Sir Ralph Sadler (Sadlier)

Name and Title: Sir Ralph Sadler.

Born: 1507 in Hackney, London.

Died: 30 March 1587 at Standon, Hertfordshire.

Buried: St Mary’s Church, Standon, Hertfordshire.

NOTE: In modern documents, Ralph’s surname is usually written as ‘Sadler’. However, Ralph himself usually spelt his name ‘Sadleyr’ with ‘y’ replacing ‘i’, as was common in Tudor spelling.

Sir Ralph Sadler: The Boy From Hackney

Ralph Sadler came from a humble background. Sometime before his birth, the family had relocated from the Midlands to Hackney, north of London, where his father earned a living as a minor official working for the Marquess of Dorset. The making of the lad, however, came when he was placed in Thomas Cromwell’s household at the tender age of seven.

In the Austin Friars schoolroom, Ralph received a first-class Renaissance education under the guardianship of one of the most talented courtiers of his age. He matured into a capable young man proficient in four languages (Ralph could speak Latin, French, and Greek alongside his native English), and, unsurprisingly, given his master’s profession, he also acquired a working knowledge of the law.

But do we know what Ralph looked like or anything about his character? Thankfully, we have first-hand accounts of his physical characteristics, character, accomplishments, and a possible portrait and tomb effigy to look to for help…

The image below is Holbein’s portrait of a 28-year-old man, which is thought to depict Sir Ralph. Boldly, he stares out at us, yet his eyes are not unkind. A cocked cap reveals his close-cropped reddish-brown hair, and a handsome, well-proportioned face sports a fashionable beard and moustache. One contemporary account states that Sir Ralph was ‘…of middling or rather a low stature (his tomb effigy measures 5ft 8 inches BTW), he was skilled in all exercises and remarkable for both strength and activity nor was his address of the business in public inferior to his horsemanship, hunting and chivalry’.

Meanwhile, a seventeenth-century account (reproduced here) has left a fulsome description of Sir Ralph:

‘King Henry (VIII) understood two things— ( 1 ) a man, ( 2 ) a dish of meat; and was seldom deceived in either. For a man, none was more complete than Sir Ralph Sadleir, who was at once a most exquisite writer and a most valiant and experienced soldier – qualifications that seldom meet (so great is the distance between the sword and the pen, the coat of mail and the gown), yet divided this man and his time; his nights being devoted to contemplation, and his days to action. Little was his body, but great his soul. Quick and clear were his thoughts, speedy and resolute his performances.’

These qualities certainly made him stand out from the crowd and well-suited to shine at the court, as we shall see shortly.

Thomas Cromwell would soon come to rely on his protege, whose first appointment was as his personal secretary. Ralph gained a hands-on education in administration, politics, and accountancy before eventually coming to Henry VIII’s attention sometime around the mid-1520s. It was the beginning of a distinguished career at court. He would go on to serve four Tudor monarchs spanning 60 years, slipping into the background only during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I (he was an ardent Protestant) and as he approached death towards the end of the 1580s.

From Courtier to Diplomat…

His first court appointment was as ‘Clerk of the Hanaper’ (Def: The clerk, also known as the ‘warden of the hanaper’, was paid fees and other monies for the sealing of charters, patents, writs, etc., and from which issued certain writs under the great seal. Source: Wikipedia). By 1536, and probably due to vacancies appearing following the cull of the Boleyn faction and Cromwell’s promotion to Lord Privy Seal, Ralph was appointed to be one of the Gentlemen of the King’s Privy Chamber. Around this time, he took up residence in his swanky new place in Hackney, Bryk Place (now known as ‘Sutton house’), which still survives today (albeit in an altered form). Being a rare survivor of an early Tudor courtier’s house, it makes an utterly fascinating place to visit.

However, of all his appointments, Ralph’s service in Scotland on behalf of the English Crown would distinguish his eminent career. He was first sent there by Henry VIII in January 1537. His mission was to investigate complaints made by Margaret Tudor, the King’s sister, against her third husband, Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven, and to improve Anglo-Scottish relations. His success was Sadler’s first experience with international diplomacy, a skill he would have much opportunity to hone over the years.

