Ready To Accomplish: Why The Early Tudors Owe Their Crown To The Talbots

A guest article by Mike Glaeser from Blogging 4 History.

Effigy of George Talbot on the Talbot monument in Shrewsbury Chapel, Sheffield Cathedral. His wife Anne is on his right side and Elizabeth on his left. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Talbot family, better known by their peerage title as the earls of Shrewsbury, played a prominent role in English politics for nearly two centuries. Since their creation as earls in 1442, subsequent generations of Talbots fought in defense of the crown against foes both foreign and domestic and in one particular case, against each other! Both Henry VII and Henry VIII came to rely on the family’s loyalties. The Talbot hegemony in the English Midlands formed a strong base for royal support. When the commons rose against Cromwell during the Pilgrimage of Grace, there was no major influx of rebels from Talbot controlled lands. In fact, it was the mobilization of George Talbot and his tenants which halted the rebel advance.

The first three earls of Shrewsbury, all named John, spent their lives in service to the English monarch. The first earl, heralded by Shakespeare in Henry VI, led English forces in the closing decades of the Hundred Years War and fell in the final defeat at Castillon in 1453. With the loss of their French territories, the English nobility split into warring factions and the Wars of the Roses began. Only two families survived the wars without loss and, unfortunately, the Talbots were not one of them. The second earl died fighting just outside Henry VI’s tent at Northampton. His son, more a scholar than a soldier, remained curiously uncommitted but died at the young age of 25 leaving his own son, George Talbot, with the title of 4^th earl of Shrewsbury at the age of five.

The Talbot dog and garter badge in the ceiling of the Turret House at Sheffield Manor. This is connected with George Talbot the 6th earl of Shrewsbury but the 4th earl would have had similar iconography.

It is here that our story picks up. George Talbot, being heir to both vital and rich lands, was quickly made a ward to William Hastings, the right hand man of Edward IV. Growing up under a wardship held many potential pitfalls. While the ward was required to be educated and provided for, their lands could be completely stripped of their incomes and assets by their guardians. Further advantage was taken by marrying the ward to a family member. In this case, George married Hasting’s daughter Anne when they were ten and thirteen respectively. Lastly, we must remember that Hastings was a Yorkist. He was executed for treason by Richard III who in turn made sure to put George under his personal protection. I believe it is for this reason that come August 1485, George Talbot advanced his banner for Richard at Bosworth.

George’s uncle, Gilbert Talbot, was also loyal to the Yorkist kings until Richard’s policies drove him into the hands of an upstart Lancastrian named Henry Tudor. According to a 16^th century ballad called The Song of Lady Bess, Gilbert was the first Englishman to declare support for Henry. Indeed, Gilbert met Henry at Newport and together they advanced towards Bosworth. On that fateful day in 1485, Lancaster and York fought anew. Gilbert was given command of Henry’s right flank which contained the largest contingent of English men-at-arms as well as cavalry. According to the Ballad of Bosworth Field, another contemporary poem/song, George Talbot fought alongside the first duke of Norfolk. My research suggests that George, as earl of Shrewsbury, found himself in the vanguard which was eventually harried and attacked by Gilbert. Thus we have Talbot on Talbot violence. At the end of the battle, my initial statement still holds true: the Talbots fought in defense of the crown.

The Shrewsbury Chapel in Sheffield Cathedral which was built by the 4th earl as
the family resting place.

With Gilbert to speak for him, the seventeen year old George was forgiven by the newly crowned Henry VII who desperately needed allies. In fact, George carried the sword Curtana at Henry’s coronation and merely two months after the battle, he was allowed to enter his inheritance. Shrewsbury, as we shall now call George, fought for Henry with distinction at Stoke, the last battle in the Wars of the Roses and in Yorkshire to quell several taxation revolts. These actions in defense of the young and vulnerable Tudor dynasty earned him entry into the Knights of the Garter. During the same period, Shrewsbury was becoming known to Henry’s children. He was made god-father to Margaret Tudor in 1489, carried the young Henry through the long ceremony of his creation as duke of York and escorted Arthur to his wedding bed. Dr. Starkey argues that Henry’s creation as a Knight of the Bath/ duke of York had a lasting impact on the king. I do not think it is too much of a stretch to suggest that Henry formed a bond with the man who carried him. This bond would be vital for both Henry and Shrewsbury in their later lives.

