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Paternal Family Tree: Calverley
Around 1324 Hugh Calverley was born to David Calverly of Lea.
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 (age 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 (age 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.
On 26th March 1351 the Combat of the Thirty was an arranged joust, or melee, between selected combatants from both sides of the conflict, fought at at Guillac, a site midway between the Breton castles of Josselin and Ploërmel among 30 champions, knights, and squires on each side.
Robert Knollys (age 26) took part.
Hugh Calverley (age 27) fought, was captured and ransomed.
The date of the battle sometimes given as the 27th of March 1351. De la Borderie, History of Brittany, vol. III, p. 514, note 4: Up to now, all historians who have written about the Battle of the Thirty have dated it to March 27, 1351. That is also the date inscribed on the commemorative pyramid at Mi-Voie. However, this date is one day off. According to a contemporary poem, the battle was fought on a Saturday, the eve of Laetare Sunday (Jerusalem), that is, the fourth Sunday of Lent. In 1351, Easter fell on April 17, so Laetare Sunday was March 27. Therefore, the eve of that Sunday—the day of the Battle of the Thirty—was not March 27, but March 26. See the title and conclusion of the poem, ed. Crapelet, pp. 13 and 35, and stanza 34, Crapelet p. 30.
On 29th September 1364 Battle of Auray decided the Breton Succession in favour of John Montfort V Duke Brittany (age 25). The Breton and English army was commanded by John Chandos (age 44) and included William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 34), Miles Stapleton (age 44) and Hugh Calverley (age 40). Charles "Saint" Chatillon Duke Brittany (age 45) was killed. Bertrand Geusclin (age 44) surrendered.
Thomas Walsingham Chronicon Angliæ 1379. [Before 16th December 1379]. Lord Hugo Kalverlee (age 55) and Lord Thomas Percy, and several others whose earlier actions had been hidden, before they were about to board the ships, had it publicly proclaimed throughout the country that those who had been troubled by their men in any way, whether by inflicted injuries or by any other means or causes, could come before the day of embarkation and would receive proper satisfaction for any grievances they wished to complain about. As a result, it happened that the people, with devout prayers, followed them to the sea, just as, on the other hand, they had pursued Lord John Arundel with dire imprecations.
Dominus Hugo Kalverlee ef Dominus Thomas Percy, et nonnulli alii quos hme priaemissa latebant, antequam naves ascensuri erant, fecerunf proclamari per patriam voce publica, ut venirent ante diem mnavigationis qui molestati fuerant per suos ullo modo, vel per illatas injurias, vel per alias quascunque vias vel causas, habituri condignam satisfactionem de quibuscunque transgressionibus conqueri volnissent: unde contigit, ut ipsos 'devotis precatibus populus prosequeretur ad mare, sicut e contra Dominum Johannem Arundelle diris imprecationibus fuerant insecuti.
On 23rd April 1394 Hugh Calverley (age 70) died. He was probably buried in St Boniface's Church, Bunbury [Map]. Monument Early Plate Bascinet Period. Finely carved Calf's Head on the breastplate representing Hugh Calveley's canting arms. Calf's Head Crest. Hip Belt. Basinet with unusual decorated Orle.
Effigy of Sir Hugh Calveley. The above are some few passages of the military career of this renowned English knight. He founded in 1386, the tenth year of the reign of Richard II a college at Rome, and at Bunbury [Map] in Cheshire. A story is extant, upon no certain foundation, that he married a Queen of Arragon. He might indeed while in Spain with the Black Prince have formed an alliance with some noble lady of the Spanish court. He reposes in an altar-tomb in Bunbury church, Cheshire [Map], which bears his eRigy as represented, and is surrounded by Gothic niches, intermixed with escutcheons.
Details. Plate 1. The effigy as originally painted. On the surcoat—the coat of Calveley, Argent, a fess Gules, between three calves Sable. Crest, a calf's head Sable. On the basinet is a rich circlet or wreath. The feet rest on a golden lion. Plate H. Profile. 1. Portion of the wreath on the basinet enlarged; also ornament of the rim of the basinet, with lace of the camail. 2. Girdle, chain suspending the sword, scabbard of the sword. 3. Mails of the hauberk and camail. 4. Part of the greave, solerette, spur, and ornamented strap.
Effigy of Sir Hugh Calveley. SIR HUGH CALVELEY, or Calverley, of Lea, in Cheshire, was a most eminent soldier in the reign of Edward the Third, and his successor Richard the Second. In 1350 we find him one of the combatants in the celebrated pitched trial of arms, or combât-à-l'outrance fought between thirty men-at-arms on the English side, and thirty on that of the Bretons, called, in allusion to the number of the champions on either party, the Battle of Trente. Sir Richard Brembre commanded the English hand, and Marshal Beaumanoir the French. Among the companions of the valiant Calveley (twenty of whom were English, the rest foreigners) were, Sir Robert Knolles, also a most distinguished knight, Croquart the Freebooter, the gigantic Hulbitee, and Thomelin de Billefort, so called from his wielding an enormous weapon of the axe kind. Sir Richard Brembre was slain fighting hand-in-hand with the famous Bertram du Guesclin; Calveley, Knolles, and Croquart, the poor remains of the English party, were taken prisoners to the Castle of Josselina.