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The Golden Falcon |
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Chapter VI/5 - Fair |
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After
Green's death, a Richard Dighton bought some of his goods.
Castlecombe passed to Richard III and a Dighton was supposed to
have murdered the Princes in the Tower. Wynternes
was the name of land in dispute in Oxenden, near Castlecombe: "Item that Roger Wynter may be sent for and it may be fayr manere
to accompt of the new and receyvyeth what ye mow on hyr arr' for it is in
stannage handelying and the some of the very debt in Acton is 20L." A
deed of composition was drawn up whereby William Touchett, lord of Oxendon,
"confirmed unto John de
Oxendone called "le
Eyre" and his heirs, common of pasture for all his beasts in all his
fallowland and stubble within his manor of Oxendone and whereby the said
John in consideration whereof, released all his rights to common of
pasture in Wythycombe and Wynternes dated at Fynemore 25.4.1311". Sir
John Fastolf (1377-1459) was born in East Anglia in the reign of Richard
II. The first recorded member
of this family was John (1356), son of Alexander Fastolf, who bought the
manors of Vaux, Bostoun, Caistor and Redenham (Rendleham) in Norfolk. There
is a tomb in the church of St. Nicholas, Yarmouth of "John
Fastolf, mariner" from whom his descendant, Sir John Fastolf must
have inherited his interest in shipping.
His father married the widow of Sir Richard Mortimer of
Attleborough, Norfolk and died when Sir John was still young. There
was a Sir Hugh Fastolf in Suffolk and another Hugh who was mayor of London
who were probably his ancestors or kinsmen. There is series of Inquisitions concening of Fastolfs of Norfolk and Suffolk which show they were Sir John's ancestors or kinsmen, judging from the descent of the manors of Rendlesham1, Bentley2 and Kirkele3 and Dover Castle4: 5
Henry V (1427) Inq. pm No. 49 - Hugo Fastolf miles (knight) in Norfolk: Tonshale,
Rowholme in Whetacre, Shelandhall
in Naketon, Castro de Dover4,
Naketon, Levyngton, Stratton,
Boklisham, Holbroke, Tatingeston, Brantham,
messuag. vocat Fastolfes, Kerkele3 messuage, Pakefeld in Hundred of Nuttford, Langheston, Brusthall,
Lancaster ducat membr. Merehall in
Playford, Bentele2,
Foxhole, Martelesham. 7
Henry VI (1429) No. 64 - Hugonis
Fastolf miles (knight) inq. Brendwenham
2 acr. terr. et advoc
eccl(es)ie ut de castro Doverr in Suffolk4 (2 acres of land,
the advowson of the church and the castle of Dover). 8
Henry VI (1439) No. 51 -
Johannis
filius Hugo Fastolf militis (John, son of Hugh Fastolf, knight) in Suffolk
probat aetatis. 11
Henry VI (1442) Johannis Fastolf "feod." in Ringhill, Beilham, Cowhawe,
Kenbroke, Dermoundsden, Levyington in Suffolk of Johannes Mowbray, Ducis
Norfolc. 15
Henry VI (1446) No. 57 - Matildae quae fuit uxor Hugonis Fastolf militis
defunct (who was wife of Hugh Fastolf deceased) held in Norfolk - Tunstale,
Whetacre, in Suffolk; Langston in Burstall, Marshall in
Playford, Weybrede, Cowhave in
Nakton, Brentwenham, 3 partes Colvyle in Rendlysham1. 26
Henry VI (1448) No. 15 - Johannes Fastolf, armiger.
