Gilbert de Gaunt, died in the second year of the reign of Henry the second, and left issue, two daughters, Alice and Gunnora; the former of whom was married to Simon de St. Liz, Earl of Huntingdon, who is said to have enjoyed, during her life time, the Earldom of Lincoln, and with it this lordship. Alice as well as her sister Gunnora dying without issue, their uncle Robert de Gaunt, though unallied by blood, became their heir, and possessed himself of these estates. Gilbert his son succeeded him; but joining the cause of the barons against King John, and afterwards against his son and successor, Henry the third, he was defeated at Lincoln, taken prisoner, and these estates conferred upon Ranulph de Meschines, surnamed de Blundeville, Earl of Chester; who, being third in descent from Ranulph Earl of Chester, by his wife Lucia, the widow of Roger de Romara, and sister of Morcar the Saxon Earl of Lincoln, had, independent of the claims on his sovereign for aiding in firmly establishing his family on the throne, a natural right, superior to that of the family of de Gaunt. Ranulph de Blundeville dying without issue, his sisters became his co-heiresses; but he had during his life time assigned by charter to one of them, named Hawise, the Earldom of Lincoln, and with it this manor and castle. Robert, son and heir of Sayer de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, marrying Hawise, left issue, a daughter, Margaret, who was married to John de Laci, a descendant of the Barons of Pontefract. John de Laci received from Henry the third a charter of confirmation of the Earldom of Lincoln, and the inheritances which he possessed by his wife Margaret de Quincy.