Sir Robert Constable, Kt., of Yorkshire

Robert Constable

Sir Robert Constable (c. 1478 – 6 July 1537) was a member of the English Tudor gentry. He helped Henry VII to defeat the Cornish rebels at the Battle of Blackheath in 1497. In 1536, when the rising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace broke out in the north of England, Constable was one of the insurgent leaders, but towards the close of the year he submitted at Doncaster and was pardoned. He did not share in the renewal of the rising which took place in January 1537; but he refused the king's invitation to proceed to London, and was arrested, tried for treason, and hanged at Hull in the following June.[1]

Born at Flamborough in Yorkshire, Robert Constable was the eldest son of Sir Marmaduke Constable (1456/7 – 20 November 1518) and his second wife, Joyce Stafford. His paternal grandparents were Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough, Yorkshire, and Agnes Wentworth, daughter of Sir Roger Wentworth, esquire, of Nettlestead, Suffolk, and Margery le Despencer. Constable's maternal uncle, Sir Humphrey Stafford (c.1426/7 – 8 July 1486), was executed at Tyburn for his part in an insurrection against King Henry VII.[2]

In his youth Constable carried off a ward of Chancery, and tried to marry her to one of his retainers. In the reign of Henry VII he was of signal service to the crown upon the Cornish Rebellion led by Lord Audley, who marched on London and was defeated at the battle of Blackheath in 1497. Constable was one of the knights bannerets that were created at Blackheath by Henry VII after his victory on 17 June 1497. In the following reign he was also at Flodden.[citation needed]

In 1536, on the outbreak of the great Yorkshire rising, known as the Pilgrimage of Grace, caused by the beginning of the destruction of monasteries in 1536, he took the leading part, along with Robert Aske and Lord Darcy. Constable was among those who made their submission, and received their pardon. At the beginning of the next year, January 1537, when Sir Francis Bigod rashly attempted to renew the insurrection, Constable exerted himself to keep the country quiet. When this last commotion was over, he, like the other leaders, was invited by King Henry VIII to proceed to London. This he refused, and at the same time removed for safety from his usual place of abode to a dwelling thirty miles away.[citation needed]

Hereupon the powerful minister Thomas Cromwell caused the Duke of Norfolk to send him up with a sergeant-at-arms on 8 March. He with Aske and Darcy was committed to the Tower till they should be tried, and meantime Norfolk was directed to say in the north that they were imprisoned, not for their former offences, but for treasons committed since their pardon. What those treasons were the Duke was conveniently forbidden to say. There was 'no specialty to be touched or spoken of', but all 'conveyed in a mass together'. True bills were returned against them, and after their condemnation it seemed to the King 'not amiss' that some of them should be remitted to their county for execution, 'as well for example as to see who would groan'. Constable and Aske were therefore sent down to Yorkshire, exhibited as traitors in the towns through which they passed, and Constable was executed at Hull on 6 July 1537 being hanged in chains over Beverley gate at Hull, and thereby forfeited Flamborough and 35 other manors in Lincolnshire.[citation needed] The Duke of Norfolk witnessed his execution;

• On Frydaye, beyng market daye at Hull, Sir Robert Constable suffred, and dothe hang above the highest gate of the towne, so trymmed in cheynes, that I thinke his bones will hang there this hundrethe yere. And on Thursdaye, which shall be market daye, God willing, I will be at the execution of Aske at York.
• —?Duke of Norfolk, [3]

Sir Robert was married to Jane Ingleby of Ripley (b. 1472) in 1492, probably in Yorkshire, England. Jane's parents were Sir William Ingleby of Ripley, son of John Ingleby of Ripley and Margaret Strangeways, Baroness Willoughby, and his wife Catherine Stillington, daughter of Thomas Stillington of Nether Acaster and Agnes Bigod.[citation needed]

Sir Robert and Jane had the following issue:[citation needed]

• Sir Marmaduke Constable of Nuneaton (1498/1502-20 April 1560), married Elizabeth Darcy, daughter of Lord Darcy. Had issue.
• Catherine Constable (c. 1498–1585), married Sir Roger Cholmley. Had issue.
• Thomas Constable of Great Grimsby (c. 1504-aft 1558), married 1st Barbara Catherall, 2nd Lady Holdenby. Had issue by both wives.
• Joyce Constable (b. circa 1500), married Rowland Pudsey. No issue.
• Anne Constable (b. circa 1504), who married George Hussey (d. 10 August 1537) of Harswell and North Duffield, Yorkshire, son and heir of Sir William Hussey (d.1531) by Anne Salvaine, and had issue three sons, John, Robert and William, and one daughter, Frances.[4]
• Jane Constable, married Thomas Rokeby of Mortham, and had issue, including the judge Ralph Rokeby.

