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Sunday, August 9, 2020

Lord Robert de Knolles & Constance ?

 312532. Sir Robert de Knolles & 312533. Constance ?

~1335, Robert Knollys born in Cheshire, England, s/o §§Robert de Knolles.

~1345, Constance born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England. (S) Hist. of York, V3, 1974, Lowcross – Pontefract.

[1356-59, Robert likely involved in the French campaigns of King Edward III.]

1360, Memorandum as to the delivery of the contents of the treasury from the outgoing to the incoming treasurer, with an indenture as to the receipt into the exchequer of the goods of Robert Knollys. (S) UKNA.

7/13/1361, To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Order to discharge Robert de Knolles at the exchequer of 2,000 florins called 'motons' which he was bound to pay at the king's chamber for the keeping of the castles of Gravele, Fugery and Chastelblank (Album Castrum) in the duchy of Brittany for the 34th year of the reign [1360]. (S) CCRs. [Order to sheriffs of London to stay altogether their demand made upon Robert de Knolles by summons of the exchequer for the same sum.]

~1364, Robert married Constance.

1364, Robert in the English army in Brittany under Sir John Chandos.

9/29/1364, The army of Charles of Blois was defeated by John IV, Duke of Brittany, and English forces under Sir John Chandos. Bertrand Du Guesclin, “The Eagle of Brittany” broke his weapons to signify his surrender. He was captured by Robert de Knolles, and ransomed by Charles V for 100,000 francs.

1364-66, Robert knighted.

6/4/1366, To the bishop of Nantes. Mandate, on petition of the clergy and people of the city and diocese of Angers, and of Robert Knolles, knight, and Constance his wife, of the diocese of Lichfield, and of a number of the followers of the said knight, to absolve the said followers. They have been guilty of crimes and excesses in food, drink, and speech, and in buying and selling victuals, as well as in capturing ecclesiastics and injuring their lands and persons, even whilst the matter was before pope Innocent VI. Further, after peace was made between the kings of England and France, they seized and ravaged, with the approval of the said Robert, lands and places in the dioceses of Angers and Le Mans.

1369, Stratton, grant of the manor to Robert Knolles, knight, and Constance his wife for life. (S) UKNA.

1370, Thomas de Brandon, mercer, sells to Sir Robert Knollys, Kt., and Constance his wife, houses and shops, in Seething Lane, West Side, London. [South of St. Olave’s churchyard, later called “Knollys Inn”.] (S) Survey of London, V15, All Hallows, Seething Lane.

6/1/1370, Debtor: John Foxcote. Creditor: Sir Robert Knolles, knight. Amount: 500m. (S) UKNA.

6/8/1370, Letters of Privy Seal to the Mayor, Recorder, Sheriffs, Aldermen, and citizens of London, notifying the King's present need of a sum of 100,000 marks on behalf of his son the Duke of Lancaster and Robert de Knolles, who were about to go abroad in the King's service. (S) Letter-Books of London, 1905, Folio ccxlvii b.

1370, Robert Knolles seeks payment of his costs of 2000 marks paid through his attorney to Fog for the raising of a retinue in England of 200 men-at-arms (with 2 archers to each man-at-arms) on the king's orders that he cross the sea as one of the leaders of the war in France, such that he does not suffer loss in the matter. (S) UKNA.

7/1370, The Duke of Lancaster sailed for Bordeaux to join the Prince of Wales, and Sir Robert Knolles set out at the same time for Calais with orders to invade Picardy. (S) Letter-Books of London, 1905, Folio ccxlvii b.

1370, Particulars of the account of John Legg of mariners' wages for the passage of Robert de Knolles and his company to France. (S) UKNA.

1370, Sir Robert’s forces swept through Picardy, Champagne, Normandy, and Maine. (S) Edward III, Ormrod, 2013, P507.

