Biography of Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex 1507-1557
Paternal Family Tree: Radclyffe
Maternal Family Tree: Jeanne Sabran
After 23 Jul 1505 [his father] Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 22) and [his mother] Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex (age 26) were married. She by marriage Baroness Fitzwalter. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham and [his grandmother] Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham Duchess Bedford. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1507 Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex was born to Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 24) and Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex (age 28).
Before 21 May 1524 Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 17) and Elizabeth Howard (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 81) and Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk (age 47). He the son of Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 41) and Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex (age 45). He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 21 May 1524 [his father-in-law] Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 81) died at Framlingham Castle, Suffolk [Map]. He was buried at Thetford Priory, Norfolk [Map] and subsequently reburied at the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 51) succeeded 3rd Duke Norfolk, 2nd Earl Surrey. Elizabeth Stafford Duchess Norfolk (age 27) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
Around 1525 [his son] Thomas Radclyffe 3rd Earl of Sussex was born to Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 18) and [his wife] Elizabeth Howard (age 19).
Before Sep 1531 Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Dorothy Howard Countess Derby (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk and [his mother-in-law] Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk (age 54). He the son of Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby and Anne Hastings Countess Derby (age 46). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Around 1532 [his son] Henry Radclyffe 4th Earl of Sussex was born to Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 25) and [his wife] Elizabeth Howard (age 26).
Before 01 Sep 1532 [his father] Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 49) and [his step-mother] Margaret Stanley Countess Sussex were married. She by marriage Countess of Sussex. She the daughter of Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby and Anne Hastings Countess Derby (age 47). They were fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 18 Sep 1534 [his wife] Elizabeth Howard (age 28) died.
On 14 Jan 1537 [his father] Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 54) and [his step-mother] Mary Arundell Countess Arundel were married. She by marriage Viscountess Fitzwalter.
Wriothesley's Chronicle 1538. 22 May 1538. Also the 22th daie of Maie, being Wednesdaie this same yeare, the said Friar Forrest was drawen from Newgate to the place of execution in Smythfielde, where was a noble sermon made by the Bishopp of Worcestre (age 51), afore writton, to have drawen the said Friar Forrest from his opinions; but he, obstinatlie standing still and stiffe in his opininons, and beinge asked by the said bishopp in what state he would die, he openlie declaring their with a lowde voyce to the Bishopp as followeth: That if an angell should come downe from heaven and shew him any other thing then that he had beleeved all his liffe tyme past he would not beleeve him, and that if his bodie should be cutt joynt after joynt or membre after membre, brent, hanged, or what paine soever might de donne to his bodie, he wold neaver turne from his old sect of this Bishopp of Rome; and also seaven yeare agone hea durst not have made such a sermon for his lief. And then after this, being a false traitor to his Praynce, an hereticke, and a seditious person to the Kinges leighe people, was had to the place of executionb and their hanged about the middle in chains of iron on a paire of gallowes alive, a great fire made under him and about him, and so was burned for his said heresie and treason.
Also their was brent with him an idollc that was brought out of Gidarne was North Wales, which idoll was of woode like a man of armes in his armes in his harneies having a litle speare in his hande and a caskett of iron about his necke hanging with a ribond, the which people of North Walles honored as a sainct. The name of the idoll was called in Walch Darvell Gadarn.d Present at this execution were the [his former brother-in-law] Duke of Norfolke (age 65), the Duke of Suffolke (age 54), the Erle of Sussex (age 31), the Earle of Hartford (age 38) being Vicount Beawchampe, the Bishoppe of London, with other of the Kinges Counsell, the Major (age 53)e of London, with the most part of the aldermen and shrives, and, as I thinke, tenne thousand persons and more; also the place of execution where the gallowes and fire was made was railed round about; and their was a skaffold made to sett the pulpitt on where the preacher stoode, and an other against itt where the friar stoode all the sermon tyme, and a long skaffold next to Sainct Bartholomewes spittell gate, where the Lordes of the Privie Counsell sate with the major and aldermen and other gentlemen and commons of the cittie.
Note a. Bishop Latimer.
Note b. Compare this with the account of the burning of Friar Forest in Harleian MS. 530, f. 120.
Note c. The Welshmen had a prophesy that this image should set a whole forest a fire, which prophesie now toke effect, for it set this Frier Forest on fyre, and consumed him to nothing. Hall, p 826.
Note d. Usually written Darvell or David Gatheren.