In Norfolk: Tunstale; in Suffolk: Sholandhall
in Nacton, Foxhale, Merehall in
Playford, Bentleyhouse in Bentley, Langston
in Bursthall, Wenham Magna, Sprowton, Braunford, Kirkele3, Rendlesham1, Benteley2,
Boyton, Tatyngton, Holbrooke, Brantham,
Bradwell. 6
Edw IV (1477) No. 64 - Thomas
filius et haeres Johannis Fastolf - Suffolk probatio aetatis. The
Boar's Head at Southwark was sold to Sir John Fastolf and appears in an
inquisition: Inquisition
dated 38/39 Henry VI (1460-1) No. 48: "Johannes
Fastolf, miles (knight) in Essex & Hertfordshire "null
tenuit terra" (holds no land).
In Norfolk: Redenhame1, Vaux, Bofomes, Drayton, Haleston, Heynford,
Saxthorp, Winterton manor, Roppes in Bastewykyng by Spencers, Guton in
Brandeston, Hunham, Erleham, Tychwell, Beyghton, Burnevilys, Calcotys,
Henmalys, Kerkeley3,
Akethorp, Haveland, Gorleston vocat Spitelyngg, Wyghton under the Wold, Bentley2,
Tykhull; in Wiltshire: Castlecombe; in Surrey: Southwark in parochia
Sancto Olavi berehouses (beerhouses), Fretrenters (free renters?),
Smalerenters (small renters?), Crouchhouses, Herteshorn, La
Boreshed in parochia St. Maria Magdalen. In
1401 Sir John Fastolf (then a young soldier) went to Ireland in the
retinue of king Henry IV's younger brother, Thomas Plantagenet of
Lancaster, later Duke of Clarence.
They
were followed by Sir Stephen Scrope (third son of the first Baron Scrope
of Bolton), who went to Ireland as Thomas of Lancaster's deputy. The Scropes owned properties in Yorkshire and Wiltshire and
Stephen's fatherr had been Chancellor of the Exchequer, built Bolton
Castle and lived at Scrope's Inn, Holborn.
His wife was a daughter of William de la Pole, son of Michael earl
of Suffolk, Richard II's supporter. William
le Scrope, earl of Wiltshire (Stephen Scrope's brother) was beheaded for
supporting Richard II and Sir William de la Pole was beheaded with a rusty
sword by sailors in the boat "Nicholas
of the Tower". Stephen
Scrope died of the plague at Castledermot in September 1408 and the
following January the 32-year-old Sir Fastolf married his widow Millicent,
daughter of Lord Tiptoft, lord of Castlecombe.
Scrope left a 10 year-old son, whom Fastolf treated badly. Fastolf
followed Thomas of Lancaster to France in 1412.
Henry IV died on 20.3.1413 and the same year, Fastolf became
captain of Vieres in Gascony and the king's lieutenant in Guyenne.
When Henry V went to Normandy in 1415, Fastolf accompanied him with
10 men-at-arms and 30 archers. Henry
V made his half-uncle Thomas Beaufort captain of Harfleur and he in turn
appointed Fastolf as his lieutenant. By
1419 Normandy had been conquered, Fastolf was made captain of various
towns and bastides. He was
made Captain of Vieres, Constable of Bordeaux and finally King's
Lieutenant in Guyenne. He
became deputy under John Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford and was knighted in
1419, the same year the Duke of Burgundy was assassinated and Burgundy
became an English ally. The Duke of Bedford had married as his first wife, Anne of
Burgundy and secondly Jacquetta of Luxembourg de St. Pol, who became one
of the tenants of Lydney. Bedford's
brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester married Jacqueline, Countess of
Hainault in 1421 before she divorced her 2nd husband, John of
Brabant from whom she ran away. Her
remarriage was strongly opposed by the Duke of Burgundy who claimed her
lands and possession - the Duke's sister was married to Bedford.
Jaqueline’s first huaband was John, dauphin of France, her 4th
was Floris Borselen, Borselen, Count of Ostrevant. After
his death Bedford's second wife, Jaquetta de St. Pol of Luxembourg married
Richard Woodville as his second wife.