12/4/1370, Bertrand Du Guesclin, “The Eagle of Brittany”, now Constable of France, got his revenge when he defeated an English army led by Sir Robert Knolles at the Battle of Pontvallain (north of Tours.)

12/1371, Robert [it was thought] died overseas.

12/10/1371, IPM of Robert de Knolles, knight. Wilts.: Sevenhampton. The manor. Heighworthe. The township and hundred. Stratton. The manor. Crekelade. The borough. … All held for life in joint feoffment with Constance his wife, who survives, … He died beyond seas. Date of death and heir not known. Norfolk … Writ to John Bernes, mayor and escheator of London: Endorsement that he cannot execute the writ, because the jurors find that Robert is still alive. (S) CIsPM.

1371-72, Robert returned to England.

2/20/1372, To escheator in Kent. Order … not to meddle further with the manor of Dunstall and 1,000 acres of marsh in Elmele taken into the king's hand by the death of Walter de Mauny knight, delivering to Robert Knolles knight and Constance his wife any issues thereof … learned by inquisition … held the said manor and marsh for life of another than the king, with reversion to Gilbert Champeneys and Elizabeth his wife in her right, … by fine levied in the king's court granted the reversion thereof to Richard Ravenser clerk, Henry de Snayth clerk, William Strete and Robert de Notyngham … Robert de Notyngham after by deed released all his right … Richard, Henry and William by fine levied in the king's court afterwards granted the said reversion to the said Robert Knolles and Constance and to John de Lakyngheth knight …  John by writing released his right in the premises to the said Robert Knolles and Constance, their heirs and assigns … (S) CCRs.

1372-73, Cambridgeshire & Huntingdonshire: Particulars of account with writs and extent for (1) Manor of Soham, Robert de Knolles and wife; (2) Forfeited Scotch money; (3) Subsidy on cloth; (4) Cambridge castle, gate and warren. (S) UKNA.

12/3/1374 at Staple of Westminster, Creditor: Robert Knolles, knight [of London]. Amount: £200. (S) UKNA.

1375, “Sir John de Nevile Lord Raby, leased the manor of Houghton, and that of North Pickenham, to Sir Robert Knolls, and Constantia his wife, for their lives”. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V6, 1807, Houghton. [Robert granted free-warren here in 1378-79.]

1375, Sir Robert Knolles presented John de Sutton to Houghton church. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V6, 1807, Houghton.

7/1376, Robert Knolles and Constance his wife complain that in rainy weather the water from the tenement of Henry Colle and Margery his wife adjoining their tenement and garden in the pars, of All Hallows de Berkynge and St. Olave next the Crutched Friars falls upon their land for lack of a leaden fillet-gutter which the defs. ought to provide. (S) London Assize of Nuisance, 1301-1431, 1973.

9/5/1376, Commission of oyer and terminer to …, Robert Bealknapp, …, William de Lucy and Walter de Clopton, on complaint by Robert Knolles, that whereas he freighted a ship called the Welfareof Dartmouth with goods in the port of Plymouth, for the City of London and that when the ship was wrecked at Kimmeridge, in Purbeck, Dors, Thomas Coupe and others, entered the ship, carried away his goods and assaulted his men. (S) UKNA.

6/21/1377, Richard II, age 10, succeeded Edward III as King of England.

1377, M. Robert Knolles, knt., with M. Phillipp Courteneye: Payment of 100 marks to the sd. Robt. in the Church of St. Poule of London. (S) UKNA.

10/19/1377, Philip Courteneye knight, Hugh Dourbourgh knight sheriff of Dorset and Walter Blewet knight to Robert Knolles knight. Recognisance for 400 marks, to be levied etc. in Dorset. (S) CFRs.

10/20/1377 in Chancery, London, Hugh Dourbourgh knight sheriff of Dorset to Robert Knolles knight. Recognisance for £3,000, to be levied etc. in Dorset.. (S) CFRs.

12/1377, Grant by Robert de Ferrers to Robert Knolles, knight, and Custance his wife, … Middx. (S) UKNA.

