Biography of John Lanstrother -1471
John Lanstrother was born to Thomas Langstrother of Crossthwaite.
On 09 Mar 1469 John Lanstrother was elected Grand Prior of England in the Order of Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem.
After 26 Jul 1469 John Lanstrother was appointed Lord High Treasurer.
In Oct 1470 John Lanstrother was appointed Lord High Treasurer.
Warkworth's Chronicle 1471. 04 May 1471? And when the Kynge herd that they were landede, and hade gaderede so myche peple, he toke alle his hoste, and went oute of Londone the wennysday in Ester weke, and manly toke his waye towarde them; and Prynce Edwarde herd therof; he hastede hym self and alle his oste towarde the towne of Glouceter, but he enteryd noʒt into the towne, but held forthe his wey to the towne of Teukesbury, and ther he made a felde1 noʒt ferre from the ryver of Saverne; and Kynge Edwarde and his oste came uppone hym, the saturday the fourth day of Maij, the yere aforeseide of oure Lorde a Ml. cccclxxj., and the xj yere of Kynge Edwarde. And Edmunde Duke of Somersett, and Sere Hugh Curteneye, went oute of the felde, by the whiche the felde was broken; and the moste parte of the peple fledde awaye from the Prynce, by the whiche the feld was loste in hire party. 2And ther was slayne in the felde, Prynce Edward3, whiche cryede for socoure to his brother-in-lawe the Duke of Clarence. Also ther was slayne, Curteney the Earl of Devynschyre, the Lorde Jhon of Somersett, the Lorde Wenloke, Sere Edmunde Hampden, Sere Robart Whytyngham, Sere William Vaus, Sere Nicholas Hervy, Sere Jhon Delvis, Sere William Feldynge, Sere Thomas Fiztharry, Sere Jhon Leukenore, knyghtes; and these were taken and behedede afterwarde, where the Kynge hade pardoned them in the abbey cherche of Teukesbury, by a prest that turnyd oute at his messe and the sacrament in his handys, whanne Kynge Edwarde came with his swerde into the chirche, requyrede him by the vertu of the sacrament that he schulde pardone alle tho whos names here folowe; the Duke of Somersett, the Lorde of Seynt Jhones, Sere Humfrey Audeley, Sere Gervis of Clyftone, Sere William Gremyby, Sere William Cary, Sere Thomas Tresham, Sere William Newbrugh, knyghtes, Herry Tresham, Walter Curtenay, Jhon Florey, Lowes Myles, Robart Jacksone, James Gowere, James Delvis, sonne and heire to Sere Jhon Delvis; whiche, uppone trust of the Kynges pardone yevene in the same chirche the saturday, abode ther stille, where they might have gone and savyd ther lyves; whiche one monday after were behedede4, noʒtwhitstondynge the Kynges pardone5. And afterward these ladyes were takene, Quene Margaret, Prynce Edwardes wyf, the secunde dowghtere of the Earl of Warwick (deceased)s, the Countasse of Devynschire, Dame Kateryne Vaus. And these were taken, and noʒt slayne; Sere Jhon Fortescu, Sere Jhon Sentlow, Sire Herry Roos, Thomas Ormonde, Doctour Makerell, Edward Fulforde, Jhon Parkere, Jhon Bassett, Jhon Wallys, Jhon Thromere Throgmertone, and dyverse other men. And there was takene grete good, and many good horse that were brought frome beyond the see. 
Note 1. And ther he made a felde. The place where the battle of Tewkesbury was fought is now called Glaston Meadow. - Rudder's History of Gloucestershire, p. 736. I have been further assured that this field is now called the Bloody-Field by the common people living near the spot.
Note 2. Cf. Memoires Olivier de la Marche. Edit. Brux. 1616, p. 502.
Note 3. And there was slayne in the felde Prynce Edward.- "[Slain at Tewkesbury by King Edward the Fourth.]. ”Rot. Harl. C. 7, Memb. 5.
Note 4. The Prior of St. John's in Smithfield was among them.-MS. Arund. Coll. Arm. 5, fol. 171, vº.
Note 5. Notwithstondynge the Kynges pardon. Edward's policy was despotic in the extreme; he told De Comines that it was his object to spare the common people, but cut off the gentry. The destruction of these noblemen and gentlemen was an awful example of his barbarity, as well as his deficiency of common honesty.
Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III Chapter IV. Here follow the Names of those who were killed at the last Battle which took place at Tewksbury, the 4th of May 1471.
First;
Edward, called Prince of Wales,
Sir John of Somerset,
The Lord of Weneloch,
Sir Edmund Hampden,
Sir John Wellenor,
Sir William Roos,
Sir John Delues,
Sir William de Vauby,
Sir William Fildind,
Sir Robert Wininguem,
Sir Nycolas Herby, and several others, making a thousand.
Here follow the Names of those who were beheaded. First
The Duke of Somerset,
Sir William Votary,
The Prior of St. John, called Sir John Longhenstod,
Sir Gervase Clifton,
John Delues,
Walter Courtnay,
Loys Mills,
John Flory,
Robert Jackson,
John Sowen,
Sir Thomas Tresham,
Sir William Webingh,
Sir Hunerefry,
William Grynnsby, judged to death, and pardoned.
After 06 May 1471 John Lanstrother was buried at St John's Church, Clerkenwell [Map].
Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III. Bolton-Row, March 10, 1820.
