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Birth:          ABT 1364 of Raby, Durham, England
Death:          21 Oct 1425 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Neville,_1st_Earl_of_Westmorland
Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, 4th Baron Neville de Raby,[a] KG PC Earl 
Marshal (c. 1364 – 21 October 1425), was an English nobleman of the House of 
Neville.
Family[edit]

Ralph Neville was born about 1364, the son of John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville de 
Raby, and Maud Percy (d. before 18 February 1379), daughter of Henry de Percy, 2nd 
Baron Percy of Alnwick, Northumberland, by Idoine de Clifford, daughter of Robert de 
Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford.[1] Neville had a younger brother, and five sisters:[2]
Thomas Neville, 5th Baron Furnivall, who married Joan Furnival.
Lady Alice Neville, who married Sir Thomas Gray.
Lady Maud Neville
Lady Idoine Neville
Lady Eleanor Neville, who married Ralph de Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley.
Lady Elizabeth Neville, who became a nun.

Neville's father married secondly, before 9 October 1381, Elizabeth Latimer (d. 5 
November 1395), daughter of William Latimer, 4th Baron Latimer. By his father's 
second marriage Neville had a brother and sister of the half blood:[3]
John Neville, 6th Baron Latimer (c.1382 – 10 December 1430), who married firstly, 
Maud Clifford (c. 26 August 1446), daughter of Thomas Clifford, 6th Baron Clifford, 
whom he divorced before 1413-17, and by whom he had no issue. She married 
secondly, Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge, beheaded 5 August 1415 for 
his part in the Southampton Plot.[4]
Lady Elizabeth Neville, who married Sir Thomas Willoughby.

Career[edit]

Neville's first military service was in Brittany under King Richard II's uncle, Thomas of 
Woodstock, who knighted him at Saint-Omer in July 1380. On 14 November 1381 he 
and his cousin, Henry 'Hotspur' Percy, were commissioned to preside over a duel 
between an Englishman and a Scot, and on 1 December 1383 he and his father were 
commissioned to receive from the Scots 24,000 marks for the ransom of King David. 
On 26 October 1385 he was appointed joint governor of Carlisle with Sir Thomas 
Clifford, and on 27 March 1386 was appointed, together with Clifford, joint Warden of 
the West March.[5]

Neville inherited the title at the age of 24 after his father's death on 17 October 1388, 
and was summoned to Parliament from 6 December 1389 to 30 November 1396 by 
writs directed to Radulpho de Nevyll de Raby. On 25 October 1388 he was appointed, 
with others, to survey the fortifications on the Scottish border, and on 24 May 1389 
was made keeper for life of the royal forests north of the Trent. In 1393 and 1394 he 
was employed in peace negotiations with Scotland.[6]

In 1397 Neville supported King Richard's proceedings against Thomas of Woodstock 
and the Lords Appellant, and by way of reward was created Earl of Westmorland on 29 
September of that year. However his loyalty to the King was tested shortly thereafter. 
His first wife, Margaret Stafford, had died on 9 June 1396, and Neville's second 
marriage to Joan Beaufort before 29 November 1396 made him the son-in-law of King 
Richard's uncle, John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. Thus, when King Richard 
banished John of Gaunt's eldest son and heir, Henry Bolingbroke, on 16 September 
1398, and confiscated Bolingbroke's estates after John of Gaunt's death on 3 
February 1399, Westmorland was moved to support his brother-in-law. Bolingbroke 
landed with a small force at Ravenspur in July 1399. Westmorland and the Earl of 
Northumberland were in the deputation at the Tower which received King Richard's 
abdication, and Westmorland bore the small sceptre called the 'virge' at Bolingbroke's 
coronation as King Henry IV on 13 October 1399.[7]

