The following are items which I collected on Sir Robert Botyl, purely because of the sound of his name. He was Prior of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem in England from 1440 to about 1467, i.e. he was the leader of the Order in England at that time. The Order was known as the Knights Hospitallers and its object was to help crusaders on their way to and from the Holy Land. The Knights Templar were a different order whose object was to do the crusading and fighting. When the Knights Templar were forcibly disbanded, much of their estate and wealth was given to the Knights Hospitallers, who still survive today: their headquarters is in Clerkenwell. The St.John Ambulance Brigade was formed from it.
Sir Robert Botyll - Miscellaneous Notes.
"Registers of Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath and Wells 1466-1491 and Richard Fox Bishop of Bath and Wells 1492-1494" edited by Sir H. C. Maxwell-Lyte KCB.
"11 September 1466: Institution of Sir John Flemmyng, chaplain, to the vicarage of Tymberiscombe, on an exchange with Sir John Kyng, chaplain, for the church of Brendon, in the diocese of Exeter, to which the former had been presented by Brother Robert Botyll, prior of the hospital of St.John of Jerusalem in England. The order for his induction was sent to the dean of Wells or his official."
Ibid. para 65 page 11:- "22 August 1467. Institution of Sir John Forster, chaplain, to the church of Ellesworth, vacant by the death of Sir Stephen Chepman, on the presentation of Brother John Botyll, prior of the hospital of St.John of Jerusalem in England."
Bishop Bekynton's Register (Bishop of Bath and Wells 1443-1465) edited by Sir H.C.Maxwell-Lyte KCB. Various references to Robert Botyll as master of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England as follows:
20 February 1445 para 84 page 23 (Botell)
11 August 1450 para 525 page 148 (Botill)
25 October 1453 para 793 page 220 (Botyll)
3 November 1453 para 798 page 221 (Botil)
22 December 1453 para 809 page 223 (Botyl)
8 January 1455 para 962 page 264 (Botil)
21 October 1456 para 1008 page 273 (Botyl)
22 December 1457 para 1100 page 296 (Botyll)
26 April 1459 para 1209 page 318 (Botyll)
27 March 1460 para 1290 page 341 (Botyll)
13 January 1464 para 1551 page 409 (Botell)
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"The Knights of St.John in the British Realm" by Colonel Sir Edwin King, KCB, CMG. Revised and continued by Sir Harry Luke KCMG D.Litt, Hon. LLD. Published by The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem. St.John's Gate London EC1 1967.
Pages 69-71: "... Robert Mallory died in 1440 and was succeeded by Brother Robert Botyll, Commander of Melchbourne Anstey and Trebigh, who was to rule over the Order in England for nearly as long a period as Brother Philip Thame. It is from about this time that we find the Priors beginning to be described as Grand Priors, perhaps in emulation of their superior. In the early days of his rule the chief concern of the Priory at Clerkenwell was the imminent danger that once more threatened the Order in the East. Barsbai had been succeeded by one of his former ministers, Jakmak, who was determined to carry out the plans of his predecessor and in 1440 sent a strong squadron of eighteen galleys to ravage the islands of the Religion (Note 1). They were repulsed with heavy loss in a succession of engagements at sea, and the Sultan, furious at the humiliation, began serious preparations for a siege of Rhodes. Grand Master Jean de Lastic issued a General Citation in 1441 to meet the danger and once more the Knights of England flocked out to the East to fight for the Faith and the honour of their Order. "There was heavy fighting at sea in 1442, and in 1444 a great Egyptian armada, too powerful for the galleys of the Religion, landed a force of 18,000 men in Rhodes, which was ravaged from end to end. Few details are recorded of the siege of the city itself, which lasted for forty days (Note 2). The Egyptian camp was pitched near St.Anthony's Church, and their batteries concentrated their fire on the outlying fort covering the entrance to the Harbour of the Galleys, where the Castle of St.Nicholas was afterwards built, and on the curtain wall linking the Harbour and St.Peter's Tower. By the middle of August the curtain wall began to show a serious breach and Grand Master de Lastic decided to take the offensive by making a sortie in force with all the troops at his disposal. On the 24th August, in the darkness of early morning the garrison silently filed out of the fortress and formed up in front of the ditch, light troops in front, supported by a stand of pikes and the archers on the flanks. As soon as daylight began to appear the drums and trumpets sounded the charge, and the Egyptian camp was successfully rushed. Many Mamluks were killed and the remainder, taken completely by surprise, fled in panic to their galleys and hastily re-embarked, abandoning guns, stores and baggage to the victorious garrison. In this victory many English Knights must have played their part, but the name of one only is known to us for certain, that of their commander, Brother Hugh Middleton, the Turcopolier and Pillar of England. Four years after the siege he wrote a long letter of instructions, now in the Library of King's College, Cambridge, to his agent in England, and he died in 1449.
