Robert Constable
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Constable was an English nobleman. He was the eldest son of Sir Marmaduke Constable
(1443–1518) and his wife Joyce Stafford (b. circa 1460). His paternal grandparents were Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough and Agnes Wentworth, daughter of Sir Roger Wentworth and Margaret Despencer. His maternal grandparents were Sir Humphrey Stafford (1427–1486), who was executed at Tyburn by order of Henry VII
for siding with Richard III
, and Catherine Fray (1437–1482).
he was of signal service to the crown upon the commotion of Lord Audley
and the Cornishmen
, who marched on London and were defeated at Blackheath
in 1497. Constable was one of the knights bannerets that were created at Blackheath by the Henry VII
after his victory on 17 June 1497. In the following reign he was also at Flodden.
, caused by the beginning of the destruction of monasteries
in 1536, he took the leading part, along with Robert Aske
and Lord Darcy
. Constable was among those who made their submission, and received their pardon. At the beginning of the next year, January 1537, when Sir Francis Bigod
rashly attempted to renew the insurrection, Constable exerted himself to keep the country quiet. When this last commotion was over, he, like the other leaders, was invited by King Henry VIII
to proceed to London. This he refused, and at the same time removed for safety from his usual place of abode to a dwelling thirty miles away.
Hereupon the powerful minister Thomas Cromwell
caused the Duke of Norfolk
to send him up with a sergeant-at-arms on 8 March. He with Aske and Darcy was committed to the Tower
till they should be tried, and meantime Norfolk was directed to say in the north that they were imprisoned, not for their former offences, but for treasons committed since their pardon. What those treasons were the Duke was conveniently forbidden to say. There was 'no specialty to be touched or spoken of', but all 'conveyed in a mass together'. True bills were returned against them, and after their condemnation it seemed to the King 'not amiss' that some of them should be remitted to their county for execution, 'as well for example as to see who would groan'. Constable and Aske were therefore sent down to Yorkshire, exhibited as traitors in the towns through which they passed, and Constable was executed at Hull on 6 July 1537 being hanged in chains over Beverley gate at Hull, and thereby forfeited Flamborough
and 35 other manors in Lincolnshire. The Duke of Norfolk
witnessed his execution;
Sir Robert and Jane had the following issue:
Marmaduke Constable
Sir Marmaduke Constable, "the little" was an English soldier descended from the Hereditary Constables of Chester, hence the surname of the family...
(1443–1518) and his wife Joyce Stafford (b. circa 1460). His paternal grandparents were Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough and Agnes Wentworth, daughter of Sir Roger Wentworth and Margaret Despencer. His maternal grandparents were Sir Humphrey Stafford (1427–1486), who was executed at Tyburn by order of Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
for siding with Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, and Catherine Fray (1437–1482).
Early life
In his youth he carried off a ward of chancery, and tried to marry her to one of his retainers. In the reign of Henry VIIHenry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
he was of signal service to the crown upon the commotion of Lord Audley
James Tuchet, 7th Baron Audley
Sir James Tuchet, 7th Baron Audley was born in the Heleigh Castle, Staffordshire, England to John Tuchet, 6th Baron Audley and Ann Echingham....
and the Cornishmen
Cornish Rebellion of 1497
The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 was a popular uprising by the people of Cornwall in the far southwest of Britain. Its primary cause was a response of people to the raising of war taxes by King Henry VII on the impoverished Cornish, to raise money for a campaign against Scotland motivated by brief...
, who marched on London and were defeated at Blackheath
Cornish Rebellion of 1497
The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 was a popular uprising by the people of Cornwall in the far southwest of Britain. Its primary cause was a response of people to the raising of war taxes by King Henry VII on the impoverished Cornish, to raise money for a campaign against Scotland motivated by brief...
in 1497. Constable was one of the knights bannerets that were created at Blackheath by the Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
after his victory on 17 June 1497. In the following reign he was also at Flodden.
Pilgrimage of Grace
In 1536, on the outbreak of the great Yorkshire rising, known as the Pilgrimage of GracePilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular rising in York, Yorkshire during 1536, in protest against Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, as well as other specific political, social and economic grievances. It was done in action against Thomas Cromwell...
