The Wars of the Roses were especially fatal to the House of Courtenay, no less than three Earls of Devon losing their lives for King Henry, and in consequence the elder branch of the family became extinct.
A pleasanter time to look back upon was the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. Henry VII had married Elizabeth, the elder, and the Earl of Devonshire Katherine, the younger, of Edward IV's daughters, and after Henry VIII's accession to the throne the Earl of Devonshire seems to have been much at Court. In the early months of 1509 preparations were made for 'solemn Justs in Honour of the Queen. The King was one, and with him three Aids: the King was called _Coeur Loial_, and the Earl of _Devonshire_, _Bon Voloire_, Sir _Thomas Nevet_, _Bon Espoire_, Sir _Edward Nevil_, _Valiant Desire_, and their Names were put in a fine Table, and the Table was hung on a Tree curiously wrought, and they were called _Les Chevaliers de le Forest Salvigne_, and they were to run at the Tilt with all comers.'
The irony of the King's choice of a _nom de guerre_ seems to have escaped the historian.
'On the 1st day of _May_ 1510, 2 Henry VIII, the King, accompanied with a great many valiant Nobles, rode upon managed Horses to the Wood to fetch May, where he and three others, viz., Sir _Edward Howard_, _Charles Brandon_, and _Edward Nevil_, which were Challengers, shifted themselves, and did put on coats of green Sattin, guarded with crimson Velvet; and on the other side were the Earls of _Essex_ and _Devonshire_, the Marquis of _Dorset_, and the Lord _Howard_, and they were all in crimson Sattin, guarded with a pounced Guard of green Velvet. On the third Day the Queen made a great Banquet for the King and those who had justed, and after the Banquet she gave the Chief Prize to the King, the second to the Earl of _Essex_, the third to the Earl of _Devonshire_, and the Fourth to the Marquess of _Dorset_. Then the Heralds cried aloud, _My Lords, For your noble Feats in Arms, God send you the Love of the Ladies whom you most admire_.'
The next year the Earl of Devonshire died, and was succeeded by his son, Henry, who for a time was high in the favour of his royal cousin. He seems also to have taken part in many 'Justs and Tourneys.' One summer 'the Queen desired the King to bring to his Manour of Havering in Essex, to the Bower there, the Gentlemen of _France_ that were Hostages, for whose Welcome she provided all things in a liberal manner.' The entertainment seems to have taken the shape of a small masked ball, and 'the King gave many gifts where he liked.' At the Field of the Cloth of Gold, the Earl of Devonshire had the honour of tilting with the French King, 'and they ran so hard together that both their Spears broke, and so they maintained their Courses nobly.'