John de Burley, with whom Chaucer in 1376 went on a diplomatic mission,
was a brother of Simon de Burley. [Footnote: R. 242 mem, 17.] He was
certainly attached personally to the Black Prince, for in 1378 Richard
II confirmed to him a grant made by himself, when prince (51 Ed. III)
confirming a grant of his father the prince of Wales (41 Ed. III) of L40
yearly for de Burley's services, especially at the battle of Nazare
where he was the prince's bodyguard. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 19*7.]
In 1373 he was appointed Captain of Calais and commissioned to supervise
the fortifications of Oderwyk and other places besides Calais. [Footnote:
Rymer III, 989, 992.] In 1375 he was on a commission to treat for peace
with France. [Footnote: Rymer III, 1021.] In 1377 he was a witness of
Edward III's will, [Footnote: Test. Vet. p. 11.] and stepped out of the
position of Captain of Calais. [Footnote: Rymer IV, 2.] In 1377 he was
granted the constableship of Nottingham Castle for life. [Footnote: Cal.
Pat. Roll, p. 34.] (He gave it up in 1381). [Footnote: idem, p. 60.] In
1378 Richard II confirmed to him a grant (47,50 Edward III) of 40m.
yearly in addition to the L40 already granted. [Footnote: idem, p. 108.]
In 1378, L40 yearly were granted at his supplication, to his son W. de
Burley, esquire, "retained to stay with the King." [Footnote: idem, p,
283.] In 1377 John de Burley, Knight of the King's Chamber, [Footnote: He
was also so mentioned in 1370.] was given the custody of Sherwood
Forest. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 88.] In 1378 he had the King change
his grants of L40 and 40m. to one of 100 m. and give the latter to his
son, John de Burley, Kt. [Footnote: idem, p. 281.] In 1378 he was on a
commission to treat for the marriage of Richard II with a daughter of
the Duke of Milan. [Footnote: Rymer old ed. VII, 213.] Later he was
engaged in negotiations for Richard's marriage with Anne of Bohemia.
While so employed, he and Michael de la Pole and Gerard del Isle were
taken prisoners and held for ransom. On this occasion the King sent
money for the ransom of the three. [Footnote: Devon's Issues III, 224-5.]
On another occasion he was taken prisoner in Germany after having been
sent as messenger to the King of Bohemia, and the King contributed 500m.
to his ransom. [Footnote: Issue Roll (Devon) 7 Rich. II, p. 225. ] In
1381 he gave up the custody of Sherwood forest, and also that of
Nottingham Castle. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, pp. 54, 60.] In that year
and the following he and Simon de Burley are mentioned in connection
with transfers of land. [Footnote: idem, p. 160.] In 1382 he was a
Justice of the Peace in Hereford. In 1385 he was granted for life the
custody of the alien priory of Wotton Waweyn, provided that its value
should not exceed L45, 13s. 4d. yearly, the rent which he was wont to
pay for it. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p, 45.] I find no later mention
of him, except the rather doubtful one of his inheriting land from Simon
de Burley (in 1388).