Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Neville, Edmund (1560?-1630?)

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886700Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 40 — Neville, Edmund (1560?-1630?)1894William Arthur Jobson Archbold

NEVILLE, EDMUND (1560?–1618?), conspirator, was son of Richard Neville of Pedwyn and of Wyke, Warwickshire, by Barbara, daughter of William Arden of Parkhall, in the same county. Richard Neville, the father, was grandson of John Neville, third baron Latimer [q. v.] Edmund lived for some time abroad, it was said in the Spanish service. About the beginning of 1584 he returned to England, claiming to be the heir to his grand-uncle, the fourth and last Lord Latimer, who had died in 1577 [see under Neville, John, third baron]. Cecil's son Thomas, afterwards first earl of Exeter [q. v.], had married Dorothy, daughter and co-heiress of the last Lord Latimer, and hence was glad to take any opportunity of injuring Edmund. He was suspected from the moment of his return. A merchant named Wright said that he had seen him at Rouen, and that while there he had lodged with the Nortons [see Norton, Richard]. In 1584 he was concerned in what is termed Parry's plot to kill the queen [see under Parry, William, d. 1585]. Parry seems to have been in communication with him, and speaks of him as an honourable gentleman of great descent; he also claims him as a relation, though the connection was slight (cf. Foulis, Hist. of Romish Treasons, p. 342). Neville was at once sent to the Tower, and in 1585 revealed the whole affair. He remained long in the Tower, though he made constant efforts to get out. In 1595 he brought a desperate charge of treason against the lieutenant of the Tower (cf. Hist. MSS. Comm. 7th Rep. App. p. 541). He was soon afterwards liberated, and probably went abroad. He claimed the earldom of Westmorland after the death of Charles, sixth earl [q. v.], in 1601; but his petition was not heard, though he may have been the next heir. He died about 1618 at Dunkirk, probably in poverty. A monument to his memory was placed in the chancel of Eastham Church, Essex. He married, first, Jane Martignis, dame de Colombe, a lady of Hainault, by whom he left no issue; secondly, Jane, daughter of Richard Smythe, member of a Warwickshire family, by whom he left a son, Ralph, and several daughters. His widow had, probably as a compensation for her husband's claims, a pension of 100l. a year from James I.

[Rowland's Account of the Family of Nevill; Cal. State Papers, Dom. Eliz. 1581–90, p. 226 &c.; D'Ewes's Journals, p. 356; Surtees's Durham, iv. 162, 164; Strype's Annals, III. i. 272, &c. ii. 337, iv. 332, &c.]

W. A. J. A.