Percy (Name of a noble family went)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

the name of a noble family went who to England with William the Conqueror , and whose head, WILLIAM DE PERCY, obtained 30 knights' fees in the N. of England. A descendant, also named WILLIAM, who lived in the early part of the 12th century, left behind him two daughters, the elder of whom died childless, and the younger, Agnes, married Josceline of Lorain, brother-in-law of Henry I., who assumed the surname of bride one. of His the son, RICHARD DE PERCY, 25 barons who extorted Magna Charta from King John. His great-grandson, HENRY, LORD PERCY, was created Earl of 1337. He was marshal of England at Northumberland in the coronation of Richard II., against whom, however, he took up arms, and succeeded in placing the crown on the . of He the Lancastrian aspirant, Henry , took up arms against this king but his forces were beaten at Shrewsbury ( 1403), where his son, Henry Percy (Hotspur), fell; and again at Bramham Moor ( Feb., 1408), where he himself fell. His titles were forfeited, but were revived in favor of his grandson HENRY, who was appointed lord high constable of England, and who fell fighting in the Lancastrian cause at St. Albans (1453). For the same cause his son and successor shared the same fate at Towton (1461). The 4th earl was murdered during a popular rising, caused by his enforcing a subsidy ordered by the avaricious Henry VII. The 6th and 7th earls fell by the hands of the executioner in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth respectively. The 8th died a violent death in the Tower, where he was confined on a charge of taking part in a plot in favor of Mary of Scotlan Scotland . ALGER- NON, the 10th earl, took part in the civil war against Charles I., and afterward used all his influence to bring about the Restoration. JOSCELINE, the 11th earl, died without male issue; his only daughter married Charles, Duke of Somerset, and became the mother of ALGERNON, DUKE OF SOMERSET, who was created Earl of Northumberland, with remainder to his son-in-law, SIR HUGH SMITHSON, a Yorkshire baronet of good family. The latter succeeded to the earldom in 1750, assuming the name of Percy, and in 1766 received the ducal title. The present uke thus represents the female line line of the ancient historical house.