Ruth Louise INGAMELLS Ph.D. (1992) The Household Knights of Edward I. Abstract. The royal household lay at the heart of the king's army in the late thirteenth century. The military importance of the knights attached to Edward's household has been examined by M.0 Prestwich. Although Prestwich acknowledged that the knights did serve in other areas of royal government no systematic study of their role has been attempted. Based on an examination of the surviving wardrobe accounts and other documents the role of the household knights in many areas of royal government in England and Edward's other dominions has been assessed. The part they played in newly or partially conquered territories of Wales and Scotland has also been considered. The knights attached to Edward's familia were employed as sheriffs, justices, constables of castles and diplomats and councillors. However the proportion of knights who served in these areas remained small. The knights were appointed With any regularity only to posts which demanded a combination of military and administrative skills. A large number held royal offices in Scotland and Wales.. However, there were a small number of knights whose skills as diplomats and councillors were clearly of more importance to the king than military prowess. This inner circle of knights were probably the forerunners of the chamber knights of the fourteenth century. The rewards received by the knights in return for their services have also been considered in great detail. The knights were rewarded in accordance with their status and length of service within the household. The major grants of lands, wardships and offices went to a fairly small group of men. The others received more minor gifts of grants of timber and animals. Edward was not a king who was renowned for his generosity. However, the loyalty of the knights to their master suggests that the rewards they received were adequate. The Household Knights of Edward I Volume 1 of 2 Ruth Louise Ingamells Ph. D. (University of Durham) Department of History, 1992. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. - 5 MAY 1993 Contents Volume 1 List of Illustrations 2 Acknowledgements. 3 Abbreviated references. 5 Introduction. 8 Chapter 1. Recruitment 32 Chapter 2. The Military Role of the Household 69 Chapter 3. Inside the Household 115 Chapter 4. Local Government and Justice 162 Chapter 5. Local Government II-Knights and Castles 199 Volume 2 Chapter 6. Gascony and Ireland 3 Chapter 7. Scotland and Wales 41 Chapter 8. Diplomacy and Council 88 Chapter 9. Rewards 123 Conclusion. 169 Appendix I. Knights in receipt of Fees and Robes 178 Appendix II Genealogical tables fig i 184 fig ii 185 Appendix III Number of knights attached to the Household 186 Appendix IV Expenditure on Fees and Robes 188 Appendix V The Retinues of Household Knights in 1300 189 and 1301 Appendix VI Grants of Wardship 1272-1307 190 Bibliography. 191 1 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Tables of Figures Volume 2 Appendix I. Knights in receipt of Fees and Robes 178 Appendix III Number of knights attached to the Household 186 Appendix IV Expenditure on Fees and Robes 188 Appendix V The Retinues of Household Knights in 1300 189 and 1301 Diagrams. Volume 2 Appendix II Genealogical tables fig i 184 fig ii 185 Appendix VI Grants of Wardship 1272-1307 190 2 I would like to thank Michael Prestwich for his all his help and guidance in my work; my Father for his encouragement; and Chris and Lucy for all their help and support. 3 No part of this work has previously been submitted for a degree in this or any other university. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without her prior written consent and information from it should be acknowledged. At the discretion of the Librarian of the University of Durham this thesis may (i) be made available for consultation by bona fide scholars (ii) be photocopied wholly or in part for consultation outside Durham 4 ABBREVIATED REFERENCES Ann. London 'Annales Londonienes', Chronicles of the Reigns of Edward I and Edward II, i, ed. W. Stubbs (Rolls Series, 1882). BIHR Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research BL British Library Cal. Anc. Corr. Calendar of Ancient Correspondence concerning Wales Wales, ed. J.G. Edwards (Cardiff, 1935). Cal. Anc. Pet. Calendar of Ancient Petitions relating to Wales, Wales ed. W. Rees (Cardiff, 1975). Cal. Chanc. Calendar of Chancery Warrants, 1244-1326 Warrants (1927). CChR Calendar of Charter Rolls (1903-). CCR Calendar of Close Rolls (1892-). CDI Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, ed. H.S. Sweetman, 5 vols (1877-86). CDS Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, i-iv, ed. J. Bain (1881-8); v, ed. G.G. Simpson and J.D. Galbraith (Edinburgh, 1986). CFR Calendar of Fine Rolls (1911-). CIMP Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mbrtem (1904-). CJR Calendar of Justiciary Rolls Ireland, ed. J. Mills et al. 3 vols (Dublin, 1905). 