Note e. Sir Richard Gresham.
Before 21 Nov 1538 Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 31) and Anne Calthorpe 2nd Countess Sussex (age 17) were married. He the son of Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 55) and Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 27 Nov 1542 [his father] Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 59) died. His son Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 35) succeeded 2nd Earl of Sussex, 2nd Viscount Fitzwalter, 11th Baron Fitzwalter. [his wife] Anne Calthorpe 2nd Countess Sussex (age 21) by marriage Countess of Sussex.
Between 1547 and 1549 Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 40) expelled his wife [his wife] Anne Calthorpe 2nd Countess Sussex (age 26) from their home. He believed she had married Edmund Knyvet (age 39) bigamously.
Calendar of State Papers of Spain Volume 12 19 Feb 1554. 19 Feb 1554. Gaspard Schetz to the Queen Dowager.
Madam: Although I believe your Majesty to be informed of occurrences in England, I am unwilling not to send you the news that have reached us this morning in a letter of the 15th instant. It relates that the Queen has caused the rebels to be punished: the Lady Jane (deceased) and her husband (deceased), the Duke of Suffolk's (age 37) son, have been decapitated; the White Rose (age 27) has been sent back to the Tower [Map], where are also the Duke of Suffolk with two of his brothers [Note. Thomas Grey and John Grey (age 30)] and guilty lords to the number of 27. They write that, of the soldiers who abandoned the [his former brother-in-law] Duke of Norfolk (age 81) on the field and joined the rebels, 40 have been hanged and 200 more condemned to the same penalty. They say that the said Duke has died in his own country. The Earl of Pembroke (age 53) has been sent down to Kent with 300 light horse to discover who took part in the rebellion and execute justice. This, Madam, is the substance of what I have heard, together with a report that it is being said in England that my Lord our Prince is to come with 8,000 Spanish soldiers, about which the English are not best pleased.
They say the Queen is sending hither an ambassador, the Viscount Fitzwalter (age 47) (Fewaters), who will be able to give your Majesty more trustworthy information.
Antwerp, 19 February, 1554.
Copy. French. Printed by Gachard, Voyages des Souverains des Pays-Bas, Appendix to Vol. IV.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 23 Apr 1554. The xxiij day of Aprell, was sant Gorge day, her grace (age 38) whent unto the chapell and whent a prossessyon with all the kynghtes of the garter that was ther pressent [to St.] James in the Feld; ther wher creatyd the sam day knights of the garter, the prynsse of Spayne (age 26) one, and the yerle of Sussex (age 47).
Wriothesley's Chronicle 05 Aug 1554. 05 Aug 1554. Sundaye 5 August the King (age 27) was stalled in Windsore of the noble order of the Garter, and there kept St. George's feast in his royall estate himselfe; where was kept a great feast. And the Earle of Sussex (age 47) was made knight of the Garter at that tyme allso.
On 23 Aug 1554 Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (age 38) created her new husband (age 27) and the Earl of Sussex Garter Knights:
331st Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain.
332nd Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 47).
Henry Machyn's Diary. 25 Nov 1554. The sam day, the wyche was Sonday, at after-non, the Kyngs (age 27) grace and my lord Fuwater [Probably Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 47)] and dyvers Spaneards dyd ryd in dyvers colars, the Kyng in red, and som [in] yellow, sum in gren, sum in whyt, sum in bluw, and with targets and canes in ther hand, herlyng of rods on at a-nodur, and thrumpets in the sam colars, and drumes mad of ketylles, and banars in the sam colars.
Before 1555 [his son] Thomas Radclyffe 3rd Earl of Sussex (age 29) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Wriothesley (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Wriothesley 1st Earl of Southampton and Jane Cheney Countess Southampton (age 45). He the son of Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 47) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Howard.
In 1555 [his son] Thomas Radclyffe 3rd Earl of Sussex (age 30) and [his daughter-in-law] Frances Sidney Countess Sussex (age 24) were married. He the son of Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 48) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Howard.
