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John Savage - High Sheriff of Clifton, Knight


Preferred Parents:
Father: John Savage VI, b. 1398 in Clifton, Cheshire, England   d. 1463
Mother: Elizabeth Eleanor Brereton, b. 1 NOV 1406 in Brereton-cum-Smethwick, Cheshire, England   d. 22 NOV 1495 in Clifton, Cheshire, England

Family 1: Catherine Stanley,    b. 1 MAY 1431 in Knowsley, Lancashire, England    d. 22 NOV 1498 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
  1. Ellen Eleanor Savage, b. 1453 in Clifton, Cheshire, England     d. 17 MAY 1512 in Bewgenet, Sussex, England
Sources:
  1. Title: Wikipedia- Sir John Savage VIII part II
    Author: Richardson, Douglas (1618). Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. Douglas Richardson. ISBN 1463561687. Rowse, A. L. (1998) [1966]. Bosworth Field and the Wars of the Roses. Hertfordshire, United Kingdom: Wordsworth Military Library. ISBN 1-85326-691-4. Seaacome, John (1821). The History of the House of Stanley. p. 55. Retrieved 4 December 2011. Seward, Terry (2017). The Last White Rose: The Secret Wars of the Tudors. ISBN 978-1605988382. Shaw, William, Arthur (1906). The Knights of England: A complete record from the earliest time to the present day of the knights of all the orders of chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of knights bachelors, incorporating a complete list of knights bachelors dubbed in Ireland. ISBN 9789354031694. Smith, Robert F.W.; Watson, Gemma L. (2015). Writing the Lives of People and Things, AD 500-1700. ISBN 9781472450678.
    Publication: Name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Savage_(soldier);
    Note: The rewards of battle Following victory on the field of battle Henry Tudor received the circlet of Richard from Savage's uncle Lord Stanley and was crowned King of England, taking the throne as Henry VII of England.[24] For his part in the victory Savage received extensive grants of land confiscated from King Richard's supporters in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Shropshire, including those of John, Lord Zouche, and Francis, Lord Lovell. The reason given for these grants was that they were made 'in consideration of his having largely exposed himself, with a crowd of his kinsmen, servants and friends, as volunteers in the king’s service in the battle against the King's great adversary Richard III the late pretended King of England, and also in consideration of other services rendered, always with anxious solicitude during prosperity as well as adversity'. Amongst the properties Sir John Savage received were; the castle, manor and lordship of Gresley (Castle Gresley), and Kymbley (Kimberley) along with the manors and lordships of Grandby (Granby) and Sutton (all in Nottinghamshire), the manor and lordships of Elmeton (Elmton), Holmesfeld (Holmesfield) and Ilkeston (as well as a coal mine in Ilkeston) in Derbyshire, the manor and lordship of Shepeshed (Shepshed) in Leicestershire and 22s rent in the then town of Leicester, as well as the manors and lordships of Sutton Hubybunderell, Watton, Corston, Eudunburnell in the county of Shropshire (then known as Salop) taken from the estates of Francis, Lord Lovell.[25] Archbishop Thomas Savage, brother of Sir John Savage Sir John's brother Dr Thomas Savage also benefited greatly from Henry's ascension to the throne. Previously only a rector and scholar, he now received appointments to several positions of power and prestige; he first received important diplomatic appointments as English ambassador to Castile and Portugal in 1488[26] and then France in 1490, where he took part in the conference at Boulogne.[27] Before beginning a career as a high ranking cleric (prelate), Thomas served as a bishop in several dioceses as well as becoming chaplain to King Henry.[28] He eventually became the second most senior cleric in England when he was made Archbishop of York and Primate of England in 1501, a position which he held until his death in 1507.[29] Both Sir John and Dr Thomas became part of the King's inner circle, and of 11 known meetings of the King's council in the months June–July 1486, one or both of the brothers was present at eight.[30] The Stafford and Lovell rebellion and the right of sanctuary Arms of the Most Noble Order of the Garter to which Savage was appointed by Henry VII in 1488 In 1486, the year following his victory at Bosworth King Henry sent Savage to arrest Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother Thomas Stafford, who were key actors in the Stafford and Lovell rebellion, the first armed uprising against Henry's young reign. Savage led a force of 60 armed men to Culham where the two were seeking sanctuary in a church belonging to Abingdon Abbey[31] (having previously claimed sanctuary in Colchester following the Battle of Bosworth, before leaving and continuing their campaigns against the king)[32] and had them forcibly removed. The men had again claimed the right of sanctuary and believed themselves safe within the Abbey's walls. Their forced removal outraged the Abbot who sent a written complaint to the authorities about what he saw as an infringement of his abbey’s ancient privileges as a place of sanctuary.