Arthur Pole (courtier)

Sir Arthur Pole of Broadhurst, near Horsted Keynes in Sussex (1494–August 1528) was an English knight.

Life

Arthur was the second son of Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury (godmother to Mary I of England) and Sir Richard Pole. His younger brother, Cardinal Reginald Pole, became the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury under Queen Mary I. His eldest brother was Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu.^[1]

Arthur started his career in at court in 1514, travelling to France with Henry's sister Mary when she was wed to Louis XII. Distinguishing himself on the jousting field in 1516, he soon became a squire of the king's body.^[2] He was then elevated to Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King Henry VIII in 1518. Arthur was among the courtiers who traveled to France for the Field of the Cloth of Gold in May 1520 where he earned prizes as a member of Henry Courtney, Earl of Devon's team.^[2]

Arthur was knighted by Charles Brandon while both he and Lord Montagu were on campaign against the French in 1523.^[2] He was also the Lord of the Manor of Broadhurst, Sussex.^[1]

Marriage and family

Arthur married before 24 October 1522 Jane Lewkenor (b. 1492), widow of Sir Christopher Pickering of Ellerton (b. 1490 in Sedbergh, Yorkshire and d. 7 September 1516 in Woodbridge, Suffolk), whom she married before 1516. Jane was the daughter of Sir Roger Lewkenor (b. 1469 and d. 15 January 1543 in Trotton, Sussex) of Trotton, Sussex—a paternal grandson of Sir Roger Lewknor and Alianora de Camoys—and wife Eleanor Tuchet, daughter of John Tuchet, 6th Baron Audley and 3rd Baron Tuchet and Anne Echingham.

The couple had at least four children: Henry, Mary b. (1529) who married Sir John Stanley, Jane, and Margaret (b. 1527) who married Sir John Fitz-Herbert.^[3]

Historian Hazel Pierce has suggested that Arthur may have died of the sweating sickness in 1528.^[4] He died at some point before his widow entered into a marriage contract with her next husband in August 1532. Arthur was buried at Bisham Abbey.^[2]

When Arthur died, his mother and brother, Lady Salisbury and her son, Lord Montagu, did not wish Jane to remarry, which would deprive the Pole family, and Arthur's heirs, of her fortune. They coerced Jane to become a novice. Jane was eventually released from her vows by William Barlow, the new Bishop of St. Asaph, who was residing in his priory of Bisham. She said to Bishop Barlow, 'Can I leave the veil at pleasure?'; 'Yes, for all religious persons have a time of probation. You are only a novice and could leave your nun's weeds at your pleasure. I bind you no further...', he said. Jane then married Sir William Barentyne (b. 31 December 1481–d. 17 November 1549). The Barentynes sought an Act of Parliament to declare their children legitimate in 1543 after the passage of the Act of the Six Articles. She died before 12 March 1562/63.^[5]

References

1. Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes (Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999), volume 1, p. 16.
2. Higginbotham, Susan (2016). Margaret Pole: The Countess in the Tower. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1445635941.
3. A companion and key to the history of England; consisting of copious genealogical details of the British sovereigns, with an appendix, exhibiting a chronological epitome of the successive holders of the several titles of the ... nobility, etc, with their armorial bearings. 1 January 1832.
4. Pierce, Hazel (2009). Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury 1473-1541: Loyalty, Lineage and Leadership. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0708321898.
5. "BARENTYNE (BARRINGTON), Sir William (1481-1549), of Little Haseley, Oxon. and London. | History of Parliament Online". historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 10 October 2015.

The Companion and Key to the History of England confuses Arthur Pole, son of Margaret Pole, with his nephew, son of Geoffrey Pole, also named Arthur Pole.