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Sir Henry Bedingfeld (1505–1583F. Blomefield, 'Oxburgh', in ''An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk'', Vol. 6: Hundred of South Greenhoe (W. Miller, London 1807)
pp. 168-97
(British History Online), accessed 5 February 2021. "There is no date to this monument erected to the memory of Sir Henry Bedingfeld, Knt. Captain of the guards, Governour of the Tower of London, and privy counsellor to Queen Mary, who was buried here, as appears from the Register, on the 24th of August, 1583, and his lady on the 7th of ''December'' 1581."
), also spelled Bedingfield, of
Oxburgh Hall Oxburgh Hall is a moated country house in Oxborough, Norfolk, England. The hall was built for Sir Edmund Bedingfeld who obtained a licence to crenellate in 1482. The Bedingfelds gained the manor of Oxborough through marriage in the early 15th ...
,
King's Lynn King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn and colloquially as Lynn, is a port and market town in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the county of Norfolk, England. It is located north of London, north-east of Peterborough, no ...
,
Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North ...
, was a Privy Councillor to King
Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. Edward was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and the first En ...
and Queen
Mary I Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. Sh ...
,
Lieutenant of the Tower of London The Lieutenant of the Tower of London serves directly under the Constable of the Tower. The office has been appointed at least since the 13th century. There were formerly many privileges, immunities and perquisites attached to the office. Like the ...
, and (in 1557) Vice-Chamberlain of the Household and Captain of the guards.R. Virgoe, 'Bedingfield, Sir Henry (by 1509-83), of Oxborough, Norf.', in S.T. Bindoff (ed.), ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558'' (from Boydell and Brewer 1982)
History of Parliament Online
With Sir
Henry Jerningham Sir Henry Jerningham KB (1509/10 – 6 September 1572) was an English courtier during the Tudor period. He was a Gentleman Pensioner during the reign of Henry VIII. In the succession crisis of 1553 he was one of the foremost supporters of M ...
he was among the principals who rallied to Mary's cause following the death of Edward VI in 1553 and helped to set her upon the throne. He was a senior figure in the kinship group of Catholic recusant landowning knights of Suffolk. Given responsibility for the custody of Mary I's half-sister Elizabeth when in the Tower of London and at Woodstock, his reputation has suffered from the repetition of claims of his severity towards her: however Queen Elizabeth was respectful towards him and continued to find service for him. Among the foremost Englishmen of his time, he occupied prominent and honourable positions and was of unquestioned loyalty.


Family and education

Sir Henry was the eldest of five sons of Sir Edmund Bedingfield (1479/80–1553) and his wife, Grace (died in or after 1553), the daughter of
Henry Marney, 1st Baron Marney Henry Marney, 1st Baron Marney KG (c. 1447 – 4 May 1523) of Layer Marney, Essex was a politician of the Tudor period in England. He was a favourite of Henry VIII and captain of his guard. Life He was the son of John Marney and his wife Joan T ...
. His brothers were Francis, Anthony, Humphrey and Edmond, and his sisters were Elizabeth and Margaret. In February 1527/28, he was admitted to
Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. (The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn.) Lincoln ...
. The Bedingfelds were closely connected to the ancient family of Beaupré, of Beaupré Hall,
Outwell Outwell is a village and civil parish in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, in the English county of Norfolk.Ordnance Survey (2006). ''OS Explorer Map 228 – March & Ely''. At the 2011 Census, the parish had a population of 2,083, an ...
/
Upwell __NOTOC__ Upwell is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Upwell village is on the A1101 road, as is Outwell, its conjoined village at the north. The nearest towns are Wisbech to the north-west and Downham Market to th ...
, Norfolk. During the 1530s he married Katherine (died 1581), the daughter of Sir Roger Townshend of Raynham, Norfolk and his wife Amy Brewes, daughter and co-heiress of William de Brewse of Wenham Hall,
Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowesto ...
, and of Stinton Hall in Norfolk. In 1549 he was one of the many knights, esquires and gentlemen who assisted the
Marquess of Northampton A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
in putting down
Kett's Rebellion Kett's Rebellion was a revolt in Norfolk, England during the reign of Edward VI, largely in response to the enclosure of land. It began at Wymondham on 8 July 1549 with a group of rebels destroying fences that had been put up by wealthy landowners ...
at
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the Episcopal see, See of ...
, where, with Sir
Thomas Paston Sir Thomas Paston (by 1517 – 4 September 1550), of London, was an English politician. He was a son of Bridget Heydon, a daughter of Sir Henry Heydon of Baconsthorpe, and Sir William Paston (c.1479 – 1554), a son of Sir John Paston and his ...
, Sir John Clere, Sir William Waldegrave and Sir Thomas Cornwallis, he was appointed to the defence of part of the city. By that date, or certainly by 1551, he had received knighthood. In 1553, the year of his father's death and the accession of Queen Mary, Sir Henry Bedingfield succeeded his father as heir to the Oxburgh estate and the Hall which had been built by his grandfather, the elder Sir Edmund Bedingfield, (died 1496/97). It was to the March parliament of 1553, the second parliament of King Edward VI, that Sir Henry was first elected, on that occasion as
Knight of the Shire Knight of the shire ( la, milites comitatus) was the formal title for a member of parliament (MP) representing a county constituency in the British House of Commons, from its origins in the medieval Parliament of England until the Redistribution ...
for Suffolk: from this it is supposed that he was then acquiescent in the regency of the
Duke of Northumberland Duke of Northumberland is a noble title that has been created three times in English and British history, twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The current holder of this title is Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of ...
.


