William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne
Encyclopedia
William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne (14704 December 1540) was an English
Tudor
diplomat
, Lord Chamberlain
and favourite of King Henry VIII
.
William was the son of Sir William Sandys of The Vyne
, a Tudor mansion
in Sherborne St. John, near Basingstoke
, Hampshire
, which the son greatly improved. It now belongs to the National Trust
. His mother was his father's second wife, Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Cheney of Shurland
on the Isle of Sheppey
. As a young man, he gained preferment at Court and was soon associated with Prince Henry, assisting at his knighthood and the reception of Catherine of Aragon
.
William remained a great friend of Henry when he became king and held a number of minor posts before becoming Treasurer of Calais
in 1517. He was made a Knight of the Garter
the following year and was apparently instrumental in organising the Royal meeting at the Field of the Cloth of Gold
. He was made Baron Sandys of the Vyne
soon afterwards. He became Lord Chamberlain
in 1530 and Henry visited him three times at the Vyne, once with Anne Boleyn
whom Sandys was later to escort to her imprisonment in the Tower.Although his sister had married Thomas,1st Baron Darcy
, one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace
, there is no evidence that Sandys played any part in the uprising or sympathised with it.
Sandys later retired from court life and died in Calais on 4 December 1540. He was the founder of the Guild of the Holy Ghost in Basingstoke and was buried in its chapel, amongst the ruins of which his tomb may still be seen. He had married Margaret, the daughter of his cousin, John Bray, half-brother to Sir Reginald Bray
, the statesman and architect, who probably helped Lord Sandys with his work at the Vyne. They had at least three sons and four daughters, including Thomas, the 2nd Lord Sandys, and Mary , who married Sir William Pelham, and was the mother of Sir William Pelham (lord justice)
and Sir Edmund Pelham
, Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
He is a minor character in the historical novel The Man on a Donkey by H.F.M. Prescott.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
Tudor
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
and favourite of King 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...
.
William was the son of Sir William Sandys of The Vyne
The Vyne
The Vyne is a 16th-century country house outside Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.The Vyne was built for Lord Sandys, King Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain. The house retains its Tudor chapel, with stained glass. The classical portico on the north front was added in 1654 by Inigo...
, a Tudor mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
in Sherborne St. John, near Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, 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...
, which the son greatly improved. It now belongs to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. His mother was his father's second wife, Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Cheney of Shurland
Shurland
Shurland is a place near Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England. Shurland Hall stood here and was visited by Henry VIII of England and used during World War I for billeting....
on the Isle of Sheppey
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
. As a young man, he gained preferment at Court and was soon associated with Prince Henry, assisting at his knighthood and the reception of Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
.
William remained a great friend of Henry when he became king and held a number of minor posts before becoming Treasurer of Calais
Treasurer of Calais
Calais was in English hands from 1347 to 1558. The task of the Treasurer, in conjunction with the Captain of Calais was keeping the defences in order, supplying victuals and paying the garrison...
in 1517. He was made a Knight of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
the following year and was apparently instrumental in organising the Royal meeting at the Field of the Cloth of Gold
Field of the Cloth of Gold
The Field of Cloth of Gold is the name given to a place in Balinghem, between Guînes and Ardres, in France, near Calais. It was the site of a meeting that took place from 7 June to 24 June 1520, between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. The meeting was arranged to increase...
. He was made Baron Sandys of the Vyne
Baron Sandys
Baron Sandys is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of England, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom....
soon afterwards. He became Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
in 1530 and Henry visited him three times at the Vyne, once with Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
whom Sandys was later to escort to her imprisonment in the Tower.Although his sister had married Thomas,1st Baron Darcy
Baron Darcy
-Baronies:*Baron Darcy of Nocton, created 1299, abeyant circa 1350*Baron Darcy de Knayth, created 1332, presently extant*Baron Darcy de Darcy , created 1509, extinct in 1635...
, one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Pilgrimage 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...
, there is no evidence that Sandys played any part in the uprising or sympathised with it.
Sandys later retired from court life and died in Calais on 4 December 1540. He was the founder of the Guild of the Holy Ghost in Basingstoke and was buried in its chapel, amongst the ruins of which his tomb may still be seen. He had married Margaret, the daughter of his cousin, John Bray, half-brother to Sir Reginald Bray
Reginald Bray
Sir Reginald Bray KG the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under Henry VII, English courtier, and architect of the Henry VII Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey.-Early life:...
, the statesman and architect, who probably helped Lord Sandys with his work at the Vyne. They had at least three sons and four daughters, including Thomas, the 2nd Lord Sandys, and Mary , who married Sir William Pelham, and was the mother of Sir William Pelham (lord justice)
William Pelham (lord justice)
Sir William Pelham was an English soldier and lord justice of Ireland.-Life:He was third son of Sir William Pelham of Laughton, Sussex, by his second wife, Mary, daughter of William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne near Basingstoke in Hampshire...
and Sir Edmund Pelham
Edmund Pelham
Sir Edmund Pelham , a member of the distinguished Pelham family of Laughton, was an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and was noteworthy as the first judge to hold assizes in Ulster....
, Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
He is a minor character in the historical novel The Man on a Donkey by H.F.M. Prescott.