The Impoverished Knight
The strongest contender for the bankrupt knight is Sir Richard Vernon of Haddon Hall at the Lee in Wyedale, Derbyshire. He died in 1376 one year before King Edward. In 1363 when the king went hunting in Nottingham (Bestwood) and Lancashire, he took Sir Richard Vernon the impoverished knight with him, a prisoner. John O’Gaunt, King Edward’s son, the Duke of Lancaster owned much of the land on which they hunted and tragedy struck when Sir Richard’s son killed two of the Duke’s men while jousting. His father borrowed £400 from the Abbot of York to bail him out of jail.
When the impoverished knight met Robin at the Saylis, he was going to York to plead for more time to repay the loan, after which he intended going ‘across the salty sea.’ History tells us the king licensed Sir Richard to go overseas in 1364 and the Geste tells us Robin pleaded the king’s forgiveness for both of them at Bestwood the previous year in 1363. Robin, trusting the knight’s honesty, loaned him the money to pay his debts, gave him fine clothing, a grey pack-horse, a Palfrey, a saddle, a pair of boots, and a pair of gilded spurs worn by knights. For good measure, Robin told Little John to act as his squire on the journey to York.
Sir Richard arrived at Saint Mary’s Abbey on time, so depriving the abbot and High Justice of England of the opportunity to gain his property by default. Curious to know what help they gave the needy the knight pleaded poverty. Their reaction told him everything. Far from helping others, those callous, merciless clerics only thought of themselves and their own personal gain. The law was their ultimate protection. Horrified by their greed, he took the bag of gold given him by Robin out of his pocket and handing it over to them secured his property. His worries over thanks to Robin's generosity and goodwill he left the building and rode home a happy man to tell his wife the good news.
Twelve months later (1365) while Robin and his men were waiting for the impoverished knight at the Saylis to return the money Robin had loaned him, two black monks from St. Mary’s Abbey rode by, one of whom was the High Cellarer. They claimed to have only 20 marks and denied any knowledge of the £400. Little John searched their bags and found £800. Because of the impossibility of taking money from those who have none Robin kept it, saying, “The Virgin Mary sent the gold to help the poor.” After the monks finished their meal, they galloped away saying they could have dined cheaper at Blyth or Doncaster. Robin shouted after them to say to the abbot, “Robin sends his greetings, and requests the company of a monk every day.”
Meantime the knight gathered enough money to repay the £400 borrowed from Robin, perhaps with bounty taken at the Battle of Auray in 1364, plus 20 marks for his courtesy. Robin refused the money, saying, “nay, for Lady by her High Cellarer sent my pay.” After Robin finished telling his tale the knight laughed and exclaimed, “By my pledge, your money is ready here!” “Yes,” said Robin, “the monks brought me the £400 I loaned you with a further £400 interest. The £400 in your hand replaces the money you lost to your scheming friends. Your son is out of jail and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
* A similar fatality is recorded: “In 1252, there was a notable Tournament at Walden, wherein Roger de Leiburne encountered with Ernauld de Mounteney, a valiant Knight, and unhappily ran his lance into his throat under his helmet, it wanting a collar; where upon Mounteney fell from his horse and died instantly, insomuch, as it was then supposed by some, that in regard his lance had not a socket on the point, he did it purposely in revenge of a broken leg he had received from Mounteney, tilting with him in a former tournament.”) The Mounteney family were in Loxley and the Prioress who bled Robin to death was a Mounteney.
* These would have been John O' Gaunt’s men, he was the Duke of Lancaster at that time and this would account for the high bail.
* The abbots at St. Mary's were known for their excessive personal fortunes and were "frequently in a position to furnish loans to the sovereign." Licences transferring ownership of property in perpetuity granted to the abbey for the acquisition of various properties were numerous. (British history online.)
* The High Justice of England was possibly Sir Henry Green. knight, Lord Chancellor of England, and Chief Justice of the king's Bench. He was stripped of his office on charges of corruption the same year the impoverished knight was pleading his case at York in 1365.
The Peasants Revolt Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby.
When the impoverished knight met Robin at the Saylis, he was going to York to plead for more time to repay the loan, after which he intended going ‘across the salty sea.’ History tells us the king licensed Sir Richard to go overseas in 1364 and the Geste tells us Robin pleaded the king’s forgiveness for both of them at Bestwood the previous year in 1363. Robin, trusting the knight’s honesty, loaned him the money to pay his debts, gave him fine clothing, a grey pack-horse, a Palfrey, a saddle, a pair of boots, and a pair of gilded spurs worn by knights. For good measure, Robin told Little John to act as his squire on the journey to York.
Sir Richard arrived at Saint Mary’s Abbey on time, so depriving the abbot and High Justice of England of the opportunity to gain his property by default. Curious to know what help they gave the needy the knight pleaded poverty. Their reaction told him everything. Far from helping others, those callous, merciless clerics only thought of themselves and their own personal gain. The law was their ultimate protection. Horrified by their greed, he took the bag of gold given him by Robin out of his pocket and handing it over to them secured his property. His worries over thanks to Robin's generosity and goodwill he left the building and rode home a happy man to tell his wife the good news.
Twelve months later (1365) while Robin and his men were waiting for the impoverished knight at the Saylis to return the money Robin had loaned him, two black monks from St. Mary’s Abbey rode by, one of whom was the High Cellarer. They claimed to have only 20 marks and denied any knowledge of the £400. Little John searched their bags and found £800. Because of the impossibility of taking money from those who have none Robin kept it, saying, “The Virgin Mary sent the gold to help the poor.” After the monks finished their meal, they galloped away saying they could have dined cheaper at Blyth or Doncaster. Robin shouted after them to say to the abbot, “Robin sends his greetings, and requests the company of a monk every day.”
Meantime the knight gathered enough money to repay the £400 borrowed from Robin, perhaps with bounty taken at the Battle of Auray in 1364, plus 20 marks for his courtesy. Robin refused the money, saying, “nay, for Lady by her High Cellarer sent my pay.” After Robin finished telling his tale the knight laughed and exclaimed, “By my pledge, your money is ready here!” “Yes,” said Robin, “the monks brought me the £400 I loaned you with a further £400 interest. The £400 in your hand replaces the money you lost to your scheming friends. Your son is out of jail and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
* A similar fatality is recorded: “In 1252, there was a notable Tournament at Walden, wherein Roger de Leiburne encountered with Ernauld de Mounteney, a valiant Knight, and unhappily ran his lance into his throat under his helmet, it wanting a collar; where upon Mounteney fell from his horse and died instantly, insomuch, as it was then supposed by some, that in regard his lance had not a socket on the point, he did it purposely in revenge of a broken leg he had received from Mounteney, tilting with him in a former tournament.”) The Mounteney family were in Loxley and the Prioress who bled Robin to death was a Mounteney.
* These would have been John O' Gaunt’s men, he was the Duke of Lancaster at that time and this would account for the high bail.
* The abbots at St. Mary's were known for their excessive personal fortunes and were "frequently in a position to furnish loans to the sovereign." Licences transferring ownership of property in perpetuity granted to the abbey for the acquisition of various properties were numerous. (British history online.)
* The High Justice of England was possibly Sir Henry Green. knight, Lord Chancellor of England, and Chief Justice of the king's Bench. He was stripped of his office on charges of corruption the same year the impoverished knight was pleading his case at York in 1365.
The Peasants Revolt Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby.