The Strife of the Roses and Days of the Tudors in the West Part 3

h.o.a.ry and worn and frayed,-- Old cross,-- By ruin's hand arrayed, Time's dross:-- What message never stayed, Speaks from thy lips decayed?

"Strife of the years is gone, Not me,-- Drooping, bereft, and lone, Here see Pilgrim, by days undone, Heaven's pleading-still, milestone.

"Ah! many eyes as thine Have come, Met this old gaze of mine, Then home, Would their glad steps incline, Bearing my tale divine.

"Where are they now? O say-- No sound,-- Ask the memorials gray, Around,-- They came again this way, And down beside me lay."

Lord Willoughby de Broke by his wife Blanche Champernowne, left one son Robert, his heir, and a daughter Elizabeth, married (as his second wife) to William Fitz-Alan, seventeenth Earl of Arundel, K.G. who died in 1543, and was buried at Arundel.

Robert Willoughby, the second Lord Willoughby de Broke, married first Elizabeth, eldest of the three daughters and coheiresses of Sir Richard Beauchamp, second Lord Beauchamp of Powyke, who died 1503, by his wife Elizabeth daughter of Sir Humphrey Stafford, knt.

This marriage of Lord Beauchamp and Elizabeth Stafford, took place in the private chapel of his manor-house of Beauchamp's-Court near Alcester, by special license of the Bishop of Worcester.

The manor of Alcester belonged to the Beauchamps. Walter de Beauchamp, brother to William de Beauchamp, the first Earl of Warwick of that line, purchased a moiety of the manor, and had one of his seats at Beauchamp's-Court near that town, the other being at Powyke, in Worcesters.h.i.+re. His descendant Sir John de Beauchamp, K.G., who was created Baron Beauchamp of Powyke, 2 May, 1447, by Henry VI. and who was also Lord Treasurer of England, purchased the other portion of the manor of Thomas Bottreaux, a representative of the antient Cornish family of that name, who had held it for several descents. He died in 1478, and at his death left the whole manor to his son and heir, Richard, the second baron; and he at the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth with Robert Willoughby, settled its reversion, subject to his own life, upon her.

By this his first marriage, Robert, the second Lord Willoughby de Broke had one son Edward. More concerning him presently.

Secondly he married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset, K.G.--by his wife Cicely, the heiress of the Lords Bonville and Harington. By her he had two sons Henry and William (who died young of the sweating sickness)[6] and two daughters, Elizabeth married to John Paulet, second Marquis of Winchester who died in 1576, and Anne wedded to Charles Blount, fifth Lord Montjoy, who died in 1545, son and heir of William, fourth Lord Montjoy, whom her mother Dorothy Grey subsequently married as her second husband. Of the public services of this n.o.bleman we hear little beyond his being attached to the expedition under the command of his father-in-law the Marquis of Dorset, sent to Spain early in 1512 by Henry VIII. on behalf of Ferdinand of Arragon, and which returned to England somewhat ingloriously in the November of the same year. He survived his son Edward, and gave a considerable portion of his large property to the daughters of his second wife. He made his will 1 Oct., 1521, and "_bequeathed his body to be buried in the Hospital called the Savoy, in the suburbs of London, before the image of St. John the Baptist, appointing a priest of honest conversation should be provided to sing and pray for his soul, as also for his wife's soul, and all his ancestors souls for ever, in the place where he should be buried taking for his yearly salary seven pounds_." After making bequests to his illegitimate children, he gives "_to his son Henry, all his harness, bows, arrows, and all other his weapons defensive, to the intent he should be therewith ready to serve his prince, in time of need_." "And departing this life shortly after by a pestilential air 10 Nov. 13 Henry VIII.--1521,--was buried in the church of Beer-Ferrers." (Dugdale.)

