Argentein documents: 13th century



Contents:


Richard de Argentein's marriage to Cassandra, the daughter of Robert de Insula

(a) Abstract of Robert's gift of Newmarket

Robtus de Insula dedit Rico de Argent' novam mercatam cum Cassandra filia sua in lib maritag'

Robert de Insula gave to Richard de Argent' Newmarket with Cassandra his daughter in free marriage.

[From the Argentein evidences in British Library, Harleian MS 6072, fo 16.
Similar abstracts are in British Library, Sloane MS 1301, fo 145, and Bodleian Library, Dodsworth MS 118, fo 113v.]

(b) Abstract of a gift by Richard's brother Oliver

Oliuer Argent dedit dno meo et ffratri meo R. de Argent et hered suis qui erunt nati de d'na Cassandra filia Robti dni de Insula &c

Oliver Argent gave to my* lord and my* brother R. de Argent and to his heirs which shall be born of the lady Cassandra, the daughter of Robert lord de Insula etc.

*Apparently the abstracter has started in the third person, then reverted to the language of the original charter.

[From the Argentein evidences in British Library, Harleian MS 6072, fo 16.
Similar abstracts are in British Library, Sloane MS 1301, fo 145, and Bodleian Library, Dodsworth MS 118, fo 113v.]

(c) Entry in the Pipe Roll concerning Exning, 1204

[1204: Norfolk and Suffolk] Et in terris datis...
Et Ricardo de Argentoem xl s. in eadem uilla [Exninge].

[1204: Norfolk and Suffolk] And in lands given...
And to Richard de Argentoem 40s in the same township [Exning].

[Pipe Roll Soc vol.18, p.233: Pipe Roll 6 John, Mich 1204.
This section concerns allowances for lands formerly, but not now, part of the royal demesne.
In the previous year, the corresponding entry reads 'Et Roberto de Insula xl s. in eadem uilla'.
The entry is repeated until 1221.
A note in a pedigree in Harleian MS 4204, fo 420, refers to Robert giving 'his lands in Newmarkett and Ixeninge' to Richard.]


Reginald de Argentein's plea for the advowson of 'Chederton', 1202

[Be]def'. Reginaldus de Argent' petit advocacionem ecclesie de Chederton' versus priorem de Sancto Neoto sicut jus suum, unde Ticcia av[i]a ejus fuit saisita ut de juro suo et de illa descendit jus illud cuidam Gwidoni et de ipso Gwidone descendit jus patri ejusdem Reginaldi, qui fecit ultimam presentacionem inde: et prior vocat ad warantum Odonem Burnard'. Dies datus est eis a die sancti Hillarii in xv. dies et tunc habeat prior ipsum Odonem.

[Be]df[ordshire]. Reginald de Argent' seeks the advowson of the church of 'Chederton' against the prior of St Neots as his right, of which Ticcia his grandmother was seised as of her right and from her that right descended to a certain Guy and from the same Guy the right descended to the father of the same Reginald, who made the last presentation thereof: and the prior called to warrant Odo Burnard. A day is given to them in 15 days from the day of St Hilary and then the prior is to have the same Odo.

[Curia Regis Rolls: Michaelmas Term 4 John: vol.2, p.135]


The agreement of Isabel, widow of Reginald de Argentein, and his son Richard, 1203

[1203]
Hertf'. Dies datus est Ysabelle que fuit uxor Reginaldi de Arg' et Ricardo de Argentom ad recipiendum cirographum de dote sua in octabis sancte Trinitatis.

[1203]
Hertfordshire. A day is given to Isabel who was the wife of Reginald de Arg[entom] and to Richard de Argentom to receive the chirograph of her dower in the octaves of Holy Trinity.

[Curia Regis Rolls: Easter Term 4 John: vol.2, p.245.
In 5 John Isabel gave up to Richard all the rights she had in Melred [Meldreth] (and Melbourn) and Wymondley as dower from Reginald her husband, and recieved a free tenement at Wymondley to live in, in exchange.
(Palmer, citing Feet of Fines, Diverse Counties, no 35).]


Richard de Argentein at the siege of Bedford Castle, 1224

Unde obsessi, stulta audacia et obstinata probitate praestantissimi, viriliter se defensabant et tuebantur diutius contra totum exercitum regis per octo hebdomadas multos exterius vulnerantes et interficientes cum sagittis et arcubalistis. Ibidem graviter vulneratus est dominus Ricardus de Argent' in ventre sub umbilico, quamvis armatus, atque alii sex strenui milites sunt occisi, et de servientibus et laborantibus circa machinas pluquam ducenti, ut quidam asserunt.