"If the Grand Prior of England was at the siege of Rhodes is not definitely recorded, but the great esteem in which he was held by Jean de Lastic is proved by the fact that at the Chapter-General held in Rome in 1446 he was one of the Commission of three appointed by the Grand Master to exercise his powers in his absence. That he was held in equal esteem in his own country is also evident, since he was among the most trusted advisers of King Henry VI. When that unfortunate monarch showed signs of recovery from the disorder into which he had fallen in 1453, it was the Grand Prior and the Bishop of Winchester who were first admitted to audience with him on the 7th January of the following year, and we are told that he spoke to them as well as he had ever done. The Grand Prior and the Bishop were deeply affected by their interview with the gentle and saintly King, and as they came out from the audience chamber wept tears of joy, relating how the King had told them that he was in charity with all the world and only wished the great Lords were the same. Yet when the Yorkists occupied London in 1460, Grand Prior Botyll joined their forces and marched with them to the Battle of Northampton, in which the King was taken prisoner. Whether or not his conduct is just another example of that ingratitude and faithlessness which stained the reputation of so many of the great men of that age it is difficult to say. He may possibly have hoped in some way to be able to assist that most unhappy King, over whose restoration to health he had wept tears of joy only six years earlier.
"Robert Botyll died in 1467 (Note 3), and there are still three memorials of him in existence. In the Priory Church at Clerkenwell is a window containing a small stained glass shield of his arms, bearing the arms of the Order in chief (Note 4), and in a window of the Chapter House of Exeter Cathedral there is another small shield with his arms impaling those of the Order. The latter may have been erected when he was Commander of Trebigh in Cornwall. There is also a window bearing his arms in Islington Parish Church."
"Note 1. The Order of St.John was frequently spoken of simply as 'the Religion', in such phrases as 'the galleys of the Religion', 'the banner of the Religion', 'the ambassador of the Religion', etc.
Note 2. See Belabre, "Rhodes of the Knights" p.28.
Note 3. The death of Prior Robert Botyll is generally given as 1469, but apparently it took place in September 1467. See Ramsay "Lancaster and Yorks" Vol. II, p.333.
Note 4. This window bears the erroneous inscription 'Resign. 1469', and was evidently erected some considerable time after his death."
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Following comments are by J.Bottle:
I visited Exeter Cathedral Chapter House in 1986. There was no stained glass at all, it had all been destroyed during World War 2. The Librarian made enquiries for me and could find no diagram, description or reference to the Botyll stained glass.
I visited St.Johns Gate in 1986, the Librarian Miss Pamela Willis said that the Priory Church was bombed during the war and the stained glass was destroyed.
It is a little curious that the Edwin King book (which was revised after World War 2) kept the statements about the stained glass windows, which had by then been destroyed.
I tried in 1986 to see the window in Islington Parish Church, but the Church was locked, it is just possible that that one survives.
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References seen in St.John's Gate Clerkenwell, 24th March 1986.
Waterton MS: "Roll of the English and Irish Knights Hospitallers."
[I will attempt to copy the unusual layout of the text for the next bit:]
Page 18. "XXIX Robert Boutil 1440. 1468 nominated
by a bull of the Grandmaster Jean de Lastie.
Rhodes 29 November 1440.
in 10 Edward IV the 11 Pars Pat.
Lord Prior is described as 10 Edw. IV
"Prior hospitalis Sancti Johannis quoted by
Jerusalem in Anglia, Primus Weaver and
Baro regni Anglae et corneiliarius many others.
Regis.
This is quoted by many
Authors but the roll itself is
missing at the Record Office"
Page 235. "Robert Boutil. Botylle 1440 and
-------------------------------- 1468 Lord Prior
his arms in the east window |
of SJohns Church Clerkenwell | He was chosen, as Prior of
Gules, a chevron or between |
3 combs, is circumscribed:- | England to be one of his
"Robertus Boitel Prior Elect AD|
1439 Resign 1469" HF | lieutenants by the Grand
-------------------------------- Master John de Lastie at
the Chapter General to be held at Sienna in 1445. by order of the Pope, and afterwards transferred to Rome, where it was held on the 22 February 1446. Bosio II. 224. B. E. 1468 ( ) die Septembris obiit frater Robertus Botylle; Prior Sci Johis de Jerlm in Anglia apud Clerkenwelle; maximaque turbatis ibidem exorta est pro electione nove Prioris; rege Volente ibidem subito in religionem et priorem proeficere Prieardum Wiidervile militem, fratrem Regina Elizabetha e contrarioque fratribus religionis eligentibus Johannem Langstothe, ballivum Aquila.
