Walter
le Breton of Gloucester and family
Niall
C.E.J. O’Brien
After the disappearance
of Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, in 1974 it was
twenty-five years before his family were granted control of his estate and it
was not until 2016 that the Earl was officially declared deceased. In late
thirteenth century Gloucester a man disappeared without trace and it was only
six years before his family were given control of his estate. This article
endeavours to recount the story of that man, Walter le Breton and his family.
Walter
le Breton
The early history of
Walter le Breton is unknown and he first appears in the records in 1285 on the
occasion of his disappearance. Sometime around 1285 Walter le Breton had three
messuages in Gloucester according to the Close Rolls.[1] It
is not known for certain where these messuages were located in the town and if
they were adjoining each other or scattered. In about 1258 a certain Walter
Bruton held land beside the former lands of the Jews of Gloucester which Maud,
daughter of David Dunning of Gloucester held and which she granted to William
de Watford and Alice his wife, Maud’s mother.[2]
But it is not certain if this was the location.
The Close Rolls also do
not give us any value for the three messuages. A messuage was a general term
for a cottage and a garden but they varied in value as they did in size and
location. One messuage in Campeden was worth 3d in 1274 while another messuage
in the same place was worth 4d. In 1277 one messuage in Tewkesbury was worth
4s.[3] In
1302 Walter le Bret held one messuage and garden at Pychenecombe worth 12d.
Elsewhere the abbot of St. Peter of Gloucester had one messuage at La Kingshame
paying 6s on rent per year and another paying 8s per year. In 1338 one messuage
in Gloucester paid 2s per year in rent while another only paid ½d per year.[4]
Walter
le Breton disappears
In 1285 Walter le
Breton disappeared without notice or as the records say ‘he secretly left the
parts of Gloucester’. It is not known what the circumstances of his
disappearance were. Could have been financial, personal reasons or in trouble with
his neighbours or the government. People said that Walter had drowned himself
but there was no evidence of this. Yet still there was no sign of him alive or
dead at Gloucester or elsewhere in England.
Queen
Eleanor seizes Walter’s property
After Walter’s
disappearance the bailiffs of Queen Eleanor of Provence (wife of King Henry
III) seized the messuages and held them against the claims of Christiana le
Breton, sister and heir of Walter. This was against the law and custom of the
country as the property was not truly escheats to the crown.[5]
Queen Eleanor had a
number of property rights in Gloucester. In January 1288 Queen Eleanor got the
right to take timber and rods from the Forest of Dene for the repair to her
weir by Gloucester.[6]
In February 1289 she got the right to have five oak trees from the Forest of
Dene for the repair of the bridge of Gloucester castle.[7]
Eleanor of Provence by Matthew Paris
Restoration
to Christiana le Breton and John Sage
On 20th September
1291 an order was issued to Edmund, the King’s brother and co-executor to Queen
Eleanor, to cause Christiana le Breton, sister and heir of Walter le Breton, to
have seisin of Walter's messuages in Gloucester until Walter returns.[8] The
nice thing about this restoration is that in the great scheme of history Walter
le Breton may not have moved mountains or become famous beyond the walls of
Gloucester. Yet in the time of King Edward, the hammer of Scotland, ordinary
people could succeed against the great people of the land like Queen Eleanor.
Queen Eleanor was not a popular person, especially in the London area where she
was often attacked by the inhabitants.
But the restoration was
not automatic and another order had to be issued. On 23rd October
1291 a further order was issued to Walter de Bello Campo, constable of
Gloucester castle, to restore to Christiana le Breton and John Sage, nephew of
Walter le Breton, the three messuages formerly held by Walter le Breton and
illegally held by the constable on behalf of the executors of Queen Eleanor.[9]
John Sage was not mentioned in the first order of September 1291 and this
omission possible warranted the issuing of the October order.