Career

Bedingfeld held various offices, including
Privy Councillor A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee A com ...
to
King Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. Edward was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and the first En ...
and
Queen Mary I Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. Sh ...
,
Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...
and (in 1555)
Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
of the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...
, and (in 1557) Captain of the Guard and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household to Mary I. After the death of King Edward VI in 1553, Sir Henry Bedingfeld and (Sir)
Henry Jerningham Sir Henry Jerningham KB (1509/10 – 6 September 1572) was an English courtier during the Tudor period. He was a Gentleman Pensioner during the reign of Henry VIII. In the succession crisis of 1553 he was one of the foremost supporters of M ...
(together with Sir
William Drury Sir William Drury (2 October 152713 October 1579) was an English statesman and soldier. Family William Drury, born at Hawstead in Suffolk on 2 October 1527, was the third son of Sir Robert Drury (c. 1503–1577) of Hedgerley, Buckinghamshire ...
,
John Sulyard Sir John Sulyard (by 1518 – 1575), of Wetherden and Haughley, Suffolk, was a prominent East Anglian magistrate, landowner, High Sheriff, knight and standard-bearer, strongly Roman Catholic in religious affiliation, who sat in parliament during ...
, Sir John Shelton, Clement Higham and others) were two supporters very instrumental in placing Mary Tudor on the throne, coming to her aid at
Kenninghall Kenninghall is a village and civil parish in Norfolk, England, with an area of and a population of 950 at the 2011 census. It falls within the local government district of Breckland. Home to the kings of East Anglia, after the Norman invasion ...
or
Framlingham Framlingham is a market town and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Of Anglo-Saxon origin, it appears in the 1086 Domesday Book. The parish had a population of 3,342 at the 2011 Census and an estimated 4,016 in 2019. Nearby villages include Ear ...
with 140 well-armed men. Bedingfeld proclaimed the queen at Norwich. He was afterwards rewarded for his loyalty with an annual pension of 100 pounds out of the forfeited estates of Sir Thomas Wyatt. Queen Mary appointed him a Privy Councillor and
Knight Marshal The Knight Marshal is a former office in the British Royal Household established by King Henry III in 1236. The position later became a Deputy to the Earl Marshal from the reign of King Henry VIII until the office was abolished in 1846. The Kni ...
of her army. It was in the light of this allegiance that he was elected to the first parliament of Mary's reign in October 1553 as one of the Knights of the Shire for Norfolk, and again in the succeeding parliament of 1554. In March 1554 Mary (following Wyatt's rebellion) placed her half-sister Princess Elizabeth in the Tower of London. She was certainly aware that her mother
Katherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (also spelt as Katherine, ; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until their annulment on 23 May 1533. She was previously ...
in later life had been kept at Kimbolton in the custody of Sir Henry's father. She now entrusted Sir Henry with the princess Elizabeth's custody, appointing him Constable of the Tower of London on 8 May, and instructing him to guard Elizabeth at
Woodstock Palace Woodstock Palace was a royal residence in the English town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Henry I of England built a hunting lodge here and in 1129 he built of walls to create the first enclosed park, where lions and leopards were kept. The lodge b ...
, where he remained with her until March 1555.
John Foxe John Foxe (1516/1517 – 18 April 1587), an English historian and martyrologist, was the author of '' Actes and Monuments'' (otherwise ''Foxe's Book of Martyrs''), telling of Christian martyrs throughout Western history, but particularly the s ...
, in the ''Acts and Monuments'', took every opportunity to blacken Bedingfield's character, and depicted him as severe and cruel towards his charge. Although, after her accession to the throne in 1558, Elizabeth used to address Sir Henry at court as "Her Gaoler", most agree that the term was probably applied loosely and in good spirit. "That seems to have rather been a term of royal familiarity, than contempt; for had it been the latter, he would scarce have been so much at court as it appears he usually was," wrote Blomefield.F. Blomefield (ed. C. Parkin), 'Oxburgh', in ''An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk'', Vol. 6: Hundred of South Greenhoe (W. Miller, London 1807)
pp. 168-97
(British History Online).