In 1540, the same year his long-time friend and mentor, Thomas Cromwell, went to the block, Ralph was appointed to the King’s Privy Council and took up the role of the King’s Private Secretary, a position he shared with Thomas Wriostheley. Shockingly, Sadler was swept up in his master’s downfall. Ralph was one of three men led from Hampton Court with his hands bound. He was briefly imprisoned in the Tower in January 1541 but must have been in good standing with the King – for his name was cleared within days, and he was back serving on the Privy Council six days later.

However, unlike many who turned against Cromwell at his fall, Sadler remained loyal to his erstwhile master, which says something about his character. According to Foxe, Sadler alone carried a letter from Cromwell to the King, in which his master begged for mercy. The following year, he was at the centre of a plot to implicate Stephen Gardiner and the Duke of Norfolk with accusations of treason; both had been instrumental in Cromwell’s downfall and no doubt he had his eye on avenging Cromwell’s fall and execution.

Sir Ralph Sadler in Scotland: ‘A right fair and goodly child…’

Following the birth of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1543, Sadler was sent to Scotland to arrange the marriage of the new Scots Queen to the King’s son, Edward. He was instrumental on the English side in concluding this arrangement via the Treaty of Greenwich, although ultimately, the marriage never took place. He shared conversations with Mary Of Guise, Mary’s mother, in her residences at Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle and was shown the infant queen out of her swaddling clothes, reporting to Henry ‘assuring your majesty, that she is a right fair and goodly child, as any that I have seen for her age’.

However, this would not end Sadler’s involvement with the Scots or Mary. While he lost most of his offices and largely retreated from court during Mary I’s reign, when Elizabeth I ascended to the throne in 1558, he regained his standing, being present at her first Council meeting in November of that year. Sadler was involved in Scottish affairs again from 1559, culminating in his role as gaoler to Mary, Queen of Scots, from the summer of 1584 to the spring of 1585, when she was housed at Wingfield Manor and Tutbury Castle under Sadler’s charge. However, he was a reluctant goaler and seemingly kind to Mary, receiving a reprimand from Sir Francis Walsingham for allowing her too much liberty.

One of his final duties was to serve on the jury that condemned Mary to death in 1586, a sentence that would be carried out the following year. By now, Sadler was around 80 years of age and likely weary of court life and its fickle nature. He soon retired to his grand country mansion of Standon Lordship, where he died just two months after Mary was executed, on 30 March 1587.

A Scandalous Marriage…

Before we look at Sir Ralph’s tomb and memorial, we should mention the scandal surrounding his marriage. In 1534, when he was rising at court and his new house in Hackney was being built, Ralph wed a widow named Ellen. Their marriage was a long and happy one. Together, they had seven children: three sons and four daughters. The eldest was named ‘Thomas’ in memory of his early mentor and master, Thomas Cromwell, who had been instrumental in setting a young lad from an unremarkable family on the path to becoming the ‘richest commoner in England’.

However, a scandal would threaten everything ten years into the marriage when Ellen’s husband, Matthew Barre, returned from the dead. Although Ellen had searched high and low for her missing husband after unexpectedly disappearing in 1526, she could not locate his whereabouts. Eventually, she was told that Matthew was, in fact, dead.

Eight years after her husband mysteriously vanished, Ellen met Ralph while in service to Thomas Cromwell’s mother-in-law. The couple fell in love and married in good faith, thinking Ellen was a widow. By all accounts, Ralph was devoted to his wife and children. According to Lord Chancellor Thomas Wriothesley, Sadler ‘took his matter very heavily’ when informed of Matthew’s reappearance. The whole time he had been living in Ireland.

By this time, Ralph was a well-known and wealthy man with seven children. There was much to lose. A commission found Matthew and Ellen’s marriage valid, making her children with Ralph illegitimate. Sadler was forced to have his children legitimised through an act of Parliament. This situation was so delicate, and Sir Ralph was of such influence that he managed to resolve the issue behind closed doors. The statute legitimising his children was never made public.