1377-78, Particulars of the account of Robert de Knolles of wages of soldiers engaged at sea. (S) UKNA.

1/1378, At St. Maloes, France, Sir Peter le Strange appointed Sir Robert Knolls as an executor of his will. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V9, 1808, Fransham Parva.

1377-78, Defeasance, indented, of a grant by Sir Thomas Surteys, …  of a yearly rent of 100 marks from their manor of Raskelf conditoned for a warranty …, co. Norfolk, granted by Sir John de Nevill, lord of Raby, to Sir Robert de Knolles and Custance his wife; Yorks.(N.R.). (S) UKNA.

1378-79, Robert de Ferrers and Elizabeth his wife to Robert de Knolles and others: Settlement, indented, of land at Marston Butler: Warw. (S) UKNA.

2/6/1379, Debtor: James Durborough, the son of Hugh Durborough, knight {militis} of Somerset. Creditor: Robert Knolles, knight. Amount: £1200. (S) UKNA.

6/22/1379, Indentures as to the delivery of certain jewels to Robert de Knolles and others as security for a loan and as to their return. (S) UKNA.

1379, Adam de Sancto Ivone and others to Robert de Knolles, knight, and Constance his wife: Grant, for life, with remainder to the King and others, of the manor of Pancras and their land in Islington, Kentish Town and St. Giles of the Lepers, late of Robert deFerers: London. (S) UKNA. [This property on the East side of Seething Lane.]

1380, Sir Robert Knolles [through his attorneys] presented Gregory de Hetherset to Houghton church. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V6, 1807, Houghton.

5/1381, Sir Robert Knolles a defender of the City during the Peasants’ Revolt [Aka Wat Tyler’s rebellion]. (S) Hist. of Parliament, Roskell, 1993.

6/15/1381, William Walleworth, the Mayor, Robert Bealknap, Robert Knolles, …, and William Cheyne met with Wat Tyler at Smithfield, outside London. After an incident insulting the King, Wat Tyler was injured, and later beheaded.

6/15/1381, Letters patent appointing William Walleworth, the Mayor, Robert Bealknap, Robert Knolles, …, and William Cheyne to be commissioners for safeguarding the City and suburbs and preventing insurrections. (S) Letter-Books of London, H, 1907, Folio cxxxiii b. [Tyler’s followers were driven from London.]

7/23/1381, [Recorded in the Guildhall] “To all persons who these present letters shall see or hear, the Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of London Greeting, know ye that we have granted unto Messire Robert Knolles Knight, our dear and well beloved fellow citizen, and to Constance his wife, leave to make a Haut-pas of the height of 14 feet extending from the house of the said Robert and Constance his wife on the west side thereof to another house to them belonging on the east side thereof, beyond the lane of Syvendenlane in the parish of All Hallows Berkyngechirche, near the Tower of London, rendering yearly to the Chamberlain of the Guild Hall of the said City for the time being one red rose at the feast of St. John the Baptist.” (S) Survey of London, V15, All Hallows, Seething Lane. [They built an overpass over the street between their houses on each side.]

3/30/1382 at Staple of Westminster, Debtor: Adam de St Ives, citizen [grocer and merchant] of London. Creditor: Robert Knolles, knight, and Constance, his wife. Amount: £1000. (S) UKNA.

1382-83, Order for delivery of certain jewels to Robert de Knolles as a pledge for a sum of money. (S) UKNA.

1382-83, Sir Robert Knolles, Knt. settled the lordship of Bittering Parva, with the advowson, on his trustees, in the founding of Pomfret college in Yorkshire. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V9, 1808, Bittering.

4/4/1384, Sir Robert Knolles advised the king to behead John Constantyn, cordwainer of London, as the leader of an insurrection in London. (S) Memorials of London and London Life, 1868.