With the accession of Henry VIII, Shrewsbury continued to amass titles, lands and wealth. He was by now Lord Steward of the Household, a chamberlain of the exchequer and a member of the privy council. When Henry renewed hostility with France in 1513, Shrewsbury was named captain of the vanguard. As to why, a Venetian ambassador said it best: “to this day in France they still their babies by threatening them when they cry with the coming of the Talbots”, a reminder of the fear that the first earl of Shrewsbury instilled on the continent. George was to prove himself just as capable as his great-grandfather. His vanguard was vital in the siege of Therouanne. If Hall’s Chronicle is to be believed, the French cavalry force fled directly into Henry VIII’s troops after seeing Shrewsbury’s fluttering banner in front of them. The Battle of the Spurs provided Henry with a victory but it was Shrewsbury who first entered Therouanne and placed the flag of St. George at its highest point.

George Talbot’s tomb. The alabaster effigies were once elaborately painted and are life like depictions of the 4th earl and his two wives Anne Hastings and Elizabeth Walden.

As the years passed, Shrewsbury spent his time managing and building his estates. He was made Lieutenant to the North several times in an effort to halt or sway Scottish aggression. It is his role in 1536, however, for which Henry VIII owes him everything. On October 4^th, Shrewsbury is told of the Lincolnshire uprising at his manor in Sheffield. He immediately begins to raise his forces while writing to Henry to warn him of the rebellion as well as request permission to muster troops. It is worth noting that simply raising forces without crown approval was seen as treason, a relic of the “bastard feudalism” prevalent during the Wars of the Roses. Shrewsbury made sure to cover himself with the letter but it is his risk to muster immediately which proved vital in the days to come.

Within two days, royal forces were mustering in Nottingham with Shrewsbury nearby at his house in Hardwick. He communicated with Henry or Thomas Cromwell almost daily, asking for money “for it is the thing every poor man will call for” and complaining that the castle at Nottingham had no artillery available. It was a sign of things to come- Shrewsbury would not receive the full support he needed whether it be men, arms or money. Instead, the earl relied on his words. After receiving a letter from Lord Hussey asking (for permission basically) about joining the rebels, Shrewsbury sent a harsh response that scared Hussey into joining Shrewsbury’s side at Nottingham on October 9th: “There is nothing in my letter but commandment to suppress the rebellious which I doubt not you will help”. Similarly, Shrewsbury grossly inflates his force’s size of 7,000 when he sent a proclamation to the rebels at Lincoln saying he had 40,000 men ready to battle at Ancaster Heath. With the Duke of Norfolk being slow in response, Shrewsbury continued to keep the rebels in check. Despite all his actions thus far, rumors of his true allegiances began to spread. Rebels and loyalists alike questioned the earl’s position. After all, wasn’t the earl a catholic? Didn’t he support the Lady Mary? Wasn’t he still smarting after he was wronged several times by the crown? Holinshed, who provides us with an account of Shrewsbury’s speech, noted interestingly enough that “which way he (Shrewsbury) was inclined, it was thought verily the game were likely to go”.

20th century stained glass in the Sheffield Cathedral chapter house. Shrewsbury is greeting Cardinal Wolsey at the beginning of his defacto imprisonment at Sheffield Manor Lodge.

Shrewsbury addressed his men on October 18^th saying his loyalty was to crown, even if it was placed upon a stake (shades of the 2^nd Duke of Norfolk after Bosworth). Furthermore, all his ancestors fought for the crown and his blood would not be tainted by him joining the rebellion. Shrewsbury was now hard pressed. Norfolk’s support was lacking and Henry kept sending letters with erratic orders and demands. Upon hearing the rebels were advancing towards Doncaster, Shrewsbury made his ultimate gambit, moving 1,200 men and six cannon onto Rossington Bridge nearby. The rebels halted which ensured that this was as far south as they would come. The two sides then began to negotiate terms which included parliament in York and a personal audience with the king at Christmas by Robert Aske. Norfolk was beside himself about Shrewsbury’s “hasty” move and complained directly to the king. Henry, in fact, approved of the earl’s move. In hindsight, Shrewsbury single handedly kept the rebellion in check. Had the rebels taken Doncaster, both Norfolk and Shrewsbury combined could not have halted the advance.

Thomas Cromwell was quite shaken by the whole affair, as noted by Eustace Chapuys. A rarity amongst Cromwell’s surviving letters is a note of appreciation sent to Shrewsbury: “I would you knew as well as I how the King’s Highness reputeth your most acceptable and loyal service”. They were true words for a man who constantly lived up to the family motto prest d’accomplir: ready to accomplish.