[6] Bacon thus describes the pestilence:--"This disease (Sweating Sickness) had a swift course both in the sick body, and in the time and period of the lasting thereof, for they that were taken with it, upon four and twenty hours escaping were thought almost a.s.sured. It was a pestilent fever but as it seemed not seated in the veins or humours, for that there followed no carbuncle, no purple nor livid spots, or the like, the ma.s.s of the body being not tainted, only a malign vapour flew to the heart and seized the vital spirits, which stirred Nature to strive to send it forth in an extreme sweat. And it appeared by experience that this disease was rather a surprise of Nature, than obstinate to remedies, if it were in time looked unto; for if the patient were kept in an equal temper, both for clothes, fire, and drink moderately warm, with temperate cordials, whereby Nature's work were neither irritated by heat, nor turned back by cold, he commonly recovered. But infinite persons died suddenly of it, before the manner of the cure and the attendance were known."

Edward Willoughby, son of the foregoing, married Margaret daughter of Richard Nevill, second Lord Latimer[7] of the second creation (by Anne Stafford his wife), who died in 1530. By her he had three daughters, Elizabeth, Anne, and Blanche. Anne died unmarried, Blanche married Sir Francis Dautry, knt., and dying leaving no issue, Elizabeth the eldest was left at length, says Collins,--

"sole heir to the last Lord Broke, her grandfather; also to her grandmother Elizabeth, eldest of the daughters and coheirs of the last Lord Beauchamp of Powyke; and thus in her own person, united the ill.u.s.trious successions of those two n.o.ble families. As the sole heir to her grandmother, she came to be seized in fee of the whole manor of Alcester, in consequence of which, letters-patent of exemplification were granted 3 Elizabeth, to her then a widow, confirming all the grants of fairs, markets, &c., made in the time of her ancestors. And as the sole heir of her grandfather, it appears by an inquisition taken after her death, that she died seized in fee, not only of the manor of Alcester, but of sundry other manors and lands, in the counties of Warwick, Worcester, Lincoln, Leicester, Somerset, and divers others; the whole amounting to so great a value, that she might well have been esteemed one of the richest heiresses of her time, as well as one of the best descended."

[7] Memorable also is this Richard, Lord Latimer, for the dispute he had with Robert, Lord Broke, touching the Barony of Latimer; to which as next heir in blood to John, Lord Latimer of Danby, who died without issue 9 Henry VI., he claimed a right. But to end the contention the Lord Broke was informed by an herald, that Sir George Nevill, grandfather to Sir Richard, was created Lord Latimer by a new t.i.tle, which therefore lineally descended to Richard, by Henry, son and heir of the said George; and that the Lord Broke had made a wrong claim; who should have claimed his style from William Latimer, first created Lord Latimer of Danby, (the head manor of this Barony) temp. Edward II; on this, the Lord Broke perceiving his error, and having a t.i.tle of his own, was contented to conclude a match between their children, and Richard suffered a recovery on certain manors and lords.h.i.+ps demanded by the Lord Broke, with which adjustment both parties were well satisfied.--BANKS.

Here was a lady rivalling in ill.u.s.trious birth and immenseness of possessions the famed west country heiress Cicely Bonville, one of whose daughters her grandfather had married as his second wife. What fortunate youth was destined to make prize of this high-born and wealthy orphan,--with whom was to reside the influence of the bestowal of her hand, fortune, and let us hope also, her heart?

There resided not far away from the home of this fatherless, richly-dowered girl, an old and well descended race of gentlemen called Greville. Leland, who wrote his itinerary contemporary with the little lady's existence in the flesh, thus describes them,--

"Sum hold Opinion, that the gravilles cam originally in at the conquest. The veri ancient house of the gravilles, is at draiton by banburi, in oxfords.h.i.+re. But ther is an nother manor place of the chief stok of the Gravilles, caullid Milcot, yn Warwicks.h.i.+re, where a late is a newer, fairer and more commodious house. And court rolles remayne yet at Draiton, that the Gravilles had landes ons by yere 3300 marks. And Gravilles had Knap Castel, and Bewbush Parke, and other landes in Southfax, by descentes of their name.

