Edward Neville (courtier) facts for kids

Sir Edward Neville (died 8 December 1538) was an English nobleman and a close friend of King Henry VIII. He was born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, and was the son of George Neville, 4th Baron Bergavenny. Edward married Eleanor Windsor before 1529. He and his brother, George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny, were distant cousins of King Henry VIII and became important figures at the royal court.

Life at Court

Edward Neville held several important jobs for King Henry VIII. He was an Esquire of the Body, which meant he was a personal attendant to the King. He also oversaw the King's household as a Sewer Keeper. In 1513, he was made a Knight. By 1516, he was the Master of the Hounds, looking after the King's hunting dogs, and a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, a trusted position close to the King. He lived at Addington Park in Surrey, England.

Changing Loyalties

The Neville family, along with their cousins the Courtenays, supported King Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. They also believed the Pope should have authority in England. This was different from King Henry's views, as he wanted to divorce Catherine and become the head of the church in England.

Despite these differences, Edward Neville seemed to keep the King's favor for a while. In 1531, he was the King's Standard Bearer, carrying the royal flag. In 1534, he became the Constable of Leeds Castle in Kent, meaning he was in charge of the castle.

Trouble with the King

A few years later, things changed for Edward Neville. In 1538, King Henry's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, learned that Edward Neville was trying to get control of lands that used to belong to Moatenden Priory. These lands had recently been taken by the King during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, a time when many religious buildings were closed. Cromwell had already planned to take these lands for himself.

After a major uprising called the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536, many noble families who supported the old ways were accused of plotting against the King. Edward Neville was arrested on 3 November 1538. He was accused of working with his cousin, Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu, and Cardinal Reginald Pole, who was living outside England. They were charged with trying to help Cardinal Pole, who was seen as an enemy of the King, and to remove King Henry from power.

Edward Neville was sent to the Tower of London. He was tried and found guilty. On 8 December 1538, he was executed at Tower Hill. After his death, Thomas Cromwell officially received the lands that Edward Neville had been interested in.

Edward Neville's Children

Sir Edward Neville and Eleanor had several children:

• Edward Nevill, 7th Baron Bergavenny (died 10 February 1589)
• Sir Henry Neville (died 1593)
• Katherine Neville, who married Clement Throckmorton
• Elizabeth Neville
• Mary Neville
• Frances Neville (born 1519, died 18 October 1599)