1513-approx Born son of Roger Arundell of Helland Cornwall a descendant of the Lanhearne family, by his wife Joan, daughter and heir of Humphrey Calwoodley, of Calwoodleigh, Devon. His maternal grandfather had been involved in the Perkin Warbeck rising v. Henry VII in 1497.
Was to become an experienced soldier.
1536-On the death of his parents inherited large estates in both Devon and Cornwall
He married date not available Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Fulford, by whom he had two sons Humprey and Richard, and a daughter.
Was with other rebels on the grand jury after the killing of William Body, and pressed for leniency.
1549-Became leader of "The Rebels" from Cornwall involved in the Pray Book Rebellion. Partly because he was a good Catholic and a good Cornishman, and also, because as a man of influence, he felt he could control the rebels of their worse excesses.
Had been in charge of a small garrison on St Michaels Mount, which had defected to the rebels at the begging of the campaign.
At the siege of Exeter Arundell had no easy task, with his ill trained troops, to sit patiently before the walled city. They had no great artillery to open the breach, and yet without reason they gave assault, and used divers means to mount the walls. They had a few guns among them one trained on Carew at Clyst St Mary bridge, and it is said that some were taken fromPlymouth and other forts of the King, probably including those on St Michael's Mount, St Mawes, Pendennis, and Trematon Castles; but these could only be of a small calibre, as the difficulties of transport would have prevented them from bringing larger guns. But the more madness they showed in their attempts with greater loss were they driven back.
He was a good leader throughout the Campaign. At the Sampford Courtnay Battle he lead a large contingent of rebels from the rear Lord Russell was surprised by the sudden charge at their backs that the Royal troups were thrown into confusion.
Attempted to make another stand at Okehampton, but pursuit was to close and he fell back to Launceston, where he was finally overpowered and imprisoned in the castle.
19 August-Transferred to Exeter and lodged in Rougemont Castle dungeons.
8th September -he was taken with other rebels to the Tower of London.
Tuesday 26th November , Arundell together with John Wynslade, Bury and Holmes were taken by boat up the river to Westminster Hall where they were found guilty of High Treason. and condemned to be taken back to the Tower and later :-
"to be drawn on hurdles through the City of London to the gallows at Tyburn and on the gallows suspended and while yet alive to be cast down upon the ground and the entrails of each to be taken out and burnt before their eyes while yet living and their heads to be cut off and their bodies to be divided into four parts to be distributed at the King's pleasure".
1550- 27th January the sentence was carried out.
All the estates of the ringleaders were promptly distributed to those who had served the King in the rising. Sir Gawen Carew received most of Humprey Arundell's lands, subject to his widows dower rights. Soon after Arundell's execution his widow married Thomas Cary of Cary by whom she had eight children, died 24th November 1565.
A portion of these were later claimed by Arundell's children.