Monday, October 31, 2016

Another side of Bosworth

Another side of Bosworth

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien
Introduction

The town and civil parish of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire is most noted in history, and in popular knowledge, from the Battle of Bosworth, fought in 1485, south of the town. This article sets out to give another side of Bosworth. The 2001 census recorded about 1,900 people living in the parish but people have lived in the area for many thousands of years.

Bronze Age to Normans

Excavations in the town and outside have discovered evidence of Bronze Age settlement. A Roman villa was found on the east of the town. The Anglo-Saxon village of Bosworth dates from the eight century. At the time of the Norman Conquest there were two manors in Bosworth and these were both awarded to the Count of Meulan, Robert de Beaumont, who after the Conquest became 1st Earl of Leicester.[1]

Robert de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Leicester was the last of his family and when he died in 1204 his vast estates were divided between his two sisters. One of these sisters, Margaret, had married Saer de Quincy from Scotland. In 1207 Saer de Quincy became 1st Earl of Winchester and overlord of Bosworth.[2]  

Harcourt family come to Bosworth

Also to get lands in England was Errand de Harcourt and his three brothers. By 1191 Robert de Harcourt was lord of Bosworth which he held of the Beaumont family. In that year Robert de Harcourt inherited the lands of his father-in-law at Stanton in Oxfordshire which became known as Stanton Harcourt and the family’s principal residence. The family still holds Stanton Harcourt to the present day while in 1509 the manor of Bosworth passed to the Grey family.[3] Robert de Harcourt sometimes attended the court of King John around 1200 and witnessed a number of royal documents including a number relating to Ireland.[4]

William de Harcourt in Ireland

In 1210 William de Harcourt followed his overlord the Earl of Winchester in King John’s invasion of Ulster and the capture of Carrickfergus Castle. At the time William de Harcourt was described as a seneschal but seneschal of where was not stated. As was the custom in medieval wars the aim was to capture hostages for reward rather than killing as many people as possible. William de Harcourt took Lucian de Arquill as his prisoner. Lucian de Arquill made a fine with King John for his release and in February 1212 William de Harcourt was told to release him. Although it is not stated but it is very possible that William de Harcourt got money from Lucian or from King John.[5]

In July 1215 William de Harcourt attended the royal court of King John and witnessed a number of documents.[6] It seems that William de Harcourt stayed with King John in the civil war between King John and the Barons. In the 1220s William de Harcourt collected some debts relating to Ireland from the time of King John.[7]

Bosworth church

The Earls of Leicester and later the Earls of Winchester and their heirs were the overlords of Bosworth but the advowson of Bosworth church had a different ownership. It seems that in 1086 Hugh de Grandmesnil held the advowson and later was held by Ivo de Grandmesnil but in 1102 he was sent into exile by King Henry. Before 1156-7 Bertram de Verdun granted the church and two hides at Bosworth to St. Mary’s Abbey in York and this was confirmed by King Henry II.[8] The church was dedicated to St. Peter.[9]

A list of the medieval rectors of Bosworth include William de Verdun (1221), Ralph de Bosworth (1223), Johannes de Passenham (1264), Thomas de Sandiacre (1275), Robert de Sancto Ivone (1275), Bertram de Verdun (1307/8), Wollaston (resigned 1403), Henry de Ferrariis (1403), Thomas Thryke (1407/8), William Kynwolmerset (1419-1446), Thomas   Hayward (1446), William Inee 26 April (1458) and Robert Moine (1482/3).[10]

Bosworth church

In 1240-41 William, the parson of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire paid the king one mark to remove a plea from the county court of Leicestershire.[11] In the fourteenth century the advowson of Bosworth was held by the de Verdun family. In October 1317 Theobald de Verdun died seized of the advowson of the churches at Bosworth, Neubold, Skeftington, Lutturworth and Cotesbach in Leicestershire.[12]

