View source for Nicholas de Moels

{{More citations needed|talk=y|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{short description|13th-century Anglo-Norman knight}}
[[File:NicholasDeMoels By MatthewParis.png|thumb|Nicholas de Moels, Seneschal of Gascony, in a small boat bidding farewell to King Henry III as he sails back to England in 1243. Detail of illumination by [[Matthew Paris]].{{sfn|Paris|British Library}}]]
[[File:MoelsArms.png|thumb|[[Canting arms]] of Nicol' de Moels, from the [[Roll of arms|Glover Roll]]: ''"d'argent od deux barres de gules ovec trois moeles de gules en le chief"'' (''Argent, two bars gules in chief three [[Roundel|torteaux]]'').]]
'''Nicholas de Moels''' or '''Nicholas Molis''' (c. 1195 – 1268 or 1269) was an [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo{{nbh}}Norman]] royal administrator and household knight of King [[Henry III of England]].{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=1|loc=Vol. 9}}{{efn|Described in 1229 as ''miles noster familiaris'' ("our familial knight").{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=2|loc=Vol. 9}}}} In this capacity he was assigned many and varied offices and duties, often of a temporary nature. He married a wealthy heiress from [[North Cadbury]] in Somerset which transformed him into a major landholder and [[English feudal barony|feudal baron]]. In 1244 whilst serving as [[Seneschal of Gascony]], he inflicted a defeat on the [[King of Navarre]], whom he took prisoner in the field.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=3|loc=Vol. 9}}{{sfn|Risdon|1811|p=139}}

==Origins==
His parentage is unknown.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=1|loc=Vol. 9}} His surname appears to derive from the Norman [[Manorialism|manor]] of Meulles in Calvados, south{{hyphen}}west of [[Orbec]], in the [[Diocese of Lisieux]].{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=1|loc=Vol. 9}} Devonshire historian [[Tristram Risdon]] (d. 1640) stated that he "descended of an ancient lineage in this shire" but provided no further detail.{{sfn|Risdon|1811|p=139}} One of the many tenants of Devonshire baron [[Baldwin FitzGilbert|Baldwin de Meulles]] (d. 1090), a [[Domesday Book]] tenant in chief, was a certain "Roger de Moles", who held from him at least the two manors or estates of [[Lew Trenchard]] and Waddlescot / Warson.{{efn|''[[#CITEREFThornThorn1985|The Domesday Book, Devon (Thorn & Thorn 1985)]]'' translates "Roger de Moles" as Roger of Meulles in Calvados.{{sfnm|1a1=Thorn|1a2=Thorn|1y=1985|1pp=9{{ndash}}10|1loc=Part 1, Chapter 16|2a1=Thorn|2a2=Thorn|2y=1985|2p=9|2loc=Part 2 (Notes), Chapter 16}} ''[[#CITEREFCokayne1936|The Complete Peerage (Cokayne 1936)]]'' adds two further estates: Teign in Ashton, and Pennycot.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=1|loc=Vol. 9}}}} His successor in 1066 was a Joel de Moels.{{sfn|Keats-Rohan|1999|p=405}} In 1242, as recorded in the ''[[Book of Fees]]'', Lew Trenchard and Waddlescot were held by a certain "John de Molis" from John de Courtenay, feudal baron of Okehampton, who had inherited much of the land formerly held by Baldwin de Meulles.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=5|loc=Vol. 9}} This John de Molis, perhaps a brother of Nicholas, would also hold Lashbrook, Dornaford, Exbourn and Highampton, which had been held by a Roger de Molis in 1086.{{sfn|Reichel|1913|p=94}}

Nicholas was born about 1195 and appears to have spent some of his early life in the court of [[King John of England]] (1199{{ndash}}1216),{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=5|loc=Vol. 9}} whose son King Henry III (1216{{ndash}}1272) he would later serve.

==Career==
During the reign of Henry III, Nicholas served as [[High Sheriff of Hampshire|Sheriff of Hampshire]] (1228–1232), [[Sheriff of Devon]] (1234), and [[High Sheriff of Yorkshire|Sheriff of Yorkshire]] (1239–1242), and also as Constable of [[Winchester Castle]], [[Pembroke Castle]], [[Haverfordwest Castle]], [[Cilgerran Castle]], [[Tenby Castle]], [[Rochester Castle]] (1247), [[Canterbury Castle]] (1247) and [[Corfe Castle]]. He was also Governor of the [[Channel Islands]].{{sfn|Kingsford|1894|p=96}}