Woodville was created Lord Rivers in 1469 by Richard Neville "Warwick the Kingmaker". He was a protégé of Cardinal Beaufort and was made Baron
Rivers in 1448, Garter knight and Privy Councillor in 1450 and Constable
of England. Sir
Richard Woodville's son Anthony served as a steward under Fastolf in
France and married (1) Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Scales and secondly
Mary, daughter of Sir Henry fitzLewis of Hornden Essex.
He had an illegitimate daughter Margaret (by Gwentlan or Gwenllian,
daughter of William Stradling) who married Richard Poyntz of Iron Acton. Sir Nicholas Poyntz of Iron Acton was guardian of John Winter
of Lydney, Merchant Venturer of Bristol and Clerk of the King's Ships to
Henry VIII (1509-47). Jacquetta's
daughter Elizabeth Woodville married, as her first husband, Sir John Grey
by whom she had two sons, Richard and Thomas Gray (who married Anne
Holland, daughter of the Duke of Exeter).
Elizabeth Woodvillle married secondly Edward IV by whom she had the
Princes in the Tower and several daughters, one of whom, Elizabeth was
Henry VII's Queen. Of
Jacquetta's other daughters, Anne Woodville married Viscount Bourchier,
earl of Essex, Jacquetta Woodville married George Stanley, Lord Strange of
Knockin (heir of the earl of Derby), Eleanor Woodville married Anthony
Grey of Ruthin, heir of the earl of Kent, Katherine married first Jasper
Tudor, earl of Bedford and secondly Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
(executed in 1469 by Warwick the Kingmaker), Margaret Woodville married
Thomas, lord Maltravers of Arundel and Mary Woodville married Lord
Herbert's heir. Of
Jacquetta's sons Edward Woodville defected in 1483 to Henry VII, Lionel
Woodville was Bishop of Salisbury and John Woodville married Anne Mowbray,
the 70 year old Dowager Duchess of Norfolk (widow of John Mowbray). Jacquetta
held land which later came into the possession of the Winters of Lydney: 17
Henry VI No. 62 - "Ric(ard)us
Wydevyle, miles et Jacquetta de Luxembourg uxor ejus, nuper uxor Johannis
nuper Ducis Bedford - 20 lb exeunt de finis &c" com.
Bedford & Buckinghamshire (Richard
Woodville, knight and Jacquetta of Luxembourg his wife, formerly wife of
John, duke of Bedford - £20,
exempt of fines). 15
Henry VI (1437) - Jacquetta de Luxembourg,
Ducissa Bedford uxor Ricardi
Wydevyll militis, quae fuit uxor Johannis nuper Ducis Bedford defuncti
assignatio dotis" (assignation
of dowry) Sant Briavel "3tia
pars castri cum parco"
five
pastur etc. Gloucester: Stanton, Bikenor, Parva Dene, Blakeney, Newlond,
Homfon, Alvyington, Ayllton (Aylburton),
Lyddeney, Newarne
(Newent), Pyrynton, Ettelow, Haggelow, Blydeflowe, Aure, Blechedon,
Longhope, Dene forest
"profic carbonun pannag agistament"
(pannage
or food picked up by swine & coal mines) &c &c Wallemor Pastur. 17
Henry VI (1439) No. 3 - Jacquetta de Luxembourg, Ducissa
Bedford uxor Ricardi Wydevyll quae fuit uxor Johannis nuper Ducis Bedford
assignatio dotis
York: Wrefyll castr, Helagh, Kirkleventon maner, Canterbury:
Baffingbourne reddit et terr et ten, Piperton, Reade, Chenefis, Badburghs,
Fynchyngfeld "ballivae"
(crossbowmen). When
Henry V died in 1422 and the Duke of Bedford became Regent, he made
Fastolf seneschal of his household and governor of Anjou and Maine in
1423. In 1424 the French
entered English-occupied Verneuil and Bedford successfully besieged the
town, Fastolf and Robert, lord Willoughby captured the 15-year-old Duc
d'Alençon and his bastard brother (who died of his wounds) whose father
had been killed at Agincourt but the prisoner was claimed by the king and
neither Fastolf nor Willoughby ever received a ransom.