"Grevill an ancient Gent. dwelleth at Milcote, scant a mile lower than Stratford towards _Avon ripa dextra_."

This "ancient gent" residing at Milcote, only a comparatively short distance from Beauchamps-Court, Sir Edward Greville by name, although of considerable social standing, did not rank in influence with the Brokes and Beauchamps. He appears to have been an a.s.siduous attendant at the Court of Henry VIII.,

"was in the commission of the peace for Warwicks.h.i.+re, and in 1514 at the seiges of Terouen and Tournay, also at the battle that ensued, called by our historians the Battle of Spurs, from the swiftness of the French running away. He received the honour of Knighthood 13 October for his valiant behaviour. In 1523, he was appointed one of the Knights to attend the King (Henry VIII.) and Queen to Canterbury, and from thence to Calais, and Guisnes, to the meeting of the French king; every one of that degree having a chaplain, eleven servants, and eight horses."

Sir Edward married Anne, daughter of John Denton of Amersden in the county of Bucks, died in 1529, and was buried in the Chapel of St.

Anne in the church of Weston-upon-Avon. By his wife he had four sons, John, Fulke, Thomas, and Edward, and like a prudent far-seeing father, he naturally looked about for good matches for them, and one prize at least was in view, and near at home, if he could obtain her reversion.

So making use of his Court influence, on his return from the Field of the Cloth of Gold, he

"in 13 Henry VIII., 1522, obtained the wards.h.i.+p of Elizabeth, one of the daughters and coheirs, and eventually the sole heir of Edward Willoughby the only son of Robert, the second Lord Broke; a grant which in its consequences, greatly contributed to aggrandize his family as will appear from what followed."

Theoretically it would be presumed the "obtaining a wards.h.i.+p from the Crown," was simply that of a philanthropic trustees.h.i.+p, but practically it meant something of a much more sordid nature, even the disposal of the person and possessions of the ward, for its own selfish uses and purposes, a monstrous privilege, or rather power, which was the chief object of their acquisition, and as a rule duly enforced. Therefore in accordance, we learn further that

"Sir Edward intended her for John his eldest son, but she preferred in affection Fulke his younger son, and we get the following account of this marriage from a ma.n.u.script ent.i.tled '_The Genealogie, Life, and Death of Robert, Lord Brooke_,'--wrote in 1644, and in possession of Francis Earl Brooke,[8]--'In the days of king Henry the Eighth, I read of Sir Edward Grevill of Milcote, who had the wards.h.i.+p of Elizabeth, one of the daughters of the Lord Brook's son. This Knight made a motion to his ward, to be married to John his eldest son; but she refused, saying, that she did like better of Fulke his second son. He told her, that he (Fulke) had no estate of land to maintain her, and that he was in the King's service of warre, beyond the seas, and therefore his returne was very doubtful. She replyed and said, that shee had an estate sufficient for both, for him, and for herselfe, and that shee would pray for his safeties, and waite for his coming. Upon his returne home, for the worthy service he had performed, he was by king Henry honoured with knighthood; and then he married Elizabeth, the daughter of the Lord Brooke's son.'"

[8] Collins, _Peerage_, edition 1756, and probably now among the muniments of the Earl of Warwick.

After all, Sir Edward did not have it exactly his own way, some little romance was mixed up with this "matter of mere attorneys.h.i.+p," and the evidently high-spirited girl had a will of her own, and preferred the sailor youth, to the more prosaic stay-at-home son. It is well perhaps her inclinations did not lead her for choice outside Sir Edward's family circle, and doubtless the knight was sufficiently reconciled to find one of his boys in possession of the heiress.

