John de Strivelyn
Encyclopedia
John de Strivelyn also called John Stirling or Johannes de Strivelyn, was a medieval Scottish knight in English service.
in 1333. In March 1334 Stirling was appointed commander of a joint Anglo-Scottish force besieging Loch Leven Castle
. He was absent around the 10th of June, celebrating the feast day of St Margaret
, when the defending Scots made a successful sortie. Nevertheless, the castle surrendered by the end of the summer. Afterwards, in September 1334, Stirling was ambushed near Linlithgow
, captured and imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle
. He was ransomed within a year, was made a banneret
of England on St John's Eve at Perth
and entered King's service.
On 10 October 1335 Stirling signed an indenture contract with King Edward and received Edinburgh Castle
and shrievalty of Lothian on 2 November. As the warden of the Castle, Stirling has repeatedly petitioned the king for the pay due to the garrison. In May 1336 he conducted a sortie across the Forth against the Scottish forces besieging Cupar
Castle and drove them away. Stirling's service in Edinburgh came to an end in March 1338 when he was captured during a foray.
By the autumn of 1338 Stirling was able to rejoin the king's forces, this time in the Low Countries. He must have stayed with the king until late autumn of 1339 and returned the islands to participate in a winter expedition to Scotland. Next winter, 1341/2, Stirling joined King Edward's campaign in Scotland after the fall of Edinburgh Castle. In October 1342 he transferred to Brittany
and fought in the Breton War of Succession
until the end of January 1343. On 29 July 1343 Stirling was appointed sheriff of Northumberland but didn't take the office due to a bad wound and was relieved sometime after February 1344. From January 1345 until February 1346 he was the keeper of Berwick Castle
. In July 1346 Stirling joined King Edward in his expedition to the continent, culminating in Battle of Crécy
and the siege of Calais
. In March 1347 he moved back to the Scottish Marches
and served until October.
On 8 October 1335 King Edward granted Stirling a number of Northumbrian manors forfeited by John de Middleton, including Belsowe (Belsay
).
On 12 July 1336 the king granted Stirling several manors (this time in Scotland) redeemable for 200 marks if the Scots retake them. Stirling claimed this annuity from 27 September 1342, receiving a rent from the customs of Newcastle upon Tyne
and Hartlepool
.
On 19 April 1340 Stirling received two manors, in Berwick and Roxburghshire, forfeited by Margaret de Abernethy, countess of Angus (wife of John Stewart of Bonkyll
, earl of Angus
(d.1331) and daughter of Sir Alexander de Abernethy
, the fourth Lord of Abernethy).
On 29 May 1343 Stirling received a rent from Aymer de Valence's
estates in Yorkshire until the majority of David de Strathbogie, Valence's great-great-nephew. On 20 December the king confirmed Stirling's acquisition of another Yorkshire manor, Faxfleet
, partly refunding the 200 mark annuity.
On 22 November 1347 Stirling was granted a few more tenanted lands around Berwick, formerly held by the Morays of Petty.
On 5 August 1352 Stirling has bought outright the estate of Newton-by-the-Sea
from a Thomas de St. Maur.
In 1361 Stirling received a number of properties in Newcastle as dowry of his second wife Jacoba, a co-heiress of Richard de Emeldon, former mayor of Newcastle killed at Halidon Hill.
Military career
Stirling was first mentioned in the aftermath of the Battle of Halidon HillBattle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scottish forces under Sir Archibald Douglas were heavily defeated on unfavourable terrain while trying to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed.-The Disinherited:...
in 1333. In March 1334 Stirling was appointed commander of a joint Anglo-Scottish force besieging Loch Leven Castle
Loch Leven Castle
Loch Leven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the location military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence...
. He was absent around the 10th of June, celebrating the feast day of St Margaret
Saint Margaret of Scotland
Saint Margaret of Scotland , also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Born in exile in Hungary, she was the sister of Edgar Ætheling, the short-ruling and uncrowned Anglo-Saxon King of England...
, when the defending Scots made a successful sortie. Nevertheless, the castle surrendered by the end of the summer. Afterwards, in September 1334, Stirling was ambushed near Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
, captured and imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Great Britain. It overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton, and sits on a plug of volcanic basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high.-Iron Age:...
. He was ransomed within a year, was made a banneret
Knight banneret
A knight banneret, sometimes known simply as banneret, was a Medieval knight who led a company of troops during time of war under his own banner and were eligible to bear supporters in English heraldry.The military rank of a knight banneret was...
of England on St John's Eve at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and entered King's service.
On 10 October 1335 Stirling signed an indenture contract with King Edward and received Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
and shrievalty of Lothian on 2 November. As the warden of the Castle, Stirling has repeatedly petitioned the king for the pay due to the garrison. In May 1336 he conducted a sortie across the Forth against the Scottish forces besieging Cupar
Cupar
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is situated between Dundee and the New Town of Glenrothes.According to a recent population estimate , Cupar had a population around 8,980 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.-History:The town is believed to have...
