RJay asked Ian Mortimer:

In your biography of Edward III, you mention Edith de Willesford, the mother of Roger of Clarendon, an illegitimate son of the Black Prince. You identify her as a 'lady of Clarendon'. Might you clarify? In my research, little is known about her although a recent biography of Joan of Kent, by Anthony Goodman, states she was one of Philippa's ladies in waiting. Thank you.

Ian Mortimer Thanks for your question. However, I am in a poor position to answer as that book was finished in November 2004 - published April 2006 - and so I am somewhat out of touch with Roger of Clarendon (I am currently writing about Regency towns...) However, I can say that the reason for stating a 'lady of Clarendon' was that that was the appellation he was given, and illegitimate children of the highest-ranking men tended to be given names that reflect their place of birth. That was not always the case but as Clarendon was a royal palace and as the royal household had no employed women except cleaning women, I made the assumption that the woman was local. If Anthony has reason to believe that his paramour was a lady-in-waiting to Joan, then I think you should either trust his judgement or follow up his source (which was unknown to me at the time I wrote).
Sorry I can't be more helpful than that,
all the best,
Ian

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