26 
Builth, and transmission of Llewelyn’s head to the King. As he was ‘‘ suspect ” 
on the score of his Welsh lineage, he was very busy in quelling the outbreaks after 
the event, and in putting down one of these at Builth, in 1303-4, he got the death 
wound of which he died soon after at Wigmore. 
Roger, eighth lord, styled Lord Mortimer of Wigmore, and created Earl of 
March in 1328, served both in Scotland and Ireland, was governor of Builth Castle, 
took Cardiff from Hugh Le Dispenser, and had a grant of Clun. He joined 
Thomas of Lancaster’s party against Edward II., had a narrow escape for his life 
while in prison, and in gratitude built St. Peter’s Chapel, in the outer ward of 
Ludlow Castle. In 1322, after the battle of Boroughbridge, he fled to France, 
and the King seizing Wigmore caused an inventory of its contents to be made by 
the keeper, John de Cherleton. This comprehends springholds, the artillery of 
the age, cross-bows, English and oriental armour and weapons, a chess board, and 
a board for tables and draughts, five peacocks in courtyard, and grain and cattle 
in quantity. On the Earl’s return followed his guilty ascendancy with the She 
Wolf of France, his acquisition of endless manors in England, Wales, and Ireland, 
his seizure in Nottingham Castle, his attainder, and hanging in 1330. He it was 
who apparently superseded the Norman work of Wigmore Castle in the decorated 
style yet remaining. Edmund, his dispossessed son, died within a few months a 
minor. But Roger, the tenth lord, succeeded him, and had the living of the 
Castle of Wigmore before he came of age. He procured the reversal of the attain- 
der and the restoration of the Earldom of March in 13852. Serving Edward III. 
in France, he received much Welsh property, and added to it Ludlow and other 
estates, through his mother, the heiress of Genville, and finally died in 1360, com- 
mander of the English forces in Burgundy. 
Edmund, eleventh Lord, and third Earl of March succeeded, whose abili- 
ties were turned, while under age, to account in negociating a peace with France, 
and later, as Lieutenant of Ireland. Marrying Philippa, the heiress of Lionel, 
Duke of Clarence, he maintained the ancient honour and influence of his name. 
He died at Cork in 1381. 
His eldest son, Roger, became fourth Earl of March. He was, by Richard 
II., made Lieutenant of Ireland, and by descent from the Duke of Clarence de- 
clared heir to the Crown. His services were exclusively in Ireland, where he was 
slain. He was followed by his son, Edmund, the fifth and last Earl of March, 
who, during Henry IV.’s reign, was regarded with a jealous eye by that monarch, 
and kept under surveillance. Henry V., however, employed him in Normandy, 
and in the next reign he became Lieutenant of Ireland. He died in 1425, aged 24, 
and with him the male line of Mortimer ended. Among his castles in the Mar- 
ches were returned at his death, Builth, Clifford, Dinas by Talgarth, Dolvern, 
Denbigh, Kevenles, Ludlow, Montgomery, Norton, Narbeth, Raidrey, Radnor, 
Usk, and Wigmore. Richard, Duke of York, as his sister’s son, transmitted the 
vast estates of the Mortimers to his son, Edward IV., when all became merged in 
the Crown. From the Honour of Wigmore, Edward raised most of the forces 
wherewith to defeat Owen Tudor, at no great distance from the castle, and nearer 
still to Mortimer’s Cross. The castle remained in possession of the Crown till 