5 CLR Calendar of Liberate Rolls (1916-). CPR Calendar of Patent Rolls (1891-). CWR 'Calendar of Welsh Rolls', Calendar of Chancery Rolls Various, 1277-1326 (1912). Chron. Chronicon de Lanercost, ed. J. Stevenson Lanercost (Maitland Club, 1839). Dict. Nat. Dictionary of National Biography, ed. L. Stephen Biog. (1885-1900). Documents, Documents Illustrative of the History of ed. Stevenson Scotland, ed. J. Stevenson 2 vols (1870). ERR English Historical Review Flores Flores Historiarum, ed. H.R. Luard, 3 vols (Rolls Series, 1890). Foedera Foedera, Conventiones, Litterae et Acta Publica, ed. T. Rymer (Record Commission ed., 4 vols, 1816). Gascon Reg. Gascon Register A ed. G.P. Cuttino, 3 vols (1975-6). G.E.0 G.E. Cokayne, Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, ed. V. Gibbs and others, 12 vols (1912-59). Guisborough The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, ed. H. Rothwell (Camden Society, 3rd series, lxxxix, 1957) 6 KW The History of the King's Works, i, The Middle Ages, ed. R.A. Brown, H.M. Colvin, A.J. Taylor (1963) Liber Quot. Liber Quotidianus Contrarotulatoris Garderobiae, 1299-1300, ed. J. Topham et al. (1787). Littere Littere Wallie, ed. J.G. Edwards (Cardiff, Wallie 1940). Pan. Writs Parliamentary Writs and Writs of Military Summons, ed. F. Palgrave, 2 vols in 4 (Record Commission, 1827-34). Records Records of the Wardrobe and Household 1285-6, 1285-6 ed. B.F and C.F Byerly (1977). Records Records of the Wardrobe and Household 1286-9 1286-9 ed. B.F and C.F Byerly (1986). RG Roles Gascon, ed. F. Michel and C. Bemont, 3 vols (Paris, 1885-1906). RH Rotuli Hundredorum, 2 vols (Record Commission, 1812-18). Rishanger Willelmi Rishanger, Chronica et Annales, ed. H.T. Riley (Rolls Series, 1865). Treaty Rolls Treaty Rolls, i, 1234-1325, ed. P. Chaplais (1955). TRHS Transactions of the Royal Historical Society 7 INTRODUCTION Edward I was described as the 'truest man of all things, and 1 in war wary and wise...., of Christendom he bare the prize'. As a prince he served in the Holy Land and fought to preserve royal power and honour in the civil turmoils of the 1260s. As king of England he marshalled his forces to conquer Wales and crush its resistance to English rule. He attempted a similar task in Scotland but dwindling finances, ill health and other difficulties blighted the royal plan. At the core of the royal army was the battalion led by Edward. This consisted of the knights who were attached to his household. These knights, men such as Walter de Beauchamp and Elias Hauville, filled important offices within the royal household. With regular access to the king they became royal advisers and gained favours for their followers and others. Those who achieved pre-eminence within the royal familia, as did the Grandsons, the Genevilles and the Cliffords, became members of the royal council. The duties of the household knights stretched far beyond the royal court or the king's battalion. Knights such as John Botetourt, William Inge and John St John served as royal justices, diplomats, sheriffs, constables and wardens of the march. A number were also selected as the king's representatives in Gascony and Ireland. The knights were woven into the fabric of royal adminstration there, as well as in England. Tied closely to the royal court they exerted the power and executed the commands of Edward I. 1 The Political Songs of England, ed. T. Wright (Camden Society, 1839), 242 The households of Edward's predecessors have been studied by a number of historians. J.O. Prestwich and M. Chibnall have examined the familia of the early Norman kings. J.O. Prestwich demonstrated that the reality of a royal military household dated back to the eleventh century. According to Orderic Vitalis, William the Conqueror used it to contain the resistance movement in Maine between 1084 and 1086. By the reign of Henry I members of the household received bonus payments, regular wages and compensation for losses incurred upon the king's service. The household also attracted men from outside Henry's dominions who were retained by 2 annual fees. The familia of King John has been examined by Stephen Church. R.F. Walker and M.C. Prestwich have considered the part played by the household in the campaigns of Henry III and Edward I 3 respectively. Prestwich stated that the 'main reason why Edward ,4 retained so many was because of their military function. He also noted that the 'knights were much more than soldiers', they were used as diplomats, councillors and administrators.