Audley, SIR JAMES

Audley, SIR JAMES, one of the original knights of the Order of the Garter, founded in 1344 by Edward III., in 1350 fought in the sea-fight of Sluys, and in 1354 attended Edward the Black Prince to France. He showed such bravery at the battle of Poitiers that the Prince declared him to be the bravest knight on his side, and conferred on him an annual revenue of 500 marks, which Audley immediately gave up to his four squires. Hearing of this act of generosity, the Prince conferred on him a further pension of 600 marks. Audley, in 1362, was governor of Aquitaine; in 1369, great seneschal of Poitou. He took part in the capture of La-Roche-sur-Yon in the same year, and died a few months after at Fontenay-le-Comte.