Old Hampshire Mapped

Coats of Arms, Heraldry

Spencer
Speed 1611
HUGH SPENCER
Earle of Winchester.
Longbottom A blazon for Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Winchester, 1326, is given by Longbottom:-

quarterly argent and gules, 2 and 3 a fret or, overall a bend sable

Hugh le Despencer was a favourite of Edward II and was created Earl of Winchester 1322 after the de Quincy family had died out. He suffered an ugly death after surrendering Bristol to Queen Isabella, defending it against her for her husband Edward. Isabella had him hung and quartered, his body thrown to the dogs, his head sent to Winchester to be displayed on a pole on the castle gate.

Camden 1610
... Hugh le Dispencer, having that title [Earl of Winchester] bestowed upon him for terme of his life, by King Edward the second whose minion he was and onely beloved, fel[t], together with his sonne, what is the consequence of Princes extraordinary favours: For both of them envied by most were by the furious rage of the people put cruelly to shamefull death.

Blaeu 1645

The coat of arms on Blaeu's map of Hampshire, 1645.

Jansson 1646

The coat of arms on Jansson's map of Hampshire and Berkshire, 1646.

Hugh Spencer Earle of Winchester
Cox 1738
Hugh de Despencer, was honoured with this Title [Earl of Winchester] during Life, by King Edward II. whose Favourite he was; but it proved fatal both to him and his Son, for they were both put to Death by popular Fury