On 1st December 1334 Edward III appointed William de Kildesby to the church of Bosworth, in the diocese of Lincoln, in the king's gift because the advowson was taken into the hands of Edward II., on the death of Theobald de Verdun, tenant in chief, by reason of the minority of his heirs, and was still in the king's hands.[13] An inquisition post mortem in 1336 showed that the advowson of Bosworth was divided into four equal shares between the daughters of Theobald de Verdun. These daughters were Isabel and her husband Henry de Ferrariis (they had the first presentation to the church); Elizabeth and her husband Bartholomew de Burgherssh (they had right of second presentation); Joan and her husband Thomas de Fournyvall (third presentation); and Margery and her husband Mark Husee (fourth presentation).[14]

On 20th September 1356 Margery, wife of the late William le Blount, received a royal pardon for granting property to her son, John le Blount and he re-granted back to her without obtaining a royal licence. The property concerned included a fourth share of the advowson of Bosworth. John de Crophill, the new husband of Margery, agreed to pay the king £20 to settle the fine. In the same month Margery got a licence to enfeoff Ralph de Crophill, parson of Cotingham, of the estate.[15]

At an inquisition post mortem taken at Bosworth on Saturday after the feast of St. Michael 1370 it was found that the advowson of Bosworth was divided among four heirs. These heirs were the four daughters of Theobald de Verdun and they presented a rector at every fourth turn. The heirs were Elizabeth and her husband Bartholomew de Burgherssh; Joan and her husband Thomas de Furnivall; Margery and her husband William le Blount and Isabel and her husband Henry de Ferrariis.[16]

On 11th June 1370 the king presented William de Sleford to the church of Bosworth, because the estate of Bartholomew de Burgherssh, deceased, was in the king’s hand.[17] In 1376 Sir Edward le Despenser, according to his inquisition post mortem taken at Bosworth, held a quarter share of the advowson of Market Bosworth and had the next right of presentation.[18]

On 3rd February 1436 Agnes Merbury, wife of John Merbury, esquire, died and was seized of property in a number of counties with her husband. In Leicestershire she jointly held the manors of Cotesbach, Newbold Verdun and Braunstone and among other advowsons she held a quarter part of the advowson of Market Bosworth which was worth nothing above prayers but taxed at £20 yearly.[19]

John Merbury, esquire, died on 31st January 1438 leaving his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Walter Devereux as his heir. The jury in Leicester on 15th March 1438 found that John Merbury held the manors of Cotesbach, Newbold Verdun, and Branston along with the advowson of the churches at these manors and also the churches at Grace Dieu and Market Bosworth. John Merbury held a quarter share of the advowson at Market Bosworth as divided from the De Verdun inheritance. The advowson was worth nothing above prayers but was taxed at £20 yearly.[20]

In May 1446 William Kynwolmersshe, parson of Bosworth, was declared an outlaw by the king for not appearing before the king’s court to answer a charge of a debt of £40 due to the abbot of the monastery of Blessed Mary in York.[21]

Bosworth after 1258

On 2nd April 1258 a writ was issued to the sheriff of Leicester to hold an inquisition post mortem into the estate of the late Richard de Harcourt. The subsequent undated inquisition found that Richard de Harcourt held £16 of land at Stretton from the king in chief by the service of a quarter of a knight’s fee; £50 of land at Bosworth from the Earl of Winchester by the service of one knight’s fee along with £30 of land at Ayleston and £10 at Borisworth from the same Earl by one knight’s fee in each case. Richard de Harcourt also held land at Kybworth, Neuton, Sheyngton and Morton from the Earl of Warwick with other property at Branteston from William Burdeyt and at Shepe from Richard de Caumill. Richard de Harcourt also had land at an unidentified place in Oxfordshire (possibly Stanton Harcourt) and the manor of Elinhale (from the Bishop of Lichfield) and Rontton township (from the Baron of Stafford) in Staffordshire. Richard de Harcourt was succeeded by his son, Sir William de Harcourt, who was aged over 30 years at the time of his father’s death.[22]