Whence the besieged, outstanding in foolish bravery and obstinate prowess, manfully defended themselves and stood guard for a long time against the whole army of the king for eight weeks, many outside being wounded and killed with arrows and crossbows. In the same place Sir Richard de Argent' was severely injured in the stomach below the navel, although in armour, and six other energetic knights were killed, and more than two hundred of the serjeants and labourers around the machines, as some say.

[Rolls Ser vol.66, p.206: Radulphi de Coggeshall Chronicon Anglicanum: continuation in the hand of John Bale, bishop of Ossory. headed 'Qualiter rex Johannes dedit Falconi castellum de Bedford' - How King John gave Falkes Bedford castle.
Henry III, accompanied by the archbishop of Canterbury and other bishops, abbots, earls and barons, besieged Falkes de Breaute, after he had imprisioned Henry de Braibroche, an itinerant judge.
According the VCH Bedfordshire iii 10, the siege of Bedford Castle began 22 June and lasted nearly 2 months.]


Giles de Argentein is captured by the Welsh, 1231

(a) The Annals of Dunstable

[AD 1231] ... In hac autem guerra capti [capi, MS] sunt a parte Lewelini duo filii Ricardi de Argenthom, et aliis tres nobiles. Occisi vero sunt triginta milites; pedestrium vero occisorum numerus ignoratur.

... Moreover in that war were captured by Llewellyn's party two sons of Richard de Argenthom, and three other nobles. Thirty knights were slain; the number of foot-soldiers killed is unknown.

[Rolls Series vol.36:3, p.127: Annales de Dunstaplia]

(b) Matthew Paris

[AD 1231] ... Captus est autem ibi Egidius, filius Ricardi de Argentomio, miles strenuus, cum quibusdam aliis, quorum nomina non sunt famosa, nec audivi.

... Moreover there was captured Giles, son of Richard de Argentomio, an energetic knight, with certain others, of whom the names are not celebrated, nor have I heard [them].

[Rolls Series vol.57, iii 203: Matthaei Parisiensis Monachi Sancta Albani Chronica Majora]

(c) Roger of Wendover

[AD 1231] ... Captus est autem ibi AEgidius, filius Richardi de Argentonio, miles strenuus, cum quibusdam, aliis, quorum nomina non audivi.

... Moreover there was captured Giles, son of Richard de Argentomio, an energetic knight, with certain others, whose names I have not heard.

[Rolls Ser vol.84 iii 12: The Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover.
Note that this is almost identical with Matthew Paris's account.]


Richard de Argentein at the fall of Jerusalem, 1244

[AD 1239] Eodem anno profecti sunt in Terram Sanctam comes Campaniae qui fuit rex Navariae et comes Britanniae et comes Barrensis, et multi alii quorum numerus est ignotus. Sed antequam pervenirent ad metam, deficientibus treugis, et metu fugientibus Christianis, pagani sine contradictione intraverunt Ierosolimam; solo Ricardo de Argentem in turri David cum viginti militibus remanente. Quem cum vellent capere, supervenit nuntius imperatoris cum litteris precatoriis de treuga proroganda. Quibus auditis, pagani eos in pace dimiserunt.

The same year went forward into the Holy Land the count of Champagne, who was king of Navarre [Theobald I], and the count of Brittany [Peter Mauclerc] and the count of Bar [Henry II], and many others whose number is unknown. But before they reached their goal, the truces having failed and the Christians having fled in fear, the pagans entered Jerusalem without opposition; only Richard de Argentem in the tower of David with twenty knights remaining. While they wanted to take it, the messenger of the emperor arrived with letters of entreaty for an extension of the truce. When these had been heard, the pagans dismissed them in peace.

[Rolls Series vol.36:3, p.150: Annales de Dunstaplia.
This account seems to be badly garbled. The opening clearly relates to the crusade of Theobald, preached in France and England in Summer 1239, of which the three men named were among the leaders. But the crusaders did reach Jerusalem, and most returned in September 1240.
The remainder relates to events four years later. The Khwarismian Turks entered Jerusalem on 11 July 1244, but the citadel (the Tower of David) held out against them. The Turks allowed the Christians to leave the city under safe conduct on 23 August, under the influence of An-Nasir of Kerak, a Muslim ally of the crusaders (see Runciman, vol.3, pp.211-7,224-5)]


Matthew Paris's account of the death of Richard de Argentein, 1246

[AD 1246] De morte quorundam nobilium in Anglia.
Eodem anno obierunt quidam nobiles in Anglia, quorum mors dampnosa regno censebatur; videlicet Ricardus de Argentomio, miles strenuus, qui in Terra Sancta diu Deo fideliter militaverat.

