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The condensed historical bio on Colonel Sir Edmund Carey |
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CHARACTERIZATION |
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Born : 1558 Berwick Died : 1637 London
Father : Sir Henry Carey (1st Baron Hunsdon)
Wives : Mary Crocker
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Judith Humfrey
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Elizabeth Neville Siblings : Catherine, George, Robert, Thomas, Thomas, William, Philadelphia, Margaret, Robert, Edward |
Photo courtesy of Gar Travis |
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Born in 1558 Berwick England and into wealth, Edmund Carey grew up living amongst a border people with strong loyalties and violent bloody feuds. This may well have found sympathy within the young Carey, who developed the characteristics of the Borderer. His father, Sir Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon was ennobled by Queen Elizabeth I when she ascended to the throne. The young Carey lived "ïn a ruffling time, so he loved sword and buckler men' but would fight for 'his prince and country". It seems that his father's character and temperament may well have influenced him. Like many young gentries of the time, he was tutored at home and spent much of his time out in the country in the border regions as his father Lord Hunsdon Sir Henry Carey was the Lord Warden of East March.
Being the sixth child in a family of ten, there was little chance he would ever gain his father's title, land or wealth since the English Law of primogeniture would have the eldest son inherit the parent's title and wealth. However a yearly stipend of £105 made living much easier. Unfortunately, Edmund was somewhat of a spindrift and often found himself living well beyond his means which his mother and elder brother George had to come to his aid on numerous occasions.
In 1570 at the tender age of twelve he served as his brother's squire and accompanied Sir George Carey who was appointed Lieutenant General to crush the Revolt of the Northern Earls. It would be one of the many hardships he would learn to endure and later thrive upon. Undoubtedly Edmund was quite a gambler especially in military endeavors. He was ruthless and often took risks no sane man would consider., which more often then not, paid off handsomely for the young Carey. It is said he had a knack for military science and could exploit his enemies on the field of battle but often risking his own life and the lives of his entire company.
Edmund's true military career began in 1585 after the Treaty of Nonesuch. He volunteered and was appointed as one of Sir John Norreys' Captains. He was one of the avant-garde armies meant for garrison duty in Zeeland in the Dutch lowlands. Instead Norreys directed an attack on a Spanish fort and captured it. His ruthlessness in Zeeland and later in Ghent would earn him the nickname of "Reckless Carey". Rich from plunder, Edmund returns home to England and marries his second wife Elizabeth Neville the widow of Sir John Danvers, his first wife Mary Crocker having died two years earlier had no children. |
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In the Summer of 1586 Edmund accompanies the Earl of Leicester who was appointed Lord-Regent to The Netherlands by Elizabeth with an expeditionary force of 1000 cavalry and 6,000 troops to the Netherlands. Leicester took along a large number of young and valiant gentlemen-at-arms to accompany him. The Earl was determined to show Elizabeth he was exceptional military commander aiding the Dutch protestants against Spain. Leicester proved to be a poor commander, and also did not understand the sensitive trade arrangements between the Dutch regents and the Spanish. Within a year of his arrival, he had lost his public support. The corruption and over extravagance of Leicester lead to extreme pitiful conditions for the Captains and troops. Dysentery, disease, lack of victuals, clothing and money to pay the soldiers led to rampant desertions. The English force along with their Dutch allies were barely able to repel Parma's attack on Grave, a fortress on the River Maas.
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late Spring of 1587 Edmund was garrisoned at Sluys. The few gentlemen-at
arms including Edmund held out against Parma's relentless assault. The city
finally fell in July and Edmund was able to negotiate terms of
surrender then made his way to Ghent then onto Flushing. Upon Leicester's
return to the Netherlands he was knighted and commission
The height of his military career came in 1588 against the Spanish Armada. Stationed onboard the Hope(?). When talking of the Spanish Armada, Carey's enjoyment and lust for adventure can be clearly shown, "…we made ready to follow them (the Spanish ships), where began a cruel fight, and we had such advantage, both of wind and tide, as we had a glorious day of them."
Sir Edmund Carey had 5 brothers and three sisters (in order) Catherine (Lady Nottingham) George (2nd Baron Hunsdon), John, the two Thomases, William and Robert who was created Earl of Monmouth by James I. Philadelphia (married Lord Scrope) and Margaret who married Sir Francis Hoby. |
Heraldic Device : Coat of Arms of Sir Edmund Carey
The devices on the Coat of Arms derive from a division between his father Sir Henry Carey's family arms and his mother Lady Anne Morgan's. Under normal circumstances the two different arms would be done Per Pale, however Edmund being the sixth son, was granted arms that was quartered in the manner you see on the top right.
A Martlet (bird) in rouge would be added to the shield center towards the later part of his life.
Elements and Divisions of the shield:
Field quarterly Argent and Or bend sable with three roses argent and griffin sergeant sable.
N.B. Legend has it that a Martlet was a bird without legs. Hence it flies around its entire life. (those of 2nd, 3rd and younger sons). The only time a Martlet stops flying is when it dies. |
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Personal Notes and Observations: There were speculations as to why Edmund was never at Court and how his popularity was not the same as his brothers George and Robert's. The most obvious reason to me it seems that he was not a pretty boy like his younger brother Robert who became one of Elizabeth's favorite and he didn't inherit land and title like George. His brash temper and distain for the idleness of Courtiers did not exactly warm himself to his Peers. Edmund Carey was a man of action with an unshakeable belief in Protestantism, hence the reason why he was so eager to go to the Netherlands to fight Catholic Spain and Papists. While I am uncertain of his personal feelings and no one will ever know for sure, It seemed to me he was not out to prove he could ever really change the world but wanted to take part in something he was very passionate about which was to keep the Dutch Netherlands out of Spain's hands. Details of Edmund's life is extremely scant after 1601, I have only found short passages and odd sentences from books mentioning him. I was able to ascertain he stayed in the Netherlands for at least 10 years after the death of Elizabeth, but his exploits, adventures or misadventures have pretty much been lost to the history of time. If anyone finds anything else or knows any more information, I would be delighted if you could forward them to me. |
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References and research
(1) Elizabeth - The Shrewdness of Virtue, Jasper Ridley. Fromm International Publ.
- Arthur F. Kinney. Shoe String Press Inc. 1973 |
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This page was originally created using Frontpage. Updated May 23, 2007. Copyright © Ray Lau 2001-2007 All rights reserved.
Photos herein courtesy of Richard Lowe Jr. and Gar Travis
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