[33] However when the two men were tried before the Court of King's Bench the justices ruled that sanctuary was not applicable in cases of treason[34] Henry then ordered the execution of Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton, but pardoned the younger Thomas Stafford. This event prompted a series of protests to Pope Innocent VIII over the breaking of the right of sanctuary.[35] In addition to these protests, King Henry sent a letter to the Pope detailing several instances where dissidents had claimed sanctuary before carrying out hostile actions such as pillaging properties of the King's supporters, before simply returning to sanctuary.[36] These pleas resulted in a papal bull in August of the same year which agreed to some modifications affecting the privilege.[37] Namely that individuals could not return to a place of sanctuary should they commit crimes after leaving the premises,[38] validating the actions of King Henry and Sir John Savage towards the Stafford brothers.[39] The Pope also told the English clergy that they would lose all rights to his protection should they collaborate with the King's enemies.[40] The Battle of Stoke Field and appointment to the Most Noble Order of the Garter Savage was later one of the two main cavalry commanders (the other having been Lord Scales, with Savage commanding the larger left flank of cavalry) at what is considered to have been the final battle of the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487,[41] a conflict stemming from an attempt by leading Yorkists to unseat King Henry in favour of the pretender Lambert Simnel. The battle was a decisive victory with almost all the leading Yorkists killed, and never again would a battle be fought along Yorkist and Lancastrian lines.[42] The pretender Lambert Simnel was not executed or even imprisoned, this owing to his young age and the belief that he had been led astray. He instead received employment, first in the royal kitchens and later as a falconer.[43] Savage was further rewarded for his service to the King, the following year on 16 February 1488 he received fresh grants of land,[44] and later on 16 November 1488 the King appointed Savage a knight of the Order of the Garter, (the most senior order of knighthood in England, whose membership is limited to only 24 knights and is granted by the monarch alone) having already been made a Knight of the Bath and a Knight banneret.[45] Perkin Warbeck and the expedition to France In October 1492, following the appearance of another pretender to the throne of England in the form of a young Flemish male named Perkin Warbeck, Savage raised a retinue of 366 men, made up of 36 men-at-arms and 330 archers (initially promised 60 men-at-arms and 140 archers)[46] and joined King Henry, who had called for the formation of an expeditionary force of 12,000 men. The expeditionary force was headed to France, with the intention of stopping Charles VIII of France's support for Warbeck. Charles had granted Warbeck sanctuary in France from 1491, and opponents of Henry's rule both home and abroad were attempting to legitimise their dissent through the form of a potential claimant to the throne of England.[47] The force provided by Savage was amongst the largest in the expeditionary force, and received the largest payment of wages of any retinue barring the King's own guard.[48] In 1492 Savage was one of only 11 men in England capable of assembling what have been referred to as 'greater companies',[49] or in other words those that could raise more than 20 men-at-arms. In practice however, only eight men raised such retinues in preparation for the invasion, of whom Savage was one. Savage raised more men than titled nobles such as Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, Edward Courtenay 1st Earl of Devon and George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury.[50] In mid October Henry and his men crossed the English Channel and landed in Calais.[51] Death and legacy The Siege of Bolougne The tomb of Sir John Savage in the Savage Chapel (the Savage family chapel at St Michael's Church, Macclesfield) Henry VII's expeditionary force headed to Boulogne and laid siege to the port city on 18 October 1492.[52] Sir John Savage was killed during the course of this siege. Whilst riding around the walls of the city with fellow Bosworth veteran Sir John Riseley in order to conduct a reconnaissance of the walls and fortifications in preparation for the military offensive,[53] the two knights were intercepted by the enemy. Despite being heavily outnumbered Savage refused to surrender to his foes and fought to his death.