Youngest of the eight children of Edward fourth Lord Le Despenser (a name sometimes mistakenly abbreviated to Spencer, for it is _le depenseur_, "the spender,") and Elizabeth Baroness Burghersh. Born September 21st or 22nd, 1373 (_Inq. Post Mortem_ 49 E. III ii. 46, _Edwardi Le Despenser_), and named after his father's younger brother. He was left fatherless when only two years old, November 11th, 1375. (_Ibidem_.) During his minority he was committed to the custody of his mother. (_Rot. Pat_. 11 R. II, Part 2.) In or about May, 1378, he became Lord Le Despenser by the death of his elder brother, Edward, and was also substituted for him as bridegroom of the Princess Constance of York, whom he married between May 30th, 1378, and November 7th, 1379. (_Ibidem_, 1 R. II, Part 6; _Register of John of Gaunt_, II, folio 19, _b_.) Shortly afterwards, February 16th, 1380, all the Despenser lands were granted to his father-in-law during his minority--an unusual step, for which there must have been some private reason in the mind of the Regent, Thomas Duke of Gloucester. We next hear of Le Despenser when a lad of fifteen as at sea in the King's service, in the suite of the Earl of Arundel, and his mother was formally exonerated from all responsibility concerning his custody until he should return. (_Rot. Pat_. 11 R. II, Part 2.) On the 20th of May, 1391, when eighteen, he received the royal licence to journey to Prussia--then a semi-civilised and partly heathen country--with fifty persons, and the arms and goods necessary. (_Ibidem_ 14 R. II, Part 2.) He doubtless accompanied the King to Ireland in September, 1394, since letters of attorney were issued for him on the 10th of that month. (_Ibidem_, 18 R. II, Part 1.) Two indentures show us that Le Despenser spent the autumn of 1395 at Cardiff. (_Ibidem_, 1 H. IV, Parts 5, 8.) Certain manors which had belonged to the Duke of Gloucester and Earl of Warwick were granted to Le Despenser and Constance, September 28th, 1397. He is styled in this grant Earl of Gloucester, (_Ibidem_, 21 R. II, Part 1), though it was not until the day following that his creation took place. The custody of the Castle of Gloucester was also granted to him for life; and the manors were conceded with a (then unusual) limitation to heirs male. The next day, September 29th, he was created Earl of Gloucester in Westminster Hall, "girded with sword, and a coronet set on his head by the King in manner and form accustomed." (_Harl. Ms_. 298, folio 85.) Letters of attorney were issued April 16th, 1399, for the persons who formed the King's suite in Ireland--Thomas Earl of Gloucester being named third. The King was his guest on the journey, reaching Cardiff about the 9th of May, and Morgan on the 11th. They embarked at Milford Haven about the 27th, and were at Waterford on the 31st. But on the fourth of July Henry of Bolingbroke and Archbishop Arundel landed at