On 17 Feb 1557 Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex (age 50) died. He was buried at St Lawrence Pountney Church. His son [his son] Thomas Radclyffe 3rd Earl of Sussex (age 32) succeeded 3rd Earl of Sussex, 3rd Viscount Fitzwalter, 12th Baron Fitzwalter. [his daughter-in-law] Frances Sidney Countess Sussex (age 26) by marriage Countess of Sussex.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 17 Feb 1557. The xvij day of Feybruary ded in Chanell-rowe the good yerle of Sussex (age 50) at Westmynster.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26 Feb 1557. [The same day was buried the earl of Sussex (deceased) .... of] England at sant Lauruns [Pountney....], and the chyrche hangyd with blake, and ys armes .. borne, and ij goodly whytt branchys, and ij ..; and ij haroldes of armes, and a baner of ys armes, [and iiij] banars of emages, and a x dosen of skochyons .... dosen of penselles, and a cote armur, target, [sword,] the elmett, crest, and mantylles of blake velvett.
Note. P. 127. Funeral of the earl of Sussex. "Sir Henry Ratclyff erl of Sussex and vyscount FitzWater, lord Egremont and Burnell, knight of the garter, lieutenaunte of the counties of Norffolk and Sussex, and late countrolor to the king and quenes majesties, dyed at sir Harry Sydney's howsse in Chanon Roo at Westmynster on Wensday the 15. [17] of February in the 3. and 4. yere of king Phelyp and queene Mary, 1556, and was beryed at St. Mary Poultney in London on Saterday the 27. of the same mounth." (MS. Harl. 897, f. 79.) The heralds' account of the ceremony is recorded in Coll. Arm. I. 15, f. 225, and printed in the appendix to Wilson's History of the parish of St. Laurence Pountney, 4to. 1831. That author states, (p. 10,) "In the north aisle of this church, originally parochial, then collegiate as well as parochial, and after the surrender again parochial only, were interred several members of the Radcliffe family, particularly Robert Radcliffe, earl of Sussex, who died 27th Nov. 1542, and Henry Radcliffe his son, who died 17th Feb. 1556-7. But at length the remains of these two earls were removed to Boreham in Essex." At Boreham was erected a sumptuous monument (now in ruins) with effigies of the three earls; see Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, &c. (1762, i. 160), and the epitaphs in Antiq. Repertory, or Wilson, ubi supra.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 18 Mar 1557. The xviij day of Marche was the monyth myn of the yerle of Sussex (deceased), and the hersse bornyng and standyng tyll durge, and masse done on the morow after yt was taken downe; and master Garter was ther to se ys standard and ys elmet, targat, cott, and banars sett up over hym, with alle thyng longyng therto.... man shuld where no ...
In 1578 [his former wife] Anne Calthorpe 2nd Countess Sussex (age 57) died.
[his daughter] Frances Radclyffe was born to Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex and Anne Calthorpe 2nd Countess Sussex. Her father may have been Edmund Knyvet with whom her mother is believed to have commenced a bigamous marriage.
[his son] Egremont Radclyffe was born to Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex and Anne Calthorpe 2nd Countess Sussex. His father may have been Edmund Knyvet with whom his mother is believed to have commenced a bigamous marriage.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Philip IV King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Radclyffe
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Radclyffe of Attleburgh
Great x 4 Grandmother: Susannah Radclyffe of Adlington
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Radclyffe
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Tempest of Bracewell 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret aka Joan Tempest
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Radclyffe Baron Fitzwalter 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Burnell 2nd Baron Burnell 
6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Burnell 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Pole Baroness Burnell 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Katherine Burnell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Strange 6th Baron Strange Knockin 
6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice aka Eleanor Strange 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Mohun Baroness Strange Knockin 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandFather: John Radclyffe 9th Baron Fitzwalter 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Fitzwalter 4th Baron Fitzwalter 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Fitzwalter 5th Baron Fitzwalter 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Mohun Duchess AlbemarleDuchess York 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Fitzwalter 7th Baron Fitzwalter 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzwalter Baroness Dinham 8th Baroness Fitzwalter 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Margaret Whetehill
Henry Radclyffe 2nd Earl of Sussex 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester 
Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland 
Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster 
GrandFather: Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset 
Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Beaufort 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Beauchamp 12th Earl Warwick 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Ferrers Countess Warwick 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 10th and 5th Baron Berkeley, Baron Lisle 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley Countess Warwick 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Lisle Baroness Berkeley 3rd Baroness Lisle 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Mother: Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Woodville
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Woodville
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Bittelsgate
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Bittelsgate
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beauchamp
GrandMother: Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham Duchess Bedford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy of Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Ligny 
8 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Luxemburg Count St Pol 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mathilde Chatillon Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Count of Enghien
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Brienne
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francesco Baux 1st Duke Andria 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Orsini Count 3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Sueva Orsini 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne Sabran