Geoffrey POLE (Sir Knight)

Little is known of his early life. In 1529, he was knighted by Henry VIII at York Place. A devout Roman Catholic, he greatly disapproved of Henry VIII’s divorce proceedings from Catalina of Aragon. Although he was appointeed one of the servitors at Anne Boleyn’s coronation, his loyalties were with Princess Mary and the former Queen Catalina. He then visited the Imperial Ambassador Chapuys and assured him that if the Holy Roman Emperor were to invade England to redress the wrong that had been done to Queen Catalina, that the English people would favor him.

Unfortunately, his words reached the ears of the King and he was arrested and sent to the Tower on Aug 1538. He lay for two months in prison and, in late Oct, began his interrogation. He was questioned about private conversations and letters sent to and received from Cardinal Pole by himself and other members of the family. Geoffrey was faced with the rack and, knowing that he would inevitably implicate his mother and elder brother, Henry, Lord Montagu, he attempted suicide and seriously injured himself. After long periods of interrogation he broke and supplied the “evidence” the King required not only against Margaret and Henry but also against Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, Sir Edward Neville and others. Henry had Montague and Exeter arrested and committed to the Tower on 4 Nov. Geoffrey, tried with his brother and Exeter, entered a plea of guilty and was condemned to death but was pardoned as a result of his betrayal. Cromwell informed the French Ambassador that he was hopeful of learning more from him. On representation from his wife, Geoffrey received a pardon for reason that he was so ill that he was already as good as dead.

In 1540, a few weeks after his mother’s death, he left his family behind and fled to Europe, where he remained until the reign of Queen Mary. He had travelled to Rome when he left England and thrown himself at the feet of his brother, the Cardinal. He proclaimed himself unworthy to be considered his brother as he had caused another brother’s death. Reginald obtained his absolution from the Pope and sent him to the Bishop of Liege in Flanders. He returned to England and died in 1558 a few days before Reginald and was buried at Stoughton.

He had married Constance, the elder of two daughter and heirs of Sir John Pakenham. They had five sons and six daughters of whom two married and one daughter became a nun. Constance died in 1570 and was buried beside Geoffrey.

to Bios Page	to Family Page
to Peerage Page	`to Home Page`