THE BERKELEY MANUSCRIPTS
JOHN SMYTHE
The Berkeley's of County Gloucester, England...according to 'The Berkeley Manuscripts'
The Berkeley Manuscripts were written to cover the genealogy and 'castle events' of the Berkeley family of Gloucester, England, from years 1066 (the time of William the Conqueror's victory at Hastings), until 1618. 'The Berkeley Manuscripts' were written by John Smythe of Nibley, England.
According to the preface, in the beginning of 'The Berkeley Manuscripts', John Smythe had charge of the Muniment Room in Berkeley Castle, sometime early 1600's, and, he was led to write the history of the first twenty-one Lords of Berkeley, extending from The Norman Conquest, down to year 1628. He also traced the numerous lordships, manors, and lands, which, for five centuries, the family held. Smythe acquainted himself with ancient documents, public records of the kingdom, and, historians records. As you will note, as you read further, Smythe did a splendid job of interpretation and recording of the pedigree and lives of the Berkeleys, right up to his era.
John Smythe (Born, 1567), was educated at free school in Derby. Then, in 1584, he attended school, with Thomas, son and heir of Henry, 1'fh Lord Berkeley, then nine years old, residing at Callowden. This was Smythe's first encounter with the Berkeley family. In 1596, he returned to Berkeley Castle (after completion of law studies) and became steward of the household.
(John Smythe was a son of good ancestry. It was a practice for sons and daughters of good ancestry to become members of great households. This gave them education, training in military exercises, courtly manners, and, seemly behavior. At the same time, Smythe came to the Berkeley household, William Ligon (from the ancient household of Ligon ofMadresfield, represented by Lord Beauchamp (nearly related to the Berkeley family), was admitted to the Callowden household, in the same capacity. They were companions, as well as attendants of the young Lord Berkeley; the three lads pursued studies under the same tutor, eventually entering Magdalen College, Oxford, and, remaining three years. Afterward, Smythe, went to middle temple as a student of common law. After completion of studies, Smythe returned to the Berkeley's (1596) becoming steward of the household. Soon after, he was promoted to steward of the hundred and liberty of Berkeley. Smythe's first wife died in 1609 without heirs; His second wife Mary (daughter of John Browning of Cowley...descended from Nicholas Berkeley, second son of Robert Fitz Harding-who assumed the name 'Fitz Nichols), had three sons, and, three daughters. John Smythe put in 50 years total in successive service to the Lord Berkeleys.)
Author, John Smythe, 1567-1640. Title, 'The Berkeley Manuscripts', the lives of the Berkeleys, Lords of the Honour, castle and manor of Berkeley, in the County of Gloucester, from 1066 to 1618; writes a precise description of Berkeley Castle and its inhabitants during this time span. Imprint: Gloucester, printed by J. Bellows, for the subscribers, in 1883-1885.
Quote..."The ancient manuscript translated from Latin to English...in the 5th year of King Henry the seventh, by John Newland, Abbot of the Monastery-of St. Augustine by Bristowe in his own words:
(Translated) In writing, the lineage and true descent of Sr Robert Fitz Herding, the son and heir of Herding, was the son of the King of Denmark, which Robert First created Lord Of Berkeley. I shall begin the noble pedigree...Robert Fitz Herding -(Marques Berkeley)first made Lord and Baron-of Berkeley...and I shall express in the following certain conventions made between Sr Robert Fitz Herding, and Sir Roger of Berkeley, Lord and Baron of Dursley.
King Henry the First-whose daughter was Empress Maude, who married secondly Geoffrey Plantagenet, Earl of Anjou, in 1128. Next, King Henry the Second, Sr Robert Fitz Herding gave and lent great substance of goods for the support and maintenance of the King's wars. (The two Kings Henry were both called King Harry. This means King Henry the Second as well as King Henry the First.) Roger gave his daughter Alice, to be the wife of Maurice, the son and-heir of Sr Robert Fitz Herding, the Norman. This Roger being the Saxon Roger of Berkeley, original Baron of Dursley.