[54] His actions created enough of a diversion to allow Riseley to escape and flee[55] on 'a most speedy horse'.[56] Legacy of the siege The siege proved to be a successful show of force, and led to the Treaty of Etaples by which Perkin Warbeck was expelled from France with his support withdrawn. The terms of the treaty also included the English accepting French control of Brittany, and the French paying Henry an indemnity of 742,000 crowns, payable at 50,000 crowns per annum, equivalent to 5% of the crown's annual income.[57] Savage was one of only three named casualties of the siege, the other two being George de Vere[58] and Sir Thomas Milbone.[59] Warbeck was eventually captured following the second of his two landings in England, and the collapse of the army he had raised.[60] He was later executed following an escape attempt.[61] Savage's uncle Sir William Stanley was also later executed for allegedly supporting Warbeck, although the evidence was only circumstantial. Such was the perceived threat posed by Warbeck that no leniency could be afforded, even for those who had helped put Henry on the throne.[62] Burial of Sir John Savage Savage's body was taken back to England and buried. His body was later moved to the Savage Chapel, the new family chapel at St Michael's Church, Macclesfield (built between 1505 and 1507 by his brother Archbishop Thomas Savage), where his tomb and effigy remain.[63] Savage's death came at a time when he was at the height of his favour with King Henry and the Tudor dynasty was becoming ever more settled on the throne that Savage had helped gain.[64] Family Savage married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Ralph Vernon of Haddon. They had one legitimate son, Sir John Savage (1470–1527), ancestor of John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers, and the subsequent Earls Rivers, and four legitimate daughte
  2. Title: Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015
    Publication: Name: https://search.ancestry.com/collections/9289/records/15502636;
  3. Title: John Savage in Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors
    Author: listed below article
    Publication: Name: https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p778.htm#i23360;
    Note: Sir John Savage, Mayor of Chester, Chamberlain of Middlewich (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12) Last Edited 4 Apr 2020 M, #23360, b. circa 1423, d. 22 November 1495 Father Sir John Savage, Bailiff of the Forest of Macclesfield, Chamberlain of Middlewich (13,14,10) b. bt 1401 - 1410, d. 29 Jun 1463 Mother Eleanor Brereton (13,14,10) b. c 1388 Sir John Savage, Mayor of Chester, Chamberlain of Middlewich was born circa 1423 at of Clifton & Rocksavage, Cheshire, England; Age 40 in 1463. (2,5,10) He married Katherine Stanley, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord of Latham and Knowsley, 1st Lord Stanley, Constable & Justice of Chester and Joan Goushill, circa 1447 at of Clifton, Cheshire, England; They had 10 sons (Sir John; Thomas, Bishop of Rochester & London, Archbishop of York; Sir Humphrey; Sir Lawrence; James; Sir Edward; Sir Christopher; George; William; & Sir Richard) and 5 daughters (Ellen, wife of Sir Peter Legh; Katherine, wife of Thomas Legh; Margaret, wife of John Honford, Esq; Alice, wife of Roger Pilkington; & Elizabeth, wife of John Leeke, Esq.) (2,15,5,6,7,10,11,12) Sir John Savage, Mayor of Chester, Chamberlain of Middlewich died on 22 November 1495; Age 73. Buried at Macclesfield, Cheshire. (2,5,10) Family: Katherine Stanley b. 1430 Children: Sir John Savage+ (16,17,5,18,10) b. c 1448, d. 18 Oct 1492 Margaret Savage+ (17,19,3,4,5,20,8,9,10,21) b. c 1450 Thomas Savage, Bishop of Rochester & London, Archbishop of York (17,10) b. c 1452, d. 3 Sep 1507 Elizabeth Savage+ (22,23,5,7,10,12) b. c 1453 Helen Savage+ b. c 1454 Sir Homphrey Savage b. c 1456 Lawrence Savage b. c 1458 Ellen Savage+ (24,25,17,26,5,27,10) b. c 1460, d. 17 May 1491 Katherine Savage+ (28) b. c 1462 James Savage b. c 1464 Alice Savage (22) b. c 1464 Sir Christopher Savage, Mayor of Macclesfield+ (5,10) b. c 1468, d. 9 Sep 1513 Citations: 1. [S7337] Unknown author, The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants, by Gary Boyd Roberts, p. 238; The Ancestry of Dorothea Poyntz, by Ronny O. Bodine, p. 22; Wallop Family, p. 440, 814. 2. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 638-639. 3. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 250. 4. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 278. 5. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 491-492. 6. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 91. 7. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 296. 8. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 83. 9. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 283. 10. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 554. 11. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. V, p. 28. 12. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. V, p. 323. 13. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 638. 14. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 491. 15. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 679. 16. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 559. 17. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 639. 18. [S6] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry: 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 653. 19. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 715-716. 20. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 207. 21. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. V, p. 181. 22. [S11581] Burke's Dormant & Extinct Peerages, p. 473. 23. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 755. 24. [S11577] Unknown author, Burke's Commoners, Vol. II, p., 686. 25. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 443. 26. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 13. 27. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 555. 28. [S11583] The Wallop Family and Their Ancestry, by Vernon James Watney, p., 686.
  4. Title: John Savage in the Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015
    Publication: Name: https://search.ancestry.com/collections/9289/records/11378609;
    Note: Name: John Savage Gender: Male Birth Date: 1403 Birth Place: Clifton (Cheshire) England Death Date: 29 Jun 1463 Death Place: Clifton (Cheshire) England Death Age: 60 Spouse: Elizabeth Brereton
  5. Title: Wikitree - John Savage
    Author: Sources ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Royal Ancestry, 2013, 4:557 ↑ see also: Glover, R. (1882). "Savage of Clifton, Harl 1424 fo 125b," in Visitation of Cheshire 1580, 18, pp. 202-204. John Paul Rylands, Ed. Harleian Society. Archive.org. Harvey, W. (1885). "Savage MSS 1041, fo 117b; 1543 fo 120," in Visitations of Bedfordshire 1623, 21, pp. 145. F.A. Blaydes, Ed. Harleian Society. London. Archive.org. (reprints of pedigree from Visitations of Gloucester). Richardson, D. (2011). "Savage 12," in Plantagenet Ancestry, 2nd ed, 3, pp. 141. Google Books ↑ see photos: Find A Grave: Memorial #63242477 ... statue on tomb; record by Mad on Dec 23, 2010; more at thornber.net Richardson, D. (2013). "Savage # 16," in Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4, pp. 557. Kimball G. Everingham, Ed. Salt Lake City, UT.
    Publication: Name: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Savage-199;
    Note: Biography John was born about 1423.[1][2][3] Marriage John married Katherine Stanley. They had 10 sons and 5 daughters:[1] John K.G., K.B. Thomas, cleric Humphrey, Knt. Lawrence, Knt. James Edward, Knt. Christopher, Knt. George William Richard, Knt. Ellen Katherine, married Thomas Legh Margaret Alice, married Roger Pilkington Elizabeth Battle of Bosworth John fought in the battle of Bosworth in 1485.[1] He also had a fight in 1470 with his sons against Robert Legh, which was settled with Thomas Legh in 1488 and 1490.[1] Death John died 22 nov 1495 and was buried at Macclesfield, Cheshire, with his wife.[1]
  6. Title: Geni - Sir John Savage, IV, of Clifton, Knight of the Garter
    Publication: Name: https://www.geni.com/people/Sir-John-Savage-IV-of-Clifton-Knight-of-the-Garter/6000000002022443252;
  7. Title: Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015
    Publication: Name: https://search.ancestry.com/collections/9289/records/11409596;
  8. Title: Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015
    Publication: Name: https://search.ancestry.com/collections/9289/records/31779605;
  9. Title: Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015
    Publication: Name: https://search.ancestry.com/collections/9289/records/24604096;
  10. Title: Wikipedia - Sir John Savage (soldier)VIII- part I
    Author: Armstrong, George Francis (1888). The ancient and noble family of the Savages of the Ards. London. Arnold, Morris, S (1976). On the Laws and Customs of England: Essays in Honor of Samuel E. Thorne (Studies in Legal History). The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0807878146. Baldwin, David (2006). Stoke Field: The Last Battle of the Wars of the Roses. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 1844151662. Brereton, Humphrey (2018). The most pleasant song of Lady Bessy: the eldest daughter of King Edward the Fourth, and how she married King Henry the Seventh of the House of Lancaster. Forgotten Books. London. ISBN 978-0260008589. (Text taken from the Ballad of Lady Bessy a near contemporary primary source)
    Publication: Name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Savage_(soldier);
