Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle
Encyclopedia
Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG
(died 3 March 1542) was an illegitimate son of King Edward IV of England
, and an important figure at the court of Henry VIII
. The survival of a large collection of his letters
make him in some ways one of the best-known people of his time.
, then an English possession in France
, between 1461 and 1475, and died at the Tower of London
, where he is buried. The identity of his mother is uncertain; the most likely candidate appears to be the "wanton wench" Elizabeth Wayte, although the historical record is spotty on this issue, and it is not entirely clear that Wayte is distinct from another of Edward's mistresses, Dame Elizabeth Lucy. Dame Lucy is another possible candidate, as is Jane Shore
. His godfather was William FitzAlan, 16th Earl of Arundel
.
Arthur spent his childhood at the court of his father Edward IV. How he passed his youth after his father's death in 1483 is not known. In 1501 he joined the household of his half-sister, the queen consort Elizabeth of York
, and moved to the household of Henry VII after her death in 1503. After the accession of his nephew Henry VIII (1509) he was formally designated an Esquire of the King's Bodyguard, and was a close companion of Henry's (despite the age difference).
In 1514 Arthur was appointed High Sheriff of Hampshire
and made captain of the Vice-Admiral's ship Trinity Sovereign, rising to become Vice-Admiral of England. In 1519 he and his wife, Elizabeth Grey Baroness Lisle, took possession of the lands that had belonged to her father (her brother and niece having both died). In 1520, he attended his nephew, King Henry VIII, at the Field of Cloth of Gold. On 25 April 1523, Arthur was created Viscount Lisle
. He was also to be selected Privy Councilor, Governor of Calais, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
, and named as deputy of Calais after the death of John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners
, on 16 March 1533.
In 1540 several members of the Plantagenet household in Calais were arrested on suspicion of treason
, on the charge of plotting to betray the town to the French. Suspicion unavoidably fell upon Arthur as well, and he was recalled to England and eventually arrested on 19 May 1540.
The actual conspirators were executed, but there was no evidence connecting Arthur with the plot. Nevertheless he languished in the Tower of London
for two years until the king decided to release him. However, upon receiving news that he was to be released Arthur suffered a heart attack and died two days later. The 18th-century historian Francis Sanford
commented "Henry VIII's Mercy was as fatal as his Judgments".
During his time at Calais, Arthur and his wife had to manage much of their affairs outside Calais by correspondence. Copies of 3,000 of these letters were seized as evidence after Arthur was arrested. They survive to the present day in the Public Record Office
, and have become a valuable historical resource for a critical period in English history.
(c. 1482–1530), daughter of Edward Grey, Viscount Lisle. She was the widow of Edmund Dudley
, treasurer to Henry VII
, who had been executed in 1510 by Henry VIII. The next day the king granted Arthur some of the Dudley estates which had come to the crown due to Edmund Dudley's attainder. Arthur and Elizabeth had three daughters Frances Plantagenet; Elizabeth Plantagenet; Bridget Plantagenet.
Arthur's second marriage was in 1529 to Honor
(1493–1566) the daughter of Sir Thomas Grenville of Stowe in Kilkhampton, Cornwall and his wife Isabella Gilbert, and the widow of her first husband, Sir John Bassett
. Arthur and Honor had no children, but he helped bring up her children, including Anne Bassett
, an alleged mistress of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth Bassett, also known as Mary Bassett
. Arthur died in 1542; Honor was buried at Logan, Cornwall
, on 30 April 1566.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(died 3 March 1542) was an illegitimate son of King Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
, and an important figure at the court of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The survival of a large collection of his letters
Lisle Letters
The Lisle Letters are the correspondence of Arthur Plantagenet, an illegitimate son of King Edward IV and an uncle of King Henry VIII, and Plantagenet's wife, Honor Plantagenet, Viscountess Lisle, with several courtiers and friends, including her daughters Anne and Elizabeth...
make him in some ways one of the best-known people of his time.
Biography
Arthur Plantagenet was born in CalaisCalais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, then an English possession in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, between 1461 and 1475, and died at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, where he is buried. The identity of his mother is uncertain; the most likely candidate appears to be the "wanton wench" Elizabeth Wayte, although the historical record is spotty on this issue, and it is not entirely clear that Wayte is distinct from another of Edward's mistresses, Dame Elizabeth Lucy. Dame Lucy is another possible candidate, as is Jane Shore
Jane Shore
Elizabeth "Jane" Shore was one of the many mistresses of King Edward IV of England, the first of the three whom he described respectively as "the merriest, the wiliest, and the holiest harlots" in his realm...
. His godfather was William FitzAlan, 16th Earl of Arundel
William FitzAlan, 16th Earl of Arundel
William FitzAlan, 16th Earl of Arundel, 6th Baron Maltravers .He was a son of John FitzAlan, 13th Earl of Arundel and Eleanor Berkeley...
.
Arthur spent his childhood at the court of his father Edward IV. How he passed his youth after his father's death in 1483 is not known. In 1501 he joined the household of his half-sister, the queen consort Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
, and moved to the household of Henry VII after her death in 1503. After the accession of his nephew Henry VIII (1509) he was formally designated an Esquire of the King's Bodyguard, and was a close companion of Henry's (despite the age difference).
