Henry de Snaith

At first glance, Henry de Snaith seems to have no direct association with Howdenshire.  His life story appears to focus on Snaith, Selby and a variety of other ecclesiastical locations, although the high spot in his career must have been when he was appointed by Edward III to work at the Tower of London!

However, on 18th May 1366, Henry was granted the prebend of Howden by the King.  

So, how did we come across Henry's story?

"In 1380, Henry Snayth, clerk, who was a prebendary of Lincoln, Beverley, Howden, and York, gave by his will, dated at London, February 3rd, (and printed on p. Ill, of the Surtees' Society's first volume of York Wills,) to the altar of St. James, in the church of Snaith, "at which altar exists a chantry, which I have founded in perpetuity, two pair of vestments, that is to say, one for holidays, and the other for a chaplain, who shall celebrate there constantly, a chalice, with two silver phials, a missal, and a psalter, as is more fully contained in a certain agreement made between the said abbot and convent of Selby and myself. And I will that the said vestments be made at my charge, that is to say, one of russet cloth of silk, and the other of fusten, with certain ' garters ' placed on it." Besides founding this chantry, for the greater decency of which he makes this minute provision, he gave a hundred marks for the restoration [building of the choir] of the monastery of Selby, on condition that they should specially recommend in their prayers the souls of his parents, "of king Edward the III., of me Henry,'', and of brother John de Goldale, formerly a fellow-monk with me of the said monastery. Also, I bequeath to the same monastery £40, to be expended, as well in the purchase of one house at Snayth for the priests to live together in, as in expenses due to the archbishop and his clergy, in writing, and in any other manner, for the supply of the needs of the said chantry."

So, unpicking the above, we discover some very interesting facts:

• Henry founded a chantry at the altar of St James in Snaith Church;

• In his will, Henry gave to this chantry in his will two pairs of vestments (one for holidays and the other for the constant (permanent?)) chaplain.  These vestments were to be made at Henry's charge, one being of russet cloth of silk and the other of fusten, with certain 'garters' placed on it;

• Henry also bequeathed to the Church a chalice, with two silver phials, a missal and a psalter;

• Henry had previously made an agreement between the Abbot and convent of Selby regarding these donations;

• In addition to founding the chantry at Snaith, Henry also gave 100 marks for the restoration of the monastery of Selby - the building of the choir;

• The condition of the latter bequest was that they should pray for the souls of his parents, of King Edward III and of himself;

• The monastery should also pray for the soul of Brother John de Goldale, formerly a fellow-monk at Selby;

• This confirms that Henry was formerly a monk at Selby Abbey - presumably at the same time as John de Goldale (probably Gowdall);

• He also bequeathed to Selby monastery £40 to be spent in the purchase of one house at Snaith for the priests to live together in.  In addition, the money was to be used to pay for the expenses due to the archbishop and his clergy for the supply of the needs of the chantry at the altar of St James in Snaith Church.  These expenses could be for writing and any other needs or supplies.

After the suppression of the monasteries in 1536 and 1539, local people were scared that the Church possessions would be removed and so they apparently took things into their own hands and took much of the silver, etc., out of the Church and hid it away.  (I wonder whether any of these treasures still exist?)  The remainder of the Chantry goods - presumably including those bequeathed by Henry de Snaith - were seized by order in 1546.  However, in a return of 1552, Snaith Church still retained 20 sets of beautiful vestments, worth over £10,000 in modern money.  Sadly, these were removed soon after.  Even the gold and silver chalices were taken and the Church was left virtually bare.

But we're moving ahead of ourselves!  We need to take a step back and look at Henry's route to the household of King Edward III ...

• We have so far been unable to discover anything about Henry's early life.  We know that he was probably born in Snaith and that he served as a monk at Selby Abbey.  It is possible that he could even have started there as an oblate at the tender age of 5 years!  Alternatively, he may have entered as a novice monk at the age of around 15 years.   We do not know the identity of Henry's family, but it is likely that he may have come from at least a moderately well-off background.  A substantial donation to the Abbey was generally a condition of entry to the profession.

• Henry's transition from monastic responsibilities to high status employment within the royal household is also a mystery.   It was unusual for a monk to leave the monastery unless they had a special reason for doing so and any promotion or change of employment required the permission of their abbot.  It seems likely that he would have served under Abbot Geoffrey de Gaddesby (1342 - 1368), who had also previously served as a monk at Selby Abbey.

• From early times, the Abbots of Selby were summoned to Parliament to serve as lords spiritual.   However, the privilege was not always appreciated.  When Abbot Geoffrey de Gaddesby was summoned to the Parliament of Edward III in 1344, he excused himself, owing to his feebleness of body, and sent one of his monks, Walter de Haldenby, with Thomas de Brayton, clerk, to represent him.  Is it possible that Henry was sent on Abbot Geoffrey's behalf on a subsequent occasion?  And might this have been the way in which Henry first came to the attention of Edward III?  We can only surmise.

