Arthur Bassett (died 1586) facts for kids
Sir Arthur Bassett (1541–1586) was a notable figure from the powerful Basset family in England. He served as a MP for Barnstaple in 1563 and for Devon in 1572. He was also a Justice of the Peace (JP) for Devon from 1569 until his death. In 1574–5, he held the important role of Sheriff of Devon. He was knighted in 1575, becoming "Sir" Arthur Bassett. By 1580, he was also a deputy warden of the Stannaries, which managed tin mining in Cornwall and Devon.
Contents
Who Was Sir Arthur Bassett?
Sir Arthur Bassett was the oldest son of John Bassett (who died in 1541). His family lived in Heanton Punchardon and Umberleigh in Devon, and Tehidy in Cornwall. His father, John, had been the Sheriff of Cornwall twice.
His Royal Connections
Sir Arthur's mother was Frances Plantagenet. She was the daughter of Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, who was an illegitimate son of King Edward IV. This means Sir Arthur Bassett had a direct link to the royal family through his mother. His grandmother, Honor Grenville, also married Arthur Plantagenet, linking the families even more. This made Sir Arthur a cousin of the famous explorer and naval commander, Sir Richard Grenville.
Sir Arthur's Public Life and Beliefs
Sir Arthur Bassett was a puritan, meaning he followed a strict form of Protestantism. He was a close friend of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, a very powerful nobleman. Sir Arthur even helped manage the Earl's will after he died.
Supporting Explorers and Protestants
He helped pay for an expedition to the South Seas led by his cousin, Sir Richard Grenville. Sir Arthur also volunteered to fight in the Netherlands to support the Protestant cause against the Spanish. In 1586, he was given a command in The Hague, serving under Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. Leicester was the uncle of Sir Philip Sidney, a famous poet and soldier who died in battle that same year.
Family Life and Children
Sir Arthur Bassett married Eleanor Chichester, who passed away in 1585. Eleanor was the daughter of Sir John Chichester, another MP and lord of the manor of Raleigh in Devon.
His Sons and Daughters
Sir Arthur and Eleanor had five sons and two daughters. Their eldest son and heir was Sir Robert Basset (1573–1641). Robert later became an MP for Plymouth. He married Elizabeth Periam, whose father was a very important judge.
Robert Bassett's Claim to the Throne
Because of his family's link to the House of Plantagenet (the royal family), Robert Basset made a bold choice. After Queen Elizabeth I died, he tried to claim the throne of England. This decision was very costly for him. He had to pay a huge fine, which meant selling off many of the family's estates.
Another of Sir Arthur's daughters, Margaret Bassett, married Richard Duke of Otterton, Devon.
Death and Burial
Sir Arthur Bassett died in 1586 from a sickness called "Gaol Fever," which was a type of Typhus. He caught it while working as a judge at a famous court session known as the Black Assize of Exeter. Many other judges and officials also died from the same fever at that time.
His Final Wishes
In his will, written in 1585, Sir Arthur asked to be buried "honestly and decently" next to his wife. He died before April 7, 1586. His tomb, which is quite small, can be found in Atherington Church. This church was historically part of the Umberleigh estate.
It is thought that he was originally buried in the Umberleigh Chapel, which is now in ruins. Around 1820, many tombs and monuments were moved from there to Atherington Church. So, Sir Arthur's tomb slab likely sits on a newer base.
The Tomb's Inscription
Even though parts of the slate slab have flaked off, you can still see the family shields joined together, showing the arms of Basset and Chichester. There's also some writing around the edge and a poem below the shield.
The inscription says: "Here lie ye bodies of ye Right Worshipful and Worthy Knight, Sir Arthur Bassett and Elianora his wife, daughter of Sir John Chichester of Rawleigh... the 2nd April 1586. The latter buried the 10th July 1585... behind them 5 sonnes and 2 daughters. Requiescant in pace" (This means "May they rest in peace").
Below the shield, there is a verse:
He that is three in one and one in three,
First made us two, then one, this one were wee,
One love, one life we lived, one year, one death
Rocked us asleepe by borrowing but our breath.
Grave the bed that holds us both, the stone
(That) hides us covert, the bed is one,
One Heaven contains our souls, one trumpte one day,
(Will) raise our bodies from this bed of clay.
Death which useth others to dissever,
(Hath) once united us forever
Sources
- Hasler, P.W., Biography of Arthur Bassett published in History of Parliament, House of Commons 1558-1603, London, 1981
