Humphrey Kynaston
Encyclopedia
Humphrey Kynaston aka Wild Humphrey Kynaston, was an English highwayman
who operated in the Shropshire
area. The son of the High Sheriff of Shropshire, he was convicted for murder in 1491. After being outlawed, he moved into a cave in the area and lived a lifestyle compared to Robin Hood
.
(c. 1430 – 1495/1517), High Sheriff of Shropshire
, thought to have killed Lord Audley at the Battle of Blore Heath
, and Roger's second wife, Lady Elizabeth Grey (c. 1440 – 1501?), daughter of Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville
and Antigone Plantagenet
, the legitimized daughter of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester (son of Henry IV
and Mary de Bohun
) and second wife Eleanor de Cobham.
Humphrey was raised in Myddle Castle, which Roger had inherited from his first wife Elizabeth Cobham. He received his "wild" nickname from his outrageous lifestyle, which frequently got him into trouble with the law.
Humphrey inherited Myddle Castle from his father, but later allowed the estate to fall into disrepair.
Humphrey later married Isabella ferch Maredudd ap Howell ap Morrice of Oswaldestre (Oswestry
), daughter of Maredudd of Glascoed
and Thomasina Ireland of Wrexham
, Denbighshire
. They had six children:
It is further thought that he married Margred ferch William on 4 August 1497, with whom he had another two children:
, and declared an outlaw by Henry VII
. Some time after that, he moved from Myddle castle to a cave in Nesscliffe Rock
. Some sources claim that the reason he moved was due to the criminal charges, and others claim that he was outlawed due to debts.
From 1491 to 1518, Kynaston supposedly lived a life that would match the fictional character Robin Hood
. It seems he had a reputation for robbing from the rich, and giving to the poor. In return, the locals protected him, and gave him and his horse ('Beelzebub
') food. One time, in an attempt to capture Kynaston, the local sheriff removed several planks from Montford Bridge
, to keep him from crossing the River Severn
, but his horse managed to leap and safely clear the distance. It is also said that he was a regular patron at the Old Three Pigeons tavern in Shropshire, and his original seat is still there. He may have been pardoned by Henry VII in 1493, but some accounts state that in 1513, Humphrey provided 100 men to aid Henry VIII
in France, and in return received a royal pardon 3 to 5 years later.
until he died, and others claim he died of illness in his cave.
d Beelzebub in the other. The cave also featured an iron door for an entrance. This iron door is said to later have become the door for Shrewsbury
gaol
. There is also an engraving
in the cave, which reads H.K. 1564. Although this engraving is concluded to be made by Humphrey, he was dead 30 years before the year 1564. However, he did have a Grandson, Humfridus (b.1530) who may have left the inscription.
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
who operated in the Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
area. The son of the High Sheriff of Shropshire, he was convicted for murder in 1491. After being outlawed, he moved into a cave in the area and lived a lifestyle compared to Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
.
Early life
Humphrey was the youngest son of Sir Roger KynastonSir Roger Kynaston
Sir Roger Kynaston Kt. of Myddle and Hordleyc.1433 - 1495, was a Knight of the Realm and English nobleman. He was a member of the Kynaston family, of North Shropshire and the Welsh Marches-Early Life:...
(c. 1430 – 1495/1517), High Sheriff of Shropshire
High Sheriff of Shropshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
, thought to have killed Lord Audley at the Battle of Blore Heath
Battle of Blore Heath
The Battle of Blore Heath was the first major battle in the English Wars of the Roses. It was fought on 23 September 1459, at Blore Heath in Staffordshire, two miles east of the town of Market Drayton in Shropshire, England.- Background :...
, and Roger's second wife, Lady Elizabeth Grey (c. 1440 – 1501?), daughter of Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville
Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville
Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville, 7th Lord of Powys was an English peer. He was the son of John Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville and his wife Joan Charleton, co-heiress and 6th Lady of Powys.-Life:...
and Antigone Plantagenet
Antigone Plantagenet
Antigone Plantagenet was an English noblewoman and the legitimised daughter of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester . She was the granddaughter of Henry IV of England. She was thought to have been born between 1425 and 1428...
, the legitimized daughter of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester (son of Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
and Mary de Bohun
Mary de Bohun
Mary de Bohun was the first wife of King Henry IV of England and the mother of King Henry V. Mary was never queen, as she died before her husband came to the throne.-Early life:...
