Richard Tempest (abt. 1480 - 1537)

Born about 1480 in Bracewell, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Rosamund (Bolling) Tempest — married 1497 in Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died 25 Aug 1537 at about age 57 in Fleet Prison, London, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rose Edwards [send private message]

Biography

Sir Richard Tempest was a member of the aristocracy in England.

Coat of arms: Argent, a bend between six storm finches sable. ^[1]

Richard was a complicated man. Was he weak and greedy like his enemies said or a honorable family man of the Tudor times?

What we do know is that Richard's father was a younger son in a minor Yorkshire family who were tenants and kinsmen of the great baronial house of Clifford and he rose to great power. He dined with kings & Queens, his opinions on State matters were asked for from the highest of nobility, he was successful in battle and he reached the pinnacle of success.

But as it happens, people are jealous of other people’s accomplishments and they try to destroy them.

Richard is seen though these varies court documents to be a very loyal to the King and to his obligations. Moreover, he not hesitant to enforce his responsibilities; He prosecutes fellow nobles for their misdeeds, informs on persons with are trying to defraud the King on his taxes, &c. Maybe this the problem, Richard was born in a tenant farm and was unused to bending the rules when it would have more advantages to do so. No one knows.

Richard made sure all of his sons had successful marriages to heiress and his daughters to men of worth. He wife was well taken care of after his death and he was able to leave his family very comfortable and when he died he was titled: Sir Richard Tempest, knight of Bracewell and Bowling and &c.

Richard Tempest of Bracewell was born in 1480 at Bracewell, Yorkshire, now Lancashire, England. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

On his father’s death Richard was probably entrusted to the guardianship of his uncle Sir Thomas Tempest who bequeathed him the family seat at Bracewell, where Richard Tempest is said to have built a new house. ^[3]

Marriage

Richard Tempest of Bracewell married Rosamund Bolling, daughter of Tristram Bolling of Chellow and of Bolling and Beatrice Calverley, on 13 Jul 1497 at Bolling Hall, Yorkshire, England. ^{[2] [3] [5]}

It was covenanted and agreed upon between Sir Thomas Tempest of Bracewell knt, and Tristram Bollynge of Bollynge (modern Bowling) that Richard Tempest heir and next of kin to Sir Thomas [Richard's Uncle], viz. son of Nicholas, brother to the said Sir Thomas, shall marry Rosamund, the daughter and heir apparent of the said Tristram, and Sir Thomas then settled, (in failure of his own male line) on Richard Tempest the manors of Bracewell, Waddington, Skalshawe (Scalehouse in Rilstone), Pathorne and Ulley, with lands and tenements in those towns and in Essington, Stock, Horton in-Craven, Pathnall (Painley), Thorpe, Burnsall, Skipton, Malham, Broughton-in-Craven, Conyngston and Cold Conyngston and Horneby York county.

Also the manors of Bealraper and Ewerby, the moiety of the advowson of Claypole, and land in Bealraper, Ewarby, Claypole, Gosberkirke, Pynchbeck, Swyneshead, Donyngton, Quadring and Spalding, Lincoln county. The trustees for the Settlement being Sir John Savile, Sir Thomas Talbot knts, William Calverley and William Westby.

They had a large family, they had 8 sons and 4 daughters:

Sir Thomas died d.s.p, married Margaret Tempest, daughter of Sir Thomas Tempest of Beaurepaire, . ^[4]

Sir John married Anne Lenthall(?) ^[4]

Nicholas married Beatrix Bradford ^[4]

Robert died d.s.p. ^[4]

George died d.s.p. ^[4]

Christopher d.s.p. ^[4]

Tristam married Alice Methley ^{[4] [6] [5]}

Henry married Eleanor "Ellen" Mirfield ^[4]

Jane married Sir Thomas Waterton ^[5]

Elizabeth married Peter Frecheville ^[4]

Anne married John Lacy, Esq. ^[4]

Beatrice married Wm Gascoigne, Esq ^[4]

Richard was named an executor in the will of Tristram Bolling of Chellow, of Bolling dated 7 Apr 1502 at Chellow, Manningham, Yorkshire, England, He was supervisor of, and named in the will of his father-in-law, Tristram Bolling. ^{[2] [5]}

His 1st major Court battle

Richard with other freeholders and King's tenants of Bradford, instituted a suit against Rainbrow [Raynbron] Bolling, bailiff of the Duchy of Lancaster for Bradford for levying excessive tolls, mulctures etc:^{[2] [7]}

(18, Hen. VII (1503).--Richard Tempest and others, freeholders and King's tenants of Bradford township, andplaintiffs. Raynbron Bolling, the King's bailiff, and others defendants. Deputed titles to lands, tolls of markets, partiality of kin,

&c.Contra, Pleading --

Raynbron Bolling, bailiff of Bradford, and Godfrey Foljambe, Feodary of Tickill Honor, plaintifs. Rich.Tempest, defendant, and others.To the right worshipful Chancellor Duchy of Lancaster.

"We, Richard Tempest and Robert Leventhorp, esquires; Thos. Thornton, Wm. Rookes, John Rookes, Thos.Ellys, John Rawson, John Feld, James Webster, Thomas Bower, Wm. Bancke, Robt. Ledgard, Richd. Bancke,and others, freeholders and the King's tenants of the township of Bradford; John Threapland, John Ellingsworth,Rich. Hollins, John Whitacre, Thos. Aldersley, &c., freeholders and Kings tenants of Allerton; John Wilkinson,Thos. Roper, Wm. Byrkenshaw &c., tenants and freeholders of Thornton; Robt. Midgeley, William Mortymer,of Clayton; Richard Broadly, Thos. Stead, of Bowling; Christopher Sharp, James Sharp, Christopher Sharp, James Sharp, Christopher Thornton, &c., of Horton; Joseph Thornton, Roger Thornton, &c., of Heaton; WilliamNorthrop, Laurence Ellynworth, William Jowett, Thos. Mortymer, Richard Rodes, &c., of Manningham, deposed that whereas three faires have been held and kept within the lordship which were a great resort of merchants, chapmen, and others of the king's lieges of divers parts for the purpose of selling their wares to the great weal of the King's tenants of the said lordship and to the country adjoining.