In about 1266 some men assaulted and killed some of the men of Hamo Lestrange at Leicester, Killeworth and Bosworth. Giles de Erdinton was to work with the sheriff of Leicestershire to arrest the men involved.[23]

In the various inquisitions post mortem held following the death of Roger de Quency, Earl of Winchester in 1271 it was found that William de Harcourt held Bosworth, Seynton and Ayliston from the Earl by the service of two knight’s fees.[24] In May 1285 William de Harcourt received a royal grant to hold a market in Bosworth every Wednesday and from that time the place became known as Market Bosworth. He was also granted a three day fair on the feast of St. Peter and Paul. The local parish church was dedicated to St. Peter and often the local fair was held on the same day.[25]

On 1st March 1293 a writ was issued to hold an inquisition post mortem of the estate of Richard de Harcourt. On Wednesday the feast of the Annunciation 1293 an inquisition post mortem of the estate in Leicestershire was taken. It found that Richard de Harcourt held the manor of Bosworth including two parks and a market. Richard de Harcourt also received rents from the manor in the form of 2½lb of pepper, 2 pairs of gloves, a root of ginger, a clove gillyflower, 3 arrows without feathers, 8 horse shoes, 10 hens, a cock and a rose beside the usual money rents from the tenants. Richard de Harcourt held Bosworth from John Comin, Earl of Buchan and lord of Wyteworth in Leicestershire, one of the heirs of the Earl of Winchester.

The inquisition also found that about six months before he died Richard de Harcourt enfeoffed his son Henry de Harcourt and Eleanor his wife of £24 of yearly rent out of Bosworth. Despite this gift John de Harcourt (aged 18 years), the eldest son of Richard de Harcourt was acknowledged as his heir.[26]

Apart from Bosworth Richard de Harcourt also held property at Schepeye, Stretton, Kynclingworth and Guldene Morton in Leicestershire; Elenhal and Ronton in Staffordshire; Baxterleg, Wolvey, Wyebrook, Wormclacton and Baddesleg in Warwickshire and the manor of Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire. Richard de Harcourt held the latter place of the king in chief by the service of one knight’s fee and moving, lifting, carrying and stacking a meadow in the king’s park of Woodstock (now location of Blenheim Palace).[27]

On 21st April 1293 Joan, the wife of the late Richard de Harcourt was assigned a third part of the manors of Bosworth, Stanton Harcourt and Elenhal as her dower lands.[28]

Bosworth in the fourteenth century

On 5th May 1302 a royal pardon was given to Robert Billing of Bosworth, by reason of his service in Scotland, for the death of William le Westerton of Shakreston, and his consequent outlawry. On 23rd August 1304 King Edward granted a pardon to Thomas son of Simon de Lutgate for the death of William Killebole of Bosworth. On 16th October 1306 a pardon was given to Richard le Warde of Ibestok, in Warrewick for the death of Stephen son of Thomas Flour of Bosworth, as it appears he killed him in self-defence.[29]

In 1308 Bertram de Verdun, son of Theobald de Verdun senior, was rector of Lutterworth and Bosworth.[30] In 1310 Theobald de Verdun senior died seized of the manor and advowson of Cotesbach in Leicestershire along with the manor and advowson of Newbold and the advowson of Bosworth. Theobald de Verdun junior, then aged 28 years, succeeded his father.[31]

On 20th November 1313 a commission of oyer and terminer was given to John Chaynel and John de Harington, on complaint by Robert Gentyl of Carleton, the elder, one of the conservators of the peace for Leicestershire. Robert Gentyl alleged that John de Harcourt of Bosworth and Henry Harcourt his brother, along with John Conge of Staunton, Henry le Bedel of Staunton, John le Parker, William Gile of Bosworth, Adam son of William de Carleton, and Richard Bulle of Bosworth, and many others, endeavoured to impede Robert Gentil in the exercise of his office. It was said that they assaulted him at Bosworth while he was proceeding to make inquisition touching malefactors and disturbers of the peace. Robert Gentil was beaten, wounded and robbed of 100s. In fear of his life Robert Gentil was besieged in a house for an unknown time.[32]

