William Haute (MP) explained

William Haute (1390–1462) of Bishopsbourne, Kent,^[1] was an English politician.^{[2] [3]}

Early life

Haute was born 1390 in Waddenhall, Kent, the eldest son of Sir Nicholas Haute, MP, of Wadden Hall in Waltham, Kent, and Alice, daughter of Sir Thomas Couen or Cawne of Ightham Mote and his wife Lora (Moraunt).^{[4] [5]} William's mother having died in March 1400, leaving him as her heir,^[6] his father remarried to Eleanor Flambard (daughter of Edmund Flambard of Shepreth, Cambridgeshire), formerly the wife of Walter Tyrrell of Avon (between Ringwood and Christchurch), Hampshire.^[7]

William Haute thus became stepbrother to Sir John Tyrrell of East Horndon,^[8] later to be Speaker of the House of Commons and Treasurer of the Royal Household. In 1415, for Henry V's expedition to France, both Sir Nicholas Haute and his son William were mustered to join the retinue of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. William chose to enlist not in his father's company but in that of Tyrrell his stepbrother, and in that capacity was at the Battle of Agincourt.^[9] Nicholas is thought to have died, perhaps of wounds, within a year or so after his return to England: William had succeeded to him by 1417, and Eleanor died in 1422.^[10]

Two marriages

Haute was a Member of Parliament for the Shire of Kent in 1419, and before October of that year he married Margaret Berwyk, daughter of Sir Hugh Berwyk of Frilsham, Berkshire. She was the sister and heiress of Thomas Berwyk, and the widow of Ralph Butler of Gloucestershire. William and Margaret had one daughter. In 1420-1421 they together conducted a suit against William Sevenoke for the wardship of one William Bryan of Turville, Buckinghamshire, in a case which drew in the mayor and aldermen of the city of London.^[11] He was appointed Sheriff of Kent for the year of 1420-21,^[12] during which he supervised elections for the county to three parliaments. In 1423 he was a commissioner for weirs and impediments to navigation between Reculver and Maidstone.^[13] From 1424 he held commission of the peace for Kent,^[14] During the 1420s his relations with John and Edmund Tyrrell presumably encouraged his continuing allegiance to the Duke of Gloucester.^[15]

His second marriage, to Joan Wydeville, daughter of Richard Wydeville (1385–1441) (of Grafton, Northamptonshire and Maidstone, Kent) and his wife Joan (Bittlesgate),^[16] was arranged in the middle of 1429, to take place in Calais.^[17] At this time Wydeville was newly appointed Captain of Calais, and Haute was seeking to join the retinue of Sir John Stuard at Rysbanck Tower. Considerable endowments were agreed upon on both sides, those made by Haute involving the intention to frustrate his former wife's entail of her estates upon their daughter. He also acted as feoffee for estates of Sir John Passhele, his wife's brother-in-law.^[18] In the same year he stood surety in £100 for John, Earl of Oxford, who had married without licence while yet in wardship,^[19] and late in 1429 he was again MP for Kent.^[20]

Wydeville associations

Haute developed a friendship with his father-in-law, and having served again for the Shire in 1432 supported Wydeville at his election in 1433. Together they attended the council of spring 1434 at which Gloucester, complaining of the progress of the French war, fell into dissent with John of Lancaster, who could expect Wydeville's loyalty as his chamberlain.^[21] Although his overseas service is not well understood, from the earlier 1430s onwards Haute held numerous commissions for array, musters for France, oyer and terminer, escapes from prisons, smuggling, etc.^[22] and his continuing commissions for the peace.^[23]

The marriage of the younger Richard Wydeville (future 1st Earl Rivers) to Jacquetta of Luxembourg, widow of John of Lancaster, followed in c. 1435, and Elizabeth Woodville was born c. 1437. In 1441 Richard Wydeville senior appointed Haute executor of his will, and he retained a trusted position in his son's family circle. He was also executor to Edward Tyrrell.^[24] He represented Kent in Parliament a fourth time in 1450. He did not always occupy the same political stance as the younger Wydeville, however, and showed some favour to the cause of Jack Cade (perhaps misliking the growing power of James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele), receiving a pardon in that connection and retaining his commission for the peace until 1453.^[25]

Last years

His failure in two Chancery causes in the years following, concerning his trusteeships, were more damaging.^{[26] [27]} It was apparently late in life that William Haute made a petition to Henry VI in consideration of his military service:

