page_title: Nicholas Carew (courtier)
section_title: Downfall
hierarchical_section_title: Nicholas Carew (courtier) / Downfall
caption_attribution_description: English: Monument circa 1560 to Thomas Lord Darcy (d.1537) and Sir Nicholas Carew (d.1539), St Botolph without Aldgate, London EC3. Inscription: "Here Lieth Thomas Lorde Darcy of the Northe and sumtyme of the Order of the Garter, Sir Nicholas Carrew Knight sumtyme of the Garder, and Lady Elizabeth Carrew, daughter to Sir Thomas Brian Knight, and Sir Arthur Darcy Knight Yonger sone to the above named Lorde Darcy, and Lady Mary Darcy his dere wif, daughter to Sir Nicholas Carrew, who had tenne sonnes and five daughters. Here lieth Charles Will[ia]m and Phillip, Mary and Ursully, Sonnes and daughters to the saide Sir Arthur and Mary his wif whose sowlls God take to his infinit mercy, Amen"[1]
context_page_description: Sir Nicholas Carew KG, of Beddington in Surrey, was an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was executed for his alleged part in the Exeter Conspiracy.
context_section_description: In late 1538, Cromwell moved against his former allies. Carew was already out of favour at court, having responded angrily to an insult made by King Henry VIII. Ambassador Chapuys perceived that the real cause of his downfall was likely the championing of the Princess Mary. When Cromwell presented apparently-treasonous letters written by Carew, King Henry VIII was persuaded that Carew had been involved in the Exeter Conspiracy, a plot to depose him and place Cardinal Reginald Pole on the throne in his stead. Carew was thus arrested and stood trial on 14 February 1539, and he was found guilty of high treason. 
   "... charges that Sir Nic. Carewe of Bedyngton alias of Westminster, knowing the said Marquis to be a traitor, did, 20 Aug, 1537, at Westhorseley, Surr., and at other times, falsely abet the said Marquis, and, 24 Aug 1537, and at other times, had conversations with him about the change of the world, and also with his own hand wrote him divers letters, at Bedyngton, 4 Sept 1537 and at other times, and the said Marquis at that or other times sent divers traitorous letters to the said Carewe from Westhorseley which the said Carewe traitorously received, which letters they afterwards, to conceal their treason, traitorously burnt at Westhorseley and Bedyngton, 1 Sept, 1539 and at other times; and afterwards, knowing that the said Marquis was indicted as aforesaid, 29 Nov, 1539 the said Carewe at Bedyngton traitorously said these words in English, "I marvel greatly that the indictment against the lord Marquis was so secretly handled and for what purpose, for the like was never seen".
  Sir Nicholas Carew was beheaded on 3 March 1539 at Tower Hill. According to a letter by John Butler, the last words of Carew as he was led to execution, amounted to exhorting all to study the evangelical books, as he had fallen by hatred to the Gospel.
  His estate at Beddington, including Carew Manor, was granted after his execution to Walter Gorges, and then later after his death to Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche. Carew's only son, Sir Francis Carew, later managed to attain a reversal of his father's attainder, but did not receive his estates, and purchased the Beddington estate from Lord Darcy.  Beddington Park, reduced in area, continued to be owned by the Carew family, into the 20th century; two female heirs in the lineage chose to adopt for their sons the name and arms of Carew.
  Carew's estate at Coulsdon was joined to the honour (set of manors) of Hampton Court. In her first year of reign, Queen Mary I granted the estate to Carew's son, to be held in chief by the service of one-fortieth part of a knight's fee.  In 1589, owing to the imminent default of male heirs, Queen Elizabeth I of England granted the Coulsdon estate to Carew's grandson, Edward Darcy (the son of his daughter, Mary Carew), who was knighted in 1603.
caption: Monument to Sir Nicholas Carew in St Botolph-without-Aldgate, London
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