I98222: Elizabeth CORBIN (AFT 1791

Notes

"Henry 3rd Lord Scrope of Masham was the third member of the family to be executed and probably the most famous of the Scropes today, thanks to William Shakespeare's play, King Henry V.

Henry le Scrope was born about 1386, the eldest son of Stephen, 2nd Lord Scrope of Masham. He fought at the Battle of Shrewsbury with Henry IV and Prince Harry in 1403. He and his father carefully disassociated themselves from Archbishop Scrope of York who was Stephen's brother and Henry's uncle and, after the suppression of Thomas Mowbray's rebellion in 1405, Scrope received his manors of Thirsk and Hovingham. In May 1409 he executed an important mission in France with Henry Beaufort and also had a very close relationship with Prince Henry of Monmouth, later to become King Henry V.

He was created Treasurer in 1410 and in the same year was awarded the Order of the Garter. He married Joan, widow of the Duke of York in 1411 and it was this act that some have said is when he changed his allegiance but there is no evidence to support this claim. In 1413 he accompanied Bishop Henry Chichele on a mission to form a league with John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and headed another in 1414 to the embassy of the French King Charles IV. At the end of April 1415 he was contracted to serve King Henry V in France with 30 men-at-arms and ninety archers under his banner.

Henry le Scrope always seemed a very loyal subject and Shakespeare even describes him as being a 'Bedfellow' of King Henry V, which in all probability was quite true. He was a very close advisor to Henry V and was frequently found in the company of the King as one of his inner circle. As late as July 22nd 1415, Henry V had added his name to the list of trustees who would administer his private estate if he himself never returned from France. His complicity, therefore, in the plot by the earl of Cambridge and Sir Thomas Grey, discovered at Southampton on 31st of July in 1415, caused general surprise everywhere.

Scrope pleaded that he had become an accessory in order to betray the conspiracy to the crown. There were many rumours as to why he became involved but the real reason will probably never be known. The three men were moved to a prison in Southampton and the trial was held on August 2nd. By this time the King had obtained written confessions from Cambridge and Grey but Scrope still pleaded his innocence.

Cambridge and Scrope, as barons of the realm, demanded a trial by their peers and, with all the King's army gathered at Southampton for the expedition to Harfleur, it wasn't too difficult to get twenty peers for a trial. On the 5th of August the duke of Clarence pronounced sentence, the three conspirators were to be drawn, hung and beheaded but, by the King's mercy, the hanging was remitted and Cambridge and Grey were also excused the drawing. Sir Henry le Scrope alone suffered the infamy of the traitors' hurdle and was drawn through the streets of Southampton to the north gate. Scrope's head was later spiked on Micklegate in York and Grey's on the Tower at Newcastle as a grim warning to their Northern friends. King Henry V was said to have later wept at the betrayal of his most trusted and closest friend."

^[S2193]

My Southern Family

Elizabeth CORBIN

AFT 1791 - ____

ID Number: I98222

Notes

Sources

Mike JOHNSON

HENRY le SCROPE 3rd Lord of Masham

1386 - 1415

ID Number: I59526

Notes

Sources

LUCY SOMERSET

ABT 1523 - 22 Feb 1582

ID Number: I94901

Notes

Sources

Gaines THOMPSON

ABT 1800 - ____

ID Number: I31384

Sources