"Please it unto your highnesse of youre most habundant grace to considre the long good and contynuell service the whyche your full humble servant William Haute Squier hath doon to youre most noble ffader whom god assoill and to you soverain lorde in the werres of ffraunce bicause of whiche he is so broken and brused, and comen to so grete age that he may not nowe well labour nor travayle, to graunt him youre gracious lettres to be made after the forme and effect of a cedule herto annexed, and he shal pray to god for you and for youre most noble estate."^[28]

Having been entrusted in January 1461 with certain responsibilities in preparations to resist the army of Margaret of Anjou, Haute died at the end of September 1462. He therefore could not know of his niece Elizabeth's marriage and coronation as the queen consort of King Edward IV in 1464. His will reveals that he possessed a large collection of religious relics.^{[29] [30]}

Children

William Haute and Joan Wydeville had four sons and five daughters.^[31] The family is represented among the Pedigrees of the Harleian Visitations for Kent,^[32] and William himself mentions several of them in his will.

• (Sir) William Haute of Hautesbourne, who married Joan, daughter of Henry Horne, MP:^[33] They were the parents of one son, (Sir) Thomas Hawte, who married Elizabeth, sister of Sir Thomas Frowyk, and one daughter Alice (wife of William Cromer/Crowmer, Knt., of Tunstall, Kent).
• Richard Haute ("the elder"), Esquire,^[34] who inherited Ightham Mote, greatly enlarged and improved the manor house there. He married Elizabeth Tyrrell (daughter of Sir Thomas Tyrrell of Heron (Essex) and Anne Marney), widow of Sir Robert Darcy (who had died in 1469). A tutor to Prince Edward (King Edward V), Richard was attainted for association with Buckingham's Rebellion but escaped execution, was pardoned, and died in 1487.^{[35] [36]} Elizabeth died c. 1507.^[37]
• Edward Haute, Esq., living in 1492. Was listed in taking part in the funeral of his cousin, Elizabeth Woodville.
• James Haute, Esq., living in 1473. He married _____. They had three sons, Henry, Esq., Edward, and Richard, and one daughter, Alice.
• Alice Haute (living 1512^[38]), second wife of the Yorkist Sir John Fogge, of Ashford, Kent, to which marriage she carried the Haute manor of Ashenfield in Waltham.^[39] She was a great-grandmother of King Henry VIII's sixth consort, Catherine Parr.
• Anne Haute, for a long time engaged to Sir John Paston, but did not marry him.^[40]
• Joan Haute, married (as his 2nd wife) George Darrell, Knt., of Littlecote, Wiltshire.
• Elizabeth Haute, married Robert Baynton, Knt., of Faulstone (in Bishopston), Wiltshire.
• Margaret Haute.