Alençon, cousin of the Duke of Bedford's wife, Anne of Burgundy,
was imprisoned for 10 years, then ransomed and released at the duke of
Burgundy's intercession. In 1435 Fastolf was still claiming his share of the ransom
and also for Willoughby's share to be paid to his widow. Fastolf
was created knight banneret, he besieged and captured the castles of
Beaumont (le-Vicomte or sur-Sarthe, canton, dept. Sarthe, arrondissement
Mamers) and Sille-le-Guillaume (canton, dept. Sarthe, arrondissement Le
Mans) after which he was made a knight of the Garter but Sir John Talbot
was made governor of Anjou and Maine which caused some ill-feeling between
the two. Sir John Talbot had
been deputy of Ireland for 6 years from 1414, a post that had been held by
Scrope whose widow Fastolf married. In
1428-9 when the earl of Salisbury besieged Orleans, the English ran out of
food so Fastolf, as steward of the Duke's household, was sent with a
convoy to obtain supplies, especially fish as it was Lent and was attacked
at Rouvray on the first Sunday in Lent at about 3 am on the way back.
The French and their Scottish allies were defeated and fight became
known as the Battle of the Herrings. In
May 1429 Joan of Arc raised the siege of Orleans and Fastolf was sent to
help the English there. Town
after town fell to the Maid of Orleans and she met and defeated the
English under Sir John Talbot and Fastolf at Patay (canton, Loiret,
arrondissdement Orleans) on 18.6.1429.
Talbot was taken prisoner and only released after 4 years.
Fastolf made his escape to Corbeil (Seine-et-Oise) which lost him
his Order of the Garter (later restored).
He had a superstitious dread of Joan of Arc and was patron of
Caxton. After
the relief of Orleans, the Dauphin was crowned in 1430 at Reims and Henry
VI in Paris in 1431. Joan
of Arc was captured by the Burgundians or alternatively by some archers of
Picardy and taken to John, Duke of Luxembourg in 1430 who sold her to the
English. Her trial lasted for
5 months and she was allegedly burnt at the stake on 30.5.1431. Jeanne
d'Arc was born on the Feast of Epiphany (6th January) 1412 in
Domremy-la-Pucelle, (dept. Vosges, arrondissement of Neufchatel) on the
river Meuse which was then in Alsace near Maxey in Lorraine (allied to the
English). She was the younger
of 2 daughters and had 3 older brothers and her parents, Jacques d'Arc,
mayor of Domremy and Isabel Romée, were supposed to have been peasants
but her mother's uncle by marriage was the Sieur Durand Laxaert who told
his friend the Chevalier Robert de Baudricourt, Captain of Vaucoleurs in
Champagne, about the "angelic voices" Jeanne heard, telling her to come to the
aid of France. Jeanne wanted
to see the king but Baudricourt could not arrange that, so agreed to take
her to the court of Charles of Lorraine, accompanied by Jehan de
Novelonpont (called Jehan de Metz) where she met René d'Anjou. René
(who became Jeanne's patron), king of Jerusalem, the Two Sicilies, Aragon,
Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica, Duke of Anjou, Barrois and
Lorraine, Count of Provence, Forcalquier and Piedmont, Prince of Gerona,
Duke of Calabria, Lord of Genoa, Count of Guise, Maine, Chailly and
Longjumeau and Marquis of Pont-a-Mousson, was son of Louis II of Anjou and
Yolande or Violante, princess of Aragon and niece of King Martin (d.
1410). René married the Duke
of Lorraine's daughter Isabelle so he and Antoine, Count of Vaudemont (the
Duke of Lorraine's elder nephew) contested the succession to the duchy
after Charles of Lorraine died on 25.1.1431. M.
