This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from Explore Bristol Research, http://research-information.bristol.ac.uk Author: Pollard, A. J Title: The family of Talbot, Lords Talbot and Earls of Shrewsbury in the Fifteenth Century General rights Access to the thesis is subject to the Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International Public License. A copy of this may be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode This license sets out your rights and the restrictions that apply to your access to the thesis so it is important you read this before proceeding. Take down policy Some pages of this thesis may have been removed for copyright restrictions prior to having it been deposited in Explore Bristol Research. However, if you have discovered material within the thesis that you consider to be unlawful e.g. breaches of copyright (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please contact [email protected] and include the following information in your message: •Your contact details •Bibliographic details for the item, including a URL •An outline nature of the complaint Your claim will be investigated and, where appropriate, the item in question will be removed from public view as soon as possible. / THE FAMILY OF TALBOT, LORDS TALBOT OD EARLS OF SHREVSBURY 1N THE FIFTEMTTH CENTUIff . by . A. J. POLMRD A dissertation for the degree of Doctor Of Philosophy submitted to the University of Bristol in September 1968 ST COPY AVAILA L Variable print quality a SYNOPSIS This is a study of the expansion, retention and exercise of the terri-torialv political and military power of the premier earldom of England in the most crucial century of its history. The history of the Earls of Shrewsbury has been approached in four parts, the first two covering the genealogical and-political history of the familyt the second exploring aspects of the material bases of its power. The study begins with a survey of the position of Ankaret, Lady Talbotj widow of the fourth Lordq over the turn of the century and the baptism of her elder sons in war in Wales. It carries through the his- tory of her family until the succession of her second son, Johnt to the combined inheritances of Talbotj Le Strange and Furnival in 1422. The second chapter traces the fortune of this inheritance under John, con- centratine paxticularly on the two great disputes, one with Lord Berkeley over the possession'of the barony of Berkeley, and the other with his own heir over the partition of the inheritance, in which he involved his family. The third chapter considers the fortufies of the second and third Earls in the Wars of the Roses. It is argued in this that John, second Earl of Shrewsbury is to be numbered among the moderate Lancastrians in the years 1453-60 and that Edward IV, with eventual success, took advan- tage of long minorities during his reign to reconcile the Talbots to his regime. The second part is devoted to the career of the principal founder of the family fortunes, John, Ist Eaxl of Shrewsbury. In one chapter the intervention of him and his brother Richardq Archbishop of Dublin, in the affairs of Ireland is described and in a second his long war career in Franceq which ended after thirty-three years on the field of Castillon, is traced and the legend that grow up around his name is assessed. The third and fourth parts look beyond the surface of genealogical and political history to examine the foundations of. the fmily's power and influence in its estates and affinity in the time of the first Earl. One chapter considers the composition of the first Earl's following and the influence maintained through it, particularly in Shropshirep in spite of his continued absence abroad. A second examines the composition of his retinues of war in Normandy and reveals that there were only very loose connections between these and his English following. And a third recon- structs the administration of the Talbot estates in his time, examines dhis finances and finally assesses his profits of war. The fourth and last part is a detailed study of the economic history of the largest of the Talbot estates in Shropshirep the lordship of Blackmere or Blackmere over the whole of the later middle ages. kCXNUv7LEDG3A:ENTS I am indebted to various people and organisations for assistance and guidance in completing this workp not least of whom are the staff of public archives and record offices in England and France and of the University Library. In particulax, 1 would like to thank Dr. R. M. Jeffs for his suggestions when first I started research into this subject; Miss Mary Hill, the County Archivist of Shropshire, and her assistant, Miss Marion Hill, for their patient