Ralph Bulmer (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Sir Ralph Bulmer of Wilton
in Yorkshire
(present day Redcar and Cleveland
), was an English knight and soldier active on the Scottish border and during the war of the Rough Wooing.
Around 1535, Ralph married either Anne Aske, a co-heiress of Roger de Aske, or Anne Tempest a daughter of Sir John Tempest. Henry VIII
granted them possessions of Marrick Priory
.
in June 1537. According to the inventory made by the crown officers, John's manor house at Bulmer
was made of slate and greatly decayed. Ralph was a prisoner in the Tower of London
in March 1538. He carved his name "RAVLEF BVLMAR 1537" in the Beauchamp Tower. Ralph was released and later restored to some of the family lands.
In November, 1542, Ralph was a captain of a company of 100 men in the campaign against Scotland that culminated in the battle of Solway Moss
. He was accompanied by Sir William Bulmer, who commanded 50 men. On his arrival, Lord Hertford was not pleased with the instructions Bulmer had brought him from the Duke of Norfolk
to destroy the town of Jedburgh
as he was ill-equipped for the task.
Ralph was credited with his colleague Ralph Eure
and the garrisons of Berwick upon Tweed and Teviotdale with burning during November 1542; Coldingham
; Reston
; Ayton
with 5 other places; Crochanshaws; Primeside with 6 other places; Coldstream
town and Abbey; Scaythmure and other farmsteads belonging to it (which included Swinton
and Swithmore).
. He wrote to the Duke of Somerset
on 30 December 1547, complaining of slow progress re-fortifying the site. The site of a new fort had set by the surveyor, Sir Richard Lee
. Ralph had already written complaining of the lack of application of William Ridgeway the military engineer who seldom came to Roxburgh.
Ralph was intending to collect the profits from the lands of Kelso Abbey
and Melrose Abbey
, and planned to set Ker of Cessford
, an ally, against Walter Scott of Buccleuch
to stregten his hold on thr area.
Ralph also obtained intelligence from spies in Leith
for Somerset. In November 1547 he reported on the movement of artillery to assault the English garrison at Broughty Castle
near Dundee
.
In 1557 Ralph was in readiness with the English border wardens for a Scottish invasion.
Wilton Castle (Yorkshire)
Wilton Castle is an early 19th century mansion house, built on the site of a medieval castle, now converted into residential apartments, situated at Wilton, in Redcar and Cleveland, England. It is a Grade II listed building....
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
(present day Redcar and Cleveland
Redcar and Cleveland
The borough of Redcar & Cleveland is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England consisting of Redcar, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Guisborough, and small towns such as Brotton, Eston, Skelton and Loftus. It had a resident population of 139,132 in 2001, and is part of the Tees...
), was an English knight and soldier active on the Scottish border and during the war of the Rough Wooing.
Around 1535, Ralph married either Anne Aske, a co-heiress of Roger de Aske, or Anne Tempest a daughter of Sir John Tempest. Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
granted them possessions of Marrick Priory
Marrick Priory
Marrick Priory was a nunnery in North Yorkshire, England. It was established between 1140-1160.Today it is an outdoor education and residential centre, providing outdoor activities, such as, rock climbing, abseiling, open canoeing, kayaking, caving, ropes course, zip wire, orienteering and team...
.
Pilgrimage of Grace to Solway Moss
Ralph's uncle, Sir John Bulmer, and his family were attainted of treason for their part in the Pilgrimage of GracePilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular rising in York, Yorkshire during 1536, in protest against Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, as well as other specific political, social and economic grievances. It was done in action against Thomas Cromwell...
in June 1537. According to the inventory made by the crown officers, John's manor house at Bulmer
Bulmer, North Yorkshire
Bulmer is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 174. The village is about seven miles south-west of Malton....
was made of slate and greatly decayed. Ralph was a prisoner 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...
in March 1538. He carved his name "RAVLEF BVLMAR 1537" in the Beauchamp Tower. Ralph was released and later restored to some of the family lands.
In November, 1542, Ralph was a captain of a company of 100 men in the campaign against Scotland that culminated in the battle of Solway Moss
Battle of Solway Moss
The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish Border in November 1542 between forces from England and Scotland.-Background:...