• 1357:  On 23rd November 1357 a memorandum of letters dismissory was issued for Henry de Snaith to proceed from Clerk to all Holy Orders.

• 1357:  Rector of Hardwick.

• Chaplain to Edward III.

• 1359:  Henry seems to have joined the royal household as Clerk of the Privy Wardrobe.

• 1360:  Rector of Youghall (Diocese of Cloyne).

• 1360 - 1365:  On 20th June 1360, Henry was appointed as Keeper of the Privy Wardrobe in the Tower of London.  Prior to this he had been serving as the King's Clerk (King Edward III).  His predecessor in the Privy Wardrobe, William de Rothewell, was ordered to deliver to Henry the King's armour and jewels, etc.  During the period 1st June - 1st November 1360, Henry was paid at a rate of 12d. per day, plus a payment of 32s. for the repair of various items.  

• 1361 - 1371:  On 29th June 1361, Henry was also appointed as Keeper of the Great Wardrobe.  The executors of the will of his predecessor, John de Neubury, were instructed to deliver to Henry all the cloths, wax, etc., which formed part of the contents of the Great Wardrobe.

• From time to time, Henry received goods into the Wardrobe that had been confiscated by the Customs Officer during searches of ships moored on the Thames.  In 1363 a record exists in the Calendar of Fine Rolls detailing just such an occasion.

On 10th June 1363, Reynold de Shouldham, the King's 'searcher of ships and boats in the port of London and water of the Thames', was ordered to deliver to 'the king's clerk, Henry de Snayth, keeper of the great wardrobe, all the cloths (later described as a fardel of linen cloths) and other contents of a certain bale which he arrested as forfeit to the king' from the boat of Peter Gossyn, which was crossing to Calais.  Three days later, Reynold was instructed to release the ship, which is described as a 'hakeboat' from Flanders, on receipt of payment to the Chancery of £10 (approximately £5,000 nowadays) by Peter Gossyn.

Interestingly, this incident may have come under the Navigation Act of the time, by which a vessel would not be forfeited if only an insignificant part of the cargo contravened the Act.  In fact, in 1363 new legislation came into effect in relation to such seizures of boats and ships:

"Whereas the ships of diverse people of the realm, be arrested and holden forfeit, because of a little thing put into their ship not customed, whereof the owners of the ship be ignorant; it is accorded and assented, that no owner shall lose his ship for such a small thing put within his ship, not customed, without his knowledge."

So, was Peter unaware that someone had sneaked an extra bundle of cloth onboard his ship?  Looking at the size of his fine, it seems unlikely.  But who are we to judge, almost 700 years later?!

Such arrests weren't confined to cloth, as may be seen in the Calendar of Fine Rolls one year later, when Reynold de Shouldham delivered to Henry a selection of pewter vessels and 62 dozen bowstrings, together with bundles of woollen cloths. 27 pieces of silver were also delivered to the King's Treasurer.  Quite a haul!

• 1361:  Curate and Precentor of Hereford.

• 1361:  Rector of Balsham, Cambridgeshire.

• 1361:  Master of Gresham Hospital - appointed 10th November 1361.  Henry was at this time Chaplain to King Edward III and was presented by him to the Hospital, the See being vacant.  Henry resigned in 1363, but was then reinstated on the resignation of his successor, John de Sleford.  Henry then resigned again in 1366 and the post was taken by Will de Denby.

• 1362 - 1364:  Curate and Precentor (a person, usually ordained, who is in charge of preparing worship services) of St Stephen's, Westminster.

• 1362:  Curate and Priest of Ossory.

• 1362:  Curate and Priest of Lincoln.  Snaith was deprived of his Lincoln prebend by the Pope on a date unknown.

• 1365: Henry became Rector of Oundle, Lincolnshire on 13th July 1365.

• 1364:  Henry's role was expanded to include Keeper of the Great Wardrobe.

• 1364 - 1381:  Curate and Priest of St Paul's, London.

• 1364:  Priest of Mora.

• Curate of Chichester.

• Curate of St David's.  

• Priest of Henfield.

• Priest of Mathry.

• 1366:  On 18th May 1366, Henry de Snaith, Priest, was inducted to the prebend (a position of fixed income) of Howden.  This was a much-disputed appointment, including suggestions of harassment and molestation of Hugh de Ferriby, the previous holder, by agents of Henry de Snaith.  Hugh lost possession of the prebend when it was granted to Henry by the King.

• 1367:  Rector of Haddenham.

• 1368:  Clerk of the queen's household.  (Grateful thanks to Kathryn Warner for sharing this, and other snippets from  'Life-Records of Chaucer', which she has cited in her books about Philippa of Hainault and on John of Gaunt. )

• 1369:  On 1st September 1369, Henry de Snayth was directed by Privy Seal to issue various lengths of black cloth to the members of the King's household, for mourning garments to be worn at the funeral of Queen Philippa.  For example, Geoffrey Chaucer received 3 ells of black cloth.  An ell is generally equivalent to 45 inches, being the length of the arm from the shoulder (or elbow) to the wrist.  The exact length was never defined in English law.  However, King Edward I ordered that every town in England should have an ell-wand, being a rod of one ell's length, to be used for official measurement. 