===Seneschal of Gascony===
{{Original research section|date=November 2018}}
The contemporary Benedictine monk [[Matthew Paris]] wrote as follows concerning events in 1243:
:''Unde cito post contigit quod cum rex a Burdegali recessurus custodemque quem senescallum vocant, ei idoneum, videlicet Nicholaum de Molis, providisset, jam jamque omnia ad custodiam terrae provide pro curasset, et ascensa nave, alta freti velificando versus Angliam jam sulcasset orta excogitati scismatis inter ipsos Wasconienses occasione rex missis galeis festinanter revocaretur et redire cogeretur ut exortus gravissimus conflictus ibidem sedaretur''.{{sfn|Paris|1872|pp=244{{ndash}}245|loc=Vol. 4}}

Which may be translated as follows:
:"And it happened soon after, that when the king was about to leave Bordeaux, and had appointed Nicholas de Molis as a fit person to act as governor, whom they call seneschal, and had taken all precautions for the safety of the land, and had embarked, and was even ploughing the depths of the sea, sailing towards England, a furious quarrel having arisen among those Gascons, the king was hastily recalled by galleys sent after him, and compelled to return, that he might quell the great disturbance which had arisen".{{sfn|Paris|1852|p=447|loc=Vol. 1}}

[[File:KingHenryIII&QueenEleanor ReturnFromGascony MatthewParis ChronicaMajora.png|thumb|300px|''De reditu regis in Angliam a Wasconia'' ("Concerning the return of the king to England from Gascony") King Henry III and Queen Eleanor returning by sea from Gascony in 1243, with Nicholas de Moels, Seneschal of Gascony, in a small boat alongside bidding him farewell.{{sfn|Paris|British Library}} Illumination by [[Matthew Paris]] (1200{{ndash}}1259) in ''Chronica Majora'' (Royal 14 C VII f. 134v)]]
In September 1243, Henry III left Gascony to return to England, having on 17 June 1243 appointed Nicholas de Moels as Seneschal of Gascony, as related by Matthew Paris in his ''Chronica Majora'',{{efn|''[[#CITEREFCokayne1936|The Complete Peerage (Cokayne 1936)]]'' quoting ''[[#CITEREFParis1872|Chronicles and memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages (Paris 1872)]]''.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=3|loc=Vol. 9}}{{sfn|Paris|1872|pp=254{{ndash}}255|loc=Vol. 4}}}} with a marginal illustration of the King and Queen on board a ship with a man in a small boat alongside, apparently de Moels seeing him off.{{efn|Caption per British Library on{{hyphen}}line illustration.{{sfn|Paris|British Library}}}} The Latin text following the illustration is as follows:
:''De reditu regis in Angliam de Pictavia et Wasconia. Eisdem quoque temporibus, scilicet circa festum Sancti Remigii, rex Angliae, dispositis in Wasconia disponendis commissaque custodia terrae Nicholao de Molis, militi strenuissimo et circumspecto, quem praefecit Wasconiae senescallum, naves ascendens, prospere velificando redeundo in Angliam, transfretavit et septimo kalendas octobris apud Portesmues applicuit''.{{sfn|Paris|1872|pp=254{{ndash}}255|loc=Vol. 4}}

Translated as:
:"At that time also, namely about the feast of St{{nbsp}}Remy, the King of England, having settled what was to be settled in Gascony, and having intrusted the government of the land to Nicholas de Molis, a very brave and prudent soldier, whom he created seneschal of Gascony, and taking ship, had a most pleasant voyage across the Channel, and returned into England; he landed at Portsmouth on the 25th of September".{{sfn|Paris|1852|p=455|loc=Vol. 1}}

In 1244, de Moels inflicted a defeat on [[Theobald I the Posthumous|Theobald I]], [[King of Navarre]], capturing him in person on a battlefield in Gascony, according to the Devonshire historian [[Tristram Risdon]] (d. 1640).{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=3|loc=Vol. 9}}{{sfn|Risdon|1811|p=139}} He was relieved of that office, with commendation for his service, in July 1245.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=3|loc=Vol. 9}}

The event is related as follows by Matthew Paris:
:''Nicholaus de Moles senescallus Wasconiae contra regem Navariae dimicans ad votum triumphavit: Anni ipsius eodem tempore Nicholaus de Molis Wasconiae senescallus quem rex a Wasconia ibidem terrae suae custodem constituerat contra regem Navariae guerram viriliter continuans ad votum in quodam casu inito certamine triumphavit''.{{sfn|Paris|1872|p=396|loc=Vol. 4}}

