Nicholas Haute

The de Haute family were established at Wadenhall from the 13th century, when Sir William de Haute (died c. 1302) held office as lay steward to Christchurch Priory, Canterbury. He was perhaps briefly succeeded by his son Henry de Haute, who married Margery, an heiress of the de Marinis (Marignes) family, and then by Henry's son Sir Henry de Haute (c.1300-1370),Henry is explicitly identified as Sir William's grandson in the case of Walton v. Hoath in F.W. Maitland, L.W.V. Harcourt and W.C. Bolland (eds), Year Books of Edward II. The Eyre of Kent, 6 & 7 Edward II, AD 1313–1314, Part III, Selden Society XXIX, Year Books Series Vol. VIII (1913), pp. 79-83, 221-22, etc. who succeeded to Wadenhale in 1321, after a period of wardship in his minority superintended by his uncle Richard de Haute. Henry de Haute the younger soon married Annabel atte Halle, of a Dover family to whose lands she became heir. Sir Henry had seisin of his share of the de Marinis patrimony, partible by gavelkind, in 1349.Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III, Vol. IX: 1349–1354 (1906), pp. [https://archive.org/details/cu31924091767933/page/n131 121], [https://archive.org/details/cu31924091767933/page/n171 160]. He had one son, (Sir) Edmund (before 1329-c.1360), who married Benedicta Shelving in around 1357 and was the father of Nicholas Haute.W.G. Davis, The Ancestry of Mary Isaac, c. 1549–1613 (Author, Portland, Maine 1955), pp. 97-193 [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062912860;view=1up;seq=186 at pp. 128-30].

The de Haut pedigree in the 1619 Visitation of Kent by the herald John Philipot, Rouge Dragon,'De Haut', in R. Hovenden (ed.), The Visitation of Kent, Taken in the Years 1619–1621 by John Philipot, Rouge Dragon, Marshal and Deputy to William Camden, Clarenceux, Harleian Society XLII, (London 1898), [https://archive.org/stream/visitationofkent00camd#page/212/mode/2up pp. 212-14]. (Sources cited, British Library: Harleian MS 6138, fol. 128; Additional MS 5526, fol. 123.) and much of the research into the family's descent since that time, were dependent upon materials collected by Sir Edward Dering (1598–1644). Dering, long suspected of having "improved" his own ancestral claims (which passed into the de Haute family) by "creative" genealogy,J.H. Round, Peerage and Pedigree: Studies in Peerage Law and Family History, 2 vols (James Nisbet & Co., Ltd./The St. Catherine Press, London 1910), II, [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31158004767389&view=1up&seq=64 pp. 52-55] and [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31158004767389&view=1up&seq=122 pp. 110-117] (Hathi Trust). is now shown to have falsified them by the actual forgery of documents and monuments.O.D. Harris, 'Lines of Descent: Appropriations of Ancestry in Stone and Parchment', in T. Rist and A. Gordon (eds), The arts of remembrance in early modern England: memorial cultures of the post-Reformation (Routledge, London 2016), pp. 85-104.R.H. D’Elboux, 'The Dering Brasses,' The Antiquaries Journal XXVII (1947), 11–23. Important documents for the de Haute descent are included among the Harleian collections and charters at the British Library, and it is known that Sir Robert Harley acquired substantial amounts from Dering's collections.Davis, The Ancestry of Mary Isaac, [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062912860;view=1up;seq=152 p. 100]. The path through the sources for this family therefore has to be trodden very cautiously.