That Raynbron Bolling, the bailiff of the said lordship, wrongfully, by him and his deputies, taking excessive and unreasonable tolls of yoursaid orators and others the King's tenants and others the King's lieges resorting to the said faires, the said merchants and chapmen have withdrawn themselves and their merchandise from the said faires, and that thereby the said faires are greatly decreased, to the great hurt of all the King's tenants and fermers and freeholders of the said lordship; and also that the said Raynbron Bolling, by reason of levying excessive mulcture [fines] at the King's mylnes to the great hurt of your orators and taking the cattel of your orators and keeping them in secret places, so that your said orators cannot gain knowledge of them, and after keeping them a certain time claiming the said cattel as waifs and strays to his own uses; that in the 16th year of Henry VII [1501]. he caused certain women to shear twenty sheep of the King's tenants so that they were not known again by their owners; that he will not suffer any sheep of your orators to be unclipped after Whit-Sunday, but if there are the said bailiff will take them and cause them to be clipped, claiming and taking the wool to his own uses and to the great hurt of the King's tenants; that on the 5th of June, in the 17 of Hen. VII, he took from Ellen, late wife of Tristram Bolling, five ewes; from Elizabeth Bristowe, two key; and from Wiliam Wright one cow; that one William Gordon, a Scotch chapman,who was coming from Halifax with three packs of wool, wasy waylaid by the said bailiffs upon Manningham Moor, because the said chapman ought to have come through Bradford and paid toll, and cast him down and beat him, and caused him to pay 6s. 8d. and above in money.'

Raynbron's answer, which is filed in the Duchy records, states:--'That there were two very great fairs every year at Bradford, on the day of the Feast of St. Andrew, and the day of St. Peter in Cathedra, three days every fair--that he had to attend upon the King's daughter, the Queen of Scots, into Scotland, and in his absence Sir Richard Tempest went into the Tolbooth of Bradford and threatened his servants (the servants of the King's bailiff) if they took toll. That the inhabitants of Clayton, at the instigation of Sir Richard Tempest, waylaid John Aldworth, whom the said bailiff had sent to gather toll, and beat him unmercifully. So that he had been littleable to do any work since; that the said Tempest had ordered all his servants and retainers, and had encouraged all others, to beat down the bailiffs servants when they gathered toll, and declared that no man should bear rule in Bradford but himself.')

About this same date, Rainbrow Bolling also tried to prove that Richard Tempest had wrongfully entered into 1½ acres of the kings waste in Bradford, but Richard defended, and showed that the land had been Tristram Bolling's in fee by copy of Court and it had descended to him as husband of Tristram's heir in 1503. ^[2]

Richard and Rosamund Bolling petitioned the Chancellor of England Archbishop of Canterbury to order one Thomas Bollyng to restore to them divers charters relating to the manor of Woodlands, county York to which Rosamund as heir of Tristram son and heir of Robert and Margaret Bolling had succeeded in 1503. ^[2]

The king, "contemplating the good and gratuitous service which our beloved servant Richard Tempest squire for our body hath done about our person" etc: granted to him the office of Stewardship of the lordship of Bradford and to receive 26s. 8d. for the same. Richard Tempest, as "Squire of the Body" to king Henry VII had an annuity of £33. 6. 8 granted him for life on 6 Apr 1505. ^[2]

Sir Richard Tempest of Bracewell and Bowling, knight was named executor and was an heir in the will of Sir Thomas Tempest, knight of Eshe dated 4 Oct 1506 at England. ^[2]

Richard brought 142 men from Halifax, and 60 from Wakefield to join the retinue of Sir Thomas Lovell knight, for service in the king's wars either 1508 or 1509 at England.^[2] +

The king, Henry VII gave a fresh lease to Richard Tempest, "squire of our body" of the Stewardship of Bradford and steward of all the Courts and fairs there in 1509.^[2]

The king [Henry VIII], demised to Richard Tempest the Liberty of Stayncliffe [wapentake of Yorkshire] within the Lordship of Knaresboro, parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster to be Bailiff from Michaelmas following for 7 years at a rent of £13.7.8 on 5 Nov 1509 at Knaresborough, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.^[2]

Richard had a demise [grant] of five years (the remainder of a term of 20 years granted 12 November 1494 (10 Henry VII) to William Bolling, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, and which the said Bolling had surrendered, of the corn and fulling mills [water mill] of Bradford at £9. 6. 8 a year on 30 Nov 1509 at England.^[2]

Richard Tempest knight, having surrendered his lease of 30 November 1509, is granted a 40-year term of the corn and fulling mills [water mills] of Bradford at a rent of £9. 6. 8 yearly, Sir Richard to do all repairs &c on 30 Nov 1509 at Bradford, Yorkshire, England.^[2]

Richard with Sir John Townley, knight was given the custody of the lands of Thurstan Holland, during the non-age of Robert Holland the son and heir on 10 Feb 1510 at England ^[2]

Richard was one of the 13 gentlemen, amongst whom were Thomas Howard, Thomas Boleyn, Charles Brandon, etc. signed the reply challenge, at Westminster, for the tourney in honor of the birth of the new prince, Henry, Duke of Cornwall on 12 Feb 1511 at England. See photo of the rules of the tourney which is known as “The Great Tournament Roll of Westminster". ^[2]

Richard was appointed steward of Blackburnshire, and occupied that post till his death. [district of the Duchy of Lancaster, which in Lancashire included the Ribble valley, Great Harwood, Whalley Parish with its abbey and convent, Burnley, the wapentake ["wapentake" was the rough equivalent in the Danelaw of the Anglo-Saxon hundred] and honour of Clitheroe with its castle, the Hundred of Blackburn, the Baliwick of Blackburnshire and the manor of Rochdale.] on 11 Dec 1511 at Lancashire, England.^[2]