This incident was not the only trouble suffered by the Gentil family from the people pf Bosworth. In 1317 Bertraye, wife of the late Robert Gcntil, alleged that William Gentil, Gilbert Oullebole, Robert Macorneys, John Ballc, William Hulkok, Thomas Bagworth, William son of Robert, Robert Fox, and Thomas Hichebon of Carleton by Bosworth, with others, carried away her goods at Carleton by Bosworth, co. Leicester. On 28th July 1317 John Chaynel, John de Bromfcld, and Robert de Stokes were commissioned to investigate the incident.[33]

In 1318 William de Walton alleged that Walter Lomb of Bosworth along with Simon le Bakester of Boseworth, Peter Persone, William do Wales, Thomas Pegg', John Pegg', Richard de Cotene, Elias le Personesinan, and Nicholas de Harcourt, parson of the church of Shepeye, assaulted him at Bosworth. On 12th July 1318 Richard de Willoughby, William de Stafford and Hugh de Prostwold were commission to investigate the assault. On 16th August 1318 a number of other people were charged with the assault including William le Bakester, William Ward, William le Parker, Simon son of William le Bakester, Geoffrey de Morton, William son of Geoffrey Percy, John son of Margery, Simon Hopper, Geoffrey Aubry and William Charn.[34]

In 1314 John de Harcourt accompanied William de Monte Acuto in the English invasion of Scotland which culminated in the disastrous defeat of the English at Bannockburn.[35] In October 1317 Theobald de Verdun died seized of the advowson of the churches at Bosworth, Neubold, Skeftington, Lutturworth and Cotesbach in Leicestershire.[36]

In 1331 John de Harcourt, lord of Bosworth, died and was succeeded by his son, William de Harcourt, then aged 30 years. The subsequent inquisitions post mortem found John de Harcourt held the manor of Bosworth of the king because the original overlord, Henry de Bello Monte had his estates forfeited to the crown. John de Harcourt held Bosworth by the service of one knight’s fee and a pair of gilt spurs (worth 6d) or 6d paid yearly at Christmas.

Other property in Leicestershire included Nailiston (£16 13s 4d rent and a windmill and meadow) held of Philip de Columberes; along with Cotes by Morton and Stretton held of Henry de Ferraris. Ellenhall in Staffordshire held of the Bishop of Chester and Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire held of the king. But shortly after John’s death Queen Isabella sent in her bailiffs to seize Stanton Harcourt on the pretext that it was held of her manor of Woodstock. This was a clever error of the Queen’s part as Harcourt was obliged to do farm work at Woodstock for having Stanton Harcourt, the manor itself was held of the king as other inquisitions post mortem show.

Meanwhile in the inquisition relating to Bosworth showed a number of charges made by John de Harcourt upon the manor. Master Robert de Ayliston was to receive £10 of yearly rent and two robes of fur worth £10. Richard de Harcourt was to get another £10 of yearly rent while Henry de Harcourt was to get £16 of yearly rent (Henry already was receiving £24 out of Bosworth in yearly rent since about 1293). William de Charneles was to get 30s of rent and a robe worth 20s while Simon le Hopper of Bosworth was to get 100s of yearly rent and a robe worth 20s along with fitting sustenance for himself, his groom and his horse for life.[37] These charges amounted to over £54 along with all the other expenses at running a medieval estate and previous charges made upon it as in 1293. We don’t have an income and expenditure account to see if the manor of Bosworth could pay all these charges or if borrowed money was needed. In 1258 the value of Bosworth was only £50.[38]

During 1331 Nicholas de Harcourt, parson of the church of Shepeye, granted the manor of Bosworth to William son of John de Harcourt and Joan de Harcourt, his wife and the heirs male of their bodies.[39]