    Note: Sir John Savage, KG, KB, PC (1444–1492), was an English knight of the Savage family, who was a noted military commander of the late 15th-century. Savage most notably fought at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, where he commanded the left flank of the Tudor (Lancastrian) army to victory and is said to have personally slain the Duke of Norfolk in single combat. Earlier in the Wars of the Roses, Savage had been a supporter and friend of the Yorkist King Edward IV, fighting alongside him and helping him to victories at the Battle of Barnet in 1471 and the Battle of Tewkesbury later that same year, as well as joining the Duke of Gloucester's invasion of Scotland in 1482, where the Duke made him a Knight banneret. However, following the death of Edward and the Duke of Gloucester's ascension to the throne as Richard III the Savage family was viewed with suspicion due to their familial connection to the Stanleys, who were in turn connected to the Tudors. Consequently Savage was one of the prominent figures who invited Henry Tudor to invade England in 1485, a struggle which culminated in the Battle of Bosworth Field. After his victory Henry Tudor received the circlet of Richard from Savage's uncle Lord Stanley and was crowned King of England on the field of battle, taking the throne as Henry VII of England. The year following his victory at Bosworth, Henry VII sent Savage to arrest Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother Thomas Stafford, who had risen up against the king in the first major challenge to Henry's reign. Savage led a force to Culham where the two were seeking sanctuary and had them forcibly removed. The brothers were tried and found guilty, Sir Humphrey was executed whilst Thomas was pardoned. This event was notable enough for Pope Innocent VIII to announce a papal bull which established modifications affecting the privilege of sanctuary, significantly limiting its practical use and vindicating the actions taken by Savage on behalf of the King. Savage later served as one of two main cavalry commanders at the Battle of Stoke Field on 16 June 1487, where leading Yorkists fought to put the pretender Lambert Simnel on the throne. This was the final battle of the Wars of the Roses, with the engagement ending in a decisive victory for the Tudors and leaving nearly all of Henry's Yorkist opponents dead. This victory served to end the previously significant factional divisions between those loyal to the houses of York and Lancaster. In 1492 Savage raised a force of men-at-arms and archers and joined Henry's expeditionary force to France. The campaign was intended to stop the French King Charles VIII's support of the pretender to the throne of England Perkin Warbeck. Savage would not return to England alive, losing his life during the Siege of Boulogne. Savage was a supporter successively of Edward IV of England who appointed him a Knight of the Bath on the occasion of his Queen's coronation on 26 May 1465, and Henry VII, who appointed him a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1488. Savage also served as a member of Henry VII's Privy Council. Ancestral background Coat of arms of the Savage family: Argent, six lions rampant, sable John Savage was born in or around 1444,[1][1] the son and heir of Sir John Savage (1422–1495) and Lady Catherine née Stanley, daughter of Lord Thomas Stanley (the elder). Savage died three years before his father, so never succeeded to the family estates, including Clifton Hall, near Runcorn.[2] The Savage family had been established in Cheshire since his great-great-grandfather Sir John Savage (1343–1386) married Margaret d'Anyers, heiress of Clifton and other lands around what became called Rocksavage.[3] The eldest of ten sons and five daughters, his younger brother, Dr Thomas Savage became Archbishop of York, whilst another four (Sir Edward, Sir Richard, Sir Christopher and Sir Humphrey Savage) were all knighted.[4] His sisters married into county families, including the Booths, Duttons and Leighs.[5] Among his other close relatives were his uncles Lord Thomas Stanley (the younger) (who was created Earl of Derby after Bosworth in 1485) and Sir William Stanley and his cousin George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange.[6] Early career, support for Edward IV and intrigue against Richard III Edward IV's reign King Edward IV King Richard III John Savage was made a Knight of the Bath by Edward IV on the occasion of his Queen's coronation on 26 May 1465.[7] The now knighted Sir John Savage fought for King Edward and the Yorkists at the Battle of Barnet in 1471 and the Battle of Tewkesbury later that same year, as well as joining the King's brother the Duke of Gloucester's invasion of Scotland in 1482 (where he was made a Knight banneret[8] - a knight who commanded soldiers under their own banner), aiding them to victories in all of these engagements. Savage became close to Edward, whom he served as royal carver and knight of the body as well as being appointed by Edward to the position of Constable of Hanley Castle. He was later deemed worthy of the honour of being a pallbearer at the king's funeral following his sudden death in 1483, ranking second in precedence in the cortege that conveyed the King's body to Windsor.