Richard placed a window in the east end of the new built chancel of Waddington church containing effigies of himself and his wife, bearing on his breast the Tempest Arms, argent, a bend between 6 martlets sable and hers, the Bolling Arms, sable, an escutcheon ermine between an orle of martlets argent, paled with Tempest, and underneath the figures "Orate pro anima Ricardi Tempest armigeri et Rosimde uxoris suae necnon omnium aliorum filiorum et filiarum predicti Ricardi et Rosmde' qui istam fenestram fecerunt Anno Dni' 1512" in 1512 at St Helen's Church, Waddington, Clitheroe ^[2] (See Image Attached)

Richard Esq., a tenant at will of the king, was amerced at the manorial Court [manorial courts were the lowest courts of law in England] at Barnoldswick and acted as arbitrator between Richard Botheman and John Studest ^[2]

Henry Pudsey of Bolton, the elder, accused one of Richard Tempest's servants, of having on Ash Wednesday, Last Past [11 Apr 1512], slain Robert Sothron, under keeper of the king's woods at Barnoldswick, Tempest denied the charge and states he farms the Wapentake of Staincliffe and pays for it 20 marks yearly.

Henry Pudsey also challenged Richard Tempest's right to a farmhold in Barnoldswick; in his defence Richard states he is "present daily in Westminster Hall", and that he inherited the farm from his uncle Sir Thomas Tempest which his "Auncesters occupied before him" on 22 Apr 1512 at Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England. ^[2]

Richard purchased the wardship of his cousin, Margaret Tempest, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas and than later married her to his eldest son, Thomas, before September 1514 in Nov 1512.^[2]

Richard Robert Knollys, a dyer of Wakefield had protection for a year in the retinue of Richard Tempest, squire of the Body. ^[2]

Richard Tempest and his retinue of (?#) men were with the king in the Myddlewarde (middle section) Army ready to go to France the end of June 1513 and fought at the battle "of the Spurs" 16 August 1513. ^[2]

But he was back in England by 9 Sept 1513, where he fought in the Rereward Army at Flodden Field under Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. (The Battle of Flodden, during the War of the League of Cambrai between England and Scotland. As a reward for his victory, Thomas Howard was subsequently restored to the title of 3rd Duke of Norfolk)^[2]

He returned to the king in France, as his name is given as one of those who were knighted by Henry VIII after he had attended mass at Tournai Cathedral, Belgium on 2 October 1513 and henceforth his name is Sir Richard of Bracewell & Bolling. ^{[2] [3] [8]}

The king demised [granted] to Sir Richard Tempest, knight the farm of the town of Wakefield and the office of the bailiwick of the town and fee of the same, also the bakehouse, and fishery, and all profits, certain meadows and the mills of Wakefield and Horbury "le new milne super le dam" etc on 12 May 1514 at Wakefield, Lancashire, England.^[2]

He was a Commission of Peace for West Riding Yorkshire 16 June 1514 and was appointed feodary [feudal tenant, vassal] of the king's castles and receiver of the Crown lands in the county of York.^[2]

In the Revel Accounts under a warrant for the dresses supplied for a pageant called "The Pallys Marchallyn", Sir Richard Tempest with five others (Sir Christ. Garnish, Sir Rauf Egerton, Sir Wm. Hewse, Mr. Palmer and Ric. Gibson) was given "6 frocks of "greey" (mistake for "greeyn") satin gored with yellow. "

And at the jousts of honour for Margaret, queen of Scots, held at Greenwich 19 & 20 May, 1516, he was given, as one of the king's "aids," a "coat of yellow satin on white satin". It was possibly at these "jousts" he used the standard "red, the devise a Griffin's head erased" with motto or war cry of "A foye". ^{[2] [9] [10]}

Richard was sheriff of Yorkshire from 1516 to 1517.^[2]

Richard Tempest and Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy bought of William Copley the wardship and marriage of Elizabeth Copley, William's daughter and heir on 20 Mar 1516.^[2]

Richard Tempest, knight bought from Alexander Methley of Newstede Esq: the wardship and marriage of Alice, daughter and heir of the said Alexander, with the custody of her lands and manors; an estate of v marks yearly was to be settled on her and she was to be married to one of Sir Richard's sons at the pleasure of said Alexander and Elizabeth his now wife. Sir Richard sealed with a storm-finch on 24 Apr 1517. ^[2] Alice ended up marring Richard's son Tristram.

Richard assisted in the welcome offered to Margaret, Queen of Scotland on entering Yorkshire, and Magnus writes that "Sir Richard Tempest the Sheriff, and Sir William Bulmer do their duty nobly" in May 1517. ^[2]

Sir Richard, with Anthony Eltofte, Thomas Knollys, sub-dean of York, and vicar of Wakefield, was a plaintiff in a fine of land in Thrybergh, Thomas Bretton alias Glentham de Thrybergh, gent., and Margaret his wife, being deforciants in 1518. ^[2]

Richard and his brother Thomas granted the marriage and wardship of Richard's daughter Elizabeth to Peter Frechville on 10 Jan 1518. ^[2]

Richard was Steward of the king's manor of Accrington between 1519 and 1521 at Accrington, Hyndburn, Lancashire, England. ^[2]

The king [Henry VIII] appointed "Ricus' Tempest miles p' corpore nostro", Master Forester of Bowland forest and keeper of Quernmore Park, to take affect on the death of Sir Edward Stanley (who died 6 April 1523) on 7 Jun 1519.^[2]

Richard was in London early in 1520, when his servant, Perceval Webster, a clerk, being assaulted and robbed of the money he was journeying to London to take to Sir Richard Tempest, ^[2]

12 Henry VIII (28 April 1520), at Leicester. At this date also Sir Richard Tempest is named as one of the "4 Esquyers for the bodye that lyeth upon the king's palet (one of the 4 squires for the body that lay next door to the royal bedchamber of the King)", and he was allotted 6 servants and 2 horses. ^{[2] [11]}

He sailed with king Henry VIII for Calais, 31 May 1520 and was, with Sir Griffith Rice, and Sir William Bulmer, ordered, on reaching the French shores, to take 100 light horse and make "good geite espie, and watch in all suspect places where ambushes might be, on the Flanders, France, Picardy and Artois borders" and report each morning to the king. ^[2]