For his support of the new King, Westmorland was rewarded with a lifetime 
appointment as Earl Marshal on 30 September 1399 (although he resigned the office in 
1412), a lifetime grant of the honour of Richmond on 20 October (although the grant 
was not accompanied by a grant of the title Earl of Richmond), and several 
wardships.[8] Before 4 December he was appointed to the King's council. In March 
1401, Westmorland was one of the commissioners who conducted negotiations for a 
marriage between the King's eldest daughter, Blanche of England, and Louis, son of 
Rupert, King of the Romans, and in 1403 was made a Knight of the Garter, taking the 
place left vacant by the death of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York.[8]

According to Tuck, Westmorland had little influence on the Scottish borders in the 
first years of Henry IV's reign, where the wardenships of the marches were 
monopolised by the Percys, leading to a growing rivalry between the two families. 
However, in 1403 the Percys, spurred on by various grievances, took up arms against 
the King, and suffered defeat at the Battle of Shrewsbury on 21 July 1403. 
Northumberland's son, Henry 'Hotspur' Percy, was slain at Shrewsbury, and 
Northumberland's brother, the Earl of Worcester, was beheaded two days later. After 
Shrewsbury, King Henry ordered Westmorland to raise troops and prevent 
Northumberland's army, which was still in the north, from advancing south. On 6 
August 1403,as a reward for his service in driving Northumberland back to Warkworth 
Castle, Westmorland was granted the wardenship of the West March which 
Northumberland had held since 1399, the wardenship of the East March, formerly held 
by Henry 'Hotspur' Percy, being granted to the King's 14-year-old son, John of 
Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford.[8]

Two years later Northumberland, joined by Lord Bardolf, again took up arms against 
the King. It had been Northumberland's plan to capture the earl by surprise at the 
outset, and in early May 1405, with 400 men, Northumberland made a surprise attack 
at the castle of Witton-le-Wear, where he had been staying. The attempt failed, as 
Westmorland had already fled. The earl speedily gathered an army, defeated a force 
of Percy allies at Topcliffe, and then marched towards York with Henry IV's son, John 
of Lancaster, to confront a force of some 8000 men gathered on Shipton Moor under 
the leadership of Archbishop Richard Scrope, Thomas de Mowbray, 4th Earl of 
Norfolk, and Scrope's nephew, Sir William Plumpton. Outnumbered by Scrope's forces, 
Westmorland resorted to trickery,[9] and led Scrope and his allies to believe that their 
demands would be accepted and their personal safety guaranteed. Once Scrope's 
army had been disbanded on 29 May, Scrope, Mowbray and Plumpton were arrested, 
summarily condemned to death for treason, and beheaded outside the walls of York on 
8 June 1405. Although Westmorland handed Scrope and his allies over to the King at 
Pontefract, he played no role in their hasty and irregular trial and execution, having 
been sent north by the King on 4 June to seize Northumberland's castles. It is unclear 
whether Northumberland had initially planned to rebel openly in concert with Scrope, 
but in the event he gave Scrope no support, and fled to Scotland after his failed 
attempt to capture Westmorland. His estates were subsequently forfeited to the crown, 
and Ralph, earl of Westmorland, as a reward for his quelling of the 1405 rebellion 
without significant bloodshed, received a large grant of former Percy lands in 
Cumberland and Northumberland in June 1405.[10]

After the death of Henry IV Westmorland was mainly engaged in the defence of the 
northern border in his capacity as Warden of the West March (1403–1414). In 1415 he 
decisively defeated an invading Scottish army at the Battle of Yeavering.[1] 
Westmorland played no part in King Henry V's French campaigns, and Tuck notes that 
his relationship with Henry V was not close, perhaps partly because of the 
involvement of Westmorland's son-in-law, Sir Thomas Grey of Heaton, in the 
Southampton Plot.[11] After Henry V's death, Westmorland was a member of the 
Council of Regency during the minority of King Henry VI.[12]