In 1514 Arthur was appointed High Sheriff of Hampshire
High Sheriff of Hampshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Hampshire, the title was often given as High Sheriff of the County of Southampton until 1959.-List of High Sheriffs:*1070–1096: Hugh de Port *1105: Henry de Port *1129: William de Pont de l'Arche...
and made captain of the Vice-Admiral's ship Trinity Sovereign, rising to become Vice-Admiral of England. In 1519 he and his wife, Elizabeth Grey Baroness Lisle, took possession of the lands that had belonged to her father (her brother and niece having both died). In 1520, he attended his nephew, King Henry VIII, at the Field of Cloth of Gold. On 25 April 1523, Arthur was created Viscount Lisle
Viscount Lisle
The title of Viscount Lisle has been created six times in the Peerage of England. The first creation, on 30 October 1451, was for John Talbot, 1st Baron Lisle. Upon the death of his son Thomas at the Battle of Nibley Green in 1470, the viscountcy became extinct and the barony abeyant.In 1475, the...
. He was also to be selected Privy Councilor, Governor of Calais, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
, and named as deputy of Calais after the death of John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners
John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners
John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners was a statesman and translator, born at Sherfield, Hertfordshire, England, to Sir Humphrey Bourchier and Elizabeth Tilney, and educated at Oxford University. He held various Offices of State, including that of Chancellor of the Exchequer to King Henry VIII, and...
, on 16 March 1533.
In 1540 several members of the Plantagenet household in Calais were arrested on suspicion of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, on the charge of plotting to betray the town to the French. Suspicion unavoidably fell upon Arthur as well, and he was recalled to England and eventually arrested on 19 May 1540.
The actual conspirators were executed, but there was no evidence connecting Arthur with the plot. Nevertheless he languished in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
for two years until the king decided to release him. However, upon receiving news that he was to be released Arthur suffered a heart attack and died two days later. The 18th-century historian Francis Sanford
Francis Sanford
Francis Ariioehau Sanford was a French Polynesian politician.- Early life :Francis Sanford was of American ancestry, but born and educated in Papeete. He had teaching as his first career, but after 1932 he did some work in administrative services...
commented "Henry VIII's Mercy was as fatal as his Judgments".
During his time at Calais, Arthur and his wife had to manage much of their affairs outside Calais by correspondence. Copies of 3,000 of these letters were seized as evidence after Arthur was arrested. They survive to the present day in the Public Record Office
Public Record Office
The Public Record Office of the United Kingdom is one of the three organisations that make up the National Archives...
, and have become a valuable historical resource for a critical period in English history.
Marriages and Issue
On 12 November 1511 Arthur married ElizabethElizabeth Grey, 6th Baroness Lisle
Elizabeth Grey, 6th Baroness Lisle was an English noble woman who flourished during the reigns of Henry VII and VIII.Elizabeth was the daughter of Edward Grey , 1st viscount L'lsle or Lisle, and Elizabeth Talbot ....
(c. 1482–1530), daughter of Edward Grey, Viscount Lisle. She was the widow of Edmund Dudley
Edmund Dudley
Edmund Dudley was an English administrator and a financial agent of King Henry VII. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons and President of the King's Council. After the accession of Henry VIII, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed the next year on a treason charge...
, treasurer to Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, who had been executed in 1510 by Henry VIII. The next day the king granted Arthur some of the Dudley estates which had come to the crown due to Edmund Dudley's attainder. Arthur and Elizabeth had three daughters Frances Plantagenet; Elizabeth Plantagenet; Bridget Plantagenet.
Arthur's second marriage was in 1529 to Honor
Honor Plantagenet, Viscountess Lisle
Honor Grenville was an English lady-in-waiting during the reign of Henry VIII. Honor was the daughter of Sir Thomas Grenville of Stowe in Kilkhampton, Cornwall and his wife Isabella. She was the wife first of Sir John Bassett of Umberleigh, Devon and then second wife of Arthur Plantagenet, 1st...
(1493–1566) the daughter of Sir Thomas Grenville of Stowe in Kilkhampton, Cornwall and his wife Isabella Gilbert, and the widow of her first husband, Sir John Bassett
Sir John Bassett
Sir John Basset of Umberleigh in Devon and Tehidy in Cornwall, was a courtier in the reign of Henry VIII. He was married twice; firstly to Ann Denys, daughter of John Denys and secondly to Honor Grenville...
. Arthur and Honor had no children, but he helped bring up her children, including Anne Bassett
Anne Bassett
Anne Bassett was an English courtier of the Tudor period, whose charms attracted the attention of King Henry VIII.-Family background:Anne was born in 1521, the fourth child of Sir John Bassett and Honor...
, an alleged mistress of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth Bassett, also known as Mary Bassett
Elizabeth Bassett (maid-of-honour)
Elizabeth Basset was an English noblewoman who served at the court of King Henry VIII, and was briefly jailed for speaking against him....
. Arthur died in 1542; Honor was buried at Logan, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, on 30 April 1566.