Richard Boyville
Richard Boyville was a landowner who was closely associated with members of the House of York in the latter part of the 15th century.
Background and family
Richard Boyville (Bovile, Boyvile, Boyvill, Boyvyle) was a son of Hugh Boyville of Ridlington, who served as Sheriff and a Member of Parliament for Rutland.[1] The name of Richard’s mother is not recorded but she was probably Alice Christian, who is the only wife indentified for Hugh.
Richard’s wife was Griselda; there does not appear to be a record of her maiden name. The Boyville brass in Burton Latimer church (see below) features a man and a woman along with nine sons and nine daughters. However, in 1510/11, Richard named only these six children in his will:
- George – “my son and heir”
- Richard
- Grysyll – “Grysyll Blakwall”
- Margaret – “Margaret Gage”
- Cecily
- Agnes
As surnames were not stated for Cecily and Agnes in the will, it is probable that they were unmarried at that stage.
Career and property
References to Richard’s career are limited, but it is clear that he was a long-standing and trusted courtier in the service of the House of York. In 1468, he accompanied Margaret of York to Burgundy for her marriage to Charles the Bold. [2] Twelve years later, Margaret’s brother Edward IV, granted an annuity of £20 per year to Richard and his wife Grisedla for attending Margaret on her visit to England.[3] In October 1484, Richard III, who was also Margaret’s brother, confirmed that payments of this annuity and arrears on it should be funded from the revenues and profits of the demesnes of Preston and Uppingham that were then held by the Crown.[4]
Richard’s service was recognised in the will of Margaret’s mother,Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, which was made on 1 April 1495. Cecily’s bequests to “Richard Boyvile and Gresild his wife” included her chariot and horses, various items of clothing made of satin and damask and several elaborate pieces of gold and jewellery.[5]
Richard was also a landowner. In the seventh year of the reign of Edward IV (i.e. 1467-8), he received the Manor of Little Oxendon from his father Hugh Boyvile of Ridlington, Rutland.[6]
By the time he made his will, Richard also owned property at Burton Latimer.
Death and will
In the 16th century details from Richard’s will were copied into the Cartulary of Edward Griffin.[7] The will was made on 20 January 1510/11 and proved on 23 May 1511. Richard is described as of Burton Latimer. He left the manor of Little Oxendon to his wife Gresyll for life with remainder to his son George and set out detailed arrangements for the distribution of his other possessions.
Richard asked to be buried “afore the channcell dore in the paryshe churche of our lady seynt mary of Burton [Latymer] besides my wyffes sete”. He is almost certainly commemorated by a brass that is set in the floor of Burton Latimer church, at the east end of the south aisle just south of the chancel arch.[8] Not all elements of the monument survive but those that do or that have been recorded show a man and a woman accompanied by nine boys and nine girls, who were presumably their children. On the man’s side of the setting are the heraldic arms of the Boyville family.
References
- ↑ Whalley, Peter, ed. (1792). The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire compiled from the manuscript collections of the late learned antiquary John Bridges Esq. 2. Oxford. p. 8.
- ↑ Armstrong, CAJ. England, France and Burgundy in the Fifteenth Century. The Hambledon Press. p. 156.
- ↑ Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward IV (1477-85), page 217.
- ↑ Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III (1476-1485) page 373, item 1272.
- ↑ The National Archives: PROB11/10/447.
- ↑ Whalley, Peter, ed. (1792). The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire compiled from the manuscript collections of the late learned antiquary John Bridges Esq. 2. Oxford. p. 8.
- ↑ Northamptonshire Record Office: ZA6242/3, folio 14.
- ↑ Craddock, Margaret. "The History of the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin". Burton Latimer – A Sense of Place. Burton Latimer Heritage Society. Retrieved 2015-05-02.