Sir Ralph de Neville ¹

  General Notes:

In 1380 he took part in the Earl of Buckingham's expedition to Brittany. He was invested as a Knight in July 1380. He held the office of Joint Keeper of the castle and city of Carlisle on 26 October 1385. He held the office of Joint Warden of the West Marches towards Scotland on 27 March 1386. He succeeded to the title of 4th Lord Neville, of Raby on 17 October 1388. He held the office of Joint Surveyor of the Fortifications in the Marches on 25 October 1388. He held the office of Joint Warden of the West Marches towards Scotland in 1389. He held the office of Keeper of the Forests beyond the Trent between 1389 and 1425. He was Chief Commissioner to perform the duties of the Constable of England in 1391. He held the office of Keeper of Wark Castle between February 1396/97 and September 1398. He held the office of Constable of the Tower of London between 21 September 1397 and 30 October 1397. He gained the title of 1st Earl of Westmorland on 29 September 1397, for loyalty to King Richard II when the latter struck back at the Lords Appellant who in 1387 had engineered convictions for treason against King Richard's friends. He held the office of Guardian of the truce in the East March on 28 November 1398. He held the office of Marshal of England between 1399 and 1413. In July 1399 when he sided with his brother-in-law, the banished Duke of Hereford, against King Richard II, after the Duke (later King Henry IV) returned to England. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor before 4 December 1399. He was Commissioner to treat with the Romans for the marriage of Princess Blanche on 13 February 1400/1. He held the office of Keeper of Roxburghe Castle between March 1401/2 and 1408. He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) circa 1403. He held the office of Warden of Berwick and the Eastern March in 1403. He held the office of Warden of Carlisle and the Western March between 1403 and 1414. On 29 May 1405 at Shipton Moor, Yorkshire, England, he intercepted the rebellious Archbishop Scrope and the young Lord Mowbray, where, after a friendly conference, he arrested them in an unscrupulous manner. He was a member of the Council of Regency in 1415, during King Henry V's absence abroad. He was a member of the Council of Regency in 1422, during the minority of King Henry VI.

He was survived by most of his 23 children! He was a great church builder, 'curious flat headed windows being peculiar to the churches on the Nevill manors'. Died, leaving money to complete the College of Staindrop which he founded near Raby, and was buried at Staindrop, where his alabaster effigy in armour between his two wives 'remains the finest sepulchral monument in the north of England.

He married, firstly, Lady Margaret de Stafford, daughter of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford and Philippe de Beauchamp, before 1370.

His will (dated 18 October 1424) was probated.

Ralph married Lady Joan de Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt Plantagenet and Katherine Roët, on 3 Feb 1397. (Lady Joan de Beaufort was born circa 1379, died on 13 Nov 1440 in Howden, Yorkshire, England and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.)