By this marriage Sir Fulke settled himself at Beauchamp's-Court, and with his wife's large property, and others acquired afterward by purchase, became of high distinction and position in the county of Warwick, and it further appears that

"he was an affectionate husband and tender parent; that he had encountered great difficulties, in securing the inheritance of his wife (the daughters of the late Lord Broke, claiming as coheirs), and that he was remarkably accurate in his accounts, and adhered strictly to justice in all his transactions, appears by the whole tenor of his will, dated 12 Elizabeth, in which towards the end he thus expresses himself, '_and my especial requests to my executors (his wife and eldest son) for the love I have borne them, and for the travel I have taken in establis.h.i.+ng the hole inheritance, with my great costs also to be considered, I most earnestly require them, and on G.o.d's behalf charge them, that my debts be paied, if I die before the accomplishments thereof_.'"

So it fortunately turned out, that the Lady Elizabeth was happily wedded to a kind, honourable, and just man. She bore him seven children, three sons and four daughters,--Fulke, who succeeded his father,--Robert, of Thorpe-Latimer, Lincolns.h.i.+re, ancestor of the Earls Brooke and of Warwick,--Edward, of Harrold Park, Waltham-Abbey, Ess.e.x, whose line terminated in two daughters coheiresses,--Mary, married to William Harris of Hayne, Devon,--Eleanor, to Sir John Conway, of Arrow, and Ragley, in Warwick, who died in 1603, father of Edward, first Baron Conway,--Catherine, to Charles Read, of the county of Gloucester, and Blanche who died unmarried.

This evidently attached couple did not long survive each other, Sir Fulke died 10 Nov., 1559, and his wife followed him to the tomb the year following--1560.

They were buried under a magnificent monument that originally stood at the end of the south aisle, near the chancel in Alcester church, but which is now removed to a position near the tower at the west end.

Considering Alcester church was almost wholly rebuilt about a century and a half since, at an era when memorials of the dead were not too circ.u.mspectly cared for, this n.o.ble tomb with its rec.u.mbent figures, and wealth of ornament has been wonderfully preserved from injury.

Except that the coloured decoration is somewhat softened by Time, it is otherwise but little mutilated, and displays all its antient splendour almost unimpaired.

[Ill.u.s.tration: EFFIGIES OF SIR FULKE AND LADY ELIZABETH GREVILLE]

On a black marble table are their effigies in alabaster, richly painted and gilded. Sir Fulke, bare-headed, is in full armour, two chains around the breast, from the lower depends a Maltese cross (or star) of five arms, sword and misericorde, feet in broad sabbatons puffed at the toes, and resting on a lion,--rings on his fingers, head reclining on a helmet, with crest _a greyhound's head couped at the shoulders sable, collared or_. Lady Elizabeth wears a close fitting cap, hair parted in the centre and brought across the brow, ruff, three small chains around the neck, gown with collar, sleeves having dependant lappets, and putted, knotted and slashed at the shoulders, with robe over fastened across the breast with cordon and ta.s.sels. Her head rests on double cus.h.i.+ons, rings are on her fingers, and from her girdle, suspended by a chain, a gold pomander or pix, with double rose ornament on the lid. By her left foot is a little dog, sable and collared. The effigies are in a fine state of preservation, and around the edge of the table this inscription:--

=Here lyeth the bodyes of s ffoulke grevile knyght & lady Elizabeth his wefe the doughter & heire of edward willoughbye esquyre the sone & heyre of Robert willoughbye knyght lord of broke & lady Elizabeth one of the doughters & coheyres of the lord beauchamps of powycke whiche s ffoulke dyed the x day of november a'no d'ni M^o d^o lix and the seid lady Elizabeth hys wyff deperted the day of in the yere of o^r lord G.o.d M^o d^o lx of whose soules G.o.d have mercy amen=

