title was still in the Grey family, and who could have had no idea that legal warfare was to wage round the paternity of Elizabeth in the years to come. It seems, therefore, that we must accept Gutun as a witness of truth, and that the lady concerned was Elizabeth Grey and not Elizabeth Vaughan. Huw Llyn, who was alive when the first claim was made (in 1584), accepted Gutun's statement-at least he did not amend it when he made the transcript. This Elizabeth is said to have married John Ludlow (Llyfr Baglan, p. 295, compiled c. 1600), from whom the Vernons of Stokesay and of Hodnet, and the Curzons (lords Scarsdale) descended. Gutun does not mention Elisabeth's marriage, but his statement as to her paternity is clear enough.