SIR HENRY NEVILLE. THIS HIS eminent statesman was the son of Henry, the second son of the gallant Sir Edward Neville, who made so conspicuous a figure during great part of the reign of King Henry VIII. was the foremost in all the justs and tournaments then in vogue; and a most valiant commander in several memorable battles: for his signal prowess in one of which he was made a Knight Banneret, temp. 5 Henry VIII. Among many other remarkable incidents of his life, it is recorded by Hollinshed, that he was one of the masquers with the King at Cardinal Wolsey's banquet, when the Cardinal mistook him for the King, and offered him his chair of state: Sir Edward being a comely, portly Knight, whose person more resembled the King's than did that of any other masquer present; a circumstance which Shakspeare either overlook'd, or did not think it necessary to avail himself of in his play of King Henry VIII, but which might have considerably heighten'd the pleasantry of the scene. Being, on a frivolous pretence, attainted of high treason, he was beheaded on Tower-hill, in the 31st year of that implacable monarch's reign. Sir Henry Neville, of Billingbear, Knight, his grandson, was born anno 1563; he married Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Killigrew of Cornwall: by whom he had issue, three sons and four daughters. In 1599 he was sent ambassador from Queen Elizabeth to King Henry the Fourth of France; and was fortunate enough, in the execution of his trust, to give his royal mistress entire satisfaction. In 1600 he unhappily became implicated in the Earl of Essex's treason, and was committed to the Tower: "which," says Secretary Cecill," being rather matter of Form than Substance, if any of his friends should have industriously opposed, it had been the ready way to have forced a course of more severity." Mr. (afterwards Sir Ralph) Winwood, thus writes to Sir Henry on that occasion. "My sorrow for your unhappy disgrace would find no mean, did not my confident knowledge of your Loyall Duty to your Prince and Country, B b together with your Wisdom and Discretion, give me assured Comfort in my deepest Misdoubts. But I doubt not, but your honourable Services will soon remove all sinister Suspicions; and in the mean time, I repose myself in the Constancy and Patience of your Mind." And in a letter to Secretary Cecill he says, 66 "His Lady (whose Innocency doth suffer for his oversight) doth deserve much compassion. Yet in this heavie Misfortune, she with her many small Children may receave this Consolation, that your Honour hath that Place about her Majestie, ever to cherish those good Motions of Grace and Clemency, the which do so far surpass all other her princely Virtues." Sir Henry, in his " Case," says Although I mean not to justify myself from blame, but do freely and willingly acknowledge an Offence, and submitt myself to her Majestie's Mercie; yet my own Soul witnessing to herself, that it was ever loyall and faithfull to her Majesty, and consequently abhorring more than Death, the Imputation of that Fault, and loathsome Crime of Falsehood and Treason: I do only desire, that my Fault may not be barely or nakedly censured, but examin'd together with all the Circumstances that did accompany it which are the best means to try, not only the Actions, but the Intentions of all Men, as far as it is possible to penetrate. I have already acknowledged to the Lords of her Majesties Privy Councill that I was entreated by Mr. Cuff, in the late Earl of Essex his Name, to meet with the Earl of Southampton and Sir Charles Davers; by them to understand some Project which he had in Consultation, touching his own good, and the good of the State, and to give my advice in it; with assurance that nothing should be proposed, which I might not hear with due respect to my Allegiance; for so the words of the Messenger did import. After some ten Days delay on my part, and often Sollicitation, I went to Drury-House on Candlemas-day, and met with them: where their Project being opened unto me, I objected both against the Nature and Difficulties of it, gave no Approbation, or promise of partaking, but only said I would advise of it. After which, I never spake with them, nor heard from them; and when Mr. Cuffe came soon after unto me, I utterly refused to have any part or hand in the matter; and being requested to come, and speak with the Earl of Essex himself about the third day after, I refused it, because indeed I would have nothing to doe with him, finding that he had such Conceits working in his Mind. The bare and simple Truth of my case is this. But howsoever, I do freely and from my heart acknowledge my Offence in concealing of it, and do humbly implore her Majesties Pardon and Mercy for it." Sir Henry thus concludes his " Case"-" The more really and plainly I have dealt therein, the more graciously I trust her Majesty will interpret of my former Errour, which (the Lord is my Judge) was without Conceit of traiterous or disloyall Thought against her Majestie, and desire God to deal in Mercy with my Soul, that I was going now into France with a full Purpose, Desire, and Resolution to serve her Majestie with all, that Faith, Zeal, and Councell can witness I had done, in my former Imployment; and will always do, whensoever it shall please her Majestie to call me to the like againe." any Sir Henry continued in the Tower, on account of this unhappy business, till the 10th of April subsequent to the queen's death. On his liberation by king James, it was expected that his approved abilities would have raised him to some considerable post; that of secretary of state he was thought designed for by the king's favourite, Car, lord viscount Rochester: which circumstance seemed so ncar taking place, that Sir Henry Wotton, in a letter dated May 14, 1613, says, " All men contemplate Sir Henry Neville for the future Secretary; some saying that it is but deferred till the return of the Queen [from Bath], that she may be allowed a hand in his Introduction." This general expectation was disappointed; for, on account of the king's disinclination to him, as it is suggested, he met with no promotion: unless we may except the nominal, not political, one, of master of arts; which he was created when king James visited Oxford, in 1609. He died, according to Camden, July 13, 1615; but, from documents furnished by an Honourable Descendant, it appears that he died July 10, 1615. Sir Henry's letters and dispatches, in Winwood's Memorials, are |