Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon
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Henry Carey (or Cary), 1st Baron Hunsdon of Hunsdon (4 March 1526 – 23 July 1596) was an English nobleman.
He was the son of Sir William Carey, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Esquire of the Body to King Henry VIII of England, and his wife Mary Boleyn, who had once been a mistress of the King. Some have argued that Henry and his sister Catherine Carey were fathered by Henry VIII himself, but there is little evidence for this. Thus it is likely that Henry Carey and his sister were the biological offspring of William Carey not Henry VIII. However, Henry Carey was reported to bear a strong resemblance to Henry VIII.
Early life
William Carey died suddenly from the sweats (probably what is now known as relapsing fever, carried by lice and ticks) on June 23 1528 when Henry was only two. His mother was deemed unable to raise him due to her impulsive nature and financial troubles. Consequently considered an orphan, Carey came under the guardianship of his maternal aunt Anne Boleyn, engaged to Henry VIII at the time (although their relationship did not become sexual until their marriage at an unknown date between autumn 1532 and January 1533.) The child still had active contact with his mother, however, until her secret elopement with a soldier, William Stafford in 1535.Anne and Henry VIII raised the boy and later provided him with a top-quality education in a prestigious Cistercian monastery. He was also known to be tutored at some point by French poet Nicholas Bourbon, whose life had been saved from the French Inquisition after Queen Anne's intervention.
Henry's royal aunt was beheaded in May 1536, on false charges of treason, incest, adultery, and witchcraft. His mother died in 1543 on her estate in Essex.
On 21 May 1545 he married Ann Morgan, daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan, of Arkestone, Herefordshire, and his wife Anne Whitney.
Political career
He served twice as Member of Parliament, representing Buckingham during 1547–1552, 1554–1555. He was knighted in November 1558 and created Baron by his first cousin Elizabeth I of England on January 13 1559. His sister, Catherine, was one of Elizabeth's favourite ladies-in-waiting and the Queen was very generous to her Boleyn relatives.His Baronial estate consisted of the manors of Hunsdon and Eastwick, Hertfordshire and possessions in Kent. He was also granted an annual pension of £400. On October 31 1560, Henry was appointed Master of the Queen's Hawks. On April 20 1561, Henry also became a Knight of the Garter.
Henry seems to have gained some favour with his cousin as she appointed him Captain of the Gentleman Pensioners in 1564; a position making him effectively her personal bodyguard. He seems to have served for four years. On August 25 1568, Henry was appointed Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland.
The year 1569 was the beginning of the Northern Rebellion (November 1569 - February 1570), a major uprising was instigated by Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland and Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland. The rebellion was expecting the support of Roman Catholic Pope Pius V.
Henry was appointed Lieutenant General of the forces loyal to the Queen. His February victory over Sir Leonard Dacre was instrumental in crushing the rebellion. A number of the rebels crossed the borders to Scotland but were there targeted by the forces of the Scottish Regent. Henry could still appreciate the courage of Dacre's soldiers, in his letter to the Queen detailing the victory made mention of the rebel charge "the bravest charge that ever I saw!".
The victorious Henry was appointed Warden of the East Marches and represented the Queen in signing a treaty with the Regent on October 23 1571. On July 31 1574, Henry became Keeper of Somerset House, the property of the Queen before ascending the throne. He was then named Privy Counsellor in 1577.
January 16 1581 found Henry appointed Captain-General of the forces responsible for the safety of English borders. He was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household in July, 1585 and would hold this position until his death.
This did not prevent Elizabeth from appointing him Lord Chamberlain Lieutenant, Principal Captain and Governor of the army "for the defence and surety of our own Royal Person". The appointment occurred on July 20 1588 in Tilbury.
Henry was a blunt, plain-spoken man with little tact, which often worked to his disadvantage at Court. However, his character and reputation as a successful military leader gained him the respect - and often the affection - of the soldiers who served under him.
Henry also served as Chief Justice in Eyre, south of the River Trent between 1589 and his death. He was Joined Commissioner of the Office Earl Marshal and High Steward of Ipswich and Doncaster. He served as Chief Justice of the Royal Forces between December 20 1591 and his death. On March 2 1592, Henry was appointed High Steward of Oxford for life.
He died at Somerset House, Strand on 23 July and was buried on 12 August 1596 at Westminster Abbey. On his deathbed his cousin Elizabeth I offered to create him Earl of Wiltshire, however, he refused, saying: "Madam, as you did not count me worthy of this honour in life, then I shall account myself not worthy of it in death". Two of his sons, George, and John, successively followed him as Baron Hunsdon.
Children
His marriage to Ann Morgan resulted in the birth of twelve children.
- Sir George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon (1547 - September 8 1603). He was married on December 29, 1574 to Elizabeth Spencer, daughter of Sir John Spencer, Member of Parliament representing Northamptonshire, and Katherine Kitson.
- Sir John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon (c. 1556 - April 1617). He was married on December 20, 1576 to Mary Hyde, daughter of Leonard Hyde of Throcking, Herefordshire. They were parents of John Carey, 1st Earl of Dover.
- Henry Carey.
- Thomas Carey. Died in infancy.
- Thomas Carey. Presumably named after deceased brother. Also died in childhood.
- William Carey.
- Sir Edmund Carey (c. 1558 - 1637). He was married three times. First to Mary Crocker, second to Elizabeth Neville and third to Judith Humphrey. He was father to a younger Sir Robert Carey but uncertain which wife gave birth to him.
- Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth (1560 - April 12 1639). He was married on August 20, 1593 to Elizabeth Trevannion, daughter of Sir Hugh Trevannion and Sybilla Morgan. They were parents to Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth.
- (unknown son)
- Catherine Carey (c. 1550 - February 25 1603). She was wife to Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham.
- Philadelphia Carey. She was married to Thomas Scrope, 10th Baron Scrope and was mother to Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland.
- Margaret Carey. She was married to Sir Edward Hoby, son of Thomas Hoby.
Hunsdon House
Due to the Reformation much of the Blackfriars' monastery had been destroyed but certain sections survived. One of these had been converted into a pleasant dwelling owned by Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, the place soon became known as Hunsdon House. In 1623, the house was owned by the French ambassador who allowed Catholics to use the house to hold secret meetings.On Sunday November 23, an estimated 300 Catholics entered the house and congregated in an upstairs room to worship. The room was just 40 feet wide by 17 feet long so it must have been an incredibly tight squeeze! Half way through the sermon a small creaking sound was heard, this became progressively louder. Before the men, women and children had time to react, the main support beam gave way. Thus sending the screaming throng crashing to the next floor. The house had long been in a state of disrepair and the next floor also gave way sending the hapless worshippers plummeting further to the ground. Those lucky enough to have been standing at the edge frantically cut holes in the walls using knives and pieces of rubble so as to escape down the side of the house. A third of the assembled mass lost their lives and many more suffered broken bones and other horrific injuries.
The Protestants claimed it was an act of God and showed them no sympathy. On the other hand, the Catholics accused the Protestants of sawing through the timbers before hand. For the place had been used many times before without a problem. Whatever the truth the event must hace been a truly awful sight for its witnesses.
External links
- [A 1591 portrait of him]
- [A detailed history of the Northern Rebellion]
- [A pedigree of him;not necessarily reliable]
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