File:IGHTHAM St PETER'S CHURCH The tomb of Sir Thomas Cawne, builder of Ightham Mote who died ca 1374.JPG

Nicholas Haute was the elder of two sons (the younger was Edward) of Sir Edmund de Haute and his wife Benedicta Shelving. Benedicta's father John de ShelvingFor whom see W.S. Ellis, 'Early Kentish Armory (notes on the family of Shelving)', Archaeologia Cantiana XV (1883), [http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.015%20-%201883/015-01.pdf pp. 1-30], at pp. 27-30. had died by 1331, when his inquisitionInquisition post mortem of John de Shelvyngge (writ dated 6 February 4 Edward III), in J.E.E.S. Sharp and A.E. Stamp, Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem Edward III Vol. 7 (London 1909), File 22 [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol7/pp209-222 pp. 209-22, No. 292], (File 22 (5)) (British History Online, Retrieved 10 November 2017). showed that the manor of Bishopsbourne (Bourne Archiepiscopi), Kent, had come to him through the inheritance of his wife Benedicta.Davis, The Ancestry of Mary Isaac, [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062912860;view=1up;seq=190 pp. 130-33], gives a searching account, but see 'Inquisition of John de Woldeham', Cal. Inquisitions post mortem Edward III Vol. 7, File 31 [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol7/pp301-312#highlight-first pp 301-12, No. 438], (File 31 (36)) (British History Online, Retrieved 10 November 2017). By Edmund's marriage Bishopsbourne passed to the Haute family and was sometimes known as Hautesbourne.E. Hasted, 'Parishes: Bishopsborne', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Vol. 9 (Canterbury, 1800), [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp328-337 pp. 328-37] (British History Online, Retrieved 24 September 2017).A.L. Noel, 'The History and Pedigree of the family of Aucher, A.D. 853-1726', in W. Paley Baildon (ed.), The Home Counties Magazine Vol. XI (George Bell & Sons, London 1909), pp. 222-235, [https://archive.org/stream/homecountiesmag11londuoft#page/228/mode/2up at p. 228].

In 1358, in which year he had witnessed a charter on behalf of Christ Church Priory, Canterbury,The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue,

[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/06ed7f29-dc6c-404e-84f2-6dce2e5e3ae6 ref. CCA-DCc-ChAnt/W/19] (Canterbury Cathedral Archives). an order was given for Sir Edmund Haute to be brought to the king's court to answer a charge.Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III, Vol. X: 1354–1360 (HMSO 1908), [https://archive.org/details/cu31924091767941/page/n535 p. 524] (Internet Archive). After this no more is heard of him, and Benedicta remarried (as his fourth wife) to the MP Sir Thomas Uvedale, of Titsey in Surrey,Visitation of Kent, pp. 212-14. who died in 1367.Will of Sir Thomas de Uvedale, Knt. (abstract), in N.H. Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta: Illustrations from wills of manners, customs, etc, I (Nichols & Son, London 1826), [https://books.google.com/books?id=efsUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA70 p. 70]. Nicholas's grandfather Sir Henry de Haute was still living, but so weak that he had been granted special exemption from the king's commissions.Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III, Vol. IX: 1349–1354 (HMSO 1906), [https://archive.org/details/cu31924091767933/page/n131 p. 121] (Internet Archive). Sir Henry had held Wadenhall of the archbishopric of Canterbury, and at his death in 1370 it was taken into the king's hands and granted in wardship to the archbishop during the minority of Nicholas Haute, then aged 13.Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III, Vol. XIII: 1369–1374 (HMSO 1911), [https://archive.org/details/calendarofcloser13grea/page/164 p. 165] (Internet Archive). 'Inquisition post mortem of Henry de Haut' (writ dated 12 June 44 Edward III), in A.E. Stamp, J.B.W. Chapman, M.C.B. Dawes and D.B. Wardle, Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem Edward III Volume 13 (London 1954), File 216 [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol13/pp17-31 pp. 17-31, No. 33], (File 216 (14)) (British History Online, Retrieved 10 November 2017). The age given in the inquisition is 13. Benedicta however maintained control of Wadenhall and Henry's other lands in KentCalendar of Fine Rolls, Edward III, Vol. VIII: 1368–1377 (HMSO 1924), pp. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015066344857&view=image&seq=97 89], [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015066344857&view=image&seq=104 96-97] (Hathi Trust). until Nicholas was of age in 1379, when he received knighthood and (having paid homage to the king) was granted seisin of his grandfather's lands.Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Vol. I: 1377–1381 (HMSO 1914), [https://archive.org/details/calendarofclos01grea/page/276 p. 276] (Internet Archive). Bishopsbourne remained in Benedicta's right until her death.Woodger, 'Haute, Sir Nicholas', History of Parliament Online. Woodger depends upon G.L. Gower, 'Notices of the Family of Uvedale of Titsey, Surrey and Wickham, Hants.', in Surrey Archaeological Collections III (1865), [http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_3/surreyac003_063-192_gower.pdf at pp. 78-82, 150-52, 185] (Society pdf), [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081849568;view=1up;seq=9 (see reprint London 1865)] (Hathi Trust). Davis, The Ancestry of Mary Isaac, positively dismisses Benedicta's supposed fourth marriage to her steward John fitzWilliam as a misreading of her tomb inscription, and generally avoids Gower's interpretations.

File:Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Ightham, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 1240403.jpg

The first wife of Nicholas was Alice Cawne, the widow of Richard Charlys (Charles) and daughter of Sir Thomas Cawne (or Couen), M.P. (d. 1374),'The Cawnes – our earliest known owners', [https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote/features/the-cawnes---our-earliest-known-owners The National Trust, Ightham Mote webpage].(L.J. Larking), 'Will of Sir Thomas Cawne, Kt.', in Miscellanea, Archaeologia Cantiana IV (1861), [http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/004-1861/004-14.pdf at pp. 221-25]. This is from a Surrenden MS. and his wife Lora, daughter of Sir Thomas Moraunt of Chevening.L.J. Larking, 'Additional note on the window in Ightham church', in Miscellanea, Archaeologia Cantiana V (1863), [http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/005-1863/005-14.pdf at p. 324]. Following the death of Alice's father Lora remarried to James de Pecham or Peckham of Yaldham manor, Wrotham,N.H. Nicolas, De Controversia in Curia Militari inter Ricardum Le Scrope et Robertum Grosvenor milites, 2 vols (Privately printed, 1832), II, [https://archive.org/details/decontroversiai00scrogoog/page/n454 pp. 435-36] (Internet Archive). who took care to safeguard Alice's later affairs, especially her interests arising from her first marriage.L.S. Woodger, 'Peckham, James (d.1400), of Yaldham in Wrotham and Hadlow, Kent', in J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe (eds), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386–1421 (from Boydell and Brewer, 1993), [http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/peckham-james-1400 History of Parliament Online]. By the marriage of Nicholas to Alice, Cawne's property of Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks, Kent, passed into the Haute family.C.E. Woodruff, 'Notes on former owners of Ightham Mote House', Archaeologia Cantiana XXIV (1900), [http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.024%20-%201900/024-13.pdf pp. 195-200].'The Hautes of Ightham Mote – a family with influence', [https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote/features/the-hautes-of-ightham-mote---a-family-with-influence The National Trust, Ightham Mote webpage]. The descent of Alice, with many details of her family relationships, is shown in a suit of 1418 relating to the advowson of Warehorne church in Kent.Davis, The Ancestry of Mary Isaac, [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062912860;view=1up;seq=199 pp. 137-141], citing PRO De Banco rolls, 17 Easter 5 Henry V (1418), membranes 306-06a. [http://aalt.law.uh.edu/H5/CP40no625/aCP40no625fronts/IMG_0620.htm View original at AALT, images fronts, 0620-21], [http://aalt.law.uh.edu/H5/CP40no625/bCP40no625dorses/IMG_1500.htm dorses, 1500-01], [http://aalt.law.uh.edu/H5/CP40no625/aCP40no625fronts/IMG_0622.htm fronts, 0622] (AALT). Alice died on 11 March 1400,'Inquisition post mortem for Alice, widow [sic] of Nicholas Haut, Knight (Kent)', The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9566407 ref. C 137/1/8]. See J.L. Kirby, Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 18, Henry IV (London 1987), [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol18/pp1-20 pp. 1-20, No. 12] (British History Online, Retrieved 11 November 2017). at which point her manor of Palster, "the denne of Palster" in Wittersham, Kent, representing one knight's fee held half from the king's castle of Leeds, Kent, and the other half from the archbishop of Canterbury by knight-service, passed by reversion to William Sneyth.Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. I: 1399–1401 (HMSO 1903), [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031079463;view=1up;seq=271 p. 259] (Hathi Trust).In describing the descent of this manor Hasted gives a different account of Alice's identity. E. Hasted, 'Parishes: Wittersham', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, Vol. 8 (Canterbury, 1799), [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol8/pp486-493 pp. 486-93] (British History Online, Retrieved 9 November 2017).

