Edward Horsey
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Sir Edward Horsey (1525 – 21 March 1583) was a conspirator against Queen
He was the eldest son of Jasper Horsey of Exton Devon and his wife Joan, who also had three other sons – Francis, George and John. Nothing is known of his early life or education but he may have fought as a soldier of fortune on the continent and been part of an embassy to France in 1551.
Conspirator
Edward Horsey was reported for spreading a rumour in
Soldier
In July 1562 Edward Horsey returned to England to report on the strife in France. Although still technically an outlaw, he was rewarded by a licence to import French wines into England. He was ordered back to France to help organise the defense of Dieppe and Rouen. He led a band of soldiers into battle near Harfleur. When the Huguenots surrendered Dieppe Horsey served as a treaty hostage but was eventually released. He was then formally pardoned for his part in the conspiracy against Philip and Mary, and named Captain of the Isle of Wight in the summer of 1565. He supervised the refurbishment of the island's defences against the expected Spanish invasion, including the repair of Carisbroke castle and West Cowes fort.
As Admiral of Hampshire, Horsey was responsible for reporting hostile naval activity and pirates. In December 1568 he seized several Spanish vessels with a treasure valued at £31,000. The next year he commanded a troop against the rebels in the Northern Uprising. Until 1571, when it was forbidden by the Privy Council, he gave assistance to the
In 1577 and afterwards Horsey was involved in a project to make gunpowder with Cornelius Stephenson. He became involved in plans to repel an expected Spanish invasion of Ireland.
Ambassador
Edward Horsey led embassies to Flanders in 1568 and to France in 1573. He negotiated on behalf of English merchants and pleaded for the Protestant subjects of the king of Spain. Then in 1576 he was sent to Don John of Austria to defuse the situation with the rebellious Spanish Netherlands. Don John and the states agreed terms and Horsey was rewarded in December 1577 with a knighthood.
Courtier
Edward was a long time friend of the
Horsey had been appointed a
By 1580 Edward Horsey was living at Great Haseley manor near Arreton on the Isle of Wight with Cowsebel Mille, who he would have married except that he had a wife in France. He enjoyed hunting and is said to have introduced hares into the island. In November 1580 he entertained the Portuguese Ambassador though many members of his household were "down with the disease". He seems to have contracted the plague shortly afterwards but recovered. By this time he had appointed a lieutenant to suppress piracy, whose negligence had led to an increase in their activity.
Sir Edward became ill again the following year and died in February 1583. His lands in Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire passed to his brother George. He was buried in March in Carisbroke church. His alabaster and marble monument with effigy survives in St Thomas's Church, Newport, with his arms displayed above.
References
- Dictionary of National Biography
- Houses of Parliament, Commons (1558–1603)
- Loades D M, Two Tudor Conspiracies, 1965.
- Acts of the Privy Council
- Calendars of State Papers, Domestic
- Calendar of Patent Rolls
- Peck, D C, Leicester's Commonwealth 1985.
- Kendall A, Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester 1980.
- The National Archives, Probate 6/3, fol 63r.
- Victoria County History, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.