General Notes

Sir John Scott, PC, of Scott's Hall, Kent, Governor of Calais and Dover.  [Burke's Peerage]

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The heir, SIR JOHN SCOTT (d. 1485) of Scot's Hall, a consistent Yorkist, was appointed sheriff of Kent in 1460, and, on the accession of Edward IV next year, was knighted and made comptroller of the household. Edward IV, on the attainder in 1461 of Thomas, baron de Roos, and James Butler, earl of Wiltshire, gave him the castle and manor of Wilderton and Molash in Kent and the manor of Old Swinford and Snodsbury in Worcestershire, with a life interest in the castle and manor of Chilham. He was one of the negotiators of the treaty of commerce with Burgandy, concluded at Brussels on 24 Nov. 1467, and of the marriage treaty [see MARGARET, DUCHESS OF BURGANDY], and one of the commission for the delimitation of the Pale of Picardy, appointed on 18 June 1472. He was returned to parliament for Kent in 1467, and was engaged in the following years on diplomatic negotiations with the Hanse Towns. In 1471 he succeeded Richard Neville, earl Warwick, whom he was sent to arrest, in France after the battle of Stamford (May 1470), as lieutenant of Dover Castle, warden of the Cinque ports, and marshal of Calais, and continued in active diplomatic employment. He died on 17 Oct. 1485, and was buried in the north wall of the chancel of Brabourne church. His arms are in the north window of 'the martyrdom' at canterbury Cathedral. His account-book (1463-6) was printed in 'ArchEologia Cant.' vol. x. By his wife Agnes (d.1487), daughter of William de Beaufitz of the Grange, Gillingham, Kent, he had, with two daughters, an heir, William. The statement that Thomas Rotherham [q.v.] was a younger son is without foundation.  [Life Sketch of Sir William Scott & Selected Descendants, www.burgoyne.com]