[9] Richard III's reign Following the death of Edward, the Duke of Gloucester became the de facto ruler of England, dominating the short rule of his nephew Edward V, and then later becoming the de jure ruler after taking the throne as Richard III. This shortly preceded the mysterious death of Edward V, something which Richard was suspected of having played a part in. During Richard's reign the Savage family were viewed with suspicion as a result of their support for Edward IV, connection to the Stanley family and the sheer size and influence of the Savage family (Sir John had 9 brothers most of whom had some degree of influence).[10] Sir John was admitted as a Freeman of Chester in 1484, during the mayoralty of his father (Sir John was later Mayor of Chester himself in 1484 and 1485[11]). Additionally, in early 1485 eight of his nine brothers were made freemen of the city in a single ceremony. Although the family managed to retain their liberties, amongst rising suspicions Savage began to plot against the King. According to Polydore Vergil, Savage was one of the prominent men who invited Henry Tudor (a claimant to the throne through his descent from the Lancastrian branch of the House of Plantagenet) to invade. Savage may have also been acting as a front man for his uncle Lord Thomas Stanley. Sir John's ninth brother, Thomas (later archbishop), was studying abroad at the time and almost certainly acted as the Savages' direct link to Henry.[12] Savage's intrigue was discovered in August 1485, supposedly after the arrest of his cousin (and son of Lord Stanley) George Stanley, Lord Strange,[13] and he was declared a traitor by Richard.[14] Strange was held hostage and would later be used as leverage against his father.[15] Support for Henry Tudor (later Henry VII of England) Henry Tudor's landing in Britain and the Battle of Bosworth Field Henry Tudor Henry landed in Britain around the same time that Savage was declared a traitor, and having avoided capture Savage at once declared for him, raising a considerable body of troops (under his command as a knight banneret[16]) to aid Henry's cause. Savage joined Henry on his march through Wales and fought for him at Bosworth Field. Savage and his men were originally in the force of his uncles Lord Thomas Stanley and Sir William Stanley, who would hold back whilst deciding which side it would be most advantageous to support.[17] However before the battle Savage joined Henry's army along with three other knights; Sir Robert Tunstall, Sir Hugh Persall and Sir Humphrey Stanley, and Savage was placed in command of the left flank of the Tudor forces[18] where many of his own men fought, wearing the Savage family's distinctive livery of white hoods, as described in the ballad Bosworth Feilde:[19] Sir John Savage, that hardy Knight, deathes dentes he delt that day with many a white hood in fight, that sad men were at assay. and the Ballad of Lady Bessy:[20] Sir John Savage, 1500 white hoods, for they will fight and never flee John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk whom Savage is said to have slain in battle During the course of the battle Savage is said to have personally slain the Duke of Norfolk in single combat as the Duke was attempting to flee, as well as taking his son the Earl of Surrey into custody. This is described in the Ballad of Lady Bessy:[21] The Duke of Northfolke wou'd have fledd with a good will With twentye thousand of his company, They went up to a wind millne upon a hill That stood soe fayre and wonderousse hye, There he met Sir John Savage, a royall knight, And with him a worthy company. To the death was he then dight, And his son prisoner taken was he Savage's uncle Lord Stanley brings Henry Tudor the crown of King Richard III of England The battle ended in a decisive victory for the forces of Henry Tudor. Savage commanded the left flank to victory, and his uncle Sir William Stanley seeing King Richard separated from the bulk of his force and headed for Henry, led his men into battle against Richard, surrounding and killing the King as his army fled.[22] Savage's other uncle Lord Stanley was unable to commit his forces as Richard still had his son Lord Strange held as a hostage. Richard had sent Stanley a message threatening to execute Strange if he did not commit his troops to the battle, Stanley had rebutted this request stating that he 'had other sons', but was regardless unwilling to risk demonstrating his support for Henry.[23] continues, part II
    Page: This is a great source! This was originally posted to Sir John Savage II (ID#94NW-L46) by Thomas Irvin Maast on April 30, 2017.
