General Notes

JOHN DE MOLEYNS, son of Vincent DE MOLEYNS, by Isabel his wife. He was sent to Brittany on the King's business in October 1325, and on 8 March 1328/9 was summoned to a Colloquium with the King. In 1329 he was going beyond seas in the company of William de Montagu, and under him he took part in October 1330 in the capture of Roger (de Mortimer), Earl of March, in Nottingham Castle, receiving a formal pardon the next year for his forcible entry and for adhering to the Despensers. He was again going beyond seas in the King's service in February 1330/1, and later is called the King's yeoman (valettus). On 8 August 1351, and again in 1338, he had exemption for life from being put on assizes, &c. From this time he appears to have been constantly in attendance on the King, and obtained numerous exemptions, licences to crenellate manors, grants of lands, liberties and pardons. By his marriage he obtained Stoke Poges and other lands in Bucks, and with these and the grants which he received became wealthy and a large landowner. He was a benefactor of Southwark Priory, St. Frideswide's, and Burnham, and founded chantries. In 1335 he was a commissioner to survey the Tower of London, and in 1336 and later he was placed on commissions of oyer and terminer, inquiry, &c., including a survey of the King's castles and lands in the Isle of Wight in 1337. In June of this year he was ordered to arrest and imprison all the Lombard merchants except the Bardi and Peruzzi, and in September is styled Steward of the King's household. In August he was going overseas again, and was there in 1338 with the King, and on the Council. In 1338 he made a settlement of the lands and manors he had acquired on himself and Gilles, or Gille, his wife and their sons John and William; and in this year secured recognition of his right to keep the King's goshawks in virtue of his lordship of Ilmere, Bucks. He was one of the commissioners authorised in May 1339 to contract a loan of £100,000 at Antwerp for the King for the French campaign, and in August one of £40,000 at Oudenarde, and the conveyance of the King's stores to Flanders was entrusted to him. He was made a knight banneret at Antwerp shortly before December 1339, with £100 per annum to support that dignity. From June to August 1340 he was serving abroad, and in October received a grant of the forfeited fee of Chokes and the fee of Pinkeney. He was justice of the peace for Bucks and Beds in 1340, and for Bucks again in 1350. As the money which was expected from the loans abovementioned was not forthcoming, the King returned from France unexpectedly at the end of November 1340, and Moleyns was one of the ministers who were dismissed and thrown into prison on 1 December for failing the King in his extremity. Four days later he escaped from custody, whereupon he was accused of rebellion and his lands and goods were seized, and charges of oppression were brought against him. He apparently made his peace with the King in 1345, for in September of that year his goods and lands were restored, and on 10 January 1345/6 he was granted a general pardon, and in June exempted from serving in any office against his will. On 18 September he was summoned to Sandwich, with as many men-at-arms and archers as he could collect, to go on board the fleet for France. He was summoned to a Great Council on 18 February 1346/7, in company with 6 Bishops, 25 Abbots and Priors, 8 Earls, and 13 men of baronial rank; but as no commons were summoned, this assembly is not recognised as a Parliament. His elder son John having died s.p., he settled a portion of his estates on himself and his wife and their son William. He was pardoned the sum of about £77 which was found to be owing by him when accounts between him and the King. were balanced. In 1352 he was appointed steward of the Queen's lands. In 1353 the commons petitioned the King for redress for the grievous oppressions of Monsieur Johan de Molyns, and shortly afterwards he was prosecuted by the Queen, and apparently was afraid to stand his trial. He was outlawed for nonappearance 14 March 1356/7, and, having been apprehended, was lodged in Nottingham Castle, his wife being confined in Cambridge Castle. In September 1359, in the charge of William his son and three others, he was sent to join her at Cambridge, where he remained a prisoner till his death.

He married, in or before 1325, Gilles or Gille (Egidia], daughter and in her issue heir of Sir John MAUDUIT, of Somerford, Wilts, by Margaret, daughter and coheir of Sir Robert Pugeys, of Stoke Poges, Bucks. See MAUDUIT. He died 10 March 1359/60. His widow was released from prison 22 May 1360, and pardoned 30 June, her lands being restored to her. She died 21 January 1366/7.  [Complete Peerage IX:36-9, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]