On 18th March 1332 a pardon was granted to John son of Roger de Bosworth for the death of Geoffrey Richard at Bosworth, because it was said to be in self-defence. Richard de Egebaston and Robert de Gaddesby, justices appointed to deliver Leicester gaol were to release John son of Roger. After his release John son of Roger returned to his community but didn’t stay out of trouble. In July 1334 he alleged that Roger Uccor of Bosworth, Thomas and John his sons, along with others assaulted him at Bosworth and carried away his goods.[40]

On Palm Sunday 1334 John de Longe was killed at Bosworth and John de Stapleton was charged with the murder. But when the itinerant justices next visited the area they acquitted John de Stapleton. Twenty one years later John de Stapleton, then aged 46 years and more, gave his story to help William son of Henry de Ferraris to prove his aged.[41] 

A few years later other murderers at Bosworth received pardons for their crimes. In October 1339 William Richer, of Konestone, received a pardon for the death of John Nichol of Osberston near Bosworth and in the same month Richard le Keu of Bosworth, also got a pardon, this time for the death of Richard Hopper and William de Chaucombe. Richard received the pardon as a reward for his good service to the king overseas.[42]

On 14th March 1340 the inquisition post mortem of Henry de Bello Monte, Earl of Buchan, was taken and it found among other things that the Earl held two knight’s fees at Bosworth, Carleton, Cotes, Ayleston and Little Glen in Leicestershire.[43]

In February 1344 Roger de Belgrave gave 2s of rent in Bosworth to the abbey of Suleby as part of 30s granted to the abbey by John and Peter de Belgrave, parsons of Belgrave and Esthaddon, respectively.[44]

In April 1345 a commission of oyer and terminer was issued following the complaint of Sir William Motoun that John 'the parson' of Nayleston, Henry 'the parson’s brother, Henry son of Roger de Drayton of Nayleston, William Prat of Bosworth, Richard Prat of Bosworth and many others carried away his goods at Bosworth, and assaulted his men and servants there whereby he lost their service for a great time. Also in 1345 Robert Kyvyot received a pardon for the death of William Smyth of Bosworth. In January 1347 William le Ferrour of Welleforth, for the death of William Sumnoure of Bosworth, killed before 17th November and for all other felonies committed before that date. William le Ferrour got the pardon on the recommendation of Henry, Duke of Lancaster because of William’s service in the army in Gascony.[45]

Before June 1367 a person called William le Ferrour of Bosworth was outlawed by the justices in Staffordshire for non-appearance on charges of false accounting by the parson of Bosworth, Master Richard le Boule. William le Ferrour worked as receiver for the parson. On 1st June 1367 the master of the Fleet prison certified that William had surrendered himself and was in custody. By 28th June 1367 John Colart of Culworth, John le Bailly of Culworth, Richard del Grene and Henry Marchal had also surrendered themselves to the Fleet prison on the same charges as outlaws with William le Ferrour.[46]

Bosworth after the Black Death

On 6th June 1349 William de Harcourt of Bosworth died leaving his son Richard de Harcourt (aged 21 years) as heir. The inquisition post mortem at Bosworth held on 20th August 1349 said that William Harcourt and his wife Joan received Bosworth by gift of Nicholas de Harcourt. William de Harcourt held Bosworth from John de Bello Monte by a knight’s fee. The inquisition at William’s manor of Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire showed the signs of the Black Death where it said that William held “several fishery and lands of bondmen and cottars who used to render £30 yearly but they are dead through the pestilence and their lands lie untilled”.[47]

In February 1361 Thomas Grogman of Leycestre, received a pardon for the death of John Amy of Bosworth as a reward for serving in France under the Edward, the Black Prince.[48]

