LISLE, John (c.1386-1429), of Wotton, I.o.W.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b.c.1386, s. and h. of Sir John Lisle*. m. by 1406, Margery, da. of John Bramshott of Bramshott, Hants, 6s. inc. Sir John, 3da.1

Offices Held

Warden of Chute forest, Wilts. Feb. 1408-d.

Commr. of array, I.o.W. Apr. 1410, Hants Apr. 1418.

Sheriff, Hants 3 Nov. 1412-6 Nov. 1413.

Biography

Lisle was aged about 22 when his father died in 1408, but he received seisin of only two-thirds of the family estates, his mother (who was to outlive him) retaining her dower lands in Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire. Even so, four years later his holdings (mainly on the Isle of Wight and in Wiltshire) were estimated to be worth no less than £126 6s.8d. a year. Another legacy from his father was the remaining period of a ten-year lease (granted in 1402) of the herbage at Hippenscombe, in the royal forests of Savernake and Chute, a lease which was renewed to John’s advantage for a further ten years in January 1411. In the following year, however, his tenure was disputed by Henry IV’s youngest son, Humphrey, later duke of Gloucester, who declared that the herbage was parcel of the forest of Savernake granted him in 1403, and the validity of Humphrey’s patent was allowed and Lisle’s grant revoked. At the same time Sir William Sturmy*, who had his own quarrels with the prince with regard to the wardenship of Savernake, was proceeding against Lisle in an assize of novel disseisin, alleging his own family’s immemorial tenure of the herbage in question. Lisle’s hereditary wardenship of the neighbouring forest of Chute was, however, never in dispute. Lisle also inherited from his father a case before the constable’s court against Edmund Arnold* of Dartmouth, a suit which he apparently brought to a successful conclusion. His life was otherwise one of almost complete seclusion and contrasted with that of his father. He stayed aloof from military undertakings (even though his name was forwarded to the Council in January 1420, because he was one of the Wiltshire gentry considered best able to undertake the defence of the realm); he never served as a j.p. and only twice on other commissions; and he only once took office as sheriff. During his shrievalty he was responsible for holding the Hampshire elections of 1413. He subsequently attended the hustings held at Winchester in 1419, 1423, 1426 and 1427.2

Lisle died, apparently in London, on 17 Feb. 1429, two days after he had made his will. Apart from provisions for burial in the church of St. Nicholas at Chute, his only bequest of a pious nature was a negligible gift of 3s.4d. to St. Benedict’s church at Baynard’s Castle on the Thames. His executors were his widow and his eldest son, John. The latter was to have his best horse, while to his other five sons and three daughters Lisle left over 200 sheep and seven cows. John, junior, unlike his father, was anything but a nonentity. He was knighted, sat for Hampshire in 1433 and 1449 (Feb.), and married a niece of William, Lord Botreaux.3

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Authors: J. S. Roskell / L. S. Woodger

Notes

Variants: de Insula, Isle, Lyle.

  • 1. CP, viii. 44.
  • 2. CFR, xiii. 104, 119, 202; CCR, 1405-9, p. 320; 1409-13, pp. 7, 354, 380; Feudal Aids, vi. 423, 450, 457, 534; CPR, 1408-13, pp. 291, 415; C219/11/2, 12/3, 13/2, 4, 5; E28/97/33.
  • 3. PCC 10 Luffenham; CP, viii. 44-45; C139/39/42.