Series Introduction
John 3rd baron Arundel was born on 1st August 1385. Although the barons Arundel are on the periphery of my current research, John’s life is intertwined with the Poynings, de Molyens, Fitzalan and Berkeley families. It illuminates the complex political situations of the late 14th and early 15th centuries the families lived through.
I have chosen to start with John’s Inquisition of Proof of Age, simply because it was the starting point for my research into his life. His birth in the home of Margery, lady Molyens, nee Bacun, raised several questions. And as is the way with historical research, any potential answer raised more questions in turn.
The four parts of this series are:
- Proof of age
- John’s Complex Family Networks
- Two Marriages and an Earldom?
- The Impact of Political Instability on John’s Family Connections
Part One – John’s Proof of Age
The late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries were turbulent. John was born into a world impacted by the Hundred Years War, the Black Death, popular uprisings, judicial murders, the deposition of Richard II and the troubled reign of his cousin Henry IV. The Commons in parliament were increasingly exercising their power. Exhibiting intransigence over taxes, and royal expenditure.
His great-uncle, Richard 11th earl of Arundel had been executed for treason. His grandfather, John 1st baron Arundel drowned at sea, leading a naval contingent to Brittany. There would be more more losses and pain to come before he came of age on 1st August 1406. He was far from alone as an under-aged heir. Multiple baronies, earldoms and duchies were inherited by children. Placed in the care of the crown as tenants-in-chief, the appointment of their guardians was often politically, and sometimes financially motivated.
The barony of Arundel was created in 1377, by Richard II’s council, for John Fitzalan, second son of Richard 10th earl of Arundel. He married Eleanor Mautravers (c1345-1405), heir to the barony of Maltravers. A renowned naval commander, he drowned in the Irish sea, leading a fleet to Brittany, on 15th December 1379. Leaving his fifteen-year-old son, John 2nd baron Arundel to inherit. His wardship was granted to his uncle, Richard 11th earl of Arundel (executed 1397). John 2nd baron Arundel came of age in 1382. Assuming their heir was a honeymoon baby, the latest he could have married Elizabeth Despenser (1367 -1408) was before mid October 1384, as their son was born on 1st August 1385. John died on 14th August 1390, aged twenty-five, leaving his five-year-old son John, 3rd baron Arundel to inherit the barony of Arundel, and following his grandmother’s death, the barony of Maltravers.
John 3rd baron Arundel was taken into Richard II’s wardship. The king then granted it to his half-brother, John Holland, earl of Huntingdon. Holland was executed in January 1400 by John 3rd baron Arundel’s great-aunt, Joan countess of Hereford and Essex for his part in the Epiphany Rising. John’s wardship then passed to Henry IV who granted it to his eldest son, Henry Prince of Wales. It was then bestowed on Thomas Neville, Lord Furnivall, the second husband of Ankaret le Strange. Neville was a younger brother of Ralph Neville, 1st earl of Westmoreland. As John’s guardian Furnivall was expected to provide him with a good upbringing, manage his lands effectively, and arrange John a suitable marriage.
John turned twenty-one on 1st August 1406, and requested his inheritance from the king. Henry IV issued a writ for an Inquisition into Proof of Age on 8th August. The hearing took place on 12th August at Colnbrooke, Buckinghamshire. Nevill was evidently at Margery, Lady Molyens’ dower property at Ditton when the writ was issued. Four of the jurors, William Spelyng, Thomas Neel, Henry Aleyn and John Fynton, confirmed that they had warned him of the hearing there.
The jury comprised twelve local men, many of whom were linked to Margery’s household. They were all required to give an account of significant activities on the day of John’s birth, that helped them remember it.
The following is a transcript of the proceedings:
John Arundel, kinsman [grandson] and heir of Eleanor Arundel [nee Mautravers], was born at the manor of Ditton on August 1 1385 and baptised in St Mary’s Church Datchet, and he is therefore aged 21 years and more. Asked how they knew this, the jurors said:
William Spelyng, aged 58 years and more, on that day went to the house of John Benet, vicar of Datchet, to ask him to be godfather.
Thomas Neel, 55 and more, carried a torch at the baptism
Henry Aleyn, 58 and more, was a butler of Margery then Lady Molyens, lady of that manor, and delivered bread and wine and sent it for the baptism
John Sperman, 56 and more, on that day was sent to London by Margery Lady Molyens to discover where John the father could be found
John Bakere of Colnbrook, 42 and more, in that month took at farm the house in Colnbrook, where he now lives of William West of that place for 10 years from the ensuing Michaelmas
Willian Skynnere of Iver, 59 and more, had a daughter born that day who is now dead
John Hale of Langley Marish, 41 and more, had a new shop in Colnbrook on that day
Robert Dastrell 43 and more, at that time purchased to himself and his heirs a tenement in the parish of St Mary there by a charter of enfeoffment
William Randolf, 45 and more, had a daughter Joan married to John Wellys in St Mary’s church, Datchet, the following week
Walter Clerk of Horton, 51 and more, knows because in that week his wife Isabel was delivered of his eldest son John.
Richard Auger, 54 and more, was in the church and held a cloth for drying of hands after the baptism
John Fynton of Datchet, 52 and more, was a servant of Lady Molyens and carried two bottles of wine to the church for the people there to drink.
John’s inheritance was generous. It did not include lands held by his mother, Elizabeth Despenser in dower or jointure. But the Maltravers inheritance would more than make up for any loss incurred. He would also regain any lands Eleanor Mautravers had held in jointure with John 1st baron Arundel.
Questions
Reflecting on the Proof of Age hearing, raised the question of why John was born in the household of Margery, Lady Molyens. She was the daughter of Edmund Bacun and Marjorie Poynings. This led to two questions:
- How are the various families involved connected?
- Is there any evidence to suggest why John was born in Marjorie’s household?
These will be covered in future posts.
Sources:
Burtscher M (2008) The Fitzalans. Earls of Arundel and Surrey, Lords of the Welsh Marches 1267-1415. Logaston Press
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry IV. Vol 18 nos 1115 – 1123
Close Rolls of Richard II 1389-1392 pp 211-216
Bev's Historical Yarns 