of that Reynold Grey whom the second Earl had disliked so heartily claimed the heirship-general", and the inheritance was broken up. Reputation Contemporary rumour put his defeat at La Rochelle down to Pembroke being, as Cokayne put it, "a man of evil life, who had committed adultery, or to his having resolved to annul the liberties of the church". A contemporary chronicler described him as a "". Modern historiography has been rather more nuanced. Pembroke's recent biographer has noted a certain immaturity of characterparticularly in his relationship with John Chandoswhilst also noting that the biggest defeat of his career does not necessarily indicate lack of leadership or judgement on his part. The truth, Jack says, is that "Pembroke was luckless and arrogant, but not necessarily incompetent", while Ormrod argues that he was not so close to the King as to be completely uncritical of policy. Sumption is more forgiving in his judgement, describing Pembroke as an able man with, by the end of his life at least, "political stature". Sumption also sees Pembroke as "intelligent, self-confident and ambitious", if also "hot-headed". Michael Prestwich notes that Pembroke "lacked the outstanding ability" that Edward III's captains had possessed in the 1340s and 1350s. Ormrod describes him as a "bellicose" character, whose death, along with that of Edward, Lord Despenser the same year and Humphrey, Earl of Hereford two years previously removed three of England's most promising commanders. Notes References Sources External sources The Chronicles of Froissart 1347 births 1375 deaths 02 Knights of the Garter Anglo-Normans in Wales John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke 14th-century English people Barons Hastings People from Sutton Valence