The correspondence, published by C.R. Manning, suggests that Bedingfield conducted himself in gentlemanly fashion towards the princess: J.M. Stone, noting that Elizabeth granted the manor of Caldecott to him, observed that
John Strype John Strype (1 November 1643 – 11 December 1737) was an English clergyman, historian and biographer from London. He became a merchant when settling in Petticoat Lane. In his twenties, he became perpetual curate of Theydon Bois, Essex and l ...
,
Bishop Burnet Gilbert Burnet (18 September 1643 – 17 March 1715) was a Scottish philosopher and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was highly respected as a cleric, a preacher, an academic, ...
and Sir Reginald Hennell had followed Foxe's account uncritically.J.M. Stone, 'III: A Notable Englishman', in ''Studies from Court and Cloister: being essays, historical and literary, dealing mainly with subjects relating to the XVIth and XVIIth centuries'' (Sands & Co, Edinburgh and London 1905)
pp. 52-94
(Internet Archive).
A mandate of Mary's to Bedingfield survives in which she instructs him to deliver his orders to the bearer, John Sulyard, and to receive from him her orders as if from herself, and to carry them out unfailingly. Sir Henry was appointed to the Lieutenancy of the Tower on 28 October 1555, after the resignation of Thomas Brydges. Among his prisoners were Sir
Peter Carew Sir Peter Carew (1514? – 27 November 1575) of Mohuns Ottery, Luppitt, Devon, was an English adventurer, who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England and took part in the Tudor conquest of Ireland. His biography was written by ...
, Sir Nicholas Arnold, Sir William Courtenay and Sir John Bray. Many unpleasant episodes passed in the Tower of London during Bedingfield's governance of it, not least the tortures and executions arising from the Henry Dudley conspiracy in 1556, and the enforced recantation of Sir
John Cheke Sir John Cheke (or Cheek) (16 June 1514 – 13 September 1557) was an English classical scholar and statesman. One of the foremost teachers of his age, and the first Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge, he played a great ...
a few days after the death of Edward Lewknor. Yet several prisoners under his charge were permitted to have access to their wives or family members, and in such matters Sir Henry appears to have been the obedient interpreter of Mary's direct commands, rather than the initiator of autocratic or vindictive practises. Bedingfeld's friend and fellow
Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
lor was Sir Henry Jerningham: on 25 December 1557, as Sir Edward Hastings became
Lord Chamberlain of the Household Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are ...
and Sir Thomas Cornwallis Comptroller, so Henry Jerningham became
Master of the Horse Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today. (Ancient Rome) The original Master of the Horse ( la, Magister Equitu ...
and Henry Bedingfield succeeded Jerningham as Vice-Chamberlain and became Captain of the Guard. Both maintained friendship with Sir John Bourne, also a Privy Councillor and Secretary of State during the reign of Mary I. He was then re-elected for the third and last time as a Knight of the Shire for Norfolk in the parliament of 1558. With the death of Queen Mary and the accession of Elizabeth in 1558, Sir Henry withdrew from public office and retired to Norfolk, though maintaining connections in court. According to Foxe, Elizabeth is said to have discouraged his presence, saying "If we have any prisoner whom we would have sharply and straitly kept, we will send for you!". Sir Henry remained a firm adherent to the Catholic faith, and in his last years was challenged for his
recusancy Recusancy (from la, recusare, translation=to refuse) was the state of those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to attend Church of England services after the English Reformation. The 1558 Recusancy Acts passed in the reign ...
.K. Bedingfield, ''The Bedingfields of Oxburgh'' (Private, 1912)
pp. 46-48
(Internet Archive).
In December 1569 the justices of Suffolk delivered to the Privy Council various bonds of those who had refused to subscribe to a declaration of obedience to the
Act of Uniformity 1558 The Act of Uniformity 1558 was an Act of the Parliament of England, passed in 1559, to regularise prayer, divine worship and the administration of the sacraments in the Church of England. The Act was part of the Elizabethan Religious Settleme ...
: these included a bond of Sir Henry's, dated 1 December 1569, for good behaviour towards the Queen and for his appearance before the Privy Council. His lands were valued at £500 and his goods at £1000 at Oxburgh in the Norfolk diocesan returns of recusants of 1577. In her royal progress of 1578 Elizabeth received Sir Henry's hospitality at Oxburgh, or intended to do so.


