John Savile of Shelley and Golcar 1325-1399

Paternal Family Tree: Savile

Around 1325 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar was born to John Savile of Shelley and Golcar.

In or after 3rd September 1346 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 21] took part in the Siege of Calais.

In 1353 [his father] John Savile of Shelley and Golcar died.

In or before June 1353 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 28] and Isabel Elland [aged 13] were married. Her father Thomas Elland settled the manors of Tankersley and Elland on them as part of the marriage settlement.

Around 1354 [his son] John Savile was born to John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 29] and [his wife] Isabel Elland [aged 14].

Around 1355 [his son] Henry Savile of Thornhill was born to John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 30] and [his wife] Isabel Elland [aged 15]. He married in or before 1380 Elizabeth Thornhill and had issue.

On 19th September 1356 the army of Edward "Black Prince" [aged 26] defeated the French and Scottish army led by King John "The Good" II of France [aged 37] at the Battle of Poitiers

King John "The Good" II of France was captured by three captains including Ivon aka John Fane.

The the English army included: Bernard Brocas [aged 26], Thomas Felton [aged 26], James Audley [aged 38], Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick [aged 43], Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh [aged 28], Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham [aged 61], Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh [aged 21], Ralph Ferrers [aged 27], William Scrope [aged 31], William Montagu 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 28], Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh [aged 37], Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 58], William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 18], John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford [aged 44], John Willoughby 3rd Baron Willoughby [aged 33], Thomas Arderne [aged 19], Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos [aged 36], Richard Pembridge [aged 36], Jean Grailly [aged 25], Robert de Fouleshurst [aged 26] and John Sully [aged 73]

John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 31] probably fought having received letters of protection to travel overseas.

Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon [aged 53] protected the baggage train.

The French and Scottish army included: King John "The Good" II of France, Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy [aged 14], Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche [aged 12], Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas [aged 26], John "Sans Terre" Artois 1st Count of Eu [aged 35]; all captured.

Guichard d'Angle 1st Earl Huntingdon and William Douglas 1st Earl Douglas [aged 33] fought.

Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon [aged 45] was killed. His son Louis [aged 19] succeeded II Duke Bourbon.

Gauthier VI Comte de Brienne [aged 54] was killed.

In November 1364 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 39] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer of Conspiracies in Yorkshire.

In February 1365 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 40] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer of disorder at Wortley.

After 1367 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 42] transferred his allegiance to the new duke, John of Gaunt [aged 26], becoming a member of the latter's affinity, at a fee of £20 a year during this period. In return for his annuity he took part in at least three expeditions to France.

On 3rd April 1367 the forces of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 32] commanded by Edward "Black Prince" [aged 36] defeated the army of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 33] at the Battle of Nájera at Nájera [Map]. The English forces included John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 27], William Scrope, Peter Courtenay [aged 21], John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 30], John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 42], Bernard Brocas [aged 37] and Thomas Banastre [aged 33].

The forces of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile included Bertrand Geusclin [aged 47]. The battle achieved little since Bertrand Geusclin escaped.

John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 36] was killed. His son Robert [aged 9] succeeded 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. Margaret Despencer Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.

Edward "Black Prince" thereafter returned home, taking Peter's daughters Constance [aged 13] and Isabella [aged 12] as hostages to ensure Peter would pay the money owed to Edward. Constance married John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, Isabella married Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 25].

Before May 1369 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 44] was knighted.

In February 1370 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 45] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer of poaching at Halifax.

In April 1373 Gaunt's [aged 33] receiver was ordered to pay the 30 archers whom Saville [aged 48] and Sir Robert Rockley had commanded on one of these recent operations. Sir John probably had the duke to thank for the knighthood which was bestowed upon him in the late 1360s; and he also acquired the marriage of [his future daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Thornton [aged 16], one of his patron's wards, albeit for 'un grant somme'.

In 1376 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 51] was elected MP Yorkshire in the Good Parliament. During the Good Parliament, he was sufficiently trusted to conduct Thomas Caterton from Queenborough Castle [Map] for interrogation before Parliament. Caterton had been appealed for treason by Sir John Annesley, and the court party, including Gaunt [aged 35], was anxious to protect him from attack. In the event, they were able to hold off the opposition, despite some damning revelations about their conduct of the war-effort. The duke himself was singled out for particular criticism, and during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 he fled into Scotland, leaving his Savoy Palace [Map] to be destroyed by the London mob. Gaunt was, understandably, reluctant to cross the border again without the protection of a sizeable bodyguard. In late June 1376, therefore, his leading retainers in the north were instructed to provide an escort for his journey to Knaresborough [Map]. Not only did John Savile of Shelley and Golcar mobilize a personal retinue of ten men-at-arms and 40 archers; he also helped to suppress the rebellion in the north by serving on two commissions for the punishment of insurgents.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In or before 1380 [his son] Henry Savile of Thornhill [aged 24] and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Thornhill [aged 22] were married.

From 3rd March 1380 to 18th October 1380 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 55] was appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire.

From 24th March 1380 to 1st November 1383 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 55] was appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire.

In January 1381 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 56] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer for liability for poll tax.

In October 1382 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 57] was elected MP Yorkshire.

In November 1382 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 57] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer for the goods of traitors.

In April 1384 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 59] was elected MP Yorkshire.

In November 1384 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 59] was elected MP Yorkshire.

From 18th November 1387 to 1st December 1388 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 62] was appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire.

In April 1388 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 63] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer of obstructions to the Ouse.

Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In October 1388 and November 1388 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 63] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer of escapes from York jail.

In September 1389 the Scrope vs Grosvenor Case was brought to the Court of Chivalry. Up to that time two families, Scrope and Grosvenor, had been using the armorial Scrope Arms: Azure, a bend or.

Several hundred witnesses were called including John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 49], Geoffrey Chaucer [aged 46] and John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 64].

On 3rd September 1386 Owain ap Gruffudd "Glyndŵr" Mathrafal Prince Powys [aged 27] gave evidence at the Church of John the Baptist, Chester [Map].

The Court decided in favour of Scrope.

Neither party was happy with the decision so King Richard II [aged 22] was called upon to give his personal verdict.

On 27th May 1390 he confirmed that Grosvenor could not bear the undifferenced arms.

As a consequence of the case the Grosvenor has for many years used the name Bendor for horses and nicknames.

In January 1390 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 65] was elected MP Yorkshire.

In May 1390 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 65] was a Commissioner of oyer and terminer of obstructions to the Ouse.

Before June 1396 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 71] was appointed Constable of Pontefract Castle.

Before 23rd September 1399 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 74] died at Halifax. His will was proved on 23rd September 1399. His elder son, John [aged 45], appearing as his principal executor. Two months later his widow, Isabel [aged 59], took a vow of perpetual chastity before a suffragan of the archbishop of York.

After 1423 [his former wife] Isabel Elland [deceased] died.

Royal Descendants of John Savile of Shelley and Golcar 1325-1399
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

President George Washington [1]

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [3]

Queen Consort Camilla Shand [1]

Diana Spencer Princess Wales [7]