On the sides of the tomb below are a series of small figures, and an elaborate heraldic display, which claims special notice. Under the knight are seven figures: 1, a knight in full armour, bareheaded, sword, and chain round neck; 2 and 3, two ladies, with black hair, chains round their necks, their gowns red, lined with black. On the other side of the large s.h.i.+eld, four figures: 4 and 5, two ladies with black hair, gold chains, and black gowns lined with red; 6, apparently a chrism child, with hood and clothes wound round in red, laced across the chest, knees, and ankles with a black band; 7, another lady clothed as 1 and 2. Under the cornice eight small s.h.i.+elds:--1. _Sable, a cross engrailed or_ (UFFORD).--2. _Gules, a cross moline or_ (BEC).--3. _Gules, a cross fleurie or_ (LATIMER).--4. _Sable, a fess between three fleurs-de-lys or._--5. _Gules, four fusils in fess or,[9] each charged with an escallop sable_ (CHENEY).--6. _Gules, three mullets pierced, or._--7. _Azure, a cross fleurettee or_ (Paveley?).--8. _Gules, a lion rampant or._ Below them inscribed in the centre,

=Arma Edwardi grevile de milcote militis.=

under the inscription a large escutcheon quarterly of four,--1 and 4.

_Gules, a fess between six martlets or._--2 and 3. _Or, on a fess azure, three fleurs-de-lys of the first._ Round the s.h.i.+eld on a blue riband,

DONA PACIENCIA DIEN ME

On the other side under the lady are eight figures: 1 and 2, are ladies in gilded caps and cuffs, black gowns lined with red, and sleeves similar to those worn by Lady Greville; 3, a chrism child habited exactly as that on the opposite side; 4, a lady clad similar to the first two. On the other side of the central s.h.i.+eld, four ladies apparelled as the other three, their gowns red lined with black. All the figures stand on little pedestals and have their hands raised in prayer. Under the cornice eight small s.h.i.+elds: 1. _Sable, a fret or_ (MALTRAVERS).--2. _Azure, two bars gemells or_ (CIFREWAST).--3. _Per fess gules and azure, three crescents or_ (D'AUMARLE).--4. _Gules, a saltier vaire, between twelve billets or_ (CHAMPERNOWNE).--5. _Or, on a bend sable, three horse-shoes of the first_ (FERRERS).--6. _Azure, an eagle displayed or_ (BIGBURY).--7. _Gules, a fess between six martlets or._--8. _Or, on a fess azure, three fleurs-de-lys of the first._ Inscribed below them in the centre,

=Arma Robert Willoughbye domina de broke.=

Under the inscription a large escutcheon quarterly of eighteen:--1.

_Sable, a cross engrailed or_ (UFFORD).--2. _Gules, a cross moline or_ (BEC).--3. _Gules, a cross fleurie or_ (LATIMER).--4. _Sable, a fess between three fleurs-de-lys or._--5. CHENEY.--6. _Gules, three mullets pierced or._--7. _Azure, a cross fleurettee or_ (PAVELEY?)--8. _Gules, a lion rampant or._-9. _Or, a cross fleurie gules._--10. _Or, three bars gules._--11. _Or, a chevron gules, within a bordure engrailed sable_ (STAFFORD).--12. _Or, six lioncels rampant gules, three and three._--13. MALTRAVERS.--14. CIFREWAST.--15. D'AUMARLE.--16.

CHAMPERNOWNE.--17. FERRERS.--18. BIGBURY.--Around the s.h.i.+eld the riband of the Garter with motto,

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

At the head of the tomb, four small s.h.i.+elds[10] on the cornice:--1.

_Sable, on a cross within a bordure both engrailed or, nine pellets of the first_ (GREVILLE).--2. _Erminois, a fess checquy or and azure._ 3.

_Quarterly per fess dancette, 1 and 4 or, 2 and 3 azure, in the dexter chief a crescent gules._--4. GREVILLE. Below them inscribed in the centre,

=Arma Fulconis grevile militis & domini Elizabeth uxoris eius.=

under, a large escutcheon supported by nude alabaster figures of boys,--_baron_, quarterly of four charged as the s.h.i.+elds on the cornice above, impaling _femme_, quarterly of twenty, eighteen of the charges as on the large s.h.i.+eld below the lady, and 19. _Gules, a fess between six martlets or._--20. _Or, on a fess azure, three fleurs-de-lys of the first._ Around the s.h.i.+eld on a blue riband the motto as under the knight.