Henry Neville (c.1520-1593)

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Sir Henry Neville (c.1529-1593) Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Edward VI

Knighted 11 October 1551, Groom of the privy chamber 1546, Gentleman of the privy chamber in 1550, Knight of the shire for Berkshire five times, from 1553- 1584

[edit] Parentage and Career

Sir Henry Neville's father was Sir Edward Neville (d. 1538), of Addington Park in Kent, who married Eleanor, daughter of Andrew Windsor, first Baron Windsor, and Elizabeth.

His father was the younger brother of George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny and older brother to Sir Thomas Neville, Speaker.² The Neville surname as demonstrated by Mannning, "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."²

However, it stands curious that Sir Henry Neville secured a post in the Privy Chamber, in consideration that his father was an allegedly attached to the Courtenay conspiracy, and moreover, executed in 1540 on order of King Henry VIII, 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 Nevill).

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.

Neville, was Henry VIII's godson and apparently was in good favor 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 testifed at the trial of Stephen Gardiner, and revealed the strong detest Henry VII 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 accession, however returned under Elizabeth I, and continued his career holding various posts in Berkshire, until his death on 13 January 1593. Sir Henry Neville was buried in the church at Waltham St Lawrence in Berkshire.

[edit] Marriages and descendants

He married 1. Winifred (d. in or before 1561), daughter of Hugh Loss of Whitchurch in Middlesex S.P., 2. 1561, Elizabeth (d. 1573), daughter of Sir John Gresham of Titsey in Surrey, issue. 4 sons., including Sir Henry Neville (1562–1615) and Edward Neville (b. 1567), and two daughters. 3. May 1578 Elizabeth (Lady Neville) (d. 1621), S.P., of Greenland, at Hambleden in Buckinghamshiredaughter, ³ the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, first baronet (c.1543-1624), and his wife, Anne Cooke, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, and widow of Sir Richard Doyley of Greenlands in Buckinghamshire.

[edit] References

Michael Riordan, ‘Henry VIII, privy chamber of (act. 1509-1547)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 18 July 2005

privy chamber of Henry VIII (act. 1509-1547): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70825 Sir John Welsbourne (c.1498-1548): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70834 Walter Walsh (d. 1538): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70833 Sir Richard Long (c.1494-1546): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70830 Sir Maurice Berkeley (c.1514-1581): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70828 Sir Thomas Paston (c.1517-1550): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70832 Sir Henry Neville (c.1520-1593): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70831 Sir William Fitzwilliam (c.1506-1559): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70829