Which may be translated:
:"Of the victory gained by Nicholas de Molis, seneschal of Gascony. About this time of the year, Nicholas de Molis, seneschal of Gascony, whom the king, on leaving that country, had appointed governor of that province, and who had been carrying on a fierce war against the king of Navarre, was favoured by fortune in one engagement, and gained a victory over him".{{sfn|Paris|1853|p=37|loc=Vol. 2}}

===Return to England===
Nicholas returned to England to fight in the Welsh wars and was made governor of [[Caernarvon Castle]] and [[Cardigan Castle]]. He was made Constable of [[Dover Castle]] in 1246, [[High Sheriff of Kent|Sheriff of Kent]] in 1247 and [[Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports]] in 1258.{{sfn|Kingsford|1894|p=96}}

==Landholdings==
Many of the gifts of land he received from the king were temporary in nature, comprising lands forfeited by other landholders but later restored to them.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=1|loc=Vol. 9}} In 1217 he was granted a lease of the manor of [[Watlington, Oxfordshire|Watlington]] in Oxfordshire "for his sustenance in the king's service".{{sfn|Lobel|1964|pp=210{{ndash}}252|loc=Vol. 8}}{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=1|loc=Vol. 9}} In 1226 he was granted [[Little Berkhamstead]], which was later confirmed to him in fee.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=2|loc=Vol. 9}} After his marriage in 1230 to Hawise de Newmarch, heiress of North Cadbury and many other manors, he became a major landholder in his own right. He continued to receive royal grants. In 1230 he was granted the royal [[demesne]] manors of [[Kingskerswell|King's Carswell]] and [[Diptford]] in [[Devon]].{{sfn|Summerson|2010}} In 1250 or 1251 he was granted [[free warren]] in his manors of Cadbury and nearby [[Mapperton]] in Dorset.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=3|loc=Vol. 9}}

==Personal life==
In or after 1230, Nicholas married Hawise de Newmarch (as her second husband), widow of John de Botreaux (whom she had married in 1218) and younger daughter and co{{hyphen}}heiress of James de Newmarch (d. 1216), [[English feudal barony|feudal baron]] of [[North Cadbury]] in Somerset.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=4|loc=Vol. 9}}{{sfn|Sanders|1960|p=68}} Hawise's sister, Isabel de Newmarch, married Ralph Russell (died c. 1250), son of her guardian Sir [[John Russell (knight)|John Russell]] (died c. 1224) of [[Kingston Russell]] in Dorset, who was also a household knight of [[John, King of England|King John]] and of the young [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] to whom he also acted as steward.

Nicholas and Hawise had several children, including:
* James de Moels (d. March 1252 or 1253), eldest son and heir apparent who predeceased his father. In 1243 he was assigned to be educated with Prince Edward, son of King Henry III.{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=4|loc=Vol. 9}}
* Roger de Moels (c. 1233 or 1237{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}{{ndash}}1294), second but eldest surviving son and heir, Marshal of the Army and Governor of Lampsdervour Castle in [[Ceredigion]].{{sfn|Cokayne|1936|p=4|loc=Vol. 9}}{{sfn|Rogers|1902|p=8}} His second son was [[John de Moels, 1st Baron Moels]] (d. 1310).
* Agnes de Moels (born 1230){{citation needed|date=August 2022}}, born at Cadbury{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}, the second wife of [[William de Braose, 1st Baron Braose]], [[English feudal barony|feudal baron]] of Bramber and Gower.{{sfn|Cartwright|1830|p=174, 180}}
* Maud de Moels (born c. 1258){{Citation needed span|1258|date=January 2018}}, married Richard de L'Orti, or de Urtiaco, heir to the barony of [[Stoke Trister]], Somerset.{{sfn|Cokayne|1945|p=183|loc=Vol. 10}}{{sfn|Bates|1896|p=35}}

Nicholas de Moels died between November 1268 and 24 June 1269.{{sfn|Summerson|2010}}