Notes and References

1. E. Hasted, 'Parishes: Bishopsborne', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, Vol. 9 (W. Bristow, Canterbury 1800), pp. 328–37. (British History Online accessed 14 September 2017).
2. P.W. Fleming, 'Haute family (per. 1350-1530), gentry', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004). Online edition (subscription required).
3. L.S. Woodger, 'Haute, William (d.1462), of Bishopsbourne, Kent', in J.S. Roskell, L. Clark and C. Rawcliffe (eds), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 (Boydell & Brewer 1993), History of Parliament online.
4. 'The Hautes of Ightham Mote - a family with influence', The National Trust website.
5. William's maternal ancestry is described in a suit brought by him in 1418 regarding the advowson of Warehorne: The National Archives (UK), De Banco rolls, 17 Easter 5 Henry V (1418), membranes 306-06a. View original at AALT, images fronts, 0620-21, dorses, 1500-01, fronts, 0622 (AALT).
6. 'Inquisition post mortem for Alice, widow [''[[sic]]] of Nicholas Haut, Knight (Kent)', The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, ref. C 137/1/8. See J.L. Kirby, Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 18, Henry IV (London 1987), pp. 1–20, No. 12 (British History Online, accessed 11 November 2017).
7. L.S. Woodger, 'Haute, Sir Nicholas (1357-c.1415), of Wadden Hall in Waltham, Kent', in J.S. Roskell, L. Clark and C. Rawcliffe (eds), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 (Boydell & Brewer, 1993) History of Parliament online.
8. Calendar of Fine Rolls, Henry V, Vol. XIV: 1413-1422 (HMSO 1934), p. 434.
9. N.H. Nicolas, The History of the Battle of Agincourt and of the Expedition of Henry the V (Johnson, London 1827), p. 7.
10. Woodger, 'Haute, Sir Nicholas (1357-c.1415), of Wadden Hall in Waltham, Kent', History of Parliament online.
11. J. Mackman and M. Stevens, 'CP40/637: Easter term 1420', in Court of Common Pleas: the National Archives, Cp40 1399-1500 (London 2010), CP40/637 rot. 317 (British History Online), continued at CP40/638 rot 320. View original at AALT.
12. [Richard Kilburne]
13. Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. I: 1422-1429, p. 123 (Hathi Trust).
14. Cal. Patent Rolls, 1422-1429, pp. 564-65.
15. Woodger, 'Haute, William', History of Parliament online.
16. Daughter of Thomas Bittellesgate of Devon.
17. "Marriage Settlement of William Haute of Kent, Esq. with Joan daughter of Richard Wydeville of the said county, Esq., 18th July 1429", in S. Bentley (ed.), Excerpta Historica, or, Illustrations of English History (Samuel Bentley, London 1831), pp. 249-50.
18. N.H. MacMichael, 'The descent of the manor of Evegate in Smeeth with some account of its lords,' Archaeologia Cantiana LXXIV (1960), pp. 1-47, at pp. 41-42.
19. Cal. Patent Rolls, 1422-1429, p. 543.
20. Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry VI, Vol. II: 1429-1436 (HMSO 1907), p. 29.
21. Woodger, 'Haute, William', History of Parliament online.
22. Cal. Patent Rolls, 1429-1436, pp. 519; 353, 358; 273, 352; 474; 528.
23. Cal. Patent Rolls, 1429-1436, p. 619.
24. J. Mackman and M. Stevens, 'CP40/753: Easter term 1449', in Court of Common Pleas: the National Archives, Cp40 1399-1500 (London 2010), CP 40/753, rot. 111d (British History Online).
25. Woodger, 'Haute, William', History of Parliament online.
26. See 'Danyell v. Haute', The National Archives UK) Discovery Catalogue, item ref: C 1/24/107.
27. 'Passhele v. Haute', T.N.A. Discovery Catalogue, item ref: C 1/24/6, and see Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: Part VI A.D. 1454-1461 (HMSO London 1947), p. 44 (Hathi Trust). Extended abstracts are in J.R. Scott, Memorials of the family of Scott, of Scot's-hall, in the county of Kent (J.R. Scott, London/Walthamstow 1876), 'Records and Deeds', sect. 24, p. lv (1429) and sect 37, p. lviii (1453-54).
28. The National Archives (UK) Discovery Catalogue, Petition ref. SC 8/251/12534. (digitized, viewable) The "schedule" itself has not been identified.
29. Abstract of will in N.H. Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta: being illustrations from wills, of manners, customs, &c. (Nichols & Son, London 1826), I, p. 300.
30. S. Sweetinburgh, 'The Archangel Gabriel's Stone and other relics: William Haute's search for Salvation in fifteenth-century Kent', Archaeologia Cantiana CXXVI (2006), pp. 311-30.
31. L.S. Woodger, 'Haute, William (d.1462)', History of Parliament online.
32. '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), pp. 212-14. (British Library: Harleian MS 6138, fol. 128; Additional MS 5526, fol. 123.)
33. L.S. Woodger, 'Horne, Henry, of Horne's Place in Appledore, Kent', in J.S. Roskell, L. Clark and C. Rawcliffe (eds), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, (Boydell & Brewer 1993) History of Parliament Online.
34. Richard Haute Esq., the brother of Sir William Haute, is frequently confused with his cousin Sir Richard Haute of Swerdling in Petham, also a soldier and courtier, who married (1) Eleanor Roos and (2) Margaret Boston.
35. Abstract IPM of 'Richard Haute, Esquire' (Kent), in Maskelyne and H.C. Maxwell Lyte (eds), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry VII, Vol. I (HMSO, London 1898), p. 156, no. 373 (British History Online accessed 25 September 2017). T.N.A. Discovery Catalogue, item ref: C 142/3/126a.
36. D. Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd edition (Salt Lake City 2011), III, p. 216. (Elizabeth Tyrrell)
37. Will of Elizabeth Darcy, widow (P.C.C. probate date January 1507, Adeane quire).
38. A. Hussey, Kent Obit and Lamp Rents, Kent Records Kentish Archaeological Society (1936), p. 8.
39. E. Hasted, 'Parishes: Waltham', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Vol. 9 (Canterbury 1800), pp. 319-28 (British History Online, accessed 23 September 2017).
40. J. Gairdner (ed.), The Paston Letters, AD 1422-1509, Library Edition (Chatto & Windus, London 1904) Vol 1, pp. 268-70; Vol. 4, Letter 687 and note, pp. 300-01.