As a "Squire of the Body," he was in attendance on the king on Thursday June 7 1520, at the meeting with Francis, king of France, in the "Val Dore" near Guisne, called the "field of the cloth of gold". ^[2] For more of the Field of Gold [[1]]

The 9 June, he and Sir Griffith Rice and Sir William Bulmerwere directed to "make scurrage that day for discovering the country for the king's suretie" preparatory to the king's visit to Ardes to dine with the queen of France. ^[2]

He was probably one of those who tilted at the jousts held the 14, 17, 18, and 19 of June and used his standard bearing the Griffin's head erased &c. ^[2]

He was one of the 100 knights selected to form the king's Body Guard, and to have two attendants on foot and one on horseback, to attend the king at the meeting with Charles v at Gravesend July 10 and received pay for himself and 20 men at the rate of 2s a day for himself, and 6 pence to 9 pence a day for his men in 1520. ^[2]

Richard and the Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby were at variance and false jury panels were arranged by the Stanley's of Preston, so that none of Tempest's friends should try his case, and the justices had all Sir Richard's partezans [supporters] driven out of Preston. The difficulties arose out of the earl's riotus conduct in Blackburnshire in 1521. ^[2]

Richard was given, as a knight of the Body, the reversion of the offices of Steward of the town and Lordship of Wakefield Constable of Sandal Castle, Master of the Hunt of Sandal Park and the parks and woods of Sandal and Wakefield, the grant to take effect on the vacation by Sir Thomas Lovell on 20 Jul 1521. ^[2]

He was with the Army on the Scotch Borders, the Bishop of Carlisle writing to Cardinal Wolsey from Newcastle, June 17, Saying Lord Roos (Ros of Ingmanthorpe), Sir Richard Tempest etc: having left that town for Alnwick would meet Lord Thomas Dacre. ^[2]

In October 1522, he was at Berwick with Lord Roos, the warden of the East and Middle Marches. ^[2]

In November 1522, Lord Monteagle, the uncle and guardian of the new earl of Derby, consented to abide arbitration in the matters of variance between himself and Sir Richard Tempest as the king's feodary and paid to him the moneys due to the king in 1522. ^[2]

Richard as Receiver for the Court [of Chancery] of the County Palatine of Lancaster, was commissioned to pay to the Dowager Countess of Derby, certain sums on behalf of the king, in lieu of dower in Feb 1522.^[2]

Richard Tempest, late sheriff of Yorkshire, was pardoned all trespass and all dues and arrears of accounts &c on 5 Feb 1522. ^[2]

Richard received pay for himself and 98 men for service at Berwick from 16 June to 6 October 1522 on 6 Mar 1522. ^[2]

Where the feud begins with Sir Henry Savile

Was Henry jealous of Richard's rise to fame and wealth for being only a tenant farmer? For some act of bravery? Or was he recognized in battle and Henry wasn't? Was a it a personal reason between them. Either way this is where their aversion of each other is revealed to the dismay of others.

In the spring of 1523, Sir Richard was again under arms on the Scotch Borders, Lord Thomas Darce directs him to meet him at "Howtell Sweyre" on Wednesday, June 10, at 4 p.m. with 200 men "to join the vanguard and ride into Scotland to cast down the great steeple of Edam, the Castle of Stitchell and burn both these towns" &c. he and his men were to carry one days victuals with them. ^[2]

He was back in Yorkshire by August, the Earl of Surrey writing on the 16th says, he had been at York and found the gentlemen full of dissentions, amongst them being Sir Richard Tempest and Cardinal Wolsey's servant Henry Savile.^{[12] [2]}

In October, Surrey commanded Sir Richard Tempest and Sir William Bulmer to see that the fords of the Tyll were "cast" so as to delay the crossing of Albany by that road and to try and frighten him into a truce. ^[2]

On the 6 October 1523 he mustered a retinue of 227 captains and pety captains, Thomas Waterton and Nicholas Tempest [son] being captains, John Townley and John Pecke, pety captains and Percival Webster, chaplain. The list contains nine Parkers, two Banasters and many other local names these formed part of the wark garrison, 7 October 1523. ^[2]

When this garrison was paid off in December 1523, Dacre states that Sir Richard Tempest had his full number, but two, while many of the captains, as Sir William Bulmer, Sir Marmaduke Constable &c, were nearly half short, though they had wages for their full number. ^[2]

Also in 1523, when he was serving against the Scots, the Earl of Surrey tried to reconcile him with Sir Henry Savile, and in November 1530 at Cawood the fallen Wolsey made a similar attempt to make peace between Tempest and Brian Hastings, ‘between whom was like to ensue great murder’ in 1523. ^[2]

Richard as steward of Blackburnshire, he prosecuted Henry Baxter and others as to suit of Court due from them in 1523. ^[2]

Richard Tempest received his release as late sheriff of Yorkshire as did Thomas Tempest of Bradford and James Stansfeld of their bail for him in Feb 1523. ^[2]

Richard was appointed one of the collectors of the Subsidy [a collector of taxes for the crown] in West Riding Yorkshire on 30 Aug 1523. ^[2]

Richard was king's steward of Blackburnshire and had a lease of the pannage and herbage in Quernmore forest in 1524. ^[2]

Richard Tempest of Bolling Hall, with his son and heir Thomas Tempest of Bracewell esq. and Thomas Waterton of Walton, are bound in a recognizance for £2000 to John Melton Esq: to perform covernants on 1 Jul 1524. ^[2]

Richard was one of the Commissioners of Subsidy for West Riding Yorkshire, and in the returns, Sir Richard Tempest is stated to have owned a tenement in Skipton, to be steward to Lord Roos of the town of Thornton and to be chief lord of Bracewell, Hebden, Horton and Pathorn and to own 6 messuages in Burnsall and Thorpeand by the Returns for Agbrigg and Morley 2 January, 15 Henry VIII Sir Richard paid 100s for £100 worth of land in Bowling in Aug 1524. ^[2]

Richard is mentioned in a letter by Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk that he had consulted with Sir Richard Tempest, Lord Dacre and others over the difficulties with queen Margaret of Scotland on 7 Nov 1524. ^[2]

Richard was mentioned in a letter written by Thomas Gryce to Lord Thomas Darcy that Sir Richard Tempest was to meet Master Chaloner &c. as to disputes at Rothwell, county York.

