Sir Henry Bagenal, Kt., MP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bagenal

Sir Henry Bagenal (c. 1556 – 14 August 1598) was marshal of the army in Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Life

He was the eldest son of Nicholas Bagenal and Eleanor Griffith, daughter of Sir Edward Griffith of Penrhyn. Bagenal probably matriculated from Jesus College, Oxford when he was 16 (in 1572 or 1573), but left without taking a degree in order to join his father Sir Nicholas who was then marshal of the army in Ireland. In May 1577, Sir Nicholas was appointed chief commissioner of Ulster, with Henry as his assistant. Bagenal was himself knighted in 1578. He was involved in some military disasters, such as a defeat at Glenmalure on 25 August 1580 when Lord Grey led the troops (with Bagenal one of the commanders of the rear) into battle with Fiach McHugh O'Byrne and Viscount Baltinglass in the Wicklow mountain passes. In 1584, Bagenal was colonel of the garrison at Carrickfergus when 1,300 of Sorley Boy MacDonnell's Scots landed on Rathlin Island. Bagenal attacked but was ambushed at Glenarm and had to retreat.

In May 1586, Bagenal was sent by his father to the court to report. He sought measures to weaken Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, an enhancement of the role of the marshal, and a presidency in Ulster with a shire hall and jail to dispense royal justice. Whilst on his visit, he wrote to Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland (a relative of his wife) on 16 September 1586 to ask whether he had a parliamentary borough to spare; he was elected MP for both Grantham and Anglesey and chose the latter. He returned to Ireland in September 1587 to deputize for his father. He succeeded his father as marshal of the army in Ireland and chief commissioner for Ulster in October 1590, and was sworn of the Privy Council. His proposals for action were not accepted, as a decision had been taken to adopt a conciliatory attempt to O'Neill. To Bagenal's contempt, O'Neill asked for the hand of Bagenal's sister in marriage; he refused, but they eloped anyway.

In May 1595, Bagenal led an army of 1,750 to relieve the garrison at Monaghan. His forces were attacked by O'Neill and sustained heavy losses. Bagenal was forced to withdraw to Newry and had to be resupplied by sea as O'Neill had blocked the Moyry Pass. Bagenal managed to resupply the Armagh garrison in December 1598 and June 1597, but had more difficulty in resupplying a fort on the Blackwater. In an attempt to do so, he was mortally wounded by O'Neill's forces during Battle of the Yellow Ford.

Family and Education b. 1556, 1st surv. s. of Sir Nicholas Bagnall by Eleanor, da. and coh. of Sir Edward Griffith of Penrhyn, Caern. educ. Jesus, Oxf. 1572-3. m. Eleanor, da. of Sir John Savage of Clifton and Rock Savage, Cheshire by Elizabeth, da. of Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland, 3s. 4da. Kntd. 1578; suc. fa 1590.

Offices Held

Marshal of Ireland 1590; chief commr. for Ulster 1591.1

Biography Bagnall’s career was spent in military service in Ireland, where he was knighted and, in 1583, obtained the reversion to his father’s office of marshal. His feud with the Earl of Tyrone, following the latter’s elopement with Bagnall’s sister in 1591, culminated in his death in action on the Blackwater.2

Bagnall inherited from his father property in Staffordshire, Ireland and Anglesey, where his estates included Plas Newydd, though it is not certain whether he ever lived in the house. His long absences in Ireland endangered his estates, both in Staffordshire, where he sought Privy Countil intervention to prevent encroachment, and in Anglesey, where his neighbour Owen Holland was later accused of defrauding him in a bargain over adjacent coal-bearing land.3

While on a short leave from Ireland in 1585, Bagnall conceived a desire ‘for my learning’s sake to be made a Parliament man’ He first thought of Anglesey, because of his family connexions with the Bulkeleys. However, the Privy Council was encouraging the return of as many Members as possible of the previous Parliament, so he asked his wife’s cousin, the 3rd Earl of Rutland, for a seat and was returned at Grantham. In the event he was also returned for Anglesey, which he preferred. He was appointed to a committee on the Norfolk election return (11 Nov. 1586).4

When Bagnall was killed on 14 Aug. 1598, his estate was so confused that the Privy Council looked into the matter at his widow’s request. Administration was granted her in 1604.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: H.G.O. Notes 1. DNB; Griffith, Peds. 56-7; W. R. Williams, Parl. Hist. Wales, 2. 2. Williams, 2; CSP Ire. 1586-8, p. 53. 3. Griffith, 56; APC, xxi. 234-5; xxii. 76-7; UCNW, Plas Newydd and Plas Coch mss; Cal. Wynn Pprs. p. 349; Trans. Anglesey Antiq. Soc. supp. 1915, pp. 22-6; HMC 5th Rep. 416, 419. 4. APC, xiv. 228; HMC Rutland, i. 207; Dodd, Studies in Stuart Wales, 80, 179; Griffith, 56; D’Ewes, 399. 5. APC, xxix. 144; C142/361/31

Offices Held

Marshal of Ireland 1590; chief commr. for Ulster 1591.1

Biography Bagnall’s career was spent in military service in Ireland, where he was knighted and, in 1583, obtained the reversion to his father’s office of marshal. His feud with the Earl of Tyrone, following the latter’s elopement with Bagnall’s sister in 1591, culminated in his death in action on the Blackwater.2

Bagnall inherited from his father property in Staffordshire, Ireland and Anglesey, where his estates included Plas Newydd, though it is not certain whether he ever lived in the house. His long absences in Ireland endangered his estates, both in Staffordshire, where he sought Privy Countil intervention to prevent encroachment, and in Anglesey, where his neighbour Owen Holland was later accused of defrauding him in a bargain over adjacent coal-bearing land.3

While on a short leave from Ireland in 1585, Bagnall conceived a desire ‘for my learning’s sake to be made a Parliament man’ He first thought of Anglesey, because of his family connexions with the Bulkeleys. However, the Privy Council was encouraging the return of as many Members as possible of the previous Parliament, so he asked his wife’s cousin, the 3rd Earl of Rutland, for a seat and was returned at Grantham. In the event he was also returned for Anglesey, which he preferred. He was appointed to a committee on the Norfolk election return (11 Nov. 1586).4

When Bagnall was killed on 14 Aug. 1598, his estate was so confused that the Privy Council looked into the matter at his widow’s request. Administration was granted her in 1604.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: H.G.O. Notes 1. DNB; Griffith, Peds. 56-7; W. R. Williams, Parl. Hist. Wales, 2. 2. Williams, 2; CSP Ire. 1586-8, p. 53. 3. Griffith, 56; APC, xxi. 234-5; xxii. 76-7; UCNW, Plas Newydd and Plas Coch mss; Cal. Wynn Pprs. p. 349; Trans. Anglesey Antiq. Soc. supp. 1915, pp. 22-6; HMC 5th Rep. 416, 419. 4. APC, xiv. 228; HMC Rutland, i. 207; Dodd, Studies in Stuart Wales, 80, 179; Griffith, 56; D’Ewes, 399. 5. APC, xxix. 144; C142/361/31.