Definitions and Little Known Facts:
(Rules regarding Medieval Noble lllegitimacy) (Several facts from 'Knight In History' by Frances Gies)
Filius Nullius-lllegitimate
1st Class of lllegitimacy
''Natural Children". Born of single, or, widowed parents, who could be legitimized by marriage of parents, or, by father's declaration that they were his heirs.
2 nd Class of lllegitimacy
"The Spurious" . Parents not in position to marry. Legitimized by partition of Royal Ratification.
3 rd Class of lllegitimacy.
"The Incestuous". Too closely related, thus not bound by religious vows. Require Papal Dispensation to inherit parents property and goods.
Hiberno-Norman names begin with Fitz (Frenchfils)
(Source: The Surnames of Ireland. By Edward Maclysaght 1985)
".. .Sybil of Falaise might have been still another illegitimate daughter of Henry n's. She was married to Baldwin de Boullers, but she was said to be Henry's niece. There is no other connection with the Falaise family, and, the word 'niece' or 'neece' was sometimes used as an euphemism for an illegitimate daughter." (Source: Henry I's Bastards: 1066- 1216. Page 71. 'Complete Peerage', Vol. xi. Appendix D, By G.H. White)) In the middle ages, illegitimacy was treated as heraldic "differencing". Thomas Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, who died in 1428, left 500 marks (L333) in his will for the upbringing and marriage of his illegitimate son (pro filio nostro bastardo). "And this one example is above all, to wit, that Jesus Christ, the greatest and most noble King, was content to descend from Phares, a bastard." (Source: Henry I's Bastards. 1066-1216. By G.H. White) "Sir Henry de Berkeley had but one wife, and never in her life, did she conceive a child, and yet he had six sons after his death, whereupon, the eldest entered (the inheritance), and because he was holden and acknowledged as Sir Henry's son in his lifetime, he retained the inheritance against the very heir (a collaterol) by the judgment of the common council of the whole land." (Source: Henry I's Bastards: 1066-1216. By G.H. White)
Pens-Goose quills or reeds
Parchment was sheepskin
Manu-Hand written script.
(Trevifa or Trevisa was Vicar of Berkeley Castle in 1356)
Trevisa-his translations were called 'Olde Englishe of Trevisa
A Knight's father had to first be a Lord.
Knighthood lasted about 500 years. (Knights at Hastings.. .check Bayeux Tapestry.) Greatest Knight was regarded to be: William Marshall. B. 1145. D. 1219. He was in serviced to King Henry the Third. In 1348there was established 'Order Of the Garter' . Patromymics means "Family Names"
William the Conqueror himself was only four generations away from the Scandinavian Pirate Rollo. (Origins of Heraldry by Beryl Platts-1980) Knights originated in France; unknown in England until the Norman Conquest.
"Sir" is a title of honor and minor nobility. It is 'Messire' in France.
A Knight was:
I-A soldier
2- A horseman
I-French, Chevalier
2-German, Ritter
3-Italian, Cavaliere
4-Spanish, Caballero
3-Clad in Armour. He was a carmored Cavalryman.
4-Knights were: "Soldiers For Christ". They were set apart for their expensive equipment & horses.
Lord, Vassal, and Knight were 'freemen'. They were tied together by mutual promises.
Knight's were part of 'The Fuedal System'. In the Middle Ages, a Lord granted land to a Vassal in return for military & less important services. Both Knight and Vassal swore an oath of Loyalty to the Lord of the Manor, and also, to protect and support this Lord.
10th Century Knight-Duties & Disciplines prescribed by the Church. An Order.
11thCentury Knight-Soldiers Of Christ.
12thCentury Knight-Some became 'Troubadours". The literate Renaissance.
Knighthood became expensive, by the 13thCentury. Knights could opt to be Squires. Therefore, rich peasants and merchants infiltrated the knightly class.
14th and 15th Knights reaped fortunes from war (a professional soldier). (a.i. Breton Hero Bertrand du Guesclin & English Knight John Fastolf, rose from the ranks of middle class to higher class and fortunes.)
Carolingian Kings (800's) bestowed lands (etc) to their fighting men (Knights) by early Middle Ages both Roman Senatorial classes and Germanic Chiefs (8thCentury) and a new Class, distinguished not by birth, but by power derived from the King's service took its place. Pedigree of Medieval Nobility can only be traced back to the 800's.
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