Sir Humphrey ARUNDELL of Helland

Born: ABT 1513

Died: 27 Jan 1550, Tyburn, London, Middlesex, England

Father: Roger ARUNDELL of Stelland

Mother: Joan CALWOODLEY

Married: Elizabeth FULFORD (dau. of Sir John Fulford and Dorothy Bourchier) (m.2 Thomas Carey)

Children:

1. Humphrey ARUNDELL

2. Richard ARUNDELL

3. Dau. ARUNDELL


Son of Roger Arundell of Helland Cornwall a descendant of the Lanhearne family, by his wife Joan, daughter and heir of Humphrey Calwoodley, of Calwoodleigh, Devon. His maternal grandfather had been involved in the Perkin Warbeck rising against Henry VII in 1497. Was to become an experienced soldier.

On the death of his parents in  1536 inherited large estates in both Devon and Cornwall.

He married date not available Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Fulford, by whom he had two sons Humphrey and Richard, and a daughter.

Was with other rebels on the grand jury after the killing of William Body, and pressed for leniency.

In 1549 Arundell became leader of the Rebels from Cornwall involved in the Prayer Book Rebellion against Edward VI and the Protector Somerset. Partly because he was a good Catholic and a good Cornishman, and also, because as a man of influence, he felt he could control the rebels of their worse excesses. Had been in charge of a small garrison on St Michaels Mount, which had defected to the rebels at the begging of the campaign.

At the siege of Exeter Arundell had no easy task, with his ill trained troops, to sit patiently before the walled city. They had no great artillery to open the breach, and yet without reason they gave assault, and used divers means to mount the walls. They had a few guns among them one trained on Carew at Clyst St Mary bridge, and it is said that some were taken from Plymouth and other forts of the King, probably including those on St Michael's Mount, St Mawes, Pendennis, and Trematon Castles; but these could only be of a small calibre, as the difficulties of transport would have prevented them from bringing larger guns. But the more madness they showed in their attempts with greater loss were they driven back.

He was a good leader throughout the Campaign. At the Sampford Courtnay Battle he lead a large contingent of rebels from the rear Lord Russell was surprised by the sudden charge at their backs that the Royal troups were thrown into confusion.

Attempted to make another stand at Okehampton, but pursuit was to close and he fell back to Launceston, where he was finally overpowered and imprisoned in the castle. On 19 Aug he was transferred to Exeter and lodged in Rougemont Castle dungeons. He was taken with other rebels to the Tower of London on 8 Sep.

Tuesday 26th Nov, Arundell together with John Wynslade, Bury and Holmes were taken by boat up the river to Westminster Hall where they were found guilty of High Treason and condemned to be taken back to the Tower and later "to be drawn on hurdles through the City of London to the gallows at Tyburn and on the gallows suspended and while yet alive to be cast down upon the ground and the entrails of each to be taken out and burnt before their eyes while yet living and their heads to be cut off and their bodies to be divided into four parts to be distributed at the King's pleasure". The sentence was carried out 27 Jan 1550.

All the estates of the ringleaders were promptly distributed to those who had served the King in the rising. Sir Gawen Carew received most of Humprey Arundell's lands, subject to his widows dower rights. Soon after Arundell's execution his widow married Thomas Carey of Cary by whom she had eight children, died 24th Nov 1565.

A portion of these were later claimed by Arundell's children.

to Bios Page

to Family Page

to Peerage Page to Home Page