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John of Gaunt (see here and here), Duke of Lancaster,
he was the
effective ruler late Edward III - early Richard II (1370s-80s),
appears in Richard II
by Shakespeare,
the TV movie Richard II (1978)
has John Gielgud as John of Gaunt,
patron of
John Wycliffe,
the "Morning Star of the Reformation",
who produced the first English translation of the Bible 1382,
mar 3rdly, 1396, to his long-time mistress Catherine Roet
[born 1350],
by whom he had already had illegitimate issue,
his children by Catherine Roet were legitimated by statute 1397
"for all purposes save succession to the crown"
(i.e. this line is not in the Royal line of succession,
but of course we have other Royal Descents),
he died 3rd Feb 1399, age 58 yrs,
bur St.Paul's Cathedral, London,
tomb destroyed in
Great Fire of London 1666,
see biography,
never king himself, but within months of his death his son became king,
Catherine died 10th May 1403, Lincoln, age 53 yrs,
bur Lincoln Cathedral,
he had issue by Catherine Roet:


Tomb of Catherine Roet and her dau
Joan Beaufort, Lincoln Cathedral.
Photo 2008.
See full size.
From Lauren Elliott.
Used with permission.

The tomb of Catherine Roet.
Drawing dated 1809.
From here.

Joan Beaufort on LHS. Catherine Roet on RHS.
Photo 2008.
See full size.
From Lauren Elliott.
Used with permission.

Catherine Roet's tomb, close-up.
Photo 2010.
See larger
and full size.
From here.
Used with permission.

Catherine Roet's tomb, close-up.
Photo 2008.
See full size.
From Lauren Elliott.
Used with permission.

The joint tomb of Catherine Roet and Joan Beaufort
in Lincoln Cathedral.
1640 drawing.
This is the tomb before it was despoiled by the
Roundheads
in 1644
in the
English Civil War.
From here.
In Act 2, Scene 1 of Richard II, John of Gaunt is given the immortal lines:
This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England