Factual Horton Family

Nicholas Horton was born in about 1397 to William and Joan Dutton in Mowsley, Leicestershire.  He was one of six sons Richard, John, William, Roger, Thomas and Nicholas. There are very few records relating to the Hortons, but Richard was William's heir, and lived in Mowsley, Leicestershire until his death sometime after 1450.  John Horton became parson of the church of Wokkeseye, in the diocese of Salisbury.  Roger, however, is recorded as Sir Roger Horton, and in 1422 is granted 110 marks yearly, as Justice of the King's Bench.

Nicholas, on the other hand, had what appears to be an illustrious career with King Henry V, most especially at the Battle of Agincourt.  The resource, The Soldier in later Medieval England, lists him as a Captain, Man at Arms to Henry V.  Subsequent to the battle he is Indentured by the King:

Nicholas Horton.  Nature of Service: Custody of Castle of Oye (Pas de Calais).  

Research to date suggests that in about 1423 the Castle of Oye falls to a siege, and Nicholas is taken prisoner. It would appear from the sources currently available that Nicholas is held prisoner for some 18 years!

Could it be that Nicholas Horton was that important that his family could not raise the money for his ransom?  Or had he fallen out with his family and only his friends were willing to raise a ransom for him?  For it is recorded:

Pardon to Nicholas Horton, late captain of the Castle of Oye, for losing it to the king's enemies, the capture having been due to want of men and victuals and the said Nicholas having been made prisoner, with the loss of all his goods there, and put to a ransom the amount of which he cannot bear without aid from his friends, who are unwilling to contribute until such pardon has been obtained for him.

Little, or nothing, is written about Nicholas following his royal pardon.  Perhaps he was just happy to live a quiet life.

Fictional Captain Nicholas Horton

Captain Nicholas Horton is the leader of a somewhat dubious collection of knights, squires and archers famed for harassing the English when they take control of Welsh castles.  He is notoriously late to any tournament at arms and is usually a gatecrasher when he does arrive.

Despite appearances, he is in fact quite a wealthy man, although supporting his vagabond retinue can sometimes stretch the resources beyond endurance. 

You will often find him at the butts encouraging his archers to improve their archery (and some would say they need to!), but he is a great believer in rewarding his retinue royally, especially with money won from the English during tournaments.

He is loyal to the Welsh Prince Owain Glyndwr, and sees it as his duty to, at every opportunity, remove the English rabble from what he sees as Welsh castles.

His wife Ann travels with him, and occasionally their daughter Eleanor joins them.