Sir Marmaduke CONSTABLE of Everingham, Knight

Born: ABT 1474/1478, Flamborough, Yorkshire, England

Died: 7 Sep 1545, Everingham, Yorkshire, England

Buried: 12 Sep 1545, Everingham, Yorkshire, England

Father: Marmaduke CONSTABLE (Sir Knight)

Mother: Joyce STAFFORD

Married: Barbara SOOTHILL (b. ABT 1474 - d. 4 Oct 1540) (dau. of John Soothill of Everingham and Agnes Ingleby) ABT 1501

Children:

1. Robert CONSTABLE (Sir Knight)

2. Son CONSTABLE

3. Dau. CONSTABLE

The details in this biography come from the History of Parliament, a biographical dictionary of Members of the House of Commons.

"Yorkshire Pedigrees" by J.W. Walker, p. 343. Born c. 1480, second son of Sir Marmaduke Constable, and brother of Sir John. Married Barbara, dauhter and heir of Sir John Soothill of Everingham, and had 2 sons, including Robert, and at least one daughter. By his marriage became owner of Everingham. Knighted 9 Sep 1513. Member of Parliament for Yorkshire 1529. Will d. 2 Mar 1541, pr. 9 Dec 1545. Commissioner subsidy, Yorks. 1512, tenths and spiritualities 1535, for survey of monasteries 1536; sheriff, Lincolnshire 1513-1514, Yorks. 1532-1533; member, council in the north Jun 1530-death; Justice of the Peace, Yorks. (East Riding) 1532-death, (North Riding) 1534/1535-death, (West Riding) 1536, 1538; knight of the body by 1533.

A younger son in an old Yorkshire family, Marmaduke married a local heiress and established a branch at Everingham. In 1513 he was one of the "seemly sons" who fought under his father's command at Flodden, where his valour earned him a knighthood at the hands of Thomas, Lord Howard. Some months later, when the King returned from France, he was further recognized by being pricked sheriff of Lincolnshire, where he had a territorial interest in right of his wife. His life was to be spent largely in the north, but in 1520 he went to the Field of the Cloth of Gold and then to Gravelines for he meeting with the Emperor Carlos V. In the next two years he fought again on the borders, and his courage at the capture of Jedburgh and Ferniehurst won general admiration and brought further commendation from Howard, by then 3rd Duke of Norfolk.

Constable's reputation, experience and connections made him an obvious choice for a seat in Parliament, and in 1529 he was returned with his cousin Sir John Neville as one of the knights for Yorkshire: to local support he could have added the favour of Norfolk, whose influence on this occasion was far-ranging.

Unlike his elder brother, who stood close to Thomas, Lord Darcy, Constable did not support the Pilgrimage of Grace. After the collapse of the rebellion he interceded with Norfolk on Robert Aske's behalf, but despite the King's regard for him this did not avail to save the rebel leader. Constable's own loyalty did not go unrewarded: he was allowed to buy Drax priory, which had been founded by his wife's ancestors. It was on 2 Mar 1541 that he made his will, asking to be buried beside his wife at Everingham. He divided his property between his sons, whom he appointed executors, with two of his brothers and his cousin William Babthorpe supervisors. He was to live for another four-and-a-half years, serving in the Scottish campaign of 1544 and dying on 14 Sep 1545.

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