==Footnotes==
{{Notes|33em}}

==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

==Bibliography==
===''Books and journals''===
{{Refbegin|33em}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Bates
| author-first1 = Reverend Edward Harbin
| editor-last1 = Murray
| editor-first1 = Richard Paget
| editor-link1 = Richard Paget Murray
| date = 1896
| title = Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
| series = Part II {{mdash}} Papers, etc. The Family of De Urtiaco
| publisher = [[Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society]]. Barnicott and Pearce
| volume = 42
| language = English
| location = Taunton
| oclc = 852187751
| url = https://sanhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08Bates.pdf
| access-date = 14 September 2020
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200227154322/https://sanhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08Bates.pdf
| archive-date = 27 February 2020
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Cartwright
| author-first1 = Edmund
| author-link1 = Edmund Cartwright
| editor-last1 = Dallaway
| editor-first1 = James
| editor-link1 = James Dallaway
| date = 1830
| title = The Parochial Topography of the Rape of Bramber
| chapter = Pedigree of Braose
| series = A History of the Western Division of the County of Sussex. Part 2
| volume = 2
| publisher = [[John Bowyer Nichols|J. B. Nichols & Son, T. Bentley]]
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 558716876
| hdl = 2027/umn.31951d005732196
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Cokayne
| author-first1 = George Edward
| author-link1 = George Edward Cokayne
| editor-last1 = Doubleday
| editor-first1 = Sir Herbert Arthur
| editor-last2 = Scott-Ellis
| editor-first2 = Thomas Evelyn
| editor-link2 = Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden
| editor-last3 = Gibbs
| editor-first3 = Sir Vicary
| editor-link3 = Vicary Gibbs (St Albans MP)
| date = 1936
| title = The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Moels to Nuneham)
| volume = 9
| edition = 2
| publisher = The St{{nbsp}}Catherine Press Limited
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 642569832
| url = https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/idurl/1/421516
| access-date = 14 September 2020
| url-access = registration
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Cokayne
| author-first1 = George Edward
| author-link1 = George Edward Cokayne
| editor-last1 = Doubleday
| editor-first1 = Sir Herbert Arthur
| editor-last2 = Scott-Ellis
| editor-first2 = Thomas Evelyn
| editor-link2 = Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden
| editor-last3 = Gibbs
| editor-first3 = Sir Vicary
| editor-link3 = Vicary Gibbs (St Albans MP)
| date = 1945
| title = The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Oakham to Richmond)
| volume = 10
| edition = 2
| publisher = The St{{nbsp}}Catherine Press Limited
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 642569832
| url = https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/idurl/1/57180
| access-date = 12 April 2021
| url-access = registration
}}
* {{Cite book
| last = Keats-Rohan
| first = K.S.B.
| date = 1999
| title = Domesday People: A Prosopographaphy of Persons Occurring in English Documents, 1066-1166. I. Domesday Book
| publisher = The Boydell Press
| language = English
| location = Woodbridge
| isbn = 0-85115-722-X
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Kingsford
| author-first1 = Charles Lethbridge
| author-link1 = Charles Lethbridge Kingsford
| editor-last1 = Lee
| editor-first1 = Sidney
| editor-link1 = Sidney Lee
| title = Dictionary of National Biography
| date = 1894
| volume = 38
| series = Milman to More
| publisher = [[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan and Co.]]
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 1067055902
| url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati38stepuoft
}}
* {{Cite book
| editor-last1 = Lobel
| editor-first1 = Mary Doreen
| editor-link1 = Mary Lobel
| others = [[Victoria County History]]
| title = Victoria history of the County of Oxford Lewknor and Pyrton Hundreds
| chapter = Parishes: Watlington
| volume = 8
| date = 1964
| publisher = [[Institute of Historical Research]] by [[Oxford University Press]]
| language = English
| location = Oxford
| oclc = 655920572
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Paris
| author-first1 = Matthew
| author-link1 = Matthew Paris
| editor-last1 = Giles
| editor-first1 = Reverend John Allen
| editor-link1 = John Allen Giles
| title = Matthew Paris's English history. Translated from the Latin
| date = 1852
| volume = 1
| series = 1235{{ndash}}1273
| publisher = [[Henry George Bohn]]
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 561709608
| url = https://archive.org/details/matthewparisseng01pari
| access-date = 14 September 2020
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Paris
| author-first1 = Matthew
| author-link1 = Matthew Paris
| editor-last1 = Giles
| editor-first1 = Reverend John Allen
| editor-link1 = John Allen Giles
| title = Matthew Paris's English history. Translated from the Latin
| date = 1853
| volume = 2
| series = 1235{{ndash}}1273
| publisher = [[Henry George Bohn]]
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 561709608
| url = https://archive.org/details/matthewparisseng02pari
| access-date = 14 September 2020
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Paris
| author-first1 = Matthew
| author-link1 = Matthew Paris
| others = [[Roger of Wendover]]
| editor-last1 = Luard
| editor-first1 = Henry Richards
| editor-link1 = Henry Luard
| date = 1872
| title = Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores
| trans-title = Chronicles and memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages
| chapter = Matthæi Parisiensis, monachi Sancti Albani, Chronica majora
| trans-chapter = The Chronicles of Matthew Paris, monk of St{{nbsp}}Albans
| volume = 4
| series = 1240{{ndash}}1247
| publisher = Published by the authority of Her Majesty's Treasury, under the direction of the [[Rolls Series|Master of the Rolls]]. [[Longman|Longman & Co.]]
| language = English
| location = London
| oclc = 2150326
| url = https://archive.org/details/matthiparisien04pari
| access-date = 14 September 2020
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Reichel
| author-first1 = Reverend Oswald Joseph
| editor-last1 = Amery
| editor-first1 = John Sparke
| title = Devon and Cornwall Notes & Queries
| volume = 7
| date = 1913
| pages = 91{{ndash}}95
| publisher = James G. Commin
| language = English
| location = Exeter, England
| oclc = 867851649
| url = https://archive.org/details/devoncornwallnot07amer
| access-date = 14 September 2020
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Risdon
| author-first1 = Tristram
| author-link1 = Tristram Risdon
| date = 1811
| title = The chorographical description or survey of the county of Devon
| quote = Printed from a genuine copy of the original manuscript; with considerable additions.
| edition = updated
| publisher = Rees and Curtis
| language = English
| location = Plymouth
| oclc = 1015503608
| hdl = 2027/mdp.39015009157010
}}	
* {{Cite book	
| author-last1 = Rogers	
| author-first1 = William Henry Hamilton	
| author-link1 = William Henry Hamilton Rogers	
| date = 1902	
| title = Archaeological papers relating to the counties of Somerset, Wilts, Hants, and Devon	
| chapter = Moels{{nbh}}Botreaux, of North Cadbury, Somerset	
| language = English	
| oclc = 33974916	
| hdl = 2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t9668q53m
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Sanders
| author-first1 = Ivor John
| title = English baronies: a study of their origin and descent, 1086{{ndash}}1327
| chapter = North Cadbury
| date = 1960
| publisher = [[Clarendon Press]]
| location = Oxford
| language = English
| oclc = 185526779
}}
* {{Cite book
| author-last1 = Thorn
| author-first1 = Caroline
| author-last2 = Thorn
| author-first2 = Frank
| editor-last1 = Morris
| editor-first1 = John
| editor-link1 = John Morris (historian)
| editor-last2 = Thorn
| editor-first2 = Caroline
| editor-last3 = Thorn
| editor-first3 = Frank
| date = 1985
| title = Domesday Book. Devon
| series = History from the sources
| volume = 9
| edition = New Edition (1 Jun. 1985)
| publisher = [[Phillimore & Co. Ltd.|Phillimore Press]]
| language = English
| location = Chichester
| isbn = 978-0850334920
| oclc = 466258038
}}
{{Refend}}

