Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1553 creation)
Encyclopedia
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (c. 1527 – September 18, 1556) was the only son of Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter
and his second wife, Gertrude Blount. His maternal grandparents were William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy
and his third wife, Ines de Benegas.
, Margaret Douglas
, Mary I of England
, Elizabeth I of England
, Edward VI of England
, Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln
, Lady Frances Brandon
and Lady Eleanor Brandon
.
The first decade of his life was relatively peaceful. His father was a prominent figure in the court of his own first cousin, Henry VIII of England
. His mother enjoyed the friendship of Catherine of Aragon
even after her removal from court and throne.
. His father was accused of conspiring with the self-exiled Cardinal
Reginald Pole to lead a Roman Catholic
uprising in the so-called Exeter Conspiracy
. On January 9, 1539, Henry Courtenay was executed. Both Edward and his mother were attainted and unable to inherit his titles and lands.
His mother was released in 1540 and maintained a friendship with Princess Mary Tudor for the rest of her life; but as a great-grandson of Edward IV of England
and likely heir of the House of York
, Edward was apparently considered too much of a threat to be released. In 1547, Henry VIII died and was succeeded by his only surviving legitimate son, Edward VI. The new King declared a general amnesty
, but his incarcerated cousin Edward Courtenay was among the few exceptions.
While still incarcerated, Edward translated Benefizio di Cristo ("The Benefit of Christ's Death") to the English language
. The manuscript was dedicated to Anne Stanhope
, wife of the influential Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
; but the Cambridge University Library
contains a copy autographed by Edward VI himself. Devon may have intended this work to be his reconciliation gift to his royal cousin. Whatever benefits the translation may have brought him, release from the Tower of London was not among them.
Edward VI himself died on July 6, 1553. His designated heir, Lady Jane Grey
, rose briefly to the throne; but Mary Tudor amassed a support of 20,000 men at Framlingham Castle
and marched to London
to claim the throne for herself. Jane was deposed and Mary was declared Queen regnant
on July 19, 1553. Gertrude Blount was still her close friend and secured the release of her son on August 3 of the same year. Edward Courtenay was released after 15 years of incarceration in the Tower.
He soon became a favorite of his royal cousin, who greatly benefited the young man. Mary created him Earl of Devon
on September 3 and Knight of the Bath on September 29. On October 1, Mary was crowned and the new Earl of Devon carried the Sword of State
in the ceremony. On October 10, Edward was acknowledged as the proper heir to the lands and titles of his father, with the prominent exception of not being allowed to succeed as Marquess of Exeter
.
On January 2, 1554, the new ambassadors of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
arrived in the Kingdom of England
and Devon was assigned to receive them. He also served as a special commissioner in the trial of Robert Dudley
, brother-in-law of Jane Grey.
In addition to everything else, Mary showed considerable affection for her young cousin. Stephen Gardiner
reportedly encouraged Devon to consider himself a likely suitor for her. Devon already considered himself to be the future husband and consort of the Queen regnant. His new household was organized as a minor court and several courtier
s already knelt before him. Mary, however, rejected him in favor of Philip II of Spain
.
Devon still entertained hopes for the throne and turned his attentions to her younger half-sister, Elizabeth. She was the heir presumptive
to her childless half-sister and was likely to succeed. The union of Mary and Philip was extremely unpopular with the English. Several voices for Elizabeth and Devon as their replacements were already present. Even William Paget, 1st Baron Paget
had openly admitted his support for this marriage.
But then came Wyatt's rebellion
. Thomas Wyatt the younger
was among those Protestants fearing Catholic persecution under Mary and Philip. He rose in rebellion to prevent this marriage and declared his intentions to place Mary herself under his charge. The rebellion rose in late January 1554 but was already crushed by early March. There were rumors that Devon had not only negotiated with Wyatt but was preparing similar revolts in Devonshire
and Cornwall
.
