Roger Ratcliffe facts for kids

Roger Ratcliffe was an important person who lived in England during the 1500s. He worked for powerful figures like Queen Catherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII. He was known as a courtier, which means he served in the royal household. Roger Ratcliffe passed away in 1537.

Roger's Career in the Royal Court

Roger Ratcliffe began his career working for Lady Margaret Beaufort, who was the mother of King Henry VII. In 1510, he was given an important job as the Bailiff of Fremington in Devon.

Later, Roger joined the household of Queen Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII's first wife. He became a "gentleman usher of her chamber." This meant he helped manage the Queen's daily life and attended to her needs. In 1520, he traveled with Queen Catherine to a famous event called the Field of the Cloth of Gold. This was a huge meeting between King Henry VIII and the King of France, where they showed off their wealth and power.

By 1526, Roger Ratcliffe was working directly for King Henry VIII as a gentleman usher in the King's private rooms.

A Special Trip to Scotland

In 1524, Roger Ratcliffe went on a special trip to Scotland. He traveled with a man named Doctor Magnus to meet King Henry VIII's sister, Margaret Tudor. At that time, Margaret was the Queen of Scotland.

Roger's main job on this trip was to entertain Margaret's young son, James V of Scotland. They brought gifts from King Henry, including fancy cloth of gold for Margaret and a sword for James. Roger and Doctor Magnus watched the young Scottish king. They saw him dance, sing, ride horses, and even run with a spear! They were very impressed by his "princely acts." This important trip was planned by Cardinal Wolsey, a powerful advisor to King Henry VIII.

Roger Ratcliffe also held other important positions. In 1529, he was the Sheriff for the areas of Leicestershire and Warwickshire. This was a high-ranking job in local government.

Roger's Family and Withcote Hall

Roger Ratcliffe married a woman named Catherine. She was the widow of William Smith. Catherine owned a property called Withcote in Leicestershire. Her first husband had started building a large house and a chapel there.

After Roger Ratcliffe passed away, Withcote was inherited by his stepson, John Smith. Roger left John a special bed made of velvet and silk in his will.

It is believed that Mary, Queen of Scots, once stopped at Withcote Hall. This was when the house was owned by Henry Smith, a relative of Roger's stepson. Mary was on her way to Fotheringhay Castle, where she was later imprisoned.

Withcote Hall and Chapel Buildings

Roger Ratcliffe finished the building work at Withcote Hall in Leicestershire. The house itself is no longer standing today. Around 1534, King Henry VIII allowed Roger to use building materials from Rockingham Castle for his project.

A famous writer named John Leland visited Withcote in 1539. He described it as "Mr Radeclif's right goodly house" and "one of the fairest houses in Leicestershire."

The chapel at Withcote is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows. These windows are thought to have been made by a skilled artist from Flanders named Galyon Hone. The glass includes symbols like the phoenix and castle, which were badges of Jane Seymour, another wife of King Henry VIII. The windows also show the family symbols of Roger Ratcliffe. It was once thought that Roger got the glass from a nearby abbey, but it's now believed he hired the royal glass artist to create them for his chapel.

Images for kids

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  Withcote Chapel, cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.