Nicholas Carew (courtier)
Nicholas Carew | |
---|---|
Sir Francis Carew Isabel Carew-Saunders | |
Parents | Sir Richard Carew Malyn Oxenbridge |
Sir Nicholas Carew
Early career
Nicholas Carew was the son of Sir Richard Carew,
Sir Nicholas was sent to France twice as part of a diplomatic mission, once in January 1521, and was reputedly well received by King Francis I of France.[4] His second mission to France took place in 1524 to have English presence at the peace talks between King Francis and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.[5]
Carew was popular with King Henry VIII, who sought his company,
Statesman and conspirator
In 1522, Carew succeeded Sir Henry Guildford as Master of the Horse, a post he held until his death. In the following years, he was frequently sent on embassies to Paris. Francis I developed a high regard for Carew,[7] and urged Henry to advance him; the self-avowed 'reprobate' was now a sober politician.[8] In January 1528, to Wolsey's dismay, Sir Nicholas was restored to the Privy chamber, possibly through the influence of his relative, Anne Boleyn, to whom he was related via a common ancestor, their great-great-grandfather, Thomas Hoo, Baron Hoo and Hastings.[9]
However, Carew started to resent the way Anne used her position as the King's mistress, revealing his sympathy for Queen Catherine and the Princess Mary to the imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys.[10] In 1531, angry at the way she had treated his friends, Sir Henry Guildford and the Duke of Suffolk, he began working against her.[11] These manoeuvres culminated in 1536, when the reformist Thomas Cromwell made common cause with religious conservatives, such as Carew, to bring Queen Anne down.[12] At this time, Henry chose Carew to fill a vacancy in the Order of the Garter, thus fulfilling a promise made to Francis I.
Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537, the King granted Carew the manor of Coulsdone that had previously belonged to the monastery of Chertsey.[13]
Downfall
In late 1538, Cromwell was forced by King Henry to move against the Exeters, and against his ally Carew. Carew was already out of favour at court, having responded angrily to an insult made by the king. Questionable historians suggest that Ambassador Chapuys perceived that the real cause of his downfall was likely the championing of Princess Mary.[14] When Cromwell was presented with apparently treasonous letters which Carew had written, King Henry VIII believed that Carew had been involved in the Exeter Conspiracy, a plot to depose him and place Cardinal Reginald Pole on the throne in his stead. Carew was thus arrested and stood trial on 14 February 1539, and he was found guilty of high treason.
"... charges that Sir Nic. Carewe of Bedyngton alias of Westminster, knowing the said Marquis to be a traitor, did, 20 Aug, 1537, at Westhorseley, Surr., and at other times, falsely abet the said Marquis, and, 24 Aug 1537, and at other times, had conversations with him about the change of the world, and also with his own hand wrote him divers letters, at Bedyngton, 4 Sept 1537 and at other times, and the said Marquis at that or other times sent divers traitorous letters to the said Carewe from Westhorseley which the said Carewe traitorously received, which letters they afterwards, to conceal their treason, traitorously burnt at Westhorseley and Bedyngton, 1 Sept, 1539 and at other times; and afterwards, knowing that the said Marquis was indicted as aforesaid, 29 Nov, 1539 the said Carewe at Bedyngton traitorously said these words in English, "I marvel greatly that the indictment against the lord Marquis was so secretly handled and for what purpose, for the like was never seen".[15]
Sir Nicholas Carew was beheaded on 3 March 1539 at Tower Hill. According to a letter by John Butler, the last words of Carew as he was led to execution, amounted to exhorting all to study the evangelical books, as he had fallen by hatred to the Gospel.[16]
His estate at
Carew's estate at
Marriage and children
Sir Nicholas Carew married Sir Francis Bryan's sister, Elizabeth Bryan, the daughter of Sir Thomas Bryan and Margaret Bourchier.[19] Sir Francis Bryan was part of the trial committee against Carew which left his own sister Elizabeth impoverished.[20]
Sir Nicholas and Elizabeth had the following children:
- Mary Carew, who married Sir Arthur Darcy (c. 1495 – 1561), son of Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Darcy. Their eldest son was Sir Edward Darcy of Stainforth, Yorkshire.
- Anne Carew, who married the diplomat, Sir Walter Raleigh. Anne married secondly, Adrian Stokes.
- Elizabeth Carew (born c. 1525)
- Sir Francis Carew, only son and heir, who was restored to his father's estates during the reign of Queen Mary I, though he generally preferred to stay out of politics.
- Isabel Carew, who married Nicholas Saunders (1530 – 1587) of Ewell, Surrey and had issue, including Sir Nicholas Saunders.
Notes
- ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, Carew Baronets, p.155
- ^ Daniel Lysons, 'Beddington', in The Environs of London: Volume 1, County of Surrey (T. Cadell and W. Davies, London 1792), pp. 49-67, pedigree of Carew of Beddington facing p. 53, and at p. 59, citing Rymer, Foedera Vol. XIII, p. 232, 298, etc.
- ^ British History Online
- ^ Henry VIII: January 1521, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 3: 1519–1523 (1867), pp. 415–427
- ^ Henry VIII: May 1524, 11–20', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4: 1524–1530 (1875), pp. 135–142,
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 167.
- ^ a b Weir, Henry VIII, p. 241.
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 280.
- ^ The History of Parliament
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 301.
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 320.
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 374.
- ^ "Parishes: Coulsdon Pages 199-205 A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4". British History Online. Victoria County History, 1912. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 417.
- ^ Letters and Papers: February 1539, 11–15', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 1: January–July 1539 (1894), pp. 107–117
- ^ Letter:John Butler to Conrad Pellican: Letters and Papers: March 1539, 6–10', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 1: January–July 1539 (1894), pp. 177–195
- ^ 'Beddington', The Environs of London: volume 1: County of Surrey (1792), pp. 49–67
- ^ H.E. Malden, ed. (1912). "Parishes: Coulsdon". A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ Weir, Henry VIII, p. 124.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3788. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
References
- ISBN 0-7126-6451-3.
- London Borough of Sutton website, accessed 17 May 2007.
- British History Online