Elizabeth and Sir Henry at Woodstock, 1554–5

The correspondence and papers relating to Princess Elizabeth's confinement by Sir Henry Bedingfield are usefully presented by Manning, and narrated by J.M. Stone (1905), F.A. Mumby (1909) and Katherine Bedingfield (1912). These authors neither diminish Elizabeth's fears and terrors at the events nor needlessly vilify her custodian. ;At the Tower of London The following letter refers to Elizabeth's arrival at the Tower:
"To the right worshipfull Sir Henry Bedingfeld Knt., give these, Written in haste. My dutye remembered these shal be to advyse you that on friday my lady Elisabeth was sent to the tower at 10 of the cloke, the Parliament shal be holden at Westminster the daye afore assured and the Quene is in good helthe, thanks be to God, who preserve you in much worshipe thys good fryday, rydyng by the way, by yours to commande, Thomas Walters."K. Bedingfield, ''The Bedingfields of Oxburgh'' (Private, 1912)
pp. 25-31
(Internet Archive).
Sir Henry is described by his historians as a stern Norfolk knight, "in whose courage and probity" the Queen knew that she could confide... However, when she first saw Sir Henry enter the inner court of the Tower with the hundred men-at-arms in their blue coats under his command, she asked in terror "if the Lady Jane's scaffold was removed." The Lieutenant of the Tower endeavoured to calm her by saying there was no cause for alarm, but his orders were to consign her into the charge of Sir Henry Bedingfeld, to be conveyed to Woodstock. "Elizabeth, not knowing what manner of man Bedingfeld was, inquired whether he made conscience of murder, if such an order were entrusted to him." ;The journey to Woodstock On 19 May she was removed from the Tower, first by barge at the Tower Wharf, and so to Richmond, where she had an interview with the Queen. The next day she crossed the river at Richmond to proceed on her journey to Woodstock. The letters and State documents relating to this journey throw further light upon it. Sir Henry's note on the affair was as follows: "A memoriall off all letters, warrants, etc., whyche I have to shewe concerning the s'vice aboute my lady Elizabeth's grace, whereunto I was commanded by the Quene's highnes, which s'vice began the 8th off May 1554 — fyrst yere off hyr moste noble reign." Anthony, Humphrey, and Edmund Bedingfeld, brothers of Sir Henry, appear to have formed part of the guard brought by him to the Tower. In Sir Henry's report to the Queen of the journey from the Tower of London to Woodstock, he noted that the people between London and Windsor were not "hoole on matters of Religion" ...that "theye be fullye fyxed to stonde to the late abolyshyng off the byshopp off Romez aucthorite, as heretofore agaynste the order of all charite hath been establyshed by statute lawe within thys Realme." The letter goes on to say that "My Ladye Elisabeth's grace" had not "been verye well at ease," and yet she wanted to go out walking, "In the whyche and other lyke hyr requests I am mervolouslye p'plexed to graunte hyr desyer or to saye naye." Next there was written
"a remembrance off the journeye made by my Ladye Elizabeth's grace from Wyndsore to Syr Wyllm Dormer's house at West Wyckhm the xxth off maye 1 Marie Regine. Ffyrst when hyr grace cam to the castell gate to take hyr lytter, there stoode off Master Norrey's s'v'nts xvj, in tawneye coots, to receyve hyr oute, at whyche place there weere sum people to behold hyr... Itm, hyr grace passed the towne off Wyndsore wth moche gasyng off people unto Eton Colledge, where was used the like, as well by the scollers as others; the lyke in villages and ffeldes unto Wycombe, where most gasyng was used, and the wyves had p'pared cake and wafers w'ch at hir passing bye them, thei delyvered into the lytter. She receyved yt wth thanks untyll by the quantitee she was accombred and, wth the herbes delyvered in with the wafers, trobled as she sayde, and desyred the people to cease."
;Arrival at Woodstock At
West Wycombe West Wycombe is a small village famed for its manor houses and its hills. It is three miles west of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. The historic village is largely a National Trust property and receives a large annual influx of touri ...
, Sir
William Dormer Sir William Dormer, Order of the Bath, KB (died 17 May 1575) was a Tudor Period, Tudor knight, captain and politician. Biography William Dormer was born before 1514, the only child of Sir Robert Dormer of West Wycombe and of Wing, Buckinghamshir ...
and 17 servants in "blewe coats" awaited her, half-a-mile from his house, with Lady Dormer and her daughter-in-law. At Woburn Sir Henry began talking with a "husbande man," and found him "a verye protestunte," and thought there were many about there of "the same opinion." From the Dormers' house the princess and her suite went on to Lord William's, and thence to Woodstock. When the party arrived there, Queen Mary sent instructions to "her trustie and right well beloved counsellor Sir Henry Bedingfeld knyght." She had reason to believe that Elizabeth was implicated in some conspiracy against her, and she wrote that in the face of so much evidence it was difficult to believe that her sister was guiltless of the charges brought. Sir Henry was admonished to continue his "accustomed diligence in the charge by us comitted to yow." Then followed a report that "my ladye Elizabeth's grace ys daylye vexed with the swellyng in the face and other parts off hir bodye," and Sir Henry deputed Edmund his brother to declare the same to "my lorde Chamberlayne" and to ask for a doctor. "Doctour Owen" wrote directions to Sir Henry on the subject: apparently he thought it was not the "tyme off the yere to minster purgacions owing to the distemperaunce of the weather." After this, Sir Henry wrote a long letter to the Privy Council relating various conversations between himself and the princess, to which is added the following, "My lords it hath come to my knowledge by dyv'se creditable and wrshipfull p'sons, that the remayneng off Cranmer, Rydleye, and Latimer, at Oxforde, in such sort as theye dooe, hath done nooe smal hurte In theys parts, even amonge thoose that were knowne to be goode afore." ;Pleasures and responsibilities In her next letter to him, the Queen showed consideration for his comforts.