Castle and drove them away. Stirling's service in Edinburgh came to an end in March 1338 when he was captured during a foray.
By the autumn of 1338 Stirling was able to rejoin the king's forces, this time in the Low Countries. He must have stayed with the king until late autumn of 1339 and returned the islands to participate in a winter expedition to Scotland. Next winter, 1341/2, Stirling joined King Edward's campaign in Scotland after the fall of Edinburgh Castle. In October 1342 he transferred to Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and fought in the Breton War of Succession
Breton War of Succession
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the...
until the end of January 1343. On 29 July 1343 Stirling was appointed sheriff of Northumberland but didn't take the office due to a bad wound and was relieved sometime after February 1344. From January 1345 until February 1346 he was the keeper of Berwick Castle
Berwick Castle
Berwick Castle is a ruined castle in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England.The castle was founded in the 12th century by the Scottish King David I. In 1296-8, the English King Edward I had the castle rebuilt and the town fortified, before it was returned to Scotland...
. In July 1346 Stirling joined King Edward in his expedition to the continent, culminating in Battle of Crécy
Battle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
and the siege of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
. In March 1347 he moved back to the Scottish Marches
Scottish Marches
Scottish Marches was the term used for the Anglo-Scottish border during the late medieval and early modern eras—from the late 13th century, with the creation by Edward I of England of the first Lord Warden of the Marches to the early 17th century and the creation of the Middle Shires, promulgated...
and served until October.
Military retinue
As a knight banneret, Stirling has led a personal 'banner' during several campaigns.| Campaign | Dates | Retinue |
|---|---|---|
| Low Countries | 1338/1339 | 4 serjeants, 12 archers |
| Scotland | 1340 | 1 knight, 8 men-at-arms, 10 hobelars |
| Scotland | 1341/1342 | 2 knights, 21 men-at-arms |
| Brittany | 1342/1343 | 2 knights, 18 serjeants, 26 archers |
| France | 1346/1347 | 1 knight, 22 men-at-arms, 26 archers |
| Scotland | 1347 | 3 knights, 17 men-at-arms, 20 archers |
Lands held
Around 1327 or 1328 John de Strivelyn married Barnaba, daughter of Adam Swinburne of Northumbria. He has held the manor of East Swinburne as a tenant, which was disputed at the time.On 8 October 1335 King Edward granted Stirling a number of Northumbrian manors forfeited by John de Middleton, including Belsowe (Belsay
Belsay
Belsay is a village in Northumberland, England. It is situated about to the north-west of Ponteland on the A696 which links the village with Newcastle upon Tyne and Jedburgh....
).
On 12 July 1336 the king granted Stirling several manors (this time in Scotland) redeemable for 200 marks if the Scots retake them. Stirling claimed this annuity from 27 September 1342, receiving a rent from the customs of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
.
On 19 April 1340 Stirling received two manors, in Berwick and Roxburghshire, forfeited by Margaret de Abernethy, countess of Angus (wife of John Stewart of Bonkyll
John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus
Sir John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus & suo jure uxoris Lord of Abernethy was a medieval Scottish nobleman.Stewart was the son of Sir Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll, grandson of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland and an unknown mother. Sir Alexander died c...
, earl of Angus
Earl of Angus
The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish province of Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is currently held by the Duke of Hamilton.-Mormaers:...
(d.1331) and daughter of Sir Alexander de Abernethy
Alexander de Abernethy
Alexander de Abernethy was a Scottish baron. He was a descendant of lay abbots of Abernethy; his grandfather Laurence, great-grandson of Gillemichael, Earl of Fife, was the first to style himself Lord...
, the fourth Lord of Abernethy).
On 29 May 1343 Stirling received a rent from Aymer de Valence's
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a Franco-English nobleman. Though primarily active in England, he also had strong connections with the French royal house. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men of his age, he was a central player in the conflicts between Edward II of England and...
estates in Yorkshire until the majority of David de Strathbogie, Valence's great-great-nephew. On 20 December the king confirmed Stirling's acquisition of another Yorkshire manor, Faxfleet
Faxfleet
Faxfleet is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of Goole town centre. It is located at the start of the Humber, on the north bank, where the River Ouse and the River Trent meet....
, partly refunding the 200 mark annuity.
On 22 November 1347 Stirling was granted a few more tenanted lands around Berwick, formerly held by the Morays of Petty.
On 5 August 1352 Stirling has bought outright the estate of Newton-by-the-Sea
Newton-by-the-Sea
Newton-by-the-Sea is a civil parish in the former district of Alnwick, Northumberland in Northern England.There are two distinct settlements High Newton-by-the-Sea and the coastal Low Newton-by-the-Sea, owned by the National Trust. The area is notable for the diversity of birds to be observed...
from a Thomas de St. Maur.
In 1361 Stirling received a number of properties in Newcastle as dowry of his second wife Jacoba, a co-heiress of Richard de Emeldon, former mayor of Newcastle killed at Halidon Hill.