John, Abbot of Byland demissed 24 October 1525 to Sir Richard Tempest, knt all the convents lands in Wilsden, Whitacre, Crashawe and Halows, county York, for 50 years from 3 May proceeding at £7. 17. 8 a year. ^[2]

He had a lease to himself and Nicholas Tempest (his brother) 8 February 17 Henry VIII (1525-6) of the corn and fulling mills of Slaidburn and the corn mill of Bradford in Bolland for 20 years in Apr 1525. ^[2]

Richard prosecuted Constantine Bolling of Wadlands for damaging 100 acres of his grass and land at Wadlands in Oct 1525. ^[2]

Richard entered into a contract with Peter and Christopher Mirfield for the marriage of his eighth son Henry Tempest, with Ellen, daughter and heir of Christopher Mirfield on 20 Mar 1526. ^[2] She married his son Henry.

Richard was with Henry, Duke of Richmond, the chief of the Council of the North and November 3, The duke sent him to the king with a letter of recommendation, saying Tempest as ‘at all times ... ready to do unto me all the pleasure he can’. Less satisfactory were his constant feuds and quarrels with his neighbors: in the North and that he had been with him the feast of All Saints in 1527. ^[2]

Richard was sued in court by the executors of Sir Thomas Lovell knight for £2000, but the suit failed in 1527 at England. ^[2]

Richard at Easter, he was with Thomas Lord Darcy, Sir Richard Lister the king's Attorney and others, plaintiff in a fine of land in Collom, Fridkley etc. Sir Walter Calverley and Isabel his wife being deforciants on 27 Mar 1527. ^[2]

Richard as a trustee of Thomas Scaresbrek of Scaresbreck Esq., joined in reconvening the family estates and he sealed with the Tempest Arms on 25 Jun 1528. ^[2]

Richard levied a fine of Recovery of the manor of Ulley, with appurtenances, 6 messuages, 600 acres of land 100a of meadow, 20a of wood, 600a of moor, and 10 shillings rent in Ulley, Nicholas Lokkey, John Sheffield, Thomas Lacy of Methley, Roger Banaster and William Rawson being demandants and in the same year as king's forester, he summoned John Talbot and others for illegal dear hunting in Leagram Park. He also had a suit against Giles White and others as to lands and Vaccaries in Quernmore forest on 27 Mar 1529. ^[2]

Richard pedigree was entered at Tong's Visitation of the Northern counties 1530, and gives his mother as "the daughter of John Pilkington", but wrongly describes his great grandfather "Sir Piers Tempest" as "a younger son" of Sir Richard, and gives this last Sir Richard as father to Sir William Tempest of Studley. Sir Richard Tempest's arms are entered as quarterly 1 and iv Argent, a bend between six martlets sable II and III Ermine, five fusils in fess gules, impaled, with sable, an inescutcheon ermine among seven martlets argent, one and two in chief and two and two in base in 1530. ^[2]

Richard Tempest with Sir Thomas Clifford and three others the king's Commissioners, treat with James V of Scotland for redress of outrages on the West Marches, and the same five Commissioners sat at Carlisle 7 September 1531, for consultation. ^[13] He was also on the Commission of Sewers for Yorkshire, for the re-formation of wears, "fish garths and other nusances" in the great rivers on 20 Jun 1531. ^[2]

Richard Tempest evidently owed his return to the Parliament of 1529 to Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland. Nothing is known of his role in the Commons but he may have taken advantage of his presence there to commend himself to Cromwell: in June he thanked the minister for being good to his son-in-law Thomas Waterton and among the matters on which they corresponded was Tempest’s continuing feud with Sir Henry Savile, which in 1534 reached such a pitch that both men risked removal from the Yorkshire bench.

Richard wrote to Thomas Cromwell from "Bollynge" about a horse he had for him, saying "if there be war" he trusts Cromwell will have him "in remembrance to the king" so that he may be appointed where he may "do best service" on 16 Jun 1532. ^[2]

Richard received £10 from the Privy Purse [an allowance from the public revenue for the monarch's private expenses] on 25 Aug 1532 ^[2]

Richard and Rosamund his wife were rightful owners in a fine of the manor of Eccleshill, 9 messuages and land there, Sir Henry Wyatt knt and Sir Geoffrey Foljambe etc. being plaintiff and Sir Henry Wyatt paid 20s for license to concord in Oct 1532 at Eccleshill, Bradford, Lancashire, England. ^[2]

Richard was on the borders with Thomas Percy of Northumberland, who writes that he, with Sir Richard Tempest, Henry Clifford and Lord Thomas Darcy have consulted with Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus, who they find is true to the king and James v of Scotland writes to Henry VIII on November 20 calling Sir Richard Tempest, Darcy and Evers to testify to his good intentions. on 7 Oct 1532.^[2]

Richard is mentioned by Henry Percy, 6th earl of Northumberland, who wrote to the English king announcing a most successful raid into Scotland, having sent two "forays" on December 12, who destroyed the towns of Aldhamstokes, Cobbirsbeth etc:, and that he had sent Sir Richard Tempest with his retinue of 500 "being so near unto my battle that his strength did lie unto the said fleying stale and me", for the relief of Sir Arthur Darcy's "fleying stale" or Column, and the Earl desires Sir Richard may have the king's thanks. ^[2]

On Monday December 23, he accompanied Northumberland and laid siege to a "pele called Cawe Mylls" within the Scotch borders outside Berwickshire, which after long defence, was taken and early in January 1532-3 he was ordered to make further raid on the borders. ^[2]

In February 1533 he was still in the North, having charge of a "noted rebel named" Dande Carr of Gradon, at Norham and on Sunday February 14 he was at Etall expecting an attack from the Scots, while Sir George Lawson urges Cromwell that Sir Richard Tempest should be sent for by the king "as he can explain everything" relating to the difficulties on the borders in Dec 1532. ^[2]

joined his son-in-law,Thomas Waterton of Walton Sandal, in obtaining the wardship and marriage of Edward Percy of Beverley (1524–1595), son and heir of Jocelyn Percy, and married him to Waterton's daughter Elizabeth. (Richard's granddaughter by Jane/Joan) in 1533. ^{[2] [14]}

