Robert Knollys 1325-1407

Around 1325 Robert Knollys was born.

Bentleys Miscellany Volume 45. VI. Now turn we to the other side, and let us see what way

Haughty Sir Robert Pembroke chose his comrades for the fray.

Sir Robert Knolles¹ he first did take — next Sir Hugh Calverley [aged 26]²

With Richard de la Lande — three better might not be.

Hervé de Lexualen came next, Walton and Bélifort.

The last-named giant knight an iron mallet bore,

Its weight was five and twenty pounds — yes, twenty-five and more!

Note 1. Robert Knolles [aged 25] was but of mean parentage in the county of Chester, but by his valour advanced from a common soldier in the French wars under Edward III to a great commander. Being sent general of an army into France, in dislike of their power, he drove the people before him like sheep, destroying towns, castles, and cities, in such manner and number, that long after, in memory of this act, the sharp points and gable ends of overthrown houses and minsters were called Knolles's Mitres. After which, to make himself as well- beloved of his country, he built a goodly fair bridge at Rochester, over the Medway, with a chapel and chauntry at the east end thereof. He built much at the Greyfriars, Tondo, and a hospital at Rome for English travellers and pilgrims. He deceased at his manor of Scone Thorpe, in Norfolk—was buried by the Lady Constance his wife, in the Church of Greyfriars, London, 18th August, 1407." —Weerer's Funeral Monuments. Sir Robert was created a Knight of the Garter by Richard II.

Note 2. This distinguished knight ("Cavualay le vaillant, le hardy jourencel," i.e. Cavualay the valiant, the bold young squire, as he is styled in the Lay) was the eldest son of David Calverley (or Calveley), of Yea, in Cheshire. He first appeared as one of the combatants in the noted conflict described in the Lay; next at the Battle of Aurai, 1364; then as a captain of Free Companies in tlic service of Henry of Trastamare; and after other exploits too numerous to particularise, he ended his brilliant and adventurous carcer by founding a college at Bunbury [Map], in his native county. His body was interred in the chancel of his college, where his armed effigy reposes on one of the most sumptuous altar-tombs that his county can boast."— Ormerod's Cheshire . It has been asserted, but not proved, that Sir Hugh Calverley married a queen of Arragon.

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. Of these captains, I wish to set down the names of some who held themselves in the marches on this side of Paris and the river Seine, so that they may not be forgotten. The richest, and the one who had most followed the raiding life, was named Robert Knollys [aged 33]. He had made a good 200,000 fine florins au mouton, and had sixty fine castles under his command. He had also taken the good city of Auxerre [on 10th March 1359], and had robbed and ransomed all the country around it, eight or nine days’ journey away, as far as Tonnerre and Vézelay on either side, and along the whole river Loire, from Nevers as far as Orléans. All the suburbs of Orléans had been burned and laid waste by force of men, right up to the gates. He had also taken the noble house called Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, and kept his garrisons inside it. Whenever he wished, he had fully three thousand lances, or three thousand combatants, both on foot and on horseback, in his pay and under his command.

Desquielx capitaines je vueil descrire les noms d'aueuns qui se tenoient es marches de par decha Paris et la rivicre de Saine, affin que ilz ne soient oubliez. Le plus riche et qui plus avoit suivy la ruse, avoit nom Robin Canollet; cil finast bien de CC^M bons florins au mouton et de Lx bons chasteaulx qui estoient en son commandement, et sy avoit gaagnié la bonne cité d'Aussoire, et robé, et raenchonné tout le pays d'autour, u où mi journées loing, jusques à Tonnoirre et à Vergely, d'une part et d'aultre, toute la riviere de Loire, de Nivers jusques à Orliens et tous les fausbours d'Orliens ars et exilliez par force de gens jusques aux portes. Et avoit gaagnié la noble maison que on clame Chastel Neuf sur Loire, et tenoit dedens ses garnisons, el avoit bien quant il voloit III^M glayves ou III^M combastans, que à pyé que à cheval, à ses gages et à son commandement.

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. And know that this Robert Knollys [aged 33] of whom I have spoken to you was a tailor of cloth when these wars began. Then he became a brigand and a foot soldier, and he was a German. He conducted himself so well, through both fortune and cunning, and conquered so many castles in Saintonge, Poitou and Brittany, by stealth and otherwise, that he had a good 40,000 écus in revenue and 100,000 in movable goods, as was said. And still he went on conquering and kept soldiers in his pay. He said openly that he did not wage war for the King of England, but for himself and in his own name, and that he paid his soldiers well, and from his own money.

Et sachiez que cil Robert Canolle dont je vous ay parlé, estoit parmentier de draps, quant ces guerres commencherrent; sy devint brigand et soldoyer à pyé, et estoit Alemand; si se porta si bien et par fortune et par soubtileté, et conquesta tant de chasteaulx en Santonge, en Poytou el eu Bretaigne par emblée et aultrement, qu'il eut bien de revenue XL^M escus, et bien C^M en meuble, ainsy que on disoit; et toudis conqueroit et tenoit soldoiers à ses gages. Et bien disoit qu'il ne guerrioit pas pour le roy d'Angleterre, mais pour luy mesmes et en son nom, et bien paioit ses souldoiers et de ses propres deniers.

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. Elsewhere, in the country of Normandy, on the coast, there was another, larger company, of which Robert Knollys [aged 33] was master and captain. In the same manner they conquered the land, robbed it, and laid everything waste. Thus it should be accounted a very great marvel that the greatest and noblest country in the world, and the strongest part of the whole kingdom, should have been so laid waste and oppressed.

D'aultre part, ou pays de Normendye, sur la marine, avoit une aultre plus grande compaignie dont Robert molle estoit muistre et capitaine, lesquelx en telle maniere conqueroient pays et roboient et exilloient tout. Si le doibt on raconter pour trés grande merveille que le plus grand et le plus noble pays du monde fust en telle maniere gasté et foulé, et ou plus fort de tout le royaume.

Chronicle of Gregory. 1407. And that year deyd Syr Robert Knollys [aged 82], and is byryd at the Whytte Freers at London.

On 15th August 1407 Robert Knollys [aged 82] died. He was buried at Whitefriars.