John
Sage
If Walter le Breton
figures rarely in the surviving documents, John Sage features in many
Gloucester documents over a number of decades. In about 1260 John Sage was a
witness to the grant by the Leper’s House of St. Margaret near Gloucester to
William of Worcester of all the land outside the north gate which the House had
received from Henry the Locker.[10]
In about 1262-3 John Sage was a witness to the grant by Richard the Blund to
the Leper’s House of St. Margaret near Gloucester of three selions of land in
the Hamme near Southbrock.[11] In
about 1280 John Sage was a witness to the grant by Adam of Northwich of land in
the suburb of Gloucester called Newland to the prior of St. Bartholomew’s.[12]
John
Sage, otherwise known as John the Wise
John Sage also went by
the name of John the Wise. In about 1270 John the Wise (le Sage) was a witness
to a grant by Robert the Mercer of property in Gloucester to Adam of Ardene.[13]
In about 1284 John the Wise (le Sage) was a witness to the lease by the prior
of St. Bartholomew’s, Gloucester to Nicholas Bagod of a tenement in Great
Smith’s Street.[14]
John
Sage the cordwainer and business success
John Sage was employed
as a cordwainer otherwise known as a corvesor or a person who works with
leather. In later times the term cordwainer was dropped in favour of shoemaker.[15]
The medieval shoemaker was often an independent artisan retailer who catered
for a local market using local supplies of skins and hides. After 1350 the
economic and social status of the shoemaker increased but John Sage seems to
have been ahead of his time in this respect.[16]
It would appear that
John Sage was a successful businessman and had acquired a number of properties
in and around Gloucester. In about 1285 John the Wise (le Sage), burgess of
Gloucester, made a grant by John Florye and Celestria his wife of two shops
between the two bridges of Gloucester. These shops were located between the
land and messuage of Robert Florye.[17]
Later, on 27th April 1301, John the Wise (le Sage), burgess of
Gloucester, made a grant of two shops opposite the gates of St. Bartholomew’s
to John Flory, butcher, and Celestria his wife.[18]
These shops seem to be the same premises as in 1285.
Property
at Brickhampton
In 1280 John Sage of
Gloucester acquired a lease on one messuage, one ploughland and eight acres of
meadow at Brickhampton and Norton from Hugh de Brickhampton. For this John had
to pay Hugh 40 marks plus a rose a year along with two marks per year, 5
quarters of wheat, 2½ quarters of barley, 2½ quarters of beans and 10 quarters
of oats.[19]
Property
in Grase Lane
In about 1274 prior of
St. Bartholomew, Gloucester, made a grant of land near Grase Lane to Henry of
Penedok. This land was situated between the land of John Sage and Walter Haym.[20] Elsewhere
it is recorded that on the east side of Grase Lane in the time of King Edward
II John Sage held a tenement which was previously held by Henry Silvester
(temp. Henry III) and by R. Scott (temp. Edward 1). One door further along the
Lane John Sage had another tenement formerly held by Henry Silvester.[21]
None of these two tenements appear to be associated with Walter le Breton.
Elsewhere in Gloucester, between the north gates on the left side towards
Dudstone, John Sage the cordwainer held another tenement in the time of King
Edward 1 which was held by Henry Tyche in the time of Henry III.[22]
Property
in Girdlery
In about 1275-6 Richard
Fraunceis, burgess of Gloucester, made a grant of a shop in the Girdlery of
Gloucester to Walter of Northampton, burgess. The shop was located between the
shop of John Sage and the shop of William Sage. Later, in about 1280, Thomas of
Hope and Mabel his wife, daughter of William Cleymund, made of grant of this
shop beside that of John Sage, to the prior of St. Bartholomew’s.[23]
Property
in Herlone Lane
At about the same time
that John Sage became involved in the property of Walter le Breton, he also
acquired property from his own family. On 21st September 1295 Walter
the Wise (le Sage), son of William the Wise, late burgess of Gloucester, made a
grant to his brother John the Wise of all his land in Herlone Lane with houses
and bake-houses. This land was situated between the lands of Robert of Cornwall
and Walter the Sergeant. On 24th June 1317 John Sage, cordwainer and
burgess of Gloucester, made a grant of all this land in Herlone Lane with
houses and bake-houses to Dom. Hugh of Neuton, chaplain. On 11th
March 1317-8 Hugh of Neuton conveyed the property to John of Thormerton and
sold to John of Thormerton all his movable and immovable goods.[24]
View over Gloucester
John
Sage as town bailiff
The business success of
John Sage not only increased his property portfolio but also increased his
standing in the civil life of Gloucester. In about 1280 John Sage was one of
the two bailiffs of Gloucester with Walter Seuare. As part of their office the
two bailiffs were chief witnesses to a number of land deals in Gloucester in
that year.[25]
John
Sage in the time of Edward II
In 1311-12 John Sage
was a witness to the grant by Adam of Tudenham of land at Leuydiecroft outside
the north gate of Gloucester to Alexander the Soiurnaunt.[26] On
22nd April 1318 John Sage was a witness to a grant by Alexander the
Soiurnaunt of a tenement in Newland without Gloucester to Robert son of John
the White.[27]
John
Sage in the time of Edward III
On 12th
November 1336 John Sage, cordwainer and burgess of Gloucester, made a grant of
a mark of annual rent on a tenement between the north gates of Gloucester to
Audoen of Wyndesore, burgess. This tenement was located between the tenements
of John of Northwich and William the Cutler.[28]
After 1336 John Sage
disappears from the records. He was doubtless an old man by that time and had
seen many changes in Gloucester and in his own life over the previous decades. It
is not known if he left any family as his property portfolio seems to have
passed to other people in later years. Yet as women change their surname on
marriage it is possible that these people with other surnames were relatives of
John Sage.