Nicholas married secondly Eleanor Flambard (d. 29 March 1422),'Inquisition post mortem: Haute, Eleanor, who was wife of Nicholas Haute, Knight (Hants)', The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6523935 ref. C 138/63/29a]. Calendar of Fine Rolls, Henry V, Vol. XIV: 1413–1422 (HMSO 1934), [https://archive.org/stream/calendaroffiner14greauoft#page/434/mode/2up p. 434]. daughter and heir of Edmund Flambard of Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, and widow of Walter Tyrrell,Woodger, 'Haute, Sir Nicholas', History of Parliament online. by whom she was the mother of Sir John Tyrrell, Speaker of the House of Commons.

The lands granted jointly by Nicholas and Edmund Haute to William Elys in March 1384/5 by indenture, reserving powers of entry for arrears of rent, in "Northynton", refer to an estate in Nackington, Lower Hardres, south of Canterbury.Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Vol. II: 1381–1385 (HMSO 1920), [https://archive.org/stream/calendarofclos02grea#page/624/mode/2up p. 624]; Woodger, History of Parliament Online. These were among the Haute hereditary lands.The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, ref. CCA-DCc-ChAnt/N/59 and CCA-DCc-ChAnt/N/60 (Quitclaims, 1383) (Canterbury Cathedral Archives). A writ of protection survives showing that Nicholas Haute was one of at least six knights who intended to travel on campaign in the baronial retinue of Richard Poynings, 3rd Baron Poynings, going to Spain in 1386.K.E. Fildes, The Baronage in the Reign of Richard II, 1377–1399, PhD Dissertation, Department of History, University of Sheffield (March 2009), [https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ts-AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA242 pp. 242-43] (Google), citing The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue C 76/70, Rotuli Francie 1385–1386, nos. 3, 7, 8, 13, 17. In 1395 Nicholas served as Member of Parliament for Kent, and in November 1395 received the King's appointment as High Sheriff of Kent and Keeper of Canterbury Castle,Calendar of Fine Rolls, Richard II, Vol. XI: 1391–1399 (HMSO 1929), [https://archive.org/stream/calendaroffinero11greauoft#page/166/mode/2up p. 166]. keeping his shrievalty at his manor and mansion of Wadenhall in Waltham.E. Hasted, 'Parishes: Waltham', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, 9, [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp319-328 pp. 319-28] (British History Online, Retrieved 23 September 2017]. In 1396 he witnessed John de Cobham's grant of the charter of Cowling Castle and many other Kentish manors, including lands in Lower Hardres.Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Vol. V: 1392–1396 (HMSO 1925), pp. 498-99.

