John de Benstede facts for kids
Sir John de Benstede (born around 1275, died 1323 or 1324) was an important person who worked for the King of England in the late 1200s and early 1300s. He held many important jobs for King Edward I. These included being the King's Secretary, looking after the Great Seal (a special stamp used for official documents), and managing the royal household's money and supplies as the Controller of the Wardrobe. He also served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which meant he was in charge of the country's money, and later became a royal judge.
Working for the King
Sir John de Benstede often helped the King with important tasks. For example, when the Chancellor, John de Langton, went to Rome, Sir John was trusted to look after the Great Seal. This seal was very important because it made official documents legal.
In 1305, Sir John was part of a special group of English and Scottish representatives. Their job was to figure out the best ways to keep Scotland stable and peaceful. In the same year, he became the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a role he held until 1307. This meant he was responsible for the country's finances.
In 1307, the Prince of Wales asked Sir John to deliver a message to the King. The message was from some important people who wanted the King to appoint new judges to help with their complaints. The next year, Sir John became the keeper of the wardrobe, managing the King's household expenses and supplies. In 1309, he became a judge in the common pleas court, dealing with everyday legal cases.
In 1315, Sir John was sent to Northumberland, a county in northern England. His mission was to gather knights and soldiers from the northern areas to protect the border from attacks by the Scots. The following year, he was supposed to go to the Pope's court to discuss important matters about Scotland, but he was called back before he could leave England. In 1317, he was assigned as a judge for the county of Hertfordshire.
Peace Missions and Royal Favors
In 1318, Sir John was one of the people chosen to try and make peace with Robert Bruce, a Scottish leader. The next year, he was part of a group that had to figure out how much money was owed to people from Flanders who had suffered damages in 1307. Also in 1319, he was sent to Rome with other envoys to ask the Pope to make Thomas de Cantilupe a saint. Thomas de Cantilupe had been a bishop in Hereford during the time of King Henry III.
Between 1301 and 1303, Sir John often traveled with the King in Scotland. In 1302, the King gave him special permission to hold two markets each week and one fair each year at his manor (a large estate) in Ermington, Devonshire. He received a similar permission for his manor in Bennington, Hertfordshire, the next year.
When King Edward II came to power in 1307, Sir John was appointed as a judge in the common bench court. In the same year, the King gave him permission to build strong stone walls around his house called Rosemont, near Westminster. The next year, he traveled with the King in Scotland again. He was also sent to France with Roger Savage to arrange a meeting between the King of England and the King of France. This meeting took place in Pontoise.
From 1311 to 1321, Sir John was regularly called to attend Parliament as a judge. He retired from his judge role in 1320. In 1322, he was listed as one of the people in Hertfordshire who could be called for military service, showing he was still an important figure. He likely passed away in 1323.
Family Life
Sir John de Benstede was married twice. His first wife was named Isabella, and his second wife was Petronilla. When he died, he owned land in several counties, including Devonshire, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex, Wiltshire, and Hampshire. His wife Petronilla and his son, Edmund, who was thirteen years old at the time, survived him. Petronilla was allowed to live on some of the estates for the rest of her life. She passed away in 1342. The last male member of this family line, Sir William de Benstede, died in 1485.
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