On the Friday after the feast of St. Barnabas in 1364 an inquisition post mortem was held at Bosworth into the estate of the late Sir Hugh de Meignyll. Many other inquisitions post mortem were held at Bosworth which concerned other families than the Harcourt family like Sir Hugh de Meignyll. Thomas Wychard had his inquisition at Bosworth on 20th November 1354, William de Clinton had an inquisition on 20th September 1355 and Roger Hillary had his inquisition there on 6th July 1357.[49]
In 1368 John Wychard of Osberston of the king's suit received a pardon for the death of John Haxsmal of Bosworth, and for any sentence of outlawry he may have suffered.[50]

Bosworth market place

On 22nd July 1370 Joan, wife of the late William de Harcourt died at Elenhal in Staffordshire. Her heir general was Elizabeth (aged 22 years), wife of Thomas son of Thomas de Asteleye and daughter of Richard de Harcourt, the eldest son of Joan and William de Harcourt. But the heir to Bosworth was Thomas de Harcourt (aged 28 years), second son of Joan and William de Harcourt by virtue of a gift made in the lifetime of Joan and William.[51]

Sometime after the death of her first husband, William de Harcourt, Joan married Ralph de Ferrers and outlived her second husband. After Joan’s death William Catesby, late escheator of Leicester, took possession of Bosworth and levied the issues for the king’s use. This was done until Edward III delivered Bosworth to Thomas de Harcourt, son of William and Joan. But during the period of royal control Thomas son of Sir Thomas de Astleye and Elizabeth his wife presented Philip de Drayton to control Bosworth. It seems that Philip de Drayton vacated Bosworth without too much hassle.[52]   

At the inquisition post mortem of Sir Henry de Bello Monte, made at Leicester on the Thursday after the feast of St. Vincent 1371 it was found that Thomas de Harcourt held two knight’s fees at Bosworth, Carleton, Cotoun, Aylleston and Parva Glen from Henry de Bello Monte.[53]

In 1375 Thomas de Harcourt, lord of Bosworth, witnessed the agreement between Ralph Basset of Drayton, the founder and rector of Mancetter for the exemption of the new house of Austin Friars at Atherstone from the payment of tithes subject to paying 20s per year.[54]

In the strange world of medieval justice at Bosworth and elsewhere, a horse thief was made an outlaw and a murderer got a pardon. In May 1386 William, son of John Colyne of Bosworth, was made an outlaw for the theft of a horse, valued at 13s Id, and for being a common horse-thief. In May 1389 at the supplication of Lord Beaumont, William Hering of Tamworth in Warwickshire received a pardon for the death of John atte Well of Bosworth on Monday of Easter week 1388.[55]

In October 1395 Ralph Hurleman of Bosworth, wool merchant, was pardoned of all contempt’s, trespasses, frauds, deceits and unjust and excessive weighing’s and purchases of wools contrary to statute along with many other people across the country.[56]

Bosworth in the fifteenth century

In October 1401 William de Eepyngton, was parson of the church of Bosworth, in the diocese of Lincoln, when he was presented by King Henry IV to the church of Bonyngton, in the diocese of York, in an exchange of benefices with William Caton.[57]

In October 1402 John de Brigeford and Nicholas Harewood, clerks of the king's stable, were cleared of paying the king £20 for the escape from Leicester jail of William Adam of Foxton, Robert Bocher of Bosworth, Roger Hichecok of Twyibrd, John del Grene and John Pery, chaplain, known felons.[58]

On 26th May 1404 and again on 1st July 1404 a royal grant was made to the king’s servants, Richard Kerrour, William Malberthorpe and Paul Ferrour to have £20 of the goods of the late John Freman of Bosworth, Leicestershire, which were forfeited to the king because John Freman killed John Milnere of Marston in the fields of Northkilworth, Leicestershire. In February 1405 John Freman was granted a royal pardon for the killing.[59]