Haute received Commissions of array in Kent through the reign of Henry IV, commencing with the orders for December 1399-January 1400.Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. I: 1399–1401 (HMSO 1903), [https://archive.org/details/calendarpatentr16offigoog/page/n221 p. 211] (Internet Archive). He was a tax collector for Kent from 1404.Woodger, 'Haute, Sir Nicholas', History of Parliament online. He had a notable Commission of array in July 1405, "for the resistance of the king's enemies in France and others, at present assembled with no small force in the parts of Picardy, who propose to besiege and destroy the king's castles and towns in those parts and harm the king's lieges and to go to Wales to strengthen the rebels there."Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. III: 1405–1408 (HMSO 1907), [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031079588&view=image&seq=73 p. 61] (Hathi Trust). Again in May 1406 he was called upon to muster a force "for defence against the king's enemies of France and others, who intend shortly to invade the realm."Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. III: 1405–1408, [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031079588&view=image&seq=243 p. 231] (Hathi Trust). His brother Edmund Haute served as Sheriff of Kent and Keeper of Canterbury Castle in 1408,The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, refs: [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9537198 C 131/56/6] and C 131/222/6. but died in office in October 1408 and was replaced by William Sneyth.Calendar of Fine Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. XIII: 1405–1413 (HMSO 1933), pp. 87, [https://archive.org/stream/calendaroffinero13greauoft#page/126/mode/2up 126] (Internet Archive).

Nicholas's benefactions include a grant to the church of the Domus Dei at Dover in July 1410, for a lamp burning daily before the high altar there.Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. IV: 1408–1413 (HMSO 1909), [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031079570&view=image&seq=224 p. 212] (Hathi Trust). See also The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, ref. C 143/441/8. On 9 December of that year an important ceremony took place at Hoath in Kent, a dependency of Reculver. As it was inconvenient to carry bodies for burial to Reculver, Archbishop Thomas Arundel dedicated a chapel to the Virgin Mary and consecrated a churchyard at Hoath for the purpose, and immediately after the ceremony the inhabitants of Hoath, led by Sir Nicholas Haute, Peter Halle Esquire, and 'Dominus' Richard Hauk, chaplain of the chantry there, promised to fulfil the ordinances.The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, ref. [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/959640f1-2673-46e6-b98c-b44a4fca2859 CCA-DCc-ChAnt/R/21] (Canterbury Cathedral Archives). The parish of Hoath includes Shelvingford and the site of Ford Palace, where this event was recorded on 20 January 1411. In November 1411 Haute, with others, who had acquired from the estate of Edmund Cokyn a garden adjacent to St Margaret's Canterbury, granted it to the master of the Hospital of Poor Chaplains at Canterbury (to which that church was annexed), for the enlargement of their burial-ground.Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, Vol. IV: 1408–1413, [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031079570&view=image&seq=334 p. 322] (Hathi Trust). See also The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, ref. CCA-DCc-ChAnt/C/881 (Canterbury Cathedral Archives).

In 1415 Nicholas Haute and his son and heir William took part in Henry V's campaign in France. Nicholas was in the company of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (the king's brother) with three men-at-arms and nine archers.J.-P. Genet, 'La Normandie vue par les historiens et les politiques Anglais au XVme siècle', in P. Bouet & V. Gazeau (eds), La Normandie et l'Angleterre au moyen âge: Colloque de Cerisy-la-Salle, 4-7 octobre 2001 (CRAHM 2003), pp. 277-306, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZPaVmgnvplgC&pg=PA297 at p. 297 No. 66]. He may have died during the campaign or after his return, perhaps from wounds, but at any rate was no longer alive in April 1417 when William Haute inherited the family lands.Woodger, 'Haute, Sir Nicholas', History of Parliament online.

Sir Nicholas and Dame Alice had four sons:Davis, Ancestry of Mary Isaac, p. 141.

• William Haute, son and heir (c. 1390–1462), of Bishopsbourne, Member of Parliament.
• Thomas Haute
• Edmund Haute
• Nicholas Haute (born by 1395)

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Category:1357 births

Category:1415 deaths

Category:People from the City of Canterbury

Category:English MPs 1395

Category:15th-century English landowners

Category:Medieval English knights

Category:High sheriffs of Kent

Category:15th-century English military personnel