Henry Neville (Gentleman of The Privy Chamber) - Career

Career

However, it stands curious that Sir Henry Neville secured a post in the Privy chamber, in consideration that his father was allegedly attached to the Courtenay conspiracy, and moreover, executed in 1539 on order of King Henry VIII, charged with "devising to maintain, promote, and advance one Reginald Pole, late Dean of Exeter, enemy of the King, beyond the sea, and to deprive the King". (Reginald Pole was a Catholic exile and a second cousin once removed of Neville).

In March 1542, Neville attended Charles de Marillac the French ambassador; however, he apparently was not destined to have a career in politics, for by 1546, he is found serving as a groom of the privy chamber. He was made Groom of the Privy Chamber in 1546, Gentleman of the privy chamber in 1550, was knighted on 11 October 1551 and appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire for 1572. He was elected to Parliament as Knight of the shire for Berkshire five times, from 1553-1584. Neville was Henry VIII's godson and apparently was in good favour with the king, to the extent that he was included as one of the grooms who witnessed his will, of which he was afforded a legacy.

In 1551, he testified at the trial of Stephen Gardiner, and revealed the strong detestation Henry VIII had for the bishop. Neville was closely aligned with John Dudley and Sir Henry Sidney, the former of whom promoted him to Gentleman of the Privy chamber during the reign of Edward VI. As with many Protestants, Neville left the country upon Mary I's accession, however returned under Elizabeth I, and continued his career holding various posts in Berkshire, where he lived at Billingbear House, until his death on 13 January 1593. Sir Henry Neville was buried in the parish church at Waltham St Lawrence in Berkshire.