. He was accompanied by Sir William Bulmer, who commanded 50 men. On his arrival, Lord Hertford was not pleased with the instructions Bulmer had brought him from the Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal was a prominent Tudor politician. He was uncle to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of the wives of King Henry VIII, and played a major role in the machinations behind these marriages...
to destroy the town of Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
as he was ill-equipped for the task.
Ralph was credited with his colleague Ralph Eure
William Eure, 1st Baron Eure
Sir William Eure of Witton was an English knight and soldier active on the Anglo-Scottish border. Henry VIII of England made him Baron Eure by patent in 1544. The surname is often written as 'Evers.' William was Governor of Berwick upon Tweed in 1539, Commander in the North in 1542, Warden of the...
and the garrisons of Berwick upon Tweed and Teviotdale with burning during November 1542; Coldingham
Coldingham
Coldingham is a historic village in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, on Scotland's southeast coastline, north of Eyemouth.As early as AD 660, Coldingham was the site of a religious establishment of high order, when it is recorded that Etheldreda, the queen of Egfrid, became a nun at the Abbey of...
; Reston
Reston, Scottish Borders
Reston is a village located in the southeast of Scotland, in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders region. The village lies on the western bank of the Eye Water.- Location :...
; Ayton
Reston, Scottish Borders
Reston is a village located in the southeast of Scotland, in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders region. The village lies on the western bank of the Eye Water.- Location :...
with 5 other places; Crochanshaws; Primeside with 6 other places; Coldstream
Coldstream
Coldstream is a small town in the Borders district of Scotland. It lies on the north bank of the River Tweed in Berwickshire, while Northumberland in England lies to the south bank, with Cornhill-on-Tweed the nearest village...
town and Abbey; Scaythmure and other farmsteads belonging to it (which included Swinton
Swinton, Scottish Borders
Swinton is a small village in the Scottish Borders. It is in the former county of Berwickshire, around south-east of Duns, and north-west of the Anglo-Scottish border.-History:...
and Swithmore).
Captain of Roxburgh
After the battle of Pinkie in September 1547, Ralph was made commander of an English fort in the occupied zone at RoxburghRoxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle was a castle sited near Kelso, in the Borders region of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire.-History:The castle was founded by King David I. In 1174 it was surrendered to England after the capture of William I at Alnwick, and was often in English hands thereafter. The Scots made...
. He wrote to the Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, KG, Earl Marshal was Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549....
on 30 December 1547, complaining of slow progress re-fortifying the site. The site of a new fort had set by the surveyor, Sir Richard Lee
Richard Lee (engineer)
Sir Richard Lee was a military engineer in the service of Henry VIII of England, Edward VI and Elizabeth I. He was a commander of Henry VIII of England| and appointed surveyor of the King's works.-Surveyor of Calais:...
. Ralph had already written complaining of the lack of application of William Ridgeway the military engineer who seldom came to Roxburgh.
Ralph was intending to collect the profits from the lands of Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey is what remains of a Scottish abbey founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Scotland in the reign of Alexander I. It occupies ground overlooking the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot waters, the site of what was once the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
and Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
, and planned to set Ker of Cessford
Clan Kerr
Clan Kerr is a Scottish clan that played an important role in the history of the Border country of Scotland.-Origins:The origins of the name Kerr are disputed as being either:*Caer *Ciar...
, an ally, against Walter Scott of Buccleuch
Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch
Sir Walter Scott, 1st of Branxholme, 3rd of Buccleuch , known as "Wicked Wat", was a nobleman of the Scottish Borders and the chief of Clan Scott who briefly served as Warden of the Middle March. He was an "inveterate English hater" active in the wars known as The Rough Wooing and a noted Border...
to stregten his hold on thr area.
Ralph also obtained intelligence from spies in Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
for Somerset. In November 1547 he reported on the movement of artillery to assault the English garrison at Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle is a historic castle in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland. It was completed around 1495, although the site was earlier fortified in 1454 when George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus received permission to build on the site. His son Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus was coerced into...
near Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
.
In 1557 Ralph was in readiness with the English border wardens for a Scottish invasion.