Gervase Helwys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Gervase Helwys
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| Born | 1 September 1561 Saundby, Nottinghamshire, England
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| Died | 20 November 1615 |
| Cause of death | Hanging |
| Resting place | The Tower of London, Westminster |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | Gervase Helwysse Jervis Yelwys |
| Education | Middle Temple |
| Alma mater | New Inn |
| Occupation | Lieutenant of the Tower of London |
| Employer | Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton |
| Known for | Complicity in murder of Sir Thomas Overbury |
| Title | Sir |
| Opponent(s) | |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Brooke |
| Children | William Thomas Nathaniel Gervase John Elizabeth Bridget Maria Jane Anna Francesca |
| Parent(s) | John Helwys Mary Blagden |
| Relatives | Thomas Helwys |
Sir Gervase Helwys (born September 1, 1561 – died November 20, 1615), also known as Jervis Yelwys, was an important official in England. He served as the Lieutenant of the Tower of London. This was a very serious job, as he was in charge of the famous Tower of London prison.
Sadly, Sir Gervase Helwys was found to be involved in the death of Sir Thomas Overbury. He was executed in 1615. This event caused a huge scandal. It made King James I's royal court look very bad. Many people thought the court was full of corruption and bad behavior. There are many ways to spell his last name, like Helwis, Helwiss, and Elwes.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Gervase Helwys was born on September 1, 1561. His hometown was Saundby, in Nottinghamshire, England. He was the first child of John Helwys and Mary Blagden.
He went to New Inn at the University of Oxford to study. After that, he studied law at Middle Temple. His uncle, Geoffrey Helwys, was a successful merchant. He was also a member of the Inn. Soon after his studies, Gervase married Mary Brooke. She was from Norfolk.
Becoming a Knight and Lieutenant
On May 7, 1603, King James I made Helwys a knight. This was a great honor. Ten years later, on May 6, 1613, the King gave him an even bigger job. He became the Lieutenant of the Tower of London. Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton suggested him for this role.
At that time, people often had to pay for important jobs. Helwys paid £2,000 for the title. A large part of this money went to Northampton. Some also went to Sir Thomas Monson, 1st Baronet, who was a friend of Helwys.
While working at the Tower, Helwys was involved in questioning a prisoner. This prisoner was Edmond Peacham. He was a rector who had written something critical about the king. The king's main lawyer, Sir Francis Bacon, asked Helwys to do this.
The Overbury Case
In 1612, the king's Secretary of State, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, passed away. King James I wanted to run the government himself. He let his young Scottish friend, Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, help with many duties. But the king found it hard to manage everything closely. This led to different groups in the government fighting for power.
One powerful group was the Howard family. This group included Henry Howard and Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk. Even Robert Carr, who was new to his responsibilities, joined the Howards. He often relied on his close friend, Sir Thomas Overbury, for help.
Carr started a relationship with Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset. She was married and was the daughter of the Earl of Suffolk. King James helped her end her marriage so she could marry Carr. Overbury did not trust the Howards. He tried to stop the marriage.
Overbury's Imprisonment
The Howard group wanted to get Overbury away from the court. They made it seem like he was disrespectful to the queen. Then, they convinced the king to offer Overbury a job as an ambassador. He was to go to the court of Tsar Michael of Russia. The Howards knew Overbury would refuse this job. Refusing the king was seen as betraying him.
Their plan worked. Overbury said no, because he wanted to stay in England. On April 22, 1613, Overbury was put in the Tower of London. He died there five months later, on September 15. At first, people thought he died of natural causes.
The Truth Comes Out
In July 1615, rumors started spreading. It turned out that Overbury had been poisoned. A young boy who worked for one of the people involved revealed the crime.
An official investigation began. Many proofs were found. Sir Gervase Helwys had a dinner with the king's new Secretary of State, Sir Ralph Winwood. Helwys admitted he thought something bad might have happened to Overbury. He became a suspect when letters between him and Northampton were found. These letters talked about Overbury's behavior and health.
Northampton wrote badly about Overbury in his letters to Helwys. He also did not want his name linked to Overbury's imprisonment. Northampton even introduced a royal doctor, John Craig, to Helwys. This doctor was supposed to report on the prisoner's health. Helwys made a mistake by writing to Howard, who was a main suspect.
When the matter was officially investigated, Helwys felt his enemies were trying to blame him. On October 1, 1615, he was arrested. He was moved from his home to a cell in the Tower.
Trial and Execution
In 1615, Helwys went on trial. Others on trial included Monson, Richard Weston (the jailer), Mrs Anne Turner, and James Franklin (a pharmacist). They were accused of being involved in Overbury's death. The trials took place in Guildhall, London.
The main judges were Sir Edward Coke, the chief judge, and Sir Francis Bacon. They ruled that Weston, Turner, and Franklin had given Overbury "poisons." These poisons were hidden in "jellies" and "tarts." Frances Howard had told them to do this.
When Frances Howard and Robert Carr were tried, she admitted her part in the death. But her husband, Carr, did not. King James worried about what Carr might say in court. He sent messages to Carr, asking him to admit guilt for a pardon. Carr refused. Both were found guilty and sentenced to death. However, the king changed their punishment to life in prison. They were later pardoned, along with Monson.
The only real proof against Helwys came from Franklin. Franklin said that Helwys had worked with Frances Howard. But letters from Helwys to Howard, which were not read in court, showed something different. They showed that Helwys at first did not know Overbury was being poisoned.
Helwys later confessed that he suspected something was wrong. He found out about earlier attempts to poison Overbury by the jailer Weston. Weston had been put in that job by Northampton. Helwys felt he could not interfere because powerful people were protecting Weston. He thought it was a matter of state.
However, Helwys said he tried his best to save Overbury secretly. He threw away the poisons and gave Overbury food from his own kitchen. He made Weston realize how terrible his actions were. He also made Weston promise to stop trying to harm the prisoner. Helwys believed that Overbury was poisoned when he relaxed his watch.
On November 18, Helwys, Weston, Turner, and Franklin were found guilty. They were found guilty of helping plan the crime. Because they did not have powerful friends, they were sentenced to death.
Helwys asked for God's forgiveness for his part in the crime. He also admitted he liked gambling too much. Sir Gervase Helwys left behind eight children with his wife Mary: William, Thomas, Nathaniel Gervase John, Elizabeth Bridget, Maria, Jane, Anna, and Francesca.
