Henry Isley facts for kids

Sir Henry Isley was an English nobleman who took part in a big event called Wyatt's Rebellion. This rebellion happened during the time of Queen Mary I.

The Isley family were important landowners in Kent county. Henry Isley owned a large estate called Sundridge manor in Brasted. His brother, Thomas Isley Jr., had an estate called Vinters Park near Maidstone. Henry Isley was chosen to be the Sheriff of Kent in both 1542 and 1550. This was an important job, like being the main law enforcement officer for the county.

Early Life and Role

Henry Isley held several important positions. In 1542, he became the master of the hunt and oversaw all the deer in Northfrithe Park. He was also the chief steward and bailiff of the Hadlow area. These roles showed he was a trusted and powerful person in Kent.

Political Connections

Between 1547 and 1550, several important Protestant leaders served as Sheriffs of Kent. These included George Harper, Thomas Culpepper, Thomas Wyatt the younger, and Henry Isley. They were all closely connected to King Edward VI's government. This shows they had similar beliefs and worked together.

When Queen Mary I became queen, things changed. She was a Catholic, and many Protestants were worried. Henry Isley was arrested soon after she took the throne. However, he managed to make peace with the new queen. He agreed to accept the changes in religion and was released.

Involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion

Wyatt's Rebellion was a major uprising against Queen Mary I. Many people, especially Protestants, were unhappy with her plans to marry Prince Philip of Spain and bring back Catholicism.

The Start of the Uprising

On January 22, 1554, Henry Isley attended a secret meeting. About thirty important people gathered at Wyatt's home, Allington Castle. Here, they planned their rebellion.

Just three days later, on January 25, Wyatt openly started the revolt in Maidstone. Henry Isley and his brother Thomas led their own groups of rebels. They operated separately from Wyatt's main forces.

Rebel Movements

On January 27, 1554, Wyatt and his main army took control of Rochester. Henry Isley and his men were staying in Sevenoaks at this time.

The very next day, Henry Isley and his five hundred men marched out of Sevenoaks. They were heading to join Wyatt in Rochester. However, they were stopped.

Defeat and Capture

A loyal sheriff named Robert Southwell intercepted Henry Isley's forces at Wrotham. Sheriff Southwell's men defeated the rebels. They captured about sixty of Isley's men. Henry Isley himself managed to escape and fled to Hampshire.

The Queen's government offered a pardon to most of the rebels. However, they specifically excluded Henry Isley, Wyatt, Harper, and a man named Rudstone. These four were considered the main leaders. The Crown even offered a reward of £100 for the capture of each of these ringleaders.

By the end of February, all the rebels were caught. They were imprisoned in the Tower of London, a famous prison.

Trial and Execution

The trials for the rebels began on February 10 and mostly finished by February 22. A special group called the Westminster Commission looked into the cases of the leaders.

Henry Isley was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was then executed. It's important to note that most of the other noble rebels were only fined and then set free. Some were even released without having to pay a fine. This shows that Henry Isley was seen as a very important figure in the rebellion.