According to Tait, Westmorland was 'no inconsiderable builder', citing his rebuilding of 
Sheriff Hutton Castle on a scale so magnificent that Leland saw 'no house in the north 
so like a princely lodging', his doubling of the entrance gateway of Raby Castle and 
the corresponding tower, and possibly his responsibility for the 'tall and striking tower' 
of Richmond parish church. On 1 November 1410 Westmorland was granted licence to 
found a college for a master, six clerks, six 'decayed gentlemen' and others at 
Staindrop, towards the completion of which he left a bequest in his will.[12] He was 
probably responsible for the building of Penrith castle in Cumberland c. 1412-13.[13]

Marriages and issue[edit]

Neville married firstly, Margaret Stafford (d. 9 June 1396), the eldest daughter of Hugh 
Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, and Philippa Beauchamp, the daughter of Thomas 
Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, by Katherine Mortimer, the daughter of Roger 
Mortimer, 1st Earl of March.[14] They had two sons and six daughters:
Sir John Neville (c.1387 – before 20 May 1420), who married Elizabeth Holland, fifth 
daughter of Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent, and Alice FitzAlan, and by her had 
three sons, Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland, John Neville, Baron Neville, and 
Sir Thomas Neville, and a daughter, Margaret Neville.[15]
Sir Ralph Neville (d. 25 Feb 1458), who married, before 1411, his stepsister, Mary 
Ferrers, daughter of Robert Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers, and Joan Beaufort.[16]
Maud Neville (d. October 1438), who married Peter de Mauley, 5th Baron Mauley.[15]
Alice Neville, who married firstly Sir Thomas Grey, beheaded 2 August 1415 for his 
part in the Southampton Plot, and secondly Sir Gilbert Lancaster.[17]
Philippa Neville, who married, before 20 July 1399, Thomas Dacre, 6th Baron Dacre of 
Gilsland (d. 5 January 1458).[18]
Elizabeth Neville, who became a nun.
Anne Neville (b. circa 1384), who married, before 3 February 1413, Sir Gilbert 
Umfraville, son of Sir Thomas Umfreville (d. 12 February 1391) and Agnes Grey (d. 25 
October 1420), daughter of Sir Thomas Grey of Heaton (d. before 22 October 1369). 
He was slain at the Battle of Baugé in Anjou on 22 March 1421.[19]
Margaret Neville (d. 1463/4), who married firstly, before 31 December 1413, Richard 
Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Bolton, and secondly, William Cressener, esquire.[20]

Neville married secondly, before 29 November 1396, at Château de Beaufort, Maine-
et-Loire, Anjou, Joan Beaufort, the widow of Robert Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers.[21] 
Joan was the legitimated daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, by his 
mistress and later third wife, Katherine Swynford. They had nine sons and five 
daughters:[22]
Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1400–1460), married Alice Montacute, 5th 
Countess of Salisbury. Their son was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick (1428–
1471), 'The Kingmaker'.
Henry Neville.
Thomas Neville.
Cuthbert Neville.
Robert Neville, Bishop of Salisbury and Durham.
William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent.
John Neville.
George Neville, 1st Baron Latimer.
Edward Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny.
Joan Neville, who became a nun.
Katherine Neville, married firstly, on 12 January 1411 to John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of 
Norfolk, secondly to Sir Thomas Strangways, thirdly to John Beaumont, 1st Viscount 
Beaumont, fourthly to Sir John Woodville (d. 12 August 1469).
Eleanor Neville (1398–1472), married firstly to Richard le Despencer, 4th Baron 
Burghersh, secondly to Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland.
Anne Neville (1414–1480), married firstly to Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of 
Buckingham, secondly to Walter Blount, 1st Baron Mountjoy.
Cecily Neville (1415–1495), married to Richard, 3rd Duke of York. She was the mother 
of King Edward IV and King Richard III.

