Henry Isley
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Isley was an English nobleman involved in Wyatt's Rebellion
.
The Isley family were established landowners of Kent
county. Henry Isley owned an estate in Brasted
, his brother Thomas Isley (Jr.) in Vinters Park near Maidstone
.
Between 1547 and 1550 protestants
George Harper,Thomas Culpepper, Thomas Wyatt the younger
, and Henry Isley followed each other as Sheriffs of Kent
. They were strongly associated with the Edwardian Council. Immediately after the accession of Queen Mary
Isley was arrested. He managed to make peace with the new regime, accepted the changes in the established religion, and was released.
On January 22, 1554 Henry Isley attended a meeting of thirty key conspirators at Wyatt's Allington Castle
. On January 25 Wyatt took control of Maidstone
in an open revolt; brothers Thomas and Henry Isley operated their own detachments separately from Wyatt's main forces. On January 27, 1554, when Wyatt occupied Rochester, Henry Isley and his men stayed at Sevenoaks
. On the next day, however, Henry Isley and his five hundred men marched out of Sevenoaks to join Wyatt at Rochester. Loyalist sheriff Robert Southwell
intercepted Henry Isley at Wrotham
and defeated the rebels, taking around sixty men prisoners. Isley himself fled to Hampshire
. The Crown offered pardon to all rebels, excluding Isley, Wyatt, Harper and Rudstone, and offered a ₤100 bounty for the capture of each ringleader.
By the end of February all the rebels were apprehended and imprisoned in the Tower of London
. The trials began on February 10 and were largely over by February 22. The case against the leaders was examined by the Westminster Commission. Henry Isley was sentenced to death and executed. The overwhelming majority of noble rebels were fined and set free, and some released without fine.
Wyatt's rebellion
Wyatt's Rebellion was a popular uprising in England in 1554, named after Thomas Wyatt the younger, one of its leaders. The rebellion arose out of concern over Queen Mary I's determination to marry Philip II of Spain, which was an unpopular policy with the English...
.
The Isley family were established landowners of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
county. Henry Isley owned an estate in Brasted
Brasted
Brasted is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located to the west of Sevenoaks town. The parish includes the settlements of Brasted Chart and Toys Hill, and had a population of 1321 persons . The single slightly winding street of the village has a...
, his brother Thomas Isley (Jr.) in Vinters Park near Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
.
Between 1547 and 1550 protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
George Harper,Thomas Culpepper, Thomas Wyatt the younger
Thomas Wyatt the younger
Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger was a rebel leader during the reign of Queen Mary I of England; his rising is traditionally called "Wyatt's rebellion".-Birth and career:...
, and Henry Isley followed each other as Sheriffs of Kent
High Sheriff of Kent
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. They were strongly associated with the Edwardian Council. Immediately after the accession of Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
Isley was arrested. He managed to make peace with the new regime, accepted the changes in the established religion, and was released.
On January 22, 1554 Henry Isley attended a meeting of thirty key conspirators at Wyatt's Allington Castle
Allington Castle
Allington Castle is a stone-built moated castle in Allington, just north of Maidstone, Kent in England.-History:Allington Castle is a Grade I listed building. Much of the stonework was laid in an intricate herringbone pattern which is still visible today...
. On January 25 Wyatt took control of Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
in an open revolt; brothers Thomas and Henry Isley operated their own detachments separately from Wyatt's main forces. On January 27, 1554, when Wyatt occupied Rochester, Henry Isley and his men stayed at Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
. On the next day, however, Henry Isley and his five hundred men marched out of Sevenoaks to join Wyatt at Rochester. Loyalist sheriff Robert Southwell
Robert Southwell (sheriff)
Sir Robert Southwell was an English civil servant during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. He was elected Member of Parliament from Kent in October 1553 and in 1555. In January-February 1554 Southwell, then the High Sheriff of Kent, was one of the key loyalist officers engaged...
intercepted Henry Isley at Wrotham
Wrotham
Wrotham is a village situated on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. It is located one mile north of Borough Green and approximately five miles east of Sevenoaks. It is within the junction of the M20 and M26 motorways....
and defeated the rebels, taking around sixty men prisoners. Isley himself fled to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. The Crown offered pardon to all rebels, excluding Isley, Wyatt, Harper and Rudstone, and offered a ₤100 bounty for the capture of each ringleader.
By the end of February all the rebels were apprehended and imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. The trials began on February 10 and were largely over by February 22. The case against the leaders was examined by the Westminster Commission. Henry Isley was sentenced to death and executed. The overwhelming majority of noble rebels were fined and set free, and some released without fine.