"Trustye and right well beloved, we gret you well, and wheare we understande yt by occasion of certyn our instructions Latelye gyvene unto you, ye doe continuallye make your personall abode within that our howse of Woodstock without removing from thence, at anye time, which thing might p'adventure in continuance be both som daunger to your helth, and be occasion also yt ye shall not be so well able to understande the state of the countreye theare abowts, as other wyse ye might. We let you wit yt, in consideracon thereof we are pleased ye maye at anye tyme when yourself shall thinke convenyant, make your repayre from owt of our sayed howse, leaving one of your brethren to loke to yor charge, and se to the good goverunce of that howse in yor absence. So as nevertheless ye returne back ageyne yor self at night, for the batter loking to yor sayed charge. And for yor better ease and recreacon we are in lyke manner pleased yt ye and yor brethren maye at yor libertyes halk for yor pastyme at the partrige, or hunt the hare, wthin that our maner of Woodstock or anye of our grounds adioynyng to the same, ffrom tyme to tyme, when ye shall thynke moste convenient; and that also ye maye yf ye shall so thinke good, cause yor wwf to be sent for, and to remayne theare wth you as long as yor self shall thinke meete. Geven under or signet, at or castle of Fernham ye — Julye, ye seconde yere of or Reigne."
Soon afterwards, Sir Henry wrote that if "this great Ladye shall remayne in this howse, there must be rep'acons done bothe to the covering of the house in lead and slate, and especially in glass and casemonds, or elles neyther she nor anye yt attendethe uppon hir shal be able to abyde for coulde." He wrote to the Bishop of Ely, asking to be released from his responsibility, as he had been for 15 weeks "in care off mynde and some travell of bodye": he begged him to remind the Lord Chancellor ( Bishop Gardiner) how he had accepted the custody of the princess at Gardiner's earnest request, in a conversation held "uppon the caulseye (causeway) betwexte the house off saynete Jamys and Charyng Crosse." He added that he had asked for his Lordship's house at the "black friers" in London, but heard it was disposed of: therefore he now asked for the one at Holborn, as he has no house "off refuge in London, butte the comon Inne, and woulde be gladde to gyve large monye to be avoyded off that inconvenience." ;Thomas Parry Princess Elizabeth had an ally in her time at Woodstock:
" Thomas Parry, the princess's
cofferer The Cofferer of the Household was formerly an office in the English and British Royal Household. Next in rank to the Comptroller, the holder paid the wages of some of the servants above and below stairs, was a member of the Board of Green Cloth, ...
, had to provide for her household but on 26 May, three days after her arrival at Woodstock, the Council told Bedingfield that there was no reason for Parry to stay there. Elizabeth's guardian communicated this decision to Parry, who baffled him by staying in the town. Parry now proceeded to make Bedingfield's life a misery. He first objected to the provisioning of his retinue out of Elizabeth's resources, until Bedingfield was commanded to supply them by a special warrant. This was simply a harassing tactic, for books were being conveyed to Elizabeth, some of which Bedingfield suspected of being seditious, and when Parry sent him two harmless ones he was forced to return them for want of explicit instructions. Bedingfield complained that he was helpless, as 'daily and hourly the said Parry may have and give intelligence,' and once again the cofferer's position was referred to the Council. Early in July Parry was at the Bull Inn, 'a marvellous colourable place to practise in,' receiving every day as many as 40 men in his own livery, besides Elizabeth's own servants. At length the Council forbade such large meetings and, from Bedingfield's subsequent silence on the point, it seems that the order was obeyed."
;Religious welfare Later, Sir Henry reported to the Council that the Lady Elizabeth, after "hir confession in Catholyke fourme dydde receyve the most comfortable Sacramente," and before receiving she declared to Sir Henry "that she had never plotted against the Queene." The Council replied that the Queen took great pleasure in the news that the Lady Elizabeth "doth so well conforme hirself in the receyvyng off the most blessed Sacramente off the altar." Sir Henry wrote to the Queen mentioning Elizabeth's use of the reformed prayer book, etc., and refers to Mary's recent marriage: he expressed the hope of an heir to the throne, which would be a joy to all true Englishmen, "that wee maye as holye Simeon dydde for the byrth of Chryste, prayse Godde for the same." Evidently there was some difficulty in getting Elizabeth to give up the reformed prayer book, and in reply to Sir Henry's remonstrance she reminded him that it had been used in "the king my father his dayes." Bedingfeld doubted her orthodoxy, and also that of the ladies who attended her, and he recommended that some "lerned men" should "preche and talke with them in the matter of there religion." He again asked to be released from his unwelcome task at Woodstock, but no answer came. Through his intervention, the princess asked for, and obtained, a doctor and surgeon, and was bled in the arm and foot. She also asked to be moved nearer to London, as there was great difficulty in conveying provisions to Woodstock during the winter. At length came a letter from the Queen ordering Sir Henry to bring Elizabeth with all speed to Hampton Court, and the good "gaoler" was free to return home.


