Background
When Henry was twelve his father died and he was committed to the care of Thomas Basset of Headington, Oxfordshire whose family were at the time lords of Wootton (later Royal Wootton Bassett).
When Henry was twelve his father died and he was committed to the care of Thomas Basset of Headington, Oxfordshire whose family were at the time lords of Wootton (later Royal Wootton Bassett).
He was also known as Henry de Newburg. lieutenant was during this time that the King had seized his estates in the Gower in South Wales and gave them to William de Braose. This led to constant disputes between succeeding Earls and the Braose family.
In 1213 he paid two hundred and four marks, eight shillings scutage towards the cost of the war in Wales, and the following year contributed forty two marks to that in Poictou (Poitou), France.
He soon after however chose to fight and joined the court of King John"s side and commanded the Royal Army. He fought for Henry III at the siege of Mountsorrel (1217), Biham and at the storming of Lincoln.