Richard was at York in April, when he along with Sir William Gascoigne, Sir Robert Nevile &c. examined various Rothwell inhabitants who, in spite of a decree made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, threatened to pull down the gates and fences of Rothwell park set up by Lord Thomas Darcy in Apr 1533. ^[2]

Richard was plaintiff in a fine of land in Wakefield against Robert Priestley in Oct 1533. ^[2]

Richard was in London early this year, as in June 1534 he wrote from Bolling Hall to Cromwell, saying that "whilst he had been with him, Sir Henry Savile with 60 followers drove off cattle at Holmfirth belonging to the king's tenants and threatened them".

Sir Richard states he has arrested two of Savile's servants who had fought the king's tenants, and confined them in Sandal Castle, as they refused to find bail, and one had died there. ^[2]

Richard as farmer of the mill at Loyns, he brought an action as to his fishing rights there and as keeper of Quernmore forest and he prosecuted John Blackburn for killing deer in 1534.^[2]

Sir Richard and wife, Rosamund were mentioned in the court records in 1534 at Hilary, England. Tempest and Rosamund his wife were plaintiffs in a fine of an annual rent of 12s. 8d. and 1 lb. of Cumin due out of a messuage and land in Newhall in the parish of Bolling, with 3 days boon rents due to Kirkstall Abbey, the abbot &c of Kirkstall being deforciants.^[2]

Richard Tempest and Rosamund his wife were plaintiffs in a fine of an annual rent of 12s. 8d. and 1 lb. of Cumin due out of a messuage and land in Newhall in the parish of Bolling, with 3 days boon rents due to Kirkstall Abbey, the abbot &c of Kirkstall being deforciants in 1534 at Hilary, England. ^[2]

Richard begged Cromwell's leniency for some "poor men" who had "pulled down" a dyke. In 3 November 1534, he sent "a fee" to Cromwell and regretted it was "so poor", but hopes to give more hereafter, he also thanks the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his "comfortable suit to the king" and complains of the trouble Sir Henry Savile gives to the king's tenants at Wakefield. ^[2]

In a "remembrance" of this date, it is stated that if the following persons were discharged from the Commission of Peace, it would much quiet the shire (of York) and further justice viz Sir Richard Tempest, Sir Henry Savile, Sir William Gascoigne, Sir Robert Constable, Sir William Percy, Sir Ralph Eure etc in Oct 1534. ^[2]

Richard wrote from Bolling to Cromwell to remind him that his suit on the discharge of the Yorkshire Abbeys from certain charges may be remembered in Council, and he reports riots at Giggleswick. ^[2]

On 29 June he begs Cromwell to remember the parks (leases of) for which the Chancellor has his bills, and states that the reason the king gave him those parks was in recompense of an annuity of 50 marks granted him by the king soon after he came from France, and for a Patent for the surveying of the earl of Derby's lands, both of these Patents Wolsey had taken from him, so that Sir Richard complains he is above £400 out of pocket, and secondly that "by the king's comfort", he was induced to purchase the new park of Wakefield of the chief Baron. ^[2]

On 4 July (1535) Lord Monteagle writes that Sir Richard Tempest has been "beforehand" in investigating as to the riots in Craven and the earl of Northumberland also commended his alertness. ^[2]

Tempest himself writes from Bracewell on 5 July 1535 to Cromwell, that he has been in Craven for five days apprehending the rioters, and that 83 were indicted, but believes many more took part in the disturbances, though mostly women and children, their object being to pull down recent enclosures of moor and waste ["waste" was not officially used by anyone, was the worst of the land and so was often farmed by landless peasants], and he sends a letter for the king from Gisburn to Cromwell the same day explaining that the rioters words were so "regulus", that though he had only Robert Chaloner with him of the king's Commissioners, he collected a company to suppress the unruly peasants. ^[2]

In August he wrote from Bolling begging for the release of the rebels from prison on bail "for assuredly they have had straight punishment and are pore men, so that if they remain in prison their harvest is ungotten, and they will be unable to pay their farms." on 13 Jun 1535. ^[2]

Richard had a dispute with the vicar of Halifax, Dr Robert Holdsworth (Holdesworth), (A man who owed his position to Lewes Abbey which owned the Manor of Halifax and the incumbency and an ally of Henry Savile, his old foe) who neglected to deliver a treasure trove of £300 [he had falsified his tax returns], and the vicar was striving to get Sir Richard discharged from the office of Steward of Wakefield, as was Sir Henry Savile.

Tempest also suggested that Holdesworth was about to sell his lands and scarper. A petition was drawn up. One hundred or so signature were added and off it was sent to Cromwell.

Tempest also accused Holdesworth of saying that if Henry reigned much longer then he would take everything that the Church owned…which smacked somewhat of treason. Holdsworth was a man who owed his position to Lewes Abbey which owned the Manor of Halifax and the incumbency. Holdesworth had to go to York to answer the charges that had been levelled against him. During that time Tempest’s son-in-law John Lacy stole all the poor man’s cattle and anything else he could carry off. ^{[2] [15]}

Richard served on the jury which tried and condemned Sir Henry Norris and Mark Smeaton, queen Anne Boleyn's accomplices. [they were executed for alleged treason and adultery with Queen Anne] ^[2]

At Easter 1536, he sued Nicholas Kyrke of Leeds, cloth worker, on a bond of £100 entered into by him and others 25 November 1534 relative to Sir Richard's demands for toll on the Leeds men at Bradford Market. ^[2]

This same year Sir Richard's enemies attacked him and accused him of having the leading and setting forth of many of the king's subjects in the time of the war against Scotland, whereby, he being allowed conduct money and "jacketts of livery", took for many more soldiers than he really had, and to hide the fraud caused divers persons who resorted to the Borders to visit their friends, and not being soldiers, to show themselves for small rewards at the musters, as of his retinue, and by that subtle means hath been reputed to have many more persons to serve the king in his retinue than of truth he had. ^[2]