Portraits

His portrait was at Oxburgh Hall, where it was described in the following manner:
"Body full, face turned very slightly towards the sinister, grey eyes full, long nose, light brown hair, round beard and moustache turning grey, soft black cap right down on the head." Dress: "Black doublet, high shoulders to it, and high black collar, very wide behind, small white frill all round the face; the right hand is forward clenched, probably holding gloves, frill round the wrist, a ring with ''an eagle displayed'' thereon, being on the third finger of the hand." S. Inscribed: "Anno D. 1573 ætatis suæ 68." "Sir Henry Bedingfeld Governor of the Tower."F. Duleep Singh and E. Farrer, ''Portraits in Norfolk Houses'' (Jarrold and Sons, Ltd., Norwich 1928)
p. 110 no. 15
(Internet Archive).
An engraving is in the National Portrait Gallery. A miniature, oil on ivory, dated c.1700–1799, is today at Oxburgh Hall, which now belongs to the National Trust. The miniature was previously in the ownership of the Conyngham family, Marquesses Conyngham, at
Slane Castle Slane Castle (Irish ''Cáisleán Bhaile Shláine'') is located in the village of Slane, within the Boyne Valley of County Meath, Ireland. The castle has been the family seat of the Conyngham family since it was built in the late 18th century, o ...
, County Meath, Ireland.