"Wil. Wyrcester. Annales: given in ye II. vol. of the Wars of England in France: Rolls edn. p791 37 Hen. VI. 1459. "In consequence of the Prior of St.John of Jerusalem, who was a Peer of the English Parliament having been summoned by the GrandMaster of the Order to attend a Chapter at Rhodes in October, a letter was written to that personage by the King stating that he would not allow the Prior to leave England on account of his age and infirmities, and of the necessity of his presence for His Majesty's service. The Castellein and other English members of the Order were informed of the Prior's anxious desire to obey the Grand Masters commands, notwithstanding his inability to perform so long a journey, and of Henry's having forbidden him to undertake it; and they were moreover strictly forbidden, as the King's true subjects, to give their consent to any grant or charge which the Chapter might impose, if it were prejudicial to the laws of this country, on pain of such punishment, as should be an example to others."
"Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council in England 1832. 1454. 32 Hen. VI Vol. VI lxxxiv. The Lord Prior was a member of the Privy Council ib. VI. liiii."
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A History of the Knights of Malta or the Order of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem -- Major Whitworth Porter. Longmans, Brown, Green, Longmans & Roberts 1858. Volume II Page 284.
"30. Robert Boutil, or Bootle. Preceptor of Melchbourne, Anstey, and Trebighe. Made Grand-Prior of England by bull of the Grand Master, Jean de Lastie, dated Rhodes, 29th November 1440. Ob. A.D. 1468"
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The History of Mynchin Buckland Priory and Preceptory in the County of Somerset -- Thomas Hugh. J.R.Smith Soho Square 1861.
Page 34: ".... Of this also a confirmation was granted by King Henry VI, at Westminster, on the 5th of February, 1422-3. And another ratification and confirmation of the same, on the payment of half a marc, was made to Robert Botell, Prior of St. John, twenty one years afterwards, on the 10th of February 1443-4. (Pat. 22 Hen. VI., p.2, m.22)"
(This refers to a grant allowing such things as the privilege to collect firewood without hindrance - J.Bottle)
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Knights Hospitallers of the Venerable Tongue of England in Malta -- Canon Mgr. A.Mifsud. Malta 1914. Printed at "The Malta Herald" Printing Office, Valletta.
Page 47: (Relating to the use/abuse of the Hospitallers services -- without payment?): "In this connection a "Concordia" or agreement established after Prior Malory's death at Robert Boutil's election to the Grand Priory and entered in L. B. an. 1439-40. Vol 354. p. 213., lays down the dues payable for board in Clerkenwell by Hospitallers from other Commanderies viz: each commander 3s. 4d. per week, besides 20 pence per week for each servant and 16 pence for each valet.
"The Turcopilier paid for board 6s. 8d. per week and had right to lodge in the "Turcopilier's side". Other Commanders had right to lodgings in the part of the establishment called 'Cromwell's Pass.'"
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Taafe's History of the Knights of Malta I - II London 1852. Appendix to book 1 page xxxv
"xxx Fr. Robertus Botill seu Botiller ab an 2 Henria VI an. 1442 Item an. 10 Edwardi IV quo anno ex Archiv. Turr. Lundinensis nominatus est primo Baro Angliae Regis Consiliarius."
Vol III Page 13 [Again, I will attempt to copy the layout of the text]:
"In 1445 a chapter general was holden at Rhodes, under what seems superfluous but 1445 denotes the Pope's anxious partiality, perhaps a special Papal exhortation; and that same Pontiff in that same year engaged the grand master to hold by locum-tenens, a second chapter general in Sienna, removed afterwards to Rome.
"4. Cod. dipl. Geros., Giunt. Vatic., ii., Nun. xvii-SEB. Paoli: Serii, ii. 468. - Bosio: par. ii., lib. vi., anno 1445. The locum. tenens was not one, but three; the Priors of France and England, and the Castellan d'Emposta of Spain, Sir Robert Boutil, thirtieth English prior. -- Appendix, clviii., xxx."