) and second wife Eleanor de Cobham.
Humphrey was raised in Myddle Castle, which Roger had inherited from his first wife Elizabeth Cobham. He received his "wild" nickname from his outrageous lifestyle, which frequently got him into trouble with the law.
Humphrey inherited Myddle Castle from his father, but later allowed the estate to fall into disrepair.
Marriages and Children
He was married at least twice, firstly to Mariona ferch Williamus ap Griffith ap Robin. They had two children:- Edward Kynaston, who died young
- Isabella Kynaston
Humphrey later married Isabella ferch Maredudd ap Howell ap Morrice of Oswaldestre (Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
), daughter of Maredudd of Glascoed
Glascoed
Glascoed is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom.- Location :Glascoed is located three miles east of Pontypool and three miles west of Usk.- History & Amenities :...
and Thomasina Ireland of Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
. They had six children:
- Margaret Kynaston
- Edward Kynaston
- Thomasina Kynaston
- Robert Kynaston
- Roger Kynaston
- Jana Kynaston
It is further thought that he married Margred ferch William on 4 August 1497, with whom he had another two children:
- Elsbeth Kynaston (b. Cochwillian, 1502)
- Edward Kynaston of Hordley (born c.1515)
Life of a Highwayman
On 20 December 1491, Kynaston was found guilty for the murder of John Hughes at StrettonStretton
-England:Stretton means "settlement on a Roman Road" . Of the seventeen places in England, all but two are situated on a Roman Road, the exceptions being Stretton Westwood and Stretton en le Field.-Cheshire:...
, and declared an outlaw by Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
. Some time after that, he moved from Myddle castle to a cave in Nesscliffe Rock
Nesscliffe
Nesscliffe is a village in Shropshire, England.The A5 road runs around the village on a new dual-carriageway by-pass and nearby is a small British Army base. It is also the site of a cave used by the highwayman, Humphrey Kynaston. This now forms part of the Nesscliffe Hill Country Park. The village...
. Some sources claim that the reason he moved was due to the criminal charges, and others claim that he was outlawed due to debts.
From 1491 to 1518, Kynaston supposedly lived a life that would match the fictional character Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
. It seems he had a reputation for robbing from the rich, and giving to the poor. In return, the locals protected him, and gave him and his horse ('Beelzebub
Beelzebub
Beelzebub -Religious meaning:Ba‘al Zəbûb is variously understood to mean "lord of flies", or "lord of the dwelling". Originally the name of a Philistine god, Beelzebub is also identified in the New Testament as Satan, the "prince of the demons". In Arabic the name is retained as Ba‘al dhubaab /...
') food. One time, in an attempt to capture Kynaston, the local sheriff removed several planks from Montford Bridge
Montford Bridge
Montford Bridge is a village in Shropshire, England, and also the name of the bridge in that village.It lies on the River Severn and is close to the town of Shrewsbury. Most of the village is in the Montford parish, but some is covered by the Bicton parish....
, to keep him from crossing the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
, but his horse managed to leap and safely clear the distance. It is also said that he was a regular patron at the Old Three Pigeons tavern in Shropshire, and his original seat is still there. He may have been pardoned by Henry VII in 1493, but some accounts state that in 1513, Humphrey provided 100 men to aid Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in France, and in return received a royal pardon 3 to 5 years later.
Death
Humphrey left a will dated 1 May 1534, and that will was proved 26 January 1535. While the year of his death is well known, how he died and where are disputed. Some sources claim he lived comfortably in an estate near WelshpoolWelshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
until he died, and others claim he died of illness in his cave.
Kynaston's Cave
Today the cave is known as Kynaston's Cave, and is located at 52°46′1.78"N 2°54′46.09"W. It has two rooms; he lived in one, and stableStable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
d Beelzebub in the other. The cave also featured an iron door for an entrance. This iron door is said to later have become the door for Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
gaol
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
. There is also an engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
in the cave, which reads H.K. 1564. Although this engraving is concluded to be made by Humphrey, he was dead 30 years before the year 1564. However, he did have a Grandson, Humfridus (b.1530) who may have left the inscription.
Further reading
- Hudson, Henry, The Robin Hood of Shropshire, published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner Ltd, 1899 (A semi-fictional account).