As for the three
messuages of Walter le Breton their location and history is still difficult to
tell. Maybe some future documents may tell some extra information to enlighten
the story. The same could be said of the fate of Walter le Breton and his
disappearance, although this is possibly more difficult. Yet something of his
life before 1285 may come to light – something for another day.
Bibliography
Calendar of Close
Rolls, Edward 1
Elrington, C.R. (ed.), Abstracts of Feet of Fines relating to
Gloucestershire 1199-1299 (Bristol and Gloucester Archaeological Society,
Gloucestershire Record Series, no. 16, 2003)
Fry, E.A. (ed.), Abstracts of Inquisitions Post Mortem for
Gloucestershire, part V, 30 Edward 1 to 32 Edward III, 1302-1358 (London,
1910)
Hollis, D. (ed.), Calendar of the Bristol Apprentice Book
1532-1565, Part 1, 1532-1542 (Bristol Record Society, vol. XIV, 1948)
Kowaleski, M., Local Markets and Regional Trade in Medieval
Exeter (Cambridge, 1995)
Madge, S.J. (ed.), Abstracts of Inquisitions Post Mortem for
Gloucestershire, part IV, 20 Henry III to 29 Edward 1, 1236-1300 (London,
1903)
Stevenson, W.H. (ed.), Rental of all the Houses in Gloucester A.D.
1455 compiled by Robert Cole (Gloucester, 1890)
Stevenson, W.H. (ed.), Calendar of the Records of the Corporation
of Gloucester (Gloucester, 1893)
Wells-Furby, B. (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval muniments at
Berkeley Castle (Bristol and Gloucester Archaeological Society,
Gloucestershire Record Series, No. 17, 2004), vol. 1
==============
End of post
==============
[1] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, vol. III,
1288-1296, p. 180
[2] Wells-Furby,
B. (ed.), A catalogue of the medieval
muniments at Berkeley Castle (Bristol and Gloucester Archaeological
Society, Gloucestershire Record Series, No. 17, 2004), vol. 1, p. 466
[3] Madge,
S.J. (ed.), Abstracts of Inquisitions
Post Mortem for Gloucestershire, part IV, 20 Henry III to 29 Edward 1,
1236-1300 (London, 1903), pp. 82, 104
[4]
Fry, E.A. (ed.), Abstracts of
Inquisitions Post Mortem for Gloucestershire, part V, 30 Edward 1 to 32 Edward
III, 1302-1358 (London, 1910), pp. 15, 21, 276
[5] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, vol. III,
1288-1296, p. 180
[6] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, vol. II,
1279-1288, p. 499
[7] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, vol. III,
1288-1296, p. 5
[8] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, vol. III,
1288-1296, p. 180
[9] Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward 1, vol. III,
1288-1296, p. 181
[10]
Stevenson, W.H. (ed.), Calendar of the
Records of the Corporation of Gloucester (Gloucester, 1893), no. 543
[11]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 578
[12]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 683
[13]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 606
[14]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 695
[15]
Hollis, D. (ed.), Calendar of the Bristol
Apprentice Book 1532-1565, Part 1, 1532-1542 (Bristol Record Society, vol.
XIV, 1948), p. 203
[16]
Kowaleski, M., Local Markets and Regional
Trade in Medieval Exeter (Cambridge, 1995), p. 160
[17]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 704
[18]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 761
[19]
Elrington, C.R. (ed.), Abstracts of Feet
of Fines relating to Gloucestershire 1199-1299 (Bristol and Gloucester
Archaeological Society, Gloucestershire Record Series, no. 16, 2003), no. 840
[20]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 638
[21]
Stevenson, W.H. (ed.), Rental of all the
Houses in Gloucester A.D. 1455 compiled by Robert Cole (Gloucester, 1890),
p. 62
[22]
Stevenson (ed.), Rental of all the Houses
in Gloucester A.D. 1455 compiled by Robert Cole, p. 90
[23]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, nos. 648, 662
[24]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, nos. 735, 823, 826, 827, 828
[25]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, nos. 684, 685, 686
[26]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 797
[27] Stevenson
(ed.), Calendar of the Records of the
Corporation of Gloucester, no. 829
[28]
Stevenson (ed.), Calendar of the Records
of the Corporation of Gloucester, no. 882