Devon and Elizabeth were implicated as responsible for the rebellion and were both incarcerated at the Tower of London while awaiting trial. Devon was moved to Fotheringhay
in May. On Holy Saturday
, Simon Renard
, the ambassador of Spain, approached Mary with a reminder that the continued survival of the two "great persons" posed a threat to both her and Prince Philip. He informed the Queen that he would not recommend the arrival of Philip until Devon and Elizabeth were put on trial and that every necessary step had been taken to secure his safety. Renard had therefore informed her that Philip would not set foot on English ground until both prisoners were executed or otherwise rendered harmless.
Mary agreed to hasten the trials, but the collection of evidence had not been completed. There were many rumors implicating Devon and Elizabeth with the failed rebellion but no solid evidence that either of them took part in organizing it. Neither of them ever marched with the rebels and both were non-combatants for its duration. Mary and Philip were married on July 25, 1554.
No conviction could be secured for the prisoners. Elizabeth was at first placed under house arrest
in the care of Sir Henry Bedingfield. She was released and allowed to return to court by the end of the year. At Easter
, 1555, Devon was also released and exiled to Continental Europe
. He is next heard of in November of the same year. He wrote a letter from Brussels
, where he pleaded permission to return to England only to pay his respects to Mary and his mother. The two women were still close friends, but Devon had lost the trust of his former protector. His request was denied.
He was still the Earl of Devon and retained his rights and property but not the right to set foot in England. Both Mary and Elizabeth refused to have anything more to do with him. Elizabeth also considered him partly responsible for her incarceration and reportedly despised any mention of him. By this point, Devon had lost his chances at marrying either one of the two women.
and the Italian peninsula
. His final destination was Padua
, where he suddenly died. The exact circumstances of his death are not known. Peter Vannes, representative of Mary to the Republic of Venice
, wrote his Queen a report; but he was not a direct witness
or a physician
. According to his account, Devon was engaged in falconry
for recreational reasons. He and his falcons were in the countryside and away from any building when caught in a violent storm
. He failed to protect himself from the elements and refused to change his wet clothing even after returning home. Several days later, Devon was burning in a fever, which lasted to his final hours. He was reportedly unable to open his mouth even to receive the Eucharist
.
There were suspicions that Devon had been poison
ed. Later theorists suggested that he had died of syphilis
, but both suggestions remain unconfirmed. He was unwed and childless at the time of his death. His estates were divided among the male-line descendants of his fifth-generation ancestor, Sir Hugh Courtenay. Hugh was a younger brother of Edward de Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
(1357-1419).
Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter
Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, KG, PC was the eldest son of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York, and grandson of King Edward IV of England.He was an older brother of Margaret Courtenay...
and his second wife, Gertrude Blount. His maternal grandparents were William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy
William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy
Sir William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy KG was an English scholar and patron of learning.William Blount was born circa 1478 in Barton Blount, Derbyshire, the eldest son of John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy and Lora Berkeley...
and his third wife, Ines de Benegas.
Life
Edward was a paternal second cousin to (among others) James V of ScotlandJames V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
, Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox was the daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, and Margaret Tudor, Queen Dowager of Scotland...
, Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, Edward VI of England
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln
Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln
Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln was the youngest child and second son born to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, Queen of France, who was a daughter of Henry VII of England. Thus Henry Brandon was nephew to Henry VIII of England...
, Lady Frances Brandon
Lady Frances Brandon
Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk , born Lady Frances Brandon, was the second child and eldest daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France...
and Lady Eleanor Brandon
Lady Eleanor Brandon
Lady Eleanor Brandon was the third child and second daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Princess Mary Tudor, the Dowager Queen consort of France. She was a younger sister of Lady Frances Brandon and an elder sister of Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln...
.
The first decade of his life was relatively peaceful. His father was a prominent figure in the court of his own first cousin, Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. His mother enjoyed the friendship of Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
even after her removal from court and throne.
Imprisonment
In early November, 1538, all three Courtenays were arrested and incarcerated in the Tower of LondonTower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. His father was accused of conspiring with the self-exiled Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Reginald Pole to lead a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
uprising in the so-called Exeter Conspiracy
Exeter Conspiracy
The Exeter Conspiracy, 1538, was a supposed attempt to depose the reigning Henry VIII and replace him with a Yorkist, Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, KG who was 1st cousin to the King. An Act of Attainder was brought against the Marquess of Exeter and he was found guilty of treason by his...
