Walter Whithors is mentioned in the records first in 1343 when he
received an order granting him his wages for life, and the custody of
the River Posse for life. [Footnote: C. R., p. 203.] In 1346 he was
granted two marriages, in 1347, five marks a year, the tronagership of
Lenn, and the constableship of Conisborough Castle. [Footnote: Cal. Pat.
Roll, pp. 37, 69, 234, 451, 545.] In 1348 the King granted Whithors all
the tenements and rents in the city of London which were in the King's
hands by reason of the forfeiture of a certain William de
Mordon. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 48.] In the same year he was given
the custody of the smaller piece of the seal for recognizances of debts
in the city of York. [Footnote: idem, p. 148.] In 1349 he received a
grant of forfeited houses in the county of York, [Footnote: idem, p.
261.] and likewise a mill and more lands forfeited by William de
Mordon. [Footnote: idem, p. 333.] Furthermore he was given in the same
year the right to dispose of some of these latter lands. [Footnote: idem,
p. 440.] In 1349 further he was granted the stewardship of the forest of
Galtres, and the roots of all trees cut down in that forest. [Footnote:
idem, pp. 368, 433--apparently with deputy, for in Cal. Pat. Roll 1352,
p. 214, a lieutenant is mentioned.] In 1352 the office of tronage of the
wools at Lenne was granted to his former deputy, at the request of
Walter Whithora who surrendered a grant of that office. [Footnote: idem,
pp. 267, 293.] Next year he was given an annuity of twenty marks, and
also the right to exercise the office of recognizances of debts by
deputy, "because he stays continually in the King's service, at his
side." [Footnote: idem, pp. 380, 498.] In the same year he was granted
the custody of the forest of Lynton, adjacent to Galtres. [Footnote: Cal.
Pat. Roll, p. 417.]
In 1360 Whithors was granted certain houses in York formerly belonging
to Richard de Snaweshull, [Footnote: Pat. Roll 256, mem, 5.] and also the
custody of the lands and tenements formerly belonging to Nicholas de
Litton, during the minority of the heir. [Footnote: idem, mem. 18.] In
1361 he was given a messuage and shop formerly owned by Walter Ragoun in
London and worth forty shillings yearly. [Footnote: idem 261, mem, 12.]
From a document of the same year we learn something about the marriage
of his daughter. By this document Stephen Wydeslade, cousin and heir of
Thomas Branche, acknowledged a debt of two hundred pounds to Whithors,
which is to be paid in the form of an annuity of twelve marks to Mary,
daughter of Whithors and widow of Thomas Branche. She is to have further
as dower certain manors in Norfolk and Surrey. Her husband had been a
ward of her father's and had died a minor. [Footnote: C. R., p. 134.] In
1363 Whithors was pardoned the payment of all moneys which he had drawn
in advance from the wardrobe. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 262, mem. 15.]
Likewise in the same year he had a grant of the marriage of the son and
heir of John Colvyll, Chivaler, defunct. [Footnote: idem 262, mem. 18.]
In 1363 he received a grant of the custody of the Palace of Westminster
and the prison of the Fleet, [Footnote: idem 265, mem. 15.] and of the
custody of all lands and tenements formerly the property of William
Bruyn, defunct. [Footnote: idem, mem. 17.] In 1365 Whithors had a grant
of the manour of Naburn with pertinences in York, formerly the property
of a felon. [Footnote: idem 270, mem. 34.]
In 1370 he was granted free warren in Brenchesham, Surrey. [Footnote:
Cal. Rot. Chart, p. 187.] And in the same year and nearly until his
death, he had an annuity of forty marks a year as usher or doorkeeper of
the King's free chapel of Windsor. For this office also he received
twelve pence a day "because that the same Lord the King charged the same
Walter to carry a wand in the presence of the said Lord the King, before
the college" when the King personally should be there, "and that the
same Walter might be able more easily to support that charge."
