Clifford

Clifford, a family descended from Walter, Richard Fitzpounce's son, who by marriage, prior to 1138, acquired Clifford Castle on the Wye, 17 miles W. of Hereford, and who assumed the surname Clifford. He was the father of Fair Rosamond, Henry II.'s mistress, who seems to have died about 1176, and to have been buried at Godstow Nunnery, near Oxford. The legend of her murder by Queen Eleanor appears first in the 14th century; the Woodstock maze, the clue, the dagger, and the poisoned bowl belong to a yet later age. Among Walter's descendants were the soldier-judge Roger de Clifford, who by marriage with Isabella de Vipont got Brongham Castle in Westmoreland (circa 1270); John (1435-61), the savage Lancastrian; Henry (1455-1523), the 'shepherd lord;' Henry (1493-1542), fifteenth Lord Clifford and first Earl of Cumberland; George, third earl (1558-1605), naval commander; and Henry, fifth and last earl (1591-1643). To a cadet branch belonged Thomas Clifford (1630-73), a Catholic member of the Cabal, who in 1672 was created Lord Clifford of Clundleigh.