. On January 9, 1539, Henry Courtenay was executed. Both Edward and his mother were attainted and unable to inherit his titles and lands.
His mother was released in 1540 and maintained a friendship with Princess Mary Tudor for the rest of her life; but as a great-grandson of Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and likely heir of the House of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
, Edward was apparently considered too much of a threat to be released. In 1547, Henry VIII died and was succeeded by his only surviving legitimate son, Edward VI. The new King declared a general amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
, but his incarcerated cousin Edward Courtenay was among the few exceptions.
While still incarcerated, Edward translated Benefizio di Cristo ("The Benefit of Christ's Death") to the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. The manuscript was dedicated to Anne Stanhope
Anne Stanhope
Anne Seymour, Duchess of Somerset was the second wife of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, who held the office of Lord Protector during the first part of the reign of his nephew King Edward VI, through whom Anne was briefly the most powerful woman in England...
, wife of the influential Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, KG, Earl Marshal was Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549....
; but the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
contains a copy autographed by Edward VI himself. Devon may have intended this work to be his reconciliation gift to his royal cousin. Whatever benefits the translation may have brought him, release from the Tower of London was not among them.
Edward VI himself died on July 6, 1553. His designated heir, Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
, rose briefly to the throne; but Mary Tudor amassed a support of 20,000 men at Framlingham Castle
Framlingham Castle
Framlingham Castle is a castle in the market town of Framlingham in Suffolk in England. An early motte and bailey or ringwork Norman castle was built on the Framlingham site by 1148, but this was destroyed by Henry II of England in the aftermath of the revolt of 1173-4...
and marched to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to claim the throne for herself. Jane was deposed and Mary was declared Queen regnant
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
on July 19, 1553. Gertrude Blount was still her close friend and secured the release of her son on August 3 of the same year. Edward Courtenay was released after 15 years of incarceration in the Tower.
He soon became a favorite of his royal cousin, who greatly benefited the young man. Mary created him Earl of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
on September 3 and Knight of the Bath on September 29. On October 1, Mary was crowned and the new Earl of Devon carried the Sword of State
Sword of State
A sword of state is a sword, used as part of the regalia, symbolizing the power of a monarch to use the might of the state against its enemies, and their duty to preserve thus right and peace.It is known to be used in following monarchies:...
in the ceremony. On October 10, Edward was acknowledged as the proper heir to the lands and titles of his father, with the prominent exception of not being allowed to succeed as Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon...
.
On January 2, 1554, the new ambassadors of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
arrived in the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
and Devon was assigned to receive them. He also served as a special commissioner in the trial of Robert Dudley
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG was an English nobleman and the favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death...
, brother-in-law of Jane Grey.
In addition to everything else, Mary showed considerable affection for her young cousin. Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.-Early life:...
reportedly encouraged Devon to consider himself a likely suitor for her. Devon already considered himself to be the future husband and consort of the Queen regnant. His new household was organized as a minor court and several courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
s already knelt before him. Mary, however, rejected him in favor of Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
Devon still entertained hopes for the throne and turned his attentions to her younger half-sister, Elizabeth. She was the heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to her childless half-sister and was likely to succeed. The union of Mary and Philip was extremely unpopular with the English. Several voices for Elizabeth and Devon as their replacements were already present. Even William Paget, 1st Baron Paget
William Paget, 1st Baron Paget
William Paget, 1st Baron Paget of Beaudesert , was an English statesman and accountant who held prominent positions in the service of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.-Early life:...
had openly admitted his support for this marriage.
But then came Wyatt's rebellion
Wyatt's rebellion
Wyatt's Rebellion was a popular uprising in England in 1554, named after Thomas Wyatt the younger, one of its leaders. The rebellion arose out of concern over Queen Mary I's determination to marry Philip II of Spain, which was an unpopular policy with the English...