Dear Sir
I beg leave to communicate, through your hands, to the Society of Antiquaries, a facsimile Copy of a curious Manuscript, preserved in the Public Library at Ghent.
he Manuscript appears to be an illuminated transcript of a Report, drawn up by one of the followers of King Edward the Fourth in his final expedition from Zeland, anno 1471, and forwarded to the Court of Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy, through whose advice and aid the same had been principally planned and effected.
The Report is accompanied by a letter from Edward himself, dated the 29th of May, and addressed to the inhabitants of Bruges, informing them of the complete success with which his expedition to England had been crowned, and thanking them for their hospitable and generous entertainment of himself and friends whilst residing in exile in their city.
The Report is divided into four heads, or chapters.
Chapter I. relates the departure of Edward and his followers from Zeland; the tempestuous weather they experienced at sea; their landing in the river Humber; their march to York; the retreat of the Earl of Warwick into Coventry; the siege of that town by King Edward; and the junction he effected with his brother Clarence at Warwick; the raising the siege of Coventry, and Edward’s march to London, where he got possession of the Tower, and of the persons of Henry VI. and the Archbishop of York; the advance of the Earl of Warwick from Coventry, in the hope of surprising Edward during the Easter holydays in London; and finally the battle of Barnet, in which the Earl of Warwick was slain.
Chapter II. relates the news received by Edward, of the arrival in England of Queen Margaret with her son Prince Edward; the king’s immediate departure from London; the approach of the two hostile armies in the neighbourhood of Bath and Bristol; and, finally, the battle of Tewksbury, in which Prince Edward is stated to have fallen.
Chapter III. relates the beheading, at Tewksbury, of the Duke of Somerset, the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem, and of the other prisoners taken after the battle; the intelligence brought to the king of the insurrection of the Bastard of Fauconbergh in Kent; and the immediate march of the former towards London for the defence of that capital.
Chapter IV. relates the unsuccessful attack made by the Bastard of Fauconbergh upon London, previous to the king’s arrival; his subsequent retreat, and seizure of the town of Sandwich with the shipping; and finally, the submission of the Bastard of Fauconbergh, with all his followers, on the 26th of May. Three days after this event, this Report appears to have been drawn up and forwarded to the Low Countries, accompanied by the king’s letter dated the 29th before-mentioned; the Report closing with the most confident hope, that the submission of the Bastard of Fauconbergh, would be very shortly followed by a general pacification throughout the kingdom.
History of the Arrival of Edward IV Part 4. Aftar all thes things thus fallen, the Twesday in Estar weke, the xvj. day of Aprile, came certayn tydyngs to the Kynge how that Qwene Margaret, hir sonne Edward, callyd Prince of Wales, the Countese of Warwyke, the Priowr of Seint Johns, that tyme called Tresorar of England, the Lord Wenloke, and many othere knyghts, squiers, and othar of theyr party, whiche longe had bene nowt of the land with them, with suche also as, with the sayde Priowr of Seint Johns, had gon into Fraunce to fet them into England, were arryved, and landed in the west contrye, upon Estar day, at Waymowthe, aftar longe abydynge passage, and beyng on the sea, and landinge agayne for defawlte of good wynde and wethar. For, trewthe it is, that the Qwene, Edward hir sonne, with all theyr felowshipe, entendinge to passe out of Normandy into England, toke first the sea, at Humflew, in the monithe of Marche, the xxiiij. day of the same, and, from that tyme forthe wards, they cowlde nat have any stable wethar to passe with; for and it were one day good, anon it chaunged upon them, and was agaynst them, and fayne they were therefor to goo to land agayne. And so, at divars tymes, they toke the sea, and forsoke it agayne, tyll it was the xiij. day of Aprill, Estars Even. That day they passyd. The Countysse of Warwyke had a shippe of avaunctage, and, therefore, landyd afore the othar, at Portsmowthe, and, from thens, she went to Showthampton, entendynge to have gon towards the Qwene, whiche was landyd at Wemowthe. But beinge there, she had certayne knowledge that the Kynge had wonne the fielde upon her howsband, at Barnet, and there slayne hym, wherefore she would no fathar goo towards the Qwene, but, secretly, gat ovar Hampton-watar into the new forreste, where she tooke her fraunches of an abbey called Beawlew37, whiche, as it is sayde, is ample, and as large as the franchesse of Westmynstar, or of Seint Martins at London.
Note 37. Beawlew. Beaulieu Abbey, founded by King John. (Vide Monasticon, V. 680.)
History of the Arrival of Edward IV Part 5. This battayle thus done and atchived, and the Kyngs grace thus largly shewed, it was so that, in the abbey, and othar places of the towne, were founden Edmond, callyd Duke of Somerset, the prior of Seynt Johns, called Ser John Longesthrother, Ser Thomas Tressham, Ser Gervaux of Clyfton45, knyghts, squiers, and othar notable parsonnes dyvers, whiche all, divers tymes, were browght afore the Kyng's brothar, the Duke of Gloucestar and Constable of England, and the Duke of Norfolke, Marshall of England, theyr iudges; and so were iudged to deathe, in the mydst of the towne, Edmond Duke of Somarset, and the sayd Prior of Seint Johns, with many othar gentils that there were taken, and that of longe tyme had provoked and continuyed the great rebellyon that so long had endured in the land agaynst the Kynge, and contrye to the wele of the Realme. The sayd Duke, and othar thus iudged, were executyd in the mydste of the towne, upon a scaffolde therefore made, behedyd evereche one, and without any othar dismembringe, or settynge up, licensyd to be buryed.
Note 45. Clyfton, Clyston, in MS.