On 6th July 1420 Sir Thomas Harcourt of Bosworth died to be succeeded by his ten year old son Robert Harcourt. The various inquisitions post mortem held into the estate of Thomas Harcourt found him seized of property at Ellenhall in Staffordshire, Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire and Market Bosworth, North Kilworth, Little Stretton in Leicestershire. Thomas Harcourt held the manor of Bosworth, except two parks, jointly with his wife Joan and they had the manor from John, Lord Beaumont by an unknown service. At Bosworth in 1420 there was among other buildings two mills and a common bake-house.[60]

In October 1420 an order was sent to the escheator of Leicestershire to remove the king’s hand from meddling in the manor of Bosworth except for the two parks attached to the manor.[61]

In November 1449 William Browning, gentleman (so called), late of Bosworth in Leicestershire and late of Devonshire and late of Wyghtham in Oxfordshire, and late of Fifhyde, Oxfordshire, was declared an outlaw for not appearing before the king’s clerk to answer Robert Pyryton, parson of the church of St. Leonard, London, along with John Byrkhede and Thomas Ballard, executors of the will of Henry Penwortham, touching a debt of £40.[62] After William Browning moving around that much I’d be surprise if the executors ever saw even a part of that debt repaid.

On 26th April 1450 John Male was granted a royal pardon for his indictment in the assault upon Humphrey Stafford and Richard Stafford at Coventry Fair where Humphrey Stafford was beaten and Richard Stafford and William Sherpe were killed. The attacked was made on the Wednesday before Corpus Christi 1448 by the servants of Sir Robert Harcourt of Staunton Harcourt in Oxfordshire under the direction of Joan Harcourt (widow) of Bosworth.[63] The feud with the Staffords of Grafton was a long running story. After the murder Sir Robert de Harcourt was outlawed.

In revenge for the killing Sir Humphrey Stafford came at night on 1st May 1450 with men to attack the manor house at Stanton Harcourt. Sir Robert de Harcourt and his household were driven into the local church which was set on fire while the manor house was ransacked. Sir Robert de Harcourt survived the church fire and was pardoned in 1451.[64]

In 1461 Sir Robert de Harcourt succeeded his father, Sir Thomas de Harcourt as lord of Stanton Harcourt, Ellenhall, Grandborough and Bosworth. Before becoming lord of Bosworth, Sir Robert de Harcourt served on various commissions of the peace in counties Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In 1444 he served as sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire and in 1455 was sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Sir Robert de Harcourt also served as a M.P. for Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In 1462 or 1463 Sir Robert de Harcourt was made a Knight of the Garter, one of the highest orders of chivalry. In 1466 he was steward of Oxford University and in 1467 he was an envoy to negotiate the peace treaty with France. In 1470, during the brief Lancastrian recovery, the Staffords again attacked Sir Robert de Harcourt and on 14th November 1470 Sir Robert was killed in a skirmish.[65] 

The local feud between Harcourt and Stafford families joined into the national feud between the royal houses of York and Lancaster, otherwise known as the War of the Roses. In that war many more people were killed across the country culminating in the great battle of Bosworth Field where King Richard III lost the crown and his life and where Henry Tudor gained a kingdom. On 30th April 1495 the clergy in the deanery of Sparkenhoe were to meet in Bosworth church for a visitation.[66] It is quite possible that some locals attending the visitation told the visitor’s stories of the battle fought ten years before.

Many people are aware of the Bosworth story of 1485. This article hopes to show a different side to Bosworth where a medieval family held a manor by knight’s service; where murder and birth came and went; and where life carried on through it all.