He is a major character in The Man on a Donkey by H F M Prescott.

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Constable

___________

• Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 12
• Constable, Robert by Richard Watson Dixon
• CONSTABLE, Sir ROBERT (1478?–1537), one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace, born about 1478, was eldest son of Sir Marmaduke Constable (1455?-1518) [q. v.] of Flamborough. In his youth he carried off a ward of chancery, and tried to marry her to one of his retainers (Froude, iii. 166). In the reign of Henry VII he was of signal service to the crown upon the commotion of Lord Audley and the Cornishmen, who marched on London and were defeated at Blackheath in 1497. Constable was one of the knights bannerets that were created at Blackheath by the king after his victory (Bacon, Henry VII). In the following reign, on the outbreak of the great Yorkshire rising, known as the Pilgrimage of Grace, caused by the beginning of the destruction of monasteries in 1536, he took the leading part, along with Aske the cagtain and Lord Darcy. He was with the rebellious host on their entry into York; and after their advance on Pontefract, which became their head quarters, he was among those who received the royal herald with extreme haughtiness (State Papers, i. 486). He then threw himself into Hull, and urged that the most resolute measures should be taken; that negotiation should be refused until they were strong enough to defend themselves, that the whole country northward from the Trent should be closed, and the rising of Lancashire and Cheshire expected. If this counsel had been followed, the revolt would have been more serious. But the advance on Doncaster followed, and the fatal parley there with the king's forces, and Constable was among those who afterwards rode over the bridge, took off their badges, made their submission, and received their Ipardon. At the beginning of the next year, January' 1537, when Sir Bigod [q.v.] rashly attempted to renew the insurrection, Constable exerted himself to keep the country quiet (see his letter to the commons, Froude, iii. 196). When this last commotion was over, he, like the other leaders, was invited by the king to proceed to London. This he refused, and at the same time removed for safety from his usual place of abode to a dwel1in_ thirty miles away. Hereupon the powerful minister Thomas Cromwell caused the Duke of Norfolk, the king’s general in the north, to send him up with a sergeant-at-arms on 3 March (Hardwick, i. 38). He with Aske and Darcy was committed to the Tower till they should be tried, and meantime Norfolk was directed to say in the north that they were imprisoned, not for their former offences, but for treasons committed since their pardon. What those treasons were the duke was conveniently forbidden to say. There was ‘no speciality to be touched or spoken of,’ but all 'conveyed in a mass together' (ib. i. 457). True bills were returned against them, and after their condemnation it seemed to the king 'not amiss' that some of them should be remitted to their county for execution, 'as well for example as to see who would groan' (State Papers, i. 666). Constable and Aske were therefore sent down to Yorkshire, exhibited as traitors in the towns through which they passed, and Constable was hanged in chains at Hull in June. He married Jane, daughter of Sir William Ingloby, by whom he had eight children (Foster, Yorkshire Pedigrees).
• [Authorities cited above.]
• From: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constable,_Robert_(DNB00) ___________________
• Robert Constable
• M, #78991, b. circa 1472, d. 8 July 1538
• Father Sir Marmaduke Constable, Sheriff of Staffordshire & Yorkshire, Ambassador to Scotland b. c 1443, d. 20 Nov 1518
• Mother Joyce Stafford b. c 1439
• Robert Constable was born circa 1472 at of Flamborough, Yorkshire, England. He married Jane Ingleby, daughter of Sir William Ingleby and Katherine Stillington, circa 1492 at of Yorkshire, England. Robert Constable died on 8 July 1538 at Hull, Yorkshire, England; Executed.1
• Family Jane Ingleby b. c 1472
• Child
  • Catherine Constable+ b. c 1493, d. 1585
• Citations
• [S11583] The Wallop Family and Their Ancestry, by Vernon James Watney, p., 457.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2629.htm#... __________________
• Sir Robert Constable1
• M, #941
• Last Edited=3 Jun 2008
• Sir Robert Constable lived at Flamborough, Yorkshire, England.1
• Child of Sir Robert Constable
  • Katherine Constable+1
• Citations
• [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume XII/2, page 557. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