[Footnote: Devon's Issues, p. 101.] In that year likewise he was sent to
York to borrow money from divers abbots, priors and others for the
King's use. [Footnote: idem, p. 111.] In 1373 he and Isabella his wife
acquired by a devious series of transfers a messuage of land with
reversion to their son Walter. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 287, mem. 4.] In
1377 Gerard Brocas acknowledged a debt of 160 m. to Walter Whithors.
[Footnote: C. R. 216, mem. 8 dorso.] In 1377 he was granted the lands
and tenements of Simon Raunville, defunct, and the marriage of his
heiress to Ralph, son of Walter Whithors. In 1383 he was still
exercising the office of custodian of the smaller piece of the seal for
York by deputy. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 242.] Three years later
the King at his supplication granted his annuity of forty marks to
another. [Footnote: idem, p. 146.] In 1387 he was apparently dead, for
the King granted to another the office of usher of St. George's Chapel,
and the house which he had occupied. [Footnote: idem, p. 297.]
According to Dugdale, Walter Whithors married Mabel, daughter and
coheir of Philip Neweham (or Newnham) of Neunham Padox in Warwick. Their
son and heir was Sir Ralph Whitehorse Kt. [Footnote: Warwickshire, p.
86.] JOHN DE BEVERLE
John de Beverle is particularly interesting to us because in 1376 he was
joined with Chaucer as surety for William de Beauchamp when the latter
received the custody of the castle and county of Pembroke. [Footnote: L.
R., p.213] The first mention of him in the public records occurs in 36
Edward III when he was granted the custody of all the lands and
tenements of James de Pabenham, Knight, defunct, during the minority of
the heir, [Footnote: Pat. Roll 265, mem. 17.] and when he and Amicia de
Bockeshill his wife were granted twenty pounds yearly by the king.
[Footnote: idem 266, mem. 29.] In the next year he was granted the
office of constable of the castle of Limerick and certain water rights
at the same place. [Footnote: idem 267, mem. 6, 8.] In 38 Edward III
John de Beverle, who was holding the manor of Pencrich, Staffordshire,
from the king in capite, having acquired it from John, son and heir of
Hugo Blount, was pardoned the transgression committed in entering upon
it. In the same year he was granted the right to hold a fair at
Pencrych. [Footnote: Cal. Rot. Chart, p. 185.] In 39 Edward III, he
received a grant of two tenements in the parish of St. Michael atte
Corne, London, [Footnote: Cal. Rot. Pat. Tur. Lon., p. 179 b] at the
customary rent; he established a chantry; [Footnote: Inq. Ad. Quod
Damnum, p. 335.] and received a grant of the constableship of the castle
of Leeds for life, with wages 100s. therefore. [Footnote: Cal. Rot. Pat.
Tur. Lon., p. 180.] In 39-40 Edward III, he was granted the right of
free warren in Mendlesden, [Footnote: Cal. Rot. Chart, p. 185.]
Hertfordshire. In 39 Edward III, he was granted the manor of Mendlesden
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 272, mem. 4.] and two dolia of Gascon wine yearly.
[Footnote: idem 271, mem. 21.] In 40 Edward III, the king granted his
mother, Matilda, a number of tenements and shops in London. [Footnote:
idem 274, mem. 2.] He himself was in that year granted the manor of
Bukenhull for life, with reversion to his heirs, [Footnote: idem 278,
mem. 37.] and the custody of the manor of Melton in Kent during the
minority of the heir. [Footnote: idem 274, mem. 43.] He seems also in
that year to have sold to the Count of Arundell and others his manor of
Pencrych. [Footnote: idem 273, mem. 13.]
In 41 Edward III John de Beverle was granted the manor of Bofford in
Oxford. [Footnote: idem 276, mem. 6.] In the next year he was granted
the right to hunt in the parks and forests of the king, with this
prologue: "Redeuntes ad memoriam obsequia et servicia placida que
dilectus armiger noster Johannes de Beverlee nobis non absque periculis
et rerum despendiis a longo tempore impendit" etc. [Footnote: Pat. Roll
278, mem. 8.] In 43 Edward III permission was given to Walter Bygod,
miles, to grant at farm to John de Beverle the manors of Alfreston
(Essex) and Marham (Norfolk) at a rent of L200 to Walter Bygod.