• 1370:  On 5th March 1370, Henry was appointed by royal grant to the much-contested Prebend of St James's Altar, Beverley Minster.  He held this position until his death.

• 1371:  Chancellor of the Exchequer?

It has been reported on various websites that Henry became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1371.  This intrigued us, as his name seems to be missing from most lists of 14th century Chancellors.  

But is this because we are were thinking of this as a modern Chancellor, perhaps?  It seems that the role was quite different in the 14th century.

A chancery or chancellery (Latin: cancellaria) was a medieval writing office, responsible for the production of official documents.  The title of Chancellor, for the head of the office, came to be held by important ministers.  

The office of Chancellery was one of the two main administrative offices, along with the Exchequer. It began as part of the royal household, but by the 13th-century was separate from the household and was located at Westminster. It produced all the charters and writs, which were all sealed with the Great Seal.

The office was headed by the Chancellor of England, and was staffed by royal clerks. It came into existence shortly before the Norman Conquest of England, and was retained by King William I of England after the Conquest. 

We might well be wrong, but our feeling is that it is unlikely that Henry was either Chancellor of the Exchequer or Chancellor of England.  It seems more likely to us that he was a royal clerk or even Chancellor of the medieval writing office.  This was undoubtedly an important role - for instance, clerks were often employed to write letters and petitions to the king.  

But we will continue to search for proof to confirm or refute our humble opinion on this matter :-).  

• 1372:  Prebendary in Westminster.

• 1376 - 1381:  Henry exchanged his prebends in Chichester and St . David's for North Newbold in York.

• King Edward III  died on 21st June 1377.  So, what did Henry de Snaith do next?  Well, it seems that he may have moved across to work for Edward's mistress, Alice Perrers who, apparently, had married Sir William Windsor, a Westmorland knight, in secret in November 1375.  Sir William was the King's lieutenant in Ireland.  He was 53 and Alice was aged 27.  As Royal Lieutenant in Ireland, William spent long periods of time away from England, thus lessening the probability of Edward discovering their marriage.  William died on 15th September 1384 at the age of 62 years.  The couple had no children.

From a Memorandum of Acknowledgement in the Calendar of Close Rolls, dated 10th November 1379, we know that Henry was Sir William's clerk by this time.  Is it possible that he was responsible for the following petition from Sir William to Richard II, dated between 1378 and 1380?:

"William de Wyndesore and Alice his wife state that by a judgment brought in parliament against Alice, they were deprived of their lands and tenements, goods and chattels, and ask that they, and those enfeoffed with lands and tenements to Alice's use, might be restored to these lands and tenements, goods and chattels, and to their losses by this judgment, and that Alice might be restored to her previous estate; and also that William might be pardoned his suit of the King's peace, and all other things which could harm him through Alice - considering that although the judgment was brought against Alice as a single woman, she was at that time William's wife, and considering also William's service to the King's father and grandfather."  TNA Ref: SC 8/146/7265

(https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9209448)

This document is an excerpt of a petition brought by Henry de Snaith regarding a dispute over the prebend of St James in the collegiate church of Beverley.  Henry is saying that the money is rightfully his, but it is being claimed by Hugh Ferriby.  (A prebend is the portion of the revenues of a cathedral or collegiate church formerly granted to a canon or member of the chapter as his stipend.)

Considering that the petition was brought by Henry in person and that his occupation is given as 'Clerk', together with the similarities seen in the formation of many of the letters, it seems quite possible to us that this could possibly be another example of the handwriting of Henry de Snaith!  What do you think?

TNA Ref: SC 8/139/6945

(https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9209129 )

• 1381:  Archbishop Neville , at his visitation of Beverley in 1381, was informed that Snaith (who never appeared) kept, with Richard de Chesterfield , better residence than his fellow canons.

• The actual date of Henry de Snaith's death is uncertain.  However, we know that he was alive at the time of writing his will on 3rd February 1380.   A reference to a vacancy of canon and prebendary at North Newbold "by the death of Henry de Snaith"  on a document dated 21st April 1382, narrows the date to a two year period.  This may be narrowed further if we assume that he was still alive at the time of the reference to him at the visitation of Beverley in 1381.  

• We have, as yet, been unable to find the location of Henry's burial.  Possibilities include in the church of North Newbold, which appears to have been one of his last posts.  However, there is also the possibility that he might have been buried in Snaith Church, close to his chantry at the altar of St. James.  This would seem to be reasonably likely, but there is no visible memorial to him in the church.  Nevertheless, the 19th century restoration of the church, including the insertion of new floors, together with the location of a large Victorian organ on the site of the altar, would inevitably have hidden or destroyed any 14th century memorial which might have been constructed for him.