Arthur Pole (conspirator) facts for kids
Sir Arthur Pole (born 1531, died 1570) was an English nobleman from Sussex. He was known for being involved in secret plans during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Sir Arthur Pole's Early Life
Arthur Pole was the oldest son of Sir Geoffrey Pole and Constance Packenham. His family had a connection to the English throne through a royal line called the Plantagenets. This meant they had a distant claim to be kings or queens.
Arthur grew up at Lordington, and he had a tutor named Gentian Hervet. His family faced difficulties when his uncle, Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu, and his grandmother, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, were in trouble with the government. Because of this, Arthur was put in prison for a short time.
After he was released (before 1552), he worked for John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, an important person in the government.
Challenges and Imprisonment
During the reign of Queen Mary I, Arthur's family was back in favor. However, when Queen Elizabeth I became queen, things changed. Arthur asked to work at Queen Elizabeth's court, but his request was turned down in 1561. That same year, he was put in prison for celebrating a religious service that was not allowed at the time.
In 1562, Arthur Pole was even mentioned as someone who could potentially become the next king. He tried to get support from France and Spain for his family's claim to the throne. He was told that a powerful group in France would not help him. So, Arthur then tried to make a deal: he would support Mary, Queen of Scots' claim to the English throne if he could become the Duke of Clarence.
Because of these secret plans, Arthur was arrested with his brothers, Edmund and Geoffrey. They were sent to the famous Tower of London in October 1562 or 1563. They were accused of plotting to advance their own claims or Mary, Queen of Scots' claims to the throne.
On February 26, 1563, at the Tower of London, Arthur was found guilty of serious charges related to his plotting. He remained imprisoned and sadly died in 1570.
Inside the Beauchamp Tower, where Arthur was held, you can still find a special message carved into the wall. It says: 'Deo Servire / Penitentiam Inire / Fato Obedire / Regnare Est / A Poole / 1564 / IHS'. This means: 'To be subject to God, to enter upon penance, to be obedient to fate, is to reign, A Poole, 1564, Jesus'.
Arthur's Marriage
Arthur Pole married Mary Holland sometime between September 1562 and January 1563. Mary was the daughter of Sir Richard Holland from Denton. She had been married before to Sir Thomas Percy, who had faced serious charges and died in 1537. Arthur and Mary Pole did not have any children.
