Sir John Brocas

John Brocas’ father was a Gascon officer in the English army who was killed – almost certainly at the Battle of Bannockburn – in 1314. Together with his two brothers, John was brought to England, probably to Windsor, where he grew up under the protection of King Edward II (r. 1307-1327). He had entered the King’s service where he acted as a valet.

After his marriage in 1317, John was making land investments in Windsor and, probably by 1326, he had acquired the nearby manor of Clewer Brocas. During the troubled times of Edward II’s imprisonment, his assassination and the government of Queen Isabella and her lover, Mortimer, John kept his head down. Soon after Edward III (r. 1327-1377) took personal control of his kingdom in 1330, John returned to favor and was quickly made Master of the King’s Horse. This position made him in charge of all the Royal studs across the country and vast sums of money passed through his hands as he equipped the English army with every type of steed. From this time on John was to be at the center of the organization of the King’s wars with both France and Scotland.

John’s importance grew, and so did his estates. He purchased lands in the parishes adjoining Windsor and Clewer, and had invested in business ventures, such as a wine trade. John personally fought in many of the King’s wars, but he was also responsible for some commercial aspects of the Crown. In 1337, he was responsible for organizing the sale of English wool abroad for the profit of the Crown, and was put in charge of rebuilding the Windsor Castle in the 1350’s.