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[4] H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland (5 vols. Kraus reprint, 1974), vol. 1, 1171-1251, nos. 138, 175, 2399
[5] H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, nos. 406, 407, 454
[6] H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, nos. 589, 590, 621
[7] H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, no. 1452
[8] Mark S. Hagger, The Fortunes of a Norman Family: The de Verduns in England, Ireland and Wales, 1066-1316 (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2001), p. 28
[11] Paul Dryburgh & Beth Hartland (eds.), Calendar of the fine rolls of the reign of Henry III, volume III, 19 to 26 Henry III, 1234-1242 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2009), no. 25/17
[12] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. VI, Edward II, no. 54 (p. 38)
[13] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1334-1338, p. 49
[14] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. VII, Edward III, no. 710 (pp. 497, 498, 499)
[15] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1354-1358, pp. 436, 442
[16] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XII, Edward III, no. 322 (p. 298)
[17] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1367-1370, p. 414
[18] A.E. Stamp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XIV, Edward III, no. 209 (p. 222)
[19] M.L. Holford, S.A. Mileson, C.V. Noble & Kate Parkin (eds.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XXIV, 11 to 15 Henry VI, 1432-1437 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2010), no. 479
[20] Claire Noble (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XXV, 16 to 20 Henry VI, 1437-1442 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2009), no. 70
[21] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry VI, 1441-1446, p. 385
[22] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. 1, Henry III (Kraus reprint, 1973), no. 411
[23] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry III, 1258-1266, p. 654
[24] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. 1, Henry III, no. 776 (p. 257)
[26] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. III, Edward I, no. 116
[27] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. III, Edward I, no. 116
[28] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. III, Edward I, no. 117
[29] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward I, 1301-1307, pp. 36, 251, 466
[30] Mark S. Hagger, The Fortunes of a Norman Family: The de Verduns, 1066-1316, p. 252
[31] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. V, Edward II, no. 187
[32] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward II, 1313-1317, p. 68
[33] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward II, 1317-1321, p. 82
[34] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward II, 1317-1321, pp. 273, 280
[35] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward II, 1313-1317, p. 164
[36] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. VI, Edward II, no. 54 (p. 38)
[37] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. VII, Edward III, no. 298
[38] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. 1, Henry III, no. 411
[39] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XII, Edward III, no. 360
[40] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1330-1334, pp. 260, 582
[41] A.E. Stamp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. X, Edward III, no. 195
[42] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1338-1340, pp. 227, 230; Ibid, 1350-1354, p. 326
[43] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. VIII, Edward III, no. 271 (p. 190)
[44] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1343-1345, p. 204
[45] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1343-1345, pp. 499, 546; Ibid, 1345-1348, p. 220; Ibid, 1350-1354, p. 296
[46] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1364-1367, pp. 406, 413
[47] E.G. Atkinson (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. IX, Edward III, no. 139
[48] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1358-1361, pp. 519, 521
[49] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. X, Edward III, nos. 66, 193, 328; Ibid, Vol. XI, Edward III, no. 518 (p. 395)
[50] Calendar Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1367-1370, p. 173
[51] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XII, Edward III, no. 360
[52] A.E. Stamp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XIII, Edward III, no. 79
[53] J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XII, Edward III, no. 321 (p. 295)
[55] Calendar Patent Rolls, Richard  II, 1385-1389, p. 150; Ibid, 1389-1392, p. 41
[56] Calendar Patent Rolls, Richard  II, 1391-1396, pp. 626, 629
[57] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry IV, 1401-1405, p. 3
[58] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry IV, 1401-1405, p. 156
[59] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry IV, 1401-1405, pp. 392, 405, 488
[60] J.L. Kirby & Janet H. Stevenson (eds.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XXI, 6 to 10 Henry V, 1418-1422 (Boydell Press & National Archives, 2002), no. 503
[61] Calendar Close Rolls, Henry V, 1419-1422
[62] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry VI, 1446-1452, p. 289
[63] Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry VI, 1446-1452, p. 324
[64] A.B. Emden (ed.), A biographical register of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500 (3 vols. Oxford University Press, 1989), Vol. II, p. 869
[65] A.B. Emden (ed.), A biographical register of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500, Vol. II, p. 869
[66] Christopher Harper-Hill (ed.), The Register of John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1486-1500 (2 vols. Canterbury & York Society, 1991), Vol. II, no. 141