The Tomb of Sir Ralph Sadler

Sir Ralph Sadler died at his country seat, Standon Lordship, on 30 March 1587. His body was subsequently buried to the right of the high altar of St Mary’s Parish Church in the nearby village of Standon, Hertfordshire, where his fabulous funerary monument can still be seen today.

The tomb is typical of the later Elizabethan period, carved from marble and alabaster, with rounded pillars supporting a canopy upon which rests two decorated obliques and Sir Ralph’s coat of arms. The underside of the canopy above the carved, full-length effigy is adorned with Tudor roses. At the same time, a central plaque details a mini-biography of Ralph’s life, from his placement with Thomas Cromwell to his service under Elizabeth I. The plaque is shown in the image below, and it is still possible to make out the complete dedication. However, for ease, I have included it here, in full.

” This worthie knighte in his youth was brought up with Thomas Cromwell , afterwards Lord Cromwell ; and when he came to man’s estate he became his Secretarie , by meanes whereof he did writ manie thinges touchinge matters of State , and by that meanes he in continuance of time was knowen to King Henrye the VIII . , who , conceaving a good opinion of him as a man meete to serve him , tooke him from the Lord Cromwell , above the 26th yeare of his raigne , into his service , and above the 30 yeare of his raigne made him one of his Principal Secretaries . ” The Kinge did most employe him in service towarde Scotland , whither he sente him in diverse and sondrie jorneys , bothe in warre and peace ; in which service he behaved himself with such diligence and fidelite , and he ever came home in the Kinge’s favour , and not unrewarded . He was of the Privie Counsell with King Henry the VIII .; with King Edward the VI . he was made Knight Banneret at Muskelborowe fielde ; and in the 10th yeare of Quene Elizabeth he was made Chancellor of the Duchie of Lancaster , in whiche office he continued until his deathe . He was a diligente and trustye servante to his prince , and faythful to the State , and beloved in his countrie . He died in the 80th yeere of his age , A.D. 1587 , and in the 29th yeare of Quene Elizabeth , and is here buried . “

Thanks to the recent restoration of the monument (2021), the tomb can be appreciated in all its glory. As ever, Sir Ralph’s recumbent effigy, dressed in full armour and with his head resting upon a pillow, is the centre-piece of the tomb. His hands are placed in prayer. Even in old age, he is bearded; his face has the well-proportioned features of a once handsome young man.

Around the sides of the tomb chest are his three sons and four daughters, Thomas, Edward, and Henry, facing their sisters, Anne, Mary, Jane, and Dorothy. All are kneeling in prayer. Interestingly, there is no mention of his wife, Ellen. Her last appearance in the records is dated to 1569, but there is no record of her death or her tomb.

While visiting St Mary’s, you will see an equally fine tomb opposite Sir Ralph’s. This belongs to his son, Thomas (d. 1607), whose effigy lies buried beside that of his second wife, Gertrude.

Visitor Information

Parking is on the roadside near the church. St Mary’s is accessible at any reasonable hour and outside regular church services. For further information, check out the parish website here.

If you need refreshment, there is a family-run, sixteenth-century pub called The Star in this charming little village.

Other Locations Nearby

Hatfield House
Hertford Castle
Audley End House

Sources of Interest:

Join me in this podcast episode on-location at Sutton House in Hackney, the house once owned by aspiring Tudor courtier, Sir Ralph Sadler.

A Memoir of the Life and Times of the Right Honorable Sir Ralph Sadleir by Major F. Sadleir Stoney

The Sadleir Tombs Refurbishment Project

Sadler, Ralph (1809). Clifford, Arthur (ed.). The State Papers and Letters of Sir Ralph Sadler, Knight Banneret … To which is added a memoir of the life of Sir Ralph Sadler, with historical notes, by Walter Scott … Vol. I. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co.

Sadler, Ralph (1809). Clifford, Arthur (ed.). The State Papers and Letters of Sir Ralph Sadler, Knight Banneret … To which is added a memoir of the life of Sir Ralph Sadler, with historical notes, by Walter Scott … Vol. II. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co.

Sadlier of Sutton House and Standon Lordship: An Iconography by Mike Gray, printed in Hackney History Volume 6, p. 3-9.