• From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p95.htm#i941 ______________________
• Robert CONSTABLE of Nuneaton (Sir Knight)
• Born: 1478, Flamborough, Yorkshire, England
• Died: 8 Jun 1537, Beverley Gate, Hull, Yorkshire, England
• Notes: in his youth he carried off a ward of chancery, and tried to marry her to one of his retainers. In the reign of Henry VII he was of signal service to the crown upon the commotion of Lord Audley and the Cornishmen, who marched on London and were defeated at Blackheath in 1497. Constable was one of the knights bannerets that were created at Blackheath by the King after his victory, 17 Jun 1497.
• In the following reign he was also at Flodden. On the outbreak of the great Yorkshire rising, known as the Pilgrimage of Grace, caused by the beginning of the destruction of monasteries in 1536, he took the leading part, along with Robert Aske and Lord Darcy. Constable was among those who made their submission, and received their pardon. At the beginning of the next year, Jan 1537, when Sir Francis Bigod rashly attempted to renew the insurrection, Constable exerted himself to keep the country quiet. When this last commotion was over, he, like the other leaders, was invited by King Henry VIII to proceed to London. This he refused, and at the same time removed for safety from his usual place of abode to a dwelling thirty miles away.
• Hereupon the powerful minister Thomas Cromwell caused the Duke of Norfolk to send him up with a sergeant-at-arms on 8 Mar. He with Aske and Darcy was committed to the Tower till they should be tried, and meantime Norfolk was directed to say in the north that they were imprisoned, not for their former offences, but for treasons committed since their pardon. What those treasons were the Duke was conveniently forbidden to say. There was 'no speciality to be touched or spoken of', but all 'conveyed in a mass together'. True bills were returned against them, and after their condemnation it seemed to the King 'not amiss' that some of them should be remitted to their county for execution, 'as well for example as to see who would groan'. Constable and Aske were therefore sent down to Yorkshire, exhibited as traitors in the towns through which they passed, and Constable was executed at Hull being hanged in chains over Beverley gate at Hull, and thereby forfeited Flamborough and 35 other manors in Lincolnshire.
• Father: Marmaduke CONSTABLE (Sir Knight)
• Mother: Joyce STAFFORD
• Married: Jane INGLEBY 1492, Prob. Yorkshire, England
• Children:
  • 1. William CONSTABLE
  • 2. Marmaduke CONSTABLE of Nuneaton (Sir Knight)
  • 3. Catherine CONSTABLE
  • 4. Thomas CONSTABLE of Great Grimsby
  • 5. Margaret CONSTABLE
  • 6. Joyce CONSTABLE
  • 7. Anne CONSTABLE
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/CONSTABLE.htm#Robert CONSTABLE of Nuneaton (Sir Knight)1 _____________
• CONSTABLE, Sir Marmaduke II (by 1498-1560), of London and Nuneaton, Warws.
• b. by 1498, 1st s. of Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough, Yorks. by Jane, da. of Sir William Ingleby of Ripley, Yorks.; bro. of Thomas. educ. ?M. or I. Temple. m. (1) by Apr. 1521, Elizabeth, da. of Thomas, Lord Darcy, 2s. 8da., (2) Margaret, da. of William Booth, s.p. Kntd. 25 Sept. 1523; suc. fa. June 1537.2
• .... etc.
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/co... _________
• CONSTABLE, Thomas (by 1500-58 or later), of Flamborough, Yorks.
• b. by 1500, 2nd s. of Sir Robert Constable, and bro. of Sir Marmaduke II. m. (1) Barbara, da. and h. of one Catherall of Great Grimsby, Lincs., 1s. 1da.; (2) a da. of Robert Haldenby of Haldenby, Yorks., 1s. 1da.1
• .... etc.
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/co... _________________
• Links
• https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constable,_Marmaduke_(DNB00)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmaduke_Constable

______________________

Robert Constable Memorial

Birth: 1478, England Death: Jul. 8, 1538, England

Robert Sir Knight of Nuneaton Constable High Sheriff of Yorkshire. Tried for treason and hanged at Beverly Gate Hull Yorkshire England.

Family links:

Parents:

 Marmaduke Constable (1443 - 1518)

 Joyce Stafford Constable (1453 - ____)

Spouse:

 Lady Jane Ingleby Constable (1472 - 1525)

Children:

 Marmaduke Constable (1492 - 1560)*

Siblings:

 Alienor Constable Berkeley (____ - 1540)**

 Robert Constable (1478 - 1538)

 Marmaduke Constable (1480 - 1545)**

*Calculated relationship

• *Half-sibling

Burial: Body lost or destroyed

Created by: Judy Davidson Record added: May 14, 2016 Find A Grave Memorial# 162573180