  11. Title: Wikisource - Sir John Savage; Dictionary of National Biography
    Author: [G. F. A[rmstrong]'s Savages of the Ards; Addit. MS. 6298, f. 290; Gairdner's Life of Richard III, 1879, pp. 288–9; Ramsay's Lancaster and York, 1892, ii. 540; Notes and Queries, 8th ser. vi. 397.]
    Publication: Name: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Savage,_John_(d.1492);
    Note: SAVAGE, Sir JOHN (d. 1492), politician and soldier, was son of Sir John Savage (1422–1495) of Clifton, by Katherine, daughter of Thomas, lord Stanley, and sister of Thomas Stanley, first earl of Derby [q. v.] Thomas Savage (d. 1507) [q. v.], archbishop of York, was his brother. John Savage, junior, as he was usually styled, was created a knight of the Bath by Edward IV on the occasion of his queen's coronation on 26 May 1465 (Letters and Papers illustrative of the Wars of the English in France under Henry VI, ed. Stevenson, Rolls Ser. ii. [784]). On 17 April 1483, as a knight of the royal body, he was one of those selected to bear Edward's body into Westminster Abbey (Letters and Papers illustrative of the Reigns of Richard III and Henry VII, ed. Gairdner, Rolls Ser. i. 5, 8). Savage was mayor of Chester in 1484 and 1485, and in the former year was made a freeman of the city, with eight of his brothers. Richard III bestowed much preferment upon him, delegating him to take the oaths of allegiance in Kent, and placing him in the commission of the peace (Harl. MS. 433, ff. 90–4). Nevertheless he had a secret understanding with the Earl of Richmond. His treachery came to light through the arrest of Lord Stanley's son, Lord Strange, and Savage joined Richmond on his march through Wales. At the battle of Bosworth he is said to have commanded the left wing of Henry's army. For his services Henry VII granted him a number of forfeited estates in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Shropshire, on 7 March 1486. On 16 Feb. 1488 he received fresh grants, and on 16 Nov. was elected a knight of the Garter (Materials for the Reign of Henry VII, ed. Campbell, Rolls Ser. ii. 245). He took part in the siege of Boulogne in October 1492, and, being intercepted by the enemy while reconnoitring, refused to surrender, and was in consequence slain (Bacon, Hist. of Henry VII, ed. Lumby, p. 102; Hall, Chronicle, 1809, p. 459). By his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir Ralph Vernon of Haddon, he had a son, John, who succeeded him, and four daughters. Sir John had also an illegitimate son George, rector of Davenham, Cheshire, who is said to have been the father of Edmund Bonner [q. v.], bishop of London.
  12. Title: John Savage, "Find A Grave Index"
    Author: "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV23-2XVH : 5 August 2020), John Savage, ; Burial, Macclesfield, Cheshire East Unitary Authority, Cheshire, England, St. Michael's & All Angels Churchyard; citing record ID 63242477, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
    Publication: Name: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV23-2XVH;
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