Henry Neville (Gentleman of the Privy Chamber)
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Neville was Gentleman of the Privy chamber
to King Edward VI.
Park in Kent
, who married Eleanor, daughter of Andrew Windsor, 1st Baron Windsor
, and Elizabeth, sister of Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy
.
His father was the younger brother of George Neville, 5th Baron Bergavenny and older brother to Sir Thomas Neville, Speaker. As Manning said, the Neville surname "stands proudly forth as a pedigree in itself, and is associated with all that is noble in blood, distinguished in chivalry
, eminent in counsel, and celebrated in the historic annals of Britain."
, charged with "devising to maintain, promote, and advance one Reginald Pole, late Dean of Exeter, enemy of the King, beyond the sea, and to deprive the King". (Reginald Pole was a Catholic exile and a second cousin once removed of Neville).
In March 1542, Neville attended Charles de Marillac
the French ambassador; however, he apparently was not destined to have a career in politics, for by 1546, he is found serving as a groom of the privy chamber. He was made Groom of the Privy Chamber in 1546, Gentleman of the privy chamber in 1550, was knight
ed on 11 October 1551 and appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire
for 1572. He was elected to Parliament as Knight of the shire for Berkshire
five times, from 1553-1584. Neville was Henry VIII's godson and apparently was in good favour with the king, to the extent that he was included as one of the grooms who witnessed his will, of which he was afforded a legacy.
In 1551, he testified at the trial of Stephen Gardiner
, and revealed the strong detestation Henry VIII had for the bishop. Neville was closely aligned with John Dudley and Sir Henry Sidney
, the former of whom promoted him to Gentleman of the Privy chamber during the reign of Edward VI. As with many Protestants, Neville left the country upon Mary I
's accession, however returned under Elizabeth I, and continued his career holding various posts in Berkshire, where he lived at Billingbear House
, until his death on 13 January 1593. Sir Henry Neville was buried in the parish church
at Waltham St Lawrence in Berkshire.
, then in Middlesex
(no issue); secondly, 1561, Elizabeth (d. 1573), daughter of Sir John Gresham of Titsey
in Surrey
(issue four sons, including Sir Henry Neville (1562–1615) and Edward Neville (b. 1567), and two daughters); thirdly, May 1578, Elizabeth (Lady Neville) (d. 1621) the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon (1510-1579), and his first wife, Jane, the daughter of Thomas Ferneley of West Creeting in Suffolk
(no issue), and widow of Sir Richard Doyley of Greenland, at Hambleden
in Buckinghamshire
.
Privy chamber
A Privy chamber was the private apartment of a royal residence in England. The gentlemen of the Privy chamber were servants to the Crown who would wait and attend on the King and Queen at court during their various activities, functions and entertainments....
to King Edward VI.
Family background
Sir Henry Neville's father was Sir Edward Neville (d. 1538), of AddingtonAddington, Kent
Addington is a village in the English county of Kent close to the M20 motorway between Wrotham Heath and West Malling. It was known as Eddintune in the Domesday Book. The meaning of Addington is Æddi's estate...
Park in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, who married Eleanor, daughter of Andrew Windsor, 1st Baron Windsor
Andrew Windsor, 1st Baron Windsor
Sir Andrew Windsor, 1st Baron Windsor was an English nobleman. He inherited the manor of Stanwell in Middlesex. In 1542, during a visit by King Henry VIII, he was obliged to surrender the manor to the crown. In return he was offered the lands of Tardebigge and the seat of Hewell Grange in modern...
, and Elizabeth, sister of Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy
Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy
Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy was an English peer.Edward Blount was born in 1464 in London, the second son of Sir William Blount and Margaret de Echyngham...
.
His father was the younger brother of George Neville, 5th Baron Bergavenny and older brother to Sir Thomas Neville, Speaker. As Manning said, the Neville surname "stands proudly forth as a pedigree in itself, and is associated with all that is noble in blood, distinguished in chivalry
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
, eminent in counsel, and celebrated in the historic annals of Britain."
Career
However, it stands curious that Sir Henry Neville secured a post in the Privy chamber, in consideration that his father was allegedly attached to the Courtenay conspiracy, and moreover, executed in 1539 on order of King Henry VIIIHenry 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...
, charged with "devising to maintain, promote, and advance one Reginald Pole, late Dean of Exeter, enemy of the King, beyond the sea, and to deprive the King". (Reginald Pole was a Catholic exile and a second cousin once removed of Neville).
In March 1542, Neville attended Charles de Marillac
Charles de Marillac
Charles de Marillac was a French prelate and diplomat.-Career:De Marillac was, by the age of twenty-two, an advocate in parliament in Paris...
the French ambassador; however, he apparently was not destined to have a career in politics, for by 1546, he is found serving as a groom of the privy chamber. He was made Groom of the Privy Chamber in 1546, Gentleman of the privy chamber in 1550, was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed on 11 October 1551 and appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire
High Sheriff of Berkshire
The High Sheriff of Berkshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'....
for 1572. He was elected to Parliament as Knight of the shire for Berkshire
Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Berkshire was a parliamentary constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
five times, from 1553-1584. Neville was Henry VIII's godson and apparently was in good favour with the king, to the extent that he was included as one of the grooms who witnessed his will, of which he was afforded a legacy.
In 1551, he testified at the trial of Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.-Early life:...
, and revealed the strong detestation Henry VIII had for the bishop. Neville was closely aligned with John Dudley and Sir Henry Sidney
Henry Sidney
Sir Henry Sidney , Lord Deputy of Ireland was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received extensive grants of land, including the manor of Penshurst in Kent, which became the...
, the former of whom promoted him to Gentleman of the Privy chamber during the reign of Edward VI. As with many Protestants, Neville left the country upon Mary I
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
's accession, however returned under Elizabeth I, and continued his career holding various posts in Berkshire, where he lived at Billingbear House
Billingbear House
Billingbear House was situated in the parish of Waltham St. Lawrence in Berkshire, England, about six miles from Windsor.Originally owned by the Bishop of Winchester, the land was given to Sir Henry Neville in 1549 by King Edward VI...
, until his death on 13 January 1593. Sir Henry Neville was buried in the parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
at Waltham St Lawrence in Berkshire.
Marriages and descendants
He married firstly, Winifred (d. in or before 1561), daughter of Hugh Loss of WhitchurchWhitchurch, London
Little Stanmore is a locality in the London Borough of Harrow in London, England.-Toponymy:Little Stanmore was named to distinguish it from Great Stanmore, which is now known as Stanmore. The parish was also known as Whitchurch. Whitchurch is a common English place-name meaning 'white church', and...
, then in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
(no issue); secondly, 1561, Elizabeth (d. 1573), daughter of Sir John Gresham of Titsey
Titsey
Titsey is a civil parish in Tandridge Borough Council in Surrey. The census area Tatsfield and Titsey has a population of 1,816. The parish council clerk is David Innes. Separate springs in Titsey are the sources of the River Darent and the River Eden....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
(issue four sons, including Sir Henry Neville (1562–1615) and Edward Neville (b. 1567), and two daughters); thirdly, May 1578, Elizabeth (Lady Neville) (d. 1621) the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon (1510-1579), and his first wife, Jane, the daughter of Thomas Ferneley of West Creeting in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
(no issue), and widow of Sir Richard Doyley of Greenland, at Hambleden
Hambleden
Hambleden is a small village and civil parish within Wycombe district in the south of Buckinghamshire, England. It is about four miles west of Marlow, and about three miles north east of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire....
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.