Death and monument

Dame Katherine Bedingfeld was buried at Oxborough on 7 December 1581, and Sir Henry on 24 August 1583. Sir Henry's will, which gives a lively impression of the community at Oxburgh Hall, was dated 15 August 1583 and proved on 13 November following. ;The Bedingfield chapel, Oxborough Their monument is to be found in the Bedingfield chapel at the parish church of St John, Oxborough. Shortly after the Second World War the tower of this church collapsed, destroying most of the nave. The chancel of the church, together with the Bedingfield chapel which was built onto the south side of it, was spared destruction and still remains. The chapel is most famous for two tombs made of floriated terracotta components - the finest of their kind, among a series of early 16th century monuments mainly in East Anglia associated with families who intermarried with the Bedingfields. (They include, among others, the Marneys of
Layer Marney Tower Layer Marney Tower is a Tudor palace, composed of buildings, gardens and parkland, dating from 1520 situated in Layer Marney, Essex, England, between Colchester and Maldon. The building was designated Grade I listed in 1952. History Construct ...
, Sir Philip Bothe of Shrubland Old Hall, and Sir
Edward Echyngham Sir Edward Echyngham (ante 1483 – 8 July 1527), (also Etchingham, Itchyngham, etc.), of Barsham and Ipswich in Suffolk, was a commander on land and at sea, briefly Constable of Limerick Castle, and Collector of Customs at Ipswich. He is remem ...
of Barsham). One of these at Oxborough, a table tomb with a high arching canopy over it, extends across the chapel enclosing its eastern end as the inner sanctum of the Bedingfield memorials. The other, also with a canopy, stands across the archway opening on the north side into the chancel of the church, blocking the entry but affording a view into the chancel space. These are the tombs of Sir Henry's grandparents, Sir Edmund Bedingfield senr., Knight of the Bath, who died in 1496-97, and his second wife Dame Margaret Bedingfield (née Scott, the daughter of Sir John Scott of Scott's Hall), the latter of whom, dying a widow in 1514, by her will established the chapel.J. Greenstreet, 'Bedingfield of Oxburgh', ''Notes and Queries'' 5th Series, IX (2 February 1878)
p. 82
(Hathi Trust), reciting some of her inquisitions.
;Monument The monument to Sir Henry himself and to his wife Katherine is undated, and stands against the south wall of the Bedingfield chapel. It is a large construction of vari-coloured marbles, in the form of a shallow altar table projecting from the wall. Its frontage is arranged as three pilasters of dark marble, separating two square panels of suffused reddish-veined marble which enclose inner panels of black marble. All these features are outlined with gilt mouldings. At the outer ends of the table arise a pair of tall detached grey columns with gilded bases and capitals of the Corinthian order. These support an elaborately moulded and dentillated horizontal entablature above, and frame a large wall-piece of suffused reddish-veined marble ornamented with gilded fetter-locks (a motif associated with this family) and a bandwork design, interwoven with a glittering thread-like decoration. All of this encloses a central dark panel with gilt lettering, which bears a Latin inscription:
"Casta Bedingfeldo Comes, hic Katharina Marito est
Lustris Viva decem, quae fuit ante Comes.
Prole Virum Conjux, Vir adauxit honoribus illam,
Factus post multos Nominis hujus Eques.
Inde Satellitium sumpsit, Turrimque regendam,
Pars a Consilijs Una, Maria tuis.
Privatus Senium, Christoque, Sibique dicavit,
Vir pius, et verae Religionis amans.
Hospitio largus, miserisque suisque benignus,
Ad Mortem et Morbi tædia, fortis erat."
''(Here BEDINGFIELD's chaste consort, KATHARINA lies,
Who ten times five years was his living bride.
Of worthy stem, he brought her honours more
When raised a Knight, like sundry of his Name:
Then of the Guards, of the Tower, he took command,
One party of thy Counsels, MARIA queen.
Retir'd, old age to Christ, to himself, he gave,
A pious man, and true Religion's friend.
A generous Host, benign to needy Kin,
He bore the toils of Sickness, firm till Death.)''
;Heraldry Over the entablature are three free-standing heraldic escutcheons, painted in polychrome. The centrepiece is a large circular frame with the arms of Bedingfield, ''ermine a spread eagle gules beaked and peded or'', quartering the arms of Todenham, Peche, Rochester, Pateshull, Weyland, Herling, Jenny, Bourn of Long-Stratton, Waldegrave, Wyfold and Claworth. The Bedingfield crest is shown, ''a demi-eagle or''. The sinister escutcheon, which is shield-shaped, has the arms of Bedingfield and Todenham quarterly, impaling those of Townsend and Brews quarterly (representing the marriage of Sir Henry and Dame Katharine). The dexter escutcheon has the shield of Townsend, with quarterings for Haywell, Brews, Ufford, Carbonell and Shardelowe.