In May 1536, John Bentley a priest aged 27, declared that he "did appere in the name of oon (one?) John Vernon at the muster upon the March toward nere Berwyk about iiij yeres past at the desyre of James Stanfeld, Pettye Capatayn to Sir Richard Tempest". ^[2]

And the same date depositions were laid against him by Sir Henry Savile with his tenants and servants, declaring that during Sir Richard's stewardship of Wakefield he had permitted his servants to kill Thomas Longley in April 1518 at Brighouse, also Christofer Lewis at Wakefield 20 March 1521-2, John Jepson 4 March 1535-6, Nicholas Wyndebank and William Riddey 24 June 1532, with three others, and that Tempest had taken bribes to permit the king's tenants to inclose more land than they paid the Crown for and also that he received "rewards taken to respyte men from jornes into Scotland". ^[2]

Sir Richard met the accusations with denials and made counter charges against Sir Henry Savile declaring Savile's servants had committed murder and Sir Henry had shielded them from justice, also that Savile had unjustly seised parcels of the king's waste and that he had hunted and slain stags in the king's forests and further, that he had broken into a chest belonging to Sir Thomas Tempest (Sir Richard's son) and stolen money and valuables there from. ^[2]

In one of the depositions, 19 August 1536, it was said "no man dar say the trueth for dyspleysur of mayster Tempest and mayster Savelle" in May 1536. ^[2]

Pilgrim of Grace

^{[2] [3] [16]}

Richard is named as one of the gentlemen of Holderness to whom the king sent orders desiring them to assist lord Darcy in repressing "certain traitors lately assembled", i.e. the "Pilgrims of Grace" [The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular uprising that began in Yorkshire in October 1536, before spreading to other parts of Northern England including Cumberland, Northumberland, and north Lancashire, under the leadership of lawyer Robert Aske. The "most serious of all Tudor rebellions", it was a protest against Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church, the dissolution of the lesser monasteries, and the policies of the King's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, as well as other specific political, social, and economic grievances.]

October 13 he wrote from Bolling to Lord Darcy (who was to be executed for his behaviour in the crisis) asking for orders, saying he is ready to join him, and the earl of Cumberland in the west parts, but Darcy desired him to remain at Wakefield and Sir Thomas Tempest, Sir Richard's son, the Deputy Steward of Wakefield writes from there October 14 bidding him haste to that town "as the men there say they will follow you in the king's behalf", but if the Commons come first, they may be led away .

On Sunday, October 15, Sir Richard wrote to the earl of Cumberland that he was starting for Wakefield "with a number of men well horsed".

October 23, the Duke of Norfolk reported to the king that Sir Richard had taken prisoner one of the Captains of the Commons, "a tall man, late Lord Darcy's servant".

He was at the Conference at York November 24, to arrange the meeting between the king's Commissioners and the Commons (Pilgrams) at Pontefract, being on the king's side and he was present at Bradford, Thursday December 14 1536, when the king's pardon granted to the "Northern rebels", or Pilgrims of Grace was proclaimed.

The Pilgrims hoped to have gained him [Richard] for their side, Stapleton stating it was proposed to offer him the Command of the Middle ward.

In January 1636-7, Lord Darcy wrote praising Sir Richard Tempest's work in "staying the Commons from fresh commotions" in the West Riding Yorkshire.

In February 1536-7, Sir Richard delivered Cromwells letter to the abbot of Salley and compelled him to surrender the Abbey for Sir Arthur Darcy.

In March, Robert Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex and and Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby wrote to the Duke of Norfolk that Sir Richard is suspected of siding with the Commons, but as far as they could gather, "he was neither good first, nor last, & might, if he would, have stayed his brother Nicholas from" going into Lancashire. He certainly less committed than his younger brother Nicholas

But his failure to rally to the crown contrasted ill with the vigour he had shown in the previous year when faced with a smaller insurrection in Craven. Nicholas Tempest was executed on 25 May 1537.

His emenies are on his tail...

The riots of 1537 are all the fodder needed for his emenies.

His enemies Sir Henry Savile and Robert Holdsworth the vicar of Halifax, however, procured a Halifax man to swear that Sir Richard's son-in-law, John Lacy ordered Sir Richard's men and some of the townsmen to arm and carry the cross to raise the Commons in Lancashire. Which later that Halifax man recanted. ^{[2] [3]}

His enemies were doing all they could to prove him untrue to the king so that Sir Richard Houghton was directed to make enquiries into Tempest's Loyalty in Oct 1536. ^[3]

The End Nears, He writes a will

Sir Richard Tempest of Bracewell and Bowling, knight left a will on 6 Jan 1537 at Bracewell, Lancashire, England (he directed his body to be buried in the choir of Our Lady in Bradford church. ^{[2] [3]}

He names His wife and sons Sir Thomas John, Nicholas, Tristram and Henry, but no daughters. ^[3]

He left his wife "all such lands as she of right ought to have of myne inheritance over and besides her owne inheritance" also the household stuff goods and cattle at Bolling Hall; she was named one of the executors.

To sone Thomas Tempest knt was left "all such landes as were lefte and did come unto me by discente of inheritance and all such householde stuffe as remaneth at Bracewell," also "my tacke, graunte or leace wch I have of the parsonage of Kyrkbye in Mallomedale, belonging to the house of West Derham in the countie of Northfolk", also Newclose and Cowpasture, withe medowes there unto belonging "in Barnolleswike".