[Footnote: idem 279, mem. 12.] In that year also a grant by Ingelram de
Courcy to John de Beverle of the manor of Tremworth in Kent was
confirmed by the king. [Footnote: idem 280, mem. 28.] Finally he was
granted the parkership of Eltham forest for life with pay of three pence
per day. [Footnote: idem 279, mem. 28.] He was at this time drawing an
annuity of L40, 8s. 9d. for life and he was also paid (in this year,
1370) L107, 15s. 5d. for his wages and those of his men at arms and
archers in the war. [Footnote: Devon's Issues 1370, pp. 35, 81.] In 1371
he was paid 100m. [Footnote: Rymer, old ed. VII, 178.] In 44 Edward III
the king granted John de Beverle the manor of Rofford in Oxfordshire,
[Footnote: Cal. Rot. Pat. Turr. Lon., p. 186. Error for Bofford?] and
the custody of the lands of John de Kaynes, defunct, during the minority
of his heir. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 281, mem. 2] In 46 Edward III the king
granted him the custody of all the lands of Walter Bygod, chivaler, in
Essex and Norfolk, with marriage of the heir. [Footnote: idem 287, mem.
5.] He was also in that year granted an annuity of 33s. 4d. and the
manor of Rodbaston in Staffordshire. [Footnote: idem 287, mem. 18, 34.]
The next year, John de Beverle received a grant of the reversion to two
parts of the manor of Godyngdon in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and
also of the manor of Bokenhull in Oxfordshire. [Footnote: idem 289, mem.
17.] He was at that time paying ten pounds yearly for the farm of the
manor of Godingdon. [Footnote: Cal. Rot. Pat. Turr. Lon., p. 188.] In 48
Edward III he received a grant of the goods and chattels of Thomas de la
Bere, an outlaw, [Footnote: Pat. Roll 290, mem. 8.] and also of all the
trees cut down in Eltham forest. [Footnote: idem 290, mem. 10.] Finally
he had a grant of the manor of Bikenhull (sic). [Footnote: idem 290,
mem. 30.] In 49 Edward III he was granted certain tenements and rents in
London. [Footnote: idem 292, mem. 28.] In 50 Edward III, he and his wife
acquired the manor of Pencrych (Stafford) from Thomas, son of Hugo
Blount, Knight, [Footnote: C. R., mem. 1.] and he was granted custody of
the lands of John Ferrers, Knight, with marriage of the heir. [Footnote:
Pat. Roll 295, mem. 23.] In 1377 he was one of the witnesses to Edward
III's will. [Footnote: Test Vet., p. 12.] In 1377 he testified against
Alice Perrers before Parliament. He said that she took care not to say
anything about the matter under dispute before him. (Ele soi gardst bien
de lui qu'ele ne parla rien en sa presence.) [Footnote: Rot. Parl., p.
14.]
In 1377 we find an acknowledgement of one hundred marks which John de
Beverle had lent to the king for the expeditions over sea, [Footnote:
Cal Pat. Roll, p. 29.] and in this year he is said to have been
armour-bearer to the king [Foornote: Dunkin's Oxfordshire I, 197.]
(Edward III). In 1 Richard II, he acquired a rent of forty shillings
from lands and tenements in Buckenhull. [Footnote: Ms. Cal. C. R., p.
14.] In 1378 certain men were imprisoned for a debt of one hundred
pounds to John de Beverle and Joan de Bokkyng, [Footnote: Cal. Pat.
Roll, p. 130.] and in that year he paid twenty pounds for leave to
alienate certain property of six marks rent which he held from the king.
In 1378 he was retained to serve Richard II and confirmed in his
possession of the office of parker of Eltham parks, an annuity of ten
pounds and the fee farm rent of eighty-one pounds for the manor of
Hedyngdom. [Footnote: al. Pat. Roll, p. 143.] In 1380 his office of
constable of the castle of Leeds, the profits of the mills there and the
custody of the park there, were exchanged for ten pounds to be deducted
yearly from his rent of twenty pounds paid to the king for the manor of
Tremworth. [Footnote: idem, p. 506.]
In 1381 John de Beverle was dead leaving seven manors and other
property. [Footnote: Cal. Inq. P. M. III, 29.] In 17 Richard II his
wife, Amicia, had become the wife of Robert Bardolf, miles. [Footnote:
C. R. 235, mem.]
In the index to his Froissart, Kervyn de Lettenhoeve describes John de
Beverle as "moult grant baron d'Angleterre" and refers to a list of
chevaliers who were going to Portugal in 1384 with the master of the
order of St. James. [Footnote: Cf. Rymer old ed. VII, 451.] This was
certainly not our John de Beverle because the latter was dead in 1381.