Octave Delepierre published a pamphlet
"Doute Historique" citing a document discovered by Father
Vignier in the 17th century in the archives of Metz to prove that Joan of
Arc called Jeanne "la Pucelle"
or the Maid of Orleans (1412-1431?) was not burnt as a witch but became
the wife of the Sieur des Armoise with whom she resided at Metz and had
children. Vignier found in
the family muniment chest, a contract of marriage between Robert des
Armoise, knight and Jeanne d'Arcy surnamed the Maid of Orleans.
In 1740 records were found in the archives of the Maison de Ville,
Orleans of several payments to certain messengers from Joan to her brother
John dated 1435-36. There is
also the entry of a presentation from the council of the city to the Maid
for her services at the siege dated 1439.
Delepierre brought forward many other documents to show her
martyrdom was invented as anti-English propaganda. The
Dauphin signed a truce with Burgundy, renewed in 1435, the year that the
duke of Bedford died in Rouen (Fastolf was the Duke's chief executor). In
1436 the English were driven out of Paris.
When Fastolf returned to England in 1440 he needed 5 ships to bring
back his goods to England - these included rare tapestries and silver.
He became one of the richest English knights as a result of booty
ransacked in France and from ransoms, purchasing 94 manors, including
Blickling Hall which he bought in 1432 from Sir Thomas Erpingham and built
Caistor Castle, approximately 17 miles from Great Yarmouth.
He had a house in Norwich, another at Yarmouth and one in Stoney
Street, St. Olaves, Southwark where he brought a number of young
ex-soldiers (possibly including John Winter) to fortify it. His
wife died in 1446 and he was very harsh to his step-son Stephen Scrope
whose wardship he sold to Sir William Gascoigne, Chief Justice of England
for 500 marks as the future husband of one of his daughters.
Stephen was too young to marry and caught a disease (probably
smallpox) which left him disfigured and when Gascoigne died in 1413 before
his ward could marry his daughter, Fastolf had to replace the money. Stephen returned to live with his step-father who kept him in
great poverty and after
Fastolf died, Stephen made a Bill of Charges saying that a year after his
stepfather married his mother, he sold his step-son for 500 marks without
any right to do so and that as a result, that he fell ill and was
disfigured for life. Fastolf
bought him back kept doing so like a beast of burden against the law and
without any right to the tune of a thousand marks. One
of Fastolf's servants, Henry Windsor recorded that his master was always
cruel, vengeful, without pity or mercy
but Richard, duke of York, Regent of France after Bedford, granted
Fastolf an annuity from his own estate for notable and laudable service
and good counsel and he retained his title of Governor of Normandy until
his retirement in 1440. His
secretary was William Botoner of Worcester, born in Bristol in 1405 and
brought up in Fastolf's household. When
he was 17, Fastolf sent him to Oxford and he went with Fastolf to France. Fastolf's
servant John Payn was captured by the rebels at Blackheath and his house
in London was attacked by Jack Cade's rebels. The
war in France came to an end with the death of Sir John Talbot in 1452
when the War of the Roses began in England with the battle of St. Albans
in 1455 between the houses of Lancaster and York. The
Duke of Gloucester (who supported the war in France) died in 1447 and
Richard of York took his place as head of the war party in opposition to
the peace party headed by the Beauforts who had arranged the marriage of
Margaret, daughter of René of Anjou (Joan of Arc's patron) and Henry VI
who had inherited a strain of madness from his grandfather Charles VI. By
1450 France was lost to the English.
England was in debt and the soldiers underpaid.
When the Bishop of Chichester went to Portsmouth to appease them,
he was murdered and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk was captured when
trying to escape to France and beheaded with a rusty sword on the ship "Nicholas of the Tower".
Jack Cade's rebellion followed. Fastolf died in 1459 making a Will requesting a College be built at Caistor but John Paston senior declared that Fastolf had made a deathbed wish to leave him all his property. This was contested by Bishop Wainfleet of Winchester, one of the executors who divided the property into two halves - one went to Magdalen College and the other to John Paston junior. |