Children

The children of Sir Henry Bedingfeld and Katherine Townsend were: * Edmund Bedingfield (died 1585) of
Eriswell Eriswell is a village and civil parish of West Suffolk in the English county of Suffolk. About forty scattered archaeological finds have been made here, including Bronze Age battle axes, palstaves and rapiers. The greater part of these object ...
in Suffolk, who married (1) Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Southwell of
Hoxne Hoxne ( ) is a village in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, about five miles (8 km) east-southeast of Diss, Norfolk and south of the River Waveney. The parish is irregularly shaped, covering the villages of Hoxne, Cross Street a ...
, Suffolk;W. Rye (ed.), ''The Visitacion of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarenceux King of Arms, Anno 1563, enlarged with another Visitacion made by Clarenceux Cook: with many other descents, and also the Vissitation made by John Raven, Richmond, Anno 1613'', Harleian Society Vol. XXXII (London 1891)
p. 31
(Internet Archive).
and (2) Anne, daughter of John Moulton of
Thurgarton, Norfolk Thurgarton is a village in the North Norfolk district of the English county of Norfolk. It lies 6½ miles north of Aylsham and 5½ miles south-west of Cromer, and was once part of the North Erpingham hundred. It forms part of the civil parish of ...
, Esq. The children of Edmund Bedingfield and Anne Southwell were: *# Thomas Bedingfield (died 9 April 1590G.H. Dashwood (ed.), ''The Visitation of Norfolk in the year 1563, taken by William Harvey, Clarenceux King of Arms'' (Miller & Leavins, Norwich 1878), Vol. I
p. 160
(archaeology data service): "3 ''years'', 10 ''months'', ''and'' 18 ''days old at his father's death'' n 9 April 32 Elizabeth, i.e. 9 April 1590'. Ob''. 22 ''Nov''. 1657, ''æt''. 70 ''years &'' 6 ''months''."
), son and heir, married Frances, coheiress of John Jerningham of
Somerleyton Somerleyton is a village and former civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is north-west of Lowestoft and south-west of Great Yarmouth in the East Suffolk district. The village is closely associated with Somerleyton H ...
in Suffolk, Esq. *#*
Sir Henry Bedingfield Sir Henry Bedingfeld (1505–1583F. Blomefield, 'Oxburgh', in ''An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk'', Vol. 6: Hundred of South Greenhoe (W. Miller, London 1807)pp. 168-97(British History Online), accessed 5 Febru ...
(1587–1657F. Duleep Singh and E. Farrer, ''Portraits in Norfolk Houses'' (Jarrold and Sons, Ltd., Norwich 1928)
p. 110 no. 16
"He died 22nd November 1657, aged 70 years and 6 months. ''See'' Monument at Oxburgh."
) *#* William, under age in 1593 *# Edmund Bedingfeld of Briston in Norfolk, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Castell of Raveningham in Norfolk *#* Edmund Bedingfeld *#* Frances Bedingfeld *#* Elizabeth Bedingfeld *# Anthony Bedingfeld *# Mary Bedingfeld (died 1629), married Sir William Cobb (died 27 August 1607) of Sandringham in Norfolk, Knight, the great-grandson of Francis Mountford.W. Rye (ed.), The Visitacion of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarenceux King of Arms, Anno 1563, enlarged with another Visitacion made by Clarenceux Cook: with many other descents, and also the Vissitation made by John Raven, Richmond, Anno 1613, Harleian Society Vol. XXXII (London 1891)
pp. 200–01
(Internet Archive).
F. Blomefield (ed. C. Parkin), 'Sandringham', in ''An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk'' Vol. 9: Freebridge Hundred (W. Miller, London 1808)
pp. 67-72
(British History Online, accessed 6 February 2021).
His descendants owned Sandringham until about 1686. Lady Cobb's name is to be found in 1595 in the 'Popish Recusant' RollsK. Bedingfield, ''The Bedingfields of Oxburgh'' (Private, 1912)
p. 50
(Internet Archive).
*# Anne Bedingfeld, the wife of Robert Skerne of Bondby in Lincolnshire *# Nazareth Bedingfeld, the wife of Edward Yelverton of Norfolk. Both Nazareth and her husband were also recusants * Thomas Bedingfeld, Gentleman pensioner to Queen Elizabeth, died 1613. Buried in St. James' Clerkenwell * John Bedingfeld (died 1606+) of
Redlingfield Redlingfield is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around six miles south-east of Diss, in 2011 its population (including Athelington) was 144, according to the 2011 census. Redlingf ...
in Suffolk * Nicholas Bedingfeld, of Swatshall in Gislingham, died without issue in 1636 * Henry Bedingfeld of Sturston * Alice Bedingfeld, married (1) Thomas Carvell, eldest son of Humphrey Kerville of
Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen is a civil parish and village in the English county of Norfolk. It is south of the town of King's Lynn on the west bank of the River Great Ouse. It covers an area of and had a population of 729 in 304 households in t ...
, Norfolk; and (2) Henry Seckford,
Gentleman of the Privy Chamber A privy chamber was the private apartment of a royal residence in England. The Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber were noble-born servants to the Crown who would wait and attend on the King in private, as well as during various court activities, ...
to Queen ElizabethK. Bedingfield, ''The Bedingfields of Oxburgh'' (Private, 1912)
p. 39
(Internet Archive).
* Amy Bedingfeld, the wife of Thomas Wilbraham, Attorney of the Court of Wards * Eva Bedingfeld (died 1631), the wife of William Yaxley of
Yaxley, Suffolk Yaxley is a small village just west of Eye in Suffolk, England. The name means 'cuckoo-clearing'. Church of St. Mary Pevsner describes the north porch of the 12th-century church as 'one of the most swagger in Suffolk'. Inside the church are t ...
* Katherine Bedingfeld * Elizabeth Bedingfeld, married Edmund Richers of
Swannington, Norfolk Swannington is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, United Kingdom. The villages name means 'Farm/settlement connected with Swan'. Location The village is located approximately north-west of Norwich between the villages ...
* Anne Bedingfeld


References


Sources

*William Joseph Sheils, ‘Bedingfield family (per. 1476-1760)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 ccessed 5 June 2005: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/76392*Ann Weikel, ‘Bedingfeld , Sir Henry (1509x11-1583)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 *J. M., Stone Studies From Court and Cloister, Essays Historical and Literary, pb. 1908 London and Edinburgh sands and company St Louis, MO. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bedingfield, Henry 1505 births 1583 deaths Lieutenants of the Tower of London People from King's Lynn Members of Lincoln's Inn Members of the Parliament of England for Norfolk English MPs 1553 (Mary I) English MPs 1554 English MPs 1558