help with the Bridgewater Papers; the Marquess of Northampton for permission to use prints of the portraits of the first Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury; and the Department of Education and Science for the financial support which enabled me not only to spend three years on researchý but also to extend that research to France. My greatest debt is to my supervisor, Dr. Charles Ross, for his constant insp iration and vigilant guidance. Lastlyt I would like to thank imy wif ef or her unsparing and invaluable help over several months in the final preparation of this dissertation. These debts of gratitude apartf I certify that the following pages are the product of my own independent work. 14 September 1968 TFamvý CONTENTS Tables Maps Diagrams Illustrations Abbreviations INTRODUCTION PART OITE: THE FAMILy AND THE INHERITANCEý 1399-1485 Chapter 1 1399-1422 9 II 1422-146o 32 . II I The Wars of the Roses 67 ýi) 1453-1460 67 ii ) 146o-1465 89 PART TWO: THE CAREEROF JOHNp FIRST EARL OF SHRZ'vSBURY IV The Talbots and Ireland, 1414-1453 103 v Eriý;land and Francep 1419-1453 137 ýi)ý 1419-1434 139 11) 1434-1445- 152 111) 1445-1453 191 iv) The Ilan and the Legend 208 PART THREE: TEE INFLUENCEAIM WEALTHOF'JOHNq FI10T EARL OF MEMBURY vi Affinity 214 M Retinues of War in Normandy 251 ýi), - Types of Retinue 251 ýý) English Conneptions 259 iii) The Composition of the Personal Retinues 270 iv) The Organisation of the Personal Retinues 283 Chapter VIII Estates and Finances 292 i) The Administration of the Estates 293 ii) John Talbot's Finances 314 PART FOUR: THE LORDSHIPCP BLAC101EREIN THE LATE MIDDLE AGES IX The Lordship of Blaclmereg 1377-1522 336 (i) Description of the Estate 336 . Th : Administration of the Estate 339 Th Demesne 346 iv) The Revenues of the Estate 358 V) Expenditure 380 vi) Profit 384 vii) Conclusion 393 CONCLUSION 402 APPENDICES I The Talbot Inheritance in 1422 411 II Values of the Talbot Estates 414 III Prominent Members of John Talbot's Affinity 417 IV Captaincies held by John Talbot in France 421 V Details of the Service of thirty-three Lances of Talbot's Personal Retinueg 1439-1441 424 VI The Blackmere Estate Accounts 428 BIBLIOGRAPIrf 455 (i) Tables I Family The Tree following p8 II The Talbot Claim to the Earldom of Pembroke and Wexford LordshiP following P104 III John Talbot's Sisters and their Families following p224 IV The Lances of John Talbot's Personal Retinuest 1428-1448 following p270 V The Itineraxy of Richard Legett, 1434-1437 P300 VI Payments of John Talbot's 'salary' following P321 VII Payments of John Talbot's lbonuses' following P321 VIII The Settlement of the Arrears of Wages of John Talbot's Soldiers following-P322 Ix Blackmere Demesne Cultivation, 1331-1422 P349 X The Gross Income bf the 'Manor' of Blackmere P359 XI Income from Rent at Blackmere following P361 ýSecond XII Blackmere Demesne Revenues First Part) P368 Part) following P370 XIII Income from Mills and Tolls at Blackmere following P373 XIV Income from CasuiLlties at Blackmere following P375 XV Income from Marbury and Lyneal following P379. XVI Expenditure at Blackmere following P380 XVII Net and Clear Profit of the 'Manor' of Blackmere following P387 (ii) I.Tap s I The Talbot Estates in the fifteenth century following pq II South Gloucestershire landholders in the fifteenth century following P40 III Ireland in the fifteenth century f ollowixv g p112 IV 'Northern France in the fifteenth century followins P144 v Shropshire landholders in the fifteenth century following p227 vi The Lordship of Blackmere following P336 Dia--,rains The Collection of Blackmere Rents following p361 The decline in profits from courts, mills and tolls, at Blackmere following P376 Illustrations John, First Earl of Shrewsbury P(vi) Maxgaretq Countess of Shrewsbury P(Vii) Richard Clerk's claim for expenses P(Viii) I (iii) Abbreviations AN Archives Nationalos i Tresor des Chartes, Layettes ii Treosor des Chartesq Registres K Mor=ents Historiques Basin ThomasBasino Histoire do Charles VII9 ed. C. S=axanj 1933-34 Beauco=t G. du Fresno do Beaucourtl Histoire do Charles VII9 1881-91 BIHR . Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research RA British Museum Ad Ch Additional Charters Ad Ms Additional Manuscripts BN BibliothIque National Ms Fr Manuscrits Francais PO PiecesN Originale"s Clair Clairambault Bourgeois Journal dun Bourgeois de Paris, 1LO5-14499 ed. A. Tueteyt 1881 IT Shropshire Record Office, Bridgewater Papers Burne A. H. Burnel The Agincourt Warp 1956 Cal Ea Reg Calendar of Pa-pal Registers, Papal Letters Cat Anc Deeds Catalogue of An ient Deeds CCR Calendar-of Close Rolls CFR Calendar o' Fine Rolls Chartier Jean Chartierg Chronique de Charles VII9 ed.