7/1/1385, A proclamation made to the effect that those able and willing to go to the sea-coast in defence of the realm and the City should come to the Guildhall to the Mayor and Chamberlain and receive their pay, viz., 12 pence a day for men-at-arms properly arrayed and 6 pence for archers; … Those who were to go on the expedition were to be ready to join Robert Knolles, their leader, by Saturday next for the neighbourhood of Sandwich. (S) Letter-Books of London, H, 1907, Folio cxciii b.

10/4/1385, Robert Knolles, knight, and Constance his wife to found a new college of 7 chaplains in a messuage at Pontefract, purchased from Thomas Shirwynd, and to grant to them the said messuage for themselves, 13 poor men, 2 clerks, and 1 or 2 servants, to be called ‘Knolles Almeshous’. York. (S) Hist. of York, V3, 1974, Lowcross – Pontefract. [Robert originally planned to found the house in Norfolk, but was persuaded by Constanceto put it in Pontefract, where she was born.]

1385-87, Constance died before Robert. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V7, 1807, Fakenham.

[––Robert––]

6/12/1387, John Boys, … to Sir Robert Knolles knight, his heirs and assigns. Charter of a tenement with 3 shops, … (S) CCRs.

1388-89, Robert Knolles, knight, to grant all his possessions in London to the master and chaplains of his hospital at Pontefract. London. (S) UKNA.

1389, Sir Robert Knolles named Thomas Knolles, citizen and grocer of London, as an executor of his will. (S) Hist. of Parliament, Roskell, 1993.

1/1390, Robert Knollys summoned to appear in parliament on 2/4/1390 to answer upon the contents of Adam Chaungeour's petition. (S) Parliament Rolls, 2005. [Adam Changeour states that around 16 years ago, Lady Constance, wife of Robert Knolles, gave the petitioner £2,000 in French gold and in weak wine, to trade with, under an agreement that she would bear half of all gains and losses. After initially making a profit, it was eventually lost, but she demanded the whole of her money back, threatening Adam until he enfeoffed her and her husband with all his possessions in London and Norfolk, on their promise that they would take only what was owed them.]

1391, Sir Robert Knolles, Knt. Presented William Smith to Bittering Magna church. (S) Topo. Hist. of Norfolk, V9, 1808, Bittering.

1392, Robert Knolles chivaler assessed 5s for his tenements in Tower Ward in London. (S) The Church in London, 1375-1392. [Robert also held property in Billingsgate Ward.]

1393-94, Parties: Robert Knolles, 'chivaler', and John Seymour of London … Manor of Woodhead and lands in Bridge Casterton. County: [Rutland]. (S) UKNA.

1/1394, Robert Knolles (Knoll); John de Cobeham (Cobham) of Kent. A petition presented to parliament by Robert Knolles and John de Cobham [of Kent], for £200 (300 marks) of lands and rent to support a new bridge at Rochester. [The petition was granted.]

9/30/1399, Henry IV succeeded Richard II as King of England. [Richard II died a prisoner in the Tower.]

1404-05, Parties: Robert Knolles, knight & John Okedon, prior, and the convent of the Charterhouse by London. The manors of Pancras and Bloomsbury. County: [Middx]. (S) UKNA.

5/10/1406, William Crowemere citizen of London, Richard Forster of London and … to Robert Knolles knight, … Recognisance for £200, to be levied etc. in Norffolk. (S) CFRs. [Cancelled on later payment, in which is was stated that Robert was deceased.]

1407, Robert died, buried with military honors in Whitefriars, London. (S) North Mymms Hist. Project.

Family notes:

·         Possible father of Robert: Robert de Knoll of Sussex; or Robert de Knoll of York. Both have records in the rolls in Edward II and/or early Edward III.

·         A 1410 record shows that Robert also owned a shop in the parish of Mary-le-Bow, London, called 'le Legge,'. (S) The Cartulary of Holy Trinity, Aldgate, 1971.

Child of Robert and Constance:

i. Thomas Knolles (156266), born ~1365 in Essex, England.

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