Miles Partridge
Encyclopedia
Sir Miles Partridge was an English courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI
. He was arrested in 1551, convicted of treason and hanged, as part of the factional struggle that followed the fall of Protector Somerset.
in 1544, and served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
in 1546–7.
After Edward VI's accession, Partridge attached himself to the Duke of Somerset; he accompanied the Protector to Scotland in 1547, fought at the battle of Pinkie Cleugh
on 10 Sept., and was knighted at Roxburgh on 28 Sept. After Somerset's fall, Partridge became implicated in the plot against his successor, John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
; on 7 October 1551 he was accused by Sir Thomas Palmer
of having undertaken to raise London and seize the Great Seal of the Realm
, with the help of the apprentices. His guilt is not clear: both Palmer and Northumberland subsequently confessed that the evidence was false. He was arrested on 16 October, and imprisoned in the Tower of London
; he was afterwards moved, on grounds of ill-health, to the lieutenant's house on Tower
Hill, and his wife was allowed to attend him. A commission was appointed for his trial on 29 November. He was convicted of felony
, and hanged on Tower Hill on Friday 26 February 1552. Others implicated were executed there the same day: Sir Ralph Vane
and alongside him Sir Thomas Arundel and Sir Michael Stanhope
beheaded. Partridge was little pitied, says John Strype
, since he was credited with the evil deeds of Somerset.
. By her he had two daughters, Margery and Katherine, who in 1553 obtained restitution by act of parliament. One of them married William Stokebrege, grocer, and in 1563 George Barton, rector of St Mary Abchurch
, was imprisoned for committing adultery
with her.
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
. He was arrested in 1551, convicted of treason and hanged, as part of the factional struggle that followed the fall of Protector Somerset.
Life
During the reign of Henry VIII he made himself notorious as a gambler. On one occasion, when playing with the king, he staked on one throw of the dice £100 against the bells of the Jesus Chapel in the churchyard of St. Paul's Cathedral; Partridge won, and had the bells taken down and broken. He was granted the manor of AlmondsburyAlmondsbury
Almondsbury is a large village near junction 16 of the M5 motorway, in South Gloucestershire, England.-Description:The village is split by a steep hill, part of the escarpment overlooking the Severn floodplain. At the bottom of the hill is Lower Almondsbury where a pub and hotel, The Bowl Inn, is...
in 1544, and served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire.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...
in 1546–7.
After Edward VI's accession, Partridge attached himself to the Duke of Somerset; he accompanied the Protector to Scotland in 1547, fought at the battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles...
on 10 Sept., and was knighted at Roxburgh on 28 Sept. After Somerset's fall, Partridge became implicated in the plot against his successor, John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death...
; on 7 October 1551 he was accused by Sir Thomas Palmer
Sir Thomas Palmer (died 1553)
Sir Thomas Palmer was an English soldier and courtier. His testimony was crucial in the final downfall of the Duke of Somerset in 1551–1552...
of having undertaken to raise London and seize the Great Seal of the Realm
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
, with the help of the apprentices. His guilt is not clear: both Palmer and Northumberland subsequently confessed that the evidence was false. He was arrested on 16 October, 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...
; he was afterwards moved, on grounds of ill-health, to the lieutenant's house on Tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
Hill, and his wife was allowed to attend him. A commission was appointed for his trial on 29 November. He was convicted of felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
, and hanged on Tower Hill on Friday 26 February 1552. Others implicated were executed there the same day: Sir Ralph Vane
Ralph Vane
Sir Ralph Vane, also known as Ralph Fane was a supporter of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset,and hanged on Tower Hill as a result of factional strife.-Life:...
and alongside him Sir Thomas Arundel and Sir Michael Stanhope
Sir Michael Stanhope
Sir Michael Stanhope was a Nottinghamshire landowner and suspected rebel against the English Crown. He was a descendant of the ancient Stanhope family of Rampton, Nottinghamshire....
beheaded. Partridge was little pitied, says John Strype
John Strype
John Strype was an English historian and biographer. He was a cousin of Robert Knox, a famous sailor.Born in Houndsditch, London, he was the son of John Strype, or van Stryp, a member of a Huguenot family whom, in order to escape religious persecution within Brabant, had settled in East London...
, since he was credited with the evil deeds of Somerset.
Family
Partridge was at one time possessed of the manor of Kew, Surrey. His wife's name was Jane, and after his death she was granted the manor of Kenn, DevonKenn, Devon
Kenn is a village situated in Devon, England, several miles to the south of Exeter, in one of the country's main tourist areas.It has a popular pub and a Parish Church, built of Heavitree stone....
. By her he had two daughters, Margery and Katherine, who in 1553 obtained restitution by act of parliament. One of them married William Stokebrege, grocer, and in 1563 George Barton, rector of St Mary Abchurch
St Mary Abchurch
St Mary Abchurch is a Church of England church on Cannon Street in the City of London. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is first mentioned in 1198-99.-History:The church dates back to the twelfth century...
, was imprisoned for committing adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
with her.