===''Web''===
{{Refbegin|33em}}
* {{Cite web
| author-last1 = Paris
| author-first1 = Matthew
| author-link1 = Matthew Paris
| author-last2 = British Library
| author-link2 = British Library
| name-list-style = amp
| title = Historia Anglorum, Chronica majora, Part III; Continuation of Chronica majora
| quote = Detail of a marginal drawing of Henry III and Eleanor returning by sea from Gascony, with Nicholas de Molis is in a small boat alongside.
| date = 1250
| website = www.bl.uk
| language = English
| location = St{{nbsp}}Albans
| id = f. 134v
| url = https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMIN.ASP?Size=mid&IllID=43417
| access-date = 14 September 2020
| ref = {{sfnref|Paris|British Library}}
}}
* {{Cite ODNB
| author-last1 = Summerson
| author-first1 = Henry
| author-link1 = Henry Summerson
| date = 2010
| title = Moels [Meulles, Molis], Sir Nicholas de (d. 1268/9), soldier and diplomat
| language = English
| location = Oxford
| doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/18873
| isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8
| url = https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-18873
| access-date = 14 September 2020
| url-access = subscription
}}
{{Refend}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Roger Northwode]]
| title = [[Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports]]
| years = 1258
| after = [[Richard de Grey]]
}}
{{S-end}}

[[Category:Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports|Moels, Nicholas de]]
[[Category:People from South Somerset (district)|Moels, Nicholas de]]
[[Category:1190s births|Moels, Nicholas de]]
[[Category:13th-century deaths|Moels, Nicholas de]]
[[Category:13th-century English Navy personnel]]
[[Category:High sheriffs of Hampshire]]
[[Category:High sheriffs of Yorkshire]]
[[Category:High sheriffs of Kent]]
[[Category:High sheriffs of Devon]]