Death[edit]

Westmorland died on 21 October 1425. He was buried in the choir of his collegiate 
church of St. Mary at Staindrop. The magnificent alabaster tomb with effigies of 
himself and his two wives there has been termed the finest sepulchral monument in the 
north of England.[1] Neither of his wives is buried with him. His first wife, Margaret 
Stafford, was buried at Brancepeth, Durham, while his second wife, Joan Beaufort, 
was buried with her mother under a carved stone canopy in the sanctuary of Lincoln 
Cathedral.[23]

Westmorland was predeceased by his eldest son, Sir John Neville, and was 
succeeded in the title by his grandson, Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland.[24]

Shakespeare and Westmorland[edit]

Westmorland is portrayed in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and 
Henry V.

In the opening scene of Henry IV, Part 1, Westmorland is presented historically as an 
ally of King Henry IV against the Percys, and in the final scenes of the play as being 
dispatched to the north of England by the King after the Battle of Shrewsbury to 
intercept the Earl of Northumberland.[25]

In Act IV of Henry IV, Part 2, Westmorland is portrayed historically as having been 
principally responsible for quelling the Percy rebellion in 1405 by Archbishop Scrope 
almost without bloodshed by successfully parleying with the rebels on 29 May 1405 at 
Shipton Moor.[25]

However, in Henry V Westmorland is unhistorically alleged to have resisted the 
arguments made in favour of war with France by Archbishop Chichele in the Parliament 
which began at Leicester on 30 April 1414. Following Hall and Holinshed, 
Shakespeare attributes these arguments to Chichele[26] at a time when Chichele was 
not yet formally Archbishop, although he had been appointed by the King immediately 
following the death of Archbishop Arundel on 14 February 1414. Moreover, it is said 
that the Parliamentary rolls do not record Chichele's presence, and according to Tait 
the question of war with France was not discussed. In addition, Westmorland's speech 
urging the advantages of war against Scotland rather than France is said to be 
adapted from a work by the Scottish historian, John Major, who was not born until half 
a century after the 1414 Parliament.[12]

The First Folio text of Henry V also unhistorically gives these lines to Westmorland on 
the eve of Agincourt:

O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today. (Henry V, IV.iii)

Westmorland was not with King Henry V on the 1415 campaign in France. On 17 April 
1415 he was appointed to the Council of Regency which was to govern England under 
the King's brother, John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford, during the King's absence 
in France, with special responsibility for the Scottish Marches.[27] In the first quarto 
text of the play, the foregoing lines are assigned to the Earl of Warwick.[25]

It has been claimed by Brenda James and Professor William Rubinstein that Neville's 
great-great-great-grandson Sir Henry Neville wrote the works of William Shakespeare.

Parents
NEVILLE John (ABT 1337 - 17 Oct 1388)
DE PERCY Maud (ABT 1335 - BEF 18 Feb 1379)

Siblings
NEVILLE Ralph (ABT 1364 - 21 Oct 1425)

Marriage To DE STAFFORD Margaret (ABT 1365 - 9 Jun 1396)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE STAFFORD Hugh (1344 - 16 Oct 1386)
BEAUCHAMP Philippa (ABT 1334 - 6 Apr 1386)

Children by DE STAFFORD Margaret ABT 1365 - 9 Jun 1396
NEVILLE Alice (ABT 1384 - )
NEVILLE Phillippa (ABT 1386 - AFT 8 Jul 1453)
NEVILLE Ralph (ABT 1388 - 25 Feb 1458)
NEVILLE Margaret (1391 - 1464)

Marriage To DE BEAUFORT Joan (ABT 1372 - 13 Nov 1440)
    m. 3 Feb 1397 

Notes

Parents
OF GAUNT John (Mar 1340 - 3 Feb 1399)
DE ROET Katherine (25 Nov 1350 - 10 May 1403)

Children by DE BEAUFORT Joan ABT 1372 - 13 Nov 1440
NEVILLE Eleanor (ABT 1397 - 1472)
NEVILLE Richard (1400 - 31 Dec 1460)

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