Lewis Stukley

Sir Lewis Stukley (1552–1620) lord of the manor of Affeton in Devon, was Vice-Admiral of Devonshire. He was guardian of Thomas Rolfe, and a main opponent of Sir Walter Raleigh in his last days. Stukley's reputation is equivocal; popular opinion at the time idealised Ralegh, and to the public he was Sir "Judas" Stukley.

He was the eldest son of John Stucley (1551-1611) lord of the manor of Affeton in Devon, by his wife Frances St Leger, daughter of Sir John St Leger, (d.1596) of Annery, Monkleigh, Devon, through whom he was related to leading families of the west of England. His grandfather Lewis Stucley (c.1530–1581) of Affeton was the eldest brother of Thomas Stucley (1520–1578) The Lusty Stucley, a mercenary leader who was killed fighting against the Moors at the Battle of Alcazar.

The younger Lewis was knighted by King James I when on his way to London in 1603. On 21 March 1617 he was appointed guardian of Thomas Rolfe, the two-year-old son of John Rolfe and Rebecca (Pocahontas). He later transferred Thomas's wardship to John's brother, Henry Rolfe in Heacham.

Stukley purchased the office of vice-admiral in 1618, and very soon became embroiled in high politics. In June 1618 he left London with verbal orders from the king to deal with the imminent difficulty with Sir Walter Raleigh, when he arrived at Plymouth on his return from the 1617 Orinoco expedition. As had been recognised by a royal proclamation of 9 June, Raleigh had broken the peace treaty between England and Spain. There was intense diplomatic embarrassment for King James in the situation; Stukley may have understood the king's intention to be that Raleigh should flee the country, but in any case his approach was relaxed for a number of weeks.

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