The Manners/Rutland family History

Bits and pieces of history

Sir Willian Cecil, the Secretary of State became the guardian to The Third and Fourth Earls of Rutland. He evidently distrusted the young dowager step-mother, and at once took control both of the boy's education and of the administration of the there estate. There was also another young ward at this time, the Earl of Oxford.

Edward Manners 3 E. Rutland spent his schooling years at Oxford, Cambridge and possibly Lincoln's Inn. He then had a brief experience of military service in the army assembled to put down the northern rebellion of 1569.

Cecil at one time had hopes of getting Edward Manners to marry his own daughter.  The young man apparently evaded the offer without to much difficulty.  The reason for his reluctance was that he had already set his heart on Isabel, daughter of Sir Thomas Holcroft of Vale Royal and his wife Julian, the daughter and heiress of a London alderman. There can be little doubt that this must have been considered by many to be a me'salliance for one of the greatest Earls in England, and the disapproval must have been increased if it was true, as Lady Holcroft alleged, that the Earl was so deeply in love that he was willing to marry the girl even without a marriage portion. No marriage contract has in fact survived, so that there is no means of knowing whether or not the Earl obtained a substantial cash sum on his marriage with Isabel in 1573.

For the remaining fourteen years of his short life Earl Edward lived in considerable splendour both at Court and in the country. He lived at Belvoir castle in great style, dispensing lavish hospitality. He maintained his intellectual interests and became, according to Camden, 'a profound lawyer', so much so that the Queen had already decided to appoint him Lord Chancellor at the time of his sudden death in April 1587. Years later Gervase Holles described him as 'the magnificent Earl who kept a house like a Prince's Court'.

(this was taken from the book "Family and Fortune" by Lawrence Stone, pages 171-173)

By the middle of the sixteenth century, England had become a more peaceful and civilized country. Standards of living were steadily improving and expectations of comfort were much higher than they had been throughout the medieval period. Wealthy families sought to influence and impress others by improving and modernizing their own castles and estates and the Manner’s family at Helmsley Castle was no exception.

 In 1560, Edward manners decided to build a more substantial house which would be better suited to a sophisticated Elizabethan lifestyle and the family’s social position. The new residence was built in the latest most fashionable style.

Artist's impression of the castle about 1580

The Manners family at Helmsley maintained a close relationship with the court of the monarch during the sixteenth century and some members of the family were able to secure positions within the royal court. In 1589, Edward Manners' niece Bridget was received as a lady in waiting to Elizabeth I. 

Letter from Elizabeth, Countess of Rutland to the Countess of Bedford:

1589, July 26. Winkburne.

I understand from Mr. Roger Manners of the Queen's gracious disposition towards my daughter Bridget for receiving her into her service. I did not expect the favour because it pleased the Queen so lately to receive Lady Elizabeth Vere. But as it is the Queen's pleasure I hope she will behave herself as shall be pleasing. I sent 2001, towards furnishing her for the place.........

In a politically unstable period such as the sixteenth century, this close allegiance was potentially very dangerous. In 1601, Roger Manners inadvisably joined the Rebellion against the Queen with the Duke of Essex was executed for his role in the plot, while Manners escaped execution with a fine of £30,000. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London pending his trial.  The following extract is interesting because it shows the comforts allowed by Rodger Manners while he was in the Tower of London and it describes the furnishings and personal items that would have been in the private apartments in the west tower of Helmsly Castle.

(pay attention to the period spelling in this next letter)

1600, February 9.

'Delivered the ixth of February 1600 by virtue of a tooken sent from my Lord Admyrall by one Mr. Mynne, his Lordship's servaunte, to me, Chidiock Wardour esquire, these thinges following, to be sent to the Earl of Rutland to the Tower by his servaunte, Thomas Scryven. Out of the Earles bedchamber: one seild bedstead with the vallence and curtaynes and quilte, all of ashe coloured damaske. Item one white rugg.Item one spanishe blanket. Item one payer of fustian blankettes. Item one feather bed and bolster. Item one quilte. Item one pillowe. Item one mattres. Out of the chamber over the kitchen: Item one greene rugg. Item one Spanishe blankett. Item one feather bed and bolster. Item iij payer of sheets. Item iij pillowbeares, iij payers of pallate sheetes: for the Earles bed Item iij table clothes, item j dosen of napkyns: of dyaper. Item j chamber pott, A Charyre, A stoole, a long quishon: Ash-coloured damask, A suyt of hanginges of tapistry containing five pieces that hong in the great chamber. A rounde red carpet of clothe. Ij foote of Turkey carpetes.

Documentary Sources from English Heritage