COPPLESTONE, John

More can be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 651-3.

Among the wealthy men of the West Country who named Copplestone as one of their executors were William Wynard, a former recorder of Exeter, who had spent much of his fortune on provision for an almshouse at Exeter, and (Sir) Richard Hankford, the execution of whose will brought him into conflict with the powerful Sir Theobald Gorges alias Russell* (whose father, Thomas, had retained Copplestone’s own father as his counsel). Add. Ch. 64173; CP40/696, rot. 130; 700, rots. 132, 132d; CIPM, xviii. 893, 895. His work for the Exeter city authorities, who from 1419-20 paid him an annual pension of 20s., was not restricted to their dispute with the dean and chapter of Exeter cathedral. Other matters in which he represented their side included disagreements with the powerful local knight Sir John Dynham of Nutwell and the former mayor John Shillingford*. Devon RO, Exeter city recs., receivers’ accts. 7 Hen. V-38 Hen. VI. He did, however, on other occasions act for Dynham and his heirs, in 1428 serving as one of the feoffees of the dower lands settled on Sir John’s widow. Cornw. RO, Arundell mss, AR1/561/1-2. Likewise, his connexion with the Carew family predated the foundation of the family chantry, for he can be found acting as a feoffee of some of the family estates by the spring of 1437. C47/9/14, mm. 2, 3. Central to Copplestone’s activities was nevertheless his leading place in the household of Thomas Courtenay, earl of Devon, and he was closely involved in many of the earl’s affairs, such as the machinations surrounding the marriage of the Cornish heir, Henry Bodrugan†. CP40/773, rot. 117; 779, rot. 407.

In spite of his extensive employment by private individuals, Copplestone found time to attend to the government’s business, and he may have done so with some zeal. Thus, on completion of his second escheatorship, which – unusually – lasted for 18 months, he was paid an extraordinary reward at the Exchequer, and he later received similar gratuities for his work in taking into the King’s hands the lands of two of his private employers, the earl of Devon and Sir Richard Hankford. E403/669, m. 9; 680, m. 9; 700, m. 9. He actively served on the county bench, perhaps restricting his activity as private counsel to the assizes. E199/9/10; Cornw. RO, Launceston bor. recs., B/Laus/138, f. 7.

At his death Copplestone left much unfinished business, and it is not surprising that his chosen executors, Walter Ralegh*, John Denys*, Thomas Dowrich II*, Thomas Copplestone and Robert Gambon, agreed to leave the administration of the lawyer’s goods and business to his son Philip, who for years after his father’s death was contesting lawsuits arising from the latter’s affairs. CP40/810, rot. 296d; C1/73/85.