. Thomas Wyatt the younger
Thomas Wyatt the younger
Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger was a rebel leader during the reign of Queen Mary I of England; his rising is traditionally called "Wyatt's rebellion".-Birth and career:...
was among those Protestants fearing Catholic persecution under Mary and Philip. He rose in rebellion to prevent this marriage and declared his intentions to place Mary herself under his charge. The rebellion rose in late January 1554 but was already crushed by early March. There were rumors that Devon had not only negotiated with Wyatt but was preparing similar revolts in Devonshire
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Devon and Elizabeth were implicated as responsible for the rebellion and were both incarcerated at the Tower of London while awaiting trial. Devon was moved to Fotheringhay
Fotheringhay
Fotheringhay is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, six kilometres north east of Oundle and around west of Peterborough. It is most noted for being the site of Fotheringhay Castle which was razed in 1627...
in May. On Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday , sometimes known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter...
, Simon Renard
Simon Renard
Simon Renard, sir de Bermont was an advisor of the Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II of Spain, overlords of the County of Burgundy and Counts of Burgundy.He was ambassador of Spain in France and England...
, the ambassador of Spain, approached Mary with a reminder that the continued survival of the two "great persons" posed a threat to both her and Prince Philip. He informed the Queen that he would not recommend the arrival of Philip until Devon and Elizabeth were put on trial and that every necessary step had been taken to secure his safety. Renard had therefore informed her that Philip would not set foot on English ground until both prisoners were executed or otherwise rendered harmless.
Mary agreed to hasten the trials, but the collection of evidence had not been completed. There were many rumors implicating Devon and Elizabeth with the failed rebellion but no solid evidence that either of them took part in organizing it. Neither of them ever marched with the rebels and both were non-combatants for its duration. Mary and Philip were married on July 25, 1554.
No conviction could be secured for the prisoners. Elizabeth was at first placed under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
in the care of Sir Henry Bedingfield. She was released and allowed to return to court by the end of the year. At Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, 1555, Devon was also released and exiled to Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. He is next heard of in November of the same year. He wrote a letter from Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, where he pleaded permission to return to England only to pay his respects to Mary and his mother. The two women were still close friends, but Devon had lost the trust of his former protector. His request was denied.
He was still the Earl of Devon and retained his rights and property but not the right to set foot in England. Both Mary and Elizabeth refused to have anything more to do with him. Elizabeth also considered him partly responsible for her incarceration and reportedly despised any mention of him. By this point, Devon had lost his chances at marrying either one of the two women.
Death
He would spend the following year traveling through FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Italian peninsula
Italian Peninsula
The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the three large peninsulas of Southern Europe , spanning from the Po Valley in the north to the central Mediterranean Sea in the south. The peninsula's shape gives it the nickname Lo Stivale...
. His final destination was Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, where he suddenly died. The exact circumstances of his death are not known. Peter Vannes, representative of Mary to the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, wrote his Queen a report; but he was not a direct witness
Witness
A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about an event, or in the criminal justice systems usually a crime, through his or her senses and can help certify important considerations about the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event first hand is known as an eyewitness...
or a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. According to his account, Devon was engaged in falconry
Falconry
Falconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
for recreational reasons. He and his falcons were in the countryside and away from any building when caught in a violent storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
. He failed to protect himself from the elements and refused to change his wet clothing even after returning home. Several days later, Devon was burning in a fever, which lasted to his final hours. He was reportedly unable to open his mouth even to receive the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.
There were suspicions that Devon had been poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ed. Later theorists suggested that he had died of syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
, but both suggestions remain unconfirmed. He was unwed and childless at the time of his death. His estates were divided among the male-line descendants of his fifth-generation ancestor, Sir Hugh Courtenay. Hugh was a younger brother of Edward de Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
Edward de Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon
Edward Courtenay, 3rd Earl of Devon, also known as Edward de Courtenay, was the son of Edward, the third son of fifteen children, and a grandson of Hugh, 10th Earl of Devon. His father Edward had died on 20 September 1372, within the lifetime of his grandfather...
(1357-1419).