[AD 1246] Concerning the death of certain nobles in England.
In the same year died certain nobles in England, of whom the death was considered harmful to the kingdom; viz. Richard de Argentomio, an energetic knight, who in the Holy Land had fought faithfully for God for a long time.

[Rolls Series vol.57, iv 587: Matthaei Parisiensis Monachi Sancta Albani Chronica Majora]


The marriage of Reginald de Argentein and Lora de Vere, c.1264

(a) The marriage settlement

The abstract appears in a number of slightly different versions in different sources, listed below. The following is a composite version.

Sciant &c qd ego Rob'tus de Ver co'es Oxon' dedi d'no Reginaldo de Argento' in liber' maritag' cu' Lora sorore mea m' de Ketelingh'm in com' Norff
Teste Henric' de Bellocampo Willi'mo de Marney milit' Joh'e Filol Rc' fre eius Rc' de Mulesham Henr' de Vagor.

Know etc that I Robert de Ver earl of Oxford have given to Sir Reginald de Argento' in free marriage with Lora my sister the manor of Ketteringham in the county of Norfolk.
Witnesses: Henry de Beauchamp, William de Marney, knight, John Filliol, Richard his brother, Richard de Mulsham, Henry de Vagor.

[British Library, Harleian MS 6072, fo.16 (Argentein evidences);
Sloane MS 1301, fo.145 (Argentein evidences);
Additional MS 12471, fo 89b (note on pedigree of 1591);
Bodleian Library, Dodsworth MS 118, fo 113v ('Ex Registro Euidentiar' de Argenthem');
Rawlinson MS Essex 20, fo 38 ('Extracts out of the Collections of ... Peter le Neve Esqe Norroy relating chiefly the noble Family of Vere ... by Wm Holman March 5th 1716/17').
The text given here, like that in the other 'Argentein evidences', is obviously a very bare abstract of the essential information.
The wording can be compared with a settlement made by the same Robert de Ver on the marriage of his daughter in 1284:
'Sciant ... q'd ego Robertus de Ver Comes Oxonie dedi concessi et hac p'senti carta mea confirmaui Will'o de Warenn' ... et Joh'e filie mee p'i'mogenite totu' Man'iu' meu' de Medmenh'a'm ... in Comitatu Bokingh'a'mie ...
(printed in Genealogist ns xxxvi 137-8 (1919-20))]

(b) Extract from later evidence concerning a settlement on them

Sed coop'cenarij dicunt qd quidam Reginaldus Argent sibi et Lore uxori eius fuit seisitus et hered de corporibus eor' Remanere inde Rectis heredibus eiusdem Reginaldi de quibus Reginald et Lora exijt quidem Johes de quo Johe exijt alter Johes auus p'dce Margeret et pater p'dce Matild &c

But the coparceners say that a certain Reginald Argent and Lora his wife were seised to them and to the heirs of their bodies, with remainder thereof to the right heirs of the same Reginald; from this Reginald and Lora issued a certain John; from this John issued another John, grandfather of the said Margaret and father of the said Matilda etc.

[British Library, Harleian MS 6072, fo 16b (Argentein evidences).
Similar abstracts are in Sloane MS 1301, fo 145b, and the pedigree of 1591.
The 'coparceners' are the heirs of the John de Argentein (d.1382), the grandson of Reginald and Lora.]


Abstract of a charter of Giles de Argentein, 1275

Egidius Argent' Omnibus &c Cum Ric'us de Argent' pater meus fundator domus de Wymondley et Ricus filius et heres dni Johis de Argent' auunculi mei
his testbs Reginaldo primogenito meo d'no Rico de Argent M'ro Willmo de Argent Egidio de Argent filijs meis 1275 Ao 3 E I

Giles Argent[ein] to all etc. Whereas Richard de Argent' my father, founder of the house of [Little] Wymondley, and Richard the son and heir of Sir John de Argent' my uncle.
These being witnesses: Reginald my firstborn, Sir Richard de Argent, Master William de Argent, Giles de Argent my sons 1275 3 Edward I.

[from the Argentine evidences in British Library, Harleian MS 6072, fo 15b.
Sloane MS 1301, fo 144b has a similar text, with minor differences.
An incomplete abstract 'Ex Registro Euidentiar' de Argenthem', in Bodleian Library, Dodsworth MS 118, fo 113v, omits the middle two sons.]