, caused by the beginning of the destruction of monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1536, he took the leading part, along with Robert Aske
Robert Aske (political leader)
Robert Aske was an English lawyer who became the leader of rebellion in York. He led the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 and was executed by Henry VIII for treason in 1537.-Biography:...
and Lord Darcy
Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy
Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy , was an English statesman and rebel leader, who was executed for his part in an English rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace.-Origins:...
. Constable was among those who made their submission, and received their pardon. At the beginning of the next year, January 1537, when Sir Francis Bigod
Bigod's Rebellion
Bigod's Rebellion of January 1537 was an armed rebellion by English Roman Catholics in Cumberland and Westmorland against King Henry VIII of England and the English Parliament...
rashly attempted to renew the insurrection, Constable exerted himself to keep the country quiet. When this last commotion was over, he, like the other leaders, was invited by King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
to proceed to London. This he refused, and at the same time removed for safety from his usual place of abode to a dwelling thirty miles away.
Hereupon the powerful minister Thomas Cromwell
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, , was an English statesman who served as chief minister of King Henry VIII of England from 1532 to 1540....
caused the Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal was a prominent Tudor politician. He was uncle to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of the wives of King Henry VIII, and played a major role in the machinations behind these marriages...
to send him up with a sergeant-at-arms on 8 March. He with Aske and Darcy was committed to the Tower
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
till they should be tried, and meantime Norfolk was directed to say in the north that they were imprisoned, not for their former offences, but for treasons committed since their pardon. What those treasons were the Duke was conveniently forbidden to say. There was 'no specialty to be touched or spoken of', but all 'conveyed in a mass together'. True bills were returned against them, and after their condemnation it seemed to the King 'not amiss' that some of them should be remitted to their county for execution, 'as well for example as to see who would groan'. Constable and Aske were therefore sent down to Yorkshire, exhibited as traitors in the towns through which they passed, and Constable was executed at Hull on 6 July 1537 being hanged in chains over Beverley gate at Hull, and thereby forfeited Flamborough
Flamborough
Flamborough is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of Bridlington town centre on the prominent coastal feature of Flamborough Head. The most prominent man-made feature of the area is Flamborough lighthouse. The headland...
and 35 other manors in Lincolnshire. The Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal was a prominent Tudor politician. He was uncle to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of the wives of King Henry VIII, and played a major role in the machinations behind these marriages...
witnessed his execution;
"On Frydaye, beyng market daye at Hull, Sir Robert Constable suffred, and dothe hang above the highest gate of the towne, so trymmed in cheynes, that I thinke his bones will hang there this hundrethe yere. And on Thursdaye, which shall be market daye, God willing, I will be at the execution of Aske at York."
Family
Sir Robert was married to Jane Ingleby of Ripley (b. 1472) in 1492, probably in Yorkshire, England. Jane's parents were Sir William Ingleby of Ripley, son of John Ingleby of Ripley and Margaret Strangeways, Baroness Willoughby, and his wife Catherine Stillington, daughter of Thomas Stillington of Nether Acaster and Agnes Bigod.Sir Robert and Jane had the following issue:
- Sir Marmaduke Constable of Nuneaton (1498/1502-20 Apr 1560), married Elizabeth Darcy, daughter of Lord DarcyThomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de DarcyThomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy , was an English statesman and rebel leader, who was executed for his part in an English rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace.-Origins:...
. Had issue. - Catherine Constable (c. 1498-1585), married Sir Roger Cholmley. Had issue.
- Thomas Constable of Great Grimsby (c. 1504-aft 1558), married 1st Barbara Catherall, 2nd Lady Holdenby. Had issue by both wives.
- Joyce Constable (b. circa 1500), married Rowland Pudsey. No issue.
- Anne Constable (b. circa 1504), married George Hussey. Had issue.
Ancestry
External links
- Entry for Sir Robert Constable, Tudor Place http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/CONSTABLE.htm#Robert%20CONSTABLE%20of%20Nuneaton%20%28Sir%20Knight%291