Gruffudd Vychan - Capture of Sir John Oldcastle

Capture of Sir John Oldcastle

The family honours were re-affirmed as a result of his role in the capture of the renegade Lord Cobham in Nov. 1417. Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, had been imprisoned for heresy but subsequently escaped from the Tower of London in 1413 and then fled into hiding with some Lollard friends at a glade on Pant-mawr farm in Broniarth, called ‘Cobham's Garden.’ When this became known in the area it was searched and Sir Gruffudd and his brother discovered Oldcastle's whereabouts and assisted in his capture. The reward for his capture was awarded to the Lord of Powys, but he died before receiving it, though a portion was paid to his widow in 1422. The principal agents in the capture were four of the tenants of the lord of Powys, Ieuan and Griffith, sons of Gruffudd ap Ieuan, being two of them.

By a charter dated at Mathrafal, 6 July 1419, Sir Edward de Cherleton pardoned the murders and felonies committed by them on the occasion. At Shrewsbury, 4 March 1420, in the presence of Henry V and of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the four acknowledged satisfaction by the Lord of Powys for their portion of the reward for the capture of Oldcastle. On 10 March 1420 the lordship of Broniarth was constituted a mesne manor in favour of Ieuan and Sir Griffith Vaughan, empowering the brothers to hold tri-weekly courts, in return for a fee to be paid annually to the Lord of Powys of one red rose upon the feast of St John the Baptist. Sir Gruffydd was probably about 30 years old when he received his title and lands again.