Richard Boyville

Richard Boyville was a landowner who was closely associated with members of the House of York in the latter part of the 15th century.

Richard Boyville (Bovile, Boyvile, Boyvill, Boyvyle) was a son of Hugh Boyville of Ridlington, who served as Sheriff and a Member of Parliament for Rutland. The name of Richard’s mother is not recorded but she was probably Alice Christian, who is the only wife identified for Hugh.

Richard’s wife was Griselda; there does not appear to be a record of her maiden name. The Boyville brass in Burton Latimer church (see below) features a man and a woman along with nine sons and nine daughters. However, in 1510/11, Richard named only these six children in his will:

As surnames were not stated for Cecily and Agnes in the will, it is probable that they were unmarried at that stage.

References to Richard’s career are limited, but it is clear that he was a long-standing and trusted courtier in the service of the House of York. In 1468, he accompanied Margaret of York to Burgundy for her marriage to Charles the Bold. Twelve years later, Margaret’s brother Edward IV, granted an annuity of £20 per year to Richard and his wife Griselda for attending Margaret on her visit to England. In October 1484, Richard III, who was also Margaret’s brother, confirmed that payments of this annuity and arrears on it should be funded from the revenues and profits of the demesnes of Preston and Uppingham that were then held by the Crown.

Richard’s service was recognised in the will of Margaret’s mother, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, which was made on 1 April 1495. Cecily’s bequests to “Richard Boyvile and Gresild his wife” included her chariot and horses, various items of clothing made of satin and damask and several elaborate pieces of gold and jewellery.

Richard was also a landowner. In the seventh year of the reign of Edward IV (i.e. 1467-8), he received the Manor of Little Oxendon from his father Hugh Boyvile of Ridlington, Rutland. By the time he made his will, Richard also owned property at Burton Latimer.

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