Richard is mentioned by letter that Dr Robert Holdsworth wrote to Sir Henry Savile that "your servant Robert Fournes" had an order to arrest Sir Richard Tempest to appear at Trinity term, but feared he had friends to warn him of the fact. ^[2]

On 2 June 1537, the Duke of Norfolk writes to Cromwell that he is glad to hear the king does not much favour Lord Latimer, or Sir Richard Tempest, the latter "is now ridden to London agter being summoned to court to answer the charges brought against him". ^[3]

His enemies now had their wish and Tempest was made a prisoner on his arrival in London. He writes to Cromwell on Sunday (June or July) that "by order of your lordship and others of the Council, I remain in the Flete where I am in jeopardy of life, the weather is so hot and contagious, and the plague so sore in the city", he begs that under sufficient sureties, he may resort to his house in Lincolnshire (Bealraper) until after the Assizes in Yorkshire "when Sir Henry Savile and all others can enquire into the charges against me and that I may appear at Michs: term next to answer them". ^[3]

On 25 July, Sir Henry Savile wrote to Cromwell displaying his bitter hate for Sir Richard, and naively explains he had put Sir Robert Nevell "who was my friend before this business in the Commissioner against Tempest" and is now annoyed because he sides with Sir Richard. In spite of his petition to his old friend Cromwell, Sir Richard was kept in prison. ^[3]

Death

John Gostwyke wrote to Cromwell "this present Saturday at 5 p.m. Sir Richard Tempest died, leaving his wife and son Sir Thomas executors. He wished his heart to be carried to his own country to be buried in the place he had prepared for his own and his wife's corpses. This letter is endorsed "penultimo Julii", but the calendar dates it in August in May 1537. ^[2]

Sir Richard Tempest of Bracewell and Bowling, knight died in Aug 1537 at the age of 57^[2] in Fleet Prison, London, England, imprisoned for joining the Pilgrimage of Grace and died before he could defend himself.

His will was proved 7 June 1538. The writ for the Inq. p.m. is dated at Westminster 20 September 1537, and the Inquest held at Pontefract, 6 October 1537 (29 Henry VIII) when he was declared to have died, seized of the manors of Bracewell, Pathorn, Hebden, Scalehouse (Rylston) and Waddington, and land there and in Stock, Morton, Conystone, Essyngton Pathnall, Burnsall, Malham, Broughton-in-Craven, Cold Conystone and Skipton-in-Craven. He is stated to have died 20 (vicesimo) August 1537 (though by Gostwyke's letter Sir Richard died a Saturday, probably the 18th and was buried the 20th) his heir was found to be his son, Sir Thomas Tempest knt aged 40 years and more. No inquest for his Lincolnshire estates has yet, 1911, been found).^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Robert Glover, The visitation of Yorkshire, made in the years 1584 and 1585 (London: Privately printed for the editor, Joseph Foster, 1875); digital image. (https://archive.org/details/McGillLibrary-hssl_visitation-yorkshire_CS437Y4A2-19990/page/n129/mode/2up).
2. ↑ ^{2.000 2.001 2.002 2.003 2.004 2.005 2.006 2.007 2.008 2.009 2.010 2.011 2.012 2.013 2.014 2.015 2.016 2.017 2.018 2.019 2.020 2.021 2.022 2.023 2.024 2.025 2.026 2.027 2.028 2.029 2.030 2.031 2.032 2.033 2.034 2.035 2.036 2.037 2.038 2.039 2.040 2.041 2.042 2.043 2.044 2.045 2.046 2.047 2.048 2.049 2.050 2.051 2.052 2.053 2.054 2.055 2.056 2.057 2.058 2.059 2.060 2.061 2.062 2.063 2.064 2.065 2.066 2.067 2.068 2.069 2.070 2.071 2.072 2.073 2.074 2.075 2.076 2.077 2.078 2.079 2.080 2.081 2.082 2.083 2.084 2.085 2.086 2.087 2.088 2.089 2.090 2.091 2.092 2.093 2.094 2.095 2.096 2.097 2.098 2.099 2.100 2.101 2.102 2.103 2.104 2.105 2.106 2.107 2.108 2.109} Tempest, Eleanor Blanche (1928). Tempest Pedigrees. Tempest families of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and other counties. Unpublished manuscript, Tempest Family Estate at Broughton Hall, near Skipton, North Yorkshire., also at British Library (Add. Ms. 40670), Skipton. Retrieved December 23, 2020, from http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/families/ebt/index.shtml Manuscript transcribed by John R. Schuerman. Volume 1.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11} Website The History of Parliament (http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/) "http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/tempest-sir-richard-1480-1537. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11} Joseph Foster, Pedigrees of the county families of Yorkshire, Vol II West Riding (London: The compiler, 1874); digital image. (https://archive.org/details/pedigreesofcount02fost).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Patrick Hamilton Baskerville, Genealogy of the Baskerville family and some allied families including the English descent from 1266 A.D. (Richmond, Virginia: W. E. Jones' Sons, 1912); digital image. (https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbaske00inbask)
6. ↑ Website Towton Battlefield Society (https://www.towton.org.uk/research/) https://towton.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/will_of_tristram_bolling.pdf
7. ↑ Website Towton Battlefield Society (https://www.towton.org.uk/research/) https://towton.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/raynbrow_bolling_duchy_of_lancaster_pleadings.pdf
8. ↑ Wikipedia: "Battle of the Spurs" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Spurs
9. ↑ Website JSTOR (https://www.jstor.org/) "Streitberger, W. R. "Henry VIII's Entertainment for the Queen of Scots, 1516: A New Revels Account and Cornish's Play." Medieval & Renaissance Drama in England 1 (1984): 29-35. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24321850."
10. ↑ 'Revels', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 2, 1515-1518, ed. J S Brewer (London, 1864), pp. 1490-1518. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol2/pp1490-1518
11. ↑ about Esquires of the Body: The National Archives Kew, Richmond website https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/henry-viii/source-1a/
12. ↑ History of Parliament Online: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/savile-sir-henry-149899-1558
13. ↑ British History onLine website "Henry VIII: September 1531, 1-30" https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol5/pp199-217
14. ↑ The The History of Parliament website: "Sir Thomas Waterton I" https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/waterton-thomas-i-1501-58
15. ↑ Julia H. “Sir Henry Savile V Sir Richard Tempest.” The History Jar, May 22, 2016. https://thehistoryjar.com/2016/05/22/sir-henry-savile-v-sir-richard-tempest/.
16. ↑ “Pilgrimage of Grace.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., June 20, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/event/Pilgrimage-of-Grace.

Acknowledgements

Contributors

• Rose Edwards